MMA-URLS

Bloody Elbow News Roundup - Barnett Back To Strikeforce, Pettis Wants Diaz, Sapp Goofiness

We're back for another edition of the Bloody Elbow News Roundup and we'll try to focus on things completely unrelated to the dog and pony (and weed and testosterone) show in Las Vegas today. Well, one piece of non-Diaz/Sonnen news came out of the meeting that might be of interest so I'll touch on that, but the rest of this post will be NSAC-free. Instead we'll look at what's next for Josh Barnett, who Anthony Pettis wants to fight next, check out part two of UFC Primetime, and try to figure out why Bob Sapp is such a strange guy. Here we go. The futures of the two Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix finalists Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier have been debated since Cormier emerged victorious on Saturday night. Cormier will likely fight one last time in SF after his hand heals, but what about Barnett? It's well-known that The Warmaster and Dana White have had their differences in the past. Would he come to the UFC? Maybe get released? Neither, apparently. According to Sergio Non of USA Today, Barnett will fight once more in Strikeforce: But it turns out that the other tourney finalist, Josh Barnett, also will have one more bout in Strikeforce, parent company Zuffa told USA TODAY on Monday. Barnett also suffered a broken hand in the bout and he won't be back for a while either, but it's very interesting that they're willing to leave Barnett floundering in a dead SF heavyweight division. Switching gears to this weekend's UFC 146 card in Las Vegas, NSAC confirmed today that veteran referee Herb Dean will be in charge of the main event bout between UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos and challenger Frank Mir. And if you missed episode 2 of UFC Primetime: Dos Santos vs. Mir, you can check it out below (part one can be seen here): After the jump we'll hear from UFC lightweight Anthony Pettis, take a look at a couple of videos leading up to JDS winning the heavyweight title back in November, and give you the chance to listen to Bob Sapp's bizarre interview with MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani earlier today. There's a couple of other tidbits in there too. Dale Earnhardt's grandson Jeffrey Earnhardt is making his MMA debut tomorrow night in North Carolina. (via MMA Fighting). Invicta FC 2 now has five bouts scheduled for the card (via MMA Rising). Anthony Pettis spoke to BJPenn.com about his recovery from injury (he's not back to full training yet) but he'd like to return at UFC 151 on September 1st. He was asked if he'd like to fight Donald Cerrone next, but he has other ideas: For me, I want to fight Nate Diaz! I mean I was promised a title shot a couple of times, they said it after my Lauzon win, you know that I was probably next in line. Then all of sudden Diaz comes out and he has a good performance against Jim Miller and I am forgotten about. So I mean I want to fight the guy that beat Cerrone and get the #1 contender spot. I’m looking for a title shot here in my next couple fights or you know one more win and then a title shot. Paula Sack was able to get some great footage of Junior dos Santos before his UFC on Fox bout with then-UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez, and two of the videos have been recently released. You can view them both below (via the UFC's Youtube page). Finally, we'll close out with some goofiness. Everyone's favorite MMA circus act, Bob Sapp, was a guest on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani today and...well, it was odd. Sapp comes on at 2:13:35 of the video and you've basically got to hear it for yourself. He admits that he won't take damage in a fight so he doesn't suffer any long term effects from it, even if he's making 30-40k a fight. Ariel then asks him if he's throwing fights, and he once again says he fights for money and he won't take damage. A long, bizarre rants follows and his constant laughing is just playing creepy. Check out the video below, or check MMA Fighting for some of the choice quotes.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, today, barnett

Cesar Gracie reacts to Nick Diaz grueling NSAC hearing

The long and drawn out drama between Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Welterweight contender Nick Diaz and the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) finally came to an end today (May 21, 2012). At the hearing, the NSAC suspended the Stockton slugger for a period of 12 months and docked him 30 percent ($60,000) of the purse he earned for his fight with Carlos Condit at UFC 143, which was the event that Diaz failed a post-fight drug test for marijuana metabolites. That means that should Diaz decide to end his mixed martial arts (MMA) retirement plans he made after his loss to "The Natural Born Killer" in Feb. 2012, he still won't be able to return to action until Feb. 2013. During the hearing, which lasted for several hours, it became quickly became clear that Diaz and his defense team were facing an uphill battle. And Diaz's trainer, Cesar Gracie, would have something to say about the process and intense line of questioning. And say something he did. Check out what the famed trainer had to say via his official Twitter account, which was pointed directly at the world's leading MMA promotion: @ufc Get drunk and wreck cars or do steroids between fights is OK. Smoke weed legally between fights and NSAC throws the book at you In case you didn't quite grasp the veiled jab, it seems that Gracie is taking a shot at UFC Light Heavyweight champion and company poster boy Jon Jones' weekend drunken mishap, which led to the arrest of the 24-year-old champion and the destruction of his $190,000 Bentley. The "steroid between fights" comment, I leave it to you to ponder a guess as to who he is aiming that toward, though I have guess or two of my own. First the whole no-show for his "super fight" grappling match with Braulio Estima and now a year-long suspension from MMA, it truly hasn't been a good couple of weeks for Diaz. It will interesting to see if he decides to return to MMA once his suspension is up or if he decides to take a stab at the boxing world, something he has often said he would entertain. Time will tell ... nine months to be exact.

Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, mma, nsac

Bob Sapp Denies Throwing Fights, Calls Himself 'a Pioneer' of MMA

Bob Sapp knows what you think of him. He reads the headlines about his "tour of surrender." He hears the talk about how disgraceful he is to the sport. Really, all that's fine, because as long as you're talking about him, he can continue to do what he needs to do -- which happens to be losing 12 of his 13 MMA and kickboxing fights since 2011, almost all of which ended in the first round through varying levels of absurdity. But despite the circus that now surrounds Sapp, just don't ever say he throws his fights. "Am I throwing these fights? No. Will I go into that ring and receive large amounts of damage for small paychecks? No," Sapp vehemently explained on Monday's edition of The MMA Hour. "I will receive no damage to my body that will be long-lasting for a small, insignificant amount of cash. I think we've now seen that with examples in the NFL, and the fact that some of these guys are coming back and saying ‘hey, we want some money, we have brain damage.' I'm getting paid well underneath what a professional boxer would, or Manny Pacquiao. So in no means ever will I sustain long-lasting damage for a small paycheck. Never will that happen." Obviously, it wasn't always like this. There was a time, however far off it may seem now, that Sapp was a generally respected fighter. Before the losing streaks and the turtling up, "The Beast" announced his arrival by brutalizing legendary K-1 champion Ernesto Hoost not once, but twice, and nearly doing the same to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. According to Sapp, nothing has changed since then. Nothing, of course, except the stage on which he plies his trade."When it came to K-1, at the time, when K-1 was doing well, they did pay significantly enough to have you go into that ring and, hey, any kind of injury you get, they're going to pay," Sapp said. "Let me give you an example. Mirko Cro Cop, he cracked my eye socket. Mirko Cro Cop, he received his paycheck. I received my paycheck. They also paid for my entire hospital bill. These small organizations that you see that look so wonderful, they pay none of your bills if you get hurt. Period. Period. Period. If you would like to get hurt for small amounts of money, we call that the military." Now the big shows no longer come calling, and Sapp has become a metaphorical mercenary to be bought for the highest bidder. Need a proven name to slap on the banner or give your top prospect a notch on his résumé? For anywhere from $30,000 to $40,000, "The Beast" is at your services. It may boil the blood of MMA fans, but Sapp seems to have uncovered a loophole in the system. His new niche has seen him travel the world over, from Solvenia to Kazakhstan, all the while expanding his brand and preaching the book of the "The Beast." If losing helps grease the wheels, then so be it. "I am number-one in every media category," Sapp declared. "Number-one in the entertainment. Number-one for the views, for the fights, for that organization. I'm number-one, and I have a losing record. So if I was to even come in on a winning record, obviously these small organizations, the last thing they would be able to do is afford my services. And on top of it, what am I going to do? Be number-one (in fighting) and number-one (in entertainment)? Okay, if I am, they're no longer going to be able to afford me, so I've just won myself out of a job. Congratulations Bob." The audaciousness of Sapp's philosophy has led an army of detractors to cry foul about how "The Beast" is tarnishing the sport, one regional show at a time. But the 37-year-old former offensive lineman doesn't concern himself with any of that noise, and really, the way he sees it, the public only has themselves to blame. "Let's talk about a sport," Sapp rationalized. "An outside governing body, rules, regulations, and statistics. That's far from what (MMA) has. Now when you say, ‘Hey Bob, it's developing and it's crawling.' You're absolutely (right). I am a pioneer of this sport. I currently hold every record for this MMA. That is correct? I have more commercials, more movies, more endorsements, and more viewerships than anyone has. "You blame yourself. You go over there, you get the tickets. You go over to Kazakhstan, and you sit in that seat, and you go in that arena, and you bring your people all across the world, and you sit them in that stadium, and you say, I will enjoy (this)." If you're wondering if this transition from fighter to sideshow happened overnight, Sapp won't entertain the notion. For him, it's about something bigger. It's about a perceived injustice in the promotional system, and the fact that athletes can spend their whole lives entertaining us, and still be abandoned with nothing but a closet full of accolades as soon as the party is over. "Are you asking me, hey Bob, when did you come to the epiphany that Gary Goodridge has brain damage, and no one is paying for that?" Sapp mused. "Hey Bob, are you talking to me about the fact that a lot of these K-1 fighters went unpaid, and now all of a sudden you want to say that, you've got to be here collecting your paycheck? When did I have that epiphany? Well I will tell you. It was when the bill collector came and I said, ‘Well hey, I'm Bob Sapp. Look at my YouTube videos. Look at these people reporting on me, and here, will this work? Can I take that belt, can I take those trophies and melt them down?' Hey, you say go for the gold, are they gold? No. Those things are worth about a dollar. "So you're asking me, hey Bob, go ahead and put it on the line. You said it yourself, you have UFC fighters who are fighting more, and who are doing harder fights, and are getting less money. So you know what? I guess you better rally up your troops my brother, and you better start paying them. Because I do the same thing as everyone else, just as a promoter. They say fight business, and I am in the business of making money. How do I judge whether I have a successful fight? Success is judged by the measure of improvement. The measure of improvement in business is money." And just like that, the farces are excused and the world tour rolls on. Perhaps Sapp's justification rings hollow to you, but truthfully, it doesn't really matter. He already has two more fights lined-up for June, one in Kazakhstan and one in South Korea. From there more will come, as promoters continue to book the marketing behemoth in the hopes of getting their show a brief mention on a national website. Maybe, eventually, people will people wise up and grow sick of Sapp's gimmick. But until then, the song will continue to remain the same. "What I have to do for this (next) fight? I have to know, you may see the light, but guess what? When they hit you, you may see some darkness. So I've got to learn. Like what you said, I've got to turtle up. This time, I've got to actually have my turtle shell defend me, because if I was able to actually turtle up, that defense, things would bounce right off that shell."

Posted in: fight, mma, bob, sapp, numberone

If you had to try and describe MMA in one picture what would it be?

submitted by MAO_ZEBONG [link] [18 comments]

Posted in: mma, picture, maozebong

Top MMA Run-Ins with the Law: Part One

With the recent arrest of Jon Jones for suspicion of DUI the MMA world has been reminded that its favorite athletes are far from perfect when it comes to behavior outside of the Octagon. In honor of Spike TV’s World’s Wildest Police Chases airing tonight (Monday May 21) at 11:00 PM, we wanted to look back on some of the wildest moments in MMA’s history featuring a police presence. Quinton Jackson – July 2008 Fresh off losing his light heavyweight title to Forrest Griffin, “Rampage” lived up to his nickname by terrorizing the streets of Costa Mesa with his jacked-up truck. The cause of his behavior was said to be the result of delirium induced by a combination of staying up for an extended period of time without sleep and consuming nothing but energy drinks. He was charged with a number of felonies and misdemeanors though ultimately only plead guilty to one of each, served 200 hours of community service, and was back at it in the UFC shortly thereafter. Brett Rogers – June 2011 Police responded to reports of a woman screaming at the former Strikeforce heavyweight’s house where he answered the door showing signs of intoxication and a physical confrontation. Rogers explained he and his wife had been fighting. What he left out was his wife’s missing tooth and badly swollen face which authorities later encountered after tracking her down. He also was stated to have choked her and done some of the damage in front of their children. Rogers ultimately plead guilty to third-degree assault, served sixty days in jail, forced to go to counseling, and was given three years probation. Lee Murray – February 2006 One of the baddest dudes in MMA history, Murray was famously connected to one of the largest heists in European history with more than 50,000,000 pounds stolen and thrown in Moroccan jail where he sits to this day serving out a 25 year term. Adding to his original sentence, Murray was also busted attempting to escape prison. Jason Miller – December 2005 Long before “Mayhem” Miller was putting his sister in headlocks or instigating in-ring brawls he was a rising star competing primarily in Hawaii who, according to the police report, decided to break into a house one morning and assault his ex-girlfriend’s new squeeze. However, Miller was eventually acquitted of all charges after the jury was convinced he’d only kicked her door open to wake her and was defending himself against the other male there rather than attacking him. Jon Koppenhaver / War Machine – 2007 to Present Koppenhaver’s troubles with the law have been well-documented given the numerous assault cases he’s been attached to including one involving an attack at a party composed of actors in the adult film industry. Seriously. Earlier this year War Machine got out of prison after serving a yearlong term, seemingly having his life turned around, but was thrown back in the hoosegow based on a probation violation occurring prior to his initial release. Still in jail, he is expected to serve another nine months. Make sure to tune in tonight at 11:00 PM on Spike TV to see how common criminals react to their own run-ins with the law! PHOTO CREDIT – Various Police Stations/UFC

Posted in: mma, history, law, police, jail

A sanctioned MMA bout happened in New York last night and you probably didn't even know

Hopefully in 2013, we can collectively agree that any form of media asking a fighter to place them in a rear-naked choke needs to come to an end. Actually, that's not entirely fair. Let's make a rule that if you ask a fighter to place you in a rear-naked choke, you can't tap out. The blood running through your neck will have to come to a complete halt and your unconscious body will need to collapse to the floor in order to realize how much of an idiot you were for asking someone to choke you out. Set an example for the children of the world. In any other moment in human civilization, this stuff would not have passed. Imagine someone at FOX News asking Attila the Hun to place them in a 'guillotine.' Necks would be rolling quicker than your friends rolled to Nate Dogg in the late 90s (RIP). It appears the crew at YNN received the memo and didn't ask anyone to place them in a silly submission, but they did thoroughly cover the first sanctioned amateur MMA bout held in New York in over a decade. According to promoter Don Lilly, the MMA card was sanctioned under the 'Martial Art Law' which only applies to amateur fighters. The bout was held in a converted skating rink and it appears the promoter sold out the event. Hey, we're working with baby steps here -- but it's still a giant step towards MMA being completely legalized in the state of New York. Feel free to watch the YNN video of the event below and check out the YNN article for more info on the sanctioned bout.

Posted in: mma, bout, place, giant step, guillotine necks

Top MMA Run-Ins with the Law: Part One

With the recent arrest of Jon Jones for suspicion of DUI the MMA world has been reminded that its favorite athletes are far from perfect when it comes to behavior outside of the Octagon. In honor of Spike TV’s World’s Wildest Police Chases airing tonight (Monday May 21) at 11:00 PM EST, we wanted to look back on some of the wildest moments in MMA’s history featuring a police presence. Quinton Jackson – July 2008 Fresh off losing his light heavyweight title to Forrest Griffin, “Rampage” lived up to his nickname by terrorizing the streets of Costa Mesa with his jacked-up truck. The cause of his behavior was said to be the result of delirium induced by a combination of staying up for an extended period of time without sleep and consuming nothing but energy drinks. He was charged with a number of felonies and misdemeanors though ultimately only plead guilty to one of each, served 200 hours of community service, and was back at it in the UFC shortly thereafter. Brett Rogers – June 2011 Police responded to reports of a woman screaming at the former Strikeforce heavyweight’s house where he answered the door showing signs of intoxication and a physical confrontation. Rogers explained he and his wife had been fighting. What he left out was his wife’s missing tooth and badly swollen face which authorities later encountered after tracking her down. He also was stated to have choked her and done some of the damage in front of their children. Rogers ultimately plead guilty to third-degree assault, served sixty days in jail, forced to go to counseling, and was given three years probation. Lee Murray – February 2006 One of the baddest dudes in MMA history, Murray was famously connected to one of the largest heists in European history with more than 50,000,000 pounds stolen and thrown in Moroccan jail where he sits to this day serving out a 25 year term. Adding to his original sentence, Murray was also busted attempting to escape prison. Jason Miller – December 2005 Long before “Mayhem” Miller was putting his sister in headlocks or instigating in-ring brawls he was a rising star competing primarily in Hawaii who, according to the police report, decided to break into a house one morning and assault his ex-girlfriend’s new squeeze. However, Miller was eventually acquitted of all charges after the jury was convinced he’d only kicked her door open to wake her and was defending himself against the other male there rather than attacking him. Jon Koppenhaver / War Machine – 2007 to Present Koppenhaver’s troubles with the law have been well-documented given the numerous assault cases he’s been attached to including one involving an attack at a party composed of actors in the adult film industry. Seriously. Earlier this year War Machine got out of prison after serving a yearlong term, seemingly having his life turned around, but was thrown back in the hoosegow based on a probation violation occurring prior to his initial release. Still in jail, he is expected to serve another nine months. Make sure to tune in tonight at 11:00 PM EST on Spike TV to see how common criminals react to their own run-ins with the law! Tweet

Posted in: mma, police, police report, assault cases, jackedup truck

Video: Legend FC Documentary - 'Legendary: The Rise Of MMA In Asia'

Here's an interesting documentary called 'Legendary: The Rise Of MMA In Asia', which provides an inside look at Legend FC, a promotion which hosts shows mostly in Macau and Hong Kong. Filmed around Legend Fighting Championship 7 at Macau's City of Dreams, "Legendary" takes a look at the rise of MMA in the Asia-Pacific against the backdrop of the February 2012 Legend Welterweight Championship fight between Bae Myung Ho and Li Jingliang. Filmmakers Euan McKirdy and James Wong interview some of the fighters, coaches, organizers, journalists, and other people who are hard at work developing the Asia-Pacific into MMA's newest frontier and largest potential market. From the exhaustion of the weigh-in to the tension of pre-fight preparations to the fights themselves, McKirdy and Wong give fans a new level of access and insight into the rise of MMA in Asia. The video is well made, and I highly suggest watching it: Legend FC's next event is on June 16th, and it will have Li Jingliang who was featured on this video, taking on top prospect, Dan Pauling as the co-headliner. Also on the card is a 4-man bantamweight tournament, and a title eliminator for Jadamba Narantungalag's belt. Check out the current fight card here, and a promo for the event after the jump. Follow me on twitter -- @antontabuena

Posted in: mma, legend, video, rise, fc

Eliot Marshall retiring from MMA to focus on teaching BJJ

Light heavyweight Eliot Marshall has decided he has set foot inside the ring for the final time as a competitor. The 31-year old won over viewers on the Ultimate Fighter 8 with his blend of humility and humor, finding moderate success inside the Octagon including victories over Vinny Magalhaes and Jason Brilz. While Marshall will unfortunately not go out on a high note, losing a controversial decision to Brandon Vera this past October, the submission-specialist will certainly exit the sport with his head held high after realizing his true calling in life is as a BJJ instructor rather than world-class Mixed Martial Artist. “For me, fighting, I wish I could have been champ, that would have been great. I would have made a lot of money; I would know what it means to be the best in the world,” explained Marshall of his retirement on MMAWeekly Radio. “Unfortunately, in pro sports that happens for a very few amount of people, and I got what I needed out of fighting.” With his competitive desires fulfilled Marshall will now look to pay back everything he’s gotten out of MMA by sharing his knowledge and experience with others. “I want to touch 10,000 lives and I can do that by helping people learn jiu-jitsu (and) spread a beautiful art,” Marshall continued, the topic turning towards his passion for BJJ and plan to help found a new fight team. “Jiu-jitsu changed my life. Literally everything I have is because of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I met my wife because of a job I got from working at the academy. Other than my family, everything I have is from jiu-jitsu.” Marshall leaves MMA with an overall record of 10-4 including five submissions. He himself was never tapped out. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: mma, everything, bjj, jiujitsu, marshall

The Sorcerer, the Vaporizer, and 12 Submissions We Still Haven't Seen in MMA

submitted by illskillz [link] [3 comments]

Posted in: mma, submission, illskillz, havent, sorcerer

Auto Racer Jeffrey Earnhardt, Grandson of Dale Earnhardt, Excited to Make MMA Debut

Jeffrey Earnhardt belongs to auto racing. The grandson of legendary NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt, he has been working his way towards the sport's major league circuit for years. At 22 years old, that's a goal he's still chasing. It's in his blood. But he's been infected.Like many young athletes, Earnhardt has fallen in love with mixed martial arts, first as a fan, and now as a practitioner. And on Tuesday, Earnhardt will become a two-sport athlete when he makes his MMA debut at an event called Fight Lab 25 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The bantamweight bout, which will be contested under amateur status, came about organically, after Earnhardt decided to pick up MMA as a way to get in optimal shape. In many ways, it is a story similar to many others we've heard before. He had wrestled for a couple years in high school, and after some time off, eased his way into jiu-jitsu classes. That seemed fun enough, and before he knew it, he was adding boxing training to his schedule.That went well, too, to the point that the people around him were quick to let him know that he was good. Perhaps even good enough to take things to the next level and compete."I personally was really enjoying the training until we talked about it, and one thing led to another, and we decided we'd try an amateur fight," he told MMA Fighting. "So here we are today."Like many, Earnhardt first got into MMA as a spectator as the UFC grew its business in the mid-2000s. But by that time, he already knew what he wanted to do for a living, racing on the local scene from the time of his early teenage years. At the time, he had never had a thought about training. It was only when his two roommates -- both college wrestlers -- decided to try it out that he decided to tag along. Ironically, Earnhardt is the one taking it the furthest, as neither of them has yet to fight. Unlike most others who sign up for that first fight, Earnhardt has no illusions about a bigtime MMA career. From the beginning, this has been mostly a side project for him that complements his main job.He is candid about where MMA ranks on his personal hierarchy, and even if the dropoff isn't far from racing, it's still at No. 2. This is mostly about being ready for the big races, with his next being the NASCAR Nationwide Daytona Subway Jalapeno 250 on July 6."I've never been in this kind of shape in my entire life, and that includes back when I was wrestling in high school," he said. "It's real intense, it's a lot of fun. I've really enjoyed it ever since I started. I like being fit and prepared for these races, especially in the summer when it's really hot out. It's definitely going to come in handy."That doesn't mean he's not taking his fight seriously, preparing with his team at Renegade Fighting Systems in Charlotte. He also has a scouting report on his opponent, Chris Faison, as one of his training partners -- David Worrell -- previously fought with and beat him."It's kind of an advantage to have a little insight from working with him," said Earnhardt, whose fight will be available for purchase on his website. "Those things will help me in my fight. These guys are preparing me extremely well for the fight, and I'm going to go out and do the best I can. Whatever I come out with is what I got."Earnhardt doesn't draw many parallels between auto racing and MMA except for the extreme competition level and the mental focus needed to win. Around the track, word of his foray into a second sport has gotten around. So far, the reaction has been mixed. Some think he's crazy to take the risk of fighting; others are impressed at his courage to do so. Because the two sports have similar demographics, he thinks there will be some crossover in terms of interest surrounding his fight, and maybe even some mainstream sports observers watching, and he has a message he'd like to get out."A lot of people don't see race car athletes as true athletes," he said. "They don't think we're capable of doing anything other than sitting in a car and driving in a circle. A lot of people don't understand the reality of it. This is an opportunity to prove to people that race car drivers are athletes. It's a lot harder than people realize. Hopefully this MMA fight will help people realize that, and that we can hold our own as athletes." And if he does help people learn that, and he does so by winning, is there any chance that Earnhardt scraps racing, or makes MMA his primary sport? For now, he's shut the book on that possibility. Like his famous grandfather, he plans to make his name in a car, even if it takes him on an occasional side route from track to cage. "Racing is my priority," he said. "I'm going to keep pushing in that. I love MMA, but it's only going to be in my spare time. They're both a lot of fun, but I'm definitely keeping my day job."

Posted in: fight, mma, people, athlete, earnhardt

Lefko on MMA: Jones muckraked

The way the news broke about Jon Jones' arrest for alleged DUI is exactly the opposite of his heroic act 14 months ago.

Posted in: mma, jone, month, lefko, dui

Legendary MMA Photographer Susumu Nagao Discusses Exhibition at World Jiu-Jitsu Expo

MMA photography pioneer Susumu Nagao - who has shot some of the most important and historic events in MMA history - spoke to MMA Fighting's own photographer Esther Lin about an exhibition of his work at the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo in Long Beach, California. Nagao discusses how he got interested in MMA through Shooto and professional wrestling, his early impressions of Royce Gracie during the first UFC events, the stories behind some of his most famous photos, PRIDE's spectacle and how much he misses it now, the special relationship he had with Carlson Gracie despite a language barrier and so much more.

Posted in: mma, carlson gracie, mma fightings, language barrier, nagao

Rebellion MMA Radio: UFC’s Shane Roller, Dennis Bermudez, Journalist Josh Nason

Posted in: ufc, mma, sunday night, mma world, ufc home

Rebellion MMA Radio: UFC’s Shane Roller and Dennis Bermudez, journalist Josh Nason

It’s a busy week in the MMA world between UFC on Fuel 3 and Strikeforce Grand Prix Final but Rebellion MMA Radio hosts Mitch Ciccarelli and Bryan Levick aren’t taking a break to bask in all the caged glory. This Sunday night the show welcomes two talented competitors who call the UFC home in the form of lightweight Shane Roller and featherweight Dennis Bermudez. Also set to offer up some insight, BloodyElbow/Wrestling Observer writer Josh Nason will call in to reflect on the sport’s current landscape. The 8-3 Bermudez, a former All-American wrestler, was a finalist on TUF 14 and recently picked up a dominating decision win over Pablo Garza earlier this month at UFC on FOX 3. Roller (10-6) is also more-than familiar with work on the mat after being named an All-American three times during his storied career at Oklahoma State. The longtime Zuffa veteran holds wins over Jamie Varner, Thiago Tavares, Anthony Njokuani, and Danny Castillo under the company’s banner between his time in WEC/UFC. His next fight is scheduled for July 7 at UFC 148 where he’ll face John Alessio. Interested listeners can also contribute to the show by submitting questions for guests via Twitter or email (RebellionMMARadio@yahoo.com). Catch Rebellion MMA Radio live on Sunday at 6:30 PM EST where the guys offer their own unique takes on all-things MMA. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, mma, bermudez, roller, rebellion

Rebellion MMA Radio: UFC’s Shane Roller and Dennis Bermudez, journalist Josh Nason

Posted in: ufc, mma, bermudez, roller, rebellion

Rebellion MMA Radio: UFC’s Shane Roller and Dennis Bermudez, Journalist Josh Nason

Posted in: ufc, mma, bermudez, rebellion, oklahoma state

Rebellion MMA Radio: UFC’s Shane Roller and Dennis Bermudez, journalist Josh Nason

Posted in: ufc, mma, bermudez, roller, rebellion

Rebellion MMA Radio: UFC’s Shane Roller and Dennis Bermudez, journalist Josh Nason

Posted in: ufc, mma, bermudez, roller, rebellion

Fedor Emelianenko Set to Retire After June 21 bout with Pedro Rizzo

Fedor Emelianenko has decided to hang it up after an illustrious thirteen-year career in MMA. MMAFighting reports the Russian fighter’s June 21 bout with Pedro Rizzo will be his last. In an interview translated by Ukranian MMA journalist Artem Yalansky, Fedor states: “My previous fight was in Moscow and my last fight will be in St. Petersburg on June 21st,” Emelianenko says. “It will be the last fight in my career.” “Is this your final decision?” the interviewer asks. “Yes,” Emelianenko says, “I think it’s time to end my career.” Fedor has officially stated he is retiring to spend more time with his family but the 35-year-old fighter has also alluded to lingering injury issues after his last several fights. Fedor has wrestled with the choice to retire for several years now, mentioning that he began thinking of retirement prior to his first loss in ten years to Fabricio Werdum. The humble Ukrainian-born fighter was one of the most controversial fighters in MMA history due to his rabid fanbase and detractors. What cannot be argued is that Emelianenko is one of the most decorated heavyweights in MMA history and that his ten year unbeaten streak is one of the longest in MMA history. A fact made even more impressive since he fought at heavyweight. While his detractors harp on matchmaking and his confrontational management team, and many of his fans lived in the past, it cannot be denied that Fedor was one of the best heavyweight fighters in history. Fedor was a PRIDE and RINGS tournament champion, in addition to being a three-time SAMBO World Champion, and two third place finishes in Judo. Fedor’s career began nearly 12 years ago on May 21, 2000 in Yekaterinburg, Russia and it will end June 21 in St. Petersburg. MMAFrenzy.com

Posted in: mma, fighter, mma history, fedor, emelianenko

Fedor Emelianenko Says He Will Retire After June 21 Fight

"The Last Emperor" is nearing his last days.Fedor Emelianenko, the Russian heavyweight who UFC president Dana White acknowledges as the only major name that he's never been able to sign, says he will call it quits following his June 21 fight against Pedro Rizzo.He made the statement in an interview on Russian language television. Russian MMA journalist Artem Yalanskiy provided MMA Fighting with a translation of the key exchange of the interview. "My previous fight was in Moscow and my last fight will be in St. Petersburg on June 21st," Emelianenko says. "It will be the last fight in my career." "Is this your final decision?" the interviewer asks."Yes," Emelianenko says, "I think it's time to end my career. Emelianenko said the primary reason for his retirement is to spend more time with his family, but he also mentioned the mounting toll of injuries from a career spent in MMA and sambo.The quiet 35-year-old has been one of the controversial figures in recent MMA history by those who have argued his place in the sport. Many believe him to be the greatest heavyweight of all time, while others have suggested him to be an overhyped product of favorable matchmaking. His heyday, which was undeniably during the early-to-mid 2000s, can hardly be questioned. At that time, he was considered by most observers to be the top fighter in the world after beating standouts like Kevin Randleman, Mark Coleman, and most notably, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueria, who was the top heavyweight prior to him. He also beat Mirko Filipovic during "Cro Cop's" best days. By the time PRIDE folded, Emelianenko was the most wanted free agent in MMA, but despite the UFC's rise, the two sides could never come to terms despite multiple negotiations. Emelianenko lost only once in his first 33 pro fights, and shortly after Brock Lesnar won his UFC championship, UFC president Dana White went on his last recruiting effort for Emelianenko. If he could have signed him, the fight would have likely taken place at the massive, 80,000-seat Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas and certainly would have headlined a blockbuster pay-per-view, but just like every other time the two sides got in a room, they failed to hammer out a deal.Instead, Emelianenko and his M-1 management team signed with Strikeforce. He won his first fight there, but in his next time out, was upset by Fabricio Werdum, marking his first loss in nearly 10 years. Losses to Antonio Silva and Dan Henderson marked three in a row for him, and he parted ways with Strikeforce.Since then, he's fought twice, beating Jeff Monson and Satoshi Ishii. His fight with Rizzo is booked, but it appears to be the last time Emelianenko will ever compete as a professional fighter.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, time, emelianenko

When Cris Cyborg comes comes back, it will be at 135 pounds

When Chris Cyborg returns to MMA after her year long suspension for failing a post-fight drug test, it will be a very different landscape to the one she left. The former Strikeforce champion was used to being a big fish in a small pond, with the only other notable name fighting in her division being Gina Carano. When I say notable, I of course mean highly marketable. The prospect of women fighting in the UFC was similar to the prospects of me flying across the English channel with a jet-powered fixed wing strapped to my back.There was no organisation interested in putting on female-only MMA. Now there is a new big fishin the women's MMA pond, Ronda Rousey. In light of this, Chris has tweeted an indication that she plans on fighting at bantamweight when her suspension is up. Not only are women a little more likely to appear in the UFC with the Rousey vs Tate fight opening the eyes of a lot of people on the potential marketability of female fights, but Invicta FC have come into being which gives females a whole new avenue to compete. So while it looks possible that we'll see a bantamweight Chris Cyborg, that isn't the only change we'll see when she returns to MMA: she will be fighting under the name of Christiane Venancio and not the surname Santos we are used to. There is still no chance of me flying across the English Channel with a jet-powered fixed wing craft unfortunately. [Source]

Posted in: mma, gina carano, women, invicta fc, english channel

Lefko on MMA: Nick Diaz made for Court TV

Nick Diaz is set to become the latest MMA fighter to bring drama from the cage into the courtroom.

Posted in: diaz, mma, nick, mma fighter, court

MMA Mind Power: Tap Into the Power of Neuro Associations

Need to rise to the occasion? Check out MMA Mind Power's Neuro Association techniques to help you do it. Retweet this Share on Facebook • Email • StumbleUpon • Reddit • Digg • Technorati • Instapaper • Tumblr • Google Reader • LinkedIn

Posted in: mma, power, mind, bull, occasion check

Sure three guys fighting MMA inside a pit makes no sense, but there's still video of it...

I haven’t read Chael Sonnen’s new book just yet, but it’s on my list of things to do before the Mayan calendar runs out of pages. After watching dozens of his recent interviews, I’m fairly certain that there’s probably a chapter about the end of civilization in there that could help me prepare for it. My current strategy involves a Ruger 10/22 and a backpack-full of ammunition. I also have a stockpile of kimchi flavored ramen noodles in case I get hungry. Most survivalists would disagree that I’m well-equipped to carry-on the human race without some level of MMA training. I mean, let’s face it, when the bullets run out, we’re going to have to defend ourselves from one another and knowing how to fight is important. To this, I respond that your MMA skills are useless against Kyle Baker’s SanDo skills. In fact, he’s not the only practitioner. SanDo is still alive and well, the sport of three-man MMA has videos all over YouTube since we first told you about it back in 2009. You could literally spend hours watching all the footage accumulated from their events, but here’s the most recent to get you started.

Posted in: mma, case i, threeman mma, mma skills, mayan calendar

Sure three guys fighting MMA inside a pit makes no sense, but we still have video of it...

Posted in: mma, case i, threeman mma, mma skills, mayan calendar

Rebellion MMA Radio: UFC’s Shane Roller and Dennis Bermudez, journalist Josh Nason

Posted in: ufc, mma, bermudez, rebellion, oklahoma state

Wait, so you're telling me Chael Sonnen was on TMZ yesterday?

Let's make this abundantly clear. If MiddleEasy was the TMZ of MMA, then I wouldn't be eating Fruit Loops out of this plastic Tupperware container that I occasionally use to mix eggs in. If we were the TMZ of MMA, we would immediately have women flying in jetpacks, dropping grapes and spilling champagne into our mouths. Those guys make an innumerable amount of money. Scientists say that if you take what the company is worth in single dollar bill increments and place them end to end, it could reach the Alpha Centauri galaxy. For now, MiddleEasy is the MiddleEasy of MMA -- which means we still put regular grade gasoline into our economy cars. At some point yesterday, Chael Sonnen continued his tour around the US by appearing on a live TMZ segment in which everyone at the news outlet pretended to be MMA fans. They did a good job -- actually Chael Sonnen did an extraordinary job promoting his book and his upcoming title fight with Anderson Silva on July 7th. Now check out the video and take note on how to truly enlighten your perception.

Posted in: mma, chael sonnen, tmz, tmz segment, money scientists

Bellator 69: Megumi Fujii - The Forgotten Queen Of MMA

Strikeforce Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey is the current 'It Girl' of Women's MMA, combining her ability to collect arms with that of a savvy social media and publicity presence. With Gina Carano missing in action, the attractive American Olympic Judo Bronze medalist has effortlessly taken the reigns and become the new face of her sport. Her domination of all opponents, including former champion Miesha Tate, will lead some to believe she's the current Pound For Pound Queen and the best in the world. For many years previously though, a lighter-weight fighter had been competing and winning, amassing 22 wins in a row, with no losses over the course of 6 years. But because of the majority of her fights happening in small promotions, mostly in Japan, and the lack of attention Women's MMA typically gets, not many outside of an Internet literate hardcore knew anything about her. Megumi Fujii is, as it stands, perhaps the best Women's MMA fighter of all time. The Judo / Sambo / Catch Wrestling Specialist is a submission magician and had a chance to make waves in America in 2010's Bellator 115lbs (Strawweight) Women's Tournament. Two submissions and a TKO got Fujii into the tournament final, but the championship bout with Zoila Frausto-Gurgel was to be her undoing. Related Stories: Bellator's Jessica Aguilar Comes Out As Bi-Sexual | Mini-Chop: Megumi Fujii's Japanese Mount Armbar | Roxanne Modafferi vs. Rosi Sexton, and the Continual Fight for WMMA Recognition | Megumi Fujii Ready to Cement Her Legacy at Bellator 34 | Megumi Fujii Goes 22-0, Best MMA Record Ever? | Gina Carano and the Power of Women's MMA Perhaps wanting to prove she was multi-faceted and a true mixed martial artist, Fujii chose to keep the fight standing and attempt to out-strike her larger Muay Thai specialist opponent. What surprised many, was Fujii was seemingly able to, making it competitive and bloodying and bruising the face of Frausto. Unfortunately the perennial weed that is bad judging reared its ugly head, and many believe Fujii ended up on the bad side of a split-decision. More than the judging though, Fujii's choice of strategy came under the most scrutiny; her tactics even frustrating her coach Josh Barnett. Many questioned why she didn't take the fight to the ground when she had the clear advantage, and could well have finished. continue reading after the jump. SBN Bellator 69 Coverage If Fujii had generated a small amount of buzz from her participation in the tournament, it was almost as quickly forgotten as she returned to compete in Japan. With that loss, Cristiane Santos was heralded as the women's pound for pound best, until at least her PED positive test scandal had her suspended for a year. Meanwhile, Fujii had rattled off another 3 wins making her career record to date 25-1. Frausto-Gurgel was jubilant in her win over Fujii, but had made it clear she would likely not fight at 115lbs again, preferring to compete in her more natural weight class of 125lbs or higher. Due to time away from the sport as well since getting married, the 115lbs title had to be vacated, and is up for grabs tonight at Bellator 69 when Fujii takes on Jessica Aguilar, who had also suffered a split decision loss for Frausto-Gurgel. At 38 years old, time could be running out for Fujii to make her mark on the American market. Unfortunately without the might of Zuffa behind her for promotional purposes, she may become ignored due to the historical revisionism that can occur when one super power in promotion dominates the landscape. Between you and me, she'll always be the best. Fantastic Megumi Fujii Highlight Video

Posted in: bellator, mma, women, megumi, fujii

5 Oz. MMA Link Club

Welcome back to another edition of “MMA Link Club”, Five Ounces of Pain‘s weekly smorgasbord of offerings from our brothers and sisters in the MMA community. Enjoy… Anthony Pettis Wants Fight with Nate Diaz (BleacherReport.com) Catching Up with Jon Fitch (Heavy.com) A Chat with Bellator Headliner Jessica Aguilar (MMAMania.com) Erick Silva Confident he Will Knock Charlie Brenneman Out (Fightline.com) Chael Sonnen Training Alongside “Stone Cold” Steve Austin (MMAConvert.com) A Look at the Struggle to Pass MMA in NY (FightOpinion.com) UFC Bantamweight Michael McDonald Auctions Off Fight-Shorts for Charity (5thRound.com) Vinny Magalhaes Selling M-1 Global Championship Belt on EBay (TheFightNerd.com) UFC on Fuel 3 Ratings (MMAPayout.com) Edson Barboza Wants Pettis and a Title-Shot (LowKick.com) PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, mma, mma community, charlie brenneman, pain ‘s

Latest UFC/MMA news and notes from around the web for the week of May 13, 2012

Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Josh Barnett and Megumi Fujii pictured above, we can all "get along." Teaming up with MMA sites like Low Kick, Fightline, Fight Opinion and The Fight Nerd, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport. This week, The Fight Nerd reviews the 'Tapout Textbook', MMA Convert gets an exclusive from Cris 'Cyborg' and Lowkick interviews UFC 146's Edson Barboza. The full list of links is after the jump. - Interview with lightweight contender Edson Barboza (LowKick) "I want to be fighting against the best fighters in the world. I want to win my space step by step. I am not in a hurry. I know I am in a really hard division, and it keeps me motivated to train harder and harder. Today I am focused on my next fight. I want to do my best inside the octagon. What will happen after that, it is in God's hands." - 'Tapout Textbook' Book review (The Fight Nerd) Is this book truly worth of being a textbook, or is it as good as your old algebra textbooks from high school that you defaced with drawings of phalluses and boobs (which was how all of my books were... I swear they were that way when I got them)? - Keith Kizer ready to drop the hammer on Nick Diaz next Monday (Fight Opinion) Today, Nick Diaz (via his attorney Ross Goodman) lost their injunction hearing in a Las Vegas court room. Keith Kizer of the Nevada State Athletic Commission says that the commission will hold a hearing next Monday to give Diaz his suspension for a second positive drug test in Nevada (marijuana). Kizer is preparing to go for a full year suspension for Diaz. - Oklahoma PPV tax declared unconstitutional (MMA Payout) MMA Payout has learned that the Oklahoma PPV tax has been declared unconstitutional by the state Attorney General of Oklahoma. The tax has been challenged by the UFC as it threatened litigation prior to a review of the issue by the Oklahoma AG. - Cris 'Cyborg' planning to return to women's MMA as bantamweight (MMA Convert) Cristiane "Cyborg" Venancio (formerly Santos) confirmed in a Twitter exchange with Five Ounces of Pain that she will return to action as a bantamweight. - Struve and Johnson talk late opponent switch (Fightline) With Mark Hunt injured and out of UFC 146, Stefan Struve will now be taking on Lavar Johnson. The opponent switch comes just a little over a week away from the event, but Johnson and Struve both should be standing on near-equal footing come fight night. - Nah-Shon Burrell looking to make statement against Spang (Five Ounces of Pain) - Michael McDonald lists UFC 145 fight shorts for charity (5thRound) How much are Michael McDonald's (Pictured) UFC 145 fight-worn shorts worth to you? The up-and-coming featherweight has listed the trunks he wore in April's scrap against former WEC champ Miguel Torres on eBay.

Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, mma, fight nerd

‘King Mo’ Lawal Puts MMA First, Pro Wrestling a Close Second

After signing a pro wrestling contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling and an MMA deal with the Bellator Fighting Championships, Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal will be a busy man over the next few years.

Posted in: mma, mo, king, lawal, mma deal

MMA Uncensored Live Discussion - 5/17

Join us at Bloody Elbow to discuss tonight's episode of MMA Uncensored Live, which airs on Spike at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT. Hosts Nate Quarry, Craig Carton and Mike Straka will discuss a wide range of MMA topics. MMA Fighting's Luke Thomas has been a regular on the show so far, and he might be a guest on tonight's episode once again. This week's show features an interview with UFC light heavyweight Stephan Bonnar, and a segment on Gary Goodridge and his CTE diagnosis. You can check out the description and video preview below. "Big Daddy" Gary Goodridge has 38 professional kickboxing matches and almost 50 pro MMA fights on his record. But years of competition have added up and left him with CTE. Learn all about it on MMA Uncensored Live, Thursday at 11/10c on Spike and Spike.com. Preview: Gary Goodridge and CTEGet More: Preview: Gary Goodridge and CTE

Posted in: mma, preview, gary, tonights episode, goodridge

Rebellion MMA Radio: UFC’s Shane Roller, Dennis Bermudez, Journalist Josh Nason

Posted in: ufc, mma, sunday night, mma world, ufc home

The MMA (After) Hour: 'Gutted' Mark Hunt Discusses Pulling Out of UFC 146

On this breaking news edition of The MMA (After) Hour we spoke to Mark Hunt, who explained why he was forced to pull out of UFC 146. Hunt talked about the injury, having to pull out of a fight due to an injury for the first time in his career and when he expects to return. Listen to the interview after the jump or download the audio here. The MMA (After) Hour: Mark Hunt Interview

Posted in: mark hunt, hunt, mma, hour, news edition

Rebellion MMA Radio: UFC’s Shane Roller and Dennis Bermudez, journalist Josh Nason

Posted in: ufc, mma, bermudez, roller, rebellion

Rebellion MMA Radio: UFC’s Shane Roller and Dennis Bermudez, journalist Josh Nason

Posted in: ufc, mma, bermudez, roller, rebellion

MMA Rankings: Who made a move for May

Fighters like Rory MacDonald, Alan Belcher and Chan Sung Jung are coming off huge wins and have jumped up sportsnet.ca's MMA rankings.

Posted in: belcher, mma, ranking, move, mma rankings

MMA Rankings: Who made a big move in May

Fighters like Rory MacDonald, Alan Belcher and Chan Sung Jung are coming off huge wins and have jumped up sportsnet.ca's MMA rankings.

Posted in: belcher, mma, ranking, move, mma rankings

The Russian MMA Union has elected its first president and his name is Fedor Emelianenko

Some of you have already elected Fedor as the president of your own little microchasmatic xenoverses so this news should be like a mini victory for your campaign to make Fedor supreme leader of the entire omniverse. Its time to turn off CNN and FOXNews and MSNBC and stop obsessing over contracting necrotizing fasciitis or the 4700 asteroids threatening to obliterate the planet Earth to its final demise. Instead live in the now, relax and break out your knock off Fedor sweater. Tie that sweater to a flag pole in your front yard and salute it in honor of the newly elected president of the Russian MMA Union. Thanks to a report on MixFight.RU we can tell you that an MMA union was formed in Russia yesterday and via a unanimous vote Fedor Emelianenko was elected president of this newly formed Russian MMA union. According to the report over 100 'dignitaries' representing over 52 regions were in attendance for the formation of this union. The union is a part of the newly formed IAMMA. Here's a few pictures taken by MixFight.RU from this historic event, unfortunately who ever was in charge of Fedor's wardrobe failed miserably as the symbolic sweater of power is nowhere to be seen. Despite there being no sweater he does manage to pull off the suit jacket look like a natural. Also announced at this meeting, a World Cup of MMA to be held November 1 in St. Petersburg Russia with fighters from over 50 countries. If you can read Russian like our Bauzen, or just feel like playing around with Google Translate, you can check out the rest of the article on MixFight.RU. All hail President Fedor-first the Russian MMA Union, next step the Omniverse. [source]

Posted in: mma, president, fedor, union, russian

Mark Hunt is injured, Lavar Johnson to face Stefan Struve at UFC 146

Lavar Johnson (17-5 MMA, 2-0 UFC) will be replacing Mark Hunt (8-7 MMA, 3-1 UFC) in a Heavyweight fight against Stefan "Skyskraper" Struve (23-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC) at UFC 146, which takes place May 26 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Hunt was forced out due to a knee injury (PCL), during training. Hunt tweeted earlier: @GHETTO_FABOLOUS well its my first time i had to pull out of a fight — mark richard hunt (@markhunt1974) May 17, 2012 its a sore leg injury pcl lol — mark

Posted in: ufc, mark, hunt, mma, time i

Too much UFC is f'ing with my fight feelings

"I fucked up and didn't notice it wasn't." It was just a tingle midway through the Yves Jabouin vs. Jeff Hougland fight at UFC on FUEL TV 3 last night (May, 15, 2012), but then it hit me like a clean Dan Henderson right hand the moment Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White uttered that simple eight-word phrase on Twitter.com. I didn't care. I was bored. And not even a sensational scrap between Chan Sung Jung vs. Dustin Poirier less than a half-hour later could help shake the feeling I've been feeling about the recent state of mixed martial arts (MMA) these days. Here is where all the predictable cool cats can stop reading, cut to the comments and call me retarded for being such a curmudgeon. Because that fight is what MMA is all about! And if it doesn't give you a mild stiffy that lasts until the next major show in less than two weeks, well, that's just your stupid problem. I'll (kinda) agree because, well, it is what the sport is all about -- it's a shining example of its thrilling excellence. But, it's a little more profound for my sophisticated MMA palate. That's because when the micro-managing, obsessed president of the world's leading MMA promotion fails to realize that the co main event of 12-fight card on a FOX sister station is not even Strikeforce worthy, something just ain't right. Sure, White's busier than a fucking hooker in Rio during Carnival, jet-setting across the fucking planet in his corporate jet, inking huge fucking deals at breakfast and taking this fucking sport global, baby. Fuck, it's fighting. It's in our DNA, dude. And White is the one with the brass balls who is going to get this bitch bigger than soccer. Health be damned. And he's hellbent on achieving his lofty goal even if it means the passionate MMA ambassador "fucks up" a fight card we are all supposed to get excited about. The only problem is, outside of the main event and the Donald Cerrone vs. Jeremy Stephens showdown, which was supposed to be the co-featured fight of the night, I couldn't give two shits about the 10 other UFC on FUEL TV 3 fights. I'm in a unique position, following this sport has turned from a hobby to a responsibility. So if upcoming events or under card bouts don't give me butterflies or get my heart racing, we can attribute it to the day-to-day rigors multiplied by seven or so years. I'm conditioned to not get too excited. Don't get me wrong, I couldn't wait for Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans. But, I was left completely unsatisfied after "Suga" didn't turn in the performance he promised. The good news, it would appear, was that I didn't have to wait another month or two to get my MMA redemption. Nope, I got served a FOX special two weeks later, complete with one of the most entertaining fighters in the sport, Nate Diaz, who completely routed a very good Jim Miller. The immediate feeling felt good again, but unfortunately the buzz fizzled before the post-fight presser wrapped. Why? Because I had next to no time to let the Jones-Evans outcome sink in, register and let the anticipation build for the next great show. Call it what you want. And most would refer to it as over-saturation or #JumpTheShark ... or both. I'm okay with the former and wouldn't doubt the latter because I firmly believe the UFC is trying to do too much, too fast. So much and so fast that once important details like co main prestige, which at some point in time actually meant something, are seemingly rendered meaningless by the one man who probably loves this sport the most. That's saying something. A lot. And it all but confirmed the feeling I've been feeling since this year began: Quality trumps quantity, bigger is not better. Indeed, less is more, especially when big draws are retiring (Brock Lesnar, B.J. Penn and Nick Diaz to name a few), champions are getting hurt (Georges St. Pierre and Dominick Cruz), divisions are stuck in the mud (Lightweight and Flyweight) and nameless number one contenders (Erik Koch) are headlining major pay-per-view (PPV) events. Company executives (White), meanwhile, have to hijack their own video blogs to explain RATINGS to fans who likely couldn't give a rats ass about them. Ratings to MMA fans is like practice to Allen Iverson: Irrelevant. Let's not even get started on fighter behavior, drug habits and The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) expansion of the reality franchise into other parts of the world other than the United States and Brazil. Especially if Ross Pearson and George Sotiropoulos are indeed the leading "SMASHES" coach candidates. After all, the ratings will stink, one of the coaches will get hurt and White will have to orchestrate musical chairs as the culminating fight night approaches, selling us on the fact that his guys, the UFC, always fucking deliver. That's what always happens, right? It's not all that depressing. We've got Junior dos Santos defending his Heavyweight title against Frank Mir. I like that fight right up until the moment "Cigano" connects with a clean shot to the temple. Mir isn't breaking anymore bones ... not at UFC 146 at least. Even still, that's a great top-to-bottom line up that took significant effort to assemble. And it shows. The same can be said for UFC 148 and the rematch between Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen. I wouldn't miss that for anything. The rest of the card is pretty damn impressive, too. However, between UFC 146 and UFC 148, which are about six weeks apart, there are are four other events with maybe four or five fights that I actually want to see. Four or five bouts that would have made an excellent card if combined rather than scattering them among too many cards and pairing them with too many other fights -- and events -- most fans couldn't care less about. Can you rattle off the respective co main events? I can't ... and it's my "job." Nothing is "fucked up," as far as I can tell. But, then again, I wouldn't really know if there was because I'm too bored look. Or, perhaps, I'm just too busy, forced to waste time focusing on the junk, while the few precious jewels that actually mean something start to mean less and less. Hopefully, White will fucking take notice.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, event, fucking

MMA Roundtable: Zombie Hunting, Grand Prix Importance, More

The "Korean Zombie" Chan Sung Jung is the talk of the MMA world on Wednesday morning. Pound-for-pound, he might be the most exciting fighter alive. He certainly has a legitimate argument for it, as he's yet to have even a remotely uninteresting match while competing under the Zuffa banner. Even if there's someone you would personally place ahead of him on this mythical list, Jung is all we can ask for in a fighter. He is fearless, aggressive and constantly searching for a finish, yet he is also continually adding technical refinements to his game that allow him to succeed against an increasing level of competition. But is he ready for a featherweight championship opportunity? To tackle that question and several others in the news, I invited colleague Dave Doyle for this week's edition of The MMA Roundtable. 1. With his win over Dustin Poirier at UFC on FUEL 3, did Chan Sung Jung prove that he's ready for a title shot?Mike Chiappetta: I would say yes. With his win, he proved that he's capable of competing with anyone, Aldo included. I very wrongly picked Poirier to win, and to be honest, I thought he would do so in quite dominant fashion. As I saw it after watching tape on both, Poirier was sharper in all the important phases of the game. But Jung has made several slight but key alterations to his approach that now complement his aggression to add an extra element of danger to the proceedings. His best attribute though, might be his ability to turn the fight into one that favors his style. Would he be able to force Aldo into that kind of fight? Maybe, maybe not, but I think we'll get to find out.Why? Just as importantly as his fight skills, he is immensely popular. There aren't many featherweights that can claim that, and let's face it, the UFC often considers box-office value when making these decisions. Because of all these factors, don't be surprised if the Zombie gets plugged into a title shot in his next match.Dave Doyle: We've known Jung has plenty of heart since his first fight on these shores, the 2010 Fight of the Year loss to Leonard Garcia in Sacramento. Since then, though, we've watched "The Korean Zombie" blossom into the complete package of a fighter right before our eyes. We've seen him exhibit knockout power against Mark Hominick. We've seen him demonstrate outstanding technique in his submissions. We see a fighter who gets better all around with each fight. In short, we've seen the birth of a contender. I'm not going to go off the deep end here and call him the favorite in a potential bout against Jose Aldo Jr. or anything, but, let me put it this way: Assuming Jung goes on to meet Aldo, this will be the first time in a long time that I don't go into an Aldo fight automatically assuming the featherweight champ will steamroll his opponent. 2. The Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix concludes this weekend. Was it a success or failure?Doyle: Mostly a failure, but there’s still a potential silver lining. Go back to the Grand Prix’s beginning and consider what the company’s goals were in putting the tournament together. It was designed to show that Strikeforce, then an independent company, had a superior heavyweight division to the UFC, and, realistically, it was designed as a showcase for Fedor Emelianenko coming off his loss to Fabricio Werdum.Well, how did that work out? There was the disastrous opening night, in which Fedor got pummeled by Antonio Silva and Andrei Arlovski was brutally KO'd. The company was sold to the UFC. Josh Barnett’s licensing issues caused a holdup. Alistair Overeem left the company. On and on the list goes. Now for the potential redemption: After all this, there’s still the ability to build a new star. Daniel Cormier’s on a roll. He looks better with every fight. His knockout of Antonio Silva was impressive. If he looks good Saturday and can defeat a former UFC champion in Josh Barnett, then we’ve got ourselves a new heavyweight headliner. So there’s still hope for the Grand Prix.Chiappetta: This is a question that won't be answered until Saturday night. Despite all of the negatives Dave pointed out, a tournament's ultimate importance is in building buzz for the winner. If Cormier or Barnett walk out of the HP Pavilion with a growing chorus of believers, it will have ultimately served its (admittedly altered) purpose. This only works because the winner is eventually going to move over to the UFC, where presumably, he can make a solid case for the No. 1 contender slot. If the Strikeforce heavyweights hadn't moved over and the winner was forced to stay there, thereby depriving us of any fun speculation, it would have been fair to call the whole thing an unmitigated disaster. As it stands now, it is whatever Cormier or Barnett make of it. If the winner moves to the UFC and builds buzz into a title match, then it's a success. If nobody cares, it will have been mostly for naught.3. Can King Mo Muhammed Lawal excel at mixed martial arts while busy working in pro wrestling simultaneously?Chiappetta: What King Mo is going to be attempting is no easy task. First of all, full disclosure: though I've been a sports reporter for the majority of my career, I worked for the WWE for a years in the early 2000s, so I have a pretty good understanding of the pro wrestling industry. Pro wrestling is awfully demanding. Most good athletes require a few years to learn the craft of "story-telling" a match, and even if you're good at it, injuries are quite common. Even if Impact Wrestling tries to work an abbreviated schedule with Lawal and minimizes his risk by having him concentrate on basic moves and his verbal gifts, he's still going to have to apply himself to excel, thereby minimizing his MMA time by some degree.It's not impossible that he can be good at both, but my concern for him is his health. He's had multiple knee issues in the last few years, and at 31 years old, he's not old, but he doesn't have youth on his side, either. The one thing that can help him? Bellator's light-heavyweight division is arguably its weakest. Champ Christian M'Pumbu recently lost a non-title fight with Travis Wiuff, and no one in the weight class comes close to sniffing the top 20. If Lawal stays healthy, he should be OK. But that's a big "if."Doyle: "King Mo" has an astounding ability to mesmerize the mixed martial arts media. His last fight sold precisely 927 tickets, yet his every move gets tracked as if he's got the combined star power of Brock Lesnar and Jon Jones. And it's for precisely that reason that I think he's going to become a huge star in the world of pro wrestling. Rasslin' success is based in large part on the ability to hype yourself, with, of course, a dose of legitimate athleticism thrown in. Lawal has already proven with his outsized ability to draw attention in MMA that he's blessed with the sort of charisma that translates well to wrestling, and he has the athletic talent needed to make the package complete. Now, does that mean it will translate to MMA success? Unlikely. As Mike astutely notes, pro wrestling is a physical grind, and Lawal already is coping with injuries and ailments. Pulling off both is going to be one tough feat. In wrestling, a hurt performer can go on for years with a style that works around their injuries. MMA offers no such luxury.4. Was Nick Diaz's submission grappling match no-show unfairly scrutinized? Doyle: You can make a general case that Nick Diaz’s life is overly scrutinized. If word gets out on the Internet that Diaz went to Whole Foods, within hours there would be a half-dozen blog posts psychoanalyzing his choice of vegetables. If Diaz wants to smoke weed in his free time? Not my problem, or anyone else’s. Does he have social anxiety disorder? That’s between him and his shrink. In the specific case of last weekend’s planned grappling match with Braulio Estima in Long Beach, though, yes, he deserves every bit of scrutiny which comes his way. This is for a simple reason: He stiffed the fans, the very people who have made mixed martial arts as big as it is. Diaz might have valid reasons for being upset with how the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo was being run. If he pulled out of the event beforehand and had Cesar Gracie explain to the fans his reasoning before the event went live, instead of two days after the fact, then they would have at least had a case. But when you leave both a full house live and people who were watching online stranded -- people who are your hardest-core fans -- then you’ve crossed a line and you deserve whatever scrutiny follows. Chiappetta: I may be in the vast minority here, but I think this Diaz-Estima situation was the most overblown drama I've seen in ages. You know why? Diaz is a mixed martial artist. That's his job. That's how he makes his living. He planned to do a jiu-jitsu match on the side, and that's fine, but let's be honest, it was a temporary diversion from him, and as it turns out, he got diverted from his own diversion.Let's put this into a bigger context. Imagine if eccentric Los Angeles Laker Metta World Peace blew off a free throw shooting contest. Do you think that would draw major headlines? Nope, it wouldn't measure a blip on the radar screen. This is a parallel situation.Let's get one thing clear: I'm not excusing Diaz of wrongdoing. Obviously we would like our professional athletes to act, you know, professionally. But Diaz has shown time and time again that that's not always going to happen. While I do feel sympathy for the fans who paid to see him, and also for Estima, who traveled from abroad for the match, this is kind of like the parable of the boy and the snake. The snake promises not to bite the boy if he saves him from freezing cold, but after the boy saves him, the snake bites him anyway. Why? Because he's a snake, that's why. We know who Diaz is; we should no longer be surprised when he does these things.

Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, mma, he

Video: Reuters gives a look on the tremendous growth of MMA in AsiaThey talk about surging...

Video: Reuters gives a look on the tremendous growth of MMA in Asia They talk about surging promotions such as ONE FC and Legend FC, including interviews with the UFC's Mark Fisher, Mike Haskamp of Legend FC, and Cole Sirucek of Hong Kong's top gym, Epic MMA.

Posted in: mma, legend fc, video reuters, hong kongs, cole sirucek

The smart MMA girl is back, and she even knows who Sakuraba is

Once again, we have a little girl that knows more names of MMA fighters than 77% of the people reading this article. I hired statisticians solely for this article to give us an analytical breakdown of the amount of names when compared to the average MiddleEasy viewer. These same statisticians also evaluated that 100% of that previous statement is bogus and ridiculous. I just created an arbitrary number to make an imaginary 33% of the people reading this article feel better about themselves. See, we boost your self-worth even when you guys rip ours down. Damn, that was an Oprah moment. Excuse me while I give everyone a free 2012 Ford Focus and a gift basket with like sixteen iPads inside. You can wait until the end of time to receive those prizes, or you can watch this video of MiddleEasy reader @Chute_Boxer's kid (MMA Girly) school the entire world on her MMA knowledge.

Posted in: mma, mma fighters, article, people reading, gift basket

Cesar Gracie gives Nick Diaz’s side of the story after last weekend’s BJJ debacle

UFC welterweight Nick Diaz is not necessarily the most eloquent individual, often cracking under the pressure of media attention similarly to the way he breaks opponents inside the Octagon. However, coach/mentor Cesar Gracie has no such problem penning a thoughtful statement laced with objectivity, not profanity. Gracie did just that last night regarding Diaz’s decision to no-show a scheduled BJJ superfight with Braulio Estima. And, while the renowned instructor certainly defended Diaz in the public plea, he also made it clear he wasn’t happy with how the 28-year old handled himself either. “Nick is not without fault by any means. His lack of communication with his team and coach was inexcusable. This will be addressed privately,” wrote Gracie after revealing a number of situations behind-the-scenes had lead to Diaz’s behavior. According to Gracie, the company behind the match misrepresented the situation by presenting Estima as an opponent without aspirations to compete as a Mixed Martial Artist. Feeling as though the Brazilian would likely use a BJJ victory over Diaz as a means of promoting himself in the MMA arena, Gracie and Diaz were initially inclined to pull out of the bout sooner but felt obligated to perform based on Renzo Gracie’s financial investment in the WJJE (where the bout was to be held). UFC President Dana White Reacts to Diaz’s No-Show Another issue arose when Estima failed to make an agreed upon weight the night before the clash was to take place. This was apparently the final straw for Diaz who left town the morning of the match and went home without telling anyone. Read the full statement from Gracie below: “My decision to write an account of what happened this weekend is not to answer to the detractors of myself or my team, as no explanation is owed them. It is instead based on my acknowledgement and respect to our fans and supporters. I never thought I would be answering for something that happened at a grappling tournament, however with the worldwide popularity of the sport and my team increasing, I understand that our supporters need answers. Below is a compilation of events in chronological order. I included the behind the scenes problems we had to let you, our supporters, know how things deteriorated. Facts In the month of February I was contacted by a Brazilian named Junior asking me if I wanted to participate in an Expo\Jiu-jitsu tournament. The goal was to put one of our team’s stars in the event to attract sponsors and ensure it was successful. The event was not that far away and they desperately needed exposure. Junior stated that he was working with my uncle Rilion and my cousin Renzo on this project and they were in fact partners. Rilion and Renzo are 2 people that I greatly admire and respect and I was more than happy to partner up with them. I discussed the idea with Nick Diaz and he readily agreed to enter in the black belt gi division. He did not seek any reimbursement. Junior thought it better for Nick to do a super fight as he thought this would be more of a spectacle and bring in more attention.Nick was not as enthusiastic but agreed on the condition that whoever was picked to go against him was not a MMA fighter. He knew even a mediocre MMA fighter would try to use a match and/or victory over him to further their career in MMA. Nick believes a reputation as a fighter should only be earned in a ring or cage. I relayed this to Junior and he agreed to arrange for a strict jiu-jitsu competitor. In March I received the disturbing news from Rilion that Junior had broken his agreement with him. Rilion stated to me that Junior was registering all World Jiu-jitsu Expo names under his name alone and was no longer taking his phone calls. When contacted by me, Junior stated that he would no longer honor his financial obligations to Rilion because “Rilion was doing nothing and treats me like one of his clerks”. He then went on a tirade about Rilion which I interrupted and reminded him that Rilion was my family member and I would not listen to someone speaking negatively about him. This rift left me in a dilemma. My instinct was to sever ties immediately. Rilion was my original jiu-jitsu instructor and his reputation as an honest person was impeccable. On the other hand we had already committed Diaz and Caio Terra. Our removal would destroy an event Renzo provided all of the funding for. I consulted with Rilion who advised me to move forward with the event. He was the one that had brought Renzo into this project and convinced Renzo to fund it. He also still believed in the idea of an American tournament that paid the best BJJ guys on the planet to showcase their skills. We agreed to move forward without him since at this stage Junior had entrenched himself and his removal was impossible. Lastly Rilion warned me that Junior was not to be trusted and would undoubtedly try to cheat me and Renzo. In early April I got the call from Junior asking what I thought of a Braulio Estima vs Nick Diaz matchup. I had heard of Braulio and knew he was a formidable jiu-jitsu practitioner. I was under the impression that Braulio competed in the close to 200lbs weight category. When I asked Junior he assured me that Braulio could weigh in as little as 175 lbs right before the match. I presented his information to Nick who accepted the matchup and seemed happy to go against the top BJJ player in the world at that weight. Nick started training for the match and I brought up several BJJ black belts to compliment his training. Looking through some of Estima’s YouTube videos, it was soon discovered that he had in fact been planning on entering upon a career in MMA. We wondered if the match with Diaz was a way to create a buzz around him and get him signed with a prominent organization. I called Junior who assured me Estima would not be fighting in MMA and that he had spoken with him and been assured he had given up on the idea of ever fighting. Junior reiterated, “Cesar I spoke with Braulio, the guy is in his 30?s, he has a family and doesn’t want to live that type of life at this stage in his life…etc” I repeated this info to Nick. A week or so later it was all over the Internet that Braulio had joined the “Blackzillians” and was training for a MMA fight. We had been lied to. Furthermore it was evident that Nick’s sole condition that he not go against a wanna be MMA guy was violated and this was in fact an attempt by Braulio to ignite an MMA career.Nick was to have been accurately portrayed as a fighter returning to his BJJ roots. He had even agreed to give his entire purse to charity; St Jude’s Children’s Hospital for kids with cancer. If you know the story of Ralph Gracie’s son you would understand why this charity was chosen. Nick’s name having been added to this event had saved it but now it was clear he was to be the patsy, not respected but used. Despite all of this Nick was still going to compete. He brought up Kron Gracie and prepared himself. Around this time I was informed by Junior that Braulio wanted to weigh in the day before and not right before the match as is the custom in IBJJ competitions and Abu Dhabi. At the time Nick was about 186lbs so I consented to both guys weighing in at 180lbs the night before. Nick boarded a plane on Friday for Long Beach having cut 6 pounds for the weigh in that night. On his way there I got a call from Junior telling me Braulio would not be making weight! ”Cesar Braulio is complaining about the weight cut. Can we have him weigh in tomorrow? He can’t make the weight tonight how about 185 in the morning?” Nick arrives in Long Beach to the news that there will be no weigh ins that night. As a professional with over 30 fights this was the final straw. The disrespect and total lack of professionalism given him convinced him he was at a circus not a professional event. At 3:20 in the morning I received a text from Junior that Braulio would in fact make the 180lbs weight class at 10:00AM. With no other option available I said fine I’ll check with Nick in the morning. At 10:00AM Braulio did weigh in at 180lbs but by that time Nick had already left. Opinion As a Brazilian I love Brazil but not all things Brazilian. In the last decade I have witnessed Brazilian cronies running the IBJJF and making it impossible for Americans to get a fair shake when competing against their Brazilian countrymen. These cronies have instituted rules to where if you miss weight by even half a pound you are disqualified and not refunded your entry fee. They gladly keep your money and treat you like crap in your country because they can. One of these cronies (Junior) decided to bend all the rules for Braulio Estima and treat Nick Diaz like crap. Sorry that didn’t work out here. As for Braulio I still respect him as a great BJJ artist. As far as calling Nick out for a MMA fight, he knows that is impossible because Nick is signed with the UFC and in MMA you have to make weight when they want you to. Not when you want to. If Braulio ever finds success in MMA then he can mention Nick’s name for a fight. Right now he should respect the man. Nick is not without fault by any means. His lack of communication with his team and coach was inexcusable. This will be addressed privately. Renzo and I have spoken and we are committed to continuing with this otherwise awesome event….without the services of Junior. It should be noted that Nick paid to St Jude’s Children’s Hospitable the sum of what would have been his entire purse. Thank you, You have my apologies and my respect Cesar Gracie PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE Tweet

Posted in: diaz, mma, nick, braulio, rilion

The MMA Hour - Episode 131 - Muhammed Lawal

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Cesar Gracie’s Official Statement on Nick Diaz/World Jiu-jitsu Expo

Late last evening via GracieFighter.com, Nick Diaz’s coach and manager Cesar Gracie released an official statement on his student no-showing the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo over the weekend. Gracie starts off by explaining the initial organization of the expo, which was apparently overseen “by a Brazilian named Junior.” Upon learning of his uncle Rilion and cousin Renzo’s involvement with the expo, Cesar brought up the idea to Nick Diaz, who initially agreed to participate in a black belt tournament. I discussed the idea with Nick Diaz and he readily agreed to enter in the black belt gi division. He did not seek any reimbursement. Junior thought it better for Nick to do a super fight as he thought this would be more of a spectacle and bring in more attention. Nick was not as enthusiastic but agreed on the condition that whoever was picked to go against him was not an mma fighter. He knew even a mediocre mma fighter would try to use a match and/or victory over him to further their career in mma. Nick believes a reputation as a fighter should only be earned in a ring or cage.I relayed this to Junior and he agreed to arrange for a strict jiu-jitsu competitor. Before long, Cesar learned that Rilion an Junior had come to a business disagreement and severed ties. Considering Renzo’s large financial stake in the tournament, Rilion advised Cesar to move ahead with the tournament, but with caution; Cesar agreed. Junior proposed Braulio Estima as an opponent for Diaz with the strict assurance that Estima had no intentions of ever competing in mixed martial arts. I repeated this info to Nick. A week or so later it was all over the Internet that Braulio had joined the “Blackzillians” and was training for an mma fight. We had been lied to. Furthermore it was evident that Nick’s sole condition that he not go against a wanna be mma guy was violated and this was in fact an attempt by Braulio to ignite an mma career.Nick was to have been accurately portrayed as a fighter returning to his BJJ roots. He had even agreed to give his entire purse to charity; St Jude’s Children’s Hospital for kids with cancer. If you know the story of Ralph Gracie’s son you would understand why this charity was chosen. Nick’s name having been added to this event had saved it but now it was clear he was to be the patsy, not respected but used. Cesar says that even after learning of this, Diaz intended to go through with the fight. He also agreed to weigh in the night before the competition at 180lbs. Nick boarded a plane on Friday for Long Beach having cut 6 pounds for the weigh in that night. On his way there I got a call from Junior telling me Braulio would not be making weight! ”Cesar Braulio is complaining about the weight cut. Can we have him weigh in tomorrow? He can’t make the weight tonight how about 185 in the morning?” Nick arrives in Long Beach to the news that there will be no weigh ins that night. As a professional with over 30 fights this was the final straw. The disrespect and total lack of professionalism given him convinced him he was at a circus not a professional event. At 3:20 in the morning I received a text from Junior that Braulio would in fact make the 180lbs weight class at 10:00AM. With no other option available I said fine I’ll check with Nick in the morning. At 10:00AM Braulio did weigh in at 180lbs but by that time Nick had already left. Gracie gave respect to Estima as a BJJ player, but answered his call for an MMA fight with Diaz by saying he needed to “find success in MMA” first. He pointed to what he believes was a crooked promoter’s intentional tipping of the scales in his countryman’s favor as what ultimately cancelled the fight. As a Brazilian I love Brazil but not all things Brazilian. In the last decade I have witnessed Brazilian cronies running the IBJJF and making it impossible for Americans to get a fair shake when competing against their Brazilian countrymen. These cronies have instituted rules to where if you miss weight by even half a pound you are disqualified and not refunded your entry fee. They gladly keep your money and treat you like crap in your country because they can. One of these cronies (Junior) decided to bend all the rules for Braulio Estima and treat Nick Diaz like crap. Sorry that didn’t work out here. The coach didn’t deflect all the blame from Diaz though, asserting that he will be reprimanded for his disappearing act. He also reminded us that Diaz did make the agreed-upon donation to St. Jude’s out of his own pocket. Nick is not without fault by any means. His lack of communication with his team and coach was inexcusable. This will be addressed privately. Renzo and I have spoken and we are committed to continuing with this otherwise awesome event….without the services of Junior. It should be noted that Nick paid to St Jude’s Children’s Hospitable the sum of what would have been his entire purse. Renzo Gracie has since spoken out about the event since it all went down last Saturday, appearing on the MMA Show with Mauro Ranallo taking blame for the situation for his role in allowing Junior to organize. MMAFrenzy.com

Posted in: diaz, mma, nick, cesar, braulio

The MMA Hour - Episode 131 - Junior dos Santos

Posted in: mma, hour, do, episode

Diaz absent at World Jiu Jitsu Expo

MMA Weekly reports that Nick Diaz did not appear at his scheduled jiu jitsu superfight against Braulio Estima this weekend. Diaz was in the main event which was held at the World Jiu Jitsu Expo this weekend in Long Beach, California. The fights were available online on via live stream for $9.95 with Diaz as the selling point for the card. Cesar Gracie explained on his web site (via MMA Weekly) that Diaz’s absence at the event was due in part to mishandling of the event. The crux of the explanation was that Diaz wanted to grapple with a jiu jitsu practitioner and not an individual aspiring to be an MMA fighter. According to Gracie, it was represented that Estima was not training for MMA. However, it was relayed later that Estima was planning to be an MMA fighter. Also, Gracie explained that Estima was having issues making weight which apparently was the last straw. Despite no-showing, Gracie stated Diaz donated money to St. Jude’s Childrens Hospital in the amount of money he would have made for the superfight. Payout Perspective: No-showing this past weekend probably hurt the Nick Diaz brand. But, then again, this behavior is normal for Diaz. Gracie’s explanation sheds some light on what could have been the problem causing Diaz not to participate Saturday. Certainly, Diaz’s absence hurt the event as many relied on his appearance — sponsors, vendors, fans in attendance and those purchasing the live stream online. Diaz’s explanation is plausible and his demand not to meet a grappler aspiring to be in MMA makes sense from Diaz’s point of view. From a public relations perspective, it seems like Diaz, not Gracie, could have made the statement about the reasons for not appearing. Regardless of the management of the event or the promises given about his opponent, many people relied on Diaz to appear at the event. Even if he were to decline participation and just show up to sign autographs and/or conduct a demonstration it would save face. With the no-show, it continues the stigma that Diaz does not play the game and hurts future appearance opportunities.

Posted in: diaz, mma, event, gracie, mma fighter

The MMA Hour - Episode 131 - Josh Barnett

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The MMA Hour - Episode 131 - Josh Thomson

Posted in: mma, hour, episode, josh, thomson

The MMA Hour - Episode 131 - MiO Questions

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Morning Report: Cesar Gracie Releases Official Response, Says Nick Diaz Felt Like He Was in a Circus

Let's get this out of the way now. Cesar Gracie released an official response to the whole Nick Diaz no-showing the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo situation, and it's definitely... something. But hey guys, pay attention real quick. Are you ready for this? I'm going to blow your mind. There's a UFC card tonight. (I get it, most of you already knew that. But I'm willing to bet there's at least one guy out there who just got his mind blown. So for that guy, you're welcome.) Obviously the whole Diaz soap opera continues to roll on, but I can't be the only one who just wants to tune out the noise and watch some actual, real-life fighting. Remember the last time there were mid-week fights, and how they proved to be a nice little slice of violence to relieve the weekday monotony? Even if tonight's UFC on FUEL 3 card isn't the most star-studded, you and I both know that likely means we're about to see nothing but brawls. And besides, personally, I'm ultra-curious to see if Chan Sung Jung has really turned a corner or if Dustin Poirier is actually the can't-miss prospect we all think he could be. And how can Donald Cerrone possibly recover after having his soul snatched by Nate Diaz? I demand answers. 5 MUST-READ STORIES UFC on FUEL 3 weigh-in results. All fighters made weight at Monday's UFC on FUEL 3 weigh-ins, including featherweight headliners Chan Sung Jung and Dustin Poirier. Cesar Gracie responds. Cesar Gracie issued an official response to the bizarre Nick Diaz situation, explaining that Diaz abandoned his match with Braulio Estima because of a series of perceived slights which accumulated to make him feel like "he was at a circus." The MMA Hour. Ariel Helwani and The MMA Hour return to your life with a championship line-up featuring Junior dos Santos, Urijah Faber, Josh Barnett, Daniel Cormier, Gilbert Melendez, Josh Thomson and Vinny Magalhaes. Nick Diaz-Braulio Estima. Ben Thapa presents a comprehensive timeline detailing how exactly the Nick Diaz-Braulio Estima situation spiraled so heavily out of control, so quickly. Nick Diaz's injunction denied. Judge Rob Bare denied an injunction request that would have effectively overturned Nick Diaz's temporary suspension during a Monday hearing in Clark County district court. WANT TO BUY AN M-1 TITLE? Current bid to buy Vinny Magalhaes' M-1 light heavyweight belt: SOLD at $100k? Yesterday's bid: $2,125.00 MEDIA STEW So Dana White wasn't happy with the pessimistic coverage of the UFC on FOX 3 ratings, and he released a 4 1/2 minute video blog to tell you. Donald Cerrone might want to be wary of getting too comfortable tonight, because Jeremy Stephens has a history of doing violent things when he's down two rounds to zero. Wanderlei Silva is forced into dog-duty for his latest video blog, so he carries the little pup to the beach and launches into a surprisingly poetic speech about how much of a jerk Vitor Belfort is being on TUF Brazil. We wish we could show you Korean Zombie vs. Leonard Garcia I, since it was probably the most insane fight ever held. But instead, we'll just have to settle on Korean Zombie vs. Leonard Garcia II and one of the most creative submissions in MMA history. (How ridiculous would it be see Zombie bust another one of these out tonight?) Prepare to see one of the worst leg breaks you've ever seen in your life: Told you. That unfortunate limb belongs to Gerry Hopkins, whose leg kick was checked by Ash Griffith earlier this week at England's Total Combat 47. (HT: MMA HQ) CESAR'S RESPONSE Will be posted at 10:30pm PST. Ross Goodman (attorney) asked to review it before posting. Thinks I am too forthcoming for own good — Cesar Gracie (@CesarGracieBJJ) May 15, 2012 Graciefighter.com. Up — Cesar Gracie (@CesarGracieBJJ) May 15, 2012 DANA ON DIAZ @evan1evan next time!? Dude, what planet do you live on? It's been my problem for over a year. Do u not watch the UFC or follow MMA? — Dana White (@danawhite) May 13, 2012 GOIN' ZOMBIE HUNTING Want to thank my family,friends and supporters!! Thank you guys so much for everything. Tomorrow I will fight with my heart. Thank you — The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) May 15, 2012 WOW... Good to see the other Lakers respond to Kobe's demand they step up their game. The playoffs aren't like raping someone. He can't do it alone — Sean McCorkle (@BigSexyMcCorkle) May 15, 2012 FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS Announced yesterday (Monday, May 14, 2012): - UFC on FOX 4: Chad Griggs (11-2) vs. Phil Davis (9-1) - UFC on FUEL 4: Aaron Simpson (11-3) vs. Jon Fitch (23-4-1) confirmed FANPOST OF THE DAY Today's Fanpost of the Day is a thorough recap of Josh Barnett's rocky relationship with the UFC: The Sketchy Past Of Josh Barnett Leaves His Future In Question In one of the most anticipated Heavyweight bouts of the last year, Josh Barnett is set to face-off against former Olympian Daniel Cormier on May 19th at the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Finals. Daniel has been a highly touted and impressive prospect since he was signed by Strikeforce. After racking up 7 wins and remaining undefeated, Cormier was tapped as an alternate for the Grand Prix. When Alistair Overeem was dropped from the organization, Daniel got the call to fill his spot against Antonio Silva. In the biggest test of his MMA career thus far, Cormier impressed with a TKO victory and earned his spot in the finals. There's no doubt that win or lose he's looking at an exciting future with the UFC. The picture is not so clear for veteran fighter Josh Barnett, however. At a glance, the choice seems easy. He's an uncontested top 10 fighter. He's charismatic. He's widely recognized as being a part of some of the best fights in the sports history in his battles against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. And he breezed through the first two rounds of the tournament without a scratch. Easy call, right? Not so fast. There's a reason Barnett is one of the most infamous fighter's in MMA's short history. Namely, PED's. Barnett started strong, rattling off 10 consecutive victories before losing to former UFC champion Pedro Rizzo at UFC 30. He recovered well, though, and finished his next two fights earning himself a shot at the title against Randy Couture. Josh scored the TKO victory late in the second to win the Heavyweight title, but his triumph would be very short-lived. Barnett tested positive for three different banned substances and was kicked out of the promotion by UFC president Dana White (Note: Mike Sloan of Sherdog has reported that Barnett also failed at UFC 34, but was not punished. I was unable to find any other confirmation of this report). Barnett was sentenced with a six month suspension and forced to find somewhere else to compete. This failed test would be a turning point in Barnett's career. Found something perfect for the Morning Report? Just hit me on Twitter @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in tomorrow's post.

Posted in: ufc, diaz, mma, barnett, cesar

Cesar Gracie says Nick Diaz’s lack of communication was inexcusable

Renowned coach Cesar Gracie is a lot of things for polarizing welterweight Nick Diaz – a trainer, a mentor, a father-figure, and now apparently a spokesperson. Gracie, who has stood up for Diaz publicly before, finally broke the silence surrounding the 28-year old’s decision to not show up for a scheduled grappling match this past weekend. While Gracie expressed disappointment in a written statement published late last night he also made it clear he understood where his star pupil was coming from given the lack of professionalism he received from the organization hosting the bout. According to Gracie, the issues influencing Diaz’s decision related to opponent Braulio Estima being presented as someone with no interest in a MMA career as well as the Brazilian’s weight-related demands. Originally Diaz’s camp had been told Estima was purely focused on grappling as a means of quelling their concerns about a BJJ-based win being used as a means of self-promotion in the MMA field. When they learned he had started training for an eventual MMA debut a red flag went up. Estima also failed to make an agreed-upon weight the night before the match-up, adding to Diaz’s displeasure with how things were being handled. However, that doesn’t mean Gracie let Diaz off the hook for his role in the matter. “Nick is not without fault by any means. His lack of communication with his team and coach was inexcusable. This will be addressed privately,” wrote Gracie. Gracie also added Diaz donated a sum equal to that of his purse from the event to St. Jude’s Hospital as he’d planned to do with his winnings. The full body of Gracie’s statement can be found below: My decision to write an account of what happened this weekend is not to answer to the detractors of myself or my team, as no explanation is owed them. It is instead based on my acknowledgement and respect to our fans and supporters. I never thought I would be answering for something that happened at a grappling tournament, however with the worldwide popularity of the sport and my team increasing, I understand that our supporters need answers. Below is a compilation of events in chronological order. I included the behind the scenes problems we had to let you, our supporters, know how things deteriorated. Facts In the month of February I was contacted by a Brazilian named Junior asking me if I wanted to participate in an Expo\Jiu-jitsu tournament. The goal was to put one of our team’s stars in the event to attract sponsors and ensure it was successful. The event was not that far away and they desperately needed exposure. Junior stated that he was working with my uncle Rilion and my cousin Renzo on this project and they were in fact partners. Rilion and Renzo are 2 people that I greatly admire and respect and I was more than happy to partner up with them. I discussed the idea with Nick Diaz and he readily agreed to enter in the black belt gi division. He did not seek any reimbursement. Junior thought it better for Nick to do a super fight as he thought this would be more of a spectacle and bring in more attention.Nick was not as enthusiastic but agreed on the condition that whoever was picked to go against him was not a MMA fighter. He knew even a mediocre MMA fighter would try to use a match and/or victory over him to further their career in MMA. Nick believes a reputation as a fighter should only be earned in a ring or cage. I relayed this to Junior and he agreed to arrange for a strict jiu-jitsu competitor. In March I received the disturbing news from Rilion that Junior had broken his agreement with him. Rilion stated to me that Junior was registering all World Jiu-jitsu Expo names under his name alone and was no longer taking his phone calls. When contacted by me, Junior stated that he would no longer honor his financial obligations to Rilion because “Rilion was doing nothing and treats me like one of his clerks”. He then went on a tirade about Rilion which I interrupted and reminded him that Rilion was my family member and I would not listen to someone speaking negatively about him. This rift left me in a dilemma. My instinct was to sever ties immediately. Rilion was my original jiu-jitsu instructor and his reputation as an honest person was impeccable. On the other hand we had already committed Diaz and Caio Terra. Our removal would destroy an event Renzo provided all of the funding for. I consulted with Rilion who advised me to move forward with the event. He was the one that had brought Renzo into this project and convinced Renzo to fund it. He also still believed in the idea of an American tournament that paid the best BJJ guys on the planet to showcase their skills. We agreed to move forward without him since at this stage Junior had entrenched himself and his removal was impossible. Lastly Rilion warned me that Junior was not to be trusted and would undoubtedly try to cheat me and Renzo. In early April I got the call from Junior asking what I thought of a Braulio Estima vs Nick Diaz matchup. I had heard of Braulio and knew he was a formidable jiu-jitsu practitioner. I was under the impression that Braulio competed in the close to 200lbs weight category. When I asked Junior he assured me that Braulio could weigh in as little as 175 lbs right before the match. I presented his information to Nick who accepted the matchup and seemed happy to go against the top BJJ player in the world at that weight. Nick started training for the match and I brought up several BJJ black belts to compliment his training. Looking through some of Estima’s YouTube videos, it was soon discovered that he had in fact been planning on entering upon a career in MMA. We wondered if the match with Diaz was a way to create a buzz around him and get him signed with a prominent organization. I called Junior who assured me Estima would not be fighting in MMA and that he had spoken with him and been assured he had given up on the idea of ever fighting. Junior reiterated, “Cesar I spoke with Braulio, the guy is in his 30?s, he has a family and doesn’t want to live that type of life at this stage in his life…etc” I repeated this info to Nick. A week or so later it was all over the Internet that Braulio had joined the “Blackzillians” and was training for a MMA fight. We had been lied to. Furthermore it was evident that Nick’s sole condition that he not go against a wanna be MMA guy was violated and this was in fact an attempt by Braulio to ignite an MMA career.Nick was to have been accurately portrayed as a fighter returning to his BJJ roots. He had even agreed to give his entire purse to charity; St Jude’s Children’s Hospital for kids with cancer. If you know the story of Ralph Gracie’s son you would understand why this charity was chosen. Nick’s name having been added to this event had saved it but now it was clear he was to be the patsy, not respected but used. Despite all of this Nick was still going to compete. He brought up Kron Gracie and prepared himself. Around this time I was informed by Junior that Braulio wanted to weigh in the day before and not right before the match as is the custom in IBJJ competitions and Abu Dhabi. At the time Nick was about 186lbs so I consented to both guys weighing in at 180lbs the night before. Nick boarded a plane on Friday for Long Beach having cut 6 pounds for the weigh in that night. On his way there I got a call from Junior telling me Braulio would not be making weight! ”Cesar Braulio is complaining about the weight cut. Can we have him weigh in tomorrow? He can’t make the weight tonight how about 185 in the morning?” Nick arrives in Long Beach to the news that there will be no weigh ins that night. As a professional with over 30 fights this was the final straw. The disrespect and total lack of professionalism given him convinced him he was at a circus not a professional event. At 3:20 in the morning I received a text from Junior that Braulio would in fact make the 180lbs weight class at 10:00AM. With no other option available I said fine I’ll check with Nick in the morning. At 10:00AM Braulio did weigh in at 180lbs but by that time Nick had already left. Opinion As a Brazilian I love Brazil but not all things Brazilian. In the last decade I have witnessed Brazilian cronies running the IBJJF and making it impossible for Americans to get a fair shake when competing against their Brazilian countrymen. These cronies have instituted rules to where if you miss weight by even half a pound you are disqualified and not refunded your entry fee. They gladly keep your money and treat you like crap in your country because they can. One of these cronies (Junior) decided to bend all the rules for Braulio Estima and treat Nick Diaz like crap. Sorry that didn’t work out here. As for Braulio I still respect him as a great BJJ artist. As far as calling Nick out for a MMA fight, he knows that is impossible because Nick is signed with the UFC and in MMA you have to make weight when they want you to. Not when you want to. If Braulio ever finds success in MMA then he can mention Nick’s name for a fight. Right now he should respect the man. Nick is not without fault by any means. His lack of communication with his team and coach was inexcusable. This will be addressed privately. Renzo and I have spoken and we are committed to continuing with this otherwise awesome event….without the services of Junior. It should be noted that Nick paid to St Jude’s Children’s Hospitable the sum of what would have been his entire purse. Thank you, You have my apologies and my respect Cesar Gracie PHOTO CREDIT – HDNET/STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: diaz, mma, nick, gracie, braulio

Cesar Gracie issues official Nick Diaz no-show statement, blames Brazilian crony

It's been 24 long hours, but the Nick Diaz camp has finally issued a statement that provides its side of the story about what happened at the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo this past Saturday (May 12, 2012). Diaz -- who has established an unreliable reputation for making promised appearances thanks in large part to his recent rocky Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) stint -- failed to show up for his superfight against Braulio Estima at the event. In fact, Estima waited on the math, fruitlessly, while public announcements were being made for Diaz to report for duty. He never appeared. That's because, according to his trainer Cesar Gracie, Diaz had left. He had no choice after "disrespect and total lack of professionalism given him convinced him he was at a circus not a professional event." Gracie posted a detailed statement on GracieFighter.com that described the "facts" behind the situation, which included a Brazilian crony promoter who not only disrespected Diaz, but also his Gracie family members. This crony, who is named Junior, also lied to Diaz about numerous things, including the weigh-in process, which Gracie explains was designed to give Estima an unfair advantage, as well as Estima's desire to enter mixed martial arts (MMA) someday soon. And, as Gracie tells it, to use the Diaz name as a springboard to further his MMA aspirations. Something that was apparently a major concession prior to agreeing to the grappling match. Check out a portion of Gracie's statement after the jump: In early April I got the call from Junior asking what I thought of a Braulio Estima vs Nick Diaz matchup. I had heard of Braulio and knew he was a formidable jiu-jitsu practitioner. I was under the impression that Braulio competed in the close to 200lbs weight category. When I asked Junior he assured me that Braulio could weigh in as little as 175 lbs right before the match. I presented his information to Nick who accepted the matchup and seemed happy to go against the top BJJ player in the world at that weight. Nick started training for the match and I brought up several BJJ black belts to compliment his training. Looking through some of Estima’s youtube videos, it was soon discovered that he had in fact been planning on entering upon a career in mma. We wondered if the match with Diaz was a way to create a buzz around him and get him signed with a prominent organization. I called Junior who assured me Estima would not be fighting in mma and that he had spoken with him and been assured he had given up on the idea of ever fighting. Junior reiterated, "Cesar I spoke with Braulio, the guy is in his 30′s, he has a family and doesn’t want to live that type of life at this stage in his life…etc" I repeated this info to Nick. A week or so later it was all over the Internet that Braulio had joined the "Blackzillians" and was training for an mma fight. We had been lied to. Furthermore it was evident that Nick’s sole condition that he not go against a wanna be mma guy was violated and this was in fact an attempt by Braulio to ignite an mma career.Nick was to have been accurately portrayed as a fighter returning to his BJJ roots. He had even agreed to give his entire purse to charity; St Jude’s Children’s Hospital for kids with cancer. If you know the story of Ralph Gracie’s son you would understand why this charity was chosen. Nick’s name having been added to this event had saved it but now it was clear he was to be the patsy, not respected but used. Despite all of this Nick was still going to compete. He brought up Kron Gracie and prepared himself. Around this time I was informed by Junior that Braulio wanted to weigh in the day before and not right before the match as is the custom in IBJJ competitions and Abu Dhabi. At the time Nick was about 186lbs so I consented to both guys weighing in at 180lbs the night before. Nick boarded a plane on Friday for Long Beach having cut 6 pounds for the weigh in that night. On his way there I got a call from Junior telling me Braulio would not be making weight! "Cesar Braulio is complaining about the weight cut. Can we have him weigh in tomorrow? He can’t make the weight tonight how about 185 in the morning?" Nick arrives in Long Beach to the news that there will be no weigh ins that night. As a professional with over 30 fights this was the final straw. The disrespect and total lack of professionalism given him convinced him he was at a circus not a professional event. At 3:20 in the morning I received a text from Junior that Braulio would in fact make the 180lbs weight class at 10:00AM. With no other option available I said fine I’ll check with Nick in the morning. At 10:00AM Braulio did weigh in at 180lbs but by that time Nick had already left.... As a Brazilian I love Brazil but not all things Brazilian. In the last decade I have witnessed Brazilian cronies running the IBJJF and making it impossible for Americans to get a fair shake when competing against their Brazilian countrymen. These cronies have instituted rules to where if you miss weight by even half a pound you are disqualified and not refunded your entry fee. They gladly keep your money and treat you like crap in your country because they can. One of these cronies (Junior) decided to bend all the rules for Braulio Estima and treat Nick Diaz like crap. Sorry that didn’t work out here. As for Braulio I still respect him as a great BJJ artist. As far as calling Nick out for a mma fight, he knows that is impossible because Nick is signed with the UFC and in mma you have to make weight when they want you to. Not when you want to. If Braulio ever finds success in mma then he can mention Nick’s name for a fight. Right now he should respect the man. Nick is not without fault by any means. His lack of communication with his team and coach was inexcusable. This will be addressed privately. Renzo and I have spoken and we are committed to continuing with this otherwise awesome event ... without the services of Junior. It should be noted that Nick paid to St Jude’s Children’s Hospitable the sum of what would have been his entire purse. For more on the Nick Diaz vs. Braulio Estima fallout be sure to click here and get up to speed. And to hear UFC President Dana White's reaction to Diaz's no-show news click here.

Posted in: diaz, mma, nick, weight, braulio

MMAterial Facts (5/15/12): Jung vs Poirier, Spike TV, & Nick Diaz

Welcome to this week’s edition of MMAterial Facts, where we feature articles from around the MMA community. *** This week’s MMAterial Facts: - Spike TV pulls a page out of the Antonio Inoki playbook with King Mo (Fight Opinion) “What Spike TV is trying to accomplish with King Mo is an interesting experiment, one that they probably decided to emulate less on what happened in Japan and more on what’s happened with Brock Lesnar & Kurt Angle’s goofy deulsions of wanting to cross-over between the two industries. Lesnar being the #1 UFC PPV attraction immediately signaled the huge cross-over between pro-wrestling fans and MMA fans. MMA attracts less ‘real sports’ fans and more wrestling/entertainment fans. So, naturally, Spike TV put two and two together to try to pull off the experiment they are about to attempt here with King Mo.” - Nick Diaz’s wild weekend in review: No shows Brazilian jiu-jitsu superfight against Braulio Estima (MMA Mania) “But perhaps there’s more to the story. In fact, Diaz’s biggest supporter in the media, Middle Easy, has spent the better part of the past two days going to bat for him and proclaiming the promoters of the event were shady. There was also a weigh-in snafu with Estima, who apparently missed weight the day before but was able to make weight the day of the contest. … And somewhere in between someone was trying to switch up the rules. Or something like that. That’s what he said or she said or they said or someone said and somehow speculation became fact and vice versa and the entire ordeal is one big mess.” - Phil Davis Vs. Chad Griggs Placed On UFC On FOX 4 Card (MMA Convert) “Phil Davis will look to rebound from his first career loss in August when he takes on Chad Griggs. … The UFC announced the bout Monday for the August 4 UFC on FOX 4 card. The event will take place in Los Angeles, with Hector Lombard vs. Brian Stann set as the main event.” - Dustin Poirier: ‘Fans Can Expect Everything From Me, Even The Kitchen Sink’ (FightLine) “Right now I feel like I am the best I have ever been technically,” Poirier told FightLine.com. “I know I am still growing as a fighter, but this is the best I have ever felt mentally and physically. I’m ready to do battle, my nutrition, my workouts are at their peak right now. I’m ready for a main event fight and to go five rounds. I feel like I am a faster, more technically sound striker than Jung and I’m sure he believes the same things. I feel like I can out-wrestle him, my BJJ is just as good as his if not better, I feel as though I match up really well against him.” - Gegard Mousasi out until at least November with torn ACL, has 6-7 fights left for Strikeforce (Five Ounces of Pain) “I had one fight left. Then I was hoping maybe to go to the UFC after that, but then they offered me – they said we’re going to give you a new contract. So I signed for another six fights. Now I have a six (or) seven-fight deal, I believe, in Strikeforce,” explained Mousasi. “(Zuffa) said the Strikeforce fighters were going to stay with Strikeforce. And that’s the thing that it was, so we signed again.” - Busy Week Awaits Zuffa (5thRound) “After enjoying a brief 10-day hiatus, Zuffa, LLC comes storming back with a vengeance this week. The world’s most prestigious mixed martial arts promotion will be hosting a pair of shows on two different coasts within a 96-hour span. … “UFC on FUEL TV: Korean Zombie vs. Poirier” takes place Tuesday inside Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia. The freebie fight card is headlined by a pivotal featherweight affair between Chan Sung “The Korean Zombie” Jung and Dustin Poirier.” - James Wilks announces retirement from MMA: spinal injury (LowKick) “Wilks told MMAjunkie.com: “It must have been from rugby because I was asked when my neck got broken, and I said I’d never broken it, and then they showed me the X-ray.” … The doctors advised him that he has severe spinal stenosis, which results in an acute narrowing of the spinal canal and that he would have a “significantly high risk of paralysis” if he resumed his professional fighting career.” - Vinny Magalhaes selling M-1 championship (TheFightNerd) “I will stray from chronicling the entire feud between M-1 light heavyweight champion Vinny Magalhaes and M-1 Global, but it seems that Vinny is now auctioning off his championship belt to the highest bidder on eBay. As of 11:30 PM on Sunday night (when I am writing this), the belt is going for $710, with nine days left to bid.” - Georges St-Pierre Says He Is Open to Headlining UFC Event in January 2013 (BleacherReport.com/MMA) “I’m at the last stage (of recovery). I’ll be back pretty soon,” St-Pierre said during an exclusive interview with Showdown Joe Ferraro on UFC Central. … St-Pierre said he hopes to make a full recovery by November, which could see the champion headline UFC 150 in Montreal.” James Wilks announces retirement from MMA: spinal injury

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, day, fan

If you're an MMA purist, King Mo has some choice words for you

For those who insist the King Mo needs to be booed before he enters the cage: what's your reasoning behind this? Perhaps you're upset that he comes out with a crew of dancers that throw rose pedals in his path. Is that the only reason why you 'hate' on this guy? Realistically, who wouldn't want a group of women to accommodate them to their office? If it's jealousy, then I completely understand. If only I had a bunch of fly-girls follow me as I made toast and then walked back to my computer, then I could truly notch that activity off my bucket list. Instead, I have an army of roaches that greet me, usually inches from my face when I wake up. It's an interesting dynamic inside my apartment, and it usually involves endless cans of Raid. King Mo has now gone the path of pro wrestling and MMA. He's like an athletic hybrid -- perhaps even the modern day version of Bo Jackson. In this MMA Diehards interview, King Mo makes it clear that if you're an MMA purist, he doesn't really care about your opinion of him anymore.

Posted in: mma, mo, king, youre, cage whats

UFC veteran Din Thomas victorious in MMA return

He's back. It's been over two years, but longtime Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) veteran Din Thomas finally returned to mixed martial arts (MMA) action at "Pure MMA 2" last Saturday night (May 12, 2012) in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, submitting up-and-coming featherweight prospect Cody Bollinger via first-round submission (armbar). "Dinyero" was originally supposed to compete at "Fight Time 7" from the War Memorial Auditorium last October in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, but ended up in the hospital after totaling his car on the way to the arena. Thomas (26-8) is currently riding a four-fight win streak, which includes a submission victory (triangle choke) over Dustin Pierkin at Headhunter Productions "The Patriot Act" back in Feb. 2009 followed by a technical knockout win (knee) over Gabe Lemley at "March Badness" just over a month later. Is this the beginning of his MMA rebirth? Complete Pure MMA 2 event results, courtesy of Ad Combat, after the jump. William Miller def. Andrew Osborne R1 by guillotine chokeLazaro Gonzalez def. Craig Moyer R1 by guillotine chokeEddie Ramos def. James Watts R1 by guillotine chokeBrett Martinez def. Kenneth Nagle R1 by rear-naked chokeWaylon Lowe def. Mike Diggs R1 by TKOPete Martin def. Michael Byrnes by decisionRustam Khabilov def. Jason Dent by decisionDin Thomas def. Cody Bollinger R1 by armbar For more on the crazy ups-and-downs of Din's career click here and here.

Posted in: mma, thoma, din, guillotine, wilkesbarre pennsylvania

Like MMA but want to learn more about grappling?

Look no further. I commentate on grappling and mma matches so as to break down the nuances of all the bjj that goes on within. Check em out and let me know what you guys think. BJJ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mML9iXcs728 MMA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gScyJ0H__eE submitted by JohnWilliamE [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: mma, bjj, nuance, i commentate, commentate

MMA fans are so fickle.

I swear MMA has the most fickle fan base, than any other sport. One minute your hopping on band wagons, and sympathizing with a socially awkward guy, next your complaining relentlessly how you wasted money on a $10 card and how you hate Diaz now, despite getting to see Kyra Gracie's ass and a bunch of awesome BJJ fights Am I disappointed I didn't get to see Diaz fight? Hell yea! Am I pissed off at Diaz? Yes! Am I pissed off I spent $10 on the fight? Fuck yea But your turning MMA and BJJ into some weird Wrestling soap opera. Your forgetting why you like MMA, and the fighters that participate in them. You like them because you like how they fight...not because of their behavior. Thats all secondary. I think Nick Diaz is abrasive and unpredictable, but dammit, do I love how he fights. You like MMA because of the fights and the fighters behind them. You want a nice story, and some drama, MMA isn't the sport for you, go watch WWE. Second off, none of you know the entire story! We're getting reports Diaz missed weight, as well as reports that Braulio missed weight. Theres also reports that the promotional company was trying to screw Diaz and he wasn't going to play ball. It's all speculation! So lets hold off on jumping on the "Fuck Diaz" bandwagon, if not for this reason alone. Overall, you got to enjoy a good night of fights. I for one have never seen a BJJ PPV, and thought it was awesome, and I bet most of you haven't either. So get over it. I for one, will continue to be a Nick Diaz fan, despite some of his BS. Bring on the downvotes. submitted by AntiHer0z [link] [12 comments]

Posted in: fight, diaz, mma, i love, i pissed

Kyra Gracie really wants to fight MMA but focusing on jiu-jitsu career for now

There's a certain lack of depth in women's mixed martial arts (MMA), that much is undeniable. In fact, UFC President Dana White has repeatedly made it clear that the reason his organization, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), doesn't promote women's fights is because there simply aren't enough ladies to create even one compelling division. Strikeforce Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey may have taken the world by storm but if she can't find the right match-ups, how long can she stay on top? That's why submission grappling wizard Kyra Gracie is facing questions on when exactly she'll make the switch from competing in jiu-jitsu to MMA. Her answer (via MMAFighting.com): "It's something that can happen soon or it can never happen. I really want to fight, but I'm waiting to see from which organization I am going to be in. I have to wait for the right moment. I still have a lot of things i want to do in my jiu-jitsu career, but everything is going toward MMA so I'm pretty sure one day I'll make my debut." Just last night, Gracie, a four-time jiu-jitsu world champion, defeated Alexis Davis in a no-gi contest at the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo, the same event Nick Diaz no-showed for his highly anticipated superfight against Braulio Estima. Watch highlights of Gracie's victory after the jump and get a taste of what may (or may not) be coming to MMA in the near (or not so near) future.

Posted in: world, mma, gracie, jiujitsu, jiujitsu career

Kyra Gracie vs. Alexis Davis Grappling Highlights

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- While we can't show the entire match, MMA Fighting was on hand at yesterday's World Jiu-Jitsu Expo to capture all the action from the super fights with today's top stars in the grappling world. In the video below shot from Saturday's event, jiu-jitsu black belt, three-time ADCC winner, and four-time jiu-jitsu world champion Kyra Gracie tangles with Cesar Gracie brown belt and MMA bantamweight Alexis Davis. Gracie would go on to win on points and later stated she wasn't sure when she would enter professional MMA.

Posted in: world, mma, gracie, jiujitsu, cant show

Rebellion MMA Radio: UFC’s Duane Ludwig, Strikeforce’s Ike Vallie-Flagg, Bellator’s Josh Quayhagen

The three main MMA organizations will come together this Sunday night when fighters from Bellator, Strikeforce, and the UFC grace the Rebellion MMA Radio airwaves! Stopping by the show to join hosts Mitch Ciccarelli and Bryan Levick will be UFC welterweight Duane Ludwig, Strikeforce lightweight Isaac Valle-Flagg, and Bellator’s Josh Quayhagen. The trio are all scheduled for fights this month and will no doubt be itching to dish on all of their respective match-ups as well as a number of other topics. Ludwig faces Dan Hardy at UFC 146 in hopes of bouncing back from his stumble against Josh Neer. “Bang” is not only a hard-hitting fighter with more than 20 wins to his credit but also owns the distinction of notching the fastest knockout in UFC history. Meanwhile, Valle-Flagg puts his ten-fight unbeaten streak on the line next weekend when he takes on Gesias Cavalcante at the Strikeforce Grand Prix Final event, while Quayhagen is 3-0 thus far in his young career and looks to keep his perfect record intact on May 18 at Bellator 69. Interested listeners can also contribute to the show by submitting questions for guests via Twitter or email (RebellionMMARadio@yahoo.com). Catch Rebellion MMA Radio live on Sunday at 6:30 PM EST where the guys will offer their own unique takes on all-things MMA. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC/STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: ufc, bellator, mma, strikeforce, rebellion

Rebellion MMA Radio: UFC’s Duane Ludwig, Strikeforce’s Ike Vallie-Flagg, Bellator’s Josh Quayhagen

The three main MMA organizations will come together this Sunday night when fighters from Bellator, Strikeforce, and the UFC grace the Rebellion MMA Radio airwaves! Stopping by the show to join hosts Mitch Ciccarelli and Bryan Levick will be UFC welterweight Duane Ludwig, Strikeforce lightweight Isaac Valle-Flagg, and Bellator’s Josh Quayhagen. The trio are all scheduled for fights this month and will no doubt be itching to dish on all of their respective match-ups as well as a number of other topics. Ludwig faces Dan Hardy at UFC 146 in hopes of bouncing back from his stumble against Josh Neer. “Bang” is not only a hard-hitting fighter with more than 20 wins to his credit but also owns the distinction of notching the fastest knockout in UFC history. Meanwhile, Valle-Flagg puts his ten-fight unbeaten streak on the line next weekend when he takes on Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante at the Strikeforce Grand Prix Final event, while Quayhagen is 3-0 thus far in his young career and looks to keep his perfect record intact on May 18 at Bellator 69. Interested listeners can also contribute to the show by submitting questions for guests via Twitter or email (RebellionMMARadio@yahoo.com). Catch Rebellion MMA Radio live on Sunday at 6:30 PM EST where the guys will offer their own unique takes on all-things MMA. Tweet

Posted in: ufc, bellator, mma, strikeforce, rebellion

World Jiu-Jitsu Expo Notes: Renzo Gracie Hints at Return; 'Babalu' Sobral is Back

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- At 45, the legendary Renzo Gracie has no real reason left to fight. His reputation as one of mixed martial arts' founding fathers is secure. He has well-earned status as jiu-jitsu's ever-smiling ambassador, and his various business concerns, his famed Manhattan gym chief among them, keep him busy and active. But Gracie is, at heart, still a fighter. And in between posing for pictures with fans out on the floor of the Long Beach Convention Center at the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo on Saturday, Gracie said he won't rule out a return to MMA competition. "Of course," Gracie said. "I'm just waiting for the right opportunity." Gracie, who began as a Vale Tudo fighter before modern MMA came into existence, has a documented MMA record of 13-7-1. He's two years removed from his last fight, a TKO loss to Matt Hughes at UFC 112. But when pressed for specifics on whom he might like to meet, Gracie was coy. "I'm just waiting to see what comes," Gracie said. "Whatever is yours is coming your way." It's been a long road from MMA's primitive days to the juggernaut the sport has become, with jiu-jitsu as its soul for the nearly two-decade journey. As the masses fanned across the convention center floor, checking out sponsor booths, participating in seminars, or watching the day's grappling tournament, even Gracie himself seemed in a bit of disbelief at how big it's become. "The turnout here's incredible," Gracie said. "Look around, look at all the people. I didn't expect this, but it's like they say, it's a big family, jiu-jitsu's a big family, we're all brothers in a community." ‘Babalu' resurfaces after year out of limelight It's been awhile since we've heard from one of MMA's most enduring characters. But with an upcoming fight and a coaching role on "The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil," Renato "Babalu" Sobral is back and ready for action. The 36-year-old Sobral (36-9), who is from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, but now lives in Southern California, last fought in Dec. 2010, when he lost to Dan Henderson. He was also sidelined for a spell after a snowboarding accident. "It was kind of rough for awhile," Sobral said. "I wasn't able to train, that's not a good thing. But now things are better, I'm healthy and I can't wait for my chance to fight again." Sobral returns to action in the main event of OneFC 4 on June 23. He'll meet Tatsuya Mizuno as the Singapore-based promotion puts on an event in Kalua Lampur, Malaysia. Mizuno, a submission specialist, is 11-7, a former DREAM light heavyweight Grand Prix finalist, and has won his past two fights. "I think this is a good fight for me," Sobral said. "Don't go by his record. He made it to the Grand Prix finals and he has fought some strong fighters. I'm looking forward to a challenging fight." The bout with Mizuno isn't the only thing "Babalu" has on his plate. He also served as a coach on Wanderlei Silva's team during "TUF: Brazil," alongside Andre Amade, Rafael Cordeiro, and Fabricio Werdum. The first thing that struck Sobral, as he returned to Brazil to shoot the show, was how big MMA has become in his homeland. "It's as big as everyone says," Sobral said. "Not me personally, I'm not some big star, but the sport of MMA is bigger than it ever has been in Brazil. I'm very happy to see how big the sport has grown." And he's not afraid to predict what those MMA fans in Brazil will see when Silva meets Vitor Belfort in Rio on June 23. "Wanderlei looks great," Sobral said. "He'll win. First-round knockout. Believe me."

Posted in: fight, mma, sobral, brazil, gracie

The Top 3 Pound-for-Pound Mothers in MMA

In case you didn’t already know today is Mother’s Day, and let’s face it – you can’t spell MAMA without MMA. In honor of the holiday I’ve decided to show some love to the ladies whose contributions to the sport have helped make it such an incredibly entertaining endeavor. No, not the ring girls, but rather I’ll be ranking a few of my favorite MMA mothers. Also, if you’re a fighter out there whose beloved mom doesn’t make the cut, keep in mind this list is completely subjective as are all rankings and it’s not a slight on how wonderful she undoubtedly is. 1.) Ronda Rousey / Ann Maria DeMars There is no question Rousey would not be who she is today without the influence of her mother. DeMars is a decorated judoka and fierce female, raising “Rowdy” Ronda as a single-parent for most of her life after the untimely death of her father. She introduced Rousey to judo at an early age, developing both her skills on the mat as well as strengthening her character. Rousey recently recounted a story where she was eleven year old, broke a toe in a match, and was then made to run laps after crying about it. The lesson imparted – “Sometimes you have to fight when you’re injured. You need to know you’re capable of that.” Today Rousey is an arm-snapping, ass-kicking machine whose personality (and genetic blessings) have earned her a spot at the top of the MMA food chain as the face of woman’s MMA. 2.) B.J. Penn / Lorraine Shin I don’t know a lot about Shin but what I do know is that she is a constant presence in the crowd when her baby – Baby Jay more specifically – fights. She also penned a passionate letter to the NSAC after his second bout with Georges St. Pierre, complaining of GSP using a grease-like substance to gain a competitive advantage in the cage. Wrote Shin, “I have and continue to support my four sons who have earned their black belt status in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. I have also had the opportunity of attending many Brazilian jiu-jitsu tournaments as well as MMA fight events in Hawaii, Guam, Japan, England and the U.S. Mainland. I am no stranger to the MMA fight world…During the rounds that followed, I was shocked to see that B.J. appeared to be helpless, as well as defenseless in his attempts to grasp and hold Georges St. Pierre while on the ground. I silently kept screaming and asking myself, ‘What is wrong? Why can’t B.J. defend himself?’ I was horrified with fear. My son was going to be seriously hurt because he could not defend himself…Although still in shock and fearful for my son (in the locker room), it then made sense to me why B.J. couldn’t defend himself. Georges St. Pierre used a greasy substance on his body, therefore giving St. Pierre an unfair advantage over my son, B.J. Penn. “While in the locker room, I couldn’t understand why the fight was not stopped by the UFC’s referee or the Nevada State Athletic Commission for the unfair advantage by St. Pierre and his cornerman after they realized the foul. How could this happen? Why was it allowed?” That, my friends, is a mother’s love. 3.) Carlos Condit / Camille Prevost I have always had a soft spot for Condit’s mother since his days in WEC. She walks him down to the cage and often works in his corner since she’s a registered nurse. There’s something inherently sweet about a mom supporting her son to the point she helps fuel his fire to compete in a sport he loves even if it means he could get hurt. Runner Up – Urijah Faber / Suzanne Faber I’m not fully familiar with Mrs. Faber but as the lone matriarch on the list to have stopped a robbery while wielding a gun she deserves a little recognition from those outside her family. “Happy B-day to my beautiful mom Suzanne today,” posted Faber on his Twitter a few weeks back. “Still feisty, just caught a burgler /w a pellet gun. Held him off till the cops arrived … he thought she was using a real gun … She was house sitting & found this High powered pellet gun. Looks dangerous enough.” Faber may have the Hollywood chin but it sounds like his mom is the real action hero. On that note, stop reading this article and go give your mom a call to tell her how you feel! Happy Mother’s Day!

Posted in: mma, ’t, st, mother, rousey

Top 10 MMA Twitters To Follow

If you're a Twitterphile and are in search of some top notch feeds to follow, this post is aimed at you. I've done a couple of these in the past on my own site, so I figured it was time for an updated one here. It goes without saying that you should already follow Bloody Elbow and all of it's writers, so I chose not to include those in my list in order to not appear overly biased. For those few that don't believe in Twitter, maybe this will give you the necessary jump start to join the social media giant, and follow some very interesting people in the MMA sphere. Please remember, this is my personal list, so if you disagree, by all means, make your own list and post it as a comment. Remember, Twitter, more often than not, breaks news faster than just about any news outlet, so if you're one of those people that likes to stay well informed, I believe these 10 Twitters are great choices to do that. I now present to you my Top 10 MMA Twitter Accounts. Dana WhiteThe vocal president of the UFC is at the very top of my list for a few reasons, the most obvious being that he often makes tweets that announce new fights, signings and other breaking UFC stories. Another reason to follow is his straightforward, no holds barred style of addressing detractors. He may not be politically correct, but he's never boring. Bonus points for entertainment value. Chael P. SonnenUFC middleweight number 1 contender, author and Q&A reigning champ are some of the accolades that can be attributed to the witty West Lin gangster. He may not tweet as much as we'd like, but when he does, you're almost assured a quote that makes it to one media source or other, and that it will be retweeted by the masses. Bonus points for comedic value. Ariel HelwaniThe MMA Fighting journalist extraordinaire is the best at breaking UFC news and has his own private bat signal to Dana White. He attends most UFC events, tweets directly from them, and his post fight interviews are second to none. He's quick to address questions and requests, which gives him an extra edge here. Bonus points for being assertive enough to get the answers to the questions we seek. Ronda RouseyThe Strikeforce bantamweight women's champion is not only easy on the eyes, she is intelligent and funny. She handles online snipers with ease, and is very responsive to fans and detractors alike. She gets extra points for seeing extremely rapid growth in her following. To put it into perspective, just 6 months ago, she was at a little over 3000 followers, and today she is at almost 70k. Joe RoganUFC color commentator, stand up comic, podcast king. Joe's Twitter is one of the most entertaining, ranging from funny observations on life, to bizarre world occurrences. His fight insight is exceptional, and if you tweet him a link with something interesting, you're almost guaranteed to get either a reply or a retweet from him. Bonus points for having the most interesting podcast on the interwebs. Renzo GracieThe Brazilian Jiu Jitsu ace is probably the most fan friendly account on Twitter. He's ultra responsive, and quick to give great tips and advice to novices just getting into BJJ or MMA. He's got a great sense of humor and also is quick to retweet a good joke. Bonus points for being so diligent with addressing anyone that tweets to him. Loretta HuntI like to think of Loretta as the first lady of MMA. She's been around the sport for 13+ years and has set a great standard for not only MMA journalists, but sports journalists in general. She is an accomplished, best selling author, and one of the most knowledgeable people on the history of the sport. Bonus points for sharing her expertise and knowledge with people like me, who can use every ounce of advice they can get. Esther LinEsther is one of the best photographers in MMA, if not the entire universe. Her photos capture breathtaking moments, showcasing both victory and defeat. She did a series of her favorite images last year that made many sit up and take notice. I'm an extreme novice with a camera, but even I can appreciate her use of lighting and all the other magic and sorcery she employs to get the perfect picture. Bonus points for being a tiny little elf and still getting the best fight images. Jordan BreenI like to think of Jordan as the human MMA equivalent of the Library of Alexandria. His technical knowledge is exceptional, and his historical knowledge is almost unparalleled. I've always thought of myself as an articulate person, but I sometimes find myself having to look up some of the words he bandies about. Bonus points for having the best post fight show in MMA. Joey OddessaLong time odds maker, Joey "Bagels", has been perfecting his craft for more years than he would probably like for me to acknowledge. His fight IQ is one of the best in the business, and he is widely recognized as the "go to" guy for sports wagering. Bonus points for longevity. He's been around since the dawn of time. (He's gonna give me an irate phone call for that one)

Posted in: fight, mma, twitter, point, bonus

'Fightville' Shows American Dream Through Eyes of UFC Star Dustin Poirier

There are two separate worlds in professional sports. The one with the money, bright lights and headlines, and the one that lies beneath it all, where the true talent separates itself from the pack while the wannabes try to hold on to a dream. The latter is a proving ground, a necessary stop on the way to stardom or an unwanted roadblock on the way to obscurity. It also the landscape examined by the new documentary "Fightville," which was recently given a limited release in US theaters. Beyond that, it is a portrait of two lives in flux, centered on the careers of a pair of aspiring MMA stars. To fans of the UFC, the star of the movie is Dustin Poirier, the fast-rising featherweight who happens to be fighting in the main event of Tuesday's UFC on FUEL 3. In the film -- shot over the course of one year from mid-2009 to mid-2010 -- Poirier is depicted as a hard-working kid from a hard-scrabble background, using his talent to overcome a rough start in life and head to the bigtime. All the while, the filmmakers tell the parallel story of Albert Stainback, a 20-something with a tortured youth and a dream of a worry-free future. The contrast between the two is subtle but striking. They both have the same goal, they both come from similar backgrounds, they both end up at the same gym, Gladiators Academy in Lafayette, Louisiana, but that's where their paths separate.While Poirier illustrates unwavering dedication to his personal improvement to go with his natural talent, Stainback seems to spend more time talking about his goals than putting in the time necessary to achieve them.The brutal truths about success or failure in the sport are immediately brought to the forefront by their trainer, UFC veteran Tim Credeur, who notes that the current MMA movement represents the natural evolution of martial arts. After years of outrageous claims from practitioners of various disciplines, MMA has managed to separate the legitimate from the pretenders. "To make it for everyone is to make it not what it really is," he says.The same holds true for individuals, as Stainback learns.The Kentucky native comes across as a complex and sympathetic character. Early on in the film, he recalls his father beating his mother senseless. Later, when he was nine, his father committed suicide."I honestly attribute me wanting to fight, if I had to give some kind of Freudian guess at it, is I wanted to be a defender," he says.Stainback is clearly intelligent. He is introspective, well-spoken and it seems, well-read, since he clearly harbors a fascination with Alex from the 1960s novel "A Clockwork Orange."Yet as bright as he is, he can't keep from getting in the way of his own success. After winning his pro debut, he is booked for a rematch, but because of relationship issues and stress, he loses the desire to get into the gym to train. As a result, he is forced out of the fight."It sucks knowing that I let something like this go by," he says. "It might be small, it might be big, but it was there."All the while, Poirier is seizing the moment, training for the same show, his determination unwavering. We see him making sacrifices in his diet to make weight, and we see his work ethic, and it's clear what the difference is between the two. The most powerful shot in the movie comes when Poirier goes off to Canada to fight. He wins in a flash, and as he celebrates, the scene cuts to Steinback watching video of Poirier's win while back home. As Poirier basks in the glory of a victory that sends him to his dream job -- he soon after signed a contract with Zuffa -- Steinback has literally and figuratively been left behind. While MMA enthusiasts are no doubt Fightville's most likely audience, it's biggest importance is to non-fans, for a look at the dedication it takes to succeed as well as the real people and real ambition behind an often-misunderstood sport. MMA is ultimately both simple and complex; a fight with many layers of depth. Because of that, it will never be for everyone. But as Fightville teaches through Poirier's resolve, once you get past the sport's proving grounds, it can lead to a little slice of the American Dream.

Posted in: ufc, mma, dream, sport, poirier

Kyra Gracie Unsure When She'll Make MMA Debut

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- The first lady of the Gracie family isn't sure when she's going to make her mixed martial arts debut. So for now, MMA fans have to settle for seeing Kyra Gracie take on a cage fighter on the submission grappling mat. Gracie the three-time ADCC gold medalist, defeated Strikeforce bantamweight standout Alexis Davis, 5-0, in a no-gi contest at the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo at the Long Beach Convention Center. "She was a very tough fighter," said Gracie, who is Renzo Gracie's niece. "I'm just happy to get the win tonight." Gracie has mainly been training with a gi in recent months as she prepares for the upcoming World Championship. Davis took advantage in the early going, nearly catching Gracie with an armbar. Once Gracie got out of trouble, she took command and cruised for the remainder of the 10-minute bout. "I took this fight on really short notice," said Gracie. "I haven't been training [no-gi] really at all. I have the World Championships coming up in June with a gi, but I haven't been training no-gi. I wasn't tight with my grips, I wasn't used to my grips without the gi. I felt like she did very good rotating, had a very nice armbar and she was very tough." As for when we might see Gracie step into an MMA cage? Time will tell. With four World Championships and five Pan-American Games titles to go along with her ADCC laurels, the 26-year-old Gracie is already arguably the most decorated female jiu-jitsu fighter ever. But she feels she has more left to achieve on the mat before turning her attention to MMA. "It's something that can happen soon or it can never happen," Gracie said. "I really want to fight, but I'm waiting to see from which organization I am going to be in. I have to wait for the right moment. I still have a lot of things i want to do in my jiu-jitsu career, but everything is going toward MMA so I'm pretty sure one day I'll make my debut."

Posted in: world, mma, gracie, kyra gracie, world championships

Rebellion Radio: Duane Ludwig, Ike Vallie-Flagg, and Josh Quayhagen

Press Release - The three main MMA organizations will come together this Sunday night when fighters from Bellator, Strikeforce, and the UFC grace the Rebellion MMA Radio airwaves! Stopping by the show to join hosts Mitch Ciccarelli and Bryan Levick will be UFC welterweight Duane Ludwig, Strikeforce lightweight Isaac Valle-Flagg, and Bellator’s Josh Quayhagen. The trio are all scheduled for fights this month and will no doubt be itching to dish on all of their respective match-ups as well as a number of other topics. Ludwig faces Dan Hardy at UFC 146 in hopes of bouncing back from his stumble against Josh Neer. “Bang” is not only a hard-hitting fighter with more than 20 wins to his credit but also owns the distinction of notching the fastest knockout in UFC history. Meanwhile, Valle-Flagg will puts his ten-fight unbeaten streak on the line next weekend when he takes on Gesias Cavalcante at the Strikeforce Grand Prix Final event, while Quayhagen is 3-0 thus far in his young career and looks to keep his perfect record intact on May 18 at Bellator 69. Interested listeners can also contribute to the show by submitting questions for guests via Twitter or email (RebellionMMARadio@yahoo.com). Catch Rebellion MMA Radio live on Sunday at 6:30 PM EST where the guys will offer their own unique takes on all-things MMA. MMAFrenzy.com

Posted in: ufc, mma, sunday night, quayhagen, hardhitting fighter

Rebellion MMA Radio: UFC’s Duane Ludwig, Strikeforce’s Ike Vallie-Flagg, Bellator’s Josh Quayhagen

Posted in: ufc, bellator, mma, strikeforce, rebellion

Rebellion MMA Radio: UFC’s Duane Ludwig, Strikeforce’s Ike Vallie-Flagg, Bellator’s Josh Quayhagen

The three main MMA organizations will come together this Sunday night when fighters from Bellator, Strikeforce, and the UFC grace the Rebellion MMA Radio airwaves! Stopping by the show to join hosts Mitch Ciccarelli and Bryan Levick will be UFC welterweight Duane Ludwig, Strikeforce lightweight Isaac Valle-Flagg, and Bellator’s Josh Quayhagen. The trio are all scheduled for fights this month and will no doubt be itching to dish on all of their respective match-ups as well as a number of other topics. Ludwig faces Dan Hardy at UFC 146 in hopes of bouncing back from his stumble against Josh Neer. “Bang” is not only a hard-hitting fighter with more than 20 wins to his credit but also owns the distinction of notching the fastest knockout in UFC history. Meanwhile, Valle-Flagg puts his ten-fight unbeaten streak on the line next weekend when he takes on Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante at the Strikeforce Grand Prix Final event, while Quayhagen is 3-0 thus far in his young career and looks to keep his perfect record intact on May 18 at Bellator 69. Interested listeners can also contribute to the show by submitting questions for guests via Twitter or email (RebellionMMARadio@yahoo.com). Catch Rebellion MMA Radio live on Sunday at 6:30 PM EST where the guys will offer their own unique takes on all-things MMA. Tweet

Posted in: ufc, bellator, mma, strikeforce, rebellion

With Mo Lawal, 'MMA Uncensored Live' scores record 567,000 Spike TV viewers

The "King Mo" and Spike TV relationship is off to a good start. Thursday's new edition of "MMA Uncensored Live" - Spike TV's weekly news-magazine show - scored a series record 567,000 viewers, MMAjunkie.com today confirmed with officials. Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal joined the show on the same day he announced a new dual contract that will see compete in Bellator (for MMA) and TNA Impact Wrestling (pro wrestling) on Spike TV

Posted in: mma, tv, spike, king mo, mo

Twitter Mailbag: Talking Mo Lawal the Pro Wrestler, UFC on FOX Ratings, and More

It’s Twitter Mailbag time again, boys and girls. This time we tackle everything from Mo Lawal’s decision to moonlight as a pro wrestler, to the UFC’s flagging ratings on FOX, to the similarities between suffering a seizure and sitting through a Ben Askren title defense.Got a question of your own? Find me on Twitter at @BenFowlkesMMA and fire away. I promise to at least have my neurologist read it aloud to me.Adrian Garcia @AdriantheWizard@benfowlkesMMA will King Mo's future double duties at Bellator & TNA hinder or rejuvenate his MMA career? I have to admit I’m mystified by this one. I like Mo Lawal and I can understand why the chance to pursue both pro wrestling and MMA -- all while chasing that paper -- probably felt like an offer he couldn’t refuse. At the same time, I have my doubts.Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney compared this to Bo Jackson’s dual careers in pro football and baseball, saying "when Bo jackson played baseball he never tackled anybody, and nobody called that out as an oddity or something unusual. Nobody ever said, 'Why aren't you tackling anyone?'" That’s true, but the big difference is that whether Jackson was playing football or baseball, he was always still Bo. He never had to pretend to be anyone else. The same will not be true for Lawal, because pro wrestling is more theater than sport. Before all you pro wrestling fans start beating me with folding chairs, let me clarify that just because I don’t think it’s a sport does not mean I think it’s easy. It’s not. It’s incredibly physically demanding, not to mention dangerous. But the outcomes are pre-determined. The wrestlers are performers, there to play a role. What I wonder is, how will Lawal balance those two? How can he go from a scripted rivalry one month to a genuine sporting competition the next? Where will he even find the time to train properly during all this? And what if he tears a ligament in his already damaged knee while jumping off the top rope or being thrown out of the ring? Will Bellator, not to mention MMA fans, offer him any sympathy if he has to pull out of the light heavyweight tournament because he injured himself while pulling punches on a guy with tassels on his tights?I’m not so sure. I’m also not sure that the physical grind of pro wrestling is a great idea for a guy who’s been in and out of the hospital as much as Lawal has lately. It’s his body and his bank account, so he gets to make the decisions about what’s best for each. I just hope he doesn’t think that the line between real fighting and fake fighting is going to be an easy one to jump back and forth across. Even Bo had his career in one sport cut short by injuries sustained in another. Unlike Lawal, he didn’t have to worry about what would happen to him while the referee was unconscious.Koko Dionis @iamKokoD@benfowlkesMMA which fight are you looking forward 2 the most this summer?Does May count as the summer? I’m guessing it doesn’t, at least not where I love, since it can still rain and snow and hail at any point throughout the month as if daring you to complain about it and thus out yourself as a wimp from California. And if May isn’t the summer, then I have to cross the Strikeforce Grand Prix final between Daniel Cormier and Josh Barnett off my list. I also have to cross off all of UFC 146, even though I admit I’m more excited about Cormier-Barnett more than I am about that entire card.With all that off the table, the fight I’m most looking forward to has to be Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen II. After everything that’s happened between those two, how could you not? It’s the must-see MMA event of the summer. You’ll know because even your friends who normally can’t understand why you waste so many Saturday nights on this crap will be calling you up, wondering if they can "drop by" that weekend. You know, just to hang out and catch up and oh, is that fight on tonight? Huh, I had no idea. Well, hey, if you’re watching it anyway...My rule for such an occasion? Tell them that they’re welcome to grab a seat in your living room and watch the pay-per-view you bought. But first, oh, were they headed to the store anyway? Great, then they wouldn’t mind picking up some delicious snacks and ice-cold beverages while they’re out.Eddie Gemayel @eddiegemayel@benfowlkesMMA do you think hector lombard is being thrown into the fire too soon by putting him against stann already? #twittermailbagHector Lombard is 34 years old and has more than 30 professional fights. What are we waiting for? He’s not being thrown into the fire -- he’s jumping in while it’s still hot. To the UFC’s credit, there are very few easy fights to be had in that organization. The UFC’s habit of purging its roster of habitual losers every so often may seem brutal at times, but it does maintain a high standard for all-around talent most of the time. That’s a good thing. Who wants to see Lombard maul some over-matched has-been or never-was? Didn’t we get enough of that from his run in Bellator and on the Australian MMA circuit? We know Lombard can throttle the guys who aren’t quite at the UFC level. We’ve seen it. What we want to know is whether he can do as well against successful UFC fighters. One way or another, Stann will answer that for us.Stealth Lee @stealthlee@benfowlkesMMA What's worse: a seizure or a Askren title defense? #mailbag #toosoon?First of all, I think Askren is already on his way to your house to challenge you to a fight, so better start working on your takedown defense now. Second, this is hard to answer, since I don’t remember anything about the seizure. One minute I was pouring myself a glass of water, and the next I was wondering how I’d ended up on my back next to a broken water glass, and why my wife was kneeling over me, shouting our address at the 911 operators. Scary stuff, but mostly for her, since I have no recollection of it. For me, those few minutes are permanently gone. That’s pretty much the opposite of a Ben Askren title fight, where the 25 minutes you give up to watch it feel like two hours. I don’t know if that makes it worse than a seizure, but I can tell you that my wife doesn’t want to sit through either ever again.joe mosqueda @joedaddy85@benfowlkesMMA will I ever appear in your twitter mailbag article amongst other questions from the great fans of this great sport of mma?Yes, but only once. And look what you wasted it on. What a shame.Paul Silva @ThePaulSilva@benfowlkesMMA Idea: B.J Penn fighting Aldo, what you think?I don’t like it. I doubt Penn would either. There’s no point in fighting for a title that you have no intention of sticking around and trying to hold for an extended period of time. And, let’s be honest, there’s no way Penn wants to cut to 145 pounds a few times a year, no matter how fantastic his abs might look at that weight.Brendan @CursedDiamonds@benfowlkesMMA What's the best and worst part about having to suddenly confront your own mortality? Any funny stories come out of this?The best part is being reminded to appreciate the life you have now rather than the life you assume you’ll be around to live later. Turns out you have far less control of what later might look like (or if it will exist for you at all) than you think. That is also the worst part.Michael @coldplay0484@benfowlkesMMA If Barnett wins the tournament has he earned a spot in the UFC?He’s earned it even if he doesn’t win the tournament. The same is true for Cormier.Joshua Fitch @joshuafitch@benfowlkesMMA is the UFC making a long term mistake in not getting bigger fights on Fox, specifically title fights?Short answer: Yes. Long answer: Yes, but it’s complicated.There were a lot of factors that may have contributed to the recent ratings decline on FOX. A huge action movie had just opened that weekend, which also happened to be Cinco de Mayo (also known as the holiday that many Americans can’t explain the genesis of, but celebrate aggressively anyway). There was also a big boxing match that night, or so I hear. Individually, those sound like weak excuses for poor ratings, but together they form like Voltron to chip away at the UFC’s potential viewership. Maybe. Possibly.Those are all minor problems that are, for the most part, outside of the UFC's control. The big problem -- the one that is in the UFC’s power to fix -- is the fight card. Remember the first FOX show? The one that drew an enormous audience despite the briefest of action? That was pitched as the "HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD!!!" You don’t need to know anything about the current state of the UFC or its roster to understand what that means. All you need to know is where and when.Compare that to Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller. It was a good fight, and one that hardcore MMA fans knew would be exciting. But picture trying to explain it to your neighbor while the two of you discuss your Saturday night plans. Is it for a championship? No. Is it to determine who gets a shot at a championship? Maybe, but it depends who wins. Do they hate each other or something? Not at all.What do you think: is he going to watch?The UFC would make the argument that a) it was a fun fight, so shut up, and b) it was free, so shut up. Those are both valid points, even if telling people to shut up often brings about the exact opposite result. Still, when you offer up a fight like Diaz-Miller, what you’re really saying to the casual sports fan/network TV viewer is: You feel like watching some UFC tonight? You’re not selling a specific fight or a specific personality at that point. You’re not even selling a set of stakes. You’re selling the brand name and the vague promise of memorable violence.Some nights that works. It just doesn’t work when there’s a new movie to go to and a 2-for-1 deal on Coronas at the bar down the street, which may or may not be showing this championship boxing match. The UFC could fix some of that by offering up big title fights on FOX, but then it has to convince champions to forego a cut of pay-per-view money and agree to the kind of fight that they really, really can’t pull out of, even if they get hurt or sick. That also involves the UFC giving up some pay-per-view money to bolster a TV deal it already has, and for what? Just to get a ratings number it can crow about? Just to shut up the people on the internet who -- let’s face it -- are the exact same people who will stay home to watch Diaz and Miller?It’s a tough situation, and one with a lot of complexities. The UFC needs to decide what the role of the FOX events is going to be. Right now it seems to think that, like the Spike TV Fight Nights of old, it serves to showcase fighters who people will eventually pay to see. But that doesn’t work on people who aren’t yet MMA fans, and it doesn’t work if the fighters we just saw (Nate Diaz and Johny Hendricks, for instance) won’t fight again for nine or twelve months. True, some people will tune in just to watch some UFC. But then, the UFC already had those people. Wasn’t the FOX deal supposed to help pull in all the other people? Wasn’t that why it was so important?Chad @CMG_77@benfowlkesMMA excluding yourself of course, why hasn't more been made of/questions asked of the known trt users?What are you supposed to ask them? If we already know they use testosterone, and if they go through the existing channels to get their therapeutic-use exemptions, what are we supposed to say? ‘Excuse me, Mr. Henderson, but do you still use testosterone?’‘Yep.’‘Okay, thanks.’It’s not the known users we should worry about -- it’s the unknown users, and there are plenty. It’s also the athletic commissions, some of which have at least something resembling acceptable standards and some of which don’t. If we want to get rid of TRT -- or at least restrict its usage to those who really, really need it and are willing to go through a transparent, rigorous process to prove it -- then we need to direct these questions to the commissions and to the MMA organizations themselves. The fighters are going to get every advantage they can. It’s the job of the athletic commissions to draw the lines between fair and unfair advantages, and to stick to it even when it’s tough.wb @wiksenn@benfowlkesMMA what are your thoughts on championship rematches? And when is it right to have a rematch?If there’s a controversial ending? Sure, go ahead and rematch. If there’s not another obvious contender already waiting in the wings, and the fight is one that, for whatever reason, people would like to see again right away? Rematch all you want. But if it’s just a close decision, and if there are other guys out there who have dutifully waited their turn for a crack at the belt, then I say we should move on. If the loser of the close decision is truly championship material, he’ll be back at the top before long. That doesn’t mean everyone else should put their careers on hold in the meantime, however. Jason Rule @JasonRule@benfowlkesMMA Promising UFC freshmen Denis, Thompson, and Cholish have hit a sophomore slump. Who comes out better for having hit it?Nick Denis gets my vote, with Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson as a close second. Denis may have come out on the losing end against Roland Delorme, but he’s still an exciting fighter in a division that, as they say in the corporate world, offers plenty of advancement opportunities. Another blistering finish and he’s right back in there. I’m not sure it will be quite as simple for Cholish, who has some wrestling deficiencies in a weight class that’s overflowing with guys capable of exploiting them.TheKidd @VineStreetLife@benfowlkesMMA Ronda Rousy to headline a UFConFOX card....is such a thing possible? Good idea? Best opponent? Answer away, genius. #TMBNo, it’s not a good idea. It’s a great idea. Remember what I wrote earlier about the trouble with asking John Q. Sportsfan to sit down and watch some UFC? A Ronda Rousey main event doesn’t have that problem. It allows you to explain to your neighbor in 30 seconds or less why he should make a point to be in front of his TV on Saturday night, and also why his girlfriend might be interested, at least once somebody takes slightly more than 30 seconds to explain the UFC’s historical reluctance to get involved in women’s MMA. Men will watch for the violence (and to see Rousey in a sports bra), while women will watch because they can relate to the struggle to prove that one’s genitalia should not determine what one is and is not capable of in the workforce (and sure, also maybe for the violence and the sports bra, depending on the woman). As for an opponent, that depends on how Rousey does against Sarah Kaufman, and also whether Cris "Cyborg" can get clean and get right with the powers that be. All I’m saying is, Rousey-Cyborg is the rare fight where the poster alone tells you almost everything you need to know.Seany Adams @rokabee@benfowlkesMMA should we occupy NY MMA at this point?You know what? The hell with New York. I’m sick of hearing about it. If the state wants to play politics with MMA while allowing everything from pro wrestling to bull riding to parade through Madison Square Garden, fine. I think the UFC should do what I did back in 2008 when I was sick of living in New York City: pack up and head west. Just saying, Montana would welcome the UFC with open arms and cheap beers. Matt Giesbrecht @MattGiesbrecht@benfowlkesMMA With the high potential of UFC 148 upcoming (less without Cruz), what do you rank as your Top 3 cards in history? #mailbagTo make this easy on myself, I’m going to limit it to the top three fight cards I’ve personally attended, and I will offer no explanation or defense of my picks. I base these picks on a) the quality of the fights I saw there, and b) what it felt like to be in that particular place at that particular time. That said, my top three events are, in no meaningful order: WEC 53, UFC 139, and UFC 134.Max de Vries @MaxWdeVries@benfowlkesMMA Has Nate Diaz ever said anything about a possible fight with Melendez if he should end up in the UFC? Would that happen?Won’t happen. Not surprisingly, considering the lens through which the Diaz brothers view professional fighting, they are far less likely to fight their friends than, say, those wrestler types who see it all as one big, friendly competition. When the Diazes fight, they view it almost as a matter of life and death. You might play racquetball against your best friend, but you probably don’t want to meet him for pistols at dawn, if you know what I’m saying.Terry Shillito @TerryShillito@benfowlkesMMA With King Mo going to Bellator&TNA, do we see a UFC/WWE collaboration in the near future? Do we WANT to see that?No and no. Just like the bookstore has separate sections for fiction and non-fiction, so too should the sporting world. I think the UFC has struggled for legitimacy long enough to appreciate that.Safi Afzal @SlumDoggg@benfowlkesMMA should bellator take a chance and sign rampage when he gets set loose by the ufc and make a Mo vs Rampage ppv?I have a feeling that, should he decide to seriously pursue fighting in a timely fashion after his UFC exit, "Rampage" Jackson is going to request an unreasonable amount of money. I also have a feeling that Bellator will rightly wonder whether he’s worth the price tag and the headache at this point in his career, especially considering how much he complains about doing the bare minimum for the highest-paying MMA organization in the land. If I were Bellator, I’d sit back and give Jackson a chance to find out what the free agent market really looks like for a 33-year-old former champion. Even if it doesn’t bring his asking price down significantly, it can’t help but improve his attitude.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, irsquom, itrsquo

A Lesson in Street MMA: Beware of the little guy knocking everyone out

In a world where New York legislators think it’s fair to keep child pornography legal while making sure MMA stays illegal, citizens often find themselves visiting one of countless local watering holes like the one in the video today. Not sure if this was filmed in New York, it probably wasn’t, but this is the kind of stuff that continues to occur when intoxicated bar patrons can’t agree on socially conscious political issues. At some point during this lesson in Street MMA, a conservative blamed the entire thing on Barack Obama, and with the distortion of the internet, who are we to say it’s not his fault? All we know is that size doesn’t matter when it comes to bar fights; it’s coordination and a series of well placed haymakers that separate the man standing from the man with the broken jaw. Props to Kieran for the find.

Posted in: mma, ’t, wasn ’t, street mma, ’s coordination

The UFC's Popularity Essentially Forces Canada To Legalize MMA

I'm guessing you read the headline and you're thinking "What? Canada has hosted a ton of MMA cards?". Well believe it or not, MMA is technically illegal at a federal level in Canada right now. Our criminal code prohibits "prize fights", which is defined as "an encounter or fight with fists or hands". That means that even judo and taekwondo aren't technically legal in my country. Obviously the federal government isn't enforcing the criminal code in these matters, and has basically let provinces and municipalities find a way around current law in whatever manner they please. Today, finally, the federal government has seen the light and will change the law so prize fighting is permitted in Canada, mostly because of the popularity of the UFC (via Metro News): "Honourable Senators, this is big business," Senator Bob Runciman, the Conservative who is sponsoring the bill, told the upper chamber when he introduced the bill April 4. He noted the top four gates in UFC history were all in Canada, including last year’s event at the Rogers Centre in Toronto that drew a record crowd of 55,000, generating direct economic activity worth $22 million. Canadians, said Runciman, account for 25 per cent of the UFC’s global commercial closed-circuit television sales. "These numbers tell the story. Canadians have made their decision on this, and that’s the primary reason I’m introducing this bill." The UFC has already hosted events in three Canadian provinces and will go to a fourth in July when UFC 149 takes place in Calgary, but this move will help to alleviate the fears of other provinces that have been apprehensive about hosting events due to possible criminal code issues. It also allows the federal government to oversee provincial and municipal commissions, which will lead to more transparency and help with safety issues. After all the roadblocks the UFC has had to deal with when trying to break into markets like Ontario and British Columbia, this is a very good sign for the future of Canadian MMA.

Posted in: ufc, mma, event, canadian, canada

Latest UFC/MMA news and notes from around the web for the week of May 6, 2012

Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Marlon Sandro and Jose Aldo pictured above, we can all "get along." Teaming up with MMA sites like Low Kick, Fightline, Fight Opinion and The Fight Nerd, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport. This week, The Fight Nerd gives a complete history of MMA in New York, Fight Opinion investigates the California commission and politics and MMA Payout takes a look at King Mo's deal with Bellator and TNA. . The full list of links is after the jump. - Gilbert Melendez has changed his goals on Strikeforce vs. UFC (LowKick) "Obviously, to be the number one guy in the world, you've got to be a champion in the UFC. I have changed my goals. Right now my goals are to put on a good show, get better in the sport, take some risks and just try to become a really good martial artist and deliver. I just want to do my thing and perform and find my motivation with my paycheck, my team and my family." - Complete timeline of the history of MMA in New York (The Fight Nerd) With the vote to legalize MMA in New York squashed for another year, but an amateur MMA event still going on in the northern part of the state next week, there is a lot of confusion among casual fans as to what exactly is happening between mixed martial arts and The Empire State. For quick reference, below is a condensed timeline of every major legal and social event regarding MMA in New York from 1997 to this week. - Investigation: The future of combat sports in California (Fight Opinion) Last Friday morning, we posted an article discussing the neutering of AB2100, the proposed legislation (amendments) by Assemblyman Luis Alejo that would give the California State Athletic Commission sweeping authority to review & regulate fighter contracts in Mixed Martial Arts. The current power that the CSAC has to oversee boxing contracts would be given to the commission for MMA as well. - King Mo's unprecedented deal with Bellator and TNA (MMA Payout) Former Strikeforce Light Heavy Weight Champion Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal announced today that he has signed a first-of-its-kind deal to simultaneously compete for Spike TV properties Bellator Fighting Championship (MMA) & TNA (Professioinal Wrestling). - Renan Barao discusses potential interim title fight against Urijah Faber (MMA Convert) "It would be great," said Barao, in a recent interview with the Brazilian news outlet Tatame. "Actually, I fight any guy (the) UFC tells me to. I'm prepared and I can fight anyone." - Frank Mir: Junior Dos Santos avoids ground game like it's 'poison' (Fightline) But as far as when you see people engage him, he's a throw-punches-and-run kind of guy. He doesn't wanna sit there and get grabbed and taken down and he's not gonna fight that battle. If he was capable of doing it, we probably would've seen it already. Fact is, he avoids it like it's poison. - John Lineker's unexpected helping hand before UFC on FOX 3 (Five Ounces of Pain) John Lineker was unsuccessful in his attempt to defeat Louis Gaudinot on the prelims at UFC on FOX 3. However, considering the non-fighting issues he dealt with it was pretty incredible that Lineker made it to the bout. Alex Davis, who manages a number of fighters including Rousimar Palhares, helped Lineker deal some trouble cutting weight as well as other problems after his management team was unable - Erk Koch looking to cash in UFC golden ticket (5thRound) Do you remember how happy Charlie was when he cracked open that Wonka Bar and discovered he had won the last Golden Ticket? Oh, and who can forget about his classic celebration with Grandpa Joe?

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, deal, fight nerd

Bloody Elbow News Roundup: Don Frye Skewers Dana White, Donald Cerrone Will Fight His Best Friend

There's a lot happening in the world of MMA, and Bloody Elbow prides itself on being your one-stop news source for everything that's going on in the UFC, Strikeforce, Bellator, and everywhere else. There's only so much time in the day though, and some stuff slips through the cracks. This new daily feature is an attempt to fill those cracks, will keep you up to date on all the little news you might have missed otherwise. Here we go. Did you know that Polish promotion KSW is hosting an event this weekend? And the main event sees strongman Mariusz Pudzianowski taking on Bob Sapp? For the three of you that are still interested after reading "Bob Sapp", here's a video of the weigh-ins and an interview with Pudzian (subtitled), who has been training with American Top Team. You can catch a live discussion of KSW 19 on Saturday here on BE. Did you miss the Bellator 68 weigh-ins today? My homie Brian Hemminger of MMA Mania has got you covered. We all love Don Frye for his fearless fighting style and epic mustache, and you might have heard he's not the biggest Dana White fan. Frye was a guest on the MMA Hour earlier this week and he continued to take the UFC president apart (transcription via MMA Mania): "Like I said the other day, my generation, I got caught up in this internet stuff and squabbles and all that. My generation don't really do that. I'm not doing it anymore, so, as far as I'm concerned, Dana who? You know? I'm done with it. If he wants to sit down over a beer and talk face to face, because I'm not playing this bullsh*t game anymore. I met him when he first bought, or when the Fertitta brothers first purchased UFC. I had an interview with him and it didn't go anywhere and next thing I know he is bad mouthing me on the internet, so, like a dumbass, I started bad mouthing him. So I'm done with it now, Dana Who? Look, it's the Fertitta's checkbook, Joe Silva doing the bookings, okay? That is all there is to it. Those three guys are very respectable. You don't hear any of them cussing or calling anybody, you know, foul language. Those three guys are good guys and they run the organization." ... "If he (Dana) doesn't respect what I've done for the sport, why in the hell should I respect, you know, that he is using someone else's money and somebody else's booking intelligence? No I don't (respect what he has done for MMA). Look at the way he talks about me and all that. If he does respect me, then I'll never say anything bad about him again, I'm trying not to now." After the jump, Donald Cerrone will tell you that he'll fight everyone including his teammates. He'll even fight his roommate. Why? Because Cowboy is awesome, that's why. Even NASCAR drivers think so. You'll also hear from Shane del Rosarioand Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix finalist Josh Barnett. UFC 146 goes down in just over two weeks and if you weren't a Strikeforce fan, you're probably wondering who the hell Shane del Rosario is. You can find out a little about him in this MMA Prime interview: If you're not a Josh Barnett fan, you're not my friend. I'm willing to look past that though, as long you'll take the time to see what The Warmaster has to say in this interview with MMA Weekly. Barnett is ready to take on Daniel Cormier in the finals of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix on May 19th, and here's my favorite part of the interview: "I’d love to go over there (the UFC) and beat everybody up and sit on top of that pile too. I believe I’m the best heavyweight out there in the world, so what better way to prove it than to punch everybody else in the face first." We'll close things out on this lovely Thursday night with some wise words from a Cowboy. Donald Cerrone is taking on Jeremy Stephens at UFC on Fuel 3 next Tuesday, but that's not what he's talking about here. In an interview with Pro MMA Radio, he was asked about the Greg Jackson family drama between Rashad Evans and Jon Jones, and how he feels about teammates fighting teammates (transcription via MMA Mania): "I still am, 100 percent (Rashad's friend). Every day, I would walk in and say, 'I'm team Rashad.' It was just like that, I wear everything on my sleeve, I say how it is and I talk right to people. I would tell Jon (Jones), 'I'm team Rashad, man. That's my boy, that's my brother.' And Jones is cool man, he is a cool dude. I have no hard feelings. I go out with him and hang all the time and I train with him. It's not like I would take his training and tell Rashad, I wouldn't go that far. But he is like, 'I respect the fact that you were friends with Rashad before you met me and that you're sticking by your boy, and I respect that.' As for me, I will fight anyone. I will fight anybody. I would fight Leonard (Garcia), and I live with him. Does that answer your question? I would fight Clay (Guida), and he will still be my boy. I mean, this is what we do, we're professionals and there is going to come a time when teammates are going to have to fight. That's just the way it goes." Mr. Cerrone has friends all over the place. He'll be cornered by NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick next Tuesday on Fuel (via MMA Weekly).

Posted in: ufc, mma, im, that, respect

MMA Uncensored Live Discussion - 5/10

Join us at Bloody Elbow to discuss tonight's episode of MMA Uncensored Live, which airs on Spike at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT. Hosts Nate Quarry, Craig Carton and Mike Straka will discuss a wide range of MMA topics. MMA Fighting's Luke Thomas has been a regular on the show so far, and he might be a guest on tonight's episode once again. For those of you that missed the first few episodes, this is how co-host Nate Quarry describes the show: "More than anything, it's less of a sports reporting show talking about the scores that just happened and more of an opinion piece. It's a lot more like a forum than it is a news show. You know when you go to the forums and there's about 90% sh*t talking and 10% intelligence? We're hoping to raise the bar closer to 15%," Quarry quipped. Tonight's episode will focus on Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal's signing with Bellator and TNA Wrestling. Mo, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney, and TNA owner Dixie Carter will all be guests to discuss today's contract signing and what Lawal will be doing with both organizations. Tune in and let everyone know what you think of the Bones interview, and much more.

Posted in: mma, show, episode, tonights episode, news show

The MMA (After) Hour: Wrestling/MMA Journalist Dave Meltzer on King Mo's Big Day

On this breaking news edition of The MMA (After) Hour we spoke to long-time pro wrestling and MMA journalist Dave Meltzer of wrestlingobserver.com about "King" Muhammed Lawal's decision to sign with Bellator and TNA, whether he will be able to pull this off, what kind of obstacles he will face, Bellator's future on Spike and how he thinks this will all play out. Listen to the interview after the jump or download the audio here. The MMA (After) Hour: Dave Meltzer Interview

Posted in: mma, meltzer, king mos, bellators future, news edition

After thrill of victory, agony of defeat reminds Alex Davis of MMA's truest virtue

Veteran manager Alex Davis was on quite the roll. The respected MMA personality had watched on with joy as clients such as Rousimar Palhares and Edson Barboza racked up big victories and even bigger bonus checks. But this past weekend's UFC on FOX 3 event was a different story, and Davis was the first man into the cage as two of his countrymen (Palhares and John Lineker) met brutal fates. It was those sobering moments, watching two fighters find their way back to consciousness, in which Davis said he was immediately reminded of the true spirit of MMA.

Posted in: mma, davi, edson barboza, mma personality, countrymen palhares

Lefko on MMA: Cage meets squared circle

The Bellator-TNA Wrestling deal is an example of how professional MMA is moving toward pro wrestling in terms of entertainment and promotion.

Posted in: mma, deal, term, mma cage, lefko

Don Frye: 'Dana Who? It’s the Fertitta’s check book and Joe Silva doing the bookings'

Mixed martial arts (MMA) legend Don Frye and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White apparently do not like each other. You have to look no further than their recent verbal jabs aimed at each other through their Twitter accounts and MMA radio shows. "The Predator" feels that White ruined the sport of MMA by not paying fighters properly and bragging about his Ferraris, while White feels Frye is just a "bitter fighter." Sure, when two people dislike one another, their usually is still some kind of respect that exists between the two in some shape or form. Just look at Rashad Evans and Jon Jones. The two had a bitter falling out that lead to one of the most heated and real "rivalries" in the sport of MMA. Yet, throughout the 12 months of back-and-forth jawing, there was still a level of respect there as far as competitors go. However, not everyone feels the same way, especially Don Frye. Appearing on The MMA Hour, Frye explains his beef with White and says that despite what many may believe, Dana White does not run the UFC and is only along for the ride "using someone else's money." Check it out: "Like I said the other day, my generation, I got caught up in this internet stuff and squabbles and all that. My generation don't really do that. I'm not doing it anymore, so, as far as I'm concerned, Dana who? You know? I'm done with it. If he wants to sit down over a beer and talk face to face, because I'm not playing this bullshit game anymore. I met him when he first bought, or when the Fertitta brothers first purchased UFC. I had an interview with him and it didn't go anywhere and next thing I know he is bad mouthing me on the internet, so, like a dumbass, I started bad mouthing him. So I'm done with it now, Dana Who? Look, it's the Fertitta's check book, Joe Silva doing the bookings, ok? That is all there is to it. Those three guys are very respectable. You don't hear any of them cussing or calling anybody, you know, foul language. Those three guys are good guys and they run the organization." When asked if he respected what Dana has done for the UFC and the sport of MMA in general, Don didn't mince any words: "Why, why? If he doesn't respect what I've done for the sport, why in the hell should I respect, you know, that he is using someone else's money and somebody else's booking intelligence? No I don't (respect what he has done for MMA). Look at the way he talks about me and all that. If he does respect me, then I'll never say anything bad about him again, I'm trying not to now." Why don't you tell us how you really feel, Mr. Frye? "The Predator" began his career with the UFC during the dark days of MMA, amassing a 9-1 record with the promotion during his 10-month stint. His only loss during that time came at the hands of Mark Coleman, which was for the UFC 10 tournament championship nearly 16 years ago. The beef with one of the most powerful men in the sport will likely leave Frye out of the UFC Hall of Fame for the foreseeable future, unless, of course, White takes Frye up on his offer and decides to sit down with a cold beer and hash it all out. What are the chances of that happening?

Posted in: ufc, mma, dana, frye, respect

5 Oz. MMA Link Club

Welcome back to another edition of “MMA Link Club”, Five Ounces of Pain‘s weekly smorgasbord of offerings from our brothers and sisters in the MMA community. Enjoy… Nate Diaz Says Gilbert Melendez is the Best 155er Out There (MMAConvert.com) Antonio Silva Bringing in Wrestlers to Prepare for Cain Velasquez (Fightline.com) Josh Koscheck Wants Five-Round Rematch with Johny Hendricks (LowKick.com) MMA in NYC Not Happening in 2012 (MMAPayout.com) Tim Kennedy Releases Another Video Bound to Make Fans Laugh (TheFightNerd.com) Erik Koch Ready to Cash in Golden Ticket Against Jose Aldo (5thRound.com) Current Cast of TUF Grills Past Contestants (Heavy.com) Jeremy Stephens Talks Upcoming Fight with Donald Cerrone (BleacherReport.com) MMA in Trouble in California? (FightOpinion.com) Diego Brandao Approaching UFC 146 Bout like a Street Fight (MMAMania.com) PHOTO CREDIT – UFC/STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: mma, mma community, gilbert melendez, pain ‘s, fiveround rematch

King Mo Signs Unprecented Deal With Spike TV’s Bellator & TNA Wrestling

Former Strikeforce Light Heavy Weight Champion Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal announced today that he has signed a first-of-its-kind deal to simultaneously compete for Spike TV properties Bellator Fighting Championship (MMA) & TNA (Professioinal Wrestling). In an unprecedented move, one of the biggest names in mixed martial arts, “King Mo” Lawal, has signed a deal to compete in Spike TV’s two major sports properties, Bellator Fighting Championships and TNA’s IMPACT Wrestling. “King Mo” will join the stars of TNA this summer and resume his mixed martial arts career next year when Bellator Fighting Championships moves to Spike TV from its current television home, MTV2. The deal was jointly announced today by Kevin Kay, President, Spike TV along with Bjorn Rebney, Chairman & CEO, Bellator Fighting Championships and Dixie Carter, President, TNA Entertainment. “‘King Mo’ is an incredible athlete and a great addition to the Bellator family. He immediately adds prominence and star-power to our light heavyweight division,” said Rebney. “‘King Mo’ is the perfect athlete for this type of alliance. He is the real deal in MMA, and his bold personality and world class wrestling accomplishments are unparalleled. I’m confident he will have a major impact in both sports,” stated Carter. Lawal (10-1-1) launched his mixed martial arts career in 2008, and after four straight wins, he faced off against his toughest challenge, renowned fighter Mark Kerr. “King Mo” knocked out Kerr in the first round, and eight months later he defeated Gegard Mousasi in a Light Heavyweight world title fight. Lawal also holds an impressive KO victory against multiple Brazilian jiu-jitsu world championship winner Roger Gracie in September 2011. “This deal is a dream come true for me,” Lawal said. “Bjorn and Dixie have given me the opportunity to engage in my two great loves, mixed martial arts and professional wrestling, at the same time. And, to have it all on Spike TV is really buttercream icing on a big ol’ cake – not that whipped cream stuff either!” Lawal rose to grappling acclaim as a NCAA Division I All-American wrestler at Oklahoma State University in 2003 and a three-time U.S. National Champion (2005, 2006, and 2008) in the 84 kilogram division. In 2007, as a member of the US National team, he brought home a gold medal at the Pan American Games and a silver medal at the World Cup. A native of Murfreesboro, Tenn., Lawal lives in San Jose, Calif. and trains with the prominent American Kickboxing Academy. Payout Perspective: There aren’t too many options for MMA fighters nowadays since Zuffa purchased Strikeforce last year. King Mo was one of those fighters that benefited from Strikeforce’s existence back when he was fighting for Sengoku and signed a flexible and favorable contract as many promotions courted his services. This time around, King Mo – who has had previous interest and actually tried out for Professional Wrestling before – signs a simultaneous deal to compete for both Bellator and TNA. This is Spike TV’s pocket Aces, giving professional fighters another option in making a living within MMA. Some who are purist within MMA, may cringe at the idea of MMA fighters also dabbling in Pro Wrestling, but this has been a constant in MMA for quite some time. From Dan Severn, to many Japanese fighters, to Josh Barnett, Pro Wrestling and MMA have a history of going hand-in-hand for quite some time. Plus, let’s not forget the UFC’s biggest PPV draw Brock Lesnar – who is now back with WWE – and Ken Shamrock who spiked up everyone’s interest in MMA when he signed with the UFC after competing in WWE. The history has always been there and it has been a black eye to many that want to legitimize the sport to the mainstream, but we are seeing something different here. Something innovative, if you want to call it. Spike TV is using both of their properties to not only cross-promote, but to expand on their audience base to grow not only grow Bellator and TNA, but to anchor a M18-34 flag on the network. It’s innovative, it’s contraversial, and its getting people’s attention. Its exactly what Spike TV want’s to do as it continues preparations for the transfer of Bellator from MTV to Spike TV in 2013.

Posted in: bellator, mma, tv, spike, mo

Former Strikeforce champ “King Mo” Lawal signs with Bellator, TNA Wrestling

It looks like Brock Lesnar is not the only former MMA champion with legitimate grappling credentials who has aspirations of drawing a paycheck from work as a professional wrestler. According to multiple reports, Muhammed Lawal has inked a deal with TNA Wrestling. However, “King Mo” will not forgo a career in Mixed Martial Arts to focus purely on sports entertainment and has also signed to fight under the Bellator banner. Both companies have broadcasting deals with Viacom meaning it is likely Lawal will work for both organizations simultaneously. The official announcement is set for this afternoon with Sherdog initially reporting the news. Lawal holds an overall record of 8-1 in MMA and held the Strikeforce light heavyweight title for a time. Owning past wins over stand-out competitors such as Roger Gracie and Gegard Mousasi, the 31-year old was last seen taking out Lorenz Larkin in January but failed a post-fight drug test and had the victory changed to a No Contest. The result stemmed from Lawal’s use of a since-banned over-the-counter supplement. He was released from Strikeforce in the wake of the controversy in addition to having called one of the NSAC officials a “racist bitch”. “King Mo” Apologizes for Behavior Relating to Inappropriate Tweet No word has surfaced on when he will debut in either organization though he is suspended on the MMA front until early September. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE Tweet

Posted in: mma, strikeforce, mo, king, lawal

Chad Robichaux ready to return to the ring after helping veterans battle PTSD

A common and annoying misconception in the combat sports community is that an MMA fight is a ‘war’ between two competitors putting everything on the line for a victory. Such a statement is not only absurd and incorrect but a blatant insult to the men and women who actually put their bodies on the line for our freedom and protection. Chad Robichaux, a former United States Marine turned professional MMA fighter, would be among those offended by the comparison of war to an MMA fight. For Robichaux, who competes this Friday night on HDNet for the Legacy Fighting Championship against former UFC fighter Joseph Sandoval, getting punched and kicked in the face for fifteen minutes is incredibly easy compared to dodging bullets for multiple hours of the day. With several years of combat deployments under his belt, Robichaux has lived through some frightening experiences and, like most veterans, struggled with PTSD—post traumatic stress disorder. It was a tough battle but Robichaux’s love for his family and of martial arts helped him prevail in the end. So when the opportunity arose for Robichaux to help fellow veterans overcome their battle with PTSD, the proud veteran took a step away from his fighting career after two consecutive losses to focus on a new foundation. “When I decided to step away [from MMA] it was actually the worst time for me because I just had a real desire to get back in there and compete,” Robichaux said in an interview with Five Ounces of Pain. “I went 11-0 and then I took my first loss against [then-Bellator bantamweight champion] Zach Makovsky and Zach just out-performed me but the loss that came directly after that was a fluke in my opinion. I was just itching to get back in there and the opportunity came up for me to work with wounded veterans and we decided to start a foundation.” That foundation is called the Mighty Oaks Wounded Warrior Foundation and it is a Christian-based nonprofit organization committed to helping wounded warriors and their families with a variety of unique programs. These programs are specifically designed to help wounded veterans with PTSD and other hardships brought on by their service to our great country. “I went through PTSD so basically we took some of the things that helped me get back on my feet when I got back from my last tour in Afghanistan and emulated them into several different programs. We are running about ten different programs a year and we just started back in September but we have blown up big due to all of the support we’ve gotten,” explained Robichaux. “We have programs that run for about six months at a time but then we have ones that run for a full year. The guys that are up here for a year, basically I’m mentoring them one-on-one and teaching them how to get jobs in the martial arts community.” “When I came home I found that martial arts in addition to my wife and my faith were the only thing that grounded me,” he continued. “I’ve been doing [martial arts] my whole life but I would have these panic attacks but they would go away as soon as I hit the mats and started grappling. “If you lift weights you can still think about things because your mind tends to wander but when you’re grappling or training in MMA, the only thing you’re focused on is that moment and what you’re doing. You cannot drift off and day dream on the mats so it is proven to be a highly effective form of therapy.” Robichaux briefly retired from MMA upon his involvement in the foundation but a certain UFC Hall of Famer ignited his passion for competition once again. Now reborn as a flyweight, Robichaux is aiming for a contract with the UFC as soon as possible. “I had to make a decision because we were going to take it up to a rural area away from the city and there was nobody to train with in the area that we chose,” Robichaux said. “When my wife and I decided to do it, it was one of those things that I had to sacrifice which was the ability to have a team and compete. However, once we got up here I come to find out that Randy Couture is up here so even though I gave up something, I got blessed with something better,” revealed “Robo”. A victory over Sandoval would bolster Robichaux’s record to 12-2 and, when considering the UFC’s partnership with the Marines and the fact that they are in the process of building up their flyweight division, a win could all but guarantee Robichaux a contract with the major league promotion of mixed martial arts. “My next step after this fight is to make a push for the 125-pound division in the UFC. I just really want to fight on a Fight for the Troops card. I’ve competed in Bellator and Strikeforce as well as being the bantamweight champion for the Legacy Fighting Championship so there shouldn’t be any reason that the UFC wouldn’t give me a shot,” Robichaux said. “I don’t see anyone in the flyweight division that I wouldn’t be able to compete against. My footwork and cage control has improved drastically. I feel like I have the ability now to dictate where the fight takes place against anyone that I step in the cage with. I feel very confident that nobody in the entire flyweight division will have any sort of control in dictating the pace of the fight against me.” Catch Robichaux’s fight on HDNet when the broadcast starts tomorrow night at 10:00 PM EST.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, veteran, robichaux

Asian MMA: Shinya Aoki Vs. Kazushi Sakuraba In The Works For DREAM

If everything goes according to plan, two of the top Japanese stars of the generation are going to do battle in the coming months. A bout between top 10 ranked lightweight, Shinya Aoki (30-6), and MMA pioneer, Kazushi Sakuraba (26-16) is in the works for the next DREAM show. Word about the contest was first mentioned by Daniel Fletcher as a rumor, and separate sources from the region have confirmed to BloodyElbow.com that the bout is indeed in the works for a future DREAM event and it has been agreed upon by at least one party. Sakuraba returned to pro-wrestling or 'puroresu' on DREAM's NYE event, and while people thought he may not compete in MMA again, it looks like the Japanese legend would likely be taking another bout this year. It would be a showcase match pitting a current star with an aging legend, but it's definitely the kind of spectacle that one could expect to see in Japan. The 42-year-old Sakuraba started his career back in 1996 and has fought the who's who in MMA during his heyday. Even at the tail end of his career, "The Gracie Hunter" has still faced a chain of top opponents, losing his last 4 bouts including 2 bouts at welterweight. Aoki on the other hand, is still at the prime of his career at 28 years of age, and has shown an improved MMA game since moving his training camps to Singapore. Coming in to this bout though, Shinya will be looking to rebound from a loss on that rematch against Eddie Alvarez, which snapped his 7-fight winning streak. Related: Bellator 66: Eddie Alvarez vs. Shinya Aoki Recap and Highlight Video The bout is likely to be contested at welterweight, although more details should be available in the coming weeks, so stay tuned for more updates. Follow me on twitter -- @antontabuena

Posted in: mma, bout, aoki, sakuraba, shinya

Win 60 MORE days of Collagen Sport for creating the greatest MMA haiku ever

A few months ago we had this same NeoCell Collagen Sport contest and invited the MMA world to create the greatest MMA haiku for 60-days of the greatest nutritional complex known to man. Instead of praising your fellow MMA haiku writers, you guys sent every participant into a fiery put of thumbs down. We eventually found one sole person that had a nominal amount of thumbs up, and he was awarded the nutritional spoils of war. I would be lying if I told you I didn't drink a glass of this stuff for breakfast shortly after I crawl out of bed. NeoCell's Collagen Sport is a four-stage nutritional supplement designed to help you refuel, recover, regenerate and replenish. It also helps me obtain witty 90s references and incorporate them into articles with ease. NeoCell's Collagen Sport is synthetic-free, sugar-free, gluten-free, lactose-free nutritional supplement. NeoCell also helped us produce the upcoming 'Ronda Rousey's Road Trip to the 209,' an episodic show that will hit MiddleEasy.com in a few more days. In the meantime, NeoCell wants to give away free stuff to MiddleEasy readers. In order to make this happen, we're bringing back out infamous 'The Greatest MMA Haiku Contest.' Check out the official rules below. Rules: We want to read the greatest MMA haiku known to humanity -- and it's your job to come up with it. The haiku could be anything MMA related. Of course, the greatest haiku will eventually win a free 60-day supply of Collagen Sport in both Belgian Chocolate and French Vanilla flavor. Here's a brief example that I've whipped up to get your brains cranking: Cro Cop with blue wings Flying past edible sharks Through time and through space Note to everyone, if your haiku is as horrible as mine -- don't expect to get even close to winning. The underlying structure of a haiku is three lines, with the first line being five 'moras' (or syllables), second line contains seven moras, and the final line contains three. So a 5-7-5 structure. Hope that didn't confuse you, but if it did then you may need to retake 6th grade literature. As of now, the contest is open to anyone on the planet. How to win: You must be a registered user on MiddleEasy.com with a valid email to enter. Publish your creative MMA haiku in the comment section below. The haiku with the most thumbs-ups by May 13th 9:00pm EST will win a 60-day supply of Collagen Sport. It's as simple as that. Now go, be creative!

Posted in: mma, sport, haiku, collagen, mma haiku

In New York MMA Is Illegal But Viewing Kiddy Porn Is Not

In what most will consider an infuriating move, the New York Court Of Appeals made a ruling yesterday that states the viewing of child pornography online is no longer a criminal offense. That's right, viewing kiddie porn online is now legal in NY, but MMA isn't. The National Post reported on the ruling in question today. The ruling is directly linked to a 2009 case involving college professor James D. Kent, who was sentenced to prison for several counts of possessing a sexual performance of a child and promoting a sexual performance of a child. The appeals court dismissed one count of promoting and one count of possession due to the fact that the images were only viewed online, and not downloaded. Current law states that viewing the image on the internet does not constitute possession, and is therefore not illegal. Related Stories: UFC Again Fails To Get MMA Legalized In New York | Questionable Backroom Move Spikes Legalizing Of NY MMA Once More I can't help but be appalled at this, especially in light of the fact that after so much hard work and steps in the right direction to legalize MMA in the empire state, the powers that be shut it down without even a backwards glance.

Posted in: mma, york, count, child, ruling

How Will Nick Diaz Vs. Braulio Estima Go This Weekend At World Jiu Jitsu Expo?

Neither Diaz brother believes much in downtime. While challenging his suspension for a positive drug test, Nick Diaz signed up for a no-gi grappling superfight against Braulio Estima to be held on May 12, 2012. To couch this in terms of a metaphor, it is as if an Olympic decathlon contender decided to challenge Usain Bolt to a 400 meter run on live TV. This grappling match is unusual because it is now rare that someone on the level of Diaz, a title contender in the comparatively more lucrative world of MMA, would participate in a grappling match against Estima, one of the twenty best Brazilian jiu jitsu grapplers on the planet right now. There is little in the way of mega-publicity headed Diaz's way for this match as it takes place outside the UFC - unlike the appearance of Brock Lesnar in the pro wrestling circuit. There is no financial reward - as Diaz is donating his expected purse to charity. All that is left is the purposeful choosing of an immense personal and technical challenge for Diaz that is worth respecting and bringing attention to. Can Nick shock the world and bring more glory to 209? For Estima, this is a chance to show MMA fans what he can do and to make further connections within the MMA world. If he loses, his reputation takes a bit of a dent and his prospect wattage dims considerably. His training partner Roger Gracie has already taken that dent after a loss to Muhammad Lawal and is now going to make a new weight class his home. Will the same fate befall Braulio? Hit the jump for a look at the styles of Diaz and Estima, as well as an overview of the other matches at the World Jiu Jitsu Expo in Long Beach, California on May 12, 2012. Related Coverage: Nick Diaz to donate entire purse to St. Jude's Children's Hospital | Stephie Daniels interviews Braulio about impending MMA debut | Ben Thapa previews the ADCC 2011 Superfight between Jacare and Braulio | Ben Thapa on ADCC 2011 Results (the significance of Braulio's victory against Jacare) Braulio spoke with our own Stephie Daniels for a short time while in Abu Dhabi on a dying phone regarding the Diaz super-fight and about Andre Galvao, a future opponent in yet another super-fight: It is good for him to fight someone in BJJ because he cannot fight in MMA at the moment. He can take his fitness levels from MMA and transfer them here. This is going to be huge. It will be difficult to beat him and I'm actually very excited. I've also got a sponsor who is excited about this and is allowing me to fight him, which is great too. Regarding an MMA rules fight with Andre Galvao subsequent to their upcoming ADCC super-fight in 2013: I don't think so, because we are friends, and when you add punches to the face, that puts a strain on any friendship. NICK DIAZ vs. BRAULIO ESTIMA (NO-GI) Diaz battled Carlos Condit for the UFC interim welterweight title, but came up short on the judges' card and was subsequently suspended from fighting due to a positive drug test for marijuana metabolites. His talent and achievements within MMA are unquestioned and Nick built his very solid grappling game under the tutelage of Cesar Gracie, a notoriously difficult instructor in terms of handing out belts. The nine, often spectacular submission victories Diaz holds in his MMA career show his dangerous finishing abilities in the context of no-gi grappling. He gives almost everyone he meets fits on the ground, but Braulio Estima is not a regular run of the mill grappler. Braulio Estima was at the absolute pinnacle of the sport of Brazilian jiu jitsu in 2009. He won every major tournament he entered and his ADCC 2009 run was magnificent. His double gold in the 88 kg and the Absolute divisions were both won by a rare submission called the inverted triangle. Unfortunately, the brilliance of the 2009 campaign dimmed in 2010, as Braulio dealt with nagging injuries in between then and the 2011 ADCC. Like the sprinter Bolt, his dominance was hampered by these injuries, but Braulio's victory over Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza in the ADCC Superfight showed he was back and that he was grappling at a very high level. The 4-0 points victory does not reflect the extreme frustration Jacare experienced trying to pass Braulio's guard and the lightning-quick back take Braulio had off an unusual transition. Braulio wins again and again in and out of the gi. Both fighters stand to gain little in their respective niches from this battle. If Nick wins, he gains little in the MMA world, but jumps considerably in the BJJ world. If Braulio wins, he's lived up to expectations, yet his MMA career isn't helped much. However, both should gain respect from the fans for agreeing to match each other as the headliner to what will be an entertaining superfight card. Braulio's guard is immensely difficult to solve. He submitted Marcelo Garcia after a tiny grip-based mistake, submitted Andre Galvao in 2009 with an inverted triangle and caused Xande Ribeiro (a much bigger grappler) to quit due to injury after applying another inverted triangle. His back take on Jacare in the ADCC 2011 Superfight was very impressive and he should be able to do much more to Nick. The two grapplers should be of roughly similar size, but Braulio will probably be the stronger of the two on the ground and much more able to take advantage of transitions after Diaz tries something. Both Diaz brothers have a tendency to expose their backs or chill out in turtle until they spin out and grab a limb. However, Braulio is too good to fall for that and will probably run up the score a good deal on a very game Nick after taking him down. Due to this being no-gi, a submission is difficult to predict, but Braulio probably can secure Nick's back after a while and get the RNC. RAFAEL LOVATO JR. vs. LUCAS LEITE (GI) Lucas Leite is a threat to win any gi tournament he enters. He recently reached the finals of the 2012 Abu Dhabi World Pro against Claudio Calasans and lost a points victory. Lovato Jr. is also a threat to win these tournaments, but hasn't quite cracked through to the gold medal since his victory over Rodolfo Vieira in the no-gi 2011 World Pro. Rafael took third in the same Abu Dhabi tournament, losing by an advantage to one of the finalists in a controversial match. Both men are probably going to engage in an extremely intense, pressure-based battle to get grips and sweeps. I suspect that this one will be decided by an advantage or two. VICTOR ESTIMA vs. KRON GRACIE (GI) This match actually happened at the 2012 Pan Am and Victor was disqualified for an illegal knee reap. The rules are the same and Kron is again the favorite to win. Victor loves pulling guard and then working for guillotines or sweeps. Kron does not care where he ends up and hunts submissions from all over, often to his detriment in a point-based decision. NINO SCHEMBRI vs. BILL COOPER (GI) Nino is perhaps the best innovator in the sport that the Americans overlook. He was playing around with omoplatas, twisters and all kinds of other unusual tactics in the '90s. His competition record is absolutely stellar and some of his matches could feature in a hypothetical Top 100 BJJ Matches of All Time list. Unfortunately, he is facing Bill "The Grill" Cooper who will push the pace higher and higher until neither grappler can go any further. Cooper's match against Finfou a couple years ago remains my favorite spirit-breaking-through-pace-pushing moment ever. Bill actually has fought on the Strikeforce undercard a couple times and is 2-1 in his pro MMA career. Look for Bill to move through all the angles possible to attack and for Nino to follow, hunting a submission on the dangerous Cooper. Nino could get a finish, but it is unlikely. Look at their previous match in 2010 for a clue of what this insanity will look like: KYRA GRACIE vs. ALEXIS DAVIS (NO-GI) Kyra has an injured foot, but is still game for this. She lost the finals of the 2012 Abu Dhabi World Pro to Michelle Nicolini by footlock as she stuck it out at a bad time and couldn't tough it out enough to escape. If Davis is smart, she goes after that foot and wins. If not, Kyra will probably control her and slowly whittle her down until Davis wises up and attacks the foot. CAIO TERRA vs. JEFF GLOVER (NO-GI) Caio usually wins every competition he enters as a roosterweight - or loses in the finals to Bruno Malfacine. Glover is 20ish pounds heavier and a very strong submission grappler. If this were gi, I'd pick Terra in a heartbeat, but Glover finished Robson Moura, a legendary grappler in his own right, at the last ADCCs. Glover probably wins a controlled fight here.

Posted in: world, diaz, mma, nick, braulio

Chad Robichaux has opened an MMA gym for military veterans, and it's rawesome

Brian Stann is probably America’s most well known mixed martial artist who’s past involves multiple deployments in Iraq under the United States Marine Corps oversight. He was awarded a Silver Star in recognition of his valor in combat. Upon his arrival to the WEC, Stann instantly became a fan favorite, as do many former Marines. Unfortunately, many former members of our military return from combat with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Chad Robichaux is another Marine turned MMA fighter who recognizes that his brothers in arms sometimes need a hand when returning from the battlefield, as he did when he returned from over a decade of service in the Middle East. Ten of Chad’s eleven MMA wins have come by submission, and now he is using his experience in the cage to help Marines overcome PTSD at his new gym in Westcliffe, Colorado. We're fans of fighters who do things that make us laugh on a semi-frequent basis, but we're even bigger fans of fighters who do stuff like this. Props to Ron Kruck at Inside MMA for this awesome video and be sure to follow him on Twitter.

Posted in: mma, fighter, fan, chad, marine

The MMA (After) Hour: Dominick Cruz Discusses 'Devastating' Knee Injury

On this breaking news edition of The MMA (After) Hour, we spoke to UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz about the knee injury that forced him to withdraw from UFC 148, how he injured himself, how long he will be out for, how he has dealt with the news mentally, the UFC's decision to institute an interim title and much more. Listen to the interview after the jump or download the audio here. . The MMA (After) Hour: Dominick Cruz Interview

Posted in: ufc, mma, cruz, dominick, knee injury

Braulio Estima: 'I want to be the first to submit the MMA legend Nick Diaz'

Competing in grappling tournaments for over 16 years and studying the art since the age of 16, second degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) black belt, Braulio Estima, is one of the most decorated mat wizards in the world today. With a long list of credentials and accomplishments in jiu-jitsu, including multiple victories in the esteemed Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) with plenty of gold medals to prove his dominance, Estima is set to take on his newest challenge in the form of crossing over to become a full blown mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter later this year. Making Imperial Athletics his permanent training camp, "The Blackzilians," which includes such fighters as Rashad Evans, Alistair Overeem, Antonio Silva and Jorge Santiago, among others, are some of the select fighters that are helping this submission master make his MMA debut. But before he trades his Gi in for a pair of 12 ounce gloves, Estima will compete at the first ever World Jiu-Jitsu Expo (which is the brainchild of Renzo Gracie) this weekend (May ,12, 2012) in Long Beach, California. His opponent? None other than former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 170-pound title contender, Nick Diaz. Appearing on The MMA Hour, Estima talks about how his match with Nick, one he wanted, came to be and that he wants to be the first person to submit Diaz and says people should not be so quick to count out Diaz in the match. Those comments after the jump. "I was going to do a seminar at the expo in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and I heard Nick Diaz was going to do a grappling match at the same expo. The first thing that came to my mind was, "Wow, that would be a great match because we have the same weight and kind of the same height and he fights with submission, I fight with submission, and he is a legend in the MMA sport. I was training in Florida when Junior, one of the man guys for the expo, approached me and said, 'How about a fight with Nick Diaz?' And I said, 'Wow. Man, I would love to have this fight.' This will help both of us. He is a top MMA fighter but came from Brazilian jiu-jitsu. It will be great for me to fight against an MMA legend so that I can hopefully show what I got. And his will be a very good highlight for my debut." Diaz, who has not competed in an all jiu-jitsu match in over two years is going to be the obvious underdog heading into this weekend's showdown, however, Estima says people should not be so quick to count him out: "I think people underestimate a lot Nick. I think because of my name, because of what I have achieved , the pressure is all on me. Which it helps him, he has nothing to lose. I'm coming off of a break from and haven't trained as hard as I have for ADCC, I lost a lot of weight to make this fight at 180, I will be coming from Thailand which is 14 hours of difference, so the jet lag is going to be great. So this actually brings the match a little bit even. But even though, I push myself in every possible way, I think I will do well and I really want to be the guy who first guy to make him tap. To be able to perform Jiu-Jitsu in MMA the way that he does, you have to be very good. He doesn't have much of a record of just fighting in BJJ, because he stopped two years ago, you know, so it's going to be difficult. In two years, things change. I'm a completely different fighter than two years ago. But he has no pressure to win this fight, he just has to go in there and do a good job. It's going to be a great match to watch." The much anticipated match between Estima and Diaz goes down this weekend (May 12, 2012) in Long Beach, California. For the record, the bout will be a no-Gi match. So how about it Maniacs, anyone think Diaz has the tools to make this contest competitive? If you're not in the California area, you can order the event in HD for only $9.95 via mobileblackbelt.tv.

Posted in: fight, diaz, mma, estima, jiujitsu

Questionable Backroom Move Spikes Legalizing Of NY MMA Once More

Assemblyman Dean Murray: MMA Would Get More Yes Votes Than Same Sex Marriage The efforts of the UFC and other Zuffa employees towards legalizing mixed martial arts in New York has become a folly nearly on the level of Don Quixote trying to right all wrongs in the world. Whirlwind media tours with likable, intelligent and famous champions like Jon Jones, Frankie Edgar and Ronda Rousey, all with strong ties to New York, get the right headlines and create tons of good will. Friendly words are exchanged, offices visited, smiling photos taken and people all over New York perk up at the novelty and star power of the champions. Each year, the legislators in the New York State Capitol make all that work moot and deny New York once more from legalizing MMA and reaping the financial and sporting benefits of such. This year's edition of the NY MMA hokey-pokey took a nasty turn with some dirty politics being played in a closed door session of the Assembly. Sheldon Silver, the long-serving Assembly Speaker, put on a display of his famous ability to control the legislative agenda despite significant dissent from the Assembly at large. The New York Daily News has a solid run down of what shenanigans went down: The source said after eight people had spoken in favor of legalizing MMA and eight against, Silver called on members who don't support the bill to raise their hands. About 25 members did. Then he asked for a show of hands of those who support it before saying that it looked even, the source said. An upstate member who supports the measure complained it didn't look even to her, the source said. When Silver asked what she wanted, a city Democrat joked, a "slow roll call." The speaker took another informal vote, with 25 again raising their hands against. The "ayes" seemingly had more than 60, the source said. Silver then said others had expressed opposition privately and that the votes weren't there to move the bill. In a wonderful display of true MMA journalism, The Fight Nerd brings us further details on what went down: The Fight Nerd.com has confirmed with two other sources close to the situation, both asking to remain anonymous, that the poll was indeed in 2-1 favor for the sport. The sources speaking with The Fight Nerd disagreed with the Daily News on the head count, saying that only around 70 of the 100 members declared any stance on the issue. Still, all reports say that the poll placed the Democrats in favor of MMA in the significant majority. One man close to the issue who is not remaining anonymous is Republican Assemblyman Dean Murray. An outspoken proponent of the sanctioning of MMA, Murray took issue with the results of the Democratic meeting. [...] "[I was] extremely disappointing and, quite frankly, a little surprised," said Murray. "From what I've heard speaking to members on the other side of the aisle, the support is there." The minority conference Murray belongs to looked at the bill last week and reported, according to Murray "overwhelming support" for mixed martial arts in the state of New York. Further, Murray's work with Assembly Democrats led him to believe that a floor vote would be a slam dunk for MMA. "I've done the head count," said Murray. "If [the MMA bill] went to the floor tomorrow it would receive more ‘yea' votes than same sex marriage, another controversial issue that passed, did last year." The bolded words have been added for emphasis to highlight Murray's belief in the true legislative support for MMA. After the jump, an informal explanation of why this odd situation can happen in New York from Ben Thapa. For many years, the only three people that really mattered in NY government were the governor (whoever it was at the time, but is now Andrew Cuomo), Sheldon Silver (Speaker of the Assembly since 1994) and Joe Bruno (former Senate Majority Leader for 14 years, retired in 2008 and subsequently convicted of a few counts of fraud). Those three men essentially ran the New York government and while making political deals, they would toss the occasional bone to their "peers" or the various government divisions to keep them in line. With Bruno's retirement, the Senate fractured a bit and is much more of a wild card than it used to be. Silver is said to be retiring in the next few years, but still wields a powerful influence over the Assembly. What he says is pretty much what goes and Assemblyman Dean Murray speaking out in public is kind of a mini-big deal. Unfortunately, the NY democratic process has not been very democratic at all for the last 20 years. Silver in particular has been almost untouchable. He gets to do almost anything he wants (within reason) because he has the expertise, the solid power base in his home district and the legislative votes in his hand to do whatever he should choose - even if the governor opposes him. Eliot Spitzer, the former governor elected with a near landslide of votes, famously butted heads with Silver over a variety of issues before the prostitution scandal brought Spitzer down. Sheldon Silver is now working with his fifth governor and has been lukewarm at best and downright oppositional to MMA at worst over the years. I am of the opinion that until Silver retires, MMA does not pass. As Marc Ratner says in the Daily news piece, an up or down vote in public is the best avenue for NY MMA to get legalized. Update: A "very, very disappointed" Marc Ratner, vice president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship league, said he was looking for was an up-or-down vote. "I feel 150% if we had a vote on the floor of the Assembly we would win," Ratner said. "Not to get a vote is un-American." In an interesting (perhaps only to me) turn, Ronald Canestrari, the Assembly Majority Leader, has made several comments about MMA being barbaric, questioning whether boxing would be legalized if the issue were before the Assembly and other statements that are anti-MMA in their collective. Canestrari also happens to be my representative to the Assembly and a request for an extended sit-down interview is in the works. My favorite Canestrari quote, courtesy of the Times Union: "The consensus was no," said Assembly Majority Leader Ron Canestrari, D-Cohoes. "I'm glad. I think it's barbaric. One one hand we're taking steps to reduce bullying in schools, but would endorse an activity that is blatantly violent." Stay tuned to Bloody Elbow for further investigation and editorials on this topic.

Posted in: mma, vote, silver, murray, assembly

Leandro Issa ready for challenge of Masakzau Imanari at ONE FC: Destiny of Warriors

Leandro Issa is 9-2 and riding a six-fight winning streak but the Brazilian has had to bide his time since defeating Soo Chul Kim last September. That wait came to an abrupt end this week when it was announced hat he would be facing the legendary Masakazu Imanari in a co-headlining clash at ONE FC: Destiny of Warriors next month. Imanari is the number one bantamweight in Japan and is coming off a first round submission win over the previously undefeated Kevin Belingon at the organization’s previous show, the seventh heel hook win of his career. He has well and truly earned his ‘Master of Leg Locks’ nickname and is a second degree BJJ black belt with sixteen submission wins to his name. Issa is also packing a BJJ black belt and the Brazilian has won numerous competitions, most notably the Mundials. He has seven submission wins in MMA to his credit as well. However, he has never faced anyone of Imanari’s caliber but still believes he is ready for the challenge and is looking forward to what will be the biggest fight of his career in front of 10,000 fans at Stadium Negara in Kuala Lumpur, “He’s a great fighter, very dangerous on the ground and I am very happy to have this chance to test myself against such a famous fighter. I saw him fight at the last ONE FC and he is very dangerous with submissions so I will have to take care,” said Imanari in an interview with Fighters.com. As chance would have it, the two actually share a teammate in common as Issa has been training with Shinya Aoki in Singapore and Imanari used to be part of the same team as him in Japan. The Brazilian believes that having such highly skilled training partners at Evolve MMA could make the difference for him in this fight, “At Evolve MMA we have BJJ world champions, Muay Thai word champions and now we have Heath Sims who is many times wrestling national champion. All in the same place so it is easy to train, in Brazil it would be maybe impossible to find different trainers like this and you would have to travel to many different places,” explained Issa of hsi camp. In his last fight he showed some much improved stand up, which he attributed to the decorated team of Muay Thai trainers at Evolve MMA, but was disappointed not to be able to finish Kim after dominating much of the fight, “To be honest I didn’t like my last fight because I lost some positions. but it was a great experience for my career to fight three round on such a big show with so many people there. I have fought on many different shows in Brazil and the US and China but I never see so many people watch MMA before,” he admitted. Although Issa has not competed for a while he has not been taking any time off and is constantly training and looking to improve as a fighter even when he doesn’t have a fight. The trainers and athletes at Evolve MMA are all full-time, salaried staff meaning they continue to work together all year round, and as a result he thinks he thinks that come June 23 he will be a different fighter from the one who scored a decision over Kim. “I am eight months without a fight but during that time I always training at Evolve Academy to improve my techniques and get better everywhere,” stated the 28-year old. “I’m always training to be able to improve because I think we learn new techniques when we are off season but but I can’t wait to fight again.” Without having the ability to dictate where the fight takes place it is difficult for a BJJ practitioner like Issa to impose his ground game on an opponent and he says he has been working hard on his wrestling recently, saying, “I believe the wrestling is very important in MMA and will help me a lot to work my ground game. Heath Sims is very good coach and he has a lot experience in MMA and wrestling so he help Evolve Fight Team a lot. I’ve been training hard at Evolve MMA everyday and trying to improve on all my weaknesses.” After spending most of his career at featherweight Issa recently made the drop down to 135 pounds and will have a significant size advantage against Imanari who is four inches shorter than him. It could be that in this contest he chooses to use that wrestling ability to try and keep the fight standing because he probably has superior stand up skills to the Japanese fighter but regardless of the outcome he says he will be staying in the bantamweight division. “It is not very difficult for me to make the weight but I have to have discipline. I always fought for the featherweight but it was very easy to make weight and I felt small for featherweight so now I will make my career in bantamweight and I want to be champion, if ONE FC give me a chance I’m going to try to get the belt.” Issa’s Evolve MMA team mate Yodsanan Sityodtong, a former WBA Super Featherweight champion, suffered the first defeat of his career when he was submitted by Jiang Long Yun at ONE FC: War of the Lions this past March. Issa already holds a 2010 win over the Chinese fighter and says he has been working with the Thai fighter to help him improve his ground game, revealing, “Me and Jak (Yodsanan) fight in same weight and we train together so he help me a lot doing Muay Thai and boxing and I help him on the ground game. Life here in Singapore is great, I live here three years and a half already and I feel at home. The training at Evolve MMA is amazing and I can learn so much, mark my words Evolve MMA will be the best MMA academy in the world soon.” The bantamweight division is dominated by Brazilians with anything from three to five in the top ten depending on which set of rankings you use. After fighting in three different continents this is Issa’s opportunity to make his presence felt among them by beating the best bantamweight in all of Asia. PHOTO CREDIT – ONE FC Tweet

Posted in: fight, mma, training, imanari, issa

Leandro Issa ready for challenge of Masakazu Imanari at ONE FC: Destiny of Warriors

Leandro Issa is 9-2 and riding a six-fight winning streak but the Brazilian has had to bide his time since defeating Soo Chul Kim last September. That wait came to an abrupt end this week when it was announced that he would be facing the legendary Masakazu Imanari in a co-headlining clash at ONE FC: Destiny of Warriors next month. Imanari is the number one bantamweight in Japan and is coming off a first round submission victory over the previously undefeated Kevin Belingon at ONE FC’s most recent show, the seventh heel hook win of his career. He has well and truly earned his ‘Master of Leg Locks’ nickname and is a second degree BJJ black belt with sixteen submission wins to his name. Issa is also packing a BJJ black belt and the Brazilian has won numerous competitions, most notably the Mundials. He has seven submission wins in MMA to his credit as well. However, he has never faced anyone of Imanari’s caliber but still believes he is ready for the challenge and is looking forward to what will be the biggest fight of his career in front of 10,000 fans at Stadium Negara in Kuala Lumpur, “He’s a great fighter, very dangerous on the ground and I am very happy to have this chance to test myself against such a famous fighter. I saw him fight at the last ONE FC and he is very dangerous with submissions so I will have to take care,” said Issa in an interview with Fighters.com. As chance would have it, the two actually share a teammate in common as Issa has been training with Shinya Aoki in Singapore and Imanari used to be part of the same team as him in Japan. The Brazilian believes that having such highly skilled training partners at Evolve MMA could make the difference for him in this fight, “At Evolve MMA we have BJJ world champions, Muay Thai word champions and now we have Heath Sims who is many times wrestling national champion. All in the same place so it is easy to train, in Brazil it would be maybe impossible to find different trainers like this and you would have to travel to many different places,” explained Issa of his camp. In his last fight he showed some much improved stand up, which he attributed to the decorated team of Muay Thai trainers at Evolve MMA, but was disappointed not to be able to finish Kim after dominating much of the fight, “To be honest I didn’t like my last fight because I lost some positions. but it was a great experience for my career to fight three round on such a big show with so many people there. I have fought on many different shows in Brazil and the US and China but I never see so many people watch MMA before,” he admitted. Although Issa has not competed for a while he has not been taking any time off and is constantly training and looking to improve as a fighter even when he doesn’t have a fight. The trainers and athletes at Evolve MMA are all full-time, salaried staff meaning they continue to work together all year round, and as a result he thinks he thinks that come June 23 he will be a different fighter from the one who scored a decision over Kim. “I am eight months without a fight but during that time I always training at Evolve Academy to improve my techniques and get better everywhere,” stated the 28-year old. “I’m always training to be able to improve because I think we learn new techniques when we are off season but but I can’t wait to fight again.” Without having the ability to dictate where the fight takes place it is difficult for a BJJ practitioner like Issa to impose his ground game on an opponent and he says he has been working hard on his wrestling recently, saying, “I believe the wrestling is very important in MMA and will help me a lot to work my ground game. Heath Sims is very good coach and he has a lot experience in MMA and wrestling so he help Evolve Fight Team a lot. I’ve been training hard at Evolve MMA everyday and trying to improve on all my weaknesses.” After spending most of his career at featherweight Issa recently made the drop down to 135 pounds and will have a significant size advantage against Imanari who is four inches shorter than him. It could be that in this contest he chooses to use that wrestling ability to try and keep the fight standing because he probably has superior stand up skills to the Japanese fighter but regardless of the outcome he says he will be staying in the bantamweight division. “It is not very difficult for me to make the weight but I have to have discipline. I always fought for the featherweight but it was very easy to make weight and I felt small for featherweight so now I will make my career in bantamweight and I want to be champion, if ONE FC give me a chance I’m going to try to get the belt.” Issa’s Evolve MMA team mate Yodsanan Sityodtong, a former WBA Super Featherweight champion, suffered the first defeat of his career when he was submitted by Jiang Long Yun at ONE FC: War of the Lions this past March. Issa already holds a 2010 win over the Chinese fighter and says he has been working with the Thai fighter to help him improve his ground game, revealing, “Me and Jak (Yodsanan) fight in same weight and we train together so he help me a lot doing Muay Thai and boxing and I help him on the ground game. Life here in Singapore is great, I live here three years and a half already and I feel at home. The training at Evolve MMA is amazing and I can learn so much, mark my words Evolve MMA will be the best MMA academy in the world soon.” The bantamweight division is dominated by Brazilians with anything from three to five in the top ten depending on which set of rankings you use. After fighting in three different continents this is Issa’s opportunity to make his presence felt among them by beating the best bantamweight in all of Asia. PHOTO CREDIT – ONE FC Tweet

Posted in: fight, mma, fighter, training, issa

The Farewell Post

Ladies and gentlemen, Head Kick Legend is shutting down. This probably isn't much of a surprise to too many of you, as you've probably seen the lack of comments and consistent updates make this once proud MMA and kickboxing blog turn into a much smaller destination - an afterthought to many of the other blogs on this network and even the internet as a whole. Thank you to the people who stopped by regularly, followed us on Twitter and Facebook and generally helped and tried to make this a better community. All of us here are kind of sad at how this turned out, but we move on with little regret (at least I do), knowing we did our part to engage with all of you from many different platforms. You'll still see most of us around the MMA sections of SBNation, writing and commenting and being the intelligent, snarky bastards you've come to know and love/loathe. So long, and thanks again.

Posted in: mma, blog, platforms youll, kickboxing blog, mma sections

Sunday Morning Rumor Mill - The Tuesday Afternoon Edition

I think MiddleEasy reader, Juice Lee, said it best in the comment section this week. When we used to run the Sunday Morning Rumor Mill on a weekly basis, you lunatics would republish every item on your message board or website of choice claiming we're 'reporting' these items as fact. On the occasion that one of these items is false or slightly untrue, we would then get negative backlash from the MMA community. Mobs would come after us with pitchforks in hand, ready to torch our office down with handcrafted Molotov cocktails -- and through all of this we would just stand there with a 'WTF' look on our face. That's why we stopped doing the rumor mill. You guys can't have anything nice. If Jesus Christ returned to Earth, MiddleEasy readers would ridicule him for wearing leather sandals in the year 2012 and kill him again. Now, let's try this again. Over the past few months you've undoubtedly heard of 'The MMA Show Live,' a UK expo that was slated to go down May 12-13 at Birmingham’s NEC Arena. Yesterday the entire expo (which literally had a 'who's who' of MMA stars slated to attend including Ben Henderson, BJ Penn, Randy Couture...etc) was abruptly canceled. Now it appears that one of the two organizers of the show, Liam Fisher, has deleted his personal Twitter account along with The MMA Show Live's Facebook page. Several fighters, MMA personalities, booth owners and fans now claim they are owed money by 'The MMA Show Live.' Some unruly fans posted Liam Fisher's personal information on The MMA Show Live's Facebook, which was the alleged reason behind the deletion of the event's page. One production company that was hired to film the entire event for a major news network was promised a set of payments before the event occurred. The production company was told the organizers of the event had ‘cash flow’ problems which halted pre-production on the entire project. The production company still has not been paid. Now it appears the two organizers of The MMA Show Live, Liam Fisher and Paul Clifton are at odds with each other after Clifton accused Fisher of ‘F****** him over.’ There has been unconfirmed reports of several fighters contacting their lawyers to seek damages for a breach of contract, including Tom ‘Kong’ Watson who labeled the organizers as ‘crooks’ on his Twitter page. As of this morning in the UK, TicketFactory, the official ticket partner of The MMA Show Live, did not know the show was canceled which means upon such short notice they will most likely not be offering refunds of tickets. The MMA Show Live has been postponed to October 2012, however some companies involved close to the event truly believe the 2012 Mayan Apocalypse will happen before The MMA Show Live. An official response to the abrupt cancellation was published on The MMA Show Live’s Facebook page, shortly before the entire page was deleted. You can read the entire statement here. According to MMA neo-reporter FrontRowBrian, Super Fight League is in talks with Genki Sudo to get the former fighter to return to MMA, which would make it his first fight since December 31st 2006. I mentioned this in an article yesterday, but a couple weeks ago I heard from a very close source that when Yushin Okami fought Anderson Silva at UFC 134, he received several death threats en route to Rio de Janeiro and within the fighter/media hotel. Eddie Alvarez is no longer considered a ‘Bellator fighter.’ It’s rumored that Lorenzo Fertitta and Eddie Alvarez discussed an inevitable signing to UFC which may close as soon as the end of this week. It’s also heavily rumor that a Eddie Alvarez vs. Anthony Pettis bout is being targeted for UFC 150. After UFC on FOX: Diaz vs. Miller, it’s been rumored Carlos Condit will defend his UFC welterweight interim belt against Johny Hendricks – giving Hendricks the ‘title fight’ that was talked about at the post-fight press conference. It appears Urijah Faber will get his wish and fight against Renan Barão. Now it’s rumored Faber is trying to push talks of the bout being for the interim belt. Apparently CagePotato is considering FrontRowBrian to fill Mike Russell’s former position and serve as editor of the website. This was rumored back in early 2010, but it appears that Lorenzo Fertitta flew out to Stary Oskol, Russia to broker a deal with Fedor while he was still under contract (or under ‘partnership’) with Strikeforce. About two weeks ago Sherdog Radio mentioned a story that was associated with Bjorn Rebney. Apparently the promoter called Sherdog and asked the show to remove it with the ultimatum they would lose credentials if they did not. ProElite stocks are no longer indexed by Yahoo! and several other financial sites as of about 16 days ago. It’s rumored the UFC had Frank Mir on tap long before it was announced that Alistair Overeem couldn’t participate in his title bout against Junior dos Santos.

Posted in: ufc, mma, show, mma show, page

No vote on MMA in New York this year

The New York Daily News reported that there will not be a vote to legalize MMA in New York. After a behind the scenes discussion on whether there were enough votes for legislation, the Assembly Democratic conference decided not to bring it to the floor for a formal vote. State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver told the Daily News that the thought of legalizing MMA is “evolving” among politicians and was optimistic that passage of legislation could happen in the near future. Of course, the UFC expressed disappointment with the fact an “up or down” vote was not made. Via NY Times: “All I want is a vote on the Assembly floor,” Mr. Ratner said. “If it doesn’t pass, it doesn’t pass. Not to get a vote by the full Assembly, to me, is un-American.” Ratner cited the hotel worker’s union of New York in solidarity with the Culinary Worker’s Union as the main impediment to the legislation. In addition to the New York news, Connecticut indicated that it would not vote to legalize MMA this year. Payout Perspective: While legalizing MMA through the political process may have to wait another year, the belief is that more people are warming up to the idea. So, perhaps the lobbying and the UFC on Fox is helping with people getting used to the sport. Zuffa’s lawsuit against the state still looms although no word yet on New York’s motion to dismiss portions of the lawsuit.

Posted in: mma, vote, doesn ’t, york, assembly

Showdown: Real MMA in B.C. on its way

New legislation in B.C. that could lead to regulation of MMA at the provincial level is a good case of listening to the voting public.

Posted in: mma, showdown, case, bc, voting

No MMA in New York Once Again This Year

The hope for legal mixed martial arts in the state of New York once again is on hold for another year.

Posted in: mma, year, art, state, york

UFC Again Fails To Get MMA Legalized In New York

New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has declared legislation to regulate mixed martial arts in New York "will not come to the floor this year," according to the New York Daily News. The bill had once again passed through the New York State Senate but failed in the lower house yet again. UFC vice-president Marc Ratner said he was "very, very disappointed." "I feel 150% if we had a vote on the floor of the Assembly we would win," Ratner said. "Not to get a vote is un-American." UFC president Dana White continues to blame the Culinary Workers Union who have been lobbying against MMA and the UFC from New York to California. The Culinary Workers are trying to organize Station Casinos in Las Vegas, Nevada which is owned by the same Fertitta Brothers that own the UFC. "If they get Station Casinos, that's another $10.8 million a year to them," White told MMA Junkie. The repeated failure to secure passage in New York has some MMA pundits questioning the UFC's lobbying strategy. We'll hear from them after the jump... From Zach Arnold at Fight Opinion: What's happening in New York is a pretty simple matter. However, it requires fans to strip out the emotion and look at the political logic involved for Sheldon Silver. This is not the year to go against unions....Instead of looking at trying to win over constituency groups who are not into passing MMA legislation, Zuffa has chosen the traditional top-down, pro-lobbyist, politician-only approach to getting business done in the State Capitol. It has been a costly mistake for the organization, both in wasting their time and especially their money. Instead of building up support the right way by funding grassroots organizations & creating a real, on-the-ground voter demand, Zuffa basically went for a traditional lobbying model that only works when you have voters who support you in the first place and are willing to be active in a big way in contacting their local politicians. It also hasn't helped that Zuffa has vastly overrated its charm offensive strategy. Their quasi PR circuit tour in both New York & California based around pushing Ronda Rousey resulted in zero political success. It may have played well with local newspaper writers who were happy to have someone to do an easy profile article on but it meant nothing in actually moving the ball forward in regards to MMA legislation or in terms of getting an Assembly committee to vote against AB2100 amendments, despite the fact that said committee members admitted they hadn't even read the new amendments before voting yea or nay. There is time for UFC to alter its political strategy and start making some grassroots in-roads that can match their traditional lobbying efforts. The question is not whether they have the resources to pull it off but rather if they have the will & desire to do so. Right now, Sheldon Silver has the will & desire to keep MMA legislation from passing in New York because his constituents don't have the will nor the desire to see such legislation get implemented in the first place. I have to agree with Arnold here. The UFC's strategy is clearly not working. A multi-million dollar, multi-year lobbying effort should have measurable progress each year of the effort to show for the investment of time and money not a kind of Groundhog Day rinse-and-repeat cycle that seemingly never changes.

Posted in: ufc, mma, york, legislation, mma legislation

MMA, boxing to get oversight in B.C. via new athletic commissioner

submitted by daveox [link] [comment]

Posted in: mma, commissioner, bc, daveox link, mma boxing

Women's MMA Report from MMAjunkie.com

submitted by daveox [link] [comment]

Posted in: mma, report, mmajunkiecom, daveox link, daveox

The MMA Hour - Episode 130 - Chael Sonnen

Posted in: mma, hour, episode, sonnen, chael

The MMA Hour - Episode 130 - BJ Penn

Posted in: mma, hour, episode, penn, bj

The MMA Hour - Episode 130 - Don Frye

Posted in: mma, hour, episode, frye

The MMA Hour - Episode 130 - Renzo Gracie

Posted in: mma, hour, episode, gracie, renzo

The MMA Hour - Episode 130 - Sean Sherk

Posted in: mma, hour, episode, sean, sherk

The MMA Hour - Episode 130 - Ben Fowlkes

Posted in: mma, hour, ben, episode, fowlke

The MMA Hour - Episode 130 - Braulio Estima

Posted in: mma, hour, episode, estima, braulio

New York MMA Legislation Falls Short Despite Growing Support

It appears that New York MMA fans will have to wait yet another year for possible MMA legislation as the bill will not see the assembly floor again this year. The New York Daily News reports the bill lacked the necessary support for the bill to reach the Assembly floor for a vote. Multiple informal votes apparently took place during a closed session with early votes appearing but later votes apparently showed more support for MMA. Speaker Sheldon Silver stated he still felt the later votes, that appeared to more support for MMA, were closer due to multiple Assembly members who voiced their disapproval of MMA in private. The Speaker did offer a glimmer of hope however stating: “I think [support for MMA is] evolving, I don’t think two years ago it was a 50-50 proposition.” UFC VP of Regulatory Affairs Marc Ratner voiced his displeasure with development believing that “if [MMA] had a vote on the floor of the Assembly we would win.” The UFC has lobbied hard for MMA in the Empire State, sending multiple representatives to New York to lobby for support in the hopes that legislation would pass this year. MMAFrenzy.com

Posted in: mma, vote, year, support, assembly

The MMA Hour - Episode 130 - MiO Questions

Posted in: mma, hour, question, episode

Asian MMA Update: Rich Franklin, Ben Askren Head To Evolve, Denis Kang In Dancing With The Stars

There's a bunch of news coming out of the Asian MMA scene so let's get right to it: Former UFC middleweight champion, Rich Franklin has decided to switch things up and will be training in Asia for his his next fight against Cung Le. He's currently in Singapore and has started his UFC 148 training camp working with the Muay Thai and BJJ champs from Evolve MMA. Speaking of Evolve MMA, Bellator Welterweight Champion, Ben Askren will also be arriving today to train with them, and to conduct a few seminars. Leandro Issa, Mitch Chilson, and others are preparing for ONE FC 4, Franklin is preparing for UFC 148, and now Askren is coming in to train with everyone. Add their stacked roster of coaches and it's a crazy combination of talent there in Singapore now. One of the bigger news in Asian MMA scene is China's Ranik Ultimate Fighting Federation or RUFF announcing that they have inked several guys from top Chinese camp, Xi'an Sports University. The list of fighters announced to have signed "exclusive deals" include Wang Guan (8-0), Yang Liang (4-1), Ayideng Jumayi (2-1), Ta Yier, and surprisingly, Legend FC bantamweight champion Jumabieke Tuerxun (12-0). More after the jump, including photos of UFC and PRIDE veteran Denis Kang competing in Dancing With the Stars. Follow me on twitter -- @antontabuena The Xi'an fight camp was thought to have very strong ties with the Hong Kong-based promotion in Legend FC as multiple guys fought under their banner, and the promotion even brought in Team Quest guys such as Pat Healy and Brad Hannah to help improve the team's talent. Some politics were probably involved, but somewhere down the road things have changed, as RUFF just announced that they have signed their guys to exclusive contracts.'Bieke' is arguably the very best fighter from China, and while it was thought that he was exclusively signed with Legend after winning their bantamweight championship, it looks like RUFF has won the legal battle for his contract. The undefeated fighter still fought for RUFF last March and have followed up with signing an exclusive deal with the Chinese promotion. Move over Chuck Liddell, UFC vet, and current Road FC fighter, Denis Kang is in Korea's Dancing With the Stars. His recent bout haven't gone his way, but looks like Kang is still a big star in Korea. Here are some photos: Asian-based Canadian, Vaughn Anderson improved to 16-1 this past weekend as he defeated talented prospect 'Hungry' Hae Joon Yang this past weekend in Australia. He won by majority decision and extended his unbeaten streak to 12. Akihiro Gono has retired following that blowout KO loss to Bellator champ, Michael Chandler. Even before the fight, it was very hard to say that outcome wasn't expected though. I would've rather seen him fight up and comers in Asia, than get trucked in a complete mismatch.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, guy, kang

The cold, hard truth about passing NY MMA legislation @MMASupremacy @frontrowbrian @ultmma

The elephant in the room when it comes to discussion about passing MMA legislation in New York is that a majority of the voters in the state don't actually want it.

Posted in: mma, legislation, mma legislation, state dont, voter

Bloody Elbow News Roundup - Brazilians Don't Like Chael Sonnen, Tim Kennedy Goofs Around

Posted in: mma, interview, news, kennedy, rickson

The 2012 Mayan Apocalypse has a better chance of occuring than the legalization of MMA in New York this year

Mixed martial arts in New York is dead this year. Dead as New York Knicks' chances of defeating the Miami Heat in their playoff series. The closest thing you will get to two men fighting on national television in front of a live audience is at a New York Rangers game this week. For approximately the 710th consecutive year, the MMA bill has been ruthlessly murdered by New York lawmakers that hold on to the unreal notion that MMA is too barbaric for humanity. When Bob Reilly stepped down from the assembly back in February, we all thought MMA would be opposition free going into May's hearing. However this year, the MMA bill wasn't even brought to the floor. Here's what Ken Lovett from NY Daily News had to say about the entire fiasco that transpired today. The source said after eight people had spoken in favor of legalizing MMA and eight against, Silver called on members who don’t support the bill to raise their hands. About 25 members did. Then he asked for a show of hands of those who support it before saying that it looked even, the source said. An upstate member who supports the measure complained it didn’t look even to her, the source said. When Silver asked what she wanted, a city Democrat joked, a “slow roll call.” The speaker took another informal vote, with 25 again raising their hands against. The “ayes” seemingly had more than 60, the source said. Silver then said others had expressed opposition privately and that the votes weren’t there to move the bill. Around this time every year the MMA community collectively believes the sport we all endlessly obsess over will be legalized in New York only to be disappointed by a tweet from the 'Fight Lawyer' himself, Justin Klein. He's been the bearer of bad news for years now, and in 2013 I'm absolutely certain I can copy/paste this same article with only minor alterations and no one would even notice. I guess the only thing we have left to look forward to is this entire 2012 Mayan Apocalypse coming this December to a country near you. I'll see you guys in the afterlife -- let's just hope MMA is legalized there.

Posted in: mma, year, york, bill, source

New York MMA ban remains, lawmakers make 'un-American' decision in closed door meeting

Third time was not the charm for Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in its quest to get mixed martial arts (MMA) legalized in New York. Bill No. S.1707-A, which was sponsored by state Assemblyman Joe Morelle, was scrapped today "behind closed doors" by Speaker Sheldon Silver, who according to the NY Daily News more or less unilaterally decided that there weren't enough votes to send it to the Assembly floor for a final vote. A place in which majority UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta was convinced the "Legalize N.Y. MMA" bill would enjoy "strong bipartisan support." It's an odd decision that UFC Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, Marc Ratner -- who was "very, very disappointed" the bill didn't get and "up-and-down" vote on the floor -- described as "un-American." And you might think so, too, after learning about the shady situation that went down in the "Empire State" to scuttle initiative: ... after eight people had spoken in favor of legalizing MMA and eight against, Silver called on members who don't support the bill to raise their hands. About 25 members did. Then he asked for a show of hands of those who support it before saying that it looked even, the source said. An upstate member who supports the measure complained it didn't look even to her, the source said. When Silver asked what she wanted, a city Democrat joked, a "slow roll call." The speaker took another informal vote, with 25 again raising their hands against. The "ayes" seemingly had more than 60, the source said. Silver then said others had expressed opposition privately and that the votes weren't there to move the bill. Sounds like a fair, calculating process (that's sarcasm). New York (still) remains among the handful of states that (still) does not regulate MMA, even though the UFC has maintained a full-court political and public relations press, frequently making donations and having fighters/promotion officials speak about the economic benefits of regulation. Not even UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones ringing the NASDAQ stock market opening bell or sending Strikeforce Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey to the state capitol was enough to sway the naysayers this time around. Certainly not enough to outwork the "dirty gangsters" behind the scenes who apparently hold sway over older New York lawmakers.

Posted in: ufc, mma, vote, bill, silver

Gono gets teary-eyed as he calls it a career

Japanese MMA veteran Akihiro Gono gets teary-eyed after he announces his retirement from MMA at the Bellator 67 post-fight press conference.

Posted in: mma, conference, retirement, gono, tearyeyed

Brain Dammage in MMA

So some are saying that the NFL may be heading towards a bit of a rough spot given increasing developments of brain trauma among players, old and new. Addressing this may hurt the league - and maybe the sport - for two reasons; 1. Not proactively working to protect players and 2. If they institute rules to make the game safer/ less aggressive, fans who have come to appreciate the current manifestation of the game may start losing interest. And so; how safe is MMA for the fighters, really? I understand it is supposed to be among the safer sports given less head trauma on a repeated/consistent basis but I also understand that there aren't any longitudinal studies to support this claim. Any guidance any of you can offer on this? What is the potential that the sport will be hurt by brain dammage-related issues in MMA? submitted by fredmalgud [link] [8 comments]

Posted in: mma, sport, brain, head trauma, repeatedconsistent basis

The MMA Wrap-Up: UFC on FOX 3

Posted in: ufc, mma, fox, wrapup

The MMA Hour With Sonnen, Penn, Sherk, Frye, Gracie, Chandler, Estima

The MMA Hour is back in your life on Monday, and we've got a star-studded lineup for you. Here's a rundown of the show. * Chael Sonnen will discuss his new book and his upcoming rematch against Anderson Silva at UFC 148. * BJ Penn will clear the air on whether or not he will remain retired. * Sean Sherk will update us on when or if he will return to the UFC. * MMA legend Don Frye will ... just be Don Frye. * Renzo Gracie will preview the upcoming World Jiu-Jitsu Expo and talk about his career. * BJJ superstar Braulio Estima will discuss Saturday's super-fight against Nick Diaz. * Bellator lightweight champion Mike Chandler will look back at his dominant win over Akihiro Gono on Friday night. * And Ben Fowlkes will finally come.

Posted in: mma, mma hour, ben fowlkes, frye, akihiro gono

From Writer to Fighter: The Matthew Polly Story

Typically Mixed Martial Arts journalists are labeled as little more than “keyboard warriors” – individuals who talk about the sport without having any real understanding of what fighters go through in and out of the cage. While in many if not most cases that may be true but when it comes to writer Matthew Polly such a label couldn’t be further from the truth. Polly, an accomplished author, recently wrote a book called Tapped Out where he documented his experiences traveling to a variety of notable gyms, working his tail off, and ultimately taking to the cage despite being 36 years old and having no previous training. A familiar face at MMA events still, Polly recently took some time to chat with Five Ounces of Pain about his journey from writer to fighter including his family’s reaction to the decision, what got him through the tough times, and what he learned about himself in the process. Where did your initial motivation come from to not only cover the subject matter you did but also put yourself through such a physically demanding journey? It was the same reason most men put themselves in dangerous situations – I was trying to impress a girl. When my girlfriend’s male cousins found out I had written a book, American Shaolin, about the two years I had spent training kung fu with the Shaolin monks in China, they asked if I would fight Chuck Liddell for a million dollars. With false bravado I said I’d do it for a lot less than that. So when my editor suggested that my next book should not only be an investigation of MMA but also involve me training for a MMA fight, I realized I had talked myself into a corner. My ego had written a check my body would have to cash. Did you run into a lot of resistance from friends/family/colleagues based on the health risk involved? At the time I was 36-years-old, weighed 250 pounds, and hadn’t done any martial arts training in fifteen years. When my mother heard what I planned to do, she cried. My father tried to talk me out of it saying, “Son, I know I didn’t give you much of a body, but I did give you a pretty good brain. Why risk one for the other?” Only my girlfriend was positive about the idea. She said, “Given long term health considerations, a broken nose is better than a beer gut.” What were some of the major differences you noticed between training in the various locales you did? For example, a place in Russia to one in Las Vegas. I trained in New York City, Bangkok, Rio, St. Petersburg (Russia), and Las Vegas. The biggest difference is the UFC has its headquarters in Las Vegas, so it is the center of the MMA universe. It was like being on Broadway as compared to doing dinner theater in Orlando. The fighters in Vegas are like rock stars. When I trained other places, it still felt like an underground activity. How close did you come to quitting? What kept you going? The most embarrassing moment happened during one of my first jiu jitsu classes. I ended up paired with a hefty female. She shifted to a north south position and then sat up, smothering me with her ample backside. For a moment as I was thrashing, unable to breathe, I thought to myself, “My God, what are they going to write for my obituary.” After I finally threw her off, I started laughing. My sense of humor kept me going. How would you say you’ve changed as a result of writing this book and enduring/experiencing what you have? I got my swagger back. I dropped 65 pounds and fought at 185. In the process I regained a great deal of confidence I had lost over the years. That’s the thing about putting yourself through something incredibly difficult. When it is over, other life challenges seem much easier to handle. What did you learn about yourself after the entire process? I learned that I’m a gamer. I wasn’t always the best in practice. I had many bad days. I was often a nervous wreck right before a match began. But when it came time to step into the ring, I always calmed down and gave my peak performance. Based on your experience, what one piece of core advice would you give readers who might be interested in giving martial arts training a shot (albeit not in the same manner as you did)? For casual fans interested in learning a little MMA, the best advice is just find a local gym, go easy, and have fun. It is one of the best ways to get back into shape and gain self-confidence. For serious athletes who are hoping for a career in MMA, I would advise them to go train at one of the top flight gyms producing UFC stars: Jackson’s MMA in Albuquerque, NM; American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, CA; American Top Team in south Florida; Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, NV; TriStar in Montreal, Canada. It is the best way to gauge your potential and learn what you need to compete at the highest levels. Finally, is there any sort of pride in knowing you are one of the very few MMA writers who can actually say they know what it’s like to be in an actual sanctioned fight? I was honored that the other MMA fighters at Xtreme Couture treated me like a junior member of the team after I fought and won my first MMA fight. Before I was just this overweight, middle-aged writer hanging around the gym, but afterwards Randy Couture told some local reporters, “Polly earned my respect. He’s got a ton of heart. He did the work and played the part.” It put a big old smile on my face when I read that. Tapped Out can be found at any number of major retailers including Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble. PHOTO CREDIT – MATTPOLLY.COM

Posted in: mma, fighter, vega, training, polly

Ricardo Almeida Scored Josh Koscheck as the Winner in Bout With Johny Hendricks

In the co-main event last evening at UFC on FOX 3, welterweight contenders Josh Koscheck and Johny Hendricks fought in a closely-contested affair that marked the first time two NCAA Division I national champions fought in the UFC. Hendricks was ultimately declared the winner, but only by split decision. Judges Jeff Blatnick and Cardo Urso scored the bout 29-28 for Hendricks. The dissenting judge who scored it 29-28 for Koscheck? Former UFC middleweight and welterweight contender and now retired fighter Ricardo Almeida. It'd be a stretch to call scoring the fight for Koscheck irresponsible or evidence of poor judging, although there's not much of a quantitative defense for Koscheck. Still, judging is a qualitative endeavor and one hampered by vantage point, biases both ingrained or innocuous and the limits of one's ability to draw defensible conclusions about athletic performance. By the very nature of how judging is administered, a difference of opinion in close contests among those qualified to score MMA at the highest professional levels is inevitable. A score for Koscheck isn't bad even if it isn't ultimately the most defensible position to take. Still, how could it be the only judge with professional MMA and UFC experience make the choice most qualified observes do not agree with and one not supported by quantitative data? Is it just a difference of opinion? To answer that question, let's rewind all the way back to June of 2011. The event is UFC 131: Dos Santos vs. Carwin and the bout is a preliminary card featherweight fight between Darren Elkins and Michihiro Omigawa. Over three rounds, Elkins an Omigawa battled in a close contest that was made all the more difficult to judge by the general lack of any major action. Points were scored, but it took a nuanced eye to notice all of the subtle ways points were being scored. By the time the fight ended, virtually all online observers and media (as well as a healthy portion of those in attendance) scored the fight 29-28 for Omigawa. UFC President Dana White did, too. The judges, however, didn't see it that way. Judges Jason Darrah, Dave Hagen and Bill Mahood awarded the bout to Elkins, scoring it 29-28, 30-27 and 29-28, respectively. A bad score or at least one that seems indefensible is not uncommon in MMA, but this fight was different. Why? All three judges had professional MMA experience. Mahood, in particular, was a UFC veteran. To be clear, scoring last night's fight for Koscheck is not the same as scoring Elkins vs. Omigawa for Elkins. But the point is this: we don't know yet if former fighters - even those who achieved at the highest level - will necessarily be great MMA judges. Fighting and judging only share a small segment of overlapping skills. Understanding fighting enough to compete at the UFC level does not necessarily mean one automatically has the requisite judgment to evaluate the performance of other fighters according to the guidelines (and values that underwrite those guidelines) of the Unified Rules of MMA. On balance, maybe former fighters will be better judges than what we are typically accustomed to living with. They've got a special and important experience. They certainly cannot be worse than boxing judges who've been grandfathered into judging MMA contests. Then again, maybe not. Maybe we don't yet really know if it's actually true. Not yet, anyway. What we do know is that it's too early to say definitively former fighters necessarily make great judges. Intuitively, it makes sense and who would rather have Tony Weeks score a MMA fight than Almeida? Not many. Yet, would I take Jeff Blatnick (admittedly, he's got supreme amateur wrestling credentials) over just about any other judge, even those with fighting experience? Yeah, I probably would. In Almeida's defense, a case for Koscheck could conceivably be cobbled together. Besides, split decision dissents aren't the worst thing in the world since the right guy won and all of Almeida's other decisions seem right on the money. All I'm suggesting is that we hold off on declaring something true just because it's intuitively appealing. Ultimately, our intuitions have to be backed up by experience. On those grounds, the jury is very much still out.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, judge, koscheck

Leo Krishna is Leading the New Generation of Indonesian Mixed Martial Artists

MMA in Indonesia has a long history, perhaps more so than any other country in South East Asia with the possible exception of the Philippines. There have been well over 50 MMA events held there in the last ten years but this figure does not tell the entire story. TPIFC was the Indonesian equivalent of the URCC and put on televised cards almost every other month but unfortunately concerns about the brutality of the sport led to its demise in 2004 leaving a vacuum which has never satisfactorily been filled. Despite the lack of competitive opportunities Indonesian fighters have continued to practise the elements of MMA, in particular BJJ which black belt Niko Han has done much to develop with his chain of Synergy schools. The most successful fighter in the country, Fransino Tirta, has only fought four times in the last seven years despite having a world class record. However opportunities are starting to arise with ONE FC, Asia's most prestigious MMA promotion, electing to hold its second ever card in Indonesia in a show which was witnessed by 4,500 people and featured a handful of homegrown fighters. Legend FC looked to capitalize on this momentum by putting on a card of their own in Jakarta in March but things did not go according to plan and it was moved to Hong Kong at the last minute. At least there are now international organizations taking an interest in Indonesian fighters which gives aspiring mixed martial artists an incentive to train that they might not have had in the past. Leading the way is 24 year old Leo Krishna, a BJJ blue belt who is a veteran of numerous grappling competitions and has a perfect MMA record both at an amateur and professional level, with all his wins coming by way of submission. He trains alongside Tirta at Synergy Jiu Jitsu and is hoping to make his international debut for ONE FC later this year, "I used to only train BJJ and MMA just for a hobby, I never thought that I would get offer from ONE FC to become one the professional fighter but to become a successful professional MMA fighter I need to change everything to the whole different level." This process is already underway and Krishna proved his potential by submitting three separate opponents to win the Syena MMA Welterweight Championship last year. Although the event was on a very small scale he showed the type of potential which could make him a future star of Indonesian MMA and you can see the final below: Syena MMA Welterweight Championship June 11, 2011 (via fightentiger) "I was very happy to win and I think that winning the SYENA MMA is a good way to start my MMA career. It's difficult for Indonesian MMA fighters because you can't improve more if you just training and sparring with your training partner you need to fight regularly so you have more experience and are ready to fight in the bigger event when you will be against a better opponent." Krishna got to witness first hand a big event when he was cageside for ONE FC ' Battle of Heroes' at the BritAma Arena in Jakarta. "I was there to watch the show live, it was spectacular and I think events like this will also boost the spirit of Indonesian fighters to have a successful career in MMA and there will be more successful Indonesian fighters." Although so far he has only had a handful of actual fights Krishna is constantly training and improving and preparing himself for the moment he gets a chance to make his ONE FC debut, "I start learning Aikido when I was 5 years old with my Father as my Sensei. I learn martial arts because I want to but maybe it's in my blood! Now I train six days a week and two or three times a day. with my students and my coach Fransino Tirta." The Syena MMA Championship took place almost a year ago and Krishna, who could have improved considerably since then, will have benefited from the experience of fighting three times in just over a month with the qualifier an amateur fight and the semi final and final both under full pro rules. Krishna wants to drop down to 155 lbs and on the basis of his performances last year he looks more than ready to try his luck in ONE FC's lightweight division but he prefers to take a patient approach, "I was very happy to get the One FC contract but I also have a little bit of pressure because my life style and my training programs must change and become very serious. I need to train like a pro, it's not just a hobby anymore and I won't fight until my coaches (Fransino Tirta and Niko Han) think I'm ready, maybe end of this year or next year." MMA is growing at a phenomenal rate in Asia and much of this impetus can be attributed to the rapid growth of ONE FC which has formed a network of numerous camps and promotions including Krishna's camp, Synergy Jiu Jitsu. New events, camps and websites seem to be springing up almost every week but with so much excitement surrounding Asian MMA some fighters are rushing to grab the sort of opportunities which weren't around 12 months ago. In a sport which puts so much emphasis on maintaining a positive record this can be counter productive and it is good to see Krishna and his team taking a more patient approach. As the cream of the current crop of young Indonesian mixed martial artists he looks set for a long and prosperous professional career in MMA and with every passing month he becomes a more dangerous fighter. In the past great Indonesian fighters have somehow slipped under the radar unable to achieve international exposure or earn enough to make a living out of MMA. Slowly but surely that situation is changing and Krishna could be one of the first young fighters to capitalize. www.twitter.com/jamesgoyder

Posted in: mma, fighter, year, indonesian, krishna

Rebellion Radio: Ian McCall, Frank Trigg, and Invicta’s Jessica Penne

Press Release - After welcoming flyweight contender Demetrious Johnson to the airwaves last week, Rebellion MMA Radio is back this Sunday with the man looking to maul “Mighty Mouse” when they meet on June 8 to determine a top contender to the UFC’s inaugural divisional title – Ian McCall! “Uncle Creepy” will join hosts Bryan Levick and Mitch Ciccarelli this weekend to discuss his upcoming bout against Johnson as well as his tumultuous life leading up to the fight and much, much more. Seasoned competitor Frank Trigg is also scheduled to stop by the show where he’ll undoubtedly live up to his reputation as one of the most insightful, yet outspoken, individuals in the MMA community. Also on the show, Bellator veteran Jessica Penne (pictured) drops by after her recent victory over Lisa Ellis-Ward at Invicta FC 1. Penne is 9-1 and fights at atomweight (105lbs.), with her only loss coming at 115lbs. to Zoila Gurgel (formerly Fausto). Interested listeners can also contribute to the show by submitting questions for guests via Twitter or email (RebellionMMARadio@yahoo.com). Catch Rebellion MMA Radio live on Sunday at 6:30 PM EST where the guys will discuss a number of recently announced match-ups, a handful of current events, and how things went down at UFC on FOX 3. MMAFrenzy.com

Posted in: mma, lisa ellisward, mouse ”, penne, rebellion

Mayweather vs Cotto and UFC on FOX 3 a study in contrasts between boxing, MMA, and the bottom line

Mixed marital arts (MMA) and boxing are two different sports, with decidedly different demographics and pricing dynamics. When I started covering boxing for various publications in 1992, eventually working my way into regular contributor gigs at ESPN, including working as their round-by-round scorer for a few fights, the flux and change of both business models alarmed me. In a word, MMA started to resemble what boxing used to be in terms of volume and quality of matches-per-dollar, while the Sweet Science's rising issues, particularly with how pay-per-view (PPV) was utilized, became a serious red flag. Saturday night was a further reminder of that. After catching the excellent UFC on Fox 3 card that took place last night (Sat., May 5, 2012) in New Jersey, I filed my post-fight story with this site, and switched over to the Floyd Mayweather vs. Miguel Cotto bout on HBO PPV. I no longer cover boxing professionally, despite a love for the game stretching back to the late 70s, but check in periodically to monitor noteworthy events and bouts. After seeing the $69.95 price tag to order the HD version of the fight, I was reminded of how I fell out of love with the game and found MMA a far superior replacement. That $69.95 price tag was a $10 bump from the previous maximum price, at least of any HD boxing match I've ordered, and frankly, was ridiculous. Mayweather vs. Cotto was a surprisingly decent fight, which, in assessing Mayweather's recent "competition," only implies that it was briefly competitive in spots and you got to see him have a taxing moment or two en route to winning a unanimous decision sweep on the scorecards. Fortunately, I've been around this block a time or two (I ordered every PPV from 2000-2007 that boxing offered, including the grim procession of John Ruiz events), and had numerous friends over to share in the costs. With boxing's surging reliance on PPV to market its two megastars -- Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao -- and the plummeting fight quality and quantity of its once-venerable cable franchise, HBO, the boxing fan is increasingly faced with a dilution of quality offerings on cable TV, and is more often than not faced with the privilege of buying the chance to see Mayweather and Pacquiao perform against overwhelmed opponents, instead of seeing them in fights where the odds are anywhere close to 3-1 or less. We need not go into the lengthy resume of Mayweather's previous PPV "fights" of late, which have largely consisted of dreadful affairs where the only real threat that develops is an argument with Larry Merchant in the post-bout interview. Contrast that to Saturday night, where you got the following from the UFC on basic cable: A title elimination bout between two elite lightweights (Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller), two middleweight contenders in a bout with elite contender implications (Alan Belcher vs. Rousimar Palhares), two top-five welters (Johny Hendricks vs. Josh Koscheck) and a heavyweight brawl in Lavar Johnsonvs. Pat Barry. What's equally important is that the volume of the MMA card not only far outweighed the pricey boxing PPV, but it delivered excitement, thereby securing the loyalty of existing and potential future converts. The Mayweather co-main consisted of the talented Saul Alvarez battering the aged Shane Mosley for 12 rounds, along with similar dubious match-ups on the undercard, including Jessie Vargas' ho-hum decision win over Steve Forbes, a competitive fossil foisted up precisely for the purposes of giving guys like Vargas a win over a "name" opponent on a big stage. Odds-wise, the lines on a boxing undercard are rarely competitive, and their MMA equivalents would be Dana White foisting up a King of the Cage journeyman who once fought in the UFC, and putting him on a PPV card and telling you it was a fight you should buy. Mayweather and Pacquiao continue to do the dance on why they want to fight each other but have specific reasons not to, while feasting on one another's leftovers, and/or continuing to offer up empty new plotlines. Pacquiao's latest iteration of a PPV "fight" is the willing but brutally overmatched Timothy Bradley, an undersized type with no punch whatsoever whose sole credentials for their June showdown is that it will be an overpriced ass-kicking, with Bradley supplying 100-percent of the ass. It's like a Ponzi scheme that ends only when people stop get suckered into it. Meanwhile, guys like Diaz, ABelcher, and the rest of MMA's ever-matched-tough cadre of competitors continue to have relevant fights with real implications and a competitive tone. The fact that Saturday night showcased MMA's superior volume on basic cable compared to the overpriced scam of watching Mayweather perform against Someone Not Named Pacquiao only reinforced why MMA is growing and boxing continues to offer a questionable product for egregiously overpriced action. Jason Probst can be reached at Jason@jasonprobst.com or at twitter.com/jasonprobst.

Posted in: fight, mma, mayweather, ppv, boxing

Rebellion MMA Radio: UFC flyweight Ian McCall, longtime MMA veteran Frank Trigg, Invicta FC’s Jessica Penne

After welcoming flyweight contender Demetrious Johnson to the airwaves last week, Rebellion MMA Radio is back this Sunday with the man looking to maul “Mighty Mouse” when they meet on June 8 to determine a top contender to the UFC’s inaugural divisional title – Ian McCall! “Uncle Creepy” will join hosts Bryan Levick and Mitch Ciccarelli this weekend to discuss his upcoming bout against Johnson as well as his tumultuous life leading up to the fight and much, much more. Seasoned competitor Frank Trigg is also scheduled to stop by the show where he’ll undoubtedly live up to his reputation as one of the most insightful, yet outspoken, individuals in the MMA community. Finally, Jessica Penne will call in to discuss her recent win at Invicta FC 1 and discuss her future in fighting. Interested listeners can also contribute to the show by submitting questions for guests via Twitter or email (RebellionMMARadio@yahoo.com). Catch Rebellion MMA Radio live on Sunday at 6:30 PM EST where the guys will discuss a number of recently announced match-ups, a handful of current events, and how things went down at UFC on FOX 3. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, mma, jessica penne, mitch ciccarelli, mma veteran

Rebellion MMA Radio: UFC flyweight Ian McCall, longtime MMA veteran Frank Trigg, Invicta FC's Jessica Penne

Posted in: ufc, mma, jessica penne, mitch ciccarelli, mma veteran

A Lesson in Street MMA: Sometimes a failed suicide attempt can turn into a one sided Street MMA match

It seems like the only guy who didn't know a Street MMA match can (and will) go down anytime, anywhere, was this poor soul attempting to remove himself from this earth by laying down in front of a car on a Russian motorway. First off: what a stupid way to attempt suicide. I doubt laying down in front of a car has the highest probability for a quick/painless death, especially when the driver of the car has a dashboard mounted camera and he's already warmed up for a Street MMA bout. Secondly: I don't think we've ever had a concerned mother/daughter duo as an audience before... Watch one of the weirdest and most one-sided Street MMA matches in Street MMA history. And kids: talk to someone if you're feeling depressed. Don't lay in a motorway. [Source]

Posted in: mma, car, street mma, i dont, street

MMA Vs. Boxing (great article and videos for those who have an interest in both MMA and boxing)

submitted by iluvurkidz [link] [comment]

Posted in: mma, vs, boxing, iluvurkidz link, iluvurkidz

Most Influential Moment In MMA Fandom By Earl, Cory And Chris

Despite the wealth of controversial story lines in MMA over the last few weeks, I have found myself feeling incredibly jaded as a fan. Both Nick Diaz and Alistair Overeem have been battling the NSAC in failed drug tests and I couldn't drum up an ounce of outrage. The Ultimate Fighter premiered live only a few weeks ago and I couldn't get excited. The UFC return from a six week hiatus with a LHW title defense and Rory MacDonald fight - I wanted to watch, but I wasn't inspired. A year ago, I was like junkie looking for any information, analysis, or discussion on MMA and now I felt little to no connection to any of the story lines. Because of that I wanted to return to my fan roots and remember what really made me a fan, so Earl and me got together to look back at our most influential moments in our fandom. Please share your own story in the comments Chris - It may seem odd to some, but I truly became a fan of the sport of MMA from the beginning. I have very few "favorite" fighters and rarely have an emotional involvement in any fight. I love good fights from STANDANDBANG to epic ground battles and everything in between. The first exception to this was BJ Penn. I became his fan while watching TUF 5 and have stayed true ever since. Since I was a low income fan I was forced to follow his career through UFC Unleashed and online fight updates. That is until his complete and utter destruction of Diego Sanchez at UFC 107.That was a great time to be a BJ Penn fan. He was had just hooked up with the Marinovich brothers and seemed completely indestructible. However, that’s not my high point of fandom. Penn followed that up by being outpointed in two incredibly frustrating 5 round fights against Frankie Edgar. He once again brought joy to my heart with a quick knockout of Matt Hughes in their rubber match and a grueling draw with Jon Fitch.Oddly enough, my favorite moment in MMA fandom was his next fight against Nick Diaz. There was a huge lead up to this fight with Nick losing his title shot against GSP then being matched up in the Co-main Event against my favorite fighter. Then Georges St. Pierre got injured and Penn vs. Diaz was the Main Event. This was truly the first time since I became a fan of MMA that I really felt invested in a fight. I knew Diaz was a tough challenge for the undersized Penn. But BJ Penn was BJ EFFING Penn.The first round came along and I thought, "BJ is landing the quicker harder punches." He’s looking good, I thought. He got a takedown and even though he lost position, I was still confident. Then the second round happened. Penn kept getting backed against the fence on the end of Diaz’s straight punches. It was brutal. He was getting hit and wasn’t doing anything about it. It only got worse. And the third round didn’t bring any sanctuary. My favorite fighter was taking the beating of his career in front of my eyes and seemed to have no answer for it. I was devastated. Before UFC 137, I had never been really invested in a fight. It was mentally painful for me to watch that fight. I’ve never been a fan of any other sport and the disappointment of my team not achieving their potential had never touched me before. October 29, 2011 was the first time I felt that. I still look for BJ Penn to come back from his hiatus and return to form. It may be wishful thinking, but it is one of the things that keeps me watching.Earl - My favorite moment in MMA fandom is not from a fight at all. I was fresh off my 2nd shoulder reconstruction and therefore in a bit of a stupor thanks to my pain pills. My significant other and I went to a rally for a political figure in my home state to support the cause. The way she hooked me into going was simple. Dana White and Chuck Liddell are going to be there to introduce the man of the hour, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.We arrived at the event and my girl and apparently the organizers thought I might get caught up in a mosh pit or something after seeing me with my arm immobilized so they put us behind in the press section. She soon after got up to run to the restroom and upon her return she said, "Dana and Chuck are right over there!" Now, I normally don’t go up and pester athletes or anyone else out in public. I have bumped into fighters before weigh ins at MGM Grand and at most I wish them good luck as I pass by. This time was different because I was under the influence of pain medication which caused any sense of courtesy or shyness to never surface at all. I just got up, walked over to them and introduced myself. I thanked Dana for all his work and thanked Chuck for all the memorable fights in his career and asked them if they would take a picture. Dana’s reply was "of course!" After this, we left and watched the rally and I thought that was very cool of them both but the experience did not end there.This was about a week before UFC 121 and in the morning Dana tweeted that he might have tickets to give away. A few hours later, we bumped into Chuck Liddell again. This time, he had a fistful of tickets and The Iceman handed me two of them. I couldn’t believe it. One of the most legendary fighters of all time had just given me the opportunity to see Brock Lesnar face off against Cain Velasquez. The only problem was, two tickets was not enough. My girl was out of work and I was out on medical leave due to my shoulder and we could not afford the gas and hotel with just the two of us. She explained this to Chuck and he gave us two more tickets to the event. It was so nice of him to do that.I got home and went online to check my seats and I was blown away. I would have been happy with $50 cheap seats but Chuck gave us tickets in the lower concourse that were $325 per seat. I was stunned by the kindness and generosity of the UFC. Not only did I meet the UFC President and one of the most beloved fighters in the world and take pictures with them, but Chuck Liddell just handed me $1300 worth of fight tickets. I am convinced that no other organization has this close and benevolent of a relationship with their fan base. You never see this from any other people of that stature in any other sport and it cemented my fanhood and respect for the company and the people who work for it. Cory - Mine isn’t quite as impressive, but I’d say the best thing that MMA’s done is it reconnected me with a friend I hadn’t seen in years. For UFC 100, I went out to Playwright’s Bar in Manhattan. I’d called ahead and everything, and when I get there, it turns out they were charging a cover. As I stood on the curb, debating whether or not to pay it, up strolls a couple of dudes and they, too, stare at the sign. Then one of them turns around and it’s this guy, James, that I’d known for a couple of years, but had completely lost touch with. He and a bunch of his friends who showed up a couple minutes later got a bit blindsided by the cover. We’re all kind of poor, working-class, and middle-age is starting to peek at us from around the corner, so we’re all at that somewhat "responsible with money" level where we stop and think before we all drop coin on an unexpected cover. The manager bought us all a round and some wings to entice us in, and we acquiesced. Great night, and I’ve kept in touch with James since, thanks to our shared enjoyment of this sport.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, fan, penn

Rebellion MMA Radio: UFC flyweight Ian McCall, longtime MMA veteran Frank Trigg, Invicta FC’s Jessica Penne

Posted in: ufc, mma, jessica penne, mitch ciccarelli, mma veteran

Rebellion MMA Radio: UFC flyweight Ian McCall, longtime MMA veteran Frank Trigg, Invicta FC's Jessica Penne

Posted in: ufc, mma, jessica penne, mitch ciccarelli, mma veteran

Vermont becomes state No. 46 to regulate MMA

Vermont is the latest state to approve the regulation of MMA. UFC officials today announced the state recently passed a bill to regulate MMA through the Vermont Legislature. Although the country's second-least populous U.S. state, "The Green Mountain State" is now the 46th to regulate MMA.

Posted in: mma, state, countrys secondleast, vermont legislature, mountain state

Latest UFC/MMA news and notes from around the web for the week of April 27, 2012

Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Jim Miller, Tom Grant and Dan Miller pictured above, we can all "get along." Teaming up with MMA sites like Low Kick, Fightline, Fight Opinion and The Fight Nerd, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport. This week, Fight Opinion talks concussions in major hard-hitting sports, Five Ounces of Pain interviews Alan Belcher and Lowkick scores an interview with Dennis Bermudez. The full list of links is after the jump. - Dennis Bermudez: Everything I've ever done is on the line against Pablo Garza (LowKick) I really feel like everything I ever done will be on the line against Garza. I like being an underdog, and some people might give him an upper hand in certain things, he could have more experience than me, but I have to prove something. I will make a statement against Pablo Garza. This is what really pumps me up. - Gauging Invicta FC's success based on my mother's day reactions (The Fight Nerd) - How will combat sports battle concussions in the furure? (Fight Opinion) When I watched Ron Kruck's piece on HDNet about The Lou Ruvo center last December, it was a segment that reminded me just how little we know about the issue of concussions in combat sports. Despite technological advances with MRIs & CT scans, that technology also has a ways to develop from what experts say is currently a ‘black & white' standard of determining just how much damage a person's brain has suffered. - Golden Boy sets record highs for Mayweather Cotto. (MMA Payout) - UFC Primetime returns for Dos Santos vs Mir (MMA Convert) - Dana White hints at a stacked January event (Fightline) - Alan Belcher: "I don't plan on losing anytime soon." (Five Ounces of Pain) "I've been putting myself in certain situations so that when the fight comes I know what Palhares strengths are and I can avoid them. I've been training with some guys who are really good with leg locks and I'm learning how to fight those submissions off. - Former UFC dark matches will be streamed live on Facebook (5thRound)

Posted in: fight, mma, sport, fight nerd, garza

UFC left off of ESPN salary list for lack of information

Earlier this week, ESPN released its list of highest paid athletes in sports. Notably, the list left off the sport of MMA and specifically the UFC due to the fact that it could not confirm salary data. MMA Fighting wrote that Dana White is right and wrong with not releasing fighter salary data. It states that White is right to withhold salary info because it is private. Presumably, it protects the privacy of its fighters by not telling everyone how much they make per fight. However, there is a reason to release salaries: Football, basketball and baseball are mainstream because they’re big business. And part of the reason we know they’re big business is because players salaries are made public. It then argued a reason to make salaries public is to entice up and coming fighters. And make no mistake, there are plenty of possible MMA stars who are on football fields. In many parts of the country, football and wrestling work together to create quality athletes. But then what happens? As the athlete progresses, he starts thinking about his future. And where is there a better chance for a future? Of course most, if given the opportunity, will move on to football. Why? Because long-term, there is a chance for a windfall payday. Even if it’s remote, there is a chance. It uses the Jones brothers as an example. Two of the Jones brothers are now in the NFL while Jon is probably the most famous as the UFC champ. This example is flawed considering there is no evidence that Jon Jones was good at football (or any other sport) and chose MMA instead. Payout Perspective: MMA Fighting’s argument that the sport of MMA could lose out on potential athletes because of the lack of salary information is improbable. Most likely athletes will choose their profession based on the best possible chance of making it in the professional ranks of the sport. There are examples of athletes choosing a sport and then reversing course. (NFL First Rounder Brandon Wheedon played baseball a couple years before going back to play college football and getting drafted.) But that example is beyond the scope of the theory that someone will actually choose a sport based on how much you could make. There are instances of former football players taking up MMA after their pigskin career is done. But, that is after their first career is over. Moreover, it’s not plausible to think that someone would choose a career in MMA over a career in NFL because money in MMA is not as good as that in professional football. Even without knowing the salary structure in MMA, one need only look to the salaries that NFL rookies will make to assume that if you had a choice to play professionally or fight in MMA, one would choose the NFL. Transparency of the UFC’s salaries lends credibility to the sport based in part on the fact that the other sports are willing to reveal the way it pays its athletes. For the UFC to say “it’s none of your business” makes it seem that it is hiding something rather than protecting the privacy of its fighters. The ESPN OTL report builds on the premise that it is hiding something. Like it or not, that is how it is perceived.

Posted in: mma, sport, athlete, football, salary

Bloody Elbow News Roundup - UFC On Fox 3, Bob Sapp And Stephan Bonnar Are Strange

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, stephan bonnar, i didnt

MMA Uncensored Live Discussion - 5/3

Join us at Bloody Elbow to discuss tonight's episode of MMA Uncensored Live, which airs on Spike at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT. Hosts Nate Quarry, Craig Carton and Mike Straka will discuss a wide range of MMA topics. MMA Fighting's Luke Thomas has been a regular on the show so far, and should once again be a guest on tonight's episode. For those of you that missed the first few episodes, this is how co-host Nate Quarry describes the show: "More than anything, it's less of a sports reporting show talking about the scores that just happened and more of an opinion piece. It's a lot more like a forum than it is a news show. You know when you go to the forums and there's about 90% sh*t talking and 10% intelligence? We're hoping to raise the bar closer to 15%," Quarry quipped. Here's Spike's preview for tonight's show: This week’s episode of "MMA Uncensored Live" on Spike TV (Thursday, May 3 at 11:00pm ET/PT) features a live in-studio interview with one of the biggest names in the sport, UFC® light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. The 24 year-old recently defeated Rashad Evans at UFC 145 in one of the most highly-anticipated fights of the year. Tune in and let everyone know what you think of the Bones interview, and much more.

Posted in: mma, show, episode, tonights episode, year tune

Rebellion MMA Radio: UFC flyweight Ian McCall, longtime MMA veteran Frank Trigg

After welcoming flyweight contender Demetrious Johnson to the airwaves last week, Rebellion MMA Radio is back this Sunday with the man looking to maul “Mighty Mouse” when they meet on June 8 to determine a top contender to the UFC’s inaugural divisional title – Ian McCall! “Uncle Creepy” will join hosts Bryan Levick and Mitch Ciccarelli this weekend to discuss his upcoming bout against Johnson as well as his tumultuous life leading up to the fight and much, much more. Seasoned competitor Frank Trigg is also scheduled to stop by the show where he’ll undoubtedly live up to his reputation as one of the most insightful, yet outspoken, individuals in the MMA community. Interested listeners can also contribute to the show by submitting questions for guests via Twitter or email (RebellionMMARadio@yahoo.com). Catch Rebellion MMA Radio live on Sunday at 6:30 PM EST where the guys will discuss a number of recently announced match-ups, a handful of current events, and how things went down at UFC on FOX 3. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, mma, mouse ”, mitch ciccarelli, mma veteran

Rebellion MMA Radio: UFC flyweight Ian McCall, longtime MMA veteran Frank Trigg

After welcoming flyweight contender Demetrious Johnson to the airwaves last week, Rebellion MMA Radio is back this Sunday with the man looking to maul “Mighty Mouse” when they meet on June 8 to determine a top contender to the UFC’s inaugural divisional title – Ian McCall! “Uncle Creepy” will join hosts Bryan Levick and Mitch Ciccarelli this weekend to discuss his upcoming bout against Johnson as well as his tumultuous life leading up to the fight and much, much more. Seasoned competitor Frank Trigg is also scheduled to stop by the show where he’ll undoubtedly live up to his reputation as one of the most insightful, yet outspoken, individuals in the MMA community. Interested listeners can also contribute to the show by submitting questions for guests via Twitter or email (RebellionMMARadio@yahoo.com). Catch Rebellion MMA Radio live on Sunday at 6:30 PM EST where the guys will discuss a number of recently announced match-ups, a handful of current events, and how things went down at UFC on FOX 3. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, mma, mouse ”, mitch ciccarelli, mma veteran

Rebellion MMA Radio: UFC Flyweight Ian McCall, Longtime MMA Veteran Frank Trigg

Posted in: mma, contender, ufc ’s, mouse ”, mma veteran

MMA isn't safe: Concussions, brain injuries and what can be done about them

Like most people tapped into social media, I get a lot of my breaking news from Twitter. A tweet from CNN or a retweet from another news source usually fills me in on the latest big -- and sometimes inconsequential; looking at you, any headline with the word ‘Kardashian' in it -- story. Yesterday, the story was Junior Seau's apparent suicide, unfortunately. When it comes to someone taking their own life, it usually goes one of two ways. Either the signs were there -- depression, financial or personal turmoil -- or the act comes completely out of left field. In Seau's case, it was the latter. While purely speculation at this point, yesterday's tragedy brings up memories of Dave Duerson's suicide from February 2011. A member of the vaunted 1985 Chicago Bears squad, the former safety also took his life with a self-inflicted gunshot to the chest. But unlike Seau, he implored his family before his death to donate his brain to the Boston University School of Medicine almost as if he knew something wasn't right upstairs. They've concluded concussions led to Duerson suffering from a neurodegenerative disease. Football is a tough -- and dangerous -- sport. Any sport, really, has its share of dangers but a game like football, in which men are constantly crashing into each other with as much force as they can muster trumps just about all the others. Except for maybe mixed martial arts (MMA). Proponents can trump the safety measures in the sport all they want, be it the lack of a standing eight count or the mandatory medical suspensions following a knockout. But the fact remains, these men and women are punching, elbowing and kneeing each other in the head and body. And they're doing it as many times as they can to win the fight. That is the exact opposite of safe. I'm not calling for a boycott of the sport, obviously. I love it. I spend a large chunk of my time -- perhaps too much -- watching, analyzing, writing and talking about MMA. It's a huge part of my life. And there are some of you who know an equally large amount of time is devoted to professional wrestling. The difference between the two is obvious on the surface but on a personal level, the two are separated by innocence. In 2007, Chris Benoit murdered his wife and seven-year-old son before taking his own life. Later studies revealed his brain resembled that of an 85-year-old Alzheimer's patient and he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) as a result from massive brain damage in all four lobes. Since then, I've been able to enjoy pro wrestling but there's a small pang of guilt knowing I am supporting a business which helped produce such an unspeakable tragedy. And the amount of damage some of these MMA fighters I cheer on can't be all too dissimilar from what Benoit's body and brain went through. Beyond head injuries, broken bones from submissions wear down on a body. Bones aren't meant to be broken and when they are, it's a shock and trauma to the system. Champions like Tim Sylvia, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Mauricio Rua know this all too well. While snapped limbs are the exception rather than the rule, it's always in the realm of possibility. Imagine a job where violently losing consciousness or have your arm broken in to are not only credible occurances but to be expected depending on who your co-worker is on a certain day. MMA isn't safe, it's the most dangerous sport on the planet. The simple fact is, a fighter's mind and body are forever and irreversibly changed. It goes beyond what we see inside the cage. Fighters get rocked in practice while preparing for a bout, sit out a few minutes and then hop back in, not wanting to lose precious training time. Wanderlei Silva has gone on record he spars at full speed and force and has been knocked out more times than any MMA fan has seen inside a ring or cage. That sort of damage takes its toll. You see it in the eyes, seemingly always glassed over, of ex-boxers and fighters and hear it when their mumbled words leave their mouths. Punch drunk isn't just a throwaway term for over the hill fighters, it's often the result of traumatic brain injuries. When a fighter's journey ends, they are wholly different from the person they were when it began. That doesn't mean it has to be for the worse. One solution could be mandatory yearly CAT scans to determine any damage and keep track, if any, of its progress. Another would be to encourage and offer psychiatric help to any fighters who might feel they need it. Beyond this, the brass at the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) need to be proactive in their support for further research into CTE and other brain trauma issues. They need to be the gold standard in this fledgling industry if they hope to avoid the stigma which is has seeped into boxing and beginning to do so in football. UFC President Dana White has said plenty of times he has forbidden his young sons from strapping on a helmet and heading onto a football field while championing the safety of the sport he represents. But MMA isn't all that much safer. There's an exhilaration from watching two fighters stand opposite one another, everyone knowing only one can leave the cage as the winner. It's beautiful but violent art. And the sooner we accept this, the sooner we stop comparing and contrasting MMA to other sports, the sooner we can actually take steps to help avoid tragedies like Seau's, Duerson's and especially Benoit's. If I'm lucky enough to still be covering this sport I love so much in 10 or 15 years, I don't want to write this story about Chuck Liddell, Jens Pulver, Rory MacDonald, Alexander Gustafsson or anyone else I've enjoyed fight over the years.

Posted in: mma, time, fighter, sport, brain

Apex Sports Agency Acquires Rights to Become One Fighting Championship North American Brand Ambassador

Apex Sports Agency (ASA) today announced that a partnership with top Asian fight organization ONE Fighting Championship (ONE FC) has been agreed to. With this pact, ASA will now exclusively handle all North American sponsorship and media negotiations for ONE FC. ONE FC is one of the world’s largest mixed martial arts (MMA) promotions. They recently consummated an unprecedented ten-year deal with ESPN STAR Sports, the number one leader in sports content, which will bring ONE FC content to 500 million homes across 24 countries in Asia. Now, ONE FC and ASA have joined forces. CEO and Owner of ONE Fighting Championship Mr. Victor Cui said, “ONE Fighting Championship has completely changed the game for the sport of MMA in Asia, a region that has been the birthplace and home to martial arts for the last 5,000 years. This is a result of the synergistic efforts and outstanding support from our partners. We are the biggest and best MMA organization in Asia because we work with only the best fighters, promotions, gyms, sponsors, and media companies. I am happy to be working with another world-class agency in ASA as we expand our reach to work with new sponsors and partners.” “Though less than a year old, ONE FC has done some amazing things already in the sport of MMA,” explained ASA CEO Jason Chambers. “They have a huge reach…it’s unreal to see what they are accomplishing. With the growth they’re experiencing, it’s only natural that they want to expand their presence here in North America. ASA can help ONE FC achieve that, and that is our goal.” ONE Fighting Championship is Asia’s largest mixed martial arts event. While ONE FC is dedicated to featuring the best Asian fighters in the world, the promotion also aims to reach the North American fight faithful as well. Events thus far have featured well-known fighters such as Phil Baroni, Tatsuya Kawajiri, Melvin Manhoef, Yoshiyuki Yoshida, Andy Wang, and Rolles Gracie, while also introducing talented combatants such as Zorobabel Moreira, Ole Laursen, Fabricio Monteiro, and rising star Eduard Folayang. ASA has quickly garnered a strong reputation in the MMA world, working with stars on the rise such as UFC fighters Chris Clements, Clifford Starks, Carlo Prater, and Matt Lucas, as well as established fighters like Karo Parisyan, Lyle “Fancy Pants” Beerbohm, Drew Fickett, Jorge Gurgel, and Zoila Gurgel. However, ASA is more than just another management firm. The company offers a wide array of services, including brand-building. The partnership with ONE FC came about as a result, and proves that ASA is a company to keep an eye on. Payout Perspective: Though less than a year old, you have to be impressed with the moves One FC has made so far. From signing a TV deal with ESPN STAR Sports to now slowly creeping into the North American market, it appears that all the right moves are being made. The Japanese and Asian MMA scene has yet to recover to the levels of when PRIDE Fighting Championship ruled the region. Since the purchase and dismantling of the Japanese promotion years ago by Zuffa, several promotions have tried to fill it’s void (Sengoku, DREAM, etc0 but none have been able to do so. One FC took an interesting approach and focused on developing Asian talent and concentrating on the Asian market before further expanding. The signing with ASA is just another step in the direction of growth for the budding promotion who is based out of Singapore.

Posted in: mma, promotion, sport, fc, asa

5 Oz. MMA Link Club

Welcome back to another edition of “MMA Link Club”, Five Ounces of Pain‘s weekly smorgasbord of offerings from our brothers and sisters in the MMA community. Enjoy… Miesha Tate Updates Fans on Condition of Arm (MMAConvert.com) Jim Miller – Mixed Martial Artist, Baker, and Brewer (MMAMania.com) UFC Donates UFC 149 Prize Pack to Charity (Fightline.com) TUF Finalist Dennis Bermudez Talks About UFC on FOX 3 Fight with Pablo Garza (LowKick.com) How Will MMA Deal with Concussions in the Future? (FightOpinion.com) MMA’s Funniest Twitter Handles (BleacherReport.com) Ronda Rousey, Jon Jones Help Ring the Bell on Wall Street (Heavy.com) Nevada Responds to Nick Diaz’s Lawsuit (MMAPayout.com) Josh Koscheck Shows Off his Crib (5thRound.com) Want to Work in Bob Sapp’s Corner? (TheFightNerd.com)

Posted in: ufc, mma, mma community, pain ‘s, artist baker

Johnston on MMA: Is Nate better than Nick?

With a win over Jim Miller Saturday on Sportsnet, Nate Diaz could surpass his older brother Nick Diaz in terms of his pedigree in MMA.

Posted in: diaz, mma, nick, nate, term

Johnston on MMA: The better Diaz brother

With a win over Jim Miller Saturday on Sportsnet, Nate Diaz could surpass his older brother Nick Diaz in terms of his pedigree in MMA.

Posted in: diaz, mma, diaz brother, brother, term

Rebellion MMA Radio: UFC flyweight Ian McCall, MMA veteran Frank Trigg

Press Release - After welcoming flyweight contender Demetrious Johnson to the airwaves last week, Rebellion MMA Radio is back this Sunday with the man looking to maul “Mighty Mouse” when they meet on June 8 to determine a top contender to the UFC’s inaugural divisional title – Ian McCall! “Uncle Creepy” will join hosts Bryan Levick and Mitch Ciccarelli this weekend to discuss his upcoming bout against Johnson as well as his tumultuous life leading up to the fight and much, much more. Seasoned competitor Frank Trigg is also scheduled to stop by the show where he’ll undoubtedly live up to his reputation as one of the most insightful, yet outspoken, individuals in the MMA community. Interested listeners can also contribute to the show by submitting questions for guests via Twitter or email (RebellionMMARadio@yahoo.com). Catch Rebellion MMA Radio live on Sunday at 6:30 PM EST where the guys will discuss a number of recently announced match-ups, a handful of current events, and how things went down at UFC on FOX 3. MMAFrenzy.com

Posted in: ufc, mma, ufc ’s, mitch ciccarelli, email rebellionmmaradioyahoocom

MMAjunkie.com's Dr. Johnny Benjamin on 'The MMA Show with Mauro Ranallo' today

MMAjunkie.com medical columnist and consultant Dr. Johnny Benjamin is a guest on today's edition of "The MMA Show with Mauro Ranallo." Dr. Benjamin and Ranallo discuss the latest in MMA and sports medicine. Catch the show live at 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT) on radio.thescore.com, or download the archive on iTunes. test

Posted in: mma, show, mma show, ranallo, todays edition

Bloody Elbow News Roundup - 5/1

There's a lot going on in the world of MMA, and Bloody Elbow prides itself on being your one-stop news source for everything that's going on in the UFC, Strikeforce, Bellator, and everywhere else. There's only so much time in the day though, and some stuff slips through the cracks. This new daily feature is an attempt to fill those cracks, will keep you up to date on all the little news you might have missed otherwise. Here we go. UFC Primetime is back at UFC 146 to focus on Junior dos Santos vs. Frank Mir (MMA Mania). Really? I guess JDS vs. Overeem would have made sense, but this? Maybe the contract was already signed or something. You thought Billy Evangelista was facing off with James Terry on the May 15th Strikeforce event? Nyet! Ex-King of the Cage champ Bobby Green is in for Billy E (via MMA Weekly). Nate Diaz and Johny Hendricks are guaranteed title shots if they win at UFC on Fox 3 (via MMA Fighting). Jim Miller and Josh Koscheck? Not so much. I get the logic but I'm sorry, Nate Diaz doesn't deserve a title shot either way. Dana White donates UFC stuff to the Children's Wish Foundation of Canada (via the Calgary Sun). Hate on Dana all you want, he does a lot of good stuff too. Alan Belcher is ready for Rousimar Palhares at UFC on Fox 3 (via MMA Fighting). I know a lot of you are Toquinho fans, but Belcher is a feel-good story and an interesting guy to boot. Did you know that Wanderlei Silva was video-blogging in preparation for his UFC 147 bout with Vitor Belfort? Well now you do. Here's part one, and here's part two. Subtitles are always helpful, no matter what language Wandy's speaking.

Posted in: ufc, mma, news, stuff, heres part

MMA Quick Quote: Josh Barnett thinks MMA 'kids' need to know the history of the sport

"One thing that wrestlers got over MMA guys is they know their history. In MMA, there's a lot of kids just run out here and they don't know nothing. They couldn't tell you what Pancrase was, but you should know your past. Just like with wrestling. At some point, there became that great divide, but they both require tremendous amounts of skill. They're both similar and yet different. I think a professional wrestler should know both sides. Because if you want to go out there and capture everybody's hearts and have them get so invested into a fight, to the point that they forget what they're watching, that it is a worked outcome; then you should know what a real fight is like." -- Josh Barnett, who is one half of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Finale (Daniel Cormier being the other), which is set to go down on May 19, 2012, from the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California, tells Fighters Only that today's young mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters aren't too well versed in the history of their sport. Barnett, who has dabbled in pro wrestling with New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) in 2003, feels that is one thing the pro wrestlers have over MMA fighters, is their knowledge of the history of their respective sport. "The Baby-Faced Assassin" also goes on to say that if a pro wrestler wants to connect with fans, they need to know exactly what it is to be in a real fight. Perhaps Brock Lesnar, who recently returned to the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) organization, knows all this to well. Since returning to the WWE, he hasn't seemed to get out of his real fighting mindset, donning MMA gloves and his UFC fight shorts during his matches. Or at least, WWE officials seem to think it's a good idea to take advantage of Lesnar's time spent with the world's largest MMA promotion. Anyone agree with Barnett on this one -- are too many of today's young MMA stars out of touch with their history? Is it important for them to know the sport's past?

Posted in: mma, sport, history, josh barnett, barnett

MacDonald on MMA: The Athlete's submissions

After a short hiatus, here are some thoughts on recent developments in MMA as well as fight picks for this weekend.

Posted in: mma, submission, thought, development, athletes submissions

RUFF China becomes the first MMA organization sponsored by Nike and is now handing out six-figure paydays

The only thing that prevented me from jumping in front of a bus in college was the knowledge that if everything didn't work out, I could always travel to China and be a Shaolin Monk. Whenever your professor tells you that you write like an 'infantile retard,' the 'Shaolin Monk' career option seems just a little bit more reasonable. Traveling the earth, defending the weak, rocking orange apparel everywhere you go and being considered a demi-god by the Wu-Tang Clan is a pretty good way to live the rest of your life. Dan Hardy knew this, and in 2002 (roughly the same time I decided to become a Shaolin Monk), Hardy traveled to China and began flying through the air and balancing his weight on bamboo shoots. It didn't last, however. In fact he went back to Nottingham, England in just a couple months. The point of that story was to cleverly tie-in the nation of China to a preexisting story of a fighter traveling to China. When I'm on my death bed, I will look upon that previous story and find a thousands ways it could have been connected better, leading to a more natural segue. After I find the correct method, my body will give away and I will travel to whatever great beyond that awaits all of us -- and hopefully wherever it is, they have an Xbox 360 connected to an HDTV. There's no way I'm spending my afterlife with just a Playstation 3. My god, the horror... The Ranik Ultimate Fighting Federation (RUFF) hails directly from China and has full support of the communist Chinese government in an attempt to nationalize the sport of mixed martial arts. They're serious about this nationalization stuff. The organization won't allow any non-Chinese citizen to compete in RUFF and on the rare occasion, they will accept fighters under the condition they can obtain a work visa from China. Recently RUFF announced they signed a long-term sponsorship deal with Nike and Ducati, which essentially sets a precedent for all MMA organizations across the world. With the newly acquired financial support, RUFF plans to hold one massive annual event in which title holders from the promotion's seven weight divisions will defend their title, with the winner getting a cool 1,000,000 RMB (or about $158,931). The promotion plans to hold their first super event at some point in 2013. Look at that, Chinese MMA is growing strong and you didn't even know. Shame on you, and your xenophobia. The next RUFF event is scheduled to go down late in 2012, but check out the highlights from RUFF 3 just below these beautifully executed words. [Source]

Posted in: mma, monk, shaolin monk, china, ruff

Check out this video from our sponsor, Red Bull, or we can never be friends again

Red Bull wants to dive into the vast ocean of MMA sponsorships, and they chose MiddleEasy.com as a starting point. There's your breaking news for today. Go hang that one up on a wall and make yourself a peach sorbet while you're at it. In fact, make me one too -- but just unsweeten the entire thing. I don't get down with extraneous sugar in my diet. That's not the MiddleEasy way. Fortunately, Red Bull offers their energy drink in a sugar-free variation, so all is right with the cosmos. The truth is, Red Bull really wants to get into the MMA sponsorship market, and MiddleEasy is their launch pad. They've even provided this nifty video of what they would like to bring to the MMA industry. It's sleek, stylish and and cool; basically, it's the exact opposite of my childhood. We're pretty sure the interest of this video will dictate the involvement of Red Bull in the MMA industry, so be sure to watch it. Besides, Red Bull doesn't want to get into a market of fickle consumers so make it be known that you would love to see them inside the cage at your next MMA event and support them by watching this video. Comments are enabled for this sponsored post, so feel free to tell Red Bull how much you want them to get into the MMA industry! ') //--> Please support our site by enabling javascript to view ads.

Posted in: mma, video, mma industry, industry, bull

History Of MMA: Bas Rutten - Extended Trailer

submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [comment]

Posted in: mma, ba, rutten, mattyblayze, mattyblayze link

Brydon on MMA: Springtime flurry

This weekend is a pretty packed one in the world of MMA -- especially for Canadian fans -- and it will kick off a very hectic couple months.

Posted in: mma, brydon, canadian, couple, canadian fans

Culinary Union Attacks On UFC Causing Promotion Real Headaches

In the last week, we've posted on UFC president Dana White's threat to no longer put on UFC events in California if legislation increasing MMA regulation passes, Anheuser-Busch's admonition that the UFC reign in sexist and homophobic comments from fighters and a brutal hit piece that ran in Business Insider. While these stories may seem only tangentially related, they all bear the fingerprints of the group that has established itself in the last two years as far-and-away the UFC's most formidable foe: the Culinary Workers Union, Local 226 of Las Vegas, Nevada. The local opposes the UFC primarily because they are owned by the Fertitta Brothers who also own the notably anti-union Station Casinos in Las Vegas. The Culinary Workers have been trying to unionize Station Casinos for a long-time, haven't gotten much of anywhere and have since turned their energies to being a fly in the UFC ointment. The Culinary Workers are considered the biggest single reason behind the UFC's failure to get mixed martial arts regulated in New York state. They've also become a clearing house that packages and distributes controversial quotes by UFC fighters and Dana White to media outlets and activists who are looking to take a shot at the fighting promotion. After the jump we'll hear analysis from Dana White and MMA Payout on the impact of the Culinary Union on the UFC... Dana makes it clear he blames the Culinary Union for the California legislation, via the OC Register: Do you know what's going on in Sacramento, right now?" White said. "They are trying to pass this bill to raise our taxes and do a bunch of crazy (expletive) to us. They voted 4-2 for the bill. There were a couple of people not present to vote on it. If that thing passes we won't do anymore fights in California. All kinds of crazy (expletive) they're trying to throw in this bill for MMA. You know who's doing it? The Culinary Union from Las Vegas. These guys have been (expletive) with us in New York, too. That's why we're not in New York. These guys got a bunch of lobbyists together to try to pass this bill against MMA. They are putting pressure on my partners, the Fertitta brothers, because they own the fourth-largest gaming company in the country and they are non-union." MMA Payout comments on the Culinary Union's anti-UFC offensive: Regarding who is responsible for triggering most of this recent bad press for the UFC, look no further than the Culinary Workers Union Local 226, who has had ongoing labor dispute with Station Casinos and UFC owners Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta - who are both firmly against labor unions. So far, the Culinary Union has been credited for keeping the UFC out of the state of New York for several years by backing anti-MMA legislators in the state, triggering a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigation, writing letters to UFC advertisers and TV partners (FOX) informing them of the inappropriate language and behavior of the organization and its fighters, the creation of http://www.unfitforchildren.org/ (a website illustrating many of these examples), and just recently, drafting up a version of MMA Bill of Rights and presenting it in front of the Nevada State Athletic Commission and recently in front of the California State Athletic Commission. In terms of the labor union's efforts against the UFC owners, this week has been a rewarding one. The letters to UFC sponsors and multiple anti abuse and violence groups has increased the awareness of lack of etiquette it has haunted the UFC in the past, when they just weren't quite mainstream enough for anyone to care. Landing the recent FOX deal and essentially putting all their main competitors out of business in recent years has caught the attention of mainstream groups in the last year. The UFC may have wiped out or bought out virtually all of its serious competitors in the MMA space, but it's clear that they still have plenty of enemies. The Culinary Union is employing a clever and ruthless two-prong strategy to attack the UFC where it is most vulnerable: with advertisers and regulators. The UFC is dependent on blue chip companies like Anheuser-Busch both for revenue and the legitimacy conferred by having a Fortune 500 sponsor. The UFC is similarly dependent on legislators and regulators to operate. The Culinary Union is hitting them where it hurts.

Posted in: ufc, mma, state, union, bill

Video: Lithuanian Strongman Robert Burneika Makes His MMA Debut

For those Polish MMA fans whose jones to see muscle-bound power-lifting body-builder types floundering around inside a mixed martial arts cage wasn't satisfied by World's Strongest Man Mariusz Pudzianowski, we have a new hero to pin our hopes on: Lithuanian power-lifter Robert Burneika who made his MMA debut in the main event of MMA Attack 2, April 27th in Spodek, Poland against Marcin "El Testosteron" Najman (0-3) Fans may recall that Pudzianowksi made his pro MMA debut against Najman before moving on to stellar competition such as Eric "Butterbean" Esch, Tim Sylvia and James Thompson. The sky is truly the limit for Burneika as he's got a very comparable skill-set to Pudz: lots of beefy lumbering, awkward kicks and punches and some really impressive moves in the flex off. Burneika was given a stern test by "El Testosteron" in his debut. Naiman ran in backwards circles around the cage and forced Burneika to chase after him for well over a round before they finally engaged to everyone's satisfaction. Video after the jump... Latest From Our Partners Latest From Our Partners Biggest Bad Guys (BR) Who Will Get Title Shots Next? (BR) Biggest Upsets Ever in MMA (BR) 10 Best Fighters in TUF History (BR) Best Entrance Songs in UFC (BR)

Posted in: mma, mma debut, debut, br, burneika

Video: Stephan Bonnar films 53-year-old fighter (on one hour's notice) finishing 21-year-old opponent

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight and former "Ultimate Fighter" Stephan Bonnar was in attendance for the "Fire Extreme Championship" mixed martial arts (MMA) event this past weekend in Bourbonnais, IL, and happened to record video of what may be one of the more bizarre fights in recent memory. The explanation begins at the 3:14 mark. According to "The American Psycho," a 53-year-old spectator named Tim Karaker was asked to give up his ticket and jump inside the cage to face off against Brandon Frey, an opponent less than half his age. As if that was challenging enough, he only had about an hour to prepare. That means this is either a smoker, an unregulated event or a very tall tale. In the real world of MMA, we have weigh-ins, medical exams and cageside physicians, but why let important details like that cloud a really cool story, bro? See Bonnar's additional clips of the "fight" in question, after the jump. Alright Maniacs, what say you? Urban legend, or strange but true? Thanks to MMA Maniac "threatlevelmidnight" for the tip.

Posted in: mma, bonnar, yearold, cageside physicians, story bro

Triangle (3-Man) MMA Fight

submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [14 comments]

Posted in: fight, mma, triangle, man, mattyblayze

Morning Report: Nevada Fires Back at Nick Diaz, Lithuanian Powerlifter Makes MMA Debut

It's fight week, right? Doesn't that mean we ordinarily see Dana White video blogs or even Tweets from White that say the words 'fight week' only in stretched out form? Maybe I missed it, but I've yet to see it. I have to say, I might be missing a lot. This weekend's card stands to offer some pretty great scraps, but there isn't a ton of interest for it. The card lacks star power, is competing with NBA and NHL playoffs and doesn't really leverage Cinco de Mayo with popular or revered Latino figures. Still, the fights are likely going to rock. Another fight that's probably going to rock? Dan Henderson vs. Jon Jones. I know many in the MMA community were hoping for a July fight, but it just looks like the timing is too tight. Jones just isn't interested in that sort of turnaround and who can blame him? The guy already did it in 2011 and while it worked out well, better to get rest when you can. There's no rest for the Morning Report, though. We've got UFC on Fox 3 and Hendo vs. Jones news covered in today's post. We've also got video of a really bad MMA debut, one of the best boxing photos ever and so much more. Jump on in. The water's nice and warm. 5 MUST-READ STORIES Nevada rebuts Nick Diaz's lawsuit. It should be noted the state of Nevada's Attorney General responded before Diaz filed suit, but it's worth catching up on the state's argument just the same. Tim Boestch vs. Michael Bisping moved off of UFC 148. It's likely to go to UFC 149, but what a drag. UFC 148 was gearing up to be one of the best cards in years. Jones vs. Henderson likely for August or September. Not July as some had hoped it would make the UFC's debut in Calgary. But you know the saying: good things come to those who wait. Jim Miller talks to MMA Mania. Read what the UFC on Fox 3 headliner has to say about his bout this Saturday with Nate Diaz. Clay Guida comments on Alistair Overeem's testosterone levels. And says the UFC heavyweight's coaches also deserve some the blame for the situation he is in. MEDIA STEW Lithuanian strongman Robert Burneika makes his MMA debut. It was not money (HT: Cage Potato): Johny Hendricks trains. He and his team also visit his local children's hospital: Dana White and Ed O'Neill break bread together: Hey, remember that time Frank Mir broke Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira's arm? No? Ok, refresh your memory: This might be one the best boxing photos ever, right? FRANKIE EDGAR LOVES EAST COAST RAP I like your style RT @JoePollard1: Driving, windows down, Jay Z blaring, mentally preparing to train #nothingbetter — Frankie Edgar (@FrankieEdgar) April 30, 2012 HAS RENZO EVER FROWNED? Called my old man. He asks me.. Are you a happy man my son? the happiest in the world I answer. He says. So I am a happy man. Got love him — Renzo_Gracie_BJJ (@RenzoGracieBJJ) April 30, 2012 MACKENS SEMERZIER WITH THE LEAD SPILL I was thinking about how much of a dirty slut @Bartimus7 was. I dont have any grounds to say that. But it sounds good. Lol #ShotsFired — Mackens Semerzier (@MackDaMenaceMMA) April 30, 2012 FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS - UFC on Fox 4: Lyoto Machida vs. Ryan Bader - UFC 150: Jake Shields vs. Ed Herman FANPOST OF THE DAY Today's FPOTD comes courtesy unambig. The title? 'Why MMA Fans Hate Fedor Emelianenko': And finally, it has come to this. A 35-year-old former prodigy now facing a 38-year-old former UFC fighter who hasn't been relevant in nine years since he beat Ricco Rodriguez at UFC 45. A battle in which nobody can honestly say they are remotely invested in as a fan. Fedor has agreed to fight Pedro Rizzo for reasons nobody can quite understand or care about, other than the fact it will presumably enable both men to pad their bank accounts. All fans are left with from Fedor is the sort of sad, hypothetical arguments about what might have been if he didn't have the management he has, if he had decided to face the premier competition in the UFC, if he had been less ambivalent about his MMA career. It is almost a remorse-by-proxy, the same sort of feeling one gets when one watches a movie about unrealized potential and failure. It's just... sad. We could blame M-1 and Vadim. We could blame the UFC. We could blame fans for not appreciating what he gave us in Pride. But really the only person who deserves any blame is Fedor himself. He has reaped what he has sown. He has become what he wanted to be. In the end, he is to blame for our inability to sympathize with him, for he has refused to share with us his own disappointments, his own fears and hopes and dreams. He has shut us all out for his entire career, and so it is only fitting we do the same now. Found something perfect for the Morning Report? Just hit me on Twitter @SBNLukeThomas and we'll include it in Monday's post.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, vs, mma debut

Bellator’s Road to the Championship (Act 3)

Longtime MMA veteran and MMA Uncensored Live co-host Nate Quarry stops by to look back at the season six middleweight tournament, and to breakdown the final fight Andreas Spang vs. Maiquel Falcao. Retweet this Share on Facebook • Email • StumbleUpon • Reddit • Digg • Technorati • Instapaper • Tumblr • Google Reader • LinkedIn

Posted in: mma, middleweight tournament, spang, bull, mma veteran

A Lesson in Street MMA: New York Yankees games bring out the Cro Cop in everyone

Now that significant others are allowed to corner fighters in the institution of Street MMA, it goes without saying that the paradigm has shifted forever. The only thing this video needs is a celebrity appearance by Weng-Weng towards the end in order to cement itself in the vein of mainstream culture. Weng-weng has the power to do that, just remember. In our attempt to collect the freshest extracts of Street MMA executed in the real world, we've stumbled across yet another example of this budding sport in practice. In this example, a rowdy Boston Red Sox fan confronts a woman rocking full New York Yankees regalia. Words were thrown around and out of no where the spirit of Mirko Cro Cop inhabits the body of one of the fans, sending her adversary down with a well-placed high kick KO. Amazing stuff and props to Casey for the find.

Posted in: mma, street mma, street, woman rocking, world weve

UFC's Bad Business Press, Overeem Hearing, Jon Jones' Starpower On The MMA Tete-A-Tete

Luke Thomas of MMA Fighting and I got together last week, donned our headsets, fired up our web cams and got to gum flapping for another installment of the MMA Tete-a-Tete: Coarsening the Discourse. Topics covered include: The barrage of bad business press the UFC got hit with last week, including a report in Advertising Age that Anheuser Busch had reprimanded the promotion based on various fighter antics and a follow up in Business Insider that was little more than a hatchet job on the UFC. The hilarity of Alistair Overeem's hearing before the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Whether or not Jon Jones has truly emerged as a star and a genuine big-time PPV draw for the promotion. Give it a watch. If you like it be sure and "subscribe" to the YouTube channel so you'll be notified of future installments and "like" the video. Oh yeah and if you disagree be sure and comment here or on YouTube.

Posted in: mma, web cams, discourse topics, bigtime ppv, advertising age

The MMA Hour - Episode 129 - Best of The MMA Hour

Posted in: mma, hour, episode

MMAjunkie.com's Dann Stupp on 'The MMA Show with Mauro Ranallo' at 2 p.m. ET

MMAjunkie.com editor-in-chief Dann Stupp is a guest on today's edition of "The MMA Show with Mauro Ranallo." Stupp and Ranallo discuss hot topics from the MMA world, including "The Ultimate Fighter: Live" reality series and the latest from the world of MMAjunkie.com. Catch the show live at 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT) on radio.thescore.com, or download the archive on iTunes. Stupp's segment begins at 2:30 p.m. ET.

Posted in: mma, pm, stupp, mma show, todays edition

Best of The MMA Hour

This week's episode of The MMA Hour will feature some of the top interviews from the show's history. Chael Sonnen, Paul Heyman, James Toney, Fedor Emelianenko, Anderson Silva, Rampage Jackson, Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey are just a few of the top MMA personalities on this two-hour show. You can watch it starting at 1 p.m. ET below.

Posted in: mma, mma hour, twohour show, ronda rousey, weeks episode

ONE FC: Ole Laursen on returning to his roots to set up an MMA camp in Boracay

If Rocky IV taught us one thing, it is that the secret to success in combat sport is to train in a cold and inhospitable environment where you can spend all your time chopping down trees and pulling peasants cars out of ditches instead of, say, sparring. One person who obviously doesn't subscribe to this theory is Ole Laursen. He was born in Manila, grew up in Denmark and has spent the last few years living and training in North East Thailand but recently returned to the Philippines to set up a camp in Boracay. It is a small island which is home to some of the best beaches in the world and is popular with Filipino tourists but has yet to be inundated with overseas visitors. Laursen trained here for his last two fights, including the famous win over Eduard Folayang, in a recently constructed cage which is situated just a stones throw away from Diniwid Beach. Mixed martial arts (MMA) is extremely popular in the Philippines and everywhere you go you will see people wearing caps and t shirts with familiar brands on them. However Laursen's Legacy Gym is the first camp set up to cater to martial arts tourists and should be finished in a few months time. "We should be up and running by July with one octagon and one boxing ring plus a training area with weights and bags. By the end of August there will be a total of two boxing rings and two full size cages, a bag area, full weights area. Housing will be done end year but til then people can stay at one of the many resorts nearby." Folayang is renowned for his stamina and as well as a legendary work ethic he also has the advantage of training at altitude. Many people were surprised that Laursen was able to match him for the full 15 minutes of their fight at ONE FC 'War of the Lions' but he says he worked just as hard on the beaches in Boracay as his opponent did in the mountains of Baguio. "It was a really good camp, I had Vaughn "Blud" Anderson who came and helped me out when I needed it most and pushed me hard during training and I had Kristoffer Persson who just defeated BJJ black belt Alexandre "Leke" Machado but unfortunately he got injured in that fight and were not able to help me during the last two weeks in training." Having returned to the Philippines Laursen, who was once offered a spot on the national boxing team, is looking to fulfill the ambition of a lifetime by fighting there. ONE FC currently has a card scheduled for Manila on September 1st and he would love to be a part of it. "I hope to fight for ONE FC Manila because it would be my first MMA fight in the motherland. MMA is very popular here and I think the Philippines could be one of biggest supporting countries in the world when it comes to MMA, Kids in the streets know and follow the UFC events and love it. It's live on TV for free so everyone knows what MMA is all about." The Philippines is well ahead of many countries in Asia when it comes to televised MMA. The UFC has been available live on the Balls channel for a long time, while URCC repeats seem to be shown on constant rotation on Solar Sports and ONE FC is now being broadcast by both Star Sports and ESPN. Laursen believes this has been a key factor behind the rapid growth of the sport in the Philippines. "Having so much MMA on TV has definitely helped a lot. It has has made MMA mainstream in the Philippines and accepted and recognised as a serious respected combat sport and way of life." Recognition is something which Laursen himself has come to enjoy this year after firmly establishing himself as one of the stars of Asia's biggest MMA promotion. He came up short against Felipe Enomoto in a fight which most expected him to win but bounced back spectacularly to overcome Folayang in front of 8,000 fans in the fight of the night at the Singapore Indoor Stadium last month. Laursen has won six out of his last seven fights and could be forgiven for taking some time off, particularly as he is currently living in a tropical paradise. Despite having competed in K-1 and Muay Thai for almost 15 years he still has plenty of motivation and is already back in training. "I had two weeks of rest but now with Alex Niu here I am training hard again to be the best training partner possible for him. I'm helping him get ready for his upcoming K-1 style fight in china in three weeks time plus there are a handful of locals and few tourists training, I hope when my local talent is ready some of them will get in the URCC it's what they all strive and dream for." As a fighter Laursen is an all out warrior who leaves it all in the cage and his style has won him a lot of fans including, interestingly enough, Phil Baroni. His fights are never dull and he tends to take his fair share of punishment but when not doing battle for the benefit of thousands he has an enviable day job. "The gym is five minutes walk from the beach, located up on a hilltop overlooking the ocean so we always have a nice breeze and view. We train on the beach every morning, water sprints, sprints on the beach, gymnastics, working the sledge hammer and medicine ball drills. We do most of these drills and exercizes on the beach in the mornings." For more information visit: www.legacygymphilippines.com or join the Facebook group. www.twitter.com/jamesgoyder

Posted in: fight, mma, philippine, training, laursen

Hector Lombard requests random drug test prior to UFC debut against Brian Stann

Though it's not exactly "random" if you call the commission and ask, "Hey, can you guys come test me?' Nevertheless, the former Bellator Middleweight Champion wants to prove to the world that his muscular physique came the old-fashioned way: through proper diet and hard work inside the gym. "Lightning" took to his Twitter account on Sunday night (April 29, 2012) to respond to MMAmania.com Brazilian correspondent Eduardo Cruz, who simply asked the Cuban-born Australian what his testosterone levels were. Lombard's response: You guys are going to know the levels soon! Can we make a random drug test before my fight??? Lombard is expected to make his Octagon debut against hard-hitting Marine, Brian Stann, at UFC on FOX 4 in Los Angeles, Calif., later this summer. And according to this recent poll right here on MMAmania.com, it's the fight mixed martial arts (MMA) fans most wanted to see. For more on "Shango's" UFC debut click here and here. Latest From Our Partners Latest From Our Partners 10 Fighters With Most To Lose This Year (BR) 25 Best Finishers in MMA Today (BR) Alexander Gustafsson And 10 Fighters Who Will Earn A Title Shot (BR) 12 Most Memorable Moments In LHW History (BR) The Most Underrated Fighter In Each MMA Division (BR)

Posted in: mma, fighter, test, drug test, br

The MMA Hour With Lombard, Kizer, Gracie, Almeida, Dodson, Chandler

Another week, another edition of The MMA Hour is yours for the taking. Here's who will be stopping by this time: * Hector Lombard, the newest member of the UFC, will discuss why he left Bellator. * Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Director Keith Kizer will talk about his busy week. * Cesar Gracie will preview Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller and update us on the latest on Nick Diaz. * Retired fighter Ricardo Almeida will talk about judging at UFC on FOX 3. * TUF 14 winner John Dodson will explain why he decided to drop down to 125 and talk about his UFC on FOX 3 fight against Tim Elliott. * Bellator lightweight champion Mike Chandler will preview his "super-fight" against Akihiro Gono on Friday night. * And Ben Fowlkes will return from his 10-week suspension to discuss the latest MMA news. Plus, we'll be taking your calls on anything and everything. Got a question or comment? Give us a call at 1-888-418-4074. Watch the show live below beginning at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT / 6 p.m. GMT. Subscribe to The MMA Hour on iTunes: audio feed here; video feed here. Download previous episodes here. Listen to the show via Stitcher here or via TuneIn here.

Posted in: ufc, mma, mma hour, ben fowlkes, akihiro gono

Brock brought a little bit of MMA with him back to the WWE.

submitted by llDuffmanll [link] [12 comments]

Posted in: mma, wwe, brock, bit, llduffmanll

Crunching Numbers: Josh Koscheck and the Issue of Fighter Age

We often hear in MMA that a fighter could just be getting started or ready to make another title run even as they approach their mid-thirties. Relative to fans and media in other sports, the MMA community seems to believe aging is deleterious for a fighter's career and that a fighter at 35 is as dangerous if not more so than one at 25. Hey, they've got all that wisdom and experience, right? In fairness, it's not like they haven't had reason to think that. Randy Couture was winning titles in his forties. Current UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva is 37 and still holds significant speed and reflex advantages over his much younger peers. These fighters, however, are clear outliers. Impressive, obviously, but hardly representative of the norm. I bring up age because we are approaching an interesting case at UFC on FOX 3 next weekend. Specifically, UFC welterweight Josh Koscheck, who will be 35 years old in November, is facing Johny Hendricks, a 28 year-old rising contender. What does that tell us about his chances against Hendricks this Saturday? Does it really not matter how young a fighter is in terms of his chances for success in the Octagon as some in the MMA community would have you believe? If the data on age and performance tells us anything, it's that getting older matters significantly and not in a good way. Before we get to the numbers, we should be very hesitant to make any predictions about Koscheck vs. Hendricks if we're viewing it through a prism of age. Oddsmakers have the fight as basically a dead heat and I tend to think the longer the fight goes, the more it favors Koscheck. And statistically, that makes sense for an older fighter. What do we know about age and how it affects performance in MMA? There are two key takeaways every MMA fan should know: younger fighters on average never win less than 50% of the time and older fighters are much more likely to lose by TKO/KO than by decision. Some of the best research to date was actually done by two readers of the site Bloody Elbow in a FightMetric contest roughly one year ago. Using data compiled by FightMetric, they both discovered roughly the same thing, but arrived by taking two very different approaches. First, let's answer the basic question: do younger fighters win more often? Statistically speaking, the answer is yes. Consider the following: Winner is Younger Winner is Older All Fights Total Fights 1489 (57%) 1111 (43%) 2600* (T)KO Wins 559 (61%) 359 (39%) 918 Sub Wins 422 (57%) 322 (43%) 744 Dec Wins 505 (54%) 430 (46%) 935 Mean Winner's Age 27.0 31.0 28.7 Mean Loser's Age 31.8 27.1 29.8 Mean Age Difference 4.8 4.0 4.4 Mean Fight Length 08:57 09:50 09:20 * Four fights involving identically-aged fighters were omitted.Two disqualifications and one "other" were omitted frommethod-specific counts/calculations. There aren't a ton of surprises here, although it's worth reading the entire analyses done by the researcher to get a full grasp over what this all means. For our purposes today, though, we can confirm our earlier statement: younger fighters win more often (57% in this particular sample) and also hold statistical advantages in finishes albeit less so for decisions. More on that in a minute. It's not enough, though, to just measure winning percentages in aggregate. What happens when we measure age differences between opponents? Do we see any trends? Yes, and the results are noteworthy: Younger Fighters' Win% Across Age Differences (Age Difference in Years) There's a number of ways to parse this data and, again, I implore you to read the original posts from where this data arrived to truly a get a sense for implications. Still, it's safe to say a couple of things. For starters, younger opposition have at least a 50% chance of winning at all times. The upward trend in the graph overall (with one lone exception) tells as age discrepancy matters. It's also intriguing that even in cases where both fighters are considered 'young' - say 22 and 23 years old - the younger of the two still holds a statistical advantage. In the case I started this article off with - Josh Koscheck vs. Johny Hendricks - the age disparity is 6 years. Historically, the younger fighter in those circumstances has won 60% of the time. Younger fighters tend to win more and sometimes by big margins, but it's when researchers factored in the method of victory things got really interesting. "Variation by type of victory depends on the age of the older fighter, not on the age of the younger fighter," the researchers said. "More precisely, we can say that as the older fighter’s age increases, his chance of getting knocked out increases substantially, his chance of getting submitted increases but somewhat less, but his chance of losing a decision stays relatively flat": What does this graph mean beyond what's aforementioned? In some respects, it's hard to say and we should be careful about speculation in terms of what the data is specifically telling us. It's not as clear whether the effect above is from the advantage of youth or the liabilities of age. It's probably not the worst idea, though, to think the inability of older fighters to take punishment as well as they once did accounts for some of the uptick in KO/TKO finishes as they get older. As for why older fighters are less likely to get finished, I'd personally suggest experience has to count for something. All of this brings us back to Koscheck and his main event bout with Hendricks this coming Saturday at UFC on FOX 3. If it sounds like I'm discounting Koscheck's chances, I apologize in advance. I am not and have largely been a fan of his fighting style. He's fallen short against Georges St. Pierre, but has also had one hell of a successful athletic career. He is no one to overlook or take lightly. But I also can't escape the numbers. I don't want to dwell on them too much, but I want to leave you with one final reminder about what the relationship of age and performance in MMA this time courtesy of Fight Matrx. What we have below is the winning percentage of fighters by age: As a fighter gets older, it's true they accumulate helpful experience and knowledge. Unfortunately, however, the data also suggests it often becomes harder and harder to make effective use of it as they accumulate the fragility that come with aging. The next time a MMA commentator, analyst or fan talks about a fighter's ability without regard to their age (or the age difference in an impending bout), temper their conclusions with this healthy dose of reality. These numbers do not tell us to discount the accomplishments and talent of older fighters, but they do give us license to ask how much longer fighters like Anderson Silva at 37 can really keep winning. That's especially true as they face younger and younger fighters. The fact is this: mixed martial arts, like all other sports, is very much a young man's game. Age is not just a number. All quantitative data provided by FightMetric.

Posted in: mma, fighter, koscheck, age, data

iPhone App Recommendation for UFC Events?

I'm looking for a good iPhone app to easily keep track of UFC event information. I'm mainly wanting event dates, fighters on the event, etc. With the UFC having so many events these days, I'm finding it frustrating to keep track of. Obviously, MMA Junkie and MMA Fighting have decent apps but they aren't very user friendly and don't have a filter By UFC. They combine the UFC info with all the other smaller organizations. The UFC app is horrible so that's not an answer. There used to be a great app called MMA Tracker but I guess they stopped supporting it and it died off. Any recommendations? submitted by luisgarcia152 [link] [9 comments]

Posted in: ufc, mma, event, app, ufc app

Showdown on MMA: Between the lines

It almost feels as if a story from the world of MMA breaks every hour, but sometimes its best to slow down and read between the lines.

Posted in: mma, hour, line, story, mma breaks

Let’s find out how Michael Chandler feels about his upcoming fight with Akihiro Gono

Hey, guess what. Michael Chandler didn’t know who Akihiro Gono was until he was booked to fight him in a Bellator superfight. Surprising considering Gono fought in the UFC three times, picking up submission of the night in his debut. Gono also fought under the PRIDE banner a total of nine times, in which period he beat Gegard Mousasi and Hector Lombard. Less surprising however, when you consider Chandler never really watched MMA and still doesn’t. In Michael Chandler we’re talking about a guy who until recently didn’t take more than a week off training since high school, who was excited at the prospect of four fights in the year. The dude clearly likes to stay busy. Chandler spoke to Fighters Only recently about beating Alvarez, being injured and his future and as you can see in the quote below, he isn’t really a fan of MMA, despite being involved in one of the best fights from 2011. “I've never really been a huge fan of MMA. I still don't follow it very much. I never really watched much of PRIDE and I didn't even know who he was honestly. Any average fan of MMA, who has watched the UFC and PRIDE, knows who he is. I'm just happy to get back in the cage, no matter who it is.” You might not want him on your team for MMA Trivial Pursuit when they invent it but I’ll take a future Frate Trane over an MMA nerd any time in almost any other situation. Still, I can’t help but wonder if knowing who Don Frye is would improve Chandler as a fighter. [Source]

Posted in: mma, ’t, chandler, michael chandler, gono

Rebellion MMA Radio: UFC flyweight Demetrious Johnson, rising welterweight Stephen Thompson, and Alchemist head Lex McMahon

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

Rebellion MMA Radio: UFC flyweight Demetrious Johnson, rising welterweight Stephen Thompson, and Alchemist head Lex McMahon

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 (and regular 5 OZ contributors) 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

Posted in: ufc, mma, mcmahon, ian mccall, flyweight championship

Open Question: What would it take for Women's MMA to become more popular? What is it missing?

submitted by fredmalgud [link] [7 comments]

Posted in: mma, question, women, womens mma, fredmalgud

Jon Jones Pegged as Odds-On Favorite Over Hendo

It should come as no surprise that early estimates by oddsmakers have UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones cast as a sizeable favorite to win his next title defense. The 24-year-old dynamo just defeated Rashad Evans by unanimous decision in the main event of UFC 145 and has already been matched up with Dan Henderson for his next title defense. The linemakers over at MMA Oddsbreakers have released early odds for the bout, with Jones sitting as the -565 favorite and Henderson the +385 underdog. After stringing together a four-fight run in 2011 that many have called the most impressive single year in any athlete’s MMA career, Jones is poised to lord over the 205lbs division for many years to come. The prodigious young fighter has already knocked off veterans and former champions (and a couple of Hendo’s former Pride FC peers) Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Lyoto Machida and Rashad Evans during his title run and will be looking to add Henderson’s name to that list. At 41-years-old, Henderson is one of MMA’s few remaining elder statesmen who belongs fighting for a UFC title. A four-fight run in Strikeforce saw the Team Quest co-founder drop a decision to Jake Shields before knocking out Renato “Babalu” Sobral, Rafael Cavalcante (to capture the promotion’s light heavyweight title) and Fedor Emelianenko in succession. After returning to the UFC, Hendo waged a five round war with Shogun at UFC 139 that has been described as one of the best fights in MMA history. The two are rumored to be facing off at UFC 149 on July 21 at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Posted in: ufc, mma, title, jone, henderson

ONE FC: Hong Kong's Eddie Ng is Taking Superstardom Firmly in his Stride

Since moving to Singapore it has all happened for Eddie Ng. He has registered two emphatic first round stoppages, made an army of new fans and finished high on a list of the most eligible bachelors in the country. The word 'superstar' is often bandied about a bit too easily but in Ng's case it is rapidly becoming applicable. He has the looks and his back to back ONE FC wins are testament to the fact that he also has the ability. At 26 years old time is also very much on his side and he doesn't seem to be in any danger of letting the attention he has received since arriving at Evolve MMA in Singapore less than a year ago go to his head, "I try to not think or care too much about any attention. What I do think and care about though is making sure that every day I am improving myself as a martial artist and as a person. I have to continuously train and improve my skills in order to continue finding success in competition. Any sort of recognition or attention is just a by product of being successful in competition." Ng, whose roots are in Hong Kong, has rapidly developed a fan following in Singapore and was also shortlisted as one of the most desirable men in the entire country by girl's magazine Cleo. At ONE FC 'War of the Lions' this support was evident with his fans bringing banners and even painting their faces much to his amazement, "I find it all very surprising and I really appreciate the support that everyone has shown towards me. Fans send me messages through Facebook and Twitter and I try to reply to them all as much as I can. I consider the fans to be very important, not just those that are a fan of myself but of MMA in general." After blowing away Malaysian Muay Thai champion Jian Kai Chee to extend his record to 5-1 Ng's most recent assignment was cornering his Evolve MMA team mate Shinya Aoki at Bellator 66. Although that evening did not go entirely according to plan he is relishing the opportunity to train alongside one of the top fighters in the world at his weight, "Before I met Shinya Aoki I had watched many of his fights and admired his skills but I honestly thought that he was crazy and a bit of a bad boy! This is certainly not the case as Shinya is actually a very quiet and humble individual. We train together very often, he has taught me and really opened my eyes to a lot of MMA specific philosophy. He has really helped me mature in my overall MMA game." ONE FC War Of The Lions: Eddie Ng vs Jian Kai Chee (via OneFCMMA) Aoki is only two years his senior but has had 30 more fights. However Ng, who went to school in England and took up martial arts after being bullied due to his Asian appearance, feels that there is no rush because he is in the perfect place to develop as a mixed martial artist, "All of the striking coaches at Evolve MMA are World Champions in either Muay Thai or Boxing, they work diligently and have invested many hours with myself and the rest of the Evolve Fight Team. It is very rewarding to be able to showcase the teaching from all coaches in my fights and my team mate Zoro Moreira also got to show off his ever improving Muay Thai skills in the main event at One FC recently." Regarded by many as the most sophisticated MMA academy in the world Evolve MMA has been linked with a host of fighters recently but while owner Chatri Sityodtong is notoriously selective about who he invites onto the fight team the likes of Riki Fukuda, Ben Askren and Rich Franklin are all set to spend time training there this year. Matt Hume, Greg Jackson and Renzo Gracie have also visited Evolve MMA to either teach or give seminars and Ng feels fortunate to be spending time with such a rich diversity of coaches and training partners, "I am very lucky and grateful to have the opportunity to work with so many different elite level fighters. Each fighter has their own style and techniques that they like to use, it is very educational for me when working with them to see all the different things that different fighters do and whether I can take those things to implement in my own game." ONE FC is already by far the biggest promotion in Asia and nowhere has that been more noticeable than in Singapore where 8,000 people packing into a sold out stadium for the most recent show. Ng has seen with his own eyes how rapidly the sport of MMA has developed in the 10 months or so he has spent there, "Since the second One FC event in Singapore, I have definitely seen a huge increase in interest in MMA. I've especially noticed that there is a lot more female interest now which I believe is a very positive thing." He is currently competing in the most stacked division which ONE FC has and there is no shortage of potential opponents at 155 lbs. Ng enjoyed Eduard Folayang's fight of the night with Ole Laursen at the last ONE FC show and would relish the opportunity to face either fighter, "Man that was one hell of a fight! It was action packed from the first sound of the bell until the last! I understand that there has been some controversy surrounding the decision but I would rather just appreciate the fight for how it was than debate who won and why. Stylistically I think a matchup between me and either fighter would make for a very entertaining fight for the fans!" The ONE FC matchmakers are rumoured to feel that Ng is ready for a step up in opposition after stopping both Yuan Chun Bo and Kai Chee with strikes very early in the first round of his two fights to date. A headlining slot in Hong Kong might also await him when ONE FC put on a show there and he admits it is something which has been discussed, "Although no date has been set I know that One FC have plans to hold an event there. The prospect of there being a One FC event held there and having an opportunity to compete there excites me very much, to headline an event in Hong Kong would truly be a huge honour for me." Although he doesn't currently have a fight scheduled Ng is not going to be taking too much time off and has already returned to training at Evolve MMA after last month's victory. He says he would like to compete in MMA 'three or four' times this year but will also be exploring other avenues as he looks to continue to improve as an all round martial artist, "I fought Muay Thai for the first time last year in Thailand and it was a lot of fun for me and I would like to compete again in the future. Fighting professional Muay Thai is very important for developing confidence in striking situations. One of the biggest factors in becoming a competent striker is the element of timing and fighting Muay Thai really allows me to work on my timing as well as gain some extra ring time which I consider to be very valuable." Those improvements were there for all to see when Ng, who has a reputation for being more of a grappler, dropped an opponent who had outstanding Muay Thai credentials with a hook in his most recent MMA fight. He has very heavy hands and can do damage with them from absolutely anywhere, winning his first fight for ONE FC with a knock out punch from within his opponent's guard. Ng's popularity is rising at a rate which no-one could have possibly predicted but there is substance behind the style and he has the skill set to live up to even the loftiest of expectations. His training partners and coaches at Evolve MMA believe that the softly spoken, hard hitting fighter from Hong Kong will be a world beater and with so much talent in ONE FC's lightweight division there will be plenty more opportunity to prove them right. www.twitter.com/jamesgoyder

Posted in: fight, mma, fighter, fc, ng

UFC Champion Georges St. Pierre Talks MMA and Bullying on CNN

UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre may be out of the Octagon recovering from a knee injury, but he is still filling his role as spokesman for the UFC. St. Pierre is making the media rounds in New York City pushing a sponsor's product, an instant cooling towel, and educating the media about the sport of MMA. In that effort, St. Pierre appeared on CNN's Starting Points hosted by Soledad O'Brien. The Canadian champion talked about being bullied as a child, how that caused his father to begin training him in Karate and that lead the discussion into MMA. The hosts on the show are not knowledgeable about MMA to the point of it being painful. They call it "Ultimate Fighting" on several occasions, ask if the fights are staged and if it is as violent as it looks. St. Pierre handled the questions with all the grace you'd expect from one of the sport's chief ambassadors and does a fantastic job framing MMA as a true sport. From a public relations standpoint starting with bullying is a fantastic way to approach talking about MMA training with large media outlets like CNN. Bullying is a huge talking point in the American media and with suicides attributed to bullying receiving national media attention, there is a constant search for the next big way to help kids overcome bullying. Portraying MMA as the way that St. Pierre dealt with bullying makes him a more human and sympathetic figure in the eyes of the a viewer who might have preconceived notions about MMA. Martial arts training is one of the oldest solutions for parents concerned about bullying and if Mixed Martial Arts can become one of the hot martial arts for parents to enroll their children into it could have a huge impact on the sport moving forward. While this is hardly a new story as St. Pierre has been very open about his childhood, it is still a great method of making both the athletes and sport more acceptable to the general public. video after the jump... Thanks to KatGirl at Gal's Guide to MMA for finding this video.

Posted in: mma, sport, pierre, st, media

Liz Carmouche ready to show off improved skill-set tonight at Invicta FC against Ashleigh Curry

Tonight in Kansas City, Invicta Fighting Championships will hold an all-female mixed martial arts card featuring some of the world’s best female fighters. Two of the most notable fighters are former Strikeforce bantamweight champ Marloes Coenen and the lady who gave the Golden Glory fighter all she could handle when the two met in March of last year, Liz Carmouche. No one gave the 28-year-old Carmouche much of a chance, but despite taking the fight on less than two weeks’ notice “Girl-Rilla” controlled the first two frames before succumbing to a fourth round Triangle Choke. Carmouche would go on to face another former champion in her very next bout when she took on Sarah Kaufman four months later on a Strikeforce Challengers card. Despite putting up a valiant effort she would go on to lose via Unanimous Decision. She hasn’t fought since, but she has used that time to strengthen up all areas of her game and she is looking to make it a rough night for her opponent former boxer Ashleigh Curry who is 1-0 in her MMA career. Carmouche a former Marine with three tours of duty in the Middle East is excited for Invicta’s prospects and looking to end her two fight losing streak with an exclamation point. She recently sat down with Five Ounces of Pain and spoke about her career, fighting for Invicta FC, and much more… Can you give us a little insight into your background and how you got started in MMA? Liz Carmouche: I was in the Marine Corps for five years and I was looking for something that would offer me a physical and mental challenge. MMA seemed to meet every aspect. Mentally you have to be prepared for all the different forms of martial arts and physically it will push you to the next level. After week one of getting beat up and I was hooked. Where are you currently training in preparation for your bout with Curry? LC: I’m currently training at the San Diego Combat Academy. My main trainer is Manolo Hernandez, I have Matt Fort who is my wrestling coach and Landon Piercy teaches Muay Thai. Fort is also my main training partner. What can you tell us about your opponent Ashleigh Curry? LC: She was a professional boxer who is now transitioning into MMA. Her record was 4-7-2, she is a southpaw, she won her one and only MMA fight via TKO. What would consider your strengths in MMA? LC: I feel like I consider myself to be more of a well-rounded fighter. I haven’t really decided to focus on just one aspect of the sport as I’d rather be capable in all areas. What do you feel are the keys for Invicta FC being a successful MMA organization? LC: I’m not exactly sure what the plans are for Invicta. I would imagine that this card is more or less like a test show to see how things go and what the reaction is to it. If it works out as well as everyone is expecting it to I would think that there would be more shows. I know that’s what I am hoping for; I am looking forward to going around the country putting on shows in venues like the one in Kansas City. What were your thoughts on the Miesha Tate-Ronda Rousey bout that took place in March? LC: I was thought it was a great fight and there were certainly a few moments when I was watching when I was like, “Oh my God!!” I thought they were both amazing and I don’t know how Tate was able to deal with that pain. Who do you feel is the face of women’s MMA at this time? LC: I don’t necessarily feel that any one fighter is the face of women’s MMA right now. I think there are three main names that everyone recognizes and they are Coenen, Rousey, and Tate. Tate and Coenen have been around longer than Rousey, but to say only one of them is the face of MMA wouldn’t be accurate. Do you feel it will be tough for Cris “Cyborg” Santos to come back from her suspension and do you feel it was a black eye for women’s MMA? LC: I think it was just one negative hiccup for us as it’s certainly been happening in men’s MMA for quite some time. I mean it’s constantly coming up. It seems like every other day there is another male fighter failing a test and this was just one for us out of every female fighter. She is certainly very well recognized and it kind of set us back a little bit. As far as her coming back I know she is still training so there won’t be any difficulty for her in that regard. She is going to be under a lot of skepticism and she will have some difficulty coming back from that. How did you enjoy your time with Strikeforce and will you be fighting for them again? LC: I’m still contracted through Strikeforce and still have three fights left with them. They are booked up for a few months so they allowed me to fight for Invicta because it’s been so long since I last fought. I’ll be fighting for Strikeforce again at some point. How did you become involved with Alchemist? LC: I was introduced to the organization through Alex Soto as he helped me with my sponsorship with Ranger Up and then talked to Lex McMahon about me. They came and met with me and I’ve been with them ever since. What can your fans expect from you come Saturday night? LC: It’s been quite a while since my last fight and I feel as though I didn’t get a chance to showcase all of my skills. I am looking to show them that during this time off I haven’t been slacking, but I’ve been growing as a fighter and that’s what I want to show them. I’ve adapted my game and I just want to keep growing. Are there any sponsors or anyone else you’d like to thank? LC: Other than Ranger Up I am also sponsored by Build and Destroy since day one they are an up and coming business and even though they don’t have much they always make sure to do whatever they can for me. I’d also like to thank Secret Savage and Out of Bounds. I’d like to give a special thanks to my mom and my girlfriend Lisa. They have been super supportive in all the fights I have ever had. I’d also like to thank Matt, Bill Crawford and Landon for all they do for me back home. Fans can see Carmouche fight tonight for free through Invicta FC’s website along with the entire card when things start up tonight at 8:00 PM EST. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: fight, mma, ’t, lc, invicta

Daniel Cormier's Gold Medal Shortfall Fueled Decision to Enter MMA

Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix finalist and two-time Olympian Daniel Cormier spoke to MMA Fighting in Atlanta before UFC 145 about his impending bout with former UFC heavyweight champion Josh Barnett. Cormier contrasted his style and ability in wrestling with Barnett's, but also spoke candidly about falling short in his quest for a Olympic gold medal in wrestling. Cormier states had he won the medal he coveted so greatly, he likely would never have competed in professional MMA. Cormier also spoke about the state of the American Kickboxing Academy gym in the wake of trainer Dave Camarillo and UFC welterweight Josh Koscheck departing and many other topics.

Posted in: ufc, mma, cormier, medal, cormier states

Invicta FC: Four Of Twenty-Two Fighters Miss Weight For Women's MMA Event

Invicta Fighting Championships is picking up a bit of steam over the past week. This is partially because of the fact that it's the biggest MMA event this weekend with no Bellator, Strikeforce or UFC events and partially because the concept of women's-only MMA is unique. Unfortunately, the event didn't get off the the greatest start as four of the twenty-two fighters on the card weren't able to make weight. Here are the full weights via MMA Rising: Featherweight (145 Pounds): Marloes Coenen (146.0) vs Romy Ruyssen (149.8)* Atomweight (105): Jessica Penne (105.6) vs Lisa Ellis (106.0) Bantamweight (135): Liz Carmouche (134.2) vs Ashleigh Curry (136.0)** Bantamweight (135): Kaitlin Young (135.4) vs Leslie Smith (135.0) Bantamweight (135): Sarah D'Alelio (135.2) vs Vanessa Mariscal (136.0) Strawweight (115): Sally Krumdiack (113.6) vs Sarah Schneider (115.6) Atomweight (105): Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc (105.4) vs Amy Davis (105.6) Flyweight (125): Sarah Maloy (125.4) vs Michele Gutierrez (125.0) Featherweight (145): Randi Miller (149.0)*** vs Mollie Estes (145.0) Strawweight (115): Ashley Cummins (115.0) vs Sofia Bagherdai (120.6)**** Atomweight (105): Cassie Rodish (105.2) vs Meghan Wright (103.6) More after the jump... Romy Ruyssen was fined 25% of her purse as were Randi Miller and Sofia Bagherdai. Ashleigh Curry only lost 10% of her purse as she was only a pound over. The real issue here is the extent to which weight was missed. Four fighters missing weight by more than four pounds is a real issue and something that needs to be fixed. Let's not forget when Shannon Knapp was interviewed by Steph Daniels about getting Invicta of the ground: Tapout Radio: Several of the girls featured on your card are currently on the Strikeforce roster. Is that an open ended arrangement or do you intend to eventually become the mecca for female MMA? Shannon Knapp: A lot of the girls are still signed with Strikeforce. Strikeforce is in a unique position right now. With a limited amount of shows, they aren't able to keep all of their athletes active. What they've done, and I think it's a great thing, is they're allowing those girls to participate on our card. I think it's a great gesture, letting these girls stay active. I think it would be great if the girls had one platform, instead of being so scattered. When Dana (White) said that there was a lack of depth with the women, he was absolutely correct, but the rebuttal to that is that he's only seeing four or five girls active. How do you gauge the depth when they're so spread out? I think with us coming in and building a solid foundation to bring all these girls together, we can solidify these weight classes. I think we're going to be able to make a difference. Solidifying weight classes isn't going to work if the fighters aren't able to make the weight.

Posted in: mma, vs, event, weight, girl

Rebellion MMA Radio: UFC flyweight Demetrious Johnson, rising welterweight Stephen Thompson, and Alchemist head Lex McMahon

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

Rebellion MMA Radio: UFC flyweight Demetrious Johnson, rising welterweight Stephen Thompson, and Alchemist head Lex McMahon

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 (and regular 5 OZ contributors) 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

Posted in: ufc, mma, mcmahon, ian mccall, flyweight championship

USA TODAY/MMA NATION April 2012 Consensus Rankings: Lightweight

Rank Fighter Points Promotion Last Rank 1 Ben Henderson 350 UFC 1 2 Frankie Edgar 335 UFC 2 3 Gilbert Melendez 319 Strikeforce 3 4 Gray Maynard 312 UFC 4 5 Jim Miller 286 UFC 6 6 Clay Guida 260 UFC 7 7 Nate Diaz 251 UFC 8 8 Anthony Pettis 242 UFC 9 9 Michael Chandler 228 Bellator 10 10 Shinya Aoki 190 Bellator 5 11 Eddie Alvarez 181 Bellator 11 12 Donald Cerrone 134 UFC 12 13 Joe Lauzon 118 UFC 13 14 Gleison Tibau 116 UFC 14 15 Melvin Guillard 98 UFC 15 16 Evan Dunham 87 UFC 16 17 Josh Thomson 78 Strikeforce 21 18 Mark Bocek 75 UFC 30 19 Pat Healy 70 Strikeforce 20 20 Jacob Volkmann 68 UFC 23 21 Rafael dos Anjos 66 UFC 19 22 Matt Wiman 65 UFC 18 23 Rick Hawn 63 Bellator NR 24 George Sotiropoulos 58 UFC 24 24 Jadamba Narantungalag 58 Legend Fighting Championship 25 Upcoming Fights: Gilbert Melendez vs. Josh Thomson on May 19, 2012 Gray Maynard vs. Clay Guida on June 22, 2012 Michael Chandler vs. Akihiro Gono on May 4, 2012 Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller on May 5, 2012 Donald Cerrone vs. Jeremy Stephens on May 15, 2012 Gleison Tibau vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov on July 7, 2012 Evan Dunham vs. Edson Barboza on May 26, 2012 Jacob Volkmann vs. Paul Sass on May 26, 2012 TJ Grant vs. Carlo Prater on May 15, 2012 Rafael dos Anjos vs. Kamal Shalorus on May 15, 2012 Joe Lauzon vs. Terry Etim on August 4, 2012 Sam Stout vs. Spencer Fisher on June 22, 2012 Melvin Guillard vs. Fabricio Camoes on July 7, 2012 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, vs, ranking, point

USA TODAY/MMA NATION April 2012 Consensus Rankings: Welterweight

Rank Fighter Points Promotion Last Rank 1 Georges St. Pierre 350 UFC 1 2 Carlos Condit 336 UFC 2 3 Jake Ellenberger 311 UFC 3 4 Nick Diaz 291 UFC 4 5 Johny Hendricks 278 UFC 6 6 Josh Koscheck 269 UFC 5 7 Jon Fitch 255 UFC 7 8 Jake Shields 250 UFC 8 9 Martin Kampmann 231 UFC 9 10 B.J. Penn 185 UFC 10 11 Rory MacDonald 154 UFC 12 12 Diego Sanchez 140 UFC 11 13 Ben Askren 123 Bellator 17 14 Thiago Alves 121 UFC 14 15 Tyron Woodley 109 Strikeforce 15 16 Rick Story 105 UFC 13 17 Charlie Brenneman 101 UFC 16 18 Siyar Bahadurzada 92 UFC 27 19 Jay Hieron 89 Bellator 18 20 Brian Ebersole 77 UFC 20 21 Mike Pyle 65 UFC 25 22 Mike Pierce 64 UFC 22 23 Anthony Johnson 63 Titan Fighting 21 24 Paulo Thiago 60 UFC 19 25 John Hathaway 59 UFC 28 Upcoming Fights: Jake Ellenberger vs. Martin Kampmann on June 1, 2012 Josh Koscheck vs. Johny Hendricks on May 5, 2012 Jon Fitch vs. Aaron Simpson on July 21, 2012 Brian Ebersole vs. TJ Waldburger on June 22, 2012 Mike Pierce vs. Carlos Eduardo Rocha on June 8, 2012 Thiago Alves vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama on July 21, 2012 Mike Pyle vs. Josh Neer on June 8, 2012 Charlie Brenneman vs. Erick Silva on June 8, 2012 Dong Hyun Kim vs. Demian Maia on July 7, 2012 Rick Story vs. Rich Attonito on June 22, 2012 John Hathaway vs. Pascal Krauss on May 5, 2012 Anthony Johnson vs. David Branch on May 25, 2012 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, vs, ranking, june

Rebellion MMA Radio Returns This Sunday

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

USA TODAY/MMA NATION April 2012 Consensus Rankings: Middleweight

Rank Fighter Points Promotion Last Rank 1 Anderson Silva 350 UFC 1 2 Chael Sonnen 336 UFC 2 3 Mark Munoz 308 UFC 3 4 Vitor Belfort 297 UFC 4 5 Michael Bisping 273 UFC 5 6 Luke Rockhold 244 Strikeforce 7 7 Tim Boetsch 236 UFC 6 8 Yushin Okami 235 UFC 8 9 Chris Weidman 232 UFC 9 10 Brian Stann 216 UFC 10 11 Hector Lombard 173 UFC 11 12 Ronaldo Souza 167 Strikeforce 13 13 Nate Marquardt 156 Strikeforce 12 14 Tim Kennedy 140 Strikeforce 14 15 Demian Maia 133 UFC 16 16 Rousimar Palhares 129 UFC 15 17 Alan Belcher 108 UFC 18 18 Chris Leben 107 UFC 17 19 Mamed Khalidov 100 KSW 20 20 Wanderlei Silva 99 UFC 19 21 Jorge Santiago 87 Titan Fighting 21 22 Robbie Lawler 83 Strikeforce 22 23 Alexander Shlemenko 78 Bellator 23 24 Ed Herman 70 UFC 25 25 Ronny Markes 64 UFC 29 25 Constantinos Philippou 64 UFC 30 Upcoming Fights: Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen on June 23, 2012 Vitor Belfort vs. Wanderlei Silva on June 23, 2012 Tim Boetsch vs. Michael Bisping on July 7, 2012 Rousimar Palhares vs. Alan Belcher on May 5, 2012 Demian Maia vs. Dong Hyun Kim on July 7, 2012 Constantinos Philippou vs. Riki Fukuda on July 7, 2012 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, vs, ranking, point

Brydon on MMA: Judo getting thrown in the mix

Two Canadian judokas, with connections to Ronda Rousey and GSP, give their thoughts on the rise of judo in MMA.

Posted in: mma, judo, ronda rousey, canadian judokas, mma judo

UFC rankings/MMA rankings featured in USA Today for April 2012

Why are MMA fans so cranky? Yep, it's that time of the month again. Rankings! Our partners in crime over at BloodyElbow.com have once again published their divisional rankings for mixed martial arts in the nation’s largest daily newspaper, USA Today, for the month of April 2012. For those of you unfamiliar with the process, here’s how it works: "The rankings, which will offer a definitive perspective of top MMA fighters across all weight-classes, will be released monthly and published in the Sports section of USA TODAY, online at USATODAY.com and on SB Nation’s MMA commentary and community blog, BloodyElbow.com … The USA TODAY/MMA Nation Consensus MMA Rankings are compiled each month by Nate Wilcox and Richard Wade of BloodyElbow.com. The rankings utilize each of the top MMA rankings from multiple unique sources. A weighted-formula is applied to normalize and distill the various rankings into one consensus ranking per weight class." To check out the latest USAT/MMA Nation rankings click here. We’ve also listed their top 10 in each class after the jump for your convenience. Heavyweight: 1. Junior dos Santos2. Alistair Overeem3. Cain Velasquez4. Frank Mir5. Fabricio Werdum6. Shane Carwin7. Josh Barnett8. Daniel Cormier9. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira10. Antonio Silva Light Heavyweight: 1. Jon Jones2. Dan Henderson3. Rashad Evans4. Mauricio Rua5. Lyoto Machida6. Phil Davis7. Alexander Gustafsson8. Ryan Bader9. Quinton Jackson10. Forrest Griffin Middleweight: 1. Anderson Silva2. Chael Sonnen3. Mark Munoz4. Vitor Belfort5. Michael Bisping6. Luke Rockhold7. Tim Boetsch8. Yushin Okami9. Chris Weidman10. Brian Stann Welterweight: 1. Georges St. Pierre2. Carlos Condit3. Jake Ellenberger4. Nick Diaz5. Johny Hendricks6. Josh Koscheck7. Jon Fitch8. Jake Shields9. Martin Kampmann10. B.J. Penn Lightweight: 1. Ben Henderson2. Frankie Edgar3. Gilbert Melendez4. Gray Maynard5. Jim Miller6. Clay Guida7. Nate Diaz8. Anthony Pettis9. Michael Chandler10. Shinya Aoki Featherweight: 1. Jose Aldo2. Hatsu Hioki3. Chad Mendes4. Pat Curran5. Marlon Sandro6. Dustin Poirier7. Kenny Florian8. Dennis Siver9. Erik Koch10. Diego Nunes Bantamweight: 1. Dominick Cruz2. Urijah Faber3. Renan Barao4. Brian Bowles5. Michael McDonald6. Scott Jorgensen7. Brad Pickett8. Miguel Torres9. Bibiano Fernandes10. Eduardo Dantas What do you think? Looking good on all fronts or are there a few issues with the consensus opinions here? Share your ranking rants in the comments section below.

Posted in: mma, usa today, usa, ranking, weight class

USA TODAY/MMA NATION April 2012 Consensus Rankings: Light Heavyweight

Rank Fighter Points Promotion Last Rank 1 Jon Jones 350 UFC 1 2 Dan Henderson 331 UFC 2 3 Rashad Evans 323 UFC 3 4 Mauricio Rua 310 UFC 4 5 Lyoto Machida 293 UFC 5 6 Phil Davis 259 UFC 6 7 Alexander Gustafsson 239 UFC 9 8 Ryan Bader 233 UFC 7 9 Quinton Jackson 229 UFC 8 10 Forrest Griffin 194 UFC 10 11 Antonio Rogerio Nogueira 178 UFC 12 12 Gegard Mousasi 163 Strikeforce 11 13 Muhammed Lawal 120 Strikeforce 13 13 Rafael Cavalcante 120 Strikeforce 14 15 Rich Franklin 99 UFC 16 16 Tito Ortiz 98 UFC 17 17 Thiago Silva 94 UFC 15 18 Vladimir Matyushenko 80 UFC 18 19 Ryan Jimmo 70 UFC 20 20 Stanislav Nedkov 68 UFC 19 21 Stephan Bonnar 67 UFC 21 22 Mike Kyle 61 Strikeforce 22 23 Renato Sobral 58 Instinct MMA 22 24 Brandon Vera 57 UFC 24 24 Randy Couture 57 Retired 25 Upcoming Fights: Forrest Griffin vs. Tito Ortiz on July 7, 2012 Rafael Cavalcante vs. Mike Kyle on May 19, 2012 Rich Franklin vs. Cung Le on July 7, 2012 Glover Teixeira vs. Kyle Kingsbury on May 26, 2012 Brandon Vera vs. James Te Huna on July 14, 2012 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, vs, ranking, point

Jordan Breen Pre-Fight Weekend MMA Chat

Sherdog.com Administrative Editor Jordan Breen will host his weekly MMA chat at 1 p.m. ET.

Posted in: mma, breen, chat, jordan, mma chat

Jordan Breen Weekend MMA Pre-Fight Chat Recap

Sherdog.com Administrative Editor Jordan Breen will host his weekly MMA chat at 1 p.m. ET.

Posted in: mma, breen, chat, jordan, mma chat

USA TODAY/MMA NATION April 2012 Consensus Rankings: Heavyweight

Rank Fighter Points Promotion Last Rank 1 Junior dos Santos 350 UFC 1 2 Alistair Overeem 330 UFC 2 3 Cain Velasquez 327 UFC 3 4 Frank Mir 290 UFC 5 5 Fabricio Werdum 287 UFC 4 6 Shane Carwin 256 UFC 7 7 Josh Barnett 252 Strikeforce 6 8 Daniel Cormier 250 Strikeforce 8 9 Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira 241 UFC 9 10 Antonio Silva 218 UFC 10 11 Fedor Emelianenko 145 M-1 11 12 Mark Hunt 138 UFC 13 13 Travis Browne 128 UFC 15 14 Mike Russow 108 UFC 18 15 Roy Nelson 107 UFC 14 16 Cheick Kongo 105 UFC 17 17 Cole Konrad 98 Bellator 19 17 Ben Rothwell 98 UFC 30 19 Brendan Schaub 90 UFC 12 20 Brock Lesnar 87 Retired 16 21 Stefan Struve 84 UFC 21 22 Sergei Kharitonov 79 Strikeforce 20 23 Matt Mitrione 69 UFC 22 24 Dan Henderson 67 UFC 24 25 Gabriel Gonzaga 65 UFC 23 Upcoming Fights: Junior dos Santos vs. Frank Mir on May 26, 2012 Cain Velasquez vs. Roy Nelson on May 26, 2012 Daniel Cormier vs. Josh Barnett on May 19, 2012 Mark Hunt vs. Stefan Struve on May 26, 2012 Cole Konrad vs. Eric Prindle on May 25, 2012 Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Shane del Rosario on May 26, 2012 Eddie Sanchez vs. Damian Grabowski on April 27, 2012 Pat Barry vs. Lavar Johnson on May 5, 2012 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, vs, ranking, point

Jordan Breen Pre-Fight Weekend MMA Chat (1 p.m. ET)

Sherdog.com Administrative Editor Jordan Breen will host his weekly MMA chat at 1 p.m. ET.

Posted in: mma, breen, chat, jordan, mma chat

5 Oz. MMA Link Club

Welcome back to another edition of “MMA Link Club”, Five Ounces of Pain‘s weekly smorgasbord of offerings from our brothers and sisters in the MMA community. Enjoy… Ronda Rousey Gets Political (TheFightNerd.com) Budweiser Issues Warning to Zuffa Over Fighter Behavior (Fightline.com) Conference Call Audio from Thursday’s UFC on FOX: Diaz vs. Miller Gathering (MMAConvert.com) Brittany Palmer Paints Picture of Dana White (5thRound.com) Heavyweight Lavar Johnson Discusses His Journey to the UFC (Heavy.com) Phil Baroni Actually in Favor of Fighters on Steroids (BleacherReport.com) FOX Gets in the Boxing Business (MMAPayout.com) How Much Money Might Alistair Overeem’s Suspension Cost Him? (FightOpinion.com) Nate Diaz Still Convinced Brother Isn’t Returning to MMA (LowKick.com) A Breakdown of This Weekend’s Invicta FC Event (MMAMania.com) PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE/UFC

Posted in: mma, mma community, brother, pain ‘s, mma lowkickcom

Latest UFC/MMA news and notes from around the web for the week of April22, 2012

Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Nick Diaz and Dana White pictured above, we can all "get along." Teaming up with MMA sites like Low Kick, Fightline, Fight Opinion and The Fight Nerd, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport. This week, The Fight Nerd speaks with debuting Invicta fighter Jessica Penne, Fight Opinion discusses the latest circus in Nevada and Lowkick scores a photo gallery of an exclusive Don Drysdale jiu-jitsu session. The full list of links is after the jump. - Drysdale Jiu-Jitsu: Rolling with Frank Mir, Forrest Griffin and Dan Hardy (Photos) (LowKick) LowKick.com photographer Scott Hirano traveled to Drysdale's Kingdom, which serves as a grappling home to some of the best fighters on the planet. Frank Mir, Dan Hardy and Forrest Griffin were all there, working on their submission skills at what appears to be one of the most star-studded gyms on the planet. - Jessica Penne on Invicta, women's weight classes and pitbulls (The Fight Nerd) On paper, top MMA prospect Jessica Penne is a slayer of women. But there is a palpable disconnect between the 2/3 finishing rate, nearly unblemished professional record and recent major upset victory against Rena Kubatashe she boasts inside the cage and the quirky, sensitive personality she wears outside of it. - A predictable day for Keith Kizer, NSAC and Alistair Overeem (Fight Opinion) Given today's circus, there was something poetic about Nevada clearing the way for Chael Sonnen to fight Anderson Silva in Las Vegas at UFC 148. Chael fights in Vegas for the Summer and Overeem fights in Vegas for NYE. Funny how that worked out. - Fox Sports and Golden Boy Promotions have a new deal (MMA Payout) Is boxing on its way back? Just a while back we talked about the problems with the sport and whether it could make a comeback. So far, we've seen NBC Sports Network with a quarterly show, the talk of Spike TV having boxing and now the Fox deal. - Anderson Silva says Chael Sonnen doesn't know how to impress people (MMA Convert) - Alistair Overeem's NSAC hearing video (Fightline) - Jay Hieron had to pay back signing bonus to leave Bellator (Five Ounces of Pain) "I asked for a rematch with Askren and they said no...to go back through the tournament. That just didn't make sense to me cause I thought I beat him already. I had to pay them back my signing bonus, but at this point in my career, I would rather do that than sit on the shelf." - Junior dos Santos takes his talents to the water (5thRound) Fight fans are fully aware of the devastation Junior dos Santos (Pictured) is capable of inside the Octagon, but the UFC heavyweight champion's skills certainly don't end there. In addition to his impeccable rendition of Adele's "Someone Like You," dos Santos shows he is also a quick learner when it comes to wakeboarding.

Posted in: fight, mma, sport, fight nerd, drysdales kingdom

MMA Uncensored Live Discussion - 4/26

Join us at Bloody Elbow to discuss tonight's episode of MMA Uncensored Live, which airs on Spike at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT. Hosts Nate Quarry, Craig Carton and Mike Straka will discuss a wide range of MMA topics. MMA Fighting's Luke Thomas has been a regular on the show so far, and will once again be a guest on tonight's episode. For those of you that missed the first few episodes, this is how co-host Nate Quarry describes the show: "More than anything, it's less of a sports reporting show talking about the scores that just happened and more of an opinion piece. It's a lot more like a forum than it is a news show. You know when you go to the forums and there's about 90% sh*t talking and 10% intelligence? We're hoping to raise the bar closer to 15%," Quarry quipped. I know exactly two things about tonight's episode - Bellator announcer Jimmy Smith and UFC on Fox 3 main eventer Jim Miller will be joining the crew to talk some MMA. That's two more things than you knew about the show than you know before you read this, so you learned something from reading this! Anyway, tune in to the show tonight. Who knows, you might learn something.

Posted in: mma, show, episode, tonights episode, news show

USA TODAY/MMA Nation April 2012 Consensus Rankings

April's USA TODAY/MMA Nation Consensus Rankings are now live. Be sure and pick up a hard copy of tomorrow's USA TODAY to see them in print. Based on the premise that all MMA rankings are subjective but that it’s still useful and informative to know who the MMA community as a whole ranks as the best fighters in MMA, we collect and average the rankings of the top MMA sources 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. More details on our methodology in the full entry. NOTE: We have modified our method of gathering our rankings because the strict scheduling requirements of USA TODAY clash with the more irregular schedules of many of the MMA rankings sites. That was causing us to use a different set of sources almost every month. That combined with the small number of sites doing top 25 rankings was causing the Consensus rankings to have a lower "signal to noise" ratio than we would like -- that is if fighters are going to be moving up or down I would like it to be because there has been a change in the consensus opinion, not a change in our sources. Therefore we have cut back our sources to just those sites that we can depend on to update every month. We have also contacted many of the rankers that only publish top 10 lists and asked them to provide top 25 lists. As always we listen to your suggestions and are always working to improve the USAT/SBN Consensus MMA Rankings. Also worth noting is that this month we instituted a rule that if a fighter is active in other weight classes he must have competed within a given weight class within the last 365 days in order to be ranked in that class in an attempt to improve the overall quality of our product. In order to be ranked at all, a fighter must have been active within the last 450 days. Check out the USA TODAY/MMA Nation Consensus Rankings to see who's rising and who's falling.

Posted in: mma, fighter, ranking, consensus, consensus rankings

Ronda Rousey Protests MMA Bill AB 2100 (Video)

The California State Assembly is currently deliberating bill AB 2100, which aims to establish consequences for MMA promoters who engage in “coercive” contracting practices as well as to setup a pension for MMA fighters similar to the one in place for boxers. Opponents of the bill express concern over third-party meddling in private contractual matters, among other things. At a hearing before the assembly, Zuffa – who stand in opposition to the bill – sent heavy hitters Marc Ratner, Lawrence Epstein, Matt Hughes and Chuck Liddell to speak against the bill, along with their new public relations darling Ronda Rousey. The former judo Olympian and current Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champion took the floor to voice her argument against the bill, which you can watch below. For the full text of the bill, follow this link.

Posted in: mma, mma fighters, bill, boxers opponents, judo olympian

Video: Strikeforce champion Ronda Rousey speaks out against MMA Bill AB2100

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

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

MMA Kombat

submitted by freshlikeuhhhhh [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: mma, kombat, mma kombat, freshlikeuhhhhh

Rebellion MMA Radio: UFC flyweight Demetrious Johnson, rising welterweight Stephen Thompson, and Alchemist head Lex McMahon

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

Rebellion MMA Radio: UFC flyweight Demetrious Johnson, rising welterweight Stephen Thompson, and Alchemist head Lex McMahon

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 (and regular 5 OZ contributors) 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

Posted in: ufc, mma, mcmahon, ian mccall, flyweight championship

Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 159: Michael Chandler, Ryan McGillivray, Kevin Iole, MMA Discussion

Bloody Elbow Radio, presented by Bad Boy, will be LIVE! at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT for another edition of the show. Join hosts Matt Bishop and MMA Mania's Brian Hemminger as they discuss all the latest news in mixed martial arts, including more on the Alistair Overeem decision, the situation in the UFC featherweight division, a look at the next few weeks in MMA and more. We'll be joined by Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler to discuss his non-title fight next week with Akihiro Gono at Bellator 67. We'll chat with him about how his life has changed since winning the title, the challenges Gono presents and much more. We'll also welcome MFC welterweight contender Ryan McGillivray to the show as he prepares for his fight for the vacant MFC welterweight title against Nathan Coy next week at MFC 34. We'll talk to him about that fight, if his wrestling is ready for Coy, being a family man and more. We'll also chat with Yahoo! Sports MMA/boxing reporter Kevin Iole about all the news in MMA, including his thoughts on the Overeem situation. Bloody Elbow Radio is sponsored by Bad Boy. Get your Alexander Gustafsson UFC on FUEL TV walk out T-shirt only from Bad Boy at the brand new BadBoy.com. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook and tell them Bloody Elbow sent you. How to listen: Live/archived on the player below I iTunes I RSS feed I Direct download link (available after live broadcast) Want to get in touch with the BE Radio crew? Here's how you can do so: Phone: (347) 202-0934E-mail: bloodyelbowradio@gmail.comTwitter: @mbish86 or @BrianHemmingerBloodyElbow.com: Leave a question or comment in this post For those calling in, you will first be picked up by our producer who will take your information and get what you want to talk about. You will then be queued. We will try to get to everyone as soon as we can. We ask that you call in around the time of the topic you want to discuss. SBN coverage of Bellator 67

Posted in: mma, radio, elbow radio, elbow, boy

MMA Link Club: Sacramento AB2100, Chuck Liddell's next fight, Invicta FC, and much more

MMA Link Club is back. Check out the following stories from partners! Hioki vs. Lamas, this weekend's Invicta card, AB2100 assembly, and much more! * Hioki vs. Lamas booked for UFC on FX 4 (Five Ounces Of Pain) * Invicta FC In-Depth preview (MMAMania) * UFC gets a warning from one of its biggest sponsors (5th Round) * Sacramento AB2100 Assembly recap (Fight Opinion) * Chuck Liddell will fight again only for the title (MMA Convert) * Ronda Rousey helps to promote MMA at CA assembly (FightLine) * Stacked

Posted in: mma, ronda rousey, invicta, ab, title mma

Technique of the Day: Greg Jackson's MMA Seminar In Singapore, With Shinya AokiBack In February,...

Technique of the Day: Greg Jackson's MMA Seminar In Singapore, With Shinya Aoki Back In February, Jackson went to Evolve MMA to conduct a seminar. The clip above is the full video of this seminar.

Posted in: mma, shinya aoki, seminar, february jackson, february technique

Pat Miletich: Only fans that pay their cable bills have the right to criticize a fighter’s performance

You gotta pay to play. Appearing on a recent edition of The MMA Hour, former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Welterweight Champion and current Strikeforce broadcast announcer Pat Miletich says that only fans who pay their cable bills and shell out the coin to purchase the mixed martial arts (MMA) pay-per-views (PPV) have the right to criticize a fighter's performance and that media members should choose their words more carefully. Miletich was coming to the defense of current Bellator Welterweight Champion Ben Askren after the former NCAA Division-1 wrestling champion received plenty of criticism for the performance that he put on against Douglas Lima at Bellator 64 back on April 6, 2012. Askren, who upped his MMA record to 10-0 in his unanimous decision victory over "The Phenom," began his MMA career with four consecutive finishes, but his last six wins have all gone the distance and he has received criticism for his lack of finishing fights. Even UFC President Dana White gave his two cents on what he thought of Askren's performance in true Dana fashion. Now, the former High School wrestling standout, Miletich, feels that media members should have a more well-rounded view when talking about a fighter's performance and leave the criticizing to the fans. Make the jump to see what got Askren so worked up, via the The MMA Hour, that he felt the need to challenge the show’s host, Ariel Helwani, to a fight: "I made a point to watch that fight live because I was really excited about it. Douglas Lima, Ben Askren arguably the most boring title fight of the last three, four years. Boring. And what bothers me most about Ben Askren, he was on the show and he wasn't a particularly good guest, but he was on the show last week, and here's the thing, to come out there and say, 'Hey, this is MMA, if you want to go see striking go watch kickboxing or boxing,' no, actually, this isn't wrestling, Ben, that's the thing. This isn't MMA, what you're doing is wrestling. What guys like Jon Jones, even guys like Georges St. Pierre and guys like Frankie Edgar, they use MMA. But, when you're just going down there to take the guy down and to not do much, I mean, I know he is going for some submissions and he's throwing some punches, but he is really not doing much to try and finish the fight. To me, it's not exciting and Bellator, in my opinion, needs to have at least a talk, they can't do anything, but come on, you're just eliminating these guys and you're not really doing anyone any favors here." Pat's take on the whole ordeal: "The fans who pay for the right to watch, they pay their cable bills, they pay their pay-per-views have the right to criticize an athlete because they pay money, on the other hand, and I do understand your point, but at the same time, I was a fighter once and I was a coach for a long time and I understand that the media, you (Helwani) included and me included, make money off of those athletes. So at the same time, you know, I think it is important to remember you can say, and there are ways of wording things, where you can say his style is not aesthetically pleasing to me personally. Although at the same time you can give a lot of credit where credit is due. The fact that he has a limited skill set, he has been working on his striking and obviously working on his jiu-jitsu because he is able to get out of submissions with some very, very technical grapplers. And, you can also point out at the same time, that the level of wrestling in mixed martial arts needs to improve in order to stop a guy like Ben Aksren from controlling them and putting them on their back. I think there needs to be a more well-rounded view." In a country that stands by freedom of speech, it's hard-pressed to tell someone you can't express your disapproval of something, should you feel the need to do it. In Helwani's defense, he did say that the bout was a two-man game and Lima was unable to stop Ben's onslaught of takedowns. In MMA, like any other sport, commenting on a fight or fighting style is essentially part of the job, but is critiquing a particular performance, fight and or a game's level of excitement such a crime? Miletich and Askren seem to think so, how about you? To listen to the entire interview, click here.

Posted in: fight, mma, guy, ben, askren

Jordan Burroughs, 2012 London Olympics And MMA's Near Miss: We Lost One And Didn't Even Know It

The Olympic Trials for the United States wrestling team took place over the weekend in Iowa City, Iowa. Within Carver-Hawkeye Arena, the mixed martial arts world probably gained and lost a few potential stars with little fanfare to announce their metaphorical blips dropping on and off the radar screens of the MMA world. Thirteen thousand, two hundred and fifty was the reported attendance in the stadium - which is likely the largest crowd ever gathered to watch freestyle and greco-roman wrestling in the Eastern Hemisphere. In attendance were MMA stars like Ben Askren and Chael Sonnen and very likely some future MMA stars in the years to come. Not everybody can be an Olympian and in wrestling, not everyone can continually turn down the bigger paydays of MMA. Most eyes were firmly affixed to the 74 kg division, where golden boy Jordan Burroughs resides. As Bloody Elbow has noted before, Burroughs is reigning world champion at 74 kilograms (163 pounds) and has been vocal about his future plans to do MMA after winning a string of world and Olympic titles. On some levels, it may be a tough choice to decide whether to root for Burroughs the possibly transcendent talent in his wrestling career, or to root against him temporarily so he turns to MMA as Muhammad Lawal and Dan Cormier did. Those of you who follow football may recall Stephen Neal, the New England Patriots offensive lineman, who shifted to football after losing an Olympic Trials match-up he was heavily favored to win. Burroughs is the same type of rare talent who may have taken a loss in the finals as an opportunity to change careers and rule sets. The man that the freestyle and folkstyle wrestling-inclined of us looked to as the Burroughs-beater was Andrew Howe, the New York Athletic Club and University of Michigan wrestler. Howe was the reigning 74 kg representative on the world scale for the Americans prior to Burroughs' arrival and is a phenomenal wrestler in his own right. Howe and Burroughs were favored to meet, but David Taylor, Kyle Dake, Trent Paulson, Tyler Caldwell and Moza Fay all looked to be tough outs for the two stars to work through. Related Links: Bloody Elbow US Olympic Trials Preview by Mike Riordan | Jordan Burroughs: I Want to Fight After I'm Done Wrestling | Jordan Burroughs Wins 2011 World Championships in Istanbul | Bloody Elbow NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships Results Ben Askren and Jordan Burroughs jokingly face off in Iowa City. After a first round bye, Howe had to battle his way through three matches in the brackets to reach the finals and gain the shot at Burroughs. In his first match, Howe blanked David Taylor, the current NCAA Division I champion at 165 lbs, in their match 1-0, 5-0 (each match was decided by best two of three periods). Howe was never threatened at all by Taylor, who'd spent most of the year making other folkstyle collegiate wrestlers look like they did not belong on the mats with him at all. Taylor would go on to win a match in the wrestleback/consolation bracket, but was pinned in dominant fashion by Kyle Dake, the reigning NCAA Division I 157 lbs champion, who would win the wrestleback. Howe controlled Taylor easily and moved on to his next match. After Taylor, Howe grappled with Tyler Caldwell, a redshirting college junior who'd been the 2011 NCAA runner-up to Burroughs and is now a regular training partner of Burroughs. Howe beat him 1-0, 1-0 and again looked very hard to score on and firmly in control of the match. Kyle Dake lost the third period disastrously to Trent Paulson in the other half of the brackets and moved on to the wrestleback bracket. The Paulson/Dake match set up a Howe/Paulson semi-final. Trent Paulson is a regular in the U.S. freestyle scene at 74 kgs and his brother Travis is also a regular in the scene at 84 kg. The Paulson brothers also have a famously cheesy website complete with fiery Olympic rings and a mishmash of career accomplishments. Howe beat Trent 1-0, 1-0. Nobody scored a point on Howe - until the finals. When the long awaited showdown occurred, quite a bit was at stake here. Howe was looking to regain his spot as the preeminent 74 kg wrestler in the U.S. and Burroughs was attempting to keep his top dog status and gold medal hopes alive. Burroughs had a bye to the finals due to his stellar achievements at the world championships, but was perhaps wishing he had more time on the big stage to hone his skills and show the world what he could do - as Andrew Howe did. The two would wrestle for best two out of three matches, with three periods within each match. In the end, Jordan Burroughs took the first period 4-2 and the third period 1-0. Howe managed to win the second 2-1, but suffered a knee injury that caused him to default the two matches. Burroughs would remain the 74 kg U.S. freestyle representatives and his Olympic dreams are still intact. That is terrific news for Burroughs and for the U.S. wrestling team and the patriots/medal groupies among us. However, we MMA fans may have lost a world-class athlete - for now. Burroughs has said time and again that he will come over (perhaps in 2017). In the mean time, perhaps we can convince Andrew Howe, Ed Ruth or some of the other wrestling phenoms like Henry Cejudo (now retired from wrestling at the ripe old age of 25) to come over. If we can get Rulon Gardner for a match, we can get some of the others to dip their toes in and perhaps more. Let us Twitter Bomb these underappreciated wrestlers to try out MMA instead of working for Mark Hunt to gain an undeserved title shot. It is effort and time better spent and would yield more results. Yes, we want this guy for the flyweight division, people.

Posted in: world, mma, olympic, taylor, burrough

Q&A with CEO of all-female MMA show Invicta FC

Shannon Knapp, the CEO of the new all-female promotion Invicta FC which debuts Saturday, discusses the new venture for women's MMA.

Posted in: mma, fc, ceo, invicta, allfemale

Q&A with CEO of all-female MMA Invicta FC

Shannon Knapp, the CEO of the new all-female promotion Invicta FC which debuts Saturday, discusses the new venture for women's MMA.

Posted in: mma, fc, ceo, invicta, allfemale

A Lesson in Street MMA: Pre-fight banter is nothing without a remarkable KO

I've never been knocked out from a punch, but I have awoken in bizarre and unusual places with strange bruises sporadically spread on my body. If Jagermeister has one-punch knockout properties, then I've felt the business end of its fist more than once. At MiddleEasy, we would never suggest that you practice MMA in the back of anyone's yard, let alone a living room. However, if you insist on executing street MMA, we've been compiling a handy series that will serve as some form of education. In this lesson, take note that if you get knocked out, you may appear to be physically impaired. Don't be alarmed. It's simply a temporary brain anomaly that will be fixed in a very short-span of time. Props to Stullo for the find.

Posted in: mma, anyones yard, ko ive, brain anomaly, time props

The MMA Hour - Episode 128 - Dan Henderson

Posted in: mma, hour, henderson, dan, episode

The all women MMA promotion Invicta FC will stream their first event live this Saturday 4/28 on invictafc.com at 8pmET/7pmCT. Fight card in comments.

submitted by swampskater [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: fight, mma, saturday, fc, pmet

The MMA (After) Hour: Reaction to a Busy Day in MMA

On this breaking news edition of The MMA (After) Hour, Ben Fowlkes and I look back on a busy day in MMA. From the decision to move Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen 2 to Las Vegas to Alistair Overeem's license denial, we discuss it all. Listen to the discussion after the jump or download the audio here. . The MMA (After) Hour: Overeem and UFC 148

Posted in: mma, hour, las vegas, hour overeem, hour reaction

Master Ken thinks MMA is bull****

I abandoned Karate at a young age because the linear physics of the discipline were essentially irrelevant in any environment beset with gravity. Back then, I was really into physics and nobody could convince me otherwise, not even my sensei. If your guard involves keeping your hands at your waist, it’s about as effective as bringing a salad to a barbeque. This theory could be applied to most individual forms of martial arts which specialize in a particular aspect of stand-up or ground fighting. In fact, I can give you five reasons MMA is a more complete system of combat than any one discipline on its own, but this guy disagrees with all of them and wants to school you on why MMA is trolling you.

Posted in: mma, fact i, reasons mma, master ken, bull i

The MMA Hour - Episode 128 - Frank Mir

Posted in: mma, hour, mir, episode

The MMA Hour - Episode 128 - Guilherme Cruz

Posted in: mma, hour, episode, cruz, guilherme

The MMA Hour - Episode 128 - MiO Questions

Posted in: mma, hour, question, episode

The MMA Hour - Episode 128 - Alan Belcher

Posted in: belcher, mma, hour, episode, alan

The MMA Hour - Episode 128 - Andreas Spang

Posted in: mma, hour, episode, andrea, spang

The MMA Hour - Episode 128 - Eddie Alvarez

Posted in: mma, hour, alvarez, episode, eddie

The MMA Hour - Episode 128 - Mike Chiappetta

Posted in: mma, hour, episode, mike, chiappetta

Could the Next Cung Le be Homegrown? A Look at the State of Mixed Martial Arts in Vietnam

There are a number of Vietnamese fighters competing at an elite level of mixed martial arts (MMA) with former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Cung Le the most notable, although Nam Phan is also on the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) roster and Bao Quach and Tyson Nam have enjoyed success with some mid-tier organizations. All of these fighters were either born in the United States or, like Le, moved there at a very early age and have represented their adopted countries throughout their career. There has yet to be a homegrown Vietnamese fighter but in Hanoi, one man is working hard to change that. Long Van Nguyen is the owner of Vietfighter, which is home to a number of ex pats as well as locals who all train together in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), Muay Thai, boxing and, of course, MMA. Find out after the break why he believes that the sport is just starting to catch on in Vietnam and has a lot of potential to grow. Are there many MMA camps or people training MMA in Vietnam?As of right now there are only a handfull of MMA gyms in Vietnam, however most of them popped up just over the course of last year. Just like everywhere else in Asia new MMA gyms are popping up more and more. The actual number of Vietnamese training MMA is low, however I do see more and more people training MMA and wanting to train MMA everyday. Hopefully as MMA become more popular, more experienced MMA trainers will come to Vietnam to constantly improve the level of MMA training in Vietnam. There are quite a few Vietnames, or second generation Vietnamese fighters doing well in the US such as Cung Le and Nam Phan, do they get any recognition in Vietnam? Cung Le and Nam Phan are only known within the hardcore fight sport and MMA fan community in Vietnam. But it is very hard to be well known as an athlete in Vietnam unless you are a famous soccer player anyway. Within the hardcore MMA fan base in Vietnam, these guys especially Nam Phan do provide some inspirations as they show that Vietnamese can be good MMA fighters and reach the highest level like the UFC. How many people train at your school and what sort of backgrounds do they typically come from? At Vietfighter gym right now we have about 40 who train regularly and more who come occasionally. Our members come from all over the world, including USA, Canada, Australia, Portugal, France, Germany, Holland, Japan and of course there are many Vietnamese. Every training session at Vietfighter gym is a bit like a United Nation conference hahaha. We have people who are local students and local professional people, foreign English teachers, foreign professionals and diplomats as we are in the capital city of Vietnam. How often do you train together? As MMA is very new to Vietnam, most of our members are complete beginners so we really do concentrate on training the fundamentals of MMA such as striking (Muay Thai and boxing) and wrestling and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. So we spend most of our times training these fundamental bases. So we train striking six days a week and BJJ/grappling three times a week, and of course doing conditioning trainings about three times a week. Once some one is good enough at these fundamentals we move them onto the MMA class. Do you have any fighters ready for MMA competition? At Vietfighter Gym right now we have 2 guys that could fight MMA, they were about to fight in the NAKSU MMA promotion in Thailand last year, but their fights were cancelled because of the floods. We did have Jake Butler who was an American NCAA division 1 wrestler who begun training MMA with us last year and is now contracted with ONE FC and will make his professional MMA debut for ONE FC soon. What other martial arts are popular in Vietnam?Vietnam does have its own native martial arts like Vovinam. They are quite popular . The martial arts that are in the Olympic or are in international competitions like the ASEAN games like Taekwondo, Judo, Karate, Wushu Pencak Silat and western boxing are quite well known as they are promoted and publicized by the government. I see your fighters have entered a few BJJ tournaments, who teaches BJJ at your school and how qualified are the students? The Vietfighter BJJ team right now consist of two experienced blue belts and a few experienced white belts and more beginner white belts. The blue belts take the classes and some times we have purple belts who come to the gym for a few weeks who contribute to the classes. We all train together and help each other improve. As the team leader I always encourage the team to go to as many of the BJJ/grappling tournaments in the region as much as possible so that we can test our skills against the bigger gyms in the region and to just get more competition experiences so that we can improve. There is no BJJ competition in Vietnam so we all must go overseas to compete and this cost a lot of money but we make this sacrifice because we want to test ourselves in competitions and to improve, and of course to win medals! And even though we are always the smallest team at the tournaments we always win quite a few medals at tournaments like the Thailand BJJ open and the Phillipines BJJ open! Can you tell me a bit about yourself and your own background in martial arts? My name is Long Van Nguyen, I am a Vietnamese-new Zealander. As well as being a martial artist and trainer, I have a university medical degree and was working as a medical doctor in some of the biggest hospital in Australia for seven years. I have been training in martial arts since I was 17. I got into Muay Thai while I was studying to become a medical doctor at university, and really loved it.I really like the martial art side of it and the competition fighting side of it. I had a few Muay Thai fights and then discovered BJJ and MMA and just really love how it all make sense and how it really work in real life and how I can still incorporate Muay Thai into it. As I love martial arts and competition and fighting I was really drawn to MMA because of its diversities of techniques and the fact that you could go out and compete and see who really is the best. I have had fights in Muay Thai and Boxing and MMA and lots of BJJ competitions. When I was in New Zealand and Australia I was fortunate enough to have trained at some of the best gyms in those countries with some great coaches like Mark Hampton who is like the maker of fight champions in New Zealand, Phillip Bennett who is one of the best Muay Thai fighter in the world and Larry Papadopoulos who is like the god-father of Australian MMA. I learned a lot about how to train and how to fight from these guys. Two years ago I came back to the land of my birth to open the Vietfighter Gym with the aim of educating Vietnamese about MMA and Muay Thai and BJJ and to grow these martial arts and sports that I love in Vietnam. Do you feel like there is a lot of potential for MMA to grow in Vietnam? Yeah I believe that there is a huge potential for MMA to grow in Vietnam. Right now there are more and more people who are asking about MMA even though there is no exposure to MMA in Vietnamese media and most of the MMA media is in English and most Vietnamese cannot read or speak English. Once there is more exposure to MMA, it will grow very fast. This is part of Vietfighter Gym’s mission statement, to educate Vietnamese about MMA and to grow the sport. Vietnamese also like martial arts and fighting so yeah they will like it once they are more exposed to it. In term of Vietnam producing its own home grown MMA fighters, I believe it is a few years away. However as we can see from examples like Nam Phan that Vietnamese fighters can do well in MMA if they can have access to good trainings. This is one of the purpose of Vietfighter Gym, our primary goal is to bring high quality MMA training to Vietnam and one day produce Vietnamese MMA world champions who are born, raised and trained in Vietnam. For more information about Vietfighter visit: www.vietfighter.com www.twitter.com/jamesgoyder

Posted in: mma, training, art, vietnam, vietnamese

Fast and Furious 6: Gina Carano, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and Vin Diesel targeted as cast

When will Gina Carano return to mixed martial arts (MMA)? Not anytime soon, it seems, thanks to her blossoming acting career over in Tinsel Town. Since leaving the fight game after her first professional loss at the hands of Cristiane Santos in 2009, "Conviction" bolted for the bright lights of Hollywood, Calif., rubbing elbows with heavy hitters such as Michael Douglas, Ewan McGregor and Antonio Banderas in her first feature film, "Haywire." After receiving good reviews for her performance in the film, which was directed by Academy Award-winning director Steven Soderbergh -- who also directed such films as "Traffic" and the successful "Ocean's Eleven" trilogy and Erin Brokovich, the former face of women's MMA has nabbed yet another role in an even bigger and much more high profile film: "Fast & The Furious 6." The Hollywood Reporter has the scoop: Haywire star Gina Carano, the MMA athlete-turned-actress, is in negotiations to join the cast of Fast & Furious 6, the next installment in the billion-dollar franchise for Universal Pictures. Plot and character are being kept locked in the trunk of a 1970 Dodge Charger, but Paul Walker and Vin Diesel are set to return as rogue heroes Brian O'Connor and Dominic Toretto, respectively, while Dwayne Johnson is reprising his role as Diplomatic Security Service Agent Luke Hobbs, out to capture the boys. Carano will play a member of Johnson's team. Launched in 2001, the Fast franchise is one of Universal's hottest properties, with 2011's Fast Five reinvigorating what was considered a long-in-the-tooth series. Fast Five gave Universal its biggest opening weekend in studio history and grossed more than $600 million worldwide. Fast 6 is slated for release May 24, 2013. The wildly popular film franchise, which has grossed over $1 billion worldwide, is mostly based on fancy, juiced up sports cars, hot women and cat-and-mouse heists, featuring action movie stars Paul Walker and Vin Diesel. The casting crew recently added another big player in Hollywood to the mix in last year's Fast Five, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) star and avid MMA fan and supporter, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. With Carano doing very well in the film industry, her return to fighting will be delayed yet a bit more, and perhaps, if her career continues to prosper, we may never get to see her grace the Strikeforce Hexagon ever again. One thing is certain, Fast & Furious 6 will not be a box office flop and will definitely put more eyes on Carano. And that my friends, is a good thing.

Posted in: mma, carano, film, rock johnson, vin diesel

Dustin Poirier's 'Fightville' movie review

My first impression after watching Fightville, which opened this past weekend in limited release and Video on Demand (VoD), is how this, above any other cinematic offering centering on the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA), was the combat sports movie I had been waiting for. Or perhaps, more importantly, it was the combat sports movie I didn't realize I had been waiting for. Fightville does for MMA what Long Gone did for Major League Baseball (MLB). Specifically, it humanizes -- rather than glorifies -- the controlled violence that has been known to provide both meaning and purpose to the lives of oft-troubled youth. It should come as no surprise then, to learn that filmmakers Michael Tucker and Petra Epperlein have embraced the tagline, "We build better men." They've also built a better movie. Shot extensively in and around Louisiana's Gladiators Academy, ruled by the iron fist (and tremendous compassion) of former Ultimate Fighter (TUF) contestant "Crazy" Tim Credeur, Fightville documents the trials and tribulations of aspiring warriors, as well as their complicated but symbiotic relationship with Gil "The Thrill" Guillory, the small-time (and self-funded) promoter they compete for. With the unprecedented growth and mainstream penetration of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the world's largest MMA promotion, a generation of new stars has begun to emerge. Gone are the days of officiated bar fights. These are real athletes with real skills. But lost in all the glitz and glamor of today's pay-per-view (PPV) stars, who garner big money contracts and six-figure sponsorships, are the tireless efforts of amateur fighters with a dollar (literally) and a dream. Like Dustin Poirier, who Tucker acknowledged as being lucky enough to make it to the ranks of the UFC -- and headline a major televised event -- just as his story (as well as the story of his "Gladiators" brethren) hit the big screen. There is, however, more to his story than just coincidence. True, there's always a certain amount of luck in any endeavor when it comes to timing and opportunity. But as you'll see in Fightville, the elevator of chance never stops on the top floor. An aspiring fighter will not earn an adequate payday. Nor will they have any semblance of a social life. They'll need a source of income and the ability to detach themselves from non-essential obligations. Above all else, they'll need a set of balls. And "The Diamond" -- who eats punches as often as he eats breakfast -- has balls the size of Alpha Centauri. That's the underlying message of Fightville. The act of actual fighting, which often starts as early as the elementary school playground, is unquestionably a part of our genetic makeup, leading to a false sense of familiarity with its intricacies. To which there are plenty. Sure, you can jump into a professional NBA game and make a few baskets just by throwing up the ball -- without any sort of skill or precision -- just as you can jump into the cage and land a few punches by letting your hands go. But it's only a matter of time before you're outmatched, overcome and eventually embarrassed by the pros. Welcome to Gladiators Academy. There's hazing within the small and bloodied walls of Credeur's school. There's also an unbreakable bond between "brothers," assuming one is willing to earn it. That comes from the kind of hard work and sacrifice that brings spoils to any dreamer, from the ball field to the board room. Some have it, some don't. Poirier has it, as evidenced by his ascension to the land of MMA giants. But why is his story so important? Because the UFC builds stars. Trainers like Tim Credeur build better men. Without them -- and the financial risk from struggling promoters like Guillory -- the sport of MMA would be just another guilty pleasure from the 90's, shelved in our collective memories alongside Pogs and Zubaz. The term "unsung heroes" is used so often, it's lost a bit of its luster. Thankfully, we have a film like Fightville to bring it back. For more on the Fightville premiere check them out on Twitter here. To see how far Dustin Poirier has come and when he'll fight next click here.

Posted in: mma, sport, movie, poirier, fightville

King Mo Lawal returns to MMA at Invicta Fighting Championships on April 28 in Kansas

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (April 23, 2012) - SHOWTIME Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) voice Mauro Ranallo, light heavyweight superstar "King Mo" Lawal and women's star Julie "Fireball" Kedzie will call the action cageside at the first-ever Invicta Fighting Championships all-women's professional MMA event, live on InvictaFC.com, from Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan. on Saturday, April 28. Ranallo, the lead commentator for Strikeforce on Showtime as well as for Canada's The Score Fighting Series and a former commentator for Japan's Pride Fighting Championships, will serve as the play-by-play announcer during the live stream of the event. "I have always been a huge advocate of female MMA and I am very excited to be a part of the inaugural Invicta show," said Ranallo. "The ladies have a history of stealing the show from the guys, so it's nice to see them get a show of their own." Lawal is a former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion who burst onto the fight scene four years ago with four straight victories in Japan's World Victory Road MMA series and has since amassed a career record of 8-1 (1 NC). A former NCAA Division I All-American wrestler for Oklahoma State University, the 31-year-old has gained recognition for his technical knowledge of MMA and his meticulous attention to fighters' styles. "I'm excited to be a part of this event with some of the top women's fighters in the world," said Lawal. "The growth of women's MMA is going to soar even more now, thanks to what Invicta is doing." Like Lawal, Kedzie brings a wealth of MMA fight experience with her to the show. A student of famed trainer Greg Jackson, the 31-year-old has been competing as a professional since 2004 and holds a career record of 16-9. "This Invicta show is a landmark moment in the history of women's MMA and I'm very excited and honored that I was asked to be a part of it," said Kedzie. The live stream on InvictaFC.com will begin at 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST with the event's five-bout preliminary card and continue with the six-bout main card. The first-ever Invicta Fighting Championships event will be headlined by a long-awaited featherweight (145 pounds) rematch between superstar Marloes Coenen (19-5) of The Netherlands and Romy Ruyssen (5-1) of France. Coenen was the victor of their first meeting on Aug. 2, 2008 by way of submission (rear-naked choke) in the second round of action. In the co-main event, two 29-year-old submission specialists - Jessica Penne (8-1) of Laguna Hills, Calif. and Lisa Ellis-Ward (14-7) of Lacey, Wash.- will square off with one another at strawweight (105 pounds). Strikeforce bantamweight star and United States Marine Liz "Girl-Rilla" Carmouche (5-2) of San Diego, Calif. will square off with unbeaten prospect Ashleigh Curry (1-0) of Kansas City, Mo. Another Strikeforce bantamweight competitor, Sarah D'Alelio (4-2) of San Jose, Calif., will face undefeated former Royce Gracie student and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt Vanessa Mariscal (2-0) of El Segundo, Calif. Leslie Smith (3-2) of Pleasant Hill, Calif. will meet Kaitlin Young (7-5) of St. Louis Park, Minn. at bantamweight and Sally Krumdiack (9-4) of Bellingham, Wash. will duke it out with Sarah Schneider (5-5) of Kansas City, Mo. at flyweight (115 pounds). Making her MMA debut on the preliminary card will be 2008 Olympic wrestling bronze medalist Randi Miller (0-0) of Denver, Colo. Miller will face unbeaten Mollie Estes (1-0) of Lake Lotawana, Mo. at featherweight. In preliminary card action, Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc (7-5) of Tulsa, Okla. will take on Amy Davis (2-2) of Idaho Falls, Idaho at strawweight. Sarah Maloy (2-2) of Ada, Okla. will meet Michele Gutierrez (3-2) of Las Vegas, Nev. in a super flyweight (125 pounds) tilt. Unbeaten Ashley Cummins (2-0) of St. Louis will battle Sofia Bagherdai (4-1) of Upland, Calif. at flyweight. Cassie Rodish (1-3) of Waukee, Iowa will face Meghan Wright (1-3) of Cincinnati, Ohio in a strawweight matchup. All bouts have been approved by the Kansas State Athletic Commission.

Posted in: mma, event, calif, invicta, kansa

Dana White Talks About Brock Lesnar Moving Back To WWE At UFC 145 Presser

Former collegiate wrestling champ, and UFC star, Brock Lesnar has moved back to pro-wrestling. Since losing his UFC title, and succumbing to Alistair Overeem, Lesnar has retired from MMA, and received a lucrative offer to go back to the WWE. Related: Brock Lesnar's WWE Ring Attire Looks a Lot Like His UFC Gear | Alistair Overeem's UFC 141 Win Over Brock Lesnar Should Be Overturned Many of his detractors have been trying to discredit his accomplishments on his short, but successful MMA career, but Dana White isn't one of those people. On the UFC 145 press conference, the UFC president talked about his former champion (transcribed by MMA Weekly): "The guy came over here at thirty-whatever-years-old. When he came over here the guy was 1-0 in MMA and I was like, you’re crazy. You’re gonna get smashed over here, and he didn’t. We threw all the toughest guys at him, and he accomplished what he accomplished." More from Dana after the jump. "When he did the deal with the WWE, all the rumblings started with you guys. He never called me. He never told me. He didn’t have to. It was always up front and said in his deal, he could do the WWE," "One of the things I love about Brock is, everything we did with that guy, nothing ever leaked out of that camp." "I’m happy for him. To do what he did in the WWE, came here and did what he did, now he’s back over there. Good for him; good for them." He came into the UFC with just 1 MMA fight under his belt, and say what you want about the guy, but he faced stiff competition, won the belt in just three UFC fights, and defended it twice. He may not be the most well rounded or technical guy, but that accomplishment is unheard of. He has always hated the traveling and the grind involved with pro-wrestling, but now that he retired from MMA, he still got a great deal where he's getting paid a very large salary for just limited appearances. He got the positives from his old WWE tenure, but none of the negatives. I'm with Dana here, I can't help but be happy for the guy. Good for him.

Posted in: ufc, mma, guy, wwe, lesnar

Women's MMA Report: Invicta FC debuts Saturday, Jessica Eye wins at Bellator 66

This Saturday in Kansas City, Kan., Invicta Fighting Championships begins its quest to provide female MMA fighters with a "cage of their own." The promotion's first all-female card is headlined by a featherweight rematch between former Strikeforce champion Marloes "Rumina" Coenen and French standout Romy Ruyssen. In our latest Women's MMA Report, MMAjunkie.com's Robert Sargent previews the show while recapping some recent female fights, including Jessica Eye vs. Anita Rodriguez at Bellator 67 and Felice Herrig vs. Patricia Vidonic at XFC 17.

Posted in: mma, vs, mma fighters, featherweight rematch, allfemale card

The MMA Hour With Frank Mir, Andreas Spang, Alan Belcher, UFC 145, 146 and 147 News

Here's a rundown of who is slated to appear on Monday's episode of The MMA Hour: * Frank Mir will talk about his opportunity to fight Junior dos Santos next month at UFC 146. * Bellator middleweight finalist Andreas Spang will talk about his win on Friday night, the scuffle with Maiquel Falcao and the upcoming finals. * Alan Belcher will preview his UFC on FOX 3 fight against Rousimar Palhares. * Brazilian journalist Guilherme Cruz of Tatame.com will shed light on all the drama surrounding UFC 147. * And MMAFighting.com's Mike Chiappetta will look back at UFC 145 and ahead to UFC 146. Plus, we'll be taking your calls on anything and everything. Got a question or comment? Give us a call at 1-888-418-4074. Watch the show live below beginning at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT / 6 p.m. GMT. Subscribe to The MMA Hour on iTunes: audio feed here; video feed here. Download previous episodes here. Listen to the show via Stitcher here or via TuneIn here.

Posted in: ufc, mma, mma hour, hour, maiquel falcao

Rebellion MMA Radio: Bellator beauty Jade Bryce, TUF winner Tony Ferguson, and UFC writer E. Spencer Kyte

After kicking in the MMA radio community’s proverbial door last weekend with a debut episode highlighted by Johny Hendricks’ thoughts on Josh Koscheck and a visit from Ultimate Fighter 8 champion Efrain Escudero, Rebellion MMA Radio is back this Sunday with another stacked show! Joining hosts Bryan Levick and Mitch Ciccarelli to talk all-things Mixed Martial Arts will be UFC lightweight Tony Ferguson, Bellator’s bubbly, blonde ring-girl Jade Bryce, and UFC writer E. Spencer Kyte. Ferguson, who has been on fire since winning TUF 13, is currently in the midst of training for a fight against Michael Johnson on May 5 at UFC on FOX 3. The 13-2 striker has finished eleven of his opponents and is currently on a six-fight winning streak. Meanwhile, Bryce can be seen every Friday night on MTV 2 as part of the Bellator crew (as well as in Playboy for those of you who “read the articles”), and Kyte’s work can be frequently found on UFC.com as well as in the organization’s magazine, Fight! Magazine, and The Province in Vancouver. PHOTO CREDIT – TWITTER (@thejadebryce) Tweet

Posted in: ufc, mma, michael johnson, kyte, bellator crew

Rebellion MMA Radio: Bellator beauty Jade Bryce, TUF winner Tony Ferguson, and UFC writer E. Spencer Kyte

Posted in: ufc, bellator, mma, radio, debut episode

Guys, are you aware that all pages of UFC/MMA/etc. events are being considered for deletion from Wikipedia?

Wouldn't that be a shame, given the enormous amount of information and effort in those articles? This is the talk page from the latest event (spoilers). This shit stain is Mtking. He slapped the notability tag on every MMA event possible (BAMMA, Strikeforce, UFC, etc.). His excuse is that MMA events are not notable, so they should all be deleted. Look at this Strikeforce page for instance. Mtking already proposed it for deletion and it will be gone 6 days from now. Check his edit history, you'll see he's been very busy the past few weeks trying to delete MMA pages. If you look at Mtking's edits, you'll notice he/she also loves Ameirica's Next Top Model. No notability issues there, apparently Mtking enjoys the show quite a bit. My head is about to explode. I have no pull in Wikipedia. I'm putting this out there in case any of you do. I'd hate to see the colossal wealth of information there go to waste by one stroke of the keyboard. If anyone can stop this piece of shit from killing that information, please do. submitted by iluvurkidz [link] [4 comments]

Posted in: mma, event, page, mtking, ufcmmaetc events

Olympic Gold Medalist Henry Cejudo Retires From Wrestling, UFC Career In His Future?

Henry Cejudo is stepping away from amateur wrestling after a storied career that included a gold medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Cejudo managed to accomplish all this despite skipping a collegiate career and going straight from his four high school state wrestling championships to training with USA wrestling. FloWrestling with the tweet at the moment it happened: @flowrestlingflowrestling Henry Cejudo is taking his shoes off. He has retired! Apr 22 via web Favorite Retweet Reply More after the jump... Luke Thomas did a great interview with Cejudo on his MMA Nation radio show where Henry talked about a possible future in MMA: Luke: I want to talk about your 2012 initiative with Coca-Cola in just a minute, but first let's dial back to MMA a little bit. Are you the guy who buys the pay-per-views every time they come how? How much of a fan are you? There's no right or wrong answer, I'm just curious. Henry: I'm the guy who's good friends with the guy who buys the pay-per-view events. I keep up with it pretty regularly. I'm a huge fan. Who knows? In the future, you guys may be seeing Henry Cejudo 'The American Dream' in the cage. Luke: Is that right? When can we expect a potential debut of you in mixed martial arts? After the 2012 games? Henry: After the 2012 games. Obviously I want to finish school. I'm currently or going to be a junior in college. I would definitely love to finish school. I would like to be done with it in a month and a half. That's my ultimate goal and then start [fighting MMA]. I actually started boxing for a while. I actually won the Copper Gloves in Arizona. I started competing on boxing, so I have my hands. I'm an O.K. wrestler, so why not? Cejudo would be a huge addition to the UFC flyweight division and his background could create immediate casual interest in the still developing weight class.

Posted in: mma, guy, henry, im, cejudo

Ben Rothwell Was Prepared to Quit MMA Had He Not Defeated Brendan Schaub

ATLANTA -- UFC heavyweight Ben Rothwell spoke to MMA Fighting after his win over Brendan Schaub at UFC 145 on Saturday night. Rothwell confessed had he not won that fight he would've ended his career in professional MMA. He also challenged the idea he was rocked by Schaub, explained the reason for his physical change and told the story of how UFC fans got him to believe in himself again.

Posted in: ufc, mma, rothwell, brendan schaub, schaub

UFC 145 Post-Fight Interviews: Browne, Brown, Njokuani, Danzig, Clements, Brimage,

MMA H.E.A.T caught up with all of the winners from UFC 145′s preliminary card. Be sure to visit for more interviews and MMA content. For more clips like this, check out MMAHEAT.com. More clips after the jump.

Posted in: ufc, mma, interview, clip, mma content

Malaysia's most successful MMA fighter Melvin Yeoh wants to make his ONE FC dream a reality

A 6-1 record marks out Melvin Yeoh as Malaysia's most successful mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter and the sole loss of his career only came about because of a blatant refereeing error. The owner of the Ultimate MMA Gym in Johor Bahru has quickly and quietly gone about making himself the most sought after fighter in the entire country. His MMA career began in September 2011 when he took on three opponents in the space of a single day at "Mayhem 2," which was organized by Malaysian Fighting Championship in Kuala Lumpur. He beat two of the top local fighters at his weight that day, but it was the culmination of almost two decades of martial arts experience. "My hometown is Perlis, which is on the border between Malaysia and Thailand, and I started my martial arts journey by taking up Taekwondo lessons at the age of 13 followed by Muay Thai, but I wasn't serious about it. Between the ages of 13-17 I was a troubled teenager who liked to fight in school and on the streets a lot. My grandfather brought me to a martial arts school to allow me to focus my fights in the ring and I started fighting at the age of 14 but stopped when I was 19 as I needed to further my studies in the university." The Ultimate MMA camp in Johor Bahru is home to a number of aspiring young mixed martial artists and has hosted a handful of events. It was first founded by Yeoh nine years ago and has continued to grow and expand ever since, "I was posted to Johor Bahru, Malaysia, as a school educator in 2003. At that time, the existence of Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu jitsu or MMA Gyms there was close to zero. So, at one point, I felt bored and started to gather some teenagers and friends around the area and educated them about the basic of MMA in the backyard." What started out as a loose group of friend training together in some of the elements of MMA developed into one of the most respected camps in Malayisa, "By 2006, Ultimate MMA Academy was founded and it expanded and kept growing bigger. In 2010 the sheer size of our group left us no choice but to move to a bigger place and to upgrade the facilities to at the very least, meet the minimum requirements of an MMA academy. Since then our boys from Ultimate MMA have fought countless fights in amateur boxing, judo, grappling, BJJ, Muay Thai, Sanshou and MMA competitions." Yeoh has fought seven times and has won six with the only loss coming in controversial circumstances. Having already defeated Raymond Tiew (now 4-2) and Sam Chan (now 4-1) he found himself facing Kazbek Shalbassov from Kazakhstan in the final of the 'Mayhem' Lightweight tournament. Yeoh walks at 145 lbs and could easily cut to bantamweight but seemed to have secured a remarkable achievement when he stopped Shalbassov with a solid knee to the solar plexus. The Kazhak fighter was unable to continue but the referee inexplicably decided to give him time to recover and issue his opponent a warning for the non existent low blow. It is the only blemish on the Malaysian's perfect record but he understands that, with this being the first large scale MMA event ever attempted in the country, mistakes were inevitable, "In the cage the referee holds the power to decide and everyone was exhausted. In Mayhem 2 I have to fight three fights inside three hours and I also had to corner three others boys. I fought the two toughest opponents Sam Chan and Raymond Tiew in my division before I advance to the finals but the referee had to present himself for more than 20 fights as well and with MMA in Malaysia still being a growing sport, I don’t blame him for making that mistake." You can see the video of that fight here and not only was Yeoh robbed of a stoppage win by the referee but he was also stood up almost immediately after securing a takedown and transitioning into mount as he recalls, "I did some solid knee strike to the chest and my opponent collaped but then the referee came in and immediately he told the referee that I kneed to his groin. The fight restarted in the centre of the cage again so I charge in and took him down with a double leg takedown. The next thing I know is that I was stood up and I was so frustrated that I lost my composure and got stopped straightaway with some solid punches." Since that setback Yeoh's career has gone from strength to strength and he has demonstrated the diversity of his skillset by registering wins by both TKO and submission, including a highlight reel headkick KO which you can see below: MFC4 - MELVIN YEOH (Malaysia) vs "BULLKILLER" MOHD ZAKHIR (Malaysia) (via MFChallenge) Yeoh recently beat three men in a single night to be named South Malaysian Muay Thai champion. The humble schoolteacher's success is all the more remarkable because he only entered his first MMA competition reluctantly with the hope of inspiring some of his students, "Three of my students wanted to put their MMA skills that they learned from Ultimate MMA to the test in a local competition called Mayhem 2 which was organized by Muayfit. In order to encourage them to fight hard and with heart, I signed up with them. I didn't expect myself to go that far in the competition but all four of us ended up with the first runner up title. After that I felt reignited, it was like the feeling I had in my younger days so I signed up for more fights in local events." All Yeoh's fights have taken place in comparatively small venues in front of a few hundred fans, although Mayhem, which took place in a busy shopping centre, did attract several thousand fans throughout the course of the day. The spectre of Asia's biggest mixed martial art's promotion, ONE Fighting Championship, is looming large over Malaysian MMA at present because they are putting on a card in the 10,000 capacity Stadium Negara on June 23rd. With such a strong record Yeoh should be in with a shout of a spot on the card and he says it would be a dream come true, "ONE FC has really brought Asian MMA to a whole new level especially in the SEA region with their excellent promotion and production, their fight level is way beyond what we've seen before. Fighting in this organization is every Asian fighter's dream, especially fighting in my own country, with all my countrymen cheering and supporting me, how nice would it be!" Yeoh already holds a win over a ONE FC fighter in Raymond Tiew who he stopped with strikes in only his second fight. No other Malaysian mixed martial artist has as many wins as him and he has more than earned a shot with a major league organization but despite having such a strong record he still believes he has plenty of room for improvement, "I didn't even realize that my record was better than any other Malaysian until you told me. I just try to get as many fights as I can in small events to gain some experience and slowly make my way up. What I have achieved so far is nothing to be proud of and I'm still not satisfied because have made mistakes in every fight I have had but I will learn from all my mistakes and be a better fighter." Although Chan and Tiew both have very respectable records not all of Yeoh's opponents have been of the same calibre, although he has been known to be outweighed by as much as 20 lbs. However there is no question that he has come a long way in a short space of time since making his professional debut last September and with ONE FC 'Destiny of Warriors' only two months away he could be in line for the sort of reward his recent efforts so richly deserve. www,twitter.com/jamesgoyder

Posted in: fight, mma, fighter, malaysia, yeoh

MMA Talking Heads: UFC 145 'Jones vs Evans' picks, Alistair Overeem's positive test and more

In this episode of MMA Talking Heads, Jason Probst and Ian Parker breakdown Alistair Overeem's positive test leading into the all-heavyweight UFC 146 card, and offer up possible substitute opponents. Ian also explores the feasibility of Overeem's exploiting a legal loophole in his appeal to the Nevada State Athletic Commission to keep his May 26, 2012, date with Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight Champion Junior Dos Santos. The boys also look back at last Saturday's (April 14, 2012) UFC on FUEL 2 card in Sweden, as well as provide quick picks for this weekend's UFC 145: "Jones vs. Evans" mixed martial arts (MMA) event in Atlanta, Georgia. They both like Jon Jones to defeat Rashad Evans, but for markedly different reasons. You can also follow the show at twitter.com/MMATalkingHeads. We love reader questions and feedback!

Posted in: ufc, mma, evan, atlanta georgia, alistair overeems

Boxing Superstar Amir Khan Says MMA Growing In U.K., Will Be 'Just Like Boxing Is'

Amir Khan is training for his rematch with Lamont Peterson on May 19, a bid to win back the light welterweight title Khan lost in their spectacular first fight. While taking a break from his training, Khan spoke to the good people at Fight Hub TV and answered a few questions about mixed martial arts' growth in the UK as well as gave his opinion on a potential UFC bout between Georges St. Pierre and Nick Diaz. The video Quotes after the jump... On MMA's growth in the U.K.: We got Bisping and Dan Hardy and them guys. I've met Bisping a few times and Dan Hardy, another great fighter. You know what? MMA's growing, UFC's growing in the U.K. and I think, give it a couple of more years it'll be a lot more...it'll be just like boxing is. England's such a small place and we have so many good fighters from there. So, it's gonna be..it's getting better and better like boxing. Boxing's growing well over there and I think MMA's gonna grow like boxing. On GSP vs. Diaz: Nick Diaz is strong and it's gonna be a tough fight for GSP. I've seen GSP train over here and he looks strong. But to be honest, in my eyes, I just don't think there's anyone out there to beat GSP. I mean, you can put anyone in front of him and he'll destroy them."

Posted in: fight, mma, gsp, boxing, uk

Ex Tachi Palace Fights promoter Jeremy Luchau brings amateur MMA to Central California with 559 Fights

Upstart California MMA promotion 559 fights is the newest baby for Jeremy Luchau and business partner Joey Perez. Based in the Central Valley 559 Fights is the next step for Luchau who built his name up as the Entertainment Coordinator of the highly successful Tachi Palace Fights. 559 Fights will hold it's 10 bout debut card in Hanford at the Kings Fair Grounds on Saturday April 21st. At the top of the card 22 year old women's flyweight Kristen Gatz (4-1) takes on Brianna Van Buren (1-0). Coming off a long layoff the fight for Gatz's will likely be her final before she turns pro. In the co-main event former Hanford High wrestling star Steven Juarez (0-0) makes his MMA debut at featherweight versus Gerardo Garcia (0-0). Press releaseMixed Martial Arts comes to Hanford for the first time on Saturday, April 21.The 10-bout amateur fight card will feature fighters from all over the Central Valley including a co-main event featuring 2004 Hanford High wrestling star Steven Juarez.Juarez, who won a state wrestling title for the Bullpups, will take on fellow wrestler Gerardo Garcia at 559 Fights 1 at the Kings Fair Grounds. Both fighters will be making their MMA debuts. Tickets start at just $20 and include an Ultimate Fighting Championship viewing party following the live amateur fights. Doors open at 2:30 p.m. and first fight is scheduled for 3:30.Tickets can be purchased at www.559fights.com. VIP Tables are also available and can be purchased by calling 559-362-4046. "It's a great feeling having all my friends and family here supporting me," said Juarez, who stopped competing after his senior year in high school and now looks to make a name for himself in MMA at 145 pounds. "It's like going back to high school and having all these guys watch you again. I get to bring back the old days."The old days were certainly bright for Juarez, who capped his senior season at Hanford with a state title and has his photo hanging in the Hanford gym. "I was kind of burned out and didn't have passion no more for wrestling. I wanted to go to graphic design school in Arizona but that didn't work out so I went to school in Riverside," Juarez said. "I started having dreams again and wanted to have success and that competition. I wanted to bleed, sweat and have that feeling again. It took me a lot of years." And Juarez is back helping headline a show that's quickly drawing a lot of attention in the Central Valley. 559 Fights is locally owned and operated by Joey Perez and Jeremy Luchau."This is an event like none other. I think that we are doing something different and unique and people are going to enjoy it," Luchau said. "People enjoy live MMA action, but people also don't want to miss watching UFC pay per views. We decided to give fans here the best of both worlds."Much like Juarez, Garcia took some time away from competing, but for much different reasons. "I was born and raised in Reedley, but got in trouble, spent some time in prison, moved away and came back with a different look and new reputation," said Garcia, who is the head coach of the Dream Training Center in Reedley."I lived in Los Angeles for years and then went to culinary school in San Francisco and then went back to LA, but it's time to give back. We had an idea of putting together Dream Training Center. It's just a 40 by 40 room matted up room with bags and mainly for me to help the community. This is not to develop fighters, but more for kids and women's classes." Speaking of the women... 559 Fights 1 is headlined by one of the hottest up-and-coming female fighters in California - Fresno's Kristen Gatz (4-1), who takes on Gilroy's Brianna VanBuren (1-0)."Training has been really good. I've upped my game in a lot of different areas," Gatz said. "I've focused on areas I'm weak in I think you'll see a different Kristen, a more determined Kristen."Meanwhile, VanBuren steps up to take on Gatz on just a week's notice after several opponents backed out and turned down fighting the Thrive MMA product. "I've had a long layoff because I was having a hard time finding opponents and thought about going pro, but then I was offered this fight at home and decided to take," Gatz said. "I think it's a combination of people not wanting to fight me because I'm 4-1 or we don't have a lot of girls fighting. Some people don't want to take tough fights and want to stay perfect."VanBuren is more than willing to take the tough fight."Kristen is a tough girl and I'm ready for it. I ready for this match up. I'm well rounded and I like to stand up, to wrestle and to grapple. I'm a mixed martial artist," VanBuren said. "The way I see is I'm going to take the fight where I want to take. I'm not going in there trying to wrestle her or have a game plan. I'm going to go in there and feel it out."Also on the card is a heavyweight showdown, pitting Avenal's Joe Aispuro (1-1) vs. Kingsburg's John Mathison (1-1). "It feels good to be fighting in the area. Feels like home I don't have to drive hours away. My fans from Avenal can come out and it's close to home," said Aispuro, who trains with Lemoore's Team Ochoa. "I train in every area. I try to go out there have some fun, fight hard and entertain fans. I go for the knockout"559 Fights 1 is sanctioned by California Amateur Mixed Martial Arts Organization. The weighins will take place at Fatte Albert's Pizza in downtown Hanford at 10 a.m. on Saturday. "We have several great fights on this fight card and it's a great way to start live MMA in Hanford," Luchau said. "I'm looking forward to seeing fighters like Gatz, Juarez and Aispuro. We have some talented competition coming in from the Gilroy and Bakersfield area as well."Main EventWomen's FlyweightsFresno, Calif.'s Kristen Gatz (4-0) vs. Gilroy, Calif.'s Brianna Van Buren (1-0) Co-Main EventFeatherweightsHanford, Calif.'s Steven Juarez (0-0) vs. Reedley, Calif.'s Gerardo Garcia (0-0)HeavyweightsAvenal, Calif.'s Jose Aispuro (1-0) vs. Kingsburg, Calif.'s John Mathison (1-1) BantamweightsSelma, Calif.'s Nick Contreras (2-0) vs. Tulare, Calif.'s Michael Ruiz (0-0) WelterweightsCaruthers, Calif.'s Evan Solorio (1-1) vs. Los Angeles, Calif.'s Tommy Gavin (1-1) Light HeavyweightsLemoore, Calif.'s Anthony Martinez (0-0) vs. Hanford, Calif.'s Joseph Longoria (0-0)Women's FlyweightsHanford, Calif.'s Letty Guzman (0-0) vs. Los Angeles, Calif.'s Thea Wolfe (0-0)FeatherweightsGilroy, Calif.'s Benjamin Amezquita (5-3) vs. Los Angeles, Calif.'s Reynaldo De Leon (0-1)BantamweightsMadera, Calif.'s Ray Aguilar (2-4) vs. Lemoore, Calif.'s Alberto Arreola (0-0) FeatherweightsHanford, Calif.'s Jose Pacheco (0-0) vs. Gilroy, Calif.'s Adin Duenas (1-0)

Posted in: fight, mma, vs, calif, juarez

Three MMA Documentaries Worth Seeing to Be Released Over Next Two Months

There haven't been a whole lot of good MMA documentaries produced over the years, however, over the next two months, three of the best will be released. First, "Fightville," the story of young Dustin Poirier, his coach Tim Credeur and the Louisiana fight scene comes out in New York and Los Angeles theatres on Friday, as well as video on demand, iTunes and Xbox. It's a fascinating look at the humble beginnings of an MMA fighter's career. Both Poirier and Credeur were on the most recent episode of The MMA Hour to discuss the film. Check out the interview below. Then, on June 1, "Like Water," a documentary chronicling Anderson Silva's life between his strange showing against Demian Maia at UFC 112 and his showdown against rival Chael Sonnen at UFC 117 comes out in select theaters across the country and VOD. And finally, "Such Great Heights," a film about Jon Fitch's road to the UFC welterweight title fight against Georges St-Pierre at UFC 87 will be released on DVD, iTunes and VOD on June 12. Its trailer can be seen below. Together, all three films tell the complete story of an MMA fighter. From the road to the UFC, to the drive to a title shot, to the struggle to remain on top. Two months. Three great MMA films. Move over "Smashing Machine," you finally have some company.

Posted in: ufc, mma, month, film, mma documentaries

ONE FC: Singapore's Quek Kim Hock Wants to Build on His Successful Debut

Quek Kim Hock had 8,000 Singaporean fans cheering for him when he made his professional mixed martial arts (MMA) debut at ONE Fighting Championship 'War of the Lions.' It was a lot of support but it brought with it a lot of pressure for the 22 year old who was up against a very late replacement in the shape of Japanese American submission specialist Major Overall. As well as an accomplished opponent who made a successful MMA debut of his own at DARE 1/12 earlier this year Hock also had to deal with the weight of expectation which comes with having a passionate hometown crowd behind you. When he won the Singapore Indoor Stadium absolutely erupted but had he lost you would probably have been able to hear a pin drop. The victory was particularly well received because Hock had to escape from a leg lock attempt early in the first round which had the crowd holding its collective breath but for the fighter himself it was all in a day's work. "I can't really remember the leg lock because it all happened in a flash. All I could recall is that he grabbed my leg and I went for the counter instinctively. Of course I was feeling a little nervous as it was my first ever professional fight and there was such a huge crowd but I guess I still enjoyed the attention." It was a highly entertaining affair because, despite only taking the fight at a week's notice, Overall was aggressive and unpredictable using some unorthodox techniques. Hock had originally been slated to face another fighter until injury forced a last minute change of plans which left a lot of his painstaking preparation redundant. "When my opponent was changed one week prior to the fight I did face some difficulties trying to adapt and adjust to the difference in styles they both had but I guess my team and coaches at Juggernaut Fight Club did their best to prepare me and to bring the best out of me for the fight. He did some moves that really caught me by surprise with an examples the Tae-Kwan-Do head kick but i guess I managed to handle it successfully and keep my calm." Hock has a background in both wrestling and boxing but Overall came into the fight with a reputation as being a good grappler. This made the manner of victory particularly satisfactory because he was able to put the BJJ blue belt to sleep with a second round rear naked choke. "Of course I was happy about that! I only started BJJ and wrestling when Juggernaut Fight Club started about 10 months before the fight and submitting him made me feel that my effort in training Jiu-Jitsu relentlessly wasn't in vain." ONE FC War Of The Lions: Quek Kim Hock vs Major Overall (via OneFCMMA) As a Singaporean Hock is perfectly positioned to have witnessed first hand the dramatic development of the sport since ONE Fighting Championship arrived on the scene late last year. Having Asia's biggest and most prestigious MMA promotion on their doorstep has certainly opened people's eyes to the world's fastest growing sport. "I personally think One FC has definitely had a huge impact because everyone is taking about it. Nowadays more people seems to be interested in MMA and when MMA is mentioned at least people now know that it actually stands for Mixed Martial Arts!" After originally being slated to face a fellow Singaporean the change of opponent at least guaranteed Hock would have plenty of support but he says that this was not something he was particularly aware of during the actual fight. "I wouldn't say facing a foreigner helped because when I looked out of the cage I couldn't really see the crowd so i didn't pay much attention, my focus was 100% on my opponent. The crowd and the environment at home in Singapore did definitely helped in boosting me morally and spiritually." ONE FC won't be back in Hock's hometown until October when the Singapore Indoor Stadium will reportedly be opened up to it's full 12,000 capacity due to the sell out success of the most recent show. However he doesn't want to wait another six months for his second fight and is hoping he will be back in action as soon as possible. "Of course I want to fight again for ONE FC, it's every fighter in Singapore's dream, and hopefully I will be given the chance to fight for them again soon." www.twitter.com/jamesgoyder

Posted in: fight, mma, fc, course i, hock

Pro MMA Radio 194: UFC 145 Preview, Sweden Recap, This Week in MMA

Posted in: mma, replay, radio, mma radio, monday evening

Rebellion MMA Radio: Bellator beauty Jade Bryce, TUF winner Tony Ferguson, and UFC writer E. Spencer Kyte

Posted in: ufc, mma, michael johnson, kyte, bellator crew

Fight Path: Bellator 66's Andreas Spang began MMA career with an email campaign

Years after he had to order tapes through the mail to fill his interest in MMA, which was considered very niche, Andreas Spang tired of his jumping between club bouncer jobs and wanted to get back into fighting. Like his father, Spang had been a boxer, another interest not widely shared in his native country. So Spang took a difficult step for any fighter, especially one in a foreign country: He randomly introduced himself to people in the Las Vegas MMA world.

Posted in: mma, mma career, spang, order tapes, father spang

Latest UFC/MMA news and notes from around the web for the week of April 15, 2012

Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like UFC champions Anderson Silva and Jon Jones pictured above, we can all "get along." Teaming up with MMA sites like Low Kick, Fightline, Fight Opinion and The Fight Nerd, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport. This week, The Fight Nerd reviews the new MMA documentary Fightville, Fight Opinion reveals three of UFC's psychological moments this past week and Fightline interviews Rory MacDonald. The full list of links is after the jump. - Looking back at UFC on Fuel 2: The fan experience (LowKick) ""European fans in general, are very passionate about Mixed Martial Arts. They are loyal to this sport, and would follow the fighters wherever. As noted by Marshall Zelaznik, they would have no problem attending an event at midnight. When it comes to international UFC events, there are a lot of variables, such as TV deals, time difference, suitable arenas, local regulatory systems." - A review of the MMA documentary: Fightville (The Fight Nerd) As both a movie and a learning experience, Fightville succeeds on so many levels that it's difficult to list them all. Perhaps the best part of the documentary is that it has something to offer everybody. - Three revealing psychological UFC moments (Fight Opinion) While the focus is in Atlanta this weekend, there have been three interesting & curious events that have taken place in Zuffaland that I think reveal the current psychology of the company. All of them may not interest you, but I think at least one of the three will be revealing to you for your own reasons. - Jones clothing deal could be sign of the future (MMA Payout) Interesting news came out last week when it was announced that Jon Jones would be wearing UFC branded gear for his fight this Saturday night. The UFC tells the USA Today that there will be more fighters wearing UFC gear in the octagon. - Rebellion Radio with Jade Bryce and Tony Ferguson (MMA Convert) - Interview with UFC 145 welterweight Rory MacDonald (Fightline) Rory MacDonald talks not knowing much about his UFC 145 opponent, training with Georges St. Pierre and Kenny Florian and more - Randy Couture breaks down Jones/Evans (Five Ounces of Pain) "The favorite is probably Jones because of his range and he is so athletic with such a dynamic striking style. Rashad has the tools and the skillset to make it a tough fight for Jones, but he has to make it a wrestling match and take him down at every opportunity." - UFC 145 complete betting odds (5thRound) There's plenty of hype surrounding "UFC 145: Jones vs. Evans," but if you were to ask the Gambling Gods, there's no point in ordering Saturday's pay-per-view broadcast.

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

Spend your 4/20 watching Fightville (but read this review first)

Follow your dreams. The stuff Rocky movies are made of, but for every Rocky there are a thousand failures that worked just as hard as Balboa himself, maybe a wrong turn, a zig instead of a zag or a single poor choice set them on an unrecoverable path down - or sideways - through the rabbit hole. Who knows? 'The world needs ditch diggers too' they say. O fortune, monstrous and empty fate, following your dreams is mental masturbation. Hudson Philips posted a thoughtful article on artists and the prescribing to the inaccurate idea of 'following a dream.' No. There are people on this earth who simply must fulfill what they were meant to do. Dustin Poirer, Tim Credeur and Fightville director Michael Tucker are doing what they were meant to do.From the moment Fightville starts you can tell that as an MMA fan, we've been here before. The usual exposition on the evolution of the sport from 'human cockfighting' to the noble competition we know and love, opens the film with a thumping soundtrack oozing southern style and personality. In my personal opinion, good documentaries are as much about the creator behind the film as they are about the subjects. This is evident in Fightville. The usual MMA documentary that we've seen so many times before quickly turns into a film from a man who's admitted going into shooting as an MMA novice, to a fan. In this, Fightville is satisfying for multiple reasons. We need less MMA fans making MMA films in my opinion. I know that's hard to grasp, but Fightville's simple, but gripping visual style comes from a filmmaker, not a fight fan, and I think that's needed in order for this sport to grow. A fight virgin's vision of the down and dirty regional MMA of the south. It's refreshing.So are the stars. I always enjoyed the escapades of Tim Credeur, but his standout pupil and and owner of a spot damn near the top of the featherweight rankings, Dustin Poirier provides the backbone of the film. They serve as a sage guide and a shooting star for Michael Tucker to follow. Knowing that Dustin Poirier is on the cusp of a title shot against Jose Aldo with a win over the Korean Zombie next month makes this all the more relevant. Poirier's determination in fulfilling his destiny is clear, and we get a first row seat to view his ascension into MMA stardom.Simply put, Fightville is a great. It's easily in the discussion for best MMA movie ever (take from that what you will), but it's also a smart look into the world of martial arts. It's memorable, it looks beautiful, it captures a time and place in MMA that will be painfully quaint in twenty years. Fightville captures a moment in time where dreams are dreamed and people did what they were meant to do.I've seen almost every MMA film out there, I don't have to name them, some not even released yet, so I'm just going to say it: there is no better way to spend your 4/20 then with Fightville on your viewing device of choice. It doesn't insult our intelligence, it reinforces it. Fightville hits theaters in LA and NY, but I suggest you purchase the HD versions on Itunes or Xbox Live. Seriously, if you are a fight fan, you'll dig this. Four point five MiddleEasy Monsters™ out of five. I wish I had a little graphic I could put here to show the little monsters signifying excellence. To be honest, one of the main reasons it wasn't five stars is because I thought it was too short...I was so enamored with Fightville despite it's brevity, I picked director Michael Tucker's brain via email on the creation of the movie. Below is our correspondence in which for some reason I picture Michael Tucker being on a train and he's wearing an overcoat. Was the ending difficult to conceive or did it come naturally and you said 'that's a perfect moment to stop' ? The ending--which we won't give away--was a blessing. Dustin was offered a last minute fight out of the country and he literally had days to prepare. I followed and the rest is, well, history. It must be said that filming fighers is stressful for something like this is stressful because all it takes is one punch for dreams (including ours) to be crushed! We talked a year ago about your marginal MMA knowledge coming into Fightville, have you kept up with the sport?' I have to admit I am a fan now. I was with Dustin and Tim at UFC 129 and fell in love with the world of "the show". I love live fights and now watch PPV fights when I can. How has the Making of Fightville treated you as far as the MMA world (media/fighters/etc). Following you on Twitter it's pretty obvious that some news outlets 'get it' some don't and some truly still think that this is an extremely negative sport, if a sport at all. Can you tell us what it's like as someone who came into 'our' world basically as a neutral player, to make and market this movie? The MMA world has been fantastic and so supportive. The one thing about MMA is that it has an incredibly wired and sophisticated fanbase. That's a great thing to tap into when you are in the business of telling stories. The mainstream is difficult. There are people who truly hate this sport and by extension they will hate this movie. At the end of the day, all that matters is that the subjects of the film feel like we captured their world. Listening to them, we did. Any film festival stories? We had great festival premieres SXSW, HotDocs (with UFC129), but the best was Abu Dhabi where my co-director went with Tim Credeur. They were treated like royalty because the sport and BJJ are so huge there. How big is your filming crew? On location, it was just me most of the time. A major task, but it's how I prefer to work. It's hard to develop trust with a crew--whether that's in Baghdad or at a gym. Logistically, what did you think was the greatest challenge? Shooting fights is touch. Major props to people like Esther LIn--that girl works to get those shots! But the biggest issue was, again, trying to capture the rise of an athlete without knowing where the endpoint would be--always one punch away from the end. How difficult was this to edit? This was a tough film to edit--we had dozens of fights, from more than two years of material shot in Lafayette. On the other hand, the time gave us the ability to get it right--it wasn't like shooting in a hostile country where you can't go back to pickup material. What do you edit on? We are all Apple all the time. Final Cut Pro. Best thing that ever happened to video. Tell us about your background in film making, you have a distinct visual style. I started shooting in 1990--began working in remote locations around the world. Lived in Vietnam and Thailand in the early nineties and then moved to Berlin in 1995. Style developed from making do with what we have. The best feeling in the world is discovering a shot that you didn't know you had--a sort of controlled chaos. The soundtrack is awesome, plug it. Alex Kiment is our composer. He's a Russia analyst by day (he's currently in Moscow) and a genius by night. Right after doing Fightville,he moved to Brazil and wrote the Financial Times. There, he was blown away by how HUGE the sport is. Apparently, everybody watches the big fights. We are hoping to go down to the Silva fight. When you captured something like, for example, Dustin's incredible match (his 2nd to last in the movie) which is just one really long scramble, was that impressive to you as an MMA novice at the time? Or have you re watched the movie recently and now that you are more knowledgeable it's something you can appreciate more? The ground fights were always a little confusing and difficult to film--not knowing as a novice what to be looking for. As a one man crew, how do you capture your audio? On camera, with wireless and hidden recorders. Was it difficult to shoot in the gym during practices? I can imagine you were just as sweaty as them towards the end. The gym was horrible. Tiny, smelly, staph, ringworm. Worst place I have ever filmed--but the tiny backroom was a great location. The lighting of the film seems equally cinematic yet natural. Did you light the film at all or did you point and shoot? All light was natural. Do you have any interest in sticking with these MMA stories or is it time to move on for you? What's next? MMA is fascinating--we'll see where we go next. Not to delve into psychology, but why documentaries? I feel documentary filmmakers are a different breed from 'fiction' filmmakers. Documentary is interesting because you come to understand new worlds. It's more like truly living than just filmmaking. Did you get staph or ringworm? I got staph last year and it was the worst experience of my life outside of high school. Luckily, not. Fightville Trailer from Pepper and Bones on Vimeo. Go watch it now. We know you are home and just hanging out in your pajama pants waiting on Indian food delivery. We know what date it is.

Posted in: fight, world, mma, film, fightville

MMA Uncensored Live Discussion - 4/19

Join us at Bloody Elbow to discuss tonight's episode of MMA Uncensored Live, which airs on Spike at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT. Hosts Nate Quarry, Craig Carton and Mike Straka will discuss a wide range of MMA topics. MMA Fighting's Luke Thomas will be in two segments tonight, so tune in and check him out. For those of you that missed the first few episodes, this is how co-host Nate Quarry describes the show: "More than anything, it's less of a sports reporting show talking about the scores that just happened and more of an opinion piece. It's a lot more like a forum than it is a news show. You know when you go to the forums and there's about 90% sh*t talking and 10% intelligence? We're hoping to raise the bar closer to 15%," Quarry quipped. I haven't been sent a preview for tonight's show, so all I know is that they're doing a feature on Rashad Evan's Blackzillians camp. The rest will be a mystery so check it out, try to ignore Carton, and see what the hell is going on!

Posted in: mma, show, quarry, tonights episode, news show

Michael McDonald Suggests He and Miguel Torres Are 'Kinda the Same'

ATLANTA -- UFC bantamweight contender Michael McDonald spoke to MMA Fighting at today's UFC 145 pre-fight open workouts about his bout on Saturday with former WEC bantamweight champion Miguel Torres. McDonald elaborated on his previous comments that Torres abandoned his style of fighting after losing to Brian Bowles. He also discusses whether athleticism is rewarded in MMA fighting as much as it does other sports. The rising prospect further explains why he believes he and Torres are similar, tries to understand why oddsmakers are having a hard time forecasting an outcome in this fight, and why staying with the same MMA team is critical to his success.

Posted in: mma, mma team, torre, mcdonald, time forecasting

Rebellion MMA Radio: Bellator beauty Jade Bryce, TUF winner Tony Ferguson, and UFC writer E. Spencer Kyte

Posted in: ufc, bellator, mma, radio, debut episode

5 Oz. MMA Link Club

Welcome back to another edition of “MMA Link Club”, Five Ounces of Pain‘s weekly smorgasbord of offerings from our brothers and sisters in the MMA community. Enjoy… Nick Diaz’s Meeting with NSAC is Delayed Until Medical Marijuana Card is Produced (MMAConvert.com) UFC 145 Heavyweight Brendan Schaub Talks Changes Since Loss in August (LowKick.com) The Dangers of Sparring with Jon Jones (MMAMania.com) BJ Penn Makes Pick in Jones-Evans Fight (FightLine.com) A Look at the Odds for a Slew of Summer Scraps (FightOpinion.com) UFC on Fuel 2 Draws Nearly 200,000 Viewers (MMAPayout.com) Jon Jones’ Career-Defining Moments (BleacherReport.com) An Update on the MMA in New York (TheFightNerd.com) Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson Living “Dream Come True” this Weekend at UFC 145 (HeavyMMA.com) Chael Sonnen Blasts MMA Media (5thRound.com) PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE/UFC

Posted in: ufc, mma, mma community, pain ‘s, marijuana card

Ronda Rousey joins fight to legalize MMA as NY Senate approves new legislation

Mixed martial arts (MMA) regulation in the "Empire State" -- take three. If at first you don't succeed ... well, you know the rest. Bill No. S.1707-A, designed to legalize MMA in New York, passed the State Senate yesterday by a vote of 43-14 and will (eventually) head to the Assembly floor for a final vote, the UFC announced earlier today. And Zuffa Co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta (via MMA Fighting) is "convinced it will have strong bipartisan support:" "We would like to thank the New York State Senate for passing the bill to legalize and regulate MMA for the third time in the last three years. We are hopeful the third time will be the charm with the State Assembly. The bill received overwhelming and bipartisan support and we would especially like to recognize the leadership of the Senate sponsor Joseph Griffo.   Over the next two months, we will focus our efforts on convincing Assembly leadership that this bill, now sponsored by Assemblyman Joe Morelle - who is a Monroe County native just like UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones - should be brought to the floor of the Assembly for a vote, where we are convinced it will have strong bipartisan support." New York is one of just a handful of states that (still) does not regulate MMA, but the UFC continues to keep the pressure on, frequently sending fighters and promotion officials to plead their case. Wednesday was no exception. Video of those efforts, which included UFC middleweight Nick Catone and Strikeforce 135-pound champion Ronda Rousey, after the jump. For more on the struggle to get MMA legalized in New York click here.

Posted in: mma, senate, state, bill, assembly

MMA Odds Breaker: UFC 145, UFC 148 & UFC on FX 4 Picks

Special guests Jon Luther (MMA journalist) and Zach Arnold (MMA writer) give their picks on the following fights: UFC on FX 4: Clay Guida vs Gray Maynard UFC 148: Clay Guida vs Gray Maynard Rich Franklin vs Cung Le Michael Bisping vs Tim Boetsch Forrest Griffen vs Tito Ortiz Betting odds, picks and analysis are [...]

Posted in: ufc, mma, vs, odd, fights ufc

New York State Senate (Once Again) Votes in Favor of MMA Bill - MMA Fighting

submitted by swampskater [link] [comment]

Posted in: mma, senate, bill, swampskater link, favor

So this is how Shinya Aoki has been training for Eddie Alvarez

Gone are the vibrant technicolor pants from Shinya Aoki's fight wardrobe. They were fun while they lasted and we even managed to catalog every spat worn for Aoki's DREAM career. Despite how cool they were, those things were just novelty. Something that newcomers to MMA would obsess over with the reassurance that if they mentioned the wild color variations of Aoki's pants, it would grant them access to some intangible realm of the 'MMA underground'. The place where all the 'cool kids' go to when they realize that MMA isn't just restricted to the UFC and that the sport spans the world, not just the octagon. Some of you may have gained access via this deceptive mean -- and if so, there's nothing anyone can do. You've fell into the world of MMA through the stereotype associated with Shinya Aoki's pants. Great. Now there's nothing we can do to deny you access. You're in. You are one of us. Congratulations bud, now pick up your complimentary name badge, coffee and sit down so you can enjoy the rest of this voyage into the world of MMA. Shinya Aoki is happy to have you on board. Granted, I can't speak for him -- but for the sake of this article, I will speak for him. He wants you to watch his Bellator 66 fight against Eddie Alvarez on April 20th. He also wants you to not party too hard tomorrow. Shinya needs your attention, so give it to him. Aoki also wants you to watch this video of his training at Evolve MMA in preparation for his rematch with the former Bellator lightweight champion.

Posted in: mma, aoki, eddie alvarez, shinya, access

UFC 145: Jon Jones Vs. Rashad Evans Predictions From The Top Asian MMA Fighters

A few months ago during the lead up to that mammoth Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair Overeem bout, I asked the several key figures in Asian MMA to make UFC predictions. Several CEO's, owners and promoters from the largest organizations in the continent made time off their busy schedules, to roll up their sleeves and participate in a simple feature where they get to give their picks on the sport that they love. Now with UFC 145 approaching, I asked the most popular fighters in the region to do the same and give their predictions for the main event. They may be some of the biggest stars in the region, but they are also big fans of the sport, so here are their thoughts on the light heavyweight title bout between Jon Jones and Rashad Evans: Felipe Enomoto (6-4), ONE Fighting Championship: My pick would be Jon Jones, because this guy is getting better every time he fights, and his style will be too funky for Rashad. I think even though Rashad probably knows Jones' weaknesses, he will not be able to capitalize on them because Jon is developing his fighting skills so fast. The weakness that Rashad knows of will probably not even be there anymore when they meet in the cage. I would say TKO, round 3 in favor of Jones (but I'm almost never right with predicting other peoples fights) Mark Striegl (9-0), DARE Championship: I know everybody thinks Jones is unstoppable, but I believe that anyone can be beaten in this game. I think that Evans has the athleticism to really test Jones and make him work. Also, Evans tends to do exceptionally well when he's pressured and has his back against the wall, like when he went against Chuck Liddell. I see Rashad Evans winning via Unanimous Decision or by a late stoppage. Eduard Folayang (11-2), ONE FC Star and URCC Champion: I think Jon Jones will win the fight because he is a complete fighter with a high level of skills. Adrian Pang (19-8), Former Legend FC Lightweight Champion: I have never been one for predictions as in the fight game, anyone can win on any given night! Jones has his youth & unorthodox skills, while Evans has his strong wrestling & new fight camp, so will be interesting to see the outcome. I guess will depend on Rashad's chin whether he can keep taking it to Jones consistently! My prediction is, the fans will win! (laughs) Phil Baroni (14-14) UFC and PRIDE vet, SFL Commentator who last fought for ONE FC: I think the Jones vs. Evans fight is going to be super tough to call. Is Jones really as good as he has looked? Evans will be a huge test. He looked great against Tito. It's the best I've seen him look, and was loose and relaxed like a real seasoned pro. I was very Impressed the way he out wrestled and blew through Davis on taken downs in his last fight. I think this is by far Evans toughest test. Evans is strong, hits hard and can wrestle his ass off. Can Jones with his unique unorthodox high amplitude striking stop Evans' solid boxing? Can Jones surprising and aggressive submission game catch Evans in between transitions the way he did Machida? I say no, and I'm going with the upset. Evans by TKO late in the fourth, by out-working Jones, making him wrestle and work hard. Jones has just made it look to easy and maybe I'm just jealous? Big right hand hurts a spent Jones late in the 4th, Evans G and P's for the TKO win, with Jones complaining the stoppage was early. Rashad Evans by TKO. Justin Cruz (18-4), PXC and URCC Bantamweight Champion: Jon Jones has better all around game. He's very big for his weight class and he's a very athletic fighter. I predict Jon Jones will be the winner by 3rd round TKO. Will Chope (9-5), of Phuket Top Team / Team Buffet, last fought at DARE Championship: Jon Jones, hands down, is going to win this fight. He is going to tear Rashad up. Rashad won't be able to get a take down and I honestly can see a TKO victory in the 1st Round. Hope to see bones land some nasty elbows. Jon Jones by TKO. Tristan Arenal (4-2), PXC contender: I think Jon Jones will win. He's just too strong. Rashad Evans has a chance only because they used to train together. He might have an idea of Jon Jones' kryptonite, but Jon Jones has proved he's just at another level. Jon Jones by 3rd round TKO. Geje Eustaquio (3-1), ONE Fighting Championship: I think Jon Jones will win by TKO. Pros who picked Evans: Striegl, BaroniPros who picked Jones: Enomoto, Folayang, Cruz, Chope, Arenal, EustaquioPros who couldn't decide: Pang After the jump, these fighters make the case on why you should watch Asian MMA. Follow me on twitter -- @antontabuena Why should UFC fans watch Asian MMA? Felipe Enomoto (6-4), ONE Fighting Championship: Why? Because Asian MMA is exciting. Especially ONE FC because the rules of soccer kicks, elbows and knees on the ground makes fights you will not see, if you only watch UFC. So be open-minded ,otherwise you miss out on some great action from Asia! Mark Striegl (9-0), DARE Championship: Asia is a very exciting place to be right now with a booming economic growth alongside an explosion of interest in MMA. As a result, a number of Asian MMA promotions have emerged over the last few years. Simply put, there's a lot going on here right now. Being the birthplace of martial arts, Asia has provided the foundation for modern MMA. There's so much history here and there's much more history to be made! ...Also, people should check out Team Buffet because we have a lot of fun. Eduard Folayang (11-1), ONE FC Star and URCC Champion: UFC fans should watch Asian MMA and the fights from Team Lakay because Asian fighters have a unique way of putting a good show in the ring. Adrian Pang (19-8), Former Legend FC Lightweight Champion: Asian MMA is ever exploding in popularity and talent. Asia has such a large population & a long history of martial arts, so it is inevitable that it will produce a champion in the UFC as it has in many other organizations thus far. Legend Fighting Championship is a promotion where each of my opponents have been harder than the last. They really give to the sport and care for the fighters. The professionalism shown by them is second to none, and I have fought for many promotions in my 11-year career. I feel Legend Fighting Championship will continue to be the pinnacle of Asian MMA, and I look forward to being part of their success with the fights/wars I have performed for them so far. Phil Baroni (14-14) UFC and PRIDE vet, SFL Commentator who last fought for ONE FC: I think fans should watch Asian MMA because the fights are exciting. Guys are fighting to finish more often than not. Guys aren't scared to lose their jobs as much as they are in the UFC. Fighters are going for it more. The tactics and styles aren't as much wrestling and decision seeking as often as they are in the American MMA. Fighters seem to be letting it all hang out and not fighting not to lose more in Asian MMA. Justin Cruz (18-4), PXC and URCC Bantamweight Champion: UFC fans should watch PXC so they can have a feel of what kind of MMA talent there is in the pacific region. Also to see new up and coming talent who may possibly reach the UFC level of MMA, since the PXC is one of the only MMA show in Asia producing UFC caliber fighters. Will Chope (9-5), of Phuket Top Team / Team Buffet, last fought at DARE Championship: UFC fans should definitely take interest in Asian MMA! Asian MMA is always exciting, where there is a perfect balance of spectacle and sport. You will always see a show. Road FC and ONE FC both have soccer kicks and knees to the head allowed, and as a striker I love it. Another org to look out for is the URCC with their two 10 minute rounds! How awesome is that? Very rare in URCC you ever see a decision. There are countless other awesome orgs to take interest in as well. Dare's 1 Million Dollars Tournament, Gods FC first league where 8 teams from 8 Major Asian Cities fight for the rights to claim their team is supreme, and also Legend FC where the best ethnic Asiana-Oceania fighters shine. At the end of the day you have to ask yourself, are you a fan of MMA or are you just a fan of solely the UFC. If you are the first then you need to check out the vastness of Asian MMA. Tristan Arenal (4-2), PXC contender: UFC fans should watch Asian MMA as well as the PXC promotion, because there are a lot of great fighters that no one has seen yet. PXC for example, gives opportunities to future stars in Asia, that one day will make it the UFC. Nothing better than watching a fighters career from the beginning. There are a lot of untapped resources in Asia as well as the Philippines that people need to know about. Geje Eustaquio (3-1), ONE Fighting Championship: Fans should watch Asian MMA simply because it is one of the reasons why the UFC has come to this point (PRIDE). Today there are also many dedicated, skilled and talented Asian fighters that show spectacular and impressive performances in the sport of MMA. Also, UFC fans should keep an eye out for Team Lakay, which is one of the most promising teams across South East Asia as they can go along and excel on all the aspects of MMA. Pros who think you should watch Asian MMA: All of them.

Posted in: ufc, mma, jone, evan, asian

The Top Ten Unreleased MiddleEasy Videos You've Never Seen...Because They're Unreleased

If I had a dollar for every video MiddleEasy has discarded over the years, then I could afford a better intro to a Top Ten list. Throughout the years, we literally have terabytes of archived footage we've never used on the site. We can't explain it, we just love to shove a camera in the face of people in the MMA industry and hopefully capture some rare multimedia gem. This generally ends up with hours of LayzieTheSavage unintetionally pointing the camera to the floor while he talks about something that happened in Stockton, California that no one cares about. Seriously, if I have to go through another video of him talking about 'the homie that's in prison' then I'll -- well I'm not sure what I'll do. If it happened right now, I would probably go to bed because I'm pretty tired. In any other case, I would do something drastically different that I can't quite figure out at this moment. Regardless, there is no such word as irregardless. People that use the term should be stabbed in the forehead with a plastic fork regardless of time or location. Those same people are also not allowed to check out our new list of The Top Ten Unreleased MiddleEasy Videos You've Never Seen...Because They're Unreleased. I know that you know that we know we have an enormous amount of unreleased footage gathered over the years. Some of this stuff was intentionally buried, others were just forgotten in the infinite expansion of time and space. Therefore we felt to manifest a new top ten list to compile these lost wonders. Enjoy -- and remember to brush your teeth twice a day. Thank you. Don't be jealous, homie. LayzieTheSavage has a plethora of sweaty male groupies that love to make physical contact with him whenever he's in their vicinity. It's like Layzie is a magnet for Nick Diaz superfans that scream at inappropriate times. I've personally witnessed the bromance from MMA fans across the world when they encounter the videographer formally known as 'Michael Mardones.' It's undoubtedly a sight to witness. Generally I stand just behind him and check out the hysteria he creates whenever he walks down a crowded hallway before and after MMA events. Keep in mind that Layzie isn't even an on-camera interviewer and he gets more dudes wanting to hug him than -- well, than me. That's cool. I'm dating a chick. She's Canadian and is far more attractive than the dudes in this video captured after the UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit weigh-ins. The first time I met Vinny Magalhaes, I completely ignored him at a dinner table. It was one of the most unintentional gangsterish thing I've ever done. I blame it on a horrendous level of light at the restaurant we were dining at. That entire statement is a lie. The first time I met Vinny Magalhaes, he slept on my sofa in Las Vegas with one of my friends way back in the day. Wait, not that way folks. Well maybe that way. You're going to have to ask the 2011 ADCC champion on Twitter because that's not a topic I'm getting into. It goes without saying that we love Vinny Magalhaes on MiddleEasy. We're not sure why, but we just do. We love Magalhaes like kids love to climb on a sofa and pretend the floor is a never-ending pit of lava. Coincidentally, we also love Mike 'The Joker' Guymon -- especially when he use a MiddleEasy shirt to videobomb an interview with Vinny Magalhaes in this clip captured at an M-1 Global event in Orange County, California back in 2011. We've spotted Gilbert Yvel on two separate occasions in two different areas of the country and both times we ran up to him like fat kids running up to a stranded ice cream truck. Ever since MiddleEasy started, we've talked about Gilbert Yvel like some demigod living on a cloud, occasionally coming to earth to procreate with our human women. We assume Yvel would also try to reproduce with Targzissian women if he had the chance, but they just seem a little difficult to locate in our galaxy. We caught up with the Dutch consciousness collector at some random MMA event and decided to pick his brain, before he devoured ours with some fava beans. Yvel told us that above else, some promoter burned him in an upcoming fight and apparently he wanted to inform the entire planet of this severe lack of respect. Sometimes people get rocked and you sit back and say 'Oh yeah, I saw that coming'. Occasionally there's a punch that drops a fighter in such a spectacular fashion that you can't help but kick every piece of furniture in your living room. UFC 107 was one of those scenarios. I think we all incidentally threw our bottle of Red Stripe half-way across the room when Kongo went down from that frate trane of a punch Mir landed on his dome. Seconds later, Mir climbed off his unconsciousness body, threw his hands up in the air and at that exact moment we all knew the final transformation of Frank Mir was complete. Whatever humanoid Frank Mir was before Brock Lesnar made his face into an incomplete cherry pie was dead. He was resurrected as some 265lb megalodon that still had beef with Brock Lesnar. I'm not sure what demons haunt Frank Mir, but whatever they are, they have to be better than the ones in that 'Paranormal Activity' movie. I watched it because the people in the commercial were jumping out of their seats in the movie theater. Paranormal Activity just made me realize people in commercials that jump out of their seats are idiots. It's as if Brock Lesnar accidentally pushed the 'I will never stop obsessing over you' button on the back of Frank Mir's head. LayzieTheSavage caught up with Frank Mir in the hallway of local Las Vegas MMA show a couple years ago and asked him what exactly his beef is with the former UFC heavyweight champion. Mir admitted that -- well maybe you should just watch this video coming in at number seven of our Top Ten Unreleased MiddleEasy Videos You've Never Seen...Because They're Unreleased. Scott Coker referring to Georges St. Pierre vs. Nick Diaz is like watching a commercial for a new Atari 2600 system. Both entities are antiquated technologies that were pretty cool at the time, but now about as entertaining as going into beast-mode with a pair of nunchucks in the comfort of your living room. It's the fight that everyone wanted, but as we slowly crawl into 2013, it appears to be an impossibility. Sort of like folding a single piece of paper in half more than seven times. However, you can't tell past-tense Scott Coker this. Check out this interview we conducted with the (former) Strikeforce head honcho regarding a bout the MMA world will never see. This video was captured shortly after Nick Diaz put on what some consider fight of the year in 2011. It seems like just yesterday when the entire MMA community proclaimed that 'if Nick was smart, he won't trade strikes with Paul Daley.' Apparently all of you arm-chair strategists out there that urged Diaz to take Daley down as soon as possible have nothing on Cesar Gracie, a guy that actually called Nick would win by a knockout in the first round. Nick Diaz is a fighter known to take boxing to a boxer, bring grappling to a submission artist and in this unreleased clip, he brings paranoia to an already paranoid LayzieTheSavage. We have a ton of video of Jay Hieron that will never be released on MiddleEasy. Let's just say the dude loves to have a great time. Back in 2009, I broke the news to him via phone text that Marius Zaromskis got a Strikeforce welterweight title shot against Nick Diaz over him and, well that's the last time Jay Hieron and I really texted. He was beyond angry, and justifiably so. We caught up with Hieron at the 'It Ain't Chemo' charity event in Las Vegas this year shortly after his title bout against Ben Askren. As always, Jay held nothing back in regards to the judging of the Bellator title bout -- and then he drops a story about how he fought God. Yeah, we're not making this stuff up. In all of our years on MiddleEasy, we don't think we've ever been totally disregarded from an MMA clothing company as much as we did with RevGear. In the Summer of 2011, we thought we would get a clothing company on board with the site and feature a short ad in the beginning of all of our videos. We approached RevGear because they seemed to be interested in the idea. The response we received from the owner of RevGear seemed positive, but he needed to wait on his business partner to get back into town before making any decisions. 'That's fine' we thought. In the meantime, we actually took the initiative and created a small video in which we got a crew of MMA fighters to sign the same piece of RevGear and we were going to present the clip along with a media package to the owner of RevGear. The video was completed, so we shot an email back to the company. We received a response from his business partner stating the owner of RevGear was now out of town. The optimists that we were, we developed an entire RevGear sponsored contest in which we would give away the signed gear to one of our lucky readers. Contest was ready, proposal was sent -- and nothing. Seriously, that was the last time anyone at MiddleEasy heard from the guys at RevGear. Sure we sent them an influx of emails, but they didn't respond to a single one. After we finally realized that we were burned, we just ate our losses and gave up on the entire concept. In fact, I think LayzieTheSavage sold the signed RevGear shorts on eBay last year. Egh, whatever. Let this be a lesson to all budding MMA websites out there, don't do what we did -- but watch our failed RevGear pitch video anyway. Some of you remember the infamous Nick Diaz/Mayhem Miller hallway altercation that spawned an entire movement. A movement that was ultimately never fulfilled. You've undoubtedly heard the story before, but I'll give all you MMA newcomers a little rundown on Strikeforce lore. After Nick Diaz grabbed a unanimous decision over KJ Noons back in 2010, he made his way to the dressing room only to cross paths with Mayhem Miller. Now it would have been smart of me to preface the entire Mayhem Miller vs. Nick Diaz history before I got to this part of the story, but I'm listening to MGMT's Electric Feel as I write this, and it's really funky so I apologize for my brain not operating in a sequential order. Funky as in good, obviously. Anything that band puts out is stunning. Prior to the encounter, Mayhem Miller claimed Nick Diaz's 'hood' antics were getting old and he felt that he needed to 'mature.' Miller then called out Nick Diaz to a superfight middleweight bout. It was now time for Nick to make his move, so he accepted the challenge but only at a catchweight between middleweight and welterweight. Mayhem Miller claimed he couldn't cut anymore to make the catchweight and then stated it would be easier for Nick to put on a few pounds. Nick Diaz, being the Strikeforce welterweight champion at the time, proclaimed that it was ridiculous that a guy who he felt was 'irrelevant' was essentially trying to talk his way into a fight 'he didn't deserve.' Now jump to 2010, minutes after Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Noons wrapped up at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California. When Nick saw Mayhem in the hallway, he slung a full water bottle directly at Mayhem Miller's head. It clipped Miller near the eyebrow, exploded, then splashed over Mayhem Miller's manager. Immediately, Strikeforce personnel and HP Pavilion security got in between the two. Mayhem Miller appeared to be shocked, but Nick Diaz started yelling 'Come on you fat [expletive], fight me!' (referring to Mayhem's inability to cut weight). After the two were separated, Nick made it to the post-fight press conference where the entire incident was somewhat ignored. The reason why I know the details is because I saw the video of the entire altercation the night of the fight. We didn't film it, but the people that did capture the incident are in our video below. We tried everything to get the footage, folks. Money, theft, trades -- nothing worked. This video represents the minutes leading up to the altercation. In fact, at the end of the clip, Nick Diaz walks down the hallway where he has the incident with Mayhem Miller. The reason this video is deemed illegal, is because it was. Media were instructed not to film backstage, and LayzieTheSavage is obviously the living incarnation of the Honey Badger in this video. Imagine traveling 24+ hours to the other end of the planet in order to make one YouTube video -- and it gets rejected. Speaking from experience, there's nothing you can really do except hop on the next plane back to the US and smack yourself on the forehead repeatedly while you nearly circumnavigate the globe. Over a year ago, I flew to Singapore in order to get the jump on the MMA industry and be the first site to thoroughly cover an emerging gym called 'Evolve MMA.' No one really knew much about it aside that it appeared to be a slice of Beverly Hills nestled deep in the South Pacific. Back in 2009, MiddleEasy broke the news about the grand opening of the gym and served the MMA world with some of the first pictures of the facility. In early 2011, I took the pilgrimage to Singapore and met with Evolve MMA owner, Yodchatri Sityodtong. If you're an avid MiddleEasy reader, then you probably remember the first article I composed on the gym with a tour of the Evolve MMA facility. Shortly after that feature was published, I promised all of you a second video which covered fighters actually training in the second Evolve MMA gym, also located in Singapore. Unfortunately, that video never surfaced -- until now. When I finalized the video, I sent it over to Yodchatri to get his opinion on the piece. Within seconds, I received an email with something along the lines of 'Dude, don't release this!' Apparently, Yodchatri felt the video didn't really do justice to the talent Evolve MMA truly had to offer. I guess he felt that a flying armbar performed by Shinya Aoki just wasn't impressive enough. I think I responded to his email with 'Look, we don't have to release it, but it would be an incredible waste of really good hip-hop.' There was no budging, so the feature was hacked, slashed and murdered on the MiddleEasy editing room floor. Well, here's the video that took me 48+ hours of traveling planet Earth just to complete. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it's pretty damn slick.

Posted in: diaz, mma, nick, video, middleeasy

Flyweight prospect Josh Sampo scores upset over Czar Sklavos at Fight Me MMA in Missouri

Missouri promotion Fight Me MMA returned to the Family Arena in St. Charles for their fifth card overall. At the top of the card lightweight prospect Zach Freeman (4-0) and veteran women's fighter Tonya Evinger (10-6) picked up quick highlight reel round one victories. The undercard of Fight Me MMA featured a competitive flyweight prospect runoff between Missouri's Josh Sampo (6-1) and Idaho's Czar Sklavos (6-2). A product of the St. Charles MMA fight team, Sampo need a signature win to add to his fight resume. Sampo's pressure attack and underrated striking kept Sklavos on his heels for much of the first two rounds. The third round saw Sampo go back to his ground game and smother Sklavos for the final five minutes of the fight. All three judges cageside scored the fight 30-27 in favor of Sampo. The win was the third straight for Sampo. At 27 years of age Sampo can easily make the 125 pound weight limit and he is positioning himself well for a potential run to the UFC by the end of 2012. Sklavos began his MMA career with a close decision loss to future Ultimate Fighter Finalist T.J Dillashaw and then proceeded to consecutive fights; five via stoppage. The 30 year old Sklavos still has all the skills to earn a spot in the UFC before his career is over. Sklavos is rated as the number 16 flyweight prospect in the latest ULTMMA.com top 20 rankings. Fight Me MMA results St. Charles, MO*Zach Freeman def. Bryant Whitaker by Technical Submission Guillotine Choke 0:29 R1 Tonya Evinger def. Lacie Jackson by KO (Punch) 1:47 R1*Josh Sampo def. *Czar Sklavos by Decision (Unanimous)Ray Grindstaff def. John DeVall by Submission Armbar 3:28 R2Jessica Halverson def. Nikita Netjes by TKO (Punches) by 1:04 R1David Sharp def. Jonathan Chandler by Submission Knee and Punches 0:21 R1Alex White def. Greg Wilson Jr. by Submission Rear Naked Choke 2:05 R2*Prospect to watch

Posted in: fight, mma, prospect, sampo, sklavo

Inside MMA: XFC 17 Highlights, Phil Davis, Igor Gracie

Inside MMA takes a look at this past weekend’s XFC 17 event featuring one-armed fighter Nick Newell and Felice Herrig. In the web-only “Extra Rounds” segment, UFC light heavyweight Phil Davis and BJJ ace Igor Gracie field questions from the fans. Inside MMA airs live on HDNet every Monday night at 8pm ET. Inside MMA [...]

Posted in: mma, monday night, igor, mma airs, felice herrig

Agent for UFC 145 headliner Jon Jones 'talking to three of the four major shoe companies'

Fast-moving, long-leaping and plenty of stopping power. Sound like anyone you know? According to the tagline, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones was born to wear a pair of Zips, but he probably wouldn't be caught dead at Stride Rite -- even if it is located next to the Cinnabon at your local mall. No matter. "Bones" is dreaming of a Nike sponsorship, according to comments he made at last week's conference call to help promote his UFC 145 title defense against Rashad Evans on April 21, 2012 at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. Here's the good news. His agent, Malki Kawa, told The MMA Show with Mauro Ranallo he's already "talking to three of the four major shoe companies," and confirmed that "one of them is the one with the big check mark." Those comments after the jump. "I was approached by very major sponsor in MMA and all the minor ones. We looked at all the deals, but there’s there other opportunities outside MMA. If I had entered into a deal with any of these companies I would have derailed the goal of getting Jon Jones sponsored by one of the major shoe companies. I’m talking to three of the four major shoe companies right now. One of them is the one with the big check mark, but Adidas is the second biggest company. I’m talking to them all." The Jones camp obviously has its sights set on bigger and better things, which could explain why they balked at mixed martial arts (MMA) tee shirt and apparel companies looking to fill the void left by FORM Athletics, who went up in smoke earlier this year. Your services are no longer required. That's because "Bones" is now sponsored by the UFC, the very company that employs him. And those Zuffa dollars should keep his pockets lined until he locks up that major shoe deal his agent is working on somewhere down the road. See what the champ's current clothing line looks like right here.

Posted in: ufc, mma, jone, company, shoe

While legislators are still bitching about mixed martial arts (MMA) regulation in New York, the...

While legislators are still bitching about mixed martial arts (MMA) regulation in New York, the state of Connecticut has been quietly funneling its bill for legalization through the legislative committees over the last two months. Next stop: Senate, House and ultimately, the Governor. Keep those fingers crossed, Maniacs, or continue to suffer through MMA purgatory at the Native American-regulated Mohegan Sun. Props: Sherdog.com

Posted in: mma, art, senate house, mma purgatory, legislator

How's Taste My Tweet Tweet? MMA on Twitter - Dana White Explains PRIDE Bet, Sonnen Talks Overeem

A few updates on what's been going on in the MMA & UFC Twitterverse QUOTES FROM THE PRESIDENT "I had a bet with Prez of Pride that if Chuck fought Wandy that Chuck would win. They didn't fight, rampage beat him." -Dana White, addressing reports that he bet $250,000 with the president of Pride Fighting Championships, Nobuyuki Sakakibara. "not even close" -Dana White, when asked if he's "cool" with cagepotato after they issued a retraction. "Ben makes Fitch look like Wanderlei Silva!!!" -Dana White, who really dislikes how Ben Askren fights. "@benaskren when ambien can't sleep it takes Ben Askren. The most boring fighter in MMA history. I would rather watch flys fuck" -Dana White "FIIIIIIIGHT WEEEEEK!!!!!! Jones vs Evans this Sat. I leave Abu Dhabi in a few hours and get Vlogs going this week." -Dana White, after all the issues, he's back to business. There's a ton of tweets after the jump, but first, don't forget to follow me on twitter: @antontabuena Oh, and these guys are probably worth following as well: The Official BloodyElbow Twitter Account, Luke Thomas, Kid Nate, Brent Brookhouse, Richard Wade, Chris Barton, Damon O, Scott Broussard, Tim Burke, Matt Bishop, Fraser Coffeen, Dallas Winston, KJ Gould, Ben Thapa, Josh Nason, T.P. Grant. CHAEL P. SONNEN'S VOICE OF REASON "Top of AMAZON list, and soon to be New York Best Seller..." -Chael Sonnen, who's new book is out for $14.85 in Amazon. "VIDEO: The latest #ChaelsCorner on #ufctonight is a doozy! @Alistairovereem + @sonnench + #PEDs = Gold" -UFC on FUEL RANDOM TWIDBITS "At what point is one so hairy they should start using conditioner on their body hair. Cus I'm getting close" -Forrest Griffin ‏ "It's National Kiss Day! If any random person tries to kiss me I'm treating them like a terrorist." -Tim Kennedy ‏ "If I had to pick one ( more) guy to knock me out it be @BrianStann cus he'd do it classy like" -Forrest Griffin ‏ "Yes we have pole dancing at #AKA it's awesome! http://lockerz.com/s/202178005" -Luke Rockhold TWICTURES "220lb War Machine" -Jon Jones "Showing off some ink" -Alessio Sakara "Lookn a bit young here. My friends used to call me the " angry boy scout"" -Duane Ludwig ‏ "This is the face you make you you think you're about to start blogging but actually take a picture on accident" -Ronda Rousey ‏ "Plse keep ur eye out for this man He's 5'4" 180 lbs Dresses dapper & may b attached 2 a small Italian woman @JoeJitsu" -Urijah Faber ‏ "#spandex" -Arianny Celeste "My dog... May or may not like this. Happy Easter!" -Amir Sadollah BLACKZILIANS "What's this team in South Florida all about?" -Ultimate Insider FABER AND CRUZ GET HEATED ON TUF

Posted in: mma, ben, dana, rlm, amazon video

Chael’s Corner: MMA Media Has Failed

In this week’s edition of ‘Chael’s Corner’, Mr. Sonnen has some harsh words for the MMA media following the Alistair Overeem PED situation. UFC Tonight airs every Tuesday at 10:00pm ET/7:00pm PT on FUEL TV.

Posted in: mma, media, chael, mma media, corner

The Blackzilians: Who Are They? And Why Other MMA Camps Should Worry

submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [4 comments]

Posted in: mma, camp, mattyblayze, blackzilian, mma camps

Take 13 minutes to yourself and watch the most entertaining Australian MMA fight of the week

When the book of Australian MMA is written, it will be dominated by Brian Ebersole and Hector Lombard, but depending on the date of publication of these Australian MMA memoirs there may need to be some pages filled... So let's say if the book on Australian MMA was written. Done. Completely finished and we have it edited and we have publishers 'GTG' (Good To Go) in both the print and eco-friendly electronic formats for Kindle, Nook and all the other major e-readers out the door published today - this championship fight for Shindo MMA between the champ 'Diamond' Dan Pauling and challenger James Vainikolo would have at least 500 to 1,00 words dedicated to it. Maybe even a whole chapter. Watch this Rocky style back and forth fight then click here when you're around the 9 minute mark in the video for added effect. Dan Pauling - Diamond Zombie. [Source]

Posted in: fight, mma, championship fight, australian mma, australian

UFC demands retraction from MMA website

The UFC announced it served a demand for retraction to an MMA website for defamatory statements attributed to UFC president Dana White.

Posted in: ufc, mma, website, mma website, demand

Mailbag: Jon Jones is the man, but the power of Rashad Evans will make for an intriguing UFC 145 ()

All eyes will be on the huge main event in Atlanta, yet several subplots on the MMA circuit are worth discussing.

Posted in: mma, rashad evans, eye, power, mma circuit

If you didn't know Invicta's Jessica Penne, you will after our interview with her

If you search Jessica Penne on Google, you will eventually be flooded by results for recipes on how to cook with penne pasta. For those unfamiliar with that particular type of tasty carbohydrate, it's a pasta in the shape of a tube. If assembled properly, one can make an entire pipe from an assortment of penne pasta. In theory, you can run a plumbing system composed entirely from penne pasta. It's the preferred type of pasta for both Super Mario Brothers. The only loss Jessica Penne ever received in her six-year MMA career was to Zoila Frausto back at Bellator 25. On April 28th, Penne will look to rack up her ninth win against former Bellator fighter, Lisa Ellis-Ward at Invicta's inaugural all-female MMA card. LayzieTheSavage caught up Penne since he has some strange habit of catching up with everyone in the MMA industry and nabbed this interview. Take some time to get to know Jessica Penne, since you obviously will never get to know yourself. Oh, cognitive psychological burn, son. Props to LowKick for the banner pic.

Posted in: mma, jessica, pasta, penne, penne pasta

If you don't know Invicta's Jessica Penne, you will after our interview with her

Posted in: mma, jessica, pasta, penne, penne pasta

Jackson's Introduces an MMA Belt Ranking System

submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [7 comments]

Posted in: mma, jackson, mattyblayze, system, mma belt

Bill to legalize and regulate MMA in Connecticut clears Finance Committee - MMA News

submitted by swampskater [link] [comment]

Posted in: mma, bill, finance, swampskater link, connecticut

HKL Link Roundup For Tuesday April 17th, 2012

Well, a bunch of things happened this past weekend. UFC on FUEL TV 2 made for an enjoyable Saturday afternoon, and there were a bunch of storylines to follow in the aftermath. Bellator 65 was the evening before that and it saw Eduardo Dantas knock off Zack Makovsky to claim the 135lb Bellator belt. The next 135 tournament also kicked off and the coverage is all there. Anderson Silva's title defense against Chael Sonnen might be getting bumped back due to a schedule conflict with the United Nations. They've got a conference in town that weekend and that's putting a huge monkey wrench in the works. UFC Rio might get its date changed, the fight might get moved to Vegas... who knows. Another tidbit of news to come out of Sweden was Dana White putting an end to the #rallyformarkhunt business with typical sarcasm. I'm about as shocked as I was when I heard that 'Reem and Cyborg Santos popped for PEDs. The issue of PED's in MMA is sticking around (with good reason), and Uncle Dana is mad about it. His claim that the UFC can't randomly drug test every fighter didn't hold water with Ben Askren (or me, but I don't really count) and Ben being the outspoken guy he is, wasn't afraid to say something. Dana shot back with some childish, albeit hilarious comments (that he stole from actual comedians) about Ben's skills, and even threw in a Fitch joke for good measure. Lols were had by all, but yea, they still need to do more drug testing. The UFC will be Jon Jones' chief sponsor for UFC 145: Jones vs. Evans and while it makes sense in some ways, as Rashad Evans pointed out, it kind of shows which fighters the company is playing favorites with. I don't see this being good in the long run, as he's kind of right and it'll probably just bring about a few hard feelings every time it's contract negotiation time. To follow up on the FanShot I wrote last week that linked to Frank Trigg's marital, work-related and legal problems, Frank went on the MMA Hour to offer up his side, and un-surprisingly, there's a whole lot more to be said. I can't think of anything else to add, other than I hope nothing illegal happened to anyone and everyone can wind up happy. What can I say, I'm a sap at heart. Neither B.J. Penn or Gina Carano are actually committing to being and staying retired, despite both of them leaning that way. Baby Jay danced around the issue while in attendance for UFCOF2, while Gina is just enjoying her current line of work now, but maybe in the future whatever. Finally, a couple of odds and ends from the USA Today.Dale Earnhardt's grandson is looking towards a possible MMA future and Connecticut's State Assembly is getting closer to passing a bill that would legalize and regulate mixed martial arts in the state. Not done yet, but progress.

Posted in: ufc, mma, i dont, nations theyve, ufc cant

Morning Report: Jones vs. Evans Gets Heated, Dustin Poirier Fights Off Zombie Apocalypse

There's been so many minor blips in the lengthy saga of Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans, it's getting harder to not tune out and just wait until Saturday. Yesterday, Rashad handled the latest mini-drama about as well as he could when he hesitantly pulled out the ‘it is what it is' defense in regards to the UFC heaving their sponsorship dollars behind Jon Jones at UFC 145. Of course, that's pretty much the only thing "Suga" could have said without throwing his employers under the bus, but it was the shrewd combination of reluctance and resentment that made the answer intriguing. While the sponsorship in and of itself is certainly nothing to get up in arms about, the general public consensus seems to be a reluctant, ‘well, this isn't a big deal, but it's still a little off,' which is pretty on-point. To draw a parallel from another sport, if the NBA Finals featured the Lakers vs. Celtics, and NBA Commissioner David Stern randomly threw his weight behind LA, people would look at the situation a little cock-eyed. At the end of the day, favoritism is never a good look if it's coming from the top. It's clear the UFC wants Jon Jones to reach the GSP/Silva/Lesnar level of marketability, and a win on Saturday would go a long way in making that a reality. But to do it so publicly, and in the face of another legitimate star who also has a track record of being the perfect company man, is somewhat odd. Again, it's not the end of the world, but it's got to be a little off-putting if you're Rashad. 5 MUST-READ STORIES Rashad Evans unbothered by UFC sponsoring Jon Jones. A reluctant Rashad Evans offered up the 'it is what it is' defense while discussing the UFC's surprising sponsorship of Jon Jones at UFC 145. The MMA Hour. Ariel Helwani returned with another lively edition of The MMA Hour, featuring Chuck Liddell, Rashad Evans, Pat Miletich, Siyar Bahadurzada, Dustin Poirier, Tim Credeur, Michael McDonald and Frank Trigg. Nate Marquardt expects Woodley fight to be for Strikeforce title. Former UFC pariah Nate Marquardt revealed that his May 19th Strikeforce debut against Tyron Woodley is expected to a five-round title fight for the promotion's vacant welterweight strap. Former UFC champs break down Jones vs. Evans. From Frank Shamrock to Shogun Rua, each past UFC light heavyweight champion took their stab at analyzing Saturday's massive UFC 145 title fight. As an added bonus, Chuck Liddell, the most dominant 205-pound champ in UFC history, gave his take on how he would have fought Jon Jones back in the day. Muay Thai legend Buakaw trains jiu jitsu. Storied Muay Thai champion Buakaw Por. Pramuk recently began training jiu jitsu under black belt Adam Kayoom in Thailand, leading to speculation of a possible transition to MMA. MEDIA STEW How better for Dustin Poirier to prepare for a potential No. 1 contender bout against "The Korean Zombie" than by brushing up on his undead-smashing skills for this latest Fightville promo? (HT: MMA Mania) If you missed out on the Bellator 65 undercard last Friday, you definitely need to check out former champ Lyman Good's 13-second romp over LeVon Maynard. Throughout all the Jones-Evans pre-fight mud-slinging, the very end of this clip is the first legit time we can remember hearing Bones bust out his biggest trump card. What kind of boredom comes from an isolated house filled with 16 testosterone-fueled dudes? The best kind. OUCH! @thefightweek @benaskren when ambien can't sleep it takes Ben Askren. The most boring fighter in MMA history. I would rather watch flys fuck — Dana White (@danawhite) April 16, 2012 LETS DRAG FITCH INTO THIS @joshuahchalfant Ben makes Fitch look like Wanderlei Silva!!! — Dana White (@danawhite) April 16, 2012 WELL ALLOW ME TO RETORT @danawhite glad you know my name now.Before I was just the bushy haired wrestler. — Ben Askren (@Benaskren) April 16, 2012 FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS Announced yesterday (Friday, April 13, 2012 - Sunday, April 15, 2012): - Bellator 71: Roger Hollett (13-3) vs. Attila Vegh (24-4-2) - Bellator 71: Richard Hale (18-4-1) vs. Beau Tribolet (7-1) - Bellator 71: Travis Wiuff (66-14) vs. TBA - Bellator 71: Marcus Vanttinen (21-3) vs. Philipe Lins (5-0) FANPOST OF THE DAY Today's Fanpost of the Day is really just a not-so-subtle way for BE's Dave Strummer to clown us all: 10 Signs You Are an MMA Hipster "Hipster" is an enigmatic appelation. Part of the problem is that one of the core requirements for being a hipster is that you must categorically deny that you are a hipster. Indeed, calling yourself a hipster is -- ironically enough -- one of the only proven ways to demonstrate that you aren't one. As the name has worked its way deeper into our lexicon, it's not enough just to be a hipster anymore. You've got music hipsters, film hipsters, book hipsters, and of course, MMA hipsters. Since -- as we've already discussed -- self-awareness is paradoxically impossible for those afflicted with this 21st Century malady, I thought I'd put together this helpful list of 10 signs that you, or someone you know, may be an MMA hipster. 10) You can make a convincing, passionate case for a non-Zuffa fighter being the best in the world in one of the UFC's established weight classes (give yourself a bonus point if that fighter is Japanese). 9) You un-ironically refer to the majority of MMA fans as the "The Just Bleed Crowd." 8) You have a "favorite submission" (give yourself a bonus point if it ends in "-plata"). Found something perfect for the Morning Report? Just hit me on Twitter @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in tomorrow's post.

Posted in: ufc, mma, jone, vs, hipster

Dana White says amateur MMA is "BS" until it appears at the Olympics

submitted by easternamigo [link] [3 comments]

Posted in: mma, amateur, olympic, amateur mma, easternamigo

The MMA Hour - Episode 127 - Rashad Evans

Posted in: mma, hour, episode, rashad, evan

The MMA Hour - Episode 127 - Miletich

Posted in: mma, hour, episode, miletich

The MMA Hour - Episode 127 - MiO

Posted in: mma, hour, episode

The MMA Hour - Episode 127 - Chuck Liddell

Posted in: mma, hour, episode, chuck, liddell

The MMA Hour - Episode 127 - Michael McDonald

Posted in: mma, hour, michael, episode, mcdonald

The MMA Hour - Episode 127 - Frank Trigg

Posted in: mma, hour, episode, trigg

The MMA Hour - Episode 127 - Siyar Bahadurzada

Posted in: mma, hour, episode, bahadurzada, siyar

Muay Thai Legend Buakaw Trains Jiu Jitsu, Is He MMA Bound?

It's been a tumultuous past few weeks for the man known to kickboxing fans around the world as Buakaw Por. Pramuk. As we previously reported, the former K-1 MAX two-time champion left his longtime training camp amidst some nasty accusations of financial mismanagement. Now using the name Buakaw Banchamek (or Buakaw Banchemak depending on which Anglicized spelling you prefer), the Thai legend is now training on his own. And that training has led him to an interesting path - jiu jitsu. Buakaw recently stopped in at Bangkok's Q23 Academy and trained jiu jitsu under Adam Kayoom. Kayoom is a decorated black belt under Ricardo Liborio and one of the top BJJ instructors in Thailand. He had this to say about Buakaw's work in jiu jitsu: Buakaw has a lot of potential. He's very sharp, listens very well to instructions and is able to apply it (the techniques) quickly and very well. And on top of that a real gentleman. Very respectful. A real champion. He was very friendly to my friends and students in and out of the academy. It was a real pleasure to have him on the mats. Obviously it's too early to say if anything will come of this, but it's definitely interesting. With fellow Muay Thai legend Orono Wor Petchpun making the jump to MMA, and with Buakaw's current troubles with his camps, could he also be considering a change? If so, he would be the highest level kickboxer to have ever made the transition to MMA. I'm almost definitely getting my hopes up for nothing here, but as a Buakaw fan and an MMA fan, I can't help but be intrigued. Next up for Buakaw is a Thai Fight event tomorrow (April 17) where he is scheduled to face French fighter Mickael Cornubet. There were questions if he would be able to fight on the event due to his Por. Pramuk contract, but it looks like he will indeed be taking part.

Posted in: mma, jitsu, thai, jiu, buakaw

Dana White: I'd rather watch flies fuck than Ben Askren fight - MMA News

submitted by swampskater [link] [9 comments]

Posted in: fight, mma, ben, news, askren

Such a good article about Jones and Evan by MMA Fighting

submitted by daveox [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: mma, jone, evan, article, daveox

The MMA Hour With Liddell, Miletich, Trigg, Bahadurzada, Poirier and Credeur

The MMA Hour is back in your life on Monday, and here's a rundown of who will be stopping by this time around: * UFC legend Chuck Liddell will discuss the rise of fellow 205-pounder Alexander Gustafsson and one of the biggest light heavyweight title fights ever between Jon Jones and Rashad Evans. * Pat Miletich will also help preview some upcoming cards and continue our discussion about Ben Askren last week. * Frank Trigg will clear up the rumors about his personal life and his recent release from HDNet. * UFC Sweden star Siyar Bahadurzada will look back at his vicious knockout of Paulo Thiago and look ahead to what's next for him. * Dustin Poirier and Tim Credeur will join us together to discuss the release of their documentary "Fightville" on April 20. Plus, we'll be taking your calls on anything and everything. Got a question or comment? Give us a call at 1-888-418-4074. Watch the show live below beginning at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT / 6 p.m. GMT. Subscribe to The MMA Hour on iTunes: audio feed here; video feed here. Download previous episodes here. Listen to the show via Stitcher here or via TuneIn here.

Posted in: mma, mma hour, hour, tim credeur, video feed

MMA Quick Quote: Gina Carano still not announcing her retirement from fighting

"No, I haven't. I think it's really nice for me to get into this new career. I know I can't make a living fighting, nor would I want to make a living fighting for the rest of my life. Plus it's been a decade now. I don't know if you've been reporting or doing something for 10 years, but after you do it long enough and you find something else to put your energy towards, it's just like starting over but it's fresh and you have the energy all of a sudden to do it. ... I don't want to be one of those people that says, 'Oh, I retire. Okay, I'm back. Oh, I retire. Okay, I'm back.' I'm just like okay, this is what I'm doing right now. Who knows what's going to come after it? I really haven't really gotten that far yet." -- In a recent interview with CraveOnline.com, former Strikeforce Women's Champion Gina Carano was unwilling to announce whether or not she has, in fact, retired from the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA). That's because she's just living in the moment, enjoying her newfound success as a movie starlet in films like the critically acclaimed Haywire and her latest role, In The Blood. Essentially, as long as Hollywood will have her, she's got little to no reason to venture back to the fight game that made her famous in the first place. In her absence, new stars have risen -- see Rousey, Ronda and Tate, Miesha -- but the allure of spearheading the growth of women's MMA no longer holds the prestige it once did. Besides, UFC President Dana White has remained firm in his stance that the women's division simply isn't deep enough to warrant placement within his promotion. So if the choice is "Tinseltown" or Strikeforce, it's easy to see why Carano remains strong in her "conviction" to pursue acting. Sorry, Maniacs, but we may very well have seen the last of her inside the cage, even if she's not willing to say as much. Sad?

Posted in: mma, women, carano, im, i dont

FOR THE LOVE OF MMA (highlight video)

submitted by the_scouse_bomb [link] [comment]

Posted in: mma, video, love, thescousebomb, thescousebomb link

UFC on Fuel 2 Results: Sunday Morning Perspective

UFC on Fuel 2 ended a major UFC dry spell and MMA fans everywhere have quenched their thirst for Octagon action. This most recent trip to Europe seemed to have finally yielded the second foothold in Europe Zuffa has been seeking. Sweden seems to be an ideal landing pad for the UFC, with a growing middle class and healthy economy creating an entertainment demand that the current sports culture there cannot fill. In addition, they have a combat sports scene that is strong but isn't so strong that it will resist the infusion of MMA, as the boxing community did in Germany. Northern Europe has been a fertile ground for MMA and Sweden could become a hub for UFC presence in the area. And with a healthy number of Nordic fighters already in the upper levels of MMA, it seems like Sweden is set to be a new nexus of European UFC action. Also I need to mention how awesome the Swedish Athletic Commission was on Saturday. The referees, beyond one awful standup, were quite good. The judges also were excellent and seemed to get every decision correct, a few eyebrow raising scorecards aside. I just mention this because of the notable absence of the normal one or two horrendous moments normally caused by American Athletic Commissions on most major MMA cards. It was a nice change of pace and good sign for MMA's possible growth in Sweden. Lets get to the action that took place this weekend: Alexander Gustafsson looked awesome. Thaigo Silva is a tough fight, no matter how you approach him and Gustafsson handled him over three rounds. Gustafsson's movement looked excellent, as he danced circles around Silva for much of the fight. His hands also looked very improved, he was firing snapping, quick punches that made maximum use of his reach advantage over Silva. It was an impressive performance that certainly launches Gustafsson into the upper ranks of the Light Heavyweight division. There should be no complaints about this fight not having a finish, this was just the kind of fight Gustafsson needed to have. Now seven fights into his UFC career, he is really coming into his own as a fighter and it is getting very exciting to watch him. Now Gustafsson's developmental path has been up a fairly gentle slope when compared to the steep jumps in competition taken by Jon Jones in his path to the title. As the sport continues to expand, the path of prospects will likely begin to resemble more of what Gustafsson has done and the Jon Jones experience will become increasingly rare. In boxing prospects often are given fights to build up "ring time" and MMA journalists, like Sherdog's Jordan Breen, are already pushing the idea of getting prospects "cage time". Gustafsson's fight against Silva is the perfect example of this concept of getting a prospect quality cage time. He worked a wide range of techniques from a variety of kicks and an awesome foot-sweep trip against Silva. But Gustafsson also made mistakes, getting hit hard at times and having to fight his way out of minor trouble. All together performance like that against a fighter of the caliber of Thiago Silva is a a fight that will benefit Gustafsson's career and foster future growth much more than a first round knock out. That said, it is not time to rush Gustafsson into a title shot. Allow him another fight or two before putting him into the #1 contender shot. I'm not the guy to play match maker but a fight were Gustafsson needs to use his ground game would be best. Either a striker like Lyoto Machida or Mauricio "Shogun" Rua who could use their striking to make Gustafsson get aggressive for takedowns or a big, powerful wrestler like Ryan Bader who could possibly put Gustafsson on his back. Brain Stann notched another middleweight win with his highlight reel knockout of Alessio Sakara. While a fun fight and good bounce back win for Stann after the man-handling Chael Sonnen put on him, this fight doesn't seem to accomplish much for Stann. We all know he hits hard, we all know he is strong in the clinch and we all know what a classy guy he is, so what did we learn from this fight? Stann is certainly a deserving UFC Middleweight and win is never a bad thing in the UFC, but this does not move Stann's stock up much, if at all. SBN coverage of UFC on FUEL TV 2 more after the jump... I thought Siyar Bahadurzada had killed Paulo Thiago. Seriously, that was one hell of a knock out. We all knew Siyar could bang, but Thiago had never been finished before and Siyar dropped him like a bad habit. Ok, enough gushing about that punch, lets take a real look at that fight for Siyar. While impressive, a fight that quick often leaves more questions than answers. We still have no idea how his ground game has improved since his 2008 submission losses to Jorge Santiago and Kazuo Misaki. We don't know how his cardio looks as Siyar has only gone three rounds once in his career. So while impressive, this win does not give us any sort real measurement of Siyar as a fighter. He is going to need another test from the UFC to gauge where he stands in the division and I'm betting the next time around he gets a wrestler. Dennis Siver's featherweight debut was causing some hand wringing after the weigh-ins, in which Siver looked very drawn out. As it turned out Siver looked pretty good and actually seemed to get stronger as the fight went on. Don't think Siver is going to take Aldo's title away from him but he is certainly looking like an interesting featherweight. John Mcguaire and DeMarques Johnson's match fantastically fun to watch. It was back and forth, but Johnson made the first major mistake. I'm not a big fan of the kimura from the bottom of half guard, it requires a lot of strength and if it doesn't work you can get yourself in trouble. As Johnson found out the hard way when he lost control of the half-guard and got the Matt Hughes on Geroges St. Pierre spinning armbar. Brad Pickett was dominate, truly dominate. He won every phase of that fight with Damacio Page, and did basically what ever he wanted. There is no shame getting beat up a little by Renan Pegado, and Pickett has bounced back like a true warrior. Pickett's striking is really coming along, keep in mind his "One Punch" nickname was originally a misinformation move as he was straight submission guy in his early career, but Pickett has developed some nice punching power of late. I know Papy Abedi was ranked as BE's #1 Middleweight Prospect a year ago, but after that rather sad showing against James Head I'm revoking his prospect status. Abedi will likely hang around in the UFC, but until he develops a real ground game and shores up his striking he will just be filler on European cards. Bonus Bellator 65 Perspective: Eduardo Dantas really looked like another elite Novia Uniao product. He was just plain awesome, on the feet and on the mat. His jiu jitsu game was a treat to watch, both his guard and his passing game. And a great arm-triangle to finish the fight to boot. I don't claim to know every arm-triangle escape, or even most of them, but the timing of Zach Makovsky's escape seemed to be very off and he just assisted in choking himself out. That all said, I'd like to see more of Dantas moving forward, grappling against guys his size as he was much larger and stronger than Makovsky, who looked like a prime candidate for a Bellator Flyweight division. Marcos Galvao and Ed West was my fight of the night for Bellator 65, as it had a very high pace and tons of action. Galvao another Nova Uniao fighter awesome fight, had some truly sublime guard passes and very active side control, throwing knees and strikes instead of just controlling. Very fun match, looking forward to seeing Galvao moving forward. Daniel Straus had a good showing in his fight, fought with a much more urgent, aggressive pace and had some real success striking. Mike Corey really didn't seem to have an answer for that straight left but Straus kept clinching instead of staying at range. Old habits I suppose. One Ultimate Fighter thought, now that the FX and TUF Live shine has worn off and now it is just TUF again. The show is falling back into the old rhythm of drama, prank, training, coach trash talk and then mildly entertaining fight. Not saying it is terrible, it just isn't that different from past seasons. SBN coverage of Bellator 65

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, silva, gustafsson

5 Oz. MMA Link Club

Welcome back to another edition of “MMA Link Club”, Five Ounces of Pain‘s weekly smorgasbord of offerings from our brothers and sisters in the MMA community. Enjoy… Highlights from Chael Sonnen’s Recent Q&A with Fans (Fightline.com) Nick Diaz’s Attorney Issues Second Statement to NSAC (5thRound.com) Who are the Pros Picking in the Upcoming Title-Fight Between Jon Jones-Rashad Evans? (TheFightNerd.com) Ten Questions with Martin Kampmann (HeavyMMA.com) A Look at Five Possible Opponents for Brian Stann (BleacherReport.com) Jim Miller Signs Sponsorship Deal with TapouT (MMAPayout.com) Things Getting Messy for FEG in Japan (FightOpinion.com) Conference Call Audio from the Recent Sitdown with Jones-Evans (MMAConvert.com) Ed Soares Thinks Sonnen is an “Idiot” (LowKick.com) One-Handed Fighter Nick Newell Remains Undefeated with Win at XFC 17 (MMAMania.com) PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: mma, nick, mma community, sonnen, pain ‘s

The Sunday Morning Rumor Mill

Finally, the Sunday Morning Rumor Mill has returned to satisfy your quirky need to know what's being talked about in the MMA world. These nuggets of info sometimes hit, sometimes miss, but you guys really want them in your life -- so I'll deliver it. The SMRM took a three-week hiatus but now that it's back, I expect all of you to bake a tray of oatmeal cookies in my honor. It's not that unreasonable of an expectation, is it? It may sound impossible, but from what I've heard the past few days, it appears that Alistair Overeem will be able to fight Junior dos Santos despite his testosterone levels registering much higher than normal after a surprise pre-fight drug test. When Alistair fought Lesnar, technically he never was truly licensed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Overeem had a conditional license at UFC 141, so in reality the NSAC can't revoke a license that Alistair Overeem never had. If Alistair can prove that he was prescribed TRT before the positive test, then his chance of fighting at UFC 146 increases dramatically. UFC Rio is still slated, however it appears a UN meeting may push the event back (or forward) a week. There's a rumor floating around Russia that Fedor Emelianenko's next opponent will be Tim Sylvia. However, there's another rumor that originates from the US that Fedor's next opponent will be Bobby Lashley, but it seems that he's pricing himself out of the potential bout. Texas University Interscholastic League (UIL) plans to add MMA to their curriculum, if funding provides. Bellator/Viacom has barred certain media outlets from getting access to Bellator events or communications. Unfortunately, MiddleEasy is one of those outlets. There is 0% chance Mark Hunt will get a title shot if Alistair Overeem is unable to compete against Junior dos Santos. Sort of a wild rumor, but when K-1 comes to Los Angeles later this year, Jean-Claude Van Damme may actually compete at the event. Yeah, I know. I'll believe it when I see it. Phil Baroni is slated to fight on a September ONE FC card. People seem to be overlooking the main reason why Jon Jones is being sponsored by UFC in his fight against Rashad Evans is because FORM Athletic no longer exists. A relatively large MMA site has their ZUFFA credentials revoked this month due to some tweets that were published in late March/early April. Not necessarily MMA, but it appears Badr Hari is on the verge of signing with K-1. The allure to knock heads off appears to have drawn him out of retirement. Sorry guys, but we have no idea what's going on with Strikeforce.com. 345 Games seeks to take even more MMA/combat related Spike TV assets and convert them into videogames. The next ProElite event is going to be in San Jose on June 2012. A lot of you guys called it when it happened, but don't be surprised if King Mo is signed by the UFC after his mandatory suspension is up. Two years ago Sly Stallone teased on Twitter of making a 'Rocky' movie with an MMA twist. Now it appears this may not be so far off. UFC's Mark Fischer was in attendance at ONE FC: War of the Lions in Singapore. Heavy rumor, but now that Buakaw is training Brazilian jiu-jitsu, people believe that he intends to make a run at MMA. Apparently Kevin Rosier from UFC 1 and 4 is roaming around the streets of New York, suffering from brain damage and severe poverty.

Posted in: ufc, mma, alistair overeem, alistair, rumor

BJ Penn: "I am done. I will never fight again"

Translated article from http://www.nettavisen.no/sport/kampsport/article3376173.ece B.J. Penn came to his feet and talked about career highlights, MMA in Norway and Jon Jones. STOCKHOLM (Nettavisen): After loss to Nick Diaz in October last year, announced earlier lightweight champion BJ Penn that he put up as fighter. It prevents him not to travel to Stockholm to pick up this weekend's UFC competition in the Globe. 33-year-old from Hawaii is one of the most familiar faces in UFC history and can not walk three feet in the hallways of the hotel without being stopped by eager fans. Nettavisen met the popular American voter to fight in Stockholm on Friday evening. Characterized by jet lag and all the commotion, had B.J. passed out just minutes before the interview. He appeared, however up to the agreement. My last game is done After more than ten years as a fighter to the very highest level in the world, one would think that it would be a little hard to decide to put a line through it all. But B.J. seems to thrive. "I miss not being punched in the face. I don't know, I have no plans to go for a game ever again. I don't miss it" says B.J. Penn Nettavisen. Although he has given himself as a professional MMA athlete, he has not stopped exercising. He admits, however, that has kills more relaxed now than he did before. "I still train martial arts for fun, I do all the time. I don't train as much MMA, so it is mostly grappling and different things." "I practice when I want, and it is good that there is no way that I must be at the gym. If I'm tired one day, I take it easy and teach things to others." Career Highlights From 2008 to 2010 was B.J. the undisputed king of UFCs lightweight class and went to a total of ten title fights in the organization. The highlights are many, but 33-year-old has two memories that skilelr from the rest. *"My best memory is my first fight in the UFC against Joey Gilbert. I still remember the excitement when I walked into the cage. It was great. Also I must mention the time I took the belt from Matt Hughes for many years (2004, editor.). They're probably my two greatest career moments" says Penn. Surprised by Norwegian ban His own career may be over, but B.J. still uses a lot of time in MMA. "I still enjoy myself watching the UFC. It's great to see young players coming up and do new things. New moves, new battle plans, new ways to win. I'm still a big fan of UFC." He is surprised when he learns that either MMA or professional boxing is allowed in Norway. He believes that politicians and the citizens have to put into the sport and understand what it's all about if it ever be legalized. "It's like anything else. People need to educated and understand what it means. Since neither boxing is allowed, I guess that it's punches and kicks to the head that is the problem. It must be the first hurdle to get over, but it sounds like it will be a tough game." Belief in Jon Jones Next weekend is held UFC 145 in Atlanta, and it's time for a major confrontation between the bitter rivals Rashad Evans and Jon Jones. B.J. is delighted. "I think it is a very good match. I think Rashad Evans will do well if he manages to take Jon Jones down, while Jones will do best if the fight remains standing. I think it will be the key in the fight." You would think that it tingled a bit in the arms and legs of an old champion in connection with such a fight, but BJ is sure in his cause. "I am done. I will never fight again." submitted by red1392 [link] [2 comments]

Posted in: ufc, mma, penn, bj, quoti

International MMA Federation Faces Obstacles, But It's Needed, Says Marc Ratner

UFC VP of regulatory affairs Marc Ratner knows that self-regulation is a problem just waiting to happen, and he wants to get out of the business altogether as soon as he can. As he told me when I spoke to him for this Sports Illustrated story this week:“You don't want a promoter self-regulating. For us, what we've been doing is trying to grow the sport. But when I'm in charge, I still work for the promoter, so there's an inherent conflict and we're the first to admit that. But you can't grow the sport unless you do that to start with.”That’s why the former Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director seems to be hoping that the brand new International MMA Federation (IMMAF) will become the independent worldwide regulator that this sport needs. But as anyone who has observed the struggles of state athletic commissions in the U.S. already knows, it’s a big job with plenty of built-in barriers. August Wallen -- a Swedish businessman and former president of the Swedish MMA Federation -- is the man in charge of making it happen. As president of the IMMAF, he’s the one who has to find a way to get the entire world to agree on how MMA should be regulated. He’s got the support of the UFC, so he’s off to a good start. As he told me on Thursday, his vision for the IMMAF is of a body that will encourage the creation of national federations in every country that wants to hold MMA events, then unite them under a single standard. It’s the way every other international sport does it, he said, so why not MMA?But when you can’t get California and Nevada to agree on an acceptable testosterone/epitestosterone ratio, what hope is there to create a United States MMA federation that holds the entire country to one standard?“U.S. is actually, legally, a very complicated matter,” Wallen said. “There has to be a national federation. I guess you have that for all the other sports, because otherwise you couldn’t be in the Olympics. You couldn’t take part in world championships in any sport unless you had a national federation.”Having the UFC’s backing is certainly a helpful booster. In a press release touting its support of the IMMAF, the UFC quoted CEO Lorenzo Fertitta as saying, “In order to maintain the successful growth of our sport, it is important to invest in resources that will develop and cultivate it at an amateur level. Having an umbrella organization that will oversee and help build the sport on a global level will not only provide advanced and ever-improving safety standards but will also create a unified global model to help introduce the sport to new markets. It is our hope that it will also take us one step closer to witnessing the inclusion of the sport of MMA on the Olympic programme.”Then again, as Maggie Hendricks at Cagewriter points out, getting your sport in the Olympics isn’t as simple as starting up an international federation. It’s one thing to call yourself a worldwide regulator, and quite another to be one. For Saturday's event in Stockholm, the Swedish MMA Federation is the regulator in charge, and they’ll be handling it much like a state athletic commission would in the U.S., according to president George Sallfeldt. The federation oversaw Friday’s weigh-ins, including the handling of Dennis Siver’s initial weigh-in mishap -- the German fighter made the 145-pound limit on his second try -- and it will handle the drug testing for this event, according to Sallfeldt, who said that “probably everybody [on the UFC on FUEL TV 2 fight card] will be tested, so that’s no different from what you see in the U.S.”At the same time, the complaint we hear from state commissions usually has to do with funding. Where will the IMMAF draw its cash, and how will it do so without being influenced by those it’s supposed to be regulating?“The International MMA Federation is completely independent, autonomous, democratic, and non-profit,” said Wallen. “We will, of course, be happy for any donations, but we cannot promise anything in return, ever. Even if you just want to sponsor, where we take money to show someone’s logo -- we don’t do that.”The way Ratner sees it, any international commission should derive most of its funding through a “sanction fee” from promoters. Some might not want to pay -- or be as capable as paying as the UFC is -- but it’s the only way to keep it legitimate, said Ratner.“If this is going to be independent, you know, we would help them, but we’re going to be under them. We’re not going to be partners with them.”How an international commission might work and whether the idea will even get off the ground in any meaningful way remains to be seen. The IMMAF is still only weeks old, after all. According to Ratner, however, the UFC needs to get out of the self-regulation business, which means it needs a reliable, independent regulator in places like Japan and Brazil, and it needs it soon.“I just think it’s better for the sport,” said Ratner. “With my prior years with the Nevada Athletic Commission, I can certainly do it if I have to. But I also know that there’s a fine line there when you’re the promoter, so I think this is very important. If we want to go somewhere and this federation isn’t in place, we may have to still self-regulate, but hopefully this federation will be out there. It’s going to take time, though. It’s not going to be an overnight process.”

Posted in: mma, sport, commission, itrsquo, federation

UFC on FUEL: Gustafsson vs. Silva Preview – The Undercard

Bellator, XFC, TUF Live, TUF Brazil, BAMMA; in the six weeks that the UFC has been away, we’ve still had our fair share of MMA, but it feels good to have the familiar octagon back on Saturdays. The kick-off to what will be a very busy summer for everybody in the MMA world, UFC on [...]

Posted in: ufc, mma, tuf, share, summer

Lefko on MMA: New IMMAF must address PEDs

The newly-launched International MMA Federation is nice but it needs to focus first on the problem of PEDs in the sport.

Posted in: mma, lefko, ped, federation, mma federation

U.S. Freestyle Wrestling Olympic Trials Preview: Henry Cejudo, Jordan Burroughs

Every four years, something special happens: a bunch of American wrestlers who have dominated their sport for years get together to decide who will get to try to beat the rest of the world in the Olympic Games. They rarely succeed but even so, victories at the Olympic team trials in wrestling are amazing achievements in and of themselves. There, we watch our wrestlers changing out their American folkstyle wrestling for the international styles of freestyle and Greco. Like exchanging our currency for the Euro, we do not get as much back. In the last three Olympics, the United States has not enjoyed more than one gold medalist in a style in a single Olympics. We are fighting an uphill battle against countries far more sophisticated in tactics suited for Olympic wrestling. Nevertheless we remain one of the better wrestling countries in the world, though we remain eternally behind Russia, the giant of the sport. While the Olympic trials tragically attract far less attention from the wrestling community than collegiate events, it deserves the attention of MMA fans. Directly from these trials, one will see many conversions to professional fighting. The end of Olympic cycles and aspirations are times for reflection and re-evaluation as well as times to wonder whether persisting in a thankless and uncompensated endeavor is worthwhile in relation to the need to provide for mature obligations such as wives and children. It is these times which push wrestlers into mixed martial arts careers. Today, I present to you a preview for the United States Freestyle Wrestling Olympic Team Trials, a collection of some of the finest, most disciplined athletes who may one day enter a cage. Two champions and one runner up from the last Olympic Freestyle Trials, Daniel Cormier, Ben Askren and Muhammed Lawal have already risen to MMA prominence within the last four years. It stands to reason that their success will draw even more Olympic trials participants to MMA with each passing Olympic cycle. Get ready for breakdowns of all seven weight classes after the jump in one of the more in-depth Olympic previews you'll read anywhere. Henry Cejudo wrestling in Times Square 55kg (121lbs) The story at this weight is not whether or not Henry Cejudo, our lone gold medalist from Beijing, will win gold in London, but whether or not he will show up to the trials on weight and in form. Henry has not made weight since Beijing. He has wrestled at only three events since then. One was at the the 2011 Beat the Streets Gala in Time Square where he beat a tough but not great Russian while enjoying close to a ten pound weight allowance. He beat aging former world team member Danny Felix at the Sunkist Kids Invitational in October, and placed second at the Henri Deglane Challenge in November. At the Deglane Challenge he lost to former world silver medalist of Monaco, Ghenadi Tulbea. Tulbea's best international results occurred a decade ago when he wrestled for Moldova, his recent results have not been impressive. Henry needs to beat the Tulbeas of the world to be considered a medal threat in London. Henry's departure from the Ohio Regional Training Center last year raises a serious red flag. His training has taken place largely in seclusion somewhere in Arizona. Secluded training for an Olympic hopeful bodes poorly as wrestlers, like any competitive martial artist, benefit greatly from elite training partners. Henry has seemed far more interested about the play based on his life being performed in Arizona than he has about wrestling. This worries me as a motivated and well trained Cejudo has all the tools to win gold again. I hope he shows up at Iowa City and silences all skeptics, though, sadly, I think this is unlikely. Conventional wisdom puts Cejudo in an MMA career after this Olympic cycle. He trained for a period in boxing, flirting with a boxing career, a sample of him boxing in a state fair for critique of those who know what they are talking about is here. He admits to almost signing with Bellator a few years ago. At 25 years old, with some striking training and the first Olympic gold medal wrestling credentials in a cage since Kevin Jackson, one would have to consider him a prime prospect for high level mixed martial arts achievement in the flyweight division. However, when considering his approach to preparing for this coming Olympics, it serves to wonder if commitment to a lifestyle committed to combat sports will prove to be an issue. After Cejudo I see four legitimate contenders for the Olympic birth: Sam Hazewinkel, Nick Simmons, Obenson Blanc, and Angel Escobedo. Simmons, The East Lansing Strangler, is absolutely enormous for this weight. He represented the U.S. at the last world championships, placing fifth. His results since then, however, have not been encouraging. Obe Blanc placed ninth in the world two years ago and provides a real threat. Angel Escobedo, an NCAA champ from Indiana University is as good as any at the weight. My pick for Olympic Trials champ is Hazewinkel. Sam has been the bridesmaid throughout his wrestling career, maybe the greatest wrestler ever to never win an NCAA championship placing third three times with a runner up finish during his days at Oklahoma University. Sam has been within a hair of making world teams in Greco and in Freestyle and I feel that this time fate will smile upon him. 66kg (134 lbs) We haven't qualified this weight for the Olympics as of yet. We are sending our top guy at this weight, Reece Humphrey, to qualifying tournaments in Finland and China if necessary. If Reece succeeds in qualifiying the weight, a secondary trials will be head at a date TBD. I have included a very simple to comprehend flow chart explaining the qualifying procedures here. I believe this weight will be Humphrey's. He was having a pretty decent world championships until taking a close loss to a randomly tough French wrestler. He has pedigree and athleticism on his side. His father was a world silver medalist himself and national feestlye coach. His athleticism has allowed him a huge rate of improvement while in college at The Ohio State and while competing on the international scene; it also provides him the ability to hit insane throw like this beautiful, albeit illegal, salto on Hofstra's Lou Rugerillo. If Reece's Olympic hopes fail to pan out, he is someone I'd love to see venture into MMA. Athleticism is the name of the game and he has it in spades. Shawn Bunch, the number two guy at his weight has already declared his intention to enter MMA as a bantamweight after this Olympic cycle. He has all the tools to excel in MMA but at age 29 his time to fully realize his potential is shortened. With Mike Zadick beginning to show his age, the remaining interesting participants at this weight will be our young guns. Jordan Olliver and Logan Stieber both with college eligibility remaining have achieved world class status already, with Junior World bronze and silver respectively, and Kellan Russel, two time NCAA champ at 141 will be competing at this weight with his fantastic balance and positioning in tow. Just so I don't forget to mention them, former NCAA champs Matt Valenti and Coleman Scott will also be in contention. 66kg (145.5 lbs) I see this as a three horse race for the slot. Teyon Ware, Brent Metcalf, and Dustin Schlatter all have NCAA championships and world team experience. Unfortunately, this weight likely will not produce an Olympic medal in an internationally stacked weight class. I believe that Schlatter will take this weight. He possesses a style well suited for freestyle, strong in defense and position and calculated with his offense. He will wrestle down a weight from his earlier competitions and it should not be forgotten that most considered him a generational talent early in his collegiate career before struggling with a rash of injuries. Schlatter has indicated that the has at least thought of competing in MMA. The other participant I look forward to seeing in this field is Cary Kolat. Many (including me) still consider Kolat to be the greatest high school wrestler ever. He went on to an illustrious collegiate and international career winning two NCAA titles and medaling twice at world championships. His international experiences include horrible officiating misfortunes at crucial times including a forced re-wrestle of a match he won against an Iranian opponent in the Sydney Olympics, a screw job of a magnitude never seen outside of Montreal. Cary now runs the wrestling room at The University of North Carolina and he looked great at the last chance qualifying tournament. He probably will not win the trials, but hope springs eternal. 74kg (163 lbs) Ah, USA wrestling's brightest rising star: strong, lean, and dazzlingly athletic. He wins a world championship immediately out of college, defeating a Russian superstar in the process. Possessed of an unstoppable blast double and a dazzling array of other offensive maneuvers. I watched him lose in the Olympic trials to an inferior opponent. Then I watched him leave the sport of wrestling to the lucrative fields of professional sports. I am speaking of Stephen Neal world freestyle champ in 1999, who was defeated in the trials by Kerry McKoy in 2000. He went on to a lengthy career with The New England Patriots and wrestling lost one of its potentially greatest stars. Jordan Burroughs' story begins the same as Neal's. The year he graduates from college he wins a world freestyle championship on the strength of, at the risk of underplaying his technical sophistication, dazzling athleticism and an unstoppable blast double. He is the only American wrestler since Neal to go through a Russian superstar on his way to a world/Olympic championship and not receive his medal on a morning talk show. He now stands on the precipice of wrestling immortality, a precipice he can only step over if he wins these trials. Will history repeat itself with Jordan Burroughs? I doubt history repeats itself and if you'd read the flow chart I linked to above, you would see that USA Wrestling has built in a safeguard to prevent another Neal fiasco. Jordan Burroughs has not lost a wrestling match in either free or folkstyle in five years! I doubt he starts losing now. In fact, if Jordan's skills continue to grow at their current rate he could end up being the greatest American Wrestler ever. Jordan Burroughs has also discussed the possibility of fighting professionally. KJ Gould tabbed him as the number one MMA prospect coming out of last year's NCAA championships. Jordan has been seen around MMA events, has kicked it with GSP, and stays in close contact with Daniel Cormier. Putting all this together an MMA career looms likely in Burroughs future. I believe that whether or not this will happen immediately after this Olympics or further down the road hinges on his collecting the $250,000 check for a gold medal. Jordan would need to overcome the substantial obstacle of being a weight tweener in MMA. He seems comfortable at 163 and carries very little body fat placing him squarely between lightweight and welterweight. I am not sure he could drop weight so he may need to add bulk for mma. A tough field will wrestle for the right to face Burroughs in a best of three finals. Current collegian, past NCAA champ and world team member Andrew Howe is his toughest competition on paper. Travis Paulson and Nick Marable have solid international resumes, and Kyle Dake proved to be tough in last year's world trials at this weight. Most exciting of any name other than Jordan Burroughs in this class is Penn State wunderkind David "The Magic Man" Taylor. Taylor will compete for Olympic medals in the future, perhaps at a higher weight, but look for him to tantalize with his potential already. My bold prediction: the best of three finals will be Taylor vs. Burroughs and Taylor will win one of the three. This will cause a nice little stir without disrupting matters too much. 84kg (185lbs) Cael Sanderson is out. I suppose his priorities lie in being a great coach a father/husband rather than succumbing himself and his obligations to the rigors of Olympic level training. I can't hold it against him though it certainly would have been super cool to see him in the red, white and blue in London. Barring a great performance from a member of a very solid field, this weight will belong to former world silver medalist Jake Herbert. Jake has shown the ability to perform on the world stage but since the rest of the world has scouted his offensive tendencies, his success has been limited. I hope he shows up with a diversified offense and obtains his previous levels of success. The wrestler really worth discussing: Penn State's Ed Ruth. I believe Ed stands alone as the most naturally talented wrestler on this hemisphere. His a natural abilities blow my mind. He will pose a problem for anyone that he will meet on a mat and he will not be as small for this weight as some suppose. I also get the impression that his approach to the sport has become continuously more professional. His coach, Cael Sanderson, proudly announced a few days ago that Ed started calling him out by name to serve as a practice partner. This portends well for Ed's chances at these trials. Ed also is worth watching from an MMA perspective as fighting at middleweight may well be in his future. 96kg (211.5 lbs) Jake Varner is the man here and some would even describe him as the US's pound for pound best wrestler. He "only" placed third at last year's world championships, though it was at the toughest weight in the world. Jake, like Ed Ruth and David Taylor, is a Cael disciple and trains at the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club at Penn State. While his fanaticism for the sport will probably never allow him to step into a cage, I could not predict anything but great success for him in MMA. His style is absolutely brutal and he appears to be the unholy offspring of a cyborg and Neidemeyer from Animal House. Tough contenders fill out the field which will vie to wrestle-off Varner. J.D. Bergman is a former world team member who has given Varner problems in the past though I suspect Varner has surpassed him by now. Chris Pendleton, one time bane of Ben Askren, may turn some heads as well. From an MMA perspective I suggest eyes be turned to Dustin Kilgore, an NCAA champ from Kent State on Olympic redshirt. Dustin has youth, raw power, and technique and may just come to the realization that he won't quite be able to get past Varner at either this or the following Olympic trials. Realizations such as these spawn MMA careers and Kilgore would be a great fit at light heavyweight.. 120kg (264.5lbs) The heavies. The U.S. has four to five heavyweights capable of doing big things on the Olympic level. The favorite at this weight has to be Tervel Dlagnev. Tervel shares many traits with former USA Wrestling standout Mo Lawal. Tervel is a Texan, did not start wrestling till high school, honed his craft on the division two level, and possesses the elite athleticism needed to become a world class freestyle wrestler in a relatively short amount of time. You will not see flexing on a Super Fight League poster anytime soon, but do not let his lack of physical imposition fool you, Tervel has as much strength and agility as any at this weight. Steve Mocco, Beijing's Olympian at this weight, will pose a stiff challenge to Tervel, as should former world team member Les Sigman and Junior World champion Dom Bradley. Upstart Oregon State collegian Chad Hanke is a real wildcard at this weight and has experienced impressive levels of success on the international circuit. Throwing an MMA name out there: Jarrod Trice possesses the skills and athleticism to excel at any sport, is still in college and like the aforementioned Kilgore, might be just a little to far down the ladder at this time to justify the continued impoverished lifestyle of an amateur wrestler. Tervel is hungry for gold medals:

Posted in: world, mma, weight, olympic, trial

Pro MMA Radio 193: Overeem’s Defense, Rashad Evans

Posted in: mma, replay, radio, mma radio, monday evening

Siena poll details reveal lousy news for NY MMA backers & #UFC @MMASupremacy @TheFightNerd @ultmma

The push continues for legislation of MMA in the state of New York... but state residents continue to be very hostile to the idea and minds are not being persuaded to support legislation.

Posted in: mma, mmasupremacy, state, legislation, state residents

The MMA Tete-A-Tete: Mark Hunt Fans, Alistair Overeem and TRT, Nick Diaz and Marijuana

On this edition of the MMA Tete-a-Tete, Coarsening the Discourse, Luke Thomas of MMA Fighting and I discuss the online mobilization of hardcore mixed martial arts (MMA) fans to get UFC heavyweight Mark Hunt a title shot against champion Junior dos Santos at UFC 146. We also look into the possibility of Alistair Overeem claiming he needs testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) before the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC), Nick Diaz fighting back against the NSAC over marijuana use and Ben Askren squabbling with journalist Ariel Helwani. Luke's pretty harsh on the #RallyforMarkHunt effort so that ought to get you haters nice and riled up. We also discuss the too-late-that-sex-video-is-already=on-the-internet quality of athletic commissions allowing any therapeutic use exemptions (TUE) for testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). We also strongly disapprove of Ben Askren challenging Ariel Helwani to a cage fight. We say this while openly rooting for both Overeem and Diaz to win their appeals. I busted out my biker do-rag to embarrass my wife and Luke's beard is in fulsome blossom just for your viewing delight. Please enjoy.

Posted in: mma, nevada state, ben askren, trt, rallyformarkhunt effort

Ben Askren Is Heading to Singapore to Work With the World Champion Trainers at Evolve MMA

Ben Askren might have maintained his perfect mixed martial arts (MMA) record and defended the Bellator Welterweight belt with the 10th consecutive win of his career over Douglas Lima recently, but it was a performance which didn't win him many fans and provoked a chorus of boos from the crowd. Afterward, the former two-time NCAA Division One champion and US Olympian wrestler was blunt with the audience, telling them that if they didn't want to see the ground game they should go and watch boxing. Ariel Helwani also accused him of being boring and was greeted with equally short shrift. However while Askren remains defiant he is also looking to work on some of the weaker aspects of his game and word coming out of Singapore is that he is expected to spend an extended period of time training at Evolve MMA, possibly with a view to working on finishing fights after a run of six straight decision wins. Askren's wrestling is world class and he has been working on his striking with Duke Roufus and holds a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). However, he remains primarily a wrestler and it is this base which he has relied upon for all of his recent wins. If he wants to improve on his striking and submissions there is no better place to do it than Evolve MMA, which is home to no fewer than nine BJJ black belts and some of the most renowned Muay Thai trainers in the world including Namsaknoi Yudthagarngamtorn, Attachai Fairtex, Orono Wor Petchpun and Lamnamoon Sor Sumalee. It is difficult to find stand up coaches with this level of experience anywhere in the US as most of the Thai legends at Evolve MMA have over 300 fights under their belt and many, like former WBA Super Featherweight Champion Yodsanan Sityodtong, are also accomplished boxers. There are also a handful of BJJ world champions including Rafael 'Gordinho' Correa De Lima, Leandro Issa, Zorobabel Moreira and Alex Silva and while Askren is no slouch on the ground he will only benefit from rolling regularly with such decorated grapplers. By the time Askren arrives Shinya Aoki will probably be enjoying some time off after his rematch with Eddie Alvarez while Rafael Dos Anjos will be in Brazil making final preparations to face Kamal Shalorus. He could still find himself training alongside Riki Fukuda and Jaideep Singh as both are currently at Evolve MMA with the Indian K-1 veteran looking to make his MMA debut later this year. There are rumours of more Japanese fighters moving to Singapore to join the Evolve MMA fight team and Tatsuya Kiwajiri's name has been repeatedly linked. Another fighter who might well make the move is former K-1 Champion Buakaw Por Pramuk who is currently involved in a contractual dispute with his former camp. Evolve MMA founder and owner Chatri Sityodtong was tight lipped when I emailed him for further info. He did confirm the rumour that Askren would be training in Singapore and said he would be arriving in a couple of weeks and that some other deals were 'in the pipeline'. Rich Franklin will be returning to Evolve MMA for the second time this year and will be basing a fight camp outside of the US for the first time in his career. Him and trainer Matt Hume will both be working with the team in Singapore, which has been bolstered by the addition of Heath Sims since they last visited, as he prepares to return to middleweight to take on Cung Le at UFC 148. Evolve MMA has a well established reputation as being the best training facility in Asia and with Fukuda, Singh Askren and Franklin among the many visiting fighters who will be working alongside the existing full time fight team 2012 looks set to be a busy year. www.twitter.com/jamesgoyder

Posted in: fight, mma, time, askren, singapore

MMA Rankings: The lighter weight classes

In the third and final part of our April MMA rankings, we look at the four lighter weight classes. As always, your objections are welcomed.

Posted in: mma, ranking, weight, weight classes, mma rankings

Latest UFC/MMA news and notes from around the web for the week of April 8, 2012

Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Daniel Gallamore and Alexander Gustafsson pictured above, we can all "get along." Teaming up with MMA sites like Low Kick, Fightline, Fight Opinion and The Fight Nerd, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport. This week, The Fight Nerd speaks with debuting UFC fighter Tom DeBlass, Fight Opinion reviews a surprising new MMA bill in California and Five Ounces of Pain interviews top MMA manager Lex McMahon. The full list of links is after the jump. - Will Brian Stann vs. Alessio Sakara be an all-out war? (LowKick) From the sound of things, it appears that Stann is very confident heading into Saturday's bout, and may be looking past Alessio Sakara and ahead to future title contention. It is true that Sakara is returning from surgery and may suffer from ring rust, just as Thiago Silva in the main bout, but in today's UFC, one can never look past a dangerous striker such as "Legionarius." - Debuting Tom DeBlass discusses the importance of family (The Fight Nerd) "They're so supportive," DeBlass said of the people closest to him. "My fiance, Delilah, is used to me being able to come home and spend time with my daughter when I don't have a fight. That way she has some time to breathe. But, with this she had to step up even more." - New California bill gives fighters new rights, challenges UFC contracts (Fight Opinion) The purpose of the bill is to prevent the mistreatment of MMA fighters in California by banning certain exploitative contracting practices that violate athletes' freedom to work and their ability to support their families. AB 2100 enables MMA fighters to benefit from the pension fund that has been available to boxers in the state since 1981. - Oklahoma addresses state PPV tax (MMA Payout) State Impact reports on the current status of MMA in Oklahoma. You may recall that Zuffa threatened litigation due to the state's 4% tax on PPV purchasers within the state. - MMA Convert's April 2012 rankings: Heavyweight (MMA Convert) Alistair Overeem's standing will likely drop like a brick over the next few months if the commission finds him guilty of PED use and puts him out of action for 12 months, but until they make their decision we must still treat him like he is fighting JDS for the title at UFC 146. Brock Lesnar was not included because he retired and signed with the WWE. Shane Carwin was on one staff member's list, but didn't make the top ten in the others. He came in at 11. - Brandon Vera says Thiago Silva getting KTFO by Gustafsson (Fightline) "Alex's gonna knock that motherfucker out," Vera stated. "With an uppercut, right uppercut. Maybe two in a row. *Boop* *Boop* And one on the ground for good measure, for being a piece of shit." - Lex McMahon shares the secrets of Alchemist Managment's success (Five Ounces of Pain) "I helped my dad put together contracts with both of my partners now in MC Hammer and Jeff Aronson who is owner of Cash For Gold," McMahon continued. "During that process we begun talking about MMA and our relationship grew and we put together some sponsorships for about 27 fighters for Cash For Gold. We signed Nate Marquardt, Rashad Evans, Randy Couture and others. While we were working on those deals we sat down and said let's put together a company and that is how Alchemist started." - Gustafsson tames talk of greatness (5thRound) Despite the lofty expectations surrounding the skyrocketing 25-year-old, Gustafsson knows all of the hoopla hovering around him will be instantly erased if he doesn't continue his dominance inside the cage.

Posted in: fight, mma, fighter, gustafsson, state

Postcards from Stockholm: Sweden's Capital Welcomes the UFC, But Not Without Doubts

STOCKHOLM -- Four a.m. is the worst possible time to start something. Trust me, I’ve done the research on this one. Four a.m. is too late to stay awake -- or at least, too late to stay awake and still maintain any coherent enthusiasm for whatever you’re staying awake for -- and too early to get up without hating the entire world when the alarm clock goes off. It’s past the middle of the night, and yet before the early morning. It’s a miserable hour, in other words, which is why I wouldn’t blame anyone in Sweden if they had never in their lives watched a UFC fight as it happened live. Because of the six-hour time difference between New York and Stockholm, the main card of UFC pay-per-views (which air here on cable channel Canal+ Sport) begin at four and might easily run until seven in the morning on Sunday. What was DVR made for, if not to capture programing at four a.m., when no decent person should be awake? Go to bed, Sweden. The UFC will understand.This, or so I am told, is a subject of debate among Sweden’s small, but passionate MMA fanbase. Can you still call yourself hardcore if you wait until Sunday afternoon to sit down and watch the fights, Swedes wonder. Aren’t you kind of begging for spoilers at that point? And, really, don’t you kind of have it coming?"It’s something that gets talked about on message boards here a lot," said George Sallfeldt, who happens to be the president of the Swedish MMA Federation. "You have some dads whose wives are not terribly happy about them not being able to get up on Sunday."Even Iranian-born Swedish MMA fighter Reza Madadi, who will make his UFC debut on the undercard of the event that, locally, is being called "UFC: Sweden," said he rarely chooses sleep over MMA."Every Sunday when there’s a UFC, we don’t go to sleep until seven in the morning," said Madadi. "So much love we have for the UFC." (Swedish fighters Reza Madadi [left] and Magnus Cedenblad pose with the UFC's Marshall Zelaznik.) This is just one reason why Sweden’s MMA fans are rejoicing over this Saturday night’s UFC on FUEL 2 event at the Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm. For those who couldn’t get tickets in the three-hour span between when they went on sale and when they sold out, at least they can stay home and watch it on TV at a reasonable hour. They also get a chance to show the rest of the MMA world that, contrary to what it might think about the nation that banned boxing from 1970 to 2007, there really is a market for this stuff here. It’s just that, in Sweden, the mere fact that people want something isn’t necessarily a good reason to give it to them.Take Stockholm, for example. The nation’s capital is a clean, lovely, livable city. You could go swimming in the many, many waterways without feeling like you’ve climbed out of a sewer afterward. You could cast a line in and catch a fish that wouldn’t taste like exhaust fumes when you took it home and fried it up. These are things you can’t do in many large cities, and that’s no accident. The Swedes have made it this way with the dual forces of law and socio-economic pressure. Parking in Stockholm is expensive, because they want to give you a reason not to drive your car everywhere. Taxis are also expensive, because they want you to take the (very efficient) public transportation. And beyond just making you pay for the privilege of polluting their air, they’re not above making you feel bad for it. Several of the Stockholm hotels actually make a point of requesting that guests arrive via public transportation, whereas in the U.S. they think they’re saving the earth if they don’t wash your towels every single day. The point is, the Swedes often value the communal good over individual liberty. Just because you might want something that’s bad for you -- say, alcohol, which is heavily taxed and available from somewhat limited sources -- that doesn’t mean the government should necessarily make it easy for you to get it. The same is true when it comes to dangerous sports, which is why the nation outlawed boxing in 1970, less than a decade after heavyweight champion Ingemar Johansson relinquished his crown and retired from the sport.Or at least, that’s part of the reason, according to August Wallen, a Swedish business owner who is now the first president of the brand new International Mixed Martial Arts Federation. The other is that, to Swedes, profiting from a sport that sometimes results in brain damage seemed unsavory."It was seen as quite ugly to make money off a sport like this," said Wallen. "The money interest caused pro boxers to get themselves injured. It was moral issues. The safety of boxers was a concern, but also the moral issues."But even when boxing was still banned in Sweden, other martial arts weren’t. For reasons no one could quite explain, you couldn’t hold a professional contest where one man punched another in the head, but you could do it if he punched and kicked him. Once the establishment caught up at right around the same time MMA was gaining popularity, Sweden’s MMA enthusiasts had to make their case for regulation. Instead of arguing, as the UFC has in New York state, that MMA would generate revenue, they instead had to make the case that it would benefit society, said Sallfeldt, who took over as president of the Swedish MMA Federation after Wallen left to head the IMMAF."That was the route we went. We’re not talking about revenues to Stockholm, the city, because we weren’t focused on the money side so much. Most [Swedish] politicians, that’s an easy choice for them. Like, you will make money from people beating each other up? That’s easy for them to say no to," Sallfeldt said. "Maybe that works in the U.S. Here, that wouldn’t really work."What ultimately did work was pointing out that, statistically, involvement in any sport that’s a member of the national sports federation made kids less likely to become involved in crime. And since not everyone is interested in soccer or skiing, wasn’t it better to have them in MMA gyms than on the streets?"We saw that if we banned this, it would go underground," said Sallfeldt. "We would be turning our back on these kids, and that’s not what we want to do. We want to keep them on the inside."What drove Wallen crazy, he said, was the fear that a UFC event might lead to violence in the streets, when historically it’s been soccer fans who are the most likely to get out of control. Post-game debauchery costs city governments thousands in damage and law enforcement effort, he said, and yet it never seems to reflect poorly on the sport of soccer itself."In Sweden, there are a lot of laws that maybe aren’t functioning perfectly, but you put it in anyway because you’re building a moral thing around that law. You want the behavior to stop, so you build around that law. I don’t say it’s bad; I just say it has to be fair," Wallen said. "I agree we should use laws to make society better. If we limit someone’s liberty, it’s okay for the society’s greater good for everyone. I can buy that. But it can’t be the politician’s prejudice that decides what’s good and what’s bad. You have to look at the facts."The speed with which the UFC sold out it’s first Swedish event is a fact worth taking note of. The scene here is growing, say the local fighters and media, and there’s a place for it in Sweden’s sports landscape. As for how a nation that values safety and responsibility over the freedom to destroy oneself for glory and money will react to a sport that’s built around such violent competition, that’s another question. When the UFC packs up its Octagon and waves goodbye to its friendly hosts, what then? What happens when the hardcores have to go back to arguing about whether it’s better to stay up or wake up for UFC events? What happens if local favorite Alexander Gustafsson does not, in fact, become MMA’s Ingemar Johansson?Those are questions still waiting for an answer. But in a nation that’s been changing gradually and, at times, dramatically, ever since the 13th century -- back when the big social issue was how best to keep pirates out of the lake -- no one’s in any huge rush to find out. They’ve got time. At least this weekend they can also get a little sleep.

Posted in: ufc, mma, sport, stockholm, thatrsquo

MacDonald on MMA: The Athlete's predictions

Thoughts on MMA in Canada, worldwide and picks for the UFC’s show Saturday in Sweden.

Posted in: mma, show, athlete, thought, canada

MMA Uncensored Live Discussion - 4/12

Join us at Bloody Elbow to discuss tonight's episode of MMA Uncensored Live, which airs on Spike at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT. Hosts Nate Quarry, Craig Carton and Mike Straka will discuss a wide range of MMA topics. In addition to that, MMA Fighting's Luke Thomas has been a regular guest as well. The show returns this week after a one-week layoff. Here's a preview of tonight's episode: This week's episode of "MMA Uncensored Live" on Spike TV (Thursday, April 12 at 11:00pm ET/PT) will include interviews with UFC heavyweight contender Frank Mir, UFC bantamweight Miguel Torres, and an inspirational feature on lightweight fighter Nick Newell. You can catch a preview video of the Newell piece after the jump. Torres will be facing off with Michael McDonald on the main card of UFC 145 next weekend, while Mir meets former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez in the co-main event of UFC 146 on May 26th. I'm sure there are few Mir/Torres jokes to be made here, so have at it folks. Preview: Nick Newell's DeterminationGet More: Preview: Nick Newell's Determination

Posted in: ufc, mma, preview, tonights episode, newell

You could be the next MMA power couple!

And here I was worried the industry might be out of unique ultimate fighting reality show ideas: NOW CASTING FIT COUPLES IN L.A. & SURROUNDING AREAS FOR A CHANCE TO WIN $1000!!! TRAIN WITH A MMA LEGEND, LEARN THE TECHNIQUES OF THE PRO’S AND CHALLENGE ANOTHER COUPLE TO A FRIENDLY AMATEUR 3 ROUND FIGHT WHILE THE LEGENDS GUIDE YOU! FOR THIS WEB SERIES – WE ARE LOOKING FOR FIT, FUN OUTGOING COUPLES TO LEARN THE MOVES ONLY THE PRO’s KNOW!! WE WANT REAL COUPLES WITHOUT MMA EXPERIENCE. *There is compensation for the day and a $1000 grand prize for just 3 rounds. *Fight will be sized fair *Personality a plus! *Train with a legend for free *Must be a couple Email us at dtcasting1@gmail.com Esther and Casey, I'm looking at you. (via MMA Sucka)

Posted in: mma, legend, couple, legends guide, casey im

UFC lends support to International MMA Federation

The UFC announced Thursday that it is supporting the creation of the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation. The agency will seek to provide MMA with unified rules, regulations and safety procedures with the eventual goal of having MMA as an Olympic sport. Via UFC press release: UFC Chairman and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta, who has helped lead the global growth of the UFC, feels that the timing is perfect. “In order to maintain the successful growth of our sport, it is important to invest in resources that will develop and cultivate it at an amateur level. Having an umbrella organization that will oversee and help build the sport on a global level will not only provide advanced and ever-improving safety standards but will also create a unified global model to help introduce the sport to new markets. It is our hope that it will also take us one step closer to witnessing the inclusion of the sport of MMA on the Olympic programme.” Payout Perspective: The UFC’s blessing for the IMMAF is a positive for the organization to move forward with its efforts to provide uniformity to the sport of MMA. We will see whether other organizations and countries will follow suit in providing it with its support. IMMAF head August Wallén indicated to Sherdog that the process for MMA to be an Olympic sport would take a long time. The process would include making sure that national federations governing the sport could come together so that international competitions could take place. This process may take time considering the political hurdles and differences that organizations may have with the sport. Nonetheless, it’s a first step and with the UFC’s backing, it should help with having some national federations fall in line.

Posted in: ufc, mma, sport, organization, federation

The UFC Backs New International MMA Federation

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has announced its support for the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF), an organization "founded with the purpose to further the development and recognition of the sport of mixed martial arts, enabling international competition through the organization of national MMA federations around the world." The IMMAF was founded by former fighter and previous president of the Swedish MMA Federation, August Wallen. "In order to maintain the successful growth of our sport, it is important to invest in resources that will develop and cultivate it at an amateur level. Having an umbrella organization that will oversee and help build the sport on a global level will not only provide advanced and ever-improving safety standards but will also create a unified global model to help introduce the sport to new markets. It is our hope that it will also take us one step closer to witnessing the inclusion of the sport of MMA on the Olympic program," said UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta in a press release. At a press conference today Marshall Zelaznik, the UFC's VP of international something or other said, "In the U.S., you have governments that regulate sport. In other parts of the world, the government also gets involved, but in many more parts of the world, you actually have these independent federations that are non-profit bodies that actually sort of manage the sport. "In places like Europe or throughout Asia, where you don't have government oversight, these federations are very important. And so, when you see a group that develops a federation like they've done here, an international federation that we see is a well-intentioned, meaning group that is going out with a vision to organize, if you will, and benefit the entire sport the way a government might do it around the world, for us, we're hoping to just put a little wind in the sails of the international federation so they can go out and create this vision that they have as it relates to not only the amateur space, but also the development of oversight of a professional MMA." SBN coverage of UFC on FUEL TV 2

Posted in: ufc, mma, sport, government, federation

International MMA Federation Created in Sweden; UFC Issues Vote of Confidence

An international standard for amateur mixed martial arts may be on the way, as it was announced Thursday that a non-profit, Sweden-based organization aims to work toward MMA’s inclusion in the Olympic Games.

Posted in: mma, art, olympic, mma federation, swedenbased organization

UFC Declares Full Support of International MMA Federation

This week, the Sweden-based International Mixed Martial Arts Federation announced its official implementation. The IMMAF (which you can learn more about here, at the organization’s official website) is a nonprofit organization that aims to increase MMA’s global profile, as well as general understanding of the sport, through various measures. The organization will be dedicated to fostering the growth and legitimacy of amateur MMA by implementing unified rules and setting up international competitions for amateurs. Among other things, the IMMAF intends to gain “formal and informal” recognition for MMA, including boosting efforts to include the sport in Olympic competition. Just ahead of UFC on Fuel TV 2: Gustafsson vs. Silva, which takes place this weekend in Stockholm, Sweden, the UFC has announced their full support of the fledgling organization. “In order to maintain the successful growth of our sport, it is important to invest in resources that will develop and cultivate it at an amateur level,” UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta said in a press release. “Having an umbrella organization that will oversee and help build the sport on a global level will not only provide advanced and ever-improving safety standards but will also create a unified global model to help introduce the sport to new markets. It is our hope that it will also take us one step closer to witnessing the inclusion of the sport of MMA on the Olympic program.” The UFC’s senior vice president of government and regulatory affairs, Marc Ratner, asserted that the formation of such an organization has been a long time coming and should go hand-in-hand with the UFC’s efforts of global expansion of and education on mixed martial arts. The creation of this organization is long overdue,” said Ratner. “MMA is the fastest growing sport in the world and we support the Federation’s focus on providing a globally unified set of rules and safety measures to help keep all fighters safe. While there are many obstacles ahead in the formation of this international organization, we are confident of the outcomes and advancements this group will make for the future of our sport.”

Posted in: ufc, mma, sport, organization, support

The UFC has come out in full support of the newly formed International MMA Federation

I'm gonna be honest here, I'm not entirely sure if WAMMA is even still a thing. They did pay for spectacular belts for their champions but I can't find any information as to whether these belts have ever been defended. What I did find was that one of the WAMMA belts was sold on ebay for $1595 by someone in Paterson, New Jersey so let's assume the belts have been retired. The main thing, that WAMMA had against them was arguably the resistance from the UFC to even acknowledge their existence but that's not going to be an issue for the newly formed non-profit Swedish based International Mixed Martial Arts Federation. The IMMAF intend to usher in worldwide standardised safety regulations and implement global unified amateur MMA rules as well as international amateur competition to further the development of upcoming fighters. This rather lofty but admirable goal has been lend an air of legitimacy by receiving the backing of the UFC which will no doubt increase the chances of other organisations and promotions joining and supporting the IMMAF. The UFC's support was announced via a press release in which Marc Ratner said this: "The creation of this organization is long overdue. MMA is the fastest growing sport in the world and we support the Federation’s focus on providing a globally unified set of rules and safety measures to help keep all fighters safe. While there are many obstacles ahead in the formation of this international organization, we are confident of the outcomes and advancements this group will make for thefuture of our sport.” Check out the IMMAF website (http://www.immaf.org/) for more information on the organization, to read about their board and donate if you so wish, since this is currently their only method of raising funds.

Posted in: ufc, mma, belt, organization, immaf

Hominick on MMA: Overwhelming support

The amount of support from Canadian MMA fans and media continues to be overwhelming ahead of UFC 145.

Posted in: hominick, mma, media, canadian, support

Powerful Knockouts Episode 10: Yod Sityodtong topples Daniel Mashamaite

ONE FC: where highly decorated boxers try their hand at MMA and get their first win (in their first fight) by planting a devastating knee to the head of their opponent. Of course we're talking about Yodsanan Sityodtong; Evolve MMA fighter and the guy who puts the 'whoa' in WHOA! TV's Powerful Knockouts Episode 10. Let's go back to the beginning of round 2 in Yod's pro MMA debut at ONE FC 1 and watch him send Daniel Mashamaite to the canvas like a hamper full of laundry being dumped in slow motion.

Posted in: mma, mma debut, whoa tvs, yodsanan sityodtong, daniel mashamaite

What's at Stake? UFC on Fuel 2 Edition

The UFC spring break official ends Saturday as UFC makes it's promotional debut in Sweden with one of MMA's top prospects (coincidentally, a Swede) in the main event. The event - UFC on Fuel 2 - offers the typical fare of what we're accustomed to seeing on the channel: prospects in important fights in their careers looking for advancement and some other bouts thrown in for good measure. Not every bout on the card carries the weight of the world, but it'd also be wrong to not recognize how much is riding on the main event and even the co-main. Not only does Alexander Gustafsson have a lot to lose, but his opponent Thiago Silva has quite a bit to prove in the headlining fight of the night. The same can be said for Brian Stann as he locks horns with Alessio Sakara in the evening's second biggest bout of the night. Let's take a closer look at the main card and even a few preliminary card fights to see what Saturday's fighters are up against, what can be gained from a win and where they could find themselves after a loss. Alexander Gustafsson vs. Thiago Silva At stake: fulfilling expectations. Some are suggesting should the Swede defeat Silva, he'd be in line for a title shot. That could be true, but between UFC 145 and Dan Henderson waiting in the wings, I'll bet Gustafsson has at least a couple more fights in front of him. And that's just fine. Some fighters are preternaturally quick to pick up the MMA game. Say, fighters like UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. He's able to technically improve on a timeline that is either too rapid or altogether impossible for others to match. To be fair to Gustafsson, he is warming to the higher end of the game extremely fast, too. Maybe not as fast as Jones, but quick nonethless. He needs a little bit more seasoning than Jones and there's nothing remotely wrong with that. That's sort of the point. Jones may ultimately be able to improve more quickly, but Gustafsson shows the sort of promise that tells us he could arrive at the same point as Jones in the future. Silva is an important test for Gustafsson, but not the type of opponent that springboards him to title shot status. He needs to face a former champion first and given how many times the light heavyweight title has been handed off, that should be too hard to arrange. As for Silva, this post probably sounds like I'm discounting his chances. I probably am. I will never rule out the possibility of anyone winning in MMA, let anyone someone as capable of Silva. And a win over Gustafsson would be arguably the best way to re-launch himself into the light heavyweight division after a long hiatus. All sorts of possibilities open up after that, but getting to that point is going to be a herculean climb for the American Top Team product. Brian Stann vs. Alessio Sakara At stake: UFC contender viability. This is far less true for Sakara than Stann. The former U.S. Marine suffered a rather dominating defeat at the hands of Chael Sonnen at UFC 136, but is still capable of a real rebound. Overcoming the top-heavy wrestling talent in the middleweight division may prove exceedingly difficult, but he's got enough exists tools and time to round out the edges on his other skills sets to still give it a go. Besides, Sakara will likely slug it out with Stann. That's a fight I'm betting Sakara loses and the entire experience may end up serving as tune-up for Stann. Then again, a win over Stann would arguably be Sakara's best to date and would majorly derail a tough divisional talent. Sakara would still have his work cut out for him to continue climbing the ranks, but defeating Stann at least gets that ship sailing in the appropriate direction. Paulo Thiago vs. Siyar Bahadurzada At stake: Momentum. Two different kinds of momentum, though. For Thiago, he did win his last bout against David Mitchell at UFC 134, but he hasn't quick had the same spark as he did in strong performances against Jacob Volkmann or Josh Koscheck. In fact, he's dropped two of his last three. He'll need to build off the Mitchell win by defeating a talented veteran-yet-newcomer in Bahadurzada to really gather some steam and make some noise in the UFC welterweight division. Bahadurzada already has momentum going. He hasn't lost since November of 2008, but he is also hasn't been facing a commensurate level of competition to Thiago. For hardcore fans of MMA, there's much intrigue and expectation for the first Afghan fighter in the UFC. He's with a strong camp, has the wind at his back and has the right kind of opponent to validate interest in him. The last thing he wants to do, though, is start his UFC career off on the wrong foot. Dennis Siver vs. Diego Nunes At stake: finding a home. Why is Siver dropping to featherweight? Apparently the lightweights are just getting too big. That's only a mildly surprising justification to hear from Siver given his stocky frame and very respectable power. But, he isn't lording his physical strength over anyone at 155 pounds and wants to see what it feels like there. He's had success at lightweight, but recognizes a title climb is not going to happen for him there. Can 145 pounds be the answer? Let's see how he looks on Saturday. Does the cut kill him? Is he faster? Stronger? Depending on what kind of effort he turns in, we'll either have a new contender at 145 pounds or a lightweight trying anything to get ahead. In fact, Siver hasn't ruled out a return to lightweight should this gambit prove fruitless. But that's what Siver is looking for: a sweet spot where his talents best shine. Is it at 145 pounds or is it an illusion that doesn't even exist? Nunes seems to be good; just short of great. He's lightning quick, can fight the full distance of three rounds no problem, has a world-class support system and plenty of other positive traits. He hasn't quite put all of the pieces of his game into place and seems to lack focus fighting even in winning efforts. A win over Siver would not only provide bragging rights, but would likely have to come by uniting many of the things he does well but does so apart from one another. DaMarques Johnson vs. John Maguire At stake: a win or a loss. Let's not overstate the stakes. It's true a win or loss in the UFC is no small matter. To Johnson and Maguire it likely means everything. It should. But there aren't divisional implications here. It's also unlikely (though not impossible) either would be cut in the event of a loss. May the best man win. Brad Pickett vs. Damacio Page At stake: positive return from setback. Bantamweight is an increasingly improving division and MMA is no forgiving game. When you lose in MMA, sometimes you lose badly and sometimes it damages your career in profound ways. Both Page and Pickett aren't there yet. The two of them head into the Octagon on Saturday having suffered rather crushing defeats in their last fights, however. Pickett was thrashed by top contender Renan Barao in a one-round tornado of pain while Page lost to Brian Bowles for the second time in a manner - quite literally - identical to the last time he lost to Bowles. Page is also on a two-fight losing streak. Rebounds matter more in MMA than basketball. Getting on the right path after setbacks is both hard to do and necessary. One defeat, especially a stinging loss, can change a fighter's psyche. Two or three of them in a row will cause them to lose more than their UFC employment. Getting back on the horse is hard, but it's the only option if you plan on riding again. From the preliminary card: - Ricardo Almeida black belt Tom DeBlass makes his UFC debut on short notice against Cyrille Diabate. He fills in for Jörgen Kruth, who had to withdraw late due to injury. It's a huge opportunity for the upstart DeBlass. Diabate, meanwhile, has lost two of his last three. - Top prospect Papy Abedi returns to action after being outclassed by Thiago Alves. While the Alves bout proved he needs more time before he's ready for elite competition, he's still a fighter whose development deserves observation. - Key an eye out for Reza Madadi. The Iranian-Swede makes his UFC debut after defeating three UFC veterans in a row: Junie Browning, Carlo Prater and Rich Clementi.

Posted in: ufc, mma, gustafsson, he, stake

This is it: the final hours of EA MMA online play

It was a good run, these last 18 months. We laughed, some of us cried, but most of all damn it we had fun. Now the doomsday clock's ticking grows ever louder as the EA MMA servers are set to be shut down sometime after midnight tonight. No one is really sure when. In my mind a haggard old man will be let out of the bowels of EA Tiburon, be fitted with a black hood and then he'll walk dramatically to a giant oversized switch which when pulled, will end our online fun forever. So let's call it 12ish hours until EA MMA goes down. You still have time to do some cool stuff. If you're on Xbox, I'll be tooling around in the LHW class as my virtual avatar (Jason Nawara) , trying to get my red master belt, a few EA dev's will be on and playing and a bunch of the old crew from Sunday Night Fights will be around too. It's 20x XP. Seriously, grab some ranks, get some fans. Now we know we haven't been able to do much with our PS3 loyal readers, but in the eleventh hour EA hooked us up with a bunch of Big John and Herschal Walker codes. First come first serve: PS3 Big John:85GK-MABJ-ADRB2QNG-CPBD-CQ22BK9P-TNB3-A9FHH2EB-7GB9-2C87CMMC-98BG-MCG9MG84-NJB6-G2E526TQ-L7BG-NQ6J5GND-ACBC-RLA2E55G-9MB2-72GLB3EL-MKB5-MNB3DAJB-5HBL-BHD78MPH-3DBL-T4BK PS3 Herschel Walker:DBHK-N8BQ-4C4J57RN-JGB9-PCPEKEAR-N7B9-D2CA3A2Q-N7BH-B966AMPF-5HB5-QRHHDC7F-DFB7-GTKDMDR7-K3B2-97DTPDDB-T3BF-M8D8LNNR-8QB4-8NMPGTLA-86BE-8L6TR94F-27BF-9HG55GPH-RCB9-NF9E3AHE-FRBH-59M7ACQ5-AFBL-GGT76H6C-RABE-2LM9R82B-59BJ-LCGPD9JM-2NBF-33G8 Now we leave you with GOAT MiddleEasy champ Tha Premiere's favorite fight: Goodbye EA MMA. Goodbye.

Posted in: mma, hour, ea, ea mma, doomsday clocks

UFC lending support to IMMAF in hopes of seeing sport grow globally

The dream of seeing Mixed Martial Arts competition included in the Olympics may be closer than you think thanks to the creation of the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation. The newly formed board’s goal is, as stated on their website, “To further the development and recognition of the sport of Mixed Martial Arts, enabling international competition through the organization of national MMA federations around the world.” Specifically the process will involve educating the public and creating a system of rules/safety measures consistently applied regardless of region. Having MMA recognized by the Olympics is also a goal of the IMMAF, calling such status the “ultimate achievement and highest formal recognition possible for any sport.” The UFC has already gotten on board with the IMMAF in hopes of seeing international events regulated as stringently as those in the United States, even allowing the organization to maintain a presence at this weekend’s UFC on Fuel 2 event in Sweden. “In order to maintain the successful growth of our sport, it is important to invest in resources that will develop and cultivate it at an amateur level. Having an umbrella organization that will oversee and help build the sport on a global level will not only provide advanced and ever-improving safety standards but will also create a unified global model to help introduce the sport to new markets,” said UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta in an official press release on the matter. “It is our hope that it will also take us one step closer to witnessing the inclusion of the sport of MMA on the Olympic program.” Though it will be years before fans ever see their favorite fighter winning a gold medal for his/her MMA prowess it looks like the first step on that journey has taken place. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, mma, sport, art, olympic

MMA Odds Breaker: UFC 146 and TUF 15 Season Finale Picks

This MMA Odds Breaker 21 episode features special guests Brian “The Predator” Rogers, a Bellator fighter, and two pro MMA handicappers: Fight Ghost and Nick Vlass. MMA betting breakdowns are given for the following fights: From the UFC 146 fight card: Mark Hunt vs Stefan Struve Gabriel Gonzaga vs Shane Del Rosario Roy Nelson vs [...]

Posted in: fight, mma, vs, odd, bellator fighter

Firefighter moonlighting as MMA fighter busted for insurance fraud

FanPost edited and promoted by MMAmania.com. We've all seen the "hidden camera" investigations that expose recipients of workman's compensation trying to scam their insurance companies out of boatloads of cash. Well, we can now proudly add mixed martial arts (MMA) to that prestigious list of "things you can't do" when your riding the proverbial pine, due to an "injury."Bellator veteran Raphael Davis, a Los Angeles-based firefighter, was allegedly pinched for competing in combat sports while he was also collecting insurance for injuries that supposedly kept him from performing his daily duties at the local firehouse. LA Weekly has the dirt: The 35-year-old was arrested at his Lomita home at 9 a.m. this morning (April 10) on suspicion of insurance fraud, according to a statement from the L.A. County District Attorney's office. He was hit with four felony counts of insurance fraud, the office says. Prosecutors contend that the Los Angeles Fire Department employee filed for workers compensation insurance between Dec. 2, 2008, to May 20, 2011, even as he fought in MMA bouts. Davis was being held in lie of $30,000 bail. The D.A.'s office says he could see five years behind bars if convicted. Too bad for "The Noodle," because at 12-2, it looks like he was doing fairly well on the local circuit. Video of his recent fight after the jump. As an insurance adjuster myself, I'm never surprised at the stuff people will try to get away with.

Posted in: mma, fraud, insurance, insurance fraud, felony counts

MMA Rankings: The heavier weight classes

In the second part of our April MMA rankings, we look at the four heavier weight classes. Again, feel free to chime in with your thoughts.

Posted in: mma, ranking, weight, weight classes, mma rankings

Lex McMahon shares the secrets of Alchemist Managment’s success

Alchemist President Lex McMahon has an extensive background that includes time spent four years in the US Marines with two tours of duty in Somalia in the early 1990s. McMahon, who holds a B.A. in English, a J.D. from the California School of Law, and an MBA from Pepperdine, has taken the reigns of Alchemist with the same passion and approach that he has done throughout his life. Whenever McMahon does something he does it to the best of his ability and with everything he has. McMahon has worn many different hats since he left the Marines and by the looks of it has donned them all with great success, no more so than his role with Alchemist where he has helped build one of the most exciting rosters of MMA fighters around. Anchored by such superstars as Nate Marquardt, Tim Kennedy, Brendan Schaub, and Stefan Struve, the group was recently joined by two of the best and brightest welterweights in the UFC in Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson and Rory MacDonald. Each and every one of these fighters knows that having McMahon on their side they are in extremely good hands. “After I finished up with all of my schooling I began a career as a venture capitalist because I felt as though that was a great industry for me to be in,” said McMahon in an interview with Five Ounces of Pain. “I had the opportunity to work with my dad for quite a few years as a talent scout for a show called The Next Biggest Star. I managed bands and promoted concerts.” “I helped my dad put together contracts with both of my partners now in MC Hammer and Jeff Aronson who is owner of Cash For Gold,” McMahon continued. “During that process we begun talking about MMA and our relationship grew and we put together some sponsorships for about 27 fighters for Cash For Gold. We signed Nate Marquardt, Rashad Evans, Randy Couture and others. While we were working on those deals we sat down and said let’s put together a company and that is how Alchemist started.” By utilizing MC Hammer’s contacts as well as his name Alchemist has been able to land some major deals for their fighters. McMahon is very quick to point out that MC Hammer does so much more than lend his name to the company; he is an extraordinary businessman with a great passion for the sport as well. “I’ve been really fortunate to work with Hammer, he’s an incredible guy to work with and he is a visionary,” McMahon explained. “He has utilized social media and is a high level relationship guy. He is able to reach into international markets and he has had success in everything he has done. We really have a great team here at Alchemist with myself, Hammer, Jeff and another gentleman I haven’t mentioned in Nima Safapour.” For those MMA fans who believe that working in the MMA business is a dream job they may be right, but as with anything there are positives and negatives. When you are part of a management team that is running a global enterprise such as Alchemist the responsibilities can seem endless and put a drain on everyone and everything around you if you aren’t careful. “As much as this is a dream job for me there are some drawbacks,” offered McMahon. “I get to interact and work with some of the greatest fighters in the world and I have tremendous partners to help shoulder the responsibilities, but at the same time the travel is immense. In order to be successful I need to be away from my wife and my daughters quite a bit. I am very fortunate that my wife Ashley is very supportive and she is the rock that holds the family together. When I am home I make a big effort to spend quality time with all of them, but at the end of the day I am gone much more than I home. There are also positives aspects of my job that you don’t get to hear about. Stephen Thompson, Ovince St. Preux, and I recently took twelve wounded Marines to Alabama hunting for 3-4 days. It was a really cool experience and Stephen took time out of his camp just so he could attend. We all believe that it’s so important to support the US Military. Then at UFC 145 we are bringing several of the Marines to Atlanta as our guests to watch the fights. They get to go backstage and the UFC has been wonderful to work with on this campaign.” Being in MMA management McMahon always has his eyes open for the next big star. He has many young fighters who he is promoting that he believes that he can not only help develop a great career for, but also assist them in building themselves as a brand so they are able to support themselves when their fighting days are over. “We look to sit down with our athletes and look to do something that is bigger than what we are about,” said McMahon. “It’s important to work hand in hand and support other people, I’ve been very fortunate to work in the MMA community. For me it has been a real blessing. We want to insure that our fighters are able to invest their money and prepare for the days when they can no longer make money fighting. To us we take it as our responsibility to point these guys in the right direction during and after their careers.” “We have some incredible young talent,” McMahon elaborated. “Alex Soto is one of the fighters who I’ve worked long and hard with. He is a Mexican immigrant who was fighting in bare knuckle MMA fights in Tijuana for $50. He joined the Army and served in Afghanistan. We also have Liz Carmouche who has fought for Strikeforce and will be fighting next for Invicta FC 1 on April 28. She’s another former Marine and I have to take care of them. Then there is Walel Watson who has three fights in the UFC. Of course there is “Wonderboy” who has made such progress over the past six months. He is a truly special guy. George Lockhart, Eric Scallan, Chad Robichaux, and Alex Morono are all fighters to look out for. Just to be able to watch these guys make their way to the top is awesome.” McMahon and Alchemist are in the business to help grow the sport and enhance the potential of all of their fighters. It is with that attitude that Mixed Martial Artists from around the world are lining up to be represented by them. You may read a lot of stories about misrepresentation or some management companies blatantly ripping off their clients, but you’d be hard pressed to hear anyone criticize this group. Their goals are quite simple in nature, but without their hard work they would never come to fruition. “At the end of the day we are here to create value for our clients,” concluded McMahon. “Creating value for our clients includes commercial endorsements, getting them the best fight contracts, but like I have said it’s about building a platform for them to leverage their life outside of fighting. That could mean entertainment or having their own academy. Whatever it may be we want to build their name so they can make a living outside of fighting. We want our fighters to focus on three things and that is training fighting and winning. If we can take care of the rest them that means we have done our job.” PHOTO CREDIT – ALCHEMIST MMA

Posted in: mma, fighter, mcmahon, work, alchemist

Really good mma highlight of 1993-2012

submitted by the_scouse_bomb [link] [2 comments]

Posted in: mma, thescousebomb

From Cuba to Stockholm, the MMA Journey of Yoislandy Izquierdo

Mixed martial arts probably isn’t the first discipline that comes to mind when you think of combat sports practitioners from Cuba. Sure, there are the likes of Javier Vazquez and Hector Lombard that represent the Caribbean island in the world of MMA, but when the idea of being in the hurt business is concerned, the first thought is always of boxing greats such as Teofilo Stevenson, Felix Savon, and Joel Casamayor, only one of which (Casamayor) made that trip from home in search of a better life in the United States.The latest Cuban standout to hit US shores to begin a quest for fighting glory is Yoislandy Izquierdo, and though he packs knockout power in his fists, he’s no boxer. Instead, he will be making his UFC debut this Saturday against Reza Madadi after compiling an unbeaten 6-0 MMA record. So why not boxing?“Boxing is a huge sport in Cuba as you know, and I practiced it for a few years,” said Izquierdo through manager / translator Alfred Munoz. “However, my passion was always in martial arts even though boxing did help me to become a well rounded athlete.”In many ways, it was a tougher road to take for the native of Havana. Sure, the Cuban amateur boxing program is consistently seen as the best in the sport, and getting a spot on the national team is beyond ultra-competitive, but to pursue a sport in which there is really no local scene and no opportunities to compete and learn your craft in real amateur or pro fights has to be an even more harrowing undertaking. Not that Izquierdo was thinking that far ahead when he was enrolled in a local karate class at the age of 11 to help him deal with his asthma.“I have been a martial artist for most of my life,” he said. “I started at the early age of 11 in karate. Even though mixed martial arts is not practiced legally in Cuba, I always wanted to practice the sport. When I left the country, my goal was to practice MMA and make it my career. Soon after making Miami my home, I went to a gym where MMA was practiced and the owner, who is now my manager, helped to guide me in the sport.”You could say the rest is history, but that would be cutting out the most interesting part of this tale, the one where Izquierdo decided to leave his life in Cuba behind to chase a dream that only a select few can reach. This wasn’t relocating to a new city or state for a job and if it didn’t work out you could come home. Once Izquierdo fell in love with MMA, he knew that if he left, there was no turning back. That’s a lot to have on your mind, but he knew what he needed to do to truly be happy.“The moment that I knew that I could make my career in MMA came to me in Cuba,” said Izquierdo, who won several gold medals in karate and sanda tournaments growing up. “Having had the will to master various disciplines in martial arts, I knew that I would be successful in MMA. I would watch MMA videos brought in by family members visiting from other countries and I knew that I was the perfect athlete for the sport. When it became feasible for me to leave Cuba and come to the United States, I knew my dream to make MMA my career would come true.”In 2008, the 24-year old left Cuba. If you don’t know what that entails, suffice to say that it’s not as easy as picking out a flight online, packing your bags, and getting on the plane. For Izquierdo, his trip involved a visit to Spain, then Guatemala. From Guatemala he entered Mexico, and then crossed the border into the United States, where he was granted political asylum. Left behind were his mother, brother, aunts, uncles, and his oldest daughter.“They are very proud of my career in MMA,” he said, but he also admits that “The most difficult adjustment to life in the US was not having my family by my side. Even though I have started a beautiful family here in the States, I still miss my family back home.”Izquierdo now has another daughter in the States, and from April of 2010, he has been fighting professionally and turning heads on the South Florida MMA scene. When asked to describe his style for those who haven’t seen him in action yet, he says “My fighting style is very explosive. I am not a passive fighter by any means. I do attack both on standup with very technical boxing and on the ground with strong jiu-jitsu techniques.”With wins in all six bouts, four finishing before the final bell, the 28-year old has made it look easy thus far, but looks can be deceiving.“My success has not come easy,” said Izquierdo. “I have sacrificed a lot to get to where I have gotten. I train for most of the day and until a short time ago I had to work as well. By getting the call to fight in the UFC I consider my success to be great.”And even though the names on his record aren’t household ones, even in diehard MMA fans’ households, Izquierdo has apparently impressed the UFC enough that he got the call to meet veteran Reza Madadi this Saturday in Stockholm.“When I first heard that the UFC asked me to fight I could not believe my dream had finally come true,” he said. “Once I truly internalized it I was very excited, and I still am very excited.”For many debutants, those feelings of excitement occasionally turn to dread when the first-time Octagon jitters kick in. Fighting in Madadi’s hometown could add even more to the stress level, but the man with the nickname paying tribute to his own homeland, “Cuba”, is unbothered by such matters at the moment, which is no surprise considering what he went through to get here.“Even though I am a humble person and athlete, I have the heart of a warrior and a warrior fights in any land,” said Izquierdo. “On April 14th fans can expect to see my best performance yet.”

Posted in: mma, ’t, sport, izquierdo, cuba

UFC Supports Creation of International MMA Federation

The Ultimate Fighting Championship®, the world’s leader in mixed martial arts (MMA), applauds the announcement made earlier today of the creation of the new International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF). The UFC® wholeheartedly supports this new initiative as well as its leader, IMMAF President August Wallén, who will spearhead the initial growth of this Federation. UFC Chairman and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta, who has helped lead the global growth of the UFC, feels that the timing is perfect. “In order to maintain the successful growth of our sport, it is important to invest in resources that will develop and cultivate it at an amateur level. Having an umbrella organization that will oversee and help build the sport on a global level will not only provide advanced and ever-improving safety standards but will also create a unified global model to help introduce the sport to new markets. It is our hope that it will also take us one step closer to witnessing the inclusion of the sport of MMA on the Olympic program.” “The creation of this organization is long overdue,” said Marc Ratner, Senior Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs. “MMA is the fastest growing sport in the world and we support the Federation’s focus on providing a globally unified set of rules and safety measures to help keep all fighters safe. While there are many obstacles ahead in the formation of this international organization, we are confident of the outcomes and advancements this group will make for the future of our sport.” The UFC has long been committed to the growth and development of the sport of MMA. With broadcasts in over 150 countries and territories, to nearly one billion homes worldwide, in 20 different languages, and more than 30 live events annually worldwide, the UFC has helped introduce the sport to many new cultures and audiences. The creation of the IMMAF will help to foster the development of the sport at the grassroots level and bolster the work beingdone by the UFC and all other MMA organizations worldwide, further developing the integrity and legitimacy of the sport. To learn more about the International MMA Federation visit www.immaf.org.

Posted in: ufc, mma, sport, creation, federation

Stann: MMA a different breed of athletes

Brian Stann discusses how MMA athletes are different from athletes in other sports.

Posted in: mma, athlete, stann, stann mma, mma athletes

Kenny Florian: “When did (MMA) become about who uses the better PEDs and who can past the test better than the other guy?”

Even though UFC lightweight Kenny Florian is out with an injured back and unsure if/when he’ll be able to return to the ring it sounds like the former title-contender isn’t all that excited anyways about coming back to a sport devolving with the increased use of illegal substances to gain a competitive advantage. The 35-year old served up a scathing rant this week on UFC Tonight where he pulled no punches in terms of criticizing peers who have tested positive for drug use. “As a clean fighter the whole issue of performance enhancing drugs in MMA really pisses me off. This sport is about honor, technique, and discipline,” stated an animated Florian. “When did it become about uses the better PEDs and who can past the test better than the other guy?” “This isn’t baseball where you’re just hitting a ball. This is fighting and you’re hitting other people in the face,” he continued. “If you’re a fighter and you’re using PEDs, how does it feel good knowing that you won using them? The fans should be mad too. How many fights are the fans gonna miss out on due to failed pre/post fight-testing? Don’t do it dummies!” In closing Florian called for random testing to weed out cheaters in hopes of saving MMA from heading down what he foresees as a dark path. Check out Florian’s full statement below: PHOTO CREDIT – TAPOUT

Posted in: mma, ’t, florian, ’re, ped

Check out our NEW feature: Pistols and Predictions featuring Dan Hardy

For years the fight fan has sat back and complacently watched random middle-aged men break down upcoming MMA fight cards like supposed experts the men claim to be. No more. Not here. MiddleEasy and The Gun Store presents to you: Pistols and Predictions - the MMA card breakdown show that there always should have been. We get it, we may be Battlefield fans but this is the Call of Duty generation. If we want to see a breakdown on the big MMA show that's right around the corner then we want a fighter telling us who's going to win AND we want machine guns and explosions thrown in for good measure. So that's why LayzieTheSavage, Rick Lee, Cynthia Vance, Zeus, myself and our executive producer Chris Irwin created it for you. Yes, you. It had to be done. It is my great honor as creator and showrunner to present to you Pistols and Predictions Episode 1: UFC Sweden - hosted by Dan Hardy.

Posted in: mma, gun store, battlefield fans, feature pistols, men claim

Breakdown With Bas: Joe Rogan and Josh Barnett Demonstrate Ground Techniques

From Inside MMA, the ‘Breakdown With Bas’ segment features Joe Rogan and Josh Barnett demonstrating some escapes and techniques that you can use on the ground. Inside MMA airs live on HDNet every Monday night at 8pm ET. Inside MMA Archive

Posted in: mma, monday night, josh barnett, mma airs, ground techniques

Trio of Canadian MMA Promotions Merge to Create Aggression Fighting Championship

Three Canadian MMA organizations in Western Canada have merged to create the self proclaimed “single largest MMA organization in Canada”, which was named Aggression Fighting Championships Aggression MMA, Armageddon Fighting Championships, and AX Combat have now pooled their efforts in providing the best shows available to Canadian MMA fans under this new banner, which will now hold between nine and eleven fight events per year, with shows taking place in Edmonton and Calgary in Alberta, and Victoria, British Columbia – with expansion plans slated for the latter half of 2012. The newly formed AFC will unveil its new branding shortly. Fight fans will get to see the new promotion in action at AFC 8 in Victoria on April 14th, AFC 9 in Edmonton June 8th, and AFC 10 in Calgary on June 15th. More details on these and upcoming events will be released shortly. “Darren Owen of Armageddon and I have been seriously discussing the idea of merging for some time, and in the process reached out to AX Combat and determined that we had the same goals moving forward. We established that all three brands have similar philosophies of making sure that our fan base gets to see the best up-and-coming domestic and international fighters. So it made sense to offer fans across Canada a national brand, ultimately resulting in AFC,” stated Aggression Co-Founder Moin Mirza. “This is by far the largest deal in Canadian MMA history, and I’m ecstatic to be a part of it,” said Armageddon Co-Founder Darren Owen. “It just makes sense to standardize matchmaking, contracts, logos, and production. Contracted fighters now have the opportunity to fight more frequently than they did before, which we are confident they will be happy about. With Armageddon’s current TV deal, the AFC will readily be available in 70 million homes, and now with increased content and expansion, the sky is the limit for AFC opportunities.” “When AX was approached with this opportunity, I knew that I had a chance to be involved with something special,” explained AX Combat Co-Founder Steve Fader. “With partners like these, we all bring different strengths to the table and more importantly, this is a group that you can trust – a situation where you don’t need to be looking over your shoulder at all times. The deal makes sense for fans, fighters, and everyone involved, and I can’t wait to see how far the AFC can go.”

Posted in: mma, fan, ax, afc, ax combat

Black belt Braulio Estima booked in super fight versus Nick Diaz and set for MMA debut in July

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu superstar Braulio Estima (0-0) is one step closer to becoming a MMA prospect. The 31 year Estima is a multiple time ADCC champion and BJJ black belt since 2004. In the 2010 Estima signed a multi-fight deal with Shine Fights before the promotion folded months later. Estima was tabbed as a four prospect at middleweight in the 2011 edition of the ULTMMA50.A European and Pan American gold medalist, Estima has recently trained MMA with the likes of Team Rough House and the Blackzilians. Estima confirmed his intentions to cross over into MMA on a recent episode of Tapout Radio. Before Estima steps into the cage for the first time the second degree black belt has been booked for a BJJ super fight with UFC welterweight and former Strikeforce champion Nick Diaz (26-8). The Diaz-Estima super fight will take place at the first-ever World Jiu-Jitsu Expo. The World Jiu-Jitsu Expo will take place on Saturday May 12th in Long Beach, California at the LB Convention Center. Though Estima intends to compete as a MMA welterweight his BJJ grappling match with Diaz will take place at 180 pounds.

Posted in: fight, mma, estima, ufc welterweight, jiujitsu

Nick Diaz Set To Face Top-Level BJJ Fighter At ‘World Jiu-Jitsu Expo’

Nick Diaz will make his return to competitive action on May 12 when he competes in the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo in Long Beach, California. Diaz announced his retirement from MMA following a loss to Carlos Condit earlier this year, but decided to return to Brazilian jiu-jitsu by entering the Expo. However, officials decided to place Diaz in a superfight instead of a tournament. The man to face Diaz will be a worthy challenger, as Braulio Estima brings a wealth of championships to the bout. He defeated Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza at the 2011 ADCC Submission Wrestling Championship, and is currently working with the Blackzilians in Florida for his MMA debut later this year. Diaz is a black belt in BJJ under Cesar Gracie, but has not competed in a jiu-jitsu bout in over two years. MMA Fighting was the first to report on the signing of Estima for the bout. Photo credit: Tracy Lee/Yahoo! Sports

Posted in: diaz, mma, bout, year, jiujitsu

The MMA Hour Episode 126 – Mark Hunt, Marcus Brimage, Chad Griggs

From Monday’s episode of The MMA Hour, Ariel Helwani talks with UFC heavyweight Mark Hunt about the #RallyForMarkHunt movement. Also on the show, Marcus Brimage and Chad Griggs discuss their upcoming fights inside the octagon. For more clips from this episode of the MMA Hour, and many more, check out MMAFighting.com. More segments after the jump.

Posted in: mma, mma hour, hour, episode, chad griggs

My favorite MMA related gif

submitted by fruitcellar [link] [comment]

Posted in: mma, gif, fruitcellar link, fruitcellar

Kenny Florian has some advice for PED users: 'Don't do it dummies'

Just say no. That's the advice most teenagers are given when drug and alcohol education is handed out, as if it's that easy. There are so many factors that influence decision making that we're still only scratching the surface, and to see drug consumption as a simple black and white choice is as ignorant as it is dangerous. We see fighters as super men, idols who almost transcend mortality but the truth is, this only exacerbates the PED issue in MMA. As well as competitive pressure and that which comes from having to win to continually support a family, fighters also have to contend with the stress of training through and competing with almost incessant injuries so that they don't let the fans down. I don't know about you but for me, there's only so much that pride can stop the temptation of painkillers before the choice to sink some aspirin vastly outweighs the choice not to. I have no idea how anyone could condone the use of performance enhancing drugs but we at least need to be aware of the factors surrounding their use in MMA. Let us know what you think about PED use in MMA in the comments below after watching this video of Kenny Florian giving his opinon on PED users.

Posted in: mma, drug, kenny florian, use, ped

Morning Report: Nick Diaz Draws World Champion As Next Opponent

Nick Diaz is back and he's about to face a world champion. A few months ago that sentence would have caused half of the MMA community to spontaneously combust, but since then the whole retirement/suspension thing has dampened that excitement. Still, even if Diaz is considerably outmatched (which he is), his BJJ super-fight against Braulio Estima proves one thing. Nick's thirst for competition is still strong. Cesar Gracie can say we haven't seen the last of Diaz all he wants, but the best evidence is seeing with our own eyes. And now we have. 5 MUST-READ STORIES Nick Diaz, Braulio Estima agree to BJJ super-fight. Nick Diaz will meet ADCC gold medalist Braulio Estima in a 180-pound BJJ super-fight at the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo on May 12 in Long Beach, California. Rashad Evans looks back on the way things were. UFC 145 headliner Rashad Evans reflected back on his relationship with Jon Jones and the team at Jackson-Winkeljohn, remembering the moment when it all changed. UFC on FUEL 2 Facebook dissection. Dallas Winston returns with a comprehensive breakdown and analysis of Saturday's entire UFC on FUEL 2 Facebook preliminaries. TUF ratings continue to drop despite live format. Ratings for The Ultimate Fighter Live on FX hit a new low last week, leading to speculation of the reason behind the declining numbers. Eric Prindle vs. Cole Konrad moved to Bellator 70. Bellator 65's heavyweight title fight, Eric Prindle vs. Cole Konrad, has been postponed until May 25, 2012 after Prindle suffered a broken right hand in training. MEDIA STEW MMA law requires us to use the 209 news as an excuse to revisit Diaz's greatest moment of in-fight grappling wizardry. Besides, has anyone ever said the phrase, "Na, I don't feel like watching Nick Diaz vs. Takanori Gomi right now?" Randy Couture is probably the toughest 48-year-old on the planet right now, so if you disagree with his rankings of MMA's top pound-for-pound fighters, we encourage you to take it up with him. (HT: Reddit) You will never see a UFC 145 promo more worthy of the Van Damme name. (HT: Middle Easy) Joe Rogan, Bas Rutten and Josh Barnett engaged in some grappling shenanigans on HDNet's Inside MMA, with Rogan demonstrating a super-slick way to take someones back from half-guard, only to be immediately shown up by Barnett's ninja prowess. Par Barry's haircut is coming along rather nicely, don't you think? (via @HypeOrDie) MAYHEM AND CHAEL, PART II I love the MMA media's obsession with Fael. After the Brazilian kicks his head in, I'm going to end his career. — Jason Mayhem Miller (@mayhemmiller) April 10, 2012 JUST MAKING SURE @gspufc2011 he will fight 100% — Dana White (@danawhite) April 10, 2012 FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS Announced yesterday (Tuesday, April 10, 2012): - UFC 149: Thiago Alves (19-9) vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama (13-5, 2 NC) - Bellator 65: Eric Prindle (7-1, 1 NC) vs. Cole Konrad (8-0) postponed until May 25 at Bellator 70 - ONE FC: Destiny of Warriors shifted to June 23, 2012 at Kuala Lumpur's 8,000-seat Stadium Negara FANPOST OF THE DAY Today's Fanpost of the Day is an remarkably extensive thesis from Bloody Elbow's Mike Riordan: A Theory On Successful Wrestling Translating To Successful MMA Wrestling It would be nice to have an imaginary world where we could reliably predict a wrestlers success in MMA by watching to see how they blast through double leg takedowns again and again. However, we live in the real world and that simple reduction of the difficult crossover process of a very complex set of skills does not work. The problem is that at the moment, we have many different wrestlers-turned-MMA-fighters that exhibit many different styles and experience varying degrees of MMA success. Outward signs of "physicalness" or aggression as a wrestler are not enough. Whether clearly demonstrated or not, a wrestler achieves elite levels collegiately or internationally possesses more than adequate "physicalness" to succeed in any martial art and it is their processes and set-ups that lead to success that is more important. As a result, watching a wrestler use a double leg again and again successfully in a wrestling match does not mean that he would be a good fit for MMA. This is relevant to American folkstyle and freestyle wrestling and perhaps to the future of MMA talent evaluation. What style of wrestler will translate in the best MMA fighter? This question untrimmed and unqualified is impossible to answer. Few wrestlers can be reduced to a style or type, and most elite wrestlers have risen to their place in the sport through a level of refinement that leaves them completely anomalous. What I want to do is begin a live discussion of, if not an answer to, a more manageable question. What sort of wrestling attack style will yield the best offensive wrestling results in MMA? Found something perfect for the Morning Report? Just hit me on Twitter @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in tomorrow's post.

Posted in: world, diaz, mma, nick, wrestler

MMA Steroid Busts: The Definitive Timeline

submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [2 comments]

Posted in: mma, mattyblayze, timeline, bust

ONE FC 4: Event Moved To June, Colossa Vs. Khabilov Set, Leone Calls Out Docyogen

There's a ton of news revolving around ONE Fighting Championship's fourth event, so this edition of our Asian MMA Update will be focused on those recent news bits: ONE Fighting Championship has a large group of promotions, gyms, broadcast partners, and other organizations working together for what they call the ONE FC Network. On June 1-3, and they will be bringing all the leaders of these different organizations for an "Asian MMA Summit" to be held in the prestigious Marina Bay Sands hotel and casino.Here's how Victor Cui talked about the event on the press release:"My vision is to create the best MMA network in Asia by choosing strategic partnerships made up of only the best promotions, gyms, sponsors, and media companies in the region. The ONE Asia MMA Summit 2012 is an opportunity for us to come together to share ideas, harness the phenomenal growth of MMA in Asia and create opportunities for all" Also on the press-release was the announcement that the next ONE FC show, which will be held in Malaysia, has been moved to the Stadium Negara, and will happen on June 23 instead of the earlier announced May 26 date. No fights have been officially announced for the card dubbed as "ONE FC 4: Destiny of Warriors", but there is one fight that is reportedly set, a lightweight match up between Muay Thai champion, Vuyisile Colossa and Sambo champion, Rustam Khabilov.Khabilov (13-1) is a product of Greg Jackson's team, and made his impressive ONE FC debut in Jakarta, as he dominated a BJJ world champ from Evolve MMA, in Rodrigo Ribeiro. The combat sambo expert will be dropping down to the promotion's already stacked lightweight division for this event.Colossa (4-2), on the other hand, is a vicious striker, and although he has improved since he started his career, he has still shown a weakness with his ground game. The Muay Thai expert has since switched training camps and is now working in the new 'Epic MMA Club' in Hong Kong to round out his MMA game with the likes of BJJ champs Rodrigo Medeiros, Silvio Braga, and Marcus Cacella among others. Also news about the card, Phuket Top Team product Andrew Leone (4-1) has called out the URCC Pinweight (119 lbs.) champion from Team Lakay in Roy Docyogen (10-0) for a flyweight bout in ONE FC. Leone has already faced one of Docyogen's teammates, losing by submission to Jazor Ablasi in Martial Combat. Related: ONE FC 3: War of The Lions Fight Videos and Analysis | ONE FC 3 Exclusive Photo Gallery PART 1 -- PART 2 -- PART 3 Video of the Thailand-based American calling out Folayang and Belingon's teammate, after the jump. Follow me on twitter -- @antontabuena

Posted in: mma, fc, fc network, flyweight bout, thailandbased american

Top 15 Fighters Of All Time: The Introduction

My inspiration is simple for this one. I saw an exchange on Twitter where FrontRowBrian responded to the fan question: "Is Mauricio Rua a top 10-15 greatest MMA fighter of all time?" with "DEFINITELY". My initial response was to reflect on some of the most prolific and influential fighters in the modern day era, so I was surprised at Brian's apparent knee-jerk reaction here, especially since he seemed to respond in a similar impulsive manner to the same question about Quinton Jackson with an emphatic "HELL NO". These exchanges got me thinking about how I would rank my own top 15 fighters throughout modern MMA history. Now, bear with me, I am going to make this list pretty much on the fly to see whether or not I agree with the impulsive assessments of Brian. So I'll set up some parameters for myself. First, I'll be starting with the UFC era, including pre-Zuffa. This is because it is the era of MMA I'm most familiar with and including much beyond that would be beyond the comfort zone of my knowledge. Second, my choices will not be limited to on-paper record accomplishment, because some fighters have been very influential to the sport without having spotless records. Third, I'm not putting any emphasis on the particular number of the rankings. I'm not interested in arguing for a definitive top 15 PFP Awesomenessocity contest. This will simply be a chronicle of my thoughts when considering who belongs on this list. Initially, I intended to pop off a quick list of who I thought deserved to be on this list. In retrospect, I think this topic deserves to be more well thought out. So, I implore all of you to leave your comments and suggestions. Please save your judgements until I actually compile the list.

Posted in: mma, fighter, list, era, im

Ultimate Ball: the only game where you can legally teep your opponent in the stomach

When people talk about MMA being a team sport, what they usually mean is that individual training and improvement are both impossible without a team of coaches and training partners behind you. While there are rare occasions where this isn't the case such as ZST putting on tag team MMA, it's usually a figure of speech similar to 'no man is an island'. It's true, there is no 'I' in MMA but there is one in 'Ultimate Ball', the brainchild of former Cage Rage and current UCMMA promoter Dave O'Donnell. There are some things you just cannot turn off because they are so ridiculous. X-ARM is one, Ultimate Ball is another. A team sport which takes part in an MMA cage, the aim of Ultimate Ball is to get a rugby ball into the opposing team's goal more times than they get the ball into your goal. A simple concept sure, but Ultimate Ball has the added twist that clinching, slams, takedown and all strikes to the body are allowed to the player carrying the ball. It looks as crazy as you imagine and words can't do justice to what you will see in the video below.

Posted in: mma, team, ball, team sport, rugby ball

ONE FC Announces Historic Asian MMA Summit, Upgrades Stadium for June 23 Show

ONE Fighting Championship today announced the formation of the ONE Asia MMA Summit 2012, a historic invitation-only gathering of the most influential figures in Eastern mixed martial arts, scheduled for June 1, 2012 through June 3, 2012 at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. Leaders from Asia's most prominent MMA promotions, gyms, international sponsors, government partners, and media outlets will be attendance to plot a blueprint for future expansion and discuss the dramatic growth of Asian MMA since the inception of the ONE FC Network. "In the last six months we have completely changed the game for the sport of mixed martial arts in Asia," stated ONE FC Owner and CEO Victor Cui. "My vision is to create the best MMA network in Asia by choosing strategic partnerships made up of only the best promotions, gyms, sponsors, and media companies in the region. The ONE Asia MMA Summit 2012 is an opportunity for us to come together to share ideas, harness the phenomenal growth of MMA in Asia and create opportunities for all." In addition, officials confirmed a shift in date and venue for the promotion's upcoming summer show, ONE FC: Destiny of Warriors. Due to surging ticket demands, the event has been relocated to Kuala Lumpur's 8.000-seat Stadium Negara and rescheduled for June 23, 2012. A fight card has yet to be revealed.

Posted in: mma, fc, asia, june, summit

One FC Schedules Asian MMA Summit, Shifts Arena for June 23 Show in Malaysia

As One FC continues to grow and expand throughout Asia, the fledgling promotion has now scheduled a MMA summit to take place in Singapore in early June to benefit the growth and expansion of the sport.

Posted in: mma summit, fledgling promotion, june, fc, mma

Women's MMA Report: LaRosa wins at RFA 2, Holland KOs Kheyfets in Bellator debut

Perennial top contender Tara LaRosa was successful in her return to the cage on March 30 in Kearney, Neb. The submission specialist forced opponent Kelly Warren to tap out to an armbar with one second remaining in a featured bout at Resurrection Fighting Alliance 2. In the latest Women's MMA Report installment, MMAjunkie.com Robert Sargent reports on that bout, as well as Golden Gloves champ Munah Holland's successful Bellator debut, a victory by Singapore's first female MMA fighter, and Colleen Schneider dominant win at Super Fight League 2.

Posted in: mma, bellator debut, report, submission specialist, colleen schneider

ONE Fighting Championship hosting the largest MMA Summit in Asia's history

ONE Fighting Championship‘s incredible upward trajectory continued today with two announcements showing the rapid progress of Asia’s most prestigious MMA promotion is set to continue unabated. In early June, the ONE Asia Summit will take place at the world’s most expensive casino resort in Singapore with ONE FC footing the entire bill for the 150 participants. Later that month ONE FC’s fourth show will be held at the 10,000-seat capacity Stadium Negara in Kuala Lumpur. ONE FC: Destiny of Warriors was originally set for a smaller venue but after selling out the Singapore Indoor Stadium for their recent show it was decided to switch the event from May to June 23 in order to allow a greater number of people to attend. Stadium Negara has hosted concerts by Bon Jovi and Kylie Minogue in the past and, after selling almost 8,000 tickets to their March 31 show, the organization is confident the first show in Malaysia will also be a sell out. The ONE Asia Summit is taking place during the first three days of June at the Marina Bay Sands Casino and Resort which cost a cool eight billion SGD to build, making it the most expensive development of its type anywhere in the world. Invitations will be sent out to partners across the ONE FC Network which currently includes DREAM, Deep, URCC, Road FC, Cage Fighting Championship, Dare Championship, Full Contact Championship and Malaysia Fighting Championship, Evolve MMA, Tiger Muay Thai, Muayfit, Team Lakay, Legacy Gym, and many more throughout Asia and beyond. ONE FC Signs Major Deal with ESPN Anyone fortunate to be a part of the ONE FC Network will not just get an all expenses paid trip to Singapore’s swankiest resort but will also spend three days with prospective business partners including sponsors, fighters, and broadcasters. The idea is that if resources are shared between all the key players in Asian MMA the entire sport will be able to progress more rapidly as a result. The agenda for ONE Asia MMA Summit 2012 will feature presentations by industry leaders, TV broadcasters, international sponsors, leading gym owners, MMA media influencers and international MMA stars and CEO and Owner of ONE FC Victor Cui had the following message, “In the last six months we have completely changed the game for the sport of mixed martial arts in Asia. This is a result of the synergistic efforts within the ONE FC Network and the outstanding support from the network’s exclusive partners. My vision is to create the best MMA network in Asia by choosing strategic partnerships made up of only the best promotions, gyms, sponsors, and media companies in the region. The ONE Asia MMA Summit 2012 is an opportunity for us to come together to share ideas, harness the phenomenal growth of MMA in Asia and create opportunities for all.” It will be a groundbreaking idea which could have serious long term implications for the future of MMA in Asia and this possibility has persuaded ONE FC to shell out somewhere in the region of $300,000 to finance the entire ONE Asia Summit. During the course of the three days deals are likely to be struck on both the sporting and commercial side and it will be very interesting to see what comes out of this exciting initiative. Tweet

Posted in: mma, championship, fc, asia, summit

Rickson Gracie isn't very impressed with modern MMA

If you're gonna namedrop a Gracie into a conversation, don't bother with Royce, he's so mainstream. While he was fighting in beer soaked auditoriums in Denver, Rickson was competing in Japan, which anybody will tell you is way cooler and more budo etc. Also cooler? Being totally whatevs about mixed martial arts. "Today, MMA has simply turned into a circus, extreme, violent, and sensationalist, which only attracts people who like barbarianism and all that blood. I never fought in MMA, and I never fought under MMA rules or in a cage. I always represented Jiu-Jitsu in any situation, believing that Jiu-Jitsu is a superior art, and to prove it, in order to teach it to my children and be proud to say, “Do this or do that my brother because it’s better,” I fought. However, I don’t have to prove anything else now. My philosophy is to bring to Jiu-Jitsu, for those interested in martial arts, a transparent philosophy, one where he can apply it to defend himself. One he can use to teach to his children, so that his son becomes a better person within society, whether he’s a doctor or a fighter with balance, with force, with dignity, and with respect. That’s my life’s motivation. It’s not to make one, two, or five million dollars, to stick my face out there, just to be part of a circus, which doesn’t mean a thing to me. So, that’s where the situation ends. I think MMA is just a Roman arena today, where people go to see heads roll, blood spill, whatever, and everyone applauds. In fact, you’re creating an environment there where you’re setting a bad example for young people. Because those who think that being an MMA champion, besides the money, means something, are totally mistaken." Jeez, tell us how you really feel, Rickson! "I want you to tell me what social benefit MMA contributes to society, to the participant, the audience, or for those interested in being a part of MMA? You give me an answer, and I’ll think about if maybe there’s a possibility for me to like MMA. Right now, MMA to me is simply a sensationalist sport that feeds society’s need for extreme violence. They enjoy seeing the extreme, the same way you see two truck drivers fighting on the street and you stop to watch, without knowing who’s right or wrong, without knowing if the guys going to kill someone or die. MMA is the same thing. Fans go there to see violence, blood, flying teeth, and if the fight involves some technique, nobody likes it." The funny thing is I'd say it was way more of a barbaric circus of violence back in the 90s during Rickson's days.

Posted in: mma, rickson, denver rickson, technique nobody, circus

The MMA Hour - Episode 126 - Roundtable

Posted in: mma, hour, episode

Charles Darwin had a theory on MMA evolution, and we just discovered it

The concept of ‘survival of the fittest’ is a neat idea, but it was clearly flawed for 21st century living. While some people may be lean, fit, perhaps even well-trained for any outdoor sport/activity, we live in a society where little of that matters anymore. If you drop a random Kardashian into the forest, regardless of how many years of Pilates they’ve got tucked away in their skirts, they’ll probably die of infection the first time they break a nail and be eaten by wolves a few hours later. I’m fairly confident you could say the same thing about most athletes too. In the age of satellite phones, imperishable canned foods, and antibiotics, perhaps the latest revision of Darwin’s 'Theory of Evolution' should reflect our new societal standards by with using the 'survival of the most resourceful' slogan. Most of what you’ve just read in this paragraph is actually irrelevant because it doesn’t apply to MMA fighters. Those dudes are prepared for anything. Darwin’s theory of MMA Evolution actually has it’s own chapter, and here’s the excerpt. Props to Reddit for the find.

Posted in: mma, theory, mma evolution, excerpt props, darwin

ONE FC Announce Biggest Summit in Asian MMA History, Swiching KL Show to Larger Stadium

ONE Fighting Championship today announced details of the 'ONE Asia Summit' which will be held in Singapore from June 1st to 3rd and will be the largest event of its type in the history of Asian MMA. According to the press release, 150 of the most influential people in Asian MMA are invited for an all expenses paid trip to Singapore at the luxurious S$8 billion Marina Bay Sands, the world’s most expensive resort and casino, to join forces for the benefit of Asian MMA. The other major announcement was that, after the success of the last ONE FC show at the Singapore Indoor Stadium which was an 8,000 sell out, the decision has been made to alter the date of the Malaysia show in order to switch to a bigger venue. It had initially been scheduled to take place in Kuala Lumpur on May 25th with a couple of arenas with capacities of 2-3,000 under consideration. The strong ticket sales at ONE FC 'War of the Lions', as well as the overwhelmingly positive reaction from the fans in attendance encouraged ONE FC to move to book the biggest venue available, Stadium Negara. It is an indoor stadium which has played host to concerts by the likes of Kylie Minogue and Bon Jovi and has a capacity of 10200. MMA is growing rapidly in Malaysia with new camps and promotions springing up almost every month and it is likely that a few local fighters such as Adam Kayoom and Pete Davis will be on the card at ONE FC 'Destiny of Warriors' which is set for June 23rd. The 'ONE FC Network' was founded last October and is an 'exclusive partnership' between multiple MMA promotions including Dream, Deep, Road FC, URCC, Cage Fighting Championships, Malaysia Fighting Championships and Full Contact Championships as well as other partners such as sponsors, broadcasters, officials and MMA camps. It has been a cornerstone of ONE FC's success and the most recent show prominently featured fighters from Dream, Deep and the URCC. The presence of the likes of Tatsuya Kawajiri and Masakuze Imanari on the card at the Singapore Indoor Stadium was a good example of the potential benefits to fighters and fans of the ONE FC Network. This will be the first time that the entire ONE FC Network has gathered together and CEO / Owner Victor Cui was quoted in the press release as follows: In the last six months we have completely changed the game for the sport of mixed martial arts in Asia. This is a result of the synergistic efforts within the ONE FC Network and the outstanding support from the network’s exclusive partners. My vision is to create the best MMA network in Asia by choosing strategic partnerships made up of only the best promotions, gyms, sponsors, and media companies in the region. The ONE Asia MMA Summit 2012 is an opportunity for us to come together to share ideas, harness the phenomenal growth of MMA in Asia and create opportunities for all The agenda for ONE Asia MMA Summit 2012 will include presentations by industry leaders, TV broadcasters, international sponsors, leading gym owners, MMA media influencers and international MMA stars all within the luxurious surroundings of the most expensive casino resort in the world. It will be an opportunity for all the major players in the region to come together for the very first time with all their costs covered by ONE FC. When ONE FC was launched the budget was described as being the biggest ever seen in Asian MMA and it appears that a chunk of this cash is being dedicated to building long term relationships with all the various stakeholders in the region. I would estimate the cost of paying for 150 people to spend three nights at the Marina Bay Sands as being in the region of 150,000 USD and the flights will push the price considerably higher.. ONE FC signed a ten year media partnership with ESPN Star Sports earlier this year which guarantees that the sports broadcaster will air its content in 24 Asian countries. There will be numerous media partners present at the summit and it is possible other promotions will be able to use the opportunity to broker TV deals. Road FC has already benefited from being part of the ONE FC Network by booking Brian Choi, Vuyisile Colossa and Andrew Leone to appear in Korea and with so many matchmakers spending time together we could see more of this type of inter-promotional movement after the summit There will be representatives from almost every sphere of Asian MMA present, ranging from promoters to sponsors to (hopefully!) the media. It is probably the most ambitious and expensive summit in MMA history and nothing like this has ever been organized in Asia before. There will always competition between fighters, between camps and even between promotions but if the sport of MMA grows then everyone will benefit and putting so many influential people in one place could greatly accelerate the already remarkable rate of this growth in Asia. With the change of date for the Kuala Lumpur card the ONE FC schedule for the remainder of 2012 now looks like this: June 1st-3rd 'ONE Asia Summit' Marina Bay Sands, Singapore June 23rd, ONE FC 'Destiny of Warriors Stadium Negara, Kuala Lumpur September 1st ONE FC 3 Philippines (venue TBA) October 6th ONE FC 4 Singapore Indoor Stadium * negotiations are underway for additional events www.twitter.com/jamesgoyder

Posted in: mma, fc, asia, asian mma, summit

MMA Talking Heads: Alistair Overeem drug test, Invicta Women's MMA tournament and more

MMA Mania presents "MMA Talking Heads," a video discussion series featuring mixed martial arts (MMA) journalist Jason Probst with special guest co-host and first lady of MMA media, Meg May. The show touches on all aspects of the sport, with an insider's perspective. In this episode of Talking Heads, Jason Probst is joined by special co-host Meg May. We discuss Alistair Overeem's testing positive for elevated levels of testosterone, drug testing in MMA, and women's MMA with the upcoming Invicta show. Will the UFC be able to find an adequate replacement for the May 26 card? Can Invicta, an all-women's MMA promotion, get a foothold in the public eye? Have a question or comment? Send it to twitter.com/MMATalkingHeads and we will answer it on the next episode! Catch a new episode every week at this channel, or at www.mmamania.com. For past episodes of MMA Mania presents "MMA Talking Heads" click here, here and here.

Posted in: mma, episode, head, mma mania, invicta

Inside MMA: The Alistair Overeem Situation

Inside MMA takes a look at the current situation involving Alistair Overeem. Kenny and Bas are joined by Joe Rogan, Josh Barnett, and Michael Schiavello. Inside MMA airs live on HDNet every Monday night at 8pm ET. Inside MMA Archive

Posted in: mma, monday night, alistair, mma airs, michael schiavello

The MMA Hour - Episode 126 - Marcus Brimage

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The MMA Hour - Episode 126 - Victor Conte

Posted in: mma, hour, victor, episode, conte

The MMA Hour - Episode 126 - Mark Hunt

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The MMA Hour - Episode 126 - Chad Griggs

Posted in: mma, hour, episode, chad, grigg

Morning Report: MMA's Surging Drug Dilemma, UFC Primetime Jones vs. Evans

After another slow spring day, it's difficult trying to decipher a talking point while ignoring the fact that nearly every major story right now involves some combination of the words "drug," "testing," "commission" and "testosterone." (Or "Mark Hunt.") We've reached the point where escaping the chatter is nearly an impossible task, and phrases like testosterone-to-epitestosterone ratio have become mandatory learning for burnt-out fight fans. This isn't a complaint, or even an answer (because obviously if one was out there, we wouldn't be talking about this), but merely a weary observation. Really, the blockbuster summer schedule can't come soon enough. 5 MUST-READ STORIES Victor Conte says there are 'simple answers' for MMA's drug problem. Renown BALCO founder and president Victor Conte shared his expertise while discussing MMA's growing PED problem and the improvements that could made across the board in regards to testing. CASC pases therapeutic use exemptions amendment. The California State Athletic Commission approved an amendment on Monday afternoon permitting therapeutic use exemptions for athletes who wish to use substances banned by state agencies, most notably including testosterone and marijuana. The MMA Hour. Ariel Helwani and The MMA Hour are back in your life with a show featuring Mark Hunt, Victor Conte, Chad Griggs, Marcus Brimage, and a media roundtable with MMA Fighting's Mike Chiappetta and The Daily Telegraph's Gareth A. Davies. One-year steroids suspension upheld for Cris 'Cyborg.' The California State Athletic Commission upheld Cris 'Cyborg' Justino's one-year suspension stemming from a positive steroids test, blocking the road for a summer bout against Strikeforce women's champion Ronda Rousey. UFC on FUEL TV 2 'Prelims' preview and predictions. Preview Saturday night's UFC on FUEL 2 undercard with predictions and analysis for Reza Madadi vs. Yoislandy Izquierdo, Simeon Thoresen vs. Besam Yousef, and Jason Young vs. Eric Wisely. MEDIA STEW The first mega-fight of the summer season goes down in a couple weeks, so if you're not familiar with the backstory of Jon Jones and Rashad Evans' rivalry, take a look inside the minds of both men with the official premiere of UFC Primetime: Jones vs. Evans. On yesterday's The MMA Hour, Army of Doom commander-in-chief Mark Hunt proclaimed that "everything Alistair has done is meaningless now." Of course Overeem probably didn't take too kindly to those words, but with everything going on, it seems fitting to look back at this. Hey guys, remember that time Joe Rogan tapped out to Andy Dick? No? Well, here you go. (HT: Reddit) Another overlooked nugget from this past weekend: No. 1 Bellator middleweight contender Alexander Shlemenko obliterates Minowaman's face, then calmly turns to the camera and says, "Hello India. Hector, I kill you." MAYHEM AND CHAEL Chael berating someone on their test level is like me making fun of someone's bad haircut. — Jason Mayhem Miller (@mayhemmiller) April 9, 2012 MayHem: Due to time constraints I am currently confining my Twitter wars to active, relevant, fighters ONLY. Buy a T-shirt on your way out. — chael sonnen (@sonnench) April 9, 2012 . @sonnench don't worry-you're a beatdown away from obscurity. I'll be happy to beat your head in-that's if it's not still on a pike in Rio. — Jason Mayhem Miller (@mayhemmiller) April 9, 2012 A MAN HAS TO HAVE HIS PRINCIPLES @Ufcfanatic67 I only meet with blondes with big titties lol — mark richard hunt (@markhunt1974) April 10, 2012 FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS Announced yesterday (Monday, April 9, 2012): - Bellator 69: Jessica Aguilar (13-4) vs. Megumi Fujii (25-1) - Bellator 69: Winner of Rick Hawn (12-1) vs. Lloyd Woodard (12-1) vs. Winner of Brent Weedman (19-7-1) vs. Thiago Michel Pireira Silva (10-2) - Bellator 69: Josh Quayhagen (3-0) vs. Cliff Wright, Jr. (6-2) - Bellator 69: Ron Sparks (8-1) vs. Kevin Asplund (15-1) FANPOST OF THE DAY Today's Fanpost of the Day is a superb striking breakdown for one of MMA's premier legends, via Bloody Elbow's Jack Slack: The Striking of Bas Rutten: Along the Ropes Bas Rutten has become one of the best known personalities in MMA for his humorous and insightful color commentary, coaching and his anchor role on the popular mixed martial arts TV show, InsideMMA. Before he became a recognizable pundit, however, Rutten was the three times King of Pancrase, and the UFC heavyweight champion - becoming arguably the most successful striker in MMA up to that point. Beginning in Kyokushin Karate, then moving to Muay Thai, Rutten went undefeated in his first fourteen professional fights before being approached by Masakatsu Funaki and Minoru Suzuki to join their newly formed Pancrase organization. Pancrase, touting "hybrid wrestling" rules, sought to bolster their roster with a credible kickboxer among the many grapplers in the organization. Unfortunately for Bas Rutten, the rules of Pancrase heavily favored grapplers; knees to the head were forbidden without knee pads, knockdowns resulted in a referee's count, and striking on the ground was heavily frowned upon. Further to this, no gloves were worn and hand attacks to the head were only permitted with the palms - effectively shortening the range of straight punches, the traditional weapon of a striker against grappler. Having no sprawl to speak of, Rutten quickly learned to fight from his back, and utilize a savage guillotine to submit opponents while they attempted to take him down. Further to this he developed several tactics to limit the number of exchanges and damage his opponents as much as possible in doing so. Rutten's use of his trademark "Liver Shot" has been discussed many times before and will be dealt with in the second installment of this series, but what has received little attention is Bas Rutten's handy work along the ropes. Found something perfect for the Morning Report? Just hit me on Twitter @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in tomorrow's post.

Posted in: ufc, mma, vs, rutten, april

The MMA Hour - Episode 126 - MiO Questions

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UFC Quick Quote: 'Josh Barnett not being in the UFC is a disservice to MMA fans'

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

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

Bloody Elbow Interview: John Wayne Parr Talks Boonchu Cup, Caged Muay Thai

One of the best kept secrets in the world of international combat sports is the Muay Thai scene in Australia. Outside of Thailand, Australia features the most competitive and entertaining Muay Thai action you'll find. One of the leading figures in that scene is long-time veteran John Wayne Parr. The kickboxer and Muay Thai fighter has been one of the key figureheads of the Australian scene for years, combining world class skills in the ring with an ambassador's style outside the ring. Now, Parr is promoting a new venture in Australia, and it's one that has generated a lot of talk. On June 23, Parr will present the Boonchu Cup, the first event in a new fighting style he's dubbed the Caged Muay Thai Series. Fights will be full Muay Thai rules, but instead of taking place in a ring as is traditional, they will be in a cage, and fighters will be wearing MMA sized 4 oz gloves. It's an interesting idea that has people talking. Parr has already received public support from UFC fighters Kenny Florian, Dongi Yang, The Korean Zombie Chan Sung Jung, and Dong Hyun Kim. But it also is drawing some detractors who argue that it's not true Muay Thai. I had a chance to speak with Parr to clarify exactly what fans can expect at the Boonchu Cup, plus how he feels about the criticism, and what he thinks of the state of striking in the UFC and MMA today. Fraser Coffeen: First off, can you explain the rules for this event? John Wayne Parr: Rules are the same as Muay Thai, nothing changes there. Fights will either be 3x3 or 5x3 with 2 min break. Everyone must wear MMA gloves, but not all fights will be with elbows. There will still be a 3 knock down rule in effect, but no standing 8 count, if you can't protect yourself or are not fighting back it's over. If you get taken down in a Thai grapple, fight stop, back to the feet then start again. FC: What is the current line-up? JWP: For a Australian show this is a A-grade undercard. Lot's of 50-50 matches so it's very very exciting. Even though I am promoting I don't want a easy fight, Jordan Tai is one of the strongest middleweights to come out of New Zealand. Jordan has heavy hands like myself so the little gloves are going to make things interesting. John Wayne Parr (boonchu) vs Jordan Tai (new zealand)Flip Street (boonchu) vs Chris Wells (new zealand)Thor Hoopmann (boonchu) vs TBAAaron TS2 (strike force) vs Brodie Stradler (joe hilton)Beniah Douma (mad x) vs Matt McTavish (strike force)Mark Lucchiari (strike Force) vs Tainui Crouch (corp box)Jun Lee (boonchu) vs Michael Badato (full force) FC: How did you get the idea for this? JWP: I am a massive fan of UFC, I get all the pay per views and respect all the fighters so much. I was thinking of learning the ground, just so one day in my dreams that I could fight UFC. I am just about to turn 36 so I know my time is running out and could never compete with the elite, so I thought what better way to fight in the cage is if I do it myself. I have had 113 fights in a ring and it has become pretty normal, being locked in a cage with no corners is going to be a rush I haven't felt since I started the sport. With the mma gloves I watch guys like Alistair Overeem, Brock Lesnar, Mark Hunt and think if they can use them, I feel like a pussy wearing boxing gloves now. If we want respect from mma fighters and the fans, Muay Thai fighters have to show we are just as tough as they are, we are no longer playing tag for points, now we are going to play a game called knocked out. More from Parr in the complete article. What do you say Bloody Elbow readers - is this an idea that interests you? FC: Has this same rule set has been used before? JWP: I have seen a few K-1 and Muay Thai fights on youtube [in a cage], but no MMA gloves. I believe with the small gloves we are just about to change the game forever. FC: How do you think it will change things during the fight? JWP: No one can be lazy, you will need new foot work to spring in and out with attacks, combos are going to have to be explosive as you might get caught standing in the pocket too long. If you're a smart fighter, you will get the kicking and knee strikes as your main weapons to keep your opponent at bay. Grappling with open gloves will open the door to good grapplers, you can hold the head and arms a lot easier and make it easier to move the guard to deliver elbows. Because you're not worried about being taken down people are going to have more confidence when striking. FC: So how are you preparing differently than you normally would? JWP: We are still 11 weeks away, right now I am working on getting my fitness up and keeping the eye in. I have started hitting the pads with the little gloves to get an idea of what it feels like. My friend has a cage so I will be working a lot in there getting fimilier with the surroundings. Besides that just doing everything the same. FC: How do you respond to the criticism that this is not real Muay Thai? JWP: I was surprised there was a little bit of a backlash, but all good. I am not doing this for any other reason than for myself, if it takes off I am happy to keep promoting them, if it doesn't then at least I had a crack and have memories to show for it. I read somewhere that when you think of mma you think cage, but mma was a ring sport long before the cage come along. Since I put the poster on the net the feedback has been 95% positive, people are excited and there is a buzz about the sport again. FC: Do you have any concerns over fighter safety with these rules? JWP: On the night I will have 2 doctors and a paramedic so I hope to have my bases covered. There will be cuts and swelling, plus knock outs I guarantee, but that's the same reason I pay $45 every weekend when UFC is on. FC: Will the show be broadcast or streamed? JWP: At this stage I am just getting the show recorded to see what sort of package we can put together. Because it's such a new idea I think people want to see if it works first. Open to tv deals in the future, if Fox in the states wants to buy it for 900 million like UFC, then give them my email. FC: One last question, since you keep up on MMA and the UFC I am curious to know - what is your opinion on the quality of striking we currently see in MMA? Who do you see in the UFC that has particularly strong Muay Thai technique? JWP: Anderson Silva has amazing striking. GSP is also someone I respect, he has a great jab like a pro boxer. The foot work and hand combos by Frankie Edgar, the kicking skills of Ben Henderson, the punching power of Mark Hunt and Junior dos Santos. I could go on and on. So many of the UFC guys are my heroes and I get excited to hear when they are fighting.

Posted in: mma, muay, fc, thai, glove

Bellator Quick Quote: Ben Askren is not a sissy like most MMA fighters

"His stand-up isn’t something you want to mess with. If the Canadian fans want to stand on their feet for 25 minutes with Douglas, well, they wouldn’t last that long because he’d probably finish them earlier. My striking has improved tremendously, but that doesn’t mean that I’m going to stand around for 25 minutes and slug it out with someone that has one-punch knockout power. That’s ridiculous. If I wanted to do that I’d go to the sport of kickboxing. People neglect the fact that I have a brown belt in jiu-jitsu. I feel like I landed ten times as many punches as I ever have and a lot of them were really, really hard. A lot of lesser men would have rolled over and gave up a rear-naked choke like most of the sissies in MMA." Sorry haters, but your criticism of Ben Askren's performance at Bellator 64 last Friday night (April 6, 2012) in Ontario is falling on deaf ears. The undefeated welterweight champion tells MMA Weekly he makes no apologies for his wrestling-based offense against Douglas Lima, who "Funky" maintains could have ended their weekend title fight with one punch. So how about it Maniacs, is there any difference (besides attitude) between Askren and UFC welterweight kingpin Georges St. Pierre when it comes to gameplanning? And more importantly, is there anyone in Bellator's 170-pound weight class that can defeat him?

Posted in: bellator, mma, mma fighters, askren, isnrsquot something

ONE FC: Zorobabel Moreira Had to Leave Brazil in Order to Unlock His Potential

There is no shortage of Brazilians in mixed martial arts (MMA). They come up through domestic promotions like Jungle Fight and Fury FC and cut their teeth on arguably the most competitive circuit in the entire MMA world before the best of them break out onto the international scene. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) champions Anderson Silva, Junior dos Santos and Jose Aldo are the most famous but there is a constant supply of talent emerging from Brazil, Bibiano Fernandes is the best Bantamweight outside of the UFC and other names to look out for include Adriano Martins, Ronys Torres, Ronny Markes, Ronaldo Souza, Patricio Freire, Renan Pegado and Eduardo Dantas. Fighters who emerge from Brazil are capable of making an instant impact on major league organizations because they have come from such a competitive environment. Unsurprisingly they tend to have very strong Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) but you only need to be familiar with the careers of Silva, Dos Santos and Aldo to know that Brazil also produces some very strong stand up fighters. As they become more successful many of them make their way north to train in the US in order to take their skills to the next level and to work on aspects of their game which might be weaker such as wrestling. Zorobabel Moreira went a little bit further, moving 10,000 miles East to Singapore and it is a decision which is already paying dividends as he slowly but surely works his way up the list of Brazilian Lightweight prospects. What would have happened to Moreira if he had stayed in Brazil? Perhaps he would have made it but with limited wrestling and very basic striking skills the 2005 IBFJJ Mundials winner would probably not have prospered. The holes in his game got brutally exposed in hie first fight in Asia when he was knocked out by Joe Ray at Martial Combat 3 in June 2010. After only a few months in Singapore he was still the same one dimensional fighter who had left Brazil but after that loss he began to work every single day with the team of Muay Thai world champions at Evolve MMA and something special began to happen. A rear naked choke win over K-1 veteran Yun Seob Kwak at Martial Combat 12 would have done much to setlle his nerves but at that stage there was still little to suggest that Moreira would one day emerge as the most exciting lightweight prospect on the South East Asian circuit. This was where the hard work behind the scenes really begun. Evolve MMA owner Chatri Sityodtong identified Moreira's stand up as being a weakness and assigned three time Lumpinee champion Lamnamoon Sor Sumalee to work with him on a daily basis. Rather than rushing him into another MMA fight they took their time and prepared Moreira to get some actual experience of fighting professional Muay Thai in Thailand so that he could become genuinely comfortable fighting on his feet. He was all set to make his Muay Thai debut in Pattaya when, as Moreira recalls, Evolve MMA received a surprise phone call from a new promoter, "Chatri told me that there was a new MMA show in Thailand and they wanted me to fight Ferrid Kheder in Bangkok in a week's time. I had been training for my first Muay Thai fight but at Evolve MMA we train together every day even if we don't have a fight so even though I was not expecting to do an MMA fight Chatri believed I was ready." It had been eight months since Moreira has last been in competitive action and the fighter he was facing at the first ever DARE event was Ferrid Kheder, an Olympian Judoka and MMA veteran who had won 13 out of his previous 15 fights and hadn't lost in almost two years. It was the first opportunity for him to showcase the Muay Thai skills he had spent the best part of the previous year acquiring with the trainer designated to him by Evolve MMA, "Lamnamoon was very tall for his weight, just like me, and he was very famous in Thailand for having very good knees so he helped me to fight the same style as him. I learned to use my knees and my elbows and kicks and teeps as well as punches. He was one of the best Muay Thai fighters in Thailand and there is no-one in Brazil who teaches in the same style. I was very lucky to train with him every day at Evolve MMA, he helped me a lot." Moreira came very close to finishing the fight with Kheder in the second round when he rocked him with the sort of knee to the chin which Lamnamoon would have thoroughly approved of. He also used the teeps to very good effect throughout the three rounds winning by a clear cut unanimous decision. This was followed by an even more convincing performance against another much more experienced fighter, Andy Wang, at ONE FC 1. This time Moreira put on a Muay Thai clinic, using all eight limbs to batter the TUF veteran with punches, knees, kicks and elbows, stopping him in the second round to register a successful lightweight debut. The next test came in the form of Felipe Enomoto who had just submitted Ole Laursen the previous month. The Swiss Japanese fighter is extremely well rounded and presented a very different type of challenge either Wang or Kheder but once again Moreira showed how he was developing, this time using lightning fast low kicks to chop away at Enomoto's lead leg and set up the sweep which led to the third round submission. It was a textbook example of how a Muay Thai technique can be employed to take a fight to the floor in just the same sort of a way which wrestlers use takedowns and according to Moreira this was partly the gameplan but his stand up has also evolved to the point where he is capable of thinking on his feet, "I saw sometimes when I kicked his legs he could feel it and I tried to confuse him with punches and then use a leg kick. The strategy was to use jabs and leg kicks. I did one kick and he fell down so I had opportunity to go for the armbar and then I got the armbar." ONE FC War Of The Lions: Felipe Enomoto vs Zorobabel Moreira (via OneFCMMA) There is still a long way to go before we can even start talking about Moreira in the same breath as Silva, Dos Santos and Aldo but as one of the stars of ONE Fighting Championship he is already well on his way to being the most famous Brazilian fighter in Asia. Prior to his fight against Enomoto, which was the main event at ONE FC 2 and was witnessed by around 8,000 people in the Singapore Indoor Stadium, he appeared on ESPN's Sports Centre and you can see the segment here. It was a nerve wracking experience for someone who, until recently, did not speak good English but Moreira handled it with the same sort of poise he would handle Enomoto a few nights later, "I was little bit nervous because my English not so good and I know people everywhere in Asia were watching so I hope they understood me. My life now is so good, in Brazil I was very poor but here I can train with the best fighters in the world and have a lot of people come and cheer for me when I fight in Singapore. I feel Singapore is my home and Evolve MMA is my family and the team is so strong and that helps me so much and makes me very confident when I fight." Every single ONE FC event to date has been headlined by a 155 lbs fighter and the division is the promotion's most competitive at present. Eduard Folayang, Ole Laursen, Eddie Ng, Vuyisile Colossa and Rustam Khabilov are just some of the names in the mix but Moreira could well be the best of them all. He has come a long way in more ways than one since he left Brazil with a BJJ black belt in his back pocket and a couple of MMA wins to his name but not much else to suggest he would one day become one of the top lightweights in Asia. The weeks and months of work with Lamnamoon at Evolve MMA have transformed him from a one dimensional grappler to a truly well rounded mixed martial artist and his brave decision to move 10,000 miles in order to train in Singapore has well and truly paid off. www.twitter.com/jamesgoyder

Posted in: fight, mma, fighter, brazil, moreira

The MMA Hour With Mark Hunt, Chad Griggs, Marcus Brimage, Victor Conte and Media Roundtable

The MMA Hour is back in your life on Monday, and we're going two-plus hours once again. Here's what's in store for this week's show: * MMA Fighting's Mike Chiappetta and The Daily Telegraph's Gareth A. Davies will join us for another MMA media roundtable to discuss all the latest news making headlines in the sport. * Heavyweight Mark Hunt will discuss his newfound Twitter fame and the push to get him a title shot. * Victor Conte, the infamous founder of BALCO, will discuss the PED problem plaguing MMA. * Strikeforce turned UFC heavyweight Chad Griggs will preview his UFC 145 against Travis Browne. * And featherweight Marcus Brimage will discuss his UFC 145 fight against Maximo Blanco. Plus, we'll be taking your calls on anything and everything. Got a question or comment? Give us a call at 1-888-418-4074. Watch the show live below beginning at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT / 6 p.m. GMT. Subscribe to The MMA Hour on iTunes: audio feed here; video feed here. Download previous episodes here. Listen to the show via Stitcher here or via TuneIn here.

Posted in: mma, mma hour, hour, video feed, telegraphs gareth

Listen Up, You Pencil-Neck Geeks! Why the Three Most Important Letters for the WWE are UFC

I am an expert on pro wrestling. The Monday Night Wars, the nWo, the WCW Invasion, kissing Vince McMahon's ass, the Montreal Screwjob, Austin 3:14, Stephanie in the boiler room, the Shockmaster, Chris Jericho and his 1004 holds, the Undertaker's unbeaten streak at Wrestlemania. All of this and more do I know. Yet, I have not watched more than a single minute of wrestling since the 80s. How is this so? Because I am an MMA fan. If there is one thing I have learned during the decade or so since I started closely following mixed martial arts, it's this: a lot of MMA fans are also pro wrestling fans. And being an MMA fans means I have the luxury of being educated through osmosis alone as my fellow fans go over the history, inner workings, and minutia of the world of 'rasslin. This is not to ridicule anyone, for even though I myself have not followed 'rasslin' - outside the MMA websites - since I was a kid, I hold very fond memories of watching Hogan versus Mr. Wonderful on Saturday Night's Main Event, the Road Warriors versus the Freebirds at the St. Paul Civic Center, and Nick Bockwinkel versus Andre the Giant at the Met. That I have such vivid recollections of NWA, AWA, and WWF matches from over a quarter century ago attests to its appeal. So is there a point to all this discussing of pro wrestling and MMA fans? Only to make this observation: Brock Lesnar's return to the pro wrestling will have almost as big of impact on the UFC as it does the WWE. I am sure many of you will have your doubts about this claim, which runs counter to the history of the two "sports" fans. For the last 10 years it has been an iron clad rule that professional wrestling fans migrate to MMA, not the reverse. It has been the UFC that has seen it audience and revenues grow every year while the reverse has held true for the WWE. It is generally accepted that pro wrestling has had a major impact of the growth of the UFC and the sport of MMA. One could argue, which I have, that almost every phase of growth that the UFC has seen since their purchase by Zuffa was from siphoning fans away from pro wrestling and the WWE. For the last decade or so, pro wrestling has served as a gateway, directing fans bred on a diet of staged ultra-violence and over-the-top storyline to the real thing in MMA. It has been a one-way street for years now, a trend I predict Brock Lesnar will change (if only temporarily). Arguably, no individual has had a greater impact on MMA over the last five years than Brock Lesnar. That his appeal was the result of his pro wrestling background is undeniable, as is the fact that he was easily the biggest draw the UFC has seen. I've covered this in the past, but a quick glimpse at a few statistics demonstrates the impact he's had on the UFC's bottom line during his tenure: from 2008 through 2011 cards Brock Lesnar appeared on averaged 978,000 payperviews in comparison to the non-Brock shows which averaged 476,000 buys. In other words, during the last four years Brock was responsible for 1/4 of all UFC payperviews sales while appearing on only 7 out of 56 payperview shows. Circumstantial evidence suggests that Brock's return to the WWE is already paying dividends for them. Wrestlemania 28 is thought to have broken payperview records assisted in part by (false) rumors that Brock would be making a surprise showing and the following night's Raw broadcast which featured the actual return of Lesnar was easily the top rated cable show that night, averaging 5 million viewers over its two hours while going up against the NCAA men's basketball championship. Obviously there is some interest in seeing Brock back in the ring as evidenced by the ratings and comments of MMA fans on twitter and blogs. Zach Arnold at Fightopinion examined this reaction amongst the fans: My initial takeaway from watching WWE fans explode when Lesnar showed up was a relatively simple one. It goes to show you that MMA, for many wrestling fans, is a substitute and not replacement product in their lives. Wrestling fans always are paranoid about legitimacy. Brock Lesnar is their symbol of legitimacy. UFC gave him the rub to come back to wrestling as, pardon the pun, The Ultimate Fighter. WWE fans are often tortured souls with crappy matchmaking and even crappier disdain from the promotion. The promotion has a nasty habit of punishing those the hardest who are the most loyal supporters while doing everything it can to win over people who look at the product as a circus So, Lesnar is a huge breath of fresh air for WWE fans. He's their vessel to support someone who was involved in real fighting and is back to take over their world. This is why you will have to endure non-stop Lesnar talk in both pro-wrestling and MMA circles. Hell, I had a couple of well-respected people involved in MMA on a high level this weekend ask me on the phone about Brock Lesnar being at Wrestlemania in Miami. It was the subject most discussed this week in MMA circles offline. So, am I forecasting a massive turnaround in the fortunes of these two companies? That all of a sudden vast numbers of former pro wrestling fans are going to abandon the UFC and migrate back to the WWE? No, nothing that dramatic. But I do foresee a number of either nostalgic or lukewarm MMA fans giving pro wrestling another try and that is where the UFC will feel the impact. With the current downturn in payperview sales any further dip, no matter how small, will be felt. More worrisome is not the risk that fans will abandon the UFC but, in these tough economic times, wrestling/MMA fans will be forced to choose between purchasing a UFC event and a WWE payperview with Brock. That Brock drew 300,000 new payperview buyers to the UFC on his very first fight for the promotion demonstrates not only his drawing but also the potential risk that a sizable amount of fans, judicious about their spending habits. will cut back on their UFC purchases. The good news for the UFC is, no matter how big of impact Brock's return to the WWE has on their coffers, eventually it will come to an end: he is currently signed for only one year with the promotion. Since no other WWE stars of his caliber have crossed over and succeeded in the Octagon, there is little risk that will be anything other than a temporary spike. Unless.. What if the WWE, finding success in Brock's MMA connection, borrowed a page from the UFC and targeted their fans? Would signing even more MMA stars to the roster - both King Mo and Rampage Jackson have been mentioned as prospects - turnaround what has been a one-sided fight for years? Would a WWE invasion by UFC fighters keep their current fans happy and bring back those that left for MMA? I'm doubtful, but also interested to see how Brock's next year in the WWE plays out.

Posted in: ufc, mma, fan, wwe, brock

Video: UFC's Dana White On MMA Being Cooler Than Football, Fighter Pay, Steroids

UFC president Dana White recently did a three part interview series with Swedish MMA journalist Marcus Kowal, the first part of which we aired here several weeks ago. However, it's the final two installments that are the most quotable, giving insight into White's views on his fighters being paid enough and why he thinks more guys should go into MMA than football. Some highlights from Part 2: - White talks about going to Sweden for the first time and how they're planning to go back based on the quick sellout. - He talks about the Brazil soccer stadium show being "one of biggest sporting events of the year" and that Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen II is something his entire fanbase across the world will want to see. - His opinion on fighters not tapping out, specifically with Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey. This transitions into his thoughts on women's MMA post-Rousey/Tate and how the two "changed his mind". But it's Part 3 that is the most interesting. See the quotes and the video after the jump. A few highlights from Part 3: - White went into detail about how athletes can be "huge superstars" in MMA and make "tons of money", adding that the the sport is safer, "way cooler" and there's more longevity than in football. "Let's be honest here. "Do you want to be a (expletive) football player throwing a football around or do you want to be the heavyweight champion of the (expletive) world? Seriously, is there any debate?," he said. - White talks about a discussion with Fox in which they asked about what fighters make and how they asked why he didn't promote that more heavily. He brings up his reasons why, citing examples from Mike Tyson and baseball player Prince Fielder.- White said over the next five years, money is going to get bigger for fighters. A quote. "They're making plenty of (expletive) money."- He blames media and people "buzzing around" about all the talk about pay. He says that in 11 years and more than 1700 fights, he's never seen a worse beating than Lorenzo Fertitta's talk with "that guy from ESPN". "If that doesn't tell the story, nothing does," he said. - He goes into helping fighters out, what the yearly Fighter Summit is supposed to be about and his frustrations when people come to him after a fighter gets busted for steroids. "I have 375 guys under contract. I have this huge business to run. I told you what the next two years of my life were going to be like and I'm supposed to be babysitting these guys? They're grown (expletive) men," he said.

Posted in: mma, fighter, part, football, expletive

Super Fight League: How Did the Indian Promotion Manage to Lose 300,000 Viewers?

The second Super Fight League show was an improvement on the first, the cameras did not constantly pan away from the action to show which celebrities were in attendance and there were three decent level fights to keep the international audience happy. The production was good and, unlike the inaugural event, the fights themselves were all satisfactory. At a glance it appeared that the SFL was moving in the right direction and a couple of the Indian fighters on display, Anup Kumar and Ranjeet Sahni, at least looked competent and potentially capable of one day competing at a higher level. There were a lot of empty seats and reportedly less than 1,000 people showed up to the 5,000 capacity stadium but attempting to host major MMA events in places which have no history with the sport was always ambitious and according to sources in India there were only around 300 paying customers at the first show. Had the SFL chosen sensible sized venues, with capacities closer to 800, they could conceivably have filled them and saved us the sight of deserted stands. The most worrying statistic was in the bottom right hand corner of the screen where the viewer count told a story which casts doubt on not just the future of the SFL, but the state of the entire sport of MMA in India. Over 300,000 people watched the first show, an extraordinary figure and, given that this is roughly double what the UFC gets for its free undercards, it is safe to assume that the vast majority of these viewers were in India. SFL 2 got just 3,000 viewers on youtube, which represents an almost unbelievable 99% decrease from the first show and neither event was shown live on TV in India so it's not possible that figures could have been affected by a simultaneous broadcast elsewhere. It is a staggering statistic and one which I really struggled to understand, particularly given that the second card was to my mind much stronger. I enlisted the help of Andrew Lu, a magazine editor and long term MMA fan from Delhi, to try and help me get to the bottom of it. He thinks that although the first SFL show succeeded in getting Indian viewers to tune in it failed to impress most of them, "The first show got a ton of India viewers, but it didn't hold their attention for to long because they thought it was going to be like the WWE, a lot of the Bollywood stars even said that they thought it was pro wrestling. A lot of people were really disappointed at what they saw, I think it was a matter of hype and style over substance." Indian fighter Bharat Kandare celebrates his win at SFL 2 but not many people were there to see it The connection between Bollywood and MMA has been a key part of the SFL's promotion and the idea was that the association with celebrities and the film and music industry would help to pull in viewers. However Lu feels it has not exactly worked out as planned, "I think using Bollywood to promote MMA was a really bad idea. The media spoke to the Bollywood stars present at SFL 1 and 90% of them said that the sport should be banned and that it was fake and setting a bad example for their children." He is however delighted that the UFC is finally going to be broadcast on TV in India and is also relishing the prospect of live shows and a possible TUF series, "I am beyond excited that the UFC is finally making its inroads to the Indian sub continent. The UFC is a quality product. They aired the first season of the Ultimate Fighter on TV here in 2005 but with no media push the hype quickly died down. With the UFC getting serious about global expansion this time I think they'll spend good money on introducing the sport to the country through media coverage, billboards, radio etc. I'm pretty sure they are going to go all out on that. They seem like they really want to capture this market because of the sheer numbers." The UFC has been talking about India for a long time while ONE FC is a step ahead in that it already has an active broadcast deal with ESPN Star Sports. Both promotions will probably be putting on live events in either Delhi or Mumbai before too long but Lu does not believe that the Indian market is quite as ripe for MMA as certain people seem to believe, "Awareness of MMA is not high, the sport needs to be introduced here first. No one even knows what it is and the UFC should let the TV deal ride out into maybe the first three years, then gauge the ratings and popularity of the sport. Once MMA has been accepted here and can be seen as a viable source of income and they have a decent Indian fighter that they can promote as well as some sort of TUF here, then maybe they can hold their first live event here which I'm 100% sure they will." The performance of Indian fighter Anup Khumar was one of the few positives for the SFL The UFC are probably working to a tighter timescale than that but history has shown they are happy to bide their time before making moves into new territories. A show in the Philippines has supposedly been imminent for several years but doesn't appear to be any closer to materializing and it is clear that Dana White and co will not risk entering a market until they are convinced it is ready. The SFL is in danger of serving as a cautionary tale of what can happen to promoters who are impatient and don't attempt to build from the bottom up. Internationally it has been well received and fight fans are intrigued by the concept of Indian MMA but back home the reception has been much more muted as Indians react with bemusement. At this point it seems doubtful that the SFL will ever grow to the point where it can fill the sort of outdoor stadiums which it has set out to host events in. The owners appear to have let their ambition get the better of them by attempting to hold such large scale shows right from the start and the T Box Mobile Arena was supposedly only around 20% full for SFL 2. Whatever the future for the SFL it is at least raising the profile of the sport in India, albeit not quite at the intended speed. The UFC didn't start to really succeed financially until 2005, 12 years after it was first formed, and even though the SFL is struggling the outlook for MMA in India is not necessarily bleak. Comparisons between countries can be disingenuous but it is doubtful if ONE FC would have been able to sell 7,000 tickets to a live event in Singapore if Martial Combat hadn't already paved the way by putting on 12 small scale shows in 2010. Perhaps MMA in India will enjoy a similar curve of success and interest will gradually increase even if the SFL doesn't stand the test of time. The plus side for the promotion is that the owners have deep pockets but there is probably a limit to how long they will be willing to sink money into a company which isn't making a profit. It seems that very few of the billion plus people in India are sold on the SFL and even Lu, a long term MMA fan, remains unconvinced, "It's clear that SFL has money but I think they lack the know how and the intricacies of running a large scale MMA promotion like the UFC. As a fan, the fights are slightly disappointing, the fighters here have yet to fully develop their skills and it shows. The grappling was sloppy and there was no technique to the striking exchanges. There is a huge gap when you see the pros go at it and the fighters from India and Sri Lanka go at it." For updates on Indian MMA follow Andrew Lu on twitter at: www.twitter.com/mmaasia www.twitter.com/jamesgoyder

Posted in: ufc, mma, india, sfl, indian

A theory on successful wrestling translating to successful MMA wrestling

submitted by neokeynesian [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: mma, theory, neokeynesian

Mike Tyson just keeps on showing his support for MMA and we like it a whole bunch

From a guest appearance on season 12 of TUF, to sightings at UFC events, to an awkward conversation on Urijah Faber's 'cuteness' with Rosie O'Donnell recently; Mike Tyson sure does like the MMA. There's always been a sort of competitive rivalry between folks in the boxing world and MMA and many boxers just plain don't like or support MMA at all. Mike Tyson is not one of those guys though. He really digs MMA. He digs it a whole bunch. He digs it so much he took this picture with Scott Coker of Strikeforce this weekend to help promote the May 19th Strikeforce fight betwen Daniel Cormier and Josh Barnett.

Posted in: mma, mike, boxing world, tyson, mike tyson

A Theory On Successful Wrestling Translating To Successful MMA Wrestling

Promoted from the fan posts by Kid Nate. It would be nice to have an imaginary world where we could reliably predict a wrestlers success in MMA by watching to see how they blast through double leg takedowns again and again. However, we live in the real world and that simple reduction of the difficult crossover process of a very complex set of skills does not work. The problem is that at the moment, we have many different wrestlers-turned-MMA-fighters that exhibit many different styles and experience varying degrees of MMA success. Outward signs of "physicalness" or aggression as a wrestler are not enough. Whether clearly demonstrated or not, a wrestler achieves elite levels collegiately or internationally possesses more than adequate "physicalness" to succeed in any martial art and it is their processes and set-ups that lead to success that is more important. As a result, watching a wrestler use a double leg again and again successfully in a wrestling match does not mean that he would be a good fit for MMA . This is relevant to American folkstyle and freestyle wrestling and perhaps to the future of MMA talent evaluation. What style of wrestler will translate in the best MMA fighter? This question untrimmed and unqualified is impossible to answer. Few wrestlers can be reduced to a style or type, and most elite wrestlers have risen to their place in the sport through a level of refinement that leaves them completely anomalous. What I want to do is begin a live discussion of, if not an answer to, a more manageable question. What sort of wrestling attack style will yield the best offensive wrestling results in MMA? The avid or even casual MMA viewer will probably say, "Why of course it is the blast/straight-on, freight train double leg take down, I see wrestlers accomplishing this technique with great frequency in MMA." In fact, many within the wrestling community will say the same thing. While I do not think they are completely wrong, I think they are looking at the wrong aspect of the technique. Any elite wrestler can consistently finish a double leg once in on a fighter in a fighting stance. Our concern should not be with what a wrestler does when he or she are already inside on a shot, but how they got there in the first place. My theory is that when predicting the success of a wrestler's offensive leg attacks in MMA, we should be looking not at how many legs are being attacked on a shot and not on whether they are high, medium or low level attacks. I believe the variable far more relevant to MMA success is the set up. Watch the following clips In this clip J.P. O'Connor hits a nice double on Cyler Sanderson. J.P. is working a Russian control tie (pulling the arm against the sternum with one hand grabbing the wrist and the other over-hooking the tricep), as Sanderson is posting on J.P.'s head. J.P. sets up the double leg by pushing the Russian up into the post. It helps that he reaches his lead foot as far as he can between Sanderson's legs before attempting the technique. Jordan Burroughs is wrestling Aliyev of Azerbaijan in the semi-finals of the 2011 World Championships. As the match is winding on, Aliyev appears to be weary of Jordan's pace and starts to post his left arm on Jordan's shoulder. This is most inadvisable - as Burroughs is hard-wired to immediately chop down on this post. Chopping down on the arm on that side clears the way to Aliyev's legs and Jordan snatched his other arm down hard to get in on the double leg. Nobody on earth can stop him when he is in on both legs. This clip from the 1999 world finals shows a freshly out of college Stephen Neal squaring off against Shumilin of Russia. The 265 pound Neal uses feints and motion to get Shumilin to raise his hands ever so slightly, then in a breathtaking display of speed, grace and power, Neal blasts in on a magnificently-timed double. We get a glimpse of the kind of athleticism that served Neal well in a long career with the New England Patriots. Just now we have seen three of the exact same leg attack set up in three radically different ways. These are all NCAA champion wrestlers and it is not necessarily true that each would be comfortable setting up a double if one were to interchange wrestlers and set-ups. Every wrestler has different levels of skill and comfort with different types of set-ups. The three set-ups above are representatives of what could be called the three families of leg-attack set-ups. I will disclaim here and state that just because a wrestler is featured in this post performing one sort of set-up, it is not meant to imply that this is the only sort of set up that wrestler uses or even one they typically use. I also should say that many elite wrestlers are well versed in setting up shots in all three manners. The first family of set-ups (and these are not listed in order of importance or frequency) is control ties. Control ties are holds which force their way through an opponent's "head/hands" defense, not with finesse, but through power and leverage. Two of the most widely used are the Russian tie and the underhook. This is not an exhaustive list of techniques, but I need to make some concessions to brevity. This from the same Stephen Neal match as above, Steven blocks the knee of his opponent and leverages him over it with the underhook. Here is Lee Weber from the University of Iowa hitting a dump (yes, we can call it many other things, but I choose this one) off of a Russian tie on Mark Munoz. Notice that there is enough downward torque on the shoulder to pull Mark all the way to his hip. The second school is what I will call "tie-clearing" set-ups. For every wrestling tie a wrestler achieves, the opponent is forced to engage in a counter tie. Wrestlers "hand-fight" in an attempt to get a favorable tie where they can clear the opponent's tie, which opens a pathway to the legs. Watch a great example of one of these from current world pound for pound best Besik Kudukov against the USA's own, Henry Cejudo. This is fundanental stuff and beautifully done. Kudukhov achieves inside control with a high hook over Cejudo's tricep. In turn, Cejudo ties up on the outside of Kudukhov's arm. With a classic "hair combing" motion, Kudukhov clears Henry's arm and shoots an inside-step (high crotch) single. Hold clearing set-ups would include chops, v-blocks up and forward, snaps, elbow-offs, shucks, slide-bys, arm-drags, wrist peels, and much more. I could show a million more sweet GIFs, but I have to keep moving. Because these first two schools of set ups contain holds and situations mostly peculiar to wrestling (except underhooks), I theorize that the transition of a wrestler's leg attack success will be based on their comfort with the third family of set ups: Motion and Timing. (The other important factor is raw speed, but that would not be NEARLY as interesting a topic to post about.) Motion and timing shot set-ups are based on moving in a specific pattern and/or waiting for the exact moment when an opponent is out of position and vulnerable to attack. These set-ups can be heavily technical and conscious tactics or simply the result of someone's freakish and annoying ability to unconsciously divine the perfect moment to shoot. Motion and timing set-ups can manifest themselves in a variety of techniques From tie-ups: Here we see an ankle pick from a collar-tie, the ultimate timing and motion takedown from the master of the technique, Cael Sanderson. Here is part of his sublime performance against WVU's Vertus Jones in the NCAA finals. Put in simple terms, Cael circles to get the opponent's foot exposed, grabs the ankle, and pushes the head over where the foot once resided. Cael has to take a few stabs at it this time, but the effect is the same. Without contact: In one of their NCAA title matches, Chris Pendleton of Oklahoma State hits a gorgeous misdirection low single on Missouri's Ben Askren. He makes a very subtle motion that causes Ben to pull back his left leg just for a heartbeat, and then is in on Ben's right ankle. As a counter to a shot: In the finals of last year's World Team Trials, Cael Sanderson executes this perfectly timed re-shot on Jake Herbert. It has to take place at the exact moment an opponent disengages from his own attack. The above clips demonstrate a variety of different techniques, but the common denominator that allows them all to be successful is a finely honed sense of wrestling timing. Any elite wrestler can execute MMA appropriate takedown techniques (mid-level to high singles and doubles) with requisite proficiency. It is my oppinion that his command over timing and motion are what is most important. Here is an example of Cael Sanderson seamlessly transitioning his technique when his patented ankle pick fails to yield an immediate takedown over Josh Lambrecht. Cael has the timing to get to the leg; once he is in, it is comparatively easy for him to adapt to the situation and slide up to a power double. Cael was not a bruiser, he was not a head-banging blast doubler and he was not a hulking grinder, but because of immaculate timing and understanding of spacing and motion, I have no doubt he would have had no problem adapting his repertoire to the meet the demands of MMA wrestling. In modern MMA, elite fighters without a wrestling base are becoming more and more wrestling savvy - particularly in shot defense. The approach of forced takedown attempts and guileless shots without set-up is becoming ineffective and risky. A premium must be put on setting up shots in an MMA-relevant manner. To me, the school of shot set-ups which translate the most readily to MMA are timing and motion based set-ups. I believe that when evaluating the potential effectiveness of a wrestler's MMA transition, more attention should be paid to how he sets up his shots then what actual shots he uses. This is just a theory, I have neither the time nor the means of proving it empirically. I also might be WAAAAY wrong. Of course their may be another thing to look for to see if a wrestler will translate well to MMA Let's go Daniel.

Posted in: mma, leg, shot, setup, wrestler

Little girl knows MMA better than most of my (noob MMA fans) friends

submitted by phazshifter11 [link] [comment]

Posted in: mma, fan, girl, phazshifter, noob

Pro MMA fighter Nate Patterson got one punch 'KTFO' at a pool party, oops.

In the giant steel filing cabinet of life, this story needs to be filed away in the 'things that gotta suck' folder. Nate Patterson is a pro fighter out of Las Cruces New Mexico with a 2-1 record who has even fought at a couple of the Greg Jackson Jackson's MMA series fight nights. Unfortunately, Nate did not earn himself a victory in a little alcohol induced spontaneous fight last weekend. According to this KRQE news story, Nate got a little froggy at an apartment complex pool party last weekend and things didn't exactly go his way. A confrontation ensued with a man who was allegedly urging Patterson to calm down and leave the pool area. Patterson refused to leave and according to witness reports was finally KTFO in one punch by this guy after he realized he couldn't back away from Patterson's advances anymore. Patterson was out cold thanks to this mystery one punch (and possible UFC traner) KO artist. He even had to be life flighted to an El Paso hospital because he was unresponsive when police arrived. The only thing I can imagine Nate Patterson thinking when he finally came to in the ER at an El Paso Hospital is, 'oops, it wasn't supposed to happen that way'. Check it out: [source] MMA fighter knocked out at pool bash: krqe.com

Posted in: mma, nate, punch, thing, patterson

Watch this video of Michael Page scoring his second MMA win last night (on his birthday!)

Last month at UCMMA 26 in the UK we were witness, via the extraordinary powers of the internet to a new MMA prospect in only his first fight. With more than 20 years experience in sport karate and kickboxing, Michael Page moved into MMA and completely devastated his opponent in his debut, giving us a glimpse of what a tornado kick to the face of a man will do to his equilibrium. With his non walk-off KO and utter disregard for any sort of defence other than moving backwards while flailing his arms in a showboating masterclass, Michael Page fights like the Anderson Silva that faced Thales Leites, if God Himself was using a Genesis controller with the Turbo switch on to control his movements. As one of the longest limbed welterweights I can remember at this moment, it only feels like a matter of time before he pulls off a genuine Dhalsim special move and celebrates by floating in the Lotus position in the centre of the cage. Last night Page fought for the second time and demonstrated that he can take care of himself even when his tornado kick goes wrong and leaves him lying on his back. With his opponent Miguel Bernard giddy that he didn't have to strike with Page anymore, he willingly jumped into his guard and was instantly caught in a triangle choke. Despite Bernard managing to pull his head out, Page switched instantly to an armbar and got the tap moments later, giving himself a great birthday present. You can watch all of this as it unfolds in the video below. Props to aligatorfuchouse for uploading the video.

Posted in: mma, video, michael, page, tornado kick

Is TRT justified?

Interested in hearing /mma's opinion. submitted by PhilAB [link] [8 comments]

Posted in: mma, opinion, hearing, philab, trt

5 Oz. MMA Link Club

Welcome back to another edition of “MMA Link Club”, Five Ounces of Pain‘s weekly smorgasbord of offerings from our brothers and sisters in the MMA community. Enjoy… Quinton Jackson Participates in Embarrassingly Bad Ad (FightOpinion.com) Georges St. Pierre Ready for Competition…at the Poker Table (MMAMania.com) Rashad Evans Breaks Down Footage of “Bones” Jones (MMAConvert.com) A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Jon Jones Emulating Muhammad Ali for Magazine Cover (LowKick.com) UFC Featherweight Jason Young Talks Upcoming Fight on Fuel (BleacherReport.com) Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson Walks Viewers Through UFC Debut (HeavyMMA.com) UFC Expanding to India (MMAPayout.com) Dana White Open to Re-Signing Josh Barnett (5thRound.com) Tim Kennedy Does Katy Perry Impression…Seriously (Fightline.com) Alistair Overeem’s T/E Ratio Confirmed at 14:1 (TheFightNerd.com) PHOTO CREDIT – LEXANI TIRES/UFC

Posted in: ufc, mma, mma community, muhammad ali, pain ‘s

Five Homegrown Prospects the UFC Might Consider From India

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) yesterday (April 5, 2012) made their first move into the Indian market by announcing a TV deal, with the prospect of live shows and even an Ultimate Fighter (TUF) series to follow. It is a country which Zuffa have had their eye on for some time and the partnership with Multi Screen Media (MSM) is just the first step. The Super Fight League (SFL) has attracted some attention to India lately with a first show which some saw as a guilty pleasure and others simply didn't like. Particularly frustrating for fans was that the cameras regularly panned away from the fights mid action in order to show which celebrities were in attendance, which might have delighted the local audience but caused widespread bemusement elsewhere. Full Contact Championship (FCC), in Mumbai, is the slow and steady alternative, for those that prefer to see grass roots mixed martial arts (MMA) without the glitz and the glam. In the future perhaps the SFL will start to nurture UFC level talent but at present only the FCC has a track record of repeatedly testing Indian mixed martial artists and after five shows some outstanding candidates are starting to emerge. The most difficult challenge for the UFC will be to try and find Indian fighters good enough to compete on their roster, or at least with enough ability and experience to get there after some intensive training and perhaps a successful stint on TUF. 'TUF India' is a great concept but the winner will be awarded a UFC contract and if the standard is too low the entire process becomes pointless. The UFC can give a fighter preferential treatment when it comes to matchmaking but everyone on the roster is dangerous and if a fighter isn't up to standard they will never win a fight. Potentially the SFL could become a breeding ground for Indian talent but if it stands the test of time, and the first show supposedly sold very few tickets, the wealth of the owners means they will be able to more than match the UFC in terms of purses while offering significantly easier fights. Whichever organization ultimately prevails, and India is a big enough country to accommodate both the SFL and the UFC, there is going to be an intensive search underway to find the first Indian MMA superstar. Here are five fighters who have made encouraging starts to their careers, already have a couple of wins to their names and could be on the right track. 1. Sandeep Yadav 3-0 160 lbs Sandeep Yadav is one of the stars of FCC. He is an Indian kickboxing and Wushu champion who already has a 3-0 MMA record with all his wins coming by way of KO or TKO. As is the case with almost all the fighters on this list his wins have come against inexperienced opponents but he is a very confident fighter who looks very comfortable competing in MMA. He is light on his feet, keeps a low guard and is very aggressive with some solid low kicks which he is capable of mixing in with the occasional head kick. Perhaps it is his kickboxing experience or perhaps he is just a very composed fighter but he picks his shots intelligently and resists the temptation to over-commit Yadav looks most comfortable fighting on his feet but isn't afraid to use trips or takedowns and seems to understand basic grappling techniques. He is far from the finished article but the potential is definitely there and he has a couple of spectacular knock out finishes. He has very solid soccer kicks which he will use to punish an opponents body and legs if they are on the ground and he is upright. He looked a bit sluggish in his most recent fight, which he supposedly didn't have time to train for, but showed some real resilience to pull out the win with a right head kick / right cross combination which got him a stoppage in the dying seconds, MMA IN INDIA Sandeep Yadav vs Imran FCC-4.VOB (via mmafccindia) 2. Sangram Bhakre 3-0 145 lbs Sangram Bhakre has also won three FCC fights out of three and is the Rampage Jackson of Indian MMA, if he picks you up you are going for a ride which is going to end when you hit the canvass hard. He has some submission skills with his most recent win coming by way of armbar and although his standup is not too technical it is dangerous, with two of his wins coming by way of KO. He has a diverse range of backgrounds and the takedowns come from his Kushti wrestling but the stand up skills are a result of being a national level kickboxer and Wushu gold medalist. Wrestling and kickboxing/sanda is a very solid base and the fighter known in India as 'The Slammer' has plenty of potential. 3. Rajinder Singh Meena 3-0 150 lbs Rajinder Singh Meena is another unbeaten FCC fighter and national kickboxing champion who is light on his feet and likes the low kicks. He throws absolute bombs with his hands, going for the knockout with almost every single punch and has a lot of natural power which is effective both standing up and on the ground. The most encouraging aspect for Rajinder is that he won his most recent fight with a standing guillotine which shows that for a kickboxer he does at least have some ground game. 4. Bhupesh Kamble 3-3 185 lbs Bhupesh Kamble hasn't fought for over a year and has lost his last three fights. However it is worth noting that the three losses have all come against top class opponents in Vaughn Anderson, Jorge Luiz Bezerra and Pat Crawley. Between them these three have 37 MMA wins which means that Kamble has been testing himself at a much higher level than anyone else in India. His three wins have all been against respectable opponents and he is the only man to ever beat 3-1 Indian fighter Javed Mulla. 3-3 is not an outstanding record but Kamble is only 28 years old and the experience of competing in Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Jordan and Hong Kong should benefit him immensely if he decides to return to the Indian circuit. 5. Alan Fenandes 3-2 170 lbs Alan Fenandes hasn't fought since 2010 and is 33 years old but I believe he is still training and unlike any of the other fighters on this list he has a strong background in BJJ. He has also taken part in professional kickboxing and Muay Thai fights and won medals in international grappling tournaments. Like Kamble he has experience of competing outside of India although without too much success. His international fights were against two very tough fighters and he was submitted by Aolin Hao at Art of War and also tapped out against Ray Elbe at Martial Combat, possibly due to a pre existing injury. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The SFL has already shown a willingness to promote overseas fighters such as Lakwinder Sekhon from England, Mohammad Shahid from Bahrain and Hardeep Singh from Canada and this could prove to be an effective short cut but for MMA to really grow in India it will probably need a genuine homegrown superstar to lead the way. Chaitanya Gavali's first fight for the SFL was one of the worst I have seen but at least he got the win and he will benefit from having spend 15 minutes inside the cage. He's on the next SFL card too and perhaps he could eventually emerge as the organization's best Indian fighter and overtake some of the names on this list. With MMA all set to explode in India more and more young men are likely to start training and eventually fighting and some high calibre talent should emerge eventually. There is no substitute for professional experience though and, for the time being at least, the fighters on this list are the five most likely to make the breakthrough. www.twitter.com/jamesgoyder

Posted in: fight, mma, fighter, india, indian

Latest UFC/MMA news and notes from around the web for the week of April 1, 2012

Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Douglas Lima, Roan Carneiro and Dhiego Lima pictured above, we can all "get along." Teaming up with MMA sites like Low Kick, Cage Potato, Fight Opinion and The Fight Nerd, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport. This week, Bleacher Report speaks with UFC featherweight Jason Young, Low Kick interviews Todd Duffee and Five Ounces of Pain interviews top UFC welterweight prospect Rory MacDonald. The full list of links is after the jump. - Todd Duffee: I don't care about proving critics wrong (LowKick) "Honestly, I d"n't care at this point. I just want to prove my friends, family and training partners right. Some people are going to love you for all the things they perceive you to be whether true or not, and some people are going to hate you for the same reasons.? - UFC: Ultimate Submissions DVD review (The Fight Nerd) We are talking back in the days when gloves and groin cups were optional, all the way up to the point where the sport had begun to branch out and begin to take on a life of its own in American households. Even with the greatness that is submissions, getting this DVD led to this ever-important question - was this DVD worth the lengthy wait, or should Zuffa have simply quit while they were ahead? - UFC's current stance on testosterone: Not much of a plan (Fight Opinion) The media heat about the testosterone issue is undoubtedly getting to the politicians & the promoters. The fighters who are the face of TRT usage have been rather stupid in handling the topic publicly. Keith Kizer even made the admission recently that Rampage's campaigning for testosterone usage has only increased interest in said usage as far as trying to get exemptions from various state athletic commissions. - Payout Perspective: UFC on FOX deal 2012 Q1 performance review (MMA Payout) Last year, UFC and FOX announced a huge 7 year TV deal worth as much as $90-$100 million per year, which would move UFC programming from Spike TV to FOX, FX, FSN's, and Fuel TV. Now that Q1 of 2012 has passed, we look back and analyze what type of impact UFC programming had on the FOX properties and how the new platforms have impacted the UFC. - Jason Young talks UFC on Fuel and third chances (BleacherReport.com/MMA) "In terms of Eric, I think I have a better overall game. I suppose we are pretty similar in some ways. He has a good knockout ratio, and I have always been known as a good standup fighter. He may have the edge in submissions so I will have to watch that carefully." - Diego Sanchez interested in possible lightweight match when he returns (MMA Convert) - NSAC will not change Alistair Overeem's last win over failed drug test (Fightline) - Rory MacDonald: I'm not worried about him and I'm not worried about this fight (Five Ounces of Pain) I hold no fear of standing toe-to-toe with this guy. He's the one who needs to worry about me, as I'm fairly certain I'll be better than he is in every single area of this fight. He's going to have to adjust to my style. I have many, many weapons in this fight and he will have to be cautious in everything he does. I'm not worried about him and I'm not worried about this fight. - Looking ahead to UFC on Fuel TV: Gustafsson vs Silva (5thRound) For those of you longing for some Octagon action, don't fret because we're just 12 days away from witnessing "UFC on FUEL TV: Gustafsson vs. Silva." The card will be available on free television, so hopefully that helps make up for the organization's extended hiatus. Alexander Gustafsson was slated to headline the show opposite Antonio Rogerio Nogueira until a knee injury forced Little Nog to withdraw from the scrap.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, tv, im

Pro MMA Radio 192: Overeem’s Failed Test and Reilly Replay

We have partnered with Pro MMA Radio to bring you weekly replays of PMR as the official radio show of MMAConvert.com. Pro MMA Radio can be heard live every Monday evening at 9pm ET/6pm PT. Replays and podcasts of every show are available 24/7 by going to the “Replay Corner” section of ProMMARadio.com, our own Pro MMA Radio page or by clicking the banner below. On this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio, Pep discussed the failed drug test of #1 heavyweight contender Alistair Overeem, and in the Toe to Toe segment, highlights from Pep’s debate with retiring Assemblyman Bob Reilly on the legalization of MMA in New York. You can listen to a replay of this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio by clicking the banner below. A radio player with links to the show’s archives will open in a pop-up window, so please make sure your browser is set to allow pop-ups for this site.

Posted in: mma, replay, radio, mma radio, popup window

John Olav Einemo Announces He Will Retire From MMA

Former UFC heavyweight John Olav Einemo has announced his retirement from MMA in an interview with the Norwegian newspaper, VG Nett. Einemo, who went 0-2 in his brief career inside the Octagon, said he felt a return to the UFC could be in his future, but the time it would take away from his family was not worth it. The former ADCC Submission World Champion is 36 years old. He was released from the UFC when issues with payment between fighters from Golden Glory came about. Einemo’s MMA record stands at 6-3, with five of those six victories coming by way of submission. He also is on the short list of people to defeat Roger Gracie in the Abu Dhabi Combat Club tournament.

Posted in: ufc, mma, submission, john, einemo

MMA Odds Breaker: UFC on Fuel TV 3, UFC 146 & UFC 148 Picks

In this MMA Odds Breaker episode special guests Derrick Noble (pro MMA fighter) and Nick Thompson (retired pro MMA fighter) give their picks and analysis on the following 4 fights: UFC on Fuel TV 3: Chan Sung Jung vs Dustin Poirier UFC on Fuel TV 3: Jeremy Stephens vs Donald Cerrone UFC 146: Evan Dunham [...]

Posted in: ufc, mma, tv, mma fighter, jung vs

More arm breaking MMA goodness

Tap or snap. It's not so much your options as it is a suggestion. (via Fighters Only)

Posted in: mma, fighter, mma goodness, goodness, suggestion

Bellator’s Bjorn Rebney: Spike TV Wrote the Book on Televised MMA (MMAWeekly.com)

Bellator Fighting Championships may not be officially moving to Spike TV until 2013, but the plans and preparations are already in motion for the MMA promotion to land on the network. Spike TV officials, as well as the marketing department and the public relations staff, have been hard at work getting Bellator branded before they debut there in eight months. The relationship has already started to flourish and according to Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney, they couldn’t be happier to be involved with the godfathers of televised MMA.

Posted in: bellator, mma, tv, spike, marketing department

“We’re the most tested sport in the world” ain’t cutting it no more

The testosterone train continues building up steam in MMA.

Posted in: mma, train, testosterone, building, testosterone train

The MMA Hour Episode 125 – Cain Velasquez, Greg Jackson, Wanderlei Silva, Ben Askren, Che Mills

From Monday’s episode of The MMA Hour, Ariel Helwani talks with Cain Velasquez regarding his upcoming fight with Frank Mir. Also on the show, Greg Jackson talks Jones/Evans, Wanderlei speaks out on TUF Brazil, and welterweights Ben Askren and Che Mills break down their upcoming fights. For more clips from this episode of the MMA Hour, and many more, check out MMAFighting.com. More segments after the jump.

Posted in: mma, mma hour, hour, episode, tuf brazil

12 of the most awkward MMA images ever; Some images may be NSFW - MMA News

submitted by swampskater [link] [9 comments]

Posted in: mma, news, nsfw, image, mma images

John Olav Einemo Retires From MMA

John Olav Einemo has announced he is retiring from MMA. Einemo last fought at UFC on Fox 2, where he was defeated by Mike Russow. The UFC cut the Norwegian fighter soon after the event but left the door open for Einemo to return after a few wins. Norwegian news site VG Nett first reported the news. Einemo cited his desire to spend more time with his family as the main reason for his retirement. Einemo, a Golden Glory product, had to travel often in order to have proper training and competition for MMA. Einemo was reportedly invited to help promote UFC on Fuel TV 2 in Stockholm, Sweden. Einemo declined, stating that his priority was spending time with his son. Einemo retires with a 6-3 record in MMA (0-2 UFC) and will work on developing MMA in his home country of Norway.

Posted in: ufc, mma, einemo, mike russow, mma einemo

UFC Headed To China In 2012, But A Rival Has The Government's Blessing

The UFC has long talked openly of their ambitious international expansion plans. They've conquered Canada, blown up in Brazil, done well in Australia, established a beachhead in Britain, struggled on the European mainland and now they're heading to China in 2012. From MMA Weekly: UFC President Dana White announced recently that the promotion is close to sealing a deal with the $2.4 billion dollar hotel, the Venetian Macau, which is owned and operated by the Las Vegas Sands corporation, who also handle the Venetian hotel in Las Vegas.... "We're going to do a fight in China. So imagine our first fight in China, we're talking about doing it in conjunction with the Venetian out there. Imagine the first fight in China, it's going to be huge," said White. "Soon, real soon. It will happen this year." Zuffa has had a Chinese fighter, Zhang Tiequan, on its roster since 2010. He's got a combined 2-3 record in the WEC and UFC but despite his struggles inside the cage, he's attracted significant fan interest in China. He added 100,000 followers to his Weibo account (similar to Twitter) after his UFC debut. But the UFC isn't the only player in China. In fact, they won't even be able to put on shows on the mainland (Macau is an island that was long a Portuguese colony and only recently rejoined China) as the government has given that exclusive license to a rival. Josh Gross reports: ...the Chinese governmental division that controls martial arts within mainland China, the Wushu Administrative Center, which recently issued one permit to stage mixed martial arts events as a legal sport throughout the country. While there were several suitors, including Zuffa LLC, Joel Resnick believes his startup group, the Ranik Ultimate Fighting Federation, was awarded the government sanction because it offered the right "mix between Chinese culture and Western mentality. I think that's really what did it. RUFF has put on three MMA cards so far and has big plans. From Gross: On March 24 in Chongqing, a major city in Southwest China, 4,000 Chinese watched a nine-fight card in a sold-out arena. The event was RUFF's first since the company announced its ambitious intentions through the next Chinese new year. Capped by awe-inspiring prize money per Chinese standards, seven National MMA Champions will be crowned. Fighters aren't required to be Chinese nationals, but they must live and have a work permit in China, Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan. Each winner will receive RMB 1,000,000, the equivalent of about $160,000. The average Chinese household brings in a bit more than $10,000 a year, so the idea is for the siren song of big money to prompt a generation of quality Chinese fighters to quickly emerge. It will be interesting to see if the combination of RUFF, the UFC, One FC and Legend FC will be enough to kick off an MMA explosion in China.

Posted in: ufc, mma, china, chinese, right mix

The MMA (After) Hour: Mo Lawal on Conversation With NSAC's Pat Lundvall, Where He'll Fight Next

On this edition of The MMA (After) Hour, we spoke to the polarizing "King" Muhammed Lawal about reaching out to the Nevada State Athletic Commission's Pat Lundvall to apologize for last week's offensive tweet, his current relationship with Zuffa, the offers he has received from other organizations, whether he will go to WWE, WrestleMania 28 and when he expects to fight again. Listen to the interview after the jump or download the audio here. The MMA (After) Hour: King Mo Interview

Posted in: mma, hour, nevada state, lawal, hell fight

MMA Roundtable: Lesnar's Legacy, Bellator's Reality Show, More

Hey, did you guys hear that Brock Lesnar is back ... in the WWE? Of course you did. You have to give the man credit: when he steps outside, it's news. While his return to pro wrestling basically ensures that his octagon career is over for good, it's also raised some questions about what exactly his legacy was when it comes to MMA. Was Brock overrated, undervalued, or simply a once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon that defies rational explanation? I invited Luke Thomas down to the MMA Roundtable to discuss Brock, MMA's next reality TV show, Gilbert Melendez's recent fight announcement and more. 1) Now that he's moved back to pro wrestling, what is Brock Lesnar's MMA legacy?Mike Chiappetta: Lesnar deserves a great deal of credit for his accomplishments. For all of his shortcomings as a fighter, he was incredibly game simply for choosing to take on the challenge of competing on MMA's biggest stage against the best available talent. You can point to Lesnar's collegiate background as a great base, but he hadn't wrestled in seven years when he decided to make a run at No. 1. At the time, he was bluntly honest in his own personal assessment, saying either he would compete at that high level or be quickly weeded out.The crazy thing is, on limited training, he made it to the top. Sure, he had a short cut to a title shot, but beating Randy Couture, Frank Mir and Shane Carwin consecutively is a legitimate run that validated his championship. Unfortunately, we'll never know just how good Lesnar could have been due to his late start in the sport along with his recurring diverticulitis issues. He won mostly on brute strength and raw talent, and when his health began to erode, he left. I respect him for declining to stick around and make a big paycheck when that would have been the easy thing to do.In the end, Lesnar won't be ranked among the all-time heavyweight greats; his run at the top was just too brief. But he used the tools he had to become a pay-per-view phenomenon and a champion, and that's a legacy that few can match.Thomas: I agree with Mike. Lesnar deserved more credit than he often received, but I also think the criticism of him late was fairly on target.Let's be clear about the terms here: it is highly unlikely we'll ever see another Brock Lensar in MMA. And by that, I mean someone who can come into the sport with virtually no experience and beat the top guys in the world in his division all while being a hugely popular figure among mainstream masses. It's possible an Olympian like Henry Cejudo could do it, especially since he has a small but notable background in boxing and like Muhammad Ali, has injected himself into political issues by speaking out on immigration policy. But even then that seems like a stretch. A lot of planets have to align to get the magic Lesnar brought to the table. I don't know if we'll see it again in our lifetime, especially with collegiate wrestlers going into professional MMA directly out of college.However, critics were right to dismiss him at the end of his run. Lesnar's battle with diverticulitis snatched his soul and hampered his ability to keep pace with the growth of MMA heavyweight talent. Dealing with his own mortality was bad enough, to say nothing of how much time he lost not training and developing. By the time he tried his hand at defending his title, it was clear the road ahead was not going to get any easier. Against Alistair Overeem, it was even clearer Lesnar could not compete with the sport's top heavyweights anymore. And that, in all actuality, is a good thing for MMA. Someone shouldn't be able to march into the UFC and wreck shop. Lesnar certainly couldn't do it in the NFL. Why should the UFC be any different? Let's thank Lesnar for what he did for MMA. He sold pay-per-views, accomplished some really incredible feats, energized the mainstream media to cover MMA and more. But he also was on borrowed time and needed to leave when he did. His legacy is important, but part of that is examining his exit and what that said about the state of the sport.2) Strikeforce recently announced Melendez-Thomson III. Is this the right call?Thomas: Unequivocally, no. There are a few ways to parse this situation, but let's look at the rankings for a clear illustration on why this "keep Melendez in Strikeforce" policy is madness. According to the USA TODAY/SB Nation Consensus MMA Rankings, Melendez is currently the third best lightweight in the world. But since he's in Strikeforce and can only face Strikeforce fighters, that means the next closest contender is....? If you guessed, Pat Healy at number 20, you are correct. In other words, not only is Thomson not even the best possible contender Melendez could face, but the best possible contender Melendez could face isn't even in the top 15 of all MMA lightweights.What is going on here? Does it not seem far more rational to remove Melendez from the organization and let him fight people closer to his skill level? That's obviously better for Melendez, but it's better for the Strikeforce lightweights. Short of some miraculous punch or accident, none of them have any shot of ever beating Melendez. And that's not the same as a Yushin Okami vs. Anderson Silva situation where at least Okami, at the time they fought, was clearly deserving above most of his others peers (Sonnen, notwithstanding). Healy or Thomson or Masvidal are all contenders by default, not by hierarchy. Melendez may be in Strikeforce with fighters he absurdly outclasses, but he's in a league of his own. That's a lonely and deeply unfair place to be.Chiappetta: No, it's not the right call, but for different reasons than Luke mentioned. Melendez re-signed with Strikeforce only about one year ago, when the division wasn't much different than it is today. Yes, I know Zuffa didn't own Strikeforce at the time, but that's the decision he made. He probably made it because a) Strikeforce promised to build around him, and b) he felt he received a good financial deal. That's a deal he made in good faith, so he should honor it as he is doing. But that also means that Strikeforce needs to honor their side, and that's trying to bring him an opponent worthy of his talent. No knock on Josh Thomson, but his last performance didn't beg for a title match.There are plenty of UFC lightweights that Zuffa could bring over to challenge Melendez. They certainly entertained the idea before settling on a third fight with Thomson. The bottom line here is that Dana White constantly reminds fans that he tries to set up the matchups that people want to see, and there's no question that fans want to see Melendez fight a top five lightweight, even if it meant bringing him someone from the UFC. White also said he was going to find a way to keep the Strikeforce fighters happy. Who's happy about Melendez-Thomson III? Well, I tell you who's not happy about it: Melendez and the fans.3) What can Bellator do with their recently announced reality show that will differentiate them from TUF?Mike Chiappetta: I thought long and hard about this one, and it's tricky because everyone in the world is going to be quick to compare it to TUF. That means one thing is for certain: they need a fresh angle. This is obviously a good opportunity for Bellator to build some familiarity with their roster. If I was part of the team, I would insist that the series have some focus on the champions. The tournament format almost ensures that the champion has to sit around and wait while a No. 1 contender moves through the process. That means the champion can be highlighted while he awaits a challenger to emerge.The scheduling might be tough, but I would feature a format where each episode is split. Half would be dedicated to the champion, and the other half would feature tournament contestants working their way towards him. That makes for an easy-to-follow narrative, and as the tourney advances and fighters are eliminated, more time can be devoted to each entrants' story and getting viewers emotionally invested in the eventual title bout.In that way, it would be sort of a hybrid of Primetime and TUF, with the all-access behind the scenes of the former, and the tournament format of the latter.Thomas: This is a really tough one. I've long been a critic of the 'The Ultimate Fighter' and said there was a poverty of imagination when it came to improving the show's content. It could very well be (and I'm sure is) that doing so is a lot more difficult than it looks.Really, this show will forever live in TUF's shadow. So many other kinds of MMA programming have come and gone, but TUF is iconic. This show will have to have a core concept that's distinct from TUF. TUF has gone through a ton of iterative development, but at it's core is still the same show: fighters live in a house and compete to earn a six-figure contract in the UFC.And much of what TUF has done is based on how all reality shows operate. The contestants live in a house, each week one person 'goes home', their personal rivalries and bickering are played up for ratings and so on. Some in MMA often decry these aspects of TUF, but in truth, it's simply what all of reality television offers with very little differentiation.I certainly wouldn't go live. I admit I enjoy TUF Live, but satellite time is expensive and based on the ratings, I'm not sure FX is getting the right kind of bang for their buck. I'd also change up the prize at the end of the show and to what extent coaches are involved. But really, and some might call me crazy, I'd question the very premise of using prospects rather than established fighters. Bellator needs to create stars, but there's a reciprocal relationship here: they need all the existing star power they can muster for the show. I don't know what the perfect solution is, but watching a bunch of completely unknown names duke it out for dubious rewards is not something MMA fans really care about in great numbers. I say make the show about what you've already got and worry about making that bigger and better. The prospects will come. We want to see your best, not your maybes, also-rans or John Does.4) UFC action finally returns next week, with Alexander Gustafsson fighting Thiago Silva. Is this the fight in which Gustafsson makes himself a legit 205 contender?Thomas: I believe so. At the end of 2011, I told CSN Washington Gustafsson was my breakout fighter for 2012. Alexander has so much of the raw material critical for success: good athleticism, technical skills, high fight IQ and the capacity to add skills quickly to his game with a high level of proficiency. I'm constantly amazed at not just how he augments his existing skills, but adds entirely (and seemingly) foreign techniques to his arsenal yet implements them with aplomb.Thiago Silva is certainly a tough test and the appropriate type for Gustafsson at this juncture in his career. He needs to work against someone who has faced championship caliber fighters, has legitimate offensive ability in two dimensions of the game, and is an aggressive and potent power puncher. But what we're looking for is not just for Gustafsson to beat him, but to see how he beats him. Can the Swede get by him in the way other elite fighters have? Eventual superiority in a relatively tough fight is what I'm expecting/hoping to see.I certainly don't think he's ready for a title shot. He needs to beat several more established, high-ranking talents before talk of that is even merited. Without a shadow of a doubt, though, he is the sort of fighter that with more seasoning in a cauldron of world-class preparation and resources, can be the next-level talent everyone suspects that he is.Chiappetta: Gustafsson certainly looks ready to make the leap from prospect to contender. As Luke notes, he's got a well-rounded skill set to work with, and his 6-foot-5 frame makes him a difficult physical matchup for many. His best attribute is clearly his striking, as he has a great idea of how to use his length to his advantage. Since his lone loss came via submission, it will be interesting to see what happens if BJJ black belt Silva can get him to the ground. That's not likely though, as wrestlers Vladimir Matyushenko and Matt Hamill had trouble bringing the fight to the mat against him. Silva is a great opponent for him because he'll be willing to bang with him on the feet but certainly won't shy away from any ground work. In the past, some of Gustafsson's opponents have been a bit one-dimensional. Even coming off a one-year suspension, Silva presents more problems than Gustafsson's seen in a while, and if the Swede solves them, we can conclude that he's just as legitimate a prospect as we originally guessed.

Posted in: mma, strikeforce, fighter, lesnar, melendez

The MMA Hour - Ep 125 - Che Mills

Posted in: mma, hour, mill, che, ep

Rashad Evans Takes Tour Of Puerto Rico To Help Promote UFC, MMA

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans recently returned from a trip to Puerto Rico to help promote the UFC and MMA in general in the country. Evans, who will face Jon Jones for the UFC light heavyweight title at UFC 145: Jones vs. Evans later this month, talked about his trip in a recent press release. The visit to Puerto Rico was one of the craziest things I’ve done in my UFC career, and I’ve been here since 2005. The fans went crazy, it was so cool to be part of that. I couldn’t believe the response. While on the trip, Evans met up with a native of the country, former world boxing champion Felix “Tito” Trinidad. Despite his boxing roots, Trinidad seems to have found a passion for MMA. The truth is, MMA and UFC is something that’s taking over the world and we love it in Puerto Rico. We are what they call ‘hot-blooded’ – we love fighting and love watching UFC events. I’ve never thought about training an MMA fighter, but honestly, I’d love to help if it’s a Puerto Rican fighter. Evans held an open workout for the fans and media, allowing them special access to a former champion. Evans gets a bad rap from some, but he always seems willing to go the extra mile for the UFC and MMA fans in general. Photo credit: UFC

Posted in: ufc, mma, evan, puerto, puerto rico

The MMA Hour - Episode 125 - Cain Velasquez

Posted in: mma, hour, episode, velasquez

The MMA Hour - Episode 125 - Greg Jackson

Posted in: mma, hour, jackson, episode, greg

The MMA Hour - Episode 125 - Wanderlei Silva

Posted in: mma, hour, silva, wanderlei, episode

The MMA Hour - Episode 125 - Ben Askren

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Thailand declares MMA illegal

The land of cockfighting bans the human variation: "It is brutal and it is not boxing," said SAT deputy governor Sakol Wannapong who oversees professional sports. "It is against the 1999 boxing law." SAT officials met this week to discuss whether holding an MMA event was lawful or not following a request from a private company and they finally agreed that under the 1999 boxing law, it is unlawful to stage an MMA event in Thailand. "Organising a MMA event here would hurt the image of Muay Thai," Sakol said. There have been two MMA events held in Bangkok and neither were approved by the SAT, according to Sakol. He said the SAT was asking the Interior Ministry's legal advisors to consider action against any MMA organisers. "If you want to do this kind of business, you should do it in another country," Sakol said. "Organising MMA here could mislead the public into believing that Muay Thai is brutal." Rumor is the Muay Thai industry in Thailand was the driving force behind the government's decision to ban MMA - probably out of fear that the sport could become competition. Isn't it great to know that special interests are subverting freedom in other countries too?

Posted in: mma, event, muay, mma event, sakol

Inside MMA: One-Armed Fighter Nick Newell, Resurrection Fighting Highlights

Inside MMA airs live on HDNet every Monday night at 8pm ET. Inside MMA Archive More segments after the jump.

Posted in: mma, monday night, mma airs, mma archive, jump

Nick Diaz Will Return, Just Not Inside A Cage

Nick Diaz, who announced his retirement from MMA following a loss to Carlos Condit earlier this year for the interim UFC welterweight title, will return to competition in May. Diaz, according to a report by MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani, will take part in a superfight at the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo in Long Beach, California on May 12. Diaz, a former Strikeforce welterweight champion, was interested in entering a tournamnt, but the Expo decided to pair him in a one-on-one fight instead. No opponent has been named for Diaz. This will be the first World Jiu-Jitsu Expo to be held, and joining Diaz will be the likes of Renzo and Roger Gracie, and Robert Drysdale. For more information on the event, check out the Expo site. While not MMA, at least seeing that Diaz still has a competitive fire should give more reason for a future return to fighting. Cesar Gracie, the trainer and manager for Diaz, has made mention of his fighter coming out of retirement, but we will just have to wait and see. Photo credit: CombatLifestyle.com

Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, mma, expo, beach california

The MMA Hour Episode 125 - Brian Green

Posted in: mma, hour, episode, brian

We need someone to tell us if this Barack Obama MMA parody is funny

The rule of thumb is that we have two of them. Actually, this article should be entitled 'We need someone to tell us if this Barack Obama MMA parody is funny because we're too immature to take responsibility of our own decisions.' That title wouldn't fit on the page. It wouldn't even fit in your short-term memory. You would read the first part of the title, then get to the second part and completely forget why you're even reading in the first place. Title amnesia. It's safe to say President Barack Obama has never visited MiddleEasy.com. That statement is based on a complete lack of evidence, however if the leader of the free world is watching installments of Street MMA, then he would be neglecting the vital things in society -- like making San Francisco less of a depressing place. The President is now part of an elaborate MMA prank that involves MMA, so watch it and stop thinking for a few minutes. [Source] {iframe}http://d.yimg.com/nl/vyc/site/player.html#lang=en-US&browseCarouselUI=hide&repeat=0&startScreenCarouselUI=hide&vid=28788744&shareUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fscreen.yahoo.com%2Fobamma-28788744.html{/iframe}

Posted in: mma, title, part, need someone, barack

Eddie Bravo Talks Training Fighters, BJJ In MMA And Being A New Father

Once upon a time, he was in a tiny apartment, struggling to make ends meet, but these days, Eddie Bravo is leading an almost charmed life. With popular BJJ schools all over the globe, a music career, and a new baby boy, the grappling ace has attained a level of success that most people only dream about. Eddie recently took some time out of his busy schedule for a quick interview on TapouT Radio, where he discussed fatherhood, and the tools needed for top level black belts to cross over into MMA. TapouT Radio: You've recently become a father. Talk about the impact that's had on you. Eddie Bravo: It's wonderful. Everyone says, 'It's going to change your life. You're going to see life in a whole different way.' Then some people are like, 'Dude, you're not going to be able to sleep for three months,' just focusing in on the bad stuff, but both are true. You're not going to get much sleep, but luckily, my girlfriend is just the most amazing mother on the planet. I mean, I lucked out. She's supermom. It's incredible. I help out when I can, but she's the one that does the majority of the feeding, the changing...I think I've changed maybe four diapers so far, and she's changed hundreds. It's wonderful to have someone that exists that's number one over yourself. He's always going to be number one. I'd give my life for him. You live your life a little bit differently when you have someone that you're willing to die for. I love it. TapouT Radio: Are you happy that you got a boy? Eddie Bravo: I thought we were going to have a girl, and we were preparing for that, but when we were looking at the ultrasounds with the doctor, you could see a d*ck, and the doctors saw a d*ck. I asked, 'Are you sure? You sure it wasn't like some part of the placenta?' [laughs] I'm so stoked to have a boy. It's awesome. I would have liked to have had a girl, too. A girl would have been cool because there would have been no pressure on her. My son's going to have a lot of pressure when he starts doing jiu jitsu. He's only three weeks old, and I'm already trying to figure out the best way to approach the jiu jitsu thing without putting any pressure on him, but with a girl, there would have been zero pressure on her. Everything she would accomplish would be extra. It would have been gravy, you know what I mean? It's going to be interesting, raising my boy in the jiu jitsu world. He could say, 'Dad, I don't want to f*ckin' do jiu jitsu! I don't wanna do it. I wanna paint, man!' He could easily do that, and it would be cool. Whatever he wants to do, it's all good. I forget the guy's first name, he's a kettlebells master, but his last name is Maxwell (note: Steve Maxwell). He has a 20 year old son, and whatever he did with his son, is perfect. I want to sit down with him and break it all down and pick his brain. His son, Zach Maxwell, is a black belt in jiu jitsu, and he's pretty badass. He beat Kron (Gracie) last week, and it was pretty impressive. To beat Kron, you've got to be a physical specimen, and mentally, you've got to be a fierce, competitive warrior. People are saying he's the one American that has a legitimate shot at taking the Mundials this year. It's getting me back into the gi, just hearing about this guy and watching him grapple. I don't usually have that much time to watch gi matches. I've got so much no-gi I've got to watch, I just don't have time, but I am starting to make the time to watch some gi matches with Zach Maxwell. I'm a big fan now. Anyway, my point was that I want to pick Maxwell's brain, and figure out what he did with his son, because he did a perfect job. TapouT Radio: Are there plans in the works for a wedding? Eddie Bravo: We got engaged and were planning on getting married next month, but the pregnancy came, and we decided to wait until after the baby. We'll definitely get married sometime this year. It's not going to be some giant wedding. It's going to be nice and small. TapouT Radio: Braulio Estima is currently in Florida, training with the Blackzilians, and is rumored to be making a crossover into MMA soon. What are your thoughts on that happening? Eddie Bravo: There's so many other factors besides jiu jitsu. There's guys that are amazing at jiu jitsu, and Braulio is possibly top three of all time, but how is his striking? How's his wrestling? The best jiu jitsu in the world, if you can't get the fight down to the ground, you're being forced to be a kickboxer. Just like Cristiano Marcello in his fight, two weeks ago on The Ultimate Fighter, when he fought Justin Lawrence. I'm sure when it comes to pure jiu jitsu, he's 100 times better than Justin Lawrence, but he couldn't get the fight to the ground, so it didn't matter. I'm a big fan of Braulio Estima, so I'm pulling for him. I hope that he comes out and just kills everybody. That would be awesome. TapouT Radio: With high level jiu jitsu players coming into MMA more frequently, how long would you say they should train their stand-up before they make the jump? Eddie Bravo: The longer, the better. I'd say get your striking together, and get your wrestling together. Even if you work on your striking and wrestling for years, there's still going to be people that you can't take down, and there's still people that will outstrike you. To get to the top, to be a UFC champion nowadays, it seems, especially in the lighter divisions, if you haven't wrestled for your whole life, and if you aren't an amazing striker, it just ain't happening. You can't be average. Jose Aldo was able to push through, but not because of his jiu jitsu. It was because of his striking. You've got to be like that, or be an incredible wrestler, like GSP. If you didn't wrestle your whole life, and you try to jump into MMA, it's so tough. These jiu jitsu world champions have a hard time. Getting the fight to the ground...that's the mystery that needs to be solved. TapouT Radio: Are there any black belts that you think could successfully make the transition, based on their BJJ skills alone? Eddie Bravo: Roger Gracie said it himself. He said 'Eighty percent of BJJ is useless in MMA.' When someone is trying to punch you, in MMA, you're forced to play a clinching style of jiu jitsu. If you don't understand the difference between a clinching style and an open style, this will sound like German to you. In MMA, when someone's trying to punch you, you clinch to avoid getting smashed. I believe, in order to optimize your jiu jitsu in MMA, the more you can clinch, and the more you can set up submissions from the clinch, and the more you can set up sweeps from the clinch, the more your game is about clinching the upper body, the better chance you'll have in MMA. That's my opinion. TapouT Radio: You have so many noteworthy names coming to train with you, and lately, those names include Ronda Rousey and Duane Ludwig. How has it been training with those two? Eddie Bravo: It's been going great. Ronda has been training. Nik Lentz, too. Ronda, and Nick and Duane just learn so fast. They're very smart, cerebral fighters. We're still in the process of mastering the system, so hopefully it will work out to benefit them. Most of Ronda's fights, she's going to be on top anyways, so we're just working the rubber guard just in case she ends up on her back. She's got the best armbar in the game anyways, so I'm just trying to give her extra stuff. She's a badass without me, so we're just trying to sprinkle in some different techniques. Duane Ludwig is a badass, too. I'm just adding stuff to their game, not taking anything away. Follow Eddie via his Twitter account@EddieBravo

Posted in: mma, eddie, jitsu, bravo, jiu

MMA Link Club: Brock Lesnar’s return to WWE reveals a lot about MMA writers

Notice how many MMA web sites are covering Brock Lesnar's return to WWE? We sure did.

Posted in: mma, wwe, lesnar, return, brock

A Look at Leaf Metal MMA 2012

Leaf Trading Cards have released their second entry into the Mixed Martial Arts market in the form of Leaf Metal MMA, out at your local hobby stores and featuring some of MMA’s biggest/brightest superstars. Unlike Leaf’s original set from 2010, this group features no base cards. You simply purchase a box and there are eight autographs inside. As with the previous set, this is not licensed by any one promotion or sanctioning body which allows Leaf to contract fighters directly rather than by organization. This results in a bit more of an eclectic checklist than North American fighters. The first Leaf MMA was groundbreaking in the sense that it featured Strikeforce fighters pre-Zuffa (including Fedor Emelianenko) along with many Japanese superstars. It was also the first full MMA set to feature female fighters including the likes of Sarah Kaufman, Roxanne Modafferi, and Hitomi Akano. The set, however, was hampered by a terrible color scheme. The base card backgrounds, which featured fighters posing on a white background, found themselves colored an eyesore maroon, child-medicine purple, or dandelion-goldenrod depending on the autograph parallel. Still, for what it was, the concept was far ahead of its time and remains one of the best sources for acquiring certified fighter autographs. Going back to Metal, all cards in this set are “hard-signed”. That is, all autographs (with the exception of autographed press plates) feature autographs signed directly on the card rather than on a sticker affixed to the card. Taking technology seen previously in sets like Topps Finest, Metal relies heavily on prismatic technology and a glossy metallic look for the surface of its cards. Autographs are available in numerous variations. The base autograph is supplemented with numerous parallels. National Pride autographs feature a fighter with their country’s flag in the background with an autograph and Champions autographs feature past and current champions in a different pose autographed at the bottom. Leaf has also done something I admit I didn’t expect – they went out and focused on UFC fighters without current Topps deals. Besides the big name stars (such as Cain Velasquez, Jose Aldo, and Gilbert Melendez) almost all the fighters you see in this set are fighters who have yet to appear in Topps sets. Those names include Mike Pierce, Jason MacDonald (whose massive signature doesn’t fit in the autograph area) and Strikeforce standout Derek Brunson. Unfortunately, the 100+ signers from the first set has shrunk to around 40, and with variations of the autographs in tow it means you could realistically find yourself pulling one or two different autographs of the same fighter in the same box. Leaf had delayed this set to the point of no return already and if they did not receive autographs from many potential signees, I had no problem seeing them delay even further. They also missed a huge boat of opportunity. Last time out, they went heavy on Strikeforce and WEC standouts. This time, Bellator‘s fighters were ripe for the picking, and the brass ring was not grabbed, so to speak. As a result the set ends up being a fairly limited product. On a side note, this is the first autograph appearance of Megumi Fujii and her autographs are true to her bubbly personality including a big smiley face after her signature on each autograph. Fujii, the women’s #1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world, is joined on the women’s side by fellow first time signer Megumi Yabushita and Cristiane Santos. Design-wise, these Metallic look cards never look well anywhere but in person, and so you will want to spare your judgment until then. Unfortunately, the printing process often takes a toll on these cards, and you find that in many cases cards are double printed and blurry. Also, in many cases, because the autographs are signed on that dark surface, you can barely see them. The condition sensitive nature of these cards dictate that the autographs may fall victim to oxidization in the future (where the autographs may bubble or fade). However, Leaf has already put these cards in top loaders and sleeves to slow that process. It’s advised that you try not to subject these cards to too much light for fear of fade. I would’ve recommended perhaps a metal parallel to regular autographed cards. The autographs are what are the selling point of the product, not the crazy look of the cards. With regard to the price point (which sadly determines whether the product is worth purchasing more often than not nowadays), when the first Leaf MMA launched at around $85 US per box, I was expecting something similar here, and was absolutely shocked to hear that the product was around $130 out of the gate. On one hand, you’re getting eight autographs in a box for that price which is not only nothing to sneeze at but something no other company does. Not even Topps has put out a product at that low of a price point with so many autographs. However, the biggest detriment again comes down to the fact that with such a small checklist of contracted fighters, you could realistically pull 20% of all the eligible signers in one box. Perhaps what Leaf should have done here is the same thing they did in their recent golf release – three autographs per box with a base set to build at a lower price (say, $60 or $70.) The autograph value may not be there as much as it is now, but it would spread out the small checklist a bit more, and make it seem like there was more of a chase element to the whole thing. In my opinion, Leaf still has the best idea for an MMA set out there, along with the biggest room to grow. With only two sets, they have made it affordable and easier for fans seeking Mixed Martial Arts autographs. However, there is still a ways to go. The absence of firm Bellator presence is very unfortunate. Many of their banner fighters (Jessica Aguilar, Michael Chandler, and Hector Lombard amongst them) are still without autographed cards and they could easily have bolstered this checklist along with the UFC veterans. However, the difficulty of having a set that bears no redemptions and is 100% signed on card is that you are left to the whim of the fighters to return their cards on time for packout. It would be interesting to see who was intended to appear in this set and ultimately did not. It’s my hope that Leaf’s next set continues this trend of including previously inaccessible signers while diversifying and bolstering their checklist size a bit. Leaf Metal MMA overall is an interesting set that could be so much more, but ultimately falls a bit short of my recommendation to go out to your hobby store and purchase. PHOTO CREDIT – LEAF Tweet

Posted in: mma, fighter, card, autograph, leaf

Why Significant Strikes is a critical data category in MMA scoring - FightMetric's presentation on MMA statistics at the 2012 MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference

submitted by tekprodfx16 [link] [2 comments]

Posted in: mma, statistic, mma statistics, fightmetrics presentation, data category

MMA goes South Park

MMA fans have been creating South Park versions of MMA related people with this character generator, and MMA Mania has amassed a mighty collection of them! Our favorites after the jump. read more

Posted in: mma, mma mania, park, character generator, park versions

Josh Barnett "I’m The Best Grappler Out There In MMA."

submitted by BreakfastGuru [link] [5 comments]

Posted in: mma, josh, ’m, grappler, barnett

MMA Uncensored Live: King Mo Situation, Mayhem Miller, Bjorn Rebney

From Thursday’s MMA Uncensored Live on Spike TV, host Craig Carton has harsh words for Mike Kogan, an update on King Mo, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney talks the future of the promotion, and Jason “Mayhem” Miller joins the panel to discuss his upcoming bout with C.B. Dollaway. You can catch MMA Uncensored Live Thursdays at 11pm ET on Spike TV, or watch full episodes here. More clips after the jump.

Posted in: mma, miller, spike tv, cb dollaway, mike kogan

Don Frye: Dana White (and his 30 Ferraris) ruined the sport of MMA

Thank god, it's Frye-day. Forty-sumthin' mixed martial arts (MMA) veteran Don Frye, who started his career with seven straight bouts under the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) banner (pre-ZUFFA), still loves the sport of cage fighting. In spite of UFC President Dana White. "The Predator" told Sherdog's "Savage Dog Show" that MMA was "ruined" by the penny-pinching promoter, who brags about his "30 Ferraris" while making thousand-aires out of undercard competitors: "The fans are fantastic. Fantastic fans. But the thing is, Dana White’s just ruined the sport. I got to thinking about it today and you know, he ruined it for me... It’s a crime. You see some of these guys only getting two or three or six thousand dollars and you’ve got Dana bragging about having 30 Ferraris. Come on. You have a sponsor and he charges a sponsor what, a hundred and fifty grand to have your stuff on the fighter? That’s money he’s stealing from the fighter. Then he goes and he pays them two or three thousand dollars. That’s crazy." Frye is piggybacking off recent complaints from the boxing industry (among others) that the UFC is running a monopoly after effectively absorbing any and all competition that poses any kind of threat, including PRIDE, WEC and Strikeforce. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) disagrees. Despite the stranglehold ZUFFA has on stateside MMA, there are still plenty of places for combat sports athletes to compete, such as Maximum Fighting Championship (MFC), DREAM, ONE FC, BAMMA and of course, Bellator. And the UFC has made its share of millionaires. Nevertheless, Frye is perturbed about the way some of the spoils are shared amongst the roster, and even goes as far as to call it "stealing" from the fighters. Anyone out there in MMA land agree? More on the ZUFFA pay scale here, here and here.

Posted in: ufc, mma, sport, dana, frye

Jones, Evans want MMA legal in New York

Both light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and ex-champ Rashad Evans have personally lobbied New York lawmakers to legalize MMA.

Posted in: mma, jone, evan, york lawmakers, jones evans

Spike TV’s MMA Uncensored Live Continues Strong Ratings Into Week 6

Spike TV's magazine style show MMA Uncensored Live has continued to post strong ratings into their sixth week on air.

Posted in: mma, week, rating, tv, spike

Announcement: Rebellion Media Acquires MMAConvert.com

MMA Convert has reached another milestone. I am pleased to announce that MMAConvert.com has been acquired by Rebellion Media. Rebellion has made a strong push in the MMA media landscape in the past 10 months, acquiring some of the most well-known sites in the space including FightLine, Five Ounces of Pain, Fightlinker and MMA Frenzy. We are extremely proud to join their family of sites and have full confidence that MMA Convert will continue to thrive under their banner. As some of you have already noticed, we have added two new writers to our team, Dana Becker and Joe LeBeau. Dana and Joe will be producing the majority of the content for the site from this point forward along with additional contributors who will come on board. I’ve been working with them for the past number of weeks getting them up to speed on everything and they will do a great job bringing you your daily dose of mixed martial arts news and analysis. I will be moving to a management position within Rebellion Media and overseeing the day to day operations of MMAConvert.com as well as other sites within the network. With the added responsibility, there will be a reduction in the amount of writing I will be adding to the site, but will be assisting all the writers with the content creation. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time writing about mixed martial arts and this opportunity allows me to pursue additional career goals that I wish to accomplish. My goal all along was to build a site that MMA fans like myself would enjoy visiting on a daily basis and I feel I’ve accomplished that to the best of my ability. With Rebellion’s resources, the site can now grow and prosper in ways that it couldn’t before. I would like to give a very special thanks to Ryan Harkness of Fightlinker and Zach Arnold of FightOpinion. They were the first writers in the MMA community to notice us and give us recognition many years ago. I will be forever grateful to them for that. They’re still two of my favorite bloggers and continue to run great sites that I encourage all of you to check out if you haven’t yet. I would also like to thank all the other members of the MMA media that we have worked with over the years. This community is full of so many great people. It was a pleasure working with everyone. I also want to thank everyone who has contributed to the site over the years including Jim Genia, Jake Berezansky, Mike Moffatt, Zak Woods, Zane Blackman, Mark Dorsey, Greg Monskie, Gary Ward and Adam Baker. I couldn’t have done it without your help. And most of all, I want to thank all of our great readers for all of your support. MMA Convert wouldn’t exist without you. I may not be the person who delivers you the news every day, but I’ll still hang out with you guys in the comments and continue to work with the site in my management role. If you have any questions, I’ll be more than happy to address them as candidly as possible in the comments below. - Steve

Posted in: mma, media, site, rebellion, mmaconvertcom mma

UG member relates horrors of unregulated MMA event in Michigan - MMA News

submitted by swampskater [link] [comment]

Posted in: mma, mma event, horror, swampskater link, ug member

'Drunken yobs' incite riot at Lockdown MMA show in Manchester (Video)

LockDown MMA held its first-ever mixed martial arts (MMA) show last Saturday (March 31, 2012) from the Bowlers Exhibition Centre in Trafford Park, Manchester, England. And it was a doozy. The rookie promotion, founded by Manchester Predators coach Will Burke, erupted into a full-blown riot after a "few drunken yobs" went crazy and started slinging bottles and chairs. Burke takes to his Facebook account to apologize: Thanks to everyone who helped build and run the show last night. I can only apologise for the unfortunate early end to the show due to a few drunken yobs who decided to ruin it for everybody. Those involved should be utterly ashamed not just for last night, but for being such inferior and unfortunate human beings. Thankfully nobody was hurt, nevertheless there will be a lot of changes to the next event to ensure that this NEVER happens again. Video of the carnage (via Cage Potato) after the jump. The good news is that order was quickly restored after police arrived and no one was hurt. But a couple of yobs will have some explaining to do when they eventually sober up.

Posted in: mma, show, yob, chairs burke, fullblown riot

Famed Brazilian trainer and coach of Pitbull Brothers Bruno Gouvea dies in car accident at the age of 32

By D.J. San MarcoNatal, RN Brazil -- Details are still coming out of Natal Brazil, but what is certain is that the world of Brazilian MMA and fight sport lost one of its great coaches today. Bruno Gouvea famed trainer for the Patricio and Patricky Freire has died as the result of a car accident today April 1, 2012 at the age of 32.Gouvea was born on April 1, 1980.Noted for his prowess in teaching his hybrid style which melded the sweet science of boxing with the aggressiveness and kicks of Muay Thai, Gouvea had risen to head MMA coach of the Pitbull Brothers' team. To a young stable of fighters it was said Gouvea was both a coach and father figure to many. The causes of Gouvea's car accident are still being investigated. Brazilian officials have only said that Gouvea was thrown from the vehicle and it appeared to have flipped over several times. With Gouvea's passing an icon of MMA in Natal lost his life but not before he positivity affected the lives of many all across the Brazilian combat sports world. Manger, promoter, and friend of Gouvea, Matheus Aquino told ULTMMA.com "In today left one of the greatest technical MMA Brazilian of all time. Bruno Gouvea will be sorely missed and the sport in Brazil will never be the same without him."

Posted in: mma, coach, brazilian, accident, gouvea

MMAterial Facts (4/1/12) : April 1st Edition

Welcome to this week’s edition of MMAterial Facts, where we feature articles from around the MMA community. *** This week’s MMAterial Facts: - Nevada amends complaint against Nick Diaz, shifts strategy (Fight Opinion) “After Team Diaz filed their response to Nevada’s complaint, Keith Kizer telegraphed (in the media) what the response would be. Rather than confront what Goodman & Tweedale are arguing regarding WADA standards & Nevada law, Keith Kizer & company are now shifting to what I call “the Al Capone” strategy. Kizer’s side is now going after Team Diaz over the way the medical questionnaire was answered regarding Nick Diaz & his medical marijuana usage. … I guess it isn’t a total surprise to see Nevada shift their complaint strategy since they hinted this would be the direction they would be heading in, but to see it on paper and the complaint amended is rather interesting.” - King Mo Lawal reportedly considers WWE while Bellator and Super Fight League show interest (MMA Mania) “Brock Lesnar recently retired from mixed martial arts (MMA) and he’s already reportedly signed a one-year deal with the popular pro wrestling promotion, potentially to debut at tonight’s WrestleMania 28 event. … But another fairly high profile fighter is reportedly expressing interest in making the jump to the scripted entertainment world — Muhammed Lawal. And it’s not even the first time he’s flirted with the idea..” - After Issues On TUF: Live, Dana White Promises No More 3-Minute Breaks (MMA Convert) “We were on a network commercial break. You can’t break a network commercial break. We need to fix that. This is a live sporting event, and we need to be on our toes knowing that we can go to another round. We have a 60-second commercial, and you come right back to the fight. That was bad. What are you going to do? We can’t pull out of a network break, so we need to figure that out and fix it.” - K-1 is coming to New York and Los Angeles THIS year! (MiddleEasy) “If you are a fan of martial arts and kickboxing and you live in the United States, your day might be coming and very soon. The same can be said for fighters within the US who are sick of fighting for paltry sums of money in the regional muay-thai scene, as part of K-1′s press release today, two events within the United States were listed. Of the seven projected dates, two are within the United States. Early September is penciled in for the U.S. Qualifying Tournament, with the winner being placed within the World Grand Prix. The other event listed within the United States? None other than in December for the K-1 World Grand Prix Finals in New York City. If you’ve had behind-the-scenes information, there has been talk of K-1 in New York for a few years now, first in a partnership with HDnet, then possibly with a local promotion and now this.” - “ONE FC 3: War Of Lions” Results: Moreira, Kawajiri Earn Submission Wins (FightLine) “ONE Fighting Championship held its third professional card early Saturday morning from Singapore, as Zorobabel Moreira met Felipe Enomoto in the main event of War of Lions. The card was streamed live on YouTube from the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang.” - *UPDATE* [VIDEO] Anarchy in the UK: Riot Breaks out at Lockdown MMA Event (Cage Potato) “This wasn’t your “Drunk, Affliction wearing fauxhawk guy trades telegraphed haymakers with drunk, Silver Star wearing tribal tattoo guy” brawl that you occasionally see at live events. This was a full blown riot that saw fans throwing bottles and chairs at each other for several minutes. Fortunately, a Cagepotato reader (who wishes to remain anonymous) tipped us off as to what started the riot, which is available after the jump.” - AFC 2 Results: Patrick Cote wins fourth straight, Thales Leites avenges loss to Matt Horwich (Five Ounces of Pain) “The rapidly ascending popularity of MMA in Brazil was on display last night in Manaus when Amazon Forest Combat put on their second ever event, lining the card with a handful of well-known fighters in addition to local products. The main event featured UFC veterans Murilo Bustamante and Dave Menne matched up in what was likely the last fight of Bustamante’s widely-respected career.” - Welterweight Semifinals Pairings Set, Tournament Resumes at ‘Bellator 67′ (5thRound) “After kicking off the opening round of their Welterweight Tournament on Friday night, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney announced the tourney would resume at “Bellator 67″ on May 4th. Casino Rama in Ontario, Canada will host the festivities. … Rebney also confirmed the pairings for the four remaining contestants. Ben Saunders (Pictured) will face Bryan Baker, while Karl Amoussou meets David Rickels Karl on the opposite end of the brackets.” - Freddie Roach says Anderson Silva is “just way too big” to fight Georges St. Pierre (LowKick) “”I’d probably say that Anderson Silva hits harder (than Georges St. Pierre) because he’s a lot bigger. Georges is a good puncher also, but the thing is, size wise, I think that Anderson’s a little more fluent at this point. He’s a lot bigger than Georges, of course. So, that’s why I don’t think that fight – they’ve been talking about that fight happening, I don’t think it will happen.” - Promoter says New York Officials have “Been Cooperative” for Sanctioned Amateur MMA (TheFightNerd) When it was announced this week that the TNT Fight Series would be the first amateur MMA card to be sanctioned in New York since state authorities tried to stamp out the practice in 2002, thoughts of controversy and conflict with government officials came to mind for everyone except the people running it. Fighter and promoter of the TNT Fight Series Erik Herbert went on the record with The Fight Nerd.com last night to describe what has been a thus far smooth ride with the sanctioning body and local government.” - Dana White on Pirating: F**k You, We’re Coming After You Criminals (BleacherReport.com/MMA) “There’s this whole generation out there that grew up getting free sh*t on the Internet, so they think everything on the Internet should be free. It ain’t how it f**king works, man. The music industry was single-handedly destroyed by the Internet. The Internet destroyed the music business. They’ll tell you that. It’s a fact.”

Posted in: fight, mma, event, state, york

what are the top 10 beat downs in MMA

submitted by MAO_ZEBONG [link] [17 comments]

Posted in: mma, down, maozebong

WWE Wrestlemania 28 Live Discussion & Results Thread: Will Brock Lesnar Return Tonight?

Bobby Lashley. Ken Shamrock. Tito Ortiz. Dan Severn. Josh Barnett. Tim Sylvia. Those are just a few of the mixed martial artists that have dabbled in pro wrestling over the years, not to mention some of the Japanese talent that has flowed between both. Arguably the biggest name of them all -- Brock Lesnar -- is reportedly set to make his return to the wrestling ring after a five-year sojourn to MMA that included a run as the UFC Heavyweight Champion and the biggest pay-per-view draw in the business. According to Wrestling Observer founder Dave Meltzer, he has heard stories of Lesnar signing a one-year deal with limited dates and that he's in Miami for Sunday's Wrestlemania 28. Could the former champ make his presence made tonight? Talk about it here with our live discussion and results thread. The event kicks off at 7 PM EST on pay-per-view with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson vs. John Cena headlining. MMA aficionado The Undertaker vs. HHH, Chael Sonnen BFF CM Punk vs. occasional MMA pundit Chris Jericho and Extreme Couture trainee Daniel Bryan vs. Sheamus round out the big matches. Join in the live discussion below!

Posted in: mma, vs, brock lesnar, lesnar, discussion

These kids prove Iranian MMA is growing strong

لقد كان ما يقرب من عامين منذ UFC زار أبو ظبي وكان أنعم علينا من قبل وجود اندرسون سيلفا. في هذه الأثناء أصبحت UFC إيران غير موجودة، ولكن هذا لا يعني أن إيران سوف تترك وراءها في فنون الدفاع عن النفس. تحقق من هذه الصغيران تدريب اللاعبين صعبة في سن مبكرة جدا. يبدو حتى مع قفازات والحشو كامل لديهم فكرة عن ما يجب القيام به على أرض الواقع، وأنهم يلقون الضربات لائق. نأمل أن هذه الرياضة المتنامية تعود إلى أبو ظبي على الأقل ... مجلس العمل المتحد الإيراني ينمو قوي. [مصدر]

Posted in: ufc, mma, kid, iranian mma, iranian

New York is sanctioning an amateur MMA event

submitted by tekprodfx16 [link] [comment]

Posted in: mma, tekprodfx, event, york, amateur

MMA Meets South Park

Ever wonder what your favorite mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter would look like as a South Park character? Wonder no more! That's because the world wide web has once again come through and provided us with exactly that. The images of MMA fighters turned into South Park characters is hilarious, to say the least. So why not spread the wealth and let you Maniacs enjoy it as well? After the jump check out UFC ring announcer Bruce Buffer, UFC color commentator Joe Rogan and a whole gang of fighters as South Park characters. Enjoy! Josh Koscheck Joe Rogan Dan Hardy Kimbo Slice Melvin Guillard Mayhem Miller Urijah Faber Sexyama Alessio Sakara Andrei Arlovski Forrest Griffin Nick Diaz Frank Mir Jonathan Brookins Bruce Buffer Krzysztof Soszynski Keith Jardine GSP Mark Munoz Nate Marquardt Tim Sylvia Cain Carwin Don Frye Hermes Franca Yushin Okami Eddie Bravo Mark Hominick Charlie Brenneman Overeem

Posted in: mma, park, character, park characters, frye hermes

MMA meets South Park

submitted by Like_Wild_Potato [link] [3 comments]

Posted in: mma, likewildpotato, park

5 Oz. MMA Link Club

Welcome back to another edition of “MMA Link Club”, Five Ounces of Pain‘s weekly smorgasbord of offerings from our brothers and sisters in the MMA community. Enjoy… Ronda Rousey Lays Out Male Adversaries on Japanese Game Show (TheFightNerd.com) Cain Velasquez Breaks Down Junior Dos Santos vs. Alistair Overeem (Fightline.com) Dan Hardy Wants to Fight Nick Diaz (MMAConvert.com) UFC Heading to China in 2012 (5thRound.com) MMA Legend Maurice Smith Makes Successful Comeback at Age 50 (MiddleEasy.com) Get to Know the Sixteen Fighters on TUF Brasil (HeavyMMA.com) Gilbert Yvel Deboned Houston Alexander Over the Weekend (CagePotato.com) NSAC Changes Complaint Against Diaz (FightOpinion.com) Anderson Silva’s Humorous Commercial for FOX (MMAPayout.com) JDS Reminds Dana White of Chuck Liddell (BleacherReport.com) Brock Lesnar Rumored for Return to WWE (MMAMania.com) James Toney Says “Rampage” Jackson is a “Slave to the White Man” (LowKick.com) PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE/UFC

Posted in: diaz, mma, mma community, pain ‘s, velasquez breaks

Lefko on MMA: Chance at redemption

What makes new MMA promotion Resurrection Fighting Alliance so unique is it gives fighters a second -- or third -- chance.

Posted in: mma, fighter, chance, alliance, mma chance

New York is sanctioning an amateur MMA event

A funny thing about the MMA ban in New York - it specifically doesn't cover amateur events. That didn't stop the city from cracking down on any venue holding events, threatening to revoke liquor licenses and all that jazz. It's been a decade since anyone has even bothered to try and run a proper sanctioned amateur event, but now TNT Fight Series are giving it a go. How's that turning out? The TNT Fight Series, is set to take place this May in Tonawanda, New York, just north of Buffalo and will be sanctioned under the USMTA. The USMTA is one of the organizations that New York State allows to regulate “martial arts” competitions, which amateur MMA falls under according to the legal definition of the term. Many sanctioning bodies have known that they can regulate amateur MMA shows but have been intimidated by possible conflicts with state and local authorities. Yet, according to Herbert, convincing the USMTA to sanction his event was no great effort....When Herbert was forced to approach the state athletic commission, where the everyone thought the real conflict would lay, there appeared to be no big fuss. While Herbert felt that “easy” was the wrong word to describe the process, he did say that “they’ve been cooperative.” “They’ve given us the green light for everything, provided we abide by the rules of the sanctioning body,” Herbert said of the State Athletic Commission. “They told us they would have to let officials in our town know what we were doing. So, they sent a letter to our local government warning them that there was a risk of rioting and all kinds of things that were not going to happen.” Hey, sometimes these things happen in MMA.

Posted in: mma, event, state, amateur, herbert

ESPN MMA Live: Jones vs. Evans, dos Santos vs. Overeem, Best Submissions of 2012

On this week’s edition of ESPN MMA Live, the panels discusses the upcoming main events of UFC 145 and UFC 146, as well as break down the best submissions of the year thus far. ESPN MMA Live Archive If you have trouble playing the video, you can also watch it on ESPN.com.

Posted in: mma, espn, vs, espn mma, vs overeem

Muay Thai Legend Orono Wor Petchpun Discusses Move To MMA

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

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

Eddie Ng talks ONE FC fight on eve of bout against Jian Kai Chee

With less than 24 hours remaining before his featured fight at ONE FC: War of the Lions, rising lightweight star Eddie Ng (4-1) is pumped to once again be competing under the Asian promotion’s banner. On top of getting to fight in an ascending organization with the added buzz of PRIDE-like rules, Ng has a chance to fight an opponent he w thought to have a personal problem with – Jian Kai Chee. However, it turns out that may not be the case after all. Five Ounces of Pain was able to catch up with the 26-year old in Singapore where the event takes place, getting some thoughts on the bout and his adversary in general. 5 OZ: How did your weight cut go? Eddie Ng: Cutting weight is never fun, it’s the worse part about being a fighter but I have rehydrated and I feel fine and am going to be ready to go tomorrow night. I can’t wait! You are becoming one of the superstars of Asian MMA. How do you feel about having so much attention? EN: It’s pretty crazy really, seeing my photo on posters and billboards all over Singapore, it still doesn’t seem totally real to be honest. I’m so grateful to Chatri Sityodtong who is the Evolve MMA owner because he was the one that brought me to Singapore and believed in me as a fighter and that really made all of this possible. My life has changed beyond all recognition and I am training with world champions every single day. Evolve MMA is the best possible environment for any fighter to be in. If I can’t fulfill my potential here then I won’t be able to fulfill it anywhere. You called Jian Kai Chee a ‘fake’ in a video interview. Why was that? I never said that! It was edited to make it look like I had but I respect anyone who gets in the cage with me and he is no exception. He has very good Muay Thai and his losses have been to tough fighters. He’s a Muay Thai champion so you have to respect that. He has vey good stand up and he is a lot taller than me. I don’t view this as an easy fight in any way and I have been training very hard. Do you have any predictions for this fight? I’m going to win by Flying Triangle! No seriously I just want to win and hopefully put on a good show for the fans. A spectacular submission would be great but I am not going to go looking for it. You won your last fight by KO with a punch from the guard, do you feel like your power is increasing? I was probably the most surprised person in the stadium when I knocked him out. I just wanted to be aggressive and to land some punches but the last thing I was expecting was to knock him out with a punch from that position. The only time you hit someone hard with one of the small gloves on is when you are in an actual fight so you never really know what you are capable until you get in the cage. No one wants to fight for longer than they have to so if I can finish a fight with a big punch like that I am definitely going to try and do it. The event is being streamed for free on YouTube. Will your family and friends in Hong Know be watching? My family in Hong Kong will definitely be watching and I grew up in the North East of England and my parents are still there and I have lots of friends there and it will be about 2:00 on a Saturday afternoon so I think a lot of people will watch. The fights are also repeated on ESPN Star Sports all the time. I never thought so many people would see me fight and the idea that a million people all over the world could be watching me tomorrow is kind of scary. Once the fight starts you shut all that out though and you don’t think about the crowd or how many people are watching or anything like that. All I will be focused on is my opponent and I have had the best training camp possible at Evolve MMA and I know I am ready. ===================================================================================== ONE Fighting Championship ‘War of the Lions’ is being streamed completely free of charge on the ONE FC YouTube channel. MMA fans from anywhere in the world* can catch the action featuring Tatsuya Kawajiri and Melvin Manhoef, as well as others, via: http://www.youtube.com/ONEFCmma. Live streaming commences: 8:00 PM – Kuala Lumpur 1:00 PM – London 8:00 AM – New York City 5:00 AM – San Francisco (Free live streaming is geo-blocked in Singapore and Japan) PHOTO CREDIT – ONE FC

Posted in: fight, mma, people, punch, ng

ONE FC's Japanese fighters want to leave a mark, hopefully from a soccer kick

Yuya Shirai, Tatsuya Kawajiri and Imanari are in Singapore and ready to give ONE FC a healthy dose of Japanese MMA that according to Kawajiri, will hopefully include our daily required allotment of soccer kicks. That right there makes the wait for ONE FC: War of the Lions that much more excruciating. Zeus and Cynthia Vance caught up with the DREAM and DEEP vets to get their thoughts and feelings on their rapidly approaching invasion of the ONE FC cage. Of course, the trio plans on repping the Land of the Rising Sun to the fullest extent tomorrow morning at 8am EST. So in the meantime, be a good Japanese MMA fan and watch the video below and pump your fist out of sheer Japanese MMA fandom.

Posted in: mma, japanese, fc, cynthia vance, fc cage

Dana White Talks Nick Diaz, Roy Nelson, TUF Brasil Leak, More

As usual, UFC president Dana White continues to allow unprecedented access to the media through post-press conference interviews and other outlets. As the leading man in the UFC, the knowledge White gives helps provide an in-sight to what is going on with the leading MMA organization in the world. Here’s a little sample of what White offered up earlier this week, including his thoughts on Nick Diaz, Roy Nelson, a leak in the TUF Brasil results, and FOX telling Joe Rogan to take it down a notch. White told MMA Junkie about those that illegally steal UFC content, and what he plans on doing about it. I respond to people every day on Twitter, like, (expletive) you, you criminal. Yeah, we’re coming after you. Oh, boo hoo. ‘You’re coming after the fans.’ Yeah, you’re (expletive) stealing. If you steal our (expletive), we’re going to get you. We might not get you now or next month, but eventually we will, and we’re spending a lot of money toward busting people who steal. One of White’s current/former fighters, Diaz, was found to have tested positive for marijuana following his loss to Carlos Condit earlier this year. Diaz also announced his retirement after the fight, and has yet to change his stance on the matter. White gives his take on the drug in the same interview with MMA Weekly. I don’t smoke weed. It’s not my thing. It’s illegal; you can’t do it. I can’t present an argument for why (Diaz) should be cool to have marijuana in his system. I think if he retired it would be the most insane thing I’ve ever seen in my life. The kid is right now at the pinnacle of his career as far as his talent goes, as far as being a well-rounded fighter. As for “Big Country,” White has always been very out-spoken against the former winner of The Ultimate Fighter. As he tells MMA Junkie, he just can’t seem to get anything to work with Nelson. I’ve encouraged him to shave his face and cut his hair, too, but he doesn’t want to listen to that, either, so whatever. It’s been reported that the finalists for The Ultimate Fighter: Brasil were leaked by a member of the media in the country. This happened before with TUF, and White was very angered by the subject, as he tells MMA Weekly. I don’t know if you saw this but another channel, another channel we were talking to, then went out and said these are the finalists in The Ultimate Fighter, and tried to like sabotage the whole show. That’s some dirty, dirty, Josh Gross dirty type (expletive). You know what I mean. And finally, a recent story came out courtesy Joe Rogan where he talked about someone at FOX trying to get him to change his announcing style. This isn’t quite what happened, as White informed MMA Junkie. Just to squash that whole thing, FOX never – the guy that was in his ear telling him to chill out, that was Bruce Connal, the guy who’s our guy. But the guy in the truck from FOX was saying, ‘Oh my God, he’s (expletive) screaming.’ They said the same thing to me. They’re like, ‘He’s screaming at our fans.’ That’s what we do. We scream at you. We yell at you. That’s not going to change. Photo credit: Twitter/danawhite

Posted in: diaz, mma, fighter, mma junkie, expletive

Twitter Mailbag: Talking Mo Lawal, Steroids in Supplements, and More

It’s another Friday on another UFC-less weekend, which means it’s time again to open up the Twitter Mailbag and pray that there isn’t any anthrax in there. Warning: this edition begins and ends with very long answers to interesting, complex questions. I realize it might appear daunting at first, but soldier through. There are still a bunch of short, smart-ass responses in between.If you’ve got a question of your own, look me up on Twitter at @BenFowlkesMMA. I’ll be the one posting pictures of my dog and giving you unsolicited updates on the weather.Alex P. @Alex_Newfiecan we get your thoughts on @KevinI 's piece on @KingMoFH http://yhoo.it/HnQldU for your twitter mail bag? With pleasure, Alex. But first, those of you in need of a little background info might want to read my Sports Illustrated column from this week, and Kevin Iole’s Yahoo! Sports column from yesterday, wherein he takes issue with my argument, as well as the arguments of several others, including our own Mike Chiappetta and Luke Thomas. Reading those two pieces is probably going to take some time, so while you do that, I’m going to go make myself a deep dish pizza from scratch. Meet you at the next paragraph in a few.Okay, caught up now? Good, now I can enjoy this pizza while I tell you why I think Iole -- who I like as a person and whose work I respect -- is wrong. For starters, I never argued that NSAC commissioner Pat Lundvall was racist in her questioning of Lawal. In fact, I argued that Lawal -- who I also like as a person and respect very much -- tends to view the world through the prism of race a little too often. I know, because I’ve had these conversations with him before, and have seen just how quick he is to assume that racism is at the core of every negative reaction. If you want to see one such conversation in action, go read Chuck Mindenhall’s excellent feature on him from a 2010 issue of Fight Magazine. I've had almost that exact same talk with him before. So have plenty of people. I know it’s easy for me, a person who is what sociologists refer to as "a white dude," to throw my hands up and say that race isn’t such a big issue. Mo’s experience is quite different from mine, so I can understand why he might be on a heightened alert for racist attitudes. At the same time, if you walk around with only a hammer on your tool belt, pretty soon everything starts to look like a nail.I definitely think Lundvall was needlessly condescending. I also think it is very possible for a person to be condescending without being racist. Iole points out a previous instance of Lundvall being exactly as condescending to a white man, which he claims is proof that she is not a racist. Again, I never really thought that she was. I just thought she was far more jerk-ish about the whole thing than she needed to be, and the previous instance Iole brings up only supports that position. That doesn’t even come close to excusing Lawal for going all Rush Limbaugh on her via Twitter, but I can see why he might have been upset about the way she spoke to him. And please, enough with this nonsense about Lundvall just trying to establish facts on the record or "lay a foundation" for her argument by asking Lawal, in the middle of the conversation, if he speaks English. Does anyone believe that Lundvall was genuinely unsure about Lawal’s English proficiency? Does anyone think she was worried that, at the conclusion of the hearing, he might leap up from his seat and declare that he had fooled the NSAC all along, for he could not read nor understand a word of English, and must therefore be forgiven for the false information on his pre-fight questionnaire? No. Nobody believes that, because it is ridiculous. If you want to establish that a person read and understood the form they were signing, you ask them if they read and understood the form they were signing. You only ask someone if they understand English if you a) are in a foreign country and desperately need to find the hospital, or b) want to be a jerk to them. Not necessarily a racist jerk, mind you, but a jerk nonetheless.Finally, Iole argues that Lawal deserved to be fired for testing positive for steroids, lying on his pre-fight questionnaire, and lashing out in a profane attack on Lundvall. You could certainly make an argument that that trifecta is worthy of retribution, but bafflingly, Iole then writes, "Hopefully, he'll be brought back at some point, like has happened to Torres, Nate Marquardt and so many others in the past." I'm sorry, but you can't argue that someone committed a series of offenses that warranted and perhaps even demanded their firing, and yet simultaneously argue that they should be given their job back. If what Iole is saying is that Lawal deserves to be punished by being kept out of action for a while, there’s a word for that: suspension. Zuffa is setting a bizarre precedent with all these firings and re-hirings. So bizarre, in fact, that people are actually starting to expect it. As if it’s a totally normal punishment to be temporarily fired from your job. As if that’s something that happens with such regularity in other career fields or even in other professional sports. This 'I hate you, wait, maybe you're not so bad after all' attitude is something that goes on only in dysfunctional relationships. It shouldn't be standard procedure in a pro sports organization.Was Lawal absolutely wrong to call Lundvall both a racist and a b-word? Yes. Was he wrong for omitting important information from that questionnaire? Yes. Should he be punished in some fashion? Yes. Is it reasonable to essentially ban him from the big leagues of MMA for these offenses? I don't think so. Again, I like Iole and think reasonable people can disagree on these issues, but I don’t think it serves the sport or its fans to oust a fighter from the top levels of the sport just because of one dumb tweet.Matt Pryor @CRUMxMMAHave you enjoyed the past few weeks with the absence of a UFC event? #TMBYes and no. It’s sort of like summer vacation when you’re a kid. You look forward to the break and think about all the awesome stuff you’re going to do, but two weeks in you’re sitting around in a ratty t-shirt watching I Love Lucy and wishing you had someone to go ride bikes with. I’ll be glad when the schedule picks back up again and we have more actual fights to write about.Chuck Mindenhall @ChuckMindenhallDoes Lloyd Woodard own a musket and/or has he ever fought in the Civil War?Okay, smart guy. I see what you’re up to here. You think just because Lloyd Woodard is a Montanan with a mustache, he must be some sort of Yosemite Sam caricature, huh? You think we’re a bunch of backwards yokels up here in the nation’s fourth largest state, just shooting off guns and swigging XXX brand whiskey. And hey, maybe you’re right. Maybe that is a pretty good little Saturday afternoon in the Treasure State. But before you assume that we don’t know nothin’ about all this fancy MMA stuff, you might want to ask Patricky Freire how his arm is feeling right about now. That's what happens when you underestimate the 406.James @lightbluesheepWhere is Mike Swick? And, will Matt Serra fight again?Swick tells me he’s healing up his ACL and hopes to be back in action by August. Also, thanks for thinking about him. As for Serra fighting again, Magic Eight Ball says: Outlook not so good. He doesn’t need to. He had a good career, and now has a brisk gym business back home in New York, from what I hear. I’d like to see him enjoy his retirement and leave the fighting to the young bucks. That is, unless Matt Hughes wants to have another go.Adrian Garcia @AdriantheWizardwhat is the 1st best possible route to take when handling TRT & PEDs? Make all commissions follow same regulations maybe?That would be a great start, but it’s not enough. This sport needs some sort of independent body to handle policies and testing and punishment. When Dana White says the UFC has too much going on to police the daily actions of 350 fighters, I can see his point. That’s why the UFC -- along with Bellator and every other licensed MMA promoter in the country -- could contribute a percentage of their profits toward forming an organization to conduct random, out-of-competition testing, and to review applications for therapeutic-use exemptions. They should have no influence over that organization whatsoever, and should all agree to abide by its findings. That’s the only way to get serious about cracking down on PEDs in MMA. State commissions don’t have the resources or the collective attitude necessary to get it done. An independent, promoter-funded regulatory body might.Jason Rule @JasonRulewhere does Lawal land when this is done? My vote is Bellator especially since they do not do much in NV.The problem with Bellator is that they typically want fighters to sign relatively long-term contracts, while guys in Lawal’s situation are usually just looking for a chance to fight once or twice until Zuffa’s fickle affections turn around. That’s what kept Marquardt out of Bellator, which now seems to have been the right choice for him. There have been some grumblings about Lawal considering a run as a pro wrestler, but I wonder if he’d still like that idea six months into living out of suitcases. Plus, he’s such a talented fighter, I’d hate to lose him to athletic theater. He also deserves to be fighting top-tier opponents, so I don’t want to see him crushing cans in some civic auditorium for a couple grand a pop. My bet is he’s back in one of the Zuffa promotions within a year. I just wish we didn’t have to keep going through this same temporary break-up nonsense every time a fighter screws up.Tim Bennett @tcbennett84when should a fighter's corner #ThrowInTheTowel? How much of the onus of fighter safety should be on them? #TMB #JoeWarrenIn theory, the corner should be ready to throw in the towel in situations like the one Joe Warren was in. In practice, that’s a tough sell. Cornermen get so caught up in the emotions of the fight, it’s difficult for them to make a decision like that in the moment. It’s easier if they can look at their fighter between rounds and tell he’s in trouble. Then they can at least discuss it with him. If they throw in the towel and the fighter feels like he could have continued, he may never forgive them for it. Michael J Peñarete @MaikolJPif journalism wasn't as hot as it was back in the 2000s would you of considered a career in mma? If so at what weightWait, you’re saying journalism is "hot"? Or it was hot, and now isn’t? I’m confused. Either way, no, I would not have considered a career in MMA for the same reason that I wouldn't have considered a career in the NFL: I'd be killed instantly. I'm a good enough athlete to compete with fellow nerds, but I can't say I'd want to fight for a living even if I thought I could. That was true before I started covering MMA, and it's even more true now.Plus, I’m about 185 pounds (when I’m eating reasonably well and drinking socially rather problematically). That means I’d probably have to cut to at least 170 just to fight guys my own size. I don’t know if you’ve ever cut weight, but I have and it sucks. When you’re dieting, something weird happens to your brain. It’s like those cartoons where a starving character looks at his friends and just sees a walking pork chop. I have a lot of respect for the guys who can do that over and over again, but I don’t want to live that way. I like hamburgers and whiskey and quiet days in front of my computer. That’s why I’m so thankful that journalism is hot right now. Or was. Still unclear on that part.Fraser @FrazAFC94Friday nights are a horrible slot for MMA: Agree or Disagree.Agree, but only when there are also MMA events on Saturday night. For instance, right now, when the UFC is on hiatus, then I really like having a Bellator event to watch on Fridays. But when the UFC returns with one event after another on Saturday nights, that’s when the Friday night time slot starts to look like a real liability. I’d love to see Bellator move to Tuesday or Wednesday, especially now that "The Ultimate Fighter" is live on Friday. Spread out the action, and MMA fans can keep up with your events without it feeling like a chore.Rope @BigNiinjaSay Silva beats CS, what would be left for both fighters? Silva clearly best fighter ever and Sonnen just a windbag nowI don’t know if a second loss to Silva would make Sonnen "just a windbag," since he’d probably still be better than 95 percent of the other middleweights out there, but I see your point. His schtick would definitely have to change, lest it become stale and sad. Fortunately for Sonnen, he’s a versatile talent in the cage and in front of the camera. He could hang around and pick a fight with a new nemesis, or he could retire and become a commentator or TV personality of some kind. If he had an afternoon talk radio show, I admit I’d probably tune in.As for Silva, that might be the perfect win to go out on. I mean, beating your greatest rival in a soccer stadium full of your countrymen? In the movie version of life, that’s a great time to freeze the frame and roll the credits.Greg Carter @GCHatesYouIf John McCain had his way and MMA didn't exist, what would you be writing about?Erotic sci-fi fan fiction. That’s why I’m very, very glad that MMA exists.geeg @blahhelloblahHey, What do you think Zuffa will do with the SF tournament winner? what do you think they should do? thanksIdeally, I’d say the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix winner should get an immediate UFC title shot. But since the powers that be have decided to keep the winner around in Strikeforce for one more post-GP fight against the always dangerous TBA, I suppose that’s out of the question. Whenever Zuffa gets around to moving the winner over to the UFC, I think you have to give him a title shot right away. That tournament might not have panned out the way Strikeforce hoped (it was an almost impossibly ambitious plan, after all), but whoever’s left standing at the end will have proved himself deserving of a crack at the big belt. Stealth Lee @stealthleeIf Montana were an MMA fighter, who would it be? :) #mailbagI feel like it’s a copout to name a fighter who’s from Montana, like Lloyd Woodard or Keith Jardine, though either would work. Instead, I’ll reach beyond state lines and say Don Frye. In fact, I think Frye could probably move here and be governor within six months. He wouldn’t even have to try very hard. All it would take is a couple strategically placed billboards, a viral video campaign featuring his Takayama fight, and a debate performance packed with Frye-isms. He’d win in a landslide.Brian Kaune @TheBriGuy24Isnt a COC overrated for UFC? Like the NFL,its open to interp of a single man. UFC has the Fertitas to balance when necessary. &do guys really need 2 be told what they can and cant do? Common sense needs to be on a piece of paper? No sympathy 4 stupidityThis is a good question, and it’s also the line of reasoning Dana White usually falls back on when pressed about why the UFC doesn’t have a standing code of conduct. You can make a strong case that guys like Mo Lawal and Miguel Torres should have known it was a bad idea to tweet the things that they did. The problem is the inconsistency in how different fighters are dealt with. Some seem to get away with just about anything, while others are never more than one dumb tweet away from unemployment. You could argue that a code of conduct might still allow for uneven implementation, but at least it’s a start. The question I keep coming back to is, why not have one? What would be the harm in telling fighters and the public that x offense will result in y punishment? Maybe the UFC is worried that it might then be required to punish a big star in ways that aren’t helpful to the bottom line. Maybe it thinks that fear of swift, capricious retribution will keep fighters in line. But the fact that the issue keeps coming up tells us that maybe common sense really does need to be on a piece of paper, as sad as that is.Dan Brooks @Combat_BlogCan Mo Lawal possibly mean it when he says supplements were responsible for his positive steroid test? Can that happen?First of all, thanks to my good friend and the author of the wonderful Combat Blog for dusting off his Twitter long enough to ask a question. I had almost forgotten that you knew how to work this part of the internet.Second of all, in order to give you the informed answer I think you will claim to deserve, I called up my go-to source for these sorts of issues: nutritionist and lifestyle guru to the MMA stars, Mike Dolce. According to the man behind the famed Dolce Diet, it’s actually not an unreasonable explanation at all, even if its credibility has been diminished by overuse lately. Since the supplement industry is essentially unregulated by any government agency, and since supplement companies can put almost anything they want in their products (at least until something bad happens and they get pulled from the shelves), many purposely include steroids, Dolce said, which leads to great results and word-of-mouth support from ambitious gym-goers. That’s why many of these supplements -- including S-Mass Lean Gainer, which Lawal said he used -- include marketing code words like "anabolic" and "designer.""It’s trying to give the savvy meathead a little nudge, saying come look at us instead of the other, legitimate supplements out there," Dolce said. "Typically, these companies are ones you don’t hear about too much. They don’t have a large marketing budget, so those are the little tricks they use to cater to the meathead crowd. When I was 19, I actually used to manage a GNC, and I’d see this stuff all the time."So how are you supposed to know if there are steroids or other banned substances in your supplements? "You don’t," Dolce said. "These guys really can get away with whatever they want until a government agency finally steps in and squeezes them. But by then they’ve made millions, so they change the formula, pay a fine that’s a very small percentage of their profits, then they fold their LLCs or what have you and move on to the next brand."This is why Dolce doesn’t recommend supplements to the fighters he works with, he said, and why his first order of business when a new client hires him is usually to get them off "the powders, pills, and potions." If you know what you’re doing, Dolce said, "you can find what you need in food, in earth-grown nutrients. That’s where it’s at. You can’t market and patent spinach."In other words, yes, it is totally possible that a supplement from a Max Muscle store caused Lawal to test positive for steroids. It’s also possible that fighters and other pro athletes have worn this excuse down to the nub, and now it’s nothing more than a convenient dodge. Either way, if you can’t be sure what’s in the stuff that you’re ingesting, and if your career could hinge on your ability to pass a drug test, maybe you should think before pumping yourself full of some chemical compound that uses terms like "anabolic" in its marketing materials. Just saying.

Posted in: mma, fighter, lawal, itrsquo, thatrsquo

UFC rankings/MMA rankings featured in USA Today for March 2012

Why are MMA fans so cranky? Yep, it's that time of the month again. Rankings! Our partners in crime over at BloodyElbow.com have once again published their divisional rankings for mixed martial arts in the nation’s largest daily newspaper, USA Today, for the month of March 2012. For those of you unfamiliar with the process, here’s how it works: "The rankings, which will offer a definitive perspective of top MMA fighters across all weight-classes, will be released monthly and published in the Sports section of USA TODAY, online at USATODAY.com and on SB Nation’s MMA commentary and community blog, BloodyElbow.com … The USA TODAY/MMA Nation Consensus MMA Rankings are compiled each month by Nate Wilcox and Richard Wade of BloodyElbow.com. The rankings utilize each of the top MMA rankings from multiple unique sources. A weighted-formula is applied to normalize and distill the various rankings into one consensus ranking per weight class." To check out the latest USAT/MMA Nation rankings click here. We’ve also listed their top 10 in each class after the jump for your convenience. Heavyweight: 1. Junior dos Santos2. Alistair Overeem3. Cain Velasquez4. Fabricio Werdum5. Frank Mir6. Josh Barnett7. Shane Carwin8. Daniel Cormier9. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira10. Antonio Silva Light Heavyweight: 1. Jon Jones2. Dan Henderson3. Rashad Evans4. Mauricio Rua5. Lyoto Machida6. Phil Davis7. Ryan Bader8. Quinton Jackson9. Alexander Gustafsson10. Forrest Griffin Middleweight: 1. Anderson Silva2. Chael Sonnen3. Mark Munoz4. Vitor Belfort5. Michael Bisping6. Tim Boetsch7. Luke Rockhold8. Yushin Okami9. Chris Weidman10. Brian Stann Welterweight: 1. Georges St. Pierre2. Carlos Condit3. Jake Ellenberger4. Nick Diaz5. Josh Koscheck6. Johny Hendricks7. Jon Fitch8. Jake Shields9. Martin Kampmann10. B.J. Penn Lightweight: 1. Ben Henderson2. Frankie Edgar3. Gilbert Melendez4. Gray Maynard5. Shinya Aoki6. Jim Miller7. Clay Guida8. Nate Diaz9. Anthony Pettis10. Michael Chandler Featherweight: 1. Jose Aldo2. Hatsu Hioki3. Chad Mendes4. Pat Curran5. Marlon Sandro6. Diego Nunes7. Dustin Poirier8. Kenny Florian9. Erik Koch10. Chan Sung Jung Bantamweight: 1. Dominick Cruz2. Urijah Faber3. Renan Barao4. Brian Bowles5. Scott Jorgensen6. Miguel Torres7. Bibiano Fernandes8. Michael McDonald9. Brad Pickett10. Masakatsu Ueda What do you think? Looking good on all fronts or are there a few issues with the consensus opinions here? Share your ranking rants in the comments section below.

Posted in: mma, usa today, usa, ranking, weight class

Bloody Inbox: Testosterone Replacement In MMA, Scoring 10-10 Rounds, 'World-Class Wrestling' And UFC's UK TV

The first edition of the Bloody Inbox went great, with debate stirred in the comments and a new flood of questions to the inbox. As promised, here's part 2 of our special double edition for the inaugural week of the feature. I'll also be using some questions to do special Bloody Elbow staff roundtables in the future. So if you think you submitted a great question but it isn't answered here, keep your eyes peeled. Remember, you can submit your questions to: BloodyElbowMailbag@Gmail.com Question from Zachary Kater: Simple question... what are your thoughts on fighters using TRT with a medical exemption through the commission? I personally feel like people are gaining advantages that aren't natural due to being allowed to take the treatment, as it's perfectly normal for testosterone to decrease in an aging human. Is it worth it to allow fighters to have more extended careers, or should we try to keep talent and natural abilities pure from anything such as this that may give an unnatural advantage? Nothing like saying "simple question" and then asking for thoughts on one of the biggest controversies going. I think one of the keys for all of this is for the commissions to set a benchmark for what they consider abnormally low testosterone levels. If someone requests a usage exemption and can provide proof through samples (given on different dates at least 1-2 weeks apart) that their testosterone level is significantly low for their age then they are allowed the exemption. But it should be treated like a license where it must be renewed once a year, and is subject to random testing. The commission issuing the exemption should have the right to phone up and request a test be taken at any point during the year. The levels returned should be within a defined range or disciplinary action taken. Of course, there are guys using now who are staying within the "normal range" without an exemption so that doesn't really get to the heart of the "is it fair?" debate. But this is at least a way to try and make sure that TRT is not being abused at any point. And this isn't even mentioning the difficulties in executing such a plan when all state commissions operate independently. So that part would have to be done at the promotion level. Which, if they're as serious about PEDs as they say they are with testing prior to signing..etc, should not be a problem. But back to the question of fairness. I'd say the only fair use of TRT is when your levels are significantly below normal for your age. Not just because you're starting to feel old. Question for Dallas Winston from wonderfulspam: When you posted your visualised scoring graph for Simpson vs Tavares, one of the main points of contention was your willingness to score 10-10s in every round where neither fighter clearly has an edge. Would you agree that rounds that leave you thinking "extremely close round, could be 10-9 either way" should more often than not be 10-10s? Draws could be settled by sudden death rounds or the judges picking a winner. Dallas: Thanks for the question -- I'm honored. One of the most difficult aspects with MMA judging is scrutinizing hypothetical versus actual scenarios. The graph was designed for actual scenarios to provide a visual value to many facets of judging that are difficult to quantify, especially in conversation (10-10 vs. 10-9 vs. 10-8 rounds, the impact of significant offense, who is/was winning the round and by how much). So, under the context that the suggested scenario in your question is hypothetical, and my answer will be too -- yes. I do feel that a round interpreted as "could be 10-9 either way" is what a 10-10 should be. I'm eternally baffled at the reluctance to score a 10-10 round, which is described as "when both contestants appear to be fighting evenly and neither contestant shows dominance in a round." I mean, it's not uncommon to witness that scenario, yet the 10-10 score is entirely uncommon. Even when I've posed a hypothetical question about scoring a round with no clear winner, many have insisted that they would still refrain from a 10-10 and prefer to force a winner based on some tiny shred of evidence. The idea that two evenly matched, high-level fighters cannot possibly stalemate in a five-minute window is ludicrous but, even beyond that, the result is distorting the window or value for a 10-9 score. In this case, it's stretching it wider by awarding one fighter one-third of the fight for the smallest detail, and typically a detail that's insignificant to the fight when the rules are based significant achievements. That mentality fosters an even bigger problem when the other rounds are won by a clear but not dominant margin, i.e. a standard 10-9 round, because they're awarded with the same value as the "forced winner" round that was decided by some miniscule activity. Finally, the 10-10 round is constantly associated with the fear of draws, yet the majority of recent draws we've seen were caused by 10-8 rounds, which is something almost everyone agrees we need to see more of. The conclusion should be that we can't control excitement or outcome through objective scoring. The job of a judge is to assess each five-minute frame to the best of his ability with no preconceived bias or concerns for "what might happen" because of it. Question for KJ Gould from Robert V-U: How meaningful are world-class wrestling credentials for a fighter? For instance, Jon Fitch, GSP and Rashad Evans have some of the most effective grappling in the sport, but none of them are particularly heralded as coming into the sport with good wrestling credentials. (I realize this part of the question is mostly speculation because it is all relative, but: are world-class wrestling credentials more or less valuable than legitimate K-1 striking credentials for a mixed martial artist?) What aspects of Olympic wrestling transition best to the sport? (I.e. what is it about Bubba Jenkins' wrestling that makes him more successful than Mark Ellis in MMA). Also, what is GSP's wrestling like? Is he similar to past wrestlers? Or, is his style unique to this sport? KJ:There's this general belief that if you're a Freestyle wrestler that's competed at the World or Olympic level, you must be awesome in all areas. This really isn't the case as there are usually individual styles among wrestlers who tailor their skill sets for success in the competition environment they take part in. Not all Olympic Wrestlers will have amazing takedowns; some depend on countering their opponent to score points with reversals. Similarly the converse is true, where some wrestlers' best defense is having a really strong offense by pursuing a takedown or throw until they get it. Just as in sport Jiu Jitsu or Submission Grappling, the skill types and abilities of a Roger Gracie, Marcelo Garcia and Pablo Popovitch differ wildly, but all can make it work for them at the highest levels. As it relates to MMA, certain skill sets and attributes from wrestling fit better than others. Bubba Jenkins is strong, and pulls of athletic moves like Super Ducks which require a combination of footwork, speed and agility. He also has the right mentality, embracing a chance to compete in MMA rather than showing any hesitation about it, so the mental game of a champion wrestler can also help with the transition. GSP's training in wrestling from day one has been tailored for the MMA environment. Sports specificity is key when it comes to training at the highest level, and GSP knows how to combine striking with wrestling so he can both avoid being hit, and force an error from an opponent that over-commits with their own striking, putting them off balance enough for GSP to seize an opening and follow through with a double leg or single leg takedown. The best attributes for wrestling for MMA are the same basic fundamentals of wrestling, but tailored for the MMA environment: Stance / position, motion, level change, penetration, lifting, back-stepping and a back arch. Question for KJ Gould from Paul G: What do you think will happen after the ESPN UK deal runs out? Will ESPN renew the deal despite the issues in recent times (UFC on Fox 1), or do you think Sky could come into the picture? KJ: I fully expect this to be the last year we'll see the UFC on ESPN as it pertains to live shows and new content. ESPN UK has said they hope to continue coverage if the right deal can be reached, but according to some brief tweets by Lorenzo Fertitta in February, it seems clear he's not happy with ESPN generally. That might in part be to do with the Outside The Lines feature on the UFC, in which Fertitta famously had his own video recording taken at the same time, but there's more to it than that. I think the UFC have realised the limitations ESPN have in helping grow the UFC in the UK, when ESPN themselves are having to play catch up to Sky Sports who have had a 20 year advantage in customer reach and service. I still maintain the key component in this is Fox Sports Chairman David Hill, who helped build Sky Sports originally in the UK. Sky Television and Fox Television are both partly owned by Rupert Murdoch and the News Corp group, and with rumblings of Fox wanting to create their own 24/7 sports channel I wouldn't be surprised to see a working relationship between Sky and Fox for content to continue to blossom. We already have FX in the UK, which hosted the Bisping vs Mayhem season of The Ultimate Fighter on a less than 24 hour tape delay. Sky Sports is already setup for live, international programming as they do with the WWE RAW series on Monday nights. Sky Sports have also shown a greater interest in MMA programming, with long running UK promotion Cage Warriors inking a deal with them not long ago, and having previously worked with the Cage Rage and Ultimate Challenge promotions. UFC may have had problems working with Sky in the past, dating back to the poor Box Office PPV numbers of UFC 38 10 years ago, but a lot has changed on both sides and with the current Fox deal, now would seem to be the right time to take the UFC in the UK to the next level with a new Sky partnership.

Posted in: mma, question, round, sport, level

Shaping Alliances: Victor Cui and the Dramatic Rise of ONE FC

It wasn't long ago that the UFC was in second place. Back when the giants of PRIDE were the name of the game and Japan's Saitama Super Arena was the center of the world, the west was almost an afterthought. That time is gone now. The decline of Asian MMA happened quickly, with a whimper, not a bang. But remnants of a generation raised on the myths of Fedor Emelianenko and Kazushi Sakuraba are still here. Those who witnessed the spectacle of PRIDE first-hand understand the viability of eastern martial arts. It's hard to forget. Now the race has changed. The sprint has become a marathon, to revive a scene left for dead and revitalize the spirit of the mid-2000's. It's here that the Singapore-based ONE Fighting Championships has abruptly emerged as the odds-on favorite, and it was all because of a 40-year-old Canadian businessman. "My dream is to build the best MMA organization in Asia," ONE FC founder Victor Cui says simply. "I will never be satisfied until every single person in Asia is an MMA fan." Cui's goals may seem lofty, but since ONE FC debuted in mid-2011, the organization has made unprecedented international strides, stunning skeptics by inking a 10-year broadcast partnership with ESPN Star Sports, Asia's largest sport content provider, in a contract unmatched in both its length and scope. "This deal is a giant step forward," Cui explains. "Combined with our other broadcast deals, we now have over 500 million viewers who have access to (ONE FC). "(ESPN) has realized the potential growth MMA has in the Asian region. No sport in Asia has a 10-year deal, not tennis, not golf, no basketball and this is just the beginning." In the race for eastern eyeballs, Cui's savvy wheeling and dealing has ONE FC marathon ready. With two shows already in the books, and a third set for this Saturday, the ONE FC brand has more or less become MMA's ambassador to Singapore, India, the Philippines, Thailand and various other regions throughout Asia. And as an added incentive to western audiences, Saturday's entire fight card will be streamed free of charge on YouTube. "The response from the fans has been insane," Cui says. Eduard Folayang (left) battles A Sol Kwon in the main event of ONE FC's 2011 debut.(Photo via ONE FC) "This allows fighters the chance to fight more times than ever before, which means more experience, more exposure and higher pay-days." Nostalgia can a major seller in all walks of life, and ONE FC embraces that fact in a way rarely seen in today's MMA. The promotion's special brand of violence, which Cui labels "a blend of the very best from the west and the east," embraces a bloody mish-mash of the unified rules and PRIDE rules, allowing for not only head stomps and soccer kicks, but also knee and elbow strikes to the head of a downed opponent, providing for an explosive, potentially gruesome form of combat. "What we try to do is give the fans what they want," Cui proclaims. "Our promise is to bring our audience the best Asian fighters and put on the best world class MMA show they have ever seen." However all the attention in the world is irrelevant without a roster that can raise eyebrows. To that extent, Cui knew he needed help. So using the immense personal network he collected in his past life in public relations, Cui embarked on an exasperating chase to end the dog-eat-dog mantra of fight promotion and unite Asia's top organizations under one roof. In any industry driven by human ego and selfish competing interests, the idea of large scale collaboration seems laughable. But somehow Cui sold it the right way, the end result being the ONE FC Network, a fascinating collective alliance between top gyms and promotions throughout the eastern hemisphere, including Japan's DREAM and DEEP, the Philippines' URCC, Australia's CFC, Korea's ROAD FC and Thailand's DARE Championship. Now, seemingly overnight, Cui holds one of the world's largest talent pools at his disposal. "Asia is a region where the MMA talent is largely untapped," he explains. "The ONE FC Network is based on trust, support and friendship, but most importantly, it is a network that clearly benefits everyone. Other promotions get to work together and avoid conflicting plans and have their champions fight other champions on ONE FC, gyms get greater opportunities for their fighters, and fighters get more pay days. We have greater opportunities for TV deals, sponsors, and endless business benefits. Everyone wins." The first indication of ONE FC's blended new world will come this Saturday, as Cui pilfered top-ranked Japanese featherweight Tatsuya Kawajiri from DREAM to meet American-born Donald Sanchez at ONE FC 3: War of the Lions, on a card that also features DEEP champions Masakazu Imanari, Yuya Shirai, and Yoshiyuki Nakanishi, URCC champion Eduard Folayang, and DREAM veteran Melvin Manhoef. Of course, as the network adapts to its new web of relationships, Cui also has his eyes on several other primetime targets, chief among them being perennial top-ten lightweight and reigning DREAM champion Shinya Aoki. Ultimately, ONE FC's remarkable rise is still far from a finished product. But with a full plate of 2012 shows lined up across Asia, including stops in Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore, the promotion that continues to defy expectations has inched its way closer to becoming the new face of Asian mixed martial arts. "It's been nothing but a positive growth and I am so blown away by that," Cui humbly admits. "I credit the wonderful people I work with, the team we have driving ONE FC and of course our partners. This is only the beginning and it is just going to get better from here."

Posted in: world, mma, fc, asia, cui

PEDs in MMA: Mike Chiappetta Explores TRT, Athletic Commission Testing and More

In the days after Quinton "Rampage" Jackson became the latest fighter to acknowledge using testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), Nevada state athletic commission executive director Keith Kizer's phone began to light up. On the other end were fighters and managers interested in finding out how to obtain a TRT exemption. Kizer, who had heard about Jackson's interview with Fighters Only acknowledging his usage, was not surprised. In his comments, Jackson claimed that "a lot of fighters are probably doing it but not telling anyone." That quote has since been removed from the interview, but its echo has created a stir in the mixed martial arts world, suggesting that legitimizing TRT treatment was easy.Jackson is not only the latest of the divulged names using TRT, but also its loudest proponent. But contrary to popular belief, the number of fighters legally using TRT with the permission of state athletic commissions is quite low.How low? In its entire history, the Nevada state athletic commission has granted only three therapeutic use exemptions (TUE's) for TRT, Kizer told MMA Fighting. The only individuals to receive exemptions have been Dan Henderson, Todd Duffee, and most recently, Shane Roller in 2011. New Jersey Athletic Control board legal counsel Nick Lembo could not offer a specific number but said that state had given "less than five" TUE's for TRT in its history. In Ohio, only Henderson and Strikeforce fighter Bristol Marunde have ever been approved for TRT use, its state athletic commission executive director Bernie Profato told MMA Fighting.Contrast that with the reaction of say, Dr. Don Catlin, who sits on the International Olympic Committee's medical commission responsible for reviewing TUE applications for Olympic athletes. In a recent interview with MMA Fighting regarding the possibility of active fighters needing TUE’s for TRT in MMA, Catlin remarked that the whole thing was "a joke."Those types of broad criticisms are troubling to some combat sports regulators who feel that their goals of toeing the line between sport safety and being responsive to individual health situations are being undermined. "I hear things like, 'Oh everyone can do it,'" Kizer said. "Well, how many exemptions have [the IOC] given out? Two. Well, we've given out three in 12 years."According to Catlin along with many other critics, the possibility of professional athletes in their 30s needing TRT is so low, it's almost completely zero. But new research might show those long-held beliefs to be incorrect.The science of brain injury is still relatively new, and developing rapidly. In 2007, a paper published in the Journal of Athletic Training reported the first known connection between mild concussions and hypopituitarism, a deficiency that can lead to low testosterone. That research, along with how traumatic brain injuries impact the pituitary gland, is being continued by Dr. Daniel F. Kelly, the director of the Brain Center and Pituitary Disorders Program at the John Wayne Cancer Institute at Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California.Kelly is currently in the midst of a study of 75 former NFL players that is expected to be published around the end of 2012. In an interview with MMA Fighting, Kelly said that preliminary data from the study suggests that pituitary damage is occurring in a subset of the retirees. That study seems to corroborate a 2006 finding in Turkey that found that head injuries incurred by pro kickboxers have resulted in damage to the pituitary gland. Extrapolated to MMA, it's not much of a leap to suggest that similar injuries can be occurring to this sport's fighters, for whom getting hit in the head is a daily occurrence. In fact, Dr. Fahrettin Kelestimur, a professor of endocrinology at Erciyes University in Turkey who authored the 2006 study, told MMA Fighting that the most common damage has caused growth hormone deficiency and hypogonadism, respectively. The latter problem was the one cited by Chael Sonnen as the necessity of his TRT treatments during his appeal of a California state athletic commission suspension."These fighters are getting repeated insults to the head, sometimes more than concussive events," Kelly said. "And if you did a careful analysis of those people, I'm sure you'd see a significant rate of pituitary gland dysfunction. That's my prediction."The issue is complicated by the fact that it is not always possible to determine the cause of pituitary damage, according to Kelly. It's well known that steroid abuse can also damage the pituitary gland, but head trauma can cause the same affect.That makes things cloudier for regulators like Kizer and Lembo, who work for two of the sport's leading commissions. At the same time, they along with other regulators believe it’s important not to punish the athletes that come forward with a legitimate need by banning TRT outright. While the long-held belief that steroid use as the main cause of low testosterone among athletes might be true, it’s by no means a catch-all. That knowledge simply just isn’t widespread. Most of the people interviewed for this story were unaware that pituitary damage could be caused by repeated blows to the head, as Kelly, the brain and pituitary expert agreed."Is that incrementally damaging the connection between the brain and pituitary? I think it probably is," he said. "But can we prove that there’s an exposure component that’s incrementally adding up even if it’s not even considered a concussion. I think that’s probably the case."While MMA often points to its safety record, there are variables to the sport that cannot be controlled. Chief among them is what goes on in the gyms during training camp. While fighters who suffer knockout losses in competition are medically suspended in order to give them time to recover, those periods are rarely enforced. Some of them can’t be due to simple logistics. If a fighter competes in Texas, for example, but calls Brazil home, there is no real way to check up on him and ensure he’s letting his brain recover from the trauma it received. Most good coaches will try to keep their athletes on the sidelines and away from head strikes in this critical recovery phase, but it’s not like that everywhere.Take, for instance, Pat Barry’s recent explanation of why he hoped to visit Croatia soon to get in some training."Out there, you can punch and kick guys completely unconscious and they show up the next day," he said. " Whereas here, you can punch and kick some guys, and sometimes they don’t come back for the rest of the week.""Which is probably a good idea," UFC president Dana White interjected. Barry's seeming insensitivity to head injuries might be ingrained in his mentality as a fighter who is trained to be fearless even in the heat of battle, but it also might be from an attitude that is generationally rooted, though changing. A recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report noted that emergency room visits for children and adolescents due to sports and recreation-related traumatic brain injuries were up 60 percent in the last decade. The organization’s director of the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control attributed to the rise not to increased incidences, but to growing awareness of the dangers caused by brain injuries.Attention to the problem of brain injury has also been slow to come to pro sports. In 2008, the collaborative Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy was founded to study brain injury, and their work has changed the NFL’s outlook on concussions and head trauma, causing rule changes in 2009 that focused on player safety. This even though as a league, the NFL has had a multi-decade head start on MMA when it comes to head injuries. MMA commissions in some instances have only been sanctioning the sport for a year or two and are still drafting regulations.As it stands now, most commissions have no tests in place that would determine this type of problem.Only a handful of state commissions require an MRI in order to grant a fighter’s license, but MRI’s don’t always show the problem, anyway. A blood draw is more likely to determine if an issue exists, according to Kelly. Tests for luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone, growth hormone (GH) and IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1) could serve as an effective screening tool to determine any pituitary damage.Most of the blood work done through commissions prior to licensing though, is solely to test for contagious diseases.A big problem when it comes to changing medical technology is cost. Ohio Athletic Commission executive director Bernie Profato likened it to medical issues in the world at large, recounting the story of how the son of a close friend died from a rare blood disease that doctors didn’t have the means to handle because of a lack of money to fund research. "The more this stuff comes up, the more time medical people put into it, it extends our knowledge of it," he said. "We’re regulators, not medical people. We do what we can to put these athletes in the safest environment." Only a handful of the regulators MMA Fighting spoke with had heard of the studies linking brain trauma with pituitary damage, but most acknowledged that such conditions are exactly why TRT TUE’s shouldn’t always be passed off as an attempt to fleece the system."It’s very rare, but there are some legitimate needs," Lembo said. "My biggest concern is that most commissions don’t even test for these things in the first place so we’re over-penalizing the people that are coming forward and saying, ‘Hey, do whatever you want to me. Test me before and after the fight. Test me randomly. I need this, I’m on it and I’m going to be within normal limits.’ There are a lot of commissions who don’t believe in TUE’s for any reason, but why be hard on the ones coming forward?"Dr. Kelly, who has been working on issues pertaining to the pituitary gland for nearly 20 years, in 2008 co-authored a study that concluded chronic hypopituitarism occurred in approximately 20 percent of patients who had suffered mild, moderate or traumatic brain injury. With the repetitive head impacts from training and competing from month to month and year to year, it’s no wonder then that professional fighters could be subject to these same types of injuries. While finishing up his NFL research, Kelly is also interested in studying boxers and, possibly, mixed martial artists to gain a more definitive understanding of a problem that still remains mostly hidden away."I’m sure there’s a certain level of it going on," he said. "I guess what’s really amazing, if you look at it another way, is how infrequently it occurs, and how sturdy the system is, how much damage it can take. The pituitary gland is this tiny little thing that’s less than a centimeter cubed. It’s sitting in a little, bony depression in the skull base and it’s getting banged around, and the connection is getting banged around repeatedly, yet it keeps it on ticking in most people. It’s a pretty resilient system, but only up to a point." [Editor's Note: PEDs in MMA is a two-part series. Next week, an installment on the drug-testing landscape in MMA, and how regulators, athletes and promoters are adapting.]

Posted in: mma, fighter, injury, commission, trt

PEDs in MMA: The Trouble With Testing

When it comes to drugs in combat sports, Nick Lembo has basically seen it all. Like the time a fighter tested positive for PCP after a bout. Yes, angel dust, the hallucinatory drug that distorts reality, prompts violence and numbs the brain's pain receptors."That guy didn't feel anything during that fight," said Lembo, longtime legal counsel to the New Jersey Athletic Control Board.Across the country in Nevada, Nick Diaz and his team are preparing to mount a defense that centers on the theory that his recent positive test for marijuana metabolites proved that his usage came out of competition, a result that would not see him serve any suspension even under the strict bylaws of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) that monitors international sport. Those two cases represent the two extremes of drug testing in sports. One is a black-and-white issue with a clear offense, the other is a matter of interpretation. In MMA, drugs and drug testing have been at the forefront of debate recently, due to situations like Diaz’s positive test, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson’s testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) admission, and Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal’s nine-month steroids suspension, the result, he says of an over-the-counter supplement with a banned ingredient.Those high-profile situations have intensified conversations about the way the sport is monitored. UFC president Dana White likes to say that because of government oversight, his athletes are the most regulated in the world, but a closer look shows that’s not the case everywhere. The promotion’s most recent, show, for example, took place in Sydney, Australia, and was overseen by the Combat Sports Authority of New South Wales. Their spokesperson Michelle Neathercote, however, told MMA Fighting that "The Combat Sports Authority does not conduct drug testing. Any drug testing arrangements are a matter for the UFC." In those instances, the UFC acts as its own regulatory body, with its vice president of regulatory affairs Marc Ratner handling issues related to drug testing.That’s not that unusual when the UFC goes international, and global business is a major piece of their expansion, with six out of their last 20 events taking place outside of U.S. borders and at least five others scheduled for 2012.The UFC faced the same scenario in Tokyo just one week before it was in Australia. Some of their fastest-growing markets have yet to embrace drug testing. In Rio, where they will host their third event in a 10-month span this June, there is no commission enforcing drug testing. Even in Toronto, which hosted the largest event in North American MMA history, drug testing isn’t required. Office of the Athletics Commissioner senior advisor Richard Hustwick told MMA Fighting that testing is only done if it is written into bout contracts. The Athletics Commissioner will oversee the administering of the test, while the promoter pays for its cost.Even stateside, there are problems. The state of Washington only has mandatory testing for title bouts. Other states, like Louisiana, have no formally written testing policy at all. That often leaves the UFC in a position where it must help police itself, and leads to skepticism from the public who distrust their willingness to disclose results. On one hand, they have twice suspended star middleweight Chris Leben stemming from self-regulated events. On the other, they never divulged the positive drug test of Tyson Griffin at UFC 123 before it was discovered by MMA blog BloodyElbow.com over one year later. After news of the story broke, the UFC issued a statement saying that while they followed the Michigan Unarmed Combat Commission’s 100-day suspension, they noted that it was the state that "did not make this information public."The fact is, there are still situations in which the UFC works hand-in-hand with state regulators to enforce drug testing, mostly by footing the bill.Alvin Topham, who chairs the Louisiana Boxing and Wrestling Commission, detailed that process during an interview with MMA Fighting.When the UFC comes to the state, as they did last September, they insist upon drug testing. The commission will administer the tests, select a laboratory to process them, and pay the initial bill. They will also be the first to receive the results, which they will eventually pass along to the UFC.The promotion later reimburses them for the cost.The reason for this setup? The expense. Topham told MMA Fighting that the commission doesn’t receive a single cent of funding from the state government. Instead, it is self-funded through event gate taxes and licensing. The costs of random testing all events would quickly whittle away their cash reserves, so instead, they concentrate on major shows, using the deeper pockets of bigger promotions like UFC and Bellator to pay for the screenings."They’re footing the bill, but the way we’re doing it is safeguarding against impropriety," said Topham, who has served on the commission since 1992. "If anyone questions my integrity, that’s fine. They can say what they want to say. But I have no investment in the UFC. I don’t work for them. This is an arrangement, and we’re ultimately administering the testing."Many critics contend that fight week testing isn’t enough, anyway, that fighters should be tested out-of-competition. Just this week, the Nevada commission took advantage of a pre-fight press conference to test six UFC fighters scheduled to compete on a May 26 event, the first time that had been done. Regulators simply don’t have the budgets to test fighters when they’re one time zone away, let alone across the world, as often happens in MMA. It's been suggested that the burden should be shouldered by the UFC.According to White, while the promotion recently started drug testing newly contracted athletes, more extensive random, out-of-competition testing would also stretch the promotion’s resources thin."We have 375 guys under contract," he said. "We’re doing a zillion fights a year. We’re traveling all over the world and doing all these other things we’re doing. Now, do you really think that we can crack down and just f------ chase these guys around, everywhere they live, all over the world, and just randomly test these guys all the time? On top of all the other things we’re doing? You have to really sit back and think, to use a little reality and common sense." Commissions Playing Catch-up on TUE's While simple drug screenings are hard enough, the new battleground in drugs in sports is testosterone. Depending on who you ask, testosterone can be the best, worst and most confounding drug in the sports world, sometimes all at once, a viewpoint recently summed up by White."I think that this whole testosterone therapy (TRT) thing works for guys who absolutely need it, but I think it's a messy loophole," he said. For those who legitimately need it, TRT can be a life-changer, addressing issues related to decreased muscle mass, over-fatigue, depression, osteoporosis, and as we all know from the commercials, sex drive. But the key is whether the use is legitimate. TRT, usually administered either through an injection, a patch or gel, successfully addresses these issues, but if abused, could offer an advantage to a professional athlete.That’s particularly worrisome in MMA, where the consequences of PED’s extend far past what they may do to the offending party. It can be a problem for the unwitting opponent, as well as the pressure it places on everyone else to keep up."I think a lot of fighters, and it’s not an excuse but it is a reason, in the past used steroids not to get an advantage but because they thought they needed it to have a level playing field," Nevada state athletic commission executive director Keith Kizer told MMA Fighting. "My opponent’s doing it so I have to. I think we’re moving away from that. Most guys aren’t doing it and those who are doing it are hopefully getting caught by the commissions. But now I’m worried TRT is going to be that way. If my opponent’s doing it, I don’t want him to have an unfair advantage."Publicly ask a professional fighter his opinion on TRT, and most likely you'll get one of two responses. Either they have no opinion because they don't consider themselves knowledgeable enough to comment on the subject, or they, like many in the population at large, consider it to be cheating."It’s a touchy subject," UFC middleweight Alan Belcher told MMA Fighting. "I know it's supposed to be a case-by-case basis, but probably like 99 percent of the time, they’re cheating. They’re lying and the doctor is helping them out."The controversy even cuts right through friendships. Former M-1 light-heavyweight champ Vinny Magalhaes has worked with exempted TRT user Dan Henderson many times, but believes the therapy shouldn't be allowed in MMA."I’ve been in Dan’s camp for three years," he said. "Dan trains, he’d go months with 4-5 injuries. I kind of get why he feels like he has to do it. But for me, if you’re 40 years old, you’re not supposed to have the energy of a 25-year-old guy. If you feel like you can’t perform, maybe it’s just time for you to quit better than to cheat. Otherwise it’s going to become like, hell, I’m 27 but I want to have the strength of two horses so I’m going to take a bunch of steroids. It’s wrong, in my opinion."Under proper doctor’s supervision, TRT isn't going to create a superman, but simply restore the body’s natural testosterone levels. The question then becomes, what is the proper supervision?States that allow exemptions offer guidelines that must be followed before the exemption is ever granted. Nevada and New Jersey shared their rules with MMA Fighting, including the documentation that must be followed by any applicant.In Nevada, a fighter must submit an application for a TUE at least 20 days before a fight. Along with it, he must provide results of no fewer than five tests, measuring things like total serum testosterone level (on separate occasions), luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone and measurement of hemoglobin and hematrocrit levels. The commission also reserves the right to require additional tests measuring serum prolactin and iron saturation, pituitary function testing, and MRI of the sella turcica. They must also be able to prove there is no reasonable alternative therapy.According to Kizer, that stops many inquiries in their tracks.In New Jersey, fighters must provide similar records, again demonstrating that levels have been consistently below even the low end of "low normal."But other states have no such procedures in place for TUE’s or any other medically necessary drug. Some states, like Tennessee, handle situations on a case-by-case basis. Spokespeople for the Ohio and Illinois athletic commissions both confirmed that they currently have no procedure in place, though both said they are in the process of being drafted. Asked if Chael Sonnen, a TRT user, notified the state of his use prior to his UFC on FOX 2 matchup with Michael Bisping, Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation spokesperson Susan Hofer told MMA Fighting, "Since we have no therapeutic use rules in place, there would have been nothing to compel an athlete to tell us if they were using any particular therapy in advance."The same question was asked to a Department of Licensing and Regulation official in Texas, where Sonnen fought Brian Stann last October. She would not comment without first seeking the attorney general’s opinion, which was unavailable by press time. Instead, she referred MMA Fighting to their existing rules, which only requires an athlete to inform its executive director of prescription usages "at least 24 hours prior to the bout," too little time to determine need, according to most experts.In an effort to address the issue, the Association of Boxing Commissions plans to address TUE’s at its upcoming July convention, which is attended by many of the country’s state athletic board heads."I’ve got questions myself," said Ohio’s Profato. "We’ll speak to their medical people on this and see where we’re going. I don’t know that we should bar people with TUE’s if they need it medically. Our goal is to make sure when two people get in the cage, neither fighter is at an advantage or disadvantage."Even with procedures in place, some critics contend it’s not enough. When it comes to the growing use of testosterone, most states use a 6:1 testosterone to epitestosterone ratio (T/E) as their cutoff for flagging a positive result (WADA has used a more conservative 4:1 ratio since 2007). Others cite the testing as insufficient. Most experts cite the carbon isotope ratio test (CIR) as the most effective means of catching cheats. Instead of looking at T/E ratio, it determines whether the substance in the body is natural or synthetic. From the regulators’ points of view though, the expense related to the test makes it cost-prohibitive given their budgets. Though no one would go on record with the cost of the test, Dr. Anthony Butch, who is the director of the UCLA Olympic Analytical Laboratory -- the lab used by California to flag Chael Sonnen’s test in 2010 -- told MMA Fighting that a CIR is "typically at least five times more expensive" than a simple screening for testosterone metabolites, but far more effective."Given that some athletes do not see a significant elevation in the T/E ratio after taking testosterone, or a precursor of testosterone which would then trigger CIR testing, the CIR testing can be a more sensitive first-line test," he said.If all of that has you beginning to drown in information right now, that’s exactly how it sometimes feels for regulators like Kizer and Lembo, who work for two of the sport's leading commissions. Because TUE’s can be applied not only to TRT, but drugs related to other conditions including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, asthma and more. At least one commission, New Jersey, has in the past received a TUE request for medical marijuana, though Lembo would not say whether it was granted.Right now, most of the leading state commissions have declined to disqualify athletes from competition for a medical condition out of hand, but it’s a hot-button issue regardless of the cause."If someone did abuse performance-enhancing drugs at 18 or 20, and they’re 32 now, I don’t know if you disqualify them because they did that," Lembo said. For now, it's not ultimately his decision, anyway. New Jersey uses a review board consisting of three expert physicians who are blinded as to the athlete's identity as well as the other physicians in the decision-making process, its lead ringside physician Dr. Sherry Wulkan told MMA Fighting.Over the years, New Jersey, like Nevada, has denied more TRT TUE's than it has granted.The spotlight on this issue has focused squarely on MMA -- and more specifically, the UFC (Bellator's CEO Bjorn Rebney told MMA Fighting that he was unaware of anyone on his roster undergoing the therapy). But it's not solely an issue here. Other contact sports have also seen the phenomenon. NFL senior vice president of public relations Greg Aiello told MMA Fighting that "about half a dozen" TRT TUE's have been granted in the history of the program, going back to 1990. The NHL also confirmed that they grant exemptions for TRT, though they would not release specific numbers on their program. That’s not to say that there aren’t athletes trying to beat the system. Even Kizer admits that its doubtful unapproved testosterone users will be caught if they stay within normal levels."It’s no different than non-approved use of steroids," he said. "If you cycle properly, you’ll probably be able to cheat the test, unfortunately. But that’s why we try to do in-training testing. People think it’s easy to beat a test. It’s not impossible by any means, but it’s not easy. All we can do is try to have better testing and more testing."Now, here’s the kicker to all of this. Say you spend every last dollar your commission has to test every fighter on every card. You randomly test out-of-competition, you spring for the more effective but more expensive CIR testing. You do all that, and everything seems fine. Guess what? You might still have cheaters in your midst. In February, a WADA report suggested that their research indicated that they are only catching one in every fight drug cheats, and they are considered the gold standard for testing.It’s only going to get more difficult. According to multiple experts, the next frontier is gene doping, a process which injects DNA into existing genes to enhance athletic performance.For now, it’s not known if there’s any usable test in existence that would catch a gene doper. Why? Because there’s no way to tell an athlete’s genetic code without already having it on file. And there’s no way to have it on file without having a biopsy. How many athletes are going to voluntarily submit to that in the name of fair play? History has proven that wherever an opportunity to take an edge exists, someone will take it. Despite the best effort of regulators to test, of promoters to condemn, and of fans to rebuke drug cheats, the system seems destined to be imperfect, a cause ultimately both righteous and hopeless. [Editor's Note: PEDs in MMA was a two-part series. The first installment, "PEDs in MMA: Amid TRT Controversy, a Hidden Danger," focused on the growing link between head trauma and pituitary damage leading to low testosterone.]

Posted in: mma, test, drug, commission, testing

Morning Report: Dan Henderson's Future, How to Stop a Robbery With BJJ

You might be sad right now, thinking you're walking straight into a weekend devoid of any MMA action, and you'd be right. Except for the part where you're totally not right. First the big guns: we've got guaranteed violence in Bellator 63, The Ultimate Fighter: Live and The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil. Craving stomps and soccer kicks? Then ONE FC 3: War of the Lions is the route to go. (Added bonus: the entire fight card is set to stream live on YouTube.) Still not enough? Check out under the radar match-ups of Murilo Bustamante vs. Dave Menne (they're still active?), Gilbert Yvel vs. Houston Alexander (over/under of 30 seconds), and Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou vs. Satoshi Ishii (somebody has to win), plus action from former UFC notables Thales Leites, Patrick Cote, Sean McCorkle, Karo Parisyan, Drew Fickett, and even TUF 15's brief posterboy, Dakota Cochrane. We've said it before, but we'll say it again. Damn, it's a good time to be an MMA fan. 5 MUST-READ STORIES Dan Henderson will get next title shot at light heavyweight or middleweight. UFC President Dana White confirmed suspicions regarding the next light heavyweight or middleweight title shot going to Dan Henderson. The hurt business: little victories, tender mercies. Shane Carwin endures the fight of his life in part four of Ben Fowlkes' multi-part series that goes inside the Grudge Training Center to examine the hidden lives of pro fighters. In-depth preview to ONE FC: War of the Lions. Anton Tabuena presents a complete guide to tomorrow's ONE FC fight card, including event details, hidden gems, fun facts, viewing schedules and 5 things to look out for. NSAC head Keith Kizer responds to racism accusations. NSAC commissioner Keith Kizer was direct and concise in his response to King Mo's accusations of racism after Wednesday's infamous meeting. Bellator 63 preview. All fighters met their required weight at Thursday afternoon's Bellator 63 weigh-ins, rendering tonight's Bellator welterweight tournament official. Afterward, Dallas Winston busted out the gifs to break down all four quarterfinal match-ups. MEDIA STEW This should be common knowledge by now. Rule No. 1 of robbing a convenience store: Check to see if there is anybody around who could put you to sleep. Unfortunately for Brandon Slanger, he forgot that part. (HT: Gals Guide) They're trying to tell us Mr. Bruce Wayne is black belt practitioner of Japanese jiu-jitsu. Well, we've seen roughly a billion episodes of the 1990's Batman cartoon, and we don't remember any Toquinho-style limb destroying. Harrumph. (HT: Reddit) Cutman extraordinaire Jacob "Stitch" Duran stopped by the UFC Tonight set to swap bloody war stories and answer the question of who is the wimpiest fighter in the UFC. Hey you, do you want to become a UFC fighter? Word on the street is you just need to have an intense psychical commitment to training. (HT: Middle Easy) The fine folks over at Middle Easy held a design-a-poster contest for tomorrow's ONE FC 3: War of the Lions fight card, and among the finalists was this eye-catching little beauty. (Check out the rest of the entries while you're at it.) #ASKCIGANO @WhosHarryCrum i think I'm going to knock him out in the second round — juniorcigano (@junior_cigano) March 29, 2012 @taddgood #AskCigano I didn't have a favorite fighter when I was young, I got into fighting later — juniorcigano (@junior_cigano) March 29, 2012 @TheSuperEgo no, never.If you fight angry, you lose.Fighting requires concentration.I don't dislike opponents I just want to win #AskCigano — juniorcigano (@junior_cigano) March 29, 2012 @Chanthaaa #AskCigano both!! :) — juniorcigano (@junior_cigano) March 29, 2012 @AMeerCat #AskCigano Cain Velasquez — juniorcigano (@junior_cigano) March 29, 2012 SO YOU'RE SAYING THERE'S A CHANCE... @CRISPY_PIG I would — Lorenzo Fertitta (@lorenzofertitta) March 25, 2012 FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS Announced yesterday (Thursday, March 29, 2012): - UFC on FOX 3: Thiago Tavares (17-4-1) out, Michael Johnson (10-6) in against Tony Ferguson (13-3) - UFC 147: Milton Vieira (13-7-1) vs. Felipe Arantes (14-4) - UFC 148: Gleison Tibau (25-7) vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov (17-0) - UFC on FX 3: Leonard Garcia (15-8-1) vs. Matt Grice (14-4) - UFC on FX 4: Ross Pearson (13-5) vs. Cub Swanson (16-5) FANPOST OF THE DAY Today's Fanpost of the Day comes from BE's hobbie, who asks the question: Is Silva vs. St. Pierre Officially Dead? If you went back in time only a couple years and asked any MMA fan walking the streets what the dream match-up in MMA was, you'd likely get only one answer: Anderson Silva vs. Georges St. Pierre. And for years, this was the dream fight to end all dream fights. It was MMA's equivalent to Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather, only (us MMA fans bragged then) this fight actually stood a good chance of happening. People were talking about this fight as far back as 2006, when both St. Pierre and Silva first strapped on UFC belts. The talk ramped up in 2008, when GSP won his belt back from Matt Serra and Anderson Silva "ran out" of challengers at middleweight for the first of about 900 times. For nearly half a decade, the top two slots in the special MMA "Circular, Subjective Argument Generator" - otherwise known as the top 5 Pound-for-Pound list - were traded between Silva and St. Pierre. Both guys fortunes rose and fell, each guy racing momentarily ahead of the other. GSP dominates Thiago Alves while Silva dances around Thales Leites? GSP must be the man! Anderson Silva transcends the laws of physics to murder Forrest Griffin while GSP wrestles Dan Hardy's arm for 25 minutes? Guess Andy is back on top! Folks would argue GSP's wrestling would exploit the only weakness in Anderson Silva's game. People said Anderson Silva's striking would expose GSP's fragile chin. There were theories and speculation galore. And any day now, we would see them fight. Found something perfect for the Morning Report? Just hit me on Twitter @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in tomorrow's post.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, vs, juniorcigano

Latest UFC/MMA news and notes from around the web for the week of March 25, 2012

Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Junior dos Santos, Lyoto Machida, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Jose Aldo, Muhammed Lawal and Anderson Silva pictured above, we can all "get along." Teaming up with MMA sites like Low Kick, Cage Potato, Fight Opinion and The Fight Nerd, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport. This week, Bleacher Report speaks with Bellator welterweight Ben Saunders, Lowkick interviews Thiago Silva and Middle Easy catches up with Rafael Cordeiro. The full list of links is after the jump. - Interview with Thiago Silva (LowKick) "My prediction is that I will fight hard like a true warrior. Everybody knows my style. When I step in the Octagon, I go to kill or die, and I will do the same on April 14th, and I will be ten times more aggressive because this fight is very important for me." - Hot Potato: Seven photos with Kendra Perez (Cage Potato) Sigh...we just can't help lovin' Kenda Perez. Egotastic.com has released an exclusive photo-set of the foxy Best of PRIDE hostess, and we cherry-picked the best shots for your viewing pleasure. Check ‘em out in the gallery after the jump, along with two bonus shots from her 2012 calendar. - Rafael Cordeiro talks TUF Brazil and Shogun Rua (MiddleEasy) LayzieTheSavage visited Kings MMA last week in sunny California and successfully interviewed Rafael Cordeiro on the subject of his famous pupils, including his take on Wand/Vitor after TUF: Brasil wraps, and Shogun's journey back to the top of the light heavyweight foodchain. - Amateur show uses legal loophole to hold event in New York (The Fight Nerd) While the state of New York still does not sanction, and in fact explicitly prohibits, the sport of mixed martial arts, a loophole in the Empire State's wholesale ban on combat sports does allow for sanctioned amateur MMA, which a promotion and sanctioning body will be taking advantage of for the first time in ten years. - Nevada amends complaint against Nick Diaz, shifts strategy (Fight Opinion) After Team Diaz filed their response to Nevada's complaint, Keith Kizer telegraphed (in the media) what the response would be. Rather than confront what Goodman & Tweedale are arguing regarding WADA standards & Nevada law, Keith Kizer & company are now shifting to what I call "the Al Capone" strategy. Kizer's side is now going after Team Diaz over the way the medical questionnaire was answered regarding Nick Diaz & his medical marijuana usage. - UFC Facebook streams draw up to 140,000 viewers (MMA Payout) Facebook streams of UFC fights have received as many as 140,000 viewers on its web page. This information comes from Dana White after the UFC 146 press conference this week. - Interview with Bellator welterweight Ben Saunders (BleacherReport.com/MMA) "I have a certain style that I bring to the cage, a certain aggressiveness, I come to fight. I can't be thinking what if I do this or what if I do that and that injures me for the next round. I'm going to go out on my shield, there is no tournament to me, for me there is no point to even think of anything beyond what's in front of me." - Shogun seeks to be on next Brazil fight card (MMA Convert) - Dan Hardy weighs in on Nick Diaz (Fightline) - Demetrious Johnson - Ian McCall rematch will remain three rounds (Five Ounces of Pain) - Dana White says Nick Diaz would be insane to retire (5thRound)

Posted in: fight, diaz, mma, week, fight nerd

Thailand Bans MMA (Maybe?)

Well, that's just spiffy. In an article on Fighters Only, they are reporting that the Thai government has banned MMA as "too brutal" and "damaging the image" of the nation's martial art. The Thai sports ministry ruled this week that MMA is "too brutal" and it is henceforth prohibited to stage MMA events in the South-East Asian country.Ministers said that mixed martial arts is "causing erosion" to the sport of Muay Thai and "damaging the image" of Thailand’s native martial art. However, there are those in the fledgling Thai MMA industry who think that the government may have been pressured or swayed by the Muay Thai industry. In fairness, the first commenter on FO asks for sources, as he didn't find any, and quite frankly, the only thing I'm finding when I search for it are other blog and MMA news sites reporting on this. If this is real and not an early April Fool's Day joke, then this would be a huge blow to the fledgling DARE and ONE FC organizations. Thailand is a country that loves itself some combat sport and quite frankly, Thai boxing is an integral component in MMA, and to have MMA banned in the home country of one of the chief martial arts would be discouraging to say the least. Assuming this is real, it'd be fairly ironic that a country that allows actual cock-fighting would ban the human version of it. While I'm pointing out the differing morality's, this is a nation where kids of single-digit-age train and compete in Muay Thai, and much of the nation lives in abject poverty. We'll be keeping an eye on this story and will post updates when more information becomes available.

Posted in: mma, nation, art, thai, muay thai

MMA Uncensored Live Discussion - 3/29

Join us at Bloody Elbow to discuss tonight's episode of MMA Uncensored Live, which airs on Spike at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT. Hosts Nate Quarry, Craig Carton and Mike Straka will discuss a wide range of MMA topics. The show has been a bit uneven so far, but there has been one bright spot - MMA Fighting's Luke Thomas. I'm not sure if he's on the show tonight or not, but he damn well should be. Spike TV's page has provided a preview for this week's episode: We'll be joined in studio by Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney. He'll break down last week's heavyweight turmoil and we'll look ahead to Friday's kickoff of the Season 6 Welterweight Tournament, which you can watch right here on Spike.com. If that's not enough, Jason "Mayhem" Miller checks into our Times Square studio for a chat with the guys. Mayhem is hoping to rebound from his recent loss to Michael Bisping by making an example out of CB Dollaway. Find out if he thinks he's fighting for his job and... whatever else happens to be on the outspoken middleweight's mind. And we'll have the latest on the Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal situation. We'll go over all the particulars in this saga, including his staph infection and controversial comments he posted on twitter that got him fired from Strikeforce.

Posted in: mma, tonights episode, cb dollaway, weeks episode, fridays kickoff

The MMA Hour 124 Bjorn Rebney

Posted in: mma, hour, rebney, bjorn

This MMA documentary looks promising..

submitted by missioncushion [link] [comment]

Posted in: mma, documentary, mma documentary, missioncushion link, missioncushion

Felipe Enomoto and Zorobabel Moreira Square Off for Lightweight Supremacy at One FC: War of the Lions

One FC: War of the Lions will feature two Lightweights clashing in the main event who have already had success in the One FC cage. Zorobabel Moreira used his superior height and his muay thai skills at One FC: Champion vs. Champion in September to stop Andy Wang in his One FC debut, while in February at One FC: Battle of Heroes, Felipe Enomoto submitted Ole Laursen in the second round in his debut. In the short history of One FC, having both men square off against each other seems not only logical, but natural, as each man is looking to prove themselves as the ace of One FC’s Lightweight division. Felipe Enomoto is a Swiss native with an interesting heritage of Swiss and Japanese Peruvian, bridging multiple gaps across the world. Enomoto was an interesting inclusion for One FC as he fights out of Switzerland but has fought all over the globe in his ten fight MMA career so far. He is the very definition of a prospect in MMA, as he has impressive wins and a few disappointing losses, but shows no signs of slowing down in his career. One FC saw the potential in Enomoto and scooped him up, with Enomoto delivering big in his debut against another prospect, Ole Laursen. Enomoto showed off his grappling skills against Laursen, with his rear naked choke victory against the well-seasoned kickboxer. Now, just over a month and a half later, Enomoto will take on a giant of a man in Moreira, giving up almost half of a foot to him. Enomoto will have to break out his muay thai skills for this fight and bring the fight in close against Moreira where his reach advantage will be a disadvantage, and if it gets to the ground he has to be aware of Moreira’s long legs. Zorobabel Moreira, known as “Zoro” to much of the world has, in a rather short MMA career to date, spanned three weight classes, starting out as a Middleweight and now finding his home at Lightweight. The Brazilian is best known for his brazilian jiu jitsu skills, which earned him his first two victories before Chatri Sityodtong of Evolve MMA invited Zoro to join the Evolve MMA team in Singapore. Since joining Evolve in 2009 his skills has flourished, with him looking to earn his second victory at One FC in the Lightweight division. Zoro stands at an amazing 6’3” for a Lightweight fighter, giving him a height and reach advantage against just about everyone within the division. One FC fights gets to realize their proof of concept here, as two fighters who could be considered as “home grown” will clash against each other after scoring impressive wins in their respective One FC debuts. One has to assume that somewhere shortly down the line that One FC will be introducing their own championships, and when they do, a win here for either man will put them into that title picture almost immediately. So, for both Filipe Enomoto and Zorobabel Moreira there is a lot on the line at One FC: War of the Lions, with one man moving up the ladder in One FC and making an argument for being the top Lightweight in One FC. Editor's note: Felipe Enomoto speaks like he craftily hid the bodies of every one of his opponents inside of his basement. Check out this video we shot directly from Singapore of the two fighters talking about their upcoming match-up.

Posted in: mma, fc, enomoto, moreira, fc war

Pro MMA Radio 191: Lloyd ‘Cupcake’ Woodard, Vancouver Athletic Commissioner Jonathan Tweadle

We have partnered with Pro MMA Radio to bring you weekly replays of PMR as the official radio show of MMAConvert.com. Pro MMA Radio can be heard live every Monday evening at 9pm ET/6pm PT. Replays and podcasts of every show are available 24/7 by going to the “Replay Corner” section of ProMMARadio.com, our own Pro MMA Radio page or by clicking the banner below. On this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio, Vancouver Athletic Commissioner Jonathan Tweadle joins the show to talk about marijuana use in MMA, the Nick Diaz case and touch on TRT. Also, Bellator Lightweight Lloyd “Cupcake” Woodard came in for the Toe to Toe segment to talk about his huge upset win over tournament favorite Patricky Freire and his upcoming bout with Rick Hawn. You can listen to a replay of this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio by clicking the banner below. A radio player with links to the show’s archives will open in a pop-up window, so please make sure your browser is set to allow pop-ups for this site.

Posted in: mma, show, replay, radio, mma radio

Bellator, Bjorn Rebney make mark on MMA scene (Yahoo! Sports)

Bjorn Rebney succeeded in the tough world of MMA promotion by dreaming big and sticking to his vision.

Posted in: mma, sport, rebney, mma promotion, bjorn

USA TODAY/MMA Nation March 2012 Consensus Rankings

March's USA TODAY/MMA Nation Consensus Rankings are now live. Be sure and pick up a hard copy of tomorrow's USA TODAY to see them in print. Based on the premise that all MMA rankings are subjective but that it’s still useful and informative to know who the MMA community as a whole ranks as the best fighters in MMA, we collect and average the rankings of the top MMA sources 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. More details on our methodology in the full entry. NOTE: We have modified our method of gathering our rankings because the strict scheduling requirements of USA TODAY clash with the more irregular schedules of many of the MMA rankings sites. That was causing us to use a different set of sources almost every month. That combined with the small number of sites doing top 25 rankings was causing the Consensus rankings to have a lower "signal to noise" ratio than we would like -- that is if fighters are going to be moving up or down I would like it to be because there has been a change in the consensus opinion, not a change in our sources. Therefore we have cut back our sources to just those sites that we can depend on to update every month. We have also contacted many of the rankers that only publish top 10 lists and asked them to provide top 25 lists. As always we listen to your suggestions and are always working to improve the USAT/SBN Consensus MMA Rankings. Also worth noting is that this month we instituted a rule that if a fighter is active in other weight classes he must have competed within a given weight class within the last 365 days in order to be ranked in that class in an attempt to improve the overall quality of our product. In order to be ranked at all, a fighter must have been active within the last 450 days. Check out the USA TODAY/MMA Nation Consensus Rankings to see who's rising and who's falling.

Posted in: mma, fighter, ranking, consensus, consensus rankings

King Mo to the WWE?

From Dave Meltzer's Wrestling Observer newsletter: MMA fighter King Mo Lawal, who was suspended nine months by the Nevada Commission and then fired from Strikeforce by Dana White, is interested in joining WWE. Lawal has been a long-time pro wrestling fan and has expressed interest in joining WWE in the past. Gerald Brisco recruited Lawal years ago but it never worked out as Lawal wanted to compete in the Olympics. When he didn't make the Olympic team, he started MMA instead. Seems crazy to me, but then again I think anyone who willingly throws their body through the meatgrinder that is the WWE circuit is nuts. Let's see what sounds better: being on the road all the time performing over 150 times a year and maybe ... MAYBE ... making it to the point where you crack a six figure salary. OR stick to MMA, fight three times a year for at least 50k a pop plus sponsorships, and as a nice little bonus you get to keep your dignity. It's a good thing for Mo's career that these kinda WWE rumors almost never end up going anywhere.

Posted in: mma, time, year, wwe, lawal

All female promo Invicta Fighting Championships finalizes card and plans to stream event for free on April 28th

Upstart MMA promotion Invicta Fighting Championships will look to expand their initial audience outside the walls of the Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas. The all female fight series will stream their inaugural 11 fight card at InvictaFC.com beginning at 8:00 PM EST (5:00 PM PST) on Saturday April 28th. The main event features the return of former Strikeforce 135 pound champ Marloes Coenen (19-5) to action versus Frenchwoman Romy Ruyssen(6-1).A rematch of an August 2008 fight won by Coenen, the bout with Ruyssen will be her first since being unceremoniously released by Strikeforce in August 2011. In the co-main event former Bellator tournament participant Lisa Ellis-Ward (14-7) will look to snap a two fight skid versus 29 year old Jessica Penne (8-1). The Ward-Penne scrap will take place at 105 pounds. Invicta Fighting ChampionshipsKansas City, KS4/28/11Marloes Coenen vs. Romy RuyssenJessica Penne vs. Lisa Ellis-WardLiz Carmouche vs. Ashleigh CurrySarah D'Alelio vs. Shana NelsonLeslie Smith vs. Kaitlin YoungSally Krumdiack vs. Sarah SchneiderNicdali Rivera-Calanoc vs. Amy DavisSarah Maloy vs. Michele GutierrezMollie Estes vs. Randi MillerAshley Cummins vs. Sofia BagherdaiJessica Philippus vs. Meghan WrightPress release Invicta Fighting Championships will stream its inaugural all-women's professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) event live in its entirety, free of charge to a worldwide audience on the promotion's website, InvictaFC.com, from Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan. on Saturday, April 28."Since we announced the formation of Invicta, we've received tremendous support and interest from fight fans around the world who are eager to watch some of the best fighters in the women's field of MMA compete in our first event," said Invicta President and Co-Founder Shannon Knapp."The live stream," continued Knapp, "is the best way to give fans, no matter where they are located, the opportunity to participate and take in the action as it unfolds and, at the same time, establish the forthcoming Invicta website as an online destination for women's MMA content."The live stream on InvictaFC.com will begin at 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST with the event's five-bout preliminary card and continue with the seven-bout main card.The first-ever Invicta Fighting Championships event will be headlined by a long-awaited featherweight (145 pounds) rematch between superstar Marloes Coenen (19-5) of The Netherlands and Romy Ruyssen (5-1) of France.In the co-main event, two 29-year-old submission specialists - Jessica Penne (8-1) of Laguna Hills, Calif. and Lisa Ellis-Ward (14-7) of Lacey, Wash.- will square off with one another at strawweight (105 pounds).Undefeated rising star Cat "Alpha" Zingano (6-0) of Denver, Colo. will square off with fellow hard-hitting prospect and professional boxer Anita "El Tigre" Rodriguez (5-2) of Dallas, Texas in a featured bantamweight (135 pounds) bout.Strikeforce bantamweight star and United States Marine Liz "Girl-Rilla" Carmouche (5-2) of San Diego, Calif. will square off with unbeaten prospect Ashleigh Curry (1-0) of Kansas City, Mo.Another Strikeforce bantamweight competitor, Sarah D'Alelio (4-2) of San Jose, Calif., will face Shana "Rock Solid" Nelson (5-2) of Hibbing, Minn.Leslie Smith (3-2) of Pleasant Hill, Calif. will meet Kaitlin Young (7-5) of St. Louis Park, Minn. at bantamweight and Sally Krumdiack (9-4) of Bellingham, Wash. will duke it out with Sarah Schneider (5-5) of Kansas City, Mo. at flyweight (115 pounds).In preliminary card action, Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc (7-5) of Tulsa, Okla. will take on Amy Davis (2-2) of Idaho Falls, Idaho at strawweight. Sarah Maloy (2-2) of Ada, Okla. will meet Michele Gutierrez (3-2) of Las Vegas, Nev. in a super flyweight (125 pounds) tilt. Mollie Estes (1-0) of Lake Lotawana, Mo. will face Randi Miller (0-0) of Broomfield, Colo. at featherweight. Unbeaten Ashley Cummins (2-0) of St. Louis will battle Sofia Bagherdai (4-1) of Upland, Calif. at flyweight. Jessica Philippus (0-0) of Marshall, Mo. will make her professional debut against Meghan Wright (1-3) of Cincinnati, Ohio in a strawweight matchup.All bouts have been approved by the Kansas State Athletic Commission.About Invicta Fighting Championships:Invicta Fighting Championships is a world championship Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight series dedicated to providing female athletes with a major platform to hone their skills on a consistent basis. Founded in 2012 by longtime MMA executive Shannon Knapp and sports aficionado Janet Martin, Invicta is committed to pioneering the future growth of women's MMA by promoting the best possible matchups between female competitors and identifying and developing future superstars of the sport.

Posted in: mma, vs, event, invicta, kansa

Bloody Inbox: Death In MMA, More King Mo, UFC Schedule And Manny Pacquiao Vs. Timothy Bradley

It's a slow day and the Bloody Inbox is getting full so I decided that this week we'll have a special two-part mailbag segment with part one going up today and part two going up tomorrow. I've been blown away at the quality of questions coming in so keep up the good work. I do ask that you include your username or how you'd like to be identified in your e-mail since not everyone wants their full name out there. Remember, you can submit your questions to: BloodyElbowMailbag@Gmail.com Question from KStone1: Do you believe we'll see a death in mainstream MMA (i.e. UFC, Belator, Dream, One FC, etc) in the immediate future? In the next 10 years? In our lifetime? Yes, I do. It's impossible to predict exactly when, but to say that it won't ever happen in my life is something I can't do. But that's not due to any issue with the sport not being safe (or as safe as a fight sport can be). People on Twitter thought I was overreacting in the moment to how close we came to Ryan Bader being paralyzed or even killed when Rampage slammed him, but really look at this photo Esther Lin of MMA Fighting took in that moment: Then look at footage like this video of Rutgers football player Eric LeGrand being paralyzed in 2010. It's a matter of inches and had Bader come down just slightly different there is a real possibility for his neck to have been broken. Were that to happen in MMA we know that there is usually a few seconds between a fighter going defenseless and the referee stepping in. That could result in a few very heavy shots to a person who needs to not be moved at all. With that possibility for a fluke injury along with the always present chance of a death caused in cage/ring by an undiagnosed medical issue or the possibility for a guy to take too much punishment and suffer a brain injury, it just seems more likely than not that a tragedy of that sort will eventually hit mainstream MMA. On an only slightly related note, this question led me to want to re-read the ESPN piece on boxer Paco Rodriguez's passing from a bout where he did take punishment but nothing that seemed highly out of the ordinary for a fight sport. Out of that tragedy came a pretty incredible and inspiring story of the gift of life, I suggest you give it a look if you have the time. Question from Castleeb: I don't know about you but I am totally shocked at King Mo's swift dismissal from StrikeForce subsequent to his inflammatory tweets. Zuffa doesn't have a track record of fair and equal treatment of fighters but for StrikeForce at least, Mo is a star. Do you think there is any chance that this is a ploy to bring Mo over to the UFC, similar to Alistair Overeem's experience? It was surprising to see Mo released for the tweet and that's probably an issue of Zuffa's fairly uneven application of their "Twitter policy." Sometimes a quick delete of a tweet seems to be enough, sometimes it's a public apology, sometimes nothing happens and sometimes you get released. Miguel Torres' release was over a tweet that was certainly in poor taste, but didn't seem worse than Forrest Griffin's "rape joke tweet" and subsequent freak-out on people, including a rape victim, and it didn't seem particularly worse than Rashad Evans' Sandusky joke. There's certainly a chance that this is a showy move with no real impact. It's going to be quite some time before Mo can get back in the cage after the serious medical scare. They can release him now, make nice with the NSAC, not suffer any PR hit and then re-hire him in early 2013 when he's been back in the gym and ready for another fight. There's also the chance that some people in Zuffa just don't like Mo for his outspoken nature. That's been a popular theory going around over the past few days and I suppose it makes a degree of sense. I will say that I don't get the vibe that this is an elaborate plan to bring him to the UFC. The need for some light heavyweight depth is stronger in Strikeforce than it is in the UFC right now. Question from Mike in Riverside: Do you want the UFC to stick to running 6-8 shows in the span of about 12 weeks and than take a break like they have done in the first quarter of 2012? Or have them just run all the time? I like the latter since for about 12 weeks I've got MMA just about every other week and than get to recharge my batteries, Having all those events one after another while awesome really tired me out. Complicated question to answer. The guy who works for Bloody Elbow wants there to be a UFC event every weekend because it's good for the site. The version of me that wants to have a life is pretty happy to have patches hit where I can actually leave the house on the weekend. This break has felt so long that I've wanted to complain about the need to space shows out so we don't have weekend after weekend and then a six month break. But UFC 145 was originally planned to have been last weekend (March 24) which would have put a big event right in the middle of the lull. I think the UFC scheduling is handled pretty damn well honestly and they're still going through a bit of a learning process now that they've got the PPV shows plus shows on Fox, FX and Fuel. We'll probably see an increase in show numbers next year, but for right now, no complaints from me. Question from Discoandherpes: Pacquiao vs. Bradley, who ya got and how?Also do you think Pacquaio is on a decline, or did he just fight a guy in Marquez that is equally as great of an all time pound for pound fighter? I haven't really sat down and tried to figure out who I'm picking, but I do like Bradley's chances. He's strong, a little bit slick and totally willing to dirty up a fight. I think the answer to why ties into the second part of your question as well. How long has it been since Manny faced a young, hungry fighter? Marquez was old and most people thought that he stood no chance because of his age and recent performances, we knew for sure that Shane Mosley was shot before he fought Manny, Margarito was big but had also been exposed and everything about him was tainted and who the hell knows what Joshua Clottey was doing? You have to go back to the first Cotto fight to really come close to the kind of fight this will be for Manny. As for the Marquez fight? I think Marquez just has the prefect style to bother Manny. It's just how those two match up that seems to bring these great performances out of an already great fighter. It's hard to say if Manny is declining off of that fight given the history between the two. Thank you guys again for all your questions and we'll have another segment with more of your questions tomorrow.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, question, mo

Thai government bans MMA, deems the sport too brutal.

submitted by red1392 [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: mma, sport, thai, ban, government

Asian MMA: An In-Depth Preview And Complete Guide To ONE FC: War Of The Lions

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

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

Morning Report: Fedor Emelianenko Sumo Wrestles, James Toney Calls Rampage a 'Slave to the White Man'

For a man that has yet to fight in 2012, Fedor Emelianenko sure seems to get around a lot. Within the past few months we've seen the legendary heavyweight cruise through sambo championships with his brother, hit the Korean game show circuit, giggle his way down Russian water slides, and now his latest venture, sumo wrestling. Fedor may not be fighting in the UFC (and at the age of 35, that ship seems to have sailed), but in slow times like these, it's strangely gratifying to see one of the sports true icons, and someone who was so famously stoic, finally enjoying himself so much. It's unfortunate that bad management has left Emelianenko's name to forever be thrown around in the "what if" discussions. No one could have seen that coming back in the day. But it's even more unfortunate that Fedor seems to be realizing this now, as his abilities slowly betray him. So if "The Last Emperor" wants to keep doing his thing with these various adventures, more power to him. After all the excitement he's given us over the past decade, he's earned it. 5 MUST-READ STORIES Joe Lauzon vs. Terry Etim booked for UFC on FOX 4. Joe Lauzon and Terry Etim will reportedly look to rebound from devastating knockout losses at UFC on FOX 4, which is slated for August 4th, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. Bellator planning three hour main cards with 2013 move to Spike TV. As part of Bellator Fighting Championships' crusade to cut out their universally panned "superfights," the promotion plans to extend the length of its televised main card from two to three hours next year, paving the way for more tournaments and more title fights. Demetrious Johnson heavy favorite over Ian McCall. Despite fighting to a majority draw the first time around, Demetrious "Mighty Mouse" Johnson opened as a near 2-to-1 favorite over Ian "Uncle Creepy" McCall in advance of their UFC on FX 3 flyweight rematch. Jake Shields moves back to middleweight, wants to fight in August. Former Strikeforce middleweight champion Jake Shields hopes to return to action sometime in August and will move back up to 185 pounds after a lukewarm UFC run at welterweight. 25 most awkward photos in MMA history. For all its charms, mixed martial arts sure does produce its fair share of embarrassing kodak moments. So take a look at the worst of the worst (or best of the best, depending on how you look at it) with the 25 most awkward photos in MMA history. MEDIA STEW We know y'all want to see Fedor fighting in the UFC, but the USC (Ultimate Sumo Championship) is just as good, right? (HT: Middle Easy) Between all the mumbling and stumbling, somewhere in here James Toney tells Rampage Jackson to stop being a "slave to the white man." Wow. (HT: Reddit) Johny Hendricks and Brendan Schaub are monsters inside the cage, but ballet is a whole different beast. (Thanks to @pegson for the tip.) Steven Seagal wants you to recognize how dangerous and important he is. RECOGNIZE IT. (Fun fact: The YouTube tags on this clip include "fat", "blowhard" and "seagull." To whichever Jimmy Kimmel Live intern is responsible for this, we thank you.) IN CASE YOU WERE WORRIED My cardio is good now. Don't worry. — Jason Mayhem Miller (@mayhemmiller) March 28, 2012 TRASH TALK QUOTA HAS BEEN LOWERED @BigfootSilva It is an honor to fight you as well Big Foot! — Roy Nelson (@roynelsonmma) March 29, 2012 IF ONLY THEY STILL BLEACHED THEIR HAIR Hey @Eminem how about it bro July 7th Vegas walk @titoortiz to the octagon in his final fight!!!!!!! The fans would go nuts !!!!!" right — Tito Ortiz (@titoortiz) March 29, 2012 FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS Announced yesterday (Wednesday, March 28, 2012): - UFC on FOX 4: Joe Lauzon (21-7) vs. Terry Etim (15-4) reportedly booked for FOX broadcast, according to Fighters Only - UFC on FX 4: Ramsey Nijem (5-2) vs. C.J. Keith (8-0 ) FANPOST OF THE DAY Today's Fanpost of the Day is an essential guide for any new fight fan, penned by Bloody Elbow's SSReporters: Breaking Down Common UFC Terminology For New MMA Fans Hey there new MMA fans! If you're confused by the lack of UFC cards over the last few weeks, then kindly teleport yourself back to 2005. Afterwards, return to the present-day and realize how awesome it is to be a MMA fan and a fan of the UFC. I understand that this sport is not the easiest to follow, particularly when the UFC has never really put much emphasis on explaining the rules, grappling positions, strike techniques, etc. The majority of the terminologies you may be unfamiliar with are often spewed out of the mouths of Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan, the leading commentary pair in our beloved organization. No need to worry, as I have got it all covered. I will break down the most uttered phrases in the UFC (okay, mostly the nonsense from Goldie and Rogan) and make it so that even the common fan can grasp it. Striking - ROCKED! When a power punch of any sort lands flush, a fighter is deemed to be "rocked" even when he isn't. - PUNCHES in BUNCHES. Combinations. - Knees reminiscent of Anderson Silva. Any Muay Thai clinch with a knee to the head immediately invokes the memories of Anderson Silva vs. Rich Franklin I and II. It's also a really stupid thing to say multiple times over, so I advise you MMA newbies not to use this as a reference every single time a fighter has the clinch. Grappling - IT'S DEEP! A submission attempt that is deemed to be close to finished thus leading towards a tapout, but is only ever accurate 4 times out of 100. Noted dullard and professional troll Jacob Volkmann set a record with 37 "deep" d'arce chokes against Danny Castillo, but Castillo managed to escape every time. Found something perfect for the Morning Report? Just hit me on Twitter @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in tomorrow's post.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, time, fan

ONE FC: “War of the Lions” to Air Free on YouTube

Press Release 26 March 2012 – Singapore: ONE Fighting Championship™ (ONE FC) is excited to announce that CEO Victor Cui has decided to extend a gift of appreciation to all MMA fans around the world by broadcasting the entire, star-studded fight card for ONE FC: War of the Lions on March 31 free-of-charge on the ONE FC YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/ONEFCmma. CEO of ONE Fighting Championship™, Victor Cui said, “As a gift of appreciation to all MMA fans around the world, I have decided to make the broadcast of the entire fight card for ONE FC: War of the Lions on March 31 completely free-of-charge in HD quality on our YouTube Channel. I want the world to see that Asian MMA is back bigger and better than ever! ONE Fighting Championship is Asia’s largest MMA organization with the biggest pan-Asian media broadcast to a potential 500 million viewers across 24 countries. We are here to lead the way in Asia!” Victor Cui also added, “On this fight card, you will see some of the biggest stars and rising stars in Asia from most of the major Asian MMA organizations like ONE FC, DREAM, URCC, DEEP, etc as well as from the top Asian MMA gyms like Evolve MMA, Team Lakay, Team MAD, Juggernaut, Muayfit, etc. Tatsuya Kawajiri, Eduard Folayang, Eddie Ng, Kevin Belingon, Zorobabel Moreira, Masakazu Imanari, Ole Laursen, Melvin Manhoef, Yuya Shirai, Yoshiyuki Nakanishi and the rest of the fighters on the card will set Asia on fire on March 31. For this event, we are anticipating record attendance for ONE FC. Several thousand tickets have already been sold for ONE FC: War of the Lions at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. We are expecting a sold-out show.” MMA fans from anywhere in the world* can catch the action via live streaming free-of-charge on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/ONEFCmma. Live streaming commences: 8:00 PM – Kuala Lumpur 1:00 PM – London 8:00 AM – New York City 5:00 AM – San Francisco * Free live streaming is geo-blocked in Singapore and Japan.

Posted in: mma, fight card, fc, youtube, fc war

Freddie Roach names Anderson Silva as the best boxer in MMA

One of true professors of the sweet science is unquestionably Freddie Roach, a multi-time award-winner from the Boxing Writers Association of America who is called on by the likes of Amir Khan, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., and, of course, sensational superstar Manny Pacquiao. Simply put, the man knows his way around the squared-circle. Recently Roach was asked to list his Top 5 boxers in MMA while visiting Inside MMA. The list featured standard fare, such as BJ Penn and Nick Diaz, but was topped by a man who isn’t even necessarily known for his pure boxing – Anderson Silva. Roach glowed when talking about the middleweight champion’s approach in the ring, crediting Silva for his striking savvy. The Brazilian once teased a run in boxing, even going so far as to mention Roy Jones Jr. as someone he wanted to test himself against. Another high mark came in regards to Diaz who was referred to by Andre Ward, a highly decorated 25-0 middleweight champion, as “a beast.” Read below for Roach’s Top 5 boxers in MMA with some attached comments: 5. KJ Noons – “Very dedicated, work ethic is great, and I just love his tenacity in the ring.” 4. Nick Diaz – “He’s great with his hands…and I’m looking forward to facing him with GSP some day because there’s a lot of talk about that.” 3. BJ Penn – “One of the best strikers I’ve ever been in the ring with. A good guy to be around and a hard, hard worker; a great striker.” 2. Georges St. Pierre – “A real gentleman and one of the best students I’ve ever had. I’d show him a move, he comes back with it, he knows it the next day…you know he practiced all night in the mirror.” 1. Anderson Silva – “One of the best guy who understands distance and timing. He’ll suck you in, he’ll set you up. He’s one of the most intelligent fighters I’ve ever seen.” Video of the full interview: PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: mma, silva, isn ’t, roach, day …you

MMA Link Club: Ballet Lessons, Secret Powers, and Awkward MMA Photos

- The 25 Most Awkward Photos in MMA History (CagePotato)"As the editor of an MMA website, I’m constantly bombarded with images of tattooed skinheads engaged in gay foreplay. And yet, there are times when I’m faced with an image that even makes me uncomfortable. Check out 25 of the most chillingly awkward MMA photos in the gallery after the jump, laugh nervously, then avert your eyes in shame…"- Piece of cake: Bellator LW Lloyd Woodard discusses his huge upset win over Patricky Freire

Posted in: mma, i ’m, photo, mma photos, jump laugh

Ladies first: Nicole Chua set to become Singapore's first female mixed martial artist

Word around the Las Vegas fight scene is that there may not be enough female fighters to justify women's mixed martial arts (MMA) in certain stateside promotions. Muay Thai striker Nicole Chua might have something to say about that. The full-time accountant trades in her calculator and ballpoint pen at the end of each day to kick some butt over at the Evolve MMA gym under Chatri Sityodtong, where she's poised to become the first-ever professional female MMA fighter this weekend in Singapore. Chua breaks it all down for MMA Rising: "It is a great honor and I am very proud to be able to represent Singapore, Evolve MMA and aspiring female mixed martial artists in Asia. There is some pressure and it is a great responsibility, but I am prepared and confident in my abilities. There are not yet many women in Singapore doing MMA, but I hope that I will lead the way and inspire more women to compete. I manage to work a full-time job and train full-time as well. It is not always easy and takes a great deal of discipline, but I love what I do and wouldn’t have it any other way. I am also very grateful and fortunate that my employer supports me by allowing for a flexible working schedule so that I can attend the Evolve Fighter’s Program. I train in the mornings and afternoons at the Evolve Fighter’s Program. In between training sessions, I work at my day job." Hoping to play spoiler is India's Jeet Toshi, the seven-time kickboxing champion and state Wushu gold medalist who made her successful MMA debut just last month. It's about as stiff a test as one can get for an MMA debut. Will Chua be up to the challenge? ONE FC 3: "War of the Lions" will stream LIVE and FREE OF CHARGE via YouTube this Saturday (March 31, 2012) from the Singapore Indoor Stadium, Kallang, Singapore. For all the details on how to watch click here and here.

Posted in: mma, mma debut, singapore, train fulltime, chua

We went to the ONE FC open workouts at Evolve MMA and made this snazzy video

I've discussed dietary nutrition with Melvin Manhoef, interviewed Kawajiri, ate breakfast with Imanari, discussed MMA politics with Felipe Enomoto, taken pictures of Shinya Aoki's massive feet and attempted to speak Portuguese with Zorobabel Moreira all before you guys even woke up this morning. Since I've been out here in Singapore for ONE FC: War of the Lions, I've literally been living in the future. I already know what you're going to do tonight before you guys even think about it. For example, I absolutely know someone will put a 'Dan Henderson KO Bisping' .gif in the comment section of this article for no apparent reason -- yet it will be appreciated by the masses. That's the advantage of temporarily living in Asia, clairvoyance. Here's another thing you're going to do; watch our video of the ONE FC: War of the Lions open workout at Evolve MMA created by Cynthia Vance. See, I told you.

Posted in: mma, fc, example i, fc war, cynthia vance

WWE Champion Daniel Bryan Visits Xtreme Couture Before WrestleMania 28

While we MMA fans may be in a bit of a dead season for shows, pro wrestling fans are currently giddy with anticipation. Why? WrestleMania. This Sunday is the WWE's WrestleMania 28, headlined by John Cena vs. The Rock. On the road to WrestleMania, WWE superstars regularly take to the media circuit to hype up the show, and WWE World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan made an interesting stop on that media tour. As part of the WWE "Outside the Ring" online series, Bryan recently dropped by the training facility at Xtreme Couture, spending some time grappling with Neal Melanson. Even if you are not a big pro wrestling fan, it's really interesting stuff, with Bryan and Melanson discussing the history of grappling in wrestling, Bryan's own desire to help pro wrestling evolve by incorporating more MMA, and the specific techniques behind the LeBell lock. Related: Video: CM Punk, Rener Gracie Break Down Royce Gracie Vs. Dan Severn UFC On Fox 2 Video: WWE Champion CM Punk On Brock Lesnar, Chael Sonnen Walkout I know a lot of MMA fans hate any wrestling connection, but right now, there is a new generation of wrestlers in the WWE who are big fans of MMA and working to close the gap between the two. Both Daniel Bryan and WWE Champion CM Punk are very open about their love of MMA, and both men have spent plenty of time training submission fighting. It might not be enough to get any pro-wrestling haters to tune in to WrestleMania this weekend, but for any long-time fans of both, it's cool to see wrestling starting to take its cues from MMA, rather than just the other way around. Watch the video in the full entry. And for more WrestleMania coverage, be sure to check out our friends at Cageside Seats.

Posted in: mma, bryan, fan, wwe, wrestlemania

MMA Marketplace: The knit hat/headgear you need to see ()

Let's say you have a toddler, and you want to teach him or her the awesomeness of MMA while also keeping his or her's heard warm? Behold: Thanks to the magic of Etsy, you can own a knit that resembles boxing headgear with a UFC logo on it. Though the item modeled on the adorable little guy is for kids, don't worry! The store says hats are available for grown-ups, too. Buy one for $25.95 .

Posted in: mma, kids dont, mma marketplace, ufc logo, boxing headgear

MMA Marketplace: The knit hat/headgear you need to see (Yahoo! Sports)

Posted in: mma, yahoo sports, marketplace, mma marketplace, toddler

‘Judging’ The Judging In MMA

Kenny Florian gives his two cents on how MMA judging should change in the latest installment of ‘Go Out Swinging’ on UFC Tonight. UFC Tonight airs every Tuesday at 10pm ET/7pm PT on FUEL TV.

Posted in: ufc, mma, pt, kenny, installment

Freddie Roach Offers Opinion On Five Best Boxers In MMA

Freddie Roach may be boxing's best known current trainer, currently working the chief second for men like Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan, but he has also worked closely with several mixed martial artists over the past few years. Freddie was on "Inside MMA" on Monday to discuss his choices for the top five boxers in MMA. Not surprisingly, four of the five men are guys he has personal experience working with in his gym, but it's still interesting to see who he chose. 5. K.J. Noons4. Nick Diaz3. B.J. Penn2. Georges St. Pierre1. Anderson Silva Noons is someone who gets brought up a lot as a guy with "great boxing" because he has an 11-2 pro boxing career. Of course, that record comes against mostly bad fighter with only three wins against fighters who won more than half of their bouts (records: 1-0, 4-2 and 6-4). In his one real attempt to face a step up in level of competition, Noons lost a decision to then 11-1 James Countryman. Countryman was a small level prospect while Noons was never particularly highly thought of as a boxing prospect (don't let anyone tell you differently). Of course, Countryman doesn't even have another officially recognized fight on his record since the Noons bout. Diaz, Penn and Silva are all deserving of their place on the list if we're talking about good boxing skills translated to MMA but I still have questions about GSP. It's not that GSP's boxing is bad, but for all the time spent training with Roach and focusing on his training he seems to show little more than a strong jab. I'm sure he has the tools in his toolbox but he's not really utilizing them in his fights. That predictability (along with an eye poke) led to Jake Shields, with his low-level striking, hanging with GSP on the feet in their bout. Personally, I'd probably add Junior dos Santos and Frankie Edgar to the list and remove GSP and Noons. Any talk of dos Santos having the skills to be a world champion boxer is nonsense, but he uses good technique to generate power and utilizes decent combination punching for a heavyweight mixed martial artist. As for Edgar, he uses very tight punching that is basically as good as anyone in the game at this point.

Posted in: mma, gsp, boxing, record, noon

ONE FC 3 media open workout photos gallery from Evolve MMA

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

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

The MMA (After) Hour: Mike Kogan, King Mo's Manager, Responds to Release

On this edition of The MMA (After) Hour, we spoke to Mike Kogan, Muhammed Lawal's manager, about his release from Strikeforce, today's hearing, the questions from the commissioner that led to Lawal's controversial tweet and what this means for Lawal going forward. Before listening, definitely check out the audio of today's exchange between Lawal and the NSAC's Pat Lundvall, courtesy of MMAWeekly.com. The most important part is at the 6:45 mark. Listen to the Kogan interview after the jump or download the audio here . The MMA (After) Hour: Mike Kogan Interview

Posted in: mma, hour, mike, lawal, kogan

The MMA (After) Hour: Making Sense of King Mo's Release

Tuesday night, Muhammed Lawal's day went from bad to worse as he was fired from Strikeforce for a tweet he sent out following his Nevada State Athletic Commission hearing earlier in the day. On this edition of The MMA (After) Hour, we spoke to MMAFighting.com's Ben Fowlkes about Zuffa's decision to fire Lawal, the tweet in question, whether Zuffa needs to finally institute some sort of Twitter policy and much more. Listen to the interview after the jump or download the audio here . The MMA (After) Hour: King Mo Reaction

Posted in: mma, hour, twitter policy, commission hearing, zuffas decision

A Lesson in Street MMA: Don't pick on Mark Hunt Jr's buddy

Oh wow! This latest Lesson in Street MMA just made us jump out of our chairs at the MiddleEasy office, exchange high fives and howl in the air like a victorious Rampage Jackson! We've watched this video no less than eight times now and it only keeps getting better. We can't even attempt to keep working now. Day's ruined. The whole staff is tearing apart the office out of shear Street MMA ecstasy. This is the definition of rawesome. This is the definition of baller. This is like baller and rawesome had sex and made the word 'rawbler'. This kid clearly has Super Samoan DNA in him. My god. I can't even write this article in a timely fashion I just keep pressing play on the video and join in with the best Street MMA crowd ever in blowing the lid off the arena. I'm sweating. My hands are shaking. Watch what happens when a kid is birthed onto this planet who will not require six months sprawl training. Future K-1 champ here dropping the one-two in honor of his bullied pal. Yes! I LOVE the contrast between the video still and the banner shot. [Source]

Posted in: mma, video, i love, street, fashion i

Video: Freddie Roach Lists MMA’s Top Five Boxers

Having spent time coaching the likes of Manny Pacquiao, Wladimir Klitschko, Oscar de la Hoya, and Mike Tyson – to name only a few – it’s safe to say that Freddie Roach knows boxing. As the sport of mixed martial arts has grown wildly in popularity over the past few years, Roach has opened the doors of his renowned Wild Card gym in Las Vegas to MMA fighters and has attracted some of the sport’s best over time. Having worked with the likes of Georges St-Pierre, Anderson Silva and BJ Penn since extending his instruction to mixed martial artists, Roach has become very familiar with the sport and its practitioners. He’s often been quoted assessing the boxing skills of various fighters, but actually ranked MMA’s best pugilists for a recent appearance on HDNet’s Inside MMA. Roach’s List Anderson Silva – “He is one of the best guys that really understands distance and timing.” Georges St-Pierre – “GSP, one of the best guys in the world … one of the best students I’ve ever had.” BJ Penn – “You know, BJ is one of the best strikers I’ve ever been in the ring with.” Nick Diaz – “Nick Diaz is one of the most exciting fighters in the world today.” KJ Noons – “KJ works out at my gym and his work ethic is great; I love his tenacity.”

Posted in: mma, sport, las vegas, bj, roach

Freddie Roach Reveals The Five Best Boxers In MMA

Freddie Roach breaks down who he believes the five best boxers in the MMA world are. Inside MMA airs live on HDNet every Monday night at 8pm ET. Inside MMA Archive

Posted in: mma, monday night, mma world, mma airs, freddie roach

The Legend Lives On: New Writers, New Features Coming To Head Kick Legend.

In our efforts to provide you with the best MMA analysis we can, we have added two new writers to the Head Kick Legend staff. Please welcome Elliot Matheny and Patrick Wyman (formerly known as "fightinghistorian") to the site. Elliot is making his return after some time away from us, while Patrick is something of a new face on the block. Both have a wealth of combat sports knowledge and I hope all of you are as excited as we are to have them working with us.With the new additions, we now have a fairly robust staff of nine, which will allow us to provide you with a bit more content than in the recent past. As such, it's my pleasure to introduce two new features to the blog: 1. Group Discussions. Up to this point, collaboration between the Head Kick writers has been limited to picking winners for the various big events and those aren't really that collaborative, since everyone makes their own picks. With the new additions to the team I thought now would be the perfect time to introduce a series featuring group collaboration along every step of the way. As such, we will be having a weekly discussion covering a hot button topic in the world of combat sports. The format will be fairly similar to the round table discussions that occasionally take place at some of the other SB Nation combat sports blogs. You might have seen our first discussion, which is regarding the use of testosterone replacement therapy in mixed martial arts, which always seems to be in the news but has received more attention as of late due to Rampage Jackson's admission that he used the treatment prior to his UFC 144 bout with Ryan Bader. 2. The Daily News Of The MMA World. One of the areas that Head Kick Legend has fallen behind in is acting as a source for up to date news, whether it be breaking fight announcements, new video interviews and training footage or, of course, good old smack talk. It would be nearly impossible to immediately jump into the field of breaking news, as there are many other blogs and media sources that already have a solid presence when it comes to that. That being said, with so many other outlets for news, it can be a bit of a task to get yourself up to date, which is where we are going to come in. Starting Sunday, April 1st, we will be introducing a new feature: Daily News Of The MMA World. The piece will be published every morning at 8:00 Eastern Time, just in time for your morning coffee and toast, commute to work, wake n bake, whatever it is that you do while digesting the latest MMA headlines. It'll consist of all the headlines from the past 24 hours, as well as a short editorial on the story of the day. And the best part about it? We are getting interactive: Every Sunday, the fanpost we judge to be the best from the past seven days will be featured in the News Of The MMA World. This is our way of shining a spotlight on some of the less heralded work on the website and who knows, if you show up a couple times, it could lead to something a little more permanent. That's all for now. I look forward to hearing your feedback on both these new additions to the writing staff and the new features we'll be giving you in the upcoming weeks and months!

Posted in: mma, time, news, mma world, kick

ONE FC: War of the Lions available for free this weekend on YouTube

ONE Fighting Championship released news sending shockwaves through the MMA world when it announced this weekend’s star-studded show at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on March 31 would be streamed online totally free of charge. CEO/Owner Victor Cui described it as a “gift for MMA fans” because the card, which features Melvin Manhoef, Tatsuya Kawajiri, and Eduard Folayang had originally been set to cost $24.99. All eleven fights from ONE FC: War of the Lions will be streamed in high definition on YouTube across the world to view with the exceptions of Japan and Singapore. The event will also be broadcast to 24 Asian countries by ESPN Star Sports. With so many people able to watch it either live or at a later date, the show could well become one of the most viewed MMA events ever. Kawajiri Focused on Featherweight Future, not Lightweight Past Read below for the full lineup of bouts: Tatsuya Kawajiri vs Donald Sanchez Eduard Folayang vs Ole Laursen Yuya Shirai vs Fabricio Monteiro Melvin Manhoef vs Yoshiyuki Nakanishi Masakazu Imanari vs Kevin Belingon Felipe Enomoto vs Zorobabel Moreira Eddie Ng vs Jian Kai Chee Jeet Toshi vs Nicole Chua Quek Kim Hock vs Juan Wen Jie Jiang Long Yun vs Yodsanan Sityodtong Danny van Bergen vs Richie Whitson For more information about how to watch read the official announcement on the ONE FC website. Tweet

Posted in: mma, vs, kawajiri, fc, fc war

UFC Drawing Strong Ratings For TUF Brazil, Dealing With Alleged Leak

The UFC has to be happy with the initial ratings for the debut showing of the first Brazilian installment of The Ultimate Fighter with coaches Wanderlie Silva and Vitor Belfort. According to Sherdog, the first episode drew 8 million viewers on Globo TV which is a very impressive 15% ratings bump from their normal programming. That's an incredibly strong number when you realize that it's almost 8 times as many viewers as TUF is drawing on FX here in the U.S. and Brazil has just over half as many people as the U.S. Things are looking very good for this summer's UFC 147 Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen stadium show in Rio de Janeiro this summer. There's one fly in the ointment however. Globo TV's rival R7 has apparently leaked the results of the tournament. Brazilian MMA site MMA Space reports and comments (translated by Orcus as are the tweets following): The R7 Portal, a respectable communication medium owned by Rede Record, the second biggest TV network in Brazil, has shot themselves in the foot. Many specialized MMA websites, and in addition, to the fans who anxiously waited for the results of the show that happens every Sunday on Globo, which debuted yesterday, March 25th were disgusted by a written piece titled "R7 anticipates the four finalists in the new MMA reality TV program from Globo; find out who the winners are." MMA Space respects R7 and their articles, however, we believe that this attitude was very unfortunate, hurting thousands of their readers that will watch the reality show of their competitor, us included, who now have knowledge of the quarterfinal matches. It's like waiting in line for a movie and someone mentions that "the good guy dies in the end." The UFC has dealt with this before in the U.S. but on a much smaller scale. Nova Uniao coach Andre Pederneiras, who has a couple of fighters competing on the show, tweeted: Notice to all MMA athletes from Nova Uniao, any interview with R7 and Rede Record are suspended due to recent reports Ultimate Fighter Brazil coach Wanderlei Silva also tweeted: The names are wrong. Time will tell if R7's report is accurate or not but it's interesting to see how the massive mainstream popularity the UFC is suddenly enjoying in Brazil is coming at a cost in the form of irresponsible major media scrutiny. Esportes R7 is a major news outlet in Brazil. This isn't going to be like feuding with Sherdog. NOTE: We are working to keep Bloody Elbow spoiler free so be warned anyone posting the leak or links to the leak will be banned.

Posted in: ufc, mma, tv, brazil, rede record

Cris "Cyborg" Santos talks Ronda Rousey, Women's MMA, and her fighting future

Last standing Strikeforce Women's 145-pound Champion Cris "Cyborg" Santos, who was suspended following a positive steroid test in December, discusses her time away from the cage, as well as the current state of Women's MMA. Santos also shares her thoughts on newly crowned Women's Bantamweight Champion, Ronda Rousey, and her title winning performance against Miesha Tate.

Posted in: mma, women, womens mma, ronda, cris cyborg

Check out these barf-tastic MMA shirts

The Underground is running a contest where it's members offer up the worst MMA shirts they've ever seen and the worst shirt earns the winner $100 in store credit. The bad news is it's too late to submit your own finds. The good news is there's nearly 50 godawful t-shirts for you to check out over on their site. A few of my favorites after the jump. And I noticed a few of the old engrish Reversal shirts from my Engrish MMA shirt posts, so don't forget to check those out too. Man I love the Japanese. read more

Posted in: mma, check, shirt, members offer, store credit

Freddie Roach Lists 'Boxing's Best Shot at MMA' on HDNet's 'Inside MMA': Fan's Look (Yahoo! Contributor Network)

On HDNet's "Inside MMA", host Kenny Rice introduced Freddie Roach as "...the first big time boxing person to accept that there was MMA also out there in the world." and Andre Ward as a "...legend in the making.

Posted in: mma, mma fans, andre ward, hdnet, freddie roach

Check out the Freddie Roach list of the top five boxers in MMA

Anyone that knows early 90s rap music knows that 'The Chronic' is really a basic guide to life and making it in this world. Everything I needed to know about survival on the hardcore suburban streets I learned from listening to Dr Dre and 'The Chronic' album back in the early 90s. I didn't know it at the time but, Dre and Snoop lyrics were like the gangster rap version of today's motivational speeches by Les Brown and Tony Robbins. There's a few basic concepts one can take from "The Chronic" album lyrics and apply to life in order to succeed. Two of them deal with not falling in love with people who have reckless promiscuous tendencies, but I don't have enough time to get into the depth of those concepts with you in this article.The main important one is 'if you don't know you better ask somebody'-that's really all you need to know to make it in this world today. If you need to know something, you have to ask-and when you do you need to ask an expert at that subject matter like Dr. Dre. Last night, Inside MMA on HDNet needed to know who the best boxers in MMA were and they went straight to an expert on that subject to find out. It was an ode to boxing night on Inside MMA with featured guests- WBA/WBC middleweight champ Andre Ward and trainer extraordinaire Freddie Roach. The two sat down and talked boxing and MMA with Bas and Kenny, and even gave some input on how a boxing match between Anderson Silva and GSP might go down. Freddie even revealed his opinion on who he thinks are the top five boxers in all of MMA. 5. KJ Noons- "I just love his tenacity in the ring. He comes to fight and he's all about action." 4. Nick Diaz- "Just in terms of what he brings to us, he's a beast. His stand-up is awesome…I like Nick Diaz. The guy comes straight at you. If he ever chose to stop fighting MMA and go to boxing, he's one of the main guys that I think could be successful." 3. BJ Penn- "One of the best strikers I've been in the ring with." 2. GSP- "Because I show him a move, he comes back with it—he knows it the next day. You know he practiced all night in the mirror. I love that. He's a hard worker." 1. Anderson Silva- "He is one of the best guys who really understands distance and timing. He fights off the ropes a little bit. I told him that can be a little dangerous at times...he'll suck you in, he'll set you up. He's one of the most intelligent fighters I've ever worked with." There it is, the top five boxers according to one of the greatest boxing trainers of all time, Mr. Freddie Roach. As Dr. Dre would say, 'If you don't know, now you know...' Here's a clip from the show of Freddie and Andre talking about a fantasy boxing match between GSP and Anderson Silva.

Posted in: mma, boxer, he, freddie, dr dre

Top 5 Boxers in MMA Chosen by Freddie Roach and Andre Ward (Yahoo! Contributor Network)

Freddie Roach, legendary boxing trainer to Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan was a guest on HDNet's "Inside MMA" on Monday, March 26. Freddie named his "Top 5 Boxers in MMA". Boxing champion, Andre Ward joined the panel and gave his reasons for choosing his...

Posted in: mma, manny pacquiao, freddie roach, freddie, boxing trainer

The MMA Hour Episode 124 Phil Davis

Posted in: mma, hour, episode, phil, davi

The MMA Hour Episode 124 Tom Watson

Posted in: mma, hour, episode, watson, tom

The MMA Hour Episode 124 Miguel Torres

Posted in: mma, hour, episode, torre, miguel

The MMA Hour Episode 124 Eddie Alvarez

Posted in: mma, hour, alvarez, episode, eddie

The MMA Hour Episode 124 Rory MacDonald

Posted in: mma, hour, episode, macdonald, rory

Morning Report: Ronda Rousey Upstages Cyborg Santos, Fights Three Japanese Men

Another lazy spring afternoon passes and we're again left to make our own fun until the MMA schedule picks back up. So while we wait, let's use the contrast of yesterday's and today's odd Japanese game show clips to kickstart a little discussion. Ronda Rousey is unquestionably the queen bee of women's mixed martial arts right now. Her next test will likely be Sarah Kaufman -- a relentless Canadian who poses her own problems -- but for the sake of argument, let's say "Rowdy" does what she does and finishes Kaufman in the first round via armbar, and then offs one more opponent in the same fashion. Around that time, the exiled former queen bee, Cris "Cyborg" Santos, would likely be priming for her return, and she has already made it very clear she intends to cut down to 135 pounds and smash Rousey's face in. Santos, of course, has violently ruled the WMMA throne since 2009, though now that reign is plagued with doubt because of her positive steroid test. Given the dearth of depth in the women's divisions, it isn't that crazy to think "Cyborg" would be immediately thrown into a promoter's dream title fight against Rousey. So what do you think, readers? Would "Cyborg" return with a vengeance and crush the champ? Or would the rowdy one run through a PED-less Santos? Let us know in the comments below. 5 MUST-READ STORIES The MMA Hour. Ariel Helwani and The MMA Hour return with another two-plus hour show that features Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney in studio, as well as interviews with Phil Davis, Miguel Torres, Rory MacDonald, Eddie Alvarez and Tom "Kong" Watson. Cesar Gracie not going to let Nick Diaz quit MMA. The person closest to Nick Diaz, his brother Nate, believes his abrupt retirement is for real. Diaz's trainer Cesar Gracie, however, isn't about to watch that happen. Silva-Sonnen II confirmed for UFC 147. MMA's biggest rematch is finally on the books for UFC 147, as Chael Sonnen will take on Anderson Silva at the 47,000-seat Estádio Olímpico João Havelange in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on June 23, 2012. The Ultimate Fighter 15 ratings. The third episode of TUF: Live aired last Friday night and averaged 1.2 million viewers on FX. Top trainer Freddie Roach lists top five boxers in MMA. Legendary boxing trainer Freddie Roach broke down his list of the top five boxers in mixed martial arts. MEDIA STEW Check out the sequel to yesterday's Battle of the Sexes between Cyborg Santos and a Japanese man. This time the champ herself, Ronda Rousey, ups the ante by taking on three Japanese men in a clip from the same bizarre game show. (Big thanks to reader @pegson for the tip.) Has there ever been a UFC commercial that prominently featuring an English-speaking Anderson Silva? Maybe that's why this UFC on FOX promo seems a tad weird. (HT: MMA Mania) Speaking of Anderson Silva, his old buddy Mr. Chael P. Sonnen had some choice words after the champ said Sonnen should stop talking and start training. (HT: Middle Easy) Mark Matheny is known as one of the better refs in MMA, so you'd figure he has reasonably good judgment. But after watching what he does in his spare time, that dream has been thoroughly crushed. Bloody Elbow's Anton Tabuena brought this to our attention and it felt criminal not to share. Fresh from a loss to Johny Hendricks, Jon Fitch set out on a beard conquest of sizable proportions. Several weeks later he showed off the progress via Twitter, and it was impressive: But springtime is coming, so earlier this week Fitch stepped up his facial hair game dramatically, shaving down the all-arounder into a legendary 'stache that would make Sam Elliot proud. Well done, sir. Well done. HUSTLIN' UP NORTH How I make extra money in Montreal. #hustle t.co/qoDZ3YNl — Miguel Angel Torres (@MiguelTorresMMA) March 25, 2012 EVERYDAY PROBLEMS OF PAT BARRY (NSFW) #9youtube.com/watch?v=B7vVg9… — Pat Barry (@HypeOrDie) March 26, 2012 FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS Announced yesterday (Monday, March 26, 2012): - UFC 147: Anderson Silva (31-4) vs. Chael Sonnen (27-11-1) confirmed for June 23, 2012 at Estádio Olímpico João Havelange in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - UFC 147: Wanderlei Silva (34-11-1) vs. Vitor Belfort (21-9) - UFC 149: Bryan Caraway (16-5) vs. Mitch Gagnon (8-1) FANPOST OF THE DAY Today's Fanpost of the Day is compilation of Don Frye magic from MMA Mania's (shonuff): Don Frye 2012: Predator for President? Recently there's been a lot of talk by the MMA media christening Chael Sonnen as the best talker in MMA history. But have they lost their historical perspective? Perhaps they have forgotten the hilarious off-the-cuff rants of former UFC Heavyweight Champ and perennial patriotic tough guy, Don "The Predator" Frye, possessor of not only the craziest fight in MMA History (vs Takayama) but also the most outrageous comments. ... Personally, I think he should throw his hat into the Republican Primary race. Not only would he add spice to the campaign trail, we'd finally have a candidate in this race who says what he really thinks (and then some). Here are a few gems that would make wonderful soundbites on CNN. On improvising new techniques in MMA: "I been studying Buddhism. I'm learnin' to levitate. I'm gonna levitate off the ground about a foot so he can't get that kneebar on me. So when he goes down to the ground, I'll be up here. Then I'll swing round and kick him in the head. Can't miss that head. Thing's gotta be about that big, like a 5-gallon bucket, a 5-gallon bucket full of buttholes. Yeck!" On fighting top competition: "You gotta excuse me, my stomach's upset. I had the Tim Sylvia breakfast special, ham & eggs and a can of tomatoes." Found something perfect for the Morning Report? Just hit me on Twitter @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in tomorrow's post.

Posted in: ufc, mma, silva, sonnen, rousey

The MMA Hour Episode 124 MiO Question

Posted in: mma, hour, question, episode

ONE FC Preview: Jian Kai Chee vs Eddie Ng and Melvin Manhoef vs Yoshiyuki Nakanishi

Eddie Ng is the rising star of Asian MMA and Jian Kai Chee is looking to derail his bandwagon. The Malaysian only made his MMA debut in 2010 but has already established a workmanlike 3-3 record. Ng is 4-1 and is one of the top fighters at Evolve MMA where he works every day with world champions in Muay Thai, BJJ and boxing. Kai trains at Muayfit which only recently set up a full time MMA program and his team mates include Mark Striegl and Aranud Lepont. Kai is probably best known for losing to Ole Laursen on his MMA debut in a fight where he rocked the Filipino with a lead left hook and came very close to finishing him. Laursen recovered and was able to win by ground and pound but the Malaysian's Muay Thai skills make him a threat to anyone. Ng is much better rounded although he is still most comfortable on the ground. This could be the difference in this fight because Kai has a reputation as being primarily a stand up fighter and historically he has not fared so well once a fight has gone to the floor. If Ng can take Kai down it could be a short night's work for the fighter from Hong Kong but Kai has knock out power and is dangerous for as long as the fighters are standing. Part two of today's ONE FC preview, featuring Melvin Manhoef vs. Yoshiyuki Nakanishi on March 31 in Singapore and LIVE (and free) via YouTube, after the jump. It's no secret that Melvin Manhoef likes to bang but Yoshiyuki Nakanishi has a few KOs to his name too and says he won't be afraid to stand with the K-1 veteran. Nakanishi is the reigning Deep Light Heavyweight Champion and a four time national Sambo champion and at only 26 years old is definitely one to watch. The Dutchman is almost ten years his senior and will be trying to finish the fight from the moment the bell sounds, Manhoef's style is to use kicks and punches to look for the KO and he hasn't been to a decision in his MMA career since 1999. There are question marks over his wrestling and ground game and the smart thing for Nakanishi to do would be to try and exploit them. This is a huge opportunity for the Japanese fighter though and he won't want to turn it into a boring fight plus he will be well aware that despite his world class striking credentials Manhoef has been knocked out in the cage. Renato Sobral was originally set to face Manhoef but pulled out and I think that Nakanishi will actually make for a more interesting opponent. Manhoef needs to keep it standing, land strikes and finish the fight fast because if it goes into the later rounds Nakanishi will be firm favourite. It will be interesting to see what Nakanishi's game plan is but I don't expect him to stand and trade with Manhoef for any longer than he has to. www.twitter.com/jamesgoyder

Posted in: fight, mma, manhoef, kai, nakanishi

I wish this guys lived long enough to try out MMA... Dam shame

submitted by 000c [link] [4 comments]

Posted in: mma, guy, dam, shame

Top trainer Freddie Roach lists top five boxers in MMA

Could a mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter ever make it as a professional boxer? It's a question that has been bandied about for years, as the two combat sports are forever being compared to each other. Not only are the sports, in general, constantly being sized up next to each other, but the athletes themselves receive the same scrutiny. There's always a new conversation or report adding fuel to the fire. One week, it may be a feud between Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White and the aging (and quickly becoming irrelevant) boxing promoter Bob Arum. The next week, it may be "Rampage" Quinton Jackson or Nick Diaz threatening to leave the sport of MMA to pursue boxing full time. Tonight (March 26, 2012), top boxing trainer Freddie Roach appeared on HDNet's "Inside MMA" to discuss who he believes are some of the top boxers who compete in MMA today. Check out his top five, after the jump: It should be noted that Roach may be approaching the whole conversation from a place of bias. Four of the five fighters he mentioned are guys who have come to train with him at some point or another in their careers. That aside, Roach is one of the top trainers in all of boxing, working with his fair share of MMA fighters who are trying to perfect their respective stand up games. The following is Roach's top five list, in reverse order (with "1" being the best, in his opinion): 5) K.J. Noons -- "K.J. is always in my gym and he's very dedicated with his work ethic. I just love his tenacity in the ring. He comes to fight and he's all about action." 4) Nick Diaz -- "Nick Diaz is one of the most exciting fighters in the world, today. He's great with his hands. He gets sidetracked a little bit, like in his last fight, but I think he'll a great comeback. I'm looking forward to facing him with "GSP" someday, 'cause there's a lot of talk about that." 3) B.J. Penn -- "You know, B.J., he's one of the best strikers I've ever faced, and that I've ever been in the ring with. It's been quite a few years ago, and I think he's close to retiring right now, but I'd call him the "James Toney of MMA," because his weight would fluctuate quite a bit. He'll fight from low weights to heavyweights. He'll fight anyone in the world. He's a good guy to be around, and he's just a hard, hard worker and a great striker." 2) Georges St. Pierre -- "'GSP's' one of the greatest guys in the world. He's a real gentleman and one of the best students I've ever had. I asked him, 'How long did you go home and practice in front of the mirror last night?' Because if I show him a move, he comes back with it the next day, and you know he practiced all night in front of the mirror. So, I love the guy. He's a good guy and a hard worker, and that's what it's all about it hard work." 1) Anderson Silva -- "I had the honor of working with Anderson Silva, when he was in our gym for about five or six days in a row. He told me, 'I'm pretty good at MMA, but I'm not too goo at boxing.' He's just a real humble guy and very talented. He is one of the best guys that really understands distance and timing. He fights off the ropes a little bit. I told him that can be a little bit dangerous sometimes and to be careful, but he'll suck you in, he'll set you up, he's one of the most intelligent fighters I've ever seen and have ever worked with." The great thing about top five lists is the controversy. And the truth is: lists are irrelevant until the respective competitors enter into the ring or cage and settle things in real life. With that said, it's fun to speculate. We know you Maniacs are students of both MMA and boxing, as a whole. Prove your knowledge by adding your own top five list (of boxers in the sport of MMA) in the comment section below. Weigh in!

Posted in: mma, guy, boxing, hell, he

Inside MMA: Freddie Roach, Andre Ward, Mark Coleman

Inside MMA airs live on HDNet every Monday night at 8pm ET. Inside MMA Archive More segments after the jump.

Posted in: mma, monday night, mma airs, mma archive, hdnet

Courage: MMA is Just a Sport.

submitted by ialsolovebees [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: mma, sport, ialsolovebee, courage mma, courage

Cristiane Santos: Female MMA fighter battles male Japanese comedian on game show (Video)

Former Strikeforce female champion Cristiane Santos, who is currently in the midst of a steroids scandal, is seen in this video fighting a male Japanese comedian in a mixed martial arts (MMA) fight on the game show, "Honoo No Taiikukai TV." It's unclear exactly when this took place, but it's been making the viral rounds today online, which compelled us to share it on MMAmania.com this evening. "Cyborg" -- who blamed her positive test on a banned "diet aid" -- has not seen action since a 16-second destruction of Hiroko Yamanaka back on Dec. 17, 2011, in San Diego, California. The California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) fined the Brazilian bomber $2,500 and suspended her for one year, pending an appeal hearing next month (April 6, 2012). In the meantime, Ronda Rousey has assumed her position atop the female MMA landscape, taking out Miesha Tate with a limb-twisting arm bar (see the pic here) to win the Strikeforce 135-pound world championship. It's unclear if Santos, a 145-pound fighter, is willing and/or able to make the drop down; however, it is a juicy showdown that would undoubtedly be an exciting draw if it ever came to fruition. Santos might want to work on her trip defense if it does -- that "comedian" nailed a very impressive one ... and even had a few solid submission opportunities. Just saying.

Posted in: mma, hiroko yamanaka, miesha tate, comedian, japanese comedian

Ranking the Top Five Countries for MMA: Fan's Take (Yahoo! Contributor Network)

The sport of mixed martial arts is well on its way to becoming a global phenomenon because as president Dana White always says, fighting is in the human DNA and everybody understands the rules. Not everybody understands the intricacies of MMA rules, of course, but the basic act of...

Posted in: mma, mma fans, everybody, president dana, mma rules

Lefko on MMA: Rousey living the dream

In the second of a two-part interview, Ronda Rousey talks about Jon Jones, Anderson Silva, ring girls and the growth of women's MMA.

Posted in: mma, silva, rousey, lefko, mma rousey

Johnston on MMA: Odd pairings

World leaders giving MMA gloves as gifts, a former UFC champ playing tennis, and a female fighter competing against a male comedian.

Posted in: ufc, mma, fighter, ufc champ, mma gloves

The other side of the TRT coin

It seems crazy to me that we're debating whether or not to let MMA fighters take testosterone. But here we are. Several of the big names in MMA have come out and not only admitted they take it, but will continue to take it because they have prescriptions from their doctor. So I guess a big question here is if those prescriptions are bogus. Past evidence says probably. But here's the other side of the coin: According to Catlin along with many other critics, the possibility of professional athletes in their 30s needing TRT is so low, it's almost completely zero.But new research might show those long-held beliefs to be incorrect.The science of brain injury is still relatively new, and developing rapidly. In 2007, a paper published in the Journal of Athletic Training reported the first known connection between mild concussions and hypopituitarism, a deficiency that can lead to low testosterone.That research, along with how traumatic brain injuries impact the pituitary gland, is being continued by Dr. Daniel F. Kelly, the director of the Brain Center and Pituitary Disorders Program at the John Wayne Cancer Institute at Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California.Kelly is currently in the midst of a study of 75 former NFL players that is expected to be published around the end of 2012. In an interview with MMA Fighting, Kelly said that preliminary data from the study suggests that pituitary damage is occurring in a subset of the retirees.That study seems to corroborate a 2006 finding in Turkey that found that head injuries incurred by pro kickboxers have resulted in damage to the pituitary gland. Well crap. Not only are they noticing new forms of brain damage, it could be a specific side effect of competing in MMA for years. Maybe suggesting fighters stop fighting when that kind of head trauma is present. They're free to take testosterone if they want ... once they're no longer competing.

Posted in: mma, injury, brain, side, study

MMAjunkie.com's John Morgan on 'The MMA Show with Mauro Ranallo' today

MMAjunkie.com lead staff reporter John Morgan is a guest on today's edition of "The MMA Show with Mauro Ranallo." Morgan joins host Mauro Ranallo to discuss the latest with the UFC, Bellator Fighting Championships and all things new in the world of MMA. Catch the segment live at 2:30 p.m. ET (11:30 a.m. PT) on radio.thescore.com, or download the archive on iTunes.

Posted in: mma, mma show, todays edition, mauro, morgan

Rounda Rousey heading to the 209 to train with the Diaz brothers

Go west, young Judoka. Strikeforce women's 135-pound champion Ronda Rousey, who proved she can not only "talk the talk" but also "walk the walk" by submitting Miesha Tate earlier this month in Ohio, is about to do something she hasn't done since embarking on a career in mixed martial arts (MMA). Take her act on the road. The "Rowdy" one is heading to the 209, to train with Nick and Nate Diaz at the Cesar Gracie Academy in Stockton, California, home to some of the finest combat athletes in the UFC and Strikeforce, including Jake Shields and Gilbert Melendez. Rousey lays out her itinerary for MMA Weekly, after the jump. "I’m going up there from the 3rd to the 16th (of April) and it’s going to be the first time ever since I started doing MMA that I’m going to be training for an actual extended period of time away from my core camp, who I’ve always been with. When I did judo I used to go around all the time, like every month or so I would go away for a week or two weeks to go train somewhere else. For some reason it’s something I never did in MMA, so they invited me to come train up there, and they’re good at a bunch of things that I need to work on so I’m super excited. It’s going to be the first time I’m training away from home in a long time." Rousey is the ruler of a very small roost. Despite her talents, the list of title contenders at 135-pounds begins and ends at Sarah Kaufman, herself a former champion, who may have earned a crack at the crown by taking a majority decision from Alexis Davis back on March 3 in Columbus. Unless Tate can somehow get herself an immediate rematch. Either way, it's scary to think what kind of foe either "Takedown" or Kaufman will be facing if Rousey can indeed sharpen her blade on the Diaz stone. Is there anyone in the women's division that can stop her? Calling all "Cyborgs" ...

Posted in: mma, time, train, irsquom, rousey

ONE Fighting Championship 'War of the Lions' Will be Streamed Free on Youtube this Saturday

ONE Fighting Championship 'War of the Lions' was always set to be a seminal moment for Asian MMA because it featured the highest calibre card in the promotion's history. This event gained even more momentum and significance with the surprise announcement this afternoon that it would be made available in its entirety completely free of charge on YouTube. ONE FC CEO / Victor Cui had the following message for fans, who had initially been told that they would have to splash out 24.95 USD to view the 11 fight card: "As a gift of appreciation to all MMA fans around the world, I have decided to make the broadcast of the entire fight card for ONE FC: War of the Lions on March 31 completely free-of-charge in HD quality on our YouTube Channel. I want the world to see that Asian MMA is back bigger and better than ever! ONE Fighting Championship is Asia’s largest MMA organization with the biggest pan-Asian media broadcast to a potential 500 million viewers across 24 countries. We are here to lead the way in Asia!" Formed in July 2011 ONE FC has already firmly established itself as the most prestigious promotion in Asia by continually looking to expand it's viewership. A ten year partnership with ESPN Star Sports came into effect recently which means that both the first two shows are being broadcast on regular rotation to 24 countries across the continent. At present that partnership is only for a delayed broadcast but by streaming the next event free of charge ONE FC is effectively guaranteeing that hundreds of thousands of people across the world get to experience one of the best MMA cards of the year anywhere live. It might mean a cut in pay per view revenue but the audience for the broadcast will be massively increased which means more exposure for fighters and better value for sponsors. Only this morning ONE FC announced potentially lucrative partnerships with Sony and True Fitness which would indicate that this approach is already paying dividends. Dana White has gone on record as stating that he does not believe that pay per view is a part of the long term future of the UFC and Victor Cui would appear to agree with him. ONE FC's stated ambition is to introduce MMA to the entire continent of Asia and allowing people to view the next show for free, as opposed to only making it available to the minority of MMA fans willing to pay a one off fee, is a fantastic way of doing this. ONE FC has already held events in Singapore and Indonesia with further cards booked in Kuala Lumpur and Manila and more destinations close to being confirmed. The ascension of this organization has been remarkably rapid and with delayed broadcasts of old shows on ESPN Star Sports almost every night and this Saturday's show likely to attract a record breaking online audience Asia's largest MMA organization is certainly living up to the hype. For more information about the exact broadcast time in your region visit: www.onefc.com. ONE Fighting Championship 'War of the Lions' Singapore Indoor Stadium 31st March, 2012 Felipe Enomoto vs. Zorobabel MoreiraTatsuya Kawajiri vs. Donald Sanchez Eduard Folayang vs. Ole LaursenYuya Shirai vs. Fabricio MonteiroMelvin Manhoef vs. Yoshiyuki NakanishiEddie Ng vs. Jian Kai CheeMasakazu Imanari vs. Kevin BelingonJeet Toshi vs. Nicole ChuaQuek Kim Hock vs. Juan Wen JieJiang Long Yun vs. Yodsanan SityodtongDanny van Bergen vs. Richie Whitson www.twitter.com/jamesgoyder

Posted in: mma, vs, fc, broadcast, championship war

Eduard Folayang Is One FC’s Rising Star

When you hear the words 'top prospects in MMA' you don't have to look too far down the upcoming One FC card to find a fighter that defines that role in Asian MMA.

Posted in: mma, eduard folayang, fc, fc card, fc ’s

Asian MMA Update: ONE FC 3 To Be Streamed For Free On YouTube; RUFF 3 & Road FC 7 Results

ONE Fighting Championship have just announced that their entire event on March 31, will be streamed live and free on their YouTube channel. Here's what their CEO, Victor Cui said: "As a gift of appreciation to all MMA fans around the world, I have decided to make the broadcast of the entire fight card for ONE FC: War of the Lions on March 31 completely free-of-charge in HD quality on our YouTube Channel. I want the world to see that Asian MMA is back bigger and better than ever!" This comes from an apparent change of plans from their earlier announcement of having it as an online PPV stream much like they did for their 2nd event in Jakarta. The stream will start at around 8 a.m. ET this Saturday, and will be available worldwide except for Japan and Singapore. Make sure to make BloodyElbow.com your home for the event as we will be providing our usual live coverage for the event. Related: Asian MMA: ONE FC 3 - Eduard Folayang Vs. Ole Laursen Trailer | Asian MMA: Breaking Down The Official ONE FC 3 Fight Card | Interview: Imanari Loves Leg Locks 'Because It Hurts The Opponent', Says Belingon Can Be MMA's Manny Pacquiao Check out the fight card below: ONE FC 3: War of the LionsMarch 31, 2012 -- Singapore Indoor Arena, Singapore - Zorobabel Moreira vs. Felipe Enomoto- Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Donald Sanchez- Yuya Shirai vs. Fabricio Monteiro- Melvin Manhoef vs. Yoshiyuki Nakanishi- Eddie Ng vs. Jian Kai Chee- Masakazu Imanari vs. Kevin Belingon- Nicole Chua vs. Jeet Toshi- Quek Kim Hock vs. Juan Wen Jie- Yodsanan Sityodtong vs. Jiang Long Yun- Danny Van Bergen vs. Richie Whitson More Asian MMA News after the jump. Don't forget to follow me on twitter -- @antontabuena Here's a quick round up for the recent MMA News: Donald Sanchez defeated Jamie Steichen on March 17th to regain the KOTC bantamweight (145 lbs) championship. He will have a quick turn around and will be fighting on ONE FC exactly two weeks after that title fight against the biggest test of his career in Tatsuya Kawajiri. Speaking of quick turn-arounds, top Chinese featherweight prospect, Ji Xian (5-0) defeated Guobin Xue in RUFF 3 last weekend on March 24th. On Legend FC 8, which is less than a week after his fight, Xian will be taking on Yusuke Kawanago in a featherweight championship match. Also on that RUFF 3 event in China, Legend FC bantamweight champion and China's top fighter, Jumabieke Tuerxun (12-0) remained undefeated as he defeated rising prospect and ONE FC vet, Irshaad Sayed (4-2). This was the 2nd meeting between the two fighters, and 'Bieke' once again defeating him by decision, dealing the Muay Thai champion his 2 blemishes on the record. Rodrigo Carporal pulled off a split decision victory against Zhang Lipeng as the headliner of that card. Korea's top promotion, Road FC, hosted their 7th event this past weekend as well. The event was for the promotion's bantamweight tournament it produced interesting results. Kyung Ho Kang dominated Andrew Leone on their last event but was deducted points for missing weight. This cost him a decision, but he was given another chance at Road FC 7. He made the most of this chance and advanced to the semis of their bantamweight tournament where he can have a chance to face Leone once again. Jae Hoon Moon decisioned the young prospect in Soo Chul Kim to advance to the semis as well. Kim is only 20 years old and he obviously has the skills to make it big. Unfortunately for him, he hasn't exactly been matched up well, and has took on top tier guys and experienced BJJ champs which proved to be too soon for his young MMA career. He started out 3-1 and seemed to be a very promising teenage phenom. He still has a lot of time to regroup, but Kim has now lost 4 of his last five and has dropped to 4-4 overall. Min Jung Song picked up the final slot for the Road FC bantamweight tournament semi-final, by out-pointing Jae Hyun So. Check out the full results for both Road FC 7 and RUFF 3 here.

Posted in: mma, vs, event, fc, asian mma

MMA fighters go Survivor

I'm a man of complex and varied tastes. Which is why I'm not just big on mixed martial arts, I also love My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic and reality shows like Survivor. If you haven't been watching this season, you're doing yourself a great disservice. They loaded up on dumb as rocks contestants and they're all an episode or two away from going Lord of the Flies on each other. I just wish the gay guy hadn't been struck down with appendicitis. First Dakota on TUF, now Colton on Survivor. It's like The Lord is trying to tell us something :-OFans of MMA and Survivor now have some interesting stuff to look forward to in the coming weeks. March 30th sees the debut of "The Treasure of Orange", a Dutch Survivor knockoff featuring celebrities digging for treasure on an island somewhere. The show's original Dutch name: De Schat van De Oranje. I haven't giggled that much since MMA Fighting introduced me to Shaun Al Shatti.Also headed off on a Survivor knockoff adventure: Akiyama, who will appear on 'Laws of the Jungle', which sees contestants living in the jungles of Papua New Guinea for 20 days. If the natives run into this gang they'll know who the bronze God is.

Posted in: mma, mma fighters, survivor, dutch name, pony friendship

Morning Report: TUF Brazil Brings the Violence, Cyborg Santos Fights a Japanese Man

Well folks, we're halfway there. 21 days up, 21 days down, and now just 21 days left until the UFC hits with a blistering summer lineup. If you missed it, The Ultimate Fighter: Live and Bellator found a new weekend friend -- TUF: Brazil (which can be seen in its entirety here). Given that Brazilians make up 43-percent of the current UFC champions, expectations for the first international TUF season were understandably high, but if your violence quota was in any way lacking, it admirably filled the void. Plus, where else could we hear Wanderlei Silva bragging about his junk? (More on that later.) 5 MUST-READ STORIES Weekend MMA & boxing results. Catch up on another busy combat sports weekend with MMA results for The Ultimate Fighter: Live, The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil, Bellator 62, United Glory 15 and BAMMA 9, boxing results for Erik Morales vs. Danny Garcia, and fight videos of Patricky Freire vs. Lloyd Woodard, Rick Hawn vs. Ricardo Tirloni, and Kimbo Slice's absurd match against Brian Green. (And again, if you haven't seen the debut episode of TUF: Brazil yet, you can check it out here.) The Ultimate Fighter 15 post-fight power rankings. Cristiano Marcello fell in the weekly TUF 15 power rankings after Justin Lawrence's crushing knockout. M-1 Global sues Vyacheslav Vasilvsky. Bellator middleweight semifinalist Vyacheslav is being sued by M-1 Global over an alleged breach of contract, and could be forced to pay €1,000 for each day in violation (over 365 days, according to M-1), €5,000 for each fight in different promotion (five since 2010), and court fees. Miguel Torres UFC 145 fight blog. Torres talks about his love of Montreal, training for his upcoming bout against Michael McDonald, and the difficulty of locating tacos in Canada in his debut UFC 145 fight blog. Yasubey Enomoto defended M-1 Global title with open wound infection. Former M-1 Global welterweight champ Yasubey Enomoto fought at M-1 Challenge 31 with a large open infection on his shin, which has now spread to his knee as a result of the weight cutting process. Enomoto is currently hospitalized and receiving treatment. MEDIA STEW Where else but a Japanese game show could you see Cyborg Santos duke it out with a shockingly capable male comedian? This battle of the sexes actually gets pretty heated. (HT: Bloody Elbow) Another under the radar nugget from the weekend: Sergei Kharitonov returned to action for the first time since his Strikeforce loss to Josh Barnett. Now watch this ridiculousness and tell me you wouldn't love to see him on the UFC's all-heavyweight card. Three weeks into TUF 15 and not only is Team Cruz dominating the Octagon, they're crushing the YouTube battle as well. Check out The Dominator clowning on Faber in this reenactment. Nice extra touch: the sharpie'd Faber chin. Today's episode of This Week in Questionable Reffing comes from CFC 12, featuring Mark "The Great White Shark" Potter knocking out Larry Watts, a guy wearing a t-shirt waving off the bout, but not actually waving off the bout, and the bout continuing for another one-sided 30 seconds. (HT: Cagepotato) Easily the best part of last night's TUF: Brazil debut: THE CARNY DROPS DOWN I dont have a fight scheduled yet, but my next fight will be at 145 lbs! #UFC #MMA — Nik Lentz Ufc mma (@NikLentz) March 23, 2012 YOU WIN THIS ROUND, ROCKHOLD I have broken through the lines and infiltrated your base camp. @rockholdMMA #CreepingOnAKA twitter.com/TimKennedyMMA/… — Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) March 25, 2012 @rockholdMMA BLASTED!!!! CIA failed again. — Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) March 26, 2012 FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS Announced over the weekend (Friday, March 23, 2012 - Sunday, March 25, 2012): - UFC 148: Jeff Hougland (10-4) out, Ivan Menjivar (24-8) in against Renan Barao (28-1) - UFC on FX 3: Scott Jorgensen (13-5) vs. Eddie Wineland (18-8-1) - UFC on FX 3: Josh Neer (33-10-1) vs. Mike Pyle (22-8-1) - UFC on FX 4: Jim Hettes (10-0) vs. Steven Siler (20-9) - UFC on FUEL 3: Mike Easton (12-1) out, Jeff Hougland (10-4) in against Yves Jabouin (17-7) - Titan Fighting Championship 22: Anthony Johnson (10-4) vs. Dave Branch (10-2) - Super Fight League 2: Gabe Ruediger (17-8) out, Ryan Healy (19-10) in against Paul Kelly (12-4) FANPOST OF THE DAY Today's Fanpost of the Day is a fantastic rundown on the future of the 145-pound division by Bloody Elbow's fightinghistorian: Can Jose Aldo be Beaten? A Meditation on Perfection in MMA Today Jose Aldo is currently riding a fourteen-fight winning streak, with eight of those wins coming by absolutely vicious knockout. He has not been seriously tested during that time: in fact, he has only lost three or at most four rounds out of twenty-eight since making his debut in the WEC, and has never found himself anywhere close to being finished or losing a decision. I say this not to rehearse the obvious point - that Aldo is really, really good - but to emphasize the sheer enormity of his dominance since reaching the biggest stage in MMA. It's possible that we've never seen a fighter as well-rounded as Jose Aldo, GSP included, and I would argue that we've never seen anyone with his combination of well-roundedness, explosive athleticism, and absolutely vicious finishing ability. At this point, then, one question stands out: who is capable of beating Jose Aldo? My intention here is to briefly discuss all possible challengers, with the goal of discerning who precisely has the best chance of beating him at featherweight; there are potential matchups at 155 as well, but I'd like to focus on the here and now. Let's start with the obvious contenders first. For each, I'll give a brief rundown of when they might expect to receive a title shot, the most likely fashion in which such a fight would play out, and finally my guess at what the betting line would be, purely as a means of quantifying the likelihood of a win by the contender. (Note: -400 means that Aldo would be a 4-to-1 favorite, for example). After running through the list, I'll conclude with a discussion of what Aldo's dominance means for the sport of MMA as a whole. Found something perfect for the Morning Report? Just hit me on Twitter @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in tomorrow's post.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, day, aldo

Ronda Rousey To Train With Diaz Brothers

Ronda Rousey has always remained close to her Los Angeles training center when it comes to MMA. However, after doing a little session with Nick Diaz, Rousey has decided to venture to Stockton and train with Nick and Nate Diaz next month, as she told MMA Weekly Radio during a recent appearance on the show. Yeah, I’m going up there from the 3rd to the 16th (of April) and it’s going to be the first time ever since I started doing MMA that I’m going to be training for an actual extended period of time away from my core camp, who I’ve always been with. When I did judo I used to go around all the time, like every month or so I would go away for a week or two weeks to go train somewhere else. For some reason, it’s something I never did in MMA, so they invited me to come train up there. Rousey, who defeated Miesha Tate earlier this month via armbar to secure the Strikeforce women’s bantamweight title, is likely headed for a match with Sarah Kaufman. Rousey’s connections with Nick and Nate Diaz, along with her recent decision to partner with Chael Sonnen, will only help promote her name and women’s MMA going forward. Photo credit: Rey Del Rio/FOXSports.com

Posted in: diaz, mma, nate diaz, train, rousey

Jon Jones just got taken down by a bantamweight journalist from Brazil

I can’t remember the last time someone took down Jon Jones. Not sure if it has ever happened in his professional MMA career. It probably hasn’t, but it might have. Once again, it’s a Sunday and expecting quality journalism on a day like today is very unrealistic. Your attention span should be affected dramatically by the amount of alcohol you consumed the evening prior. If you’re not hung-over, I applaud you for being one of the very few readers who don’t fall into our target demographic of 18-34 year old readers who’ve earned their black belts in wasting potential. Anyway, Marco Filho is not related to Paulo Filho, but he is an impressive recreational MMA practitioner and accomplished journalist in Brazil. On multiple occasions, he has competed in modified rules MMA bouts against Anderson Silva, Junior Dos Santos, and Lyoto Machida. Under those rules, the UFC fighters have two 3 minute rounds to finish Marco with their ‘signature move’, and usually, they succeed well within the allotted time. However, today, in the “Senseinocao” segment of Brazillian television show “Sensei SporTV”, Filho challenged Jon Jones to defeat him using some variation of a spinning kick and the current light heavyweight champion was unable to do it. In fact, he also got taken down en route to suffering the first asterix-free loss of his career (regardless of whether or not it counts in his official record). All of these words would be absolutely pointless (and laughable) without a video to prove it. Props to Lowkick for the find. [Source]

Posted in: mma, jon, jon jones, ’t, filho

Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos takes on a male Japanese comedian in an MMA contest on Japanese TV.HT:...

Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos takes on a male Japanese comedian in an MMA contest on Japanese TV. HT: DamnSevern

Posted in: mma, japanese, cristiane cyborg, mma contest, japanese comedian

Kick Down MMA: It’s Not the Size of the Dog in the Fight

While the UFC has dominated mixed martial arts for the better part of the past two decades, there are smaller promotions that provide a vital role in MMA.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, art, dog

Can Jose Aldo be Beaten? A Meditation on Perfection in MMA Today

This fan post has been promoted to the front page Jose Aldo is currently riding a fourteen-fight winning streak, with eight of those wins coming by absolutely vicious knockout. He has not been seriously tested during that time: in fact, he has only lost three or at most four rounds out of twenty-eight since making his debut in the WEC, and has never found himself anywhere close to being finished or losing a decision. I say this not to rehearse the obvious point - that Aldo is really, really good - but to emphasize the sheer enormity of his dominance since reaching the biggest stage in MMA. It's possible that we've never seen a fighter as well-rounded as Jose Aldo, GSP included, and I would argue that we've never seen anyone with his combination of well-roundedness, explosive athleticism, and absolutely vicious finishing ability. At this point, then, one question stands out: who is capable of beating Jose Aldo? My intention here is to briefly discuss all possible challengers, with the goal of discerning who precisely has the best chance of beating him at featherweight; there are potential matchups at 155 as well, but I'd like to focus on the here and now. Let's start with the obvious contenders first. For each, I'll give a brief rundown of when they might expect to receive a title shot, the most likely fashion in which such a fight would play out, and finally my guess at what the betting line would be, purely as a means of quantifying the likelihood of a win by the contender. (Note: -400 means that Aldo would be a 4-to-1 favorite, for example). After running through the list, I'll conclude with a discussion of what Aldo's dominance means for the sport of MMA as a whole. Hatsu Hioki: It seems likely that Hioki will receive the next title shot (slated for July), and frankly I'm not thrilled about his chances. He has a solid standup game, and relies heavily on his long jab, straight right, and low kicks; in the clinch, he shows good takedowns and the ability to generate some offense. His top game, however, is by far his best asset: alternately suffocating and vicious, Hioki is capable of dropping heavy ground and pound, usually in order to set up a submission. I'm not familiar with his guard game, but given his build and otherwise good BJJ game I'd assume that it's solid at worst and potentially excellent (if anyone has more information, please say so in the comments). In a potential fight with Aldo, however, Hioki would be badly overmatched: his standup game is light years behind Aldo's, and the champion's speed would likely be the difference maker. It's also unlikely, given Aldo's astounding takedown defense, that Hioki would be able to implement his top game, and even if he did Aldo's own ground skills are far from meager. I'd bet on Aldo by knockout. Potential betting line: Aldo -400. Chan Sung Jung: The Zombie's impressive wins over Garcia and Hominick have catapulted him from entertaining brawler to potential title challenger, with a title shot likely on the line (presumably to be contested in the fall) in his upcoming matchup with Dustin Poirier. Even if Jung manages to get past Poirier - and I doubt that he will - a fight with Aldo would be like a lamb to the slaughter. If Leonard Garcia was able to repeatedly tag him in both of their fights and Roop could land a flush high kick, Aldo can do bad, bad things. Given the difficulty involved in getting Aldo to the ground, it's difficult to imagine the Zombie implementing his creative submission game, either. Aldo by KO would be the pick here. Potential betting line: Aldo -600. Dustin Poirier: I'm much, much higher on the long-term prospects of Poirier than I am of Hioki or Jung, for several reasons. First, Poirier's game is very well-rounded, especially considering his relative youth: he's been fighting as a professional for less than three years (with several amateur fights before then), but is capable of finishing both on the feet and on the ground, and possesses a deep arsenal of submissions. Second, he has the kind of explosive athleticism that's now a prerequisite for competing at the highest levels of MMA; he might not be on Aldo's level in that regard, but is still light years beyond Jung or Hioki. Third, and perhaps most important within the context of a potential matchup with Aldo, Poirier is a finisher. When he smells blood or gets his opponent in a bad position, the ground and pound and submission attempts come fast and furious. Of all the fighters currently competing at 145, I'd give Poirier the best chance of eventually dethroning Aldo, but he's still very green and ideally could use another three fights (roughly a year) to deepen his skills. Given the likely timeframe for a fight with Aldo, however, give me Aldo by decision in a fight that happens this fall; too much speed and too much experience would be the difference-maker here. Potential betting line:Aldo -300. Erik Koch: Koch is another potential challenger on whom I'm very high. He could potentially be slotted in to face Aldo this summer, though I think it's more likely that Hioki gets the shot, or he could be tapped for that match in the fall or sometime next year. Simply put, the more time the better: Koch has only recently made the jump from prospect to legitimate top-10 contender, and while he's made enormous strides from his first fight in the WEC to his last performance against Brookins, he's still raw. Though he may not possess the athleticism of his stablemate Anthony Pettis, his skill sets are quite similar: unorthodox, powerful kickboxing, solid clinch work, excellent takedown defense (with the exception of the Mendes fight more than two years ago), and a good if not spectacular ground game. Out of all of the fighters I've mentioned here, Koch presents the most interesting challenge on the feet for Aldo: he's long and rangy, and knows how to emphasize his reach by means of the jab and his kicking game. It would be fascinating to see whether Aldo could use his speed advantage to close the distance. Still, if the fight were this summer, I'd take Aldo by submission or ground and pound TKO; next year, I think Koch would have progressed enough to weather out a decision loss. Potential betting line: Aldo -350. Frankie Edgar: Although he's slated to receive a rematch with Ben Henderson this summer, there's still a good chance that Frankie makes the cut to 145 at some point in the future. Out of all the potential challengers to Aldo's throne, I think Edgar has the best chance of beating him right now. He has the cardio to really push the pace - the one area in which Aldo's shown even a sliver of weakness in the last several years - and his technically sound movement could make it difficult for Aldo to stalk him down and land his strikes. Moreover, Edgar's ability to mix his strikes and takedown attempts gives him a legitimate shot of putting Aldo on his back despite the champ's preternatural defensive skills; although Edgar hasn't shown much of a top game, successful takedowns would be essential to breaking up Aldo's rhythm on the feet. While there's a clear path for Edgar to win that fight, I don't rate his chances too highly: the real difference-maker, in my opinion, would be Aldo's use of low kicks to first redirect Frankie's movement and eventually take it away altogether with cumulative damage to the legs. Additionally, for a fighter as hittable as Frankie, the power in Aldo's strikes could easily spell disaster. Potential betting line: Aldo -200. It should be clear at this point that I don't believe Aldo can be beaten by anyone currently capable of making the cut to 145. Should he move up to 155, I think the monsters of the division, most notably Henderson and Maynard, could physically overpower him. Henderson in particular would be a nightmarish matchup on the feet in terms of his ability to use kicks to control the range, and he could match Aldo's speed and explosiveness with a much bigger frame. Even then, I'd still have Aldo as a favorite over Maynard and probably even money with Bendo. At 145, however, there's nobody who fits that profile, and barring the meteoric rise of a new prospect the belt is his for the foreseeable future. The more interesting question, to my way of thinking, is precisely what the past and potential future dominance of Jose Aldo tells us about the current state of MMA. I touched on this earlier, but I'd like to go into more specific depth: that dominance is a function of several factors. First, Aldo is possibly the most well-rounded fighter in MMA. He possesses technically sound boxing skills, vicious step-up knees and kicks, preternatural takedown defense, an explosive wrestling shot, and the ground skills to get the better of Kenny Florian, a well-respected black belt. Second, I'd argue that he's the best athlete, in the sense of speed and explosiveness, currently competing in MMA: the other contenders would be GSP and Jon Jones, but neither of them appears to be operating in a different gear in the way that Aldo does when compared to his opponents. Third, Aldo is a true finisher, with a prime-Shogun level of killer instinct; he was battling a serious illness during the Hominick fight, and still put a beating on him, while Florian survived only by following the most conservative possible gameplan to a T. What's more striking, however, is that Aldo's finishes aren't a product of the wild, unorthodox techniques that someone like Jones uses to set up his more conventional top game and submission attempts. Instead, he throws everything from his low kicks to flying knees with picture-perfect technique, and his finishes are a product of that repeated technical perfection (see the excellent Bloody Elbow Judo Chop on his low kicks, for example). Aside from the speed with which it was thrown (something you could say about any Jose Aldo strike), the knee that nearly decapitated Mendes was nothing special: it's a pretty standard Muay Thai technique that any competent instructor will have you practice hundreds, if not thousands, of times a year. via www.mma-core.com What is special about it, however, is the context in which Aldo threw the strike: Mendes had his back, but Aldo broke wrist control, spun, and then delivered the knee flush to Mendes' chin. That sequence incorporates a transition from clinch-grappling to striking in the space of a heartbeat, and transitions of that kind are the core of what makes modern MMA a sport in its own right, rather than a simple amalgamation of different styles. Aldo's ability to generate knockout offense from any position, especially during those fleeting transitional moments, makes him the perfect fighter for this day and age of MMA, and truly puts him in a league of his own.

Posted in: fight, mma, year, game, aldo

UFC Featherweight Mackens Semerzier has been released by the mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion...

UFC Featherweight Mackens Semerzier has been released by the mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion after going 1-1 (1 NC) in the Octagon, according to The MMA Blog. "Mack Da Menace" burst onto the scene with a submission win over Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace Wagnney Fabiano back in 2009, but has won just one of his last six bouts.

Posted in: ufc, mma, art, semerzier, macken

Ranking the Top Ten Mixed Martial Arts Camps in Asia

People ask me almost every day what are the best camps in Asia. And while it's an area I generally tend to stay away from because of the politics involved, I decided to do some research and actually write an article that I can refer to them to in future. I haven't visited all these places personally, so I have judged them all according the calibre of their coaches, the quality of their fighters and their overall reputations. Some camps are very selective as to who is allowed to train with their fight team, whereas others allow everyone to train together. So if you are looking at potentially joining or visiting any of them, I suggest you do some research of your own first. While there is no doubt that the standard of training overall is higher in the United States and Brazil, there are a few camps in Asia, notably Evolve MMA in Singapore, which are bucking the trend. With so many outstanding fighters in sports like Wushu and Muay Thai and a steady influx of Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belts from the West, I believe it is only a matter of time until Asia catches up with the Americas in terms of the quality of mixed martial arts (MMA) training available. Without further ado, these are the places which, in my opinion, are already leading the way: 1. Evolve MMAHead Coach: Chatri SityodtongNotable Fighters:Shinya AokiRafael dos AnjosZorobabel MoreiraEddie Ng Strengths Excellent coaching, largest professional fight team in Asia, world champions in every discipline, largest instructor team (50+ instructors), state-of-the-art facilities Weaknesses Opened its doors only three years ago Summary Evolve MMA in Singapore has firmly established its reputation as Asia’s best professional fight camp and has more world champion trainers than any other gym on the planet. Chatri Sityodtong and Heath Sims are also widely regarded as two of the top MMA coaches in Asia. The most famous member of the Evolve Fight Team is also arguably Asia’s biggest MMA superstar, Dream Lightweight Champion Shinya Aoki. After his last fight on DREAM’s NYE event, Aoki stated that Evolve MMA has the best training that he’s ever seen in his entire career. His teammates include UFC lightweight Rafael dos Anjos and ONE FC stars Eddie Ng, Zorobabel Moreira and Yodsanan Sityodtong. Elite mixed martial artists such as Rich Franklin, Greg Jackson, Renzo Gracie, Matt Hume and Ryo Chonan regularly visit Evolve MMA to train and to exchange knowledge. 2. Team Lakay Head Coach: Mark SangiaoNotable Fighters:Eduard Folayang "Landslide"Kevin BelingonRoy DocyogenStrengths: Excellent coaching, strong ground & pound, great pool of local talent, high altitude location Weaknesses: Lack of international coaches and training partners, no top tier BJJ coach Summary Team Lakay in Baguio is home to virtually all of the top fighters in the Philippines, including URCC champions Eduard Folayang, Honorio Banario, Kevin Belingon and Roy Docyogen. Coach Mark Sangiao is a former fighter who is rapidly gaining a reputation as one of the best coaches in Asia. The high altitude at Baguio seems to give the fighters exceptional cardio and fighters from Team Lakay are very well rounded. They are known to mix unorthodox Wushu-based stand up, wrestling skills, and brutal ground and pound. Team Lakay's fighters collectively have the best record in the Philippines and they routinely dominate at the URCC circuit, the most prestigious MMA organization in the Philippines. Fan favorite Eduard Folayang is one of the front-runners for a title shot at ONE Fighting Championship and Team Lakay has featured prominently at ONE FC. 3. Korea Top TeamHead Coach: Dongjin HaNotable Fighters:Chan Sung Jung "The Korean Zombie"Dongi Yang "The Ox"Strengths: Excellent coaching, world-class fighters, superb conditioningWeaknesses: Lack of deep expertise in striking and submissions Summary Based in Seoul, Korea Top Team is the premier mixed martial arts camp in the country and is home to UFC veteran Chan Sung Jung. ‘The Korean Zombie’ is the best known Korean fighter in the world and is legendary for his durability and highly sophisticated submission game. Another UFC fighter, Dongi Yang, calls Korea Top Team home while a number of its fighters are also enjoying success on the local Asian scene including Jang Yong Kim and Hyun Gyu Lin. Some of the toughest prospects in Korea train at Korea Top Team. 4. China Top TeamHead Coach: Ruy MenezesNotable Fighters:Zhang TiequanJingliang Li Honggang Yao Strengths: Excellent ground game, sanda-based striking, big pool of top Chinese fightersWeaknesses: Lack of elite level MMA experienceSummary China Top Team is blazing a trail for MMA in China under the guidance of third degree BJJ black belt Ruy Menezes. His star pupil is undoubtedly Zhang Tiequan who is the first Chinese fighter to ever fight for the UFC. The Mongolian Wolf is a submission wizard who is better known for his ground game than his stand up. China Top Team produces much more than just Sanda fighters. Fighters like Jingliang Li and Honggang Yao are making names for themselves on local shows like Ruff and Legend and it is only a matter of time before more China Top Team fighters start breaking into the major leagues with ONE FC and the UFC. They have a deep talent pool of fighters who are all gaining more experience every day. 5. Krazy BeeHead Coach: Sergio CunhaNotable Fighters:Norifumi YamamatoIssei TamuraKyoji HoriguchiStrengths: Home to some top Japanese fighters and UFC fighters, good wrestling and ground gameWeaknesses: Lack of deep striking skills, lack of deep MMA knowledge Krazy Bee is home to UFC fighters Norifumi Yamamato and Issei Tamura and lots of up and coming Japanese mixed martial artists making a name for themselves on shows like DEEP and Shooto such as Kyoji Horiguchi, the hottest rising MMA star in Japan. Krazy Bee is one of the top professional gyms in Japan and has a strong culture of hard sparring sessions. Look out for Krazy Bee fighters at the UFC, ONE FC, DREAM, DEEP, and Shooto. 6. Tokyo ParaestraHead Coach: Yuki NakaiNotable Fighters:Kitaoka SatoruMasakatsu Ueda Strengths: Home to some top Japanese fighters, excellent Brazilian Jiu-JItsu and ground gameWeaknesses: Wrestling and striking Summary Tokyo Paraestra is still one of the most respected camps in Asia and has a rich history. Founder Yuki Nakai was an MMA pioneer who made the team famous in the 90s and was last seen losing to Rickson Gracie in 1995. Satoru Kitaoka is a long time student and an elite fighter on DREAM. Masakatsu Ueda is the team’s most prominent member and is expected to make his Bellator debut soon and there is plenty of other young talent. Paraestra is a chain of MMA schools, but Tokyo is widely regarded as the headquarters. 7. Busan Team MADHead Coach: Yang Seung HunNotable Fighters:Dong Hyun KimMyung Ho BaeHae Jun YangStrengths: Strong Judo and boxingWeaknesses: No top tier BJJ coaches Summary Busan Team MAD is situated in the second largest city in Korea and is home of ‘The Stun Gun’ Dong Hyun Kim who is well established in the UFC’s middleweight division. There are also a couple of other up and coming Korean fighters to keep an eye, including Myung Ho Bae, Hae Jun Yang and Nam Jin Jo. Busan Team MAD has a reputation of producing fighters with ferocity and willpower. While not as technically refined as other teams, Busan Team MAD is a very tough team. Look out for their fighters at the UFC, ONE FC, Legend FC and ROAD FC as well as the smaller local shows. 8. Phuket Top Team Head Coach: Notable Fighters:Roger HuertaAndrew Leone Strengths: Strong Muay Thai coaches and 2 full time BJJ black beltsWeaknesses: No wrestling coach Summary Phuket Top Team was only built in 2011, but it has already attracted some top fighters to train there. Roger Huerta is now based there permanently as he looks to revitalize his MMA career and Vaughn Lee and Jorge Masvidal have also made training trips. Among the full time fighters are exciting American prospect Andrew Leone while on the coaching side BJJ black belt Rodrigo Praxedes is joined by a team of Muay Thai trainers. 9. Tiger Muay Thai Head Coach: Ray ElbeNotable Fighters:JJ AmbroseWiktor SvenssonYang Seung Ho Strengths: Experienced Muay Thai coaches and 1 BJJ Black BeltWeaknesses: TMT is mainly a tourist vacation destination. Inactive, small fight team. Summary Tiger Muay Thai was the first ever MMA camp in Thailand and remains the most popular to this day. BJJ black belt Ray Elbe runs the MMA program and is known as a good coach but does not have access to a big roster of serious fighters and resources because TMT’s business model revolves around tourists visiting the beaches of Phuket. The Muay Thai program at TMT has many seasoned veterans of Muay Thai and former UFC fighters such as Phil Baroni, Mike Swick and Roger Huerta have trained there. 10. Muayfit Head Coach: Arnaud LepontNotable Fighters:Eric KellyMark StrieglArnaud Lepont Strengths: Good quantity of full-time fightersWeaknesses: Lack of experienced coaches Summary Founded in 2010 Muayfit is a successful fitness-based facility in Kuala Lumpur. MMA classes proved to be so popular that the camp has expanded to include a full-time fight team with a mixture of local and international fighters. The most famous are unbeaten Filipinos Mark Striegl and Eric Kelly. Arnaud Lepont, Allamurad Karayev and Jian Kai Chee are also based there. Follow contributing writer James Goyder on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jamesgoyder.

Posted in: ufc, mma, fighter, team, coach

Ontario Senator Bob Runciman Introduces Bill to Officially Legalize MMA in Canada

The man who wants to alter the Canadian Criminal Code to technically legalize MMA has never attended a live UFC event, nor does he plan to.

Posted in: ufc, mma, canada, ontario, ufc event

Can Houston Alexander Break Gilbert Yvel? (MMAWeekly.com)

With four wins in his last seven fights since leaving the UFC in 2009, Houston “The Assassin” Alexander feels he’s making steps in the right direction to once again compete at the highest level of MMA. Known for his heavy-handed nature, Alexander says that other areas of his game have really come along of late and helped make him into a more complete fighter. “I think my transitions in MMA have gotten better,” he said.

Posted in: mma, houston, right direction, houston alexander, alexander

Shannon Knapp reveals how Invicta FC came together and what it means for women's MMA

A new business venture is supposed to be difficult. The new owners are supposed to be anxious or afraid of possible hard days ahead. They’re supposed to worry about whether how they are going to get people through their doors, or how to build their business, or ultimately, the potential of their bottom line. Don’t tell that to Invicta FC‘s Shannon Knapp. If she’s nervous, anxious or worried about her new venture, she isn’t showing it. Knapp, the former Strikeforce and IFL executive recently partnered with Janet Martin (formerly of Blackeye Promotions) to create Invicta, the first all-women’s MMA promotion in North America. Drawing on their years of experience in the business, Martin and Knapp have partnered to bring a face to women’s MMA; one where women have the exposure to perform on a grand stage and can participate at their ideal weight classes instead of taking bouts outside of their proper division just to get to fight. Ever enthusiastic about the new challenge ahead, Fighters.com recently sat down with the effervescent Knapp where she discussed, among other things, how long the idea of Invicta had been out there and the importance of showing the strength behind the idea. “I want to say eight or nine months, but the more I think about it, I’d say April, or the first part of May,” said Knapp of the organization’s inception. “I like to fight the fight, and when you’ve been around as long as I have in this business, you kind of get to that point where you’re doing the same and you think…ah you know, it’s the same thing, and gets cookie cutter.” “It really started when Zuffa purchased Strikeforce, and I started getting a lot of calls, and a lot of panicked calls from the girls. Bottom line was nobody knew what was going to happen,” she continued before reflecting on the possibility of Strikeforce’s demise, a situation many felt may have led to the end of their support of women on the Zuffa platform. “Everybody knew that if it did, the opportunity for females to stay under the Zuffa banner was almost certainly not going to happen, so the calls started coming in, and the girls were looking for some representation, though I’m not a manager,” explained Knapp. “I started looking at it, and kind of building the foundation and happened to meet my business partner (Martin) who had the same vision I had. We pooled finances between us, and now we’re off to the races.” The end of the spring and beginning of what she hopes will be a marathon takes place on April 28 when Invicta’s first event emanates from the Memorial Hall in Kansas City. The venue is no stranger to fans looking to watch a fight with memories of numerous MMA events and nearly 40 years of professional wrestling shows packing its hallowed halls. Knapp knew, however, that an all-women’s organization would be an uphill climb. To prove to the world that Invicta was serious, they put long hours in to ensure they first came out with a statement. “The card came together before we announced (Invicta),” Knapp stated. “I felt like it was a much stronger statement to come out and say you had a card ready than to come out and say ‘Hey come look at us we want to do this and this is our main event.’ We wanted to come out swinging by saying that this was our card. We did add one fight after the announcement (Cat Zingano vs. Anita Rodriguez) but I mean, we were there. When we came out, we came out hard and strong, and that’s what helped people look at us and say ‘Wow. They’re serious about this.’” Still, there are naysayers Knapp says she has encountered, some of which believe it’s a bandwagon ploy. “I keep getting the question asking if this happened because of the Miesha Tate/Ronda Rousey fight,” Knapp laughed. “If people thought this only took a month, they’re crazy! We’ve been working on this for a really long time. It just so happened that the stars or the heavens happened to shine on us, and while we were looking at announcing, all of that came together and it’s helped us a bit too.” You can follow Knapp on Twitter @ShanKnapp and Invicta Fighting Championships too @InvictaFights. You can also “Like” Invicta Fighting Championships on Facebook by clicking here. Invicta FC 1 boasts a number of the top female fighters in MMA today including action from Marloes Coenen, Liz Carmouche, Jessica Penne, Lisa Ellis-Ward, Cat Zingano, and more. Tweet

Posted in: fight, mma, business, invicta, knapp

MMA Talking Heads: Ultimate Fighter 15 review, upcoming UFC fight schedule and more

MMA Mania presents "MMA Talking Heads," a video discussion series featuring mixed martial arts (MMA) journalist Jason Probst and special guest co-host, Ian Parker. The show touches on all aspects of the sport, with an insider's perspective. On this episode, which was delayed because of a technical glitch, Jason and Ian discuss last Friday’s episode of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15 live, where James Vick scored a stunning knockout of favored Daron Cruikshank. The duo also take a look at the "new" TUF format, which airs live fights with a week’s worth of taped house drama and subplots. MMA Talking Heads also touches on upcoming matches such as the Ben Henderson vs. Frankie Edgar rematch, the all-heavyweight main card of UFC 146, Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans at UFC 145 next month and more. Check it out! And be sure to send your questions to www.twitter.com/MMATalkingHeads.

Posted in: mma, mma mania, james vick, show touches, glitch jason

RIP Fights

With this crazy MMA March break continuing, I think we're all going a little twisted. Too much talk about fighting, not enough actual fighting. And half the interesting stuff going on is happening in courts instead of cages. Hell, Eric Prindle just won the Bellator heavyweight tournament without even having to fight. I figure this marks the moment where we don't even need MMA anymore to have MMA news. The fights are the boring part anyways. DID YOU HEAR DANA WHITE CALLED BRAZIL PUSSIES????So in memory of actual cage fightin', here's a bunch of highlight maker Damien's recent highlights. The music isn't always great but you won't find a better collection of crazy MMA action out there. read more

Posted in: fight, mma, mma action, brazil pussiesso, need mma

Best name and best nickname in MMA. Bring him back.

submitted by iluvurkidz [link] [comment]

Posted in: mma, name, nickname, iluvurkidz link, iluvurkidz

Twitter Mailbag: Heavyweights, TRT, Chael Sonnen's Chances in Brazil, and More

It’s Friday afternoon, which means it’s time again for the Twitter Mailbag. This time around, the TMB talks Bellator, TRT, heavyweights, and Chael Sonnen’s chances of making it out of Brazil alive. Plus some other stuff.Got a question of your own? Come find me on Twitter @BenFowlkesMMA. I’ll even pretend to be interested in what you have to say at first. On to the questions.@AdriantheWizard which Bellator champ has the toughest test in defending his strap after the tournaments are done? That would be lightweight champ Michael Chandler. It’s not because he isn’t a capable fighter -- as the bout with Eddie Alvarez showed, dude can scrap a little bit -- but there are still some quality lightweights hanging around in Bellator. Chandler had a close fight with Missoula, Montana’s own Lloyd Woodard (406, what?!) on his way to the belt last year, and I’d say the winner of Friday night’s Woodard-Patricky Freire fight probably deserves to be the tournament favorite. In general, I think there’s probably more talent in MMA at the 155-pound division than anywhere else. The UFC doesn’t have the roster space for all of them, which is good news for Bellator, but will likely mean a stiff challenge for Chandler.@TheHarrison101 Two weeks in, Bellator/TUF 15, which are you watching live, what are you DVR'ing?I feel like a jerk for admitting this, but even with its new live format I still end up DVR’ing The Ultimate Fighter. Maybe it’s just habit. Maybe it still feels too much like TV. I don’t know. I do know that, after living with DVR for the past few years, I have completely lost my patience for commercials. I’ve gotten spoiled that way, and I admit it. I’ll sit through commercials when I have to -- which is to say, during live sporting events and at basically no other time -- but a TV show? Even a TV show I really like? Forget it. I’ll just set the DVR and check it out once I have the luxury of flipping through the same four video game ads. And yes, I realize this makes less sense now that the weekly TUF fight is live, but cut me some slack. How much TV can MMA fans really be expected to watch on a Friday night?@JDRCheckit #mailbag how does the all HW card do? Do we see the big KO's or knock down gas out brawls. Or something like Rothwell-HuntMy buddy Chad Dundas over at ESPN explored this very question in a column recently, and he rightly pointed out that it’s often a feast-or-famine type deal when the big boys get in the cage. Sometimes they knock each other out in a hurry, and sometimes they wheeze on one another until the referee finally makes them stop. When heavyweight fights are good, they’re great, and usually pretty quick. When they’re bad, they’re an assault on the senses.The good news for UFC 146 is that the main card match-ups seem almost designed to make sure that there’s at least one man in every fight willing to push the pace. Guys like Alistair Overeem, Frank Mir, and Antonio Silva have the ability to become slow, ponderous performers at times, but fighters like Junior dos Santos, Cain Velasquez -- hell, even Roy Nelson, at least lately -- are known for keeping the action going. I think we’ll get more feast than famine on this one. Or maybe I’m just hoping.@NoOrdinaryChris do you foresee women's MMA actually coming to the UFC in the next year or two? Interested in your take.As long as there is a Strikeforce, I think that’s where women’s MMA will stay. I think it will only improve now that Zuffa matchmakers Joe Silva and Sean Shelby get to tinker with it, but I don’t think anyone at the UFC feels like they absolutely have to get these women into the Octagon right away. If they’re content to leave Gilbert Melendez in Strikeforce, Ronda Rousey will have to stay too.For me, the bigger question is what will happen if (okay, let’s be real, when) Strikeforce eventually disappears. I don’t see Zuffa still running these two competing promotions five or ten years from now, so what happens then? I think a lot depends on how the women’s division performs between now and then, and what kind of roster it has at the time of the eventual Strikeforce dismantling. If Rousey follows Gina Carano to Hollywood, and if the division can’t add fresh faces quicker than it loses them, I could easily see Zuffa declaring women’s MMA a failed experiment. But if the Rousey revolution is the beginning rather than the peak, maybe female fighters have a future in the UFC. Just don’t expect it to happen overnight.@nogstai Chael Sonnen is an interesting character, but he's a nice guy in real life. Does sending him to 80k brazilians, a good idea?I can’t tell if you’re joking or not, but either way I think you’ve hit upon a legitimate question. Sonnen -- love him or hate him -- is a fascinating person and a good draw for the UFC. But after going to Rio de Janeiro for UFC 134 last summer and witnessing the overwhelming vitriol the locals had for even a video image of the man, I have to wonder whether the nation of Brazil appreciates his brand of humor the same way we do. Maybe he’s done too good a job selling them on the whole pro wrestling persona, or maybe they just don’t get the joke. Either way, I don’t think Sonnen is going to be buying a vacation home in Ipanema any time soon. It seems like it’s going to be difficult enough for him to show up and fight there, but can you imagine if he actually beat Anderson Silva in a packed Brazilian soccer stadium? What if he won a close decision? Or benefitted from a questionable stoppage? They might have to airlift him out of the Octagon just to get him home in one piece. @Odin_MMA Fedor. 205. UFC. Your move Fowlkes... Do you think Fedor would be reinvigorated?Not really. Fedor can go down in weight if he wants, but he can’t go back in time. His fight with Dan Henderson in Strikeforce showed that. If anything, he might be better off at heavyweight, where he still has some hope of being the quicker man. The fighters at light heavyweight these days are too athletic and too well-rounded. But hey, if Fedor wanted to try it and his management team wanted to get reasonable about their contract demands, I’d watch it. I just wouldn’t get my hopes up for a Fedor revival if I were you. @EricArsenal I like the 8 week UFC PPV gap being filled by TUF. Gives the fighters their own spotlight. What are your thoughts?Their own spotlight? Maybe. If you completely forget about the existence of Bellator, which also goes down every Friday night during this UFC pay-per-view hiatus. While TUF allows viewers to follow the slow reveal of a reality show tournament a week at a time, Bellator essentially offers the same experience, only with more tournaments and far more fights. As long as viewers are willing to trade talk for action (and who isn’t?) and the UFC brand for the Bellator one, it sure seems like Bellator offers the better deal right now.@DeadpandaCP Condit, MacDonald, Ellenberger. Is this a newbreed of fighters or are they contenders because GSP is out with his knee?I don’t know if I’d call them a new breed, but they’re all athletic, capable fighters without any glaring holes to exploit. Then again, so is Georges St-Pierre. All three of the guys you mentioned probably have a better chance of waiting GSP’s career out than of beating him in the cage.@MMAOUTSIDER should the UFC push Edgar so hard to drop weight? yes he's small, but I think his record and performance deserve more respect.I understand the push, what with the general lack of major contenders for Jose Aldo’s belt. But I agree that Edgar has done enough at lightweight to get to make his own decisions. Apparently the UFC thinks so too. He is getting the rematch he asked for, after all.@shawn_w_smith Some NCAA wrestlers are considered naturals for MMA while others aren't. What are we looking for to determine MMA prospects?An ability to deal with getting punched in the face, for one. A desire to stick with this long enough to actually get good at it, for another. The latter might be tougher to find than the former. You take guys who have spent so many years honing one specific skill set to such a fine point, they often don’t want to start all over as a rookie in something else. It’s rough on their egos, and the money is too distant a dream at first to pull them through all on its own. In short, what we’re looking for is someone humble enough to learn new skills, and stubborn enough to keep showing up to the gym even when it seems like a bad idea.@bradsucks will the UFC's handling of TRT blow up in their faces or should they keep looking the other way?At this point I think it’s clear that the controversy over testosterone-replacement therapy isn’t going to go away on its own, nor should it. This is a complicated issue that needs to be explored and examined more, not ignored. When confronted with "Rampage" Jackson’s admitted use of it, Dana White’s response was to basically throw up his hands and claim there was nothing the UFC could have done about it, since some athletic commissions allow it for some fighters. That’s an absurd response, especially since it came after an event in Tokyo where the UFC acted as its own commission, which it seems increasingly incapable of doing in an open and transparent manner.Let’s be clear what we’re talking about here: professional fighters are being given permission to inject themselves with a powerful hormone -- one that increases strength and endurance -- before they attempt to hurt another human being for money. That’s a situation full of dangerous possibilities. It also might not be entirely fair, depending on what they have to do in order to get that permission.Some fighters claim that they need it. They say their testosterone levels really are well below normal, and it’s a condition that they deserve to be able to treat. But even that defense raises all new questions. My colleague Mike Chiappetta has an excellent look at the link between head trauma and low testosterone, and I suppose it shouldn’t be hard to believe that getting hit in the head for a living might not be great for your natural hormone levels. Then again, if you’ve already suffered that sort of head trauma, why should we pump you full of testosterone just so you can continue suffering more of it? We wouldn’t medically clear a fighter with other signs of brain trauma, would we? And how can we be sure that a person’s low testosterone levels are due to head trauma and not past steroid abuse?Testosterone is a performance-enhancing substance. If it wasn’t, these guys wouldn’t care so much about being able to get their hands on it. The UFC has no problem butting heads with "the government" when it comes to things like getting MMA sanctioned in New York, so it’s disingenuous to claim that it’s powerless to buck the athletic commissions (which have varying standards for therapeutic-use exemptions to begin with) on this issue. We can disagree on what ought to be done about TRT in MMA and why, but I don’t think you can make much of an argument that the right thing to do here is nothing at all.

Posted in: ufc, mma, fighter, donrsquot, itrsquo

Miami street fighter turned MMA prospect Rene Level Martinez signs four fight deal with Fight Time Promotions

Infamous YouTube fighter Rene "Level" Martinez (3-0-1) has found a new MMA promotion to call home. Martinez and Florida's Fight Time Promotions announced that the ex-Miami street fighter has signed a four fight deal with the company. Fight Time Promotions is run by former American Top Team striking coach and Olympic boxer Howard Davis Jr. Martinez made a name for himself fighting in the same backyards as Kimbo Slice (4-2). As a 170 pound MMA fighter Martinez made his debut in September 2009 to much less hype than his heavyweight street fighting counterpart. In four career professional fights Martinez has gone the distance three times and has only managed to stop MMA rookie Charles Champion (0-1).Fight Time 9 MMA Explosion will take place on Friday April 27th at the War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Martinez will compete on the undercard versus a unannounced opponent. Former UFC light heavyweight Wilson Wilson Gouveia (13-8) will headline Fight Time 9. Now 38 years old Martinez's days as a viable MMA prospect have dwindled to its lowest levels. Martinez's management team made the right call when they inked a long term deal with a stable MMA promotion like Fight Time. If, Martinez can put "butts in the seats" and rack consecutive noteworthy wins than he has an outside shot at making it in a national MMA promotion. Martinez's charisma and archive of online street-fighting knockouts could leap frog him to the front of the free agent line if he adds to his highlight reel under the Fight Time Promotions banner.

Posted in: fight, mma, promotion, time, martinez

MMA Uncensored Live – Rashad Evans, TRT Controversy, Silva/Sonnen II

Spike TV’s MMA Uncensored Live from March 22nd, 2012. The panel is joined by Rashad Evans to discuss his upcoming bout with Jon Jones. The show also takes a look at the TRT usage controversy in MMA. Props to the crew over at IronForgesIron for the video.

Posted in: mma, jon jones, rashad evans, evan, mma props

Knockout of the week part II: Dennis Siver’s spinning back kick (Yahoo! Sports)

MMA judges do not award points for originality, and wins are still wins whether they happen with style or not. But that doesn't mean MMA fans won't appreciate a knockout with a little flair from time to time. Dennis Siver … Continue reading →

Posted in: mma, knockout, mma fans, siver, award points

Mike Tyson And Rosie O'Donnell Talk Fedor Emelianenko, Urijah Faber And Love Of MMA

Mike Tyson is not what one would call a stranger to the world of MMA. We've seen UFC president Dana White hang out with Mike and he has talked about MMA plenty in the past. In one of the strangest recent moments of "MMA in the Mainstream Media" Tyson was on Rosie O'Donnell's show where they discussed their mutual love of the sport. First, a quote from Huffington Post's article on the meeting: As many consider Mike Tyson to be one of the greatest boxers of all time, there may be some added weight to his words when he says Fedor Emelianenko is the greatest MMA fighter of all time. It helps that he's not alone in that assessment of the now 35-year old athlete, who went undefeated for ten years. But he's no longer at the apex of his career, so O'Donnell and Tyson agreed that they're currently more excited about Urijah Faber. Tyson laughed, calling him "the little guy" -- Faber stands 5'6" -- and saying, "He's so cute with the hair." For O'Donnell, she loved how relaxed he was during a fight. "They have him in the headlock and they have him in the crucifix, and he's just sitting there, like he's enjoying a night with a lady of the evening," she marveled. Video of Tyson getting all giddy while talking about "so cute" Faber after the jump. The video

Posted in: mma, he, tyson, mike tyson, odonnell

PED's in MMA: Amid TRT Controversy, A Hidden Danger

In the days after Quinton "Rampage" Jackson became the latest fighter to acknowledge using testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), Nevada state athletic commission executive director Keith Kizer's phone began to light up. On the other end were fighters and managers interested in finding out how to obtain a TRT exemption. Kizer, who had heard about Jackson's interview with Fighters Only acknowledging his usage, was not surprised. In his comments, Jackson claimed that "a lot of fighters are probably doing it but not telling anyone." That quote has since been removed from the interview, but its echo has created a stir in the mixed martial arts world, suggesting that legitimizing TRT treatment was easy.Jackson is not only the latest of the divulged names using TRT, but also its loudest proponent. But contrary to popular belief, the number of fighters legally using TRT with the permission of state athletic commissions is quite low.How low? In its entire history, the Nevada state athletic commission has granted only three therapeutic use exemptions (TUE's) for TRT, Kizer told MMA Fighting. The only individuals to receive exemptions have been Dan Henderson, Todd Duffee, and most recently, Shane Roller in 2011. New Jersey Athletic Control board legal counsel Nick Lembo could not offer a specific number but said that state had given "less than five" TUE's for TRT in its history. In Ohio, only Henderson and Strikeforce fighter Bristol Marunde have ever been approved for TRT use, its state athletic commission executive director Bernie Profato told MMA Fighting.Contrast that with the reaction of say, Dr. Don Catlin, who sits on the International Olympic Committee's medical commission responsible for reviewing TUE applications for Olympic athletes. In a recent interview with MMA Fighting regarding the possibility of active fighters needing TUE’s for TRT in MMA, Catlin remarked that the whole thing was "a joke."Those types of broad criticisms are troubling to some combat sports regulators who feel that their goals of toeing the line between sport safety and being responsive to individual health situations are being undermined. "I hear things like, 'Oh everyone can do it,'" Kizer said. "Well, how many exemptions have [the IOC] given out? Two. Well, we've given out three in 12 years."According to Catlin along with many other critics, the possibility of professional athletes in their 30s needing TRT is so low, it's almost completely zero. But new research might show those long-held beliefs to be incorrect.The science of brain injury is still relatively new, and developing rapidly. In 2007, a paper published in the Journal of Athletic Training reported the first known connection between mild concussions and hypopituitarism, a deficiency that can lead to low testosterone. That research, along with how traumatic brain injuries impact the pituitary gland, is being continued by Dr. Daniel F. Kelly, the director of the Brain Center and Pituitary Disorders Program at the John Wayne Cancer Institute at Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California.Kelly is currently in the midst of a study of 75 former NFL players that is expected to be published around the end of 2012. In an interview with MMA Fighting, Kelly said that preliminary data from the study suggests that pituitary damage is occurring in a subset of the retirees. That study seems to corroborate a 2006 finding in Turkey that found that head injuries incurred by pro kickboxers have resulted in damage to the pituitary gland. Extrapolated to MMA, it's not much of a leap to suggest that similar injuries can be occurring to this sport's fighters, for whom getting hit in the head is a daily occurrence. In fact, Dr. Fahrettin Kelestimur, a professor of endocrinology at Erciyes University in Turkey who authored the 2006 study, told MMA Fighting that the most common damage has caused growth hormone deficiency and hypogonadism, respectively. The latter problem was the one cited by Chael Sonnen as the necessity of his TRT treatments during his appeal of a California state athletic commission suspension."These fighters are getting repeated insults to the head, sometimes more than concussive events," Kelly said. "And if you did a careful analysis of those people, I'm sure you'd see a significant rate of pituitary gland dysfunction. That's my prediction."The issue is complicated by the fact that it is not always possible to determine the cause of pituitary damage, according to Kelly. It's well known that steroid abuse can also damage the pituitary gland, but head trauma can cause the same affect.That makes things cloudier for regulators like Kizer and Lembo, who work for two of the sport's leading commissions. At the same time, they along with other regulators believe it’s important not to punish the athletes that come forward with a legitimate need by banning TRT outright. While the long-held belief that steroid use as the main cause of low testosterone among athletes might be true, it’s by no means a catch-all. That knowledge simply just isn’t widespread. Most of the people interviewed for this story were unaware that pituitary damage could be caused by repeated blows to the head, as Kelly, the brain and pituitary expert agreed."Is that incrementally damaging the connection between the brain and pituitary? I think it probably is," he said. "But can we prove that there’s an exposure component that’s incrementally adding up even if it’s not even considered a concussion. I think that’s probably the case."While MMA often points to its safety record, there are variables to the sport that cannot be controlled. Chief among them is what goes on in the gyms during training camp. While fighters who suffer knockout losses in competition are medically suspended in order to give them time to recover, those periods are rarely enforced. Some of them can’t be due to simple logistics. If a fighter competes in Texas, for example, but calls Brazil home, there is no real way to check up on him and ensure he’s letting his brain recover from the trauma it received. Most good coaches will try to keep their athletes on the sidelines and away from head strikes in this critical recovery phase, but it’s not like that everywhere.Take, for instance, Pat Barry’s recent explanation of why he hoped to visit Croatia soon to get in some training."Out there, you can punch and kick guys completely unconscious and they show up the next day," he said. " Whereas here, you can punch and kick some guys, and sometimes they don’t come back for the rest of the week.""Which is probably a good idea," UFC president Dana White interjected. Barry's seeming insensitivity to head injuries might be ingrained in his mentality as a fighter who is trained to be fearless even in the heat of battle, but it also might be from an attitude that is generationally rooted, though changing. A recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report noted that emergency room visits for children and adolescents due to sports and recreation-related traumatic brain injuries were up 60 percent in the last decade. The organization’s director of the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control attributed to the rise not to increased incidences, but to growing awareness of the dangers caused by brain injuries.Attention to the problem of brain injury has also been slow to come to pro sports. In 2008, the collaborative Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy was founded to study brain injury, and their work has changed the NFL’s outlook on concussions and head trauma, causing rule changes in 2009 that focused on player safety. This even though as a league, the NFL has had a multi-decade head start on MMA when it comes to head injuries. MMA commissions in some instances have only been sanctioning the sport for a year or two and are still drafting regulations.As it stands now, most commissions have no tests in place that would determine this type of problem.Virtually every state commission requires an MRI in order to grant a fighter’s license, but MRI’s don’t always show the problem. A blood draw is more likely to determine if an issue exists, according to Kelly. Tests for luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone, growth hormone (GH) and IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1) could serve as an effective screening tool to determine any pituitary damage.Most of the blood work done through commissions prior to licensing though, is solely to test for contagious diseases.A big problem when it comes to changing medical technology is cost. Ohio Athletic Commission executive director Bernie Profato likened it to medical issues in the world at large, recounting the story of how the son of a close friend died from a rare blood disease that doctors didn’t have the means to handle because of a lack of money to fund research. "The more this stuff comes up, the more time medical people put into it, it extends our knowledge of it," he said. "We’re regulators, not medical people. We do what we can to put these athletes in the safest environment." Only a handful of the regulators MMA Fighting spoke with had heard of the studies linking brain trauma with pituitary damage, but most acknowledged that such conditions are exactly why TRT TUE’s shouldn’t always be passed off as an attempt to fleece the system."It’s very rare, but there are some legitimate needs," Lembo said. "My biggest concern is that most commissions don’t even test for these things in the first place so we’re over-penalizing the people that are coming forward and saying, ‘Hey, do whatever you want to me. Test me before and after the fight. Test me randomly. I need this, I’m on it and I’m going to be within normal limits.’ There are a lot of commissions who don’t believe in TUE’s for any reason, but why be hard on the ones coming forward?"Dr. Kelly, who has been working on issues pertaining to the pituitary gland for nearly 20 years, in 2008 co-authored a study that concluded chronic hypopituitarism occurred in approximately 20 percent of patients who had suffered mild, moderate or traumatic brain injury. With the repetitive head impacts from training and competing from month to month and year to year, it’s no wonder then that professional fighters could be subject to these same types of injuries. While finishing up his NFL research, Kelly is also interested in studying boxers and, possibly, mixed martial artists to gain a more definitive understanding of a problem that still remains mostly hidden away."I’m sure there’s a certain level of it going on," he said. "I guess what’s really amazing, if you look at it another way, is how infrequently it occurs, and how sturdy the system is, how much damage it can take. The pituitary gland is this tiny little thing that’s less than a centimeter cubed. It’s sitting in a little, bony depression in the skull base and it’s getting banged around, and the connection is getting banged around repeatedly, yet it keeps it on ticking in most people. It’s a pretty resilient system, but only up to a point." [Editor's Note: PED's in MMA is a two-part series. Next week, an installment on the drug-testing landscape in MMA, and how regulators, athletes and promoters are adapting.]

Posted in: mma, fighter, injury, commission, trt

Latest UFC/MMA news and notes from around the web for the week of March 18, 2012

Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Jay Hieron and Randy Couture pictured above, we can all "get along." Teaming up with MMA sites like Low Kick, Cage Potato, Fight Opinion and The Fight Nerd, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport. This week, Bleacher Report speaks with Chris Horodecki about his cut to featherweight, Cage Potato interviews Mike Dolce and Fight Line interviews BAMMA middleweight champion Tom Watson. The full list of links is after the jump. - Sergei Kharitonov's Rocky-esque workout before Mark Miller fight (LowKick) PRIDE FC and Strikeforce veteran Sergei Kharitonov returns to kickboxing this Friday, when he meets Mark Miller in Moscow, Russia. Below is footage of Kharitonov's unorthodox preparation for the bout, during which he visits a local meat locker to batter some pig carcasses. - ‘Dolce Diet' founder Mike Dolce on weight-cuts, Roy Nelson's quest for 205 + more (Cage Potato) Though he first landed on our radars as a competitor on TUF 7, fighter/trainer Mike Dolce has become much more famous for The Dolce Diet - the health and nutrition system he employs to help MMA stars hit their weight limits while retaining peak performance on fight-day. Fresh off his wizard-like guidance of Thiago Alves earlier this month, we decided to get the Living Lean author on the phone to find out exactly how he does it. - You can now bet on fights for The Ultimate Fighter Live (MiddleEasy) "Go ahead, bet away your April month's rent on tomorrow's The Ultimate Fighter Live fight. I'm sure if you explain it to your landlord, he/she will understand. Don't worry, it's happened to me before. I ended up pawning my bass guitar only to use the money to bet on another fight. Fortunately I won, which enabled me to barely not get evicted from my apartment. Keep in mind, this was a different time in MMA." - How to avoid scam supplements (The Fight Nerd) "We all know this already about many things in life, but buyers continue to fall victim to sales tactics that promise to change us from meek to sleek overnight. If something was really that easy, why wouldn't everyone in the world be doing it? Certain products do deliver instantly, such as those dietary supplements that claim to shed pounds. Why? Because it's a diarrhetic, and will result in extremely unpleasant urination and discharge..." - Mike Kogen has had enough of Rampage's complaining with the UFC (Fight Opinion) "Rampage's comments have raised key issues regarding Testosterone usage in MMA and also the role of doctors and alleged relationships with the UFC. This is his own doing, for better or for worse, and Rampage clearly thinks he's on the right end of this PR battle. With that as the latest background, fighter agent Mike Kogan has had enough of Rampage's act. Here's what he posted on Twitter on Saturday night." - SEC files order against Pro Elite (MMA Payout) In terms of ProElite and the SEC filing, Stratus Media Group (parent group of ProElite) CEO Paul Feller told MMAPayout that this "does not impact the daily operations of ProElite", as it is a "total separate matter carried over from the old Pro Elite group." He went on to state that "We're doing all the necessary paperwork required to comply with the SEC and to lift the temporary hold placed on ProElite." Feller expects a resolution to the matter in a "very short time frame" - Chris Horodecki prepping for featherweight debut (BleacherReport.com/MMA) "All my fights have been at 155 but I need to make that transition, you know. I feel making 155 was too easy and, you know what, these guys at 155 are getting really, really big. There's no reason I shouldn't be a contender at 145." - Prindle - Santos pulled once again for Bellator 62 (MMA Convert) - Interview with BAMMA middleweight champion Tom Watson (Fightline) "After the last fight I had quite a bit of contact with Sean Shelby of Strikeforce. Everything is about timing in this business and the best thing that I can do is go out and win this fight against Marshman on March 24. The more I win, the more in demand I will be and from there I can negotiate and see what's next. Strikeforce has a couple quality middleweights to face: Luke Rockhold, Tim Kennedy and Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza" - TUF Brazil debuts online this Sunday night (Five Ounces of Pain) - The Jon Bones Jones revolution - One year later (5thRound)

Posted in: fight, mma, rampage, proelite, mike

MMA Windows 7 theme... Post if you have any wallpapers or themes!

I'm looking for a Windows 7 MMA theme... can't seem to find one. I know I can count on redditors! submitted by naterspotaters [link] [comment]

Posted in: mma, window, naterspotaters link, theme, themes im

MMA Uncensored Live Discussion - 3/22

Join us at Bloody Elbow to discuss tonight's episode of MMA Uncensored Live, which airs on Spike at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT. Hosts Nate Quarry, Craig Carton and Mike Straka will discuss a wide range of MMA topics. The show has been a bit uneven so far, but there has been one bright spot - MMA Fighting's Luke Thomas. And according to Mr. Thomas he will be in not one, but TWO segments on this week's show. That's worth tuning in for, right? For those of you that missed the first few episodes, this is how co-host Nate Quarry describes the show: "More than anything, it's less of a sports reporting show talking about the scores that just happened and more of an opinion piece. It's a lot more like a forum than it is a news show. You know when you go to the forums and there's about 90% sh*t talking and 10% intelligence? We're hoping to raise the bar closer to 15%," Quarry quipped. Besides The Beard, UFC 145 main eventer Rashad Evans will be a guest on tonight's episode. So tune in and speak your piece here.

Posted in: mma, show, episode, tonights episode, mma topics

Pro MMA Radio 190: Jake Ellenberger

We have partnered with Pro MMA Radio to bring you weekly replays of PMR as the official radio show of MMAConvert.com. Pro MMA Radio can be heard live every Monday evening at 9pm ET/6pm PT. Replays and podcasts of every show are available 24/7 by going to the “Replay Corner” section of ProMMARadio.com, our own Pro MMA Radio page or by clicking the banner below. On this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio, Jake Ellenberger joined the show to talk about his win over Diego Sanchez, his upcoming fight against Martin Kampmann and his thoughts on the UFC welterweight title picture. MMA Mania’s Jesse Holland also stopped by to talk about all the latest news in MMA with host Larry Pepe. You can listen to a replay of this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio by clicking the banner below. A radio player with links to the show’s archives will open in a pop-up window, so please make sure your browser is set to allow pop-ups for this site.

Posted in: mma, show, replay, radio, mma radio

Brydon on MMA: A new type of rodeo

Calgary will get its first taste of the UFC live in late July and by the looks of things, it's going to be quite a party.

Posted in: ufc, mma, brydon, taste, rodeo calgary

5 Oz. MMA Link Club

Welcome back to another edition of “MMA Link Club”, Five Ounces of Pain‘s weekly smorgasbord of offerings from our brothers and sisters in the MMA community. Enjoy… Ronda Rousey Headed for ESPN’s “Body” Issue (CagePotato.com) Randy Couture Has No Regrets in his Career (MMAConvert.com) Dana White Intent on Doing Anderson Silva-Chael Sonnen II in Soccer Stadium (5thRound.com) BAMMA Champ Tom Watson Could Be Headed for Strikeforce (Fightline.com) Alexander Gustafsson Says Losing to Thiago Silva is “Impossible” (MiddleEasy.com) Felice Herrig Talks Upcoming XFC Fight (FightNerd.com) Jake Shields Reflects on Win Over Yoshihiro Akiyama (HeavyMMA.com) Bellator Hits Ratings Snag (MMAPayout.com) NSAC’s Keith Kizer Talks TRT (FightOpinion.com) Joe Rogan Asked by FOX to Tone Commentary Down (BleacherReport.com) Sergei Kharitonov vs. Pig Carcass – Who Ya Got? (LowKick.com) Dana White Says Dan Henderson Doesn’t Want Mauricio Rua Rematch (MMAMania.com) PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE/UFC

Posted in: mma, mma community, thiago silva, pain ‘s, tone commentary

Medical Beat: In MMA, now is the time to consider fighter safety

MMAjunkie.com medical columnist and consultant Dr. Johnny Benjamin hopes some fans can look at MMA in a new light. As an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Benjamin has seen the carnage that results from "leaving it all on the field" - especially after athletes conclude their careers in contact and contact sports. While out of sight is often out of mind for many MMA fans, it's never been more important to pay careful consideration to fighter safety as the sport continues its evolution.

Posted in: mma, sport, mma fans, fighter safety, contact sports

Dallas Cowboy DeMarco Murray Crosses Over

"BAD BOY Brands Intl Inc, a leading action sports and mixed martial arts lifestyle brand, announced today the multi-year sponsorship of Dallas Cowboys Rookie running back sensation DeMarco Murray."Murray is a longtime fan and practitioner of mixed martial arts (MMA). 'Like many professional athletes, I realized that MMA training is the best way to stay in shape during the NFL off-season' said Murray. 'I’ve always been a fan of MMA and respected the world-class athletes associated with the sport. I began training MMA a few years ago, and quickly realized the increases in my strength, quickness, and agility.'Read full press release

Posted in: mma, arts mma, sport i, athletes i, action sports

Showdown on MMA: Triple header

The UFC announced a triple header of Canadian shows scheduled for 2012 and it's a big deal for MMA in Canada.

Posted in: ufc, mma, deal, canada, header

Randy Couture: 'I wish I could have fought Fedor Emelianenko when we were at our peak'

Since retiring from the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) last year after his loss to Lyoto Machida at UFC 129 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Randy Couture hasn't been seen around the fight scene very often. That's probably because the former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight Champion has been busy rubbing elbows with Hollywood's top stars over in "Tinsel Town," such as Tim Allen, Kevin Pollack, Vinnie Jones, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone, just to name a few. Couture has three films that are scheduled to be released in theaters this year which includes, "Geezers!" "Hijacked," and of course the action-packed sequel, "The Expendables 2." When not filming, "The Natural" is making the rounds promoting his new work in the world of literature with his new book titled, "The Last Round," which details his days leading up to his final training camp up until his final fight against 'The Dragon." Far from taking it slow since stepping down from the sport he's competed in for over 15 years, Couture took the time to talk to The Score about retiring, his son Ryan Couture's blossoming fight career and not ever having the chance to fight the great Fedor Emelianenko. Check it out: "Absolutely, I think it was the right decision for me and I think nowadays it's a rare thing as an athlete to get to go out on your own terms and choose when your last fight is going to be and not have somebody else tell you can't do it anymore, either for injury or if you sustained a couple of losses in the sport of MMA and everybody's chattering that you should retire, especially at 48. So I kind of chose that this was going to be the last one, win, lose or draw and I am very comfortable with the decision." Though Randy won't be making a return like he did after his first retirement, the Couture name will live on in the world of MMA, especially with his son Ryan prospering early on in his fight career: "He is certainly on the right track. This was a big step up in competition for him. Conor Heun is no slouch, he is a very, very good fighter. He's been around a while, he's fought some top guys like K.J. Noons and others, so most people saw Ryan as the underdog going into this fight. He had a great camp, it was fun to see the peak for him coming on and then to go out and have the performance that he had. I think it's only going to get tougher for him from here on out and I think he is up for it. He's a smart kid, he does the work, he is very diligent and he has a strong passion for the sport." Finally, Couture talked about the dream match, both he and fans the world over wanted but never came to light against "The Last Emperor," Fedor Emelianenko: "Nah, I mean, things work out the way they are supposed to work out. I got so many examples of that in my life. It just never worked out, and you know, it is what it is. I don't have any regrets. I wish then when we were both kind of at our peak, if it would have happened it would have been something special, the cards didn't just come out that way." Indeed a fight between Couture and Fedor would have been a doozy, but, sadly, we are left with only the "what ifs?" With his film career taking off, do not expect a return to the Octagon from the multi-division champion. And why should he return? He has done more than enough for the sport and seems to be doing rather well for himself away from the MMA spotlight.

Posted in: fight, mma, sport, fedor, he

Ken Shamrock Talks Dana White and TRT on The MMA Hour

Posted in: mma, hour, shamrock, talk, ken

UFC Iran and the Remarkable Expansion of Asian MMA

When I first began to take a serious interest in mixed martial arts (MMA) around eight years ago (yes I am prepared to admit I didn't get into it by watching UFC 1), I remember seeing something which I assumed was a spoof called 'UFC Iran.' The person making the posters seemed to have deliberately set out to violate as many copyrights as possible, this one is my personal favorite. The fact that the website is still going strong would seem to indicate that the UFC, a company which is known to protect its brand at all costs, is not taking it too seriously either. Visit the website ww.ufciran.ir and see for yourself, it all seems a bit, well, Borat. Regardless of whether UFC Iran is real, and I am very much keeping an open mind, my reaction to it has completely changed. In 2004 I sniggered but in 2012 I want to know who the fighters are, what type of martial arts background they come from and whether any of them would be ready to step up and fight for a major international promotion. The explosion in Asian MMA has only really occurred in the last couple of years but it is gathering momentum at a quite remarkable speed. Take Kuala Lumpur for instance, the capital city of Malaysia didn't even have any schools or academies teaching MMA in 2010, now there are four camps there, Muayfit, Leverage MMA, Majestic MMA and Sparta Muay Thai & MMA which are all mainly MMA orientated. To the best of my knowledge there had not been an MMA event in Malaysia before 2010. I am sure that locals could correct me on this point but I am not aware of anything listed on Sherdog. In the last 12 months there have been at least nine, most of them hosted by Malaysian Fighting Championship. In neighboring Thailand, MMA is going from strength to strength and it is not just amongst tourists who visit camps like Tiger Muay Thai, Legacy Gym, 301 Muay Thai, Phuket Top Team or the recently constructed Team Quest. Thai universities are also starting to offer MMA training and put on MMA fights with barely a foreign face in sight. DARE Championship is only four events old, it would be five were it not for last year's flooding in Bangkok, but is already a promotion which exudes stability. Tiger Muay Thai was the first camp to set up shop and is extremely successful but many more are following in its footsteps and Thailand is becoming a training destination of choice for many of the world's best mixed martial artists. The UFC Iran champion shows off his belt Countries such as India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka all have their own domestic promotions. Whether the SFL's attempt to combine Bollywood and combat sport is a success remains to be seen but Full Contact Championship, Pak Fight Club and Colombo Fight Night are hopefully here to stay. The Middle East also has Dessert Force in Jordan and the recently formed Dubai Fighting Championship while China has Ruff, which is going from strength to strength, Legend FC which has been around since early 2010, and plenty of Chinese run promotions. The Philippines only has one promotion, although Guam's PXC does put on the occasional card there. The URCC has been around for an entire decade and it's owners will have witnessed first hand the recent growth which has occurred elsewhere as some of it's champions like Eduard Folayang and Kevin Belingon have gone on to become internationally acclaimed. Nowhere has the explosion of interest in MMA been more spectacular than Singapore. It is home to both the biggest promotion and the most successful mixed martial arts academy in Asia. Neither Evolve MMA nor ONE Fighting Championship existed in 2007 but both are now world renowned multimillion dollar businesses. Japan once led the way but it is now in danger of being left behind, Dream doesn't have a show scheduled and has been eclipsed in Asian MMA by ONE FC which will be putting on events in at least four different countries this year. Everywhere else things seem to be happening at a remarkable rate of speed with dramatic developments occurring every week. There have even been professional MMA events held in Afghanistan, although admittedly not organized by locals. The sport is spreading so fast in Asia that even the UFC cannot keep up and for all their talk of breaking into new territories they don't have a single event scheduled to take place in this continent at present. That leaves the market wide open for a pan Asian promotion such as One FC to step in and capitalize as well as giving the numerous domestic promotions plenty of time to build a local fan base without having to worry about competing directly with the most successful MMA organization in history. When I first heard about UFC Iran I was sure it was a joke. I still don't know whether it is real or not but the idea that there might be a professional MMA promotion putting on events in Iran doesn't seem so funny anymore. www.twitter.com/jamesgoyder

Posted in: ufc, mma, promotion, event, iran

MMA Roundtable: Is It Really The End for Tito, UFC's All-Heavyweight Card, More

Another week is going by without a UFC event. Are you getting twitchy yet? In case a steady diet of Bellator and TUF Live aren't satisfying your craving for all things MMA, my colleague Luke Thomas and I decided to head on down to the trusty MMA Roundtable (it exists, just in a secret location) and debate a few of the topics in the news. Among this week's offerings: will Tito Ortiz's just announced match with Forrest Griffin really be his last, what should we make of UFC's upcoming all-heavyweight main card, and who's going to win the war for MMA souls in Asia. Let's get to it. 1. Will UFC 148 match truly be Tito Ortiz's last?Luke Thomas: Yes, and not a moment too soon.Fans are rightfully bellyaching about the UFC 148 rubber match between former light-heavyweight champions Ortiz and Forrest Griffin. No one outside of Ortiz and Griffin themselves asked for this bout. That isn't to say it won't necessarily be competitive or offer some other measure of entertainment. It's just that both fighters are thoroughly known quantities. We know their strengths, weaknesses, tendencies and habits. This bout does nothing to illuminate new, relevant information about them as fighters. We won't get anything new. We know how this movie ends.If anything, it suggests both are basically out of ideas (Ortiz much more so than Griffin). Ortiz campaigned hard for this fight and has previously indicated it would serve as a retirement match. Ortiz believes the fight is winnable or that he could be entertaining enough to grab a bonus check in a losing effort. That fact alone suggests he knows he needs to exit before things get worse. He also knows his drawing power as an attraction has been badly eroded and outside of Griffin, there's really no one left to fight that makes sense for either combatant. Ortiz needs a port in the storm. He knows it, the UFC knows it and so do the fans. The uncomfortable truth is that it's not clear fighting Griffin - who is still very competitive - is really any sort of shelter.The reality is this: Ortiz has done enough for himself and for MMA. He doesn't need my sanctioning or anyone else's personal approval. He's one of the most important figures in the history of the sport. However, that most of his accomplishments which contributed to making him the figure he is today took place many, many years ago should be a reminder the sun is quickly setting on his career. Once more into the breach, dear Tito.Mike Chiappetta: Most likely it will be his last fight. But let me paint you an alternate scenario: If Ortiz upsets Griffin, he can point to a 2-2 record in his last four fights. Not riveting, but not terrible, either, with wins coming against a former UFC champ and a young buck in Ryan Bader. You're telling me he's going to want to exit stage left that way? The thing that may ultimately cause him to call it quits is that despite all his ups and downs with the UFC, Ortiz is a company man at heart. There's few viable alternatives for him, either. With all due respect to Ortiz's fight career, I don't think Bellator will want to pony up big bucks for him, and most promotions couldn't dream of paying the money he'd ask for in free agency. He's not going to be Peyton Manning with multiple suitors throwing big bucks at him. Unless some ambitious, international startup league fires major money his way, UFC 148 will be the end for Tito.2. Is UFC 146's all-heavyweight main card a good idea?Chiappetta: No, not a good idea; a great idea. Remember back to the announcement of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix? The opening round in February 2011 remains the highest-rated Strikeforce/Showtime broadcast ever, with almost 750,000 viewers tuning in to watch. There may be better talent elsewhere in the UFC -- as a matter of fact, there most certainly is -- but there's something about the heavyweights that lures us in. It's probably the rising possibility of spectacular knockouts. But as an added bonus, the main card fights on UFC 146 actually matter. Not only is the heavyweight championship on the line between Junior Dos Santos and Alistair Overeem, but Cain Velasquez will have a chance to return into top contender status, Mark Hunt looks to continue his improbable rise, and solid prospect Shane del Rosario gets a featured slot. All in all, it's a great way to re-launch the division shortly after the retirement of Brock Lesnar, who was one of the biggest draws in MMA history. Thomas: It's risky. The payoff can either be huge or audiences will tire of what could become sloppy, quick fights.I tend to think my colleague is right here. UFC clearly recognized the attention Strikeforce generated with it's Heavyweight Grand Prix and wanted to recreate it. A tournament in MMA these days seems destined for failure, but if they can make something like that happen on a single fight card, why not? And as Mike rightly points out, there are bouts of significance on the card. It's not just blood and guts. It's title fights and number-one contender bouts.It should also be pointed out this is the single-greatest fight card in MMA history showcasing ranked heavyweight talent. RINGS was a great tournament, but never had one card like this. PRIDE obviously had a deep roster, but nothing that matched the ranked depth of this heavyweight fight card.We'll see how things turn out, but so far it looks like the UFC has managed to add novelty to this card without being gimmicky. To keep that balance as fighters get injured and replacements are needed will prove tricky. And they have to keep their fingers crossed that the action delivers on fight night in the best way possible. If the UFC has demonstrated anything, it's that they're good about taking appropriate risks while hedging their bets. I believe they've achieved that balance and I can't wait to see it unfold.3. With One FC in southeast Asia, RUFF in China and Super Fight League in India, who will win the battle of Asia?Thomas: The far East is like the wild West right now. Regional promoters, some with intriguing products and others of dubious value, are trying to cash in on MMA's growth by getting out in front of the curve. Will MMA really take off in Asia as it has in North and parts of South America? Obviously some of the ingredients are there, but it's still very much an open question.If I had to single out a promotion that seems to be ahead of it's peers, it's ONE FC. They've got a lot going for them: strong TV deals, a home base in a developed economy, a network of gyms, a relatively strong roster, organizational resources and more. That isn't to say other organizations like URCC or RUFF MMA aren't doing interesting work. Perhaps our Western bias isn't allowing us to see the lay of the land more clearly. It's still precariously early in this process to try highlighting a clubhouse leader.For me, the key consideration is whether pan-Asian domination is even possible. I can envision a scenario where one regional promoter clearly demonstrates their superior infrastructure, box office drawing power and even a better product, but could be hindered by geographical limitations. Is it so hard to imagine India's Super Fight League having the comparative advantage in India over ONE FC, but ONE FC being a larger and even better MMA organization, head to head? Not really. Asia is a wildly diverse place and that we unite this vast geographical, cultural expanse with a single term only hinders our ability to understand what's going on. Whether any organization can become a hegemonic power - even the UFC - seems far from certain. But it will be fun to watch them compete.Chiappetta: One FC has been impressive so far, but I think the promotion with the best long-term potential is China's RUFF. Why? For one, the league has the government's blessing to promote MMA as a sanctioned sport in China, no small thing in a communist country, let alone one of over 1.3 billion with growing economic clout, most of whom grew up practicing some type of martial art.One word of caution here is that RUFF has only produced two events thus far, with the third set to go this weekend. Early returns are strong though, as RUFF has already secured Nike and Ducati as sponsors. The potential audience is huge, but of course with that the case, others will show up attempting to take market share. Super Fight League is the newest of the three offerings, so it's hard to project their future success, but their theme song is… well… yeah.4. TUF Live ratings: What do the relatively low numbers mean?Chiappetta: The first two weeks of the rebooted Ultimate Fighter franchise haven't delivered huge ratings, with 1.3 million fans tuning in for the premiere, and that number dipping to 1.1 million for the second episode. But let's not start pressing the panic button just yet. We need to take into account the fact that TUF not only changed formats, it switched nights and networks. That's a lot of change, and so it's possible that some of the audience hasn't found it yet. Add in the fact that on the same night, TUF's old home at Spike is hosting repeat episodes hosted by Kimbo Slice, and on MTV2, Bellator has live events, and you can see that the MMA audience has been effectively fractured.That's not to say there shouldn't be some worry. TUF has faced some ratings difficulties in recent seasons, with even the season that featured Brock Lesnar struggling at times. The new "jive-live" format was an attempt to freshen things up, but perhaps the lower numbers simply prove that after 15 seasons, the show has peaked. Given the show's still impressive demographic pull, that's not exactly an indictment.Thomas: I'm mostly with Mike here. The ratings in and of themselves aren't great - and signs that they decline over the course of the show's airing are worrisome - but panicking at this juncture seems premature.As UFC President Dana White has indicated, TUF: Live is on Friday nights because FOX wants them there. And if you look at FX's ratings in that timeslot this time last year, the UFC has dramatically improved them. That's nothing to scoff at. If FOX is happy and FX is performing above the previous status quo, that's a reason to smile.Conversely, though, there are structural problems. The live format was designed to make the show destination programming ('DVR proof'), but it's not clear that's working. There's also the inherent and seemingly inescapable problem that with the growth of regional MMA and promoters like Bellator who cater to rising prospects, it's increasingly difficult to find talent anyone knows or cares about. MMA is a star-driven sport, so it's hard to get ratings for a show with a bunch of mostly anonymous figures. UFC and FX went back to the drawing board with this season of TUF. That's not easy and they deserve credit for coming up with a novel approach. It's just not clear that facelifts or even renovations are really going to return the show back to it's glory days.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, ortiz, card

Brilliant MMA highlight reel.

submitted by PuddlePonders [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: mma, reel, puddleponder

Luke Thomas Lists 2012 NCAA Division I Wrestlers He'd Like To See In MMA

Anyone working within the MMA media for the past 7 days shouldn't have failed to notice the increased coverage of collegiate wrestling this year compared to years past. I feel that we in particular among the SBNation community of websites offered the most comprehensive and frequent coverage out there, including Bloody Elbow's former editor-in-chief and current MMA Fighting senior editor, Luke Thomas. The coverage of the 2012 NCAA Division I wrestling championship wasn't arbitrary, either, as it was a way of giving back to the sport that has been the quintessential back bone of Mixed Martial Arts, while also providing a glimpse at potential future prospects. At MMA Fighting, Luke Thomas does just this in his NCAA to MMA Wrestling Draft: The development of the relationship between collegiate wrestling and MMA is both organic and inevitable. As high-level wrestlers consider their future, the path towards MMA becomes increasingly intriguing as it does actionable. As old teammates take the plunge and demonstrate success, a new crop of wrestlers become aware of and interested in the intriguing career path. This all naturally raises the question: who could conceivably cross over? Thomas hits on many of the 'All Americans' I myself have considered as candidates for a career in MMA, some of whom I believe have what it takes to become future contenders and even champions in years to come. Head on over to MMA Fighting now via the link above and find out some of the names fight fans should be keeping an eye on. Stay tuned to Bloody Elbow this year as we continue to bring you exposure to the foundation arts of MMA, as we have the Olympic trials next month, and we'll have the World IBJJF Jiu Jistu Championships and the Olympics coming up this summer.

Posted in: mma, year, luke thomas, thoma, foundation arts

How's Taste My Tweet Tweet? MMA on Twitter - Brendan Schaub's Phone, Will It Blend?

A few updates on what's been going on in the MMA & UFC Twitterverse WILL IT BLEND? "Have you ever wondered what would happen if you put @BrendanSchaub's 40,000 Twitter followers in a blender?" -UFC There's a ton of tweets after the jump, but first, don't forget to follow me on twitter: @antontabuena Oh, and these guys are probably worth following as well: The Official BloodyElbow Twitter Account, Luke Thomas, Kid Nate, Brent Brookhouse, Richard Wade, Chris Barton, Damon O, Scott Broussard, Tim Burke, Matt Bishop, Fraser Coffeen, Dallas Winston, KJ Gould, Ben Thapa, Josh Nason, T.P. Grant. RANDOM TWIDBITS "I know Ima bigger dude, but I LOVE watching people bigger than me try to fit into airplane seats." -Matt Mitrione ‏ "Long arms are awesome for fighting. Not so much when trying to find dress shirts. 17.5 neck...38 sleeve. Fffffffffffuuuu..." -Josh Barnett ‏ "Just took a hot shower while drinking an ice blended dark chocolate latte - that's one kickass combo - I'm gunna do it again tomorrow!" -Ronda Rousey ‏ "Guy at the hotel lobby just called me Mr Lebowski after I showed him my bowling license! Hysterical!!!" -Clay Guida "Kids are finally asleep! Time for some #WalkingDead" -Cung Le "so rampage talks shit and rants gets both his knees paid for by UFC meanwhile @KingMoFH is drowning in bills and no one cares" -Mike Kogan GATOR IS CUTE, BUT IF I WAS TRAINING ON THOSE MATS, I'D BE WORRIED "Yeah, I trane @ufc. http://yfrog.com/0ojcaxz" -Gator Hotdog, Mayhem's dog. YES, MORE RING GIRLS "New Tuf live tonight on FX time to work it!" -Arianny Celesete "Happy Friday! Zoo magazine out now in the UK ;)" -Arianny Celesete "Jameson on the rocks" -Brittney Palmer "Are you ready for the best of Asian MMA? ONE FC Ring Girl Park Si Hyun is ready. Take a look." -ONE FC SOME DUDE IN DRAG WHO LOOKS A LOT LIKE JON JONES "Damn! Jon Jones is always trying 2 one up me! I take a pic with a wig on & he goes full drag on me! Fine bro" -Rashad Evans HONDA HOUSEY! "Pictures from this month's issue of fitness rx for women... Another fitness rx for women shot... And another-Seriously pick up the march fitness rx for women to see pictures if training, etc,its a pretty cool spread" -Ronda Rousey "Post fight in the now-infamous shorts" -Ronda Rousey CHAEL SONNEN TELLS NEW YORK TO LEGALIZE MMA

Posted in: ufc, mma, jon jones, twitter, fitness rx

Morning Report: Man vs. Woman MMA Matches, Brendan Schaub's Phone Gets Blended

If we can, let's look back a couple weeks to March 2, 2012. Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey are doing their thing, Strikeforce weigh-ins go off without a hitch, and then Bryan Caraway says some unfortunate things about knocking Rousey's teeth in. Now, as a man, making public statements about beating women probably isn't the smartest idea. But a funny thing happens the next night. Miesha Tate's arm is nearly snapped in half. Twice. And a minor debate pops up in the MMA community: could Rousey actually defeat Caraway? Of course, the arguments were purely speculative, because sanctioned MMA matches between men and women could never happen. But, that's not entirely true. 5 MUST-READ STORIES Fort Hood Combatives tournament featured Man vs. Woman MMA matches. Recent matches at Fort Hood's U.S. Army Combative Championships featured no gender divisions, meaning men and women were pitted against each other. Anthony Pettis to undergo surgery, out eight weeks. According to intrepid journalist Chael P. Sonnen, "Showtime" will be out for eight weeks due to upcoming surgery, and when he comes back, it'll be at 155 pounds. Ian McCall vs. Demetrious Johnson rematch official. Uncle Creepy vs. Mighty Mouse for the flyweight semi-finals has been added to UFC on FX 3, which is slated for June 8, 2012. About that Mirko Cro Cop retiring thing, yeah, that may not be true. Cro Cop revealed he may be over the retirement hump and mulling a return to K-1 or MMA. The wrestling draft: which NCAA stars are headed for MMA? Luke Thomas takes a look at today's best collegiate wrestlers and graduating seniors who could possibly make the leap to MMA stardom. MEDIA STEW If you've never seen the 'Will It Blend' series, here's a quick rundown. A guy in a lab coat named Tom puts things in a blender and turns it on. Sounds simple enough. Anyway, Tom and Ecko teamed up to play a little prank on Johny Hendricks and Brendan Schaub. Schaub's slow transition from laid back guy to raging 250-pound man is impressive. Here's an example of those Fort Hood U.S. Army Combative Championships inter-gender matches we were talking about earlier. Man vs. Woman in the tournament final. (HT: Bloody Elbow) We're not really sure what the hell this is, but here you go. (HT: Reddit) Chael Sonnen, Pat Miletich, Renzo Gracie and our own Ariel Helwani explain how silly it is for New York to ban MMA. Let's be honest. Some of you out there have probably thought about smashing Justin Beiber's face. Well that's never going to happen, but you can imagine what it'd look like with this Complex photo gallery. (HT: Middle Easy) DIAZ BEING DIAZ Condit Kicks vs Real Leg Strikes: youtu.be/7VuAQaXsqsw via @youtube:( — nick diaz (@nickdiaz209) March 21, 2012 EVEN THE WOMEN IN THAT ROOM COULD BREAK YOUR FACE The brazilian verzion of the reality show The Ultimate Fighter is about to start it. Everyone is excited to see it! twitter.com/ToquinhoMMA/st… — Rousimar Palhares (@ToquinhoMMA) March 20, 2012 FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS Announced yesterday (Tuesday, March 20, 2012): - UFC on FX 3: Ian McCall (11-2-1) vs. Demetrious Johnson (14-2-1) - UFC on FX 3: Dustin Pague (10-5) vs. Jared Papazian (14-7) - UFC on FUEL 3: Igor Pokrajac (24-8) vs. Fabio Maldonado (18-4) confirmed as co-main event - Super Fight League 2: Todd Duffee (6-2) vs. Neil Grove (11-5-1) - Super Fight League 2: Paul Kelly (12-4) vs. Gabe Ruediger (17-8) - Super Fight League 2: Alexander Shlemenko (44-7) vs. Ikuhisa "Minowaman" Minowa (52-33-8) FANPOST OF THE DAY Today's Fanpost of the Day comes from Morning Report regular, Hobbie: Ortiz vs. Griffin: The Redheaded Step-Child of MMA Trilogies The truth is that for most fans, the Ortiz/Griffin series is the redheaded stepchild of MMA trilogies. These guys are like bad in-laws: they're old, rich, have a laundry list of injuries, and show up once every few years to make your life miserable. This lukewarm fan reaction is utterly mystifying to me, pretty much for the reasons I mentioned above. It's another strange MMA phenomenon I don't understand, like the compulsion to chant "USA! USA!" at any foreigner, or insisting on excitement>winning when it comes to liking fighters while at the same time claiming that anyone with consecutive losses is over the hill and should retire. Individually, these guys are two of the most popular fighters in the UFC today. Despite both guys being outside the title picture, they still get strong reactions from fans whenever they fight. There's really no scenario where fans wouldn't be excited to watch these two guys fight - unless it's with each other. Found something perfect for the Morning Report? Just hit me on Twitter @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in tomorrow's post.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, guy, vs

Oh no Mirko! | Cro Cop Fielding Offers For More Kickboxing & MMA Fights

submitted by xKrazExMNUx [link] [2 comments]

Posted in: fight, mma, kickboxing, mirko, cop

Greg Jackson: MMA 101

Renowned MMA coach Greg Jackson breaks down the basics of MMA training.

Posted in: mma, jackson, coach, training, greg

Fort Hood Combatives Tournament Featured Man vs Woman MMA Matches

The Army Combatives Program is the close combat program taken by all members of the U.S. Army. It starts out with simple grappling positions but gets as advanced as integration of strikes, grappling, submissions and weapon systems available to soldiers. While hand-to-hand combat is not a deciding factor in many modern battles that are fought with firearms, the Army firmly believes that hand-to-hand training not only saves lives it also instills an aggression and confidence in soldiers that is invaluable. Competitions are offered as a way for soldiers to sharpen their skills and pass hours. Combative Championships take place over three days. The first day is grappling, the second combatants meet under pancrase rules where striking is allowed on the feet but not on the ground. The final day they face each other in amateur MMA matches. Those who are able to advance to the later rounds of the tournament are afforded special privileges when they return to their units. Bloody Elbow Coverage of Military Martial Arts ProgramsAll-Army Combatives Tournament Through the Eyes of a Civilian | History of Combatives Program The matches at Fort Hood weren't terribly different from regional grappling and MMA matches held all over the country. What the soldiers lacked in skill they more than make up with enthusiasm and effort. One difference is that there are no white belt division or an athletic commission to make sure a rookie isn't overmatched in his first fight. Weight-classes are observed for basic safety and competitive reasons, but a teenager fresh out of basic could face a veteran solider with many years of combative training. The reasoning being that soldiers don't get to pick or choose their enemy and could be faced with an expert hand-to-hand fighter on their first combat mission, so soldiers must be prepared to face combatants that could be more skilled than themselves. There are no age division for that same reason. Also there are no gender divisions; female competitors must face men. The once allowance made is that women are allowed up to a 10 lb weight advantage. Women vs men matches are a fairly common occurrence at these tournaments. David S. Cloud of the L.A. Times covered this event putting a particular MMA match between a man and women in the foreground of the on-going debate on the role of women in combat units. He described a fight between a female solider Walker faced a male solider named Langarica: As the fighters pranced and paraded before the first round, Walker noticed Langarica's smirk "I was mad because he was smiling, like, 'Oh, she's going to be easy,' " she said later. When the horn blared, she charged out of her corner and unleashed a flurry of jabs that sent him backpedaling. She slammed him to the mat and straddled him, clamping on a chokehold. Langarica thrashed and kicked, finally escaping.The crowd roared for more. "Come on, Sgt. Walker!" yelled an Army colonel dressed in fatigues. "You can do it!" In the second round, Langarica regained the momentum. He started landing blows that made Walker wince. Her energy flagged. She leaned against the cage and finally dropped to the mat. She was carried out on a stretcher, her eyes rolled back in her head... Langarica was magnanimous in victory. He hadn't beaten a woman, he said. "It was a warrior." While the majority of the time the woman loose their matches it is not unheard of for women to defeat, even dominate, male soldiers. It is not something we will ever see in the sporting side of MMA. The idea of sport is to create even playing fields to determine who is the best and most skillful fighter. For the Army, the Combatives Program is about survival and important lessons can be learned in defeat. Even as the debate about women in combat rages on, they will always have a place in Combatives. The Army posted the videos of the event and here is the fight described by Cloud: (February 2012 Combatives 2nd half via forthood)

Posted in: mma, women, combative, army, soldier

Bellator 61: 108,000 viewers

MMA Junkie reports that Bellator 61 ratings for this past Friday almost hit a record low with an average of just 108,000 viewers. The ratings reflect the impact of March Madness added to the jammed MMA lineup on Fridays. The 108,000 viewership average is the second lowest for Bellator on MTV2. Bellator 53 in October 2011 received just 103,000 viewers. Bellator 60: 169,000 viewers Bellator 61: 108,000 Payout Perspective: Obviously the first weekend of the NCAA tournament did damage to the ratings of all MMA programming Friday night as this past week/weekend is one of the most watched sporting events of the year. One would have to hope that Bellator should bounce back after the tournament ends. One positive Bellator can takeaway from Friday night’s show was the highlight flying knee from Brian Rogers. The YouTube clip of it has garnered 312,302 views as of this writing which engulfs the number of actual viewers of the card. This bodes well for Rogers and for Bellator to promote him in his next fight. Via MMA Weekly

Posted in: bellator, mma, viewer, friday, mma lineup

The Wrestling Draft: Which NCAA Stars Are Headed for MMA?

More than any year is previous history, 2012 featured real connectivity between the collegiate wrestling and MMA worlds. As this year's NCAA Division I national wrestling championships unfolded, the eyes of the MMA world watched to see who won, lost, made a name for themselves or announced interest in pursuing a career as a professional mixed martial artist. The development of the relationship between collegiate wrestling and MMA is both organic and inevitable. As high-level wrestlers consider their future, the path towards MMA becomes increasingly intriguing as it does actionable. As old teammates take the plunge and demonstrate success, a new crop of wrestlers become aware of and interested in the intriguing career path. This all naturally raises the question: who could conceivably cross over? Getting a list together of those top collegiate wrestlers who are considering MMA can be tricky. Many want to try their hand at the next level of wrestling before deciding if MMA is right for them. It's rare to find a graduating senior both clear on their intent to fight and vocal about the intention given many simply do not know. In addition, those who do wish to go into MMA will often keep their plans secret in an effort to not ruffle the feathers of coaches who want their wrestlers strictly focused on winning national titles. For now, this is how many of today's best collegiate wrestlers and graduating seniors are looking ahead: 1. Chris Honeycutt The senior out of Edinboro is a sure thing. He's openly declared his intention to enter mixed martial arts now that his wrestling career is over. And his entrance should be exciting. Wrestling at 197 pounds, Honeycutt is a bulldozer. He's a talented wrestler, but relies on his physical strength and athleticism for some of his success. He has an excellent double leg and finishes takedowns with authority. Those are key ingredients for success. It should also be noted UFC welterweight Josh Koscheck is a graduate of the same university. MMA Fighting has learned there are top MMA teams interested in Honeycutt, however, there is no known connection between Honeycutt and Koscheck at this time. 2. David Taylor Without equivocation, the Penn State sophomore is the best wrestler in all of college wrestling irrespective of weight class. It's frankly hard to overstate just how outstanding he is. Were it not for him falling short against Arizona State University's Bubba Jenkins in the finals of the 2011 NCAA wrestling championships, Taylor likely would match his coach Cael Sanderson's achievement of never having lost a single wrestling match in college. Penn State officials declined to comment to MMA Fighting on the plans of Taylor, stating only the standout wrestler is merely a sophomore and "let's let [him] enjoy college for a while." Fair enough. Still, Taylor is incontestably the biggest prize, either for the sport of mixed martial arts or USA Wrestling. Taylor isn't necessarily a physical specimen, but is nearly technically flawless in every dimension of the game. His wrestling IQ is off the charts and as aforementioned, some experts believe he won't lose again in college. While MMA would be lucky to have him, the elite wrestling community will be doing everything in their power to make sure he represents the United States on the international stage. Who can blame them? 3. Kyle Dake Right behind PSU's David Taylor is Cornell University junior Kyle Dake. Last weekend, Dake become the first college wrestler in history to win three national titles in three different weight classes (141, 149 and most recently, 157 pounds). Like Taylor, Dake is incredibly tough everywhere. He's also lauded for having a remarkable degree of mental durability, drive and focus. Cornell University tells MMA Fighting Dake has no interest in MMA at this time. His post-collegiate path could follow Taylor's to the international arena or he may find himself with a host of coaching options. He could make as much or more money coaching at an elite Division I program than in MMA all while not taking potentially brain-rattling shots. One can hope Dake eventually reconsiders, but he's locked into wrestling for the foreseeable future. 4. Cam Simaz Like his counterpart at 157 pounds, Cornell University senior Cam Simaz won the national title this past weekend at 197 pounds. And like Kyle Dake, Cornell University officials tell MMA Fighting Simaz also has no interest in MMA at this time (it was coincidentally Simaz who defeated Edinboro's Honeycutt in a closely-contested final this year). The standard argument goes that almost any wrestler in the national NCAA Division I championship could perform well in MMA. That's probably true. Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans never even reached All-American status, and has not only achieved MMA's top honors, he did so beating other former wrestlers who had better collegiate credentials than he. One can also make the case that wrestling styles being good or bad predictive success in MMA are overblown. After all, Ben Askren and Phil Davis are hardly unstoppable power double, physical brutes. All of this is to say Simaz would likely be a successful MMA fighter if he so chose to be one. And he's on this list becomes MMA fans have expressed interest in him. Yet, he lacks both the physical style and seemingly the willingness to participate. Those are not necessarily the best raw materials for a wrestler turned fighter. 5. Bekzod Abdurakhmonov Clarion University's Abdurakhmonov is an interesting case. The graduating senior took third this year. What's notable about him, though, is his lineage. His brother, Muzaffir Abdurakhmonov, is 1-1 in MMA competition and was the wrestling coach to UFC lightweight Kenny Florian. Neither Clarion nor Abdurakhmonov responded to requests for comment, but sources tell MMA Fighting the graduating senior is likely looking to wrestle for his home country of Uzbekistan in freestyle after graduation. 6. Borislav Novachkov Novachkov is one to watch. The graduating senior took third this past year at 141 pounds and became a three-time All-American for Cal Poly in the process. That's the same Cal Poly that produced Chuck Liddell and Chad Mendes. Cal Poly officials tell MMA Fighting Novachkov is looking towards freestyle wrestling after graduation either for the U.S. or his native Bulgaria (he retains dual citizenship). However, sources also tell MMA Fighting Novachkov has ties to Mendes and while the Bulgarian hasn't formally trained at Team Alpha Male, the relationship is there to facilitate any entry into MMA. 7. Frank Molinaro This PSU senior at the moment does not have interest in MMA. School officials tell MMA Fighting he's not ruling out either competition in freestyle wrestling or coaching to stay involved in the sport. That's something Molinaro should reconsider. Ultimately, the wrestler should do what he prefers, but a career in MMA could service him well. ‘The Gorilla Hulk' has incredibly strong if not exactly diverse takedowns, is physically dominant and the mental fortitude to be more than a noteworthy MMA prospect. If he chooses wrestling, that's a fine decision. But he may soon find the MMA waters are more favorable given his unique talents. 8. Chris Perry Sources tell MMA Fighting the Oklahoma State junior is solely focused on winning a national championship his junior and senior years, but has considered MMA as a possible career option when his collegiate career is over. You'll note Perry comes from Oklahoma State, the most dominant collegiate program in college wrestling history. It's also a school with a who's who list of wrestling to MMA crossovers: Randy Couture, Frank Trigg, Johny Hendricks, Jake Rosholt, Shane Roller, Daniel Cormier and Muhammed Lawal among others. Coach John Smith, largely considered to be the greatest American wrestler ever, is likely looking to place an Olympic champion rather than UFC champion. His best chance in that effort is likely sophomore Jordan Oliver (who did not return a request for comment for this story). Perry is an immensely talented wrestler and could pursue international wrestling if he so chose, but could also make a splash pursuing the fight game. Time will tell which way he chooses. 9. Devin Carter Virginia Tech's top 133-pound wrestler didn't have the tournament this year he'd hoped for, but still earned All-American honors en route to taking fifth place. The sophomore is extraordinary athletic and when performing at his best, wrestles as dominantly as anyone in the division. Virginia Tech head coach Kevin Dresser - who told MMA Fighting he believes MMA is a good option for graduating wrestlers - said Carter has yet to express interest in post-collegiate plans and declined to speculate as to what Carter may choose. 10. Kellen Russell Along with Dake and Taylor, Russell is the third wrestler this year who will likely be heavily sought after by USA Wrestling. Russell is a two-time NCAA champion, three-time All-American and four-time Big Ten Champion senior out of the University of Michigan. Russell is arguably the most talented graduating senior in the entire nation. Some experts suggest Russell's style isn't necessarily suited for freestyle and there's no word on whether he has any interest in MMA. USA Wrestling will likely be looking to see what Russell can do against the world's best, but the Wolverine is too talented and too technical a wrestler for MMA audiences to ignore. Wild Cards Austin Trotman (Appalachian State University) Trotman put on one of the most unexpected and sensational performances of any wrestler in this year's tournament. Seeded ninth heading in, he ultimately win third place and did so by hitting a spectacular blast double on Robert Hamlin of Lehigh (who has seeded No. 2) in overtime. Trotman has everything you could potentially want in a MMA prospect from wrestling: supreme athleticism, ferocious takedowns and a mental fortitude second to none. Montell Marion (University of Iowa) The three-time All-American from Iowa continues to come up short in the NCAA tournament, but is consistently impressive. Of note: he is technically proficient everywhere and absolutely explodes off the whistle. The University of Iowa does not have a strong tradition of sending their elite wrestlers into MMA, but if Marion busts down those doors, many could follow. Cayle Byers, Jamal Parks (Oklahoma State) Byers, 174 pounds, and Parks, 149 pounds, are graduating seniors and both took third at this year's tournament. Both are physical wrestlers (particularly Byers) and insanely strong on top. Given the doors previous Oklahoma State wrestlers have opened, the path to MMA is easily available should they choose to take it.

Posted in: mma, year, state, wrestler, university

Brian Stann's Journey Into MMA

submitted by BreakfastGuru [link] [2 comments]

Posted in: mma, stann, brian, breakfastguru, journey

Video: The growing online political chorus to legalize MMA in New York

More and more online political activists are making a push for MMA legislation in New York. But the challenges remain strong.

Posted in: mma, challenge, york, legislation, mma legislation

The MMA Hour Episode 123 John Alessio

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The MMA Hour Episode 123 Alexander Gustafsson

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The MMA Hour Episode 123 Karo Parisyan

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The MMA Hour Episode 123 Diamond Dallas Page

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The MMA Hour Episode 123 Ken Shamrock

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The MMA Hour Episode 123 Brian Rogers

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The MMA Hour Episode 123 MiO Question

Posted in: mma, hour, question, episode

Morning Report: Ronda Rousey's Movie Theater Brawl, Oklahoma Threatens to Ban MMA

Let's just talk as adults for a second. It's absurd for mixed martial arts to be banned in the year 2012. The stereotype of ‘human cockfighting' doesn't exist anymore. States like New York keep this pretense up solely for political purposes. Well, get ready to hear a new excuse. According to several recent reports, the great state of Oklahoma has threatened to join the ranks of the old-timers in a slightly different way. Not only is MMA on the chopping block, but so is the rest of combat sports. Permits for boxing and even professional wrestling will no longer be accepted effective March 31, 2012. The reason? Just a little ruckus with the Zuffa brass. 5 MUST-READ STORIES Battle between UFC and Oklahoma on PPV revenue leads to statewide ban on MMA. The Oklahoma Athletic Commission has imposed regulations to deny applications for combat sports events after March 31, 2012, due to a disagreement with the UFC regarding the state's 4-percent pay-per-view tax. Suing UFC fans isn't the way to combat Internet piracy. Ben Fowlkes presents the most logical response to the UFC's odd declaration that fans who stream pay-per-view events aren't actually fans at all. Three bouts announced for UFC 148. Tim Boetsch vs. Michael Bisping, Renan Barao vs. Jeff Hougland, and Tito Ortiz vs. Forrest Griffin highlight the latest high-profile additions to UFC 148. Video roundup: 2012 NCAA D-1 wrestling championships. Scout out the next MMA star with a collection of the 2012 NCAA Wrestling Championships' top moments. Judo chop: front kicks with Lyoto Machida, Anderson Silva, Josh Thomson. Fraser Coffeen busts out the gifs to breakdown the Karate Kid technique that took 2011 by storm. MEDIA STEW Check out Ronda Rousey as she talks about her infamous movie theater brawl and waxes poetic about fighting to regain our humanity on ESPN's Dan Le Batard is Highly Questionable. Cung Le and Jean-Claude Van Damme embarking on a trail of justice with Dan Henderson and Gilbert Melendez cameos? Shut up and take my money. Normally we try not to include videos that have embedding disabled, just on basic principle. But when you find the best spinning backfist tutorial ever created, you take it and run with it. Click the handsome fella below to watch. (HT: Reddit) Award-winning filmmaker Morgan Spurlock shadowed Mayhem Miller for the latest episode of Hulu's A Day in the Life series. So Chael P. Sonnen has a book coming out. What's it about? He shall tell you: Presence. Tenacity. Insight. Omniscience. No need to look these words up. They are defined by yours truly. Who am I? I'm the one who needs no introduction, the walking thesaurus, the UFC's most infamous and feared destroyer of men. I am Chael P. Sonnen, and you want to be just like me. Click the cover to check out the pre-order you want so badly. POSITIVE VIBES I'm absolutely in love with my team right now. the energy and work ethic in the room has been second to none lately #JacksonsMMA — Jon Bones Jones (@Jonnybones) March 19, 2012 TITO'S LAST HURRAH July 7th Vegas MGM #ufc148 its on!!!! @Punishment99 @PunishmentNutr @PTC2011 @ufc @ufc_brasil @UFCLatino @UFConXboxLIVE @forrestgriffin — Tito Ortiz (@titoortiz) March 20, 2012 FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS Announced yesterday (Monday, March 19, 2012): - UFC 148: Tim Boetsch (15-4) vs. Michael Bisping (22-4) - UFC 148: Renan Barao (28-1) vs. Jeff Hougland (10-4) - UFC 148: Tito Ortiz (16-10-1) vs. Forrest Griffin (18-7) FANPOST OF THE DAY Today's Fanpost of the Day is a handy guide from MMA Mania's 420mike: Ranking the top 20 MMA organizations of all time For any new or casual fan of mixed martial arts that knows the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is not the only MMA show in town, it can be difficult to gauge the talent or legitimacy of some of the national and regional organizations. In fact, there are so many smaller organizations that even the most hardcore of the hardcore MMA fans couldn't name 80-percent of them. My FanPost will try to break down a good portion of the current leagues into four Tiers: Major Leagues, Minor Leagues, "C" Leagues, and "D" Leagues, along with some now-defunct organizations and also a overall ranking. The criteria I will use are number of shows, years of operation, validity of matchmaking, television deals, whether they hold regional, national, or International shows and most importantly, strength of roster. (Note: when it comes to rosters, it is every notable fighter to ever fight in that organization.) Found something perfect for the Morning Report? Just hit me on Twitter @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in tomorrow's post.

Posted in: ufc, mma, vs, league, organization

Chael Sonnen and others talk about what is really keeping MMA out of NY

As everyone is painfully aware, mixed martial arts remain illegal in New York State. Steven Crowder recently released a rather lengthy and in depth look at situation in New York and he boiled it down to the simple fact that the Culinary Union has the politicians on their side. The arguments that MMA is pure brutality just don’t hold water, as Renzo Gracie points out, stating that he would be very worried if his son would tell him that he was going to become a boxer. Crowder uses video of Ariel

Posted in: mma, chael sonnen, york, crowder, boxer crowder

Watch this video and realize how ridiculous MMA being illegal in New York really is

This is getting silly New York. If you've gone about your day wondering why MMA is still taboo in a city that embraced Bill the Butcher, John Starks and Deep Throat, Steven Crowder has created a perfect New York slice of information for your brain to consume this morning. In the video below, you will get a breakdown of exactly why MMA is demonized by genuinely slimy NY politicians...and it has nothing to do with the perceived lack of safety. Of course, like this whole screwed up system it's all about the agendas of people who couldn't care less about the sport we love. These guys are just out to scratch the backs of the people who scratch theirs whenever they need to get (re)elected. How can it get worse than this? Let today be the day you realized how absolutely ridiculous this ban in New York is, and started doing anything you can to get it legalized. As much as I dislike New York sports teams, I recognize the awesomeness Madison Square Garden. Write a letter, tell a neighbor, this madness has gone on too long. [Source]

Posted in: mma, york, ny politiciansand, york slice, i dislike

Greg Jackson - MMA 101

submitted by NewUploader1 [link] [5 comments]

Posted in: mma, jackson, greg, newuploader

Five NCAA wrestling All-Americans we hope try MMA ()

MMA's ties with NCAA wrestling were evident on Saturday, as Randy Couture, Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley presented awards and several other fighters were in the stands cheering on the wrestlers. The mats were filled with future fighters. Not all have professed an interest in making the jump to MMA, but here are the ones I hope will make the jump at some point, whether it's as soon as they graduate or after making a run towards Olympic gold. Kyle Dake, Cornell -- Because even though he already has three national titles under his belt, Dake is still growing and getting better. He has jumped a weight class every year, and dominated every new weight. Rumor has it that Dake is headed to medical school, so cagefighting probably isn't in his future. It's still fun to dream, right? David Taylor, Penn State -- The sophomore pinned his way to the finals, then finished off his Most Outstanding Wrestler award-winning performance with a technical fall. His smooth takedowns had opponents on the ground before they knew what happened. Tony Ramos, Iowa -- Another sophomore, Ramos won his third-place match by coming from out of nowhere to pin Minnesota's Chris Dardanes. At 133 lbs, his size and speed could find a home a fly or bantamweight. Jordan Oliver, Oklahoma State -- He may have lost his final on a controversial call, but that doesn't take away the junior's accomplishments in the tournament. He pinned his way to the final with a nasty takedown that could wreak havoc in the cage. Christopher Honeycutt, Edinboro -- The runner-up at 197 lbs. has already indicated his plans to go into MMA , and opponents will have a hard time dealing with his strength and size. He told reporters that he is fascinated by the challenge of mastering so many disciplines of MMA, and won't be the first Fighting Scot to try fighting. Josh Koscheck won a national championship for Edinboro. Did I miss anybody? Disagree with these choices? Speak your mind in the comments, on Facebook or on Twitter .

Posted in: mma, weight class, dake, future fighters, ramos iowa

Five NCAA wrestling All-Americans we hope try MMA (Yahoo! Sports)

Posted in: mma, fighter, ben askren, tyron woodley, future fighters

Tokyo Days

MMA Fighting gives us one last look at UFC Japan through the eyes of their staff. We're really lucky to have a major MMA site full of such creative talents. Here's hoping MMA Fighting's new owners don't mess with the successful formula too much and keep footing the bill to send these guys around the world to rock these assignments.

Posted in: mma, ufc japan, mma site, talents heres, mma fightings

Does MMA Have Crazy Athletes Like Other Sports Do?

Subtitle: A Look at What Crazy Means and How We Can Define It in Mixed Martial Arts. As a big league sport, mixed martial arts is still in its infancy in comparison to the Big Five of Soccer/Football, Football/Hand Egg, Basketball, Baseball and Really Fast Car Racing. The money involved in each of the Big Five intensifies and makes more operatic the stakes, emotions, and most importantly, the attention given to the athletes themselves. Almost everybody has an opinion on Cristiano Ronaldo - they either hate him or love him. Most people have an opinion about Mike Tyson too - but it's more universal: the man was crazy good and legitimately crazy too. The superstar athlete who is completely bonkers is something that every single one of the Big Five has, covets and exploits as much as possible. Have we gotten that kind of athlete in MMA yet? How do we define "crazy" in MMA - a sport where athletes engage in controlled violence against each other to win money and fame? In one of my favorite columns of the year, Brian Phillips over at Grantland gives us 31 Notes on Crazy Athletes. The whole column is very much worth reading, but select portions of it can be chopped out and used to look at MMA athletes. 3. The defining sports caricature of the moment is probably the "crazy" athlete - the athlete who's so wild, unpredictable, unfiltered, and potentially destructive that he seems to be literally insane. This isn't the only sports caricature of our era - and there are some caricatures, e.g., the Inspirational Pocket Passer, that seem to be essentially timeless - but it's the one that's most distinctively ours. [...] 9. The "crazy" athlete is the athlete who does or says whatever comes into his mind, for whatever reason, without regard for either consequences or social norms, whether that means dressing up as Santa Claus and driving around an English city handing out money (Balotelli), wearing a wedding dress (Rodman), or biting someone's ear off (Tyson). His actions are the diary of his id. He's so utterly absorbed in his own weirdness that if he shocks you, it's a coincidence. [...] 4. Examples of the "crazy" athlete include Ron Artest/Metta World Peace, Mario Balotelli, Dennis Rodman, Mike Tyson, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Milton Bradley, Randy Moss. Emmanuel Frimpong, the 20-year-old Arsenal midfielder, has excellent potential as a "crazy" athlete, but was recently set back by the revelation that his "Dench" clothing label was inspired by a slang term pioneered by the Ghanaian-British rapper Lethal Bizzle, and not by Academy Award-winning actress Dame Judi Dench. As a sport, MMA is surprisingly universal. We have Brazilians on almost every major card anywhere. The Japanese have kept the sport alive for almost 25 years in a culture of fads and trends. The former Soviet client nations and the Europeans have always been gaga for combat sports and we are starting to see the sport spread elsewhere. However, I genuinely think we have no more than two or three people in the sport that are the same kind of bonkers as Balotelli or Metta World Peace. Hit the jump for more notes, thoughts and to yell at me for overlooking this fighter or that nutcase. Phillips elaborates on the concept of the "crazy athlete" more, while also defining the tendency of online communities to declare something the Best Thing Ever, when that thing is demonstrably not and will be forgotten within days (the term he chooses is "whaff"). 5. For an athlete to qualify as "crazy," it has to be plausible that he would attack someone for no reason. But violence by itself doesn't make an athlete "crazy." Ndamukong Suh isn't "crazy." Joey Barton wasn't "crazy" back when all he did was beat people senseless in the taxi queues outside nightclubs. But he has since become "crazy" on the basis of his mournful spirit-quest posturing, his constantly quoting Nietzsche, and his Twitter advocacy of a fat tax. 6. Other athletes who aren't "crazy": Ricky Williams (too bashful, too dreamy), Andrey Arshavin (not dangerous enough), 95 percent of jabbery wide receivers who are ultimately just looking for attention. [...] You can't be "crazy" if you're just cannily exploiting a business opportunity. "Crazy" is not a tactic. Unfortunately, that last line eliminates Chael Sonnen from contention. The violence issue is a tricky one here. To begin with, I exclude the career criminals. Crime isn't cool and to lessen the seriousness of their illegal actions and hopefully, their subsequent punishment by calling them "crazy" is not what I am after. Furthermore, most of them committed the crimes with full knowledge of the illegality and wrongness of such conduct. That knocks out Lee Murray, Mike Whitehead and all too many others. Next up is the street fighters. Practically every boxer or MMA fighter out there has a story about street or bar fights and some tell them extremely well, so we are laughing instead of horrified that people go out and do such dumb things. Plus there is the whole "that is their actual job - to go out and hurt someone until they quit or the referee steps in". I submit that we have to see or hear about the violence in such an unusual setting, instigated by such a strange reason, or implemented by odd method in order for it to be memorable enough to call a fighter "crazy". Who is left then? Nick Diaz? War Machine? Maiquel Falcao? To declare Maiquel Falcao a member of this selective club is a difficult call. His fights have seen their share of controversy, yet I think there is a certain level of logic and background to the most controversial of them all - the utter demolition of Leandro Gordo at Desafio: Fight Show in 2007. Falcao said: "Before the fight, he went on different radio shows to badmouth me and my family," Falcao said. "He does this to intimidate his opponents, and with me he did it way more than usual. Before the fight, he scaled the wall of my home, stole my fight shorts and showed up wearing them on fight day. On top of that, he sent people to my home to threaten me. This made me lose my head." Source: http://mmajunkie.com/news/25182/brazilian-beat-maquiel-falcao-fights-at-amazon-forest-combat-seeks-return-to-u-s-.mma Given that bit of provocation, does the savagery Falcao displayed in beating Gordo as unconscious as humanly possible on fight night eliminate him from the MMA Crazy Club? I think so. The impulsiveness of words and deed is a key feature. We have to be able to accept that this bit of lunacy-that-might-actually-make-sense or that piece of "I have no idea what that means, but I'm laughing/horrified" actually happened and that fighter did it. As Kevin Garnett screamed, anything is possible and that is why we pay attention. In a way, these very public figures working through their problems on the public stage allows a discussion flashpoint that can be very helpful to us regular people. The attention given to people who experience differing degrees of normality and possibly deal with disorders and complexes that are not given the public attention and spotlight they deserve can generate great talks, increased awareness and the courage to deal with similar things ourselves. Or we can just flip out in better style. With all of these criteria in place, I can now make my first pick for the group of fighters I call the MMA Crazy Club. Nick Diaz is a highly functioning human being with incredible dedication towards his chosen pursuits. He is very intelligent, quite articulate and at times differing and concurrently, a generous and savage human being. He is also my inaugural member of the MMA Crazy Club. I leave the deliberations on other MMA athletes to you. Some of them will shade towards the darker side of human nature and others will lean towards the more benign, goofier side. Hash them out as you may, but stick as closely to the truth as possible. All should be as fair as possible in love and war.

Posted in: fight, mma, sport, people, athlete

Electronic Arts doesn't care about MMA fans

(The most realistic Fedor orgasm face you'll ever see in video games) Bad news for all you EA MMA fans. Online servers for the game are going down in less than a month: EA is shutting down servers for its 2011 MMA brawler, despite the game supporting an online pass. As detailed on EA's official site, the game will be offline from 13th April, along with 10 others.All new copies of the game were sold with a code that allowed free access to the game's online features. However, those buying the game second hand had to pay for an online pass to unlock the content. ...The move has unsurprisingly not had a warm welcome on the MMA title's official forum."Wait, I am slightly confused because you went way out of the way to justify your "Online Pass" crap as being there to support the online servers (since those dirty second hand purchasers didn't invest in supporting those servers)," wrote a poster named TheDarKnyht ."Now you are telling me that you are going to shut down the online service for a game that started the joke that is your Online Pass service. So please explain to me exactly how was the Online Pass not nothing more than a money grab? And exactly how are you justifying shutting these servers down again? BTW, haven't you ever heard of something called a virtual server? If these games only make up 1 per cent of online activity just shove them on a virtual server and be done with it." I love it when news articles quote random gamers with stupid internet handles. While TheDarKnyht makes good points, I wanna hear from FedorzNutsaq and G3N1T4L M4YH3M on what they think of the situation. Get us some feedback from the twitters too, stat.It certainly doesn't make EA's Online Pass 'service' look good. Taking a fighting game and turning off the online component is like taking half the gears out of your car. Reversing is kinda an important part of the overall driving experience. And people who still play EA MMA ... well, they're probably pretty lonely folks who can't get people to come over and check out a real MMA event, let alone a virtual one.It's also nice to know that this is the likely future for many of the games we actually play and enjoy. EA MMA's online component lasted a whopping 17 months, largely because the game was a mega-flop. But what other games are going to get shut down as EA decides to stop offering you the stuff they, y'know, promised you'd get when you bought the game / payed for an online pass?

Posted in: mma, game, ea, server, game payed

Erik Koch Talks Losing In MMA - "It's Like A Loved One Dying."

submitted by RobKillstone111 [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: mma, koch, talk, erik, robkillstone

Alexander Gustafsson: MMA is Going to Explode in Sweden

UFC light heavyweight Alexander Gustafsson will be the headliner when the Octagon moves to Sweden for the first time on April 14, and Gustafsson says it's going to be huge. In an interview on The MMA Hour, Gustafsson said the UFC is growing rapidly in popularity in his homeland, and that when he fights Thiago Silva in the main event of the upcoming UFC on FUEL TV card. "It's just getting bigger and bigger," Gustafsson said. "After this show MMA is just going to explode. So it's great." Gustafsson had an opponent change when Antonio Rogerio Nogueira dropped out with an injury, and he said he'd rather fight Silva because he believes Silva is a striker who will guarantee a good show. And Gustafsson didn't hesitate to predict that he'll knock Silva out quickly. "I will strike with him," Gustaffson said. "This will be an early stoppage." Gustaffson, who was born and raised about an hour away from the Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm, where the fight will take place, says he's expecting a large contingent of friends and family to be there within the sold-out crowd of Swedish fans who will be cheering him on against Silva. That crowd shows how MMA is growing in Sweden, although Gustafsson also noted one area where Sweden has a ways to go: There's not an elite MMA gym at home where he can train. That's why Gustaffson moved to the United States to train at Alliance MMA, which he said his coaches and training partners completely understood. If leaving Sweden to train was what it took for Gustafsson to come back to Sweden as a UFC headliner, that was a good move for Gustafsson. And for the Swedish fans who are part of that upcoming MMA explosion.

Posted in: ufc, mma, silva, gustafsson, sweden

Defend yourself at all times

Just a little reminder on why you should never rely on your MMA opponent being a decent human being.

Posted in: mma, time, opponent, reminder, mma opponent

ONE FC Announces Dates for Shows in Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore

ONE Fighting Championship today announced three more dates for upcoming mixed martial arts (MMA) events, in addition to the show which is already booked for the Singapore Indoor Stadium on March 31. Here's how the 2012 calendar is shaping up: ONE FC 3: Singapore, March 31 (see the full card here) ONE FC 4: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, May 26* ONE FC 5: Manila, Philippines, September 1* ONE FC 6: Singapore, October 6* *Negotiations are underway for additional events to be scheduled between May and September According to a statement which was released today, ONE FC has also signed a television deal with Malaysian broadcast network Astro which will see all events broadcast on local 24 hour sports channel 'Astro Arena.' ONE FC Owner / CEO Victor Cui was recently voted the most powerful man in Asian MMA and as well as securing a 10 year media partnership between ESPN Star Sports and his promotion, he has also signed deals with local networks in countries such as Singapore and Indonesia. The following is from the ONE FC website: Malaysia’s first local sports channel Astro ARENA has bought the exclusive rights to air content from Asia’s largest mixed martial arts (MMA) organization, ONE Fighting Championship™ (ONE FC). Astro ARENA reaches out to millions of viewers across Malaysia and has become the preferred channel by Malaysians for sports content. Viewers in Malaysia will now be able to enjoy ONE FC events as Asia’s best professional MMA fighters compete in different countries all over Asia. Henry Tan, Astro COO said, "Astro offers Malaysians the best of international and local live sports from football to F1, tennis, golf and badminton through its 11 sports channels. Through Astro ARENA, Malaysia’s number one local sports channel, we will bring ONE Fighting Championship™ to martial arts fans in Malaysia by showcasing the best of the region’s professional fight athletes competing in the most prestigious series of MMA events." Victor Cui, CEO/Owner of ONE Fighting Championship™ said, "Malaysia’s sports fan base has always been enthusiastic about new and exciting events. From the World Cup to Formula 1, the discerning sports fans in this country have been very supportive of only the best. We are very happy to bring the largest MMA event in Asia with world class content to Malaysians with Astro." The KL card is likely to include a number of Malaysian and Malaysian based fighters. Muay Thai world champion and BJJ black belt Adam Kayoom is virtually guaranteed to feature. He has an MMA record of 2-1 with his only defeat being a decision loss to tough Korean Myung Ho Bae who was able to outwrestle him. Since then he has worked intensively on his wrestling with New York State Champion Andrew Leone and has added that skill set to his already world class Muay Thai and BJJ. In Kayoom's last fight at DARE Championship 2/11 he submitted Seok Mo Kim, who went the full 15 minutes with Gregor Gracie at ONE FC 1, in the opening round: SHOGUN vs KIM - DARE MMA - Bangkok, Thailand (via Darechampionship) As well as Kayoom ONE FC are likely to use a number of fighters who are based in Kuala Lumpur on the card such as BJJ black belt Marcos Escobar who runs the Leverage MMA academy. Muayfit's Eric Kelly could finally get a fight if he can sort out his managerial issues while his team mates Arnaud Lepont and Mark Striegl, both coming off big wins at DARE Championship 2/12, are rumored to be close to signing. ONE FC will be spoiled for choice when it comes to picking Filipinos to star on the September 1st card with URCC Champions Eduard Folayang, Honorio Banario, Kevin Belingon and Rey Docyogen all likely to get a look in. DREAM Lightweight champion Shinya Aoki has already signed to fight for ONE FC this year and the Evolve MMA fighter is likely to headline the Singapore show on October 6. More news is likely to follow as between the Malaysia event on 26 May and the Philippines event on 1 September, additional events have been planned and will be announced as venues are confirmed. Countries believed to be on the ONE FC radar include Thailand, Macau, Hong Kong, Korea and China with a second Jakarta show close to being confirmed. www.twitter.com/jamesgoyder

Posted in: mma, sport, event, fc, astro

The MMA Hour With Shamrock in Studio, Gustafsson, Parisyan, Alessio and DDP

The MMA Hour returns on Monday with another two-plus hour show. Here's who will be stopping by this week: * MMA legend Ken Shamrock will be in studio to discuss his storied career and what he's been up to lately. * Alexander Gustafsson will preview his UFC Sweden fight against Thiago Silva on April 14. * Former UFC figher Karo Parisyan will discuss his WMMA 1 fight against Thomas Denny on March 31. * John Alessio will talk about his The Score Fighting Series 4 win over Ryan Healy on Friday and his quest to return to the UFC. * And professional wrestling legend turned yoga instructor Diamond Dallas Page will talk about training MMA fighters. All that and much more, including your phone calls. Got a question or comment? Give us a call at 1-888-418-4074. Watch the show live below beginning at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT. Subscribe to The MMA Hour on iTunes: audio feed here; video feed here. Download previous episodes here. Listen to the show via Stitcher here.

Posted in: mma, mma hour, hour, video feed, thiago silva

This is my buddy's first MMA fight. He trained really hard for it and we're ecstatic that he pulled out a win!

submitted by deadlykeyboard [link] [7 comments]

Posted in: fight, mma, mma fight, buddy, deadlykeyboard

Interview With Chatri Sityodtong, Former Hedge Fund Manager and the Man Behind Evolve MMA

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

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

Lorenzo Fertitta says UFC will put on special show as soon as MMA is allowed in New York

The UFC last hosted an event in New York, the site many consider the mecca of sports, in 1995 with MMA being banned in the State two years later. Now, New York is considering passing a bill potentially allowing MMA’s return, and UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta couldn’t be happier. Fertitta says that his fight promotion will make a statement if (and when) they are allowed to host a show at Madison Square Garden. “When we come, we’re going to blow it out. We’re going to put on a ridiculous UFC 100-style card, stacked, big, open to the public weigh-ins, press conferences, after-parties; the whole deal,” said Fertitta in an interview with MMAFighting. “This is going to be an event that will remind you of 1971 when Ali fought Frazier for the first time and every celebrity in New York had to be there.” Lawmakers in New York are currently discussing the bill with the next deadline to pass it coming in July. Fertitta believes that if it is approved by June the UFC would, “move mountains to get something done by fall.” MMA’s issue with receiving a green light in New York seemingly stems from ignorance on the part of lawmakers as well as the Culinary Workers Union fighting against it based on a separate issue with Zuffa, the parent-company of the UFC. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, mma, fertitta, york, july fertitta

Enson Inoue’s Update on Japan Tragedy and the Japanese MMA Scene

Japanese MMA veteran Enson Inoue has been on a mission to help since the devastating Tohoku earthquake and tsunami last year in Japan. He recently updated us on the tragedy and Japan's MMA scene.

Posted in: mma, japan, scene, japan tragedy, tohoku earthquake

NY Times writes about the MMA generation

The New York Times Fashion and Style section this week had a feature entitled, “The Fight Club Generation.” The article details the fascination of MMA with youths to young adults. The article which reports at a regional MMA card in Atlantic City focuses on youth interest in mixed martial arts. The article refers to the movie “Fight Club” which starred Brad Pitt and Ed Norton as the inspiration for many fans of MMA today. Not sure if this is actually true of most young MMA fans as that movie was filmed in 1999. The mainstream popularity has only occurred in the past few years. The article later devolves with comparisons to the XFL and “The Godfather.” But, it also identifies, that in general, most people 35 years of age and older are not fans of the sport. In fact, the NY Times states that horse racing and figure skating are more popular than MMA in this segment. Payout Perspective: Getting past some of the minutiae in the article, one of the interesting takeaways coming from it is looking at how young fans get interested in the sport. TapouT and Cage Hero are just a couple brands that have marketed MMA toward kids. Last October, Cage Hero rebranded itself with an eye toward kids. Having just attended a Jiu Jitsu tournament today and seeing so many kids under 10 in the sport one can see that grappling, and to a greater degree, MMA is a growing sport. With MMA taking off, it will be interesting to see if the UFC begins to reach out, with more targeted campaigns, to the under 18 demographic.

Posted in: mma, sport, fan, kid, article

Now for a very special edition of St. Patrick's Day Street MMA

No holiday lends itself to more Lessons in Street MMA than St. Patrick's Day. The alcohol is flowing, people are roaming the streets, and that 'Fightin Irish' spirit is injected into everyone like some fine, green, testosterone. We here at MiddleEasy don't condone Street MMA, but we will watch it and share it with you guys. In honor of the holiday that will no doubt be bringing us many lessons as soon as people upload them in a haze tomorrow morning, we present to you a few St. Patrick's Day Lessons in Street MMA. In this first lesson in St. Patrick's day MMA we have an altercation that spills out into the road with high level karate kicking action (notice how well the hips are turned into those kicks) and shattered green tiara's abound. The next Lesson in St. Patrick Day Street MMA is a simple one: don't start a riot. Watch as Buffalo, NY is awash in a sea of purposefully tiny plastic green hats as the fine city does it's best Strikeforce: Nashville impression. The final Lesson in St. Patrick's Day Street MMA is one we've learned before: don't drink and fight. If you do, you may be thinking in your green beer fueled mind that you are throwing the H-Bomb of all H-Bombs and then you just end up flat on your face. If you are out tonight having a good time, give hugs, don't be thugs. Be safe and wear your green MiddleEasy tee.

Posted in: mma, day, lesson, patrick, street

MMA is coming

(Source: ravishingrodriguez)

Posted in: mma, source, ravishingrodriguez

Mauro Ranallo handling play-by-play duties at Invicta Fighting Championships

It has been a whirlwind last few months for Invicta Fighting Championships as they close in on April 28, the date when they pull back the curtain and unveil their flagship event with the arguably the best assembly of female talent in the sport’s history. Following a busy week in which Invicta President Shannon Knapp and business partner Janet Martin have announced one additional fight, the hiring of Natasha Wicks as a ring girl, and the announcement that the event will be streamed live and free on their website (InvictaFC.com – scheduled to launch April 1, the question still exists of who will be in the broadcast booth calling the action. In a recent interview with Fighters.com, the effervescent Knapp filled in the blank as far as who the first voice of Invicta will be. “I haven’t yet announced this yet, but Mauro Ranallo will be our play-by-play commentator,” said Knapp. “I haven’t finished assembling the rest of the team, but the objective here is to continue to bring some familiarization to all of this.” Ranallo, the seasoned broadcast veteran of countless MMA and professional wrestling cards, including some of MMA’s most memorable match-ups, brings with him more than a decade of experience calling events worldwide. His voice can be heard regularly on Canada’s MMA Show on the Score Networks, as well as for Strikeforce. His most recent brush with women’s MMA came at the March 3 Strikeforce event in Ohio where he called the animated clash between Sarah Kaufman and Alexis Davis in addition Ronda Rousey’s unforgettable title-win over Miesha Tate. While Knapp says Invicta will have a formal announcement in the near future with the rest of the announce team, she made sure to mention some praise for Wicks. “Natasha is an amazing person,” glowed Knapp of the former UFC ring-girl. “I’ve always liked her. She’s just that type of person the fans really like. I’ve brought her in on HDNet to do the Bazzie awards. I think she’s very athletic, she understands the sport and is interested in the equality for women, so I think she’s a perfect fit for us too.” Make sure to check back in the coming weeks when Knapp discusses the inspiration for an all-female brand of Mixed Martial Arts, support for the brand to date, and the challenges of a new sports business in a tough market. You can follow Knapp on Twitter at @ShanKnapp for more updates on Invicta FC as well as “Like” the organization on Facebook at their fan page by clicking here. Invicta FC 1 boasts a number of the top female fighters in MMA today including action from Marloes Coenen, Liz Carmouche, Jessica Penne, and more. Tweet

Posted in: mma, event, ranallo, invicta, knapp

MMA Uncensored Live – Chael Sonnen, War Machine’s Last 48 Hours

Spike TV’s MMA Uncensored Live from March 15th, 2012. The panel is joined by guest host Chael Sonnen, and discuss Rampage’s actions as of late, Anderson Silva vs Chael Sonnen 2, Bellator 60, and War Machine’s last 48 hours before he went to prison.

Posted in: mma, hour, machine, sonnen, chael

Latest UFC/MMA news and notes from around the web for the week of March 11, 2012

Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Vitor Belfort and Mike Tyson pictured above, we can all "get along." Teaming up with MMA sites like Low Kick, Cage Potato, Fight Opinion and The Fight Nerd, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport. This week, The Fight Nerd speaks with Felice Herrig, MMA Convert thanks Ronda Rousey and Lowkick interview BAMMA middleweight champion Tom Watson. The full list of links is after the jump. - Interview with BAMMA middleweight champ Tom Watson (LowKick) "All the guys I train with are fighting in the UFC. If you want to make a proper living from this sport, you need to be in the UFC. It's very hard when you're not fighting in the UFC, so only a few guys are able to make respectable living from just being a fighter." - Hot Potato: Natasha Wicks is back baby (25 photos) (Cage Potato) In the greatest MMA comeback since Boetsch vs. Okami, our favorite curly-haired blonde is returning to ring girl duty for Invicta's all-female debut show on April 28th. - This will be the greatest knockout you will see today (video) (MiddleEasy) - Interview with Felice Herrig (The Fight Nerd) Felice Herrig talks upcoming XFC fight, state of WMMA, and reveals she has not been paid for last fight in 2011 - How the UFC can play the testosterone card against Rampage (Fight Opinion) UFC's demeanor in their response to Rampage's damaging tantrums has been very un-Zuffa-like in terms of being patient as opposed to being overly aggressive. Given Rampage's outcry for wanting a release from the UFC, he went on Twitter and said that he wanted to fight Mauricio Shogun instead of a ‘wrestler who wants to dry hump him.' - Payout Perspective: TUF Live on FX ratings breakdown (MMA Payout) The Ultimate Fighter Live debut on FX drew an average of 1.28 million viewers, as previously reported on MMAPayout.We will now take a closer look at the quarterly ratings breakdown, viewership ratings pattern, and expectations coming into the show. - Jay Glazer explains why NFL players are training MMA (BleacherReport.com/MMA) Fourteen seasons of the show have provided us with plenty of forgettable moments and easily-dismissed fighters. But there have also been plenty of gems to emerge from the show, especially during the early days when the series featured a crop of talented fighters all trying to make it into the UFC. - King Mo to address positive steroid test on March 27 (MMA Convert) - Anderson Silva says Sonnen is possessed by Demon (Fightline) - Ratings not quite what UFC boss predicted for The Ultimate Fighter 15 (Five Ounces of Pain) - UFC 146 Primetime premieres May 11th on FX (5thRound)

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, fighter, fight nerd

Spotlight On Regional Fighting: Take On Muay Thai In New York City

Tonight, Friday, March 16th, 2012, the famed Madison Square Garden will host it's first Muay Thai card in the history of the sport. While the card hasn't been without it's struggles, it is shaping up to be a fantastic night of both amateur and professional Thai kickboxing. I had the pleasure of attending tonight's weigh-ins and found an eclectic mix of martial artists young and old, all thrilled to be fighting at this historic arena. To start off, there are 14 fights on the card - nine amateur and ten pro. Three belts will be on the line, including the one women's fight of the evening, a 123-lb tilt between Angie Babel and Prairie Rugilo - a pair of locals from the tri-state area. Babel is an undefeated amateur fighting out of of Five Points Academy just outside of Chinatown in downtown Manhattan, while Rugilo reps the dirty Jerz, fighting out of Frankie Edgar's hometown of Toms River, NJ. The amateur super middleweight belt is being contested by New York's Nick Vaughan, who is the favorite over Georgia's Brian Hutchings. Vaughan is an impressive 13-1, and you can check out some of his fight by youtubeing up "Nick Vaughan The Wat" (or just click my link). The only serious issue I saw was in the main event. One of the fighters, Rigel Balsamico, failed to make weight, tipping the scales a shocking nine pounds over. The 41-year old Rigel, who fights out of Philadelphia, had a number of issues he stated, but also told me that the fight would go on and he would just take the hit to his fighting purse. He told me that he's still happy to be competing on the fight card, and that he just loves what he does - quite frankly if he was in this for the money, he'd find other employment, he said. There were more than just those three stories however, and you can check out some of them below the jump. Madigan (L) and Balsamico (R) square off tonight in New York City. Photo via liverkick.com by way of bauzen.com Take Rigel's opponent, Ryan Madigan. The former MMA fighter who's now focused solely on his stand-up fighting career even made it to the big show of MMA once upon a time. He fought on the undercard of UFC 96, losing to Tamdan McRory by getting dominated on the ground. His strength, however, is still his standup and powerful kicks. The gentleman out of Evolve gym in Ohio is 26-6 in his pro career and owns a win over noted MMA striker Melvin Guillard. Another man with a UFC connection on this card is Chris Clodfelter. The North Carolina native was an alternate on season 12 of The Ultimate Fighter and originally got into the sport by being roommates with UFC and WEC vet Rich Crunkilton. Chris will be facing the undefeated Brett Hlavacek (Nick Vaughan's teammate at the Wat gym). Clodfelter also had a rough cut, missing weight by a mere 1.5 pounds and having to take an extra hour to cut the remainder. There are plenty of other MMA connections as well: Sean Hinds and Joey Hernandez train out of Mushin MMA, the home of Phil Nurse (works with George St. Pierre and the other lads from the Tri-Star gym) for just one example. But MMA isn't the whole story. Rudy Felix, who I sat next to at the weigh-ins, was the 2010 Take On Fighter of the Year and is making his drop to flyweight (125) for the first time. He'll be facing Cornel Ward. As is the case with regional promotions, oftentimes the experience level between the two competitors is wildly different. Many fighters often have tons of off-record fights called "smokers", and one such fighter is Staten Island native Anthony Demaio. Having moved to Thailand almost a decade ago, he has "about a hundred" fights while training at Gai Yang Haa Dow gym. Some of the fights weren't all high quality stuff, but he also fought at the King's birthday in front of 300,000 people, so he's definitely one of the ones that won't be phased by the bright lights of MSG. If you're interested in watching this event live and can't make it to the awesomeness that is New York City, gfl.tv has you hooked up: the stream is $15 If you'd like, there were actual professional photographers at the event this evening (as opposed to yours truly), and here's one of the galleries: muaythaiislife.com I'll update the gallery links when more get posted.

Posted in: fight, mma, fighter, card, vaughan

MMA Fight Schedule for March 16, 2012 (Yahoo! Contributor Network)

Fans can choose among four mixed martial arts events on Mar. 16, 2012. The Score Fighting Series 4, Bellator Fighting Championships 61, BAMMA USA and M-1 Challenge 31 are planned for this day. The following schedule contains a complete list of MMA events for Mar.

Posted in: mma, event, schedule, mma events, arts events

MMA Link Club: The fatigue from MMA politicking

So many fights, so much politicking. And everyone is tired.

Posted in: mma, club, everyone, mma politicking, politicking

MMA Uncensored Live Discussion

Join us at Bloody Elbow to discuss tonight's fourth episode of MMA Uncensored Live, which airs on Spike at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT. Hosts Nate Quarry, Craig Carton and Mike Straka will discuss a wide range of MMA topics.The show has been a bit uneven so far (to say the least) but there's room for growth and it's probably worthy of another chance. Plus, the last two weeks have featured segments with the one and only Luke Thomas (which has been the best part of the shows), and he might just show up again tonight. For those of you that missed the three two episodes, this is how co-host Nate Quarry describes the show: "More than anything, it's less of a sports reporting show talking about the scores that just happened and more of an opinion piece. It's a lot more like a forum than it is a news show. You know when you go to the forums and there's about 90% sh*t talking and 10% intelligence? We're hoping to raise the bar closer to 15%," Quarry quipped. This week, the show will feature an interview with the one and only Gangster from West Linn, Chael Sonnen. There will also be a segment that covers War Machine's last 48 hours of freedom before he begins another stint in jail. And, Craig Carton will probably be his usual annoying self. Tune in and speak your piece here.

Posted in: mma, show, luke thomas, news show, self tune

Pro MMA Radio 189: Joseph Benavidez, TUF Live 1 Discussion

We have partnered with Pro MMA Radio to bring you weekly replays of PMR as the official radio show of MMAConvert.com. Pro MMA Radio can be heard live every Monday evening at 9pm ET/6pm PT. Replays and podcasts of every show are available 24/7 by going to the “Replay Corner” section of ProMMARadio.com, our own Pro MMA Radio page or by clicking the banner below. On this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio, Joseph Benavidez stopped by to talk about his big win over Yasuhiro Urushitani at UFC on FX 2 and the Ian McCall-Demetrious Johnson scoring debacle. CBS Radio’s Dave Farra also joined host Larry Pepe to talk about the new season of The Ultimate Fighter on FX, Pat Curran’s destructive win over Joe Warren at Bellator 60 and other news from around the MMA world. You can listen to a replay of this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio by clicking the banner below. A radio player with links to the show’s archives will open in a pop-up window, so please make sure your browser is set to allow pop-ups for this site.

Posted in: mma, replay, radio, mma radio, popup window

5 Oz. MMA Link Club

Welcome back to another edition of “MMA Link Club”, Five Ounces of Pain‘s weekly smorgasbord of offerings from our brothers and sisters in the MMA community. Enjoy… Jose Aldo Still Open to Future at Lightweight (LowKick.com) Alistair Overeem’s Assault Trial Starts on March 27 (MMAMania.com) Shaq vs. Canseco? Feel the Excitement! (BleacherReport.com) A Detailed Look at Nick Diaz’s Case Against the NSAC’s Findings (FightOpinion.com) NSAC Accuses Diaz of Lying on Application (MMAConvert.com) UFC May Go After Viewers of Illegally Pirated Streams (MMAPayout.com) Ten Questions with Johny Hendricks (HeavyMMA.com) Drunk Confronts BJJ Ace Ryan Hall, Pays the Price (CagePotato.com) A Preview of Bellator’s Upcoming Entry into the World of Gaming (TheFightNerd.com) Anderson Silva’s Chin Possibly Made of Granite (MiddleEasy.com) Thiago Silva Takes Aim at Brandon Vera (5thRound.com) UFC Heavyweight Brendan Schaub Gets Supernatural with Ghost Adventures Crew (Fightline.com) PHOTO CREDIT – UFC/K-1

Posted in: mma, mma community, streams mmapayoutcom, excitement bleacherreportcom, price cagepotatocom

ESPN MMA Live: What’s Next For Rampage, Bellator 60 Fallout

On this week’s edition of ESPN MMA Live, Todd Grisham, Pat Miletich, and Chuck Mindenhall look at what’s ahead for Rampage and discuss Bellator 60′s brutal finish. ESPN MMA Live Archive If you have trouble playing the video, you can also watch it on ESPN.com.

Posted in: mma, espn, espn mma, chuck mindenhall, todd grisham

NY Times Calls Us The Fight Club Generation When Talking About MMA

In an often friendly article, Douglas Quenqua put forth to the readers of the Fashion & Style section of the NY Times the rising popularity of mixed martial arts among the younger generation of sports fans and participants. The article opens with a February Ring of Combat event featuring Tom DeBlass, the #3 Light Heavyweight Prospect from the 2012 Scouting Report. Despite bumbling the fact that DeBlass is already a professional MMA fighter, Quenqua accurately depicts DeBlass's leglock method of victory and goes on to quote some of Bloody Elbow's familiar faces, while building the case that MMA is a very real sporting institution across the United States. Quenqua gives some of his valuable column inches to Kid Nate: Nate Wilcox, a public-affairs consultant in Austin, Tex., and writer for Bloody Elbow, one of many M.M.A. blogs, became an instant fan of the sport in 1995 when someone showed him a tape of the 1994 match between Royce Gracie and Kimo Leopoldo from Ultimate Fighting Championship III. "I used to play in a punk band, and someone brought a tape to practice and was like, ‘Nate, you are going to love this,' " he said. No word has been forthcoming on either side whether Kid Nate's affection for hats dates to this punk period or is a more recent happening. Either way, we now reap the rewards of the dark ages tape-sharing and hopefully, most here are grateful that this nameless person sparked the desire for controlled multi-discipline pugilistic violence in Nate. Hit the jump for more Bloody Elbow-related quotes and some discussion of Quenqua's article. Chris Groves, one of the more prolific members of the Bloody Elbow community, managed to get a very nice summation of MMA's appeal across in the article. Unfortunately, they misspelled his name and left the correction to the web edition without actually correcting the article: "I would say that if boxing is the sweet science, then M.M.A. is the complete science," said Chris Jones, a 19-year-old student at Pasco-Hernando Community College in, Fla. "It's all aspects of the fight. It's a full fight. It's a real fight." Despite these well placed quotes, attending a fairly good regional MMA event and having a wealth of online and off-line resources for fact-checking, Quenqua still throws out mistakes and awful metaphors while glossing briefly over the long and complicated history of the sport in recent times. In the aggregate, the article does an average job of bopping through some of the cultural benchmarks the sport of MMA has achieved, yet either space constraints or Quenqua's own newbie status prevent any serious analysis or context from being delivered to readers of the article. Furthermore, the absurdly reductive passages like It's like a boxing match crossbred with WrestleMania, presented in the middle of an Insane Clown Posse concert. might actually be counter-productive to Quenqua's intent to present MMA as something that the NY Times Fashion & Style readers should pay attention to or check out on their own time. Visions of small hordes of ICP fans inciting and performing acts of skilled violence are unlikely to calm the hysteria-mongers or reassure the NY Times-reading parents of impressionable youth that MMA is not going to ruin their children. Quenqua does quote Robert Thompson, a professor over at Syracuse University, who provides the headline hook by speaking about Fight Club and presents the best image of MMA fans in the entire article. The fascination with the sport has even seeped into the walls of academia. Robert Thompson, a professor of popular culture at Syracuse University, said that many of his male students wanted to write papers about mixed martial arts. And they are not always the students you would expect. "People who don't know these sports very well think their fans must be these kind of crazed, people-on-the-verge-of-a-breakdown, violent kind of thing," he said. But the students he sees who are most interested in the sport "tend to have really good grade-point averages and be really fine students," he said. "This is not something that smart young people look down their noses at." He agreed that the impact of "Fight Club" could not be discounted; it became a manifesto for a generation of boys who felt estranged from their masculinity. "It became this kind of magnum opus, and it described a certain culture of this kind of sport," Professor Thompson said. "This was their thing, and they defined themselves accordingly." The cult popularity of Fight Club is significant, yet the sport of MMA was present long before Chuck Palahniuk and David Fincher ever put their stories together. Our own John Nash and T.P. Grant have documented that thoroughly in their separate historical article series. Furthermore, the sport did not truly explode into the American consciousness (and financial lucrativeness) until roughly 2004 or 2005 - five or six years after the movie had come out and settled into the youth of that time. It is a good hook, despite its likely misapplication by Quenqua and could get a few new eyeballs to the sport. Quenqua does do a decent job of getting input directly from fans in attendance and in making this article link to a photo gallery that shows the passion the fighters, families and fans all bring to MMA. Credit should be given to him for recognizing that passion and attempting to make it work as an article. In short, this NY Times piece is not the article that the ardent MMA fan should be sending around to fence-sitters or those new to the sport in hopes of conversion. However, it is generally positive coverage in the most respected American newspaper running today and thus worth covering here on Bloody Elbow. Big ups to the fighters, organizers, promoters, fans, Bloody Elbow readers and writers who are working towards getting this sport and its related disciplines to an accepted state in the mainstream consciousness. We are getting there.

Posted in: mma, sport, fan, article, quenqua

ONE FC's Kevin Belingon: "I am going to Singapore to fight, not to spend fifteen minutes defending submissions.”

They call him “The Silencer” because he doesn’t like to talk too much but Filipino fighter Kevin Belingon’s record speaks for itself. He is 9-0 and has fought in the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Singapore against some of the better fighters in Asia. At the age of 24 the MMA world is at his feet and the URCC flyweight champ also has plenty of time on his hands. His career trajectory has been sped up dramatically this year because ONE Fighting Championship has decided to match him with Japanese MMA legend Masakazu Imanari. The fight will take place at ONE FC 3 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on March 31st which will be the most star-studded card in the history of South East Asian MMA. Belingon will find himself backstage with the likes of Melvin Manhoef, Tatsuya Kawajiri, Yoshiyuki Nakanishi, and Yuya Shirai but remains entitled to feel he has a tougher fight than any of them given the challenges posed by the submission specialist. A win over Imanari would put him amongst the division’s elite and be an even more impressive achievement because Belingon is not naturally a bantamweight, telling Fighters.com, “I hold a URCC belt at 129 lbs and I have been fighting at 135 lbs as well but I do not need to cut much weight. If ONE FC wanted me to drop down to flyweight I would be happy to do that but it is up to my coach Mark Sangiao.” Belingon is a member of Team Lakay where he trains alongside fellow URCC champions Eduard Folayang, Honorio Banario, and Rey Docyogen. It is fast emerging as a powerhouse in Asian MMA and “The Silencer” believes the training he has received will help him to overcome Imanari, explaining, “I train everyday on submission defense so I am confident I will be able to avoid his leg locks although I know they are very dangerous. Training at altitude helps give me very good stamina and I am also confident because I know that there is no way that my opponent could have trained as hard as me.” Imanari is a master at leg locks and widely considered better at them than anyone else in the entire MMA world, even Rousimar Palhares. This makes the BJJ blackbelt a particularly scary fighter to face because he has the potential to do serious long-term damage to a knee. However, Belingon is confident fear will not be a factor for him. “I am not afraid of Imanari but I respect him as a fighter. If you think about being injured before a fight you will fight scared and that is not how I fight. Mark has talked to me a lot about staying out of leg locks but I am going to Singapore to fight, not to spend fifteen minutes defending submissions.” There are a lot of good fighters emerging from the Philippines and many believe that Belingon is the best of them. If he can defeat Imanari the UFC will almost certainly come calling, as he would be an excellent addition to their newly created flyweight division. Still, Belingon is fully focused on the challenge ahead, stating, “Fighting for ONE FC is a dream because there will be 10,000 people in the stadium and I am representing the Philippines in front of all of them. Also it will be shown on ESPN in the Philippines so I hope I can make a good advert for Team Lakay and for Filipino MMA, maybe one day I will fight for the UFC but at the moment I am happy to have a contract with the biggest MMA show in Asia.” Belingon holds an overall record of 9-0 with five finishes to his credit. PHOTO CREDIT – URCC Tweet

Posted in: fight, mma, imanari, belingon, leg locks

Chael Sonnen And War Machine On MMA Uncensored Tonight

Tonight on Spike TV, MMA Uncensored will return for the third episode. Chael Sonnen, who will be fighting Anderson Silva for the Middleweight championship at UFC 147, will be a guest host along side Nate Quarry, Craig Carton and Mike Straka. As with any televised Sonnen appearance, we can be sure to expect his usual over the top personality. Specifically, he will be addressing the upcoming rematch with Silva and the "apology" he delivered on UFC Tonight earlier this week. Additionally, Sonnen will be taking questions from MMA fans via Twitter. Just address your questions to @SpikeTV #MMAUncensored. If the contrived controversy of Chael Sonnen isn't your cup of tea, MMA Uncensored will also be showing an in depth interview with UFC Veteran War Machine. This will be one of the final interviews War Machine's able to give before beginning a year long prison sentence. After the jump, a preview of the War Machine interview Preview - War Machine's New FightGet More: Preview - War Machine's New Fight

Posted in: mma, preview, war, machine, sonnen

Lorenzo Fertitta Feels Like a Women’s Division Can Exist in MMA

If you ask UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta, women’s MMA does have a home under the Zuffa umbrella. Fertitta, in a recent interview with MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani, discussed how he belives the division could succeed if the likes of Joe Silva and Sean Shelby were given time to develop it. Silva and Shelby are the main matchmakers for the UFC. “I’ve never been against it,” Fertitta said. “The reality is, I’m a fan. I was captivated by the (Ronda Rousey-Miesha Tate) fight. (I was) blown away by their athleticism and the way they promoted the fight, the whole thing; to me, it was very, very entertaining.” Rousey, who defeated Tate via armbar in the main event of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey, was very vocal in the build-up to the bout with Tate. “(UFC president) Dana (White) is right. Historically, there has been an issue with the depth of talent in the talent pool, but it seems to me like that is starting to change and the one argument I make when we talk about it, and this might sound a little self-serving, but we’ve never been in the women’s game,” Fertitta said. “We’ve never had our matchmakers do this. Let Joe Silva and Sean Shelby develop a women’s league. I guarantee you they can do it. They’re that good.” With Zuffa running both Strikeforce and the UFC, it would seem that women’s MMA has a future in the sport. If Fertitta does decide to let his crew do more work with building the division, the sky could be the limit for female fighters. Image via MMA Junkie

Posted in: mma, women, fertitta, joe silva, sean shelby

Lorenzo Fertitta Is A Believer In Women's MMA

While it's not quite at the level of mainstream interest of when Gina Carano was on top, women's MMA is experiencing a boom after two great fights on the Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey card. Both the main event between Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey and the undercard fight featuring Alexis Davis against Sarah Kaufman were spectacular fights and with Rousey now the champion, there's a marketable star on top again. While UFC president Dana White has always said that the biggest issue with women's MMA isn't the fights, it's the lack of depth, CEO Lorenzo Fertitta thinks they could create a great WMMA league right now (Via MMA Fighting): "Dana is right. Historically there has been an issue with the depth of talent in the talent pool, but it seems to me like that is starting to change and the one argument I make when we talk about it, and this might sound a little self-serving, but we've never been in the women's game, so we've never had our matchmakers do this. Let Joe Silva and Sean Shelby develop a women's league. I guarantee you they can do it. They're that good." SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey

Posted in: fight, mma, women, womens mma, rousey

5 hilarious reactions from Japan in response to the all heavyweight UFC 146 main card as told by Google translator

UFC 146, over 2,500 lbs of certified man meat to fulfill the $59.95 that you will ultimately dish out to watch the PPV. On May 26th 2012, the world will witness a five-fight main card, completely filled with a total of ten heavyweights. The event will go down in the MGM Grand Garden Arena and we're assuming an influx of Japanese MMA fans will fly half-way across the world for the soon-to-be legendary card. Our buds at MMA Ironman run the only Japanese MMA website that I visit on a regular basis -- despite not being able to fully understand most of what's published on the site. When we heard the news that UFC 146 will feature an all-heavyweight main event, we felt the need to check out the comment section on MMA Ironman and then Google translate the comments from Japanese to English. Here's what we found: 1 What a monster movie...I'm worried I will not break with wire mesh. Dude, you're not the only one. I'm always worried that I won't break a wire mesh. In fact, I've been obsessed over it recently. It's turning into one of those OCD things. Sure, we understand the monster movie thing. At least, we'll give the impression that we do. However, when it comes down to the wire mesh -- we really hope you break through that thing. 2Expected to flow and that the defense of Mr. Velasquez becomes the champion Alistair Alright, let's analyze this one as closely as possible. We're assuming this commentator means this card will definitely flow, which is undoubtedly a good thing. We all want cards to flow. Any stagnation to UFC 146 would be utterly depressing. Now, this commentator also believes that the defense of Cain Velasquez will force Alistair Overeem to become champion. We're all about The Reem being champion, but we have no idea how Velasquez's defense will aid Alistair Overeem against Junior dos Santos. This must be some next-level stuff that we're not sophisticated enough to understand. 3I'm...luxury. Well damn you, so am I. There's no need to brag here. 4Premonition of the biggest and best tournament ever become MMA .... Now this is what we like to hear; an obvious psychic having a premonition that UFC 146 will be the biggest and best tournament in MMA history. Granted, UFC 146 is not necessarily a tournament -- but it will be one of the greatest things we will witness in MMA this year. Kudos to this guy, he gets our unofficial thumbs-up approval. 5Which also want to win support your favorite player is troubled because both. Don't even try to pass this statement through your cognition. Nothing good can come from trying to understand this thing. Sure, you can attempt to break down the syntax of this sentence, but you're definitely getting a brain tumor from it. Instead of reading the above mentioned comment, we suggest you do something productive with your time on earth -- like watch this video of a cat playing the piano since both make about the same amount of sense.

Posted in: ufc, mma, card, thing, mma ironman

Should Judges Be Held Accountable for Bad Decisions?

After watching his fighter lose a very controversial decision, one MMA manager is speaking out and saying that judges in MMA should be held accountable for their mistakes.

Posted in: mma, fighter, decision, judge, mma manager

The Sunday Morning Rumor Mill: The Wednesday Night Edition

You know all those animals in the Cadbury commercial with the faux bunny ears? They're all dead now. That advertisement was shot like over a decade ago. Now tell that to your kids. While you're at it, stop putting pictures of your kids as your Facebook profile picture. That's not even remotely close to being socially acceptable. You're already living vicariously through your offspring. Life is over for you, you might as well give me those shoes you're wearing and sign over your will to Wallid Ismail. It's the only way you can prove that you're not 'cheeken' in your soon-to-be posthumous state. Oh, check out the Sunday Morning Rumor Mill - The Wednesday Night Edition. The following items are not verified, but are just what's floating around in the MMA world. If you repost any item with the words 'MiddleEasy reports...' then you don't deserve to reproduce, ever. Earlier this week, Gilbert Melendez told us that he will be fighting on May 19th in Strikeforce, but it will not be against Josh Thomson. This lead to a wide range of speculation in the MMA community. The two names that were heavily mentioned was former UFC champion BJ Penn and former WEC champion, Anthony Pettis. I've heard that the Gilbert Melendez fight was offered to BJ Penn, but he considers himself 'retired' and turned it down last month. That left Anthony Pettis fighting Gilbert Melendez, a rumor that was heavily refuted by Anthony Pettis' manager. Yesterday, I heard from a source that Takanori Gomi had a five-fight contract with the UFC and as of UFC 144, it ended. Therefore, one can only assume that Gomi could be tapped to fight Melendez. This rumor hasn't been confirmed or refuted, but from a progressive stand point this seems like a step back for Gilbert. What's left is Gray Maynard, Clay Guida or Strikeforce's Bam Bam Healy. An all-heavyweight main event was something the UFC wanted to do since late 2010. However a long string of unexpected injuries prevented this from taking place. Now with UFC 146, their concept has finally been realized -- fingers crossed, of course. Legend FC has canceled their April show in Indonesia due to low ticket sales. It appears the promotion plans to move the card to Hong Kong. M-1 Global.com is no more. It appears the promotion did not pay their webmaster/IT person and it's rumored the domain will be 'up for grabs' in the next few days. The producers of EA Sports MMA pitched to executives 'EA Sports MMA 2' as a DLC. Essentially, the engine would be the same (with a few minor tweaks) but with a new updated roster and a few new features. It appears the execs shot the idea down. A few people theorized that UFC leaked an unsigned Rampage vs. Shogun fight so that MMA outlets can publish the news and 'back Rampage into a corner' to accept the fight. Due to the fact that Rampage has asked for the fight both on Twitter and in interviews, I don't think this is the case. Brett Rogers will be fighting on Super Fight League's second show, going down in April. Urijah Faber claimed that he kicked Miesha Tate out of Team Alpha Male because she owned him money. Miesha Tate's version of the story is somewhat different. It appears MTV/Viacom is in full control of the development of the new Bellator videogame. The Nevada State Athletic Commission has accused Nick Diaz of lying in his pre-fight screening at UFC 142. Apparently they claim he failed to disclose prescription medications (non-marijuana) he was taking before the bout. Apparently TapouT's 'Punkass' is threatening former employees of TapouT and allegedly this screen cap is proof. Despite the rumors, DREAM's next event will not be held in April.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, rumor, melendez

UFC Programming Alert: Chael Sonnen to join 'MMA Uncensored,' Thurs. at 11pm ET to talk Silva rematch and more

On Aug. 7, 2010, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and mixed martial arts (MMA) landscape was 1.5 minutes away from changing forever when Chael Sonnen very nearly defeated the legendary Anderson Silva. For more than four rounds, Sonnen bludgeoned the Middleweight Champion with punches, takedowns and two-handed, open palm strikes to the sides of the head. He was closer to defeating "The Spider" then any man has been in a very long time. Since that fateful night, Sonnen has one his last two fights in a row and earned a rematch at the title (at least in the eyes of UFC management) when the two are expected to headline UFC 147 in Brazil this June. Silva has also won his two most recent contests, both by way of devastating knockout. The cage hasn't been the only place Sonnen and Silva have been active. Far from it. Both fighters have been very vocal in the media and the tone has been less than cordial. Recently, Silva spoke out about his nemesis, going so far as to suggest that Chael is possessed by a demon. What will Sonnen have to say in response, this time? Thursday (March 15, 2012), Sonnen will make an appearance on the new Spike TV program, "MMA Uncensored Live." He will sit down with hosts Craig Carton, Mike Straka and Nate Quarry to discuss his upcoming bout, his feelings for Silva and whatever else pops up in that crazy head of his. If it's anything like his last showing on "UFC Tonight," where he issued a mock apology to Silva, it should make for some good footage. Sonnen and Silva shouldn't have to do much to sell their impending rematch, but that has not stopped either of them, thus far. Of course, it has been "Uncle Chael" who has stolen the show (and the majority of the air time), in contrast to Silva, who really has only answered a few questions here and there, as terse as his responses may have been. "MMA Uncensored Live" can be seen on Spike TV on Thursday nights at 11 p.m. ET. Make sure to tune in! Will you Maniacs be watching to see what bomb Chael is going to drop next? Do you think he's getting under Silva's skin, or is he just a mere annoyance that will be disposed of at UFC 147? Comments, please.

Posted in: ufc, mma, silva, sonnen, chael

Chael Sonnen’s stylings headed to tomorrow night’s episode of MMA Uncensored

Whether fans love or hate UFC middleweight Chael Sonnen, chances are each rabid MMA enthusiast out there is interested in hearing what he has to say. Now, thanks to Spike TV’s MMA Uncensored, they’ll have a chance to do so this week with the added bonus of Sonnen’s commentary coming live as the show unfolds from the studio. Sonnen will join the cast and address a number of topics, one of which will of course be Anderson Silva, while also fielding questions from viewers who submit topics on Twitter. The episode is also set to feature an interview with War Machine who is set to start serving a year-long jail sentence in the coming days. MMA Uncensored is Spike TV’s recently unveiled version of a news-magazine program where numerous topics are covered, both pertaining to UFC and organizations outside of the Zuffa umbrella. Hosts include former TUF alumnus and UFC veteran Nate Quarry as well as well-known journalist Mike Straka. Catch it every week at 11:00 PM EST. Check out a preview of the interview with War Machine below:

Posted in: mma, war machine, sonnen, days mma, tuf alumnus

MMA Uncensored has War Machine's last moments of freedom

Preview - War Machine's New FightGet More: Preview - War Machine's New Fight War Machine's prison drama has been great for MMA website traffic, so it's not surprising that now the topic is making it's jump to television. MMA Uncensored Live (formerly MMA Junkie until they decided to go for a way less generic name) takes us into Jon Koppenhaver's last hours before returning to jail for busting up a bouncer at a gay bar. It sounds like it's gonna kinda be like a meathead 25th Hour, so check it out. Or check out 25th Hour, cry, then watch the War Machine thing for a few giggles. Not that him going back to jail is funny, but if they retell the story about how he chased that dude around the dumpster after beating up half the guys at a porn party ... well, that's pretty hilarious.

Posted in: mma, hour, war, machine, war machines

Lefko on MMA: Bruce Lee's influence in MMA

UFC fighter Stephan Bonnar talks about his passion for Bruce Lee and how the martial arts film star influenced his career in MMA.

Posted in: mma, star, bruce, lee, bruce lee

MMA Uncensored Live Preview – War Machine’s Last 48 Hours

This week’s episode of “MMA Uncensored Live” on Spike TV (Thursday, March 15 at 11:00pm ET/PT) will feature live interviews with UFC star Chael Sonnen, Bellator heavyweight contender Eric Prindle, and a feature on controversial MMA fighter “War Machine,” as we join him during his last 48 hours before beginning a year-long jail sentence.

Posted in: mma, hour, war, machine, “ mma

Chael Sonnen to Make Appearance on “MMA Uncensored Live”

Set your DVRs kids: West Linn’s most respected gangster, Chael Sonnen, will be dropping by the MMA Uncensored Live studios tonight to get a few things off his chest. The number one middleweight contender will be given the floor to air his grievances and he’s most assuredly prepared content suitable for the occasion. Hosted by Nate Quarry, Craig Carton and Mike Straka, MMA Uncensored Live airs — wait for it — live on Thursday nights beginning at 11pm ET/10pm CT on SpikeTV. Since losing via last ditch triangle to his chief rival, UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, at UFC 117 in 2010, Sonnen has impressively run through Brian Stann and squeaked by a game Michael Bisping to earn another shot at The Spider. The fight hasn’t been made official yet, but is rumored to be going down in Sao Paulo, Brazil, this June, possibly as the main event of UFC 147.

Posted in: ufc, mma, sonnen, middleweight contender, thursday nights

Chael Sonnen stopping by set of MMA Uncensored Live

If there’s one fighter who knows how to put together a soundbyte it’s unquestionably Chael Sonnen, the outspoken middleweight with a penchant for creating both comical and controversial statements about his peers, MMA, and the world in general. Sonnen will get a chance to let loose tomorrow night on Spike TV when he shows up as a guest on MMA Uncensored Live, a news-magazine program covering the sport from all angles hosted by Mike Straka, Craig Carton, and former UFC middleweight Nate Quarry. While the topics he’ll discuss are unknown, chances are rival Anderson Silva will come up at least once given Sonnen’s history with the 185-pound champion and apparent love of laying into him. Sonnen recently apologized to Silva in a video professing his sorrow for talking trash only to turn things around at the end, saying he’d changed his mind while adding Silva could kiss his ass. Sonnen Calls Silva a “Fake” and a “Phony” Make sure to tune in at 11:00 PM EST on Thursday and see exactly what Sonnen has to say. Also set for the program, War Machine (i.e. Jon Koppenhaver) will talk about his new legal issues after seemingly putting the trouble behind him after a year-long stint behind bars. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: mma, silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, newsmagazine program

Lorenzo Fertitta Sees Bright Future Ahead for Women's MMA

UFC president Dana White has long felt that women's MMA could draw public interest for one or two big fights a year, but there simply weren't enough talented women competing in the sport to build divisions around. And while UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta recently told MMAFighting.com that he agrees with White to a certain degree, his outlook on the future of women's MMA appears to be a whole lot more optimistic. "I've never been against it," Fertitta said. "You know, me and Dana, although we always go on a common front, we don't always agree on everything. The reality is, I'm a fan. I was captivated by the [Ronda Rousey vs. Miesha Tate] fight. [I was] blown away by their athleticism and the way they promoted the fight, the whole thing. To me, it was very, very entertaining. "Dana is right. Historically there has been an issue with the depth of talent in the talent pool, but it seems to me like that is starting to change and the one argument I make when we talk about it, and this might sound a little self-serving, but we've never been in the women's game, so we've never had our matchmakers do this. Let Joe Silva and Sean Shelby develop a women's league. I guarantee you they can do it. They're that good."Zuffa, the parent company of the UFC and Strikeforce, has only seriously been in the women's MMA business for the last few months. Sure, Zuffa bought Strikeforce exactly one year ago, but matchmaker Sean Shelby only had full control of the organization and its fights beginning with the organization's September show in Cincinnati, OH. Since then, there have only been four major Strikeforce shows, and interestingly enough, one featured a women's MMA co-main event (Cyborg vs. Yamanaka in December) and another featured a women's MMA main event (Tate vs. Rousey), only the second in Strikeforce's history. More to Fertitta's point, Shelby, who used to book WEC and is now in charge of the UFC's 125, 135 and 145 divisions, is responsible for signing Rousey and top contender Alexis Davis, so it's clear that he already has a strong eye for women's MMA talent.According to unconfirmed reports, the Tate vs. Rousey title fight drew approximately 500,000 viewers on Showtime and it may one day be seen as a watershed moment for the sport. After dominating the MMA news cycle for almost two weeks leading up to the fight, both Tate and Rousey are still very much in the headlines 10 days later. It's clear that women's MMA has found a new "face" in Rousey, a crown once worn by Gina Carano, perhaps somewhat unwillingly, and Fertitta is one of the many observers who thinks "Rowdy" can be a torchbearer of sorts for the ladies. "I think she has a tremendous amount of potential," he said. "She's got a great personality. She's got the ability to grab the public's attention, how she talks, and then she goes in there and backs it up. I mean, it's almost like Ali when he would go in there and call out the round. It's that kind of aura about her. I'm really positive on her and Miesha. I was very impressed. I'm happy for them." When Zuffa purchased Strikeforce last year, a lot of women's MMA fighters and fans were afraid that the acquisition would signal a major blow to their place in the sport. However, one could make a strong case today that women's MMA has never been healthier, and according to Fertitta, things are only going to get better. "I think that there's enough great athletes out there and when you see the stature, the celebrity, the money that these girls are now starting to make, I think you're going to see more women rise to the occasion and want to become professional athletes and compete. So I'm kind of positive on the whole thing."

Posted in: fight, mma, women, fertitta, womens mma

MMA gains Wyoming, loses Oklahoma

Mixed martial arts has now reached the 90% threshold in terms of states that regulate the sport. After a long, hard, multiple-front war for a prize on par with Helen of Troy, the great state of Wyoming has agreed to regulate the sport by creating a three-man MMA board, whose offices will be situated on 5000 acres of vacant land. Wyoming doesn’t have many people - in fact, it has over twice as many cows - but MMA will be very successful in Wyoming, because we all know that cows absolutely love it when they’re not the only ones bleeding. This move will actually indirectly hurt the existing unregulated MMA promoters who organize shows in Wyoming, because the MMA board is taking 5% of all gate fees. It would be kind of nice if they didn’t take that large of a percentage, but judging by the above photo, they eat a lot of beef. If the UFC comes to Wyoming, people from Colorado are likely to drive up there and fill the seats, which Wyoming also likes, because it will enable their state highway patrol to get rich off of the Coloradans’ Bud Light-swilling tendencies. Trust me, I know. Oklahoma, however, says that it's not accepting any new applications for MMA events after the UFC threatened to sue the state to get its 4% tax on pay-per-view purchases eliminated. The logic behind it is that without the tax money, they don’t have the funds to regulate the sport. More numbers are available from MMAValor in which Oklahoma claims to be getting $80k in UFC money per year from this tax, but lots of the other numbers they’re throwing around, like claiming that they only receive $500 per event in license and assessment fees, seem like slightly fuzzy math. And by “slightly fuzzy math,” I mean, “If this is true, I’ll eat my cowboy hat.” They could definitely afford to regulate the sport by raising those fees. But they prefer to pull the tumbleweeds over the eyes of their hackneyed country folk and point a finger at those big, nasty corporate types from Las Vegas for taking their money away. But the idea of the UFC suing Oklahoma for this also beggars explanation. What grounds will they cite in this lawsuit? Are they going to try to pull out some interstate commerce jurisdiction crap? Are they going to say they’ve been sexually harassed by the fully erect penis that’s sticking out of Oklahoma’s left side? It might seem odd that the UFC is trying strongarm tactics on a state that probably couldn’t even see it coming, but if every state had taxes like that, it would really hurt the UFC. And by “really hurt,” I mean that Lorenzo Fertitta might be worth $900 million instead of $1 billion.

Posted in: ufc, mma, state, wyoming, oklahoma

Marloes Coenen Was 'Really, Deeply Hurt' After Loss to Miesha Tate

Former Strikeforce champ Marloes Coenen has been through a lot in the last year and a half. First she won the women’s 135-pound title, then lost it to Miesha Tate after defending it once. She was released from her Strikeforce contract during a time of frosty relations between Zuffa and her Golden Glory management team, then verbally committed to BlackEye Promotions, only to later sign an exclusive North American deal with the upstart all-female organization Invicta.Through it all, Coenen told Ariel Helwani on Monday’s episode of The MMA Hour, she had her mettle thoroughly tested yet again, and now believes she’s emerged stronger for the experience."It never really crossed my mind to quit MMA [after the loss to Tate], but I was hurt," Coenen told Helwani. "I was really, deeply hurt. I really needed some time to be away from my family, from my friends, from my training camp, from the Netherlands. I really recovered in Kansas." Kansas, oddly enough, is where Coenen stayed for three months in the aftermath of the Tate loss and the Strikeforce release. While there, she said, she worked on her wrestling a great deal, but also got a chance to reflect on a career that’s spanned more than a decade, with plenty of ups and downs along the way.At 19, she won the ReMix: World Cup 2000 championship in Japan, fighting three times in one night. She’d come into the event with only one pro MMA fight to her credit, and returned to her home in the Netherlands with a title she wasn’t sure what to do with."I had just started studying at the university," she said. "...It wasn’t that interesting. [MMA] wasn’t my world at the time. Then all of a sudden I became a champion in Japan and I said, well, I’ll quit university and focus on fighting."Shortly thereafter, the women’s MMA scene in Japan began to decline, and Coenen’s family pressured her to go back to school. They also encouraged her to give up fighting and focus on something resembling a more normal career for a Dutch woman."There were so many points in my life where my parents told me I had to quit. Come on, Marloes, focus on something else, because it will not work out with fighting. At a certain point I started to believe that as well, then Strikeforce came and my world changed again."After splitting her first two fights in Strikeforce -- a submission win over Roxanne Modafferi in her debut, followed by a TKO loss to 145-pound champ Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos in her next fight -- she became the 135-pound champion with a submission win over the previously unbeaten Sarah Kaufman. Coenen couldn’t have known then that she’d be out of a job after just two more fights."I made a lot of sacrifices in my life, prior to when I went to Strikeforce," Coenen said. "Those things really helped build who I am."Women’s MMA is in a very different place now than it was when she found it, Coenen admitted, but she thinks the time is right for Invicta’s all-female approach, and expects that she’ll be proven right when the organization rolls out its debut event in Kansas City on April 28 -- a card that Coenen will headline in a rematch with Romy Ruyssen.Though Coenen said she’s always tried to be a role model for young girls in and out of the cage, a recent run-in with a different type of fan convinced her that the demographic for women’s MMA might be bigger than many realize."In the supermarket this woman came up to me, like a mom with three kids. ...She said to me, ‘Oh, I saw your TV show, and you really inspired me.’ I was like, huh? I inspired you? That proves to me that there’s this audience we do not hear of, they don’t go onto the forums, but they do want watch female fighting because it’s a big empowerment for women."For now, the 30-year-old Coenen will only say that she has "a few more years" left in MMA, but before she goes she has one specific goal in mind."I want to end my career fighting Cyborg," she said. "All my fights up to that will lead up to that."And even after news of Santos’ positive steroid test and subsequent suspension, Coenen refused to pile on the criticism of the recently stripped champion, explaining "that when an opponent is down, you don’t kick them."Then again, after feeling Santos’ strength, it’s not as if she was surprised to hear the news, Coenen added."I was in the cage with her, and believe me, I couldn’t understand that she really could hit that hard. I always thought that I really hit hard and I’m tough, but when I was in the cage with her, it was on another level."While many people might be upset to learn that the hard blows they took might have been the result of a juiced up physique, Coenen offered another, somewhat surprising take."I really like Cyborg, and I deeply respect her as well. Even after she got caught, it tells also that she really wants to do everything she can to win. That says something about her mindset, and that sort of mindset I can respect."

Posted in: mma, time, strikeforce, loss, coenen

Morning Report: Dana White TUF Video Blog, Rampage Bids Farewell With Shogun

So Rampage Jackson complained for a few weeks then got both his wishes granted -- a fight against Shogun and a release from the UFC. Good for him, I guess. Realistically, it seems like there's only one of a few ways this situation can go. 1) Rampage gets smashed by Shogun, then leaves the UFC to hit the Bellator/DREAM/M-1/ONE FC circuit, which would be weird. Or, 2) A motivated Rampage, aided by TRT, trains harder then he has in years and either -- A) fights an absolute war with Shogun, or, B) evokes the spirit of '07 and knocks Shogun the hell out. The thing is, if either one of those last two options happen, could you really see the UFC just giving up the golden gift of a revitalized Rampage Jackson to a competitor? There's absolutely no way that happens, right? Rampage is (self-admittedly) an emotional guy, and Zuffa is perhaps the most business savvy promotion in MMA. So is this really the end of Rampage in the UFC? Who knows, but it's probably more up in the air then we'd imagine. 5 MUST-READ STORIES Rampage Jackson to fight Shogun Rua in farewell fight. Rampage Jackson is slated to fight Shogun Rua in a rematch of their PRIDE Total Elimination 2005 brawl, before he can be granted his UFC release. A timetable for the match has yet to be announced. The fighter who stayed too long. Ben Fowlkes recounts the tragic tale of Gary Goodridge, who after a lifetime of battles in the ring, now finds himself struggling with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. UFC taking action against individuals who illegally stream events. If you've illegally streamed a recent UFC event, there's a good chance Zuffa has your information and will be looking to take legal action against you. Anthony Pettis considering a drop to featherweight. "Showtime" would reportedly be open to a drop to 145-pounds if it meant an instant title shot against UFC champ Jose Aldo. M-1 champ Vinny Magalhaes declares free agency. Magalhaes, a former TUF'er and M-1's reigning light heavyweight champion, has hit the free market after a fierce, prolonged squabble with the Russian promotion. COUNTDOWN TO A SLIMMER ROY NELSON Started (on March 4th): 32,000 likes.Yesterday's mark: 101,692 likes.As of this writing: 101,780 likes.Goal (by March 18th): 132,000 likes. Let's face it, we've pretty much failed Roy Nelson. MEDIA STEW It seems like a lifetime since the last Dana White video blog, but now they're back and better than ever. Check out the latest edition to see Rampage's post-loss reaction, one very sharp championship belt, and an incredulous White discovering the Australian commission's inability to do second-grade addition. Whether by way of selective editing or just freakish healing abilities, Georges St. Pierre looks pretty recovered in his latest 'Road to Recovery' video blog. Nick Diaz may be retired from MMA for now, but he's well on his way to ninjahood. Just check out his marvelous fruit-chopping sword skills. YouTube comment: "Cecil Peoples scored that round 10-8 in favor of the fruit." (HT: Middle Easy) Take a look at the new award-winning, MMA documentary Fightville, starring UFC featherweight contender Dustin Poirier and heavyweight brawler Tim Hague. The film hits theaters April, 20, 2012. RAMPAGE LOVES HIM SOME TRT "@KidR0cky: @Rampage4real I support your decision man..What are your plans after your done fighting?" Now with the TRT I got 10 more years! — Quinton Jackson (@Rampage4real) March 14, 2012 DON'T ACT LIKE YOU'RE NOT INTERESTED Wait for it.........in a thong. RT @tochristianshow @BigSexyMcCorkle says he's the sexiest man in mma clearly he hasn't seen@JoshLBarnett — Josh Barnett (@JoshLBarnett) March 14, 2012 FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS Announced yesterday (Tuesday, March 13, 2012): - Quinton "Rampage" Jackson (32-10) vs. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (20-6) announced, date to TBD - UFC on FUEL 3: Igor Pokrajac (24-8) vs. Fabio Maldonado (18-4) FANPOST OF THE DAY Today's Fanpost of the Day goes to BE's Dangalvan: 5 Reasons to Check Out Bellator LXI's Prelims Friday nights tend to be quite the busy time period for pretty much any average American, but not for us hard-core MMA fans. So if you're sitting down to watch some Bellator action this Friday, then I recommend checking out the under-card on Spike.com UFC quality under-card it is not, but there are still plenty of intriguing aspects about it that justify spending an hour or two of your life watching it. Here are five reasons why you should check out the prelims of Bellator LXI this Friday. 1. Jeremiah Riggs If you're a pro wrestling fan then this name sounds familiar. Riggs competed on WWE's Tough Enough reality show, WWE's version of The Ultimate Fighter. He made it to the top three but was eliminated due to his lack of experience. Tough Enough wasn't his only reality TV stint, he also was eliminated in the elimination rounds of TUF Season 7 and appeared on VH1's Daisy of Love. Riggs has entertaining personality and was a stand-out on Tough Enough. While Riggs has plenty of natural charisma, he still has serious deficiencies in his MMA game. Don't get me wrong, he's no Bob Sapp. He could very well be a Bellator main-stay, but the chances of him being a top middleweight are slim unless he continues to refine his raw MMA game. Riggs also understands the idea of being entertaining, and I would be shocked if his fight against Trey Houston wasn't a fun one to watch. Found something perfect for the Morning Report? Just hit us on Twitter @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in tomorrow's post.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, rampage, shogun

Wyoming creates MMA board

UFC.com announced via twitter that Wyoming became the 45th state to legalize MMA. The state announced that it has created an MMA board which may hurt more than help local MMA. Wyoming focused on legislation that specifically addressed regulating mixed martial arts as previous efforts to re-establish the defunct office of the boxing commissioner were negated. The office would have regulated MMA in addition to boxing. WY politicians celebrating state regulation One of the reasons behind regulating MMA would be to attract the UFC to hold a show in the state – not a PPV but maybe a UFC on FX show. A UFC event would draw fans from the state as well as nearby Colorado. The MMA board, which goes into effect July 1, would consist of an appointed board of three individuals. The board would draft new rules and regulations for MMA and work with other state commissions to see how they operate. But establishing a board would hurt local MMA. Via the Rapid City Journal: The MMA board will be paid for by taking 5 percent of the gross receipts from each MMA fight in the state. Some fight organizers said that could lead some promoters in the state to stop holding events. Stephen Alley, an MMA promoter who has held fights in Casper since 2006, said attendance at those fights has declined in recent years to the point that an additional fee would be devastating. Payout Perspective: The good news is that the state of Wyoming is regulating MMA which legitimizes the sport as well as provides safety guidelines for the fighters. The bad news is that by establishing an MMA board, it is indirectly hurting local MMA promoters. Its an unfortunate twist that to promote the sport, the state is hurting it. We shall see if Wyoming can find a solution to the problem. Picture via UFC.com twitter

Posted in: mma, state, wyoming, board, mma board

Quinton Jackson UFC release wish granted; Five potential fights that could await 'Rampage'

Quinton Jackson has been all over the mixed martial arts (MMA) news this week, making the headlines for a series of anti-Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) tweets and staying squarely in the spotlight by going on to repeat those sentiments in an interview with Bas Rutten & Inside MMA that aired last night.Chief among his complaints is the fact that the UFC is insistent with matching up against wrestlers. In his sharpest comments to date on the matter, Jackson suggested that UFC matchmaker Joe Silva should be shot in the face for doing so. Jackson also asked for his release from the organization instead of fighting out his contract. What did the UFC think of all this? On the most recent episode of UFC Tonight, on FUEL TV, we got our answer when it was revealed that Rampage will indeed have one more fight in the UFC: A rematch against a man who devastated him back in their Pride days, Mauricio Rua. If after this fight Jackson does indeed hit the free-agent market, is there even a place for him to go? One would think that Rampage would command a pretty penny, something not too many MMA organizations can offer, but Rampage was quick to tell Rutten that he isn't looking for money: For me, the respect is worth more than the money. I'll go fight for some other show for free. I'll prove to the fans that I'm not all about money. I'll go fight for some other show for five dollars. With it looking like it really will be one more and done for Rampage, after the jump we take a look at five possible fights for Rampage outside the UFC: 1. Todd Duffee -- Super Fight LeagueThe first SFL show is garnering some attention around the MMA world. Unfortunately, it's all the wrong kind of attention. The show is being mocked for the theme song, for the production work and for the in-cage product. (Bob Sapp isn't respected in the MMA world as a legitimate headliner. Gee, has he ever been?) But, bear with me for a moment: The two men responsible for the show are heavy hitters on the Bollywood scene and there was a lot of Bollywood star power at the first event. I know they enjoyed it, because they continually took the camera off the fights that were taking place to show us beautiful Indian actresses in awe of what they were seeing. So they clearly have the financial means to bring in Rampage. And despite Rampage claiming that he'll fight for free, I highly doubt he actually would. Not only that, but the upstart promotion has already announced dates for its next six shows. The biggest problem they currently have is elite talent, so a guy like Rampage would be just what they need. And when you think about it, Rampage is perfect for promoting MMA to a new audience. The chain, the howling ... it would be his early days in Pride all over again. Plus, we know Rampage is down for the ladies, and boy, does Super Fight League have ladies. All the beautiful starlets in the front row and the intermission dancing girls would leave him in heaven. Finally, Duffee is exactly the kind of opponent Rampage is looking for. Sure, he's a heavyweight, but Rampage should have no problem putting on weight, especially if he continues to use TRT and eat Japanese fried chicken.2. Muhammed Lawal -- StrikeforceWhen King Mo heals up from the staph infections that have him in rough shape, he's going to need a fight. Rampage and Mo have a history of sniping back and forth, so the fight would garner instant attention. I realize that some of you are going to say "Strikeforce is Zuffa, no way he leaves the UFC and goes to Strikeforce," but consider that Nate Marquardt signed with Strikeforce after being black-listed from the UFC, setting the precedent that fighters with UFC issues are not necessarily out of the question for Strikeforce. Would Rampage be interested in a bout with Mo, a fantastic wrestler? Probably not, but this fight would attract a good deal of attention if it were to happen, which means we can't rule it out.3. Fedor Emelianenko -- DreamThis would actually be a pretty cool fight to see come to fruition and one that has largely been ignored when it comes to discussions of either man's futurte. Fedor last fought against Satoshi Ishii at the Dream event on New Year's eve. He is looking to fight again in the summer, although he doesn't have an opponent yet. Fedor recently stated that he would have to go to America to fight against top competition, but Fedor making nice with the UFC is almost surely out of the question. Enter Rampage who, just one fight removed from a UFC title fight, would be exactly the top competition Fedor wants. As for Rampage, he'd get his wish to fight someone who won't "just take him down and hump his leg." Should this fight come together it would have the added benefit of getting under the skin of Dana White. This would be a huge fight wherever it took place but especially in Japan; both Fedor and Rampage were huge stars during the Pride era and I'm sure they still have some appeal, even if it is not nearly as great as five years ago. 4. Evander Holyfield -- BoxingYeah, I know you just did a double take, but hear me out for a moment. Holyfield is actually still fighting. As recently as last month he spoke of the possibility of a title fight with one of the Klitschko brothers. We have had James Toney vs Randy Couture in MMA, but I honestly can't remember the last time, if ever, a big MMA star has fought a boxer on the boxer's terms. I would be shocked if there weren't at least a few boxing promoters who would be interested in putting this match together. The name value of both fighters alone would make it a big fight wherever it takes place. And when you add in the MMA vs Boxing angle you have a guaranteed money maker. I'd definitely pay to watch this fight even if it took place in Eastern Europe and was broadcast on a cheap Internet stream. 5. Pro Wrestling Rampage has appeared on WWE Raw before, as a promotional stunt for the A Team movie. I personally would have no interest whatsoever in watching him go down that road in America, but I would be intrigued if Jackson ventured into Japanese Pro Wrestling. I have to admit that I don't know much about the pro-wrestling scene in either America or Japan, but as Quinton still has some star power in Japan, I'm sure that he would be welcomed by any of the current promotions putting on shows. It's worked out for Josh Barnett, among others, so this actually might happen in addition to the other four options already mentioned. So what do you think Maniacs? Is Rampage headed overseas to compete in MMA? Is he headed to boxing? Who do you think his next fight outside the UFC is going to be against? Does anyone care anymore?

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, show, rampage

Lumpini champion, Orono Wor Petchpun, is looking to make his MMA debut in 2012

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

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

Asian MMA Video - ONE FC 3: War Of The Lions Trailer

ONE Fighting Championship just released a trailer for their upcoming event on March 31, and it's pretty interesting that they apparently even got God Morgan Freeman to do the voice over for it. Related: Asian MMA: ONE FC 3 - Eduard Folayang Vs. Ole Laursen Trailer | Asian MMA: Breaking Down The Official ONE FC 3 Fight Card | Interview: Imanari Loves Leg Locks 'Because It Hurts The Opponent', Says Belingon Can Be MMA's Manny Pacquiao Full fight card, which will be available as an online PPV at $24.99, can be found after the jump. Follow me on twitter -- @antontabuena ONE FC 3: War of the LionsMarch 31, 2012 -- Singapore Indoor Arena, Singapore - Zorobabel Moreira vs. Felipe Enomoto- Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Donald Sanchez- Yuya Shirai vs. Fabricio Monteiro- Melvin Manhoef vs. Yoshiyuki Nakanishi- Eddie Ng vs. Jian Kai Chee- Masakazu Imanari vs. Kevin Belingon- Nicole Chua vs. Jeet Toshi- Quek Kim Hock vs. Juan Wen Jie- Yodsanan Sityodtong vs. Jiang Long Yun- Danny Van Bergen vs. Richie Whitson

Posted in: mma, vs, fc, asian mma, lions trailer

Guys, we have bad news: EA MMA's online servers are shutting down in 30 days

Well this just sucks. I'm at a loss for words. We knew the time for EA MMA to shut down would come eventually, but we didn't know it would be this soon. If you've been with us for the last few years you know MiddleEasy and EA shared a great working relationship. If you ask any of us we would say it was one of the most incredible working relationships we've ever had with a company. Actually no. It wasn't one of the best, it was the best. We had such a good relationship with EA it has developed beyond work, we are happy to call many of those great guys friends. You can ask Zeus, no one has given us as many digital high fives, butt-pats and chest bumps as Team Tiburon down in Florida. Like any relationship however, eventually it comes to an end. For almost two years MiddleEasy and EA had the common goal in mind of kicking ass in the digital MMA world, and now it's officially coming to a close. Live Broadcast producer and EA MMA showrunner Preston Dollinger emailed me this horrible news last night: It's with deep sadness that I announce on April 13th 2012, EA will be shutting down the EA Sports MMA Online servers. This means after April 13th 2012, you will no longer be able to access any of the online features within EA Sports MMA. This includes Online Head to Head, Fight Cards, Live Broadcast Replays, Virgin Gaming, Leaderboards, Fighter Share and Fight Replays. The entire EA Sports MMA Development team would like to thank everyone for the unwavering support you've shown towards the EA Sports MMA product. We've loved your enthusiasm and have enjoyed interacting with everyone whether it was through the forums, the Live Broadcasts or inside of the Online Head to Head arena. You all have been super passionate and we thank you for spending some time with us playing the game and providing all of the feedback and comments that you did. I’d like to send a personal thank you to Jason Nawara, Zeus, Gary Laplante, Tha Premeire, l1qu1d Sw0rds, Aghast Eagle, Chris Gregory aka BrothaLynch57 and any of the other regular Sunday Night Fighters I may be forgetting. It’s been a blast getting to know each of you and work together putting some amazing and fun Live Broadcasts fights out on the airwaves. Those were some of the best moments of my life and I appreciate everyone participating in the Broadcasts and weekly Sunday Night Fight sessions. Before we shut down the servers, I’d like to put together one last event with anyone who may be interested. Stay tuned to MiddleEasy.com for details! Thanks again everyone, it’s been a fun ride that I’m truly thankful to have been a part of, and can’t thank you all enough for your support!” The man, the myth, the Preston Dollinger. With only four Sundays to go until the EA MMA servers go down, we want to bring back the original EA MMA Sunday Night Fights at least a few more times. Maybe capping off this beautiful journey we had with a blowout party as the servers go down on April 13th. Let's relive some great EA MMA memories: EA MMA NEVER DIE! I'm going to go cry and rock back and forth now.

Posted in: fight, mma, broadcast, ea, server

ONE FC: Now Showing in 24 Asian Countries as the ESPN Star Sports Era Begins

This week, ONE Fighting Championship will be broadcast all over Asia for the very first time as its ESPN Star Sports era begins in earnest. The two organizations have signed a partnership deal which guarantees that Asia's biggest sports network will broadcast mixed martial arts (MMA) for at least the next decade. On Thursday and Friday night, the first ONE FC event will be broadcast in its entirety at around 9pm, with times varying slightly from country to country. It will then be repeated on rotation giving the event regular exposure in 24 Asian countries. Existing MMA fans will have already viewed the fights, either live on an internet stream or on YouTube and people in Singapore have already had a chance to watch ONE FC 1 on domestic television there. However, the challenge for a show as ambitious as ONE FC is not to appeal to existing MMA fans, it is to introduce an entire new audience to the sport. This is why the 10 year ESPN Star deal is so significant because not only does it guarantee ONE FC a decade's worth of income, but it also ensures that the show will have a high level of international exposure until at least the year 2022. The ESPN Star Sports channels are generally included in even the most basic cable and satellite packages in Asia meaning that they reach a lot of households, a potential 350 million according to official estimates. The highest ever viewership for an event broadcast by the network was 67.6 million for last year's Cricket World Cup final. ONE FC will be sharing air time with high caliber sporting events such as the English Premier League, Major League Baseball, Formula One Racing, Olympic Games and NBA. The frustration for existing MMA fans is that ESPN Star will not show events live, at least to begin with, but it is the potential of the TV network to introduce the sport to uninitiated audiences all across Asia which makes this such a seminal moment for Asian MMA. Pay per view might bring in a little bit of revenue but it makes a broadcast much less accessible to the casual spectator. It is more difficult to increase viewership when depending on a PPV model because no-one is going to commit money to watching a television program unless they are passionate about the content. By partnering with a broadcaster which has such a strong presence in 24 Asian countries ONE FC is helping to raise the profile of MMA in places from the Maldives to Malaysia to Myanmar to Macau. It will also be available in multiple languages including Cantonese, Hindi, Korean and Mandarin. ONE FC CEO / Owner Victor Cui worked as a senior director at ESPN Star Sports for several years before leaving to set up Asia's most ambitious MMA promotion. This is his quote from today's press release, "Tomorrow marks the first broadcast of our 10-year partnership with ESPN STAR Sports. ONE FC content will reach an incredible 350 million viewers in 24 countries throughout the region. It is the largest sports media deal in Asian history and we are proud to showcase the best Asian mixed martial artists and world champions. Viewers across Asia will now get to witness why mixed martial arts is the fastest growing sport in the world." MMA Mania readers who are in Asia can look up when ONE FC will be shown in their region here. ONE FC also today released a video promo for their March 31st card at the Singapore Indoor Stadium which will feature Tatsuya Kawajiri, Melvin Manhoef, Eduard Folayang and Masakazu Imanari and will be available on PPV for $24.99 USD. ONE FC Trailer: War of the Lions (via OneFCMMA)

Posted in: mma, star, sport, fc, asia

Johnston on MMA: Rampage's recent ridicule

Quinton (Rampage) Jackson confirmed in a recent interview that his time in the world's biggest MMA promotion is coming to an end.

Posted in: world, mma, rampage, mma promotion, mma rampages

Spike is making a Bellator video game for some reason

Spike appears to be putting the cart before the horse with this news that Bellator will soon have it's own video game. Considering how hard EA's MMA game faceplanted, this seems like a strange marketing scheme at best and a stupid vanity project at worst. As for how good the game could be, that usually depends on who's developing it: Kung-Fu Games, the group responsible for creating the somewhat underwhelming Supremacy MMA title, are helping with the project. They also worked on on the new Deadliest Warrior: Ancient Combat and Ugly Americans games released by 345 Games — the Viacom-owned collective made up of Spike Games and Comedy Central Games. 'Somewhat underwhelming' is being kind to a game that one reviewer declared was "Easily the worst MMA game yet and also one of the most ineptly designed and ruthlessly un-entertaining fighting games for years." Which is impressive considering some of the other contenders for that mantle like Fighters Uncaged. The Deadliest Warrior series of games is also known for being quite terrible even when taking into account it's TV show licence origins. And don't take my word that the Ugly Americans game is a steaming pile, download the demo off XBox Live and experience the taint for yourself.So are you excited yet for this latest unneccessary MMA game from a developer who's already showed they don't really know how to make a good MMA game? I know I sure am!

Posted in: mma, spike, game, spike games, kungfu games

Matt Polly was on Inside MMA last night

Our buddy Matthew Polly appears on Inside MMA to talk about his book Tapped Out. I was almost on that show once until they realized I'm a good for nothin trash talker who's bad for the sport. Ah well, since I'm in Polly's book and Polly's book was on Inside MMA, that's kinda like being on television.

Posted in: mma, book, polly, matt polly, pollys book

Pat Curran Credits Bellator Tournament Model for Success, Views Himself as Top Featherweight

Is Bellator featherweight champion Pat Curran one of the best featherweights in the world? A credible case can be made for Curran's place among MMA's elite 145 pound fighters and if you ask the new champion himself, he unequivocally sees the Jose Aldo's and Hatsu Hioki's of the world as peers. "I definitely see myself being one of the top fighters," Curran told MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour. "If I compare myself to any one of those fighters, I'd do a great job fighting and putting on a great show against them," Curran insisted. "I know I can beat anyone if the top 5, top 10." Curran added ammunition to the argument that he belongs among the featherweight division's best when he put on a sensational performance Friday night at Bellator 60, snatching the featherweight title from Joe Warren with a third-round blistering TKO. It was Curran's fourth win in a row since losing to Eddie Alvarez at lightweight in April of 2011. The win also marked the second consecutive finish of a top-ranked opponent. The victory didn't come without an injury price to pay, however. According to Curran, he was able to stop Warren despite damaging his ankle in the very first round. "Yeah, I'm actually getting my ankle checked out tomorrow," Curran said yesterday. "I'm not sure really what's wrong with it. It popped early in the first round. It was shifting around and I'm pretty sure I tore something." "It was actually the first scramble once Joe tried to take me down," Curran noted. "I was getting back to my feet or trying to scramble away and it popped. I felt it pop. Right after that it started shifting around. It was early in the first round." "After the first round was done I mentioned to [my corner] right away that my ankle was shifting around. Felt like every time I was pivoting and moving and defending the takedown my foot was staying in place but my leg and ankle joint was moving around. It didn't feel right, so I definitely hurt it." Injury or not, it was arguably Curran's most impressive victory to date. Warren may lack the extensive resume of a Marlon Sandro or technical ground prowess of Toby Imada, but the standout amateur wrestler is incredibly durable and even in modern MMA, that counts for quite a bit. "He was definitely a tough opponent. He can take a beating," admitted a relieved Curran. "Especially after the first round. I knocked him down. He was able to pop back up and recover really quickly. I wasn't expecting that especially after his last fight coming off a knockout. I thought he was going to have a glass chin and not recover like that, so that definitely surprised me." If there's an Achilles Heel to Warren's game, however, Curran believes the former champion's bad techincal instincts cause him to absorb disturbing levels of damage. "He's a wrestler. Every time he starts getting hit his hands go straight out. He's not defending himself properly," Curran argued and then drew a distinction with himself. "As a striker when you start getting hit, your hands go up, you start protecting your head and he kinda just did the opposite. In my opinion, I think he needs to fix that. He needs to start defending himself a little bit better." Like many others within the MMA community, Curran also did not view the timing of the stoppage that night by referee Jeff Malott as a particularly good call for Warren's health. "Watching the fight over he definitely should've stopped it ten, fifteen seconds earlier," said an adamant Curran. "Nobody deserves to get a beating like that. I hope Joe has a quick recovery and no permanent damage." But as Curran eyes his next challenge - a title fight with Patricio Friere - he also has taken inventory of what got him to his current position. How has a fighter no one knew much about or expected to do so well exceeded all expectations? "To me, I really feel like it's the Bellator format, just having those three fights so close together," said Curran. "It's just one big, long training camp and you just really learn and gain a lot from that. I really think I'm living proof of that." "Your level jumps so much, you're focused on these three fights in such a short amount of time. You're constantly evolving, constantly improving. I really have to say it has a lot to do with my success." There's no timeline just yet on when Curran will return. There's also no telling when the MMA community may universally declare Curran of the featherweight division's best. Either way, he's not worried about rushing timelines. He's certain he's in the right place in Bellator and that this is the right time. In his mind, as long as focuses on winning and doing so spectacularly as he did on Friday, the rest of the pieces of his career will fall into place. "As long as I put on a good performance and keep finishing my opponents, I'll get the recognition."

Posted in: mma, round, featherweight, warren, curran

MMA hater and New York Assemblyman Bob Reilly will not seek re-election

Despite the best efforts of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), former Governor David Paterson and even one Frank Shamrock, the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) is still outlawed in the state of New York. That's part of the reason why events like UFC on FOX 3 are relegated to nearby venues like New Jersey's IZOD Center and not Madison Square Garden (MSG), despite the kind of revenue it would generate for "The World's Most Famous Arena." Part of that has to do with legislation of yesteryear and regulatory scare tactics that have men boarding up their windows while the women and children cower under the bed. Who needs a zombie apocalypse when you have mixed martial artists wandering the streets? Like any major change in state law, sometimes the only thing on your side is time. Such is the case with the UFC, as its best chance of getting into one of the last remaining anti-MMA strongholds is simply outlasting the current regime. That includes New York Assemblyman Bob Reilly, who refers to the sport of cagefighting as a "glorification of brutality and violence." According to the The Troy Record, he will not seek a fifth term in the upcoming election. Here's why. "I get in, do my thing, and I get out," he said. "That's what I'm doing, getting out. There's a difference between what I see as a citizen legislator and someone who makes a career of it. It's not a bad thing, it's just not me." One of early pieces of legislation was a proposal to take pensions away from elected officials who get convicted of crimes and sent to prison. In recent years he has become the face and voice in the legislature for preventing mixed martial arts from being held in the state. His position, one which he describes as the boy with the finger in the dike, has brought him national and now international attention. In a story we published last year right here on MMAmania.com, Reilly was linked to campaign contributions from the national hotel union at war with the Fertitta brothers and Station Casinos. Egg, meet face. New York MMA fans still get to enjoy live events, but currently bring their checkbooks across the Hudson and even as far as Philadelphia, which is easily accessible through NY Penn Station. But for how much longer? That remains to be seen.

Posted in: ufc, mma, state, york, reilly

Wyoming Creates First MMA-Only Governing Board To Mixed Reviews

While the biggest events in UFC history will likely never take place within its borders, Wyoming recently became the latest state to legalize MMA and took a somewhat controversial step by creating an MMA-only governing board -- the first of its kind in the U.S. Governor Matt Mead signed the bill into legislation last Thursday, dropping the amount of states with no such legal welcome for the sport down to five. It was the fifth time that such legislation was attempted to be put through with boxing promoters providing opposition in previous attempts. State Rep. Bryan Pedersen (R) focused solely on MMA and thus avoided that this time around. However, the controversy is with local promoters. Here's an interesting twist from Jeremy Pelzer of the Casper-Star Tribune: The MMA board will be paid for by taking 5 percent of the gross receipts from each MMA fight in the state. Some fight organizers said that could lead some promoters in the state to stop holding events. Stephen Alley, an MMA promoter who has held fights in Casper since 2006, said attendance at those fights has declined in recent years to the point that an additional fee would be devastating. "If they bring in a commission, most of the people that you see operating right now, they won't be around," he said. The three-person board begins work on July 1st. Currently, there are approximately 20 events held throughout the state, which is the second least densely populated in the country at just under 600,000 total residents. In their "previous life", the UFC ran their sixth ever event in Casper, drawing 2700 fans for a July 1995 event that was headling by Ken Shamrock defeating Dan Severn in just 2:14 to win his first UFC Superfight title. Oleg Taktarov defeated Tank Abbott to win the UFC 6 tournament. They never returned.

Posted in: ufc, mma, event, state, board

Family Affair: Shannon Wiratchai Set to Take On Tondamrong Panjabutra at DARE 2/12

When people talk about Thais getting involved in the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA), they are normally interested in seeing famous former Muay Thai fighters start to learn wrestling and the ground game. There is also a new generation of educated young Thai men who are getting into the sport not for the payday, but because they are passionate about it. One of them is 23 year-old Shannon Wiratchai, a university graduate who made his professional debut at DARE Championship 2/12 last year. He has already won titles as an amateur and will be fighting this weekend with a spot in the DARE featherweight tournament semifinals at stake. There is a significant amount of prize money on offer to the tournament winner but there will also be plenty of pride at stake at the Insomnia Night Club on March 17 because Wiratchai is up against the brother of DK Panjabutra, the man he beat to book his spot in the quarterfinals. Tondamrong Panjabutra has a black belt in Judo and will be looking to gain a bit of vengeance for his brother who was on the receiving end of a one sided three round beatdown from Wiratchai. It is a contest which could get pretty personal but Wiratchai says he has respect for his opponent's ability. "Tondamrong's last fight was impressive and he showed a lot of ground fighting skill. Although he is not a famous Judoka in Thailand that fight showed that he is a lot better in no gi and MMA. It will definitely be about revenge because I beat his brother and he also beat a good friend of mine in an amateur match but afterwards I am sure we will be friends." Wiratchai works a freelance English teacher and translator but is focusing more on training MMA. One of the obstacles he has to overcome is opposition from his family who are concerned he might get hurt, something which prevents many young Thai men from competing in MMA, but he says despite some reluctance they remain supportive. He has been training regularly since his last fight at a variety of camps in Bangkok and Phuket but is still frustrated by how much he feels he has to learn. "I have been training all the time since my last fight but because I'm very new in MMA, my training schedule still not good enough and I still not satisfied with my progress. I train in many camps such as Phuket Top Team, 13 Coins, Q23, Jitti Gym and TUFF Camp and also my own BurnShell Team in Bangkok. I am still not satisfied with my progress but I think I have improve a lot because of a lot of training, this fight should show whether I am right or not." Thailand is an interesting market for MMA. Combat sports such as Muay Thai are very popular here and in excess of 7,000 fans will squeeze into Lumpini Stadium to see the sport's stars o the potential for growth is there but Muay Thai is so well established that is it impossible for MMA to even attempt to compete with it. DARE Championship was only formed last year but has already carved out a niche and gained a real cult following in Bangkok. While the crowd consists of a lot of foreigners there are also plenty of Thais, many of whom have come to cheer on their friends. Wiratchai says that a lot of people are starting to follow his career and he can see the sport of MMA growing and is happy to be a part of that growth. "I can feel that MMA is growing up in Bangkok and also Thailand. A lot of Thai fighers are aware of it and DARE is a great MMA event in Thailand, I always feel exciting every time when I step into the event even if I am not fighting but if I can contribute to making it more exciting it is even better, I want everybody to love my fights." DARE CHampionship 2/12 is taking place in Bangkok on March 17th and will be headlined by a welterweight match between Krysztof Hajtalowicz and Arnaud Lepont. For more information visit: www.darefightsports.com.

Posted in: fight, mma, lot, wiratchai, thai

Inside MMA: Bjorn Rebney, Carlos Condit, Ian McCall

Inside MMA airs live on HDNet every Monday night at 8pm ET. Inside MMA Archive More segments after the jump.

Posted in: night, mma, monday night, mma airs, mma archive

MMA Hour 122 Full Episode

Posted in: mma, hour, episode

The MMA Hour Episode 122 Mike Chiappetta

Posted in: mma, hour, episode, mike, chiappetta

The MMA Hour Episode 122 Pat Curran

Posted in: mma, hour, episode, curran

The MMA Hour - Episode 122 - Marloes Coenen

Posted in: mma, hour, episode, marloe, coenen

The MMA Hour Episode 122 Matt Mitrione

Posted in: mma, hour, mitrione, matt, episode

MMA Talking Heads: A last look back at Ultimate Fighter 15 and Bellator 60

MMA Mania presents "MMA Talking Heads," a video discussion series featuring mixed martial arts (MMA) journalists Loretta Hunt and Jason Probst. The show touches on all aspects of the sport, with an insider's perspective. With the debut of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15: "Live," Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) takes a bold step to reinvent its reality show franchise. On this episode of MMA Talking Heads, Jason and Loretta analyze and opine on the debut episode from last Friday. Touching on what works and what didn't, we'll also break down how future episodes might work given the "live" format which is expected to jump-start the show's sagging ratings in recent seasons. The pari also weigh in on last weekend's Bellator 60, where Pat Curran scored a brutal, title-winning stoppage of former featherweight belt holder Joe Warren. With a belated referee intervention, the bout was a memorable upset somewhat overshadowed by inept officiating. Send reader questions to www.twitter.com/MMATalkingHeads -- we'll answer them on next week's episode!

Posted in: mma, episode, jason probst, insiders perspective, show touches

The MMA Hour Episode 122 Anthony Johnson

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The MMA Hour Episode 122 MiO Question

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By completing this short survey, you can shape the future of the UFC Undisputed franchise

I can think of few instances where a game developer has been in the eleventh hour of releasing the first major patch of their flagship franchise, only to release a survey to their community for some last minute direction. That's what we're getting from THQ though, and it's pretty cool for the fans of the series. THQ just released a survey asking the community what their favorite part of UFC 3 is, what their gameplay habits are in the online community, and most importantly -- the fate of 'Simulation' energy settings in ranked mode. As you may have heard, we have street teams forming, people are getting the message and a difference is being made. In Connecticut we held a pro simulation settings rally (it was just Gary LaPlante) and other towns have showed interest in possibly acknowledging the importance that this survey holds. Guys, after legalizing MMA in New York, getting simulation energy settings in UFC 3 ranked matches is by far the second most important thing on an MMA fan's agenda (for reference: Twitter bombing the UFC to bring back Tim Sylvia ranks 14th). Taking this survey can make that dream of simulation settings in ranked matches and more a reality. We here at MiddleEasy are in tune with the 18-34 male demographic that THQ is asking for guidance from, and like you guys, we are also very disenchanted with voting for hope and change. Some of you may remember the 'EA MMA Patch of Doom' that dropped this time last year. Some of you may even play CounterStrike 1.6 still. We get it. However, we can't let our clouded faith in the voting process stop us again; take the UFC Undisputed 3 survey and let's make our dreams come true. Vote for change! Click here!

Posted in: ufc, mma, survey, simulation, setting

Key New York MMA Opponent Bob Reilly to Step Down

New York Assemblyman Bob Reilly (D) has announced that he will not seek reelection at the end of his fourth term. Reilly is largely known in the MMA world for his opposition to MMA in New York and his support from the culinary union. Reilly has represented New York’s 109th District since 2004 and while vilified for his opposition of MMA, has been well-respected in his home district. Reilly is known for outside of MMA for his work for public education, his work on tightening laws on sex offenders, and for donating his NY Assembly pay to various charities. While the move has excited various sites, it is important to remember that Reilly was also known for being a strong representative of his constituents. So the man likely to follow him, Kevin Frasier, is unlikely to have a supportive view of MMA as well. It also is important to note that a poll of New Yorkers taken in 2010 revealed that 68% were not in favor of legalizing the sport. That number changed drastically among different age demographics, with younger voters unsurprisingly more in favor than older voters. While some criticized the phrasing of the poll question, the numbers were still pretty strong against MMA. Current NY Governor Andrew Cuomo has joked about wanting to legalize MMA for press conferences but has stated he has no official position on the sport, stating: “I understand the proponents argue it would be an economic development miracle and we need economic development, and so I understand the potential appeal, but I have not gone through it specifically.” For more on this story and more, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.

Posted in: mma, york, reilly, ny assembly, term reilly

New York MMA Opponent Bob Reilly Won't Run for Re-Election

Bob Reilly, the New York Assemblyman who gained infamy in the mixed martial arts world as the state's main detractor of the sport, will not run for a fifth term, the Troy Record reported on Monday.Reilly first won election to represent his 109th district in 2004, and was re-elected to the same post three more times. His seat will be up for a vote again this November.The 72-year-old Democrat has largely been seen as one of the forces keeping MMA out of the Empire State due to his vocal opposition dating back to 2008, when he first gained notoriety on the subject after an interview with ESPN. Since then, he's certainly been one of its most outspoken foes. According to many government insiders, however, the bigger hurdle is Speaker of the Assembly Sheldon Silver, who remains entrenched in his position.In 2010, longtime New York political analyst Dr. Douglas Muzzio told MMA Fighting that when it came to Silver's power in the Assembly, "if he wanted it, it would happen."Still, Reilly served a valuable role for Silver as MMA's public hitman on MMA, even when it was proven that there was a movement towards supporting a vote on the sport. In 2011, MMA bill co-sponsor Dean Murray hastily produced a letter of support signed by 60 members of the Assembly. At the time, there were 146 members, so an MMA bill would have required 74 votes.Silver, however, said there did not appear to be "widespread support" for the legislation, and never brought it forth for a full vote.Because Silver does much of his work behind the scenes, Reilly earned the wrath of many for his public distaste for the sport. His position was cemented in 2009, when he released a study entitled "The Case Against Ultimate Fighting in New York State."In that report, he claimed among other things that "ultimate fighting" has a "negative impact on children, adults and our society as a whole," and that the sport would "have a negative effect on the economics of New York state and local municipalities."In the time since, many states have embraced sanctioning, with New York one of the last remaining holdouts. However misguided many felt Reilly was, his effort seemed sincere, as he donated his entire Assembly salary to charitable causes each year, a total of over $335,000.Reilly once told ESPN that if New York were to accept MMA, they would have to realize that they were "getting in bed with" Dana White, and that he mirrored the violence that happens with "Ultimate Fighting," as he was fond of calling the sport. If he would have bothered to speak to other governments and other commissions around the world, maybe he would have thought differently, but by the time he retires, he might be able to say he won his fight while he waged it. The UFC is again lobbying to get the sport passed, major sports properties like Madison Square Garden have publicly voiced a hope of hosting major events, and a bill is slowly snaking its way through the committee process. And despite those best efforts, yet again, the bid is expected to be denied.

Posted in: mma, sport, york, silver, reilly

Ultimate Fighter: Brasil Cast Revealed

The cast for "The Ultimate Fighter: Brasil" has been released with several names that should be familiar to hardcore MMA fans.

Posted in: mma, fighter, cast, brasil, fighter brasil

Wyoming First State with MMA Only Board

Wyoming has become not only the latest state to pass MMA sanctioning, but in doing so, also becomes the first state to form an MMA only control board.

Posted in: mma, state, wyoming, board, board wyoming

Jian Kai Chee: Eddie Ng Will Be Afraid to Stand With Me at ONE FC 3

Jian Kai Chee has been on the mixed martial arts (MMA) scene for a couple of years but is best remembered for dropping Ole Laursen at Martial Combat 12 in a fight where he proved his stand up was at least as good as the K-1 and Muay Thai veteran, before being beaten by ground and pound. Since then he has embraced the sport of MMA fighting five more times and on March 31, the Malaysian will be taking on Eddie Ng at ONE Fighting Championship 3 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. It is the biggest card in the history of South East Asian MMA and will give Kai a second chance to grab the win which so narrowly eluded him the last time he fought in Singapore. A couple of Kai's teammates featured at the second ONE FC show and enjoyed mixed success, Raymond Tiew lost due to a knee injury but Pete Davis made up for a lackluster performance by securing a triangle choke late in the last round of his fight. With the fourth ONE FC event scheduled to take place in Kuala Lumpur Kai will want to leave a lasting impression with the fans in order to show that Malaysian fighters have what it takes to compete with the best mixed martial artists in the region. Martial Combat 12 Fight 3 Chee Jian Kai Vs Ole "Iron Fist" Baguio Larsen (via ESPNMartialCombat) After staggering Laursen with a left hook on his MMA debut Kai is convinced he s capable of doing the same thing to Ng, who is regarded as being more of a ground fighter. "I believe in my stand up skills because I was Malaysian Sanda Champion, and I was also a Malaysian Muay Thai champion. Eddie Ng is one of the best fighters in Asia and if I beat him I will have respect and attention from anyone but that also puts me under a lot of pressure." He thinks that Ng, a fighter from Hong Kong who lives in Singapore and is part of the Evolve MMA fight team, will want no part of the stand up exchanges and will do everything in his power to take the fight to the floor. "There is a lot of Muay Thai legends at Evolve MMA and definitely Eddie will have learned a lot of from them but I still believe he will be afraid to stand with me. I keep reading about how the Muay Thai coaches at Evolve MMA are the best in the world and if they are so good they should be able to prepare their fighter to stand and face me, not shoot for a takedown in the first 30 seconds." This might seem like wishful thinking on Kai's behalf but he has been preparing in Kuala Lumpur with some experienced MMA fighters including Arnaud Lepont who he lost to in a fight for DARE Championship last year. "Arnaud is a pretty cool and nice guy and after he beat me we both started working for Muayfit together. He has helped me a lot in training, especially boxing with him and training cardio with him. I train with a lot of awesome guys like Mark Striegl, Will Chope, Eric Kelly, Samir Mrabet, Muay Thai Champ Jorm Kitti and three times Jiu Jitsu world champ, Hakim Goram." Kai will need to be at his best if he is to beat Ng because the 26 year old has a reputation as being one of the brightest talents in Asia. He is an accomplished grappler who has been competing in professional Muay Thai in Thailand in order to improve his standup. Ng will also have Olympian wrestler Heath Sims in his corner and if the gameplan is to take the fight to the ground he could not be working with a more experienced coach but Kai would love to win because of the boost it would give Malaysian MMA and knows what his keys to victory are. "If I can keep my distance and stay on my feet it will be my game and I am sure I will win. I have been obsessed with MMA since my fight with Laursen and it is damn cool to see how fast the sport is growing in Malaysia and Muayfit have played a very important role. If I could defeat a famous fighter like Eddie Ng it would be very big for MMA in Malaysia, that is what motivates me for this fight because I am fighting for my country." www.twitter.com/jamesgoyder

Posted in: fight, mma, fighter, ng, kai

Wyoming legalizes mixed martial arts (MMA) and will create commission to regulate fights

Victory is (almost) ours! Thanks to Governor Matt Mead, who signed House Bill 87 into law last Thursday (March 8, 2012), the state of Wyoming has officially legalized the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA). UFC.com has the details: The bill, sponsored by Representative Bryan Pedersen, had been unanimously approved by both the state's Senate and House of Representatives. The bill outlines the creation of a state mixed martial arts board to oversee and regulate MMA matches.MMA was not previously illegal in Wyoming, but because it was unregulated, bouts held there were not recognized by other states or on fighters' official records. Wyoming, home to professional fighters Nate Marquardt and Justin Salas, among others, leaves behind New York, Connecticut, Vermont and Montana as the last remaining athletic commissions who still don't sanction MMA. Alaska doesn't either, but that's due to the fact they don't have a commission in place to regulate. While getting the fight game legalized in Wyoming won't necessarily have the ZUFFA zealots racing to hold a major pay-per-view (PPV) event there, it does give the regional scene a credible outlet for developing and showcasing talent. It also helps legitimize the sport of MMA from a global perspective. Pay attention, New York.

Posted in: mma, state, justin salas, wyoming, zuffa zealots

Super Fight League’s debut event full video is free on Youtube

India’s Super Fight League launched in Mumbai this past weekend, becoming the first MMA promotion to offer its events free on Youtube. Many promotions would have scoffed at the Naziesque Youtube content rules prohibiting them from advertising in their own videos, but not Super Fight League founders Raj Kundra and Sanjay “The real action hero of India” Dutt. If they’re able to make this thing work while still submitting to Google hegemony, more power to them. Any freely available MMA is good MMA; even if it features Bob Sapp, at least we don’t have to pay 10 bucks for it like we did with OneFC. With over a billion people in India, these folks seem to be working under the assumption that if they can rope in even 1% of the general public, they’ll be sitting on a gold mine. So they made their motto “Come for the concert... Stay for the fights” and put two elephants in the main event. I don’t know who these musicians Mika and Sivamani are, but I think I might have seen them in a Rocco Siffredi production of some sort. One thing I know for sure, though, is that Indians love their elephants, and James Thompson and Bob Sapp delivered elephantine heft and agility in spades. And the rest of the fights were actually pretty decent, so you have nothing to lose by checking it out.

Posted in: fight, mma, event, league, india

Dana White Says UFC May Move Away From PPV

Since its inception nearly 20 years ago, the UFC has been primarily a Pay Per View based company. While live gates, merchandising, and ratings matter, the PPV model has always been the staple of UFC programming. Over time, we've seen a gradual shift away from this model - first with The Ultimate Fighter, then the Spike TV fight nights and Live on Versus shows. In recent months, there's been more of a shift away, with major PPV-quality shows on Fox, and an increase in content on FX and Fuel. Now, hot on the heels of the UFC taking The Ultimate Fighter to its new live format on FX, Dana White has made an intersting statement on the future of this PPV model. White told MMA Weekly: "I do believe there will be a day when there probably isn't pay-per-view." White went on to explain that he, like many media analysts, sees the future of television and cable changing drastically in coming years and anticipates the UFC being on the front edge of that change. And one of those changes could very likely be the death of the UFC on PPV. While this is all just speculation at the moment, the fact that White, and in turn Zuffa, are entertaining such an idea is huge. Since buying the UFC, White has always been outspoken about his desire for MMA to become a completely viable mainstream sport. One of the greatest hurdles in that goal has always seemed to be the company's heavy use of PPV. While dedicated MMA fans have are willing to spend $45 to watch UFC shows, that is a price tag that gets in the way of newcomers casually tuning in. If the UFC can get past this barrier - if they can find a way to be successful and not force the fans to spend any more than they do to watch other sports - then the Dana dream of MMA as a mainstream sport is one massive step closer to reality.

Posted in: ufc, mma, ppv, mainstream sport, ppv model

Video: 'Mask' movie trailer featuring onscreen tribute to Charles Lewis Jr.

Photo courtesy of LAtimes.com. On March 11, 2009, the world of mixed martial arts (MMA) lost one of its most iconic figures when Charles Lewis Jr. was killed in an early morning car accident. "Mask" was a pioneer in MMA fashion with his "TapouT" brand that gave MMA fans their own clothing line to display their rabid fandom. The brand is now an easily recognizable item at almost every live event and has helped line the pockets of some of your favorite fighters. At a time when most sponsors wouldn't give them a dime. Bobby Razak, who is arguably the biggest name in combat sports when it comes to the silver screen, is behind the project, which currently has no release date. Razak has also worked on the David Loiseau and Georges St. Pierre documentary "The Striking Truth" and "Fight For The troops," which showcased the first MMA event in a war zone in Iraq. His trailer for "Mask," after the jump. More on the tragic loss of Mask by clicking here.

Posted in: mma, combat sports, clothing line, mask, war zone

The MMA Hour With Leben, Johnson, Mitrione, Curran, Coenen

The MMA Hour is back on Monday with another two-hour loaded show. Here's a list of who will be stopping by: * UFC middleweight fighter Chris Leben will discuss for the first time his one-year suspension after testing positive for banned substances following UFC 138. * Former UFC fighter Anthony Johnson will discuss life after the UFC and what went wrong at UFC 142. * Matt Mitrione will return to the show after a several month hiatus to talk about what's his next step following his loss to Cheick Kongo at UFC 137. * Pat Curran, the new Bellator featherweight champion, will talk about his big win over Joe Warren on Friday night. * Marlos Coenen will preview her upcoming fight for the upstart Invicta Fighting Championships and the current state of Women's MMA. * And MMAFighting.com's Mike Chiappetta will look back at the TUF Live premiere and the return of Bellator. Got a question or comment? Give us a call at 1-888-418-4074. Watch the show live below beginning at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT. Subscribe to The MMA Hour on iTunes: audio feed here; video feed here. Download previous episodes here. Listen to the show via Stitcher here.

Posted in: ufc, mma, show, mma hour, hour

WWE's Trish Stratus Speaks Out on Sex Appeal in Women's MMA

The recent Strikeforce bantamweight title-bout between Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey was a pivotal night for female fighters across the globe. For the first time since Gina Carano was defeated by Cristiane Santos back in 2009, the female side of the sport once again became water-cooler conversation despite the critics. Prior to the fight, a large portion of the audience criticized Rousey for using her good looks and witty mouth to fast track her way into a championship fight with Tate so early in her MMA career. The consensus among many in the MMA community was that the only reason Tate and Rousey were the main event of a major Strikeforce card was because of their sex appeal with the male audience. Come showtime, both women proved they were much more than eye candy, delivering one of the most action-packed and technical rounds in the history of WMMA. The doubters may have begun to take note but there are still individuals out there that will overlook the talent of these women in favor of their physical appearance. Fighters.com recently had the opportunity to speak to a woman who knows a thing or two about being a female in a profession dominated by men, none other than perhaps the most famous WWE Diva in all time and an icon in the world of professional wrestling, Trish Stratus. A former fitness model, seven-time WWE Women’s champion, actress, and martial arts practitioner herself, Stratus definitely took note of the Rousey-Tate rivalry even she wasn’t able to catch the broadcast. “I did not watch (Tate-Rousey) but I’ve been very keen on Strikeforce. That fight did catch my attention and those girls are hot. That is going to be the key to people sticking around and watching because there’s no doubt about it that sex sells,” Stratus said. “I hate to say it but you have to use whatever can bring you to the dance. With me, I started as a fitness model and made my transition into wrestling and I dealt with the same thing. People would say that I was just the hot chick but that is what caught their attention.” Stratus debuted in the WWE in 2000 as a valet for the tag team known as T and A with heavyweight superstars known as Test and Prince Albert. Fans viewed her as eye candy for the first twelve months of her career before they witnessed her incredible ability in the ring following a series of great matches and her first title win in 2001. “Once I had their attention I was able to showcase my talents and as long as you can back up your looks with your talent, as both (Tate/Rousey) have proven, that is the key. The fact that these women went out there and proved themselves is awesome,” Stratus glowed proudly of her fellow female athletes. “We had the same thing in wrestling where we’d have the crowd chanting “puppies” but once we brought it and delivered some solid action in the ring those chants stopped and fans began chanting for us and what we were doing in the ring,” Stratus continued. “WWE Productions noticed that and ended up giving us more time and more devotion to our storylines and character development.” Obviously professional wrestling and MMA are two different entities but there are similarities between the two in terms of drawing an audience. When Stratus was on the top of her game in the WWE, women’s wrestling was often the highlight of many WWE cards. Female fighters such as Rousey and Tate could absolutely follow a similar route in MMA. With Rousey’s marketing ability and niche for creating pre-fight hype, we may very well see more female fights in the main event on many cards in the near future. PHOTO CREDIT – WWE Tweet

Posted in: mma, wwe, women, rousey, stratu

Wyoming becomes state No. 46 to regulate MMA

Wyoming is getting in the business of regulated MMA. Governor Matt Mead recently signed into law House Bill 87, which calls for the creation of an MMA board to oversee and regulate the sport. Although the country's least populous U.S. state, Wyoming is now the 46th to regulate MMA.

Posted in: mma, wyoming, state wyoming, mma board, mma wyoming

Wyoming latest State to legalize MMA

This past week, the Wyoming Senate and House of Representatives passed legislature making Mixed Martial Arts legal in the state. The bill, sponsored by Representative Bill Pedersen, added legitimacy for the sport forcing venues to host sanctioned fights. Previously, bouts in Wyoming did not count on the record of a fighter as they were not regulated. In getting the bill passed, Wyoming will create an athletic commission to oversee and police fights. Notable fighters like Nate Marquardt and Justin Salas are from the area, showing a true MMA base does exist in the State. With Wyoming jumping on the MMA train, only Connecticut, New York, and Vermont have yet to legalize MMA, while Alaska is without a boxing or athletic commission similarly to Wyoming before the recent bill. Before the good news West Virginia had been the latest State to regulate the sport. While Wyoming is nice, New York remains one area the UFC is focused on trying to get into though they have dealt with several issues in attempting to do, mainly battling the Culinary Union based on a separate issue with Station Casinos (based on the involvement of Frank/Lorenzo Fertitta with Station Casinos). PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: mma, state, bill, justin salas, wyoming

Wyoming Implements Mixed Martial Arts Regulation

Count Wyoming as the newest state in the nation to regulate mixed martial arts competition. As first reported by the Billings Gazette, legislation that will see the implementation of a regulatory body specifically for MMA was made law this week by Governor Matt Mead. Though MMA was not illegal in the state, it was not regulated, making any events held in Wyoming unofficial. The state had attempted for some time to re-institute the office of state boxing commissioner in order to regulate MMA, but were continually stymied by the boxing industry. To circumvent their opposition, Wyoming instituted the country’s first MMA-specific regulatory body. The hope for passing this legislation is that MMA fighters in the state of Wyoming will be kept safer and that the state will now attract high-profile MMA promotions — specifically the UFC. The UFC has not been to Wyoming under Zuffa control, but UFC 6: Clash of the Titans — which took place in 1995 — was held at the Casper Events Center in Casper, Wyoming.

Posted in: mma, state, wyoming, arts competition, zuffa control

Bruce Lee Spike Documentary Raises Question: Who Is The Father Of MMA?

Even though I've been writing about mixed martial arts since 2005 and been training in several disciplines for over a year, I never took a hardcore interest in Bruce Lee, the cultural phenomenon who made a huge impact on pop culture during a life that ended way too soon. That interest changed this past week after seeing "I Am Bruce Lee," the Spike TV retrospective that spanned Lee's entire life with tons of clips and interviews with his family, friends and a legion of celebrity admirers that were more than happy to talk about what he meant to them. There was an interesting section around the middle of the two-hour show that focused on him being referred to as the father of mixed martial arts, something UFC president Dana White has touted for years. His widow and daughter seemed hesitant to associate him with the UFC, while friends and biographers acknowledged that Lee would probably like the concept of MMA and could be considered a pioneer of the sport but not "the father". Then, there was Gene LeBell, the judo master and part of Ronda Rousey's team. LeBell knows how to cut promos and he is also acknowledged as being an early adopter of MMA. In 1963, he battled boxer Milo Otis in a boxing vs. judo challenge, choking him out in the fourth round of a five round fight. LeBell cut a promo on Lee (someone he worked with during his stuntman years and was a friend), growling that "If Bruce Lee is the father of mixed martial arts, than I am its grandfather." But Lee is one of White's childhood heroes and it's a hell of a lot cooler to associate a pop culture icon with your sport than a 79-year-old man. Along with White, fighters Jon Jones, Stephan Bonnar, Cung Le and Gina Carano gave their thoughts on Lee, highlighted by an odd bit of dialogue by Jones explaining how by beating opponents, he's doing them a favor by beating fear and weakness out of them. Despite their conflicts with the UFC, Spike didn't try to bury the promotion or awkwardly force in Bellator talent that no one would know. However, there was one bit that felt like a dig on White. Near the show's close, Lee's death is discussed with his wife saying it was caused by a bad reaction to headache medication. His daughter Shannon says that there's plenty of ridiculous theories about what happened and mentioned conspiracies. We then immediately cut to White saying that the circumstances around Lee's death are shady. The way it was constructed made White look a bit buffoonish, but overall, he came across fine. According to the numbers, I wasn't alone in watching "I Am Bruce Lee" as last week's debut did the best ratings of any documentary in Spike's history with a 1.0 rating / 1.4 million viewers. That viewership nearly doubled a 2009 documentary on Muhammad Ali. Fans of MMA, martial arts or biographies in general will love this documentary and I highly recommend searching your cable listings for re-air times. It was fast paced, fun, interesting, insightful and touching with plenty of food for thought. Was Lee the true father of MMA or is this more of a culture play given the alternatives?

Posted in: mma, bruce, lee, father, bruce lee

Legendary Gene LeBell Talks Ronda Rousey, MMA Judging and Choking Out Steven Stegal

Gene LeBell is enjoying himself these days. Long known as the "toughest guy around," LeBell has witnessed a transformation that once seemed impossible, and after a lifetime dedicated to the martial arts, he can't help but marvel at the world he now sees around him. Back in December of 1963, LeBell, then a 31-year-old world champion judoka, faced off against former top-five middleweight boxer Milo Savage in what is now known as history's first televised mixed martial arts match. It took just four rounds for Savage to be choked unconscious. He may have understood the magnitude of his accomplishments that fateful night, but LeBell had no grasp of the implications it would have on fight sport history. Almost fifty years later, aspects of his legacy remain unavoidable fixtures of the world's fastest growing sport. But ask LeBell today, and the conversation inevitably turns back to his favorite topic, his old student and women's MMA's brightest star, "Rowdy" Ronda Rousey. "I'm excited. I feel like just jumping off a building," LeBell gushed on The MMA Hour. "I knew Ronda before she was born and I'm very close to her mother. It's a family thing. I'm Uncle Gene. She's the best and you always want the best for the best." In his younger days LeBell trained often with Rousey's mother Ann Maria, herself a Judo champion in 1984, and as he attests, the apple didn't fall far from the tree. "You meet her and you fall in love," LeBell raved. "A lot of people say ‘geez Ronda is the prettiest woman in the whole world. I'd like to date her, I'd like to marry her.' Well, I'll tell you something, she'll go out with anybody, any man that can beat her. She's a 25-year-old virgin because nobody can beat her. I mean, she just beats the living hell out of me, but she does that because she's sadistic like her Uncle Gene." As he jumps in and out of third person, that old pro wrestler bubbling to the surface, LeBell seems like your run-of-the-mill cantankerous, but harmless grandpa. But the title of toughest guy around isn't just handed out willy-nilly. In truth, LeBell's past exploits were the stuff of legends. From besting Chuck Norris and Bruce Lee in his trademark pink gi, to refereeing Antonio Inoki's famed match against boxing legend Muhammad Ali -- "Ali should have thrown a lot more punches," he cracks -- Judo Gene has seen and done it all. And if you're willing to test that theory, just ask about the time he choked out Steven Segal so hard, Sensei left with a case of dirty trousers. "When we had a little altercation or difference of opinion, there were thirty stuntmen and cameramen that were watching," LeBell recounted with a chuckle. "Sometimes Steven has a tendency to cheese off the wrong people, and you can get hurt doing that. "So if a guy soils himself, you can't criticize him, because if they just had a nice big dinner an hour before, you might have a tendency to do that." With his stockpile of equally charming anecdotes and an infectious enthusiasm for telling them, it's easy to see how LeBell brims with youthful energy at the spry age of 79. So of course, now that the sport he debuted has hit the bigtime, LeBell remains a rabid supporter. But ultimately, like many fans, he's become disenchanted with MMA's leading problem. "I have a beef with judging and refereeing," LeBell groaned. "To me, I don't think you should ever be able to referee or judge unless you have a physical background in that art. I'm a big fan of professional football, but I'm not qualified to be a judge. "It should be mandatory for these judges that want to do MMA, go to Muay Thai schools, go to Judo schools, go to Greco-Roman schools, go to freestyle wrestling schools, Kenpo, Shotokan, Taekwondo, all those schools, and learn a little bit of everything. You want to know if a body slam hurts more than a left hook and how much damage can something get. "You have to be on the mat or in the ring to know the difference."

Posted in: mma, school, gene, im, lebell

MMA Is My Business: Veteran fighter Aaron Riley on the pitfalls of MMA management

A few weeks ago Dana White made a declarative statement about managers: "Be careful who you get to represent you." Reading between the lines, his point was clear: A manager won't make you any more money than you can make yourself, and a bad manager can hurt you. While today's hot-button topic in MMA is the amount of compensation a fighter is paid by a promoter, there's little focus on the pay that never makes it to the fighter's pocket because a dishonest or incompetent manager gets in the way.

Posted in: mma, fighter, manager, promoter theres, mma management

UFC threatens lawsuit against Oklahoma

MMA Worldwide reported that Oklahoma is being threatened by litigation from the UFC for imposing a 4% tax on PPV in the state. As a result, the Oklahoma state athletic commission is not taking on any new applications for licenses from MMA promoters. Via MMA Worldwide: Unfortunately, after March 31st of this year, combat sport competitions will come to a grinding halt in the state of Oklahoma. The state is under a threat of a lawsuit by none other than the UFC. It seems the UFC wants the state to drop a 4% pay-per-view tax imposed by the state, but without it… they will no longer have the funds necessary to regulate any boxing or MMA events held in Oklahoma. The article states that over 200 events happen each year across the state. If the state loses out on MMA, the events could remain in the state but on tribal grounds and casinos. It also provides a copy of the letter. Click on the image to read it. Payout Perspective: An interesting strong arm tactic by the UFC and it would be interesting to see on what grounds the UFC would sue the state. If you are in Oklahoma, the impact of viewing live MMA might not be harsh considering that the events could move to tribal casinos in the state where federal law trumps state. The state is in a bad position as it claims it needs the revenue from the PPV tax but wants to keep in the good graces of the UFC (and stay away from a potential lawsuit).

Posted in: ufc, mma, event, state, oklahoma

Roundtable discussion: Who is the best heavyweight in the UFC?

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

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

Cruz-Faber rivalry could boil over during TUF

Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber have one of the most heated rivalries in MMA and it could boil over on The Ultimate Fighter Live.

Posted in: mma, urijah faber, rivalry, cruzfaber, cruzfaber rivalry

GSP signs multi-year deal with Hayabusa

MMA clothing brand Hayabusa announced Thursday that it has signed Georges St. Pierre to a multi-year sponsorship deal. GSP will promote the brand’s Pro Training Series fight gear and Tokushu glove series. Via press release: Hayabusa has a long history of working with elite MMA fighters and has just partnered with Welterweight Champion Georges ‘Rush’ St-Pierre. St-Pierre is a consummate professional and an excellent role model for aspiring Mixed Martial Artists. Hayabusa feels St-Pierre compliments the brand very well, “Georges brings dignity, professionalism, honor and respect to the sport of MMA and we are excited to have him as the newest member of the Hayabusa team.” Payout Perspective: An interesting time to sign GSP but Hayabusa is a brand that looks for long term relationships. The bigger question is what about GSP’s sponsorship deals with Under Armour and Affliction. It appears that the Hayabusa deal may be for equipment only although GSP is pictured in a gi. It looks like GSP’s management team is looking to capitalize on the GSP brand with MMA companies as opposed to pursuing mainstream brands. However, it could be that the mainstream brands are not looking at GSP right now considering he’s out of action until later this year.

Posted in: mma, gsp, deal, brand, hayabusa

UFC Lawsuit Threat May Derail All Regulated MMA In Oklahoma

The Oklahoma State Athletic Commission has sent out a letter to MMA promoters claiming that they will not be accepting any applications to hold events after March 31, 2012. The OSAC claims that a threat from "out of state" could "greatly affect the Commission's ability to provide for ... the health and safety of the fighters." According to a report on KOKH Fox 25 in Oklahoma, the UFC is threatening to sue the state unless the Commission stops taking a 4% tax on Pay-Per-View events to fund its activities. MMA Worldwide has more including the letter from the OSAC after the jump: From MMA Worldwide: Combat sports are a multi-million dollar industry in the state, and now it seems that mixed martial arts will be slipping back into the shadows indefinitely. This move will effect nearly 200 events that happen each year across Oklahoma, and if the UFC and the state can't come to terms... promoters will have to take their business onto tribal grounds and casinos where they have their own regulations.

Posted in: mma, event, commission, state, oklahoma

Bellator: MMA Onslaught Video Game Early Screenshots, Trailer And Preview

During the last episode of Spike TV's MMA Uncensored, they announced the news of Bellator releasing a video game called "Bellator: MMA Onslaught". It will be published by 345games, a team that handles licenses for Spike TV, and as you might already know, that's the network that's partnered up with the MMA promotion. The trailer is after the jump, and if it reminds you a more of MMA Supremacy rather than UFC Undisputed, it's probably cause this Bellator game has the same developer, in Kung Fu Factory. Unlike EA MMA, or UFC Undisputed, where the games were simulations with a goal of recreating the same feel as the real thing, this Bellator video game apparently will have a more "arcade-y" feel to it. Why? Well the 345games GM said it's because "it was imperative that we create a mixed martial arts game accessible to all types of players not just the hard core MMA fan." The game is set for a "Summer 2012" release and it will be available for download through the Playstation Network and XBOX Live. More details after the jump, including a trailer and screenshots after the jump. Fighters from the Bellator roster will be available, but according to them, the video game focuses more on a career-mode type of gameplay called "Path to Glory", where you create a fighter, and level him up as you compete on different one-off fights, and Bellator tournaments. From the press release: In "Bellator: MMA Onslaught" gamers can customize their own fighter’s look and fighting style to battle the way they want, whether it be Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Kickboxing or other styles. The game also shares tips directly from Bellator fighters through exclusive video content as players continue to level-up and gain experience points, allowing them to learn MMA skills in a fun and engaging way. For bragging rights, players who gain the most wins and XP will top the "Onslaught Leader Boards" online and can have the opportunity to be recognized in upcoming Bellator fights live on-air during broadcast episodes. Check out the trailer and screen shots:

Posted in: bellator, mma, video, game, video game

Twitter Mailbag: Talking Gross Armbars, Immediate Rematches, and More

The Twitter mailbag is back, and ready to tackle your toughest questions on everything from Tim Sylvia's public campaign to get back into the UFC to Ariel Helwani's incredibly unjust and unpopular decision to suspend me from The MMA Hour. It's a full docket today and there's no time to waste, so we'll get right to it. If you want to ask a question of your own, you can find me on the old Twitter machine at @BenFowlkesMMA. Milton Creque Jr. (@lawdahmussy)has a referee failed to protect a fighter when the fighter is arm barred, refuses to tap then suffers a dislocation? Good question, and one I’m sure we’ve all been thinking about ever since referee Mark Matheny let Ronda Rousey bend Miesha Tate’s arm in awful ways. It’s a tough call. If a referee stops an armbar in progress because it looks like the armbaree either has been or is about to be injured, he risks controversy. If he doesn’t, he looks like a sadist in latex gloves, which is, I think we can all agree, the worst kind of sadist.I don’t think it’s the referees job to protect the fighter from dangers that the fighter is capable of protecting herself from. Tate could have tapped before things got bad, and she chose not to. To a certain extent, that’s her choice to make. I think that choice has limits, of course. If her bone’s sticking out of her arm and she still won’t tap, by all means, someone do something. But if we’re talking about a possible dislocation, do we really want the ref to be diagnosing injuries on the spot? If you can fight with a broken nose or hand, why couldn’t you fight with a dislocated elbow, assuming you could get out of the submission in the first place?I think we have to take it on a case-by-case basis. In the case of Tate, her arm is totally her fault. She could have tapped, but she didn’t. I think she should get the opportunity to make that choice...to a point. Once her arm starts looking like a bad horror movie special effect, might be best for the ref to help her call it a night. Albert (@albertheredia)have you ever "sexted" a fighter before? That would be cray.... The closest I’ve come (so far) was accidentally sending Josh Barnett a text that was intended for my wife. I was on the road in Stockton, Calif., to do a story on Nate Diaz. As I was going to bed in my hotel room that night, I sent the typical ‘I love and miss you’ sort of text message that one sends to one’s wife in such situations, only I sent it to the completely wrong recipient. I’m lucky it was Barnett, actually. He has a sense of humor. When I wrote him immediately to explain that it was intended for my wife, he texted back, ‘You don’t have to lie. I miss you too, boo.’ Somehow I doubt this story would have ended the same way if I’d accidentally sent that text to Nate Diaz instead. Zach Thorax @sephiroth872 do you regret that this hurt biz series didn't turn into the book in the end? Not really. Considering how everything played out, I think it works better as a web series. Plus, this way it’s more likely to be read by the people who actually care about how an MMA gym operates and already know who Brendan Schaub and Nate Marquardt are. I think part of the reason I originally wanted it to be a book was because I felt like I should write a book, or like I wanted to have it sitting on my bookshelf to show people. That’s an ego thing, and ego is not a good reason to do something like this. I think it works best this way, and I think people will understand why when they see the whole thing.Aaron Carroll @agc563is @danawhite refusing to bring @timsylviamma back because he truly believes he can't hang. Or is it just pride?Sadly, I cannot get inside White’s mind and fling open all its locked doors in search of the one true answer. All I can do is speculate as to why he’s so opposed to a Tim Sylvia revival tour, and there’s no shortage of possible reasons. Maybe he doesn’t think Sylvia has what it takes to compete with these guys. Maybe he just doesn’t think enough people actually want to see Sylvia try. Maybe he looks back on the years when Sylvia was heavyweight champ as a dark time for the division (at least in the UFC). Maybe he can’t get that image of Sylvia getting clocked by Ray Mercer out of his mind. Whatever White’s reason, I can’t say it’s breaking my heart not to have "The Maine-iac" back in town. With all the quality heavyweights the UFC has now, who even has time to miss Sylvia?Rob Rivera @RobRiverawith akiyama and rousey's judo success in the cage, will it influence other fighters to practice more judo?Maybe. It will definitely encourage their future opponents to work on defending against it, which in turn might lead them to bring in some real judo experts, who would inevitably end up teaching them some offensive judo moves as well. For me, the bigger question is, will Rousey’s success encourage other female judo practitioners to move to MMA? I’m just saying, she was only the third best female judoka in her division at the 2008 games. Once some of these talented female martial artists see that they can make money at MMA (a little, anyway), they might decide it’s worth their while to trade the gi for some spandex shorts.Jared @Orderx7What's with @arielhelwani stealing your " Fighter vs. Writer" title & using it on @FUELTV? Can't he think of anything orig.?They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. I suppose that makes outright theft a version of flattery that’s so sincere it almost hurts. In fairness, while Helwani totally lifted the name of my feature, he also stole the formatting of his own "Five Rounds" feature from the MMA Hour. Of course, ever since he suspended me from the show, I’ve been unable to defend my Five Rounds title, which effectively sidelines the whole thing until I make my glorious return. For now, that’ll have to be punishment enough for Mr. Helwani.Patrick Cusick @pcusick13will your MMA Hour suspension end up being akin to Pete Rose's suspension from baseball? #twittermailbagIf you’re asking whether it will be remembered by the masses as a terrible injustice, then yes. If you’re asking whether it’s related to my serious gambling problem, no comment.Ariel Helwani @arielhelwaniyeah, why did you bail on The MMA Hour 3 wks ago w/ no notice? Who was the "intv" w/ and how much do you regret your actions?Okay, let’s clear this up once and for all. I missed my MMA Hour appearance in order to conduct a phone interview with Dr. Don Catlin, who some might say is the father of modern drug testing. I interviewed him for this article on the state of drug testing in MMA, and I found his insights into the topic to be extremely valuable. That may not compare to the fun I would have had swapping insults with you on the MMA Three Hours, but dammit, my job is to be the interviewer rather than the interviewee. If I had it to do over again, I’d do it exactly the same. Actually, wait, that’s not true. This time I wouldn’t apologize for blowing off your show. So yeah, I do regret something.Justin Prejean @Filthy_Slunthow do you see @PatCurranMMA vs. @JoeWarrenMMA playing out at #Bellator60 & does this fight excite you?The fight definitely excites me, and I’m a little surprised there’s not more buzz for it out there, especially with so many fans complaining about the long Zuffa layoff in March. I was almost surprised to see Curran was a 3-1 favorite according to some online oddsmakers. I could see making him a slight favorite against Warren, who hasn’t fought since his brutal KO loss to Alexis Vila back in September, but don’t count that man out. I think Warren will surprise some people here, and I wouldn’t be at all shocked if he found a way to pull out a victory.Tobias Lechner @minga_lechido you think the strikeforce heavyweights will change the ufc heavyweight division? Are they good enough for the ufc?Do I think they will change the UFC heavyweight division? Um, haven’t they already changed it? They’ve certainly added depth to it, not to mention variety. A few years ago it was mostly enormous wrestlers at the top. The Strikeforce infusion also added Alistair Overeem (an enormous kickboxer) and Fabricio Werdum (a merely large jiu-jitsu specialist). Then you’ve got guys like Shane del Rosario and Lavar Johnson further down the food chain, plus Daniel Cormier and Josh Barnett still waiting for their turn to fly the Strikeforce coop. Once all those guys are under the UFC banner at once, it should make for the best heavyweight division since the death of Pride.Wanna Bet UFC @WannaBetUFCAre you in favour of 0.5-unit 10 point must system? Close rounds are currently weighted too heavily (MM Rd 1/2), few 10-10's.I almost hate to say it, but I’m with Dana White on this one. These judges seem to have a hard enough time with 10s and 9s, not to mention the mysterious and elusive 8s. I don’t see how a half-point scoring system will help them. I do agree that there aren’t enough 10-10 rounds, perhaps because judges fear a draw. Plenty of times we see rounds that are so close, picking a winner is somewhat arbitrary. Maybe the solution is to add the "sudden victory" round clause to all fighter contracts, which would take some of the pressure off the judges and give the fighters one more chance to make their case in a close fight.Overall though, we need better judging and better judges. The way to do that is to hold judges accountable and evaluate their performances on a regular basis. This isn’t the Supreme Court, and state athletic commissions should not be handing out lifetime appointments. Be good or be gone.Christopher Cheung @christopher_kitwho is the best mma fighter not from Brasil, USA or CanadaAlistair Overeem, who hails from the Netherlands. Though Britain's Michael Bisping and Sweden’s Alexander Gustafsson both deserve a mention, as does Brian Ebersole, who hails from Parts Unknown. James Hawkins @jmhawkinsAre you excited about TUF Live? Many are talking about the long break between Zuffa events, will this fill the void left?I’m definitely glad to see TUF change its format after so many seasons of the same old thing. Live TV sounds like a real challenge, and I’m not sure I would have picked Friday night as the ideal slot for a reality sports competition show, but yes, I’m interested to see how the new TUF works. I’m also glad to see Bellator coming back, and I think this could make for some fun Friday night battles going forward. For more on that, I recommend checking out Loretta Hunt’s piece on Sports Illustrated. Tell ‘em the TMB sent you.Ben Howell @BenjaminHowell1Does Jon Jones move to Heavy Weight (whenever that happens) undefeated?I don’t want to freak you out or anything, but he’s not undefeated now. His creative/illegal use of elbows earned him a DQ loss against Matt Hamill back in 2009. But okay, I see what you’re really asking, and I think the answer is yes. I think Jones will hold that light heavyweight title for a long time, though I do think his toughest tests are still in front of him. I think he beats Evans, then gets past a very tough Dan Henderson before smashing a retooled Phil Davis or maybe even a gradually ascending Alexander Gustafsson. That's when I think he looks around at the division he decimated and he weeps, for he sees there is no one left to conquer. Then I think he starts ordering his steak sandwiches with fries instead of a side salad, and he moves up to heavyweight in search of a new challenge.Aron Gunningham @PureMMAWhat's the point in an interm WW belt if it's going to be tied up until the main title is ready to be fought for? #mailbagThere really isn’t one, and thank you for pointing that out. Not that I’m in favor of interim titles in general, but I certainly don’t see the point in creating a new champion just so he can sit around and wait for the old champion to heal up. All it does is allow the UFC to put ‘interim welterweight championship bout’ on the fight posters, which, for a fight like Carlos Condit-Nick Diaz, it didn’t need anyway. Now that main events are five-rounders, there’s really no reason to go around creating fake titles just to inject a false sense of importance into top contender bouts. And if Condit is just going to put the interim title on the shelf and let it collect almost as much dust as the real one, it truly makes no sense.Matt Pryor @CRUMxMMAdo you think it was a mistake giving Edgar the rematch? Especially considering Pettis/Bendo 2 has big money aspirations.Gian Patelo @nogstaiDo you think Pettis actually deserves a shot on Henderson? Loss to Guida, SD to Stephens, and KO of JLau? I think not.I put these two questions side by side to make a point about the tricky matchmaking position the UFC was in when it came to the lightweight belt. If the powers that be had decided not to give Edgar the same rematch opportunity that they forced him to give others, some people would have complained that he was getting screwed. Now that he’s getting another shot while Pettis gets overlooked, other people will complain that Pettis is getting screwed, and the UFC is missing the chance to hype a big title fight that already has one of the best highlights in MMA history to help promote it. There’s just no pleasing everybody here.I suppose it comes down to what’s more important to you: fairness or fun? Giving Edgar the immediate rematch is fair. It’s what he had to do for his challengers, after all, so he’s kind of earned it. But getting Henderson and Pettis to run it back definitely sounds way more fun. It would also be easier to promote, even if there’s no way Pettis’ recent history would justify a title shot against any other champion. Personally, I’d rather see Henderson-Pettis, but I can’t complain too much about seeing Edgar get another crack. More than anything, I object to the precedent the UFC sets with stuff like this. What, we’re going to do a rematch every time there’s a close title fight? What happens if Edgar wins a decision this time? Do we do it a third time, just to be fair to Henderson? We’re rapidly approaching the point where fair is just no fun. Super D - Dave @FightSpectatorQ: who would win in a Gina Carano vs Ronda Rousey bout?I have to go with the person who has actually been fighting and winning lately, and not the person who’s been hanging around on movie sets and green rooms, trying her best to stay away from the free shrimp cocktail. If Carano came back now and fought Rousey right away, I think her next movie might have to be one of those uplifting stories about a brave woman who triumphs in spite of her horribly mangled elbow.Eddie Doty @LuckyBestWashWill Sarah Kauffman be more dangerous to Ronda than Miesha was?Yes, but I’m not sure what that means. She could get submitted in the second round rather than the first, and we’d all cite that as proof that Kaufman was more of a test than Tate was, but it wouldn’t help Kaufman much. I think her chances depend entirely on takedown defense. Obviously, she’s going to have an edge in the striking department. Rousey still has some work to do there, as we saw against Tate. But if Rousey can grab Kaufman and fling her to the mat as easily as she did Tate, it won’t matter. You know how we hear about grapplers going to Thailand or the Netherlands to work on nothing but kickboxing? Kaufman might be wise to head to Japan and enroll in some judo classes.Kengi Smith @KengiSmithWhat are your thoughts on Brandon Saling, why has no one brought up the 88 on his shoulder? A known nazi mark.People have brought it up, trust me. They’ve also brought up his criminal record, which is pretty horrifying. Saling allegedly lied about his criminal past in his licensing application, and, weirdly enough, that’s what he’s in trouble for now, and not the original offenses. Don’t be surprised if you never hear from this guy again, at least as an MMA fighter. And to all the people who wrote me emails about how stupid it was of the UFC to allow Dakota Cochrane, a former gay porn actor, to represent the company on TV? This sure puts that in perspective, doesn’t it? What Cochrane did might have been distasteful to some, but it wasn’t illegal. It didn’t hurt anybody. If you’re going to try and drum someone out of the sport for their past behavior outside of it, how about focusing your energy on the criminally violent, racist sex offender?dp @DP1331How would I get a job as a sports writer? Where do i start? How did you get to where you are?I see this question a lot on Twitter and on forums, directed to me and to others, so it seems worth answering. The bad news is, you can’t have my job. I like it too much. The good news is, we live in a wonderful time for writers. It used to be that you had to come up through the right channels and know the right people for a media outlet to even give you a shot. No you can just start your own website and start writing, which is exactly what you should do. Not only is it good practice as a writer, it also gives you a body of work to show a potential employer when the time comes. Don’t sit around waiting for someone to offer you a job out of nowhere. Get to work, and then let that work help you find more work. Somewhere in there, hopefully someone will decide to start paying you.

Posted in: ufc, mma, time, fighter, work

Let's watch Rogan Riff on The Ultimate Fighter

Love it or hate it, The Ultimate Fighter has a special place in all of our hearts as fight fans. It feeds into our desire to watch MMA constantly, it quenches our adolescent need for disgusting pranks. We get to observe high level training montages and the banter, my god the banter. Most importantly, TUF allowed MMA fans to draw another line in the way of the mean nickname department. If you were introduced to MMA post 2005, you are now lovingly referred to as a TUF Noob. Personally, I'm thankful that TUF finally made my wife appreciate MMA on another level, mostly because she thought a 2005 era Stephan Bonnar was a 'weird and funny' guy, silly TUF noobs. Tonight TUF is back with their fifteenth season and this time as we all know, the fights are live. Since fifteen is a relatively big number for a TV series and everyone is feeling a little nostalgic, here's Joe Rogan riffing on The Ultimate Fighter. [Source]

Posted in: mma, fighter, tuf, fight fans, fighter love

Spike TV and 345 Games announce 'Bellator: MMA Onslaught' video game

Spike TV and Bellator Fighting Championships are entering the video-game industry. In association with Viacom Entertainment Group's 345 Games, Spike TV and Bellator announced the pending release of "Bellator: MMA Onslaught," an arcade-style MMA title. "It was imperative that we create a mixed martial arts game accessible to all types of players, not just the hardcore MMA fan," 345 Games exec Dan Yang stated. "Fortunately, with 'Bellator: MMA Onslaught,' the player doesn't need a doctorate in gaming or MMA to enjoy the non-stop action and excitement of the game."

Posted in: bellator, mma, game, videogame industry, arts game

Bellator video game 'Onslaught' sneak peek for Summer 2012 release date

Straight from the files of "Didn't see this one coming," Bellator MMA is releasing a mixed martial arts video game titled "Onslaught," developed by Kung Fu Factory and published by 345 Games for a "Summer 2012" release, available on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. From today's release: In "Bellator: MMA Onslaught" gamers can customize their own fighter’s look and fighting style to battle the way they want, whether it be Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Kickboxing or other styles. The game also shares tips directly from Bellator fighters through exclusive video content as players continue to level-up and gain experience points, allowing them to learn MMA skills in a fun and engaging way. For bragging rights, players who gain the most wins and XP will top the "Onslaught Leader Boards" online and can have the opportunity to be recognized in upcoming Bellator fights live on-air during broadcast episodes. A network television deal (Spike TV), a video game and a roster full of talented fighters. Don't look now ladies and germs, but we have ourselves a bona fide number two MMA promotion ready to make some noise. Are you ready to listen?

Posted in: bellator, mma, video, game, onslaught

ONE FC 3: Fabricio 'Pitbull' Monteiro looking to finish Yuya Shirai on March 31

At one stage in his career, Fabricio Monteiro looked set for stardom winning all of his first ten fights, eight of them via stoppage, to establish himself as one of the most exciting prospects in Brazil. He won the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) Mundials World Championships when he was a blue belt and also won plenty of fans in the mixed martial arts (MMA) world because he always looks for the knockout despite having a skill set which would be suited to a more methodical Jiu-Jitsu based game. This aggressive style earned him the moniker of 'Pitbull' and despite having a second degree BJJ black belt, he has just as many stoppages due to strikes as he does submissions. Monteiro acquired that nickname early in his MMA career and it has stuck. "The name Pitbull comes from when I first started fighting in Brazil. In my debut I knocked out my opponent in 23 seconds, showing off my very aggressive style of fighting. It also happens to be the name of the team I trained with in Brazil. So it is a combination of my fighting style and where I come from." After winning his first three fights for DEEP in Japan, Monteiro was on the verge of being offered a spot in the Pride Lightweight Grand Prix but was submitted in the second round of a qualifier by Satoru Kitaoka. The tournament would never happen and as Pride was swallowed up by the UFC his career started on a downward spiral. "My international debut in Japan was great, and I was off to a very good start. I had six wins internationally but unfortunately things got held up on the business side of things. We were negotiating contracts with some big events, but then they started to have some serious problems and it became a big distraction. I am only looking forward now though, and am excited to start fresh with ONE FC." Monteiro is an instructor at Evolve MMA in Singapore and a member of the fight team there but has not seen competitive action since 2009. Events in his life were having and adverse effect on his results and eventually led him to take a break from MMA. "I was very busy taking care of issues in my personal life, both professional and family. In Brazil fighters are not highly valued and it is very hard to make a living fighting. It became very difficult for me to divide my time between training and work and I had to take some time off from competing in order to raise my family and focus on business. Ask many of the great champions in Brazil and they will tell you it is very difficult to keep fighting only in Brazil. I am very happy and fortunate to be at Evolve now." After winning numerous local, regional, national and international BJJ tournaments as well as having a highly respectable MMA record of 19-9 Monteiro's credentials as an instructor were impeccable, even if his fighting career was on the backburner. "I was introduced to Singapore and Evolve MMA through Professor Rafael "Gordinho" Correa. Professor Gordinho recommended me to join the Evolve team in order to teach BJJ and train with some of the best in the world. My motivation to start competing again is for myself, but has also been renewed through my faith in God. I have been through much in my life, I know who I am, and my faith and desire to become champion will not allow me to quit." Monteiro found himself training at one of the most elite MMA academies in the world and rubbing shoulders with the likes of Shinya Aoki and Rafael Dos Anjos. It is the perfect environment for a fighter to flourish and with Asia's biggest mixed martial arts promotion headquartered in Singapore the temptation to resume his fighting career proved simply irresistible. "I have competed in BJJ competitions since I was 7 years old. I have won many national and international competitions, such as the State Championships, National, Pan American and World Championships and my MMA career lasted five years. I love to compete and I missed the competition and when the opportunity came to fight for a world famous promotion like ONE FC there was no way I could say no." He will be up against Yuya Shirai who is one of the top welterweights in Asia at ONE FC 3 on March 31st. The Japanese fighter is the reigning Deep 170 lbs champion and has a professional record of 22-10. These two fighters have both appeared on the same Deep cards in the past and Monteiro will have his work cut out if he is to make a winning comeback. "Yes, I have known of Shirai for a long time, and have followed his career. I take all my fights very seriously and this fight is my return to competition and very important for my career. I have almost 30 fights and many of them have been against veterans who have fought in the UFC, Pride, Pancrase, and DEEP but this will be my return to competition so it is very important to not only win, but also put on a great fight." Fabricio Monteiro gets airborne against Jutaro Nakao at DEEP: 26th Impact in 2006. Photo by Stephen Martinez. Monteiro's most recent results have been poor but he puts that down to the fact he was not able to train and prepare properly. He is now dedicated to being a full time mixed martial artists and his preparation should be immaculate with a team of world champions in BJJ, boxing, MMA and Muay Thai to work with at Evolve MMA. The 'Pitbull' which steps into the cage on March 31st will be a completely different animal from the one which we have seen in Monteiro's last few fights. He says he is ready and raring to go and will be looking for a fast finish. "When I train correctly and am able to fully focus on my goals I expect to win by stoppage and I have done so 14 times. I am always looking to finish my fights, and when I find an opportunity, I do not let it pass. I still always prepare to fight 25 minutes because I have the mindset of a champion when I am training, and champions fight for five rounds." Monteiro has been working hard to harness his raw aggression to ensure he doesn't leave himself exposed in his quest for the KO and four of his Evolve MMA team mates are also fighting on the card which gives him plenty of potential training partners to prepare with. "This helps with my preparation a lot. I do not just think of myself, but of all my teammates, instructors, and coworkers at Evolve. We are more than just friends, we are a family, and that is the difference between Evolve and everyone else. At Evolve no one fights alone, the entire team is there every step of the way. This is the secret of Evolve." A few years ago Monteiro thought his MMA career was over but on March 31st he will find himself fighting in front of 7,000 fans at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on a show which is being broadcast in 24 countries by ESPN Star Sports. Some fighters get second chances but few of them will get such a spectacular opportunity to showcase their talents on a stage which is second to none in Asia. Monteiro intends to grab it with both hands by beating the Deep Welterweight Champion and nothing would make him happier than securing the 15th stoppage win of his career. "I will be prepared for anything against Shirai because he is a great fighter and deserves to be respected. So I respect him BUT if I have the opportunity to end the fight quickly, I will." www.twitter.com/jamesgoyder

Posted in: fight, world, mma, career, monteiro

Guy that tranes UFC foils this chick's alleged plan to commit murder for hire upon her husband

It's not often you wake up in the morning and hear the words 'MMA fighter' on Good Morning America. Actually I don't even know if that statement is anywhere near true. I normally don't watch Good Morning America so Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos could be hosting five minute mma technique clinics every morning for all I know. What I do know is I was running late for work this morning and just as I was about to turn the TV off and run out the door, I heard the words 'boxer and mma fighter' so naturally I stuck around a few minutes longer to find out what and who they were talking about. As you can tell, I've got my priorities in check. What's another 5 or 10 minutes when you are already going to be late anyway? The story I flaked out on work to check out goes on to discuss a woman named Brittany Martinez who allegedly tried to hire her 'friend' Stephen Rowland to commit murder for hire upon her firefighter husband. It turns out, Rowland is also a 'boxer and mma fighter' from Houston Texas. After searching around a bit on the net I wasn't able to verify Good Morning America's claims that Rowland is an 'mma fighter' but according to his facebook he wears some pretty snazzy yellow boxing gloves in his profile picture, hurt his hand the other day in training and appears to at the very least trane UFC at a place in Houston he refers to as 'the hive'. Here's a screenshot of Rowland's facebook page: That's about all we know about this mysterious UFC traneing guy at this point. As the story goes, Martinez allegedly offered Rowland a measly $2000 in total to off her husband. Rowland apparently took an intial $500 cash deposit and instead of finding a hitman for Martinez, he did the right thing and contacted the police. Death plotting bored suburban housewifes beware-don't try to hire guys that trane UFC to kill your husbands. You never know when someone with the morals of Stephen Rowland will be there to foil your evil plans. If you want to check out the full official criminal complaint against Brittany Martinez including the details of her contact with super UFC traneing guy Stephen Rowland, you can check it out on foxnewshouston.com. [source]

Posted in: ufc, mma, mma fighter, morning, rowland

Friday Link Club: Bellator 60 Preview, Fedor Emelianenko, Jon Jones, Frankie Edgar

Don’t forget, TUF 15 TUF: Live 1 premieres tonight on FX Breaking It Down: Bellator 60 | Five Ounces of Pain Fedor speaks on return to MMA in 2012 – UFC bound?  | TheFightNerd Frankie Edgar will fight at 145 pounds one day, but he’s going to do it on his own terms | MMA Mania Jon Jones Says Being Called “Cocky” Is the “Biggest Blow” to Him as a Fighter | Bleacher Report Dana White: Not a fan of a proposed half point scoring system | LowKick Dan Henderson Waiting For Title Opportunity To Open Up | FightLine Ben Henderson was submitted last weekend, is this real life?! | MiddleEasy The Seven Greatest One-Trick Ponies in MMA | Cage Potato UFC 146: Junior dos Santos vs. Alistair Overeem Betting Odds | 5thRound Miro Mijatovic: The yakuza’s contract to kill him & PRIDE’s execution | Fight Opinion UFC discusses future of PPV | MMA Payout

Posted in: ufc, mma, onetrick ponies, half point, life middleeasy

Latest UFC/MMA news and notes from around the web for the week of March 4, 2012

Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Urijah Faber, Rich Franklin and Dominick Cruz pictured above, we can all "get along." Teaming up with MMA sites like Low Kick, Cage Potato, Fight Opinion and The Fight Nerd, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport. This week, The Fight Nerd talks to the director of the Bruce Lee documentary, MMA Convert thanks Ronda Rousey and Middle Easy discovers that a Bellator video game is in the works. The full list of links is after the jump. - Lowkick staff top 10 pound-for-pound MMA rankings (LowKick) New entries from previous rankings include Junior dos Santos, Carlos Condit and Ben "Smooth" Henderson. PRIDE veteran and the current number two contender for the UFC Light Heavyweight title, Dan Henderson, is the most improving fighter in this list, moving four positions from #9 to #6. - 11 music videos featuring MMA fighters (Cage Potato) - Bellator video game! Whoa! (video) (MiddleEasy) Cool, another MMA videogame. Yep, the digital Joe Warren you see above is real. Bellator has officially joined the ranks of the UFC, Pride, Strikeforce and all of the imaginary or real leagues you created in Fire Pro Wrestling in being digitally recreated in our living room for our enjoyment. The debut trailer for the Bellator game being published by Spike Games (we don't know who's developing it) was released tonight, and we have to admit: we'd be down for some tournament action in the MiddleEasy offices. - Director Pete McCormack talks new Bruce Lee documentary (The Fight Nerd) McCormack, who also directed "Facing Ali" about Muhammad Ali, tells us about his inspiration for making this documentary about Lee, as well as why this film is different from the other ones out there about the same subject. Pete also discusses the similarities between Ali and Lee, why so many different people continue to identify with Lee, and why Bruce is still relevant nearly 40 years after his passing, plus much more. - UFC's testosterone narrative backfiring (Fight Opinion) This is what happens when you approach a bully and actually ask legitimate questions. The minute anything substantively is asked about a controversial topic, the bully deflects and goes scorched earth when they know they are boxed into a corner. The problem for Dana is that he & Lorenzo have made so many enemies in the press already that when trouble is brewing, the aggressive PR tactics backfire... like they are now right now. - New York files its reply brief in Zuffa lawsuit (MMA Payout) The New York District Attorney and Attorney General have filed its reply brief in support of its motion to dismiss two counts of Zuffa's lawsuit against New York. MMA Payout takes a look at some of the arguments rebutting Zuffa's opposition. - The 10 best fighters in Ultimate Fighter history (BleacherReport.com/MMA) Fourteen seasons of the show have provided us with plenty of forgettable moments and easily-dismissed fighters. But there have also been plenty of gems to emerge from the show, especially during the early days when the series featured a crop of talented fighters all trying to make it into the UFC. - Why we owe Ronda thanks (MMA Convert) If God created Eve from one of Adam's ribs, it was a humerus that went into making Ronda, and the judoka isn't done paying Him back in the arm-bone currency she feels she owes. Which is just fine. Because if you're a scrub and not worthy of being in the same cage as her, she'll rip your arm off in under a minute, just as she did to all before her championship turn. - Quick Shots: SFL news, weekend MMA events (Fightline) The Full Contact Fighting Federation (FCFF) is back in Portland, OR this Saturday, March 10th for Rumble @ The Roseland 62. The FCFF is bringing three title fights including the return of the 185-pound FCFF Champion Josh Bartlett and FCFF veteran Heavyweight fighter Damion Martindale. - Fedor: I have to go to the US to face the strongest opponents (Five Ounces of Pain) - Georges St. Pierre still thinks Nick Diaz fight needs to happen (5thRound)

Posted in: fight, mma, fighter, video, lee

Pro MMA Radio 188: Ryan Bader, UFC on FX 2 Recap, SF: Rousey vs. Tate Recap

We have partnered with Pro MMA Radio to bring you weekly replays of PMR as the official radio show of MMAConvert.com. Pro MMA Radio can be heard live every Monday evening at 9pm ET/6pm PT. Replays and podcasts of every show are available 24/7 by going to the “Replay Corner” section of ProMMARadio.com, our own Pro MMA Radio page or by clicking the banner below. On this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio, Ryan Bader joined the show to talk about his win over Rampage Jackson at UFC 144 and share his thoughts on Rampage’s revelation that he used testosterone replacement therapy prior to their fight. MMA Mania’s Jesse Holland also stopped by help host Larry Pepe recap UFC on FX 2 and Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey.” You can listen to a replay of this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio by clicking the banner below. A radio player with links to the show’s archives will open in a pop-up window, so please make sure your browser is set to allow pop-ups for this site.

Posted in: mma, show, replay, radio, mma radio

Jordan Breen Weekend MMA Prefight Chat Recap

Jordan Breen will host his weekly MMA chat at 1 p.m. ET.

Posted in: mma, breen, chat, jordan, mma chat

MMA Uncensored Live Discussion

Join us at Bloody Elbow to discuss tonight's third episode of MMA Uncensored Live, which airs on Spike at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT. Hosts Nate Quarry, Craig Carton and Mike Straka will discuss a wide range of MMA topics.The show has been a bit uneven so far (to say the least) but there's room for growth and it's probably worthy of another chance. For those of you that missed the first two episodes, this is how co-host Nate Quarry describes the show: "More than anything, it's less of a sports reporting show talking about the scores that just happened and more of an opinion piece. It's a lot more like a forum than it is a news show. You know when you go to the forums and there's about 90% sh*t talking and 10% intelligence? We're hoping to raise the bar closer to 15%," Quarry quipped. Last week's episode featured an emotional retirement speech from Nate Quarry, which was pretty heartfelt. You can check it out here. This week, they will be previewing Bellator 60 and the featherweight title fight between Joe Warren and Pat Curran. Tune in and speak your piece here.

Posted in: mma, show, episode, nate, quarry

Dana hurls more genitalia inspired insults at reporters

A lot of people have been wondering what impact Dana White publicly disowning Strikeforce will have on the future of the promotion. And while it doesn't sound like Dana White is exactly backing down from his opinion that Showtime is 'letting a D-level producer run the organization', he told MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani that he never meant for those opinions to make it out to the general population: I would like to say that the story that came out recently about things that were said was supposed to be a private conversation and not said in front of the whole world. On a different site. On MMA Junkie. MMA Junkie wrote a story that was supposed to be a private conversation between me and the gentleman who wrote it. And despite our creative differences between me and Showtime, the guys over there I do not dislike. I don't hate these guys, I don't have any ill will towards them. I would never say anything publicly like that to embarrass the network or embarrass them. What happens between a bunch of men behind the scenes when they're doing business needs to be left behind the scenes sometimes. And that was never meant to be public. So right here right now I'd like to publicly apologize for that stuff being printed for the whole world to read. And it was never meant to be. Those were private conversations that I'd had, no way in hell should they have ever been published. Those weren't quotes from me, those weren't something that you know the way this normally works when you work with a journalist is you sit down and you have a topic that you're being interviewed about, 'Can I quote you on that, is that a quote?' That was never done. It was never done that way, it was never meant to be a story, and the guy who wrote it knows it. This was MMA Junkie's John Morgan, who'd be a shoe-in for MMA Reporter of the Year if Ariel Helwani wasn't always hogging all the awesome. So what do you think is more likely: Dana White is backtracking from some controversial comments by trying to throw a reporter under the bus, or one of the most ethical reporters in the biz from one of the most reputable MMA sites on the net purposefully skeezed these clearly off-record comments for fun and pageviews? Morgan wasn't the only reporter who took some sh*t from El Baldo Presidente. Dana recounted how he learned of Quinton Jackson's testosterone adventures in Australia from a prick reporter: read more

Posted in: mma, dana, reporter, conversation, disowning strikeforce

Ranking with class: Cagewriter ranks MMA’s weight classes (Yahoo! Sports)

The UFC recently added flyweights to their line-up, but where does this tiny new weight class stack up against its counterparts? Using MMA Weekly's rankings as a guide, Cagewriter ranked MMA's weight classes. 1. Lightweight: As soon as Benson Henderson … Continue reading →

Posted in: mma, class, weight, guide cagewriter, cagewriter

5 Oz. MMA Link Club

Welcome back to another edition of “MMA Link Club”, Five Ounces of Pain‘s weekly smorgasbord of offerings from our brothers and sisters in the MMA community. Enjoy… Jon Jones Responds to Notion he is “Cocky” (Fightline.com) Nate Diaz Fairly Certain Brother Nick Diaz is Not Returning to MMA (MMAConvert.com) Georges St. Pierre Not Done with Nick Diaz (5thRound.com) UFC President Dana White Talks Influence of Bruce Lee in Documentary on Iconic Fighter (TheFightNerd.com) Marloes Coenen Headed to Dutch Reality Show (CagePotato.com The Featherweights Are Coming – When Game of Thrones Meets Bellator FC (MiddleEasy.com) An Examination of the Rising Problem with TRT in MMA (FightOpinion.com) The Top 10 TUFers of All-Time Are… (HeavyMMA.com) Could the UFC Eventually Be Headed to a PPV-Free Format? (MMAPayout.com) MMA, Simpsons-style (BleacherReport.com) Tim Sylvia Out to Show the UFC He’s in Shape (MMAMania.com) Pat Barry Ready to Wrestle if Lavar Johnson Hits Him Hard Enough (LowKick.com) PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, diaz, mma, mma community, bruce lee

St. Pierre: MMA Needs A Guy Like Nick Diaz

In part 2 of our interview with the UFC welterweight champ, Georges St. Pierre updates us on his injury, says he's got a renewed passion for MMA and that the sport needs a guy like Nick Diaz.

Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, mma, nick, pierre

UFC Lightweight Champion Ben Henderson Competes In AZ Grappling Tournament

On February 26th, Benson Henderson wrested the UFC lightweight championship from Frankie Edgar at UFC 144 in a thrilling five round main event in Saitama, Japan. One week later, on March 4th, Henderson entered the lists in the middleweight brown belt division and the open brown belt division at the 7th Arizona International Open in Phoenix, Arizona. The second Sunday was not as good to him as the first. To put the big news up front, Daniel Grippaudo of BJJ Revolution beat Benson in the Absolute - with a submission no less. Check out the nifty straight armbar after the low pressure pass attempt by Henderson in the video below. However, the full story is more complicated than that reductive summary. The results (available here) show that Benson won the middleweight division he entered by defeating James Guyton of Cobrinha BJJ, who was the sole other competitor in that division. Having a small brown belt or black belt division in a regional tournament is by no means unusual and Benson deserves a ton of credit for being ready and willing to contest both his weight division and the Absolute. Grippaudo competed in the lower weight class (167 lbs) and won silver there, as well as silver in the Absolute. Jacob McClintock of Gustavo Dantas JJ (and once a Bellator welterweight) won the Absolute and a bronze medal in his heavyweight division (207.5 lbs). After the jump, more background on Benson's grappling tournament results and speculation on which UFC, Strikeforce or Bellator champions and fighters would be open to doing similar tournaments. Entering a regional tournament may seem like insane risk-taking to some, but this type of tournament competition and willingness to chance being humbled is how fighters improve. The grappling competition environment brings both unfamiliar opponents - always good for exercising mental flexibility and implementing game plans - and provides a focused, more intense environment for grappling than the home gym, which prevents stagnation and rewards technical execution against all manner of opponents. In gi competitions, heel hooks are often banned, which is a relief for promoters, agents and coaches worried about potential knee injuries. Furthermore, the one on one match environment with a referee specifically charged with preserving fighter safety means that the likelihood of a Rashad Evans-like injury (one was sustained when a pair of other grapplers fell on his leg from behind during a wrestling bout) is much lower. There is risk of injury still, but grappling is already part and parcel of MMA training and the trade-offs can be worth it in the long run. Benson has competed in many other grappling tournaments - although at lighter weights than the sub-181 lbs category in general. He took away a bronze medal in the 2011 Mundials at the weight of 167 lbs and lost only to Jordon Schultz, an elite competitor coming from the Alliance Atlanta factory. Before tapping out to Schultz's triangle, Benson had beaten Rafael Costa and Matt Darcy, two well known and respected competitors. The video of the Darcy match is a decent time-passer: Plenty of the fighters that aren't UFC champions do these tourneys. The Diaz brothers will throw in a few big tourneys now and then into their busy schedules. Nate Diaz was doing very well at the 2011 Mundials until he ran into Jimmy Harbison, a super-elite competitor who won the Grand Slam of brown belt titles that year and is a mainstay in the black belt division now. Cristiane Santos did the Mundials last year and won her purple belt heavyweight division. Jacare Souza did the ADCC superfight with a possible rib injury after losing his Strikeforce title to Luke Rockhold barely two weeks prior. Roger Gracie plans to do a couple tournaments here and there, but pinning him down on an exact date is always difficult. Fedor Emelianenko often did sambo competitions with great success and beating Fedor in one such tourney let Blagoi Ivanov develop an MMA career. However, once the title belt goes around the waist of MMA fighters, it seems like they lose that adventuresome spirit. You won't catch Anderson Silva doing these because his jiu jitsu is not that good - servicable for MMA, but not competition level by any means. Jon Jones probably never will do a high level tournament. I had high hopes for Cain Velasquez getting a wild hair someday, but he injured his shoulder and subsequently lost the championship to Junior dos Santos (who probably will eschew grappling tourneys also). The competition days of Gilbert Melendez and Luke Rockhold seem to be over. Dominic Cruz probably will not enter these competitions. His wrestling and herky jerky style seems to depend far too much on striking to yield the type of success he wants to always have. It would be terrific to see the future UFC flyweight champ do an ADCC or Mundials, but that is unlikely unless Formiga works his way into the division and snatches the title from the current king of the hill. Among the current UFC champions, I have some hope that Jose Aldo might do a Mundials or ADCC for the heck of it. His grappling is still high level and he does have a victory over Cobrinha (back at brown belt and before Rubens Charles truly became Cobrinha). Eduardo Dantas, Aldo's teammate, has an outside chance of doing such tourneys, but his MMA career takes priority right now. Joe Warren, the self-proclaimed "baddest man on the planet", frequently talked of his Olympic ambitions in Greco-Roman wrestling, but seems to have dropped out of true contention in the Qualification process. Who knows with Joe though? Ben Askren broke quite a few hearts with his departure from wrestling to the more lucrative fields of MMA, but his continued strong ties to wrestling still give people hope. However, his demolition at the hands of Marcelo Garcia a while back show some considerable room for improvement in his submission grappling. In short, none of the current champions in any of the biggest MMA organizations looked likely to compete against the wrestlers or submission grapplers in those sports. The once blurry lines between the three sports may have solidified for most of the MMA elite and Benson Henderson bucking that trend is newsworthy and commendable. Why am I pushing these grappling tournaments so hard? In a roundabout way, the cachet of medals won at an elite level can positively buoy marketability. Look at Fabricio Werdum, Ronaldo Souza, Demian Maia and Vinny Magalhaes. All have been promoted to the audience as grappling wunderkinds (which they are) and their ADCC or world championship titles have been mentioned time and again. Once upon a time, fighters like Jake Shields or Georges St. Pierre entered the lists at ADCC. They were beaten decisively at times, but earned respect for showing up and trying their best against the best of the best. Rousimar Palhares was the only full-time male MMA fighter to enter ADCC 2011 and he wrecked shop for a while. Despite being perhaps the scariest grappler on the planet and getting several brutal finishes, Palhares was eventually outsmarted and outshone by Andre Galvao, a full-time professional grappler and once a Strikeforce fighter himself. Palhares made a name for himself at the ADCCs and earned the respect (and perhaps fear) of future opponents, fans and fellow competitors. Benson has made it a habit to seek these competitions out to test himself and his dramatic improvement in grappling has powered his rise to the top. The same can and should happen for other MMA fighters. Sitting on the shelf to do MMA only makes no sense. Get out there, take risks and improve. That permanent improvement will more than make up for any temporary losses in marketability or naysayers jumping all over the fighters. Now to end with some fun grappling by showing the Smooth One winning his weight division at the AZ Open against a very game James Guyton.

Posted in: mma, fighter, division, tournament, benson

Judo Gene is not impressed with the qualifications of MMA officials

We’re always told to listen to our elders as if those of advanced years also have advanced knowledge by virtue of their age alone. I’ve found that to be untrue in all manner of situations. Shoplifting for one, driving for another. Older people are no better at these things than most others, unless of course, they have been in training for years. Elderly shoplifters are crafty as hell, and they have more pockets than you would believe. Experience is the only indicator of advanced knowledge and when you talk about mixed martial arts, they don’t come much more experienced, or indeed craftier that Gene LeBell. The man who taught judo to Karo Parysian and Ronda Rousey is not only a 10th Dan in Judo, he’s also a stuntman, stunt coordinator, MMA referee and judge who officiated the Muhhamad Ali vs Antoni Inoki bout back in 1976. When a veteran such as ‘Judo’ Gene LeBell talks, you ignore him at your own risk, especially when he is giving his recommendations for the improvement of judges and refereeing in MMA, as he told MMAFighting.com. “In MMA it’s flavour of the month and everybody wants to be a judge or referee. I see a lot of referees that could use a little bit more instruction... I think it should be mandatory for these judges that want to do MMA to go to Muay Thai schools, go to Judo schools, go to Greco Roman schools, go to freestyle wrestling schools, Kempo, Shotokan, Taekwondo, all those schools and learn a little bit of everything. You want to know if a body slam hurts more than a left hook, and how much damage can something get? You have to be on the mat or in the ring to know the difference. It’s my humble opinion.” [Source]

Posted in: mma, judge, school, judo, gene lebell

Fedor Emelianenko suggests he wants to fight in the UFC in this interview

Contrary to conspiratorial misinformation, here at MiddleEasy, we’re all huge fans of The Last Emperor; just like we’re fans of ice cream, t-shirts with curse words on them, and the Wu-Tang Clan. All of us have stayed up until the early hours of the morning to watch him fight on a crappy pixilated web-streams, most of us have traveled thousands of miles to see him fight live, and some of us have even been banned from certain MMA organizations for sneaking into the cage after Fedor’s victory to give him a pat on the back. Realistically, what Fedor accomplished as an undersized heavyweight in the most exciting era of MMA can never be duplicated. The dude stepped into the ring against dozens of men who were supposed to beat him senseless, but somehow all fell short. His dominance over everyone from Pride to Affliction could only be categorized him amongst demigods in combat-sports history. It wasn’t until he joined Strikeforce where his run of dominance came to an end after going 1-3 against Brett Rogers, Fabricio Werdum, Antonio Silva, and Dan Henderson (respectively). Fortunately, Fedor has resumed his career and strung together a small, but dominant winning streak and eyes another return to MMA at some point this summer. While we sincerely doubt that M-1 Global and the UFC will ever come together to co-promote and event, Fedor knows the best organization and the fighters are in the UFC - and still really wants to fight them. “Of course, I want to compete at home, in front of my countrymen,” the Last Emperor stressed. “But at the moment, the strongest and most respected MMA organization is situated in America. It’s the UFC. Therefore, I have to go to the US in order to face the strongest opponents.” Rumors of Fedor vs. Todd Duffee have been debunked as the former UFC fighter plans to fight Neil Grove in India. In fact, there is no official word on an opponent, but Fedor’s only reluctance would be to fight Josh Barnett, as he considers the “Baby-faced Assassin” a close friend. Whoever Fedor draws next, we hope it’s a performance worthy of keeping his new win-streak alive, and continued hopes of one day seeing him compete against the best in the world again.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, fedor, organization

MMA Link Club: Mood Swings, One-Trick Ponies, and MMA Memes

- The Seven Greatest One-Trick Ponies in MMA (CagePotato)"Being a one-trick pony shouldn’t be a derogatory term in MMA. If you’re so good at your specialized technique that you can finish top-flight opponents with it, even though they know it’s coming, then you should be applauded, not criticized. So let’s pay tribute to the seven greatest one-trickers in mixed martial arts. If we’ve left out any good ones, please let us know in the comments section."- Bellator CEO Bjorn

Posted in: mma, mma memes, onetrick ponies, topflight opponents, mma cagepotatobeing

'Warrior' Blu-Ray & DVD Review

Warrior - the Mixed Martial Arts themed Drama released by Lionsgate films in the latter half of 2011 - has been available for home viewing for a few weeks now, and for those yet to decide whether it is worth your purchase, this review may help. The general premise concerns two estranged brothers who enter an MMA tournament called 'Spartan' to win the prize of $5 million, needed by both for differing reasons. Tommy - played by Tom Hardy, who stars as Bane in this years Batman caper The Dark Knight Rises - is a heavy drinking, pill taking Marine that went AWOL because he promised a fallen comrade he'd take care of his family, and winning 'Spartan' is his way of doing that. Brendan - played by Australian actor Joel Edgerton - is a high school Physics teacher with a wife and family to support, and a growing number of bills he can't pay because of borrowing money for his daughter's heart operation, and the bank wants to take his house through foreclosure. Both Tommy and Brendan are the sons of Paddy (played by Nick Nolte, who was nominated for the 'Best Supporting Actor' award for this role at the 2012 Oscars), a recovering alcoholic who served as their amateur wrestling coach when both were in high school. Through divorce and separation, Tommy left with his mother, while Brendan stayed with Paddy because of his girlfriend (now wife), and bitter resentment by both towards Paddy for his alcoholism continued to grow in the years apart. Related Stories Book Review: The Men of Warrior | Warrior Review - Art Imitates Reality? | 'Warrior' MMA Movie Starring Tom Hardy Receives Early Critical Acclaim Most MMA writers agreed that while Warrior is the best MMA themed movie yet, it was still very flawed and suffered from what felt like a hokey storyline and ending, as well as not having a real life MMA story to reign it in from the levels of absurdity it sometimes reached. No American promotion today offers a prize remotely near $5 million for a tournament win, and New Jersey - where the Spartan tournament takes place - would never regulate a tournament that features participants in multiple fights across two nights. Some of the beatings taken during the fights in the film would have been stopped much sooner in real life, but the film makers fully exercised their poetic / Hollywood license to add to the impact and drama. The main roles in the film are all well acted though, and the personal strife each character individually goes through is believable. The film doesn't drag, and despite some over the top elements in the fights, you don't have to suspend too much belief to watch them. After the jump a look at the Blu Ray and DVD special features. In this Double Play edition of Warrior, apart from the difference in Standard and High Definition, both discs share many of the same extra features. There's a feature audio commentary with the film makers and one of the main actors, deleted scenes, and an outakes video - all par for the course on most digital releases. However I'll expand on the featured of note next. Brother Versus Brother: Anatomy Of The Fight - Many home releases of movies have a similar feature often known as 'Anatomy of a Scene', and this is the take on the final fight of the film between Tommy and Brendan and the choreography and filming of it. Philosophy In Combat: Mixed Martial Arts Strategy - This is a genuinely interesting featurette starring Frank Grillo -- who plays Brendan's (Joel Edgerton) coach in the film - and MMA coach extraordinaire Greg Jackson, who was one of the main consultants for the film. They discuss Jackson's involvement in the film and how some of his sayings and idiosyncrasies directly influenced Grillo's character, as well as discussing the discipline, dedication and development within the sport of MMA. Simply Believe: A Tribute To Charles 'Mask' Lewis, Jr. - A look back at one of the founders of the TapouT brand who tragically died in a road collision a few years ago, detailing his love for and involvement in MMA. Blu Ray Exclusive Features Redemption: Bringing Warrior To Life - A behind the scenes 'making of' featurette. This sheds some light on the restrictions and limitations this film faced in its production cycle and what circumstances influenced its direction. For instance, the estranged brother theme was based on the real life experience of Director Gavin O'Connor and his brother who had become estranged in their lives, and yet are reunited and working on films together today. Knowing this makes the hokey premise of estranged brothers re-connecting less contrived and more authentic. Other revelations include why MMA was chosen as a sport instead of Amateur Wrestling or Boxing, why they ultimately chose to set it and film it in the state of Pennsylvania, the risk of using relative unknowns for the cast and crew, and the time limits and an ever decreasing budget they were forced to work with, and that's just scratching the surface of this special feature. Full Contact: Blu-Ray Enhanced Viewing Mode - This is an absolute treat for movie buffs, and anyone with an interest in the film making and acting process. It takes the idea of film commentary to the next level by having the director Gavin O'Connor watch the movie in real time, and it's presented to us using a picture-in-picture format. In other words, we're watching Gavin O'Connor watching and discussing the film, while the actual movie plays in a small window on the bottom right of our screens. The producers have set up a gym and MMA Octagon which O'Connor sits in, and various cast and crew guests tag in and tag out as the film progresses to the parts they're featured in to get their own take on that particular scene in the film. We also see occasional transitions to behind the scenes photos and videos on the main window, while the movie continues to play in the small bottom-right window. To begin with O'Connor -- who was also the producer, and co-screen writer -- sits and chats with Nick Nolte about the beginning of the film, forming the character of Paddy, and the first meeting in the film between Paddy and Tommy (Hardy). During a transition, Nolte tags out and co-screen writer / co-producer Anthony Tambakis tags in to discuss the contrast between Tommy and Brendan (Edgerton), and the ideas and concept for the 'Birthday Party' scene. Another transition, and Tambakis has been replaced by the assistant stunt coordinator and the actor who plays the owner of the gym that Tommy enters to train at. O'Connor discusses with them the scene concept, character development, set design choices and other technical aspects of the film, and this format continues for the duration of the film viewing. In conclusion, despite the flaws this film has, the extra features especially on the Blu Ray edition show an insight into the trials and sharp turns this movie went through during production, and gives you a greater appreciation for what they were able to accomplish in spite of them. From an MMA fan standpoint, the feature with Greg Jackson makes it worth owning, but the behind the scenes and enhanced viewing the Blu Ray format affords makes it an essential purchase. Warrior for Blu Ray and DVD is available now through Amazon and Amazon UK The Double Play Blu-Ray & DVD edition reviewed in this article was bought new from a retail store.

Posted in: mma, warrior, scene, film, feature

MMA Life: Supercross and MMA are a Lot Alike, Just ask Rider Ivan Tedesco

On the surface, AMA Supercross and mixed martial arts may not seem all that similar, but ask rider Ivan Tedesco, they're more similar than you might think.

Posted in: mma, ivan, supercros, tedesco, rider

New York MMA Update – 3.7.12

Ah New York, where the state flower is Travis Bickle, and where if you don’t break your leg in an underground fight show, you’re just not trying hard enough. If I didn’t love this place so much, I’d want to nuke the site from orbit (it’s the only way to be sure). Anyway, yesterday saw a flurry of activity on the MMA front – so much so that an update is in order. -Dana White and co. came to Radio City Music Hall in Midtown Manhattan for a press conference meant to extoll the virtues of the upcoming UFC on Fox 3: “Diaz vs. Miller” event, which will see Nate Diaz take on New Jersey-based fighter Jim Miller at the IZOD Center (which is on the side of the Hudson River where MMA is sanctioned and everyone is happy). Here’s the New York Daily News rapping about it, although the biggest talking point is what the Baldfather said: “We’re going to keep grinding and grinding until we get it done,” White said Tuesday, referring to the ongoing legal battle. “We’ll get it done by any means necessary. It’s going to happen.” Sorry, but invoking the Jean Paul Sarte-by-way-of-Malcom X phrase “by any means necessary” does not bespeak of confidence. -Did someone mention legal battle? In case you were wondering, the lawsuit Zuffa LLC filed against the State of New York is still chugging along. As per the usual legal rigmarole, we are stuck at the phase where the State makes a motion to dismiss the suit and Zuffa’s attorneys makes a rebuttal and the State makes a rebuttal to that. In other words, the case is mired the Swamps of Legal Brief Despair. Worth noting here in that New York is now arguing that, while Zuffa may have cleaned up their act and put on events that follow stringent rules, if the State were to start sanctioning MMA, what would stop organizations like Extreme Fighting from “reverting to the savagery of their prior years”? Um, guys, Extreme Fighting’s last event was in March of 1997. I don’t think they’re putting on another show. -While the UFC was kicking the Rockettes off stage so Nate Diaz could offer Jim Miller a bong hit and Miller could respectfully decline, the grassroots movement that’s been striving to get the sport sanctioned here held a rally. Yes, it was across the street from Governor Andrew Cuomo’s office in Manhattan. Yes, I was a guest speaker. Yes, about forty people showed up, which was a similar turnout to the rally that was held last year. I don’t think any mountains were moved, but a former State Assemblyman named Michael Benjamin was there and spoke as well, and in his humble opinion, the female side of MMA competition is what’s going to really convince the State Legislature that the sport is viable and worthy of sanctioning love. Here’s Pete Lampasona of the Fight Nerd on that. Personally, I think if you put all the anti-MMA people in a room with Ronda Rousey and lock the door, you better believe those people will soon be signing anything their broken arms will allow. -Last but not least, or maybe it is very least, here’s some cat demanding that before the UFC is allowed to come the New York State Athletic Commission should adopt more stringent screening for testosterone levels. Because, you know, Quinton Jackson wouldn’t be half the man he is today if not for the injections given to him by UFC-recommended doctors. New York. It’s what’s for dinner.

Posted in: mma, ’t, nate diaz, state, york

ULTMMA Podcast Episode 18: Ronda Rousey's awesomeness, flyweights & more UFC tournaments

Podcast Powered By Podbean Topics covered in this episode- Why fans were robbed of an eight man UFC flyweight tournament bracket-Who is the number one 125 pound fighter in MMA?- Is Ronda Rousey great for women's MMA or the best thing for women's MMA?- What is next for Rousey?

Posted in: mma, ronda rousey, womens mma, rousey, podbean topics

MMA Odds Breaker: UFC on FOX 3 & UFC 145 Breakdown

MMA Legend Frank Trigg and Damon Martin from MMAWeekly.com give their MMA betting picks and analysis on 3 upcoming UFC fights: UFC 145: Michael McDonald vs Miguel Torres UFC on FOX 3: Nate Diaz vs Jim Miller UFC on FOX 3: Lavar Johnson vs Pat Barry MMA Odds Breaker Episode 18: I agree with their [...]

Posted in: ufc, mma, fox, vs, damon martin

US remains best place for MMA – Fedor

submitted by xtr3m [link] [2 comments]

Posted in: mma, place, xtr, fedor

Dana White Closes Door On Tim Sylvia, Blames Gangsters For NY MMA Ban

UFC President Dana White did a lot of press yesterday and as always that means lots of juicy quotes from the king of the MMA mountain. First up, MMA Fighting's Mike Chiappetta asked White to address the campaign by former two-time UFC heavyweight champ Tim Sylvia to return to the Octagon. Sylvia, who left the UFC to accept a very lucrative bout against Fedor Emelianenko with Affliction has gone 6-3 as a roving ronin, and has won 7 of his last 8. White's response was as succinct as it is pithy: "Hell no," he said. "Hell no." That closes that matter. On another front, Dana spoke to ESPN.com about the UFC's difficulties in getting MMA regulated in New York state: "Why hasn't it happened? It's a lot of political crap. The union out in Las Vegas is the reason it hasn't happened as funny as that sounds. It has nothing to do with MMA or the UFC, it has to do with the union. My partners, the Fertitta brothers, own the fourth largest gaming company in the country and they're non-union and the Las Vegas union has been doing some dirty stuff. They're dirty guys. Gangsters! The culinary union in Las Vegas. The guys who run the culinary union in Las Vegas are dirty, dirty, dirty, dirty guys." Transcribed by MMA Mania.

Posted in: ufc, mma, las vegas, vega, union

Dana White details the 'political crap from the 'dirty gangsters' that keep MMA out of New York

That's the problem with gangsters. You get rid of one, like Whitey Bulger, and five more pop up in his place. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White was roaming the streets of Manhattan yesterday to help promote his upcoming UFC on FOX 3 fight card, booked for the IZOD Center on May 5, 2012, in East Rutherford, NJ. The "Diaz vs. Miller" event is designed to bring live mixed martial arts (MMA) action to fans living in the five boroughs (and beyond). True, the UFC still doesn't play in the "Empire State," but neither do the "New York" Giants. Unfortunately for ZUFFA, parent company of the UFC, it's not because they don't want to, it's because they can't. As White explains, the "political crap" stemming from a longstanding beef with the "dirty guys" and "gangsters" from the Las Vegas Culinary Union, has had a ripple effect that reaches as far as the East Coast. Those comments (via ESPN.com), after the jump. "Why hasn't it happened? It's a lot of political crap. The union out in Las Vegas is the reason it hasn't happened as funny as that sounds. It has nothing to do with MMA or the UFC, it has to do with the union. My partners, the Fertitta brothers, own the fourth largest gaming company in the country and they're non-union and the Las Vegas union has been doing some dirty stuff. They're dirty guys. Gangsters! The culinary union in Las Vegas. The guys who run the culinary union in Las Vegas are dirty, dirty, dirty, dirty guys." Ever since the state of New York imposed a ban on MMA in 1997, ZUFFA officials have been trying to somehow reverse it to hold an event in the "city that never sleeps." In fact, for the last four years, White, the Fertittas and several fighters on the UFC roster have been lobbying for the ban to be lifted. They even took it took court. The ban remains intact, despite the positive economic impact that a live UFC event would have on the state and surrounding areas. The UFC President has also expressed his desire to hold an event in the famed Madison Square Garden (MSG), stating that a show in the "world's most famous arena" would do very well monetarily for both the UFC and Manhattan. So far, there hasn't been enough political pressure to get it done. For more background on the MMA ban in New York click here. To get up to speed on the next best thing, which is MMA in New Jersey (go figure), click here.

Posted in: ufc, mma, las vegas, la, union

Reader rants: Cagereaders speak up on Rousey, the Edgar/Henderson rematch and ‘Rampage’ (Yahoo! Sports)

MMA fans are nothing if not passionate and opinionated. Cagewriter appreciates those passionate opinions, and wants to give them a home. Welcome to "Reader Rants," the best reactions to MMA's biggest stories on Cagewriter's Facebook page. Opinions differed on the … Continue reading →

Posted in: mma, edgarhenderson rematch, reader rants, rant, reader

Ronda Rousey Is the Greatest Thing for Women’s MMA Since Sliced Limbs

After appearing in the cage for 4:27 in her championship win against Miesha Tate this past Saturday, Ronda Rousey now has been in the cage for 8 minutes and 29 seconds during her amateur and professional mixed martial arts career. But given her personality both inside and outside of the cage, she is certainly not nearing the end of her 15 minutes of fame. Prior to earning a title shot against then-champion Miesha Tate, Rousey had yet to even appear on a regular Strikeforce card. She had two Strikeforce Challengers wins to her name, but her MMA career still did not lengthen her resume by much. Rousey, a bronze medalist in Judo at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, was the first American woman to ever earn a medal in Judo at the Olympics. But it did not take her long to realize that there was not much money to be earned if she continued her current career. She then set her sights on a career in MMA, making her amateur debut just two years after earning the Olympic medal. With her strong pedigree and Judo background, Rousey quickly acclimated to the new art, as she defeated all three of her opponents during her amateur career in under a minute. That continued as she transitioned to fighting as a professional, defeating her first four opponents in a combined 2 minutes and 18 seconds. Following her win in November against Julia Budd, Rousey began to become more vocal, immediately calling out Strikeforce bantamweight champion Miesha Tate. The champion was quick to dismiss Rousey, touting her as inexperienced and not worthy of fighting for the title. But that did not deter Rousey, as she continued to state her case why she should fight for the title. She agreed that she lacked experience, but that the division needed a kick in the ass. She was here to provide that, and Strikeforce agreed. After Gina Carano left MMA, women’s MMA has suffered in popularity and in marquee fights. Cris “Cyborg” Santos was dominant as champion, but never appealed to fans anywhere near as much as Carano. Other champions like Marloes Coenen and Sarah Kaufman suffered from the same ordeal. While Miesha Tate brought more notoriety than any of those fighters, Rousey has brought more than any of those women combined. Rousey brings a bravado and attitude that has been sorely lacking over the last few years. Carano never had the sense of confidence that Rousey displays, instead appealing fans with her looks. Rousey certainly is appealing in that way, but the always reliable ‘it’ factor applies to her as well. Women’s MMA has needed a spokeswoman to take over. No one had stepped up to give you a reason to watch the women fight. More importantly, Rousey is demanding you watch, and it is a mistake if you do not. But just as important with her attitude outside of the cage, her demeanor carries inside to the cage, as well. She had Tate in an armbar within the first minute, but was unable to force her to tap. Once the fight was standing again, Rousey was tagged a few times by Tate. But she stood her ground and was able to pull her into her game again, and finished yet another fight with an armbar submission. Now women’s MMA, and just as importantly, Strikeforce, has a model fighter to build the organization around. As the marquee organization that holds women’s fights, Strikeforce has an opportunity to take advantage of this. As long as they continue to develop challengers for Rousey, the story will only continue to grow. As Rousey grows as a fighter, she will only grow as a spokeswoman, as well.

Posted in: mma, strikeforce, tate, women, rousey

Ronda Rousey Arrived at the Perfect Time for Women’s MMA and Strikeforce

Posted in: mma, strikeforce, tate, women, rousey

MMA Top 10 Rankings: Featherweights Debut with Joseph Benavidez at No. 1

The latest MMAWeekly.com World MMA Rankings are out, including the debut of the Flyweights!

Posted in: mma, debut, ranking, mmaweeklycom, joseph benavidez

MMA Top 10 Rankings: Flyweights Debut with Joseph Benavidez at No. 1

The latest MMAWeekly.com World MMA Rankings are out, including the debut of the Flyweights!

Posted in: mma, debut, ranking, flyweight, joseph benavidez

Why We Owe Ronda Thanks

Strikeforce promised us big things for its main event on Saturday night – things like thrills and action and the kind of unbridled intensity that melts flat-screen TVs right off of walls – and what we got when Ronda Rousey clashed with Miesha Tate was all that and more. Beforehand, we wondered if Rousey could work her seemingly-unstoppable mojo on the champ, her wicked ultra-violence, and we debated if Tate could be the one to derail the barreling freight train. Then there was a mad four-and-a-half minute scramble, an arm so mangled it redefined the word “yikes!” and we had our answers. Not since Gina Carano versus Cris “Cyborg” Santos did we give as much of a crap about female MMA, and now we have both a budding superstar and life breathed into a flagging area of the sport. We have Ronda to thank for that. If God created Eve from one of Adam’s ribs, it was a humerus that went into making Ronda, and the judoka isn’t done paying Him back in the arm-bone currency she feels she owes. Which is just fine. Because if you’re a scrub and not worthy of being in the same cage as her, she’ll rip your arm off in under a minute, just as she did to all before her championship turn, and if you’re good – elite even, perhaps one of the best 135-pound femme fatales the sport has to offer – then it’s more about how long you can last before the inevitable, painful dislocation. It’s that payoff that matters, and thus far we’ve gotten it every cringe-inducing time. So much so, in fact, that it’s now what makes female MMA so morbidly compelling. Do you think Deadspin would be devoting digital ink to members of the fairer sex fighting in a cage if it weren’t for those endings, those horrific yet amazingly technical things Ronda does to opponents’ limbs? No freakin’ way. But she does so they do, and the sport is better for it. And what of the future of woman’s MMA? If Rousey is indeed the new standard bearer, who out there is left to legitimately challenge her? When Cyborg beat Carano from the cage, and ultimately from the sport, there was no one else for the Brazilian, no one else to threaten her or unseat her or even force her to break a sweat (which ushered in the “Great Female MMA Dry Spell”, when a women’s bout on a card moved the needle not at all). Will the same thing happen again now that Queen Ronda has ascended the throne? It’s possible. It’s possible that top contender Sarah Kaufman stands not even a snowball’s chance in Hell against the unstoppable grappling and undeniable armbar that surely awaits. But the beauty of it all is that with Rousey and her Olympic-level combative skills comes something priceless to the sport in general, something so momentous and historic that, years from now, when we look back upon this time, we’ll be calling this the “Ronda Era” – this being the exact point in time when the bar for a female fighter’s necessary skill level was raised to where it was suddenly became conceivable that, yes, that lady could mess other ladies up, and maybe even mess up a lot of guys too (Bryan Caraway, I’m looking at you). Just as an athlete from UFC 3 couldn’t hang with those in the mix today, Rousey’s skill, and appurtenant success, means that at a minimum, a fighter will have to a be at least fantastic at fighting now, whether it’s for challenging the champ or even just entertaining us. With that said, maybe the next true challenge to Rousey’s reign will take the form of another Olympian, like Sara McMann, who earned a silver medal in freestyle wrestling and has amassed a spotless 5-0 MMA record. Or maybe the Strikeforce champ’s nemesis is still competing at the highest levels in judo, or jiu-jitsu, or whatever, and has yet to cross over to mixed martial arts. Regardless, because of one of the best main events on a Showtime card in a long time, the bar is now higher than it’s ever been. For that – and the attention and rejuvenation she’s brought – we owe Ronda thanks. And if you want to keep your arm, I suggest you give it to her.

Posted in: mma, sport, thing, rousey, ronda

Dana White: Brandon Saling will never fight for Zuffa again; MMA licenses to fight revoked in Ohio and N.J.

Brandon Saling made big headlines this week after his performance at this past weekend's (Mar. 3, 2012) Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" mixed martial arts (MMA) event from Columbus, Ohio, losing via technical knockout to Roger Bowling in the second round. However, It wasn't because of his what he did inside in the Hexagon, which was far from impressive, but rather for the troubling tattoos emblazoned across his body. Specifically, the "88" with accompanying lightning bolts, which means "Hail Hitler," an obvious indication of his support for Nazi beliefs. That's not all. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that Saling, who had also previously competed for Bellator in New Jersey at Bellator 59, had a sordid criminal past, one that involved two indictments of sexual misconduct, and an alleged rape of a person under 13 years of age. At the Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" post-fight press conference, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker announced that a full investigation into how a fighter with such a violent criminal record, who is also a registered sex offender, would get licensed to compete for his organization. Today, at the UFC on Fox 3 pre-fight press conference, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White answered that question (via MMA Fighting): "Apparently what this guy did is he lied on his application to the athletic commission in Ohio and he lied on his application to the athletic commission in New Jersey. So to the best of my understanding, obviously this guy is never going to fight for us ever again, and me might not ever fight again. I know he has been suspended by both states and then all these other commissions follow a suspension from other states. And for this guy to ever get licensed again he'd have to go for a hearing for the athletic commissions. I find it hard to believe that this guy will ever be licensed again so he better go find another job." It has since been confirmed the Saling’s license in both the state of Ohio and New Jersey, have been revoked and has been officially suspended from competing in MMA for providing false information on his applications. As White stated, like any suspended fighter, he will have to answer to both, or any other, states' athletic commission should he ever wish to get re-licensed to compete. However the questions remains, with such a criminal history and now having another mark on his record for lying to athletic commissions, will he or should he ever get approved to fight again in MMA? Whatever happens, Saling certainly faces an uphill battle after this weekend wherever he roams.

Posted in: mma, guy, commission, state, ohio

Despite Tim Sylvia’s Campaign for UFC Comeback, Dana White Shuts Door

Former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia has spent much of the last few weeks publicly pleading for one more run in the UFC. Earlier this week, he appeared on The MMA Hour and even said he'd be willing to fight for free in order to prove himself again.It appears his campaigning has failed to sway the UFC's decision makers, however.On Tuesday, MMA Fighting began to ask company president Dana White if he was reconsidering his decision to shut the door on a Sylvia return, but he didn't even need to wait for the question to be finished before giving an emphatic response. "Hell no," he said. "Hell no." No further elaboration was offered or necessary.The 36-year-old Sylvia (30-7) had two title reigns during his octagon days, first capturing the belt in February 2003 by knocking out Ricco Rodriguez. After a positive steroids test derailed that first run at the top, he recaptured the top spot in April 2006 with a KO of Andrei Arlovski.He eventually dropped the championship in one of the UFC's all-time classic moments, when 43-year-old Randy Couture returned from retirement to romp his way to the belt in a unanimous decision victory.Sylvia left the promotion two fights later, and after making a hefty payday at Affliction: Banned during a loss to Fedor Emelianenko, he's been an MMA nomad. He reached his career low point in a knockout loss to boxer Ray Mercer in an MMA rules bout, but since then he's won six of seven.Judging from White's response, Sylvia could win 10 more in a row and he still won't be welcomed back to the UFC.

Posted in: ufc, mma, decision, sylvia, decision victorysylvia

Video: Dana White On Rampage's UFC Comments, Strikeforce, Brandon Saling, Tons More

Dana White was in New York Tuesday to promote May's UFC on Fox 2 in New Jersey and caught up with MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani for an interesting chat about a slew of topics. Everything from Quinton Jackson's claims about UFC doctors suggesting TRT use to Brandon Saling's situation to Ronda Rousey and more were discussed. Some highlights from the 14-minute clip: Why he made Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller the main event of UFC on Fox 2 and the latest on MMA being legalized in New York. Having "no clue" on who the next lightweight title challenger will be. His frustrations at not having the fourth round for Demetrious Johnson vs. Ian McCall. Defining his position and views on Strikeforce and how a story on another MMA site was supposed to be a private conversation. He actually apologized to Strikeforce for some of the quotes used. He did mention, "Creatively, we have some differences." Interesting bit of dialogue here. He talked about conversations he had with Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate leading up to the fight. "Ronda Rousey is going to be a big star," he said. He clarified the Saling situation and how he fought on the Strikeforce show Saturday. MMA Fighting Senior Editor and BE founder Luke Thomas broke some information on Saling's situation Tuesday. His reaction to Jackson's Twitter comments and some important comments on the TRT claims he recently made. His side of the Dakota Cochrane controversy from last week. The really interesting 14 minute interview with Helwani can be seen after the jump.

Posted in: ufc, mma, strikeforce, saling, ronda rousey

MiddleEasy's Guide to the Top Ten Memes in MMA

There is no definitive explanation for what a meme is, some say a meme is a moment in time that is captured by video or photography, later taken by 'the internet' and morphed into a Frankenstein's monster of it's original self. Topical, thought provoking, controversial and always funny, memes are part of the reason why the internet is as great as it is. Below we have a collection of the best of the best MMA memes. They are the top ten fully realized and researched from top to bottom for the MMA novice, to the bitter vet who watched UFC 2 on a pirate cable box. Dozens of classic MMA moments were reviewed for this list, and we could've easily made this a top twenty or even thirty list, but for the sake of our link at the top of MiddleEasy.com that says 'Top Ten Lists', we whittled it down to ten, and it wasn't easy. This is The Users Guide To The Top Ten Memes In MMA History.

Posted in: mma, list, meme, mma novice, frankensteins monster

Brandon Saling's Fighter License Revoked For Failure To Disclose Past Sex Crime, Domestic Violence Charges

In a major update to a story we've been following since uncovering the information during the Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey event, Brandon Saling, a convicted sex offender with a tattoo featuring Neo-Nazi symbolism, has had his fighter license suspended. In our original coverage we touched on how Saling's "88" tattoo is symbolic for "Hiel Hitler" (H being the 8th letter of the alphabet) and followed that up with information about Saling being convicted in the sexual assault of a girl under 13 and a domestic violence conviction some years later. It appears that Saling failed to disclose those convictions when applying for his license and, thus, is in a good deal of trouble with the state and it is unlikely he ever fights again Luke Thomas broke the news over at MMA Fighting a short time ago: After causing a stir on Saturday at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey, welterweight Brandon Saling's tenure in Strikeforce was short-lived. It turns out there may also not be much time left in his mixed martial arts career. According to commissioner Bernie Profato of the Ohio Athletic Commission (OAC), Saling's fighter license has been revoked. Profato told MMA Fighting Saling falsified information on his application for a license by failing to disclose he had "ever been convicted of a crime other than a traffic offense". The ommission puts Saling in violation of Administrative Code 3773-1-09, clause F, of the bylaws governing MMA in Ohio, which states a fighter's license can be suspended or revoked if he or she "has violated any law with respect to any sports regulated by the commission or any rule or order of the commission or has been convicted of a felony." ... "Obviously this guy is never going to fight for us again," UFC President Dana White told MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani. "For this guy to ever get licensed again he'd have to go before a hearing for the athletic commissions and I find it hard to believe that this guy will ever be licensed again. He better go find another job." This should put an end to any of the debate over the "he served his time, let him fight" vs. "convicted sex offenders with Nazi symbolism aren't good for promotions or TV" nonsense. Saling was clearly covering up his past in an attempt to build a fighting career and thus was putting promotions in jeopardy of significant damage to their reputation. You don't just "forget" that you spent time in jail for rape and domestic violence. SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey

Posted in: mma, strikeforce, commission, license, saling

The MMA Hour Episode 121 Benson Henderson

Posted in: mma, hour, henderson, episode, benson

The MMA Hour Episode 121 Gene LeBell

Posted in: mma, hour, episode, gene, lebell

The MMA Hour Episode 121 Ronda Rousey

Posted in: mma, hour, episode, rousey, ronda

The MMA Hour Episode 121 Rener Gracie

Posted in: mma, hour, episode, gracie, rener

The MMA Hour Episode 121 Tim Sylvia

Posted in: mma, hour, episode, tim, sylvia

The MMA Hour Episode 121 Sean McCorkle

Posted in: mma, hour, episode, mccorkle, sean

Bellator nabs light heavyweight prospect Phelipe Lins for possible summer debut

The Bellator Fighting Championships will continue the promotion's trend of scooping up top shelf Brazilian prospects with their latest move. Light heavyweight Phelipe Lins (5-0) will join the Bellator roster in 2012. ULTMMA.com (www.ULTMMA.com) confirmed the news over the weekend.Hailing from Natal, Brazil Lins lasted competed in July 2011. Under the Rock Strike MMA banner Lins knocked out Daniel Alexandre (0-1) in the first round. The win for Lins was his first after a five year hiatus. Lins Bellator debut will likely come in May or on a card in early summer. Prior to his MMA layoff, Lins made waves on the Brazilian circuit thanks to a pair of wins over two time UFC vet Antonio Mendes (17-11). Lins, a 6'3 light heavyweight, knocked out Mendes in their first fight and won via decision in the rematch. The 26 year old Lins currently trains with Nova Uniao Kimura.A heavy handed striker at 205 pounds Lins is rated as a four star prospect by ULTMMA.com. Based on his natural striking talent and world class training partners, Lins checked in as the number ten 205 pound prospect in MMA in the latest ULTMMA.com top 20 prospect rankings.

Posted in: bellator, mma, prospect, light, lin

MMA Talking Heads recap Strikeforce: 'Tate vs Rousey' and UFC on FX 2: 'Alves vs Kampann' (Video)

MMA Mania presents "MMA Talking Heads," a video discussion series featuring mixed martial arts (MMA) journalist Jason Probst and special guest host Ian Parker. The show touches on all aspects of the sport, with an insider's perspective. In this episode, Jason and Ian discuss UFC on FX 2: "Alves vs. Kampmann," as well as this past weekend's Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" fight card. We delve into the debut of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) flyweight tournament, and Ronda Rousey's impressive submission to win the 135-pound championship over Miesha Tate. Maniacs, we want to your input! If there's a question you'd like answered on an upcoming Talking Heads, send them to www.twitter.com/MMATalkingHeads or jasonprobst@gmail.com. Thanks, and we'll see you next time on Talking Heads!

Posted in: ufc, mma, vs, head, ronda rouseys

With New York legalization again on table, MMA group hosts Tuesday rally

Less than a mile away from a presser put on by the UFC's well-oiled publicity machine, a grassroots organization continues to advocate for MMA in the Big Apple. On Tuesday, the Coalition to Legalize Mixed Martial Arts in New York holds a rally in front of governor Andrew Cuomo's Manhattan office to raise awareness and voice support for bringing MMA to the Empire State. Additionally, an MMA documentary film festival is scheduled to take place at The Theater Lobby at Madison Square Garden.

Posted in: mma, empire state, york legalization, voice support, grassroots organization

Asian MMA: Breaking Down The Official ONE FC 3 Fight Card

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

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

If I were to fight MMA, I think it would go like this

submitted by Filipp0 [link] [4 comments]

Posted in: fight, mma, filipp

MMA Quick Quote: MMA referees need fight experience before getting a gig

"I have a beef with judging and refereeing. To me, I don't think you should ever be able to judge or referee unless you have a physical background in that art. I'm a big fan of professional football, but I'm not qualified to be a judge. In MMA, it's the flavor of the month and everyone wants to be a judge or a referee. I see a lot of referees that could use a little bit more instruction. I think it should be mandatory for these judges to go to Mauy Thai schools, go to Judo schools, go to Greco Roman schools, go to freestyle wrestling schools, Kempo, Shotokan, Taekwondo, all those schools and learn a little bit of everything. You want to know if a body slam hurts more than a left hook and how much damage can something get? You have to be on the mat or in the ring to know the difference. It's my humble opinion." -- Judo master Gene LeBell knows a thing or two about combat sports, known for his time in the pro wrestling circuit with National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) and teaching hand-to-hand combat and the art of grappling to legends such as Roddy Piper, Chuck Norris, Bruce Lee, Karo Parisyan and woman's Strikeforce Bantamweight champion, Ronda Rousey. LeBell also participated in the first-ever boxing vs. mixed martial arts (MMA) fight as he took on pro boxer Milo Savage in 1963. "Judo" went on to defeat Savage by choking him out in the fourth round. He also serves as an MMA judge on the local circuit, so it comes to no surprise that he has a "beef" with today's MMA judging and officiating as he said on his appearance today on "The MMA Hour". "Judo" feels that all people looking to become a judge or referee a professional MMA fight should have some kind of background of actually fighting in the sport. With so many late and early stoppages and questionable decisions that are a cause for controversy, perhaps athletic commissions may take "Judo's" suggestion to heart. What do you think, should it be a prerequisite to have a background in fighting before you can be allowed to referee or judge the sport?

Posted in: mma, judge, school, referee, judo

ONE FC releases 'War of the Lions' fight card for March 31 featuring Melvin Manhoef, Tatsuya Kawajiri and more!

ONE FC finally released the full details of its "War of the Lions" fight card, which is taking place at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on March 31, 2012, and there is no shortage of big names. The big news is that Renato Sobral has been replaced with DEEP Light Heavyweight Champion Yoshiyuki Nakanishi who will be taking on Melvin Manhoef in a middleweight fight. A number of the bouts had already been revealed including the main event which pits highly rated lightweight Zorobabel Moreira against Felipe Enomoto, who is coming off a big win against Ole Laursen in the final fight of the night at ONE FC 2. Laursen was also rewarded for his contribution to that highly entertaining affair with an instant return to action and he goes up against Eduard Folayang in a fight which was originally scheduled to be the main event at ONE FC 1 and is sure to go down well with the Singapore crowd. His Team Lakay team mate Kevin Belingon has the biggest fight of his career when he takes on Masakazu Imanari. The Filipino is 9-0 and has fought in Hong Kong and Singapore but never been up against an opponent as experienced as the Japanese leg-lock master. Two veterans will go head to head when Yuya Shirai faces Fabrice Monteiro. The Singapore based Brazilian has endured some indifferent results recently but he has a fantastic opportunity to show why he was once ranked as one of the world's top welterweights when he takes on the reigning DEEP 170 lbs champion. In total there are five fighters from Evolve MMA, the Singapore based camp which has a reputation as being the best in Asia, on the card. One of them, Eddie Ng from Hong Kong, will take on Malaysian Muay Thai champion Jian Kai Chee in a match up which has 'striker vs grappler' written all over it. Former boxing world champion Yodsanan Sityodtong is also back in action and will face a sterner test of his MMA credentials against China's Jiang Long Yun who holds a 3-1-1 record and has faced some of the best fighters in Asia and Australia. For the local media the main attraction is likely to be the first ever female fight to take place on a ONE FC card which sees Singapore's Nicole Chua taking on Indian Jeet Toshi. Chua has a strong background in Muay Thai but will be making her MMA debut whereas Toshi is a national kickboxing champion with 1-0 MMA record. Kim Hock and Juan Wen Jie will also both be making their professional debuts in an all Singaporean affair which should generate plenty of local interest. The first fight of the night is much more international but it will be an opportunity for 11-2 TUF veteran Richie Whitson to show that he is ready for a UFC return by beating one of Manhoef's trainers, Danny Van Bergen. There is one more fight to be announced with top rated featherweight Tatsuya Kawajiri still without an opponent. He is a former Shooto Champion who has fought for both Strikeforce and DREAM's lightweight titles and it will be very interesting to see who ONE FC find to face him. Any one of six of the fights of this card could conceivably have been made the main event which speaks volumes about the quality of the mixed martial artists who will be on display. There is no word yet on details of the broadcast although ESPN Star Sports will start showing repeats of ONE FC shows this month. It will be the most star studded card in the history of South East Asian MMA with a line up littered with names who will be familiar to fight fans all over the region.The partnerships which ONE FC formed with promotions all over Australia and Asia are also starting to pay dividends with no fewer than three fighters from DEEP and DREAM on the card. A couple of years ago the Asian MMA landscape was pretty much barren but with the UFC making occasional forays East and ONE FC raising the bar with every event the future looks very bright indeed!

Posted in: fight, mma, card, fc, singapore

The MMA Wrap-Up: Tate vs. Rousey Edition

Strikeforce has a new 135-pound champ after Saturday night, and Miesha Tate has a few months of washing her hair with one hand to look forward to. Ronda Rousey not only proved that her armbar is a terrifying weapon to be feared by all, she also showed the benefit of having an outspoken champ in a division where, historically, everyone has been just a little bit too nice. Now the MMA Wrap-Up returns to look at the gruesome finish that netted her the belt, and what it means for women's MMA as a whole.

Posted in: saturday night, mma, ronda rousey, womens mma, miesha tate

The MMA Hour With Rousey, Henderson, Sylvia, McCorkle, LeBell, Gracie

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

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

Morning Report: Ronda Rousey's Grisly Armbar, Johnson-McCall and the Fourth Round That Never Was

Who could have guessed the debut of a new UFC division would be overshadowed by a women's title fight, in Strikeforce, no less. But it was, and at least for now, the landscape of mixed martial arts appears to have evolved dramatically. Ronda Rousey's gruesome victory over Miesha Tate was a performance that captivated the MMA community unlike any women's match since 2009, and now "Rowdy" Ronda has become what Gina Carano was supposed to be. Though lets not overstate the situation. WMMA obviously has a long road ahead of it. But with the help of a bona fide star -- a 25-year-old with Olympic pedigree, unquestionable ferocity, and Sonnen-esque skills on the mic -- the horizon suddenly looks a whole lot brighter. Catch up with the entire Rousey-Tate aftermath, as well as the UFC's flyweight tourney fallout with the Morning Report. 5 MUST-READ STORIES Ronda Rousey calls title win 'big deal' for women's MMA. Ronda Rousey spoke to Ariel Helwani about her championship performance over Miesha Tate, her trademark armbar, and what her sudden rise means for women's MMA. And if you missed out, do yourself a favor and check out all the electrifying Strikeforce video highlights. A short list of the most savage armbars in MMA history. Following Rousey's dramatic victory on Saturday night, Ben Thapa put together a GIF-fest of a feature, asking whether we just witnessed the greatest MMA armbar of all time. Strikeforce fighter Brandon Saling in question for Neo-Nazi tattoos and criminal past. Internet detectives discovered the rather unsavory past of Strikeforce undercard fighter Brandon Saling, including Neo-Nazi tattoos and a police charge "in connection with an alleged rape of a person under 13." Ian McCall vs. Demetrious Johnson a ruled a draw. The UFC's flyweight tournament hit a snag when Australian commission representative Craig Waller incorrectly totaled the scores for Demetrious Johnson vs. Ian McCall. According to Dana White, a rematch is currently in the works. Strikeforce: Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier set for May 19. Over a year after its inception, the end is finally in sight for Strikeforce's heavyweight grand prix. MEDIA STEW On August 6, 2010, at a quiet show in Oxnard, California, Ronda Rousey made her MMA debut fighting against Hayden Munoz. I think you know how the story goes from there. If you were spacing out during Friday's UFC on FX 2 broadcast, you probably missed out on this goosebump-inducing Jon Jones promo that had everyone talking. (HT: Middle Easy) And just as we enter the UFC's upcoming six-week vacation, Bellator graciously steps in to fill our violence void. If you weren't excited for Season 6, I dare you to watch this Michael Chandler teaser and not change your mind. MMA Fighting's own Luke Thomas stopped by MMA Uncensored Live to drop some knowledge on the Dakota Cochrane and Rampage Jackson situations. IAN MCCALL, DEMETRIOUS JOHNSON AND THE WONDERFUL AUSTRALIAN ATHLETIC COMMISSION Mcall loss via having awesome mustache, robbed could at least do a sudden death, way to be screwed, love judges? — Roy Nelson (@roynelsonmma) March 3, 2012 How was the last round not a 10-8? Mighty mouse was finished if the bell didnt ring — Patrick Healy (@BamBamHealy) March 3, 2012 What a crazy roller coaster of emotions. Thank you to all the people who helped me I love you all. FOTN bonus helps take the sting off a bit — ian mccall (@Unclecreepymma) March 3, 2012 ROY NELSON WILL DROP TO LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT IF YOU FRIEND HIM ON FACEBOOK Bet is I will try to get to 205 if I can add 100k to Facebook.com/RoyNelsonUFC in two weeks. I love to win bets.... fb.me/16yMoPVPm — Roy Nelson (@roynelsonmma) March 5, 2012 @seanmcc87 45lbs pounds — Roy Nelson (@roynelsonmma) March 5, 2012 THE WEEKEND WITH SASQUATCH HERMAN Started my new diet today. I had 10 toaster strudels for lunch. — Dave Herman (@davehermanmma) March 3, 2012 FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS Announced over the weekend (Friday, March 2, 2012 - Sunday, March 4, 2012): - Strikeforce: Josh Barnett (31-5) vs. Daniel Cormier (9-0) confirmed for May 19 FANPOST OF THE DAY Today's Fanpost of the Day goes to BE's fightbot: 5 reasons Tate/Rousey was a perfect fight 1. It didn't kill the tension with Tate After the fight you could see Mauro fishing for the 'It was all for marketing' line from Ronda. I'm glad she didn't oblige him. Before the fight I wrote that I didn't want Ronda to kill the tension between her and Miesha should she win, and why that was so important. She didn't disappoint. She has great storytelling instincts. The shortline is that by not saying it was all for show/hype/marketing, it doesn't kill the tension between them. Which is good because Tate is bound to get a rematch one day. And if Ronda had said it was all for show after the first fight, it'd be a tough sell to get us amped for the rematch. But this way there's still unfinished business, there's still a lot of issues between them that can make for a great story in the inevitable rematch. She's gonna catch a lot of flack for it from some people, but I feel those people are shortsighted. It's not like she rubbed Miesha's face in it (well within her right to do), she just refused to apologize for her actions. Own that s***. Found something entertaining, brutal, or bizarre you'd like to see in the Morning Report? Just send it to @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in tomorrow's post.

Posted in: mma, strikeforce, mdash, march, ronda

The Dangers of Testing an Olympian’s Medal

Ronda Rousey’s submission victory over Miesha Tate Saturday night in Columbus proved to the naysayers Rousey can fight just as well, if not better, than she talks. The astonishing technical display also showed experience in MMA does not compare to high-level accomplishments in the Olympics. Prior to the fight, Tate believed the superior amount of time she had training in MMA would easily trump Rousey’s single year inside the cage. A good percentage of fans and media shared Tate’s belief Rousey did not belong in the main event with a world champion so early in her MMA career and ran their mouths about it on social networking sites for the past few months. Those individuals were proven wrong last night and it is because they all downgraded a high-level Olympic pedigree in favor of 4-5 more years of MMA experience. This is a mistake typical of the MMA community that seems to be oblivious to the fact the sport is not the highest level of martial arts in the world. MMA is still evolving and has not yet reached that technical milestone there we can start comparing the athletes to those who are mastering a specific art on the Olympic level. Rousey only had four MMA fights to her name before besting Tate for the title but she competed at a high-level in Judo for many years prior to even thinking about stepping foot inside the cage. At the young age of 17, Rousey won a gold medal at the 2004 World Judo Junior Championships in Budapest, Hungary. In 2006, Rousey became the first female athlete from the United States to win an A-Level tournament taking home the gold at the Birmingham World Cup in Great Britain. “Rowdy” Ronda was merely 19 years old when she captured the Bronze Medal at the Junior World Championships and she became the first American athlete ever to win two Junior World medals. The pinnacle of her Judo career was in 2008 when she was awarded a bronze medal in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China becoming the first American to win an Olympic medal in women’s Judo since its inception as an Olympic sport in 1992. Tate, fans, media, and even other fighters failed to respect Rousey’s abilities and are mpw all enjoying a piping hot piece of humble pie for their efforts. Rousey is the perfect example of what a young Olympic martial artist having competed at a high-level can accomplish in MMA. This isn’t to say that every Olympic judoka, wrestler, or boxer could dominate in the cage because obviously there are many variables that come into play in an MMA fight that these athletes are not used to dealing with in their specific art. An Olympic wrestler would put MMA fighters on their backs with relative ease but defending submissions would be a new ball game to them. The same goes for an Olympic boxer, as their punching technique and footwork would be far superior to the average MMA fighter but would find themselves flopping around like a fish out of water if action hit the mat. Even a phenomenal Olympic judoka could be in a tremendous amount of danger if they are stuck in a striking exchange with a well-rounded fighter in the cage. MMA is a sport dominated by athletes who are good at all areas meaning even if you excel at one specific art you can still be defeated by an average fighter. On the contrary, a world-class Olympic competitor who has dedicated themselves to MMA will have a higher percentage of becoming a world champion than any other fighter in the world. Again, I point to the new Strikeforce bantamweight champ as the example; Rousey evolved herself from a Bronze Medal Judoka into a well-rounded MMA fighter without losing touch with her base. Also, you may have heard of a few other Olympians who have done well in the cage – Daniel Cormier and Dan Henderson for example. Rising star Sara McMann, a silver medalist wrestler in 2004 who is 5-0 in MMA, is also another name to consider. That is the key – to develop an understanding of all aspects of MMA and learn how to tie those puzzle pieces together to further strengthen your base. Rousey has done that and she is only going to improve with time. Hopefully this will cause an influx of more Olympic caliber competitors to jump into the cage to help the sport evolve even more from a technical standpoint. Tate was a great champion and is a fantastic fighter but it was foolish to overlook an Olympic medalist and likely a mistake few fighters will ever make again. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: world, mma, fighter, olympic, rousey

Lefko on MMA: A-Rous-ing interest

After her big win over Miesha Tate on Saturday, Rowdy Ronda Rousey could be the one to propel women's MMA into mainstream popularity.

Posted in: mma, ronda rousey, womens mma, ronda, miesha tate

Strikeforce Tate vs. Rousey Results: Why Women's MMA Belongs In The UFC

I've always been on the fence with women's MMA. Yes, I understood that for females, establishing for themselves a sport that can come close to the approximation of men's MMA would simply take time. But it never meant I had to enjoy it. Female MMA always tended to be too raw for my liking. I never approached female MMA from the perspective that "women shouldn't be doing this". Instead I just found the mechanics to be crude. Like a Leonard Garcia fight, there was a noticeable lack of grace. But not last night. The females were the stars. Sarah Kaufman put on a fantastic performance against a very game Alexis Davis. But it wasn't a "good fight in the context of women's MMA". It was just a good fight. Kaufman's boxing is better than most men, and certainly better than a neo-nazi's. And then there was the main event. The numbers of viewers won't reflect it, but Ronda Rousey is absolutely a star. All the ingredients are there. She's a world class talent. And here the words "world class" have meaning beyond "happens to fight in the UFC". The way she's able to transition so quickly from takedown to positioning for a submission, or sliding right into mount...these are traits we don't even get from some of our "P4P" kings. Rousey just "gets" MMA. There's a brilliance to her game that reveals itself in the way she transitions. In understanding that each shift from one phase to the next is an opportunity. And that a takedown can be a sequence rather than a precession. Of course, it doesn't hurt that she gives lively, candid interviews that never come across as insincere (as they do with someone like Chael Sonnen), or that she's attractive. And given everyone's love of Nick Diaz, she probably earned some brownie points from fans who love seeing a grudge that isn't manufactured, as was evident in her dismissal of Tate's injuries. Speaking of the former champ, Miesha Tate deserves praise as well. I'm not sure she fought the best gameplan (she seemed intent on getting the fight to the ground rather than separating and striking with Rousey at distance, who is still clearly lacking in that regard), but she wasn't afraid to threaten Rousey with her own grappling prowess. Except for her boyfriend's behavior, Tate has nothing to be ashamed of. SBN Coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey And that's why last night was a game changer. There's a narrative moving forward. Rousey vs. Kaufman is a compelling fight, and I'm just as interested in seeing how Miesha Tate rebounds. By now I should probably explain the ‘why' (women deserve to be in the UFC), but to me the question is ‘why not?' Women's MMA might seem barren after a few "superfights", the critics might argue, but how is this any different from the UFC's flyweight division? The benefit of a platform like the UFC is that it draws the world's best to be in one place. Without the UFC, we never would have had Ian McCall and Demetrious Johnson underneath the same roof. Or Urushitani for that matter, who is still a valuable fighter despite the emphatic loss to Joseph Benavidez. It's not like women's MMA doesn't have a corollary. Sara McMann has an Olympic medal that's just a wee bit shinier than Ronda's. While McMann may not be ready now, the potential is there, and already we know a bit more about how she handles pressure (McMann got into a fairly wild fight with Raquel Pa-aluhi). I wouldn't expect the chances to be high on the UFC accepting women's MMA. But if we want to draw out the prospects, the foreigners, and the stars all in one place (and therefore give women the best measure of their abilities), it's the only chance they've got. And I think Rousey, Tate, Kaufman, and Davis proved they deserve that chance. The purpose of the UFC's existence is to display world class fighters. If someone like Ronda Rousey isn't in the UFC, while someone like Aaron Rosa is, then I have to consider that more than a modest injustice. Poll Does female MMA belong in the UFC? Yes No 16 votes | Results

Posted in: ufc, mma, women, womens mma, rousey

Ronda Rousey's Ascension Proves Lack of Depth in Women's MMA Not All Bad

UFC President Dana White has expressed a reluctance to involve the UFC with women's MMA. That's largely due to how thin the talent pool is among women. White's apprehension is prudent and while regrettable, the right call. While that may keep women out of the UFC for the foreseeable future, the scarcity of talent in women's MMA is not entirely a bad thing. The rise of Ronda Rousey is proof. The truth is the thinness cuts both ways. Women's MMA is not as developed as it could be. There aren't nearly as many competitors among the female ranks as there are among the men, skilled or otherwise. That creates a host of difficulties from creating fights to treating contenders properly to even generating any interest at all. There is, however, a good side to the situation: the thin divisions leave open a window for talented, marketable opportunists who can lift the entire sport. Dave Meltzer ably made this point about the state of today's men's MMA. In short, Meltzer argued there is never going to be another 'Brock Lesnar'. What does that mean? Meltzer argues there's never going to be another crossover star from a related combat sport who can enter MMA and within a few fights, have success at the true, highest level of the game. There are three key reasons for this. First, the men's game is too evolved at this point. A talented wrestler, judoka or other combat athlete can probably find some success or have a decent career, but the quality of athlete and MMA best practices are advanced enough that top mastery in one aspect of MMA is plainly insufficient to earn a UFC title. Second, many of the former collegiate wrestlers who would've chosen professional wrestling or Olympic glory in the absence of MMA now flock to the sport directly after college. Lesnar himself admitted had MMA existed as it does today when he graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2000, he never would've joined the ranks of the WWE. That means these athletes don't take a circuitous route after college that could end up building their popularity as it did for Lesnar. Now they go right into MMA. Consider recent standouts like Phil Davis, Bubba Jenkins and Chad Mendes (among many others) as evidence. But what about Olympic crossovers, wrestlers or judokas? Can't they do what Lesnar did? It's unlikely, and that's where the third reason comes into play. By the time they've accomplished the highest level of achievement in their sport and earned some notoriety (or built up a marketable background), they won't have the time to really develop the skills necessary to compete at the highest levels. If those athletes show some measure of aptitude, promoters will be eager to push them against the elite of the division on an accelerated timeline. That may not give them time to properly mature their game or steel their psychological preparedness. It's not a foregone conclusion these crossover athletes will fail to rise to the occasion, but it's a hugely risky proposition to push them so quickly. Satoshi Ishii's pathetic decline is the sort of career mishandling and promotional malpractice that should make promoters think twice about how they groom blue chip prospects. Consider amateur wrestling's two best potential crossovers who've expressed interest in mixed martial arts: Jordan Burroughs and Henry Cejudo. Cejudo's chances for success are better. He's got at least some background in boxing and would ostensibly enter the UFC's flyweight division. He's hugely marketable, speaks fluent Spanish and has natural promotional instincts. But will he really have the skills to dominate division stalwarts like Ian McCalls or Joseph Benavidez? I'm not so sure. Burroughs could make an impact at lightweight or welterweight, but again, just how much is unclear. He has what is widely regarded as the best double leg takedown among active American wrestlers, but admitted he's worried about being hit. He'll likely have some success, but it's fair to doubt whether he'll be able to make a splash like Lesnar did at heavyweight or Rousey is doing at bantamweight. It's true the opening Rousey is taking advantage of means women's MMA has a lot of growth and development to do. And it's virtually impossible to argue it wouldn't be preferable to have women's divisions fully populated with talent. Sure, the barriers to entry would be tough to get through, but you'd have cleaner hierarchy, higher participatory rates and a naturally stronger sport. In other words, you'd have what men's MMA enjoys today. In the interim, though, there's a lot of open spacing. It's also not going away tomorrow. Given the limitations women's MMA currently faces, is it so bad Ronda Rousey can sneak through and cause a stir? She has one hell of a story, a marketable look and can legitimately defeat her best peers (for now, anyway). Her uniqueness gives a wide swathe of the curious public a reason to pay attention. And because there aren't a lot of other distractions among her female contemporaries, her star can shine very bright. That's not the best of all possibilities for women's MMA, but it makes the current predicament a lot better. I, for one, will take it.

Posted in: mma, women, athlete, womens mma, rousey

Three Stars from a whirlwind weekend of MMA: Rousey, Benavidez and Kampmann (Yahoo! Sports)

An overshadowed weekend of fights still managed to deliver, as both UFC on FX 2 and Strikeforce: Rousey vs. Tate gave MMA fans plenty of fights to remember. Out of the two events, who really stood out? Here are Cagewriter's … Continue reading →

Posted in: fight, mma, weekend, cagewriters …, whirlwind weekend

New York files its Reply Brief in Zuffa lawsuit

The New York District Attorney and Attorney General have filed its reply brief in support of its motion to dismiss two counts of Zuffa’s lawsuit against New York. MMA Payout takes a look at some of the arguments rebutting Zuffa’s opposition. If you’ve been following the lawsuit, the New York was given the opportunity to file a limited motion to dismiss on the issues of Equal Protection and Due Process. New York contends that Zuffa’s argument that courts have considered post-legislation changed circumstances fails because facts still exist which address the reasons for the law. New York addresses Zuffa’s opposition brief in which, among its arguments, relied on the fact that courts have looked to changed circumstances when conducting a review of a law. New York makes the argument that post-legislation changed circumstances cannot destroy a law’s rational basis since such circumstances would not have affected the law’s rational basis in the first place. In fact, New York argues that courts have more freedom to consider post-legislation circumstances to uphold a law than to overturn it. Another interesting argument used by New York to rebut Zuffa’s contention that MMA is safer now than when the MMA Ban was enacted is that Zuffa points out to safety regulations and precautions it has enacted and only vaguely refers to other MMA organizations. As such, New York contends that there is still “‘a reasonable conceivable state of facts’ that might warrant the prohibitions of the 1997 legislation.” Basically, New York argues that while the UFC may have enacted safety changes, it cannot support its argument with facts from other organizations. New York actually turns Zuffa’s safety reforms on its head citing the fact that Zuffa admits its a combat sport with risk and that its mandatory waiting period for concussions and insurance reflect the fact that the sport includes risk. Thus, New York argues that the 1997 legislation banning MMA might be a rational response to these safety issues. As a result, New York contends that regardless of the changed circumstances that have occurred since the law was enacted in New York, the state had a rational reason to enact the law. In response to Zuffa’s claims that either amateur MMA is not regulated and the fact that other perceived dangerous sports are not regulated, New York rebuts these concerns by pointing to the legislative branch as the authority to either regulate or amend a law if it flaws are found in the law. Notably in footnote 3 of its reply brief it makes the argument (which one might add may beyond the scope of the motion) that the First Amendment does not apply to mixed martial arts citing Courts have been unwilling to extend free speech protection to sports or athletics. (H/t: Fight Lawyer Blog for the Reply Brief) MMA Payout will continue to follow the proceedings and report on the Court ruling when it occurs. DISCLAIMER The information in this post is opinion only. In addition, and because this is my opinion, it is not intended to be (and is not) legal advice or an advertisement for legal services. This post provides general information only. Although I encourage interested parties to contact me on the subjects discussed in the article, the reader should not consider information on this site to be an invitation for an attorney-client relationship. I disclaim all liability in respect to actions taken or not taken based on any contents of this post. Any e-mail sent to me will not create an attorney-client relationship, and you should not use this site to send me e-mail containing confidential or sensitive information.

Posted in: mma, zuffa, law, york, fact

Strikeforce results: Rousey, Tate score big win for women's MMA in Showtime brawl

Heading into their Strikeforce bantamweight showdown on March 3, 2012, Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey created high expectations for women's mixed martial arts (MMA), which still faces an uncertain future. And in a rollicking battle at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, they delivered. After an intense back-and-forth match, Rousey slammed home a crushing armbar for the submission win at 4:27 of the first round.With the victory, Rousey took the promotion's 135-lb. title, and the unofficial helm as the "face of women's MMA." The victory didn't come easy, as the game Tate refused to go, fighting off an initial armbar attempt earlier in the round that appeared to damage her arm, prior to the finisher, where her lib was visibly mangled and bent far beyond the point where most fighters would've tapped. In short, it was one hell of a performance by both and destroyed any lingering stigma that women's MMA can't be exciting or marketable. With a dizzying series of transitions on the ground, and Tate unloading early on the feet, the fight showcased women's MMA on a level that hinted at a massive upside if the sport can be harnessed, promoted and showcased properly. With the victory, Rousey upped her ledger to 5-0, all via armbar submissions in the first round. With her previous longest bout a mere 49 seconds, she showed a necessary reservoir of resilience. Tate popped her a couple times on the feet, and created some tough positions; taking Rousey's back on a couple occasions, she forced "Rowdy" Ronda to back up her pre-fight trash talk by escaping the potentially dangerous spots. Rousey did, en route to a brutal armbar finish.With the victory, Rousey took the mantle of women's MMA on her talented shoulders. With Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos' one-year suspension ticking away, Rousey now has Sarah Kaufman as her likely first defense. She'll need to work on her standup defense and overall game, but that's one hell of a women's superfight to look forward to. What's sobering to consider is that Rousey has plenty of time to improve and is obviously in the beginning of her improvement curve to become a well-rounded mixed martial artist. All in all, it was a memorable performance, and precisely what the ladies of MMA needed to make a statement that they belong on the big stage, with the attendant promotional mojo to develop the sport. For complete Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" results and detailed blow-by-blow commentary of the televised main card fights click here. Undercard recap and wrap-up here.Jason Probst can be reached at Jason@jasonprobst.com or twitter.com/jasonprobst.

Posted in: mma, tate, women, womens mma, rousey

An open love letter to Strikeforce's new women's 135-pound champion, Ronda Rousey

Dear Ronda, Can I call you Ronda? You know what, I've seen what you've done to those who have crossed you and I certainly don't want to end up on your bad side. Let's start this over. Dear Ms. Rousey, I'm usually not one to jump in on the "open letter" bandwagon but I can't help myself after last night's (Sat., March 3, 2012) headlining bout at Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey." in Columbus, Ohio. I speak for a large majority of the mixed martial arts (MMA) community when I say we love you. Dare I say, we are IN love with you. You wandered into our heart less than one year ago after you submitted your first Strikeforce opponent. Seven months later, we were head over heels infatuated with your "take no prisoners but take all the arms you can" attitude. It's not because of your looks -- although you are gorgeous -- but more so your attitude when it comes to stepping inside the cage. You simply do not care about anything except winning. And man or woman, that is one attitude I can get behind. Just about everyone -- aside from Greg Jackson and those who train with him -- hates Jon Jones. He's barely into his mid-20s and he's conquered his world. The light heavyweight division is at his feet and once he vanquishes Rashad Evans at UFC 145, there will be no other challenge for him at his weight. A move up to heavyweight will be the only option for "Bones." If he continues the streak he's on now, there's no doubt he will be known as the oft-mentioned "Michael Jordan of MMA." The title has been bestowed to several already such as Georges St. Pierre and Fedor Emelianenko but Jones could easily snatch it from both of them with one or two more wins. He's a God fearing mama's boy or at least, that's how he portrays himself. For the most part, he's humble and gracious, always giving credit to his trainers and of course, to the man upstairs. But there are moments, both in and outside the Octagon, which add more than a little doubt to the sincerity of that atitude. Because of these moments, fans call him fake, they say he's phony. There's nothing more that fans hate than a fraud, a pretender, so Jones is almost universally maligned despite being one of the best in the sport they're supporting. But you? "Rowdy," you shed all pretenses and freely talk trash. You openly talk smack about your opponents in an attempt to get inside their head and also to promote the fight both of you are participating in. Miesha Tate, your opponent (or should I say victim?) last night actually benefited from the constant stream of smack you threw her way. Even though you only had four fights to your name, the main event -- and remember, it was the main event -- was more anticipated than any Strikeforce headliner since Fedor took on Dan Henderson last summer. And not only that but the fight absolutely delivered. You nearly sunk in an armbar -- your calling card -- a minute into the bout but "Takedown" managed to escape. What followed was a round full of back and forth grappling which culminated in an absolutely brutal submission that seemed to have snapped Tate's limb in two. Your post-fight interview, a moment where even the most hardened of trash talkers relent and admit everything was done for show, was a breath of fresh air. While you did concede most of your pre-fight banter was for hype, you brought up the too close for comfort staredown at the weigh-ins where the now former champion got in your face and you shoved her back with your forehead. You said if Tate wanted to act "hard," she shouldn't have started whining afterwards and looking to get you fined. You pulled no punches and you refused to play nice. What a breath of fresh air you are. MMA fighters are warriors. Warriors don't glad-hand, warriors don't pretend to care about those they go to battle against. Most who step inside the cage forget this. You don't and hopefully, you never do. It's what makes you one of the most exciting fighters -- male or female -- in the game today. MMA fans love you, "Rowdy." You can text us, tweet us, or message us on Facebook whenever you're done with all the mandated post-fight proceedings. But don't call too late, our mom gets mad if the phone rings after 10pm. Signed, Sergio Hernandez and MMA fans across the world

Posted in: mma, fan, love, he, dont

Asian MMA: Zorobabel Moreira Vs. Felipe Enomoto Set For ONE FC 3

Following his victories over Andy Wang and Ferrid Kheder that showcased his ever evolving MMA game, highly decorated BJJ world champion Zorobabel Moreira gained much notoriety with fans and analysts alike. With those impressive performances, 'Zoro' was recently named as one of the top prospects in the world, being ranked as the #7 lightweight on the 2012 World MMA Scouting Report. It's a good recognition of his achievements so far, but Zoro isn't the type to let those things go to his head. "I don't know (about more people starting to notice me as a fighter). I don't pay much attention to these things. I focus on my training more." he said. Related: Japanese Star Tatsuya Kawajiri Booked For ONE FC 3 | Eduard Folayang vs. Ole Laursen on ONE FC 3 | Victor Cui Talks About March ONE FC Event In Singapore Zoro, who is based in Singapore with his teammates at Evolve MMA, will be fighting on his adopted home town on March 31, at ONE FC 3: Battle of the Lions. His next opponent, as BloodyElbow.com has been told by sources close to the situation, will be Felipe Enomoto, who is coming off that impressive comeback victory over Ole Laursen last February. Felipe, who will be returning to the cage just 7 weeks from the biggest win of his career at ONE FC 2, has remained active and in-shape, helping his brother, Yasubey Enomoto, for his M-1 Title defense this month. He will have roughly 4 more weeks prepare this fight, and it will be very interesting to see if he can make it with back-to-back wins over two of the top lightweight stars in the region. Earlier this week, when the bout against Enomoto hasn't been set up yet, Zoro told us that he's more focused on working on improving his overall game than worrying about his opponent. He remained confident that his team will handle all the opponent-specific work once the bout gets finalized saying that "Chatri will come up with a strategy and game plan for me." He's referring of course, to Chatri Sityodtong, the head of the famed Evolve MMA gym. One of the more interesting things that came up on the interview, was that while Moreira probably has the best BJJ skills in the division, and he also towers over majority of his opponents with his 6-foot-3 frame, he doesn't consider those as his advantages over the other lightweights. "My advantage is my team," he exclaimed, "Evolve has everything for me. I train hard. I have the best coaches in the world for everything... Muay Thai, Wrestling, BJJ, MMA, anything." Much more after the jump including the current fight card for ONE FC 3. Follow me on twitter -- @antontabuena. Zorobabel Moreira rolling with Shinya Aoki at Evolve MMA -- Photo by Anton Tabuena When I flew to Singapore to check out their beautiful gym (photos here), I was able to witness him working with one of the more popular members of the Evolve Fight Team, in Shinya Aoki. Zoro credits the DREAM lightweight champ for helping him out a lot in the recent years. "We always train hard together. He is a super guy - always helping everybody, always showing us details. I try to help him for BJJ too." Zoro said about his Japanese teammate, "Shinya is the best fighter for sure. He has a very big future. He is one of my best friends on the Evolve Fight Team." Evolve MMA also added Heath Sims recently, who is a former Olympic wrestler and long time coach of Dan Henderson at Team Quest. Zoro feels like he's making strides with the addition of another high caliber coach to their roster of world champions. "He is an incredible coach," he says of the former Team Quest mentor, "He is the best. I learn so much from Heath. He is a great professor, with very technical details for wrestling, details for wrestling for MMA. I am so happy." Zoro has been training with some of the best coaches, and he has already reached the pinnacle of Jiujitsu, gaining all those accolades from that sport. While he still has dreams of reaching the 'big show' of MMA, he's currently eying a title in the stacked lightweight division in Asia. "I want to fight in the UFC one day." Zoro said, "But first, I want to win the ONE FC championship title belt. This is my dream right now." On March 31st, he will first have to defeat a fellow rising star in Felipe Enomoto, who will definitely be looking to derail that dream of his. Here's the current rumored fight card so far: ONE Fighting Championship 3: Battle of the LionsMarch 31, 2012 - Singapore Indoor Stadium, Singapore - Masakazu Imanari vs. Kevin Belingon- Eduard Folayang vs. Ole Laursen- Tatsuya Kawajiri - Melvin Manhoef - Zorobabel Moreira vs. Felipe Enomoto- Gregor Gracie - Eddie Ng - Ray Elbe- Yodsanan Sityodtong- Yuya Shirai- Nicole Chua vs. Jeet Toshi

Posted in: mma, team, fc, enomoto, zoro

Muay Thai specialist Joe Schilling hints at future in MMA

Pardoning the pun, Joe Schilling is a fighter that pulls no punches. The current Interim WBC Muay Thai Light Heavyweight Champion, Schilling is one of the most honest fighters out there. Following an interesting turn of events that had himself, and the current title holder Artem Levin fighting in unrelated bouts 72 hours apart, Schilling laid out his frustration for us during a recent interview. “You know, with this issue with the WBC; I’m supposed to be in the pinnacle of my career right now,” explained Schilling candidly to Fighters.com. “Whether you call it interim or not, I’m a world champion in what’s supposed to be one of the most important sanctioning bodies in the world.” The discussion also turned to how Muay Thai specialists like Duane Ludwig have found success transitioning into MMA. Schilling has been in MMA camps before, recently even being shown on UFC Primetime: Diaz vs. Condit as a sparring partner of Nick Diaz‘s helping him prepare for his fight against Carlos Condit. With this very recent experience in mind, Schilling addressed the possibility of whether he too would consider joining those ranks if it came down to it. “I’ve got to tell you that I’m getting a bit tired of jumping through hoops, working my tail off every time to put on shows and doing everything that’s asked of me and continuously getting slapped in the face,” said Schilling. “That’s what I think about Artem Levin defending his title (against Chuck Sidibe). It’s a slap in the face. I find it pretty disrespectful.” “It does make me consider fighting in MMA. At least in MMA, you’re getting paid to deal with this sh*t,” Schilling added. ” In Muay Thai, there’s a lot more injuries, a lot less money, a lot less recognition, and an equal amount of crap you’ve got to deal with.” However, Schilling was unwavering in his current goals as far as focusing on his kickboxing career. “We’ll see how this year plays out,” the 28-year old stated. ” I’m excited about the fights I have with Lion Fight. If everything goes well and the sport continues to grow and move forward, you know, I’d be willing to stay in Muay Thai a little longer, but I’m definitely looking over to MMA right now. It’s not looking too bad.” PHOTO CREDIT – Lion Fight Tweet

Posted in: fight, mma, muay, thai, schilling

The Hate for Ronda Rousey is Unwarranted

Tonight, for the first time in three years, the talented and underappreciated females of MMA will headline a prominent fight card on Showtime. Unfortunately, it seems the athlete who is mostly responsible for this fight receiving the top billing on this card, undefeated challenger Ronda Rousey, is not nearly getting enough respect heading into the match-up. Her opponent, Strikeforce bantamweight champ Miesha Tate, has made it known on numerous occasions \she doesn’t feel that Rousey is worthy of challenging her for the title. Rousey has only been competing professionally in MMA for a year, and, while she has finished all four of her opponents with an Armbar in the first round, she hasn’t tested herself against the elite of the division. It took Tate thirteen fights to get what Rousey received in four – a shot at the Strikeforce title, and thus Tate feels Rousey has essentially talked her way into their bout, disrespecting women’s MMA with her mouth along the way. It is undeniable Rousey’s brash behavior in addition to her good looks is what has put her in this position faster than the norm but that doesn’t mean she is not a worthy challenger. An Olympic bronze medalist in Judo, Rousey poses many difficult challenges to the champion, and, despite her relative lack of MMA experience, could upset Tate when it is all said and done. Tate is a phenomenal competitor and a fantastic role model for the sport but deep down inside she should be thankful of Rousey. Without Rousey, this fight would not be in the main event and would not be getting the tremendous amount of press that it has. Just imagine if Tate were fighting Sarah Kaufman instead. It would still be a very compelling collision but would also be positioned much lower on the card, even for a title fight, and it would not be talked about in the press very much. Think about this – Josh Thomson and K.J Noons who are two of the most exciting lightweights that Strikeforce has to offer are competing on this card and nobody is talking about it. Everyone is mesmerized with the Tate-Rousey match-up and this is something that hasn’t been seen in the sport since Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos ended Gina Carano’s run in 2009. If it is a good fight with the winner emerging as a star, but if it is a great fight they both could become household names meaning female fighters will be highlighted more often on the main card. It seems that Tate, many female fighters, and even fans fail to understand this concept because a majority of the female audience is against Rousey and believe she is a horrible representative of the sport. Maybe it just boils down to the fact that certain women can be very jealous people in nature and will downgrade anyone who is accomplishing something faster than them, or maybe Rousey really is such a horrible person and I’m just not seeing it. Either way, she is helping launch women’s MMA to higher levels whether the rest of the audience wants to admit it or not. Not taking anything away from Tate, as the champion has been a class act throughout her entire career and is truly one of the best ambassadors of the sport for both males and females, but every good girl needs a bad girl to spark the flames. We have seen many male fighters play the role of the heel or villain in their fights and fans have loved it so why is it so wrong when a woman promotes herself that way? I’ve seen people on Twitter verbally attack Rousey in Tweets and then sing the praises of fighters like Chael Sonnen. Where’s the sense in that? If you are going to dislike someone because they talk a lot of trash but call yourself a fan of another fighter who does the exact same thing on a much higher level, you are a compulsive hypocrite and the MMA community does not need people like that. Tate’s experience and championship pedigree might be too much for Rousey tonight, or the bronze medalist could shock the world, but regardless of the outcome women’s MMA is on the front line and this is a big moment for female fighters across the globe. “Rowdy” Ronda shouldn’t be criticized for her behavior – she should be praised for it. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE (Austin Hargrave)

Posted in: fight, mma, fighter, tate, rousey

Ryan Couture: ‘Certain people are excited to see me fail’ because of MMA pedigree

Being the son of a legend in any realm of life, be it sports, entertainment or even the best physician in the world, often carries big expectations with it, should the son opt to follow in the same giant footsteps as their father, of course. In the world of mixed martial arts (MMA), the name Couture carries much significance. It's royalty, really. That's because Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Hall of Famer and former Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight champion Randy Couture dedicated nearly 15 years of his life to the sport, participating in legendary fights that will undoubtedly stand the test of time just as he did. With that dedication, "The Natural" ensured that the Couture name would by synonymous with the sport, and become a household name to all fans, be it the hard-core's and newcomers. From clothing apparel to fitness and training gyms worldwide, Couture is a well traveled name, it has even made its way to the shiny bright lights of big Hollywood screens. However, at the end of the day, the Couture name begins and ends with fighting, thanks to the historic fights that Randy had during his tenure in the UFC. Along with all the glitz and glamour, Randy also left some big shoes to fill to honor of the Couture name for his son Ryan Couture, current Strikeforce Lightweight contender. With a professional record of 3-1 under the San Jose-based promotion, Ryan looks to make his own name for himself, as seeks to climb the ladder of the Strikeforce 155-pound division and earn his own shot at glory. Speaking to MMAWeekly.com recently, Ryan talked about the expectations of being the son of an MMA legend and how he responds to critics that say he has received the opportunities given to him, solely for who his father is. Check it out: "Being Randy's kid brings a lot of expectation and a lot of baggage with it. Certain people are almost excited to see me fail so they can tell that story. I was signed to a major promotion for my first pro fight and got to skip ahead of the line on a lot of paying... dues, so to speak. Some take offense to that. I put in the work in the gym, that's the big thing. They (critics) can say what they want about opportunities I've been given that they might not feel I deserve. But at the end of the day, I have to work hard and I have to earn those opportunities or they're going to run dry. I'm in the gym, busting my ass just like any other fighter." After beginning his professional MMA career undefeated under the Strikforce umbrella, Couture suffered his first professional defeat at the hands of Matt Ricehouse at Strikeforce Challengers: "Fodor vs. Terry" via unanimous decision last June. He got back on track by besting Maka Watson a few months later. Now, Couture hopes to continue his momentum going as he takes on Conor Heun this weekend (March 3, 2012) at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey from Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. In the process, Ryan looks to keep proving his critics wrong and show the world that he deserves to be where he is for his hard work and skills, not just his name.

Posted in: mma, ryan, name, randy, son

MMA Talking Heads previews UFC on FX 2: 'Alves vs. Kampmann'

MMA Mania presents "MMA Talking Heads," a video discussion series that features mixed martial arts (MMA) journalist Jason Probst and special guest host Ian Parker. In this episode, Jason and Ian tackle this Friday's UFC on FX 2: "Alves vs. Kampmann" event, which takes place at the Allphones Arena in Sydney, Australia. The pair breakdown the main event between Thiago Alves vs. Martin Kampmann, as well dig deep into the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) flyweight tournament that features Demetrious Johnson vs. Ian McCall and Joseph Benavidez vs. Yasuhiro Urushitani.. Contact MMA Talking Heads at twitter.com/MMATalkingHeads or in the comments section below. Questions, comments and topics you'd like to see covered are always welcome!

Posted in: mma, vs, comments section, pair breakdown, topics youd

UFC on FX 2 live chat tonight at 6PM EST

Yup, it’s time for another round of hot, steamy Fightlinker chat! Except this time, we get to chat about an ant circus! I know there are many of you who fap to Jordan Breen and have therefore heard the word “Urushitani” until you find it as soothing as the word “syphilis,” but for the rest of us who think of women’s dresses or Hawaiian luaus when we hear the word, we’ll get to pop our high-level flyweight MMA cherry by seeing his scrap with Joseph Benavidez and the one between Demetrious Johnson and “Uncle Creepy” Ian McCall. Oh yeah, and Thiago “Pee Pee Man” Alves is fighting Martin Kampmann too. The prelims start at 6PM Eastern / 3PM Pacific, which is the earliest start in recent memory for a UFC event occurring on a weekday. This leads to all kinds of white people problems, such as “My boss won’t let me stream MMA on my work computer” and the ever-popular “My whole damn weekend is going to be booked with awesome UFC and Strikeforce shows.” But these are pretty good problems to have if you’re an MMA fan. So if you’re an East coast 9-to-5’er, a Californian jobless wonder, or a European meth addict, join us!

Posted in: ufc, mma, pm, chat, word

Nate Quarry Makes Emotional Retirement Announcement On Spike TV's 'MMA Uncensored'

In the second episode of Spike Television's new rapid fire panel show 'MMA Uncensored', last night UFC veteran Nate Quarry officially retired from the sport when he made an emotional address at the end of the show. Struggling to hold back tears, Quarry reminisced on when he first watched the UFC, how fighting has provided for him and how ultimately his love for his daughter was the deciding factor in hanging up the gloves. Quarry, one of the more respected veterans of the sport from the original TUF era, was a training partner and student of Randy Couture and co at the original Team Quest gym in Oregon, and went 5-1 in the first two years of his career before rising to prominence as a cast member on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter. Sidelined by an accidental injury on the show, TUF Coach Randy Couture put him to good use as an assistant coach and became a 'Rock' his team mates could depend on. Winning his first 3 fights in the UFC by way of TKO, Quarry was the first TUF cast member to receive a title shot when he faced newly crowned champion Rich Franklin for the Middleweight title, who knocked Quarry out in the first round. Due to surgery required for chronic back problems, Quarry would not fight again for another two years before amassing a further 4 wins and 2 losses, including a victory in his infamously bad fight with Kalib Starnes that saw Starnes retreating for the majority of the match, and Quarry openly mocking him for doing so in an attempt to get Starnes to engage. Just shy of his 40th birthday, Quarry retires with a career record of 12-4 with notable wins over Shonie Carter, Pete Sell, Jason MacDonald and Tim Credeur. After the jump, transcription of Nate Quarry's retirement announcement. Guys, this is kind of hard for me. It was 16 years ago that I saw the UFC on TV, and it changed my life. Everything I have besides my little girl has come from fighting. But after my last fight, when I came home and saw the look in my little girl's eyes and could see how upset she was at how damaged I was, that I knew I wanted to leave when I could still take care of her, and I didn't ever want to be one of those fighters that people said "Why is he still here?". I wanted to leave when people still wanted me to fight. So, I hate to say it but, I'm going to have to exit from fighting. I'm just glad that I get the opportunity to be here and continue the love for this sport that I've had, that has given me everything. So, thank you Spike TV, thank you to my hosts for giving me this opportunity. Thank you to the fans, and thank you to my little girl for making it so easy for me to follow my dream. Related stories on Bloody Elbow MMA Uncensored Episode 2 Live Discussion

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, tuf, quarry

Latest UFC/MMA news and notes from around the web for the week of February 26, 2012

Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like "Judo" Gene LeBell and Ronda Rousey pictured above, we can all "get along." Teaming up with MMA sites like Low Kick, Cage Potato, Fight Opinion and The Fight Nerd, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport. This week, Lowkick does a photoshoot with Ian McCall, Middle Easy debuts a Ronnie Mann documentary and Fight Line interviews UFC on FX headliner Thiago Alves. The full list of links is after the jump. - Photoshoot with UFC flyweight Ian McCall (LowKick) This weekend, Ian "Uncle Creepy" McCall (11-2) will make his UFC debut in Sydney, Australia, as part of the first ever UFC Flyweight tournament. As always, LowKick.com photographer Scott Hirano was on site to bring the following photo-report of Ian McCall's preparations for Demetrious Johnson. Ian McCall trains at Team Oyama in Orange County, CA. - Eight MMA fighters who have done porn (Cage Potato) - Ryan Couture ready to break Conor Heun's arm if necessary (Five Ounces of Pain) - Ronnie Mann documentary (video) (MiddleEasy) The good news is that we made this extensive documentary in conjunction with WHOA! TV that follows Ronnie Mann and his path to the Bellator featherweight tournament. Take some time off from work/school and let your eyes relax a little by watching this video. I'm sure they would appreciate it. They, of course, being your overworked eyes. - Bellator FC tryout video with Kahl-One (video) (The Fight Nerd) - UFC Japan: A wonderful show & a pyrrhic victory? (Fight Opinion) It should be noted that Japanese media coverage of the event was exclusively sports media & not entertainment media. This is different trend/protocol from what kinds of media attended PRIDE & K-1 events. There were some rather notable Japanese sports media outlets that were, in fact, silent or barely acknowledged the show. - The financial punch of delaying fights (MMA Payout) Larry Pugmire of the LA Times reported on the financial impact of delaying boxing matches due to injury. Its an interesting article that shows the differences between MMA and boxing when faced with injuries. - Tate owes Rousey a little bit of gratitude (BleacherReport.com/MMA) The key in this entire situation, and one that Tate seemingly cannot grasp, is that the two female fighters would not be in the main event of Saturday's card without Rousey constantly badmouthing Tate, Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos and various other female fighters. - Strikeforce: Tate vs Rousey preview (MMA Convert) The reports of female MMA's demise have been greatly exaggerated. This Saturday night, Strikeforce brings us the biggest, most compelling pairing of femme fighters since Cris "Cyborg" Santos stepped into the cage to take on Gina Carano. That's right, I'm talking about Miesha Tate versus Ronda Rousey, a matchup that pits the organization's 135-pound champ against an Olympic judo bronze medalist who rips off arms like you and I rip off pieces of toilet paper from the rolls hanging beside our respective crappers. - Interview with UFC on FX 2 headliner Thiago Alves (Fightline) "I know his style is predicated on his stand-up, but once he feels my power he's going to do what most of my other opponents try and do and that's take me down. I know it's going to be an awesome fight for the fans, but it's not going to be like any of his other fights because I plan on knocking him out or submitting him." - The Ultimate Fighter 15 evolution commercial (video) (5thRound)

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, tate, ian

MMA Uncensored Live Discussion

Join us at Bloody Elbow to discuss tonight's second episode of MMA Uncensored Live, which airs on Spike at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT. Hosts Nate Quarry, Craig Carton and Mike Straka will discuss a wide range of MMA topics. MMA Fighting's Luke Thomas is scheduled to be guest on the show, which should be reason enough for y'all to tune in. For those of you that missed the premiere episode this is how co-host Nate Quarry describes the show: "More than anything, it's less of a sports reporting show talking about the scores that just happened and more of an opinion piece. It's a lot more like a forum than it is a news show. You know when you go to the forums and there's about 90% sh*t talking and 10% intelligence? We're hoping to raise the bar closer to 15%," Quarry quipped. Last week's episode featured an awesome story on the fall of Pride, put together by Dan Herbertson with some major input from Zach Arnold of Fight Opinion. If that's any indication of the type of stories Uncensored is going to feature in the future, you should all be watching.

Posted in: mma, show, episode, quarry, news show

J-Mac on MMA: The Athlete's predictions

Thoughts on UFC 144 and picks for the two big MMA shows this weekend.

Posted in: ufc, mma, prediction, weekend, athlete

Pro MMA Radio 187: Anthony Pettis, UFC 144 Discussion

We have partnered with Pro MMA Radio to bring you weekly replays of PMR as the official radio show of MMAConvert.com. Pro MMA Radio can be heard live every Monday evening at 9pm ET/6pm PT. Replays and podcasts of every show are available 24/7 by going to the “Replay Corner” section of ProMMARadio.com, our own Pro MMA Radio page or by clicking the banner below. On this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio, Anthony Pettis joined the show to talk about his big win over Joe Lauzon at UFC 144 and share his thoughts on potentially fighting Ben Henderson for the lightweight title. CBS Radio’s Dave Farra also stopped by to discuss all the UFC 144 fallout with host Larry Pepe. You can listen to a replay of this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio by clicking the banner below. A radio player with links to the show’s archives will open in a pop-up window, so please make sure your browser is set to allow pop-ups for this site.

Posted in: mma, show, replay, radio, mma radio

A Lesson in Street MMA: When properly applied, judo will make you look like a Golden God

Upon writing this article, I realized that Ronda Rousey has undoubtedly been involved in a number of incidents of Street MMA as a kid. One could only assume that the outcome of her fights and the outcome of this video bears a strong resemblance. Keep in mind we don't encourage our readers to engage in any activity that resemble the Street MMA series we've published in the past. However, whenever we come across a fresh lesson on the internet, we're happy to publish it on MiddleEasy. Take note, readers. When applied, judo is damn near invincible on the street. Props to Jason Nawara for the find.

Posted in: mma, street mma, ronda rousey, street, street props

'Fightville' MMA documentary with UFCs Dustin Poirier: Release date details and video trailer

New York, NY (March 1st, 2012) - Deep in the heart of Louisiana, far from mixed martial arts' highest stage, a group of young athletes train and compete in the proving grounds of MMA. Filmed over two years, FIGHTVILLE, a groundbreaking documentary, follows the lives of several fighters including breakout UFC star Dustin "The Diamond" Poirier and his mentor UFC veteran "Crazy" Tim Credeur as they compete in the regional circuit. Directed by the accomplished filmmaking duo of Petra Epperlein and Michael Tucker, FIGHTVILLE examines the art and sport of mixed martial arts. While the film focuses on the Louisiana fight scene, FIGHTVILLE is a microcosm of life, a physical manifestation of the American Dream and the relentless dedication required of all who hope to attain it. "This is not just another film about MMA," says Tucker. "This is a film about what it takes to be the best at anything and we hope that FIGHTVILLE will introduce a new audience to the beauty and passion of the sport." FIGHTVILLE will premiere in theatres and on demand on April 20th, just three weeks before Poirier headlines UFC on Fuel when he takes on "The Korean Zombie" Chan Sung Jung on May 15th. Trailer after the jump. Fightville Official Trailer from Pepper and Bones on Vimeo.

Posted in: ufc, mma, trailer, art, fightville

A Lesson in Street MMA: Sometimes any grappling is high-level grappling

I've never been knocked out from a punch, but I have awoken in bizarre and unusual places with strange bruises sporadically spread on my body. If Jagermeister has one-punch knockout properties, then I've felt the business end of its fist more than once. At MiddleEasy, we would never suggest that you practice MMA in the back of anyone's yard. However, if you insist on executing street MMA, we've been compiling a handy series that will serve as some form of education. In this lesson, take note that on the rare occasion, any grappling in Street MMA is considered high-level grappling by the spectator. [Source]

Posted in: mma, street mma, anyones yard, practice mma, business end

5 OZ. MMA Link Club

Welcome back to another edition of “MMA Link Club”, Five Ounces of Pain‘s weekly smorgasbord of offerings from our brothers and sisters in the MMA community. Enjoy… Benson Henderson Doesn’t Think Anthony Pettis is #1 Contender (MMAConvert.com) Chael Sonnen Belives Anderson Silva has a Padded Record (LowKick.com) UFC Ring Girl Arianny Celeste Shows her Wild Side at Austrailian Zoo (MMAMania.com) Miesha Tate Not Making Any Rookie Mistakes Against Ronda Rousey (BleacherReport.com) Carlos Condit Gets His Own Day in Albuquerque…Once Every Four Years (CagePotato.com) A Look Back at the Battle Between PRIDE and The Yakuza in 2003 (FightOpinion.com) Kimbo Slice to Help Spike Counter-Program New Season of TUF (MMAPayout.com) A Closer Look at the OTHER Ellenberger (HeavyMMA.com) Managers Still Working on Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen II in Brazil (Fightline.com) “Bendo” Receives Warm Welcome in South Korea After Winning Lightweight Title (5thRound.com) Watch Out Lil Wayne…Mauro Ranallo Gets on the Mic and Busts a Rhyme (MiddleEasy.com) What Has Genki Sudo Been Up to Lately? (TheFightNerd.com) PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: mma, mma community, rookie mistakes, years cagepotatocom, rhyme middleeasycom

The MMA Hour Episode 120 Frankie Edgar

Posted in: mma, hour, episode, edgar, frankie

The MMA Hour Episode 120 Josh Thomson

Posted in: mma, hour, episode, josh, thomson

The MMA Hour Episode 120 Sarah Kaufman

Posted in: mma, hour, episode, kaufman, sarah

The MMA Hour Episode 120 Paul Daley

Posted in: mma, hour, episode, daley, paul

MMA Uncensored Live Explores The Fall of PRIDE

PRIDE was amazing. PRIDE was also infected with the Japanese mafia which ultimately led to its downfall. With the exception of Zach Arnold’s extensive coverage over at Fight Opinion, this story has largely been untouched, so it was quite the surprise to see Spike TV’s new MMA show MMA Uncensored Live dive right into it in their premiere episode. I don’t fully understand the entire story, but I do know there were many players, moving parts and details that the show didn’t cover. Nevertheless, they did manage to land an interview with Fedor Emelianenko and Mirko Cro Cop’s former manager Miro Mijatovic who played a key role in bringing the organization down after he claims he was basically forced to sign over his rights to Fedor at gun point. Spike released more of his interview below. Like I said, no one has covered the fall of PRIDE like Fight Opinion has. If you want to learn more, definitely check out Arnold’s work on it.

Posted in: mma, pride, fight opinion, fedor emelianenko, pride pride

Inside MMA: Ronda Rousey, Urijah Faber, KJ Noons

Inside MMA airs live on HDNet every Monday night at 8pm ET. Inside MMA Archive More segments after the jump.

Posted in: mma, monday night, mma airs, mma archive, ronda

TUF's gay pornstar talks about his past

MMA fighter Dakota Cochrane's past as a gay pornstar wasn't exactly a secret before, but it had certainly never been advertised to as many people as it was over the past 48 hours when he was tapped to appear on the upcoming edition of The Ultimate Fighter. Dakota is set to become the Chaz Bono of the season, and we're likely to learn some interesting insights about our scene if he makes it through the March 9th elimination round and into the TUF house. Cochrane has been doing some media interviews since the news broke, appearing on Mauro Ranallo's radio show and also sitting down with the guys at MMA Fighting to explain how he ended up on the ass end of a lucrative porno career: "It's definitely a decision I regret," he told MMA Fighting. "If I would have known what would happen I definitely wouldn't have done it. But I had money issues and I needed help. I went there to do pictures, and they started throwing pretty high numbers in front of me. I didn't really think. It was a big mistake."But no matter the size of the mistake, it was one he made no effort to escape on the eve of his biggest opportunity. On his audition tape for TUF, he included an introduction that mentioned all about his past. Everything."I think it's a little bit courageous for both of us," he said of the UFC's decision to include him on the show. "I could just hide in a hole and no one would know except for the people close to me. And to them, I was up front. I let them know right away so it wasn’t anything that could come back and bite them in the butt. I think maybe they respected that a little bit. I think some people judge against it, some people will be OK with it. Some people will want me to get my butt kicked, and hopefully others will respect what I'm trying to do." The interview also confirms that Cochrane isn't actually gay, just gay-for-pay. While he says 'hated' all that gay pornstarring, the $80,000 he made from the 17 vids he did was enough to keep him going back until his girlfriend / mother of his child / future wife asked him to stop. Which is kinda crazy because gay porn certainly seems to pay much better than the amateur mixed martial arts circuit. And isn't all that different in the end: The trauma is just more centralized in gay porn. It's pretty cool to hear that the UFC and FX were cool with Dakota's seedy past and aren't going to let it get in the way of a potential career in the UFC. While the Baldfather has gone on the record several times to say he's okay with gay fighters in the UFC, a straight up gay pornstar is several levels of controversy up the ladder. I'm sure the Culinary Union that tried to nail the UFC on being anti-gay will now try to nail them for allowing such filth flarn filth onto the airwaves.

Posted in: ufc, mma, people, cochrane, dakota

Dakota Cochrane's Inclusion in 'Ultimate Fighter' Cast Shows UFC, MMA at Its Best

There’s a good chance that Dakota Cochrane won’t amount to anything special. That’s no knock on him or his fighting skills. I’m just playing the odds, here. History tells us that in any field of Ultimate Fighter contestants, there’s rarely more than a handful that make it into the UFC and stay there for any length of time. The rest end up as answers to trivia questions, maybe the occasional ‘Whatever happened to...’ thread on the Underground Forum, or else are purged forever from the collective MMA consciousness.Cochrane, who’s 11-2 as a pro and coming into the show on a loss, may very well end up being one of those forgotten fighters. But what matters right now isn’t so much what he might or might not become, but that he’s getting the chance. The UFC is giving him an opportunity that a lot of other organizations might not, and it’s doing so with total awareness of what it might be getting itself into. In case you haven’t heard by now, Cochrane’s work history includes a stint he’d rather forget in the gay porn industry. The 25-year-old fighter isn’t gay, as he told MMA Fighting’s Mike Chiappetta, but as a college student with "money issues" he made a decision he now says he regrets, and ended up with a well-documented past he may never fully shake. But then, it’s not as if he’s trying to fool anyone. Cochrane has been open and honest about his history with promoters and potential opponents, even when it cost him. Officials from both FX and the UFC confirmed to MMA Fighting this week that they knew when they selected him for the show that he’d done gay porn. Where a lot of organizations might have looked at Cochrane and been unable to see past the inevitable PR storm, the UFC saw just another aspiring fighter who might become a superstar or might become nothing at all, and it treated him accordingly.It’s a small act, but a courageous one. Not only did the UFC not turn Cochrane down for the show, it also didn’t make a big deal about accepting him. It didn’t try to avoid the publicity or exploit it, which is actually sort of amazing when you think about it. It’s also not without some risks.Many of us have wondered when and how the UFC and its fans would deal with having a gay fighter on the roster. Cochrane isn’t gay, but simply played the role for cash, which is a distinction that could easily be lost on some people. If he manages to fight his way into the house, how will his new roommates react to his past? How will fans? How will existing UFC fighters?The answers depend who you ask, but it might surprise some people to learn that many in the MMA business are more open-minded than they’d expect. As UFC flyweight Joe Benavidez said when I spoke with him this week: "I believe everyone’s an individual. I’m not one to judge anyone. If he’s done gay porn, he’s done gay porn. You’re still going to fight him."It makes you wonder, would NFL players be so welcoming and non-judgmental? Would the NBA open its arms to a player with a resume like Cochrane’s? Maybe not, but maybe it’s because those sports don’t know what it’s like to battle public perception the way the UFC does. Maybe something about dealing with closed-minded critics of your own (how many articles have we read lambasting this no-holds-barred, barbaric cage-fighting stuff in the past decade?) makes you more sympathetic to the struggles of others.Of course there will be those who don’t agree with the UFC’s decision to put a former gay porn actor on its long-running cable TV reality show. Expect all the usual hand-wringing about role models and Google searches and uncomfortable conversations that no one wants to have with their kids.But over the course of that discussion, let’s not forget what the UFC has really done here. It’s taken a chance and invited some criticism, both from those who think it isn’t family-friendly entertainment to begin with and from those who think the sport is nothing but sweaty dudes rolling around on top of each other, and it’s done so for the best possible reason. The UFC could have taken the path of least resistance, or it could have used this as a publicity ploy. It did neither. It took a field of aspiring fighters and evaluated them based on ability rather than PR concerns. It gave them all the same chance to become somebody or nobody, knowing full well that even if Cochrane reached Anderson Silva levels of dominance, he’d still never completely outrun his past in many people’s eyes. In other words, it did exactly what we’d hope it would do in a situation like this, which is judge people on merit rather than prejudice. Whether Cochrane becomes a star or an MMA footnote, what matters most is that he was given the opportunity to decide his own future regardless of what anyone might think about his past. It’s what should make us proud to be fans of this sport, and of this organization.

Posted in: ufc, mma, fighter, cochrane, itrsquo

Morning Report: Spike TV and the Kimbo Slice Effect, Dakota Cochrane's Story

Kimbo Slice achieved web stardom in 2003. He made his MMA debut with a win over Ray Mercer in 2007. He parlayed that into the CBS spotlight, shattering ratings records with the first MMA event ever aired on American network primetime in 2008. Somehow he wound up in the UFC, cast on season 10 of The Ultimate Fighter, again shattering rating records in 2009. Finally, he earned his Zuffa pink slip after losing to Matt Mitrione and subsequently retired from MMA in 2010. Between those last four years, one question was asked ad nauseum by incredulous fight fans -- why? What was the appeal, and more prominently, why was it so ridiculously successful? How did someone with no working knowledge of MMA become the posterboy for MMA in the eyes of non-MMA fans? Even now, two years later, he somehow remains relevant, like a lingering storm cloud that refuses to pass. Just look to Ariel Helwani's recent quest to discover ‘How Mainstream is MMA?' as proof. So of course Spike TV tapped his services in their ratings crusade against Fox. And you know what else? It'll probably work. Check out all the details of the new deal, and catch up with all of yesterday's big news with the Morning Report. 5 MUST-READ STORIES Spike uses Kimbo Slice to counter-program The Ultimate Fighter on FX. Spike TV tapped the services of the network's biggest-ever TV star in the war against Fox. UFC on FX 2 predictions. Michael David Smith predicts the winners and losers of Friday's inaugural flyweight tournament. UFC on FX 2: Fuel TV preliminary card dissection (part one). Dallas Winston returns with a quartet of his comprehensive visual breakdowns for UFC on FX 2's undercard, highlighting Kyle Noke vs. Andrew Craig, Mackens Semerzier vs. Daniel Pineda, Shawn Jordan vs. Oli Thompson, and Nick Penner vs. Anthony Perosh. Dakota Cochrane discusses controversial past. The 25-year-old TUF hopeful addressed his pornographic past as he prepares to chase his UFC dream. UFC 144 'Prelims' ratings. Saturday night's 'UFC Prelims' special on FX averaged 1.5 million viewers over the course of its two-hour broadcast. MEDIA STEW Sixteen months ago Ronda Rousey was just a 1-0 amateur fighter preparing to face Autumn Richardson in the Tuff-N-Uff quarterfinals. Crazy. Check out Strikeforce's newest promo highlighting Rousey and Miesha Tate's greatest hits. CNN recently profiled Mike Haskamp, the Legend FC co-founder who, in the midst of a recession, made the bold jump from U.S. investment banker to manager of his own Asian MMA promotion. (HT: Bloody Elbow) Take a peek at slick counter-striker Yasuhiro Urushitani, who many consider to dark horse of the UFC flyweight tournament. Looks like somebody was trying to pick up a few pointers on WWE's Monday Night Raw. (via @ACBattersby) Sick of the criticism, Rampage finally shot back at Hendo. @danhendo I was smart enough 2 take your belt — Quinton Jackson (@Rampage4real) February 27, 2012 Wait... really? Why? What were the circumstances? This story needs to be told. I cooked road kill raccoon during SERE school, and liked it. #TrueStory — Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) February 28, 2012 FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS Announced yesterday (Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012): - UFC on FUEL 3: Jeff Curran (33-14-1) vs. Johnny Eduardo (25-9) FANPOST OF THE DAY Today's Fanpost of the Day goes to BE reader hobbie (for the second day in a row!): 5 Strange, Sad, and Downright Weird Facts about UFC 144. Because UFC 144 was a strange card - and not only because it was in Japan, land of Godzilla, holographic pop stars, and soiled panty vending machines. There are some strange factoids about this UFC that, were I to go back in time and tell you just a few years ago, would have you calling BS. Who travels time to brag about weird MMA facts, anyways? So without further ado, here are 5 fun, surprising, and downright bizarre facts from (and about) UFC 144. Bust one of these gems out next time you're at a party and want to impress all the fine lookin' ladies with your knowledge of MMA trivia...yeah...that's how that works. Found something entertaining, brutal, or bizarre you'd like to see in the Morning Report? Just send it to @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in tomorrow's post.

Posted in: ufc, mma, fx, vs, tv

The MMA Hour With Edgar, Mizu the Translator, Daley, Thomson, Kaufman and More

The MMA Hour is back in your life on Wednesday with another loaded lineup. Here's who will be stopping by: * Former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar will update us on what he plans to do next. * Mizuka Koike, the most beloved translator in MMA, will discuss her newfound fame following UFC 144. * Paul Daley will preview his fight against Kazuo Misaki on Saturday night at Strikeforce: Rousey vs. Tate. * Josh Thomson will talk about his lightweight fight against KJ Noons on Saturday night. * Sarah Kaufman will look ahead to her title eliminator fight against fellow Canadian Alexis Davis. * And MMAFighting.com's Mike Chiappetta will look back at UFC 144 and ahead to this weekend's full lineup of fights. Got a question or comment? Give us a call at 1-888-418-4074. Watch the show live below beginning at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT. Subscribe to The MMA Hour on iTunes: audio feed here; video feed here. Download previous episodes here. Listen to the show via Stitcher here.

Posted in: fight, mma, mma hour, hour, kazuo misaki

Yodsanan Sityodtong: The Boxing World Champion Who has Learned to Love MMA

A lot of fighters fluctuate in weight and like to let themselves go a bit in between fights and almost all of them take a bit off time off between training camps to recuperate, recover and generally take it easy. Not Yodsanan Sityodtong. He has been competing at the same weight for at least 15 years, from the day he won the PABA Super Featherweight Title in 1997, to the day he took home the WBA Super Featherweight Title in 2002, to the day he made his MMA debut in 2011 he has remained at 135-pounds. It is an achievement made even more remarkable because Yodsanan's knock out power has remained with him throughout his career. He has an incredible boxing record of 57-3-1 and has won 50 of his last 51 fights with two of those three losses coming in his first year as a pro. He did briefly move up to 140 lbs in 2009 to claim the Australasian Light Welterweight title but had no problem getting back down to 135 lbs last September to destroy Daniel Mashamaite at ONE FC 1. He celebrated his 37th birthday last year but believes he has more longevity than most because of the care he has taken of his body. "I have never smoked or drank alcohol in my entire life. I have also never had a break from training in my whole life. I still run every day as I did when I was a child at Sityodtong Camp, I have never stopped. So even though I am 37 years old my body is still young and strong." There is often cynicism when a world class boxer announces they are transitioning to MMA. Fans are inclined to suspect them of simply jumping on the bandwagon with a view to picking up a James Toney style pay day. However Yodsanan finished his boxing career in a high, stopping all of his last nine opponents and is far from being past his prime. Yodsanan Sor Nanthachai - Boxing Highlight (via champchannel) He is now totally committed to his MMA career and is training every day with the team of world champion trainers at Evolve MMA in Singapore. As well as being a renowned boxer Yodsanan also has plenty of Muay Thai experience and is being nurtured as a mixed martial artist by the likes of renowned wrestling coach Heath Sims and BJJ Mundials winner Rafael "Gordinho" Correa de Lima. It is the perfect university for him to graduate from being an accomplished stand up fighter to a well rounded mixed martial artist and he has also been training alongside the likes of Shinya Aoki, Eddie Ng and Zorobabel Moreira. However Yodsanan was not rushed into his MMA debut at ONE FC 1 last September, in fact he had been preparing for well over a year. "I have been training MMA for about two years. I have over 60 professional boxing fights and over 60 professional Muay Thai fights so I have been focusing a lot on my wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Heath Sims, our new wrestling coach, has been a big help to me and everyone on the Evolve Fight Team. I train six days a week so I am fit all year round even if I have no fight coming up." ONE Fighting Championship's rise has been meteoric with shows booked in major cities all over Asia and a broadcast deal which puts it in at least 24 countries and Yodsanan looks set to be one of the organization's stars. Only a knee injury sustained during wrestling practise kept him from competing at the Jakarta show earlier this month and now that he is fully fit again matchmakers have slotted him straight into the second Singapore card. Yodsanan is currently halfway through an intensive eight week training camp in preparation for his next MMA fight at ONE FC 2 on March 31st. He will once again be fighting at the Singapore Indoor Stadium and is confident he will make an even better impression than he did on his debut, "My opponent is confirmed but I cannot discuss anything until ONE FC releases the fight card. I was nervous before my MMA debut and I hope to perform better on March 31. I want to fight as many times as possible in 2012, I want to be very active as a fighter. MMA is my career now." Mashamaite came into the fight with Yodsanan with more MMA experience and a strong background in Muay Thai but he wanted no part of the stand up exchanges and shot for the takedown at the earliest opportunity. This will probably be the blueprint for future opponents because no-one in the bantamweight division is going to want to trade punches with a world champion boxer. "I have adapted my style for MMA, but my KO power is still there. I love to knock people out, it is my specialty." Yodsanan Sityodtong vs. Daniel Mashamaite (via officialsherdog) A lot of MMA fighters talk the talk when it comes to having knockout punching power but with 47 KOs to his name at an elite level of professional boxing Yodsanan well and truly walks the walk. He is probably pound for pound the best boxer in MMA today and age doesn't appear to be in any danger of catching up with him anytime soon. He is also surrounded by some of the top trainers and fighters in the world at Evolve MMA and it is an environment in which he should flourish because he will continue to improve regardless of whether he has a fight booked. Yodsanan has won more than his fair share of silverware but is far from content to sit back and reflect on his illustrious career to date, his focus is firmly on the future, "I love it here. Evolve MMA is my family and I have known Chatri (the owner) for over 20 years from our days together at Sityodtong Camp in Pattaya. Here in Singapore I am getting the best training in the world and 7,000 people buy tickets to come and watch me fight, that makes me so happy and excited about MMA, I love this new sport." www.twitter.com/jamesgoyder

Posted in: fight, mma, day, year, yodsanan

MMA Top 10 Rankings: Benson Henderson Takes Top Spot

The latest MMAWeekly.com World MMA Rankings are out and Benson Henderson has taken over the top spot.

Posted in: mma, ranking, spot, benson henderson, benson

Asian MMA Update: SFL Signs Duffee, Prangley, Kelly And Agaev, Tuck Makes TUF House, Lenne Hardt To ONE FC

There's a lot of news coming out of the Asian MMA scene, with the biggest coming from India's Super Fight League. I haven't been a fan of the promotion's moves and gimmicks, nor was I interested in seeing guys like Jimmy Ambriz, Bob Sapp and James Thompson headlining their first card. To be fair though, their next events will probably take a huge step up in quality as the promotion just announced several signings of good prospects and familiar names. The promotion just announced the signing of several fighters, with the most notable ones being top Russian light heavyweight prospect, Baga Agaev, along with UFC veterans, Todd Duffee, Paul Kelly, and Trevor Prangley. The promotion has huge backers, and it's obvious that they aren't afraid of spending big money for their events. They're going to have several international musicians performing, and they're even raffling off a Harley Davidson motorcycle on their first show. They have tons of gimmicks, and there are rumblings of even bigger signings coming up, so while it is yet to be seen if these things will be enough to captivate and convert the audience in India to the sport, it will be fun to see how it all unfolds. There's much more news and updates after the jump. Follow me on twitter -- @antontabuena Here's more news from the Asian MMA scene: Aside from Kawajiri joining their ranks, Lenne Hardt is now also on board with ONE FC, so expect to hear her trademark fighter intros. The famous PRIDE announcer will now be working exclusively with ONE FC and DREAM, who have an existing partnership. 23-year-old Filipino fighter, Mark Striegl (7-0) is fresh of that nasty technical submission at Legend FC, and as reported here earlier, he has signed with Thailand-based promotion, DARE.Sources close to the situation have informed BloodyElbow.com on Monday night that Striegl, who is already considered as one of the top featherweight prospects in Asia, will be making the cut to join DARE's bantamweight tournament. He will be gunning for the promotion's inaugural bantamweight title along with that $125,000 cash prize, but first he has to get passed Marko Huusansaari on March 17 during the opening round.Speaking of Striegl, they have released footage of his last bout on Legend FC 7: PXC star, Jon Tuck (6-0) has made it to the TUF 15 cast. He was last seen knocking out Tristan Arenal at PXC 28 in the Philippines, and is more known to MMA fans as the only guy who have ever beat Eduard Folayang. He will now be part of the 32 lightweights who will be competing under Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber's teams in the revamped and 'jive live' version of The Ultimate Fighter reality show. Tuck has good BJJ skills, and has won multiple world championships as a purple belt. He has big power in his hands, which usually compensates for whatever small technical flaws he has in his stand up game. It would be very interesting to see how he stacks up against a talented cast.Photo by Paolo Tabuena. Legend FC co-founder Mike Haskamp was recently featured on CNN, as he talked about making the move from investment banking in the US to running his own MMA promotion in Asia. Check it out: A successful entrepreneur and Harvard graduate is starting out a new MMA gym in Asia, with 5-star facilities and filled with multiple BJJ and Muay Thai world champions. Sound familiar? Nope, I'm not talking about Chatri Sityodtong and Evolve MMA. Although the founder of this new gym, Cole Sirucek, was a member of that Singapore gym, before deciding to start his own brand in Hong Kong, called "Epic MMA Club".The gym is going to be a massive 15,000 square feet, with top notch facilities, and a stacked current roster of fighters and instructors that includes, 4th degree black belt and BJJ World Champion Rodrigo Medeiros, BJJ Champs Silvio Braga, Marcus Cacella, and Mike Power, kickboxing champ and ONE FC Star Vuyisile Colossa, along with Muay Thai champs Viriya Sripaew, and Somkid Khonthong.You can check out their website which also provides a virtual tour of their gym. Here's to hoping this new organization can make a huge impact in the development of the sport in Hong Kong. (HT: Lee Li)

Posted in: mma, promotion, fighter, gym, fc

A Lesson in Street MMA: Hey, we have no problem that this Street MMA starts man on man then goes co-ed

What a fascinating instance of Street MMA we have here. Things start out fast in front of a convenient-mart between two young gentleman in colorful jackets, they both use impressive counters and solid footwork to keep a manageable distance from each other, creating a feeling out period. Then the kid in the brownish/red grabs for the neon jacket in front of him. There's a possible background in Judo or Sambo for this guy, he's constantly looking to set up what looks like a Sode Tsurikomi Goshi attempt. Or maybe a Eri Seoinage? I'm sorry, I haven't been keeping up on my Judo throws. Either way that dude was trying for some high level stuff. More blows are exchanged. Eventually the fight makes it's way to the crowd, the production crew puts their finger on the lens of the camera, there's ground and pound on ice, then all of a sudden two female bystanders decide that they've seen enough of this male dominated Street MMA and they jump into the fray full force while still on ice! Upkicks garlore lead to an extremely active guard as they slip in slide all over the place. A modified hair pull triangle is even threatened. Wow. This video has everything. Thanks to onlyfighting.ru [Source]

Posted in: mma, street mma, i havent, street, neon jacket

Dakota Cochrane Discusses Controversial Past As He Prepares to Chase UFC Dream

To the people that know him best, Dakota Cochrane's secret wasn't a secret at all. It's not something he kept from prospective business relationships, either. As his mixed martial arts career took off, his friend Kirk Schuster, who was looking after his career, would often receive phone calls from other management companies about representing Cochrane. They would try to woo Schuster with promises of a UFC contract for Cochrane.Do me one favor, Schuster would tell them, Google his name and call me back if you're still interested. A return call never came. Not once.Everyone has a past. But in the testosterone-filled sports world, Cochrane's past proved impossible to outrun. What he describes as a temporary lapse in judgment from his college days continues to revisit him. It did again this week, shortly after FX announced that he had been chosen as one of the 32 finalists that will compete for a chance to be on that network's first season of The Ultimate Fighter. Within 24 hours, the news was all over the MMA blogosphere: while in college, he had participated in gay pornography. "It's definitely a decision I regret," he told MMA Fighting. "If I would have known what would happen I definitely wouldn't have done it. But I had money issues and I needed help. I went there to do pictures, and they started throwing pretty high numbers in front of me. I didn't really think. It was a big mistake." But no matter the size of the mistake, it was one he made no effort to escape on the eve of his biggest opportunity. On his audition tape for TUF, he included an introduction that mentioned all about his past. Everything. "I think it's a little bit courageous for both of us," he said of the UFC's decision to include him on the show. "I could just hide in a hole and no one would know except for the people close to me. And to them, I was up front. I let them know right away so it wasn’t anything that could come back and bite them in the butt. I think maybe they respected that a little bit. I think some people judge against it, some people will be OK with it. Some people will want me to get my butt kicked, and hopefully others will respect what I'm trying to do."The 25-year-old Cochrane, who is not gay, says he earned around $80,000 overall from taping the videos, which he made while a college student at the University of Nebraska-Kearney, where he was an all-league track athlete as a pole vaulter and 4x100 meter relay runner."Every time I was down there, I hated it," he said.Finally, when he admitted to his girlfriend Lacey Sechtem what he was doing, she asked him to stop, and the short-lived career was over. At the time, Cochrane had no idea he would one day become a professional athlete and that the decision would follow him and possibly cause some detours to his path.Schuster, who is now his manager, told MMA Fighting that Cochrane has had several opponents back out of fights after learning of his history, as well as promoters withdraw offers to him. None of it, however, served to dissuade Cochrane from chasing his goal of fighting in the UFC."This kid honestly is a role model," said Schuster, who housed Cochrane for a year earlier in his career. "The reason I say that is because he made a mistake, he recognized his mistake. He paid at the time and he continues to pay for it every day, but he remains mentally strong. I think it fuels him and drives him to prove to people that he can overcome this. He's always told me, 'We'll keep fighting in shows until they either have no choice but to want me, or I can't fight anymore.'"Cochrane actually missed his first shot at the UFC. Schuster said that the promotion's matchmaker Joe Silva had once called about the possibility of signing Cochrane for a short-notice fight as a replacement, but by the time he returned the call, the spot had already been filled. But even then, Cochrane and Schuster had been candid about his background, embracing honesty as the best course of action. Aside from the obvious back story, Cochrane's rise is interesting due to his history as a track star, a fairly novel background in MMA. He first tried the sport during some time off when he was bored. He trained for six months, scored a knockout in his first amateur fight and was quickly hooked."Beating someone up, it's pretty exciting," he said with a laugh.But making a career out of it wasn't an early thought. At first it was a fun side interest, but as he improved and his competitive instinct kicked in, the sport's pull intensified. He won his first four pro fights. By the time he defeated former WEC champion Jamie Varner last September to improve to 11-1, it was obvious that he was nearing the big leagues. But by then, he'd already had the experience of his past resurfacing, albeit on much smaller scales.Even when he was back in college running track, the news popped up. Then, when he moved to Omaha and started training MMA there, it popped up again. But this time is a little different, his past being exposed on a national scope. "I'm looking forward to getting it done and over with," he said. "People can be shocked, and people can say whatever they need to say, and then we can move on.""They're saying the same things they've been saying for seven years," Schuster added. "They're not coming up with anything new."Cochrane says he's a far different person than he was then. He's now a father of two, and Lacey, his girlfriend at the time he was making the videos, stuck by him and is soon to become his wife. The decision he made years ago was a selfish one, made for money, but this opportunity to be on TUF isn't just about him; it's a chance to enrich his family. On Thursday, he'll get on an airplane and fly to Las Vegas, filled with the same dream as 31 other fighters. They'll all have pasts, too, just not ones that everyone else knows about. That's OK with Cochrane. It's his mistake, and he's owning it. "All I can ask," he said, "is that people respect that I've overcome something like that and tried to make a negative into a positive."

Posted in: mma, time, people, cochrane, schuster

Mauro Ranallo talked to Dakota Cochrane just hours ago about his gay porn past, here's the interview...

Unfortunately this video lacks a topical MMA freestyle extracted from the mind of Mauro Ranallo. We're disappointed in Mauro. In the past, we've heard Ranallo spit lyrics like he's in his third audition to be the next member of Wu-Tang Clan. We have an entire archive of a few of the exclusive MMA themed freestyles Mauro Ranallo dropped on MiddleEasy in the past. However, we were fully expecting a new freestyle that centers heavily around gay porn stars. In fact, if you share my same belief, hit up Mauro on Twitter and express your concerns for his lack of gay porn raps. The world needs it, Mauro. The MMA world also needed a thorough explanation of Dakota Cochrane starring in gay pornography from the story we broke earlier this morning, luckily Mauro Ranallo exists to deliver exactly what you wanted to hear. Be sure to also follow Mauro Ranallo's The MMA Show on Twitter, since that may increase the probability of an impromptu Ranallo freestyle.

Posted in: mma, mauro ranallo, ranallo, mauro, freestyle

Mailbag: Why the MMA lightweight division is top-notch (Yahoo! Sports)

Readers weigh in on the fighters, Dana White's persuasion tactics and MMA officials.

Posted in: mma, fighter, division, official, persuasion

New Fan's Introduction to Mixed Martial Arts: Submissions

Just getting into Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)? Looking forward to UFC on FX 2 and wanting to learn more about the sport? Well then your in the right place. This is the final article breaking down the different phases and techniques of an MMA match. The sport is a combination of different martial arts and goes any where the fight takes it. We started with the striking, then moving on to the clinch and most recently ground grappling. In this article we will cover what go me interested in MMA, submissions. There was just something magical about how elite athletes, fully trained in combat arts in peak condition could be put into holds that caused them to frantically tap, pleading for mercy. But then when released the fighters were fine, not a single mark or indication of the danger they had been in just seconds ago. All submissions can be grouped generally into two categories, chokes and joint attacks. Starting with chokes, the vast majority of choking techniques in judo, jiu jitsu, catch wrestling and other submission grappling arts are blood chokes. These are different from air chokes, which prevents air from entering the lungs and that stops fresh oxygen from getting into the blood stream which means that the brain eventually runs low on oxygen and the victim is rendered unconscious. These air chokes can take a great deal of time to be effective, are difficult to lock on fully and can be very dangerous as it is possible to crush the windpipe. Blood chokes on the other hand work by applying pressure to the arteries, cutting out the middle man of the lungs and cutting the brain off from blood. Blood chokes will result in unconsciousness with in ten seconds of application and once released the blood flow will return to normal. The most basic choke is the rear naked choke, the name meaning that it is done from back control and can be executed without a gi collar. We are going to look at the masterful rear naked choke of Roger Gracie after the jump. gifs after the jump... Roger Gracie is considered one of, if not the, best Brazilian Jiu Jitsu fighters on the planet, and his mastery of the basics is what makes him so dangerous. Roger starts with his elbow under Randleman's chin, and places his hand on his own bicep. Roger's left arm goes behind Randleman's head, creating the figure four grip. This grip, where Roger grabs his own bicep, gives the strongest possible squeeze on Rangleman's neck. Roger's forearm and bicep on either side are pressed against Randleman's arteries. The result is a simple but powerful choke, that is applied here so perfectly that after just four seconds Randleman is left unconscious. This concept of using the arm to stop both arteries is also used in some forms of the guillotine choke. Another blood choke called the triangle choke works on a different approach. This choke relys on not isolating the neck, but rather trapping an arm and the head. The classic triangle choke works by trapping the opponent's arm and head with the legs. Here is Josh Neer's triangle win over Mac Danzig, and you can see Neer has Danzig in his guard. When the time is right Neer throws up his legs to trap Danzig's head and left arm between his legs. Neer takes his left and puts it across the back of Danzig's neck and puts his foot under his right knee. This figure four position of the legs is where the triangle gets its name, this a is a tight, vise like grip. In this case, Neer's left leg is driving into the side of Danzig's neck stops the artery on that side and the squeeze of the triangle is so intense that is actually drives Danzig's own shoulder into the other side of his neck stopping the other artery. For the shoulder to be driven into the neck, Neer has to force Danzig's arm across his body, taking away any space between shoulder and neck. The result is an extremely tight choke that can result in a black out in just seconds when fully applied. This triangle approach can be done with the arms also in the "arm triangle" and it can be done from several different angles. The D'arce choke, also known as the Barbo choke, is simply an arm triangle from a different angle. The anaconda choke also works on the triangle principle. Now let us move on to joint attacks. Simply put, these submissions consist of pulling, twisting or cranking a joint to the breaking point. Almost every joint attack has some of the same basic steps: isolate the joint, gain leverage on the joint and then move it in an unnatural direction. Let's take a look at a fundamental joint lock, the armbar. Now the armbar attacks the elbow joint by over straightening the arm, also known as hyperextension. This works with in all forms of armbars, the kneebar and straight ankle locks. Here is Nick Diaz locking on a very tight armbar on Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos. Step one of isolating the arm is accomplished by Diaz's legs, one over the body and the other across Santos' face. Diaz gains leverage by grabbing Santos' arm and pulling it away from his body. This turns Santo's arm into a lever, with its fulcrum at the elbow. Diaz then pulls the arm down and pushes his hips up, this pits Diaz's entire body against Santos' right arm. Even resisting Santos' arm is pulled to the point of hyperextending almost instantly and he is forced the tap. While straight arm locks attack the elbow, twisting armlocks attack the shoulder. The most common twisting armlock is known as the Kimura, named for legendary Judoka Mashiko Kimura, possibly the best grappler ever. The Kimura lock can break the arm or it will tear the shoulder. This motion of twisting the arm behind the back can be done with the legs also, in what is called an omoplata. Another twisting armlock is the Americana, or Keylock, which twists the arm up and over the shoulder instead of behind the back. This one can also be done with the legs from scarf side control. Twisting leg locks are also possible and they have two different targets. The toe hold is a twisting ankle lock that works much like the kimura. The heel hook is the most common leg lock in MMA and possibly the most feared. The principle is pretty basic: isolate a leg, immobilize the upper part of the leg, trap the foot in the armpit and then use the whole upper-body to torque the knee. It is often said that fighters should tap as soon as they are in a heel hook because by the time they feel the pain, damage is already being done to their knee. Rousimar Palhares is known for his vicious heel hooks. There are other types of submissions that are less seen in MMA like neck cranks which turn or bend the neck to the breaking point. Slicers are submissions that attack the arm or leg and work on a similar principle to putting a rock in a nut cracker. And the gogoplata is a choke where a limber fighter can use his shin to stop the blood flow to an opponent's head. Well I hope you've enjoyed this introductory series to MMA, but it in terms of the broad array of techniques used in the cages and rings of MMA it was just that, an introduction. If your interested in learning more about MMA technique I encourage to keep an eye out for our Judo Chop series, which usually run before or after each UFC event breaking down the most interesting techniques used by fighters on the card.

Posted in: mma, leg, triangle, arm, neck

Spike Releases Entire Miro Mijatovic Interview, Full MMA Uncensored Show

Spike debuted MMA Uncensored Live last Thursday, kicking off the show with a live interview with Nick Diaz, following up with an in-depth look at the Yakuza's role in PRIDE and closing with a chat with Dan Henderson. The debut had mixed reviews, but you can now stream the entire 27 minutes on Spike's website and make the call for yourself. The show is hosted by Craig Carton, former UFC fighter Nate Quarry and longtime MMA writer/media personality Mike Straka. Last week, we had an interview with Quarry about his role on the show and what to expect out of it. Spike has also released their entire 37-minute interview with Miro Mijatovic, the former manager for Mirko Cro Cop and Fedor Emelianenko that is credited with taking down PRIDE. The three part interview starts here and goes into details about the Yakuza's involvement in PRIDE, alleged fight fixing and more. Former MMA Fighting writer Dan Herbertson was the person interviewing Mijatovic. Remember that every week, BE will post a live discussion thread during MMA Uncensored Live, so you can talk with fellow MMA fans while the show is going on.

Posted in: mma, show, interview, spike, craig carton

Women's MMA Report: New promotion Invicta focuses on growing women's game

Invicta Fighting Championships, a new all-female MMA promotion led by former Strikeforce matchmaker and talent relations manager Shannon Knapp, announced its first event this past week. The debut Invicta FC card features matchups in each of the five major women's divisions with a headlining rematch between Marloes "Rumina" Coenen and France's Romy Ruyssen. In another super-sized installment of the Women's MMA Report, MMAjunkie.com's Robert Sargent discusses that event and all the latest in women's MMA.

Posted in: mma, women, invicta, supersized installment, promotion invicta

Jose Canseco Wants MMA Fights With Herschel Walker, Mike Tyson, Shaq

Jose Canseco is at it again. The former MLB slugger and one-time MMA fighter is once again trying to make a name for himself in the MMA world. And this time, he's made a suitably ridiculous challenge. On Twitter over the weekend, Canseco suggested holding an event he's bizarrely titled "Beef Bash 1" - a 4 man MMA tournament in Las Vegas. The participants? Canseco, Herschel Walker, Shaquille O'Neal, and Mike Tyson. After baseball season i'm thiniking of holding vegas mma tourney .Beef Bash 1with me shaq tyson an herschel .any promoters interested ? Now, it has to be said right off the bat that this is purely a challenge from Canseco, and the chances of it happening are about 1 in a million. But if you're a fan of freakshow fighting (and, I admit, that's me), this is a pretty entertaining concept to consider. There's no doubt it would draw a lot of interest, and Canseco himself will probably drum up a bit of publicity just from bringing it up, which is really all he wants, right? This is not the first time Canseco has made a similar challenge. He has had public back and forth challenges with both Walker and Shaq previously, though Tyson is a new name being thrown into the mix. Canseco is 0-1 as an MMA fighter, having lost to Hong Man Choi in the absurd (and awesome) Dream Super Hulk tournament. Walker is 2-0 in Strikeforce. Neither Tyson nor Shaq have any MMA experience, though Shaq is a long-time fan who has discussed fighting before. There has also been talk of Shaq taking a pro wrestling match at this year's Wrestlemania, though it looks like that won't be happening. Overall it's ridiculous, never going to happen, and many will hate it. But it brings a smile to my face just the same. That said - no Minowaman? For shame Jose.

Posted in: mma, challenge, tyson, canseco, shaq

Kawajiri signing with ONE FC to fight in next month's event is just too much of a good thing

I just finished submitting my proposal to the International MMA nickname committee to officially change Tatsuya 'Crusher' Kawajiri to simply...Killer Kawajiri. The International MMA nickname committee, formally known as Seanbaby's Megaman Robotic Villian naming committee, gave us late 80s/early 90s classics like 'Cut-Man', 'Bubble-Man', 'Quick-Man' and of course the world-renowned 'Guts Man'. After getting smacked in the face by every elementary school fan for their lack of originality, the committee decided to transition into the world of MMA. Members of the newly formed International MMA nickname committee knew they had to break into the scene with a bang. One night, a member of the committee broke into Burt Reynolds' upper-east side loft and stole the actor's prized mustache. The next day, after hours of surgery, scientists managed to cybernetically implant the mustache on a new fighter soaring through the ranks of MMA. That day, in August 15th 1995 we all witnessed the birth of 'The Predator' Don Frye. Kawajiri rocks his mutated cauliflower ear like it's a Christmas ornament. If Kawajiri was a ninja turtle, he would immediately distance himself from Splinter. I'm not even sure what that meant, but that's the type of vibe Kawajiri gives off whenever he steps in the cage. It's like God specifically designed him to rock pink shorts and ground and pound people deep within earth's core. Now that MMAWeekly is reporting Tatsuya Kawajiri has been signed to fight in ONE FC 3, today has already reached it's apex of rawesomeness. It's all down-hill from here, folks. Actually, we have one exclusive video we're going to publish later today -- but after that, just go to bed. Kawajiri's opponent hasn't been announced and we're assuming the bout will take place at 145 lbs. ONE FC 3 goes down March 31st in Singapore, and if you liked our exclusive coverage of ONE FC 2 in Indonesia, we will undoubtedly deliver the international goods once again next month.

Posted in: mma, kawajiri, nickname, fc, committee

Four star featherweight prospect Jordan Parsons captures title, remains unbeaten at CFA 5

Florida based promotion the Championship Fighting Alliance returned to the Bank United Center in Coral Gables for CFA 5. Known for cultivating Southern MMA prospects, CFA 5 pitted a featherweight title bout in the main event spot. Unbeaten Jordan Parsons (8-0) went wire to wire versus Miami's Danny Chavez (4-1) in the finals of CFA's 145 pound tournament to crown a champion. In a 25 minute fight Parsons, of Minnesota Martial Arts Academy, out struck Chavez on the feet and utilized his wrestling advantage with a handful of successful takedowns. On the ground Chavez would not be finished and worked his away from a diet of heavy ground n' pound. After five rounds all three judges scored the fight in favor of Parsons. The win for Parsons was his third in a row via decision and third under the CFA banner. Originally from North Dakota the 21 year old Parsons has joined the team at Minnesota Martial Arts Academy to supplement his MMA training. Undefeated as a pro and with a 2-0 amateur mark, Parsons is a four star prospect at featherweight on the rise. In a stacked weight class Parsons is projected as the number 13 145 prospect in MMA in the latest ULTMMA.com rankings. An athletic 24 year old out of MMA Masters in Florida, Chavez remains a prospect to watch. With only two years as a pro to his credit, Chavez will learn from a five round loss and can improve on the holes in his game with a active 2012 fight schedule. CFA 5 Chavez vs. Parsons resultsMiami, FL*Jordan Parsons def. *Danny Chavez by Unanimous Decision*Valdir Araujo def. Nicolae Curry by TKO 3:12 R2Alan Arzeno def. Gret Kocani by Split DecisionOscar Delgado def. Joe Johnson by TKO 2:15 R1Victor Delgado def. Denis Hernandez by Unanimous DecisionLuis Nazario def. Gabriel Varona by TKO 1:35 R1Michael Nates def. Jason Somchay by Submission Armbar 3:13 R1Steve Montgomery def. Coltin Smith by KO 0:08 R2Johnny Cardona def. Jayson Jones by Submission Armbar 3:48 R2*Prospects to watch

Posted in: mma, prospect, cfa, chavez, parson

Showdown's February MMA rankings

Showdown Joe gives his latest MMA rankings, with a new one at the top of the lightweight division.

Posted in: mma, showdown, ranking, february, mma rankings

Misconceptions About Yamamoto & Gomi

As a youngster growing up on a healthy diet of Bruce Lee and MMA the PRIDE Fighting Championship, to me, was the greatest show on earth. To my mind the UFC, Strikeforce and DREAM have yet to produce anything close to the quality and spectacle of the best PRIDE shows. Wanderlei Silva's undefeated streak of half a decade, that Fedor guy's emergence from some backwater mining town in Russia to make Nogueira look like an amateur not once but three times, Chuck Liddell and Quinton Jackson's tear up for a chance at the Middleweight crown. There were so many wonderful moments in PRIDE and the Japanese culture and love of spectacle simply made the show even more beautiful. These weren't "gladiators" going in there to "war" or "bang", these were superstars on the biggest MMA stage in the world. When Cro Cop wept after finally winning a belt in the 2006 Open Weight Grand Prix you'll be hard pressed to find a PRIDE fan who didn't choke up too, and when Hidehiko Yoshida, an ageing Judoka with little striking experience, stood in front of Wanderlei Silva for two matches and made the champion respect his punch not as a technical striker but as a man, we all understood the meaning of "Bushido" - the warrior way. But two men exemplified the ideal of bushido and the golden age of Japanese MMA for me, and both fought at UFC 144 looking like shadows of their former selves. Kid Yamamoto and Takanori Gomi. Kid Yamamoto: The Meaning of Pound for Pound Kid Yamamoto spent his entire career up to 2007 fighting at lightweight despite being able to limbo under the 135lbs bar with ease. He fought at 155lbs because he wanted a belt and respect, and he damn sure got it. Despite giving up 10 - 20lbs to his opponents who cut weight to make 155, Yamamoto stopped Royler Gracie and Caol Uno in one night, then went on to be the first and only MMA fighter to stop Japanese MMA legend, Genki Sudo - whose list of submissions includes Mike Thomas Brown and Nate Marquadt. Kid was my idol, and when I finally got out of school I went to Japan with high hopes of meeting him. Being at his gym through his first legitimate MMA loss and and watching the man the Japanese called 'Son of God' clearly return to action without the abilites that he had carried through 18 MMA fights up to that point was heart-breaking. I was only in my late teens at the time and I truly believed that Kid could return from repeated torn ACLs and two years out of action to beat any man DREAM placed him against. When he drew a match with Joe Warren I remember thinking that Warren would be stretchered out of the arena, but he took Kid down like no-one had in Kid's prime. Kid Yamamoto had stuffed Josh Thompson and out grappled Caol Uno and Jeff Curran but he was being laid on by Joe Warren. I wrote the loss off, like many other fans did, as ring rust. Kid immediately took a K-1 match against a relative nobody, Jae Hee Cheon. The night before the fight Kid, his pad holder "Mr P" and myself were the only ones left in the gym and I hopped up on the ring apron to ask my idol in mangled Japanese "Which hand will you knock him out with?". He said "maybe this one" and raised his right fist. That right hook which had stopped so many men - in my heart I knew Kid would destroy this unknown Korean and get back on track. When Kid was knocked out while repeatedly swinging that right hook, I felt disappointment and confusion, but at eighteen years old I had been blinded from the obvious facts of a two year layoff and repeated knee injuries by my idolization of Yamamoto. Misconceptions Three years on, I can objectively look at Kid's fights and I never expect him to win anymore, his chin is shot, his right hook is still volatile but his stand up isn't as rounded as in his prime, and his knee injuries have taken their toll on his formerly world class wrestling. The one thing that I cannot tolerate though is people not giving him the place in MMA history that he has earned. I occasionally hear "yeah... then he came to the UFC and started losing" as if it were a step up in competition that began his downfall, but this is just flat out stupidity. Kid was 1-2 in his MMA career since his return before the UFC signed him and the win came over an irrelevant fighter brought in to get knocked out. To deny Yamamoto his place in MMA history as arguably the best featherweight who ever lived - having fought as one at lightweight and beating the best - is just ridiculous. While I will always remain a fan and enjoy watching his old fights often, I think it is time for people to seperate the pre-2007 Yamamoto and today's Yamamoto. To pretend that they are the same is to discredit the brilliance of Yamamoto's 18 MMA matches and 3 K-1 performances before his injuries forced a hiatus the length of which few fighters have come back from. Objectively the Kid Yamamoto of 2006 could have beaten many of the top 10 fighters from bantamweight to lightweight in the world today and at least given the toughest challenge to the ones who could beat him. Takanori Gomi: The Most Accomplished Lightweight in MMA History Kid was a great fighter and I dreamed of having the strength which he carried in his prime, but the man I sought to emulate when I sparred was not Yamamoto, but Takanori Gomi. The Fireball Kid burst on to the main stage when Pride founded their Bushido event for lighter weight classes, going undefeated in his first ten fights with the biggest promotion in the world. Gomi had begun in Shooto as a one-dimensional ground and pounder. After destroying Japanese legend Rumina Sato he hit a brick wall when he suffered his first two career defeats against Joachim Hansen and BJ Penn. Despite Gomi's one dimensional nature at this stage, both matches were competitive and he even swept Penn from his back three times in the course of their fight - no small feet. Gomi's real renaissance came after Penn exposed his inaccurate stand up. While Gomi remained pretty much a ground and pounder through his first three fights under the PRIDE banner, his stand up was improving all the time. When he was matched against lightweight striking expert and the only man to beat Penn at lightweight, Jens Pulver, he took him on in a pure striking match and won. A right handed southpaw who could switch stances with ease Gomi threw every punch in the book. Long, smashing jabs hurt Pulver from a distance and twice Gomi threw a doubled up left hook, first to the body then immediately to the head of the wincing Pulver. Gomi's footwork, power and combinations looked incredible as he moved around Pulver with ease and landed the bigger, cleaner shots before putting Pulver away with a three punch combination. From here on in Gomi had confidence in his stand up and began demolishing every man in the division with it. Despite BJ Penn's brilliance he never had the string of victories at lightweight that Gomi achieved during this time. Gomi almost entirely cleared out the lightweight division's top ten from 2004 - 2006, a feat which no-one in any division has replicated. Misconceptions The most common misconception about Gomi is the same as Yamamoto - that a step up in competition saw him begin his decline. This is clearly untrue - coming in fat and unprepared for Nick Diaz, Gomi lost to the Stockton native then went on a 4 - 3 slide against average competition BEFORE coming to the UFC. Just as was the case with Yamamoto - the UFC picked him up not for his accomplishments, but simply to stop a Japanese promotion such as Dream from using him to sell tickets, which is why Gomi and Kid are now on huge contracts but relegated to the undercard. The second misconception about Gomi is that his power somehow "compensated" for a lack of skills in other areas. This is a myth which has been helped along by Joe Rogan basically saying it in the heat of the moment at UFC 144. Rogan did an excellent job that night, even giving props to Fedor which is a ballsy thing to do, but he was flat out wrong about Gomi. Takanori Gomi was recognized for 2 years as having the finest boxing in MMA for a reason - take a look at any of his PRIDE striking performances, he pressures opponents, works the body and utilizes straights even more than the looping bombs that have come to be seen as his style. A look at his fight at UFC 144 will show you how far he has fallen and why. While Gomi always fought out of a crouch, he was one of the most mobile fighters at lightweight - cutting off the ring expertly - but now stands with his weight so far over his front foot that he cannot move freely. By leaning over his front foot his reach is also reduced. Against Griffin and Ishida this style worked because Gomi needed to be quick to sprawl and their striking is inadequate, but against Forian, Nate Diaz and even Guida, his inability to move and having his face well forward of his waist cost Gomi big. What's more - though Gomi threw looping punches in his prime, they were never the laughably wide haymakers of today. He was a clinical boxer who threw power punches into holes. Both Gomi and Yamamoto seem destined to live out their days as also rans in the UFC, but the feats they achieved in their prime should not be overlooked. If we can recognize the rapid improvement of Mark Hunt and the decline of BJ Penn, lets not pretend that Yamamoto and Gomi are the same men they were when they set the world ablaze 6 years ago. Jack Slack breaks down striking strategy and technique at his website www.fightsgoneby.com He can also be found on Twitter @JackSlackMMA

Posted in: ufc, mma, gomi, kid, yamamoto

Is Mark Hunt a Contender at Heavyweight?

It's rare that a 37-year-old former kickboxer with an 8-7 record in MMA would be mentioned in title talk, but that's exactly where you'll find Mark Hunt after his third straight Octagon victory...

Posted in: mark, mark hunt, hunt, mma, that

UFC 144 Storylines: UFC Returns to Japan

MMAPayout will be taking a look at the storylines heading into UFC 144: Edgar vs. Henderson, which will be held at The Saitama Super Arena in Japan on Saturday February 25, 2012. UFC Sells Out Long Awaited Return to Japan UFC officials today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that ticket sales are still moving briskly for this weekend’s event at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, and the fight card is expected to sell-out all of the nearly 20,000 available seats. Furthermore, UFC officials are so encouraged by the buzz surrounding UFC 143 that plans for a return to Japan are already under consideration, and multiple annual visits – as well as a version of “The Ultimate Fighter” – are also possible. (MMAJunkie) Quinton “Rampage” Jackson Misses Weight Quentin “Rampage” Jackson missed weight by 5 pounds last night at UFC 144 weigh-ins. Jackson claims that this was due to an unspecified injury and as a result he will forfeit 20% of his show money to his opponent, Ryan Bader. Ryan Bader seemed nonplussed by the fact Jackson missed weight by a considerable amount.(MMAPayout) UFC Japan Sponsors Plus “Pay-to-Play” TV Deal with TV Tokyo, – Event Set To Air at 3AM in Japan “This is why Dentsu backing UFC is so critical. A multi-year deal to promote shows in the country means nothing unless Dentsu, which has plenty of juice, can convince sponsors to back them to get the events on TV. If an outlet like TV Tokyo, which historically has plenty of pay-to-play examples for buying programming time, is taking a pass on the UFC… that spells trouble. WOWOW doesn’t cut it. You need a major broadcast TV network backing you or else you are going nowhere on a big scale in Japan.” - TV Tokyo will air 90-minute highlight version of UFC Japan show from 3:15 AM to 4:45 AM JST after the show is done. - Don Quijote & UFC Undisputed 3 are the TV sponsors. - This was a last-minute deal by Dentsu. (FightOpinion) MMAFighting Hit’s the Streets of Japan and Tests UFC Brand Strength and State of MMA UFC 144 will mark the promotion’s first event in Japan in over 11 years, and its return to the “Land of the Rising Sun” has forced the MMA community to once again figure out just how healthy the Japanese MMA scene is. With that in mind, we hit the streets of Tokyo to find out whether the locals were UFC fans and why they think MMA has fallen on hard times in the country. (MMAFighting) UFC 144 Marketing and Advertising The UFC has been doing a pretty good job of sucking in those hardcore nostalgic MMA fans who hold Japanese MMA and their tradition in high regard. Although some may have wanted the UFC to be held in a white ring and have a ramp with Lenne Hardt announcing the fighters, Dana White was not shy to remind MMA fans and Media that this isn’t PRIDE and that the Japanese promotion who was top dog only a few years ago is dead. Having said that, the posters released for UFC 144 have been great, adding some of that Japanese and PRIDE feel to them while maintaining the UFC’s brand. Key to the UFC this time around is to spread brand awareness and create some roots for future expansion into not only Japan, but Korea, Philipines, and China, who they feel have even more potential at the moment as untapped markets. At this time, it’s going to take a good amount of time and effort to elevate the MMA scene in Japan to what it once was. UFC 144 Poster + UFC 144 Rampage Poster: Japanese fighter Megumi Fujii Tweeted an anime version of the UFC 144 Japan poster:

Posted in: ufc, mma, japanese, tv, japan

Is anyone interested in starting a collaborative project to list the most important fights/fighters of each year in MMA? (read more for details)

I love mma. I consider myself extremely knowledgeable about the technical aspects of the game, but I have a very hard time keeping up with all the less known fighters and smaller organizations. Basically it comes down to me having a short term memory when it comes to how each fighter is doing over a period of time. I was thinking we could organize it by listing the rising contenders each year and in each division,list their records and win streaks and what not, or we could just narrow it down to which fighters/fights/events/championships had the most significant impact of the year. I feel like it would be an easier way to put all the events in perspective and help us see trends and different improvements in fighters throughout the past year. In the same token it would be an awesome tool for easily seeing the results of all the major events and fights of the year that shook up the mma landscape and as a result give us better knowledge of the current standings and state of mma so we can be more informed about the next year. I'd love to hear more suggestions. submitted by PinkySlayer [link] [comment]

Posted in: mma, fighter, year, time i, mma landscape

UFC's Mark Fischer Targeting Return to Asia in November

SAITAMA, Japan -- MMA Fighting spoke to the managing director of UFC Asia Mark Fischer about the organization's return to Japan, rebuilding the Japanese MMA market, the UFC's business approach when it comes to expanding the Asian MMA market and when the organization expects to return to Asia.

Posted in: ufc, mma, return, asia, organizations return

Spike TV’s MMA Uncensored Live Draws 547,000

On Thursday night, Spike TV’s new MMA program- MMA Uncensored Live – drew an average of 547,000 viewers. The debut airing on Spike TV earned a 0.4 HH rating, a 0.5 in M18-34, and a 0.62 in the M25-34. Overall, MMA Uncensored Live drew an average of 547,000 viewers. The debut event on Spike TV focused on UFC 144′s return to Japan, where hosts Craig Carton, Nate Quarry and Mike Straka discussed the fall of one of MMA’s most famous promotions of all time, PRIDE Fighting Championships. Honorary guests for the evening were Dan Henderson and “mystery guest” Nick Diaz. MMA Uncensored Live is scheduled to air Thursday nights on Spike TV at 11PM EST. *** MMA Uncensored Live Debut Episode: SPIKE Diaz, Hendo, and The Fall of Pride – Episode 101 www.spike.com Spike Full Episodes Spike Video Clips Spike on Facebook

Posted in: mma, spike tv, tv, spike, mike straka

This man needs to hurry up and start training MMA aleady..

submitted by tekprodfx16 [link] [7 comments]

Posted in: mma, tekprodfx, training, aleady, hurry

Friday Link Club: UFC 144 Preview

UFC 144 Gallery: 12 GIFs of Frankie Edgar and Ben Henderson Being Awesome | Cage Potato UFC 144 Main Event Breakdown: Frank Edgar vs. Ben Henderson | MMA Fighting UFC 144: Strengths and Weaknesses of Each Main Card Fighter | Bleacher Report The good, the bad, and the ugly: Heat-up for UFC Japan 2012 | Fight Opinion Anthony Pettis Has ‘Something New’ Planned for Joe Lauzon | 5thRound Culinary Workers Union, Local 226 Calls On NSAC to Adopt MMA “Bill of Rights”| MMA Payout Brian Stann Wants Piece Of Michael Bisping | FightLine Your day is nothing without watching this ONE-second knockout from Russia | MiddleEasy Bart Palaszewski: First Hatsu Hioki, then Jose Aldo | LowKick UFC flyweight tournament will feature ‘sudden victory’ format | Five Ounces of Pain UFC’s Sean Loeffler recounts wild redneck MMA fight from the early days of his career | MMA Mania Shannon Lee talks “I am Bruce Lee” documentary  | TheFightNerd Image via CombatLifestyle.com

Posted in: ufc, mma, ben henderson, hatsu hioki, onesecond knockout

State of Japanese MMA

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Posted in: mma, japanese, state, rsscurrent

What's the State of Japanese MMA?

TOKYO -- UFC 144 will mark the promotion's first event in Japan in over 11 years, and its return to the "Land of the Rising Sun" has forced the MMA community to once again figure out just how healthy the Japanese MMA scene is. With that in mind, we hit the streets of Tokyo to find out whether the locals were UFC fans and why they think MMA has fallen on hard times in the country.

Posted in: ufc, mma, japanese, mma community, ufc fans

Latest UFC/MMA news and notes from around the web for the week of February 19, 2012

Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Frankie Edgar, Vinicius Megalhaes and Ricardo Almeida pictured above, we can all "get along." Teaming up with MMA sites like MMA Fighting, Cage Potato, Fight Opinion and The Fight Nerd, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport. This week, MMA Fighting gets thoughts from veterans of the UFC's last event in Japan, Lowkick interviews Bart Palaszewski and Five Ounces of Pain interviews Ben Henderson. The full list of links is after the jump. - Interview with Bart Palaszewski (LowKick) "I'm actually extremely happy with the match-up. That's the fight I asked for. I actually think he got really lucky with George Roop. He lost that fight. I want to fight him, and to prove that I'm a better fighter. Octagon jitters are just an excuse, because we all know he fought in big events for DREAM Shooto and Sengoku. For me, if there are 10 or 10,000 people in the crowd - I'm coming to do work. Jetlag, Octagon jitters... all those are excuses. I just think he's all hype." - Melvin Guillard 'praying' for Joe Lauzon rematch (Cage Potato) "In the 10 losses I have in my MMA career, I haven't rematched anyone I've lost to. Not once, I've never really cared for rematches because I felt they won, now I'll move on. Right now, I'm at the point where this fight means something to me, I have something to prove against Joe Lauzon, so this is a rematch I'm asking for. Right now, I'm looking to watch the fights in Japan and I'm praying that he loses to (Anthony) Pettis because I want a rematch against Joe Lauzon." - Interview with Ben Henderson (Five Ounces of Pain) - Pioneers discuss last UFC event in Japan (MMA Fighting) How long has it been since the UFC held an event in Japan? Put it this way: the last time the Octagon was erected in the Land of the Rising Sun, Dana White had hair, Semaphore Entertainment Group [SEG] had ownership of the UFC, and Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz had something resembling a friendship. - The Joe Lozito story (MiddleEasy) On February 12, 2011, Joe entered New York City's subway system en route to work, following a routine he has practiced for years, just like millions of his fellow "straphangers", as they're known locally. What differentiated Joe from everyone else on the train was that his years of watching MMA would ultimately save his life, and the lives of every other man, woman, and child on the train that day. - Interview with Shannon Lee (Bruce Lee's daughter) (The Fight Nerd) Shannon Lee talks the new Bruce Lee documentary - Open discussion: MMA Uncensored Live on the Pride scandel (Fight Opinion) I'm told that the show will cover the scandal in-depth on a heavy level, which would mean the first time a major US media outlet is discussing the ultimate taboo of the Japanese fight industry (the yakuza). - Culinary Union calls on NSAC to adopt 'MMA Bill of Rights' (MMA Payout) In yesterday's Nevada State Athletic Commission hearing, the Culinary Workers Union - who have long apposed the anti-union stance from Zuffa and Station Casino owner's Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta - proposed the MMA "Bill of Rights" to the commission. - Tito Ortiz and Chuck LIddell's guide to traveling in Japan (BleacherReport.com/MMA) Traveling to a foreign locale can be stressful for a fighter. No one knows this better than former UFC champions Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. Between them, the two MMA legends have fought outside of the United States 10 times, and made dozens of promotional trips to support the sport. - UFC 144 undercard preview (MMA Convert) But given that UFC 144 features lightweight champ Frankie Edgar defending his belt against someone not named BJ Penn and Gray Maynard, and there are a whopping seven moderately- to very interesting bouts scheduled for the pay-per-view broadcast, I'd say the UFC's return to Japan could be a pretty good one. As the prelims are going to air on the FX network, and I sure as heck get FX as part of my cable plan, here's a preview of those four preliminary bouts. - Dana White promises Gilbert Melendez will be happy in Strikeforce (Fightline) - Quinton Jackson misses Japan fine dining (5thRound)

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, japan, im

The Friday Morning MMA Link Party

Posted in: mma, vs, li, weekend dont, celebrity appearance

Pro MMA Radio 186: Anthony Pettis, TJ Dillashaw, UFC 144 Preview

We have partnered with Pro MMA Radio to bring you weekly replays of PMR as the official radio show of MMAConvert.com. Pro MMA Radio can be heard live every Monday evening at 9pm ET/6pm PT. Replays and podcasts of every show are available 24/7 by going to the “Replay Corner” section of ProMMARadio.com, our own Pro MMA Radio page or by clicking the banner below. On this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio, Anthony Pettis joined the show to talk about his upcoming fight against Joe Lauzon this weekend at UFC 144. TJ Dillashaw stopped by to talk about his win over Walel Watson at UFC on FUEL 1. MMA Mania’s Jesse Holland also joined the show to help host Larry Pepe preview UFC 144. You can listen to a replay of this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio by clicking the banner below. A radio player with links to the show’s archives will open in a pop-up window, so please make sure your browser is set to allow pop-ups for this site.

Posted in: mma, show, replay, radio, mma radio

Spike TV's 'MMA Uncensored Live' review for Feb. 22 cable debut with Nick Diaz

If you thought Spike TV was out of the mixed martial arts (MMA) programming business after severing ties with Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), you were wrong. Tonight (Feb. 22, 2012), the network launched a new MMA news program called "MMA Uncensored Live." It featured former UFC middleweight Nate Quarry, HD Net's Mike Straka (known primarily for his work on the hit program "Fighting Words") and Craig Carton (who is largely recognized for his sport radio show that he co-hosts with former NFL great "Boomer" Esiason) all served as anchors on the new show that aired at 11 p.m. ET on Spike TV. The show joins the ranks of other MMA news programming such as HDNet's "Inside MMA," ESPN's "MMA Live" and FUEL TV's "UFC Tonight." Interestingly enough, the promotional slogan for the new show is: "No Bias. No Boundaires. No B.S." Not that its inferring this is not the case for other shows in their genre (wink, wink). After the jump, we'll recap the highlights of the latest MMA news broadcast to hit the airwaves: The show kicked off with a round table set-up, circled by the aforementioned panelists: Quarry, Straka and Carton. The opening dialogue felt a bit forced and was led by a joke from Quarry about being glad to be on Spike without being punched in the face. Comedic gold. Without much of a transition, the show cut (almost immediately) to a live interview with UFC welterweight Nick Diaz that very well may have been the most awkward interaction between human beings ever. Right off the bat, Carton lost the mercurial Diaz by leading with a question about his positive drug test after UFC 143. Diaz spent the next several minutes refusing to make look into the camera, giving short answers and just looking generally miserable to be there. It did get better as the interview went on and Diaz seemed to loosen up a bit. However, the interview was generally pretty hard to watch. After a break, the program took some viewer questions, did a brief UFC 144 preview and then transitioned to an interesting story that linked the fall of the Japanese based PRIDE organization to ties with the Yakuza mafia and other excursions in lawlessness. The show wrapped up with an interview with Dan Henderson that pushed things over the originally alloted 30 minutes. Bad news for anyone who recorded the show via DVR or Tivo. Overall, it wasn't a bad debut. I thought they did a decent job, gave good content and showed promise for future broadcasts. Its got some things to clean up, but hey, "Inside MMA" has been on the air for years and Kenny Rice still can't get the fact straight or pronounce the simplest of names. It will certainly be interesting to see how things progress. Did any of you Maniacs catch the the debut episode of "MMA Uncensored Live" on Spike TV? If so, what did you think? Opinions, please.

Posted in: ufc, mma, show, spike tv, tv

Ghosts of Saitama: ROMANEX, Hero's and DREAM all make their debut at the Saitama Super Arena

The roar of the crowd ... the sound of bare feet shuffling against canvas ... the unexplainable electricity inside the building. They are all mere echos today as crowds in the tens of thousands have dwindled down to a fraction of that amount. The Saitama Super Arena, host of this Saturday's (Feb. 25) UFC 144 event, has been home to some of the greatest mixed martial arts (MMA) events in the history of the sport. "Ghosts of Saitama" will take a look at some of those moments, forever preserved and never forgotten. Fighting and Entertainment Group (FEG) built its empire out of bruised shins, swollen faces and 10 ounce gloves. Through K-1, FEG became one of the premier combat sports promoters. It sold out its live shows, packing arenas with 30, 40 or even 50 thousand people and its television broadcasts raked in viewers by the millions. As human nature tends to be, FEG officials wanted a bit more. PRIDE Fighting Championships (PRIDE) was at the top of the mixed martial arts (MMA) food chain but maybe, just maybe FEG could sneak in and take itself a small slice of that very lucrative pie. It was content to only dip its toes in at first with the one-off ROMANEX show before they dove head first into the MMA playing field with a new company known as Hero's. Despite PRIDE's already established foothold in Japan and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) gaining steam stateside, the fledgling company was still able to build an impressive roster of fighters. Alistair Overeem, Lyoto Machida, Yoshihiro Akiyama, Jake Shields and B.J. Penn were just a few names that fought under the Hero's banner. But, the promotion wasn't long for this world and within three years, the name was dropped and DREAM took its place when FEG brought aboard a bevy of former PRIDE employees looking for work. Armed with a wealth of MMA promotion knowledge, they became a valuable asset to their new company. Aside from FEG's involvement, one common thread ties the three names -- ROMANEX, Hero's and DREAM -- together. Each held their first -- and in ROMANEX's case, the only -- show at the Saitama Super Arena. It was almost as if FEG knew they would need to christen their MMA ventures in that particular building if they wanted them to be taken seriously by fans and pundits. This installment of "Ghosts of Saitama" will take a look at the trio of shows, ROMANEX and Hero's as substitutions for PRIDE and DREAM as its successor. Unfortunately, none panned out as well as anyone -- FEG, fighters or fans -- would have hoped. In May 2004, 20 fighters descended upon the Saitama Super Arena. Among them were former and future UFC champions Machida, Penn and Josh Barnett. Don Frye, Gary Goodridge and Duane Ludwig, all Octagon veterans, also made appearances. ROMANEX wasn't meant to be an ongoing affair. It was an MMA fling for FEG to see how they would do in the market. While MMA bouts had littered kickboxing-centric K-1 events before, this was the first all-out effort to challenge PRIDE. And judging by the lackluster attendance -- around 15,000 fans showed up -- it was obvious trying to loosen PRIDE's grip on the Japanese MMA landscape would be easier said than done. Those fans in attendance did, at least, witness a good show. Machida came the closest he had or would -- until being knocked out by Mauricio Rua -- to losing when he earned a split decision victory over kickboxer turned part-time MMA fighter Sam Greco. Meanwhile, Penn made his first post-welterweight title win appearance when he stepped inside the ring opposite Duane Ludwig. "The Prodigy" made quick work of "Bang," submitting him in less than two minutes. Goodridge and Barnett each took home technical knockout (TKO) wins but Frye left the Saitama Super Arena empty-handed, neither with a win nor with a loss. His opponent, Yoshihiro Nakao, -- best known for planting a kiss on Heath Herring's lips and subsequently being knocked out for getting so fresh -- shot in for an immediate takedown and the two clashed heads. A river of blood began to pour out of "The Predator's" face so the fight was stopped and ruled a No Contest. Internet favorite and pop locking extraordinaire Genki Sudo continued what countryman Kazushi Sakuraba started when he brutally knocked out Royler Gracie, further removing any mystique the Gracie clan may have had left. The main event saw Kazuyuki Fujita kick the ever-loving snot out of Bob Sapp. At this time, Sapp still seemed damn near invincible. A kickboxing knockout at the hands of Mirko Filipovic and a submission loss to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira aside, "The Beast" was still thought of as a viable force when he stepped inside the ring. "Ol' Ironhead" changed that when he continuously booted Sapp in the head while the American basically just curled into a ball on the canvas and said uncle. "The Beast" went from contender to cartoon overnight. 10 months later, FEG's full-time MMA banner debuted. Hero's was the company's answer to the overwhelming success PRIDE was enjoying. Several fighters from ROMANEX transitioned to Hero's including Machida and Penn who faced off against each other in the inaugural event. The overly plump Hawaiian couldn't overcome the size difference and "The Dragon" took home the decision. SHOOTO's past and present met that night as well when Joachim Hansen took on Caol Uno. The former UFC lightweight contender and "Hellboy" nearly made it to the judges before the Norwegian landed a thunderous knee with seconds remaining in the bout. ROMANEX veterans Goodridge, Sudo and Greco also competed and each came up with a stoppage victory. Even Sapp showed up and performed well, knocking out Min Soo Kim in a little over a minute. The main event saw K-1 legend Jerome Le Banner and Japanese/Korean judoka Yoshihiro Akiyama each competing in only their second MMA bouts. Le Banner had plenty of kickboxing experience but the grappling chops of "Sexyama" were thought to play a factor. They didn't. Akiyama was only to get his opponent on the mat momentarily before Le Banner buried two knees into the judoka's skull. As fun as the fights were, another paltry attendance was FEG's reward. They plugged along with Hero's until late 2007 when they joined forces with several of the minds that made PRIDE the success it was. A new name was needed for a new beginning. Thus, DREAM was born. A lightweight grand prix was the selling point of the new promotion's first show. Japanese MMA heavy hitters like Hansen, Tatsuya Kawajiri, Mitsuhiro Ishida and Shinya Aoki were all featured. Each man won their first round bout -- Aoki did so at the next event after a No Contest the first time around -- with "Hellboy" eventually being crowned the champion at DREAM 5. "Cro Cop" also competed, picking up a win after his first disappointing UFC tenure. Stalwarts of the scene Ikuhisa Minowa and Hayato Sakurai also found themselves on the winning end of their bouts. More of a card catered to hardcore fans, the event drew less than 20,000 people to the Saitama Super Arena. The latest event, DREAM 17, did half that number. UFC 144 is nearly a sellout, looking to bring the number baack up to PRIDE era numbers. We can only hope. Saitama Super Arena deserves better. More from the "Ghosts of Saitama" series: Ghosts of Saitama: After nearly a decade, the traditional New Year's Eve MMA event in Japan likely comes to an end in 2011 Ghosts of Saitama: In 2004, the world's greatest heavyweights descended upon Saitama Super Arena Ghosts of Saitama: Pride FC wastes no time making its debut at Saitama Super Arena in Japan Ghosts of Saitama: The Japanese New Year's Eve war starts with three blockbuster shows

Posted in: mma, event, feg, saitama, arena

Former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz speaks on MMA Uncensored LIVE right now on Spike...

Former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz speaks on MMA Uncensored LIVE right now on Spike TV! UPDATE: Diaz can't discuss marijuana ruling, but has no plans to transition to Boxing and will eventually return to MMA.

Posted in: diaz, mma, spike tv, diaz cant, marijuana ruling

UFC 144 video: Quinton Jackson takes Tokyo, talks MMA career and more

Quinton Jackson and Ariel Helwani take a 40-minute leisurely stroll through Tokyo, Japan, on a recent evening prior to his 205-pound showdown with Ryan Bader in the UFC 144 co main event from the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, on Sat., Feb. 25, 2012. "Rampage" is rather candid throughout most of the video, talking about the energy drink-fueled, sleep-deprived incident that followed his unanimous decision loss to Forrest Griffin at UFC 86: "Jackson vs. Griffin" back in July 2008, among other topics. His rise in mixed martial arts (MMA), which basically took place overseas under the Pride FC banner, as well as his career highs and lows from that point until today, also dominate much of the discussion. And "Rampage," who is likely winding down his professional MMA career, also talks about the legacy that will define him once he calls it quits. All that and more in the comprehensive video above -- enjoy ... if this is your type of thing. For more on the UFC 144 bout between Quinton Jackson vs. Ryan Bader be sure to hit up our complete fight archive right here.

Posted in: ufc, mma, jackson, quinton, career

Spike's MMA Uncensored Live - Preview Cut

submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [2 comments]

Posted in: mma, preview, spike, mattyblayze, spikes mma

Spike’s New MMA Uncensored Live Debuts Thursday Night

Spike TV debuts its new mixed martial arts magazine show on Thursday night at 11 p.m. ET/PT. The first episode of "MMA Uncensored Live" features Dan Henderson and Pride's downfall.

Posted in: mma, spike, thursday, thursday night, spike ’s

USA TODAY/MMA Nation February 2012 Consensus Rankings

February's USA TODAY/MMA Nation Consensus Rankings are now live. Be sure and pick up a hard copy of tomorrow's USA TODAY to see them in print. Based on the premise that all MMA rankings are subjective but that it’s still useful and informative to know who the MMA community as a whole ranks as the best fighters in MMA, we collect and average the rankings of the top MMA sources 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. More details on our methodology in the full entry. NOTE: We have modified our method of gathering our rankings because the strict scheduling requirements of USA TODAY clash with the more irregular schedules of many of the MMA rankings sites. That was causing us to use a different set of sources almost every month. That combined with the small number of sites doing top 25 rankings was causing the Consensus rankings to have a lower "signal to noise" ratio than we would like -- that is if fighters are going to be moving up or down I would like it to be because there has been a change in the consensus opinion, not a change in our sources. Therefore we have cut back our sources to just those sites that we can depend on to update every month. We have also contacted many of the rankers that only publish top 10 lists and asked them to provide top 25 lists. As always we listen to your suggestions and are always working to improve the USAT/SBN Consensus MMA Rankings. Also worth noting is that this month we instituted a rule that if a fighter is active in other weight classes he must have competed within a given weight class within the last 365 days in order to be ranked in that class in an attempt to improve the overall quality of our product. In order to be ranked at all, a fighter must have been active within the last 450 days. Check out the USA TODAY/MMA Nation Consensus Rankings to see who's rising and who's falling.

Posted in: mma, fighter, ranking, consensus, consensus rankings

Inside MMA: Edgar vs. Henderson Breakdown, Dominick Cruz Talks Urijah Faber

Inside MMA airs live on HDNet every Monday night at 8pm ET. Inside MMA Archive More segments after the jump.

Posted in: mma, monday night, mma airs, mma archive, hdnet

UFC 144 Roundtable: Can The UFC Succeed In Japan?

Tim Burke: Dave Meltzer reports that UFC 144 ticket sales are doing very well (currently at 17,000 with a 3.1 million dollar gate). Does this lead you to believe that the UFC could have a bright future promoting events in Japan, or is it meaningless considering it's a sold show (meaning that the UFC was paid a flat rate for the show and ticket sales don't matter to them)? Josh Nason: It's tempting to say, "Yes! Of course!" but let's see how things play out with the crowd, the event, how everything goes this week, etc. I think in general, fans assume that ticket sales equal success when there's a lot of other factors that go into a successful event. Having a full house is a positive though and I'm intrigued if it will be a quiet respectful crowd like in PRIDE or otherwise. That could make for an intriguing viewing experience at home. Matt Roth: I'm honestly not sure. One one hand I think that having fans in the arena is a good thing, especially with the start time of like 9:30 AM local on a Sunday. Saitama Super Arena is 40 minutes outside of Tokyo which means that people want to get there to see the fights. On the other hand it's still hard for me to say this is anything but a vanity project. Yes it evolved from "We're running simultaneous PPVs" to just the solo show, but with the current MMA market in Japan, there's really no reason to believe they will be returning anytime in the near future. And by near future I mean in the next three years. Tim Burke: I believe that the curiosity factor is the main reason for the ticket sales here, and it'll be an uphill battle for the UFC to maintain this sort of interest in Japan, especially with no Japanese fighters in the main or co-main event. But it has to be a positive sign to see that Japanese fans do still care about MMA. The market is there, if the UFC plays their cards right. Sold show or not. Ben Thapa: At the same time, this can be viewed as an investment in the future of Japanese MMA, as the UFC is far, far less shady than PRIDE was in its heyday and how DREAM and K-1 have been handled of late. Despite this not airing live, the cordiality and respectability of the organizers, show runners and others could go a considerable way towards showing people in Japan that fights can be done on a big scale in a yakuza-free manner that is entertaining and features Japanese fighters battling at the highest levels. The Japanese media may not be as aflame about this event as the Brazilians are, but this event could pay off nice dividends in the future. Instead of a "We came, we saw and we conquered" moment, it could be "We came, we saw and we went away leaving behind good impressions of ourselves on this live audience and whatever TV masses we reach". We can build on this! - Herman Edwards Ben Thapa: Of course, I am doing a disservice to organizations that are righting themselves or have been chugging away solidly for all these years. DEEP, Shooto, Pancrase and the others have all built more solid frameworks to develop existing talent than many areas of the United States. Unfortunately, the Japanese gym culture is screwed up in a way that is truly hard to call "talent finding" or "talent building" and that is going to hurt. At least we have Ryo Chonan and his full time MMA gym. "Chenge oppernent! Honebackle is influenza!" T.P. Grant: I think the Japanese MMA fan has been starved of top flight fighters and have been misunderstood by MMA promoters. There seems to be a general sense that Pride was only successful because of the spectacle it created with intros, music, fireworks, giant monitors and rules that geared fights towards finishes but don't forget there were a lot of elite talent in that promotion. Promoters think that Japanese fans need Japanese fighters to cheer for, but again looking back many of the most popular fighters in Japanese MMA history have been foreign to Japan: Rampage Jackson, Ken Shamrock, Cro Cop and Wanderlei Silva. I think the UFC is doing this the right way in coming to Japan. Don't try to be Pride, just be the UFC. The focus in the UFC is all on the fights, so bring elite fighters. Ticket sales to me are a sign that the hardcore Japanese MMA fans are excited that a big time show and elite fighters have returned. Anton Tabuena: The UFC hasn't been there in years, and ticket sales doing great in Japan simply because there are enough hardcore MMA fans in country. No one can really put much meaning in to it aside from that. The Japanese MMA scene is still declining, and what the UFC has shown isn't really enough to grow the sport for the long term. With the UFC in the country, it's easy to assume that that the interest in JMMA is high, but the reality is, after they leave, everything will dry up and return to how it was. Don't get me wrong though, if they visit Japan again a year from now, I think they will still be able to get similar numbers (like a sold-out arena), but again, that's just because they have enough hardcore fans that they can milk. The sport isn't flourishing, and this isn't a case of like Brazil, where you can see massive interest and a fanbase that keeps growing, nor is this a case of them being able to regain the level of interest that PRIDE once had. Kid Nate: couple of things 1) according to Zach Arnold the sold show deal with Dentsu is for a series of fights over the next couple of years. 2) many of the biggest Pride-era MMA events in Japan featured no Japanese fighters in main events. K.J. Gould: I think we need to forget about 'Japanese MMA' as anything meaningful beyond nostalgia. It's a paid show as mentioned, and it'll be interesting to see how many of those sold seats actually have butts in them come fight time. For the first show back the novelty might be enough to fill it, but future shows done at early AM hours in Japan to cater to the PPV prime time in North America might not be so great. By far the bigger picture is 'Asian MMA' both in terms of television revenue - assuming the PPV model doesn't work in Asia like it does in North America - as well as the live show and merchandise revenue, which is where the UFC can clean up if they price it right. The international tours WWE does makes for a significant part of their revenue stream with their domestic PPV shows being down year on year. Even with UFC's downturn in the last couple of years due to various factors, their domestic PPV numbers is still thought to be larger than WWE's global PPV numbers, and that's probably true of Boxing as well considering how many PPV cards UFC puts out. Ben Thapa: On a more serious note, Dentsu is apparently a top of the line media negotiating company and with the might and power behind the UFC, they were barely able to get a sniff in the TV market. Why is this so? Are the TV execs so confident in the various soothsayers that yell MMA is dead in Japan or is there some level of racism and/or exclusivism going on? Where is the adventuresome and fearless spirit that Sakuraba supposedly instilled in so many with his death defying bouts? Fraser Coffeen: Ben - the cynical answer to why the TV market is an issue is that, as was pointed out above, the UFC is trying to run things above the board without shady Yakuza influence, and that hurts them. I guess I view this as no different than any new(ish) market. They'll draw well the first time, but the real proof comes in when they return. Is it one time nostalgia that is bringing fans out? And will they have a good experience, or will the early morning show be just too much of a pain for them? I think that's the real question. They're definitely making choices to maximize the show's PPV appeal, but those choices also hurt the live experience. That's not a bad idea, but it could hurt their next Japan show's live draw. K.J.Gould: I wonder if Gaijin companies always suffer in Japan without a Japanese figurehead to represent them. As good as Mark Fischer can be, I get the feeling in Japan - which has historically always had a strong sense of nationalism - he's always going to be up against that particular roadblock. Plus the Yakuza issue as mentioned, which makes working in Japan even more pointless when you have better long term options in the rest of Asia. Dallas Winston: I'm fascinated to see how this show is received in Japan. The UFC's purchase of Pride left a bad aftertaste because it unfolded more like assassinating the competition than bolstering their roster with a host of elite fighters and staking a claim in a new, lucrative market. The oft-scrutinized decline of Japanese MMA was triggered by Pride's dissolution and there seems to have been a tangible divide between North American and overseas MMA. C'mon, son ... "we are all one." Dana and Lorenzo have opened up in recent years and divulged that they were sappy Pride fanboys just like many of us were, so I'm sincerely hoping that this show is a success and that Japan and its fighters will be an influential partner to improve global MMA rather than a separate faction with emaciated potential. Furthermore, I'd actually love to see the UFC alter their repetitive (and near-stale) formula and add a little Pride flavor to their Japanese shows. Random ideas are letting Lenne Hardt introduce the fighters before they walk to the cage, perhaps splice in a few pyrotechnics and/or bring back the legendary "ramp" from Tito Ortiz's heyday. I think it was obvious that Strikeforce was catering to the Pride nostalgia by accenting their shows subtly with some of the Pride-inspired theatrics, and a slight deviation from their format and paying tribute to Japan/Pride would be a welcome change.

Posted in: ufc, mma, show, japanese, japan

Open discussion: MMA Uncensored Live (Spike) on PRIDE scandal @MMASupremacy @mauroranallo

Spike debuts its new MMA talk show tonight, MMA Uncensored Live, at 11 PM EST/PST. The infamous PRIDE scandal will be discussed.

Posted in: mma, spike, scandal, pride scandal, discussion mma

MMA Uncensored Live Debuts Tonight on Spike TV

MMA Uncensored Live is set to make its long-awaited debut tonight on Spike TV, where it will focus on UFC 144 and the demise of one of MMA’s greatest promotions, PRIDE Fighting Championships, with former PRIDE champion Dan Henderson as the honorary first guest of the show. Spike’s Press Release: Coming to you from the heart of New York City in Times Square, MMA Uncensored Live will feature debate and discussion, interviews, in-depth features, highlights and interaction with the viewers through Twitter, Facebook and other social media channels. We’re gearing up for a premiere on Thursday, February 23 at 11/10c, right after IMPACT WRESTLING. What’s more, we have three fine gentlemen to help you navigate all the news, opinion, interview and rumors we can fit into a half an hour. Let’s meet them now. Craig Carton – Host Craig currently co-hosts one of the most popular morning sports radio shows in the country, WFAN’s “Boomer & Carton” alongside NFL great Boomer Esiason. He’s been in the sports broadcasting game for over twenty years, having started at WGR Buffalo in 1991. Since then, Carton has worked in sports strongholds like Cleveland, Philadelphia and Denver, and has brought his irreverent energy to sports fans across the country through syndicated radio networks. We’re happy to have Craig back, as he also used to host Weekend Pre-Game on Spike. Mike Straka – Fight Expert Mike is a familiar face to any fan of MMA, considering he was the first mainstream media broadcaster to cover the sport. He’s the host of “The MMA Experience” on Fight Now TV, as well as “TapouT Radio” on SiriusXM Sports, and was the host of HDNet’s Fighting Words With Mike Straka. Prior to that, Mike served as vice president and executive producer of FOX News Digital, as well as a FOX News Channel on-air personality. He’s the author of two books, most recently 2011′s “Fighting Words”, published by Triumph Sports. Nate Quarry – Fight Expert Nate “Rock” Quarry is no stranger to Spike audiences. The founding member of Team Quest was Team Couture’s first pick during the first season of Spike’s “The Ultimate Fighter”. He followed up his tenure on TUF with three UFC wins before being stopped in his quest for the Middleweight Title by then champion Rich Franklin. Nate won four of his last six fights, including a fight of the night win over Tim Credeur in September of 2009. We’re excited to have these guys on board, and can’t wait for February 23, when we kick off “MMA Uncensored Live” at 11/10c! We’ll see you there. *** Spike TV announced this morning that one of the true legends of mixed martial arts, Dan Henderson, will be the first guest on the new primetime magazine show “Spike’s MMA Uncensored Live”. “Hendo” is a former Strikeforce and PRIDE champion, and most recently defeated Shogun Rua in an all-time classic at UFC 139. The premiere “MMA Uncensored Live” will also take a look at the rich history of mixed martial arts in Japan as the UFC descends on Saitama for UFC 144. The show will explore the roots of modern MMA, the sport’s meteoric rise, and how the corrupt business practices led to its downfall in Japan. The panel will then breakdown UFC 144, which features a light heavyweight match between Ryan Bader and Japanese favorite Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, as well as a lightweight championship match between Frankie Edgar and challenger Benson Henderson. Join host Craig Carton and fight experts Mike Straka and Nate Quarry on February 23 for the premiere of “Spike’s MMA Uncensored Live”! Payout Perspective: MMA Uncensored Live’s debut will focus tonight on the demise of the PRIDE and their dealings with the Yakuza and other corrupt practices which eventually brought down the biggest MMA promotion at the time. The project was lead by long-time Japanese MMA reporter Daniel Herbertson, whose work was aided by the years of coverage provided by Zach Arnold of FightOpinion.com. Dan Henderson as the honorary first guest is a great choice for the show, as I’m sure he will be able to tell his own stories regarding PRIDE and Japan as a former PRIDE champion. Another interesting storyline here is that initially, Spike TV announced the name of the show as “MMAJunkie Live”, where MMAjunkie.com would be involved in producing the show. In the last month or so, Spike TV changed the name to MMA Uncensored Live and MMAJunkie’s affiliation with the show was no more. Yesterday, MMAJunkie announced via Twitter that the following: We’re no longer involved with @Spike_TV‘s new MMA show but sincerely wish them the best of luck with tomorrow’s #MMAUncensored Live debut — Dann Stupp (@MMAjunkieDann) February 23, 2012 We just couldn’t make this project work (sorry for lack of details), but @Spike_TV will do a good job. Definitely check it out tomorrow. — Dann Stupp (@MMAjunkieDann) February 23, 2012

Posted in: fight, mma, show, sport, spike

Invicta Looks to Build Women’s MMA Long-Term

Invicta FC co-founder Shannon Knapp is putting a plan in action to build women's MMA for the long-term, working alongside, not against, promotions like Strikeforce and Bellator.

Posted in: mma, women, womens mma, invicta, knapp

The 25 Biggest Rivalries in MMA History

In MMA, rivalries sell. Looking back at some of the greatest fights in MMA history one will notice that the majority of them involved some legitimate dislike between the fighters. Even if it was just pre-fight hype, the belief that both guys hated each other is a...

Posted in: mma, mma history, rivalry, mma rivalries, prefight hype

The UFC made an awesome poster and only sold it to 20 of us

The world of MMA memorabilia collecting is a pretty shady and borderline maniacal place. The biggest dealer’s name is Brett, but he has to call himself “Otis” as a form of witness protection because he fears that rabid MMA junkies (no, not those) will mug him and steal his posters. As silly as that might sound, eyeball some of the most obsessive people who collect MMA stuff and you’ll understand. This guy would DEFINITELY have sex with Rickson Gracie in a heartbeat given the chance, but he’s not gay. I’m not even saying that in a prison-induced-circumstances kind of way; it’s really just a higher plane of Greek-Platonic MMA love. I myself have succumbed to the urge to buy many MMA posters over the years, and I have some of the coolest ones out there. PRIDE butterfly poster? Check. Card-autographed Ultimate Fighter 1 finale poster? Check. The Joe Rogan collection? One of each. Card-autographed Randy vs. Big Poopy poster? I have three. So when I read that Zuffa was producing a special UFC 144 poster portraying Quinton Jackson as Godzilla, I was electrified. I assumed that stacks of them would come around like most other UFC posters. I couldn’t find one on eBay, but while jerking off to the poster, my eyes strayed to the bottom and found a UFC store web address. I threw my phone that has Google Wallet on it at my computer monitor in an attempt to order more quickly, but I failed. It appears that the UFC only produced 20 of these posters (and charged $200 apiece for them). A cynic might assume that my quest to obtain one of these babies would end thusly, but not so! I am determined to picket outside of UFC headquarters along with all of the the rape victims and chefs until the UFC decides to print more of them. Better yet, if you’re one of the 20 people who got one, please, for the love of god, give it to me. I’ll pay out the ass for it, if you know what i mean *wink*.

Posted in: ufc, mma, poster, mma stuff, witness protection

Behind The Scenes: The Hate Issue

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

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

Nate Quarry Ready For Thursday Debut Of Spike's MMA Uncensored Live

In the final fight of an eight-plus year career, Nate Quarry lost by second round TKO to Jorge Rivera. Nearly two years later, Rivera debuted on the infrequent ESPN MMA Live, while Quarry kicks off his first major venture into the analyst's chair with MMA Uncensored Live, an hour long MMA news and talk show debuting on Spike Thursday at 11 PM EST. A month removed from his 40th birthday, Quarry finds himself in an unfamiliar place, analyzing and giving praise or criticism to those that he may have trained with and competed against. Quarry said that initially concerned him, but watching some jovial interplay between football analysts and players recently eased some of his mental burden. "I saw that and really hope all the fighters that we cover have that same attitude, but it's a different sport with different attitudes. I know when someone said online or in interviews that I was going to lose, it pissed me off," Quarry said. "It's my job to give perspective. If I sit there and say I'm not going to say anything bad or realistic about a fighter, the show's not going to be good at all. "From a fan's perspective, it's a sport and they're watching it to have fun. As someone now going back into that role as a fan, I hope fighters can understand my perspective. Every time there's a prediction for a fight, someone's going to be pretty pissed off. Hopefully, I don't have half of the fighters in the land hating me," he joked. The show is a weekly venture featuring Quarry, Craig Carton (co-host on WFAN Radio with Boomer Esiason) and author/media personality Mike Straka. The three will broadcast live from Times Square in New York City, debating and discussing everything in the UFC, Strikeforce and Bellator with Twitter interaction from those watching at home. But what will make this a must-watch show in an already crowded MMA media marketplace, one that got more packed with the recent addition of Fuel TV's UFC Tonight? "More than anything, it's less of a sports reporting show talking about the scores that just happened and more of an opinion piece. It's a lot more like a forum than it is a news show. You know when you go to the forums and there's about 90% sh*t talking and 10% intelligence? We're hoping to raise the bar closer to 15%," Quarry quipped. For more on what to expect from the first show, join us after the jump. Quarry is familiar with Spike, a network he appeared on regularly during the first season of The Ultimate Fighter and on five Spike UFC events during his five years in the Octagon. He had done some work on the short-lived 2011 Comcast Sports Net American Cage Fighter show and after some screen tests and follow-ups, he was given his new role. He's been in New York all week as the group continues to prep for tonight's debut. Quarry admits he's bad with names, something Straka has razzed him about -- a dynamic that he thinks people watching will really get into. "What I like most is we're not playing roles. With us, it's like three buddies sitting in our basement and talking about the fights and what's coming up. We all have opinions on them. I've never understood why journalists can never share their opinions. For me, I'm not a journalist. Straka is and he's an opinionated journalist -- more than happy to tell me why he's right and I'm wrong." The new show is one of several MMA related projects Quarry is involved in as he continues his "fun project" Zombie Cage Fighter and The Better Way Back, a group that specializes in helping those with back and spine injuries that uses Quarry as a spokesperson, even naming an award after him. But it's this newest venture that has him most excited. With 100 million potential households, the backing of a major ad-supported cable outlet like Spike and a dynamic subject to talk about, Quarry feels fans will be able to relate to what Uncensored turns out to be. "We're going to be telling the stories and going behind the scenes. This week, we're doing a feature on the Yakuza and PRIDE with stories that have never been told," Quarry said. "It's so close to Real Sports on HBO that it blows me away. Because we're not tied to any one organization, we can tell the stories from every angle. We're going to be talking about the same things that fans are BSing about with their friends. " MMA Uncensored Live airs at 11 PM EST Thursday on Spike TV with Dan Henderson as a guest. Bloody Elbow will have a discussion thread on the site for fans to talk about the show and give their thoughts.

Posted in: mma, show, fighter, spike, quarry

John Morgan: Bellator ready to shine bright

When Bellator Fighting Championships CEO and founder Bjorn Rebney launched his tournament-based MMA promotion in 2008, many MMA pundits saw the start-up company as just another organisation destined for failure. And yet, three-and-a-half years and 59 events later, the promotion appears firmly entrenched in the sport’s landscape. Where can the organisation go from here? Far, says the Chicago-based promoter. “Just based on what’s occurred in the game over the last five or six months, I think we’re the number-two promotion in the space,” Rebney told Fighters Only. “The UFC still holds a dominant position as the number-one, but I think we’ve got an amazing television alliance with Spike TV. The future looks extremely bright.” Yes, that’s Spike TV – the same cable channel that has been the UFC’s television partner since 2005. With the UFC bolting for the Fox family of networks, Spike made a firm commitment to remaining relevant in MMA, and the channel’s parent company, Viacom, recently purchased a controlling interest in Bellator. Needless to say, Rebney is delighted with the surprising turn of events. “We have the greatest television partner you could hope to have in the MMA space, and I think there’s a lot of unbelievable potential for the brand in the coming year and the coming three years,” Rebney adds. “We have the best partners you could hope to have. They wrote the book on TV and MMA, promotion in MMA, marketing and publicising MMA, advertising MMA, reaching the hardcore consumer and reaching the general-market consumer. “It’s very exciting. The future looks good, and we’ve got the best partners you could hope to have moving into it.” Bellator, which currently airs in the US on MTV2, won’t make the transition to Spike TV until 2013, unless a few existing contractual hurdles are cleared. While Rebney is notoriously tight-lipped when discussing deals in progress, he’s unquestionably hopeful an agreement can be reached. “You never know,” Rebney said. “Things could potentially happen earlier, I hope.” There are opportunities, to be sure, but in stark contrast to some past failed promotions, Bellator and its brass seem to be listening to their fans’ suggestions. Don’t like non-title superfights? Good, we’ll get rid of them. Want a way to see the prelim fights? Fine, we’ll stream them online. And, perhaps even more revealing are the company’s ambitious goals, Rebney and his team are looking at growth on a global scale. “We’ve been talking with three different networks in Brazil,” he revealed. “We’re working very hard to get a deal with the right Brazilian television partner so we can start bringing the entire four-hour show – the two-hour preliminaries on Spike.com and the televised event – to the Brazilian audience.” Bellator’s sixth season is expected to feature tournaments in five weight classes, rather than the four featured in past seasons, in order to provide more challengers for the promotion’s champions and eliminating the need for non-title ‘superfights.’ Additionally, matchmaker and talent scout Sam Caplan will continue his commendable efforts of scouring the globe to find the world’s top unsigned talent. The Spike TV transition will unquestionably help the brand grow, especially among the common fan. US viewers currently forced to watch the events in standard definition will be relieved to finally have a widely distributed high-definition option. But there are other minor tweaks that could vastly help the promotion. And moving off of Saturday nights seems the first priority. With The Ultimate Fighter moving to Fridays on FX in 2012, the mid-week will be barren of MMA, and Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday nights would all seem prime real estate. By not going head-to-head with the UFC on Saturdays, Bellator can avoid having their great moments – such as the thrilling fight of the year contender between Mike Chandler vs Eddie Alvarez – being quickly overshadowed by the UFC’s (Dan Henderson vs ‘Shogun’ Rua). Bellator has already announced they will move to a Friday slot when their new season begins this year. “I don’t think we’ll see any dramatic changes for season six,” Rebney said. “The level of the fighters that are fighting for the organisation will continue to improve. I think we saw an amazing leap forward in the qualitative level of the fighters fighting for us this season, and I think it will continue. It will just be slight variations, slight improvements on the production, slight improvements in terms of the fighters, unique new venue alliances, more distribution internationally, including – I hope – Brazil for season six. But we’ll just keep trying to make it better, really. That’s what we do every single day is just try and make it better.” Bellator’s MTV2 ratings have proven a virtual rollercoaster in recent months, but they certainly surpass Strikeforce’s slumping viewership numbers on Showtime. Rebney has no ill-conceived notions of taking down the sport’s premier organisation, the UFC, but he’s also not comfortable remaining stagnant. “We’re just very excited about season six,” Rebney finished. “We’re very excited about what’s coming up next. We’ve got a lot of work to do and a lot of planning, but this should be an unbelievable season. Before you know it, we’re going to blink and be on Spike TV. Things are going in the right direction.” John Morgan is the lead staff reporter for MMA Junkie

Posted in: bellator, mma, promotion, season, rebney

5 Oz. MMA Link Club

Welcome back to another edition of “MMA Link Club”, Five Ounces of Pain‘s weekly smorgasbord of offerings from our brothers and sisters in the MMA community. Enjoy… Benson Henderson Still Haunted by Showtime Kick (5thRound.com) UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar Refines his Stand-Up with Phil Nurse (MiddleEasy.com) Bart Palaszewski Thinks Win Over Hatsu Hioki Will Put Him on Cusp of Title-Shot (Fightline.com) Yoshihiro Akiyama Talks Jake Shields Less than 72 Hours from Fight (Heavy.com) Dominick Cruz and Jon Jones Cross Paths with the World of NASCAR (MMAPayout.com) Dana White Takes Issue with the NSAC (MMAOpinion.com) Miesha Tate Trains for Ronda Rousey in Photos (TheFightNerd.com) Tim Kennedy Would Have Stepped in to Face Ronaldo Souza on March 3 (CagePotato.com) Who is Fighting for Continued Employment at UFC 144? (BleacherReport.com) Sean Loeffler Talks Wild Fight in the Philippines (MMAMania.com) “Rampage” Jackson Discusses his Glory Days in Japan (MMAFighting.com) Joe Lauzon More Interested in Finishing Fights than Having Good Cardio (MMAConvert.com) PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, hatsu hioki, ronda rousey

Anyone that lives in japan that can give status of MMA in japan?

Is MMA a big thing in japan? Is UFC coming in considered intrusive? Do Japanese audience recognize the new fighters? Since the PPV is scheduled for 9 AM Japan time on a sunday, is the japanese audience feeling slightly left out? submitted by lance_klusener [link] [4 comments]

Posted in: mma, japanese, japan, japan time, japanese audience

Dana White Talks UFC's Return to Japan, Culinary Union and Nate Marquardt

TOKYO -- MMA Fighting spoke to UFC president Dana White following Thursday's UFC 144 press conference about the organization's return to Japan, the rise and fall of Japanese MMA, Saturday night's card, the Culinary Union's MMA bill of rights suggestion, the return of Nate Marquardt, and much more.

Posted in: ufc, mma, return, nate marquardt, organizations return

At critical juncture for Japanese MMA, UFC 144's Gomi taking personal responsibility

TOKYO - When it comes to the buildup for this weekend's UFC 144 event, there seems to be as much discussion about what it means to the future of the sport in Japan as to what it means for the 24 fighters on the card. Former PRIDE lightweight champ Takanori Gomi believes that's the right approach. In fact, "The Fireball Kid" seems far less concerned about preparing specifically for replacement opponent Eiji Mitsuoka than he is for shouldering the future of MMA in his native land.

Posted in: mma, future, fireball kid, responsibility tokyo, right approach

UFC released the entire Pride FC Rampage vs. Arona fight, and it’s still awesome

If you can envision inhabiting the soul of a carton of eggs in the middle of a highway with two Pontiac Aztecs coming directly at you, then the impact would pale in comparison to the gravity-bending slam Rampage Jackson put on Ricardo Arona at Pride Critical Countdown 2004. It was as if Ricardo pissed off the entire scientific field of physics, and the universe needed some violent payback. If you've never seen Rampage vs. Arona in Pride FC, then I'm not sure if you can truly call yourself an MMA fan. Don't be that guy at the party that shakes his head and ignorantly agrees when your weekend MMA conversation ventures to the land of Japanese MMA. Know your Pride FC history. Ask yourself: What would Sakuraba do? Take it easy, silly. Sakuraba would watch this full Pride Critical Countdown 2004 fight between Rampage Jackson and Ricardo Arona, compliments of UFC.com. Why are you still reading this? The must epic slam in MMA history is right below this paragraph -- and you're still worried about words? The English language has no meaning when Rampage is about to power slam your head onto a hard canvas. {loadposition rampagearona}

Posted in: mma, rampage, pride, pride fc, arona

UFC 144: 'Confident and comfortable Ryan Bader plans to upset 'Rampage' Jackson's return to Japan

Once hailed as one of the most promising Light Heavyweight prospects in mixed martial arts (MMA), Ryan Bader seeks to get back to the top of the of the Ultimate Fighting Championship's (UFC) 205-pound division when he takes on the always dangerous Quinton Jackson at UFC 144 this weekend (Feb, 25, 2012) at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. Coming up the ranks at the same time as current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones, the two were destined to meet in the Octagon to see who would catapult into title contention and who would take a step back and have to start from scratch. The pair went toe-to-toe at UFC 126 last year at on Feb. 5, 2011, in a bout that saw Jones have his way with "Darth," finishing him in the second round. The loss -- his first-ever -- was not one of Bader's most inspiring performances. Jones went on to receive his title shot much-deserved title shot. And the rest, as they say, is history. Bader, on the other hand, was next matched up against Tito Ortiz, whose career, it appeared, would come to an end at any given time. Heading into the bout as the favorite, Bader once again tasted defeat as "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy" blasted his chin with a well-placed left hand and then sunk in a fight-ending guillotine to give the dazed All American collegiate wrestler his second consecutive loss. At a crossroads in his MMA career, Bader was given yet another opportunity to redeem himself inside the Octagon when he was matched up with Jason Brilz at UFC 139. Bader finally got back in the win column, defeating Brilz via first round knockout and earning a much-needed win and confidence boost. Three months removed from his latest victory, Bader heads "Far East" to meet Japan's adopted son, "Rampage," in a fight that can either catapult him right back into the mix or send him tumbling all the way down to the bottom of the pecking order. A recent guest on Pro MMA Radio, Bader talked about what it was like to lose two consecutive losses after starting his MMA career undefeated (12-0), and what he has done in preparations to upset "Rampage" in Japan. Check it out: "I'm a competitor, I come from a college wrestling background. And I mean, you lose, I didn't lose all that often, but I did lose in college, especially in freshman year and all that. I had a rough patch in my junior year and I had to work through that and get back to my senior year and make All American again. It's the same here in MMA, you go on a streak of wins, and I ended up having a loss to Jon Jones, who know has been running through people and all that, so after that loss, it took me a good week, where I thought nothing than about that loss, more so, because I did not fight to my potential. I felt flat out there, Jon Jones is that goo too, but I felt so flat and didn't lay it out on the line. You get over those, but then having two losses in a row, especially to one you're supposed to win, you just have to get back to the drawing board and make changes and that's what we did." On losing to former UFC 205-pound champion Tito Ortiz, a fight he was favored to win going into: "I don't make excuses, I went in there and he (Tito) hit me on the chin and I went down and I don't remember from then, I came to at the very end when I was getting choked and I was almost out, so it's just one of those things where you get hit, it's MMA, small glove and big men. If you get hit in the chin, it happens you know." On Jackson's aggressive style and what he feels he has to do to get the job done at UFC 144: "I hear a lot of people saying that Rampage will have the home field advantage and this and that, but I don't think that's true, we both gotta fly over there, we both have to deal with the jet lag, were both fighting in the morning. I don't really think it is like in the PRIDE days, where everyone knows him. If anything it puts more pressure on him to perform, to try and get back to his roots and perform like the PRIDE days and all that. In his last couple of fights, he comes out trying to box you and trying to knock you out, tying to walk you down, he's not really fast so, he slowly uses his head movement. He has got a great chin and he can take shots, so he knows that he can just walk through it to land his big shots. He wants to take one to give one you know? The keys to victory for us to mix it up, not let him get in his comfort zone, not just go out there and take him down all the time, we have to mix up our hands and kicks and take downs. I have so much confidence going through this camp, I feel comfortable, I know what I'm doing with my footwork and setup and my striking wrestling and I look forward to this fight make mine and my camps predictions come true. If you beat Rampage your right up there." With Quinton looking to put on a show for his Japanese fans, Bader has a tall task at hand in trying to upset "Rampage" and the fans at Saitama Super Arena. Not lacking any confidence, the bout against Jackson could prove to be a career-changer, not just for Bader, but for Jackson, too. Does "Darth" have what it takes to upset the heavy-hitter Jackson? Or will "Rampage" hand Bader his third loss in four bouts? Opinions, please.

Posted in: ufc, mma, jackson, loss, bader

How Boys at an Orphanage in Singapore Benefit From Mixed Martial Arts

Evolve MMA fighters and trainers at the Boys Town Home in Singapore Evolve MMA has been extremely successful because people in Singapore are prepared to pay handsomely for the privilege of learning from world champions in a state-of-the-art facility. It was only founded in 2008 but already has an enormous base of loyal customers as well as a fight team which is widely regarded as the best in Asia. However while Singapore is one of the richest countries on earth, not everyone there is wealthy and for children from impoverished backgrounds access to a training center as sophisticated as Evolve MMA would be financially out of reach. This presented a problem for Chatri Sityodtong, the Evolve MMA founder and owner, because he himself comes from a humble background, as do the majority of his fighters and trainers, and he wanted to give opportunities to children who found themselves in a similar situation. When most people think of mixed martial arts (MMA) the image is of two muscular athletes doing battle inside the cage but many, including Chatri, believe that the sport has a power to change lives which goes far beyond actual fighting. That's why at Evolve MMA young professionals will find themselves learning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) or hitting a heavy bag alongside children from some of the most disadvantaged backgrounds in Singapore. Ask Chatri what he is most proud of and he won't point at the accomplishments of DREAM Lightweight Champion Shinya Aoki or homegrown hero Radeem Rahman, but at a little known local program he started just over two years ago. "Boys Town Home is Singapore's home for orphans, abandoned children, and underprivileged kids and we allow them to train under our world champions at Evolve MMA for free. It is open to any kids there who maintain a certain GPA which is a great way to encourage all of the kids to study hard and to behave well at Boys Town Home because they all want to train with our world champions." Much has been made of the team of trainers at Evolve MMA which includes legends from the worlds of BJJ, boxing, Muay Thai and wrestling to the extent that one might assume the entire organization had been set up in order to fine tune the talents of elite level mixed martial artists. According to Chatri, though creating world champions was not the only thing he had in mind when he first founded the facility in 2008. "At Evolve MMA, our mission is to make this world a better place through the power of martial arts. Martial arts changes lives because it instills confidence, mental strength, discipline, courage, humility, tenacity, work ethic, and so much more. Most of us on the Evolve Fight Team and Evolve Instructor Team have overcome poverty and hardship through the power of martial arts and it is the circle of life in action for us to be able to serve as role models and hope for the future for the kids of Boys Town Home." An extremely successful self-made multimillionaire with an MBA from Harvard, Chatri is well known as an entrepreneur in Singapore. It hasn't always been like this for the Evolve MMA owner though and that's one of the reasons he set up the Boys Home Town project. "It is something very close to my heart because I know what it feels like to eat only one meal a day. At one point in my life, my parents lost everything and became homeless. Our family lived through some very tough times together and I remember my father selling fruits on the streets of Pattaya. I want Evolve MMA to be like another family to the kids of Boys Town Home. The most important thing is to give these children a sense of hope and a path from which to launch themselves out of poverty and hardship." It is also a fact that historically the best fighters have tended to come from low income backgrounds. MMA is something of an exception to this rule because of the proliferation of college educated wrestlers in the US but Chatri (above) says that finding prospective fighters is far from his mind. "Some of the boys now want to become professional fighters in the future but I don't encourage it, for me, it is more important that they inherit the values of martial arts such as a desire for continuous self-improvement, humility, respect, courage, work ethic and discipline. The lessons from martial arts will help them apply themselves in every area of life. I truly believe in martial arts as a platform to unleash human potential in all areas of life." Among the Evolve MMA fighters and trainers to make a recent visit to the Boys Town Home was former Muay Thai World Champion Yoddecha Sityodtong. He has a remarkable life story because he was a homeless orphan who was ensnared into a gang and forced to work in conditions akin to slavery when he was just 7 years old. He was fortunate to be rescued four years later by a Muay Thai fighter called Vichai Sityodtong and Yoddecha would go on to compete regularly at the famous Lumpini Stadium and become one of the most famous Thai fighters of his generation. Surviving such a traumatic upbringing makes Yoddecha more qualified than most to tell the children at the Boys Town Home about the potential which martial arts has to make a positive impact on their lives. "When Chatri approached me about joining him to give a speech at Boys Town Home I was happy because I know what it feels like to be an orphan and to live on the streets with no food, to have no one love me. When I see the kids at Boys Town Home, it reminds me of when I was a child. Chatri and I have known each other for around 25 years from our days at Sityodtong Camp together. So it is unbelievable that we are here now and that we can help these kids together." As mixed martial arts continues to grow at an astounding rate in South East Asia it is refreshing to see that as well as a source of entertainment the sport can also be a force for good in far flung places such as Singapore. Chatri would also like to add the following message, "I would like to thank Richard Wee, one of our student leaders at Evolve MMA, for helping to bring Evolve MMA and Boys Town Home together. Without his invaluable support and leadership, this special program would have never happened."

Posted in: mma, art, boy, home, town

Takanori Gomi Thinks UFC 144 Will Help Reignite Japanese MMA

TOKYO -- Watch below as lightweight Takanori Gomi talks about his UFC 144 fight against Eiji Mitsuoka, his return to Japan, the rise and fall of Japanese MMA, the differences between Japanese and American MMA fans and his current losing streak.

Posted in: mma, japanese, takanori gomi, japanese mma, eiji mitsuoka

Ghosts of Saitama: After nearly a decade, the traditional New Year's Eve MMA event in Japan likely comes to an end in 2011

The roar of the crowd ... the sound of bare feet shuffling against canvas ... the unexplainable electricity inside the building. They are all mere echos today as crowds in the tens of thousands have dwindled down to a fraction of that amount. The Saitama Super Arena, host of this Saturday's (Feb. 25) UFC 144 event, has been home to some of the greatest mixed martial arts (MMA) events in the history of the sport. "Ghosts of Saitama" will take a look at some of those moments, forever preserved and never forgotten. We all assumed it would never end. Beginning in 2003, Japanese combat sports -- both mixed martial arts (MMA) and kickboxing -- shone brightest on the last day of the year. Events clocking in at five, six or even seven hours full of pomp and pageantry ushered tens of thousands of fans into the New Year each and every December 31. As the years passed, the MMA boom across the Pacific went from a sizzle to a simmer. The amount of New Year's Eve (NYE) events went from three to two and then finally to one in 2007, with Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, being its home beginning the following year. As fans and fighters entered 2012, it wouldn't seem remiss to even question if there was any heat left at all in what appeared to be a corpse. DREAM, the last bastion of the spectacular heights the sports reached in Japan, promoted only three shows last year, down from four the year prior. But, it seemed there would always be NYE. It was a tradition, dagnabit. And resources were frantically pooled to ensure the show would see the light of day. Less than eight weeks ago, Fighting and Entertainment Group (FEG) -- promoter of DREAM and K-1 -- held what very well may be the last NYE card fans will get to enjoy. Quite a few of them -- myself included -- realizing this might be the final chance to see MMA as what it once was gave their DVR the night off and stocked up on the energy drinks and junk food. They prepared for an all-nighter just like in the old days. After all the joy NYE had given fans, it was the least that could be done in return. Even before it began, a somber tone surrounded the event at the Saitama Super Arena. After the previous year's incarnation drew such poor ratings, television powerhouse Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) opted -- for the first time since the NYE events began in 2003 -- not to carry the show. Without TBS' muscle, FEG and Japanese legend Antonio Inoki struggled to garner much interest. Undaunted, they pressed forward and continued with the "Fight for Japan" theme DREAM had started earlier in the year. Stateside, the event began a little past midnight on Dec. 31, 2011, and continued into the morning light. For the Japanese fans in attendance, they made their way into Saitama Super Arena in the early afternoon only to see the show's conclusion -- the dawning of the New Year -- mere moments after the main event of Fedor Emelianenko taking on Satoshi Ishii ended. "The Last Emperor" scored a quick knockout against the overmatched Japanese judoka and in doing so, picked up his second straight win after dropping three fights for Strikeforce. Hours earlier, the festivities began with a brutal knockout slam courtesy of Yusup Saadulaev. He put Hideo Tokoro to sleep in a reserve bout for the one-night grand prix to crown DREAM's first bantamweight champion. In the tournament proper, former World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) star Antonio Banuelos and Bibiano Fernandes each earned the judges' nod to advance to the finals where the Brazilian became a two-division champ after stopping Banuelos in less than 90 seconds. Two K-1 MAX kickboxing bouts took place as did two DREAM MMA fights. Japanese stalwarts Tatsuya Kawairi and Hayato Sakurai each picked up a win that night. The two sports were -- like they were last year -- fused together when DREAM and DEEP veteran Katsunori Kikuno took one cosplay aficionado Yuichiro Nagashima. The anime-loving kickboxer had score an impressive knockout over Shinya Aoki seconds into the MMA round the previous year after the submission wizard spent the entire kickboxing round fooling around and killing time. Nagashima wouldn't be so lucky this year as Kikuno took the bout much more seriously than his predecessor and scored a second round technical knockout (TKO) for MMA. The most dominant women's MMA fighter showed up to do her thing, too. Megumi Fujii added another arm to her trophy case after picking up a quick submission win over her opponent. Meanwhile, two DREAM champions made successful title defenses. Hiroyuki Takaya -- who had won the featherweight title from the aforementioned Fernandes -- retained against Takeshi Inoue while Aoki kept his stranglehold on the Japanese lightweight scene by outpointing Satoru Kitaoka. The highlight of the evening for many were the Inoki Genome Federation (IGF) rules bouts that took place. IGF is Inoki's professional wrestling promotion and as such, each of the four bouts was a display of Japan's take on the sport otherwise known as puroresu. There was the wacky -- Kazuyuki Fujita submitting Peter Aerts with a Boston Crab and Jerome Le Banner pounding out former UFC champ Tim Sylvia -- and then there was the awesome. The latter comprised a tag-team match between the team of Kazushi Sakuraba and Katsuyori Shibata taking the team of Atsushi Sawada and Shinichi Suzukawa. Then there was the insanely fun catch-wrestling display Josh Barnett and Hideki Suzuki put on, which delighted old school fans of Pride Fighting Championships' predecessor Union of Wrestling Forces International (UWFi). On top of all that, you had Inoki coming out on a cross during an intermission performance that only the giant-jawed legend could have dreamt up. It was that type of showmanship and over-the-topness that NYE was known for. And we may never see it again.More from the "Ghosts of Saitama" series: Ghosts of Saitama: In 2004, the world's greatest heavyweights descended upon Saitama Super Arena Ghosts of Saitama: Pride FC wastes no time making its debut at Saitama Super Arena in Japan

Posted in: mma, dream, event, year, saitama

Japanese MMA Scene Primer: The Shooto Edition

In honor of the UFC’s impending return to Japan this weekend (UFC 144! Osu!), yesterday I took a snapshot of a small part of the Japanese MMA scene and showed it to you in the form of an imaginary slide projected onto the wall by an imaginary slide projector. Today: slides from my family vacation to Disney World. Also, Shooto. Remember when every young buck MMA fan was tuning into the UFC but only a select few connoisseurs (such as ourselves) were watching “that other show” on the Versus channel? The one where the little guys fought like crazy and put on insane technical displays of martial prowess? That’s right, I’m talking about the WEC. Well, Shooto was the WEC before the WEC was even an itch in Scott Adams and Reed Harris’ collective pants. Shooto existed in an early, not-quite-MMA incarnation back in the 1980s, but it morphed into something more like modern MMA in the mid-90s. If PRIDE was like the UFC on steroids and Pancrase was the long-running American minor league promotion King of the Cage, Shooto was like Golden Gloves boxing (if the Golden Gloves let pros compete). There were differences in the rules, like, if a fighter got knocked down in Shooto he received a standing eight-count, and amateur and pro fighters were divided into different classes based on their experience level. What really set Shooto apart, though, were the fighters, which were the lightest-weight fighters around. Back then, when the UFC was featuring physically big dudes like David “Tank” Abbott, Randy Couture and Tito Ortiz, there were competitors out there that were so small, there was literally nowhere else they could fight. (A 123-pound fighter in 2002 could fight in Shooto or in his own backyard right next to the hibachi. That was about it.) But you know what? The nexus of “tiny fighters” that Shooto created made for some fierce competition, and eventually it made for some fierce competitors. When the UFC wanted to crown its first 155-pound champion, they matched Jens Pulver up with Shooto champ Caol Uno, and fans in the know labeled Pulver as the underdog in that matchup. That’s how good Shooto’s top fighters were. One of Shooto’s earliest stars was Rumino Sato, who never could seal the deal and win a Shooto championship (Uno kept stymieing that), but damn could he pull off some slick submissions. In 1997, he heelhooked Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Ricardo Botelho – in an era when no one dreamed of being able to tap a BJJ black belt – and a couple years after that he snagged a six-second flying armbar submission on American Charlie Diaz. As for champs, Shooto crowned quite a few future superstars, such as Takanori Gomi, Joachim Hansen, Hayato Sakurai, Anderson Silva (!), Jake Shields and Shinya Aoki. Like I said, if you managed to become one of Shooto’s cream of the crop, you were damn good at fighting. Shooto’s still doing their thing today. Their events aren’t huge – some have taken place in gyms, or in venues about as big as high school gymnasiums – but as a fight league/sanctioning body, it’s managed to expand internationally. The franchise has never really taken hold here in the States; however, Brazil loves themselves some Shooto, and there are outposts everywhere from Australia to Bulgaria to Sweden. Compared to the UFC’s global empire, that may not sound like much, but it’s impressive. And to tell you the truth, if I had to fly to Japan and cover one fight show, I would want it to be a Shooto event above all others. But hey, maybe that’s just me being a snobby MMA connoisseur.

Posted in: ufc, mma, fighter, shooto, shooto ’s

Kickboxing Ontario to oversee MMA in province

The Liberal government has given its stamp of approval to Kickboxing Ontario to be the governing body for amateur MMA.

Posted in: mma, kickboxing, ontario, kickboxing ontario, province

Nate Quarry Makes the Transition From Fighter to Broadcaster

When Spike TV first got into the mixed martial arts game, Nate Quarry was a part of it, as a contestant on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter. Seven years and a 10-fight UFC career later, Quarry is back on Spike this week as one of the hosts of MMA Uncensored Live, Spike's new studio show, which premieres on Thursday at 11 p.m. Quarry said it never even crossed his mind when he started fighting in a cage that he could actually become a professional broadcaster, and he said making any kind of a living at all "is beyond a dream come true." What Quarry says viewers will see from him is as simple as one former fighter discussing his passion for MMA. "It's something I enjoy doing," Quarry said. "I had a small show on the West Coast, American Cage Fighter, on Comcast Sports Net, and I enjoyed doing that, sitting around with other fighters and talking about the game." As a new and still relatively small sport, MMA hasn't had many opportunities for former athletes to make a living in broadcasting the way former players in the NFL or NBA or Major League Baseball can. But Quarry thinks he can be a trailblazer on that front, and he also thinks his background is going to make him a strong interviewer who isn't afraid to ask tough questions. "Most journalists are coming from a position of being fans and having watched the sport, but I'm coming from a position of being a fighter and I know what it's like," Quarry said. "I can ask Anthony Johnson why he can't make weight and it's not disrespectful because I've made weight every time I've fought." Quarry didn't go to school to learn to become a broadcaster, but he says he learned public speaking in a surprising way: His upbringing as a Jehova's Witness. Quarry left the religion as an adult but the emphasis the Jehova's Witnesses place on every member being a preacher helps Quarry to this day. "My formal training has been that I was raised as a Jehova's Witness as a child, from birth until about 20 years of age or so," Quarry said. "They have kids who do Bible readings or little talks at the church. From the age of 7 I was doing a Bible reading, taking a chapter of the Bible and reading a few verses of it and then talking about it, and then when you're done you're critiqued on it and told how well you spoke. So from a very young age I worked on this." Spike TV had a long and mutually beneficial relationship with the UFC, but that relationship has come to an end, and the network and the UFC have butted heads more recently. Quarry said he isn't sure whether the UFC will allow MMA Uncensored Live to show highlights, or whether the UFC will encourage its fighters to appear on the show, but Quarry himself makes clear that he remains a UFC fan. "I hope the UFC will see what a great show MMA Uncensored Live is and they're going to want to work with us, give us their footage, send their fighters to talk to us because it's good exposure and we're doing a phenomenal job of getting the word out there and getting people interested in the fighters, so it benefits everyone," Quarry said. "I don't know the relationship with Spike, but I know we at MMA Uncensored aren't battling anybody, we're not counter-programming any of the shows. The UFC is the biggest game in town and we'll be talking about the UFC." Quarry describes the show as an unscripted conversation, "as if you're hanging out with three of your buddies talking about the upcoming card and who you think is going to win." Spike is joining a crowded space, alongside HDNet's Inside MMA, ESPN2's MMA Live and FUEL's UFC Tonight and UFC Ultimate Insider, but Quarry said he thinks there's room for everyone. "I think HDNet with Bas Rutten has always been the gold standard because Bas has been around fighting forever and he's a great personality, and I like other fighters I've seen doing jobs like this like Kenny Florian," Quarry said. "If we get good ratings that doesn't mean Bas Rutten is going to be homeless because nobody is tuning into his show. I think there's room for all these shows to be successful."

Posted in: ufc, mma, show, fighter, quarry

Ken Pavia shares all kinds of awesome stuff with us about India's Super Fight League

MiddleEasy: First off, can you tell us about your numerous positions in the MMA world? Ken Pavia: When I sold my previous company MMA Agents I had a vision of lying on a secluded beach for a few years and turning my phone off, but when the announcement hit numerous opportunities were brought to me - a few of which were too good to pass up and I’m very lucky to have a dedicated team capable of taking advantage and maximising these opportunities. I first took the job as VP Business Development for Takedown (TKDN) a publicly traded company – my role with TKDN is to aggregate MMA content for re-broadcast - and I utilised my network of promoters who I really enjoyed working with. I then took a position as the CEO of the Super Fight League (SFL) in India, which will soon be the pre-eminent MMA Organisation of the region. The Indian team is without equal in the industry I believe, and if you miss Pride you have to check out our show. ME: How exactly did you get involved with Super Fight League? KP: Raj Kundra who’s quite the celebrity in India and is a serial entrepreneur took a trip to Beverly Hills and asked for a meeting. There was immediate chemistry and we felt our synergies could create something incredible and thus was born the Super Fight League. ME: Has your work as an agent had an effect on how you operate as a CEO? KP: I think 20 years as a sports agent and 8 in the MMA space has helped me cultivate deep rooted relationships that have prepared me for this opportunity. Ultimately I rely on those relationships for the success of the business. It was invaluable experience and 8 years didn’t happen over night. ME: Realistically, how big a crowd are you expecting for your first event? KP: Our first event is going to be held in a 5,000 seat venue and we will sell out. We’re going for a smaller venue in the first show, our second and third are in 12,000 plus seat venues and we’ll hopefully sell those out too. ME: The YouTube deal: does this mean that all fights from Super Fight League will be free or do YouTube have a PPV model in mind? KP: Presently the model is that all of the fights will be available online for free. There is no PPV model in place at this time so everyone can enjoy it worldwide. ME: Ok, so break down the format of Super Fight League as a whole. Is this a league proper or just in name? KP: It’s a league in name – it’s a fight organisation by American standards but by virtue of translation it’s more of a league in Indian standards. We know it as an organisation though. ME: The format of the events looks different to that which Western audiences are used to; something you call ‘sportertainment’. What exactly does this mean? KP: The Indian audience has never experienced MMA so we’re giving them a reason to come to the event. There will be music and chart topping Bollywood acts performing on the night and all our adverts say ‘come for the concerts, stay for the fights’. Our goal is to develop a solid following that will come for the fights. ME: Would SFL consider things like the ONE FC network in order for Indian MMA fighters to gain more exposure? KP: We have established training facilities in India specifically to develop Indian talent. There has not been a domestic opportunity for the advancement of Indians in MMA so far, many of their athletes have chosen different paths. The SFL is committed to developing home grown Indian MMA talent. ME: We have ONE FC based in Singapore, Road FC in Korea, Legend FC in China, DARE in Thailand and now SFL in India all looking like they will have a big 2012. In your opinion, what will hold Asian MMA back this year, and what can be done to improve the chances of success? KP: I think there are a lot of promotions thriving in Asia and competition is healthy - the more MMA that is available to the consumer the more popular the sport will become. I’ve already had dialogue with One FC and they share my sentiment that it’s important for us to work together to advance the sport. I think the sky’s the limit. I rarely agree with Dana White but I do agree with what he said; that we are only scratching the surface for the potential of MMA - worldwide - not only in Asia. ME: With the controversy which constantly circles around Indian cricket, people may assume that regulations in MMA will be lax, or fights will be 'worked’. Can you talk about how regulation of MMA is going to work in India? KP: Presently we’re working very closely with the Indian government to establish national commissions. We’re utilising time tested rules that exist in other jurisdictions and we know the importance of government regulation for this industry. ME: As a former agent, what do you make of the Overeem/Golden Glory situation? KP: I don’t know enough of the facts to have an intelligent respose to that – I only know what I read and I know that what you read isn’t always the right interpretation. ME: What do you think about the possibility of Zuffa bringing The Ultimate Fighter to India in the near future? KP: I think anything that educates the Indian crowd about the sport and the rules and regulations will be a good thing. I’m not opposed to a TV show that shows Indians what MMA is all about. ME: You got an 'FU' from Lorenzo Fertitta on Twitter. How does that make you feel? KP: I’m not in a popularity contest. I have a job to do and I’m focused on that. I have thick skin and I’ve never been focused on what others think of me to do my job. ME: Ok, last question and back to Super Fight League. You have James Thompson and Bob Sapp lined up for your first event and you have six more events planned. Do you have any exclusives for the Middle Easy readers as to who may be headlining future SFL cards? If not, I’d like to suggest Minowaman. KP: Minowaman is someone we’d definitely look at- he’s very popular in the Asian markets. We’re going to be making a series of announcements in the very near future – there will be 3 international fights and 5 fights feat Indians on the next cards and once the ink dries on the contracts we’ll be announcing the names. ME: Thanks for your time Ken, and all the best for Super Fight League. KP: It’s always a pleasure and I appreciate the coverage and Middle Easy is actually one of the sites I read regularly, I really enjoyed the Baroni paint balling feature.

Posted in: fight, mma, league, kp, indian

The Ankle Injury To Sean Loeffler That Ended UFC On Fuel TV Fight Before It Began

Sean Loeffler was supposed to fight Buddy Roberts as a preliminary fight on UFC on Fuel TV: Ellenberger vs. Sanchez. He was on target with his weight, confident that his gameplan and training would lead to victory and warming up in the back rooms when disaster struck. A misstep led to a foot injury and despite his best efforts to tough the pain out and continue the show, ringside doctors and UFC organizers called the fight off. Loeffler might be the best storyteller in MMA that I've heard yet and the disappointment of the injury's timing and the cancellation of the long awaited fight on the biggest stage in MMA is clear as crystal in his words. However, Sean has a great sense of humor and full bodied descriptions of his emotions, experiences and thoughts abound in the interview he gave to the Verbal Submission, a weekly radio show run by MMA Mania's Brian Hemminger, Bloody Elbow's Ben Thapa and Gerry Rodriguez (who was cageside as a member of the photography corps). A short excerpt is included below and the full first half of the transcribed interview can be found at MMA Mania:Sean Loeffler: Yeah, as you guys know, I've been fighting professionally for 12 years through freaking every fight fight promotion across the planet and I've been pretty successful. It seemed like my time was pretty much due. I'd never felt better going into training camp with my coaches and with my preparation and my conditioning. I didn't spend one minute in the sauna. I just dieted. I walk around at 218 and I'm 6'3 and I didn't have to sauna for this fight. I just sat in the bath tub for an hour and was 185. It was kinda funny because, a little precursor, and I know you guys are just gonna roll your your eyes and go, "Oh man," but my girlfriend, the morning of my fight, she woke up to go get her hair extensions in and she goes to get her bag and the mirror had broke in her jewelry bag before she left the room and I didn't really think about that. Then one of my coaches texted me on the way to the arena saying, "Hey, stretch out real good. I had a bad dream. Just no injuries," and then 30 minutes before I fought, I only got injured four minutes before our fight but 30 minutes before I fought, my best friend text messaged my coach, "Tony, how's Sean looking," and Tony put, "He's injured, he's not fighting....LOL just kidding, I've never seen him better!" I was four minutes away from getting ready and Burt [Watson] from the UFC, you know Burt and all the guys that run the show are like, "Hey, you're on deck. Are you ready to go?" and I'm like, "Never been more ready. This guy's about to meet a bullet called my right hand," and my coach says, "Okay, one more hard blow," which to the audience out there means a really intense minute of work after you're done warming up to just get that little bit of sweat and keep going because we like to compete on the second wind as they call it in fighting so we did that 20 minute hard workout, took a five minute break and one more hard blow before we walked out. [Cue ominous music...] What are you waiting for? Go check out the first half on MMA Mania! The complete audio of the Loeffler interview can be found at roughly the 47 minute mark of the February 19th, 2012 edition of the Verbal Submission.

Posted in: fight, mma, minute, i didnt, loeffler

Japanese MMA Scene Primer: The Pancrase Edition

The UFC returns to Japan this weekend with UFC 144: “Stay Up Extremely Late”, and the event marks the first time the Octagon has been officially erected in the country since UFC 29 back in 2000 (and I say “officially” because you can bet the Yakuza put up an Octagon in their downtown Tokyo office to lop dudes’ heads off in). Of course, we all know that for the longest time the MMA scene in the Land of the Rising Sun was big – bigger than what was taking place here in the States, bigger than anything going on anywhere else in the world. And sure, the late PRIDE Fighting Championships gets the credit for packing thousands upon thousands into stadiums, but the truth is PRIDE was never always the only thing going in Japan. There was Shooto, which was where the little guys battled it out (think: the WEC’s well-respected grandfather). There was Smackgirl, where the ladies fought (duh). There was RINGS, which was what you’d get if a bunch of pro-wrestlers tried to break into the MMA business. There was Vale Tudo Japan, which was to PRIDE what the Neanderthal is to modern man. And there was Pancrase. What the heck was Pancrase, you ask? Good question. When the UFC was bold and new and making its first mark on pay-per-view, and heroes like Ken Shamrock and Dan Severn were Octagon stars, Pancrase was some sort of unknown quantity to burgeoning MMA fans, alluded to and spoken of with respect by commentators and fighters alike during UFC broadcasts. We were told Shamrock had been a “King of Pancrase”, which was the Pancrase organization’s equivalent to champ and somehow served to qualify him as a kind of badass, and later, that same label was used to pump up the resumes (and legends) of Bas Rutten and Frank Shamrock. But no one really had a firm grasp on what it meant to be a King. Did it make a fighter on par with the UFC’s best? Could a King defeat a UFC champ? Sadly, Pancrase’s incursion into the US pay-per-view market back then didn’t do the organization any favors. At the time, UFC events came about three to five times a year, and fans like myself were starving for the kind of action we’d witnessed in the Octagon. What we got instead when we tuned into Pancrase was… laughable. Fighters wore humungous boots, whacked each other with open-handed slaps, and grabbed onto the ropes of the ring whenever caught in a submission (grabbing the ropes was a “get out of jail free” card). Maybe that sort of thing was cool to watch for the Japanese market, but those of us watching here in the States had to be restrained from putting our shoes through our television screens. Add to that the rumor that Pancrase had the occasional worked (i.e., outcome predetermined) fight, and man, that was all she wrote. Thankfully, just as the UFC evolved to adopt the Unified Rules, so too did Pancrase evolve, shedding the lame boots, open-handed slaps and rope grabbing for “real” MMA-style competitions. And though becoming a King of Pancrase never really came to mean as much as winning a UFC or PRIDE belt, a number of respected MMA studs earned themselves that moniker. There was Sanae Kikuta, whose ace grappling enabled him to snag an Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling Championship, and Nate Marquardt, who went on to fight for the UFC belt, plus beasts like Josh Barnett, Ricardo Almeida and Yuki Kondo. In terms of just plain old competitors, Pancrase had even seen the likes of Chael Sonnen, Paul Daley and Evan Tanner get into the ring. Pancrase is still alive and kicking and churning out shows today, which, given the lifespan of the average MMA promotion, certainly means the organization can be considered a successful one. They’re not the monstrosities of pageantry and pomp that you’d see if you went to a DREAM event, or what you’d see if you took a time machine back to when PRIDE was ruling the world. No, in many ways, Pancrase is the Japanese equivalent to something like King of the Cage – a survivor and solid producer of mixed martial arts. But who knows, maybe that’s the secret to its success.

Posted in: ufc, mma, time, pancrase, king

The MMA Hour - Episode No. 119 - Daniel Herbertson

Posted in: mma, hour, episode, herbertson, daniel

The MMA Hour - Episode No. 119 - Mauro Ranallo

Posted in: mma, hour, episode, ranallo, mauro

The MMA Hour - Episode No. 119 - Joe Lauzon

Posted in: mma, hour, joe, episode, lauzon

The MMA Hour - Episode No. 119 - Sean Loeffler

Posted in: mma, hour, episode, sean, loeffler

The MMA Hour Is Back

Monday's episode of The MMA Hour is already yours for the taking below, as we had to tape the show Friday because I'll be traveling to Japan for UFC 144 Monday morning. Here's you will hear from on the show, which can be found below: * UFC lightweight contender Joe Lauzon discusses his UFC 144 against Anthony Pettis. * MMA broadcaster Mauro Ranallo talks about his fond memories of calling PRIDE FC fights in Japan. * Sean Loeffler discusses his heart-breaking injury just prior to his Octagon debut at UFC on FUEL TV 1. * And journalist Daniel Herbertson looks at the buzz in Japan for the UFC's return to the "Land of the Rising Sun" for the first time in over a decade. Watch the show right now by clicking on the player below. Subscribe to The MMA Hour on iTunes: audio feed here; video feed here. Download previous episodes here. Listen to the show via Stitcher here.

Posted in: ufc, mma, show, mma hour, mondays episode

Before UFC 144: MMA's Japanese Origins

With the lead up to UFC 144 in Japan, it seems only natural to look at the spark that lead to the MMA explosion on the Japanese isles. In the early 1990's mixed martial arts was growing all over the world. While it wasn't MMA as we know it today, at several locations around the globe martial artists were beginning to dabble what we would recognize as MMA. In Brazil Vale Tudo was a proving ground for Brazilian fighters, the United States had hosted its first MMA match and Japan's Pro Wrestling was transforming into a real fight sport. While Pro Wrestling is popular in Japan, it is also a hot bed for traditional martial arts. While long-standing martial arts that are steeped in as much tradition as Karate or Judo are resistant to change, a man named Takashi Azuma looked to evolve traditional martial arts. A black belt in both Judo and Kyokushin, a hard form of Karate. Azuma began to try to combine the two arts into what he called Kakuto Karate Daidojuku, translated roughly as "Combat Karate." More MMA OriginsExploring Fight Sport's Ancient Roots | Getting Medieval | Vale Tudo and the Original MMA Rivalry | Carlson Gracie Changes Jiu-Jitsu and Vale Tudo | Catch Wrestling Travels To Japan | American Experiments This style incorporated techniques from Karate, Judo and ones from outside both arts. In 1981, Azuma debuted his art with a sport form in which fighters wore gis, head protectors and gloves. Punches, kicks, knees, elbows and head-butts were all legal on the feet, as are Judo throws and submissions. No strikes were allowed in ground fighting, but if a fighter was in a dominate position, either the mount, knee-on-belly or standing over a ground fighter they can mime punches and stomps which will force a stoppage if the bottom fighter is unable to escape. Daidojuku as a sport is worth looking into as it is a different take on MMA and produces some pretty excellent highlight reels. This sport pre-dates Shooto by five years and could be considered Japan's first MMA league. Shooto founder Satoru Sayama had an exhibition match with a Daidojuku fighter under Diadojuku rules once. Sayama wore a black gi top and black leggings. While Sayama's high flying style drew appaluse from the audience, it was the Daidojuko fighter who dominated the match, and lands a nice a flying armbar submission. (DaidoJuku vs Shooto via WildDanHibiki) more after the jump... Another Japanese move towards MMA came from a different part of the Karate community. Kazuyoshi Ishii, like Azuma, created his own form of Karate but instead of combining it with Judo, Ishii removed rules to create what is known as Seidokaikan or "Full Contact Karate". Ishii was interested to see how his brand of Karate would stack up against other striking arts, and to that end he created his own Kickboxing promotion meant to bring together Karate, Taekwondo, Muay Thay, Savate, San Shou, western boxing and other striking arts. Called K-1, Ishii streamlined kickboxing rules to make for more exciting fights and to attract more martial artists, this included allowing knee strikes to be thrown. (Kazuyoshi Ishii via www.fika-world.com) While a striking focused promotion and not a true mixed martial art because of its lack of grappling, K-1 still had the same spirt as other MMA pioneers; the wish to test style against style. In 1993, K-1 held its first event to moderate success but it was in April of '93 that K-1 had its first break out event and make its biggest contribution to Japanese MMA: The Grand Prix. A grand prix event is a one or two night tournament that pitted elite fighters against each other to see who is the best through a simple single elimination bracket, and it would become the calling card of Japanese MMA promotions. While difficult to pull off and hard on fighters, they can create sports drama of the highest order if everything comes together. The first K-1 Grand Prix featured World Champions from Savate, Muay Thai, Karate and other kickboxing arts. Also, karate and kickboxing all-time great Andy Hug was featured in a special karate exhibition match. The final featured Dutchman Ernesto Hoost, a Muay Thai and Savate champion, against Branko Cikatic of Yugoslavia, who was both Muay Thai and European Kickboxing champion. Here is the final match of the '93 Grand Prix, Hoost is in the red trunks and seems to be finding his range early on but Cikatic ends the fight with a big right hook to become the first K-1 Champion. (K-1 1993 Ernesto Hoost vs Branco Cikatic via 24113kiel) The most significant push towards modern MMA came from two professional wrestlers, Masakatsu Funaki and Minoru Suzuki. Students of the Pro Wrestling great Antonio Inoki, student of the legendary Karl Gotch, and the man who faced Muhammad Ali in an exhibition mixed rules fight. Funaki and Suzuki were pro wrestlers but practiced legitimate grappling and loved competition. They were a part of the Japanese Pro Wrestling promotion Fujiwara Gumi along with a young American up-and-coming wrestler, Ken Shamrock. Ken was a troubled youth, constantly running away and eventually he was sent to Bob Shamrock, a man well known for turning around trouble young men. Bob had several young men living on his ranch at any one time and he had his own way of settling beefs between hot-headed teenagers, he would give them boxing gloves and allow them to scrap things out. Ken was a natural fighter and became known as "one-punch" on the ranch. Ken took that talent won money in local tough man competitions, back alley bet fights, became a bouncer and a stand out wrestler. Bob legally adopted Ken when he turned eighteen and pushed Ken to become a wrestler but the money of pro wrestling grew Ken to Japan. There he trained under Funaki and Suzuki for years, learning the ins and outs of submission grappling. In 1992, Shamrock took part in a first for the Fujiwara Gumi promotion. He was put in against champion Muay Thai fighter Don Nakaya Nielsen for a live fight, not a pre-scripted affair. Sharmock won in seconds with a keylock. (Ken Shamrock vs. Don Nakaya Nielsen - 1992 via MichaelMyersMMA) The fight was a smashing success, drew huge reaction from the crowd and created buzz around the wrestling community. This caused the young pro wrestlers Funaki, Suzuki and Shamrock question the conventional wisdom of Pro Wrestling that non-scripted fights would not sell to large audiences. Shoots, or non-scripted matches, had taken place but normally for small groups of gamblers, not for large scale consummation. Suzuki and Funaki started their own promotion where they could test this idea of marketing real fights in pro wrestling. The rules were drawn from pro wrestling: not closed fist or elbow strikes to the head, no stomps or knees to the head on the ground, fighters are granted rope up to five escapes if they can grab the ropes when on the ground or in a submission hold and fighters were given ten-counts if they were knocked down. The final touch was provided by wrestling guru Karl Gotch, who suggested the name Pancrase as homage to the original ancient Olympic fight sport Pankration. The first event was set September 21st, 1993 and featured names fans of fighting sports would become very familiar with in the years to come. Titled Pancrase 1 - Yes, We Are Hybrid Wrestlers, it was the first Pro Wrestling card marketed where all the fights would be real. The founders took part in this card, Suzuki won his match by armbar for the opening of the card. The next fight featured a 28 year old Dutch kickboxer recruited to come out for this new type of event. This fight would be full of many firsts for Bas Rutten, listen to him breakdown his MMA debut in the video below. (Pancrase: Bas Rutten vs Ryushi Yanagisawa - 21.09.1993 via TheFlyinHorseman) Finally the main event would pair Ken Shamrock against Pancarse founder Funaki. Shamrock won 6 minutes into the first round with a rear naked choke. (Ken Shamrock vs Masakatsu Funaki 1 Pancrase - Yes, We are Hybrid Wrestlers 1 via KShamrockNo1) Pancarse 1 was a huge success, both fans and wrestling critics hailed it as an outstanding show, Japanese MMA would never be the same. And Shamrock was about to travel to the next big hotbed of MMA when he answered an ad in a magazine for a no-holds barred, bare knuckle event in Denver, Colorado. More Reading Daidojuku Official Site Dave Meltzer's Shamrock's Greatest Hits Ken Shamrock's Official Bio Matt Roth's History of K-1 Kid Nate's History of MMA: Proto MMA Evloves Out of Worked Pro Wrestling in Japan MMA Origins: Exploring Fight Sport's Ancient Roots Getting Medieval Vale Tudo and the Original MMA Rivalry Carlson Gracie Changes Jiu-Jitsu and Vale Tudo Catch Wrestling Travels To Japan American Experiments

Posted in: fight, mma, fighter, shamrock, karate

ESPN Jeremy Lin comment leads to suspension of 'MMA Live' host Max Bretos

MMA Live host Max Bretos, who replaced Jon Anik when the latter fled the scene for greener pastures, has been suspended by ESPN for 30 days after he asked Walt Frazier if there was a "chink in the armor." He was referring to basketball sensation Jeremy Lin. Bretos, whose wife is Asian, was likely using the oft-heard phrase to describe potential flaws in the still-evolving game of the NBA point guard, who went from bench warmer to barn burner when the New York Knicks called him into play earlier this month. In fact, the comment might have flown completely under the radar, had it not come on the heels of ESPN editor Anthony Federico's epic gaffe, a website headline on ESPN.com that read "Chink in the Armor: Jeremy Lin's 9 Turnovers Cost Knicks in Streak-stopping Loss to Hornets." The headline, which Federico tells the NY Daily News was not done to be "cute or punny," remained online for 35 minutes before being taken down. Following the incident, Bretos took to his Twitter to apologize for his "inappropriate" racial reference. Video after the jump. A replacement for Bretos on the next edition of MMA Live has yet to be announced.

Posted in: mma, jon anik, breto, oftheard phrase, stillevolving game

UFC 144 And The Promotion's Chances For Long-Term Success In Japan

With UFC 144 going down this Saturday, one of the most interesting storylines of the event is the promotion's ability to succeed in Japan. Zach Arnold at Fight Opinion has much better insight into the Japanese market than most in the MMA media and wrote a very interesting article on the five best questions to look at heading into the event. The first point deals with the UFC's ultimate upside trying to run this show: 1. Will the crowd for this show represent a floor or a ceiling for UFC & Dentsu?I am of two thoughts here. First, the positive take and one that UFC argues. They run a good show, they get a few backers, and then through repetition hope that some rich people who aren't yakuza buy into what they are doing. Second, the negative take and more realistic viewpoint. The Japanese MMA industry on a mainstream level is dead. There are no major Japanese stars being created now. Kid Yamamoto, Gomi, and the rest are a dying breed. Once they are gone, the replacements have nowhere near the same name value. That's the great irony about UFC's predicament here. They want to build something up in Japan but the local promoters that they weren't friendly with basically torched the business to the ground. If Dentsu is able to get UFC onto television, perhaps they have a shot - albeit a small shot. The UFC product is not tailored for Japanese cultural wants or needs. There aren't major Japanese players right now in the divisions sans Hatsu Hioki and Hioki's not a major star in his home country. The plan was to broker some time on TV Tokyo, the smallest of the over-the-air networks in Japan, and then try to parlay that onto a bigger network like Tokyo Broadcasting System or Fuji TV. The major problem with that strategy is that UFC is not a Japanese company and the TV suits have no desire to touch MMA right now because the police are on the warpath against the gangs. We know the history of black money in the Japanese fight game. It resembles Mexico in many regards. Zach also talks a lot about the long-term disconnect between the Japanese fighters the UFC views as draws versus those who actually are major hometown draws. It's a very interesting piece and one I suggest you give a read to really understand what this all means both in the short and long term. It's not all doom and gloom, but there certainly are many more hurdles to succeeding as an MMA promotion in Japan than just about any other market around the world.

Posted in: ufc, mma, promotion, japanese, japan

Gregor Gracie: 'Hopefully I will be fighting for ONE FC on March 31 in Singapore'

Gregor Gracie turned to mixed martial arts (MMA) back in 2007 after helping out on his brother Renzo's International Fight League (IFL) team and realizing that he was just as good as many of the fighters. However, his career has progressed slowly, partly due to an injury that forced a two year absence from the sport. Gracie fought three times in 2011, finishing the year with a decision win over Seok Mo Kim at ONE Fighting Championship 1. His record now stands at 6-1 and he is coming off four straight wins and says he wants to fight regularly in 2012. "Last year I did three fights in the year and this year I am hoping to do as many or more. Hopefully I will be fighting for ONE FC on March 31st in Singapore, we are still working that out and we are working on finding an opponent but hopefully I will be there." He recently returned from Jakarta where he was cornering Rolles for his quickfire win over Bob Sapp at ONE FC 2. The Beast didn't win himself many fans with that performance but Gracie was relieved to see his brother emerge with the victory. "I'm very happy to get the win, Bob Sapp is a dangerous guy and he can end a fight any second so we worked a strategy to take him down and finish the fight right away and it worked. I really enjoyed fighting at the first show and being at the second show the memories came flooding back, I used to wake up in the middle of the night to watch Pride back in Brazil and so it is unbelievable to be a part of this show and have that same feeling again." In his last fight Gracie went the distance for the first time in his career, something which he regards as a mixed blessing. He would liked to have finished his opponent, Seok Mo Kim, but says he was happy to fight for the full 15 minutes. "I was a little disappointed that I couldn't find a way to submit him, I am always trying to finish fights and I was disappointed I couldn't do that. He was very tough so I have to give him credit but it was good because now I know I can go three rounds. I've always worked hard in training and done many rounds in the academy but it's not the same, now I know I can go three rounds no problem so I have a little more experience. Hopefully next fight I will be able to finish earlier." Gracie has won multiple Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) competitions at a national, regional and international level but has put his grappling on one side to focus on his MMA career, "I haven't done BJJ competitions for quite a bit, almost a year, it's hard to do both BJJ and MMA. if I get a chance I will compete again but I won't be as prepared as I should be because I am focusing more on MMA but I really enjoy BJJ competitions." He is based full time in New York where he trains and teaches at the Renzo Gracie Academy and works with fighters of the caliber of Ricardo Almeida and Frankie Edgar. "We have all the team there. I train with Renzo, Igor, Rolles, Ricardo Almeida, Frankie Edgar trains with us sometimes, we have a lot of great guys, we have a great team and have been doing very well in competitions." According to Gracie spending time with the UFC Lightweight Champion has helped him to make the transition from being a BJJ practitioner to becoming a fully fledged mixed martial artist. "I train with Frankie Edgar three times a week and I help him and he helps me also. The whole team is like this we help each other to grow each one has a strong point which they can teach, doesn't matter if they are UFC champ or just a guy who is starting, everybody has got something to teach and everybody has got something to learn." As he looks to follow in the footsteps of his half brother and training partner Renzo by establishing a reputation in Asia, Gracie is fortunate to have a base there. Evolve MMA in Singapore was founded by Chatri Sityodtong, one of Renzo's students, and is affiliated to the Renzo Gracie Academy. For Gracie having a base in Asia makes it much easier to make the journey from New York without losing any sharpness in the process. "Before my last fight I arrived one week before and I trained at Evolve MMA. If I fight again in March, which I hopefully will, maybe I will spend a bit longer there to get used to the time difference. It's a great training environment, they are really professional, it's like having a home away from home. They are the greatest team in Asia and they are growing a lot, I learn a lot from the guys there, it's a big help." The Gracie family have a long history of fighting in Asia and now that he, Igor and Rolles have all signed long term contracts with ONE FC and Gregor is very excited about the opportunity to showcase his talents on such a visible platform. "I was very surprised to see all the posters everywhere when I arrived in Singapore before the first show and the venue was unbelievable, I wasn't expecting this. That's why we came back for the second show and we want to be back for the third as well, it's a great event, it's really looking good." Without the Gracies it is highly doubtful whether MMA would every have developed into one of the most popular sports on the planet. There is a tremendous appetite so see fighters who bear this particular surname succeed and with a 6-1 record and a four fight winning streak Gregor is certainly on the right track.

Posted in: fight, mma, year, gracie, renzo

Connection between UFC 144 commercial and the state of Japanese MMA

I was going to link to my post in the other thread but I think that would've made it confusing so I'll just link it here and repost it here: This is actually a very interesting commercial and it's got nothing to do with how it looks but what it says in that one line of Japanese text. 「スポーツまで、ガラパゴスになるのか。」 I honestly had no idea what this meant when I first translated it. It's literal translation is "As for sports, will (we) become Galapgos." Now, this is very confusing until I did some digging and found out about Galapagos Syndrome. This started putting things in a bit of perspective and then I read this Japanese article that poses the question right at the end: do the fans want to Japan to be part of the global standard of MMA (ie. the UFC) or do they want to Japan to be this Galapagos Island of MMA where things are done their own way. The final line of the ad says "Another major has come." Time for Japan to step up and find out what it's made of. Would love to hear your thoughts on how you think the Japanese fighters will fare and/or what the results will mean for Japanese MMA in general. submitted by BaronMyrtle [link] [3 comments]

Posted in: mma, japanese, japan, comequot time, japanese article

Jeremy Lin Comment Gets ESPN 'MMA Live' Host Suspended

Max Bretos recently took over as the host of ESPN's MMA Live, but he won't be hosting that show -- or any other -- for the next 30 days, after he was suspended on Sunday morning for making a poor choice of words when referring to New York Knicks star Jeremy Lin. Bretos, who became the MMA Live host after Jon Anik departed ESPN to work for the UFC, was interviewing former Knick Walt Frazier for an ESPNews segment about Lin when he said of Lin, "He's handled everything very well -- as you said, unflappable -- but if there is a chink in the armor, where can Lin improve his game?" The word "chink" as a racial slur is totally unacceptable. A powerful column from Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times on Sunday articulates that. ESPN was right to fire an ESPN.com employee who used "Chink in the Armor" as the headline over a story about Lin after the Knicks lost for the first time since Lin entered their starting lineup. A headline needs to be thought over and carefully considered, and using such a phrase alongside an image of Lin is appallingly bad judgment. But in my own opinion, Bretos did not deserve to be suspended. He made an unfortunate choice of words on live television, but I do not believe there was anything racially motivated in what he said. On that front, I agree with Bretos's colleague Michael Kim, who defended Bretos in a series of messages on Twitter. "There are thousands of fine, outstanding people at ESPN who I am proud to call colleagues, including Max Bretos," Kim wrote. "I truly believe it was an unfortunate use of words but I KNOW there was no malice there. That came on live TV. But there's a different thought process involved with scripts/copy and headlines. Am I disappointed this happened at ESPN? Yes. But...There is no finer place to work. It is a company that has made diversity in its workforce a priority. I am confident we'll be better because of this in the future. . . . Now if you'll excuse me, my son and I are going to enjoy rooting for the NBA role model I never had. #Linsanity." Shortly before his suspension was announced, Bretos took to Twitter to apologize. "Wanted 2 apologize 2 all those I have upset. Not done with any racial reference. Despite intention,phrase was inappropriate in this context," Bretos wrote. "My wife is Asian, would never intentionally say anything to disrespect her and that community. I have learned from this will make every effort to avoid something similar happening again." MMA Live is scheduled to return this week at 11 p.m. Eastern on Friday. On Sunday afternoon an ESPN spokesman told MMAFighting.com that the network is looking into the question of who will fill the host's chair on MMA Live this week.

Posted in: mma, espn, host, lin, breto

MMA’s Beauty and the Beast

Find out how a winner for America's Next Top Model and a pro MMA fighter came together, and now are ready to embark on a whole new kind of adventure.

Posted in: mma, kind, fighter, mma fighter, beauty

Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Maurice Smith Returns To The Cage At Age 50

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

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

Luke Thomas spoke to Stephen Thompson about his application of kempo karate to MMA at MMA Fighting....

Luke Thomas spoke to Stephen Thompson about his application of kempo karate to MMA at MMA Fighting. Lots of detailed technique discussion for all you technique geeks. Photo by Esther Lin.

Posted in: mma, luke thomas, stephen thompson, kempo karate, technique discussion

Are MMA Managers Important?

There seems to be a big question looming over the MMA world recently: Do fighters actually need managers or not?

Posted in: mma, mma world, manager, need managers, mma managers

Karo Parisyan and Lyle Beerbohm Get New Opponents at Worldwide MMA

A couple of changes have been made to the upcoming Worldwide MMA event set to take place in Texas on March 31.

Posted in: mma, mma event, couple, karo parisyan, lyle beerbohm

Pictures of MMA fighters from when they were younger - I found these highly entertaining

submitted by red1392 [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: mma, fighter, picture, mma fighters

LIVE NOW: Jordan Breen Weekend MMA Chat

Jordan Breen will host his weekly chat at 1 p.m. ET.

Posted in: mma, weekend, breen, chat, jordan

What were some of the early mma companies/events? Besides UFC I mean?

A question for the hardcore mma junkies out there. I do remember other mma companies being advertised on PPV back in the ninties but I don't remember their names. I learned of the existence of Shooto and Pancrase years ago but I don't know much of their early history. I also remember reading about the Ali/Inoki fight happening back in the seventies but I'm not sure if that kind of thing was regularly happening in Japan or not. Extra question. Anybody remember a PPV being advertised in the early ninties which had a fighter being billed as "trained by UFO aliens"? I always assumed the promotion was scripted or just had a terrible promo department. submitted by GamblerShinobi [link] [2 comments]

Posted in: mma, i dont, ufc i, mma companies, mma junkies

With Goodridge's admission, is CTE coming to MMA?

UFC president Dana White believes MMA is safer than boxing and kickboxing. He'll go even further than that when it comes to the safety of fighters under contract with the UFC. "It's the safest sport in the world when you know you've got two healthy athletes stepping into the octagon to compete against one another," White told MMAjunkie.com. But at the same time, he knows MMA is not exactly safe. And nowhere could its potential danger be clearer than with UFC veteran Gary Goodridge's belief that he suffers from "early onset" chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, according to a recent diagnosis.

Posted in: ufc, mma, goodridge, goodridges admission, kickboxing hell

We followed a random MMA fan around at SCC 4, and here's the video...

YouTubeSensation.com. Unfortunately for this guy, it's already been claimed by a 'New media' director named Joshua de la Fuente. In his latest film, he documented a pillow fight in Los Angeles. Don't worry, I've never heard of the guy either. However, there's another self-proclaimed 'YouTube sensation' that completely dominates your perception on what an MMA fan truly is. You may be a card-carrying MMA fan, but your membership means nothing if you've never encountered the 'YouTube Sensation.' LayzieTheSavage attended Superior Cage Combat 4 in Las Vegas last night which featured an entertaining headliner of Kendall Grove vs. Jay Silva. During the event, Dan Hardy and LayzieTheSavage noticed an interesting MMA fan hovering around the cage. Layzie pulled out the camera and documented the path of the 'YouTube Sensation.' There's even a Dana White appearance towards the end. We think you're going to enjoy this one.

Posted in: mma, fan, mma fan, pillow fight, event dan

If you have testicles, you probably don't need testosterone therapy

MMA Fighting talks to Dr Don Catlin, the founder of the UCLA Olympic Analytical Lab, about the proper process for handing out therapuetic use exemptions for testosterone a la what Dan Henderson, Chael Sonnen, and Nate Marquardt got. Surprise surprise, Dr Don thinks what's going down is a joke: "What we do in the IOC, is we have specialists all over the world who all they do for us is conduct examinations for athletes who claim to be low on testosterone," said Catlin. "The levels of testosterone in men vary all over the place. Unless this particular person we send them to, and the people they send the data to for examination say so, we don’t give them [a TUE]. I think in all the years I’ve done it, we’ve given two. One was a kid who didn’t have any testicles because he had a terrible accident ten years ago or something. It just doesn’t happen." The rest of the article is a good rehash of what's wrong with the current drug testing regiment in MMA and why it's so screwed up. TL;DR - the UFC points to the commissions and says they're responsible, while the commissions are underfunded and don't perform any of the right testing. Urine tests are about as modern as 8-track tapes when it comes to drug testing, and one of the few useful things you can do with piss - carbon isotope ratio testing - isn't being done. It's all one giant mess, which is why I prefer to just close my eyes, cover my ears and sing la la la la I'm not paying attention la la la no one's using steroids in MMA la la la la la certainly not 80% or more of the fighters la la la la la.

Posted in: mma, testosterone, testing, ufc points, conduct examinations

Great Momements In MMA Marketing: Showtime Releases 'Hits And Chicks'

Remember EliteXC? It was the MMA promotion of Gary and Jared Shaw that hoped to directly compete with the UFC at a time when there was no clear number two promotion in the United States. They were able to secure a television agreement with Showtime and CBS to become the first MMA promotion to air on network television. Featuring extremely marketable fighters in Gina Carano and Kimbo Slice, they were able to gain a bit of a foothold in the market. Around the same time that KimboMania was running wild, Showtime also had a marketable heavyweight boxer named Samuel Peter making waves in boxing circles. The marketing team at Showtime decided to try and take advantage of the rising popularity of these two heavyweight superstars by releasing what may be the only piece of advertising that could rival the IFL Rap in absurdity. With the help of an unknown band called "DopplegangGanger", Showtime released a song titled "Hits and Chicks". In the ring or in the cage any way you Slice it we love our jugs and pugs. Try getting it up when you get knocked down...Hits and Chicks! Hits and Chicks! Kaboom! Kabluey! Oh boy! Hot Fooey! Hits and Chicks! Hits and Chicks! Hits and Chicks! Hits and Chicks! Busted ears! Bodacious Boobs and one of the best knockouts in years! It's hard getting it up when you get knocked down! Hits and Chicks! Hits and Chicks! Kimbo Slice! Sam Peter! We love em! Hits and Chicks! Hits and chiiiiiiiiiiiiicks!!!! The song is after the jump. I hope you enjoyed another great moment in MMA marketing.

Posted in: mma, showtime, hit, chick, chicks hits

Miesha Tate: Ronda Rousey Will Learn How Hard and Horrible MMA Can Be

submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [10 comments]

Posted in: mma, tate, mattyblayze, miesha, ronda

Friday Link Club: Jon Jones Takes On The Police Academy

Jon Jones goes through police academy training in a series of videos from The NOC Rumor: Chandella Powell Fired for Failure to Disclose Secret Past Life as a Softcore Porn Star | Cage Potato In MMA’s War on Drugs, Some Experts Say We’re Not Fighting the Right Battles | MMA Fighting Ultimate Submissions: Jake Shields brings American Jiu-Jitsu to UFC 144 in Japan | MMA Mania UFC on Fuel Results: Matches to Make After Jake Ellenberger vs. Diego Sanchez | Bleacher Report Dana White: The only thing consistent about the NSAC is that they’re inconsistent | Fight Opinion Without Greg Jackson, Jon Jones Will Still Make Rashad Evans His Next Masterpiece | 5thRound Frankie Edgar is confident “wherever the fight goes” against Ben Henderson | LowKick MMA could be legal in New York in as little as 30 days | MiddleEasy Why Create an Interim Title that Won’t Be Defended? | Five Ounces of Pain Top 10 WTF Moments in MMA  | TheFightNerd Is there a need for MMA managers? | MMA Payout Miesha Tate Discusses Impact Of First Career Fight | FightLine

Posted in: fight, mma, jon, jone, rashad evans

Robert Drysdale Signs With Legacy FC, First Fight May 11

In some huge news from the American regional MMA scene, famed grappler Robert Drysdale has chosen to sign with Houston-based Legacy Fighting Championship as his new home for MMA. Drysdale is one of the most recognizable names in grappling circles, but has remained a relative unknown to MMA fans because of his lack of exposure. He was expected to be a cast member of The Ultimate Fighter but the required medicals revealed that Drysdale was living with a brain aneurysm.Once he resolved this incredibly dangerous medical issue, he started his professional MMA career in the Canadian-based AFC, where he submitted three straight opponents in just over five minutes, collectively. Last night, Bloody Elbow learned from Legacy FC that Drysdale had signed a three-fight contract and is set to make his debut for the promotion on May 11th at the Houston Arena Theater in Houston, Texas. He currently is without an opponent. This is a major signing for a promotion that is trying to build a reputation as the top fight league in Texas. Drysdale adds legitimacy due to his grappling credentials which should increase not just the visibility but also the marketability of the overall Legacy product. Legacy Fighting Championship airs on HDNet. Their next show is February 24th at the Houston Arena Theater. The card features Gerald Harris in a middleweight fight against Artenas Lewis and Chidi Njokuani making his Legacy debut against Jon Harris.

Posted in: mma, legacy, drysdale, legacy fc, championship airs

Miesha Tate: Ronda Rousey Will Learn How Hard and Horrible MMA Can Be

Miesha Tate talks about how her first fight in MMA inspired her, and her plans to show opponent Ronda Rousey just how hard MMA really can be.

Posted in: mma, tate, miesha, rousey, ronda

Miesha Tate recalls her first MMA bout and when she realized she was a fighter

When Miesha Tate steps into the cage on March 3 to defend her Strikeforce title against Ronda Rousey it will mark her 15th professional MMA bout. Tate is brimming with confidence heading into her first title defense, with that confidence being something she gained very early in her career. Tate recently revealed when she discovered that she was a true fighter, the moment of clarity coming as she was beaten bloody in her first amateur MMA bout. Fighting with a badly broken nose, with her blood pooling below

Posted in: mma, bout, tate, mma bout, ronda rousey

Latest UFC/MMA news and notes from around the web for the week of February 12, 2012

Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Demetrious Johnson and Stefan Struve pictured above, we can all "get along." Teaming up with MMA sites like MMA Fighting, Cage Potato, Fight Opinion and The Fight Nerd, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport. This week, The Fight Nerd reminisces about Thiago Silva, MMA Convert details the recent struggles of MMA photographer Keith Mills and Fightline interviews Ben Henderson. The full list of links is after the jump. - Diego Sanchez not ruling out return to lightweight (LowKick) Former UFC Lightweight title challenger Diego "The Dream/Nightmare" Sanchez looked back at his performance against Jake Ellenberger... - Rumor: Chandella Powell fired for failure to disclose secret past life as a softcore porn star (Cage Potato) It seems that if you do enough digging on any given ring girl, you will find out that she has done porn at one point in her life. According to a few unconfirmed sources from around the MMA blogosphere, it appears that Chandella Powell will be joining the ranks of Logan Stanton, Natasha Wicks, and Edith Labelle as a former UFC ring girl due to...get this...failing to disclose that she once appeared in a couple softcore porn photo shoots and videos under the name "Mariah Ashton." - Fights to make after UFC on Fuel 1 (Five Ounces of Pain) With UFC on Fuel: Ellenberger vs. Sanchez in the books, it's time to look forward at what's next for the competitors on the card. In a bit of fantasy matchmaking, I've written who I think some of tonight's fighters should fight next, and why said scraps should happen. - Falling Action: Best and worst of UFC on Fuel (MMA Fighting) If the evil forces of cable TV conspired to keep you from seeing the first UFC on FUEL event, sorry, but you missed a good one. Now that it's all over, time to sift through the rubble for the biggest winners, losers, and everything in between. - Nick Diaz: Diego Sanchez won and Jake Ellenberger would be dead (5thRound) - MMA could be legal in New York in as little as 30 days (MiddleEasy) I've never met Bob Reilly, and I hope I never do. The only thing worse than that man is someone who comes to a bar to tell people why they shouldn't drink. In either situation, a severe verbal ass kicking session is highly probable. When Bob Reilly isn't wasting New York State's money for his bi-weekly paycheck, he's waging a war on allowing MMA to be legalized and overseen by the state. - Repeated steroid excuses make me nostalgic for Thiago Silva (The Fight Nerd) In truth, "I was unaware it was in a supplement" has become code in the world of professional athletics for "I use banned substances, get over it." Every time I hear that particular bit of encryption, I gain more respect for Thiago Silva. - Image matters: UFC business & media politics (Fight Opinion) Kevin Iole said that numbers for UFC 143 (Condit/Diaz) were lousy. 6,727 paid, 2,288 comps, 751 tickets unsold for a gate of $2.4M USD. He claims casino bought the majority of event tickets. If you had said to me four months ago that UFC Japan would have blown the doors off of a Nick Diaz UFC main event, I would have never believed you. So much for that. - UFC on Fuel - 217,000 viewers (MMA Payout) TV Sports Ratings tweeted the ratings for UFC on Fuel 1 Wednesday night scored 217,000 viewers. It was the UFC's first live event on Fuel TV. - Life for MMA fighters under the New York State ban (BleacherReport.com/MMA) It's about 3 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 10, in the Shipyard Lounge of The Colisee, in Lewiston, Maine. The room is full of gaunt, hard-looking young men- professional mixed martial arts fighters and their training partners and coaches, here for the weigh-ins for tomorrow night's New England Fight Night I card. - The Itinerant Lens (MMA Convert) This isn't a story about fighter pay. This isn't a story about the financial inequities - perceived or actual - in the business of sanctioned fighting. This isn't about how someone should be compensated for their services, or about how life can be unkind to those who are diligent and hardworking. This is a story about Keith Mills, who, at 43-years old, has been covering the sport of mixed martial arts since before it was even called that. - Exclusive interview with Ben Henderson (Fightline) Ben Henderson disappointed with Guida win, but is surprised by the speed of his success.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, fight nerd, fuel

Inside MMA: Matt Hughes, Brittney Palmer Playboy Preview, Kevin Randleman

Inside MMA airs live on HDNet every Monday night at 8pm ET. Inside MMA Archive More segments after the jump.

Posted in: mma, monday night, mma airs, mma archive, hdnet

Pro MMA Radio 185: Ryan Bader, UFC on FUEL 1 Recap, Nick Diaz Discussion

We have partnered with Pro MMA Radio to bring you weekly replays of PMR as the official radio show of MMAConvert.com. Pro MMA Radio can be heard live every Monday evening at 9PM ET/6PM PT. Replays and podcasts of every show are available 24/7 by going to the “Replay Corner” section of ProMMARadio.com, our own Pro MMA Radio page or by clicking the banner below. On this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio, Ryan Bader joined the show to talk about his upcoming fight against Rampage Jackson at UFC 144. MMA Mania’s Jesse Holland also joined host Larry Pepe to talk about the UFC on FUEL 1 show and Nick Diaz’s failed marijuana test. You can listen to a replay of this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio by clicking the banner below. A radio player with links to the show’s archives will open in a pop-up window, so please make sure your browser is set to allow pop-ups for this site.

Posted in: mma, show, replay, radio, mma radio

MMA could be legal in New York in as little as 30 days

I’ve never met Bob Reilly, and I hope I never do. The only thing worse than that man is someone who comes to a bar to tell people why they shouldn’t drink. In either situation, a severe verbal ass kicking session is highly probable. When Bob Reilly isn’t wasting New York State’s money for his bi-weekly paycheck, he’s waging a war on allowing MMA to be legalized and overseen by the state. He’s also the most ignorant man to speak on the subject; namely regarding fighters’ safety and all the positive impacts MMA could bring to a state - who’s budget struggles to sustain its residents’ needs. Luckily for New York, Dean Murray exists, and he has drafted a letter directly to the governor pleading to add the legalization of MMA to the agenda for deliberation over the next 30 days. The likelihood of MMA being legalized this year is better than it was in the past 5 years combined, but Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has issued no official response to this letter as of receiving it 2 days ago. According to an undisclosed source, this is not the first letter of similar nature this month, and the dire financial reserves of New York State may force the state to consider legalizing MMA regardless of the minority number of opponents with moral reservations. If not, there’s always Muay Thai at Madison Square Garden in March that contradicts any argument of “brutality” that MMA brings to the table. Oh the ironing… [Source]

Posted in: mma, state, muay thai, york, letter

Brydon on MMA: Great from start to finish

Wednesday night's UFC card was bookended by two of the most exciting rounds of MMA seen in a long time.

Posted in: ufc, mma, wednesday, brydon, bookended

Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 137: Martin Kampmann, MMA Discussion

Bloody Elbow Radio, presented by Bad Boy, will be LIVE! at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT for another edition of the show. Join hosts Matt Bishop and MMA Mania's Brian Hemminger as they discuss all the latest news in mixed martial arts, including all the aftermath from last night's UFC on FUEL TV, an early look ahead at the upcoming MMA schedule, plus we'll go back and look at the posts of what made BE readers MMA fans. We'll be joined by UFC welterweight Martin Kampmann as he prepares for his UFC on FX 2 main event fight with Thiago Alves coming up in two weeks in Australia. We'll chat with him about that fight, where he thinks he fits in the welterweight division and much more. Bloody Elbow Radio is sponsored by Bad Boy. Get your Legacy Fight Shorts, seen on both Chris Weidman and Demian Maia at UFC on FOX, only from Bad Boy at the brand new BadBoy.com. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook and tell them Bloody Elbow sent you. How to listen: Live/archived on the player below I iTunes I RSS feed I Direct download link (available after live broadcast) Want to get in touch with the BE Radio crew? Here's how you can do so: Phone: (347) 202-0934E-mail: bloodyelbowradio@gmail.comTwitter: @mbish86 or @BrianHemmingerBloodyElbow.com: Leave a question or comment in this post For those calling in, you will first be picked up by our producer who will take your information and get what you want to talk about. You will then be queued. We will try to get to everyone as soon as we can. We ask that you call in around the time of the topic you want to discuss. SBN coverage of UFC on Fuel TV SBN coverage of UFC on FX 2

Posted in: ufc, mma, radio, elbow radio, elbow

Full Contact Championship (FCC) 5 Event Preview for Feb. 25 in Mumbai, India

It might not have Bob Sapp, Jennifer Lopez or Bollywood superstars, but Mumbai-based promotion Full Contact Championship (FCC) has been putting on small scale mixed martial arts (MMA) events since 2009. It is the longest running professional MMA promotion in India and has another card coming up on February 25. There are currently eight bouts scheduled to take place, all featuring up-and-coming Indian fighters. The previews should give more of an insight into the type of fights and the level of fighters on display at FCC 5, who face competition from the Super Fight League (SFL) later this year. Videos and event preview, after the jump. Fight One Sagar Kadu - stands at 5ft 5in tall and weighs in at 60kgs. He has an unbeaten MMA record of 2-0 with two wins and no losses. Sagar is a National Kickboxing Gold Medalist, a State Wrestling Gold Medalist, and National Karate Gold Medalist. His fight style is MMA versus Perumal Swamy - Stands at 5ft 6in tall and weighs in at 60kgs. Perumal, who hails from Kanyakumari, is more popularly referred to as "Swamy". A 3rd Dan Black Belt in Karate, Swamy transitioned into Kickboxing, and went on to become Tamil Nadu State Gold Medalist. Swamy will be making his MMA Debut in FCC-5 and describes his style as 'Kickboxing'. Fight Two Sangram Bhakre - Stands at 5ft 8in tall and weighs in at 65kgs. Bhakre is a National Level Kickboxer and Wushu Gold Medalist. He is also an expert in Muay Thai and has cross trained in Desi Kushti at the Akharas in Kolhapur. Bhakre comes into FCC-5 with an unbeaten MMA Record of 2-0, with two wins and no losses and is famous for his signature Kushti style of picking up his opponents and slamming them to the mat. He then finishes the fight with some serious Ground 'n' Pound and is popularly referred to as Sangram " The Slammer" Bhakre. He describes his fight style as Muay Thai. versus Mukesh Thakur - stands at 5ft 6in tall and weighs in at 65kgs. He is a Black Belt and State Level Gold Medalist in Taekwondo. Mukesh cross trained in Judo, and has also won a Gold in Judo at the State Level. Mukesh makes his MMA debut at FCC-5 and will be taking on a much more experienced, and decorated fighter but is confident of his own combat skills. His fight style is MMA. Fight Three Rajinder Singh Meena - stands at 5ft 10in tall and weighs in at 69kgs. He comes into FCC-5 with an unbeaten MMA record of 2-0 and is fighting out of the CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) . His nickname is Rajinder 'Knockout' Meena, after a TKO win in FCC-4. A National Level Gold Medalist in Kickboxing his fight style is MMA MMA IN INDIA FCC 1 Bout 7 Rajinder Singh Meena vs Ajay Godajkar.mp4 (via mmafccindia) versus Dhananjay - Standing 5ft 8in tall, Dhananjay weighs in at 69kgs. He is a Professional Boxer, having won a Gold Medal at the State Level. Dhananjay has also cross trained in Judo. He comes into FCC-5 with a Professional MMA Record of 0-1 and needs a win desperately to prove himself and improve his MMA Record. Dhananjay's fight style is MMA Fight Four Jeet Toshi - stands at 5ft 4in tall and weighs in at 48kgs. She is a seven time National Kickboxing Gold Medalist in India, and is very talented. She has also been performing extremely well on the Wushu circuit and makes her MMA Debut in FCC-5. Jeet's fight style is Kickboxing versus Pooja Mehra - stands at 5ft 4in tall and weighs in at 45kg. She hails from Haryana and has a black belt in Karate. Mehra will be making her MMA Debut and describes her fight style as Karate Fight Five Sandeep Yadav - stands at 5ft 11in tall and weighs in at 72kgs. He is a national level Kickboxing Gold Medallist, and an expert in Muay Thai. He comes into FCC-5 with an unbeaten MMA record of 2-0 and has very strong takedown defense and tremendous power in his kicks and punches. Sandeep is a member of the CRPF and his fight style is Muay Thai. MMA IN INDIA Sandeep Yadav vs Imran FCC-4.VOB (via mmafccindia) versus Amjad Khan - stands at 5ft 9in tall and hails from Calcutta. Amjad is a first dan black belt in Karate and is also a state level boxing Gold Medalist. For the past year, Amjad has been training in Muay Thai, and Grappling. Amjad makes his MMA Debut in FCC-5 and fights a much more experienced and decorated fighter, Sandeep Yadav. But Amjad is not intimidated by Sandeep. Amjad's fight style is Muay Thai Fight Six Akshey Anand - stands at 6ft tall and weighs in at 75kgs. HE is a powerful Kickboxer who comes into FCC-5 with an MMA Record of 0-1 and needs a win to prove himself. He fights debutant Gaurav Pandey, and is training hard for a win. Akshay's fight style is Kickboxing versus Gaurav Pandey - stands at 5ft 11in tall and weighs in at 75kgs. Gaurav makes his MMA debut in FCC-5. Gaurav is a District Level Gold Medalist in Judo, District Level Bronze Medalist in Boxing, and State Level Gold Medalist in Wushu. Gaurav is a natural brawler, and is confident of his skill. He fights Akshey Anand. Gaurav's fight style isMMA. Fight Seven Raju Shirsagar - stands at 5tft 9in tall and weighs in at 85 kgs. Raju is a black belt in Karate and a National Shotokan Karate Gold Medalist. He also has a background in Desi Kushti. Raju comes into FCC-5 with an unbeaten MMA Record of 1-0 and his fight style is MMA versus Nitin Gaikwad - stands at 5ft 10in tall and weighs in at 83kgs. Nitin is a National Level Kickboxing Gold Medalist. He has also wrestled in the Akharas at Kolhapur since an early age. Nitin comes into FCC-5 with an MMA Record of 1-1, with one win and one loss. Nitin lost a Title Bout in FCC-4 to Javed Mulla. He is desperate for a re-match with Javed, and has his eyes on the FCC Belt. But before that, Nitin fights Raju Shirsagar in FCC-5. Nitin's Fight Style is MMA Fight Eight Alfan Hasmi - stands at 5ft 9in tall and weighs in at 84kgs. Alfan was first noticed in a street fight, where he made short work of an opponent almost twice his size. His skills were then polished by Team FCC, who saw great potential in this youngster. Alfan makes his debut in MMA at FCC-5, and is willing to fight in any weight category, and against anyone. Alfan's fight style is kickboxing versus Shibashish Banerjee - stands at 5ft 9in tall and weighs in at 82kgs. He hails from Calcutta and is a Muay Thai fighter popularly referred to as " Mad Dog" for his aggression. Shibashish makes his MMA Debut in FCC-5 against another debutant and is coming to Mumbai to make a mark in FCC-5. His fight style is Muay Thai, With a TUF India supposedly imminent (although Zuffa have made similar claims in the past which haven't come to fruition) and the SFL investing big bucks the race is on to find an Indian fighter capable of competing at an international level. FCC is at present the only promotion giving Indian fighters a regular taste of professional competition and there really is no substitute for spending time in the ring or cage, racking up a few wins while getting acclimatized to the experience, even if it is against low level opposition. The SFL has a vast budget and is splashing out on an expensive sounding main event between Bob Sapp and James Thompson as well as a potential performance by Jennifer Lopez, a name not traditionally associated with MMA. FCC clearly can't compete with that but if they continue to build fighters like Sandeep Yadav (who looks aggressive and confident and already has a 2-0 record) slow and steady might just win this particular race. For more information visit: Full Contact Championship

Posted in: fight, mma, gold, style, fcc

Asian MMA Update: Legend FC 8 Set With Two Title Fights, Jadamba vs. Nam and Tirta vs. Kawanago

MMA in Indonesia has been dormant in the past few years with almost zero programming and promotions running in the country. Interest in the sport has recently been jump-started with ONE FC hosting their second event in Jakarta a few days ago, and it looks like the resurgence will continue. Legend Fighting Championship held their 7th show this past weekend, and during the show, they announced plans to venture out of their home-base of Hong Kong and Macau, and host a show in Jakarta. Legend FC 8 will happen next month, and Indonesian fans will be fortunate enough to have yet another quality card coming to the country. Related: Legend FC 7 Fight Videos and Results: Bieke Takes Bantamweight Title, Bae Myung Ho Defends Welterweight Crown The event will be at the Jakarta Convention Center on March 30, and the moment the announcement has been made, it has been assumed that Indonesia's biggest MMA star, Fransino Tirta (10-0-1) will be competing on the card. BloodyElbow.com has exclusively confirmed with reliable sources that Tirta will indeed be part of two title fights that have been recently signed and set to headline the event. Tirta will be in his home country, gunning for the Legend FC featherweight title against Yusuke Kawanago (8-3), a talented Japanese fighter coming off a win over Chengjie Wu at Legend 6, and a split decision loss to Mark Striegl at Legend 5. Another title fight on the top of the card will be Sengoku veteran, Jadamba Narantungalag making his first defense of the Legend FC championship he recently won against Adrian Pang. The Mongolian will be taking on Nam Yui Chul (13-3), the top Korean lightweight who is coming off a monumental win over the highly regarded ONE FC fighter in Vuyisile Colossa. Much more Asian MMA News after the jump. Don't forget to follow me on twitter -- @antontabuena. Speaking of the rising star in Mark Striegl (7-0), the 23-year-old Filipino fighter is coming off an impressive submission finish over Ev Ting at Legend 7, and has recently signed with DARE, a Thailand-based promotion that is part of the ONE FC Network. More Legend FC 8 news: Also confirmed with reliable sources, a lightweight bout between Yusuke Kasuya (6-0) and Song Un Sik (9-3) is set for Legend FC 8. The match up was first mentioned to be in the works by Lili of MMA in Asia. I already mentioned that SFL, the promotion in India headlined by the Sapp vs. Thompson freakshow, will be bringing in several musicians to perform on their show. Apparently, one of these performers will likely be Jennifer Lopez. MMA is fairly new to the country, but do they really think JLo fans would be converted to the sport? Or is this just a move to get butts in those seats? Either way, it doesn't seem like a good investment in my eyes. URCC and PXC, the two top promotions in the Philippines, will be going head-to-head this Saturday, with both shows headlined by flyweight title fights. URCC will host a show in the mountain province of Baguio. It will be headlined by a Flyweight Super-Fight between URCC champion Roy Docyogen (9-0) from Team Lakay, competing in his home town against former pro-boxer Rodel Orais (2-0).Also on the card, Interim Featherweight Champion Ricardo Sapno defends his title against Arnold Agapito, and Will Chope will take on Reydon Romero in a featherweight bout guaranteed for fireworks. PXC on the other hand, will host PXC 29 in Pasay City on the same date. It will be headlined by a flyweight title bout between charismatic Filipino Ale Cali, and Guam's Jesse Taitano . Also on the card, a featherweight bout between the well traveled veteran in Harris Sarmiento, and Raja Shippen, along with TUF veteran Dorian Price vs. Ryan Bigler.UFC middleweight contender, Mark Munoz will also be attending the event.

Posted in: mma, title, legend, card, fc

ONE FC: After a Breakout 2011, Cantonese Fighter Eddie Ng Has a Bright Future

2011 was a breakout year for 25 year old Eddie Ng who moved to Singapore to join Evolve MMA and fought for the first time in Asia at ONE Fighting Championship 1, defeating a Chinese opponent with a brutal one punch knock out. Since his MMA career began back in 2007 he has taken things very slowly. Fighting only one time per year he has acquired a respectable 4-1 record but his focus has been on improving as a martial artist rather than testing himself repeatedly inside the cage. One consequence of being self taught in BJJ is that he had never been awarded a belt but he showed just how well he had been able to master techniques which he started learning from mail order videos by winning gold at the 2011 BJJ Mundials as a white belt. He competed in that competition as Edward Gar Wei Ng, a name which reflects the fact that despite growing up in England his has strong Cantonese roots. Both Ng's parents are from Hong Kong and his Asian heritage and undeniable fighting ability are what made him such an attractive option for Evolve MMA, who are notoriously selective about who they invite onto their fight team. He has now become one of the faces of ONE FC and his face will be familiar to anyone in Singapore at the moment because it is plastered all over public transport and billboards as the marketing campaign ahead of the March 31st show grinds into gear. It has been an incredible 12 months for Ng, who is facing an as yet unnamed opponent on that card, and he is amazed to find himself in such a privileged position. "If you had asked me a year ago where I thought I would be in 12 months time I would have said in a small little room about 4x4 metres, training with friends and local level fighters. I would never have even fathomed possible that I would be training with the likes of Shinya Aoki, Heath Sims and Attachai Fairtex etc on a daily basis, fighting in front of 7,000 people and seeing myself on posters all over town." Ng's coaches include champions in BJJ, boxing, Muay Thai, wrestling and MMA and they are all extremely excited about his potential. Although his opponent for ONE FC's March 31st card, which will be headlined by a light heavyweight fight between Melvin Manhoef and Renato Sobral, has yet to be confirmed I have heard rumours that matchmakers feel he is ready for a big step up in competition. When I put this to Ng he is quick to point out that he has consistently faced more experienced opposition throughout his MMA career, "For my first professional fight I fought a guy that had competed against UFC fighters Dan Hardy and Paul Daley, he had a total of 19 fights when we fought, my second opponent had a total of 14 fights. This is a trend that has been consistent throughout my career so far, I am used to fighting against much more experienced opponents. Of course I would like to fight against opponents with a similar experience level to myself but if One FC offer me a more experienced fighter then I welcome the challenge with open arms. I train with the best team not just in Asia but for me, the world and I know that whoever the opponent is, they can't do anything that my instructors don't know about." Eddie Ng vs. Yuan Chun Bo (via officialsherdog) The first ONE FC event was televised by Media Corp Channel 5 , which is one of only a handful of domestic TV stations in Singapore meaning it is available to every home with an aerial. Ng says he really noticed the effect this exposure had in the aftermath of the delayed broadcast, "After the One FC broadcast, I remember being stopped quite a few times by people asking if I was the same person that was on the TV! What surprised me was that men and women of all different ages watched the broadcast, typically I thought there would be a certain market for MMA but this was not the case and highlighted the growth of MMA here in Singapore!" People in 24 Asian countries, including Hong Kong, will be watching the next ONE FC show because it will be shown on ESPN Star Sports and Ng says that having so much exposure in the country of his parent's birth is very important to him, "I have family in Hong Kong and I am very excited that they are now able to watch my fights live. The ESPN Star Sports deal is huge news for all fighters because we all dream about fighting on the big stage where millions of fans at home can watch our fights. I was back in Hong Kong at the beginning of the year to visit my parents and some family, I absolutely love the place." Ng arrived at Evolve MMA last year with a reputation as being primarily a BJJ fighter but he has been working hard on his striking. Part of this process has involved taking part in professional Muay Thai fights which he feels will help him to become a much more well rounded mixed martial artist, 'When your in an environment where you can ONLY strike, then you have no choice but to start swinging otherwise it isn't going to be a very fun experience. I would like to compete more in Muay Thai in the future to develop my confidence further but also because I found it to be a lot of fun." As well as famous mixed martial artists like Shinya Aoki he will also be rubbing shoulders with multiple BJJ world champions on a daily basis at Evolve MMA, it is all a far cry from the days when he first taught himself the submission game by studying videos he ordered from the internet, "We recently had the legendary Renzo Gracie oversee our training and one of the top MMA coaches in the world Greg Jackson stop by to share some knowledge. These guys amazing instructors and an absolute pleasure to be around. Evolve MMA also recently recruited former US Olympian Greco Roman Wrestler Heath Sims and NCAA division 1 wrestler Jake Butler who have shown myself and the rest of the Evolve Fight Team just how beautiful the art of wrestling truly is. Plus I get to work day in day out with Muay Thai and BJJ World Champion instructors like Attachai Fairtex, Muangfalek Kiatvichian, Zorobabel Moreira and Leandro Issa" After spending much of his career at welterweight Ng will be making the drop down to 155 lbs. His only loss came to the highly experienced Joakim Engberg who is now Alistair Overeem's head trainer and he also has a win over Jason Ball who is now one of the starts of leading British promotion BAMMA. With a proven track record of beating high calibre opponents on the increasingly competitive UK scene it is no surprise that ONE FC recognized Ng's potential and signed him up instantly after he had moved to Singapore. Joining a first class fight team like Evolve MMA should help to accelerate his development but Ng still favours the patient approach which has served him so well in his career to date, "I want to stay active in competition as much as possible in 2012 but ultimately I just want to keep improving every single day as a martial artist. Every time I fight I want to be a different fighter than the previous showing, I don't want to fight often but without really showing any improvement but the learning process is so much faster now that I have access to world class instruction every single day." His next chance to showcase that improvement will come on March 31st at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on the main card of ONE FC 3. Ng might be content to take things slowly but it seems inevitable that 2012 will be the first year of his career in which he fights more than once and all that patience starts to translate into serious mainstream success.

Posted in: fight, mma, opponent, fc, ng

Scott Coker says Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey is the most anticipated female fight in the history of MMA

Yesterday I wanted to publish the picture that Miesha Tate gave to Ronda Rousey for Valentine's Day, but I was too busy not spending time with some incredibly beautiful chick that lives in West Hollywood. Instead, I spent the better part of the afternoon unclogging my toilet -- which is undoubtedly some ridiculous metaphor for my life. Jokes on you, I unclogged it with ease. The Mario Brothers would be proud. While Scott Coker didn't use the term 'bitch' to describe the imminent match-up between two of the greatest female stars in MMA, he did mention that Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey is the most anticipated female fight in the history of MMA -- second to only Carano vs. Cyborg back in 2009.

Posted in: mma, ronda rousey, spending time, rousey, miesha tate

The Greg Jacksonplata for MMA and the finer points of ground n' pound

[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on DstryrSG, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] Grappler, I know you come here to check out funky inverted sweeps and out-of-the-box strangulations and joint manipulations (rhyme intended). Occasionally, you'll join me in mocking professional BJJer's hairstyles and poor montage music choices for their highlight reels (among other things). We're cut from the same cloth, you and I. At the end of the day, we all just want to train Jiu Jitsu at the expense of our personal lives and careers and get really, really good at it. Amen. But, there's apparently more to life than that, and sometimes it involves punching and elbowing dudes from the guard and mount positions. I'm talking about MMA stuff, and no one is better at coaching worldwide that Greg Jackson. I don't train MMA, but I definitely enjoyed watching Greg walk a group of seminar goers at Evolve MMA (Singapore) through his MMA version of the omoplata and the basics of ground n' pound. Read More and Watch the Video

Posted in: mma, greg, dstryrsg part, mma stuff, positions im

Video: Ryan Ford bounces back with first round win over Ricky Goodall at Aggression MMA

Canadian welterweight Ryan Ford's (17-4) journey to Bellator took another curve at Aggression MMA 9 in Edmonton. The 29 year old Ford has been considered one of the best 170 pound free agents in MMA since early 2009. In 2011 Ford reportedly signed a deal with Bellator but lost his next fight to David Hulett (18-10). Ford headlined Aggression MMA 9 versus late replacement Ricky Goodall (9-5). The fight begins at the 4:35 mark of the video. Aggression MMA 9Edmonton, Alberta, CanadaRyan Ford def. Ricky Goodall by TKO (Elbows) 3:37 R1Victor Valimaki def. Tim Chemelli by TKO (Punches) 1:21 R2Stephen Beaumont def. Nick Heynen by Submission Rear Naked Choke 2:57 R1Sheldon Westcott def. Jay Jensen by Submission Guillotine Choke 0:26 R1Matt Bagshaw def. Greg Welsh by Submission Heel Hook 0:38 R1Jared McComb def. Chase Degenhardt by TKO (Doctor Stoppage) 0:45 R3Luke Harris def. Elliot Duff by Submission Rear-Naked Choke 0:52 R1Paulo Azambuja def. Adrian Cardinal by Submission Rear-Naked Choke 0:17 R1K.B. Bhullar def. Simon Shirt by TKO (Punches) 4:28 R1

Posted in: mma, submission, ford, submission rearnaked, ricky goodall

Gary Goodridge diagnosed with early onset CTE/Pugilistic Dementia

Former PRIDE FC and K-1 star Gary Goodridge may no longer be competing in mixed martial arts, but that doesn't mean the 46-year-old bruiser isn't still fighting on a daily basis. His new opponents? Slurred speech and prescription pain killers. Indeed, according to a report from MMAWeekly.com, Goodridge was recently diagnosed with early onset CTE/pugilistic dementia stemming from his long career of taking shots to the head both inside the ring and outside it during training and various sparring sessions. Between MMA and kickboxing, Goodridge has amassed a staggering 80+ fights to his name since 1996. Unfortunately his career ended in a serious decline, as the Canadian was forced into retirement following seven consecutive losses dating back to March 2007. But despite his sickness and declining health, he doesn't regret a single second of it. "I have no regrets. I love the way I live my life, I mean I would like to make little changes, but no, I have no regrets. I loved the way my life was, I lived a good life, and I'm happy with what I did." As surprising as that may be, it's perhaps even more surprising that Goodridge doesn't actually blame MMA for his troubles. Actually, he says K-1 is the main culprit for his condition. "I would like to share with people, but I think most of my damage came from K-1. MMA really wasn't an issue because there's hardly any shots to the head. 90-percent of my injuries came from K-1, where there's nothing but head trauma, head injuries over and over again." Goodridge, regrettably, may not have found himself in a unique situation. Brain injuries stemming from repeated head trauma have been receiving more attention as the sport of MMA continues its global expansion, even prompting some fans to disassociate themselves with the sport. Because MMA is evolving so rapidly and fans (and the medical community) are still running to catch up, it may take several years for damage incurred today to show its lasting effects and long-term consequences. Does anyone else notice a difference in behavior/speech pattern in Chuck Liddell, Phil Baroni and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira? And do we have a responsibility to act on it? Gary may not blame MMA and it may, in fact, be safer than K-1, seeing as the focus isn't completely on repeated trauma to the head. But there's no doubt the sport is dangerous for those who choose to partake in it. There are no clear-cut answers, but as Goodridge has shown, it may get worse before it gets better. Thoughts?

Posted in: mma, head, condition i, goodridge, focus isnt

Former UFC And Pride Star Gary Goodridge Diagnosed With Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy

A little under a year ago we started to see stories come out about Gary Goodridge and issues he was suffering from his long fighting career. In an article on TheStar.com last May, Goodridge had talked about how he had significant memory problems and was on a series of drugs "fit for an Alzheimer's patient." With the release of Goodridge's autobiography, he is once again in the news and talking about brain injuries. In ainterview with MMA Weekly, Goodridge talks about his recent diagnosis for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)/pugilistic dimentia: "You get the news you just have to deal with it, live with it," Goodridge told MMAWeekly.com on Monday. "There's no treatment that goes along with it. There's pills to make it slow down the process, but it's inevitable." ... "I would like to share with people, but I think most of my damage came from K-1. MMA really wasn't an issue because there's hardly any shots to the head," said Goodridge. "90-percent of my injuries came from K-1, where there's nothing but head trauma, head injuries over and over again." Obviously, yes, a sport with more strikes to the head will have more of an impact over time. It still is a little unfortunate to hear Gary phrase it the way he does though. His minimizing the impact MMA had on his health will allow fans to continue ignoring the reality that we will see CTE impact MMA as time goes on. It's not just about in competition injuries but also about training, where sparring accounts for much of the trauma a fighter will endure over the course of his career. Back in 2010, a study was done on high school football players that showed that players who were never diagnosed as having suffered concussions were still showing brain impairment on par with that of players who had been diagnosed in more obvious cases and removed from play. As the Indy Star put it at the time: Because these sub-clinical concussions -- injuries that can't be diagnosed as concussions but have similar effects -- are not recognized, the athletes are potentially at risk for additional, more serious concussions and other brain illnesses such as early-onset Alzheimer's disease, chronic depression and chronic traumatic encephalopathy, which affects the normal function of the brain as scar tissue replaces neurons, according to the study. This is where we should be more concerned as fans. I've been in big and small gyms where you see guys get "buzzed" durring sparring, sit out for a few minutes, then jump right back in. There's simply no way around the fact that involvement with combat sports carries with it a significant risk. That is not to say the sport is bad, simply that there are risks involved with participation. I love MMA and I love boxing (a sport with an obvious higher risk for brain injuries). The violence and danger involved in the sports is a part of their appeal. That being said, I've focused a lot on concussions and brain injury in the past because I feel like MMA fans still have their heads in the sand when it comes to the fact that these are issues we're going to see more and more of as time goes on. There's little we can do to prevent traumatic brain injury outright, this is a violent game we all love. But getting a better understanding of monitoring fighters in camp and trying to minimize the damage taken over time is a space where progress can be made.

Posted in: mma, injury, brain, there, goodridge

MMA Fighting Live Chat: UFC on FUEL TV, Nick Diaz Situation and More

With UFC on Fuel TV roughly 24 hours from now and UFC 144 just 10 days away, it's time to start looking ahead. But hey, it's never to late to dwell on the past. Join MMA Fighting at 1pm ET for today's live chat. We'll obviously talk about tomorrow's fights, the headliner between Jake Ellenberger and Diego Sanchez, UFC 144 in Japan next week, Nick Diaz's future with the Nevada State Athletic Commission, War Machine returning to prison, the impending bout between Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate, UFC on FOX 3's announced middleweight and welterweight match-ups or anything you'd like to discuss in the sport of MMA. How can you contribute? It's very easy. When we kick this off at 1pm ET, just submit a comment, Tweet, question or some other interesting nugget of information and we'll collectively digest it. Oh, and you can login via your Facebook or Twitter page if that makes things easier. Head back here after lunch for an hour and a half of chat action. Talk with you then.

Posted in: ufc, mma, chat, tweet question, welterweight matchups

The MMA (After) Hour: T.J. Dillashaw Talks Walel Watson, Controversial 'TUF' Loss

On the latest edition of The MMA (After) Hour, we talked to TUF 14 finalist T.J. Dillashaw about his recent controversial loss to John Dodson's, Dodson's celebration after the win, getting over the loss, training for the much taller Watson and getting back on track. Listen to the interview after the jump or download the audio here . The MMA (After) Hour: TJ Dillashaw

Posted in: mma, dillashaw, tj, tuf loss, loss training

Super Fight League has signed an exclusive three-year deal with YouTube, an MMA first

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to phish however, and he runs the risk of imprisonment, which is exactly what would happen under SOPA if you were found guilty of unauthorized streaming of copyrighted materials. At the same time as websites are being taken down due to copyright infringement, a number of MMA promotions are increasing the amount of free streaming they offer. While UFC put prelim fights up for free and Cage Warriors streamed their entire Fight Night 3 event on Facebook, India’s Super Fight League are pushing things a step further with the announcement that they have signed a three year deal with YouTube. Considering the number of people in India interesting in seeing Bollywood star of over 100 movies, Sanjay Dutt and his friend’s new venture compared to the capacity of the Andheri Sports Complex in Mumbai, this is a very interesting move indeed. Add to that the potential international attention India will gain from a proposed season of The Ultimate Fighter and it starts to look like a very attractive proposition for MMA fans. Below are the key details of the deal as per the press release. All fights will be streamed live via the Super Fight League channel, www.youtube.com/SFL Additional content will be uploaded including interviews, highlights of each show including knockout and submission of the night as well as the Bollywood and musical performances which will make up part of the show. Think Super Bowl half time show. Google will have exclusive online and mobile rights to SFL content for three years. Google and SFL will jointly share revenue from sponsorship and advertising from the YouTube channel. That final point is possibly the most interesting aspect of this deal as this marks the first time I’m aware of that Google have entered the world of MMA in this manner. So to recap, live MMA on YouTube for three years, Google and SFL share revenue and MMA fans get to witness the growth of our glorious sport in an as-yet unexplored landscape. I’d say that’s much cooler than being taught how to fish, or even phish.

Posted in: fight, mma, deal, google, youtube

B.J. Penn Talks Fatherhood And His Retirement From MMA

Former UFC champion BJ Penn talks about becoming a father, his retirement from MMA and what the future holds for him in the sport.

Posted in: mma, retirement, talk, penn, bj

Gina Carano Lands Another Leading Role In An Action Thriller

So I’m going to take a wild guess that Gina Carano doesn’t return to MMA and Strikeforce anytime soon. Reason being she just landed another leading role in an action film. The Hollywood Reporter broke the story late tonight. After making her breakthrough with the action vehicle Haywire, the MMA fighter-turned-actress is coming on board to star in In the Blood, an action thriller being directed by John Stockwell (Into the Blue, Blue Crush). Described as being in the vein of Taken, Blood is set in motion when a husband disappears while vacationing in the Caribbean with his wife, to be played by Carano. The grieving wife passionately and recklessly pursues the men whom she believes kidnapped and killed him. Bennett Yellin and James Robert Johnston wrote the script. “This role will showcase not only Gina’s fighting skills, but also her acting abilities as her character struggles to reign in her violent past,” Stockwell tells The Hollywood Reporter. The movie is scheduled to start shooting in late spring/early summer so it’s pretty much a given that she wouldn’t fight again until well after the movie wraps, if she ever fights again period. She didn’t close the door on returning to MMA in her recent round of interviews, but it certainly sounded like acting is the priority in her life now. I’d love to see her fight again, but hey if acting is where her heart is now and she can make a career out of it, then good for her. Either way, we still get to see her kick butt. Image via Esther Lin for Strikeforce/Showtime

Posted in: mma, action, gina, hollywood reporter, action thriller

The MMA Hour - Episode No. 118 - Joe Rogan

Posted in: mma, hour, joe, episode, rogan

The MMA Hour - Episode No. 118 - Cesar Gracie

Posted in: mma, hour, episode, gracie, cesar

The MMA Hour - Episode No. 118 - Dave Herman

Posted in: mma, hour, dave, episode, herman

Gary Goodridge Has CTE/Pugilistic Dementia, Blames K-1 More Than MMA

Well, here’s some saddening news. K-1 and PRIDE veteran Gary Goodridge informed MMA Weekly recently that he’s been diagnosed with CTE/Pugilistic Dementia, or in layman’s terms, the same type of brain damage that many retired boxers and football players are suffering from later in life due to all the head trauma they incurred over the course of their careers. As you can imagine, it was difficult news to hear, but Goodridge says he doesn’t have any regrets. He also blames it more on his K-1 career than his MMA bouts. “You get the news you just have to deal with it, live with it,” Goodridge told MMAWeekly.com on Monday. “There’s no treatment that goes along with it. There’s pills to make it slow down the process, but it’s inevitable.” “I would like to share with people, but I think most of my damage came from K-1. MMA really wasn’t an issue because there’s hardly any shots to the head,” said Goodridge. “90-percent of my injuries came from K-1, where there’s nothing but head trauma, head injuries over and over again.” “I have no regrets,” said Goodridge. “I love the way I live my life, I mean I would like to make little changes, but no, I have no regrets. I loved the way my life was, I lived a good life, and I’m happy with what I did.” He may not have any regrets, but it’s still a sad story and unfortunately, it probably won’t be the last as MMA continues to mature. Now that Goodridge’s professional fighting career is over he plans to stay in combat sports by teaching seminars around the world. He also just released his autobiography, “Gatekeeper: The Fighting Life of Gary ‘Big Daddy’ Goodridge,” which was actually co-authored by one of our former writers, Mark Dorsey. We wish Goodridge the best. Image via Sherdog

Posted in: mma, life, head, goodridge, ctepugilistic dementia

Please, Someone Make Bob Sapp Stop Already

Bob Sapp may be a lot of things -- film actor, pro wrestler, walking caricature -- but he’s not a fighter. Maybe at one point he was. Back when he competed in Japan’s PRIDE organization or took his lumps in K-1, perhaps. Back when he used to at least try to win. These days he’s hardly even bothering to fake it, and it’s getting more transparent all the time.To call what Sapp does fighting would be to insult all the serious fighters who actually put the time and effort in to give fans their money’s worth. Sapp doesn’t do that. Instead, he puts on a sorry little sham that, for a few seconds at a time and from a great distance, occasionally resembles fighting. He does just enough to get paid, then he collects his check and goes home. That’s what he did against Rolles Gracie at ONE FC this past weekend. That’s what he’ll probably do against James Thompson in March. That’s all he does. The only reason he even needs to wear gloves is to keep from hurting his hand when he taps out.It’s pathetic, but it’s dependable. You know what you’re getting when you sign Sapp to fight at your event, which is why we shouldn’t blame Sapp for debasing the sport -- we should blame the people who keep paying him to do it. Let’s not kid ourselves here. You think ONE FC signed Sapp because it thought he might come over to Indonesia and actually fight? Not a chance. It signed him because he has a name, because he can put a few butts in seats, and because he’s not above sacrificing dignity for cheap promotional ploys. He even provides a little bit of entertainment...before the referee gives the signal to fight.What he doesn’t do is put serious effort into fighting or training. As he told me when I interviewed him last summer:"My schedule fills up so ridiculously hard that you see me fighting and I take a loss or you see me fighting and I look terrible, but you have to go back and if you could see the schedule that I'm on you'd say, this is crazy. There's nobody who should be fighting on this kind of schedule."In other words, he’s too busy getting paid for his sheer quantity of work to worry about the quality. The way he sees it, people are paying to see Bob Sapp. They’re not necessarily paying to see him try hard, or at least they aren’t paying enough. They certainly aren’t paying enough for him to risk injury, which is why he quits as soon as he starts to feel like it’s getting too rough.Just look at his fight with Gracie. Sapp attempted one knee strike, did a bit of flailing off his back, and then tapped out almost as soon as a punch got through his defenses. Was he rocked? Dazed? Reeling from the power of the short strike and rendered unable to intelligently defend himself? Nah. He was mostly just inconvenienced. He was briefly reminded that a guy could actually get hurt in there if he wasn’t careful, and so he decided to call it a night. What else did you expect?This is nothing new for Sapp. He’s lost seven of his last eight MMA bouts, with none of them going out of the first round. Typically he’ll come on just strong enough to make a good first impression, but as soon as he eats a hard shot he crumples up like a soda can and waits for it to be over. If the referee isn’t quick enough to see his surrender for what it is, he’s not ashamed to tap out and remove all doubt. In the last few years of his MMA career, Sapp has spent more time in the fetal position than he has in anything resembling a fighting position. He’s also done it without apology or remorse for how little effort he’s putting in, explaining that he’s only there to get paid. Again, it’s hard to get too mad at Sapp for that. Even if he trained really hard and put his heart and soul into every fight, it’s not like he’d be UFC heavyweight champion. It’s doubtful whether he could even make the 265-pound limit without a tapeworm or an amputation. This way, he not only gets paid, but he can fight multiple times a year on short notice, since it’s not as if he needs time to train. If you can talk yourself into believing that things like wins and losses don’t matter, and if you’ve long since abandoned the idea of trying to be taken seriously as an athlete, Sapp’s position makes a certain degree of sense. He’s not quite good enough to do this for real, but he looks the part well enough to do it for pay. At least, that’s how some promoters see it, and they’re the ones who are disrespecting the sport by continuing to buy into that line of reasoning.At this point, putting Sapp on a fight card is almost tantamount to fight-fixing. Maybe it’s not guaranteed that he’ll lose (especially against an opponent as hapless as James Thompson), but you know he’s not going to try his hardest. You know that all it would take is one decent punch to convince him to fold up and quit, which is antithetical to everything that makes real MMA so compelling.Fans love this sport in part because of what fighters put into it, and what they put on the line in order to do it. You might have to wonder whether NBA players are giving it their all during a regular season game, but you don’t have to wonder the same thing in MMA. If a fighter slacks off, he might get his jaw broken. That tends to make people take each contest a little more seriously.Sapp isn’t one of those people, partly because he’s figured out a way to get paid without risking very much or trying very hard. It’s a clever little hustle, but it’s not what this sport is about. In fact, it makes a mockery of this sport every time he’s paid to do it, and if he’s shown us anything it’s that he’ll keep at it as long as there's a paycheck in it.So please, MMA promoters of the world. Make it easy on him. Stop paying him for these half-hearted efforts in non-fights. Let him find some other way to pay his bills. Sapp’s done enough pretending in movies and in pro wrestling. His unconvincing portrayal of a fighter has no place in MMA.

Posted in: hersquo, sapp, itrsquo, mma, time

Women's MMA Report: Kheyfets, Cummins stay perfect; Kunitskaya victorious in Russia

Rising star Marianna "The Crushen Russian" Kheyfets kept her unblemished MMA record intact this past Friday at Xtreme Fighting Championships 16 in Knoxville, Tenn. Another top prospect, Ashley "Smashley" Cummins, also was able to maintain her perfect record with a recent victory. In a super-sized installment of the Women's MMA Report, MMAjunkie.com's Robert Sargent discusses the latest in women's MMA. (And there's plenty to cover.)

Posted in: mma, women, womens mma, supersized installment, theres plenty

SFL Announces YouTube Deal, Thompson-Sapp Main Event

The upstart India-based Super Fight League promotion announced Monday an exclusive online three-year deal with YouTube, kicking off with its inaugural event on March 11 in Mumbai headlined by a super heavyweight bout between James Thompson and Bob Sapp.SFL, which is calling itself India's first professionally organized MMA league, said it will share revenues from sponsorships and advertising on its YouTube channel with Google.The promotion was founded late 2011 by IPL cricket investor Raj Kundra and Bollywood acting star Sanjay Dutt. Controversial former MMA agent Ken Pavia has been tapped as CEO. The decision to pit Thompson and Sapp in the main event will surely attract negative attention. Sapp, who lost over the weekend to Rolles Gracie, has lost eight of his last 10 MMA fights in the first round. Meanwhile, Thompson has lost 12 of his last 17, though his most recent fight, a no contest, should have been a win for him.No other bouts have been announced yet.

Posted in: fight, mma, event, youtube, thompson

Is there a need for MMA managers?

MMA Junkie had a recent article on the managers’ role in representing fighters. With the recent departures of Jose Aldo and Mauricio Rua from their representation, the need for managers has come into question. The Junkie article looks at long time manager Alex Davis as he discusses the need for a fighter to have good management. He also addresses the question of whether top notch fighters need representation anymore. This comes on the heels of Rua’s statement (which could have been taken out of context) that the UFC does not want its fighters to have managers. Via MMA Junkie: “Some people will say that once a fighter reaches a level where he enters the UFC, he doesn’t need management anymore, but usually a manager has worked very hard to get him to that point without ever getting properly rewarded for his efforts,” Davis said. “Only once a fighter is at the top can a manager have a chance at making something in the deal, which is only fair. Not only that, but its not like, ‘Hey, great, now I am in the UFC. My problems are over!’ Far from that. Things get way more complicated. Davis identifies more responsibility outside of just fighting that the fighter must consider once he makes it in the UFC. There are many tasks that a manager should handle while the fighter concentrates on training. In addition, the manager may have contacts with sponsors and promoters in helping the younger fighter achieve his goals. Payout Perspective: Manager and agent may be two separate jobs or one in the same. Certainly fighters can have both or one individual to handle both duties. One need only look to Matt Mitrione, Brandon Vera and Alistair Overeem more recently as examples of what happens when you have issues with management. Mitrione publicly fired his manager, Vera lost a year due to a contractual dispute and Overeem is currently in litigation with Golden Glory. Then there are Georges St. Pierre and Frankie Edgar who left Shari Spencer to go with closer ties to manage their career. Still, there are many MMA management agencies that take care of their fighters in securing sponsorships and public appearances. This can go a long way in getting fighters the visibility, notoriety and opportunity to increase the value of their own personal brand. Heavy MMA had a good two part (one and two) series last year on the role of an agent. The Junkie article points out the reasons that a good manager is necessary in a fighters’ career. Certainly, there are many responsibilities and tasks a manager needs to do in helping fighters prepare for their next fight while making sure they maximize their opportunities. The question is how much is a manager worth to a fighter? For top tier fighters, do they need a manager? Can the fighter have someone do the same tasks for less, without having to give up a portion of their purse or sponsorship payout. We will see if consolidation of management duties becomes a trend in MMA. There is a definite need for good representation, but at what cost?

Posted in: mma, fighter, management, need, manager

MMA in India: Super Fight League (SFL) video preview for Bob Sapp vs James Thompson

From Super Fight League: Raj Kundra and Sanjay Dutt through their company Super Fight Promotions Pvt. Ltd. have launched India's first professionally organized Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighting league, Super Fight League 'SFL'. MMA is the fastest growing sport in the world and is a multibillion dollar industry in the west. Martial arts was invented in India and this deadly duo plan to find and launch the best fighters in the world. They launch with SFL1 that takes place in Mumbai where six of India's best fighters in all weights will take on six International MMA fighters followed by a Main Event - Super Heavy Weight Fight between James Thompson and Bob Sapp. Its sportainment at its best with a huge line up of performers, DJ's and a fight night that you will never forget! Bob Sapp vs James Thompson headlines SFL 1 on March 11, 2012, at the Andheri Sports Complex in Mumbai, India. Click here to check out the SFL website and turn up the volume on your speakers. You won't be disappointed.

Posted in: fight, mma, league, india, sfl

Matt Brown on Wonderboy: 'I can go 100-0 beating a bunch of idiots'

UFC welterweight wunderkind Stephen Thompson has 63 straight victories. He's 37-0 as an amateur kickboxer, 20-0 as a pro kickboxer and 6-0 in mixed martial arts (MMA), including a successful Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) debut at UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit" back on Feb. 4 in Las Vegas. The "Immortal" (and slightly outspoken) Matt Brown, who fights "Wonderboy" at the upcoming UFC 145 pay-per-view (PPV) event on April 21 at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, is not impressed. From his interview with MMA Weekly: "I don’t know what he’s about in MMA. It looked to me he was doing the same old karate, and the karate’s the same thing, like who did he fight in karate? I don’t know. Name me one guy, name me one guy he fought. I’m not too concerned with this guy’s kickboxing. I can go 100-0 beating a bunch of idiots, but that’s not my style." Hear more from Brown on their recently announced match-up, after the jump. More on Matt Brown vs. Stephen Thompson at UFC 145 right here.

Posted in: ufc, mma, matt, i donrsquot, philips arena

Stephen Thompson talks perfect record, short notice call to compete for the UFC and facing Georges St. Pierre

63 straight victories, 37-0 as an amateur kickboxer, 20-0 as a pro kickboxer and 6-0 in mixed martial arts (MMA) including a successful Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) debut at UFC 143 last weekend (Sat. Feb. 4, 2012). That is the impressive resume of one Stephen Thompson, the welterweight division's newest gem. Training out of TriStar Gym in Montreal alongside UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre, "Wonderboy" made a successful transition from the world of kickboxing to MMA in 2010. Five wins later, he finds himself right smack in the middle of a shark infested 170-pound division in the world's largest MMA promotion. After nearly decapitating Dan Stittgen in Las Vegas at UFC 143 with a perfectly placed head kick in round one, Thompson put everyone on notice and proved that his perfect record is well deserved. With nothing but upside from the young kickboxer and the Octagon jitters out of the way, "Wonderboy" has his sights set on taking the UFC welterweight division by storm. He's already got a nice start, earning a $65,000 bonus check thanks to his "Knockout of the Night" performance in his debut. Can the fairly new MMA star keep his momentum going under the bright lights against the big boys? Appearing on Pro MMA Radio, Thompson talks about what it's like to compete under the Zuffa banner and where he draws his MMA inspiration from. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} "Early on in the MMA world, Karate was just you know, nobody had any really good things to say about karate. Now that I see somebody like Lyoto Machida, who grew up just like I did, in the schools, in the Academy, to see his success in MMA, does give me some inspiration because we are bringing Karate back." On getting the call to step up on short notice and fight for the UFC: "We got the call four weeks ago, it was kind of short notice to set up a training camp and be ready. But when the UFC calls, the biggest stage in the world for MMA and any combat sport, it’s not one of those things where you sit back and ask, "Should I do this or Should I wait?" No, I had to jump on it. I felt like I was ready even though it was short notice. I am always training, I’m the head kick boxing instructor at Upstate Karate so I consider that part of my training. But I am always training with my wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu coaches, so it was fairly easy to get a training camp going." On who he feels can stand and trade with him on the feet in the welterweight division: "Definitely Georges (St. Pierre), nobody ever really sees it, I mean he beat Koscheck with a jab, with one technique, a jab. That’s the first thing they teach you in any fight sport and just dominated him with it. You saw some really good 170 (pound fighters) this past weekend. You had Condit and Diaz who are very good strikers. That guy love to stand and bang. In this sport, I would love to do that with some of them. I know a lot of those, they look at my kickboxing background and just kind of underestimate me, just because they think I don’t have a ground game." On whether he would fight training partner Georges St. Pierre: "Georges is a very good friend of mine and I have been training with him a very long time. That’s just something that I never thought about doing is ever fighting Georges St. Pierre is because, you know he is a good friend and I wouldn’t , I couldn’t really say anything about it. It would be, I don’t know man, I never really thought about, he is a beast man, he is a monster." The Karate specialist also talked about the pressure of being undefeated: "It doesn’t really bother me, I know that going into a fight, there is a little bit of pressure knowing that I haven’t lost yet, but, I do think about it, and if that ever happened, I would just feel really bad for the next guy I fought. Because I would go back into the gym and just train like crazy. I think that would motivate me more, but my goal is for that not to happen." For his encore performance, Thompson is penciled in to take on grizzled veteran Matt Brown at UFC 145 on April 21, 2012, in Atlanta, Georgia, which is headlined by Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans. Any of you Maniacs think Thompson has the chops to compete for the welterweight title one day? Or will "The Immortal" slow down his hype as quickly as it is rising? Opinions, please

Posted in: ufc, mma, training, george, thompson

Redeeming MMA For Christians: A Controversial Mega-Church Pastor Is Pro-MMA

Mark Hill, the prominent West Coast mega-church minister at the helm of Mars Hill Church is getting some tough publicity for his approach to disciplining his members. But its an ill wind that blows no good as the hype brought his interesting take on MMA to my attention. Hill is not only an outspoken advocate of MMA, he's also very well informed. Check this ~10,000 word piece he wrote in November. Not only does he make a case for combat sports as part of a Christian's life, he also outlines the rules, history and ethic of the sport: Today, there remains much controversy around the sport due to what I believe are two primary reasons. One, many people simply do not understand the rules in place to help make MMA safer for the athletes. Two, it's a new sport and will take some time and the kind of exposure that main events on FOX will provide to quiet some critics....Some Christians will vocally declare that we must reject MMA. Sometimes it's because they simply do not understand the nature of the sport and misperceive it, and other times it's because they are pacifists theologically who don't condone violence in any form. Their picture of Jesus is basically a guy in a dress with fabulous long hair, drinking decaf and in touch with his feelings, who would never hurt anyone. The problem is that Jesus probably had short hair (1 Corinthians 11 says it was a disgrace in that day for a man to have long hair), was in good shape from a labor job and lots of walking across rugged terrain, and upon his return will come again not in humility but rather in glory. Of course he's also got some concerns that strike me, as a non-Christian, as rather eccentric if not deeply ignorant: Additionally, some argue that we should reject MMA because some aspects of the sport stem from Eastern religions and philosophy. Indeed, this was some of the pushback on my recent post on yoga, "Christian Yoga? It's a Stretch." To this I would agree on a certain level. I would not encourage anyone to study under a teacher who, in addition to combat techniques, was also pushing non-Christian philosophies and Eastern spirituality. As stated earlier, MMA involves a host of various combat traditions, including disciplines such as wrestling and boxing that do not have roots in Eastern religion. Further, as I stated in the yoga post, it's wholly acceptable for Christians to engage in the physical aspects of stretching, including yoga-type stretches, without engaging in the practice of yoga itself as it's been understood and practiced for thousands of years. My further caution was to not use the word yoga since it has such religious and cultural background that is antithetical to Christianity. Similarly, one can practice combat sports and learn various techniques without immersing oneself in the philosophy and culture of such activities. He also quotes from several MMA fighters who are practicing Christians including UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones, legendary veterans Ken Shamrock and Matt Lindland and Ben Henderson. Here's some quotes he runs from Henderson, who fights for the UFC lightweight title at UFC 144: "Through music, that's one way I like to proclaim my faith. I try not to be overly pushy, but let people know. . .I'm not the best at converting people, but what I can do is live my life a certain way. . . I don't do the club scene, I don't go to bars. By people seeing that, that affects them in a bigger way than me talking about it. "Before all my fights, the only thing I pray for is strength and honor. . .I'm not one of those guys who is about the violence and. . .idolizing the lifestyle of money and fame. A lot people, when they fight, they're afraid of losing. I realize there's something more important in my life. So I don't fight to not to lose, I fight to win." But rest easy, he's not saying that a good Christian HAS to cage fight: Not everyone should participate in MMA, watch it, or even enjoy it. The Bible doesn't command us to, and God's people are free to operate according to conscience on this matter. Now I'm not bringing this up so we can hate on Mr. Hill or his faith, I just found it to be an interesting perspective on MMA. Tread lightly in the comments. We'll have the ban hammer ready and we're not very forgiving. The discussion should be limited to the context of the piece, ie how people of faith reconcile their fondness for MMA with their beliefs. Any attempt to steer the discussion into one of the actual or relative merits of any particular faith or lack of faith will result in a swift banning.

Posted in: fight, mma, sport, people, christian

Leave it to this collection of MMA fighters and personalities to remind you that you don't have a date this Valentine's Day

Valentines day 2012 is roughly 48 hours away, do you have your roses and chocolates set for a significant other? Do you plan on finally letting that person you care about so much know how you feel? Will you be waiting for Wednesday, so you can buy all of the Valentines candy at a discounted rate, possibly throwing your stock into the freezer in your garage so you can dip into it this summer? One thing about Valentines Day, everyone has an opinion on it. Personally when anyone brings up Valentines to me, I think about the 1929 murders in a Chicago garage that were orchestrated by Al Capone against the Irish north side gang led by Bugs Moran. This is what a bunch of MMA related people think about the holiday. Brought to you by MMA30. Thanks to Tracy Lee for the banner pic. [Source]

Posted in: mma, day, mma fighters, valentine, valentines candy

MMA Life: Heath Herring Turns from MMA to Poker

While he’s not been active on the fight scene for the last couple years, former Pride/UFC heavyweight Heath Herring has remained busy with a different type of competition.

Posted in: mma, fight scene, couple years, herring, heath

Ford, Valimaki winners at Aggression MMA 9

Edmonton's Ryan Ford sent the crowd home happy with a first-round TKO over Halifax's Ricky Goodall on Saturday at Aggression MMA 9.

Posted in: mma, ford, aggression, goodall, crowd home

Diego Sanchez and the Dangers of Fame in MMA

Diego Sanchez’s past several years could serve as a cautionary tale about the potential dangers that come along with the notoriety of being an MMA fighter.In June 2009, Sanchez was at the height of his MMA career. He had defeated Clay Guida to improve his MMA career record to 21-2. More importantly, the win assured him his next fight would be for the UFC lightweight title against champion B.J. Penn. Sanchez had proven himself inside the UFC Octagon. But outside, it was a different story.“I got sucked real deep into the fame and the money,” Sanchez said recently on The MMA Hour. “I was a bachelor and I got sucked into a bad life of partying. I got really into smoking weed, drinking, partying. After my Clay Guida fight, I went down a bad path, man. It was just not a good path. After my loss to B.J. Penn it just got worse. I got really out of control.” If his careless spending wasn’t enough of a problem, the Albuquerque native became a victim of an investment scam.“To make it worse, one of my best friends completely robbed me blind,” Sanchez said. “Set me up and embezzled me for about $150,000.” And so, three months after challenging for the UFC lightweight title, Sanchez was broke. “In February of 2010, I had hit rock bottom, completely. I was broke. I was down and out, man,” Sanchez recalled. “This guy had run me dry. The money had I set away to pay taxes, I was $230,000 in debt with the I.R.S.”Sanchez relied on drugs and alcohol to mask his personal and financial difficulties. Sanchez failed to stop even when he had his next fight lined up.“I was in a bad place. The only place to cover this up, the depression and anxiety, was the drinking and smoking weed. I was smoking so much weed it was ridiculous. And I was still drinking leading up to Hathaway fight. I knew I had no place stepping in the cage. But I had to because I needed the money.”Sanchez was upset by British rising star John Hathaway in a unanimous decision, suffering back-to-back losses for only the second time in his career. After the fight, a new addition to Sanchez's life forced him to turn his life around. Ironically, this “blessing” was brought on once again from being a victim of his own fame.A woman whom Sanchez had met online deceived the fighter into believing he was the father of their child. Based on the child’s striking similarities, Sanchez foregone a DNA test and raised the child as his own. The path to discovering the truth began when he married another woman and was no longer allowed by the mother to visit the child. In an attempt to gain custody of the child, Sanchez hired an attorney. During the process, Sanchez finally underwent a DNA test and learned there were no blood ties. “I was crushed. It was heartbreaking for me that he wasn’t mine,” Sanchez said. “I had to take it for what it was and just accept it ...“The girl that put me through this, she knew all along he wasn’t mine.” Sanchez continued. “It was all a big plan to get money or something: the money, the fame, she wanted to be in the limelight and say she had Diego Sanchez’s son … I don’t know.” Having overcome these challenges, Sanchez immersed himself in God. Completely, this time. And after his MMA career is over, Sanchez intends to work for the ministry full-time.“I dedicated my life to Jesus Christ, for real,” Sanchez said. “I was never truly, according to his righteousness. I just turned everything around and put everything in God’s hands. “Since the loss to Hathaway, Sanchez has defeated two top welterweights in Paulo Thiago and Martin Kampmann and will next face Jake Ellenberger next at UFC on FUEL TV on Feb. 15. The winner could conceivably be within reach of a title shot.“I still believe that it’s in my destiny to be a world champion,” Sanchez said. “It’s in God’s hands. I’m just going to do my part and work as hard as I can.”

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, career, sanchez

The Leone-ly addition you need: wrestling for MMA and submission grappling

[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on DstryrSG, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] I have always admired martial artists who have achieved more than one rank of mastery in different grappling arts. While wrestlers don't have belt ranks, you can easily notice years of experience and mat work by they way they move. I believe that a hybrid of wrestling or Judo mixed with BJJ makes one of the strongest grapplers possible. For example, Andrew Leone, head wrestling coach of Phucket Top Team, teaches both fighters and BJJ practitioners alike. Check out this sweet video of some great grappling for MMA and a really simple and effective technique at the end that can be used in grappling or in MMA. Watch And Learn Some Cool Stuff...

Posted in: mma, dstryrsg part, belt ranks, bjj practitioners, wrestlers dont

Despite facing new hurdles, Cage Warriors' Matt Gabel relaxed on verge of tourney

Matt Gabel has every right to be cranky, angry and just plain unpleasant. After all, traveling all the way from Illinois to Lebanon wasn't exactly beneficial to his fight-day preparation, and giving an interview while trying to rehydrate isn't always the best idea, either. But the Fiore MMA product said he's hardly rattled. After all, MMA is about competition, not emotion, and sometimes sacrifice has to be made.

Posted in: mma, matt, rehydrate isnt, fightday preparation, lebanon wasnt

ONE FC 2: Battle of Heroes Breakdown (MAIN CARD)

In my last piece, we previewed why you should wake up early to catch the ONE FC 2 preliminary card, but for those who like sleeping in the main card has a tentative start time around 9:00 AM EST tomorrow morning. Plenty of time to catch some shut-eye before the fights, right? The main card also has five bout, and features several notable fighters. Bob Sapp, Rolles Gracie, Gustavo Falciroli, Rustam Khabilov, and Ole Laursen are all standouts on this card. With some intriguing fights that could be pivotal to the future of several of ONE FC’s divisions, all eyes will be on Asia’s biggest MMA promotion as they find their footing. The main card will be available on UStream for $9.99 USD. Considering how expensive most MMA PPV cards are these days, that’s more than reasonable for a card of this caliber. So grab a bowl of cereal, put some Saturday morning cartoons on your TV, and check out the ONE FC 2: Battle of Heroes internet PPV. And now a look at the main card… Rolles Gracie (5-1) vs Bob Sapp (11-9) Fighting out of the Renzo Gracie Academy, Brazil’s Gracie, a one-time UFC and IFL fighter, looks to live up to the family name and show his submission chops against the mammoth Sapp. The 33-year-old submission specialist has five wins in his MMA career, all by way of Arm-Triangle Choke in the first round. Rolles looks for his third consecutive win since a 2010 loss to Joey Beltran stopped his UFC career before it ever really got started. The lone American on the card, Sapp, fights out of Team Beast. A popular fighter in Japan, Sapp has fought some of the best in MMA and K-1, although those fights, for the most part, came earlier in his career. Sapp was winless in kickboxing from 2005 until this month, where he won a very controversial TKO over Tofan Pirani. Sapp has also managed only one victory in his last seven outings. Looking for his first MMA victory in two years, Sapp brings a near 100-pound weight advantage to this cage. Sapp needs to use his size and sub-par, yet powerful striking, to punish Gracie. On the other hand, Gracie needs to keep Sapp at bay on the feet, and bring him into his realm, where the submission victory shouldn’t be hard to find. The best way to describe this fight that it is a simple battle of size versus skill. Soo Chul Kim (4-2) vs Gustavo Falciroli (11-3-2) Fans of ONE FC may recall the South Korean Kim. The Team Force prospect came into the first event as a heavily watched Korean MMA fan favorite, however, whether it be pressure, or just facing a better fighter in Leandro Issa, Kim came up short. The 20 year old looks to rebound from his second career loss in this bout, and will likely use a variety of striking to try to keep the fight where he wants it, and defeat the second high-level grappler that he has faced in as many fights. Godoi Jiu-Jitsu Club’s Falciroli is Australia’s lone fighter on the card. The Shooto Australia veteran comes into this match with three victories in his last four fights, one by submission, one by knockout, and one by decision. Falciroli has the tools required to win any battle, no matter where it goes. The second degree BJJ black belt is also an accomplished striker, and the word is that with another victory or two, he could very well be UFC bound as they expand their operations. A considerably tougher fight for than Kim is used to, the South Korean needs to be smart in this bout, and perhaps work a defensive game. Falciroli is a dangerous fighter and can end it on the feet or on the ground at any given time, and although I never like to count any fighter out before match-up happens, it’s no secret that Falciroli is heavily favoured in this time out. Look for these two to put on a fast pace, and don’t be surprised if this bantamweight tilt encompasses all the aspects of the MMA game. Rodrigo Ribeiro (9-7) vs Rustam Khabilov (12-1) Fighting out of Evolve MMA, Brazillian grappler Riberio steps into the ONE FC cage in only his second bout outside of Brazil. The third degree BJJ black belt has a mixed record in his career thus far, and looks for his second consecutive victory in this bout. With most of his wins coming by way of submission, it’s fairly clear where Ribeiro wants this fight to go. Across the cage from him is Jackson’s MMA fighter Khabilov. The Russian Sambo player is one of Russia’s highest touted prospects with his 12-1 record. His first non-European fight, Khabilov has almost exclusively competed within the M-1 ring. His only loss was a controversial split decision loss to Russian Khaskhanov back in February of 2011. With most of his wins coming by way of submission or decision, it could be a gamble for him to take the action to the ground, but with his Sambo experience, it may also be his best weapon. This bout pits two dominant martial arts against each other. For the Brazillian, Ribeiro, BJJ is his bread and butter, and he’ll look to use his skills to hand Khabilov his second loss. For the Russian, Khabilov, Sambo is held in the same regard as BJJ is to the Brazillian, and he too, will look to use his dominate skills to find success outside of the European MMA scene. Bae Young Kwon (6-2) vs Honorio Banario (6-0) The #1 ranked South Korean fighterKwon enters the cage on the strength of a two-fight win streak. A Team Posse fighter, the “Serial Killer” loves to go for the knockout, but is definitely not afraid to fight wherever the action goes. The Shooto veteran faces likely his toughest challenge yet in Banario, but he’s not the #1 ranked Korean featherweight for nothing, and he plans to confidently show the world why he’s as highly regarded as he is. Team Lakay’s Banario is undefeated; the Filipino striker mixes his powerful standup skills and his excellent wrestling and submissions to win his fights, with all of his victories coming within the distance. “The Rock” is the current URCC lightweight champ, but is dropping down to featherweight for this bout. He is well known for his ability to push the pace without gassing, and looks to make a statement in his ONE FC debut. This bout pits the best Korean featherweight against one of the best Filipino lightweights around, and promises to be an exciting fight, which should add some clarity to the top of the ONE FC featherweight division. Most certainly, the winner of this match-up will be able to stake his claim as perhaps the best featherweight on the ONE FC roster. Felipe Enomoto (5-3 1 NC) vs Ole Laursen (5-2) Japanese standout Enomoto fights out of Enomoto Dojo. Despite losing in his last two outings, Enomoto is always a very dangerous fighter. With an abundance of BJJ experience, as well as being trained in muay Thai and boxing, Enomoto is more than capable of winning. Having experience in ProFC and Pancrase, Enomoto is used to shows at this level, and should have no problem getting into his comfort zone this time out. Fighting out of Legacy Gym, the Filipino Laursen returns to MMA after more than a year away due to injuries. After suffering two losses to open his career, to Genki Sudo and Caol Uno, Laursen put together a five-fight winning streak, with all but one of those victories going within the distance. The muay Thai champion will look to use his vast array of strikes to punish Enomoto and secure his sixth consecutive win. While both men have experience against tough opponents, their toughest fights could come against each other. While Enomoto doesn’t excel in any specific area, his well-rounded fighting style should allow him to be more than able to compete with Laursen. For “Iron Fist”, ring rust may be an issue, but he has had long layoffs before. His striking is his key to victory, but don’t be shocked if he looks for a submission win along the way. All in all, for those who get up early enough, this card will be excellent. I know that I, for one, will be up at the crack of dawn, proudly wearing my ONE FC shirt, and you should be too. Don’t have a ONE FC shirt? Get a shirt and write ONE FC on it and wear it. Enjoy the fights!

Posted in: fight, mma, card, fc, sapp

The MMA Show Lands in England May 12 & 13

The MMA Show is landing in the United Kingdom in May featuring some of the top fighters for training sessions and meeting fans from all over the world.

Posted in: mma, show, mma show, training sessions, meeting fans

ONE FC 2: Battle of Heroes Breakdown (THE PRELIMS)

Feeling empty with the lack of MMA this weekend? Don’t worry, ONE Fighting Championship has got you covered! ONE FC 2: Battle of Heroes takes place this Saturday, February 11th, live from Kelapa Gading Sports Mall in Jakarta, Indonesia. If you’re not familiar with ONE FC, the fast-growing Singapore based promotion burst onto the Asian MMA scene in 2011 with their inaugural card (Champion vs. Champion), which featured notable fighters such as Phil Baroni, Eduard Folayang, Eric Kelly, and Gregor Gracie. ONE FC uses a combination of unified rules, as well as PRIDE Rules, in their fights. With soccer kicks, head stomps and elbows all permitted in the fights, fans of PRIDE, fans of violence, and fans of all types MMA in general, are in for a treat. With this card less than 24 hours away, here is a look at the bouts, what to expect, and why you should wake up early Saturday morning to tune in. The preliminary card gets started live on Saturday morning, beginning at 7:30am EST. Featuring five bouts with some Asian MMA veterans, as well as exciting prospects, the undercard promises to deliver some exciting, interesting, and excellent bouts. The preliminary card is available for viewing live at the ONE FC Facebook page. Check back in later tonight when I break down the main card as well. Zuli Silawanto (5-5) vs Agus Nanang (0-0) Tigershark Fighting Academy product, Indonesian Silawanto comes into this fight after a nearly eight-year break from fighting. Having made his professional debut nearly a decade ago, Silawanto fought all ten of his fights in the now-defunct TPI Fighting Championship with mixed results. After trading wins and losses in all of his fights, he looks to make a triumphant return to the sport and improve his .500 record. Fellow Indonesian Nanang makes his professional debut, fighting out of the Bandung Fighting Club. Nanang has twelve previous MMA bouts on the amateur fight scene. Nanang is a regarded as a wrestler and will likely be looking to take things to the ground, however, if the fight stays standing, he should be more than able to hold is own. This fight flirts with the unknown. How will Silawanto look after an eight-year layoff? What can we expect from Nanang? There is very little relevant tape to study on either fighter, so how this fight will play out is a mystery, which adds an interesting element to this fight. Ngabdi Mulyadi (5-2) vs Peter Davis (3-1) Indonesian based Mulyadi fights out of the Lindu Aji camp. A decorated wrestler, Mulyadi went 5-0, with four finishes, to start off his career, before suffering back-to-back losses. Much like Silawanto, Mulyadi returns to MMA after nearly an eight-year layoff. Mulyadi, however, remained active during much of his time away from the sport, competing in wrestling competitions throughout Asia. Davis represents the Muayfit team out of Malaysia and enters the fight looking for his third straight win. The unorthodox striker stepped away from professional fighting for some time to focus on other commitments, such as modelling and acting, but made a triumphant return in December 2011, making short work of Nursultan Arsen Uule. The former UKMMAC welterweight champ brings an interesting striking attack to the fight. A classic striker vs. grappler match in the purest sense of the phrase, it will be interesting to see how a long time away from the sport affects Mulyadi, as well as how Davis will deal with his primarily wrestling based attack. There is much hype around Davis, and this fight could be pivotal in determining the future of his MMA career. Irshaad Sayed (2-1) vs Jessie Rafols (6-2) Sayed, a South African, makes his major promotion debut with less than two years under his belt as a professional fighter. Fighting out of Hong Kong based IMPAKT MMA, Sayed makes his promotional debut coming off the strength of a split decision victory over Jumayi Ayideng at RUFF 2 in December 2011. Widely regarded as an outstanding muay Thai practitioner, Sayed looks to make some noise in the bantamweight division with a victory over Rafols. Seeking his seventh win, Filipino Rafols enters the cage fighting out of D’Elements Gym. “The Finisher” has a 100% finishing rate in his six career victories, with five coming by submission. A professional fighter for just over four years, Rafols is known for his frantic pace and relentless aggression, as well as his ability to put the pressure on his opponents. One of the more interesting fights on the preliminary card, this bout promises to be an exciting, and potentially violent part of the evening. If I had to suggest a fight to keep yours eyes peeled to, this would be it. Alex Silva (1-0) vs Geje Eustaquio (2-1) Brazillian Silva is the first fighter of the night based out of the Evolve MMA camp. A BJJ world champion, Silva recently made his MMA debut by defeating Suchat Lukamkuha by submission in just over two minutes. Silva has the benefit of training with grappling ace Shinya Aoki, and will be looking to make a definitive statement on behalf of Evolve. The Filipino Eustaquio is The Team Lakay fighter, and looks to represent his camp, widely regarded as one of the best in Asia, against a fellow top team. Nearing the one-year anniversary of his professional debut, Eustaquio is coming off a split decision loss to David Cho at PXC 28 in a contentious affair. Eustaquio’s Wushu-based attacks could prove an interesting factor in this flyweight tilt, as he will most certainly have to keep this fight standing if he wants to secure the victory. One should expect Silva to take the action to the ground as soon as he can, and look for a quick submission. One way or another, one team will most certainly have bragging rights as soon as the closing bell sounds. Victorio Senduk (0-0) vs Raymond Tiew (0-0) Indonesian based Senduk fights out of Versus Martial Arts Team and makes his professional debut with ONE FC. An experienced striker, Senduk has tried his hand at boxing, kickboxing, and karate. What Senduk brings to the table in this fight is unknown, as his most prominent professional competition was at the South East Asian Games, where he took home the silver medal in San Shou. His opponent, Tiew is the second fighter on the card to come out of Team Muayfit in Malaysia. Compiling a 5-1 record on the Malaysian MMA scene, Tiew has competed in kickboxing as well, and is regarded as the better MMA striker. A Wushu champion in his own regard, his well-rounded striking game could be the key to victory against Senduk. With both men having so much experience in striking-based combat sports, one can imagine this action will stay on the feet. Fans expect this to be a striking clinic, as does ONE FC, as it is the feature fight on the preliminary card. Both men need a definitive victory to cement their position in the Asian MMA scene. The preliminary card promises to be an exciting, action-packed two hours of fights. Can’t get up for 7:30am? In my next piece, we’ll take a look at the main card which features plenty of notable fighters, and exciting, pivotal fights.

Posted in: fight, mma, fighter, vs, card

Friday Link Club: Fedor vs. Aleks, Nick Diaz Fallout

Fedor Emelianenko fights his brother Aleks… sorta… kinda… not really Nick Diaz’s Love/Hate Relationship Will Be Tested While He’s Gone | MMA Fighting Nick Diaz drug test failure: It’s time to grow up | MMA Mania Nick Diaz Tests Positive: What’s Next for Georges St. Pierre? | Bleacher Report Make the case to me why fighters shouldn’t be suspended for weed usage | Fight Opinion UFC on FUEL TV: Sanchez vs. Ellenberger will stream free on UFC.com | 5thRound Jake Ellenberger says Diego Sanchez’s “stupid guy pace” is going to get him hurt | LowKick UFC 143 Main Event Referee Steve Mazzagatti Talks Bitch Slaps, Sh*t Talking and Dana White Hate | Cage Potato Even Fedor can enjoy himself at a Russian indoor water park | MiddleEasy Michael Bisping splits from Wolfslair MMA | Five Ounces of Pain New Study Reveals Headgear Reduces Head Trauma, MMA world replies, “duh”  | TheFightNerd UFC 143 initial PPV buy rates and other ratings | MMA Payout Cung Le Hints At 2012 Return To Action | FightLine

Posted in: diaz, mma, nick, cage potato, wolfslair mma

Pro MMA Radio 184: Urijah Faber & Stephen Thompson

We have partnered with Pro MMA Radio to bring you weekly replays of PMR as the official radio show of MMAConvert.com. Pro MMA Radio can be heard live every Monday evening at 9PM ET/6PM PT. Replays and podcasts of every show are available 24/7 by going to the “Replay Corner” section of ProMMARadio.com, our own Pro MMA Radio page or by clicking the banner below. On this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio, Urijah Faber stopped by to talk about his upcoming coaching stint on TUF 15. Stephen Thompson also joined the show to talk about his spectacular knockout at UFC 143 and where he sees himself in the UFC’s welterweight division. You can listen to a replay of this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio by clicking the banner below. A radio player with links to the show’s archives will open in a pop-up window, so please make sure your browser is set to allow pop-ups for this site.

Posted in: mma, show, replay, radio, mma radio

The Friday Morning MMA Link Party

As I sit here in a hotel bar in the middle of Jakarta, Indonesia preparing for tomorrow's ONE FC 2, I can't help but think that if you can 'jerky' beef and turkey, then buffalo and fish should not be left out in the mix. Actually, more so fish. Buffalo sort of falls in the category of mythical creature. Not many people have seen one, but we've accepted they exist ever since our teachers made us crack open school text books and read about American history. Apparently all the buffalo were hunted off by early American settlers that believed leading a species to extinction qualified as another fun and entertaining activity. The past sucks, so live in the now by checking out our Friday Morning MMA Link Party right here on MiddleEasy.com. [list class="bullet-6"] [li]Nick Diaz's Positive Drug Test Not Surprising, but Still Bizarrely Disappointing. [MMAFighting] [/li] [li]Quote(s) of the Day: Dana White’s ‘State of the Union’ on MMA Judging and the UFC Coming to Hawaii. [CagePotato] [/li] [li]Michael Bisping splits from Wolfslair MMA. [Fives Ounces of Pain] [/li] [li]The 25 Greatest Non-Title Fights in UFC History. [LowKick] [/li] [li]Igor Pokrajac Replaces Injured Brandon Vera, Fights Thiago Silva at UFC on FX 3. [MMAConvert] [/li] [li]Dustin Poirier Threatens to “Expose” The Korean Zombie. [5th Round] [/li] [li]Why the UFC Should Ditch the FOX Robots. [Bleacher Report] [/li] [li]UFC Fox Events Coming to Atlantic City and Los Angeles this Summer. [The Fight Nerd] [/li] [li]Mauricio Rua: 'UFC has made it clear we don’t need a manager.' [MMAMania] [/li] [li]Make the case to me why fighters shouldn’t be suspended for weed usage. [FightOpinion] [/li] [li]TapouT-UFC announce new sponsorship deal. [MMAPayout] [/li] [li]Zach Makovsky Defends Title Against Eduardo Dantas At Bellator 65. [Fightline] [/li] [/list] UFC 142 is On Pace to Becoming the Number 5 Most Cursed Card in UFC History

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, li, american history

Talking To Tucker: I Get Him To Tell The Inside Story On Jeremie Myers. Part Five of Five

After reading a Forbes.com profile of Tucker Max, a controversial Internet star who'd turned into an absurdly successful book author, I noticed that a very brief quote about the good qualities of MMA was almost buried into the piece. I reached out to Tucker in hopes of getting a few quick blurbs about the positive mention of MMA in a mainstream media publication and then mashing the whole thing together as a short post here on Bloody Elbow. Tucker ruined those hopes by bouncing back and forth with me in a nearly 4500 word Q&A session, which is now the five part interview being featured here on Bloody Elbow. The back and forths that we went through showed that Max views MMA as a source of physical betterment, complex and useful techniques, great friends and astonishing personal growth - which should be surprisingly universal to combat sports followers and participants reading this. The first part of this interview dealt with Tucker Max's discovery of Brazilian jiu jitsu, subsequent humbling and the transition into training MMA. The second gave us the surprisingly good methodology of his training with MMA hillbilly Reggie Warren and moved us to Max's present day training in Austin, Texas. The third part essentially asked Tucker why he does all of this and why he is willing to stand up on this platform and talk about MMA. In the fourth, I'm tossing him as many questions as I possibly can and he's fielding them with ease. In this last part, I surprise him a bit with a question about Jeremie "Kamikaze" Myers and he launches into a great story before we close things out with a few last questions. This interview is done partly in support of his latest books, Hilarity Ensues and Sloppy Seconds, yet the interview is 100% Tucker, 100% relevant to MMA and there is no advertising or review thing going on here. Max was genuinely surprised by me reaching out and by my questions and welcomed the chance to talk about something other than his debauchery. I present his answers exactly as written (minus the bleeping out of a few cuss words). The books hit stores earlier this week and can be ordered online as well. Hit the jump for Part Five. Part One: Discovery of BJJ, The Jump to MMA, Training at Legend's in Hollywood, CA. Part Two: How Reggie Warren Built a Passable Sparring Dummy and Present Day Training in Austin, TX Part Three: Swimming in Deep Waters and Coming Out Alive Part Four: The Exact Space MMA Occupies in his Life Ben Thapa: You're 35 years old. What do you want from your endeavors within MMA at this point? Tucker Max: I never had an "end" goal with MMA; I want the same things in the future that its given me in the past, which I kinda talked about above. MMA is not a thing I'm doing for a period of my life. To me, it's now a part of who I am. At this point, I couldn't imagine not training anymore. The only other thing I want from MMA is actually not something I want, but something I want to give back: I'd love to expose more people to the sport, men and women. MMA has given so much to me, I'd love to figure out a way to share it. Plus, I think fighting is something very deep in the human psyche, and MMA is a way to safely, productively express that urge. Beyond that, I think MMA teaches so many positive things to so many people that could benefit, but don't realize it. I don't see myself as being any strong voice for it or anything, just another person who does it and loves it and helps others start. BT: Have you been successful at converting friends and family to active participants or casual fans? TM: Oh yes. So many of my friend have seen the amazing changes in both my body and my life as a result of MMA, and they took it up. I've gotten two girls seriously into muay thai, and both are now really good at it, like competition level good. And I would say at least three of my male friends are serious enough at now that they're maybe better than me at gi jiu-jitsu. One competes a lot and wins grappling tournaments and s**t, I think he's a f***ing purple belt with some major tournament wins. BT: What was the story with the sparring match with Jeremie Myers in Ohio? TM: How did you know about that? I don't think I've ever written about that. That's a funny story: So right before the book tour, this random guy from Ohio emails me, explains that he's like 10-1 as an amateur at MMA, is about to turn pro, and was wondering if I would sponsor him. I normally ignore email where people ask me for things, but since I love MMA, I made this guy a deal: I would sponsor him for $200, but he had to beat me in an MMA fight. Not a full fight, but sparring. He immediately took the deal. Here's the funny thing: I didn't tell him that I had ever trained any sort of martial art, in fact, I think I lied and told him I didn't. I actually did this because I wanted to see what kind of guy he was; I knew he was a more skilled fighter than me of course, but I figured if I went in there, and he thought I had no idea what I was doing, I'd have about a 30 second window to throw a submission on him before he was expecting it. I wanted to see how he handled this, how mentally tough he was--if I was going to let him put my name on his ass, he'd better not just be a good fighter, but I wanted to make sure he wasn't a quitter or anything like that. During the book tour for Assholes Finish First, I met him at a gym in Ohio, and I let him take me down, and then I threw probably the greatest omoplata of my life on him. I could tell he was in shock, but the dude kept his head, patiently worked his escape, and I blew my one shot at subbing him. I was able to stay with him for about 5 or 10 minutes, but the only advantage I had was surprise and once that was gone, it was only a matter of time, and he got me. Jeremie actually lives in Austin now, and trains out of the Relson Gracie affiliate. He just won his last pro fight in Dallas, I think he's 4-3 overall. He has all the tools to become a really good fighter, he just has to dedicate himself to putting in the work. To ruin the mystery of how I knew, the answer to Max's question is that Jeremie appeared on The Verbal Submission, a radio show that I co-host with Brian Hemminger of MMA Mania and Gerry Rodriguez. He was on our 23rd episode last year and we are now coming up on our 72nd next Sunday at 6:30 pm ET. Our 71st episode featured interviews with Diego Sanchez, Sheldon Westcott and Dave Camarillo. BT: Did you tour facilities around the country during the previous book tours or have plans for doing that? TM: No, I'm too busy on book tours to train, but I travel a lot and train at different places sometimes. For example, this past week in NYC, I rolled at Marcelo Garcia's place for the first time. It was incredible. I've never rolled with a group of guys who - top to bottom - had more amazing open guards. I rolled for an hour with like nine different guys, and I don't think I f***ing passed one person. Cool guys though; they put an a**-whipping on me, but they did it in the nicest, most instructive way possible. If I lived in NYC, I would definitely train there full time. Note: This is not the first time Tucker has spoken about MMA the positive effects he perceives as being associated with or derived from the sport. At the 2011 Ancestral Health Symposium, he spoke for about twenty minutes, using a Powerpoint slideshow to illustrate his ideas of fighting occupying a necessary societal function. The video is embedded below - although be warned that it was recorded with something like a webcam and frameskips a bunch. The audio is clear and you can sort of riffle through to see the slides and the general points. "From cave to cage: Mixed martial arts in ancestral health" by Tucker Max from Ancestry. BT: How would you characterize the immediate response and the eventual after effects at the Ancestral Health Symposium to your presentation on the positive effects of controlled violence through MMA and MMA-like activities? TM: The response was overwhelmingly positive. The people at that thing are mostly academics and people who, let's say aren't super athletic or anything like that. But I think they understood exactly what I was saying, because my message is one that is very primal and resonates at a deep level with people: Fighting is part of our ancestry. Better to recognize that, understand it, and then express that part of ourselves in a safe, productive way, than suppress it and have it come out in other destructive ways. Since that speech, I've had a ton of people say they've started training some for of martial arts. If the type of people who were at the conference start training and understanding MMA/BJJ, the world is going to be a better place, and more people will understand how amazing martial arts are for humans. End of Part Five Thanks for sticking with us the whole time. It was a novel experience and I hope it was worth the read. Part One: Discovery of BJJ, The Jump to MMA, Training at Legend's in Hollywood, CA. Part Two: How Reggie Warren Built a Passable Sparring Dummy and Present Day Training in Austin, TX Part Three: Swimming in Deep Waters and Coming Out Alive Part Four: The Exact Space MMA Occupies in his Life

Posted in: mma, part, training, thing, tucker

ONE FC fighter Ngabdi Mulyadi fighting for national pride on Saturday's show

Ngabdi Mulyadi was one of the rising stars of Indonesian MMA, running up a record of 5-2 with the TPI FC promotion. When that folded in 2004 he found himself in the same position as all the other Indonesian mixed martial artists at the time, training without any prospect of finding an actual fight. Now aged 31 he is making his MMA comeback but says that the pressure of fighting at ONE FC: Battle of Heroes in Jakarta will be easy to cope with after the weight of expectation which comes with representing his country at wrestling. “I am not nervous because I am used to competing in big tournaments,” said Mulyadi in a conversation with Fighters.com. “I got a bronze medal in the SEA Games in 2009 and I was representing an entire country then so there was a lot of pressure, in MMA I am fighting on my own so I don’t feel any pressure.” In fact he is so relaxed that he says he has not bothered doing any research on his opponent, Malaysian stand-up specialist Peter Davis, and the only information he has is that he is a model, explaining, “I know nothing about my opponent, I don’t care I will just go in there to fight. Someone told me he is a model but I don’t care about that. I do not want to hurt him, just to beat him.” Although his last recorded fight was way back in 2004 Mulyadi has been active since then, participating in an annual MMA competition called RCTI Duel. “When TPI FC finished in 2004 there was RCTI Duel, an MMA competition which took place every year so I fought on that but I haven’t fought MMA since 2009 because there have been no shows,” said Mulyadi. “There are a lot of wrestlers who were champions in TPI FC and now they are all looking to get into fighting for One FC there are kickboxing competitions but I am a wrestler not a kickboxer.” Wrestling has been a part of his life since the age of 18 and he continues to train, teach and compete full time, revealing, “I first began wrestling as a junior in 1998 when I was in High School, which is quite late to start, most people begin when they are younger. At 20 years old I began to fight as a senior, I enjoy fighting and wrestling. I get money from the Indonesian government to work as a wrestling coach and also to train in wrestling. I normally coach one day a week and train the rest of the time because the government want me to do well in international competition.” His training for ONE FC’s historic first event in Jakarta has been a little different because it has not been funded by the state and has focused on all of the elements of mixed martial arts, stating, “When I compete in MMA I compete as an individual, the government don’t give me any money for that. I have been training every day, morning and evening. I wrestle every morning and work with a kickboxing coach at night and I have also been training BJJ. I am confident in my striking because I have been training every day with my kickboxing coach.” After having represented his country on the international stage so many times in the past Mulyadi is completely relaxed about his appearance at ONE FC, which will be broadcast by a major domestic TV channel in Indonesia. “I know there will be a lot of people at the show but it doesn’t bother me because I have wrestled in front of big crowd before but this will be the biggest crowd to ever see me fight MMA,” said Mulyadi of the opportunity. “It’s very exciting for Indonesian fighters to have a show like ONE Fighting Championship that they can fight on and I want to fight for ONE FC as often as possible, I like to fight, I enjoy it.” He may not be representing his country in an official capacity but he is up against a Malaysian fighter and national pride will still be at stake, a point which is definitely not lost on him, saying, “I cannot lose to a Malaysian, I will win for sure!” The ONE FC undercard will stream for free starting at about 8:00 AM EST on Saturday morning with the main card available for $9.99. Check out the organization’s website or Facebook Page for more info. Tweet

Posted in: fight, mma, “ i, fc, mulyadi

Latest UFC/MMA news and notes from around the web for the week of February 5, 2012

Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Mark Munoz, Jake Ellenberger and Anthony Pettis pictured above, we can all "get along." Teaming up with MMA sites like MMA Fighting, Cage Potato, Fight Opinion and The Fight Nerd, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport. This week, The Fight Nerd reviews Gary Goodrige's new book, Cage Potato scores an interview with referee Steve Mazzagatti and Bleacher Report speaks with Jorge Santiago. The full list of links is after the jump. - GSP talks scientific training methods, the interim title and Silva vs. Sonnen II (LowKick) "The question is not if Chael Sonnen will beat Anderson Silva, I believe he has the perfect style to do it. The only problem is, his last fight with Michael Bisping, he was coming pretty straight, and if he does that with Anderson Silva, he will run into punches. So, I think if he can move standing up without getting hit and find a way to close the distance bring the fight to the ground, he's got a very good chance to win. The thing is not really if he's going to win or not, but how he's going to get out of Brazil after that?" - Steve Mazzagatti talks slapping, sh*t talking and Dana White hate (Cage Potato) Love him or hate him, "The Mazz" don't care. He has a job to do and he isn't in this game to make friends. - Roger Gracie weighing move to 185 pounds (Five Ounces of Pain) Strikeforce middleweight champ Luke Rockhold has been very vocal about his desire to see the organization bring in some new contenders for him to face. However, it appears the promotion may already have a new option for Rockhold on their roster with the ability to fight at 185 pounds and give any opponent a run for his money. - Diaz's positive test not surprising (MMA Fighting) Stop me if you've heard this one. Nick Diaz fights in Las Vegas, does his usual schtick enlarging his fame among his diehard fans and leaving the rest of the MMA world slightly confused, but intrigued. Then the drug-test results come back, and suddenly he has a real problem that won't go away. Not without a suspension and a fine, in all likelihood. - Dustin Poirier threatens to "expose" Korean Zombie (5thRound) - Michael Page's awesome anti-walk off knockout (MiddleEasy) It's sixty six seconds of of incredible confidence, dancing, style, explosive athletic ability and a walk off KO so good Michael Page doesn't even walk off, he just stands there and absorbs the soul of his opponent as he basks in his impressive victory. Michael Page can lose his next 10 fights in a row and I will still be fascinated by this fight and Page's post fight celebration. Watch it now. Watch it twenty times. - Review of Gary Goodrige's book "Gatekeeper" (The Fight Nerd) As the new guard of MMA begins to take over, the old guard is finally beginning to reveal their stories to fans around the world. In this case, one veteran from the bareknuckle days of cage fighting, Gary Goodridge, is telling his tale to the world, with his new autobiography entitled, "Gatekeeper: The Fighting Life of Gary ‘Big Daddy' Goodridge." - Make the case to me why fighters shouldn't be suspended for weed usage (Fight Opinion) Best arguments in the comments section will be copied into this post. - UFC 143: Payout Perspective (MMA Payout) Welcome to another edition of Payout Perspective. This week we take a look at UFC 143 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada where Nick Diaz took on Carlos Condit for the interim welterweight belt. - Interview with Jorge Santiago (BleacherReport.com/MMA) "I've been through this before in my life. I fought in the UFC and I got cut back in 2006. Everybody thought I was done. They didn't think I would come back but I did. I proved them all wrong. I became a top middleweight in the world. And, I'll do it again," promised Santiago. "I don't care what people think." - Why an immediate rematch between Diaz and Condit would have been bad (MMA Convert) Nick Diaz may have urinated into a cup and destroyed his income potential for the next twelve months, but this article isn't about that. No, it's about how, if the UFC had made an immediate rematch between Diaz and Carlos Condit - so soon after their UFC 143 scrap that the Stockton native's marijuana-infused piss was likely still warm as it sat on a shelf in the lab - that it would've been bad. "Bad" as in, pointless. "Bad" as in, disingenuous. "Bad" as in, please, Dana White, give us a freakin' break. - Ronda Rousey says Cyborg sets a bad example as a role model (Fightline)

Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, mma, carlos condit

Best Finishing Moves in MMA History

The most exciting facet of MMA is the spectacular knockouts and exhilarating submissions, otherwise known as "finishing moves." No, not the finishing moves that you envision with wrestling and the WWE...

Posted in: mma, submission, wwe, mma history, move

Gustavo Falciroli vs. Soo Chul Kim at One FC 2 is Youth Against Experience

Imagine just being 20 years old and already posting a 4-1 record in MMA, with an entire country’s MMA scene behind you as one of their top prospects and you’ll know what it is like to walk a mile in Soo Chul Kim’s shoes. When Soo Chul Kim signed with One FC last year his work was cut out for him, with his first test under the One FC banner being a widely-respected brazilian jiu-jitsu expert in Leandro Issa. It proved to be a learning experience for the then-nineteen year old, as he was able to hold on before dropping a decision. At One FC 2 in Jakarta, Indonesia, the deck is once again stacked against the Korean sensation as he squares off with yet another internationally-renowned BJJ expert in Gustavo Falciroli. Kim comes from Team Force in South Korea where he has honed his skills since the ripe age of fifteen to step into the MMA ring. Right after his eighteenth birthday, Kim turned pro and in his debut fight captured his very first championship, winning the Rising On Featherweight Championship. Feeling that Bantamweight was a more natural weight class for him, Kim dropped down in weight for his next bout and hasn’t looked back. His first two opponents learned all-too-well that Kim’s submission game is nothing to take lightly, with Kim’s career beginning with two first round submissions before taking a step up in competition and posting two solid decision victories. His biggest challenge came when One FC called him up onto their roster for their debut show and he found himself in a fight with Leandro Issa, a deadly submission artist. To set the stage for you, Issa going into that bout was 8-2, with seven submissions and one TKO victory. It was safe to say that Issa had a reputation for finishing fights and having incredible jiu-jitsu, but Kim was able to neutralize his submission attempts and looked incredibly competent standing up. There are many who have wondered “what if” during that fight, as Kim took an inadvertent low blow which definitely threw him off of his game a bit. If Kim was able to prove his durability and show composure under pressure at the debut One FC event, many believe that he will need those skills against Gustavo Falciroli at One FC 2 on February 11th. Falciroli is a more experienced fighter than Kim, as the Australian native has competed for Shooto Australia and Shooto Japan against some tough competition at Bantamweight. Falciroli posts an impressive 11-3-2 record in MMA, with his career goes back to 2007. It should be noted, though, that Falciroli began practicing jiu-jitsu way back in 1996, before achieving his black belt in 2003 and was no stranger to grappling competitions. He holds a second degree black belt in jiu-jitsu, which is really nothing to scoff at, with his MMA record showing an impressive six wins via submission. What Falciroli brings to the table that Kim’s last opponent didn’t is a better striking game, which could provide a challenge for the young Kim. A deciding factor in this bout could be age and experience, as Falciroli is ten years the elder and has bounced back from losses before, while Kim has yet to do so. Kim is coming off of his first loss and still has a lot to prove in the One FC ring, as the mark of a true warrior is being able to learn and evolve after a loss.

Posted in: mma, submission, fc, kim, falciroli

The MMA (After) Hour: Dissecting Nick Diaz's Positive Drug Test

The MMA (After) Hour is a new feature on MMAFighting.com where we'll provide you with breaking news and interviews in audio podcast form when there isn't a regular episode of The MMA Hour scheduled. On this first-ever edition of the podcast, we discuss Nick Diaz's positive marijuana test with MMAFighting.com's Ben Fowlkes, what this means for Diaz's MMA future, what the UFC should do next with Diaz and Carlos Condit, and much more. Listen below or download the audio directly here. The MMA (After) Hour: Nick Diaz

Posted in: diaz, mma, hour, nick, nick diazs

5 Oz. MMA Link Club

Welcome back to another edition of “MMA Link Club”, Five Ounces of Pain‘s weekly smorgasbord of offerings from our brothers and sisters in the MMA community. Enjoy… Anderson Silva is Tired of Talking about Chael Sonnen (5thRound.com) Fedor Emelianenko Enjoying Some Quality Time at a Water Park (MiddleEasy.com) Dana White Rants on the State of MMA Judging/Officiating (MMAMania.com) How Did UFC 143 Do Buyrate Wise? (MMAPayout.com) What Kind of Message is the UFC Sending with Their Treatment of Nick Diaz-Carlos Condit? (FightOpinion.com) White Waxes Poetic on Former Rivalry with PRIDE (TheFightNerd.com) Stephen Thompson Reflects on Memorable UFC Debut (Fightline.com) Death of a Fight Club (MMAConvert.com) Mauricio Rua Parts with Longtime Manager (CagePotato.com) Georges St. Pierre Talks Training, Silva-Sonnen II (LowKick.com) Ronda Rousey Says Miesha Tate Already Broken (MMAFighting.com) Jorge Santiago Talks UFC Flop, Family, and Future (BleacherReport.com) PHOTO CREDIT – UFC/STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: ufc, mma, mma community, club, miesha tate

When MMA goes Mainstream

submitted by Avertr [link] [5 comments]

Posted in: mma, mainstream, avertr

Talking To Tucker Max: The Exact Space MMA Occupies In His Life. Part Four Of Five

After reading a Forbes.com profile of Tucker Max, a controversial Internet star who'd turned into an absurdly successful book author, I noticed that a very brief quote about the good qualities of MMA was almost buried into the piece. I reached out to Tucker in hopes of getting a few quick blurbs about the positive mention of MMA in a mainstream media publication and then mashing the whole thing together as a short post here on Bloody Elbow. Tucker ruined those hopes by bouncing back and forth with me in a nearly 4500 word Q&A session, which is now the five part interview being featured here on Bloody Elbow. The back and forths that we went through showed that Max views MMA as a source of physical betterment, complex and useful techniques, great friends and astonishing personal growth - which should be surprisingly universal to combat sports followers and participants reading this. The first part of this interview dealt with Tucker Max's discovery of Brazilian jiu jitsu, subsequent humbling and the transition into training MMA. The second gave us the surprisingly good methodology of his training with MMA hillbilly Reggie Warren and moved us to Max's present day training in Austin, Texas. The third part essentially asked Tucker why he does all of this and why he is willing to stand up on this platform and talk about MMA. At this point, I'm tossing him as many questions as I possibly can and he's fielding them with ease. This interview is done partly in support of his latest books, Hilarity Ensues and Sloppy Seconds, yet the interview is 100% Tucker, 100% relevant to MMA and there is no advertising or review thing going on here. Max was genuinely surprised by me reaching out and by my questions and welcomed the chance to talk about something other than his debauchery. I present his answers exactly as written (minus the bleeping out of a few cuss words). The books hit stores today and can be ordered online as well. Hit the jump for Part Four. Part One: Discovery of BJJ, The Jump to MMA, Training at Legend's in Hollywood, CA. Part Two: How Reggie Warren Built a Passable Sparring Dummy and Present Day Training in Austin, TX Part Three: Swimming in Deep Waters and Coming Out Alive Ben Thapa: The average person who has heard of you probably read your stories about partying, sex and coming up with solid jokes or maybe saw the movie. Were you also brawling in the streets too? Why didn't that part make it into the books or movie? Tucker Max: Not really. I mean, if you go to bars and parties to get into fights, you're just an idiot. I drink to have fun, not to get into fights, and I go out to meet girls, not punch dudes. I've never understood guys that go out looking for random bar fights, that's never been me. I like girls, and fighting in bars doesn't help me get girls to like me, so I don't do it. BT: Why do you not Tweet or Facebook about it? A section of your old messageboard was once entirely devoted to MMA and spun off into its own site. TM: Pretty simple reason: I try to keep my public writing limited to things that I think are funny and entertaining to other people. I don't write about everything in my life, in fact, I write about very little in my life that isn't related to my books. I am an entertainer, not an autobiographer, and though I love MMA, I doubt many of my fans really care that much that I train or what I think about MMA. BT: How much do you follow MMA, boxing, submission grappling, Muay Thai or kickboxing? Are you staying up until the late hours of the night watching Japanese Shooto or the ADCCs? Regional shows? Bellator? Strikeforce? Or UFC only? TM: No, dude. I love MMA and BJJ and all that stuff, but it doesn't occupy that much of an obsessional place in my life. I probably buy like half of the UFC pay per views, and I'll watch most of the Fight Nights and Ultimate Fighters. I do go to a lot of regional shows, because watching MMA in person is fun. I train with and know a lot of guys who are local MMA fighters, so I go watch their fights. But that's it. BT: Is the sport in general headed towards a place that you like or would you change certain rules or attitudes if you could? TM: Overall, I think you have to love the way MMA is headed. The skill level of the sport has evolved so f***ing rapidly, its amazing. The one thing I'd love is to see knees to a grounded opponent allowed like in Pride. At the very least this should be allowed at the top levels of the sport. I think that would make the sport not only more realistic, but more exciting. BT: At this point, you have an insider's understanding of how movies are put together. What'd you think of Warrior, Redbelt or any of the other movies and TV shows dealing with elements of MMA that you've seen? Does Hollywood understand this sport like it occasionally gets boxing? TM: I haven't seen Warrior, but I saw Redbelt and a few other MMA movies, and of course they're awful. Hollywood doesn't care about what we care about as MMA fans. We want it to be real. They want to sell tickets. BT: How did you get Mac Danzig and Forrest Griffin in your movie? TM: Because Mac and Forrest are my buddies, I asked them if they wanted to be in it, they said yes, so I got them in. Pretty simple. BT: Mac took the photo that's on the cover of your book Assholes Finish First, right? TM: Yeah, actually he did. If you look at the photo credit on the jacket cover, it's his name. Do you still predict or bet on MMA fights? TM: I don't bet much on fights, but of course I try to predict them. I wouldn't say my record is that great though. I make the same mistakes that most people make; overestimating hot fighters, underestimating long terms trends, etc. BT: What's your standpoint on the "sex before a fight" debate? TM: I don't know, I've never had a sanctioned fight, so I don't really feel qualified to speak on that. I train with guys who get in the cage, but that is a fundamentally different thing than actually getting in the cage. I don't even call myself an MMA fighter, because I'm not. I train MMA. I f***ing hate when people who don't actually get in a cage and put themselves on the line in a real fight, talk about an MMA fight like they know what the f*** they're talking about. That's bulls***, so I won't do it. End of Part Four Part One: Discovery of BJJ, The Jump to MMA, Training at Legend's in Hollywood, CA. Part Two: How Reggie Warren Built a Passable Sparring Dummy and Present Day Training in Austin, TX Part Three: Swimming in Deep Waters and Coming Out Alive Stay tuned tomorrow as the conclusory Part Five appears.

Posted in: fight, mma, part, tucker, tm

There's nothing gay about MMA

No homo.

Posted in: mma, nothing, there, theres nothing, homo

MMA Link Club: Diaz gets his way, Rogan changes his mind, and Mazzagatti talks b---- slaps

- Jorge Santiago Talks Memories of His Father, Blackzilians, Upcoming MMA Bout (BleacherReport)"Making it back to the top is a goal I am working towards every single day. I train harder and harder so that I can get back to fighting in the UFC on a regular basis. This really is my dream and I won't stop until I reach it. I've been through this before in my life. I fought in the UFC and I got cut back in 2006. Everybody thought I was done. They didn't think I would come back but I did. I proved them all

Posted in: ufc, mma, life i, goal i, father blackzilians

The Top Fighter of Each Martial Art in MMA

submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [10 comments]

Posted in: mma, fighter, mattyblayze, art

Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 134: Anthony Gutierrez, MMA Discussion

Bloody Elbow Radio, presented by Bad Boy, will be LIVE! at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT for another edition of the show. Join hosts Matt Bishop and MMA Mania's Brian Hemminger as they discuss all the latest news in mixed martial arts, including the ongoing Carlos Condit/Nick Diaz rematch saga, Bellator's recent card updates and we'll also follow up on Tuesday's topic of "What Made You An MMA Fan?" We'll be joined by Titan Fighting featherweight Anthony "Sharkbait" Gutierrez to discuss his upcoming bout with Brandon Pfannenstiel at Titan Fighting 21 on March 3. Gutierrez is the No. 6 featherweight prospect on Leland Roling's 2012 World MMA Scouting Report and is someone to watch out for. We'll chat with him about his fight, his rise in the sport and much more. Bloody Elbow Radio is sponsored by Bad Boy. Get your Legacy Fight Shorts, seen on both Chris Weidman and Demian Maia at UFC on FOX, only from Bad Boy at the brand new BadBoy.com. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook and tell them Bloody Elbow sent you. How to listen: Live/archived on the player below I iTunes I RSS feed I Direct download link (available after live broadcast) Want to get in touch with the BE Radio crew? Here's how you can do so: Phone: (347) 202-0934E-mail: bloodyelbowradio@gmail.comTwitter: @mbish86 or @BrianHemmingerBloodyElbow.com: Leave a question or comment in this post For those calling in, you will first be picked up by our producer who will take your information and get what you want to talk about. You will then be queued. We will try to get to everyone as soon as we can. We ask that you call in around the time of the topic you want to discuss.

Posted in: mma, radio, elbow radio, elbow, boy

GARETH A DAVIES – FEBRUARY 2012 Blog

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

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

A Lesson In Street MMA: keep your hands up or you will be knocked out by a spectacular spinning back kick, OK?

I have so many questions about this Street MMA match: was this short video the entirety of the fight? Is this a Duane Ludwig situation? Are we witnessing the fastest Street MMA match in history? I hope so, this spinning back kick from this (Russian?) Street MMA fighter is absolutely spectacular. I also hope the lone, stoic audience member on the left side of the frame made that scream we hear when that other dude gets KTFO. I know it's not true, but there's something really funny to me watching the back of this guy's head have zero reaction from the knockout, aside from a chilling scream that we can't see his mouth form. I Just imagine him staring forward, chewing his gum and screaming like a girl when that guy's heel hits the other guy's dome. Man, I have an overactive imagination. I can't get over that guy on the left, it's like he knew it was coming. Thanks to Zach Lambertski for the find. [Source]

Posted in: mma, guy, street mma, street, zach lambertski

Roger Gracie weighing move to 185 pounds

Strikeforce middleweight champ Luke Rockhold has been very vocal about his desire to see the organization bring in some new contenders for him to face. However, it appears the promotion may already have a new option for Rockhold on their roster with the ability to fight at 185 pounds and give any opponent a run for his money. According to his team, decorated submission specialist Roger Gracie is contemplating a move down from light heavyweight now that he’s fully focused on a career in MMA rather than on the mat. Word of Gracie’s pending decision came from a conversation between manager Jorge Guimaraes and TATAME where the representative said, “He’s considering dropping, but it’s not set in stone yet.” “To me, he has all the tools to build up a great MMA career, he just needs some work, (and to be) focused,” Guimaraes continued. Guimaraes also revealed Gracie could be joining Anderson Silva’s Team Blackhouse in the coming months as well. Gracie is 4-1 in MMA including wins over veterans like Trevor Prangley and Kevin Randleman. His first loss came in September when he was stopped with strikes by former title-holder Muhammed Lawal. He is also one of the most accomplished BJJers in recent history, winning numerous titles including one in the coveted ADCC Absolute bracket. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: mma, gracie, trevor prangley, guimarae, ” guimaraes

Talking To Tucker Max: Swimming In Deep Waters And Coming Out Alive. Part Three of Five

After reading a Forbes.com profile of Tucker Max, a controversial Internet star who'd turned into an absurdly successful book author, I noticed that a very brief quote about the good qualities of MMA was almost buried into the piece. I reached out to Tucker in hopes of getting a few quick blurbs about the positive mention of MMA in a mainstream media publication and then mashing the whole thing together as a short post here on Bloody Elbow. Tucker ruined those hopes by bouncing back and forth with me in a nearly 4500 word Q&A session, which is now the five part interview being featured here on Bloody Elbow. The back and forths that we went through showed that Max views MMA as a source of physical betterment, complex and useful techniques, great friends and astonishing personal growth - which should be surprisingly universal to combat sports followers and participants reading this. The first part of this interview dealt with Tucker Max's discovery of Brazilian jiu jitsu, subsequent humbling and the transition into training MMA. The second gave us the surprisingly good methodology of his training with MMA hillbilly Reggie Warren and moved us to Max's present day training in Austin, Texas. This third part essentially asks Tucker why he does all of this and why he is willing to stand up on this platform and talk about MMA. His answer is surprisingly eloquent. This interview is done partly in support of his latest books, Hilarity Ensues and Sloppy Seconds, yet the interview is 100% Tucker, 100% relevant to MMA and there is no advertising or review thing going on here. Max was genuinely surprised by me reaching out and by my questions and welcomed the chance to talk about something other than his debauchery. I present his answers exactly as written (minus the bleeping out of a few cuss words). The books hit stores today and can be ordered online as well. Hit the jump for Part Three. Part One: Discovery of BJJ, The Jump to MMA, Training at Legend's in Hollywood, CA. Part Two: How Reggie Warren Built a Passable Sparring Dummy and Present Day Training in Austin, TX Ben Thapa: How deeply embedded into your life is MMA? What does the sport mean to you personally? Tucker Max: My closet is full of Affliction shirts, my car has six Tap-Out bumper stickers and I even wear my mouth guard to bars! I'm hardcore!!! HAHAHA--just kidding. I love MMA/BJJ and its a huge part of my life, but I don't think you'd know it looking at me or even walking around my apartment. You might see my signed Bas Rutten Street Fighting DVD (the outtake reel from that is still the funniest viral video in internet history), or maybe I'll have a rash-guard or something laying on the washer, but that's it as far as looking at me from the outside. That being said, MMA is a huge part of my personal, inner life. The sport changed my life in such substantive ways, ways that are integral to who I am today. First off, MMA indirectly got me into paleo eating, which has been amazing [Max says you can read more about that at http://www.adultswim.com/blog/interviews/celeb-nerdy-tucker-max.html]. But more importantly, MMA changed the way I looked at myself and at the world. I don't want to sound like a weirdo about this, but I bet that since most Bloody Elbow readers train martial arts, they will understand what I'm talking about: MMA has taught me so much about myself. The first thing I learned was deep humility, but in a good way, a safe, productive manner that nothing else ever did. You tap or you break your arm. You accept defeat every day, but you learn from it, you get better, and you move on. You come to understand that it's OK to fail, as long as you use it to learn how to succeed. It gives you a resilience along with your humility. MMA also helped me figure out who I was. You know the Fight Club quote, "How much can you know about yourself if you've never been in a fight?" It's f***ing true. When you train, you can either be a quitter, or you can stay calm under stress, fight through it, and maybe escape the position. You can either brave the chaos, face your fear and come out the other side, or you can succumb to that fear and run and hide. These are questions every man has about himself, and MMA helps you answer them more than anything else I have ever been a part of. That's what's so awesome about MMA/BJJ--fighting is truth. Everything in life is bulls**t, but not fighting. You can't hide on the mat, the truth finds you, because violence is so pure, so elemental that it strips away all artifice and reduces us down to our core. Life or death. Win or loss. No grey area, no bulls**t. What else in life is like that? Nothing. It's the ultimate way to see who you are as a person. True deeply held inner confidence comes from repeated, demonstrated performance, and training in MMA gives you that chance to show to yourself and others that you can do it. Because I've done it, because I've trained hard and swam in deep waters, made a good account of myself, and come out alive--I know who I am. That sort of self-knowledge creates an amazing confidence and calm in a person. I have demonstrated--to myself--that I can handle myself in a fight, that I can stand in the ring. And I know if I can do that, I know I am going to be OK in almost anything else I have to face in life. And the cool thing is you don't have to be the best, you don't even have to be all that good, to get the psychological benefits of MMA/BJJ--god knows I am not very good at all when compared to most people who train with me. Because I mostly train with people better than me, I doubt I've "won" even 25% of my sparring sessions. But so what? Unless you're doing it as a pro, for money, then it's not about winning. It's about going in, working your a** off, testing yourself as much as you can, and proving to yourself that I you are who you think you are. That you can stand on that mat and face that man across from you. If you do that, the result doesn't really matter. BT: Why does the athletic struggle with an opponent in this specific context make you answer more self-posed questions than team sports like basketball or football or individual sports like wrestling? Wouldn't they pose the same questions? TM: No they don't. It's not that other sports don't provide a ton of value; they do, and I am glad I played all of them, but that aren't the same, and I just can't look at them the same way after I tried fighting. Fighting is the purest, most primal thing a human can do (other than have sex). Any sport is going to have artifice built into it and be a few steps removed from fighting--it has to be, it's only a sport. I could write 10,000 words about this, but here's a simple explanation that think everyone will understand: You ever played an intense basketball game or football game or whatever, one where your team hates the other team, where everyone is playing hard and intense and you win? If the other team has a guy who a very sore loser, what does he do? Start a fight. You know why? Because winning a basketball game only means you won a basketball game. It hasn't really proven anything. But when you lose a fight, what can you do then? Fight again? You just lost--it's over. Winning a basketball game and winning a fight are fundamentally different, because playing basketball never puts your life in danger. When you train MMA/BJJ, you are putting your life in the hands of the guy you are training with. That makes it the ultimate proving ground. By playing basketball, you answers questions about how well you play basketball, but by fighting, a man can answer questions not about a sport, but about himself. End of Part Three Part One: Discovery of BJJ, The Jump to MMA, Training at Legend's in Hollywood, CA. Part Two: How Reggie Warren Built a Passable Sparring Dummy and Present Day Training in Austin, TX Stay tuned to Bloody Elbow as Parts Four and Five will appear daily until the end of the week (2/10/12)

Posted in: mma, sport, life, part, training

The MMA Hour - Episode No. 117 - Ben Fowlkes

Posted in: mma, hour, ben, episode, fowlke

The MMA Hour - Episode No. 117 - Mayhem Miller

Posted in: mma, hour, miller, episode, mayhem

The MMA Hour - Episode No. 117 - Fans' Calls

Posted in: mma, hour, fan, episode

The MMA Hour - Episode No. 117 - Diego Sanchez

Posted in: mma, hour, episode, diego, sanchez

The MMA Hour - Episode No. 117 Cesar Gracie

Posted in: mma, hour, episode, gracie, cesar

The MMA Hour - Episode No. 117 - Greg Jackson

Posted in: mma, hour, jackson, episode, greg

Asian MMA: An In-Depth Preview And Complete Guide To ONE FC 2: Battle Of Heroes

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

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

Royce Gracie: 'Every fighter should be a true mixed martial artist like Nick Diaz'

By now, everyone and their mother has an opinion about the much talked about decision at UFC 143, which saw Carlos Condit awarded a unanimous decision victory over Nick Diaz after their five round fight in Las Vegas, Nevada, this past weekend (Feb. 4, 2012). The decision left many fans outraged and screaming bloody murder at the judges' call to award Condit the UFC Interim Welterweight Championship and the opportunity to face Georges St. Pierre somewhere down the road. In what should have been one of, if not the best moments of Carlos Condit's career, his performance was quickly met with criticism by fans, fighters and media alike due to his evasive stick-and-move strategy, which was good enough to earn sway the scorecards. Unfortunately for "The Natural Born Killer," the backlash against him still continues, with UFC Hall-of-Famer and all around mixed martial arts (MMA) legend Royce Gracie being no exception. The Octagon's founding father is a family member of Cesar Gracie, Nick Diaz's head trainer, and is another spectator who has voiced his opinions on the UFC 143 main event as well as praising the style of Diaz at the expense of Condit. Check out the comments he sent out via his official Twitter account, after the jump. @nickdiaz209 won that fight in my.opinion. he is what every fighter should be a true martial artists who comes to fight. Well prepared and with a gameplan. Not one that envloves running from a fight. Why come to fight if you gonna run. Hackney was running when we fought and I had to take the fight to him, Shamrock showed up not to lose in our rematch its a shame really. I for one am proud of Nick and happy he is part of Grace Jiu-jitsu family." As an MMA fighter, you would be hard pressed to find any greater opinion, compliment and approval of your fighting style than that of MMA legend and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Hall-of-Famer, Royce Gracie. Gracie, who competed in the very first UFC event ever, UFC 1, back on November 12, 1993, began his legendary MMA career with 11 straight wins, including winning the first two UFC tournaments along with winning the UFC 4 tournament by defeating much bigger and stronger opponents using the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) style that had not yet been seen stateside. However, the fact still remains, Carlos Condit is the promotion's Interim Welterweight Champion, and no one, not even the opinions of MMA legends, can take that away from him. Any of you Maniacs think the backlash against Condit, which is apparently picking up steam instead of slowing down, is unwarranted? Perhaps a convincing win over Georges St. Pierre will erase any and all doubt and put to rest the memories of the controversy surrounding UFC 143.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, condit, gracie

My Muay Thai Training Diary: The Push Kick

Welcome back to my online diary documenting my very amateur experience training in Muay Thai. If you missed the previous entries on Bloody Elbow, read them here. My ongoing battle with kicks continued this week, though with positive results. Our main focus was leg kicks, which is something I have addressed in recent entries. They continue to not quite come naturally to me, but I felt better this time around. But after that, we moved on to a favorite of mine - the push kick. In last week's comments, reader the jewish conquistador mentioned that he is not a fan of the push kick, which I find so surprising. I find this to be a great kick that is not utilized nearly enough in MMA. Since the famous Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort KO, there has been no shortage of front kicks, but the push kick, or teep, remains rather elusive. To clarify, what Silva threw was a front kick where the force moved upwards in an arch. Think of it as the kicking equivalent of an uppercut. You see a lot of these now, with MMA fighters looking to replicate Silva's highlight reel KO. The push kick is different as the momentum goes straight into and through your opponent's body - the kick equivalent of a jab to the body. And you don't see them as much in MMA. Josh Thomson has long had a solid push kick, as has Carlos Condit, and other fighters use them at times, but it is not that common. The complaint I guess I can see about this kick is that it is not always a high impact kick, and is more used to create distance. But like a jab, that's only as true as you want it to be. If you commit to the push kick and dig it in, there's no reason you can't do real damage. In our drills we worked a nice double push kick combo - starting in orthodox, through a left push kick with your lead leg. When it lands, use that forward momentum to step in and throw a second kick with your right leg. By taking a good step on the left and adding a bit of extra hop to my right, I was able to solidly connect with that second kick and drive it into my opponent's belly. The end result is a kick that both gets my opponent out of range, while also working his body and taking away his energy. Is it an instant KO? No. And maybe that's the problem - much of MMA striking is focused on the big KO so a long-term strategy like working the body with punches and push kicks doesn't get used as much. With fans angry that Carlos Condit dared try and use strategy against Nick Diaz instead of go all out for the KO, is this a problem with MMA striking. Is it too KO-focused? Perhaps a good question for next week... Question of the week: In your opinion, how effective are push kicks? I train Muay Thai under Andre Madiz at Conviction Martial Arts, 4430 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL. www.convictionfitness.com. If you are in the Chicago area, come join us, and be sure to say hello.

Posted in: mma, ko, week, body, kick

Inside MMA: Miesha Tate, Pat Barry, Phil Davis

Inside MMA airs live on HDNet every Monday night at 8pm ET. Inside MMA Archive More segments after the jump.

Posted in: mma, monday night, mma airs, mma archive, jump

Funny or Die riffs on MMA and the expression "No Homo." When Keith arrives for his first fight...

Funny or Die riffs on MMA and the expression "No Homo." When Keith arrives for his first fight night with the boys, things get a bit out of hand.

Posted in: mma, fight night, keith, boys things, riff

The MMA Wrap-Up: UFC 143 Edition

Posted in: ufc, mma, edition, wrapup

Talking To Tucker Max, Controversial New York Times Bestselling Author, About MMA Part 2 of 5

After reading a Forbes.com profile of Tucker Max, a controversial Internet star who'd turned into an absurdly successful physical book author, I noticed that a very brief quote about the good qualities of MMA was almost buried into the piece. I reached out to Tucker in hopes of getting a few quick blurbs about the positive mention of MMA in a mainstream media publication and then mashing the whole thing together as a short post here on Bloody Elbow. Tucker ruined those hopes by bouncing back and forth with me in a Q&A session that ranges from describing his discovery of the sport, the move to direct participation and the many connections he made with professionals and friends. The five-part interview is nearly 4500 words long and is interspersed with many highly passionate and profound thoughts at the positive experiences and values combat sports have for him and their applicability to others. The first part of the interview dealt with his discovery of Brazilian jiu jitsu, subsequent humbling and the transition into training MMA at the original incarnation of Legend's in Hollywood, California. This second part looks a bit deeper into his actual training and moves us to Tucker's present, while I start to ask questions about what he gets from the sport. This interview is done partly in support of his latest books, Hilarity Ensues and Sloppy Seconds, yet the interview is 100% Tucker, 100% relevant to MMA and there is no advertising or review thing going on here. Max was genuinely surprised by me reaching out and by my questions and welcomed the chance to talk about something other than his debauchery. I present his answers exactly as written (minus the bleeping out of a few cuss words). The books hit stores today and can be ordered online as well. Hit the jump for the second of five parts encompassing Tucker's experiences and views on mixed martial arts, as told in his unique voice and featuring brief glimpses of some very prominent MMA fighters and figures. Ben Thapa: How is it that Reggie Warren was able to get you to a competence point inside a year in which you could spar relatively well and we see MMA fighters who never pick up striking well? Tucker Max: First off, he didn't make me a great boxer or anything, that obviously takes years, he basically just made into a mediocre MMA striking partner. That's not remotely the same thing. But that being said, I did learn very fast, much faster than most I think, and it was for two reasons: 1. Reggie has a very good understanding of technique, and from the beginning I specifically asked Reggie to focus on this with me and correct EVERY mistake I made, even if that meant he corrected me every five seconds. This is for a reason; the way the human brain learns, if you really take the time at the beginning and focus on perfecting your technique, it takes longer, but you form the correct neural pathways first. This provides two benefits: You don't have to unlearn wrong habits, and your technique holds up under high stress situations because you imprinted the right habits. And yes, I read way too much neuroscience, but its cool when you apply it in real life. I think that's a big problem with fighters--they learned wrong striking techniques early or somehow developed bad habits, and either can't or won't unlearn them and relearn the correct way, because that's very difficult, and they don't have anyone in their camp that forces them to do that. It's not that they can't be good strikers; it's that they won't put in the right type of work. 2. Reggie would constantly keep my training at the edge of my competency, which accelerated my learning. In the literature, this is called "deliberate practice" and what it means in practice is that as I got better, Reggie increased his technique load or work load or his responses in sparring with me, so I was never just doing what I was good at; instead he was constantly pushing me just a little further to the edge of what I was able to do. It's the same concept behind progressive load weight training--you get better by adding weight. It takes a good teacher to do this right, and he is really f***ing good. I guess there was one other thing that helped: I was only doing striking at the time, because I had a partially torn ACL from MMA and couldn't roll (which I later fully tore while having sex, that story is actually in Hilarity Ensues), so I was able to focus just on striking and train with him 3-4 times a week. That helps, of course. BT: Where do you train now? TM: I live in Austin, Texas now, and I split my time training between two places: a Relson Gracie affiliate run by Christy Thomas (and Phil Cardella, though he just left to open a place in Florida), and a new place that just started, a Gracie Humiata affiliate run by Donald Park. Both Christy and Donald are friends of mine and both their academies are great places to train, and I would recommend either to anyone interested. The only thing that sucks now is that its tough to get true MMA specific instruction here, the way that I had it in LA. There just aren't many people who have enough experience in MMA to be effective teachers of it at this point, so in Austin, I kinda have to do everything separate; gi, no-gi, boxing, muay thai, and wrestling are pretty much all from different instructors or even different gyms. There are good teachers here for each specific thing, but I didn't realize how lucky I was in LA to have the MMA teachers who were full time MMA fighters and could put it all together the way that Mac did. Austin has some amazing MMA fighters that train out of here. I've either seen at the gym or trained with Tim Kennedy, Kamal Shalorus, Yves Edwards and Roger Huerta in Austin. But none of them teach; MMA has gotten to the point where the big guys like this are getting paid enough they don't have to teach people like me anymore. That's cool for them, but kinda sucks for me. But whatever, its not like I'm training for a fight, it's not a big deal, there are still world class teachers here, I can't complain. Even though I guess I just did. BT: Have you competed as an amateur or professional in any MMA? If so, did you do well or draw a positive experience from that? TM: No man, no Mickey Rourke/Jose Canseco s**t for me. Tons of sparring of course, but never a real MMA fight. You know whats funny is, even when I was training 4-5 days a week at Legends, it never really occurred to me to actually take a full-on fight. I guess because I was training with so many guys who were all so good, and I was clearly not at their level, it never occurred to me to do it as well. I just had fun training with them, and that was enough for me. I love MMA as a hobby, but thats very different than doing it seriously enough to take sanctioned fights. I'm not foolish enough to think I can train casually and then be ready to do a serious fight. That's ridiculous. Serious MMA competition--even at low levels--is a full time job, and a very hard one. One of the things I love about the way I train MMA is that I don't have to be totally serious about it, that I can take a day or even a week off, and it doesn't matter. It's my hobby, I love it as a hobby; I don't want to make it my job. You know the saying, "Marry your mistress, and you create a vacancy." I never wanted to do that. End of Part Two Part 1 - Discovery of MMA - can be read by clicking on this link. Stay tuned to Bloody Elbow as Parts Three to Five will appear daily until the end of the week (2/10/12).

Posted in: mma, part, training, thing, tucker

Showdown's post-Super Bowl MMA rankings

Showdown Joe gives his MMA rankings for February 2012, following the big Super Bowl-weekend show in Las Vegas.

Posted in: mma, showdown, ranking, mma rankings, bowlweekend show

Video: Brittney Palmer, Miesha Tate, Ronda Rousey and UFC fighters share Valentines Day stories

Love is in the air with Valentines Day little more than one week away (Feb. 14, 2012). Even tough mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters have tender sides, especially the females, taking time away from their fisticuffs to celebrate the Hallmark holiday. MMA:30 recently caught up with several fighters from Ultimate Fighting Championship and Strikeforce, as well as a few ring girls (past and present) to find out their Valentines Day plans. Several of them even dished on their personal best and worst gifts and memories. Chuck Liddell, Forrest Griffin, Natasha Wicks, Brittney Palmer, Kyle Kingsbury, Tracy Lee, Urijah Faber, Jay Hieron, Martin Kampmann and Josh Koscheck, among others, are featured in the video above. Even Strikeforce champion Miesha Tate an Ronda Rousey -- who will collide in the main event of the upcoming MMA event at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, on March 3, 2012 -- got in on the action. And there will certainly be no love lost in that delicious cat fight.

Posted in: mma, day, ring girls, columbus ohio, valentine

UFC 143 review podcast: Strategy and in cage coaching still overlooked in MMA

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Posted in: mma, review, podcast, mma podcast, cage coaching

Greg Jackson: Stick-and-Move Game Plan Was 'No-Brainer' Against Nick Diaz

MMA trainer Greg Jackson might be, by his own admission, "completely and utterly biased," but he still thought the judges got it right when they handed Carlos Condit a unanimous decision victory over Nick Diaz at UFC 143 this past Saturday night, he told MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani.Saying there was "no doubt" in his mind that the decision would go Condit's way, Jackson defended his fighter’s strategy on Monday's edition of The MMA Hour, and fired back at critics who accused Condit of running away from Diaz."It’s not like we reinvented the wheel here with this game plan," Jackson said. "A stick-and-move game plan against a guy that’s such an amazing fighter and such a tough guy as Diaz, for me is a no-brainer. If you look at the numbers, we hit him many more times than he hit us." But then, just because it worked, that doesn’t make it popular. Jackson hasn’t remained deaf to the criticism of his fighter, but that doesn’t mean he agrees with any of it, either."The criticism I guess I heard this morning was that Carlos was running," Jackson said. "He was running back to the middle of the Octagon and hitting him. You can’t really say he’s running, because he hit him more times. So that argument doesn’t make a lot of sense."According to Jackson, the plan for Condit was to "attack Nick’s safety zones," and stay away from situations where Diaz excels."He’s amazing when he gets you up against the fence," Jackson said of Diaz. "He’s amazing when he starts rolling on those combinations. So we left the party when that happened and then we started the party again and were able to land a lot more shots than he was. It’s pretty cut and dry to me. ...If you sit there and go toe-to-toe with him, man, he’s just so tough. His combinations flow so beautifully. He switches from the body to the head so well. There’s no reason for us to play that game."And yet, despite Condit’s success in the fight, the strategy was met with criticism from many fight fans and from Diaz’s trainer, Cesar Gracie, who lambasted Condit’s game plan earlier on in Monday’s show. That reaction didn’t surprise Jackson, he said, "because Nick was supposed to win that fight. Georges [St-Pierre] was flown in and they were going to have this grudge match and everybody was excited about it."Condit’s victory scuttled those plans, Jackson admitted, but it also provoked the ire of fans who complained that his fighter spent too much time on the retreat. The fans who want fighters to stand and slug it out is an "element that has always existed in MMA," Jackson said, but it doesn’t mean fighters have to adopt that mentality."A lot of people think that you can win a fight by just walking forward, and that’s actually not how you win a fight," said Jackson. "Because if that was the only way you win a fight, you’re talking about Toughman [boxing contests]."Since fighting is "so subtle and so hard," according to Jackson, some fans might not always understand what they see, he said. Although, the Albuquerque-based trainer did admit to being a little surprised at how some people reacted to the decision even after the statistics showed that his fighter had thrown more strikes and landed more strikes than Diaz."This one is odd a little bit, because it’s really a no-brainer. If you look at the significant strikes, that’s got to count for something. All strikes, we outstruck him. Significant strikes, we outstruck him. So if you’re looking at numbers, that was all us. If you’re hitting him, not getting hit, and moving, I’m not really sure how you can score [the fight for Diaz]."Of course, Condit’s win means that he’ll likely meet another Jackson-trained fighter -- UFC welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre -- to unify the titles once GSP is finally healthy enough to fight again. That’s one he plans to stay out of, Jackson said, since "Georges is my guy as much as Carlos is my guy."While Jackson admitted that he’s still trying to decide whether he’ll train and corner UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones in his fight with former Jackson’s MMA team member Rashad Evans, he has no such doubt about a potential Condit-St-Pierre bout."When the fight happens," he said, "I’ll be eating a cheeseburger somewhere."

Posted in: fight, mma, jackson, fighter, plan

Roger Gracie Leans A Bit Further Towards MMA, Still Plans To Compete In 2012 Mundials

We last saw Roger Gracie in the cage in September of 2011. His opponent, Muhammad Lawal, better known as "King Mo", waded through the light jabs, closed the distance enough to butt heads and land a massive overhand right on the temple of the stunned Gracie. Since then, the multiple time jiu jitsu world champion has been relatively quiet in the MMA world, choosing to shuttle back and forth between his home academy in London, England and seminars in far flung places like the Evolve gym in Singapore. For those who follow grappling, the Lawal loss was an outcome that many feared, but hoped Roger would be able to avoid due to his proven toughness, composure and large frame. Commentators and fans wondered whether the loss would drive him from MMA permanently like Marcelo Garcia (who was a "one and done" MMA competitor after trouble finding a follow-up bout). Now Roger pops up again on the MMA landscape at the 2012 International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation European Championships with a short, but memorable interview given to Raphael Nogueira of Gracie Mag.com. The Gracie gets emotional (teary eyed) as he remembers the moment he first caught sight of his son after his fight with "King Mo". "I don't want to ever feel like that again; my son is the most important thing to me, and I want to be the best example possible for him; so I can't let myself go home defeated," said Roger. "So I'm focused on my MMA career now. I believe that, in the gi, this year I'll only compete at the Worlds [in June]. That's why I didn't sign up for the European. I'd really like to compete at a high-level championship but my priority right now is MMA training. That was the big career lesson I learned from losing: I have to be more determined, enter the fight at a more intense pace. In Jiu-Jitsu, I often get taken down early on, but I have around eight minutes to recover, which is plenty of time. In MMA, one punch or a knee can end the fight instantly; there's no time to recover from a knockout." [...] "For my whole career as a black belt I got used to starting out slow and calm in my matches. I never felt the need to go all out against my opponents during the first two minutes, since a match lasts ten. I always started out slow and brought up the rhythm progressively, hitting max intensity towards the end. However, ever since losing in MMA, it dawned on me; if I don't change my way of fighting, I'll lose again," [said Roger.] The pace issue is certainly a factor, but his comfort level, defense and power in striking is probably more crucial than being a slow starter. If Roger really improves his overall game, it would be nice to see his constrictor-like abilities in the Strikeforce cage once more - especially now that Mo Lawal is suspended.

Posted in: world, mma, roger, gracie, roger gracie

The MMA Wrap-Up: UFC 143 Edition

After a wild night in Las Vegas for UFC 143, the MMA Wrap-Up returns to examine Nick Diaz's post-fight retirement speech and ask: is this guy for a real? Have we truly seen the last of Stockton's favorite son, and all because he didn't like the way the judges scored his fight? Seriously? As you can probably tell, the Wrap-Up has some strong opinions on the subject.

Posted in: ufc, mma, las vegas, wrapup, stockton

The MMA Hour With Diego Sanchez, Greg Jackson, 'Mayhem' Miller, Dave Herman

The MMA Hour is back in your life on Monday with another loaded show. Here's who will be stopping by: * Diego Sanchez will discuss his UFC on FUEL TV 1 fight against Jake Ellenberger on Feb. 15. * Greg Jackson will discuss Carlos Condit's win over Nick Diaz * Jason "Mayhem" Miller will discuss what's next for him and look back at UFC 143's main event between Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit. * Dave Herman will preview his UFC on FUEL TV 1 fight against Stefan Struve. * And MMAFighting.com's Ben Fowlkes will look back at UFC 143. Got a question or comment? Give us a call at 1-888-418-4074. Watch the show live below beginning at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT. Subscribe to The MMA Hour on iTunes: audio feed here; video feed here. Download previous episodes here. Listen to the show via Stitcher here.

Posted in: ufc, mma, mma hour, hour, carlos condits

Talking To Tucker Max, Controversial New York Times Bestselling Author, About MMA. Part 1 of 5

In this age of callous self promotion and cheap provocation designed to sell a few more units, it is understandable to cast a doubtful eye towards a New York Times-bestselling author talking about training in mixed martial arts. However, Tucker Max is no fake and especially not when it comes to MMA. In a recent Forbes article by Michael Ellsberg, Max very briefly credits MMA as an integral component towards his journey towards being a better, healthier person than the womanizing thrill-seeker who went out and did the things that make up the autobiographical comedies that power the book phenomenons I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell and A**holes Finish First. The relevant quote from the Forbes interview is as follows: "I've learned more about by myself from training MMA, than from any other thing in my life, except psychoanalysis." Because Ellsberg is more interested in the psychoanalysis tangents and relaying how he keeps comparing himself to Tucker, the Forbes article spends almost no time on MMA. I reached out to Tucker in hopes of getting a few quick blurbs about the positive mention of MMA in a mainstream media publication and then mashing the whole thing together as a short post here on Bloody Elbow. Tucker ruined those hopes by bouncing back and forth with me in a Q&A session that ranges from describing his discovery of the sport, the move to direct participation and the many connections he made with professionals and friends. The five-part interview is nearly 4500 words long and is interspersed with many highly passionate and profound thoughts at the positive experiences and values combat sports have for him and their applicability to others. Of course, this recent media surge is in support of his latest books, Hilarity Ensues and Sloppy Seconds, yet the interview is 100% Tucker, 100% relevant to MMA and there is no advertising or review thing going on here. Max was genuinely surprised by me reaching out and by my questions and welcomed the chance to talk about something other than his debauchery. I present his answers exactly as written (minus the bleeping out of a few cuss words). The books hit stores on Tuesday (2/7/12) and can be ordered online as well. Hit the jump for the first of five parts encompassing Tucker's experiences and views on mixed martial arts, as told in his unique voice and featuring brief glimpses of some very proment MMA fighters and figures. Ben Thapa: How did you come across mixed martial arts? What clicked you over from a viewer to a participant? Tucker Max: I got into MMA in early 2007. I hadn't watched it much on TV or anything; my impressions of it were similar to a lot of people who didn't understand it at the time, I basically thought it was just sweaty dudes rolling around hugging each other. I had moved to LA in 2007 to work on a movie, and I hated everything about LA and the entertainment business. After watching me explode about something ridiculously inconsequential, my buddy suggested I find something to help me deal with this s**t. He was rolling at Rickson Gracie's place in Santa Monica at the time, so I joined him there one day. I played football, basketball and baseball in high school, I thought I was in great shape and would just whip these losers in robes rolling around on the ground. Well, we all know what happens to people like that: I got my a** handed to me. I didn't fall in love right away. In fact, I almost never went back, but I was too arrogant and prideful to give up after one day of getting my a** kicked. So I went back and got my a** kicked again, and again, and slowly stopped getting pissed about losing, and started to engage BJJ some. The only thing was - I didn't like jiu jitsu in a gi. Everything we did, I kept thinking to myself, "I could just punch you in the f***ing face. What are you going to do then?" Of course I understand now that's kinda silly, but I didn't understand that then. I decided I wanted to try full fighting - real MMA - not just grappling, so after a few weeks as a guest at Rickson's, I went to Legends. This was when it had just opened and was at the original location, on Hollywood and La Brea, and Randy Couture and Bas Rutten were still actively teaching there. I liked BJJ, but I fell in love with MMA right away. I liked everything about it; the physicality, the intensity, learning a new skill that was applicable to real like, testing myself, all that stuff. I think the thing that really clicked with me about MMA was how much more honest and real it was than anything else I'd ever done as an athlete. It just made sense to me on a deep, primal level. Basically from the first MMA class, I thought to myself, "THIS is what sports is about. Everything else is bulls**t," and I knew this was going to be what I would do sports wise the rest of my life, and I could never go back to any other sport. Don't get me wrong, I still love to watch football and basketball, but once you get into full contact and start trading punches and submissions, you understand the raw truth of Joe Rogan's quote about sports just being "an elaborate substitute for a fight." BT: What was your first year or so of training like? How did you progress? TM: I trained at Legends for my first year, and it was great. Randy and Bas are both the coolest motherf***ers on earth, and great teachers, but the guy I learned the most from and trained the most with was Mac Danzig. Mac taught the MMA class that I took most of the time, and he was just a f***ing phenomenal teacher. He understands how MMA differs from straight BJJ and straight striking, and really stressed the fundamentals and worked my game until, in less than a year, I was good enough to train full speed with the mid-level pros there (guys like Vic Webster, Chris Brady and Chris Sepulveda), and even good enough to roll some with the bigger pros (like Mac, Dan Hardy, Amir Rahdnavardi, Scott Epstein, Conor Heun, Mayhem, guys like that). As an aside, you're going to die laughing at this: Even though Jeremie Williams was the main boxing coach at Legends then and I learned a lot from him, you know who I did the vast majority of my stand-up work with? REGGIE WARREN!! No s**t, his real name is Gary Steuber, he is a real fighter and grew up with Spencer Fisher and taught a lot of striking classes at Legends. His ground game is about the same as mine--which means its basically dogs**t--but his striking is legit. He got me from no experience to being able to get in the ring and do well against MMA guys in six months. He's a great teacher. Let me be clear: I am NOT putting myself in the league of any of those guys AT ALL. I never did anything but get my a** kicked by them. This should give you an idea of my skill level: My greatest MMA moment at Legends was--one time--I went a full round with Mac and he didn't submit me. Mind you, I didn't take him down, or land a good shot on him, or almost sink a submission, or put him in any danger at all really. I just stayed alive for five minutes, but I was ecstatic. Like an idiot, I made the mistake of bragging about it during the round break, which made Mac mad, and he submitted me approximately 50 times the next round. It was funny. Seriously though, the fact that within a year I was good enough to roll to some extent with top level pros, and go safely go full speed with mid-level pros (they all kicked my ass too, of course) is a testament to Mac's teaching ability and the other people teaching at Legends then (Gary, Jeremie, Amir, Chris, etc). I haven't been to the new location (because I left LA), but I'd still recommend that group of guys as trainers, they were great for me. End of Part One Stay tuned to Bloody Elbow as Parts Two to Five will appear daily until the end of the week (2/10/12).

Posted in: mma, guy, legend, sport, tucker

Watch Super Bowl XLVI: Giants Vs. Patriots Online With MMA Fans

With UFC 143 behind us, some MMA fans will be taking a break with friends and family today as they sit back and enjoy the biggest sporting event in America as the New York Giants and New England Patriots square off in Super Bowl XLVI. The game kicks off around 6:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on NBC. This post is a chance for those of you who are sitting around watching the game who want to talk about the happenings with your fellow MMA fans. Think that sack of Tom Brady by Jason Pierre Paul showed some sort of fantastic double leg technique? Want to have the same old conversation about which NFL players would be beasts in the Octagon? Feel like dropping the knowledge that Eli Manning (6'4" 218 lbs) is basically the same size as Jon Jones? This is your place to have the conversation. And while you're here, make sure you're reading all of our great coverage of last night's big UFC event.

Posted in: mma, fan, mma fans, tom brady, york giants

It's a shame most MMA fans will never appreciate what a chess match the main event was. [SPOILERS]

As time goes on, and I learn more about the sport, I always find that I appreciate what a chess match MMA is at the highest levels. It comes down to so much more than just brawling, but most MMA fans will never appreciate this. Nick Diaz is a nightmare of a fighter. GSP was wrong: Fitch was not the Terminator, Nick Diaz is. Nick Diaz has an iron chin, is not afraid to eat shots, constantly presses forward, and throws an enormous volume of punches straight down the pipe at his opponent's faces. He never gets tired and he never quits. Once he gets someone pinned against the cage, he's basically unbeatable. His little brother Nate used the exact same strategy against Cerrone, and made a multiple time Muay Thai champion look like an amateur striker. Nick pressed BJ Penn against the cage, and decisively outboxed one of MMA's greatest all time boxers. Not even Paul Daley, a man notorious for his punching power, could do enough damage to Nick to even slow him down. Condit knew this, and he refused to fail where his predecessors had. Much like a bullfighter dodges a bull, Carlos would not have any of Nick's 'bullying' strategy. He knew how to circle out and not get pinned against the cage. Make no mistake about it, Carlos was not afraid to trade strikes with Nick. The Fightmetric proves this. But everytime Nick started to get the upperhand, Carlos moved out of danger. He fought a perfect match. Carlos's movements were downright graceful, and well timed. Much like "Judo" translates to the "gentle way," Carlos refused to absorb the brunt of Nick's offense. He traded while he was winning, and immediately moved when Nick started landing. I don't think most people understand the amount of skill and discipline it takes for a fighter to be able to pull off a gameplan like this. Most fighters with Condit's resume would have fallen in love with their fists and tried to take Diaz's head off when the first taunts came. But again Condit would not have any of it. Condit trusted his striking enough to trade with Diaz on his own terms, but gracefully refused to play into Diaz's hand. Unfortunately, there is a rush of people complaining that Condit refused to actually 'fight' Diaz and that he kept running away. These people can't understand how masterfully Condit beat Diaz. It was perfect. He could not have been any more of a Kryptonite to Diaz's Superman. Condit had the brains to figure out the plan, the talent to execute the plan, the conditioning to see it through, and the discipline to stick to it. This, ladies and gentlemen, is true talent. It is marvellous. We just witnessed a great fight, and it is a shame and a blackeye for the sport as a whole that anyone would expect Condit to brawl with Diaz against the cage otherwise suffer being called a coward. Please, appreciate MMA for not only the violence, but also the athleticism, the talent, and the IQ it takes to not only win, but to win against the best of the best. TL;DR People shouldn't call Carlos a coward. They should appreciate how masterfully he beat Diaz. submitted by The_Demolition_Man [link] [13 comments]

Posted in: diaz, mma, nick, condit, carlo

Condit beats Diaz at UFC 143 for interim title

Carlos Condit ruined the welterweight fight the world wanted to see, and might have just retired MMA bad boy Nick Diaz in the process.

Posted in: diaz, mma, condit, boy, welterweight fight

Best MMA music video, ever

submitted by rza617 [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: mma, video, music, rza

Friday Link Club: UFC 143 Preview

Gallery: 13 GIFs of Nick Diaz Being Totally Gangster | Cage Potato UFC 143 Main Event Breakdown: Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit | MMA Fighting Behind the UFC 143 numbers: Nick Diaz vs Carlos Condit fight complete statistical breakdown | MMA Mania Nick is smiling because studies show that 15 out of 20 pros prefer a Diaz win at UFC 143 | MiddleEasy UFC 143 Predictions: Which Fight Will Steal the Show? | Bleacher Report Stockton Chronicles: The Rise of Nick Diaz | LowKick Fabricio Werdum: “I’m ready to strike the whole time if I need to.” | Five Ounces of Pain State Attorney General Admits Amateur MMA is not banned in New York  | TheFightNerd Video: When Vegas MMA media members attack | Fight Opinion Eddie Alvarez Vs. Shinya Aoki In The Works For Bellator Season 6 | FightLine Jose Aldo Parts Ways with Ed Soares and Black House MMA | 5thRound FTC Ends UFC Investigation Regarding Strikeforce Purchase | MMA Payout

Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, mma, nick

UFC, Century Martial Arts donate MMA gear to nonprofit Las Vegas boxing club

NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev. - If you need proof that MMA s is the combat sport of the future, look no further than the Richard Steele Boxing Club in Las Vegas. The five-year-old nonprofit gym on Thursday took its MMA program to the next level. The gym's MMA program already has more than 55 kids enrolled. On Thursday, UFC officials partnered with Century Martial Arts to donate thousands of dollars of gloves, bags and other equipment to help fund the program's growing needs.

Posted in: mma, vega, la, mma program, ufc century

Latest UFC/MMA news and notes from around the web for the week of January 29, 2012

Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Gina Carano and Nick Diaz pictured above, we can all "get along." Teaming up with MMA sites like MMA Fighting, Cage Potato, Fight Opinion and The Fight Nerd, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport. This week, Lowkick speaks with reputed kickboxer Tyrone Spong, Cage Potato scores an interview with Miesha Tate and The Fight Nerd speaks with Eddie Alvarez, confirming his upcoming bout with Shinya Aoki. The full list of links is after the jump. - Interview with kickboxer Tyrone Spong (LowKick) "I hadn't fought for a long time, but it still went well. I felt good. Getting the W is most important, but I think it lived up (to expectations). At the same time, I expected a little more from (Manhoef). I was expecting him to show a little more aggressiveness and try to get at me, but he was a little bit easy. I hit him with a few good shots and I think he got scared." - Exclusive: Miesha Tate dishes on respect, revenge and Ronda Rousey (Cage Potato) "I think the people that are so quick to jump on Ronda's bandwagon are not necessarily the true or more educated fans. Anyone can see that there's so many things that haven't been exposed about her and so many things in question. Her coming into the scene with such a brash sense of the way she likes to market things is whatever. I personally like a more humble approach. For her to be the new face of MMA, she still has a lot to prove for people to even consider that. Let's see what she can do March 3. If it goes the way I think it's going to go, she'll basically be just a flash in the pan." - Fabricio Werdum ready to strike the whole time if he needs to (Five Ounces of Pain) When Fabricio Werdum first entered MMA he was known purely as a grappler based on his well-documented success in BJJ. However, when he enters the Octagon on Saturday night at UFC 143 he'll do so as a polished pugilist who is as comfortable knocking an opponent out as he is with submitting him. The evolution of Werdum's game is a direct product of his relationship with Chute Boxe, now Kings MMA - Josh Koscheck hopes Georges St. Pierre never returns (video) (MMA Fighting) Josh Kosheck talks about his UFC 143 fight against Mike Pierce, his initial thoughts when Pierce called him out, his thoughts on Pierce, why he hopes Georges St-Pierre never returns to MMA, and his prediction on Diaz vs. Condit. - Nick Diaz claims Georges St. Pierre is the one acting crazy (5thRound) - War Machine returns to jail for another year (MiddleEasy) "Seems my year in jail wasnt enough. Just got sentenced to another year in Vegas for some old bullshit. Nevermind Im rehabilitated. Nevermind Ive been out for over 6 months now and doing great and am finally back on my feet. Nevermind all my students that will miss me. Do another year and rot n waste time. Make no money, pay no taxes. Whatever, I just hope my boy @bensaundersMMA wins @BellatorMMA tournament." - State Attorney General admits amateur MMA is not banned in New York (The Fight Nerd) The battle for MMA in NY just got a bit more interesting! Two months after Zuffa Entertainment filed a lawsuit against the New York State Attorney General on the grounds that the state's ban on MMA is a violation of First Amendment rights, the plaintiffs predictably responded with a move to dismiss. This tidbit of info comes from page 21 of the New York State Attorney General's motion to dismiss, which states that while professional MMA may be illegal in The Big Apple, amateur MMA is technically not. - Dr. Margaret Goodman's challenge to the UFC on drug testing (Fight Opinion) The UFC professes that MMA can hold its own against any sport. If true, then why are boxers the only professional combat sports athletes in the world willing to undergo stringent PED exams? Yes, this isn't free; it isn't cheap, but it is the right thing. - FTC ends UFC investigation regarding Strikeforce purchase (MMA Payout) Earlier today, Josh Gross from ESPN.com broke the news that the Federal Trade Commission has closed a non-public investigation into the UFC's purchase of Strikeforce as of last week. - Ed Herman: I was afraid I'd never fight again (BleacherReport.com/MMA) "The first injury I had I was pretty bummed out. I had to get surgery, but I was confident that I could and would make a comeback," stated Herman. "But, then I re-injured it again in my fight against Aaron Simpson at UFC 102 and really questioned if I would ever make the return." - Why Carlos Condit is worthy (MMA Convert) Condit has only lost once in the UFC, and that was via a razor-thin split decision to Martin Kampmann at a UFC Fight Night back in 2009 - which was Condit's UFC debut. Since then, he's decisioned Jake Ellenberger, and put away the likes of Rory MacDonald, Dan Hardy and Dong Hyun Kim. All of those finishes were explosive, with two resulting in "Knockout of the Night" bonuses and one a "Fight of the Night" bonus. If the bosses throw you extra cheddar, you must be doing your job very right. - Strikeforce: Tate vs Rousey adds Ronaldo Souza vs Derek Brunson (Fightline) Derek Brunson will test his undefeated record against former Strikeforce middleweight champion Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey. Brunson confirmed the fight on his Twitter account Thursday.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, state, fight nerd

UFC 143 Pre-Fight Press Conference Highlights

Highlights from the UFC 143 pre-fight press conference via MMA Fighting.

Posted in: ufc, mma, conference, press, prefight

UFC 143 Open Workout Highlights: Nick Diaz & Carlos Condit

Video highlights from the UFC 143 open workouts via MMA Fighting.

Posted in: ufc, mma, nick, video, workout

Josh Koscheck hopes GSP never comes back to MMA

I’m happy that my Casio G-Shock watch is solar powered and I never have to replace the batteries. Unless my region of the world gets struck with an electromagnetic pulse attack, I will always know what time it is, and always have a nifty digital stopwatch that I can use for whatever people use stopwatches for. That being said, I'm happy the sun decided to come out today to recharge my watch and simultaneously enabled the groundhog to see his shadow. The sooner the summer arrives as a direct result of the groundhog seeing his shadow, the sooner we get to GSP return to MMA (even though he says he’s going to make his return in the Fall). I’m also ecstatic that Josh Koscheck’s eye has healed from his fight with Georges St. Pierre and he’s finally back to competing in MMA. As much people hate to admit it, he's an exciting fighter and a necessary 'villain' in what's otherwise a (mostly) respectful welterweight division. What makes me unhappy is that GSP isn’t fighting Nick Diaz this weekend at UFC 143 and that Josh Koscheck has gone as far to say that he hopes Georges never comes back to MMA, but if he does, that he’s nowhere near the level he was before tearing his ACL. "I'm interested in the outcome of the Diaz vs. Condit fight on Saturday night. Should be a good fight. Hopefully Georges is out for more than 10 months and they can make that Interim titleholder fight twice. Hopefully he never comes back. ACL surgeries can take a lot out of you. They say you truly don't recover after those. I've had friends who have had those and they say they're not the same so hopefully it equals out the playing field and we can get another crack at Georges." I don’t want to live in a world where the sun doesn’t come out to recharge my watch and groundhogs can’t see their shadows. If the rest of us had the multitasking ability of the sun, we’d easily be able to solve the Norwegian butter crisis, and still have time get-in a 40-minute cardiovascular workout in the same day. Canadians didn’t need additional reasons to dislike Josh Koscheck, but if they did, then we just hooked them up. In these times of political uncertainty, at least Kos doesn’t flip-flop on his hatred of Canada and their most beloved MMA Champion. More politicians should look to Josh Koscheck about sticking to their message, regardless of how many times you lose in the court of public opinion. [Source]

Posted in: mma, josh koscheck, ’t, koscheck, josh

UFC 143 Judo Chop: The Striking And Grappling Technique Of Nick Diaz

Nick Diaz fights Carlos Condit at UFC 143 on Saturday for the UFC interim welterweight championship. Diaz is a favorite here at the Bloody Elbow Judo Chop headquarters both for his very technical Jiu-Jitsu and also for his unique "pitter shatter" approach to boxing for MMA. Heading into UFC 143 we wanted to refresh everyone's appreciation for Diaz' technical acumen with a review of our past Judo Chops on the fighter. Enjoy these previous Judo Chops: Nick Diaz's Ground Game by Ben Thapa Nick Diaz Gogoplatas Takanori Gomi by Kid Nate The Unconventional MMA Boxing of Nick Diaz by Kid Nate I also wanted to highlight this comment from John Nash (formerly nottheface) regarding the provenance of Diaz' unusual approach to boxing in MMA: Diaz' style of boxing resembls some of the techniques used in old London Prizefighting ("bareknuckle") matches. Now I doubt he and Gracie went out and studied old Jem Mace fights but because grappling played a part in those fights (clinching and throwing your opponent to the ground was a big part of the game, and many fighters depended more on a good wrestling game than their striking ability. If one looks at Ed James's 1878 The Science of Boxing half the techniques shown are headlocks, throws, and trips.) and Diaz doesn't have thunderous power they have stumbled into a style for him that greatly resembles the proven techniques of yore. More from John Nash plus a bunch of animated gifs in the full entry. SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit On the right is a nice gif that illustrates Diaz' approach to MMA striking in his October 2010 rematch with K.J. Noons. Note how Diaz rarely commits more force than necessary to his punches, generally throwing from the shoulders, but sometimes just throwing arm punches. The important thing in Diaz' approach is volume, volume, volume. He pitters, batters and plain wears down his opponents with a variety of low energy punches from a number of different angles. More from John Nash: Jean Joseph-Renaud an amazing pioneer in martial arts and specifically Defense Dans La Rue at the beginning of the 20th century described what bareknuckle fighting entailed. Formerly, in England, when fights took place without gloves, they lasted immensely longer. While the combatants employed wrestling techniques and threw each other to the ground with great force, perhaps five or six times each quarter of an hour, they were still at least as vigorous of those of today. They ought to have finished very quickly and yet their fights always lasted a long time; they most commonly ended because one of the adversaries was exhausted rather than beaten. Prizefighters fought this way because they didn't have gloves to protect their hands and because the rules allowed for grappling and throwing each other to the ground, often incorporating Devonshire, Cumberland, and Westmorland style wrestling. A new round started any time a fighter was knocked down and went to his knee, he was then given a 50-count to get back up and begin again. Because there is a time limit in mma Diaz has sped up the pace. Joseph-Renaud also described a type of fighter who stood outside and threw straights but without all his power so as to not to break his hand (even describing one type of punch as a "slap" and considering it effective), unlike the in-fighting that glove boxing developed. This slap fighter wouldn't lung so at to leave himself open to be grappled and would throw repetitive straights from the outside to the head and, more importantly, the body of his opponent. The goal with this style of scientific boxing was to wear down your opponent until they collapsed from cumulative damage and exhaustion. Sound familiar? ...And while I think Diaz fights a lot like Michael Nunn - and perhaps based his style on the same sources as Nunn - the modifications they've made to make it work in MMA have resulted in something that resembles something from old prizefighting: less upper body movement, less slipping and ducking, less lunging from the outside, less dancing. All the stuff that Nunn uses but could put you in a bad spot where grappling is allowed as it is in MMA - and London Prizefighting. The following is some analysis from The Unconventional MMA Boxing of Nick Diaz: On the right we've got the penultimate moments of Nick's 2009 early retirement party for Frank Shamrock. Note the way he sticks his left hand in Shamrock's face to bait Frank into putting up his guard. Once the ribs are unprotected Diaz actually winds up and unloads a vicious right hook to Shamrock's ribs. Here's MMA Fighting talking about the CompuStrike record that Diaz set in that round: Nick Diaz spent three minutes and 57 seconds swarming Frank Shamrock in the second round of their fight Saturday night before referee Big John McCarthy finally stopped it. If you watched the fight, you know that already. But you might not know that Diaz had what may have been the most active round in the history of MMA. CompuStrike, which tabulates statistics from MMA fights, says that Diaz attempted 181 strikes in the second round, making it the most total strikes thrown in any round that CompuStrike has recorded. The previous record was held by Michael Bisping, who threw 141 strikes in the first round of his UFC 70 fight with Elvis Sinosic. Diaz breaking that record is even more impressive when you remember that Bisping didn't finish Sinosic in the first round, meaning he had a full five minutes to throw 141 strikes. Diaz shattered the record in less than four. Of course, Diaz has never been the most accurate or powerful of punchers, and he only landed 79 of those 181 strikes. So Bisping still owns the record for strikes landed in a round. And here's a little taste of his grappling acumen from Nick Diaz's Ground Game by Ben Thapa: Gif via Grappo In this gif, we see Diaz in a position where he could move into side control, as Shamrock’s left side is relatively undefended. However, Nick chooses to move his left knee to pin down Shamrock’s right thigh, while maintaining the underhook on Shamrock’s left arm/allowing Shamrock to keep the overhook. The resulting position contorts Shamrock into an awkward position where his head is twisting in the opposite direction from his legs and Nick’s good top pressure allows him to stay there. As the gif shows, Nick takes the opportunity to punch Frank a few times in the head before Frank later regains guard (not show in the gif). Here's hoping we get to see more of Diaz great standing and ground technique against Condit who should be a stern test for the ex-Srikeforce champ in all ranges of fighting.

Posted in: fight, diaz, mma, nick, round

Pro MMA Radio named official radio show of the Armed Forces Network

As a frequent guest of Pro MMA Radio (PMR), which we host weekly right here on MMAmania.com, I'm proud to announce it has now become the official mixed martial arts (MMA) radio show of the Armed Forces Network. That means you can hear PMR in 170 countries across the globe and on 150 ships at sea. Ooh-rah! From today's press release: Larry Pepe's Pro MMA Radio will be broadcast on the Armed Forces Network (AFN) on its main channel, The Voice, every Saturday at 5PM PST beginning Feb. 11, 2012. The one-hour program will be the exclusive radio show on AFN covering the fastest growing sport in the world, mixed martial arts, complete with fighter interviews, industry news, event previews, recaps, analysis and more. Armed Forces Network Director Jeff Reilly feels that Pepe's show is the perfect fit. "AFN is thrilled to have Larry and his Pro MMA Radio on board supplying our heroes overseas weekly information on everything MMA. MMA is wildly popular with our troops and we thank Pro MMA Radio for its support of our valued and respected service-members." Can the soothing sounds of Nostradumbass bring peace to the Middle East? Or start another war? Probably neither, but at least you'll get some decent MMA analysis and fight breakdowns. For the PMR archive click here.

Posted in: mma, show, radio, mma radio, forces network

Rolles Gracie Wants to Stay Active in 2012, says Gregor and Igor Both Have Fights in the Works

Rolles Gracie's trophy cabinet bears testament to all he has achieved in his martial arts career containing awards received for being named No-Gi American National Super Heavyweight Champion in 2010, No-Gi Pan-American Champion in 2008, Pan American Champion in 1996, 2000 and 2006 and Brazilian Teams Champion in 2000 amongst others. He also finished second at the World Jiu Jitsu Championships in 1998 and has a couple of gold medals from Judo competitions in Florida thrown in for good measure. It's an impressive collection but the one thing which the third degree BJJ black belt is missing is a belt won in MMA competition. That is a situation he is looking to rectify after signing a contract with ONE Fighting Championship in Asia. He has only fought sporadically since he making his MMA debut five years ago but is determined to make his mark on the heavyweight division in 2012, "There are many reasons why I haven't fought MMA more regularly; injuries, teaching, deals that didn't go through.... sometimes things don't go the way you want to. 2012 is the year to stay active, I'm kicking it off with a fight already and I want do do at least three more." His first opponent will be Bob Sapp who will come into the cage with a 100 lbs size advantage at ONE Fighting Championship 'Battle of Heroes' in Jakarta, Indonesia on February 11th. Sapp is a K-1 veteran who should have an advantage in the striking, as well as the size department, but Gracie does not feel he will necessarily need a submission to win, "I respect Sapp but I had no hesitation what so ever in taking this fight. I'm highly confident in my training and my technique. I'm going there to win and I'll find a way to do it, submission, decision or KO." Gracie currently has a 5-1 MMA record having submitted every opponent he has ever faced with one notable exception. On his UFC debut, against Joey Beltran, he rapidly ran out of steam and was finished in the second round causing him to be unceremoniously removed from the roster. While that performance will linger long in the memory for some it is the sole blemish on an otherwise flawless career and, as Gracie outlines, there were extenuating circumstances, "During my training camp for that fight I had two injuries 5-6 weeks prior to the fight that kept me from training as hard as i wanted to. I hurt my ribs and I was training and fought with a broken foot." He will get a chance at redemption when he returns to the main stage to take on Sapp in an event which will be streamed live on the internet for $10 and broadcast all over Asia by ESPN Star Sports. It will be the highest profile fight for Gracie since his UFC debut and beating a man who is 100 lbs heavier would be a great way to demonstrate that he is still very much a force to be reckoned with in the heavyweight division. It is the type of fight which harks back the early days of MMA when Renzo and Royce Gracie would use their BJJ to defeat much larger opponents but Rolles feels that the sport which his Grandfather pioneered has evolved to the extent that he no longer need to worry about his role as an ambassador for it, "It doesn't really matter to me how I win this fight. I think as time has passed people already know the true value of BJJ but it's always good to reinforce it. Every time I fight I'll go for a submission win, it might not happen but that's what I'm aiming for for and so far it's working." His brothers Igor and Gregor have also been signed by ONE FC and Rolles was at the inaugural event to see Gregor defeat Korean Seok Mo Kim by decision. There has been some suggestion that MMA has evolved so rapidly that its first family are in danger of being left behind but these three brothers have a fantastic opportunity to put that theory to bed by winning fights for Asia's most prestigious mixed martial arts promotion, "I was at the first show and I liked it a lot. in my opinion ONE FC have what it takes to be a power house in Asia and in the world. Both Gregor and Igor have something in the works with them, I think its just a matter little details now so they can announce it." ONE Fighting Championship are putting on eight events in 2012 with shows in Jakarta, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur to start the year. The ONE FC Network will also allow Gracie to fight for promotions such as DREAM in Japan, Road FC in Korea, URCC in the Philippines and Cage Fighting Championship in Australia so if he wants to stay busy there should be plenty of opportunity for him to do so. Without the Gracie family it is questionable whether the sport of MMA would ever have evolved to the point where it has become a multi billion dollar business. There is still a tremendous appetite to see a member of this famous fighting family reach the pinnacle of competition for the first time since the days when Royce and Renzo would submit multiple opponents in a single night. ONE FC is currently the highest profile organization outside of the US and if Gracie can continue to rack up the submission wins with them he is going be one of the hottest heavyweight properties on the market. He was fast tracked into the UFC after just three fights and might have benefited from a more gentle career trajectory but he has bounced back with two straight victories since then and could take another step on the comeback trail by beating Bob Sapp.

Posted in: fight, mma, championship, gracie, sapp

MMA Link Club: Lawn Chair Knockouts, Amateur Head Kicks, and Worthy Contenders

- State Attorney General Admits Amateur MMA is not banned in New York (TheFightNerd)"Two months after Zuffa Entertainment filed a lawsuit against the New York State Attorney General on the grounds that the state’s ban on MMA is a violation of First Amendment rights, the plaintiffs predictably responded with a move to dismiss. This tidbit of info comes from page 21 of the New York State Attorney General’s motion to dismiss, which states that while professional MMA may be illegal in The Big

Posted in: mma, state, york, amateur mma, zuffa entertainment

Breakdown: “The Beast” Bob Sapp Battles Rolles Gracie at ONE FC 2

Bob “The Beast” Sapp enters ONE Fighting Championship’s circular cage two months shy of his 10-year anniversary competing in mixed martial arts. A star staple of the Japanese scene, “The Beast” (11-9) adds Jakarta, Indonesia to his lengthy list of fighting stops across the globe when he faces off with the legendary Gracie family’s heavyweight representative, Rolles Gracie (5-1), at ONE FC 2: Battle of Heroes on Saturday February 11. Of course, Sapp’s inclusion makes this big man clash unfettered from the boundaries of heavyweight’s 265-pound limit. The Seattle-based American will boast nearly 100 extra pounds versus the Rio de Janeiro-born Brazilian, who operates his cousin Renzo’s Garden State affiliate school in Holmdel, New Jersey. The immense size advantage Sapp carries into the bout fails to intimidate if the 38-year-old’s mental game remains uncorrected from his previous 10 bouts. He’s posted seven losses in his last 10 MMA contests and just one victory in his last 10 overall fights including kickboxing. With a framed muscled well over 300-pounds, Sapp’s key to victory is having the fortitude to forge his angry face. Nearly a decade removed from the most high profile performance of his career—a dramatic submission loss to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in front of over 90,000 fans in Tokyo—Sapp’s opportunity to add a Gracie to his win column is a notable mark for any international star. Losing to Jan Norte at a hometown Strikeforce event in February 2008 downgraded the larger-than-life position Sapp once held. Recently, Sapp went winless in three 2011 outings. Scheduled to fight a month following Gracie versus British brawler James Thompson in India, Sapp needs to emerge from his tangle with the 33-year-old unscathed and victorious to breathe life into the later half of his career. Scoring a win in his first 2012 bout gives Sapp an 11-month advance on his Christmas present. A longtime Asian MMA staple, Sapp’s career can find new life as a regular ONE FC attraction if he appears invested in the fight game. If he focuses his physicality, any night is subject to Sapp time. Experience is the biggest obstacle for Gracie as Sapp possesses nearly 50 fights between MMA and kickboxing. The K-1 veteran calls his style “NFL” for the all-out blitz he employs to blind his opponents with overwhelming size and resulting lights-out power. However, the Colorado-born fighter never picked up catch wrestling’s submissions the way fellow pro wrestler and PRIDE heavyweight Josh Barnett famously trained him to do, opening the gate for Gracie to ply his trade. Gracie’s ground prowess poses a stellar threat to Sapp—a stand-up based fighter whose majority losses came by way of tapout. All five of the third degree Gracie Jiu-Jitsu black belt’s career wins are via submission. Every fight starts standing; Gracie must close the distance. Thus, confidence in his stand-up, no matter how rudimentary it may be, is paramount in clinching up with Sapp and dragging the fight to the ground. Like Sapp, Gracie’s key to seeing his hand raised at night’s end is demeanor. Renowned conditioning coach Martin Rooney’s backing is an integral part of the three-time Pan Am champion’s strategy versus Sapp. He requires all the cardio necessary to subdue “The Beast.” A black belt in judo bodes well for Gracie, but the likelihood of throwing Sapp decreases with every miscalculated attempt due to sheer exertion. More importantly, keeping Sapp down once the fight hits the mat prevents depleting his gas tank with repeated takedowns. Gracie’s intermittent career features six fights in five years, best known for a lone UFC appearance in February 2010 Renzo Gracie called “embarrassing.” Less than seven minutes against a 228-pound Joey Beltran saw the no-gi champion tired, unable to cope with the deep waters of a serious contest. He’s 2-0 since although his opponents have been sub .500 competitors. Sapp is the biggest name to stand across from the no-gi champion. Victory against the 1997 Chicago Bears draft-pick creates a starting point for Carlos Gracie Sr.’s grandson to take the Gracie family’s modern mantle, which remains unclaimed in MMA. The appeal of Sapp-Gracie is in their distinct roles. Sapp is the bull and Gracie is the matador—a fighter relying on the accuracy of technique after accessing his opponent’s straight-line attack. The battle pits a PRIDE and K-1 combatant versus UFC veteran in a classic striker-grappler showdown. Short and sweet is the expectation, and whichever fighter demonstrates the slightest hesitation, will have a long flight home to America from Indonesia.

Posted in: fight, mma, career, gracie, sapp

Video: When Vegas MMA media members attack @LBSports

The state of MMA media affairs in 2012 has come to this.

Posted in: mma, media, state, affair, lbsport

MMA prospect rankings update heavyweight-light heavyweight: Tyler East, Phelipe Lins, & Jared Rosholt join ranks

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

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

Mike Tyson: Fedor Emelianenko stayed around MMA too long in the age of drugs and bigger athletes

This FanPost was edited and promoted by MMAmania.com staff. After losing three consecutive fights to Fabricio Werdum, Antonio Silva and Dan Henderson, Fedor Emelianenko seemed to have taken a fall from grace after a decade-long rung of being undefeated and consistently being at the top of the pound-for-pound list. After he suffered his three consecutive losses, which all came under the Strikeforce banner, nearly everyone -- fans and media alike -- from within the mixed martial arts (MMA) community dropped their two cents on the credibility of the Russian's resume and overall status as a legit contender in the heavyweight division. While Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White, who has never been sold on the legitimacy of Fedor's wins and mythical aura, for that matter, isn't too high on "The Last Emperor," there is one man who has nothing but high praise for Fedor. That man is none other than the boxing legend "Iron" Mike Tyson, one of the most feared strikers in combat sports history, who says Emelianenko is his favorite MMA fighter of all time. Speaking to "Inside MMA," Tyson talks about the admiration he has for Fedor and what he feels went wrong in his career. Check it out: "Fedor Emelianenko, my favorite of all time...He's always been the underdog, he's always the smallest guy and he always comes out victorious. He just stayed around too long in the age of high performance [-enhancing] drugs, bigger athletes. I've just never seen an athlete like him, as far as a fighting athlete, that beat the odds so many times. From a guy that just loves him from a human perspective, I don't want to see him get hurt anymore, you know? He didn't get hurt, but those guys could have hurt him, the big guy that was hitting him, "Bigfoot" (Antonio Silva). I don't like to see that. A guy that's been in there so long, and he's not the same as he used to be and you see him getting beat up, oh man that's a bad feeling." At one point during Emelianenko's illustrious career, he rattled off 27 consecutive victories, before running into Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) black belt Fabricio Werdum at Strikeforce: "Fedor vs. Werdum" in 2009. The submission wizard caught Fedor in a triangle choke early in the first round, which forced the tap a minute and nine seconds into the opening frame after being floored early by the Russian. The defeat marked the first true loss on Fedor's record.Emelianenko returned to his winning ways when he defeated multiple time Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) tournament winner Jeff Monson, in his home country of Russia on Nov. 20, 2011, via unanimous decision. Fedor followed up the impressive performance just one month later on New Year's Eve by defeating Olympic Judo Gold medalist winner Satoshi Ishii via first round knockout at Fight For Japan: Genki Desu Ka 2011. Despite his impressive MMA record of 33-4 (1 NC), and recent resurgence, some will still feel the need to place an asterisk his accomplishments because of the fact that he never competed inside the UFC's Octagon. Maybe, just maybe, he, along with the M-1 head honcho's can find common ground with UFC officials to bring him into the mix before he hangs up his gloves for good. Or, before he takes on Tyson in a Japan-based New Year's Eve weekend freakshow fight.

Posted in: mma, guy, athlete, fedor, emelianenko

A supposed MMA fighter lit himself on fire in Alaska last night...

Can someone in the comment section please explain to me why anyone who has thrown a punch at a county fair in a makeshift cage is all of a sudden dubbed an MMA fighter? Especially when said 'MMA fighters' are doing horrible things to those around them? In the latest example of this phenomenon, supposed MMA fighter Harold Finger III lit himself on fire and almost took a bunch of innocent people with him. Now for some reason all of the local Alaskan news that have picked up the story are calling this guy an MMA fighter. Why? I've done my research, I can't find any type of MMA record for this dude, and that said, what is the etymology of the surname Finger anyways? When I pull a Tiananmen Square and make my final stand and use the self immolation card (which I want use all the time at my day job) will I be called a professional video game player because that's something I talk about all the time publicly? Why can't this guy just be called a disturbed individual? If he went to the YMCA three times a week to play pickup basketball with the off duty fisherman would he have been called a basketball player? Something tells me no. What did this man do for a living? It wasn't MMA I promise you. Here is the whole sordid and unprofessional report from KTUU.com: Out of jail for only a week according to witnesses, Finger, a mixed martial arts fighter, became angry while talking on the phone, and subsequently began punching and kicking a 34-year-old woman in the face and head, while he was wearing gloves with hard plastic knuckles. The victim and two other females hid in a room, one holding her 6-year-old son. According to police, Finger said he wasn’t going back to jail, and poured Prestone ethyl ether fire-starting fluid over his upper body and a door from, then grabbed the 6-year-old, but the women were able to wrest the child away from him. Finger then lit himself on fire with a lighter and burst into flames. One of the women used a jacket to put out the flames, but not before Finger suffered severe burns to his upper body, face and head. He was taken to a local hospital. Police obtained a no-bail warrant for Finger’s arrest on first- and second-degree assault and reckless endangerment, which will be served when they can physically take him into custody. Let's break this down: he was wearing gloves with hard plastic knuckles while talking on the phone? He's obviously a loon. I bet they were those giant Incredible Hulk hands. Then the dude decides to kill himself and those around him in the most horrific way possible? Come on, you are in Alaska, jump in the ocean with a cinderblock tied to your leg like a man. I've heard dying in cold water is actually very peaceful. I shake my head at this entire situation and it's sullying of the good name of the sport we love. [Source]

Posted in: mma, fighter, mma fighter, finger, plastic knuckles

Pro MMA Radio 183: UFC on FOX 2 Recap, UFC 143 Preview

We have partnered with Pro MMA Radio to bring you weekly replays of PMR as the official radio show of MMAConvert.com. Pro MMA Radio can be heard live every Monday evening at 9PM ET/6PM PT. Replays and podcasts of every show are available 24/7 by going to the “Replay Corner” section of ProMMARadio.com, our own Pro MMA Radio page or by clicking the banner below. On this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio, host Larry Pepe recaps UFC on FOX 2 and previews UFC 143. You can listen to a replay of this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio by clicking the banner below. A radio player with links to the show’s archives will open in a pop-up window, so please make sure your browser is set to allow pop-ups for this site.

Posted in: ufc, mma, replay, radio, mma radio

UFC 143: Undefeated Stephen Thompson Hopes To Make Case For Karate In MMA

Welterweight UFC rookie Stephen Thompson (5-0 MMA, 57-0 Kickboxing) is hoping to continue his streak of 62 wins in 62 pro fights at UFC 143. He'll face another UFC n00b in Dan Stittgen (7-1) on the Facebook preliminaries for UFC 143. The 28-year-old Thompson is carrying a pretty heavy hype burden coming into the Octagon. Georges St. Pierre's striking coach Firas Zahabi recently called Thompson "definitely the best karate guy, the best striker I've ever seen, all around in any sport." He's no one trick pony either, a black belt in Japanese jujitsu, he trains Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under his brother-in-law the legendary Carlos Machado and claims that wrestling is his 2nd strongest skill set. Mike Chiappetta of MMA Fighting wrote about Thompson's Lyoto Machida-like childhood as the son of a karate instructor: Thompson started in the martial arts at three years old, training under his father, Ray, who owns a karate studio in Simpsonville, South Carolina. But it wasn't always a love affair. By around the age of 10 or 11, the flame had burned out. While his friends were playing baseball and football, Thompson found himself constantly stuck at the dojo.... By the time he was 15, he was making his amateur debut, inspired in part by his older sister Lindsay, who he often watched compete and aimed to emulate. He did her proud, defeating an unbeaten 26-year-old en route to 37 straight victories. His biggest personal highlight came in 2005, when he captured a World Association of Kickboxing Organizations championship at a tournament held in Szeged, Hungary, becoming the first American to win a gold in the tournament since 1983. Thompson knew he would need to transition to MMA to really test himself and began training with UFC welterweight champ GSP after St. Pierre cornered one of Thompson's many kickboxing victims. Since recovering from an ACL tear he's been training with Zahabi in Canada. In the full entry are some of Thompson's fights from Chuck Norris' defunct World Combat League. SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit Thompson vs. James DeCore Thompson vs. Tim Williams

Posted in: ufc, mma, training, karate, thompson

Mike Tyson spoke to Inside MMA about boxing vs MMA and his theory that Fedor Emelianenko started...

Mike Tyson spoke to Inside MMA about boxing vs MMA and his theory that Fedor Emelianenko started losing because he couldn't keep up in the "era of PEDs".

Posted in: mma, mike, fedor, fedor emelianenko, mike tyson

Michael David Smith Joins Press Row

Every Wednesday, Administrative Editor Jordan Breen welcomes a member of the mixed martial arts media into “Press Row” on the Sherdog.com blog. This week, Breen is joined by MMAFighting.com's Michael David Smith. Breen and Smith discuss the recent changes in the sports media landscape, chiefly the decisions of many major outlets to scale back their coverage of niche sports, including MMA. Breen and MDS delve into what it means for MMA, the new challenges it presents and possible impediments to MMA's growth in North America in this media climate. The duo also tackle how this landscape could create new possibilities in different international markets for the UFC, the potential for the UFC's deal with Fox going forward, the current roles of Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta within the company and even which Super Bowl team best represents the sport of MMA. Grab your credential and get a seat in “Press Row.”

Posted in: mma, sport, media, row, breen

BOOK REVIEW - Gatekeeper: The Fighting Life of Gary Goodridge

The name Gary Goodridge brings a smile to the faces of many Mixed Martial Arts fans and fighters alike. Goodridge was a name synonymous with early MMA. From the time he appeared in a black gi at UFC 8 in 1996 to his last grand stage hurrah against Gegard Mousasi in 2009, Goodridge exhibited poise, fierce determination, and a never-say-die attitude en route to victories over many of MMA’s early pioneers. He was the first Canadian MMA fighter to achieve success with PRIDE Fighting Championships, and over the course of a fifteen year career Goodridge never ceased to bring the crowd to his feet. Now two weeks past his 46th birthday, Goodridge has penned his memoirs in a look back at his storied career, and with the help of ECW Press has released his autobiography Gatekeeper: The Fighting Life of Gary “Big Daddy” Goodridge, a colorful collection of stories from the man fans affectionately knew as “Big Daddy” in the ring, as well as a look at the pressured life of a husband, father, and company man struggling his way through his fighting years. Released today (February 1 2012), Goodridge traces his life from his birth in Trinidad and Tobago to his family’s move to Barrie, Ontario, Canada, where he grew up and still calls home. Following a strict upbringing, Goodridge found success as a world ranked arm wrestler before leaving a steady job to become an MMA fighter in his last 20s. With his thirteen second knockout of Paul Herrera at UFC 8, the groundwork was laid for a career spanning some fourteen years and nearly 100 professional fights (split amongst MMA and K-1) in nearly a dozen countries. Told to the reader from a fairly casual vantage point, Gatekeeper goes from a typical fact-spitting autobiography to 189 page journey into the very foundation of a man whose dedication to his craft and need to provide (for his family/fans) made him the guardian waiting at the front gates of a company ready to challenge the next heavyweight hopefully looking to take the next step. This “gatekeeper” role (one he embraced fully) made him, in a way, MMA’s answer to an Earnie Shavers or Louis Monaco and was one he held for more than half a decade in PRIDE before trying his luck fulltime in K-1 at the beckoning call of contractual agreements between both those companies. Always affable, Goodridge describes wins and losses in his career in vivid detail, stopping to tell a few funny stories along the way such as choosing between steel and plastic jock cups (he suggests metal after an unfortunate incident in the PRIDE 2000 Grand Prix), the motivation behind his landmark taunts during his fight with Amir Rahnavardi, and some of backstage antics of fighters on the road. This was some of the makeup of the life of “Big Daddy,” a man who stood through the rise of MMA in Japan, and fought in front of the some of the largest record crowds in history. Unlike many autobiographies that only celebrate in-career successes, Goodridge spends as much, if not more time in his book describing his losses. Never one to discredit those who bested him, Goodridge almost always has something positive to say about everybody (with a couple of exceptions), a reflection of his friendly and outgoing personality. Goodridge treated his fighting life like his business and career; his foes later became his friends. Throughout the book, however, Goodridge occasionally peels back his “Big Daddy” persona to reveal a man struggling with his many flaws in life. From marriages failed due to his infidelity to the custody battles for his daughters (which would eventually lead him to retire, albeit temporarily) to struggles with his many injuries and his experiences with corruption in combat sports around him. The book is unlike any other in the young history of MMA thus far. Goodridge unapologetically affirms subjects otherwise taboo in the world of mixed martial arts from performance enhancing drugs and the ways fighters would take advantage of the lack of standardized testing in Japan to successful and failed attempts at match fixing (Goodridge discusses offers in length, but admits he never participated in match fixing.) Perhaps the greatest chapter in Goodridge’s life is the story he will live in for the rest of his life. Goodridge discusses the permanent physical pain he lives in, and more importantly the brain damage incurred from his years in fighting. He talks his trouble with basic cognitive functions as well as changes to his personality, speech patterns, and short term memory recognition. He is one of the first MMA fighters to chronicle these struggles publicly, reminiscing on the fact that he should have retired when the saw the first signs of trouble. These troubles have (at his own admittance) left him unable to take many jobs, and he enters his life after fighting even more unsure of his future than the first time he stepped into the Octagon. Overall, “Gatekeeper” is an intriguing look at the Herculean personality and heart of a man who put a stamp on the passport of early Mixed Martial Arts. Always thankful for what he was given in life no matter the outcome, Goodridge has published a book full of his thoughts and reflections of the two decades to share with his fanbase. It’s a personal glimpse into the life of a charismatic individual who won fans with his tenacity and perseverance. From Jordan Breen‘s thought-provoking foreward to Goodridge’s final thank you, it is a book that does its best to remind you of the successes, and haunt you of the dangers associated with the life of professional fighting. “Gatekeeper: The Fighting Life of Gary “Big Daddy” Goodridge” is available now at all major print and online retailers. The book is available in both print and electronic format. We will soon be discussing Gatekeeper and a celebrated career in fighting with Goodridge himself in the near future. Please keep your eyes peeled for this series of interviews coming soon. Tweet

Posted in: mma, life, book, goodridge, gatekeeper

Is Striking Making a Comeback in MMA?

Ask any MMA fan or analyst what the best base for MMA is and the majority will say wrestling. Next to wrestling, the next closest answer is probably jiu-jitsu...

Posted in: mma, mma fan, jiujitsu, base, majority

The MMA Hour - Episode No. 116 - Jon Jones

Posted in: mma, hour, jon, jone, episode

The MMA Hour - Episode No. 116 - Malki Kawa

Posted in: mma, hour, episode, kawa, malki

The MMA Hour - Episode No. 116 - Mike Chiappetta

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The MMA Hour - Episode No. 116 - Jason Hehir

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The MMA Hour - Episode No. 116 - Cesar Gracie

Posted in: mma, hour, episode, gracie, cesar

Tumultuous 2011 Impacts Yahoo! Sports, MMA Coverage

Earlier today, Yahoo’s Dave Doyle announced that today was his last day as MMA/Boxing editor at Yahoo! Sports. Doyle stated the following message via social media website Twitter: Today is my last as MMA/boxing editor at Yahoo! Sports. It’s been an awesome ride working with great folks. Thanks for everything. Sources tell MMAPayout.com that the cutting back on non-mainstream sports by Yahoo was due to their tumultuous 2011, which saw Yahoo’s stock dip under $17 and saw gross revenues decline by over 20%. Another key member of Yahoo’s MMA team is long-time MMA and Pro Wrestling reporter Dave Meltzer, who also been with Yahoo since 2007. His contract is also up this week. At this time, it is unsure whether Meltzer will be able to continue his affiliation with Yahoo Sports, as the struggling company tries to workout it’s budget for the new fiscal year. Longtime Boxing and MMA reporter Kevin Iole, Steve Cofield, and Maggie Hendricks are reported to be staying with the team. Yahoo will now shift their coverage to more mainstream sports, such as the NFL, NBA, and MLB, instead of those that are more niche such as combat sports (i.e. MMA, Golf, NASCAR). Rumors of a possible shakeup within Yahoo! Sports first began around the Summer of last year. The dismal fiscal results made sure those early rumblings came to fruition. In terms of Yahoo’s fiscal 2011, Forbes stated the following: “Even with gross revenues declining by over 20% in 2011, Yahoo’s Q4 2011 results were hardly a surprise, as the company completed a tumultuous year filled with leadership and investor squabbles. For now, CEO Scott Thompson has acknowledged that the company has to deliver more monetization on digital content in 2012, which is a must for Yahoo to stop its shrinking presence in the online ad space.” Yahoo will now try to focus on it’s core business, which will include selling off Asian assets and letting go non-performing Yahoo! properties, as Yahoo’s CEO Thompson has stressed “effective allocation of capital as a priority” moving forward. This isn’t the first mainstream sports media shake-up that has impacted MMA. In November of 2011, AOL’s MMAFigthing.com was sold to Vox Media – parent company to SB Nation- after AOL has also been struggling financially. A few days later, USA TODAY Sports Media group (Gannett) made the announcement that they had acquired MMAJunkie.com.

Posted in: mma, sport, yahoo, today, yahoo sports

Inside MMA: Greg Jackson, Mike Tyson, Forrest Griffin & Tito Ortiz

Inside MMA airs live on HDNet every Monday night at 8pm ET. Inside MMA Archive More segments after the jump.

Posted in: mma, monday night, mma airs, mma archive, hdnet

Heath Sims: The Olympian MMA Coach on Leaving Team Quest to Join Evolve MMA

Heath Sims rarely gives interviews, in fact when I began researching this article the last one I could find was from a copy of the LA Times published over a decade ago (here). Despite this lack of overt publicity he has still managed to quietly establish a reputation as being the number one wrestling coach in the modern MMA world. Sims first met Dan Henderson in 1986 and played a fundamental role in his transition from wrestling champion to world class mixed martial artist. He has also worked with the likes of Joe Warren, Tarec Saffiedine, Alberto Crane, Ryo Chonan, Krzysztof Soszynski and Vinny Magalhaes. As a wrestler Sims defied the odds to make it to the 2000 Sidney Olympics after suffering serious injuries in a accident the previous year. He was at the US Olympic facility in Colorado Springs when he snowboarded off the side off a mountain, lacerating his spleen and nearly severing his kidney from his body. Sims could literally not leave his bed for two months after the accident. Most men would never have wrestled again but not only did he recover, he went to the Olympic Trials and, despite being completely unranked at the time, managed to defeat all comers to book his spot on the plane Sydney. Qualifying for the Olympics demonstrated that Sims is an exceptional athlete, a point he reiterated during his subsequent MMA career, but getting up off his bed and actually making it to the qualifiers demonstrated a remarkable strength of mind and resilience. In 2012 Sims will be doing something else a little out of the ordinary. He has sold his share in Team Quest and is relocating to Singapore in order to run the wrestling program at Evolve MMA. Traditionally the US has been the only country consistently converting elite wrestlers into mixed martial artists and the decision of such a decorated coach to switch continents could just signal a small shift in the balance of power. It must have been a difficult decision for Sims, who was born and bred in California, to pack up, sever his ties with Team Quest and head East but he says when he learned about what was happening at Evolve MMA he had no hesitation in moving 90,000 miles to be a part of it, "I decided to join Evolve after speaking with the owner Chatri. He told me his vision and goals for the gym and fighters. Then he offered me a good position to help build the best MMA team in the world. I think it is a great opportunity to improve myself as a coach. I love to travel and experience new things so it was a great fit at this time for me." Evolve MMA have a clear policy when it comes to recruiting coaches, they want world champions in every discipline. Sims will be joining a team which includes boxing world champion Yodsanan Sityodtong, Muay Thai world champions Namsaknoi Yudthagarngamtorn, Lamnammoon Sor Summalee, Attachai Fairtex, and Orono Wor Petchpun and BJJ world champions Rafael "Gordinho" Correa de Lima, Leandro Issa, Zorobabel Moreira and Alex Silva. The only missing piece in the jigsaw was a world class wrestling coach and Evolve MMA believe Sims will fill that void while the former Olympian is convinced that he is becoming part of the most sophisticated training team in the world, "The level of coaches at Evolve is what impresses me the most. At Team Quest we put most of our resources to the coaching and have a great staff but Evolve has taken coaching to a new level that is unheard of in any MMA gym in the world, they already have 50 coaches, when I arrive they will have 51. It's the largest team of instructors in Asia, if not the world." He brings with him 15 years of MMA experience but when he first began to study the sport he could never have imagined the extent to which it would come to dominate his life. "I began training MMA in 1997. I started training for fun with Dan Henderson before his first fight in Brazil. I lived in Huntington Beach at the time and trained with Hendo, Tito, Rampage, Razor Rob, Tiki, Colin Oyama, and Fabiano Iha. Looking back we had a great group of fighters." Sim's professional MMA career did not began until 2002 two years after the Sydney Olympics. Back then fighters were less focused on padding or protecting their records and after only three fights he found himself competing in Pancrase in Japan. When Sim's retired from competition in 2006 he had faced the likes of Katsuya Inoue, Satoru Kitaoka, Takafumi Ito , Brad Gumm and Antonio McKee running up a respectable 5-4-2 record which reflected the fact that he was never given an easy fight. He is better known now for his work as a coach then for being a former fighter, a career path which he first embarked on three years after the Olympics, "I started coaching wrestling in 2003 for our local kids wrestling club. I continued for about two years and took 20 wrestlers to Armenia during the summer to experience traveling and competing overseas. I helped coach many state champions and national place winners. In 2006 Dan Henderson and I opened Team Quest in California and at that time I began coaching members and fighters." The composition of the fight team at Evolve MMA is a little different from the one at Team Quest which consists mainly, but not exclusively of former wrestlers. In Singapore Sims will find himself working more with fighters who don't come from a wrestling background, with NCAA Division One Qualifier Jake Butler being the most notable exception. It will be a different type of challenge for Sims who instead of teaching wrestlers to adapt to MMA will be helping established fighters like Shinya Aoki, Rafael Dos Anjos, Eddie Ng and Zorobabel Moreira improve their wrestling game, "Wrestling is one of the key components in MMA. A specialized fighter from Jiu Jitsu or Muay Thai does not need to become a world class wrestler but they need to have good wrestling skills to implement their strengths. This will be a very exciting change for me and I am looking forward to the challenge. My main goal is to improve wrestling with the fighters. That is what I do best and contribute the most." Sims will need to hit the ground running because two of the Evolve MMA fighters, Rodrigo Ribeiro and Alex Silva, have career defining fights coming up ( see video below). While he will only arrive in Singapore a few days before ONE Fighting Championship 'Battle of Heroes' both the Brazilians are taking on tough opponents and a few words of wisdom from someone so experienced could be the difference between success and failure. His first year in Asia will be a busy one because almost the entire Evolve MMA fight team have signed with Asia's most prestigious MMA promotion, ONE Fighting Championship, who will be putting on events in major cities all over Asia. Eddie Ng, Zorobabel Moreira and Nicole Chua are all set to fight in Singapore in March while Shinya Aoki has a rematch with Eddie Alvarez booked for a Bellator show the following month. Sims will also be heading back to the US to corner his old friend Henderson but apart from that his sole focus will be on helping Evolve MMA cement it's status as Asia's leading mixed martial arts academy, and maybe even establish itself as number one worldwide.

Posted in: world, mma, team, coach, sim

Video: Mike Tyson comments on possible MMA fight

"It would be interesting to get in there, I think. Imagine being in a fight with somebody and the only thing you can do is box them and if his hands are superior to yours, then what? You're dead meat, basically. So why not grab somebody and throw them down and put 'em in a headlock? I don't know. That'd be pretty interesting." Inside MMA catches up with former boxing great "Iron" Mike Tyson, who terrorized the "sweet science" in the mid-to-late eighties before his personal and professional collapse. While the "Dynamite Kid" is far removed from his days of making any kind of impact inside the squared circle or the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), it shouldn't stop us from speculating what kind of mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter he could have become had the UFC been around 20 years ago -- and been able to pay him 17 billion dollars per fight.

Posted in: fight, mma, mma fight, dynamite kid, midtolate eighties

Bones vs. Sugar: Who will become the best Light Heavyweight in MMA history?

The winner of the main event at UFC 145 will not only be the light-heavyweight champion. They will also be the greatest 205lb fighter in MMA history.

Posted in: mma, history, light heavyweight, mma history, lightheavyweight champion

After 99 Straight Kickboxing and MMA Wins, Stephen Thompson Makes UFC Debut

Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting ExclusiveThe numbers are something out of a video game or a movie or someone's imagination. In amateur kickboxing, Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson was 37-0. As a pro kickboxer, 57-0. As a professional mixed martial artist, he's 5-0 so far. That's 99 straight fights without a loss. But it's no facade, and his record is no product of fishy matchmaking. In fact, despite his newness on the MMA scene, he's already wowed some of this sports' brightest minds. Georges St-Pierre's trainer Firas Zahabi recently called Thompson "definitely the best karate guy, the best striker I've ever seen, all around in any sport." The welterweight brings his exceptional record to this weekend's UFC 143, where he faces fellow octagon rookie Daniel Stittgen, hoping to stretch his streak to triple digits. The remarkable run is the result of a lifetime spent in the martial arts. Ask him about the last time he lost a fight in competition and he has to scan his memory, traveling more than a decade back into the 1990s, when he was a 12-year-old on the karate tournament circuit. "Honestly, I did hundreds and hundreds of them, and I probably lost every one of them," he said. "I maybe won one time. I would get my butt tore up. I remember that like it was yesterday. So I learned as a young kid to keep my chin up and keep training hard. I know what losing feels like and I don't want to do it again. That's what pushes me now." His experiences as youth didn't just supply the drive for his current success, they also provided his "Wonderboy" moniker. Given his resume, you might guess that it stems from his remarkable success as a fighter, but you would be wrong. Instead, he got pegged with the name back in elementary school, when he was known for singing and dancing, and got tagged by his sister's boyfriend as "Stevie Wonder," later altered to "Wonderboy." Regardless of the origins, the label proved prophetic. As Thompson's record suggests, he's been a phenom on the combat sports scene for years. Now 28 years old, Thompson aims to prove he is much more than a standup artist. He has a black belt in Japanese jiu-jitsu, trains Brazilian jiu-jitsu under his brother-in-law, eighth-degree black belt Carlos Machado, and says his wrestling is his second strongest skill behind his striking. "I've had many fights, but this is the biggest stage I've ever fought in," he said. "The UFC is the best. They're it. I'm glad to have the privilege to come in and fight there. Nerves will play a big part, but if you're not nervous going into a fight, you shouldn't be out there." Thompson started in the martial arts at three years old, training under his father, Ray, who owns a karate studio in Simpsonville, South Carolina. But it wasn't always a love affair. By around the age of 10 or 11, the flame had burned out. While his friends were playing baseball and football, Thompson found himself constantly stuck at the dojo. He trained there. He ate there. He did his homework there. "As I got to that age, doing it all the time was like work," he said. "It wasn't fun anymore. But one day, the light bulb clicked in my head, and I got it." Thompson was around 12 at that time, working out in adult classes. By the time he was 15, he was making his amateur debut, inspired in part by his older sister Lindsay, who he often watched compete and aimed to emulate. He did her proud, defeating an unbeaten 26-year-old en route to 37 straight victories. His biggest personal highlight came in 2005, when he captured a World Association of Kickboxing Organizations championship at a tournament held in Szeged, Hungary, becoming the first American to win a gold in the tournament since 1983. But even as Thompson succeeded -- he won all 57 of his pro fights, and 46 by KO -- he was hit by the nagging feeling that kickboxing wasn't really going anywhere. Coupled with his own personal aspirations, he knew a move to MMA was in his future. "My goal was always to be the best fighter, and in order to do that, I was going to have to switch to MMA and use these skills that I've been working on ever since I was younger but never got to use in competition," he said. Thompson's move was delayed by a devastating knee injury in 2007 that saw him tear the ACL, MCL and PCL in his left knee. Later on, he suffered another setback, hurting the same knee after trying to do too much, too soon. Upon returning, Thompson began training with some of the world's best MMA minds, including St-Pierre. Years prior, GSP had been in the corner of a Thompson opponent, only to watch "Wonderboy" KO his friend. The camps stayed in contact and GSP has since called on Thompson several times to assist in his camp. "It does give you a lot of confidence going into fights," he said. "When you're up there and going toe-to-toe with the world's best -- and I know I still have a long way to get to where he is when it comes to wrestling and jiu-jitsu -- but it definitely gives me a mental advantage going into fights." In his octagon debut, he faces Stittgen (7-1), another UFC newcomer who has earned five of his wins by submission. Thompson said that he expects all of his opponents to want no part of his standup and look to take the fight to the mat at the first available opportunity. But he trusts his wrestling to keep him upright, saying that it's always been a point of emphasis in training as a way to keep himself in an advantageous position. And more than that, he trust his fight instincts. Thompson's record doesn't just suggest he is a winner, it proves it beyond any doubt. The streak may be in jeopardy every time he fights, but like most winners, "Wonderboy" doesn't spend much time thinking about what he has already done. Every fight is a new experience, providing a new lesson. "People always ask me what will happen if I lose, and I never really thought about it until they asked me," he said. "If I do lose, it will just give me a stronger drive to train harder. I know guys are out here to rip my head off and trip me up. But coming from my background almost gives me an advantage because I know guys are going to want to take me down. Everyone out there can look for an exciting fight, and it's going to be another knockout." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: fight, mma, time, thompson, wonderboy

After 62 Straight Kickboxing and MMA Wins, Stephen Thompson Makes UFC Debut

Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting ExclusiveThe numbers are something out of a video game or a movie or someone's imagination. In amateur kickboxing, Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson was 37-0. As a pro kickboxer, 20-0. As a professional mixed martial artist, he's 5-0 so far. That's 62 straight fights without a loss. But it's no facade, and his record is no product of fishy matchmaking. In fact, despite his newness on the MMA scene, he's already wowed some of this sports' brightest minds. Georges St-Pierre's trainer Firas Zahabi recently called Thompson "definitely the best karate guy, the best striker I've ever seen, all around in any sport." The welterweight brings his exceptional record to this weekend's UFC 143, where he faces fellow octagon rookie Daniel Stittgen, hoping to extend his ridiculous streak. The remarkable run is the result of a lifetime spent in the martial arts. Ask him about the last time he lost a fight in competition and he has to scan his memory, traveling more than a decade back into the 1990s, when he was a 12-year-old on the karate tournament circuit. "Honestly, I did hundreds and hundreds of them, and I probably lost every one of them," he said. "I maybe won one time. I would get my butt tore up. I remember that like it was yesterday. So I learned as a young kid to keep my chin up and keep training hard. I know what losing feels like and I don't want to do it again. That's what pushes me now." His experiences as a youth didn't just supply the drive for his current success, they also provided his "Wonderboy" moniker. Given his resume, you might guess that it stems from his remarkable success as a fighter, but you would be wrong. Instead, he got pegged with the name back in elementary school, when he was known for singing and dancing, and got tagged by his sister's boyfriend as "Stevie Wonder," later altered to "Wonderboy." Regardless of the origins, the label proved prophetic. As Thompson's record suggests, he's been a phenom on the combat sports scene for years. Now 28 years old, Thompson aims to prove he is much more than a standup artist. He has a black belt in Japanese jiu-jitsu, trains Brazilian jiu-jitsu under his brother-in-law, eighth-degree black belt Carlos Machado, and says his wrestling is his second strongest skill behind his striking. "I've had many fights, but this is the biggest stage I've ever fought in," he said. "The UFC is the best. They're it. I'm glad to have the privilege to come in and fight there. Nerves will play a big part, but if you're not nervous going into a fight, you shouldn't be out there." Thompson started in the martial arts at three years old, training under his father, Ray, who owns a karate studio in Simpsonville, South Carolina. But it wasn't always a love affair. By around the age of 10 or 11, the flame had burned out. While his friends were playing baseball and football, Thompson found himself constantly stuck at the dojo. He trained there. He ate there. He did his homework there. "As I got to that age, doing it all the time was like work," he said. "It wasn't fun anymore. But one day, the light bulb clicked in my head, and I got it." Thompson was around 12 at that time, working out in adult classes. By the time he was 15, he was making his amateur debut, inspired in part by his older sister Lindsay, who he often watched compete and aimed to emulate. He did her proud, defeating an unbeaten 26-year-old en route to 37 straight victories. His biggest personal highlight came in 2005, when he captured a World Association of Kickboxing Organizations championship at a tournament held in Szeged, Hungary, becoming the first American to win a gold in the tournament since 1983. But even as Thompson succeeded -- 46 of his 57 career wins were by KO -- he was hit by the nagging feeling that kickboxing wasn't really going anywhere. Coupled with his own personal aspirations, he knew a move to MMA was in his future. "My goal was always to be the best fighter, and in order to do that, I was going to have to switch to MMA and use these skills that I've been working on ever since I was younger but never got to use in competition," he said. Thompson's move was delayed by a devastating knee injury in 2007 that saw him tear the ACL, MCL and PCL in his left knee. Later on, he suffered another setback, hurting the same knee after trying to do too much, too soon. Upon returning, Thompson began training with some of the world's best MMA minds, including St-Pierre. Years prior, GSP had been in the corner of a Thompson opponent, only to watch "Wonderboy" KO his friend. The camps stayed in contact and GSP has since called on Thompson several times to assist in his camp. "It does give you a lot of confidence going into fights," he said. "When you're up there and going toe-to-toe with the world's best -- and I know I still have a long way to get to where he is when it comes to wrestling and jiu-jitsu -- but it definitely gives me a mental advantage going into fights." In his octagon debut, he faces Stittgen (7-1), another UFC newcomer who has earned five of his wins by submission. Thompson said that he expects his opponents to want no part of his standup and look to take the fight to the mat at the first available opportunity. But he trusts his wrestling to keep him upright, saying that it's always been a point of emphasis in training as a way to keep himself in an advantageous position. And more than that, he trust his fight instincts. Thompson's record doesn't just suggest he is a winner, it proves it beyond any doubt. The streak may be in jeopardy every time he fights, but like most winners, "Wonderboy" doesn't spend much time thinking about what he has already done. Every fight is a new experience, providing a new lesson. "People always ask me what will happen if I lose, and I never really thought about it until they asked me," he said. "If I do lose, it will just give me a stronger drive to train harder. I know guys are out here to rip my head off and trip me up. But coming from my background almost gives me an advantage because I know guys are going to want to take me down. Everyone out there can look for an exciting fight, and it's going to be another knockout." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: fight, mma, time, thompson, wonderboy

Renato Sobral vs Melvin Manhoef to Headline ONE FC 3 at Singapore Indoor Stadium in March

ONE Fighting Championship held its eagerly anticipated press conference in Singapore this morning (Jan. 31, 2012) and the big news was that the March 31 card at the Singapore Indoor Stadium would be headlined by a fight between Renato Sobral and Melvin Manhoef. The co-main event will see Kevin Belingon put his undefeated record on the line against Japanese veteran Masakazu Imanari. The Filipino is undefeated (9-0) in professional mixed martial arts (MMA), competing against good-level opponents outside of the Philippines, but he has never faced anyone of the caliber or experience of "The Master of Leglocks" who has fought 36 times in his 12-year career. Also on the card will be Eduard Folayang, Zorobabel Moreira, Eddie Ng and a female Singaporean fighter called Nicole Chua, who will make her MMA debut. Their opponents will be revealed at a later date, but the Singapore card already looks set to be the best yet by ONE FC. Yesterday it was announced that ONE FC had signed a 10-year partnership with ESPN Star Sports (full story here) and some more details about that deal were revealed today. ONE FC will be shown on ESPN Star Sports, which is available in 24 Asian countries and is home to the English Premier League, NBA and MLB, for the next 10 years on a delayed broadcast to begin with, but eventually live. It appears ONE FC also has official backing from the Singapore Tourism Board and the Economic Development Board. Singapore is ranked by the International Monetary Fund as the third richest country in the world, which bodes well for the financial future of Asia's most prestigious MMA promotion. The signing of Sobral was announced late last year and he is also set to fight on ONE FC's Manila card which is likely to take place in around six months time. He has won six out of his last eight fights but will not be in for an easy night at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on March 31st. Manhoef is the current It's Showtime 85 kgs Max World Champion and just went three rounds in a heavyweight K-1 rules fight with Tyrone Spong who is ranked as one of the best stand up fighters in the world. The Dutchman's striking is as good as any MMA fighter in the 205 lbs division (where this fight will presumably take place) and he will be real threat to Babalu. The last event at the Singapore Indoor Stadium attracted a crowd of 7,000 and the March 31st show should bring in an even bigger attendance because Eduard Folayang is a big draw for Asian fight fans and there will also be a lot of local interest in the Evolve MMA fighters, Eddie Ng and Zorobabel Moreira as well as the female debutant, Nicole Chua. Putting on a card of this calibre demonstrates CEO / Owner Victor Cui's determination to compete for the signatures of the best fighters in the world as well as continuing to showcase local fighters like Folayang, Belingon and Ng. With a ten year TV deal, support from the Singapore government and a rapidly expanding roster of fighters the future looks bright for both ONE FC and Asian MMA.

Posted in: fight, mma, fighter, fc, singapore

Showdown's January MMA rankings

Showdown Joe gives his first MMA rankings of 2012, with a small shakeup in the middleweight division.

Posted in: mma, division, showdown, ranking, mma rankings

MMA prospect rankings update middleweight-welterweight: Benjamin Brinsa, Andre Santos, & Brandon Thatch earn high grades

ULTMMA.com has released and updated its 2012 set of Mixed Martial Arts prospect rankings. The rankings cover a top 20 for each of the eight major MMA weight classes heavyweight through flyweight with a total of 160 unsigned prospects rated. 120 prospects from 125-185 pounds have been added with the remaining two weight classes updated by February 1.---- A sign of how the UFC, Bellator and Strikeforce are handling their rosters the welterweight and middleweight divisions have gone through a massive change over in the past 12 months. 170 pounds remains talent rich in prospects despite seeing many of its best prospects get scooped up in 2011. At 185 pounds prospects from Europe and Brazil dominant the rankings in a weight class normally seen as shallow in the US. In the highly competitive Brazilian MMA circuit, Team Nogueira welterweight Andre Santo (28-6) surged to the head of the pack in 2011 with a 6-2 record. After a two fight losing streak in the span of 16 days in May 2011, Santos finished the year with four straight wins. In October Santos may have secured his call up to a major US promotion with an impressive one night tournament victory at Bitetti Combat 10.Stateside Colorado welterweight Brandon Thatch (6-1) had his best year of his career in 2011. A hyped but relatively inactive prospect, Thatch stifled his regional competition with three straight first round finishes. At 26 years of age Thatch is a skilled striker who has rounded out his game at the famed Grudge Training Center.A former soccer player, Germany's Benjamin Brinsa (11-0) has quietly built a killer reputation under home country the Free Fight Championship. At 185 pounds Brinsa is aggressive striker with ten career stops in 11 pro fights. Only 22 years of age Brinsa's ground game and defense can improve but his hype as a five star prospect will likely lead him into international waters in the near future. The journey of British middleweight Tom Watson (16-4) has taken twists and turns across the UK MMA scene since 2006. A winner of 10 of his last 11 bouts Watson has carried England's torch into bouts with UFC, Pride and IFL veterans. The 27 year old Watson is a prospect already capable of headlining events but the allure of fighting on the UFC's next stop in the UK could draw the striker up to the major leagues of MMA. Lightweight and featherweight breakdown Bantamweight and flyweight breakdownMiddleweight and welterweight updated top 20 prospects

Posted in: mma, welterweight, prospect, year, brinsa

Judging from the betting odds, Miesha Tate doesn't have a chance against Ronda Rousey

It's always good to wake up to a story, and it's even better to wake up to a fresh bowl of Acai and my Shoyoroll gi freshly cleaned. Ah, wait -- that's everything I would say if my name was Ralek Gracie. I often wake up under the impression that I've somehow inhabited the body of Ralek Gracie and I instantly feel the need to drop another hip-hop single on YouTube. However, I was met with the stark reality that I'm not undefeated in MMA and I haven't defeated Sakuraba. I'm just a guy that loves MMA betting odds like any red-blooded American out there. Granted, if you're American and you don't have red blood -- you obviously need to tell me the secret of how you changed the color of your blood. I want to know. Today, it appears the betting lines for Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey have spread farther apart and now Ronda Rousey is a -375 favorite against a +275 Miesha Tate. To put it in perspective, James Toney was only a +350 underdog in Las Vegas before his MMA debut against a multi-title, hall of famer. That's only +75 higher than Miesha Tate, the current Strikeforce bantamweight champion. Below are the odds for the future match-up obtained from BetUS.com. Props to Esther Lin for the banner picture.

Posted in: mma, odd, tate, ronda rousey, miesha

Report: Satoshi Ishii Suffered Cerebral Edema Against Fedor Emelianenko, MMA Career May Be Over

Fading Russian MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko beat Satoshi Ishii by TKO in the first round at the Dream New Year 2011 event. According to reports coming out of Japan, Fedor did more than finish Ishii in that one fight, he may have ended his MMA career. Fight Opinion has the details: Japanese weekly publication Cyzo reports that doctors have told Ishii that he suffered a cerebral edema from the NYE beating. As a result, he was warned that any further blows to the head would cause some serious damage. As Cyzo put it, Ishii is facing a retirement crisis. There had been some discussion that he would face Ricardo Arona in late March in Brazil but that fight didn't look to be in the cards. After this latest development, the MMA prospects for Ishii look to be bleak as well. If these reports prove true, Ishii, a 25-year-old with a 4-2-1 pro MMA record will go down in MMA history as one of the biggest busts of all time. A gold medal winner in Judo at the 2008 Olympics, he announced his intention to fight MMA in early 2009. Ishii managed to bungle his initial round of interest by first announcing he would be signing with Dream, then nearly signing with the UFC, then settling on Sengoku, the weakest option. That delayed his MMA debut until New Year's Eve 2009 when he fought the legendary Hidehiko Yoshida (himself a former Olympic gold medalist in Judo) for Sengoku and managed to lose an ugly decision. He then roamed the Pacific, fighting in Hawaii and New Zealand before returning to Japan to fight for Dream and K-1. He picked up a couple of meaningless wins then fought aging kickboxer Jerome Le Banner at the 2010 Dynamite! NYE show. That fight saw Ishii booed mercilessly by the Japanese crowd and sealed his fate as a popular attraction. Now sadly it appears that Ishii's once-promising career may have been ended by Antonio Inoki's decision to book him against Fedor, still a very dangerous fighter if no longer the best in the world. Zach Arnold tells the tale of Ishii's career in the full entry. From Fight Opinion: After the retirement of Hidehiko Yoshida, Satoshi Ishii was supposed to be the golden boy to become the new face, the new Japanese icon of an MMA scene that desparately needed a new hero from the Olympic judo world. Ishii, still a young man, had the advantage of being backed by K-Dash, the entertainment powerhouse company associated with Antonio Inoki and operated by Tatsuo Kawamura, a well-known entertainment player who just happened to go to school with the late Hiromichi Momose, the original Godfather of PRIDE.Even with this management advantage, Ishii managed to screw his golden ticket to make serious cash in the fight game. He was never comfortable with the climate that was created for his presence in Japan. He showed up at press conferences and demonstrated goofy behavior. Rather than fans liking his quirky nature, he got booed and booed without mercy. He quickly became a pariah. Instead of being cheered as the next big thing, he was treated by the fans like a sworn and hated enemy. He fought a few squash matches and then managed to see his career implode on NYE 2010 against Jerome Le Banner. The fans cheered hard for Le Banner and booed Ishii without mercy for going to a decision.Ishii promptly left Japan and sent many mixed signals. It was leaked in newspapers that he was going to become an American citizenship and that he had relocated to Los Angeles. He ended up getting married to a young Japanese girl and, nine months after marriage, promptly got divorced. He was supposed to fight on a Strikeforce card in Stockton but had visa troubles. He focused on training at Reign MMA (Mark Munoz's gym) and Black House in Southern California with Ed Buckley. Then, out of nowhere, reports surfaced that Ishii was going to be at the Olympic judo tryouts in Orlando, Florida in hopes of representing the United States one day. Like everything else, that didn't pan out. So, Ishii fought Paulo Filho soon in Brazil. That set up a fight offer against Fedor on NYE, taken at the very last minute. Predictably, Tokyo Broadcasting System said ‘no' to covering the Inoki-themed NYE event, thus defeating the purpose of having Ishii on the card given that he was never a strong live-house gate attraction. Fedor pummeled Ishii in Saitama and may have short-circuited an MMA career that is full of would-have-been and could-have-been scenarios.

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

/r/MMA podcast?

Hi /r/mma. I was just thinking that we have a relatively large MMA community here but we don't really have our own podcast/videoblog/whatever media type output that the entire community could share. Obviously there are already a bunch of decent MMA podcasts out there, but I was just wondering if anyone on /r/mma would be interested in a podcast tailored for the community. As I envision it, there could be 1/2 'hosts', but mostly it would involve having people from /r/mma either skyping in or commenting in a podcast thread to contribute their opinions/analysis of news and fights. I feel like the reddit MMA community is as a whole pretty knowledgeable about the sport, but are at the same time pretty open and inviting to newcomers. Might be interesting to have a non-text forum for members to contribute their thoughts and analysis. For myself, I find that I don't really have anybody to shoot the shit with verbally about MMA and would love to have a chance to just talk and analyze fights and fight news with a bunch of cool, informed people. Any thoughts? Edit: Also just thought of another cool thing about this - if this actually happens and enough of us tune in on a regular basis, it could be a viable way to get fighters and other MMA industry people to answer our questions and chat with us as a community submitted by amplice [link] [comment]

Posted in: fight, mma, podcast, community, rmma

The MMA Wrap-Up: UFC on FOX 2 Edition

Filed under: UFCThe MMA Wrap-Up returns after a brief hiatus to turn its critical eye upon the UFC's first full FOX event. It was a night of slow grinds and lackluster decisions in Chicago, but where does that leave the UFC in its quest to win over a network TV audience? Give us a few precious minutes, and the Wrap-Up will give you something resembling an answer. Maybe. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, fox, fox event, wrapup

The MMA Hour With Jon Jones, Cesar Gracie, Mike Pierce, Dustin Poirier

Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosThe MMA Hour is back in your life on Monday, and we'll be joined by a full slate of guests from around the world of mixed martial arts. * UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones will discuss UFC on FOX 2 and his upcoming title fight against Rashad Evans. * Nick Diaz's manager and trainer Cesar Gracie will preview Diaz's fight against Carlos Condit at UFC 143. * Mike Pierce will talk about his showdown against Josh Koscheck at UFC 143. * Dustin Poirier will look ahead to his fight against newcomer Max Holloway this weekend. * UFC Primetime producer Jason Hehir will discuss the making of the Diaz vs. Condit series. Got a question or comment? Give us a call at 1-888-418-4074. Watch the show live below beginning at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT. Subscribe to The MMA Hour on iTunes: audio feed here; video feed here. Download previous episodes here. Listen to the show via Stitcher here. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, mma hour, hour, carlos condit

2011 World MMA Scouting Report Review - Heavyweights

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

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

Chris Weidman Discusses Win Over Demian Maia, Challenging Weight Cut

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, VideosCHICAGO -- Watch below as Chris Weidman talks about his win over Demian Maia at UFC on FOX 2, how his extreme weight cut affected his performance, whether he thought he wasn't going to make weight, whether he was happy with his performance, and his potentially injured foot. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mma, weight, demian maia, chris weidman, news videoschicago

Michael Johnson Was Confident He Did Enough to Beat Shane Roller

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

Posted in: mma, johnson, michael johnson, shane roller, judges scorecards

Cub Swanson Explains Bad Blood With George Roop

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosCHICAGO -- Watch below as Cub Swanson breaks down his knockout win over George Roop at UFC on FOX 2. Swanson discusses his first win in the UFC, how the war of words started between the two fighters, his emotions after the fight and much more. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, george roop, cub swanson, swanson

UFC On Fox 2: Michael Bisping Flips Off Fans At Weigh Ins, Loses Sponsor

British middleweight Michael Bisping faces Chael Sonnen tomorrow night at UFC on Fox 2 in Chicago, Illinois. Tonight at the weigh ins, the voluble fighter flipped off the pro-Sonnen crowd when they booed him. It seems to have cost Bisping a sponsor based on this tweet from MMA Elite: @MMAELITE_AldenAlden Halpern I must apologize to all of our fans.After sponsoring Bisping he flips off fans at weigh in. He will never be sponsored by us again! Jan 27 via web Favorite Retweet Reply It's interesting that MMA Elite also sponsors Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal without complaint. Jackson is remembered for his energy drink fueled "rampage" that left him under arrest for hit and run and Lawal failed a post-fight drug test just weeks ago. Apparently sticks and stones will never cost you a sponsor but flipping the bird at fans will get you off the sponsor rolls pretty quick. What do you think? Poll Does MMA Elite's decision to fire Michael Bisping make you more or less likely to buy their products? More! They're standing with the fans. Less! This is lame. 144 votes | Results

Posted in: mma, fan, bisping, sponsor, elite

5 Oz. MMA Link Club

Welcome back to another edition of “MMA Link Club”, Five Ounces of Pain‘s weekly smorgasbord of offerings from our brothers and sisters in the MMA community. Enjoy… Rashad Evans Thinks Phil Davis Lacks “Killer Instinct” (5thRound.com) Dana White Goes to War with Hackers and Loses (MMAPayout.com) Alistair Overeem Added to UFC Undisputed 3 Roster (MMAMania.com) WWE Champion CM Punk Talks Brock Lesnar, Chael Sonnen, and More (MMAFighting.com) Shane Roller Talks UFC on FOX 2 Fight Against Michael Johnson (Fightline.com) Is Sports Media Going After the UFC? (FightOpinion.com) A Betting Guide to UFC on FOX 2 (TheFightNerd.com) Is Evans a Better Wrestler than Davis? (BleacherReport.com) Arianny Celeste Looking Hot (CagePotato.com) A Look Behind the Scenes at Golden Glory Gym (LowKick.com) Highlights from the UFC on FOX 2 Presser (MMAConvert.com) Jeff Monson Talks American Economics (MiddleEasy.com) PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, mma, fox, mma community, talk

MMA prospect rankings update lightweight-featherweight: Bubba Jenkins, Joe Ellenberger, & Doo Ho Choi enter top ten

ULTMMA.com has released and updated its 2012 set of Mixed Martial Arts prospect rankings. The rankings cover a top 20 for each of the eight major MMA weight classes heavyweight through flyweight with a total of 160 unsigned prospects rated. 40 prospects from 125-155 pounds have been added with the remaining four weight classes updated by February 1.----Perhaps two of the deepest divisions in MMA, prospects in the featherweight and lightweight classes provide matchmakers in the UFC and Bellator plenty of worthy options. At 145 and 155 pounds the number potential prospects could easily hold a top 25 or top 40 ranking. The hype behind featherweight prospect Bubba Jenkins' (1-0) MMA debut began before his senior year wrestling at Arizona State University. Jenkins backed up his talk in March 2011 by capturing a NCAA championship for the Sun Devils at 157 pounds. Jenkins made a successful MMA debut in December 2011 and has the ability to fight at 145 or 155 pounds in 2012.South Korean featherweight prospect Doo Ho Choi (8-1) used a pair of dramatic upsets over Japanese MMA stalwarts to launch his stock in 2011. Choi, a four star prospect, knocked out former Deep lightweight champion Nobuhiro Obiya (12-5-1) in October with a highlight reel flying knee strike. The 20 year old Choi closed the year in December with a first round stoppage of ex-Pride star Mitsuhiro Ishida (20-8).One of the best stories of 2011 on the local MMA scene was lightweight prospect Joe Ellenberger's (12-1) return to action. In 2009 Ellenberger was a surefire four star prospect before injuries and a life threatening illness sidelined his career. At 26 years of age and with a 2-1 record in 2011, Ellenberger reclaims his status as a top 155 pound prospect to watch in 2012. French lightweight prospect Mansour Barnaoui (6-0) came out nowhere to make noise in his home country and draw the eyes of European talent scouts. Just 19 years old Barnaoui made his pro debut in February and submitted all three of opponents in a one night tournament. Barnaoui's final three opponents of a busy year held a combined record of 22-12. The young Frenchman's violent striking coupled his natural grappling ability make him worth of a four star grade with the potential to improve even more in 2012. Bantamweight and flyweight breakdown Lightweight and featherweight updated top 20 prospects

Posted in: pound, mma, prospect, year, choi

UFC on FOX 2 Preview Video

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosCHICAGO -- Watch below as veteran MMA broadcaster Mauro Ranallo and I break down all the storylines heading into to Saturday night's UFC on FOX 2 card. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, fox, video, ranallo

UFC rankings/MMA rankings featured in USA Today for January 2012

Why are MMA fans so cranky? Yep, it's that time of the month again. Rankings! Our partners in crime over at BloodyElbow.com have once again published their divisional rankings for mixed martial arts in the nation’s largest daily newspaper, USA Today, for the month of January 2012. For those of you unfamiliar with the process, here’s how it works: "The rankings, which will offer a definitive perspective of top MMA fighters across all weight-classes, will be released monthly and published in the Sports section of USA TODAY, online at USATODAY.com and on SB Nation’s MMA commentary and community blog, BloodyElbow.com … The USA TODAY/MMA Nation Consensus MMA Rankings are compiled each month by Nate Wilcox and Richard Wade of BloodyElbow.com. The rankings utilize each of the top MMA rankings from multiple unique sources. A weighted-formula is applied to normalize and distill the various rankings into one consensus ranking per weight class." To check out the latest USAT/MMA Nation rankings click here. We’ve also listed their top 10 in each class after the jump for your convenience. Heavyweight: 1. Junior dos Santos2. Cain Velasquez3. Alistair Overeem4. Frank Mir5. Fabricio Werdum6. Shane Carwin7. Daniel Cormier8. Josh Barnett9. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira10. Antonio Silva Light heavyweight: 1. Jon Jones2. Dan Henderson3. Rashad Evans4. Mauricio Rua5. Quinton Jackson6. Lyoto Machida7. Phil Davis8. Forrest Griffin9. Alexander Gustafsson10. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira Middleweight: 1. Anderson Silva2. Chael Sonnen3. Yushin Okami4. Mark Munoz5. Vitor Belfort6. Demian Maia7. Michael Bisping8. Luke Rockhold9. Brian Stann10. Nate Marquardt Welterweight: 1. Georges St. Pierre2. Nick Diaz3. Jake Ellenberger4. Carlos Condit5. Johny Hendricks6. Josh Koscheck7. Jon Fitch8. Jake Shields9. B.J. Penn 10. Martin Kampmann Lightweight: 1. Frankie Edgar2. Gilbert Melendez3. Gray Maynard4. Ben Henderson5. Shinya Aoki6. Jim Miller7. Clay Guida8. Nate Diaz9. Michael Chandler10. Anthony Pettis Featherweight: 1. Jose Aldo2. Hatsu Hioki3. Chad Mendes4. Pat Curran5. Marlon Sandro6. Diego Nunes7. Dustin Poirier8. Erik Koch9. Chan Sung Jung10. Kenny Florian Bantamweight: 1. Dominick Cruz2. Urijah Faber3. Joseph Benavidez4. Brian Bowles5. Scott Jorgensen6. Demetrious Johnson7. Renan Barao8. Miguel Torres9. Bibiano Fernandes10. Masakatsu Ueda What do you think? Looking good on all fronts or are there a few issues with the consensus opinions here? Share your ranking rants in the comments section below.

Posted in: mma, usa today, usa, nate, ranking

Friday Link Club: History of MMA Trailer, UFC on FOX 2 Preview

Trailer for Bobby Razak’s new film, “History of MMA” UFC on FOX 2 Main Event Breakdown: Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis | MMA Fighting Rashad Evans: “Phil Davis Has No Killer Instinct” | 5thRound It’s a wonderful life: Phil Davis UFC on FOX 2 interview exclusive with MMAmania.com | MMA Mania Phil Davis discusses being called ‘explosive’ and being mistaken for Bones Jones | MiddleEasy Will the Real Chael Sonnen Please Stand Up: Inside the Contender’s Training Camp | Bleacher Report Chael Sonnen talks Bisping fight, Dan Henderson, & Michael Landsberg  | TheFightNerd Hot Potato: More Arianny Celeste Hotness in ‘Zoo’ | Cage Potato Dana White uses 9/11 analogy for Anonymous UFC site hack, says they’ll get “Bin Laden’d” | Fight Opinion Lyoto Machida interested in fight with Dan Henderson | Five Ounces of Pain Video: Ronda Rousey Calls GSP Boring, Bad For The Sport | FightLine Combat Sports Chronicles: Team Golden Glory | LowKick UFC bans weapon sponsors | MMA Payout

Posted in: ufc, mma, dan henderson, phil, davi

Let's relive all of those great moments from yesterday's UFC on Fox 2 press conference

Is this really about to go down? Two number one contender fights, one behind the greatest trash talker in MMA history and the other culminating in a years long journey to regain his light heavyweight title which is now held by his 'Judas' former teammate, and it's all on free TV? You can feel the energy in Chicago, Chael Sonnen, Mike Bisping, Rashad Evans, Phil Davis, Demian Maia and Chris Weidman are melting the snow around town with their combined kinetic energy. This is a fact. It was freezing with snow and ice everywhere before the UFC arrived in town on Wednesday, but now everything is clearing up. I didn't know if it was my eyes playing tricks on me at the open workouts, but when I saw Chael leave the open workouts earlier in the week I saw flowers starting to bud between the cracks in the cement where he previously stepped. Like some sort of MMA druid. Tomorrow and live on Fox we will be watching what I suspect will be the most viewed MMA event in history, and it all takes place in the sold out building Michael Jordan built: The United Center. I didn't think I could be more pumped for this entire broadcast until I saw the press conference yesterday. Lucky for those that missed it, MMAFighting spliced together a quick little mash up of all the best moments of yesterday's meeting that will surely give your mind the little push it needed to go over the edge in anticipation (if it hasn't already). This will kill the time nicely until the weigh ins. [Source]

Posted in: mma, i didnt, yesterdays ufc, week i, yesterday

USA TODAY/MMA Nation January 2012 Consensus Rankings

January's USA TODAY/MMA Nation Consensus Rankings are now live. Be sure and pick up a hard copy of USA TODAY today to see them in print. Based on the premise that all MMA rankings are subjective but that it’s still useful and informative to know who the MMA community as a whole ranks as the best fighters in MMA, we collect and average the rankings of the top MMA sources 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. More details on our methodology in the full entry. NOTE: We have modified our method of gathering our rankings because the strict scheduling requirements of USA TODAY clash with the more irregular schedules of many of the MMA rankings sites. That was causing us to use a different set of sources almost every month. That combined with the small number of sites doing top 25 rankings was causing the Consensus rankings to have a lower "signal to noise" ratio than we would like -- that is if fighters are going to be moving up or down I would like it to be because there has been a change in the consensus opinion, not a change in our sources. Therefore we have cut back our sources to just those sites that we can depend on to update every month. We have also contacted many of the rankers that only publish top 10 lists and asked them to provide top 25 lists. As always we listen to your suggestions and are always working to improve the USAT/SBN Consensus MMA Rankings. Also worth noting is that this month we instituted a rule that a fighter must have competed within a given weight class within the last 450 days in order to be ranked in that class in an attempt to improve the overall quality of our product. Check out the USA TODAY/MMA Nation Consensus Rankings to see who's rising and who's falling.

Posted in: mma, fighter, usa, ranking, consensus

Check out this video from our sponsor, Red Bull, or we can never be friends again

Red Bull wants to dive into the vast ocean of MMA sponsorships, and they chose MiddleEasy.com as a starting point. There's your breaking news for today. Go hang that one up on a wall and make yourself a peach sorbet while you're at it. In fact, make me one too -- but just unsweeten the entire thing. I don't get down with extraneous sugar in my diet. That's not the MiddleEasy way. Fortunately, Red Bull offers their energy drink in a sugar-free variation, so all is right with the cosmos. The truth is, Red Bull really wants to get into the MMA sponsorship market, and MiddleEasy is their launch pad. They've even provided this nifty video of what they would like to bring to the MMA industry. It's sleek, stylish and and cool; basically, it's the exact opposite of my childhood. We're pretty sure the interest of this video will dictate the involvement of Red Bull in the MMA industry, so be sure to watch it. Besides, Red Bull doesn't want to get into a market of fickle consumers so make it be known that you would love to see them inside the cage at your next MMA event and support them by watching this video.{jcomments off} ') //--> Please support our site by enabling javascript to view ads.

Posted in: mma, video, mma industry, bull, energy drink

UFC On Fox 2 Video: WWE Champion CM Punk On Brock Lesnar, Chael Sonnen Walkout

In a video sure to irate the anti-pro wrestling masses, MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani talked to WWE Champion CM Punk in a 30-minute interview Thursday night, documenting what happened to Punk's planned walkout with Chael Sonnen at UFC On Fox 2 Saturday and plenty more. As the event is in Chicago, IL, the interview was done in Punk's home and Helwani hit up a number of topics with the big MMA fan including: What led to the Punk/Sonnen walkout rumors and what killed the chance of it happening His concerns about his presence overshadowing the main event His opinion on Sonnen's interviews this week and his thoughts on the Fox card as a whole What MMA could learn from pro wrestling Former UFC Champion Brock Lesnar and his potential return to WWE Whether he would ever compete in MMA His opinions on the best talkers in MMA Love him or hate him, Punk (Phil Brooks) knows the sport, which becomes pretty evident in the first 10 minutes of the interview. Check out this must-watch video after the jump. SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 2

Posted in: ufc, mma, fox, punk, interview

Latest UFC/MMA news and notes from around the web for the week of January 22, 2012

Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Chael Sonnen and Matt Lindland pictured above, we can all "get along." Teaming up with MMA sites like MMA Fighting, Cage Potato, Fight Opinion and The Fight Nerd, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport. This week, Lowkick goes inside Team Golden Glory, Bleacher Report's Jonathan Snowden takes a good look inside Chael's training camp and The Fight Nerd speaks with Eddie Alvarez, confirming his upcoming bout with Shinya Aoki. The full list of links is after the jump. - Combat sports chronicles: Team Golden Glory (LowKick) I had an opportunity to attend Team Golden Glory training in Utrecht, the Netherlands. The training took place at Duncan's Training Center, half of which is currently undergoing a series of improvements to become a fully-operational gym. - All gun, ammo, knife and hunting sponsors are banned (Cage Potato) FOX's ever impressive magical act is set to make all firearm, knife, ammo, and hunting companies disappear from all Zuffa promoted events. - The unfair UFC career of Phil Davis (Five Ounces of Pain) From the moment Phil Davis stepped into the Octagon, he was never given a fair chance. In the second round of his first UFC fight against Brian Stann, Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan compared his skills and physique to Georges St. Pierre. In the third round, with three minutes remaining in the bout, Rogan was already bringing up the possibility of Jon Jones vs. Davis - Around the Octagon with Dana White (video) (MMA Fighting) White discusses UFC on FOX 2, Sonnen's belt and "terrorists" online. - UFC announces May 15th event in Virginia (5thRound) - Hackers accept Dana White's challenge (MiddleEasy) Well, when you challenge a group of individuals that hacked the FBI and the Department of Justice's website all within two weeks, of course they're going to respond. Here's what JoshTheGod stated just a few minutes ago regarding Dana White's digital invite. - Eddie Alvarez confirms Shinya Aoki fight in April, talks loss to Chandler (video) (The Fight Nerd) - Why sports media are turning their fire on UFC (Fight Opinion) The issue of UFC and its fighters beating up on the media is an old & tired issue... which is why I found it extremely curious that CBS Sports columnist & flame thrower Gregg Doyel decided to bring up the issue yesterday in his column online. Doyel basically admits that he is a UFC fanboy but that he's all of a sudden had a change in heart to speak truth to power in only a way he possibly can. The timing of this attack raised my eyebrows. - Pro-SOPA editorial may have led to hacking of UFC.com (MMA Payout) The UFC's Executive Vice President and General Counsel Lawrence Epstein wrote an op-ed in Sunday's Las Vegas Review Journal in defense of the UFC's position in favor of SOPA. On the same day, the UFC web site was hacked in what is believed to be a response to the UFC's position on the bill. - Will the real Chael Sonnen please stand up? Inside Sonnen's training camp (BleacherReport.com/MMA) Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping won't be able to talk each other to death Saturday night on FOX. In the end, as is the case in all sporting events from tee ball to the Super Bowl, things will be settled on the field of play. And that's why people at Team Quest in Oregon were all smiles last week when Bisping replaced former NCAA champion Mark Munoz as Sonnen's opponent in a fight to determine the next top contender for Anderson Silva's UFC middleweight title. - UFC on FOX 2 preview: The undercard (MMA Convert) 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?) - Anthony Johnson looks at UFC exile while Nate Marquardt eyes UFC return (Fightline) It's no secret that UFC president Dana White can be quick tempered and is prone to making harsh decisions when heated, only to soften his stance once heads have cooled. Specifically speaking, White has, on occasion, dropped fighters from the UFC after a screw up or disagreement, before eventually welcoming them back into the fold once things are settled or wounds are healed.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, team, sonnen

The Friday Morning MMA Link Party

Those other MMA sites don't love you like we do. We have a weekly shindig celebrating your compulsive reading habits called 'The Friday Morning MMA Link Party.' There is no cover charge. Red cups are immediately handed out, and we don't care if you spill on our carpet. It's all getting cleaned the next day anyway, so feel free to party on with this link collection from our buds across the MMAverse. Please, no fighting. Alright, if you're going to fight make sure you do it outside and record the entire ordeal. We could use another Street MMA feature. [list class="bullet-6"] [li]UFC on FOX 2: By the Odds. [MMAFighting] [/li] [li]Damn, Ronda Rousey Has Some Harsh Words for GSP [Video]. [CagePotato] [/li] [li]Phil Davis: “He’s not as good as he thinks he is, and I am better than he thinks I am.” [Fives Ounces of Pain] [/li] [li]Dana White: I'm not afraid of the internet. [LowKick] [/li] [li]Alistair Overeem’s Attorneys Issue Statement On Golden Glory Legal Situation. [MMAConvert] [/li] [li]“UFC on FUEL TV: Gustafsson vs. Nogueira” Fight Card Finalized [5th Round] [/li] [li]Struve: 'I Want to Get That Belt in Impressive Fashion.' [Bleacher Report] [/li] [li]Michael Bisping talks Chael Sonnen match, trash-talk, and more. [The Fight Nerd] [/li] [li]Video: Joe Rogan talks to Rosie O'Donnell about how he became UFC color commentator. [MMAMania] [/li] [li]ESPN’s John Barr on UFC pay report blowback: “It’s not our charge to do your public relations.” [FightOpinion] [/li] [li]UFC issues formal statement on UFC.com security breach. [MMAPayout] [/li] [li]Shane Roller Talks Bout With Michael Johnson This Weekend, Setbacks & More. [Fightline] [/li] [/list] UFC 142 is On Pace to Becoming the Number 5 Most Cursed Card in UFC History

Posted in: ufc, mma, li, dont care, reading habits

WWE Champion CM Punk Talks Chael Sonnen, Brock Lesnar and MMA Aspirations

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, VideosCHICAGO -- MMAFighting.com caught up with WWE champion CM Punk Thursday evening to discuss his relationship with Chael Sonnen, his thoughts on UFC on FOX 2, his take on Brock Lesnar's potential return to WWE, whether he would ever fight in an MMA fight, and the connection between MMA and pro wrestling. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mma, wwe, mma fight, chael sonnen, mma aspirations

UFC on FOX 2 is even more important to the future of mixed martial arts (MMA) than UFC on FOX 1...

UFC on FOX 2 is even more important to the future of mixed martial arts (MMA) than UFC on FOX 1 was. Find out why at MMA Nation by clicking here.

Posted in: ufc, mma, mma nation, fox, arts mma

Proposed Anti-MMA Bill in Wisconsin still alive

OnMilwaukee.com reports that an “Anti-MMA” bill in Wisconsin is still alive but is fading quickly. If passed, the bill could ban mixed martial arts in over 1,200 towns in the state. Duke Roufus of Roufus Sport has lobbied against the measure. You may recall Roufus is the trainer for MMA fighters including Anthony Pettis and his gym is located in Milwaukee The actual bill authorizes towns to pass ordinances banning MMA. The state’s Department of Safety and Professional Services governs the regulation of MMA in the state. The proposed bill would grant local government the authority to ban MMA in its town. Via OnMilwaukee.com: Referred to as “Wisconsin’s Anti-MMA Bill”, AB-308 was authored by Representative Patricia Strachota and co-sponsored by Senator Glenn Grothman in October of 2011, just a year removed from Wisconsin’s adoption of mixed martial arts regulations designed to create statewide safety and regulatory standards. The bill’s sponsors actually supported the original legislation adopting MMA regulations. The change in course is puzzling to Roufus and supporters of MMA of that state. Payout Perspective: If passed, it would be a definite blow to MMA in the state. The story suggests that MMA cards are just being organized and to repeal the MMA regulations would be a disappointment for MMA fans. The bill is not as definite as New York’s ban as the pertinent language gives a town the authority to ban MMA. So, it would really be up to the local governing body whether it would enact a ban. The bill appears to be losing support but we will continue to monitor.

Posted in: mma, state, town, ban, bill

Pro MMA Radio 182: UFC on FOX 2 Preview, UFC on FX 1 Recap

We have partnered with Pro MMA Radio to bring you weekly replays of PMR as the official radio show of MMAConvert.com. Pro MMA Radio can be heard live every Monday evening at 9PM ET/6PM PT. Replays and podcasts of every show are available 24/7 by going to the “Replay Corner” section of ProMMARadio.com, our own Pro MMA Radio page or by clicking the banner below. On this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio, host Larry Pepe recaps last weekend’s UFC on FX 1 show and preview this Saturday’s UFC on FOX 2 card. You can listen to a replay of this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio by clicking the banner below. A radio player with links to the show’s archives will open in a pop-up window, so please make sure your browser is set to allow pop-ups for this site.

Posted in: mma, show, replay, radio, mma radio

MMA prospect rankings update bantamweight-flyweight: Aljamain Sterling, Anthony Gutierrez, & Alexandre Pantoja eye big league call up

ULTMMA.com has released and updated its 2012 set of Mixed Martial Arts prospect rankings. The rankings cover a top 20 for each of the eight major MMA weight classes heavyweight through flyweight with a total of 160 unsigned prospects rated. 40 prospects from 125-135 pounds have been added with the remaining six weight classes updated by February 1. ---- A storyline in MMA to watch 2012 will be the continued emergence and recognition of fighters under 135 pounds. In December the UFC finally announced the addition of the flyweight division and booked a four man tournament to crown a champion.. On TV, bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz (19-1) and contender Urijah Faber (26-5) will coach the 15th installment of the Ultimate Fighter reality series set to air in April. 135 pound prospect Anthony Gutierrez (4-0) lived up to the hype on 2011. After a unheard of 17-3 amateur record Gutierrez was projected as a steady three star prospect when he turned pro in January 2011. In the cage Gutierrez waxed all four his pro opponents over the next 12 months and out of the cage he supplemented his training with trips to Team Alpha Male. The 21 year old Gutierrez is a surefire five star prospect at bantamweight with potential fights in the featherweight division as well. In the bantamweight division no prospect's stock has risen faster than New York's Aljamain Sterling (5-0). A two time NCAA Division II All American out of SUNY Cortland, Sterling cut his teeth as a member of Team Bombsquad and posted a 6-1 amateur mark before turning pro. The 22 year old Sterling made his pro MMA debut in April and finished the year with five wins versus the likes of Sean Santella (8-3-1) as well as Claudio Ledesma (5-2). 21 year old Brazilian Alexandre Pantoja Passidomo (9-2) had a quite 2011 filled with matches falling apart and injuries. A muay thai instructor at the renowned Nova Uniao gym, Passidomo is positioned for a run at the newly formed UFC 125 pound weight division. Passidomo is a violent flyweight with striking power on the feet and gifted skills on the floor. Out of stateside MMA hotbed New Mexico flyweight Frank Baca (13-1) had the best year of his career in 2011. Only 25 years old Baca has been a successful pro since 2008. Fighting out of Fit NHB, Baca is arguably the best American trained 125 pound prospect in MMA. Baca is a strong four star prospect in the flyweight division with the ability to move up and compete at bantamweight. Bantamweight and Flyweight updated top 20 prospects

Posted in: mma, prospect, division, year, flyweight

Bisping: If You Need to Get Your Testosterone Replaced, You're in Wrong Sport

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, VideosCHICAGO -- Watch below as Michael Bisping talks about his upcoming fight at UFC on FOX 2 against Chael Sonnen, his thoughts on changing opponents at the last minute, his thoughts on fighting someone who has admitted to being on testosterone replacement therapy and more. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, bisping, chael sonnen, news videoschicago

Chael Sonnen Goes Off on MMA Media Outlet

Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, VideosCHICAGO -- Watch below as Chael Sonnen talks about his UFC on FOX 2 fight against Michael Bisping, the mutual respect between the fighters, the pressure on him to always deliver a sound byte, why he has no respect for a certain MMA media member, and why he won't be walking out to the cage with WWE champion CM Punk. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mma, michael bisping, chael sonnen, ufc mma, news videoschicago

Phil Davis: Rashad Evans Is 'Desperate' to Offend Me

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, VideosCHICAGO -- Watch below as Phil Davis talks about his UFC on FOX 2 fight against Rashad Evans, Evans' attempts to get under his skin, his quick rise up the 205-pound ladder, his place in the division and more. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, evan, davi, news videoschicago

UFC - MMA New York

submitted by dlong26 [link] [comment]

Posted in: ufc, mma, york, ufc mma, dlong

‘History of MMA’ Official Trailer Video

Check out the official trailer for "History of MMA" by Bobby Razak.

Posted in: mma, official trailer, official, trailer, ‘ history

History Of MMA Trailer By Bobby Razak

Bobby Razak, the director behind TapouT's famous "Future of MMA" ad is apparently working on a feature film about the history of MMA. He uploaded the trailer to YouTube and Vimeo today. It features UFC champs Bas Rutten, Frank Shamrock, and Mark Coleman as well as Referee John McCarthy, reporter Josh Gross, and former UFC matchmaker John Peretti and others with footage from several early UFCs, Pancrase events and even Antonio Inoki's famous 1976 mixed rules bout with Muhammad Ali. Clips featuring Mike Guymon and Fred Ettish in the extended entry. History Of MMA: Michael "The Joker" Guymon from Bobby Razak on Vimeo. Fred Ettish, who infamously lost a UFC 2 bout to Johnny Rhodes talks about that humiliating loss and the psychological toll it took on him as well as his 2010 return to the cage at the age of 53. I don't have any more information about the film at this time but we'll post more as we find it out.

Posted in: ufc, mma, history, bobby, razak

ONE FC Fighter Peter Davis, the Malaysian Model Turned Mixed Martial Artist

Peter Davis was an obvious addition to the ONE Fighting Championship roster because not only is he one of the best fighters in Malaysia but he is also a celebrity who has starred in multiple commercials and advertizing campaigns and works as a catwalk model. His main claim to fame is having a starring role in the award winning Malaysian movie Sell Out! but it is as a fighter that he is hoping to make a name for himself in 2012. Davis already has a 3-1 record and will be looking to improve on that starting on February 11th when he will feature on the undercard at ONE Fighting Championship 'Battle of Heroes'. The BritAma Arena in Jakarta will play host to ONE FC's eagerly anticipated second event and Davis will be taking on an Indonesian fighter, wrestling stand out Ngabdi Mulyadi. Just like the Malaysian he has not been fighting regularly for a long time but his MMA record stands at 5-2 and he won a bronze medal wrestling at the 2009 SEA Games. Davis has faced some serious opponents in the past knocking out Japanese journeyman Masaya Doi in his professional debut and going three rounds with Darren Guisha, who was regarded as one of the brightest prospects on the UK scene at the time, in his second fight. His style is an extremely unorthodox form of Kung Fu he calls 'Wuji Chuan' which was taught to him by a Malaysian teacher. It is unusual for fighters with a background in traditional martial arts to prosper in MMA but for the first time in his life Davis is conducting a proper training camp in preparation for a shot with Asia's most prestigious mixed martial arts promotion. After the jump, check him out doing his day job as well as answering questions about moving from modelling to mixed martial arts. Nissan Latio Launch TVC Malaysia Have you been busy with modelling or have you had time to train for this fight? I was visiting family in the UK over Christmas and I worked cardio and some endurance because I did not really have a team to train with. Now I'm working with the team at Muayfit and I'm doing full MMA cross training: hardcore cardio, BJJ, Muaythai, wrestling, strengh and conditioning and also some Wuji Chuan on the side. Who have you been training with? The team at Muayfit. A group of experienced fighters that have a lot of 'know how' in the cage, there is Arnaud Lepont who is a French fighter who is 7-1 and has some big fights coming up, he's a name to look out for and Eric Kelly who is 6-0 and put in a very good performance at the first ONE Fighting Championship show, he has amazing submission skills. Then there's Jorm from Thailand who has had over 300 Muay Thai fights, I have been working on my stand up with him and Isamu Himura who has trained all over the world and has a lot of experience. Samir Mrabet helps me with my BJJ, he has as purple belt and also has some MMA experience, we have a really good team and we all train together twice a day. You have a decent record but I heard you had never really trained properly for a fight before. How does your preparation for this fight compare with the preparation you did for previous fights? Well this time it's harder. ONE Fighting Championship is home to some of the best fighters in Asia, it's a different league of fighting and a different level of fighters. I'm knackered at the end of the day after giving it my all whilst dropping weight at the same time. Previously I was working a 9-5 and trained maybe two or three times a week. Now it's everyday, this is my full time job. Have you ever had a chance to train with professional fighters before and if not how much do you think it has helped you improve? I've trained with good guys before, but this is different. It's a team, it's gotta be good because most of these guys have just done fights and are very active in the MMA scene. It's a great help from hardcore training to great tips, sometimes just small stuff but it's really good. I believe you have always fought at welterweight in the past, are you confident you will be able to get down to 155 lbs and are you planning on cutting much weight? Well we used to weigh in on the day of most of our fights and we never really thought about it. Now though I see guys at welterweight and they look huge, Gregor Gracie for example. So dropping down in weight seemed like the sensible thing to do as everyone else is doing it. I'm confident about cutting the weight because I'm easily 72kg after a sweaty training session and that's just by moderating my food intake. If I control water intake too it should not be a problem. What do you prefer modelling or fighting? Depends on the day! They both involve watching your weight, waiting around for a job and then when you get the job you need to do lots of waiting around until it starts. On top of that apparently you have to do lots of interviews and get your photo taken for fighting so they are definitely kind of similar except that there are less tall hot chicks around when I fight! You teach an MMA class in KL and I assume all your students will be watching the fight. Does that make you feel more pressure? Yes the pressure is on, but that can only push me forward knowing that everyone will be watching. Losing is not an option. Are you nervous about fighting against an Indonesian in Indonesia? I'm not nervous about the fighting itself but the crowd inside and outside of the fight... maybe. However the Indonesians are a nice bunch of people so I hope this will be fine. Do you have any predictions for your fight? I'm going to be training hard and I hope that will swing the balance. It's not gonna be easy to get the KO I'm looking for, but even if I get taken down I think I've got a reasonable chance on the groundYou went to the first One FC show. What did you think of that? It was a great show, I think there were almost 10,000 people there and I can't wait to be a part of the next one. The good thing about being on the undercard is that I should get to watch lots of it. The first show was great, some awesome fights. This time it should be more of the same and hopefully I can make mine a fight to remember.

Posted in: fight, mma, time, fighter, im

Death and Serious injury in MMA vs Boxing? comparison.

What would you say is the big difference between the two? There have been many many deaths in professional boxing, but only 2 or 3 under professional MMA leagues (That I could find). By observation and personal experience MMA seems much more dangerous because of the versatility of strikes permitted. What is the cause of this? Is it just the amount of punches to the head being taken by boxers? Or is it possibly safer reffing in MMA? Maybe better pre and post fight medical screening? submitted by Fyuryus [link] [3 comments]

Posted in: mma, death, mma leagues, experience mma, post fight

History of MMA - Official Trailer

submitted by persian_x [link] [2 comments]

Posted in: mma, history, official, trailer, persianx

Phil Davis Discusses Differences From Rashad Evans' Wrestling Game

Phil Davis will be looking for the biggest win of his UFC career this Saturday when he meets Rashad Evans at UFC on Fox 2. There has been the expected amount of trash talk for a fight involving Rashad Evans but both men seem aware of the danger the other possesses. Brian Hemminger of MMA Mania was able to catch up with Davis and talk about the Rashad fight (among other topics) and got a feel for some of the things Davis expects from Evans: Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): People say that Rashad has the wrestling credentials, but that's not true. He was 48-34 in college, but while he wasn't as successful wrestling in college, he has been really good at adapting his wrestling to MMA. Is there anything that he does with his wrestling in MMA that you would like to do better? Phil Davis: He does a lot of things good. He's high percentage on taking people down and that's good. When I look at his wrestling game in MMA, it's nothing really to critique. A lot of times he just stands and explodes to a takedown. He does a good job with it. Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): He kind of has this explosive-power style of wrestling and I was talking to King Mo before his Strikeforce fight and he said that you're more like a black Ben Askren where you're more finesse. What do you think is a better style for transitioning to MMA, having the power style or the finesse style? Phil Davis: Power will come, but if you don't have proper technique, not even proper technique but if you don't have, I've heard that before, I'm more finesse than power. I don't know, it's all about high percentage moves and that's just me. I'm kind of "by the numbers" when I teach things, when I learn things, that's just the way I am. I'd say probably finesse versus power. It's funny though that you say King Mo said I'm the black Ben Askren. You tell him he's the black Cael Sanderson. (laughs) SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 2

Posted in: mma, rashad, rashad evans, phil davis, davi

Inside MMA: Michael Bisping, King Mo, Mark Munoz

Inside MMA airs live on HDNet every Monday night at 8pm ET. Inside MMA Archive More segments after the jump.

Posted in: mma, monday night, mma airs, mma archive, king

Michael Bisping Skewers Chael Sonnen On Inside MMA

Michael Bisping was a guest on HDNet's Inside MMA last night, and upped the ante on the pre-fight rhetoric being exchanged between himself and UFC on Fox 2 opponent Chael Sonnen. Sonnen has been fairly low-key so far in terms of trashing Bisping, only offering up a few quips here and there. Bisping though? That's a whole other story: (transcribed by MMA Mania): "Okay. One. Let's start with the obvious. He's not the middleweight champion. He's been beaten many, many times. He's been submitted more times than I care to mention. Not to mention, the last time he lost a fight by submission, there were some issues involving performance enhancing drugs. I don't know what the deal is. Apparently, he has one testicle. One testicle! This is why he uses performance enhancing drugs. He's gonna need more than one little ball to fight me next weekend!" Not bad. He continued on with his assessment of the fight, which is a little more realistic: "He's gonna try and take me down, lay on top of me and smother me to death. Me, on the other hand, I will be arriving to fight this guy. I'm gonna look to knock him out. Of course. I call my fights. It's not gonna be easy. He's a tough opponent. I'm sure it's gonna be an amazing fight. All joking aside, it's gonna be a tough fight." Bisping can't seem to make up his mind though. He said a few days ago that he was going to submit him from the bottom, but now he's going to knock him out. Either way, expect more amusing back-and-forth between the two in the next few days. SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 2: Evans vs. Davis

Posted in: fight, mma, bisping, he, prefight rhetoric

Win an iPad 2 at Every Event with Sherdog's MMA Pick 'em

Our partners at Sherdog are offering the biggest prize in fantasy MMA. The player with the highest score after each event at Sherdog MMA Pick 'em wins a free iPad 2. The game is free to play and easy to learn.Sherdog MMA Pick 'em plays like many other MMA fantasy games: Players pick the winner, method, and round for all the fights on the card. The addition of "Boosts" adds an element of strategy; picking a boosted fight correctly adds 100 bonus points. Get a boost wrong and 50 points are subtracted. Head over to Sherdog MMA Pick 'em now to make your picks for UFC on Fox 2 and then come back for each UFC and Strikeforce event for another chance to win a free iPad 2.

Posted in: mma, event, ipad, sherdog, sherdog mma

Read the full article at Fight Metric

Great Wrestling Moments in MMA History

On Saturday night the UFC returns to the FOX network proper, and with it comes a six-man fight card that features one jiu-jitsu master, one Brit, and four wrestlers-turned-mixed martial artists. Yes, that’s four dudes – a full two-thirds of the main card – who know all too well what it feels like to starve themselves into a singlet and compete in a sporting endeavor whose scoring system is only slightly less complex than that of cricket or Calvinball. I don’t know about you, but to me, that’s worthy of some sort of acknowledgment that wrestling is a huge ingredient in the simmering soup that is an MMA fighter. And what better way to acknowledge that than to harken back to some of the greatest wrestling moments in MMA history? (That’s a rhetorical question; I really don’t care what your answer is. I’m writing this damn thing either way.) -UFC 4, December 16, 1994 – The year was 1994, and the types of fighters we’d thus far seen in the Octagon wielded backgrounds in either useless, esoteric arts or stuff that (surprisingly) actually worked. Seriously, ninjitsu. Five Animals Kung Fu. Joe Son Do. Need I say more? Looking back, we were even laughing about it then. Of course, a real shock in terms of a style that fell into the “what works” category came at UFC 4, when Dan Severn stepped into the cage, snatched up a much smaller Anthony Macias, and repeatedly suplexed the poor guy into the canvas. It was Division I collegiate wrestling in action, and like an athletic supporter full of Bengay, it was an eye-opener. -UFC 10, July 12, 1996 – The role of wrestling took a turn for the intense when Mark Coleman entered the Octagon at UFC 10. Yup, intense. Very intense. So intense, in fact, that opponents feared his unstoppable takedowns and headbutt-heavy ground and pound as much as they feared his post-fight victory celebrations and the veins that threatened to explode on his forehead. Coleman is singularly responsible for ushering in the era when wrestlers dominated, as well as the era when no one cared about dangerously high blood pressure and brain aneurisms. -UFC 15, October 17, 1997 – It didn’t have to all be about getting people down and mushing them, as Randy Couture showed us at UFC 15 when he took on the Brazilian fistic freight train known as Vitor Belfort. No, an extensive background in Greco-Roman (a form of wrestling that most resembles ballroom dancing) meant a fighter could latch onto a foe and repeatedly deliver short punches to the face. It was immediately labeled “dirty boxing” by pundits who recognized its effectiveness, although Belfort called it “Oww, stop, it hurts! Stanky, help!” -UFC 31, May 4, 2001 – Chuck Liddell had already fought in the UFC four times before he met up with Kevin Randleman at UFC 31, but it was only at that particular event that the world saw wrestling employed in a way heretofore unseen with such complete effectiveness. A little context first, though. Back then, Randleman was the latest version of “unstoppable wrestler with unmatched intensity”, and though he’d secured himself a UFC heavyweight championship belt and subsequently lost it to Couture, he was still a beast, and his bout with “The Iceman” was to mark the beginning of his run at the organization’s light-heavyweight title. But Liddell, who was a Division I wrestler before becoming a dangerous kickboxer, needed only a minute and eighteen seconds to sprawl out of trouble and stun Randleman into the Land of the TKO’d, and that was all she wrote. You see, wrestling skills didn’t have to be about getting someone down; they could also be about preventing yourself from getting taken down so you could punch someone’s lights out. -Dynamite!! USA, June 2, 2007 – Not since Bam-Bam Bigelow had fought Kimo Leopoldo in Japan and Kimo was fooled into thinking his victory was real (and not predetermined) had a pro wrestler pulled off such a convincing con, but then came Brock Lesnar, who parlayed a win over South Korean grappling dummy/punching bag extraordinaire Min-Soo Kim at a Dynamite!! USA show in Los Angeles into a trip to the UFC. It probably helped that Lesnar hailed from a legitimate amateur wrestling background, but still, you can’t tell me that Dana White and Joe Silva didn’t take one look at his World Wrestling Entertainment credentials and said “Sold!” in unison. -UFC 117, August 7, 2010 – Chael Sonnen was a pretty okay fighter leading up to his UFC 117 title shot against middleweight king Anderson Silva. But that “okay-ness” transcended into something so much more when he talked endless trash and backed it up by beating the ever-loving snot out of the Brazilian. For four and a half rounds Sonnen employed top-notch wrestling to outwork Silva and batter him relentlessly on the ground (and even get in a few good licks on the feet) before tapping to a submission. It goes without saying that if you replaced the American’s wrestling background with, say, badminton, he’d have never been able to pull off what he did. A great wrestling moment in MMA history? Definitely.

Posted in: ufc, mma, ’t, ’d, background

Mirko Cro Cop Resumes Combat Sports Career with Kickboxing Match vs. Ray Sefo

Filed under: Fighting, NewsThree months after calling it quits in the MMA arena, Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic has chosen to continue his combat sports career, going back to his roots in accepting a kickboxing match with Ray Sefo. The bout will take place on March 10 in Zagreb, Croatia. Cro Cop confirmed the fight to several Croatian news outlets. Cro Cop recently had a cast removed from his injured right arm and even before that, was preparing for the possibility of another fight. The 37-year-old fought MMA for the last time in October losing by third-round TKO to Roy Nelson. The defeat was his third straight overall, all coming by way of knockout. He finished his MMA career with a record of 27-10-2, 1 no contest. In December, Cro Cop posted a video with his thoughts on his MMA career, apologizing for his 4-6 record in the octagon, but said that he planned to train hard for his kickboxing return, calling the sport "his first love." "This fire in me will last forever," he said then. "This is not just some fight to me. Like every time, I will prepare like it's the most important fight in my life." Sefo is a decorated 40-year-old kickboxer with a 56-21-1 lifetime record. Sefo also fought three times in MMA, going 2-1 with his only loss coming to Valentijn Overeem at last February's Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva event. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mma, sefo, mma career, cop, cro

Women's MMA Report: Olympian McMann dominates, 'Karate Hottie' returns with win

Olympic silver medalist Sara McMann faced the toughest test of her MMA career this past Saturday and passed with flying colors. The standout wrestler took a convincing unanimous-decision victory over Japanese veteran Hitomi "Girlfight Monster" Akano at ProElite 3 in Honolulu. In our latest installment of the Women's MMA Report, MMAjunkie.com's Robert Sargent discusses the bout as well as Michelle Waterson's successful return and a new booking for top prospect Ashley Cummins.

Posted in: mma, mma career, standout wrestler, unanimousdecision victory, michelle watersons

MMA on TV

Welcome to “MMA on TV”, Five Ounces of Pain’s weekly update on the upcoming MMA-broadcast schedule. Miss the latest episode of MMA Live or UFC Unleashed? Wondering when Showtime, Spike TV, or HDNet are airing a replay of their latest offering or interested in finding out where to tune into live shows occurring over the next seven days? January 23 – January 29 All Times Eastern Monday (1/23) Best of PRIDE (Replay) on FuelTV at 12am UFC Reloaded (Replay) on FuelTV at 1am Inside MMA (Premiere) on HDNet at 8pm Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal (Replay) on ShowtimeEX at 10pm Tuesday (1/24) Inside MMA (Replay) on HDNet at 12am DREAM New Year 2011 Part 1 (Replay) on HDNet at 3:30pm Best of PRIDE (Replay) on FuelTV at 7pm UFC on FX: Guillard vs. Miller (Replay) on FuelTV at 8pm UFC Tonight (Premiere) on FuelTV at 10pm UFC Primetime (Replay) on FuelTV at 10:30pm Wednesday (1/25) MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 12am UFC Reloaded (Replay) on FuelTV at 12am MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 5:30am King of the Cage: Vengeance (Replay) on HDNet at 3:30pm UFC Tonight (Replay) on FuelTV at 7pm UFC Primetime (Replay) on FuelTV at 7:30pm UFC Reloaded (Replay) on FuelTV at 8pm Art of Fighting (Replay) on MAVTV at 8pm MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 9pm King of the Cage (Replay) on MAVTV at 9:30pm Thursday (1/26) Best of PRIDE (Replay) on FuelTV at 12am UFC Tonight (Replay) on FuelTV at 1am UFC Primetime (Replay) on FuelTV at 1:30am Art of Fighting (Replay) on MAVTV at 1:30am MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 2:30am UFC Unleashed (Replay) on FuelTV at 2am King of the Cage (Replay) on MAVTV at 3am MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 12:30pm Stars and Strikes (Replay) on HDNet at 3:30pm UFC Reloaded (Replay) on FuelTV at 5pm MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 5:30pm UFC Tonight (Replay) on FuelTV at 8pm UFC Primetime (Replay) on FuelTV at 8:30pm Best of PRIDE (Premiere) on FuelTV at 9pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on FuelTV at 10pm Friday (1/27) UFC Best of 2011 (Replay) on FuelTV at 12am DREAM New Year 2011 Part 1 (Replay) on HDNet at 3:30pm World MMA Awards (Replay) on FuelTV at 4pm UFC Weigh In (Premiere) on FuelTV at 5pm UFC Tonight (Replay) on FuelTV at 5:30pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on FuelTV at 6pm Best of PRIDE (Replay) on SpikeTV at 7pm Inside MMA (Replay) on HDNet at 9pm MFC 32: Bitter Rivals (Live Event) on HDNet at 10pm UFC on FX: Primetime (Premiere) on FX at 11pm Saturday (1/28) Inside MMA (Replay) on HDNet at 2am MFC 32: Bitter Rivals (Replay) on HDNet at 3am MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 12:30pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 1pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 2pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 3pm UFC Weigh Ins (Replay) on FuelTV at 3:30pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 4pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on FuelTV at 4pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 5pm UFC on Fox Prelims (Live Event) on FuelTV at 5pm MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 5:30pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 6pm UFC Fight Night: Nogueira vs. Davis (Replay) on SpikeTV at 7pm UFC on Fox: Evans vs. Davis (Live Event) on FOX at 8pm MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 8pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 9pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 10pm UFC Post Fight (Premiere) on FuelTV at 10pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 11pm UFC on FOX Prelims (Replay) on FuelTV at 11pm Sunday (1/29) MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 1:30am King of the Cage (Replay) on MAVTV at 10am King of the Cage (Replay) on MAVTV at 3pm UFC on FOX: Evans vs. Davis (Replay) on FuelTV at 10pm

Posted in: ufc, mma, replay, pm, fueltv

Why Ronda Rousey Is the Savior of Women's MMA

The outspoken, silver-tongued Ronda Rousey has likely saved women's MMA due to her antics. Can trash talk really save a sport, you ask? Undeniably.

Posted in: mma, ronda rousey, womens mma, rousey, ronda

The MMA Hour With Miller, Barry, Weidman, Lawal, Rivera, Chiappetta

Filed under: UFC, Strikeforce, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, VideosThe MMA Hour returns on Monday with a loaded lineup. Here's who will be stopping by: * Jim Miller will discuss his big submission win over Melvin Guillard on Friday night. * Pat Barry will talk about his knocking out Christian Morecraft at UFC on FX Fight Night. * Chris Weidman will preview his UFC on FOX bout against Demian Maia. * "King" Muhammed Lawal will look to clear the air on last week's announcement that he tested positive for the steroid Drostanalone. * Jorge Rivera will explain why he decided to retire after his win over Eric Scahfer on Friday night. * And MMAFighting.com's Mike Chiappetta will look back at UFC on FX Fight Night and ahead to UFC on FOX 2. Got a question or comment? Give us a call at (866) 220-2893. 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, night, mma, mma hour, friday night

BJJ World Champion Alex Silva Set to Star at ONE Fighting Championship 'Battle of Heroes'

ONE Fighting Championship have a policy of recruiting fighters who are already champions in their own right and so Singapore based Brazilian Alex SIlva was an obvious addition to the flyweight roster. He is one of a number of BJJ world champions on the payroll at Evolve MMA and made a successful start to his MMA career last September, posting a first round submission win over top Thai Judoka Suchat Lukamkuha at DARE Championship 2/11 in Bangkok. He is likely of face a stiffer test of his cage fighting credentials in Jakarta when he takes on Team Lakay's Geje Eustaquio at the BritAma Arena on February 11th. The Filipino is a Wushu fighter who has a professional MMA record of 2-1 with his only loss a dubious split decision. Silva started out with Capoeira and Kung Fu before taking up BJJ at the age of 16 after watching Royce Gracie win UFC 1. He was awarded his black belt in 2007 and is now a veteran of over 300 BJJ matches who has finished first, second (twice) and third at the Mundials. Now living and training at Evolve MMA, which is widely regarded as the number one mixed martial arts academy in Asia, Silva credits BJJ with completely changing his life, "I am living my dream right now. I was born to fight, it's in my blood and I feel blessed. It has been a long hard road but I love BJJ and I devoted my entire life to it. I come from a poor family but I always had big dreams that I would fight MMA one day, now I am fighting for the biggest promotion in all of Asia." It is an interesting match up because it pits Evolve MMA in Singapore against Team Lakay in the Philippines. While the former boasts world renowned fighters such as Rafael Dos Anjos and Shinya Aoki in its ranks the latter focuses exclusively on local Filipino fighters, who tend to have a background in Wushu. It gives Team Lakay members like Eduard Folayang, Honorio Banario and Kevin Belingon as well as Eustaquio an unorthodox approach to fighting which Silva says he has already started preparing for, "He's very tough with great skills and he's from Team Lakay one of the top MMA camps in Asia. Chatri has a lot of respect for them and he tells me every day to be ready for a very tough war. Chatri has me focused on my skills, he has a game plan for me and I will follow it. I am ready for anything." It is no secret that Silva's skills are primarily submission based but there can be few better place for him to improve his stand up than Evolve MMA. He has been working tirelessly to become a better striker and believes the results will be there for all to see on February 11th, "I work a lot with Daorung Sityodtong and Kongtoranee Payakaroon Sityodtong, they are very technical and I have learned so much from them. By learning from world champions I know that I am getting the best knowledge and I hope to show some of my new skills in the cage." ONE FC has a very competitive flyweight division which contains world class fighters such as Andrew Leone and Roy Docyogen, Eustaquio's team mate who has an outstanding 9-0 professional record. There will be no easy fights for Silva who admits that he is very much a novice when it comes to MMA, "I am still a beginner in MMA because I've only had 1 fight. At Evolve we have world champions in every discipline so my progress has been very fast. I learn so much every day, we have the best coaches here and they push me. Chatri helps me a lot with my Muay Thai, BJJ, and MMA." The UFC has only just introduced a flyweight division and fans will soon find out that what the little guys lack in size they more than make up for with fast and frantic action. Being based in Asia ONE FC has access to a deep talent pool of 125 lbs fighters and with his world class submission skills Silva will be looking to show that he is good enough to compete with the best of them.

Posted in: world, mma, fighter, silva, bjj

So... this actually happened: Tag team MMA match.

submitted by thedude108 [link] [4 comments]

Posted in: mma, team, thedude, tag

MMA Gym Members, I need your help

I am planning in the near future to help open up an MMA gym. We have the location, finance, equipment, instructors, and the basic foundations to the business ready to go. Here is where I am asking for help, what is it you guys hate/like about your gym? If there was anything to add/subtract, what would it be? To me, if I want to have the best gym, I need to stay current within the industry. So please, give me some good advice :] submitted by David_Van_Patten [link] [3 comments]

Posted in: mma, planning, gym, need, mma gym

Haywire Movie Review: Director Steven Soderbergh Makes 'Merely Decent' Use Of MMA Star Gina Carano

I love mixed martial arts. It's competition that's free of metaphor. The guy that loses is the guy on the ground, bloodied, beaten, and who might look like this when all is said and done. But I like fiction too. And so the question on my mind is not simply ‘when is Gina Carano coming back to MMA?', but also ‘when is the action film coming back?' To answer the former, we have to refer back to Gina Carano's non-answers. In speaking with Sergio Non, she's incredibly vague. But you understand where she's coming from. When asked what reasons she has for returning (or not): I know that there's so much that you can do in a lifetime with acting and there's only a certain amount of time you can fight. I'm keeping all these things in mind. I'll definitely know a lot more in a couple of months. Carano is juggling two careers, and both are primarily interested in youth. Especially for a woman in acting, unless your name is Meryl Streep or Helen Mirren. Gina's 29, so she doesn't have to worry about finding herself in Oscar-bait biopics. There's another reason she'll never have to worry about that and we'll get to that in a second. So what has happened to the action film? Is Haywire the movie to breathe new life into it? It's strange to think that Steven Soderbergh, the director of films like Traffic, Ocean's Eleven, Solaris, and Out of Sight, is the man to potentially revive it. The film's score by David Holmes seems to be aware of this question with its old school vibe. I'd say it comes close. Not with its sum, but with its parts. Elements of the film work on their own, like the aforementioned score. Soderbergh's film, most of which is shot on location, is also visually stunning. And the action is some of the best you've seen in years. In particular, Gina's fight with Michael Fassbender's character (known to casual moviegoers as ‘Megneto' from X-Men, and as the officer that gets shot one too many times in the balls in Quentin Tarantino's Inglorious Bastards) is one of the best fight scenes I've ever seen. It's brutal, graphic, and never once does the camera shake around epileptically (?) to hide the stunt doubles posing for the cast. If there's a weak link it's in the plot, which I should probably outline. Gina Carano plays Mallory Kane, an ex-covert ops specialist that as action movie mechanics would have it "gets double crossed". It's the plot of basically every movie starring Jason Statham. It's an espionage film and a revenge film all at once, but never manages to explore what makes either compelling, and we end up with a watered down version of each. So while the director makes it visually interesting, there's never any real substance. All the great actors exist mostly in the background. It's Carano's movie, so how does she fare? Luckily Carano doesn't have much to do except look attractive and kick ass. Thankfully, she excels at both. And Soderbergh is intelligent enough to keep her dialogue minimal, since well, she's not a good actress. But it's her first time, against some real heavyweights, and she's nothing if not charismatic. It helps that we first meet her character in a truly fantastic fight scene against Channing Tatum (of all people) at a diner. So we're rooting for her from the get go despite the AVR mess with her voice (her voice was tinkered with in the editing room, and it sticks out like a sore larynx). MMA fans, always the insular bunch, have been pretty harsh on her acting, but the critics seem to be buying what she's selling. Sitting at a comfortable 82% on rotten tomatoes, Haywire has been given the thumbs up by proper critics like Roger Ebert, and respected 'counter culture' online critics like Devin Faraci, and Matt Goldberg. It's a film worth watching, although I wouldn't consider it a great film. As Tim Kelly of Chud notes, "it's not a smart film, but it's a smartly crafted film". More importantly, it's a smartly crafted action film. I don't know when the action film died but I miss the John McTiernan that gave us Predator, and Die Hard instead of Rollerball and Basic. I miss the days when Renny Harlin's crowning achievement was Cliffhanger (best trailer for a big Hollywood action film ever).* I especially miss the days when action films were written by Shane Black. In short, I want my action films back. I suspect Soderbergh does too, which is why Haywire is so well made despite being a middling film. The film clocks in at approximately 90 minutes, but I'd recommend the film as a rental if nothing else. With 145 in limbo thanks to the champ, 'Cyborg' Santos testing positive, it's unlikely we'll see Carano back in the cage. Not only does she fight in a division that is a veritable wasteland ruled by a now-disgraced champ who barely even has estrogen, but Hollywood will reward Carano with more offers. She'd be wise to take them while the female MMA landscape is experiencing nuclear winter. As for Haywire, like I said, it's an unspectacular film with some spectacular moments. 6 Stanozolol injections out of 10. *I hear The Raid is pretty good. Poll Would you prefer to see Gina Carano back as a martial artist, or as an aspiring actress? Fighter: with Cyborg gone she can go back to being an MMA superstar. Actress: female MMA is dead. 1 votes | Results

Posted in: mma, action, carano, gina, film

Dylan Ryder is a supportive fan to her MMA twin sisters, oh and she’s a porn star

Let me remove the redundant jokes that are already floating through your head. First, there's 'She can triangle me anytime.' Then there's always the 'I would like to get in North/South choke position with her.' Let's see what am I leaving out -- oh, 'She can rear-naked choke me until I pass out and then she can slap my unconscious body and steal my wallet while I lay helpless on the ground.' That's always a popular one. The truth is, Dylan Ryder doesn't even train MMA. She's the sister of Jillian and Jocelyn Lybarger, affectionately known as the 'Lybarger Twins.' They're called the Lybarger Twins because most MMA media are incapable of distinguishing the two sisters apart. We sat down with Jillian and Jocelyn last month and eagerly listened as they told us their high school stories -- like breaking up with the wide receiver of the football team to hook up with the captain of the cheerleading squad. In the lesbian scene, that's perhaps the most ballerish thing one can ever achieve. I know this because I'm a lesbian trapped in the body of a man that likes to eat Snackwell Devil's Food Cookies and watch reruns of the Golden Girls. Basically, I'm just a lesbian. LayzieTheSavage sat down with Dylan Ryder and managed to get a pretty candid interview from the porn star who's actually nominated tonight for a 2012 AVN award for the 'Best Porn Star Website.' Check out this video of Dylan discussing the MMA/Adult Entertainment dynamic in the Ryder family and be sure to follow her on Twitter.

Posted in: mma, ryder, dylan, dylan ryder, cheerleading squad

It’s not too early to get hyped for One FC 2

If you're wondering what happened to the traditional MiddleEasy background, don't worry. It's hibernating and slowly evolving into something even more ridiculous for the remainder of 2012. In the meantime, ONE FC will be taking over MiddleEasy.com leading up to the promotion's second event on February 11th in Jakarta, Indonesia. The event is called 'Battle of Heroes' and it will feature fighters from twelve different countries all competing in a small circular cage -- with Pride FC rules. Yes, folks -- that means exactly what you think it means. With One FC, MMA fans have the opportunity to witness world-class muay thai champions soccer kick their opponent into parallel dimensions. Head stomps to a downed opponent are also allowed within ONE FC. We're basically seeing the verge of a new Golden Renaissance in Asian MMA -- and it all starts with ONE FC. Imagine gathering all the top Asian MMA promotions (DREAM, Road FC, DARE, URCC...etc) and combining them into one massive network in which champions will truly fight other champions in cross-promotion title unification bouts. That's precisely what Victor Cui, the head of ONE FC, plans on doing. I'm sure you've read our interview with the CEO by now. In the feature, Cui details his plans for Asian MMA domination, including integrating more women into the mixed martial arts scene in the Far East. Now ONE FC has selected MiddleEasy to be their vehicle in getting ONE FC: Battle of Heroes nailed onto the screen of every MMA fan out there. We're stoked to partner with this very promising MMA organization, and we're already manifesting some ridunkulous content leading up to February 11th in Jakarta, Indonesia. Check out the finalized fight card for ONE FC: Battle of Heroes: Aside from guys like Bob Sapp, Rolles Gracie and Ole Lausen -- we understand you may be a little confused at the fight roster. Rest assured in the local Asian combat sports scene, these guys have kicked enough available ass to be featured in ONE FC -- and that undoubtedly means something. However, it's our task on the MiddleEasy Network to introduce you to the fighters that will be doing battle at ONE FC: Battle of Heroes. Over the days leading up to the event, we will be featuring these fighters within MiddleEasy, DstryrSG, LiverKick, WHOA! TV and even FighterXFashion. By February 11th, your brains will be so educated in the Asian MMA scene that your nose will leak budo. MiddleEasy was on location in Singapore to cover ONE FC's inaugural event at the Singapore Indoor Stadium and we'll be there for the promotion's second event in Indonesia. Los Angeles based music video director, Patrick Fogarty, will be accompanying me to the event -- so expect an abnormally high amount of dopeness. Patrick is the winner of the 2011 Alternative Press Music Video of the Year, but you probably know him best from the work he did on MiddleEasy's 'The Saint of Stevia: The Legend of Dan Quinn.' We still have hours of footage on memory cards stored inside empty shoe boxes -- so we'll eventually get around to making it into a film. Check out this highlight reel from the infamous Zombie Prophet of ONE FC's inaugural venture into the land of Asian MMA on September 3rd 2011.

Posted in: mma, event, middleeasy, fc, asian

Jorge Rivera retires from MMA after knockout win over Eric Schafer at UFC on FX 1

After a decade long mixed martial arts (MMA) career, eight years of which were spent competing inside the Ultimate Fighting Championship's (UFC) Octagon, an emotional Jorge Rivera has called it quits, announcing his decision to hang up the gloves for good after his win over Eric Schafer tonight (Fri., Jan. 20, 2012) at UFC on FX 1 in Nashville, Tennessee. Rivera had the rare opportunity that many athletes long for -- walking away from their respective sport with a win. Even though Rivera went into tonight's fight with two consecutive losses, he made sure his ride off into the sunset was a successful one by defeating "Red" in the second round via technical knockout. When defining what makes a true fighter, many of the same characteristics are on display, such as heart, determination, fearlessness and overall willingness to step up and mix it up against another human being without thinking twice. Jorge Rivera, truly one of the toughest fighters to ever compete inside a cage, can list them all of those attributes on his impressive resume. Often times, people are so drawn to titles and accolades to define a successful mixed martial arts (MMA) career, and rightfully so. However, success can be defined in so many other ways, as well. Make the jump to take a trip down memory lane to relive "El Conquistador's" journey. After winning five straight in the local circuit, Rivera made a successful UFC debut on Sept. 26, 2003, by defeating Canadian superstar David Loiseau at UFC 46 via unanimous decision. He lost his next outing to one-time hot prospect Lee Murray via submission in the very first round. Throughout the next year and half, Rivera competed in Cage Rage and in the UFC, fighting some of the best along the way, such as Rich Franklin and pound-for-pound king Anderson Silva, coming up short against both. The Bostonian was also a contestant on season four of the wildly popular The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) realty TV show. Rivera didn't win the tournament, but the show was his one way ticket back into the UFC and he's been competing under the Zuffa umbrella ever since. Rivera's most heated rivalry came against the biggest UK MMA star in Michael Bisping. Rivera and the brash Brit exchanged personal and insulting verbal jabs at each other leading up to the fight which took place at UFC 127. Bisping outclassed Rivera en route to a second round technical knockout victory, which lead to the British bad boy spitting towards Rivera's corner man. In the end, it seemed that Bisping and Rivera called it a truce and all was well that ended well. "El Conquistador" holds notable victories over Kendall Grove, Edwin Dewees, Nate Quarry and the aforementioned David Loiseau, but he never did get over the hump to reach the level of a top superstar who competes for world titles. Rivera competed 15 times inside the eight-sided cage, amassing an 8-7 record. Did he ever win a title? No. Did he always fight like a champion? Absolutely! One thing was certain: if you saw an upcoming event and noticed Jorge Rivera's name on the line-up, you knew you were in for a treat. "El Conquistador" seemed to embody the "kill or be killed" attitude when he stepped inside the Octagon. He always came to fight and never disappointed, leaving it all in the cage win, lose or draw. Not too many people can say they have had an eight-year career with the world's preeminent MMA organization and undoubtedly made some nice coin doing it. Rivera walks away from the sport a winner, and that is something that can never be taken away from him. So we say farewell, Mr. Rivera, and thank you for all the great fights.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, rivera, jorge rivera

5 Oz. MMA Link Club

Welcome back to another edition of “MMA Link Club”, Five Ounces of Pain‘s weekly smorgasbord of offerings from our brothers and sisters in the MMA community. Enjoy… Alistair Overeem Takes Fans “Behind the Scenes” at UFC 141 (LowKick.com) Michael Bisping Welcomes Chael Sonnen’s Takedowns (MMAConvert.com) Tim Kennedy Nearly Sliced His Toe Off this Week (MiddleEasy.com) Guy Mezger Saves Woman from Knife-Wielding Attacker (CagePotato.com) Fantasy MMA Tag Teams…Wha?!? (BleacherReport.com) Pat Curran Talks Fighting Joe Warren in Front of Hometown Fans (Fightline.com) A Look at the Odds for Tonight’s UFC on FX: Guillard vs. Miller Event (FightOpinion.com) Melvin Guillard Says He is Still One of the Top 155ers in MMA (5thRound.com) A Review of “Haywire” (TheFightNerd.com) UFC Tonight Triples Viewership in a Week (MMAPayout.com) Jim Miller Battled Kidney Infection Before Bout with Ben Henderson (MMAFighting.com) Carano Visits Conan O’Brien Show (MMAMania.com) PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, mma, mma community, joe warren, pain ‘s

Unexpected MMA Alert: Jungle Fight 36 will air LIVE on Xbox 360 tomorrow!

We're not into using supremely attractive chicks to promote MMA, but we just couldn't find a picture of the Jungle Fight logo that would fit into a banner. Initially, we were going to use this picture for a banner but we didn't want half the world to instantly drop dead via 'Wallid Ismail death stare.' For those that don't know, aside from being the most intense man to ever grace the sport of MMA, Wallid Ismail is the promoter of Brazil's 'Jungle Fight.' We caught up with a heavily caffeinated Wallid Ismail back in October and he wanted everyone to support Jungle Fight -- and tomorrow you can finally do so on your Xbox 360. MiddleEasy has confirmed with ESPN that Jungle Fight 36 will air for free on Xbox 360 (via the ESPN app) and ESPN3 tomorrow (January 21th) at 5:30 PM EST. If you don't have an XBOX 360, visit ESPN3.com and check if your cable company offers the service. The entire broadcast will be in Portuguese, but that shouldn't sway you from watching live Brazilian MMA from Rocinha, Rio de Janeiro. It's also important to note that ESPN will gauge the audience of Jungle Fight 36 and determine whether they will broadcast anymore live MMA events in the future. In short, if you're an MMA fan -- you will absolutely want to tune in to Jungle Fight 36 tomorrow at 5:30 pm EST. The future of live ESPN MMA events depends on you. Also, we couldn't end this article without a Wallid Ismail video. Check this clip of a previously mentioned, heavily caffeinated Wallid Ismail minutes after Jungle Fights 35. Oh, and her name: Carol Dias.

Posted in: fight, mma, espn, ismail, jungle

UFC On FX: Duane Ludwig Vs. Josh Neer Dissection

Two seasoned and calamitous old schoolers with over twenty years of cumulative experience will bask in the spotlight for Friday's UFC on FX show. Duane "Bang" Ludwig meets Josh "The Dentist" Neer in a co-main event pairing that virtually guarantees violence. By the time he made his Octagon debut at UFC 42 in 2003, Duane Ludwig (21-11) was one of the most exciting new prospects in MMA. For starters, "Bang" had already beaten renowned kickboxer "Malaipet" to win the ISKA World Muay Thai title and, while simultaneously masquerading in MMA as a Bas Rutten protege, accrued nine wins in his first eleven fights. Amongst that introductory streak, Ludwig became the UCC lightweight champion with a shocking first round knockout of a prime Jens Pulver, who had just successfully defended the UFC 155-pound strap against B.J. Penn, and forced Charles Bennett and Thomas Denny to cry uncle by way of his utterly trenchant striking. Ludwig would defeat Genki Sudo, the revered Japanese entertainer and grappling virtuoso, by decision in his UFC debut. In a classic striker vs. grappler match up, Sudo bloodied Ludwig's nose with ground-and-pound severely enough to warrant a pause in the action for the doctor to check on him, but then absorbed a barrage of Ludwig's ruthless Muay Thai when the fight was reset in the standing position. The outcome was one of the most hotly debated controversies in the early era of the sport, inspiring the implementation of the contemporary rule which specifies that the competitors will be restarted in the same position after the referee calls time for a foul and/or to consult with the ringside physician. Ludwig ended up bouncing back and forth between lightweight and welterweight and, because he was unable to level his ground game with his stand up, never made a huge splash in MMA. Barring the lofty expectations he created for himself, he still had a successful career and plugged away in the UFC, Strikeforce, K-1 and Sengoku, where he lost to the big kids on the block like Penn, Paul Daley, Tyson Griffin, Josh Thomson and Takanori Gomi. Most recently, his almost immediate shellacking of Jonathan Goulet at UFC Fight Night 3 was finally christened as the fastest knockout in Octagon history, and Ludwig's remolded his latest tour with two straight decision wins (Nick Osipczak, Amir Sadollah) after opening with two losses (Jim Miller, Darren Elkins). Josh Neer (32-10-1) has a well earned reputation for being a gritty, hard-nosed scrapper. The longtime Pat Miletich product has an unconfirmed yet relatively insane amateur record (87-1) in Iowa and is rumored to have taken on multiple adversaries on the same night. After turning pro and ratcheting two TKO wins, Neer would encounter future training partners and UFC lightweights in Joe Jordan (draw) and Spencer Fisher (split-decision loss). His all-out war with "The King" is probably one of the best back and forth dogfights that you've never had the pleasure to witness. "The Dentist" bounced back from his first defeat in style with ten crushing victories, finishing all but one with six TKOs and three submissions (armbar, triangle, strike-submission). This awarded a single-stint in the UFC where he was choked out by avid grappler Drew Fickett. Neer kept his nose to the grindstone and impressively fitted Forrest Petz with a triangle but was tapped by Nick Thompson, both of whom were eventual UFCers. Neer put himself on the map as a "TUF Killer" when he re-emerged in the Octagon and bested Melvin Guillard (triangle choke) and Joe Stevenson. Finally recognized as a genuine lightweight force, Neer would tackle a litany of top level opposition with mixed results: T.J. Waldburger, Din Thomas, Mac Danzig, and Keith Wisniewski in his latest (all wins); Nick and Nate Diaz, Kurt Pellegrino, Gleison Tibau, and Eddie Alvarez (losses). Gifs and analysis in the full entry. SBN coverage of UFC on FX Early on, Neer was heralded for his boxing and it's still his best asset. He doesn't necessarily have the cleanest style according to traditional boxing standards, but this is MMA and few do, and Neer's long and aggressive punches are quite effective. His inherent toughness shines through everywhere, as Neer is the type who compensates for imperfect fundamentals with raw tenacity and unshakable perseverance. He's got enough experience now to be supremely confident in his ability to throw down with the best of 'em. I was most endeared by Neer's brilliant use of short, slashing elbows from the clinch in his last entry against Wisniewski, which cracked open a gash on his forehead. Standing Thai elbows are, in my opinion, a vastly under-utilized weapon that we'll see more of in the future, especially in the clinch where the emphasis on ideal hand and arm position can yield significant advantages. Neer is an average wrestler and his submission acumen has been hard to read; commonplace or even a weakness at times, shockingly virtuous in others. Let it be known that any analysis regarding "Bang" Ludwig is hereby rendered vacuous without the epic gif to the right. I put this one together myself because the maelstrom of this glorious devastation was one of the initial memories that MMA burned into my forever, consummated by Ludwig styling the Karate Kid crane stance. The massacre took place against Shad Smith and his equally fashionable wardrobe choice of Vans skate shoes. Pre-unified rules MMA nostalgia aside, the beatdown is an undeniable testament to the apex level of Ludwig's stand up prowess. That is a perfect mesh of extraordinary technique and combat-adapted ferocity. It was enjoyable to see that Ludwig still had it more than a decade later in his thorough disassembly of Sadollah. Given, the more inexperienced kickboxer presented a favorable match up, yet it cemented that anyone who stands with Ludwig is in for a long night. He's not impossible to catch on the feet and Neer is a savvy striker with a long reach, but few can match Ludwig's Muay Thai finesse. Note the exemplary mechanics of his fluid head movement, excellent timing and pinpoint accuracy. Common sense asserts that Neer would be wise to force a grappling match. Ludwig's sole focus after dedicating himself to MMA was to reinforce his wrestling and BJJ, and he became quite adept with sprawling and employing a defensive guard to create scrambling opportunities. Since he's not a pure wrestler, Neer uses his intelligence to bore his way into the clinch where he grinds away with tight-range strikes to set up throws and trips. It will be interesting because he prefers to lead with the Thai plum and has a little height and length on Ludwig despite the vastly inferior Thai credentials. The betting lines for this fight give Ludwig a tiny push and have Neer about even. From a pure skill standpoint, Ludwig is comparable to Neer everywhere except in striking, where he's just too polished to match. The key x-factors are Neer's ability to break people with his unwavering willpower and Ludwig's conditioning in later rounds. Neer can wrap things up quickly with his hands and, with a high pace and preferably from close-quarters, will throw everything but the kitchen sink at Ludwig, including submission and takedown attempts from the clinch. With only career TKO loss, he's also difficult to finish and walks through punches without batting an eye. All things considered, I like Ludwig here, who I expect to "out-box the brawler" and either catch Neer early with an accumulation of strikes or survive a third-round surge in a decision. My Prediction: Duane Ludwig by decision. Neer vs. Wisniewski and Ludwig vs. Sadollah gifs via Zombie Prophet of IronForgesIron.com Poll Duane Ludwig vs. Josh Neer Duane Ludwig Josh Neer 8 votes | Results

Posted in: ufc, mma, neer, thai, ludwig

BJJ World Champion Rodrigo Ribeiro talks upcoming bout at ONE FC 2

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

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

Latest UFC/MMA news and notes from around the web for the week of January 15, 2012

Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Jamie Yager, Diego Sanchez, Joe Rogan and Melvin Guillard pictured above, we can all "get along." Teaming up with MMA sites like MMA Fighting, Cage Potato, Fight Opinion and The Fight Nerd, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport. This week, Lowkick interviews Kamal Shalorus, The Fight Nerd unveils new footage of UFC Undisputed 3 and Fightline scores an interview with UFC on FX headliner Jim Miller. The full list of links is after the jump. - Interview with UFC on FX's Kamal Shalorus (LowKick) "I wanted to reinvent myself as a fighter, and develop new striking skills that complimented my wresting game. I was familiar with Antoni because we work with the same management company. We met and worked together for a week, and I knew it was the perfect fit for me going forward. The team at Dynamix has put a lot of work and attention to my skills. I am taking my striking, BJJ, and MMA to a new level, while at the same time, bringing my wrestling back into my MMA arsenal. I could not be happier. Plus, I have a lot of support living in Los Angeles. I am grateful for my time in Austin, and I would not be here without all the trainers and training partners I had there." - 9 'falling tree' knockouts (Cage Potato) - UFC on FX: Guillard vs Miller breakdown (Five Ounces of Pain) Munoz told MMA Fighting that during a training session last Friday, he was engaged in a wrestling scramble when his elbow slipped out and he felt two pops. He sparred four more rounds that night, but by the end of his workout, he couldn't even pick up his gym bag. - Mark Munoz unfazed despite unfortunate injury (MMA Fighting) "Since when are the two best guys in the weight class not ready to fight each other? That's an absurd thing to say. But whatever. Who cares what [Maynard] thinks? Chad's going to go in there and fight and win." - Sonnen and Bisping already trading barbs (5thRound) Mark Munoz's abrupt exit from "UFC on FOX" allowed the organization to arrange a last-minute scrap between two of the Octagon's most lethal smack talkers. With exactly 10 days remaining to promote their middleweight shootout, Chael Sonnen (Pictured) and Michael Bisping have wasted no time in exchanging pleasantries. - Interview with Minowaman (MiddleEasy) Now finally, and for the first time, he will step confidently onto American soil. We were able to communicate over the phone with him in all of his mulleted, heelhooking glory to discuss his fight against Kendall Grove in Pro Elite this weekend. The language barrier was a challenge to say the least, so huge thanks to Evan Cohen for deciphering. And to the extremely friendly translator who said 'Hi' to me at least 6 times. Unless that was Minowa? - First look at "UFC Undisputed 3″ video game (The Fight Nerd) This past weekend, I went out to San Francisco for a special event, courtesy of game developer THQ, to get a first-hand look at the new "UFC Undisputed 3″ video game. I have returned with a ton of behind-the-scenes footage and never-before-seen screenshots and new information about the game, and all day today I will be revealing the goodies that I was privy to. - Zuffa's IQ Test (Fight Opinion) UFC's ham-handed, overaggressive PR response to ESPN seemed over-the-top and really insecure. After all, why should they give any sort of oxygen to a network program with only a couple of hundred thousand viewers? Instead, Zuffa got too clever by half. They went on the offensive before the segment aired, giving people a reason to actually watch the segment instead of ignoring it. Then, once the segment aired, they went and gave ESPN more oxygen. Dana White getting into a Twitter battle with ESPN boxing Dan Rafael was just plain goofy. - UFC 142 Payout Perspective (MMA Payout) 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 - Jordan Nicole Gaza: Story of a Cheerleader Turned Fighter (BleacherReport.com/MMA) Any way you slice it, cheerleaders are awesome. As sexy as they were when I was in high school, none of them could have physically beaten me up. But Jordan Nicole Gaza certainly can. Gaza is a 19 year old ex-cheerleader turned fighter, sporting a 4-2 record as an amateur. Fresh out of high school, Gaza is a former Tuff N' Uff women's 115-lb. champion looking to make her professional debut sometime this year. - Jim Miller Primer (MMA Convert) As you probably know, Jim is the "little" brother of fellow UFC fighter Dan (Dan's a middleweight), and the siblings train out of the AMA Fight Club camp (with so many top level fighters, your head would spin if I listed them all). Jim wrestled briefly in college, but after he entered the MMA scene in 2005, he kept racking up wins and eventually became one of the top 155-pound fighters in the Northeast. His contemporaries on the local circuit included future UFC champ Frankie Edgar and future IFL and WEC veteran Deividas Taurosevicius. - Interview with Jim Miller (Fightline) "I didn't perform my best against Ben Henderson."

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, fighter, interview

MMA Life: UFC on FX’s Kamal Shalorus Show Us His Beach Body Workout

In the latest segment of MMA Life, Shalorus shows MMAWeekly.com how he tackles the gymnastic rings next to Santa Monica Pier.

Posted in: mma, life, body, monica, shaloru

MMA Life: UFC on FX’s Kamal Shalorus Show Us His Beach Body Workout

In the latest segment of MMA Life, Shalorus shows MMAWeekly.com how he tackles the gymnastic rings next to Santa Monica Pier.

Posted in: mma, life, body, monica, shaloru

MMA Life: UFC on FX’s Kamal Shalorus Shows Us His Beach Body Workout

In the latest segment of MMA Life, Shalorus shows MMAWeekly.com how he tackles the gymnastic rings next to Santa Monica Pier.

Posted in: mma, life, body, monica, shaloru

Bellator reveals opening round rumbles in Season 6 featherweight tournament

After confirming the main event for Bellator 61 yesterday the fight promotion has now announced the bracket for opening round action in the Season Six Featherweight Tournament which is also set to take place at March 9 event. More specifically, Marlon Sandro takes on Roberto Vargas, Ronnie Mann locks horns with Wagnney Fabiano, Alexandre Bezerra battles Genair da Silva, and Daniel Straus meets Jeremy Spoon. The eight combined fighters all have sparkling resumes, giving Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney plenty of high hopes for a thrilling event. “The Midwest is known for great fighters and great fight fans,” said the excited executive. “To be hosting an event of this magnitude in our backyard is like Christmas morning; plus you get to see Chicagoland’s own, rising superstar Pat Curran vie for the World Title against one of the toughest fighters in all of MMA – Joe Warren. As a diehard MMA fan, I can’t wait for March 9th to get here at Horseshoe.” Sandro was a finalist in the Season Five tourney and sports a 19-3 career mark. Comparably, Vargas, a former wrestler at Cal-State Bakersfield, is 12-1 in his MMA career with three KO wins and four submission victories. Looking at the other pairings, Mann is 20-4 with ten submission wins while opponent Fabiano is 14-3. Bezerra is 12-1 and Da Silva carries a record of 11-4. The remaining quarterfinal pits the 17-4 Straus, a Season 4 finalist, against Spoon (12-0). Whichever fighter can navigate his way around a group that holds an overall record of 117-20 will receive $100,000 and a future championship shot at the Bellator featherweight title. PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR

Posted in: bellator, mma, fighter, season, event

great mma highlight

submitted by of150a84 [link] [3 comments]

Posted in: mma

MMA fighter whitehead imprisoned for sex assault

MMA fighter Michael (Iron Mike) Whitehead faces prison time following an attempted sexual assault at his home in April 2010.

Posted in: mma, fighter, whitehead, assault, prison time

Mark Cuban Says HDNet Name and Format Changes Will Mean More MMA

Filed under: Fighting, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, HDNet, ProEliteOn Wednesday, it was announced that HDNet, a channel that was launched in 2001 and has regularly broadcast MMA since 2004, would undergo a change in name and identity. Around the summer, the channel will be rebranded AXS -- a joint venture between entrepreneur Mark Cuban, TV host and producer Ryan Seacrest, talent agency CAA and venue owner/tour promoter AEG -- and feature a heavy rotation of lifestyle and live entertainment programming. That led to fears about the future of mixed martial arts on the channel, but late on Wednesday night, Cuban told MMA Fighting via email that the sport will still be a major component of the new network. In fact, he said it may lead to even more coverage of the sport. "Yes, and more," he said when asked if AXS would show as much live MMA as HDNet currently does. "Inside MMA will move to our new studio at LA Live overlooking the plaza and we will have access to AEG venues hosting fights without truck pools," he said. "Which means we can do more live." HDNet first broadcast MMA on January 23, 2004 -- even before The Ultimate Fighter debuted on Spike -- with a tape-delayed offering of a World Extreme Cagefighting event. Since then, it has become the TV home to several promotions, and has featured live events from locales around the world. Among the many promotions that are expected to continue being featured on AXS are ProElite, DREAM, Maximum Fighting Championship and Titan Fighting Championship. Inside MMA will also continue on as a weekly news show. When the network relaunches with a new name in the summertime, it will be available in around 35 million homes, an increase of 8 million over its current distribution after an expanded deal with Dish kicks in. "This is very good for our MMA business," Cuban said. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mma, name, hdnet, cuban, broadcast mma

UFC 142 Prelims on FX: 880,000 viewers

MMA Junkie reports that FX’s first prelim show for UFC 142 scored 880,000 viewers. According to MMA Junkie, the viewership number is smaller than any of the “UFC Prelims” on Spike TV but beats out all three specials aired on ION Television. As MMA Supremacy points out, “UFC Prelims” never dipped under 1 million viewers when it aired on Spike TV. Payout Perspective: While the numbers may seem disappointing, there appears to be room to grow. The NFL Playoffs probably didn’t help with the rating either as the prelims competed with Tebowmania. Despite the New England blowout, the NFL (and Tebow) held a huge audience – 34.2 million viewers. We will have to wait to see how the Prelims would do without such stiff opposition.

Posted in: ufc, mma, viewer, prelim, prelim show

ONE FC: Rustam Khabilov vs Rodrigo Ribeiro Encapsulates the International Nature of Modern MMA

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

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

2012 World MMA Light Heavyweight Scouting Report: #6 - Robert Drysdale

Name: Robert Drysdale Nickname: -- Age: 29 Height: 6'3" Location: Las Vegas, Nevada 2007 Abu Dhabi Combat Club champion Robert Drysdale (3-0) hasn't been in any rush to dive into the sport of mixed martial arts. At 29 years old, he's a late starter in the sport, but he isn't new to one of the most integral parts of MMA, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Drysdale's resume is miles long, sporting multiple world and Brazilian national championships to his name. Now, he's attempting to bring that same success to the cage. Since debuting at Armageddon Fighting Championships 3 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada last July, Drysdale has collected three straight wins, submitting all of his opposition inside the opening frame. His longest bout, against Clay Davidson at AFC 4 last November, lasted a mere two minutes and six seconds. He followed up the victory with his quickest win to date, a one-minute and four second guillotine choke submission of The Ultimate Fighter season 3 contestant Mike Nickels at AFC 6 in June. Expectedly, Drysdale is a phenomenal topside grappler who also has the know-how to reverse positions from his back. Nothing new there, and it's something we've come to expect from world-class grapplers. He's the consummate submission specialist, and any opponent, even seasoned veterans, will have a hard time dealing with his entangling Jiu-Jitsu. Surprisingly, Drysdale's takedown game has played a pivotal role in his success thus far. It's allowed him to take the fight to the ground immediately where his strengths lie, and it's the biggest reason why Drysdale has quickly taken out his opposition. We haven't, however, seen a prolonged striking attack, so the jury is still out on whether it can act as a means to winning a fight. Drysdale will undoubtedly run into tougher competition that can stuff his shots, and that could spell disaster for his aspirations of becoming a UFC champion. Luckily, with the support of the veteran fighters of Xtreme Couture and the connections he's made in Brazil, Drysdale has many of the world's best MMA trainers at his disposal. Inactivity has plagued Drysdale's quick ascension through the ranks, but he has stated in recent interviews that 2012 will be his year to shine. He's vowed to make his MMA career a priority, so expect big things from Drysdale this year. Check out video footage of Robert Drysdale after the jump... FlyweightBantamweightFeatherweightLightweight #1 - #2 - #3 -#4 -#5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - Rony Mariano#2 - Aljamain Sterling#3 - Chris Holdsworth#4 - Josh Hill#5 - Fabiano Fernandes#6 - Claudio Ledesma#7 - Sirwan Kakai#8 - Kyoji Horiguchi#9 - Leandro Hygo#10 - Pedro Munhoz #1 - Hacran Dias#2 - Joey Gambino#3 - Brandon Bender#4 - Lance Palmer #5 - Jim Alers#6 - Anthony Gutierrez#7 - Max Holloway#8 - John Teixeira#9 - Cody Bollinger#10 - Bubba Jenkins #1 - Fabricio Guerreiro#2 - Alessandro Ferreira#3 - Adriano Martins#4 - Justin Salas#5 - Neilson Gomes#6 - Eduard Folayang#7 - Zorobabel Moreira#8 - Anton Kuivanen#9 - Jordan Rinaldi#10 - J.P. Vainikainen WelterweightMiddleweightLight HeavyweightHeavyweight #1 - Andrey Koreshkov#2 - Dhiego Lima#3 - Brandon Thatch#4 - Nordine Taleb#5 - Hernani Perpetuo#6 - Brock Jardine#7 - Alan Jouban#8 - Mohsen Bahari#9 - Andre Santos#10 - Stephen Thompson #1 - Antonio Braga Neto#2 - Marcelo Guimaraes#3 - Claudio Silva #4 - Bojan Velickovic#5 - Ildemar Alcantara#6 - Michal Materla#7 - Elvis Mutapcic#8 - Tor Troeng#9 - Jack Hermansson#10 - Tim Ruberg #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - Robert Drysdale#7 - Artur Alibulatov#8 - Thiago Perpetuo#9 - Steve Bosse #10 - Juha Saarinen #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - Robert Drysdale vs. Mike Nickels Robert Drysdale vs. Clay Davidson Robert Drysdale vs. Bastien Huveneers Robert Drysdale vs Josh Musick - Amateur Drysdale's Amateur MMA Debut

Posted in: mma, vs, robert, he, drysdale

2012 World MMA Light Heavyweight Scouting Report: #7 - Artur Alibulatov

Name: Artur Alibulatov Nickname: -- Age: < 25 Height: 6'0" Location: Dagestan This is a guest post by Rory MacLeod (smoogy) Makhachkala, the capital of the Russian Republic of Dagestan, is known worldwide as one of the most dangerous cities in the world. Assassinations and bombings are common occurrences due to the close proximity of separatist conflicts in the region. Despite these tumultuous circumstances, young Dagestani fighters like Artur Alibulatov (8-0) have flourished. With a strong national martial arts institution to draw on, he and his peers are poised to conquer the Russian mixed martial arts scene and beyond. Artur is part of a new wave of fighters from Dagestan entering MMA with a base in Sanda and Combat Sambo. As a large, agile young athlete, he's capable of shooting takedowns and working for submissions, but Alibulatov's preference is to kickbox. Heavy roundhouse kicks, high kicks off the lead leg and a powerful spinning heel kick are his key weapons at distance standing up. When his opponents wear from the kicks, he then drives them to the mat and finishes the job with ground and pound. In October, Alibulatov competed in the Ukraine World Cup of Martial Arts, entering three separate three-day tournaments in combat sambo, kickboxing and MMA. He won gold in all three events, finishing each of his MMA opponents in the first round. In November, Artur faced Moscow's Oleg Zakharov (5-3) in the Pro FC Ukraine Cup Finals, winning with a first round armbar to take the 93 kg title. Artur has had success so far relying on his Sambo and Sanda skills, but his grappling needs polishing. He tends to rely on double overhooks in the clinch, leaving his legs open for takedown attacks. His submission attack is effective, but his top control and transitions need to be refined. Alibulatov is a member of the Odessa Sports Club under coach Abdul Magomedov; the team has led him to early successes in his pro campaign, but Artur may need to seek out wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coaching abroad to take the next step in his career. If his improvement can keep pace with his growing profile on the Russian MMA circuit, Artur Alibulatov has the potential to be one of the next great big men in Eastern European MMA. Check out video footage of Artur Alibulatov after the jump... FlyweightBantamweightFeatherweightLightweight #1 - #2 - #3 -#4 -#5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - Rony Mariano#2 - Aljamain Sterling#3 - Chris Holdsworth#4 - Josh Hill#5 - Fabiano Fernandes#6 - Claudio Ledesma#7 - Sirwan Kakai#8 - Kyoji Horiguchi#9 - Leandro Hygo#10 - Pedro Munhoz #1 - Hacran Dias#2 - Joey Gambino#3 - Brandon Bender#4 - Lance Palmer #5 - Jim Alers#6 - Anthony Gutierrez#7 - Max Holloway#8 - John Teixeira#9 - Cody Bollinger#10 - Bubba Jenkins #1 - Fabricio Guerreiro#2 - Alessandro Ferreira#3 - Adriano Martins#4 - Justin Salas#5 - Neilson Gomes#6 - Eduard Folayang#7 - Zorobabel Moreira#8 - Anton Kuivanen#9 - Jordan Rinaldi#10 - J.P. Vainikainen WelterweightMiddleweightLight HeavyweightHeavyweight #1 - Andrey Koreshkov#2 - Dhiego Lima#3 - Brandon Thatch#4 - Nordine Taleb#5 - Hernani Perpetuo#6 - Brock Jardine#7 - Alan Jouban#8 - Mohsen Bahari#9 - Andre Santos#10 - Stephen Thompson #1 - Antonio Braga Neto#2 - Marcelo Guimaraes#3 - Claudio Silva #4 - Bojan Velickovic#5 - Ildemar Alcantara#6 - Michal Materla#7 - Elvis Mutapcic#8 - Tor Troeng#9 - Jack Hermansson#10 - Tim Ruberg #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - Artur Alibulatov#8 - Thiago Perpetuo#9 - Steve Bosse #10 - Juha Saarinen #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - Artur Alibulatov vs Oleg Zaharov Gabi Boros vs Artur Alibulatov Artur Alibulatov vs. Sascha Ernst Artur Alibulatov vs. Unknown Artur Alibulatov vs Julio Sanchez Artur Alibulatov vs Asker Unejev

Posted in: mma, vs, artur, alibulatov, round armbar

ProElite and Dream Form MMA Partnership

ProElite MMA and Dream, the largest Japanese MMA organization, have initiated a promotional partnership and fighter exchange program.

Posted in: mma, fighter, proelite, dream, partnership

Pound believes MMA drug-testing plan to be useless

Canadian doping expert Dick Pound believes that MMA's new drug-testing plan is useless and is simply a political decoy.

Posted in: pound, mma, plan, drugtesting plan, drugtesting

Milton Vieira Signs With The UFC

Another Strikeforce fighter has made the jump over to the UFC, but this time it's not a heavyweight, but rather a featherweight: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu-standout, Milton Vieira. Vieira's management revealed the signing to MMA Fighting: His manager Nima Safapour of Alchemist Management confirmed the signing to MMA Fighting on Tuesday morning. Vieira holds a second degree black belt in BJJ under Murilo Bustamente, head coach at Brazilian Top Team where Vieira trains alongside the UFC's resident leg-mangler, Rousimar Palhares. Vieira is perhaps best known as being credited with inventing the Anaconda Choke, which he has used to great success, winning four MMA fights with it. Although the choke was made popular by Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, it was Vieira who taught him the move back when Nogueira was still training at BTT. "Miltinho" has fought all over the world, including for Asian promotions like Pride, DEEP, and Shoot, in Russia for M-1, and most recently, for Strikeforce in the lightweight division, but he will cut down to 145 lbs. for his UFC debut. No date or opponent has been determined for Vieira's first fight, but we'll keep you updated when that information becomes available. Milton "Miltinho" Vieira (13-7-1)W Sterling Ford (technical submission - brabo choke) - Strikeforce ChallengersW Bruno Lobato (submission - anaconda choke) - Bitetti Combat 9W David Cubas (submission - armbar) - Bitetti Combat 7

Posted in: ufc, mma, strikeforce, submission, vieira

ProElite and DREAM are now official partners, so expect DREAM events in the USA

Stateside Japanese MMA fans are hardcore; They stay up until 10:00am watching DREAM because at any moment, a random Japanese demigod could parachute out of the sky and into the arena. Confusing video montages, extravagant walkouts, the most colorful rosters in the business, they collectively play into a mystique that can only be categorized as JMMA. For those of you with deep pockets and little to no day-to-day responsibility, ballerishly flying to Japan to see the spectacle for yourself is a reality. For the rest of us who dig through our sofa cushions for taco money, T. Jay Thompson just appeared on today’s episode of the MMA Hour to announce a partnership of ProElite and DREAM. The plan will is to structure the deal similarly to that of Strikeforce’s pre-Zuffa deal with the FEG, however, under the partnership, DREAM aims to bring their actual events to America, and Pro-Elite will put on shows in Japan. You can finally wear their red Speedos to a stateside MMA event and be around people who understand him. A press release regarding the details of the partnership is expected this week, but in the meantime check out this trailer for ProElite 3 made by Cynthia Vance. Be sure to follow her on Twitter and let her know you discovered her from MiddleEasy.com. Let the power of the Red Monster be known in the social media interwebs! ProElite 3 goes down this Saturday on HDNet, that is if the world doesn't end.

Posted in: mma, proelite, dream, event, partnership

Inside MMA: Gina Carano, Brendan Schaub, Jim Miller, Melvin Guillard

Inside MMA airs live on HDNet every Monday night at 8pm ET. Inside MMA Archive More segments after the jump.

Posted in: mma, miller, monday night, mma airs, mma archive

A Lesson in Street MMA: Your pre fight preparation should not include alcohol

Street MMA fighters don't always have time to prepare. Usually if they are lucky, all they have time for is a quick neck stretch and a knuckle crack before they head out into the arena to fight for their honor (or survival). Sometimes, a fighter gets nervous and needs to have a little liquid courage before his battle before the public. Ironically, chances are it's that liquid courage that caused the Street MMA match to get sanctioned in the first place. A self fulfilling Street MMA prophecy if you will. Bottom line, don't get super drunk and fight. The only thing you should be drinking before combat is some water, maybe coconut water, and if you are a member of the Machida family a healthy glass of urine: not booze. If you absolutely have to get drunk and stumble into a sanctioned Street MMA match, talk to the commission and try to get matched up with an equally inebriated fighter; like these guys. Props to KickYoNuts for the find. [Source]

Posted in: fight, mma, fighter, street mma, street

Angles in Striking Part 3: From Above

This is the concluding segment of a three part series. The other parts can be found below: Part 1: Footwork Part 2: From Below In the second part of this series we studied the blind angle and the advantages of attacking one's opponent through this. It is a common tactic among master strikers and there is a lot more to be said on it still (for instance it is the reason that Muhammad Ali and Anderson Silva fight with their hands low - not because they are arrogant, but because it makes their punches difficult to see). In this article, however, we are going to focus on the least used blind angle, techniques which come from above. These are far less common than techniques from below, partly because there is a very limited amount of legal techniques to throw downward onto the top of an opponent's skull (particularly with the banning of downward elbows in mainstream kickboxing and MMA), and partly because most strikers who choose to vary their attack do so by throwing uppercuts and attacking from below exclusively. Take a look at this photo of Joshua Clottey covering up against Manny Pacquiao. This was basically the story of the fight, Clottey could not compete with Pacquiao's footwork, speed or power so he chose to survive and he did so excellently - coming out of the fight largely unmarked and in much better shape than most of Pacquiao's victims. You will notice that Clottey has braced his gloves against the sides of his forehead and is keeping his chin down, elbows in, hips thrust forward so that his abdominals are tensed for body shots but his is upright enough to effectively nullify Pacquiao's uppercut. So Pacquiao set to work with his famous combinations, landing in double digit bursts, but did little damage. You will notice that the one place vulnerable in Clottey's excellent guard is the top of his head and that he has obscured most of his own vision. Boxers (and Nick Diaz) are less opposed to taking punches on the forehead as it is the hardest area of the skull, but the top of head is less dense, and less prone to taking damage. Additionally one cannot see punches to the top of the head coming, I'm sure most readers can think of time their shower or some other household item fell on their head with no warning. If even an excellent guard such as Joshua Clottey's has a hole in the top of it, it stands to reason that much lesser strikers in MMA are going to be susceptible to attack from above. The most notable example of this in MMA is Chuck Liddell's legendary overhand. A few weeks back I wrote an article on the Cross Counter, in which I belittled the modern overhand as a direct attack, asserting it was wide, predictable and one of the main reasons boxing elitists look down on striking in the sport of MMA. Liddell's overhand is genius however, for he doesn't throw a leaning hook that attempts to come around the side of an opponent's guard (which is all too often difficult to achieve) but instead brings his right hand over the top and down the middle of an opponent's guard. Here he is, in his bout with Alistair Overeem in PRIDE - through which he has been on the end of a fairly one sided striking clinic, partly due to Alistair's good defence: Notice how Alistair's hands are in a good traditional covering up position; if Liddell had thrown the usual glorified right hook that we are used to seeing in MMA, it would have been blocked on Alistai's left forearm, but instead it comes in almost vertically, bisecting Alistair's guard and putting him out on his feet. Here is Chuck explaining the same technique: Chuck Liddell Teaches His Overhand Right... (via johnniekombat) Another brilliant example of exploiting downward strikes is Andy Hug's legendary axe kick. For those unfamiliar with Andy Hug he was a Swiss Kyokushin Karateka who became so respected in Japan for his accomplishments as a relatively small heavyweight kickboxer in the early days of K-1 that he was referred to as the "Blue Eyed Samurai" (despite having brown eyes). Hug fought his last 4 fights, arguably his best streak, with undiagnosed Leukaemia which eventually took his life, but his accomplishments and phenomenal style see him fondly remembered in the kickboxing community. Here he is demonstrating one of his several signature techniques: the axe kick. The axe kick or Kakato Geri is typically demonstrated in traditional karate as a technique used to bring your heel down on the head or body of a downed opponent. Andy Hug however preferred to bring his heel down on the head or collar bone of a standing opponent. Notice how he is attempting to come down between the hands of his opponent in this photo. Hug's powerful roundhouse kicks ensured that opponents always kept their arms in this traditional form of guard, then he would attempt his axe kicks. Here is a highlight of Hug's early career with axe kicks in full form: K1 - Best Of Andy Hug - Part 1 by mart (via depeche1972) Hug's war with Mirko Cro Cop saw both participants trading axe kicks and was a real crowd pleaser. Cro Cop eventually pulled out the axe kick in his MMA career against Mark Hunt and most recently in the UFC against Pat Barry, though it lacks the venom of Andy Hug's, it is still a nice tribute and caught Barry completely off guard. Attacks from above are still pretty rare in MMA and Kickboxing, especially compared to attacks from below, but their value is certainly clear; they're tough to see, hard to train for and difficult to counter. Jon Jones has begun to land spinning elbows to the top of the head, but I most athletes in combat sports today don't consider it a valid target. While axe kicks may be difficult to pull off, it would certainly be interesting to see more fighters attempt Liddell's overhand, even if only against a stunned opponent whom they are struggling to land on. Jack Slack maintains a blog at http://fightsgoneby.blogspot.com/ where he analyses striking technique in MMA, Boxing and Kickboxing.

Posted in: mma, part, opponent, axe, hug

Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 123: Dhiego Lima, Lance Freimuth, UFC 142 Aftermath

Bloody Elbow Radio, presented by Bad Boy, will be LIVE! at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT for another edition of the show. Join hosts Matt Bishop and MMA Mania's Brian Hemminger as they discuss all the latest in mixed martial arts, including a look at all the aftermath from last weekend's UFC 142, our take on the ESPN fighter pay piece and much more. We're scheduled to be joined by MFC welterweight Dhiego Lima in advance of his fight with Nathan Coy next week at MFC 32. We'll chat with him about that fight and much more. We'll also welcome MMA author Lance Freimuth to the show, who recently penned "The Grappler's Manifesto" with a host of notable MMA fighters and trainers. We'll chat with him about his book, which has been described as a mix tape for grapplers, his background and much more. Bloody Elbow Radio is sponsored by Bad Boy. Bad Boy, the 2010 and 2011 World MMA Awards winner for "Best Technical Clothing Brand" can be found at the brand new BadBoy.com. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook and tell them Bloody Elbow sent you. How to listen: Live/archived on the player below I iTunes I RSS feed I Direct download link (available after live broadcast) Want to get in touch with the BE Radio crew? Here's how you can do so: Phone: (347) 202-0934E-mail: bloodyelbowradio@gmail.comTwitter: @mbish86, @sprewellrimz or @gotahemmiBloodyElbow.com: Leave a question or comment in this post For those calling in, you will first be picked up by our producer who will take your information and get what you want to talk about. You will then be queued. We will try to get to everyone as soon as we can. We ask that you call in around the time of the topic you want to discuss. SBN coverage of UFC RIO 142: Aldo vs. Mendes

Posted in: mma, radio, elbow radio, elbow, boy

Sean McCorkle Thinks MMA Should Do Away With Drug Testing

Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, NewsAlready on Tuesday, we've heard news about former Strikeforce light-heavyweight Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal testing positive for steroids, as well as the UFC implementing a performance-enhancing drugs screening for all new fighters about to sign a contract with the promotion. Suffice it to say, finding a way to stop cheating is a big topic of the day. UFC fighter Sean McCorkle, who has always been known for his blunt honesty, has another idea, though. If it were up to him, McCorkle would level the playing field by doing away with drug testing completely. "What you end up with is a situation of where the guys who are beating the test, where the guys who can afford to get a doctor to prescribe whatever they want, where the guys who have access to stuff, they have an unfair advantage already," he said on Tuesday's edition of The MMA Hour. "I think we'd be pretty naive to think that every person who's ever taken anything was caught. So I think, to me, in all professional sports, I say, let guys do whatever they want to do and be done with it. I don't think anybody's going to make or break their career based on steroids unless you're talking about longevity, because to my understanding, the majority of them are used for recovery from injury." He noted that at least when it comes to MMA, most athletes aren't looking to gain muscle mass since most have to cut weight during the course of training camp. McCorkle (13-2) who had three fights in the UFC in a six-month stretch from Sept. 2010 to March 2011, is currently a free agent and has three fights scheduled for the future, with the first coming on January 28 on NAAFS' Caged Fury 16 card in Morgantown, West Virigina. McCorkle hopes to parlay a win streak into another job with a major MMA organization, but even if he were thrust back into a job with other elite heavyweights, he would have no issue with fighting in a league with no drug testing, noting that "most guys who test positive have lost their fights." Part of his issue with it stems from the difficulty of defining what is and isn't a PED. "There's stuff at [nutrition store] GNC that will make you pee hot for a PED, and it's not necessarily something that's going to enhance your performance at all," he said. "It's just something that's banned." As an example of the madness, he said that when he was in the UFC, he was told by company officials not to take Tylenol or aspirin during fight week. He also noted that PED problems are not simply an issue in MMA, but throughout the entire sports world, and one that will likely never be fully stopped. "I always said in the past, the only people who take steroids are the guys who like winning and money," he said. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, guy, mccorkle, drug testing

Heavyweight Boxing Champion Wladimir Klitschko Wants To Train In MMA

Unlike a few of his peers, dominant heavyweight boxing champion, Wladimir Klitschko (56-3), doesn't have anything bad to say about MMA. In fact, the 35-year-old even told Jim Rome recently that he wants to try training in Mixed Martial Arts: "To be honest I didn't really like [MMA] before. But when I was watching it, I got into the style of MMA and I think I have a lot of respect for MMA fighters. It's a very tough sport... You have to be so multi-functional, you have to be a wrestler, you have to be a good kickboxer, you have to be a good boxer, you have to be with good condition." "I want to try the fitness. Just get in an MMA gym and just practice certain things. I used to wrestle, and I did judo when I was younger. As training, as fitness, perfect. Fighting, no." Klitschko started his pro-boxing after winning the gold medal in the olympics back in 1996. He's 6-foot-6, weighs around 245 lbs, and apparently has also trained a bit in Judo and wrestling before. In comparison, Tim Sylvia is at the same age as Wladimir. He made his MMA debut in 2001, and during his time as champion, the 6'8, 260 lb fighter dominated with just his sheer size and his striking skills. He wasn't the athlete that Klitschko is, and he definitely wouldn't come close to his boxing skills either. I know things aren't really that black and white, but the point remains and it still makes one wonder how dominant Klitschko could've been if he made the transition to MMA when he was younger. HT: Bad Left Hook

Posted in: mma, mma fighters, mma gym, condition i, klitschko

The Mixed Martial Arts Hour Is Back in Your Life

Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, NewsOur long national nightmare is over. The MMA Hour returns after a one-month hiatus this afternoon, for a special live show from a new studio. Here's a rundown of who will be stopping by: * Brazilian MMA journalist Marcelo Alonso of Portal do Vale Tudo will discuss the UFC's second event in Rio de Janeiro. * MMAFighting.com's Ben Fowlkes will look ahead to UFC on FX Fight Night this Friday night. * Friend of the show Sean McCorkle will break some news about his fighting future. * And ProElite's head of fight operations T. Jay Thompson will preview the organization's third show this week and also break some big news. Got a question or comment? Give us a call at (866) 220-2893. 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, show, mma hour, hour

2012 World MMA Light Heavyweight Scouting Report: #9 - Steve Bosse

Photo by Instinct MMA Name: Steve Bosse Nickname: The Boss Age: 30 Height: 6'0" Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada Nobody gave Steve Bosse (9-1) a chance of becoming something more than a novelty act when he made his mixed martial arts debut in the summer of '07. The sport had already dealt with a number of tough guys who figured their success in one sport would ultimately lead to success in MMA. Most were wrong, and Bosse fell under the same assumptions. Fortunately, Bosse did have experience in the world of fisticuffs, racking up a high of 253 penalty minutes (PIMs) during the 2006-2007 hockey season for the Saint-Jean Chiefs of the North American Hockey League (NAHL). He ended his seven season minor league career in 2008-2009 with a grand total of 1363 PIMs , and he was considered the #1 enforcer in the NAHL. A loss to Icho Larenas at TKO 31 in December of '07 could have been the nail in the coffin for his career. A confirmation that his entry into the sport was, in fact, a joke. Four years later, however, Bosse has put together an impressive streak of wins, knocking out UFC veteran Houston Alexander and Strikeforce veteran Mychal Clark. He defeated former UFC fighter Marvin Eastman by decision last February as well, increasing his overall streak to seven. Bosse is surprisingly well-rounded and durable, wielding an increasingly dangerous striking game and respectable grappling chops. While his life has been focused on beating fellow goons to a pulp and transitioning those skills to the cage, Bosse has grown at this late stage in his athletic career, truly becoming a mixed martial artist by earning a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Those skills haven't, however, created some sort of grappling whiz kid on the mats. Bosse is defensive-minded, utilizing those skills to regain his feet and wage war toe-to-toe. Bosse's defensive skills still need some work. His chin sits high in the pocket, and his aggression could be exploited by a pinpoint striker in the future. Regardless of those issues, Bosse is making every effort to improve. He currently calls the world-renowned Tristar Gym in Montreal his home, and he traveled to Phuket, Thailand this summer to train at Tiger Muay Thai. At 30 years old, Bosse is a hard sell for most readers. He is, however, surprisingly motivated to succeed, and he's made all the right decisions in regards to his career. His status as a draw in Quebec will likely catch the eye of Joe Silva, and it would be a shock if the UFC didn't come calling in 2012. Right now, Bosse is on the sidelines from a broken hand he suffered in his battle with Houston Alexander. Look for him to return, likely under the Instinct MMA banner, by the spring for a tune-up fight before taking on a more challenging opponent. Check out video footage of Steve Bosse after the jump... FlyweightBantamweightFeatherweightLightweight #1 - #2 - #3 -#4 -#5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - Rony Mariano#2 - Aljamain Sterling#3 - Chris Holdsworth#4 - Josh Hill#5 - Fabiano Fernandes#6 - Claudio Ledesma#7 - Sirwan Kakai#8 - Kyoji Horiguchi#9 - Leandro Hygo#10 - Pedro Munhoz #1 - Hacran Dias#2 - Joey Gambino#3 - Brandon Bender#4 - Lance Palmer #5 - Jim Alers#6 - Anthony Gutierrez#7 - Max Holloway#8 - John Teixeira#9 - Cody Bollinger#10 - Bubba Jenkins #1 - Fabricio Guerreiro#2 - Alessandro Ferreira#3 - Adriano Martins#4 - Justin Salas#5 - Neilson Gomes#6 - Eduard Folayang#7 - Zorobabel Moreira#8 - Anton Kuivanen#9 - Jordan Rinaldi#10 - J.P. Vainikainen WelterweightMiddleweightLight HeavyweightHeavyweight #1 - Andrey Koreshkov#2 - Dhiego Lima#3 - Brandon Thatch#4 - Nordine Taleb#5 - Hernani Perpetuo#6 - Brock Jardine#7 - Alan Jouban#8 - Mohsen Bahari#9 - Andre Santos#10 - Stephen Thompson #1 - Antonio Braga Neto#2 - Marcelo Guimaraes#3 - Claudio Silva #4 - Bojan Velickovic#5 - Ildemar Alcantara#6 - Michal Materla#7 - Elvis Mutapcic#8 - Tor Troeng#9 - Jack Hermansson#10 - Tim Ruberg #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - Steve Bosse #10 - Juha Saarinen #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - Houston Alexander vs. Steve Bosse Steve Bosse vs. Wes Sims Steve Bosse vs. Icho Larenas Steve Bossé vs Yan Pellerin

Posted in: mma, career, bosse, steve, skill

Boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko has learned to love MMA

The debate between boxing fans and MMA fans in relation to whose sport is superior may wage on for years to come, but at least one man known for his PhD in the sweet science has decided to express his appreciation for those who take to the cage and throw down – Wladimir Klitschko. The 56-3 Klitschko, who currently holds five heavyweight championships and hasn’t lost in seven years, recently came forward to talk about Mixed Martial Arts in a positive light even if his opinion may not be popular amongst his supporters in the boxing community. While the 35-year old has no designs on ever attempting to leave boxing for MMA he has contemplated incorporating some related techniques into his training and generally appreciates the level of skill involved at the highest levels. “To be honest I didn’t really like it before,” Klitschko began in an interview on the Jim Rome Show. “But when I was watching it, I got into the style of MMA and I think I have a lot of respect for MMA fighters. It’s a very tough sport. I don’t think I’m ready to practice it and fight in the cage, I think I’m too old for it, but I have a lot of respect.” “You have to be so multi-functional, you have to be a wrestler, you have to be a good kickboxer, you have to be a good boxer, you have to be with good condition,” he continued. As far as testing his own abilities in MMA, Klitschko waived off the suggestion but revealed he is definitely interested in exploring some of the aspects where his own preparation is concerned. “I want to try the fitness. Just get in an MMA gym and just practice certain things,” Klitschko concluded. “ I used to wrestle, and I did judo when I was younger. As training, as fitness, perfect. Fighting, no.” Klitschko’s next fight takes place on March 3 against 36-4 Frenchman Jean-Marc Mormeck. The two were originally supposed to face off in December but Klitschko had to withdraw from the bout after having a kidney stone removed. Tweet

Posted in: mma, i ’m, boxing, “ i, klitschko

MMA on TV

Welcome to “MMA on TV”, Five Ounces of Pain’s weekly update on the upcoming MMA-broadcast schedule. Miss the latest episode of MMA Live or UFC Unleashed? Wondering when Showtime, Spike TV, or HDNet are airing a replay of their latest offering or interested in finding out where to tune into live shows occurring over the next seven days? January 16 – January 22 All Times Eastern Monday (1/16) Best of PRIDE (Replay) on FuelTV at 12am UFC Reloaded (Replay) on FuelTV at 1am Sengoku 12 (Replay) on HDNet at 3:30pm Inside MMA (Premiere) on HDNet at 8pm Strikeforce Challengers: Britt vs. Sayers (Replay) on ShowtimeEX at 10pm Tuesday (1/17) Inside MMA (Replay) on HDNet at 12am Dutch Dynasty (Replay) on HDNet at 3:30pm Best of PRIDE (Replay) on FuelTV at 7pm UFC 142 Prelims (Replay) on FuelTV at 8pm UFC Tonight (Premiere) on FuelTV at 10pm UFC Champion’s Roundtable (Replay) on FuelTV at 10:30pm Wednesday (1/18) MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 12am UFC Reloaded (Replay) on FuelTV at 12am MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 5:30am UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 3pm Super Submissions 2 (Replay) on HDNet at 3:30pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 4pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 5pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 6pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 7pm UFC Tonight (Replay) on FuelTV at 7pm UFC Champion’s Roundtable (Replay) on FuelTV at 7:30pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 8pm UFC Reloaded (Premiere) on FuelTV at 8pm Art of Fighting (Replay) on MAVTV at 8:30pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 9pm MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 9:30pm King of the Cage (Replay) on MAVTV at 10pm Thursday (1/19) Best of PRIDE (Replay) on FuelTV at 12am UFC Tonight (Replay) on FuelTV at 1am UFC Champion’s Roundtable (Replay) on FuelTV at 1:30am Art of Fighting (Replay) on MAVTV at 2am World MMA Awards (Replay) on FuelTV at 2am King of the Cage (Replay) on MAVTV at 3:30am MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 3am MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 12:30pm Strikeforce HW GP Prelims (Replay) on HDNet at 3:30pm UFC on FX 1 Weigh-In (Live Event) on FuelTV at 5pm MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 5:30pm UFC Reloaded (Replay) on FuelTV at 5:30pm UFC Tonight (Replay) on FuelTV at 8:30pm Best of PRIDE FC (Premiere) on FuelTV at 9pm UFC Unleashed (Premiere) on FuelTV at 10pm Friday (1/20) UFC on FX 1 Weigh-In (Replay) on FuelTV at 12am UFC Champion’s Roundtable (Replay) on FuelTV at 12:30am UFC Ultimate Knockouts 9 (Replay) on FuelTV at 1am MFC 25: Vindication (Replay) on HDNet at 3:30pm UFC Tonight (Replay) on FuelTV at 4pm UFC on FX 1 Weigh-In (Replay) on FuelTV at 4:30pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on FuelTV at 5pm UFC 142 Prelims (Replay) on FuelTV at 6pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 7pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 8pm UFC on FX 1 (Live Event) on FX at 9pm Inside MMA (Replay) on HDNet at 9pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 9pm Up-and-coming Fighters (Premiere) on HDNet at 10pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 10pm UFC on FX: Primetime (Premiere) on FX at 11pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 11pm UFC Post Show (Premiere) on FuelTV at 11pm Saturday (1/21) UFC 142 Prelims (Replay) on FuelTV at 12am UFC on FX 1 (Replay) on FX at 12:30am Inside MMA (Replay) on HDNet at 12:30am Up-and-coming Fighters (Replay) on HDNet at 1:30am UFC on FX: Primetime (Replay) on FX at 2:30am Inside MMA (Replay) on HDNet at 3:30am Up-and-coming Fighters (Replay) on HDNet at 4:30am MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 12:30pm UFC Best of 2011 (Replay) on FuelTV at 5pm MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 5:30pm MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 8pm Best of PRIDE (Replay) on FuelTV at 8pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on FuelTV at 9pm ProElite: Da Spyda vs. Minowaman (Live Event) on HDNet at 10pm UFC 142 Prelims (Replay) on FuelTV at 10pm Sunday (1/22) UFC Best of 2011 (Replay) on FuelTV at 1am MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 1:30am King of the Cage (Replay) on MAVTV at 10am King of the Cage (Replay) on MAVTV at 3pm UFC on FX 1 (Replay) on FuelTV at 10pm

Posted in: ufc, mma, replay, pm, fueltv

Asian MMA Update: Honorio Banario Steps In For Eric Kelly At ONE FC 2, James Thompson vs. Bob Sapp In India

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

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

Boxer Wladimir Klitschko Wants to Learn MMA

In the eternal debate of MMA versus boxing, count heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko as a fan of mixed martial arts.

Posted in: mma, art, count, klitschko, wladimir

The Sunday Morning Rumor Mill

Another Sunday morning, and 2012 is already off to a running, flying knee start. You may not be a fan of Dana White, it's impossible not to admit that since UFC 139, ZUFFA has been offering the renaissance of MMA delivered directly to your television. Shogun vs. Hendo set the bar astronomically high at the end of 2011, and since then our brains have ignited, reformed, and then ignited yet again by the MMA we've been seeing. We are living in the Golden Era of MMA. Now that you are self-aware, enjoy it. While you're at it, read our Sunday Morning Rumor Mill. It appears Urijah Faber and Alpha Male have completely cut ties with Miesha Tate. The reason for the split was due to Tate and her significant other supporting Dominic Cruz in his upcoming title defense against Urijah Faber. As far as Miesha Tate's upcoming fight, Urijah Faber is now a huge fan of Ronda Rousey. Pretty crazy item, but Dana White's bodyguard (the guy that usually hands out tickets for the #Hunt4UFC Twitter contest) is literally being 'hunted' by fans. Apparently he's had eager fans follow him around town and 'stalk' his hotel room during fight weekends. A few have even called his home phone in the middle of the week asking for tickets. Jose Aldo was warned not to run into the crowd again following his actions at UFC 142. Nate Marquardt has severed ties with BAMMA UK. Dana White appears to be actively pushing the issue of 'instant replay' to athletic commissions. It's rumored that he commented on it again after UFC 142. It's rumored Gina Carano is gauging the success of her new movie 'Haywire' and using it to determine if she should come back to MMA. The premiere of MTV's 'Caged' rated higher than analysts expected, however we'll have to wait a few more weeks to see if the trend maintains. Ken Shamrock seems to be forming a rebuttal due to Dana White's criticism of ESPN's 'Outside the Lines' piece.

Posted in: mma, dana, fan, faber, urijah faber

"The Back of the Head": Unified MMA Rules

submitted by pangian [link] [4 comments]

Posted in: mma, head, rule, mma rules, pangian

UFC 142 Results: Rousimar Palhares Submits Mike Massenzio

Filed under: UFCRousimar Palhares did what everyone expected him to do at UFC 142: He grabbed hold of Mike Massenzio's leg and didn't let go until Massenzio tapped out. Palhares is a brilliant Brazilian jiu jitsu practitioner who is widely regarded as having the best leg locks in MMA and he showed that off on Saturday night, forcing Massenzio to tap out to a heel hook just a minute into the first round. "I'm super happy," Palhares said afterward, before dedicating the fight to a friend who recently died. Palhares is now 14-3 in his MMA career, with 10 wins by submission, and five of those 10 submissions coming by heel hook. Palhares has found a move that he can execute as well as anyone, and he keeps going back to it. Massenzio is a fine fighter, but he's not on Palhares' level, and this was an easy victory for Palhares. Massenzio falls to 13-6 in his MMA career, and it wouldn't be surprising if he's released by the UFC. Palhares, however, has a lot of big fights left in the middleweight division. He's a threat to anyone -- especially when he locks onto your leg. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, palhare, mma career, massenzio

WWE Pulls Plug On CM Punk Walking Out With Chael Sonnen At UFC On Fox 2

WWE Champion CM Punk will no longer walk out with Chael Sonnen for his fight with Mark Munoz at UFC On Fox 2. In early-January, news broke that longtime MMA fan Punk (Phil Brooks) would walk out with the former pro wrestling prospect and top middleweight contender Sonnen in Punk's hometown of Chicago, IL. Punk had previously received permission from WWE to skip a house show on Saturday, January 28 to be at the UFC event. From Ariel Helwani's piece on MMA Fighting: Punk confirmed with MMAFighting.com that WWE chairman Vince McMahon decided against allowing him to walk out to the cage with Sonnen later this month. MMA reporter FrontRowBrian first reported the news Friday afternoon. The original story garnered nearly 300 comments here and set off the usual firestorm of pro wrestling vs. MMA debates including this video done by BE co-founders/editors Luke Thomas and Kid Nate. McMahon's decision to put the kibosh on the arrangement (which Brian accurately opined could have been influenced by his son-in-law Paul "Triple H" Levesque) shows a short sighted view of the crossover appeal and a bad business move by WWE to not grab the attention from a major event on Fox.

Posted in: mma, punk, wwe, chael sonnen, sonnen

UFC Quick Quote: Chad Mendes sticking to his wrestling roots ahead of Jose Aldo showdown

"I totally understand that you get a lot of MMA fans that don't understand the style of wrestling or they just don't like it, and everyone has an opinion. If it was up to me, of course I would go out there and knock everybody out in the first 30 seconds of a fight. I mean that's the easiest thing to do. You go through a whole camp and you go through the first 30 seconds and the fight is over. Obviously at this level guys are tough and it's not always going to happen that way. It's so much harder going a full fight. We all know wrestling is my strength, and wrestling and cardio and stand-up cardio is completely different. We're looking to exploit that. The wrestling mentality, and I think that's why some people just criticize, but the wrestling mentality is to go, go, go, get your hands on them, grind and wear them out and break them down. A lot of the time that takes a while especially because guys are in such good shape nowadays. That grind, that ability to break your opponent, just takes longer than it used to. I see the criticism, and a lot of people don't like it, but that's my style. I started wrestling when I was five years old, that's what I do, and I haven't lost a round in MMA yet, and that's just the dominating style of wrestlers. Wrestling is my strength, it's my bread and butter, and it's something I'll do till the day I die." -- In a day and age where knockouts and submissions are all the rage, undefeated (11-0) wrestling powerhouse Chad Mendes tells MMAWeekly.com that fans should not expect a quick finish tonight (Jan. 14, 2012) at UFC 142 in Rio de Janiero, Brazil, when he steps inside the Octagon to take on Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) featherweight king Jose Aldo. That's because, even though the former NCAA All American wrestler would love nothing more than to score a quick win, he will do what he does best, and that's wear down his opponent and grind out a victory using his extraordinary wrestling skills, even if it takes the full 25 minutes. With four consecutive unanimous decision victories and seven out of 11 going the distance, Mendes may be at risk of being labeled as "boring" or "safe;" however, Mendes won't stray away from what brought him to where he is now, an undefeated mixed martial artist (MMA) who is one win away from becoming a UFC champion. And why should he? Mendes has yet to lose a round in MMA. Of course, the man who will stand across the cage from him has not lost a fight in 13 contests and is one of the most dangerous stand-up specialists in the game today with 12 knockout victories to his credit. Something's got to give. But what?

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, mende, that

Medical Beat: 'Rumble's' stumble underscores MMA's weight-cutting issues

MMA fans are perhaps understandably up in arms over former welterweight Anthony Johnson's failed attempt to make weight for his first middleweight fight. But in addition to a 20 percent fine, Johnson isn't allowed to rehydrate to more than 205 pounds for tonight's UFC 142 co-headliner with Vitor Belfort. In our latest "Medical Beat" installment, MMAjunkie.com medical columnist and consultant Dr. Johnny Benjamin explains how "Rumble's" stumble underscores larger weigh-cutting issues in MMA.

Posted in: mma, vitor belfort, middleweight fight, installment mmajunkiecom, johnson isnt

MMAterial Facts (1/14/12) : Return to Rio Edition

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.”

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

UFC 142 Live stream | UFC 142 stream

You will get to see the UFC 142 Live Stream for free here on Saturday Jan 14.You are viewing our HD UFC 142 Live Stream.Watch FREE UFC 142 LIVE STREAM online on 14 January 2012. This is an MMA event by UFC official streaming video.Enjoy UFC 142 LIVE.UFC 142 LIVE STREAM FREE is the first MMA Match in this year 2012 between Aldo vs. Mendes submitted by rihanasmith56 [link] [comment]

Posted in: ufc, mma, stream, mma event, ufc official

MTV’s “Caged” draws disappointing ratings

Variey reports that MTV’s “MMA” reality show “Caged” drew poor ratings in its debut. The show drew 619,000 viewers and only a 0.64 rating in the targeted 12-34 demographic. The series features young, small town males trying to make it in the local MMA promotion. Unbeknownst to the MMA fan hoping to watch young, up and comers trying to make it up the ladder, many of the main characters are self-trained and are only looking to party and score girls. While the partying and girl problems may be an inherent part (for some) of being a young athlete, the series fell short on MMA. Payout Perspective: The debut did run opposite the BCS National Championship Game so that might be a reason for the lower than expected ratings. However, after seeing the first episode, many fans hoping to see an MMA reality show may not tune in again. The 10 episode run caters to a certain MTV reality audience interested in shows like “Teen Mom,” “Jersey Shore” and “The Theriot Family.” “Caged” served as the intro to “Shore” and “Theriot” on Monday night. While MMA fans were enticed by the MMA marketing, it was a disappointment.

Posted in: mma, show, monday night, rating, mma fan

UFC Pay: A Closer Look At ESPN's Story

On Thursday January 12, 2012, ESPN released an article authored by Josh Gross about the economics of the UFC in conjunction with an upcoming episode of Outside the Lines. Gross has been a harsh critic of the UFC for several years. Now he's got a big platform from which to address the very controversial issue of fighter pay in the UFC and whether or not its comparable to rates in other major sports. To sum up the article for those that have not taken the time to read it, Gross spoke with several fighters who chose to remain anonymous when addressing the issue of fighter pay. Not because they had nothing to say but because they fear backlash from the UFC if they spoke "on the record" about such a hotbed issue. The one person that did speak on the record with Gross is Rob Masey, the founder of the MMA Fighters Association whose website has not been updated in months. The first point of contention is that MMA fighters are not paid the same as other major sport athletes. It's a valid point and on the surface one that is pretty much impossible to argue against. A deeper look at the UFC's value and structure though will reveals that Zuffa is worth roughly the same as the average NFL team ($1billion). The $350 million in gross PPV sales cited in Gross' article fails to take into account for the 50% split the UFC shares with the cable provider. So the $350 million PPV is actually closer to $175 million. This $175 million accounts for roughly 75% of the UFC's net yearly revenue. The other 25% is comprised of TV licenses, site fees, gate revenue and merchandise meaning the UFC makes roughly $218 million in net revenue each year. So looking at the initial numbers, Zuffa has more in common financially with an NFL team than the NFL which brings in $9 billion in revenue annually. However, Zuffa has 300 fighters under contract instead of the 46 players that are on the active roster of an NFL team. Even the comparisons to an individual team don't quite hold up given revenue sharing from all teams across the league, athletes who are unionized, set salary guidelines..etc. So the comparison to the big five sports (football, basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer) is not quite apples to apples almost any way you choose to look at it. However, that isn't the case when Rob Masey gives an unverified number stating that the median pay of UFC fighters is between $17,000 and $23,000 a year. More after the jump... That number is not only unverified, it's highly questionable. In fact, the MMA website MMA Manifesto ran an ongoing tally for 2011 and based on their report, 89 fighters broke the six-figure mark and 169 roughly earned above $36,000 in 2011. The average is dragged down by the "one-and-done" guys who earn roughly $6,000 to show and another $6,000 to win. But what about those guys, right? The low-tiered guys should definitely be making more, right? Well the base for those debuting fighters is not only higher than they make on the regional scene, it actually encourages the UFC to sign prospects. A fighter such as Paulo Thiago would never have been given the chance to fight in the UFC if he came with a $30,000 price tag. Those that perform well are rewarded with better follow up contract. Those that don't return to the regional scene with the ability to earn more because they are "former-UFC fighters." The other comparison drawn by Josh Gross and Rob Masey is to the boxing model. The chosen representative is Lou DiBella, an upper-mid-tier boxing promoter. DiBella explains that in boxing it is common for a 70-30 split with 70% of revenue going to the boxer and 30% going to the promoter. This again sounds great on the surface; but in many cases the revenue split heavily favors the main event fighters over the prelim boxers, not that differently from the UFC model. The UFC is far from perfect. They actively compete in a market and make it difficult for competition to gain a foothold in the sport and discussion of fighter pay will without a doubt lead to opponents arguing for a fighters union. Unfortunately, the article and story that could been a great first step down that path was sullied with inaccuracies and fact-checking failures which ruined the message. MMA is still young and going through the awkward phase to find its niche in a competitive market. Until the UFC's yearly revenue is that of the other major sports, fighter pay will continue to grow slowly. If low level guys are still making $6,000 to show then it may be time to investigate the business practices. Until then, it's time to give the promotion time to mature.

Posted in: ufc, mma, revenue, fighter, team

Friday Link Club: Don’t Mess With Frank Mir, UFC 142 Preview

Frank Mir punks a UFC Undisputed 3 developer UFC 142 Breakdown: The Main Card | Five Ounces of Pain Vitor Belfort Eyes the Coming End to His Time in the Cage, Vows to ‘Enjoy the Moment’ | MMA Fighting Vitor Belfort to Anthony Johnson: ‘That Cage Belongs to Me’ | Bleacher Report Rumble Johnson Ready To Face A Lion In Vitor Belfort | FightLine Dana White hopes “Jose Aldo from the WEC” shows up against Chad Mendes on Saturday | LowKick UFC 142: Chad Mendes is a 2-to-1 dog to Jose Aldo, you buying or selling? | Fight Opinion UFC Undisputed 3 Video Game simulates main event for UFC 142  | TheFightNerd UFC 142 is Like Déjà Vu All Over Again for Jose Aldo | 5thRound UFC on FX and Fuel non-title main events will only be three rounds in 2012 | MMA Mania Chael Sonnen wants you to listen to his dissertation on ‘Intensity’ | MiddleEasy Gallery: 20 Incredible Works of MMA Fan Art | Cage Potato ProElite offers free tickets for dressing like Minowaman | MMA Payout

Posted in: ufc, mma, belfort, aldo, fuel nontitle

Latest UFC/MMA news and notes from around the web for the week of January 8, 2012

Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Anderson Silva and Jose Aldo pictured above, we can all "get along." Teaming up with MMA sites like MMA Fighting, Cage Potato, Fight Opinion and The Fight Nerd, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport. This week, Cage Potato features MMA fan art, The Fight Nerd reviews Gina Carano's new movie 'Haywire' and Bleacher Report speaks with Blackzilian coach Mike Van Arsdale. The full list of links is after the jump. - Sean Sherk wants to cement his place in the UFC Hall of Fame (LowKick) "I'm a fighter. At this point in time, do I plan on fighting five or six more times? Probably not, to be honest with you. That's why I want big fights. I want co-main-event or main-event type fights that are going to cement my place in the UFC Hall of Fame. Absolutely, I think at this point in time, I've done enough to be a hall of famer, but I'd like a few more fights to make my mark." - 20 incredible works of MMA fan art (Cage Potato) - UFC 142 main card breakdown (Five Ounces of Pain) 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. - Mendes, Faber not happy with Maynard's comments (MMA Fighting) "Since when are the two best guys in the weight class not ready to fight each other? That's an absurd thing to say. But whatever. Who cares what [Maynard] thinks? Chad's going to go in there and fight and win." - X-box to make amends for UFC 141 nightmare (5thRound) Technology can be a wonderful thing most of time, but it can also be unpredictable and rather nightmarish in other instances. Following the issues that impacted Xbox LIVE's official debut into the mixed martial arts world at UFC 141, Microsoft is prepared to make amends and restore confidence in their customers. - Ricardo Arona versus Satoshi Ishii on March 11th (MiddleEasy) This morning as I roamed through my usual collection of obscure Japanese MMA sites, I noticed Sponichi Annex is reporting that Satoshi Ishii gave the site a brief interview and stated that he's training in Los Angeles, California for a fight with Ricardo Arona on March 11th in Sao Paulo, Brazil. That's right, it looks like Ricardo Arona has finally decided to stop surfing and get back to smashing his fists into people's face for a living. - Movie review: Haywire (The Fight Nerd) 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. - Buying or selling Chad Mendes as 2-1 dog to Jose Aldo? (Fight Opinion) - Update on Zuffa lawsuit vs New York: New York files motion (MMA Payout) The Fight Lawyer reports on the latest from the Zuffa lawsuit in New York. Notably, the New York AG and the New York DA will file a motion to dismiss on the issues of due process and equal protection but the First Amendment issue will not be contested in the motion. - Mike Van Arsdale talks Anthony Johnson's move to middleweight and UFC 142 (BleacherReport.com/MMA) Van Arsdale recently hooked up with Hurtsbad MMA to share his take on Johnson's opponent and his move to middleweight. Johnson's opponent is something of a legend in the sport and is known as a lethal striker who is aggressive and dangerous inside the Octagon. Anyone who has competed with Vitor Belfort, or has seen him fight would agree. - Eddie Alvarez will not be in Bellator season six lightweight tournament (MMA Convert) - The Daily Line: Predictions for MMA in 2012 part 2 (Fightline) 2012 is a year ripe for change, with big things looming on the horizon and evolution seeming destined for MMA. But, what exactly could we see over the coming year? How might the MMA landscape look going into 2013?

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, time, movie

Nick Diaz and 10 MMA Fighters Who Could Tear It Up in a Boxing Ring

Mixed martial arts, as the name implies, comprises of a variation of offensive and defensive disciplines - boxing being one of them. It’s also safe to say that the majority of victories in MMA come as a result of TKOs or KOs, with punches playing a major role in said outcome.

Posted in: nick diaz, mma, boxing, boxing ring, disciplines boxing

New York MMA Update – 1.12.12

Like a recurring outbreak of a painful African strain of chicken pox, or a crazy stalker ex-girlfriend who also happens to be a government-trained assassin (and damn, why won’t the broad leave me alone?), the issue of getting MMA sanctioned in New York arises yet again. UFC president Dana White is making proclamations, lawyers are sparring over lawsuits, domestic violence organizations are writing letters, and the interminable wheels of the legislature are beginning their annual churn towards fruitlessness. Here, then, is an update. (Note: if you were to print all these updates out, staple them together and rapidly flip through the pages, the words would form an abstract animated picture of a fist slowly giving MMA fans the middle finger.) -White issued a bold statement on MMAFightCorner’s radio show last week, declaring that this will be the year New York finally sanctions this great sport of ours. The word “guarantee” was used, which, if White were the Pope or President of the United States, would be pretty darn cool and somewhat ironclad. But alas, he is not… “I hope Dana is correct,” said Steve Koepfer, a New York-based sambo instructor and founder of the Coalition to Legalize Mixed Martial Arts in New York. “Sambo Steve” has been spearheading the grassroots movement here for the past few years, pushing for sanctioning by organizing sit-downs with Assemblymen and industry insiders. “We certainly have made incredible strides with the people and legislators of New York,” said Koepfer. “But, nothing in New York politics is a guarantee.” He added: “We may have some new opponents in key positions this year,” alluding to incoming legislators who are against having MMA in the Empire State. Ugh. When will it end? -In November, attorneys representing Zuffa (and a number of other parties affected by New York’s lack of MMA sanctioning) filed suit against the State saying that the law banning MMA violates the Constitution worse than Quinton Jackson violates female reporters. Well, representatives for the State have begun their efforts to escape the courtroom submission attempts and mount a counter-attack. Justin Klein over at the FightLawyer blog has been monitoring the proceedings and giving his analysis – check it out here. The gist of it is that, thus far, things don’t look too bleak for Zuffa, et al. The central argument of the lawsuit is that the law violates some First Amendment protections (i.e., “Free Speech”), and at this stage, the State isn’t even trying to tackle that issue. To quote the great Nick Diaz, “Don’t be scared, homie.” -Remember that letter the Culinary Union circulated stating that the UFC was bad, so very bad, evil in fact, and probably responsible for everything from the genocide in Rwanda to the high price of oil? The National Center for Domestic and Sexual Violence apparently liked what they saw, so they sent a letter of their own to the members of the State Assembly. “We urge you to continue to uphold the ban on cage fighting, given that the UFC, the largest promoter of cage fighting events in the U.S., has failed to demonstrate that it is willing to ensure its fighters behave in a socially responsible way, even as the company expressly markets its fights and fighters to children.” Read the rest here. Personally, I’m not going to lose any sleep over this letter. Sure, it just adds more fuel to the fires that the opposition has been trying to stoke, but so what? If MMA gets sanctioned this year, it’s going to be because the lobbying machine is finally in sync with the legislating machine, and no trash-talking letter is going to affect that. Regardless, here’s Pete Lampasona over at TheFightNerd with a rebuttal. -And last but not least, that faint creaking sound you hear is the noise created by the rickety wheels of the legislature, inexorably moving towards a session where bills are made into laws. Or not. Either way, here’s evidence that the State Senate has begun the process of approving their half of the MMA bill. Just keep in mind, the Senate has been cool with putting their stamp on the bill in the past – it’s the Assembly that’s been the problem.

Posted in: mma, year, state, york, letter

5 Oz. MMA Link Club

Welcome back to another edition of “MMA Link Club”, Five Ounces of Pain‘s weekly smorgasbord of offerings from our brothers and sisters in the MMA community. Enjoy… Junior dos Santos Weighs In on UFC 142 Co-Headliner/Main Event (FightLine.com) Frank Mir Changes Name to “Prank Mir” at Expense of THQ Programmer (MiddleEasy.com) ESPN Looks at Allegations of the UFC Being a Monopoly (MMAConvert.com) Dana White Hoping to See “WEC Jose Aldo” at UFC 142 (LowKick.com) Vitor Belfort Wants Anthony Johnson to Know the Octagon Belongs to Him (BleacherReport.com) A Look at the Betting Odds for UFC 142 (FightOpinion.com) XBOX Live Making Up for UFC 141 Error (5thRound.com) A Review of “Haywire” from Our Friends at The Fight Nerd (TheFightNerd.com) ProElite Offering Free Admission to Show for Those Dressing like “Minowaman” (MMAPayout.com) Chad Mendes, Urijah Faber Take Issue with Gray Maynard (MMAFighting.com) UFC on FOX/FX/Fuel Main Events to Only be Three-Rounders (MMAMania.com) Some Amazing Fan-Art Related to MMA (CagePotato.com) PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, mma, mma community, pain ‘s, threerounders mmamaniacom

Pro MMA Radio 180: Chad Mendes, UFC 142 Preview

We have partnered with Pro MMA Radio to bring you weekly replays of PMR as the official radio show of MMAConvert.com. Pro MMA Radio can be heard live every Monday evening at 9PM ET/6PM PT. Replays and podcasts of every show are available 24/7 by going to the “Replay Corner” section of ProMMARadio.com, our own Pro MMA Radio page or by clicking the banner below. On this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio, Chad Mendes joined the show to talk about his upcoming title fight against Jose Aldo this weekend at UFC 142. MMA Mania’s Jesse Holland also stopped by to help host Larry Pepe preview UFC 142. You can listen to a replay of this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio by clicking the banner below. A radio player with links to the show’s archives will open in a pop-up window, so please make sure your browser is set to allow pop-ups for this site.

Posted in: mma, show, replay, radio, mma radio

Back Injury May Force Kenny Florian To Retire From MMA

The UFC 136 featherweight title fight could be the last time that fight fans see Kenny Florian as an active competitor. After an unsuccessful attempt at the featherweight title, Florian had plans to return to lightweight to close out his career. He was taking six months off to put the weight and muscle back on his frame when he suffered a herniated disk in the lumbar region of his back. Florian spoke with the Boston Herald to address the issues he's currently dealing with and if he'll be able to return to fighting: "It's possible, unfortunately," Florian said of his career ending. "I've kind of been going back-and-forth with some of the doctors, so it's possible. I'm going to see. As of right now, obviously I can't compete and train like I was at all. I'm just kind of doing what I can and hoping that things heal up and get better. I'm just kind of in a holding pattern. That's why I decided to do this commentary for the time being and take this next six months to really heal up and try to make some money on the side. It sucks. The last couple of months I've just been figuring out what's going on and what I'm going to do." .... "It's not good," Florian said. "That's why I'm trying to stay hopeful. We'll see. I've been out here in (Los Angeles) doing this show every week for ‘UFC Tonight' for Fuel TV and doing some other things. I'm just hoping that it can heal up and get better and then see if I can go back to doing what I was doing. So far, I still need to rest. If I go to do something physical, I'm just not able to do it. That pain is coming back." When I had the opportunity to speak with Florian while at Head Kick Legend, a big question for me was what he would do when he finally retired from MMA. He's become an on-air analyst for Zuffa with both the UFC and WEC and settled into the role of lead analyst with MMA Live. He also runs a successful gym in Massachusetts with his brother Keith, so the man does have options. It's just a shame that he may need to walk away not on his own terms. If UFC 136 was truly Florian's last bout, how will be be remembered? More after the jump... Florian can be remembered many different ways. An unlikely finalist from The Ultimate Fighter. The man who failed in every attempt to capture gold. The man who said "I FINISH FIGHTS!". Or he can be remembered as the first UFC fighter to find success in three different weight classes. He was a victim of his time period, a guy too small for welterweight when nothing else existed. He defeated some of the best lightweights in the sport's history and failed against others. His story can either be one of tragedy or triumph depending on the spin. I can say that when the book is closed on Florian's MMA career I'll remember him as the guy who was the most unlikely UFC fighter to ever find success in the organization. His failures in championship bouts aside, he's one of the best to ever step foot in the octagon and one of the best to ever sit in the booth. I hope to speak with him in the upcoming days to find out how he's doing and to tell him thank you for the great career. He deserves it.

Posted in: ufc, mma, career, florian, im

UFC 142's Vitor Belfort claims MMA will 'be as big as soccer, if not bigger' in Brazil. Hear his...

UFC 142's Vitor Belfort claims MMA will 'be as big as soccer, if not bigger' in Brazil. Hear his argument over at MMA Nation by clicking here.

Posted in: mma, mma nation, vitor, brazil, claim

Luke Thomas interviews UFC 142's Vitor Belfort who tells him: MMA Will 'Be As Big As Soccer If Not...

Luke Thomas interviews UFC 142's Vitor Belfort who tells him: MMA Will 'Be As Big As Soccer If Not Bigger' In Brazil. Read it/hear it at MMA Nation.

Posted in: ufc, mma, luke, vitor, vitor belfort

Gina Carano Discusses Cyborg Santos Steroid Test Results

In just a week, the Steven Soderbergh movie 'Haywire' will be released. Despite initial poor reviews, the movie is being well-received by those that have had the opportunity to view it before the nationwide release. Featuring a cast of Hollywood greats, the spy-thriller's success will determine Gina Carano's future in both MMA and acting. Carano walked away from MMA after a first round destruction at the hands of Cristiane Santos. Though fans didn't want to admit it at the time, the loss of Carano was a nail in the figurative coffin for women's MMA. While Strikeforce attempted to fill the void with names like Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey, both attractive females in their own right, neither was able to capture the male audience like Gina Carano. At Strikeforce: Melendez vs Masvidal, Santos successfully defended her featherweight belt against Hiroko Yamanka only to have the decision overturned after a positive test for Stanozolol. Santos became the first major female fighter to test positive for PEDs and her positive test has opened up discussion and discourse over if it will be the death of WMMA. Thomas Myers of MMA Mania had the opportunity to speak with the former "face of women's MMA" Gina Carano to get her thoughts on Cyborg's positive test and if it changed her opinion on the outcome of their fight. Her response is pretty surprising. I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't hurt by the whole thing. That fight with her was definitely the biggest moment of my mixed martial arts (MMA) career and at that time I had people around me telling me she was on steroids and everything. But, if there was a chance that she wasn't, I never wanted to take anything away from her [win]. She is a wonderful athlete, but I'd be lying if I said it didn't sting a little. In fact, I could have gone the rest of my life without hearing that. But, at the same time, she's a human being and a phenomenal athlete, so maybe someone around her was telling her she needed to do that when she really didn't. Maybe it was someone around her telling her the wrong things, I don't know. She's going to have a tough enough time getting people to believe in her [after this], so she's going to go through her own problems. I sympathize with her sometimes -- we all make mistakes in life. And, she's going through that very publicly in front of a lot of people who already thought that she [was using steroids]. I kind of feel bad for her. Emphasis mine. Carano's point of view is the same as most of ours. Going forward Cyborg will have to deal with the fans and media who will doubt her at every turn. Even if all of her subsequent drug tests are passed, she'll still be the female fighter who took steroids. It also creates an interesting 'parallel universe' scenario where if Cyborg doesn't beat Carano, WMMA continues to grow and thrive on the commercial success of Gina Carano. Instead, the 145 pound title is all but dead and the future is bleak for the women's featherweight division.

Posted in: mma, test, gina carano, carano, gina

Two Pancrase titles on the line in one night? Hello Japan!

Hands up if you like Japanese MMA. If you don’t have your hand raised, shame on you. Go and watch this Lenne Hardt tribute video. When we say ‘MMA is everything’ we really mean it. For example, I woke up this morning trying to rear naked choke my pillow. When I was sure it was out I Jon Jonesed it, dropping it to the floor unconscious and I jumped on the internet to read about MMA and get some fans, or make some plans. Who knows what I actually said, I was too excited reading about Pancrase’s Progress Tour 1 show at Differ Ariake in Tokyo on January 28th where they will hold a one-night tournament to crown the 185lb King of Pancrase alongside a 125lb title fight. Jordan Breen over at Sherdog.com has reported that in the 185lb tournament, former light heavyweight King of Pancrase Ryo Kawamura will face Yuji Hisamatsu while on the other side of the bracket Ikkei Nagamura takes on Hikaru Sato. The winner of each will fight later in the night for the vacant 185lb crown. For the 125lb title, current King Kiyotaka Shimizu, who is unbeaten in his last seven Pancrase appearances will defend against Seiji Ozuka. If you are not familiar with these fighters, then hit YouTube where there are plenty of videos to feast your greedy MMA hungry eyes on. Alternatively, check out the hyperlinks above. Later, I’m off to get some flan.

Posted in: mma, lb, example i, pancrase, hikaru sato

Rumor of the Day: Georges St. Pierre has officially left Greg Jackson's camp

So maybe Georges St. Pierre is staying in Team Jackson -- and maybe Georges St. Pierre is leaving Team Jackson. This article is published as a rumor because we're not entirely sure, yet we have a slight inclination to believe that it's true. If this rumor is indeed correct, let me fire up my flux capacitor, hop in my Delorean and travel to November 2012 when people on the UG will be creating threads entitled 'Dude, [the winner of Diaz/Condit] only beat GSP because he didn't have Greg Jackson.' Yes, I know if I traveled into the future I would know the winner of Diaz vs. Condit. I would also know if this rumor is true. The flux capacitor is broken today. Sometimes these things happen in MMA. Karim Zidan of 'The Flying Knee' is reporting that Georges St. Pierre has ceased affiliation with Greg Jackson in order to credit his Tristar coach, Firas Zahabi, for the success in his career. Since GSP completes most of his training at Tristar MMA in Montreal, he believed that it was the correct decision to make for his gym. It became clear that people affiliated GSP with Jackson’s MMA and not with his head coach Firas Zahabi, who should take 95% of the credit for building and developing GSP. Although this is now the case, the contractual arrangements may see Jackson in St. Pierre’s next few fights, despite the switch in affiliation. This will only be temporary and soon Jackson’s MMA will have to focus on the stars they have instead of GSP. Since GSP could potentially be facing Carlos Condit on his return, this actually solves the probable issue of dividing camps etc between the two athletes. Team Jackson still has one of the most dominant light heavyweights in UFC history, so I think they're doing alright over there in New Mexico. Breaking Bad. Segue of the year.

Posted in: mma, jackson, gsp, pierre, st

The Best MMA Writing Of 2011: Ben Fowlkes On The Downfall Of Dan Hardy

When you look back at the career of Dan Hardy up to this point, it's hard to believe he would one day be mocked the way that he has. Nobody really cares that he engaged in a war with Chris Lytle in August that was as exciting as it was brutal. What matters, at least to his critics, is that he got choked out while attempting a takedown in his fourth straight loss, illuminating a unique once-in-a-lifetime irony. An irony highlighted by Hardy's own mouth: he's always been vocal about wrestling, and his allegiance to the Nick Diaz school of pugilism. Like Hardy's current career, it's hard to believe how fans so viciously turned on him. His style is entertaining. He's well rounded (except for his wrestling of course). He publicly, and quite eloquently defended MMA. And he doesn't come out to crap like STEMM, instead opting for the unique sound of Cock Sparrer's England Belongs to Me. But none of that matters when you're brash, British, and got a title shot many fans look back on and scratch their heads over. Hardy was a proper contender in my opinion at a time when WW was still figuring itself out, but it doesn't change the fact that his performance did little to justify the shot in retrospect despite a supernatural display of musculoskeletal toughness. What makes Ben Fowlkes' story on Dan Hardy so unique is that it allows readers to peer into a window many fans would have otherwise ignored, and provides a vivid look at the proverbial "fall from grace" narrative. Hardy has become a sort of pariah in the MMA world. 'What the hell is a guy that is currently 0-4 still doing in the UFC?', the critics ask. Beneath the vitriol from fans that usually accompanies it is a completely fair question, and one Hardy himself is aware of. It calls into question consistency, 'why Hardy and not others?', and even prompts the cynical observation that it's only because Hardy "is British" that he's able to stay. I think these criticisms ignore whether or not Hardy is worth keeping. Plenty of fighters wash out of the UFC and eventually return. But not all of them have fought for a title. Despite a record that indicates he isn't UFC-level, perhaps he deserves the benefit of the doubt. As for how Hardy feels: "I don't feel like myself right now," Hardy says. You look in his eyes and you know he means it. He sits slumped in a plush leather chair in the lobby of a posh downtown Toronto hotel. He speaks so softly you have to lean in close just to hear him. The last thing he wants to do these days is draw attention to himself. He knows what people are thinking. And even if they aren't thinking it, they might as well be, since he hears their accusations in the wordless glances from across the room. It's not just the fans, either. "I start to feel like other fighters are looking at me like, why is he still in the UFC? And I don't want people looking at me like that." Click here for the full article. Like any article by Fowlkes, it's well worth your time. He can be found at MMAFighting and on twitter @benfowlkesMMA. Previous entries after the jump. The Best MMA Writing of 2011: Fraser Coffeen and Ben Thapa Talk Technique in the Judo Chop Series The Best MMA Writing of 2011: Tony Loiseleur on the Woman Who Is Not Just George Lucas' Daughter The Best MMA Writing of 2011: Luke Thomas and Tommy Messano Explore the Future Between Wrestling and MMA The Best MMA Writing of 2011: Brent Brookhouse on Gary Goodridge and Brain Injuries in Sports The Best MMA Writing of 2011: Tony Loiseleur on the Shooto Tax Scandal The Best MMA Writing of 2011: Ben Fowlkes on the Poignant Journey of Daniel Cormier The Best MMA Writing of 2011: Michael David Smith and the CSAC's Error in Licensing Jose Figueroa The Best MMA Writing of 2011: Daniel Herbertson on Enson Inoue's Journey to Fukushima and Beyond The Best MMA Writing of 2011: Jordan Breen on Ian McCall Through the Lens of Shakespeare

Posted in: mma, ben, fan, fowlke, i dont

GSP reportedly ceasing affiliation with Jackson’s MMA

submitted by madetoday [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: mma, jackson, gsp, affiliation, madetoday

MMA Top 10 Rankings: Cris Cyborg Exiled

There may not be a lot of changes to the World Top 10 MMA Rankings this week, but there sure is a big one with former No. 1 women's fighter Cris "Cyborg" Santos suspended.

Posted in: mma, week, ranking, cyborg, cri

Title Writing: Ranking the Fight Camps 6

Ranking the fight camps is a weekly feature that combines the USA Today/SB Nation consensus rankings with win/loss records over the past three months in order to provide a ranked list of the most successful MMA fight camps in the world. For previous installments, just search for "Ranking the Fight Camps" over on the right. Each camp is designated as tier I, II or III, based on how many fighters from the camp appear in the top 25 for all 7 weight classes. Tier I camps have more than five top 25 fighters. Tier II camps have at least two and no more than five top 25ers and Tier III camps are those with just a single fighter in the top 25. A number one ranked fighter is worth 25 points to his camp, a number two ranked fighter is worth 24 and so on. In the past I totalled the score for each camp but moving forward I've decided to average out the score so that the big camps don't all end up at the top. Over the past three months, each stoppage victory is worth +2, each decision victory +1. Each stoppage loss is worth -2, each decision loss -1. The total win/loss score for the camp is then added to the camp's consensus rankings average, providing us with their camp score. I'm going to rank the top 5 for each tier, as well as an overall top 15. Only Tier I and II camps will be eligible for the top 15 due to the fact that I am averaging out the consensus scores. The rankings can be found after the jump. TIER I Camp Score Nova Uniao 24.50 AKA 18.12 Black House 17.30 Xtreme Couture 16.87 Jackson`s MMA 16.50 TIER II Camp Score Alpha Male 25.66 Cesar Gracie 23.75 Kings MMA 23 TriStar 21.20 Team Curran 21 TIER III Camp Score Renzo Gracie 25 The Reem Training Center 25 MMA Lab 23 Combat Fitness 22 Universiadade da Luta 21 OVERALL Camp Score Alpha Male (II) 25.66 Nova Uniao (I) 24.5 Cesar Gracie (II) 23.75 Kings MMA (II) 23 TriStar (II) 21.20 Wolfslair (II) 20.66 Imperial Athletics (II) 19.50 Red Devil Sport Club (II) 19.50 AKA (I) 18.12 Team Quest (II) 18 Alliance MMA (II) 17.75 Xtreme Couture (I) 16.87 Jackson`s MMA (I) 16.50 Grudge Training Center (II) 15.66 Paraestra Tokyo (II) 15.66 I think this is the most accurate representation that I've come up with yet. It brings the overall score down quite a bit, which makes the effect that wins and losses have on the rankings quite larger than the past versions. Anything above +5 in the win/loss column is quite good, and using an average ensures that the camp will have no higher than 25 points for their consensus rankings score. I'm going to change this to a monthly column at this point. Now that I'm fairly satisfied with the system, I'm going to give it time for the data to change before I do another one. In its place I'm going to be writing opinion pieces, something that I haven't really had too much of a chance to do since I started with Title Writing. I'm looking forward to that quite a bit and I can't wait to get some current events discussion started. Thanks for reading. Comments are welcomed!

Posted in: mma, score, camp, ii, tier

Brydon on MMA: Strikeforce's MMAnalysis

Looking back at the first big MMA event of 2012 and breaking down the fights from a statistical perspective.

Posted in: fight, mma, brydon, mma event, mmanalysi

Inside MMA: Miesha Tate, Scott Coker, Cheick Kongo

Inside MMA airs live on HDNet every Monday night at 8pm ET. Inside MMA Archive More segments after the jump.

Posted in: mma, monday night, monday, mma airs, mma archive

Best of MMA 2011: Chris Weidman is Newcomer of the Year

A unanimous decision sweep in a short-notice fight and a pair of first-round submissions have made Chris Weidman Heavy's MMA Newcomer of the Year.

Posted in: mma, year, newcomer, shortnotice fight, decision sweep

Filipino Featherweight Eric Kelly Aims to Make His Mark With One FC

Filed under: ONE FCFilipino featherweight Eric Kelly's background is in striking, but you wouldn't guess it from looking at his MMA record. As Kelly heads into his co-headlining bout against Shooto veteran Bae Young Kwon (6-2) at One FC 2 on Feb. 11 in Indonesia, Kelly is carrying a 6-0 record in MMA all by submission. Kelly wanted to showcase his standup last September at the inaugural One FC card in Singapore, but his opponent Mitch Chilson turned the fight into a grappling exchange. And so, Kelly recorded his fifth first-round rear-naked choke win of his career. "People think I am only a ground fighter because all my wins are by submission but I like fighting standing up as well," Kelly said to MMAFighting.com Tuesday. Born and raised in the Philippines, Kelly started training boxing at 19 after graduating high school and then further developed his standup game by studying the Filipino kickboxing art "Yaw-Yan." "All I know that Yaw-Yan is like kickboxing and Yaw-Yan originated in Philippines, I have also trained in Pencak Silat (Indonesia self-defense style) and done some boxing," Kelly said. "I first started out as a boxer because I left school and I didn't have a lot of money and it was a good option for me but I only did one boxing match which I won." Kelly's journey in martial arts next led him to Wushu and San Shou. From 2001-2004, Kelly competed for the Phillippine's Wushu and San Shou team and his experience was highlighted by a Southeast Asian Games Gold medal in Wushu. It wasn't until an injury directed Kelly to take a break from his striking to begin training jiu-jitsu. MMA soon followed and he began his competitive MMA career fighting for the Phillippines-based MMA promotion URCC. In his fifth appearance for URCC, he won the company's featherweight title and landed a deal with One FC, a fledgling Singapore-based promotion. One FC, which aims to revitalize the Asian MMA industry, draws fighters from all around the world, allowing Kelly to challenge himself against competition outside of the Philippines. At One FC 2, Kelly meets Kwon of South Korea in a battle of prospects. Kelly admits he feels the extra pressure of fighting under international exposure, but he knows this is what he needs to realize his goal of fighting for the UFC. "I have never been in an MMA event as big as One FC before, there were so many people at my fight and to hear them cheering for me made me know I must win the fight for them," he said of his One FC debut. "I am honored to fight for One FC and to have everyone in Asia see me fight but to fight for the UFC is my dream. I hope one day it can come true." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: fight, mma, kelly, fc, yawyan

Fedor is First Step to Helping Revive Japanese MMA Scene

Japanese fans love Fedor Emelianenko, as the Russian fighter bounces back from a three-fight losing streak in Strikeforce. In doing so, Fedor can also help give JMMA a desperate spark needed to help rejuvenate a nation with a faltering MMA scene. Hans Thompson, HDNet commentator, noted that the most recent DREAM fight on New Year’s Eve didn’t have the same flare as past events. I would say that it didn’t have quite the luster that even last year’s event – which was a relatively small event – because although there were a lot of good fighters, a lot of them had been fighting on Dream events all year long. I didn’t have big expectations for the card, but it turned out to be an entertaining – if not long – night of fights. In terms in size of the live audience, it looks the same as it did last year, but the absence of a major TV deal is a big obstacle for them. I think if they can get that sorted out, it will change the scale of the NYE shows and they might approach the scale of the shows in the past. But it’s a big if.” JMMA is said to be dying — and it’s honestly very hard to argue against that — but DREAM has continued to do its best to keep things going. However, as MMA begins to explode in China, Singapore, and other parts of Asia in 2012, there is a good chance some of that will trickle back to Japan. In addition to keeping its current stars active and successful, the next generation of Japanese fighters must begin to take the reigns. We’ll see if changes can be made in 2012, as Japanese MMA fighters and promoters seek methods to

Posted in: mma, fighter, japanese, event, year

MMAPrime's Aaron Tru defends Cris Cyborg - MMA News

submitted by alphahouse44 [link] [comment]

Posted in: mma, aaron, cyborg, alphahouse, mmaprime

Chael Sonnen's MMA legacy will be a 'colossal failure' without championship gold (Video)

‪‬ ‪ "One night. One moment. Twelve pounds of gold‬. This will all be a colossal failure if I don't have that one night. I haven't had too many dark moments, but I'll tell you, in the beginning, trying to break in [to the sport] was so hard. You train the best that you can [this was 10 years ago] and you don't really know what that means -- there's not a lot of MMA gyms and there's almost no MMA coaches. Then I get a call and it's to fight a guy named Jeremy Horn. Now, Jeremy Horn is like the greatest fighter ever at this point -- he's ranked number one in the world, Anderson [Silva] is like six or seven. He's beaten every body. And they say that you have to fight him tomorrow, and if you beat him, we'll put you right in the UFC. I was like okay, send me a plane ticket, and before I know it, I'm flying to Iowa with no cornerman, going to fight in a Monte Cox show, which you might as well turn the lights off and run your head into the wall. So things like that happened to me. I don't know if those are dark moments, but those are some of the things that I remember. I look at today's athletes and sometimes I see them being prima donnas, or not wanting to do certain things, being ungrateful or complaining about their pay as they pull up in a new Ferrari and I think you guys don't know what it's like. This was a very risky business venture that a couple of crazy guys, who risked everything to make, and you're not owed this industry. You should be a little more grateful." Former number one contender Chael Sonnen often talks about not needing a major mixed martial arts (MMA) world title to validate his existence as one of the best fighters to ever step inside the Octagon. He's the self-proclaimed "Peoples Champion," remember? However, it wasn't too long ago that Sonnen faced Paulo Filho in a championship rematch under the World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) banner, which was eventually made into a three-round, non-title fight when the Brazilian space cadet tipped the scales seven pounds too heavy. Sonnen would go on to win that contest via unanimous decision in one of the oddest fights ever, but failed to honor a promise made to his late father that he would one day be a world champion. Sure, Filho promised to mail Sonnen the belt "out of respect," but that's not really the same as wearing the belt out of the cage and hanging it over the fireplace. Sonnen again missed out on honoring that promise when he tapped to an Anderson Silva submission (triangle choke) with less than two minutes to spare in a fight he was clearly winning on the judges scorecards. It's rather clear that Sonnen pines to be recognized as a legitimate MMA world champion, despite his outrageous claims to the contrary. Can he do it?

Posted in: fight, world, mma, sonnen, i dont

A Lesson in Street MMA: Sometimes it's not MMA at all, just Russians fighting in their underwear

In an interview with Inside MMA, Don Frye made a comment about Russians being 'the last men on the planet'. It went something like this: 'The Russians don't like to be told what to do, especially by some pansy (Dana White). God damn Russians are the last men on the planet. Everybody in the US has been feminized so bad that we should all be carrying a purse and high heels. Those are the last men, we need a Putin. Where's our Putin? We need someone that's going to kick ass and not run around apologizing for it.' Looks like Don Frye was on to something. Check out this video from the UG of a brutal KO between two Russian soldiers sparring because there's apparently nothing to do in Russia besides fight in your underwear.

Posted in: mma, men, kick ass, street mma, russian

MMA Link Club: Fan logic – Cyborg = bad woman, Sonnen = good guy @MMASupremacy #ufc

So, why are some cheaters in MMA 'good guys' and others 'bad guys' in the eyes of fans?

Posted in: mma, guy, fan, woman, woman sonnen

Alistair Overeem PASSED his UFC 141 drug test! Where's your god now horsemeat haters?

Today, someone will change Ubereem to 'Uberclean' and it will be cool for about twenty-minutes. After this period of time, that person should cease to use the term 'Uberclean' and if they refuse, you have permission to throw the nearest food item directly in their face. We can't 'I'm Rick James, Bitch' this one folks. Let's not drive it into the ground until it loses all significance. Instead, we should all celebrate today as the day when all critics, haters, UG fanboys, socialists, narrow minded thinkers and disbelievers were proven wrong. Alistair Overeem, as well as every fighter in UFC 141 passed their drug test with flying colors and now all that's left for most of the MMA world is the empty bottles of haterade they left aboard the 'Let's hate Ubereem for no valid reason' bandwagon. The voyage is over. You can all go back to your families whom you've neglected for the past two years. With Cyborg failing her recent drug test, I think it's all safe to say that a big 'LOL' goes out to all of those who seriously thought Ubereem was going to test positive for steroids. Actually, a huge 'LOL' goes out to a certain MMA commentator who I've kicked it with on several occasions. Dude, looks like you were wrong (but I still love you). This is undoubtedly further proof that you should incorporate horse meat into your diet at your earliest convenience. Props to Ubereem on the news, now continue your frate traneage through the heavyweight ranks of MMA. [Source]

Posted in: mma, alistair overeem, test, drug, ubereem

Women's MMA Report: Strikeforce's Santos suspended, Fujii dominant in DREAM debut

The future of the Strikeforce 145-pound women's division changed drastically this past week with news that champion Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos had tested positive for a steroid metabolite. The Brazilian knockout artist is expected to be stripped of her Strikeforce title, and her division may be phased out of the promotion entirely. In the latest Women's MMA Report, MMAjunkie.com's Robert Sargent discusses the failed test, Megumi "Mega Megu" Fujii's successful DREAM debut, two big Strikeforce bookings, and a busy Jan. 21 night for women's MMA.

Posted in: mma, strikeforce, women, dream debut, megu fujiis

Dana White guarantees MMA will be sanctioned in New York this year

One of the UFC’s primary goals in 2012 is to overcome the adversity they’ve faced getting MMA sanctioned in New York and finally put on a show there, likely at Madison Square Garden based on the historical significance and location. And, to hear UFC President Dana White talk about it, the odds appear to be in favor of such a thing occurring at some point sooner than later. White recently discussed the cause’s current status where he was not only enthusiastic about their chances but already has a fighter in mind for headlining action. “Real close,” White replied when asked how far away MMA in NY was in a conversation with MMA Fight Corner. “It’s going to happen and I guarantee it’s going to happen this year.” Based on the uncertain nature of exactly the “when” would actually occur it’s clearly impossible to have a match-up already made for the UFC’s eventual debut in the Big Apple. However, White knows who he’d prefer to book for the card’s main event. “It would be nice to go in there with, probably, Jon Jones,” the hard-working head honcho revealed. Jones, the transcendent UFC light heavyweight champ, hails from Rochester, New York. Currently the hang up preventing MMA’s sanctioning in New York relates to a handful of State politicians who feel the sport is too brutal as well as what is believed to be a butting of heads between the culinary union and Zuffa based on an issue with the lack of union workers at Fertitta-owned Station Casinos. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, mma, ufc ’s, york, card ’s

Dana White Guarantees New York MMA Legalization in 2012

Dana White has been making the radio rounds lately and there has been a lot of great information coming out of it. From his statement that Cyborg had been stripped of her Strikeforce title to his announcement of The Ultimate Fighter Brazil airing on Fuel TV in the U.S. to now making a guarantee that New York will legalize the sport of mixed martial artis this year. MMA Fighting with the transcript: "We're so close," White recently told the MMA Fight Corner show on FOX Sports Radio. "It's going to happen, and I guarantee you it's going to happen this year." ... "It's going to depend on what it happens, timing and everything else, but obviously, it would be nice to go in there with, probably, Jon Jones," he said. The UFC and others filed a lawsuit in late 2011 against the mixed martial arts ban, it's unclear if his guarantee has anything to do with that suit or just a feeling based on information of how things are moving currently. I still think the legalization in New York isn't all that important (or is at least overblown in how important people think it is), but it'd be great if the whole issue was finally put to bed.

Posted in: mma, york, fighter brazil, guarantee, york isnt

UFC Quick Quote: MMA 'guaranteed' to be sanctioned in New York by end of 2012

"We're so close. It's going to happen, and I guarantee you it's going to happen this year. It's going to depend on when it happens, timing and everything else, but obviously, it would be nice to go in there with, probably, Jon Jones." Strong words from promotion president Dana White, who tells MMA Fight Corner he "guarantees" that mixed martial arts (MMA) will be sanctioned in the state of New York by the end of 2012. Zuffa LLC, parent company of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), recently filed suit against the "Empire State," calling its ban on cage fighting "unconstitutional," limiting "the liberty of those who would, but for the ban, attend live professional MMA events, as well as those who train in MMA and want to exhibit their skills as professionals before a live crowd." Perhaps the courts were able to convince the powers that be they had to get with the times? Or is this just White being a tough-talking promoter? Time will tell. More on New York's MMA ban here.

Posted in: mma, york, mma events, ban, championship ufc

The boys over at MMA Nation debate the "deep historical links" between the UFC and professional...

The boys over at MMA Nation debate the "deep historical links" between the UFC and professional wrestling. See what all the fuss is about right here.

Posted in: ufc, mma, nation, debate, boy

Review: MTV's 'Caged' Exactly What You Would Expect

Without going into a long diatribe about what MTV used to be, I was fairly certain what to expect when two press screener episodes of MTV's new reality series "Caged" arrived at my doorstep and after viewing them, I was correct. If you're into teen reality drama shows with a modicum of sports, this show is for you. Otherwise, MMA fans can skip the series which debuts Monday on MTV at 10 PM EST. The debut sets the scene in Shreveport, Louisiana, and neighboring Minden where we're told the only thing for high school graduates to do is drink, get laid and beat some guys up. That's actually a direct quote from Wes Branch, an amateur fighter with an ex-girlfriend, a young son and aspirations to be a big-time MMA star. He trains in a friend's backyard as he doesn't have the time to go to a real school, yet brags about drinking $100 worth of beer at a recent party before vomiting. Not surprisingly, there is concern about him making weight for a fight that weekend. Red is Wes' ex, a seemingly nice person who is attending nursing school while raising their son Jaxon. They broke up three months ago. We also meet Daniel Payne, a likeable tall blonde fella who apparently has never been knocked out. He too is an amateur with a fight coming up, has a girl that he falls in and out of love with and he dated the late sister of his best friend. The two discuss her passing in an awkward forced scene as they're hitting a heavy bag in Daniel's garage. Along the way, fellow amateur and Payne teammate Matt Schnell is introduced. According to his coach, he's the best of the group. His sister is also a stripper. He wants his dad to be proud of him. Family drama? Check and check. Essentially, the show is no different than any teen reality drama on MTV. It merely has MMA as a backdrop as a way to get out of this supposedly terrible situation they're all in. They all compete for Ring Rules, an amateur only organization in Louisiana run by Will Broyles, who also co-produces the show. The events are similar to football games in "Varsity Blues" where the town completely shuts down to go watch the events. At the end of the show, all three fighters step into the cage and compete with plenty of of piped-in crowd noise, girlfriend drama and the like laid out for the viewer. I won't spoil the results for you here, but it fits with the rest of the show. It's very MTV-like. Scenes from the rest of the series promise more of the same. Perhaps this will be a real launching pad for some of the talent on the show, but there isn't much here of substance for MMA fans.

Posted in: mma, show, mtv, amateur, reality drama

MMA on TV

Welcome to “MMA on TV”, Five Ounces of Pain’s weekly update on the upcoming MMA-broadcast schedule. Miss the latest episode of MMA Live or UFC Unleashed? Wondering when Showtime, Spike TV, or HDNet are airing a replay of their latest offering or interested in finding out where to tune into live shows occurring over the next seven days? January 9 – January 15 All Times Eastern Monday (1/9) UFC Unleashed (Replay) on FuelTV at 12am UFC Reloaded (Replay) on FuelTV at 1am Best of Sengoku Featherweight GP (Replay) on HDNet at 3:30pm Inside MMA (Premiere) on HDNet at 8pm Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson (Replay) on ShowtimeEX at 10pm Tuesday (1/10) Inside MMA (Replay) on HDNet at 12am UFC Best of 2011 (Premiere) on FuelTV at 6pm UFC 142 Countdown (Premiere) on FuelTV at 9pm UFC Tonight (Premiere) on FuelTV at 10pm Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine (Replay) on ShowtimeEX at 10pm UFC Champion’s Roundtable (Replay) on FuelTV at 10:30pm Wednesday (1/11) MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 12am UFC Reloaded (Replay) on FuelTV at 12am MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 5:30am UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 3pm Super Submissions 3 (Replay) on HDNet at 3:30pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 4pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 5pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 6pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 7pm UFC Reloaded (Premiere) on FuelTV at 7pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 8pm Art of Fighting (Replay) on MAVTV at 8pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 9pm MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 9pm King of the Cage (Replay) on MAVTV at 9:30pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 10pm UFC 142 Countdown (Replay) on FuelTV at 10pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 11pm Thursday (1/12) Best of PRIDE FC (Replay) on FuelTV at 12am UFC Tonight (Replay) on FuelTV at 1am UFC Champion’s Roundtable (Replay) on FuelTV at 1:30am Art of Fighting (Replay) on MAVTV at 1:30am UFC Unleashed (Replay) on FuelTV at 2am MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 2:30am King of the Cage (Replay) on MAVTV at 3am MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 12:30pm WVR: Soul of Fight Part 1 (Replay) on HDNet at 3:30pm UFC Reloaded (Replay) on FuelTV at 5pm MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 5:30pm UFC 142 Countdown (Replay) on FuelTV at 8pm Best of PRIDE FC (Replay) on FuelTV at 9pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on FuelTV at 10pm Friday (1/13) UFC Best of 2011 (Replay) on FuelTV at 12am WVR: Soul of Fight Part 2 (Replay) on HDNet at 3:30pm UFC 142 Weigh In (Live Event) on FuelTV at 4pm UFC Champion’s Roundtable (Replay) on FuelTV at 4:30pm UFC 142 Countdown (Replay) on FuelTV at 5pm World MMA Awards (Replay) on FuelTV at 6pm UFC 142 Weigh In (Replay) on FuelTV at 7pm UFC Tonight (Replay) on FuelTV at 7:30pm Inside MMA (Replay) on HDNet at 9pm DREAM New Year 2011 Part 2 (Replay) on HDNet at 10pm UFC 142 Countdown (Replay) on SPEED at 11pm Saturday (1/14) Inside MMA (Replay) on HDNet at 2am DREAM New Year 2011 Part 2 (Replay) on HDNet at 3am MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 12:30pm World MMA Awards (Replay) on FuelTV at 2pm UFC Best of 2011 (Replay) on FuelTV at 3pm MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 5:30pm UFC Tonight (Replay) on FuelTV at 6pm UFC 142 Weigh In (Replay) on FuelTV at 6:30pm UFC 142 Countdown (Replay) on FuelTV at 7pm MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 8pm UFC 142 Prelims (Live Event) on FX at 8pm UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes (Live Event) on PPV at 10pm Sunday (1/15) UFC 142 Weigh In (Replay) on FuelTV at 1am MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 1:30am UFC Unleashed (Replay) on FuelTV at 2am UFC 142 Weigh In (Replay) on FuelTV at 3am King of the Cage (Replay) on MAVTV at 10am King of the Cage (Replay) on MAVTV at 3pm UFC 142 Prelims (Replay) on FuelTV at 10pm

Posted in: ufc, mma, replay, pm, fueltv

Dana White guarantees MMA in New York this year

The UFC’s struggles to get MMA sanctioned in the State of New York are well documented. The promotion has tried and failed to get the sport legalized through legislative means in the past. Near the end of 2011, the UFC took things one step further and filed a lawsuit against the State, claiming that denying MMA fighters the right to compete was a violation of their First Amendment right. Despite the promotion’s ongoing struggles, UFC President Dana White recently made a bold statement regarding

Posted in: ufc, mma, mma fighters, amendment right, guarantees mma

Gina Carano's 'Haywire' movie review

The great thing about going to see Gina Carano's Haywire movie, which opens in theaters nationwide on Jan. 20, 2012, is that even if you don't like the film, you're still entitled to almost two hours of gratuitous ogling of the former mixed martial arts (MMA) champion. And that's really the secret ingredient in making Haywire, directed by Steven Soderbergh and co-starring Ewan McGregor, such an effective action thriller. This is a starring vehicle for the former American Gladiator and while we know she can fight, having amassed a 7-1 record during her career as a professional MMA fighter, what we didn't know was whether or not she could act. She can. That's not to suggest she'll be walking the red carpet at this year's Academy Awards, but keep in mind Carano is sharing the screen with such celluloid legends as Antonio Banderas and Michael Douglas. Think about that for a second. Our Gina Carano is chewing scenery with Gordon-freaking-Gekko. Haywire tells the story of a super-secret spy (Carano), recruited by her former boss (McGregor) to do "one last job" for a faceless organization. As the film unfolds, she finds herself betrayed and on the run, not sure who to trust as she chop-sockys her way back onto U.S. soil. In other words, it's the same tired formula we've seen in countless other spy flicks. So why is this film so damn enjoyable? Well, for starters, Soderbergh is a master craftsman. His usual trademarks are all here, including his signature gritty style, established in previous films like The Limey and Traffic. Fight scenes, inevitable when your leading role is embodied by an MMA fighter, never overstep the boundaries defined in a legitimate combat sports competition. Wire work is nonexistent and editing is done primarily in long shots. And, most importantly, in real time. That was a major concern for me, as a fan of both MMA and action movies. Nothing irks me more than two "fighters" executing tornado kicks while dangling from a helicopter or flying through the windshield of an oncoming cement truck. But is it fair to classify Haywire as simply an exercise in style? Perhaps. The plot is so thin you could practically floss with it, but every actor who put pen to paper and walked on set, including the terrific Michael Fassbender (Inglorious Basterds) and flavor-of-the-month Channing Tatum (G.I. Joe), plays it straight, giving Haywire a much-needed feeling of authenticity. At the end of the day, however, the success of this caper is directly proportionate to the mainstream appeal of Carano, who glows onscreen with an understated charm and old-school glamor, like the kind you might expect from a leading lady in the silent film era. Not bad for a gal who used to make a living by getting punched in the face for a few hundred bucks a month. The artist formerly known as "Conviction" is a natural beauty, refreshingly full-figured with a touch of girl-next-door-ishness, allowing her to kick the crap out of gun-toting bad guys without the audience thinking, "Yeah, right." While Carano is the focal point of the narrative, she plays it no differently than what you might expect from a male counterpart in the same role: Withdrawn, brooding and only speaking when the plot requires her to. In fact, most of her actual "acting" is relegated to body language. That's by design, as Soderbergh makes a concerted effort to play to her strengths, instead of rolling the dice with a more developed character for her onscreen debut. And having an all-star cast to support her certainly doesn't hurt. The result is a film of remarkable appeal. Carano commands the screen and ultimately, the audience. By the time the end credits roll, you will have gotten exactly what you paid for: "The Face of Women's MMA" doing exactly what she does best. Kicking ass and looking good in the process. I know a lot of steadfast moviegoers have stopped trekking to the theater as a result of rising ticket prices and substandard offerings. Haywire, one of the first major motion pictures of 2012, is the strongest argument you can make for reconsidering that position. MMAmania.com Managing Editor Jesse Holland attended an October 2010 screening of Haywire. You can follow more of his exploits on Twitter @Jesse_Holland. Or not. To see what all the fuss is about, check out the complete Haywire movie trailer here.

Posted in: mma, haywire, carano, film, movie

Sherdog.com's Greg Savage and Yahoo! Sprorts' Kevin Iole join Luke Thomas tonight for MMA Nation...

Sherdog.com's Greg Savage and Yahoo! Sprorts' Kevin Iole join Luke Thomas tonight for MMA Nation radio to talk Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine. How to Listen If you're in Washington, D.C. tune your radio dial to 106.7 FM To stream over the Internet, 106.7 on Radio.com Mobile devices - The Yahoo Radio App for either Apple or Android For a look inside the studio, On ustream.tv How to Interact Call the show TOLL FREE: 1-800-636-1067 Register at MMA Nation and leave a comment luke.thomas@sbnation.com @SBNLukeThomas facebook.com/MMANationDotCom

Posted in: mma, mma nation, nation, yahoo, luke thomas

Can Fedor Lead a Rebound for Japanese MMA?

HDNet broadcaster Hans Thompson breaks down Dream's New Year's Eve event and how Fedor's return to Japan could impact the MMA scene there.

Posted in: mma, break, fedor, mma scene, fedors return

2012 World MMA Welterweight Scouting Report: #1 - Andrey Koreshkov

Name: Andrey Koreshkov Nickname: -- Age: 21 Height: 6'0" Location: Russia This is a guest post by Rory MacLeod (smoogy) You may not know the name, but RusFighters Sport Club has emerged as the premier professional mixed martial arts team in Russia. Their flagship fighter, Alexander Shlemenko, has won two Bellator middleweight tournament titles in as many tries. Alexander Sarnavskiy, the #7-ranked lightweight on the 2011 World MMA Scouting Report, is one of the most coveted lightweight talents in the sport. And now Andrey Koreshkov (8-0), the youngest of the trio, is emerging as a blue chip athlete with the potential to make a big impact of his own. As a boy, Andrey was trained in a traditional Russian art form: ballet dancing. Bullying and fisticuffs weren't an uncommon reaction from his peers, so he began training in MMA to learn how to defend himself. He began with pankration training in Omsk and quickly moved up the amateur ranks. In 2010, he collected two world titles in the sport. Opting to go pro in MMA the same year, Koreshkov relocated to St. Petersberg to join RusFighters. So far "Spartan" has amassed an eight fight winning streak to begin his career with no fights even making it to the end of the second round. Most recently, he fought The Ultimate Fighter veteran Kyacey Uscola, who was filling in on short notice for another TUF luminary, Shonie Carter. Koreshkov blasted Uscola around the ring with power punches and kicks, finishing with some particularly brutal ground and pound late in the first round. Though his pankration background might suggest a boxing or wrestling-oriented approach to fighting, Andrey dominates with a high paced assault of kickboxing and submission attacks that is reminiscent of DREAM Champion Gegard Mousasi. It remains to be seen how Andrey's defense will fare against a high level grappler, but his offensive skills are outright devastating in all areas. Koreshkov's teacher and primary style influence is Shlemenko himself, and it shows. With his guidance, and RusFighters Vice President Alexei Zhernakov fighting for him outside the cage, Andrey is on the fast track. Expect to see his debut in a major promotion very soon. Check out video footage of Andrey Koreshkov after the jump... FlyweightBantamweightFeatherweightLightweight #1 - #2 - #3 -#4 -#5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - Rony Mariano#2 - Aljamain Sterling#3 - Chris Holdsworth#4 - Josh Hill#5 - Fabiano Fernandes#6 - Claudio Ledesma#7 - Sirwan Kakai#8 - Kyoji Horiguchi#9 - Leandro Hygo#10 - Pedro Munhoz #1 - Hacran Dias#2 - Joey Gambino#3 - Brandon Bender#4 - Lance Palmer #5 - Jim Alers#6 - Anthony Gutierrez#7 - Max Holloway#8 - John Teixeira#9 - Cody Bollinger#10 - Bubba Jenkins #1 - Fabricio Guerreiro#2 - Alessandro Ferreira#3 - Adriano Martins#4 - Justin Salas#5 - Neilson Gomes#6 - Eduard Folayang#7 - Zorobabel Moreira#8 - Anton Kuivanen#9 - Jordan Rinaldi#10 - J.P. Vainikainen WelterweightMiddleweightLight HeavyweightHeavyweight #1 - Andrey Koreshkov#2 - Dhiego Lima#3 - Brandon Thatch#4 - Nordine Taleb#5 - Hernani Perpetuo#6 - Brock Jardine#7 - Alan Jouban#8 - Mohsen Bahari#9 - Andre Santos#10 - Stephen Thompson #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - Andrey Koreshkov vs. Kyacey Uscola Andrey Koreshkov (RusFighters Team) vs Eldad Levi Jamelao vs Andrey Koreshkov Andrew Koreshkov vs. Abdul Dadaeva

Posted in: mma, vs, koreshkov, andrey, rusfighter

A Lesson in Street MMA: Lots of scrambles in McDonald's and I don't mean eggs. I'm lovin it!

Sometimes Street MMA happens in restaurants other than Denny's. Shocking, I know. As loyal as we are to that fine chain, when a serious Street MMA match goes down we just have to share it with you guys. That's what we do. For the first time in Street MMA history, we present a McDonald's Match. McDonald's Matches are slightly different in the sense that booths will have to be fought under, and the fans that attend a McDonald's Match are fickle. They prefer a stand up fight, and have no use for grappling. Case and point, the dude reading the newspaper calmly as the fight goes on around him. We join the match in progress as one competitor looks to have his foe in an inverted triangle underneath one of the restaurant's booths. Eventually, the dude in the dark clothes tries to apply a chicken wing to no avail. Somehow plaid shirt makes his way out of the submissions and works into a full mount to lay down some serious ground and pound. After that all hell breaks loose. [Source]

Posted in: mma, mcdonald, street mma, street, guys thats

Best MMA Photos of 2011

Filed under: MMA Videos, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosMMA Fighting photographer Esther Lin selects her top photos from the past year, and tells the tales behind them, in the video below. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mma, video, photo, tale, mma photos

Rosi Sexton On Cyborg: 'Now We Can All Stop Pretending'

This is a guest editorial by Rosi Sexton, top 10 pound-for-pound women's MMA fighter and osteopath. When I saw the news on twitter last night, I felt a little like a ten year old whose parents have just admitted that Santa Claus doesn't exist. A tiny bit disappointed, but mostly relieved that now we can all stop pretending. I'm not going to talk about Cyborg, though. Partly because we haven't yet heard her side of the story, but also because she's only the tip of a very large iceberg. It's the issues that the story raises that I'm interested in. To people within MMA, it usually comes as no surprise when a fighter tests positive for steroids. It's generally accepted that there are a lot of fighters out there who use banned performance enhancing drugs (estimates range from "a significant minority" to "almost all"), but most of the time they get past the limited testing that is put in place either by timing their steroid use carefully, using masking agents or both. It's only when someone makes a mistake that they get caught. Because of this, performance enhancing drugs are often seen as a non-issue. "They're all taking it anyway, so what's the problem?". The problem is that this is a combat sport. In most sports, the consequences of failure might be measured in pride, status or money. In MMA, you add physical damage and injury. In female MMA, for example, you can find yourself watching a fighter who is essentially (in hormonal terms) male, beat up a woman. It often makes for uncomfortable viewing. It's bad for the sport, and most of all it's bad for the fighters. It sends the message that following the rules is penalized by getting your face smashed in. Nobody doubts that those fighters who use illegal substances still have to work hard. To be amongst the best in the world, that's essential. But there are physiological limits to what can be achieved with hard work alone. At the top levels, where most fighters are already working close to their maximum training capacity, and everyone has solid technique, the added advantage that performance enhancing drugs can give is significant and in some cases insurmountable. For fighters, then, there's a huge incentive to exploit any loopholes. You might not want to cheat to gain an advantage over your opponents, but at the same time you don't want to be at a disadvantage if "everyone else is doing it". Tougher penalties alone won't do. The testing procedures used in MMA are (on the whole) outdated enough that fighters are confident that with a little knowledge they can avoid getting caught. Occasionally, a fighter is careless or unlucky enough to test positive and receives a fine and a ban as a token sacrifice to the gods of public opinion and sporting legitimacy. Meanwhile, other fighters breathe a sigh of relief that on this occasion it wasn't them. Everything carries on as normal. This approach isn't working. So what's the answer? We have a choice to make. We can decide that we want steroids out of the sport. In that case, athletic commissions, governing bodies, promotions alike need to work together to implement gold standard drug policies. The World Anti-Doping Agency work with sporting organizations and produce model rules and protocols for testing. As a minimum, off season random testing of fighters is essential. It might never be possible to get rid of performance enhancing drugs entirely, but it's possible to tighten the net and change the balance between risk and reward in favour of the clean athlete. Some of the athletic commissions are starting to move towards stricter testing, but much more still needs to be done. Or, we can decide that all this is too much trouble. The point is often made that MMA is more a business than a sport, and it's true that many casual fans are more concerned about seeing exciting fights than what the athletes are taking before they get into the cage. If this is the route we want to go down then we should change the rules and allow athletes to use these drugs freely, without the stigma of "cheating" attached. Of course there are risks and side effects - but we could at least have an honest, grown up discussion about the medical issues, without the hypocrisy that surrounds the subject at the moment. Athletes could make an informed decision to balance the risks of the drugs against the risks of being the one not taking them. Neither set of risks should be underestimated. As a fighter I've never used steroids, and I don't want to start now. Of the two options, I'd prefer to see an improved standard of testing. But the important thing for the sport and everyone involved in it, is that we come clean about it one way or the other. Rosi's blog can be read here and you can visit the Combat Sports Clinic for her osteopathic work.

Posted in: mma, fighter, sport, drug, testing

Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey Official for March

Filed under: Strikeforce, NewsContrary to what Miesha Tate and Sarah Kaufman may think, Ronda Rousey is officially Strikeforce's No. 1 contender female bantamweight contender. During Saturday night's Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine telecast on Showtime, it was announced that Rousey will meet current 135-pound champion Tate on March 3. News of the fight was first reported by MMAWeekly.com earlier in the week. The announcement comes after weeks of debate from all corners of the MMA world about who Strikeforce should match Tate up against next. In the end, matchmaker Sean Shelby chose Rousey, the former Olympic judo bronze medalist who's 4-0 as a professional and has undeniably breathed new life into women's MMA due to her bravado. Tate (12-2) won the Strikeforce title in July when she submitted Marloes Coenen in the fourth round via arm-triangle choke. She enters the bout riding a six-fight winning streak. While not officially announced, the fight is expected to take place in Columbus, OH. Both Rousey and Tate appeared together on a recent episode of The MMA Hour to discuss who truly deserved a shot at the title. You can relive the episode here. As for Kaufman, she spoke to MMAFighting.com earlier this week about being passed over for Rousey. You can read her side of the story here. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mma, strikeforce, tate, rousey, miesha tate

Paul Daley plans March return, willing to fight Nate Marquardt at BAMMA if the timing is right

After fighting six times in 12 months, Paul Daley is entitled to a rest but instead he is in Tiger Muay Thai & MMA in Thailand, sharpening up his skills in preparation for a busy 2012. Semtex likes to fight, that's all he is really interested in, and his explosive Muay Thai based style means that fans like to see him fight even more. They should be getting to do that in the next few months as Daley does have a fight coming up although for the moment at least the details are shrouded in mystery, "I have a fight coming up, nothings set in stone but it will be around March time, that’s as much as I can say. It should be a big fight and I’m looking forward to it but I’m not even allowed to say which organization I will be fighting for." He wouldn't give any indication as to where the fight was taking place or who the opponent would be but he did express a willingness to fight former UFC middleweight contender Nate Marquardt, with this match up widely expected to take place at some stage under the BAMMA banner, "The fight with Nate Marquardt has been offered to me numerous times and if it is offered at a convenient time I’ll take it. I’m not one to back away from fights and it will be held in the UK where I have a lot of family and friends. It’s a very good matchup, he’s a former top ten middleweight and a big name to come down to the welterweight division and a big name for BAMMA to have signed." One of the advantages of being outside the UFC is that Daley is allowed to fight for multiple promotions, allowing him to remain more active and, of course, get paid more regularly. He says he does not know whether he would be welcomed back after being unceremoniously cut for striking Josh Koscheck after the bell, "I have no idea whether the UFC would take me back. I just need to keep winning and improving. Last year there was a poll with Michael Bisping, Dan Hardy and the other UK MMA stand outs and I won UK fighter of the year with over 60,000 votes which was considerably more than the other guys which, considering they are big names in the UFC, and a guy like me who was kicked out of the UFC is still a favourite among the fans is something no promotion can ignore so hopefully…. We’ll see what happens." He repeatedly states during the interview that his focus is purely on fighting, winning and improving hence the trip to Tiger Muay Thai. Daley has trained at the Sitsongpeenong Muay Thai camp in Bangkok but this is his first time training at an MMA facility in Thailand and he is enjoying the experience, "The set up is quite unique, there are a lot of great Muay Thai camps in Thailand but not so many that have MMA, Jiu Jitsu and wrestling and all that and the catering for the fighters here is pretty much second to none. There are so many high level coaches and guys with over 400 Muay Thai fights and they also have MMA fighters like JJ Ambrose, Felipe Enomoto and Ray Elbe. I think this is definitely going to be a place I come back to in the future." Catering is an issue which is particularly pertinent for Daley, who has missed weight in two of his last five fights, although a broken sauna was to blame for his failure to make the 170 lbs limit at BAMMA 7 last September. He is adamant that his future lies in the welterweight division and is taking steps to ensure that he has no further issues with the scales in 2012, "Diet is one of the areas that I have been focuccing on and that will be a vital part of my training camp in the build up to my next fight. I'm very strict on what foods I'm eating." Daley's highest profile outing in 2011 came in April when he challenged Nick Diaz for the Strikeforce Welterweight title. In one of the rounds of the year he repeatedly rocked the champion who was able to recuperate and bounce back to stop the Brit with just three seconds remaining in the round. Diaz is now one of the brightest stars in the UFC where he is riding an 11 fight win streak all the way to a title shot but Daley gave him a tougher test than any other recent opponent and believes that had circumstances not conspired against him he might well have won that fight, "I think a rematch with Nick Diaz would be a very interesting match up and I think I could beat him. He got lucky the first time we fought and if the fight took place somewhere else with a different referee I could have been the Strikeforce Champion." Despite his disappointment over the timing of the stoppage when they fought Daley has plenty of respect for Diaz and expects him to go on and win the UFC welterweight title, "We knew he was very good so nothing came a as a surprise, I got caught early on and he is a pressure fighter so you have to be able to withstand the pressure, the fight was so close that there’s not too much that I need to critique I just need to improve continually and if I fight him again it will be different. Diaz is a very good and talented fighter and I wish him all the best, I think he will be the UFC champion and my focus is just to continue to improve so that I will be in the same position sometime soon." Given how much success Semtex has enjoyed and the amount of money he has made in the process he could easily have had his head turned and succumbed to distractions. Refreshingly the veteran of 41 MMA fights is still completely focused on his MMA career and has absolutely no intention to slow down or quit, "I’m hoping to get as many fights in as possible, some big fights this year would be nice. As long as I keep doing well and winning and the fans want to see me fight I’ll keep fighting for a long, long time. I'm still only 28 and I've got another six or seven years at least. I'm passionate about martial arts and as long as I can feed my family and pay the bills and get to train full time that’s enough for me." You get the impression that even if Daley hadn't made it to the pinnacle of the sport he would still probably be training every day after work and getting fights in whenever he could. After fighting non stop for eight years he still has a burning desire to compete which none of the setbacks he has suffered so far in his career can diminish, "I want people to be able to continuosly see improvements in me, whether that’s conducting myself in interviews, whether that’s knocking more people, putting on more entertaining fights or just making the weight. I want to fulfill my potential and a lot of people look up to me and appreciate what I do and I owe it to them to be the best that I can possibly be and that’s what I want to do in 2012." For up to date news on Paul Daley visit: www.semtex.tv.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, time, daley

The MMA vs. Boxing debate has now gone to the vloggers, and it's getting pretty intense

In the geek world, The MMA vs. boxing debate is parallel to the great Star Wars vs. Star Trek argument that you've undoubtedly overheard in countless comic book shops over the years. At the heart of it all is a difference of two philosophies. However, the conspiracy theorist in me wants to believe different. Humans operate by polarizing everything in our universe. From the concept of 'Good' to 'Evil' and even the theory of 'Liberal' and 'Conservative,' segmenting our reality into two entities allows us to easily digest concepts by forcing us to pick one side while being vehemently against the other. If everything operated in shades of grey and indifference, our cognition would literally malfunction and we would be so preoccupied with cognitive analysis that nothing would get done in society. Now what if some shadowy, Illuminati-like organization created something that would get humanity polarized on a certain issue. Let's take the concept of 'Republican' and 'Democrat' for example. While both sides are struggling to rip each other apart, we're too preoccupied to actually see what's being done to us. I think it was David Icke that once said 'we are divided for the sole purpose of us never truly uniting.' David Icke also said that trans-dimensional, shape-shifting reptilians are controlling the planet, so take it with a grain of salt. Wow, look at that. I just tripped into the conspiracy theory rabbit hole and managed to crawl out just to tell you that the MMA vs. boxing debate that we've heard over the years has now hit the vlogosphere, and things are getting pretty intense. If you've been in the combat sports world over the years, then I'm sure you've heard of Elie Seckbach. He's the guy that's literally taken the boxing world by storm though his guerrilla style reporting. Seckbach's vocal samples were even featured in a Lil Wayne song that was created in honor of Kobe Bryant. After last week's UFC 141, Seckbach cut a short vlog insisting that Brock Lesnar gave up during his fight with Alistair Overeem and that apparently in the boxing world, fighters 'never quit.' At the end of his video, Seckbach issued a challenge for anyone to respond to his bashing of MMA and his claim that the UFC 'used' Brock Lesnar. This morning, the vlogger that thousands of fans throughout the world voted in last year's MiddleEasy Awards as the 'Greatest Vlogger in MMA' not only responds to Elie Seckbach, but defends the UFC. Yes, you read that right. It wasn't a typo. Check out what the infamous Bloodstain Lane said regarding the institute of mixed martial arts as compared to boxing.

Posted in: world, mma, vs, boxing, seckbach

MMA Life: Strikeforce’s Lorenz Larkin and His Custom Lowrider

In the lastest installment of MMAWeekly.com's MMA Life, Strikeforce light heavyweight Lorenz Larkin takes some time to talk about his 1973 Chevrolet Impala.

Posted in: mma, strikeforce, life, lorenz, custom lowrider

MMA Link Club: The Draw of MMA, Influence of Pro Wrestling, and Competition with Boxing

- Top 10 Best Fights From the UFC in 2011 (TheFightNerd)"In a sport with the sheer variety of outcomes that MMA has, there’s no specific formula for what makes a great fight. Instead, truly great matches are made when some or all of the elements of MMA come together in two fighters to make something that is both a highly competitive bout and a dramatic story told through action. 2011 served as a flagship year in the world’s largest MMA organization when it came to great fights..."- The Rearview

Posted in: fight, mma, mma organization, flagship year, mma influence

MMAterial Facts (1/06/12) : Lesnar Retires from MMA, Cris “Cyborg” Suspended by CSAC

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 Ric Fogel for ESPN.com - The Re-Education of ‘King’ Mo Lawal (MMA Fighting) “Mo Lawal can admit it now: things didn’t go the way he thought they would when he first walked though the doors of the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, Calif. in the spring of 2011. What happened was simple, really. He came in with all the swagger you’d expect from a man who goes by the moniker of “King” Mo, and then he found out the hard way that he wasn’t the only MMA royalty on those mats. … Or as he put it: “I got beat up.” - Is the pro-wrestling influence in UFC unattractive to female sports fans? (Fight Opinion) “MMA — like all sports — has to watch its image. The challenges in MMA are unique in the sense that we still have grumpy old sports editors and corporate sponsors who don’t want to deal with the sport. But they’re not unique in the sense that any sport can be stereotyped. Browse any sports site and read the comments about people who think the NBA is populated by “thugs.” Look at the damage control baseball has had to do in the wake of its drug scandals and labor strife. … MMA has unique ties to pro wrestling, particularly in Japan but also in the USA with crossovers such as Brock Lesnar and Bobby Lashley. But MMA and wrestling are a volatile mix. Handle with care..” - Joe Rogan: Retiring from MMA is incredibly difficult (MMA Mania) “One of the things I think about sometimes with all the great fighters that I’ve seen come and go is just how difficult it must be for some of them to leave behind the incredible excitement and intensity of the world of being a professional fighter and then reset your life and find yourself something else to dedicate your time and interest to. Fighting is such an all-encompassing job. It really has to be, especially at the highest levels for you to be successful. The competition is so steep that to compete at the top of the sport of MMA you really need to be completely dedicated to training and improving all day every day. When it’s time to move past that and into a new phase of life I would think that for some it must be incredibly difficult. And that’s not even taking into consideration how difficult it is for some of these ultra competitive guys to know when it’s time to step away.” - Brock Lesnar Announces His Retirement Following Loss To Alistair Overeem at UFC 141 (MMA Convert) “I’ve had a really difficult couple of years with my disease, and I’m going to officially say tonight is the last time,” Lesnar said. “This is the last time you’ll see me in the octagon.” … “I promised my wife and my kids if I won this fight, I would get a title shot, and that would be my last fight,” Lesnar said. “But if I lost tonight … you’ve been great.” - Cesar Gracie responds to BJ Penn calling out Nick Diaz on Twitter (MiddleEasy) “BJ Penn has apparently not come to terms with the beating he received at the hands of Nick Diaz.” … “At some point it is up to those around you to protect you from yourself. To take you aside and let you know you are wrong and help save you from your folly. Unfortunately for Penn he is surrounded by “Yes Men” that are unwilling to do that. The outcome will be predictable, resulting in a fighter that will never push himself to the fullest and will always have excuses for his losses.” - Karo Parysan talks training Ronda Rousey, Beating Nick Diaz, Tough Times & More (FightLine) “Former UFC welterweight contender Karo Parisyan has been battling personal demons and waning motivation for the last few years, seeking to find the drive and strength of mind which once carried him near the top of the heap. … The Heat spoke with FightLine just before the holidays, discussing everything from his recent career slump to his UFC 49 scrap with Nick Diaz.” - The Rearview Mirror: Five MMA Trends We Hope To Have Left Behind In 2011 (Cage Potato) “We’re only a few hours into the new year, but unless your head hit the pillow just as the ball dropped, you’ve probably already carried some of your bad habits with you into 2012. We are creatures of habit, and change doesn’t come naturally to us. If it did, we wouldn’t make such a big production out of our ‘New Year’s Resolutions’. The sport of mixed martial arts and its fans are no different. Here’s a quick look at some of the bad habits we’ve picked up and poor decisions we’ve made over the past 12-months. Let’s hope we can leave them behind in yesteryear.” - Grappling with Issues – 1/6/11 (Five Ounces of Pain) “What was your reaction to Brock Lesnar‘s retirement? Should any hope remain where Fedor Emelianenko signing with the UFC is concerned? Will “King Mo” fight in Strikeforce again after tomorrow night’s bout against Lorenz Larkin? Is Jake Ellenberger more likely to earn a title-shot in 2012 than Johny Hendricks?” - Matt Hughes Comes Under Fire for Controversial Hunting Pictures (5thRound) “It has been a tough Twitter week for a couple of former UFC champions. BJ Penn has taken some heat for his harsh words for Nick Diaz on the blue-birded network, while Matt Hughes (Pictured left) has come under heavy fire for the controversial hunting pictures he recently posted on his account. … “Mark and me just got done here in Texas! Yes mine is bigger,” Hughes wrote accompanied by the above photo.” - Cyborg Santos tested positive for Anabolic Steroids, suspended by CSAC (LowKick) “The California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) has suspended the license of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter Cristiane Justino Santos, better known in MMA circles as Cris Cyborg, and has fined her $2,500 as the result of a positive test for a banned substance. … Santos’ December 16, 2011 drug test came back positive for stanozolol metabolites. CSAC learned of the test results December 23, 2011 and suspended Santos’s license, with the suspension applied retroactively to December 16, 2011. In accordance with Rule 368, the result of her last fight between Hiroko Yamanaka will be changed to a “No Decision”.” - Top 10 Best Fights From the UFC in 2011 (TheFightNerd) “In a sport with the sheer variety of outcomes that MMA has, there’s no specific formula for what makes a great fight. Instead, truly great matches are made when some or all of the elements of MMA come together in two fighters to make something that is both a highly competitive bout and a dramatic story told through action. … 2011 served as a flagship year in the world’s largest MMA organization when it came to great fights. To put a bow on this passing age, below are the top ten greatest fights in the UFC for 2011. See who earned the top spot!” - Drunken UFC President Dana White Says Brock Lesnar Can Go to WWE (BleacherReport.com/MMA) “Yes, he can go. He can go to the [WWE],” said White, who was exiting a night club out of Hollywood, California early this week, slightly more inebriated than usual. … “You might be drunker than I am right now,” joked White to the reporter at hand.” The Rearview Mirror: Five MMA Trends We Hope To Have Left Behind In 2011

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, sport, lesnar

The Friday Morning MMA Link Party

If you're going to party for this edition of The Friday Morning MMA Link Party, be sure to not run into KJ Noons' dad. He may try to convince you that Mayhem Miller isn't a real MMA fighter and then choke you at a bar moments later. It will make a great story, but it might leave a few marks around your neck. The weekend is here and it's time to spend the next couple days relaxing on your sofa and preparing yourself for the greatness of Strikeforce airing for free on Showtime. Be sure to check out these links from around the MMA world before you go into hermit-mode for the weekend. [list class="bullet-6"] [li]The Re-Education of 'King' Mo Lawal. [MMAFighting] [/li] [li]Jon Jones Repping the UFC Like a Champ; May Defend Belt Three or Four Times in 2012. [CagePotato] [/li] [li]Tyron Woodley: “I’m going into this fight with some steam.” [Fives Ounces of Pain] [/li] [li]Chael Sonnen will be joined by WWE Champion CM Punk at UFC on Fox. [LowKick] [/li] [li]What Strikeforce Needs to be Great. [MMAConvert] [/li] [li]UFC Sweden Roster Filling Up Fast. [5th Round] [/li] [li]Why Penn vs Diaz Needs to Happen Now. [Bleacher Report] [/li] [li]Commentator Michael Schiavello tears Fedor & M-1 a new one on Twitter. [The Fight Nerd] [/li] [li]Strikeforce open media workout video highlights for 'Rockhold vs Jardine.' [MMAMania] [/li] [li]Five big items of fallout from the two NYE shows. [FightOpinion] [/li] [li]Fuel TV Boasts Ratings for New Year’s Day UFC Marathon & “UFC Tonight” Debut. [MMAPayout] [/li] [li]Video: Comedian Chris Gethard Challenges GSP On "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon." [Fightline] [/li] [/list] UFC 142 is On Pace to Becoming the Number 5 Most Cursed Card in UFC History

Posted in: ufc, mma, party, mma world, li

Highlights of Pat Barry's 1st 3 MMA Fights.

submitted by Jam_med [link] [4 comments]

Posted in: fight, mma, st, barry

5 Oz. MMA Link Club

Welcome back to another edition of “MMA Link Club”, Five Ounces of Pain‘s weekly smorgasbord of offerings from our brothers and sisters in the MMA community. Enjoy… A Gina Carano Photo Shoot for GQ (CagePotato.com) Nick Diaz Has Choice Words for B.J. Penn (MMAMania.com) An Incredibly Revealing Interview with Karo Parisyan (Fightline.com) Sarah Kaufman Calls Ronda Rousey’s Title-Shot “Ridiculous” (MMAFighting.com) Is Spike TV Looking to Air Boxing? (MMAPayout.com) Michael Schiavello Takes Issue with Fedor Emelianenko’s Backstage Behavior at DREAM NYE Event (TheFightNerd.com) Jon Jones Open to Another Four-Fight Year (5thRound.com) Do Women Want to see More Pro Wrestling-Style Behavior in MMA? (FightOpinion.com) A Look at Why Keith Jardine and Strikeforce are Perfect for Each Other (BleacherReport.com) Early Estimates Looking Good for UFC 141 Buyrate (MMAConvert.com) Video of the Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine Pre-Fight Presser (LowKick.com) Luke Rockhold Feels He is Only a Few Wins Away from a UFC Title-Shot (MiddleEasy.com)

Posted in: mma, mma community, keith jardine, mma fightopinioncom, pain ‘s

Sixth Ounce Podcast: Episode 13

It’s the first episode of the The Sixth Ounce Podcast in 2012 and boy is it a big one. First Brendhan Conlan and Adam Tool join Jeremy Lambert to talk about the year that was 2011 in MMA. We’ll discuss our favorite fights and fighters from this past year and preview the upcoming year in MMA by saying who we think is in for a breakout year and what fights we’re looking forward to in the new year. Plus we’ll talk about what the UFC on FOX deal means for both companies moving forward. Then Jeremy is joined by Samer Kadi and Dan Plunkett to talk about the business of MMA in 2011. We’ll discuss the PPV buyrates of the UFC and why they were down from the 2010 numbers. Plus we’ll talk about what UFC can do moving forward in order to get the buyrates back up and whether or not they’re running way too many shows for that to even happen. It’s two hours of MMA talk, so check it out. Podcast Powered By Podbean Download (Right Click -> Save Link As) – iTunes

Posted in: ufc, mma, year, podcast, samer kadi

MMA Link Parade

- Watch Gilbert Yvel Fight in His New 205-pound Body. [Middle Easy] - Lesnar Win Helps, But More Work Remains for Overeem [Sports Illustrated] - Jon Jones May Defend Belt Three or Four Times in 2012. [Cage Potato] - Tyron Woodley: "I'm Going into This Fight with Some Steam." [Five Ounces of Pain] - Chael Sonnen Will Be Joined by WWE Champion CM Punk at UFC on Fox. [Low Kick] - What Strikeforce Needs to Be Great. [MMA Convert] - UFC Sweden Roster Filling Up Fast. [5th Round] - Why Penn vs Diaz Needs to Happen Now. [Bleacher Report] - Ronda Rousey Eyes Strikeforce Titles. [Sports Illustrated] - Commentator Michael Schiavello Tears Fedor & M-1 a New One. [The Fight Nerd] - Strikeforce Open Media Workout Video Highlights for 'Rockhold vs Jardine.' [MMA Mania] - Fuel TV Boasts Ratings for New Year's Day UFC Marathon. [MMA Payout] - Video: Comedian Chris Gethard Challenges GSP On "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon." [Fightline] Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, jon jones, overeem sports

Latest UFC/MMA news and notes from around the web for the week of January 1, 2012

Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Rashad Evans and Keith Jardine pictured above, we can all "get along." Teaming up with MMA sites like MMA Fighting, Cage Potato, Fight Opinion and The Fight Nerd, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport. This week, Five Ounces of Pain speaks with Phil Davis, MMA Fighting gets Sarah Kaufman's thoughts on Ronda Rousey getting a title shot before her and Bleacher Report speaks with former Strikeforce champ Muhammed Lawal. The full list of links is after the jump. - Keith Jardine doesn't care what the critics say (LowKick) UFC veteran and Strikeforce Middleweight title challenger, Keith Jardine, who will look to dethrone division Champion Luke Rockhold this Saturday night, discusses his opponent, as well as the critics who say he doesn't deserve the title shot. Jardine admits that he's avoided the negativity surrounding the match-up, and says that he plans to make it a "real fight." - 10 most forgettable fights of 2011 (Cage Potato) - Phil Davis wants a title shot with a victory over Rashad Evans (Five Ounces of Pain) Much has been made of Rashad Evans wrestling credentials and how he used them during his mixed martial arts career, but what some fail to realize is that his collegiate record is a mediocre 48-34 during his three years at Michigan State. Davis on the other hand has a superb record of 116-17. Will that translate for Davis when the two meet on January 28? "Mr. Wonderful" certainly thinks so. - Sarah Kaufman feels Ronda Rousey title fight is 'ridiculous' (MMA Fighting) Sarah Kaufman saw the internet reports of a Miesha Tate-Ronda Rousey title at about the same time the rest of the MMA world did. She wasn't terribly surprised, she told MMA Fighting on Thursday, but neither was she particularly pleased. "I think it's terrible news," the former Strikeforce 135-pound women's champ said, and you can probably guess why. - Dana White Eyes Summer Slugfest for Junior dos Santos and Alistair Overeem (5thRound) Alistair Overeem secured his date with destiny by viciously disposed of Brock Lesnar last weekend at UFC 141. Now that he's solidified his top contender status, the only question remaining is when will his shootout with heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos take place? - Luke Rockhold thinks that a few key wins can put him in a position for Anderson Silva's belt (MiddleEasy) Can I just get this out of the way: I'm so thankful Strikeforce is still around. If Strikeforce wasn't in existence we wouldn't be able to have these fascinating interviews with Strikeforce champions using MMA math to leverage title shots in the UFC. - Top 10 best fights of 2011 (The Fight Nerd) In a sport with the sheer variety of outcomes that MMA has, there's no specific formula for what makes a great fight. Instead, truly great matches are made when some or all of the elements of MMA come together in two fighters to make something that is both a highly competitive bout and a dramatic story told through action. 2011 served as a flagship year in the world's largest MMA organization when it came to great fights. To put a bow on this passing age, below are the top ten greatest fights in the UFC for 2011.See who earned the top spot! - Five big items of fallout from the two NYE shows (Fight Opinion) Very sad & discouraging to hear the news about 30-year old DEEP fighter Tomoya Miyashita dying on New Year's Eve. He had fought one round of cancer (seminoma) and then was diagnosed with leukemia and lost the battle. He had a personal blog online at Ameba where he commented on his struggles and also posted pictures of those in the fight community who came to visit with him. - UFC 141: Payout Perspective (MMA Payout) Welcome to another edition of Payout Perspective. This time we look at a special Friday night event from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada which featured Brock Lesnar versus Alistair Overeem. - King Mo: It's time to give Larkin his first loss (BleacherReport.com/MMA) "I can deal with anybody. With Gracie, I could have taken him down a bunch of times and made him just stand back up. The thing is with Larkin is yea I can take him down, but we will see where the fight goes. I'm confident in my hands. Who has (Larkin) knocked out with his kicks? Nobody. I'm prepared for whatever he has. I'm not worried. I've been training with a great camp. I've trained with everybody. I've seen everything I can see. I know flash. I can defeat flash easy." - What Strikeforce needs to be great (MMA Convert) Sure, Scott Coker and his baby are beholden to their masters, and as such, the UFC has now laid claim to all of the Strikeforce heavyweights plus assorted other top talent. But gosh darn it, when Lorenzo Fertitta and company ponied up the cheddar and bought the whole thing, the number two MMA organization in the world was something to behold. Rockhold vs. Jardine is whole ‘lotta "not so much". So what, then, does Strikeforce need to be great? I am glad you asked... - Full interview with Karo Parisyan (Fightline) Karo Parisyan is tired, you can hear it in his voice. Tired like he's just waking up from a years-long nightmare in which someone else was living in his body, fighting and making his decisions for him. What makes it all worse is that there was no dream, that Parisyan has been the pilot all along, the reason for his own derailment. Now, frustrated but attaining clarity, he's just hoping it's not too late to fix his mistakes.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, title, strikeforce

2012 World MMA Welterweight Scouting Report: #7 - Alan Jouban

Photo by Jeff Sherwood, Sherdog Name: Alan Jouban Nickname: -- Age: 30 Height: 6'0" Location: California Chiming in at the top of the 2012 World MMA Scouting Report age limit, 30-year-old Alan Jouban (3-1) hopes to add evidence to the theory that 30 is the new 20. The Legends MMA team member is currently riding a two-fight win streak heading into 2012, beating D.J. Robertson at Shark Fights 20 in October and knocking out Andrew Goldthwaithe at Shark Fights 17 in July. His only blemish came at Tachi Palace Fight 9 where he ran into vaunted striker Chidi Njokuani, breaking in the third round after a kick to the body grounded him. Despite the setback, it hasn't soured any thoughts that Jouban can progress to an elite level. A modeling career previously derailed his aspirations to become a fighter, but those days are now behind him, and he's ready to forego a serious run in mixed martial arts. With an extensive Muay Thai background, excellent grappling chops, and a stable of UFC and Strikeforce veterans at his disposal, the potential is high for Jouban to punch a ticket into a major organization with a few notable wins under his belt. The noticeable flaw that may hinder his progression is his undersized gas tank. The Goldwaithe bout spotlighted the issue, and other areas of his game naturally disintegrated as he grew more tired. Luckily, his opponent was equally tired and less skilled. In battles against better competition, Jouban will need to ensure that doesn't happen again. At 30 years of age, the window of opportunity is smaller for Jouban than his younger counterparts. If he intends to make a serious run in the sport, he'll need to ramp up his conditioning and continue honing his skills in other areas. 2012 should be taken as a development year for Jouban, but I wouldn't put it past him to get some interest from larger organizations by year-end. Check out video footage of Alan Jouban after the jump... FlyweightBantamweightFeatherweightLightweight #1 - #2 - #3 -#4 -#5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - Rony Mariano#2 - Aljamain Sterling#3 - Chris Holdsworth#4 - Josh Hill#5 - Fabiano Fernandes#6 - Claudio Ledesma#7 - Sirwan Kakai#8 - Kyoji Horiguchi#9 - Leandro Hygo#10 - Pedro Munhoz #1 - Hacran Dias#2 - Joey Gambino#3 - Brandon Bender#4 - Lance Palmer #5 - Jim Alers#6 - Anthony Gutierrez#7 - Max Holloway#8 - John Teixeira#9 - Cody Bollinger#10 - Bubba Jenkins #1 - Fabricio Guerreiro#2 - Alessandro Ferreira#3 - Adriano Martins#4 - Justin Salas#5 - Neilson Gomes#6 - Eduard Folayang#7 - Zorobabel Moreira#8 - Anton Kuivanen#9 - Jordan Rinaldi#10 - J.P. Vainikainen WelterweightMiddleweightLight HeavyweightHeavyweight #1 - #2 - #3 -#4 -#5 - #6 - #7 - Alan Jouban#8 - Mohsen Bahari#9 - Andre Santos#10 - Stephen Thompson #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - Alan Jouban vs. Andrew GoldwaitheShark Fights 17 - July 17, 2011 Alan Jouban vs. Kyle GriffinTPF 8 - February 18, 2011 Alan Jouban Gogoplata from Rubber Guard CFL MMACombat Fight League Joden Sieders vs Alan JoubanAmateur - TUFF-n-NUFF - May 28, 2010 Alan Jouban vs. Dustin ChevalierAmateur Debut - The Future Stars of Mixed Martial Arts - March 26, 2010

Posted in: fight, mma, vs, alan, jouban

A Lesson in Street MMA: Don't fight Badr Hari's prodigal son

It's not every day that a Street MMA video comes through the MiddleEasy Network offices with a level of stand up this high. None of us have seen anything like this. There can be an argument made that this is the best 30 seconds of Street MMA ever, or at the very least it's the best of 2012. Although the production values for this Street MMA bout are severely lacking in the video broadcast department, the promotion added some fancy hip hop in post for the casual crowd. I don't think the video needed it though. I mean, lets face it, this video speaks for itself, shoddy production aside. When I showed this to LiverKick's Dave Walsh he said it was Badr Hari's long lost kid. I think he might be right. Street MMA is getting serious, it's incredible how far we've come. Props to KickYoNuts for the find. [Source]

Posted in: mma, video, street, production values, badr haris

Fight Video: Best of Inside MMA Regional Fight Highlights 2011

The Top 10 MMA Fights of 2011

By Alex Mattis 2012 has officially begun. Apparently, we are all living the last year of our lives so it’s time we live it up! Before we do that, however, it’s paramount that we reflect upon the last year in MMA fighting. By gosh, we had a plethora of news, fighters, and fights to discuss [...]

Posted in: fight, mma, year, ’s time, news fighters

Punk seconds Sonnen at UFC on Fox 2

MMA Fighting reportsWWE wrestler CM Punk will accompany Chael Sonnen to the Octagon at UFC on Fox 2. Punk, a Chicago native and MMA fan, appeared on an episode of the MMA Hour last year talking about his admiration of mixed martial arts. Payout Perspective: Is the Punk appearance good for the UFC? Does Punk’s appearance muddy the lines between the UFC and WWE? Is it a sign of things to come with the new UFC-Fox relationship? In the end, the Punk walkout may not be a big deal unless Fox picks up on it pre-fight. From a practical standpoint, the pairing of Punk and Sonnen will be an attraction for Chicago. It also makes sense because Punk’s character is anti-hero and Sonnen (in a way) mirrors that persona. But for the casual viewer tuning in for the first time, will they associate MMA with professional wrestling? From the WWE’s standpoint, its good, free publicity for its sport. Punk is becoming one of the top two or three wrestlers in the company and the appearance on network television can only help. Definitely, those anti-pro wrestling people cannot like the fact that the UFC is crossing over (again) into the world of pro-wrestling.

Posted in: ufc, mma, fox, punk, sonnen

Best of the Rest: Old School and New School Collide at Shooto's 2012 Debut

Created in 1985 by the legendary "Tiger Mask," Shooto has been merrily chugging along despite the rise and fall of such Japanese mixed martial arts (MMA) organizations as PRIDE and Sengoku. Throughout its storied history, Shooto has produced some of the finest lower-weight fighters MMA has ever seen, including Takanori Gomi, Tatsuya Kawajiri, Rumina Sato, Hatsu Hioki, and flyweight standouts Shinichi "BJ" Kojima and Mamoru Yamaguchi. Even with Japanese MMA on an obvious decline, Shooto has continued to produce outstanding fights and this Sunday's "Survivor Tournament Final" is no different, featuring the highest-ranked bantamweight outside the ZUFFA umbrella taking on one of the brightest prospects in the "Land of the Rising Sun." Join us after the jump for a closer look at Masakatsu Ueda vs. Kyoji Horiguchi. The Fighters Name: Masakatsu Ueda Record: 14-1-2 Major Wins: Eduardo Dantas, draws with Marcos Galvao and Takeya Mizugaki Titles Held: Former Shooto 132-pound champion Universally considered a top-10 bantamweight, Ueda fights out of Paraestra under Yuki Nakai, a gym famous for housing Shinya Aoki. Ueda is a former combat wrestling champion, holding a win over the legendary KID Yamamoto in collegiate wrestling (who just happens to be his opponent's teammate and senior). Ueda has parlayed that grappling prowess into MMA success; in seventeen bouts, his sole loss, which cost him his title, was the result of a crazy, never-before-seen "ninja choke" from rubber-guardin' grappler Shuichiro Katsumura, seen below. Since that loss, Ueda has rattled off four straight, including a TKO of Rumina Sato and a clear-cut decision over Royler Gracie in a bout that saw Ueda fighting two weight classes higher than normal. As stated before, Ueda is an expert combat wrestler; he excels at the single-leg takedown and stifling top control, which allowed him to hand Bellator tournament winner and current number-one bantamweight contender Eduardo Dantas the first and only loss on his record. Aside from the Katsumura shocker, his submission defense is generally nigh-impregnable, and with his takedown prowess, it's a rare fighter that won't find himself entirely stifled by Ueda's grappling. On his feet, Ueda is serviceable; he relies mostly on his hard left kicks, particularly the middle kick that dropped Sato and led to the finish. So far, it has proven sufficient to open up his takedown game despite its limitations, and nobody has yet managed to take full advantage of it. Ueda in Action: VS. Name: Kyoji Horiguchi Record: 6-0-0 Major Wins: Seiji Akao Titles Held: Shooto 2010 Rookie Champion Unbeaten at the age of 21, Horiguchi won by decision in his MMA debut and immediately decided that he'd rather not do so again. He is currently sitting pretty on five consecutive knockouts, including a brutal punch stoppage of veteran Seiji Akao to capture the 2010 Shooto Rookie title in only his third bout. Horiguchi fought three times in 2010, scoring an impressive finish each time out. Horiguchi trains out of the Norifumi Yamamoto-led Krazy Bee and has been dubbed by many as "KID 2.0," and while it may be a bit early to trump him as such, he's sure looked the part. Kyoji is blisteringly fast, bouncing around on the outside with hard leg kicks to set up his powerful straight punches. His ground-and-pound has likewise impressed; despite looking small even by bantamweight standards, Kyoji has some real pop in his hands. Horiguchi in Action: Why You Should Care: Ueda, along with former DEEP champion "Iron" Nakamura, were recently added to Bellator's incredibly stacked 2012 bantamweight tournament, and as stated before, he is universally recognized as a top-ten fighter at that weight. Horiguchi, despite being only 21, shows incredible potential, and with the UFC's newly-added 125-pound division (and the fact that they just signed Shooto flyweight champ Yasuhiro Urushitani), you'll likely be seeing him under the ZUFFA umbrella at one weight or another. Who Takes It: Horiguchi could very well be a genuine superstar before long, but this seems to me just a bit too much too soon for the Krazy Bee prodigy, and while it wouldn't surprise me to see him rock Ueda at some point, the latter's experience and takedown prowess should prove just a bit too much for him at this point. There doesn't seem to be a way to watch this one live, but keep an eye out for videos sometime next week. JMMA may be on the decline, but there's some life in this old girl yet.

Posted in: mma, bantamweight, shooto, horiguchi, ueda

Best of MMA 2011: Jon Jones is Fighter of the Year

Jon Jones went an amazing 4-0 in 2011 – including three wins in light heavyweight title fights. The youngest-ever champ in the UFC had arguably the most impressive single year in MMA history and is...

Posted in: mma, jone, year, mma history, youngestever champ

Report: Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey Targeted For March Strikeforce Event

It’s looking like a much-anticipated Strikeforce women’s bantamweight championship bout between champion Miesha Tate and rising star Ronda Rousey is going to happen sooner rather than later. MMA Weekly reported earlier this evening that the bout is set for a March 3 Strikeforce event, however Rousey responded on Twitter claiming she hasn’t signed anything yet. Nevertheless, MMA Junkie is reporting that although it’s not finalized, Strikeforce has the bout is in the works. MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) has confirmed with multiple sources that Rousey and Strikeforce 135-pound female champion Miesha Tate (12-2 MMA, 5-1 SF) are in ongoing discussions to meet at an as-yet-unannounced event expected to take place March 3 in Columbus, Ohio. However, at this time bout agreements have not been finalized and the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. Assuming it comes together, it would mark the most hyped women’s bout in quite some time. Tate recently stated that Rousey doesn’t deserve the shot with only four professional wins, however women’s MMA needs all the big fights it can get these days and this is certainly one of them. Rousey may not deserve it on record alone, but you can’t dismiss the buzz she’s generated by winning each of those four fights in under a minute via violent armbars. I’ll admit it. I’ve struggled to get excited for women’s MMA in the past year, but this is definitely one fight I’m looking forward to. Image via Esther Lin for Strikeforce/Showtime

Posted in: mma, strikeforce, bout, tate, rousey

Haywire's Gina Carano and her greatest (and not so greatest) MMA hits

Yes, she does all her own stunts. Former Elite XC standout Gina Carano -- once regarded as the "face" of female mixed martial arts (MMA) -- has not stepped into the cage since her disastrous title bout against Brazilian powerhouse Cristiane Santos back in 2009. But, that doesn't mean she hasn't kept herself busy. Carano, whose media endeavors include work on "American Gladiators" and a role in the Electronic Arts-lauded "Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3" video game, will make her debut as a cinematic leading lady two weeks from Friday (Jan. 20, 2012) when Steven Soderbergh's action thriller, "Haywire," hits theaters nationwide. Incidentally, early reviews are astoundingly positive, with Carano's performance in particular being praised. While we may never see her smash faces again for real, in honor of the upcoming release of "Haywire," we'd like to take a look back at her storied career and highlight some of her greatest hits, physical, viral and otherwise. Check it out: 6. "Crush" Carano "American Gladiators" is what happens when you combine "Ninja Warrior," "Wipeout" and far too much spandex. Amateur athletes compete in various crazy events against both one another and a handful of "Gladiators," who were dedicated to absolutely ruining their days. Being both quite good at fighting and lovely to boot, Carano was an obvious choice, and viewers got the chance to watch her (wo)manhandle (un)lucky competitors while wearing this as "Crush:" Ooh-la-la. 5. Gina Carano vs. Tonya Evinger -- Fight Hard, Party Harder Openly-gay fighters remain a rarity in MMA. Arguably the best-known example is Shad Smith, whose greatest career highlight was a horrendously one-sided beatdown at the hands of Duane "Bang" Ludwig. Meanwhile, Tonya Evinger isn't just open about being a lesbian, she makes it very clear about how she feels about her opponents. In the press conference leading up to her bout with Carano back in 2007, she made many young audience members very happy with this quote: "I’d like to make out with Gina, but I am here to knock her out. Either way she wants it, though, is fine with me." Would it be presumptuous of me to say many here would echo this sentiment? In any case, Carano manged to defeat Evinger via rear-naked choke (get your minds out of the gutter) and went on to party like a mo-fuggin' rock star with her afterward. The photo evidence was ... enlightening: Reports that Carano was, in fact, doing the worm and not absurdly intoxicated remain sadly unsubstantiated. Also, you can put your minds back in the gutter now. 4. "Body" Carano "ESPN Magazine's" yearly "Body Issue" is an entertaining look at how different athletes' bodies compare to one another. It is often fascinating to see how much variation there is in the label "athletic." In the 2009 issue, it had something for everyone -- for the ladies, ESPN included the likes of Adrian Peterson, Dwight Howard and Carl Edwards. For the guys, well ... Education is fun! LESS-THAN-GREATEST-HIT INTERLUDE: Carano vs. Cyborg Following the dissolution of Elite XC, Carano found herself scooped up -- like the rest of the roster -- by Strikeforce. After 10 months away from the cage, she stepped in to face Brazilian wrecking machine Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos for the inaugural Strikeforce women's 145-pound title. Things didn't go so well. While Carano did manage to get mount at one point, Cyborg got back to her feet and, for lack of a better word, proceeded to HULK SMASH, battering and taking down Carano before ground-and-pounding the tar out of her until, with one second remaining in the first round, Josh Rosenthal stepped in for the save. Sadly, this bout may have led Carano to retire; however, at least she went out on her shield. AND NOW BACK TO YOUR REGULARLY-SCHEDULED CAREER HIGHLIGHTS, ALREADY IN PROGRESS 3. Gina Carano vs. Rosi Sexton Many people criticize women's MMA as being less exciting than its male counterpart. Luckily for those watching her second-ever MMA bout, against unbeaten finishing machine Rosi Sexton, Carano wasn't listening. With less than 10 seconds left in the second round, Carano bullied Sexton into the cage and unleashed a doozy of a right hand that left the latter unconscious and her legs apparently trying to run away in two separate directions. In other words, girl got Nelmark'd. Pop over to 7:45 on that video to see the knockout. 2. Towel Gate Prior to her bout with Kelly Kobold in 2008, whose last name should leave any Dungeons & Dragons players in the house reaching for their halberds, Carano's weight was a hot topic. And not in the way a woman's weight usually is. In her previous bout, Carano had missed weight badly, weighing in at 144.5 for her 140-pound clash with Kaitlin Young. Despite Carano's assertions that she had a dietitian and there was no need to worry, she missed weight on her first two attempts, progressively stripping off more and more clothing until finally stripping entirely naked, prompting Elite XC personnel and her father (he's pictured on the right, seriously) to (much to the disappointment of the crowd, I'm sure) bring out the towel. Carano wound up hitting her mark and made weight for the bout, which she went on to win via unanimous decision despite being overshadowed by Seth Petruzelli giving Gus Johnson an aneurysm later in the night. Former UFC contender Paul Daley has since adopted the technique to lesser success. Somehow, it's just not the same.1. Ringside Gina Oh my. Through her violent efforts in the cage, Carano has proven herself more than just a pretty face (although she definitely has one) and helped put women's MMA on the map. We here at MMAmania thank Carano for her efforts and wish her the best of luck in whatever endeavors she decides to pursue next. Why not dancing?

Posted in: mma, bout, weight, carano, gina

Rolles Gracie Scheduled to Meet Bob Sapp

Bob Sapp will face Rolles Gracie during One FC 2 “Battle of Heroes” in Jakarta, Indonesia, later this year, it has been confirmed. Sapp remains popular among the Japanese and Asian MMA community, and it should be a major event in Indonesia. Meanwhile, Gracie said he signed to participate in the “biggest” fight of his young 5-1 MMA career — as he looks to climb back into the UFC. Sapp has become more of a joke among MMA fans as of late, and I fully expect Gracie to pick up a submission win. I expect the 33-year-old BJJ black belt to drag Sapp down to the ground and quickly either ground-and-pound or submit “the beast.” I like the steps One FC and other Asian MMA organizations are making to help put on fun events and help fighter development.

Posted in: mma, gracie, rolles gracie, sapp, fun events

Looking for the MMA Yao Ming

While it's generally considered racist to point out the inferior driving skills and genital size of Chinese people, we've apparently gotten to the point where we can all admit they're not quite measuring up when it comes to their MMA development. So the UFC is taking it upon themselves to try and speed things up a little: Fertitta said it made sense to bring the fighters to Las Vegas given the large number of gyms as well as elite fighters and coaches based there.“Vegas is kind of the Mecca of mixed martial arts in a lot of ways,” Fertitta said. “We just said, ‘Hey, let’s get them exposure with, literally, the best trainers in the world.’ … They literally will go from gym to gym every day to train and learn different aspects of MMA.”Among the trainers will be UFC fighter Fredson Paixao, noted jiu-jitsu coach Robert Drysdale, wrestling and grappling expert Ricky Lundell, striking coach Jimmy Gifford and DellaGrotte. The Chinese fighters will spar at Wanderlei Silva’s gym.Shelby said they may expand the program to include other trainers, but they’re going to take it on a day-to-day basis.“Really, what this is is an effort to find our version of Yao Ming,” Fertitta said. “There’s more than a billion people in China and I guarantee you, somebody there can fight. Our goal is to find that guy. The UFC isn't the only group chasing a mythical Yao unicorn. Hong Kong based promotion LegendFC is taking the wacky attitude that maybe instead of bringing the fighters to the camp, they should bring the camp to the fighters. Legend FC, one of the top Asian MMA promotions sent several members of Team Quest such as Pat Healy and Brad Hannah to one of the biggest camps in the region. They didn't only have them experience a few days of working out with talented coaches, they actually conducted an entire training camp that lasted for several weeks. Team Quest taught several of the best fighters in the country about how an entire high-level training camp should work, so they could get the best practices, workouts, and schedules in order to maximize learning, and peaking on the proper time for a fight. Based on how long it took for the British to stop churning out duds, I'd say this should bring China up past North American by ... oh, 2024. Which is probably about 10 years more than we got on the economic side, so let's enjoy this MMA supremacy thing while we got it.

Posted in: ufc, mma, fighter, coach, camp

Apocalypse Now! 4 Things to Brace for in 2012

With a new weight class in the UFC, a condensed heavyweight talent pool, and some excellent title fights on the way, 2012 is shaping up nicely. But, lo! I give you four things to brace for in the coming year... The Retirement of MMA Mainstays Tito Ortiz is already labeling his next match a retirement fight, but he's not the only one planning an exit from the ring. Forrest Griffin, who Ortiz named as a potential opponent, has appeared increasingly disinterested in the cage and, in a recent radio interview, admitted "I'm realizing that I don't have much left. This is the end of the road for me. I want a couple of more fights...." Matt Hughes and B.J. Penn have both mentioned retirement as well, though in less certain terms. Penn might just be going on hiatus, while Hughes, for his part, expects that he'll come back only for a marquee match-up. And less remarked was the post-fight interview Jeff Curran gave after his last appearance in the XFO, declaring that he would make one more campaign through the UFC before calling it quits. These announcements, combined with the lengthy and recently rocky careers of Wanderlei Silva, Rich Franklin, and Quinton Jackson suggest that MMA might see a great deal of turnover in 2012. Further PR Gaffes More surprising than the apparent absence of any official code of conduct for UFC fighters is the ability of those same fighters to so frequently find the wrong things to say. Given the multitude of social networking applications and the many fighters encouraged to make use of them, we might as well prepare for a few more cringe-inducing jokes. And maybe another cell phone pic of Tito Ortiz's genitals. The evidence of which I refuse to link to. The Continued Decline of Japanese MMA Attendance is down. Funding is down. Big-time draws like Kazushi Sakuraba are nearing retirement, and promoters are having to bolster fight cards with pro-wrestling matches. It seems less and less likely that the Japanese fight scene will make a return to its Saitama Super Arena heyday. The UFC's upcoming return to Japan presents a new wrinkle in the story of Japanese MMA, but with homegrown promotions dialing back their shows' size and frequency, it seems that JMMA will contract further before it can begin to improve. The Persistence of Injury-Riddled Cards The rash of short-notice fight cancellations in 2011 might have had something to do with plain bad luck. I suspect, however, that there are other, more quantifiable reasons for so many scuttled matches. The first is the UFC's insurance policy, which allows fighters to seek care for injuries rather than take a fight in desperate need of cash to pay medical bills. The second and perhaps more significant cause is the overall evolution of MMA. Training camps are becoming more intense and complex. At the same time, there's more at stake with every outing, and the more technical, nuanced performances turned in by fighters make increasingly stringent demands of their bodies. Expect fighters to approach their careers with due care.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, fighter, retirement

Ole Laursen vs Felipe Enomoto and Bae Young Kwon vs Eric Kelly Confirmed for ONE FC 2

The full card for ONE Fighting Championship 'Battle of Heroes' was released today with a couple of fights which caught MMA fans by surprise. It had already been revealed that Bob Sapp would be facing Rolles Gracie but this will only be the opening bout of the five fight main card. Ole Laursen was originally penciled in for the main event at ONE FC 1 but had to pull out due to injury. He has been out of action for over a year but will make his long awaited return to the cage to take on Swiss Japanese lightweight Felipe Enomoto. Enomoto has fought once in Japan before, defeating veteran Taku Aramaki at Pancrase in 2010, but he has really made a name for himself on the European scene. He defeated TUF 13 contestant Hamid 'Akira' Corassani by decision only to see the promoter subsequently change the outcome to a no contest and also beat TUF 9 preliminary fighter AJ Wenn by unanimous decision. Ole Laursen's first two fights were both for K-1 Heroes and he posted losses to Genki Sudo and Caol Uno although to his credit he did go the full three rounds with Sudo on his professional debut. It is fitting that, after running up five straight wins, he will get his chance to finally defeat a Japanese opponent at ONE FC 'Battle of Heroes'. Laursen is very much an unknown quantity, he looked spectacular in submitting experienced Brazilian Eduardo Pachu at Martial Combat 1 (see below, apologies for epic intro) but never quite recaptured the same sort of form in his last two fights, although he still walked away from both with victories. Ole Baguio Laursen vs Eduardo 'Edu' Pachu - part 1 (via neilfireballkid) Ole Baguio Laursen vs Eduardo 'Edu' Pachu - part 2 (via neilfireballkid) After a kickboxing, Muay Thai and K-1 career which began back in 2000 and has seen him face the likes of Buakaw Por Pramuk, Andy Souwer, Duane Ludwig and Masato there is some suggestion that Laursen needs a major challenge at a significant event in order to motivate him. A headline fight for the biggest MMA promotion in Asia seems to have been enough to fuel that fire and Laursen has returned to his native Philippines in order to prepare for Enomoto. After admitting to taking training a little too easy before his last two fights he is leaving nothing to chance this time around and is ready to take revenge for the only two losses of his MMA career by finally recording a win over a Japanese opponent. Another fight which has got a lot of fans in Asia talking is Eric Kelly vs Bae Young Kwon. Both fighters are coming off the biggest wins of their careers and carry a lot of momentum into this contest. The Filipino is the URCC Featherweight Champion and has submitted every opponent he has ever faced, his record currently stands at 6-0. Unlike his opponent, Bae Young Kwon has tasted defeat on two occasions although he has fought for both M-1 and Shooto, as well as Road FC in Korea, and would probably argue that he has faced a slightly higher level of opposition than Kelly. After only ever having fought in the Philippines there were question marks over Kelly going into his fight with Mitch Chilson at ONE FC 1 but he answered them emphatically, sinking in a rear naked choke from a seemingly impossible angle (see below). That win earned him $5,000 for 'Submission of the Night' and he will be hoping to pick up another pay cheque if he can do the same thing to Kwon. One Fighting Championship - Eric Kelly (Philippines) vs. Mitch Chilson (USA) (via neilfireballkid) Rounding off the five fight main card are bouts between Soo Chul Kim and Gustavo Falciroli and Rodrigo Ribeiro and Rustam Khabilov. The bout between Ribeiro and Khabilov is particularly intriguing because it pits a Combat Sambo World Champion against a BJJ world champion and will also be the first time that fighters from Evolve MMA and Jackson's Grappling Academy have met in MMA competition. Evolve MMA has a reputation as being the finest training facility in all of Asia and Jackson's Grappling Academy is probably the cream of the crop in the West. Chatri Sityodtong and Greg Jackson were named by MSN Sports as two of the top head coaches of the year in 2011 (see that article here) and this will be an opportunity for them to pit their wits against one another. Soo Chul Kim lost a close decision to Leandro Issa at ONE FC 1 and the bad news for the Korean is that his next opponent is also a ground fighting expert, Falciroli is the Cage Fighting Championships bantamweight champion and has a second degree BJJ back belt. The five fight undercard is likely to feature a number of local fighters and will probably be released later this week. ONE FC currently have events booked in Singapore in March and Kuala Lumpur in April with shows in Manila and Seoul also supposedly close to being confirmed.

Posted in: fight, mma, vs, fc, laursen

WWE Champion CM Punk To Walk Out With Chael Sonnen At UFC On Fox 2

A good segment of the MMA universe hates professional wrestling to no end. Any links between the two (see Brock Lesnar) are dismissed and disregarded by this segment quickly and with vitriol. One of the founders of this very site has gone on record with how much he dislikes the use of wrestling terms when discussing MMA. Those people will then hate the news that came out Wednesday that WWE Champion and MMA enthusiast CM Punk will walk out with Chael Sonnen in his UFC On Fox 2 middleweight contender's match against Mark Munoz on Saturday, January 28. Sonnen confirmed the news Tuesday, according to MMA/pro wrestling expert Dave Meltzer. MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani confirmed that Punk will not corner Sonnen during the fight. The news again puts the spotlight on the informal partnership of sorts between the WWE and the UFC that has existed for years. Steve Austin, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, The Undertaker (Mark Calloway) and Dave Batista have all regularly attended UFC events with a famous post-fight staredown between Calloway and Lesnar during an Helwani interview making headlines in both industries. Lesnar himself successfully made the jump to MMA after leaving WWE in 2004, while Batista was in talks with pre-Zuffa Strikeforce until last year. Former WWE standout Bobby Lashley has competed in Strikeforce and on the regional circuit for several years with varying success. In 2011, Dana White famously visited WWE chairman Vince McMahon in Stamford, CT, but didn't go into details about what and why. Punk (Phil Brooks) appeared on the 100th edition of The MMA Hour with Helwani and is from Chicago. Meltzer said that Punk was taken off a WWE house show event that night, meaning they had to grant him permission to appear at the UFC event. Sonnen is known for his "wrestling style" promos and did a tryout at World Championship Wrestling's Power Plant training facility after graduating college.

Posted in: ufc, mma, punk, wwe, sonnen

You've heard of MMA Math, now check out MMA Geometry...

Before I make your brain slowly melt inside your head by explaining what MMA Geometry is, let me just point out that our very own Cat Von C was named one of the 25 sexiest girls in MMA in 2011. It makes her feel uncomfortable, but she's just playing the humble card right now. I'm sure the inner Cat is running up and down the wall in pure elation. At the heart of everything, we are all locked into one incomprehensible galactic struggle for ultimate understanding and 'world creation.' In South American shamanism, world creation is an essential device that enables the shaman to gain access to an object that has been forgotten or lost in their present reality. Mircea Eliades calls the reality in which we inhabit ‘the profane’. This profane reality retains the flaws that hinder it from becoming the idealized reality accessed by the shaman. The constructed universe of the shaman may not be manifested at all but a shared reality that is only accessible to non-corporal deities. The shaman has access to this universe through the use of hallucinogens, a vital key that can access this universe. However, as we see in shamanism, the hallucinogen is simply not a fail safe pass into this realm. The access is granted solely not with the hallucinogen itself but the process or ceremony leading up to the ingestion of the hallucinogen. Peruvian shamans for instance, subject their bodies to several extremes in order to cleanse any impurities. These rituals may include sleep deprivation leading up to the hallucinogen, fasting for what could be several days, rigorous physical activities such as scaling the face of mountains under the guise of ‘spirit quests’. It is important to recognize the female archetype that is apparent with the parallel of world creation and child birth and how it can explain this ‘work creation’ process. As previously mentioned, indulging a hallucinogen is not the sole way to enable oneself to create these worlds. Indeed, the process leading up to this ‘work creation’ can hold a higher intrinsic value than the product itself which is seen in Tibetan mandalas by devoted Buddhist monks. Certain substances, at times, may even complicate this ‘world creation’ by lulling the senses. That was actually a snippet of my PhD thesis I completed back in 2008. I just wanted to drop something overly complex on your heads, and let it slowly marinate over time. Now check out this geometrical representation of the MMA universe as created by business intelligence developer, 'Clint.' Check out the MMA Geometry here!

Posted in: mma, reality, creation, hallucinogen, shaman

Inside MMA: Best of Inside MMA 2011

Inside MMA airs live on HDNet every Monday night at 8pm ET. Inside MMA Archive More segments after the jump.

Posted in: mma, monday night, mma airs, mma archive, jump

WWE Champion CM Punk to Escort Chael Sonnen to Octagon Prior to FOX Fight

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

Posted in: fight, mma, punk, champion, sonnen

Brydon on MMA: 2011 awards Part 2

A look at the best knockouts, submissions and fights in all of MMA in 2011, using 10 unique categories.

Posted in: mma, submission, brydon, category, knockouts submissions

Judo and Wrestling Throws in MMA, Vol.9

submitted by strafefire [link] [2 comments]

Posted in: mma, judo, vol, strafefire

My Muay Thai Training Diary: Year One

Welcome back to my online diary documenting my very amateur experience training in Muay Thai. If you missed the first entry on Bloody Elbow, read it here. One year ago, I started down an exciting path of personal growth - I began training in Muay Thai. Now, with year one down, I thought it was a good chance to step back, share some of my experiences, and look forward to the coming year. First up, and I can not stress this enough, if you have ever considered exploring any martial arts training, do it. Training helps me feel considerably better, both physically and mentally, and it has added so much to my appreciation of MMA and kickboxing. There is just something about trying these techniques out yourself that really helps you see the details in every fight. Really, dive in and give it a shot. As for that extra appreciation for MMA, the Muay Thai training has definitely opened my eyes to a lot of MMA striking. It's helped me to see the good as well as the bad. And there are plenty of examples of both. But one thing that sticks out is the way MMA striking has not always kept up with the advances in other disciplines. Think of wrestling, where fighters like Georges St. Pierre have demonstrated how to take the best wrestling has to offer, adapt that for MMA, and use it to such great successes. You don't see as much of that with Muay Thai, and that's a shame. I'd like to see more fighters utilizing Muay Thai elbows and knees, or really committing to leg kicks. Now, the counter argument here is obvious - in Muay Thai, fighters don't have to worry about being taken down (well, being taken down and having the fight continue - contrary to some beliefs, takedowns are a part of Muay Thai, it's just that the fight does not continue on the mat). And that is true. But you could also say that in wrestling, a wrestler doesn't have to worry about being punched, or in grappling matches, there's no fear of the ground and pound. Both of those disciplines have been adapted to MMA, with changes made to protect against this new element. Muay Thai and other striking arts are making progress in this area, but are not there just yet, though Lyoto Machida showed that a specific striking style can have great success in MMA. We'll see what the future holds for Muay Thai and other specific striking arts in our sport. Enough pontificating. I'll wrap it up with a few personal goals for year two and my continuing work in Muay Thai: Improve my cardio. This speaks for itself. Get consistency on my kicks. I can land a solid kick that is vastly improved from where I was a few months ago, but after about 10 in a row, they start to get weaker. Need to build those up. Also need to improve the left leg overall. Keep the jab stiff. I use it as a pawing punch too often - need to send it out with power and take advantage of my height and reach. Get new gear. Specifically headgear, new gloves and wraps, Muay Thai shorts, and a better mouthpiece and bag. Any suggestions on those? And if any companies out there have equipment they are itching to get reviewed, get in touch. Thanks for reading, and happy new year to all.

Posted in: mma, year, muay, thai, muay thai

Gina Carano talks Haywire movie and potential return to MMA (Video)

It's been over two and a half years since female fighting sensation Gina Carano actually, you know, had a fight. And the last memory fans have of the former American Gladiator is her getting "crushed" by Cristiane Santos in a featherweight title bout. As she explains in the video above, that defeat left her thinking, "what the hell just happened?" It wasn't long after, though, that Hollywood came calling with a big time movie offer for the upcoming Steven Soderbergh directed film, Haywire, which is set to finally be released on Jan. 20. But what about after that? Carano is still passionate about mixed martial arts (MMA) but she does have plenty of opportunities in film. Her plan? "I'd really just like to get on the other side of it," she said. As for a return to MMA? "We'll see."

Posted in: mma, carano, mma video, american gladiator, film haywire

Gina Carano Talks Ronda Rousey, Haywire, and if She'll Ever Return to MMA

Two and a half years ago Gina Carano was on top of the WMMA world. A muay thai fighter with looks to kill, she had all the qualities needed to become a megastar. Then she faced the unstoppable force that is Cristiane Santos and the rest as they say is history. Gina walked away from the sport to film the upcoming Steven Soderbergh movie 'Haywire' leaving everyone wondering if she'd ever return. Her scheduled bout this summer was cancelled without any explanation and it seemed like even Strikeforce founder Scott Coker had no idea if Carano would ever return whenever he was asked. This weekend at UFC 141 Gina Carano finally appeared at a MMA event. Unfortunately it was as a spectator. Ariel Helwani of MMA Fighting caught up with Carano to find out when fans can expect to see her back in the cage. Unfortunately, Gina was unable to give a definitive answer as her entire acting career is dependent on the success of "Haywire". If the movie is a box office success it's very likely that our last memory of Gina Carano in MMA will be of her getting smashed by Cris Cyborg. She also addresses the ongoing war of words between Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey over who is using their looks more to fill the void left when Carano walked away from the sport. It is a 15 minute Interview after the jump...

Posted in: mma, gina carano, carano, gina, wmma world

Asian MMA Update: Rolles Gracie vs. Bob Sapp, Laursen vs. Enomoto, Among 5 Bouts Added to ONE FC 2

On February 11th, ONE Fighting Championship hosts their second event in Jakarta, Indonesia. The promotion is expected to announce all the fights soon, but the card is already shaping up with various outlets announcing several bouts on the card: Rolles Gracie vs. Bob Sapp: I think it's safe to say that these are probably the two most recognizable names on the card for American fans. The UFC veteran in Gracie tweeted the news yesterday, saying that he has just signed the contract for the "biggest" fight of his career against the 340 lb. former PRIDE and K-1 star, Bob Sapp.Sapp (11-9), who was a very popular personality in Japan, hasn't exactly enjoyed much success in MMA recently, and has lost his last 3 bouts. Rolles on the other hand, is 5-1 on his MMA career, and has won his last two bouts since losing his UFC debut against Joey Beltran back at UFC 109. Ole Laursen vs. Felipe Enomoto: The #8 Ranked Lightweight on the 2011 World MMA Scouting Report, Ole Laursen (5-2), was supposed to headline this card against Bernardo Magalhaes, until the Australian CFC champ pulled out due to injury. Now, according to Tiger Muay Thai, the popular Danish-Filipino fighter is set to take on fellow striker Felipe Enomoto (5-3).Felipe has faced the likes of Akira Corassani and Rich Clementi, and is the younger brother of M-1 Champ, and SRC contender, Yasubey Enomoto. Gustavo Falciroli vs. Soo Chul Kim: This bantamweight bout was announced on MMA Mania, and it features CFC champion and highly regarded prospect, Gustavo Falciroli (11-3-2), who is a 2nd degree BJJ blackbelt and is one of the best fighters coming out of the Australian promotion. He takes on a very durable and well rounded fighter in Kim, who had a very gritty performance on his ONE FC fight against BJJ champ, Leandro Issa. Rustam Khabilov vs. Rodrigo Ribeiro: Also announced on MMA Mania, this features a bout between a 25-year-old Russian prospect in Khabilov, and a 3rd degree BJJ blackbelt and Evolve MMA product in Riberio. Alex Silva vs. Geje Eustaquio: According to MMAOrient, this is a huge possiblity for the card as well. Silva (1-0) is a BJJ champion from Evolve MMA who made a successful MMA debut at DARE last September, while Eustaquio (2-1) is a Wushu-based fighter from Team Lakay, who last fought at PXC 28. Also rumored as competitors for the event are Igor Gracie and Deep Welterweight Champion, Yuya Shirai. Former boxing champ, Yodsanan Sityodtong and URCC Champion, Kevin Belingon were earlier announced to be participants for the event, but sources have informed us that both fighters have been pulled off the card due to injuries. So far those are the 5 bouts rumored and reported on for the upcoming ONE FC 2 card in Jakarta, Indonesia. There are probably going to more news on the card this week, so as always, follow me on twitter and keep it here on BloodyElbow.com.

Posted in: mma, fighter, bout, vs, card

Five Ounces of Podcast: Episode 14

Kick off the new year right with the Five Ounces of Podcast featuring Samer Kadi and Jeremy Lambert reviewing UFC 141 and DREAM New Year! 2011 before previewing this weekends first MMA event of 2012; Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine. We begin with a look back at UFC 141 and why, even though the fight lasted less than three minutes, we were both so impressed with Alistair Overeem‘s performance in the main event against Brock Lesnar. Plus Jeremy makes a bold prediction concerning Lesnar’s future. Also we’ll look at the rest of the card including Nate Diaz‘s victory over Donald Cerrone and why Diaz is good for the sport of MMA, Johny Hendricks and were he stands at 170 after defeating Jon Fitch, and all the other action from the night. Then we’ll briefly talk about the nine hour event that was DREAM. We’ll run down the other card and tell you which fighters should be in the UFC sometime in 2012. Finally we’ll quickly preview this weekends Strikeforce event, which appears to be rather underwhelming on paper. All that and the usual tangents that including more talk of why fighters should stay off twitter, Goldberg’s stunning use of the word “turk” and Joe’s Keys to Victory. It’s two hours of MMA talk, so check it out. Podcast Powered By Podbean Download (Right Click -> Save Link As) – iTunes

Posted in: ufc, mma, event, podcast, year right

UFC's Efforts to Develop Chinese MMA Is a Good Start, But it Won't Be Enough

It's no secret that the UFC wants to tap into that large market in China. The most important thing to accomplish that goal though, is to spread awareness, and in that regard, the UFC has done great things in a short amount of time. They've set up an office in China, and with the leadership of Mark Fischer, they have secured multiple deals to broadcast their product on networks and on various online portals, reaching up to 700 million people in the country. According to this piece by Kevin Iole, UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby recently spent two weeks in China to scout talent and to make inroads on that goal of eventually finding MMA's equivalent to Yao Ming. His assessment is very similar to how the insiders in the Asian MMA scene see it - great potential with a culture rich in combat sports, but they're not quite there yet with the finer points of the ground game: "When you see someone like Yao Ming have success on an international level, the whole country stops and watches when he plays. The idea when we went over and assessed the market … we realized there were a lot of great athletes there, but they weren’t up to speed on the different styles of fighting." Shelby reported that the Chinese fighters were quality strikers, but were lacking in wrestling and jiu-jitsu skills. There were many men whom Shelby watched work out who were athletic enough to be successful fighters in the UFC, but they were primitive in their knowledge of MMA and their training methods. In an effort to develop this talent, the UFC has brought several top Chinese fighters to train in Vegas. The cast includes Zhang Tie Quan, and a couple of his China Top Team training partners, including top Chinese bantamweight prospect, and current Legend FC champ, Yao Honggang. They will be training on several of the top gyms in the area, and on the next couple of weeks, they will be working with top coaches such as Fredson Paixao, Robert Drysdale, Ricky Lundell, Jimmy Gifford, Mark DellaGrotte, and others: The plan, according to UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta, is to properly train the Chinese fighters so they can train others in an attempt to tap into the country’s love of martial arts. ... "Vegas is kind of the Mecca of mixed martial arts in a lot of ways," Fertitta said. "We just said, ‘Hey, let’s get them exposure with, literally, the best trainers in the world.’ … They literally will go from gym to gym every day to train and learn different aspects of MMA." "Really, what this is is an effort to find our version of Yao Ming," Fertitta said. "There’s more than a billion people in China and I guarantee you, somebody there can fight. Our goal is to find that guy. They're making excellent moves on getting casual fans access to their product, and as for trying to develop the talent in the region, this is definitely a good start, especially for China Top Team. That being said, this is just a start, and sending a handful of guys for a few days in Vegas definitely won't be enough for the long haul. China Top Team isn't the only good fight team in the area, and some insiders don't even consider it the best in the country. If the UFC is serious about trying to develop talent, which it seems like they are, they should be doing something similar to what Legend FC has done with Xian Physical Education University, but on a much bigger scale. Legend FC, one of the top Asian MMA promotions sent several members of Team Quest such as Pat Healy and Brad Hannah to one of the biggest camps in the region. They didn't only have them experience a few days of working out with talented coaches, they actually conducted an entire training camp that lasted for several weeks. They taught several of the best fighters in the country about how an entire high-level training camp should work, so they could get the best practices, workouts, and schedules in order to maximize learning, and peaking on the proper time for a fight. As a great house for wrestlers, the Team Quest members also taught these Chinese fighters something that most of them should really learn about, the finer points of dieting and cutting water weight. This is a very important move as BJJ and Wrestling aren't the only components lacking from Chinese MMA. There have been too much Chinese and other Asian fighters not knowledgeable about the proper way of cutting weight, with some even walking in several pounds under the contracted limit. This learning is already showing their effects as as several members of the camp have already began dropping down a weight class or two. Healy and other Team Quest coaches will be flying out again on 2012, but this time they'll be spending much longer time in the country. These kinds of trips will be invaluable to Chinese MMA, as they'll be running not just a few workouts, but entire camps in the same format of those elite teams in the US. The UFC looks dead serious about trying to develop MMA in China, and while they're already starting out well, they should really do something similar to this, but on a much larger scale. Send several top coaches, teach these guys about the ground game, teach them how to cut weight and how an elite fight team works, and soon enough, they'll use these best practices to run all their fight camps. Not only do you find 'a' Yao Ming, but you will grow a hot bet of all those world class strikers with a developing ground game, and you'll eventually churn out a new generation of MMA stars for years to come.

Posted in: ufc, mma, team, china, chinese

Gina Carano talks "Haywire" role, says her future in MMA is uncertain

Women's MMA icon, Gina Carano, who was last seen in action against Cristiane Santos back in 2009, discusses her time away from the sport, as well as her fighting future. Carano explains that her starring role in the feature film "Haywire" has left her little time to concentrate on much else, and says she is still unsure about her future in MMA.

Posted in: mma, future, carano, gina, future carano

Gina Carano on MMA Hiatus and Future, 'Haywire' and Ronda Rousey

Filed under: Strikeforce, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, VideosMMA Fighting recently caught up with the elusive Gina Carano to discuss why she disappeared from the MMA landscape for the last two and a half years, her upcoming film, "Haywire," which opens in theatres nationwide on Jan. 20, how she landed the starring role in the film, whether she will ever fight again, and the emergence of Ronda Rousey as perhaps the new face of women's MMA. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mma, gina carano, ronda rousey, mma landscape, mma hiatus

Ten Best - 2011 Newcomer of the Year

In the last few years, the top prospects in mixed martial arts, guys like Jon Jones, Junior dos Santos, Cain Velasquez, and Phil Davis, skyrocketed to success as soon as they were given their chance to shine on the sport’s biggest stage – the UFC Octagon. Will that be the case for 2011’s Unofficial UFC Newcomer of the Year? We can’t wait to find out.10 - Costa Philippou A former pro boxer, 32-year old Costa Philippou garnered a solid reputation on the east coast MMA scene, but after losing on season 11 of The Ultimate Fighter and then dropping a late notice UFC debut to Nick Catone, many questioned whether he was cut out for the big leagues. But in the second half of the year, the New Yorker defeated veteran Jorge Rivera by showing off his ground game, and then he brought the big guns out for his UFC 140 bout with Jared Hamman, knocking his foe out in the first round. Now Philippou is a player in the middleweight division, and this year he’ll get his shot to go from prospect to contender.9 - Walel Watson Too small to play Division I college football, Walel Watson instead found his niche in mixed martial arts, and after putting together a solid record in California and Mexico, he was brought to the UFC in October to see if he could hang with the best bantamweights in the sport. Well, so far he has, impressively stopping Joseph Sandoval in 77 seconds in his Octagon debut, and then going toe-to-toe with veteran Yves Jabouin in an entertaining December bout that saw “The Gazelle” lose a close split decision, but gain plenty of fans in the process.8 - Che Mills Expected to make a run for The Ultimate Fighter season nine crown, Che Mills instead lost to eventual winner James Wilks and was sent back to the local British MMA scene. Undaunted, Mills put together a solid winning streak and earned an invite to the Octagon for November’s UFC 138 card. And while it took him years to get to this point, he only needed 40 seconds to make an impression as he knocked out Chris Cope. Now it’s off to Montreal and a UFC 145 bout against Rory MacDonald, and if Mills scores his second UFC win, his road to the top may be shorter than most.7 - Dave Herman The best line of 2011 may have come from heavyweight Dave Herman, who wrote on his UFC bio form that he didn’t start training until two years ago. That was after he ran up a 15-1 pro MMA record. But that loss to Choi Mu Bae in 2009 sparked Herman to go chase after his potential, and in his UFC debut in June, he showed just what he brings to the table as he won an exciting Fight of the Night against John-Olav Einemo, stopping his foe in the second round. Now we’ll see what he can do in 2012.6 - Mike Easton A 10 year journey finally put Washington D.C. bantamweight Mike Easton in the UFC, and after a slow start, “The Hulk” erupted in front of his hometown fans in Octagon, with the Lloyd Irvin jiu-jitsu black belt showing off his striking as he halted Byron Bloodworth in the second round. In a crowded 135-pound weight class, Easton has a charismatic presence that makes you want to see him throwing hands with the best the division has to offer, and he’s likely to get that chance this year.5 - Diego Brandao / John Dodson It’s only fitting that The Ultimate Fighter season 14’s two winners (and Jackson MMA teammates) share the fifth spot, given their friendship and spectacular debut victories on December 3rd. That night, featherweight Brandao came back from almost certain defeat to submit Dennis Bermudez, and bantamweight Dodson took less than two minutes to knock out favored TJ Dillashaw, earning each a UFC contract. More importantly though, it means that we’re going to be getting even more excitement from these two standouts in the next 12 months and beyond. 4 - Jimy Hettes Jimy Hettes’ UFC debut in August (a submission win over Alex Caceres) flew under the radar a bit. But his second Octagon bout against Nam Phan last weekend on the UFC 141 main card certainly didn’t, as the world got a dose of one of the featherweight division’s top prospects in spectacular form. Going the distance for the first time in his career, the unbeaten submission ace showed off a complete MMA game in dismantling a veteran who simply doesn’t get taken apart the way he was that night in Las Vegas.3 - Tony Ferguson The Ultimate Fighter season 13 winner, Tony Ferguson won his crown by leaving no doubts in the eyes of fight fans, knocking out Ramsey Nijem in the first round. Next up was a drop to 155 pounds and back-to-back wins over two of the sport’s most respected veterans, Aaron Riley and Yves Edwards. It’s the type of old-school upbringing that bodes well for the future of “El Cucuy,” as he’s proving that he’s not afraid to earn his keep in the Octagon.2 - Brian Ebersole It’s a little odd to call a veteran of 65 pro fights a newcomer, but Brian Ebersole was new to UFC fans when he made his organizational debut in February against Chris Lytle. But by the time the UFC 127 bout was over, his unorthodox, yet entertaining style had made an indelible impression, and after 15 minutes, he had scored an upset victory over “Lights Out” and even earned a Fight of the Night bonus. Two more wins followed in succession, a TKO of Dennis Hallman and a close decision victory over Claude Patrick, and amazingly, at 31, the US native and Australia resident may just be entering his fighting prime, making the future an interesting one for the man with the most creative chest hair in MMA.1 - Chris Weidman Long Island, New York’s Chris Weidman has been saddled with the “Next Big Thing” tag from the time he turned pro in 2009, but even his staunchest supporters had to be a little concerned when he accepted a UFC fight against veteran Alessio Sakara on two weeks’ notice (and with injured ribs) in March. But Weidman proved that the high expectations for him were justified as he scored a clear-cut decision win over “Legionarius” in Louisville. Next up was a June showdown against Jesse Bongfeldt, and he delivered his first UFC finish, submitting the Canadian with six seconds left in the first round. But the biggest impression left by the unbeaten Weidman came in November, when he put fellow prospect Tom Lawlor to sleep in with a D’arce choke in a little over two minutes. If you had questions about the second Serra-Longo team member to make this list, they were likely answered that night.Honorable Mention - John Cholish, Stanislav Nedkov, Stipe Miocic, Edwin Figueroa, Erick Silva, Robbie Peralta, Darren Uyenoyama, Lance Benoist, John Maguire, Johnny Bedford, Hatsu Hioki, Vagner Rocha

Posted in: ufc, mma, year, debut, veteran

Brydon on MMA: 2011 awards Part 1

A look at the best knockouts, submissions and fights in all of MMA in 2011, using 10 unique categories.

Posted in: mma, submission, brydon, category, knockouts submissions

A Viking Send-Off

When a Viking king would shuffle off his mortal coil and ascend to whatever afterlife awaits great warriors, his men would give him such a grand send-off, there would be drinking, tributes of food and valuables, a funeral pyre, and sometimes even a maiden would be sacrificed. Because hey, the old bastard probably did great things in his life and contributed much to the well-being of the clan, so why not honor him the way a king should be honored? On Friday night, after his UFC 141 bout against Dutch superhero Alistair Overeem ended in the kind of one-sided beatdown usually only seen on World Star Hiphop, former UFC champ Brock Lesnar announced his retirement from MMA competition. His career in the sport spanned all of eight fights, three of which ended in unequivocal defeat, and it took a gutsy title defense against Shane Carwin to quell questions of how the former WWE star had even deserved a title shot in the first place. But at the end of the day, Lesnar did wonders in helping our little “MMA clan” grow, and for that, the Viking king of the heavyweight division deserves loads of respect. I’ll admit, when he first stepped into the Octagon to face Frank Mir at UFC 81, after a whopping one MMA fight, I thought Lesnar was being brought in as a gimmick. He was an ex-pro wrestler with a boatload of fans, after all, and if he got crushed in the cage, so what? That would just reinforce to the world what we already knew, that pro wrestling was fake and MMA was real and never the twain should meet. The perceived downside, however, was that if Lesnar was ultimately successful, well, damn would that cheapen our “real” sport. Thankfully, Mir dispatched Lesnar in a minute and a half, and the precious sanctity of our combative endeavor remained intact. For a while, at least. Then Lesnar came back, defeated Heath Herring, TKO’d an aging Randy Couture for the belt (if you recall, the heavyweight was in a sad state of flux at the time, so why not give Lesnar a shot at the title?), and when the grappling behemoth rematched Mir, he crushed him. I remained a naysayer, an ardent apostate of the Cult of Brock. What I couldn’t ignore, though, was how much every yahoo in the locker room at my gym – the New York Sports Club, where yuppies and other non-MMAers go to lift weights – talked about Lesnar before and after his fights. If ever there was empirical evidence that the man was reaching the masses and making them discuss a sport they’d otherwise never even know about, this was it. Average Joes who couldn’t tell a rear naked choke from an armbar were suddenly giving a crap if Lesnar could remain the champ. For Zuffa, it was all there in the monster pay-per-view sales Lesnar drove, but for me, it was the overheard chatter from Joe Q. Public. God bless Lesnar for withstanding Carwin’s best and pulling off the win, because suddenly there were no more questions – in my mind at least – that the man was worthy of the crown. He was no longer some WWE refugee at that point, he was a legitimate mixed martial artist and badass mofo. You could blame his subsequent losses to Cain Velasquez and Overeem on any number of things, but it’s impossible to ignore the role his life-threatening diverticulitis has played, and Lesnar would know better than any of us if his expiration date has passed. Regardless, forever more, whatever his future endeavors, Lesnar will be that skilled MMAer and badass mofo who rose to the top and defended his belt under the most adverse of circumstances possible. A true Viking king if ever there was one.

Posted in: mma, sport, lesnar, viking king, viking

Adrenaline junkie Luke Rockhold loves high of MMA competition

Strikeforce middleweight champ Luke Rockhold has always sought thrills throughout his upbringing. Now, as an MMA fighter, Rockhold gets to experience the highest of highs each time he steps inside the cage. For Rockhold, growing up, it was all about surfing and finding his niche. MMA turned out to be just that for him. “I always believed I could be a professional athlete, I just wanted to find something to be happy,” said Rockhold, in a recent interview with Showtime. “I found jiu-jitsu in high school.” An adrenaline-junkie, Rockhold says he experiences the ultimate high when he competes in the cage, adding, “It’s like nothing I’ve ever felt before in my life.” Saturday night, Rockhold will defend his title for the first time against Keith Jardine in the main event of Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine. The main card will be televised live on Showtime and also features fights with “King” Mo Lawal, Robbie Lawler, and Tyron Woodley. Check out the video of Rockhold, titled, “I Am A Fighter,” below:

Posted in: mma, rockhold, “ i, fighter ”, features fights

The Best MMA Writing of 2011: Luke Thomas and Tommy Messano Explore the Future Between Wrestling and MMA

When you look at some of the world's best prospects in MMA, you'll inevitably find yourself exploring the world of college wrestling. How intimate is the relationship between mixed martial arts, and wrestling? What does that relationship mean for the future of both sports? The management company of Team Takedown is a good example of what this revolution has meant for both sports. Although you could say they've been a mixed bag. Jake Rosholt left the UFC with a 2-2 record and is currently undefeated in his last 6 fights. Shane Roller is on a two-fight losing streak. Jared Rosholt is a HW prospect currently 4-0. And then there's Johny Hendricks who needs no introduction for the viewers of UFC 141 (or people that were never fans of Jon Fitch). Hendricks took part in the NCWA All-Star Classic, and as Sherdog's Tommy Messano reports, the event has been a hot bed for MMA talent scouts. But what makes Messano's piece stand out is that we get to see two different reactions to this merging of interests between both sports. On the one hand, you have a DIII two-time national champion from Wartburg College in Byron Tate, who is already training MMA. In Tate, we see how in MMA, wrestlers now have an outlet to make proper money. On the other hand, the silence of Oklahoma State's Jordan Oliver: Oliver is a transcendent talent, but one who has thus far shown little interested in a future MMA career. When approached by Sherdog.com on Sunday, Oliver declined to be interviewed and offered a simple "no comment," further confirming that his goal lies in acquiring multiple NCAA titles before becoming a key cog in Team USA’s Olympic medal hopes. Oklahoma State assistant coach Zack Esposito put in perspective his team’s current view towards MMA. "To tell you the truth, the guys on our team are Olympic-made and coaching-made," Esposito said. "Right now, it’s not likely [for them to transition to MMA]. We are pushing our Olympic hopes and we want them to reach that goal before they make that choice whether they want to go on or not. "We encourage our guys, ‘don’t forget your childhood dreams.’ This thing [MMA] is new and appealing, but don’t forget your dreams. And then, after that, don’t forget your decision." Oliver's silence, in its own way, speaks to what some consider a burden onto wrestling and the lack of reciprocity between the two sports. For an articulation of this position by the participants themselves, Luke Thomas at MMA Nation interviewed Jordan Burroughs (winner of the Dan Hodge Trophy), and Henry Cejudo (Olympic Gold Medalist). Cejudo gave a very nuanced answer when asked whether or not MMA is hurting or helping wrestling: Henry: Well, this is a difficult one. I would say it's probably hurting, to be quite honest with you. A lot of our best guys are going into mixed martial arts. At the same time, it's sort of pushing the sport of wrestling to increase their stipends, their winnings. So, yeah, it is a bummer because the sport is losing good guys like Daniel Cormier, Mo Lawal, Ben Askren, they almost lost me for a bit. It's happening because guys are seeing MMA, I hate to say it, but it's an easier sport than wrestling. Wrestling is a sport, just like boxing, it's been around for hundreds of years. It's easy. It's flashy. Cameras, you become famous. You become rich. And you have the best base which is wrestling. 75% I think of all fighters are wrestlers or former wrestlers. Burroughs gives a similar answer, though both seem interested in eventually venturing into the MMA world. Perhaps just as interestingly, Burroughs answers the question: 'why do some wrestlers falter at their own game against MMA fighters with very little experience?' If there's a reason to think not every wrestler can make the transition, consider their styles, Jordan argues. For some of us who know very little of wrestling itself, we often just assume that all great wrestlers can power out a double leg like nobody's business. This is obviously not the case (in response to Luke's question about Yoel Romero during a Strikeforce fight that saw an Olympic medalist struggle to find takedowns): Jordan: I'm not sure. I mean, other people excel at different positions. Maybe that wasn't a strong point, sticking on his feet. Maybe just because he was an Olympic medalist doesn't mean he's great on his feet. He might keep good positioning and be hard to score but wasn't very offensive. It's one of those things, we've got guys that are very offensive and can take down anyone and we've got guys that don't shoot at all but are very hard to take down. It's one of those things, you've got to decide what you're good at. I didn't like putting both writers in one entry, but they explore such similar themes, I couldn't avoid it. Both put up fantastic work, and I suggest you read each in full. Again, Tommy Messano's article can be read in full here. He can be reached on twitter @ULTMMA. Luke Thomas' interviews with Jordan Burroughs and Henry Cejudo can be found, here and here, respectively. You can reach him on twitter @SBNLukeThomas.

Posted in: mma, guy, sport, olympic, wrestler

ULTMMA Best of 2011-Dot Com features, interviews and breaking news

Spider Bites: MMA pound for pound king Anderson Silva reacts to Jon Jones UFC 128 win & remains mum on possibility of super-fightsIn March, ULTMMA.com had the unique opportunity to watch the UFC 128 pay per view with current UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva (31-4). Silva's perspective on Jon Jones (15-1) championship performance versus Mauricio Rua (20-6) provided great insight into how fighters view their peers. NBA dreams and MMA heavyweight aspirations- an interview with Walt HarrisCollege basketball player turned MMA heavyweight prospect Walt Harris (7-2) finished 2011 with three first round wins. In the always fragile state of the MMA heavyweight division, Harris' entry into the sport makes him a big man prospect to watch in 2012. Loyalty and potential - An interview with bantamweight prospect Mike EastonBantamweight prospect Mike Easton's (11-1) flirtation with the major leagues of MMA was fulfilled in 2011. Easton signed with the UFC in July and the 27 year old won his debut with the promotion in October. NWCA All-Star Classic notebook: Anthony Robles interview, C.B Dollaway update and other college wrestling newsThe NWCA All-Star Classic is the premier preseason college wrestling event. Among notable amateur wrestlers that have competed at the All-Star Classic over past few years include MMA notables Ben Askren, Phil Davis and "King Mo" Muhammed Lawal. "So I was Scared." Dos Santos and MMA Own Their On Fox MomentThe UFC's television with the Fox broadcasting company was by far the biggest story of 2011. The seven year deal began in November with a card in California, where heavyweight Junior Dos Santos (14-1) became first UFC star on network television. ULTMMA Podcast Episode 5: A interview with Ultimate Fighter 14 star John Dodson of Jackson's MMAUndiscovered bantamweight star John Dodson (12-5) ran through the season 14 of the Ultimate Fighter. A longtime member of Jackson's MMA in New Mexico, Dodson gave a very candid interview in episode five of the ULTMMA Show. 2011 NCAA champion Bubba Jenkins set to make MMA debut at Tachi Palace Fights 11Several months after capturing a NCAA championship for the Arizona State Sun Devils, prospect Bubba Jenkins (1-0) booked his MMA debut. ULTMMA.com broke the news of Jenkins, a four star prospect, first fight for California's Tachi Palace Fights. From barnyard Toughman scraps to the Bellator cage- An interview with Kenny FosterAfter Kenny Foster's (9-4) upset of decorated NCAA wrestler Eric Larkin (3-1) the New Yorker's story came to light as he advanced in the Bellator 145 pound tournament. A key member of the Team Bomb Squad gym Foster's back story into the Bellator cage goes slightly off the beaten path. Who is Jacob DeVree? Arizona featherweight is ready for Bellator tourney spotlightA seven fight win streak earned Arizona featherweight Jacob DeVree a slot in Bellator's summer tournament. The 24 year old out of Power MMA remains one of the rising stars to come out of the Gilbert, AZ based gym.Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission suspends 11 fighters and one trainer in phony blood work scandalIn one of the more odd regional MMA stories of 2011 a nearly dozen Georgia amateur and pro fighters were busted for falsified blood work. The scandal set a dangerous precedent for the already under regulated game of performance enhancing drugs on the regional MMA scene across the United States. A breakdown of the ULTMMA50 2011 & a look at the 50 best unsigned prospects in MMAThe 2011 edition of the ULTMMA50 was published in April 2011. The top 50 snap shot in time takes a look at which unsigned prospects are inches away from the big show as well as which fighters have the potential to graduate to the national scene one day.

Posted in: ufc, mma, fighter, prospect, interview

Rolles Gracie vs Bob Sapp Confirmed for ONE FC 2, Top Russian Fighter Rustam Khabilov Also Added to Card

Numerous sources today confirmed that a heavyweight fight between Bob Sapp and Rolles Gracie (pictured above) has been added to the card for ONE FC 2 which is taking place in Jakarta on February 11th. Gracie has a 5-1 professional record with his sole loss coming on a disappointing UFC debut when his cardio looked extremely questionable. Hopefully he has learned from that experience because he still has the potential to be one of the top heavyweights in the world and will be a strong favourite against K-1, Pride and Dream veteran Bob Sapp who weighed an incredible 350 lbs for his last fight. Sapp's record stands at 11-9 but his career appears to be in decline after suffering three straight losses. He does posses one punch knock out power and could be a real threat to Gracie, whose standup is not his strong point. Having 'The Beast' on the card should also help shift plenty of tickets as he is very popular in Asia having spent much of his career fighting in Japan. Another fight confirmed today was Rustam Khabilov vs Rodrigo Ribeiro. The Russian has been doing most of his fighting for M-1 and has a very respectable 12-1 record with his sole loss coming by way of a split decision. He will be up a Brazilian who doesn't have such a strong record at 9-7 but is a third degree BJJ black belt and promises to be a formidable opponent for the Combat Sambo world champion. At only 25 years old Khabilov has plenty of potential and appears to be capable of fighting at either 170 or 185 lbs. He scored a spectacular suplex knockout back in 2009 which you can see below and should a solid addition to the ONE FC roster regardless of what weight he chooses to compete at. M-1 Challenge 2009 - Rustam Khabilov vs. Akin Duran - Brutal suplex knockout (via cpkarhu) Soo Chul Kim impressed a few people in going the full three rounds with BJJ world champion Leandro Issa on his ONE FC debut. He was able to fend off repeated submission attempts but couldn't do quite enough to defeat the much more experienced Brazilian. The good news for Kim, who is still only 20, is that he getting another shot. The bad news is that he is once again up against a highly accomplished grappler in second degree BJJ black belt Gustavo Falciroli. Although born in Brazil he is an adoptive Australian who is the reigning bantamweight belt holder for Cage Fighting Championships, the most established MMA promotion in the Australasian continent. Falciroli is 11-3-2 with all his losses coming by way of decision, he is a Shooto veteran who has never been stopped. Kim will once again be the underdog but according to his camp he is constantly improving and believes that he is good enough to take on much more experienced opposition. Interestingly enough the only other loss of Kim's career came at the hands of Andrew Leone who choked him out in less than 30 seconds. Leone is a very exciting prospect who has a contract with ONE FC and will be dropping down to the flyweight division where he will be a real force to be reckoned with. It is not known when he will be making his ONE FC debut but another fight rumoured (by MMA Orient) for the Jakarta card is Alex Silva vs Geje Eustaquio. If this bout does go ahead it will be intriguing because it pits two of the powerhouses of the region, Evolve MMA and Team Lakay Wushu, together for the very first time. Silva is a BJJ world champion who only made a successful pro MMA debut at DARE Championships last September. Eustaquio is a Wushu fighter whose record stands at 2-1 with his only loss coming by way of split decision and both will want to represent their camps with a win on a fight which, assuming it takes place at all, will probably be on the undercard. Ole Laursen is set to feature as well as a two or three local Indonesian fighters and the best place to check for fight announcements seems to be the Facebook page of MMA in Asia.

Posted in: fight, mma, loss, record, fc

Rolles Gracie to Face Bob Sapp at One FC 2

Filed under: News, ONE FCOne-time UFC competitor Rolles Gracie will aim to extend his win streak to three when he faces former Japanese MMA superstar Bob Sapp at One FC on Feb. 11 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Gracie announced the matchup late Sunday and Sherdog.com was first to report of the matchup. All five of Gracie (5-1)'s MMA wins have come by either an arm-triangle choke or a rear-naked choke. In February 2010, Gracie made his UFC debut at UFC 109 and was released shortly after the disappointing loss to Joey Beltran. In 2011, he scored first-round wins by arm-triangle choke against Braden Bice and Lee Mein. More than ever, Sapp (11-9) in recent years has been fighting strictly for the paycheck. He lost all of his fights in 2011 (three in MMA and three in kickboxing) and has dropped seven of his last nine MMA fights. Outside of his epic fight against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in 2002, all of Sapp's MMA fights have ended in the first round. Igor Gracie, Ole Laursen, Kevin Belingon, Yodsanan Sityodtong, Yuya Shirai and Youne Victorio Senduk are also slated to compete on the Feb. 11 card. ONE FC held its inaugural event last September in Singapore and in November announced a partnership with DREAM to co-promote and exchange fighters. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, gracie, sapp

August 2011 MMA Recap: UFC Signs With Fox, Brock Lesnar Returns, UFC Rocks Rio

As the summer came to a close, the UFC culminated their rise to prominence by signing a deal with Fox that had a ripple effect with fight promotion and their Spike relationship and then went back to their roots with a show in Rio, Brazil that exceeded expectations inside and outside the Octagon. August 2011: Blame It On Rio In one of the biggest business stories in MMA history, the UFC inked a seven-year deal with Fox, ending their run with Spike that started in 2005 and bringing MMA action back to primetime network TV. There was no shortage of stories and opinions with threads on how the deal would affect placement of major fights and whether this meant that MMA had finally arrived in the mainstream. The deal called for four events on "big" Fox, The Ultimate Fighter and other events moving to FX on Friday nights and Fuel TV becoming essentially the UFC network with 2000 yearly hours of original and archive programming. A bonus show would kick things off in November (Anderson Silva vs. Dan Henderson was speculated early), part of four straight weeks of UFC events. The impact of the deal will truly be felt in 2012, but the early signs (major advertising and promos during NFL games) was a great sign that Fox was taking the relationship seriously. **** The UFC returned to Brazil for the first time in 12 years with UFC 134, punctuated by three finishes by native sons that electrified the wild Rio crowd. Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva showed why he was such a favorite, defeating Yushin Okami with ease in a second round TKO victory while Mauricio Rua humbled a distracted Forrest Griffin in just two minutes. But the lasting memory was Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira knocking out Brendan Schaub in an upset that had to be seen to be believed. The crowd went into a euphoric state and was a fantastic lasting moment of the historic return -- a reason why the UFC said they were returning in 2012 with a show at a large open air venue. It was almost enough to make people forget about Nogueira's unfortunate statement about not wanting to train with a gay student. **** After undergoing surgery to remove a foot of his colon and with his future in doubt, former UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar announced that "he was back" with Dana White acknowledging that his top pay-per-view star was getting back in the gym in hopes for an early 2012 return. The rest of a busy August in MMA continues after the jump. Zuffa severed ties with the Golden Glory fight team over the process on how fighters were paid, releasing three fighters as a result. White broke down the issues and later said he was open to working things out as he wanted Alistair Overeem in the UFC...Rashad Evans defeated Tito Ortiz and Vitor Belfort decimated Yoshihiro Akiyama at the injury-riddled UFC 133 event, but the big story was Dennis Hallman's choice of trunks. White was less than thrilled...Jon Jones called Evans a 'jealous snake'...Matt Hamill retired...Rampage Jackson said Jones was spying on his camp. Fedor Emelianenko was released by Strikeforce but M-1 Global was quick to say he wasn't retiring...Ronda Rousey started making noise about being the new face of women's MMA...UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos was booked for UFC 139...Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez vs. Jorge Masvidal was announced...Chris Lytle announced he was retiring and then submitted Dan Hardy in a great moment. Despite four straight losses, Hardy kept his job...Ben Henderson looked incredible in dominating Jim Miller. Trainer Sean Tompkins passed away at just 37 years old...It took 10 seconds for Kimbo Slice to win his pro boxing debut...Jason Miller was arrested...Pat Curran won Bellator's featherweight tournament....Eddie Alvarez vs. Shinya Aoki II looked to become a reality...Jack Shields passed away...Pro Elite was rumored to be in talks with CBS/Showtime, while Zuffa said they were going to re-evaluate Strikeforce on Showtime. Full archive of July stories on Bloody Elbow Past Monthly Recaps: July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011

Posted in: ufc, mma, fox, event, deal

Best Canadian MMA moments of 2011

SPORTSNET.CA looks at some of the best Canadian moments in the world of mixed martial arts in 2011.

Posted in: mma, canadian, art, moment, canadian moments

NY Times and LA Times feature Gina Carano

The New York Times and LA Times feature Gina Carano in its Sunday editions as she is starring in the new Steven Soderbergh movie “Haywire” The articles give a background on Carano’s upbringing and her experience in getting into MMA. Each article gives an account of her meeting with Soderbergh which occurred a week after losing to Cyborg Santos in July 2009. Payout Perspective: Carano and her movie, “Haywire” were prevalent in and around the Octagon on Friday night. With the press she is doing for the movie, Carano could bring positive publicity to Strikeforce and woman’s MMA. She has the looks and athleticism to be very successful in movies. We will see how her acting is in the movie. Dependent on the success of the movie, it will be interesting to see the direction of her MMA career. Will she continue her MMA career or will more movie offers come her way which would take her away from the Octagon. Arguably, Carano is one of the reasons (along with Cyborg, Tate and Rousey) Zuffa is keeping woman’s MMA. We’ll see how long it will take for her to get back.

Posted in: mma, time, mma career, carano, movie

Luke Thomas looks at four big fights MMA fans can look forward to in 2012. Read it at MMA Nation.

Posted in: fight, mma, luke, fan, luke thomas

ULTMMA Best of 2011- YouTube videos, MMA highlights & MMA films

Utah fighter Rad Martinez "The Promise" Memories by Huck Blade "Fight to Finish" Nick Diaz Highlight by @LayzieTheSavage reem2 episode 1: Coming to America Backyard Brawl: Full video profile on Miami streetfighter Dada 5000 from ESPN's E:60 The Fight Nerd's ""A Fighting Spirit" -- NY MMA fighters remember 9-11 ULTMMA interview with UFC champion Anderson Silva UFC: Closer to the Edge UFC on Fox Velasquez vs. Dos Santos Rolling Stones trailer UFC 133 Movie Trailer The Story of The Sengoku King (Miami Hustle Prequel) (By Genghis Con) Training Camp: Jon Jones by All Elbows

Posted in: mma, video, video profile, huck bladenbspnbspquotfight, americanbspnbspbackyard brawl

UFC 141 results: Reflecting on Brock Lesnar's short MMA career

It was a grim tableau. Slumped against the cage after absorbing a frightful assault to the body, Brock Lesnar wore the dejected look of a fighter done with the sport. Imagine realizing your career in a given vocation was obviously something you suddenly no longer wanted to pursue, with the impetus for that decision being a public beating like the one Alistair Overeem delivered at UFC 141 this past Fri., Dec. 30, 2011, in Las Vegas. It was one of the most poignant moments you'll see, yet painfully public at the same time. His post-fight retirement announcement wasn't a surprise. In moments of adversity, you find out what a fighter is about, and Lesnar handled his interview with Joe Rogan very well. Brevity goes a long way when making an announcement that will change the short-term landscape of the sport; he's done with MMA, and he did one hell of a lot to bump the game up to the next level in a mere eight fights, five of which were against guys who were former or current champions. He could have ranted about how he just got caught, how he wanted a rematch, and all the expected posturings that come straight from the "Beaten Fighter Playbook." Those are the easy sells and juicy rationalizations. But Lesnar took his medicine like a man and reminded us that life goes on outside the game, with a quality precisely defined by how much you put into it. Family is key to him and MMA simply isn't worth the investment, especially considering his diverticulitis, which has been a recurring issue in the past two years. His short, frank speech was a graceful exit given the tumultuous emotions he must have been feeling, and went a long way toward showing his real side, that of a family man who simultaneously accepted the need, at times, to play the heel, something he'd become proficient at during his pro wrestling days. He was certainly adept at it, sometimes pushing the envelope to strange places where the envelope seemingly ended, and unclassifiable viewer weirdness ensued. His inimitable post-fight meltdown after battering Frank Mir into submission at UFC 100 was a Holy Trifecta of sorts, as he simultaneously offended the guy he'd just smashed, the promotion he smashed him in and a major sponsor (Bud Light) for the event he smashed him at. In the history of the sport, there may have been no equivalent moment where a guy had the audience so ready to eat from the palm of his hand, willingly accepting him as the newly crowned champ. But Lesnar delivered a gleeful verbal smack to the face instead. I always got the feeling that Lesnar was never fully comfortable with MMA, and was more of an athlete-as-fighter. His obvious deficits in the stand-up phase in fights against Shane Carwin, Cain Velasquez and Overeem could overshadow the rest of his legacy, however brief. Given time to develop along the prescribed trajectory of a heavyweight prospect, he could have acquired the kind of experience and repetitive conditioning necessary to stand and deal with the harsh realities of the sport, especially stark ones when you're a heavyweight, where one-shot swings of momentum are the rule instead of the exception. It's a line of work that requires unshaking commitment, with brutal truths visited upon even the best of those who survive the numerous slips on their journey up the mountain. In 1999, back during my boxing days, I interviewed Michael Grant, a rising contender who tossed off a verbal nugget I've kept with me over the years. Grant, a wonderfully gifted athlete, had the blend of looks and personality that made him an HBO darling. He could play piano and excelled in three sports yet wasn't fully transfixed with the idea of becoming a heavyweight champion. "I see people like Evander Holyfield who have been in the sport for 25 years, and that's all they are," Grant said. "I want to be in boxing, but not ‘of' boxing." Contrast that to Marvin Hagler, who said "When they cut open my head, they're going to find a big boxing glove. That's all I am." Grant would go on to be summarily starched by Lennox Lewis in his brief and only title shot, while Hagler reigned as one of the greatest champions of his, or anyone else's, era. I've never forgotten that, because Grant's reluctance to go all-in on pursuing a fight career was ultimately a huge factor in his eventual demise. And any time I hear a fighter talking retirement, it's a sign that he's probably closer to it than he thinks, for reasons he may not yet understand but will become painfully apparent in short order. Lesnar's career trajectory denied him the chance to develop the experience against lower-level competition that might have served him well, but the flip side of that is he came along exactly when the UFC had a void he could fill like no one else. Given the hand as it lays now, an exit from the sport is his best move. If nothing else, he leaves on his own terms. That's a victory in itself.

Posted in: ufc, mma, sport, lesnar, grant

Showdown Joe's year-end MMA rankings

Showdown Joe gives his final MMA rankings of 2011, and one of the winners of the UFC's final event makes a big move up the heavyweight list.

Posted in: mma, showdown, joe, ranking, mma rankings

UFC 141 Results: A Non-Wrestling Fan's Farewell to Brock Lesnar and Other Post-Event Thoughts

UFC 141 rung in the New Year with some fantastic fights and interesting post-fight tidbits to digest. The retirement of Brock Lesnar first and foremost among them. Now I am grew up in the '90s , I went from ages 4 to 14 during the golden age of pro wrestling and I couldn't care less about it. Nothing against pro wrestling fans but if I want to watch scripted fighting I'd like them to have swords, ideally light-sabers, but really any old sword will do. So watching unnaturally large men scream in to the microphones and hit each other with chairs never really drew me in. So when Brock Lesnar came into MMA, I wasn't huge on the idea of a pro wrestler coming into a real combat sport. Now since then I've developed a respect for the catch wrestling roots of pro wrestling and Brock Lesnar won my respect as a fighter. Now questions abound because when ever an athlete that won a championship in his/her sport, there is the question of where that athlete fits into the pantheon of all-time greats. And Brock Lesnar is no different, where does he fit amongst the great MMA heavyweights. Certainly he isn't the best Heavyweight of all-time; names like Randy Couture, Fedor Emelianenko, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira or even Mark Coleman should come before Lesnar to name a few. But this should not relegate Lesnar to the dustbin of MMA history. Lesnar came to the sport with excellent NCAA wrestling credentials and freak athleticism but already in his 30s, never having trained MMA and experienced great success. While Lesnar's legacy will include his distaste for getting hit, it should not lessen his victories over Randy Couture, Frank Mir, his awesome come back against Shane Carwin and even his win over Heath Herring who was once an a top 15 heavyweight in his own right. So I wish Brock Lesnar a happy retirement. You reached the top of the sport, defended your title, and changed the heavyweight division. Those are things that can never be taken away. More after the jump.... Don't Mess With the 209 Seriously, Nate Diaz is a beast and I was not giving him enough credit when picking that fight. After that performance I think his boxing is better than his brother Nick's. Nate has just laser guided straight punches that take full advantage of his reach and strike with more power than his larger kin. He put a beating on Donald Cerrone and though I tweeted that I wanted to see that as a 5 round fight, on reflection that might have killed Cerrone. Nate's outstanding boxing, fearsome jiu jitsu and endless cardio I think makes him a major threat to UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar. That would be a fight I'd be very interested in watching, regardless of Edgar's result against Ben Henderson in Japan. Knocked the Fitch Out Jon Fitch just saw his interim-title dreams disappear as he watched that replay of Johny Hendricks dropping him with that left hand. While many an MMA fan, including some Zuffa brass most likely, rejoiced at Fitch's loss, I feel bad for the former Boilermaker. A man whose only crime was being excellent in skills not pleasing to fans will be relegated to undercards despite being a top ranked welterweight. I'm not a huge fan of drawing broad conclusions on a fighter after a quick loss.The UFC has been feeding him heavy hitters for just about two years now hoping for this result and he has survived and thrived but I think this loss could benefit MMA fans in an unexpected way. To get back in the title picture, Fitch will be forced to change his game. He likely doesn't have enough time left in his prime to grind his way back up. While lacking KO power, Fitch is an excellent grappler and perhaps he will focus more on passing guard and isolating arms or attacking the neck. I have no doubt that if Fitch put together two wins by submission in 2012 he would be challenging for that interim title before 2013. Other Thoughts: Alexander Gustafsson looks better and better each time out. He is going to give guys fits with that rangy boxing and improving wrestling. He is going to be a Top 5 Light Heavyweight and if Jon Jones moves up to Heavyweight he could be a champion. Get this guy a step up in competition. I knew Jimmy Hettes was good, but WOW. Love to see great Judo in MMA and then follow it up with excellent and urgent grappling on the mat. Not going to go over the top because Phan, while an able gatekeeper and a likable guy he isn't an elite Featherweight. That said, Hettes is someone to watch going forward. Dong-Hyun Kim really wanted that crane kick and he almost got a KO out of it. Interesting and fairly convincing win from Kim, solid bounce back win. Bonus Dream thought: Satoru Kitaok did a good job of surviving with Shinya Aoki on his back but Aoki beat him up and showed pretty solid all around skills despite not finishing. Fedor did what Fedor does in Japan and the commentary crew was TERRIBLE.

Posted in: mma, fan, brock lesnar, lesnar, fitch

5 Oz. MMA Link Club

Welcome back to another edition of “MMA Link Club”, Five Ounces of Pain‘s weekly smorgasbord of offerings from our brothers and sisters in the MMA community. Enjoy… Alistair Overeem Extremely Motivated to Become UFC Champion (LowKick.com) Ronda Rousey Tosses Nick Diaz Around like a Rag Doll (MiddleEasy.com) Junior dos Santos Ready to Deliver Fan-Friendly Battle Against Overeem (Fightline.com) With Brock Lesnar Gone, Who Will Replace him as PPV King? (BleacherReport.com) Jimy “Humble” Hettes Continues to Impress in Post-Fight Interview (5thRound.com) Kimbo Slice is Officially 3-0 as a Boxer (MMAConvert.com) Nate Diaz Wants a Title-Shot (MMAMania.com) A Look at the Impact of MetroPCS’ Deal with the UFC (MMAPayout.com) The Top 10 Heavyweight Fights of 2011 (CagePotato.com) Dana White Doesn’t Care About Fans’ Opinions (FightOpinion.com) Bellator Holding Open Tryouts in Philadelphia (TheFightNerd.com) Jacob Volkmann Says Finishers Get Title-Shots (MMAFighting.com) PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, mma, mma community, titleshot mmamaniacom, ufc mmapayoutcom

Overeem steps into the octogon for the first time. (photo by your resident MMA photographer, James Law)

submitted by mannaze [link] [6 comments]

Posted in: mma, mannaze, time photo, overeem steps, photographer

UFC 141 Post-Fight Press Conference Highlights

Highlights from the UFC 141 post-fight press conference via MMA Fighting.

Posted in: ufc, mma, conference, press, postfight

UFC 141 Post-Fight Interviews

MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani caught up with Alistair Overeem, Johny Hendricks, Jacob Volkmann, Jim Hettes, Ross Pearson and Danny Castillo to talk about their fights at UFC 141. Also, MMA Heat’s Karyn Bryant spoke with Alexander Gustafsson and Dong Hyun Kim about their victories.

Posted in: ufc, mma, alexander gustafsson, danny castillo, johny

Fedor Emelianenko knockout video (full) of Satoshi Ishii at DREAM 2011 New Year's Eve event

It's been the toughest year ever for Fedor Emelianenko, arguably the best heavyweight mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter of all time, losing back-to-back fights to Antonio Silva and Dan Henderson, as well as getting stopped by Fabricio Werdum to close out 2010. "The Last Emperor" snapped the three-fight skid with a unanimous decision win over Jeff Monson just last month. And last night (Dec. 30, 2011), the former Pride FC juggernaut made it two in a row with a first round knockout finish of judo expert Satoshi Ishii in the DREAM: "Genki Desu Ka Omisoka" year-end MMA extravaganza in Japan. Our own Brian Hemminger had the complete blow-by-blow coverage of the fight between Fedor Emelianenko vs. Satoshi Ishii in our DREAM results and LIVE fight coverage post from last night/this morning. Check it out: Round one: Fedor stands still, but tries to land big combinations but Ishii has a high guard. Ishii shoots in looking ot take Fedor down but he gets fended off. Fedor throws some big combinations but Ishii is unfazed. A nice right hand connects for Emelianenko and Ishii is stumbled. Fedor presses forward and blasts Ishii with a huge right hand that drops Ishii and he's out cold. It's all over. Ishii and Monson are certainly not top-ranked opponents; however, wins over them are certainly solid confidence boosters as Emelianenko enters perhaps the last year of his illustrious and legendary MMA career. Is a move to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) finally in the cards for 2012 or will Emelianenko continue to insist on plying his trade outside the Octagon until his retires from the sport? For complete DREAM: "Genki Desu Ka Omisoka" results, including blow-by-blow coverage of the MMA portion of the eclectic fight card, click here and here.

Posted in: mma, fedor, emelianenko, ishii, blowbyblow coverage

DREAM results recap: Fedor Emeliankenko knocks out Satoshi Ishii to close New Year's Eve show in Japan

After Johny Hendricks knocked out Jon Fitch, after Nate Diaz and Donald Cerrone settled their differences by beating the tar out of each other and even after Alistair Overeem body kicked Brock Lesnar out of the UFC, a wholly different type of mixed martial arts (MMA) show was taking place a world away. The latest -- and quite possibly the last -- in a long line of New Year's Eve combat sports offerings from Japan took place in the wee hours of the morning for those of you living stateside. "Genki Desu Ka Omisoka" replaced "Dynamite!!" as the year-end extravaganza but the name wasn't the only change that was made. In addition to the usual mixture of kickboxing and MMA bouts, this year's show also included professional wrestling matches courtesy of Inoki Genome Federation (IGF) founder Antonio Inoki. While that may seem odd to American fans, having all three on the same card made perfect sense in Japan where the histories of each are intertwined much more closely than they are here in the states. The entire event clocked in at just under nine hours, beginning right about when UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem went off the air and ending just in time to catch the breakfast menu at McDonald's. Featuring the likes of Kazushi Sakuraba, Josh Barnett, Tim Sylvia and of course Fedor Emelianenko, "Genki Desu Ka Omisoka" -- which translates to "How Are You! New Year!" -- provided all the action and wackiness that has become par for the course as Japanese fight fans ring in the new year. Read on if you dare! Starting off the show were a trio of MMA bouts in the bantamweight division. All part of a 135-pound grand prix, the first fight was a reserve bout that very well could have stolen Knockout of the Year at the last second. Ever since winning a tournament held earlier in the year, Hideo Tokoro hasn't been able to get back into the win column and that streak continued tonight when he was the victim of an absolutely brutal slam at the hands of Russian Yusup Saadulaev less than a minute into their tilt. With the win, Saadulaev earned the right to take the place of either Bibiano Fernandes or Antonio Banuelos -- who defeated Rodolfo Marques and Masakazu Imanari, respectively -- should they have gotten injured. But the Russian's services wouldn't be needed as both winners were healthy enough to take part in the finals. There, the former DREAM 145-pound kingpin once again became champion albeit in his new, smaller weight class. Representing kickboxing were two K-1 MAX bouts that pitted Masaaki Noiri against Kengo Sonoda and Yuta Kobo against Nils Widlund. Noiri took his bout by unanimous decision but Kobo ended his fight a bit more dramatically. The Japanese kickboxer lit up the Swede with a head kick and then finished him off with a knee that put him down for the count. In MMA action, Japanese veteran Hayato Sakurai outlasted Ryo Chonan, earning "Mach" his first win since April 2009. He had since lost four straight which fueled rumors that he may soon be hanging it up. Picking up his second straight win at 145-pounds, Tatsuya Kawajiri disposed of Kazuyuki Miyata in easy fashion. "Crusher" forced his opponent to tap to a second round arm triangle after dominating the pace of the fight with his perfectly timed takedowns. And in women's action, Bellator veteran Megumi Fujii made quick work of Karla Benitez when she secured an armbar in 75 seconds. The win was "Mega Megu's" 25th of her career. There were a total of four IGF pro wrestling bouts on the card but only two of them were worth watching. The matches between Tim Sylvia and Jerome LeBanner -- huh? -- and Kazuyuki Fujita and Peter Aerts were essentially a waste of time but Josh Barnett's catch wrestling bout with Hideki Suzuki was fantastic and reminiscent of the classic UWF-i wars from the early 1990s. Japanese legend Kazushi Sakuraba teamed up with Katsuyori Shibata to take on the duo of Atsushi Sawada and Shinichi Suzukawa. That match ended with "Saku" sinking a choke in on Sawada and was followed by an all-out brawl. But the pro wrestling wasn't even the craziest part of the show. Just like last year, K-1 MAX star Yuichiro Nagashima was involved in another mixed rules fight that saw the first round play out as a kickboxing match while the second round had an MMA ruleset. But unlike last year where the costume play fan knocked out Shinya Aoki, Nagashima was on the receiving end of a beatdown as Katsunori Kikuno was able to get a stoppage victory in the second round. The gems of the show, however, were the two title fights and the main event. Hiroyuki Takaya looked to defend his 145-pound title against Takeshi Inoue. Inoue is also known as "Lion" but fought like anything but. He allowed the champ to control the pace of the bout for the entire 25 minutes and offered little to no offense. It was a disappointing effort form the challenger but marks the second defense for Takaya who won the belt from the aforementioned Fernandes a year ago today. Shinya Aoki returned to New Year's Eve after an embarrassing showing last year that saw him avoid a K-1 round against Nagashima only to get kneed into unconsciousness mere seconds into the MMA round while shooting in for a takedown. He came back in impressive and dominant fashion, beating Satoru Kitaoka in every aspect of the fight over the course of 25 minutes. The first two rounds were a grappling affair as excepted but rounds three and four included glimpses of the submission specialist's ever-improving striking. And in the main event of the evening, Fedor Emelianenko made his return to Japan for the first time since the 2007 New Year's Eve show where he submitted human giant Hong-Man Choi. An equally impressive win was his reward as he knocked out Olympic judo gold medalist Satoshi Ishii. The MMA newcomer had absolutely nothing for "The Last Emperor" who knocked out his opponent with a powerful jab that crushed the Japanese fighter's nose. Emelianenko has now won two in a row after dropping three straight during his Strikeforce tenure. If this is indeed the final year-ending show in Japan, it's only fitting that it included a little bit of everything: MMA, kickboxing and pro wrestling. For complete DREAM: "Genki Desu Ka Omisoka" results, including blow-by-blow coverage of the MMA portion of the eclectic fight card, click here.

Posted in: mma, show, bout, round, year

As He Rides Off Into Retirement, How Will the MMA World Remember Brock Lesnar?

Filed under: UFCLAS VEGAS -- He came, he fought, he left. After a career that spanned just shy of 55 months and only eight fights, Brock Lesnar is calling it quits. So he says. So he declared after a TKO loss to Alistair Overeem at UFC 141 on Friday night. If he changes his mind once his body and his ego have both healed up, he won't be the first. But if the 34-year-old former UFC heavyweight champ really has strapped on his last pair of 4XL gloves, what does his departure mean for the UFC and the sport of MMA? How will we remember Lesnar once we don't have the former WWE star to kick around anymore? More Coverage: UFC 141 Results | UFC 141 Fighter Salaries For UFC president Dana White, the answer probably has at least a little something to do with dollars and cents. Despite his inexperience in the cage, Lesnar immediately became one of the top pay-per-view draws for the organization after signing on in 2007. Whether it was because fans wanted to see him win or desperately hoped to see him lose, he put butts in seats and money in the bank for the UFC. He may not have always been the easiest guy for the UFC brass to work with, but he was a dependable cash cow. And now, just like that, he's gone. "I had no idea he was going to do that," White told reporters at the post-fight press conference. "Am I surprised? No. Brock Lesnar's made a lot of money in his career and he's achieved a lot of things. Brock Lesnar came to me one night here at the MGM and pulled me aside and said, 'I want to fight in the UFC.' I laughed. He was 1-0, came from the WWE, and he brought a lot of excitement to the heavyweight division. What that man accomplished in a short amount of time with one [prior] fight is amazing. I get it. It doesn't shock me, but I didn't know." For the man who could turn out to be Lesnar's final opponent, the news seemed to come as more of a surprise, and maybe even a bit of disappointment. "I think he shouldn't walk away, because love him or hate him, it's always something when Brock's fighting," Overeem said. "...He's a guy who goes for it. I think he achieved a lot in a short span, and it would be a shame if he stops now." And yet, the Lesnar who got battered and beaten by Overeem didn't seem to be one who was burning up with an unquenchable competitive fire. He fought a reactive fight -- one devoid of the raw aggression he'd displayed in his earlier bouts. He never committed to getting Overeem to the mat, and a few well placed body shots sent him scurrying for cover. When Overeem whipped his shin across Lesnar's midsection, that was all it took to convince the former NCAA wrestling champ that it was time to cover up and go home, perhaps for the last time. What does that ignominious end mean for Lesnar's legacy? Odds are it will only solidify the oft-repeated criticism that he never really got comfortable with being hit. When Lesnar was on offense, he was a juggernaut that mowed down everything in his path. But when an opponent managed to turn the tables he tended to shy away from the blows, going from attack mode to full retreat in a few seconds. %VIRTUAL-Gallery-142683% Some of that can be attributed to inexperience. After a pro debut against the thoroughly forgettable Min-Soo Kim, the bulk of Lesnar's MMA education took place on the job. He fought many of the best heavyweights around without the benefit of a gradual build-up or even much cage time in which to get comfortable. He was a star from the very beginning, and he was held to an almost impossibly high standard. He was also paid accordingly, making his relatively short stint in the UFC a highly profitable one. But if he really is done with the sport, will Lesnar be remembered as a great heavyweight, or simply a memorable one? There's no denying his star-power, but did he accomplish enough to be known as anything more than a lightning rod with incredible athletic ability and raw physical potential? It's difficult to say, in part because it's hard not to wonder what he might have accomplished had he not been laid low by diverticulitis at the height of his career. Instead of challenging Junior dos Santos earlier this year, Lesnar had to go under the knife to have 12 inches of his colon removed. It might not have had any bearing on his fight with Overeem, but his health struggles almost certainly influenced his decision to hang up the gloves when he did, and deprived him of precious time to carve out more of a fighting legacy for himself. Lesnar was a man who came to MMA relatively late in life and now seems intent on leaving early. He was memorable, even if he fell short of true athletic greatness, and he brought mainstream attention to the sport at an important time in MMA's evolution. Maybe when we look back on his brief career, that's what we'll remember most. Not that he dominated or even that he stuck around long enough to find out what he was fully capable of, but that he did a lot in a very little time, and he left the sport in better condition than he found it. Maybe that's enough for him to feel satisfied in retirement. Maybe it has to be. And sure, maybe all the money he made in the process doesn't hurt either. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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

I used to do MMA like you.

submitted by ForeverMarried [link] [4 comments]

Posted in: mma, forevermarried

Johny Hendricks 12-second KO at UFC 141 is already something of MMA legend

Finally. Now everyone can stop saying Jon Fitch doesn't finish fights. Johny Hendricks just wrecked your parlay. It's cool, maybe you should stop spending your hard-earned money betting on MMA. Apply your funds to something else, like this DVD of the first season of Nickelodeon's 'Hey Dude.' It was a show that you didn't really understand when you were a kid since it took place inside the confines of a ranch. Ranches suck when you're a kid, unless it's being used as a dipping sauce for a carrot. Check out this .gif of Hendrick's one-punch KO of Jon Fitch at UFC 141 compliments of Zombie Prophet. It's exactly what you didn't expect to happen tonight, and that's why we all love MMA.

Posted in: mma, zombie prophet, hendrick, hardearned money, carrot check

Jacob Volkmann Wanted 'to Punch Joe Rogan in Nuts' After Post-Fight Interview

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, VideosLAS VEGAS -- Watch below as Jacob Volkmann talks about his dominant win over Efrain Escudero at UFC 141, why he was disappointed in Joe Rogan after the fight, how tight the choke was in the third round, and what's next. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mma, joe rogan, postfight interview, efrain escudero, jacob volkmann

Ross Pearson Failed to Make Statement He Wanted in Featherweight Debut

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, VideosLAS VEGAS -- Watch below as Ross Pearson discusses his UFC 141 over Junior Assuncao, his debut at 145, how difficult the weight cut was, and more. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, featherweight debut, ros, ross pearson

Friday Link Club: UFC 141 Preview

“The Voice” Michael Schiavello and Joe Rogan discuss Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair Overeem when it was just a dream fight Eight Ways of Looking at UFC 141 | MMA Fighting UFC 141 Breakdown: The Main Event | Five Ounces of Pain Gallery: 12 GIFs of Brock Lesnar Being Awesome | Cage Potato UFC 141 Fight Card: How Alistair Overeem Will Demolish Brock Lesnar | Bleacher Report Lesnar’s Camp Had Issues With Overeem Training At Xtreme Couture | FightLine Alistair Overeem Denies Rumors of Insufficient Training at Xtreme Couture (Video) | 5thRound Watch the Overeem Effect take over Arianny Celeste at the UFC 141 Weigh ins | MiddleEasy Vladimir Matyushenko: I’m at the peak of my MMA career (Exclusive) | LowKick Did Jon Fitch get a fair shake for his MMA/pro-wrestling comments? | Fight Opinion Jon Fitch vs Johny Hendricks fight video preview for UFC 141 | MMA Mania Top 10 Worst New Year’s Eve MMA fights in Japan  | TheFightNerd GSP picked one of the most overhyped for 2011 | MMA Payout

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

2012 World MMA Lightweight Scouting Report - #8 - Anton Kuivanen

Name: Anton Kuivanen Nickname: -- Age: 27 Height: 6'0" Location: Helsinki, Finland That didn't take long, did it? After Finnish MMA fans everywhere relished in the glory of Juha-Pekka Vainikainen's placement at #10 on the 2012 World MMA Lightweight Scouting Report, fellow Finn Anton Kuivanen (16-4) claims the #8 spot. Don't be fooled by the close proximity of these two on the countdown, however. Kuivanen is one of the best mixed martial artists in the country, and his improved skills may take him to the promise land of the UFC in 2012. The 27-year-old is currently riding a nine-fight win streak since losing to WEC veteran Bendy Casimir in October of ‘08 by kneebar. Since that loss, Kuivanen has dominated his competition, beating notable veterans Tim Radcliffe, Ivan Buchinger, and Ryan Bixler in a run spanning three years. His most recent bout against Thiago Meller might be the most impressive of his eight wins, defeating the heralded Brazilian prospect by unanimous decision in an exciting affair at Cage 16 in October. In that match-up, Kuivanen showcased all of the talents that have brought him to where he stands today. A striker at heart, Kuivanen also possesses developed skills in the other areas of his game. He's a solid grappler who has the technical know-how to work effectively off his back. He has above average takedown defense, good conditioning, and a physically superior frame that has helped him in tight spots in past bouts. As aforementioned, Kuivanen's fighting style is deeply focused on his striking, and he's showcased more diversity in recent bouts. Specifically, Kuivanen has added various kicks to his arsenal, notably a front kick. Mixing in those techniques with good footwork and a solid straight-overhand combination have made Kuivanen far more threatening and unpredictable. The jury is still out on whether Kuivanen can ultimately break into the UFC and succeed, but he's doing everything he can do make it a certainty. Not only has he trained extensively alongside fellow prospects in Finland, but he's branched out and traveled internationally to gain an edge. He's worked with Jorge Masvidal at American Top Team in Florida, Demian Maia in Brazil, and traveled to Russia, Mongolia, Thailand, and even China to hone his striking skills. If that weren't enough, Kuivanen is likely one of the more popular fighters in the country. He was featured on a reality show called Sali that followed the everyday lives of MMA fighters. While that isn't completely relevant to what the report aims to show readers, it's difficult to ignore the fact that Kuivanen can draw in casual fans in his home country. That point isn't relevant to our rankings however. Kuivanen's placement may seem a bit harsh considering his overall record and strength of wins recently. Unfortunately, it's hard to get past the fact that the Nordic region lacks the strong competition it takes to prove your worth to a couple of scouts like ourselves. I'm also not completely sold on Kuivanen's defense on the feet, but I can't truly nitpick at it without someone challenging him in that department. That isn't to say that Kuivanen won't prove us wrong, and that certainly doesn't make him a bad choice for the UFC's Swedish card. HT: MMAViking.com's interview with Anton Kuivanen. Check out more video footage of Anton Kuivanen after the jump... FlyweightBantamweightFeatherweightLightweight #1 - #2 - #3 -#4 -#5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - Rony Mariano#2 - Aljamain Sterling#3 - Chris Holdsworth#4 - Josh Hill#5 - Fabiano Fernandes#6 - Claudio Ledesma#7 - Sirwan Kakai#8 - Kyoji Horiguchi#9 - Leandro Hygo#10 - Pedro Munhoz #1 - Hacran Dias#2 - Joey Gambino#3 - Brandon Bender#4 - Lance Palmer #5 - Jim Alers#6 - Anthony Gutierrez#7 - Max Holloway#8 - John Teixeira#9 - Cody Bollinger#10 - Bubba Jenkins #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - Anton Kuivanen#9 - Jordan Rinaldi#10 - J.P. Vainikainen WelterweightMiddleweightLight HeavyweightHeavyweight #1 - #2 - #3 -#4 -#5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - Anton Kuivanen vs. Thiago MellerCage 16 - October 8, 2011 Anton Kuivanen vs. Ivan BuchingerCage 15 - April 29, 2011 Anton Kuivanen vs. Ryan BixlerFight Festival 29 - January 31, 2011 Anton Kuivanen vs. Tim Radcliffe Cage 14 - November 20, 2010 Anton Kuivanen vs. Raymond JarmanCage 13 - May 8, 2010

Posted in: mma, vs, kuivanen, he, anton

UFC 141 Fight Card: Efrain Escudero looks for a triumphant return to UFC against Jacob Volkmann

Don't call it a comeback. Actually, that's exactly what you should call it when The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 8 winner Efrain Escudero takes on Jacob Volkmann at UFC 141, tonight (Dec. 30, 2011) in Las Vegas, Nevada. Escudero has been missing in action in the Octagon since Sept. 2010 when the mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion cut him after failing (badly) to make weight, then losing to Charles Oliveira via a third-round rear-naked choke at UFC Fight Night 22 in Austin, Texas. Since that point, Escudero has gone 5-1 for other MMA organizations. Most recently, he was able to defeat Cesar Avila by submission (guillotine choke) at Bellator 55 on Oct. 22, 2011, in Somerton, Arizona. Can he keep the good vibes going tonight versus Volkmann? Let's take a look: In 2008, Escudero entered onto the mainstream MMA scene by winning TUF 8 tournament with a win over Phillipe Nover. He quickly endeared himself to fans, getting attention for his massive heart and unwillingness to quit in the face of adversity. Problems with injuries and inability to make weight, however, resulted in Escudero eventually needing to move on and go back to the drawing board. His opponent this evening, Volkmann, may be best known (much to his chagrine) for being the guy that called out President Barack Obama after a win. He has won four fights in a row, winning his last fight against Danny Castillo by unanimous decision at UFC on Versus 5 on Aug. 14 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The bout will pit two very good wrestlers against each other, which generally means fans can expect a stand up battle. Escudero has notched 12 of his18 wins by way of submissions. For Volkmann, six of his 13 victories were due to submissions. On paper, this lightweight fight looks very even. It may end up being a matter of: "who wants it more?" Will Escudero be victorious in his UFC return? Or will Volkmann, the full-time chiropractor, have his way en route to his fifth straight MMA victory? Predictions, please. Be sure to join MMAmania.com this evening for LIVE, detailed UFC 141 results of all the "Lesnar vs. Overeem" PPV action. It will include blow-by-blow coverage of the Facebook video stream, Spike TV "Prelims" bouts, and of course, the PPV broadcast. We'll start RIGHT HERE at around 7 p.m. ET and carry straight on through early Saturday morning. See you then!

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, escudero, volkmann

Asian MMA Update: DREAM NYE Weigh-Ins, Babalu Sobral Signs With ONE FC, Folayang vs. Teixeira on URCC Cebu

There's a bunch of news coming out of the Asian region, so let's dive right in: Renato Sobral (36-10) has signed with ONE FC. The signing was first reported by Damon Martin, saying that the UFC Veteran and former Strikeforce Champ, will be competing on March in Singapore, an event that will be co-promoted by ONE FC and DREAM.BloodyElbow.com reached out and has confirmed the signing with ONE FC officials, stating that 'Babalu' has "global exclusivity" with the promotion. No opponent has been set as of this writing, but stay tuned as we keep you updated on the situation. As we wrote about last week, the popular Filipino, Eduard Folayang will be headlining URCC Cebu 7 on January 13. His opponent has already been confirmed and it will be against Wadson Teixeira, a Muay Thai champ and BJJ Brown belt, who trains with UFC stars Jose Aldo and Diego Nunes in the famed Nova Uniao gym.Teixeira will surely be providing a stiff test in a very interesting battle of styles when he faces off against decorated Wushu star and URCC champion in Folayang.Also, for those who speak Portuguese, here's a video Wadson talking about his URCC bout on the Brazilian News. In other news, Evolve MMA has significantly beefed up their training team. Known for housing several of the very best in the world at Muay Thai, BJJ, and Boxing, Evolve has always held a world champion standard for their coaches. Being in Asia, what has always been tough to come by was a top level wrestler that fit the mold for their champion standards. After a lengthy search, they have finally filled that gap by adding Heath Sims and Jake Butler.Sims is a US Greco-Roman Olympic wrestler who has won numerous titles in wrestling. He is more known in MMA circles for being the long time Team Quest owner, head coach, and training partner of Dan Henderson. While he will still be flying back and forth to coach Hendo on his fights, he will moving to Singapore full-time to head Evolve MMA's wrestling program starting February.Sims will be their new coach and he'll be helping Evolve Founder Chatri Sityodtong with their fight team. One of the new additions on that team is another high caliber wrestler in Jake Butler, who's an NCAA Division 1 wrestler from Princeton University. He will be starting his MMA career, and will be competing at ONE FC. Check out the DREAM NYE Weigh-In Results and bout order after the jump, and don't forget to follow me on twitter -- @antontabuena. Here are the DREAM NYE Weigh-In Results for the mammoth New Year's Eve card in Japan (via NOB): DREAM Rules17. Fedor Emelianenko (106kg) vs. Satoshi Ishii (97.4kg)DREAM Lightweight Championship16. Shinya Aoki (70kg) vs. Satoru Kitaoka (70kg)DREAM Featherweight Championship15. Hiroyuki Takaya (65kg) vs. Lion Takeshi (64.8kg)IGF Rules14. Kazushi Sakuraba / Katsuyori Shibata vs. Shinichi Suzukawa / Atsushi Sawada13. Kazuyuki Fujita vs. Peter Aerts12. Jerome Le Banner vs. Tim SylviaDREAM Bantamweight Tournament11. Final: Imanari/Banuelos vs. Fernandes/MarquesMixed Rules10. Yuichiro Nagashima (73.5kg) vs. Katsunori Kikuno (73.5kg)IGF Rules9. Josh Barnett vs. Hideki SuzukiDREAM Rules8. Megumi Fujii (52kg) vs. Karla Benitez (52kg)7. Tatsuya Kawajiri (65kg) vs. Kazuyuki Miyata (64.7kg)6. Hayato "Mach" Sakurai (75.8kg) vs. Ryo Chonan (75.5kg)Kickboxing Rules5. Yuta Kubo (63.8kg) vs. Nils Widlund (63.6kg)4. Masaaki Noiri (64kg) vs. Kengo Sonoda (63.5kg)DREAM Bantamweight Tournament3. Semifinal: Bibiano Fernandes (61kg) vs. Rodolfo Marques Diniz (62.2kg)2. Semifinal: Masakazu Imanari (60.8kg) vs. Antonio Banuelos (61kg)1. Reserve: Hideo Tokoro (61kg) vs. Yusup Saadulaev (61.6kg) Here's the HDNet promo for the event:

Posted in: mma, vs, kg, fc, rule

USA TODAY/MMA Nation December 2011 Consensus Rankings: Heavyweight

Rank Fighter Points Promotion Last Rank 1 Junior dos Santos 425 UFC 1 2 Cain Velasquez 406 UFC 2 3 Alistair Overeem 387 UFC 3 4 Brock Lesnar 354 UFC 4 5 Frank Mir 337 UFC 6 6 Fabricio Werdum 336 UFC 5 7 Shane Carwin 303 UFC 7 8 Daniel Cormier 294 Strikeforce 8 9 Josh Barnett 284 Strikeforce 9 10 Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira 260 UFC 10 11 Antonio Silva 202 Strikeforce 11 12 Fedor Emelianenko 176 M-1 Global 12 13 Cheick Kongo 146 UFC 13 14 Roy Nelson 135 UFC 14 15 Brendan Schaub 134 UFC 14 16 Sergei Kharitonov 107 Strikeforce 16 17 Travis Browne 104 UFC 17 18 Mike Russow 99 UFC 18 19 Cole Konrad 89 Bellator 19 20 Matt Mitrione 76 UFC 20 21 Stefan Struve 72 UFC 21 22 Mark Hunt 71 UFC 22 23 Pat Barry 59 UFC 23 24 Dan Henderson 59 UFC 24 25 Dave Herman 57 UFC 26 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, ranking, point

Latest UFC/MMA news and notes from around the web for the week of December 25, 2011

Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Paul Heyman and Brock Lesnar pictured above, we can all "get along." Teaming up with MMA sites like MMA Fighting, Cage Potato, Fight Opinion and The Fight Nerd, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport. This week, Lowkick speaks with Vladimir Matyushenko, The Fight Nerd picks the worst New Year's Eve fights ever from Japan and Bleacher Report speaks with returning UFC fighter Efrain Escudero. The full list of links is after the jump. - Interview and photoshoot with Vladimir Matyushenko (LowKick) You are 4-1 since returning to the UFC. Do you consider it the best time of your career right now? Yeah, I think so. It's not just because it's the best time in my career, but overall MMA is having great success. My career is going good as well, so yeah, I'm really enjoying being part of the UFC and MMA. - 12 gifs of Brock Lesnar being awesome (Cage Potato) - Gabriel Gonzaga comments on UFC return (Five Ounces of Pain) "It was natural," Gonzaga explained of return to the UFC. "I feel I never left. The UFC is my home, they take care me very good (and) I have a lot of friends there. I am excited to see everyone again!" - An Examination of Alistair Overeem's Recent Fight History (MMA Fighting) Headed into Friday night's UFC 141 main event, the question of just how good Alistair Overeem is remains one of MMA's heated topics. His supporters point out that he's won titles in Strikeforce, DREAM and K-1. His detractors suggest he's done most of that while facing non-elite competition. In some ways, both sides have valid points. Perhaps his performance against Brock Lesnar will provide answers about his place among the heavyweight elite, but until then, it's worth a look at his recent history. - Dana White: Jon Fitch is in the welterweight mix, not the doghouse (5thRound) Most don't believe Jon Fitch owns the most aesthetically appealing game in the business, but UFC president Dana White states the former top contender is right back in the welterweight title mix if he reigns supreme this Friday against Johny Hendricks at UFC 141. - Liver Kick's top 5 knockouts of 2011 (MiddleEasy) Our readers came together to choose the top 5 knockouts of 2011. Our good friend and Liverkick.com's own StillW1ll packaged them together in an awesome video like only he can do. For knockouts of the year, we've got: - Top 10 Worst New Year's Eve MMA fights in Japan (The Fight Nerd) As 2011 comes to a close, MMA fans can look forward to one thing - New year's Eve MMA events in Japan! Truly the best of the best when it comes to events, these super shows usually have great matches with the top talent fighting each other. In the past, we have seen some amazing cross-promotional events, such as Pride VS K-1, and great moments, such as Dan Henderson and Takanori Gomi winning their respective Grand Prix tournaments, and Fedor crushing many a man placed before him. However, it would not be a NYE show in Japan without a few freak show fights to drag things on. That is why today, only days before the next big NYE event in Japan, we take a look at some of the worst, strangest, and weirdest MMA fights from Japanese New Year's Eve shows! - Antonio Inoki's shadow war on NYE (Fight Opinion) If the impending 2011 Inoki MMA/IGF card at Saitama Super Arena looks like a familiar friend to you, that's because it is. The booking is reminiscent to the card produced by Inoki and promoted by PRIDE in 2000 at the Osaka Dome, where you had a mixture of MMA blending in with a pro-wrestling atmosphere. MMA fighters want to be pro-wrestlers just like the wrestlers want to be MMA fighters (if they could do so). The Osaka Dome show would launch the kakutougi boom in Japan, a dream period that Antonio Inoki had imagined was coming for decades. - 11 for 11: No. 3 Zuffa offers its fighters insurance (MMA Payout) This year Zuffa offered its 400 fighters in the UFC and Strikeforce health insurance beginning this past June. Zuffa is paying the premiums for all of its fighters under contract. - Efrain Escudero: These last 13-14 months have been hell (BleacherReport.com/MMA) "It changed my perspective of everything, Escudero told me. Not just personal, kinda like personal life as well. Not just inside the octagon. You live and learn. Some people are really good at it just right off there back." "It took me a little speed bump and stuff. I got carried away. Now, I'm a gym junkie. I'm back to being the same old me that was before I went into The Ultimate Fighter. The one that had nothing to lose and everything to gain and just do it and love the sport, love the adrenaline rush, love everything." "A lot of people say, "Why be in there if your gonna be nervous or scared or doing it for the paycheck?" I have a college degree. If I want a paycheck, I'll do my normal job. I do this because I love it." - UFC 141 Lesnar vs Overeem preview (MMA Convert) Have you seen the weigh-in pics of UFC 141's main event? If ever there was an example of two expertly-drawn comic book characters stepping off the pages and coming to life, it's Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem, who seem to have taken the words "monstrosity" and "man-mountain" to the extreme. Seriously, they look like photoshops that North Korea would use as propaganda ("See," said the late Kim Jong-Il. "We make superheroes. America will fall!"). Their physiques are so improbable in human beings, steroids have tested positive for "Brock Lesnar" and "Alistair Overeem" and been faced with suspension. - Karo Parisyan rediscovering the fire to compete (Fightline) Karo Parisyan is tired, you can hear it in his voice. Tired like he's just waking up from a years-long nightmare in which someone else was living in his body, fighting and making his decisions for him. What makes it all worse is that there was no dream, that Parisyan has been the pilot all along, the reason for his own derailment. Now, frustrated but attaining clarity, he's just hoping it's not too late to fix his mistakes.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, fighter, brock lesnar

More UFC 141 Pre-Fight Interviews & Preview Videos

Go to MMA Junkie for more videos. More UFC 141 pre-fight interviews and preview videos via MMA Junkie. Go to MMA Junkie for more videos. Go to MMA Junkie for more videos. Go to MMA Junkie for more videos. Go to MMA Junkie for more videos. Go to MMA Junkie for more videos. Go to MMA Junkie for more videos. Go to MMA Junkie for more videos.

Posted in: mma, video, preview videos, mma junkie, junkie

USA TODAY/MMA Nation December 2011 Consensus Rankings

December's USA TODAY/MMA Nation Consensus Rankings are now live. Be sure and pick up a hard copy of USA TODAY Friday to see them in print. Based on the premise that all MMA rankings are subjective but that it’s still useful and informative to know who the MMA community as a whole ranks as the best fighters in MMA, we collect and average the rankings of the top MMA sources 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. More details on our methodology in the full entry. NOTE: We have modified our method of gathering our rankings because the strict scheduling requirements of USA TODAY clash with the more irregular schedules of many of the MMA rankings sites. That was causing us to use a different set of sources almost every month. That combined with the small number of sites doing top 25 rankings was causing the Consensus rankings to have a lower "signal to noise" ratio than we would like -- that is if fighters are going to be moving up or down I would like it to be because there has been a change in the consensus opinion, not a change in our sources. Therefore we have cut back our sources to just those sites that we can depend on to update every month. We have also contacted many of the rankers that only publish top 10 lists and asked them to provide top 25 lists. As always we listen to your suggestions and are always working to improve the USAT/SBN Consensus MMA Rankings. Also worth noting is that this month we instituted a rule that a fighter must have competed within a given weight class within the last 450 days in order to be ranked in that class in an attempt to improve the overall quality of our product. Check out the USA TODAY/MMA Nation Consensus Rankings to see who's rising and who's falling.

Posted in: mma, fighter, ranking, consensus, consensus rankings

UFC 141 fight card: Brock Lesnar vs Alistair Overeem preview

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

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

UFC 141 Preview Video

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosLAS VEGAS -- Watch below as Ben Fowlkes and I break down all the storylines heading into to Friday night's UFC 141 pay-per-view event. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, video, ben fowlkes, videoslas vegas

Pro MMA Radio 178: UFC 141 Preview

We have partnered with Pro MMA Radio to bring you weekly replays of PMR as the official radio show of MMAConvert.com. Pro MMA Radio can be heard live every Monday evening at 9PM ET/6PM PT. Replays and podcasts of every show are available 24/7 by going to the “Replay Corner” section of ProMMARadio.com, our own Pro MMA Radio page or by clicking the banner below. On this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio, MMA Mania’s Jesse Holland joined host Larry Pepe to preview UFC 141 and talk about all the latest news in mixed martial arts. You can listen to a replay of this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio by clicking the banner below. A radio player with links to the show’s archives will open in a pop-up window, so please make sure your browser is set to allow pop-ups for this site.

Posted in: mma, replay, radio, mma radio, popup window

June 2011 MMA Recap: UFC 131 Creates Contenders, Nate Marquardt & Joe Rogan Controversies

June was a return to action after a May relatively devoid of in-cage action and what a return it was. MMA fans were treated to a contender-rich UFC card, the semifinals of the Strikeforce Grand Prix, a UFC on Versus card, Bellator kicking off its Summer Series and there was plenty of controversy involving Nate Marquardt and Joe Rogan that had the industry and fans talking. June 2011 - Earning Their Shots Junior dos Santos originally had been tabbed to fight then-UFC Champion Cain Velasquez, but a shoulder injury forced the champion to turn the match down. JDS then accepted a match with Brock Lesnar and they signed on for The Ultimate Fighter's 13th season as coaches but medical issues forced Lesnar to pull out of the match. Shane Carwin was asked to faced Santos in a No. 1 contender's match where Dos Santos picked Carwin apart and emphatically earned his shot at UFC gold. On that same card, Kenny Florian made his debut at 145 and won a narrow victory over Diego Nunes, earning him a title shot against Jose Aldo. Mark Munoz survived being rocked and a back crucifix attack against Demian Maia, earning a victory and entry into the upper tier of middleweights. On the Strikeforce side, Alistar Overeem won what would his final promotional match in a less than thrilling scrap with Fabricio Werdum, while in Bellator, Pat Curran dropped down to featherweight and looked like a force of nature when he slapped a Peruvian Necktie on a Peruvian fighter. **** UFC on Versus 4 was meant to highlight the UFC welterweight division, pairing the up-and-comer Rick Story against veteran Nate Marquardt who was making his welterweight debut. But the fight never happened as Marquardt failed his medical exams due to abnormal testosterone levels and was cut from the UFC. Local favorite Charlie Brenneman was called on to replace Marquardt on a few hours notice and then proceeded to upset Story. Marquardt would later break his silence on Ariel Helwani's MMA Hour show, addressing why he was cut and sparking a debate on the role of TRT in MMA. **** UFC color commentator Joe Rogan decided to weigh in on a twitter outburst of Rampage Jackson, posting on a popular online forum and using some choice language when referring to Yahoo reporter Maggie Hendricks. This situation caused enough outcry for Dana White to issue an official statement and Rogan issued an apology. **** Strikeforce heavyweight Brett Rogers was arrested in late-June and was charged with domestic assault after police accused Rogers of striking his wife and then choking her. Rogers had just lost to Josh Barnett and was out of the Strikeforce Grand Prix. His new boss White reacted quickly, releasing Rogers immediately. More on the month that was June after the jump... Other Things that Happened In an Strikeforce Grand Prix alternate bout, Daniel Cormier had an impressive decision win over Jeff Monson that would later prove to be important...Fans were once again teased by the prospect of MMA in New York as a bill passed the New York State Assembly that included legalizing MMA. Just fourteen days later, the bill was dead and all parties continue to wait for resolution. Rumors were abound that the UFC was looking to purchase the G4 Network and turn it into their own network...at the TUF 13 Finale, Clay Gudia defeated Anthony Pettis and Tony Ferguson became the season winner....Robert Drysdale notched MMA victory #3 at AFC 6...the IBJJF World Championships were held. Full archive of June stories on Bloody Elbow Past Monthly Recaps: May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011

Posted in: ufc, mma, strikeforce, june, marquardt

The MMA Chain Gang: A Depressing Review of 2011's Criminal Activities

Most ‘crimes’ in MMA take the form of inept judging and flagrant rule breaking, but this past year many professional fighters were caught up in activities that landed them inside of a very different sort of cage. Get ready for a trip down memory lane in our most depressing “booking roundup” of the year. Here’s your run down of 2011’s biggest arrests, convictions, acquittals, and sentencings.

Posted in: mma, year, memory lane, activity, chain

Wing Chun Evolution With MMA Combinations (or why MMA is not just any random martial arts mixed together.)

submitted by phauna [link] [3 comments]

Posted in: mma, evolution, art, mma combinations, phauna

Miguel Torres Discusses How He Got His Job Back With UFC

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, VideosLAS VEGAS -- Watch below as Miguel Torres and his manager Glenn Robinson discuss how Torres was rehired by the UFC, what he has been up to since he was fired earlier this month, and his future with the company. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, miguel torres, torre, miguel

Vladimir Matyushenko: I'm at the peak of my MMA career (Exclusive)

This Friday, MMA veteran Vladimir "The Janitor" Matyushenko will step inside the Octagon for the 11th time in his career, facing Alexander Gustafsson on the main card of UFC 141 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Currently enjoying a two-fight winning streak in the UFC, Matyushenko will look to solidify his place as a Top 10 UFC Light Heavyweight against the 16 years younger Gustafsson. Matyushenko is 26-5 in his MMA career, with the reigning UFC 205 Champion Jon Jones being the only man to beat the Belarusian since

Posted in: ufc, mma, career, matyushenko, mma career

Kid Nate asks: "Are Brock Lesnar And Fedor Emelianenko One Loss Away From MMA Retirement?" Read it...

Kid Nate asks: "Are Brock Lesnar And Fedor Emelianenko One Loss Away From MMA Retirement?" Read it at MMA Nation.

Posted in: mma, brock lesnar, kid nate, fedor emelianenko, mma retirement

Nearing 41 Years Old, Vladimir Matyushenko Still Has UFC Title Hopes

Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting ExclusiveThere comes a time for professional athletes when they start to get asked about how much longer they will continue competing. It's different for everyone. It might be brought on by a lack of success or injury or age. And usually when the question comes, it never lets up, until reaching the point where not a single interview goes by without being asked about the possibility of retirement. That's about the stage that's been reached by Vladimir Matyushenko, the veteran UFC light-heavyweight who will turn 41 years old just five days after his UFC 141 bout with fast-rising prospect Alexander Gustafsson. It's a question Matyushenko has every intention of deflecting as long as possible. And why shouldn't he? The UFC light-heavyweight has won five of his last six fights, including two in a row by knockout. His most recent, a 20-second KO of Jason Brilz in April, was the second-fastest finish of his 14-year career. But his age combined with his resume and win streak put him in a unique situation. Is he a contender, a gatekeeper or somewhere in between? More Coverage: UFC 141 Fight Card | UFC 141 Results The Friday night bout with Gustafsson is at least a step forward in determining the answer to that question. Matyushenko (26-5) himself won't discuss his place in the UFC without a bit of prodding. Focused solely on what's directly in front of him, he knows it's not quite worth the energy to think about any extraneous minutiae. But if you ask more than once, he does admit he still harbors championship dreams. "Yes, I definitely do," he told MMA Fighting. Then he adds, "It's always in the back of my head." He says that as if to point out that he's not overlooking the task in front of him, but that goes without saying for one of MMA's true pros. So focused was he on UFC 141 that the holiday season ceased to exist for him. For Matyushenko, there was no shopping, no binging and no problems. He didn't even buy his wife a gift. "But she's happy, so I'm happy," he said. Indeed, all of his attention has been on Gustafsson, who at 24 years old, is just four years older than Matyushenko's son Roman. Aside from one blip on his record in a submission loss to Phil Davis, Gustafsson (12-1) has impressed many with his rapidly maturing game. All four of his UFC wins have been by finish, and he's only been to a decision once in his career. In his last bout, Gustafsson thrashed Matt Hamill, sending him into retirement following a second-round TKO. Count Matyushenko among those who have been impressed by the Swede's recent tear. Matyushenko described him as tall, young and athletic. "In a way," he said, "he looks like a white Jon Jones." Of course, Matyushenko already had the real Jon Jones experience in a fight that led to the most lopsided loss of his career. Jones won by TKO in just 1:52 of the first round. So why will this time around be different? He said that he's learned to adapt with the changing nature of MMA. He pointed to fighters like Jones, Anderson Silva, and Junior dos Santos who emphasize technique over brawling but still fight in exciting fashion. Attempting to reinvent and refine the "Janitor" has helped keep things fresh. "The best fighters are not just bulky, strong guys," he said. "They're fast and athletic. You have to train, to move. You can't stand in front of people like that. Everything is changing and I'm changing with it. I'm getting prepared for that. I'm not in the gym fooling around. But that's the learning process. That's what actually keeps me going. I don't like doing the same thing over and over. I like change." Matyushenko is well accustomed to changing scenery. In a career that began in 1997, he's competed in multiple promotions and under various rule sets that predated modern MMA. When he began his career, he wore wrestling shoes in the cage. At various times, he fought a 25-minute round, went the distance with Tito Ortiz in a five-round decision loss when Ortiz was the long-reigning champ, and later captured the IFL light-heavyweight championship. Unlike some others, Matyushenko wasn't left behind when the sport began evolving. Showing his ability to adapt, he went 13-3 from 1997 through 2004, and has a 13-2 record since the start of 2005. Despite a solid and consistent career, he never quite earned the accolades or name recognition enjoyed by some other 40-something MMA stars that have come before him like Randy Couture and Dan Henderson -- names that Matyushenko mentions when discussing his own longevity. That is at least partly because a major belt has eluded him. Despite all the accomplishments on his resume, that omission is one that he hopes to rectify. Even nearing 41, he believes he still has the time to do it. "One fight at a time, but my goal is to kick some ass," he said. "Right now, my goals are simple: to make weight and go fight. "My weight division is pretty stacked," he continued. "There are a lot of guys doing well. I'm not kidding myself saying I'm going to be champion next month. If it's going to happen, it's a long way to go, but it's possible. Anything is possible." Funny thing about Matyushenko: when he got his "Janitor" nickname, it was back when he was a teenager wrestling internationally, and he beat Olympic gold medalist Kevin Jackson. Just beforehand, Matyushenko had been cleaning the mats, and a U.S. team member told Jackson he'd gotten beat by the janitor. So there are two constants in Matyushenko's career going forward. One is the retirement question that doesn't seem likely to disappear even if he continues making younger fighters wilt under his pressure. And the second is being underestimated. From teen upstart to respected veteran, he's done nothing but excelled. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, career, matyushenko

Jon Fitch doesn't want to see MMA become pro wrestling (Video)

Is it any surprise that Jon Fitch is one of the guys leading the charge against MMA slowly transforming into its bastard cousin, pro wrestling? "For me, I want to make sure we stay true to the sport and I don't want to see this become pro wrestling because I hate pro wrestling. I was betrayed by pro wrestling when I was a child and I don't want to be doing that to some other kid now who's watching fights and UFC fights and watching me and other guys and thinking that it's real. I want to make sure that it's real. When I went to my first wrestling practice in the fourth grade, I found out that pro wrestling was fake. And that was the worst, ultimate betrayal I could have ever encountered in my life at that time. Since then, shut 'em off, threw all my wrestling stuff away that day. I was just over it. I want to make sure (MMA) stays a sport." Fitch, who fights Johny Hendricks at UFC 141 this Fri., Dec. 30, 2011, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, certainly has a point. The essence of the sport will always be the competition between two men once the cage door closes. But people have to have a reason to watch those two men fight and whether he likes it or not, his game is the least aesthetically pleasing, meaning he needs to make up for it in other places. And, if we're being honest here, as the UFC lends itself more and more to charismatic trash talkers, Fitch is slowly being phased out. Yes, he's winning, but he does so quietly. Too quietly. He might be MMA's version of "The Excellence of Execution" but the reality of both pro wrestling and MMA is that you have to draw people to see you ply your craft. Winning, sadly, isn't enough. After all, if a Fitch wins inside the Octagon and no one sees it, did it really happen? What are your thoughts on the matter, Maniacs? Agree with Fitch? Or are you more from the Chael Sonnen school of the fight game?

Posted in: fight, mma, fitch, i dont, sport fitch

training intensity and longevity

This is a question more geared towards the training aspect of mma rather than entertainment. My question is regarding the relationship between frequency/intensity of training and longevity for mma athletes. I was watching an interview recently with Shinya Aoki on grapplingdummy and he stated that "American fighters train so hard, they use a lot of supplements. So their fighting peak is pretty small." Does anyone agree with this statement regarding hard training? That is, excessive high volume, high intensity training reduces a fighter's longevity and gives him a shorter athletic prime. If this is correct, one would expect wrestlers to peak earlier than other mma fighters, which doesn't work when you consider guys like Randy Couture and Dan Henderson. Then again, Dan Henderson is on TRT, which could be making a huge difference in his training and performance and there has been speculation that Couture has used HGH or other PEDs. I am a young athlete (BJJ) without an extensive formal education in athletic training. Does anyone have any knowledge, first had experience with this, or thoughts in general? Happy training everyone. submitted by zat0ichi [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: mma, fighter, dan henderson, training, longevity

Inside MMA: The 2011 Bazzie Awards

Bas Rutten, Kenny Rice and Natasha Wicks (!) present the 2011 Bazzie Awards. Inside MMA airs live on HDNet every Monday night at 8pm ET. Inside MMA Archive More segments after the jump.

Posted in: mma, monday night, mma airs, mma archive, natasha wicks

Best MMA Photos of 2011 Photo Gallery

submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [2 comments]

Posted in: mma, photo, gallery, mattyblayze, mma photos

Alistair Overeem: Past Tribulations Helped Prepare for Pre-UFC 141 Distractions

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, VideosLAS VEGAS -- Watch below as Alistair Overeem talks about his UFC 141 fight against Brock Lesnar, why he chose to not watch any tape on his opponent, how past experiences helped him prepare for the distractions leading up to this fight and more. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: fight, mma, alistair overeem, brock lesnar, alistair

Jon Fitch Is Afraid MMA Will Become Pro Wrestling

Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, VideosLAS VEGAS -- Watch below as Jon Fitch discusses his UFC 141 against Johny Hendricks, his injury-plagued 2011, how the UFC took care of him this year, why he is afraid MMA will become pro wrestling, how he is perceived, and much more. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, jon fitch, ufc mma, johny hendricks

Bloody Fights - MMA Highlight

submitted by KickYoNuts [link] [comment]

Posted in: fight, mma, kickyonut, kickyonuts link, fights mma

Striking is more dangerous With or WithOut MMA gloves?

I'm not a fighter and haven't been in but a few street fights, and it seems like an interesting question: With MMA gloves: Seems like much less risk of breaking your hand. You still retain much pin-point power Without MMA gloves: Easier to cut your opponent with strikes. Easier to break your hands as well. If you were fighting, would you want gloves or not? Would you want your opponent to have gloves or not? submitted by Mikesauce1 [link] [2 comments]

Posted in: mma, hand, glove, mma gloves, street fights

NYE storylines: Who retires first, Fedor or Lesnar? @MMASupremacy @FightOdds @frontrowbrian @LucaFury

A couple of high-profile MMA names are going to lose this weekend in big fashion. The question is, who is more likely to retire from MMA after their loss?

Posted in: mma, loss, mmasupremacy, fashion, nye storylines

MMA Documentary: The Daily Grind With Douglas Lima

2012 World MMA Featherweight Scouting Report: #5 - Jim Alers

Photo by CageWarriorsUSA.com Name: Jim Alers Nickname: -- Age: 24 Height: 5'9" Location: Orlando, Florida South Florida's Jim Alers (6-1) isn't your typical mixed martial arts prospect. He has a plan, one that involves constant improvement both inside and outside of the cage. During the weekdays, the 24-year-old studies full-time at the University of Central Florida, working toward a career in elementary education. On the weekends, he fights the best prospects in Florida's local MMA scene. Surprisingly, Alers hasn't been hindered by his busy schedule. The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu purple belt, who trains at Gracie Barra Orlando and Alliance BJJ, has amassed six wins in seven appearances since making his professional debut in August of ‘08. He holds a notable win over heralded prospect Freddy Assuncao, and he's currently riding a two-fight win streak after submitting both Matt Kersse and Denis Hernandez. Incredibly, Alers also found time to put his grappling chops to the test, winning the Abu Dhabi East Coast trials at 163 lbs., earning him a trip to Abu Dhabi for the World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Cup last year. He wasn't able to progress in the cup, but it was a chance to focus on improving after tasting defeat against Ronald Jacobs at Art of Fighting 7 last April. The time off paid dividends for his ground game, helping him quickly dispatch the opposition in his next two appearances. That isn't all there is to Alers however. The 5'9" former high school wrestler is also a solid striker, and he oozes athleticism, showcasing his superior strength by tossing opponents to the ground with ease. While there is definitely a propensity for Alers to exploit his opponents on the ground, he has the skills to end a fight anywhere. Killer instinct is also a key factor in Alers' placement. He's a fighter that seeks out a finish while intelligently evading incoming attacks. Jacobs was able to exploit that aggression in Alers' lone loss, but it remains an attractive attribute that Alers simply needs to find a balance with. Alers has the support system and stock of skills to win at a much higher level. Depending on his obligations to his education and whether MMA can actually sustain a living for him, it's up in the air if we'll see him in a promotion like the UFC or Bellator in 2012. At this point, however, from everything we've seen, Alers has the talent. He just needs a challenge. Check out more video footage of Jim Alers after the jump... FlyweightBantamweightFeatherweightLightweight #1 - #2 - #3 -#4 -#5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - Rony Mariano#2 - Aljamain Sterling#3 - Chris Holdsworth#4 - Josh Hill#5 - Fabiano Fernandes#6 - Claudio Ledesma#7 - Sirwan Kakai#8 - Kyoji Horiguchi#9 - Leandro Hygo#10 - Pedro Munhoz #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - Jim Alers#6 - Anthony Gutierrez#7 - Max Holloway#8 - John Teixeira#9 - Cody Bollinger#10 - Bubba Jenkins #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - WelterweightMiddleweightLight HeavyweightHeavyweight #1 - #2 - #3 -#4 -#5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - Jim Alers MMA highlight from Steadfast Videos on Vimeo. Jim Alers vs. Ronald JacobsArt of Fighting 7 - Payday - April 3, 2010 Jim Alers vs. David GomezRFC 18 - Pride - July 24, 2009 Jim Alers vs. Brandon OcasioCWFC USA - Unleashed - August, 23, 2008

Posted in: mma, florida, jim, aler, abu dhabi

Check out the top five MMA shirts of the week

[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on FighterXFashion.com, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] Before we kick off another week in MMA clothing and culture, let’s look back at the last seven days and focus in on five of the best MMA T-shirts to have surfaced in time for this year’s Christmas weekend. For fans of signature fighter tees, there’s a couple of goodies to add to your collection, in addition to a few other solid styles from fight wear brands like Affliction, Hayabusa, and the UFC apparel collection. Ready to revisit some of this past week’s best MMA tees? Check out the following five shirts below. Check out the Shirts

Posted in: mma, middleeasy networkdiv, week ’s, mma shirts, mma tshirts

February 2011 MMA Recap: The Rise Of Jon Jones, Fedor Gets Crushed, Michael Bisping's Spitgate

The MMA year that was 2011 will be remembered for a lot of big news events, great fights, a little controversy and always plenty to talk about. This continues our series looking back month-by-month at what happened, who did what and what was to come. February 2011: Contenders & Champions Going into his UFC 126 title defense against Vitor Belfort, Anderson Silva had his boss worried about whether it would be a "staring competition" or a great fight. Dana White's concerns were mitigated as Silva knocked out Belfort with a highlight reel front kick in the first round, taught to him by Steven Seagal. (Seriously.) It would be one of two Silva title defenses in 2011, but following this win, it was expected that he would next face Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre in a superfight. We're still waiting on that one. On this same event, Jon Jones began his march to an amazing 2011 with a dominant victory over Ryan Bader, handing the prospect his first career defeat. Following the fight, Jones was asked the question that would flare a rivalry as he was offered a shot at Light Heavyweight Champion Mauricio Rua because of an injury to Rashad Evans. Jones accepted in the cage, the buzz was heavy and the fight was on. Interestingly enough, Evans said he would move up in weight if Jones won as he didn't want to fight his friend. What a difference a few months makes. Lost amidst this whole deal: Quinton Jackson turned down a shot at Rua.**** Much of Fedor Emelianenko's shine was dimmed with his 2010 defeat to Fabricio Werdum. The remaining glitter was dulled at the hands of Antonio Silva who crushed the Russian in a second round TKO win in the Strikeforce Grand Prix opening round. That set off a barrage of 'Should he retire?' and 'What's his legacy?' pieces on BE with Fedor's face giving its opinion. A ton of people watched the event, which resulted in the next set of fights getting postponed to capitalize on the positive press. Uh huh. **** The UFC's return to Australia yielded two newsworthy stories but for vastly different reasons. In a battle of top welterweight contenders, B.J. Penn and Jon Fitch went to an unsatisfactory draw that drew the ire of plenty. Fitch returned to the seemingly eternal role of "not the No. 1 contender" while people wanted to know where Penn was at this stage of his career, including Penn himself. In the co-main event, Michael Bisping went into his bout with Jorge Rivera as the favorite but that didn't stop Rivera from picking at Bisping with some pre-fight videos. Bisping didn't take kindly to them and this fight played out in a fashion befitting the ill will with Bisping throwing an illegal knee and spitting at Rivera's corner post-fight in a bizarre victory. Bisping hate came quickly but some said he didn't deserve it. Regardless, Bisping became a major talking point in the business, even with a win over a middle of the road contender. Other Stuff That Happened Gilbert Melendez signed a new deal with Strikeforce. Can he call takebacks?....Fedor questioned Alistair Overeem's physical growth...Strikeforce reportedly banked $30 million for their fiscal year....the drunk driver that killed Tapout co-founder Charles "Mask" Lewis was sentenced to nine years in prison...Luke Thomas ventured off to SB Nation's new MMA page, while we launched Bloody Elbow Radio. Storm clouds gathered on the horizon for Thiago Silva...Jose Aldo got his first UFC fight booked...Frankie Edgar followed St. Pierre's lead in dropping manager Shari Spencer...UFC 129 went on sale, breaking one record and then another one...we're still waiting for TUF Philippines. For the full archive of the MMA month that was February 2011, click here. Past Monthly Reviews January 2011

Posted in: fight, mma, jone, event, bisping

Alright, so the official poster for DREAM's NYE event doesn't have Fedor, but we still like it anyway

Look, we know it's called 'Fight For Japan: Genki Desu Ka Omisoka 2011' but 'DREAM NYE Event' is title friendly. Besides, a 'New Year's Eve event' is what it's been called since Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye went down in 2003. Back then, Fedor Emelianenko fought the relatively famous professional wrestler, Yuji Nagata, in an MMA match. In reality, it wasn't really a 'match.' More like a dominant and one-sided beatdown that ended in about a minute. That was Fedor's first New Year's Eve bout, and now exactly eight years later, we get to see The Last Emperor take on Olympic judoka, Satoshi Ishii. After snatching the gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Ishii announced that he wanted to try his 'head-first slamming abilities' in mixed martial arts and started by challenging Fedor to an MMA bout. That was somewhat of a step-up in competition, so FEG approached him to sign on a Dream card early in 2009. Satoshi Ishii essentially said, 'screw it', rejected their offer and moved out to the US to train with American Top Team. When that was over, he moved to Brazil to train with Lyoto Machida. After spending a few months rolling around at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, Dana White personally invited him to Vegas to try to nail out a UFC contract. The two met, probably shot guns together in the Nevada desert, and they simply could not agree on a contract. The rumor was that Satoshi Ishii wanted an immediate title shot, Dana White negotiated that he would take on a top five opponent and it just wasn't enough for Ishii. Ishii made his MMA debut at Dynamite!! 2009 against Hidehiko Yoshida, the proverbial match between 'new hotness' and 'old and busted'. Everyone remembers how Satoshi Ishii was a lock to beat Yoshida. That notion came to an abrupt halt when the entire MMA world realized that the bout wasn't just 1992 vs. 2008 Olympic Judo gold medalist, but a dude that had an MMA record of 9-7-1 (with wins over Mark Hunt, Royce Gracie and Don Frye) versus a guy who was 0-0. Despite being the 'underdog', Yoshida grabbed the unanimous decision over Satoshi Ishii. Satoshi didn't get the win in his first MMA bout, but he did win his second fight...sort of. Back in March, Satoshii Ishii grabbed his first win over Sasae Paogofie at X-1 in Hawaii. Unfortunately, for reasons that are entirely too complicated for any of us to discern, the bout was changed from 'professional' to 'exhibition' at the last minute. That meant even though Ishii grabbed his first win in MMA, dude was still 0-1. What an absolute statistical letdown. On May 15th 2010, Ishii finally grabbed his first professional win when he armbared Tafa Misipati at 2:42 into the first round in Auckland, New Zealand (a country I nearly became a citizen of if it weren't for my blatant lack of respect for the New Zealand immigration department). On June 10th 10`0, Satoshi Ishii fought Myles Tynanes at X-1 and refused to stop punching his opponent despite the referee jumping in the middle of the beating. This earned him his first official disqualification (which was later overturned) and subsequently the status of 'that guy who punches after the bell' in Hawaii. Since his first professional MMA win, Satoshi Ishii temporarily moved to Los Angeles to train with the magicians at Blackhouse and to no one's surprise, he's been undefeated since then. Many people are writing off Ishii in this bout due to his relative inexperience in MMA as compared to Fedor. However as we've seen in 2010 and well into 2011, Fedor can be TKOd, submitted and knocked out -- a statement that was incomprehensible before June 26, 2010. Check out the official poster for Fight For Japan: Genki Desu Ka Omisoka 2011, minus Fedor, Sakuraba, Barnett and Sylvia.

Posted in: mma, bout, fedor, ishii, satoshi

HDNet plans to broadcast entire nine-hour DREAM New Year! 2011 event

A day before the ball drops in New York to ring in the New Year, the fine MMA folks at HDNet will begin broadcasting all nine hours of DREAM‘s upcoming NYE extravaganza, giving diehard MMA fans an opportunity to celebrate the arrival of 2012 two nights in a row! Set to start Saturday morning at 1:00 AM EST, DREAM New Year! 2011 boasts a variety of fights including those with MMA, kickboxing, and pro wrestling rules, as well as a main event pitting Fedor Emelianenko against Olympic judoka Satoshi Ishii. Others expected to compete include Josh Barnett, Kazushi Sakuraba, Ryo Chonan, plus the card will feature a pair of DREAM championship clashes. News of the epic nine-hour block was reported by MMAJunkie who confirmed the information with HDNet officials. The show will go down from the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, and the original live broadcast will be the only time HDNet televises the event complete, as future airings will be broken up for smaller shows. Here is the complete card as of now, with more matches expected to be announced in the coming days: Kickboxing Matches: Masaaki Noiri vs. Kengo Sonoda Yuta Kubo vs. Nils Widlund Pro Wrestling Matches: Josh Barnett vs. Hideki Suzuki Atsushi Sawada and Shinichi Suzukawa vs. Kazushi Sakuraba and Katsuyori Shibata Kazuyuki Fujita vs. Peter Aerts MMA Matches: Yuichiro Nagashima vs. Katsunori Kikuno (Mixed-Rules Bout) Karla Benitez vs. Megumi Fujii Hideo Tokoro vs. Yusup Saadulaev (Bantamweight Grand Prix reserve) Antonio Banuelos vs. Masakazu Imanari (Bantamweight Grand Prix Semifinal) Rodolfo Marques Diniz vs. Bibiano Fernandes (Bantamweight Grand Prix Semifinal) Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Kazuyuki Miyata Hiroyuki Takaya (c) vs. Takeshi “Lion” Inoue (Featherweight Title-Fight) Ryo Chonan vs. Hayato “Mach” Sakurai Shinya Aoki (c) vs. Satoru Kitaoka (Lightweight Title-Fight) Fedor Emelianenko vs. Satoshi Ishii

Posted in: mma, vs, dream, event, hdnet

Sherdog’s Top 10: MMA’s Most Dangerous Weapons

submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [2 comments]

Posted in: mma, mattyblayze, weapon, sherdog ’s, sherdog

Coming Off Win Over Huerta, War Machine Fully Focused on MMA

submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [comment]

Posted in: mma, war, machine, mattyblayze, mattyblayze link

The Helwani Hanukkah Special

The best interviews and moments from MMA Fighting's globetrotting fight adventures, starring Ariel Helwani and edited together by E Casey Leydon, the half of All Elbows with 3 penii and 5 balls. Part two over at MMA Fighting.

Posted in: mma, helwani, ariel helwani, helwani hanukkah, globetrotting

MMA History for the Holidays

For Boxing Day, a celebration of Britain's feudal past, I thought I'd share my aging MMA History series. I wasn't as diligent as planned in 2011, didn't add any installments, but I swear I'll do more this year! Read a few you might learn something! I: UFC 1 Pancrase meets BJJ II: The Ur-Brazilian MMA Feud: BJJ vs Luta Livre and the Style They Never Saw Coming III: More on Japan IV: Rickson Brings Jiu Jitsu Back to Japan V: The Reign of Royce VI: A Dutch Detour VII: A New Phase in the UFC VIII: From Russia With Leglocks IX: Strikers Attack X: The Reign of the Wrestlers XI: Carlson Gracie's Mighty Camp XII: End of the UFC Glory Days XIII: Coleman Gets His Kicks XIV: Boom and Bust in Brazil XV: Pancrase, RINGS, and Shooto 1996 XVII: The Lion's Den Roars XVIII: The Losses of Luta Livre XVI: Rico Chiapparelli and the RAW Team XIX: The Humbled PRIDE of Nobuhiko Takada XX: Kazushi Sakuraba and Frank Shamrock Emerge at Ultimate Japan XXI: The Amazing UFC Championship Run of Frank Shamrock XXII: Catch Wrestling and Kazushi Sakuraba's Early PRIDE Run

Posted in: ufc, mma, japan, jiu jitsu, royce vi

What is Being Done About Consussions in MMA?

Inside MMA reporter Ron Kruck delved into concussions in MMA, finding out what MMA proponents are doing to tackle the issue, and also followed UFC welterweight Jorge Lopez into a trial study.

Posted in: mma, ron, reporter, mma proponents, proponent

Best of 2011 MMA Interviews

Filed under: UFC, Strikeforce, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosThis year, MMAFighting.com covered virtually every major UFC and Strikeforce event. And as we've been known to do, we talked to a lot of people along the way. Below is a highlight reel of our most memorable interviews and moments of the year, shot and edited by E. Casey Leydon. Check out part two after the jump. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mma, year, interview, strikeforce event, year shot

The Best MMA Writing of 2011: Tony Loiseleur on the Shooto Tax Scandal

For neophytes, the world of Shooto is wholly unfamiliar. But for hardcore fans Shooto was, for a time, practically a religion. With a logo reminiscent of the old Mortal Kombat games, it has been the banner under which many great fighters got their start. It's kind of impossible to overstate what an important institution Shooto was for MMA fans interested in the lighter weights. The organization was practically the linchpin for MMA "elitism": who were you to talk about MMA on any kind of educated level if you couldn't recall the exploits of Rumina Sato beating Charles Diaz with a flying armbar? What do you know about Anderson Silva if you can't appreciate his 2001 win over Hayato Sakurai that earned him Shooto's Middleweight belt? As organizations like Pride and HERO's took over the MMA landscape in Japan, Shooto's roster was constantly poached, but it never failed to produce quality MMA because there has never been a better amateur system than Shooto. Unfortunately, there's another side to Shooto, and one rarely seen until Sherdog's Tony Loiseleur brought the story into focus. Taro Wakabayashi isn't a familiar name to MMA fans in the same way Takanori Gomi, Tatsuya Kawajiri are: but it's a very familiar name to the man who organized a petition to reveal Shooto's finances, for which Taro has assumed "unofficial autocratic control over". Noboru Asahi, the man at the center of the petition, and his story go a little something like this: in 2003 he found himself an outsider looking in, distanced from his once established role as part of the Japanese Shooto Association (JSA) after suggesting Shooto begin co-promoting with Pancrase and Deep. To give you an idea of what an injustice this was, consider this unique practice: Until recently, the JSA maintained that any licensed Shootor who competed in Pancrase would have his licensed revoked, while Pancrase forced competitors who trained out of official Shooto facilities to use pseudonyms for their gyms in official Pancrase press material. This might seem bizarre to outsiders, but not to anyone familiar with the fall and disgrace of Pride. Promotional rivalry dates back to its most famous case when FujiTV dropped DSE-related programming (and thus Pride) off the reports of Seiya Kawamata who claimed DSE sent its own personal yakuza task force after him. While the Pride scandal was more complicated, the Shooto scandal is simple: what has Wakabayashi done with Shooto's funds and why the presence of discrepancies? The pressure brought on by Asahi's petition presumably forced Wakabayashi's dismissal. For more on the discrepancies: "At the last association meeting, when we asked Nakai how much money we have, he told us 200,000 yen (approximately $2,400). This was just after the East Japan Amateur Tournament, which should have brought in an additional 500,000 yen (approximately $6,000)," said Asahi. As co-founder and co-owner of Japan's most prolific chain of Brazilian jiu-jitsu schools, Paraestra, Asahi claims Nakai and Wakabayashi's long-term affiliation as business partners enables Nakai access to Wakabayashi's business documents -- documents that Asahi and company have been pushing to be made public. Once Nakai divulged the amount of money in Shooto's account, Asahi and the petitioners were taken aback, as the total was far less than they had expected. "By our estimates, Shooto should profit at least 2,000,000 yen ($24,000) a year. There's a lot of money that cannot be accounted for since a lot of it comes in as cash. Where did it all go?" Asahi asked. Transparency is the key for now. But the broader point for the fighters and individuals is what the future of Shooto will be about. And they seem to understand their place in the MMA world for now: as a feeder organization for the big leagues. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. The growing perception, and one Asahi explicitly alludes to is making sure the system is designed to accommodate the new (essentially Zuffa) landscape. The new mecca is less about spectacle, and pageantry, and more about sport. That last sentence is less about the state of things, and more about the reflection of how the fighters themselves feel. Takeya Mizugaki even uses this language in a previous article by Loiseleur: "I respect the Japanese entertainment culture, but for me, I personally prefer the pure athletic image of MMA that's practiced in America, . . . . they treat MMA like a sport in America. Fighters are considered athletes, and I want to fight as an athlete. To me, the major leagues are [stateside]." A discussion about Shooto's future, which can claim to having the most structured amateur system in the world, is simultaneously a discussion of the future of Japan in the world of mixed martial arts. The light at the end of the tunnel is that despite the setbacks, the tax scandal being one of them, the rebuilding process is already underway. I couldn't possibly summarize the article in 500 words, nor is that my intention. Please read the fully entry here. Like Herbertson, you can always count on Loisleur for quality work. He can be found on twitter @JustTonyL.

Posted in: mma, shooto, asahi, wakabayashi, amateur system

MMA Year in Review: Best of 2011

Showdown Joe discusses all the best MMA moments from 2011, including the incredible individual season from Jon (Bones) Jones.

Posted in: mma, showdown, review, mma moments, mma year

2011 The Year in MMA: The Death of the K-1 Grand Prix

How will we remember 2011 in Mixed Martial Arts history? So much happened in our sport this year, from huge business moves to epic fights to legends falling. Here, we'll attempt to recap some of the biggest stories of the year and figure out just how to define MMA in 2011. As I think back on the events of 2011, there is one glaring gap in my year - an event that was consistently one of my favorite nights of the year, and one that I sorely missed this year. That event? The K-1 World Grand Prix. Now, I know that some are rolling their eyes right now, saying "that's not MMA" and "who cares?" but consider this: since 1993, the K-1 World Grand Prix has, every year without fail, crowned the best heavyweight in kickboxing. It's a highly prestigious title, whose roots actually predate the UFC. Before there was Royce Gracie winning UFC 1, there was Branko Cikatic winning the first K-1 Grand Prix. Since that time, the best strikers in the world have held the crown - men like Peter Aerts, Ernesto Hoost, and the late Andy Hug. Two current UFC fighters are former champions (Mark Hunt and Alistair Overeem), with the current GP champion set to headline UFC 141 in one week's time. Whatever your opinions on K-1's business side, or your personal take on kickboxing, there is no denying that the Grand Prix is a big deal. And this year, it was gone. We've covered the roller coaster ride for K-1 in 2011 in detail previously, but the short version is this: the company had been in financial turmoil for some time, with numerous fighters owed large sums of money. At the start of 2011, they went into hibernation, with all signs pointing to the end. K-1 was sold in mid-2011 to a group of investors who is still not 100% clear, but little else happened. Late in the year, K-1 founder Kazuyoshi Ishii announced the formation of FIKA, a new organization that would manage K-1 and bring the Grand Prix back in 2012. Will that happen? I remain skeptical. But I certainly hope it does. There is something about the Grand Prix that always grabs you. It adds an element of rankings, and something like a post-season championship, that is so common in most sports, but absent from MMA. In K-1, if you fought and won, and kept winning, you would be crowned the best kickboxer of the year - and every year we knew who that best in the world was. That's something you can't say for MMA, and that is a shame. What has the loss of the GP meant for MMA? So far, it's actually been somewhat of a good thing. Top kickboxers like Tyrone Spong and Gokhan Saki are looking at a move to MMA, and could help to elevate the level of striking in the sport over the next few years. In 2013, will I be writing a piece about the arrival of K-1 kickboxing in MMA? It's possible. And that is a definite silver lining. For MMA fans, that is probably enough. But for those of us who have ever stayed up until the wee hours of the morning to watch the Grand Prix - who have seen fights like last year's Peter Aerts vs. Semmy Schilt semi-final, or Badr Hari vs. Alistair Overeem from 2009, or Jerome Le Banner vs. Mark Hunt in 2002 or so, so many more - far too many to name - the loss of the Grand Prix is a hard blow. Now, all our hopes rest in the hands of Ishii and FIKA. Let's hope they make it happen, and 2012 sees the K-1 Grand Prix champion crowned once again. Check back all week for more of 2011 in MMA History.

Posted in: ufc, world, mma, year, prix

Kid Nate compiles the best of MMA Nation for 2011. Enjoy.

Posted in: mma, mma nation, nation, nate, kid nate

Card of the Year: UFC 139

Filed under: UFCEver since UFC 139 ended, I've been wondering why we loved it so much. Was it because of the roller coaster ride that was Dan Henderson vs. Mauricio Shogun Rua? Or how about the vintage Wanderlei Silva performance against newcomer Cung Le? Perhaps Urijah Faber's dominant win over Brian Bowles in front of the partisan crowd did the trick? Mix those moments together, sprinkle in the return of Ryan Bader, the emergence of Chris Weidman and Michael McDonald, and you've got yourself one memorable card. Certainly, we can all agree on that. But I'm going to take things one step further. I believe UFC 139 was the 2011 Card of the Year because it came at the perfect time. UFC 139, if you recall, happened just seven days after the organization's much-anticipated debut on FOX. This was the UFC's big coming out party on network television, and it seemed like everyone, especially UFC president Dana White, was anxious to see how America would receive our little sport that could. So the UFC promoted the heck out of Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos. FOX promoted the heck out of it, too. Even though only one fight was to be televised, and even though the sure-to-be-great Ben Henderson vs. Clay Guida tilt was virtually ignored from a promotional standpoint, we got what was going on. We may not have liked it, but we (well, most of us) got it. And as you know by now, the heavyweight title fight lasted just 64 seconds. Henderson-Guida turned out -- no surprise here -- to be one of the best fights of the year. The one-hour telecast generated record-breaking ratings, and it seemed like everyone in the UFC was, for the most part, pleased with the evening. It was a good night for the sport, but we couldn't help but wonder what might have been. However, there was no time to relax because UFC 139 was just seven days away. Six former champions in the top three fights? The return of Dan Henderson? The debut of Cung Le? The UFC's first show in the MMA hot bed of San Jose, Calif.? This one seemingly had it all. Yet, due to the importance of the UFC on FOX event, it was completely overshadowed. And we talked about that all week long. Over and over again. Honestly, we probably talked about it too much. But then the fights came. Danny Castillo kicked things off with a dominant win over Shamar Bailey. Seth Baczynski kept things going with a sweet guillotine choke win over Matt Brown. Weidman's submission. Bader's knockout. You know the rest. And then the main event happened. It was was an incredible display of heart, skill and determination. An incredible display of MMA. Dan Henderson had his moments. Shogun Rua had his moments. The first five-round non-title fight in UFC history turned out to be -- by MMA standards -- a thing of beauty. Even White, who joked earlier in the week that he was suffering from a UFC on FOX hangover, seemed more like himself after the fight. He was relaxed and quick to call Hendo vs. Shogun one of the best fights ever. UFC on FOX was great, don't get me wrong. But UFC 139 was ... familiar. Just seven days after the biggest night in MMA's history, it reminded us why we started watching this sport in the first place. Not for the glitz and glamor of network television, but because MMA cards, more often than not, seem to deliver a great night of fights, top-to-bottom. So when mainstream America went back to ignoring MMA, the UFC's best delivered. Originally, most of us thought it was a mistake to book UFC 139 a week after UFC on FOX. Now it's clear its timing couldn't have been better. The rest of the field: 2. UFC 140: Jon Jones caps off a historic year, Frank Mir submits Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Chan Sung Jung's record-tying knockout. 3. UFC 129: Record attendance, record gate, seven finishes. 4. UFC 134: The most electric crowd in UFC history, Anderson Silva dominates at home, Nogueira's emotional comeback. 5. UFC 132: Dominick Cruz, Urijah Faber put on a classic, Chris Leben KOs Wanderlei Silva in seconds, Tito Oritz stuns Ryan Bader. Honorable mention: UFC Live on Versus 5, Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Kharitonov. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, fox, vs

Is Brazil the Largest Market for MMA Worldwide?

Brazil is quickly becoming the new home for MMA and particularly for the UFC. So will the country soon be the biggest market for the sport on the worldwide level?

Posted in: mma, brazil, level, market, country

The MMA Wrap-Up: Holiday Greetings Edition

Filed under: MMA Videos, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosIt's that time of year again, boys and girls. The MMA Wrap-Up takes a brief respite from breaking down fights and offering wild, totalizing theories to sit by a crackling fire for a period of (not so) quiet reflection. On a serious note, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your loyal patronage in the past year. It's been a big one for us, and one with no small degree of change, and we appreciate you taking the time to read and watch our work. On behalf of the whole MMA Fighting team, thank you. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mma, mma wrapup, note id, totalizing theories, crackling fire

Tim Sylvia, Josh Barnett Returning To Pro Wrestling On New Year's Eve

While his DREAM date with Brett Rogers was canceled due to a visa issue, Tim Sylvia has found work on New Year's Eve after all as he's been booked for a pro wrestling match with Jerome Le Banner, reported by Heavy MMA. The bout will be part of the Inoki Genome Federation's contribution to the DREAM show, which features a mix of legitimate MMA bouts and pro wrestling matches featuring current MMA fighters. The card will be aired stateside on HDNet. Fedor Emelianenko faces Satoshi Ishii in the main event with Hayato Sakurai vs. Ryo Chonan and Shinya Aoki vs. Satoru Kitaoka on the undercard. Josh Barnett returns to wrestling action against Hideki Suzuki on the 17-match card as he awaits the official announcement of his Strikeforce Grand Prix Final bout against Daniel Cormier. The former UFC Heavyweight Champion Sylvia (30-7) is on a two-fight win streak and has victories in six of his last seven MMA fights. He made his wrestling debut against Barnett for the IGF in late-2010, while Le Banner is a former pro kickboxer who has competed six times in MMA. He also stepped into the ring against Barnett in wrestling action earlier this month and defeated the former UFC Heavyweight Champion by "knockout". SBN coverage of DREAM: New Year! 2011

Posted in: mma, year, official announcement, barnett, years eve

New Fan's Introduction to Mixed Martial Arts: The Clinch

While the striking game most sports fans are somewhat familiar with from watching boxing, either in movies or the actual sport of boxing. Even with the additions of kicks, knees and eblows the striking game is something everyone can understand, hit the other fighter without getting hit. The clinch is an area of the fighter many beginner fans don't fully understand. In a boxing match when the two fighters get tied up the ref steps in and breaks them apart so the action can start again and many criticize MMA as simply "men hugging" but in martial arts like Muay Thai or wrestling the match is just getting started with the fighters clinch. The clinch can be generally defined as when fighters are standing but have grabbed ahold of each other. There are two offensive strategies in clinch fighting, looking to strike or takedown the opponent. But which ever strategy a fighter is using the clinch game has the same basic goal; be the one in control. When striking from the clinch, a fighter wants to be in control of his opponent and create space to send a powerful strike towards the head or body of the controlled fighter. And once that space is created fighters have everything from uppercuts, to knees, to elbows at their disposal. Some fighters prefer what is often refereed to as the "dirty boxing" clinch: Chris Leben used the "dirty boxing" clinch to perfection against Wanderlei Silva. The match is a match up of wild brawlers and they start out trading wild hooks but once the distance is close enough Leben grabs the back of Wanderlei's head, immobilizing it. Leben forces Wanderlei's head down and then throws upper cuts, connecting perfectly with Wanderlei's chin. That moment of immobilization of the Brazilian's head caused by Leben's had was all the heavy handed southpaw needed to end the fight. Clinch striking is a central aspect of the kickboxing art of Muay Thai, were knees and elbows are allowed. As a result, Muay Thai matches are a chess game in the clinch as fighters position themselves to best deliver punishment. The ideal position for delivering knees to the head is refereed to as 'the Muay Thai clinch'. There are few better in MMA at using this clinch than UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva. Here is Silva, at the time a challenger for the UFC belt, using the Muay Thai against then Middleweight Champ Rich Franklin. Silva has both his hands behind Franklin's head, controlling Franklin's posture, and keeping his elbows in Franklin's chest to create the space for him to drive his knees upward. Silva gets his hips far back from Franklin and then steps in to each knee strike, generating maximum power, strikes likes these are some of the most damaging in MMA. While fighters will throw strikes from any position in the clinch there are many fighter's who look for takedowns from the clinch. There are many different kinds of takedowns but there are three major arts that focus on taking opponents down: Freestyle Wrestling, Greco-Roman Wrestling and Judo. Freestyle Wrestling one of the Olympic styles of wrestling that is a catch all, it allows participants to use any and all non-submission grappling techniques to takedown and pin their opponent. NCAA wrestling is a form of a Freestyle, and fighters from that background tend to favor 'shot' takedowns, either the double leg or single leg takedown. Greco-Roman wrestling refers to a wrestling that comes from the ancient tradition from you guessed it.... Greece and Rome. In Greco-Roman wrestling, no grabbing below the waist is allowed so the standing grappling takes place exclusively on the upper-body. Like clinching to strike, wrestlers want control of their opponent but unlike the striking clinch they want to get close in to score a takedown. The position pictured above is called double underhooks, which means one fighter has his arms clasped around the other fighters torso and is able to get his hips in close, and get in position for a throw. Fighters will prevent from getting in this position by what is called pummeling and normally fighters will find themselves in over-under grips in which both fighters have one underhook. Similar to Greco-Roman Wrestling is the Japanese art of Judo, which focuses mainly on manipulating the upper body to throw opponents to the ground, but Judo does allow attacks bellow the waist. So in addition to Judo's iconichip throws, it has a wide array of clinch takedowns, trips and footsweeps. Judo players have trouble transferring their techniques to MMA however because of the lack of the gi, and the grips it provides. But Judo techniques are becoming more and more common in MMA. The cage plays a big role in clinch grappling and it is common strategy for the controlling fighter to press the other into the cage to constrict breath and space to strike or counter grapple. The clinch is one of the most grueling positions in MMA, the constant push and pull is exhausting. And a fighter cannot let up for one second, because a moment of relaxation can lead to being throw through the air or getting an elbow in the face. Next time we hit the mat and talk about positional and submission grappling.

Posted in: mma, takedown, fighter, strike, position

2011 The Year in MMA: The Rise of Jon Jones

How will we remember 2011 in Mixed Martial Arts history? So much happened in our sport this year, from huge business moves to epic fights to legends falling. Here, we'll attempt to recap some of the biggest stories of the year and figure out just how to define MMA in 2011. If 2011 was marked by the fall of the old guard, it was also marked by the rise of the new guard - or at least, the singular face of that new guard in MMA. The man who embodies the idea of pushing the sport forward - of setting a new standard for what can be achieved in the confines of an MMA contest. Can there be any doubt who this is? Jon Jones is the best fighter of 2011 - that much is obvious and shouldn't even be up for debate. The question some have asked is: Is Jon Jones's 2011 the best single year for any MMA fighter in history? I'd have to say it is. Jones started the year as an exciting prospect who many fans had high hopes for in the future. He ended the year as the UFC Light Heavyweight champion, with two successful title defenses and, in just one year, now finds himself only two fights away from cleaning out the upper most ranks of the UFC's most notoriously stacked and competitive division. Along the way, he dominated elite names in ways we had never seen them beaten before - Lyoto Machida choked into unconsciousness by a nasty guillotine variation, Rampage Jackson made to look like an amateur on the feet, Mauricio Rua unable to mount any offense. Jones faced some of the very best the division had to offer, and he crushed them all. As good as this year was for the young champion, we still end the year with questions about him. How will he deal with the heavy hands of Dan Henderson? Will he finally meet Rashad Evans and add the former teammate to his list of victims? Why was Lyoto able to find success against him? And the big question - just how dominant will this kid be? That's what is so exciting about Jon Jones in 2011. It's not just what he has accomplished, but the sense of what he still can accomplish. He's extremely young, both in age and in his career, and shows improvements every fight. Today, he is the best 205 pounder in the world, the best 205 pounder since Chuck Liddell, and already in talks as one of the top 2 pound for pound fighters in the world. Just how high can he go? Jon Jones today reminds me a lot of his sort-of teammate Georges St. Pierre a few years ago. Young, destructive, and the kind of fighter that looked ready to elevate the sport to new levels. St. Pierre's career took an interesting path where a shocking loss led to increasingly cautious and fan-displeasing performances, while at the same time becoming one of the sport's biggest stars and most dominant champions. GSP has indeed helped bring the sport to new levels of popularity, but he is no longer pushing the envelope of what is possible inside the cage. Is this the fate that awaits Jones? Will he meet his own Matt Serra? And if he does, how will he respond? What does the future hold for this young phenom? I don't have those answers - no one does. But I can't wait to find out in 2012. Check back all week for more of 2011 in MMA History.

Posted in: mma, jone, jon jones, sport, year

MMA Nation's Shaun Al-shatti rounds up the funniest MMA memes of 2011. Enjoy!

Posted in: mma, nation, mma memes, meme, shaun

Northeast MMA Scouting Report

As most of you probably know, while MMA Convert gets a good portion of my love, I still go to live MMA events in the Northeast and write about them for my blog – a gig I’ve been doing since 2001. How many fights a year do I see from cageside? Well, to put things in perspective, in 2011 there were 199 professional MMA bouts in New Jersey, and I would’ve seen them all had my car not broken down en route to Atlantic City on two separate occasions (who knew running down homeless people for sport could have negative repercussions on engine functionality?). Usually, I’m there for all of them. Leland Rolling over at BloodyElbow does a pretty kickass job of painstakingly researching and putting together scouting reports with a global scope (example: here). I daresay the work is inspirational. So! Here’s a nice little Northeast MMA scouting report, featuring guys who are on the cusp of breaking out into the national/international scene. Odds are you will see these ultra-skilled, ultra-talented and ultra-ready dudes in the UFC, Strikeforce or on a Bellator main card in the next year. And remember: I’ve witnessed their prowess with my own eyes, and in some cases have seen all of their fights since they first stepped into combat as an amateur. To put it another way, I’m like that sketchy-looking fellow at the racetrack who hangs out by the stables and keeps track of all the horses, the guy that bettors go to to know which horse to put money on. Only with less sketchiness. -Tom DeBlass, 205 pounds – A Ricardo Almeida-trained jiu-jitsu black belt and Ring of Combat light-heavyweight champ, DeBlass has been amassing win after win since committing himself to mixed martial arts competition (before MMA, he competed in the Abu Dhabi submission grappling tournament). He’s won by quick submission (a 57-second toe-hold against UFC veteran Sean Salmon), he’s won by knockout, and he’s grinded out a few, so he’s capable in all areas. Plus, UFC champ Frankie Edgar is one of his stablemates, so you just know he’s got a handle on what it takes to compete at the highest levels. You will definitely be seeing this guy in the Octagon soon. -Aljamain Sterling, 135 pounds – I remember when Jon Jones fought his way up the local ranks, and while I’m loathe to throw around the “Jon Jones” label for those unworthy, it’s safe to say Sterling is cut from a similar cloth, both physically and talent-wise. In 2011, he took out two of the best “little guys” the Northeast has to offer in Sean Santella and Claudio Ledesma, and with his uncanny grappling, strong wrestling base and knack for learning exponentially, he finished out the year with a new Cage Fury Fighting Championship belt around his waist. He, too, should be in the UFC soon. -Sean Santella, 125 pounds – “Shorty Rock” mixes lightning-fast scrambling with dangerous jiu-jitsu, and aside from his loss to Sterling (which was at 135 pounds), he spent the year out-working everyone he met. With the UFC opening up the flyweight division, expect Santella to make an appearance at some point. -Claudio Ledesma, 135 pounds – Right behind Sterling in the “I am a very bad man, don’t mess with me” category is Ledesma, who’s racked up wins on everything from Bellator undercards to Ring of Combat main cards. He can jiu-jitsu opponents to death and he can drop them with body blows, so he’s a threat everywhere. Watch for Ledesma to make the leap to the “big time” soon. -Lucas Pimenta, 170 pounds – There is a huge Brazilian community in Newark, and when the New Jersey MMA circuit found its legs, all these “fresh off the boat” dudes who spoke maybe only six words in English but were fluent in Portuguese began appearing, many of them with way more skill and poise in the cage than their official records would’ve indicated. Pimenta is one such fighter, and in his last two outings he hit his opponents with such explosive and abrupt violence that they went into convulsions (no lie, convulsions). If Bellator doesn’t snatch this cat up, the UFC or Strikeforce will. That’s a fact. -Pat Audinwood, 155 pounds – Audinwood already fought his way into the UFC, but he was cut after losing to Thiago Tavares and John Makdessi. C’est la vie, right? Maybe. However, Audinwood is on track for making a return to the Octagon, as evidenced by his armbar over Matt Serra/Ray Longo-trained Al Iaquinta at the last Ring of Combat (a feat that earned him the lightweight belt). Audinwood can hit hard, take punishment, and is hella dangerous from the guard, and if he keeps beating quality opponents, I have him pegged at fighting for Dana White again sooner rather than later. -Al Iaquinta, 155 pounds – Prior to the armbar loss to Audinwood, Iaquinta was an undefeated bad mofo. He’s still a bad mofo, though, with enough ace kickboxing, wrestling and subs to fight and win everywhere. With another win or two, I see him competing in the UFC soon as well. -Joey Gambino, 145 pounds – Despite the fact that Gambino seems to bring every relative he has to his fights, and I mean everyone – from infants to the elderly – he tends to deliver in a big way when fists are flying. He won the Cage Fury Fighting Championship featherweight title with a crushing knockout over a veteran opponent, and his undefeated record has more than a few wins via submission. To the UFC or Bellator with this guy! -Jimmie Rivera, 135 pounds – If you watched this last season of TUF, you saw Rivera beat the stuffing out of Dennis Bermudez for a round before inexplicably fading in Round 2. But what you don’t know is that Rivera, who mixes boxing, wrestling and submission grappling to perfection, was also a King of the Cage champ and a Northeast MMA badass. I see him needing one more quality win before the UFC comes calling. -Igor Gracie, 170 pounds – The Gracie family has had a hard time excelling in the realm of MMA for a while now, but Igor has been plugging away and gaining experience, tapping people out with the kind of assuredness you’d expect from someone named “Gracie”. Strikeforce was hot for Roger Gracie; I think Igor would be a better fit for them, and could put quite a few of their welterweights to sleep.

Posted in: ufc, pound, mma, way, northeast

MMAterial Facts (12/23/11) : Holiday Season Edition

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 Strikeforce - AP Athlete of Year Voting Snub Shows How Far Mainstream — Not MMA — Has to Go (MMA Fighting) “Earlier this week, The Associated Press, which provides sports news to millions of readers around the world, named its male and female athletes of the year for 2011. Not a single mixed martial artist was named on a single ballot. It’s not as if non-traditional, non-stick & ball sports were not represented. Among those who received votes were sprinter Usain Bolt, surfer Kelly Slater and marathon swimmer Diana Nyad. “ - Randy Couture: Yeah, Title IX has really crippled wrestling programs badly (Fight Opinion) “There are two groups of people who would like to see some very different visions for the future of fighting. One is hoping for a renaissance of Catch-as-Catch-Can… and the other has a more futuristic view of where the fight business should be heading. … First, the fine group of humans who are interested in catch wrestling. As you can see up above, I highly recommend Jake Shannon’s book on Scientific Wrestling. He and many others are doing their best to emphasize the importance of Catch on the sport of MMA. Randy Couture did an interview with Eddie Goldman last Friday talking about this very issue in relation to his new book called The Last Round w/ Sara Levin (who worked for USA Wrestling). Book ordering/background information can be found on Amazon & Facebook. - Interview with debuting UFC flyweight Ian McCall (MMA Mania) “The self-destructiveness, how have you been able to overcome that? … Ian McCall: It seems like jail and rehab will teach you how to do it. It’s just the kind of thing where you grow out of it. I just finally one day was like, “Okay, I’ve had enough. I’ve had enough fun. I’ve partied enough in my life. This is kind of over with,” and from there, that was before me and my wife got together and she got pregnant and it was the kind of thing where I did it on my own and we and my wife reconnected because we’d dated on and off for five years and one day we started hanging out again and surprise, now I’ve got two dogs and a baby and a wife (laughs).” - Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Lansberg II Fallout: Sonnen Is ‘Done’ with Anderson Silva (MMA Convert) “The bottom line is, I’m done with the guy,” the 34-year-old Sonnen said in an excerpt released prior to the show by TSN. “He and I have no business. . . . He’s so far over the hill and past his prime it’s not worth talking about. … “I’m going to become the No. 1 contender on January 28th, but despite what you may think, I am not going to use that voucher to fight Anderson Silva. I’ll be looking at Dos Santos, Jones and possibly St-Pierre. … “I will take that voucher to (UFC president) Dana White and I will pick one of those guys. My time with Anderson is done.” - Surprise, Alistair Oveeem is in UFC Undisputed 3 and you have less than four weeks to unlock him (MiddleEasy) “Ubereem could also come with me to Venice Beach sometime next summer and we can take our shirts off and toss a frisbee on the beach like heterosexual men. Ronda Rousey could judge us on our frisbee throwing techniques and at the end of the day, we could grub down on all the horse meat tacos we want. That’s my only New Year’s Resolution. If that doesn’t go down next year, then at least I’ll know that I’ve unlocked Alistair Overeem in UFC Undisputed 3 simply by liking THQ’s official UFC Undisputed Facebook page — and you can too if you check out the very limited promotion. We’ve even included a video of the first footage of Ubereem within the game for your viewing pleasures..” - Jason ‘Mayhem’ Miller Staying Positive And Pushing Onward (FightLine) “Dana White was right,” Miller wrote in a recent blog post on his personal website. “He made some disparaging comments about my performance, and I agree with him. I displayed the worst of everything that night in the Octagon. I was tense in round one and I locked up after that. I didn’t perform to my potential, and I take full responsibility for it. That wasn’t a UFC caliber performance, and I’m not happy about it- I won’t, however, write a worthless diatribe on myself, because that is not constructive. I elect instead to take this misstep and make something positive out of it.” - MMA Video Tribute: The 25 Most Brutal Finishes of 2011 (Cage Potato) “With a little help from the Potato Nation, we spent the last couple days gathering videos of the nastiest, ugliest, most-painful looking knockouts and submissions from this year. Finding 25 of them was the easy part. (Damn, MMA fighters. You seemed especially angry this year. Problems at home?) Putting them in order was a little more challenging. Obviously, Frank Mir snapping Nogueira’s arm at UFC 140 was the people’s choice for #1. But how do you rank a head-kick knockout against a spinning-backfist knockout, when they both leave their victims zombie’d on the mat with their eyes open and their arms in the air?” - Gift Giving: Shopping for Fighters (Five Ounces of Pain) “It’s the holiday season and after fighting off crazed moms who just have to get that last bottle of Justin Bieber shampoo, I finally finished my MMA Christmas shopping. I couldn’t find a gift for everyone but I think I did well and hopefully all the fighters and MMA personalities appreciate all the thought and money I put into their gifts. … Lets have a look under the tree and see what we have, shall we?” - Urijah Faber Shaves Head in Support of Sister (Video) (5thRound) “Exactly four Fridays ago, Urijah Faber’s (Pictured) 19-year-old sister, Michaella Tastad, was involved in a horrific car accident. It was the morning after she had celebrated Thanksgiving dinner with her family. … Faber’s sister suffered a collapsed lung, spleen damage and received life-threatening head trauma that forced physicians to medically induce a coma at Sutter Roseville Medical Center in Sacramento, California.” - Satoshi Ishii trains at Black House for the fight with Fedor Emelianenko (LowKick) “In less than two weeks, 2008 Beijing Olympic Gold Medalist in Judo, Satoshi Ishii, will step inside the ring at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, for the biggest fight of his young Mixed Martial Arts career, against “The Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko. Ishii will be the eighth Japanese fighter to square off against Emelianenko, looking to become the first to defeat him. … The fight will headline the traditionally stacked DREAM’s New Year’s Eve fight card (Fight For Japan: Genki Desu Ka Omisoka 2011), which will feature blockbuster JMMA names such as Shinya Aoki, Katsunori Kikuno, Satoru Kitaoka, Hiroyuki Takaya, Tatsuya Kawajiri, and many others.” - Top 10 Biggest MMA Upsets in 2011 (TheFightNerd) “Everyone loves to see the underdog win, especially because they never expect it. In MMA, unpredictability is a constant variable that truly makes it one of the most exciting sports out there. Sometimes, it’s not even the underdog, but rather the fighter that most thought had zero chance at all to win, let alone survive the fight. … As this year wraps up, it’s time to look back and see who were the biggest underdogs that shattered expectations and, even if just for one night, made a name for themselves and proved everyone wrong. This is not a list of amazing comebacks in a fight, rather the matches that should have gone one way, and ended up entirely different. So, let’s jump into the top ten biggest MMA upsets from 2011!” - The 2011 Last-Minute Gift List for Your MMA Fan (BleacherReport.com/MMA) “This list is the top 10 gifts for the 2011 holiday season! … Do you have a special MMA fan in you life? Are you an MMA fan that is just looking for an excuse to buy more MMA stuff? Well, for the next 10 items, please think of yourself in the third person and shop as if you were shopping for someone else!”

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, fighter, year

2011 World MMA Scouting Report Review - Bantamweights

This is a guest post by Rory MacLeod (smoogy) A year ago, we selected the inaugural class of fighters that would make up the first edition of the World MMA Scouting Report. It's been a gratifying experience to see some of the athletes we selected go on to succeed in major fight opportunties, and a heartbreaking one to see others come up just short. For each pick that claimed a significant title in 2011, there were at least two that didn't make their breakthrough, or fell off the rails entirely. Here's a recap to give you a sampling of the highlights (and lowlights) from a tumultuous time in the careers of these MMA prospects. 1. Eduardo Dantas (13-2) Eduardo had about as good a year as one could hope. Signing with Bellator for their Season 5 bantamweight tournament, Dantas pulled off the unlikely feat of defeating three veteran opponents in two months to capture the tourney title as the youngest competitor among the field. A bantamweight World Championship fight with title holder Zach Makovsky awaits in season 6; Dantas will likely be the betting favorite. 2. Farkhad Sharipov (13-5) Farkhad Sharipov took a victory over #8 Tommy Vargas at Tachi Palace fights, but at 1-2 so far in his Bellator career, he finds himself left out of tournament action. Larger, better rounded fighters have proven effective at taking Sharipov out of his grappling rhythm. A drop down to flyweight might be in order to get "Frank" back on track in 2012. But more importantly, he needs to supplement his wrestling with a proper kickboxing attack and improve his transitions on the ground. 3. Jimmie Rivera (8-1) As the Ring of Combat bantamweight champion, Jimmie Rivera headed into the The Ultimate Fighter 14 elimination round as a presumptive early favorite in the featherweight division. But after a dominant first round in his eliminator, Jimmie was overwhelmed by eventual finalist Dennis Bermudez in one of the most unlikely comebacks ever witnessed on the show. Most recently, a scheduled defense of his Ring of Combat title in November was scratched due to injury. Hopefully he can get back in the cage early in the new year and show UFC he deserves a second chance. 4. Yusup Saadulaev (8-1-1) Yusup Saadulaev got the call up to DREAM for their inaugural Bantamweight Grand Prix, entering the field as the darkhorse against Brazilian standout Rodolfo Marques Diniz (14-1). Their unheralded quarterfinal matchup turned out to be a sensational debut for both athletes and one of the most underrated fights of the year. In a three round grappling epic, both fighters scrambled and swept like madmen to try and gain an edge, and neither was out of reach of victory at any point in the fight. It seemed like the takedowns and positional advantage of Saadulaev might be enough to eke out a win, but the judges favored Diniz and his technical display of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Yusup now faces fellow GP castoff Hideo Tokoro on New Year's Eve in the BWGP reserve bout. 5. John Lineker (19-5) Maybe John Lineker should consider the nickname "Al Qaeda", because he terrorized his fellow Brazilian bantamweights in 2011, going 7-0 with four knockouts. His streak culminated in September with a Jungle Fight bantamweight championship fight against Jungle Fight veteran Illiarde Sabino Belo Dos Santos (22-6-1) in Sao Paulo. After seemingly being knocked senseless with ground and pound early, Illiarde somehow scrambled to his feet and not only survived the round, but came back to post two very close latter rounds in the three frame affair. The judges ultimately favored Lineker's early efforts and he was awarded the title, much to the protest of Illiarde's corner. John recently signed to join his fellow Jungle Fight champion Erick Silva in the UFC as one of the first fighters in the newly-opened flyweight division. Despite being left out of the championship tournament, Lineker will enter the promotion as one of the favorites to challenge for the title early on. 6. Adrian Wooley (7-3) If it wasn't for bad luck, Adrian Wooley wouldn't have had any luck at all in 2011. The Warrior-1 bantamweight champion put up a solid effort in July against Nick Mamalis (23-8) at the inaugural Score Fighting Series event in Mississauga, Ontario, but came up on the wrong end of a controversial split decision. Wooley was expected to rebound from the false start by breaking off Detroit's David Harris (6-3-1), but a slow start and a surprisingly game opponent led to another split decision defeat. Despite the setbacks, Wooley still has fans among the Canadian MMA scene and is expected to get another opportunity on a nationally-televised card in the near future. 7. Rodrigo Lima (10-1) "Ratinho" continues to be one of the most stellar young overachievers in Brazilian MMA. Fighting under the Watch Out Combat Show banner, Rodrigo Lima went 3-0 in 2011, finishing all three opponents in a combined time of 5:28. Given Bellator's propensity for acquiring emerging Brazilian talent, it was no surprise to learn Lima has secured a place in the upcoming season 6 bantamweight tournament. In a relatively wide open field, Rodrigo has a great chance to follow his compatriot Eduardo Dantas in seizing the tourney crown as the youngest competitor among the field. 8. Tommy Vargas (9-2) Unfortunately for Tommy Vargas, the loss to Farkhad Sharipov in May not only took him out of contention for a Tachi Palace Fights title shot, it may have cost him a shot in Bellator as well. Sharipov wasn't able to inflict much damage and almost gave the fight up in the closing minutes by shooting into a knee strike, but the Kyrgyzstani wrestler's stifling top control proved that Vargas still needs to make improvements as a grappler to succeed on the world stage. On the plus side, his conditioning was on display on December 1st when he rebounded to capture the Fight Club OC Bantamweight strap in a five round decision victory over Tyler Weathers (8-7). With his last seven fights all having gone to the judges scorecards, Vargas needs to post an impressive finish to get back on track. 9. Mike Easton (11-1) It turned out that a two year period between pro fights wasn't an issue for Mike Easton. With the UFC bantamweight division in need of veteran talent, Easton made his debut in Washington, D.C. at the final edition of UFC on Versus as the local favorite. Fellow debutant Byron Bloodworth (6-2) succumbed to the power of Easton's clinch in the second round, folding to some particularly nasty knees to the body. Clearly his hard work put in at Alliance MMA is paying off; he's come a long way from the ignominious decision win over Chase Beebe and the controversy that ensued. With no word yet on Easton's next opponent, perhaps a move to flyweight is in his future? 10. Denis Puric (4-3) Despite his ugly record and proclivity for getting submitted by superior grapplers, Denis Puric continues to show pugilistic promise and a flair for the dramatic that puts him in high demand on the Canadian MMA circuit. After submittiing to Winnipeg's Cory Houston (4-1) at Score Fighting Series 2 in October, Puric made his Bellator debut less than a month later, taking on Chuck Mady (5-6) on the preliminary card. In a performance reminiscent of his compatriot, UFC Lightweight John Makdessi, Denis dominated with a flashy array of kicking technique, spinning and hooking his way to a sensational TKO stoppage win after two rounds. Although Puric did not do enough to earn a spot in the next Bellator 135lb bracket, the buzz about "that tae kwon do guy" should ensure a return invite to the show in 2012.

Posted in: fight, mma, title, round, bantamweight

5 Oz. MMA Link Club

Welcome back to another edition of “MMA Link Club”, Five Ounces of Pain‘s weekly smorgasbord of offerings from our brothers and sisters in the MMA community. Enjoy… Urijah Faber Shaves Head in Support of Injured Sister (FightLine.com) Frank Mir Heaps Praise on Former Rival Brock Lesnar (LowKick.com) Fascinating, Frightening Look at Children’s Muay Thai in Thailand (TheFightNerd.com) Chad Griggs Ready to Prove he Belongs in the UFC (MMAFighting.com) A Terrific Breakdown of Steroids in Relation to MMA (FightOpinion.com) Spike TV Looking to Monetize UFC Library (MMAPayout.com) Satoshi Ishii Ready to Beat “Legend” Fedor Emelianenko (CagePotato.com) Junie Browning Turns Himself in to Thai Authorities (MMAConvert.com) Wanderlei Silva Still Thinks Mauricio Rua Can Defeat Jon Jones (MMAMania.com) Strikeforce Welterweight Jason High Offers Up Some Thoughts on the Organization’s Future (BleacherReport.com) Is Shane Del Rosario Headed to the UFC? (MiddleEasy.com) Who is the Favorite Between Carlos Condit-Nick Diaz? (5thRound.com) PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, mma, mma community, mauricio rua, ufc middleeasycom

ESPN MMA Live: Strikeforce ‘Melendez vs. Masvidal’ Recap, UFC 141 Preview

ESPN recaps Strikeforce “Melendez vs. Masvidal” and preview UFC 141 on this week’s edition of ESPN MMA Live. ESPN MMA Live Archive If you have trouble playing the video, you can also watch it on ESPN.com.

Posted in: mma, espn, vs, espn mma, melendez

Check Out These Freebie Holiday MMA Deals of the Week

[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on FighterXFashion.com, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] The holidays are almost here and if you haven’t spent all of your cash on gifts just yet, here are a few incentives to keep shopping with this week’s best online MMA deals. From holiday clearance sales, to extra value gift cards, it’s time to stock up and save while taking home the best MMA clothing and fight gear with these limited time offer MMA deals and discounts. Check out the Holiday MMA deals!

Posted in: mma, deal, haven ’t, holiday, week ’s

Jon Jones Receives No AP Athlete of the Year Votes - Snub or Not?

Despite having what many (including myself) feel is, without a doubt, the greatest year in the history of mixed martial arts, Jon Jones did not receive a single vote in the AP vote for Athlete of the Year. To Mike Chiapetta of MMA Fighting, this was proof that it is the mainstream that needs to catch up to MMA, not vice versa. From the article: I'm not arguing that Jones should have won the award. The winner, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, had an amazing calendar year. He won the Super Bowl, led his team to a 19-game win streak and has them in position to possibly repeat. Runner-up Justin Verlander of the Detroit Tigers won both the American League Most Valuable Player and Cy Young awards, the first pitcher to do that in 27 years. Third-place went to tennis star Novak Djokovic, who won 10 tournaments -- including three majors -- and finished the year with an exceptional 70-6 record. ... Jones, MMA Fighting's Fighter of the Year, had arguably the best calendar year in MMA history, winning four matches overall, defeating three former UFC champions and becoming the youngest title holder in UFC history. He wasn't exactly invisible doing it, either. He was a guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel Live, and on the day of his title win, helped thwart a robbery, an act that resulted in major national attention. If a boxer like Manny Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather put together a year like that, you better believe that they would have earned votes. But because Jones fights in a cage instead of a ring, his accomplishments go unappreciated and unrecognized. It's not like this was a small sample size; 212 alleged experts in sports cast ballots for the award. The problem with saying this is an example of a larger ignorance of MMA is that to vote for Jones meant that the voters would have had to have not voted for who they truly felt was deserving of the award. Yes, maybe some (most) of the voters are ignorant of MMA, but would more information have caused them to vote for Jones over Rogers? Is a courtesy vote really that important? And I'd also like to address the idea that a boxer would receive consideration. In 2008, Manny Pacquiao defeated Juan Manuel Marquez in a title bout at 130 pounds in a battle between two of the top three pound for pound fighters in the sport. Manny then went up to 135 and beat one of the top two lightweights in the world in David Diaz to capture a title, then went all the way up to 147 and decimated Oscar De La Hoya in a huge fight. He also received zero AP Athlete of the Year votes. Manny would get some votes in 2010, a year where he beat a very overmatched, no-name Joshua Clottey and a badly tainted Antonio Margarito. A much less impressive year than 2008. The difference between 2008 and 2010? Manny was mainstream. It's a mainstream sports award. Yes, someone cast a vote for surfer Kelly Slater and another for indy car racer Dario Franchitti, but those are guys with years and years of dominance in their sport. Those are also votes likely by someone with a specific agenda (especially the Slater vote). There was simply no bigger mainstream sports star more deserving of the title than Aaron Rogers (or maybe Justin Verlander) so it seems like the voting did the job it is actually supposed to do. Again, I just can't find a reason to truly care that no one cast a vote for Jones. Maybe with a few more years of dominance and additional mainstream attention from the Fox deal, we'll see Jones get some votes. But one big year in a fringe combat sport (boxing or MMA) isn't enough to get the votes right now.

Posted in: mma, jone, sport, vote, year

Friday Link Club: Holiday Edition, Urijah Faber Shaves His Head For Recovering Sister

Urijah Faber shaves his head to join his sister who just went through brain surgery after a terrible car accident All I Want for Christmas: Six Fighter Letters to Santa | Cage Potato 15 Must-Buy Holiday Gifts for the MMA Fan in Your Life | Bleacher Report Top 10 Biggest MMA Upsets in 2011  | TheFightNerd Carlos Condit Opens as Favorite Over Nick Diaz at UFC 143 | MMA Fighting Nate Diaz says he is better than Donald Cerrone on every level | Five Ounces of Pain Wanderlei Silva Pegs ‘Shogun’ Rua As Man To Defeat Jon Jones | FightLine An MMA fighter is dead after agreeing to spar with someone on an internet forum | MiddleEasy Satoshi Ishii: Fedor is a legend, but I will beat him on December 31st | LowKick UFC Returns to Montreal in March | 5thRound What’s not said about drug testing in combat sports | Fight Opinion Meet the Flyweights: Interview with debuting UFC 125-pounder Ian McCall | MMA Mania “Ultimate Fridays” to run opposite TUF-Bellator | MMA Payout

Posted in: ufc, mma, mma fighter, car accident, fridays ”

The Friday Morning MMA Link Party

Your job is to be irresponsible, live fast and die young. That's why we're throwing a full-out MMA link party early this Friday morning. Look at that, Fabricio Werdum is already in the house along with a few other chicks that may need attention from the opposite sex. Here's your opportunity to party it up with an elite group of MMA link party members, so enjoy and please remember the keg is in the back -- inside of the trashcan. No, the other trashcan. That keg is already empty. [list class="bullet-6"] [li]Carlos Condit Opens as Favorite Over Nick Diaz at UFC 143. [MMAFighting] [/li] [li]MMA GIF Party: The 10 Greatest GIFs of 2011. [CagePotato] [/li] [li]Pair of prelim bouts added to Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine card. [Fives Ounces of Pain] [/li] [li]Cain Velasquez knows he "blew it" against Junior dos Santos. [LowKick] [/li] [li]2011 Holiday Wish List. [MMAConvert] [/li] [li]Ricardo Lamas Steps in to Face Dustin Poirier at UFC 143. [5th Round] [/li] [li]10 UFC Rematches to Make in 2012. [Bleacher Report] [/li] [li]Top 10 Biggest MMA Upsets in 2011. [The Fight Nerd] [/li] [li]Dan Hardy doesn't like Matt Hughes, told Lorenzo Fertitta he wants to fight him. [MMAMania] [/li] [li]What’s not said about drug testing in combat sports. [FightOpinion] [/li] [li]Fuel TV Planning UFC Marathon On New Years, Spike Eager to Monetize UFC Library. [MMAPayout] [/li] [li]Strikeforce: Melendez Vs. Masvidal Medical Suspensions. [Fightline] [/li] [/list] UFC 142 is On Pace to Becoming the Number 5 Most Cursed Card in UFC History

Posted in: ufc, mma, party, list, li

Sixth Ounce Podcast: Episode 11

It’s a special MMA holiday edition of the Sixth Ounce Podcast. Join Brendhan Conlan, Samer Kadi, and Jeremy Lambert as we open up with some MMA talk and then move into some holiday cheer. First we’ll discuss the art of picking fights and review this past weekends Strikeforce show, which featured a good performance by Gilbert Melendez, a dominating performance by Cris Santos, and “meh” performances by Gegard Mousasi and K.J. Noons. Then we move into some Christmas talk as we list our favorite Christmas movies and gifts plus our plans for this year. Finally, Bren sends us off with a special MMA Christmas poem. It’s over one over of MMA and holiday talk, so check it out. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from all of us here at Five Ounces of Pain. Podcast Powered By Podbean Download (Right Click -> Save Link As) – iTunes

Posted in: mma, ounce podcast, holiday, christma, holiday cheer

UFC 141: Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair Overeem Predictions From the Key Players in Asian MMA

These promoters and CEOs may be the top honchos in Asian MMA, but when it comes down to it, they're also big fans of MMA just like you guys. I managed to get the founders of several of the top organizations in Asia to make time out of their busy schedules, to let their guard down, and to just talk about the sport they love. Here are the major players in the Asian MMA industry and their thoughts on the biggest UFC bout of the year. Who will win the UFC 141 bout between Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem? Victor Cui, Founder and CEO of ONE FC: Who hasn’t been dying to see this match-up? It’s probably one of the most anticipated fights in the history of MMA and for most people, I’d say picking Overeem is an obvious bet. But it’s tough to say how he’ll deal with the new pressure of his mother’s unfortunate illness. I think Lesnar is finally healthy, has a lot to prove and I love the underdog. I’m predicting Lesnar to win by KO. EJ Calvo, CEO and Promoter of Pacific X-Treme Combat (PXC): Brock Lesnar will ground and pound and win by unanimous decision. Alvin Aguilar, Founder and CEO of the URCC: Even though I want Brock to win because I have always been a WWE fan, I really think this will be Alistair all the way. He is a K-1 level striker who has beaten one of the all time greats of K-1, in Peter Aerts. Also, we have seen that when Brock gets hit, he doesn't really take it very well. Alistair is also an ADCC level grappler, so we know he is no slouch on the ground. Brock's only chance would be to GNP him but if it stays standing he is going to be in a lot of trouble. Chatri Sityodtong, Founder and CEO of Evolve MMA: I predict that Overeem will KO Lesnar by the 2nd round. Overeem has excellent takedown defense and KO power. Lesnar is awkward at striking with a tendency to run when he gets hit. Size and strength won't be as much as a factor in this fight because both guys are huge monsters. Michael Haskamp, Promoter and Co-Founder of Legend FC: I give this one to Lesnar. I'm not a huge Brock fan, but he's an enormously strong and very gifted athlete with a great wrestling base, which is an Overeem weakness. More importantly, I think Overeem has a lot of things working against him: a. Overeem has spent much of his career (and most of his recent fights) crushing cans. The guys he's gone up against have for the most part been second-tier heavyweights with some combination of clear holes in their game and momentum (e.g. a string of losses, age, etc.) working against them. For a long time he was signed with promotions that either didn't have good heavyweights to put up against him, or who didn't want to derail the marketing train by giving him fights he might actually lose. To a large extent, this was outside his control. I've seen this happen with a couple of fighters in some promotions, and it sucks to be in a position where you're not improving or gaining credibility because you're not being challenged. b. Related to (a), in most cases where Overeem has been matched up against top-tier fighters, he's come up on the losing end. Examples include Shogun (twice), Nogueira (twice), and Kharitonov. c. Apparently, his new UFC contract has caused a rift between him and his now former team (Golden Glory). Whenever a fighter leaves his team, it has a big psychological effect on him. Considering the circumstances under which Overeem in particular left his team, the increasing amount of negative press he's getting because of it, and the break in the consistency of his training, it's going to have a serious detrimental effect on his performance. Then again, this is MMA, and with Brock's suspect chin, all it might take is for one Overeem punch to find its mark... Picked Overeem: URCC, Evolve MMAPicked Lesnar: ONE FC, PXC, Legend FC After the jump, each these key players in Asian MMA state their case on why UFC fans should also watch Asian MMA and their product. Why should UFC fans watch Asian MMA and your product? Michael Haskamp, Promoter and Co-Founder of Legend FC: Asia is the birthplace of martial arts. Almost everything that UFC fans love to see in the cage has its roots in this part of the world. And because in most of this region, MMA is still a relatively new sport, I find that fighters here are hungrier and looking to prove themselves more, which leads to more aggressive and exciting fights. I think Legend in particular is the best place for US fight fans to watch Asian MMA because of our basic premise: focus exclusively on native Asia-Pacific fighters, find the best guys in every country in the region, and match them up in a contest for regional supremacy. If you're looking for the best in Asia-Pacific MMA, every single one of our fight cards reflects that promise from top to bottom. And given our broadcast footprint, UFC fans can find a way to watch us in nine countries around the world, including the US and Canada! Chatri Sityodtong, Founder and CEO of Evolve MMA: The essence of Asian MMA is the exciting, adrenaline-pumping finish, be it by KO or submission. If you want to see lots of KOs and submissions, then just come watch the Evolve Fight Team from Evolve MMA. DREAM FC Champion Shinya Aoki from the Evolve Fight Team exemplifies the essence of Asian MMA and the fighting spirit on the Evolve Fight Team. Win or lose, he comes to finish fights in the most dramatic, electrifying manner. With World Champions in Muay Thai, BJJ, Boxing, MMA, and No Gi Grappling, the Evolve Fight Team is Asia's most decorated professional fight team. Alvin Aguilar, Founder and CEO of the URCC: They should watch it because there are so many talented and exciting fighters they have not seen in Asia who are also world class. The fighters in URCC ALL go for the win. You won't see any spoiled fighters who are scared to lose, and play it safe with the time. The fighters in the URCC always go all out! EJ Calvo, CEO and Promoter of Pacific X-Treme Combat (PXC): UFC & MMA fans in general should look to Asia for the future stars of the sport. Pacific X-treme Combat makes its home in the Asia-Pacific region, and turns out more UFC talent than any organization outside of Japan. PXC fighters fight at the highest level in Asia, and in 2012, we are expecting to see at least 2 more PXC fighters to move to the UFC ranks to compete with the best in the world. Victor Cui, Founder and CEO of ONE FC: The best fighters in Asia fight for ONE FC. If you’re an MMA fans looking to catch world-class action on TV or at one of the major Asian cities ONE FC is going to, then following ONE FC is a no-brainer. ONE FC showcases the best fighters in Asia, in the best venues, with the biggest broadcast across the region – it’s simply one of the most exciting MMA events in Asia to watch.

Posted in: fight, mma, overeem, fighter, fc

AP Athlete of Year Voting Snub Shows How Far Mainstream -- Not MMA -- Has to Go

Filed under: UFC, Sports Business and MediaEarlier this week, The Associated Press, which provides sports news to millions of readers around the world, named its male and female athletes of the year for 2011. Not a single mixed martial artist was named on a single ballot. It's not as if non-traditional, non-stick & ball sports were not represented. Among those who received votes were sprinter Usain Bolt, surfer Kelly Slater and marathon swimmer Diana Nyad. But not a single voter thought to write Jon Jones' name on his ballot. Given the consistent dismissal of MMA by the mainstream news establishment, this oversight is hardly a surprise. In the past, we've always shaped such snubs as part of a larger argument about how far MMA has to go. But not this one. Mainstream sports, this time, it's on you. I'm not arguing that Jones should have won the award. The winner, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, had an amazing calendar year. He won the Super Bowl, led his team to a 19-game win streak and has them in position to possibly repeat. Runner-up Justin Verlander of the Detroit Tigers won both the American League Most Valuable Player and Cy Young awards, the first pitcher to do that in 27 years. Third-place went to tennis star Novak Djokovic, who won 10 tournaments -- including three majors -- and finished the year with an exceptional 70-6 record. Those three are all deserving of the consideration they received, but it's a sign of the blissful ignorance of the AP voters that Jones wasn't considered alongside of other vote-getters like Derek Jeter, Robert Griffin III and Dario Franchitti. Jones, MMA Fighting's Fighter of the Year, had arguably the best calendar year in MMA history, winning four matches overall, defeating three former UFC champions and becoming the youngest title holder in UFC history. He wasn't exactly invisible doing it, either. He was a guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel Live, and on the day of his title win, helped thwart a robbery, an act that resulted in major national attention. If a boxer like Manny Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather put together a year like that, you better believe that they would have earned votes. But because Jones fights in a cage instead of a ring, his accomplishments go unappreciated and unrecognized. It's not like this was a small sample size; 212 alleged experts in sports cast ballots for the award. Some might suggest that awards like this don't matter. After all, in the big picture, it's the opinions of a few. But they are also the same people who help shape the national conversation of sports. As local newspapers continue their slow death spirals, the AP is called upon to provide more and more of the coverage that was once done in-house. That means a homogenized voice spreading a message that is not always indicative of the true, wider picture. It's the same voice that shut MMA out of the newspapers for far too long. But at least on that front, there is progress. In 2011, AP consistently began to provide papers with UFC event results. It might not be enough, but it's a start. Judging from their awards balloting, they still have a long way to go. MMA always blames itself for its shortcomings, and points out all the instances in which we're snubbed by the mainstream. It's proof, we say, that there is still much to do in order to truly break through. That's partly true, but we must also hold the sports experts to a higher standard. In any part of life, there's only so long you can disregard something popular before you can be accused of ignorance, and we've long passed that stage. At some point, it's up to the mainstream media to meet us halfway. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mma, jone, sport, year, award

Latest UFC/MMA news and notes from around the web for the week of December 18, 2011

Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Randy Couture and Kim Couture pictured above, we can all "get along." Teaming up with MMA sites like MMA Fighting, Cage Potato, Fight Opinion and The Fight Nerd, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport. This week, Ben Fowlkes of MMA Fighting writes an incredible piece on Dan Hardy, The Fight Nerd counts down the best upsets of 2011 and Bleacher Report speaks with Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker. The full list of links is after the jump. - Exclusive photo gallery of Satoshi Ishii's training (LowKick) - Six fighter letters to Santa (Cage Potato) With Christmas around the corner, we figured it would be a good time to share some of the letters we got our hands on from fighters to Santa. From Wanderlei to Alistair, Nick to Chael, it's interesting to hear what these guys want from St. Nick this holiday season. - Grappling with Issues - 12/22/11 (Five Ounces of Pain) Will lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez face a Strikeforce or UFC fighter next?? What would you like Dana Claus to bring you this year for Christmas? Would you lock horns in the cage with Cristiane Santos for the right price? Who in MMA deserves a lump of coal in their stocking this year? - The Outlaw and the losing streak (MMA Fighting) f Dan Hardy had his way he would have shaved the mohawk by now. Five minutes with some clippers, one quick swoop down the middle of his head, and the signature hairstyle that makes him so recognizable to fight fans could be gone. Maybe then he could blend in. Maybe then he could get a moment to be alone with himself and figure out just what in the hell is going on. - UFC 142 betting odds (5thRound) - Nick Diaz highlight by LazieTheSavage (MiddleEasy) LayzieTheSavage just dropped his latest quake inducing Nick Diaz highlight: Fight to the Finish Line. It's the spiritual sequel to Hey Nick, Nice Shot and it was a long time coming. Finally, it's here to reduce us to tears of rawesomeness. - The 10 biggest MMA upsets of 2011 (The Fight Nerd) Everyone loves to see the underdog win, especially because they never expect it. In MMA, unpredictability is a constant variable that truly makes it one of the most exciting sports out there. Sometimes, it's not even the underdog, but rather the fighter that most thought had zero chance at all to win, let alone survive the fight. - Randy Couture: Title IX really crippled wrestling programs badly (Fight Opinion) "I think, unfortunately, Title IX has been pretty hard on our sport over the years and I've done some fundraising and been involved in kind of raising some awareness about that and some of the college problems that have been put on the chopping block in recent years like Fullerton and University of Oregon's program and others and hopefully, you know, through Mixed Martial Arts I think we can turn the tide." - 11 for 11: No. 9 UFC's big shows in Toronto and Rio (MMA Payout) UFC 129 in Toronto was the company's first stadium show which set records for attendance, gate and bonuses. The bonuses were the biggest ($129,000) in recent memory. It also held the first of two UFC Expos held this year. In the end, the UFC had a substantial impact on the economy in Toronto. Read more " - Scott Coker on the future of Melendez, Cyborg and the Showtime deal (BleacherReport.com/MMA) "I think we can do both. We will find girls. There's girls around the world that will come to fight her. I think there's some girls that can be competitive with her. She's a tough girl. There's some guys that probably would want to fight her, right? She's a beast. At 45, she's pretty much dominated that division for awhile now. She said she wants to go to 35 to fight the girls. But personally, I'm not sure she can make 35. She's talking about fighting at catchweight first." - Jim Genia's 2011 holiday wish list (MMA Convert) I wish promoters would stop giving Jens Pulver fights. At this point, it's clear the former UFC lightweight champ isn't angling so much for a graceful retirement as a painful and debilitating permanent exit from the cage. Which means it's up to the promoters of the world to stop giving Pulver fights. Yes, he's beloved and charismatic, and at one point his name was synonymous with "stand and bang". But alas, those days when he could be competitive - and take a punch - are gone. So please, anyone out there with matchmaking duties, just cut it out. Let the man ride off into the sunset in peace. - The Daily Line: Knockout of the Year (Fightline) 2011 has been a huge year for MMA, both in terms of growth and the sheer entertainment value of the fights that have been waged. Over the next week, FightLine will take a look at the best performances turned in over the last year before the apocalypse.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, year, girl

Women’s MMA Thriving With or Without Gina Carano

Gina Carano is still a star in the world of MMA, but the women's divisions have moved on without her and they continue to pull ratings and attract new viewers with each event.

Posted in: mma, women, carano, gina, womens divisions

MMA Link Parade

- MMA fighter dead after agreeing to spar on forum. [Middle Easy] - Gifts for the MMA fan who has it all. [Sports Illustrated] - MMA GIF Party: The 10 greatest GIFs of 2011. [Cage Potato] - Pair of prelim bouts added to Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine card. [Five Ounces of Pain] - Cain Velasquez knows he "blew it" against Junior dos Santos. [LowKick] - 2011 holiday wish list. [MMAConvert] - Ricardo Lamas steps in to face Dustin Poirier at UFC 143. [5th Round] - 10 UFC rematches to make in 2012. [Bleacher Report] - Top 10 biggest MMA upsets in 2011. [The Fight Nerd] - Dan Hardy doesn't like Matt Hughes, told Lorenzo Fertitta he wants to fight him. [MMA Mania] - Dominick Cruz worked hard for TUF 15 coaching spot. [Sports Illustrated] - Fuel TV planning UFC marathon On New Year. [MMA Payout] - Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal medical suspensions. [Fightline] Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, matt hughes, mma fan, lorenzo fertitta

Now that UFC has signed the 'future of Russian MMA' let's see what Azamat Gashimov is about

So far we're 100% accurate in our picks of 'Russian fighters we need to hype up before they hit big.' Early last year, we told you about a guy named Alexander Shlemenko that had the power to back fist both time and space. Since then, he's gone 10-1 in his MMA career with his only defeat being a unanimous decision against Hector Lombard for the Bellator middleweight title. We'll hopefully see the rematch at some point in early 2012. However if Shlemenko doesn't claim Lombard's title, Russians across the world can still live vicariously through another one of their local MMA imports. According to MMADiehards, the UFC has signed the undefeated Azamat Gashimov to slap around their bantamweight division for the immediate future. Gashimov is 7-0 with only one of his fights going to the judges. As what we traditionally do when we introduce a Russian fighter to our audience, here's a highlight video with really loud rap music in the background. [Source]

Posted in: mma, russian, gashimov, azamat gashimov, russian mma

The Best MMA Writing of 2011: Jordan Breen on Ian McCall Through the Lens of Shakespeare

The world of MMA journalism is often shunned, and criticized for its lack of diligence, and (at times) candor. Such criticism should not be ignored, but nor should we embrace the cynicism directed at our adolescent institution. This year was a good year to affirm as much. The Best MMA Writing of 2011 is not just a retrospective on some of the most interesting stories of the year, but a look at the valuable architects of disclosure, and calligraphy in our growing community. "Oh, Sherdog? Love you guys," he says, smiling through his cotton mouth. "Too bad you've got a bunch of Japanese fighters ahead of me in your rankings." - Ian McCall Jordan Breen's feature on the currently #1 ranked Flyweight in the world starts off on the same quixotic note McCall himself seems to operate on. Within the first page we know a few things about the man set to face Demetrious Johnson for the four-man UFC Flyweight tournament, slated for March 3, 2012 at UFC on FX 2. He loves his handlebar mustache, he loves his chihuahuas, and for some strange reason that I absolutely have to question, he loves John Leguizamo's rendition of Tybalt Capulet in Romeo and Juliet Casual viewers of the WEC might find the presence of McCall in any kind of upper echelon perplexing. When he fought a completely unheralded Charlie Valencia, the beating he took was a caricature of one. Tossed halfway across the cage with a suplex that ended up looking more like a catapult, Ian would end up getting choked out in the first three minutes of round 1 at WEC 31. It's the only loss that feels like a real stain on his record. His only other loss is to the current and reigning BW champion, Dominick Cruz. Meanwhile, he's climbed to the top at 125 while one legend has faded (Mamoru Yamaguchi), and the man to dethrone him (Yasuhiro Urushitani, who will also participate in the UFC tournament) has taken a backseat in the rankings to McCall, and the man he beat to vault him to the top in Jussier de Silva. McCall's deliberate pace and well rounded game feel like a far cry from a man nicknamed "Uncle Creepy", who was once an addict, and who got married on impulse. But it's also a reflection of how he's changed: a story documented brilliantly by Jordan Breen who doesn't get the opportunity to write as much as he should. Below is an interesting anecdote that could very well be the impetus for the UFC's flyweight tournament. But please read the full article here. "Hey! Where is my weight class, Sean Shelby?" McCall shouts, as he is having his hand wraps cut off, calling out the UFC matchmaker in absentia. Perhaps McCall’s personality is rubbing off on me. I decide to call his bluff, and I hand him my cell phone, with a blank text message open to Shelby. "Here’s your chance," I say. McCall is undaunted. As soon as his hands are free of tape and gauze, he types away. "Hey, pal, it’s Ian McCall ... give me my weight class." "Hey, Jordan," a voice says behind me. I turn around, and there stands McCall’s father. I am completely confused as to how he knows my name. "Oh, my dad is the coolest," he says, boasting. "He’s been reading Sherdog for 10 years." Ian McCall’s family members are not just Ian McCall fans; they are MMA fans.

Posted in: ufc, mma, year, mccall, ian

Watch the top 10 MMA knockouts of 2011

There were many great fights and submissions this year, but nothing gets fans riled up like a knockout. Here's top 10 MMA knockouts of 2011.

Posted in: mma, submission, year, knockout, knockout heres

Women's MMA News and Notes: McMann vs. Akano, Fujii Returns, Carano's Future

Filed under: DREAM, Strikeforce, Bellator, NewsDespite a shortage of talent, the interest in women's MMA seems to be stronger than ever, thanks in large part to Cris Cyborg, Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate. Still, there are other talented women making headlines out there, and they deserve some of our attention too. Below is a roundup of news and notes from the world of women's MMA. * ProElite has signed an intriguing 135-pound fight for its upcoming card on Jan. 21 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Sara McMann, the 2004 Olympic silver medalist who has compiled a 4-0 MMA record thus far, will meet top-ranked Hitomi Akano on the undercard of the event headlined Kendall Grove vs. Ikuhisa Minowa. The 31-year-old McMann defeated Raquel Pa'aluhi via third-round submission in the first ProElite show back in August. Akano, who famously lost to an overweight Cris Cyborg in an Aug. 2009 Strikeforce bout, enters the fight with an 18-8 record and riding a two-fight winning streak. She recently defeated Roxanne Modaferri via unanimous decision in July. * Megumi Fujii (pictured), one of the best pound-for-pound female fighters in the world, has agreed to meet Karla Benitez in the first-ever DREAM women's bout. The fight will take place on the promotion's New Year's Eve show, which is being dubbed "DREAM - Fight for Japan: Genki Desu Ka! New Year! 2011." Fujii (24-1) is 2-0 since suffering the first and only loss of her career to Zoila Gurgel at Bellator 34 last October. Benitez (6-1) will enter the bout looking to get back on track after losing her first pro MMA fight in her most recent bout in October. * Speaking of Gurgel, the Bellator 115-pound champion, who underwent knee surgery to repair a torn ACL several weeks ago, tweeted recently that she is healing "ahead of schedule," and if things keep up this way, she could be back in action in approximately five months. * "Haywire," starring Gina Carano, will be released in theaters on Jan. 20, so that means expect to see a whole lot more of Carano in the coming weeks. Which leads us to ... * Carano is featured in the latest edition GQ Magazine. More on that here. Now, if you're wondering whether Carano will ever fight again, we asked Stephen Espinoza, the new EVP and GM of Showtime Sports, who also used to be Carano's a lawyer, that very question on Monday's episode of The MMA Hour. "I've actually been trading calls with Gina," he said. "She's really, really focused on the film, on 'Haywire.' She just smiles and winks. You know her well enough. She's got that sort of mysterious wink once in a while when she sort of says, I don't know, but will sort of wink and you kind of feel like there's something else there. But I know she is, in her heart, a fighter and always has that urge, just like any boxer does or anyone that is really committed to the sport. So if there is any opportunity to do so, I think you could see her [fight again] pretty quickly." * It feels like Rousey, who is still pushing for a fight against Miesha Tate at 135 pounds instead of Cris Cyborg at 145, continues to break barriers everyday. For example, she was a guest on Joe Rogan's popular podcast, "The Joe Rogan Experience," on Wednesday, which most MMA fighters can't say, let alone any women's MMA fighters. You can watch/listen to the show here. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: fight, mma, women, carano, miesha tate

K.J. Noons Thinking About His Future, but Not Considering Quitting

Filed under: StrikeforceThere was some talk before K.J. Noons fought Billy Evangelista on Saturday night that he might be contemplating quitting MMA. But with his victory over Evangelista in hand, Noons said people misunderstood his comments about retiring. Noons said on The MMA Hour that he is thinking about retirement -- but only in the sense that he has to be smart enough to know that he won't make enough money in MMA to live on for the rest of his life, and that future planning is important. That doesn't mean he's currently considering quitting MMA. "I love my job, fighting. But there is a life after fighting. I'm still young, I still want to fight, don't get me wrong on that," Noons said. "There's a life after fighting. It just made me think when I got married -- it's hard to make a living on fighting, and some guys in their young 30s, their knees are busted up, they have all these surgeries, they've got bulging discs, they've had all these injuries and they can't even do normal stuff in their mid-30s. That's all I was thinking of, I need to build something because I can't retire off MMA purses, at least not the purses I make." Noons said he'll continue fighting in Strikeforce and hoping to get better, and he said he's fine with fighting in Strikeforce rather than getting called up to the UFC -- even though he's envious of the Fight of the Night bonuses that the UFC gives to the fighters who put on the best performances, something that Zuffa hasn't yet implemented in Strikeforce. "I want to get better as a fighter, stay busy and just see where the cards fall," Noons said. "The only thing I'm missing out on is not getting the Fight of the Night every time I fight -- those bonuses, I'd be a wealthy man now." One thing Noons is not focusing on is a return to the boxing ring. In 2008, Noons vacated the EliteXC lightweight title to pursue a career in boxing, but Noons said that Zuffa won't permit him to do both, and that he's perfectly content sticking with MMA. "I love boxing, they just won't let me box right now. We'll see in the future," Noons said. "Hopefully in the future I can box again. ... I definitely get better paydays in MMA right now." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: fight, mma, future, noon, he

MMA Link Club: Shocking Upsets, Brutal Finishes, and a Holiday Wish List

- Top 10 Biggest MMA Upsets in 2011 (TheFightNerd)"Everyone loves to see the underdog win, especially because they never expect it. In MMA, unpredictability is a constant variable that truly makes it one of the most exciting sports out there. Sometimes, it’s not even the underdog, but rather the fighter that most thought had zero chance at all to win, let alone survive the fight. As this year wraps up, it’s time to look back and see who were the biggest underdogs that shattered

Posted in: mma, ’s time, underdog, mma upsets, mma unpredictability

2011 Holiday Wish List

The holidays are upon us, and whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa or Tiamat’s birthday (dust off your old Monsters Manual, son; she’s the queen of the Chromatic dragons), it’s hopefully a time for giving and receiving. Well, I’ve given a lot to the sport of MMA this year – a book on underground fighting, articles for MMA Convert four to six times a week, blog posts on the local MMA scene and enough Tweeted results from live shows to sink a battleship. Plus, I painstakingly sat through every episode of the Ultimate Fighter, and my monthly bill for UFC pay-per-views is through the roof. I think it’s time I enumerate to Santa exactly what it is I wish for in return. And yeah, sure, the obligatory “peace on Earth, goodwill towards men” should be on there, but this is my list, dammit. Ultimately, I don’t think jolly Saint Nick/Hanukah Harry/Zeus/the Great Pumpkin cares. -I wish promoters would stop giving Jens Pulver fights. At this point, it’s clear the former UFC lightweight champ isn’t angling so much for a graceful retirement as a painful and debilitating permanent exit from the cage. Which means it’s up to the promoters of the world to stop giving Pulver fights. Yes, he’s beloved and charismatic, and at one point his name was synonymous with “stand and bang”. But alas, those days when he could be competitive – and take a punch – are gone. So please, anyone out there with matchmaking duties, just cut it out. Let the man ride off into the sunset in peace. -I wish MMA would get sanctioned in New York. Don’t get me wrong, I love underground fight shows. But there comes a time when you look around at the other states with athletic commissions and wonder how the in the hell your supposedly “progressive” state is so behind when it comes to sanctioned mixed martial arts. Seriously, it’s embarrassing. I want a UFC at Madison Square Garden, a Strikeforce at Nassau Coliseum, a Bellator in the ballroom at the Crowne Plaza in Times Square and a Ring of Combat at the Beacon Theater. Is that so much to ask for? -I wish “Big Nog” would tap more often. Yes, I get it, the Brazilian legend is so durable, not even getting run over by a truck as a child can slow him down. However, watching the man get his arm snapped, and knowing that he’s going to need so many pins and screws to put it back together that he can legally be considered a cyborg… that’s… that’s too much. And I say this is a fan. Dude, just tap next time. -I wish for more cheesy C-grade promotions on pay-per-view. Remember Moosin? MMA Pit Fight? All these one-off pay-per-view offerings that cost like 24 bucks a shot, they’re good for weekends when there’s no UFC soaking up your dollars. And they’re GREAT for laughs. I swear, I think Bas Rutten was drunk when he commentated for Moosin. Or at least he should have been. -I wish for good health for Daniel James Miller. UFC middleweight Dan Miller’s son Daniel James was born with a host of medical issues, and like a trooper (and like his dad would in the cage), the little guy has been battling them back. To help defray some of the costs of his treatment, Zuffa ponied up, and Dan Sr.’s team helped out with a fundraising seminar – all of which is a credit to the MMA community. But in the end, I just want Junior to keep smiling. And folks, I’ve seen his smile. It’s precious. -I wish for a fresher TUF. Supposedly, with the UFC’s marriage to FOX, we’re going to get this. Supposedly. However, if we get more lameness… I might just go Travis Bickle on the FOX studios. -I wish some UFC lightweights would pay Strikeforce a visit so Gilbert Melendez can be challenged. Right now, the only person on the Strikeforce roster who has a chance at defeating Melendez is Cris “Cyborg” Santos. And the word on the street is Scott Coker offered Melendez that fight and he wisely turned it down. (Just kidding.) -I wish for Eddie Alvarez and Mike Chandler to rematch. I love Bellator’s whole tournament motif. To death. But they caught lightning in a bottle with Alvarez/Chandler I; that rematch needs to happen immediately.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, time, melendez

2012 World MMA Bantamweight Scouting Report: #4 - Josh Hill

Photo by MMANewsCanada.com Name: Josh Hill Nickname: -- Age: 25 Height: 5' 6" Location: Stoney Creek, Ontario With an ever-growing fanbase that supports MMA, even at the local level, it's no surprise that Canada consistently produces quality talent. Established regional MMA promotions and an abundance of training facilities allow the region's aspiring UFC fighters to train and compete at a high level, and the UFC has taken notice by plucking many of the talented fighters in the region to fill out their event rosters. Hailing from Stoney Creek, Ontario, 25-year-old bantamweight prospect Josh Hill (7-0) could be the next prospect in Canada's regional scene to get a phone call from UFC matchmaker Joe Silva. Over the course of only two years in the sport, Hill has compiled seven wins and no losses, maintaining an unblemished record while defeating notables Federico Lopez, Darin Cooley, and Diego Wilson in 2011. His success is directly rooted to his work ethic and well-rounded skills. He possesses a speedy Muay Thai striking game, a strong physique, excellent conditioning, and powerful wrestling. It's quite the package in comparison to some of the other prospects we've already covered on the countdown. While he lacks the submission skills to threaten consistently on the mat, he more than makes up for it with brutalizing ground and pound and a relentless pace. The most obvious flaw in his skill-set is his lacking power. In seven bouts, he's finished only three of his opponents, two by way of technical knockout. His grappling prowess on the ground isn't of the highest regard either, but he has shown a propensity to work toward full mount versus sitting in guard and trying to batter his opposition. That's a plus, especially since he possesses much better cardio than most of his competition. Added with his strength, Hill can be a juggernaut on the ground in the late rounds of a fight. Hill trains out of Iron Tiger Muay Thai in Stoney Creek , which houses 2011 Scouting Report prospects Denis Puric and Adrian Wooley alongside Bellator veteran William Romero. Wooley, who was a Canadian national wrestler, is a significant asset to Hill, and he's likely one of the main reasons why Hill is so effective in the takedown department. If Hill can find a way to develop some power and a threatening submission game, it's hard to see Hill fighting in the regional scene for much longer. A couple of recognizable wins on Hill's record in 2012 will easily get him the bigger contract he deserves. Video footage of Josh Hill after the jump... FlyweightBantamweightFeatherweightLightweight #1 - #2 - #3 -#4 -#5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - Josh Hill#5 - Fabiano Fernandes#6 - Claudio Ledesma#7 - Sirwan Kakai#8 - Kyoji Horiguchi#9 - Leandro Hygo#10 - Pedro Munhoz #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - WelterweightMiddleweightLight HeavyweightHeavyweight #1 - #2 - #3 -#4 -#5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - Josh Hill Profile Josh HIll vs. Dennis GagneW-1 MMA 4 - March 20, 2010 Josh Hill vs. Randy Turner .Wreck MMA Fight for the Troops - December 12, 2009

Posted in: ufc, mma, prospect, josh, hill

11 for 11: No. 10 Zuffa sues New York

For years, the UFC tried to lobby and legislate and now its time to litigate. Prior to its lawsuit, it presented an economic impact study, educated the concerned that MMA is safe and brought its top fighters to the state to rally supporters. Facing a roadblock, Zuffa decided to file suit against the state Attorney General and District Attorney of New York. The crux of the lawsuit argues that MMA should receive First Amendment protection and that the New York MMA Professional Ban on the sport is unconstitutional. At this point, the defendants have until January to file its Answer to the Complaint. Only speculation, but its likely that New York will attempt to dismiss Zuffa’s lawsuit. If this occurs, what would Zuffa do next? We should see in 2012.

Posted in: mma, zuffa, york, lawsuit, rally supporters

Chad Griggs Set to Make UFC Debut in 2012

MMA's most famous mutton chops are heading to the Octagon. Heavyweight, Chad Griggs, is among several fighters to jump ship to the UFC as Strikeforce phases out its heavyweight division, as MMA Weekly reports that he has signed a new UFC deal: 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. Griggs first popped up on the radar of MMA fans in late 2010 in when it appeared he was being served up on a silver platter to ultra-popular former pro wrestler, Bobby Lashley at a Strikeforce event. Instead, the "Grave Digger" proved he was anything but cannon fodder, battering Lashley, exposing his lack of cardio, and forcing him to quit on the stool after two rounds. Griggs followed that up by TKOing highly-touted prospect, Gian Villante, in under two minutes, and then forced Valentijn Overeem to tap to strikes in just over two minutes last June. Although Griggs doesn't train with a notable team or gym, and doesn't hold any flashy rankings in BJJ or college wrestling titles, his go-for-broke style and distinctive look have earned him a cult following, which he hopes will carry over as he makes his UFC debut some time in early 2012. No opponent or date has been confirmed for Griggs's debut, but we'll keep you update as soon as that news breaks.

Posted in: ufc, mma, ufc debut, debut, grigg

2011 The Year in MMA: The Fall of the Old Guard

How will we remember 2011 in Mixed Martial Arts history? So much happened in our sport this year, from huge business moves to epic fights to legends falling. Here, we'll attempt to recap some of the biggest stories of the year and figure out just how to define MMA in 2011. As I look back over the MMA landscape of 2011, one of the stories that most sticks out to me is the fall of the old guard. Time and again over the past 12 months, we saw veterans of the sport fall and fall hard - the old guard replaced by the newer, younger, faster models. Of course, this is not an overnight process, as we've seen these things for the past few years, but 2011 felt like the year these moments all came together. Think of the legendary, unbeatable Fedor Emelianenko collapsing face first into the mat after a Dan Henderson punch. Think of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira looking in disbelief at his mangled arm while Frank Mir calmly walks away. Think of the look of pure shock and confusion on the face of Randy Couture as he fell to the mat, victim of a Lyoto Machida kick that was simply unfathomable during most of The Natural's career. And think of men like Matt Hughes, B.J. Penn, Mirko Cro Cop - three all time greats who, if not "retired", at least hung up the gloves for awhile after hard loses in 2011. This isn't the first time we've seen this in MMA, and it won't be the last. This group who faded away in 2011 was really the 2nd wave of MMA, and many of them made their names in the sport by defeating the 1st wave - the MMA pioneers - roughly 10 years ago. Back then, it was Royce Gracie being beaten down over 90 grueling minutes by Kazushi Sakuraba, Pedro Rizzo leg kicking Dan Severn into submission, Tito Ortiz establishing his dominance over Ken Shamrock. Today, all of those winners are at the very end of their own careers. Which brings me to one man. The man who, in many ways, defined that 2nd wave of fighters, at least for the UFC. And the man who defined that 2nd wave again this year. I'm talking about The People's Champ, The Huntington Beach Bad Boy, the former UFC Light Heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz. Tito Ortiz is a legend of the sport who looked to be finished before 2011. A grueling series of fights and a non-stop assault of injuries had slowed Ortiz down considerably, and it looked like 2011 would finally be the end of the ex-champ. But Tito Ortiz would not go into the night so quietly. At UFC 132, Ortiz pulled off the upset of the year, submitting Ryan Bader in the first round. That led to what was, for me at least, the emotional highlight of the year, as Ortiz dug out the old trusty shovel and body bag, and laid Bader to rest. It was a huge moment for anyone who has followed this sport since the days of Ortiz's UFC dominance, and a highly charged display from the notoriously emotional Ortiz. It wouldn't last. Mere weeks later, Ortiz had lost again, stopped by a nasty Rashad Evans knee to the sternum. And to wrap up the year, Ortiz was defeated once more, this time by Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 140. That fight ended with Ortiz grasping his side and grimacing in pain - an image that truly encapsulates this year for the fighters of Ortiz's generation. Still, Tito Ortiz (and let's not forget Minotauro here too) showed that, despite becoming holdouts from a bygone era in MMA history, that old guard keeps kicking, and remains dangerous. How much longer will we see anyone from that era compete? The clock is winding down, and 2011 definitely sped up that process. So as we look back at the year, we can remember the loses these men endured - but it's important also to remember the great heights they once reached that brought them to this point. Yes, we remember Fedor vs, Henderson, but also remember Fedor vs. Kevin Randleman. Remember Minotauro vs. Bob Sapp. Remember Matt Hughes vs. Frank Trigg. Remember the greatness these legends gave us over the years, and be thankful for having had the chance to see them do what they do best. Check back all week for more of 2011 in MMA History.

Posted in: ufc, mma, ortiz, sport, year

2012 World MMA Bantamweight Scouting Report: #5 - Fabiano Fernandes

Photo by Jungle Fight Name: Fabiano Fernandes Nickname: Soldado Age: -- Height: 5'9" Location: Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil This is a guest post by Rory MacLeod (smoogy) Fighting out of the Niteroi region of Rio de Janeiro, Fabiano Fernandes (3-0) is one of the young, emerging benefactors of a rapid explosion in interest for Brazilian MMA. Training under the colorful Muay Thai instructor Heggas Zulu, Soldado has quickly made a transition from conquering the local amateur kickboxing circuit in Niteroi to providing dominant performances in some of the biggest MMA events in Rio. Fabiano's main mode of fighting is to post up at a distance and counter his opponent's offense with his orthodox power Muay Thai. As an experienced kickboxer with good conditioning, he has the composure and quickness to check incoming strikes, but it's his uncanny takedown defense and stifling top control that really impress. A combination of strong hips and sound technique mean that most of his opponents' shots end up with Soldado on top, using his wide base to hold the position and pound his victims into submission. And if they do escape back to their feet, Soldado's high-paced barrage of punch-kick combinations forces them back to shooting for increasingly desperate takedowns. While it remains to be seen how he would fare against a great wrestler, Soldado's imposing skill set has seen all his fights end via TKO from mount. With his effective style of MMA, Fabiano has toppled more experienced grapplers like Janailson Lima (23-13) and attracted the attention of Brazilian MMA luminary Wallid Ismail. The BJJ legend placed him on October's Jungle Fight 33 card held in the infamous City of God district of Rio, where Soldado recorded another dominant TKO victory. Such a performance surely deserves an encore? With Jungle Fight Bantamweight Champion John Lineker (19-5) rumoured to be vacating the title, an extended run in Brazil's biggest fight series seems like an ideal opportunity for an overachieving 135lb fighter like Fabiano. Considering how quickly he's established himself as a force on the Rio circuit, chances are it won't be long before Soldado is fighting for the title. Video footage of Fabiano Fernandes in action after the jump. FlyweightBantamweightFeatherweightLightweight #1 - #2 - #3 -#4 -#5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - Fabiano Fernandes#6 - Claudio Ledesma#7 - Sirwan Kakai#8 - Kyoji Horiguchi#9 - Leandro Hygo#10 - Pedro Munhoz #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - WelterweightMiddleweightLight HeavyweightHeavyweight #1 - #2 - #3 -#4 -#5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - Fabiano Soldado vs. Atila LourencoJungle Fight 33 - October 22, 2011 Fabiano Soldado vs. Janailson Kevin Pereira Lima Fatality Arena - January 24, 2010 - Debut

Posted in: fight, mma, fernande, fabiano, soldado

7-1 Frenchman Arnaud Lepont discusses fighting in Thailand, future of SE Asian MMA

Arnaud Lepont is a French fighter with a 7-1 record who has been living and fighting in Asia for the past few years. After moving to Bangkok in 2011 he has rapidly become one of the stars of the recently formed DARE Championship and a name to watch in general. In his first fight for DARE he blasted through top Malaysian fighter Jian Kai Chee in less than a minute and he will be back in action on January 7 when he takes on another top Thai fighter in Krzysztof Hajtalowicz. Hajtalowicz, originally from Poland but now based in Chiang Mai, submitted the previously unbeaten Wiktor Svensson in the second round of his DARE debut and this clash is one of the most eagerly anticipated in Thai MMA history. Lepont took time out from his training to talk to Fighters.com about the upcoming fights and his experiences of living and training in Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia: When did you start learning martial arts and why? I started martial arts when I was five years. As a boy I was rather exuberant with an overflow of energy. My father decided to enroll in karate classes to channel the overflow. This is the best decision that my father took me. I do not think I’d be where I am today a time had he not made this decision for me. Why did you decide to fight MMA professionally? After winning the French Pancrase Championship. I won my four fights by submission in the first round, one against a good friend from my own team who is now the champion of a high level promotion in France call KOC…I’m proud of him. I heard that it is doing good. Winning this tournament was like the unlocking process to become professional. A couple of years later I faced the new French Pancrase Champion champion in a Shooto fight in Belgium and got the submission in the first round by triangle choke. Was it difficult to find fights in Europe back in 2007? Yes, for sure. First because MMA is still yet illegal in my own country of France and a year ago we were taking the road to fight in England, Germany…it was weird. People were looking at us like underground fighters… Why did you move to Asia? I did several years of “back and forth” and the more time passed, the more I longed to stay there. Life in Asia is very different but it suits me better. I initially started my gym in Vietnam. Unfortunately my associates had troubles with the law and I was included in their problems because my gym was under their license. I did nothing wrong but I was asked to leave the country. I lost everything and many people I called “My Family” have turned their backs. I was fortunate to come across great people when I arrived in Thailand, there are just over a year ago. I went back to training and as fate would have it I ended up signing with DARE FC. You train at a lot of different places, why is that? Because I don’t believe in the superiority of one camp. I think that if you want to improve yourself and get better, as a fighter, you have to share experience. That’s why I train in 13Coins and Phuket Top Team in Thailand and MuayFit in Malaysia. And believe me, I feel I’m a way better fighter now. How did you enjoy fighting for DARE? What did you think of the show? I love DARE! I love the MC Jon Nutt who I think he’s one of the best in the business. Jussi (Jussi Saloranta, the promoter) put in his show something new that everybody was waiting for. It’s like watching an interactive video game. Fights are not enough to make a good show, everything is important and living the DARE experience is unique and epic. Is it true you are moving to Malaysia soon, can you tell us a bit about that? Yes. It’s true. My friend Paul Teo has the will to build the first professional MMA team in Malaysia and he will bring in it some of the best fighters in Asia like Eric Kelly, Isamu Himura, and Kai Chee. I am already 31 and you know, my time is now, I still have dreams as a fighter. I want a shot at one of the big show - ONE FC, DREAM, or the UFC! You have spent a bit of time in Malaysia lately, who are the fighters to look out for there? There is a lot of good fighters. Some of these guys will emerge and will become the next step of MMA in Malaysia. Guys, keep a eye on Peter Davis, Jian Kai Chee, Samir Mrabet, and Allamurad “Pretty Boy” Karayev. What are your thoughts on your next opponent, Krzysztof Hajtalowicz? Cris is a nice guy. I have a lot of respect for him. I think he is maybe the next big fighter to come out of Thailand. His ground is deadly and his will is tough to break. I hate to face someone I like. But I have to stop him now. He is improving every day. We gonna have a drink after the fight but in the cage, will be a war… For people who aren’t familiar with DARE can you tell them a bit about how it is different from other MMA shows? DARE thinks that the fights are only a part of the show. All has to be entertaining! It’s a real experience to live. Lights, sounds…all is done to blow your mind…The cream of MMA fighters of Thailand are there. Buy your ticket for January 7…if you like MMA, this is the place to be ! With a 7-1 pro record you are probably one of the top French welterweights, what are your ambitions as a fighter? Thanks but there is a lot a really good fighter in France! Seydina Seck, Gary Kono, Gael Grimaud, and Jess Liaudin are the top of the basket of welterweight French division…but in the others, there is guys like Christophe Gauthierot, the Fernandez Brothers, the Schiavo brothers, Patrick Vallee, Bryan Rafik, Christian M’Pumbu, Cyrille Diabate, Greg Babene… I fight because I love fighting. I don’t do it for money. If you do it for the paycheck, I think it’s better to stop and become teacher. I love a good brawl. I wish at least a fight in ONE FC or DREAM or UFC…just one shot…for me and those who believe in me. And to finish my career I want to make my last fight in MMA rules in Paris, France in front of my friends. Tweet

Posted in: fight, mma, fighter, year, malaysia

Inside MMA: Alistair Overeem Talks Steroids, Greg Jackson On His Champs

Inside MMA airs live on HDNet every Monday night at 8pm ET. Inside MMA Archive More segments after the jump.

Posted in: mma, monday night, mma airs, mma archive, jump

DREAM New Year's Eve Card Update: Kazushi Sakuraba Returns to Pro Wrestling

If there's one thing you can say for Japanese MMA, it's this: they sure know how to put together an entertaining card. This year's big New Year's Eve show is the Antonio Inoki/Dream co-promoted Genki Desu Ka!! and will be headlined by Fedor Emelianenko vs. Satoshi Ishii. Now, we have a number of other fight announcements - and some are pretty fun. First up, Japanese MMA legend Kazushi Sakuraba will return to action, but for the first time since the 1990's, it will be in a pro wrestling match, not MMA. Sakuraba will team with fellow wrestler turned MMA fighter Katsuyori Shibata to wrestle against Shinichi Suzukawa and Atsushi Sawada. Sakuraba started his career as a pro wrestler training under Nobuhiko Takada before making the switch to MMA when Pride started. Good move for Sakuraba here, who has looked increasingly bad inside the MMA ring in recent years. More on the pro-wrestling side: Peter Aerts, the legendary, multi-time K-1 champion, will face Kazuyuki Fujita. And there are rumblings of a possible Mirko Cro Cop vs. Jerome Le Banner wrestling match. Back in the world of real fighting, they've also announced the sequel of sorts to one of last year's most bizarre fights. Yuichiro "Jienotsu" Nagashima, the cosplaying K-1 fighter who shockingly defeated Shinya Aoki in last year's mixed rules fight, will face Dream veteran Katsunori Kikuno. Again, the fight will be mixed rules, with a 3 minute K-1 rules round to start, and a 5 minutes Dream rules round for round 2. One last announcement: in women's MMA action, it will be Bellator's Megumi Fujii vs. Karla Benitez. The Japan MMA scene may have had a rough year in 2011, but it's good to see there will still be a night of crazy action on New Year's Eve - it wouldn't be the end of the MMA year without it! Complete card (for now) is as follows: Fedor Emelianenko vs. Satoshi IshiiDREAM Lightweight Title: Shinya Aoki vs. Satoru KitaokaDREAM Featherweight Title: Hiroyuki Takaya vs. Takeshi InoueDREAM Bantamweight Tournament Semi-Final: Bibiano Fernandes vs. Rodolfo Marques DinizDREAM Bantamweight Tournament Semi-Final: Antonio Banuelos vs. Masakazu ImanariDREAM Bantamweight Tournament Reserve: Hideo Tokoro vs. Yusup SaadulaevDREAM Bantamweight Tournament FinalTatsuya Kawajiri vs. Kazuyuki MiyataHayato Sakurai vs, Ryo ChonanMegumi Fujii vs. Karla BenitezDREAM/K-1 Mixed Rules: Yuichiro Nagashima vs. Katsunori KikunoIGF (Pro Wrestling) Rules: Peter Aerts vs. Kazuyuki FujitaIGF Rules: Kazushi Sakuraba/Katsuyori Shibata vs. Shinichi Suzukawa/Atsushi Sawada SBN coverage of DREAM: New Year! 2011

Posted in: mma, vs, year, sakuraba, rule

11 for 11: No. 11 ProElite reemerges in 2011

In the next two weeks MMA Payout will be bringing you the top 11 MMA business stories of 2011. Sure, you will dispute our rankings but its a nice review of what’s happened over a very active 2011 in the MMA business. 11. ProElite reemerges for two events in 2011 Entertainment company Stratus Media Group acquired a 95% stake in Pro Elite in June which started the wheels toward the company’s first card in August. MMA Payout had a two part exclusive with VP of Fight Operations T. Jay Thompson. In addition to Thompson, ex-Strikeforce exec Rich Chou was an important acquisition for the company. The debut card, Pro Elite 1, held the same day as UFC Rio on August 27th was streamed live on Sherdog. It was held in Honolulu, Hawaii. The card featured Andre Arlovlski, Reagan Penn and Kendall Grove. In October, it announced a multi-fight, multi-year TV deal with HD Net. Pro Elite 2: Big Guns, was held on November 5th in Moline, Illinois.Its next card is scheduled for January 21, 2012 at the same location as PE1. It will be interesting to see how ProElite does with its third event and how it will expand in 2012.

Posted in: mma, proelite, card, company, elite

Clinch Gear MMA Technique of the Week – Jab Defense, High Kick

Team Quest striking coach Daniel Woirin shows the MMAWeekly/Clinch Gear MMA technique of the week, demonstrating jab defense followed by a counter high kick to the head.

Posted in: mma, technique, defense, jab, jab defense

The Last Second MMA Christmas Shopping Guide

Hey, friends and family of Fightlinker readers. I know how this kind of thing works. You don't normally come onto this site, but you're at a loss for what to get the special MMA fan in your life. So you've gone through their browser history in the hopes that it will inspire some sort of gift ideas. The transvestite pornography site you found in there didn't help, and now you're here. Well, I can help solve your Christmas present conundrums. Here's a few gift ideas for the fight-centric people in your life: The UFC Ultimate Fight Collection 2011: Typically your average electronics box store only has crappy single UFC events or generic knockout compilation DVDs for sale, but this year the geniuses at Zuffa finally gave MMA fans something to get excited about: a collection of all the best fights from the past year. This is a no-brainer gift for anyone who loves MMA or sorta likes MMA and needs to be brainwashed Clockwork Orange style to hit that next level. At 100 bucks it's a bit pricey but considering it's 40 hours of entertainment on 20 shiny discs, it's almost too cheap to pass up. Tapped Out: Matthew Polly's latest book. The majority of MMA books out there were written by hacks, but Polly's is an exception. Documenting Polly's transformation from a hard drinking fast food eating old guy into a hard drinking fast food eating amateur MMA fighter, it's a hilarious tome that explores the world of combat sports from Russia to Thailand to Las Vegas. Team it up with his first book American Shaolin for even more reading enjoyment. An All Elbows shirt: The MMA world is awash in douchbag clothing, which sucks because it makes the laziest Christmas present - a t-shirt - much more difficult to fall back on. But if you want to get your special friend a quality shirt that doesn't look like it was puked on by a wizard, there's no better choice than an All Elbows shirt. Scramble Stuff: For the jiu jitsu freak in your life. May I recommend the Scramble Essentials shirt or the sick 'Headgi' hat? Throw in a sticker or three and you'll be getting hugs so tight they'll feel like an arm triangle. MMAliens: Much better than those Round 5 figurines which look like Downs Syndrome versions of the fighters they represent. A bit pricier, but the person who receives them can honestly say "They're collectables, not a toy!" Oldschool MMA posters: Nothing says 'Cool Grandparents' like giving your grandchild a PRIDE OWGP 2006 poster.After the jump, some presents for the women in your life! read more

Posted in: mma, life, book, shirt, gift ideas

MMA on TV

Posted in: mma, replay, pm, mavtv, hdnet

Kazushi Sakuaba Returns to Pro Wrestling on New Year's Eve

Filed under: News, JapanKazushi Sakuraba is set to participate on the New Year's Eve "Genki Desu Ka!!" card in Saitama, Japan -- as a pro wrestler. Sakuraba, who made a name for himself in the mid-to-late 90s as a pro wrestler shortly before becoming a Japanese MMA superstar under the PRIDE banner, will partner with Laughter7 teammate Katsuyori Shibata against Shinichi Suzukawa and Atsushi Sawada in a tag team pro wrestling match under the IGF banner. A familiar face on New Year's Eve, Sakuraba has competed in MMA bouts on six of the last eight New Year's Eves. Sakuraba, 42, has lost his last four bouts and hasn't recorded a victory since his win over Zelg Galesic at Dream.12 in October 2009. Better known for his accomplishments as a pro wrestler, Shibata holds an unspectacular 4-11-1 MMA record. Back on the MMA front, the promoters recently announced a women's MMA bout with Megumi Fujii taking on Karla Benitez. Fujii (24-1) has won her last two fights to bounce back from a split decision loss to Zoila Gurgel in the finals of the Bellator 115-pound women's tournament in October 2010. Benitez (6-1) fights out of Spain and is coming off the first loss of her career. The current "Genki Desu Ka!!" lineup is below. Dream Lightweight Title Bout Shinya Aoki vs. Satoru Kitaoka Dream Featherweight Title Bout Hiroyuki Takaya vs. Takeshi "Lion" Inoue Dream Bantamweight World GP Semifinals: Bibiano Fernandes vs. Rodolfo Marques Semifinals: Masakazu Imanari vs. Antonio Banuelos Finals: Winner of Fernandes-Marques vs. Winner of Imanari-Banuelos Reserve: Hideo Tokoro vs. Yusup Saadulaev Other MMA Bouts Fedor Emelianenko vs. Satoshi Ishii Hayato "Mach" Sakurai vs. Ryo Chonan Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Kazuyuki Miyata Mixed Rules Bout Yuichiro Nagashima vs. Katsunori Kikuno Pro Wrestling Matches Kazushi Sakuraba and Katsuyori Shibata vs. Shinichi Suzukawa and Atsushi Sawada Kazuyuki Fujita vs. Peter Aerts Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mma, bout, vs, sakuraba, eve

The MMA Hour With Overeem, 'King Mo,' Noons, Showtime's Espinoza

Filed under: UFC, Strikeforce, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosThe MMA Hour is back in your life once again on Monday. Here's who will be stopping by for our last episode of the year. * UFC heavyweight Alistair Overeem will discuss all that he has had to endure to get to UFC 141. * "King" Muhammed Lawal will discuss the new Strikeforce/Showtime deal and his upcoming fight against Lorenz Larkin. * KJ Noons will discuss his win over Billy Evangelista and what's next for him. * New Showtime Sports boss Stephen Espinoza will discuss the new Strikeforce deal and what to expect in the future. * MMA Fighting's Mike Chiappetta will look back at Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Mavidal and ahead to UFC 141. Plus, we'll be giving away some holiday gifts, courtesy of our friends at Round 5, so give us a call at: 212-254-0193, 212-254-0237 or 212-254-0714. 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, strikeforce, mma hour, hour

Review: ‘Raw Combat’ By Jim Genia

As we all know, Jim one of our writers, recently published the book, Raw Combat. Jim asked me to provide an honest unbiased review of the book, so I took him up on the offer. I got a free book out of it, so I figured why not. Raw Combat closely follows the underground fight scene of the New York City area. It is written in an ambiguously informal first person tone with mixes of dark and witty humor sprinkled through-out. For instance, “mother fucker” can be found on the fourth page. About half way through the first chapter you’ll clearly tell Genia writes from a place of passion. He paints rather ornate images of gritty, dirty dojos polka-dotting the city. Worn-down mats, blood soaked faces, and sheer power in victory all come to life. I personally enjoy the vernacular Genia provides. The vocabulary throughout is advanced for sure, but it’s written in a way that makes easy for inferences and the like. As Jim writes almost exclusively about events he has personally attended, both sanctioned and less than legal, I found myself surrounded by a rich scene I was not privy to in the least. These first-hand accounts are second to none. The UCL (Underground Fight league) is New York City’s premier MMA fight club. Though the events are totally illegal, that doesn’t stop fighters from fighting. Jim really goes out of his way to give first-hand interviews from the fighter’s and trainer’s mouths. Quotes rattle through the chapters from promoters, fighters, and the ever-present fighter/promoter hybrid (i.e. Peter Storm The UCL’s “founder”) These interviews are gold mines; these are people that the average MMA fan would never be able to hear speak. In the first quarter of the book, the legal issues surrounding The Empire State are looked into. I for one have always attributed MMA’s absence from New York to be the product of uninformed naysayers and the plain ignorant. I personally have never peered into the “behind-the scenes” workings of the state’s great MMA debate, but again I was afforded an insider’s perspective on the topic. Jim gives a clearly persuasive, but near entirely bias free, explanation of the issues blocking MMA’s legalization in his state. Most who know even the least of New York’s MMA struggles, know State Assemblyman Bob Reilly is the antagonist of the on-going legalization tale. A from-the-mouth rehashing of a meeting between Brian, a mixed martial artist with an omitted last name, and the sport’s Darth Vader if you will. Brian paints a surprisingly humble and respectful portrait of the one labeled villain by the sport’s fans. Though ignorant his views are, Reilly isn’t as far out and uninformed as I assumed him to be. The man illustrated in Jim and Brian’s conversation is a man with good intentions but is out of date/touch none the less. For example, Mr. Reilly seemed unaware that [Nevada] state sanctioning bodies had the power to medically suspend fighters based on injuries received during a sanctioned fight. The second and about half quarters of the book lean more towards actual underground and sanctioned fights; the images of bloodied, beaten (wo)men run rampant. Tiger Schulmann’s Mixed Martial Arts or “TSK” is sung up to basically be THE place to train throughout the city. Jim goes deeply into Tiger’s pulling off massive success while all too many others falter miserably and fade away to irrelevancy. Though members of TSK are threatened with permanent banishment from their respective martial arts school, you’re left with a sneaking suspicion that some of the fighters fulfill they’re desire to fight illegally; though, this is never explicitly stated. Tiger’s fighters are seen as a brotherhood above all else. They display unparalleled loyalty and respect to one another; Jim explains that ‘anytime a Tiger Fighter fights, he brings an audience of other TSK followers with him.’ The later parts of the book are more based on the sport’s advancement and how some of the underground guys started to get a shot at the big time, Frankie Edgar for example. He profiles a specific fighter for a chapter more or less, and I actually was impressed how much he made me care about how some no name fighter’s career was going. It was also relieving to move the book forward and keep the topics fresh. Jim odes a good job of not focusing on one person or one thing for too long. My initial thoughts before reading the book were that it would only focus on the underground aspects of MMA. I’m glad to have been wrong. My only complaints of the book are simple. The book is not written in a chronological state. I’m not saying there is anything inherently wrong with that, but it does seem to make some areas of the book hard to follow. Also, there are a lot of names. I mean a lot. Again I’m not saying Jim could do anything about it. It just makes you re-read a page from time to time to make sure you know who is who. That’s about it. I liked it over all, and for ten bucks you can’t go wrong. Pick it up, and give it a read. Why not?

Posted in: fight, mma, fighter, book, jim

Update on Zuffa vs. New York lawsuit

Defense counsel for New York has made its appearance and were granted extra time to file its answer to the Zuffa’s lawsuit. The court will allow attorneys for the New York Attorney General and the New York County District Attorney until January 11, 2012 to respond. As for the Zuffa’s Complaint, MMA Payout takes a comprehensive look at each cause of action.As many of you recall, Zuffa filed suit against the state of New York citing its ban on MMA is unconstitutional. We have taken a look at the complaint and break down Zuffa, et al.’s claims. The thresh hold issue for Zuffa’s first and most noteworthy claim in this lawsuit is whether MMA deserves First Amendment protection. In its Complaint, Zuffa goes into detail as to why it believes MMA should be protected speech. Essentially stressing the “arts” in Mixed Martial Arts. Via the Wall Street Journal: While the arts are protected, no court has ever directly confronted the question of whether athletes have a First Amendment right to be seen in action, said Barry Friedman, a professor at New York University School of Law who is representing the plaintiffs. In response to this novel argument, the Zuffa Complaint offers this: “MMA fighters participate in live events for the same reason that an actor plays a crowded hall, a figure skater skates in front of thousands of live fans, a ballerina dances at Lincoln Center, and a band plays in a packed auditorium: because they want todemonstrate their skills before a live and appreciative audience, and interact with that audience during the event. (from paragraph 123 of the Complaint) “Live professional MMA is not just a sporting event; it is also entertainment and theatre. (from paragraph 124 of the Complaint) However, opponents will counter that allowing a professional athletic sport First Amendment protection will open the floodgates of litigation for other sports to file suit on these grounds. The implication is that the protection is unfounded and the result of allowing MMA this protection would cause a glut in the judicial system. Friedman counters this argument as he states in the WSJ article that MMA should be distinguished from other sports as he compares martial arts to dancing. Breakdown of Zuffa’s Causes of Action: 1. The Live Professional MMA Ban violates the First Amendment In this claim, Zuffa argues that the Live Professional MMA Ban (“MMA Ban”) is a content-based restriction based on the perceived violent message. (paragraph 238). Zuffa points to the legislative history of the MMA Ban as reason to argue that the purpose of the ban was due to the violent content of MMA. (paragraph 240). Hence, Zuffa concludes that New York misperceives the proper message of MMA. (paragraph 242) Here, Zuffa argues that since MMA is public entertainment, it is thereby protected by the First Amendment. Assuming that the court agrees with Zuffa and that it should be protected under the First Amendment, we look to how a Court would analyze the MMA ban. Courts require that governmental regulation of speech protected under the First Amendment be “content neutral.” A “content neutral” law is one that applies to all speech regardless of its message. According to Erwin Chemerinsky’s treatise on Constitutional Law (something that all law students are familiar with), the requirement that the government be content-neutral in its regulation of speech means that the government must be both viewpoint neutral and subject matter neutral. Viewpoint neutral means that the government cannot regulate speech based on the ideology of the message. For instance, a law cannot regulate against a political ideology but not regulate its opposing view. Subject matter neutral means that the government cannot regulate speech based on the topic of the speech. Thus, a law cannot inhibit one particular subject. In these interpretations, the government is allowed to regulate speech if there is a legitimate state interest. Its plausible that New York argues that the ban was necessary due to the violent nature of the sport and the safety issues related to MMA. 2. The MMA Ban is Overbroad and violates the First Amendment In this claim, Zuffa argues that the MMA Ban is so broad that it regulates certain things that it cannot, by law, regulate. “A law is unconstitutionally overbroad if it regulates substantially more speech than the Constitution allows to be regulated and a person to whom the law constitutionally can be applied can argue that it would be unconstitutional as applied to others.” (Chemerinsky) Zuffa examines the language in the MMA Ban law and indicates how the law was drafted makes things such as attending a “UFC viewing party” or litigating this lawsuit illegal. Zuffa also cites other examples where the law can be construed broadly to make legal conduct and speech illegal. 3. The MMA Ban is Vague on the face of the law and violates the Due Process Clause “A law is unconstitutionally vague if a reasonable person cannot tell what speech is prohibited and what is permitted. Unduly vague laws violate due process whether or not speech is regulated.” (Chemerensky) Zuffa points to terms in the MMA Ban which it argues are vague. Zuffa recites relevant portions of the law in paragraph 260 of the Complaint Section 2 of the Ban states that “[n]o combative sport shall be conducted, held or given within the state of New York.” N.Y. Unconsol. Law § 8905-a(2). Both criminal penalties and civil liability are imposed upon “a person who knowingly advances or profits from a combative sport activity.” § 8905-a(3) Key terms, “combative sport activity” and “professional match or exhibition” which triggers the analysis for the ban are not defined in a way which would provides definitive guidelines. Zuffa argues that the practice of martial arts at martial arts schools in New York may or may not be affected by the MMA Ban (paragraph 262). Zuffa concludes that there is confusion in the law regarding exemptions for martial arts schools and/or clubs. In addition, while the triggering provision in the law appears to be whether an MMA match is a “professional match or exhibition,” the ban appears to restrict amateur fights. (paragraph 268). 4. The MMA Ban is Unconstitutional as it violates the Equal Protection rights of the Plaintiffs under the 14th Amendment Similar to the first three causes of action, Zuffa argues that New York does not have a rational basis for its blanket ban of professional mixed martial arts in the state. It states that New York does not articulate the reasons for the ban. While safety and messages of violence may be interpreted as the reasons for the law, Zuffa contends that these reasons fall flat since other forms of martial arts are legal in New York and studies show that MMA is a safe sport. In addition, Zuffa argues that there is no rational reason that it bans MMA even though there are other violent forms of speech (i.e., video games, violent movies and music lyrics) that are not regulated. 5. The MMA Ban is Unconstitutional as it violates the Due Process Clause This cause of action relates to the right that the Due Process Clause in the Constitution prohibits the government from “intruding on liberty without rational reason.” Here, Zuffa argues once again that the MMA Ban is vague and overbroad and does not address the purpose for the law. 6. The MMA Ban Unconstitutionally restricts interstate commerce This cause of action relates to what lawyers term the “dormant commerce clause.” State and local laws cannot place an undue burden on interstate commerce. Zuffa argues that the MMA Ban stifles interstate commerce on three fronts. First, since the MMA Ban is only a ban on professional MMA and not amateur MMA, New York may have MMA training, gyms and exhibitions but New York bars out-of-state businesses from promoting professional events. Second, the language of the law is so broad that “numerous interstate products and services” required for a live professional MMA event are barred from New York. Here, the argument is that the law does not address the perceived purpose of the law, which is to ban the “violent message of MMA” and improve fighter safety. Zuffa argues that there are no benefits to the ban and states that the ban has forced individuals to turn to “underground” MMA. It also indicates that if the perception of violence was at issue, New York could have found an alternative to a complete ban on MMA. The Complaint suggest it could have an age limit for attendance in live events. Finally, Zuffa argues that the MMA Ban could have an “extraterritorial effect” on interstate commerce as the vagueness of the statute and uncertain enforcement may leave advertisers and merchandisers to limit its exposure in the New York market. As an extension, it could burden advertisers and merchandisers in neighboring states. 7. 2001 Liquor Law is Unconstitutional as applied to plaintiffs This cause of action relates to Zuffa’s claims related to the MMA ban as the 2001 Liquor Law prohibits the sale of liquor at both professional and amateur MMA events. It follows that if the MMA ban is unconstitutional, the provision of the 2001 Liquor Law would be unconstitutional as well. It will be interesting to see if counsel for New York attempts to dismiss Zuffa’s Complaint. The lawsuit attempts to break new ground in the area of First Amendment protection and with that, we may see a motion to dismiss this case before it gets anywhere. DISCLAIMER The information in this post is opinion only. In addition, and because this is my opinion, it is not intended to be (and is not) legal advice or an advertisement for legal services. This post provides general information only. Although I encourage interested parties to contact me on the subjects discussed in the article, the reader should not consider information on this site to be an invitation for an attorney-client relationship. I disclaim all liability in respect to actions taken or not taken based on any contents of this post. Any e-mail sent to me will not create an attorney-client relationship, and you should not use this site to send me e-mail containing confidential or sensitive information.

Posted in: mma, zuffa, law, york, ban

MMAFrenzy Podcast: UFC 140, Flyweights, Women’s MMA, and More

MMAFrenzy.com presents its latest podcast, where host Steve “bsbiz” Barnes is joined by writers Chris Leslie and Bryan Robison providing analysis of this week’s MMA news and recaps of recent events.This week MMAFrenzy takes a look back at UFC 140, the addition of Flyweights, TUF 14 Finale, UFC Japan, and Women’s MMA.Click link to play, “right-click” and “Save as” to download. Episode 8.5Episode 8.5UFC 140Biggest winners (1:22)Biggest losers (6:35)Frank Mir (12:43)Jon Jones vs. Lyoto Machida (19:11)Tito Ortiz (26:44)Mark Hominick (32:51)Chan Sung Jung (36:27)Flyweights (41:49)TUF Finale (53:00)UFC Japan (1:00:14)Women’s MMA (1:08:19)

Posted in: ufc, mma, women, flyweight, bryan robison

5 Oz. MMA Link Club

Welcome back to another edition of “MMA Link Club”, Five Ounces of Pain‘s weekly smorgasbord of offerings from our brothers and sisters in the MMA community. Enjoy… Brock Lesnar Facing Illegal Hunting Charges in Canada (5thRound.com) Phil Davis Sees Rashad Evans as the “Same Old Fighter” (LowKick.com) Female Grappler Chokes Male Opponent Out Cold (MiddleEasy.com) Joe Rogan Stops by Jay Leno’s Show and Visits with Ron Paul (MMAMania.com) Sean Sherk Detained by British Special Police Due to Mistaken Identity (MMAConvert.com) Does Gilbert Melendez Truly Deserve the #1 Ranking? (BleacherReport.com) Bob Sapp Fought this Weekend and it Did NOT Go Well (CagePotato.com) And the UFC’s Newest Sponsor is… (MMAPayout.com) NSAC Head Keith Kizer Talks Differences in Blood/Urine Testing (FightOpinion.com) Would BJ Penn Come Back for a Shot at Gilbert Melendez? (MMAFighting) Jamie Varner Signs Three-Fight Deal with XFC (FightLine.com) A Review of Just-Released DVD “Warrior” (TheFightNerd.com) PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: bj penn, mma, mma community, rashad evans, xfc fightlinecom

What if, instead of snapping an arm, fighters would have to hold the submission for a solid 3 counts by the reff?

just saw a news station talking about MMA and the anchor said something about how MMA should adopt the pro wrestling way of submitting someone instead of breaking the opponents limbs off. would it still work if they could have a certain amount of counts when they are in an obvious position to break a bone as opposed to what it is now? Would it help make MMA less brutal for new viewers? Also, I just smoked le huge dubbie and it is quite possible that I have no idea what's going on right meow. I might check this shit out later and think "what was I thinking?" lol submitted by dayman1985 [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: mma, opponents limbs, idea whats, news station, arm fighters

Top Five MMA Fights of 2011: Fan’s Take

submitted by DeadFlux [link] [5 comments]

Posted in: fight, mma, fan, mma fights, deadflux

ESPN MMA's Hot Button: Who is Edgar's Toughest Test?

Every week inside ESPN.com's MMA section, two scribes debate the most pressing issues in the sport in the Hot Button. This week, Sherdog.com Administrative Editor Jordan Breen and ESPN.com's Chuck Mindenhall debate which 155-pounder has the best chance of ending Frankie Edgar's reign atop the lightweight division. With top challenger Ben Henderson on deck for Feb. 26 in Saitama, Japan, is Edgar in for his stiffest test to date against the former WEC king's boundless energy? Or, does the unrelenting offense and toughness of current Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez offer the Toms River, N.J., native his toughest task at 155? Click here to read the latest ESPN MMA Hot Button.

Posted in: week sherdogcom, edgar, mma, button, scribes debate

ESPN MMA's Hot Button: Who is Edgar's Toughest Test?

Posted in: mma, button, edgar, scribes debate, week sherdogcom

You know you are addicted to MMA when...

submitted by NewUploader1 [link] [5 comments]

Posted in: mma, newuploader

MMAterial Facts (12/16/11) : MMA Fighters and Troubles Abroad Edition

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 MMA Fighting and Esther Lin - UFC Officially Announces Return to Australia (MMA Fighting) “The organization officially announced its return to Sydney, Australia, Wednesday night. UFC Sydney, as it’s being called, will take place on Saturday, March 3, at the Allphones Arena, formerly Acer Arena, in Sydney. … The event, headlined by Thiago Alves vs. Martin Kampmann, will air on FX in the United States on Friday, March 2, due to the time difference in Australia. “ - In ridiculous NSAC hearing, Alistair Overeem is granted a conditional license (Fight Opinion) “Alistair Overeem participated at today’s NSAC meeting via phone. Keith Kizer stated that out-of-competition drug testing for both Brock Lesnar & Alistair Overeem was established on November 17th. Overeem’s drug test did not occur, as his camp replied back on November 21st (he left for Holland). Brock’s drug test was done at a hospital. Overeem ended up taking a blood test on November 23rd. It was not the test NSAC was looking for but the blood test came back clean. Overeem ended up taking the test the NSAC wanted on December 7th and the results haven’t come back yet. Overeem was quizzed about why he needed to go to Germany for testing instead of doing the testing in Holland. At this point, the commission put Overeem under oath during his testimony. … (Keith Kizer believes urine tests are more accurate than blood tests for doping.)” - Interview with undefeated one-armed fighter Nick Newell (MMA Mania) “I don’t have the same reach-around for a grip so when I actually do get a grip on you, it’s that much tighter but it is harder for me to get it because I have to reach further. I have to commit more and I think me committing when I fight, I take a lot of risks and it’s been paying off for me because I’m 6-0 as a pro with six first round stoppages and going back to my amateur fights, I’m on an eight fight winning streak all in the first round.” - Junie Browning Claims The Thai Mafia Is After Him (MMA Convert) “Im officially the biggest American patriot there is now. These other primitive countries are all about money, mafia and corrupt law enforcement. Regardless what you believe I never touched a female in theses events that occurred and my girlfriend was there from start to finish to vouch. Hitting Thai women was an excuse for them to demonize me and get some baht out of me. You all don’t understand with my name, people will use it against me. I acted like an idiot on a reality show for publicity so they are using that against me. Im sorry and I care about people more than you thank and I appreciate all the support from the intelligent people that understand that these primitive countries are trying to kill me ( Literally ) . I need help BAD! please call the US Embassy in my regards. Thank you very much everyone.” - Whoa Sean Sherk was ambushed by machine gun wielding UK police (MiddleEasy) “As he was being ferried into the area, the car he was travelling in was stopped by a roadblock and armed police swooped on the vehicle. Police had the vehicle on their database as being linked to a local man who they believe to be a key gangland figure. Sherk thought the car was being subjected to a routine stop until it turned out to involve several carloads of police officers carrying automatic weapons, including Hechler and Koch MP5 machine guns – the UK police do not normally carry guns. Having remained sat in his passenger seat because he had not understood an instruction to exit the vehicle, Sherk was dragged out by tense officers. They cuffed his hands behind his back and pulled him away where he was none too gently searched before being dumped on the floor. When a search of the car had been conducted – the officers were looking for firearms – Sherk and his driver were allowed on their way. “ - Sonnen And Muñoz Will Suspend Friendship For The Sake Of Competition (FightLine) “This is competition between Mark Munoz and me,” Sonnen said. “We competed before, we will compete again. And when it is done, it will be one more in the win column, one more trophy above the mantle, and one more for the bad guy.” … Muñoz echoes his sentiment, saying that whatever friendship he and Sonnen have maintained since their college days will be left at the cage door. … “Chael and I are friends and will remain friends long after this fight,” said Muñoz. “But make no mistake, when that cage door closes we will not hold back. We will show the world why we are the best at what we do.”" - Exclusive: Brittney Palmer Talks UFC Return, Her Fans and Fighter Twitter Beefs (Cage Potato) “The UFC Octagon Girl, who will return from a brief hiatus from the sport at UFC 140 Saturday night, spoke to us about a variety of topics including art school, her fans, fighter Twitter beefs and how she felt about winning the “2011 CagePotato Hottest Women in MMA Grand Prix” - Heavyweight Gabriel Gonzaga returning to the Octagon at UFC 142 (Five Ounces of Pain) “Former UFC title-contender Gabriel Gonzaga has won his way back into the promotion after being announced as an injury replacement for Rob Broughton. Gonzaga will face Ednaldo Oliveira at UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes on January 14 from the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In his last bout, Gonzaga (12-6) downed Parker Porter via submission in the third round.” - Brett Rogers Denied Visa, Fight with Tim Sylvia Off Dream’s NYE Card (5thRound) “According to Heavy.com, Brett Rogers (Pictured) has been denied a visa and won’t be allowed to enter Japan to face Tim Sylvia in Dream’s end of the year extravaganza. … Because the former Strikeforce heavyweight was turned away so close to showtime, Sylvia has also been removed from the star-studded card. … Rogers was released from a Minnesota prison on Tuesday after serving roughly two weeks behind bars for beating his wife at their home this past June. “ - Ovince St. Preux: I’m not scared of going toe-to-toe with Gegard Mousasi (LowKick) “It’s definitely safe to say that Mousasi is the biggest name I fought in my career,” said St. Preux. “Everyone knows he’s one of the Top 10 guys out there. He’s a great challenge for me as a fighter. He will try to impose his will with striking, but he’s one of those guys who also has a very good ground game too. With him I have to be prepared for a war in both stand up and on the ground.” … According to St. Preux, 31-3-2 “Dreamcatcher” has every required attribute to live up to the expectations of being his toughest test to date. However, OSP promises not to give Mousasi any extra credit inside the cage: … “I’ve been in some wars and what not, but I learned that there are also veterans out there who will give you a hell of a fight,” admitted Ovince St. Preux, who will mark his sixth fight under the Strikeforce banner against Mousasi. “I fought Benji Radach and went to distance with him. It was a very tough fight. Mousasi comes forward and throws a lot. With this being said, I’m going out there to show him I’m not scared of anyone.” - Check out the original call for fighters UFC ad from 1993! (TheFightNerd) “Two months prior to that ad, W.O.W. and SEG put out an application to discover fighters to compete in their event, and here is that ad! Stuffed all the way in the back of the magazine on the bottom left corner of page 69, this quarter-page ad summons the eight “toughest punchers, kickers and grapplers in the world” to compete in the “full contact, no holds barred” event.” - Brock Lesnar Facing Hunting Related Charges from 2010 Visit to Alberta (BleacherReport.com/MMA) “Lesnar and another man, according to Sportsnet.ca, were cited for offenses related to the Alberta Fish and Wildlife Act. … The offenses that the duo were charged with were the alleged improper affixation of tags, spoilage of skin and edible flesh, and possession of a controlled animal. … In short, according to twincities.com, the pair failed to tag their game, left a mule deer carcass to rot and were in illegal possession of a deer. The maximum penalty for each charge is $50,000 and a year in prison.”

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, overeem, test

this one has always been my go to answer..but what do you think the most brutal knockout in mma history was?

submitted by camthecandyman [link] [6 comments]

Posted in: mma, mma history, knockout, answerbut, camthecandyman

Gabriel Gonzaga Returns To The UFC Against Ednaldo Oliveira At UFC 142

An injury to Rob Broughton has paved the way for former UFC heavyweight title contender Gabriel Gonzaga to return to the UFC this winter. According to MMA Junkie, Gonzaga has signed a new multi-fight deal with the UFC and will take on UFC newcomer Ednaldo Oliveira at UFC 142 in Rio de Janeiro as Broughton’s replacement. The fighter has signed a new multi-fight deal with the organization and now meets fellow Brazilian Ednaldo Oliveira (13-0-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) as an injury replacement for Rob Broughton (15-7-1 MMA, 1-2 UFC) at next month’s UFC 142 event. Gonzaga’s management today announced the booking. MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) subsequently confirmed it with sources close to the event. Gonzaga is 1-0 since he was cut from the UFC following his loss to Brendan Schaub at UFC 121. There were rumors earlier this year that he was in talks to fight Fedor Emelianenko, but that fight never came together and obviously won’t now. It was also reported today that Siyar Bahadurzada and Stanislav Nedkov have withdrawn from UFC 142 due to injuries. It’s unclear who will replace them. Another report, albeit unconfirmed, claims that Paulo Thiago has also sustained an injury and will not fight in Rio. Image via Esther Lin for MMA Fighting

Posted in: ufc, mma, injury, gonzaga, multifight deal

Friday Link Club: Strikeforce ‘Melendez vs. Masvidal’ Preview, Strikeforce-Showtime Deal

Melendez Willing To ‘Go To That Dark Place’ To Take Out Masvidal | FightLine Jorge Masvidal thinks he’s a bad match-up for Gilbert Melendez | MiddleEasy Ovince St. Preux: I’m not scared of going toe-to-toe with Gegard Mousasi | LowKick Winners and Losers in the New Strikeforce-Showtime Deal | MMA Fighting Why Strikeforce Is Going to Disappear into the UFC the Same Way the WEC Did | Bleacher Report Chael Sonnen talks fight against Mark Munoz & why he won’t coach a season of “TUF”  | TheFightNerd Hot Potato: 10 Photos of Cage Warriors Ring Girl Brooke Lynette | Cage Potato Brett Rogers Denied Visa, Fight with Tim Sylvia Off Dream’s NYE Card | 5thRound Drug-testing debate: Urine vs. Blood | Fight Opinion Jon Jones takes out latest foe with spectacular spinning kick | Five Ounces of Pain Rock Star Treatment: Nick Newell interview exclusive with MMAmania.com | MMA Mania UFC 140: Payout Perspective | MMA Payout

Posted in: fight, mma, tim sylvia, ’t coach, visa fight

Sixth Ounce Podcast: Episode 10

It’s quote possibly the most professionally unprofessional Sixth Ounce Podcast we’ve done to date! Join Brendhan Conlan, Samer Kadi, and Jeremy Lambert as they start off chatting about MMA, specifically detailing the new deal between Strikeforce/Showtime and what it means for the future of MMA, certain fighters, and fans. Then we get into a more serious discussion about Dana White and his handling of social media. Finally, things lighten up a bit as we get to talking about Samer’s crush on a certain video game character, a little bit of Hollywood gossip, and reviews of the most recent movies we’ve watched. It’s nearly an hour of MMA and pop culture talk, so check it out… Download (Right Click -> Save Link As) – iTunes

Posted in: mma, ounce podcast, jeremy lambert, pop culture, hollywood gossip

Gabriel Gonzaga to Make UFC Return at UFC 142

Filed under: UFC, NewsOne-time UFC title challenger Gabriel Gonzaga is back with the UFC. According to his own Team Link academy website, the 32-year-old Brazilian has signed a four-fight deal with the UFC and will replace Rob Broughton against Edinaldo Oliveira at UFC 142 in Brazil. Gonzaga (12-6) is most remembered for his loss to Randy Couture in a heavyweight championship bout at UFC 74 in August 2007. Gonzaga last competed for the UFC at UFC 121 in October 2010 in a loss to Brendan Schaub, prompting the UFC to hand him his walking papers. Rather than fight for less money in smaller MMA promotions, Gonzaga said he would step away from MMA. But as most MMA "retirements" go, Gonzaga's absence was also short-lived. Gonzaga made his MMA return just under a year later, defeating Parker Porter this past October at a Reality Fighting event in Uncasville, Conn. Oliveira (13-0-1) has spent his entire career in Brazil and will be making his UFC debut on Jan. 14. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, gonzaga, gabriel gonzaga, parker porter

Latest UFC/MMA news and notes from around the web for the week of December 11, 2011

Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Gilbert Melendez and Fedor Emelianenko pictured above, we can all "get along." Teaming up with MMA sites like MMA Fighting, Cage Potato, Fight Opinion and The Fight Nerd, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport. This week, Lowkick interviews rising Strikeforce prospect Ovince St. Preux, The Fight Nerd gets Chael Sonnen to open up about his upcoming fight and Bleacher Report speaks with Strikeforce lightweight K.J. Noons. The full list of links is after the jump. - Ovince St. Preux isn't scared to go toe-to-toe with Gegard Mousasi (LowKick) "It's definitely safe to say that Mousasi is the biggest name I fought in my career," said St. Preux. "Everyone knows he's one of the Top 10 guys out there. He's a great challenge for me as a fighter. He will try to impose his will with striking, but he's one of those guys who also has a very good ground game too. With him I have to be prepared for a war in both stand up and on the ground." - The procrastinating fight fan's last minute holiday gift guide (Cage Potato) Pick these items up in your size and favorite color and if nobody visits you at Christmas, keep them for yourself. - Carla Esparza reflects on recent win over Felice Herrig (Five Ounces of Pain) Women's MMA and its rise in popularity can be attributed to a list of stellar competitors like Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos, Megumi Fujii, and Gina Carano. However, while certain stand-outs may receive the bulk of the public's attention there are a number of highly-talented females throwing down in the ring on a regular basis. One such fighter is Carla Esparza - Winners and losers in the new Strikeforce-Showtime deal (MMA Fighting) That news will have a wide-ranging impact on the mixed martial arts world, including the fighters, the promoters, the networks and the fans. We examine who the winners and losers are in the new Strikeforce-Showtime deal below. - Fuel TV kicking off partnership in style (5thRound) - Junie Browning wants US Embassy to save him from Thai mafia (MiddleEasy) Sigh. The saga of Junie Browning's Thailand terrorization continues so it seems. It seems that it's not just the cops looking for Junie-now according to a post on Junie's facebook page: the Thai Mafia wants to wack his Kentucky ass. - Chael Sonnen talks fight against Mark Munoz & why he won't coach a season of 'TUF' (The Fight Nerd) Fight Nerd correspondent Hiroko Yamamura spoke with UFC middleweight contender Chael Sonnen at the UFC on Fox 2 press conference in Chicago. We spoke to him about his next fight against Mark Munoz and what to expect, where he plans on taking his career next and why he does not want to coach on a season of "The Ultimate Fighter," and how he wants peoples perceptions about his fighting style to change. This is an interview not to be missed! - Keith Kizer believes urine is 'obviously' better than blood for steroid testing (Fight Opinion) Tuesday proved to be quite the day on the radio circuit if you were interested in commentary about the situation between Alistair Overeem and the Nevada State Athletic Commission over drug testing. If you didn't follow the details of Monday's NSAC meeting, read the details here. - Strikeforce and Showtime reach new deal (MMA Payout) It has been speculated for months, but it was finally made official today. Strikeforce and Showtime have reached an agreement to televise live MMA for 2012, starting with the January 7th event headlined by Keith Jardine vs Luke Rockhold, which will air during a free preview weekend for the premium cable TV network. - Interview with K.J. Noons (BleacherReport.com/MMA) "My performance of my last fight was very poor. I got beat. He (Masvidal) came and had a good gameplan. Guys' tricky to fight. He's elusive. Got that in the past and changed the camp up, mix it up, do a few different things, be a better all around MMA fighter, really changed the camp up. Now I'm ready to go for this next fight. Showcase different skills to San Diego where I train and where I live at. So I'm super excited and I'm really excited to be back on Showtime." - Review: The Principles of Unarmed Combat by Mark Jacobs (MMA Convert) Yes, traditional martial arts - the world of dojos, starched gis and Bruce Lee's "The Tao of Jeet Kune Do". It's a world many an MMA fan fled like a combative sport refugee, and yet it's a world that still exists, kept alive by the inquisitive collective mind that hungers for the answers to such martial questions as "What works in a fight?" - The Daily Line: Keeping Gilbert Melendez in Strikeforce is a mistake (Fightline) So, you're telling me that the guy who could barely contain his excitement at the prospect of joining the UFC roster back when the Zuffa/Strikeforce deal was initially announced, now all of a sudden wants to continue to compete in Strikeforce where it's been established the top-tier talent no longer resides?

Posted in: fight, mma, strikeforce, fighter, fight nerd

Greg Jackson and Chatri Sityodtong Named Among Best Coaches of 2011 by MSN Sports

MSN Sports yesterday named the top 'head coaches' of 2011 and the normal suspects were all there, Man Utd manager Alex Ferguson, Real Madrid head honcho Jose Mourinho, Barcelona's Pep Guardiola and a couple of names which will be more familiar to American fans in Rick Carlisle of the Dallas Mavericks and Scott Brooks of the Oklahoma City Thunder. There were also a couple of surprises as the Asian website named two mixed martial arts masterminds, Greg Jackson and Chatri Sityodtong. Seeing two names from the MMA world on such a prestigious list goes to show just how rapidly the sport is developing as well as the extent to which tactics and preparation are increasingly recognized as being essential to a fighter's success. Fighters from Jackson's Submission Fighting enjoyed a stellar year in 2011. Under Jackson's astute guidance Donald Cerrone cemented his status as a top lightweight contender with four straight wins, Carlos Condit moved into title contention with a knock out of the night over Dong Hyun Kim and Jon Jones (below) became UFC middleweight champion while Georges St Pierre retained his welterweight strap. The Evolve MMA team enjoyed similar success albeit on the other side of the world, most notably at ONE Fighting Championship which is increasingly regarded as the Asian equivalent of the UFC. DREAM Lightweight Champion Shinya Aoki posted three wins out of three, all with neck cranks while up and coming fighters like Eddie Ng, Zorobabel Moreira and Leandro Issa all contributed to a 90% plus win rate. Evolve MMA fighters won five out of six fights at ONE Fighting Championship and four out of four at DARE Championship. Rafael Dos Anjos also made a triumphant return to the UFC and showed off some new found Muay Thai skills to stop Georges Sotiropolous on his comeback, thanking Chatri specifically in his post fight interview. TUF featherweight winner Diego Brandao is another Jackson protegee and now that he has secured a UFC contract by winning the show big things are expected of him in 2012. There is also much expected of former WBA Super Featherweight champion Yodsanan Sityodtong (below) who Chatri took to Evolve MMA from Thailand and has turned from a world class boxer into an explosive and exciting mixed martial artist. It is interesting to note that neither Chatri nor Jackson have any professional MMA experience. Jackson founded his own martial art, Gaidojutsu, which combines rudimentary techniques from wrestling and kickboxing with basic Judo locks and then added techniques from other styles such as Wrestling, Grappling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Kickboxing. Chatri is an Thai entrepreneur and businessman who has an MBA from Harvard. He is also a blue belt under Renzo Gracie and a veteran of 20+ Muay Thai fights who trained under the legendary Kru Yodtong Senanan who appointed him as one of of only four students in the world designated as conservators of Sityodtong Muay Thai. Having founded a highly successful martial arts school in Singapore, which is home to a number of Thai trainers from the Sityodtong camp, Chatri has become an expert MMA tactician who spends hours studying footage on opponents and developing effective fight strategies. The Singapore based camp is eight years younger than Jackson's Submission Fighting and does not have as many established champions yet but the next few years will be interesting as Asian MMA continues to develop and some of the up and coming young Evolve MMA fighters start to realize their potential and showcase their abilities on high profile shows like ONE FC. All the other head coaches on the MSN list are in charge of teams and face the challenge of organizing a large group of individuals. In MMA, unlike basketball or soccer, competitors are completely alone once they step inside the cage but it is good to see a mainstream sporting website recognizing the work which goes on behind the scenes and the success that top tacticians Chatri Sityodtong and Greg Jackson have enjoyed in 2011.

Posted in: mma, jackson, thai, chatri, sityodtong

Fedor Emelianenko vs. Satoshi Ishii Poster and Promo Video on The Asian MMA Update

The biggest news coming on the Asian circuit recently was the Fedor Emelianenko vs. Satoshi Ishii fight being officially announced. They have also released a promotional video along with their poster. Check them out below: As for the poster of the event, I think this might be the first time I'm going to say this, but I think the UFC completely outclassed them with their UFC: Japan poster: Also not coming as a surprise, Tim Sylvia vs. Brett Rogers is cancelled because Rogers couldn't be granted a visa after recently being released from jail. It's still a pretty good card that features stars such as Shinya Aoki, Tatsuya Kawajiri, Bibiano Fernandes, along with Fedor Emelianenko and Megumi Fujii, two fighters who have been long time kingpins of their division. Check out the card, along with a bunch of other news from the Asian MMA region after the jump.Oh, and don't forget to follow me on twitter - @antontabuena. DREAM: New Year 2011 Fight Card: - Fedor Emelianenko vs. Satoshi Ishii- Hiroyuki Takaya vs. Takeshi Inoue [Featherweight Championship]- Shinya Aoki vs. Satoru Kitaoka [Lightweight Championship]- Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Kazuyuki Miyata- Ryo Chonan vs. Hayato Sakurai- Rodolfo Marques Diniz vs. Bibiano Fernandes- Antonio Banuelos vs. Masakazu Imanari- Yusup Saadulaev vs. Hideo Tokoro- Karla Benitez vs. Megumi Fujii There are much more news from the Asian region, so here's a quick round up: There's also this report saying that Cro Cop, or Mirko Filipovic will be on the NYE event against Jerome Le Banner. The two have faced off before, but this wouldn't be a rematch of sorts, as it might just be a prowrestling bout on IGF rules. This would be a treat for Japanese fans if it pushes through, although I personally don't like my MMA or Kickboxing bouts mixed in with my pro-wrestling. DARE FC, a new and unique promotion from Thailand just signed Daiju Takase, a PRIDE and UFC veteran who is more known for submitting Anderson Silva, before he was, you know... ANDERSON SILVA. He will face Brandon "BK" Kesler on their January 7 event, as part of their middleweight tournament. Chatri Sityodtong, the founder and head coach of Evolve MMA, got some great mainstream press coverage from MSN. He and Greg Jackson are the only representatives of MMA and were listed as 2 of the top coaches of 2011. The list includes Rick Carlisle of the NBA champion Dallas Mavericks, and top football (yes, real football) coaches, Pep Guardiola, and Alex Ferguson, among others. Speaking of Evolve, have you seen my photo galleries from their beautiful gym? The URCC will be hosting the finals of their Tribal Brawl this weekend. After battling it out on several legs of the tournament, this event will crown the best Amateur fighters from the country across several weight divisions. This could be an event that brings the next big thing in Filipino MMA. The URCC have also met recently with Jessie Rafols, and Eric Kelly, who has been having some problems that caused him to pull out of the recent Black Tie Brawl event. This would presumably be about future international bouts for those stars.

Posted in: mma, vs, event, anderson silva, fedor

Dean Lister Talks ADCC 2011 and Possible Return to MMA

There is a short list of North Americans that have achieved great things in the grappling world and crossed over into mixed martial arts. Dean Lister is one of the best, as he won multiple Abu Dhabi Combat Club submission grappling titles and went 4-2 in the UFC over a two year run. In a recent interview with Kid Peligro, Lister opened up about his run to the ADCC 2011 -99 kg gold medal and a potential return to MMA. Lister is famous for his half-guard game and nasty footlocks, yet has a surprisingly well-rounded game that comes from years and years of wrestling, sambo and Brazilian jiu jitsu all fused into a seemingly emotionless wrecking machine. All those skills made him a wunderkind in submission grappling and has led to many, many titles and medals. An Absolute title in ADCC 2003 put him on the map and he continued to pile up no-gi titles regularly, while building a mixed martial arts career as well. However, Lister did not achieve the same levels of success within MMA and may have dropped out of the minds of most fans after his lackluster loss to Yushin Okami at UFC 92 in 2008. He was released upon request from the Zuffa promotion and chose to focus on submission grappling, his academy out in San Diego and seminars. That narrowed focus turned into a surprising September march to the -99 kg title at ADCC 2011 in Nottingham. Hit the jump to see some quotes and a glimpse into why the match between BJJ phenomenon Rodolfo Vieira and Lister was a bit anti-climatic and why Lister chose not to do the Absolute, which was won by Andre Galvao, the double gold winner. (For those of you going "Kid Peligro, that's kind of an awesome name," know that it's the nom de plume of Gerry Costa, a prolific grappling writer and black belt under Royler Gracie.) Again, the full intervew with Kid Peligro is here. The part relevant to MMA is as follows: Kid Peligro - What are your plans for the near future? Dean Lister - I am about ready to finish celebrating, but I'm not going to Disneyland lol. I will have to focus on some recovery for old injuries and I will stay busy doing seminars. I soon will return to MMA because my striking has FINALLY picked up and I believe I have found my way, my style and I want to show everyone my new skills. However, I will not be used by the system or anyone else. I will find the right opportunity and make myself and my team proud. Now, sometimes MMA pundits get the idea of "Just stick 'im in Bellator/MFC/Jungle Fights and we'll see if he's ready for the big show," a bit too often. However, Lister is likely the best grappler not named Ronaldo Souza or Demian Maia at 185 lbs. His footlocks are nearly on a level with those of Rousimar Palhares. If Lister really has built up some striking and can avoid the "pull half-guard ineffectively" gameplan he stuck to against Okami and Thales Leites, this could be something. Or maybe I'm just an eternally hopeful fool who wants to see more strong grapplers with decent striking added to the rising crop at 185. Next up, the big part of the interview where the ADCC 2003 Absolute champion and 2005 Superfight champion talks about the Rodolfo Vieira battle that so many looked forwards to: KP: You told me that you were hurt, but you were going to go for it. What was your injury? And how did you overcome it? DL: It is ironic that I injured myself EXACTLY the same way that I injured Viera... I'll explain... When I heel hooked Viera on Sunday, he attempted to twist out of my attack and pulled a rib/muscle in the ribs. Haha - that is exactly, EXACTLY the same way that I hurt myself on Saturday twisting out of a heel hook aplied by Radek Turek (European Champion from Poland, very tough guy as well). I pulled a muscle in my rib and I knew it immediately right away. After I returned the favor to Radek and won by heelhook, I knew I had an injury because during the match my rib popped out and back in. I couldn't move and was difficult to breathe so I spent the superfight watching lying down on the ground in agony. I even waited for most of the people to leave the stadium before I got up and walked slowly back to the hotel, hoping no one had noticed how I was walking. I could hardly sleep cause of my rib, but in a strange way, this kind of adversity seems to focus me more than normal. The next day after icing it a lot, I had to warm it up slowly and I managed to fight and win against the best. This is the reason I didn't compete in the absolute division. But only this year. What say you? Does Lister have a chance of making himself relevant again in the North American MMA scene? He did go 4-2 in the UFC before voluntarily dropping out... As a bonus, Dean wrecking Nate Marquardt in the early rounds of the 2003 ADCC.

Posted in: mma, title, adcc, lister, kid peligro

Strikeforce & Showtime Reach New TV Deal For 2012

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

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

Where does Frank Mir Rank among MMA Grapplers Now?

Over his career, Frank Mir gave us three of the best submission finishes ever seen on the heavyweight level in mixed martial arts. I see his technical skill, obvious horsepower and respect his ruthlessness in victory, but wonder if there are caveats with his victories. Are they as impressive as they seem? Where does Mir rank among the landscape of MMA grapplers - or even within the heavyweight division itself? Despite the UFC 140 "kimura to the bitter end" being one of the finest technical submissions anywere, I cannot help but think that I would not rank Frank Mir within the top five heavyweight grapplers, much less grapplers in the sport as a whole. Submissions are not the best measure of grappling skill, despite their obvious value as fight-winning tactics. Everything from the standing footwork, clinch, takedown offense, takedown defense, positioning, instincts, strength and that little pinch of magic that the very best MMA grapplers have needs to be considered. Pure grappling is different from MMA-based grappling, as strikes tend to make a big difference in positioning and the gloves prevent full range of movement. All of that is why - in terms of MMA-based grappling knowledge and ability - I would tentatively rank Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Fabrico Werdum, Josh Barnett, Cain Velasquez and Daniel Cormier above Frank Mir. In that order, too. I would even go as far as saying that Brock Lesnar might approach Mir now that he has had a few years to work his submission defense and top attacks. At the same time, Mir figuratively has Sylvia's arm, Hardonk's arm, Lesnar's leg, Kongo's head and Big Nog's arm on his hypothetical fight trophy wall. What to make of all this success? Does this muddy the waters? Is Mir now the top dog in MMA grappling? After the jump, more discussion, more Mir grappling video and a pair of excellent videos featuring Mir's grappling coach, Ricky Lundell. Not all amazing Brazilian jiu jitsu wizards, judo Olympic medalists or college/international wrestling superstars transition their lifetimes of grappling experience to the cage well. But some do and in the heavyweight division, enough have done so that I think Mir, despite his vastly improved grappling technique, strength and skill, is still not near the pinnacle of the sport as an MMA grappler. There was long something about Mir's grappling that looks like he skips steps or flat out gets lazy with his footwork or grips. The armbar against Tim Sylvia was not a technical masterpiece. Mir's legs are nearly akimbo, Sylvia's elbow is out of Mir's control and it took the action of Mir's cup as a fulcrum for Mir's strength to snap the forearm and force Herb Dean to stop the fight. The guillotine against Cheick Kongo was quickly seized upon, yet Cheick has never displayed great submission awareness and even helped choke himself out when he moved the wrong way. Brock Lesnar was super-green and in his second professional fight when Mir kneebarred him. Look at this grappling match against Renato Sobral, a career 205 lb'er, from 2007 - a month before Mir would fight Antoni Hardonk at UFC 74 and declare himself "back". Does that look like a man who would eventually snap the arm one of the best grapplers in the sport? Not quite. There is a bit of an excuse as Mir was rehabbing from a shoulder injury - on top of the lingering effects from the motorcycle accident that nearly derailed his career - and was beaten on points. The short-lived video of Roy Nelson decisioning Mir in a grappling tournament showed how Mir could be controlled on the ground - eight years ago. Video of their first match in which Mir just about insta-tapped Nelson never surfaced, but both men agree to the 1-1 record. Although Mir could be controlled and beaten on the mats back then, he has since packed on muscle, improved his control of opponents, honed his timing and re-found the mean streak that gave him so much early success. Against Big Nog, Mir did a wonderful job of clamping onto the free arm and shifting the weight of Nog and his own in the right directions at exactly the right times. What led to the submission was not pure luck, but years of training, listening to clamoring instincts and intuitively knowing where the limbs and centers of gravity have to be. Mir has long been in charge of his own training and usually brings in training partners and coaches as he wills for his training camps. However, some of his grappling related improvement may be attributed to Ricky Lundell, a coach Mir trusts enough to incorporate his tactics, techniques and corner advice fully into his fights and preparation. Here's a decent introduction video, uploaded by Joe Lauzon, as Ricky teaches Mir, Dan Hardy and Joe a very specific set of techniques absolutely guaranteed to be awesome within the cage... Jokes aside, Lundell is one of the more impressive figures in the grappling world. The Orem, Utah product achieved his Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt at age 19 from Pedro Sauer, who received his belts from legends like Rickson Gracie and Helio Gracie. Lundell then was recruited by Cael Sanderson, NCAA Division I wrestling legend and then-Iowa State head coach, to come to the Cyclones team as a college senior and wrestle at 149 lbs. Ricky had no formal wrestling background at that point and to walk onto one of the premier programs into the country was unheard of. Lundell still has a strong connection with wrestling, as his friend, Justin Ruiz, the U.S. Team Trials winner for the 96 kg Greco-Roman division, lives in Orem and Sanderson still has a good training relationship with Lundell. Ricky and Cael demonstrating an ankle pick after Cael's move from Iowa State to Penn State, where Cael is still training national title contenders and strong, strong wrestling teams. Lundell has been relatively quiet in terms of competing in prominent competitions, yet his physical skills and technical brain have been in demand as a coach and trainer for years now. Joe Lauzon has been vocal in getting word out about Lundell's great gameplans and other lightweights like BJ Penn and Sean Sherk have worked with him in the past. The dude gets around and has a ton of good will from prominent MMA, grappling and wrestling figures following him. However, stability ball tricks and cogent coaching only goes so far. Mir has to train those techniques until they become near lizard-brain instinct and then employ them in the cage. Within his Suffer gym in Vegas, Mir has put in years of sweat and blood to get this far and the man has basically turned into a human bear trap whenever a free limb flashes by. Despite all of this and his obvious position as one of the best grapplers on the planet, I cannot help wondering if this further improved Frank Mir would be able to do the same against one of the heavyweight wrestlers. Lesnar was able to stifle any sort of bottom game from Mir in their last bout, as Kid Nate breaks down in a Judo Chop. Josh Barnett has never been submitted and has his own nasty brand of submission grappling that works beautifully and viciously within MMA, as KJ Gould shows in his own Judo Chop. Daniel Cormier was a world caliber wrestler and basically cannot be taken down by conventional means. Rumors abound of nobody being able to stand with Cain long within the training facilities. Could Frank Mir beat all of these guys on the ground like he did Big Nog? I still stand by my tentative rankings from up above, but Mir has made a career out of surprising and smashing expectations along with limbs. What do you guys think?

Posted in: mma, mir, training, grappler, lundell

Carla Esparza reflects on recent win over Felice Herrig

Women’s MMA and its rise in popularity can be attributed to a list of stellar competitors like Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos, Megumi Fujii, and Gina Carano. However, while certain stand-outs may receive the bulk of the public’s attention there are a number of highly-talented females throwing down in the ring on a regular basis. One such fighter is Carla Esparza, a Bellator veteran coming off a victory over Felice Herrig from earlier this month at XFC 15. The December 2 bout served as an excellent example of showing women possessing not only the technique to match their male counterparts but the heart/guts as well. The pair of beautiful bad-asses battled it out for three rounds with Esparza coming out with a Unanimous Decision victory. Five Ounces of Pain recently caught up with Esparza to get her take on the match-up, as well as the present, and future, of women’s MMA in general. “I knew her game had improved a lot,” explained the 6-2 Esparza of Herrig. “I know she was working on a lot of jiu-jitsu and a lot of wrestling, but I don’t think that a couple of months of wrestling are going to compare to years of wrestling.” Esparza has been grappling since her formative years, something she credits as being the source of her success in MMA. “I think a lot of it can be attributed to my wrestling background,” said Esparza. “I think it gives you a really solid base. It gives you good scrambling. I wrestled for eight years. I was a two time All-American in high school as well as in college. I think (wrestling) is not something most women have in MMA now and it’s not something they can really deal with.” As such, bringing action down to the canvas was a large part of her plan entering the bout with Herrig even though she was ready to compete no matter where things went, stating, “That was my strategy but I was prepared to stand up with her if I had to. I know she was working a lot on takedown defense so I trained a lot of Muay Thai with my coach as well just in case. (My team had) a general strategy but most fights are going to be unpredictable. You never know what your opponent is training for.” In terms of what’s next for the 24-year old, Esparza isn’t sure but does believe fans will one day see women fighting inside the infamous Octagon. “I definitely think we’ll see women in the UFC someday,” Esparza revealed. “I think the UFC will soon realize that the women put on entertaining fights and it’s something that the public enjoys.” Summing the situation up perfectly, while Esparza recognizes part of her chosen endeavor involves objectification from male fans, the rising star concluded the discussion with a statement most MMA lovers can relate to. “Keep watching. Keep supporting the women. We always bring it!” Esparza has finished four of the six opponents she’s beaten with her two losses coming to Fujii in what was only her fourth professional fight and a defeat via Split Decision to well-rounded veteran Jessica Aguilar. Interested parties can catch up with her on Twitter (@CarlaEsparza1). PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR

Posted in: mma, women, lot, esparza, ” esparza

Winners and Losers in the New Strikeforce-Showtime Deal

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

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

Study Finds Fear Runs High in Mixed Martial Artists

There was a fascinating paper that ran in Social Psychology Quarterly titled "Managing Emotional Manhood: Fighting and Fostering Fear in Mixed Martial Arts." The paper focused on how deep fear runs in even such supposedly "manly" men as mixed martial artists and the social mandate that such emotional reactions be hidden. A small sample from early in the paper: While fighters in the locker room prepared for combat in the cage, two men from the previous fight staggered in. Juan1-the victor-had shiny contusions under both eyes and made it to a folding chair where he sat staring into space. As two paramedics tried to keep him conscious, he cracked a smile with swollen lips and tried unsuccessfully to communicate meaningfully. As the paramedics carried Juan off on a stretcher, Mike-his opponent-leaned against a wall and talked with his trainer. As blood flowed from his nose and mouth, Mike began to sob. His trainer handed him a towel, which he brought to his face with shaking hands. When asked if he was upset about Juan, he pulled away the bloodied towel and said, "I don't like losing." ... Although MMA fighters' emotion management may appear unique, it reflects a long-lived cultural mandate that "real men" control their fear and other emotions (Kimmel 1996). Peers (Fine 1987), parents (McGuffey 2008), and coaches (Messner 1992) often ostracize boys who express fear, pain, empathy, and sadness. Boys learn that they are supposed to exhibit emotional restraint and "quiet control" (Messner 2009:96). As adults, men often face fear, whether at work (Haas 1977), on the street (Anderson 1999), or in leisure activities (Holyfield and Fine 1997). And not letting fear get the best of you-exhibiting bravery-is a culturally revered quality of manhood (see e.g., Connell 1995). But how do men control their emotions, and what does this have to with gender identity? More after the jump... The paper also talked about some of what motivated the fear that they faced: MMA fighters most commonly talked about fearing injury and losing. Fighters understood how painful injuries were and that serious ones could end their fighting careers, or worse. There have been two well-publicized deaths of fighters resulting from brain injuries sustained in North American MMA fights since 2007. Although interviewees agreed that, as Rocky put it, "in most cases you're going to come out of it [and] you're going to live," death lurked in the shadows of the cage. When asked what he worried about before his fights, for example, Kenneth said, "You are wondering if they are thinking of this incredible move that is really going to kill you." Dominic said, "This sport is not golf; you can't get hurt or killed playing golf." The possibility of death elevated MMA's manhood quotient. ... In addition to fearing injury, cage fighters also feared losing. Casey feared looking "like a chump in front of all these people . . . if you get knocked out at your first fight in three seconds, then that's all they will remember." Mike said, "You really don't want to let your family or teammates down," and Kenneth said, "The name of the [MMA] school is kind of riding on you. You have to represent for your school." Minutes after Dean lost a fight, he said, "I feel like shit! I came out in front of my hometown and I got tapped out in like under a minute." Buster said "the feeling of losing is the worst feeling in the world, especially when you sell 100 tickets and you have a lot of your friends and family there." Jimmy said that when a fight starts going bad: "You start getting down on yourself. Like, ‘Oh no, he's going to get the chicken wing-he got the chicken wing and it hurts. Ow! I look stupid out here. I'm losing.'" Echoing others, these men suggested that they feared losing because it made them feel embarrassed and ashamed-emotions that are antithetical to cultural definitions of manhood. It's an interesting thing to have been around the sport in various capacities and hearing how often guys talk about "nerves" and such. I actually trained with a pro fighter with well over thirty fights for a period of time to whom I confessed that I felt some degree of nerves before heavy sparring sessions, even after having sparred in boxing gyms prior to training at an MMA gym. He said that he felt the same thing even after fighting for over ten years. That the possibility of even being embarrassed in the gym never really faded for him. Even in this space that is meant to teach, where failure should provide room for improvement, the nerves still existed. It's interesting how well they captured the backstage atmosphere of fights and give a readable (but still scientific) overview of the fear driven motivations of the fighter. I seriously urge you to go give it a read.

Posted in: fight, mma, fighter, men, fear

Strikeforce and Showtime Reach New Deal for 2012

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

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

No-gi innovator Eddie Bravo wants to introduce the sport of "Combat Jiu Jitsu". Thoughts? (x-posted to r/BJJ)

The only info I can find from his on the subject is on Eddie Bravo's Twitter page (a good place to direct your questions, by the way), but I think today is only the first time he's publicly mentioned it so I'm sure more information will emerge soon. His first tweet: "Had a meeting with the California Amateur MMA Association. One step closer to Combat Jiu Jitsu!" He then posted a series of tweets as replies to further questions. I'll paraphrase what he has said so far: It will essentially be like "ADCC with punches on the ground" or "extreme no-gi" Standard grappling rules on the feet, MMA rules on the ground "full contact striking" on the ground, leg kicks to a downed opponent, and upkicks are all legal, elbows and knees on the ground haven't been specifically addressed Participants will use standard MMA gloves The goal is to provide a sport for "amazing jiu jitsu players who won't do MMA" and to better prepare grapplers to transition to MMA So what do you guys think of this idea? Sounds to me like if it catches on it would make for some very exciting fights and help to improve and develop the general state of grappling, especially for MMA. submitted by lumbugg [link] [3 comments]

Posted in: mma, ground leg, ground havent, tweet quothad, info i

ULTMMA Podcast Episode 9: Fort MMA preview with Matheus Aquino and an interview UFC lightweight Gleason Tibau

Podcast Powered By Podbean The show opens with an interview with upstart Brazilian MMA promoter, Matheus Aquino. Aquino talks about how he scouted all the talent for this his first card, his reasons for choosing each fighter, and maybe the most interesting part being his insight into how people must look beyond the fighters record to see which way a fighter is trending in his skills and development. Aquino preaches that MMA scouting requires more evaluation to know what a fighter will do in his or her next fight rather than only using their last fight as the sole source for your judgment.At the Fort MMA weigh-ins we were treated to a beachside hotel on the coast of Natal in a large room with a big block of chairs centered on the room for fighters and trainers. The weigh-in stage had a large inlaid wooden background that had a huge Fort MMA banner affixed to it. Aquino was onstage making final preparations while his assistants were getting the sound set-up and milling about. Four fighters were late to add to management frustration and was one of the many hurdles for first time MMA promoters. Podcast Powered By Podbean UFC stars arrived in full force with Renan Barao, Ronny Markes, and a gigantic 155 pound fighter Gleason Tibau made an appearance to the delight of all in attendance. Tibau spoke with ULTMMA.com spoke about his UFC career, how he cuts weight, Frankie Edgar, and his expectations for Fort MMA in Brazil. After a weigh-in with rising tension between each combatant on stage, the main event between world ranked flyweight Jussier Da Silva (11-1) and prospect Rodrigo "Indio" Santos (4-0) ended after their faceoff with a simple handshake and a hug. ULTMMA.com will be on the scene for more interviews and recap of the first ever Fort MMA event.

Posted in: mma, fighter, aquino, fort, interview ufc

ESPN MMA's Hot Button: Who is Jones' Greatest Threat?

Every week inside ESPN.com's MMA section, two scribes debate the most pressing issues in the sport in the Hot Button. This week, Sherdog.com Administrative Editor Jordan Breen and ESPN.com's Franklin McNeil debate who the most dangerous challenger to Jon Jones' 205-pound throne is. Is it his former training partner Rashad Evans, who has the key to crumbling Jones? Or, does former Strikeforce and Pride light heavyweight champion Dan Henderson's right hand represent the realest threat to Jones' divisional supremacy? Click here to read the latest ESPN MMA Hot Button.

Posted in: mma, jone, button, scribes debate, espn mmas

BloodyElbow.com Editorial Alumni MMA Roundtable: Live Video Chat With Luke Thomas and Kid Nate

Join me and the other founder of BloodyElbow.com Luke Thomas at 9 p.m. ET for one hour as we talk MMA shop. We'll stream the conversation live with the video player above. We'll talk all the hot topics: UFC 141, Alistair Overeem's drug testing issues, Brock Lesnar's health, the future of MMA coverage on SBNation and... ...whatever YOU want us to talk about. Seriously, just ask whatever even if it's about our views on media or what happens behind the scenes. We don't get to do this very often, so make it count when you can. You may also submit a question in the comments section or via Twitter: @SBNLukeThomas or @KidNate. Hope to hear from you all.

Posted in: mma, kid nate, comments section, mma shop, mma coverage

Showdown on MMA: GSP surgery a success

With UFC 140 in the history books, Showdown brings us up to date on what else is new in the world of MMA.

Posted in: mma, gsp, showdown, book, success

How's Taste My Tweet Tweet? MMA on Twitter for the 2nd Week of December

A few updates on what's been going on in the MMA Twitterverse RANDOM TWIDBITS "Just announced Wandy and Vitor as coaches of TUF Brazil! Now headed to Sao Paulo for the casting of TUF!!!!!!" -Dana White "I did it! 3 seats on the plane all to myself!! & all I had to do was push kick 2 ppl into the Isle! #NoHarmNoFoul" -Miesha Tate "Anyone need a Swagger Coach , now offering really low rates ???" -Derek Brunson "Jake Shields nominated for most animal-friendly athlete by Peta2 - vote here! http://features.peta2.com/libby-awards-2011/#PeopleAndMusic" -UFC "@JoeB135 so when are you changing ur name to @JoeB125??" -Miesha Tate There's a ton of tweets after the jump, but first, don't forget to follow me on twitter: @antontabuena Oh, and these guys are probably worth following as well: The Official BloodyElbow Twitter Account, Luke Thomas, Kid Nate, Brent Brookhouse, Leland Roling, Richard Wade, Jonathan Snowden, Chris Barton, Damon O, Scott Broussard, Tim Burke, Matt Bishop, Fraser Coffeen, Dallas Winston, KJ Gould, Matt Roth UFC 140 AFTERMATH "As I sit here as a man knowing I gave it my all in the cage on Saturday night. Makes me sad do to the loss but the support I get from my family and fans keep me focus on the next and last fight of my career. What makes us strong as humans? Knowing no matter how hard life gets. It's all a challenge to see what kind of character we have. I will fight again! #positive :)" -Tito Ortiz, a good retirement fight for him? Brandon Vera. "how long before tapout release a shirt with ebersole hair on it?" - John Hathaway "I have 2 say that I'm a big Machida fan now!" -Rampage Jackson "@Minotauromma wishing u the best. Hoping u have a full recovery & return soon. Nobody has given more of himself to this sport than u, bro." -Dan Henderson "#champion2012" -Jon Jones TWIDEOS "My recent training/living arrangements in Montreal. If u have seen it already, watch it again." -Kenny Florian, training hard, and being a really nice and fair teammate. "Is @Jonnybones AWESOMER than @TheRock? This video helps VOTE HERE if you agree: http://on.fb.me/p4g2tc" -UFC TWICTURES "First UFC poster I saw in Tokyo......@ Shinjuku station." -Shu Hirata "U Wana know what really happened to GSP's knee?" -Duane Ludwig "Look who's wearing #lytleforindiana Tshirt! Thanks @danawhite" -Chris Lytle "The champ n I @Jonnybones" -Arianny Celeste Miesha has a cool new twitter background: WATCH THOSE SKITS FROM THE WORLD MMA AWARDS 2011 "See @PhilMrWonderful and @TheDomin8r shop for great deals with @KennyFlorian" -UFC, those zings on Arianny and Jones were pretty good. and another video with Chael Sonnen and Stephan Bonnar: DANA WHITE ON THE POWER OF TWITTER

Posted in: ufc, mma, twitter, tweet, miesha

MMA Top 10 Pound-for-Pound: Jon Jones Moves Ahead of GSP

Filed under: UFCJon Jones has just completed one of the greatest calendar years in MMA history. Georges St. Pierre is in the midst of the most disappointing year of his MMA career. As a result, Jones has leapfrogged St. Pierre on the latest list of the Top 10 pound-for-pound fighters in mixed martial arts. And Jones is No. 2 with a bullet: He's getting awfully close to dethroning Anderson Silva as the top fighter in the sport, in any weight class. Considering that Jones is 12 years younger than Silva, it's only a matter of time before Jones is recognized as the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world. For now, I have Silva just ahead of Jones, and St. Pierre next. See how I rank the rest of the Top 10 fighters below. Top 10 pound-for-pound fighters in MMA (Number in parentheses is the fighter's rank in the last pound-for-pound list.) 1. Anderson Silva (1): The reckless style and killer instinct Jones has shown over the last couple years reminds me of the way Silva looked early in his UFC run. Silva is a little more cautious now, but his 14-0 record in the UFC leaves him a shade above Jones in my estimation. 2. Jon Jones (3): Jones's 2011 is the best year anyone has ever had in the UFC. In other MMA promotions, the only fighters I can recall who have had comparable years to Jones in 2011 -- in terms of staying active and earning quality wins over good opponents -- were Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in 2002 and Shogun Rua in 2005. Top-level fighters just don't fight more than three times a year these days, and for Jones to go 4-0 and beat four high-quality opponents handily, all in one year, is something to celebrate. 3. Georges St. Pierre (2): St. Pierre hasn't fought since April, and it will likely be late in 2012 before his surgically repaired ACL allows him to return to the Octagon. That's a year and a half of his prime without a single fight. That's a major disappointment for a great champion. 4. Frank Edgar (4): The lightweight champion of the world will finally get a new opponent when he faces Ben Henderson in February, after fighting only Gray Maynard in 2011 and only B.J. Penn in 2010. Edgar is the quickest fighter in the lightweight division and maybe the quickest in any division, and that should be a big edge against Henderson. 5. Jose Aldo (5): Aldo will defend the featherweight at home in Brazil when he faces Chad Mendes in January. Aldo has never fought a wrestler as good as Mendes before, but Mendes has never fought a striker as good as Aldo before. 6. Junior dos Santos (9): Dos Santos reached a big audience when he took the heavyweight title from Cain Velasquez on Fox. He'll have a huge fight in 2012 against the winner of the upcoming Brock Lesnar-Alistair Overeem bout. 7. Dominick Cruz (6): Cruz and Uirjah Faber will coach against each other on the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter and then meet in the cage for the third (and, presumably) final time in the summer of 2012. Cruz hasn't really caught on with MMA fans yet, but being featured every week on FX will introduce him to a new audience. 8. Dan Henderson (NR): Two things we need to remember when ranking Henderson on a pound-for-pound list: One is that he's the only elite light heavyweight who has also had success fighting at middleweight. The other is that one of Henderson's recent wins was over a heavyweight, Fedor Emelianenko. Henderson's ability to transcend weight classes earns him a spot on the pound-for-pound list. 9. Joseph Benavidez (NR): I've been saying for years that Benavidez would be the best flyweight in the world if he fought in a promotion that had flyweights, and the UFC's decision to launch the 125-pound class with a four-man tournament will be Benavidez's opportunity to prove that. Benavidez is 15-2 in his MMA career, with both losses coming to Cruz, despite fighting a weight class too high. He'll take on the reigning Shooto 123-pound champion Yasuhiro Urushitani in March. 10. Rashad Evans (NR): With one more win, against Phil Davis in January, Evans may finally get his chance to fight Jones. As great as Evans is, that's a fight hardly anyone will pick him to win. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mma, jone, fighter, year, poundforpound

Showtime-Strikeforce close to new deal

MMA Junkie reports that the Strikeforce-Showtime relationship may continue as Dana White stated to the web site that a deal for Strikeforce to continue on Showtime is imminent. “Showtime lives,” White stated to MMA Junkie. Scott Coker appeared on Inside MMA on Monday to talk Strikeforce: Coker didn’t reveal too much about the future of Strikeforce. According to White, Strikeforce fighters are staying put although it was rumored that Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez would move over to the UFC. Payout Perspective: The move to continue the Showtime relationship is interesting considering the amount of programming Zuffa intends to put on Fuel TV. Its also surprising with the Fox deal that there would be a need to continue with the Strikeforce promotion on Showtime. Keeping Strikeforce talent such as Melendez in Strikeforce is disappointing considering Melendez has outclassed his division in Strikeforce. Certainly, a superfight with Frankie Edgar would create some PPV buzz. One think about keeping Strikeforce is that it keeps women’s MMA. While its unlikely to see women in the UFC anytime soon, keeping the women’s divisions in Strikeforce would have Zuffa observe whether its something that fans want to see.

Posted in: mma, strikeforce, showtime, melendez, strikeforce fighters

Amanda Lucas is not going to answer any more of your Star Wars questions

Sorry Star Wars fans, Amanda Lucas didn’t become an MMA fighter to demonstrate how to use ‘The Force’ to win a fight. That would be entirely too predictable (and probably too fictional) to score her submission victories in this universe. Even the daughter of Star Wars creator George Lucas has to train Muay Thai and Brazillian jiu-jitsu to compete at DEEP in Japan. That being said, not only is George Lucas’ daughter an MMA fighter, but she’s an undefeated MMA fighter looking for a title shot in her next bout. She’s heard every possible Star Wars Joke you can possibly think up, and if you continue to ask her any more questions with regards to her father’s monumental film career, she will turn her back to you and walk away, just like she did to Ron Kruck on Inside MMA.

Posted in: mma, star, war, mma fighter, luca

ULTMMA Podcast Episode 8: An interview with King Mo Lawal and his striking coach Fareed Samad

Podcast Powered By Podbean Topics covered in this episode- King Mo Lawal and Fareed Samad's trip to Brazil for Lyoto Machida's training camp-Samad's growing MMA striking clientele -A look at the Evans vs. Jones rivalry -Lawal tells us who he believes is the biggest draw in MMA

Posted in: mma, podcast, lawal, podbean topics, fareed

Inside MMA: Scott Coker Discusses Strikeforce’s Future

Inside MMA airs live on HDNet every Monday night at 8pm ET. Inside MMA Archive More segments after the jump.

Posted in: mma, monday night, mma airs, mma archive, hdnet

Pro MMA Radio 177: Joseph Benavidez, UFC 140 Recap, Strikeforce ‘Melendez vs. Masvidal’ Preview

We have partnered with Pro MMA Radio to bring you weekly replays of PMR as the official radio show of MMAConvert.com. Pro MMA Radio can be heard live every Monday evening at 9PM ET/6PM PT. Replays and podcasts of every show are available 24/7 by going to the “Replay Corner” section of ProMMARadio.com, our own Pro MMA Radio page or by clicking the banner below. On this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio, Joseph Benavidez stopped by to talk about the UFC’s new flyweight division. MMA Mania’s Jesse Holland also joined the show to help Larry Pepe recap UFC 140 and preview Strikeforce “Melendez vs. Masvidal.” You can listen to a replay of this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio by clicking the banner below. A radio player with links to the show’s archives will open in a pop-up window, so please make sure your browser is set to allow pop-ups for this site.

Posted in: mma, show, replay, radio, mma radio

The spirited verbal warfare for the UFC flyweight tournament has begun

Watching Demetrious Johnson and Ian McCall fight in March will require a DVR with a slow motion button or else there would be no purpose of tuning in. Thinking you could watch them compete at standard speed would be a mistake on your part. You’ll just be left wondering what happened until Bruce Buffer announces a winner. The same can be said with most of the world’s flyweights, and with the addition of the exciting new division to the UFC comes epic moustachery, and a new flavor of smack talking for a fight that will determine the #1 flyweight in the universal MMA rankings. Please keep in mind that MMA rankings based entirely on elitist opinions and hold no actual relevance unless they’re on MiddleEasy’s arbitrary list of Frate Tranes. With that said, here’s the first verbal exchange between combatants in the newly founded UFC 125lb division from last night's Inside MMA.

Posted in: ufc, mma, mma rankings, epic moustachery, middleeasy ’s

DaMarques Johnson drops a little advice for future TUF cast members

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.

Posted in: ufc, mma, johnson, damarque, damarques johnson

MMA fighters and personalities reveal their Christmas wishlists

Christmas is just around the corner, with MMA fighters and personalities talking about their somewhat humble Christmas wishlist. As for MMA fans around the world, they will celebrate their holiday with UFC 141 on December 30th, headlined by the Heavyweight battle between Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem. Photo:

Posted in: mma, brock lesnar, mma fighters, christma, christmas wishlist

UFC 140 Results: From Spotlight to Twilight - How Will the MMA World Remember Tito Ortiz?

I vaguely recall the debut of Tito Ortiz at UFC 13. The event was notable for its superfight: Vitor Belfort vs. David 'Tank' Abbott. Abbott himself was perhaps the original self appointed "bad boy" of the organization. He earned those stripes in his debut when he mocked an unconscious John Matua as his body went into convulsions following a brutal knockout. Perhaps it was fitting that on the same night Abbott lost, Ortiz won: the proverbial 'passing of the torch'. Tito's debut was an interesting one. And all of the characteristics that made him an MMA star were already there. And so too, were the characteristics of the UFC pre-Zuffa. Jeff Blatnick had to sift his way through a monkeys-on-a-typewriter "keys to victory" sheet which listed Ortiz has having "powerful strikes and kicks" and "limited ground work". Wes Albritton, who was Tito's opponent, had an almost comical profile picture that made him look like a man shoved inside his locker too many times during grade school. "This is a grave mistake", his Droopy-like face seemed to be saying. And he fought like one: within 31 seconds, Wes' corner threw in the towel after Ortiz mounted him, sending vicious elbows to the back and around the pensive opponent's skull. We didn't get the gravedigger just yet. Instead Joe Rogan interviewed Ortiz backstage. Rogan was unusually subdued, and he hadn't yet mastered the art of 'screaming into the microphone'. Tito didn't shy away from describing his debut though: "way too strong for him...he wasn't on my level...I knew I'd blow through this". If there's a reason Tito Ortiz became a star in the insular world of MMA (and even beyond), it's because he was the marriage of performance, and attitude. The former defined him early on as he put on a classic at UFC 22 against Frank Shamrock in defeat. The latter was formed by a compendium of trash talking, but most notably, his feud with the Lion's Den and the Guy Mezger rematch that saw Ortiz wear a shirt saying "Gay Mezger is my bitch". If there was an art Tito mastered, it was "the feud". Five of his 27 fights are rematches. The MMA world owes some of its success to Tito, which started with his bout with Ken Shamrock. UFC 40 was the most successful event for the organization up to that point. It set the record for gate, and its PPV buyrate was only eclipsed by Ken Shamrock vs. Royce Gracie at UFC 5 (150,000 to 260,000, respectively). Tito's reign ended at UFC 44 against Randy Couture in a fairly underrated but one sided scrap. Couture famously spanked Ortiz in the waning moments of the 5th round as Tito unsuccessfully positioned for a leg lock. Chuck Liddell would knock him out at UFC 47 in another scrap that did great business for Zuffa. He experienced sustained success from 2004 to 2006, despite some controversial decisions to Vitor Belfort (in which he appeared to be knocked out for a moment while Belfort rained down elbows), and Forrest Griffin in a fight that is not as controversial as people claim it was (Tito outstruck Griffin in the 3rd). After that Ortiz became a bit of a punchline. He went without a win from 2006 to 2011. Fans wondered just what the hell he was still doing in the sport. He couldn't fight (injuries and contract disputes seemed to plague his career as much as Chuck Liddell's fists). And I'm not sure you could argue he could do commentary either (if his role with Affliction was any indication). Ortiz may have been one of the first legitimate "bad boys" of the sport, but I don't think he was ever truly hated. Ortiz could be at times childish (the Guy Mezger incident), and immature. But he was never sinister or extraordinarily malicious. Moments of humanity always punctuated the persona he built for himself (many fans were on his side during the Jenna Jamison 'situation'). And plus, what doesn't make the MMA community laugh in unison like an athletic commission ignoring an injury like a 'cracked skull'? In addition, Ortiz is part of the old guard which helps to explain why so many fans were behind him when, against all odds and opposite a still hot young prospect who nobody outright disliked, he took out Ryan Bader at UFC 132. Against, Rashad Evans, there was a yet another glimmer of hope when he slapped on an ostensibly tight guillotine. However, Ortiz looked pretty defeated at UFC 140 against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. Rogerio strafed him with lefts and rights, and the fight was all but over in the first minute. And now we're left with the question: who will be Tito's last opponent? He's asked for one more fight, recognizing his time has run out. Forrest Griffin? It makes sense on paper, but the UFC might be weary of making that fight: if Griffin loses, it's practically a death sentence. Not that Zuffa would ever cut Forrest, but you have to wonder where Griffin's head is at these days, and losing to a faded legend wouldn't help his confidence. Tito's last fight will require an opponent that can draw, so Griffin is a good candidate despite the political massaging his career needs. But I think Rich Franklin would be the perfect candidate assuming the timeline works out. I don't know how the MMA world will remember Tito Ortiz. As he entered the prime of his career, he was bested by everyone at the top. His time as the best LHW on the planet was limited, but that's not why Tito is an important figure in MMA history. He's important because in addition to being a great fighter at one point, he brought theatre to the unrefined spectacle of mixed martial arts. He was the first to seemingly overshadow the novelty of MMA: a larger than life figure that attracted some of the public to a sport that hadn't yet registered as a professional enterprise. Tito Ortiz will never be remembered as the best fighter ever, but he's a certified legend. His presence reveals how a fighter can contribute to the sport beyond simply racking up wins. Hopefully his last fight pays respect to that. Poll Who should be Tito's last fight? Forrest Griffin Rich Franklin Other 4 votes | Results

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, ortiz, tito

New Fans Introduction to MMA Striking

submitted by BongRipsPalin [link] [3 comments]

Posted in: mma, fan, fans introduction, introduction, bongripspalin

Dana White Declares Jon Jones Is The #2 Pound-For-Pound Fighter In MMA

Anderson Silva may still have a stranglehold on the top spot of Dana White’s personal pound-for-pound list, but Jon Jones is quickly closing the gap. Following Jones’ dramatic finish of former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida at UFC 140, Dana didn’t hesitate to declare Jones as the number two pound-for-pound fighter in MMA when asked about it in a post-fight scrum. Transcription via MMA Mania: “Number two. I mean, I don’t know how you deny the guy anymore, he’s literally walked through everybody. He’s fought four times this year, probably the nastiest schedule in the history of the company. He’s incredible, man. He’s just walkin’ through serious, serious guys. And bustin’ ‘em up bad. Stopping them, finishing them, you don’t see somebody come in and wreck people like this guy.” It’s hard to argue with him. Georges St. Pierre has long occupied the second spot on many people’s lists, but he hasn’t fought in nearly eight months and won’t for at least another 10. Moreover, GSP hasn’t finished anyone since Matt Serra at UFC 83 unless you count BJ Penn’s corner throwing in the towel at UFC 94. He’s been dominant, sure, but not spectacular like Jones who hasn’t had a fight go to a decision since he fought Stephan Bonnar at UFC 94. Just because Silva and Jones now sit at the top of Dana’s P4P list though, don’t expect him to start teasing a Silva vs. Jones super fight like he often did with Silva and St. Pierre. In fact, he’s still saying pretty much the exact opposite. “I don’t see that fight happening anytime soon,” White said at this weekend’s UFC 140 post-event press conference at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre. “I just think Jon Jones is young,” White said. “He’s 24 years old. He’s just getting out there and fighting all the best in the light heavyweight division. “What people have to realize, too, is Anderson Silva is 37 years old. They’re in two different weightclasses.” Unfortunately, we’ll probably never see it given Silva’s age. It’s a shame given that Silva and Jones are two of the most unique fighters in the sport, yet in some respects, they are more similar to each other than anyone else in MMA. I’ll concede it’s too soon for it to be seriously considered, but I’d still love to see it and I’m sure I’m not alone. Image via Esther Lin for MMA Fighting

Posted in: ufc, mma, jone, jon jones, silva

New Fan's Introduction to Mixed Martial Arts: Standing Striking

Be it the UFC on Fox show, the past season of the Ultimate Fighter, that classic match between Henderson and Shogun or UFC 140 that convinced you to come looking for more MMA, welcome! Now maybe you throw a mean double jab followed by a 5-8 or maybe you don't know a triangle from an octagon, either way this article is for you. This piece looks at the arts, techniques and strategies that make up this quickly evolving sport. And we will start the way every fight starts, standing on the feet. While the striking technique of MMA fighters is often decried, the sport boasts some of the best functional strikers in the world and the skill is a critical one for success at the upper levels of the sport. Now if you are a fan of striking arts the one thing you might notice right away is the range at which MMA striking exchanges take place. Because of grappling, takedowns and knees, an inside boxing game consisting of shoulder rolls and counter punching is not practical, so those looking to strike keep a healthy distance from their opponents. This longer distance makes the most foundational punch in boxing, the jab, even more important in MMA. While there are plenty of fighters who don't use the jab effectively in MMA but those who do command the distance at which the fight takes place. gifs after the jump Here is UFC Welterweight champion using his jab against then UFC Lightweight Champion B.J. Penn. As you can see a jab is a simple straight punch with the lead hand, and it is not meant as power punch. The jab is mean to hurt, notice how Penn's head snaps back, but it also disrupts the vision and can stop an attack before it starts. The jab can also be used to measure distance and test an opponent's defensive reactions. As a result the jab is often the lead punch in combinations, the most famous being the 1-2 or jab-cross. Fighters who don't use the jab effectively are often reduced to simply lunging in for simple one or two punch attacks that can be easily countered. While the hands are the place most fighters feel most comfortable starting to learn striking, it is important to remember that in MMA there is more than just punching. Kicks are just as effective offense tools and nobody kicks more effectively than Muay Thai fighters. In Muay Thai the head kick is devilishly difficult to land, requiring deception and timing to use effectively, the body kick is dangerous because an opponent could easily catch the kick and then throw the kicker, and as a result the leg kick is the primary offensive weapon. This kick is like a body punch in boxing, used to sap an opponent's energy and add up over the course of a fight. Here is UFC Welterweight Thiago Alves showcasing his excellent leg kicks against John "Doomsday" Howard. There are two basic types of leg kicks: inside and outside. The inside leg kick is normally thrown with the lead leg and targets the inner thigh and the groin muscle. Most low blows in MMA are often the result of inside leg kicks gone wrong. The outside leg kick targets the outer thigh and is often throw with the back leg and so has hip rotation behind it making it very powerful. The ideal leg kick results in contacting shin bone with the meat of the thigh, and since there are major nerves traveling up both sides of the leg, the pain can be extreme. The damage done by repeated leg kicks can be serious and can stop fights, but it requires repeated kicks to the same spot. Now unlike the jab, the leg kick is often the strike used to finish combinations with targeting the leg the opponent is putting his weight on to maximize its effectiveness. These two techniques are just small steps in the world of striking. A wide array of strikes are open to MMA fighters;hooks, crosses, uppercuts, knees, head kicks, spinning strikes and many other exotic techniques. Integrating all these together is part of the challenge and appeal of MMA. While the offensive abilities translate very well from other arts, were accomplished strikers often run into trouble in the defensive aspect of striking. One of the culprits of this is the gloves, MMA gloves are much smaller than boxing gloves. The boxing guard uses the arms to protect the body from hooks to the liver and uses the padded gloves to protect the face. While this works well with the large gloves, the smaller gloves of MMA leaves too many places for punches to slip through if a fighter simply 'puts on his earmuffs'. Here is former UFC Lightweight Champion and UFC Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell unleashing one of his signature salvos of punches. His victim is another former champion Tito Ortiz, who employs a class boxing guard and while it does stop a few strikes many of Liddell's punches slip through all the openings. As a result MMA fights more frequently use a block that comes from Muay Thai. Quentin "Rampage" Jackson used this block to perfection in his final fight with Wanderlei Silva. Instead of using his gloves to defense his head, Jackson brings up his entire arm to cover his chin when Silva comes in throwing hooks. He sweeps his hands over his head bringing up forearms, biceps, and elbows all to deflect the incoming punches. This guard is very effective for protecting the head but leaves the body wide open to punishment. There are many other ways to deflect punches with their own varying risk-reward balance from parrying punches toblocking punches at the biceps. Head movement is an important aspect of defensive striking in MMA because of the reduced effectiveness of gloves for blocking. Slipping punches, using slight movements of the head to avoid a punch by a small margin and then counter (often called slip-and-rip), is a vital skill in upper levels of MMA striking. Dramatic bobbing and weaving is not often seen in MMA, though it is sometimes, but there is a serve risk of weaving your way right into a knee or head kick KO, so most fighters tend not use this. The most effective defense in MMA against strikes is footwork. Fighters cannot hit what they can't catch and proper use of angles and footwork can keep a fighter out the proper distance to be struck. There is no fighter in MMA better at this than former UFC Light Heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida, who because of his karate background has light and quick footwork. He uses that footwork to dictate the distance at which the fight takes place. He throws a quick leg kick and when Rampage Jackson looks to respond, Machida quickly retreats. Anyone from a boxing background may be appalled at his straight back retreat but the space fighters are given in the cages of upper level MMA promotions is much greater than a boxing ring and this make short bursts straight backwards more practical. Machida creates enough distance that Rampage's punches don't land and when Machida reaches the cage he begins to move sideways and with no more space to open the distance he throws a quick punch and enters into the clinch, too close to be struck. The horn then ends the round. The difficultly of developing high level defensive skills in striking means many MMA fighters tend to either rely on their offensive skills to stifle any offensive output of their opponent or their own natural ability to absorb blows (often called 'chin') to make up under-developed defense. So that is the bear basics of the standing striking in MMA, catch this series next time for a break down of when fighters close into the clinch.

Posted in: mma, fighter, leg, punch, kick

MMA on TV

Posted in: mma, replay, pm, mavtv, hdnet

MMA Wrap-Up: UFC 140 Edition

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosUFC 140 was an arm-snapping, face-smashing good time for some, but the main event saw Jon Jones finish another former champ before finally turning the boos to cheers, at least for the moment. Now the MMA Wrap-Up returns to ask what it will take for fans to actually get behind the dominant light heavyweight champ. Trust me, it's good fun. Even if it's not, it'll all be over in a couple minutes, so how bad could it be? Don't answer that. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mma, jon jones, couple minutes, dont answer, armsnapping facesmashing

The MMA Hour With Carlos Condit, Frank Mir Ian McCall, Tom Lawlor, Gareth A. Davies

Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosThe MMA Hour returns to its original home on Monday, and we've got a great lineup guests to celebrate the occasion. * Carlos Condit will discuss his new UFC 143 fight against Nick Diaz. * Frank Mir will discuss his big win over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 140 and what's next for him. * Top flyweight Ian McCall will talk about signing with the UFC and his upcoming fight against Demetrious Johnson in March. * We'll discuss all the news making headlines in another MMA Hour Roundtable with journalist Gareth A. Davies and UFC middleweight Tom Lawlor. Plus, we'll look back at UFC 140 and ahead to Saturday night's Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal event, so give us a call at: 212-254-0193, 212-254-0237 or 212-254-0714. 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, ufc mma

Luke Thomas hosts MMA Nation radio from 9 to 11 p.m. ET tonight. Jordan Breen of Sherdog will join...

Luke Thomas hosts MMA Nation radio from 9 to 11 p.m. ET tonight. Jordan Breen of Sherdog will join him to recap UFC 140 and he'll also be talking about the Paterson-Khan boxing bout from last night. How to Listen If you're in Washington, D.C. tune your radio dial to 106.7 FM To stream over the Internet, 106.7 on Radio.com Mobile devices - The Yahoo Radio App for either Apple or Android For a look inside the studio, On ustream.tv How to Interact Call the show TOLL FREE: 1-800-636-1067 Register at MMA Nation and leave a comment luke.thomas@sbnation.com @SBNLukeThomas facebook.com/MMANationDotCom

Posted in: mma, radio, nation, jordan breen, show toll

5 Oz. MMA Link Club

Welcome back to another edition of “MMA Link Club”, Five Ounces of Pain‘s weekly smorgasbord of offerings from our brothers and sisters in the MMA community. Enjoy… Frank Mir Knew “Minotauro” Wasn’t Going to Tap (LowKick.com) Michael Bisping Talks Demian Maia as an Opponent (TheFightNerd.com) Brittney Palmer Posing for Playboy, 5 OZ Writer Rumored to be Recovering from Heart Attack (FightLine.com) Dana White Elaborates on Miguel Torres, UFC 140, Flyweights, and More! (MMAFighting.com) An Examination of ONE FC’s Continued Growth in Asia (FightOpinion.com) Spike TV Counter-Programming UFC on FOX 2 (MMAPayout.com) Some Solid Op-Ed Looking Back at UFC 140 (CagePotato.com) The Top 5 Fighters Who Live Up to Their Nicknames (BleacherReport.com) Mir Would Fight Brock Lesnar on Three Weeks’ Notice if Necessary (5thRound.com) UFC Executives Step in to Help Dan Miller with Son’s Surgery (MMAConvert.com) Alistair Overeem Ready to Send Lesnar Back to Professional Wrestling at UFC 141 (MMAMania.com) Exclusive Footage of…Brian Ebersole Getting Manscaped?!? (MiddleEasy.com) PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, mma, mma community, dan miller, pain ‘s

Reminder: 2011 World MMA Awards ceremony airs tonight on FOX Sports Net

As a reminder, the 2011 World MMA Awards ceremony airs tonight on FOX Sports Net. The one-hour presentation airs on the cable network's affiliates at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The 2011 World MMA Awards originally took place Nov. 30 at The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. Winners from 22 categories in the industry awards were announced.

Posted in: world, mma, fox sports, award, air

Boughton, Alpha Male’s Sandoval Victorious at Inaugural Impact MMA

PLEASANTON, Calif. -- With its inaugural show Saturday at the Alameda County Fairgrounds, Impact MMA provided an evening full of submissions and strange stoppages.

Posted in: mma, impact, evening, show saturday, ’s sandoval

UFC 140: Attendance, gate and bonuses

MMA Weekly reports the attendance and gate for UFC 140 in Toronto garnered a solid 18,303 attendees for a gate of $3.9 million. Dana White announced the numbers at the post-fight press conference. In addition, MMA Junkie reports The Korean Zombie, Frank Mir and Jon Jones and Lyoto Machida received bonuses. Chan Sung Jung won for his KO of Mark Hominick, Mir was the choice for submission of the night and Jones and Machida won the fight of the night. Each fighter received $75,000 for their efforts. MMA Payout will have more on UFC 140 tomorrow.

Posted in: ufc, gate, mma, bonuses chan, jung won

Igor Pokrajac Knew Fight Against Krzystof Soszynski Was Going to End Early

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosTORONTO -- MMA Fighting caught up with Igor Pokrajac after his first-round knockout win at UFC 140. Pokrajac discussed what happened in the first round, what he learned about Krzystof Soszynski before the fight, how training changes have made a difference and much more. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mma, igor pokrajac, krzystof soszynski, videostoronto mma, training changes

World MMA Awards Skits: Dr. Chael Sonnen Helps Stephan Bonnar Find His ‘American Psycho’, MMA Storage Wars

Fighters Only Magazine has released a couple skits from the 2011 World MMA Awards show. Both are pretty darn good. In the first one, Dr. Sonnen helps Stephan Bonnar find his inner “American Psycho”, and in the second, Dominick Cruz and Phil Davis participate in MMA’s version of storage wars where they find things like Arianny Celeste’s single album sale, Roy Nelson’s shorts and Jon Jones’ ego. Good stuff. The 2011 World MMA Awards airs tomorrow night at 8pm on FSN.

Posted in: world, mma, award, stephan bonnar, storage wars

UFC 140 Preview Video

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosTORONTO -- Watch below as Ben Fowlkes and I (and a bunch of rabid Canadian fans) look ahead to Saturday night's UFC 140 pay-per-view event, headlined by Jon Jones vs. Lyoto Machida. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, video, ben fowlkes, canadian fans

Friday Link Club: UFC 140 Preview, Rape Joke Controversy

UFC 140 Main Event Breakdown: Jon Jones vs. Lyoto Machida | MMA Fighting If Jon Jones beats Lyoto Machida in UFC 140′s main event on Saturday, he will have completed one of the greatest calendar years in modern MMA, having defeated Machida, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Ryan Bader. UFC 140 Breakdown: The Undercard | Five Ounces of Pain But before Jones steps inside the cage for arguably the toughest test of his career, MMA legend Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira will bid to avenge his 2008 loss to Frank Mir in the evening’s co-main event. Nogueira’s brother, Rogerio, faces a must-win situation in his bout with a resurgent Tito Ortiz, while former featherweight top contender Mark Hominick faces Chan Sung Jung in what can only be described as sure-fire violence. ‘UFC 140: Jones Vs. Machida’ Pre-Fight Presser Notes And Quotes | FightLine UFC 140: Jones vs. Machida goes down this Saturday night from the Air Canada Centre in Toronto and will feature a light heavyweight title bout between champ Jon Jones and former champ Lyoto Machida, a heavyweight rematch between veterans Frank Mir and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, as well as a light heavyweight tilt between Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Tito Ortiz. All of those fighters and UFC president Dana White filled the dais today to promote the bout. Behind the UFC 140 numbers: Jon Jones vs. Lyoto Machida fight complete statistical breakdown | MMA Mania Mixed martial arts (MMA) fights don’t happen on paper — they happen in the cage. With that said, if you’re looking to make any wagers on this massive headlining bout, it’s best to go in knowing exactly what you’re working with. UFC 140 Fight Card: 5 Fights That Will End in a Knockout | Bleacher Report What makes this card even more exciting is the high possibility of knockouts that could take place throughout the evening. The following slides display five fights that will end in a knockout at UFC 140. Jim Rome skewers Rashad Evans for Sandusky quip; Miguel Torres cut from UFC for rape remark | Fight Opinion “Rashad, you’ve got to be kidding me. What is it, other than totally insensitive and just… dumb? Guys have run regrettable smack before. David Haye saying that his fight with Audley Harrison was going to be ‘as one-sided as gang rape’ immediate comes to mind but you, my man, might be the new standard bearer. Look, I get that these guys are in hype mode and the blood starts to flow at these pressers. I just don’t care. You can’t say you’re going to do to your opponent what Jerry Sandusky allegedly did to these kids. Not that I haven’t done this already 100 times before but memo to all athletes — there’s certain things you cannot ever talk junk about. Ever. Keep all references to 9/11 and Hitler out of your mouths and, I never thought I’d have to say it, but you can officially add Jerry Sandusky to that list as well. Look, I work in smack for a living. I put food on my family’s table with smack. Smack is the family business, so I know smack and that’s some of the worst smack I’ve ever heard.” Dana White’s ethical quandry of rape jokes | MiddleEasy For some reason rape jokes have become the gold standard for distasteful jokes made by UFC fighters. Forrest Griffin began the trend on his twitter account through a series of rape jokes that span months, only one of which really raised the ire of the media enough to report on it and make a big deal about it. Forrest Griffin, the winner of the first season of The Ultimate Fighter has a rather good relationship with UFC head Dana White and the issue was quickly swept under a rung in a coordinated PR move of Forrest doing a photo-op at a rape clinic, discussing how terrible rape is. Dan Henderson May Have Great Incentive for Phil Davis Win | 5thRound By connecting the dots, ‘we’ll see’ seemingly translates to the company believing Davis’ resume doesn’t warrant a title fight at this time, even if he were able to extend his record to a perfect 10-0 by beating Evans. Exclusive: Brittney Palmer Talks UFC Return, Her Fans and Fighter Twitter Beefs | Cage Potato “The UFC Octagon Girl, who will return from a brief hiatus from the sport at UFC 140 Saturday night, spoke to us about a variety of topics including art school, her fans, fighter Twitter beefs and how she felt about winning the “2011 CagePotato Hottest Women in MMA Grand Prix.” TUF 14 Finale: 2.4 million viewers | MMA Payout Another good sign for the TUF franchise as this season went out on a high note. One can argue that it was Miller-Bisping that people tuned in for but the viewership could be in part due to the great action the bantamweights/featherweights had on the show. Hoping to capitalize on this, the UFC announced Urijah Faber and Dominick Cruz as coaches for TUF 15. Check out this original UFC 1 ad from 1993!  | TheFightNerd Check out this classic ad from the December 1993 issue of “Black Belt Magazine”, which featured this full-page ad for the premiere event of the Ultimate Fighting Championship! “Who will be the Ultimate Fighter?” this ad asks, which is practically the same ad campaign used today for the UFC’s reality show, “The Ultimate Fighter.” The picture in this advertisement looks like a screen-capture from a vale tudo match, since the first event had not yet debuted on November 12. No matches are listed here, but various styles are, ranging from sumo, kickboxing, tae kwon do, savate, and draka… which I have never heard of until now. Interesting to note that while jiu-jitsu appears, it does not explicitly say Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. BJJ was still an enigma at the time, but even as far back as 1989 the style had been gaining interest in the inner circle of martial arts, heightened by the Gracie Challenge which was in full swing by this era. Jimi Manuwa: Three years from now I will have the UFC belt (Exclusive Interview) | LowKick With eight of his ten victories coming by way of first-round knockout, undefeated Light Heavyweight Jimi Manuwa fights like a man that’s in a hurry. However, when the UFC came calling earlier this year, “The Poster Boy” chose not to rush success. Though the world’s most prominent mixed martial arts organization is where he aspires to be, Manuwa knew it wasn’t the right time. In addition to being fresh off of an injury that kept him sidelined for more than a year, the British slugger had blown through all of his previous opponents, not one of which made it outside of the second-round. Instead, Manuwa’s search for more challenging opposition has since taken him to the British Association of Mixed Martial Arts, with whom he’s inked an exclusive four-fight contract. Now set to face Antony Rea in his promotional debut, Manuwa will look to continue his dominant streak when he meets the dangerous veteran in the BAMMA 8 headliner this Saturday night in Nottingham. Here’s what “The Poster Boy” had to say about Rea, training at Alliance MMA, and his fighting future: Image via Esther Lin for MMA Fighting

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, machida, rape

Is Jon Jones’ 2011 The Best Single Year in MMA History?

If Jon Jones beats Lyoto Machida at UFC 140, will he have set the mark for the greatest single year for any fighter in MMA history?

Posted in: mma, jone, jon jones, mma history, lyoto machida

Are Concussions a Major Concern in MMA?

The medical data surrounding the damage done to the human brain as a result of multiple concussions is something that swirls in the sports world almost every day.

Posted in: mma, concussion, something, damage, sports world

Luke Thomas talks to Tito Ortiz who says he "has nothing left to prove in MMA" but isn't quite...

Luke Thomas talks to Tito Ortiz who says he "has nothing left to prove in MMA" but isn't quite ready to retire. Read it at MMA Nation.

Posted in: mma, tito ortiz, tito, luke, nothing

Latest UFC/MMA news and notes from around the web for the week of December 4, 2011

Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Ronda Rousey, Cody McKenzie and Miesha Tate pictured above, we can all "get along." Teaming up with MMA sites like MMA Fighting, Cage Potato, Fight Opinion and The Fight Nerd, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport. This week, Lowkick interviews BAMMA 8 headliner Jimi Manuwa, The Fight Nerd shares an ad from the original UFC in 1993 and Bleacher Report speaks with Frank Trigg. The full list of links is after the jump. - Interview with BAMMA 8 main eventer Jimi Manuwa (LowKick) Speaking of experience, you were offered a UFC contract, but decided that you needed a few more tough opponents before taking that step. Can you talk a little bit about why you felt it wasn't the right time for you to move on to the UFC? I was coming off a long lay-off, so I wanted a few hard fights before I jumped into the big league. I think I made the right decision. I take my career very seriously and plan to be the best in the world, not just another fighter. - MMA Video Tribute: Jim Norton's nine most painful interviews (Cage Potato) "As co-host of the Opie & Anthony radio show on SiriusXM, comedian Jim Norton has become the designated punching bag for visiting MMA stars. He's been choked, he's been kicked, he's had his foot twisted 180 degrees by Brock Lesnar. And considering what a sick, depraved bastard Norton is, you have to wonder if he enjoys it on some level." - Five Ounces of Podcast (Five Ounces of Pain) It's almost two hours of MMA talk so check it out! - The Cut List: Who needs a win at UFC 140? (MMA Fighting) So who needs a win like Dana White needs a Saturday night off, and what are their chances for a bright future and an upbeat after-party? For answers, we turn to the Cut List. - Georges St. Pierre issues stern message to his doubters (5thRound) - Interview with Frank Shamrock (MiddleEasy) So what do you think of GSP getting shelved for the year? Who do you have Diaz or Condit? Hoo, man. I think Nick's gonna beat him and I think Nick's gonna take the entire three way tournament there... - Check out this original UFC 1 ad from 1993! (video) (The Fight Nerd) Check out this classic ad from the December 1993 issue of "Black Belt Magazine", which featured this full-page ad for the premiere event of the Ultimate Fighting Championship! "Who will be the Ultimate Fighter?" this ad asks, which is practically the same ad campaign used today for the UFC's reality show, "The Ultimate Fighter." - Jim Rome skewers Rashad Evans for Sandusky quip (Fight Opinion) When your face is plastered next to Jerry Sandusky on national television, you know it's not good news for your image. Jim Rome made sure to cement that point home after the comments Rashad Evans made yesterday in Chicago for the Fox presser to hype his fight against Phil Davis. - WWE network set for April 1 launch (MMA Payout) The WWE Network is set to launch on April 1st of next year. The Sports Business Journal reports that its in talks with In Demand and other cable operators to carry the network. - Interview with Frank Trigg (BleacherReport.com/MMA) When hear the name Frank Trigg, you think of the UFC veteran who has fought the likes of Matt Hughes, Matt Serra and Josh Koscheck just to name a few. When thinking of Trigg, you also think of the announcing he does with Michael Schiavello on HDNet. - The top five game-changing injuries in MMA (MMA Convert) UFC welterweight demigod Georges St. Pierre, in a rare display of humanity, tore his ACL and will be out at least nine months, and as per Dana White, while the Canadian champ recovers, the other alphas of the 170-pound division will fight over an interim title like dogs over table scraps. Boy, that injured knee sure is a game-changer, no? - The Daily Line: Michael Bisping's got a point (Fightline) Look, you probably think he's a jerk, but Bisping is kind of on to something here. It's clear why Hendo and Sonnen are doing what they're doing (look how Nick Diaz bumped Carlos Condit in the welterweight title line by getting mean with GSP)

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, interview, ad

Tron MMA from Russia is the greatest thing you’ve never heard of

In an interview with Inside MMA, Don Frye made a comment about Russians being 'the last men on the planet'. It went something like this: 'The Russians don't like to be told what to do, especially by some pansy. God damn Russians are the last men on the planet. Everybody in the US has been feminized so bad that we should all be carrying a purse and high heels. Those are the last men, we need a Putin. Where's our Putin? We need someone that's going to kick ass and not run around apologizing for it.' Looks like Don Frye was on to something. Welcome to Tron MMA, a league that Guy Ritchie only wishes he created. Fighters compete outside in the dirt, guarded by unforgiving, tightly knit ropes. There are referees that are trained in the ways of Tron MMA and the crowd appears to be hand-selected from the boss level on Pit Fighter. Check out this clip of the finals in which a 42-year old laborer takes on a young guy that appears to be Gummo's cousin. While you're at it, check out more of Tron MMA on their YouTube page.

Posted in: mma, men, russian, tron mma, tron

Frank Shamrock thinks Nick Diaz will beat up GSP and kick Carlos Condit's ass

MMA is a lot like Highlander but with more blunt trauma and tap outs. We speak often about one fighter taking another fighter's soul, or the very real and scientific method of MMA Math, but none of that can compare to just talking to a guy who has seen it all. Like Frank Shamrock for example. After countless hours of playing EA MMA and hearing Frank talk about his fight with Nick Diaz, we decided we had to get him on the horn and ask him what his thought's were on the latest welterweight shakeup between GSP, Carlos Condit and Mr 209. Luckily The Legend had some free time away from cornering Brian Ebersole and The Hairrow™ up in Toronto to answer our call. So what do you think of GSP getting shelved for the year? Who do you have Diaz or Condit? Hoo, man. I think Nick's gonna beat him and I think Nick's gonna take the entire three way tournament there... Do you think that because you personally fought Diaz? Hmmm, I don't know. Yeah...Yeah I think I do. I know through fighting him that he's gonna go and kick those guy's asses. Yeah. He's an unstoppable fighting machine with extreme cardio. I think he beats them up. I wonder what Frank thinks about the future of that kid who single legged Phil Baroni.

Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, mma, nick, condit

Rashad Evans' Joke About the Penn State Scandal is No Laughing Matter

For the rest of the world that is bound by decency, and ethics, rape has been the topic of a tragic scandal. Jerry Sandusky, the former Assistant coach of Penn State under Joe Paterno, was recently indicted for 40 charges of sex crimes involving young boys: actions that were enabled by a once respected institution. That number has increased with the addition of two new accusers. Words like 'oral sex' in this context are vile, and Sandusky's acts seem to transcend disgust. It's what has validated the fog of shame that now proxies for Joe Paterno's once heralded status. The Penn State case was not just about a flesh and blood monster. It was also about corruption. When students idiotically protested the termination of Paterno, it prompted Dave Zirin of The Nation, in contrasting the Penn State protests with the protests that occurred on the campus at Berkeley, to ask the question: "Do you defend the ugliest manifestations of unchecked power or do you fight for a better world with an altogether different set of values?" That's a fine question for students. And perhaps an unfair one for athletes. But is it too much to ask to be even moderately civilized? For MMA fighters, the scandal has turned into a sandbox for auditions at the comedy club. During the press conference for UFC on FOX 2 that will feature Phil Davis and Rashad Evans, Evans joked "I'm gonna put my hands on you worse than that dude on those kids at Penn State". This of course, harkens back to another example of brainless behavior when Forrest Griffin tweeted that "rape is the new missionary" (Griffin was also bouncing off the rape cases at Penn State). To make matters worse, Phil Davis is on the record defending Paterno's actions. While we're at it, let's pour another into the comedy stew and add Miguel Torres to the list of fighters who think rape is hilarious. Inevitably, people will criticize this moral outrage as "too sensitive", and that running "stories" like this reveals the real crime of 'political correctness': a criticism so excessively dumb, it possesses a seat on the stupid branch right alongside creationism. If we take seriously the injustice that is rape, we should take seriously the verbal representation of that injustice when it is mocked, and cheapened. At this point, I'm not asking for Rashad to be fined, or punished (not that I would be opposed to some form of punishment). But who approves of his words? No one. So where is the disapproval? This is not like Martin Scorsese or other acclaimed artists dealing with network censorship. "The prohibition against swearing in broadcast media makes artists and historians into liars, and subverts the responsibility of grown-ups to learn how life is lived in worlds distant from their own", explains Steven Pinker. Discouraging Evans' statement is not about censorship. It's a question about moral philosophy, and what kind of culture we're interested in nurturing. Right now the UFC is looking to the federal judicial system to take action against the ban on MMA in New York. And they've molded for themselves an interesting argument: that MMA is a form of free speech. It's not some parlor trick: it's a clever way of attacking the language used to justify the ban, namely, that MMA promotes a 'message of violence'. Obviously, this is false, and the ban on MMA itself is unjustified. But it prompts the question, 'if not violence, what does MMA stand for?' This is not a pretentious question. It's a question that will be directly addressed in the courtroom given the argument Zuffa is looking to make in order to get MMA legalized. What values do we share as a community? What principles should be cherished, either as media, as fighters, or as fans? There are some fantastic individuals in MMA's unique universe. And Rashad Evans doesn't speak for everyone. But the silence feels like a confession: the confession we don't stand for much of anything. Foregoing any sense of community, the silence in response to Evans' statement would appear to out us as a faceless cauldron of indifference.

Posted in: mma, question, penn, evan, state

MMA Psychotherapy

submitted by Virgin_Headquarters [link] [comment]

Posted in: mma, virginheadquarter, mma psychotherapy, virginheadquarters link, psychotherapy

Finishing With Strikes: A Multiple Choice Question

A popular topic to bring up whenever Michael Bisping has a fight coming up – or in this case, one just completed – is the notion that the Brit is a pillow-fisted striker who couldn’t stop a taxi with a hundred dollar bill waving in the air. This is one of those half-truths that seem to become accepted as common wisdom in MMA without much real consideration. It’s true that Bisping doesn’t possess the one-punch knockout power of someone like Dan Henderson, there’s no arguing that. At the same time however, Bisping is now 12-3 in his UFC career, with eight of those twelve wins being TKO stoppages. What gives? I thought this guy punched like my Grandmother? The point I’m making here is that having huge power isn’t the only way to stop someone with strikes in MMA, as much as some would have you believe. It is not the only stopping method worthy of praise either. Sure, you have the Dan Hendersons, Melvin Guillards, and Junior dos Santoses (or is it Junior dos Santi?!?) of the sport, who are capable of crumpling a foe with a single shot, but the majority of fighters don’t have that ability. Even looking at just the striking aspect of MMA, as I’ll be doing, there is far more than one way to skin the proverbial cat. This is by no means an exhaustive list of the different styles in which strikers in MMA finish fights, nor would I be naive enough to think that every fighter could be pigeon-holed into one of the following five categories. Some fighters can be placed in two or three of these categories, while some wouldn’t fit in any of them. Bisping Outclasses Miller En Route to TKO Win at TUF 14 Finale Here then, are some of the most-common types of finishers we see in MMA today, and a couple fighters who fit into each category to use as a frame of reference: The Johnny Flamingo One-Shot Bingo These are the guys mentioned in that previous paragraph, and those like them. If they connect, on your chin, temple, or even body, they can put you down and there’s a good chance you’re staying there. As we’re so often told on MMA broadcasts, this is the great equalizer in a fight. You don’t need to be the most technical guy in the world to make this type of power work (although some fighters show great technique to go along with it), it just works. There’s really not much else to explain here. The Technician These guys are both entertaining and befuddling to watch at times. You may look at their strikes and think that they’re not hitting all that hard, but for some reason they seem to drop their opponents on a regular basis. Anderson Silva is the epitome of this type of finisher (as Rogan and Goldberg remind us no fewer than a dozen times during each of his fights). When he hits somebody, he hits them clean and exactly where they need to be hit. There is something to be said for this type of finisher, because it likely shows the most striking skill out of all those on the list. Sometimes these fighters can end a bout with one blow (Silva vs. Vitor Belfort) and sometimes it takes more (Silva vs. Yushin Okami), but rest assured that however many it takes, they will all be on point. The Swarmer Now we’re getting into the types of fighters who really don’t have the ability to stop an opponent with one strike, and that’s not a bad thing, since many of the best in the world would fall into this category. These are the guys who have the capacity to hurt an opponent with a single shot, but never seem to be able to put them completely out with it. Former UFC champion Mauricio Rua is an example of a quintessential swarmer. When he gets an opponent hurt with a big shot, he jumps all over them. Bringing the strikes in as rapidly as possible these finishers simply never give their wounded prey a chance to breathe and mount any sort of defense. Think of the massive number of KOs and TKOs ‘Shogun’ has amassed over his career (17), now think of how many of those have been from a single punch… not so many. The Nagging Wife Whereas the swarmer has the ability to hurt his opponent with a single shot at any point, this type of finisher simply doesn’t. Still, because of their high-volume of strikes – and the accuracy that accompanies them – they are able to wear opponents down to the point that either they have no cardio left (getting punched in the face or body is tiring business), or simply don’t want to get hit any more. Think of it like a nagging wife (or mother, for those who don’t have wives), they simply take all the energy and will to continue that you possess. These guys are able to force their opponents to quit, even if they couldn’t necessarily stop a fresh version of that opponent. Say hello to Nick Diaz and Bisping (gasp!) in this category of finisher. Obviously this is MMA, and tiny gloves do wacky things, so occasionally you’ll see a guy in this category lace his opponent with a KO (Diaz vs. Robbie Lawler, for instance), but it is far from the norm. The Changeup These types of finishers are much like the swarmer, in that they can hurt with a single shot, but rather than coming down with follow-up strikes, they use the opportunity when their opponent is foggy to switch over into grappling mode. UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones has become quite adept at finishing in this manner, as has Donald Cerrone. I must admit that watching a fighter string together a nasty combination of strikes to daze his rival and then finishing it off with some slick grappling technique is truly sublime, and shows what MMA is all about. Every time we get a nice finish set up by strikes I enjoy watching it, but I must say that these are my personal favorites. So next time you’re breaking down a bout, forget the talk about “Heavy Hands” and “Pillow-Fisted” strikers when thinking about a potential stoppage. Instead, look at whether or not a particular fighter is a finisher or not, because they come in many different forms. Just because someone may not have that one-punch knockout power, doesn’t mean they aren’t capable of stopping the fight before the final bell, and doing so in entertaining fashion. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: mma, fighter, ’t, opponent, strike

With Japan fading, how does One FC fit in 2012 #MMA picture? @MMASupremacy @MiddleEasy @mauroranallo

Can One FC be the leader of the Asian MMA scene in the next 5-10 years?

Posted in: mma, picture, mmasupremacy, middleeasy, fc

How's Taste My Tweet Tweet? MMA on Twitter for the 1st Week of December

A few updates on what's been going on in the MMA Twitterverse NEW TUF COACHES START TWITTER BEEFING "Pumped and honored 2 b in this position,big thnx 2 all my supporters/fans much love!" -Dominick Cruz "Pumped on TUF coachn job 1 time offer 4 @thedomin8r 2 give up now & b our water boy #chance4victory @PhilMrWonderful r cook" -Urijah Faber "Na @UrijahFaber but after I beat u again u can have a job doin up @PhilMrWonderful cornrows!" -Dominick Cruz "Master Thong is gonna b the Hidden Jewel of TUF15" -Urijah Faber There's also this who beef between Miesha Tate, Marloes Coenen, and Ronda Rousey going on... Or friends at Gals Guide to MMA have documented it well, so check it out here, and here. There's a ton of tweets after the jump, but first, don't forget to follow me on twitter: @antontabuena Oh, and these guys are probably worth following as well: The Official BloodyElbow Twitter Account, Luke Thomas, Kid Nate, Brent Brookhouse, Leland Roling, Richard Wade, Jonathan Snowden, Chris Barton, Damon O, Scott Broussard, Tim Burke, Matt Bishop, Fraser Coffeen, Dallas Winston, KJ Gould, Matt Roth RANDOM TWIDBITS "Damn. Got tired. Got beat. Thanks for watching. I'll be back stronger next time... I have to say I really appreciate the positive outpouring that came out of this negative event. I will fix my mistakes and build back up." -Jason Miller "Just watched the fight. I felt like I won a close one even after watching it. Ferguson was tough and I had a good time. FYI #judgescantjudge ... Btw no disrespect to Tony's win, I think it was close either way but 30-27 makes me want to move to another planet." -Yves Edwards, on losing that disputed decision on the TUF 14 Finale "Apparently my fight with demetrious Johnson was announced as official so...cats out of the bag, ready to let the dogs out like, who who whoo" -Eddie Wineland "Thx every1 4 the support and believing that I would be the #TUF14 CHAMP" -John Dodson "What do you call someone who sends too many emoticons? Overly emoticontional?" -Ronda Rousey "@titoortiz better follow me f*cker!" -War Machine "@joerogan who you got @jessejane or @Sn00ki ? I'm training Jess and @philbaroni is training Snooks. MMA PPV $69.99!" -War Machine TWICTURES "@forrestgriffin, @ stephanbonnar, @herbdeanmma and @philbaroni here at Boys Town in Las Vegas bringing Xmas cheer! ...@ufc fighters speaking to the kids at Boy Town about commitment, effort and the rewards!!!" -Reed Harris "Pretty cool @ufc made the #ufc142 poster green in honor of @chadmendes Money$ nickname. Must know something we don't!" -Urijah Faber "Arianny, Spider, Chael, Ronda & more backstage at last night's World MMA Awards" -UFC TWIDEOS "Here u go Bones Jones, Dodson looked Tuff, TJ will b back better. Same bet for a rematch #stronglikeAmerica" -Urijah Faber "Smoker fights at my gym Undisputed Purebred this weekend. 9mm M.M.A. Fight Night" -War Machine, I think those kids should be wearing head gear. MOAR TWICTURES! ""@LeahVsRob: Leah and her favorite fighter/new buddy @rondarousey"it was nice meeting you guys-loved the flapper dress!" -Ronda Rousey "Bjj Santa getting grabby at the otm fight shop" -Ronda Rousey "Fancy huh? Mma awards #boom" -Brittney Palmer "Love working #NFR events!! Rodeos and cowboys are always an epic good time! ;)" -Natasha Wicks WATCH NATASHA WICKS ARM WRESTLE WITH RACHELLE LEAH "Some fun footage from Saturdays Tailgating event in Anaheim (in-between takes breaks) ;)" -Natasha Wicks, Rachelle Leah tried to cheat!

Posted in: fight, mma, tuf, faber, ronda

Asian MMA Update: Kang, Colossa and Choi Lose at Road FC, Laursen vs. Magalhaes ONE FC Super-Fight Cancelled

Road FC 005 happened this past weekend, and the results are interesting, including some bouts which would be considered as upsets by a lot of the fans in the region. The most interesting outcome from the night would be from PRIDE and UFC Veteran, Denis Kang's fight. Kang came out and scored early, only to be overwhelmed by his opponent on the ground. The fight was ended much like his last Road FC bout, when a turtled-up Kang took several knees to the head until the referee was forced to step in to stop the contest. Kang's foray to Korea's top MMA promotion, Road FC was supposed to be a homecoming of sorts that could help reinvent himself and jumpstart his career. His last two opponents had other plans though. Kang suffered his third straight loss, while Shungo Oyama advanced on their middleweight tournament and improved his modest and deceiving record to 11-13. A resume filled with some legends and other big names, such as Wanderlei Silva, Renzo Gracie, Dan Henderson, Mirko Filipovic, Carlos Newton, Peter Aerts, Melvin Manhoef, and now Denis Kang. Also on the card as part of their running partnership, were ONE FC fighters Brian Choi and Vuyisile Colossa. Both athletes have been gaining a bit of attention and hype recently, but both fighters lost their respective Road FC bouts. Choi, who trains with the several BJJ, Muay Thai, and MMA champions at Evolve MMA, made a drop to featherweight for the first time, but couldn't do enough to win the decision against fellow Korean prospect Bae Young Kwon. Kwon is reportedly being picked up by ONE FC as well. Colossa on the other hand, is one of the most dangerous strikers in the region. As shown by Eduard Folayang on their Martial Combat bout last year though, his ground game is his major flaw, and this cost him the fight once again. Legend FC veteran Yui Chul Nam, who is also a good striker, took advantage of these holes, and got himself a quality win over a guy who was pegged to be close to title contention at One FC. Legend FC even tweeted an interesting question to me following Nam's big win - "Nam Yui Chul won a unanimous decision at Road FC tonight. That's 3 straight, and 4 in his last 5. Has he earned a shot at Jadamba?" Check out a TON of other news from the Asian Region after the jump, including an update on that planned super-fight between the Martial Combat champ, who is ranked #8 on the Scouting Report, Ole Laursen and CFC champion, Bernardo Magalhaes (11-1). Quick Hits: A reliable source tells us that the planned ONE FC super-fight between Martial Combat Champ, Ole Laursen, and CFC Champ, Bernardo Magalhaes is not happening. Magalhaes suffered an injury and has pulled out of the planned bout for February. No word yet on a replacement fighter for the card in Jakarta. Another source tells us that Zhang Lipeng, who was supposed to headline RUFF 2 in China against Rodrigo Corporal, suffered a hand injury during training, and will have to pull out of the card. Dare Fight Sports from Thailand is hosting their next show on January 7th, with the proceeds given to the flood victims in the country. They have already announced a few of their match ups, but sources have told us that a bout between top prospects Arnaud Lepont (7-1) and Krysztof Hajtalowicz (2-0) is also set for the card. ONE FC has a press conference scheduled for tomorrow, December 8, in Jakarta, Indonesia. Word is, they're going to announce a new local TV deal the country. URCC and ONE FC star Eduard Folayang, who is fresh off his Wushu Gold Medal win at the South East Asian Games, the has made the trip from Baguio to Manila, and today met with the URCC brass. Kazushi Sakuraba, is apparently considering a return to puroresu at the NYE event, Genki Desu ka! At this stage of his career, this could be a better move, as it just makes me sad every time he tries to compete against younger and better guys in MMA. Yuichiro Nagashima, or 'Jienotsu', who is more known to MMA fans for defeating Shinya Aoki in that mixed-rules bout last year, will be having another bout with the same weird ruleset on NYE. The K-1 Max champion will be facing Katsunori Kikuno (16-4-2) on that fight with alternating rounds of K-1 and MMA rules. Word is, Jienotsu has even bulked up recently from around 155 lbs, to over 170 lbs. There were a few smaller sites reporting on an "alliance" between PRO, Legend FC, and PXC, since Legend FC fighter Mark Striegl was scheduled to compete at PXC, and is now set to face Daniel Mashamaite on PRO in Taipei. I spoke to a high ranking Legend FC official, and unsurprisingly, all this talk about 'alliance' or partnerships between them are false. According to him, some fighters request to fight outside of Legend FC, and they just entertain it on a case-per-case basis. He made it clear that there really is no formal or informal agreement to share fighters between these three organizations. Speaking of Mark Striegl (5-0), he hinted on something big that's coming up for him, "Got something "HUGE" in the works...stay tuned. #pridefcstyle". He also recently posted a video blog that documents his training camp for his upcoming fight, and also shows him working out and cornering Will Chope during his URCC bout: And since we're talking about Will Chope and the URCC, here's a highlight video from URCC XX which looks to be made by one of the spectators from the event: Legend FC lightweight champion Jadamba Narantungalag has an interview on their website that talks about various topics, including his thoughts on the development of MMA in Mongolia:"Mongolia is a country with strong warrior traditions, but MMA has only recently started to develop here. I think that our fighting spirit and our skills in disciplines like Mongolian traditional wrestling mean that MMA has a strong future in Mongolia. And our talented new generation of young fighters like Batgerel and Purev will be good representatives for the sport. For myself, I would like to continue to introduce and train people in MMA, and act as a role model for hopeful young Mongolian fighters.""One of the most important things that I can do for Mongolian MMA is to continue to successfully defend my Legend title."

Posted in: mma, bout, legend, fc, kang

Ryo Chonan talks about submitting Anderson Silva, rematching Hayato Sakurai and more

Ryo Chonan is a mixed martial arts (MMA) legend who has been on the scene since 2001 and faced the likes of Phil Baroni, Carlos Newton, Ricardo Almeida and Dan Henderson. His main claim to fame is his 2004 victory over Anderson Silva, which came courtesy of a spectacular flying scissor heel hook in the third round. He was an eight-fight stalwart of Pride FC, the now defunct Japanese promotion, and has also competed numerous times on DEEP cards, as well as having a brief spell in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He is currently at Evolve MMA in Singapore preparing to face fellow veteran Hayuto Sakurai.Every single one of his fights in the UFC went the full three rounds, demonstrating that Chonan was more than capable of competing in that organizations, and his final loss was only by way of split decision.At the age of 35 he is still younger than Anderson Silva and believes he has plenty more to offer as a mixed martial artist. He took time out from his training at Evolve MMA to talk about how even after over a decade of fighting he still has that hunger to compete. Check it out: Were you surprised by how successful Anderson Silva went on to become after losing to you?Anderson Silva is a very talented fighter. I am not surprised by his success. I wish him the best for his future.Flying scissor heel hooks are very rare in MMA. Was this something you practised or planned or was it totally spontaneous?I practice different techniques every day. The one I used on Anderson was just good timing.Why did you decide to train for your next fight at Evolve MMA?One of my training partners, Shinya Aoki, told me that it was the best training that he has ever had in his life. So I wanted to see for myself. What do you think of the training at facilities at Evolve MMA? How does it compare to Japan? Evolve is bigger and better than its reputation and the instructors here are the best. Japan does not have anything like Evolve, it is a mega concept.You defeated Hayato Sakurai eight years ago, do you think the rematch will be anything like the first fight? After our first fight, we became very good friends. We are quite close. He is a great fighter and a wonderful human being.DREAM's New Year's Eve shows are always big, are you happy to be fighting on such a high profile event? Yes I am happy to fight on NYE. I hope that I can fight on the ONE FC / DREAM event in Singapore in March too.Is it true that you are considering a drop down to 155 lbs? Maybe, it's possible but I have to see how my body feels. I have a hard training camp right now at Evolve and I lost a lot of weight already.You lost your final fight in the UFC by split decision. Did you feel like you won that fight and how different do you think your career would have been if the judges had given you the decision? It is better to finish fights. If I finish a fight, then I don't need to worry about judges.Who has been the hardest opponent you have ever faced? Everyone is tough. I don't pick my opponents, but I have respect for everyone.If you could rematch any of your opponents who would it be? I don't mind to erase my losses but I will fight anyone.Dream recently signed a partnership with One FC. Would a rematch with Phil Baroni interest you? Okay, sure. Why not?One FC and Dream are co promoting a show in Singapore in March. Having spent time training in Singapore would you like to fight there as well? Yes I would like to fight in Singapore. I would like to have my camp again at Evolve MMA. It is really incredible training here.You have been fighting for over a decade have you thought about when you might retire?I am a much better fighter than I was ten years ago and I have more experience too, I am getting better every day. I love MMA and fighting and I don’t want to stop.

Posted in: fight, mma, anderson silva, training, singapore

Review: MMA Travel Guide by William Stevens

Unless you’re a Green Beret or Peace Corps volunteer, the prospect of extended travel overseas is likely a daunting undertaking – especially in regards to countries that don’t speak your native tongue. But if you’re an MMA enthusiast kicking around the idea of studying Muay Thai or jiu-jitsu at its source, then author William Stevens, and his book the “MMA Travel Guide”, has got you covered. Drawing on his own experiences visiting Thailand and Brazil for the past decade, Stevens (himself a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Louis Vintaloro and Royler Gracie) lays it all out in concise, Fodor’s Handbook-esque fashion. Here’s a breakdown of the book’s finer points: -Geography – You may not pass any advanced geography exams after reading the book, but the MMA Travel Guide certainly lays out where in Thailand you’d go for training at the top Muay Thai camps, and where you’d find the jiu-jitsu academies in Brazil. There’s a decent breakdown of Bangkok, which, for international travelers, will likely be the point of entry into the country, as well as descriptions pertaining to the more exotic Phuket and Chiang Mai locales. Having visited Thailand myself, I can say Stevens nails it – especially the part about not renting motorbikes. (I saw tons of tourists absolutely mangled on those things, and that was before I even left the airport.) For Brazil, the travel tips extend only as far as the city of Rio de Janeiro, but there’s so much jiu-jitsu in Rio, you’d have to really want to visit the country’s other grappling spots (Sao Paolo, Minas Gerais, etc.) to be inclined to check them out. -Local Customs – Did you know pointing your feet at someone or tousling their hair can offend a Thai? Stevens has that little tidbit in there, as well as others, which should hopefully keep you from getting your butt kicked by locals who are sick of your post-boozing nonsense. There isn’t much by way of insight into local customs re: Brazil, suffice to say that acai is loved by one and all. Still, what more do you need to know in Brazil? -Language – Stevens lays out a ton of important words and phrases in Portuguese that would be essential to any jiu-jitsu tourist (or just plain tourist who wants to avoid having some stranger put their knee on his belly). But the Thai that’s laid out in the MMA Travel Guide is fantastic. Words and phrases are spelled out for Western pronunciation, and addresses are written out in Thai. In other words, if you want to check out the Sasipapra Muay Thai Gym in Bangkok, all you need to do is hold up that page of the guide to a taxi driver and he’d be able to read where it is. That’s very, very helpful. -The Nitty-Gritty of Training – For the section on Thailand, the facilities offered by each of the camps are laid out. Also, the pros and cons of staying at a camp versus hotel are weighed, and Stevens even touches upon checking out live Muay Thai fights (a must for fight fans and aspiring fighters alike). For the jiu-jitsu practitioner trekking to South America, the MMA Travel Guide encourages all belt levels to make the trip. Included is a description of what training is like at the Gracie Academy in Humaita, as well as necessary tips on diet, cardio and communication. If the MMA Travel Guide has any shortcomings, it’s that Stevens only writes about what he knows – Thailand and Brazil. The way information on training in those countries is provided makes me wish the author would do the same for places like Holland, Japan, and even the United States. But alas… “My experience is really only with Brazil and Thailand, so I don’t really have any plans on other books,” said Stevens via email. “Wrestling is the one martial art that really has been most dominant in MMA, but who really needs a travel guide to Ohio? Seriously, I thought about doing a tour to visit the top MMA trainers in the USA, but running my two schools and trying to sell my book alongside has used up all my time. Maybe in another life.” Oh well. At least the MMA Travel Guide gives us the birthplaces of Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Check out the MMA Travel Guide on Amazon.com.

Posted in: mma, guide, steven, thai, travel

Inside MMA: Dan Henderson, Anthony Johnson, Rashad Evans

Inside MMA airs live on HDNet every Monday night at 8pm ET. Inside MMA Archive More segments after the jump.

Posted in: mma, monday night, mma airs, mma archive, hdnet

The 2011 MiddleEasy Awards are here! Vote NOW!

It's that time of the year in which we pay homage to our favorite moments in MMA by pitting them against each other in a hypothetical death match -- controlled by you! The 2011 MiddleEasy Awards are here, and we fully expect you to tell all of your friends, including your functional alcoholic neighbor that knocks on your door every weekend. Right now, you have the power to control MMA history as we know it. The future of the MMA universe is in your hands, use your powers wisely! Check out the list of nominees for the 2011 MiddleEasy Awards and don't forget vote for the 2011 MiddleEasy Awards! Vote on the 2011 MiddleEasy Awards!

Posted in: mma, middleeasy, award, mma universe, hands use

Check out the MMA deals of the week

[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on FighterXFashion.com, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] With the holiday season right around the corner, it’s about that time to take a look at the next round of MMA deals with this week’s latest offers. Whether gearing up for MMA training, or shopping around for a few new holiday deals, this latest selection of MMA sales and discounts has just what you need if you’re a fan of top fight wear brands like Bad Boy and TapouT. Ready to save some cash, while taking home some free gear? Check out the latest MMA deals below. See the Deals...

Posted in: mma, deal, mma training, mma deals, mma sales

Oh wow, Bloodstain Lane fought a Street MMA match against one of his Twitter followers

In the history of MMA there has only been a few major paradigm shifts that have changed the way we view the sport. Pre/post UFC, pre/post Pride and for better or worse, pre and post Bloodstain Lane. Everything else is just a footnote. What started as an angry fan commenting on Sherdog's top ten p4p list has blossomed into one of the most infamous characters MMA has ever seen. Bloodstain has talked a lot of crap to a lot of people, but I think even his haters can appreciate him meeting one of his Twitter followers 1 v 1 in an ill lit New York street in the video below.

Posted in: mma, bloodstain, york street, characters mma, paradigm shifts

UFC Debuting In Sweden In March 2012

The UFC will be adding a new country to its 2012 passport as they'll be heading to Sweden for the first time in company history for a yet-to-be announced March event, according to a Swedish MMA site.The event is scheduled for Stockholm on Wednesday, March 28th, likely to be a Fight Night event on FX or Fuel TV. There are several options for arenas like the large AEG-run Stockholm Arena or the 16,000 seat Ericsson Globe. This will be the promotion's first trip to a Nordic country. An interesting side note from Nordic MMA-centric site MMA Viking: The newly rumored date of March 28 for a "Fight Night" may also help the fact that the Swedish MMA Federation (SMMAF) does not currently permit bouts over 15 minutes, so the main event may not be at the UFC’s newly established 5-round fights. The UFC may be backtracking on their announcement earlier this year regarding all main events being five-round fights as the recently announced Jim Miller vs. Melvin Guillard main event for UFC on FX 1 will be three rounds. The UFC already has trips to Brazil, Japan and Australia planned for the first quarter of the year.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, event, march

Convicted felon attempts to carjack MMA fighter in Chicago, gets beat up and shot

A word of advice to would-be muggers: Before walking up to a stranger on the streets in attempt to rob them, make sure he or she is not a trained mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter. Anthony Miranda, a convicted felon who fails from Chicago, Ill., learned the hard way. According to the SunTimes.com, Miranda attempted to steal a parked vehicle in on Fri. Dec. 2, 2011, around 11:30 p.m. in the southwest side of the "Windy City." He asked the driver of the vehicle if he had a lighter. Upon saying no, Miranda then pulled a gun on the unidentified male and demanded money. The driver cooperated, however, he refused to relinquish his vehicle, which is apparently when the situation got really real. According to the report, the victim got out of his car and soon attempted to wrestle the gun away from Miranda. During the tussle, Miranda accidentally fired the gun, shooting himself in the ankle. The victim was able to subdue the mugger using his MMA background and hold him down until police arrived. Upon arrival, the mugger was found with a face full of cuts and a couple of matching black eyes. It's safe to assume he didn't have a beat up face prior to the incident. Miranda is currently being held on $350,000 bail. Street justice, meanwhile, has been served.

Posted in: mma, gun, miranda, vehicle, mma background

Miguel Torres Enjoying Personal MMA Evolution

Miguel Torres has been on a wild ride throughout his MMA career, and just wants to climb back up the ladder towards a possible championship. Since changing things up and going to Tristar, home of Georges St. Pierre, Torres is fighting smarter and better than he has in a long time. At UFC 139, Torres dominated Nick Pace en route to a unanimous decision — showing a sharp, well-rounded fight style balanced by good MMA smarts, which he attributes to Firas Zahabi. The first thing he told me was, ‘You’re the kind of guy that I can see is worrying about everybody else but himself. You’re trying to make everybody happy but yourself,’” Torres said during a Sherdog Radio Network interview. “He goes, ‘You have a daughter. You have a wife. You’ve got to be smart. You’ve got to do what is best for your family. You being busted up at 35 and not having any prospects is not going to make you a good father. You’ve got to be smart. You’ve got to look out for your career and you’ve got to get paid at the same time.’” Torres definitely has the striking and BJJ credentials to give most fighters fits — and now has the coaching to help him get back to the top of the sport.

Posted in: mma, ’ve, torre, firas zahabi, bjj credentials

Lesson learned: don't mug someone cause they could be an MMA fighter. Fuckin' idiot

submitted by munchee420 [link] [3 comments]

Posted in: mma, fighter, someone, dont, mug

10 Questions with Miguel Torres

Miguel Torres hardly needs an introduction. Once a pound for pound stand out known for his wild wars in the WEC, he now finds himself fighting for contention in the UFC's busy bantamweight division. Following his recent win over Nick Pace, he took some time to answer a few of our questions. Chad: You were obviously a little pissed off with your opponent coming in heavy at UFC 139. Did that anger help inside the cage at all? Miguel Torres: I cut about 15 pounds the week of the fight. That particular day I was already one pound away, and in my zone where I was going to do some work. Got a phone call about 20 minutes from 2pm, saying Pace couldn't make weight. I said, "How much will he be over?" The answer not only upset me, it infuriated me, but I digress. My fury did not motivate at all during that fight. I am a much more mature and intelligent fighter than I used to be. Anger clouds judgment, I used the motivation of my daughter's future and all the sacrifices I've made as motivation. Chad: Do you have any post fight rituals, or is there anything you really look forward to after a fight? Miguel Torres: The biggest thing I look forward to after a fight is coming home to see my daughter, eating a home cooked meal, and playing double dragon. Being gone from home for 2 months is rough, so those are things I look forward to the most. Chad: Now that you've got a second win in the UFC, is there anyone in particular you'd like to fight? Miguel Torres: I don't have any beef or grudges with anyone. I will fight whoever is put in front of me. I am a professional fighter and it is my job to do this. My management and trainer are the ones who deal with that, my only job is to be in shape, be healthy, and to kill. Chad: There's been some criticism from MMA fans about the new "safe" Miguel Torres vs. the old wilder Torres. What do you think of all this? Miguel Torres: I get a lot of shit from fans about my new style. I don't believe I had a style in the past, hence the attitude I carried in the cage. And yes that style brought me to where I am now, but times were a lot different, and the level and strategy of my opponents has been raised very high. I am an old dog who is learning new tricks every day. Its one thing to criticize a fighter, but it's another thing to stand against him in a cage when it is locked, knowing your pay, health, and history are all on the line. The new Miguel Torres is still an animal, and when it has to come out, it will. The only difference is that now I don't have to make every fight a war, when in the past it was all I wanted. In all honesty, my body, mind, and career would not have lasted long with that attitude. What people say doesn't mean much to me when I compare it to my health, and my daughter's welfare. Chad: You once said fighting yourself is like fighting an octopus in quicksand. Would you describe a fight with yourself differently today? Miguel Torres: Fighting me on the ground is still like fighting an octopus in quicksand, only difference now is that this octopus knows how to wrestle, and has more tricks. For some reason judges appreciate defense more than offense. If strikes and submission attempts were valued I would pull guard in the first 5 seconds. I am a beast on the ground. Chad: Of all the disciplines in MMA, which one would you say is your favorite, either to use in the cage or just to practice? Miguel Torres: Out of all the disciplines, my favorite are striking and BJJ. Out of those two, I could never pick one over the other. I love both. Wrestling is my new mistress, but only out of necessity. The one thing I hate about wrestling is the abuse it puts on the body, that shit gets rough. But it is a necessary evil that makes the rest of my game more dangerous. Chad: Since Urijah Faber dropped down to 135, there was talk about you two fighting, but lately that hasn't been mentioned at all. Is that a fight that's still on your radar? Miguel Torres: A fight against Urijah will have to happen one day, just needs to be in each other's sites. We both have our eyes set on capturing a UFC title so I am sure our paths will cross. Chad: Do you have any other hobbies or interests you'd like to pursue when you're finished fighting? Miguel Torres: After my fighting career I would continue to teach my students, grow my gym, and train fighters. Working as an analyst, movies, fashion, restaurants, clubs, MMA events. I have a lot of paths waiting on me when my career winds down from MMA, but I will never be out of the scene. Chad: You had a memorable career in the WEC, what early fight stands out to you most now? Miguel Torres: The fights I remember the most are against Maeda and Mizugaki. For some reason I made those fights personal wars, and those were the nicest guys I ever met in my life. Those were some crazy times in my life, and I fought as such. Chad: Who inspired or influenced you most earlier in your career? Miguel Torres: The thing that inspired me the most in my career were my parents. They worked so hard for me and siblings so we could have a roof over our heads, and food in our bellies. They were the essence of sacrifice to me, and made me understand this at a young age. All I did was take that attitude, and brought it to MMA. Who knows, if I found poetry or music as exciting as MMA, we would be having a different conversation. With that attitude you can accomplish anything. Check out migueltorresmma.com for updates, videos, interviews, tshirts or contact information.

Posted in: fight, mma, torre, miguel, chad

Remember the guy that bet $7,000 on Mayhem Miller? Yeah...

My entire adult life can be expressed through a long line of very unwise MMA bets, most of them under the influence of stupidity. Leave it to me to drop my entire month's rent on Frank Mir not only defeating Brock Lesnar at UFC 100, but knocking him out in the second round. Luckily, my landlord at the time was an avid MMA fan so he understood my irresponsibility along with my reactionary nature to place cash on a fighter because 'they have glow-in-the-dark walk out shirts.' Las Vegas is a place to lose money, and if someone proclaims they've left Vegas with a positive bank account -- don't believe a word they say for the rest of their life. You may have lost hundreds betting on MMA throughout the years, but at least you didn't drop $7,000 on a fight that Dana White proclaimed was one of the worst one-sided beat downs in UFC history. On a now-deleted thread on Sherdog, someone claimed they bet $7,000 on a guy named 'Meyhem.' When questioned on the validity of the bet, he provided this betting ticket directly from Las Vegas. Well buddy, some bookie just placed a down payment on a new Mercedes Benz SL63 AMG and you're left with an image that we've published on MiddleEasy. Congrats bud, in the end you still won. Props to Eddy C. on the find.

Posted in: mma, vega, bet, ufc history, mercedes benz

MMA on TV

Welcome to “MMA on TV”, Five Ounces of Pain’s weekly update on the upcoming MMA-broadcast schedule. Miss the latest episode of MMA Live or UFC Unleashed? Wondering when Showtime, Spike TV, or HDNet are airing a replay of their latest offering or interested in finding out where to tune into live shows occurring over the next seven days? December 5 – December 11 All Times Eastern Monday (12/5) MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 5am MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 10am MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 3pm Inside MMA (Premiere) on HDNet at 8pm M-1 Challenge: Magalhaes vs. Zayats (Replay) on ShowtimeEX at 10pm Tuesday (12/6) Inside MMA (Replay) on HDNet at 12am MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 11:30am Art of Fighting (Replay) on MAVTV at 1pm Legacy FC 7 (Replay) on HDNet at 3:30pm MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 4:30pm Art of Fighting (Replay) on MAVTV at 6pm Legend Fighting (Replay) on FuelTV at 8pm Wednesday (12/7) ProElite: Big Guns (Replay) on HDNet at 3:30pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 3pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 4pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 5pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 6pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 7pm Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 7:30pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 8pm Art of Fighting (Replay) on MAVTV at 8:30pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 9pm MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 9:30pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 10pm King of the Cage (Replay) on MAVTV at 10pm Countdown to UFC 140 (Replay) on FuelTV at 10pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 11pm Thursday (12/8) UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 12am UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 1am Countdown to UFC 140 (Replay) on FuelTV at 1am Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 1:30am Countdown to UFC 140 (Replay) on SpikeTV at 2am Art of Fighting (Replay) on MAVTV at 2:30am King of the Cage (Replay) on MAVTV at 3:30am Countdown to UFC 140 (Replay) on FuelTV at 4am Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 12pm ProElite: Big Guns (Replay) on HDNet at 3:30pm Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 5pm Friday (12/9) Shark Fights 2011 (Replay) on FuelTV at 12:30am MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 10:30am MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 3:30pm Best of MFC (Replay) on HDNet at 3:30pm Countdown to UFC 140 (Replay) on FuelTV at 8pm Inside MMA (Replay) on HDNet at 9pm Legend Fighting (Replay) on FuelTV at 9pm Legend Fighting (Replay) on FuelTV at 10pm Dynamite!! 2010 (Replay) on HDNet at 10pm M-1 Challenge: Zavurov vs. Enomoto (Live Event) on Showtime At 11pm Saturday (12/10) Legend Fighting (Replay) on FuelTV at 12am Legend Fighting (Replay) on FuelTV at 1am Inside MMA (Replay) on HDNet at 2am Dynamite!! 2010 (Replay) on HDNet at 3am Legend Fighting (Replay) on FuelTV at 3am MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 12:30pm Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 1pm BAMMA 8 (Live Event) on HDNet at 4pm MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 5:30pm Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 6pm Countdown to UFC 140 (Replay) on HDNET at 6pm UFC 140 Prelims (Live Event) on ION at 7pm UFC 140: Jones vs. Machida (Live Event) on PPV at 9pm Legend Fighting (Replay) on FuelTV at 9pm BAMMA 8 (Replay) on HDNet at 10pm Sunday (12/11) Legend Fighting (Replay) on FuelTV at 5am King of the Cage (Replay) on MAVTV at 11am King of the Cage (Replay) on MAVTV at 4pm World MMA Awards (Premiere) on FoxSports at 8pm MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 11pm

Posted in: ufc, mma, replay, pm, mavtv

Weekend Results: Bubba Jenkins Wins MMA Debut

Bubba Jenkins can also add MMA to his list of accomplishments in 2011. Jenkins, the 2011 NCAA wrestling national champion, successfully made his MMA debut this past Friday at Tachi Palace Fights 11 in Lemoore, Calif., forcing opponent Josh Williams to tap to strikes at two minutes and four seconds of the first round. The 23-year-old Jenkins has been training for MMA with the American Top Team in Florida. Denis Kang, Corey Hill and others were also in action over the weekend. Check out a quick rundown below. -- Also at TPF 11, Bellator veteran Georgi Karakhanyan won the 145-pound title with a triangle choke over Isaac DeJesus. Former 125-pound TPF champion Ulysses Gomez took home the 135-pound belt with a guillotine over Cody Gibson. -- At Friday's XFC 15, Nick Newell, who lost an arm in a motorcycle accident, extended his win streak to six with a heel hook in 71 seconds. -- On the same XFC 15 card, Corey Hill bounced back from his September 2010 loss to "Razor" Rob McCullough by scoring a Brabo choke win over Charlie Rader ... One-time Bellator competitor Felice Herrig had her two-fight win streak snapped in a decision loss to Carla Esparza. -- Former PRIDE and UFC fighter Denis Kang dropped his third straight fight on Saturday at Road FC 5 in Seoul, South Korea. Kang lost by TKO to PRIDE veteran Shungo Oyama, who earned his third consecutive victory. -- In Japan, two new Pancrase champions were declared at Saturday's Pancrase Impressive Tour 13 event. Mitsuhisa Sunabe became the first-ever 125-pound Pancrase titleholder by stopping Hiroyuki Abe with strikes in the third. Shooto and Sengoku veteran Shintaro Ishiwatari bested Manabu Inoue for the 135-pound title by majority decision. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: pound, mma, jenkin, weekend check, isaac dejesus

Nagashima vs. Kikuno Set for Mixed Rules Bout at 'Genki Desu Ka!!'

Filed under: News, JapanYuichiro "Jienotsu" Nagashima, who knocked out Shinya Aoki last New Year's Eve in a kickboxing/MMA fight, will fight again under the mixed rules format on Dec. 31 at "Genki Desu Ka!!" taking place at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. Nagashima, a K-1 MAX kickboxer known for engaging in school girl cosplay, has been booked to face former DEEP lightweight champion and DREAM veteran Katsunori Kikuno. In this special attraction, one round will be under K-1 kickboxing rules and the other under DREAM mixed martial arts rules. Nagashima, who fought MMA in 2005-2006 before making the jump full-time to K-1 in 2007, recently made clear his interest in returning to MMA. After a UFC 137 press conference in October, Nagashima introduced himself to UFC president Dana White, asking for an opportunity inside the UFC cage. Nagashima caught the attention of Japanese MMA fans last year when he scored a second-round KO over Aoki. And he did so in the MMA round of the fight with a knee four seconds in. Unlike last year, Nagashima will be fighting an MMA fighter who prefers to keep the fight on the feet. Kikuno carries one of the more unusual fighting stances in MMA with his emphasis in Kyokushin Karate. Kikuno also has a judo background but his strength in MMA has been in the standup department. Nine out of his 16 wins have come by way of (T)KO. The current "Genki Desu Ka!!" lineup is below. Dream Lightweight Title Bout Shinya Aoki vs. Satoru Kitaoka Dream Featherweight Title Bout Hiroyuki Takaya vs. Takeshi "Lion" Inoue Dream Bantamweight World GP Semifinals: Bibiano Fernandes vs. Rodolfo Marques Semifinals: Masakazu Imanari vs. Antonio Banuelos Finals: Winner of Fernandes-Marques vs. Winner of Imanari-Banuelos Reserve: Hideo Tokoro vs. Yusup Saadulaev Other MMA Bouts Hayato "Mach" Sakurai vs. Ryo Chonan Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Kazuyuki Miyata Mixed Rules Bout Yuichiro Nagashima vs. Katsunori Kikuno Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mma, bout, vs, rule, nagashima

The MMA Hour With Jon Jones in Studio, Dan Henderson, Arianny, Miller, Benavidez

In honor of The MMA Hour's brand spankin' new studio, we've booked an all-star lineup for Monday's episode. Here's who will be stopping by: * UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones will be in studio to discuss his UFC 140 title fight against Lyoto Machida. * Dan Henderson will look back at his epic UFC 139 win over Shogun Rua and ahead to what's next for him. * UFC Octagon Girl Arianny Celeste will talk about her ongoing feud with Chael Sonnen. * Middleweight Dan Miller will discuss his son's recent health issues and how the MMA community has rallied around his family. * Bantamweight Joseph Benavidez will look back the widely popular "JoBe Awards" and what's next for him. Plus, we'll get a live look-in at the TUF 15 tryouts in Las Vegas, look back at the TUF 14 Finale and ahead to Saturday night's UFC 140 pay-per-view event. 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, shogun rua, health issues

One armed MMA fighter Nick Newall is now 6-0

submitted by hyperinsane [link] [2 comments]

Posted in: mma, nick, fighter, hyperinsane, newall

MMA Nation radio airs tonight at 9 p.m. ET. Luke will discuss the results from last night's The...

MMA Nation radio airs tonight at 9 p.m. ET. Luke will discuss the results from last night's The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale, the ins and outs of Miguel Cotto vs. Antonio Margarito II, and Washington, D.C.'s very own Lamont Peterson joins the show at 9:30 to discuss his upcoming fight with Amir Khan. How to Listen If you're in Washington, D.C. tune your radio dial to 106.7 FM To stream over the Internet, 106.7 on Radio.com Mobile devices - The Yahoo Radio App for either Apple or Android For a look inside the studio, On ustream.tv How to Interact Call the show TOLL FREE: 1-800-636-1067 Register at MMA Nation and leave a comment luke.thomas@sbnation.com @SBNLukeThomas facebook.com/MMANationDotCom

Posted in: mma, radio, nation, show toll, washington dcs

MMA fighters school pics.

submitted by Jam_med [link] [2 comments]

Posted in: mma, fighter, school, pic

Michael Bisping landed over 100 more strikes than Mayhem Miller at the TUF 14 Finale

Tonight, MMA math prevails. Next year, MiddleEasy will be instructing a course on the science and if you pass your final exams, you will be awarded with your very own diploma. See, you think we're kidding, egh? Just you wait. If the earth can survive the Mayan apocalypse in 2012, you may be the proud owner of a MMA math certificate that you can proudly hang on your wall. Tonight, the scoreboards read: MMA Math - 1, Your Logic - 0. In fact, just stop thinking. Let me do it for you. Don't worry, I have some time to spare before Cotto and Margarito starts. The first thing you should think is 'Holy wow, Michael Bisping completely reconstructed Mayhem Miller's face tonight at TUF 14.' I mean, if only we could be a fly on the wall in Nick Diaz's house when he sat on his sofa and watched tonight's fight. Granted, if I were a fly in Nick Diaz's house -- I would be high. High in the sense that I would land on his ceiling so he couldn't see me -- come on, what else did you think I was talking about? Granted, I would have to watch out for flying televisions being thrown off his banister, because that's just how Nick rolls. At the TUF 14 season finale, we witnessed an absolute cataclysmic event known as Michael Bisping's fists over the face and body of Mayhem. Statistically, It was such a one-sided match that I feel the need to provide the FightMetric statistics from tonight's main event. Props to Michael Bisping on a dominating performance, and hopefully we'll get those Masters and PhD classes for MMA Math instituted into every university across the country in the next decade.

Posted in: mma, michael, michael bisping, math, mma math

Bryan Caraway Was Very Close to Not Fighting at TUF 14 Finale

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosLAS VEGAS -- Watch below as Bryan Caraway talked about beating Dustin Neace at the TUF 14 Finale, why he was close to not fighting on Saturday night, dealing with his nerves before the fight and much more. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: saturday night, mma, bryan, finale, videoslas vegas

Who has seen the film Redbelt? Recommended MMA films?

Hi MMA redditors, Just finished watching Redbelt and was completely blown away. Loved the film. Love the acting. Loved the fact that it's not your typical martial arts film. And most of all loved the story, especially the ending. Talk about moving and one that really touches your heart. :) Anyway, I want to know if anyone else has seen this film and if so, share their thoughts regarding the film as well as recommend me some films that showcase some interesting MMA. submitted by parktung [link] [5 comments]

Posted in: mma, film, film redbelt, film love, arts film

MTV MMA reality show set for January debut

Variety reports that MTV is set to debut “Caged,” a reality show featuring 4 Louisiana teenagers trying to make it in the world of MMA. MTV announced the debut of the show for January 9, 2012. Via Variety: [“Caged”] follows of a group of small-town Louisiana teens who engage in cage fighting to help them cope with the struggles in their lives. The amateur mixed martial arts bouts give the protagonists a sense of accomplishment both inside and outside the ring. “We’re always looking for subcultures to explore and do a deep dive into their lives,” MTV programming topper David Janollari told Variety when the show was first announced earlier this year. “What I love about the show is that it’s not just about fighting but examining life in every-town America.” Via MMA Junkie: The series follows their lives in and out of the cage. As is typical with such programs, a small mix of personalities gets camera time, including the rich kid whose first love died in an accident, the college grad who’s handling life with his new girlfriend/fighter/nursing school student and son, and a fighter hoping to make his parents proud as a pro competitor. The show is scheduled to air Monday nights with a 10 episode run. Payout Perspective: We’ll see how MMA is portrayed by the show and perceived by the teenagers. MMA is starting to build popularity and its interesting to see how it will grow. The perception of violence is definitely an obstacle that MMA must deal with in an attempt to appeal to the mainstream. Hopefully the show will humanize the people that fight rather than glorify the violence. For those that recall, MTV did a “True Life” on MMA several years back. One of the guys it featured was a young Frankie Edgar. It was a good behind the scenes look at Edgar’s life before he made it big. Hopefully, “Caged,” will give the same behind the scenes look.

Posted in: mma, show, life, mtv, debut

USA TODAY/MMA Nation November 2011 Consensus Rankings: Lightweight

Rank Fighter Points Promotion Last Rank 1 Frankie Edgar 400 UFC 1 2 Gilbert Melendez 377 Strikeforce 2 3 Gray Maynard 367 UFC 3 4 Ben Henderson 352 UFC 4 5 Shinya Aoki 321 DREAM 6 6 Clay Guida 289 UFC 7 7 Jim Miller 277 UFC 8 8 Donald Cerrone 241 UFC 13 9 Anthony Pettis 230 UFC 9 10 Michael Chandler 226 Bellator 42 11 Eddie Alvarez 185 Bellator 4 12 Joe Lauzon 113 UFC 15 13 Nate Diaz 112 UFC 12 14 Gleison Tibau 109 UFC 19 15 Melvin Guillard 105 UFC 11 16 Dennis Siver 95 UFC 10 17 B.J. Penn 93 UFC 14 18 Sean Sherk 87 UFC 16 19 Evan Dunham 80 UFC 17 20 Rafael dos Anjos 77 UFC 18 21 Matt Wiman 71 UFC 20 21 Sam Stout 71 UFC 22 23 Josh Thomson 69 Strikeforce 23 24 Jorge Masvidal 68 Strikeforce 21 25 Kenny Florian 67 UFC 25 By far December's biggest lightweight fight scheduled is #2 Gilbert Melendez vs. #24 Jorge Masvidal at Strikeforce's 12/17 event. The next biggest event is debatable as #5 Shinya Aoki will face #37 Satoru Kitaoka at DREAM's New Year's Eve show while #8 Donald Cerrone is scheduled to to take on #13 Nate Diaz at UFC 141. 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, ranking, point

5 Oz. MMA Link Club

Welcome back to another edition of “MMA Link Club”, Five Ounces of Pain‘s weekly smorgasbord of offerings from our brothers and sisters in the MMA community.Enjoy… Alistair Overeem Heads Home to Complete Training in Light of Sick Mother (MMAMania.com) Brittney Palmer is Back at UFC 140 (5thRound.com) Ryan Jimmo Talks UFC Signing (MiddleEasy.com) Keith Jardine Facing Luke Rockhold in January for Strikeforce Title (MMAConvert.com) Marloes Coenen Sounds Off on Miesha Tate/Ronda Rousey (BleacherReport.com) Jason Miller’s Fight Journal (MMAFighting.com) Chael Sonnen Calls Himself “Honest” and “Respectful” (FightLine.com) A Funny Look at Police Artist Sketches that Resemble Fighters (CagePotato.com) UFC Coming to XBOX Live Later this Month (MMAPayout.com) Would Confidential Drug Testing Help the UFC? (FightOpinion.com) Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney Talks Season 5, Future (TheFightNerd.com) Donald Cerrone Talks Nate Diaz and Stockton (LowKick.com PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE/UFC

Posted in: ufc, mma, luke rockhold, talk, drug testing

MMAterial Facts (12/02/11) : TUF History – By the Numbers, Bisping vs Miller, & Drug Testing

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 FightNerd.com - The Ultimate Fighter History in Review: Stats, Facts and Figures (MMA Fighting) “As a superstar production unit, the show has had mixed results. It began with a splash in 2005, launching the careers of Forrest Griffin, Kenny Florian, Josh Koscheck and others, but in time, competition for talent from other organizations made it more difficult to land prime talent. That’s led to criticism from some who believe it no longer serves a real purpose as a feeder. … That debate is worth an exploration, though it’s ultimately moot as the franchise will continue in a newly revamped style on its new cable home on FX in 2012. But for now, let’s take a look at the first 13 seasons of TUF in stats, facts and figures (season 14 is excluded because its competitors have yet to officially fight in the octagon).” - Would a confidential drug testing program help out UFC fighters? (Fight Opinion) ““I read all the blog sites and everybody’s all caught up, is it a performance enhancer? It’s a banned substance, it’s not a performance-enhancing substance list, it’s a banned substance list. And this is a place where sports in general and MMA in specific are trying to look out for the well being of the fighters because getting on this type of medication, as anybody will tell you, is very, very, very hard to get off. I don’t call these types of medications, the opiates, the narcotics, the Dilaudids, performance enhancers. I call them performance enablers.” … He’s exactly right. Semi-retired wrestler Lance Storm talks about how dangerous taking painkillers can be because when you are injured and feeling the pain, you’re body is telling you to stop and you’re popping a pill to basically continue on without feeling the natural pain you’re supposed to. The end result is more physical damage to your body, including your organs should you take one too many pills.” - Interview with TUF 13 winner Tony Ferguson (MMA Mania) “When I fought Aaron Riley, he shook my hand in the back, you might have saw it but we were in the back, his jaw was broken and he shook my hand and he looked at me and I finally got it. It was a passing of the torch, you know? It was like, “Okay, you beat me, now do something with it,” and that’s what I want to do.” - Pic: BJ Penn Was Mobbed For Autographs In The Philippines Today (MMA Convert) “For quite awhile the UFC had targeted the Philippines for their first international TUF season until they found out first hand just how hot the Brazil market was. And it’s not hard to see why considering the massive turnouts for public appearances by Chuck Liddell, Brandon Vera, Georges St. Pierre and now BJ Penn.” - Ryan Jimmo Interview: The sequel to the worst movie ever made and his move to the UFC (MiddleEasy) “Did it take you longer than you expected to get to the UFC? Yes…and no. I think I would be able to hold my own and compete there a while ago even if that’s an untested theory. My manager and I had a plan. We didn’t want to go in too school. We wanted to make sure my skills were in place, my wrestling was in place. Now my wrestling is fantastic, I’m out wrestling wrestlers. I wanted to make sure my stand up was correct and my confidence was good enough. I wanted to make sure my life was in the right place and financially I was OK. We wanted to take all of these steps and make sure all of our ducks are in a row so we don’t go up there like some guys that have no wrestling or Jiu Jitsu, that are so happy to be in the UFC, but make a quick exit. That’s not what I envision for myself. I’m a complete fighter and I’m going to make my mark there.” - Video: Jason “Mayhem” Miller’s Fight Journal Part 2 (FightLine) “MMAFighting’s E. Casey Leydon spent some time with Mayhem as he gears up to face Bisping this weekend, producing a Fight Journal video to get an inside look at Mayhem’s life leading up to the fight. … We posted the first part of the video earlier this week, you can check out both parts below.” - CagePotato Tribute: The Failure to Intimidate (Cage Potato) “Hoping to gain the mental edge, Tito channeled his inner high school bully and made a lunge toward Liddell. While such tactics work wonders on members of the glee club, the mere suggestion of physical contact hardy registers a blink from dudes who get punched in the face on the regular. The Iceman was sick of Tito’s tough guy routine and primed to dole out the beating he’d dodged for so many years. He’d leave Ortiz crumpled in the fetal position in just over one round the following evening. Undaunted by his failure to intimidate, Ortiz continued to employ the same psyche-out strategy throughout his career with mixed results. Mental giant Ken Shamrock took the bait with hilarious results, while Ryan Bader could barely muster up a grin in response.” - Grappling with Issues – 12/2/11 (Five Ounces of Pain) “Would you have cut Chris Leben after his latest run-in with drug/alcohol abuse? … Conlan: … The reality is the UFC has some culpability in the situation because they’ve created an environment where things that would result in most folks being fired don’t have long-term repercussions. They need to be cognizant of the perception it creates, the responsibility they have as his employer, and understand the company/sport could suffer a major blow to their reputation if Leben slips up again to the point someone’s life is dramatically affected whether his own, a friend/family member, or even an innocent victim.” - 2011 World MMA Award Winners (5thRound) “Fighters Only’s 2011 World MMA Awards took place Wednesday night at The Pearl inside the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. The who’s who of the mixed martial arts world, except yours truly, attended the fancy black-tie ceremony.” - TUF 14: Bisping vs. Miller Weigh-In Video and Results (LowKick) “The event is co -headlined by the TUF 14 Featherweight Finale bout between Dennis Bermudez and Diego Brandao, while T.J. Dillashaw takes on John Dodson in the TUF 14 Bantamweight Finale bout. The main card will be completed with Tony Ferguson vs. Yves Edwards, and Johnny Bedford vs. Louis Gaudinot.” - Bellator FC 59 Results & Exclusive Photo Gallery (TheFightNerd) “Bellator Fighting Championships returned to Atlantic City, N.J. to end its historic fifth season LIVE on MTV2 and in HD on EPIX from Caesars Atlantic City. While two tournament finals were scheduled for Bellator 59, only one Tournament Championship was decided as Eduardo Dantas collected an impressive win over Alexis Vila in the Bantamweight Finals. The Heavyweight Finals was declared a no contest, as Thiago Santos delivered what was ruled an accidental illegal blow to the groin of Eric Prindle, which eventually halted the fight and was declared a no contest.” - Michael Bisping vs. Jason Miller, TUF 14 Finale: Who Has the Most To Lose? (BleacherReport.com/MMA) “Bisping is one of the UFC’s most marketable fighters thanks to his international appeal. He is also one of the company’s most hated fighters because of his antics both in and out of the Octagon. … Many fighters in MMA talk trash. But Bisping has gone beyond that, being disrespectful to fans and fighters alike. … It’s easy for Bisping to talk trash. But if he really wants to shut up his doubters, he will have to get wins over big-name opponents. … If he loses against Miller, it will show that he may never be a top contender. “

Posted in: ufc, mma, fighter, tuf, bisping

Sonnen quoting Eminem on the red carpet of MMA Awards 2011

submitted by Luskeent [link] [3 comments]

Posted in: mma, sonnen, award, luskeent, eminem

USA TODAY/MMA Nation November 2011 Consensus Rankings: Welterweight

Rank Fighter Points Promotion Last Rank 1 Georges St. Pierre 400 UFC 1 2 Jon Fitch 376 UFC 2 3 Nick Diaz 343 UFC 5 4 Jake Ellenberger 335 UFC 6 5 Carlos Condit 333 UFC 3 6 Josh Koscheck 328 UFC 4 7 Jake Shields 304 UFC 7 8 B.J. Penn 238 UFC 8 9 Martin Kampmann 216 UFC 14 10 Anthony Johnson 199 UFC 10 11 Diego Sanchez 165 UFC 12 12 Thiago Alves 164 UFC 11 13 Rory MacDonald 152 UFC 13 14 Ben Askren 145 Bellator 18 15 Rick Story 139 UFC 9 16 Charlie Brenneman 129 UFC 14 17 Johny Hendricks 124 UFC 19 18 Tyron Woodley 108 Strikeforce 17 19 Paulo Thiago 106 UFC 16 20 Jay Hieron 103 Bellator 20 21 Brian Ebersole 78 UFC 21 22 Paul Daley 77 Ring Side 26 23 John Hathaway 72 UFC 22 24 Siyar Bahadurzada 71 Ultimate Glory 27 25 Douglas Lima 70 Bellator 32 The first "relevant" welterweight bout of December will be at UFC 140 where #21 Brian Ebersole will take on unranked Claude Patrick. UFC 141 promises better 170 lb action though, with #2 Jon Fitch meeting #17 Johny Hendricks and #27 Dong Hyun Kim facing unranked Sean Pierson. 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, ranking, point

MacDonald on MMA: 'Tis the season

Thoughts on Santa Claus, Ryan Jimmo, Chael Sonnen, the World MMA Awards and The Ultimate Fighter.

Posted in: mma, thought, chael, mma tis, season thoughts

NCAA Champion Bubba Jenkins Makes Pro MMA Debut Tonight at Tachi Palace Fights 11

Tonight, NCAA Division I champion at 157lbs Bubba Jenkins makes his professional MMA debut at Tachi Palace Fights in Lemoore, California. Jenkins -- fighting out of Virginia Beach, Virginia -- won his NCAA title back in March representing Arizona State University, who have produced wrestlers such as Cain Velasquez, Ryan Bader and Aaron Simpson. In somewhat of an upset Jenkins pinned favourite David Taylor of Penn State in the final. Jenkins had wrestled for Penn State previously until coach Cael Sanderson cut him from the team. Jenkins early on had stated his plans for entering MMA once his collegiate career was over and a National Title brings with it a certain recognition and expectation considering the historical success of collegiate wrestlers at the highest levels of MMA. Since finishing college Jenkins has been training at American Top Team, as well as spending some time with his former coach Ben Askren at Roufous Sport. Jenkins fights tonight at Lightweight having weighed in 155.5lbs, though he has wrestled as low as 149lbs so a drop to Featherweight in the future isn't out of the question. Jenkins' original opponent, Chris Huerta had to pull out due to injury and would also have been making his debut. Replacing Huerta is Josh Williams of Clovis, California, a fellow rookie at 0-0-0. Tachi Palace Fights streams live tonight from Sherdog starting at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT

Posted in: fight, mma, mma debut, jenkin, penn state

Vic Darchinyan is retiring from boxing to fight in MMA

Merging the WEC’s lower weight classes into the UFC has yielded some of the most exciting fights we’ve seen in 2011. Denying that would mean you shop exclusively at Armani Exchange and you couldn’t see the broadcasts through your trendy sunglasses. The argument has been made to open up a flyweight division to create a home for fighters like Demetrious Johnson, Yasuhiro Urushitani, Ian McCall, Rambaa Somdet, Jussier da Silva, and Brandon Merkt, but MMA promoters have exhibited hesitations that the lower weight division would not be marketable. Yesterday, at a press conference in Anaheim, California, Gary Shaw announced that Vic Darchinyan is leaving boxing to become the future of the MMA Flyweight division. When a boxer who’s 37-3-1 decides to leave the sport he’s dominated for over a decade, you’d assume he’s going into retirement. However, Vic Darchinyan has had his sights set on MMA for a while, and most boxing authorities would argue that he’s still very relevant as an athlete (unlike other boxers who have made similar transitions). Vic is poised to prove boxers can compete MMA and the future of MMA might have just gotten even more exciting in 2012. Here’s him talking about the move from Boxing to MMA. [Source]

Posted in: mma, boxing, division, vic darchinyan, vic

USA TODAY/MMA Nation November 2011 Consensus Rankings: Middleweight

Rank Fighter Points Promotion Last Rank 1 Anderson Silva 400 UFC 1 2 Chael Sonnen 384 UFC 2 3 Yushin Okami 359 UFC 3 4 Mark Munoz 333 UFC 4 5 Demian Maia 298 UFC 6 5 Vitor Belfort 298 UFC 5 7 Michael Bisping 259 UFC 7 8 Brian Stann 244 UFC 8 9 Luke Rockhold 233 Strikeforce 10 9 Nate Marquardt 233 BAMMA 9 11 Ronaldo Souza 194 Strikeforce 11 12 Hector Lombard 182 Bellator 12 13 Alan Belcher 141 UFC 14 14 Tim Kennedy 138 Strikeforce 15 15 Chris Leben 128 UFC 13 16 Wanderlei Silva 116 UFC 18 17 Mamed Khalidov 104 KSW 19 18 Rousimar Palhares 102 UFC 16 19 Jorge Santiago 98 UFC 17 20 Chris Weidman 90 UFC 21 21 Robbie Lawler 79 Strikeforce 20 22 Alexander Shlemenko 65 Bellator 31 23 Alessio Sakara 62 UFC 28 24 Jake Shields 61 UFC 27 25 Dan Henderson 60 UFC 23 Quite possibly the only truly relevant middleweight contest scheduled for December is this Saturday's clash of #7 Michael Bisping and fellow TUF coach #30 Jason Miller. Fortunately, the new year promises a return to action from #3 Yushin Okami, #5 Vitor Belfort and #18 Rousimar Palhares among others. 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, ranking, point

Ryan Jimmo talks to us about being in the sequel to the worst movie ever made and his move to the UFC

The myth is true: Canadians are extremely friendly. In the case of Ryan Jimmo however, Canadians are extremely friendly and dangerous. Since losing his debut fight in 2007, Jimmo has gone on to win his next sixteen fights in a row, got crowned the MFC light heavyweight champion and is now on the precipice of a promising run in the UFC. Oh, that's not all. Jimmo is also playing one of the main bad guys in the sequel to Manos the Hands of Fate. The very film that has been long considered the worst movie ever made. We talked to Ryan about his upcoming UFC debut, traditional martial arts, Skyrim, and of course the lovable character Torgo from Manos. Congratulations on making it to the UFC man. Thanks. Was the move to the UFC always something you had in your mind to be the pinnacle of your career? Or were you just going to take it as it came and not worry about it? Yes, oh yes. This is the culmination of some long plans that I have been working on for a very, very long time. For those that may not be familiar with you, explain the evolution of the fighter: Ryan Jimmo. Well, I started off doing karate when I was knee high to a grasshopper. My father was my Karate sensei and he competed over in Japan in '81 and '83. He placed 5th in the world in his style of Karate. So I've been training for a long, long time. So I started competing when I was 10. I won regional and state championships. I went nationals a bunch of times and then I was shown MMA and the rest is history. Can I say that? Do you think traditional martial arts are suffering due to the boom of MMA and BJJ training? A little bit, there are two different factions. Some people just do martial arts because of spirituality and exercise. I don't think it will ever go away, but I don't think it will be the big fad it was in the 80's to go to a Karate school or a Kung Fu school because of the Karate Kid. Obviously the new thing is MMA. What Karate and Kung Fu was in the 80's I think MMA is today. I don't think you will ever see it go away though. It's alive and well, MMA is just the new kid on the block is all. Why do Canadians love their combat sports so much? I think by nature we are sort of blue collar. We are manly men up here, we have beards, we wear flannel and drink beer. The traditional Canadian stereotype is a manly man, so that might be part of it. Also we have some good role models like GSP. He is the one who brought Canadian MMA to the forefront and he's a household name. So I think that has a lot to do with it. Do you feel any pressure to become the next Canadian fighting star? I try not to think about that. I just want to be excellent in my fights you know? I can't think like that. I think one foot in front of the other not three feet ahead. Otherwise I might stumble. I don't want to trip and fall if I'm not paying attention to my next step. So not really...but maybe. I sorta do. I make sure my preparation is good and getting ready for my fight. I want to envision myself as a Canadian superstar but there is an old saying, make sure you pray to god but tie your camel. Which means you can pray and hope that your camel doesn't get stolen or get lose, but you should also just tie it there too. So envision stuff but you also have to put the work in. Did it take you longer than you expected to get to the UFC? Yes...and no. I think I would be able to hold my own and compete there a while ago even if that's an untested theory. My manager and I had a plan. We didn't want to go in too school. We wanted to make sure my skills were in place, my wrestling was in place. Now my wrestling is fantastic, I'm out wrestling wrestlers. I wanted to make sure my stand up was correct and my confidence was good enough. I wanted to make sure my life was in the right place and financially I was OK. We wanted to take all of these steps and make sure all of our ducks are in a row so we don't go up there like some guys that have no wrestling or Jiu Jitsu, that are so happy to be in the UFC, but make a quick exit. That's not what I envision for myself. I'm a complete fighter and I'm going to make my mark there. So if they had offered you a contract in the UFC 3-4 fights ago, would you have still gone? Possibly. I was pretty close to ready. I probably would have taken the opportunity, I was borderline ready a few fights ago but now I am 100% ready. I probably would have done OK and developed as I went along but now I know I'm a good enough wrestler and I know I have the stand up. I know I'm mentally ready to do what I need to do. Is there a particular fight or moment where everything clicked and you knew that you were fully evolved into a complete fighter? This is going to sound a little contradictory but I knew the Wilson Gouveia fight, I was floating on air for that one. Everything was moving in slow motion in that fight, but on the other hand I always make sure in my mind that I tell myself that I'm just a little not ready. I was watching this Mike Tyson thing the other day, and he was saying how for months he's been scared of this guy, and this guy is coming to hurt him and I thought I was gonna get beat up. I mean this was when Mike was in his prime, and he was afraid of what was going to happen. GSP is the same way, he talks about always being a little insecure, and I feel the same way, but it makes me train ten times harder. Tell us about Manos: The search for Valley Lodge. It's an action horror sequel to Manos: The Hands of Fate and it's one of Quentin Tarantino's favorite movies of all time. Why? Because it's considered the worst film in history. If you can sit through two hours of the whole thing people will commend you. So the director wanted someone who could fight, and he wants to make a badass movie. We have special fx guys from Hellboy and Spiderman, we have some serious people working on this film and he wants to make it completely badass. We have a lot of WWE guys in it, it's a loaded up movie, and even if it's based on the worst of all time, we are going to make it badass. Have you personally sat through all two hours of the original? Oh yeah I have, oh yeah. Do you agree that it is the worst movie ever made? Oh it's atrocious. But you know what? This is going to sound really strange but some of the characters are really charming in it. I know it's going to sound like it's me just trying to sell the film, but it's true. There is one character named Torgo and he's the stand up character. If you go to Youtube and look up Torgo you will see. I mean the guy who filmed it was on acid and coked up for the whole shoot and Torgo is this little awkward guy who has fetishes and it sounds weird but he;s a charming character. If you have the guts and you think you can do it, sit down and watch the original, then come 2013 watch me in the next one. Have you ever acted before? When I was younger I did a lot of martial arts theatre and breakdancing on stage. I was an extra for a few. Anything on your holiday wish list? I was going to go home and spend time with my family but after I got the UFC fight I decided to not go home and just stay here training. So I will spend Christmas alone so I can train. I've been wrestling in some tournaments, I've been training pretty hard. After my last fight I sat around for a few weeks and got really out of shape. I ate pizza, sat around and drank beer and played Skyrim. It's so awesome. I don't know if you're a videogame geek like me... You have no idea who you are talking to. Yeah dude! Skyrim. It's so awesome. For a few weeks all I did was game. I'm feeling good right now though, I'm fit and motivated and competing the last two weekends in wrestling competitions. How are you doing in those? Pretty good but you know what I do? Stupid me. I get my MMA and wrestling wires crossed, so when we go to the ground I keep going to my back. So I keep getting pinned! I'm like 'oh shit' every time I do it because I put myself in such horrible positions and I'm upset because I know I'm better than that guy but...at the end of the day I'm an MMA fighter trying to wrestle haha. What level are you in Skyrim Haha, I think I'm level 36 right now Very nice. See! I told you I haven't been up to much. I've only done a little of the main quest, because I keep on doing the side missions to build up my level. I just joined the Thieves Guild. There is so much to do. Are you playing it? Dude, I'm level 44. Yeahhhhhhhh! In my opinion Skyrim has impacted the site in a ridiculous manner. Some would construe it as negative. Make sure you just make leather bracers and steel daggers to level your smithing by the way. Just make the cheap shit huh? Yeah, it will level you the same as anything else and it's cheap. Also train your skills then pickpocket your money back. Ahahahahahah! That's a great idea! That's amazing! I'm gonna give that a try man!

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, guy, im

USA TODAY/MMA Nation November 2011 Consensus Rankings: Light Heavyweight

Rank Fighter Points Promotion Last Rank 1 Jon Jones 400 UFC 1 2 Dan Henderson 375 UFC 6 3 Rashad Evans 364 UFC 3 4 Mauricio Rua 352 UFC 2 5 Quinton Jackson 336 UFC 4 6 Lyoto Machida 332 UFC 5 7 Phil Davis 286 UFC 7 7 Forrest Griffin 266 UFC 8 9 Gegard Mousasi 194 Strikeforce 9 10 Rafael Cavalcante 191 Strikeforce 10 11 Muhammed Lawal 167 Strikeforce 11 12 Antonio Rogerio Nogueira 162 UFC 12 13 Alexander Gustafsson 153 UFC 13 14 Thiago Silva 146 UFC 16 15 Rich Franklin 138 UFC 14 16 Tito Ortiz 124 UFC 15 17 Ryan Bader 118 UFC 17 18 Vladimir Matyushenko 79 UFC 18 19 Renato Sobral 78 Strikeforce 20 20 Stanislav Nedkov 67 UFC 21 21 Stephan Bonnar 63 UFC 29 22 Ryan Jimmo 62 UFC 22 23 Roger Gracie 61 Strikeforce 22 24 Brandon Vera 58 UFC 25 25 Luiz Cane 56 UFC 27 Following a fight of the year performance against #4 Mauricio Rua in his return to the UFC, #2 Dan Henderson has vaulted ahead of inactive fighters such as #3 Rashad Evans, #4 Quinton Jackson and #6 Lyoto Machida. Machida's inactivity is approaching its end though as he is set to challenge #1 Jon Jones for the title at UFC 140 next Saturday. #12 Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and #16 Tito Ortiz will also square off on December 10 as they both struggle to stay "in the mix." The following weekend #35 Ovince St. Preux will face his toughest test to date in #9 Gegard Mousasi. At UFC 141, #18 Vladimir Matyushenko will play springboard to another surging LHW prospect in #13 Alexander Gustafsson. 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, ranking, point

USA TODAY/MMA Nation November 2011 Consensus Rankings: Heavyweight

Rank Fighter Points Promotion Last Rank 1 Junior dos Santos 400 UFC 2 2 Cain Velasquez 382 UFC 1 3 Alistair Overeem 364 UFC 3 4 Brock Lesnar 330 UFC 4 5 Fabricio Werdum 325 Strikeforce 5 6 Frank Mir 304 UFC 6 7 Shane Carwin 287 UFC 7 8 Daniel Cormier 276 Strikeforce 9 9 Josh Barnett 265 Strikeforce 8 10 Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira 248 UFC 10 11 Antonio Silva 186 Strikeforce 11 12 Fedor Emelianenko 166 M-1 Global 12 13 Cheick Kongo 132 UFC 13 14 Brendan Schaub 122 UFC 14 14 Roy Nelson 122 UFC 15 16 Sergei Kharitonov 105 Strikeforce 17 17 Travis Browne 102 UFC 16 18 Mike Russow 97 UFC 19 19 Cole Konrad 87 Bellator 20 20 Matt Mitrione 74 UFC 18 21 Stefan Struve 70 UFC 22 22 Mark Hunt 69 UFC 21 23 Pat Barry 57 UFC 25 24 Dan Henderson 56 UFC 26 25 Gabriel Gonzaga 55 Reality Fighting 23 Following his 64 second destruction of former #1 Cain Velasquez on the UFC's debut on Fox, Junior dos Santos is the undisputed #1 heavyweight in the world as well as UFC Heavyweight Champion. UFC 140 on December 10 offers up a heavyweight rematch between #6 Frank Mir and #10 Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira that could put the winner back "in the mix." #4 Brock Lesnar will face #3 Alistair Overeem at UFC 141 on December 30 to decide who will get first crack at the newly crowned Junior dos Santos in 2012. 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, ranking, point

Topps "Moment of Truth” UFC trading cards (Pic). Shopping for that MMA fan for the holidays...

Topps "Moment of Truth” UFC trading cards (Pic). Shopping for that MMA fan for the holidays and need some ideas? "Each box includes one autographed card, one memorabilia card containing authentic UFC fight used Octagon mat pieces, fight used hand tape, and/or fighter-worn shirts and shorts as well and one card with both autograph and memorabilia piece." Anyone think those features warrant a $59.99 price tag? Props: MMA Payout

Posted in: card, mma fan, memorabilia card, ufc, mma

Friday Link Club: TUF 14 Finale Preview, The Must-See Lyoto Machida Karate Kid Spoof

The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale Main Event Breakdown: Michael Bisping vs. Jason Miller | MMA Fighting ‘TUF 14′ Featherweight and Bantamweight Finals Odds | 5thRound Michael Bisping says loss to Dan Henderson was the best thing to ever happen to him | Five Ounces of Pain Bloodstained Fangs: MMAmania interview exclusive with Ultimate Fighter 14 finalist Dennis Bermudez | MMA Mania Chael Sonnen: What sets me apart from these liars is that I’m honest and respectful | LowKick Anderson Silva: Chael Sonnen Means “Nothing” to Me | Bleacher Report Hot Potato: 22 Photos of MMA Ring Girl (And U.S. Marine) Shannon Ihrke | Cage Potato Pic: Jon Jones “Tebowing” at the 2011 World MMA Awards | MiddleEasy Survey: UFC has growth potential but some still skeptical | MMA Payout You Can Now Call Tito Ortiz ‘The People’s Champ’ | FightLine Would a confidential drug testing program help out UFC fighters? | Fight Opinion Kurt Pellegrino’s Retirement Speech at Bellator 59  | TheFightNerd

Posted in: mma, fighter, dan henderson, bleacher report, mma payout

Anderson Silva responds to Chael Sonnen's wisecracks at the 2011 World MMA Awards

Who is Chael Sonnen in the eyes of UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva? "Nothing." That's what "The Spider" had to say about the host of the 2011 World MMA Awards after he took a few potshots at the Brazilian deity, who is returning to his homeland to spend time with his family and rehab a bum shoulder. Courtesy of MMA Weekly: "Nothing. I'm going back for my home, for my sons, for my wife, for my kids. I go back for training for fight. For Chael? I dunno. I'm still here in UFC for fight. Chael, Mark Munoz, Vitor Belfort, Brian Stanza (sic), Chris Leben, I'm still here for fight. This is my work, this is my life." After disposing of Brian Stann at UFC 136, Sonnen has been pouring on the verbal abuse in hopes of getting a 2012 rematch against the reigning 185-pound kingpin, who survived four-and-a-half rounds of abuse before submitting the mouthy middleweight mudslinger with a triangle choke at UFC 117 back in August 2010. Whether or not that fight takes place remains to be seen. Hear more from Silva, who won "Knockout of the Year" for clowning Vitor Belfort at UFC 126, after the jump. For more on the 2011 MMA Awards click here.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, chael, nothing im

Another Boxing Champion Seriously Considering Move to MMA

Our friends at Bad Left Hook brought our attention to another boxing champion who is apparently seriously considering a move to mixed martial arts. That fighter, a three division world champion, and the current IBO title holder, Vic Darchinyan (37-3-1). The Armenian is set to challenge Anselmo Moreno for the WBA Super-bantamweight title this Saturday. During the final press conference for the Showtime event, Gary Shaw gave out this little tidbit about Darchinyan's future: "If he should win (the WBA title), he probably will retire from boxing, and Darchinyan, will probably go in to MMA, following in the footsteps of Kimbo Slice" "Vic is serious about going to MMA after he completes his triumph on Saturday night" Before we break down the prospect of having a guy like Darchinyan in MMA, let's just make one thing clear -- If he does makes that switch, he wouldn't be following the footsteps of Kimbo Slice, a guy who came from YouTube bare knuckle street fights. Now that we got that out of the way, here's why Darchinyan thinks he can successfully make the jump to MMA: "I already have a strong wrestling base and am confident I could make the switch... That could honestly happen within a year, but who knows?" That "strong wrestling base" he claims to have, came from learning from his dad, who was an Olympic wrestling coach. He might be bold enough to truly make that jump, and he can probably KO a bunch of scrubs and lower level guys, but there are several reasons why he probably won't make that move to MMA, let along be successful in doing so. Here's why: - He's 35 years old, and he has never really competed or trained in grappling or kickboxing. We don't know how serious he was with his wrestling, but we do know that he hasn't used that "strong wrestling base" in decades. - He fights at 118 lbs. The lightest weight class is Flyweight, which is at 125 lbs. That weight class isn't even in the UFC or Bellator yet, so if he wants to compete at the big shows, the smallest division they have is at 135 lbs. - Money. He may be nearing the tail end of his career, but he's still a top-level boxer who can earn more money in boxing, than fighting relatively unknown and low level guys in MMA. Even if he truly dedicates himself, it will be hard for him to unlearn the things and habits from a lifetime of boxing, to try an learn the finer points of the striking and grappling involved in MMA. Even if we disregard that fact, will he be willing to take a smaller pay check, fighting in smaller shows for the next couple of years? I doubt it. That being said, I do enjoy these freakshow-ish bouts, so honestly, I'd watch it.

Posted in: mma, boxing, darchinyan, level guys, boxing champion

MMA Link Parade

- Ryan Jimmo Discusses the Sequel to the Worst Movie Ever Made. [Middle Easy] - Viewer's Guide to TUF 14 Finale. [Sports Illustrated] - Slated for Strikeforce's Jan. 7 Event, 'King Mo' Not UFC-Bound Yet. [Cage Potato] - Step Up for Dan Miller and his Family. [Five Ounces of Pain] - Ellenberger and Sanchez to headline February 15th UFC on Fuel fight card. [LowKick] - 2011 World Mixed Martial Arts Awards Winners. [MMA Convert] - Junior Dos Santos Breaks Down Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem. [5th Round] - Why BJJ Is a Dying Art in MMA. [Bleacher Report] - TUF Origins, Part I. [Sports Illustrated] - Book Review of "Marcelo Garcia: Advanced BJJ Techniques". [The Fight Nerd] - UFC 140 videos: Lyoto Machida going to get his belt back from Jon Jones. [MMA Mania] - Leben Suspended One Year for Failed Drug Test. [MMAPayout] - Bobby Voelker Signs Extension With Strikeforce. [Fightline] Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mma, dan miller, marcelo garcia, bjj techniques, book review

Latest UFC/MMA news and notes from around the web for the week of November 27, 2011

Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Jason Miller and Katsuyori Shibata pictured above, we can all "get along." Teaming up with MMA sites like MMA Fighting, Cage Potato, Fight Opinion and The Fight Nerd, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport. This week, MMAFighting sits down with Jason "Mayhem" Miller for 20+ minutes, Five Ounces of Pain hands out it's own Ultimate Fighter awards and Bleacher Report speaks with Miesha Tate about her recent feud with Ronda Rousey. The full list of links is after the jump. - Bisping will be looking to KO Miller from the start (LowKick) - The failure to intimidate (Cage Potato) "Hoping to gain the mental edge, Tito channeled his inner high school bully and made a lunge toward Liddell. While such tactics work wonders on members of the glee club, the mere suggestion of physical contact hardy registers a blink from dudes who get punched in the face on the regular. The Iceman was sick of Tito's tough guy routine and primed to dole out the beating he'd dodged for so many years. He'd leave Ortiz crumpled in the fetal position in just over one round the following evening. Undaunted by his failure to intimidate, Ortiz continued to employ the same psyche-out strategy throughout his career with mixed results. Mental giant Ken Shamrock took the bait with hilarious results, while Ryan Bader could barely muster up a grin in response." - The Ultimate Fighter awards - Spike TV edition (Five Ounces of Pain) Most Useless Coach - Ken Shamrock Shamrock's coaching highlights consisted of calling opposing coach Tito Ortiz a "bitch monkey," bringing in a nutritionist as one of his assistant coaches, and holding a training session that included his fighters watching highlight of, you guessed it, Ken Shamrock. He'll forever go down as the worst coach in TUF history. - Mayhem Miller reflects on long road back to the UFC (MMA Fighting) Ariel Helwani sat down with Jason 'Mayhem' Miller on Wednesday to discuss his long road back to the UFC, the promotion for his fight against Michael Bisping on Saturday, his coaching stint on TUF, whether he ever thought about leaving MMA during his time away from the UFC and much more. - Junior dos Santos breaks down Alistair Overeem vs Brock Lesnar (5thRound) When it comes to top-tier heavyweight action, not many expect for the fights to go the distance. If you were to ask UFC champion Junior dos Santos, the shorter Brock Lesnar can make his top contender scrap against Alistair Overeem, the better chance Lesnar has at advancing to a title bout. - 11 Questions with Reggie Warren (featuring Pat Miletich) (MiddleEasy) "I think MMA guys need to spar two times a week based on the fact, most have to catch up in the striking aspect of fighting. Boxers do a lot of sparring when they are younger and know how to box. They simply need to get in shape and get sharp again for fights. From the looks of it, a lot of MMA guys aren't sparring enough. Lots of sloppy striking in MMA." - Kurt Pellegrino's retirement speech at Bellator 59 (video) (TheFightNerd) At the post-fight press conference for Bellator 59, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney said that he would do his best to bring Kurt back into the octagon to fight again. Kurt Pellegrino gave his farewell speech afterwards, stating, "This isn't the way I wanted it to end," Pellegrino said in the post-fight press conference. "You know, walking up the stairs I wanted to honestly tell you that you guys would never ever ever see me fight again unless you're watching old tapes. It's just getting a little hard. I missed my daughter's first words, which were ‘dad,' preparing for this fight." - Would a confidential drug testing program help out UFC fighters? (Fight Opinion) In the fight game, heavy usage of pain killers, PEDs, sleeping pills, and alcohol (both separate and in concert with each other) is the norm, not the exception. Anyone who is connected to a sport like the NFL or an industry like pro-wrestling can tell you the damage inflicted by heavy usage of painkillers. It's not just the sports world, either, it's American society at large. Addiction to prescription drugs is a terrible problem. - Survey: UFC has growth potential but some still skeptical (MMA Payout) The Sports Business Journal released its results from its annual reader's survey. While the UFC received some praise, the most telling result was whether sponsors should align its brand with the UFC. - Miesha Tate says Ronda Rousey is biting off more than she can chew (BleacherReport.com/MMA) "I think it's stupid. i think that either she's not being herself and she's completely trying to hype the fight or she's an idiot. There are plenty of women who can give her a challenge on the ground, one of them being myself. I don't appreciate her arrogance to be honest. If she wants to challenge me and she wants to make it a ground battle, I'll be happy to give it to her and she's not gonna like it." - The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale preview (MMA Convert) As TUF finales go, what's in store for us on Saturday night isn't half bad. A TUF winner-turned-reviled coach is taking on a happy-go-lucky former "Bully Beatdown" host, a quartet of promising bantamweights and featherweights are vying for the coveted brass ring of "The Ultimate Fighter" status (which guarantees them a few somewhat easy fights as they're eased into the Octagon proper), a TUF winner from last season gets to take on someone who was once the uncrowned UFC lightweight champ, and the baddest dude with green hair you'll ever know gets another crack at glory. - The Ultimate Fighter finals predictions (Fightline) In his first and last fights on the show, Bermudez was dropped multiple times early on before coming back and winning with the use of his grappling. In this fight, I don't think he'll make it to the second part of that equation. Brandao hits too hard and is too unforgiving for Bermudez to last for long. Brandao via first-round TKO

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, fighter, tuf

Mayhem Miller Fight Journal: Part 2

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosLAS VEGAS - MMA Fighting's E. Casey Leydon continues his all-access fight journal with Jason "Mayhem" Miller just days before his UFC return at this Saturday's TUF finale. Miller handles more press obligations, parts ways with his mustache, has some fun at a UFC photo shoot and participates in his first workout of the week. For part one, click here. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, miller, ufc return, ufc photo

The Stag Party: Mixed Martial Arts in Asia

MMA in Asia- it happens. I know that the blogosphere stateside enjoys a good ole fashioned Chicken Little stance on things, however, as much as the media fights it- Mixed Martial Arts in Asia is far from dead. In fact, Asian MMA is in a ridiculous moment of Weeee!Two huge press conferences went down in the East on Monday, and if the news hasn’t drifted Westerly to you we are here to break it down! Enter Gal’s Guide to MMA’s second male chromosone - Mountaineers101. Prepare yourself for a Stag Party as we bring you the digs and what it means for this wonderful sport we love so much!Midge: So we have some big news coming out of the East this week, my friend. Where do we even begin?Mountaineer: Well, we could always talk about ONE FC becoming the equivalent to sliced bread in Asia when it comes to MMA. What we have here is an alliance of epic proportions from camps and promotions joining forces to make ONE FC one of, if not THE elite promotion in Asian MMA.Midge: Too true. As Monday’s edition of Japan’s post-Pride MMA lovechild, DREAM, we have a total of 38 organizations within the network! We have the big boys of each country. DREAM from Japan. URCC from the Philippines. CRC from Australia. Road FC from Korea. And many more! All of these promotions are working together to create champions to send to the big show. All roads lead to ONE FC.Mountaineer: Not to mention some spectacular regional promotions and monster camps. You have camps such as Lakay Wushu out of the Philippines, sporting some absolutely scary prospects in Eduard Folayang and Kevin Belingon. Then, you have the famous Phuket Top Team of Thailand. You can catch any fighter coming in and out of there to sharpen their knees and elbows, like Mike Swick and Roger Huerta. And finally, the emerging juggernaut of Evolve MMA in Singapore. Muay Thai champs like Yoddecha Sityodtong and grappling gods like Shinya Aoki and Rafael dos Anjos? This looks to be the beginning of something spectacular.Midge: The only thing that could make the ONE Asia Network Partnership any more epic would be Pride rules. Oh wait, ONE FC rolls with soccer kicks and head stomps! I said it in 2002 and I’ll say it in 2012. Pride Never Dies! With a reach of over one billion households across Asia (with more broadcast deals to come), the essence of what Asian MMA is alive and well.Mountaineer: Not to mention the chance of revitalizing a dying (or perhaps it was on life support) promotion in DREAM. The exposure to all of the stars in Asia under this umbrella could provide the perfect CPR that DREAM and Japanese MMA needs. You can take your PUJI money and we’ll take our Shinya Aokis and Eduard Folayangs, thank you very much.Midge: Very true. This partnership is like an adrenaline needle to the heart of a junkie. It is a perfect immediate influx of resources that DREAM was looking for. Plus, the Network has created a feeder system for fighters which Asia has never had. Each promotion in the network will be bringing fighters along within their organization in order to crown a champion, who will inevitably move up to ONE FC to face a champion of another organization! I love the "Champion vs. Champion" marketing, but I love what this does for the fighters as well. In America we have amateur events, then regional events,and then the big show. It gives fighters a chance to develop before being thrown into the shark tank of the UFC. Asian fighters have never really had that opportunity to gradually raise their level of competition. This partnership creates an atmosphere where fighters coming out of Asia in the next ten years will have every opportunity their Western counterparts already have. And just in time, as Zuffa begins their assault on the East. You want more MMA in Asia? We've got more! Head on over to Gal's Guide to MMA, where the Stag Party continues.

Posted in: mma, promotion, fighter, fc, asia

UFC rankings/MMA rankings featured in USA Today for November 2011

Why are MMA fans so cranky? Yep, it's that time of the month again. Rankings! Our partners in crime over at BloodyElbow.com have once again published their divisional rankings for mixed martial arts in the nation’s largest daily newspaper, USA Today, for the month of November 2011. For those of you unfamiliar with the process, here’s how it works: "The rankings, which will offer a definitive perspective of top MMA fighters across all weight-classes, will be released monthly and published in the Sports section of USA TODAY, online at USATODAY.com and on SB Nation’s MMA commentary and community blog, BloodyElbow.com … The USA TODAY/MMA Nation Consensus MMA Rankings are compiled each month by Nate Wilcox and Richard Wade of BloodyElbow.com. The rankings utilize each of the top MMA rankings from multiple unique sources. A weighted-formula is applied to normalize and distill the various rankings into one consensus ranking per weight class." To check out the latest USAT/MMA Nation rankings click here. We’ve also listed their top 10 in each class after the jump for your convenience. Heavyweight: 1. Junior dos Santos2. Cain Velasquez3. Alistair Overeem4. Brock Lesnar5. Fabricio Werdum6. Frank Mir7. Shane Carwin8. Daniel Cormier9. Josh Barnett10. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira Light heavyweight: 1. Jon Jones2. Dan Henderson3. Rashad Evans4. Mauricio Rua5. Quinton Jackson6. Lyoto Machida7. Phil Davis8. Forrest Griffin9. Gegard Mousasi10. Rafael Cavalcante Middleweight: 1. Anderson Silva2. Chael Sonnen3. Yushin Okami4. Mark Munoz5. Demian Maia6. Vitor Belfort7. Michael Bisping8. Brian Stann9. Luke Rockhold9. Nate Marquardt Welterweight: 1. Georges St. Pierre2. Jon Fitch3. Nick Diaz4. Jake Ellenberger5. Carlos Condit6. Josh Koscheck7. Jake Shields8. B.J. Penn9. Martin Kampmann10. Anthony Johnson Lightweight: 1. Frankie Edgar2. Gilbert Melendez3. Gray Maynard4. Ben Henderson5. Shinya Aoki6. Clay Guida7. Jim Miller8. Donald Cerrone9. Anthony Pettis10. Michael Chandler Featherweight: 1. Jose Aldo2. Chad Mendes3. Hatsu Hioki4. Pat Curran5. Marlon Sandro6. Diego Nunes7. Kenny Florian8. Mark Hominick9. Dustin Poirier10. Erik Koch Bantamweight: 1. Dominick Cruz2. Joseph Benavidez3. Brian Bowles4. Urijah Faber5. Demetrious Johnson6. Scott Jorgensen7. Miguel Torres8. Brad Pickett9. Takeya Mizugaki10. Masakatsu Ueda What do you think? Looking good on all fronts or are there a few issues with the consensus opinions here? Share your ranking rants in the comments section below.

Posted in: mma, usa today, usa, ranking, mma rankings

Rich Clementi Looks to Bank on MMA Experience

MMA veterans gain a lot more than just in-cage fight experience during their professional careers, as the sport continues to grow dramatically. The physical and mental toll on the body of MMA fighters must be balanced with personal issues that can arise among teammates and family members can appear at any moment. UFC veteran Rich Clementi has learned how to better listen to his body and mentally prepare for fights while dealing with outside distractions — and that’s priceless experience he hopes will be able to help when he fights Chris Clements this Saturday night. “I was really pushing a broken machine and I was breaking it more,” Clementi recently told MMAWeekly. “This past year has been a lot about personal recovery for me. Things are back on track physically for me. I’m strong again. I’m excited to let people see that.” Clementi will call upon experience (more than 60 pro fights) to deal with Clements’ heavy hands and decent striking ability. If Clementi picks up a win on Saturday — which would be his fifth in a row — he hopes to find his way back into the UFC in 2012. It’d be good to see Clementi make just one more successful run before the end of his long and storied MMA career. The co-main event fight takes place for the Score Fighting Series promotion, and should be an entertaining welterweight fight.

Posted in: fight, mma, mma career, experience, clementi

USA TODAY/MMA Nation November 2011 Consensus Rankings

November's USA TODAY/MMA Nation Consensus Rankings are now live. Be sure and pick up a hard copy of USA TODAY Friday to see them in print. Based on the premise that all MMA rankings are subjective but that it’s still useful and informative to know who the MMA community as a whole ranks as the best fighters in MMA, we collect and average the rankings of the top MMA sources 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. More details on our methodology in the full entry. NOTE: We have modified our method of gathering our rankings because the strict scheduling requirements of USA TODAY clash with the more irregular schedules of many of the MMA rankings sites. That was causing us to use a different set of sources almost every month. That combined with the small number of sites doing top 25 rankings was causing the Consensus rankings to have a lower "signal to noise" ratio than we would like -- that is if fighters are going to be moving up or down I would like it to be because there has been a change in the consensus opinion, not a change in our sources. Therefore we have cut back our sources to just those sites that we can depend on to update every month. We have also contacted many of the rankers that only publish top 10 lists and asked them to provide top 25 lists. As always we listen to your suggestions and are always working to improve the USAT/SBN Consensus MMA Rankings. Check out the USA TODAY/MMA Nation Consensus Rankings to see who's rising and who's falling.

Posted in: mma, usa, ranking, consensus, source

Ronda Rousey's inner fangirl comes out when she meets Chael Sonnen for the first time

If you missed Ariel Helwani's latest episode of The MMA Hour, then you deprived yourself of one of the greatest on-air MMA feuds in recent memory. Folks, that's why Ariel Helwani grabbed his MMA award for journalist of the year last night. He knows how to establish a topic, and then shut-up and let his formula unfold. Last Monday, Howard Stern's soul temporarily inhabited the body of Ariel Helwani -- and while some people focused on the beef between Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey, Helwani deserves some sort of accolade for not interrupting. Perhaps the next time I see him, I'll give him this half-eaten bag of Gummi Worms in honor of his radio accomplishment. On a sidenote, Ariel Helwani is delusional if he truly thinks he's getting my half-eaten bag of Gummi Worms. Those things represent an unfinished chapter of my life, a chapter that I will complete tonight while watching reruns of The Golden Girls. LayzieTheSavage worked the red carpet for the 2011 MMA Awards and managed to catch this gem of Ronda Rousey meeting Chael Sonnen for the first time and subsequently 'geeking out' after her encounter. This video has to rank as top five candid moments in MMA this year, and we love every second of it.

Posted in: mma, helwani, ariel helwani, halfeaten bag, gummi worms

Michael Bisping on His Popularity, Not Being on 'Mayhem's' Level, Steroids in MMA

Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, VideosLAS VEGAS -- Watch below as Michael Bisping discusses his upcoming fight against Jason "Mayhem" Miller this Saturday night, his issues with Miller going into the fight, his popularity, or lack thereof, in MMA, TRT and steroids in the sport, and what's at stake in this fight. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: fight, saturday night, mma, michael bisping, mma trt

Tompkins remembered at MMA awards show

Shawn Tompkins didn't win coach of the year honours Wednesday at the World MMA Awards, but the late trainer was honoured in another way.

Posted in: mma, coach, award, trainer, tompkin

MMA coach award renamed in Tompkins honour

Shawn Tompkins didn't win coach of the year honours Wednesday at the World MMA Awards, but the late trainer was honoured in another way.

Posted in: mma, coach, award, tompkin, honour

Late coach Tompkins honoured at MMA Awards

Shawn Tompkins didn't win coach of the year honours Wednesday at the World MMA Awards, but the late trainer was honoured in another way.

Posted in: mma, coach, award, tompkin, coach tompkins

Tony Ferguson Gives Important Advice to Future TUF Winners

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, VideosLAS VEGAS -- Watch below as Tony Ferguson talks about his upcoming fight against Yves Edwards, how this weight cut compares to his first cut to 155, why he decided to stay closer to home for this fight camp, and his advice for the future TUF winners. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mma, winner, ferguson talks, yves edwards, fight camp

Yves Edwards Credits Sam Stout Knockout for Changing Mindset

Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, VideosLAS VEGAS -- MMA Fighting caught up with Yves Edwards on Thursday to discuss Saturday night's fight against Tony Ferguson, his mindset going into this fight as opposed to his last fight, his thoughts on Ferguson, the evolution of MMA, not getting to enjoy Thanksgiving, and much more. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: fight, mma, yves edwards, yve, ufc mma

2011 World MMA Awards results: Jon Jones gets the nod for 'Fighter of the Year'

2011 has been a fantastic and dynamic year for the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA). Championship belts have changed hands. Epic bouts have occurred that left fans wondering if they'd just seen the best fight of the year -- if not of all time. Last night (Nov. 30, 2011), the MMA community came together in "Sin City" to celebrate the highlights and, specifically, the fighters. The event, which was hosted by Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight Chael Sonnen and CBS Sports' Molly Qerim, did not air live from the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, but will be re-broadcasted on the FOX Sports Network on Dec. 11 at 8:00 p.m. ET. One of SBNation's newest additions, Ariel Helwani of MMAfighting.com, was honored as "MMA Journalist of the Year." After the jump, MMAmania.com has the list of winners and full results from the 2011 World MMA Awards: Notably, there were several categories of awards where the UFC (or someone within the promotion) was matched up against other organizations, such as: BAMMA, Bellator Fighting Championships, Strikeforce and DREAM. To the surprise of absolutely no one, the UFC won in a clean sweep of the "competition." It's good to be king.Without further ado, here are the complete results: "INTERNATIONAL FIGHTER OF THE YEAR"Nominees: Michael Bisping, Alexander Gustafsson, Joachim Hansen, Alistair Overeem and Dennis SiverWinner: Alistair Overeem"GYM OF THE YEAR"Nominees: Alliance MMA, Black House, Jackson's MMA, Roufusport and Xtreme CoutureWinner: Black House "REFEREE OF THE YEAR"Nominees: Herb Dean, "Big" John McCarthy, Dan Miragliotta, Josh Rosenthal and Mario YamasakiWinner: Herb Dean "COMEBACK OF THE YEAR" Nominees: Marloes Coenen vs. Liz Carmouche at Strikeforce: "Feijao vs. Henderson," Cheick Kongo vs. Pat Barry at UFC on Versus 4, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (career), Tito Ortiz (career) and Joe Warren vs. Joe Soto at Bellator 27Winner: Cheick Kongo "BEST TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT" Nominees: Bad Boy, Everlast, Hayabusa, Rival and VenumWinner: Everlast "MMA JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR" Nominees: John Morgan, Gareth A. Davies, Josh Gross, Ariel Helwani and Ben FowlkesWinner: Ariel Helwani "COACH OF THE YEAR" Nominees: Rafael Cordeiro, Eric Del Fierro, Cesar Gracie, Greg Jackson and Shawn TompkinsWinner: Greg Jackson "BEST LIFESTYLE CLOTHING" Nominees: Affliction, Bad Boy, Form Athletics, RVCA and TapouTWinner: TapouT "PROMOTION OF THE YEAR" Nominees: BAMMA, Bellator Fighting Championships, DREAM, Strikeforce and UFCWinner: UFC "MEDIA SOURCE OF THE YEAR" Nominees: "Inside MMA" on HDNet, MMAFighting.com, "MMA Live" on ESPN, MMAjunkie.com and Sherdog.comWinner: MMAjunkie.com "BEST TECHNICAL CLOTHING" Nominees: Bad Boy, Hayabusa, Jaco, Sprawl and VenumWinner: Bad Boy "MMA PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR" Nominees: Bruce Buffer, Jacob "Stitch" Duran, Joe Rogan, Bas Rutten and Burt WatsonWinner: Joe Rogan "FEMALE FIGHTER OF THE YEAR" Nominees: Marloes Coenen, Zoila Gurgel, Sarah Kaufman, Ronda Rousey and Miesha TateWinner: Miesha Tate "RING ENTRANCE OF THE YEAR" Nominees: Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 133, Vitor Belfort at UFC 133, Dave Herman at UFC 131, Mark Hominick at UFC 129 and Jason Miller at DREAM.16Winner: Jason "Mayhem" Miller "BREAKTHROUGH FIGHTER OF THE YEAR" Nominees: Donald Cerrone, Daniel Cormier, Phil Davis, Demetrious Johnson and Brian StannWinner: Donald Cerrone "SUBMISSION OF THE YEAR" Nominees: Chan Sung Jung vs. Leonard Garcia at UFC Fight Night 24, Pablo Garza vs. Yves Jabouin at UFC 129, Richard Hale vs. Nik Fekete at Bellator 38, Vinny Magalhaes vs. Viktor Nemkov at M-1 Challenge 25, and Tito Ortiz vs. Ryan Bader at UFC 132Winner: Chan Sung Jung vs. Leonard Garcia at UFC Fight Night 24 "RING GIRL OF THE YEAR" Nominees: Arianny Celeste, Kelli Hutcherson, Brittney Palmer, Chandella Powell and Mercedes TerrellWinner: Arianny Celeste "LEADING MAN OF THE YEAR" Nominees: Scott Coker, Lorenzo Fertitta, Marc Ratner, Bjorn Rebney and Dana WhiteWinner: Dana White "KNOCKOUT OF THE YEAR" Nominees: Patricky Freire vs. Toby Imada at Bellator 39, Cheick Kongo vs. Pat Barry at UFC Live 5, John Makdessi vs. Kyle Watson at UFC 129, Lyoto Machida vs. Randy Couture at UFC 129, and Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort at UFC 126Winner: Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort at UFC 126 "FIGHT OF THE YEAR" Nominees: Jose Aldo vs. Mark Hominick at UFC 129, Dominick Cruz vs. Urijah Faber at UFC 132, Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard at UFC 125, Nick Diaz vs. Paul Daley at "Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley," and Diego Sanchez vs. Martin Kampmann at UFC Live 3Winner: Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard at UFC 125 "CHARLES 'MASK' LEWIS FIGHTER OF THE YEAR" Nominees: Dominick Cruz, Nick Diaz, Dan Henderson, Jon Jones and Anderson SilvaWinner: Jon Jones So how do you Maniacs feel about the results? Did the right people and organizations win? What would you change? Any write-in votes? Sound off!

Posted in: ufc, mma, vs, year, nominee

World MMA Awards 2011 Results: Jon Jones, Alistair Overeem, Arianny Celeste Among Big Winners

The 2011 World MMA Awards will be aired on December 11, at FOX Sports Net, but was filmed on Wednesday night, so we now have all the results for those who are interested. Chael Sonnen and Molly Querim hosted the show, and handed out awards to several of the personalities in the sport including Jon Jones, Alistair Overeem, Arianny Celeste, and one of our new SBN writers from MMA Fighting, Ariel Helwani. Note: These are for achievements done from Sept 2010 - August 2011. This means Hendo vs. Shogun will only be eligible for next year's Fight of the Year award. Check out the complete results after the jump. Full results courtesy of our friends from MMA Fighting: International Fighter of the YearMichael BispingAlexander GustafssonJoachim Hansen Alistair OvereemDennis SiverWinner: Alistair OvereemGym of the Year Alliance MMA Black House Jackson's MMA Roufusport Xtreme CoutureWinner: Black HouseReferee of the Year Herb Dean "Big" John McCarthy Dan Miragliotta Josh Rosenthal Mario YamasakiWinner: Herb DeanComeback of the YearMarloes Coenen vs. Liz Carmouche (Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson)Cheick Kongo vs. Pat Barry (UFC Live 5)Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (career)Tito Ortiz (career)Joe Warren vs. Joe Soto (Bellator 27) Winner: Cheick Kongo Best Technical Equipment Bad Boy Everlast Hayabusa Rival VenumWinner: EverlastJournalist of the Year John Morgan Gareth A. Davies Josh Gross Ariel Helwani Ben FowlkesWinner: Ariel HelwaniCoach of the Year Rafael Cordeiro Eric Del Fierro Cesar Gracie Greg Jackson Shawn Tompkins Winner: Greg JacksonBest Lifestyle Clothing Affliction Bad Boy Form Athletics RVCA TapouT Winner: TapouTPromotion of the Year BAMMABellator Fighting ChampionshipsDREAMStrikeforce UFC Winner:UFCMedia Source of the Year "Inside MMA" on HDNet MMAFighting.com "MMA Live" on ESPN MMAjunkie.com Sherdog.comWinner: MMAJunkie.comBest Technical Clothing Bad Boy Hayabusa Jaco Sprawl Venum Winner: Bad BoyPersonality of the Year Bruce Buffer Jacob "Stitch" Duran Joe RoganBas Rutten Burt Watson Winner: Joe RoganFemale Fighter of the YearMarloes CoenenZoila GurgelSarah KaufmanRonda RouseyMiesha Tate Winner: Miesha Tate Entrance of the YearYoshihiro Akiyama (UFC 133)Vitor Belfort (UFC 133)Dave Herman (UFC 131)Mark Hominick (UFC 129) Jason "Mayhem" Miller (DREAM.16) Winner: Jason "Mayhem" MillerBreakthrough Fighter of the YearDonald CerroneDaniel CormierPhil DavisDemetrious JohnsonBrian StannWinner: Donald CerroneSubmission of the YearChan Sung Jung vs. Leonard Garcia (UFC Fight Night 24) Pable Garza vs. Yves Jabouin (UFC 129)Richard Hale vs. Nik Fekete (Bellator 38)Vinny Magalhaes vs. Viktor Nemkov (M-1 Challenge 25)Tito Ortiz vs. Ryan Bader (UFC 132) Winner: Chan Sung JungRing Girl of the Year Arianny Celeste Kelli Hutcherson Brittney Palmer Chandella Powell Mercedes Terrell Winner: Arianny CelesteLeading Man of the Year Scott Coker Lorenzo Fertitta Marc Ratner Bjorn Rebney Dana White Winner: Dana WhiteKO of the Year Patricky "Pitbull" Freire vs. Toby Imada (Bellator 39) Cheick Kongo vs. Pat Barry (UFC Live 5)John Makdessi vs. Kyle Watson (UFC 129)Lyoto Machida vs. Randy Couture (UFC 129)Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort (UFC 126)Winner: Anderson SilvaFight of the YearJose Aldo vs. Mark Hominick (UFC 129)Dominick Cruz vs. Urijah Faber (UFC 132)Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard (UFC 125)Nick Diaz vs. Paul Daley (Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley)Diego Sanchez vs. Martin Kampmann (UFC Live 3) Winner: Edgar vs. MaynardFighter of the YearDominick CruzNick DiazDan HendersonJon JonesAnderson SilvaWinner: Jon JonesLifetime Achievement Award Winner: Shawn Tompkins

Posted in: ufc, mma, vs, year, winner

Chatri Sityodtong building something special in Singapore with Evolve MMA

When people talk about the top MMA camps in the world the names which normally come up are Jackson’s Submission Grappling, American Top Team, and American Kickboxing Academy. One place which is consistently overlooked but rapidly making a name for itself on the global stage is Evolve MMA in Singapore. The Evolve fight team is widely regarded as the best in Asia and has posted victories in a diversity of promotions in 2011 including the UFC, DREAM, ONE FC and DARE Championships. Evolve MMA was founded in 2008 by Thai entrepreneur Chatri Sityodtong and is one of the fastest growing businesses in Singapore with an enormous client base and three different state of the art locations. It is also a part of the rapidly expanding ONE FC Network and the recently announced partnership with DREAM will mean more to Chatri than most because DREAM Lightweight champion Shinya Aoki is a member of the Evolve MMA fight team and Japanese veteran Ryo Chonan is also currently training in Singapore. Kyra Gracie Talks Time at Evolve MMA “The ONE FC Network makes everyone’s life a lot easier and the fact that I need to talk to only Victor (Cui) to get my fighters on ROAD FC, DREAM, CFC, URCC, etc. definitely expedites things. It also gives the Evolve Fight Team a chance to compete internationally against high level competition which is great exposure and excellent experience and it has even been helpful for finding sponsorship for the Evolve Fight Team.” Both Chonan and Aoki are busy preparing for fights at the DREAM New Year’s Eve show but Chatri, who speaks passable Japanese, believes that fighters like this could soon be appearing much closer to home with a cross promotion between DREAM and ONE FC currently scheduled to take place at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on March 31st. “Shinya has told me that he would love to fight in Singapore since it is Evolve MMA’s home market. DREAM is a fantastic show in terms of the live show and TV production. The level of fighters is very high. The people at DREAM really know how to put up exciting fights between excellent world-class MMA fighters.” Right now Chatri and his team are fully focused on preparing Korean featherweight Brian Choi for his fight at Road FC 5 in Seoul this weekend. You can get an insight into his training routine here: Choi only made his professional debut last year but has already amassed a perfect record of 3-0. He comes from a wrestling background and has professional boxing and Muay Thai experience and a blue belt in BJJ. Road FC were able to add Choi, who has a contract with ONE FC, to their card because they are a part of the ONE FC Network and South African Muay Thai specialist Vuyisile Colossa will also be in action at the JangChung Gymnasium on December 3. Chatri anticipates a hard fight against highly rated Korean Bae Young Kwon but believes that Choi’s preparation has been perfect, “It will be a very tough fight because his opponent is supposed to be the number one featherweight in ROAD FC but Brian is tough as nails. He’s had an excellent training camp and we also have an excellent game plan for this fight. Honestly though, it is going to be a tough fight.” As well as Aoki and Choi the Evolve MMA fight team also includes Brazilian BJJ world champions Zorobabel Moreira and Leandro Issa, former boxing world champion Yodsanan Sityodtong and Eddie Ng from Hong Kong. They have all signed with ONE FC meaning that they will be eligible to compete on the biggest domestic shows in the Philippines, Australia, Korea and Japan as well as on any of the ONE FC events which are currently scheduled for Jakarta in February, Singapore in March and Kuala Lumpur in April with more dates about to be announced. Trips to Seoul for Choi’s fight and Tokyo to corner Aoki are on the immediate horizon but 2012 looks set to be the busiest year yet the Evolve MMA fight team. Chatri is looking forward to the challenges ahead and believes his fighters are all set to benefit from being a part of the ONE FC Network, “The Evolve Fight Team is super excited. We get to compete internationally against top level competition. Cui has been very strategic with ONE FC and I am certainly impressed with his execution abilities, 2012 is going to be a huge year for Asian MMA.” PHOTO CREDIT – EVOLVE MMA Tweet

Posted in: fight, mma, team, dream, fc

Jason 'Mayhem' Miller Reflects on Long Road Back to UFC

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosLAS VEGAS -- MMA Fighting sat down with Jason 'Mayhem' Miller on Wednesday to discuss his long road back to the UFC, the promotion for his fight against Michael Bisping on Saturday, his coaching stint on TUF, whether he ever thought about leaving MMA during his time away from the UFC and much more. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, jason, michael bisping, coaching stint

2011 World Mixed Martial Arts Awards Winners

Fighters Only’s 2011 World MMA Awards went down earlier tonight at the Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. The show was filmed, but it won’t air until Sunday, Dec. 11, on Fox Sports Net at 8pm ET/PT. Chael Sonnen and Molly Querim hosted the event, so even if you know the winners, it’s probably worth checking out just to see Sonnen do his thing. The results are below for those who want spoilers. The awards were based on achievements from September 2010 – August 2011 so don’t get pissed when you don’t see Shogun vs. Hendo nominated for Fight of the Year. Results Winners in bold International Fighter of the Year Michael Bisping Alexander Gustafsson Joachim Hansen Alistair Overeem Dennis Siver Gym of the Year Alliance MMA Black House Jackson’s MMA Roufusport Xtreme Couture Referee of the Year Herb Dean “Big” John McCarthy Dan Miragliotta Josh Rosenthal Mario Yamasaki Comeback of the Year Marloes Coenen vs. Liz Carmouche (Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson) Cheick Kongo vs. Pat Barry (UFC Live 5) Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (career) Tito Ortiz (career) Joe Warren vs. Joe Soto (Bellator 27) Best Technical Equipment Bad Boy Everlast Hayabusa Rival Venum Journalist of the Year John Morgan Gareth A. Davies Josh Gross Ariel Helwani Ben Fowlkes Coach of the Year Rafael Cordeiro Eric Del Fierro Cesar Gracie Greg Jackson Shawn Tompkins Best Lifestyle Clothing Affliction Bad Boy Form Athletics RVCA TapouT Promotion of the Year BAMMA Bellator Fighting Championships DREAM Strikeforce UFC Media Source of the Year “Inside MMA” on HDNet MMAFighting.com “MMA Live” on ESPN MMAjunkie.com Sherdog.com Best Technical Clothing Bad Boy Hayabusa Jaco Sprawl Venum Personality of the Year Bruce Buffer Jacob “Stitch” Duran Joe Rogan Bas Rutten Burt Watson Female Fighter of the Year Marloes Coenen Zoila Gurgel Sarah Kaufman Ronda Rousey Miesha Tate Entrance of the Year Yoshihiro Akiyama (UFC 133) Vitor Belfort (UFC 133) Dave Herman (UFC 131) Mark Hominick (UFC 129) Jason “Mayhem” Miller (DREAM.16) Breakthrough Fighter of the Year Donald Cerrone Daniel Cormier Phil Davis Demetrious Johnson Brian Stann Submission of the Year Chan Sung Jung vs. Leonard Garcia (UFC Fight Night 24) Pable Garza vs. Yves Jabouin (UFC 129) Richard Hale vs. Nik Fekete (Bellator 38) Vinny Magalhaes vs. Viktor Nemkov (M-1 Challenge 25) Tito Ortiz vs. Ryan Bader (UFC 132) Ring Girl of the Year Arianny Celeste Kelli Hutcherson Brittney Palmer Chandella Powell Mercedes Terrell Leading Man of the Year Scott Coker Lorenzo Fertitta Marc Ratner Bjorn Rebney Dana White KO of the Year Patricky “Pitbull” Freire vs. Toby Imada (Bellator 39) Cheick Kongo vs. Pat Barry (UFC Live 5) John Makdessi vs. Kyle Watson (UFC 129) Lyoto Machida vs. Randy Couture (UFC 129) Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort (UFC 126) Fight of the Year Jose Aldo vs. Mark Hominick (UFC 129) Dominick Cruz vs. Urijah Faber (UFC 132) Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard (UFC 125) Nick Diaz vs. Paul Daley (Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley) Diego Sanchez vs. Martin Kampmann (UFC Live 3) Fighter of the Year Dominick Cruz Nick Diaz Dan Henderson Jon Jones Anderson Silva Lifetime Achievement Award Shawn Tompkins Image via Tracy Lee

Posted in: ufc, mma, fighter, vs, year

We have footage of Herb Dean reffing Mustache MMA

The fact that the refs are more popular than 90% of the fighters is still something I have a hard time coming to grips with. It is what it is, Herb Dean does get a lot of camera time after all, and he's a movie star. I just never expected with the boom of MMA around the world that someone as accomplished as Herb would have to resort to this new, somewhat underground, mustache MMA that is popping up around New York City. Jimmy Fallon was bold enough to hold an exhibition between Herman Cain's mustache and Mario's upper lip rug last night before it could be shut down by New York City officials with an ornery Bob Arum on their caboose. Check it out below. Jimmy Fallon has absolutely nothing on this guy. [Source]

Posted in: mma, herb, mustache, camera time, lip rug

MMA Somersault Kick

submitted by Patbach [link] [comment]

Posted in: mma, kick, somersault, patbach link, patbach

Video: MMA referee Herb Dean on 'Late Night with Jimmy Fallon'

Noted MMA official Herb Dean, often called the "best referee in MMA" by UFC president Dana White, appeared on Tuesday's edition of "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon," and a video is now available of the segment. The NBC late-night talk show featured Dean in a familiar role: referee. However, this was no MMA contest. Instead, Dean was enlisted to oversee an "important" Ultimate Mustache Fighter matchup.

Posted in: mma, referee, dean, tuesdays edition, jimmy fallon

2011 World MMA Awards Results

Filed under: MMA Media Watch, UFC, NewsMMA Fighting has 2011 World MMA Awards results from the Nov. 30 event at the Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. MMAFighting.com is a nominee for Media Source of the Year. Also, Ben Fowlkes and Ariel Helwani are both in the running for MMA Journalist of the Year. The two-hour show will start at 10:30 p.m. ET. Full results are below. Fight of the Year Dominick Cruz Nick Diaz Dan Henderson Jon Jones Anderson Silva Breakthrough Fighter of the Year Donald Cerrone Daniel Cormier Phil Davis Demetrious Johnson Brian Stann Fight of the Year Jose Aldo vs. Mark Hominick (UFC 129) Dominick Cruz vs. Urijah Faber (UFC 132) Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard (UFC 125) Nick Diaz vs. Paul Daley (Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley) Diego Sanchez vs. Martin Kampmann (UFC Live 3) Submission of the Year Chan Sung Jung vs. Leonard Garcia (UFC Fight Night 24) Pable Garza vs. Yves Jabouin (UFC 129) Richard Hale vs. Nik Fekete (Bellator 38) Vinny Magalhaes vs. Viktor Nemkov (M-1 Challenge 25) Tito Ortiz vs. Ryan Bader (UFC 132) Entrance of the Year Yoshihiro Akiyama (UFC 133) Vitor Belfort (UFC 133) Dave Herman (UFC 131) Mark Hominick (UFC 129) Jason "Mayhem" Miller (DREAM.16) Referee of the Year Herb Dean "Big" John McCarthy Dan Miragliotta Josh Rosenthal Mario Yamasaki Ring Girl of the Year Arianny Celeste Kelli Hutcherson Brittney Palmer Chandella Powell Mercedes Terrell Personality of the Year Bruce Buffer Jacob "Stitch" Duran Joe Rogan Bas Rutten Burt Watson Best Technical Clothing Bad Boy Hayabusa Jaco Sprawl Venum Media Source of the Year "Inside MMA" on HDNet MMAFighting.com "MMA Live" on ESPN MMAjunkie.com Sherdog.com Female Fighter of the Year Marloes Coenen Zoila Gurgel Sarah Kaufman Ronda Rousey Miesha Tate International Fighter of the Year Michael Bisping Alexander Gustafsson Joachim Hansen Alistair Overeem Dennis Siver KO of the Year Patricky "Pitbull" Freire vs. Toby Imada (Bellator 39) Cheick Kongo vs. Pat Barry (UFC Live 5) John Makdessi vs. Kyle Watson (UFC 129) Lyoto Machida vs. Randy Couture (UFC 129) Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort (UFC 126) Comeback of the Year Marloes Coenen vs. Liz Carmouche (Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson) Cheick Kongo vs. Pat Barry (UFC Live 5) Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (career) Tito Ortiz (career) Joe Warren vs. Joe Soto (Bellator 27) Coach of the Year Rafael Cordeiro Eric Del Fierro Cesar Gracie Greg Jackson Shawn Tompkins Gym of the Year Alliance MMA Black House Jackson's MMA Roufusport Xtreme Couture Leading Man of the Year Scott Coker Lorenzo Fertitta Marc Ratner Bjorn Rebney Dana White Promotion of the Year BAMMA Bellator Fighting Championships DREAM Strikeforce UFC Best Lifestyle Clothing Affliction Bad Boy Form Athletics RVCA TapouT Best Technical Equipment Bad Boy Everlast Hayabusa Rival Venum Journalist of the Year John Morgan Gareth A. Davies Josh Gross Ariel Helwani Ben Fowlkes Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, bellator, mma, vs, year

MMA is already a tough sport, now imagine competing with only one arm...

A guy with a partially developed arm is competing in MMA and you're still sleeping on your parent's sofa. Today, you've officially ran out of excuses to throw on a gi and start training. It's over with. People without limbs are competing in MMA and you're just building a collection of cottage cheese around your thighs. What a waste of a couple of limbs. Nick Newell is kicking your ass in every possible way, and you can see him attempt to collect his sixth professional win at XFC 15 this weekend on HDNet. Inside MMA's Ron Kruck caught up with the undefeated fighter to discuss how it's like completing owning his competition with only one arm along with the complications involved with actually getting a fight. Check out the video below, and feel horrible about yourself for the rest of the day. [Source]

Posted in: mma, arm, cottage cheese, fight check, limb

MMA award nominations - who do you reckon the deserved winners are?

submitted by BoosterJuice [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: mma, winner, award, boosterjuice, nomination

Welterweight Bobby Voelker signs five-fight Strikeforce contract extension

Strikeforce's future still remains unclear, but if things indeed are "business as usual," welterweight veteran Bobby Voelker could be a part of the promotion for five more fights. Voelker's management team, the Missouri-based Elite MMA Management, today confirmed their client has signed a five-fight contract extension with the promotion. "This will be a great opportunity for Bobby Voelker to continue his career with a great company," Elite MMA Management vice president Rob Donaker stated in the official release.

Posted in: mma, management, bobby, voelker, bobby voelker

Matwork! 11/30/11

Recent happenings in the worlds of sambo, judo, Brazilian jiu jitsu, submission grappling and/or collegiate/freestyle wrestling. If it takes place on the ground and it's interesting, it should be here. First, we begin with a phenomenal nutrition advice video by the world renowned expert - Renato Laranja. Below the jump, a surprising upset of the reigning NCAA heavyweight wrestling champion, Abu Dhabi World Pro qualifier results, international and college wrestling results, judo updates and more. If you have any links of your own, questions or comments, leave them below or get at me on Twitter. Please let me know if I missed anything major. The list of BE Twitter accounts is right here for your pickings: BloodyElbow Twitter, Luke Thomas, Kid Nate, Brent Brookhouse, Leland Roling, Richard Wade, Jonathan Snowden, Chris Barton,Damon O, Scott Broussard, Tim Burke, Matt Bishop, Fraser Coffeen, Dallas Winston, KJ Gould, Matt Roth. Wrestling news: On November 26th and 27th, the Journeymen/Asics Northeast Duels were held in Troy, NY. The idea behind the tournament is that the mid-majors within collegiate wrestling (Lehigh, Binghamton, Rutgers, Maryland, Penn etc.) face off in dual meets and get their wrestlers some tough matches early in the season before the NCAA championships are contested later this year. Zach Rey, the 2010 Division 1 heavyweight champion, was upset 4-0 by Levi Cooper. Flowrestling has the match video and you can view it if you're into NCAA heavyweight wrestling (the significant action kicks in around the 7:10 mark). The full results for the meet can be peeped over here. It is also worth noting that Urijah Faber, Chael Sonnen and Clay Guida were at the Journeyman/Asics meet. There's a video over on Flowrestling of Sonnen giving his thoughts on the potential match-up between Jordan Burroughs and Ben Askren at Midlans (not likely to actually happen this year according to Burroughs' Twitter). Tommy Messano over at Sherdog went to the National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic on November 20th and came away with a very nice article showing that MMA is indeed seeping into the wrestling world as a very viable post-college career option. The article shows the reluctance of the coaches to consider anything other than Olympic contender status for their wrestlers and the determination of some younger wrestlers who actually train MMA during college. In related news, 2010 157 lb NCAA wrestling champion Bubba Jenkins is making his MMA debut at Tachi Palace Fights 11 against Josh Williams on December 2, 2011 (this Friday). The InterMat college wrestling divisional individual rankings were updated on November 26th. In international wrestling, a few noteworthy tournaments were held this past week. Gary Abbott has an update on the Henri Deglane Challenge, which saw Shawn Bunch win gold, Henry Cejudo, Phillip Keddy and Wynn Michalak win silver and Mike Zadick win bronze. The Russians won the team title and seven medals overall as the results show. On November 26th, the Karavaev Cup was also held in Minsk, Belarus, with Russia winning this Greco-Roman competition over nine other teams. The individual results of the dual meets and the medal matches are here. On the same day, the Haavisto Cup - another Greco-Roman competition - was held in Ilmajoki, Finland. Abbott again has the update and information to read. Brazilian jiu-jitsu news: A leg of the globe-spanning Abu Dhabi World Pro Trials was held in San Antonio, Texas on Saturday, November 26th, 2011. With it being the Saturday after Thanksgiving and Black Friday, attendance was sparse, but several world-class competitors competed. It's almost getting to be a habit to name-drop this particular name, but Rafael Lovato Jr. won the men's black belt absolute division. All the absolute winners for the various belt divisions earned an all-expenses-paid trip to the World Pro in Abu Dhabi in March of 2012. Mike Calimbas put in a herculean effort to get tons of photos, videos and write-ups for this event over at TXMMA.com. If you want to get straight to the 40+ videos, here's the YouTube playlist Calimbas put up. France, Morocco, Jordan and Mexico will see ADWP trials in December before the "big" one in January for Brazil. Roger Gracie, multiple time world champion and MMA competitor, gives his thoughts on the philosophy of adding new things to his game and some other things while rolling at an Evolve Gym. If you are a grappler and you are not following the writings of Christian Graugart, the brown belt behind ShogunHQ and BJJ Globetrotter, you are missing out majorly. He put up a post with video of him rolling with Marcelo Garcia, rolling with black belts in Rio and rolling in Bali. Watch them. Envy his life. Figure out how to make your own more awesome. Seymour Yang brings the best looking Brazilian jiu-jitsu gi reviews on the net. Here's his most recent one concerning the Tatami Terere Signature gi. It's worth checking out for the pretty pictures at the very least. Judo news: The World Cup held this year in Jeju, South Korea starts on Friday, December 2nd, and ends Saturday, December 3rd. The Grand Prix in Amsterdam finished up on November 20th. Photos are here. Some (quite a few) videos are here. Full results were split in half, so I give you Part 1 and Part 2. Dr. Ann Maria DeMars, Ronda Rousey's mother (and judo world champion herself) writes one of the best blogs ever. Her dry humor and terrific presentation of funny or meaningful stories stuns me just about every time. Dr. DeMar's recent post on armbars and Legos is a good place to start. Odds and Ends: Dahlia Lithwick, my favorite legalese analyst and writer for Slate, takes a quick look at the lawsuit brought by Zuffa and a congeries of MMA athletes, writers and coaches with strong connections to New York. The article is not particularly cogent, but someone like Lithwick picking this up for Slate means that the issues presented are interesting from a legal standpoint and are getting out there to a fresher audience. An interesting scientific article titled The Evolution of Speed in Athletics: Why the Fastest Runners are Black and Swimmers White (PDF). That's about as controversial a paper as you'll see a team of two mechanical engineers and a nutritionist ever put out. Good read and I hope it sparks legit rebuttals and further research. Lastly, a compilation of animals doing Greco-Roman wrestling. I could watch this stuff all day...

Posted in: world, mma, result, video, november

Want to start watching MMA. What awesome matches/events shall I watch that I've missed so far.

Title says it all. I've been watching pro wrestling for years now, and I just don't find it exciting anymore. After recently watching the film 'Warrior', I decided that I need to watch MMA because it seems so exhilarating and it's real. So, what matches have I missed out on that are a must watch to get me more into MMA. All I have seen so far is a Shamrock/Ortiz fight. submitted by AwesomeHat [link] [3 comments]

Posted in: mma, title, i need, ive, dont

Glover Teixeira kicks Ricco Rodriguez's head off

Ricco Rodriguez gets taken out by Glover Teixeira. This finish is extra sweet because it was also for a good cause or something: Promoted by the Department of Health and the State Government of Rio de Janeiro, the event MMA Contra a Dengue (MMA Against Dengue) brought the proposal of educate the public to the dangers of contracting the disease, but also helped to spread even more MMA in Brazil. Teixeira is currently stuck in Brazil over 'visa issues', which is a pretty unfortunate situation for people who wanna see him in the UFC and the Brazilian fighters who have to face him in the meantime. He's now 5-0 this year and 18-2 overall. Let's hope he can manage to get himself international sooner or later. If it's a paperwork issue, it's just a matter of time. If he's suspected of murdering a hooker in Sao Paolo ... it might take a bit longer.

Posted in: mma, glover teixeira, sao paolo, teixeira, meantime hes

Fight Journal: Mayhem Miller 'TUF' Edition

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosLAS VEGAS -- MMA Fighting's E. Casey Leydon caught up with Jason "Mayhem" Miller just days before the former Strikeforce star makes his UFC return at the TUF 14 Finale on Saturday night. In the video below, find out what Miller packed for his trip to Vegas, the story behind his signed Michael Bisping photo and why he uses a NormaTec suit. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: saturday night, mma, miller, ufc return, strikeforce star

Despite Owning Strikeforce, Dana White Hasn't Changed Stance on Women's MMA

Filed under: UFC, Strikeforce, NewsTrue story: at the UFC 139 post-fight press conference, Dana White not only referenced a Strikeforce Challengers fight, he also referenced a women's fight. Crazy, I know. Basically, when talking about the late stoppage in the Chris Weidman-Tom Lawlor bout, White said he felt there was also a late stoppage in the Ronda Rousey-Julia Budd fight the night before at Strikeforce Challengers in Las Vegas. The mention was a surprising one for obvious reasons, but it got me wondering whether White, who, along with his partners at Zuffa, now owns Strikeforce, was warming up to the idea of promoting women's fights. Not so fast. The UFC president still believes the divisions are too shallow on talent right now. "As the sport continues to grow and as time goes on, maybe that will change," White said. "Maybe it will change or maybe less women will get involved, I don't know. We'll see what happens. Time will only tell. I don't know. But yeah, I still feel the same way." Of course, White has made his stance on women's MMA pretty clear over the years. In short, he's not against women competing in MMA, but he simply doesn't believe there are enough top-level athletes fighting right now to build divisions around. It's a fair argument that even the most devoted supporter of WMMA would probably agree with. That said, the times they are a changin', and after Gina Carano's absence took some of the spotlight away from the female fighters, the buzz seems to be coming back, thanks in large part to the emergence of Rousey, who White admitted after the presser that he was impressed with. "She's talented," White said. "Great fights." So for now, women's MMA fans will have to settle on a mention from White. You gotta start somewhere. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: fight, mma, strikeforce, women, i dont

One of the early dominant MMA wrestlers: Mark Kerr. The documentary about him: The Smashing Machine

submitted by killamcbills [link] [2 comments]

Posted in: mark, mma, machine, documentary, kerr

Inside MMA: Ian McCall, Frank Trigg, Michael Bisping

Inside MMA airs live on HDNet every Monday night at 8pm ET. Inside MMA Archive More segments after the jump.

Posted in: mma, monday night, bisping, mma airs, mma archive

World MMA Awards 2011: Winners announced tonight

The Fighters Only World MMA Awards 2011 take place tonight in Las Vegas, Nevada.A strictly black-tie affair, the event is now in its fourth year and is...

Posted in: world, mma, award, blacktie affair, blacktie

Pro MMA Radio 175: TJ Dillishaw, TUF 14 Finale Preview

We have partnered with Pro MMA Radio to bring you weekly replays of PMR as the official radio show of MMAConvert.com. Pro MMA Radio can be heard live every Monday evening at 9PM ET/6PM PT. Replays and podcasts of every show are available 24/7 by going to the “Replay Corner” section of ProMMARadio.com, our own Pro MMA Radio page or by clicking the banner below. On this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio, TUF 14 cast member TJ Dillishaw joined host Larry Pepe to preview this weekend’s TUF 14 Finale and talk about his time on the show. You can listen to a replay of this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio by clicking the banner below. A radio player with links to the show’s archives will open in a pop-up window, so please make sure your browser is set to allow pop-ups for this site.

Posted in: mma, show, replay, radio, mma radio

A guide to proper MMA name pronunciation

Anyone around back in the International Fight League days knows how tough it can be to pronounce the names of MMA fighters. Ciesnolevicz wut! Even names that don't sound like they're from a Lithanian ghetto can be tricky, which is why I'm glad I found RunForTheCube's youtube channel. It takes those easy to mispronounce MMA names and gives you a straight forward definitive baseline for getting them right. As you can see from the video above, everyone has been mispronouncing Georges St Pierre's name for years. Several more after the jump. read more

Posted in: mma, name, dont sound, lithanian ghetto, lithanian

Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey rip into each other over Strikeforce contendership

The war of words between Strikeforce bantamweight champ Miesha Tate and undefeated Olympian Ronda Rousey heated up yesterday when the two talented females faced off to debate the issue of divisional contendership. Rousey, who has looked dominant in all four of her fights since crossing over from a career as a decorated Judoka, recently came forward to say she wanted a shot at Tate’s belt based on the buzz the bout would create, while the 135-pound title-holder has been adamant regarding Rousey’s need to wait her turn. “I really feel 100 percent that a fight between her and me needs to happen,” said the 24-year old Rousey on an edition of The MMA Hour. “It’ll be great for women’s MMA. It’ll be the first highly anticipated fight in women’s MMA for a long time … We need to capitalize on the opportunity while we still have it. I don’t want to risk her losing the title and us not being able to fight each other for the title.” Rousey supported her stance by referring to her ability to sell a fight to the public in comparison to other challengers, especially based on the marketability involved from an aesthetic standpoint. “Sarah Kaufman kind of gives boring interviews, she’s not a supermodel and the way she fights, she doesn’t finish matches in extraordinary fashion,” Rousey explained. “It’s just kind of being realistic. I’m sorry that I have to say things bluntly and offend some people. I just want there to be a highly marketable, exciting women’s title fight, and I want to be part of that because I feel like I could do a really good job, and you could, too.” Tate responded to Rousey’s claims by agreeing looks would play a significant role in the match-up being made if things go that route. “If you weren’t pretty, it wouldn’t matter what you said or didn’t say,” replied Tate. “That’s why you’re getting this attention. I don’t know, I guess I personally like more of a humble approach.” However, when it came to actual experience, Tate pulled no punches in her assessment of Rousey’s lack thereof. “What happens when she gets a failed arm bar and someone ends up on top pounding her face in? Is she going to tap out or quit? We don’t know. We haven’t seen that yet. I think it’s kind of silly to put her in with me because that’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to take it to her.” “A lot of people are underestimating me. That’s fine. That always seems to be the case,” Tate continued. “Make no mistake, if Ronda is my next fight, I’m going to come in with a vengeance you’ve never seen before, because to be quite honest, it’s probably going to piss me off.” For now their rivalry will continue to simmer with no definitive indication of how Strikeforce will handle the female division in 2012 since the company hasn’t announced any events beyond December. That being said, with both being supremely skilled and under the age of 25, chances are this week’s run-in won’t be the last between the two talented ladies whether in terms of verbal exchanges or an eventual physical one. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: fight, mma, strikeforce, tate, rousey

Miesha Tate, Ronda Rousey, and the Argument Women's MMA Can't Stop Having

Filed under: StrikeforceStrikeforce 135-pound women's champ Miesha Tate doesn't think it's fair for Ronda Rousey to leverage her looks into a title shot, and she's got a point. Rousey thinks that, when it comes to selling a fight and getting MMA fans interested in what's happening with the women's division, fair doesn't enter into it. She's also got a point. It's an argument that -- especially among female MMA fighters -- isn't new and isn't unique. The fact is, when you're trying to scratch out a living in the women's division of a sport marketed primarily to young men, it helps to be pretty. It might not be fair, and it might not be right, but we need only look at who's getting paid and who's getting ignored to know that, at least for now, it's the way things are. But watching Tate and Rousey present their respective sides of the issue while my colleague Ariel Helwani struggled to get a word in, I couldn't help but wonder if it's always going to be this way, and whether we'll ever stop arguing over it. And if we don't, is that necessarily such a bad thing? To be fair, this particular iteration of the argument isn't as simple as beauty versus the beast. You might look at Rousey and see Judo Barbie, but there's more to her than just eye candy. For starters, she's an Olympic bronze medalist. If you want to hear about that, just ask her. If you don't want to hear about it, fine, but she'll probably tell you anyway, and who can blame her? Sure, she's only had four pro fights in MMA, but none of them have been even the least bit competitive. You could call her career one long armbar clinic, except that a) it hasn't even been that long, and b) any clinic that injures that many people isn't going to get a whole lot of repeat customers. Still, Rousey knows what she's doing. She's attractive, she's got an attitude, and she's using both to get herself noticed. When Tate told her, "If you weren't pretty, it wouldn't matter what you said or didn't say," she's probably right. But then, is that so wrong? If Tate thinks so, she must have come around to that conclusion pretty recently. Seems like she's had no problem playing up her own good looks when it served her purposes (exhibit A: the background of her Twitter page). Then again, as Tate pointed out, she also won a bunch of fights. Being good-looking is, as she tells it, "just a bonus" for a female fighter, since at the end of the day each woman still has to acquit herself in the cage, where a pretty face won't help you. But then, the problem for women's MMA hasn't been a lack of skill from the fighters -- it's a lack of interest from the fans. For whatever reason, a lot of the same people who love to see two men beat each other up just aren't into watching two women do the same thing. I don't know why that is, honestly, and I'm not sure it matters. You can tell people that they should like and support women's MMA. You can tell them they're a bunch of jerks if they only want to see pretty girls fighting. That might make a few people feel bad about themselves, but it won't create many new fans. You know what will, though? Stuff like this Tate-Rousey rivalry. Already it's produced what might be the best segment in MMA Hour history (no offense to "The Mitrione Minute"). For the first time in a long time, the MMA world is buzzing about women's MMA. And, contrary to how it might seem on the surface, it's not their looks that's driving the interest (though, okay, it doesn't hurt). Really, it's the argument over their looks and over how much it matters, and it's the same argument women's MMA has been having with itself for years. It shouldn't be enough to be pretty. I don't just mean in MMA, either. Whether you're a man or a woman, good looks might be a minor win in the genetic lottery, but they don't make you a good or talented or even worthwhile person. We know this, even if we don't always act like it. To give a good-looking person special considerations just because we like looking at their face is embarrassingly dumb, not to mention unfair. That's why it makes for such a fascinating internal conflict for a women's division that's still struggling with its own identity. No one wants to see women's MMA become a sideshow where untalented, untrained pretty girls fight it out in sports bras for the sexual satisfaction of a caveman crowd. At least, I hope no one wants that, and if they do there are websites specifically for them (I've heard there are, anyway). At the same time, just as in the men's division, promote-ability matters. Brock Lesnar got a title shot after three fights -- which, in retrospect, still seems insane -- because he sold tickets and pay-per-views. Some fans and fighters might want to see MMA become an egalitarian utopia where none of that matters, but in the meantime promoters still have to market their product to the world that is rather than the world that could or should be. The good news is, MMA has a built-in lie detector to keep anyone from skating by on looks or attitude or popularity for too long, and that's the same for the women as it is for the men. If you can't fight, we'll find out soon enough. Eventually some ugly, boring person will punch you in the face until you can't stand up, and that will be that. Facial symmetry might be a useful gift, but it doesn't hold up too well in a sport that allows elbow strikes on the ground. By forcing this discussion, both Tate and Rousey have done women's MMA a favor, whether either of them realize it or not. As much as female fighters love to frame their sport as a battle for attention and respect that they're all waging together, they don't always act in their own self-interest. It doesn't help them at all to be nice or to be friends or even to be fair to one another. What helps them is selling fights. What helps them -- just as it helps the men -- is getting fans interested in what's about to happen a few Saturday nights from now. That's the business of fighting. As Josh Barnett likes to say, the business of fighting has very little to do with actual fighting, but that doesn't mean it isn't important. This conflict -- trying to give fans what they want but without losing your identity or self-respect in the process -- might turn out to be an ongoing and inescapable struggle for women's MMA. And maybe that's okay. In a sport that's all about conflict in its various forms, you could do a lot worse than have public arguments that lead to publicized fights. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mma, women, dont, rousey, she

UK: Sizeland desparate to impress in 2012

Brett Sizeland is eagerly looking forward to his third Cage Warriors appearance in February and the MMA Clinic middleweight is hoping for a big year in...

Posted in: mma, warrior, february, appearance, sizeland

And the winners of our Supremacy MMA contest are...

Finally, 7,000 of you have been thoroughly convinced to follow MiddleEasy on Twitter, so we feel the need to give out some free optical disc schwag. Initially in our Supremacy MMA contest (which has been on the front page of MiddleEasy for a little over a month), we planned to hand out a game once our official MiddleEasy Twitter account exceeded 7,000, 7,500 and finally 8,000. However, we need to free up some banner real estate for a few end-of-the-year features that we have planned, so we're just going to give away all three Supremacy MMA games now that we've reached the 7,000 mark. In order to be eligible for the contest, you were required to follow @MiddleEasy on Twitter along with posting your Twitter name on the contest page. Now that we have all the entries, we assigned each entry a number and used Random.org to select three winners. Massive congratulations to the following people for claiming a free Supremacy MMA game for Playstation 3 @locoloc @G_Stefano @thelilbeastmma If you were not a winner, don't bum yourself out. There will be many more chances to win free stuff from MiddleEasy in 2012.

Posted in: mma, contest, twitter, middleeasy, supremacy

Need some advice, been going to an MMA gym for about 6 months now - no one at the gym knows I'm gay - how would you react if someone came out at your gym?

So like the title said, I've been attending a local MMA gym for a while and have got to know the guys a bit more. I've been fighting for a while (kickboxing & muay thai), but these were before I came out, so there was nothing to be afraid of. Now I've been out to everybody from my family, friends, work, etc. At the gym, no one knows because the "you have a girlfriend' conversation never comes up surprisingly (this is usually where I say something like "uhh, I have a boyfriend"). The difference between MMA and a lot of the stuff I've taken before is the kickboxing/muay thai was generally stand-up...so I'm sure people wouldn't be as uncomfortable. But what bothers me (and why I'm asking you guys) is MMA involves a lot of ground game. I have ZERO interest in rolling around with anybody for some sort of sexual reason, and it pisses me off that people might think that, but how will the guys at my gym know that? How would you react, or how do you think people at your gym would react? And please be honest... submitted by mma3234 [link] [18 comments]

Posted in: mma, guy, gym, mma gym, ive

Dream, One FC Announce Co-Promotion, Partnership

Dream and One FC, two of the biggest MMA promotions in Asia, on Monday announced a partnership.

Posted in: mma, dream, partnership, fc, mma promotions

MMA Clinic/Warrior Promotions acquires Fiore MMA, now boasts 50 big-show fighters

The MMA Clinic/Warrior Promotions - a company that promotes shows, represents fighters and operates training facilities - is getting even bigger. Cage Warriors Fighting Championship CEO Graham Boylan today told MMAjunkie.com the group has acquired the U.S.-based Fiore MMA. As part of the deal, the upstart training facility will be part of MMA Clinic Gyms, and Warrior Promotions Fighter Management will take over its client list. Marc Fiore will remain with the company as a full-time trainer and fighter manager.

Posted in: mma, promotion, fighter, cage warriors, fiore

Jon Fitch Unsure Why He Can't Get Rematch With Georges St. Pierre

Jon Fitch has a legitimate case as one of the three best welterweights in the history of MMA, yet he has only been granted a single shot at the UFC welterweight title. In August of 2008 he was defeated by champion Georges St. Pierre and since that time he has gone 5-0-1. Despite his success his name is rarely brought up as an opponent for GSP. On MMA Weekly radio, Fitch was recently asked if he knows why he hasn't been granted another shot at the title: "I really have no idea," Fitch told MMAWeekly Radio's Weekend crew recently. "No one's every come to speak to me about doing anything wrong or right or whatever, so I'm completely clueless. "I have no idea what's expected of me to get the title shots. No one's ever come to me and said they don't like what I'm doing or I need to do more of something else. I'm utterly and completely clueless in that regard." It remains very odd to me that MMA fans think that results from several years prior mean that a fighter should not be granted a rematch. But I guess the idea of fighter progression and success meaning something is a debate for another day. Fitch is set to fight Johny Hendricks at UFC 141.

Posted in: mma, fitch, im, radio fitch, day fitch

There’s still more shopping left, check out a list of all the Cyber Monday deals in the MMA world

[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on FighterXFashion.com, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] In case you haven’t dropped enough dough just yet on this weekend’s Black Friday MMA Deals, here’s your last chance to save even more cash with these one day only Cyber Monday sales. Valid today only, check out the list of MMA discounts below from some of the best online MMA stores and save up to 50% on MMA T-shirts, take home UFC DVDs for just $9.99, and a whole lot more. Stock up on holiday gifts or splurge on yourself. Either way, check out the list of Cyber Monday MMA Deals below. Check out the List of Cyber Monday Deals...

Posted in: mma, deal, check, monday, cyber

ONE FC and DREAM announce official partnership beginning March 31

Asia’s largest MMA promotions, ONE Fighting Championship, and DREAM, have officially entered into a mutually exclusive partnership which will see DREAM become a part of the ONE FC Network which Victor Cui (pictured above) is busy putting together. The network already includes Cage Fighting Championship in Australia, Road FC in Korea and URCC in the Philippines and the addition of Japanese promotion DREAM gives it a reach and scope which is unprecedented in MMA history. According to the press release "ONE Fighting Championship and DREAM have agreed to co-promote events together and have also agreed to fighter exchanges. Fighter exchanges are expected to happen with immediate effect. It means that any ONE FC fighter will automatically be eligible to compete on DREAM and any DREAM fighter will automatically be eligible to compete on ONE FC." The card for 'Fight For Japan: Genki Desu Ka Omisoka 2011' on New Year's Eve is close to completion with seven MMA fights, including the Bantamweight Grand Prix final, already lined up. A heavyweight fight between Fedor Emelianenko and Satoshi Ishii is rumored to be on the rocks and it is possible that one or two ONE FC fighters could be booked. It is only a matter of time before the DREAM fighters do get to test themselves against mixed martial artists from elsewhere in the ONE FC Network with a cross promotion between the two organization's set to take place in Singapore on March 31st. That event is tentatively titled 'ONE FC / DREAM in Singapore' but is subject to approval by media partners and other third parties.There will definitely be a show at the Singapore Indoor Stadium at that date as well as in Jakarta on February 11th and Kuala Lumpur on April 27th so there will be plenty of opportunity for DREAM fighters to appear on ONE FC cards. The advantages to both parties are obvious, DREAM gets to and expand its fan base outside of Japan and raise the profile of its existing fighters while ONE FC gets access to one of the most prestigious rosters in the sport including Singapore based lightweight champion Shinya Aoki. ONE FC has been widely described as the 'UFC of the East' but with 20 shows under its belt DREAM could also lay legitimate claim to that title, although it does not have the same sort of pan Asian appeal. Now that the two organizations have joined forces, along with well established promotions from Korea and the Philippines, there is no doubt where the power lies in Asian MMA. ONE FC fighters Brian Choi and Vuyisile Colossa are in action at Road FC 5 in Korea this weekend and CFC lightweight champion Bernardo Magalhaes is rumoured to be pencilled in to face Ole Laursen at the BritAma Arena in Jakarta in February. The likes of Aoki, Tatsuya Kawajiri and Hiroyuki Takaya are also likely to be coming soon to a ONE FC card while fighters such as Eduard Folayang (above), Leandro Issa and Eric Kelly can move in the opposite direction. Victor Cui, CEO/Owner of ONE Fighting Championship, said, "I am thrilled by this partnership. Japan has the highest level of MMA fighters in Asia due to its long history in the sport. DREAM is the most prestigious event in Japan. With this partnership, ONE Fighting Championship and DREAM will continue to showcase the most exciting fights between the best fighters in Asia. I am truly excited by the potential of this partnership to create new opportunities for fighters, gyms, sponsors, advertisers, and media partners." Keiichi Sasahara, Event Producer of DREAM, said, "DREAM and ONE Fighting Championship will work together to lead the sport of MMA in Asia to a better future. DREAM has some of the best fighters in the world and we also have deep experience of putting on world-class events. ONE Fighting Championship has the largest media platform in Asia and many other assets. I see many great synergies with this partnership. It is certainly a new era for everyone in Asian MMA." www.twitter.com/jamesgoyder

Posted in: mma, fighter, dream, championship, fc

UFC vs New York: An explanation of the UFC's argument for MMA legalization

Earlier this month the UFC, looking to get the sport of MMA legalized in the state of New York took the step of filing a lawsuit against the state. The UFC in the past had tried to go the legislative route in getting a bill passed that would have made the sport legal. The promotion has not given up hope that legislation will eventually work, as the lawsuit will surely take some time to work its way through the court system. Jamie Levitt, counsel for the UFC in the lawsuit recently appeared on Inside MMA

Posted in: ufc, mma, ufc vs, mma legalization, ufcs argument

MMA on TV

Welcome to “MMA on TV”, Five Ounces of Pain’s weekly update on the upcoming MMA-broadcast schedule. Miss the latest episode of “MMA Live” or “UFC Unleashed”? Wondering when Showtime, Spike TV, or HDNet are airing a replay of their latest offering or interested in finding out where to tune into live shows occurring over the next seven days? November 28 – December 4 All Times Eastern Monday (11/28) MFC 29: Conquer (Replay) on HDNet at 3:30pm Inside MMA (Premiere) on HDNet at 8pm Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg (Replay) on ShowtimeEX at 10:30pm Tuesday (11/29) Inside MMA (Replay) on HDNet at 12am MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 11:30am MFC 30: Up Close & Personal (Replay) on HDNet at 3:30pm MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 4:30pm Wednesday (11/30) Dynamite!! 2009 (Replay) on HDNet at 3:30pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 3pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 4pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 5pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 6pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 7pm Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 7:30pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 8pm Art of Fighting (Replay) on MAVTV at 8:30pm UFC Unleashed (Premiere) on SpikeTV at 9pm MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 9:30pm The Ultimate Fighter 14 (Premiere) on SpikeTV at 10pm King of the Cage (Replay) on MAVTV at 10pm Thursday (12/1) UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 12am The Ultimate Fighter 14 (Replay) on SpikeTV at 1am Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 1:30am Art of Fighting (Replay) on MAVTV at 2:30am King of the Cage (Replay) on MAVTV at 3:30am Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 12pm King of the Cage: Honor (Replay) on HDNet at 3:30pm Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 5pm Friday (12/2) Shark Fights 2011 (Replay) on FuelTV at 12:30am MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 10:30am MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 3:30pm Inside MMA (Replay) on HDNet at 8pm XFC 15: Tribute (Live Event) on HDNet at 9pm UFC 140 Countdown (Premiere) on FuelTV at 9pm Legend Fighting (Replay) on FuelTV at 10pm Saturday (12/3) Legend Fighting (Replay) on FuelTV at 1am Inside MMA (Replay) on HDNet at 1am XFC 15: Tribute (Replay) on HDNet at 2am Legend Fighting (Replay) on FuelTV at 3am The Ultimate Fighter 14 Marathon (Replay) on SpikeTV at 11am MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 12:30pm Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 1pm MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 5:30pm Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 6pm The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale (Live Event) on SpikeTV at 8pm Legend Fighting (Replay) on FuelTV at 9pm Sunday (12/4) The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale (Replay) on SpikeTV at 12am King of the Cage (Replay) on MAVTV at 11am King of the Cage (Replay) on MAVTV at 4pm MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 11pm

Posted in: mma, replay, pm, mavtv, spiketv

The MMA Hour With Miesha Tate, Ronda Rousey, Mark Hominick, Matt Mitrione

Filed under: UFC, Strikeforce, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosThe MMA Hour is back in your life on Monday with another two-hour live episode. Below is the show lineup: * We'll be joined by Strikeforce women's bantamweight champion Miesha Tate and top contender Ronda Rousey at the same time to discuss Rousey's climb up the 135-pound ladder and a potential title fight between the two. * Later, contender Sarah Kaufman will weigh-in on the Strikeforce title situation. * Featherweight Mark Hominick will discuss his UFC 140 fight against Chan Sung Jung. * Friend of the show Matt Mitrione will stop by for another edition of "The Mitrione Minute." * And we'll go "5 Rounds" on the news making headlines in MMA with reigning champion Ben Fowlkes and ESPN.com's Chad Dundas. Of course, we'll also be taking your calls as we look aheard to Saturday night's TUF 14 Finale, so 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: mma, show, mma hour, hour, mitrione minute

So it's official, ONE FC and DREAM join forces like Voltron

What has now been theorized for the better part of nearly a month has materialized just moments ago. ONE FC and DREAM have officially entered into a mutually exclusive partnership starting tonight/morning/afternoon (depending on which part of the globe you're currently located on). This means that effective immediately, both promotions can share their fighter roster, enabling DREAM to utilize ONE FC's broadcasting muscle and expand to essentially every Asian market. Once again, the game has changed within the Asian MMA world, and fortunately you're alive to experience it. Lucky you. Back in July, I published a story entitled 'When One FC takes over MMA in Asia, remember this article,' in which I made the apt comparison of ONE FC's place in the Asian MMA market as being the sole owner of the Infinity Gauntlet. Most of you didn't fully comprehend the elaborate and eloquently constructed parallel I made with the Asian MMA scene and perhaps the greatest Marvel crossover to ever grace comic books. Hey, it's not my fault that you had a healthy childhood which consisted of not locking yourself in your room with a backpack full of comics every weekend. Blame your mom for raising you to be a productive member of society, instead of an introvert that makes obscure references to fantasy games on Twitter. Now nearly five months later, I'm comfortable in proclaiming that the ONE FC + DREAM partnership is the beginning of some intangible form of Voltron that will eventually run (and protect) the Asian MMA universe. The first co-promoted event is slated for March 31st 2012 in Singapore and it will be appropriately titled 'ONE FC / DREAM in Singapore.' The card will most likely feature Shinya Aoki along with a few other huge names from the JMMA scene. With ONE FC's new partnership, the company now has approximately a 90% market share of Asian MMA fighters within the ONE FC Network. We're talking a grand total of 38 gyms and promotions now under the ONE FC network banner, working in exclusivity with ONE FC. Judging from what I've been hearing, they plan to increase this number exponentially in 2012. Finally, we have (nearly) all the Asian MMA promotions working in unison for one common goal. In essence, this is what Asian MMA fans always wanted since ProElite/EliteXC teased us with a partnership with Korea's Spirit MC and DREAM back in 2008 -- then Seth Petruzelli ruined it for everyone. With the multitude of co-promotions that are lined up within the ONE FC network, there will undoubtedly be more opportunities for fighters to compete on a regional levels. Let's just hope all organizations in the network agree to adopt ONE FC's 'Pride rules' of soccer kicks and head stomps, since that would be entirely too amazing for words. While it appears that we won't get the highly rumored co-promotional New Year's Eve show with ONE FC and DREAM, expect a gargantuan co-branded ONE FC/DREAM show to take place in Japan at some point in 2012. It's also been confirmed that ONE FC will have a co-promotional card with URCC, Philippines' largest promotion (and they're also sponsored by Colt 45, which makes Lando Calrissian a very happy man). Normally this article would end here and you guys would build a party float in my honor, however literally as I was writing this, I received confirmation from a ONE FC exec that their next event on February 11th in Jakarta, Indonesia will feature Martial Combat champion Ole Laursen vs CFC Australia champion Bernardo 'Trekko' Magalhaes competing in the main card (but not necessarily headlining the card). I've also been told the ONE FC/DREAM co-branded card going down in March 31st will also feature a unifying title fight between a champion in Korea's Road FC and another reigning champion in Philippines' URCC. That's already like a quadruple-promoted card, and it's not even done yet. It's also important to note that ONE FC considers Russia a part of Asia, so we might see Fedor fighting within the ONE FC network in the near future. That is, if the UFC doesn't accept M-1's offer of squaring Cain Velasquez vs. Fedor Emelianenko in a cage in Moscow, Russia next year. That's a lot of info to digest this early in the morning, but these are the things that you need to know in order to fully comprehend the immeasurable potential of the future of Asian MMA. All signs point to 'amazing' in 2012.

Posted in: mma, dream, card, fc, asian

Happy Birthday to the father of MMA.

submitted by Texas03 [link] [comment]

Posted in: mma, texa, birthday, father

The Sunday Morning Rumor Mill

There's nothing I want to do more than to crawl back in my bed and hibernate from the rest of the world for the remainder of the day. I have tons of emails to answer, articles to write, but if it were up to me, the light switch on the universe would be turned off for the next few hours. As always, I feel obligated to deliver the Sunday Morning Rumor Mill on an actual Sunday morning. It's rare when it happens, but when it does, it's like the multi-colored sprinkles on top of your MMA doughnut. Enjoy. It would be silly to say that MiddleEasy is in talks with a large network to get Tim Kennedy a cooking show. Well, just call me silly. There's a rumor going around (along with a superfluous amount of evidence that I will not look at) that states at some point in his career, Jamie Varner was defeated by a somewhat famous gay porn star in a professional MMA bout. For their September 10th show in Birmingham, BAMMA tried to construct Bobby Lashley vs. Dave Batista, but the fight never materialized. Hatsu Hioki, Cung Le, Siyar Bahadurzada were all fighters BAMMA was interested in to compete at BAMMA 7. EA MMA 2 is not dead. TUF auditions are on December 5th in Las Vegas, with the rumored TUF coaches being Dominic Cruz and Urijah Faber. The rumors are true, King Mo is training with Lyoto Machida in order to prepare him for Jon Jones. Nick Diaz has accepted the offer from Floyd Mayweather Sr. to help him train against Georges St. Pierre. I've been saying it for a while now, but it appears One FC is organizing a female tournament for 2012. The rumors I've heard states it will be an openweight tourney, which would be pretty wild if true. Judging from what I've personally witnessed over the course of about four months, Dave Meltzer is the most powerful person in MMA media. A few weeks ago, Forrest Griffin made a 'rape joke' on Twitter and received the backlash of most of the MMA community. Forrest then apologized for his statement, visited the Rape Crisis Center and made a donation to the organization. It appears Griffin's actions were on his own accord, the UFC did not force him to apologize or donate. Just want to get this out of the way, MiddleEasy will not be posting the picture of Eric Prindle's swollen testicle from last night's Bellator. If you're into that sort of thing, check his Twitter account. Gary Goodridge has recently been hospitalized, allegedly due to brain damage he sustained in the past. According to Zach Arnold, Japan has some serious, 'Enron-level' scandals going on in the MMA scene. A huge ONE FC announcement will be made Sunday night in the US (Monday morning in Singapore). I'm guessing it has to do with their co-branded DREAM/ONE FC NYE show. Chris Leben, Brian Stann and Alan Belcher were all possible opponents for Minowaman at UFC in Japan. There seems to be a concerted effort by two individuals to 'expose' BAMMA. Not sure if these two individuals are disgruntled ex-employees, but they definitely seem to be getting the word out. Chael Sonnen recently made this statement towards Arriany Celeste: "We only had one and that was Chandella. The other was the IQ card girl. Arianny kind of walks around and holds up her latest test score. One time when there was a title fight, she got all the way up to five and we were very proud of her." Apparently Sonnen's disdain for Celeste goes back to an after-party nearly a year ago when Celeste and Sonnen exchanged words.

Posted in: mma, rumor, morning, sunday, bamma

Asian MMA: PXC 28 Recap and Results - Jon Tuck Knocks Out Tristan Arenal In MMA Return

Guam's premier MMA organization, Pacific X-Treme Combat, hosted their third show in the Philippines last Saturday, with PXC 28. BloodyElbow.com was on deck at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City, as Filipino fight fans were treated to 11 exciting fights, including the headlining bout between Filipino-American, Tristan Arenal, and Abu Dhabi grappling champ, Jon 'Super Saiyan' Tuck. Tuck, who is known for handing the Filipino MMA star, Eduard Folayang, the only loss of his career, made a successful return to MMA after being away from the sport for more than two years. During that time off, he worked diligently on his grappling and eventually became an Abu Dhabi Grappling Champion, before signing up with the PXC. This improvement with his ground game was evident during the fight. The Filipino-American, Arenal, hurt him with a combination early, but Tuck quickly gathered his wits, got it to the mat, and took over from there. After a few moments of controlling him on the ground, Tuck was able to posture up and land one of those heavy bombs he's known for, leaving Arenal out cold and stiff as a board. He followed up with two more big shots right to the chin, before the referee was able to stop the fight. The fighter from Guam got a spectacular finish on his PXC debut, and also earned the respect of the Filipino crowd. "I know I fight Filipinos, but I have lots of Filipino friends and family," Tuck said post-fight as he drew cheers and won over the crowd, "I have the Cruz name, and I consider myself Filipino" During the post-fight interview, it was revealed that Tuck will be the next challenger for the PXC Lightweight crown, which belongs to another Filipino-American, in Harris Sarmiento. "I know they’re trying to set me up with Harris, but he’s my kuya (older brother) from another nanay (mother)," said Tuck. "Every time he goes to Guam, I take care of him as much as I can. I trained with him and even went as far as cutting coconuts and letting him drink that buko juice to recover. There’s some brotherly love there." After the jump, a recap of the other bouts, and a few exclusive photos from the main event. Quick hits: Ali Cali stole the show with his showmanship. The former boxer kept Dylan Pablo guessing with his fancy unorthodox strikes, feints, and footwork. He 'danced', skipped, and punched his way en route to a very entertaining albeit one-sided decision victory. Team Lakay Wushu, one of the best teams in the Asian region, went 2-1 at the event. Denver Labrador and Crisanto Pitpitunge picked up quick and impressive stoppages against their opponents. Geje Eustaquio, on the other hand, dropped a split decision loss to Korean Top Team's David Cho in an absolute war that got both fighters battered and bloody. Cho had a large hematoma on his forehead, and Eustaquio had a black eye, a bloody lip, and probably had a broken nose after both men took their opponent's best shots without going down. In the end though, the Korean won a razor thin decision despite taking a point deduction for throwing a punch after the 1st round ended. As always, stay tuned for a full photo gallery from the event, but for a teaser, here's a few photos from the main event: All photos taken by my brother, Paolo Tabuena Full Results: Jon Tuck def. Tristan Arenal by KO (Punch), 1stCrisanto Pitpitunge def. Jerry Cimeni by Submission (Strikes), 1stDenver Labrador def. Orlimer Celeste by KO (Head Kick and Punches), 1stAli Cali def. Dylan Pablo by Decision (Unanimous)Elliot Untalan def. Rolando Dy by Submission (Rear Naked Choke), 1stDavid Cho def. Geje Eustaquio by Decision (Split)Jon De Los Reyes def. Virgil Ortigas by TKOJoseph Mercado def. Benjie Lumacad by Submission (Rear Naked Choke), 1st Moses Baca def. Jerry Legaspi by Submission (Armbar), 1stAlvin Cacdac def. Josh Alvarez by TKO, 1stCarlo Astudillo def. Chris Cabredo by Submission (Armbar), 1st

Posted in: mma, decision, submission, filipino, pxc

Dan Henderson vs Shogun Rua proves that winning isn't everything

In the moment after Mauricio Rua and Dan Henderson put on one of the greatest MMA fights of all-time, most of us were basking in the glow of 25 minutes of unbridled ultra-violence, having born witness to the greatest example of the indomitable human spirit. "Shogun" weathered a brutal assault from "Hendo" in the early rounds, including several "H-bombs" that have flattened lesser fighters, to come back in the fourth and fifth rounds to lay a savage beating on his foe. The heart required for both fighters to go through five rounds of that exhausting match cannot be easily imagined. And yet, after those moments had dissipated and the scorecards were being arranged, that magic disappeared and all we cared about was the numbers? Who, among these two heroic men, had won in some arbitrary ranking system compiled by three people of all the people who watched the fight? The answer, as we know, was Dan Henderson via scores of 48-47 across the board. Which doesn't do a lick of justice for that epic battle. And it's not a matter or arguing the score, since that's not the point I'm making. Nick Diaz once said that he felt he'd never lost a fight because he didn't understand the scoring system, and at the end of every fight, he was always standing, ready to go one more. He's right (and he proved it in the hospital with Joe Riggs). Although we've modified the rules of combat for MMA to make for a scoring system — although what it's based on seems completely arbitrary and unexplainable as evidenced by inconsistent judging — and limited rounds to between three and five, five-minute segments, I think we're missing the basic point of a fight. The objective isn't to win on points, although unexciting fighters like Georges St-Pierre and Jon Fitch have made a career out of that. The point is to defeat the other man or, failing that, to impose your will on the man until you're the one standing at the end. By that criteria, "Shogun" was clearly the winner of the UFC 139 main event. Although he lost the early rounds, he took control in the final two, and it would be silly to suggest that Henderson was anything but utterly and wholly defeated at the end of the fight. Sure, he won on points. Sure, he won on "damage." But at the end, one man was on top of the other, and that man was "Shogun." Some people would suggest that it doesn't matter, since that's not how MMA works. Fights are broken into rounds and "Hendo" clearly won the early rounds, in dominating fashion. And that's true, if all you care about are the rules of MMA. But I suspect we don't all watch MMA for the sole reason of counting 10-9 rounds. Fighting, in and of itself, is one of the last true, raw, primitive displays of man against man, and MMA is one of its most unadulterated forms without the risk of death or permanent injury. We watch the fights to see who can withstand the most punishment, mete it out in kind, and dominate his opponent in the cage, both physically and mentally. We watch for the moment when the proverbial immovable object meets an unstoppable force and one man breaks mentally, surrenders, and submits to the power of the other. We don't, or shouldn't, care whether some judge felt it was worth 48-47. Do I care that Rua "lost" his fight against Henderson? No. I think both men gained respect for each other, showed their mettle and bravery and heart to the MMA world, and in the end they stood as equal champion combatants at the end, war weary as they both were. Those are the fights I live for. That's why I watch MMA. That's why I don't care who won.

Posted in: fight, mma, round, end, man

UFC 144: Mark Hunt vs Cheick Kongo fight 'official' for Japan on Feb. 25

Two international mixed martial arts (MMA) veterans with kickboxing backgrounds are set to go toe-to-toe at UFC 144 on Feb. 25, 2012, from the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. Super Samoan Mark Hunt, a Pride FC mainstay from back in the day, will be tasked with trading leather with formidable French force, Cheick Kongo, in a heavyweight scrap set for the promotion's return to the "Land of the Rising Sun" early next year. After surviving a six-fight losing skid, Hunt has momentarily turned things around and recorded back-to-back wins for the first time since 2004. He laid out Chris Tuchscherer at UFC 127 and then battered Ben Rothwell at UFC 135 to earn a unanimous decision. The New Zealander -- who made a name for himself with wins over Wanderlei Silva and Mirko Filipovic while they were in the prime of their illustrious careers -- has one loss inside the Octagon since coming aboard in Sept. 2010, tapping to a Sean McCorkle armbar at UFC 119. Submissions have clearly been Hunt's Achilles heel throughout his MMA career, but the good news is Kongo is no Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt. On the contrary, similar to Hunt, Kongo is a striker first. In fact, he, too, cut his teeth in kickboxing prior to making the transition to MMA. And while he is no K-1 World Grand Prix champion like Hunt (2001), he certainly has the skills and power to do some heavy damage. Paul Buentello and Pat Barry know all about that, getting finished by Kongo in recent bouts because of strikes. So much so that Kongo's most recent opponent, Matt Mitrione, appeared to want no part of the Parisian's power, implementing a rather "safe" gameplan at UFC 137 that ultimately played right into the hands of Kongo in the form of a unanimous decision. There should be no real secrets or surprise strategies heading into this heavyweight duel. Sure, Kongo might shoot for a takedown or two, but both these men prefer to stand and bang. And that's what they'll likely do for 15 minutes or until someone falls over first. UFC 144 will be headlined by a 155-pound title fight featuring Ben Henderson, fresh off his unanimous decision win over Clay Guida, taking on reigning lightweight champion Frankie Edgar. In addition, Jake Shields returns to action against Yoshihiro Akiyama, while Anthony Pettis and Joe Lauzon collide in what promises to be an exciting lightweight attraction. For the latest UFC 144 news and notes be sure to check out our complete archive right here.

Posted in: ufc, hunt, mma, decision, kongo

MMAterial Facts (11/25/11) : Black Friday Edition

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 Bellator Fighting Championships (Fight of the Year Candidate) - Fowlkes: The Indestructible Daniel Cormier (MMA Fighting) “The first kid begins to cry less than an hour into practice. Everyone can see it coming. That trembling lower lip, that frustrated stomp of the feet. When the tears finally start, twisting his face into a little ball of anguish, no one seems particularly surprised. … “No crying today,” says his coach, Daniel Cormier. Is there even a hint of sympathy in his voice? There is not. Neither is there anger nor impatience. There is only a sense that this is what we are doing because this is what must be done, and crying never won a single wrestling match.” - When Fedor met Satoshi Ishii on NYE; card will not air on broadcast TV (Fight Opinion) “The scuttlebutt coming out of Fedor’s decision win over Jeff Monson in Russia is that he will fight on the Inoki NYE card at Saitama Super Arena against Inoki-managed/owned-in-Japan fighter Satoshi Ishii. On paper, the fight makes sense for both parties. Fedor sees it as a chance to get a win, as ugly as it may be, over a relatively green fighter and an easy payday plus TV rights in Russia. Inoki’s camp views it as a chance to get Fedor back in Japan (where he’s the most valued, still) and that Ishii can somehow make the match ugly enough to get a decision win as long as Fedor doesn’t tag him early and knock his ass out.” - Redeeming Filipino: Phillipe Nover Bellator 59 exclusive interview (MMA Mania) “I’m not the next Anderson Silva, I’m not the next Georges St. Pierre. I have my own type of style and I like to take things from different people. I like to take different movements and styles and stuff but I’m not trying to be the next Georges. I’m not trying to be the next Anderson, I’m the next Phillipe Nover and that’s what I’m gonna live up to.” - Rampage Jackson vs. Ryan Bader Booked For UFC 144 In Japan (MMA Convert) “So it looks like Rampage Jackson is going to fight in Japan after all. … But it won’t be against Shogun Rua or even Stephan Bonnar. Instead, Rampage will take on Ryan Bader at UFC 144. Lorenzo Fertitta confirmed the news with ESPN.com.” - Jens Pulver’s 2011 Videogame Holiday Buyer’s Guide (MiddleEasy) “The holiday season is upon us and with the jingling bells, festive lights and awkward family gatherings a veritable avalanche of amazing games are at our gamepad worn fingertips. With many choices comes great responsibility, so what games will you spend your hard earned holiday windfalls of cash on? We recruited Jens Pulver to help you answer this very question. After hours of contemplation and debate, Jens and MiddleEasy compiled the following items that should be at the top of every gamers list and at the bottom of every tree. This is Jens Pulver’s Holiday Buying Guide-Only at MiddleEasy.com.” - Dana White: The UFC Is Going On With Or Without Me (FightLine) “This is McDonald’s man. This thing goes on forever without me,” White asserted. “Is it different without me? Yeah, maybe it’s a little different, but they don’t need me, man. This thing’s goin’ on without me or with me.” - MMA Black Friday: 7 Things That Money Can’t Buy (Cage Potato) “From revolutionizing the MMA landscape with a kick the way the Miami Dolphins did with a Wildcat Offense a few years ago to several strangely fascinating videos, Anderson Silva has provided more entertainment than a Chael Sonnen Says F*ck Canada or at Least This Reporter Who Lives There” Chael Sonnen interview. These are memories that will last a lifetime, or three if you’re Cheick Kongo.” - Grappling with Issues – 11/25/11 (Five Ounces of Pain) “I’m torn. On one hand, Rua vs. Henderson was unquestionably excellent – a “Fight of the Decade” type affair. On the other, it would be nearly impossible to top from an entertainment standpoint. To expect a repeat performance would akin to telling Leonardo Da Vinci to paint another Mona Lisa rather than enjoying the masterpiece he’d already put on canvas. Like Lambert I suppose I’ll say I’m open to the idea if divisional contendership dictates it but otherwise I’m content with having seen one of the greatest fights in MMA history, letting each man move on to new challenges (especially with Henderson likely only having a few more years in the sport).” - Dan Henderson Doing His Part for Thanksgiving and Christmas (5thRound) “Thanks to Dan Henderson and the generous fans that purchased the ‘Hendo UFC 139 Walkout Tee’ he wore this past Saturday in his epic battle against Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, almost 8,000 people at the San Diego Rescue Mission and the Denver Rescue Mission will be able to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with their loved ones. “ - Vadim Finkelstein: We will offer the UFC a fight between Velasquez and Fedor (LowKick) “We are determined to move forward, and would like to offer the UFC a fight between Cain Velasquez and Fedor Emelianenko. M-1 Global would take a full responsibility of organizing the fight sometime during 2012 in Moscow, Russia. I can guarantee Dana White great revenue from this fight, and a record-breaking attendance. M-1 Global is ready for dialogue, and would be happy to consider an option of organizing such tournament with combined efforts. I will make an offer to “my best friend” pretty soon, so we’ll see what he has to say.” - Michael Chandler discusses epic win over Eddie Alvarez at Bellator 58 (TheFightNerd) “Fight Nerd correspondent Rodolfo Roman got to speak with newly crowned Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler after his four round war with Eddie Alvarez at Bellator 58 last Saturday. Chandler discusses winning his first national belt, preparing for Alvarez, and his future as champion. The fight had obviously taken a heavy toll on Chandler as, during the interview, one of his facial wounds reopened.” - Where Does Dan Henderson Fall on the List of All-Time MMA Greats? (BleacherReport.com/MMA) “There is no one to be ashamed about on that list. He also holds victories over Misaki and Wanderlei Silva. That means of his eight losses, there are only five fighters he hasn’t redeemed himself against. … Henderson is currently on a four-fight win streak, including winning Strikeforce’s light heavyweight championship and stopping Fedor Emelianenko. Now Henderson’s future is up in the air. “ http://bleacherreport.com/articles/935972-dana-white-ufc-on-fox-is-a-dream-come-true

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, henderson, fedor

Voting now closed in the World MMA Awards 2011

Voting has now closed in the World MMA Awards 2011.The awards, presented by Fighters Only and sponsored by Bodybuilding.com, are in their fourth year and...

Posted in: world, mma, fighter, award, voting

MMA vs New York to be decided in court - Inside MMA segment

submitted by BongRipsPalin [link] [comment]

Posted in: mma, court, mma segment, mma vs, bongripspalin link

Friday Link Club: Black Friday Edition

Jon Jones spars with female boxer Holly Holm via LowKick MMA Black Friday: 7 Things That Money Can’t Buy | Cage Potato While our wives and girlfriends are busy maxing out our credit cards in hopes of finding the perfect gift for everyone she knows, we should be reminded that money can’t buy everything — especially in the world of mixed martial arts. Follow us after the jump to discover the irony of the MMA Black Friday. I promise it will be better than the turkey sandwich and leftover pumpkin pie you’ll have for lunch. Wake up! The Black Friday sales are here | MiddleEasy Black Friday is finally here and that means it’s time to save some cash with the best MMA deals around. Forget scouring the web trying to track down a few good deals, we have all the best Black Friday MMA sales listed right here. Ready to save big time while scooping up some of your favorite MMA apparel and fight gear? Check out the list of Black Friday MMA deals down below to shop and save on all the best fight wear from today’s top brands like TapouT, Affliction, Dethrone Royalty, Throwdown, and much more! Ring to Cage is giving you 30% off on Black Friday, plus more!  | TheFightNerd Friends of The Fight Nerd, Ring to Cage, is offering a Black Friday special as well, but for a very limited time! Over on Ring to Cage’s official website, you can get 30% off all orders purchased through their online store, with no minimum purchase required. That means no matter how much or how little you buy, you get 30% off! Just make sure you use the coupon code 30BFOFF11 at checkout. Dan Miller Asks MMA Community for Help | 5thRound The season of giving is nearly upon us, and UFC middleweight Dan Miller is in desperate need of our help. Miller and his wife Kristin are asking the mixed martial arts community to assist their young son Daniel James Miller, who was born with autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease. MMA Top 10 Light Heavyweights: How High Does Dan Henderson Go? | MMA Fighting Michael David Smith ranks the top 10 light heavyweights in MMA. Georges St-Pierre: 8 Reasons Nick Diaz Is GSP’s Biggest Threat Ever | Bleacher Report Here are the top eight reasons why Nick Diaz, as crazy as he may be at times, is the biggest threat St-Pierre has ever faced as champion. Tito Ortiz already looking head to 2012 despite December fight against Nogueira | Five Ounces of Pain “One hundred percent, yes. I would love to (Franklin). I’ll take any fights. Put’em in front of me, I’ll fight,” Ortiz said. “UFC wants me to fight’em? I’ll fight. Dana wants me to fight’em? I’ll fight. Rich Franklin, you wanna get broken off some? I’ll break you off some.” Phil Davis Says Rashad Evans Bout ‘Makes Sense’ | Fightline “That may be a fight that makes sense. He’s still a top-five guy, definitely one of the best guys in the world, we’ll see what happens. If that fight gets made, that’s still pretty cool. I’d like that.” Jake Ellenberger discusses the Welterweight title mix, says he’s the guy to beat GSP | LowKick “I think Carlos (Condit) has a better chance of beating GSP (than Nick Diaz). But, a fight is unpredictable, you really can’t tell. I think Carlos has better chances than some like to give him. No one has beaten GSP in a long time, it doesn’t matter who fights him, he’s going to be a very hard guy to beat. The way I look at it, when I fight GSP, you have to go in there with no fear and not let him get into his strengths and his strategies. You have to really go after him and pressure him. You can’t sit back and try to box him, he’s got very good striking and he’s quick. But, absolutely, I do believe I am the guy to beat him.” When Fedor met Satoshi Ishii on NYE; card will not air on broadcast TV | Fight Opinion The scuttlebutt coming out of Fedor’s decision win over Jeff Monson in Russia is that he will fight on the Inoki NYE card at Saitama Super Arena against Inoki-managed/owned-in-Japan fighter Satoshi Ishii. On paper, the fight makes sense for both parties. Fedor sees it as a chance to get a win, as ugly as it may be, over a relatively green fighter and an easy payday plus TV rights in Russia. Inoki’s camp views it as a chance to get Fedor back in Japan (where he’s the most valued, still) and that Ishii can somehow make the match ugly enough to get a decision win as long as Fedor doesn’t tag him early and knock his ass out. Redeeming Filipino: Phillipe Nover Bellator 59 exclusive interview with MMAmania.com (Part one) | MMA Mania “I had to take some time off because I had neck surgery. I didn’t really publicize this. I don’t know for sure when the injury came first but I know I had a herniated disk and it was really bad. I definitely fought with the herniated disk a few times, that was during the UFC and it just kept getting worse and worse. Finally, I ended up getting an MRI after fighting Rob Emerson and I saw, the doctor told me that my neck is really bad.” UFC 139: Payout Perspective | MMA Payout After the big UFC on Fox airing, UFC 139 seemed like an afterthought. It was a very good card but lacked the buzz. One reason may be that Fuel aired the one hour countdown show instead of Spike TV before Spike aired it late Thursday night. Second, many casual viewers may not know Dan Henderson or Mauricio Rua. Certainly, these guys showed that they could put on a good fight. Yet, they aren’t known names. Finally, there is a level of fatigue the casual viewer (or perhaps every viewer) has with these PPVs. It seems like every other week fans are spending money on fights. With the holidays coming up, some budgeting has to take place and that may mean a decline in PPV purchases. Based on the last couple of PPVs (UFC 136-225K buys, UFC 137-280K buys), it would not be out of line to state that UFC 139 is in the neighborhood of 250K buys. With that being said, it may be time to recalibrate how many PPV buys makes a card successful.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, time, friday

Twitter Mailbag: Talking Title Shots, Rematches, and Black Friday Deals

Before we jump right into the Twitter Mailbag here, let me pause to remind you of two things: 1) You love this freaking website, which brings you everything from breaking news to video interviews to in-depth stories to entertaining features, and 2) We're nominated for Media Source of the Year at this year's MMA awards, and the voting window is closing rapidly. I'm not telling you to go this website right now and vote for us. Nope. Not doing that at all. What I am telling you is that, if I were you, and I enjoyed the work of a particular website that was nominated for an award like that, I wouldn't consider it an unreasonable demand on my time to register and vote for my internet pals. But hey, that's me. And I'm not a total jerk. Now then, who's got the first question? @Orderx7 Why does @UrijahFaber keep getting title shots? There are other guys in the div. that can sell a fight. In theory, I agree. But in practice, who else could you possibly give a title shot to right now at 135 pounds? Demetrious Johnson just had his chance. Miguel Torres is still trying to string a couple wins together. Brian Bowles just got utterly smashed by Faber. So who's left? It's not just that Faber is still the most popular fighter in the division (though, let's be real, he's that too), but he's also earned the shot. Bowles was a former WEC bantamweight champ whose only prior loss was an injury TKO to Cruz, and Faber ran right through him. He's pretty clearly the second-best fighter in the division, and isn't pitting #1 against #2 what a title fight is supposed be all about? @DaveDomination what are your quick predictions for UFC on Fox 2? I predict that no matter what the full lineup looks like when it finally hits TV, MMA fans will find a way to complain about it. @JDRCheckIt how likely is it to see Fedor in a big league again? Short answer: not very. That's assuming that by 'big league,' you mean the UFC, Strikeforce, or Bellator. If you mean M-1 Global (or an M-1 Global co-promotion), then it's a different story. Regardless of how we feel about it, seems like Fedor is going to bravely soldier on through one mediocre fight after another. He beat Jeff Monson, which still counts for something, I suppose, and I wouldn't be terribly surprised if he eventually ends up rematching Tim Sylvia or Andrei Arlovski on another 4 a.m. pay-per-view with high school AV club-quality production values. But as for fighting the big boys on the big shows, I'm afraid those days are over for the Last Emperor. @Dchavez who has the best Black Friday deals and when should I get there? The answer to those questions are, in order: Best Buy, and six hours ago. @KevinMarshall mailbag: Hell of a bout between Chandler & Alvarez. Is it me or is there not as big a disparity between UFC & Bellator's LWs? If I'm reading your question right, what you're asking is, why do the Bellator lightweights seem UFC-caliber, while some of the higher weight classes in Bellator seem populated with fighters who aren't quite ready for primetime? I don't necessarily disagree with that premise, but I think it has less to do with either the UFC or Bellator and more to do with the nature of talent distribution in this sport. It makes sense that MMA has, on the whole, more talent in the lighter weight classes than the bigger ones. If you're a talented athlete who's 6'3" and 250 pounds, you probably have options when it comes to making a living in pro sports. If you're 5'6" and 165 pounds, it's a different story. Because MMA is one of the few popular pro sports that promises its competitors a chance to go up against someone their own size, it's more likely to draw the little guys who got run off the football field or laughed off the basketball court. Basically, there are more good lightweights to go around, so it makes sense that Bellator has a few. It also makes sense that heavyweights are at such a premium that it's an issue even in MMA gyms across the country. You hear it from trainers all the time: the toughest thing about developing a good heavyweight is finding good heavyweight sparring partners. What's happening lately is that heavyweights are starting to consolidate in a few select gyms just so they can train with other guys their size, which brings us back to the old teammate-versus-teammate question that's been ridden into the ground. Which reminds me, thanks for not asking that question. I'm just so sick of it. @noelluperon Have you press row guys ever been sprayed in blood, spit, sweat or any of the less noble fluids flying from the Octagon? Press row is a good eight to ten feet from the fence, so we're usually safe. Those poor photographers, like our own Esther Lin, are not always so lucky. @TimKennedyMMA mailbag question. What's the deal with Strikeforce? When is Tim Kennedy going to fight UFC guys? I keep asking the same thing, Tim. I keep hearing others ask it too. I just haven't heard any satisfying answers yet. Perhaps there's something you'd like to tell us? @DJNonfiction Hendo vs. Shogun II...Do it all over again (in japan), or leave this one alone to the history books? Ah, the siren's song of the rematch. If the first fight was great, why not do it all again, beginning with round 6, right? Sadly, it very rarely works out that way. Remember Griffin-Bonnar II? Yeah, neither do I. Trying to recreate a great fight is like showing up at your high school girlfriend's house with a bouquet of supermarket flowers and a six-pack of wine coolers. Just because it resulted in a magical night once, that doesn't mean it's a formula for success every time. The part of me that scored this fight a draw thinks that a rematch makes sense, but the part of me that thinks it was the greatest fight in MMA history doesn't want to see it defiled by a sad attempt to recreate its glory. For now, I'm fine with Henderson moving on to a title shot in either the middleweight or light heavyweight class. And who knows, maybe he and Rua will meet again somewhere down the line. @Futch6 MAILBAG-- question: who do you think will be JDS's toughest opponent: Lesnar, Ubereem, Cain, Mir? I'm not sure about this 'Ubereem' fellow you mention, but I think Alistair Overeem could create some serious problems for the current UFC heavyweight champ. That is, if he gets past Brock Lesnar, which is a big if. Overeem's ability to take a punch and give one back (along with a couple kicks and a bunch of knees coming right behind it) could test dos Santos' stand-up game in new and exciting ways. His size alone presents a different sort of challenge, and we know he's not going to freak out the first time he gets hit in the face. First, however, Overeem has to get past Lesnar. How he manages that will depend heavily on how much he can improve his takedown defense before December 30. Let's hope he's doing more than hitting pads at Xtreme Couture between now and then, because if he ends up on his back with Lesnar on top of him -- even once -- it could be all she wrote. @LoganasaurusRex if you're @danhendo where do you take the title shot? Also has any other fighter ever secured two title shots at once before? If I'm Henderson, I take the fight at light heavyweight. He hates that cut to middleweight, and I think it shows in the cage. He'll give up size and reach to Jon Jones (or Lyoto Machida), but he's got a chance against either, if only because one is still slightly inexperienced and the other is vulnerable to his style of fighting. Plus, that way he gets to eat what he wants, and an eating Hendo is a happy Hendo. @AdriantheWizard After Ben Henderson, who's the next contender at LW if Melendez loses in December? The phrasing of your question seems a little odd, Mr. Wizard. If Melendez loses? That makes it sound like he might walk in the cage and spontaneously lose consciousness. If Melendez loses, it will be because Jorge Masvidal beat him. And if Masvidal beats him, that would make Masvidal the new Strikeforce lightweight champ, so why not have him fight for the UFC lightweight belt? That is, assuming that whole champion-versus-champion thing is really going down as soon as we all think/hope it is. @dsmelser13 Who do you have in this on going battle between @arielhelwani and @MieshaTate? Who is right? And Who should get the award? I wouldn't call it a battle so much as a misunderstanding, but if you're asking me who I think deserves to win the award for female fighter of the year, I have to side with the champ. I realize she only fought once in 2011, but it was a big one. Tate submitted Marloes Coenen to claim the 135-pound Strikeforce title, which is, for the moment, one of the only women's titles that matters. What's more, female fighters at Tate's level don't get as many opportunities from promoters to do their thing, so I can't fault her for the lack of fights. Ronda Rousey might have had a higher work rate this year, and yes, she did armbar everything on two legs, but she did it against a lesser caliber of opponent, so there were more chances to keep getting in the cage. That said, I voted for Sarah Kaufman. Because I like Sarah Kaufman. And yes, I realize that's not how you're supposed to vote in these things, but I also don't care. @stlbites do you ever get discouraged by the lack of thoughtful MMA fans and the seeming girth of meatheads asking for freebies? Personally, I think there are plenty of thoughtful MMA fans. My Twitter timeline is full of them, even if it also has some idiots sprinkled in there from time to time. I've always thought that, from a fan perspective, MMA is a sport for nerds, and I mean that in the best way. MMA fans obsess about and over-analyze every aspect of this sport, and a great many of them actually do so intelligently. It's just that the idiots yell rather than talk, so they tend to drown everyone else out. As for the people asking for freebies, Dana White would get a lot less of that if he stopped encouraging it. At the UFC on FOX presser, for example, he specifically told people not to ask him for tickets. Then the first fan who got his mitts on the mic asked for tickets, and DW gave them to him. All I'm saying is, when the children are spoiled, you don't blame the children. @shplane What did you think of Breaking Dawn? I assume that's a typo and you mean to ask what I thought of Red Dawn, which of course I watch every Thanksgiving. I thought it was awesome. I think that every year, though. @tpears86 do you think Maynard is smart about going to AKA? I happened to be in the AKA gym last week and saw Maynard going through Daniel Cormier's wrestling practice along with the rest of the crew. I have to say that it seems like a good place for him, and one where he'll really fit in. AKA is more of a team than many other gyms. There's a real exchange of ideas happening on those mats, whereas some other places are just workout facilities with a rotating cast of coaches and sparring partners. Xtreme Couture -- and the Las Vegas MMA scene in general, really -- features a lot of coming and going. AKA doesn't. The difference will only benefit Maynard. Got a question of your own? Find me on Twitter @BenFowlkesMMA and ask away. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: fight, mma, title, question, im

Latest UFC/MMA news and notes from around the web for the week of November 20, 2011

Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Mauricio Rua and Dan Henderson pictured above, we can all "get along." Teaming up with MMA sites like MMA Fighting, Cage Potato, Fight Opinion and The Fight Nerd, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport. This week, MMAFighting goes in depth with Daniel Cormier, Five Ounces of Pain talks to Jens Pulver and The Fight Nerd catches up with newly crowned Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler moments after his thrilling battle with Eddie Alvarez. The full list of links is after the jump. - November aftermath: What's next for Velasquez, Rua, Fedor and Bonnar? (LowKick) All four fighters are currently without a match-up set in stone, so as always, it's our job to speculate about who they should be fighting next. I tried to avoid rematches, simply because a. I believe this sport has too many of them, and b. it's always nice to talk about fights we've never seen before. - Hot Potato: 17 photos of Ronda Rousey (Cage Potato) For the record, our new obsession with Ronda Rousey is completely healthy, and is based mostly on our deep respect for the art of judo. Also, she's really hot. Just figured we'd throw that out there. - Interview with Jens Pulver (Five Ounces of Pain) "I appreciate people saying they want me to retire, as long as they have a good reason and are looking out for me. But, I'm losing to submissions. I'll be grappling until I can't walk. They're safe. I'm not going out there and watching my chin turn to butter and going out there and getting hit by guys not known for power and going to sleep for 10 minutes." - The Indestructible Man (MMA Fighting) Take Thanksgiving Day, 1986. [Daniel] Cormier is a seven year-old kid growing up in Lafayette, Louisiana, when his father, long since split from Cormier's mother, is shot and killed by the father of his second wife. You can almost imagine the way this story goes. Thanksgiving dinner with the in-laws, an argument ensues, things get out of hand. Then bang. You've got a tragedy in your living room. - UFC 140 Jones vs Machida trailer (5thRound) Now that UFC 139 is a thing of the past, it's time to kick the pre-fight promotion hype for "UFC 140: Jones vs. Machida" into high gear. A day after publishing the official poster for the December 10th event, the planet's premier MMA promotion has released the trailer for the pay-per-view broadcast. - Jens Pulver's 2011 video game holiday buyer's guide (MiddleEasy) With many choices comes great responsibility, so what games will you spend your hard earned holiday windfalls of cash on? We recruited Jens Pulver to help you answer this very question. After hours of contemplation and debate, Jens and MiddleEasy compiled the following items that should be at the top of every gamers list and at the bottom of every tree. This is Jens Pulver's Holiday Buying Guide-Only at MiddleEasy.com. - Michael Chandler discusses epic win over Eddie Alvarez at Bellator 58 (video) (TheFightNerd) Fight Nerd correspondent Rodolfo Roman got to speak with newly crowned Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler after his four round war with Eddie Alvarez at Bellator 58 last Saturday. Chandler discusses winning his first national belt, preparing for Alvarez, and his future as champion. The fight had obviously taken a heavy toll on Chandler as, during the interview, one of his facial wounds reopened. - When Fedor met Satoshi Ishii on NYE; card will not air on broadcast TV (Fight Opinion) Remember all the talk about Ishii wanting to be in the UFC? He could have fit into the plans of UFC Japan and actually had a chance to grow up as a fighter. Instead, he's back to do the business of Inoki by fighting a fading, yet accomplished & decorated veteran who is likely going to produce a fan reaction that will resemble the Le Banner fight. - UFC 139: Payout Perspective (MMA Payout) Welcome to another edition of Payout Perspective. This week we look at UFC 139 at the HP Pavillion in San Jose, California where Dan Henderson defeated Maurico Rua in a 5 round battle. - Randy Orton: Talks WWE '12, "Over the bitterness" with the Rock and Brock (BleacherReport.com/MMA) "I'm a big Lesnar fan and I've always been. We came up together about 10 years ago. Me and him were buds. We've lost touch over the years, as you usually do with guys like that. But I wish him the best. I know he's had a few health issues as of late. But he'll conquer those, just like he's conquered every other obstacle that's come his way. I truly feel he's one of the few human beings I've ever met that have been able to accomplish as much as he's accomplished. He puts his mind, body and soul into it and he's gonna get it done." - 10 things to be thankful for in MMA: 2011 edition (MMA Convert) Thanksgiving is upon us, and with it comes a time to eat copious amounts of turkey, see way too much of your relatives, and gives thanks for the things that make life worth living - and if you're like me, much of those particular "things" involve mixed martial arts. So here we are then, soon to be closing out 2011, and as it has proved to be another banner year for the sport, we're left with plenty to be thankful for. - Quick Shots: Featherweights signed For UFC 142, Russian to debut at UFC on FX, UFC inks another (Fightline)

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, he, jen

Wake up! The Black Friday sales are here

[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on FighterXFashion.com, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] Black Friday is finally here and that means it’s time to save some cash with the best MMA deals around. Forget scouring the web trying to track down a few good deals, we have all the best Black Friday MMA sales listed right here. Ready to save big time while scooping up some of your favorite MMA apparel and fight gear? Check out the list of Black Friday MMA deals down below to shop and save on all the best fight wear from today’s top brands like TapouT, Affliction, Dethrone Royalty, Throwdown, and much more! EA MMA is on sale at Amazon for $10.69. Wal Mart has UFC Undisputed 2010 for $10. Our friends at VXRSI are having a blowout sale all weekend, 20% off the entire stock and free shipping. Ranger UP - Use coupon code "BlackFacebook' for 30% through Sunday. Check out the rest of the deals...

Posted in: mma, deal, sale, friday, today ’s

MMA Link Club: Dealing with a bunch of turkeys in the fight game @genomrosko @sergiotx @gotahemmi

Too many turkeys in the MMA game today to even discuss on a frequent basis.

Posted in: mma, game, club, turkey, basis

5 Oz. MMA Link Club

Welcome back to another edition of “MMA Link Club”, Five Ounces of Pain‘s weekly smorgasbord of offerings from our brothers and sisters in the MMA community. This week we’ve offered up a double-dose of MMA-related goodness based on all the excellent material out there to choose from. Enjoy… B.J. Penn Talks About Life Without MMA (LowKick.com) Jason Miller Aiming to Finish Michael Bisping at TUF 14 Finale (Fightline.com) An Amazing Glimpse into the World of Daniel Cormier (MMAFighting.com) Tim Kennedy Talks Sweet Potato Soup with Thanksgiving Recipe (MiddleEasy.com) Bellator Champion Michael Chandler Doesn’t Care About Rankings, Only Wins (MMAMania.com) Jeff Monson Reportedly Scuffles with Russian Police (TheFightNerd.com) Alistair Overeem Ready to Rip Brock Lesnar Apart Piece by Piece (MMAConvert.com) A Look at Japanese Fighters Who Struggled to Transition Into American MMA (BleacherReport.com) Gray Maynard Exits Xtreme Couture (5thRound.com) Fedor Emelianenko with a Kitten. Need We Say More? (CagePotato.com) Victor Conte Calls for Intensive Steroid Testing in MMA (FightOpinion.com) The “Payout Perspective” for UFC 139 (MMAPayout.com) PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: mma, mma community, mmarelated goodness, mma fightopinioncom, piece mmaconvertcom

Storify: Canseco accepts Shaq's MMA challenge

Ex-MLB player Jose Canseco has accepted a challenge to an MMA fight by recently retired NBAer Shaquille O'Neal. Here's the Twitter reaction.

Posted in: mma, challenge, mma fight, storify canseco, canseco

Happy Thanksgiving, Maniacs! What we're thankful for in MMA

Ah, Thanksgiving. I'm a sucker for tradition and the November holiday is chock full of it. From the Macy's parade to a day full of football on the tube to turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and all the regular fixin's (screw you, I'm from Texas) on the dinner table, there's always a lot you can depend on when Thanksgiving rolls around. But beyond eating yourself into a food coma and passing out in front of the TV, Thanksgiving is a day for ... well, giving thanks. It's in the freaking name, for goodness sake! And that's exactly what the crew here at Mania intend to do. A week ago, we all received a black envelope with a single slip of paper on the inside. On it, written in blood, were coordinates and a single word in a long dead language not spoken since before the dawn of the man. Jesse, Geno, Brian, and myself found each other days later at the coordinates in front of a cave that was surely the gateway to hell itself. Uttering the word each of us received, the cave opened up and beckoned us in. Inside, Tom was waiting with a case of High Life and a demo copy of UFC Undisputed 3. So we got to work. Happy Turkey Day, Maniacs! Tom - Founder of Mania, throne of skulls owner: Naturally, I'm thankful for many MMA things this holiday season. Normal.dotm 0 0 1 277 1583 MestizzoCine 13 3 1944 12.0 0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} Exciting performances, network television deals, entertaining heels and most of the best fighters in the world (almost) all competing under one umbrella, makes this year, next and all those moving forward truly monumental. It's truly a great time to be a fan, especially with Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) about to embark on its most ambitious schedule ever, planning to cram 34 events into one calendar year. Buckle up, it's going to be one helluva wild ride watching sweaty, highly-trained men punch, kick and choke each other repeatedly. During this time, it will be important to take a step away and enjoy the other scenery that will be along for the ride, particularly Britney Palmer. She's not the UFC ring girl madam, a mantle of responsibility that falls on Arianny Celeste, but she is certainly the most fun to look at all the time. For me, anyway. And when it was announced that she and the promotion were parting ways so she could pursue a career in art, it came with great sadness. My heart sunk to the floor. Friday fun threads would never be the same. Her replacement, whoever that might have been, wouldn't be the same, either. Ring girls have come and gone throughout the years, including Amber Nichole Miller, Ann Rivera, Edith LaBelle, Ali Sonoma and even the incomparable Rachelle Leah. For some reason, I could cope with their departures. It was natural. Just like fighters get stale or lose interest among the general public, so, too, do beautiful faces and amazing figures. Us MMA fans are a spoiled lot. But, the Palmer era didn't last long enough. It didn't feel right. I wasn't ready for it. So when Dana White took to Twitter and asked fans to vote if he should lure her back, and the response was an overwhelming, "YES!" I could not have been happier. Thank you, Dana White. More important, thank you, Britney Palmer. Geno - Managing Editor, Cageside Seats General: What I'm thankful for is Brock Lesnar. And yes, it's pro wrestling related but allow me to explain. I actually fell out of love with pro wrestling (I'm back now, baby, go to CagesideSeats.com) somewhere around 2004, due to general disinterest and an increasingly difficult life at home, though that's none of your damn business, not that you asked. That's right around the time Lesnar bailed on the WWE to pursue the greener pastures of the NFL. It didn't work out, of course, and after a short stint in Japan, Brock took the next logical step and made his way into the world of mixed martial arts. And he brought me right along with him. He had a lot of help. My oldest brother Bill (who is doing well and almost fully recovered from his cancer, thanks again to everyone for the well wishes), had been trying for some time to convert me into an MMA fan but it just didn't take for the longest time. I can remember seeing various events before UFC 81 back in Feb. 2008, though none of the information stuck until I revisited it later. One day, Bill made it easy on me and told me I should come watch the fights with him because Lesnar was going to be fighting. Like a complete donk, I replied, "Wait. Brock is going to be fighting? Like ... for really real?" After he finished laughing, he told me yes, Lesnar would really be fighting and he was probably going to get his ass kicked. So I made my way to his house to enjoy the show, eager to see how Lesnar would do in a real fight instead of a worked match against guys trying harder to protect him than actually hurt him. And then my brother's girlfriend, Talytha, needed me to go to the grocery store with her to pick up a few things (read: beer run). I was assured we would return with plenty of time to spare and I would get to see Lesnar fight. Except Ricardo Almeida and Nate Marquardt both choked out their opponents in less than two minutes flat and Lesnar was on much sooner than expected. Then his fight lasted all of 90 seconds, an explosive and exciting debut that saw him nearly murder his opponent before succumbing to a kneebar thanks to his huge lack of experience. And I was standing in line at fugging Wal-Mart. Missed the whole damn thing. I made it back in time for the main event, though, and the ensuing display of heart, skill and technique by Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in his heavyweight championship win over Tim Sylvia, who trains just down the road from me, caught my attention ... and kept it. The very next event, UFC 82, was hyped to the sky by Bill and his friends, who convinced me to check out this badass motherfugger named Anderson Silva. And I did. And I haven't looked back since. Now it's over three years later and I'm a Managing Editor of an awesome MMA website (thanks Tom and Jesse), and doing something I absolutely love. And I have Brock Lesnar (and my big brother Bill) to thank for it. Happy Thanksgiving, Maniacs. Brian - Staff Writer, interviewer extraordinaire: I'm thankful for many things. In MMA, I'm thankful for the inverted triangle choke, AKA the most creative submission hold I've ever seen. Toby Imada was getting his ass kicked by Jorge Masvidal and pulled it off as a desperation maneuver in the third round to win the fight. It was wild, it was something I'd never seen before and it was further proof that there is so much more we can learn, improvise and evolve in mixed martial arts. Now, the inverted triangle is actually becoming more commonplace. Chris Lytle used it as did Cole Miller in combination to set up incredible finishes in 2010 and then Richard Hale of all people finished a fight with it at light heavyweight earlier this year. Most of all, though, I'm thankful for the Maniacs. Having originally come over as a commenter on Bloody Elbow, I wasn't sure how well I'd be accepted, but after only a few short weeks, you guys took me in with open arms. I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't have your support. I read every comment of every one of my articles and try to respond to most of them. Just one comment can make my day and you guys have done that on a regular basis. I love your feedback. I love interacting with you guys. I love it when you correct a mistake I made so future people won't think I'm an idiot who can't proofread. Hell, I even love it when I get trolled by ABB or STB just because it makes me feel like I belong. Keeping up the interview schedule I do is not easy, but you guys make it worth it each and every time. Keep doing what you do, Maniacs. You make much more of a difference than you would ever know. Sergio - Staff Writer, Skyrim enthusiast: It has been quite an incredible two years. Back in October 2009, I started a weekly two-hour MMA show for a small internet radio station that ran for about eight months. During that time I was able to interview guys like Anthony Njokuani, Jason David Frank (Dragonzord~!), and Bjorn Rebney. The birth of my daughter left me with little time to continue the show so I started writing funny (not really), drunken (very much so) recaps of MMA events in my spare time for Cageside Seats back when it wasn't pro wrestling exclusive. That's when I met Geno, who pretty soon after started his gig here at Mania. Somehow he conned Tom into bringing me aboard as well and I've been here ever since. So I'm thankful for the opportunity that Tom, Jesse, and Geno have given me to write about a sport I love and am incredibly passionate about. I'm also thankful for each and every one of you a-holes that welcomed me into this crazy, dysfunctional family. It's sort of like my own except I don't hate any of you. Now with all that mushy stuff out of the way, I'm also thankful for Nick Diaz. Love him or hate him, the foul-mouthed, ornery Stockton bad boy certainly makes the sport interesting. From putting every opponent Strikeforce placed in front of him on blast to getting a shot at Georges St. Pierre's welterweight title and losing it because he wouldn't show up to a "beauty pageant," Diaz has never failed to generate chatter among fans. I mean, the dude responded to being bumped from the biggest fight of his life with a video he recorded while driving down the highway cursing at other drivers! He may have retired B.J. Penn, he wishes he got paid big bucks to compete in triathlons so he could quit MMA, and still drives an old, broken down Honda despite making 600 Gs in 2011. Thanks to him, the word "homie" has become an integral part of my everyday vernacular. So yeah, I'm thankful as all get out for Diaz. In fact, I'm ordering a "Don't Be Scared, Homie" t-shirt right now... Jesse - Managing Editor, all-around B.A.: It's turkey day twunny 'leven, and if I'm thankful for one thing in combat sports, it's gotta be the fans. Let me explain. When I was a senior in high school (1991, bitches), I told my guidance counselor that upon graduation, I wanted to get a job at HESS. Yes, the gas station. I wanted to pump gas for a living. I wasn't really sure why, but when pressed, the best I could come up with was the uniforms. They had really snazzy uniforms. Green and white with a big name patch sewn into the breast. I could already picture it ..."JESSE." She gave me that long stare, almost as if she couldn't decide if I was half-fucking with her or just half-retarded. I think she eventually settled on the latter before scribbling something into her notes that to this day, I'll bet is none too flattering. And as luck would have it, HESS wouldn't even hire me. I filled out the application and agreed to minimum wage, but the grease monkey who conducted the "interview" seemed puzzled (and perhaps a bit suspicious) that a clean-cut kid from the suburbs wanted to pump gas on a busy highway. Defeated, I settled on a job at the local Amoco, but it just wasn't the same. I still got slightly buzzed on fumes, but their idea of a dress code was a shirt with no holes. That's when I decided to become a garbage man. Now they call them "sanitation engineers," but fuck that, I wanted to play with garbage. And how awesome would it be to cruise around town hanging onto the back of a moving truck? Couldn't get that job, either. The fat guy in the county office muttered something about joining the union and strict qualifications and yadda, yadda, yadda. Whatever man, just gimme my fucking handshake and send me on my way. Those were the only two jobs I ever really "wanted." Until the day I decided to write an article about a PRIDE fight I saw. It was posted on a pro wrestling website in late 2006 and some guy named Tom Myers just happened to stumble across it. For reasons not yet fully understood, he invited me to come try my hand at writing about combat sports on this "little fan blog" he started called UFCmania. If he only knew! In the first piece I ever wrote for this site, I openly bagged on Randy Couture for coming out of retirement, because I was convinced he was going to get KTFO by Tim Sylvia. How do you think Nostradumbass was born? The point is, I saw that post go live and I watched people respond. I remember slinking back in my chair and thinking, "Wow, it would be cool if I could get paid to do something like this." And now I do. That's thanks to you, fans of mixed martial arts and more importantly, fans of MMAmania.com. Without you, every single one of you (yes, even the haters), I'd be spritzing produce at some inner-city grocery store or bussing tables at the local pub. I have a job I like. After 15 years of having a dozen I hate, I can't express how grateful I am to get a check every month as payment for watching and discussing MMA. Am I driving a Benz? No, but my commute is from my bed to my computer desk. I don't wear a tie and I don't have to deal with office politics. And I have you to thank. So, without further ado, thank you MMA, thank you MMAmania and thank you MMA fans. Outside of my girls (and this year's HESS truck), they're what I'm thankful for the most this holiday season. Now let's eat!

Posted in: mma, time, fan, love, im

Redeeming Philippine: Phillipe Nover Bellator 59 exclusive interview with MMAmania.com (Part one)

For former finalist of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 8, Phillipe Nover, Saturday night (Nov. 26, 2011) will be the culmination of a near unparalleled amount of hard work and adjustment. Once compared to the likes of Georges St. Pierre and Anderson Silva by UFC President Dana White in a fit of regrettable hyperbole, Nover suffered a multitude of physical issues and then found himself on the outside looking in after suffering his third straight loss inside the Octagon. After taking 19 months off to make drastic changes and allow his body to heal, Nover returned to mixed martial arts (MMA) competition this past August, scoring his first victory in over four years at Hoosier Fight Club in Indiana. Nover quickly signed with Bellator Fighting Championships after his win and has been slated to square off against dangerous European submission whiz Marcin Held for the past 2.5 months. He'll finally make his return to televised MMA this Saturday night at Bellator 59 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Nover spoke with MMAmania.com during a recent guest appearance on The Verbal Submission, discussing getting rid of distractions, why he took so long to return and what he expects against Marcin Held in part one of this two-part interview. Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): You took a little over a year off and you mentioned that there's no distractions this time around now that you're back. What was your biggest distraction before? Phillipe Nover: Wow, I definitely had some distractions before in my life. I would say definitely not having the right frame of mind. One thing, I was in a really bad relationship. I thought it was a good relationship but the person I was with, a woman can drain you, man and if you're making her a priority in your life and it's ok to make a woman a priority in life as long as there's some reciprocation going on, but not to get into so many details but there was no reciprocation going on and it wasn't a good relationship. It was actually a drain and there was a lot of negativity that surrounded me when I thought it was all positive things going on, so that was definitely the major issue. I was focusing on that instead of focusing on my training and that was definitely one thing that changed and is completely changed now. The second thing is I changed my team up and my training partners. Because I'm such a loyal person and I just come from that type of background especially with the traditional arts, it's difficult cutting ties between your original trainers and stuff, who I still respect to this day but just getting to the new level, getting to a professional level, you need to train with professional people. All my training partners and sparring partners who are professionals, I train at Edge Wrestling with Dave Branch, John Cholish, my trainers Dave Esposito, Brandon Kinney and Jeff Marsh, all these guys do this stuff pretty much for a living. My training partners and sparring partners range now from Frankie Edgar all the way to Charlie Brenneman. Guys just come into Renzo's, I train at Renzo's now. I'm now including John Danaher in my corner. Just changing up completely with my training strategy-wise for my fighting. I think before, I had an approach which was definitely lacking in my fight career and now it's a lot better. I look at fighting now completely different from how I ever looked at it. The third thing that happened is I had to take some time off because I had neck surgery. I didn't really publicize this. I don't know for sure when the injury came first but I know I had a herniated disk and it was really bad. I definitely fought with the herniated disk a few times, that was during the UFC and it just kept getting worse and worse. Finally, I ended up getting an MRI after fighting Rob Emerson and I saw, the doctor told me that my neck is really bad. I waited about six months or more, maybe eight months before I got the surgery because I was debating. I wanted to do all kinds of things like traction therapy, acupuncture, acupressure, all kinds of stuff I tried. I really had a fear of going under the knife. Finally, I met a doctor, his name was Dr. Shapiro over in Long Island and he put an artificial disk in my neck and it's unbelievable. It's actually healed up. You can YouTube this, I have a video diary of my recovery and it's crazy. Just to get neck surgery and to come back stronger than ever, it's like I have a brand new neck. Those are the three major things that I had changed in my life which is helping me focus again and I just feel like my MMA career can take off even further than it's ever bene. Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): I appreciate the candor there. When you decided that you were returning to fighting, what you first did was you took your first professional kickboxing fight, a Muay Thai bout. Can you tell me the thought process that went into the decision to try kickboxing before coming back into MMA? Phillipe Nover: The first thought in my mind, I got the neck surgery on February 8th of this year so it took a few months to heal and I really wasn't training as much wrestling and jiu-jitsu and getting my neck tugged on but I was still training my Muay Thai so by the time I fought, it was June 10th. I decided my first fight back should be, I wanted to fight in New York, that was another thing too, just to wipe the rust off and have my friends and my family easily travel to New York City, this is my place. I train at Church Street Boxing which is under my coach Jason Strout and this is also a partnership of a show that he runs. It was a real comfortable atmosphere. It was real homely and I fought another MMA fighter actually in a Muay Thai fight. (laughs) He had a few Muay Thai fights and it was my first one. It was really just a way to wipe the rust off. Win or lose, I thought it wouldn't affect my MMA career and you're still putting gloves on and punching people in the head so it definitely worked out. I wound up winning via TKO in the first round so it was a good way to get me back in the picture and then build up back into an MMA fight. Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): I'm very interested in what led up to your signing with Bellator. I know you took a fight at Hoosier Fight Club and you got a win. Did Bellator approach you around the same time they talked to Kurt Pellegrino because you guys train around the same area? What went into that? Phillipe Nover: Well, after the fight with Jake Murphy in the Hoosier Fight Club, I was talking to my manager and we somehow got a contract with Bellator. I don't know how it worked out but we got in contract with each other and we started working some numbers around and they made some offers and we just managed it right. I think this is huge for me. I'm really looking forward to my first fight in Bellator. This is pretty much, I think talent pool-wise, I think we have some huge studs at the 155 division. That fight this past Saturday was crazy. I spar with Eddie Alvarez too and these guys are amazing. It's a stacked division, I think even comparable to the UFC so if I ever want to get back to the UFC, I have to have hopes of making it pretty far in Bellator. This is a great opportunity for me to get back into the scene and I'm hoping to do well. Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): You're taking on Marcin Held, a really dangerous submission fighter from Europe. Have you been preparing your leg lock defense because that guy has some vicious heel hooks. Phillipe Nover: (laughs) I definitely have. I've been preparing with an emphasis on my lower extremity defense. He does go for kneebars, ankles, he loves getting locked up in there and he will definitely pop ankles and knees. He's done it before and I've watched tape on him. He's a young kid, but man, he beats the crap out of adults so I'm preparing myself completely for this fight as much as I can. I'm reviewing all my good defenses and I know he'll probably try to lock up one of my ankles so we'll see what happens. What do you think, Maniacs? Do you agree that Nover's made the necessary adjustments to finally be able to live up to the prospect status that was given to him? Or has that time come and gone already? Sound off! Stay tuned for part two of our interview with Phillipe Nover as he prepares for his major promotional return this Saturday night. We discuss the Bellator contract, his nursing career and unrealistic expectations. To listen to the complete audio of the interview, click here.

Posted in: fight, bellator, mma, thing, nover

An Offering of Thanks to Some of MMA's Most Generous

Filed under: UFC, Strikeforce, BellatorFighting and helping seem a counterintuitive combination, yet MMA is blessed with many giving athletes and personalities who are difference-makers in their communities and the world at large. Many of those selfless efforts go undocumented and under the radar, but in the spirit of the holiday season, we've dug up some of the kind works undertaken by the men and women of the MMA world. This list is by no means meant to be comprehensive; rather, it is a sampling of some of the acts of generosity that often get lost in the shuffle of the everyday news cycle. And it is a chance to say, Thanks. Enson Inoue In the wake of the devastating March earthquake and tsunami in Japan, Inoue -- a Japanese-American with long roots in the sport -- was a one-man effort, traveling through the hardest-hit areas and offering assistance to the region's residents in the form of clothing, food and supplies, as well as toys to children. Inoue reportedly drained his own personal savings in an effort to bring relief to every person he could reach. The UFC/Dana White The UFC's charitable causes are many, though they often go unseen by the public and media. But in January, the promotion ran an event on a US military base for the second time in its history, with all seats free to base personnel, and proceeds from a corresponding online auction as well as donations benefiting wounded veterans through the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. The event ended up raising $4.1 million for the fund. Brian Stann The president of Hire Heroes USA, a non-profit group that offers job search and placement assistance to US military veterans, Stann -- a former US Marine and current UFC middleweight -- helps run an organization with crucial importance during a time of economic hardship for many. The group has a special focus on the two demographics statistically most likely to be unemployed: young veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as wounded or disabled veterans. Alex Davis, Dan Lambert, Joe Mullings In early January, the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil was hit hard by torrential rains that caused landslides and killed over 800 people. Among the hardest-hit communities was Nova Friburgo, the hometown of well-known MMA manager Alex Davis, along with UFC lightweight Edson Barboza, and others. Davis was in Nova Friburgo at the time and volunteered his time and resources to help, while Lambert and Mullings, gym owners of American Top Team and The Armory, respectively, started Combat Athlete Charities in order to support his relief efforts. Brendan Schaub When UFC heavyweight Schaub first visited Brazil in June, he was able to see some of the impoverished parts of the country, and he promised to return with some help when he came back to fight in August. True to his word, Schaub delivered several duffel bags worth of training equipment to a local gym in the underprivileged part of Tijuquinha, Brazil just days before his fight with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 134. American Kickboxing Academy Many gyms have long roots in their communities and take part in volunteering, and San Jose, California-based AKA is among the more active ones. Among the groups the team benefits is Turning Wheels for Kids, a local organization that provides bicycles to underprivileged kids. Fighters including Cain Velasquez, Cung Le, Gilbert Melendez, Daniel Cormier and King Muhammed Lawal have offered up their time to the cause. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, the gym's fighters also recently volunteered time at Martha's Kitchen in San Jose, helping to feed the hungry. Jon Jones By now, everyone has heard the story of Jones helping to stop a robbery just hours before he won the UFC light-heavyweight champion. But that wasn't his only charitable act of the day. Indeed, he donated his substantial after-party appearance fee to a charity designed to combat children's cancers. Jose Aldo After every one of his fights, the UFC featherweight champion autographs and auctions off his fight gear to benefit his team's Nova Uniao community program, which is designed to assist underprivileged youth. Ben Askren After visiting tornado-ravaged Joplin, Missouri, earlier this year, the Bellator welterweight champion secured 300 tickets to Bellator 53 for Joplin residents to give them one night of enjoyment. "It's not a huge gesture. It's not like we're rebuilding their houses, but every small thing helps," Askren said. Freestyle Cage Fighting & BlackEye Promotions In conjunction with Breast Cancer Awareness month, both Freestyle Cage Fighting (FCF) and BlackEye Promotions ran events on January 1 with proceeds going towards cancer research. FCF's event, titled "Fight Strong for the Cure" ran a nine-fight card featured all women, while BlackEye's 16-fight card was subtitled "Breast Cancer Beatdown." Dan Henderson/Clinch Gear The UFC light-heavyweight gave fans a thrill with his recent fight with Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, a fight which was quickly named as one of the best all-time scraps. But Henderson and his Clinch Gear company were also giving back in other ways, pledging to provide a Thanksgiving Day meal to a family of four for every official walkout T-shirt purchased through his website. On Thanksgiving, the company expects to feed over 2,000 people through the Denver Rescue Mission and San Diego Rescue Mission, and the promotion has been extended through Christmas with additional donations to be made at that time. The Fans Few sports have a community as tight-knit and passionate as MMA, and even when you argue, you come together when it matters. Fans have generously donated to a countless number of causes. Among the most recent is the Daniel James Miller Foundation. The son of UFC fighter Dan Miller is in need of a kidney transplant and insurance does not pay for the entire procedure. The Foundation was set up in order to fund his treatment, and the family recently released a statement saying they were left "speechless" following the overwhelming support they have received. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, time, community

NWCA All-Star Classic notebook: Anthony Robles interview, C.B Dollaway update and other college wrestling news

The 46th annual NWCA All-Star Classic hit the campus of Arizona State University for the premier exhibition wrestling event of the year. -ASU alum and 2011 ESPY award winner Anthony Robles attracted a line of autograph seekers when he entered the Wells Fargo Arena. Robles captured a NCAA title in 2011 for the Sun Devils and was a freshman when the program was dropped by the school for a ten day period in 2007. "It was terrible. It was the longest ten days of my life, just trying to figure out where were going to land." Robles said. "People stepped up big time to keep us around for a few years and yeah the program is back but we still are raising money and not completely endowed. We got a long way to go."Robles continued. "Coach Charles is doing a great job on getting this program back. Having this all-star event here is a great way to raise money. We are making some strides but we still need help."The 23 year old Robles also has a soft spot for MMA. Robles trained MMA on and off even before his wrestling career kicked off. "I'm a huge fan of MMA. Favorite fighter is Anderson Silva and we got a lot of ASU guys fighting now." Robles said. "Bader, Simpson, Cain and believe it or not I was actually taking jiu-jitsu before I started wrestling. I trained under Rorion Gracie. That got me into the grappling game."To say Robles will have a busy 2012 would be an understatement. Selected as the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the 2011 NCAA Championships, Robles has proven successful away from the mats as well. "I'm keeping busy. I signed with the Washington Speakers Bureau and their keeping me busy speaking. We are working on a book with Penguin, so look for it to be out next spring." Robles said. "I just signed with Nike, so I am a Nike athlete now. It's going well, we are really close to signing the movie deal." -UFC middleweight C.B Dollaway and Aaron Simpson were in attendance at the All Star Classic. Dollaway is in the midst of a multiple month rehab assignment.The Power MMA fighter injured his leg and is expected to be on the shelf until early spring of 2012. NWCA All Star Classic resultsTempe, AZ-125- Nic Bedelyon (Kent State) dec. Jarrod Patterson (Oklahoma) 7-3133- Jordan Oliver (Oklahoma State) dec. B.J. Futrell (Illinois) 8-7141- Boris Novachkov (Cal Poly) dec. Zack Kemmerer (Penn) 4-0149- Jamal Parks (Oklahoma State) m dec. Joel Smith (Arizona State) 17-4157- Jason Welch (Northwestern) dec. Ganbayar Sanjaa (American) 8-5165- Josh Asper (Maryland) dec. Shane Onufer (Wyoming) 6-4174- Match was canceled due to injury184- Joe LeBlanc (Wyoming) dec. Ben Bennett (Central Michigan) 5-4197- Chris Honeycutt (Edinboro) fall over Byron Tate (Wartburg) 0:32285- Ryan Flores (American) dec. Spencer Myers (Maryland) 11-2-With a history of turning out college wrestlers who will become MMA prospects. The 2011 edition of the NWCA All Star Classic also had a few future fighters in its ranks. 1.) Light heavyweight Chris Honeycutt leads the list. Honeycutt wrestlers at 197 pounds and has already trained at American Kickboxing Academy in the offseason. 2) Featherweight Jamal Parks could be the next great Oklahoma State Cowboy to transition to MMA. If international wrestling does not nab him first, Parks a 149 pound wrestler could try his hand at MMA in 2012 or 2013.3) Light heavyweight Byron Tate is a two time Division II champion at Wartburg College. Wrestling at 197 pounds Tate regularly trains jiu-jitsu and striking at local gyms in Iowa. 4) Bantamweight Boris Novachkov of Cal Poly has Olympic dreams on his mind. The 141 pound Novachkov occasionally trains with Cal Poly alum as well as UFC featherweight Chad Mendes and also works out with other members of the Team Alpha gym in the summer. -The scheduled match at 174 pounds between number three ranked Jordan Blanton of Illinois and number four ranked Nick Heflin of Ohio State was scrapped during warm-ups. Heflin aggravated an ankle injury the morning of the NWCA event and was unable to compete. -A scoring error marred an otherwise fast break match between number one ranked Jordan Oliver of Oklahoma State and number three ranked B.J Futrell of Illinois. The match at 133 pounds was originally knotted up at seven at the end of period three. After a debate between referees, event officials an coaches the fourth period was scrapped and Oliver was given an extra point due to riding time. -Team USA trials kickoff April 21-22 2012 in Iowa City, Iowa. Expect a handful of the NCWA All-Star Classic competitors to make a run at the Olympic trials. The 2011-2012 Division I NCAA championships will occur one month earlier March 15-17 in St. Louis, Missouri.

Posted in: pound, mma, dec, state, roble

Ten Things To Be Thankful For In MMA: 2011 Edition

Thanksgiving is upon us, and with it comes a time to eat copious amounts of turkey, see way too much of your relatives, and gives thanks for the things that make life worth living – and if you’re like me, much of those particular “things” involve mixed martial arts. So here we are then, soon to be closing out 2011, and as it has proved to be another banner year for the sport, we’re left with plenty to be thankful for. Thus, a list of ten things that mean a lot to us MMA fans, but if we were transported via time machine to that very first Thanksgiving table centuries ago, and we tried to describe these things to that pilgrim sitting to our left and that loin-clothed Iroquois to our right, we’d probably end up getting shot with a blunderbuss and wacked with a club. · Eddie Alvarez vs. Michael Chandler – A year ago, no athletic commission in the world with even the slightest bit of conscience would’ve approved of an Alvarez/Chandler matchup. But lo and behold, there’s Bellator, which let Chandler earn his shot against the top-ten lightweight by stuffing him into a 155-pound tournament slot and letting him fight his way out. He did, of course, and earned himself a crack at the organization’s champ, and BLAMMO! We had one heck of a kickass fight last Saturday night! I’m not going to waste time extolling the virtues of their four-round virtuoso – the video’s been available everywhere all week and it’s going to re-air on MTV2 after this week’s Bellator installment. But I will say this: Alvarez vs. Chandler is probably one of the best fights Bellator has ever put together. · Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vs. Dan Henderson – UFC 139 had some awesome moments, but it’s hard to recall them with that much clarity when the last bout of the evening was the five-round master class on heart, skill and warrior-ness. Shogun and “Hendo” were already legends going into their bout on Saturday night, so really, what we got was just the icing on the cake. And damn, what a delicious icing to go with that delicious cake. · UFC on FOX – In the not too distance past, if you told someone on the street that you watched the Ultimate Fighting Championship, they’d likely say, “Oh yeah, aren’t those fights to the death or something?” And you couldn’t blame them for their ignorance, because for the longest time, MMA was at best a fringe sport. Now, if someone shows that kind of unfamiliarity, you can kick them square in the groin. The UFC is available in 550 million homes! For free! “Fringe sport” my ass, this thing is now mainstream, baby, and it’s all thanks to the UFC’s newly-minted marriage to the FOX networks. · Jon Jones – Every sporting endeavor needs its Michael Jordan, Mike Tyson (in his prime), and Tiger Woods (uh, when he seemed wholesome). Guess what? We’ve got Jones, who rocketed up the ranks of the light-heavyweight division to claim the crown – and defend it – in completely convincing fashion. That’s right, we’ve got our very own superstar that we can point out to the general public and say, “Yeah, that guy right there, he’s a superhero.” · Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard III – If you’ve got two fighters engaged in a trilogy of matchups, it’s either because their prior bouts were so totally awesome or so totally inconclusive. What Edgar and Maynard did up until UFC 136 was pretty much the latter. Then came UFC 136, and wow, definitely the former. With an uppercut off a takedown attempt, then a serious of right hands followed by some lefts, Edgar put the world on notice that he was here to stay as lightweight champ, badass challengers be damned. Now we have closure, and there’s no question mark over who the best 155-pound fighter in the world is. · Nick Diaz – For a while now there’s been no one in the UFC’s welterweight division who could stop champ Georges St. Pierre from laying on top of them like a muscular Canadian duvet. And maybe ex-Strikeforce champ Diaz doesn’t have the sprawl to prevent that from happening either. But regardless, after cleaning out Strikeforce and clobbering BJ Penn in the Octagon, the dude is worthy of a crack at St. Pierre, and it’s going to be fun watching him DESTROY the champ whenever their upcoming title bout is on the feet. That, plus Diaz’s cardio, superior jiu-jitsu, and overall villainous demeanor is going to make for one of the most compelling welterweight fights ever. · Ronda Rousey – Let’s face it, without Gina Carano smiling coyly at the camera, women’s MMA barely has a pulse. Which is sad, because 145-pound champ Cris “Cyborg” Santos is a viable and deadly fighter who’s more than deserving of accolades. But now we’ve got Rousey to liven things up, and with her Olympic-caliber judo and penchant for amputating arms in under a minute, woo-wee, women’s MMA is going to be fun again. It’s going to be sweet watching Rousey crush Meisha Tate, and it’s going to be even sweeter watching her dismantle Cyborg bit by Brazilian bit. · SpikeTV and Bellator – Nature hates a vacuum, and with the UFC ditching SpikeTV for the greener pastures of FOX, a gargantuan MMA void was created on a channel that had for years given us junkies a nice, hot fix. So hooray for Viacom (SpikeTV’s momma) buying a majority stake in Bellator. Bellator is now validated as the sport’s solid number two organization, and in a year we’ll supposedly be getting a bit more of that tournament goodness we’re currently enjoying on MTV2. · Brazil – To borrow a term from the world of finance, Brazil is the next “emerging market” in MMA – and the simple fact that there is such a thing bodes well for the sport in general. Japan has dried up, the UK isn’t catching fire like it should, and there’s only so much love Canada and Australia can give. But Brazil… over ten percent of that country’s population tuned in to watch Junior dos Santos knock out Cain Velasquez. That’s enough to warrant more visits by the UFC and a TUF House erected on a beach in Sao Paulo. Yeah, pay-per-view numbers have been declining here the States. Don’t fret, though, because MMA isn’t doing anything but growing. · Joe Warren vs. Alexis Vila – Thank you, Alexis Vila, for entering into Bellator’s bantamweight tournament and introducing the mouthy featherweight champ Joe Warren’s face to your fist. Sixty-four seconds was all it took to knock the American out, and now we’ve had a nice stretch of time where we’ve hadn’t had to hear Warren talk about how awesome he is.

Posted in: ufc, bellator, mma, ’t, thing

Featherweight prospect Saul Almeida moves to 11-1 with win at CES MMA

Massachusetts fighter Saul Almeida (11-1) continued his hot 2011 with another hand raising performance on the undercard of CES MMA Undisputed. The nine bout card was held at the Twin Rivers Event Center in Lincoln, Rhode Island. In the main event local middleweights dueled with Todd Chattelle (10-6) choking out Brett Oteri (8-3) midway through the first. The top prospect at CES MMA, Almeida was booked versus New Jersey nomad Kevin Roddy (10-14-1). A scrapper from Pellegrino MMA, Roddy made his best efforts to hang with Almeida for 15 minutes. In round one Almeida, a former Bellator open tryout winner, showed his improved hands and rocked Roddy with a smooth left hand combo. The latter half of the opening round saw Almeida land a trip takedown before Roddy was able to reverse position. In round two Almeida scored with two more takedowns that kept Roddy off balance. On the ground Almeida searched for a guillotine choke while Roddy was aggressive from the bottom with elbow strikes. Almeida out grappled Roddy in the final round. Work in the clinch and takedowns gave the third round to Almeida on points. The fight closed with Almeida taking Roddy's back with a few last second rear naked choke attempts. In a closer than expected fight Almeida earned a split decision over Roddy. Almeida has now won four in a row; all by decision. Only 22 years old Almeida is a five star prospect at 145 pounds. The 6'1 featherweight has passed nearly all his tests on the local scene. A slot in an upcoming Bellator tournament or a spot on the UFC's featherweight roster may be how Almeida spends the first half of 2012. Almeida's big league potential and work with Team Blackhouse in California has him ranked as the number 10 prospect in the 2011 edition of the ULTMMA50; a pound for pound listing of the top 50 prospects in MMA. CES MMA Undisputed resultsLincoln, RITodd Chattelle def. Brett Oteri by Technical Submission Guillotine 3:18 R1Mike Campbell def. Jeff Anderson by TKO (Punches) 2:53 R2Saul Almeida def. Kevin Roddy by Spilt Decision Robbie Leroux def. Shaun Marmas by Unanimous Decision Eric Bedard def. Marcelo Rocha-Pereira by Submission Kimura 0:57 R2Cliff Moulton def. Dinis Paiva Jr. by Disqualification (Illegal Knee) 4:25 R1Keith Jeffrey def. Kevin Horowitz by Submission Rear Naked Choke 1:45 R3Rob Costa def .Gilvan Santos by Split Decision Vincent Ramirez def. Keith Ferreira by TKO (Punches) 2:13 R2

Posted in: mma, round, prospect, almeida, roddy

DREAM set to join the ONE FC network in 2012

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) may have a stranglehold on stateside mixed martial arts (MMA), but overseas, the competition may prove to be a bit stiffer. That's because the Japanese promotion DREAM has entered a deal to become part of Asia's ONE FC network under owner Victor Cui. While nothing is official at this time, sources with knowledge of the sitaution are calling it "imminent." MMA Weekly first reported the partnership earlier today. In addition to ESPN Star Sports, promotions under the ONE FC network, including Australia's Cage Fighting Championship (CFC) and Korea's Road FC, will also be televised on a number of major domestic channels across networks in multiple countries. Simply put, there's going to be a lot of MMA to watch in Asia, which will help DREAM improve its global profile and in turn, have some of its bigger-name stars in Japan appear Internationally through cross promotion. Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for more details on this developing story as they become available.

Posted in: mma, promotion, network, fc, fc network

Why Women's MMA Needs Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey To Happen Now

Women's MMA can be a strange thing sometimes. It's a mix of some great talents, some inexperienced fighters, an internal conflict of selling sex vs. athleticism and a constant self-evaluation of where the sport is to date. That's why I've been so fascinated as to what's happened this week following Ronda Rousey's much-discussed victory at Strikeforce Challengers and the subsequent fallout from her post-fight callout of current 135-pound champion Miesha Tate. In case you missed it, Rousey (4-0) continued her dominant run with a 39-second armbar win over Julia Budd. In four fights, the 24-year-old Rousey has needed just over two minutes combined to garner four armbar submission wins. Following the win over Budd, she said she wanted Tate and would even fight top contender Sarah Kaufman first to prevent anything from messing that up. The Rousey victory went viral within MMA circles, an impressive kickoff to one of the best MMA weekends in years. In just her fourth pro fight, Rousey was put in the co-main event slot and is the only thing anyone is talking about from a show that featured four quick finishes (even with virtually no one watching).This set off a bit of a firestorm within the women's MMA community with many current fighters unhappy with the attention Rousey got, ripping the idea that she's the new 'face of women's MMA' and that she was brazen enough to suggest she be given a title shot at this stage of her career. Tate, in particular, has been on the Twitter offensive most of the week about the possibility of Rousey getting an opportunity this soon in her career. Here's where my fascination turns into advice: people want to see Tate vs. Rousey and women's MMA needs it to happen.I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there simply isn't the widespread market for women's MMA as some of those competing within it may think. If you need some proof, take a look at the recent activity for five of the most well-known names: Gina Carano: The former 'face of women's MMA' last competed over two years ago, teased a 2011 comeback and is preparing to revel in the spotlight of her first major movie role. Cris Santos: The current Strikeforce 145-pound champion finally has a fight booked in December against Hiroko Yamanaka, who makes her promotional debut and therefore will be unknown to most watching. Santos hasn't fought since June of 2010 because, well, they didn't have anyone for her to fight. Kaufman: After losing her Strikeforce 135-pound title in October 2010, the Canadian was last seen beating up Liz Carmouche in July and may have earned a title shot against Tate with the win…we think. It's been five months and nothing has been mentioned, said or discussed about it since then. Tate: Since defeating Marloes Coenen in late-July for the 135-pound title, there's nary been a mention of her on Strikeforce either. She's apparently healthy and there's been events, so apparently they forgot about her as well. Coenen: After losing her title and being cut from Strikeforce due to the Golden Glory fiasco, she signed a deal with a regional promotion and may debut early next year. How Zuffa didn't bring her back or Bellator not make an offer, I'm not quite sure. The above are just five names that don't include Tara LaRosa (one of the more well-known names that has never appeared in Strikeforce or Bellator), Zoila Frausto-Gurgel (current Bellator champion that is hurt) and...who else that the casual MMA fan might have possible heard of? When one of your main names is someone that is essentially retired, that's a problem for women's MMA. It can be fixed and I have a potential solution, but more on that later this week.Of course, the promotions aren't exactly making an effort to build female challengers either. We know what the UFC and Dana White's stance is on female fighters. Bellator has shown exactly one female fight on air this season. Strikeforce has aired a small handful of fights in 2011, but it may be less than five. There are talents out there, but no one is willing to put the effort in to build anything on the mainstream stage.Given all of that information, women's MMA needs any help it can get to sustain itself and draw interest when it has the opportunity to do so. That's why Tate vs. Rousey needs to happen as it's the only fight other than a rematch of Santos/Carano that would pop any type of viewer rating and ultimately, the viewers and paying public drive the sport. (Yes, Carano is retired but she's still a star. Deal with it.)So what about Tate/Kaufman, you ask? I would be interested in seeing it, but I'm a hardcore fan at heart that watches every UFC, Strikeforce and Bellator show regardless of quality. I really don't count in this equation. Kaufman has earned the opportunity to get a title shot, but there's a reason why we haven't seen it. It's because Strikeforce doesn't see the value as there's no steam behind seeing these two go at it. Tate can talk up a fight but Kaufman has practically disappeared from the MMA public eye. She's talented, but she doesn't have that "come see me fight!" charisma that can make or break a career. Why else would Strikeforce just abandon a recent champion like this?If and when Strikeforce is interested in promoting a Tate title fight, they will likely look to Rousey, who has that charisma, the good looks that bring in the 18-34 male demographic, the Olympic background that attracts mainstream media and plenty of steam behind her thanks to how she's winning. That might not be fair to "rankings" but c'mon now. Everyone knows there is no such thing as rankings in the UFC or Strikeforce. It's about what draws interest with a nod toward win streaks and competitive fights. To think otherwise is naive. Unfair? Yep. That's the fight game. Ask Carlos Condit about fairness. Tate should be thrilled that there's a legit buzz about a challenger to her belt and that she might actually get to defend it someday. I asked her about this on Twitter and while she said her pay stays the same no matter who she fights, she felt it would be a buzzkill to have the fight so soon without having more hype behind it. By 'more hype', I assume she meant more wins for Rousey, but in this situation, I think that's irrelevant which leads into my final point. People need to stop complaining about Rousey calling out the champion. That's what she should be doing. Doing the meek "Well, I'll take anyone Strikeforce has to give me" is boring and doesn't get anyone anywhere. She's been running through opponents at a blistering pace and took an opportunity in a co-main event spot to move the needle. People are now talking about her and are talking about women's MMA. In other words, it worked.Lest we forget another title challenger in 2008 that many said was underqualified for a title shot. That person was just 2-1 and got a shot at one of the biggest names in MMA for one of the biggest prizes in the sport. That person was Brock Lesnar and he did just fine in beating Randy Couture for the UFC Heavyweight Championship.While no one is suggesting Rousey will be anywhere the level of draw Lesnar is, the UFC knew they had something and he jumped the line in front of a few more qualified contenders thanks to a fanbase that wanted to see him fight and with the athletic background to back it up. Rousey getting a shot after just four pro bouts isn't unprecedented and frankly, women's MMA could use the attention.It might not be fair, but it's business. The alternative of women's MMA disappearing from all major promotions is much worse.

Posted in: fight, mma, strikeforce, womens mma, rousey

Dean: Officiating Needs to Match MMA’s Growth

submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [comment]

Posted in: mma, mattyblayze, growth, mattyblayze link, dean

Dean: Officiating Needs to Match MMA’s Growth

There’s no shortage of complaints when it comes to the judging and refereeing of MMA.

Posted in: mma, refereeing, growth, dean, complaint

Check out this video of Dan Henderson walking backstage just after UFC 139

Just before composing this article, I finally agreed on a sequence of fights that I believe are the greatest in MMA history. At number five, I have to give it to Jorge Santiago vs. Kazuo Misaki at Sengoku 14 mainly because Misaki felt that he was going to die in the cage -- and he readily accepted his death. Don't worry if you missed the fight, Bloodstain Lane already broke it down for you. The fourth greatest fight would undoubtedly be Joachim Hansen vs. Eddie Alvarez at Dream 3. I would even venture to say the opening round to the bout is possibly top five greatest single rounds ever. You've got to respect a guy that gets flash-dropped and immediately goes for rubber guard within seconds. Coming in at the third slot is Nick Diaz vs. Takanori Gomi at Pride 33. Rarely do you see a gogoplata actually being executed in MMA and it's even more rare when the NSAC takes away the win due to medical marijuana. The second greatest MMA fight has to be the first encounter of Big Nog vs. Fedor Emelinaenko at Pride 25. There's no denying that it was the greatest display of ground prowess by any two heavyweights, ever. As far as the greatest MMA fight of all time, well watch this video of Dan Henderson walking backstage just after UFC 139 and find out for yourself. [Source]

Posted in: fight, mma, vs, dan henderson, mma fight

Asian MMA Update: Folayang Bags SEA Games Gold Medal, Chonan Trains at Evolve, Kanehara Wins US Debut

As always, Here's a quick update on several news, notes, and topics coming out of the Asian MMA circuit. Eduard Folayang and Mark Eddiva, who are also MMA fighters coming out of Team Lakay Wushu, once again established their dominance on their martial arts base. The Baguio natives took home Gold medals from the 26th South East Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, when they represented the Philippines on the Wushu SanShou 70kg and 65kg divisions respectively. Ryo Chonan and Shinya Aoki are in Evolve MMA in Singapore training for their bouts at NYE. Aoki, as reported, is likely to face Satoru Kitaoka, while Chonan will be taking on Hayato Sakurai in what could likely propel him into contention for Marius Zaromski's welterweight crown. Former Sengoku / SRC Champion, Masanori Kanehara won his first fight in US soil, when he submitted Brady Harrison to win the XFS Featherweight Championship. Stemming from that ONE FC and DREAM partnership, fighters out of Evolve MMA, which is also part of that network, have been invited to compete in future DREAM and DEEP events. B.J. Penn and Brandon Vera are both heading to the Philippines on this coming week for separate events. Penn will host an open workout in the Mall of Asia next wednesday, while Vera will be a guest for the PXC event this Saturday. As we reported earlier, The URCC and ONE FC co-promoted event in Manila will be pushing through on July, and the venue has already been finalized. Obvious candidates for the event will be ONE FC fighters, Eric Kelly, along with the Team Lakay fighters they have signed such as Eduard Folayang, Kevin Belingon, and Honorio Banario among others. No opponent has been named yet, but sources tell us that former WBA Boxing Champion Yodsanan Sityodtong of Evolve MMA, will also be competing in the event. Victor Cui, along with the key members and heads of the several promotions in the ONE FC Network are in an Asian MMA Summit that started last Monday in Singapore. After the jump, check out more details from Brian Choi of Evolve MMA, DREAM's NYE event, and Jon Tuck who will headline PXC. Details are sparse, but sources close to the situation tells us that Mark Fisher, the head of UFC operations in Asia, will by flying in to Singapore this week to meet with ONE FC CEO Victor Cui. It's worth noting that Fisher generally meets with everyone in the Asian MMA scene, so this might not really mean anything big is in the works. DREAM just released the promo video for their NYE show that focuses on Hiroyuki Takaya vs. Takeshi Inoue. Check it out as they also feature several of their key featherweight bouts of the year: Evolve MMA released a video blog that features Brian Choi as he prepares for his Road FC 005 fight against Bae Young Kwon. Barring any injuries, Choi's next fight is likely to be on the ONE FC card in Jakarta, this February. No opponent has been named as of this writing. Jon Tuck, who will be headlining PXC 28 against Tristan Arenal this weekend, talks to Zike Sugawara about being absent from the MMA scene for the past two years, "I never took off from MMA. I was not able to land any fights. I kept active by dedicating more time to Jiu Jitsu by competing and exploring the world, evolving as a martial artist and as a person."As always, follow me on twitter, and stay tuned for more updates from the news coming out of the region.

Posted in: mma, dream, event, fc, asian

Kings Court- Asian MMA summit highlights

[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on MMA-Japan, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] As we first told you about last week, Victor Cui held the inaugural Asian MMA Summit today in Singapore - something that no other country has ever even made an attempt at doing. In doing so, the entire OneFC Network was on hand to stomp out different ideas, ideals, and the like. Cui, the brains behind the entire operation, has been very enthusiastic about the Network, and rightfully so. Sources from multiple Asian MMA organizations have reported to MMA-Japan the details of the Summit, and we are impressed to say the least. OneFC is now the major leagues of Asian MMA. By saying that, we mean that all the domestic promotions (RoadFC, CFC, URCC, etc...) have agreed to have their champions and top fighters "graduate" to OneFC which is more or less deemed the big leagues of Asian MMA. OneFC and CFC, the top Aussie fight promotion, have agreed to do a co-promotion in Perth, Australia at some point in 2012, which actually adds an entire continent to the mix. OneFC and URCC have agreed to do a co-promotion in July 2012 in Manila, Philippines. The venue for this event has been booked and it is green lighted, 100% ready to go. OneFC is going to make a monumental announcement with regards to their media deals. Read more...

Posted in: mma, asian, onefc, summit, perth australia

Inside MMA: Urijah Faber, Tito Ortiz, Ronda Rousey

Inside MMA airs live on HDNet every Monday night at 8pm ET. Inside MMA Archive More segments after the jump.

Posted in: night, mma, monday night, mma airs, mma archive

'Tapped Out' Author Talks Transformation from Pudgy Writer to Formidable Fighter

The first time I met Matthew Polly he was very, very drunk. I'm sure I'm not the only person who can say this. This was in a hotel restaurant before an IFL event at the Sears Centre in 2007, and I just wanted to eat a chicken caesar salad in peace. Polly, however, wanted to talk MMA, which he insisted he was writing a book on (sure you are, pal, I thought), and he wouldn't take polite silence for an answer. Needless to say, I don't remember that first meeting fondly. I doubt Polly remembers it at all. It wasn't until months later that I learned Polly was actually the author of a somewhat famous memoir, American Shaolin, about the two years he spent living with the Shaolin monks in China and learning their brand of kung fu. It's a wonderful, hilarious book, and it was hard for me to believe that the dude who slurred at me in a Marriott outside of Chicago had written it. It was even harder for me to believe that he could write a book about MMA that I'd actually enjoy reading, and yet, with his new book -- Tapped Out -- he has done just that. Polly eventually sobered up enough to spend about two years training in the various disciplines that make up MMA, and he even entered into and -- spoiler alert -- won an amateur MMA bout in Las Vegas. From Renzo Gracie's jiu-jitsu academy in Manhattan to the Xtreme Couture gym in Vegas, Polly learned from some of the best in MMA and chronicled his experiences in this funny and insightful new book. In between throwing up on the subway following training sessions and getting yelled at by Xtreme Couture coaches for his terrible diet, Polly actually learned a great deal about this sport and its denizens, and the book is a must-read for any MMA fan (read an excerpt here, then just buy the damn thing here). Recently, I sat down to talk to Polly about the book, his experiences, and the addictive nature of winning even a low-level MMA bout. Fowlkes: I've heard a lot of people say that a book about MMA is a tough sell because MMA fans don't buy books, and the general book-buying public doesn't know or care about MMA. What do you say to that? Polly: In my mind, I wanted to write a book that guys who love mixed martial arts would actually enjoy, but also one they could give to their girlfriend who doesn't get it -- or even their mother -- to explain why they love it. So one of the difficulties was trying to write a book that was for the martial arts audience, but also for the mainstream. I wanted to write a book that appealed to the insiders and the outsiders, and that was an issue of tone. And I guess you feel like you managed to bridge that gap here? Well, it's the same division, and that's one of the interesting things about mixed martial arts. I'll get an interview with, you know, Bulldog in the Morning, and he turns out to be a secret MMA fan. He knows everything, and when I'm talking to him he runs through all this information and I'm like, you know more about this than I do. Then, when I spent the afternoon with Slate, there's this woman who basically says, 'I wouldn't have read this except I was required to, but I still found it enjoyable.' That's really what I hope to do with the book, but it's really very difficult. In the book, you present yourself as this guy who would really rather just write about MMA and is initially resistant to the idea of actually doing it yourself. But I read American Shaolin. You're the same guy who trained with the monks and challenged some kung fu expert to a fight in a restaurant, so what gives? Part of that's a conceit of the book. A certain aspect of it was me wanting to set up an unwilling hero going forth and doing something that he didn't want to do, but a part of me was also genuinely terrified, because I knew how hard it would be to get back into the kind of shape it would take to get into the ring. I knew I would have to change my behavior and my attitude to get in there and fight, and I was genuinely terrified of that. On the other hand, I was sort of excited because this was an excuse to take one last shot at glory. I don't think there's anyone who's ever fought, as I did before, who doesn't want one last chance to do it again. As we see with Wanderlei Silva or Cro Cop, when they come to the end of their careers, they still want one last one. I think there was something in me that wanted that as well. The guy you fought, did he realize you'd be writing about him in this book that has now been written up in The New York Times? He did, actually. We talked before. He knew I had written a book already and he knew I was writing a book about this experience. I think, to that degree, I had some sympathy for him, because he would end up being a character in my book. I do know what that's like, having written about myself, but he's not the author of it, so I did have some sympathy for him there. Did you ever consider the advantage you had over him? I mean, you're getting jiu-jitsu lessons from John Danaher, Muay Thai from Phil Nurse, and basically living at Xtreme Couture for a year. Meanwhile, it sounded like he was just a regular guy training at the Air Force base. Yes, I think it's, in many ways, absolutely unfair. But you don't get to choose your opponent. I had the world's best trainers because that's what I was paid to do. I was there to go out and find the world's best trainers to find out if a middle-aged guy could actually get good enough to get in the ring and fight. And he, of course, didn't have that. There's definitely an imbalance there, and the question of who the underdog was in the fight is certainly up for debate. He was younger and more vigorous, and I had better training and a certain sort of background that allowed me to, in the end, win. But the one thing I would say is, he came within a fraction of an inch of knocking me out twice. It wasn't some putz I was fighting. Literally, if the right hand had been turned just a little bit more, I'd have been done. He put on a good match, but in the end I was just slightly better and slightly better trained. Do you still train at Renzo Gracie's? I'm living in New Haven now, but I do [still train]. There's a little MMA gym that I go to, and I kick the bags and do jiu-jitsu, but one thing I promised my wife is that I will not get hit in the head anymore. I do only have so many brain cells left, and I spent a few on this book project. I know that you, as I do, like a drink from time to time. Did this require you to make a lot of changes to your lifestyle, aside from when you thought it would be a good idea to drink an orange soda on the day of your fight? [Xtreme Couture] striking coach Joey Varner still talks about that one. He couldn't believe that I would drink an orange soda [on the day of the fight]. But in general, I would say that I got better, but I still wasn't perfect. I ate better, I drank less, I was healthier and clearly worked out much crazier than I ever had before. I went from about 250 pounds when I started the project to fight at 185, so it was a dramatic change in my physical being. I was, you know, taking heart pills before. Over the course of doing this, I met tons of guys who would say, 'I was a football player, then I ballooned up to 300 pounds when I stopped playing. Then I started doing MMA and I slimmed down to 215.' So I think, actually, the MMA diet book might be the best book you could put on the market. I remember reading a newspaper article in Las Vegas about your fight, where the reporter was a little ungenerous in his description of you... Pudgy, right? He called me 'pudgy' like three times, and I remember you wrote asking, 'Why does he have to keep calling you pudgy?' Right. But now that you're putting this book out, and the video of your fight is on the internet, I mean, do you worry about how it's going to feel to be on the other side of the critical lens, so to speak? I actually don't worry about that, because the point wasn't to turn out to be this great fighter. I mean, there were little moments when I imagined it in the dark closets of my heart, but I knew that my only realistic hope was that I might win one amateur fight. That was my biggest goal, so I wasn't terrified of people saying, 'Well, he's a little overweight.' That's kind of the point. I was a very overweight person who became a less overweight person doing this. But you do know, when you put yourself out there, especially in the MMA community, there's going to be people on the comment boards who will take a swipe at you. Some of them are actually very funny, and then there's a few that sting a little bit. But overall, it doesn't bother me. After you did the fight and you won, did you ever think, well maybe I'll do another one? You know, the thing that terrified me the most was that I would lose, because then I would totally want to fight again. I had put myself and also my wife and my family through so much to try and get through this whole book process, that I was scared I might feel like I had to do it again if I didn't get a win. That said, the high of winning an MMA fight is unlike the high of winning anything else I've ever done. It's better than any drug. When you're done, I literally felt like I was walking on air. You're walking around and women think you're cute and you're just the man. It's this primal thing, and it's so different from winning a football or basketball game, both of which I've done, and they don't feel the same way at all. I could see the addictiveness of it, and I also know why fighters feel there's one more in them. You'll never feel that way again. You'll never be the center of attention like that once you're done. Fortunately for me, since it was part of this project, I remember just how horrible the training was, and I'm not tempted to do it again. And the thing with MMA is, every day it's getting better, so if you win one you should just tuck that in your pocket and go away. Because the next day, there's the next Jon Jones. Do you think the things you experienced and felt doing this taught you what fighters felt? Because they seem to be wired differently, in many ways, and what a normal person might go through is not necessarily what they go through. In the book, one of the things I tried to be was humble. I wasn't going through what the fighter goes through, because he's planning a career out of this and I'm just planning a book project. But in the book, there was that one moment where I was getting ready to go out for the fight and the [Nevada State Athletic Commission] official called my name and I stood up and said 'That's me,' and he looked at me and said 'No [expletive] way. No way you're fighting.' And he burst out laughing, and Mike Pyle, who is a tough dude and is nobody's sympathetic character, but he stood up and said, 'Hey, that's a great way to build up our teammate.' And when he used that word 'teammate,' he said it with emphasis. Like, tonight, this guy is fighting for Xtreme Couture, and even though he's not a pro fighter, not one of us, he's actually getting in the ring and he's going to do it. To me, one of the things I found most wonderful about MMA fighters is, if you're willing to get in there and do it, you pass a kind of fundamental test. Before, they regarded me as this journalist who was kind of annoying to them and who they'd rather avoid. But when I was going to get in the ring it was different. Like, oh, you've got that kind of balls? You're going to actually do it? Okay, you're a part of the tribe. My last question is, how many times would you say you threw up in the subway after a training session at Renzo's? [Laughs] That's my last question? Man, there must have been about five to ten times. I can't even count them. At least half a dozen, without question. After Renzo's I'd usually be okay, but coming back from Phil [Nurse] at The Wat, that was the brutal one, because Phil is very cardio-oriented. Then, literally I would just puke my guts out. When you were puking on the subway did you ever think, man, how many times have I seen somebody doing something gross on the subway and judged them without considering the possibility that they might have a good reason? Well, many of the times I was dressed in just sweatpants and a shirt, with my head sweaty, and I'm vomiting and I thought, these people must think I'm homeless. Then I realized, I'm a writer; I'm about a half a step away from homeless. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: fight, mma, book, im, youre

Obama pot-shot suspect had an MMA fight once

It's always great to read headlines like 'Murder-Suicide performed by MMA fighter' or 'MMA fighter tears out friend's heart.' Sometimes there's enough truth to warrant the headline like in Harold Howard's case. Oftentimes the person just has one random amateur fight somewhere. Like in the case of that wannabe Obama assassin: A man alleged to have shot a semiautomatic rifle at the White House was also an MMA fighter, according to a report issued Sunday by the "The New York Times." Records show Oscar Ramiro Ortega-Hernandez, a 21-year-old from Idaho Falls, Idaho, fought an amateur bout in July at the "Southeast Idaho Summer Smackdown" and earned a second-round TKO over Zack Marrow.Now Ortega-Hernandez stands accused of attempting to assassinate the president 10 days after reports of gunfire at the White House led authorities to an abandoned vehicle registered in his name. But rather than focus on Oscar's MMA cred, how about we check out some of his more solid affiliations: A video of Ortega-Hernandez has surfaced in which he asks to appear on TV with Oprah Winfrey and claims he is the second coming of Jesus Christ. Family members said he read a 45-minute politically-tinged speech at his 21st birthday earlier in October but did not seem violent, the Times report said. "Anything suspicious? Well, he did give a crazy speech for nearly an hour during his birthday. But that's totally normal, isn't it?" I'd like to point out this is the third MMA fighter who's tangled with Obama. Coincidence? Or is the culinary union using covert mind control technology to try and ruin MMA by having a fighter murder the president??? I think you know what you have to do, Jesus.

Posted in: mma, fighter, mma fighter, report, ortegahernandez

Watch Cosmo Alexandre's first pro MMA win

[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on LiverKick.com, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] Cosmo Alexandre made his MMA debut a few weeks ago, and it was a tentative and downright terrible affair for all involved. His opponent was able to do enough to pull off the decision victory while Cosmo seemed afraid to let his hands go and open up the takedown. Sometimes in MMA it is just a matter of experience, or getting your sea legs. It doesn't matter how good you are in the gym, it is different in the ring. Cosmo has such a great standing skill set that his grappling was a clear weakness and had him worried, but come this weekend and his second fight, that was something of the past. Read More and Watch the Video...

Posted in: mma, decision victory, doesnt matter, cosmo, cosmo alexandres

Scottish MMA fighter killed by falling cow

Beware, unsuspecting populace: hiding behind a veneer of harmlessness and outwardly appearing to be gentle and docile, cows secretly want to fuck you up. They’re pissed off that more of us aren’t vegetarians, and they’re doing something about it. Folkloric rumblings about falling cows have been legitimized in recent years by too many stories about cows cannonballing themselves at people to ignore. They evidently teach each other in cow terrorist training camps to kneel down one last time on their cow prayer rugs and then hurl themselves at people like delicious, savory suicide bombers. Scottish amateur MMA fighter Ally McCrae is the latest victim of this diabolical revenge plot by our manure-generating prisoners. McCrae, also known as “McCrazy”, was a member of Scotland’s Dinky Ninjas team, a blue belt in BJJ, a wrestler, and a skilled Thai boxer, but he was no match for a dead cow that fell off a conveyor belt in a slaughterhouse where he was working. The slaughterhouse workers won the first round, killing the cow and hanging its carcass by a hook. But the cow landed an Atomic Butt Drop in round two that caused McCrae to have a fatal heart attack. Besides serving as a warning of the imminent threat posed by the ruminant master plan to elinimate humans, this incident clearly illustrates the need for strict adherence to weight classes in MMA.

Posted in: mma, weight classes, cow, mccrae, butt drop

Another cool mma highlight ... "Inches"

submitted by dtjh22 [link] [comment]

Posted in: mma, dtjh, inch

Ronda Rousey is Kind of a Big Deal

Mixed martial arts fans tend to have odd perceptions of female MMA. I don't know if it's the potent mixture of homophobia and misogyny that permeates the 'Just Bleed' culture of MMA, but observers tend to be hyper critical of their female brethren. It's the ole' redneck 'stay in the kitchen' logic. 'We trust you women to walk around half naked, and tell us what round it is in case we can't count to three, but don't you dare pretend you can be a symbol for athletic prowess', you can almost hear them saying. That's not to say the criticism of female MMA boils down to some simplistic Freudian soundbite. After all, it's a young sport, and there are clearly participants in female MMA that require us to ask some of its members to simply exit stage left: just as we did with James Toney, Kimbo Slice, and Kyle Maynard with the men. But you can't say female MMA lacks a bright, shining young star. Most stars are made of plasma, hydrogen, and helium. Ronda Rousey is made up of awesome, enmity, and armbars (was that just a bad Mauro Renallo impression?). This is unique even by the standards of stardom. Consider Tito Ortiz. I actually like the guy, but it was his attitude more than his style that intrigued fans of the sport. He was a brash, young, dominant LHW. But you couldn't pay me to watch his fight with Vladimir Matyushenko again. Given the chance, I'm not sure Rousey is the type of fighter to caress her opponent for five rounds. In fact, Rousey has a unique ability to maim her opponents. Specifically, their arms. I suspect there's something pathological there, though I can't prove it. Something about the arm from its humerus to the ulna fills her with a rage that demands its extinction. How else to explain how she's armbarred all of her opponents in every one of her fights, professional and amateur, in under a minute each? At the Strikeforce: Challengers show this weekend against Julie Budd she was in sort of typical, but always impressive form. Seconds into the fight, Rousey shoots in and clinches Budd. After digging her hips into Budd to position for a throw, she switches to a kneetap, passes Budd's guard, and slips her right leg over Budd's left arm as she gets mount. It's a brilliant split second sequence that we haven't even gotten from fighters who we suspected would thrill us with their ground games, but who have either fizzled out (Jacare), or gone bust (Garcia). The fight ended with Budd's right arm looking like, as Pat Militech would say, a "flamingo knee". If there's a challenge ahead for Rousey it's twofold. First, will there be competent refs around to know what to look for when Ronda is securing an arm? Referees need to know the fighters in the cage that way they're prepared for what's probable. Although I admit it's asking entirely too much to demand that referees be educated. The second is more broad: can Rousey save women's MMA? There's a raw intensity to her attitude and performance that makes her more interesting than Gina Carano. Gina was exciting, but there was always the sense that she fought in a bubble: somewhat protected, and a little coddled, though still legit. However, the biggest problem for Carano is that she's been distracted by the bright and shiny objects of Hollywood. Miesha Tate, another good candidate, doesn't have a crowd pleasing style despite having the crowd pleasing look. Who will give Rousey the stage she deserves? In astronomy, stars don't always have enough pressure, mass, or temperature to achieve nuclear fusion. When this happens, they become sub stellar bodies called brown dwarfs, which are not really planets, and not really stars. Scientists use a diagram called the Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram to classify stars: and those brown dwarfs fall below the "main sequence". It would be a shame for Rousey's talents to fall below MMA's main sequence, if you will. She deserves to occupy that territory. The problem is that she's in a world in which the scientists don't know how to operate their calculators. Video after the jump... Strikeforce Challengers: Ronda Rousey vs Julia Budd (via tzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzlol)

Posted in: mma, star, arm, rousey, budd

Boxer Zab Judah Says Anyone Can Be a MMA Fighter, No Skill Needed

God knows if there is anyone who thinks there is no need for some sort of pointless "MMA vs. boxing" rivalry, it's me. I love both sports deeply for their various charms, but it is interesting to me to hear the thoughts of fighters from both sports on the other. Even if it's only out of a strange sense of curiosity. So when our friends at FightHub caught up with Zab Judah and asked for his thoughts on MMA, I checked out the video: Zab's quote: "MMA? I mean hey, it is what it is. It's..some people like to see. You know? I think the difference between MMA and boxing is anybody can be a MMA fighter it just takes...uh...you know, just brutality. You know what I'm sayin'? It's not a skill level thing. For me to get in and get your arm in a lock and try to pop it off, you know, as fast as I could? Anybody could do that. But when it comes to boxing, boxing is a skill, you know what I'm saying? It's an acquired entree. It's not for everybody." The point of this isn't "let's all get angry at Zab for what he said." Obviously he's speaking from a place of ignorance when it comes to MMA. The proper application of an armbar, kimura or any other arm lock is more than "grab arm and twist" we all know that. Hell, Zab probably knows that himself. I find the "acquired entree" thing to be the interesting part because it's something that I hear from MMA and boxing fans/participants alike when defending their sport. Both sports are very easy to understand and appreciate when you're watching James Kirkland vs. Alfredo Angulo, Micky Ward vs. Arturo Gatti, Mauricio Rua vs. Dan Henderson or Stephan Bonnar vs. Forrest Griffin. Those are bouts which are, at their very core, what people expect a fight to look like. But watching an MMA fight which is a struggle for takedowns and positional control against submission attacks is something that does take a certain level of understanding and willingness to appreciate. To many people struggles against the cage or ground battles will never be appealing and they'll never understand what is going on because they simply don't care to. Similarly, many people watch a boxing match between two fighters with different styles and see clinching and hate that the guys keep "hugging" and the ref has to separate them. Boxing fans understand that in many cases it's a matter of dictating the space and distance at which the fight takes place or to break up the rhythm of the other fighter. There are a myriad of reasons why a clinch takes place or any other number of more subtle things in boxing. But many people won't care either way because they, again, simply don't care to. Both sports are acquired tastes and I don't think either is free from misunderstanding or falls gracefully into "everyone wants to see a fight" given that the definition of fight for most people falls well outside of anything a strategic fighter engages in. Of course, anyone can appreciate this: Too mean?

Posted in: mma, fighter, sport, boxing, people

Zab Judah “Anyone can be a MMA fighter..It takes brutality, It is not a skill level thing”

Former undisputed junior welterweight boxing champion Zab Judah ran into our Fight Hub TV cameras a while back. Since we cover both MMA and Boxing we liking asking both sides of the spectrum how they feel about the opposing combat sport. Judah, who we have personally seen at UFC and MMA events took us aback [...]

Posted in: mma, mma events, judah, mma fighterit, zab

Ronda Rousey on Miesha Tate: 'I Don't Think She's Better Than Me In Any Category'

Filed under: Strikeforce, MMA Fighting Exclusive, NewsRonda Rousey's ascent up the women's MMA rankings can literally be timed with a stopwatch. In four professional and three amateur fights, she is unbeaten, and has never required more than one minute to put an end to an opponent's night. Her Friday night Strikeforce Challengers fight against Julia Budd lasted just 39 seconds, and like every one of her fights, it climaxed with an arm bar victory. Her abilities and charisma have forced the MMA world to take notice, and Rousey is angling to capitalize on the attention. On Monday's edition of The MMA Hour, Rousey confirmed that she is considering a drop to bantamweight and hoping to match up with that division's champion, Miesha Tate. Rousey said that while former champion Sarah Kaufman may have been promised a title shot, she would accept the chance to face her for the right to be the No. 1 contender. Or, if it was offered, she would fight Tate. "Style-wise I think I would do the best against Miesha," she said. "I think that a very good striker that has very good footwork and deals with distance well would probably give me the most trouble. But I think a girl with a grappling style like Miesha would be perfect for me, because I don't think she's better than me in any category." Any fighter with a grappling-based style would be at a disadvantage with her, she said. When asked by host Ariel Helwani if any female fighter could hang with her in terms of grappling, she was quick with her answer. "No way," she said. "Not at all." A 2008 judo Olympic bronze medalist, Rousey credited her early training for preparing her for the opportunities that are now coming her way. Her mother Ann Maria Rousey DeMars was a world-class judoka who won a world championship in 1984, and from an early age, Rousey was training. Among her daily drills: arm bars, by the dozens. Having participated in the contact sport for most of her life, Rousey spent many of her early days training with stronger boys, and many of her current hours training with bigger men, a situation which she believes benefits her when competing against female fighters. "I just think I lucked out having this background I do and having the right set of skills at this exact time," she said. "It's kind of like first-come, first-served with women's MMA right now. It's kind of like how it was with men's MMA at the beginning. If you happen to have the right skill set at the time it's getting big, you're going to do really well right away." Rousey doesn't think she would have any trouble shifting down to the lower weight class, saying she usually walks around at 150 pounds without doing any dieting. To make the move, she plans on hiring a nutritionist. And just because she's planning the move down doesn't mean there's not a chance she can't eventually match up with Cris Cyborg Santos. Rousey said that the marketing aspect of a fight with Tate could eventually help lead to that fight, and could also help women's MMA in general. "I'm not dumb, you're not dumb," she said. "Really, if we push the 'hot chicks' to fight each other for a title, it's going to get a lot of attention. That's why I'd rather fight Miesha for a title instead of Sarah Kaufman. Because she's good looking and she's marketable. More marketable than the vast majority of the girls in women's MMA. I think that'd be a huge fight and it would lead to an eventual fight between me and Cris Cyborg being an even bigger deal. I'm just trying to figure out the right way to do things so us girl fighters have some job security a few years from now." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: fight, mma, right, rousey, she

Showdown Joe's MMA rankings

Dan Henderson moves up in Showdown Joe's latest MMA rankings.

Posted in: mma, showdown, joe, ranking, showdown joes

MMA on TV

Posted in: mma, replay, pm, mavtv, hdnet

Zab Judah: Anybody can be an MMA fighter, it's not a skill

One thing that seems like it will never go away is the boxing versus MMA debate. While there are many that are fans of both sports, UFC President Dana White being a prime example, there are many more that focus their attention on the sport that they love and deride the other sport, like say, boxing promoter, Bob Arum. Zab Judah, who has said, in the past, that MMA is more fun to watch than boxing, has lent his voice to the debate. The good folks over at FightHubTV.com, caught up with the champion

Posted in: mma, sport, boxing, mma fighter, mma debate

The MMA Wrap-Up: UFC 139 Edition

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, VideosUFC 139 might have been the event that flew under many people's radar, but the main event delivered in a big, big way. Now the MMA Wrap-Up returns to examine the questions of Dan Henderson and "Shogun" Rua's greatness, and ask where it falls among the great achievements of our time. Or, you know, something like that. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, event, dan henderson, peoples radar

The MMA Hour With Dominick Cruz, Ronda Rousey, Mike Chandler, Michael Landsberg

Filed under: UFC, Strikeforce, MMA Fighting Exclusive, Bellator, News, VideosAnother week, another two-hour edition of The MMA Hour. Here's who will be stopping by: * UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz his health and Urijah Faber's win at UFC 139, which sets up a trilogy match between the two. * Strikeforce featherweight fighter Ronda Rousey will look back at her win over Julia Budd on Friday night and ahead to what's next for her. * Mike Chandler, the new Bellator lightweight champion, will discuss his instant classic win over Eddie Alvarez on Saturday night. * Veteran Canadian TV host Michael Landsberg will discuss his bizarre interview with Chael Sonnen last week on TSN's Off The Record. * And we'll go "5 Rounds" with MMAFighting.com's Ben Fowlkes and Heavy.com's Jeremy Botter on one of the greatest weekends in MMA history. Of course, we'll also be taking your calls as we recap UFC on FOX and look ahead to UFC 139, so 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, recap ufc

Join host Luke Thomas for MMA Nation radio tonight at 9pm ET. He'll talk to last night's UFC 139...

Join host Luke Thomas for MMA Nation radio tonight at 9pm ET. He'll talk to last night's UFC 139 winner Chris Weidman. He'll also sit down with Zuffa counsel and NYU law professor Barry Friedman to discuss the UFC's lawsuit in New York to get the ban on MMA overturned. How to Listen If you're in Washington, D.C. tune your radio dial to 106.7 FM To stream over the Internet, 106.7 on Radio.com Mobile devices - Cherry Player App for Droid or AOL Radio App for iPhone For a look inside the studio, On ustream.tv How to Interact Call the show TOLL FREE: 1-800-636-1067 Register at MMA Nation and leave a comment luke.thomas@sbnation.com @SBNLukeThomas facebook.com/MMANationDotCom

Posted in: ufc, mma, radio, nation, show toll

Dana White Considers UFC 139 One of Top 3 Greatest Fights in MMA History

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, VideosSAN JOSE, Calif. -- Watch below as UFC president Dana White looks back Saturday night's instant classic between Dan Henderson and Shogun Rua, plus talks about what's next for them, the Cung Le vs. Wanderlei Silva fight, what's next for Urijah Faber and more. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, shogun rua, mma history, urijah faber

Ryan Bader Credits Coaching Changes for First Win of Year

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosSAN JOSE, Calif. - MMA Fighting caught up with Ryan Bader after his first-round knockout win at UFC 139. Bader talks about how he's changed in the past two months, the pressure he faced coming into the event with a two-fight losing skid, how long it took him to get over the Tito Ortiz loss and much more. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, ryan, ryan bader, bader

Chris Weidman Calls His 2011 'a Dream Come True'

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosSAN JOSE, Calif. - MMA Fighting caught up with Chris Weidman after his win over Tom Lawlor at UFC 139. Weidman talks about how he pulled off the submission, his impressive year, if he's ready for the bigger names in his 185-pound weight class and much more. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mma, chri, chris weidman, weidman, tom lawlor

Miguel Torres Was 'Very Upset' With Nick Pace Before Fight

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosSAN JOSE, Calif. - MMA Fighting caught up with Miguel Torres after his unanimous decision win over Nick Pace at UFC 139. Torres discussed why he didn't finish Pace, if old Miguel will return in the near future, Pace's inability to make weight Friday, his emotions heading into the fight and much more. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mma, nick pace, miguel torres, pace, weight friday

Michael McDonald Finally Starting to Come Around to Idea of Being MMA Fighter

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosSAN JOSE, Calif. - MMA Fighting caught up with Michael McDonald after his first-round knockout win at UFC 139. McDonald talks about questioning if he wanted to be a fighter in the past, how much he knew about Alex Soto before the fight, what he needs to work on and more. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mma, mma fighter, mcdonald, michael mcdonald, alex soto

Is Elaina Maxwell's Kickboxing Debut A Sign Of Trouble Ahead For Women's MMA?

Muay Thai is called the art of eight limbs. For many kickboxers, it's just a clever turn of phrase. If your career is concentrated in Japan or Europe, it's likely you really practice the art of four limbs - hands and feet. Only rarely will knees come into the picture. Standing elbows are out of the question. To purists, K-1, the kickboxing brand most familiar to North American MMA fans, is barely Muay Thai kickboxing at all. "You're allowed to throw one knee at a time. There's pretty much no clinch in K-1 fighting," fighter Elaina Maxwell said. "In traditional Muay Thai, there's elbows, knees, and what most fans know as 'kickboxing' all combined together." Tonight at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, while many fans will be watching Dan Henderson fight Cung Le, Maxwell and some of the best strikers in North America will be letting all eight limbs go. Nevada is one of the few athletic commissions that allows professional Muay Thai fights in their purest form. It's not for the faint of heart. But promoter Scott Kent from Lion Fight Promotions thinks it's a level of violence Americans are ready for. "I think the time is right," Kent said. "With the explosion of the UFC and MMA across America, we have the advantage of promoting a sport that everybody in MMA already trains in. Because you have to in order to be a complete MMA fighter. So we are able to hack into our traditional Muay Thai audience, since the sport is already very popular in many parts of Asia, but also expand that audience because of the exposure of MMA." The show will stream live from The Joint at the Hard Rock on Go Fight Live. While many smaller shows like Kent's have gravitated towards HDNet, which features a rotating cast of North American based promotions, Lion Fights has taken a step into what could be the next big thing in content distribution - streaming pay per view. "I think it's a great way to bring our fights to a global audience," Kent said. "With their distribution, a lot of folks get a chance to see these fighters that wouldn't normally have the opportunity." Maxwell is one of the MMA crossover stars Kent is hoping will make a difference at the box office. Her record shows a blank kickboxing slate, but don't be fooled. Although she's never competed in a professional Muay Thai rules match, the San Francisco based fighter has lots of experience using all the tools of the trade. Maxwell is also one of the most successful American San Shou fighters of all time, combining punches, kicks, and wicked throws with devastating ease. The Cung Le protege won a gold medal in the Chinese sport in Macau in 2003 and is a dynamic striker. "We rocked the house in 2003 and 2005. Cung Le is the best San Shou coach that the United States has ever had...That was an awesome experience," Maxwell said. "I want to go back again, but the politics in traditional martial arts are not fun. And all I want to do is fight. Plus, it's hard to go from getting paid to fight, back to paying to fight. " Maxwell has turned her attention instead to mixed martial arts. She's lost her three highest profile bouts, Strikeforce fights with Gina Carano, Miesha Tate, and Shanya Baszler, but has won both of her bouts this year. Fans shouldn't read too much into her appearance in a kickboxing event. With Strikeforce on the verge of folding and the UFC remaining steadfast in a refusal to promote women's fights, the future for women in the sport seems bleak. But Maxwell is taking it all in stride. "I don't think women should be afraid. Sure, they're not going to be in the UFC unless they're holding the ring card," Maxwell said. "I don't think the women's sport is dying. There are more than a few organizations out there that will showcase MMA. I just wanted to stay busy. I love to fight and really wanted to test my standup game. "That's where I come from and I love it. One of the last times I actually fought a kickboxing match in Las Vegas it was at the Stardust," Maxwell said, referencing a Las Vegas hotel that was blown up in the name of progress in 2007. "So, that was awhile ago right? It should be fun." Lion Fights: Battle in the Desert 4 will be available live tomorrow night on Go Fight Live. The event is also available on demand for UFC fans who want to purchase the kickboxing event and watch it sometime after UFC 139 is complete. Elaina Maxwell would like to thank kickboxing coach Kirian Fitzgibbons, Dan Russell at Mainstreet Chiropractic, and Fight Chix.

Posted in: fight, mma, kickboxing, thai, maxwell

5 Oz. MMA Link Club

Welcome back to another edition of “MMA Link Club”, Five Ounces of Pain‘s weekly smorgasbord of offerings from our brothers and sisters in the MMA community. This week we’ve offered up a double-dose of MMA-related goodness based on all the excellent material out there to choose from. Enjoy… Eddie Alvarez Discusses the Role Fear Plays in his Preparation (MMAFighting.com) Urijah Faber Fixated on Dominick Cruz (5thRound.com) Quinton Jackson Speaks Out on the Serious Disease Known as BGD – Bad Gift Disorder (CagePotato.com) A Transcript of Chael Sonnen’s Epic Interview on TSN (FightOpinion.com) Some Perspective Relating to UFC on FOX Finances (MMAPayout.com) Who Has the Most to Lose at UFC 139? (BleacherReport.com) Bas Rutten Opens Up on Demise of Strikeforce, Fedor Emelianenko’s Future (TheFightNerd.com) Josh Koscheck Participates in a Fan Q&A (MMAMania.com) Check Out the Latest Episode of MMA Live (MMAConvert.com) Ronda Rousey Has No Regrets About Shredding Julia Budd’s Arm (MiddleEasy.com) Anthony Pettis Thinks He’s Still Close to a Title-Shot (Fightline.com) Wanderlei Silva Discusses Training with “The Spider” for UFC 139 (LowKick.com) PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR/UFC

Posted in: ufc, mma, mma community, mmarelated goodness, tsn fightopinioncom

Asian MMA summit to be held next week in Singapore

[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on MMA-Japan, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] Another game changer is underway in Asia as Victor Cui of OneFC will be the wheels behind the Asian MMA Summit to be held in Singapore the week of 21 November. The Summit will be held at the SIX star St. Regis Hotel - the most prestigious hotel in Singapore. Here are a list of the confirmed attendees: OneFC - Largest MMA promotion in Asia DREAM FC - Largest MMA Promotion in Japan CFC - Largest MMA promotion in Australia RoadFC - Largest MMA promotion in Korea URCC - Largest MMA Promo in Philippines MMA Malaysia - Largest MMA promotion in Malaysia DareFC - Largest MMA promotion in Thailand

Posted in: mma, promotion, mma promotion, mma promo, malaysia darefc

UFC 139 Preview Video

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosSAN FRANCISCO -- Watch below as MMA Fighting's Ben Fowlkes and I dissect all the subplots heading into Saturday night's UFC 139 pay-per-view event. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, video, videossan francisco, i dissect

In San Jose, UFC Benefits From Groundwork Laid by Strikeforce

Filed under: UFCSAN JOSE, Calif. -- At least for local MMA fans, the HP Pavilion might as well be the house that Scott Coker built. Strikeforce held its first event here in March of 2006 -- the first sanctioned MMA event in the state of California -- and both the venue and the city served as its home base for the next five years. That's why it felt a little odd to walk into the HP Pavilion for Friday afternoon's weigh-ins and see the UFC's logo splashed around the arena. This was where Fabricio Werdum upset Fedor Emelianenko. It's where Gina Carano and "Cyborg" Santos became the first women to headline a major MMA event. And now, with Strikeforce firmly under Zuffa control, it's the UFC that's reaping the rewards of a vibrant market full of passionate fight fans. For Cung Le, it seems especially strange. The hometown favorite has yet to fight in an MMA bout outside of San Jose, and his contest with Wanderlei Silva at UFC 139 will mark the first time he's set foot in a cage that didn't belong to Strikeforce. "I'm trying not to think about it," he said earlier this week, adding that it was "an honor to be in the UFC." Le made his MMA debut at that first Strikeforce event, knocking out Mike Altman in the first round in front of what was, for the U.S. at the time, a massive MMA crowd of more than 18,000 fans. For Coker, you might think it would be a little bittersweet to see his old friend now working for his former rivals, but speaking to MMA Fighting from Las Vegas (where he's attending Friday night's Strikeforce: Challengers show) the San Jose native insisted he was genuinely happy for Le. "I'm excited for him," said Coker. "I think it's a big fight, and I'm not just saying that." The way Coker sees it, the success of combat sports in the Bay Area -- from the early days of his kickboxing promotion to Strikeforce's warm reception there as an MMA promotion -- has a pretty simple explanation. "It wasn't until the '50s and '60s and '70s that a lot of the martial arts instructors started moving to America," he said. "...Before that, very few people did martial arts in America. What happened was, when the martial artists came over to America, most of them settled in Los Angeles, the Bay Area, and Seattle, because those were the ports of entry. That's why when you look at the Bay Area, you know, I remember at one point counting about 80 [martial arts] schools just in the South Bay part of the Bay Area." The success of local fighters, such as the American Kickboxing Academy's stable of top talent, has helped maintain local interest in the sport over the years, but the UFC has historically shied away from promoting events in the area. It brought UFC 117 to Oakland last summer, but San Jose has always been Strikeforce's stomping grounds. Until now, of course. So now that Zuffa owns his promotion and the UFC is moving into the building where some of the greatest moments of his professional life took place, what will it be like for Coker when he flies back to San Jose on Saturday and walks into the HP Pavilion to watch a fight there as a spectator? At least for now, even he isn't quite sure, he said. "We're all one family now. But to me, how is it going to feel to walk into the HP Pavilion [for a fight] and have it not be Strikeforce? I'll be able to answer that when I walk in there. I really don't know yet." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, strikeforce, san jose, hp pavilion

ESPN MMA Live: UFC on FOX 1 Fallout, UFC 139 Preview, Chael Sonnen

On this week’s edition of ESPN MMA Live, Chael Sonnen joins the panel to recap UFC on FOX 1 and preview UFC 139. ESPN MMA Live Archive If you have trouble playing the video, you can also watch it on ESPN.com.

Posted in: ufc, mma, chael sonnen, espn mma, recap ufc

The Skinny on Takedown MMA

Since the UFC boom in 2005 when The Ultimate Fighter put MMA on the map, we’ve seen plenty of MMA organizations go by the wayside. International Fight League, EliteXC, Affliction, PRIDE, World Fighting Alliance, Bodog Fight, Kick-Ass Fighting Championships. Ok, so I made that last one up. The point is, plenty of companies have tried but ultimately failed to capitalize on the fastest growing sport on the world. In 2012, a new company will try their hand, but they’re not your typical single organization who will pay big money for fighters, only run in one area of the country, or try to run on PPV with no TV backing. In fact, they’re not a single organization at all. Takedown MMA is something of a “housing organization,” a brand name that will promote single organizations on television for a season of MMA events. Think of it like HDNet or GoFightLive.com, both of whom promote and showcase multiple MMA organizations, with the difference being that Takedown MMA will be running a set schedule and looking to establish their brand name. To better explain things, Five Ounces of Pain spoke to MMA fighter Matt Lindland and notable MMA agent Ken Pavia, both of whom are very involved in trying to get Takedown MMA off the ground and in front of your eyes. “It’s basically a content aggregation company. We’re taping 32 shows annually, in North America and international and in affect we aggregate content. The biggest problem with a promotion getting a television deal is consistency,” said Pavia. “I think a lot of networks want MMA but they don’t want to do six shows a year, they want a consistent season. They want consistent week in and week out programming that they can commit to and I think Takedown satisfies that need. I think you’ll see Takedown presents this promotion one week from one country and then Takedown presents this promotion another week from another country.” Over 50 fight promotions from all around the world have signed a letter of intent with Takedown with the goal to produce a 32-week season . Both Lindland and Pavia explained it as, “kind of like Friday Night Fights” with a different promotion being showcased every week. That’s right, Takedown is looking to jump right into television, and they’ve already talked to different broadcast companies about getting on television. Pavia stated, “We’ve had significant dialogue with a number of different broadcast mediums. The answer has been a resounding, ‘we’re very interested, show us you can do it. Show us you can pull this off. Show us some proof of content.’ I think everybody wants MMA programming and it hits the target demographic. It’s a great advertisers demographics and it’s the fastest growing sport of our lifetime and I think everyone is starving for MMA content and as long as we can deliver it, there is definitely a market for it.” To show broadcast companies that they could “do it” and “pull it off,” Takedown shot a pilot using Lindland’s Sport Fight promotion, which has been around since 2001 and has held events that have included fighters like Chael Sonnen, Chris Leben, Jeremy Horn, and other MMA stars. Lindland was very happy with the footage, saying, “We just shot our first pilot. We’re going to edit it together, put it to post, the footage is incredible. It’s shot differently, the way we shot it and light it, it’s different than people have seen before. It’s really incredible.” But what if Takedown can’t secure a television deal? While taking things online is an option, Pavia said, “If the right opportunity comes with television then great but if it doesn’t then we may wait. We’re not going to make a bad deal. We’ve had discussion with a couple different online site to stream shows. I think you’ll see selected online broadcasts in certain countries until the television deals are consummated.” The thing that Takedown really wants to establish is consistency with their broadcasts. “We want to do things first rate,” said Pavia. “You’re not going to see single and double A promotions with horrible commentators. You’re going to see professional commentators and phenomenal graphics and a much more professional look that is much more marketable.” Trying to establish a new promotion isn’t easy. Trying to establish a MMA Aggregation Company and getting on television seems nearly impossible. Both men know it’s going to take a lot of work but they’re ready to put the time in. “I believe the timing is critical. If you’re gonna catch a guy in a triangle, a lot of that is timing. Right now I think the timing couldn’t be at a better time,” said Lindland. “UFC just signed with FOX and they left some other networks in the dust. What’s going to happen is that they’re going to bring in a whole new audience of MMA fans and those fans are only going to know one brand. You’re gonna see other networks who want that same audience. I think there’s going to be a huge demand. I think the timing is right with this concept. We’re not a competitor, we’re just another option.” Pavia finished with, “I joined because I think they have a great product and they need a little help getting to the next level and I think with my help we can attain that. I allowed them my contacts, which enabled them to talk to other promotions. Luck is when preparation and oppruntity meets. They were prepared and I’m giving them some opportunities. So I guess we’re all lucky in this situation.” PHOTO CREDIT – TAKEDOWN MEDIA

Posted in: mma, takedown, promotion, ’re, television

UFC 139 Judo Chop: Cung Le and the Sanshou Spinning Back Kick

At UFC 139 this weekend, UFC fans will be introduced to Cung Le. The former Strikeforce Middleweight champion will face Wanderlei Silva in the night's semi-main event. But between this being his UFC debut and the fact that he has had only one fight in the past two years, Le may be something of an unknown for fans at home (not for fans at the show though - expect Le to receive a hero's welcome in his adopted home of San Jose). The big word UFC fans will hear throughout Le's fight? "Sanshou." That's the fighting style employed by Cung Le - a style that he has absolutely mastered, but that no one else has used with any degree of effectiveness in MMA. Le is, in many ways, a throwback to the earliest days of MMA, when a practitioner of a somewhat obscure martial art would come in and try to represent his art form against all comers. The big difference is that most of these early arts failed, where Le has found good MMA success with his style. So what exactly is Sanshou? Well... Sanshou is a martial art which was originally developed by the Chinese military based upon the intense study and practices of traditional Kung Fu and modern combat fighting techniques; it combines full-contact kickboxing, which include punches and kicks, wrestling, takedowns, throws, sweeps, kick catches, and in some competitions, even elbow and knee strikes. Amongst martial arts purists, the idea of Sanshou is a bit controversial. The name is, at times, used interchangeably with Sanda and Wushu, though not everyone agrees with lumping these together. There's also the idea that, somewhat like Bruce Le's Jeet Kune Do, Sanshou is not a style unto itself, but rather a system of how to effectively use martial arts. It's a complex and fascinating debate, but it also is a somewhat separate issue. What is more important to the UFC fan is simply this - "How does Cung Le use Sanshou in MMA?" There are two key aspects of Sanshou that play a part in Le's MMA game: takedowns and kicks. Despite being perceived at times as more of a standing art, Sanshou does use takedowns as one of the primary attacks. Kid Nate already broke down Le's superb use of Sanshou takedowns in MMA in an earlier Judo Chop, and I highly encourage you to check that one out here. In this edition, we'll break down the other key Sanshou weapon - kicks. And for Cung Le, no Sanshou kick is more effective than the spinning back kick. Let's take a look at the traditional spinning back kick, and see how Le uses Sanshou to adapt it and make it an even more dangerous weapon. Full breakdown, with gifs, after the jump. First up, let's take a look at the traditional spinning back kick, as executed by one of today's best practitioners of this strike - Dennis Siver. To execute the kick, Siver turns his head and body in the direction of his power leg - Siver is standing in orthodox stance, so he rotates to his right. With his back to his opponent, Siver brings the rear leg up, cocking his knee. He completes the rotation, ending with his shoulders perpendicular to his opponent's body, and extends the kick forward and through the opponent's midsection. Done correctly and cleanly, it's a brutal blow that can earn a KO. Le uses the spinning back kick frequently, but he has added some variations on it that utilize his Sanshou background. I encourage you to first take a look at this great Cung Le spinning back kick highlight video that incorporates footage from Human Weapon: Those clips give you an idea of some of Le's spinning kicks, but let's take a closer look at some of those back kicks, particularly from his Strikeforce fight with Scott Smith. First up, here is what I would call a switch spinning back kick. Le starts in southpaw with his left leg back. He starts by stepping forward with that left leg, switching to orthodox stance. But as he makes that step, he also brings that right foot directly in front of his left and starts his rotation. From there, the rest of the kick is basically the same as Siver's - Le lifts the right leg, rotates through, and blasts it into Smith. Notice how the force of the blow knocks Smith into the cage and down. This is a great kick for two reasons. First, that extra step increases the rotation, which is where the spinning back kick gets its force. With the extra rotation, the kick can be more powerful. Second, look how well Lee extends his leg, getting it perfectly straight as he connects. That sends the force entirely into Smith and knocks him off balance. Interestingly, Le also changes up his target here. Normally this kick targets the midsection, but here Le goes more to the chest. Smith partially blocks it, but the momentum still is enough to drop him. That's also a very dangerous block for Smith, as it can easily result in a fractured arm, as Frank Shamrock can attest. Here is another good kick that is similar to the last one. Again, Le starts in south paw, steps forward to switch to orthodox, and with that same motion throws the kick. This time though he goes to the midsection, driving his heel into Smith's stomach and knocking the wind out of him. Notice that on this kick, Le is very close to Smith as the kick lands, and so unlike the previous kick, he keeps the kick more cocked until it is in position, then fires it, again getting good extension. To land this kick so close gives it extra power, and part of the way Le gets so close is again with his switch to orthodox. One last note here - notice how he uses punches to set up the kick. Cung Le talked about this as one of his strategies for the fight - to get Smith moving back with punches, them chase him down with the kicks. It works beautifully here, as Smith starts to retreat, and also keeps his hands up to avoid more punches, leaving a hole in his defenses to the body. This time, Le starts in the orthodox stance, so the spinning back kick begins more traditionally. But at the end, Le adds his own twist by bringing the kick up to the head. You see this move in kickboxing sometimes (Badr Hari famously KO'd Stefan Leko in K-1 with this same kick) but it's very rare in MMA. Smith is unsure how to block and ends up taking it on the side of the head. One small detail I don't love here is the way Le abandons his footwork and stance after the kick in order to chase Smith down. It allows him to close the distance faster and keep up the assault, but I don't love the idea of allowing yourself to be so exposed. And finally, one last example. This one again targets the head. Here you can really see how Le's ability to change his target confuses his opponent. Smith does not know where the kick is coming and so actually defends by lifting his leg in what looks like an attempt to check a leg kick. These Sanshou kicks are totally confusing him, leaving him defenseless and very vulnerable. The speed on this kick is incredible too - no set up, just a fast, perfect spinning back kick. Finally, I love how Le gets that right foot immediately down and back into position right after the kick lands. He is right back in stance, ready to continue the fight. Will Wanderlei Silva see some of these kicks at UFC 139? And if he does, will he have an answer for them? I certainly hope we find out. Want more Cung Le Sanshou action? Here is a nice Sanshou demonstration: And here's his MMA debut from the first Strikeforce show:

Posted in: mma, leg, kick, smith, sanshou

Latest UFC/MMA news and notes from around the web for the week of November 13, 2011

Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Mauricio Rua and Dana White pictured above, we can all "get along." Teaming up with MMA sites like MiddleEasy, Cage Potato, Fight Opinion and Five Ounces of Pain, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport. This week, MMAFighting speaks with Dana White, Lowkick speaks with Fedor Emelianenko about his fight with Jeff Monson and MMAConvert gets Jim Genia to break down the recent lawsuit that the UFC filed against New York. The full list of links is after the jump. - Interview with Fedor Emelianenko (LowKick) I had an exciting opportunity to interview Fedor Emelianenko in Netherlands (3 hours by train from my home, up north in Groningen), ahead of what could easily be the most important fight of his illustrious MMA career. Visibly reenergized Emelianenko shared about his plans for the fight with Jeff Monson, and what he's been concentrating on in this training camp - Presenting the Matt Mitrione phone message contest (Cage Potato) - Grappling with issues - 11/17/11 (Five Ounces of Pain) Is Cain Velasquez destined for a title-shot in 2012? Should the winner of this weekend's main event between Dan Henderson and Mauricio Rua jump Rashad Evans as #1 contender? Will Fedor Emelianenko‘s fight flop on PPV? Could UFC 139 mark the final time Wanderlei Silva steps into the ring? - Around the Octagon with Dana White? (video) (MMA Fighting) White talks about UFC 139, W. Silva's future, UFC on FOX 2 and more. Watch Ariel Helwani's Exclusive Interview - Wanderlei Silva running from retirement (5thRound) For 15 edge-of-your-seat years, Wanderlei Silva has participated in some of the most spectacular fights in MMA history. However, much like an NFL running back, there are only so many hits the human body can endure before it's time to call it quits. - Interview with Mark Coleman (video) (MiddleEasy) - Ken Pavia on leaving MMAgents for Takedown Fight Media & MMA current events (TheFightNerd) "If you believe King Mo and some fighter sentiment its only a matter of time before they merge - I believe King Mo said ‘it's dying on the vine.' It seems that Zuffa bought Strikeforce to add more main event type fighters to their roster to support their increased scheduling. That said, if the rumors about Strikeforce and Showtime are true, that'll be a certain way to secure its future." - Media insider fallout from UFC on FOX (Fight Opinion) So, wait a second - when PRIDE was drawing 20 million viewers on Fuji TV and getting paid a lot a money last decade, that didn't qualify MMA reaching ‘adulthood' status because it happened in Japan instead of America? Don't get me wrong - I'm not someone who thinks that UFC ‘failed' with the Fox showing on Saturday night. - SpikeTV's UFC on FOX counterprogram nets 719,000 viewers (MMA Payout) MMAPayout.com has learned that Spike TV's Saturday night telecast of "Dos Santos vs. Velasquez: Unleashed for the Heavyweight Title" between 9:00-10:00 pm ET/PT drew 719,000 viewers and a 0.6 rating with Men 18-34. List of ratings for "Unleashed" episodes pre and post UFC on FOX are listed below - Chris Weidman: Tom Lawlor doesn't have the experience like I do (BleacherReport.com/MMA) "As far as experience goes, look at Alessio Sakara. He had plenty more experience than me. He was in the UFC forever. I didn't let that get to me. Tom Lawlor, he hasn't been there as close to as long. I won't let that get to me. The way I look at it is, I 've been wrestling my entire life. I've faced top notch competition for a very, very long time. Tom Lawlor doesn't have that experience." - Jim Genia breaks down the UFC lawsuit against New York (MMA Convert) "I'm here to give you a breakdown on this nuclear bomb that's been activated in the Empire State - and make no mistake, a lawsuit that implores the federal judicial system to take action against a state is no precision instrument meant to galvanize; it's a weapon of mass destruction meant to leave devastation in its wake. If you want a law that empowers an athletic commission to regulate a sport, the nice, friendly route is to lobby, secure votes and let the system runs its course. The hard-ass route, which is far and away what this is, ensures that legislators are left grumbling. And a grumbling legislator can be bad. Very, very bad. But we'll get to that later. Now, the facts..." - Dan Henderson responds to Shogun (Fightline) Dan says good luck trying to become the first to knock me out

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, fox, emelianenko

Sixth Ounce Podcast: Episode 8

It’s an all MMA and music edition of the Sixth Ounce Podcast this week as Brendhan Conlan, Samer Kadi, and Jeremy Lambert discuss the UFC on FOX 1 ratings and debate which fight should headline UFC on FOX 2. Should it be Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen II? Ben Henderson vs. Frankie Edgar? Quinton Jackson vs. Forrest Griffin 2? Ben Rothwell vs. Mark Hunt Part Deux? Plus the gang talks about the first ever UFC on FX card and what the promotion should expect ratings wise for the FX debut. At the end Jeremy provides everyone with a special treat – A FREESTYLE RAP! Speaking of rap, Canadian battle rapper 100 Bulletz aka the MMA Analyst joins the podcast to talk about his MMA battle rap with Step Easy, which you can watch below. After that we get to previewing the big UFC 139 fights and some of the major upcoming UFC bouts like Alistair Overeem vs. Brock Lesnar and Lyoto Machida vs. Jon Jones. It’s over an hour of MMA and rap chat, so check it out… Download (Right Click -> Save Link As) – iTunes

Posted in: ufc, mma, vs, podcast, rap

The Friday Morning MMA Link Party

Let people call you dumb, let them call you an obnoxious moron, let people call you a waste of genetic space but whatever you do...don't let them call you late for The Friday Morning MMA Link Party. It's the thing to do, regardless of whether you are wearing underwear. Your choice to wear underwear and The Friday Morning MMA Link Party are two mutually exclusive entities. They don't rely on each other, so technically you can come to The Friday Morning MMA Link Party underwearless and no one will care. Enjoy this list of links from our tight knit MMA union that we created eons ago. [list class="bullet-6"] [li]UFC on FOX Salaries & Suspensions: Junior dos Santos Earns $220,000 for Title Win. [MMAFighting] [/li] [li]The 10 Most Disgraceful Moments in MMA History. [CagePotato] [/li] [li]Siyar Bahadurzada to make UFC debut in Brazil against Erick Silva. [Fives Ounces of Pain] [/li] [li]Wanderlei Silva has a message for "Dreamers." [LowKick] [/li] [li]Anderson Silva Says He’d Give Chael Sonnen A Rematch In Brazil, Still Upset With Ed Soares. [MMAConvert] [/li] [li]Shane Carwin “As Good As New” Following Back Surgery. [5th Round] [/li] [li]The Best MMA Role Models. [Bleacher Report] [/li] [li]“UFC on Fox” debut show ratings not quite as weak as you thought. [The Fight Nerd] [/li] [li]Ken Shamrock wants everyone to stop lying about steroids. [MMAMania] [/li] [li]Searchable text of UFC’s lawsuit against New York. [FightOpinion] [/li] [li]Spike TV’s UFC on FOX Counter-Program Nets 719,000 Viewers. [MMAPayout] [/li] [li]Tom Lawlor Looking For Upset Over Chris Weideman At UFC 139. [Fightline] [/li] [/list]

Posted in: ufc, mma, li, morning, friday

Rousey Intends to Become Face of Women’s MMA

Ronda Rousey will close out her first year in MMA on Friday when she takes on Julia Budd at Strikeforce Challengers 20.

Posted in: mma, friday, rousey, ronda, julia budd

Cung Le Explains Why MMA Has Blown Up in San Jose (Video)

Cung Le is part of a culture in San Jose that has seen MMA become very popular. The talent coming out of the area has helped in the sports regional appeal, according to Le.

Posted in: mma, san jose, jose, san, cung

Dana White Talks UFC 139, FOX Ratings and FOX 2 Main Card

Filed under: MMA Rumors, MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, NewsSAN JOSE, Calif. -- Watch below as UFC president Dana White talks about Saturday night's UFC 139 card, reuniting with Dan Henderson, whether Wanderlei Silva is fighting for his job, his post-UFC on FOX hangover, the second UFC on FOX show, Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen 2, and Zuffa's lawsuit in New York. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, fox, wanderlei silva, zuffas lawsuit

Are MMA and Christianity compatible?

I've always been fascinated with the strong Christian bent you'll see in MMA sometimes, partially because of my other pod-venture and partially because it's always seemed so strange to me. Shunning violence always seemed to be one of those things you'd figure Jesus would be into, but then again so is Socialism so what do I know?Here's someone who should know: Pastor Mark Driscoll of the Mars Hill Church in Seattle. He wrote a giant mega-post about MMA half promoting their UFC on FOX debut, half justifying his enjoyment of our barbaric fist fest. Here's my favorite bits: Some Christians will vocally declare that we must reject MMA. Sometimes it’s because they simply do not understand the nature of the sport and misperceive it, and other times it’s because they are pacifists theologically who don’t condone violence in any form. Their picture of Jesus is basically a guy in a dress with fabulous long hair, drinking decaf and in touch with his feelings, who would never hurt anyone. The problem is that Jesus probably had short hair (1 Corinthians 11 says it was a disgrace in that day for a man to have long hair), was in good shape from a labor job and lots of walking across rugged terrain, and upon his return will come again not in humility but rather in glory. So because Jesus was a muscular dude, he's more like a badass MMA fighter than some latte drinking liberal. And that makes MMA okay for Christians! Simply, on his first trip to the earth Jesus took a beating to atone for sin; on his next trip he will hand them out to unrepentant sinners instead. Oh yeah, MMA / Jesus metaphor! Additionally, some argue that we should reject MMA because some aspects of the sport stem from Eastern religions and philosophy. Indeed, this was some of the pushback on my recent post on yoga, “Christian Yoga? It’s a Stretch.” To this I would agree on a certain level. I would not encourage anyone to study under a teacher who, in addition to combat techniques, was also pushing non-Christian philosophies and Eastern spirituality. First off, there are Christians riled up about the Eastern religion and philosophy elements of martial arts? Are these the same ones who think Pokemon is devil worship? By the way, here's a summation of this guy's Christian Yoga post: There is nothing wrong with stretching, exercising, or regulating one’s stress through breathing. But when the tenets of yoga are included, it’s by definition a worship act to spirit beings other than the God of the Bible. But fortunately our author decides that martial arts learned in a proper Amurican fashion is acceptable. Fortunately, 'one can practice combat sports and learn various techniques without immersing oneself in the philosophy and culture of such activities.' I dunno. I think the devil's oily taint may still be all over this. The rest after the jump read more

Posted in: mma, christian, jesu, yoga, philosophy

Pro MMA Radio 173: Urijah Faber, UFC on FOX 1 Reaction, UFC 139 Preview

We have partnered with Pro MMA Radio to bring you weekly replays of PMR as the official radio show of MMAConvert.com. Pro MMA Radio can be heard live every Monday evening at 9PM ET/6PM PT. Replays and podcasts of every show are available 24/7 by going to the “Replay Corner” section of ProMMARadio.com, our own Pro MMA Radio page or by clicking the banner below. On this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio, Urijah Faber stopped by to talk about his upcoming number one contender’s fight against Brian Bowles this weekend at UFC 139. MMA Mania’s Jesse Holland also stopped by to help Larry Pepe preview UFC 139 and recap UFC on FOX 1. You can listen to a replay of this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio by clicking the banner below. A radio player with links to the show’s archives will open in a pop-up window, so please make sure your browser is set to allow pop-ups for this site.

Posted in: ufc, mma, replay, radio, mma radio

The Battle for MMA in Madison Square Garden Continues: Legislation at a Glance

As MMA fans, we kind of take the sport's growth for granted. We're on FOX, and with the latest news that the UFC on FOX peaked at 8.8 million viewers, and therefore was a success, what more could we ask for? Well, if you're a fighter living in Alaska, or Wyoming: a lot. In fact, it would be nice just to have an athletic commission, as both states lack such governing bodies. For the past several years, the UFC has been lobbying for legalization in New York, at least in part, for these reasons. If you legalize it, you can avoid underground spectacles like 'Club Boxing': a name for Alaska's unregulated boxing scene. However, even with athletic commissions, nothing is guaranteed. At least without formal MMA regulations. With such ambiguity present, cases like that of Kyle Maynard (with no arms and legs), became possible in Alabama (it's also probably where they filmed this unholy mess). Along with regulation, much has been made of the economic benefits the UFC would bring into the state of New York. But if there's a reason even good looking numbers aren't a concern for New York it's because the state has more pressing matters, like dealing with its deficit. However, the call for legalization is not simply bound by economic benefits. There are constitutional reasons New York has no obligation to legalize New York. Thanks, of course, goes to the Amendment that allows Joe Rogan and Eddie Bravo to smoke large amounts of weed before every podcast. But can a case be made for the federal regulation of MMA without violating the 10th Amendment? It turns out there is: Michael Daum presents a very interesting case for the federal regulation of MMA, which is that MMA is considered Interstate Commerce. "Congress could presumably derive authority to regulate MMA within the states from its Interstate Commerce Clause power, granted by Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution. Under United States vs. Lopez, Congress has the authority to regulate intrastate activities that substantially affect interstate commerce. If MMA is determined to constitute interstate commerce, the procedures under which MMA bouts are conducted consequently substantially affect interstate commerce and any regulation of those procedures is permissible." In other words, so long as MMA can validate its use of interstate commerce, through leasing arenas, selling tickets, and creating revenue through radio, television, and motion picture rights (although Warrior was good enough, I'm not sure Never Back Down part 7 will bring home the interstate bacon), then there's certainly nothing unconstitutional about the push for federal legislation. In fact, you might surmise that the current ban on MMA, on the principle of interstate commerce, creates a unique conflict of commerce. Jim Genia over at MMA Convert explains (citing one of the causes of action in Zuffa's current lawsuit): First, by banning live professional MMA but allowing amateur MMA, the law fosters local participation at the expense of national businesses stuck on the outside looking in. Second, "the Ban's broad language prevents the numerous interstate products and services required for a live professional MMA event from entering New York's borders." Third, while MMA is legal and sanctioned in neighboring states, New York's ban could be affecting advertiser's exposure to New York markets - which in turn could be affecting their exposure in those neighboring states. Moreover, Daum outlines the benefit of a fighter license and registry that could give commissions access to a fighter's medical history: as was seen with West Virgina, it's very easy to stand before a panel and lie about, well, everything. Daum continues, "By itself, this system would not conflict with the Tenth Amendment because it regulates the conduct of private individuals and not that of the states." In short, MMA doesn't just deserve to be legal. It needs to be legal. Perhaps that's why Zuffa has brought the Federal Judicial System in on New York's head with an incredibly curious argument: that MMA constitutes free speech, and is therefore protected by the first Amendment. While that might sound like a stretch, the argument has weight precisely because of the language invoked for its ban in the first place: namely of MMA as a "message of violence". It's a relatively clever way to attack the ban, and one that seems valid on the surface. In addition, an irrationality claim has joined in on the litigation fun. As Barry Friedman points out in Jonathan Snowden's piece at MMA Nation, there's considerable weight to this claim: if safety is one reason why the sport was banned in the first place, why are amateur bouts legal? And what evidence is there to suggest that MMA is actually safer than big league sports, like hockey, boxing, and football (contrary to the language invoked in the current ban)? A lot. I believe I've worked as hard as anyone to illuminate the concussion crisis in sports, but the fact of the matter is, no matter how much Dana White simplifies the issue, he's right. MMA can turn into a glorified wrestling match, and unlike equestrian activities, and drunken golf cart driving, there's no shockingly high concussion rate for wrestling, in high school or anywhere else (and certainly not in jiu jitsu). Mixed martial arts is one of the few true and thorough contact sports that walks just around the edges of the concussion crisis. However, when we do hear tragic cases, it's restricted to the non sanctioned local circuits. I don't know what to expect from here on out, but it's an interesting bit of history that looks to be our best shot at watching our favorite fighters like Jose Aldo, Anderson Silva, or Jon Jones compete in the Garden sooner rather than later.

Posted in: mma, state, york, ban, commerce

These GIFs from Wednesday's TUF episode are destined to make you LOL

The MMA community might become a sad little clique if ZombieProphet ever decides to flash us the deuces, pack his stuff up into a little rolling suitcase and run away to Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland to hunt polar bears and whales and never make another golden MMA GIF again. Imagine being unable to watch expertly created infinite loops of the most amazing KO's, subs and embarrassingly hysterical moments in MMA ever again. Heartbreaking. Until that day happens, we can all continue to encourage our MMA OCD and relive and obsessively repeat those special MMA moments thanks to ZP of IronForgesIron.com. Moments like this one from last night's episode of TUF 14: the 'Coaches Challenge' episode are worthy of repitition. In this episdoe, Mayhem and Bisping were challenged to play a rousing game of Air Hockey. At the end, during Bisping's table top dance victory celebration, comes the infinite loop GIF worthy event. Enjoy. [source] The moment of victory: A closer look: Dana's Reaction:

Posted in: mma, episode, gif, moment, bispings table

Of Critics & Ratings: The Banes of MMA Fandom

Filed under: UFCLast Saturday night brought it all to a head. UFC was finally coming to free network television. Millions would watch. Millions would learn. A sport that we love would put its best foot forward, and the stigmas that have plagued it for years would start to fade away. At least that's how it was supposed to be. By Sunday morning though, there was panic spreading. The early ratings had returned, and they weren't great. Just 4.6 million viewers was the estimate, a number below expectations. The hand-wringing started, and defensive instincts kicked in. It had only been a one-minute fight. The UFC made a huge mistake in only airing one match. The one-hour time was an unfair window. These were all common themes on that morning, and it all reeked of an inferiority complex undeserving of the big platform we had just been handed. Even before the revised ratings were released and indicated an average audience of 5.7 million and a peak of 8.8 million, the truth was that the stress that comes along with criticism and ratings is mostly wasted energy. Let's all remember that the deal between UFC and FOX is for seven years. Imagine having your future set for that long. That's a pretty secure feeling. That's a lot of time to establish a new brand, and make no mistake, FOX realizes that there is still work to be done. This isn't the NFL with a 90-year history, or baseball, with well over 100 years behind it. This is the latest sport to wedge its way into the American sports palate. It's one thing for UFC president Dana White to be stressed about it. This is his business, and it's one he treats like another child, he loves it so much. To carry that human analogy further, it was one that he was told would die, that it was just a matter of time. But he loved it, cared for it, spared no expense and no energy to nurse it back to health. He is invested in it every way, personally, financially, even physically, if you've seen his schedule. For others, it's a bit more perplexing. In no other sport is so much stock put into things like ratings and criticsm. So there are still people who don't like MMA? Who cares? We don't have to try to convert every living soul walking the earth. And we don't have to shoot down every voice who disagrees with us. Early Thursday morning, for example, The Washington Post, which is one of the most circulated and influential newspapers in the country, ran a column by a writer named Fred Bowen, which was headlined, "Ultimate Fighting is too brutal to be considered a sport, even if it's on TV." I probably know about as much about him as he does about MMA, which is to say, not much at all. A quick Google search shows that he is a sports fiction author for kids, and his column is also geared towards children. Every parent should determine whether their own child watches MMA. I wouldn't disagree with him on that. But the rest of his opinion, is quite simply that: his own opinion. Like where he claims that "ultimate fighting is not safer than cheerleading," even though a recent report by the National Association for Catastrophic Sports Injury research showed that cheerleading was the most dangerous sport in the nation. But in the end, his is just another among the voices who have tried to drown out the sport in recent times. I can guarantee that by the end of the day, the MMA mafia will unload on him in the comments, and some will write things that don't represent the sport's followers in a respectful manner, and a potential dialogue will be lost to a flame war. In some ways, it doesn't matter. For him and others, it's probably too late. Here's the thing: they all had the chance to kill off MMA back in the late '90s and early 2000s and couldn't do it. The sport was on its deathbed, they applied a pillow to its face, and couldn't snuff it out. Now it's a movement. It's not just popular here but in places far and wide. The fact that 8.8 million people were watching the bout should be the real takeaway. While that number doesn't come close to approaching the 20.9 million that watched the Patriots and Jets play the next night on NBC, it's a sign of the mainstream interest being piqued. So too are the criticisms and interest in the ratings. But that's all it is. There's a lot of hard work ahead for the UFC, as well as other promotions like Bellator that are hoping to cash in on the opportunities ahead. But our blood pressure doesn't have to rise every time someone says something stupid about the sport. The days of scratching and clawing for attention and acceptance are mostly over. At least for the next seven years, MMA has a major platform from which to shoot down misconceptions and misinformation. In that part of the fight towards mainstream, we have already won. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, sport, year, rating

Five Things You Didn't Know About the UFC's New York Lawsuit

This FanPost Was Edited and Promoted to the Front Page by Anton Tabuena Hello BE, it's your favorite Canadian lawyer returning to drop some knowledge bombs on your collective cranium. You might remember me from an earlier fanpost regarding the legality of MMA in Canada (which you can find here). I've had a chance to take a look at the full complaint from ZUFFA, and thought that I'd share some thoughts with my fellow BElitists. This is going to be a quick and dirty post, but I wanted to get something out for you guys to chew on while the chewing is good. After the jump, check out the 5 things you didn't know about the UFC's Lawsuit. Here is a link to the full complaint, but fair warning: It's 123 pages and 15 MB of legalese. 1.) Meet the Plaintiffs In addition to the MMA fighters (Jon Jones, Frankie Edgar, Matt Hamill, and Gina Carano) as well as the fellow SBN bloggers Beth and Donna Hurrle mentioned in Josh's article, there are some others you may not have heard of. Joseph Lozito, a New Yorker that disarmed an assailant who was on a 28-hour stabbing spree. He credits being a 20-year fan of MMA with saving his life. Daniella Hobieka, an amateur MMA competitor who also happens to be a talented photographer and Harvard graduate. Steve Kardian, a self-defense instructor who runs Defend University. Erik Owings, an MMA fighter who fought in the IFL and is now a trainer and gym owner. He also happens to be the creator of GSP's Rushfit program. Chris Reitz, a sambo fighter with a 1-0 MMA record (his lone fight occurred in New Jersey). Jennifer Santiago, an MMA fighter who apparently also competed on the "Million Dollar Lady" women's boxing reality show. Has also fought int he "World Combat League" and in K-1. 2.) Meet the Lawyer Barry E. Friederman is an academic. He's a professor of law at NYU, and specializes in constitutional law. His most recent book is aptly titled, "The Will of the People: How Public Opinion Has Influenced the Supreme Court and Shaped the Meaning of the Constitution". His Wikipedia article states that he was an 11th Circuit Court of Appeal clerk, which is a pretty impressive academic achievement. However, he's only listed as the "Of Counsel", which means he's only the "front man" for the legal team. The case is actually being run out of the law firm Morrison & Foerester LLP (and yes, "mofo.com" is their website address), one of the top law firms in the US with over 1,000 lawyers. 3.) The Causes of Action The plaintiffs are pleading seven distinct causes of action (a "cause of action" is basically an independent reason for why the lawsuit should succeed). Greatly paraphrasing, they are: The ban infringes on the Plaintiff's freedom of speech. (1st Amend.) The ban is too broad (1st Amend.) The ban is vague (Due Process Clause) The ban deprives the Plaintiffs of equal protection of the law (Equal Protection Clause) The ban is unconstitutionally irrational (Due Process Clause) The ban restricts interstate trade (Commerce Clause) The 2001 Liquor Law is unconstitutional [more on this later] (1st Amend.) Essentially, the Plaintiffs are taking a "shotgun" approach and making a wide variety of arguments in the hopes that at least one will stick. (To be clear, this is pretty standard procedure for most lawsuits, and I'm honestly a little surprised that they only limited themselves to seven). 4.) The 2001 Liquor Ban In 2001, there was an amendment to the New York Alcoholic Beverage Control Laws that prohibits the sale of liquor at any event where there combatants are "delivering kicks, punches or blows of any kind to the body of an opponent or opponents" (New York Alco. Bev. Cont. Law § 106 (6-c)). The law provides an exception for events such as boxing, wrestling or other traditional martial arts. I'll admit, I'd never heard of this prohibition before now. This part of the lawsuit is unique, because it doesn't impact professional MMA in New York, but also amateur MMA as well. It's the only part that doesn't pertain directly to the 1997 ban, so it's somewhat of a side-issue. I found interesting that the Plaintiffs chose to tack this on to their lawsuit. 5.) Bruce Lee Gets a Shout-out At paragraph 18 of the pleadings, it reads: The legendary martial artist Bruce Lee combined – or mixed – a variety of martial arts to create his famous martial concept, Jeet Kune Do, a predecessor to MMA, for Lee refused to limit himself to any single style of martial arts. Lee's fighting was considered revolutionary in its fusion of different martial arts styles at a time when cross-training in different martial arts was taboo. On the expressive message of martial arts, Bruce Lee was unequivocal, stating: "But if you don't have [martial art] styles, how can [I] express myself, totally and completely? ... To me ... ultimately, martial art means honestly expressing yourself ..." Lee's moves bear noticeable resemblance to present-day MMA. The "introduction" section also discusses the Gracies and the pre-Zuffa origins of the UFC. It was also interesting to read, at paragraph 50, that the Bellator-Spike 2013 partnership was offered as proof of MMA's growing popularity. The lawsuit claimed that Bellator was the number two MMA organization in the world, and that the Spike partnership would give Bellator access to over 100 million viewers. Final Thoughts When I initially heard about the lawsuit, my first reaction was that the chances were grim. However, after reading through the Plaintiffs' arguments, my initial skepticism has now been replaced with some measure of hope. The arguments that the Plaintiffs are making are similar to the ones made in opposition to the California violent video game ban, which was recently overturned by the Supreme Court of the United States. The timing of the lawsuit (following so closely on the heels of UFC on FOX) as well as the excellent lawyers retained by the Plaintiffs leads me to believe that MMA has a decent chance of success in court. Here's to hoping!! Sources: Cage Potato for the .PDF of the Complaint 1st Amendment Domain Revenue Recovery Services Article The New York Times Article Google for all the links you see above. Graphic via MMAWeekly

Posted in: mma, law, ban, lawsuit, plaintiff

Stephan Bonnar maintains creativity whether inside the Octagon or out

Stephan Bonnar made his UFC career after a thrilling bout with Forrest Griffin that helped put the UFC on the map. Now, as he continues to pile up wins, “The American Psycho” is looking for more. Bonnar takes on Kyle Kingsbury this Saturday night at UFC 139 from San Jose, California. Dan Henderson and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua will meet in the main event, while Bonnar-Kingsbury is slated to start the pay-per-view card. Bonnar has won two straight fights since a series of losses had him thinking about his MMA career. He stopped Krzysztof Soszynski to avenge an earlier loss in 2010, while claiming a decision victory over Igor Pokrajac. He suffered an MCL injury and has been on the sidelines since the Pokrajac win last December. With Kingsbury providing a formidable foe, Bonnar said in a recent interview with the UFC’s website, “I will be chasing a bonus; I’m going for ‘Fight of the Night.’ I’m not going to fight a smart fight – I’m going to try to put people on the edge of their seats.” In between fights and training, Bonnar has taken up a calling in T-Shirt designs. He has teamed up with Tom Scully to create “Punch Buddy” shirts of MMA fighters, offering a different style from the norm for MMA shirts. “MMA T-Shirts are just too dark, it’s all about demons and skulls and horns and wings. That’s not what MMA is to me,” Bonnar said. “A lot of us are just normal guys with good senses of humor. So we wanted to do something funny so we started making ‘Punch Buddy’ shirts for a lot of fighters.” Among those that have joined up with Bonnar include current UFC welterweight king Georges St. Pierre, former champions Brock Lesnar, TUF-buddy Griffin, and Rich Franklin, and rising stars like Melvin Guillard, Miguel Torres, Matt Mitrione, and Donald Cerrone. They also have a Bruce Buffer shirt in the works. “It’s something I really enjoy,” Bonnar said. “It brings me joy to create something and see it come to life.” PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, stephan bonnar, bonnar

Cung Le Thinks UFC 139 Outcome Will Come Down to Luck

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, VideosSAN JOSE, Calif. -- Watch below as UFC newcomer Cung Le talks about his UFC 139 fight against Wanderlei Silva, finally making it to the UFC, whether he was sad to leave Strikeforce, how he expects the fight to play out and more. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, wanderlei silva, cung

Spike TV to air “MMA Junkie Live” in ‘12

Spike TV announced today that it will unveil a prime time mixed martial arts news magazine show in 2012: “MMA Junkie Live.” Spike TV will partner with the recently acquired MMA Junkie web site for this half hour show starting this January. Via Spike TV press release: Spike TV will debut its first ever prime time mixed martial arts news magazine show, “MMA Junkie Live,” in January 2012, it was announced today by Jon Slusser, senior vice president, sports and multi-platform programming, Spike TV. Broadcast live from the iconic MTV Studios in Times Square, the heart of New York City, this half-hour, multi-platform show will feature a look ahead at the weekend’s big mixed martial arts fights, and a look back at the action from recent bouts. Partnering with the award-winning MMA news website, “MMAjunkie.com,” part of the USA TODAY Sports Media Group, the half-hour show will be hosted by an all-star team of MMA experts and journalists who will engage in discussion and debate regarding the latest news from the sport. “MMA Junkie Live” will also feature live in-studio interviews with many of the world’s top fighters, in-depth features, action-packed highlights, as well as viewer interaction via Twitter, Facebook and other social media channels. “The goal of the series will be to create the must-see destination for MMA fans who crave news, discussion, information, and expert opinion about the sport they love in a unique and entertaining way,” said Slusser. “Building on our multi-platform success, this show will be an experience that takes advantage of social and mobile platforms to engage viewers in real time and make them a part of the live show.” Payout Perspective: So we now see one of the reasons for the purchase of MMA Junkie. The move increases the presence of MMA on Spike TV and shows the network’s commitment to the MMA business. MMA Junkie Live also shows an extension of coverage of MMA. It joins InsideMMA on HD Net and MMA Live on ESPN as shows covering news around the world of MMA. It will be interesting to see how Junkie will be presented and how it will distinguish itself from the others.

Posted in: mma, show, tv, spike, junkie

Spike TV to premiere 'MMA Junkie Live' news-magazine show in 2012

New York, N.Y. - Spike TV will debut its first-ever primetime mixed-martial-arts news magazine show, "MMA Junkie Live," in January 2012, it was announced today by Spike TV executive Jon Slusser. Broadcast live from the iconic MTV Studios in Times Square in the heart of New York City, this half-hour, multi-platform show will feature a look ahead at the weekend's big MMA fights, and a look back at the action from recent bouts. It's the result of a partnership with award-winning MMA news website, MMAjunkie.com (part of the USA TODAY Sports Media Group).

Posted in: mma, tv, mma fights, york city, times square

Bellator 57: 129,000 viewers

MMA Junkie reports that Saturday night’s Bellator 57 on MTV2 received a low 129,000. Bellator 57 ran opposite the UFC on Fox, the Pacquiao-Marquez fight and college football Saturday night. Despite changing its time slot to avoid conflicts, the 129,000 viewers average shows that MMA fans were watching the UFC online, the JDS-Cain marathon on Spike TV, free fight prelims on the Audience Network or college football. Payout Perspective: Hopefully in 2012 Bellator can plan ahead during weekends it will run up against UFC PPVs and UFC on Fox. The 129,000 viewers is a low turnout but expected considering the huge event in the UFC. We will see if Bellator can gain some traction with the hype of MMA from the UFC on Fox. It will be interesting to see if it can rebound next week despite competing with a mediocre UFC 137.

Posted in: ufc, bellator, mma, time slot, fight prelims

Ronda Rousey considering 'slapping that title out of Miesha Tate's hands' (Video)

If you're not familiar with up-and-coming women's mixed martial artist Ronda Rousey, that's going to change in the very near future. That's because she's quickly becoming a media darling, what with her being quick witted and easy on the eyes. She embraces such things and is currently in the process of laying out some rather ambitious plans for her fight career. Up first is a showdown against Julia Budd this Friday night (Nov. 18) in Las Vegas at Strikeforce Challengers 20, which will be just her fourth professional MMA fight. No matter though, because a victory, of which many are predicting, would put her close to the top of the 145-pound division. And if you've watched her fight, a potential match-up pitting her against reigning division champion Cristiane Santos is difficult not to get hyped for. However, she might take care of some business at 135-pounds before that ever comes to fruition. As she tells Ariel Helwani of MMA Fighting in the video above, Miesha Tate called her out on Twitter (or at least told a fan she could beat Ronda) and that's all the convincing it took. Plus, Rousey thinks women's MMA would have a better shot at surviving under the Zuffa banner if they just merged the divisions. She intends to help that process along by "slapping the 135-pound title out of Tate's hands" before doing the same to "Cyborg's" 145-pound title. That solves the issue of depth and would crown a consensus number one fighting female in all the land. Two birds with one stone. Anyone care to see "Rowdy" Ronda carry all this out over the coming months?

Posted in: pound, mma, division, ronda, tates hands

ASU Wrestling Champ Bubba Jenkins now faces Jason Williams at Tachi Palace Fights 11

The mixed martial arts debut of Bubba Jenkins (0-0) swerved slightly. On Monday afternoon from his twitter account Jenkins announced that he will have a new opponent at Tachi Palace Fights 11. Jenkins tweeted "so it begins..pro debut still on for dec 2nd in LeeMore Cali, new opponent Jason Williams, dnt bother lookin for him, there's a million JW"Tachi Palace Fights 11 is set for Friday December 2nd in Lemoore, California. Jenkins' original opponent Chris Huerta (0-0) had to bow out of the fight with a stomach injury. Jason Williams (0-0) is a two time state runner up out of Clovis, CA and also wrestled collegiately at Iowa Central junior college. The 2011 NCAA champion at 157 pounds Jenkins is one of the more highly touted prospect to come into MMA. An All American for Penn State University in 2008, Jenkins transferred to Arizona State University prior to his senior season. Jenkins planned move to MMA also began before his final college season.The 23 year old Jenkins trains out of the famed American Top Team gym in Florida. A four star MMA prospect at 155 pounds Jenkins could possibly move down to featherweight after a few test runs on the local scene. As a lightweight prospect on potential alone Jenkins is ranked at number 46 in the ULTMMA50; a pound for pound listing of the top 50 prospects in MMA.

Posted in: fight, pound, mma, prospect, jenkin

Deconstructing Zuffa’s Lawsuit Against New York

Things have been moving slower than molasses in terms of getting MMA sanctioned in New York, so today Zuffa pulled out another weapon in their arsenal: the lawsuit. Steve gave you the heads-up on the suit earlier, so I’m here to give you a breakdown on this nuclear bomb that’s been activated in the Empire State – and make no mistake, a lawsuit that implores the federal judicial system to take action against a state is no precision instrument meant to galvanize; it’s a weapon of mass destruction meant to leave devastation in its wake. If you want a law that empowers an athletic commission to regulate a sport, the nice, friendly route is to lobby, secure votes and let the system runs its course. The hard-ass route, which is far and away what this is, ensures that legislators are left grumbling. And a grumbling legislator can be bad. Very, very bad. But we’ll get to that later. Now, the facts… The crux of the lawsuit is that “A live professional MMA event is both sport and theater”, and as such, it’s a form of free speech that should be protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution. As per the current law on the books, live professional MMA events are banned – which means the law is inhibiting something the Constitution protects. We’ll delve into this more in a bit as well, but let me lay down a bit more basic info first. The plaintiffs (i.e., the parties on whose behalf the suit is for), are as follows: · Zuffa LLC – They’re the folks who own the UFC (duh), and their vested interest in having the sport sanctioned in New York is obvious; · Jon Jones – The UFC’s light-heavyweight champ, who’s also a New York resident; · Gina Carano – The most prominent female fighter in the world, her message about the positives of MMA for women is being blocked by New York’s professional MMA ban; · Frankie Edgar – The UFC’s lightweight champ, who resides in New Jersey and would for sure be fighting in Madison Square Garden if the UFC came here; · Matt Hamill – A former UFC fighter, Hamill is a New York resident and sports bar owner who’d likely host MMA events if the law allowed; · Brian Stann – A decorated Marine, Stann’s positive MMA message is being impeding by the ban; · Danielle Hobeika – A grappler and amateur MMA fighter, Hobeika has an MMA photography website based on Chicago-area events, and would have something similar for New York-based events if it were sanctioned here; · Beth and Donna Hurrle – These sisters run the website “Gals Guide to MMA”, are New York residents, and have to travel out of state to see live shows; · Steve Kardian – Kardian is an experienced New York-based MMA coach and trainer; · Joe Lozito – An MMA fan who used techniques he’d seen on UFC pay-per-views to subdue a knife-wielding murderer on the subway, Lozito is your Joe Q. Public who’s benefitted from watching the sport. He, too, would like to see events in New York live; · Erik Owings – Owings is a former MMA fighter who now runs an MMA school in New York City; · Chris Reitz – An MMA fan, Reitz trains and would like to compete in amateur MMA in New York (his home state); and, · Jennifer Santiago – A former competitor in the stand-up organization the World Combat League, Santiago is a fan of MMA. The defendants named in the suit are Eric Schneiderman, who is the State Attorney General, and Cyrus Vance, who’s the Attorney General for the City of New York. These guys are the men responsible for enforcing the law that bans pro MMA and prosecuting the law’s violators. There are seven causes of action cited in the suit. A cause of action is the point of law that’s allegedly being violated and the argument in support of that assertion. They are as follows: · The Live Professional MMA Ban is Unconstitutional as Applied to Plaintiffs – The First Amendment protects free speech, and live pro MMA is a form of free speech that is being infringed upon by the New York State law banning it. Some quotes: “The Live Professional MMA Ban bars professional MMA in front of live audiences based on its content. The legislative history of the Ban, including innumerable statements by legislators and other public officials before and since the Ban took effect, make plain that the Ban was adopted in response to what was perceived to be the violent message of MMA.” Also, “live professional MMA – and all of the related aspects before and after the fight itself – has an expressive content that fighters intend to convey and that fans understand and achieve.” Further, “live professional MMA is clearly intended and understood as public entertainment and, as such, is expressive activity protected by the First Amendment.” This section of the suit goes on to state that “New York misperceives the proper message of MMA.” · The Live Professional MMA Ban is Unconstitutionally Overbroad and Facially Invalid – “The Live Professional MMA Ban is written so broadly that… it also prohibits myriad other forms of speech and expression that are protected by the First Amendment, both inside and outside of New York.” What this part focuses on is the text of the law, which, in addition to banning pro MMA matches from being conducted, held or given, makes illegal the “advancing” of pro MMA and the “profiting from” it. On its face, this means that anyone who a) writes to state officials asking them to repeal the ban; b) gives a lecture on the sport; c) sells MMA t-shirts; d) writes for an MMA blog; e) holds a UFC viewing party at a bar; f) broadcasts an MMA pay-per-view event outside of New York into the state; or g) advertises an MMA event on a billboard in the state could be construed as advancing the sport, and is therefore committing a crime. Of course, the aforementioned acts are done just about every day in New York. Is the law on the books meant to chill these Constitutionally-protected acts? · The Live Professional MMA Ban is Unconstitutionally Vague – “The Live Professional MMA Ban is written with such breadth and lack of clarity that the citizens of New York, including a number of the Plaintiffs, are unable to tell what is illegal in New York, what is permitted, what they have the liberty to do, and what they may not do.” This is another textual argument, and it points to how the law says nothing about amateur MMA events, and how, although the athletic commission has vowed to shut down underground events where the competitors are unpaid, the legal basis for that prohibition is unclear. As per the law, that “unclearness” could extend to the prosecution of a) fighters training in MMA to compete in amateur events in state or out of state; b) gym owners who train MMA fighters; c) selling tickets online to out-of-state bouts; d) advertising in New York for out-of-state bouts; or e) selling MMA clothing. Are all of these things supposed to be banned as well? No one has a straight answer – which makes the law unconstitutionally vague. · The Live Professional MMA Ban Violates Plaintiffs’ Rights to Equal Protection of the Laws – The Fourteenth Amendment is where the “Equal Protection of the Laws” Clause arises, and it applies here because in New York, sports like boxing, wrestling, kickboxing and judo are allowed, but MMA is not. Why should MMA be treated differently? Also, if safety is the reason, why does the law specifically ban only pro MMA bouts? “It is simply irrational to ban only live professional MMA – which is regulated throughout the United States – on safety grounds, and yet permit MMA’s component martial arts, as well as many other sporting events and other activities far more dangerous than professional MMA.” As for banning MMA for its message of violence, “It is also irrational under the Equal Protection Clause to ban live professional MMA because of its perceived message. Even assuming the message of MMA is solely one of violence… still there are numerous other activities neither regulated by nor banned by New York that send blatant messages of violence.” · The Live Professional MMA Ban is Unconstitutionally Irrational – “New York’s Live Professional MMA Ban infringes on constitutional liberties: the liberty to participate in activities one would like, to earn a living doing so, to display those activities in public, and to be seen doing so, and to watch live what one chooses to watch.” Whenever the term “constitutional liberties” is used, you know what’s being alleged is a “due process” violation; that’s the bottom line of this argument. Also cited here is the 2011 Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association, which shot down a California law banning violent video games because video games – with their storytelling and social messages – are a form of free speech. With its storylines, rivalries, varied cage entrances and pre- and post-fight rituals, MMA is similar, and therefore, as per the suit, protected. · The Live Professional MMA Ban Unconstitutionally Restricts Interstate Commerce – The Supreme Court has the Constitutional authority to strike down laws that interfere with interstate commerce, and the MMA ban impedes interstate commerce in three ways. First, by banning live professional MMA but allowing amateur MMA, the law fosters local participation at the expense of national businesses stuck on the outside looking in. Second, “the Ban’s broad language prevents the numerous interstate products and services required for a live professional MMA event from entering New York’s borders.” Third, while MMA is legal and sanctioned in neighboring states, New York’s ban could be affecting advertiser’s exposure to New York markets – which in turn could be affecting their exposure in those neighboring states. · The 2001 Liquor Law is Unconstitutional as Applied to Plaintiffs – This one is pretty straightforward. There’s a law on the books, separate from the live professional MMA ban, which prohibits the sale of alcohol at both pro and amateur MMA events. If pro MMA bouts are eventually allowed, this law has to go. As relief for all of these harms caused upon the plaintiffs, the suit asks for an injunction preventing the defendants (or any other representative of New York State) from enforcing the pro MMA ban (and the liquor law). So, the heart of the matter is that New York’s ban on live pro MMA bouts is a violation of the First Amendment, and that MMA – with its live show pageantry and the inherit message fighters are imparting on their fans – is a form of protected free speech. Does the argument hold water? Sure. It goes to great lengths to paint MMA as something more than just a sport thick on brutality, that there’s a message of skill and honor and camaraderie being delivered in the cage beyond one fighter simply bashing in the head of another. And if, as the legislative history suggests, New York State banned pro MMA because of its “message of violence”, well, Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association certainly is supporting case law as to the unconstitutionality of that. Ultra-violent video games like “Grand Theft Auto” are protected by the Constitution; in theory, so too should MMA be. “MMA has a message, and it was the politicians’ dislike of what they believed that message to be that led to the Ban,” says the suit, and it goes further to quote Deputy Attorney General Robert Farley (in a 1996 legislative hearing on the topic) as saying, “In particular [MMA] sends a dangerous message to our youth at a time when we are searching for ways to effectively communicate with them the need to resolve conflicts peacefully.” Sounds like a slam-dunk, no? It could be. At the very least, it’s compelling. However, let’s say this suit succeeds. Then what? This is where the nuclear bomb analogy comes in. When you cajole and coax a legislature into making a law, you usually get a law that’s user-friendly. But if you do an end-run around the legislature, and force it to make a law, that law that might not be the best thing for you. A 20% gate tax on all live shows written into the statute? It can happen. A similar astronomical pay-per-view tax? Other prohibitively expensive costs? Yup, it all will go in there, too, guaranteeing that no local promoter can ever afford to do an MMA event in the state while Zuffa visits maybe once every ten years. That’s what a lawsuit can get you. Unfortunately, as lobbying was getting us closer by about only an inch a year, a suit is what we’ve got. Hopefully it all plays out in our favor. At the very least, though, it forces the issue, and all those against the sport being sanctioned but content to just sweep the matter under the rug (see: Sheldon Silver) will now have to defend their positions. Some other tidbits in the suit include: · The underground fight scene in New York is referenced many times. There’s even a three-page discourse on its existence. · Unsure as to how safe MMA is compared to other sports? The suit goes to great lengths to compare and contrast. And I’m glad I don’t play ice hockey. · The suit enumerates the leading MMA newsites and blogs, and included amongst Sherdog, MMAWeekly, MMAJunkie and MMAFighting is MMAConvert. Huzzah!

Posted in: mma, state, law, york, ban

Roger Huerta vs War Machine set for Nov. 26 live on Internet pay-per-view

PHARR, Texas - Hometown MMA superstar Roger "El Matador" Huerta; the only professional fighter to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated in the history of the sport of MMA, is finally coming home. Huerta will make his long-awaited return to his own backyard at the premiere of the new Ultimate Warrior Fighting (UWF) inaugural event brought to you by Oscorp Enterprises. The Rio Grande Valley native squares off against Ultimate Fighter Season 6 contestant Jon "War Machine" Koppenhaver on Saturday, November 26th LIVE from the Pharr Events Center. The undercard is stacked with pound for pound elite fighters set to hit the Rio Grande Valley cage for the premiere event. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the first fight will take place at 7 p.m. (CST). The fights will be streamed LIVE for only $9.99 on pay-per-view at Go Fight Live! www.GFL.tv, featuring commentary by Phil Baroni and Paul Erickson. Ring announcer Patrick Stanger from the "Voice of the Cage" will showcase the fighters of the evening and Austin's own "DJ Skittlez" will be spinning between bouts. Tickets start at $25 and are available through www.uwfmma.com, Ticketmaster, and the Pharr Events Center Box Office. The mission of Ultimate Warrior Fighting is to provide the Rio Grande Valley with real-life electrifying entertainment from the world's elite MMA athletes. "We've paved the path to bring in a new caliber of entertainment right here locally. Our passion for MMA keeps us on that path as we look toward the future for our fans and our partners, and this is what we remain passionately committed to," said Oscar Enriquez; Owner and Promoter of Ultimate Warrior Fighting. In total, the fight card consists of 7 explosive fights with the main event featuring Roger Huerta vs. War Machine and the Co-Main event featuring Eric "Big Head" Davila vs. MMA legend Dave "The Warrior" Menne. The main card is headlined around the valley's own Roger Huerta as he puts his "ganas" up for grabs against War Machine - one of the best MMA stars, to determine who the Ultimate Warrior is. Both men will be making their professional return with Ultimate Warrior Fighting, in an event of this magnitude which has never been held in the Rio Grande Valley and has nearly been pushed to submission by the powerhouses of the industry. Long before the fight ever happens on November 26th, Oscar Enriquez; owner & promoter of Ultimate Warrior Fighting, has been in the ultimate fight of his own against the two heavyweights UFC and Bellator. Despite attempts of impendence, blackballing, and pressures to cease and desist, the show will go on, Enriquez confirmed. "The ‘big dogs' may try to continue to monopolize the MMA industry, but I will tell you this, Ultimate Warrior Fighting has arrived in the valley and it is here to stay. No one's coming into our "barrio" and telling us and all of the MMA fans in the Rio Grande Valley what we can and cannot enjoy and that's the last I have to say about it," said Enriquez. As far as Huerta goes, he's pumped to get the show on the road. "The Valley always has a rowdy crowd and I know they're going to have a great time. I'm extremely excited about coming back home and having all my friends and family from the Valley in the crowd. I'm going to throw down and it's going to be a full drawn-out war," said Huerta. For two great men, Huerta and Enriquez, the truth remains that being from the Valley may mean that they come from a small place with a unique culture, but there's something to say about the little guys that never give in and never say die. The valley deserves more, the valley deserves better, and these men are going to bring it. GFL now offers full access to over 5,000 fights for the low monthly price of $9.99 subscribe now at www.GFL.tv

Posted in: fight, mma, warrior, huerta, valley

Victor Conte Talks PED's in MMA and the Myth of Training at Big Bear on Sherdog Radio

While the spotlight no longer looms over the former Tower of Power band member, nor does his name fill the pages of books like Game of Shadows, Victor Conte is still alive and well. And he's still in the sports nutrition business. For readers marginally familiar with his name, this may raise some flags. 'Isn't Conte the former president of BALCO, which was implicated in the big baseball steroid scandal?' Well yea. But time's have changed, and according to Conte himself, he's no longer a part of the "slippery slope" enhancement of sports training. A couple of days ago he spoke with Sherdog's Jack Encarnacao, and was incredibly candid. Their conversation started out innocuously enough: Conte is helping Kyle Kingsbury train for Stephan Bonnar at UFC 139 this weekend. And he had some interesting things to say about MMA training. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} "I’ve introduced him to other types of performance enhancing methods, and training methods…one of the thigns I’ve learned in working with elite boxers and Kyle specifically as an MMA fighter is that there is a history of overtraining. This will be the fifth fight I’ve helped Kyle prepare for, and the first fight he really had immune suppression and right before the fight he got sick with the flu. Over the course of the last couple of years I’ve been working with him, he’s beginning to understand that not everyday of training can be a green light day. You have to get adequate recovery after you have these very intense training days. He’s also doing something called I-H-T, which is Intermittent Hypoxic Training, which is simulated high altitude training. We’re doing it differently. Traditionally it was in four stages. First it was live high, train high where they would live and train at high altitudes. Then the second generation was live high, train low where they would sleep at elevation and drive down three thousand meter runners in the late 80’s who had significant improvement at 3000 meters would train at a lower level. And then of course you have these hypoxic tents that cyclists and other athletes sleep in and my opinion, specifically regarding MMA fighters and boxers is that this a horrible idea." Why should MMA fighters, and boxers avoid simulating different types of training, as cyclists do? According to Conte, this kitchen sink approach to training is unscientific. "I know that Tito Ortiz, Shane Mosley, and Oscar De La Hoya have trained at Big Bear. The reason I think this is bad is because you don’t get a deep and restful sleep. Your heart rate will be 10, 15, 20 beats a minute higher sleeping at elevation because of the low oxygen. This is when you really heal, regenerate, repair and grow which is when you sleep. This is when the anabolic hormones are produced about 90 minutes after you go to sleep in a single burst in about 70 percent of your daily output of growth hormones is produced I a single mass..the second four hours of sleep is when testosterone is produced. So I just think it’s a bad idea. It may be ok for endurance athletes and that’s the benefit that MMA athletes and boxers are trying to achieve, which is to enhance oxygen intake and utilization capacity. But at the same time you sacrifice size and speed and power by doing so." Conte expands on the problem with overtraining, which is that training too hard can put stress on the immune system leading to reactions like creatine kinase (which can signal muscle damage), or lactic dehydrogenase (which attacks red blood cells and can signal heart damage). But perhaps more interestingly for MMA fans, Conte discusses PED's, notably, the PED use Nate Marquardt and Chael Sonnen have familiarized the MMA world with: TRT. Are testosterone tests adequate given the current drugs being offered? Not really, and Victor elaborates on why it's useless to measure only testosterone ratios. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} "Testosterone to epitestosterone used to be 6:1, and now they reduced it down to 4:1 but athletes can still use fast acting testosterone with creams, gels, and water based testosterone and you can do micro-dosing and keep it below the 4:1 ratio so it’s relatively easy for an MMA figher or any other athlete to circumvent the testing if all they’re doing is the T/E ratio test. Let me put this into perspective. There is a complete panel of steroids that they do that includes the T/E ratio test and back in the BALCO days I used to pay 80 dollars for this. I’m sure in volume organizations pay as little as 50 dollars for this. But there’s another test called the C-I-R or carbon-isotope ratio test that can differentiate between natural testosterone that’s produced in the body and synthetic testosterone. And there are cases…Justin Gatlin who won the Olympic gold medal in the 100 meters in 2004 is a specific example. They got a tip that he was using testosterone, so they tested him at a meet. And even though his epitestosterone was higher than his testosterone level, and it came out that he had an injection two weeks previous to when the sample was collected, they still found that he was positive for testosterone based on this carbon isotope ratio test and they banned him. What I’m saying is that they need to incorporate this test which from my understanding is much more effective." Conte offers his own recommendations about how to deal with the issue of PED use in MMA. While it's not the 'biological passport' that cycling uses, there are still ways to test beyond looking at urine, and they're not expensive. "Establish a limit of hematocrit which is 50%. If it’s at that level you are suspended for health concerns, meaning your blood is too thick. Don Catlin finds it of great interest that a lot of these athletes come back with hematocrits at 49.5%. In the old days, during the BALCO period I used to pay 4 dollars and fifty cents, so it’s not an expensive test but would reduce the competitive edge".

Posted in: mma, test, training, testosterone, conte

Explaining the Disappointment: MMA Doesn't Always Tell a Story

What makes for a good story? Why is it about a story well told that taps into our desires, and understanding? Why do we seem so metaphysically attracted to narrative? I posed this question to everyone's favorite underground historian: SB Nation's 'nottheface'. Who better to ask then someone that has managed to find a narrative for MMA within the the Belle Epoque and the adventures of Sherlock Holmes? "The short and simple answer is be entertained, but there is obviously more to it than that, otherwise narrative wouldn't be necessary for our entertainment, movies could literally be nothing but a roller coaster ride. What narrative does for us is offer causation and causation offers us meaning. Meaning in the real world can seem impossible to discern, fate capricious. Why do people get cancer, end up marrying their spouse, get robbed, have a loved one die, find themselves attracted to either gender? Stories tell us that it isn't due to the whims of fate, there is a reason. Even the most fantastical stories have to offer this otherwise we instinctively turn from them. What they also offer is experience: with people we never met; with situations we've never been in; emotions we've never felt; places we've never been; events we've never taken part of. And since are minds are so flexible we can take these people, places, things we know we'll never meet, never visit, and never experience and project greater meaning on them via metaphor. Thus stories offer us experiences and meaning from which insidiously we can draw lessons. That what we've learned can easily be false seems to be of no import. Our love of story and the meaning they supply leads us to find it where none exists and no where is this easier to do than in single combat. In the ancient world great importance was attached to single combat: it was customary for both the saravans of the Sassanians and the cataphracts of the Byzantines to send out a single rider to challenge a champion of an opposing army to single combat before the battle was joined. To the Romans single combat held such a important place in their imagination that the greatest prize awarded by the Republic or Empire was the spolia opima - the claiming of the armor and weapons of an enemy leader a Roman general had killed in single combat. These individuals served as symbolic representatives of their armies, boiling down a mass conflict into something as comprehensible as a simple struggle between two men. The Romans tried to recreate this with their games. The Thracians, Samnites, Gallus were not only the names of conquered peoples but also types of gladiators. These gladiators represented the people whose name they bore in symbolic recreations of past battles. This has been carried over to modern times. Jack Johnson vs Jim Jeffries wasn't just a fight between two boxers but between the White Race and Black Race. Louis and Schmeling's fight was between the democratic United States and Nazi Germany; Ali and Frazier was part of the American culture wars; even Gracie and Sakuraba took on greater meaning: Japanese professional wrestling vs the upstart Brazilian Jiu Jitsu . Just as the ancients wanted their conflicts to mean more than two men fighting, we do the same." So what does this have to do with the UFC on FOX? I think it helps explain the chorus of virgin eyes and casual fans who shouted "that's it?!" What story were Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos representing? You'd be hard pressed to find one within the fight itself, regardless of your love of MMA. For Dana, the problem with Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos was that the fight failed to tell a story. This criticism isn't as abstract as it sounds. We are creatures of narrative seeking continuity to make sense of the world. Ideas are often powerful when they're constructed as stories (see the photo above for an especially bad one). Religion is the obvious example, but I think even scientific principles have the same form: for Charles Darwin, he was seeking continuity in the natural world. The grand narrative for life he discovered in evolution was that we are creatures whose habits are chained to the landscape of the natural world. Not the landscape of religious dictum. For Alasdair MacIntyre, even moral philosophy, and our responsibilities as moral agents is best seen through the lens of the story. "I can only answer the question 'What am I to do?' if I can answer the prior question 'Of what story or stories do I find myself a part" It's also what I think Gary Poole of Esquire is trying to say in his criticism of the UFC. If he fails to say it, it's because he's either a) not intelligent enough to identify his own criticism or b) is unwilling to ignore the fanboy bias towards boxing that informs his criticism. Indeed, much of his argument is buried beneath invective, and the type of cursing you only see in the company of eighth graders playing a heated game of four square with their teacher standing 20 feet away. If you dismiss the odor of Poole's writing, and keep from squinting, his article does help explain how sports fans are used to processing prizefighting. For Pacquiao and Marquez, the outcome may not have been satisfactory for many fans, but the fight answered many questions. Marquez answered questions about whether age would be a factor, and whether his wits would be enough to contain Manny's typical storm. The resolution for Manny's narrative was less clear, but the fight was no less compelling watching Manny deal with a crafty veteran who in another universe, could be said to have the superstar's number. In short, the fight told a story. Cain and Junior didn't get the chance to tell their own. This is essentially where Dana's bizarre response comes from. How would Junior deal with the intense pressure of Cain's wrestling? What would the fight look like going into the later rounds? Could Velasquez handle Junior's power? Their fight explains why MMA can't be considered the 'sweet science: why it's not quite art (at least not yet). The fights just don't always tell a story. They either function predictably (Georges St. Pierre vs. Matt Serra II), or end suddenly (GSP vs. Matt Serra I). This 'form' also explains why MMA fans are so rabid: like Dana, they're often left with their own assumptions. And with those assumptions, they're able to create their own narrative. But how accurate is this description? Well, the counter to Poole's argument has two names: Clay Guida and Ben Henderson. Both men put on fantastic performances. If the show had been an hour and a half with the Guida/Henderson fight as a co-main (and therefore closer to how MMA is typically imbibed by its viewers), perhaps Poole would have a different impression. This is what us MMA fans have come to accept: the fights do tell stories. But sometimes we get the cliff notes version. MMA is a sport of abbreviations. We don't always have those questions answered. It's like the last episode of The Sopranos. Just like The Sopranos, you can't process one episode (one fight) at a time. You need context. With less than two decades to its name in America, the sport is a work in progress. Just as Manny Pacquiao looks at a lot different than Bill Lang in the ring, the athletes of mixed martial arts many years from now will be sharpened by their own appetite to make their own history, as Guida and Henderson did. Right now, that history just isn't there. But give it time. In a way, the main event on FOX was perfect. Because the outcome in the Velasquez vs. Dos Santos fight was exactly what we've come to expect from MMA: the raw force of the unexpected.

Posted in: fight, mma, story, weve, narrative

The 10 Most Disgraceful Moments in MMA History

submitted by tri77ion [link] [comment]

Posted in: mma, history, mma history, moment, tri

Inside MMA: Shane Carwin & Rich Franklin Talk Injuries & Surgery

On this edition of Inside MMA, Kenny Rice and Bas Rutten are joined by Shane Carwin and Rich Franklin to talk about their respective injuries and surgeries. Rafael Cordeiro also joins the panel to talk about Shogun Rua and Wanderlei Silva’s upcoming fights at UFC 139. Inside MMA airs live on HDNet every Monday night at 8pm ET. Inside MMA Archive More segments after the jump.

Posted in: mma, shane carwin, bas rutten, mma airs, injuries surgery

The most decorated team of stand up trainers in the world

[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on LiverKick.com, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] Historically ambitious stand up fighters have flocked to Thailand to learn at the hands of legends like Namsaknoi Yudthagarngamtorn and Anuwat Kaewsamrit but now an increasing number of renowned Muay Thai fighters are moving to Singapore. Evolve MMA is putting together a collection of trainers which is unprecedented in the history of Muay Thai and includes Orono Wor Petchpun, Attachai Fairtex, Lamnammoon Sor Sumalee, Kongtoranee Payakaroon and Muangfalek Kitvichian as well as Namsaknoi and Anuwat. These are all names which live on long after their owners have retired because they belong to the very best fighters in the most competitive stand up sport on the planet. Any fighter who wants to acquire world class stand up skils, be it for K-1, kickboxing, Muay Thai or even MMA would be well advised to come and learn from one of these Thai legends. The fighters currently at Evolve MMA include Shinya Aoki, Leandro Issa and Eddie Ng and with such a decorated team of trainers it is no wonder that their stand up skills are improving rapidly. You could not find a team of Muay Thai fighters, past or present, anywhere else in the world to match the one currently in place at Evolve MMA and there is not even a camp in Thailand which can boast so many high calibre trainers. Read More...

Posted in: mma, fighter, muay, trainer, thai

UFC Lawsuit Challenges Constitutionality of New York MMA Ban

The Ultimate Fighting Championship Tuesday announced that the promotion, along with a group of plaintiffs from the mixed martial arts community, has filed a lawsuit in New York in an attempt to overturn the state’s ban on MMA.

Posted in: mma, arts community, york, lawsuit, championship tuesday

The Constitution to the rescue!

The UFC seems to have the opinion that there isn't a problem in the world that can't be solved with lawyers. And now they're taking that view (which has worked out so well for them when suing fighters, managers, and promotions) and applied it to the legalization of MMA in New York: The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and a group of plaintiffs including fighters, fans, trainers and others involved with Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) announced today that they have filed a lawsuit against New York State officials challenging the constitutionality of the state law banning live professional MMA events and associated activities (the “Ban”). The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, challenges the Ban for violating numerous provisions of the United States Constitution, including the First Amendment, the Equal Protection Clause and the Due Process Clause. Specifically, the lawsuit alleges the Ban infringes upon the rights of the fighters who want to publicly exhibit their skills as professionals and express themselves before a live audience, the rights of fans who would like to experience live professional MMA events, and the rights of those who train, publicize or otherwise advance MMA in New York. MMA legislation has been languishing in the New York legislature for three years now, even after the UFC applied some o dat sweet lobbyist grease to the wheels. It's nice to see that the UFC isn't afraid to take this fight wherever they need to in order to win. When all else fails, invoke your Constitutional Right™ to hold human cockfighting events! Mentioning the founding fathers might help too ... they didn't start America so a bunch of pussies could infringe upon our First Amendment right to express our fists on other people's faces.

Posted in: ufc, mma, right, york, mma events

UFC Sues The State of New York To Lift Mixed Martial Arts Ban

Despite their best efforts, the UFC has been unsuccessful in their bid to get mixed martial arts legalized in the state of New York in the past several years. Rather than wait for MMA legislation to stall out again, the UFC has decided to take a much more aggressive approach in 2012. In short, they’re doing what they do best. They’re fighting it. The UFC announced today that they’ve filed a lawsuit against the state of New York challenging the constitutionality of the state law that bans MMA, claiming the ban violates the First Amendment, the Equal Protection Clause, the Due Process Clause and other provisions of the United States Constitution. They believe the ban “infringes upon the rights of the fighters who want to publicly exhibit their skills as professionals and express themselves before a live audience, the rights of fans who would like to experience live professional MMA events, and the rights of those who train, publicize or otherwise advance MMA in New York.” UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta and Barry Friedman, one of the attorneys involved in the case, commented on the suit in the press release. “MMA is one of the fastest growing sports in the U.S. and one of the most popular in the world,” said Lorenzo Fertitta, Chairman and CEO of Zuffa LLC, owner of the UFC. “When we acquired the UFC, we went to great lengths to invite regulation and adopt substantial safety measures. MMA is now as safe as or even safer than many other sports and activities sanctioned in New York like boxing, for example, because it allows fighters to honorably tap out and involves far fewer hits. All the disciplines that go into mixed martial arts are performed live in New York; it is only their combination that is illegal. Denying fighters the chance to exhibit their training and skills before a live audience and denying thousands of New Yorkers the ability to watch their favorite fighters perform live is not only an injustice to them, but to the local markets that would reap tremendous economic benefits from hosting competitions. We believe the ban should be eliminated, and look forward to fighting live in New York.” “It is unfortunate that we were forced to take the step of filing a lawsuit to overturn this senseless law, but the ban on live professional MMA infringes on the rights of countless New Yorkers,” said Barry Friedman, a constitutional law professor at New York University School of Law and co-counsel with Morrison & Foerster LLP for the Plaintiffs. “Despite sincere legislative efforts, the ban remains in place based on a flawed assessment of the sport’s supposedly ’violent message.’ This rationale is a patent violation of the First Amendment. In live events, fighters showcase their talents, communicate their convictions, show respect for their opponents and the art and tradition of MMA, and convey the importance of discipline, training and hard work. They also entertain their fans. Not only does the law prohibit live events, but as it is written it purports to ban other speech including media broadcasts and coverage of professional MMA. It is ironic that New York — in many ways the home of free expression, the global media, and the art world — would deny someone his or her fundamental freedom of expression. The Ban is contrary to what New York is all about. There is no legal basis for this unconstitutional ban to persist.” To be clear, if the UFC wins the case, the ban will be lifted and MMA will be legalized in New York, according to Friedman. Our resident NY MMA expert, Jim Genia, will have more on this story later today. In the meantime, a copy of the complaint can be found here.

Posted in: ufc, mma, fighter, york, ban

UFC, Two SBN MMA Writers File Lawsuit Challenging New York State MMA Ban

"Good morning, NY."With that tweet just after 10 AM EST Tuesday morning, the UFC formally announced that parent company Zuffa has filed a lawsuit against New York State officials "challenging the constitutionality of the state law banning live professional MMA events and associated activities"From the UFC: Specifically, the lawsuit alleges the Ban infringes upon the rights of the fighters who want to publicly exhibit their skills as professionals and express themselves before a live audience, the rights of fans who would like to experience live professional MMA events, and the rights of those who train, publicize or otherwise advance MMA in New York. They cite that the ban on MMA in New York that was originally imposed in 1997 was done when the sport was unregulated and that MMA is "safe as or safer than many sports and activities that are legal in New York, including boxing, football and rodeo."14 additional plaintiffs joined Zuffa in challenging the ban including UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones, UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar, Brian Stann, Matt Hamill, Gina Carano and two members of the SB Nation family of MMA websites in Beth and Donna Hurrle of Gals Guide To MMA. From their post announcing their involvement: According to the complaint, "The Live Professional MMA Ban is written so broadly that, in addition to prohibiting the constitutionally protected activity of professional MMA fighters and fans, it also prohibits myriad other forms of speech and expression that are protected by the First Amendment, both inside and outside of New York." The fact that Beth and I blog about MMA in NY, that UFC billboards appear in TImes Square, and that UFC viewing parties take place at Madison Square Garden can all be considered violations of the ban. More on this story as it progresses.

Posted in: ufc, mma, york, mma events, ban

UFC lawsuit against New York: Zuffa and its fighters call MMA ban 'unconstitutional'

If you can't beat 'em, sue 'em. Zuffa LLC, parent company of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), has filed suit against the state of New York on Tuesday (Nov. 15, 2011), calling "The Empire State's" ban on mixed martial arts (MMA) "unconstitutional." Here's a an excerpt from today's filing: New York's live professional MMA ban violates numerous provisions of the United States Constitution, including the first amendment, equal protection clause, due process clause and commerce clause. The live professional MMA ban limits the liberty of those who would, but for the ban, attend live professional MMA events, as well as those who train in MMA and want to exhibit their skills as professionals before a live crowd. Indeed, for the many New Yorkers who devote endless hours of training in MMA and who cannot afford to displace their homes and families to fight elsewhere, New York's live professional MMA ban presents a serious infringement of their rights. Also named as plaintiffs in today's suit are Jon Jones, Frankie Edgar, Gina Carano, Matt Hamill, Brian Stann -- even SB Nation's own Beth and Donna Hurrle, who have been fighting the good fight over at Gal's Guide to MMA since day one. A full copy of the complaint, after the jump. 2011.11.15 Complaint UFC President Dana White and co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta stormed Madison Square Garden (MSG) earlier this year with New York assemblyman Dean Murray and MSG Sports president Scott O'Neil to present an independent economic impact study indicating the "Empire State" would generate about $16 million from the UFC alone based on just two pay-per-view (PPV) events per year, split between "The World's Most Famous Arena" and Buffalo's HSBC Arena. And that doesn't include the jobs and additional income from regional or independent promotions also throwing their hat into the New York fight scene. Put simply, money talks … and the UFC has the numbers to back it up. Unfortunately, no one is listening, which has prompted hem to take it to the next level. See you in court! For more on New York's MMA ban click here.

Posted in: ufc, mma, york, ban, mma ban

UFC Sues to Overturn New York MMA Ban

The UFC and a group of plaintiffs that includes fighters, fans, and trainers have filed a lawsuit against New York officials challenging the state’s law banning mixed martial arts events. The lawsuit, filed today in U.S. district court, alleges multiple violations of the U.S. Constitution, including infringing the rights of fighters to “publicly exhibit their skills as professionals and express themselves before a live audience” and the rights of fans “who would like to experience live professional MMA events.” In their announcement of the lawsuit, the UFC says the ban was imposed in 1997 when the sport was unregulated and prohibited elsewhere, but nearly every other state now allows MMA. It also notes that individual martial arts, including jiu-jitsu, boxing, and wrestling, are legal in New York and are only illegal when performed together by professionals. “MMA is one of the fastest growing sports in the U.S. and one of the most popular in the world,” UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta said in a statement. “When we acquired the UFC, we went to great lengths to invite regulation and adopt substantial safety measures. MMA is now as safe as or even safer than many other sports and activities sanctioned in New York like boxing, for example, because it allows fighters to honorably tap out and involves far fewer hits. All the disciplines that go into mixed martial arts are performed live in New York; it is only their combination that is illegal. Denying fighters the chance to exhibit their training and skills before a live audience and denying thousands of New Yorkers the ability to watch their favorite fighters perform live is not only an injustice to them, but to the local markets that would reap tremendous economic benefits from hosting competitions. We believe the ban should be eliminated, and look forward to fighting live in New York.” The lawsuit comes after New York State legislature declined to legalize MMA yet again this summer, though the movement has made progress in recent but continues to come up short of approval. For the latest UFC news and UFC rumors stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com. Pictured: UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta

Posted in: ufc, mma, fighter, york, lawsuit

Chris Weidman 'Ready to Break Through' Middleweight Pack Towards Top of Division

Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting ExclusiveGrowing up in Baldwin, New York, Chris Weidman dreamed of being a professional athlete, but what he had in mind was far from his current job as a UFC middleweight. Weidman hoped to lace up skates and glide around the rinks of the NHL, and not as an enforcer, but as a goal-scorer. Even after a series of issues and injuries led to a move to wrestling and football and he had been off the ice for over a decade, he still had the itch. After Weidman had graduated from college at Hofstra, where he was a two-time Division I wrestling All-American, and before he considered mixed martial arts as a real future, he still couldn't shake that dream. Convinced it was still a possibility, he went out and bought hundreds of dollars worth of equipment, believing that with his athleticism he could wrangle a tryout from his hometown team, the New York Islanders. "My wife thought I was nuts," said Weidman, who says he held the goal-scoring record in his PAL youth league. "Well, I pretty much was. I played for like a week-and-a-half and never used the equipment again." More Coverage: UFC 139 Fight Card | UFC 139 Results It's hard to believe that hockey dreams could spawn an MMA champion, but if Weidman has his way, that's just the storyline that will eventually play out. Because even though he wasn't a hockey natural, he has certainly taken to MMA in a hurry. Turning pro in 2009, Weidman (6-0) would be signed by the UFC within two years of his debut. To date, he's won both of his starts in MMA's top circuit, defeating Alessio Sakara on short notice his first time in the octagon before earning a guillotine submission win over Jesse Bongfeldt in his follow-up. At UFC 139, he faces Tom Lawlor. Among the UFC weight divisions, the middleweight class might feature the most upward mobility. Current champion Anderson Silva has held the belt so long (61 months and counting) that several of the division's best (Demian Maia, Chael Sonnen, Vitor Belfort, Yushin Okami and Chris Leben) have already tasted defeat at his hands. There are also hardly any young fighters breaking through. New contender candidate Mark Munoz, while fairly new to the MMA game, is 33 years old. Michael Bisping is 32. Brian Stann is 31. That makes Weidman and Alan Belcher (both 27) the only UFC middleweights under the age of 30 that are ranked among the division's top 20. And Weidman says he's about ready to join the conversation among its very best. "I definitely think I'm ready to break through," he said. "I'm ready to do it. There are definitely a lot of tough guys in our division. If you look at 205, there are a lot of big names. We have a lot of underrated talent that people don't know about because they don't have the exposure. But I'm ready to be that face that comes up and gets that belt. "I just have to keep winning," he continued. "I only have two fights in the UFC, and even though I won them both, I have to keep winning. I cant be happy where I'm at. My goal has to be to get to the top. If I settle for anything less, I won't ever break through. To get to that elite level, I have to believe myself and set my goals that high." Weidman has every reason to believe in himself. His record speaks itself, but that number is just the sum of his considerable skills, which begin with his deep wrestling background, but are nicely complemented by a rapidly improving ground game. Though Weidman is a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, that's only because he hasn't trained in a gi in two years. He regularly trains with black belts and has the reputation as a natural in the art form. His striking is the last piece to the puzzle, and while Weidman feels he hasn't flashed it in his UFC fights, he showed it in the past, notably knocking out two of his last three opponents before signing with the UFC. He's looked to add to his arsenal with coach Ray Longo, who helped guide Matt Serra to his memorable UFC welterweight championship win over Georges St-Pierre, and he's spent extensive time training with professional kickboxers. Recently, he flew out to San Diego and spent a week training with rising UFC light-heavyweight star Alexander Gustafsson as well. It's a formula which he feels may pay dividends on Saturday. "My standup has come along big time," he said. "I don't know if he'll underestimate my striking but if he does, I'll be there to make him pay for that." Weidman is generally complimentary of Lawlor's all-around skills, mentioning that he is well-rounded with power, aggression and the fearlessness to go for the finish. He expects it to be an exciting matchup. And Lawlor is generally complimentary of Lawlor as well. But on a Monday edition of The MMA Hour, Lawlor said he hoped to exploit his perceived advantage in experience level. That is a characterization that Weidman disagreed with, citing his collegiate and international experience in wrestling. "Every fight I've had so far, the person who I'm fighting said that," he said. "It's nothing new to me. That's fine, he can think that. I know for a fact that won't be problem. I think Alessio Sakara was more experienced than Tom Lawlor and I didn't let that get to me, so it's nothing that's going to bother me." Weidman's confidence is boosted by his lengthy camp. After being notified of the fight back in July, he had plenty of time to prepare and improve. Now the hard work is done, and he hopes to impress and make a statement on Saturday. Unlike his past hockey dreams, this goal seems a lot more realistic. "I'm winning but I'm far from satisfied," he said. "I just want to keep going. A lot of people think I made it. I'm not even close to where I want to be. I'm not anywhere near where I want to be yet. I've just got to keep on winning, and I'm very, very self-motivated to do that." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, division, weidman, im

UFC sues New York to overturn MMA ban

For the past few years the UFC has tried to get the New York ban on MMA lifted via legislative means. The promotion had little success making inroads through those channels, so they decided to change tack on Tuesday, filing a lawsuit against the state of New York claiming the ban violates the First Amendment. At the root of the lawsuit is the question as to why the state banned MMA. If they banned the sport because they felt that it sent a message of violence, then the UFC has precedent to fall

Posted in: ufc, mma, york, ban, tuesday filing

UFC Sues to overturn NY Ban on MMA

NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 15, 2011- The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and a group of plaintiffs including fighters, fans, trainers and others involved with Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) announced today that they have filed a lawsuit against New York State officials challenging the constitutionality of the state law banning live professional MMA events and associated activities (the “Ban”). The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, challenges the Ban for violating numerous provisions of the United States Constitution, including the First Amendment, the Equal Protection Clause and the Due Process Clause. Specifically, the lawsuit alleges the Ban infringes upon the rights of the fighters who want to publicly exhibit their skills as professionals and express themselves before a live audience, the rights of fans who would like to experience live professional MMA events, and the rights of those who train, publicize or otherwise advance MMA in New York. Plaintiffs point to the following as evidence of the irrational, unconstitutional nature of the Ban:• The Ban was originally imposed in 1997, at a time when MMA was unregulated and prohibited in many other states. Today, MMA is a highly-regulated, broadly popular sport, which experts and supporting safety data verify is as safe as or safer than many sports and activities that are legal in New York, including boxing, football and rodeo.• MMA is widely available on television in New York, and many New Yorkers lawfully train and spar in MMA.• Live professional MMA can take place in virtually every state except New York. • The individual martial arts that comprise MMA, including kickboxing, jiu-jitsu, judo, boxing and wrestling, are legal and performed live regularly in New York - it is only their combination, performed live by professionals, that is banned in New York. “MMA is one of the fastest growing sports in the U.S. and one of the most popular in the world,” said Lorenzo Fertitta, Chairman and CEO of Zuffa LLC, owner of the UFC. “When we acquired the UFC, we went to great lengths to invite regulation and adopt substantial safety measures. MMA is now as safe as or even safer than many other sports and activities sanctioned in New York like boxing, for example, because it allows fighters to honorably tap out and involves far fewer hits. All the disciplines that go into mixed martial arts are performed live in New York; it is only their combination that is illegal. Denying fighters the chance to exhibit their training and skills before a live audience and denying thousands of New Yorkers the ability to watch their favorite fighters perform live is not only an injustice to them, but to the local markets that would reap tremendous economic benefits from hosting competitions. We believe the ban should be eliminated, and look forward to fighting live in New York.”“It is unfortunate that we were forced to take the step of filing a lawsuit to overturn this senseless law, but the ban on live professional MMA infringes on the rights of countless New Yorkers,” said Barry Friedman, a constitutional law professor at New York University School of Law and co-counsel with Morrison & Foerster LLP for the Plaintiffs. “Despite sincere legislative efforts, the ban remains in place based on a flawed assessment of the sport’s supposedly ’violent message.’ This rationale is a patent violation of the First Amendment. In live events, fighters showcase their talents, communicate their convictions, show respect for their opponents and the art and tradition of MMA, and convey the importance of discipline, training and hard work. They also entertain their fans. Not only does the law prohibit live events, but as it is written it purports to ban other speech including media broadcasts and coverage of professional MMA. It is ironic that New York -- in many ways the home of free expression, the global media, and the art world -- would deny someone his or her fundamental freedom of expression. The Ban is contrary to what New York is all about. There is no legal basis for this unconstitutional ban to persist.” “Performing MMA live in front of a crowd is an unrivaled experience and allows me to speak to my fans,” said Plaintiff and UFC competitor Brian Stann. “I was attracted to MMA during my time in the Marine Corps, after I returned from my first deployment to Iraq in 2005 and was looking for a path that allowed me to stay motivated, and inspire others, particularly fellow veterans. MMA is a brotherhood that demands respect for your fellow fighters and rewards mental discipline and skill. It has given countless veterans a way to rehabilitate and connect with other military veterans and I am grateful every day for the ability to compete and inspire my fans.”

Posted in: mma, fighter, art, york, ban

HDNet and BAMMA ink multi-year television deal

DALLAS (November 14, 2011) As announced earlier tonight on HDNet’s live broadcast of "Inside MMA", the network has signed a new agreement with Europe’s largest and most prominent Mixed Martial Arts Promotion, BAMMA. This multi-year deal, negotiated by BAMMA distributor Content Television, will kick off on Saturday, December 10 with LIVE coverage of "BAMMA 8" from The Capital FM Arena in Nottingham, England. "BAMMA puts on the best MMA shows in Europe and HDNet broadcasts the best fights from around the globe," said Andrew Simon, CEO of HDNet Fights. "It was the perfect fit. I had to get this deal done!" The "BAMMA 8" fight card features new signings, Jimi Manuwa and Antony Rea who will face off in a Light Heavyweight contest while Jack Marshman will defend his Lonsdale British Middleweight title against Lee "Leeroy" Barnes. And, Paul McVeigh will make his BAMMA debut against Erik Perez. Fresh off a decision win against HDNet’s own Frank Trigg at "BAMMA 7," Jimmy Wallhead will face Joey Villasenor in his long awaited BAMMA debut with Andre Winner taking on Diego Gonzales in a World Lightweight Title eliminator fight. "We see a US TV partner as a major step in our growth as an organisation and believe we have found the ideal partner in HDNet," said David Green, CEO of BAMMA. "We are very excited about this new partnership and look forward to bringing some first class events to the US public." HDNet is your home for MMA, broadcasting LIVE MMA events from all over the world, and "Inside MMA" THE source for MMA news, airs LIVE every Monday night at 8:00 p.m. ET on HDNet.

Posted in: fight, mma, hdnet, bamma, bamma debut

Bobby Lashley continues his MMA experiment with win at Shark Fights 21

Former WWE superstar Bobby Lashley (7-1) made his Shark Fights debut in the main event of SF 21 in Lubbock, Texas. After multiple opponent changes Lashley was eventually paired up with journeyman Karl Knothe (20-7) in a five round fight for the Shark Fights heavyweight title. In a brief one round tilt it was Lashley who had his hand raised after a battle on the ground. After Lashley secured a takedown Knothe was unable to shake the former amateur wrestler on the mat. Lashley pattered Knothe with punches while he searched out submissions from the top position. With Knothe's arm isolated Lashley applied a keylock submission hold that forced the tap out. The official time of Lashley's win was 3:44 of round one. The win for Lashley was his first action in six months. Once the most promising pro wrestling crossover prospect in MMA, Lashley's career has largely fizzled after a two fight stint with Strikeforce. A 5-0 start to his MMA career on local heavyweight scene put Lashley in position for a shot in the majors. Lashley's 1-1 record with Strikeforce put him back on the open market after a loss to Chad Griggs and contract talks went south. Now Lashley has supplemented his work with American Top Team for his MMA training with work inside Strikeforce heavyweight contender Josh Barnett's camp. The outside influence and improved training partners may give Lashley the final bump in his MMA career. For a prospect with as much hype and big name drawing power as Lashley a shot inside the UFC should still be his ultimate end game. If Lashley's MMA experiment is to be filed under "success story" a big pay day from the UFC and a win or two inside the Octagon must be part of his fight resume. Lashley will most likely need two to three big wins on the local MMA scene before the UFC may show any interest. Shark Fights 21 resultsLubbock, TXMatt Hobar def. Marcus Baldivia by Submission North South Choke 0:53 R1Jon Voth def. Jeremiah Castillo by Submission Armbar 2:27 R1Orlando Coulter def. Chase Watson by TKO (Punches) 2:39 R3John King def. Daniel Almeida by Split Decision Warren Stewart def. Gabriel Vasquez by Submission Rear Naked Choke 3:46 R1Cody Pfister def. Isaias Martinez by TKO (Punches) 4:09 R1Cody East def. Andenilson Clementino by TKO (Punches) 1:15 R2Bobby Lashley def. Karl Knothe by Submission Keylock 3:44 R1

Posted in: fight, mma, submission, lashley, knothe

Junior Dos Santos slept with his belt on - MMA News

submitted by alphahouse44 [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: mma, do, news, mma news, alphahouse

A Lesson in Street MMA: If at first you don’t succeed, get knocked out again

Learning from your mistakes is at the forefront of any successful venture. Oftentimes, mistakes can lead to painstaking re-invention, subsequently tackling a problem anew – perhaps with vastly different results. In today’s edition of ‘A Lesson in Street MMA”, we’re showing you what happens when you don’t re-evaluate your gameplan and do the exact same thing you did the first time.

Posted in: mma, lesson, street mma, street, ’t reevaluate

Tom Lawlor Thinks Experience Will Take Him Past Chris Weidman at UFC 139

Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, NewsMore than a year since his last time out in the Octagon, Tom Lawlor is finally healthy and ready to return at Saturday's UFC 139. Waiting across the way from him when he walks into the middle of the HP Pavilion will be Chris Weidman, a fast-rising prospect who is unbeaten and has won both of his bouts since signing with the UFC earlier this year. For Lawlor, the matchup came as no surprise. Before Weidman was ever in the UFC, he made Lawlor's radar after defeating his friend James Brasco in a submission grappling match at 2009. With Weidman in the nascent stages of his MMA career at the time, it was a clear stretch he was going to be a player on the world middleweight scene. Just six fights into his career, Weidman will be at a disadvantage from an experience standpoint. With Lawlor having more time under his belt, he thinks that's the advantage that will send him to victory. "He's impressive, but kind of like me, he's still pretty young in his career," Lawlor said on Monday's edition of The MMA Hour. "I have double the amount of fights he does. He only has six fights. So there's a lot of things he hasn't experienced and I think I'm going to be able to exploit some of that." Weidman is a former two-time collegiate wrestling All-American, and has landed six of his nine takedown attempts fighting in the UFC. Many feel that advantage gives Weidman the edge going into the fight. In training for this bout, Lawlor traveled to Temecula, California to work for the last several weeks with Team Quest, a camp renowned for its wrestlers. While Lawlor says that wasn't the sole reason for his work on the west coast, it will certainly come as a benefit. "This isn't a wrestling match," he said. "This is a fight, or I'll turn it into a fight. If it was a wrestling match, my money would be on him. But it's not a wrestling match, it's a fight ... If I was a betting man, I would bet on myself." For Lawlor, his performance usually starts at the weigh-ins, where he's notorious for his appearances, usually coming out dressed as a character from MMA's past. Among his recent stage entries were Dan Severn, Harold Howard and the "Just Bleed" guy from UFC 1. With 13 months to ponder his next time in front of the audience, Lawlor has something planned for UFC 139, and it's something big. "Unless they stop me right before I go out there, it's going to be really good," he said. "It might top all the past things that I've done and that's saying a lot. I get a lot comments on the Dan Severn thing, I get a lot of comments from real hardcore fans on the 'Just Bleed' guy. But I really think this will take the cake. It's going to set a new standard for weigh-ins." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, weidman, lawlor

After Reshuffling, UFC 139 Spike Prelims to Feature Bader vs. Brilz, McDonald vs. Soto

Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, NewsThe UFC 139 preliminary fights on Spike have been reshuffled, with a bantamweight bout pitting Michael McDonald against Alex Soto moved into the two-fight showcase. It had been previously reported that a middleweight encounter between Chris Weidman and Tom Lawlor would be included, but on Monday's edition of The MMA Hour, Lawlor said that information was incorrect, and a Spike representative confirmed to MMA Fighting that the fight would not be aired. No reason was given for the change on the one-hour telecast, which is also set to feature Ryan Bader against Jason Brilz. McDonald is considered to be one of the bantamweight division's top prospects. Just 20 years old, he's already competed 14 times as a pro, holding a 13-1 record. He's 3-0 under the Zuffa banner, most recently defeating Chris Cariaso in a split decision back at UFC 130. Soto, meanwhile, will be making his major MMA debut. He's 6-0-1 in his carer. The Bader-Brilz bout features two fighters in need of a win, as both come into the event on two-fight losing streaks. Meanwhile, Weidman vs. Lawlor will air live on Facebook.com. UFC 139 will emanate from the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California with a main event of Dan Henderson vs. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua. The five-round main card will air on pay-per-view. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, vs, split decision, spike representative

Kid Nate takes a look at the once-stacked, now thin MMA heavyweight division -- a division in which...

Kid Nate takes a look at the once-stacked, now thin MMA heavyweight division -- a division in which even the champ has been diminished by injury. Read it at MMA Nation. Photo by Esther Lin, MMA Fighting.

Posted in: mma, heavyweight, division, kid nate, oncestacked

Gina Carano returns to shill her new movie

Since her loss to Cris Cyborg back in 2009, Gina Carano has been a bit ghosty in the MMA scene. Even her June comeback fight was vaporous, and that was before she pulled out of it citing a mystery illness. But now that her movie Haywire is about to come out, she's suddenly back. Call me a bitter cynical goat, but that cheeses me off a little. She treats her fans worse than I do.Anyways, here she is in a new preview for Haywire, which comes out January 20th. Until then, I'm sure she'll only be at MMA events large enough to justify promotion for the film. Such as Saturday's UFC on FOX! Karyn Bryant landed an interview with her on that newfangled MMA red carpet (anyone else find that concept loltastic?), and watch as she artfully dodges any explanations for why she pulled out of her fight. Hey, at least she clarifies she wasn't preggers. read more

Posted in: mma, mma scene, carpet anyone, mystery illness, wasnt preggers

The MMA Hour With Stephan Bonnar, Miguel Torres, Mike Goldberg, Tom Lawlor

Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosThe MMA Hour returns on Monday afternoon with another jam-packed two-hour show. Here's who will be stopping by: * Light heavyweight Stephan Bonnar will preview his UFC 139 fight against Kyle Kingsbury and look back at UFC on FOX 1. * UFC play-by-play man Mike Goldberg will also recap the historic night that was in Anaheim, Calif. * Bantamweight Miguel Torres will talk about his UFC 139 fight against Nick Pace. * Middleweight Tom Lawlor will preview his Saturday night fight against Chris Weidman. * And we'll debut a new segment called "5 Rounds," where two MMA journalists debate five topics with yours truly serving as judge after each "round" using the ever effective 10-point must system to determine a winner. The fifth round winner will be decided by the fans via our chat and Twitter. This week, MMAFighting.com's Mike Chiappetta and Michael David Smith will go toe-to-toe. Of course, we'll also be taking your calls as we recap UFC on FOX and look ahead to UFC 139, so 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, show, mma hour, round winner

Join Luke Thomas for MMA Nation radio tonight at 9 p.m. ET. He'll be wrapping up UFC on Fox 1 and...

Join Luke Thomas for MMA Nation radio tonight at 9 p.m. ET. He'll be wrapping up UFC on Fox 1 and Pacquiao vs. Marquez. How to Listen If you're in Washington, D.C. tune your radio dial to 106.7 FM To stream over the Internet, 106.7 on Radio.com Mobile devices - Cherry Player App for Droid or AOL Radio App for iPhone For a look inside the studio, On ustream.tv How to Interact Call the show TOLL FREE: 1-800-636-1067 Register at MMA Nation and leave a comment luke.thomas@sbnation.com @SBNLukeThomas facebook.com/MMANationDotCom

Posted in: mma, radio, nation, luke thomas, player app

Art Jimmerson Wants to Fight Kimbo Slice

Art Jimmerson wants a crack at MMA dropout (and pro boxer) Kimbo Slice, hoping to step into the boxing ring after more than nine years away from the sport. Jimmerson, a former IBC and NABF boxing champion (33-18 pro boxing), famously lost to Royce Gracie at UFC 1 while wearing a single boxing glove. “I just don’t want ‘Kimbo’ to embarass the sport by coming over here acting like a joke, the way I did with MMA,” Jimmerson told MMAjunkie. “I’ll let him go two or three rounds and let him throw all those haymakers, coming in all hard. But in a couple of rounds, I’ll just set him with my jab, and start throwing straight punches.” Jimmerson is currently an instructor in California at the official UFC gym, where he teaches boxing and MMA classes. This sounds like a crazy matchup that won’t generate a lot of actual interest — but MMA fans should get a kick out of it.

Posted in: mma, boxing, mma fans, jimmerson, mma classes

After mixed martial arts (MMA) went mainstream with UFC on FOX 1, MMA fans are upset. But, selling...

After mixed martial arts (MMA) went mainstream with UFC on FOX 1, MMA fans are upset. But, selling out is the best thing for the sport according to MMA Nation's Jonathan Snowden. Read all the reasons right here.

Posted in: mma, mainstream, art, arts mma, reasons right

The Sunday Morning Rumor Mill

Everything that I've done since 11.11.11 is just a precursor until I zonk out on my sofa and play Skyrim for the remainder of the day. That's why I made it a point to get the Sunday Morning Rumor Mill out as soon as possible. I couldn't comfortably kill imperial soldiers knowing that I'm neglecting the MiddleEasy readers out there. UFC on FOX, Bellator and Asia are covered in this weeks edition of The Sunday Morning Rumor Mill, so enjoy. I received an email this morning from a guy at the Honda Center in Anaheim who saw a crazed MMA fan jump in the Octagon shortly after UFC on FOX wrapped up. He managed to film the guy jumping over the barrier and into the octagon only to be restrained by security at the event. Now this guy claims that once 'someone in a suit' saw that he was filming the incident, his camera was confiscated and that he was instructed to call a number to retrieve his equipment. After he arranged to pick up his camera later that night, he claims that a couple videos were deleted, including the footage of the fan running into the Octagon. Seems like a pretty wild accusation, but if The Sunday Morning Rumor Mill didn't exist, then you would have never known. Last night just before the UFC on FOX broadcast, one FOX production member asked an MMA media member 'Who is going to win the fight?.' Apparently this guy was under the impression that MMA is pre-scripted, like professional wrestling and the winner was already determined. A lot of people asked why I didn't attend the UFC on FOX event, even though Anaheim is about an hour drive away from Hollywood. This is not really a rumor, but let me break it down for you -- since everything in this universe could use a little breaking down. Last night, MiddleEasy sponsored our fellow writer, DaMarques Johnson, in his absolute destruction of Clay Harvison. Still have no idea how he didn't receive 'Knockout of the Night,' but that's beyond the point. MiddleEasy is also considered an 'official MMA news source' by ZUFFA. When a 'news source' is sponsoring a fighter on the same event in which they are covering, then it creates what is known as a 'conflict of interest.' This has happened before with our sponsorship of Jason High in Strikeforce and last night, we were unable to attend the event. This is perfectly understandable. We're just happy DaMarques Johnson's right fist and Clay Harvison's skull had a formal introduction last night. However, MiddleEasy will attending UFC 139 as media this upcoming weekend. Asia may have ONE FC, but according to Japan's MMAIronman, a new promotion is starting in Japan and it looks to 'bring MMA back in the country.' It's rumored that a few Brazilian MMA media members that 'covered' this weekend's fight were told by 'others' to act more professionally. UFC on FOX 2 is slated to go down January 28th 2012. According to Kevin Iole, all UFC on FOX cards will be two fights for the remainder of their contract. Cesar Gracie says Miguel Cotto requested Nick Diaz to be in his camp for his upcoming fight against Margarito.

Posted in: ufc, night, mma, fox, rumor

Jonathan Snowden argues that UFC on Fox means "MMA Sells Out And Its A Great Thing To See." Read it...

Jonathan Snowden argues that UFC on Fox means "MMA Sells Out And Its A Great Thing To See." Read it at MMA Nation.

Posted in: ufc, mma, fox, jonathan snowden, snowden

Jumped and Beaten, KOTC Champ Jared Papazian Found MMA

Surrounded and beaten, King of the Cage bantamweight champ Jared Papazian shares a story on how he came into MMA.

Posted in: mma, champ, jared, king, papazian

We love Damarques Johnson and we aren't even trying to hide it

D-Zilla, you let us interview you when we were a fledgling MMA site that was thrilled to have creds to see Bobby Lashley defeat Bob Sapp. You were a product of Jeremy Horn and an Ultimate Fighter stand out. Our color palatte was black and red and their was stars everywhere. You were just beginning your UFC tenure and somehow our souls intertwined in this strange world of MMA in a weird grappling match of love. We have grown together, Damarques. We have compared MMA fighters to combatants in Street Fighter II, broken down fights in the animal kingdom. You've told us about training with Matt Hughes and some of the greatest fighters ever. Now you let us plaster our logo on your butt (or thigh) and you go knock dudes out some of the biggest fight cards around. You are the man. For that very reason I will post your knockout victory from tonight below, and like the eternal flame for JFK, it will be here forever and we will never let it stop playing, you baller. Now check out D-Zilla's post fight interview with Ariel Helwani. [source]

Posted in: fight, mma, fighter, jeremy horn, color palatte

UFC on Fox: Junior dos Santos Gives New Audience a Lesson in MMA

Tonight in Anaheim, with the UFC debuting on Fox to millions of new viewers, with all the eyes of the sport upon him, Junior dos Santos said, "This is MMA." With reflexive anticipation of Cain Velasquez's left hook, he ducked down and launched an overhand right - the most famous move in the sport, popularized by vintage Chuck Liddell - landing flush on his opponent's temple. With Velasquez's equilibrium scrambled, dos Santos followed his severely dazed opponent to the mat and unleashed a series of devastating blows that forced referee John McCarthy to step in and save the champion. It took just over one minute for "Cigano" to make his statement. Hailing from the best fight camp in all the sport, his eloquence should never have been in question. This, after all, is the most persistently violent sport in all of North America. And, though some may be hesitant to admit so, we all watch it for the violence. Perhaps that isn't one's primary motive, but it must be part of the appeal of the sport. The oft-drawn, trite parallel between mixed martial artists and Roman gladiators is actually quite valid; to some degree, we watch to see one man draw blood from another. It's a primal urge, something we lack in our daily lives. One of the most thrilling scenes in all of film comes from Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey, when the primate realizes he can reclaim his territory via violence - he uses a weapon, and sets himself down the path to humanity. It's a stunning look at what sets us apart from the lesser species. It's a statement to our superiority. And so we have these combative athletes who, bound by the laws of civilization, turn their bodies into weapons, embodying physical dominance. It's what made boxing a fixture of this culture for more than a century. And now it is what brings MMA to the widest audience possible. Boxing, of which I am a fan, has become heavy, laden with egos, pretentions, and flawed ethics that seem to seep into the raw sport far too often. There are no ethics in Junior dos Santos leaping atop his downed foe, raining down blow upon blow, expressing poetry by motion, and claiming to another man, "I am your superior." If nothing else can be said of MMA, then let it be known that this is the most honest of all sport, and tonight, "Cigano" gave all the nation a lesson in truth. SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos

Posted in: mma, fox, sport, do, blow

Joe Rogan Recaps UFC on FOX Debut, Surprised Velasquez Didn't Wrestle More

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, VideosANAHEIM, Calif. -- MMA Fighting caught up with UFC broadcaster Joe Rogan to recap the organization's first event on FOX, the outcome of the main event, his thoughts on the broadcast and much more. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, event, fox debut, velasquez didnt

Dustin Poirier Suggests Erik Koch as Next Opponent Up UFC Featherweight Ladder

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, Videos, UFC on FOXANAHEIM, Calif. -- MMA Fighting spoke with rising featherweight Dustin Poirier following his submission win over Pablo Garza Saturday at UFC on FOX 1. Poirier talks about the D'arce choke finish, his involvement in the Fightville documentary and his immense passion for MMA. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, erik koch, poirier, fightville documentary

DaMarques Johnson Compares Knockout Win to Meeting Girl of His Dreams

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

Posted in: mma, johnson, training partners, damarques johnson, meeting girl

ESPN MMA Live: UFC on FOX 1 Preview

On this week’s edition of ESPN MMA Live, the crew previews UFC on FOX 1 and recaps UFC 138. ESPN MMA Live Archive If you have trouble playing the video, you can also watch it on ESPN.com.

Posted in: ufc, mma, fox, espn, espn mma

MMA 101: Comprehensive technique guide for UFC on FOX fight fans, new and old

Later today (Nov. 12, 2011) history will be made within the mixed martial arts (MMA) world when Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will promote its first show on the FOX television network, beginning at 9 p.m. ET. FOX, a premier sports outlet, and UFC, the top brand in MMA today, struck a mega boob tube deal that shook the combat sports world just a few months ago. And already, the two companies are starting off with a bang. It has been quite some time since a heavyweight title in major combat sports has been contested on live television for free. Boxing did it in the mid-1990’s. And while the UFC has shown a number of other divisional title fights on "free" television via Spike TV, this is the first time the promotion will offer the colossal heavyweight tilt in this manner. And it isn’t just any title fight: Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos are the acknowledged two top ranked heavyweights in the sport today. Velasquez, the heavyweight champion, will fight challenger dos Santos in a fight that will not only be for the belt, but for the number one spot atop the sport's rankings. This arguably hasn’t happened since the days of Pride FC, when Fedor Emelianenko fought Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in Japan back in 2003. Bottom line fight fans: This is a fight you just can't miss. And not only for the historical value, but for the match up itself, which should be an all out war between two completely different fighters. In the extended entry I talk about the match up and showcase some of the better breakdowns of the important fighters, techniques and analysis you need to be fully prepared for UFC on Fox 1 later this evening. Enjoy: In this post, I will focus on fighters, techniques and disciplines that fight fans could possible enjoy this weekend. While I will be linking a lot of my own work I will also be linking to another SBNation blog, Bloody Elbow, which has some of the best breakdowns around with its "Judo Chop" feature. Junior dos Santos, a walking nightmare for heavyweights, is undefeated in the Octagon (8-0) and 13-1 overall. He has nine fights that ended when the opponent succumbed to the brutal hands of the challenger. From his first knockout as an underdog to Fabricio Werdum to his one-side dismantling of giant Shane Carwin, Junior dos Santos has shown that nobody should be getting in the way of his striking skills. Dos Santos is an elite striker, one who focused heavily on the body shot. From my own fanpost, "Body Blow! The often overlooked (but always effective) body shot," which discussed in depth the usage and benefits of the body shot: So with that, the final comment on body shots are that they can be brutal and effective but we rarely see them since in mixed martial arts the kick is utilized in its place. We have seen body kicks end fights (Franklin vs. Hamill) and dictate the fight, too (Georges St. Pierre, Lyoto Machida and Cung Le). And of course we have the legendary Bas Rutten who made a career out of the body blow. More fighters are using the body strike however as seen at the top. Heavyweight prospect Junior Dos Santos has made a habit in the past to be very active when working the body. Don't be surprised to see it more and more in MMA as the sport continues to evolve and as striking continues to rise to elite levels. Dos Santos is a masterful boxer. And to get prepared for the strikes you may see in this fight, I highlighted this week the most common strikes you may see on Saturday night. From the fanpost "Looking at the most used strikes prior to the debut of UFC on FOX": "Cigano" has outstruck each and every opponent during that time, including finishing five of those foes violently with strikes. Notorious for being considered one of the most dangerous strikers in the world, he will look to pry the title from current champion Cain Velasquez. To do that he will need to unleash his striking arsenal on the champion. Easily the most important strike in the combat world of striking is the jab. The jab is a lead punch that is thrown with your lead hand. It is the strike that lands quickest as the hand is usually the closest to your opponent. While it lacks the power of other strikes, its effectiveness is unparalleled to any other strike And speaking of this jab, there are two fanposts of my own that I get in detail on the single punch. Dos Santos is a master of this art, too. As we have seen in his fight with Mirko Cro Cop and Shane Carwin, in particular, where he really established his jab effectively. Lethal Weapon: MMA's Unused Weapon ... The Jab Back to Basics: How one simple punch can change a fight Cain Velasquez , the champion, has shown his elite wrestling pedigree can be translated into MMA effectively. As I have said in the past (including this fanpost about wrestling) wrestling has become the best base of all the disciplines to really bring into MMA. Training at American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) in San Jose, Calif., with Dave Camarillo and the gang, Velasquez has been able to add grappling and striking to his elite-level wrestling. One of the most disappointing things to watch as a fan, personally, is to see lazy executed takedowns. Shooting in from too far away or not properly setting up a takedown is almost always recipe for disaster. Velasquez, however, has shown the ability to use strikes magnificently to set up his takedowns. To really get a grasp on what I am talking about, the guys over at BloodyElbow.com have an amazing breakdown on the blend between wrestling and striking. From the "Judo Chop" titled "UFC 133 Fight Card Judo Chop: Striking to Take Downs with Rashad Evans": There are several aspects to successfully taking down an opponent; starting distance, depth of the first step, speed, hand placement and hip placement. When these aspects all work together a take down can appear effortless and when they don't the results can be laughable. In grappling tournaments the standing phase of grappling is about creating the opening to close the distance into an advantageous position. More goodness from the BloodyElbow.com team with its "Judo Chop" Rashad Evans transitions from punches to takedowns: The bouncing double jabs missed but allowed Rashad to get inside on Rampage. More importantly when Jackson slipped the second jab, he moved his head directly into Evan's incoming right hook. Note how Jackson was looking to land a hard right uppercut counter to Evans' jabs. Rashad clearly studied the style of fighting Jackson has used since he was trained by Juanito Iberra. When facing a wrestler, fighters traditionally will work very hard on takedown defense and submissions (I went into detail in common submissions here). Working a game plan in anticipation of takedown, you must take into account a few different skills. The first of those skills is takedown defense, the art of keeping the fight on the feet. For dos Santos, that in all likelihood was the main focus in this camp. "Cigano" may be the best striker in the entire heavyweight division today. And utilizing his largest strength, his bread and butter, may be his avenue to winning the title. To do that, good hips and balance are just a few key elements along with using your striking to keep the wrestler at bay. From my fanpost titled "The Striking Zone: Keeping a fight standing using effective striking and distance:" Some may be okay with being taken down where they are comfortable with their Jiu Jitsu. Others may enjoy the opportunity to out-wrestle their opponent to be able to achieve their own top position and the others may want to use striking to keep the fight on the feet. This has been utilized by many successful fighters dating way back to the era of Chuck Liddell and Mirko Filipovic when they were in their prime. Using good takedown defense was only a part of their game; the other part was using striking at the right moments of a fight to negate the chance of a takedown. More recently, UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz has shown his game of keeping the fight standing when wrestlers like Joseph Benavidez and Urijah Faber attempted to get the fight to the ground. This is just one of many ways to keep the fight standing for dos Santos. There is almost a guaranteed chance that if Velasquez wants the fight on the ground, he will get it there. With such a high caliber wrestler in the cage, it is only a matter of time before you find yourself back on the mat. But, that doesn’t spell the end of the fight. Dos Santos is said to have very quality grappling and we have seen brief glimpses of it in fights against Gabriel Gonzaga and Shane Carwin. But if Velasquez is on top, what could be done to get up again? The answer was discussed by the boys at BloodyElbow.com in yet another great piece titled "Strikeforce Judo Chop: Luke Rockhold does a cage crawling clinic against Jacare:" It was common forum fodder in the mid-2000s to debate the merits of cage vs ring as a venue for an MMA match. It was asserted that cages favored grapplers, while rings favored strikers. The reasoning was that grapplers had more space to run in the UFC Octagon and could then pin the striker against the cage. While in a ring the striker could trap the grappler in a corner and punish him with punches and kicks. But recently as the MMA game has swung back towards the striking arts, fighters have become experts of using the cage to keep fights standing. Using the cage to stand back up has become a vital skill set to a complete MMA fighter. Submissions will also play a big part in this fight should Velasquez attempt to explore a wrestling game plan. When utilizing takedowns, it is very common for explosive wrestlers to shoot in for them with a single- or double-leg. Both of which require you to lower your head and drive into the body of your opponent. The counter to that? A well-timed and executed guillotine choke. From my fanpost solely dedicated to this choke my "Ultimate Submissions" fanpost had this to say: The guillotine is a choke favorable against wrestlers because it punishes your opponent if they shoot in for a takedown with their head down. While there are other ways to complete the choke, this is often the most common. The most basic way to describe the choke is when you reach around your opponent’s neck when it is in range, grasp the choking side hand with the free hand and lift up. The interesting portion of this match up is that both fighters have yet to show a weakness. Both have never been defeated in the Octagon and aside from a few knockdowns against Cheick Kongo, the champion has yet to be in danger of losing. Dos Santos shares that same sentiment, too, sans a few big punches from some of the heavyweights in the division. In the reverse, Velasquez also has the opportunity to finish submissions. While not being the heralded grappler that dos Santos is, Velasquez finished very well in grappling tournaments and does train under the much respected Camarillo. Arm locks like the Kimura and Americana are favorites amongst wrestlers who are powerful in top position, the Arm Triangle Choke is another because of the ability to smother your opponent when you are high atop his chest. Brock Lesnar demonstrated that brilliantly when he fought Shane Carwin. These two fighters have really been a great example as to the evolution and progression of our sport and its athletes. I spoke in detail about the ingredients for an effective recipe to becoming a well rounded mixed martial artist in a series called "Recipe for Success: Becoming well rounded in mixed martial arts:" Part One Part Two Part Three Part Four In any case this fight will be a dog fight on the feet, on the ground or a mixture of both. As both of these fighters have killer instinct, determination and incredible talent that will undoubtedly make this one memorable night. For your enjoyment I have included some other great reads you may want to catch up on before the main event later on tonight. Enjoy, Maniac’s! MMA 101 Series for UFC on FOX: MMA 101: Looking at the most frequent submissions prior to UFC on FOX debut MMA 101: Looking at the most used strikes prior to UFC on FOX debut MMA 101: Looking into the wrestling aspect of MMA prior to UFC on FOX debut MMA 101: Looking into the kickboxing and Muay Thai aspect of MMA prior to UFC on FOX debut Other MMA Must Reads: The difference between killer instinct and reckless abandon Ultimate Submissions: A closer look at "wrestling vs jiu-jitsu" when a fight hits the ground Ultimate Submisisons: When Technique meets power Ultimate Submissions: Breaking down the lack of grappling execution in MMA REMEMBER: MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of UFC on FOX 1, beginning with the preliminary card bouts on Facebook scheduled for 5:00 p.m. ET. In addition, we will also provide LIVE, real-time results of the heavyweight championship bout as it happens later this evening at 9 p.m. ET. See you then!

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, takedown, do

MMAterial Facts (11/11/11) : UFC on Fox Edition

Welcome to this week’s edition of MMAterial Facts, where we feature articles from around the MMA community. *** This week’s MMAterial Facts: Photo: Esther Lin, MMA Fighting - Fowlkes: How White’s Love of Boxing Led Us Here (MMA Fighting) “White: It was [Fox Sports Media Group Chairman] David Hill. I went in and said, listen, USA’s Tuesday Night Fights and ABC’s Wide World of Sports, we all used to watch those, all of us who were big boxing fans. I didn’t miss Tuesday Night Fights ever. Every Tuesday night I was on the couch. But when I was younger, I remember my uncles all getting around the TV and watching Wide World of Sports. When we told them the fight was going to be the heavyweight championship, they said, ‘Do that, just do the one fight, the heavyweight championship.’ It makes sense. That’s really the way it went down. It was David Hill’s call.” - Protest & presser at UFC HQ scheduled for Saturday at 11 AM (Fight Opinion) “On Saturday, Nevada survivors of sexual assault, concerned parents and Las Vegas casino workers will gather outside UFC’s headquarters at 2960 West Sahara Avenue. They are demanding that advertisers and FOX Sports “drop the UFC” until the UFC makes it evident to the public that it no longer tolerates violent, sexist and homophobic language, and adopts and enforces a code of ethical conduct similar to those that exist in other professional sports.” - Interview with Pablo Garza (MMA Mania) “With the way I finished my last two fights, people want to think that I’m going to go out there and do something insanely crazy and all that stuff. I’m just gonna go out there and try to win the fight, you know what I mean? If I do something spectacular in the process, that’s bonus points but I don’t purposely go out there and think like, “Alright, maybe this time I’ll try like a back flip or something.” - Frankie Edgar Will Likely Defend UFC LW Title Against Henderson-Guida Winner In Japan (MMA Convert) “Two respected MMA media outlets are reporting that Frankie Edgar will cross the Pacific to defend his title next February when the UFC returns to Japan. And word is UFC on FOX 1′s Ben Henderson vs. Clay Guida will likely determine his opponent.” - Here’s the tremendous UFC on FOX weigh-in that you need to see (MiddleEasy) “By this time tomorrow, we either will have a new heavyweight champion or can solidify that Fedor has been dethroned as the greatest heavyweight of all time. One of those scenarios will 100% take place within 24-hours, and that should fill all of you with incredible anxiety. I’ve been so tensed throughout the day thinking about this fight that I’ve only consumed two things since yesterday, and both of those things begins in ‘vienna’ and ends in ‘sausages.” - Pros Favoring Velasquez Heading Into ‘UFC On Fox 1′ (FightLine) “When it was initially announced that Cain Velasquez would make the first defense of his heavyweight belt against Junior dos Santos, the early betting lines favored dos Santos to win, as the memory of his thrashing of Shane Carwin was still fresh in everyone’s mind. With time though, public opinion in general shifted in Velasquez’s favor, with the majority of pundits, fans and fighters alike picking Velasquez to beat dos Santos. … FightHubTV’s Marcos Villegas recently polled a few California-stationed MMA fighters over who they see going home with the belt tomorrow night and their opinions reflected that majority. “ - Junior Dos Santos and the Five Most Impressive UFC Contender Runs in Recent History (Cage Potato) “You see, unbeaten runs aren’t common in the UFC. This isn’t the world of boxing, where fighters are fed 20 journeymen before they get thrown to the lions. And that’s precisely why the MMA community purrs over such immaculate resumes. So which UFC fighters built up the most impressive win streaks en route to their first title shot? These five come to mind…” - UFC on FOX Breakdown: The Main Event (Five Ounces of Pain) “Its status as MMA’s weakest and at times, most embarrassing division is well-earned. Its oxygen consumption equals that of every other weight class combined, and cardio is often thrown out the window before Bruce Buffer is done with his fighter introductions. However, every now and then, the heavyweight division offers a bout that captures the imagination of fight fans like no other.” - Celebrities for “UFC on FOX” Red Carpet Event Announced (5thRound) “FOX promised to host a star-studded red carpet extravaganza to kick off their MMA debut, and they weren’t kidding. This Saturday starting at 4PM PT, FUEL TV’s Nicole Dabeau will greet actors, athletes and other notables as they enter the Honda Center in Anaheim, California to watch Cain Velasquez defend his UFC heavyweight crown against Junior dos Santos.” - Interview with UFC on Fox co-headliner Clay Guida (LowKick) “Ben Henderson is pretty much the same (as Anthony Petts), great on the feet and solid on ground. I won’t go into detail, but I want to finish this fight. To me, a big win earns a title shot. I want to win big so that there is no question about my title shot. Everyone hyped Melvin Guillard as the obvious next shot, but then he lost in the first-round to Joe (Lauzon). So, I figure with a big win, then it’s my turn for that title shot.” … “It’s amazing really. To come from a wrestling background that doesn’t really have a professional circuit, other then the Olympics or the WWE, it is amazing to think that now I’m on PPV and will be on Fox. It’s just unreal and awesome. Plus, I meet so many people that just want a picture or to say hello – the fans are usually really cool. I feel that I have been a great ambassador for the UFC, and I hope to continue that trend.” - UFC 1-75 summed up in Tweets (TheFightNerd) “Scrawny Brazilian beats all with complex hugging and squeezing moves, including boxer with one glove and Ken Shamrock. -UFC 1 in tweet form … Pat Smith kills a ninja, but is scared of Royce Gracie being on top. -UFC 2 in tweet form … “If you’re coming on, come on!” says Canadian with epic mullet. -UFC 3 in tweet form” - Dana White: UFC on FOX a ‘”Dream Come True“(BleacherReport.com/MMA) “Lorenzo [Fertitta] and I sat down and we talked about a lot of different fights we can make. This one made sense,” White says. “Not only with the heavyweight championship of the world, but the fight between these two athletes. These guys are monsters, man. When have you seen either of these guys in a boring fight that was just horrible? The answer is never.”

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

USA Today purchases MMA Junkie

USA Today Sports Media Group announced its purchase of MMAJunkie.com. The purchase includes “its related editorial assets across all platforms, including its daily radio show.” Via USA Today press release: With more than one million unique visitors per month, MMAjunkie.com is one of the leading online news destinations for the sport, as well as a content partner for several print, online and TV outlets. It also produces the daily podcast/radio show “MMAjunkie.com Radio,” with a TV simulcast syndicated through Fight Now TV. MMAjunkie.com will retain its unique URL, and will also be rolled in to the USA TODAY Sports Media Group’s online coverage at MMA.USATODAY.com by mid-December 2011. Payout Perspective: Not only does USA Today acquire MMA Junkie, but Vox Media (parent to SB Nation) purchased MMA Fighting earlier in the week. The media consolidation can be a positive sign or negative depending on what your take is on MMA media. These acquisitions show that mainstream media groups see mixed martial arts as a growing industry as evidenced by the purchase of these sites. The MMA Fighting acquisition is interesting considering SB Nation has 3 other quality web sites in its stable. With the UFC deal, Fox legitimized the sport and tacitly made it acceptable for other mainstream media to look into the value of MMA. It will be interesting to see how much the sites will change in terms of content and look. Will MMA be covered by more mainstream sports media types? Both groups state that the sites will be “business as usual” as far as content. We will see how each progresses and evolves under its new ownership.

Posted in: mma, usa, sport, media, today

UFC on Fox: Greatest Milestone in MMA History?

The UFC takes to Fox on Nov. 12, airing the UFC heavyweight title bout between titleholder Cain Velasquez and challenger Junior Dos Santo. Is it the biggest fight in MMA history?

Posted in: ufc, mma, fox, mma history, dos santo

How Junior Dos Santos got his nickname - MMA News

submitted by alphahouse44 [link] [comment]

Posted in: mma, do, nickname, news, alphahouse

We all know what's at stake for the UFC this weekend, but how about FOX? MMA Nation's Luke Thomas...

We all know what's at stake for the UFC this weekend, but how about FOX? MMA Nation's Luke Thomas explores the other side of the monumental deal right here.

Posted in: ufc, mma, what, stake, deal right

Since everyone still wants to see Gina Carano, here's a new trailer for Haywire

Carano was inspired to train in MMA by drinking a 40oz of Olde English. Story goes that her and her ex-boyfriend were sitting in his parents house throwing back 40 ounces of Olde English and her boyfriend was talking to his dad about MMA and telling him he could do it. His dad said it would be impossible for him to do anything with a 40oz in his hand (which is not true, I've stolen golf carts and nearly saved the world with a 40oz in my hand). So he put it down, started training and stopped drinking for an entire year. Apparently he's an instructor somewhere and will regret the day he broke up with her for the rest of his life. After seeing her boyfriend train, Gina was somewhat inspired to do the same thing. Gina says she really got into the sport after a Thai Master called her 'fat'. If I ever called my ex-girlfriend fat, it would have probably resulted in a stainless steel wok slammed against my head (it's happened before). Apparently when you're a Thai master, you can call a chick anything and get away with it. Maybe 'fat' in Thai means 'You're a hot chick and need to train in MMA'. Scott Coker guaranteed we would see Gina Carano back in the cage at some point in 2011. It's now November 11th and there hasn't been a single morsel of a Carano fight aside from when she was supposed to compete in Dallas, TX at the Strikeforce HW GP: Overeem vs. Lesnar. Things sort of collapsed and everyone in the arena was just sitting there, drowning in '2011 NBA Champions: Dallas Mavericks' merchandise inside the American Airlines Center. Now it looks like Gina Carano has a second trailer for her new movie 'Haywire.' Personally, I'll watch the entire film because I'm passionate about MMA and simultaneously sexually attracted to Gina Carano.

Posted in: mma, gina carano, carano, gina, thai master

You may not like Jim Rome, but watch his interview with Dana White

It's wildly known that no one really likes Jim Rome. There's absolutely no scenario in which anyone can envision sharing a sandwich with the guy. He's a professional critic that has a strong ability to talk forcefully and uninterrupted for long durations -- and that seems to be the current trend amongst middle-aged sports personalities. A few years ago when MMA needed the help of someone mainstream in the sports world, Jim Rome was no where to be found. The guy absolutely disregarded the sport and now people herald him as a great mind of MMA. Wrong. Completely wrong. Pride Fanboys forgot more about MMA than Jim Rome acquired when he hopped on the now popular bandwagon about a year ago. However, enough about me painting an accurate and entirely precise depiction of a guy that Jim Everett punked on live television. Check out yesterday's Dana White interview on 'Burning with Jim Rome.' [Source]

Posted in: mma, guy, jim rome, jim, rome

What the mainstream thinks of MMA

MMA Fighting takes to the streets of Hollywood to find out what the normies think about our little world of triangle chokes and armbars, to hilarious results.

Posted in: mma, triangle, mainstream, mma mma, triangle chokes

UFC on FOX Staff Predictions Special: Guest Picks From MMA Media Members

LowKick.com Staff and fellow MMA media members share their picks for this weekend's UFC Heavyweight title clash between Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos.

Posted in: ufc, mma, media, member, staff

Smiling Dos Santos not planning on mood change for UFC on FOX opportunity (MMAJunkie.com)

ROSEMEAD, Calif. – It wasn't hard to pick out Junior Dos Santos (13-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC) at Thursday's...

Posted in: ufc, mma, do, calif, mood change

UFC on Fox one of many MMA television milestones

Fox the home to the World Series, Super Bowls, Daytona 500 and other major sports properties will broadcast UFC on Fox 1 on Saturday November 12, 2011. For MMA, a sport once happy just to be on a pay per view, a Saturday night Primetime slot on a major US television network caps off a strange nine year trip across various television platforms. The circular journey for MMA on TV actually began with the UFC's debut on basic cable in 2002.The enormity of UFC on Fox 1 both in potential audience size as well as marketing push shows how far the young sport has grown in only nine years. With inclusion of the UFC heavyweight title tilt between Cain Velasquez (9-0) and Junior Dos Santos (13-1) booked for UFC on Fox 1, below are eight more milestone moments in MMA's history on TV. June 22, 2002- UFC 37.5A thrown together event one month after UFC 37 and one month prior to UFC 38, UFC 37.5 was part of a Fox Sports Net's "Best Damn Sports Show Period" summer television event. The six fight card was headlined by a light heavyweight number one contenders bout between Chuck Liddell (21-8) and Vitor Belfort (20-9). FSN producers would select a undercard welterweight fight between Robbie Lawler (18-8-1) and Steve Berger (21-21-2) to be the first official MMA fight to air on US cable TV. April 9, 2005- The Ultimate Fighter 1 FinaleAfter a successful first season of the UFC and Spike's Ultimate Fighter reality show "The Ultimate Fighter 1 Finale" was the cherry on top of a new era for the UFC. A Hail Mary pass for a MMA organization struggling on the books and desperate for a TV presence, The Ultimate Fighter 1 surpassed rating projections for the UFC as well as Spike TV. The event also provided the UFC with a talking point fight in Forrest Griffin versus Stephan Bonnar that would epitomize the type of athlete the UFC wanted to promote. October 10, 2006- Ortiz vs. Shamrock 3 The Final ChapterAt the time the final fight in the Tito Ortiz-Ken Shamrock trilogy was the biggest fight the UFC had put on Spike TV. The made for TV event was thrown together after a controversial end to Ortiz-Shamrock 2 and the reality that a third bout may not be the best fit for pay per view. The UFC and Spike broke records for MMA on TV with The Final Chapter with a peak of 5.7 million viewers and the Ortiz-Shamrock main event bringing in a 4.3 rating. February 10, 2007- EliteXC: DestinyEliteXC was the first MMA promotion to broker a deal with the premium cable channel Showtime. Headlined by Frank Shamrock (23-10-2) vs. Renzo Gracie (13-7-1), EliteXC Destiny also featured the promotion's future stars Gina Carano, K.J Noons and Antonio Silva. The five fight main card pulled in a 1.62 household rating. September 8, 2007- UFC 75: Champion vs. ChampionNot only a UFC title fight for free on Spike TV but also a Pride versus UFC showdown headlined UFC 75. Both former Pride stars, UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson (32-9) squared off with champion Dan Henderson (28-8) in a five round title fight. The taped delayed broadcast in North America set the MMA ratings barometer at a total of 4.7 million viewers with 5.93 million at its peak. May 31, 2008- EliteXC: PrimetimeThe rapid ascent of MMA promotion EliteXC peaked with deal to broadcast events on CBS. EliteXC: Primetime was headlined by YouTube star and fringe heavyweight contender Kimbo Slice (4-2) versus former Pride FC big man James Thompson (16-14). EliteXC's premier card on CBS brought in the company's highest ratings with a peak of 6.51 million viewers and overall 4.85 million average. September 30, 2009- The Ultimate Fighter 10 episode 3The signature MMA reality series the Ultimate Fighter ratings peaked in season 10. Aided by the casting of internet sensation Kimbo Slice (4-2) episode three of TUF 10 was promoted as a must see event by the UFC and Spike TV. Slice's one and only fight on the show shattered the Spike reality shows previous benchmarks with peak of 5.3 million viewers who tuned into his fight with Roy Nelson. November 7, 2009- Strikeforce / M-1 Global: Fedor vs. RogersThe consensus number two MMA organization in 2009 was Strikeforce which debuted on CBS with the number one heavyweight in the world Fedor Emelianenko (32-4-1) vs. unlikely challenger Brett Rogers (11-4). Ratings for the event were deemed a success with a peak of 5.46 million viewers and a overall average of 4.04 million viewers. Strikeforce's next event on CBS would be its last on network TV as low rating buried the promotion's chances for a long term broadcast partnership. November 12, 2011- UFC on Fox: Velasquez vs. Dos SantosThus far the pinnacle of MMA on network television as the top promotion and two top ranked fighters highlight the UFC on Fox 1. A UFC heavyweight title scrap, in what has always been combat sports big money weight class, features champion Cain Velasquez (9-0) versus challenger Junior Dos Santos (13-1) as the one and only booked for the one hour broadcast.The first event in a seven year partnership between Fox and the UFC may set the standard for what both fans and TV executives view as realistic expectations for the landmark deal.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, event, tv

Latest UFC/MMA news and notes from around the web for the week of November 6, 2011

Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Tito Ortiz and Dana White pictured above, we can all "get along." Teaming up with MMA sites like MiddleEasy, Cage Potato, Fight Opinion and Five Ounces of Pain, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport. This week, Cage Potato has a fan Q&A with Dan Severn, Lowkick speaks with Clay Guida about his huge lightweight fight and Fight Opinion talks about Jim Genia's new book, "Raw Combat." The full list of links is after the jump. - Interview with UFC on Fox co-headliner Clay Guida (LowKick) "Ben Henderson is pretty much the same (as Anthony Petts), great on the feet and solid on ground. I won't go into detail, but I want to finish this fight. To me, a big win earns a title shot. I want to win big so that there is no question about my title shot. Everyone hyped Melvin Guillard as the obvious next shot, but then he lost in the first-round to Joe (Lauzon). So, I figure with a big win, then it's my turn for that title shot." - Ask Dan Severn #2: Fighting Royce, body paint, ping pong, and drunks (Cage Potato) Thanks to everybody who submitted questions to Dan Severn last week! Today's installment of Dan's no-holds-barred Q&A column is loaded with classic stories and grown-man wisdom, so get comfortable and read on. - Brown Pride: I'm with Velasquez (Five Ounces of Pain) This is the story of a Mexican who has been down but never out, a Mexican who has run through everyone in his way, a Mexican who is the leader of a nation, a Mexican who has a heart despite his bad ass persona, and a Mexican who you don't want to f*ck with. This is the story of Machete. This is also the story of UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez. - How mainstream is MMA? (video) (MMA Fighting) Ariel Helwani hits the streets of Hollywood to find out the answer - Roland Delorme discusses Akira's ironic loss on ‘TUF 14′ (5thRound) As you know, "The Ultimate Fighter 14″ bantamweight contestant Roland Delorme (Pictured) has been blogging exclusively for 5thRound.com all season. Some crazy pranks went down in last night's show, and Delorme got a first-hand look at all the excitement. Here's Delorme's take on Episode 8: - Interview with Conor Heun (MiddleEasy) Reggie Warren is back with another edition of his new MiddleEasy feature: '11 Questions with Reggie Warren Jr.' this time featuring Strikeforce lightweight, Conor Heun, who was recently robbed at the 2011 No-Gi worlds this past weekend. - UFC 1 though 75 summed up in Tweets (TheFightNerd) "If you're coming on, come on!" says Canadian with epic mullet. - UFC 3 in tweet form Karate man Keith Hackney punches Joe Son in the nuts 40 times. And it's legal. - UFC 4 in tweet form - Jim Genia's Raw Combat book review (Fight Opinion) When Jim Genia approached me about sending me a copy of his new MMA book Raw Combat, I was intrigued. Because of the rising quality of books covering MMA, the standards have been raised. I can honestly say that Jim's book met and exceeded my personal expectations. Anything that involves covering the history of MMA, I'm all-in. - Update on Xyience chapter 11 bankruptcy case (MMA Payout) "Some interesting movement in the Chapter 11 Bankruptcy case of sport drink manufacturer Xyience. Last week, Forbes reported that Fertitta Enterprises was sanctioned by the Bankruptcy Court in Nevada for failing to provide certain information previously requested by the Bankruptcy trustee. The sanctions stem from Fertitta Enterprises' failure to provide e-mails from its chief financial officer which claim that it orchestrated the funding for Xyience during its bankruptcy proceedings. In addition to the sanctions, a motion for summary judgment has been filed by the trustee seeking an order that the Fertittas pay back over $945,000 and that Zyen, LLC does not have a security interest in Xyience assets." - Ricardo Lamas fighting for memory of his grandmother (BleacherReport.com/MMA) When you are a fighter, you fight for different reasons. In some cases, you fight for pride, respect and the desire to be a world champion someday. For Ricardo Lamas (10-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC) who faces Cub Swanson (15-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC) in UFC this Saturday on Fox at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA, he is fighting for family. - M-1 Fedor vs Monson preview (video) (MMA Convert) - Is Velasquez vs. dos Santos the best heavyweight title fight of all time? (Fightline) Velasquez vs. Dos Santos on pay-pre-view likely wouldn't outsell Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair Overeem, a non-title fight. Even with the ballyhoo over the UFC's debut on Fox, Velasquez vs. dos Santos doesn't carry with it the breathless aura that Fedor Emelianenko vs. Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic did during the Pride era. So, is Saturday's main event really the best heavyweight match-up of all time?

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, vs, velasquez

A Lesson in Street MMA: Dramatic finishes are common

What we have here is an open weight match at one of the larger Street MMA stadiums somewhere in the world. The crowd is massive, they are excited to see the bout and most of all, they are educated. Notice the space being given to the combatants and even the referee reset. These guys know what's up and they can't wait to see this anticipated match up. I think there is even a green MiddleEasy shirt in the crowd. After a rough start to the match where shirts takes an incredible amount of punishment, he reminds us all that anything can happen in Street MMA, anything. While skins may have had the upper hand with the stand up, it's a whole new game on the concrete. Check it out. [source]

Posted in: mma, street mma, middleeasy shirt, street, referee reset

Nothing Bothers Junior dos Santos

Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, Videos, UFC on FOXROSEMEAD, Calif. -- MMA Fighting spoke to heavyweight contender Junior dos Santos on Thursday about if he ever gets upset, why he's always smiling, dealing with his newfound fame, where he thinks he has the advantage over Cain Velasquez and whether or not this fight feels any different than the others because it's on FOX. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, do, heavyweight contender, ufc mma

Clay Guida Believes He Has Better Cardio, MMA Wrestling Than Benson Henderson

Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, Videos, UFC on FOXROSEMEAD, Calif. -- MMA Fighting spoke to Clay Guida on Thursday about Saturday night's fight against Benson Henderson, being left out of Wednesday's press conference, why he was simply happy to be there, his rise up the 155-pound ranks, where he thinks he is better than "Bendo," and keeping his eye on the prize. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mma, clay guida, ufc mma, benson henderson, cardio mma

MMA Odds Breaker Video: Clay Guida vs Ben Henderson Predictions

MMA OddsMaker Nick Kalikas and veteran MMA MatchMaker Miguel Iturrate host another episode of MMA Odds Breaker to give you insight, tips and predictions on one UFC on Fox and one UFC 140 fight, among other discussions. Their guests on this episode is Case Keefer, an MMA/Sports Betting journalist from the Las Vegas Sun and [...]

Posted in: mma, prediction, odd, insight tips, case keefer

Video: How Mainstream Is MMA?

Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, UFC on FOXHOLLYWOOD, Calif. -- With the UFC set to make its network debut on Saturday, MMA Fighting took to the streets of Hollywood to find just how mainstream the sport really is and whether people were aware of Saturday night's historic fight. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, ufc mma, network debut, saturday nights

Asian MMA Update: Eric Kelly Defends URCC Title at Rogue Black Tie Brawl

On November 19, URCC Featherweight Champion, Eric Kelly, will be defending his title on Black Tie Brawl. For those unfamiliar with the yearly affair, this event produced by Rogue Magazine and the URCC definitely won't be your typical MMA show. As the name suggests, the Black Tie Brawl is a strictly formal event held at the Grand Ballroom of the New World Hotel. These dressed up fans and patrons will also get a fancy sit-down 3-course dinner, champagne, and an open bar courtesy of Chivas. All that, plus 6 top notch MMA bouts will guarantee different kind of experience for fight fans in the country. As mentioned, one of the top Asian featherweights will be headlining the event. Kelly, who is coming off a big win over Evolve MMA's Mitch Chilson at ONE FC, will be defending his URCC title against Ricardo Sapno. All of the undefeated champ's victories has come by submission, although he might have to rely more on his striking this time, as he's taking on a talented Judo fighter in Sapno. Also on the card, are two of the top stand outs from last weekend's URCC XX. 6-foot-4 Bantamweight, Will 'The Kill' Chope and Reydon 'The Filipino Bolo Punch' Romero are both going to have quick turn-arounds as they will be stepping back in the ring on separate featherweight bouts exactly two weeks after they picked up huge wins on that milestone URCC event. They'll be taking on Miguel Alo and Michael Dan Rubio respectively on key bouts that could determine the next title challenger. Check out the full fight card, along with other Asian MMA news after the jump. URCC Rogue Black Tie BrawlNovember 19, 2011 - New World Hotel Grand Ballroom - Eric Kelly vs. Ricardo Sapno [URCC Featherweight Championship] - Melchor Cases vs. Mitch Malii - Michael Dan Rubio vs. Red 'The Filipino Bolo Punch' Romero - Miguel Alo vs. Will Chope - Rendel Camensi vs. Keiff Mangusan - Mario Sismundo vs. Bong Garchitorena Pictured: Eric Kelly celebrating his victory over Mitch Chilson, at ONE FC's debut event last September. Photo by Anton Tabuena. As for your other MMA news from around the region, here are a few tidbits coming out of the various Asian promotions: - Shooto has announced a top notch bout between their former bantamweight champ, Masakatsu Ueda (14-1-2), and undefeated 21-year-old prospect, Kyoji Horiguchi (6-0). Ueda is coming off four straight wins, with the latest one being a move up to lightweight where he retired Royler Gracie at AFC 1. Horiguchi, on the other hand, is the former Shooto Rookie champ, and is one of the youngest brightest prospects on their roster. - Here's the poster and promo video for the PXC 28 event which will happen on Nov 26, in Pasig, Philippines. For more details on the event, check it out here. - Road FC 5, which happens on December 3 has been finalized, and as reported earlier, the more notable names include, UFC vet Dennis Kang, and ONE FC fighter Vuyisile Colossa, and Evolve MMA's Brian Choi. (HT: Nightmare of Battle): - Here's the intro video for Legend FC 6. The show will also have be aired on November 19, at 8 PM, on Kix channel.

Posted in: mma, vs, event, urcc, kelly

Fight video: "3" a UK MMA Documentary Starring 205 prospect Jimi Manuwa, Cory Tait & Jack Marshman

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

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

Mendez Coasting Into the Main with Cain

There is a fervor slowly brewing that has been amassing strength for a decade now and it’s beginning to sonically boom into the ears and eyes of the masses. This rising fever pitch is the UFC debut on FOX on Saturday, November 12th, in which millions who have yet to experience mixed martial arts at its highest competitive level will have the opportunity to do so on free TV. With the event centered around the storied heavyweight division’s two standouts - champion Cain Velasquez and number one contender Junior dos Santos - it is fitting that in the background lie those who have literally laid the foundation on which this momentous occasion can stand. One such soul is Javier Mendez, the head trainer for Velasquez, whose personal history in the sport goes far beyond his work with the young champion. “If you look back in the history I’m probably the only guy that’s been involved in UFC since 1996 that’s still there. No one knows that I bet but I’ve been there since 1996,” said Mendez. Mixed martial arts began for Mendez in July of 1996 at UFC 10 in Birmingham, Alabama, with his first MMA fighter, Brian Johnston. It was an event that resulted in Johnston advancing to the semifinals of that night’s tournament after a first round submission due to strikes victory over Scott Fielder, only to lose to Don Frye in the same manner in his next bout. The event however, marked a change in the career direction of Mendez, a former kickboxer.“Brian Johnston made an impact for himself, so as a result I met (former UFC 205-pound champion) Frank Shamrock,” said Mendez. “Then Frank Shamrock came to my gym and wanted to know if he could train there. Under my direction Frank never lost a fight. He was the first UFC middleweight (205-pounds at the time) champion, then he became WEC champion and then he was the Strikeforce champion. Frank never lost with me, and as a result of Frank coming to me, BJ Penn basically was around the gym and says to me ‘hey, one day Javier, when I’m done with the (Jiu-Jitsu) Mundials, that’s what I want - I’m going to focus on my jiu-jitsu and win that world title, then I’m going to want to come talk to you about doing MMA.’ I said sure, and of course BJ wins the Mundials and then he comes and asks me to train him. So I started training BJ and as a result of BJ, then a lot more attention started coming to the gym and its pretty much history that everybody started coming in little by little and migrating.”The word ‘migrate’ took a different meaning for Mendez growing up in San Jose, California. One of five boys growing up under parents who were migrant workers, the life of a gym rat was never in sight as a youngster.“We were too poor to get involved in sports, so I just did after school sports with my friends. I never got involved with any activities like wrestling or football or baseball because just getting enough to eat was a hardship within itself. My dad was a forklift operator for a cannery with fruit. My mom would work in the summers with all of us in the fields picking cherries, prunes, cucumbers and strawberries, and we would do that every summer after school.”After an early beginning taking boxing lessons at 12 years old and then Tae Kwon Do after high school, Mendez gravitated towards kickboxing, eventually going pro and winning the light cruiserweight championship and light heavyweight championship. The success yielded a gym and a departure from a real estate job to pursue in his words, ‘a dream that makes no money.’ However, from that point on, and many successful fighters later, he found and developed Velasquez, a fighter that he admittedly didn’t even want at first.“The first time I met Cain Velasquez, they’re telling me we got this kid that has an incredible gas tank, he never gets tired but then I heard the word ‘Mexican’ and I was like ‘whatever, I’ve never seen a Mexican that’s a heavyweight that’s extremely athletic.’ I thought he was probably overweight, so I‘m not that interested in him.”Then Cain popped through the door and I had to take a double look at him. Then I watched him work out and the unbelievable discipline he had and I said ‘wow, this kid is special.’ Everything he did surprised me and still to this day he has the same discipline; he hasn’t changed one bit. He’s not the greatest athlete but he’s the greatest fighter I’ve ever trained.”Since Cain’s meteoric rise through the heavyweight ranks another has emerged with the same aura of invincibility in Junior dos Santos. The two’s clash will mark a new phase in MMA’s development, and Mendez feels it is a great pairing.“Junior dos Santos is by far the most dangerous opponent that we have yet to face; Junior is dangerous in every single area of MMA. I think he chooses to stand more because that’s his preference, but Junior can wrestle, has jiu-jitsu, can kick and is a total MMA fighter. The UFC is putting together the two best fighters in the world bar none. That sends a strong message and shows what they are willing to do to make the sport more successful. The most eyeballs are going to be on this and I call this the American Idol for MMA. The Finals, that’s what I call this.”With the stage set, Mendez is readying his fighter’s mind for a long battle, but one where the victor where gallantly engage in the ultimate of glories.“Cain’s focused for a five round war and I believe we’re going to win that five round war. Anytime we fight someone on the caliber of Junior we’re not going to make any predictions on knockouts because its more of a disrespect to how great of a fighter Junior is, and if we’re thinking we’re going to finish him, that’s a bad mistake on my and Cain’s part to underestimate someone as dangerous as Junior. But I believe 100% we are going to win.”

Posted in: ufc, mma, fighter, ’re, mendez

Dana White Talks UFC on FOX, His Hectic Schedule and Joe Frazier

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, Videos, UFC on FOXLOS ANGELES - MMA Fighting caught up with UFC president Dana White after the UFC on FOX pre-fight press conference Wednesday. He discussed his nerves leading up to the fight, what his life is like just days before the UFC on FOX debut, how this show will be different than past UFC events and his favorite Joe Frazier moment. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, fox, fox debut, joe frazier

Here's your handy guide for tomorrow's EFC Africa 11, streaming exclusively on MiddleEasy

We're less than 24-hours away from utilizing the magic of alien technology, opening a portal to half-way across the world and watching live African MMA in real-time. Umberto Eco would probably admire our attempt at mastering mass-media, if he knew what MMA was. If you could travel in time, take someone from the 1830s and explain to him/her what you're about to do tomorrow at 2pm EST/11am PST on MiddleEasy.com, their respective brain cells would cower in the corners of their skull, afraid of what mankind has achieved in just under two centuries. EFC Africa 11 will air tomorrow live on MiddleEasy.com for everyone in North America, GroundandPound.de in Germany and MMALegacy.gr in Greece. If you happen to reside in Africa, visit your local Nu Metro theatre to catch the event on the big screen or EFCAfrica.com if you have an African IP address. Technically, if you reside in Africa and don't have an African IP address when you connect to the internet, then I'll have to wonder where you got that IP address from. Now that EFC has signed an exclusive deal with FOX, I believe you can watch the event on the FX network on television -- however I'm prepared to be entirely wrong on my assumption. In the main card of EFC Africa 11, we will see: Unfortunately for this event, MiddleEasy will not carry the undercard fights so for the time being, the fights listed above (and below) are the only ones that matter November 10th 2011. That's sort of rough for all the undercard fighters, but we still love you. Check out our brief breakdown of each fighter competing in the broadcast part of EFC Africa 11. Heavyweight Championship Fight Ruan Potts vs. Andrew van Zyl Played rugby in school, broke a few records. National judo champion. Discovered MMA in England. Trains at Wolfslair with Cheick Kongo and Tom Blackledge. Now trains at African Top Team. Full-time teacher in Johannesburg. Also a Rugby coach. Teaches 'life orientation' classes and takes his students on wild field trips. Light Heavyweight Championship Fight Costa Ioannou vs. Alex Cheboub Never fought in amateur MMA. One of MMA's few Greek champions. Undefeated and a title holder, but still a 'diamond in the rough.' Was bullied as a kid for having a giant, curly afro. Introduced to martial arts by a Korean diplomat that lived across the street from him as a kid. Has a degree in Microbiology and Genetics. Worked as a scientist for a renewable energy company. An avid ecological conservationist. Jacques Joubert vs. Tyron Rightford All of his wins have been finishes in the first round. Nickname is 'Law and Order.' Has fought in EFC since their second event. Is a member of Team Colosseum. His last fight ended in 44 seconds by a TKO via knee. Currently undefeated. Nolan Swanepoel vs. Martin van Staden He's obsessed with growing and maintaining bonsai trees. Named his newest trees 'Nishiki' and 'Moonfire.' Had a pet spider named 'Anderson Silva.' Ironically it died when Okami fought Silva at UFC 142. Has been defeated twice in his professional career, and by the same person. Has defeated all of his opponents in the first round. Known for getting into bar fights when he was younger. One club bouncer saw his potential, and invited him to train MMA with him. The current EFC welterweight title holder, Dallas Jakobi, wants van Staden to win so he can avenge his loss. Chett Meyer vs. Tumelo Maphutha Has competed in EFC his entire MMA career. Trains with Costa Ioannou, the EFC lightweight title holder. Former professional hockey player. Is known for his 'Cro Cop like' headkick. Used to compete in EFC's rival MMA organization, 'Fight Force.' Trains with fellow EFC fighter, Jacques Joubert. Don't forget to come back to MiddleEasy tomorrow (November 10th) 2pm EST/11am PST to watch EFC Africa 11 live. Yes!

Posted in: fight, mma, train, africa, efc

Here's your handy guide for tomorrow's EFC Africa 11, streaming exclusively on MiddleEasy

We're less than 24-hours away from utilizing the magic of alien technology, opening a portal to half-way across the world and watching live African MMA in real-time. Umberto Eco would probably admire our attempt at mastering mass-media, if he knew what MMA was. If you could travel in time, take someone from the 1830s and explain to him/her what you're about to do tomorrow at 2pm EST/11am PST on MiddleEasy.com, their respective brain cells would cower in the corners of their skull, afraid of what mankind has achieved in just under two centuries. EFC Africa 11 will air tomorrow live on MiddleEasy.com for everyone in North America, GroundandPound.de in Germany and MMALegacy.gr in Greece. If you happen to reside in Africa, visit your local Nu Metro theatre to catch the event on the big screen or EFCAfrica.com if you have an African IP address. Technically, if you reside in Africa and don't have an African IP address when you connect to the internet, then I'll have to wonder where you got that IP address from. Now that EFC has signed an exclusive deal with FOX, I believe you can watch the event on the FX network on television -- however I'm prepared to be entirely wrong on my assumption. In the main card of EFC Africa 11, we will see: Unfortunately for this event, MiddleEasy will not carry the undercard fights so for the time being, the fights listed above (and below) are the only ones that matter November 10th 2011. That's sort of rough for all the undercard fighters, but we still love you. Check out our brief breakdown of each fighter competing in the broadcast part of EFC Africa 11. Heavyweight Championship Fight Ruan Potts vs. Andrew van Zyl Played rugby in school, broke a few records. National judo champion. Discovered MMA in England. Trains at Wolfslair with Cheick Kongo and Tom Blackledge. Now trains at African Top Team. Full-time teacher in Johannesburg. Also a Rugby coach. Teaches 'life orientation' classes and takes his students on wild field trips. Light Heavyweight Championship Fight Costa Ioannou vs. Alex Cheboub Never fought in amateur MMA. One of MMA's few Greek champions. Undefeated and a title holder, but still a 'diamond in the rough.' Was bullied as a kid for having a giant, curly afro. Introduced to martial arts by a Korean diplomat that lived across the street from him as a kid. Has a degree in Microbiology and Genetics. Worked as a scientist for a renewable energy company. An avid ecological conservationist. Jacques Joubert vs. Tyron Rightford All of his wins have been finishes in the first round. Nickname is 'Law and Order.' Has fought in EFC since their second event. Is a member of Team Colosseum. His last fight ended in 44 seconds by a TKO via knee. Currently undefeated. Nolan Swanepoel vs. Martin van Staden He's obsessed with growing and maintaining bonsai trees. Named his newest trees 'Nishiki' and 'Moonfire.' Had a pet spider named 'Anderson Silva.' Ironically it died when Okami fought Silva at UFC 134. Has been defeated twice in his professional career, and by the same person. Has defeated all of his opponents in the first round. Known for getting into bar fights when he was younger. One club bouncer saw his potential, and invited him to train MMA with him. The current EFC welterweight title holder, Dallas Jakobi, wants van Staden to win so he can avenge his loss. Chett Meyer vs. Tumelo Maphutha Has competed in EFC his entire MMA career. Trains with Costa Ioannou, the EFC lightweight title holder. Former professional hockey player. Is known for his 'Cro Cop like' headkick. Used to compete in EFC's rival MMA organization, 'Fight Force.' Trains with fellow EFC fighter, Jacques Joubert. Don't forget to come back to MiddleEasy tomorrow (November 10th) 2pm EST/11am PST to watch EFC Africa 11 live. Yes!

Posted in: fight, mma, train, africa, efc

Woman choked unconscious by mixed martial artist while driving

There are acceptable ways to combine MMA with other sports and activities. Combining arm wrestling with MMA may be Snooki levels of stupid, which is probably why it currently has the support of Snooki’s highly successful TV producers. Combining MMA with football/rugby... well, let’s just say that it could be worse. Combining BMX with MMA turns out to be surprisingly non-shitty ... WHEN DIFFERENT PEOPLE DO THE BMX AND THE MMA PARTS. The one absolute requirement for having a successful experience in MMA (besides having limbs) seems to be not simultaneously operating a motor vehicle. Last Saturday, a 33-year-old heavyweight MMA fighter in Bremerton, Washington allegedly forgot about this requirement when he choked a buddy’s girlfriend unconscious while she was driving a car, causing her to piss her pants. Evidently, the fearsome attack also caused the woman to push the brake pedal, bringing the car to a complete stop. Both of the men were then arrested after it was discovered that the woman’s boyfriend had an outstanding warrant. Here is the Bremerton Patriot’s account of the incident: The woman said the 33-year-old heavyweight MMA fighter was visiting from California and is a friend of her 33-year-old boyfriend. When she and her boyfriend went to pick the friend up in Seattle earlier in the day, he was intoxicated. The three of them decided to have some drinks in Chico but the friend became rowdy and since the woman said she was "in the best shape" of the three of them, she drove them to her boyfriend's East Bremerton residence. While driving, the friend became more belligerent and when the woman yelled back at him, he grabbed her by the neck and began choking her, according to reports. She grabbed for a knife that she keeps for self defense but decided not to stab the man. She told the deputy she only remembers pounding on the steering wheel in an attempt to get some oxygen before passing out. Before passing out, she was able to slam the brakes and bring the vehicle to a stop. When she gained consciousness, she realized she had urinated in her pants and went to a friend's house to change her pants and called 9-1-1. She told her boyfriend to come with her, but he remained with his friend. Both the boyfriend and the friend denied that an assault occurred. They said the woman was driving recklessly and they wanted to get out of the vehicle. The deputy didn't observe any marks on the woman's neck but did observe the soiled driver's seat and a knife on the floorboard of the vehicle. Ohhhh... So the guy was preventing her from driving so badly by choking her out while she was behind the wheel. So really, he’s no different from Jason "Mayhem" Miller; this is a glowing endorsement of the reasonableness of his behavior. Perfect! The logic behind the arrest also shines with the light of pure reason. There is no proof that anyone was choked except for a puddle of piss and the statements of an “obviously” intoxicated woman who claims to have been able to bring a car to a complete stop while being choked unconscious. That’s obviously all we’ll need to get a conviction out of this. Book ‘em, Danno!

Posted in: mma, woman, friend, boyfriend, vehicle

Heavyweight Damian Grabowski returns with win at MMA Attack 1 in Poland

The debut of Polish promotion MMA Attack featured a trio of the country's top stars in action. From Warsaw's Torwar Hall the main event featured one time Bellator fighter Michal Kita (11-6) cruise past former UFC champion Ricco Rodriguez (47-13) in a two round decision. In the co-main event six time UFC vet Tomasz Drwal (19-4-1) picked up his second straight win with a unanimous decision over California's Gary Padilla (12-6). Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} Perhaps the polish fighter with the best chance to sign with the UFC, heavyweight Damian Grabowski (14-1) overwhelmed Joaquim Ferreira (11-7) in the first round. In the grappling department Grabowski took down and had back control on Ferreira early in the first round. After a failed armbar attempt from Grabowski both men returned to the feet. A takedown attempt from Ferreira brought upon the closing sequence of the fight. Grabowski secured an arm in guillotine choke that Ferreira was unable to break free from after the BJJ black belt left his neck exposed. The official time of the tap out came at the 2:57 mark of round one. For Grabowski it was his first fight in over 14 months. Grabowski, a two time Bellator tournament competitor, would be a welcomed addition to the UFC heavyweight ranks that is in always in search of more depth. At 31 years of age Grabowski's grappling based style has netted him 13 stoppage or submission wins in his four year MMA run. MMA Attack 1 resultsWarsaw, PolandPiotr Niedzielko def. Maciej Sikonski by Submission Punches 0:59 R1Johnny Frachey def. Sebastian Grabarek by Split DecisionBorys Mankowski def. Peter Sobotta by Split DecisionJuan Barrantes def. Maciej Gorski by Split DecisionDamian Grabowski def. Joaquim Ferreira by Submission Guillotine Choke 2:57 R1Tomasz Drwal def. Gary Padilla by Unanimous DecisionMichal Kita def. Ricco Rodriguez by Unanimous Decision

Posted in: ufc, mma, round, grabowski, ferreira

Pro MMA Radio 172: UFC on FOX 1 Preview, Larry Pepe To Host Fox Sports Radio Pre & Post-Fight Shows

We have partnered with Pro MMA Radio to bring you weekly replays of PMR as the official radio show of MMAConvert.com. Pro MMA Radio can be heard live every Monday evening at 9PM ET/6PM PT. Replays and podcasts of every show are available 24/7 by going to the “Replay Corner” section of ProMMARadio.com, our own Pro MMA Radio page or by clicking the banner below. On this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio, FIGHT! Magazine’s Jim Casey joined the show to help host Larry Pepe recap UFC 138 and preview UFC on FOX 1. Also, Larry Pepe will be hosting the UFC on FOX 1 pre and post-fight shows on Fox Sports Radio. The pre-show will start at 8pm ET/5pm PT. The post-show will then follow as soon as the UFC on FOX 1 broadcast ends. You can listen to a replay of this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio by clicking the banner below. A radio player with links to the show’s archives will open in a pop-up window, so please make sure your browser is set to allow pop-ups for this site.

Posted in: ufc, mma, fox, radio, mma radio

MMA documentary '3' on MTV UK features up-and-coming UCMMA and BAMMA fighters

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

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

UFC Not the First on Network TV, but Can It Learn From Others' Mistakes?

Filed under: UFC, UFC on FOXMake no mistake: the UFC on Fox is a landmark event, and it is a very, very big deal for the UFC and its fans. But it's not quite an industry pioneer. Not by a long shot. A live MMA event on network TV? Sorry UFC, but it's been done. Not particularly well, but still. Before there was the UFC on FOX, there was EliteXC: Primetime. Before Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos agreed to meet for the UFC heavyweight title on network TV, Kimbo Slice and James Thompson introduced America to their own interpretation of MMA on CBS. Like many trailblazing efforts in other fields, this was an imperfect foray into the unknown. Let's just say mistakes were made, lessons were learned, and both EliteXC and CBS found out that sometimes it hurts to go first. This was late May, 2008. Compared to today's MMA landscape, the field of battle was positively littered with would-be competitors to the UFC. The IFL had a pre-taped weekly spot on MyNetworkTV -- at the time one of the consistently lowest-rated English-language networks -- airing weeks-old fights and highlight reels. Strikeforce had a similarly pre-taped, extremely late-night (or, more accurately, early morning) show on NBC at 2 a.m., following "Poker After Dark." Even clothier-turned-promoter Affliction was getting ready to jump into the MMA scene with a bloated payroll and a recklessly ambitious business plan. And then there was EliteXC. First announced in 2006, the upstart organization put on its first fight in 2007 at the DeSoto Civic Center in Southaven, Miss. It wasn't the most auspicious of beginnings, particularly for an event entitled "Destiny" -- the main event ended in a disqualification loss for Frank Shamrock after he illegally kneed Renzo Gracie in the head several times -- but with a main card on Showtime and an undercard streaming on Pro Elite website, it was perhaps a sign of things to come for the MMA industry as a whole. More Coverage: UFC on FOX Fight Card | UFC on FOX Results On May 31, 2008, EliteXC brought a live MMA event to primetime network television for the first time in American TV history. The aptly named "Primetime" event went down in Newark's Prudential Center, and was loaded with EliteXC's most marketable stars, including Kimbo Slice, Gina Carano, Robbie Lawler, and Phil Baroni. From the very beginning, the big network debut wasn't exactly a Swiss watch. Carano missed weight badly for her fight with Kaitlin Young, and didn't seem especially thrilled about being on the card at all. The event was headlined by former internet brawler Kimbo Slice (who had just two pro MMA fights at the time) taking on journeyman heavyweight James Thompson (who was riding a two-fight losing streak and had been knocked out in five of his last eight bouts). The main event pairing was panned by many fans and pundits, particularly since the undercard featured a legitimately attemtion-worthy middleweight title bout between Robbie Lawler and Scott Smith, but the rationale behind it seemed obvious enough. Here was Slice, an internet novelty act who had sprang into a sudden, bizarre form of fame capable only in the age of the internet, taking on a Brit with a glass jaw who at least looked the part to people who didn't know better. Slice would knock him out in front of millions of new viewers, all of whom would be instantly hooked on this new-fangled MMA stuff, and CBS and EliteXC would both scoop up their enormous piles of money and go home. As you probably already know, it didn't go down like that. The good news was, the millions of viewers showed up. The bad news was what they saw when they got there. Dancing girls, some not quite primetime-worthy performances, and, strangely, not all that much action. As Yahoo! columnist Kevin Iole pointed out later, "after the show had been on the air for 32 minutes, there had been 61 seconds of actual fighting. When it was 70 minutes into the show, there had been just 2:12 of fighting." CBS would have reason to regret that, since the Slice-Thompson main event didn't even get underway until well after the show was scheduled to end. By the time the sloppy heavyweight affair finally ended -- and with a highly questionable stoppage that gave Slice the victory, no less -- EliteXC had run over by nearly an hour in its network debut. It also hadn't made too many friends. Newspaper columnists and radio hosts around the country heaped various amounts of scorn on CBS for airing the spectacle. Even then-governor of New York David Paterson admitted to listening to the broadcast over the radio, though he was apparently unimpressed with descriptions of Thompson's cauliflower ear popping as a result of a Slice punch. Perhaps least surprisingly, UFC president Dana White slammed the effort as "disgusting." Said White: "You can hate me, you can say whatever you want about me. I've been busting my ass for the last ten years in this sport, and there's a lot of great athletes in this sport...and last night was a [expletive] joke. Did it set us back? I don't know. I did Sportscenter today, where some guy's saying this stuff shouldn't even be on television. I agree. What happened last night should not be on [expletive] television, especially network television. But you can't say that about the real fighters in this sport." Of course, that wasn't the death knell for MMA on network TV or even for EliteXC on CBS. On went the show(s), and America hadn't yet seen the last of Kimbo Slice. It's worth noting that then, just as now, the MMA community had high hopes for what network exposure might help the sport accomplish. The Baltimore Sun's Mark Chalifoux said it would be a "moment of truth" for EliteXC and MMA, writing that the "entire MMA-world has a lot riding on this event as it will be the first exposure to MMA for a lot of casual sports fans." Sound familiar? EliteXC promoter Gary Shaw promised it would be "the biggest thing ever to happen to MMA." After "Primetime" on CBS, Shaw said, fighters would be as big as American Idol contestants. "They'll be recognized at airports and Burger Kings," he added. Somehow, I doubt that if James Thompson walked into a Burger King right now his biggest problem would be fending off autograph-seekers. So what's different for the UFC's debut on FOX? In short, everything. Better fighters, probably better production values, and much better pre-fight promotion. While CBS seemed tepid in its support of MMA both with EliteXC and later with Strikeforce, FOX has already thrown its weight behind the UFC, plugging the Velasquez-dos Santos fight on NFL games and World Series broadcasts. If you were eating wings and watching the Packers beat the Chargers on Sunday, there's simply no way you didn't catch at least a half-dozen promos for the UFC on FOX. This event also has simplicity on its side. With just one fight to get done inside of one hour, running long won't be an issue, nor will an overburdened slate that asks new viewers to try and differentiate between multiple fighters and weight classes. If EliteXC's network debut was a three-hour variety act designed to introduce new fans to the sport, the UFC's first FOX outing is more like a band showing up to play its hit single and then getting back on the tour bus. Whether it will leave fans wanting more or simply leave them confused and/or disinterested remains to be seen, and a lot depends on whether Velasquez and dos Santos can live up to the hype and the pressure. At least the UFC chose its fighters based on skill rather than fame. At least it has a partner that really believes in it enough to want to put its name on the product all the time, rather than only when it's convenient. At least it has the experience to pull something like this off, and the promotional savvy to do it right. The UFC might not be the first to make the leap to network TV, but it could still be the best. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, event, network, elitexc

Brutal MMA HL Compilation - SUPPORT WOMEN'S MMA

submitted by WavingFlags2 [link] [2 comments]

Posted in: mma, compilation, wavingflag, hl, support

Nick Diaz Inside MMA Video Clip

Controversial UFC welterweight Nick Diaz appeared on HDNet's Inside MMA last night and we've got some of the goods after the jump.

Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, mma, nick, jump

Gotta love that female mma :D am I the only one who would defiantly watch a season of female ultimate fighter?

submitted by Fyuryus [link] [9 comments]

Posted in: mma, fighter, season, love, fyuryu

UFC 143's Nick Diaz tells 'Inside MMA' villain role effective, not necessarily comfortable

Nick Diaz, PR genius? The outspoken and sometimes controversial former Strikeforce champion has both delighted and baffled MMA fans with his trashtalking and open challenges to MMA superstars such as UFC champ Georges St-Pierre. And while his rants often seem a bit random in their focus, Diaz on Monday's new edition of HDNet's "Inside MMA" seemed to reveal that he's been following a master plan all along: To the villain goes the spoils.

Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, mma, master plan, mma superstars

So is this MMA inspired Canadian rap battle baller or buster?

Hip-Hop died in 1998. The previous statement is so accurate that in any other circumstance, this article would end with that single sentence. Wu-Tang Forever was released in 1997. Since then, everything has just been a clone within a clone. Jean Baudrillard wrote about the current condition of hip-hop in Simulacra and Simulations, but most of you could not comprehend the vastness of hyperreality -- or speak French. However, if you are French-Canadian, there's a minor chance that you've read Jean Baudrillard in his native language. There's also an even smaller chance that you've decided to host a freestyle battle regarding MMA in Canada. Check out this video of a few guys trading bars in an MMA freestyle session. So what is this: Baller or Buster? You decide, attentive MiddleEasy reader. Props to Karsten S. for the find. [Source]

Posted in: mma, canada check, sentence wutang, freestyle battle, language theres

B.J. Penn open to comeback if situation is right

B.J. Penn, a former double-division UFC champion, shocked many in the MMA world when he announced his impending retirement from fighting after a loss to Nick Diaz at UFC 137 last month. Now, after taking some time to think about his career, “The Prodigy” might be having second thoughts. After Penn dropped his UFC lightweight title to Frankie Edgar, he says his own coaches asked him to take some time off and get his mind focused back on the sport. Instead, Penn took an immediate rematch with Edgar and lost. A win over Matt Hughes seemed to right his course, but Penn went to a draw with Jon Fitch before falling to Diaz. Now, Penn seems to be questioning his own desire to continue competing in MMA. “If I ever feel it again, I’ll come back,” said Penn, in an interview featured on Inside MMA recently. “If it interests me, if it excites me, I don’t want to be sitting in the locker room saying, ‘I can’t believe I’m still doing this.’ If it excites me, we’ll see how everything goes, but I definitely need some time away.” Penn might just wait for a possible rematch with Fitch, or another big-time fight that could place him back among the contenders at either lightweight or welterweight. Here is the entire video clip below: PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, mma, time, penn, mma world

Kid Nate looks back at 5 all-time MMA classics and hopes that Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos...

Kid Nate looks back at 5 all-time MMA classics and hopes that Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos turns out equally awesome. Read it at MMA Nation.

Posted in: mma, do, velasquez vs, kid nate, classic

Asian MMA Update: Legend FC 6 Highlight Video, Jon Tuck to Headline PXC 28

As always, here are a few updates on the Asian MMA scene. First of, here's an excellently produced highlight video from Legend FC 6 that happened on October 30 in Macau. It was headlined by talented lightweights Jadamba Narantungalag and Adrian Pang. (You can check out the full results here) On November 26, Guam's premier organization, Pacific X-treme Combat, will be hosting their 3rd show in the Philippines, and their 28th major show overall. It will be headlined by a bout between Jon Tuck (5-0) and Tristan Arenal (4-1), and the card will be broadcast on free TV in the Philippines, at AKTV. Tuck is an undefeated fighter who notched the biggest win of his career two years ago, when he handed popular Filipino fighter, Eduard Folayang his first and only loss. Since then, Folayang has won 5 straight MMA bouts and has raised his stock by having his share in the limelight headlining URCC, Martial Combat and ONE FC events. Tuck on the other hand, fell off the radar of MMA fans a bit after that big win, choosing instead to focus on grappling tournaments for the past couple of years. I've always felt that it was a bit of a lost opportunity for him, cause had he followed up on that big win, he could've been one of the more popular stars in the Asian circuit today. It's not too late though. Two weeks from now, 'Super Saiyan', who already is a pretty good striker, returns to MMA as a much improved grappler. The newly minted BJJ blackbelt heads to the Philippines to try and steal back that spotlight by making a huge statement against Arenal on PXC 28. Also on the PXC card, talented featherweight contender, Mark Striegl (5-0), a half-Filipino who has competed in Legend FC and the URCC, will be taking on Tae Kyun Kim of Korea. Interestingly enough, for this camp, Striegl, who grew up in Japan, has been training in high altitude with talented guys like Will Chope, who picked up a win this weekend at URCC XX, and fellow Filipino featherweight star, Eric Kelly in the mountains of Baguio, Philippines. Team Lakay Wushu fighters Denver Labrador, Crisanto Pitpitunge, and Geje Eustaquio, will also be on the PXC card that also features guys like Ale Cali, and Jon Delos Reyes. Check out the full fight card after the jump PXC 28November 26, 2011 - Ynares Sports Arena, Pasig, Philippines - Jon Tuck vs. Tristan Arenal- Orlimer Celeste vs. Denver Labrador- Angelito Cimeni vs. Crisanto Pitpitnge- Dylan Pablo vs. Ale Cali- Rolando Dy vs. Elliot Untalan- Alvin Cacdac vs. Josh Alvarez- David Cho vs. Geje Eustaquio- Victor Galdon vs. Jon Delos Reyes- Benjie Lumacad vs. Joseph Mercado- Moses Baca vs. Jerry Legaspi- Tae Kyun Kim vs. Mark Striegl- Carlo Astudillio vs. Chris Steven Cabredo

Posted in: mma, jon, vs, philippine, pxc

BJ Penn, ‘If I Ever Feel it Again, I’ll Come Back’

BJ Penn decided to step away from MMA after his UFC 137 loss to Nick Diaz. Will he ever come back? He talked about that and more with HDNet's "Inside MMA."

Posted in: nick diaz, mma, penn, bj, i ’ll

Not specifically MMA, but I know many of you are fans as I am - Smokin' Joe Frazier Passes Away at age 67

submitted by lumbugg [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: mma, fan, age, lumbugg, smokin

Ask the Cage Counsel: A free-speech primer for the MMA industry

Free speech isn't always free, especially in the MMA industry. The First Amendment to the United States Constitution - which provides that "Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech" - only goes so far. As MMAjunkie.com legal consultant and columnist David Nelmark explains, free-speech rights aren't universal, and in the MMA industry, everyone from promoters to commission officials to the courts to website operators can have that ultimate say.

Posted in: mma, commission officials, mma industry, industry, states constitution

Jordan Burroughs - 'I'll Fight After I'm Done Wrestling'

MMANation's Luke Thomas spoke with the United States' great wrestling talent Jordan Burroughs. There has been a lot of discussion regarding if or when Burroughs would consider making the transition to MMA. Burroughs was able to seamlessly transition from college wrestling to the international scene and is the very definition of "world class". Luke asked Jordan his thoughts on the current crop of wrestlers in MMA and if he had any intentions of becoming a fighter in the future. Luke Thomas: Talk to me about wrestling in MMA. We had a guy who fought recently in Strikeforce. He was a little bit older, Yoel Romero, Cuban guy who won the [silver] medal in the Olympics. He couldn't take down a guy who had no wrestling background whatsoever. In your judgement, why does that happen? Jordan Burroughs: I'm not sure. I mean, other people excel at different positions. Maybe that wasn't a strong point, sticking on his feet. Maybe just because he was an Olympic medalist doesn't mean he's great on his feet. He might keep good positioning and be hard to score but wasn't very offensive. It's one of those things, we've got guys that are very offensive and can take down anyone and we've got guys that don't shoot at all but are very hard to take down. It's one of those things, you've got to decide what you're good at. Luke Thomas: I'm gonna ask you this point blank. Do you have interest in MMA? Maybe you want to win a gold medal and some Olympic world titles first. I'm not asking for a timeline. Do you have interest as a potential career move to fight in mixed martial arts? Jordan Burroughs: Yeah, definitely, I definitely want to fight after I'm done wrestling. I want to wrestle ‘til 2017. John Smith from Oklahoma State was the greatest American wrestler of all time. He was a four time world champ and two time Olympic champ so for me, in order to catch him or surpass him, I'll have to wrestle every Olympics and every world championship from now to 2017 and that's the goal to win all of those and once I'm done with that, to try and get into MMA. If Jordan is serious and giving wrestling another five years before making the transition there will be some questions about how well he'll develop as a fighter. While wrestling is the best base to begin a MMA career, there will be a massive crop of fighters that will be extremely well rounded. He obviously has the skills to get the fight to the ground but how he'll survive with a high level grappler is unknown.

Posted in: mma, guy, jordan, im, burrough

Between UFC 138, FOX, Pacquiao, Marquez, and Kirkland/Angulo, MMA and Boxing Will Have to Get Along

MMA fans and boxing have rarely appeared to get along. And vice versa. The narratives are as follows: MMA fans claim MMA is taking over. That boxing has ruined itself, and like God before the establishment, is "dead". Boxing doesn't give the fans what it wants. Conversely, MMA is a sport with no history, and little respect for the culture its bound by except to the Mountain Dew generation that appreciates it. The sport of MMA is a nomad. it flaunts its lack of identity, and to the critics, it's just an extreme sport stripped of metaphor. Oh right, we're all a bunch of homophobes too. Beneath these memes are real truths, which explains why the conflict are so intense. Boxing does have real problems. To say it's dead is a gross misrepresentation, but to say that it's in need of help is not. For MMA, it's finally in a place where the new spotlight will spawn the presence of a real sports culture. Whether that culture sticks is another matter entirely, but for now, MMA can say "we've made it". Mixed martial arts is the NOFX of the sports world: popular, but not mainstream. This weekend, both boxing and MMA delivered the goods. UFC 138 was a barnburner: the kind of card you hope for whenever you want to introduce your friends to what MMA is all about. HBO was having its own miracle as James Kirkland and Alfredo Angulo created a modern classic of sorts. And this weekend, both sports are primed to deliver yet again. For MMA, it's a bigger deal for the collective fanbase and media: we're finally on primetime. The five hundred pound cherry on top is that fight between Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos for the HW title. It's a fantastic fight. It's probably the best fight HW has had to offer since Mirko Filipovic vs. Fedor Emelianenko, and for some fans, it might be even better. Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez, meanwhile, are completing their trilogy. While the lack of Mayweather may upset casual fans and boxing critics, doing so simply ignores that the boxing main event this weekend means a potential end to a very unique trilogy. Both fights delivered: particularly the first one, eerily similar to Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard II. Marquez was felled three times in the first round. Yet somehow, he battled back to outbox Manny for most of the fight. Unlike in years past, there's nothing to bitch about on either side. Kirkland, Barao, Angulo, and Munoz all put on memorable performances. It was the little guys who proved the critics wrong this past weekend. Now it's the star's turn to prove the two sports can, and should coexist. Nobody is asking you to hold hands with each other. But if you're a person who stays awake at night wondering which of the two sports will be victorious in the end, then in the words of Patton Oswalt, you're an unfortunate soul who will "miss everything cool and die angry". Speaking of everything that's cool, check out the first round of Kirkland/Angulo after the jump. Alfredo Angulo vs James Kirkland - Round 1 (via grishmugho)

Posted in: fight, mma, sport, boxing, fan

Women's MMA Report: Gina Carano out until 2012, Amanda Lucas wins again in Japan

Fans of Gina "Conviction" Carano will have to wait at least a little longer for the Strikeforce star's return to the cage. The talented striker was noticeably absent from the Dec. 17 Strikeforce card that recently circulated, and she's not expected back in the cage until next year, according to Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker. In our latest Women's MMA Report, MMAjunkie.com's Robert Sargent discusses Carano's plans, Amanda Lucas' latest win, Vanessa Porto's plans for 2012, and other happenings in the WMMA world.

Posted in: mma, strikeforce, carano, gina, japan fans

SB Nation, MMAmania.com parent company, acquires MMAFighting.com

Great news for mixed martial arts (MMA) fans. MMAmania.com parent company, SB Nation, today (Nov. 7, 2011) announced that it has expanded its MMA portfolio by acquiring MMAFighting.com. SB Nation Chairman and CEO Jim Bankoff made the announcement on today's edition of The MMA Hour. "SB Nation, unlike a lot of other sports sites, from the beginning, put our emphasis on coverage of MMA. We have a lot of big sites in our portfolio like MMA Mania and Bloody Elbow. Those sites will continue to exist as they do exist now and its not really our plan to merge those sites whatsoever." While it's impossible to say this without drawing a humorous comparison to Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), you can expect it to be "business as usual" around these parts. What does that mean, exactly? It means that fans of MMAFighting.com, MMAmania.com and BloodyElbow.com, will continue to enjoy all the industry news and coverage they've grown accustomed to at the same location. Same bat time, same bat channel. We'll just be doing it under the same umbrella. Three awesome MMA sites for the price of none. How can you beat that? You can't, which is why you come here in the first place, because every year we get better. Just wait until you see what we pull off in 2012.

Posted in: mma, nation, site, sb, mmafightingcom

SB Nation Announces the Purchase of MMA Fighting

Bloody Elbow and SB Nation would like to welcome MMAFighting.com to the family. The core staff will continue working with the site, including Ariel Helwani, Mike Chiappetta, Ben Fowlkes, and Michael David Smith. Managing Editor Bryan Tucker and founder Ray Hui will also be on board as well as photographer Esther Lin and E. Casey Leydon. MMA Fighting will continue to do what they do best which is the event coverage on location. What does this mean for Bloody Elbow and the rest of the SB Nation MMA sites? It means that we'll have more content moving forward and greater access to MMA news. The sites will continue to run independently but there may be some movement back and forth for to better serve the readers. For SB Nation it means that it is now the home for MMA. With Bloody Elbow, MMA Fighting, MMA Nation, and MMA Mania all under one roof, there will truly be a place for all MMA fans on SB Nation. This is a monumental day for us and I am excited for what it means for the future for not just this site but also the SB Nation network of sites.

Posted in: mma, nation, site, sb nation, sb

Check out the videos from this weekend’s ‘Shooto the Shoot 2011’

[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on LiverKick.com, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] Over the last 2 days, Shooto and Shootboxing held their two co-promotional events, with a rematch between Andy Souwer and Toby Imada, as well as Shootboxing vs MMA fights between Hiroki Shishido and "Lion" Takeshi Inoue, as well as Hiroaki Suzuki and "Wicky" Akiyo Nishiura headlining the Shootboxing card, with a Flyweight title fight between reigning champion Junji Ikoma and Mikihito Yamagami headlining the MMA card. In the main event of today's Shootboxing card, 2-time K-1 MAX champion and 3-time S-Cup champion Andy Souwer avenged a massive upset loss to MMA fighter Toby Imada from last year's S-Cup semifinals by unanimous decision on scores of 30-24 and 30-25(x2). I believe Souwer was able to score downs in rounds 1 and 2 while Imada was unable to score any throws on Souwer, which was the key to Imada's victory last November. The win is nice for Souwer who recently fell in the semifinals of the It's Showtime Fast and Furious tournament to Artur Kyshenko. Souwer doesn't currently have any fights set, though he could be an option for Dream's New Year's Eve event. For Imada, a rematch with Hiroki Shishido or an MMA fight in Bellator are options. Read More and Watch the Videos...

Posted in: mma, souwer, imada, shootboxing, hiroki shishido

MMA Fighting Sold to Vox Media

Filed under: MMA Media Watch, NewsVox Media, the parent company of SB Nation, announced on Monday that it has acquired MMAFighting.com from AOL. "I'm really excited to announce here that MMAFighting and SB Nation are going to team up together," Vox Chairman and CEO Jim Bankoff said in an appearance on The MMA Hour. Bankoff said the MMAFighting.com audience shouldn't expect to see many changes in the site. "When you talk about MMAFighting, it's the team of people behind it and the audience and community that the team has built up, and the audience it engages in," Bankoff said. "We're going to do everything we can to support the people who make it all possible and support the audience that makes it all possible." MMAFighting.com will join MMANation, MMAMania and Bloody Elbow as part of SB Nation's portfolio of combat sports sites. Bankoff said MMAMania and Bloody Elbow would remain separate sites, while over time MMAFighting will become the MMA hub of SB Nation. "SB Nation, unlike a lot of other sports sites, has from the beginning put an emphasis on the coverage of MMA," Bankoff said. "We're proud of the people behind those sites." Bankoff said MMAFighting.com will remain largely the same site going forward that it is now. "All the great work that is done, whether it's the interviews, the video, the community interaction, all of that is going to stay at the level if not be bigger and better than where it is today," Bankoff said. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mma, nation, site, sb, bankoff

The MMA Hour With Fedor Emelianenko, Alistair Overeem, Media Roundtable

Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, M-1 Global, Videos, UFC on FOXThe MMA Hour is back in your life on Monday with another loaded two-hour show. * Fedor Emelianenko will stop by via Skype to discuss his upcoming fight against Jeff Monson on Nov. 20. * Alistair Overeem will break major news about his career and discuss his UFC 141 fight against Brock Lesnar. * MMA Fighting's Mike Chiappetta and ESPN.com's Chuck Mindenhall will join us for another media roundtable to discuss all the comings and goings in the world of MMA and all the news coming out of UFC 138 and preview UFC on FOX 1. * We will also address the future of MMAFighting.com and The MMA Hour with a guest to be announced on the show. * Plus, we'll give away two sets of the Ultimate Fight Collection, 2011 Edition. It's a 20-disc DVD set that has over 40 hours of footage of UFC fights from July 2010-June 2011 and 10 hours of content never before available on DVD. It will go on sale exclusively at Best Buy on Tuesday, Nov. 8. It will go to the best calls of the day, and the winners have to be United States residents. So, 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, show, mma hour, hour

The Sunday Morning Rumor Mill

I composed this article Saturday night because I didn't want to get slapped by this daylight saving nonsense this morning. So we get an hour added to our lives for doing absolutely nothing? Is that how the universe works nowadays? Damn, it doesn't even try anymore. Now that you suddenly have an extra hour to recover from your Saturday night hangover, enjoy this week's edition of The Sunday Morning Rumor Mill on MiddleEasy -- a place where it's always morning. According to Dave Meltzer, UFC agreed to not push the 'UFC on FOX' during the UFC 138 broadcast because Spike agreed not to push their counter-programming 'Junior Dos Santos/Cain Velasquez' special against FOX. The Shinya Aoki vs. Eddie Alvarez fight has been on the horizon for some time now. Initially it was scheduled to go down in Japan at an upcoming 'DREAM' event, possibly even the newly announced 'DREAM New Year's Eve' event. However, with the aid of a well-known figure in the MMA industry, the fight was organized solely for Bellator. It's rumored that Ariel Helwani will give somewhat of a 'tell all' on his 'The MMA Hour' this Monday regarding the purchase of MMAFighting by SBNation. It appears that Takanori Gomi will be fighting on UFC on Japan. Despite the rumors that have been going around since ProElite aired last night, Paige Chapman, otherwise known as the 'porn star ring girl' is still employed by ProElite. Shinya Aoki will most likely be fighting on ONE FC's first card of 2012. Reports are premature, but Showtime Sports is paying attention to the recent events of K-1 in hopes of featuring kickboxing on the network, essentially replacing their 'MMA' sports slot once the Strikeforce deal is finished. The Federal Trade Commission seems to still be silently investigating ZUFFA. Apparently, the FTC has been interviewing the owner of one particular nutritional beverage company (not Xyience) along with a few other past/current owners of MMA promotions. It's rumored that the investigation will go public at some point in Spring/Summer 2012, however by now it's no longer a secret. Pretty silly rumor, but I've heard from a reliable source that Nick Diaz plans to exploit GSP's fear of aliens by showing up to the UFC 143 press conference/weigh-in wearing an alien mask. It appears that Daniel Herbertson is the first person to be released from MMAFighting since the buyout by SBNation. Don King has made it apparent that he wants to dive into the MMA industry and go head-to-head with Dana White. It appears that Don King will cut a few promos in the Los Angeles area this month, but we're not sure for what.

Posted in: ufc, mma, rumor, morning, mma industry

To see how far MMA has come, take a look back at UFC 1.

submitted by EddieLomax [link] [3 comments]

Posted in: ufc, mma, eddielomax

Get to know UFC 138 bonus-winner Renan Barao

There’s a phenomenal Brazilian out of Nova Uniao who is in his mid-twenties, riding an impressive winning streak, and has carried his dominance from WEC over into the Octagon since having his division absorbed by the UFC. His name is not Jose Aldo. Renan Barao, the 27-1 phenom who hasn’t lost since being outpointed six years ago in his MMA debut, continued his incredible run Saturday night in Birmingham, England at UFC 138 where he went toe-to-toe with Brad Pickett in a “Fight of the Night” performance. Barao Wants to Make his Mark at UFC 138 While Barao has burst on the scene as a threat to bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz’s crown, little is known about the reserved 24-year old who typically allows his ability do the talking each time the cage door closes. However, the UFC recently gave fans an opportunity to learn a bit more about Barao in a video profile filmed as he prepared for Pickett including a look how Mixed Martial Arts has changed his life. “I’ve learned discipline. I’ve learned to be friendly to people. I’ve learned how to share and not be a selfish person. Because this is family here. I’ve learned how to listen to people. What helped me was to learn all this from Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, and Muay Thai…MMA itself,” Barao explains in the clip. “MMA helped me become all this. It helped me to trust more in God, to listen deeper to the Lord’s word…to listen to my friends, to have conversations. It helped me to have fun and be a happy guy. What helped me with all this was MMA. And it’s in my blood, it’s part of my life.” Here is the entire video courtesy of the UFC: PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, saturday night, mma, barao, nova uniao

Sunday reading: Jim Genia’s “Raw Combat”

Veteran MMA writer Jim Genia has written a new book, Raw Combat, that I think you will like to read very much.

Posted in: mma, jim, writer, combat, genia

Rock 96.7 Split Decision Podcast: MMA Week In Review

Please make sure you visit Split Decision MMA Podcast page at Rock967.com, and follow Joey Bueller (@Bueller967) and Brandon Dodge (@DodgetheBadfish) on Twitter. Also, make sure you "Like" Split Decision page on Facebook. Remember, the episodes always sound better after you've click that button, so don't forget to do

Posted in: mma, decision, bueller, split, youve click

You know you're an old-school MMA fan when...

submitted by saku-39 [link] [3 comments]

Posted in: mma, fan, youre, saku, oldschool

Don King wants to promote MMA to compete with the UFC

Yes, that Don King. The flamboyant boxing promoter who just turned 80-years-old but remains as wily as ever. The man who promoted such mega-events like the "Rumble in the Jungle" and the "Thrilla in Manilla," wants to use his savvy and know how from the boxing world to see if he can't compete with UFC President Dana White and the UFC. From USA Today: Calling MMA "sophisticated barbarism," he predicts MMA will complement, but never overtake, the "sweet science" of boxing. "I'm looking forward to doing (MMA) too. And creating a competition between the UFC and whatever I call the MMA company that I put together," says King. King may not be as prominent today as he was say, 20 years ago, but he's still got enough pep in his step to attempt such a daunting task. But could he actually succeed in competing with the UFC? Our friends at BadLeftHook.com have an answer: So will he enter MMA? Sure, he really might. Don's still a big thinker, but just isn't in the boxing game the way he used to be. If he thinks there's an opportunity in MMA, and he can get the right backing, he might give it a go. Will he succeed? No, he won't. King's big complaint about boxing today is that cable TV executives have far too much power and far too little knowledge of the sport to actually succeed. This has led to match-ups combat sports fans aren't willing to pay to see. The power structure in MMA is a lot different and with that, King seems to believe he can become the next Dana White. Anyone think he can? Who wants to see Don King in MMA?

Posted in: ufc, mma, boxing, today, king

Shoot the Shooto 2011 preview: Shinya Aoki Vs. Yuichiro Nagashima

[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on LiverKick.com, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] Tomorrow is the first leg of the Shoot the Shooto/Shooto the Shoot events, with Shooto's portion of the card taking place and I've decided to finish this look at kickboxing vs MMA with what is one of the strangest, most bizarre fights, in theory and in practice, between kickboxing and MMA and that is last year's special rules match between Shinya Aoki and Yuichiro Nagashima at Dynamite!!! 2010. When the fight was announced, most were confused as to what rules it would take place under, but FEG released the details that there would be a 3 minute kickboxing round and a 5 minute MMA round using MMA gloves for both, with the order being decided by a coin flip. When it happened, the kickboxing round was determined to be first and most figured Nagashima would need to put Aoki away in that three minutes or else the fight would almost assuredly be Aoki's. What followed was the strangest 3 minutes of kickboxing, characterized by Aoki clinching whenever Nagashima got close, shooting for takedowns and throwing dropkicks. Read More...

Posted in: mma, aoki, kickboxing, minute, nagashima

MMAterial Facts (11/04/11) : UFC 138 Unloved, The U.K. Market, & Undisputed 3 Coverage

Welcome to this edition of MMAterial Facts, where we feature articles from around the MMA community. *** This week’s MMAterial Facts: - UFC Hopes for Two Shows in UK in 2012 (MMA Fighting) “Since making the UK market a priority a few years ago, the UFC visited the country eight times between 2007 and 2010. And even though shows there have tended to do big business, 2011 nearly came and went without a return, until the promotion managed to wedge one into the final stretches of a hectic schedule.” - Japan 2011: The more things change, the more they stay the same (Fight Opinion) “What’s not incredible or shocking is that there will be yet another attempted New Year’s Eve event at Saitama Super Arena this year, promoted by Real Entertainment. The former employees of PRIDE will work in conjunction with Antonio Inoki as the front man, just like he was last year. The show title will be called “Genki desu ka!” which is Inoki’s trademark slogan. It’s a sweetheart deal for him. The discussion is that there will be 20 matches on the card and that IGF aces Peter Aerts & Jerome Le Banner will be on the card. There is some hope of getting the telecast on broadcast television, but nobody is sure how things will play out given that it’s already November and it’s short time for a TV network to get an ad agency working at the last-second to make the numbers work.” - Interview with UFC 138 main eventer Mark Munoz (MMA Mania) “I’ll take a submission victory or a knockout. I will take that for sure. I don’t see this fight going five rounds at all. I think we’ll see a guys that come in there swinging and there’s just gonna be fireworks happening. We fight to finish and not just score points so I don’t see this fight going to the end of the fifth round at all.” - UFC 138 Preview – ‘Unloved and Unwanted in the UK’ Edition (MMA Convert) “Part of what makes this UFC a “throwaway” is the fact that in the grand scheme of things, none of the bouts matter. Yet what should make people tune in is the fact that Leben and Munoz will be more than ready to leave it all in the cage.” - Preview of UFC Undisputed 3 (MiddleEasy) “First off Lenne Hardt is in the game and it’s awesome. The PRIDE production values are ridiculously spot on. You will have confetti swirling around you as you celebrate victory (or wallow in defeat) in the Saitima Super Arena. PRIDE’s home is represented along with a host of other real life locations (like Mandalay and the other usual suspects). Everything about UFC 3 screams ‘more’. More licensed referees, more weight classes, more fighters, hell, more MMA organizations. You can tell that the extra time they took paid off in the presentation department, I felt like in was 2005 all over again. I must note that Layzie and I never left PRIDE mode and after a few scans of the room (although influenced by the soccer kick drink) I think literally every monitor had a PRIDE match going down. What can I say, the media loves it when one person kicks another person in the head.” - UFC UK Vice President: We’re Committed To The UK Market (FightLine) “I think that in a perfect world we would be here more times a year, but as you know – you’ve heard our mantra: we’re trying to get everywhere. There’s a lot of pressure to bring the event everywhere around the world. It was a struggle just getting this event into the calendar. You may remember back in the day, there was a lot of discussion about whether we were coming back at all. We were able to, through the hard work of the office here and with the arena here, make this event happen. There’s actually an event in the arena the night before that we’re actually setting up, so it’s not ideal for us but we were committed to coming back to the market.” - Dan Severn Still Wants Coleman and Shamrock, Will Likely Retire Next Year (Cage Potato) “I want specific fights right now. I’ve had some verbal offers but haven’t had the opportunity to bring some of these matches to life. Two particular matches I’m still interested are ones with Mark Coleman and Ken Shamrock. Realistically, I think that 2012 will be my final year as an MMA competitor. So whatever gets done gets done; whatever doesn’t, I’ll have to learn to live with I guess.” - “Big” John McCarthy likely to referee UFC on FOX main event (Five Ounces of Pain) “Big” John McCarthy is the most famous referee in MMA, he’s been a part of the UFC organization since the beginning, and he’ll be in the octagon when the company makes their network TV debut on November 12. CSAC Executive Officer George Dodd informed the UFC that, “there is a 99% chance” that McCarthy will be the referee for the UFC on FOX main event between Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos.” - M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Monson” Comes With $30 Pay-Per-View Price Tag (5thRound) “This was a big decision for me, I took my time looking for the right management and I found it in Glenn Robinson and Authentic Sports Management,” said Shields. “ASM feels like a family environment. It has good people who are working hard, and he seems to really care about the fighters.” - UFC Undisputed 3 photo coverage (LowKick) “Liddell and Rampage were not the only fighters to play UFC Undisputed 3. Chad Mendes, Anthony Pettis, Erik Koch, and the People’s Champion Chael P. Sonnen all tested their gaming skills, as the rumor says Chael Sonnen played Anderson Silva, while Erik Koch played Chael Sonnen in their own version of the upcoming (or not) “Biggest Rematch in the UFC History”.” - Bas Rutten on his new show “Punk Payback” and self-defense (TheFightNerd) “The Fight Nerd spoke with Bas Rutten, whose new show on FUEL TV, “Punk Payback” debuts tonight, which is a show that has the former UFC Heavyweight Champ and King of Pancrase breaking down real-life self-defense situations caught on tape, and showing you at home what to do if you were in that situation (think of his “Lethal Street-Fighting” DVD, but more!). We discussed the show at length, explaining what the concept is, how much of the self-defense that Bas shows is improv or scripted (along with the craziness that he says), and what is ahead in Bas’ acting career. We also discuss the real-life implications of some of these scenarios, and what is legal to do if you need to defend yourself.” - The 100 Greatest Moments in UFC History (BleacherReport.com/MMA) “At this point, it’s safe to say the UFC’s popularity is snowballing. Even that may be a mild analogy. With the UFC and its fighters finding newer and wider avenues into the mainstream seemingly every day, MMA’s premier promotion is more like a magnet in a river of paper clips, or a molten ball of caramel careening down a mountain of chopped walnuts. You get the idea. These are heady times for the UFC.”

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, event, year

"UFC 138 Is Better Event Than Critics And MMA Fans Acknowledge"That's the case Thomas Myers makes ...

"UFC 138 Is Better Event Than Critics And MMA Fans Acknowledge"That's the case Thomas Myers makes at MMA Nation.

Posted in: ufc, mma, case, myer, acknowledgethat

The Friday Morning MMA Link Party

No one has a party on a Friday morning except MiddleEasy and maybe a few other people that live in Hollywood. Lindsay Lohan has to be in there. Unfortunately, she doesn't run an MMA site so we are forced to exclude her from our little Friday Morning MMA Link Party. The tap is outside on the porch, the cups are on the kitchen counter and remember, please don't spill. [list class="bullet-6"] [li]Chris Leben: In My Mind, This Is for Number One Contender. [MMAFighting] [/li] [li]“Where Are They Now?”: Famous Victims Edition. [CagePotato] [/li] [li]UFC 138 Weigh-In Results. [Fives Ounces of Pain] [/li] [li]Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson: Karate Lives! (Exclusive Interview). [LowKick] [/li] [li]M-1 Global ‘Fedor vs. Monson’ Will Cost You $30 and a Good Night’s Sleep. [MMAConvert] [/li] [li]Cain Velasquez Not Too Nervous Heading Into “UFC on FOX” [5th Round] [/li] [li]Not Everyone Thinks MMA Is Bigger Than Boxing. [Bleacher Report] [/li] [li]“Superhero” brother of MMA fighter arrested for assault, prohibited from working with children. [The Fight Nerd] [/li] [li]Vadim Finklelstein 'worried' about Fedor Emelianenko's next fight against Jeff Monson. [MMAMania] [/li] [li]Joe Rogan: If NASCAR’s not a monopoly, UFC isn’t either (and they should buy K-1). [FightOpinion] [/li] [li]Lauzon signs sponsorship deal with Gamma Labs. [MMAPayout] [/li] [li]Mark Muñoz Ready For Leben Wherever The Fight Goes. [Fightline] [/li] [/list]

Posted in: mma, party, li, friday, nascar ’s

AOL sells MMAFighting.com to SBNation

If you like news about your news, do I have some news for you! MMAFighting.com, the best MMA journalism site on the internet, has just changed hands. AOL has sold the site to VOX Media Inc, better known to us MMA fans as Bloody Elbow and MMA Mania's corp-daddy SBNation. Sources indicate that MMAFighting employees were told by their future employers that when the site joins the SBNation network things won’t change for the most part, which for obvious reasons caused some concern when some longtime staffers were informed that their services are no longer required a short time later.It’s unclear whether or not the current MMAFighting team will be kept intact or if some of Vox’s other MMA writers will be added to the mix, but it’s unlikely that the site will continue to exist entirely unchanged when the purchase is finalized.For instance, AOL spared no expense flying its staffers — including multiple writers, videographers and photographers — around the world to events in places like Australia, the UK and United Arab Emirates. What are the chances that SBNation will do the same? We've got a number of friends working over at MMA Fighting but it just seemed rude to ask if their jobs are about to be vaporized. Besides, inquiring feels too much like journalism, and screw that. We'll leave that to the MMAFighting.coms of the world, assuming they continue to do that kind of thing. For now I'll just have to cross my fingers and hope that SBNation understands that they just have to give Ariel Helwani EVERYTHING HE DEMANDS, from plane tickets to all UFC events to women cooling him with palm fronds and feeding him grapes. Otherwise, MMA Fighting could end up like MMA Rated. That dude is the party. He can take it anywhere he wants to go.

Posted in: mma, news, site, sbnation, mmafightingcom

MMA Link Parade

- Watch Tim Sylvia get promoted and smacked on the butt. [Middle Easy] - Viewer's Guide to UFC 138. [Sports Illustrated] - "Where Are They Now?": Famous Victims Edition. [Cage Potato] - UFC 138 Weigh-In Results. [Five Ounces of Pain] - Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson: Karate Lives! [Low Kick] - M-1 Global 'Fedor vs. Monson' Will Cost You $30. [MMA Convert] - Cain Velasquez Not Too Nervous Heading Into "UFC on FOX" [5th Round] - Not Everyone Thinks MMA Is Bigger Than Boxing. [Bleacher Report] - "Superhero" Brother of MMA Fighter Arrested for Assault. [The Fight Nerd] - Munoz happy to be UFC 138 headliner. [Sports Illustrated] - Vadim Finklelstein 'worried' about Fedor Emelianenko's next fight. [MMA Mania] - Lauzon Signs Sponsorship Deal with Gamma Labs. [MMA Payout] - Mark Muñoz Ready For Leben Wherever The Fight Goes. [Fightline] Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, vadim finklelstein, viewers guide

Latest UFC/MMA news and notes from around the web for the week of October 30, 2011

Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Nick Diaz and B.J. Penn pictured above, we can all "get along." Teaming up with MMA sites like MiddleEasy, Cage Potato, Fight Opinion and Five Ounces of Pain, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport. This week, Cage Potato speaks with Dan Severn about the end of his career, Lowkick provides some exclusive UFC Undisputed 3 photo coverage and The Fight Nerd speaks with Bas Rutten about his new show on Fuel, "Punk Payback." The full list of links is after the jump. - UFC Undisputed 3 photo coverage by Scott Hirano (LowKick) - Dan Severn still wants Coleman and Shamrock, will likely retire next year (Cage Potato) "I want specific fights right now. I've had some verbal offers but haven't had the opportunity to bring some of these matches to life. Two particular matches I'm still interested are ones with Mark Coleman and Ken Shamrock. Realistically, I think that 2012 will be my final year as an MMA competitor. So whatever gets done gets done; whatever doesn't, I'll have to learn to live with I guess." - Grappling with Issues 11-3-11 (Five Ounces of Pain) Is B.J. Penn retired for good or will he fight again? How likely is it Mark Munoz vs. Chris Leben will go a full five rounds? What is your take on this weekend's lackluster UFC 138 lineup? Should Jay Hieron have to go through another tournament to earn a rematch with Ben Askren? - All-access pass (video) (MMA Fighting) Get inside look to Mark Munoz's training camp for UFC 138 fight - "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal" official trailer (5thRound) In anticipation of what could be Strikeforce's final major event on Showtime, the premium cable network has released the official trailer for "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal." - Tank Abbott vs Scott Ferrozzo II (video) (MiddleEasy) Remember that Tank Abbott fight that was supposed to go down at a strip club? Well we have video of it... - Bas Rutten on his new show "Punk Payback" and self-defense (TheFightNerd) The Fight Nerd spoke with Bas Rutten, whose new show on FUEL TV, "Punk Payback" debuts tonight, which is a show that has the former UFC Heavyweight Champ and King of Pancrase breaking down real-life self-defense situations caught on tape, and showing you at home what to do if you were in that situation (think of his "Lethal Street-Fighting" DVD, but more!). We discussed the show at length, explaining what the concept is, how much of the self-defense that Bas shows is improv or scripted (along with the craziness that he says), and what is ahead in Bas' acting career. We also discuss the real-life implications of some of these scenarios, and what is legal to do if you need to defend yourself. - Takeaways from UFC 137 (Fight Opinion) Donald Cerrone is ripping through the UFC competition. I love it. Not only does he win, he does it with style and takes no prisoners. He's gotten better each time he fights. He finished Dennis Siver so fast, Spike TV had time to show Brandon Vera's three round fight. - Zuffa maintains "BB" credit rating, "Stable" is key (MMA Payout) "UFC's seven year TV deal with Fox Sports Media Group, replacing Zuffa's current deals with Spike TV and Versus, offers more stable and favorable economics over the term of the TV deal in hope of potentially reducing Zuffa's dependency on the more-volatile event based revenue....Nearly 75% of Zuffa's total revenue is event based. The majority is composed of PPV buys and ticket sales. Remaining 25% revenue is composed of live and taped television broadcasts, sponsorship, merchandising, licensing, and content distribution deals." - The 100 greatest moments in UFC history (BleacherReport.com/MMA) At this point, it's safe to say the UFC's popularity is snowballing. Even that may be a mild analogy. With the UFC and its fighters finding newer and wider avenues into the mainstream seemingly every day, MMA's premier promotion is more like a magnet in a river of paper clips, or a molten ball of caramel careening down a mountain of chopped walnuts. You get the idea. These are heady times for the UFC. - UFC 138 Preview - ‘unloved and unwanted in the UK' edition (MMA Convert) Britain's "best" may not be on the card (Michael Bisping has got a date with Jason "Mayhem" Miller further down the line, and Dan Hardy is off getting his hair rehabilitated), but the main event promises to be a dramatic reenactment of William Shakespeare's "I Punched His Freakin' Head Off". - Shane Carwin refutes retirement rumors (Fightline) Don't get it twisted folks, Shane Carwin isn't going anywhere. The 36-year-old bruiser recently went under the knife to correct a long-standing back problem and will be out of action until the middle of next year. Having undergone intensive neck surgery already and considering his age, some began speculating that The Engineer would soon be hanging up his four ounce gloves..

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, show, bas rutten

Sports Illustrated - Inside MMA - first time ever?

submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [comment]

Posted in: mattyblayze link, mattyblayze, time, sport, mma

ULTMMA Podcast Episode 3: Matheus Aquino co-hosts, Brazilian MMA talk, Jussier da Silva & UFC 137 Review

To label Matheus Aquino simply as Jussier da Silva's manager describes him at several lengths short of his overall accomplishments in MMA. Aquino has wrote for Porto do Vale Tudo the largest MMA media outlet in Brazil, been an advisor as well as a translator for the Pitbull brothers and will now wear the promoter's hat with his latest venture Fort MMA.Watching fighter after fighter go unnoticed in northeast Brazil, Aquino will use Fort MMA as a avenue to get his countrymen a place to fight and showcase their skills to the larger organizations. Fort MMA Championships 1 will be held on December 15, 2011 in Natal.You can follow Matheus on Twitter @MatheusDCAquino. For more information on Fort MMA you can visit www.FortMMA.com. Podcast Powered By Podbean

Posted in: mma, fort mma, aquino, fort, promoters hat

5 Oz. MMA Link Club

Welcome back to another edition of “MMA Link Club”, Five Ounces of Pain‘s weekly smorgasbord of offerings from our brothers and sisters in the MMA community. This week we’ve offered up a double-dose of MMA-related goodness based on all the excellent material out there to choose from. Enjoy… An Exclusive Look at Mark Munoz Training for UFC 138 (MMAFighting.com) Joe Rogan Wants the UFC to Buy K-1 (FightOpinion.com) Matt Lindland Reflects on Career, Rift with UFC (MMATraining.com Yoshihiro Akiyama Reveals Welterweight Physique – BE WARNED IF YOU’RE A FEMALE! (CagePotato.com) UFC Maintains Its Credit Rating (MMAPayout.com) WWE’s Alberto Del Rio Gets KO’d by Mirko Filipovic (Fightlinker.com) Fights That MUST Happen in 2012 (BleacherReport.com) UFC Primetime Ties Fight Night 26 for Year’s Biggest Rating (MMAMania.com) Casting Information for TUF 15 (TheFightNerd.com) Rashad Evans Impressed by Rise of Donald Cerrone (Fighters.com) Anthony Johnson Sees Vitor Belfort as Even Match-Up (MMAConvert.com) Cesar Gracie Instructed Nick Diaz to Call Georges St. Pierre Out (FightLine.com) Cain Velasquez Channels His Inner-Aztec (MiddleEasy.com) PRIDE Roster Revealed for UFC Undisputed 3 (5thRound.com) PHOTO CREDIT – UFC/Brian Freidman

Posted in: ufc, mma, mma community, mmarelated goodness, velasquez channels

Boxing vs. MMA Debate Hits England for UFC 138

Filed under: MMA Media Watch, UFC American mixed martial arts fans have heard so many "boxing vs. MMA" arguments through the years that at this point, those arguments usually make people's eyes glaze over. But with the Octagon in England this week for UFC 138, it was interesting to see a British perspective on the same topic. That's what we got from PTI UK this week (yes, there's a British version of Pardon the Interruption), when they offered the following toss-up topic: "Is the UFC bigger than boxing?" It's a sign of the enormous growth of the UFC in the UK that anyone would even ask that question. Prizefighting has been popular in Great Britain for centuries, England was the birthplace of the Marquess of Queensberry Rules, and boxing is still quite popular in the UK -- much more popular than it is in the United States. No matter how you answer the question, even asking it is an enormous compliment to the UFC's efforts across the pond. "The UFC is brilliant. The product is sensational, the packaging, there's no other sport doing it as well," one PTI UK co-host said. However, the co-host was quite a bit less impressed with MMA as a whole, noting that the UFC only comes to the UK a couple times a year, and that non-UFC MMA shows leave a lot to be desired. "Most mixed martial arts events take place and they're rubbish. They're garbage," he said. At the moment, boxing is far bigger than MMA around the world. There's no denying that. But it's rather astounding that MMA is closing in on boxing, given how entrenched boxing is around the globe, and how new MMA is. American sports fans might be tired of "MMA vs. boxing" questions, but hearing those questions asked in traditional boxing hot spots has to be music to the ears of anyone who's thrilled by the worldwide growth of MMA. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, question, boxing, uk

Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 95: Cole Escovedo, UFC 138 Preview

Bloody Elbow Radio, presented by Bad Boy, will be LIVE! at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT for another edition of the show. Join hosts Matt Bishop and MMA Mania's Brian Hemminger as they discuss all the latest in mixed martial arts, including a preview of this weekend's two events, UFC 138, which is headlined by a middleweight bout between Chris Leben and Mark Munoz, and ProElite 2, which sees former UFC heavyweight champions Tim Sylvia and Andrei Arlovski compete. We'll talk about those shows, plus we'll discuss who the most disappointing fighter in modern MMA history is and talk about managers in MMA. We're scheduled to be joined by UFC on FOX 1 fighter Cole Escovedo as he prepares for his bantamweight clash for Alex Caceres next week. We'll chat about that fight and much more with him. Bloody Elbow Radio is sponsored by Bad Boy. Bad Boy, the 2010 World MMA Award winner for Best Technical Clothing Brand, can be found at BadBoyMMA.com. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook and tell them Bloody Elbow sent you. How to listen: Live/archived on the player below I iTunes I RSS feed I Direct download link (available after live broadcast) Want to get in touch with the BE Radio crew? Here's how you can do so: Phone: (347) 202-0934E-mail: bloodyelbowradio@gmail.comTwitter: @mbish86, @sprewellrimz or @gotahemmiBloodyElbow.com: Leave a question or comment in this post For those calling in, you will first be picked up by our producer who will take your information and get what you want to talk about. You will then be queued. We will try to get to everyone as soon as we can. We ask that you call in around the time of the topic you want to discuss. SBN coverage of UFC 138: Leben vs. Munoz SBN coverage of ProElite 2

Posted in: ufc, mma, radio, elbow radio, boy

UFC 138: What's the Matter with European MMA?

If you were to chart the progression of European MMA, it would look something like a horror movie franchise. What began as promising, despite a rocky start has turned into a drunken, vain downward spiral. And so if the UK experiment were an entry in the Friday the 13th series, this would be its Jason Takes Manhattan: the one where New York is absent, and all we're left with is a young Kelly Hu, time wasted on a boat, a rooftop fight in which the resolution resembles Gonzaga's KO of CroCop, and Jason getting killed in the most convoluted, and dumbest way possibly (New York's sewers fill with toxic waste every election cycle or something, which turns Jason back into a little boy via shitty screenplay writing osmosis). In short, this is a very very bad card. Of course, I rarely feel the need to bitch about cards that have yet to happen. But this card is bad by any standard. Chris Leben vs. Mark Munoz is a very good fight. But every other match prompts the question, "why?" What is Thiago Alves, a perennial WW contender, doing fighting a complete newcomer? Why is Terry Etim, once a promising prospect, fighting a guy whose mere presence is questionable? Cyrille Diabete vs. Anthony Perosh? Seriously? Of course, bashing the card is not very interesting, for me or the readers of ole' HKL. So I'm interested in digging a little deeper, and luckily, Jordan Breen has already done the work when he interviewed Tim Leidecker yesterday on his Press Row segment. What's the state of UK MMA? Part of the problem is that yes, a young sport like MMA thrusting itself into a new market won't be easy. The other half of the equation is a lack of quality fighters. When it comes to quality, sports fans aren't stupid. They'll bite if you sell them champions. If there's a pattern for what made the show in Brazil such a success, it's that the fighters have done the work for the UFC insofar as Zuffa is selling the public champions. Jose Aldo, Anderson Silva, and potentially Junior Dos Santos captivate the public because they win. It's as simple as that. For that reason, the media cares about these athletes. Something Breen points out, which is that you haven't seen this kind of communication between UK fighters, and in-house media as has been present with the Brazil media. On top of that, Europe in general, suffers from a problem New Yorkers can relate to: regulation. In Holland, fighting in a cage is illegal. in France, ground and pound is outlawed. And for a place like Italy, which makes logical sense for a company named Zuffa, MMA has to deal with the cultural shrug of the shoulder over prizefighting. "The thing is, unlike in these other places fighting is legal in Italy, but on other hand it isn't the biggest fight sport market. The Italians, they just love their team sports to their individual sports. They love their football, their basketball. Their volleyball. But there aren't any great boxers, kickboxers, and even mixed martial artists", explains Leidecker. So if not Italy, where? With the exception of the UK, there are not places looking to get into the MMA business. Although Tim does mention Sweden. "Sweden is pretty certain because the Swedish MMA media is lobbying so hard and they are doing such a great job of covering the show and transporting the passion Swedish fans have of the sport so far". With Alexander Gustafsson on (as Goldberg loves to torture us with saying) the patented meteoric rise, perhaps it could make sense. But Gustafsson will need more than abilities. The fighters that do find success still have personalities to sell. While fans consider him an afterthought, Dennis Siver was on a quality run that had people talking about him as a potential contender. Despite this, the public still didn't warm up to him. "You always had Dennis Siver, and people really respected him, and liked him. But they couldn't really get behind him because he's just not that outgoing character. The Germans like a hero. A brash guy, a little bit. A charismatic guy." When the UFC began their business in the UK, it was a big deal. Financially, they poured money into advertising the sport, and they've put together some decent cards (though UFC 75 seems to be the final word on this matter). But interest has waned over the past several years. Getting back that interest requires a considerable bang. And this card is a whimper. Poll Thoughts on the UC 138 card? [Derek Suboticki]Quit yer' bitching[/Derek Suboticki] It's a bad card. In fact, I'd probably have more fun watching Baywatch. 0 votes | Results

Posted in: mma, sport, card, uk, european mma

MMA Link Club: Josh Koscheck runs for President, Miguel Torres goes Blackzilian, and Joe Rogan talks Monopoly

- The 100 Greatest Moments in UFC History (BleacherReport/MMA)"At this point, it's safe to say the UFC's popularity is snowballing. Even that may be a mild analogy. With the UFC and its fighters finding newer and wider avenues into the mainstream seemingly every day, MMA's premier promotion is more like a magnet in a river of paper clips, or a molten ball of caramel careening down a mountain of chopped walnuts.You get the idea. These are heady times for the UFC."- Gameplans For Surviving Fights with Movie

Posted in: ufc, mma, ufcs popularity, ufc gameplans, paper clips

UFC on FOX 1 Conference Call Audio

Full audio from today’s UFC on FOX 1 conference call via MMA Weekly.

Posted in: ufc, mma, fox, conference, today

UFC 138 Preview: Mark Munoz Explains How Randy Couture Convinced Him To Try MMA

Mark Munoz tells a pretty neat story of how he got into MMA in this UFC 138 preview video. It turns out Randy Couture convinced him to give MMA a shot after Munoz was asked to spar with Randy with no MMA experience whatsoever. Ironically, Couture said Munoz was a “natural.”

Posted in: mma, preview, randy, munoz, mma experience

Pro MMA Radio 171: Mark Munoz, UFC 137 Recap, UFC 138 Preview

We have partnered with Pro MMA Radio to bring you weekly replays of PMR as the official radio show of MMAConvert.com. Pro MMA Radio can be heard live every Monday evening at 9PM ET/6PM PT. Replays and podcasts of every show are available 24/7 by going to the “Replay Corner” section of ProMMARadio.com, our own Pro MMA Radio page or by clicking the banner below. On this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio, Mark Munoz stopped by talk about his upcoming fight against Chris Leben this weekend at UFC 138. Host Larry Pepe also recapped UFC 137 and previewed UFC 138. You can listen to a replay of this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio by clicking the banner below. A radio player with links to the show’s archives will open in a pop-up window, so please make sure your browser is set to allow pop-ups for this site.

Posted in: ufc, mma, replay, radio, mma radio

Warning! Wearing the wrong MMA shirt could get you shanked (In Guam)

MMA attire went Bloods vs Crips, Oakland Raiders vs San Francisco 49ers style this weekend over in Guam and before all of you MMA elitests go there, no-it was not a Tapout vs Affliction war. That fight goes down every weekend on the Jersey Shore with some random sucker punch style shots from the Ed Hardy wearing crew. Acoording to a report from the Guampdn.com , there's a guy in Guam named Dana Lance Leon and it seems that when he is sitting in a cafe eating a nice meal he doesn't want to see any competing MMA gym t-shirts coming up in his spot. Leon is ride or die about his MMA alliance, so much so that when another MMA shirt gets all up in his business there's nothing else to do but threaten the opposing shirt wearer with some thug style steak knife skull shanking. "Dana Lance Leon, 35, was charged with assault as a misdemeanor. At approximately 3 a.m. on Sunday, Leon was sitting at Linda's Cafe in Tamuning wearing a T-shirt supporting a mixed martial arts alliance. A second man entered the restaurant wearing a T-shirt supporting a different mixed martial arts alliance, according to the declaration. After entering, the second man began talking to Leon, who "had no interest in talking with the man and thought the topic had become invasive, especially given their different martial arts allegiances." Leon allegedly stood up, and grabbed a seven-inch steak knife from the table. He allegedly held it over the second man's head in a stabbing position. Two off-duty police officers heard the commotion and subdued Leon" Maybe Gus Johnson is reading this news right now, shaking his head and saying, 'Sometimes these things happen with MMA T-shirts.' Maybe Leon is from Oakland and that's just how he rolls. Maybe this whole unfortunate incident could have been avoided had the guy coming into Leon's spot just been wearing a happier MMA shirt. A green one-with a big red monster on it that supports the Genki Sudo philosophy of 'We are all One.' We don't know but we do know is you can help support peaceful MMA shirt relations by getting a green shirt with a big mean cuddly red monster on it at WorldOverEasy.com today. Not only will you be doing a good deed the MMA community, but chicks really dig them too. [source]

Posted in: mma, shirt, leon, mma shirt, tshirt

MMA Top 10 Rankings: Cerrone and Askren Arrive

Following stellar performances this past weekend, Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone and Ben Askren finally cracked the MMAWeekly.com World MMA Rankings.

Posted in: mma, ranking, cerrone, ben askren, askren

I want to start following mma, help me get started!

I'm looking for like a who's who of mma, the history, techniques, etc. Any good starting points would be greatly appreciated. submitted by otbeandip [link] [12 comments]

Posted in: mma, technique, point, history techniques, who

Don Frye's Outtakes From Inside MMA

submitted by yarp-yarp [link] [2 comments]

Posted in: mma, yarpyarp, frye, fryes outtakes, outtake

In Case You Forgot, Don Frye Is Awesome

Really, the best line of all was If you are reading this and don't know who Don Frye is and why he's awesome, than I'm not sure we can be friends. He's quite honestly one of the funniest people I've ever listened to, if you don't mind misogynistic and colorful language - and quite honestly, that's part of what humor is about. In any event, Danga over at CagePotato did a solid summary, so rather than pretend I'm funnier, please join me: Today, we have the musings of Mustache King, life advice expert, and former UFC fighter Don Frye from yesterday’s Halloween themed episode of Inside MMA. Donning the most appropriate Halloween costume imaginable in Magnum P.I., Frye provided us with more gems in a minute than most of us can come up with in a lifetime: On retiring from MMA: "You get to the point where you retire after every match… the only person who’s retired more than me is Terry Funk." On the general temperature of the Inside MMA set: "It’s a little cold in here. My lucky charms are freezing." On a particularly nasty cut: "It looked like he was hiding underneath the bleachers of a tampon factory." On attractive women: "…saw some girls so beautiful, I’d drag my pecker through a mile of broken glass just to stand in the shadow of the last guy that banged her." On his epic mustache: "It takes me about an hour to shave it off each morning." On other top mustaches: "You got Sean Connery… you got Tom Selleck, Burt Reynolds, Sam Elliot, and I think old Nancy Grace has got a heady one there, too." Tip o' the hat to CP and IronForgesIron for this joyful five minutes.

Posted in: mma, ufc fighter, frye, mustache, halloween costume

Bantamweight MMA Top 10 (135-pound limit)

The Top 10 MMA fighters from around the world in the bantamweight division.

Posted in: pound, mma, fighter, bantamweight, bantamweight mma

Featherweight MMA Top 10 (145-pound limit)

The Top 10 MMA fighters from around the world in the featherweight division.

Posted in: pound, mma, fighter, featherweight, featherweight mma

Lightweight MMA Top 10 (155-pound limit)

The Top 10 MMA fighters from around the world in the lightweight division.

Posted in: pound, world, mma, division, limit

Welterweight MMA Top 10 (170-pound limit)

The Top 10 MMA fighters from around the world in the welterweight division.

Posted in: pound, mma, fighter, welterweight, welterweight mma

Middleweight MMA Top 10 (185-pound limit)

The Top 10 MMA fighters from around the world in the middleweight division.

Posted in: pound, mma, fighter, middleweight, middleweight mma

Women’s Pound-for-Pound MMA Top 10

The Top 10 MMA fighters from around the world in the women's pound-for-pound ranking.

Posted in: mma, fighter, women, poundforpound, womens poundforpound

Win or Lose, Cro Cop Expected to Retire After UFC 137

Despite a third-round TKO loss at UFC 137 this past weekend, Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic expected his fight against Roy Nelson to be the final fight of his pro MMA career. Cutman Stitch Duran had this to say (according to MMA Junkie): “I was at the weigh-ins, and when I saw ‘Cro Cop,’ he came up to me – the ‘Cro Crop’ I was never used to seeing in Japan, where he never spoke to anybody – he comes up and gives me a hug. The first thing he asks me is, ‘Are you going to be able wrap my hands?’ Then he tells me, ‘This is going to be my last fight.’ As you’d expect, Stitch was more than happy to wrap Cro Cop’s hands before his final MMA fight — and the MMAjunkie article includes a few additional interesting quotes from the veteran cutman. It’s a shame to see Cro Cop’s MMA career end on a three-fight losing streak in the UFC, but the former PRIDE superstar doesn’t have anything to be ashamed of. Cro Cop has been fighting for 20 years (both MMA and pro kickboxing), has undergone multiple surgeries, and deserves to be able to finally spend time with his family and rest. Long-term MMA fans will remember Cro Cop for his brutal striking and devastating kicks, but UFC fans simply saw an older, banged up Cro Cop unable to keep pace with the new generation of heavyweights.

Posted in: fight, mma, cro cop, cop, cro

Gina Carano Will Not Fight on December 17th Strikeforce Card

MMA fans have been waiting for Gina Carano to return to the cage for over two years now, and it appears that we're all going to have to wait even longer. While there was never any official confirmation of it, rumors were rife that Carano would be fighting on Strikeforce's last major card of the year. But according to MMA Fighting, that will not be the case: Carano, still arguably the most famous women's MMA fighter in the world, will not be fighting on Strikeforce's Dec. 17 card in San Diego, sources close to the event confirmed with MMAFighting.com. There had been some speculation that Carano was targeting a return to action on the card. Carano is still "the face of women's MMA" despite not competing since Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos stopped her late in the first round of their bout in August 2009. She was scheduled to return a few months ago and was set to face Sarah D'Alelio, but was pulled just before the fight for not passing her medicals. There was a lot of speculation about what happen to her, but no answers were ever provided. And with her home promotion in jeopardy of going under if Showtime and Zuffa can't come to an agreement, who knows when we'll see Carano in the cage again. You can see her on the big screen though - her movie Haywire comes out January 20th. More SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal

Posted in: mma, strikeforce, card, gina carano, carano

Stitch Duran – “Mirko CroCop Will Enjoy His Money In Retirement”

Friends, how many of us have them? As once asked by the great Whodini, it is something we at FightHub can say we have many and one of our good friends is MMA/ boxing cutman, Jacob “Stitch” Duran. Always eager and fun to talk with, we were able to speak with him after this past [...]

Posted in: mma, friend, mirko, duran, stitch

Inside MMA: Carlos Condit Statement, Don Frye, Tyron Woodley, Ben Askren

Inside MMA airs live on HDNet every Monday night at 8pm ET. Inside MMA Archive More segments after the jump.

Posted in: mma, monday night, mma airs, mma archive, frye

Jonathan Snowden opines that "Conspiracy Theories Drive Nick Diaz to Greatness" at MMA Nation.

Posted in: mma, nation, jonathan snowden, snowden, drive

MMA Fighters' Halloween costumes

submitted by killzy707 [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: mma, fighter, killzy, halloween, costume

Few MMA related questions I have ...

Why does UFC hides the timer for the round in the last 10 seconds? Is it to build anticipation or to prevent you from focusing on the timer itself? Do the fighters usually root for their past opponents? I mean if you're a fighter and you got beaten by another fighter wouldn't you want him to succeed in the future so your loss doesn't seem so bad? If you won against him wouldn't you want him to do well after that against other fighters so your win seems more impressive? If the initial purpose of TUF is to show how respectful the sport is and how great of a human beings the fighters are why are the new seasons filled with 90% arguments, childish pranks and the destruction of the house and why is no one punished in any way for any of that? Is it the new purpose of TUF to just bring more ratings for TUF? Why are brazilian fighters so good? Is it because brazilian fighters in general are much more, is it because of BJJ, is it because of some other reason? Why people with so few years of training are able to do so well in the highest level of the sport? Jon Jones, Matt Mitrione, Patt Barry ... What is the skill level you have to reach for such level and what helps those people reach it so fast? Do you think after ~10 years there will never be a grappler vs striker match? Do you think after certain amount of years everyone competing in the highest MMA level will come from a lifetime of MMA training and all the skills and successful styles will be almost perfectly even and similar? Will that make the matches much less interesting than they are now? Are UFC (not main event level) fighters really underpaid? If they are what is the reason for that? Is it because UFC wants to spend almost all of their money for promotion investments or they really can't afford to pay everyone much more? Is there any truth that if new fighters are paid much less money they wouldn't be able to train in such high level and their big name fighters wouldn't get changed/beaten often? Is it true that if big name fighters get paid life-securing money they wouldn't have the motivation to continue fighting as often and as long as they can? If you could choose the perfect MMA fighter to have movie about his life who would it be and why? submitted by snstyles [link] [10 comments]

Posted in: mma, fighter, brazilian fighters, level, wouldnt

An Objective Retrospective: B.J. "The Prodigy" Penn

First let me start out by painting this article with a very broad brush: If you're not a fan of B.J. Penn, you're not a fan of MMA. A non sequitur in a philosophy classroom, perhaps, but not in the real world. I know we all have our favorite fighters, but on the question "who speaks for MMA?", I can think of few better candidates than B.J. Penn. This is not to say he was the best. Because he wasn't. But in boxing, the description for the sport has been synonymous with 'the sweet science'. MMA can't make such a claim. Why? Well look at our fighters. Some can box, but can't wrestle. Some can wrestle, but can't box. Others barely qualify as athletes. And certainly fewer can put the skills together in such a seamless way. The 'jack of all trades' principle that defines the identity of the mixed martial artist just doesn't allow for an approximation of what MMA might consider a "science". However, Penn is that approximation. Before Penn ever entered the sport of mixed martial arts, he became the first non-Brazilian to win Mundials gold after beating Edson Diniz in the Finals (which you can watch here). This was only three years after entering his first grappling tournament. Grappling aficionados sometimes criticize Penn's Mundials win because he won the year Royler Gracie (who won the previous three years), and Fredson Paixao (who would take gold the following two years) were absent. But it's a hollow criticism. Given the amount of time Penn had been training, it was every bit as amazing as the UFC has advertised. Even so, for the purists, it's worth noting that the year before, Penn won bronze at a weight class above what he'd typically compete in, and his defeat came against an icon in Fernando 'Terere' Augusto (in a bout that is said to be competitive, in which Penn lost by an advantage, though I don't know much about the match other than rumors). Of course, we've seen this story before: "grappler tries hand at mixed martial arts". Rani Yahya, Roger Gracie, Marcelo Garcia...the list goes on of grappling experts who become dartboards for 'real' fighters. Even those at the elite level, like Shinya Aoki, still haven't found a real rhythm in trying to apply their grappling prowess in an MMA context (as counter intuitive as that sounds). Not so for Penn. In fact, this was sort of Penn's hype: His first three fights, fights fought in the UFC no less, were won by TKO or KO in a combined total of less than 8 minutes. His first loss, which occurred against Jens Pulver, was a learning experience. It was a close fight that Penn lost by choice (faded late in the fight), and by chance (he had secured an armbar to end one of the early rounds,and it's not fanboy hyperbole to say that not a second or two more, and Jens would have tapped). When Penn got another crack at the UFC LW title, he would do so against Caol Uno, who found success against Penn in the clinch, scoring sporadic clinch takedowns, and minimizing Penn's offense on the feet (this was, of course, in very stark contrast to the blitz from Penn that put Uno in a folded corpse of a mess in their first bout). The draw that resulted essentially ruined the LW division (I should point out that the decision was terrible: not a memorable fight, but Penn clearly won 3 rounds). BJ rebounded by wining two titles back to back: one at LW at Rumble on the Rock over Takanori Gomi and another at WW, against Matt Hughes at UFC 47. On the former, it's worth noting that Gomi was a big deal even then. He hadn't yet developed the striking game that would make him famous, but he won the Shooto WW Championship against Rumina Sato 2 years earlier when Sato was still damn good. On top of that, his striking was what should have given him the win over Joachim Hansen, who he had badly hurt at one point (which would have made Gomi undefeated). It was a great win even at the time. But it's the win over Hughes everyone remembers. Penn was given no chance at 47. Hughes was a massive WW, and Penn was a small LW. Many fans on the internet mocked the fight, yes, rooting for Penn, but also the additional weight Penn was carrying around his waist to make 170, which clearly wasn't his natural weight. BJ's subsequent victory put Penn on the map as a force of nature. But it also started Penn's awkward walk on the tightrope between the 'prodigal' and the 'plebian'. Penn has a secure place in MMA history: he won two UFC titles in two UFC weight classes. That distinction can never be taken away from him, and it's a distinction that will define his career in a way few other fighters can claim. But it's a distinction that also carries with it, a sort of curse. "Traversing the land of the rising sun in an adjustable fat suit, he clowns larger opponents with a potent mix of resolute takedown defense, and jiggly standup fighting". That's a line from MiddleEasy's famous guide to BJ Penn. Despite the tongue planted in cheek, there's real history beneath the humor. Following Penn's win over Hughes, Penn went to Japan, where the competition wasn't easier at the time. He clowned Duane Ludwig going up in weight yet again, who at the time was coming off a (contested, granted) win over Japanese icon, Genki Sudo. He would then go even higher in weight, first to MW against Rodrigo Gracie (in a tepid affair that still had some nice moments, like seeing Penn try to stomp an opponent: ROTR allowed soccer kicking to a downed opponent), and then essentially to HW. Despite a spirited effort against Lyoto Machida, fans still didn't quite know what to make of Penn's journey. It's part of what Penn's allure has always been. Even against larger opponents, he always felt like a threat. Either in passing Renzo Gracie's guard, or landing vicious punches on a LHW prospect (and future LHW champion) in Machida, Penn seemed formidable at any weight. But this lack of focus is also what has made him 5-5-1 in title fights. There's not much to criticize beyond the numbers either. Three of those came at LW: the weight class many considered Penn unbeatable. And his losses at WW were definitive. "BJ Penn, when it is all said and done, will be considered a disappointment. From the time, before his UFC debut, that Frank Shamrock announced the "Prodigy" would be the greatest fighter of all time until this latest loss to Edgar, Penn has little to show for what should have been a legendary career." Those were the words of Jonathan Snowden following Penn's loss to Edgar at UFC 118. Many fans took issue with Snowden's article. I don't agree with his overall point, that Penn is "overrated" (a term that by itself is loaded with assumptions). But there is a considerable amount of truth to Penn's failure to meet his expectations: and because he never settled down, his legacy will always be constrained by his appetite for adventure (and therefore be limited in a way great fighters typically avoid). However, my counterpoint to Snowden's criticism is abstract, though no less valid in my opinion. I don't think Penn was disappointing. More than anything, Penn forces us to look beyond the numbers. Yes, BJ wrote an MMA check his ambition couldn't cash, but he willed his way into success, no matter how brief, wherever he went. 'Who speaks for MMA' as it relates to performance? That Penn is high up on anyone's list is a testament to what he accomplished. To how he elaborated on what it means to be both fighter, and participant in this sport. Some mixed martial artists can compete, but struggle to fight. Others can fight, but struggle to compete. BJ Penn found that balance, despite a career that will always be considered flawed. The canvas of mixed martial arts combat Penn was looking to paint on was too vast, his ambitions exceeding beyond even his abilities, illuminating further his failures. But he was painting on a canvas only a limited number of fighters could even hope to attempt, let alone entertain. In a world of athletes averse to risking greatness, Penn's hubris carries with it, an amount of charm. And for that, history will look favorably on Jay Dee Penn. E ala e (via 0fficialbjpenn)

Posted in: ufc, mma, penn, weight, bj

BOOK CLUB: Big John McCarthy – Let’s Get It On

(Matthew Polly is our resident big shot book writer, and his new book Tapped Out is being released on November 17th. So close yet so far! For now enjoy his review of another MMA book.) Hopefully, the return of “Big” John McCarthy as a referee for UFC on Fox 1 marks the official end of his banishment from the Octagon and his permanent return to his rightful place as the best referee in the sport. It is certainly a position he has earned. McCarthy has been part of MMA since before UFC 1 and inside the cage since UFC 2. He is responsible for most of the early rules, helping turn spectacle into sport. Shit, he coined the term “mixed martial arts.” But then he did the unforgivable. He quit the UFC and joined the Fight Network—a Rebel Alliance outpost in the remote, frozen tundra known as Canada. Even worse as a pundit and commentator, he expressed his views, suggesting that Dana White plays fast and loose with the truth and the Nevada State Athletic Commission has a tendency to hire (boxing) referees who are unqualified for MMA matches. After the Fight Network collapsed, he tried to get his old job back but was treated like a pariah by the NSAC and Dana White, who doesn’t seem to realize that being called a liar is a badge of honor for a fight promoter. While in exile, Big John followed a time-honored tradition and wrote his memoir with the help of skilled MMA journalist Loretta Hunt, who knows a little about what it’s like to be on Dana’s bad side. The book has something for everyone. For hardcore fans, Big John recounts in detail his life as a referee and as a Los Angeles police officer. For Tuff noobs, he provides a very, very extensive refresher course on the history of MMA, going into such detail that by page 226 he was still describing UFC 14 and I began to worry that this 418 page book was only the first in a trilogy. By the end of the book, it is impossible not to like Big John. Sure, he might be a little short-tempered and rough around the edges, but he is fundamentally a good man. He loves his wife, his kids, and his parents. He believes in fairness, impartiality, loyalty, and trust. And he is self-critical, spending nearly as much time writing about his few mistakes in the cage as he does his many, many successes. Which raises the question: Can a good man write a good memoir? The most entertaining memoirs tend to be written by chatty, catty, gossipy, vindictive, self-centered narcissits (see Donald Rumsfeld). Since the very beginnings of MMA, McCarthy has had the best seat in the house and clearly knows where all the bodies are buried. But if you are looking for dirt, read Dana’s mother’s screed, because Big John ain’t talking. (More after the jump) read more

Posted in: ufc, mma, john, mccarthy, book

BOOK CLUB: Big John McCarthy – Let’s Get It On

(Matthew Polly is our resident big shot book writer, and his new book Tapped Out is being released on November 17th. So close yet so far! For now enjoy his review of another MMA book, Big John McCarthy's "Let's Get It On") Hopefully, the return of “Big” John McCarthy as a referee for UFC on Fox 1 marks the official end of his banishment from the Octagon and his permanent return to his rightful place as the best referee in the sport. It is certainly a position he has earned. McCarthy has been part of MMA since before UFC 1 and inside the cage since UFC 2. He is responsible for most of the early rules, helping turn spectacle into sport. Shit, he coined the term “mixed martial arts.” But then he did the unforgivable. He quit the UFC and joined the Fight Network—a Rebel Alliance outpost in the remote, frozen tundra known as Canada. Even worse as a pundit and commentator, he expressed his views, suggesting that Dana White plays fast and loose with the truth and the Nevada State Athletic Commission has a tendency to hire (boxing) referees who are unqualified for MMA matches. After the Fight Network collapsed, he tried to get his old job back but was treated like a pariah by the NSAC and Dana White, who doesn’t seem to realize that being called a liar is a badge of honor for a fight promoter. While in exile, Big John followed a time-honored tradition and wrote his memoir with the help of skilled MMA journalist Loretta Hunt, who knows a little about what it’s like to be on Dana’s bad side. The book has something for everyone. For hardcore fans, Big John recounts in detail his life as a referee and as a Los Angeles police officer. For TUF noobs, he provides a very, very extensive refresher course on the history of MMA, going into such detail that by page 226 he was still describing UFC 14 and I began to worry that this 418 page book was only the first in a trilogy. By the end of the book, it is impossible not to like Big John. Sure, he might be a little short-tempered and rough around the edges, but he is fundamentally a good man. He loves his wife, his kids, and his parents. He believes in fairness, impartiality, loyalty, and trust. And he is self-critical, spending nearly as much time writing about his few mistakes in the cage as he does his many, many successes. Which raises the question: Can a good man write a good memoir? The most entertaining memoirs tend to be written by chatty, catty, gossipy, vindictive, self-centered narcissits (see Donald Rumsfeld). Since the very beginnings of MMA, McCarthy has had the best seat in the house and clearly knows where all the bodies are buried. But if you are looking for dirt, read Dana’s mother’s screed, because Big John ain’t talking. (More after the jump) read more

Posted in: ufc, mma, john, mccarthy, book

UFC 138: Mark Munoz stops by Pro MMA Radio tonight (Oct. 31) at 9pm ET

Pro MMA Radio returns TONIGHT (Oct. 31, 2011) at 9 p.m. ET right here on MMAmania.com featuring UFC middleweight contender Mark Munoz, who battles Chris Leben this Saturday night (Nov. 5) at UFC 138 from the LG Arena at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, England. "The Philippine Wrecking Machine" will break down his gameplan for "The Crippler," where he thinks a win puts him in the stacked 185-pound division, fighting in the first-ever five round non-title fight and much more. Hosted by Larry Pepe, Pro MMA Radio is professional, guest-driven program that features some of mixed martial arts biggest names right here on MMAmania.com every Monday night through our exclusive live feed. Live feed begins tonight at 9 p.m. ET after the jump. Click the banner below or right here to listen to Pro MMA Radio. For more on UFC 138 click here.

Posted in: ufc, mma, radio, mma radio, names right

The MMA Hour With Chris Leben, Brad Pickett, Malki Kawa

Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, VideosThe MMA Hour returns on Monday with another two-hour live show. Here's who will be stopping by: * UFC 138 headliner Chris Leben will preview his fight against Mark Munoz. * Brad Pickett will talk about his UFC 138 co-main event fight against Renan Barao. * Carlos Condit's manager Malki Kawa will explain why Condit chose to give up his title shot to Nick Diaz. * Jason Hehir, the producer of UFC on FOX Primetime, will talk about the critically-acclaimed show. Plus, we'll discuss all the news coming out UFC 137 and we want to hear from you. So, give us a shout at: 212-254-0193, 212-254-0237 or 212-254-0714. *** You can also stream the show live on your iPhone or iPad by clicking here. Watch the replay below. Subscribe to The MMA Hour on iTunes: audio feed here; video feed here. Download previous episodes here. Listen to the show via Stitcher here. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, show, mma hour, hour

The MMA Wrap-Up: UFC 137 Edition

Filed under: UFCThe official word from Dana White was that welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre was enraged by Nick Diaz's post-fight comments at UFC 137, but could it be that GSP needs Diaz now even more than Diaz needs GSP? The MMA Wrap-Up examines the issue, and all it will cost you is several minutes of your life that you can never get back. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, diaz, mma, mma wrapup, wrapup

Report: Donald Cerrone Gets December Fight Against Nate Diaz At UFC 141

Donald Cerrone asked for a fight in December and he got it. He also got a heck of an opponent. MMA Junkie is reporting that Cerrone will take on the other Diaz brother, Nate Diaz, at UFC 141. Multiple sources close to the event today informed MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that Donald Cerrone (17-3 MMA 4-0 UFC) and Nate Diaz (14-7 MMA, 9-5 UFC) have verbally agreed to meet at UFC 141. Great fight. Both Cerrone and Diaz are riding a wave of momentum after dismantling their last opponents in short order. I’m not sure who will win, but it will definitely be a fight. Image via Esther Lin for MMA Fighting

Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, mma, cerrone

Hatsu Hioki Thinks He Did Enough to Earn Win at UFC 137

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosLAS VEGAS - MMA Fighting caught up with Hatsu Hioki after he won his UFC debut at UFC 137. Hioki discusses if he felt he earned the decision win over George Roop, if he was pleased with his performance, the pressure he faces and if he will adjust his training after his first fight in the Octagon. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, ufc debut, hioki, hatsu hioki

St-Pierre Doesn't Understand Why Cesar Gracie Keeps Picking on Him

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosLAS VEGAS - MMA Fighting caught up with UFC welterweight Georges St-Pierre at UFC 137. GSP gives the latest on his injuries, reacts to Cesar Gracie's comments and says when he might be able to fight next. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, cesar gracie, cesar, stpierre doesnt

White involved in negotiations with Showtime

MMA Junkie reports that Dana White is taking over the company’s negotiations for a new deal with Showitme. Lorenzo Fertitta was the lead in the negotiations prior to Ken Hershman leaving Showtime for HBO. White called Hershman a “deal blower” in an MMA Fighting interview with Ariel Helwani. With Hershman out of the picture and Showtime wanting to continue in the MMA business, White stated the negotiations “went really well.” Payout Perspective: This is an interesting development as most believed that Zuffa/Strikeforce-Showtime would mutually end its contractual relationship when the existing agreement ended. Perhaps Zuffa sees Showtime as a network it could keep Strikeforce Challengers or a “Challengers” type series if Strikeforce dissolves. Or, he wanted to meet the new team in charge of Showtime to gage a potential competitor in the MMA business. With UFC content heading to Fox, a contract with Showtime would mean Strikeforce will continue in 2012. But, with most of its top fighters rumored (or already in the organization) to be in the UFC, only Strikeforce Challengers may survive.

Posted in: mma, showtime, strikeforce challengers, mma business, negotiation

5 Oz. MMA Link Club

Welcome back to another edition of “MMA Link Club”, Five Ounces of Pain‘s weekly smorgasbord of offerings from our brothers and sisters in the MMA community. This week we’ve offered up a double-dose of MMA-related goodness based on all the excellent material out there to choose from. Enjoy… Carlos Condit Getting Title-Shot No Matter What (5thRound.com) Nick Diaz Hits the Water (MiddleEasy.com) Brandon Vera Ready to Leave Eliot Marshall in a Pool of Blood (FightLine.com) Martin Kampmann Talks Team in His Latest UFC 139 Blog (Fighters.com) Roy Nelson Brought in Friends for “Cro Cop” Camp (NBCSports.com) Georges St. Pierre Not Interested in Dropping to Lightweight (MMAConvert.com) Is MMA Dead on ESPN? (MMATraining.com) Beating Ben Henderson May Not Earn Clay Guida a Championship Clash (MMAMania.com) Victor Conte Talks Steroids in MMA (TheFightNerd.com) The Top 10 Jackasses in MMA (BleacherReport.com) CageHero Re-brands Itself (MMAPayout.com) No More Double-Header for the UFC in February (CagePotato.com) What Viacom Buying Bellator Means to MMA (FightOpinion.com) Twenty-Five Minutes with Nick Diaz (MMAFighting.com) Ultimate Fighter Heading to Brazil (FightLinker.com) PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, mma, mma community, ben henderson, eliot marshall

MMAterial Facts (10/28/11) : UFC Japan PPV, UFC on FOX Prelims, and Will Strikeforce Live?

Welcome to this edition of MMAterial Facts, where we feature articles from around the MMA community. *** This week’s MMAterial Facts: - UFC Japan Will Be PPV Event; Doubleheader Plans Abandoned (MMA Fighting) “The UFC’s long-awaited return to Japan on Feb. 26, 2012 will be a full pay-per-view level event, sources have confirmed to MMA Fighting as initially reported by Dave Meltzer. Zuffa has thus abandoned its controversial plan to have the UFC Japan event act as a free-to-air lead-in to a Las Vegas PPV event.” - Bjorn Rebney: Viacom buying Bellator is a major statement about MMA’s future (Fight Opinion) “It speaks volume to the strength of what I believe is the greatest sport on the face of the Earth. And, you know, we’re going to be transitioning to Spike in 2013. In the interim, we’ll be building out the brand and increasing and improving every element of what we do on MTV2 and EPIX & Spike.com. It just gives us an incredible opportunity to work with really smart people who understand our sport backward and forward to build this out and to continue to build traction around our tournament format, our objectivity and some of the greatest fighters on the face of the Earth. So, it gives us every tool to build this out for many, many, many years to come.” - Interview with Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren (MMA Mania) “Yeah he was a national champion in junior college but Jay [Hieron] is significantly overrating his wrestling ability. What you have to realize is that people who win national junior college tournaments, I pin them in 30 seconds. That’s no big deal. I mean, even at the highest, highest level at the NCAA tournament my senior year, in five matches I probably got 40 takedowns and that’s against the best of the best of the best guys in the United States in wrestling and Jay was never on that level” - Dana White Talks UFC 137, Strikeforce, Viacom, Plus Other News & Notes (MMA Convert) “Dana White announced at the beginning of the press conference that they have hired MMA Live anchor Jon Anik away from ESPN to commentate on the FX and TUF broadcasts. Anik will also have a role in other programming. MMA Weekly is reporting that Anik has signed a three-year deal with the UFC. Dana White said they’ll be working him so much, he’ll regret leaving ESPN.” - Thailand Floods – A Setback for MMA? (MiddleEasy) “Thailand has recently joined the mixed martial arts foray, really hitting the ground running in 2011. The sport was slow to get going in Thailand where a majority of the combat sports fans are more apt to enjoy Thai boxing than mixed martial arts, regardless of the fact that it is part of the “mixed” in MMA. As new players have arrived, the sport is beginning to catch on. DareFC, the biggest player in Thailand has enjoyed the early successes of mixed martial arts, showcasing some of the regions talented strikers and grapplers. Their business model is very unique, although one that works very well for the region.” - Nelson Getting A Little Help From His Friends (NBC Sports MMA) “Nelson told NBCSports.com that this isn’t the first time the casual friends have trained together — Nelson said he helped Mir prepare for a few fights “three-to-four years ago” — but this is the first time Nelson has called upon Mir for a training camp” - Video Timeline: MMA’s Greatest Techniques of the Year, 1993-2011 (Cage Potato) “Over the last two decades, MMA has evolved so consistently that fighters are still finding new and unexpected ways to destroy their opponents — while causing fans to spit their beers in shock. We decided to take a lil’ spin through MMA history and identify the single most awe-inspiring technique from each year since the sport’s modern inception.” - UFC on FOX prelims to air online (Five Ounces of Pain) “Everyone wanted to see the lightweight showdown between Ben Henderson and Clay Guida on November 12 and now they’ll be able to. No, the bout won’t air live on FOX prior to the heavyweight main event, but the entire UFC on FOX preliminary card will air online on Facebook.com and Fox.com.” - Jake Shields Signs with Authentic Sports Management (5thRound) “This was a big decision for me, I took my time looking for the right management and I found it in Glenn Robinson and Authentic Sports Management,” said Shields. “ASM feels like a family environment. It has good people who are working hard, and he seems to really care about the fighters.” - Akira Corassani – Behind The Screen (Exclusive Interview) (LowKick) “Few days before Nick Diaz and BJ Penn square off inside the Octagon, TUF 14 bad boy Hamid “Akira” Corassani stops by for an exclusive interview with LowKick.com. Corassani currently entertains the Mixed Martial Arts fans around in his SpikeTV-documented quest for contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, representing Team Bisping somewhere in Nevada’s deserts (I don’t really know where the TUF Gym is).” - Jim Genia on NY Underground MMA scene (TheFightNerd) “New York doesn’t allow MMA right now, so fighters have to go to New Jersey to fight where its sanctioned or they have to go underground in New York city… but the book isn’t just about the underground fight scene in New York, it’s also about the development of sanctioned MMA in the east coast… In New Jersey, tehre was a show called BAMA Fight Night run by Big Dan Miragliotta. His show was the only show for the longest time, there weren’t sanctioned events in the North East, so Big Dan would hold these shows and people like Matt Serra, Nick Serra, Phil Baroni, they had their first fights at these events.” - Dana White: There Is a Chance That Strikeforce Lives (BleacherReport.com/MMA) “I met with Showtime yesterday, and I had a great meeting with them,” White told Helwani. “I’m jumping in. The way that it works, and I’ve explained this before, is that Lorenzo and I divide and conquer. We’re both so busy. We’re working on so much stuff and I think sort of to get this deal moving, you needed the kinder, gentler side of the UFC in there. Now, I am going to go in there and close it.”

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, sport, event

The Friday Morning MMA Link Party

If you're going to party for this edition of The Friday Morning MMA Link Party, be sure to not run into KJ Noons' dad. He may try to convince you that Mayhem Miller isn't a real MMA fighter and then choke you at a bar moments later. It will make a great story, but it might leave a few marks around your neck. The weekend is here and it's time to spend the next couple days relaxing on your sofa because there's UFC 137 and Bellator 56 to satisfy your MMA viewing habits. [list class="bullet-6"] [li]Nine Ways of Looking at UFC 137. [MMAFighting] [/li] [li]UFC Japan Goes PPV, Double-Header Plans Scrapped. [CagePotato] [/li] [li]Japanese featherweight Hatsu Hioki ready to wow American fans. [Fives Ounces of Pain] [/li] [li]Nick Diaz: The fight with BJ Penn could be my last. [LowKick] [/li] [li]Penn is mighty, but what's the point? [NBC Sports] [/li] [li]Nick Diaz Regrets Choosing The UFC Over Boxing [MMAConvert] [/li] [li]Dana White: Carlos Condit Guaranteed Next Shot at Georges St-Pierre. [5th Round] [/li] [li]Career-Defining Moment for Every UFC 137 Fighter. [Bleacher Report] [/li] [li]Talent Filled Bellator 56 Card Invades KC’s Memorial Hall Saturday Night. [The Fight Nerd] [/li] [li]Dana White: If there was a gay fighter in UFC, I wish he would come out. [MMAMania] [/li] [li]Dana White: Viacom buying out Bellator means UFC is a “Mom & Pop” MMA group. [FightOpinion] [/li] [li]Bellator 55: 168,000 viewers. [MMAPayout] [/li] [/list]

Posted in: ufc, bellator, mma, li, lidana

MMA Link Parade

- If You Think You Can Out-Swim Nick Diaz, You're Delusional. [Middle Easy] - UFC Japan Goes PPV, Double-Header Plans Scrapped. [Cage Potato] - Viewer's Guide to UFC 137. [Sports Illustrated] - Hatsu Hioki Ready to Wow American Fans. [Five Ounces of Pain] - Nick Diaz: Fight with BJ Penn Could Be my Last. [LowKick] - Penn is Mighty, But What's the Point? [NBC Sports] - Nick Diaz Regrets Choosing The UFC Over Boxing [MMAConvert] - Dana White: Carlos Condit Guaranteed Next Shot at Georges St-Pierre. [5th Round] - Career-Defining Moment for Every UFC 137 Fighter. [Bleacher Report] - Expert Predictions for UFC 137. [Sports Illustrated] - Bellator 56 Invades KC's Memorial Hall Saturday Night. [The Fight Nerd] - Dana White: If There Was a Gay Fighter in UFC, I Wish He'd Come Out. [MMA Mania] - Bellator 55: 168,000 Viewers. [MMA Payout] Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, diaz, mma, sport, ufc i

Is CBS getting back on the MMA bandwagon too?

Bellator may not be the only MMA promotion shacking up with a major media conglomerate. According to CagePotato, Chuck Liddell's appearance on Hawaii Five-O is a harbinger of CBS and ProElite jumping into the fray as well: There’s a very good chance that CBS was using Chuck Liddell‘s appearance on Hawaii Five-O this week as a litmus test to gauge the popularity of the sport with its viewership to see if signing with a promotion would be in its best interest. Although the ratings aren’t back yet for the episode, the fact that CBS’s PR department was pushing the episode to the MMA media pretty hard the past few weeks means they wanted the show to do well and were making sure it did. It’s no coincidence that they prominently displayed the ProElite cage and logos throughout Chuck’s cameo on the show. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire and it would have been just as easy for the show to cover up the PE logo or use a generic cage, so there’s a pretty good chance that the promotion is on the cusp of that deal with CBS we talked about a few months back. Now that all of the cards are down, we can probably expect an announcement in the following weeks that a deal that compliments ProElite’s newly announced broadcasting contract with HDNet is in place. And here I was thinking CBS was just shilling MMA in an attempt to draw a less Polydent and incontinence pad centric demographic. CagePotato has been talking about this potential deal since August, and if it is true I kinda feel bad for everyone involved. I'm not the kind of person who'd predict failure before a deal is even announced - oh wait a second, yes I am. I give this speculative partnership a one Affliction out of five International Fight League chance of succeeding.Just look at where they're at now. ProElite is currently headlining events with Tim Sylvia and Andrei Arlovski ... something that would have been totally rad back in 2006 but kinda falls flat now. Sure, they've got one of the few non-idiot promoters in MMA (T Jay Thompson) as their front man. But there's a huge difference between pulling off some shows without shitting the bed and running a full schedule of shows including broadcast television events. The wild card here (and in the Bellator deal) is how much cash these stupid media executives are willing to throw into the flaming money pit that is MMA promotion. Thus far most of the television deals being made by second tier organizations have been so bad they led to the promotions' inevitable demise. Will history repeat? Let's just say I wouldn't bet on ProElite and CBS being the partnership that breaks the cycle.

Posted in: mma, promotion, proelite, deal, cb

Latest UFC/MMA news and notes from around the web for the week of October 22, 2011

Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Caol Uno, Matt Serra, Din Thomas and B.J. Penn pictured above, we can all "get along." Teaming up with MMA sites like MiddleEasy, Cage Potato, Fight Opinion and Five Ounces of Pain, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport. This week, The FIght Nerd reviews Jim Genia's new book on the New York underground fighting scene, Lowkick catches up with current Ultimate Fighter season 14 fighter Akira Corassani and Fight Opinion investigates some causes for the UFC's recent downturn in pay-per-view buyrates. The full list of links is after the jump. - Interview with TUF 14's Akira Corassani (LowKick) "There isn't a right or wrong team. You see very early, it's not a team sport. People are selling each other out and eventually, when it goes down, everybody is going to fight each other. So, the whole thing was just a matter of what kind of fighter you are yourself. " - Penn is mighty, but what's the point? (NBC Sports MMA) No matter what BJ Penn does in his UFC 137 main event match with Nick Diaz, it's not likely to help him get another title shot. - Video Timeline: MMA's greatest techniques of the year, 1993-2011 (Cage Potato) Over the last two decades, MMA has evolved so consistently that fighters are still finding new and unexpected ways to destroy their opponents - while causing fans to spit their beers in shock. We decided to take a lil' spin through MMA history and identify the single most awe-inspiring technique from each year since the sport's modern inception. - GUFC 137 breakdown: The undercard (Five Ounces of Pain) Losing a marquee main event is a substantial blow for any card, let alone one headlined by a title fight featuring one of the sport's biggest stars. Luckily, this weekend's card had an equally compelling co-main event (which has now been promoted to main event status) and a potentially action-packed undercard, making UFC 137 a can't-miss show for MMA hardcores. - Covering the bases with Dana White (video) (MMA Fighting) Dana White discusses UFC 137, Showtime talks, Bellator sale and more - Jake Shields signs with Authentic Sports Management (5thRound) "This was a big decision for me, I took my time looking for the right management and I found it in Glenn Robinson and Authentic Sports Management," said Shields. "ASM feels like a family environment. It has good people who are working hard, and he seems to really care about the fighters." - If you think you can out swim Nick Diaz, you're clearly delusional (video) (MiddleEasy) Our videographer, LayzieTheSavage, was under the belief that he 'almost' beat Nick Diaz in a pool race the night he arrived in Las Vegas for UFC 137. Granted everyone's definition of 'almost' varies, but fortunately we have documentation of this swimming contest. If almost means he didn't even finish the second lap, then sure, LayzieTheSavage 'almost' beat Nick Diaz. - Jim Genia on NY Underground MMA scene (TheFightNerd) "New York doesn't allow MMA right now, so fighters have to go to New Jersey to fight where its sanctioned or they have to go underground in New York city... but the book isn't just about the underground fight scene in New York, it's also about the development of sanctioned MMA in the east coast... In New Jersey, there was a show called BAMA Fight Night run by Big Dan Miragliotta. His show was the only show for the longest time, there weren't sanctioned events in the North East, so Big Dan would hold these shows and people like Matt Serra, Nick Serra, Phil Baroni, they had their first fights at these events." - Author Jim Genia - Dave Meltzer: Piracy is a major factor in why UFC PPV buy rates are declining (Fight Opinion) Injuries & too many shows are the main reasons why UFC PPV buys are down this year. Those underlying causes are the reason for a reported spike in piracy of UFC PPV events being streamed online. Dave elaborated on this conundrum for the UFC during his interview with Jack. - CageHero rebrands itself (MMA Payout) MMA Payout had the opportunity to speak with the owners of CageHero, Mark Mastrandrea and Ian Parker as it recently re-branded itself focusing its business to target kids. Once a sponsor of fighters in the octagon, it has a new web site, a new clothing line and its CageHero Kid - UFC 137 fight card: Which fighter has the most to lose? (BleacherReport.com/MMA) UFC 137 houses a lot of names that have a lot riding on their fights. BJ Penn , Nick Diaz and Mirko Cro Cop all have a lot riding on their fights. But there is one guy who has more riding on his shoulders then these guys, Hatsu Hioki. - Bellator 56 preview - Get ready for the man blanket! (MMA Convert) It is a sad state of affairs when the most common thing said about an organization's champ is that he's a "work in progress". But such is the case with Bellator welterweight grandmaster Ben Askren, who is shockingly weak in the striking and submissions department, yet un-freakin'-stoppable when it comes to wrestling.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, fighter, sport

USA TODAY/MMA Nation October 2011 Consensus Rankings

October's USA TODAY/MMA Nation Consensus Rankings are now live. Be sure and pick up a hard copy of USA TODAY Friday to see them in print. Based on the premise that all MMA rankings are subjective but that it’s still useful and informative to know who the MMA community as a whole ranks as the best fighters in MMA, we collect and average the rankings of the top MMA sources 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. More details on our methodology in the full entry. NOTE: We have modified our method of gathering our rankings because the strict scheduling requirements of USA TODAY clash with the more irregular schedules of many of the MMA rankings sites. That was causing us to use a different set of sources almost every month. That combined with the small number of sites doing top 25 rankings was causing the Consensus rankings to have a lower "signal to noise" ratio than we would like -- that is if fighters are going to be moving up or down I would like it to be because there has been a change in the consensus opinion, not a change in our sources. Therefore we have cut back our sources to just those sites that we can depend on to update every month. We have also contacted many of the rankers that only publish top 10 lists and asked them to provide top 25 lists. As always we listen to your suggestions and are always working to improve the USAT/SBN Consensus MMA Rankings. Check out the USA TODAY/MMA Nation Consensus Rankings to see who's rising and who's falling.

Posted in: mma, fighter, ranking, consensus, source

Dana White Talks UFC 137, Taking Charge of Strikeforce and Viacom Buying Bellator

Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, VideosLAS VEGAS -- MMA Fighting caught up with UFC president Dana White on Thursday to preview Saturday night's UFC 137 card. White talked about the three main fights on the card, his decision to take over the Strikeforce negotiations with Showtime and what Viacom buying Bellator means for the MMA landscape. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, strikeforce, ufc mma, strikeforce negotiations

Jens Pulver Interview: Gamer for Life

Jens Pulver has been a busy man since leaving the WEC in 2010. Not only has he gone 3-2 in regional cage fights, but he's also the star of a documentary called Driven and a part of the new mixed martial arts video game, Supremacy MMA. While the UFC and EA MMA series of games attempt to give users as real of an ultimate fighting experience as possible, Supremacy takes things in another direction. Here's Jens telling us in an exclusive interview about the vibe of the game and what he's playing right now."It’s pretty much an arcade game. We’re showing the MMA fans that you got your simulated games like Madden and you play with your favorite players that you see on TV and then you got your arcade game." he said. "Graphics and gameplay can be improved with any game but with this we’re trying to tell stories and I like that. The story mode is awesome. I’m proud to be a part of it. When you do a simulated game, you have to follow guidelines but with an arcade game you can implode bodies and stuff."Is he concerned that people might get the wrong idea about MMA if they play the often violent and over the top Supremacy MMA? Not really. "If you think this is what MMA is all about and you’ve missed the UFC, then what can you do? It’s like people who think 'this is what football is all about' and it’s 3 on 3 with zombies. Or when you get on fire in NBA Jam. So what do you tell people like that?"Many people know that Jens is a hardcore gamer, so we asked him about his roots and how he got started."As a kid I used to go to town but once I got a Nintendo, things changed. Me and Mario, I was hooked. Me and my brothers used to battle to see who got the controller. I’ve never been much of an arcade fanatic and especially now with all these systems. Pretty soon I expect to be in my big hubble chair and just being inside and part of the game.""My first game was on Atari 2600, River Raid. You had to get through different puzzles and get fuel and I think they just stopped giving you fuel so you lose. My mom was the best at that one."As for what Jens is playing now, a bad guess wouldn't be World of Warcraft. Pulver used to play it so much some joked he was a full time gamer with a fighting hobby. But he's actually been branching out lately: The rest after the jump! read more

Posted in: mma, people, game, jen, arcade game

MMA in Korea?

I have a long background in folkstyle wrestling, have studied hapkido (a hybrid of taekwondo and judo), and am currently training in boxing. I live in Incheon and am really interested in finding a place that will train me in MMA or give me an opportunity to fight. Any ideas /r/mma? submitted by sokominho [link] [3 comments]

Posted in: mma, idea, ideas rmma, boxing i, korea i

As Fight Nears, Boxing Big Topic of Diaz-Penn UFC 137 Matchup

Filed under: UFC, NewsLAS VEGAS -- The many elements of the sport are what make it so unpredictable. When a fighter can chain together combinations like a punch into a takedown into side control, that's what separates the elite from the masses. But it's hard to digest a fight that way. Like looking at the stars in the sky, it's too infinite. Too many possibilities. Instead, we tend to focus on a few key elements. And in Saturday's UFC 137 main event, all the fight talk seems to center around the participants' boxing. For years, BJ Penn has been considered to have some of the best hands in MMA. And his opponent Nick Diaz recently made waves after nearly turning his back on the sport to try his hands in the squared circle. Given their pedigrees, contrasting styles and differing body types, the standup figures to produce compelling, unpredictable action. Even to the learned eye of Penn's boxing coach Jason Parillo, who was undefeated in an eight-fight pro boxing career, it's a hard one to analyze. As Parillo noted in an interview with MMA Fighting, the many options a fighter has at his disposal make it hard to determine how a fight will develop. "You've got a guy who loves to box and wants to fight Roy Jones, Jr, and you've got another guy who's been recognized as one of the best boxers in the MMA game," he said. "You've got two high-voltage submission guys. Realistically, I think Nick's going to try to keep BJ in a boxing match. I believe he feels he's got something to prove with his boxing ability. He loves boxing and I think he wants to prove something using BJ to show he's the best boxer in the MMA game. This fight can go anywhere. It really can. It's tough to predict MMA fights in general, but this one can go in so many ways." On their feet, their styles are very different. Penn relies on speed, accuracy and power with crisp combinations. But the rangy Diaz uses his length and non-stop volume to keep opponents at distance and to set up his occasional power strikes. Given the way their styles and bodies match up (Diaz has a four-inch reach advantage), Penn said getting inside might prove to be the biggest challenge for him. "That's huge, that's huge," he told MMA Fighting. "You've got to get in on Nick Diaz. He's got that reach, and not only does he have that reach, he knows how to put you in the perfect spot. He's not really a big footwork guy but if you come forward he'll take one step back and just keep you on the end the whole time. We're going to have to -- without giving anything away -- use a lot of smarts and technique to get in there, get after him and attack him." Penn made some headlines recently when he called Diaz the best boxer in MMA. Diaz was flattered to hear the comments but believes he might have put in more time training with high-level boxers than anyone in the UFC. And regardless of the compliment, Diaz isn't letting it go to his head. "This is MMA too, so regardless of how you win a fight, whether standup, winning on punches, I don't think it has anything to do with boxing," he said. "Just throwing more martial arts in than boxing, when it's MMA, everything changes. Stance is different, you have to defend the takedown, you have to defend the leg kick. You can't really say or judge." That's true, of course. If a fighter gets too reliant on his hands and having success with it, his opponent can always change levels and go for the takedown. Penn has that in his arsenal, though it's a weapon he only occasionally decides to use. In his last five fights, he has four takedowns in just six tries. But for Diaz, it's not his strongest weapon. In his last five fights, he has completed just two takedowns in 10 tries. Given their usual reluctance to use wrestling, it's not a stretch to think that collectively, the two might shun it altogether and decide things on their feet. So will Diaz's constant activity and volume overwhelm Penn, or will the former two-division champion find a way to get inside of his opponent? "Nick's got a lot of confidence to use that style," Parillo said. "He's not the most devastating, heavy puncher, but he knows how to set up the big shot, for sure. And he understands boxing. BJ's got speed, and he's cleaner and sharper. I feel the fire more from him than I have in the last couple fights. He wants to show he can beat guys at the top tier. If he makes a decision to be there and has the hunger to win, he's going to do it." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: fight, diaz, mma, boxing, penn

CageHero rebrands itself

MMA Payout had the opportunity to speak with the owners of CageHero, Mark Mastrandrea and Ian Parker as it recently re-branded itself focusing its business to target kids. Once a sponsor of fighters in the octagon, it has a new web site, a new clothing line and its CageHero Kids Team. “We feel we can be the brand that really brings that innocent image to MMA- help it go mainstream,” said Mastrandrea, “We are re-branding to further target the kids. We feel there is a real need for a new generations Superhero.” MP: When did Cagehero decide to target kids? What was the basis of your decision? Did you do any market research or look at trends to target a younger demographic? CH: With the characters we have developed, we knew kids were always the ultimate destination. We felt the need to educate the decision maker first. The 18-34 Male demo is the target everyone looks too, but we knew the increase in women’s interest-both as participants, and consumers in MMA was important too. Both parents- the mother and father buy the kids their clothing. When we looked at the numbers, we also found that the Youth Apparel Market is actually bigger then the Men’s Apparel Market. MP: How did you find the kids to be in the commercial? CH: It started with Stevo- the mohawked wrestling YouTube sensation. When we saw his video on YouTube, it made both of us smile, laugh and really remember the days of Youth Sports. Days later we traveled to see him at a tournament to meet him, and his parents-the family were great people. We then thought of the concept of the Cagehero Kids Team- a compilation of the world’s best youth athletes across the world promoting there respective youth combat sports. We checked out some kids in Vegas, California and then received some help from our friends over at Youth1.com. In the past 2 days we have received almost 100 emails of new kids applying for the team. MP: Are you still sponsoring MMA fighters? If so, who. Are they mostly in Bellator? I see that Ben Askren was in the commercial. Is he still sponsored? CH: As far as the stereotypical MMA Marketing, walking out wearing our logo- Ben Askren is the only fighter in either Bellator/UFC that we will be marketing. Ben is a great guy who really embodies our brand. He also deals directly with kids, owning the Askren Brothers Wrestling Academy. We do some outside signings/appearances with UFC guys, but for the time being we only “sponsor” in Bellator. MP: How have/will the marketing efforts change as a result of the re-branding? CH: We will continue to market in MMA-Bellator for now. We have begun a stronger push with the Kids Marketing with Videos and a number of strategic partnerships with Youth-focused companies. We are also starting to focus more on a grassroots level with a presence at Youth Wrestling Tournaments and BJJ Competitions. MP: Are there any concerns that kids may be too young for MMA? CH: When we started this company, we knew we were investing in the sport of MMA. We’re passionate about it, and believe that one day it will be the largest sport in the world with acceptance by people of all cultures/ages. With the UFC on Fox Deal, the recent Bellator-Viacom deal and the constant penetration of new markets- we think it’s only a matter of time. Like Dana always says “Fighting is our DNA- we get it, we like it.” Our brand will always have MMA roots. It directly ties in with our characters as well. Our Theory: -In the 80′s the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles took over, representing the fictional art of “Ninjitsu” -In the 90s- the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, with martial arts/Gymnastics. We are the new Superhero, with ties to Mixed Martial Arts- the new martial art. MP: How will you try to bring MMA mainstream? CH: We are trying to bring MMA Mainstream through the Kid’s Team, the characters and the message. Some people, even if educated, are ignorant to the sport. When you align it with Kids, Superheroes and a message like “The Hero Comes From Within”- it definitely puts the sport in a more innocent light. Our full length script and artwork with our finalized characters is also completed. We are currently taking it to market and attaching the proper people. MP: What are the future plans for the brand? CH: The future plans for the brand is to further develop the Cagehero Kid’s Team with athletes throughout the world. We are doing our first Youth Combine with Youth1, Ben Askren and some surprise UFC guests in the upcoming months. Keeping the same comic book aesthetic. As far as the Adults, we will continue to market in Bellator, and always keep our eyes open if the opportunity is right to go to the UFC. Our new adult line is more geared towards inspirational lifestyle apparel. The Big Picture remains the same: A comic book, a movie. Become this generations Superhero. Payout Perspective: CageHero is a unique brand and based on its designs, it was poised to make an easy transition from the young male target demographic to the kids demographic. This is partly due to the comic book designs and partly due to its positive messaging. Certainly, the way the brand is positioning itself in the market, it seems like the most kid-friendly, parent approved brand to wear as opposed to the more adult-themed shirts from other brands. The Strikeforce merger with UFC may have muted a portion of its fighters due to the UFC sponsor fee. Although it says that it may make a return, the brand has found another way to market itself within the MMA industry. Through outreach and visibility at youth wrestling and grappling tournaments and continutng its sponsorship of Ben Askren, it is making all the right moves in targeting youth with its new campaign. CageHero also is participating in a campaign benefiting Clothes4Soul, an organization that facilitates the donations of new clothing to those in need. When you buy one shirt, it will donate one to the organization. Participating in this program helps the CageHero brand in showing that it truly is making a positive impression in the MMA community. CageHero’s new info: New Website: www.cagehero.net Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CAGEHERO Twitter: @cagehero

Posted in: mma, kid, brand, youth, cagehero

MMA Power Tour fight card confirmed for Dec. 9 in Costa Rica

Miami, Fl USA - October 20th 2011: The MMA Power Tour, a TRMG Sports property, officially confirmed last night the official card to be presented on December 9th 2011 at the Palacio de los Deportes in Costa Rica. The card includes several UFC veterans including Carmelo Marrero (Heavyweight) and Alvin Robinson (Lightweight) plus the Ultimate Fighter contestant Ariel Sexton. The card will include 12 fights, 7 of them with international elite fighters and 5 of them with some of the best local fighters. The international card will have as co-main events of the evening Carmelo "The Fury" Marrero Vs. Steven "The Panda" Banks and Alvin "The Kid" Robinson Vs. Fabio "Jungle Boy" Serrao. The rest of the fights are: Jason Lee Vs. Rod Richters, Ariel Sexton Vs. Scott Cleve, Sky Moiseichik Vs. Wesley Dunlap, Andrew Montanez Vs. Mark Korsnowski and Ramico Blackmon Vs. Daniel Sensintaffar. Local fights have not been confirmed yet. It will be the first time so many UFC veterans visit Central America in what promises to be the best MMA event in the history of the region. The MMA Power Tour will continue their tour on February 25th 2011 in Colombia followed by Mexico March 17th 2011, Dominican Republic April 14th 2011, Panama May 19th 2011, Miami June 23rd 2011, and Brazil in a date yet to be confirmed. The MMA Power Tour is an organization developed by TRMG Sports to take the fastest growing sport in the planet to newer territories that have been "craving" to see the best fighters in the world. It also has as the main purpose to promote the practice of the sport and bring along with the amazing fights, an entire platform that will help the sport to grow and be practiced under the right conditions and following the standards of the best organizations in the world. The first event will be promoted by Addictive 4u, a Costa Rican production company that already has under their belt the biggest concerts of 2011 in the territory and now wants to continue doing history by bringing the first event of this magnitude to the territory. Tickets will be on sale, October 21st 2011 online at www.publitickets.com by clicking here.

Posted in: mma, vs, sport, tour, card

B.J. Penn Calls Out Cesar Gracie

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosLAS VEGAS - MMA Fighting caught up with B.J. Penn before his showdown with Nick Diaz at the UFC 137 open workouts. Penn talks about the drama leading up to the fight, how he was "hoodwinked" by Cesar Gracie, why he's challenging Diaz's trainer to a five-round fight, his love of Hulkamania and much more. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: bj penn, nick diaz, mma, penn, cesar gracie

Donald Cerrone: 'I Rather Fight on Spike'

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosLAS VEGAS -- MMA Fighting spoke with Donald Cerrone during Wednesday's media workouts about competing on the Spike TV portion of the UFC 137 card, taking on Dennis Siver, his newfound confidence and the mental aspect of fighting. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mma, cerrone, donald cerrone, dennis siver, donald

Matt Mitrione Thinks Cheick Kongo Will Be Good 'Measuring Stick' for Him

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosLAS VEGAS - MMA Fighting caught up with Matt Mitrione before his co-main event fight against Cheick Kongo at the UFC 137 open workouts. Mitrione discusses his return to the TUF gym, his pre-fight comments about Kongo, his good friend Sean McCorkle and much more. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mma, mitrione, cheick kongo, matt mitrione, tuf gym

Roy Nelson Explains Beard, 'Young Look' Before UFC 137

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosLAS VEGAS -- MMA Fighting spoke with Roy Nelson during Wednesday's media workouts about his fight this Saturday against Mirko Cro Cop at UFC 137. In the video below, Nelson discusses his TUF memories, his beard, Cro Cop's singing with Pat Barry and much more. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, nelson, roy nelson, tuf memories

Heavy MMA’s UFC 137 Social Media Guide

Want to find your favorite UFC 137 fighters on Twitter and Facebook? Check out Heavy MMA's UFC 137 Social Media Guide.

Posted in: ufc, mma, media, media guide, facebook check

Viacom Buys Bellator: What Does it Mean for the MMA (UFC) Landscape?

Just yesterday news broke that Viacom, who owns Paramount Pictures and is the parent company of SpikeTV, bought Bellator. Which means that SpikeTV will be the new home for Bellator in 2013. Just to belabor the obvious, I'd say it's a big deal. Part of what makes the move interesting is that is that for the first time, another organization is slipping into the television shoes once worn by the UFC. Which will give us a vivid look at the real difference between MMA, and the UFC. Will fans watching Bellator for the first time lose interest? Will it capture their attention in the same way the UFC once did? Nate Wilcox over at MMA Nation explains how the differences work in Bellator's favor (compared to previous promotions). "Bellator has always been an exceptionally far-sighted promotion compared to the usual grandiose schemers who enter the sport. Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney has been careful to avoid directly challenging the UFC or positioning Bellator as a direct competitor to MMA's alpha dog. He's also taken the organization's goals much more piecemeal. Unlike the IFL, Affliction, the World Fighting Alliance (WFA), EliteXC and Strikeforce, Bellator has avoided the wrath of UFC president Dana White. All of those promotions came out of the gate making brash claims and announcing plans to compete head-to-head with UFC for headlining fighters, major television deals and pay-per-view customers." I agree with Nate on this point, but I also wonder to what extent those differences will pay dividends. Bellator doesn't have a respectable talent pool passed 170. Hector Lombard is a Normal Stansfield in a sea of Lewis Skolnicks. And a bigger stage for fans to view a champ losing a fight, but keeping his title in a lackluster affair might inspire mockery (see Wiuff's win over M'Pumbu). Heavyweight doesn't deserve the oxygen of a wet fart, so let's skip 205 and above. On top of that, as we've seen with the UFC's struggle to sell exciting champions like Dominick Cruz, and Jose Aldo, there's the question of whether or not MMA fans care about the lighter weights (?). Speaking for myself, I know I damn sure do. This is precisely why I've enjoyed Bellator. But that's precisely why they may be a hard sell for the Spike audience. How will the tournament format impact viewership? It certainly didn't do wonders for the IFL (though to be fair, I think that had more to do with the "teams" concept). However, perception is reality is the old cliche goes. And fighters, particularly prospects, will flock to the larger stage that Bellator will provide. This is a welcome change to the MMA scenery from a fan perspective because it also means female MMA should continue (let's just assume Strikeforce is indeed, dead, which it is), despite the recent hub-bub about Zoila Gurgel. I suppose people are expecting Zuffa to go typical apeshit. And that's probably a fair assumption. But I personally doubt it. For one, they're not in a position to buy Bellator, and certainly not with the FTC cloud surrounding them. Second, Bellator isn't competing against their talent pool. You could say, this is a game changer, but I'm inclined to disagree. The time it would take for Bellator to gather enough capital to create the frenzy required to buy up the kind of talent the UFC would feel like they couldn't afford to miss is something Bellator doesn't have, nor will they anytime soon. Their divisions beyond WW are wastelands, and even below that, they don't have any real stars. But perhaps that will change once UFC fighters start getting more and more pink slips. The MMA landscape is changing, and I'd like to think for the better.

Posted in: ufc, bellator, mma, fan, talent pool

Days Before UFC 137 Fight, Nick Diaz Regrets Passing Up Boxing Opportunity

Filed under: UFC, NewsLAS VEGAS -- Nick Diaz is here. After no-showing two UFC 137 press events, getting removed from a championship fight, then being reinserted into the event as against his early MMA hero, MMA's bad boy is in Sin City, ready to fight BJ Penn. In fact, Diaz was bright and early for his media responsibilities on Wednesday, arriving a full half-hour before his scheduled arrival time. But Diaz always manages to capture attention one way or another, and this time it was with his words. Just days before stepping into his fight with Penn, Diaz was asked about the whirlwind journey that's corresponded with his return to the UFC. He gave up a potentially lucrative boxing opportunity to accept a chance at a big bucks matchup with champion Georges St-Pierre, but now that fight will have to wait. Because of that, he said knowing what he knows now, he would have done things a little bit differently. "I would have gone back to boxing," Diaz said. "If I had my chance to do it over again, I would go back to the boxing contract. It would have paid me more money, and I would have took my punches win or lose, and just do my job, fight and get paid." Diaz's comments weren't said with any malice towards the opportunity he's given, explaining it as a business decision that would have paid dividends in both the boxing and MMA realms. "Later on, I'm sure they would have me back here or somewhere," he said. "You want to see a pro boxer fight MMA? Now you have yourself a high-level pro boxer. In my opinion, I don't know, I don't think about it till it's all over with but I would have made plenty of money in boxing and would have made plenty of money later coming back so it definitely would have worked out if I had done what I set out to do and gone to pro boxing for a while." Diaz will still get his chance at a lucrative payday. If he beats Penn, he's a virtual lock to face the winner of the upcoming title fight between Georges St-Pierre and Carlos Condit. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, mma, boxing

Supremacy MMA: Game Review

Supremacy MMA is looking to capitalize on the boom of MMA as the fastest growing sport in the world and the successes of the UFC Undisputed franchise. Supremacy MMA has its own unique feel, starting with the grungy and rough artwork seen throughout the packaging and how it is blended into the game via the [...]

Posted in: mma, review, game, supremacy, success

Matt Mitrione: 'I feel like a baby in mixed martial arts'

That is one big baby. From the NFL, to the corporate world, to mixed martial arts, Matt Mitrione has definitely not been one to shy away from trying anything new. "Meathead" first burst onto the MMA scene in 2009 as a member of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) Season 10. Kimbo Slice and Roy Nelson garnered all the initial buzz and attention for that season, but what made Matt stand out from all the other past participants on TUF, was the fact that Mitrione had never had an amateur, much less a pro MMA bout under his belt. What's even more impressive is that "Meathead" claims he had only been training mixed martial arts for six months prior to earning a slot on TUF. Fast forward two years later and Matt Mitrione has five pro MMA bouts to his credit, all wins, all in the UFC and is co-headlining UFC 137 in a little under a week. Not bad for a guy who considers himself a "baby" in MMA. Speaking via his blog for sportsnet.ca, Mitrione talks about his development from an ex NFL player, to life in the corporate world, to becoming one of the best upcoming heavyweights in the UFC. "Most people would be thankful to have the opportunity to excel at one sport in their lifetime, but I've been lucky enough to have a stab at two of them. I played in the NFL for the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings. I'm 33 years of age now, but feel like a baby in mixed martial arts. I'm so incredibly blessed to be doing what I am doing right now, coming off a career in the NFL. I didn't even jump straight from the NFL into the UFC, either. I had a two-year hiatus in corporate America." With only five MMA bouts to his credit, "Meathead" feels he still has plenty of room for growth. "I have so much more time to train and improve as a mixed martial artist now, as opposed to when I first started out in '09. This is a full-time job and passion for me now, and I truly believe I am reaping the benefits. I travel to quite a few gyms across America now, as I feel it's important to find the right type of training and the environment that best suits me. I know that time isn't on my side and I know that I can't wait years and years to mature and develop as a mixed martial artist. I need to make my move now and become the best possible fighter I can be at this stage in my life. " Mitrione shared a story in which UFC Hall of Famer and former UFC heavy and light heavyweight champion, Randy Couture, put a beating on him that he says was the best thing that happened for his career. "I remember one day Randy beating the living s--- out of me on the ground and yelling at me in the process. He was saying, "Look, kid, you're supposed to have a lot of potential, and one day you might be something, but right now you're on your back getting your ass kicked. Unless you figure out a way of changing that, you're going nowhere." "Meathead" also has one last message for Chieck Kongo. "If I happen to take you down and have my way with you on the ground on Saturday, don't blame me, blame Randy Couture. Also, if I happen to shout sweet nothings in your ear in the process, again, blame "Captain America," not me. It's all his doing" Matt Mitrione will look to pass his toughest test of his young MMA career, as he takes on the always dangerous striker Chieck Kongo this weekend in the co-main event for UFC 137 in Las Vegas. Should "Meathead" be successful this weekend, is it safe to say the self-proclaimed "baby" in MMA is knocking at the door of a title shot, or does he still have plenty of work to do before consideration? Thoughts?

Posted in: ufc, mma, mitrione, matt, nfl

ONE FC Announces Partnerships With URCC, CFC, Road FC, and Dare; 'Very Close' to Deal With DREAM

As reported here earlier, ONE FC has partnerships with a few top promotions around Asia such as the URCC, Road FC, and DARE. Today, the promotion officially announced these deals in addition to a partnership with an Australian MMA promotion. From the press release: ONE Fighting Championship™ has formed exclusive partnerships with the following organizations:-URCC (Philippines)-Cage Fighting Championship (Australia)-ROAD Fighting Championship (Korea)-DARE Fightsports (Thailand) They also announced partnerships with several of the top MMA camps in the region: Team Lakay Wushu (Philippines), Tiger Muay Thai (Thailand), Tigers Gym (India), Evolve MMA (Singapore), Legacy Gym (Thailand), Tough MMA (Taiwan), Synergy Jiu-Jitsu (Indonesia), Juggernaut FC (Singapore), Fightworks Asia (Singapore), PAK MMA (Pakistan), Team Force (Korea), MuayFit (Malaysia), Leverage MMA (Malaysia). Aside from that laundry list of camps and promotions, the release also had this interesting statement from their CEO, Victor Cui, "Given our current discussions with various parties, we will be announcing another 23 additional MMA organizations and gyms to the ONE FC Network in the coming days and weeks." BloodyElbow.com has been informed that among those deals in the works, is a partnership with Japanese promotion, DREAM. A high ranking official from the promotion has told us that ONE FC is currently in discussions with a few organizations from Japan, and that the deal with DREAM is 'very close' to being finalized. If it pushes through, it would be a great help for both organizations, and it could definitely lead to more quality match ups in the region. As always, stay tuned to Bloody Elbow as we give you more details on the situation as they become available.

Posted in: mma, promotion, deal, partnership, fc

ONE Fighting Championship: Changing the face of Asian MMA

ONE Fighting Championship today made an announcement which will potentially change the face of Asian MMA forever. In a statement ONE FC revealed that it had signed exclusive partnerships with the following organizations: URCC (Philippines), Cage Fighting Championship (Australia), ROAD Fighting Championship (Korea), DARE Championship (Thailand), Team Lakay Wushu (Philippines), Tiger Muay Thai and MMA (Thailand), Tigers Gym (India), Evolve Mixed Martial Arts (Singapore), Legacy Gym (Thailand), Tough MMA (Taiwan), Synergy Jiu-Jitsu (Indonesia), Juggernaut FC (Singapore), Fightworks Asia (Singapore), PAK MMA (Pakistan), Team Force (Korea), MuayFit (Malaysia), Leverage MMA (Malaysia) So what does this announcement, which comes hot on the heels of the news that ONE FC had booked 2012 shows in Indonesia, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, mean in practise? CEO / Owner Victor Cui outlined the benefits which such a large conglomerate would have for MMA in the region, "Our goal is to unify Asian MMA and to build the sport that we all love dearly. With today’s announcement, many of the top MMA organizations and gyms in Asia have joined hands. We will be announcing another 23 additional MMA organizations and gyms to the ONE FC Network in the coming days and weeks." "These strong partnerships will help to accelerate the development of Asian fighters and the sport of MMA in the region. Asian fighters need platforms to gain invaluable experience and to showcase their skills to the world." "If you are an MMA gym, it will give your gym a turbo boost in terms of access to all the major shows in Asia for your professional fighters. If you are part of the ONE FC network, you will be offered plenty more fighting and sponsorship opportunities across Asia and, of course, the media broadcast reach of all the combined Asian shows together will be excellent for recognition for your fighters and your gym." "If you are a ONE FC fighter, you will automatically be able to compete in the biggest MMA events across Asia within the ONE FC Network. If you are a sponsor, you will be able to leverage and target your sponsorship dollars across multiple platforms. If you are a fan, you will enjoy many more high quality MMA shows around Asia. Ultimately, as it continues to grow, the ONE FC Network will multiply in benefits for all parties involved." It is a revolutionary approach from ONE FC. A lot of MMA promotions regard absolutely everyone else as competition and look to monopolize the market and jealously protect their brand by stockpiling contracted fighters ONE FC is taking a far more inclusive attitude and are looking to work with all the key stakeholders in Asia, be they promotions, camps, fans or fighters. The benefits of this deal are already palpable with One FC fighters Vuyisile Colossa and Brian Choi both booked to appear on Road FC 5 this December. That card is taking place at the 7,000 capacity Jangchung Gymnasium in Seoul and looks set to be the biggest in the promotion’s history. For fighters like Colossa and Choi it is a valuable opportunity to gain experience and get a payday in the process while fans in Korea get a glimpse at some internationally renowned fighters. Any fighter falling under the ONE FC umbrella will be available to fight on five different promotions, putting on potentially 35 events between them in 2012. Whereas in the past mixed martial artists in Asia have been frustrated by the lack of opportunities they will now have the ability to fight as often as they like by moving between these different promotions without fear of contractual complications. Fighters will also have an added incentive to fight for Cage Fighting Championships, Road FC, URCC and Dare Championships because they know that success in these domestic organizations will provide them with a direct route into ONE FC. This deal should also help the individual gyms, promotions and fighters make money, something which hasn’t traditionally been easy in Asian MMA, because they will all automatically have a direct line to the official ONE FC sponsors. It will also make Asian MMA a much more attractive market place for potential sponsors and companies looking to get involved in the sport because they will have access to a multitude of camps, promoters and fighters through the ONE FC network. In the past doing deals with people in so many different countries and cultures would have been a painstaking process involving extensive travel and translators but now ONE FC’s head office in Singapore will effectively be a one stop shop for all their sponsorship needs. Fighters at the camps which are part of the ONE FC Network will not have to worry about agents or politics or the red tape which sometimes prevents fighters from earning their living by actually fighting. Instead they will be automatically eligible for five different promotions and will have the security of knowing that certain standards will be observed in terms of things like fighter safety and actually getting paid at the end of the night. Other Asian promotions will benefit from becoming part of a ONE FC network which will allow them to leverage capital, sponsors, media, and fighter opportunities. For example, URCC is now able to offer its top fighters a chance to fight internationally on any of the major events in the ONE FC network. Additionally with co-promotions each promotion will be able to benefit from a lower cost structure with shared resources. The ONE FC network effectively creates immediate economies of scale and economies of scope for all the players within it. Cui was also quick to emphasize that further deals were in the pipeline and that the door was not closed to anyone wishing to join the ONE FC Network’. ONE FC also say they have now signed 90% of Asia's top fighters (outside of Japan) and an announcement about this is imminent. Sports fans in the US seem to be fond of using the expression ‘game changer.' Well for Asian MMA this truly is a game changer.

Posted in: mma, fighter, fc, asian, fc network

UFC 137's Nick Diaz was watching B.J. Penn before it was cool

Is Nick Diaz a hipster? When it comes to MMA, he may very well be. After all, Diaz, who headlines Saturday's UFC 137 event, recently told HDNet's "Inside MMA" program that he was watching a VHS copy of opponent B.J. Penn's first MMA fight before anyone really knew who the Hawaiian MMA prodigy was.

Posted in: diaz, nick diaz, mma, mma fight, mma program

Randy Couture heads to BAMMA 8 in Nottingham, England on Dec. 10

London, England – October 26th, 2011 – Europe’s largest and most prominent Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) promotion, The British Association of Mixed Martial Arts (BAMMA), announced today that MMA legend Randy Couture will be appearing at BAMMA 8 on Saturday December 10th at The Capital FM Arena in Nottingham to meet fans and sign copies of his new book "The Last Round." To celebrate the launch of The Last Round, which is a visual exploration into the world of a combat sports athlete and follow up to the hugely successful New York Times Bestseller Becoming The Natural, Randy will be appearing at BAMMA 8, signing copies of his books, available to purchase on the day. This is a rare opportunity for all MMA fans to personally meet the man in person, receive an autographed copy of the book, have an opportunity to take a photo with Randy and be part of an unforgettable experience. Liam Fisher at BAMMA stated: "Randy Couture is a personal hero of mine so it feels fantastic to have such an athlete in attendance. Not only can BAMMA 8 ticket holders see an action packed night of fighting, they now get the chance to meet a true legend of the sport. What a bargain!" MMA legend and Hollywood actor Randy Couture is the most decorated fighter and champion in UFC history and acknowledged by many to be one of the greatest, if not the greatest, MMA fighter ever. Couture has been able to parlay himself from the Octagon into Hollywood, landing major roles in Sylvester Stallone's The Expendables I and II. He is the most adulated and prolific MMA icons with a legion of fans worldwide who admire this modern-day athlete superstar. Currently filming the sequel to The Expendables, Randy will be taking a short break from mid-December for Christmas and back to filming in January to complete the remaining of the film in China. Tickets for BAMMA 8 are on sale now via www.theticketfactory.com, www.seetickets.com and www.bamma.com

Posted in: mma, randy, copy, bamma, expendables i

Hey guys, Viacom just purchased Bellator in a raw power move

Major props to USA Today's Sergio Non for scooping the entire planet on this game-changing news. This is the MMA equivalent of Ernest Rutherford splitting the atom back in 1917. There, take that for an obscure reference. It's a shame you guys aren't familiar with the father of nuclear physics. And it feels like it was only just yesterday when Bellator CEO, Bjorn Rebney called everyone at MiddleEasy 'out of touch with reality' and even suggested that I ran MiddleEasy from my mother's basement. Now Bjorn just heavily pocketed on Viacom purchasing majority stake of his Bellator Fighting Championship in absolutely authentic 'raw power move.' Notorious B.I.G would be proud. Now with over $9.34 billion backing them, this undeniably cements Bellator's future in the MMA scene. They're going nowhere, well besides Spike TV in 2013. Technically, Bellator could also be shown on Showtime since Viacom also owns that media entity. Back in March I claimed Sumner Redstone was the most powerful man in MMA and no one understood how I arrived at this conclusion. With Viacom's acquisition of Bellator, some of you are finally starting to understand this guy truly owns the future of mixed martial arts. Now get the popcorn ready, Dana White's response to this purchase will undoubtedly be an interesting one. [Source]

Posted in: bellator, mma, guy, viacom, sumner redstone

celebrity mma lookalikes

submitted by muayguy [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: mma, lookalike, celebrity, muayguy

Inside MMA: Cesar Gracie Breaksdown Penn vs. Diaz, Gilbert Melendez Talks Jorge Masvidal & The UFC

Inside MMA airs on HDNet on Monday nights at 8pm ET and Friday nights at 9pm ET. Inside MMA Archive More segments after the jump.

Posted in: mma, mma airs, mma archive, monday nights, friday nights

Old Man Spin Kick

Check out this 44 year old man's MMA debut. Take a peek for the epic gunt action. Stick around for the amazing spin kick finish.

Posted in: mma, mma debut, kick, kick check, peek

Bellator 55: 168,000 viewers

MMA Junkie reports that Bellator 55’s ratings this past Saturday night received an average of 168,000 viewers on Saturday night. The numbers show a decrease from Bellator 54 which posted an 185,000 viewer average. An immediate replay of the broadcast received a lowly 45,000 viewer average. Via MMA Junkie: Once again, the latest ratings continue the organization’s wildly inconsistent season-five numbers; two events have scored at least 235,000 viewers, and three have drawn 158,000 or fewer. Bellator 55 did go unopposed by the UFC and Strikeforce. Payout Perspective: Despite not going up against another MMA card, it seems that Bellator fell victim to College Football (which included several top teams playing at the same time as the broadcast), the World Series and HBO Boxing (including the first episode of Pacquiao-Marquez 24/7). The 168,000 viewer average is decent but one would think that it could have maintained, if not exceeded Bellator 54’s 185,000 average. Also, the replay numbers seemed unusually low.

Posted in: bellator, saturday night, mma, viewer, number

Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 91: UFC Business, MMA Discussion

Bloody Elbow Radio, presented by Bad Boy, will be LIVE! at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT for another edition of the show. Join hosts Matt Bishop and MMA Mania's Brian Hemminger as they discuss all the latest in mixed martial arts, including a through discussion of where the UFC's business stands right now as it heads into its biggest show ever, the UFC on FOX special coming Nov. 12. We'll also discuss all the latest news in MMA, including a look at last weekend's cards, including Bellator 55 with "Bellator Brian." Bloody Elbow Radio is sponsored by Bad Boy. Bad Boy, the 2010 World MMA Award winner for Best Technical Clothing Brand, can be found at BadBoyMMA.com. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook and tell them Bloody Elbow sent you. How to listen: Live/archived on the player below I iTunes I RSS feed I Direct download link (available after live broadcast) Want to get in touch with the BE Radio crew? Here's how you can do so: Phone: (347) 202-0934E-mail: bloodyelbowradio@gmail.comTwitter: @mbish86, @sprewellrimz or @gotahemmiBloodyElbow.com: Leave a question or comment in this post For those calling in, you will first be picked up by our producer who will take your information and get what you want to talk about. You will then be queued. We will try to get to everyone as soon as we can. We ask that you call in around the time of the topic you want to discuss.

Posted in: mma, radio, elbow radio, elbow, boy

Kid Nate asks "Where's the heat between B.J. Penn and Nick Diaz?" at MMA Nation.

Posted in: bj penn, nick diaz, mma, bj, kid nate

The Olympic Wrestler Conundrum

This Saturday, Bellator welterweight champ Ben Askren puts his crown and undefeated MMA record on the line when he faces recent 170-pound tournament winner Jay Hieron at Bellator 56. Conflicting style match-up, grizzled veteran, unorthodox attack, blah, blah, blah. The preview for that bout, and the others on the main card, will come later this week. What I want to focus on now is the fact that Askren was an Olympic wrestler, and while wrestling is a cornerstone in any complete mixed martial arts skill set, high-level wrestling accomplishments don’t necessarily translate into success in the cage – which makes Askren’s run as champ that much more remarkable. And sure, a significant number of stars in MMA have wrestling backgrounds, including the likes of Randy Couture, Josh Koscheck, Mark Munoz, Frankie Edgar… the list goes on. But the actual Olympians who’ve competed is but a fraction of that number, with those who’ve earned medals making up a club that’s even more elite. Too bad scoring one of those shiny pieces of swag doesn’t translate into an instant MMA championship belt. Of course, it should be noted that Askren never won a medal himself in the Olympics –is that why he’s had success? Anyway, here’s a list of some of the best wrestlers the United States has ever fielded in Olympic competition, plus a little note as to why, when it came to mixing in strikes and submissions into their combative endeavor, their MMA careers crapped the bed. -Rulon Gardner – This ginormous human being and Greco-Roman monster snagged himself gold in the 2000 Olympic Games and took home the bronze in 2004, and he’s best known for being the man to defeat the previously undefeated Russian Olympic super-soldier Alexander Karelin. All of this led to his courtship with the PRIDE Fighting Championships, and because the Japanese love themselves a freakshow, they pitted him against their much-more experienced fighter (and resident judo gold medalist) Hidehiko Yoshida. But whoops on them, as Gardner ended up being too massive for Yoshida to do anything to, and the American came home with the win. That was it for Gardner in MMA, though, and years later we’d be treated to his stint as a grotesquely overweight pity-party on the TV show “The Biggest Loser”. Yeesh. -Matt Lindland – In the 2000 Olympics Lindland earned a silver medal in Greco-Roman, and those skills faired him well when it came to beating dudes up in the UFC. Unfortunately, he never could quite pull the trigger when it counted, with champ Murilo Bustamante tapping him out twice in his only shot at the title, and Dave Terrell KOing him in 24 seconds when Lindland was supposedly clawing his way back up the rankings. Although recent years have been unkind to him in terms of fight results, Lindland was pretty badass for a stretch back in the day, and he seems to have transitioned nicely into a solid coach (see: Team Quest). -Kenny Monday – As a freestyle wrestler, Monday took the gold in the 1988 Olympics and the silver in the 1992 Games in Barcelona, and when Extreme Fighting matchmaker John Peretti was working his magic, he got Monday into the cage to face John Lewis. The cat had virtually no problems steamrolling over Lewis, but, sadly, that was the last we ever saw of him. Was he distracted by an errant ball of yarn? Were the allures of catnip and scratching posts too much for him? Who knows. Regardless, Monday’s Olympic medals made for one dominant MMA fight, and that’s it. -Mark Schultz – A gold medal in freestyle at the 1984 Olympics, and then at UFC 9 we watched Schultz easily take Gary Goodridge down over and over again until Goodridge was halted by a cut. The next stop on the Schultz train, unfortunately, was what may or may not have been a worked fight at a 2003 Jungle Fight event in Brazil. Not good, Mark. -Kevin Jackson – Back in 1997, this Olympic freestyle gold medalist was the shiznit in the Octagon – which is why he took on Frank Shamrock for the championship. He lost via armbar in 16 seconds, then faced Jerry Bohlander and lost pretty much the same way again (despite beating on Bohlander for about ten whole minutes). So close, Mr. Jackson. So close.

Posted in: mma, gold, olympic, lindland, medal

Jens Pulver, “I’m Fighting to Walk Away with No Regrets”

Jens Pulver sat down recently to talk about his new project, an arcade-style MMA video game called "Supremecy MMA," and to discuss his future in MMA.

Posted in: mma, supremecy mma, jen, pulver, supremecy

Watch the entire CNN special on women in MMA right here...

In my brief search to find a picture of Supremacy MMA's Michele Gutierrez, I came across a photo of a school lunch that depicted six chicken fingers piled upon a styrofoam tray with a dinner roll and a whole apple neatly arranged. A carton of chocolate milk is apparently the lunch's center piece. Someone named 'Michele Gutierrez' captured that image, and upon further investigation, she looks remarkably like MMA's Michele Gutierrez. This leads me to believe that all Michele Gutierrez's look alike, and as of right now there's not enough evidence out there to prove me wrong. Hopefully whenever CNN finishes their exploration on the world of women in MMA, they'll get down to the bottom of this Gutierrez mystery. In the meantime, I'll watch their special that aired last weekend, and so should you. Props to ZombieProphet for ripping the CNN video.

Posted in: mma, cnn, michele, gutierrez, dinner roll

Wanderlei Silva Talks About UFC 139 Matchup With Cung Le, Possible Retirement

Former Pride middleweight champion Wanderlei Silva was inserted into the UFC 139 co-main event fight with Cung Le after Vitor Belfort got hurt, and he seems to have a lot of respect for his opponent. Silva talked to MMA Heat's Karyn Bryant at a regional show over the weekend, and was asked about the matchup. The answer comes at the 2:37 mark of the video below (remember folks, this is Wanderlei Silva English): "You know he's a really good opponent. I've studied his game, and I think he has the best kicks in MMA. I started training the difference of the kickings. I think he's a great opponent. I hope to give a great show for the fans in San Jose and I hope to make everyone happy there and around the world." He was also asked about retirement: "No, I'm just back from the doctors, and he make all the checks, and the doctor say, he told me I can fight 20 more years! I'm really healthy you know, and I'm trying to pass Couture. Couture stop at 48, I'm 35." He also discusses his training at King's MMA, the UFC 138 bout between Mark Munoz and Chris Leben, painful massages, and much more. It's actually a pretty good interview, and Wandy's unique version of English is always entertaining. Check it out:

Posted in: mma, san jose, silva, kings mma, im

Fightmetric introduces new Fantasy MMA game

Fightmetric, the UFC’s official statistics provider, recently developed a new fantasy MMA game. The game, MMA Salary Cap Challenge, is similar to fantasy football and baseball as it uses statistics to determine winners. Via its press release: The game works just like other salary cap style fantasy games. Players are given a budget for each MMA event to spend on the fighters competing on the televised portion. Scoring is based upon round as well as knockdowns, significant strikes, takedowns, submission attempts and passes. Payout Perspective: It’s an interesting take on Fantasy MMA. Looking at the scoring system, maybe MMA judges could use the information. For Fightmetric, it’s a nice way for it take advantage of the statistics it already compiles and package it in a fantasy game for public consumption. It would be interesting to know how many MMA fans out there participate in Fantasy MMA and if something like this would catch on. Fantasy Football is such a growth industry, will a Fantasy MMA game catch on with fans?

Posted in: mma, fantasy, game, fantasy football, fantasy mma

The MMA Hour With Muhammed Lawal, Cesar Gracie, Bart Palaszewski, Thomas Gerbasi

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, Strikeforce, MMA Fighting ExclusiveThe MMA Hour is back in your life on Monday. Here's who will be stopping by for our 105th show. * Thomas Gerbasi, the author of "UFC Encyclopedia" and the editorial director for Zuffa, will be in studio to talk about his new book and his work on UFC.com and Strikeforce.com. * Cesar Gracie, Nick Diaz's manager and trainer, will preview Diaz's fight against BJ Penn at UFC 137. * Featherweight Bart Palaszewski will discuss his move to 145 pounds and his fight against Tyson Griffin at UFC 137. * "King" Muhammed Lawal will discuss what's next for him and will help us preview Saturday night's UFC pay-per-view. Of course, we'll be taking your calls. Give us a shout at: 212-254-0193, 212-254-0237 or 212-254-0714. *** You can also stream the show live on your iPhone or iPad by clicking here. Watch the replay below. Subscribe to The MMA Hour on iTunes: audio feed here; video feed here. Download previous episodes here. Listen to the show via Stitcher here. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, show, mma hour, hour

Regional MMA Roundup: Strikeforce Vet Joey Villasenor Wins, Top Prospect Jimi Manuwa Impresses

Casual UFC fans didn't have to worry about plopping down a sizable sum of money this weekend as the world's premier mixed martial arts promotion remained quiet for its second straight week. As expected, a number of prominent regional shows took advantage of the lull in action and lessened focus on the UFC brand. Bellator, Ringside MMA, and XFC all put on successful shows over the weekend with well-known talent. Those aren't the only shows worth mentioning however. The regional scene was ripe with great action with everything from top prospects to UFC and Strikeforce veterans battling it out to get one notch closer to the major leagues. Here's a brief rundown of results: - Thirty-six year old Strikeforce veteran Joey Villasenor returned to the cage on Saturday night at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was his first fight since his controversial split decision win over Chris Camozzi in May at Shark Fights 15, which was eventually reversed in favor of Camozzi due to what was deemed a scoring error. Villasenor quickly dispatched of forty-eight fight veteran Chuck Parmlee in two minutes and forty-seven seconds in his welterweight debut. - #3-ranked World MMA Scouting Report light heavyweight Jimi Manuwa destroyed Nick Chapman at UCMMA 24 at the Troxy in London, England on Saturday, brutalizing the 2-0 rookie with knees to finish in only two minutes and fourteen seconds. The win isn't exactly an impressive resume builder for the Brit striker, but he's coming off a major injury and still relatively green himself. Surprisingly, Manuwa has turned down two UFC contract offers in order to better himself, and he's scheduled to train stateside with Alliance MMA alongside UFC vets Phil Davis, Alexander Gustafsson, and Brandon Vera. - Undefeated Brazilian Alexandre Pimentel returned to mixed martial arts after a little under two years to defeat late replacement Udi Lima at Jungle Fight 33 on Saturday. Pimentel was once considered a prospect to watch, but he suffered a debilitating knee injury that kept him out of the sport till now. Surprisingly, it isn't an uncommon problem for fighters in Brazil due to the cost of surgeries and the little money fighting brings to the table. Bantamweight prospect Iliarde Santos battled Eduardo Kiko to a no-contest after he kneed his opponent in the face while he was grounded. The strike broke Kiko's nose. Lightweight grappling whiz Neilson Gomes KO'd Elieni Silva in three minutes and thirty-four seconds. - UFC veteran Mario Miranda knocked out IFL veteran Aaron Stark in the second round at SportFight 30 in Portland, Oregon. Ryan Healy, who was scheduled to face UFC veteran Paul Kelly, narrowly edged late replacement Andrew Chapelle. Kelly had to withdraw due to visa issues. - Top-flight Northeastern prospects Joey Gambino, Aljamain Sterling, and Sean Santella all saw action this weekend at Cage Fury Fighting Championships 11 in Atlantic City. Gambino, who has been training with the likes of Georges St. Pierre at Tristar Gym, stopped Eddie Fyvie in the second round of action to remain undefeated. The win earned him the CFFC featherweight title. In what could be described as one of the best bantamweight prospect tilts outside of any major regional promotion, wrestlers Aljamain Sterling and Sean Santella went head-to-head for the CFFC bantamweight title. Impressively, Sterling dominated the AMA Fight Club team member, beating him on the scorecards (50-45, 49-46, 49-46).

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, prospect, veteran

What are some cool MMA vids for someone who's not into MMA?

The title probably explains it pretty well. I figure what I'd appreciate from a mma video is probably very different from someone who hasn't been introduced to MMA, and I'm looking for a few videos to share with friends who are not yet Informed. Any suggestions? submitted by PhantomStranger [link] [comment]

Posted in: mma, mma video, mma vids, phantomstranger link, someone whos

As MMA continues global growth, veteran manager Alex Davis warns of ego's ugly side

As a lifelong practitioner of judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, not to mention a founding member of MMA's famed American Top Team academy, noted MMA manager Alex Davis has seen the sport grow from the beaches and jungles of his native Brazil to a global phenomenon. And while Davis believes there are still plenty of opportunities for growth in the sport, he's also bothered by a growing enemy within the sport: ego. "Time and time again, I find myself staring ego in the face," Davis recently told MMAjunkie.com. "A lot of money has been spent, events have been created, fights have been accepted, enemies have been made and big decisions taken - all based on ego.

Posted in: mma, sport, davi, ego, brazilian jiujitsu

ESPN MMA Live: Chael Sonnen, Matt Mitrione

Chael Sonnen returns to MMA Live this week to help Jon Anik and crew cover all the latest news in mixed martial arts. Matt Mitrione also stops by to talk about his upcoming fight against Cheick Kongo at UFC 137. Cage Potato has some of Chael Sonnen’s wonderful quotes if you don’t have time to watch the full show. My favorite: “Let me ask a question, instead of fact or fiction, let me make it A or B. A) Will Anderson Silva go as a duck for Halloween this year or B) will he dress as a chicken? I’m going to go B. I think he goes as chicken because he already has the costume.” ESPN MMA Live Archive If you have trouble playing the video, you can also watch it on ESPN.com.

Posted in: mma, anderson silva, sonnen, jon anik, chael

As the MMA World Turns: David and Tim Look Back at This Week's (Unfortunate) Stories

The MMA world hasn't been kind to its fans over the past week. UFC 136 did horribly, despite how awesome it was. Injuries continue to plague the UFC, except this time that plague came to what many believed was the card of the year. On top of that, K-1, is in need of a defibrillator. I'd say 'so is Strikeforce', but as we've seen with the recent signings, the hearse has already been called on Coker's organization. There's plenty more to talk about, and so Tim and I decided to do just that while holding back the tears and ice cream. UFC 136, despite a very solid card and two title fights, reportedly only drew 250,000 buys. Is the sky falling in terms of PPV? Or are the little guys just not draws in MMA? David: According to the anonymous source over at Fight Opinion, the sky is indeed falling. But I don't think that's necessarily the case either. As a reader over there pointed out, PPV buys have often fluctuated. They did in 2006 on the positive end and things didn't work out so well in 2007. Of course, that was a year, just like in 2011, that saw a plague of injuries. I think 2012 will be the year they bounce back, and FOX has them primed to do just that. If after 2012 numbers are still low,then we do have something to talk about, but not now. Although the lighter weights do have some work to do. For one, with the divisions relatively new, there's not much history. The lighter weights draw in boxing because there's a rich history, on top of the fact that that history has an international streak, with popular non-America fighters abound. It'll take some time, but I think the lighter weights will become draws eventually. So long as the UFC provides with an assist, which they were won't to do given the level of promotion 136 got. Tim: I think Zach Arnold is awesome, but 45 Huddle and the boys aren't exactly the bastion of logic for me. The injuries you mentioned brings up a question we can probably address next week or something - has the UFC insurance policy led to more guys pulling out and less money in the bank for the UFC? Overall though, I agree with what you're saying. Fox is the best platform yet to sell PPV's and if it's still tits up at this time next year, we've got something to talk about. It's all a bit premature until then. In terms of the lighter divisions, I think they need to sacrifice a bit now to gain a lot in the future. Give possible contenders some spots where they'll get some eyeballs on them. That builds an emotional connection with the challengers, the champion, and the belt itself. It saddens me that Zuffa still doesn't see this the way I do. Hire me, bitches! Are all of the UFC's issues with Nick Diaz actually good for UFC 137 in general? David: Nick Diaz is as Nick Diaz does. What's new? The guy is full on Looney Tunes unhinged. But the people around him aren't doing him any favors. Not that I buy any of his excuses, but how difficult is it for the people around to make sure he knows where the hell he's supposed to be? How difficult is it for Nick to know where he's supposed to be? Hell, I know where Nick is supposed to be at any given press conference, and I'm usually face first in a SciAm article, or in one of those Guacamole Turkey burgers at Carl's Jr. People will say yea, it's good because "people are talking about Nick Diaz". I say horse shite. Dana will offer him leeway to a point. But any more stunts, and he's gone. Dana was willing to kick him off a main event. He has only so many strikes. So no, he is not doing himself any good because if people are talking about him for the wrong reasons, and those reasons get him booted from the UFC, in what universe has it been "good publicity" for Nick? Tim: I didn't realize that you had written 1500 words about Mr. Diaz when I asked the question, and you've covered some of this already before this answer. I absolutely agree that he's not getting help from the people around him, and I think it's stupid. But counting on Dana White to draw a line as far as how much stupid poopy Nick can do before he gets a backhand? I gotta disagree. I said this last month - Nick Diaz is the most enabled fighter in MMA. He continually gets free passes on his antics because he's an earner for promoters. All the hoopla about costing Nick a million dollars by kicking him out of the main event was just face-saving rhetoric from Dana and Co. The truth is that Dana still let him fight on the card because he needed him, and it just made it even more clear that Nick Diaz is truly untouchable. And that's some bumbling bullshit. Somewhere Lindsay Lohan is saying "I need to hire that Cesar Gracie guy to manage me!" There won't be a K-1 WGP Final 16 event in China, but there's still some slight hope for a Final 8 event in December. Could it happen? Does anyone even care anymore? David: Nobody cares anymore. Not even the fighters are interested, with Hari, Saki, and Spong already talking about entering other sports (and Overeem officially gone). If the fighters aren't interested, why would fans? It sucks to think that this is the fate of K-1, but we've been expecting this for some time. Tim: I care. I'm no Ducharme (I'm waaay prettier), but I was hyped about the prospect of a WGP and still want to see it. I know it's like a Penguins fan hoping Mario Lemieux could kick that nasty lymphoma and lead the Pens to the Cup (holy 1993 hockey reference), but it's still one of the few magical events in combat sports that even casual fans discuss. It's brutal to me that all these guys are talking about being MMA fighters or boxers, because they're not. They're kickboxers, and they'll never dominate another sport at this point. Cosmo Alexandre (0-1) says hi, guys. I may be dreaming here but if K-1 can't put it together...Simon Rutz. Do it for the world. Do it for kickboxing fans. Make it happen! If you were trapped in an elevator for six hours with Michael Bisping, would he make it out alive? David: I'm not sure what the implication is here. I could be armed with a shotgun, and Billy from Predator, and I'd still lose. If this is a TUF reference, and Bisping is claustrophobic, then I don't get it as I haven't been watching the show. But I assume this is just a reflection on Bisping's personality. I never thought of him as bad guy, bit it seems like if you push the right buttons, or push his buttons at all, the guy transforms into a real four star ass. That's why I loved the idea of a Sonnen-Bisping matchup. Now put Chael Sonnen in an elevator for six hours with Bisping and you'd have one dead-as-fried-chicken Brit. Chael wouldn't even need to lay a hand on him. He's just talk for 30 minutes and every mile of blood vessel in Bisping's body would burst Cronenberg-style. Tim: I should have been more descriptive with the question for sure. I was just referring to having to deal with being in the same room as that goomba for any length of time, and wanting to commit a murder death kill regardless of any size difference. I agree that I don't think he's a bad person - I just think he doesn't quite understand how effin annoying and unfunny he is. He's from Manchester, after all. Regardless of your answer, I was going to steer my response towards an American Gangster/Goomba matchup anyway so I'm very glad you took it there. How awesome would that be? It's a PPV dream come true for the UFC. And I can almost guarantee you'll see it in 2012, even if Mayhem beats Bisping. Will Strikeforce survive past February 2012? If yes, what do you think it'd look like? If no, will Showtime still continue airing MMA? David: They still run shows? Asking Strikeforce to survive past February is like asking superglue to save Ron Paul's eyebrows. It's just not happening. All of their champions save Luke Rockhold (who is simply Dave Terrell in prospect's clothing) are gone, and so are some of their draws. Which sucks because I think female MMA is worth saving if you just gave Ronda Rousey the limelight. The fact that Ken Hirschman is gone, having moved to HBO, is probably a good indication on top of that. Showtime was never really in the MMA business in the sense that I think they were hoping to the sport could draw without them pouring money into promoting it. Though from what I understand, they were marginally profitable. I don't remember. What I do know is that Strikeforce is dead. And I'd be shocked if Showtime continued to air MMA. If they did, who would they market? Tim: Haaaate. I'm Canadian so I dunno who this Ron Paul guy is, but he sounds entertaining. He's no Herman Cain Velasquez though. Anyway, why do you need top-flight fighters for the organization to be viable for Showtime though? Ship all the champs to the UFC. Build a chariot for King Mo. 999 plan. Who cares. I think it can survive in a Challengers-style format, and Showtime would be very happy with 200k viewers per show if the rights fee was reasonable. Because that's the baseline for no-name MMA, and cheap programming with 200,000 viewers is profitable. M-1 proved that. It also gives Zufforza the ability to promote outside the bounds of the exclusive Fox deal, because it's a different org. That offers a bunch of flexibility, something that most people don't really get. Once again I'm impressed with your acumen though, bringing up Hirschman. It's like I sent you Cliff Notes on the questions but they weren't necessary I think his MMA influence was overstated though, and cheap programming overrides the influence of any one man. If SF did go under though, who would Showtime latch onto? My guess would be ProElite. Frankly, I just want Ronda Rousey on my TV a lot. She rules.

Posted in: ufc, mma, guy, nick, he

Congrats to my big cousin who won his first professional MMA fight today!

submitted by pewpnstuff [link] [4 comments]

Posted in: fight, mma, pewpnstuff, congrat, cousin

MMAterial Facts (10/21/11) : UFC and the Fox Era, Nick Diaz Phenomenom, & UFC in 3D

Welcome to this edition of MMAterial Facts, where we feature articles from around the MMA community. *** This week’s MMAterial Facts: - The Nick Diaz Phenomenon (MMA Fighting) “In 15 minutes, Diaz did more to shift the narrative of UFC 137 storylines than Penn, Mitrione and Kongo did in the preceding 40. That’s just the way it is when he speaks. … And isn’t that the point of conference calls and press conferences? When it comes to those, Diaz says more with less than anyone in MMA. If he was as verbose and microphone friendly as say, Chael Sonnen, it wouldn’t quite be the same. Diaz shows up when he wants, wedges open a window into his mind, and lets you in look in just long enough to find yourself fascinated and wanting more.” - Opinion: Dana White is not the right man to lead the UFC during their era on Fox (Fight Opinion) “Dana White has been the catalyst for the UFC’s growth from 2005 to present day. He is the most influential man in the sport and transformed UFC into an MMA empire. He avoided the kinds of pitfalls that doomed promotions like the WFA, the IFL, Affliction, PRIDE, DREAM, and Strikeforce. Thanks to Zuffa’s connections with Ari Emanuel, the promotion was able to bank a seven year, $700 million USD contract with Fox Sports to air UFC content on various Fox-related platforms.” - Interview with UFC 137′s Roy Nelson as he prepares for Mirko Filipovic (MMA Mania) “I feel standing, like I think I’ve stood up with some of the best heavyweights in the world. I stood up with Junior [dos Santos] so like, I think I might regress for this fight and go back to my roots, go back to my first five or six wins were all submissions. Maybe I’ll regress in the chain of being an MMA fighter.” - The Lost Victims of the Injury Bug (MMA Convert) “Everyone groans and exclaims when the big names get injured – there’s still weeping to be heard over Georges St. Pierre’s forced exit from UFC 137, and sobs can be heard all around the world over the news that Shane Carwin and Rich Franklin are both on ice over back- and shoulder injuries. But the Dreaded Injury Bug has bitten others, too. And while they may be lesser-known victims, sidelined from their participation in organizations that receive only a modicum of exposure and don’t employ an Octagon as a field of battle, these injured fighters’ absences from promised competition are woes that do still reverberate, albeit on a much smaller scale. So let us acknowledge them, here and now, and recognize that their loss to their respective organizations’ rosters does have an impact on us. They are the lost victims of the injury bug.” - Get the popcorn ready, UFC is coming to your nearest theater…in 3D (MiddleEasy) “According to Variety Magazine, the UFC has signed a contract with Cinedigm to offer UFC events that will be shown in movie theaters in illustrious 3D. “ - More surgery for Shane Carwin (NBC Sports MMA) “Former UFC No. 1 heavyweight contender Shane Carwin will be forced to undergo a second round of surgical procedures to address issues related to neck and back problems. Carwin had surgery last November, and returned to fight against Junior dos Santos before being sidelined by these more recent issues.” - Chris Leben: The Career Retrospective Interview (Cage Potato) “[On "sending Anderson Silva back to Japan":] “Here’s the deal: When you sit down with the UFC and give them a pre-fight interview, what are you supposed to say? I’m not going to say they tell you what to say [during the interviews], but it’s certainly coached, and they want you to be a tough guy. So I couldn’t say, ‘Hey I didn’t want to take this fight, I didn’t think I was ready for it, but I’m taking it anyway because the UFC told me I had to.’ I asked not to take the fight. I thought it was a bad idea, plain and simple.” - Anderson Silva’s retirement closer than fans may think (Five Ounces of Pain) “Ed Soares has done a lot of the speaking for UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva. That trend continued recently when Soares disclosed that “The Spider” has only a few fights left in his stellar career before he rides off into the sunset.” - M-1 Global: Fedor Emelianenko vs. Jeff Monson” Video Promo (5thRound) “Up until the release of Friday’s video promo, it was unknown how M-1 Global was planning on making the show available for viewing. Many thought Showtime might host the shindig, but it seems the premium cable network will stand clear.” - We have a pretty interesting interview with Alexander Shlemenko (LowKick) “How important for you is the potential rematch with Hector Lombard? Do you consider it as your main priority? Yes, definitely. I’m absolutely sure that when we meet again, the fight will play by a totally different scenario. I’m working very hard on my takedown defense and overall physical condition. Hector Lombard will not be able to take me down and play the clock on the ground. I could beat him up and then win via KO standing.” - Interview with Dan “Punkass” Caldwell from the Tapout Crew at NYCC 2011 (TheFightNerd) “I think Kenny [Florian] is a really exciting fighter in his past matches, he just needs to fight the right people… me personally, I think the 155 lb. division looks a little more inviting again. I think he should go back to 155 and try his hand there. Some of those guys would match up better with his style.” - Matt Lindland Interview: Chael Will Finish Silva Before the End of the Third Round (BleacherReport.com/MMA) “I think the rematch would look just like the first one, except I’ve got a game plan for Chael to finish him before the end of the third round. So, yeah it’ll look similar to their first encounter, but with some additional techniques and strategy, it won’t make it to the championship rounds.”

Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, mma, interview

What's your favorite MMA animated gif?

There are so many great ones to choose from, but this one is tough to beat: http://i.imgur.com/u4Kag.gif submitted by neanderdude [link] [7 comments]

Posted in: mma, gif, what, neanderdude, one

Ringside MMA 12 Live Results and Commentary

Join us on Friday, October 21 for Ringside MMA 12, airing live from the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on GFL.tv at 7:30 PM ET. The card will feature a main event welterweight showdown between UFC and Strikeforce veteran Paul Daley and former UFC fighter Luigi Fioravanti. Ranked 2011 World MMA Scouting Report prospects Michel Gagnon and Alex Garcia will also make appearances along with Bellator veteran Mike Ricci. As always, tune in for the card at GFL.tv ($9.99) and join in on the discussion within the comments. Also, follow me (@lelandroling) on Twitter for instant analysis. Ringside MMA 12October 21, 2011 - Bell Centre - Montreal, Quebec, CanadaWelterweight: Paul Daley (28-11-2) vs. Luigi Fioravanti (22-10): Lightweight (Title Bout): Mike Ricci (6-1) vs. Daron Cruickshank (8-2)Welterweight: Alex Garcia (6-1) vs. Matt MacGrath (10-6)Bantamweight: David Harris (6-1) vs. Michel Gagnon (7-1)Lightweight: Kevin Morin (5-3) vs. Jason Saggo (5-1)Featherweight: Brett Portieous (2-2) vs. Tommy Cote (2-2)Welterweight: Chris Franck (1-1) vs. Francis Charbonneau (1-1)Bantamweight: Maxime Fecteau (2-2) vs. Keven Tremblay (1-1)Lightweight: Olivier Aubin-Mercier (0-0) vs. Guy Poulin (1-0)Heavyweight: Vladimir Starcencov (0-0) vs. Craig Hudson (0-0)

Posted in: mma, vs, bell centre, ringside, alex garcia

Chael Sonnen to Host World MMA Awards, Will Air on Fox Sports and Fuel

Chael Sonnen has done an incredible job at becoming the best talker in MMA. His ability to cut a promo has become legendary and his post fight victory speech after defeating Brian Stann at UFC 136 was talked about for hours afterward by members of the press. It seems the year of Chael is continuing as he got the nod to host the World MMA Awards by Fighters Only Magazine. The World MMA Awards by Fighters Only Magazine are the MMA industry's equivalent of the Academy Awards or Grammy's. The Fighters Only awards cover everything from Promotion of the Year to Journalist of the Year. There are also categories for apparel and ring card girls. This will be the fourth year the show as been held and will take place at the Pearl Theater at the Palms in Las Vegas. The date is November 30th and the event is open to the public. If you are in the Vegas area, you can pick up tickets on Friday at the Pearl ticket booth. The news was broken by MMA Weekly earlier today. Sonnen will join Molly Qerim, who hosted last year's show with UFC legend Randy Couture. A change that no doubt has occurred due to the UFC's relationship with Fox, is that the show will air via delay on Fox's regional sports networks as well as Fuel TV. No word on when the show will air, but the schedule is expected to be released in the upcoming weeks. Bloody Elbow Radio's sponsor Bad Boy was named the best technical brand at last year's show and are nominated again this year. You can place your votes here.

Posted in: mma, show, year, award, years show

Chael Sonnen Set to Host 2011 World MMA Awards Show

submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: mma, show, chael sonnen, mattyblayze, chael

Friday Link Club: Mirko Cro Cop & Pat Barry In The Greatest Video Ever

I think my smile was as big as Pat Barry’s as I watched this… A Review of Jim Genia’s “Raw Combat: The Underground World of Mixed Martial Arts” | Five Ounces of Pain If you want to dive deeper into MMA and read the stories of fighters starting at the bottom level and working their way up, then read Raw Combat. You won’t find a better book out there that covers the sport from where it begins, underground and local fights, and not from where it is now, national TV and PPV. Opinion: Dana White is not the right man to lead the UFC during their era on Fox | Fight Opinion Dana White has been the catalyst for the UFC’s growth from 2005 to present day. He is the most influential man in the sport and transformed UFC into an MMA empire. He avoided the kinds of pitfalls that doomed promotions like the WFA, the IFL, Affliction, PRIDE, DREAM, and Strikeforce. Thanks to Zuffa’s connections with Ari Emanuel, the promotion was able to bank a seven year, $700 million USD contract with Fox Sports to air UFC content on various Fox-related platforms. Dana White was the right man at the right time to get the UFC to this business point. However, he is not the right man moving forward. The Nick Diaz Phenomenon | MMA Fighting For years, Nick Diaz has been an enigma to many on the outside looking in. His friends and teammates say he is fiercely loyal, hard-working and yes, even kind-hearted. But we rarely see that side of him. The public face of Diaz is usually scowling, irritable and contemptuous. That duality may well be an accurate portrayal of Diaz in his private and public settings, and it may not be a bad thing. Because Diaz’s personality perfectly fits into a sport like MMA. To his fans, he’s an ass-kicking, counterculture anti-hero. To his detractors, he’s an overrated, irascible ingrate. Whatever the case, he’s undeniably a one-man MMA phenomenon. Roy Nelson enlisted Frank Mir to help him train for Mirko Cro Cop at UFC 137 | NBC Sports Big Country has enlisted the help of Frank Mir, the man who most recently defeated Nelson at UFC 130, to help prepare him for his UFC 137 fight against Mirko Cro Cop. Hot Potato: 18 Photos of ProElite Ring Girl Jennifer Swift (aka ‘Ms. Tapout’) | Cage Potato Jennifer Swift is a model and writer for TapouT Magazine and co-host on B-Real TV who was recently hired as a ring girl for ProElite. She can throw ‘bows with the best of them, and apparently those things are real. Check out some of our favorite Jennifer Swift photos in the gallery above, follow Ms. Tapout on Facebook and Twitter, and look out for her during the HDNet broadcast of “Big Guns” on November 5th. Is UFC 137 Still Worth the Money Without Georges St-Pierre? | Bleacher Report Each person will have to make his or her own choice when it comes to buying this and any UFC event, but before you decide to say “no” to this one, please take the time to check out the top five reasons why you should be rushing to your cable box to order UFC 137. Paul Daley Hopeful for return to UFC | LowKick “I can be an asset to the UFC. There’s a big opportunity for me to come back to the UFC, established fighters always find their way back. There’s loads of interesting match-ups. There’s the Nick Diaz rematch, which would be a nice opportunity if he lost to BJ Penn. There’s Anthony Johnson, even though me and him get on well, then you’ve got Rory MacDonald, who’s a good up-and-coming fighter. “ Live 3D UFC Pay-Per-Views Coming to a Theater Near You | 5thRound “By partnering with Cinedigm, we’re taking the UFC viewing experience to a whole new level,” said UFC president Dana White. “For the first time ever, fight fans can watch a UFC pay-per-view card in 3D at theaters across the country. “We want UFC fans to have the best viewing experience possible and now they get a chance to experience major UFC pay-per-views in 3D.” Watch Bas Rutten fight a crew of zombie puppets | MiddleEasy If civilization was forced to restart due to some cataclysmic event (like a zombie apocalypse) experts believe Bas Rutten will not be the person to lead humanity back to normality. ‘Experts’ being my friends who sincerely believe zombies taking over the city of Los Angeles is a plausible scenario. In fact one of my friends is so adamant about this seemingly improbable event that he has moved from Los Angeles to a mountain in Colorado and has set up hidden provision stations near his house just in case he finds himself away from his residence at the exact time when the undead began to rise and take over the planet. TUF Enough: MMAmania interview exclusive with UFC 137′s Roy Nelson | MMA Mania “I feel standing, like I think I’ve stood up with some of the best heavyweights in the world. I stood up with Junior [dos Santos] so like, I think I might regress for this fight and go back to my roots, go back to my first five or six wins were all submissions. Maybe I’ll regress in the chain of being an MMA fighter.” Dan “Punkass” Caldwell from The TapouT Crew at NYCC 2011  | TheFightNerd “I think Kenny [Florian] is a really exciting fighter in his past matches, he just needs to fight the right people… me personally, I think the 155 lb. division looks a little more inviting again. I think he should go back to 155 and try his hand there. Some of those guys would match up better with his style.” ProElite Signs Multi-Year TV Deal With HDNet | MMA Payout ProElite announced a new multi-fight, multi-year TV deal with HDNet last night during Inside MMA’s live broadcast debut on the network. The first ProElite televised event on HDNet will be “HDNet Fights: ProElite – Big Guns”, taking place at the iWireless Center in Moline, IL on November 5th.

Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, mma, proelite

The Friday Morning MMA Link Party

Throw your hands in the air and be prepared to lower them whenever you garner a collection of strange looks from people. Your favorite day of the week has finally arrived and you can relax in knowing that the world will not come to an end this weekend. Don't worry, I've already checked. We're safe. Now that our civilization is going to survive, you will have an ample amount of time to make a celebrity appearance at our Friday Morning MMA Link Party. Red cups are in the backyard. Don't spill anything. Thank you. [list class="bullet-6"] [li]Brandon Vera Calls Thiago Silva a 'Juice Monkey.' [MMAFighting] "On the one hand, UFC light heavyweight Brandon Vera owes Thiago Silva, the man who beat him at UFC 125 in January, a debt of gratitude. That's because had Silva not tested positive for steroids following the fight, Vera knows he would be looking for work outside the UFC. [/li] [li]MMA Ban-Watch: New Legislation Would Give Wisconsin Towns the Power to Make MMA Illegal. [CagePotato] "The bill was introduced by State Representatives Pat Strachota (R) and Mark Honadel (R), and co-sponsored by State Senator Glenn Grothman (R), although Honadel has reportedly withdrawn his support." [/li] [li]Zoila Gurgel tears ACL, forced to withdraw from Bellator 57 fight. [Fives Ounces of Pain] "On Tuesday UFC champion Georges St. Pierre fell victim to a knee injury that forced him out of UFC 137. Today Bellator women’s champion Zoila Gurgel announced that she’s fallen victim to a knee injury as well, forcing her to withdraw from her Bellator 57 non-title fight against Carina Damm. [/li] [li]The 20 Creepiest Fighters in the Sport's History. [LowKick] "I have returned with a new list that will take us even further into the nether regions of the soul. One that will make my previous..." [/li] [li]More surgery for Shane Carwin. [NBC Sports] "Former UFC No. 1 heavyweight contender Shane Carwin will be forced to undergo a second round of surgical procedures to address issues related to neck and back problems. Carwin had surgery last November, and returned to fight against Junior dos Santos before being sidelined by these more recent issues." [/li] [li]Ed Soares: ‘We’ll Probably End Up Having To Fight Chael Sonnen Twice.’ [MMAConvert] "Another interview, another opportunity for Ed Soares to declare Chael Sonnen doesn’t deserve a rematch with Anderson Silva…" [/li] [li](UPDATED) Joe Lauzon Challenges Anthony Pettis to a February Fight. [5th Round] "Former WEC lightweight champ Anthony Pettis recently requested a fight with Joe Lauzon (Pictured). On Thursday, J-Lau stated he's more than willing to oblige. However, "Showtime" will have to wait until February if he wants a piece of Lauzon." [/li] [li]Is UFC 137 Still Worth the Money Without GSP? [Bleacher Report] "The UFC 137 fight card took a big hit earlier this week when the scheduled main event between Georges St-Pierre and Carlos Condit was scrapped due to an injury sustained by the UFC welterweight champion GSP ..." [/li] [li]Victor Conte talks steroids in MMA & Boxing. [The Fight Nerd] "“You go to the doctor, he sees you are a low, he gives you a [testosterone] prescription. How hard is it to do that? I think they are handing out far too many TRT therapeutic extensions in MMA, and I think some of the higher-up’s know darn well they are doing it." [/li] [li]Fabricio Werdum 'for sure' wants to come back to the UFC (Video). [MMAMania] "UFC Undisputed 3, the latest entry into the popular mixed martial arts video game series from THQ, will hit store shelves in January 2012. The new edition features a bevy of interesting fresh features, including traveling back in time to fight in the now-defunct PRIDE organization ... complete with soccer kicks, stomps and Bas Rutten on commentary." [/li] [li]Opinion: Dana White is not the right man to lead the UFC during their era on Fox. [FightOpinion] “You go to the doctor, hFrom time to time, we hear from opinion leaders who want to speak out about the current state of affairs in the sport but are afraid to reveal their name due to fear of repercussions. For this article, that is the case. We will not reveal the author’s identity but will publish this piece which addresses a ‘big picture’ subject.e sees you are a low, he gives you a [testosterone] prescription. How hard is it to do that? I think they are handing out far too many TRT therapeutic extensions in MMA, and I think some of the higher-up’s know darn well they are doing it.” [/li] [li]Update on Fox-Direct TV contract dispute. [MMAPayout] "John Ourand of the Sports Business Daily/Journal has followed up a report on the Fox-Direct TV contract dispute. The two parties have now drawn lines in the sand which has Direct TV threatening to pull Fox channels on November 1." [/li] [/list]

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, li, thiago silva

Chael Sonnen to Co-Host 2011 World MMA Awards; Show to Air on Fox Sports

Filed under: MMA Media Watch, NewsChael Sonnen is taking his act to the 2011 World MMA Awards. The loquacious middleweight fighter has been named co-host for the 2011 World MMA Awards by Fighters Only Magazine, the publication announced Friday afternoon. Sonnen will share the stage with TV personality Molly Qerim, who co-hosted the event last year with Randy Couture. News of Sonnen hosting the show was first reported by MMAWeekly.com Friday morning. In addition, it was also announced that the awards show will air via tape delay across the Fox Sports regional networks and on Fuel TV. Air dates and times will be announced in the coming weeks. "I say it every year that we want to make the awards show bigger and better and every year we have done just that," Rob Hewitt, CEO of Fighters Only, stated in a release. "However, none of it would be possible with out the support of the MMA industry, the fans, our sponsors and TV and venue partners who all believe as much as we do in this project. To celebrate the sport we love and the people within it in the way that we do is a crowning moment of the year for Fighters Only and we can't wait to reveal this year's winners." World MMA Awards winners are selected by the fans. You can cast your vote by clicking here. The fourth annual World MMA Awards takes place Wednesday, Nov. 30, at the Pearl Theatre inside the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. The event is open to the public, and tickets go on sale Friday afternoon at the Pearl box office or any Ticketmaster location. Editor's note: MMAFighting.com is nominated for Media Source of the Year, while our own Ben Fowlkes and Ariel Helwani are nominated for Journalist of the Year. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: world, mma, year, award, awards show

MMA Link Parade

- Pat Barry and Mirko 'Cro Cop' Filipovic Sing a Duet. [Middle Easy] - Texas Expands Drug Testing for UFC 136. [Sports Illustrated] - New Legislation Would Give Wisconsin Towns Power to Make MMA Illegal. [Cage Potato] - Zoila Gurgel tears ACL, forced to withdraw from Bellator 57 fight. [Five Ounces of Pain] - The 20 Creepiest Fighters in the Sport's History. [Low Kick] - More Surgery for Shane Carwin. [NBC Sports] - Ed Soares: 'We'll Probably End Up Having To Fight Chael Sonnen Twice.' [MMA Convert] - Joe Lauzon Challenges Anthony Pettis to a February Fight. [5th Round] - Is UFC 137 Still Worth the Money Without GSP? [Bleacher Report] - Victor Conte Talks Steroids in MMA & Boxing. [The Fight Nerd] - Nick Diaz Must Make the Most of His Second Chance. [Sports Illustrated] - Fabricio Werdum 'For Sure' Wants to Come Back to the UFC. [MMA Mania] - Update on Fox-Direct TV contract dispute. [MMA Payout] Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: fight, mma, sport, fabricio werdum, duet middle

David Mamet Calls For MMA Sanctioning in New York

The New York Post ran an editorial this week calling for New York to sanction MMA events. The question of MMA legislation in New York has been an ongoing battle for some time, so it is not a shock to see the Post bring it up. However, the interesting thing about the editorial? It was written by Pulitzer Prize winner David Mamet. A long-time fan of MMA, Mamet argues that the sport should be sanctioned based primarily on first amendment free speech ideas, and also states that the US is becoming too much a "maiden aunt." He also brings in the familiar argument that MMA is less dangerous than many other sports, including boxing. And he mixes it all in with some... shall we say, unique, turns of phrase: In our transformation into a country of maiden aunts, we have forgotten that phrase concurrent to The Greatest Generation, "Mind your own business." The purpose of law, our Constitution teaches, is to allow people to interact free from government intervention. To criminalize or otherwise sanction now this, now that, at the whim of a vocal minority is, retail, wearisome folly. Wholesale, it is the road to serfdom. Really, the whole thing is worth a read, partly just to see what such an acclaimed voice has to say about the sport, and partly because, frankly, it's pretty out there. For the full scope of Mamet's intriguing opinion, click here. Like any other MMA fan, I want to see the sport gain sanctioning in New York. And the former theater nerd in me is happy to see Mamet come out in support of this fight. But Mamet's argument feels a bit off here. In this piece, he compares MMA to the burning of the American flag and he draws parallels between the sport and the sexual practices of various cults. I am not convinced that this is the best way to go in order for MMA to gain acceptance. Do we really want MMA to be sanctioned on these grounds - that it's no worse than dunking a crucifix in urine? And is this the argument that will actually win people over? I have my doubts. David Mamet may best be known in MMA circles as the Director of Redbelt, the 2008 MMA-based film that featured former UFC champion Randy Couture. But he's also an acclaimed author and one of the greatest playwrights of the American stage. His play Glengarry Glen Ross won the Pulitzer Prize in 1984.

Posted in: mma, sport, david, york, mamet

A Review of “Raw Combat: The Underground World of Mixed Martial Arts”

Since the MMA boom in 2005 there have been plenty of books written about the history of MMA, how the UFC took things to a new level, and autobiographies from various fighters and MMA personalities. Some books are actually informative while others are just cash grabs with information that you could find on Wikipedia. Raw Combat: The Underground World of Mixed Martial Arts by Jim Genia falls into the former category. It’s not your typical MMA book that profiles some of the top fighters in the sport or talks about UFC being banned on PPV. This book gets away from the glitz and glamour that you see on PPV or SpikeTV and focuses on fights that take place in gyms and can only be seen by people lucky enough to receive a text message. The book explores the fight scene in New York, which, as most fans know, isn’t exactly legal in the Big Apple. Jim paints a pretty vivid picture of how fights and events go down in New York and things definitely have a Fight Club feel. I’m actually a little worried for Jim’s safety once this book comes out for talking about the subject and breaking the first rule. The Underground Combat League (UCL) is the main subject of Genia’s writing. While it sounds like a place that houses some of the best bar fighters in the state, some talented competitors actually got their start in the UCL, including a current UFC champion. If you think you can show up to the UCL with your “I’ve watched a ton of MMA fights, so I know what I’m doing” training program and be successful, you’ll probably end up with multiple broken limbs. The main character in the book is Peter Storm, who is not only the promoter of UCL, but also fights if another fighter decides to no-show or if he just feels like punching someone in the face. There are plenty of characters throughout the pages though, including a chapter on internet sensation Kimbo Slice. Jim does a great job telling the story of certain underground fighters, capturing not only their fight personality, but also giving you some background on the fighter and telling the reader why they fight and how it helps them. Furthermore, he follows up on a lot of the fighters who started in the UCL and how their career progressed or failed from there. There’s more to the book than just the fighters though. Jim also talks about the local MMA scene in New Jersey and the history of MMA in New York. It’s actually astonishing at how long people in MMA have been trying to get the sport sanctioned in New York and Jim, who has been covering the sport for 10 years, has been there through it all. More than anything I really enjoy Jim’s writing. As I just mentioned, he’s been covering the sport for a long time and, along with being a good storyteller, he writes with some snark, which I always appreciate. While the book does take a serious tone, profiling the ups and downs of the underground/local fight scene and certain fighters, Jim manages to keep things light throughout the book with witty comments and analogies. If I have one complaint about the book, it’s that there might be too many characters. It’s kind of like Boardwalk Empire, where the characters are great and defined, and the stories are compelling, but there’s so much going on that sometimes you lose track of what’s going on and it takes a gunshot, or in this case a nasty cut, to remind you of why and how things happened. If you want to dive deeper into MMA and read the stories of fighters starting at the bottom level and working their way up, then read Raw Combat. You won’t find a better book out there that covers the sport from where it begins, underground and local fights, and not from where it is now, national TV and PPV. Raw Combat is available for purchase on October 25. You can pre-order the book now on Amazon. For more on the author, you can follow Jim on twitter @jim_genia.

Posted in: fight, mma, fighter, book, jim

Tickets to 2011 World MMA Awards now on sale

Tickets to the 2011 World MMA Awards are now on sale. The star-studded event, which gives fans an opportunity to meet and interact with the top names in MMA today, takes place Nov. 30 at The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. Tickets range from $55 to $95 and are available through Ticketmaster.

Posted in: mma, ticket, starstudded event, sale tickets, mma today

Latest UFC/MMA news and notes from around the web for the week of October 15, 2011

Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Tom Lawlor and Dave Kaplan pictured above, we can all "get along." Teaming up with MMA sites like MiddleEasy, Cage Potato, Fight Opinion and Five Ounces of Pain, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport. This week, Cage Potato has a career retrospective interview with Chris Leben, Bleacher Report has a great discussion with Matt Lindland and MMA Fighting's Ben Fowlkes gets Jason Miller to open up about his first fight. The full list of links is after the jump. Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Tom Lawlor and Dave Kaplan pictured above, we can all "get along." Teaming up with MMA sites like MiddleEasy, Cage Potato, Fight Opinion and Five Ounces of Pain, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport. This week, Cage Potato has a career retrospective interview with Chris Leben, Bleacher Report has a great discussion with Matt Lindland and MMA Fighting's Ben Fowlkes gets Jason Miller to open up about his first fight. The full list of links is after the jump. - Georges St. Pierre expects to return in January or February (LowKick) "The recovery I want to do it well, I don't want to do it too fast. Because now I had an injury and I tried to train on it and maybe made it a little bit worse. I need a good four weeks to do my physio and do it right. I would say maybe end of January, possibly the beginning of February (for my return) ... Super Bowl, around this time." - Roy Nelson working with Frank Mir for Cro Cop fight (NBC Sports MMA) "This one actually just fell in place. He was a southie, (like) Cro Cop, and me being a good jiu-jitsu guy, like Nogueira, so it was just a perfect fit. There's nothing strange about it. I think everybody in MMA, paths always cross, especially if you've been in this sport as long as we both have." - Chris Leben: The career retrospective interview (Cage Potato) [On "sending Anderson Silva back to Japan":] "Here's the deal: When you sit down with the UFC and give them a pre-fight interview, what are you supposed to say? I'm not going to say they tell you what to say [during the interviews], but it's certainly coached, and they want you to be a tough guy. So I couldn't say, ‘Hey I didn't want to take this fight, I didn't think I was ready for it, but I'm taking it anyway because the UFC told me I had to.' I asked not to take the fight. I thought it was a bad idea, plain and simple." - Grappling with Issues - 10/19/11 (Five Ounces of Pain) How much gas does Rich Franklin have left in the tank? Will Alexis Vila cruise to the Bellator Season 5 Bantamweight Tournament crown? Is Roy Nelson at risk of getting released without a win at UFC 137? Should Bellator consider holding events on a new night come 2012? - My First Fight: Mayhem Miller (MMA Fighting) "To me, it seemed like he was almost magical. I think he had a blue belt or a purple belt, and I was like, oh no. I was a little concerned. There was no blue belts or purple belts in my neighborhood. Nobody knew that stuff. It wasn't until months later when I went to a Gracie school and was tapping out blue belts and purple belts that I realized, oh wait, that doesn't actually matter that much." - Nick Diaz takes the scenic route to UFC 137 main event (5thRound) In one fell swoop, former Strikeforce welterweight champ Nick Diaz (Pictured) is right back where he was supposed to be all along - headlining UFC 137 on October 29th. Oh, the irony. - Pat Barry and Mirko Cro Cop: The Duet (MiddleEasy) Now I already professed my love for Cro Cop yesterday, but this video only makes my love for him greater. Look at it, it's perfect, Pat Barry's smile grinning from ear to ear. Cro Cop's subtle head nod as he works his pipes. So today Pat Barry, Mirko Cro Cop and The Internet became that much stronger and for that I am grateful. - Interview with Dan "Punkass" Caldwell from the Tapout Crew (TheFightNerd) "I think Kenny [Florian] is a really exciting fighter in his past matches, he just needs to fight the right people... me personally, I think the 155 lb. division looks a little more inviting again. I think he should go back to 155 and try his hand there. Some of those guys would match up better with his style." - David Castillo: Why the smart money's on Nick Diaz beating BJ Penn (Fight Opinion) While fans may have felt something was lost when Nick Diaz fumbled his chance at the title with his antisocial behavior in playing the role of Dr. Richard Kimble at Cesar Gracie's home, we've also collectively gained with one of the most intriguing matchups in all of MMA. - Update on Bellator-Desert Rage litigation (MMA Payout) Last week we reported that Bellator had sued Arizona promotion Desert Rage Full Contact Fighting claiming the Arizona-based promotion interfered with contracted Bellator fighters for its upcoming event in Yuma on October 22nd as Desert Rage was set to hold its own event nearby on the same date. - Matt Lindland interview: Chael will finish Silva before the end of the third round (BleacherReport.com/MMA) "I think the rematch would look just like the first one, except I've got a game plan for Chael to finish him before the end of the third round. So, yeah it'll look similar to their first encounter, but with some additional techniques and strategy, it won't make it to the championship rounds." - The lost victims of the injury bug (MMA Convert) Everyone groans and exclaims when the big names get injured - there's still weeping to be heard over Georges St. Pierre's forced exit from UFC 137, and sobs can be heard all around the world over the news that Shane Carwin and Rich Franklin are both on ice over back- and shoulder injuries. But the Dreaded Injury Bug has bitten others, too.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, interview, cop

The Business of MMA: MMA Inc, Part Two

In Part Two, the conversation shifts to the companies two UFC middleweight contenders, Mark Munoz and Chael Sonnen.

Posted in: ufc, mma, part, chael, conversation shifts

Victory Promotions MMA announces 'Rich Clementi vs. Ronnie Rogers' for Nov. 12 in Lowell, Mass.

On Sat., Nov. 12, Tsongas Center in Lowell, Mass. will host the second ever mixed martial arts (MMA) event for Victory Promotions MMA. The main event will feature a bout between former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight fighter Rich Clementi. "No Love" will be squaring off against regional mixed martial arts (MMA) veteran "Bam Bam" Ronnie Rogers. Clementi will be looking to rebounding from a tough loss versus Shinya Aoki at Dream: "Fight for Japan!" on May 29 in Saitama, Japan. The fight resulted in Clementi being on the receiving end of a vicious neck crank that ended up in highlight reels for subsequent weeks after the fight. The card will also showcase a welterweight match up between former Bellator Fighting Championships fighter Matt Sung Lee and Tiawan Howard. In his career, Lee has faced quite a "murderer's row," competing against such names as Ben Saunders, Jorge Masvidal and Eddie Alvarez. Unfortunately for Lee, all of those fights ended in losses. On Sat., Nov. 12, Tsongas Center in Lowell, Mass. will host the second ever mixed martial arts (MMA) event for Victory Promotions MMA. The main event will feature a bout between former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight fighter Rich Clementi. "No Love" will be squaring off against regional mixed martial arts (MMA) veteran "Bam Bam" Ronnie Rogers. Clementi will be looking to rebounding from a tough loss versus Shinya Aoki at Dream: "Fight for Japan!" on May 29 in Saitama, Japan. The fight resulted in Clementi being on the receiving end of a vicious neck crank that ended up in highlight reels for subsequent weeks after the fight. The card will also showcase a welterweight match up between former Bellator Fighting Championships fighter Matt Sung Lee and Tiawan Howard. In his career, Lee has faced quite a "murderer's row," competing against such names as Ben Saunders, Jorge Masvidal and Eddie Alvarez. Unfortunately for Lee, all of those fights ended in losses. Victory Promotions is run by former Massachusetts deputy boxing commissioner Vinny Fraumini, who believes that New England is the perfect location to build an MMA faithful following. "Mixed martial arts has a strong history and loyal fanbase in New England, and we have set out to provide a premier outlet to showcase some of the world's greatest pro and amateur fighters." The main card for "Clementi vs. Rogers" will also spotlight two dueling up and coming prospects in Ricardo Georges and Carlos Neto, as well as a women's mixed martial arts (MMA) bout between Kaline Medeiros and Katy Merrill. To help promote the event, "Butterbean" Eric Esch will be on hand to sign autographs and meet the fans. General admission tickets are still available, starting at $35. Tickets can be purchased through the Tsongas Center official website. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. ET, with the fights set to begin around 7:00 p.m. ET. For more information about this card and Victory Promotions MMA, check out victorypromotionsmma.com.

Posted in: fight, mma, art, clementi, lee

Paulo Filho: 'I'm retiring ... it's over'

Yesterday, news broke that Paulo Filho had been hospitalized due to a Rohypnol addiction. Turns out, Filho says that's not true. Well...the hospitalized part. "Ely" says that the man who released that info is a "crazy person and a thief." Not only that, but Filho says that after November, he's done with the sport of MMA. That's right, he's retiring. Filho spoke with Tatame.com regarding all of the news surrounding him in the past 24 hours. Filho not only spoke about that, but said he's done after fighting Mamed Khalidov in November. That is, if he even makes it to that bout in Poland. Yesterday, news broke that Paulo Filho had been hospitalized due to a Rohypnol addiction. Turns out, Filho says that's not true. Well...the hospitalized part. "Ely" says that the man who released that info is a "crazy person and a thief." Not only that, but Filho says that after November, he's done with the sport of MMA. That's right, he's retiring. Filho spoke with Tatame.com regarding all of the news surrounding him in the past 24 hours. Filho not only spoke about that, but said he's done after fighting Mamed Khalidov in November. That is, if he even makes it to that bout in Poland. "I’m very upset. That’s something people say and give you space to think about drugs and other things. My biggest problem only was medicine (rohypnol). He’s a crazy person. Man, people invented a lot of stuff, and unfortunately I gave them reasons to think that. He said that just to avoid paying what he owns me. I gave him an opportunity and he couldn’t take it. He took my money and I don’t know what he did with that. I just don’t know where’s my money. I have bills to debts to pay and people are charging me. I’m choosing retirement, man… I may fight in November (in Poland) because I already signed the contract, after that I will retire. I don’t want this anymore. I had good and horrible moments. I did what I could, it’s over. I was far from what I could have been, but I’m satisfied. It’s over." Filho was once considered a top middleweight in the sport of MMA. A BJJ black belt under Carlson Gracie and the one time WEC middleweight champ, Filho has had struggles with addiction that have hindered his progression in MMA. Filho was a multiple time CBJJ World Champ and ADCC Brazilian Trials Champion in the sport of jiu jitsu. He holds 10 submission wins in his MMA career and even submitted current middleweight UFC title contender Chael Sonnen back in 2007 to defend his WEC belt. It's hard to say just how successful he would have been in the sport, but it's sad to see him retire after his own demons stifled his MMA career.

Posted in: mma, sport, november, filho, he

CNN to Air Story On Women's MMA Sunday Night

News channel CNN will be airing a story looking inside the world of Women's MMA this Sunday night. The story will be hosted by Amber Lyon, an Emmy-award winning journalist who promises to look at why women step into the cage for little financial reward and recognition. Here's the writeup on it, and you can catch the video preview for it after the jump. Bloody Elbow will be providing a live discussion post for the show Sunday as well. Mixed Martial Arts, or M.M.A., is a full contact combat sport that was once banned in much of the United States. Today, it’s one of the fastest growing sports among men… and now women. But why would any woman climb into a cage for all-out combat for what amounts to almost nothing? CNN’s Amber Lyon steps into the Octagon to find out. "Fighter Girls" is one of four riveting stories airing on CNN Presents hosted by CNN’s Soledad O’Brien and Dr. Sanjay Gupta this Sunday, October 23 at 8:00 pm ET, re-airing at 11:00 pm ET and 2:00 am ET. News channel CNN will be airing a story looking inside the world of Women's MMA this Sunday night. The story will be hosted by Amber Lyon, an Emmy-award winning journalist who promises to look at why women step into the cage for little financial reward and recognition. Here's the writeup on it, and you can catch the video preview for it after the jump. Bloody Elbow will be providing a live discussion post for the show Sunday as well. Mixed Martial Arts, or M.M.A., is a full contact combat sport that was once banned in much of the United States. Today, it’s one of the fastest growing sports among men… and now women. But why would any woman climb into a cage for all-out combat for what amounts to almost nothing? CNN’s Amber Lyon steps into the Octagon to find out. "Fighter Girls" is one of four riveting stories airing on CNN Presents hosted by CNN’s Soledad O’Brien and Dr. Sanjay Gupta this Sunday, October 23 at 8:00 pm ET, re-airing at 11:00 pm ET and 2:00 am ET.

Posted in: mma, women, story, sunday, cnn

M-1 Global Challenge 27: 185,000 viewers

MMA Junkie reports that ratings for M-1 Global Challenge on Showtime Friday night scored an average of 185,000 viewers. The event drew a 0.6 household rating. Via MMA Junkie: The event was the third M-1 Challenge show to air on Showtime. M-1 Challenge 24 drew 189,000 viewers earlier this year, and M-1 Challenge 26 drew 161,000 viewers in July. The three shows now have averaged 178,000 viewers on the premium-cable channel. By comparison, the Strikeforce Challengers series on Showtime has averaged 207,000 viewers per event in 2011. Payout Perspective: Good numbers for the promotion especially with its Friday night time slot. Still lower than Strikeforce Challengers average numbers, but as pointed out by readers, the M-1 average matches Bellator 54. It will be interesting to see what Showtime will do with Ken Hershman leaving for HBO and Zuffa in talks with the network about its future on Showtime. M-1 could be an alternative for Showtime if Zuffa leaves and it decides to remain in the MMA business.

Posted in: mma, event, showtime, challenge, viewer

Heavyweight prospects Mark Ellis and Walt Harris headline ProElite grand prix on HDNet

In conjunction with their new multi-year television deal with HDNet, the resurrected ProElite MMA brand also announced the first round match-ups for their heavyweight grand pix. The eight man heavyweight bracket is set to begin on the undercard of the ProElite Big Guns show on Saturday November 5th in Moline, Iowa. American Kickboxing Academy trained Mark Ellis (1-0) will take on 29 year old Ryan Martinez (5-1) in the marquee pairing of the first round. Ellis is a former NCAA wrestling champ out of the University of Missouri while Martinez has stopped his last three opponents in the first round. 28 year old Alabama fighter Walt Harris (6-2) is another prospect with hype behind him in the field. The 6'4 ex college basketball player, Harris is a big striker with three career first round knockouts on his resume. Harris is paired with 28 year old Arizona fighter Esteves Jones (7-2). The heavyweight tournament is round out by AMA Fight Club's Chris Birchler (1-0) versus Alaskan Jake Heun (1-1) and unbeaten Richard Odoms (5-0)against Illinois' Jason Bosler (3-1). Former UFC heavyweight champions Tim Sylvia (29-7) and Andrei Arlovski (16-9) will headline the HDNet broadcast card in separate bouts. ProElite Big GunsMolina, IA11/5/11Tim Sylvia vs. Andreas KraniotakesAndrei Arlovski vs. Travis FultonHeavyweight Tournament QuarterfinalsMark Ellis (No. 44 ULTMMA50) vs. Ryan MartinezRichard Odoms vs. Jason BoslerJake Heun vs. Chris BirchlerWalter Harris (No. 15 HW) vs. Esteves JonesReagan Penn vs. TBAWaylon Lowe vs. TBATodd Monaghan vs. TBATara LaRosa vs. TBAPress releaseAs announced on last night's LIVE broadcast of "Inside MMA", HDNet unveiled a new, multi-fight, multi-year television deal with the ProElite fight promotion. The network will kick off the new deal with LIVE coverage of "HDNet Fights: ProElite - Big Guns" on November 5 at the iWireless Center in Moline, IL."After watching their first event in Hawaii, I could see ProElite was a great fit for HDNet," said Andrew Simon, CEO of HDNet Fights. "This upcoming card has the perfect mix of marquee names and an innovative, Heavyweight tournament that fight fans won't want to miss!"Former UFC Heavyweight Champions Tim Sylvia and Andrei Arlovski will headline the event in separate bouts while the undercard features an 8-man Heavyweight tournament to identify the up-and coming talent among MMA's heavy hitters!"Our multi-fight agreement with HDNet elevates the ProElite brand to a national MMA audience with a preeminent broadcast partner," said Paul Feller, CEO of ProElite and its parent company, Stratus Media Group. "This platform offers new opportunities for sponsors and advertisers looking to reach this passionate and rapidly growing audience of ProElite fans."HDNet Fights is your home for MMA, featuring extensive coverage of live mixed martial arts events and "Inside MMA," the network's weekly MMA news program, airing every Monday night LIVE on HDNet!About HDNetHDNet (www.hd.net) is the independent network with unique and thought-provoking content that appeals to men of all ages and is delivered in true high definition.HDNet presents exclusive, innovative and original programming, including the network's Emmy Award winning HD news feature programs, "HDNet World Report," and "Dan Rather Reports," featuring legendary journalist Dan Rather.HDNet is your home for MMA, featuring the best of Mixed Martial Arts with its Friday night series, "HDNet Fights" (www.hdnetfights.com). "Inside MMA" is the hottest Mixed Martial Arts program on television, giving fans their weekly fix for everything MMA, while "The Voice Vs...," features Michael Schiavello going one-on-one with some of the biggest names in the sport.HDNet also delivers the world's largest and most diverse concert line-up through "HDNet Concerts," now also presenting LIVE concerts in high definition. HDNet also features revealing lifestyle programming featuring "Art Mann Presents," "Drinking Made Easy," "Deadline" and "Get Out!"Launched in 2001 by Mark Cuban and General Manager Philip Garvin, the HDNet networks are available in the U.S. via AT&T U-verse, Charter, Comcast, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Insight, Suddenlink and Verizon FiOS . The HDNet networks can be followed via Facebook at facebook.com/HDNet, and facebook.com/HDNetFights and via Twitter at twitter.com/hdnet and twitter.com/hdnetfights.ABOUT PROELITEFounded in 2006, ProElite has been a major global force in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA), holding the record for the highest televised broadcast rating of a major network live MMA event. ProElite, based in Los Angeles, California, continues its legacy to hold key domestic and international live MMA events. The company owns U.K. based MMA brand Cage Rage and is a significant stakeholder in Spirit MC in South Korea.www.proelite.comABOUT STRATUS MEDIA GROUPHeadquartered in Santa Barbara, CA, with offices in Los Angeles, California; New York City, NY; Geneva, Switzerland; and Perugia, Italy, Stratus Media Group, Inc. (SMDI) is an owner, operator, developer, producer, and marketer of live entertainment events. In addition, the company owns Stratus Rewards Visa White Card, an ultra-exclusive consumer rewards marketing and redemption program, providing premium redemption benefits to members in the form of VIP event access, luxury trips, private jet travel, luxury automobiles, high-end merchandise and other rewards.www.stratusmediagroup.com www.stratusmotorsports.com www.stratusrewards.com

Posted in: mma, heavyweight, proelite, vs, hdnet

The Business of MMA: MMA Inc, Part One

In the latest edition of our Business of MMA series, we talk to the team that represents Urijah Faber, Joseph Benavidez, Anthony Pettis, and others.

Posted in: mma, business, faber, mma series, benavidez

5 Oz. MMA Link Club

Welcome back to another edition of “MMA Link Club”, Five Ounces of Pain‘s weekly smorgasbord of offerings from our brothers and sisters in the MMA community. This week we’ve offered up a double-dose of MMA-related goodness based on all the excellent material out there to choose from. Enjoy… Rashad Evans Gives Jon Jones His Due (MMATraining.com) A Whole Bunch of Ronda Rousey Goodness (FightLinker.com) BJ Penn Will Fight Five Rounds if Price is Right (MMAFighting.com) Dana White Should Not be the One Leading the Charge in the New Era of MMA (FightOpinion.com) Joe Lauzon Open to Fight with Anthony Pettis (FightLine.com) Anderson Silva Does Full-On Justin Bieber Routine. Seriously. (CagePotato.com) Britney Palmer Photo Spread. The End. (LowKick.com) Georges St. Pierre Says He Cried After Knee Injury Forced Him Out of UFC 137 (MMAMania.com) Dan Hardy Talks Everything from Guns to Ex-Girlfriends (MiddleEasy.com) George Roop Talks Upcoming Fight with Hatsu Hioki (BleacherReport.com) Sizing Up Frankie Edgar (NBCSports.com) CNN to Take Inside Look at Women’s MMA (TheFightNerd.com) Josh Koscheck Wants to Fight Carlos Condit at UFC 137 (Fighters.com) An Update on the Ongoing Litigation Between Bellator and Local Arizona Promotion (MMAPayout.com) Mo Lawal Discusses the Origin of his Problems with Quinton Jackson (MMAConvert.com) Want to Know What Heavyweights Are on UFC Undisputed 3? (5thRound.com) PHOTO CREDIT – UFC/FITNESS GURLS

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, mma community, mmarelated goodness

Asian MMA: Ole Laursen Talks About Developing Thai Talent at the Legacy Gym

This fanpost was promoted to the front page by Anton Tabuena Saengchot Parkaiphet (right) and Robert Lek at the Dare Championship 2/11 weigh in Ole Laursen’s Legacy Gym in Ubon Ratchatani is well off the beaten track and doesn’t go in for a lot of marketing so most readers probably won’t be too familiar with it. It is not a camp which has a huge turnover of tourists because there is little to do there except train.This is just the way that Laursen likes it and he is trying to use it as an environment to develop some top Thai talent. His best student Saengchot Parkaiphet (Nuay) made a successful professional debut at Dare Championship 2/11 recently winning with a submission in the very first round,"Nuay started training MMA a year ago. He saw us traveling for fights, saw the fights on video, watched the UFC and watched us train every day. I sensed he wanted to be a part of it so we got him started and since then he hasn’t missed a session. We’ve had a few other Thai trainers try MMA but Nuay is different because he loves the ground game. He understands the ground game is something you can’t do without in MMA and he embraces it," he said.Nuay made his MMA debut against another Muay Thai fighter but it was his superior ground game which made the difference as he was able to take the fight to the ground, move from side control to mount and finish the fight with an armbar.It was a slick display of grappling which underlined Laursens belief that Nuay could make it in the world of professional MMA, something he feels would be a sensible career move,"MMA is the future, he can only go so far in his village Muay Thai fights and he has had a few hundreds of those now. His striking is gold, his Muay Thai is superb and his ground skills are growing daily. At first when he was being butchered by us all in rolling he was losing heart but then when guys came in his size and he started butchering them he realised that he was actually learning. Once he started and was submitting guys it made him see what he had achieved through training and made him want to train even more." This fanpost was promoted to the front page by Anton Tabuena Saengchot Parkaiphet (right) and Robert Lek at the Dare Championship 2/11 weigh in Ole Laursen’s Legacy Gym in Ubon Ratchatani is well off the beaten track and doesn’t go in for a lot of marketing so most readers probably won’t be too familiar with it. It is not a camp which has a huge turnover of tourists because there is little to do there except train.This is just the way that Laursen likes it and he is trying to use it as an environment to develop some top Thai talent. His best student Saengchot Parkaiphet (Nuay) made a successful professional debut at Dare Championship 2/11 recently winning with a submission in the very first round,"Nuay started training MMA a year ago. He saw us traveling for fights, saw the fights on video, watched the UFC and watched us train every day. I sensed he wanted to be a part of it so we got him started and since then he hasn’t missed a session. We’ve had a few other Thai trainers try MMA but Nuay is different because he loves the ground game. He understands the ground game is something you can’t do without in MMA and he embraces it," he said.Nuay made his MMA debut against another Muay Thai fighter but it was his superior ground game which made the difference as he was able to take the fight to the ground, move from side control to mount and finish the fight with an armbar.It was a slick display of grappling which underlined Laursens belief that Nuay could make it in the world of professional MMA, something he feels would be a sensible career move,"MMA is the future, he can only go so far in his village Muay Thai fights and he has had a few hundreds of those now. His striking is gold, his Muay Thai is superb and his ground skills are growing daily. At first when he was being butchered by us all in rolling he was losing heart but then when guys came in his size and he started butchering them he realised that he was actually learning. Once he started and was submitting guys it made him see what he had achieved through training and made him want to train even more." Ole Laursen submitting BJJ purple belt Eduard Pachu at Martial Combat 1 It is not always easy to make the transition from tapping out training partners to submitting opponents in mixed martial arts but Nuay made it look easy. His opponent at Dare Championship 1/11, Robert Lek from Phuket Top Team, was reported to have been working very hard on his ground game too but Laursen was not surprised to see his student prevail, "To be honest I wasn’t surprised because I see in Nuay a love and dedication during our training that I don’t see in many. I knew he had trained hard and I was sure that Nuay’s opponent did not train as hard and was sure that his ground game was not on Nuay’s level. The funny thing is Nuay wanted to win by armbar, when he got the mount we were all screaming out for ground and pound but he wanted to show off his newly gained ground skills and he did just that."Dare Championship make a big deal of fighters entrances with lengthy introductions and walk ins which are accompanied by strobe lights and ear splitting heavy metal music. It is in sharp contrast to Muay Thai where the protagonists are expected to sit quietly besides the ring while they wait for the preceding fight to finish but Laursen thinks this is something fighters will quickly become accustomed to,"It’s definitely something new for them. The Thais that come from Muay Thai background are not very comfortable with the western style showmanship but they do show they own style. They have charisma and add something new to the game and I’m sure that Muay Thai fans worldwide will stop and follow the progress of the Thais entering MMA."Nuay made his MMA debut on September 24th, less than a month ago, and has already had three Muay Thai fights since then. After more than 200 professional fights he has a familiarity with fighting that most mixed martial artists could never contemplate and if he can take some of this confidence and composure into the cage he could be destined for a fantastic career in mixed martial arts.The latest news from Laursen himself is that he is back in training and well on the road to recovery after the knee injury which prevented him from appearing at One Fighting Championship 1.After over a year on the sidelines he is desperate to be a part of the promotion which is rapidly emerging as the biggest in Asia and Laursen is likely to be back in action in early 2012 with a big announcement from One FC reportedly imminent.For all the latest on Ole Laursen and the fighters at the Legacy Gym sign up to his fanpage on Facebook.

Posted in: fight, mma, ground, thai, laursen

Fellow grappler, David Mamet, speaks out in favor of legalizing MMA in New York

[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on DstryrSG, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] Below is a re-print of an article written by David Mamet for the New York Post published yesterday, October 18, 2011. If you aren't aware, Mamet is a Pulitzer Prize winning playwright as well as a BJJ brown belt under my coach, Renato Magno. I've known him for years as a teammate. Mamet is also a strong advocate of MMA, as evidenced by his eloquent and thought provoking words below in favor of the legalization of MMA in New York. There are some complex thoughts in his words, but don't be intimidated, grapplers. You can do this. Think of it as a challenge. I expect a 2-page report by tomorrow. No cheating. Read More...

Posted in: mma, york, mamet, challenge i, york post

Watch the final EA MMA Live Broadcast tonight!

I didn't completely realize until I sat down to write this, but for all intents and purposes, this is the last EA MMA article on MiddleEasy.com. It feels strange and it hurts. This game has been a huge part of our lives here at MiddleEasy, especially for me personally. Back in 2009 the second article I ever wrote for the site was about a hypothetical EA MMA roster. The first time I met Zeus and Bauzen in person was immediately after the game was revealed at Fedor vs. Rogers, and I can tell you exactly where I was the moment I found out EA was going to put the MiddleEasy shirt and my name into the game (a scary bridge in Hawaii). Not to mention all the great times we had on the 37 Sunday Night Fights cards and post event Saturday nights. Hundreds of you guys joined up and played and I will be honest, I loved every minute of it. Yep, even with RushStPierre. I don't mean to get sappy, but very real friendships were made and sustained because of this game and our community, and that transcends, man. That transcends. Tonight is the final EA MMA Live Broadcast, one last time to go out there, put on a show, and most importantly, decide the winners of the Rise To Greatness tournament. Tonight the greatest EA MMA player will be crowned live. MiddleEasy's Sunday Night Fights is represented throughout the undercard by BrothaLynch (aka WhiteBoy Cnote, the only known Gerald Harris expert), Liquidswords who you guys may know lovingly in the comment section as "Jonesy", SNF regular and master belt holder AghastEagle and of course Tha Premiere. Aghast and Jonesy will be resolving a long brooding feud on Sunday Night Fights at welterweight, Brotha Lynch is fighting a dude named "Bladeflyer" and Tha Premiere is getting a rematch against the former MiddleEasy champion RushStPierre. God please let Premiere win. I was able to nab a couple quotes from Brotha Lynch regarding his fight. "Since Sweetness59 was too scared to fight me, They have now thrown me in against my arch rival BladeFlyer94 for my last fight on the EA MMA live broadcast, I promise I will make this an epic fight, Win, Lose or Draw, I will be fighting with my Middleeasy spirit. I'm not here for the trash talk like that bum "Therushstpierre" because I respect Bladeflyer94, But I plan on putting him to sleep! I have done it before..." Things promise to be just as wild from Jonesy and Aghast, and if you want to know about the RushStPierre/Premiere feud, Tweet at Gary LaPlante, the guy loathes Rush more than anyone. Now, on to the finals. Mr NRG and Smoke em will determine the greatest EA MMA player ever on Xbox 360, and AzgaardWarrior and Toyooka will go at it on the PS3. Those fighters will be having a mini tournament throughout the Live Broadcast, fighting in each weight class once (or first to 3 wins). But wait, there's more. In a surprise bout, Fritz and Dickerman, the goofy announcers who have talked our way though the last year of Live Broadcasts will finally be settling a matter of diction in the ring. Bungalows will be thrown. Scores will be settled. So, this is it. Stop on by at 8pm est and watch the final EA MMA Live Broadcast because we are never doing this again. Click below to join the chat room, or if you don't like other people you can just watch below if I figure out how to embed it in time.

Posted in: fight, mma, broadcast, ea, ea mma

Bellator 54: 185,000 viewers

MMA Junkie reports that Bellator 54 on MTV2 received an average of 185,000 viewers. Running unopposed a UFC card helped the promotion increase viewership by 80% between Bellator 53 and 54. Via MMA Junkie: Once again, the latest ratings continue the organization’s wildly inconsistent season-five numbers; two events have scored at least 235,000 viewers, and three have drawn 158,000 or fewer. A replay earned an average of 116,000 viewers. Payout Perspective: A nice bounce back from 53′s 103,000 average a week ago. As MMA Junkie points out, Bellator’s ratings have been across the board and its hard to find a pattern. But, we may argue that the numbers reflect the fact that Bellator can draw a decent audience when its not running up against the UFC. This begs the question as to if Bellator should move to another night. Moving the time slot on Saturday could be another option but that could draw confusion. Bjorn Rebney indicated that he would be open to such a move in 2012. But, this week Bellator 55 runs unopposed (on TV that is) so we should see another solid ratings week.

Posted in: bellator, mma, viewer, time slot, junkie

K-1 and MMA

Zach Arnold over at FightOpinion.com has got a solid piece up on what appears to be the impending demise of K-1, the once-great Japanese promotion responsible for organizing some of the greatest striking-only tournaments in the world. The company behind the promotion, the Fighting and Entertainment Group (FEG), is struggling, and maybe there are buyers out there waiting to swoop in or maybe there aren’t. The bottom line is K-1 is in trouble. “K-what?” you may ask? Yeah, that’s the problem. In the U.S., K-1 never really got that big. But it was huge in Japan, and in other parts of the world where kickboxing is the equivalent of what Western boxing is here in terms of acceptance and popularity. “Okay, but what does K-1 have to do with the sport of mixed martial arts?” you may ask? Aside from the organization’s brief and sometimes comical forays into MMA (Royce Gracie versus sumo wrestler Akebono Taro, anyone?), K-1 has always been the stand-up fighting equivalent of the Abu Dhabi submission wrestling tournament, i.e., the place where the elite compete in an important facet of mixed martial arts. When someone steps into the Octagon and Joe Rogan says they’re an Abu Dhabi champ, you just know they’re a badass on the ground; conversely, if Rogan says they’re a K-1 champ, the general rule is DO NOT MESS WITH THEM ON THE FEET. Seriously, with fighters having to get through regional tournaments to even get a whiff of competing in the World Grand Prix, and the World Grand Prix featuring the absolute best of the best… well, let’s just say to excel you have to be really durable and really good. Still unconvinced of the link between K-1 and MMA, and why you should care that K-1 might go the way of the dinosaur? Then consider the following “links” between K-1 and the MMA world. -Mirko “Crocop” Filipovic – What, did you think Crocop purchased those devastating high-kicks at Walmart? No! While the Croatian kickboxer never actually won a grand prix per se, he at various times smoked those who were considered the best guys (like Jerome Le Banner, Mike Bernardo and Peter Aerts), and when he lost, it was usually because he was nursing an injury sustained from destroying someone just prior. Such performances gained him entry into PRIDE and the MMA world, and with a pretty damn good knack for avoiding takedowns (or avoiding trouble on the ground), he soon became one of the most feared fighters on PRIDE’s roster and eventual champion. -Alistair Overeem – A true renaissance man when it comes to combat sports, Overeem has seen success both in the realm of MMA and K-1, winning titles in both. And sure, maybe being bitten by a radioactive horse gave him superpowers, but you can’t take away from the fact that he has great technical skill – skill that’s enabled him to defeat the likes of Aerts and Tyrone Spong in K-1 and Todd Duffee and Kazuyuki Fujita in mixed martial arts. -Semmy Schilt – Schilt only fought in the UFC twice, dropping Pete Williams with kicks from all the way across the cage and falling to Josh Barnett after that, but he was hella experienced when it came to the Japanese organization Pancrase, and he was always good for an entertaining ass-kicking in PRIDE (sometimes given, sometimes received). However, when it came to K-1, he was an absolute monster. Seriously, at about eleven-feet tall, he could land strikes from other zip codes. He’s won four K-1 grand prix tournaments, and Dutch mothers alternate between telling kids that he’s a hero that they should aspire to and a demon that will steal their souls if they’re bad. -Maurice Smith – If your first exposure to the UFC was on SpikeTV, you’re going to have no idea who this guy is, so let me give you a history lesson, son. Once upon a time a human bulldozer named Mark Coleman ruled the Octagon, and the order of the day was that no kickboxer ever stood a chance against a wrestler, let alone a wrestler like Coleman. Then came Smith, who was one of the best Americans to ever compete in K-1 (he never won a grand prix, but he did well enough). Smith weathered Coleman’s storm on the ground, escaped back to the feet and picked him apart – establishing that, with the right training, a deadly striker could succeed at mixed martial arts. -Bob Sapp – By virtue of being a gigantic human being and ex-NFL player, Sapp saw some success in his early K-1 career. Which was aggravating, because he was taking out K-1 superstars with relatively little training and skill. He’s gone winless since 2005, which is right about when everyone figured out he’s good for one bumrush before his lungs explode. But the dude who had a legendary fight against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in PRIDE deserves at least some recognition for his K-1 accomplishments.

Posted in: world, mma, pride, prix, ’re

Pro MMA Radio 169: Scott Jorgensen & Danny Downes

We have partnered with Pro MMA Radio to bring you weekly replays of PMR as the official radio show of MMAConvert.com. Pro MMA Radio can be heard live every Monday evening at 9PM ET/6PM PT. Replays and podcasts of every show are available 24/7 by going to the “Replay Corner” section of ProMMARadio.com, our own Pro MMA Radio page or by clicking the banner below. On this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio, Scott Jorgensen and Danny Downes stopped by to talk to host Larry Pepe about their upcoming fights at UFC 137. Scott Jorgensen will take on Jeff Curran while Danny Downes will meet Ramsey Nijem. You can listen to a replay of this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio by clicking the banner below. A radio player with links to the show’s archives will open in a pop-up window, so please make sure your browser is set to allow pop-ups for this site.

Posted in: mma, replay, radio, mma radio, danny downes

ProElite announces multi-fight broadcast deal with HDNet

LOS ANGELES, CA (October 18, 2011) ProElite, Inc. (PK.PELE), a subsidiary of Stratus Media Group, Inc. (OTCBB:SMDI) today announced it has signed a new, multi-fight, multi-year television deal, unveiled on last night's LIVE broadcast of "Inside MMA". The fight promotions company will air LIVE coverage of "HDNet Fights: ProElite - Big Guns" on November 5 at the iWireless Center in Moline, IL. "After watching their first event in Hawaii, I could see ProElite was a great fit for HDNet," said Andrew Simon, CEO of HDNet Fights. "This upcoming card has the perfect mix of marquee names and an innovative Heavyweight tournament that fight fans won't want to miss!" Former UFC Heavyweight Champions Tim Sylvia and Andrei Arlovski will headline the event in separate bouts in addition to an 8-man heavyweight tournament to identify the up-and-coming talent among MMA's heavy hitters. "Our multi-fight agreement with HDNet elevates the ProElite brand to a national MMA audience with a preeminent broadcast partner," said Paul Feller, President and CEO of Stratus Media Group and Chairman of ProElite. "This strategic partnership offers new opportunities for corporate sponsors and advertisers looking to reach this passionate and rapidly growing audience of ProElite fans." ProElite will soon announce its full fight card, which will include some of Quad Cities favorite fighters and emerging MMA talent. Tickets are now on sale at the iWireless Center box office and on ticketmaster.com.

Posted in: fight, mma, proelite, hdnet, television deal

It’s true, Jorge Santiago has been cut from the UFC

Let me be the first to say if Jorge Santiago fought Misaki for the rest of his MMA career, I would be perfectly fine with it. We don't need belts, just headline the seventeen One FC cards with Misaki vs. Santiago. That's all I'm asking. After grabbing his second L in the UFC in 2011, multiple sources are reporting that Jorge Santiago has been released from his UFC contract for the second time in his career. It's tough to find a reason why one of the top middleweights in MMA just can't grab a win in the UFC. You could say that Japanese MMA is just incapable of operating within the North American continent. It's a puzzling thing, really. In fact, it makes you wonder if American MMA will function in Japan for UFC's upcoming card in the Saitama Super Arena in 2012. In honor of Jorge Santiago, it's only right that we post a highlight of one of the greatest fights of 2010. A fight that reportedly took Misaki on the brink of death. [Source]

Posted in: ufc, mma, jorge, jorge santiago, santiago

Now playing: Pro MMA Radio featuring Scott Jorgensen and Danny Downes

Pro MMA Radio returns TONIGHT (Oct. 17, 2011) at 9 p.m. ET right here on MMAmania.com featuring UFC bantamweight Scott Jorgensen and lightweight Danny Downes, both of whom fight at UFC 137: "St. Pierre vs. Condit" on Oct. 29 in Las Vegas. Hosted by Larry Pepe, Pro MMA Radio is professional, guest-driven program that features some of mixed martial arts biggest names right here on MMAmania.com every Monday night through our exclusive live feed. Live feed begins tonight at 9 p.m. ET after the jump. Click the banner below or right here to listen to Pro MMA Radio. For more on UFC 137 click here.

Posted in: ufc, mma, radio, mma radio, danny downes

Inside MMA Live Discussion and Commentary Post

Welcome to the very first Inside MMA discussion post. I know what you're thinking, "Matt, why are you holding an open post for Inside MMA?" Well children, besides the fact that this is the very first time the show has ever aired live, it also special because host Bas Rutten is rumored to breakdown and totally destroy the SB Nation/USA Today rankings. The very rankings that I am an esteemed balloter. There isn't any word on if he'll name names, but if he did, I expect him to call out Subo and possibly Jesse Holland. I'm hoping he mentions me and how great I am. Because we all know I am great. The team of Kenny Rice and Rutten will be joined in studio by UFC light heavyweight contender Phil Davis and Matt Hume, and will be joined via satellite by Frank Mir and Roy Nelson. There is also supposed to be a major signing by an HDNet organization which has me amped. It airs at 8:00 p.m. ET and 5:00 p.m. PT only on HDNet. If you don't have HD Net please don't ask for streams, I don't want to police a fun night of Rutten calling Subo out on not knowing anything about the bantam and featherweight divisions.

Posted in: mma, post, kenny rice, hdnet organization, fun night

TWIQ: MMA Quotes for the Week of October 9 - 15

CHAEL BAIT "Let's see what the big boss is going to do." - Brazilian supermanager Ed Soares, with a line I like to use in the bedroom. (SporTV) "My opinion is that he had his chance and tapped, he should go back to the end of the line. " - Soares, on Chael Sonnen. I wonder if this "back of the line" business applies to Lyoto Machida, 1-2 in his last 3 fights and a title shot on the horizon? "We should recognize that Anderson only has around 4 fights left in his career." - Soares. Fool me once, Ed... THE WEEK IN CHAEL "I got tunnel vision. I'm after the belt. Period. I'm not making any apologies or qualms about it." - Chael Sonnen (Studio MMA) "And the rest of the cowards in the back that just want to get their faces on TV and don't want to carry any heavy water, I've got no time for those guys. All of them. Every damn one of them that isn't named Chael Sonnen is nothing but a coward." - Sonnen, water-carrier. "When you're the greatest fighter in the world the day they've got a name for you. They don't call you a great fighter, they call you Chael Sonnen." - Sonnen. And if you're the worst fighter in the world, they call you Jason Reinhardt. SUMMERING IN CROATIA "You can tell by his face that the man is slow, that he is stupid and has the IQ of a child's shoe size." - Mirko Filipovic, on Chael Sonnen. European or American shoe size? (Some Croatian show that's on Youtube) "Is he crazy? Obviously he is, but I'm not mad at him. It's just as I can't get mad at my eight month old son Filip." - Filipovic. Filip Filipovic? "That man holds a PhD in idiocy. I'm only sorry that he is missing like 30 pounds because I would beat his ass so bad he would multiply three times." - Filipovic. Three Chael Sonnens? Make the match, Dana! "One day I'm hoping to see him summering in Croatia, so I can iron his ass, so steam can shoot out his pompous ass." - Filipovic. "Right leg, hospital; left leg, cemetery" this is not. BACK, BACK, BACK...NOT GONE? "As I ramped up my training for UFC 141 my body locked up during training. It wasn't like the Lesnar fight but my back just tightened up and I froze." - Shane Carwin. I believe there's a [sic] that belongs in there, yes? (Shane-Carwin.net) "I scheduled an MRI and the results showed that my disc in my lower back is into the nerves." - Carwin. That disc doubles as the Bloody Elbow web servers. "My doctor gave me two options; retire and I could probably go on for a few years without surgery or I could undergo surgery and continue my career." - Carwin. And at 36 years of age with a history of back/neck issues and a steady career to fall back on, Carwin called it quits. "I am scheduling surgery and I hope to return to the Octagon by spring or summer 2012." - Carwin. Well then. All jokes aside, good luck, but this seems doomed. WHITE NOISE "And believe me, I will [expletive] die before I let this not happen." - UFC President Dana White, on the recently announced Arrested Development season and movie. (MMA Junkie) "I told him that. 'Dude, you're the unluckiest guy I've ever met.'" - White. But the Dude abides? (USA Today) "We've only been around ten years, Bob's been promoting fights for 120 years." - White, on Bob Arum. (MMA Weekly) "The people from Bellator have never said anything about us. I have nothing to say about them either." - White, echoing the thoughts of the MMA media. (MMA Weekly) PARTING SHOTS "I think if Vince McMahon and I were able to sit down at the same dinner table and break some bread that we could come up with some kind of gameplan." - Brock Lesnar (ESPN) "He'll enter with the label of being a prodigy, but I'll be stronger because of that." - Lyoto Machdia, rehashing quotes from 2005. (Sherdog) "What are they going to do, all they all going to keep beating each other up and then having another shot at him?" - Michael Bisping, on the welterweight division. (Fighters Only) "In the three bouts I lost, I felt like I could've won. But the win somehow eluded me. I felt I could do it. I had chances, but God's will was different." - Fedor Emelianenko. GOD HATES FEODR. (RT.com) "[It was] just kind of trying to finish it with one big shot. You need to learn those lessons. You need to learn those lessons early on." - Greg Jackson, on Melvin Guillard's performance against Joe Lauzon. Melvin has over 40 pro fights. It's a little late to be learning lessons. (Sherdog) "I think there’s one guy on earth right now that I would look at and say to myself, ‘He could beat Hector.’ His name is Anderson Silva." - Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney, on Hector Lombard. His name is also "Gegard Mousasi" and "Akihiro Gono." (Sherdog)

Posted in: fight, mma, sonnen, chael, filipovic

MMA Nation's Jonathan Snowden takes a look at Thomas Gerbasi's UFC Encyclopedia. Find out what the...

MMA Nation's Jonathan Snowden takes a look at Thomas Gerbasi's UFC Encyclopedia. Find out what the author of the MMA Encyclopedia had to say!

Posted in: ufc, mma, snowden, encyclopedia, mma encyclopedia

Inside MMA Moves to Monday Timeslot on HDNet

HDNet’s original MMA news program, Inside MMA, is set to make a move from its Friday night timeslot to Mondays.

Posted in: mma, monday, hdnet, mma moves, monday timeslot

One fan's view: Why Chael Sonnen doesn't deserve Anderson Silva on Super Bowl weekend

FanPost edited and promoted by MMAmania.com Some people call him a genius, a master in the art of baiting opponents and engaging fans to either watch him win or watch him get his comeuppance, but most people watch him. That was until he fought Brian Stann and the long-term fans of MMA remembered that without the insults and controversy, Chael Sonnen is just a wrestler who trains his strengths and makes strides towards becoming a well-rounded fighter. No more, no less. Sonnen turned in a dominant performance at UFC 136 against what I believe was a mediocre fighter with heavy hands, but that wasn't enough. What separates MMA from other sports is the sportsmanship. It's the respect that a fighter who dedicates his life to stepping in a cage in front of millions of people and fighting another man one-on-one has for the man who has done the same thing to get in there and do the same thing. Chael Sonnen has thrown that out to talk his way into another title shot It is one thing to appear racist, it's another thing to be convicted of a felony then brag "that's all i got caught for," or to test positive for performance enhancers and then get caught in a web of lies afterwards. Sonnen decided that wasn't enough and he was going to talk about putting his hands on Anderson Silva's wife, doing what no man, competitive or not, should ever do. I keep reading these pieces online about Silva ducking Sonnen, a man he beat at UFC 117 on what could have been his worst day, and Sonnen's best day. I think Silva knows one thing through all of this, nobody cares about Chael Sonnen unless Silva is involved. There was little fanfare when Sonnen fought ANYONE else, with perhaps the exception of Paulo Filho, only because Sonnen's controversy about phantom tapping in the first match and the then-unstoppable Filho seemingly checked out of reality for the second. Silva owes Sonnen nothing. For the lines he has crossed both professionally and personally, Silva doesn't owe him another fight or even an acknowledgement of his existence. Anderson Silva is a fighter who fights the best in the world. Regardless of what his record is, that's what he does. He has the quality that makes an MMA fighter an MMA fighter, the lack of fear to fight another man. He did not get to where he is just by hand picking opponents and having fear in him that someone might beat him up. Fear has nothing to do with this equation, power does. When Anderson eventually accepts the fight with Sonnen, he will be doing him an enormous favor, both financially and professionally, and he knows it. I, for one, hope he makes Chael earn his title shot like everyone else, because if threats against spouses and testosterone injections are what it takes to earn a title shot, MMA is headed in a direction that will alienate a lot of its original fans.

Posted in: sonnen, silva, fighter, man, mma

HDNet's 'Inside MMA' moves to live Monday-night time slot beginning tonight

HDNet's weekly MMA news show, "Inside MMA," makes a permanent move to a Monday time slot starting tonight. Additionally, the long-running program now airs live. Tonight's first Monday episode airs at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT) with guests Phil Davis, Roy Nelson, Frank Mir and Matt Hume.

Posted in: mma, move, slot, longrunning program, mma moves

MMA on TV

Posted in: mma, replay, pm, mavtv, spiketv

The MMA Hour With Rich Franklin, Matt Mitrione, Brandon Vera, Ken Pavia

Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosThe MMA Hour is back in your life on Monday for our 104th show. Here's a list of who will be stopping by: * Former middleweight turned light heavyweight Rich Franklin will talk about his recent shoulder surgery and what's next for him. * UFC light heavyweight Brandon Vera will discuss his UFC 137 fight against Eliot Marshall. * Heavyweight Matt Mitrione will return for another installment of "The Mitrione Minute." * MMA agent turned entrepreneur Ken Pavia will talk about selling his MMA agency and teaming up with Takedown Fight Media. * And MMA Fighting's Ben Fowlkes will dissect the news making headlines around the MMA world. Of course, we'll be taking your calls. Give us a shout at: 212-254-0193, 212-254-0237 or 212-254-0714. *** You can also stream the show live on your iPhone or iPad by clicking here. Watch the replay below. Subscribe to The MMA Hour on iTunes: audio feed here; video feed here. Download previous episodes here. Listen to the show via Stitcher here. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mma, show, mma hour, heavyweight, show heres

Vancouver loses UFC in 2012

MMA Fighting and TSN report that Vancouver is likely out of the UFC’s rotation of events for 2012. It announced 2012 events in Montreal and Toronto and another “surprise” Canadian city according to UFC’s director of operations Tom Wright. Wright indicated that the lack of regulatory movement, not financial success was the reason that it would not return in 2012. Via MMA Fighting: The shows certainly weren’t financial failures. 2010′s UFC 115 did a $4.2 million gate, while UFC 131, held this past June, drew a $2.8 million gate. Instead, the problem is regulatory stalling. Both of the UFC’s events were held during a two-year test period held by the city after overturning a previous ban on MMA. That test period will end in the coming months and apparently, the prospects of sanctioned MMA will go with it. Via TSN: “And the disappointing thing for our sport is that after a two-year test period, they’ve had two tests — ours,” Wright said Wednesday. “Because no other promotion could afford the indemnification or the insurance costs or the other things — or actually have the perseverance to get an event to be held there. Payout Perspective: A disappointment to MMA fans in the Pacific Northwest. Last June’s event was set to be the return of Brock Lesnar. Unfortunately, due to Lesnar’s health issues, Lesnar’s late scratch likely affected the attendance for the show (yet, it still did pretty well). Taking Vancouver off of the schedule is a sign for the need of uniform regulation in Canada. This is something the UFC has lobbied for in Ottawa. Bloody Elbow was critical of Vancouver for granting the UFC the opportunity to hold events in its city but not doing anything to ensure a lasting relationship with the sport of MMA. BE argues that Vancouver officials made unreasonable monetary requests of the UFC to cover for insurance, extra police security, etc. while not creating laws which would regulate the sport in the province. Certainly, this would be the UFC’s point of view as well. Notwithstanding Vancouver’s loss, there are other Canadian cities more than willing to hold a UFC event and work with the UFC regarding regulating MMA. For Pacific Northwest MMA fans, perhaps Seattle will be a new destination for a UFC PPV. It had the highest attendance for a UFC Fight Night and the Seattle media embraced the sport. With the Key Arena dormant except the random concert and the WNBA’s Storm in the summer, Seattle has a great venue to house the sport.

Posted in: ufc, mma, sport, event, vancouver

Luke Thomas hosts MMA Nation radio tonight on 106.7 the Fan in Washington D.C. from 9 to 11 p.m....

Luke Thomas hosts MMA Nation radio tonight on 106.7 the Fan in Washington D.C. from 9 to 11 p.m. tonight. He'll be joined by Bellator champ Zach Makovsky And Yahoo!'s Kevin Iole. How to Listen If you're in Washington, D.C. tune your radio dial to 106.7 FM To stream over the Internet, 106.7 on Radio.com Mobile devices - Cherry Player App for Droid or AOL Radio App for iPhone For a look inside the studio, On ustream.tv How to Interact Call the show TOLL FREE: 1-800-636-1067 Register at MMA Nation and leave a comment luke.thomas@sbnation.com @SBNLukeThomas facebook.com/MMANationDotCom

Posted in: mma, radio, nation, washington dc, dc

The Sunday Morning Rumor Mill

The Sunday Morning Rumor Mill would have arrived a few hours if it were not for a hand injury that I sustained while playing Halo: Reach last night. It's an aggravation from a previous hand injury that happened a few years ago shortly after Halo 3 was released. Fortunately, my buds over at NeoCell claim their supplement company will genetically repair my hand through the use of impossibly to comprehend technology, collagen and some type of amino acids. When my order arrives, I'll evaluate if it does in fact repair my hand injury. In the meantime, you guys will just have to deal with a Zeus that has been placed on 'injured reserve.' I'll still write, but understand that I'm doing it with an injury -- and I need my performance enhancing substances. Now on to the Sunday Morning Rumor Mill. Although MiddleEassy is an MMA site, what's currently going down in the K-1 world is jarring to say the least. Check out LiverKick.com for all the info, including a report that K-1 is only accepting fighters into the K-1 GP if they accept to only receive half of what FEG owes them. It hasn't been announced by ZUFFA, but as of right now it's 99.9% confirmed that Tim Kennedy is headed to the UFC. As of now, it appears the FX, Fuel TV and FOX will not accept MMA programming pitch ideas that aren't UFC-centric. According to Tommy Messano, it appears Strikeforce is still being used in the ShoSports highlights which showcases the network's sports properties. If you're into recreating your own Pride FC 'freak show' matches, UFC Undisputed 3 may surprise you with some undisclosed heavyweight fighters in their roster. ProElite already seems to be taking shots at UFC by calling it 'Your father's MMA' while ProElite 2.0 is a 'hip alternative.' It's not a rumor anymore, but it appears XARM will be using Jersey's Shores production team for their imminent return into the combat sports scene. A few (including FrontRowBrian) have claimed Brock Lesnar has a scar on his neck in the new WWE 12 promo that is indicative of a surgical neck procedure. Dodge wil be the primary sponsor for UFC on FOX. Lou DiBella is apparently one of the candidates that is being considered to replace former Showtime Sports head, Ken Hershman. Judging from a recent tweet by Lou, if this transition does occur, MMA on Showtime has little to no chance of surviving. Still no word on if Anderson Silva signed the contract to rematch Chael Sonnen. Chuck Zito was offered a fight with Kimbo Slice on Elite XC before Ken Shamrock stepped in. Earlier this week, Lorenzo Fertitta stated the UFC attempted to work with various cancer charities but was turned down. One FC has venues and dates selected for the next eight MMA events, up until late 2012. UFC felt they were 'alienating' the West Coast audience, which was the main reason of pushing back the UFC PPV times. Judging by Vinny Magalhaes' Facebook page, something happened between his win this past Friday and now. It appears Vinny may no longer be with M-1 Global.

Posted in: ufc, mma, hand injury, injury, rumor

O'Neil Surprises Davis, Palomino Spoils Berto's Return at W-1 MMA

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Heavily-favored Marcus Davis found himself up against a true challenge for the first time since his UFC departure, as former “Ultimate Fighter” Season 13 alum Chuck O’Neil shocked his fellow Octagon veteran with a split decision victory in the main event of Warrior-1 MMA 7 “Reloaded” Saturday night at the BankUnited Center in Coral Gables, Fla.

Posted in: mma, davi, bankunited center, gable, ufc departure

Former UFC fighter Joe Stevenson signs with W-1, set to make debut in Feb.

"Daddy's" back. After losing four fights in a row, Joe Stevenson was cut from the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) roster earlier this year. Tonight (Oct. 15, 2011), during the W-1 MMA: "Reloaded" broadcast, it was announced that Stevenson would be making his return to the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) by joining the Warrior MMA roster. Stevenson was on hand in the broadcast booth to help with the color commentary, as well as to divulge that he plans to make his return sometime in February of 2012. No word yet on who Stevenson's opponent will be. After a tumultuous last several years in the lightweight division, Stevenson made the move to the 145-pound division when he fought Javier Vazquez at UFC on Versus 4 on June 26 in Pittsburgh, Penn. The fight was seen by many to be Stevenson's last chance to stay employed by Zuffa. After a less than stellar losing effort, Stevenson was immediately released. Stevenson, a veteran fighter, has appeared in 45 MMA bouts and has been involved in the UFC "Fight of the Night" on three separate occasions. What do you think, Maniacs? Does "Daddy" know best or should he have hung up the gloves? Are you interested in seeing if he's still got any gas left in the tank?

Posted in: ufc, mma, stevenson, color commentary, joe stevenson

W-1 MMA Reloaded Live Results and Commentary

Join us tonight at 8 PM ET for W-1 MMA Reloaded, taking place at the BankUnited Center in Coral Gables, Florida. In the main event of the evening, UFC veteran Marcus Davis will aim to extend his winning streak to three as he battles The Ultimate Fighter 13 contestant Chuck O'Neil. James Edson Berto, Luis Palomino, Nathan Coy, and Kim Couture will also appear on the card. W-1 MMA Reloaded is available through GFL.tv for $9.99. Click here to order and join in on the action. Otherwise, join our discussion and follow the live results and play-by-play right here at BloodyElbow.com. As always, follow me (@lelandroling) for instant analysis. W-1 MMA Reloaded - October 15, 2011BankUnited Center, Coral Gables, FloridaMarcus Davis vs. Chuck O'NeilEdson Berto vs. Luis PalominoSabah Homasi vs. John ManleyAllen Arzeno vs. Tom WatersNathan Coy vs. Patrick MikeszBruno Reis Da Maria vs. Kenny MossJoseph Watson vs. Frank CarrilloKim Couture vs. Suzie MonteroGiovanni Brugnoni vs. James WynnMichael Trujillo vs. Eric RaposoAnthony Garavito vs. Davaun McKoy

Posted in: mma, vs, order &nbsp, tom watersnathan, luis palomino

Matt Hume talks Asian MMA and a possible move to flyweight for Demetrious Johnson

Matt Hume is best known in the US as the MMA mastermind trainer behind such top caliber fighters as Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix finalist Josh Barnett, former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin and UFC bantamweight contender Demetrious Johnson.He is also a recognizable figure on the Asian scene as the former head official for PRIDE Fighting Championship, the rules director for DREAM Fighting Championship and the head official for the recently formed ONE Fighting Championship. In short, he's kind of a big deal.He took time out to talk exclusively to MMA Mania about why he thinks Johnson came up short in his recent title shot, his involvement with One FC and the future for Asian MMA. What were your thoughts on Demetrious Johnson's recent loss, were you surprised by how the fight went? I feel DJ could have won the fight convincingly if he would have stuck to the game plan. DJ had a strong advantage on the feet but made bad choices to engage in wrestling and stay in clinches where he lost the fight. Had he stuck to the game plan and advice given between rounds, he would not have been in those positions and would have played to his advantage. He learned a lesson the hard way this time and will mature and be a much better fighter from the experience. Johnson looks small for a bantamweight. Could he drop down to 125-pounds and is this something you have discussed with the UFC? He is a natural 125 and fought most of his career at 125. He only went to135 to be in WEC and UFC because they don't have a 125 division. If UFC brings the 125 division in in the future we will consider dropping him to that division, but for now he is a 135 pounder. What did you think of the first One FC show? Great first event and huge potential! You were in charge of implementing One FC's rules and scoring, how do you think they worked? I thought they worked great. Were there any fighters on that card who particularly impressed you? Many of the fighters had individual aspects of their game that were impressive but they were already known to be great in those areas. What impresses me is when guys show skill outside of the area that they are already known to be good in. Eddie Ng showed great poise in danger and killer instinct when the time was right. Yodsanan showed that he is developing his ground game and wont have to rely on his great boxing and Muay Thai. Colossa impressed me with his power and Muay Thai skill, he was already skilled in Muay Thai but I had never seen it first hand. Rahman is very green but showed big heart and poise in front of his home town with major pressure for a young kid in his first bout. Zoro's elbows and Muay Thai are vastly improved and he didn't ever try to rely on his killer ground game. Eric Kelly showed a slick ground game with killer instinct. Eduard Foyalang is well rounded and tough, with a huge heart. Those guys impressed me for those reasons, as well as some of the other fighters who showed skill and poise well beyond the skill level they were expected to be at. The level of Asian MMA is coming up quickly! Were you surprised by how many people were there? I had an idea that it was going to packed because I followed the promotion/marketing of the event and kept up on ticket sales. I have been to Singapore before and to Evolve, so I wasn't really surprised with the success. Are you going to be involved in any more One FC shows? For sure!You've been involved in a lot of MMA shows including Pride, Dream the UFC. How much potential does One FC have and how excited are you about it? I think the timing right now is great for ONE FC and it is focusing in the right market. It has great potential and I'm excited to be involved with it from the opening bell! You've also spent time with Rich Franklin at Evolve MMA, what did you think of that facility, were you impressed? The facility is very nice, but what is most impressive are the people. The instructors are world class and the students are class. it is a very positive atmosphere regardless of your goals or lack of goals and a fun place to hang out. There are no egos, just nice people and awesome instructors. You've been involved in the Asian MMA scene for a long time, how do you view the state of Asian MMA and what are your thoughts on the future of Asian MMA? Asia is a huge place with vastly differing cultures depending on where you are in Asia. Some places will blow up and accept MMA other may not. I think the countries that had fighters on the last ONE FC event will grow very quickly in their fan base, some already have. Obviously Singapore is a great new MMA market, I think that Thailand, Phillipines, Korea, China, Taiwan and India have cultures and emerging fighters that will see growth of their fan base, I'm sure others will follow as well. Japan already has a huge base and will return to glory in the future as the surrounding Asian countries bring competition. Matt Hume is the owner and head trainer at AMC Kickboxing and Pankration. For more information visit: www.pankration.com

Posted in: mma, fighter, .&nbsp, fc, asian

Bryan Baker hoping for more than finals berth with Bellator 54 win (MMAJunkie.com)

You can guess why Bryan Baker (16-2 MMA, 6-1 BFC) is rooting for Alexander Shlemenko (41-7 MMA, 5-1 BFC).

Posted in: bryan baker, bfc, mma, bryan, finals berth

Inside MMA: Carlos Condit, Mark Munoz, Nam Phan, Ed Soares

Inside MMA airs on HDNet every Friday night at 9PM ET. Inside MMA Archive More segments after the jump.

Posted in: mma, carlos condit, friday night, mark munoz, nam phan

MMA Link Club: The future of MMAFighting.com #ufc @MMASupremacy @GenoMrosko @robnashville

The future of MMAFighting.com, one of the largest MMA media sites today, hangs in the balance.

Posted in: mma, mmasupremacy, future, club, mmafighting.com

Cris Cyborg Talks December Fight, Future of Women's MMA

Strkeforce women's 145 lb. champion Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos will be defending her title for the first time in over a year in San Diego at Strikeforce's next big event against Hiroko Yamanaka. She spoke to Tatame about the title defense and what she thinks will happen with women's MMA if Strikeforce is indeed shut down after the purchase by the UFC. First, on her next opponent: I know she’s fought a lot (12 times), and I guess she won most of the times via points. She has been defeated only once, by a girl I’ve fought. I guess she’s a good opponent, a good fight. On her first fight since the Zuffa purchase of Strikeforce: I guess that, if there’s something, it’s a better thing. UFC is the biggest MMA event of all, so I’m happy about this fight I’ll be doing in December. It’s a great chance for me, I’ll show my work and put on a good show, open the doors to women. The name’s changed, but it doesn’t matter because I already used to take it seriously, I used to pour my heart out to win. Now the boss has changed, but I’ll keep doing what I used to do before. And her opinion on the future of women's MMA: I guess female MMA won’t be extinct. I don’t know if we’ll fight in UFC or not. Everybody’s dream is that it keeps opened, but I guess MMA won’t end if UFC doesn’t want us. Girls will keep on fighting it, training and then will come up an event that will want to give us that chance. It’s on the hands of God and the producers to keep on believing in female MMA, my role is to do what I always do: put on a good show, representing women and fight better and better each time. But I believe that women are getting better and putting on good shows. While I agree that the niche of women's MMA will be something another organization is likely to grab onto (ProElite?), it's going to be very tough for it to regain the exposure it had on Showtime if the organization does indeed fold it's tent in February. Personally, I believe that it could be the centerpiece of the promotion if Showtime elected to extend their contract and it, along with a Challengers-like style of show, could be profitable for the network. I also know I'm in the minority on this opinion, so you can go ahead and attack me now. More SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, &rsquo, women

5 OZ. MMA Link Club

Welcome back to another edition of “MMA Link Club”, Five Ounces of Pain‘s weekly smorgasbord of offerings from our brothers and sisters in the MMA community. This week we’ve offered up a double-dose of MMA-related goodness based on all the excellent material out there to choose from. Enjoy… Anthony Pettis Talks Evolution as a Fighter in Wake of Last Weekend’s Win (Fighters.com) Jose Aldo Gives Back to Brazil (5thRound.com) A Q&A Session with Bellator Middleweight Semifinalist Alexander Shlemenko (MMAConvert.com) Former UFC Champion Brock Lesnar Returns to a WWE Ring…Digitally, That Is (MMAPayout.com) Check Out Joe Lauzon’s Friends Squealing Like Schoolgirls after Big UFC 136 Victory (FightLinker.com) M-1′s Tom Gallicchio Talks New Team, Tonight’s Fight on Showtime (TheFightNerd.com) Bellator Bantamweight Champ Zach Makovsky Out to Enjoy Himself in the Ring (MMAFighting.com) Hong Man Choi Charged with Assault of Female (MiddleEasy.com) Sizing Up Frankie Edgar (NBCSports.com) A List of Mixed Martial Artists Who Need to Hang Up Their Gloves (BleacherReport.com) “Cro Cop” Cracks on Chael Sonnen (CagePotato.com) Organization Contacts Major UFC Sponsor with Concerns of “Anti-Gay Behavior” (FightOpinion.com) Dominick Cruz Doesn’t Care Who Wins Between Brian Bowles and Urijah Faber…Just Wants the Best (MMAMania.com) Murilo Rua Predicts Knockout of Dan Henderson (MMATraining.com) Scott Coker Sees Gilbert Melendez as MMA’s Top Lightweight (LowKick.com) Cris “Cyborg” Santos Talks the Future of Women’s MMA (FightLine.com) PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, mma, mma community, jose aldo, mma-related goodness

MMAterial Facts (10/14/11) : No UFC For Vancouver in 2012, Anderson Silva Retiring Soon?

Welcome to this edition of MMAterial Facts, where we feature articles from around the MMA community. *** This week’s MMAterial Facts: - Report: UFC Show Not Likely for Vancouver in 2012 (MMA Fighting) “The reason? The shows certainly weren’t financial failures. 2010′s UFC 115 did a $4.2 million gate, while UFC 131, held this past June, drew a $2.8 million gate. Instead, the problem is regulatory stalling. Both of the UFC’s events were held during a two-year test period held by the city after overturning a previous ban on MMA. That test period will end in the coming months and apparently, the prospects of sanctioned MMA will go with it.” - Unite HERE letter to Anheuser Busch about UFC & gay slurs (Fight Opinion) “Remarkably, we have yet to find evidence that any of the UFC athletes identified in this letter have been disciplined by the UFC or its owners for this contemptible behavior. By contrast, other professional sports organizations have taken a hard stance against anti-gay conduct and have held athletes accountable through suspensions and/or fines when athletes have used homophobic epithets.” - Vinny Magalhaes responds to rumors of him training Fedor Emelienenko (MMA Mania) “That happened before too. My manager tried to negotiate with them and at first they agreed to come, blah, blah, blah but then when it was time for me to go, they said, “A lot of guys will train with Fedor for free just because he’s such a legend,” but I was like, “I can’t go three weeks, not working. I have to pay bills. My son was 2-3 months old at the time. I couldn’t train there for free,” so I ended up not going. So this time, it’s gonna be the same way. If they’re not gonna pay for me to be there, then I’m not going. It’s not like I’m all about money, but if I’m not going to be working at Xtreme Couture, I’m not going to be holding my classes, I’m going to be leaving my family and my wife doesn’t work so I want to support my family. I have to be compensated.” - Scott Coker Believes Zuffa and Showtime Want To Extend Strikeforce Contract (MMA Convert) “Dana White hinted a couple weeks back that Strikeforce’s fate would be known soon. At the time, Lorenzo Fertitta was meeting with Showtime execs in New York to figure out whether or not Showtime wanted to extend Strikeforce’s contract. It sounded like it would be settled by now, however Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker revealed today that both sides are still talking and actually want to make a deal.” - Alright, so Joe Son may have killed his cellmate… (MiddleEasy) “The LA Times is now reporting (from a press release issued by The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation) that Joe Son is suspected of murdering his 50-year-old cellmate, who was found dead inside the Wasco State Prison Reception Center in Kern County on Monday night. The victim was a convicted sex offender that received two years in prison for failing to register as a sexual offender. “ - Is Chael Vegas Bound? (NBC Sports MMA) “Chael Sonnen has paid his dues, has done his thing,” White said recently. “Floyd Mayweather fights in Nevada. This guy’s got 50 lawyers defending him right now and all that crazy stuff, and he’s fighting in Nevada. Don’t even get me going on that one.” - The Argument For Banning Weight Cutting in MMA (Cage Potato) “It’s kind of scary to say this but that fight almost killed me, making that weight. I had a really, really, really bad time and I still made the weight, but I’ll never ever be able to do that again,” Davis explained, revealing that the dehydration left him without his voice at weigh-ins and unable to urinate or have a bowel movement for the better part of a week.” - Anderson Silva’s retirement closer than fans may think (Five Ounces of Pain) “Ed Soares has done a lot of the speaking for UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva. That trend continued recently when Soares disclosed that “The Spider” has only a few fights left in his stellar career before he rides off into the sunset.” - Roland Delorme’s TUF Blog (5thRound) “Me and Stephen Bass had gotten into a heated argument about three or four days before his fight, so I didn’t feel bad about watching him lay on his back and get pumped like a hooker trying to pay the rent.” - Ed Soares: Anderson Silva only has 4 fights left, why waste one on Sonnen rematch? (LowKick) “Let’s see what the big boss is going to do. My opinion is that he had his chance and tapped, he should go back to the end of the line. The same thing is true with Vitor Belfort. They’re great fighters, but they had their chance. Sonnen would make a big fight, as would Dan Henderson and Georges St-Pierre, but we should recognize that Anderson only has around 4 fights left in his career.” - WWE Superstar Vladimir Kozlov trains MMA (TheFightNerd) “Training at Zealous Nation MMA with head coach Oleg Savitsky, Vladimir Kozlov comes through to his old friend’s gym to keep his Sambo skills up to par by hitting some mitts and practicing some submissions. Is a transition into the world of MMA in the future for Kozlov? Sounds like it, as both he and Savitsky voice their interest in competing in the sport! “ - Interview with Jorge Masvidal on his upcoming fight with Gilbert Melendez (BleacherReport.com/MMA) “But, with such a meaningful rematch approaching that will change the look of the division for the foreseeable future, I find myself reflecting on previous rematches that had a similar effect. Fights that represented a fork in the road and created a new era.”

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, time, anderson

Friday Link Club: BJ Penn’s Road To UFC 137 and Nick Diaz

RVCA brings us an in-depth look at BJ Penn’s training camp for his fight against Nick Diaz at UFC 137 Hot Potato Gallery: Model/Grappler Monique Minton (Guys, you’ll definitely want to click this one) | Cage Potato Potato Nation, say hello to Monique Ricardo, AKA Monique Minton, a fitness model and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu enthusiast. Minton started competing in figure competitions back in 2007, and has since added grappling tournaments to her routine after getting turned on to BJJ a couple of years ago. Vinny Magalhaes turned down opportunity to train Fedor Emelianenko because M-1 wouldn’t pay him | MMA Mania “That happened before too. My manager tried to negotiate with them and at first they agreed to come, blah, blah, blah but then when it was time for me to go, they said, “A lot of guys will train with Fedor for free just because he’s such a legend,” but I was like, “I can’t go three weeks, not working. I have to pay bills. My son was 2-3 months old at the time. I couldn’t train there for free,” so I ended up not going. So this time, it’s gonna be the same way. If they’re not gonna pay for me to be there, then I’m not going. It’s not like I’m all about money, but if I’m not going to be working at Xtreme Couture, I’m not going to be holding my classes, I’m going to be leaving my family and my wife doesn’t work so I want to support my family. I have to be compensated.” Mirko Cro Cop: Chael Sonnen has an IQ of child’s shoe size | LowKick “You can tell by his face that the man is slow, that he is stupid and has the IQ of a child’s shoe size. You can tell this by his face, the way he communicates and let’s not get into his calling out of people like ‘Minotauro’ Nogueira, Fedor’s accomplishments or Wanderlei Silva’s, me, so on. People whose heights he will never reach. Is he crazy? Obviously he is, but I’m not mad at him. It’s just as I can’t get mad at my eight month old son Filip. That man holds a PhD in idiocy. I’m only sorry that he is missing like 30 pounds because I would beat his ass so bad he would multiply three times. In anger I would beat him up so bad that I would split him apart. I would clone him into three specimens. One day I’m hoping to see him summering in Croatia, so I can iron his ass, so steam can shoot out his pompous ass. That’s what he needs to know.” Back to basics: takeaways from UFC shifting PPV start times back to 10 PM EST | Fight Opinion When you announce that you’re going to be running 34 shows a year starting in 2012, that’s too many damn shows. People respond by cherry-picking the shows they only care about. Ask WWE how well that non-stop schedule has worked out for declining PPV buys. Watch J Lau’s friends freak the eff out when he submits Melvin Guillard | MiddleEasy I wonder how many brown-ish plaid couches get broken from sudden spastic fight celebration freak outs. If there was a stastic on this I would assume brown-ish plaid couches probably lead the pack, with emerald green crushed velvet dual recliner couches coming in a very close second. It seems like everyone knows someone who has a brown-ish color plaid couch in their basement with little knubs all over the cushions from the daily friction of jean covered glutes sitting upon them. You can even see one of these all too familiar couches in this home video of Joe Lauzon’s friends freaking out when he gets the submission win over Melvin Guillard in Houston at UFC 136. I bet there’s a random frito or two stuck underneath those couch cushions after this genuine celebratory freak out. Check it out. Payout Analysis: The Strikeforce Death Knell? | MMA Payout In the midst of losing their top talent, the rough estimation is that Strikeforce has seen TV ratings dip 5%, attendance drop 32%, live gate profits down 11% and an increase of 26% in fighters payroll since Zuffa took control in March 201 Ariel Helwani’s official MMA rankings | NBC Sports Ariel Helwani’s October rankings by weight and pound-for-pound. MMA Top 10 Featherweights: Is Mendes the Man to Challenge Aldo? | MMA Fighting Jose Aldo is continuing to run roughshod over the rest of the featherweight division, improving his professional MMA record to 20-1 with a unanimous decision victory over Kenny Florian at UFC 136. So does anyone at 145 have a chance against Aldo? MMA Exclusive: Jorge Masvidal “I’m Gonna Smash Gilbert Melendez” | Bleacher Report Most of the time when I enter a fight, I’m not looking to stop a guy, but rather win a solid decision, but in this fight, I’m going for the stoppage. I’m going to put the pressure on him and make him break. I don’t want to leave it in the judges hands, especially with all the f*cked up decisions these days. This is my title shot and I have to take full advantage. I don’t know if I’ll ever get another one. Who knows what’s gonna happen in life? Upset Alert: Why Lyoto Machida Will Beat Jon Jones | Five Ounces of Pain At this point in his (still young) career it seems crazy to pick against the UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones. He has achieved a level of dominance at 205 pounds that has not been seen since the heydays of former company poster boys Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz, and you could make a good argument that Jones has fought better competition than either man. The craziest part of all this is that Jones is only 24 years old and has probably not even achieved the pinnacle of what he can do as an athlete in combat sports. Even with all that being said, I think Lyoto Machida will beat Jones on December 10 in Toronto. Roland Delorme’s TUF Blog: Bass Laid on His Back and Was Pumped Like a Hooker Trying to Pay the Rent | 5thRound “Me and Stephen Bass had gotten into a heated argument about three or four days before his fight, so I didn’t feel bad about watching him lay on his back and get pumped like a hooker trying to pay the rent.” Anderson Silva doesn’t want to sign autographs, he just wants to dance!  | TheFightNerd It looks like that case of Bieber Fever that Anderson Silva recently contracted in Brazil has worsened, as the UFC Middleweight champion was caught dancing during an autograph session at this past weekend’s UFC Fan Expo in Houston. Silva danced the night away with fans, and if you wanted to get an autograph you better be able to bust a move with the Brazilian fighter!

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, time, couch

The sexy side of MMA

submitted by blinkergoesleft [link] [comment]

Posted in: mma, side, blinkergoesleft

MMA Link Parade

- Marcus Davis says cutting to lightweight nearly killed him. [Middle Easy] - Identity of Joe Son's alleged prison murder victim revealed. [CagePotato] - ProElite readies for second life. [Sports Illustrated] - Michael Bisping believes he is next in line for a shot at Anderson Silva. [Five Ounces of Pain] - Ed Soares: Chael Sonnen should take a number and wait for Anderson Silva. [LowKick] - Florian's future in doubt. [NBC Sports] - Rashad Evans thinks Lyoto Machida can give Jon Jones trouble. [MMA Convert] - Jon Jones: "I absolutely cannot lose Rashad Evans fight". [5th Round] - GSP Is the no. 2 pound-for-pound fighter, not Frankie Edgar. [Bleacher Report] - MMA gear company "Manto" gets in trouble for NSFW ad with nipple slip. [The Fight Nerd] - Frankie Edgar finds appeal in vulnerability. [Sports Illustrated] - UFC Undisputed 3 roster: light heavyweights. [MMA Mania] - Takeaways from UFC shifting PPV start times back to 10 PM EST. [Fight Opinion] - Hershman leaves Showtime for HBO. [MMA Payout] Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mma, anderson silva, frankie edgar, nsfw ad, fight nerd

W-1 'Reloaded' live stream video preview for 'Davis vs. O'Neil' on Oct. 15

After four weeks in a row of stellar Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) events, the big dog of mixed martial arts (MMA) is taking a week off. Don't worry though, Maniacs. No need to go into total withdrawal. On Sat., Oct. 15, Warrior One MMA will keep the good times rolling as W-1 MMA: "Reloaded" takes place at BankUnited Center, located at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. The card features a main event between former UFC banger Marcus Davis and Ultimate Fighter (TUF) contestant Chuck O'Neil. In the co-headliner, former XFC Featherweight Champion Luis Palomino will square off against Edson Berto. Fans will be able to stream the event LIVE at GFL Combat Sports Network (GFL.tv) for only $9.95, beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET by clicking here. Originally, everyone's favorite anarchist, Jeff Monson, was set to take on Gabriel Gonzaga in the headline fight before he withdrew from the event recently. Davis and O'Neil were ready and willing to fill in as the main event of the night. After losing to Jeremy Stephens at UFC 125 on Jan. 1 in Las Vegas, Nevada, "Irish Hand Grenade" was cut from the UFC and forced to re-invent himself. Davis is currently riding a three-fight win streak, most recently submitting Travis Coyle by guillotine choke at Global Fight League 13: "Heavy Hitters" on Sept. 23 in Portland, Maine. Davis, who began boxing at the age of 14, has been involved in some classic bloody exchanges during his 28-fight MMA career. He'll be looking to give fans another exciting display of fireworks on Saturday night. "Reloaded" will also feature MMA legend Randy Couture's ex-wife, Kim Couture, in a fight versus Suzie Montero as "Sugar Free" seeks to avoid her third straight loss. Holding a professional record of 3-5, Couture has often taken criticism for possibly getting attention more for her last name than her actual abilities in the ring and cage. She will be looking to quiet the critics and get her career back on track Make sure to check in with MMAmania.com during the event for LIVE updates and results. Get here a few minutes early to get involved in the usually witty banter between the Maniacs.

Posted in: ufc, mma, event, &nbsp, davi

Report: Vancouver Likely Not on UFC's Calendar in 2012

Filed under: UFC, NewsAfter bringing MMA's biggest traveling road show to Vancouver in both 2010 and 2011, the UFC is unlikely to return to the picturesque British Columbian city in 2012. That news comes from the UFC's director of operations in Canada, Tom Wright, who told The Canadian Press that the promotion would visit three of the country's cities next year, and Vancouver isn't expected to be one of them. The reason? The shows certainly weren't financial failures. 2010's UFC 115 did a $4.2 million gate, while UFC 131, held this past June, drew a $2.8 million gate. Instead, the problem is regulatory stalling. Both of the UFC's events were held during a two-year test period held by the city after overturning a previous ban on MMA. That test period will end in the coming months and apparently, the prospects of sanctioned MMA will go with it. "And the disappointing thing for our sport is that after a two-year test period, they've had two tests -- ours," Wright said. "Because no other promotion could afford the indemnification or the insurance costs or the other things -- or actually have the perseverance to get an event to be held there." While the MMA events were both financial boons for the city and promotion, UFC officials navigated a rocky road with Vancouver officials over several issues, including insurance costs. Most recently, before the UFC's scheduled June 11 event, Vancouver police chief Jim Chu requested that the promotion contribute to policing costs "to prevent what might occur in terms of neighborhood problems." The UFC refused the request, saying they weren't prepared to be treated differently than other events held there. Ironically, at the time, Wright told MMA Fighting that he explained to Chu, "If I were the Chief, I'd be more worried about Canuck fans (celebrating or crying in their beers) than UFC fans." The UFC event came and went with no problems, but just days later, after the hometown Canucks lost in the Stanley Cup Finals, over 100 people were arrested as riots erupted on the city's streets. According to Wright, Toronto and Montreal will see major UFC shows in 2012, but the third Canadian host city remains undetermined. It's possible the third show will be a smaller "Fight Night" event. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, event, city, test period

Bellator inks Jessica Aguilar vs. Lisa Ellis-Ward rematch (MMAJunkie.com)

Almost seven years after they first met, Jessica Aguilar (11-4 MMA, 2-1 BFC) and Lisa Ellis-Ward (14-6 MMA, 2-1...

Posted in: mma, jessica, aguilar, lisa, ellis-ward

LowKick.com's Weekend guide to MMA for October 14th - 16th 2011

It's that time folks! The weekend is here and although there is no UFC events going down, that doesn't mean there isn't any MMA action for you and you're friends to enjoy! Here's your weekend guide for October 14th - 16th. Friday 10/14/2011 - The Score Fighting Series: One of Canada's premier MMA leagues, The Score Fighting Series showcases some of the best fighters from the Great White North and talent from all over the world. If you live in Canada, you can catch the fights on The Score at 7:30 PM ET /

Posted in: mma, score, weekend, weekend guide, time folks

Latest UFC/MMA news and notes from around the web for the week of October 8, 2011

Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Frank Mir and Roy Nelson pictured above, we can all "get along." Teaming up with MMA sites like MiddleEasy, Cage Potato, Fight Opinion and Five Ounces of Pain, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport. This week, Bleacher Report catches up with Strikeforce lightweight title challenger Jorge Masvidal, Fight Opinion shares thoughts on UFC start time experiment and MMA Fighting's Ben Fowlkes gets Rich Franklin to open up about his first fight. The full list of links is after the jump. - B.J. "The Prodigy" Penn - Road to UFC 137 (video) (LowKick) Multi-time UFC Champion BJ "The Prodigy" Penn takes us behind the scenes of his preparations for UFC 137 bout with the Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz. Penn will look to cement his status as #1 contender for the UFC Welterweight title, which will be defended at UFC 137 by George St. Pierre against Prodigy's original opponent - Carlos Condit. - What's Next?: UFC 136 edition (NBC Sports MMA) Another week, another UFC event in the books. That means it's time to once again play fantasy matchmaker and predict who's next for UFC 136's big winners and losers. - Exclusive: Identity of Joe Son's alleged murder victim revealed (Cage Potato) The Kern County Sheriff's Office Coroner today released the name of the deceased and the details surrounding the death of Joe Son's cellmate in Wasco State Prison this week. - Grappling with Issues - 10/12/11 (Five Ounces of Pain) Was Frankie Edgar‘s win over Gray Maynard at UFC 136 the best performance by a UFC champion so far this year? Do Chael Sonnen‘s antics rub you the wrong way? Will Rashad Evans get his elusive title-shot in 2012? What's next for Kenny Florian? - My First Fight: Rich Franklin (MMA Fighting) By the time most fight fans so much as heard his name, Rich Franklin was already somebody. He had a successful UFC debut with a first-round TKO of Evan Tanner, then went on to shine at the very first Ultimate Fighter Finale, where he knocked out Ken Shamrock on Spike TV before claiming the UFC middleweight title in his next fight. - Jon Jones won't train with GSP, Machida will prepare with Anderson Silva (5thRound) One of the most important aspects of a fighter's camp is who they are able to recruit as training partners. While UFC light heavyweight kingpin Jon Jones has access to a stable of studs over at Jackson's Mixed Martial Arts, Jones will stand clear of the team's biggest welterweight stars. - Former K-1 fighter Hong Man Choi booked for assaulting a woman in Korea (MiddleEasy) Former K-1 and DREAM fighter Hong Man Choi (Choi Hong-Man in Korea) has apparently found himself in some legal trouble this week after a report came out that he purportedly assaulted her in his bar on October 8th while arguing over a bill. - WWE Superstar Vladimir Kozlov trains MMA - Video (TheFightNerd) Training at Zealous Nation MMA with head coach Oleg Savitsky, Vladimir Kozlov comes through to his old friend's gym to keep his Sambo skills up to par by hitting some mitts and practicing some submissions. Is a transition into the world of MMA in the future for Kozlov? Sounds like it, as both he and Savitsky voice their interest in competing in the sport! - Takeaways from UFC shifting PPV start times back to 10 PM (Fight Opinion) There seems to be mass panic right now about the low rating the UFC 136 prelims on Spike drew for ratings last weekend, given the two fights on the card that hardcores were interested in. It's just proof that what excites the hardcores and the announcing team isn't always what draws. (Ask Bellator all about that phenomena.) - Payout analysis: The Strikeforce death knell? (MMA Payout) Zuffa created a subsidiary called Forza LLC to control Strikeforce who was taken over from Silicon Valley Sports and Entertainment in March of this year. Since then, there's been much debate as too whether Zuffa/Forza will continue to operate the promotion or just kill it off. - Interview with Jorge Masvidal on his upcoming fight with Gilbert Melendez (BleacherReport.com/MMA) "Most of the time when I enter a fight, I'm not looking to stop a guy, but rather win a solid decision, but in this fight, I'm going for the stoppage. I'm going to put the pressure on him and make him break. I don't want to leave it in the judges hands, especially with all the f*cked up decisions these days. This is my title shot and I have to take full advantage. I don't know if I'll ever get another one. Who knows what's gonna happen in life?"

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, time, week

[Cross post from /r/Judo] Judo & Wrestling throws in MMA - Volume 8

submitted by strafefire [link] [4 comments]

Posted in: mma, post, judo, volume, /judo

Inside MMA Preview: Chael Sonnen’s Challenge, Carlos Condit, Nam Phan

Inside MMA airs tonight on HDNet at 9:00 PM ET. Inside MMA Archive

Posted in: mma, carlos condit, nam phan, mma preview, mma airs

Hershman leaves Showtime for HBO

Broadcasting and Cable reports that Showtime head Ken Hershman is leaving to take the vacant HBO Sports opening. Hershman will become the president of HBO Sports replacing Ross Greenburg. Hershman will start his new position in January 2012. What does this mean for the future of MMA on Showtime? Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker stated that he has talked to Showtime officials and the network wants to continue with MMA programming according to a report from MMA Junkie. Via MMA Junkie: Coker said the much of the same executive staff will oversee the remaining events Strikeforce owes to Showtime, which comprise three major events and three of the promotion’s Challenger series through February 2012. Coker said it was possible that should Showtime renew, a revised TV deal could see fewer Strikeforce events on the channel. Showtime has not named a replacement for Hershman. Payout Perspective: Does Hershman’s departure mean that Strikeforce is closer to extinction? Or, will Hershman’s departure mean Strikeforce gets a stay of execution? Earlier this week, MMA Payout made a compelling argument that Zuffa had muted any chance for Strikeforce success. Hershman did bring MMA to Showtime but Dana White has not been a fan of Hershman. If Showtime would like to continue programming MMA, Hershman’s replacement must have the same interest in the sport and see it through. If White decides to dissolve Strikeforce, it will be interesting to see if Showtime will continue to pursue MMA programming.

Posted in: mma, strikeforce, showtime, hershman, mma junkie

Only five more days until the final EA MMA Live Broadcast

Only five days until the final EA MMA Live Broadcast which is ironically celebrating the one year anniversary of the launch of the game. It's like dying on your birthday. It's very depressing. No. Let's look past the sadness and remember all of the good times EA MMA has brought to us. Sunday night Fights, The MiddleEasy sponsored Heavyweight Grand Prix of awesomeness which will surely go down in gaming history as one of the craziest tournaments ever. The rise and fall of Tha Premiere, the RushStPierre era (dark times) and the literally hundreds of digital fighters that have spent late Sunday night with us. I love you all. During the RushStPierre era, before he was stripped of his MiddleEasy title, one of the consistently top ranked players in the EA MMA community reached out to me via email. His name was Mr NRG. NRG, as someone who could be argued as the best in the game at any given week, was kind enough to offer to get the MiddleEasy title out from around Rush's waist and onto a more worthy champion. The fight never came to be, The Rise to Greatness tournament would give them a platform to meet if fate so decided. Rush however, was eliminated along with Tha Premiere in the early goings, but Mr NRG finds himself in a familiar position as one of the final four in the tournament. We met up with Mr NRG in a posh downtown Singapore cafe to reflect on the past year. I have done everything possible in EA MMA...In fact...I have done things that are literally impossible in this game! Things that werent even programmed into the game, Things that dont even exist on the disc, I have done! Thats how good I am. I dont even play this game anymore and STILL kick ass all the way to finals, with no practice, no warm up fights, no nothing...just pure 100% unsaturated beast mode. I would talk trash on my opponent Smoke Em but he is not that important. Infact...He's not even an opponent...He is just my stepping stone...A rabbit in the headlights....A fish out of water...and alot of other cliche things. I heard a rumour he actually wants to get down on all fours and let me, the great one, use him as a step to get up on the podium to claim my tournament title. Unfortunately for him, I would compare that to stepping in dog crap! My shoes dont come cheap ya know? So why would I waste my time dirtying them up on his back?? He will just have to settle for being that kid that got humilated in the final LB. I dont want to put a downer on this whole thing for him though - I know he looks up to me and I can tell he is excited, like a kid that gets to meet Santa on Christmas, ya know? Only problem for him is that this Santa will be smacking him around the head with a sled and burning down his christmas tree. I'm riding a 6 win streak in the LB's. He brings nothing that can end my LB streak. If he genuinly believes he can beat me then I would strongly recomend getting him CT scanned and checking for signs of brain damage. No doubt him and his circle jerk camp will be coming up with ways to try and beat me, So come October 19th It will be like killing 10 birds with one stone! Do none of them realize that you cant take on a God and win??? Ye I have lost a few times - Being honest i cant remember who I lost to though as it has been a while. A notable loss i took in Stikforce was against Brotha Lynch, which resulted in us fighting again on an LB and me avenging the loss. Preston will be able to look it up though. I don't think I have lost to anyone and not avenged it at some point. I only really come out and play this game for the major competitions, tournaments and fights that interest me. As for Preston and the team, those guys are top notch. The whole EA MMA experience has been a memorable one. It is sad to see it all come to an end but that's life. As a gamer, I can safely say this has been one of the funnest over all gaming experiences. Not just because of the Disc in the box. Mainly because Preston, his team and the EA MMA community came together and made stuff happen - I cant fault them in anyway. I'm not just saying this to kiss ass and gain points with Preston and The Team, I am saying it because its the truth. The LB experience has truly been memorable and I can only hope that the same guys get the chance to create a 2nd MMA experience for us all. Tune in right here Wednesday, October 19th to see the ultimate and final EA MMA champion crowned!

Posted in: mma, game, thing, ea, mr nrg

Killing spree suspect had his first MMA fight with just one day of training

Sure David 'Joey' Pedersen is suspected of mass-murdering people across the West Coast and could potentially face a death penalty within a month, but you can't have a professional MMA fight with only one day of training! I mean, what was this guy thinking getting in the cage without even learning a few basic principles of takedown defense and sprawl? Apparently Pedersen's trainer also had a troubled past, so he took the suspected criminal under his wing for 24-hours and just tossed him in a mixed martial arts event -- like all loving MMA trainers do. A somber note to all mass-murders out there: However badass you may perceive yourself to be, it's simply impossible to compete in professional mixed martial arts with just one day's notice. Check out this KVAL news clip of the bizarre incident. [Source] {iframe}http://www.kval.com/news/local/131573423.html?embed{/iframe}

Posted in: mma, day, mma fight, mass-murdering people, death penalty

MMA Nipple Tweaking Wars

submitted by Philll [link] [comment]

Posted in: mma, war, philll, mma nipple, nipple

White: GSP is MMA pay-per-view king

Dana White says the Montreal fighter is the biggest MMA pay-per-view draw on the planet.

Posted in: mma, fighter, gsp, king, montreal fighter

For Ben Saunders, Bellator 53 win was a matter of brains over brawn (MMAJunkie.com)

Some MMA observers think strength and athleticism are changing the grappling part of MMA.

Posted in: mma, mma observers, strength, ben saunders, observer

Gina Carano Named as One of Esquire Magazine's Sexiest Women of 2011

It's something that every MMA fan wants to know: Where is Gina Carano? She was originally scheduled for the Strikeforce Dallas show before being pulled from the card due to an undisclosed injury. Subsequent questions weren't ever answered with Scott Coker's go to response being "This is the text message I have from her manager". That is what fans were told they needed to accept regarding the whereabouts of the "face of women's MMA". With her acting career probably extremely limited due Haywire constantly having the release date pushed back, a sure sign of a bad movie, it is nice to see Carano at least receive recognition for being a pretty face. Esquire Magazine puts together a list of the Hottest Women every year. This year Rihanna was crowned as the world's sexiest woman. Carano was named as one of the sexiest women on the planet, something that MMA fans have known for years now. From Esquire Magazine: For having the guts of a fighter but not the body of one. For drawing the attention of Steven Soderbergh, who cast her in his new movie, Haywire, in which she - an MMA fighter - plays a spy who's as tough as she is lovely. And for unintentionally making Channing Tatum look like a good actor, at least in comparison. Carano isn't the only athlete on the list. United States Women National Team goalie Hope Solo was also given considerations. As a fan of not just good looking women but also good looking athletic women, I'm pleased to know that the folks over at Esquire Magazine are giving the nod to female athletes instead of just the usual suspects of models, actresses, and singers. There is no word on if Carano will ever return to MMA and with the current state of Strikeforce, it is doubtful that she'll ever return to the same status as the face of women's MMA. Showtime has still not made a decision about continuing their contract with Strikeforce and Zuffa is in the process of bringing the top fighters over to the UFC to fill out their divisions. Unless Dana White and co change their minds on women's MMA, it is doubtful that Carano, Cyborg, Miesha Tate, and Ronda Rousey will be brought over in the process.

Posted in: mma, gina carano, women, carano, esquire magazine

Inside MMA: Training with Frankie Edgar & Eddie Alvarez

Inside MMA airs on HDNet every Friday night at 9pm ET. Inside MMA Archive More segments after the jump.

Posted in: mma, eddie alvarez, frankie edgar, mma airs, mma archive

UFC 136 Prelims on Spike disappoint with 1 million viewers

MMA Junkie reports that UFC Prelims for 136 received a Spike TV low 1 million viewers. The two prelim fights featured Anthony Pettis and Demian Maia getting wins via decision. Via MMA Junkie: Of the 23 “UFC Prelims” specials Spike TV has aired to date, UFC 136′s ranked last. The event opened with 920,000 viewers and concluded with 1,043,000 in the special’s final quarter hour. It scored a 1.0 rating among men 18-49 and a 1.24 among men 18-34. Payout Perpsective: Really surprising that the prelims did so poorly considering Pettis and Maia were featured in main events only a year ago. These weren’t first tier fighters on the prelim show. I’m not clear on how to read the low ratings. UFC 136 was one of the best cards of the year yet the ratings do not reflect it. Bellator ratings were poor as well. It could be a mix of college football and baseball playoffs that could have contributed to the low ratings. But, it is possible that the casual MMA fan is experiencing fatigue from all of the shows lately.

Posted in: ufc, mma, rating, spike, prelim

Asian MMA Update: Beef Between Huerta, Swick, Tiger Muay Thai and Phuket Top Team, Plus PXC, Legend FC News

As always, here's a complete rundown of the recent news and rumblings coming out of the Asian MMA scene: The grudge between Thailand's top MMA teams Tiger Muay Thai and Phuket Top Team are getting uglier and uglier. If you haven't heard about any of the details yet, Tiger Muay Thai was where Roger Huerta and Mike Swick used to train at in Thailand. Here's Ray Elbe of TMT talking about his disappointment that both MMA stars were leaving to create their own gym after receiving 'VIP Treatment' and free housing during their stay in Thailand. For his upcoming bout against War Machine, Roger Huerta is now training with Phuket Top Team, a rival gym that's just around 100 meters away or so from Tiger Muay Thai. Things get even uglier when Tiger Muay Thai offered War Machine to train him to prepare for Huerta. He replied with a simple query: "If he trained with you guys for a year why would you wanna help me beat him?" There were a bunch of nasty rumors coming out of both camps which involved trying to muddy each other up by having different accusations about various stuff from training permits to even firearms. These apparently led to death threats and a camp being raided cause of this. Pretty ugly stuff, but I'd rather not focus on those rumors, so let's move on and check out Mike Swick talking about Tiger's beef with him and Roger Huerta. He also addresses the accusations of them trying to steal trainers for their gym. Here's a snippet (You can read his entire account here): Tiger Muay Thai is claiming that Roger and I are traitors, like Aldrich Ames in the 80's, since we have trained at their facility before and are now doing our own gym in Thailand. Ray Elbe(Tiger Head MMA Trainer, Spokesperson) has been maliciously bad mouthing us to everyone at Tiger and to anyone that will listen, though after we announced we were doing this, we met with him and came to an agreement in which he was very respectful and understanding in person. Soon as we left Thailand we were traders and had disrespected Tiger. It is uber sad considering what all we have done for Tiger and done for free....We are not trying to take Tigers customers or trainers. That is just silly! There are a ton of great fighters that become trainers everyday in Bangkok plus trainers move like vintage David Caradine in Kung Fu. In the 4 years I was in Phuket, I can't tell you how many trainers came and went from all the gyms. Anyway, now that we've got all those beef and controversy out of the way, there are much more Asian MMA news about PXC, Legend FC, One FC, and Lakay Wushu after the jump. Eduard Folayang, who suffered a broken nose last month on One FC, is already out there competing in Turkey, for the World Wushu Championships. He says it hasn't healed up completely, and was still hurting, but he still went out there to represent the country anyway. Crazy if you ask me, but that's Eduard and his fighting spirit for you. Despite this, he beat his French opponent and joined two of his other teammates, Benjie Rivera, and Mark Eddiva (who also competes in MMA) who advanced to the round of 16. Yesterday, I reported about Victor Cui's trip to the Philippines where in the One FC head signed a partnership deal with the URCC. Among the details I mentioned on the article, is his visit to Team Lakay, where he was looking to finalize deals with the Philippines' top MMA camp as well. Well it looks like they're not the only promotion looking for their services. Team Lakay has produced multiple champions such as Eduard Folayang, Kevin Belingon, Roy Docyogen, and Honorio Banario among others. This makes them the most sought after team in the country. A day after Victor Cui's visit, Mike Haskamp of fellow Asian MMA promotion Legend FC, also visited the camp. Yesterday, Lakay also announced that Guam-based promotion, Pacific Xtreme Combat or PXC will be meeting with them soon as well. Speaking of Legend FC, they have finalized their fight card for Legend FC 6 and it's a pretty good one. They have six fighters from New Zealand or Australia, and this is because the show will be available on Australian PPV. Check out the promo and fight card below: Legend FC 6October 30, 2011 - Macau - Jadamba Narantungalag vs. Adrian Pang [Legend FC Lightweight Championship]- Liu Wenbo vs. Sam Brown - Wang Guan vs. Koji Ando - Song Un Sik vs. Rob Hill - Lee Yong Jae vs. Rod MacSwain - Ji Xian vs. Michael Mortimer - Wu Chengjie vs. Yusuke Kawanago - Kim Hoon vs. Robert Whittaker - Danaa Batgerel vs. Vincent Siu With the help of Legend FC, Team Quest's Pat Healy and Brad Hannah ran a no-gi grappling workshop to help raise proceeds for anti-slavery charity The Mekong Club. Check out the footage below: PXC's first Philippine event, PXC 24 (check out the BE exclusive photo gallery of the show), was featured on the latest issue of Fight! Magazine. Here's an exclusive sneak peak on it:

Posted in: mma, vs, team, fc, tiger

7 Questions for ‘Supremacy MMA’ Creator Daryl Pitts

Daryl Pitts, president and co-founder of Los Angeles-based game design studio Kung Fu Factory, recently spoke with Sherdog.com about his company’s MMA video game release, “MMA Supremacy.”

Posted in: mma, game, supremacy, daryl pitts, daryl

What do you call Street MMA inside of a cage?

What do you call Street MMA inside of a cage? A riot. Last Saturday in Flint, Michigan, an amateur MMA show broke out into a full scale riot that wasn't quite Palace at the Auburn Hills scale, but still did the trick. This further reaffirms the notion that when our world goes Mad Max after the rise of the machines, Michigan residents will be in charge, they will be cannibals and Joe Dumars will be there king. Either Joe or Matthew Stafford. It really depends on how healthy Stafford stays. Thanks to CageReligion for bringing this to our attention.

Posted in: mma, street mma, michigan residents, joe dumars, cage ?.

Pro MMA Radio 168: Anthony Pettis

We have partnered with Pro MMA Radio to bring you weekly replays of PMR as the official radio show of MMAConvert.com. Pro MMA Radio can be heard live every Monday evening at 9pm ET/6pm PT. Replays and podcasts of every show are available 24/7 by going to the “Replay Corner” section of ProMMARadio.com, our own Pro MMA Radio page or by clicking the banner below. On this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio, Anthony Pettis stopped by to talk about his win over Jeremy Stephens at UFC 136. MMA Mania’s Jesse Holland also stopped by to help Larry Pepe recap UFC 136. You can listen to a replay of this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio by clicking the banner below. A radio player with links to the show’s archives will open in a pop-up window, so please make sure your browser is set to allow pop-ups for this site.

Posted in: mma, replay, radio, mma radio, monday evening

The Plot Thickens with the UFC, the Culinary Union, and the Federal Trade Commission

One of the UFC's biggest fights is not between its fighters, but in New York where Zuffa continues to push for the legalization of MMA. For fans, it's an easy sell. The idea of two UFC fighters squaring off at the iconic Madison Square Garden feels like the cultural footprint the sport needs to find respect. A way to establish its own history in a historical setting. But more than just selling the idea to fans, the UFC is selling the idea to the state of New York. With new jobs, state benefits, and ticket sales, the UFC expects to bring in 23 million annually for the state of New York with five million alone expected from a single event at the Garden (Bob Reilly has attacked these numbers, explaining that the money going into the state is not "long term"). In addition, legalization would pave the way for the additional economic impact of MMA not under the Zuffa umbrella: beyond simply the events, we're talking the addition of quality gyms as well (numbers taken here). But despite all this, New York hasn't budged. A lot of factors are at play. The most easily recognizable is Bob Reilly. But Bob Reilly is the strawman of the debate: with his provocative, and frankly idiotic perception of MMA (which he's compared to prostitution), he's an easy target for fans to point at, quote, and mock. Although not to downplay his significance, as the 2008 rumors were that Reilly killed the bill almost by his lonesome. But this misses the broader picture. Other factors include New York's budget, which is on a deficit (the state spends nearly 40% of its budget on health care, and with health care costs rising, it's not an issue that can be easily cast aside), but the most prominent factor has been the Culinary Union: a subset of UNITE HERE, bound by hotel and restaurant workers, and who have had a long standing battle with Station Casinos (owned by the Ferttitas). The Culinary Union has sought to unionize Station Casinos for awhile, and the Fertittas haven't been kind to the idea. The story of the Culinary Union is an old one, but one that saw little attention given to it when Robert Joyner first broke the story in 2008. Dana White has been vocal in selling people the idea that "its all the union's fault" when it comes to what has kept MMA out of New York. But as Stephen Koepfer (founder for the Coalition to Legalize MMA in New York, and was cool enough to respond to nottheface's fanpost at Bloody Elbow) points out, unions are not the issue in the way Dana argues they are: "I am not a fan of Reilly, but on the union issue he is spot on. It is not an issue here in NY. To those who think it is the unions I ask: where were they in all the other states in which MMA has been legalized during the last 10 years? If you look at all the states that have legalized MMA since 2006 for example (the last year Unite Here donated to Reilly), all have Unite Here locals, in those states there was no resistance from the Unions. Why NY all of a suffen? Because it is Zuffa spin designed to attack their foes on another front." The war has mostly been waged between the union and the casinos, but now that blood is being shed on the UFC battlefield. Early last month, the Union sent a formal request to have the UFC investigated by the Federal Trade Commission on the grounds of violating antitrust law. The lack of anything like the Muhammad Ali Act is a concern. For example, much has been made on the issue of fighter pay when it comes to the discrepancy between MMA fighters, and boxers. While it remains an issue, the UFC has since made progress with the introduction of fighter insurance. Not to mention, the UFC does not enjoy boxing's luxuries: in boxing expenses are split between producer and promoter. So not only does Zuffa have to play the roles of HBO and Golden Boy Promotions (for example), but venues don't compete against one another to sponsor fights. Their respective economic models are drastically different, but that's not to say the Union's criticisms are without merit. Dana White can wear the white hat as well as he can wear the black hat. And if ever there was an indictment of his flaws as sincere liability, look no further than the AKA situation, where several of the world's top welterweights, and a future HW Champion stood on the brink of termination because of likeness rights over a video game of all things. As the original letter to the FTC explains, "Merchandise and ancillary rights agreements that require athletes to forfeit their image and likeness rights "in perpetuity," or forever. These far-reaching agreements deprive athletes of the freedom to make money from their own success and further bind them to Zuffa indefinitely." A letter is one thing (especially in this situation where the Union's motives are clearly political, as the UFC is not the transgressor), a formal investigation is another. But is that already happening? Is the UFC already under investigation by the FTC? It's possible. On October 7th, the Economist would elaborate on this possibiltiy , "Although the commission does not acknowledge its investigations until they have been completed, rival fight promoters say they have answered requests from the FTC for information about UFC. The $40m Strikeforce deal fell below the $66m threshold for an FTC investigation. But the commission could have launched one retroactively if it found evidence of abuse of monopoly power. Mr White has ducked questions about antitrust concerns, saying only that "there are a lot of people coming after us and taking shots at us." (If he were to admit publicly that UFC was being investigated, the FTC would then be able to discuss the case as well). The FTC will issue a statement, usually after about six months, if it has investigated a company and not found grounds to proceed. If UFC’s many rivals fail to weaken it through the executive branch, they can always turn to the legislature. It would take just a slight tweaking of the Muhammad Ali act to expand it to MMA as well, which would give fighters like Mr Fitch more leverage in dealing with the company. John McCain, the senator who sponsored the Muhammad Ali act, remains in office. He should probably expect a call from anti-UFC lobbyists sometime soon." Full article is here. While it'll be interesting to see what happens with the investigation, it's even more interesting to see how Zuffa would respond to a potential tweaking of the Muhammed Ali act: the kind of tweaking they couldn't buy their way out of.

Posted in: ufc, mma, state, union, york

Five Ounces of Podcast: Episode 4

Five Ounces of Podcast is back with Jeremy Lambert and Samer Kadi looking back at UFC 136. We’ll talk about all the fights including the awesome performance of Frank Edgar, the less than violent performance of Jose Aldo, the losing performance of Kenny Florian, and the terrible performances of Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan. Plus we discuss Chael Sonnen‘s post-fight promo and whether or not it was the greatest promo of all time, how Nam Phan vs. Leonard Garcia is not what MMA is all about, and how Joe Lauzon remains the greatest first-round fighter in MMA. Finally we quickly look back at Bellator 53 and look ahead towards Bellator 54 and the slow weekend in MMA. It’s two hours of MMA talk, so check it out. Download (Right Click-Save Link As) iTunes

Posted in: mma, performance, mike goldberg, jeremy lambert, first-round fighter

Tyrone Spong: Looking Toward MMA, K-1 Appearance in Question

Matt Roth made the trek to UFC 136 in Houston, Texas last week on behalf of MMA Nation, and was able to sit down with Tyrone Spong ahead of the event on Saturday. Keeping in mind kickboxing and MMA fans alike, the interview touched on Spong's place as an elite kickboxer, his future plans as they relate to kickboxing and MMA, and the state of things in the kickboxing world more generally. Perhaps the biggest revelation: Spong remains in conversation with MMA promotions as he considers transitioning into the sport. In truth, this is effectively an acknowledgement of something that many of us have known for some time. All signs have pointed toward Spong heading the way of MMA (at least in part), as he's made the move to America, worked in close proximity to top wrestlers, and become increasingly willing to speak about a possible transition into the sport (and increasingly visible to MMA fans). Since this interview, Spong has addressed the move to MMA on his Twitter account. Still nothing concrete, but it's evident he's looking in that direction. Further addressing the matter of kickboxers transitioning to other combat sports, Spong offers an interesting take on Badr Hari and Gokhan Saki as they look toward the sport of boxing. It's evident that Spong isn't so certain about the lofty expectations that Hari in particular seems to be setting. Spong is a gracious man, but it's his honest assessment of things and his points are well worth considering. As for kickboxing, Tyrone Spong will soon meet Melvin Manhoef under the It's Showtime banner. Fans have anticipated that he would be included in the upcoming K-1 World Grand Prix Final 16, but Spong indicates that he still hasn't been paid by FEG for his last K-1 appearances and he doesn't intend to fight until he's received payment. Check out the interview and be on the lookout for related news.

Posted in: mma, kickboxing, mma fans, spong, tyrone spong

W-1 fight card for 'Reloaded' set for BankUnited Center in Miami this weekend

Miami, FL (USA) – Warrior One MMA® (W-1®) unleashes a powerful lineup for its next event – "W-1: RELOADED" – to be broadcast live on GFL Combat Sports Network (GFL.tv) Sat., October 15, 8:00 p.m. ET. from the BankUnited Center located at the beautiful University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. Warrior One MMA® (W-1®) is pleased to announce the exciting addition and new co-main event bout between top-rated Miami lightweight Luis "Baboon" Palomino and his Orlando counterpart Edson "Little Tiger" Berto. This match was originally to happen under the Bellator banner. Through good relations and working closely with many of Bellator’s counterparts, Miami fans will now experience this explosive matchup close to home with W-1. After the disappointing news that Jeff Monson had to withdraw from the bout with Gabriel Gonzaga, Marcus Davis, moves to main event status as he takes on fellow Massachusetts native and TUF/UFC contender Chuck O’Neil. Presented for Fox Sports Net, this nationally televised epic battle promises to live up to the hype as it replaces the former main event. Mr. Gonzaga will now headline the next W-1 event on Feb. 25, 2012. Tickets for "W-1: RELOADED" are on sale now and will be priced at $225 (VIP Ringside), $150, $75 and $25. Tickets are available at BankUnitedCenter.com, Ticketmaster.com, charge-by-phone (800-745-3000) and all Ticketmaster retail locations. ABOUT WARRIOR ONE MMAWarrior One MMA (W-1) is an MMA production company headquartered in Toronto, ON, Canada. Founded in 2008 by successful entrepreneur and MMA specialist Jack Bateman, W-1 features experienced MMA athletes as well as up-and-coming talent. W-1's goal is to bring world class MMA events to North America while promoting the fastest-growing sport in the world (MMA). W-1 is unique to most other MMA organizations in that it was founded by a former mixed martial artist. This unique perspective has led to W-1's "Fighters First" philosophy. With this in mind, W-1 fighters are treated and respected as the epitome of professional athletes; training and performing at a level unparalleled in most other sports. W-1 believes that this concept will distinguish its fighters on a national level and create opportunities globally. With both a first-class track record and reputation, W-1 continues to grow in popularity in Canada and the United States. Continuing to build upon a strong base, W-1 is quickly rising to the top of MMA productions in 2011 and has ambitious plans for 2012 and beyond. With the recent addition of key executives, W-1 has created a new and exciting event structure, which will showcase new MMA athletes at regional events, providing them with a development opportunity to gain much-needed professional experience before elevating them to W-1's nationally televised event stage.

Posted in: mma, event, miami, bankunited center, mma &reg

Tyrone Spong Talks Moving to MMA, May Not Participate in K-1 Grand Prix

Tyrone Spong is a name that every kickboxing fan already knows. The multi-time Muay Thai champion and (former?) K-1 fighter is one of the most accomplished kickboxers in the world. He's also begun testing the waters in MMA, training with Rashad Evans at the team at Imperial MMA full time in the past year. Matthew Roth of MMA Nation caught up with Spong at UFC 136, and got some great information on his future in MMA and K-1. First up, the big news for K-1 fans - Spong makes it clear that, while he is currently scheduled to fight in the K-1 Grand Prix Final 16 later this month, that won't happen unless he gets paid the money he is still owed from last year's GP: As of now, nothing is sure. K-1 still has to pay me and other fighters too, so if that happens... This is potentially a crippling blow for the prospects of a 2011 K-1 Grand Prix. It's not just that losing Spong would be devastating (although, given the diminished field this year, his loss would absolutely further weaken the tournament). The greater issue is that Spong is managed by Simon Rutz and It's Showtime, the business partners to K-1 in this event. If Spong has not been paid and pulls out, then chances are good other It's Showtime fighters also have not been paid and could pull out. That would include tournament favorite Badr Hari, along with numerous other participants. Without these fighters, the Grand Prix is sunk. So with K-1 dying a slow death, is Spong planning a move to MMA? I'm looking to work with some professional big organizations. There are some negotiations with a few big organizations. I can't really say anything about it right now. I'm just getting ready. I owe Mo Lawal a lot. He's my very good friend. He introduced me to the states. Through him I got to learn to know Rashad Evans. He's one of my very close friends now. Very talented athlete. We worked with the whole Blackzilian team. I've moved over to Florida. It certainly would appear that Spong could be headed to an MMA cage soon. If he can focus his work with Rashad and his team on developing a decent ground game to compliment those superb striking skills, then Tyrone Spong could very easily make some serious noise in a place like Bellator or the UFC. He's definitely a fighter to watch out for. The full interview also has Spong's thoughts on Badr Hari making the move to boxing, and his love for dogs. Watch the interview in its entirety in the complete entry.

Posted in: mma, fighter, rashad evans, badr hari, spong

Kid Nate asks why MMA fans can slight the greatness of Frankie Edgar while they go wild for the...

Kid Nate asks why MMA fans can slight the greatness of Frankie Edgar while they go wild for the cheap stunts of Chael Sonnen. Read it at MMA Nation.

Posted in: mma, mma nation, chael sonnen, mma fans, frankie edgar

Jose Aldo and Frankie Edgar at UFC 136: further dissecting striking concepts in MMA

[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on LiverKick.com, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] The sport of Mixed Martial Arts began as a concept that pit practitioners of different forms of martial arts against each other. Eventually in the United States, this led to fighters starting to cross-train in other forms of martial arts to help defend against certain techniques or simply add it to their repertoire. The UFC and MMA have grown a lot from the early UFC events (we aren’t going to touch Japan, different beast entirely), to where MMA has almost become a style of its own, just as it has become a sport of its own.At UFC 136 there were two championship fights, and both showed different displays of striking prowess, with one fight ending in a decision and one fight ending in a knockout. What I find interesting to take away from the event is how Dana White was quick to declare Frankie Edgar as the best “Boxer” in the UFC and how quickly fans and media followed suit, with many declaring Frankie one of the elite strikers in the MMA world. I have to admit that I was taken aback, as after watching the Jose Aldo fight and how it was an impressive display of striking, I did not feel the same thing about the Edgar fight. The only difference to the naked eye was that the Edgar fight finished with a knockout, while Aldo took Florian to a decision.What needs to be established first and foremost is that knockouts happen in combat sports, and a knockout does not always mean a superior display of “striking.” Fighters like Joey Beltran and Leonard Garcia are fighters who primarily like to strike in their recent fights and put on strike-heavy fights at UFC 136, but I’m not sure I’d rate either as a very good striker. Beltran holds eleven wins by knockout and Garcia has three, and both men are quick to turn fights into brawls that showcase a lot of heart and wild punches, but that does not make for a good striker, and I feel like many understand this concept in these scenarios. People like watching Leonard Garcia fight, but not many will say he is a great technical striker.What needs to be established next is that “Boxing,” “Muay Thai” and “Kickboxing” are not lone attributes in a fighter’s toolbox. They are not videogame-like attributes that are assigned and can simply be explained as, “they have good Boxing.” Many have been lauding over Frankie Edgar’s boxing skills through simple phrases like, “Frankie Edgar’s Boxing is Great,” or “Frankie Edgar has the best Boxing in MMA.” Boxing, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Wrestling, Judo and everything else in the MMA universe are sports and styles unto themselves, and include many, many facets to them. Frankie Edgar knows how to move out of harm’s way and not get hit and he also has very sound technique when it comes to throwing his strikes. On the other side of the coin, he drops his left hand a lot or doesn’t keep it in tight near his chest to defend his chin, leaving him open to take damage from time to time, while his head is also mostly stationary. Another thing to note is that he also tends to focus on the head when he strikes, rarely changing levels. Read More...

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, edgar, frankie

TWIQ: MMA Quotes for the Week of October 2 - 8

THE WEEK IN CHAEL "Anderson Silva, you absolutely suck." - Chael Sonnen, talking to Joe Rogan after submitting Brian Stann at UFC 136. (UFC 136 telecast) "Super Bowl weekend, the biggest rematch in the history of the business, I'm calling you out Silva, but we're upping the stakes." - Sonnen, before brandishing a brand new middleweight WAMMA belt. "I beat you, you leave the division. You beat me, I will leave the UFC forever." - Sonnen. I love that there are people questioning whether Sonnen would really leave the UFC. Have you never watched pro wrestling? Loser-leaves-town stipulations NEVER stick. "I do not like Anderson Silva. But I do not wish anything bad in life for him. I want to beat him, I want to do everything I can to him in the ring but I hope he has a great life." - Sonnen NOTE: THE WEEK IN QUOTES IS SATIRE. MY TRIP TO LAS VEGAS IS NOT. ENJOY BLOODY BROOKHOUSE THIS WEEK. NEVERENDING STORY "It’s hard to say that it exists (a punishment by the UFC). Maybe so, maybe not, perhaps they’re keeping me on the sidelines, but I don’t believe that." - Lyoto Machida, on whether the UFC is holding out on him after asking for "Anderson Silva money." Meanwhile, back in Albuquerque... (Bloody Elbow) "So in reality, he's kind of the one who's ducking the fight. I feel like he's ducking the fight." - Jon Jones. After tentative plans to fight Rashad Evans at UFC 140, Jones will instead fight the aforementioned Machida. (MMA Fighting) "[Twenty-four] hours ago, my physician removed the pins. At that time, I learned that it would require another three weeks of rehabilitation before engaging in any exercise or training that would require the use of my hand." - Evans, who injured his hand in his victory over Tito Ortiz at UFC 133. (MMA Torch) "We play a similar game. He kicks, I kick, he punches and goes to the ground, I can defend myself and take him down too." - Machida (Tatame) WHITE NOISE "He's actually quite pleasant on the phone. I can have a conversation with him forever on the phone now." - UFC President Dana White, on Brock Lesnar. The two anxiously await All My Children's move to the Online Network.(MMA Junkie) "I always thought he was the biggest waste of talent and he really turned that around and I’m happy to see it." - White, on his cousin's Walt's friend, Jesse Pinkman. (5thRound.com) "Nothing sucks worse than a draw, I hate it." - White (MMA Torch) "I have to run my business so if I have to yank him over here then I'll do it." - White (MMA Nation) "He's like the Arturo Gatti of MMA." - White, on Frankie Edgar. Do all the Arturo Gatti's of MMA receive power rings too? (MMA Mania) "He's the number two pound-for-pound fighter in the world, period." - White, again on Frankie Edgar. Six straight title defenses just don't mean what they used to. "I'm going to continue making moves that are stupid and will never work." - White (Houston Chronicle) PARTING SHOTS "I stay out of their beef, and I keep myself neutral to everything." - Melvin Guillard, a one-man Hamsterdam. (Sherdog) "A lot of it is really there to put a pace on you, put pressure on you and really distract you from what is coming, which is a world-class double-leg takedown that nobody seems to be able to stop." - Brian Stann, on Chael Sonnen. (USA Today) "If I go out and lay a turd..." - Joey Beltran, on his stool. (Heavy.com) "I do really good on improv." - Jon Jones. Yes, and?

Posted in: ufc, mma, ."&nbsp, week, sonnen

MMA on TV

Welcome to “MMA on TV”, Five Ounces of Pain’s weekly update on the upcoming MMA-broadcast schedule. Miss the latest episode of “MMA Live” or “UFC Unleashed”? Wondering when Showtime, Spike TV, or HDNet are airing a replay of their latest offering or interested in finding out where to tune into live shows occurring over the next seven days? October 10 – October 16 All Times Eastern Monday (10/10) Fight Vault: Shinya Aoki Special (Replay) on HDNet at 3:30pm Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields (Replay) on ShowtimeEX at 10pm Tuesday (10/11) MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 11:30am DREAM 17 (Replay) on HDNet at 3:30pm MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 4:30pm Shark Fights 2011 (Replay) on FuelTV at 8pm Wednesday (10/12) UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 3pm DREAM 17 (Replay) on HDNet at 3:30pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 4pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 5pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 6pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 7pm Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 7:30pm Art of Fighting (Replay) on MAVTV at 8:30pm UFC Unleashed (Premiere) on SpikeTV at 9pm MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 9:30pm The Ultimate Fighter 14 (Premiere) on SpikeTV at 10pm King of the Cage (Replay) on MAVTV at 10pm Thursday (10/13) The Ultimate Fighter 14 (Replay) on SpikeTV at 1am Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 1:30am Art of Fighting (Replay) on MAVTV at 2:30am King of the Cage (Replay) on MAVTV at 3:30am Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 12pm Titan FC 20 (Replay) on HDNet at 3:30pm Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 5pm WEC WrekCage (Replay) on VS. at 7pm UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson (Replay) on VS. at 8pm Friday (10/14) The Ultimate Fighter 12 (Replay) on SpikeTV at 9am The Ultimate Fighter 12 (Replay) on SpikeTV at 10am The Ultimate Fighter 12 (Replay) on SpikeTV at 11am The Ultimate Fighter 12 (Replay) on SpikeTV at 12pm DREAM 17 (Replay) on HDNet at 3:30pm Inside MMA (Premiere) on HDNet at 9pm Shark Fights 2011 (Replay) on FuelTV at 9pm M-1 Challenge: Guram vs. Garner 2 (Live Event) on Showtime at 11pm Saturday (10/15) Shark Fights 2011 (Replay) on FuelTV at 12am Inside MMA (Replay) on HDNet at 1am Inside MMA (Replay) on HDNet at 5am MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 12:30pm MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 5:30pm Bellator 54 (Live Event) on MTV2/EPIX at 9pm Bellator 54 (Replay) on MTV2 at 11pm Sunday (10/16) King of the Cage (Replay) on MAVTV at 11am King of the Cage (Replay) on MAVTV at 4pm UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson (Replay) on VS. at 9pm UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson (Replay) on VS. at 11pm MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 11pm

Posted in: mma, replay, pm, mavtv, spiketv

The MMA Wrap-Up: Post-UFC 136 Edition

Filed under: UFCAnother big event is in the books, but this it's not either of the two title fights from UFC 136 that has the MMA world buzzing. No, it's what happened on the mic rather than in the cage that has us all wondering, is Chael Sonnen serious? And if so, is that a good thing? We don't know, but we're going to do our best to get to the bottom of what it all means. Whatcha gonna do when the MMA Wrap-Up runs wild on you, brother?! Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mma, nbsp ;permalink, mma world, title fights, brother ?!

The MMA Hour With Gilbert Melendez, Nam Phan, Firas Zahabi, Zach Makovsky

Filed under: UFC, Strikeforce, MMA Fighting Exclusive, Bellator, VideosThe MMA Hour is back in your life on Monday for our 103rd episode. Here's who will be stopping by. * Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez will talk about where he will be fighting next and his thoughts on Frankie Edgar's win at UFC 136. * Nam Phan will discuss his win over Leonard Garcia on Saturday night and what's next for him. * Tristar trainer Firas Zahabi will discuss Kenny Florian's loss to Jose Aldo, Georges St-Pierre's title defense against Carlos Condit and his involvement with the Martial Arts for Heart charity. * Bellator bantamweight champion Zach Makovsky will stop by the studio to talk about his Bellator 54 non-title fight against Ryan Roberts. * And MMA Fighting's Mike Chiapetta will look at all the storylines coming out of UFC 136. 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, bellator, mma, mma hour, nam phan

Luke Thomas is hosting MMA Nation live on 106.7 The Fan in Washington, D.C. starting at 9 p.m. ET...

Luke Thomas is hosting MMA Nation live on 106.7 The Fan in Washington, D.C. starting at 9 p.m. ET tonight. Matt Mitrione will be his guest and he'll also be looking back at UFC 136. How to Listen If you're in Washington, D.C. tune your radio dial to 106.7 FM To stream over the Internet, 106.7 on Radio.com Mobile devices - Cherry Player App for Droid or AOL Radio App for iPhone For a look inside the studio, On ustream.tv How to Interact Call the show TOLL FREE: 1-800-636-1067 Register at MMA Nation and leave a comment luke.thomas@sbnation.com

Posted in: mma, mma nation, nation, player app, d.c

Hop on EA MMA tonight for a chance to be in the final Live Broadcast

In a little over two hundred and forty hours, the final EA MMA Live Broadcast will be going down on Xbox 360 and PS3. It's a bittersweet goodbye on the one year anniversary of EA MMA's launch, but the night will fueled by the culmination of The Rise to Greatness tournament, an invitation only 64 man tournament to crown the true and final king of EA MMA. Participants include a who's who in the EA MMA community: former MiddleEasy champions Tha Premiere and RUSHstPierre, as well as Brotha Lynch and other top players on the EA MMA leaderboard. After a few hectic months of fights, The Rise to Greatness tournament will finally come to a conclusion at the final Live Broadcast on October 19th. We thought you should get to know the personalities behind the fighters, so this weekend I flew to Australia to interview one of the final four combatants in this epic tournament Ricky Huxtable. Here is what he had to say about himself. "My name is Ricky I'm 25 yrs old. I live in Geelong, Australia, and it is an honour to be considered as one of the best in this game, it is still a little overwhelming, never thought I would make it this far. But I practice a lot in fightcards with bdogg,kingseyton, mauler, jon-doe the list could go on. I guarantee none of them take it easy on me so it keeps me on my toes and ready...the most exciting thing about this is, it is the last Live Broadcast and I couldnt be more privliged and proud to take part in the last LB and on top of that the main fight against Tooyoka. To get past all of the great fighters in the Last few LB's to make it this far is an achievement in itself...Wow. Gaming background: Well I love my fighting games, as soon as EA MMA came out and i saw the smoothness of the online play i quit every other game and focused all on MMA haha. What is your record in the bright lights of a Live Broadcast? I am pretty sure i am 4-1 now on LB, but I can only find 3-1 so not to sure. Ive had a lot of tourney matches to make the LB and succeeded in that, but yeah first ever fight I had on LB was against Da Bas Man which I lost due to KO that was a fair while ago. After that I was determined not to put on a display like that again, so the next chance I got I was going to triumph haha. Then I heard about The Rise to Greatness the best of the best, first on the list was Rolltider who I defeated via Ko to get the win and move on to the top 8. Next was Lord high MMA the commentators said we were both 2-1 at this stage that's why im unsure if my record is 4-1 or 3-1 I like 4-1 better. Me and lord high had a bit of a war going on so I was extra determined to put him out of the race and succeeded by GnP, to put myself into the top 4, me vs king seyton. I have a lot of respect for king we have fought many of times and no matter what the outcome of this fight I knew it was going to be clean and fair. Fortunately for me i was able to beat the king or (touchmypepe) again Via GnP to get into the top 2 and the Main Event of RiKsta Vs TooYoKa..., im still surprised I got here, there were a lot of great fighters to get through, and I'm pretty sure I was rated as an underdog for this which makes this even more exciting. There are a few spots left to get on this incredible Live Broadcast, hop on Xbox 360 and add MiddleEasy to your Xbox friends list. Sunday Night Fights starts at 10pm est!

Posted in: fight, mma, broadcast, ea, ea mma

Frankie Edgar Calls UFC 136 Win the Biggest of His Career

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosHOUSTON -- MMA Fighting spoke to UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar after he successfully defended his title on Saturday night by defeating Gray Maynard via fourth-round TKO. Edgar talked about surviving another first-round assault from Maynard, how he regrouped, the finish, what's next and more. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, mma videos, nbsp ;permalink, edgar

Chael Sonnen Calls Anderson Silva a 'Coward' After UFC 136 Win

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosHOUSTON -- MMA Fighting caught up with Chael Sonnen following his UFC 136 win over Brian Stann. Sonnen discusses the victory, his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, if he felt any ring rust and if he thinks Anderson Silva will agree to a rematch and much more. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, anderson silva, chael sonnen, sonnen

Anthony Pettis Wanted to Show World He Could Wrestle

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosHOUSTON -- MMA Fighting caught up with Anthony Pettis after his split decision win over Jeremy Stephens at UFC 136. Pettis discusses his performance, expectations after his "Showtime" kick, if he regrets taking the Clay Guida fight and much more. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mma, anthony pettis, petti, mma videos, split decision

Tasty gambling odds/lines for upcoming big #UFC fights @FightOdds

There's a lot of odds to chew on for upcoming big MMA fights. Let's take a look at them and see how the betting public is responding.

Posted in: fight, mma, ufc fights, mma fights, odd

ESPN MMA Live: UFC 136 Preview

On this week’s edition of ESPN MMA Live, Jon Anik and crew preview UFC 136. ESPN MMA Live Archive If you have trouble playing the video, you can also watch it on ESPN.com.

Posted in: ufc, mma, espn, espn mma, jon anik

Bosse KO's Alexander in Instinct MMA debut

Former hockey tough guy Steve Bosse knocked out former UFC fighter Houston Alexander on Friday in the main event of the Instinct 1 MMA event

Posted in: mma, event, instinct, bosse, bosse ko

ESPN MMA Hot Button: Which Challenger Can Leave Champ at 136?

Every week inside ESPN.com's MMA section, two scribes debate the most pressing issues in the sport in the Hot Button. This week, Sherdog.com Administrative Editor Jordan Breen and ESPN.com's Franklin McNeil debate which title challenger at UFC 136 has the best chance to leave Houston with UFC gold.. Will Gray Maynard replicate his first round from last January against Frankie Edgar and take the lightweight strap? Or will the third time be the charm for Kenny Florian as he challenges Jose Aldo at 145 pounds? Click here to read the latest ESPN MMA Hot Button.

Posted in: mma, espn mma, button, mma section, scribes debate

Melvin Guillard: "I'm the Donald Trump of MMA." Hear it at MMA Nation.

Posted in: mma, mma nation, melvin guillard, donald trump, trump

Friday Link Club: UFC 136 Preview

UFC 136 Event Primer | NBC Sports Frankie Edgar’s record against everyone not named Gray Maynard: 13-0. But against Maynard: 0-1-1. He’s been a puzzle Edgar has not been able to solve. In their last fight, Edgar was nearly knocked out in the first round but battled back to salvage a draw. Edgar took the positives of the last four rounds as a learning experience, and hopes tightened defense along with speedy footwork will keep him from a similar predicament this time around. In the back of his mind, Edgar knows that he took Maynard’s biggest shots and survived, and that has to be a confidence booster. UFC 136 Breakdowns: Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard, Jose Aldo vs. Kenny Florian | MMA Fighting Frankie Edgar has spent the last year of his fighting life focusing on just one man: Gray Maynard. Being forced to return his attention to the same task over and over hasn’t driven him crazy, but even the mild-mannered lightweight champion has had just about enough. UFC 136 Fight Card: Ranking the Best Fights on the Card| Bleacher Report The card for Saturday night is one of the most stacked cards of the year and could very well be the best event of 2011. Aside from both title fights, we will also see Anthony “Showtime” Pettis, who rarely disappoints, as well as the always-entertaining Melvin Guillard, and the return of Chael Sonnen. UFC 136 Breakdown: The Undercard | Five Ounces of Pain If there were ever any lingering doubts as to the importance of marquee superstars in the sport of MMA, this Saturday’s UFC 136 will serve as a useful — but perhaps unfortunate — reminder. On the whole, this card is light-years superior to its PPV predecessor, UFC 135. And yet, despite two championship bouts complimented by a stellar undercard, this weekend’s event isn’t generating the kind of hype worthy of a show of this magnitude. Nevertheless, from top to bottom, UFC 136 offers arguably the most robust lineup of mouth-watering fights we’ve seen this year. Dana White Issues Challenge to Kenny Florian | 5thRound “Jose Aldo is a finisher,” White stated during Wednesday’s UFC 136 pre-fight press conference. “He comes in to either take your legs out or knock you out. He’s 100 percent the whole time he’s in there, and so is Kenny Florian. “I’m not gonna get into … everybody knows what I’ve said about Kenny in title fights. I want to see Kenny prove me wrong on this one.” Hired Hero: An MMAmania interview exclusive with UFC 136 fighter Brian Stann (part two) | MMA Mania “The fact of the matter is, I don’t care who you are. If I hit you on the chin, there’s a good chance you’re going out. Anderson possesses that same ability. He’s only a man. I don’t put any fighter on a pedestal of being unbeatable. I train with guys like Jon Jones every day who is every bit as devastating.” Hot Potato: 25 Photos of Stacey Hannant, Blonde BAMMA Bombshell | Cage Potato “Stacey Hannant is a 19-year-old British glamour model from Doncaster, England, who has recently been holding round-cards for BAMMA alongside Zoe James and Georgia Graham — and if you ask us, she might be the most stunning of the three. Check out this gallery of our favorite Stacey Hannant photos. (Things get a little NSFW near the end, so be careful.)” Vitor Belfort says he’s still the man to KO Anderson Silva, picks Overeem to beat Lesnar | LowKick Multi-time UFC Champion Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort shared thoughts about the variety of topics, including the potential rematch with Anderson Silva and the upcoming Heavyweight blockbuster between Alistair Overeem and Brock Lesnar. According to Belfort, Anderson Silva’s kick was a “lucky moment”, and that he’s still the man to KO “The Spider”. As far as Overeem vs. Lesnar goes, Belfort picks The Demolition Man to defeat Brock Lesnar en route to becoming the next UFC Heavyweight Champion. Is the state of MMA’s heavyweight division lacking in quality? | Fight Opinion November & December features two of the most high-profile heavyweight fights in the history of the sport with Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos and Alistair Overeem vs. Brock Lesnar. Outside of those individuals (alongside with Josh Barnett & Daniel Cormier), the current heavyweight picture is lackluster in comparison to other weight classes. Shogun Rua thinks Dan Henderson is the favorite at UFC 139 because he defeated Fedor | MiddleEasy “He has heavy hands indeed, he can punches you in such a way that leads you to a knockout. We’re two guys who go for the KO, it’ll be a good for the MMA fans. He doesn’t like to play it cool, he wants to fight hard, so it’ll be a great bout for the fans to watch.” “No, he’s the favorite. Dan Henderson is the favorite, he defeated Fedor.” Culinary Workers Union creates anti-UFC website  | TheFightNerd Maintained by the Culinary Workers Union, Local 226, the website uses the acronym of UFC to stand for “Unfit For Children” instead of the “Ultimate Fighting Championship.” Dana White’s many rants are listed in detail on this page across a series of sub-categories, including “Obscenities”, “Slurs” which features many of the comments DFW directed at Loretta Hunt among others, “Cheap Shots” which focuses on remarks about random people involved in entertainment and sports, and “Other $#@%!!!” which documents rude comments that UFC fighters have said about others, including Chael Sonnen’s negative thoughts on Brazil. UFC.com traffic on the Decline? | MMA Payout So here we have three different independent analytic services that are all in one way or another indicating a decline in visitor traffic for the UFC.com website. It’s really no surprise though as these results are indicative of the kind of 2011 the UFC has had with PPV buyrate averages falling and television ratings on a bit of a decline. We can now see some decrease in the promotions Internet based audience.

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

The Friday Morning MMA Link Party

It's Friday, Friday, getting down with Friday. Hopefully you won't face life's most troubling questions like 'which seat to take' in your underage friend's convertible like Rebecca Black. You've made it to the end of the week without shoving a pencil in someone's throat. Reward yourself by attending our Friday Morning MMA Link Party. [list class="bullet-6"] [li]Could Stipe Miocic Be UFC's 'Next Great Heavyweight'? [MMAFighting] "If you have a computer and a Facebook account -- and the mere fact that you are reading this suggests that you have at least one of those things -- you might want to be sure and tune in to Saturday's UFC 136 prelims. If several trainers and MMA insiders are to be believed, that's where you could catch a glimpse of a very bright prospect in the UFC's heavyweight division." [/li] [li]The Eight Greatest Pranks in ‘Ultimate Fighter’ History. [CagePotato] "In the early days of The Ultimate Fighter, simply spraying water on a sleeping person was considered a brilliant prank. But after 14 seasons, the bar has been steadily raised for in-house trickery, to the point where even the coaches are now gleefully stripping cars of their tires. We thought we’d pay tribute to the TUF prank tradition by running down the most infamous pranks of the show’s history. Enjoy, and let us know if we’ve left out any of your favorites…" [/li] [li]Kenny Florian doesn’t care where people rank Jose Aldo. [Fives Ounces of Pain] "Kenny Florian has been training to win a UFC title for the better part of his MMA career. Saturday night, Florian gets his third shot at accomplishing that dream when he meets Jose Aldo for the UFC featherweight crown at UFC 136. “Ken Flo” has lost twice in his quest to claim the UFC lightweight title, falling to Sean Sherk and B.J. Penn. Those defeats, along with a loss to Gray Maynard..." [/li] [li]Rashad Evans understands the reasoning behind Jones vs. Machida. [LowKick] "Rashad Evans, who looked like he would be in next in line to face Jones, offered his take on the turn of events, "After my last fight against Tito Ortiz, I dislocated my right thumb, which required it to be set back in place and held with pins. 24 hours ago, my physician removed the pins. At that time, I learned that it would require another three weeks of rehabilitation before engaging in any exercise or training that would require the use of my hand." [/li] [li]High stakes for Sonnen, Stann. [NBC Sports] "It was all part of a very rough year for Sonnen, who started it all off with a middleweight title loss to Anderson Silva. The troubles cost him dearly. Not only did he lose out on several potential paydays after being suspended. Not only did he have his reputation damaged by his legal woes. But he also lost out on an expected championship rematch with Silva after being suspended by the UFC." [/li] [li]Dana White Talks UFC 136, Middleweight & Lightweight Title Pictures, Gilbert Melendez, Matt Hughes, Dual Events & More. [MMAConvert] "Rundown of news and notes from Dana White’s chat with reporters following today’s UFC 136 press conference. Also, Dana White’s interviews with MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani and Heavy.com’s Megan Olivi." [/li] [li]Third Time’s the FINAL Charm for Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard. [5th Round] "If posting a 2-1-1 record against Maynard is Edgar’s lifelong goal, which it likely isn’t, UFC president Dana White (Pictured) professed there will not be a fourth tango between the two – regardless of what goes down during their trilogy this Saturday." [/li] [li]4 Trilogies That Need to Happen After Edgar-Maynard [Bleacher Report] "This weekend will host UFC 136 , one of the most anticipated cards of the year, headlined by a third bout between UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and No. 1 contender Gray Maynard..." [/li] [li]Worst UFC Cake Ever… again! [The Fight Nerd] "Last December, I did a post about the worst UFC cake ever. Little did I know that this was not an isolated incident, and some other poor sap purchased their very own awful cage-fighting pastry. Created by Casa D’Cake, this abomination features a thin licorice fence with a three-dimensional logo, and most importantly two fighters cuddling." [/li] [li]UFC 136: Brian Stann only need five seconds to knockout Chael Sonnen [MMAMania] "I think people are underestimating me. I'm a difficult guy to wrestle to the ground. I'm also a difficult guy to hold on the ground. Chael's the best at doing those things so we're gonna find out quickly. People forget that I train with the best guys in the world." [/li] [li]Ed Soares: Machida wanted to fight Dan Henderson, Anderson/Henderson 2 almost happened [FightOpinion] “They never talked to us about that. As a matter of fact, I found out about it when Dana announced it and I was like, ‘really? they never mentioned it…’ But I texted Dana right away and said, ‘hey, even though you guys didn’t ask us, we accept.’ So, it was all good.” [/li] [li]MFC signs deal with TSN. [MMAPayout] "Maximum Fighting Championships has signed a one year deal with Canadian sports network, TSN according to the Edmonton Sun. The article reports that TSN approached MFC owner Mark Pavelich as the network wanted an MMA property for its network." [/li] [/list]

Posted in: ufc, mma, li, friday, [/ li

MMA Link Parade

- It's true, Chael Sonnen is the most interesting man on the planet. [Middle Easy] - Edgar-Maynard trilogy unlikely, but necessary. [Sports Illustrated] - The eight greatest pranks in 'Ultimate Fighter' history. [CagePotato] - Kenny Florian doesn't care where people rank Jose Aldo. [Fives Ounces of Pain] - Rashad Evans understands the reasoning behind Jones vs. Machida. [LowKick] - High stakes for Sonnen, Stann. [NBC Sports] - Dana White talks UFC 136 & more. [MMA Convert] - Third time's the fInal charm for Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard. [5th Round] - 4 trilogies that need to happen after Edgar-Maynard [Bleacher Report] - Worst UFC cake ever... again! [The Fight Nerd] - Viewer's guide to UFC 136. [Sports Illustrated] - UFC 136: Brian Stann only needs five seconds to knockout Chael Sonnen [MMA Mania] - Ed Soares: Machida wanted to fight Dan Henderson [Fight Opinion] - MFC signs deal with TSN. [MMA Payout] Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, sport, rashad evans

Latest UFC/MMA news and notes from around the web for the week of October 1, 2011

Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Renzo Gracie and Frankie Edgar pictured above, we can all "get along." Teaming up with MMA sites like MiddleEasy, Cage Potato, Fight Opinion and Five Ounces of Pain, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport. This week, Dustin Niece shares a blog about TUF season 14 with The Fight Nerd, Cage Potato shares seven of the most insanely dangerous combat sports ever thought up and MMA Fighting's Ben Fowlkes explains who needs a win at UFC 136 to keep their job The full list of links is after the jump. - Gray Maynard: I took a piece of Frankie Edgar's chin at UFC 125 (LowKick) "I took a piece of that chin in the last fight. You can't do that in too many fights. There's some heavy-hitters now, you've got Ben Henderson, Gilbert Melendez, Cowboy Cerrone, etc. You've got a lot of guys that have some power now. If you can keep away from that, that's good, but if you do get hit, there's only so many times that you can do a fight like that." - Chiappetta's Primer: UFC 136 edition (NBC Sports MMA) If things had worked out a bit differently, Anthony "Showtime" Pettis might have been headlining UFC 136. Instead, he's on the prelims against the dangerous Jeremy Stephens. Pettis is still a highly regarded young talent, but the power striker Stephens is a dangerous opponent. The lightweight division is long on talent, so Pettis has to win or risk being left behind. - The seven most insanely dangerous combat sports ever invented (Cage Potato) "Over the past two decades, Mixed Martial Arts has evolved from a no-holds-barred freak show to a heavily regulated, network television ready enterprise that is accepted by a large slice of the general public. But even with the sport's modern improvements and safeguards, there are still detractors who contend that MMA is nothing more than low-bred street-fighting operating under the guise of an organized competition...[W]e thought we'd give the MMA critics some perspective by presenting a list of the most brutal and dangerous combat "sports" ever invented. From shock-fighting to bear-baiting, they defy logic, celebrate gratuitous violence, and remind us just how far the human race has come." - Grappling with Issues - 10/5/11 (Five Ounces of Pain) Should Gilbert Melendez get an immediate UFC lightweight title shot? Lambert: No, only because the winner of Guida vs. Henderson definitely deserves a title shot based on their track record. While Melendez is one of the best lightweights in the world, I don't think he should jump the winner of that fight and get a title shot. - The Cut List: Who's in desperate need of a win at UFC 136? (MMA Fighting) UFC 136 may be the rare event to include two title fights, but that doesn't mean there aren't still some men fighting for their livelihoods in Houston this Saturday night. We all know that professional pugilism isn't the line of work you go into if you really crave job security, but some of this weekend's competitors are on much shakier ground than others, and it might take only one more loss to send them plummeting into the void of unemployment. Who are they, and what are their chances to revive their careers with a win at UFC 136? For answers, we turn to The Cut List. - Roland Delorme discusses Akira and Neace's growing feud on The Ultimate Fighter 14 (5thRound) After the team picks and the first fight, we started to get comfortable in the house and things started become routine; eat, train, sleep, repeat. Even the beef between Akira Corassani and Dustin Neace was becoming routine. It wasn't just for cameras, either. They truly hated each other, but it was all Akira's fault considering Dustin really did nothing but be himself and Akira seemed to see weakness in that, which is a huge mistake. - Lyoto Machida was at a birthday party when he accepted the fight against Jon Jones (MiddleEasy) "I was at a birthday party last night and I heard I'd be fighting Jon Jones. I accepted immediately, I couldn't announce it at the time, though. Ed and Joinha told me to hold the information and it was complicated, I had to stop talking at all (laughs). In the morning I want to give a class and, when I came back, the contract was there for me to sign it. It was a reason for me to be happy, because that's why we enter these battles for." - TUF Times Blog: Season 14, Episode 3 - with Dustin Neace (TheFightNerd) "I know people want to know about me and Akira but the truth is me and him got along great before the show started. The first time we were in Vegas for the tryouts, I thought he was funny and would consider him someone I could hang out with. He was always finding ways to make things happen that would just make you laugh so hard. The first few days in the house he was alright, then the team picks happened." - Is the state of MMA's heavyweight division lacking in quality? (Fight Opinion) "I mean, Andrei Arlovski's a good example... At one point in time it would have made sense to use Andrei Arlovski when he wanted to stand and knock guys out. He doesn't want to do that any more. I mean, that fight with Ray Lopez was disgraceful and the Travis Fulton fight is going to be a joke and it's going to be depressing to watch... and yet those are the kinds that fights that we're treated to over and over again." - UFC.com traffic on the Decline? (MMA Payout) One important indicator as to how popular a product or service is at a given time with the general public is to measure the size of their Internet audience, or how many visitors their website receives. We decided to take a look at website traffic statistics for UFC.com from the various leaders in the website analysis business. The hope here is get some better insight into the UFC's popularity trending over the past year through the promotions online presence. - UFC 140: Jon Jones vs. Lyoto Machida head-to-toe breakdown (BleacherReport.com/MMA) Now that their apparent rift is mended, Machida is back in the top contender spot. But regaining the title will be a tall order-both figuratively and literally-against the seemingly unstoppable Jones. Here's the head-to-toe breakdown for this sure to be exciting championship bout.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, time, sport

Healthy Patry back in MMA Montreal game

Stephane Patry is looking to build his latest promotion Instinct MMA in Montreal. But after overcoming cancer he is just happy to be alive.

Posted in: mma, stephane patry, patry, montreal, cancer

5 Oz. MMA Link Club

Welcome back to another edition of “MMA Link Club”, Five Ounces of Pain‘s weekly smorgasbord of offerings from our brothers and sisters in the MMA community. This week we’ve offered up a double-dose of MMA-related goodness based on all the excellent material out there to choose from. Enjoy… Jeremy Stephens’ Latest Video Blog Before Facing Anthony Pettis at UFC 136 (LowKick.com) Mark Hominick Ready to Carry on the Legacy of Shawn Tompkins (Fightline.com) UFC Featherweight Jason Young Doesn’t Care What Michihiro Omigawa Has Done in the Past (MMATraining.com) Bellator Ring Girl Mercedes Terrell Looking Fantastic As Always (CagePotato.com) It’s the Sport’s Most Interesting Man – Chael Sonnen (MMAMania.com) A Look at What Flyweights Have to Offer the UFC (MMAConvert.com) A History of MMA in the Nation’s Capital (TheFightNerd.com) Ryan Bader vs. Jason Brilz Set for Spike TV Prelims at UFC 139 (Fighters.com) Dana White Issues a Challenge to Kenny Florian (5thRound.com) Zuffa Shows Sense of Humor with New UFC 136 Promo (MMAPayout.com) Brian Stann and Chael Sonnen in a High Stakes Scrap this Weekend (NBCSports.com) Sonnen Says He Was Penalized for Using a Legal Substance (FightOpinion.com) 25 “Can’t Miss” Fights Coming Up in the Next Three Months (BleacherReport.com) A Conversation with Dana White on All Things UFC Live 6 and Beyond (MMAFighting.com) MMA in a Castle. Seriously. (MiddleEasy.com) A Look Back at UFC Live 6 and Ahead to UFC 136 (FightLinker.com) PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, mma, video blog, sonnen, michihiro omigawa

Brydon on MMA: Expect fireworks in Montreal

The inaugural event for Montreal’s newest mixed martial arts promotion Instinct MMA is a go and will likely feature some slugfests.

Posted in: mma, brydon, art, montreal, montreal ’s

Derek Brunson vs. Nate James slated for Strikeforce Challengers 20 (MMAJunkie.com)

A middleweight bout between undefeated Derek Brunson (8-0 MMA, 2-0 SF) and veteran Nate James (13-7-1 MMA, 1-0...

Posted in: mma, nate, middleweight bout, nate james, derek

A Royal Duchess is hosting an MMA fight inside of her castle this month

I've been inside Caerphilly and Cardiff castle which makes my castle count approximately two castles higher than your castle count. It's nothing to be ashamed about. When you're in a castle, you just realize that it's just one massive structure without air-conditioning. Everything is made of stone and all the stairs take unnecessary and confusing turns. All castles were obviously built by the set designers for Pee-Wee's Playhouse. 52-year-old Duchess of Northumberland (or as my neighbor said, 'That English MILF chick') plans to host a televised MMA card inside her Alnwick Castle at the end of this month. For all of you Harry Potter fans, yes that's the same castle that was the backdrop of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft And Wizardry. The Telegraph has more on the 'Royal Castle MMA' story. The Duchess, who has been boxing for years as well as learning to fight with sticks, has seen cage fighting only on television, but she has some strong views about its merits. “Have you seen Alex Reid – Jordan’s guy?” she asks. “Well, it’s that. Boxing. A bit of kick-boxing. All sorts of martial arts but within a cage. “You’re not just given a knuckle-duster and told to kill your opponent. There’s an art to it. It’s incredibly disciplined. And that discipline is the same thing you get in the Army. “It’s too easy for someone in London to say, 'Typical, off she goes again with her cage fighting.’ But let them come to the North East. They don’t understand the communities up here. We have our own problems and we deal with them our own way.” The cage-fighting evening, on October 21, featuring the Northern Free Fighters and Team Shotai Kai, will raise money for Help for Heroes. Let it be widely known that I've never watched a Harry Potter film, but I have watched every episode of Project Runway this season. If you put forth a little effort, you can find an interesting video of Anya Ayoung-Chee from the show together with Ms. Japan back in 2009. [Source]

Posted in: mma, cage, castle, castle count, project runway

Hottest MMA reporter alive

submitted by killzy707 [link] [7 comments]

Posted in: mma, killzy, mma reporter, reporter

Jordan Breen Sounds Off on Mario Yamasaki, and the State of Refereeing in MMA

UFC on Versus 6 was a bizarre twilight zone episode of referee decision making. A card that saw Mario Yamasaki allow Rafaello Oliveira take gobs of punishment at the hands of Yves Edwards, but couldn't even turn to look at Charlie Brenneman after getting kicked in the head. If there's one thing you can count in this sport, if there's any axiom in the MMA world, it's the inevitable incompetence its officials shower the sport with. While I don't agree that the Brenneman stoppage was the travesty Breen paints it out to be, he raises a fair point about 'what might have been' were the same attitude present during Edgar/Maynard II, which would have surely robbed fans of one of gutsiest (if not the gutsiest) performances of all time. I didn't transcribe everything, but below is most of what Jordan Breen had to say on his show yesterday: "The Yamasaki brothers did an incredibly poor job of referring this past weekend...And then that of course filters down to the Mario Yamasaki's stoppage in the Charlie Brenneman vs. Anthony Johnson fight. That one has been a bit more contentious...a lot of people have said 'oh Brenneman was out of the fight, he looked helpless'...I don't care. All you need to know about that stoppage is watch it again, and watch the fact that not once does Mario Yamasaki have any idea what's happening to Charlie Brenneman. He sees him get hit, and that's it. He doesn't look at his face. He doesn't look at his body language. He mkaes zero attempt to ascertain whether or not the fighter on the ground is still in possession of his faculties. The problem is, no one ever says anything because fans and media don't want to sound like psychotic barbarians calling for guys to spill blood everywhere. Everyone likes to say 'oh I'd rather see a guy take two punches too few than two punches too many'. But that's a false dilemma. Refereeing is a tough job. It doesn't have to be that way. You can see a guy take punches and make everyone feel like this fight was concluded properly...the ultimate problem is that there's never gonna be any hard evidence for what constitutes a good stoppage because we use a standard like intelligent defense, which is abstract, baseless, and doesn't necessarily inform us of what constitutes an appropriate way to stop a fight. However, the good thing is that MMA fans have that kind of feeling. The famous example is Justice Potter saying 'I'll know it when I see it' about pornography. If Potter Stewart is the standard we have to go by, so be it. Because the sense is, in general, MMA fans tend to agree about good stoppages and bad stoppages, which tells me that somewhere, people acquire that sense of 'I know it when I see it'...you know when a guy's done...it's the same thing in boxing. A good referee is supposed to have that sense. If you don't have it, don't referee. Mario Yamasaki is a good example of someone who's been around forever and is not a good referee. Two weeks ago he refereed that Amazon Forest Combat card that was headlined by the Masakatsu Ueda vs. Royler Gracie fight and also featured the Paulo Filho vs. Satoshii Ishi debacle. In that card, he repeatedly stood people up out of side mount. Yamamsaki will get invited to Brazilian shows, and he'll go crazy all night. Repeatedly stand fights out of side mount, north south. Doesn't matter. Guys will be on the ground for 15 seconds, he'll stand them up. This guy's not a good referee. Who says anything? No one. Because Athletic commissions don't do anything. Because no one gives a rat's ass. The standard of officiating in mixed martial arts has gotten poor. Guy's are getting four seconds when the fight hits the mat, and when dudes get knocked down the fight's over. And that's not MMA. We don't want to engender a world where in order to fight, they have to take a lot of damage that compromises their health and livelihood....I'm certainly one of those who gets off on fighters being hurt. But the fact is, MMA is a fight....it is violent in its essence and core...it is confrontational and violent in its heart...and acting like it's not is the kind of disingenuous, panty wasted, limp wristed foolishness that has permeated MMA for the last few years. We're awaiting a weekend where Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard are gonna fight for the third time. Because the last time they fought, Gray Maynard beat Edgar within an inch of his life for 5 straight minutes within the first round, and he was able to keep going. What did he do? He put on one of the most impressive displays of toughness and fighting ability that I've ever seen. Something that defines his career."

Posted in: fight, mma, guy, yamasaki, mario yamasaki

UFC Targeting Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans for UFC 140 Main Event

Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, NewsHOUSTON -- Get ready for the grudge match. The UFC is targeting December's UFC 140 for the long-awaited Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans light-heavyweight title bout, MMA Fighting has learned from sources with knowledge of the situation. The fight is not yet official, but appears likely to be announced within the next 24-48 hours. UFC president Dana White told MMA Fighting that he could not yet announce a UFC 140 main event, but might possibly be able to do so by the end of the day. Before that can happen, at least one hurdle must be overcome. Evans has to be cleared from a hand injury suffered in his recent UFC 133 win over Tito Ortiz. That injury required pins to be inserted into his right hand, but Evans' coach Mike Van Arsdale told MMA Fighting that he was scheduled to visit the doctor on Wednesday and expected Evans to be cleared. Van Arsdale told MMA Fighting he had no knowledge of the rumored December date, but said a clean bill of health would make Evans' participation in a Dec. 10 fight feasible. "I think if they give us any date, I can get him ready to beat Jon," he said. "I'm not overly concerned about Jon like everyone else is. My fighter has the ability, tools and the determination to beat him. As long as he's healthy, and I have eight or nine weeks with him -- and it's right around that right now, that's all I need." Jones, meanwhile, is coming off his fourth-round submission win over Quinton "Rampage" Jackson at UFC 135 just two weeks ago. A bout at UFC 140 would mark a quick turnaround for the 24-year-old. If UFC officials could navigate these issues, Jones and Evans will finally bring their long-held grudge to the octagon. The two were infamously once teammates at the Greg Jackson camp in New Mexico before parting ways earlier in 2011. UFC 140 will take place in Toronto's Air Canada Centre. It will be the promotion's first time back since its massive Rogers Centre spectacle set records by drawing over 55,000 fans and an $11 million gate. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, jon, jone, evan

Cote helps launch Montreal-based Instinct MMA

Former UFC fighters Patrick Cote and Houston Alexander will be featured Friday as the Montreal-based Instinct MMA will hold its inaugural event.

Posted in: mma, houston alexander, montreal-based, cote, instinct

Bobby Lashley makes his Shark Fights debut against Darrill Schoonover in November

Bobby Lashley is finally ready to return to the cage. Sitting on the sidelines since March, Lashley signed a three-year deal with Shark Fights last month. Now he has his first opponent, Ultimate Fighter 10 competitor Darrill Schoonover, who might be best known to MMA fans as “Titties” a nickname given to him by Quinton Jackson on the reality show due to his man boobs. The bout is scheduled to go down on November 11. Lashley revealed the news in an interview with MMAFighting.com. The former pro wrestler is still spending time in a wrestling ring, having wrestled earlier this year in Japan and planning on wrestling a match in Canada later this year. The last time he was in a MMA cage, he picked up an uninspiring decision over natural middleweight John Ott. Prior to that bout, Lashley suffered his first MMA loss to Chad Griggs when he was unable to continue after the second round. He holds victories over Bob Sapp and another TUF 10 alum, Wes Sims. Schoonover is coming off a victory over Adam Padilla in July, winning by TKO in the first round. He was released from the UFC following a loss to James McSweeney at The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale and went on to lose three more fights before the victory against Padilla. *PHOTO CREDIT – ESTHER LIN/STRIKEFORCE*

Posted in: mma, lashley, bobby lashley, victory, james mcsweeney

MMA Meets Fantasy Football-Style Gameplay in New MMA Salary Cap Challenge

Washington, DC – For the first time in fantasy sports history, fans can play a game that brings the excitement of fantasy football to the fastest-growing sport in the world. FightMetric®, the official statistics provider of the UFC®, announced today the launch of the first-ever statistics-based MMA fantasy sports game, called MMA Salary Cap Challenge. The game is available at www.mmasalarycap.com where fans can now make their picks for UFC 136 taking place this Saturday, October 8th.“As MMA continues its maturation as a sport, FightMetric is proud to bring to it the same features that fans are used to enjoying in sports like football and baseball,” said company founder, Rami Genauer. “FightMetric was the first to bring comprehensive statistics and analysis to the sport and we are now the first to bring true fantasy gaming to mixed martial arts. Unlike existing MMA games that only use results, like winner and method of victory, MMA Salary Cap Challenge is a full, statistics-based game similar to fantasy football and baseball.”The game works just like other salary cap style fantasy games. Players are given a budget for each MMA event to spend on the fighters competing on the televised portion. To make fantasy gaming work properly with the unique nature of MMA, the game contains two innovative features:Players can purchase multiple “units” of fighters to fill their roster. This adds a layer of strategy while ensuring that every player’s picks are different, despite choosing from only 10 available fighters.The scoring categories in the game are all rate statistics, like Strikes Landed per Minute (SLpM). This is necessary to reward and avoid penalizing fighters who finish their fights quickly in favor of fighters who rack up high volume numbers simply by fighting longer.“This game is the product of more than two years of research and user testing,” Genauer said. “As the official statistics provider of the UFC, FightMetric was uniquely positioned to analyze its vast database of statistics in search of fantasy game models that really work for MMA. And like all the best games, MMA Salary Cap Challenge takes only a minute to learn, but has enough strategy and depth to keep players coming back event after event. “MMA Salary Cap Challenge is free to play at www.mmasalarycap.com and is currently in open beta.For more information about FightMetric please visit www.fightmetric.com or email info@fightmetric.com.About FightMetric, LLCStarted in 2007, FightMetric® is the world’s only comprehensive mixed martial arts statistics and analysis provider, and is the official statistics provider of the UFC®. FightMetric counts among its clients some of the largest media companies in the world, including ESPN, Aol, and Rogers Sportsnet. The company provides data and fantasy services, along with cutting edge research aimed at advancing the sport of MMA. FightMetric is based in Washington, DC.

Posted in: mma, fantasy, game, fightmetric, statistic

Read the full article at Fight Metric

TWIQ: MMA Quotes for the Week of September 25 - October 1

JON JONES UNDER SIEGE "I don't know how he got my number." - Jon Jones, on a call he received from Steven Seagal. I'm sure that conversation went swimmingly and was not strange at all. (The Jim Rome Show) "He was like 'Hey listen, I think you're gonna win the fight, and when I predict someone's gonna win I'm never wrong and there's some things I wanna go over with you.' It was all very strange." - Jones, on a separate conversation with Leland Roling. "I don't wanna bad mouth him too bad, he had good intentions, I think. But yeah, I definitely wasn't having Steven Seagal in my corner." - Jones, who didn't want to bad mouth Seagal too much or too little. He wanted to bad mouth Seagal just the right amount. "I could see if it was Jet Li or something, Jet Li would be pretty cool. I would definitely take that call, for sure." - Jones ...AND IT BEGINS "He's ruined my special night twice now. The time will come." - Jon Jones, on Rashad Evans entering the cage at UFC 135 to officially challenge him. (MMA Mania) "Think about how stupid that sounds. Like it's my idea to get in the cage. ... Say the UFC and Dana White ruined your night! We're selling a fight, stupid! Just shut up!" - Rashad Evans CAN WE GO BACK TO HATING LARRY MERCHANT AGAIN? "Anyone who can make a multimillion dollar business out of street fighting has to be respected." - HBO color commentator Larry Merchant, reacting to critical comments made by UFC President Dana White. Merchant, of course, being the same guy who called a world championship bout involving blatant headbutting, what some would call a sucker punch, and a 94-year-old curmudgeon wishing for a Delorean and threatening to kick the ass of an undefeated champion. But yeah, street fighting. (BoxingScene.com) "My opinion is that anyone is allowed to put up a tent, put on a show, and invite people to come." - Merchant. What a filthy old man you are, Larry. "I don't get a so-called sport in which you can have a 6-2 record and be called a world champion." - Merchant. Title belts, how do they work? THE WEEK IN CHAEL "I don't think that treatment for Anderson's problems is prohibited by the UFC, even right before a match. Some medications are limited, as you know, but Anderson is in a state of medical legitimacy because I don't think that Midol is prohibited, nor are chocolate or Gerard Butler movies. I have never personally had to deal with his sort of condition, but I feel for him and I really want to see what his top fighting form actually is, since we apparently haven't seen it yet." - Chael Sonnen (PaulLazenby.com) "I can't remember the last time that he didn't say he was hurt for a match, and it's starting to alienate the fight fans. So he should take care of himself when he's suffering, or else the public will be stuck with the same unengaging fights and lackluster victories until he either dies or finally hits menopause." - Sonnen "But the fact of the matter, whether I like to admit it or not, is he's done a better job than anybody, he's done a better job than me, and he's the champion. That's not going to stop me from sticking my finger in his chest, but at some point fairness has to kick in, and you have to look at what he's done, and tip your hat to him." - Sonnen (MMA Torch) WHITE NOISE "We’re going to bring Melendez over ASAP. We’re looking to bring him over now." - UFC President Dana White, on Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez. That would leave one Strikeforce division free from UFC poaching. (MMA Weekly) "When we go to Japan next year, we are going to be putting on a show at the same time in Las Vegas." - White, wanting to recreate Wrestlemania II. (Yahoo! Sports) "The fight in Japan would go live on free TV before the pay-per-view [in Las Vegas]." - White. So, are we talking about 20-fight, 8-hour UFC Saturdays? (MMA Torch) PARTING SHOTS "I’d be there in a heartbeat. Money doesn’t really mean nothing at this point, my money’s good, I’m happy with my money, if he told me to come fight for the same price, I would do it." - Gilbert Melendez, an excerpt from his new book "Negotiating for Dummies." (MMA Weekly) "One thing about him (Kawa), I didn't like him, because ... he talks too fast. When people try to talk too fast, they're trying to hide something. He talks down on people, like he's better than them." - Rashad Evans, on friend of Bloody Elbow Malki Kawa. (Pro MMA Radio) "The only way you really lose is if you come out of an experience and you don't take anything away from that." - Pat Barry. Trasnlated: The only way you really lose is if you still have yet to develop competent grappling defense ten fights into your MMA career. (MMA Mania)

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, jone, ."&nbsp

Bobby Lashley Reveals Next Opponent, Eyes Winner-Take-All Fight with Dave Bautista

Bobby Lashley has a name and a date for his next MMA fight, and his opponent will be a familiar face to fans of The Ultimate Fighter. On November 11 in Lubbock, Texas, Lashley will face TUF 10 contestant Darrill Schoonover for the Shark Fights heavyweight title, the former pro wrestler told Ariel Helwani on Monday's edition of The MMA Hour. It will be the first in his multi-fight deal with the Shark Fights organization, and Lashley hopes it will help build him back up after his short, unimpressive stay in Strikeforce. "I believe [Strikeforce CEO Scott] Coker said this, he said he doesn't believe that I want it," Lashley said. "...I have all the respect in the world for Coker, and he may have been right. Maybe I wasn't ready for Strikeforce at the time. ...I didn't have everything together and I wasn't training the way I should have." Lashley won his Strikeforce debut over journeyman heavyweight Wes Sims, but in his second bout with the organization he was undone by exhaustion against Chad Griggs. After starting strong against Griggs, Lashley suffered a cut and was later barely able to pick himself off the mat at the end of round two, prompting a stoppage that put the first blemish on his professional record. Back then, Lashley said, he thought he was in shape, but with the help of a new strength and conditioning coach he recently learned that "I was just in the wrong kind of shape." That was a little over a year ago, and Lashley rebounded in March with a win over John Ott in the Titan FC organization, but he still hasn't given up on the prospect of a rematch with Griggs. "I would like to get that fight against Griggs some day," Lashley said. "That's one thing that still burns in my stomach, is having that loss on my record." Another fight Lashley wouldn't mind is one with fellow WWE alum Dave Bautista, who was at one point rumored to be making his MMA debut in Strikeforce. That coming out party never materialized, but now that Lashley is with Shark Fights and Bautista is unsigned, Lashley has some ideas about how they could make it happen on a limited budget. "If we do the fight, let's do winner-take-all. Let's put one purse up there, winner takes all," said Lashley, who acknowledged that a bout between two former pro wrestlers might not be well received by every fight fan. "I'd love to fight Dave. I guess that's a super fight and that's a fight for maybe the wrestling fans. I don't know how well the MMA community would take it. I guess they would just sort of shrug their shoulders and say, 'whatever,' but I know it's a fight that a lot of wrestling fans would love to see." As for his long-term future in the sport, Lashley said he remains committed to proving that he is a serious fighter, and not just a pro wrestler dabbling in MMA. His conditioning program has been adjusted to meet the demands of the sport, he said, and he's spent a lot of time working on his stand-up skills and increasing his sparring load, despite not sparring at all before his last two fights. "I think it's good for me to get back there and try to prove myself. That's what I'd like to do. I'm not one to fight what someone else says about me. It's better to go out there and prove that, hey, I want to fight. I'm here, I'm taking this seriously, and I do want it," said Lashley. Ultimately, he said, he'd like to get back in the big leagues, which is easier said than done. "I want to get some fights in and I want to really prove myself in front of these guys, so that I can have that door open and maybe go back with Strikeforce or maybe talk to Dana White later on and get up there and do some big things and show what I'm really capable of doing," he said. Beating Schoonover wouldn't be a bad start. But considering Schoonover's 1-4 record since losing to James McSweeney in the TUF 10 Finale, it would most likely be the first step in a long journey. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: fight, mma, strikeforce, lashley, bobby lashley

Gray Maynard previews his UFC 136 lightweight title fight tonight (Oct. 3) on Pro MMA Radio

Pro MMA Radio returns TONIGHT (Oct. 3, 2011) at 9 p.m. ET right here on MMAmania.com featuring UFC lightweight number one contender Gray Maynard. "The Bully" will talk about his upcoming rematch against current division champion Frankie Edgar. Does Maynard think he'll have "The Answer" to beating the Edgar (again) at the upcoming UFC 136 pay-per-view on Oct. 8 in Houston? Find out tonight! Hosted by Larry Pepe, Pro MMA Radio is professional, guest-driven program that features some of mixed martial arts biggest names right here on MMAmania.com every Monday night through our exclusive live feed. Live feed begins tonight at 9 p.m. ET after the jump. Click the banner below or right here to listen to Pro MMA Radio. For more on UFC 136 click here.

Posted in: ufc, mma, radio, mma radio, guest-driven program

MMA on TV

Welcome to “MMA on TV”, Five Ounces of Pain’s weekly update on the upcoming MMA-broadcast schedule. Miss the latest episode of “MMA Live” or “UFC Unleashed”? Wondering when Showtime or HDNet are airing a replay of their latest offering or interested in finding out where to tune into live shows occurring over the next seven days? Read ahead and find out! October 3 – October 9 All Times Eastern Monday (10/3) MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 5am MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 10am MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 3pm The Voice Vs. Alistair Overeem (Replay) on HDNet at 4pm WEC WrekCage (Replay) on VS. at 8pm UFC Live: Kongo vs. Barry (Replay) on VS. at 9pm Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson (Replay) on ShowtimeEX at 10pm Countdown to UFC 136 (Premiere) on SpikeTV at 11pm Tuesday (10/4) MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 11:30am Art of Fighting (Replay) on MAVTV at 1pm Shooto Brazil: Fight For B.O.P.E. (Replay) on HDNet at 4pm MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 4:30pm Art of Fighting (Replay) on MAVTV at 6pm WEC WrekCage (Replay) on VS. at 8pm UFC Live: Lytle vs. Hardy (Replay) on VS. at 9pm Countdown to UFC 136 (Replay) on FoxSports at 11pm UFC Live: Lytle vs. Hardy (Replay) on VS. at 11:30pm Wednesday (10/5) Titan FC 20 (Replay) on HDNet at 4pm Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 7:30pm WEC WrekCage (Replay) on VS. at 8pm Countdown to UFC 136 (Replay) on FUELTV at 11pm Art of Fighting (Replay) on MAVTV at 8:30pm UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson (Replay) on SpikeTV at 9pm UFC Unleashed (Premiere) on SpikeTV at 9pm MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 9:30pm The Ultimate Fighter 14 (Premiere) on SpikeTV at 10pm King of the Cage (Replay) on MAVTV at 10pm Thursday (10/6) The Ultimate Fighter 14 (Replay) on SpikeTV at 1am Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 1:30am Art of Fighting (Replay) on MAVTV at 2:30am King of the Cage (Replay) on MAVTV at 3:30am Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 12pm Legacy FC 8 (Replay) on HDNet at 4pm Countdown to UFC 136 (Replay) on FoxSports at 5pm Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 5pm Countdown to UFC 136 (Replay) on FUELTV at 9:30pm Friday (10/7) Countdown to UFC 136 (Replay) on VS. at 1:30am Countdown to UFC 136 (Replay) on SpikeTV at 9am MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 10:30am MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 3:30pm Strikeforce GP Prelims (Replay) on HDNet at 4pm Countdown to UFC 136 (Replay) on HDNet at 8pm Inside MMA (Premiere) on HDNet at 9pm Shark Fights 2011 (Replay) on FUELTV at 9pm MFC 31: The Rundown (Live Event) on HDNet at 10pm Shark Fights 2011 (Premiere) on FUELTV at 10pm Saturday (10/8) Shark Fights 2011 (Replay) on FUELTV at 12am Countdown to UFC 136 (Replay) on HDNet at 1am Shark Fights 2011 (Replay) on FUELTV at 1am Inside MMA (Replay) on HDNet at 2am Countdown to UFC 136 (Replay) on FUELTV at 2am MFC 31: The Rundown (Replay) on HDNet at 3am Shark Fights 2011 (Replay) on FUELTV at 3am MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 12:30pm Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 1pm Titan FC 20 (Replay) on HDNet at 4pm Inside MMA (Replay) on HDNet at 5:30pm MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 5:30pm Countdown to UFC 136 (Replay) on SpikeTV at 6pm Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 6pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 7pm UFC 136 Prelims (Live Event) on SpikeTV at 8pm UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard 3 (Live Event) on PPV at 9pm Bellator 53 (Live Event) on MTV2/EPIX at 9pm Shark Fights 2011 (Replay) on FUELTV at 10pm Bellator 53 (Replay) on MTV2 at 11pm Sunday (10/9) Shark Fights 2011 (Replay) on FUELTV at 2am King of the Cage (Replay) on MAVTV at 11am King of the Cage (Replay) on MAVTV at 4pm MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 11pm

Posted in: ufc, mma, replay, pm, mavtv

Interview with Evolve MMA Founder Chatri Sityodtong

Evolve MMA in Singapore is home to some top talent such as Shinya Aoki and Rafael Dos Anjos and is also developing an entire crop of up and coming fighters like Bryan Choi, Eddie Ng and Zorobabel Moreira. The Evolve fight team's 2011 MMA record stand at 12-1 with wins at the UFC, Dream, One Fighting Championship and Dare Championship. That equates to a 92% win rate which very few teams consistently competing at such an elite level of MMA would be able to rival. The last wins came a couple of weekends ago when Alex Silva and Rodrigo Ribeiro both won by first round submission at Dare Championship 2/11 while Aoki defended his Dream lightweight title by defeating Rob McCullough. Next up is Dos Anjos who will be looking to move up the lightweight ladder when he takes on Gleison Tibau at UFC 139. Thai businessman Chatri Sityodtong is the founder and chairman of Evolve MMA and takes a very hands on approach, he can normally be found in his fighter's corner giving them advice and instructions. He spoke exclusively to MMAmania.com about how he founded Evolve MMA and has taken it to the point where it is widely recognized as being the top MMA academy in Asia. What is your martial arts background? I'm from Thailand and I've been doing Muay Thai for almost 25 years as a student, a fighter, a teacher, and a coach. Kru Yodtong Senanan (the Grandmaster of Sityodtong Camp in Thailand) has been my teacher since I was a kid growing up in Thailand. I've grappled for about three years. I'm not very good at it, but I love it and I have a Blue Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Renzo Gracie. As an MMA coach, I have taught and cornered fighters such as DREAM FC Champion Shinya Aoki (pictured below), UFC fighter Rafael dos Anjos, WBA Boxing World Champion Yodsanan Sityodtong, BJJ World Champion Zorobabel Moreira, MCFC Champion Mitch Chilson, BJJ World Champion Leandro Issa, ONE FC fighter Eddie Ng, and many others. The Evolve Fight Team has had a very successful year. Why do you think that is? In fighting, you are only as good as your team. For me, I believe that the best attract the best and the best produce the best. At Evolve MMA, we have a great family of world-class teachers...51 full-time instructors to be exact...17 of whom are World Champions in their discipline. Evolve MMA is the only MMA academy in Asia with current or former world champions in Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Mixed Martial Arts, Boxing, and No Gi Grappling. As the leader of Evolve MMA, I try my best to foster a strong cross-learning environment. I don't believe in MMA as a stand alone art. I believe that you have to learn each discipline deeply before applying it to MMA. Where do you find fighters and trainers and what is the selection process? In the early days of Evolve MMA it was much harder to recruit and I had to travel a lot to find talent. We've been lucky in that our win streak has given us a good reputation and today I get about 100 emails a week from fighters and coaches asking to join the Evolve Fight Team. It's mostly around Asia, but we've even gotten inquiries from the US, Australia, and Europe too. Every day I spend a couple hours a day scouring the globe for new talent. and when I spot someone we usually invite them to train with us for a tryout process. Other times, professional fighters just show up without any advance warning to try out for the team. In a nutshell, I am looking for fighters that Evolve MMA can turn into World Champions so I look at natural athleticism, gameness, coachability, humility, work ethic, body type, etc. Luckily, our retention rate has been 100%. We've never had a fighter or instructor leave us voluntarily. I try my best to invest my time in people that I truly believe in for the long run. Right now, I am still looking to recruit two to three wrestling champions for the Evolve Fight Team...NCAA D1 champion caliber. Who devises the Evolve MMA fighter training program? Is one person in overall charge? I am the leader of the Evolve Fight Team and I am ultimately responsible for everything. That being said, our day-to-day training is taught by our 51 instructors. When we have fights, I am the one who comes up with the game plan and strategy for each of our fighters. I've had some great input from friends who visited Singapore to train with us such as Renzo Gracie, Matt Hume, Rich Franklin (pictured below), etc, we regularly share knowledge with each other. And of course, all of our World Champions at Evolve MMA are walking encyclopedias on fighting. The wealth of knowledge at Evolve MMA is incredible, there is really so much cross-learning here. The Fighters Program at Evolve MMA is a constant work-in-progress; we are constantly trying to incorporate new methodologies into the training. I believe in continuous improvement. If you don't evolve, you wither away. Your send your MMA fighters to compete in Muay Thai fights, boxing matches and BJJ competitions, why is that? I don't believe in MMA as a discipline in itself. I believe that, to be truly great at MMA, you need to learn each individual discipline in depth. So I strongly encourage all of our fighters to compete in every discipline. The results have been quite good. For example, BJJ World Champion Zorobabel Moreira has fought a few times in professional Muay Thai in Thailand and his confidence in his standup game has skyrocketed. I mean if Zoro can hang in Muay Thai with a Thai fighter in Thailand, what can an MMA striker do to Zoro that he hasn't seen before? Those invaluable minutes in actual striking combat, coupled with his training under our Muay Thai World Champions, has translated into his excellent performances in MMA. Are you looking to recruit any more fighters or trainers at the moment? Yes, of course. I am constantly looking for new fighters and instructors every day, it's one of my top priorities. Evolve MMA has been growing rapidly and I am constantly looking for world-class talent. I can't say his name yet, but I just recruited a 21 year old Lumpinee Muay Thai World Champion to come train full-time in MMA. As a full-time employee at Evolve MMA, his only job will be to train and to fight for us. He will be training every day in BJJ, Muay Thai, Boxing, and Wrestling. He will be arriving at Evolve in late October. How exciting an opportunity is One FC for the Evolve MMA fighters? ONE FC is an excellent opportunity for our fighters. I hope the show succeeds because Asia is missing a world-class organization like ONE FC right now. I love DREAM FC and I hope it does well too. How much difference has Shinya Aoki made to the fight team since he joined earlier this year? I always look for win-win situations. Clearly, Shinya (pictured below) is one of the top lightweight MMA fighters in the world but if he wants to take his game to the next level, he needs a team like Evolve MMA. Here at Evolve MMA, Shinya is exposed to the best of the best in the world in each discipline and as a result, every aspect of his game has really improved dramatically - his striking, his takedowns, his ground game, etc. Shinya and I get along very well...we both share the exact same philosophies in martial arts. We are both martial artists, not fighters. A fighter only trains when he has a fights but a martial artist trains every day with the purpose of perfecting his craft. We both believe strongly in continuous improvement. On the flip side, Evolve MMA is also lucky to have Shinya; he has shared his wealth of MMA experience with the rest of the Evolve Fight Team and he's a very unselfish teammate. He's always trying to help everyone on the team. This incredible cross-learning environment is the heart of what the Evolve Fight Team is about. As the saying goes, iron forges iron. How many months a year does Rafael Dos Anjos spend in Singapore? Rafael spends a few months a year in Singapore. His Muay Thai game has really skyrocketed. I truly believe that he has what it takes to become a UFC World Champion. For more information about Evolve MMA visit www.evolve-mma.com If any NCAA Division One level wrestlers are interested in being offered a very competitive salary to join the Evolve MMA fight team they can contact me here.

Posted in: world, mma, fighter, champion, .&nbsp

The MMA Hour With Frankie Edgar in Studio, Guillard, Lashley, Lucas

Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, VideosThe MMA Hour is back in your life for the 102nd time on Monday, and this time we'll be joined in studio by a UFC champion. * Lightweight king Frankie Edgar will stop by to discuss his title defense on Saturday night against Gray Maynard at UFC 136 in Houston. * Melvin Guillard will discuss his UFC 136 lightweight fight against Joe Lauzon and his place in the 155-pound division. * Heavyweight Bobby Lashley will reveal where and when his next fight will take place. * Women's MMA fighter Amanda Lucas, the daughter of Star Wars creator Georges Lucas, will discuss her budding MMA career. * MMA Fighting's Ben Fowlkes will look back at UFC on Versus 6 and ahead to UFC 136. 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, video feed

Asian MMA Update: Team Quest's Camp in China, TUF: Philippines, Plus More URCC, PXC and One FC News

As always, here's a complete rundown of the recent news and rumblings coming out of the Asian MMA scene: As reported earlier, The Ultimate Fighter: Philippines is in the works for a 2012 run. The details on the show have yet to be finalized, although sources close to the situation have informed BloodyElbow.com that the tentative plan is to host the tryout in the Philippines, ship out the final cast to film at the TUF house in Vegas, and then have the Finale back in the Philippines. Again, these details are far from finalized, although if this pushes through, it pretty much guarantees the production values of these international editions of TUF won't be compromised. I have just been told by URCC officials that Filipino MMA stars, Eduard Folayang, Eric Kelly, and Jessie Rafols have all recently signed new contract extensions with the promotion. Folayang and Kelly are fresh off big wins at One FC, while Rafols is currently set to headline URCC 20 on November 5 against Lakay Wushu star, Kevin Belingon. PXC's next event will be back in Guam this October. Former URCC bantamweight champ, Justin "The Shocker" Cruz will be headlining against Trevin Jones for the PXC 135 lb title. Also on the card is a David vs. Goliath bout where their top 135 lb prospect, Joe Taimanglo (15-4-1) takes on the newly minted PXC lightweight champ, Harris Sarmiento for the vacant featherweight title. One month after that, PXC head's back to the Philippines on November 26, and they're moving out from the Resorts World Manila, and into the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig. This means more seats, a better view, and cheaper seats too. As James Goyder wrote about in the FanPosts, UFC Programming is no longer available in Thailand. The few hardcore fans in the area will still find ways to watch their MMA, but this is definitely a huge blow to the country's MMA scene that has been starting to develop. One FC has partnered up with both Road FC of Korea and Dare FC of Thailand, which would surely be beneficial to their roster of fighters. Since we're talking about Dare, check out the results of their 2nd event here. Are you in Asia? One FC, Legend FC, and Evolve MMA, are all hiring. Team Quest and Legend FC partnered up and sent Pat Healy and Brad Hannah to China, to help out budding MMA and Sanda fighters from Xian Physical Education University to round out their game. This will be a six week MMA camp, which would definitely invaluable to the Chinese MMA scene, as they develop a good system that would help out all these tremendous strikers have a more complete MMA game. Follow @BamBamHealy on twitter for details on this camp. Speaking of Legend FC, their 6th event will be at the end of this month, and it will be headlined by a lightweight title bout between Jadamba Narantungalag and current champ, Adrian Pang. Team Quest's Brad Hannah and Legend Fighting Championship’s Joe Qiao -- Photo by Liu Xiao Ming After the jump, check out the Dare FC bout between Adam Kayoom vs. Seok Mo Kim. Seok Mo Kim fought a few weeks before this on ONE FC, with him able to survive multiple submission attempts from Gregor Gracie. Check out as he took on BJJ Black Belt Adam Kayoom: Kayoom is now a ONE FC fighter, and with him being one of the few top Malaysian fighters out there, it would make sense to have him on that future Malaysian card planned by the promotion.

Posted in: mma, fighter, philippine, fc, pxc

Vitor Belfort reveals the extent of his injury and says he could sell a fight against Chael Sonnen

The last time I saw Vitor Belfort, security denied him access backstage at the opening round of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand-Prix. There was no verbal altercation, Vitor just waited until Ray Sefo met him at the gate and eventually they let him in. Something tells me that if Chael Sonnen were placed in that same scenario, the phrase 'do you know who I am?' would emerge, followed by a few mentions on how he's the 'fastest white Republican in MMA.' The security would eventually be forced to let him in due to the intangible injuries they would receive from a Sonnen verbal lashing. In MMA media, we call that 'getting Sonnen'd.' Vitor Belfort appeared on Inside MMA this weekend to discuss why he pulled out of his fight against Cung Le, but also mentioned that he could sell a fight with Chael Sonnen. As far as requiring assistance to sell an event, Chael Sonnen has all aspects covered. The guy could sell energy drinks to a group of mitochondria. Regardless, check out the video of Belfort's appearance on Inside MMA. {iframe}http://blip.tv/play/h5R0gtX9LwI.html{/iframe}

Posted in: mma, vitor belfort, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael

The Sunday Morning Rumor Mill

Finally, the Sunday Morning Rumor Mill has returned to satisfy your quirky need to know what's being talked about in the MMA world. These nuggets of info sometimes hit, sometimes miss, but you guys really want them in your life -- so I'll deliver it. The SMRM took a three-week hiatus but now that it's back, I expect all of you to bake a tray of oatmeal cookies in my honor. It's not that unreasonable of an expectation, is it? Also, it's relatively easy to tell the difference between a long-time fan of MiddleEasy and bandwagon jumpers. If you've been with us from the beginning (or at least a very long time), then you will understand that placing a brief eight-second commercial in the beginning of our videos enables MiddleEasy to continue bringing the content that you've loved over the years. However, if you're a fair-weather fan and claim you're going to 'stop coming here' because of a few small ads, then frankly, we don't even want you. MiddleEasy is for the MMA fans that can appreciate Tom Lawlor, Seth Petruzelli and a bottle of baby oil. Alright, maybe that was a bad example. The fact is, MiddleEasy was built for you -- so enjoy it! Well, it's not that much of a rumor as of this morning, but Dana White has been in talks with Gilbert Melendez to get him inside the Octagon in 2012. From what I've been told, the move is not dependent on Gilbert defeating Jorge Masvidal. There's also a chance the Strikeforce title defense may not occur. There's a very strong possibility that King Mo will be transitioned to the UFC by the end of this year and included in the UFC card in Japan, which is scheduled to go down in February 2012. One can only hope that he will be matched-up against Rampage Jackson, a guy that he has called out in the past. Strikeforce is planning to include Gina Carano on their December 17th card. Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux will be upgraded to a light heavyweight title fight. There have been some 'shake-ups' within the Bellator PR department for the past four months. Perhaps it's some restructuring for Bellator's imminent move to Spike TV. M-1 Global has also changed their PR department. I'm not sure what that would indicate. Showtime no longer uses Esther Lin for Strikeforce shows. By no longer employing the greatest MMA photographer, this may indicate that Showtime plans to leave MMA once the Strikeforce contract is up. However, that's a pretty long stretch. In February 26, 2012, the UFC will host two cards on the same day. The event held in Japan will most likely air on the FX Network while the domestic card will be available live and on PPV. Australia's Impact FC seem to be making a return to the MMA world in 2012. According to Bigfoot Silva's manager, he is also UFC bound. Ex-Golden Glory fighter, Siyar Bahadurzada, claims he has signed a contract with UFC. The UFC has a contingency plan in case diiverticulitis inflicts Brock Lesnar before his schedlued bout against Alistair Overeem at UFC 141. One FC plans to include women in their second event, which is scheduled for sometime in December. Rashad Evans has a strong suspicion that Jon Jones will try to 'pull out' of his title defense against him. There's a screen cap going around of several UFC 141 bouts being announced on Wikipedia, but for some reason were removed shortly after they appeared. While all of these bouts seem reasonable, they have not been officially announced by UFC. Take it with a grain of salt. It appears that Alistair Overeem has selected 'Kings MMA' to be his new gym in the US. You're probably not surprised by this one, but it appears that Paulo Filho is already 'having problems with his passport' and his fight against KSW's Mamed Khalidov may not occur.

Posted in: ufc, mma, alistair overeem, card, middleeasy

MMA Is My Business: Trainer Duke Roufus on the rise of MMA 'super camps'

As MMA continues its evolution, much of the sport's talent has been condensed into a handful of major camps. But is bigger always better, and what affect does the consolidation of top-level fighters have both on the athletes and their trainers? In the latest installment of our monthly "MMA is My Business" series, Duke Roufus - the head of the 2011 World MMA Award-nominated Roufusport gym - discusses the concept of "super camps" and the benefits and drawbacks he sees in them.

Posted in: mma, camp, duke roufus, camps '., trainer

The final EA MMA Live Broadcast is October 19th. Let us tell you about it

Well, all good things must come to an end and time flies, on October 19th, the one year anniversary of the release of EA MMA, the final EA MMA Live Broadcast will be taking place. I know, I know. Please try not to cry, it will be OK (maybe). For one more night we will be living the digital MMA dream, witnessing the culmination of an epic 64 man tournament full of the absolute best EA MMA players from all over the world. We wanted to jump behind the scenes and give credit where credit was due, so we talked to Preston Dollinger, the handsome and hardworking producer of the Live Broadcasts to get his emotional recollection of the last year. I started out as a QA Test Lead on EA MMA where I was the very first tester on the project. After working closely with the dev team, I was given the opportunity to work on some design items for the game. My main responsibilities were creating the training games in career, as well as Fighter Authenticity, specifically I assigned all of the walk out music, Idles/Stances and Special moves for the fighters. I also had a large hand in the testing aspect of Live Broadcast while the game was still internal by creating the “Tiburon Fight League”. This work lead to my involvement with the Live Broadcast feature post ship. I started off by helping out in the chat room as an EA “viewer”, and persistence paid off as Travis the online Producer at the time needed an extra hand in the booth. I then ran the chat room for a good 6 months. Travis left EA which opened up the door for me to become the “Producer” for the Live Broadcast shows. It’s been an amazing experience! We’ve had a lot of fun and really have loved interacting with the community. Whether it was League-a-palooza, The MiddleEasy Grand Prix, Live Chat Bonus fights, or the more structured cards… I’ve always just enjoyed being a part of the process. Everyone here at EA Tiburon is super impressed with our community, mostly just the passion everyone brings to the table. We’ve had words and battles in the forums, as well as the cage, people are definitely in to the show. We even had some internal Beef between myself and Fritz (side note, all for show, of course ;) , with Dickerman playing devil’s advocate. We’ve had awesome special guests on the mic including Josh Barnett, Stephen Quadross and Frank Trigg. I can’t say there is anything that we didn’t try at least once to provide an entertaining experience for the audience. All of us have bleed for the broadcast (there is a LOT of work that goes in to the show). My favorite part was the Christmas episodes when I was Santa Preston. Nothing like whirlwind headbanging with a Santa hat. In the days leading up to the final broadcast, we will be taking a look at the final four competitors in this tournament to crown the best EA MMA player. If you show up to Sunday Night Fights tonight at 10/9c there may be a spot left in the final Live Broadcast for you, digital grappler.

Posted in: mma, ’ve, broadcast, ea, ea mma

UFC on Versus 6: Did Dominick Cruz Prove That Some Fans Don't Actually Care About MMA?

Or did Dominick Cruz merely prove some fans don't care about him? Call me an elitist, or an idiot. Call me whatever you'd like, but I can't in good conscience let go of this frustration whenever a fan opens their mouth about Dominick Cruz, and his failure, in their eyes to impress or compel them. Brian Hemminger has a fantastic breakdown of the fight over at Mania, complete with gifs, and so I encourage you to read it. The gifs were one among many moments worthy of highlight. The first round was interesting because for the first time, Cruz was being outstruck, and outsped (?) by "Mighty Mouse" Demetrious Johnson. Johnson took the first with conviction. And gone was Dominick's trademark elusiveness, and footwork. He wasn't gonna dance his way out of this fight. And so he didn't. He adapted, took the fight to the ground, and made the match a grappling war. The criticism that he wasn't looking for the finish holds no malodorous water here. Cruz pulled out all the stops, constantly passing guard, and against a very tricky fighter in Johnson no less (which I felt made Cruz' performance more impressive). He even snuck in a German Suplex that led to what seemed like a fight ending rear naked choke. Tomas Rios tweeted that "if you don't appreciate this fight, you don't like MMA. You just don't." Which prompts the question: what exactly are fans looking for to excite them, if not a five round grappling war of attrition? Is the prospect of a finish what necessitates excitement? There was one in the third. So why the disconnect? I don't expect all upper level MMA to be appreciated in this way. I respect Jon Fitch, but don't find his handy work especially appealing. Yes, I've grabbed a beer during one (some) of his fights, but it's not something I gloat about. The guy's one of the world's top welterweights and so that demands my attention, even when his style strains that attention. But Cruz has been a fountain of frenetic action. Few people will leave out his modern classic with Urijah Faber at UFC 132 in their top ten lists when all is said and done. So what's the problem? My suspicion is that part of it is due to the sport itself not knowing what it wants. It wants to be a sport, but the emphasis on entertainment has led to bouts being set up as "grudge matches" rather than performance challenges. With so many ways to finish a fight, we expect a dominant fighter to find ways to do so. Chris Lytle finished Dan Hardy. Why the hell couldn't GSP? I've always been of the belief that MMA fans are nothing if not terrible at contextualizing performance. A quick knockout, or a first round submission is somehow the ultimate indicator of dominance. But quick knockouts and first round submissions don't offer narratives. You saw this with Mauricio Rua's win over Forrest Griffin where fans had a hard time believing Shogun wasn't "back" despite looking relatively sloppy. MMA is characterized by how sudden it is, and so the logic follows that a great fighter should reflect that element of MMA. Dominick Cruz is not sudden enough for MMA fans. That's a fair description, but the conclusion that Cruz isn't compelling as a result feels like a non sequitur when you look at his past two performances. High level MMA is played on a chess panel. Not a checker board. Next week Frankie Edgar is defending his title against Gray Maynard in a fight that will likely go to a decision. Later this month GSP defends his title against Carlos Condit in a fight that will also likely go to a decision. Until Nate Diaz submitted Takanori Gomi at UFC 135, there hadn't been a single win via armbar in the UFC in all of 2011. As fighters become more informed, I suspect the description of MMA as "sudden" will slowly fade. The irony in the Cruz criticism is that should he lose at BW, I have a hard time envisioning anyone capable of finishing him with his capacity to grapple, strike, take a shot, defend a takedown, score a takedown, defend submissions, etc. I look forward to the future of MMA...it's too bad some fans won't be around to see it. Poll Do you agree with this post? Yes No 0 votes | Results

Posted in: fight, mma, fan, cruz, dominick cruz

MMA Pool party lol

submitted by minotaur2011 [link] [comment]

Posted in: mma, pool, party, lol, minotaur

Hayes, Ivanov, Prindle, Sparks Advance in Bellator Heavyweight Tournament

Filed under: BellatorMike Hayes, Blagoi Ivanov, Eric Prindle and Ron Sparks advanced to the semifinals of the Bellator Fighting Championships heavyweight tournament on Saturday night with victories at Bellator 52 in Lake Charles, Louisiana. In the main event of the evening, Hayes won a split decision to upset Neil Grove, who advanced to the finals of last year's Bellator heavyweight tournament. Two judges scored the fight 29-28 for Hayes, and one judge scored it 29-28 for Grove. Ivanov bloodied up Zak Jensen's face in the first round of their fight, and choked him into unconsciousness with a guillotine in the second round. Jensen had to step into the fight at the last minute because Ivanov's original opponent, the Brazilian Thiago Santos, couldn't get a visa to make the fight. Jensen is probably wishing he hadn't been able to fight Ivanov either. Prindle beat Abe Wagner by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring it 29-28. It was a sloppy mess of a heavyweight brawl, with both men swinging wildly early and then gassing out late. The win improves Prindle to 8-1 in his MMA career. Sparks destroyed Mark Holata with a couple of huge left hooks that knocked him down and a couple more ground strikes to finish him off. The whole fight took just 1 minute, 24 seconds. The win improves Sparks' MMA record to 8-0, and he's finished seven of his opponents in the first round. As always for Bellator, the question will be whether the heavyweight tournament can gain any traction among MMA fans, who often overlook Bellator in favor of the UFC. If there's anyone in this tournament who can capture the attention of MMA fans, it's the hard-hitting Sparks. If he can win this tournament and keep looking the way he looked on Saturday night, he could become the kind of fighter MMA fans make a point of seeking out. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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

USA TODAY/MMA Nation September 2011 Consensus Rankings: Bantamweight

Rank Fighter % Promotion Last Rank 1 Dominick Cruz 100 UFC 1 2 Joseph Benavidez 93 UFC 2 3 Brian Bowles 91 UFC 3 4 Urijah Faber 90 UFC 4 5 Demetrious Johnson 82 UFC 5 6 Scott Jorgensen 79 UFC 6 7 Miguel Torres 68 UFC 7 8 Brad Pickett 59 UFC 8 9 Takeya Mizugaki 51 UFC 9 10 Masakatsu Ueda 43 Amazon Forest Combat 10 11 Wagnney Fabiano 36 UFC 12 12 Renan Barao 34 UFC 11 13 Eddie Wineland 33 UFC 13 14 Michael McDonald 32 UFC 14 15 Antonio Banuelos 27 DREAM 20 16 Alexis Vila 25 Bellator NR 17 Zach Makovsky 25 Bellator 15 18 Damacio Page 25 UFC 16 19 Bibiano Fernandes 23 DREAM 27 20 Masakazu Imanari 21 DREAM 17 21 Joe Warren 18 Bellator 21 22 Hideo Tokoro 18 DREAM 18 23 Charlie Valencia 14 UFC 22 24 Takafumi Otsuka 13 DREAM 19 24 Raphael Assuncao 13 UFC NR Having already defeated bantamweights ranked 2-4, #1 Dominick Cruz will defend his belt against #5 Demetrious Johnson at UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson this Saturday. That card will also feature bouts between other bantamweights you may or may not have ever heard of. Finally, Bellator 54 will feature its Bantamweight Champion #17 Zach Makovsky in a non-title fight against an unranked Ryan Roberts. 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, dream, ranking

Inside MMA: Vitor Belfort Talks Injury & Next Fight

Inside MMA airs on HDNet every Friday night at 9PM ET. Inside MMA Archive More segments after the jump.

Posted in: mma, friday night, mma airs, mma archive, hdnet

USA TODAY/MMA Nation September 2011 Consensus Rankings: Featherweight

Rank Fighter % Promotion Last Rank 1 Jose Aldo 100 UFC 1 2 Hatsu Hioki 91 UFC 3 3 Chad Mendes 91 UFC 2 4 Kenny Florian 80 UFC 4 5 Pat Curran 64 Bellator 12 6 Marlon Sandro 63 Bellator 6 7 Mark Hominick 62 UFC 5 8 Diego Nunes 59 UFC 7 9 Tyson Griffin 53 UFC 8 10 Manny Gamburyan 49 UFC 9 11 Erik Koch 44 UFC 13 12 Dustin Poirier 43 UFC 10 13 Joe Warren 40 Bellator 11 14 Hiroyuki Takaya 35 DREAM 14 15 Michihiro Omigawa 30 UFC 17 16 Bibiano Fernandes 28 DREAM 15 17 Patricio Freire 27 Bellator 16 18 Rani Yahya 26 UFC 19 19 Tatsuya Kawajiri 25 DREAM 27 20 Darren Elkins 22 UFC 18 21 Robert Peralta 19 UFC 21 22 Takeshi Inoue 18 DREAM 24 23 Mike Brown 17 UFC 20 24 Masanori Kanehara 16 Battle of Moscow 22 25 Kazuyuki Miyata 15 DREAM 23 UFC 136 will be co-headlined by #1 Jose Aldo as he defends his title against former top lightweight contender #4 Kenny Florian. Also on the Facebook portion of that card will be #20 Darren Elkins taking on the unranked Zhang Tie Quan. Unrelated to any upcoming fights, take a gander at Derek Suboticki's ballot and wonder as I did whether he's watching the same fights you are. 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, dream, ranking

Cage Warriors 44's Brian Foster on health scares: I knew MMA was 'real dangerous' (MMAJunkie.com)

To say Brian Foster has been met with a healthy dose of adversity over the past few months would be a glaring...

Posted in: cage, warrior, mma, health scares, brian

USA TODAY/MMA Nation September 2011 Consensus Rankings: Lightweight

Rank Fighter % Promotion Last Rank 1 Frankie Edgar 100 UFC 1 2 Gray Maynard 95 UFC 2 3 Gilbert Melendez 92 Strikeforce 3 4 Shinya Aoki 81 DREAM 4 5 Eddie Alvarez 79 Bellator 5 6 Ben Henderson 75 UFC 7 7 Clay Guida 72 UFC 6 8 Jim Miller 66 UFC 8 9 Melvin Guillard 64 UFC 9 10 Anthony Pettis 48 UFC 10 11 B.J. Penn 37 UFC 11 12 Dennis Siver 36 UFC 14 13 Sean Sherk 30 UFC 13 14 Nate Diaz 29 UFC NR 15 Tatsuya Kawajiri 28 DREAM 12 16 Rafael dos Anjos 25 UFC 15 17 Evan Dunham 24 UFC 16 18 Donald Cerrone 22 UFC 18 19 Gleison Tibau 21 UFC 17 20 Jorge Masvidal 19 Strikeforce 20 21 Sam Stout 17 UFC 23 22 Josh Thomson 16 K-1 22 23 George Sotiropoulos 15 UFC 24 24 Matt Wiman 14 UFC 25 25 Mizuto Hirota 14 DEEP 32 We finally get the third installment of #1 Frankie Edgar vs. #2 Gray Maynard this month as the two headline UFC 136. Also on that card is #9 Melvin Guillard seeking to hold onto his contender status as he takes on deservedly unranked Joe Lauzon and #10 Anthony Pettis looking to do the same against the unranked Jeremy Stephens. UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson will host the rematch of #24 Matt Wiman and unranked Mac Danzig. It's possible this fight interests someone. And why are people still ranking B.J. Penn and Tatsuya Kawajiri at this weight class? I don't know either. 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, ranking, mma rankings

USA TODAY/MMA Nation September 2011 Consensus Rankings: Welterweight

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

UFC lobbies in Ottawa to open province to MMA

The CBC reports that UFC stars Mark Hominick and Yves Jabouin lobbied Parliament requesting a change in the Criminal Code in Ottawa. While Canadian MMA fans are some of the most dedicated to the sport, only 6 of the 10 provinces sanction the sport due to uncertainty with federal law. The article focuses on the lobbying efforts of the UFC and while no one could deny that UFC 129’s mainstream exposure and monetary success is a definite factor for the push to change the code, the UFC stressed the “safety and cross-country consistency” as reasons for amendment to the Ottawa law. Via CBCSports.ca: Current federal law says anyone who engages in or aids, abets, umpires or reports on a prize fight “is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.” The only exception to the “prize fight” definition in the law are provincially sanctioned events in which “the contestants wear boxing gloves of not less than one hundred and forty grams each in mass.” Judging from Thursday’s reception, there appears to be all-party support for changes to the federal law, so the event was less about lobbying legislators than it was about swinging a skeptical public over to the merits of the latest “sweet science.” Canadians Hominick and Jabouin, were part lobbyists and part celebrities as they posed with locals as they fielded questions about their sport. Payout Perspective: While the UFC stresses the safety regulations as the reasons for the change in the laws, its obvious that the economic impact is an overwhelming reason for Ottawa and other Canadian provinces should warm to MMA regulation. Realistically, reading the article it appears that the code is in need of an update as the legislation likely occurred in a time when MMA did not exist. Certainly the economic success of UFC 129 in Toronto has helped sway people on the fence about allowing the sport in its province. Still, having its fighters come out and answer questions about its sport help educate those skeptical about it is a good piece to the road to having MMA in Ottawa and the rest of Canada.

Posted in: ufc, mma, sport, ottawa, law

ESPN MMA Live: UFC 135 Highlights, UFC on Versus 6 Recap

On this week’s edition of ESPN MMA Live, Jon Anik and crew recap UFC 135 and preview UFC on Versus 6. ESPN MMA Live Archive If you have trouble playing the video, you can also watch it on ESPN.com.

Posted in: ufc, mma, espn, espn mma, preview ufc

USA TODAY/MMA Nation September 2011 Consensus Rankings: Middleweight

Rank Fighter % Promotion Last Rank 1 Anderson Silva 100 UFC 1 2 Yushin Okami 90 UFC 2 3 Chael Sonnen 88 UFC 3 4 Mark Munoz 79 UFC 5 5 Vitor Belfort 77 UFC 6 6 Brian Stann 71 UFC 7 7 Demian Maia 67 UFC 9 8 Michael Bisping 66 UFC 8 9 Nate Marquardt 59 BAMMA 10 10 Luke Rockhold 53 Strikeforce 28 11 Ronaldo Souza 53 Strikeforce 4 12 Chris Leben 44 UFC 11 13 Hector Lombard 40 Bellator 12 14 Alan Belcher 36 UFC 16 15 Tim Kennedy 34 Strikeforce 14 16 Rousimar Palhares 27 UFC 19 17 Jorge Santiago 27 UFC 13 18 Wanderlei Silva 24 UFC 17 19 Mamed Khalidov 23 KSW 15 20 Robbie Lawler 19 Strikeforce 18 21 Chris Weidman 17 UFC 24 22 Yoshihiro Akiyama 16 UFC 20 23 Dan Miller 16 UFC 23 24 Tim Boetsch 15 UFC 36 25 Jason Miller 15 UFC 21 UFC 136 on October 8 will give us the return of #3 Chael Sonnen to the Octagon as he takes on #6 Brian Stann in what ought to be the toughest test of Stann's career. That same night will also feature #7 Demian Maia and #17 Jorge Santiago as they attempt to get back to contender status. That's all for the middleweight division in the UFC this month and Strikeforce has no event at all. Bellator 54 will feature once-ranked Alexander Shlemenko and Bryan Baker as they face no doubt credible opposition whose names ring no bells for me. 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, strikeforce, fighter, ranking

USA TODAY/MMA Nation September 2011 Consensus Rankings: Light Heavyweight

Rank Fighter % Promotion Last Rank 1 Jon Jones 100 UFC 1 2 Mauricio Rua 94 UFC 3 3 Rashad Evans 93 UFC 2 4 Quinton Jackson 87 UFC 4 5 Lyoto Machida 85 UFC 5 6 Dan Henderson 78 UFC 7 7 Phil Davis 72 UFC 8 8 Forrest Griffin 68 UFC 6 9 Rafael Cavalcante 49 Strikeforce 10 10 Gegard Mousasi 47 Strikeforce 9 11 Muhammed Lawal 40 Strikeforce 16 12 Antonio Rogerio Nogueira 38 UFC 12 13 Thiago Silva 37 UFC 11 14 Rich Franklin 37 UFC 13 15 Alexander Gustafsson 36 UFC 15 16 Tito Ortiz 31 UFC 14 17 Ryan Bader 26 UFC 17 18 Vladimir Matyushenko 19 UFC 19 19 Renato Sobral 17 Strikeforce 18 20 Cyrille Diabate 16 UFC 21 21 Stanislav Nedkov 14 UFC NR 22 Randy Couture 14 UFC 23 23 Roger Gracie 13 Strikeforce 20 24 Keith Jardine 12 Strikeforce 24 25 Brandon Vera 12 UFC 25 25 Jason Brilz 12 UFC 30 25 Kyle Kingsbury 12 UFC 26 #1 Jon Jones made his first successful title defense against #4 Quinton Jackson this past Saturday at UFC 135 keeping hope alive that we'll get to see Jones fight #3 Rashad Evans with the title on the line. #9 Rafael Cavalcante and #11 Muhammed Lawal both faced and defeated lower (or un)ranked opposition at Strikeforce World Grand Prix: Barnett vs. Kharitonov keeping their names in the discussion of contenders at 205. The next month currently has no top 25 light heavyweight action scheduled, though the following months should make up for it. 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, strikeforce, fighter, ranking

The Top Ten Alterations to MMA History That 100% Occurred in a Parallel Universe

The Parallel Universe Theory dictates the current universe we reside in is surrounded by a seemingly infinite amount of other universes, all filled with a seemingly infinite amount of possibilities. In short, whatever combination of actions that accumulate into a scenario can be found in at least one parallel universe. We don't know how to traverse these universes because humans are idiots. We can't even cure the common cold. However, those universes are out there and I've created a list of The Top Ten Alterations to MMA History That 100% Occurred in a Parallel Universe, only at MiddleEasy.com. A couple months ago Bas Rutten appeared on Joe Rogan's podcast/Ustream, which is undeniably the greatest free entertainment of our generation. On the show, Bas retold a now infamous tale of an incident that occurred inside a Swedish nightclub sometime in 1997. If you're too lethargic to redirect your cursor to the video below, I'll attempt to retell Rutten's tale in the best Dutch accent I can possibly pull off. Bas gets drunk one night and stumbles into a Swedish night club. Nothing about that sentence should surprise you. Rutten is known to occasionally get down in random countries. The story goes Bas was restrained by security guards and was told to leave the club because he was entirely too boisterous. Bas agreed, but wanted to find his friend who was still inside in the place. Apparently the bouncers were in the mood to pick a fight with El Guapo and begin to shove him around the hallway. Within seconds, Bas was throwing enough hooks to level all security personnel within the vicinity. After Rutten knocked out essentially everyone in the hallway he was trapped in, he realized that eventually the same guys he KOd would gain consciousness and continue to pursue him. Bas ran down the hall to make his escape but was cornered by the police department. That night he ended up in prison and he later discovered the court wanted to give him nearly a year behind bars. Fortunately, Bas Rutten had a friend in Sweden that eventually got him free. However, in a parallel universe, the outcome to the story is vastly different and changed the course of MMA as we know it. As Bas mentioned on Joe Rogan's podcast, the reason why the court imposed such a lengthy sentence was due to one of the bouncers in the club serving as an actual police officer. That's right, Rutten clean-clocked a cop (try saying that five times fast, you can't do it). Under the Swedish Penal Code, gross assault comes with a minimum sentence of a year attached, and as of July 1st 2010, it will get you anywhere from four to six years in the slammer. Let's assume that in this alternate universe, Bas Rutten's friend never helped him. The officer (along with the fleet of security guards) pressed charges. Rutten faced nine months in prison but his sentence was extended by six months for sending five fellow prisoners to the hospital in a good, old-fashioned jail brawl. This would mean that Rutten's legendary 28-4-1 record would drastically change. Actually, his record would never have a draw being that he was imprisoned when he fought Osami Shibuya at Pancrase: Alive 3. In fact, his last six fights in Pancrase would have never gone down and his title shot with Kevin Randleman at UFC 20 would never have materialized. This would have also meant Bas never suffered the series of injuries that forced him to retire in 2006. The knee, bicep and neck injury would have never happened -- resulting in Bas Rutten continuing his MMA career for two additional years. After grabbing a few wins in Pride FC (shortly before their collapse in 2007), Bas Rutten was contacted by Tom Atencio to compete in their inaugural Affliction event, 'Affliction: Banned.' This would be Bas Rutten's retirement fight, so M-1 Global and Affliction decided to match him up with the former Pride FC title holder (and current WAMMA champion) Fedor Emelianenko. It was a monumental fight, but Bas Rutten squeezed out the unanimous decision over The Last Emperor, effectively stealing the title of 'G.O.A.T' from Fedor. He retired as the linear heavyweight champion and WAMMA went out of business by the end of 2008. In this parallel universe, Bas Rutten is the measuring stick to determine the skill of all heavyweights for the remainder of mixed martial arts history. It's important to note the inspiration of this entire list is 20% my undying passion for quantum physics and 80% Loretta Hunt's 'Let's Get It On' book. If MMA history had a religious manuscript, this would undoubtedly be it. Midway through composing this list, I called Loretta to fact check a few lingering items. A lot of brain cells have been murdered from the time I read 'Let's Get It On' till now, so props to Loretta Hunt for being my personal Google. In the book, Big John mentions that Michael Buffer was invited to a few of the earlier UFC events due to his stellar work with Bob Arum's 'Top Rank' and his famous 'Let's get ready to rumble!' trademark. Art Davie propositioned Michael Buffer to announce all future UFC events, a decision that he played with for a while. As we all know, Michael Buffer chose WCW over UFC, and Michael's brother, Bruce, was pegged for the slot as the official UFC announcer. However, we're talking about an alternate universe in an alternate timeline that has already happened. Things are just a little bit different over there. MMA would have undergone a drastic reconstruction if Michael Buffer chose to go with the UFC instead of WCW. In this parallel universe, Michael Buffer's association with UFC legitimized the sport of MMA. The public saw Buffer's participation as validation for a new combat sport and cognitively, people could now easily relate it to boxing. John McCain's crusade against 'Human Cockfighting' would have never occurred. The UFC would have never gone through its infamous 'Dark Ages' which means that it would have never been sold to the Fertitta brothers in 2001. The company would have continued to scoop in revenue and the future of UFC would have gone in Art Davie's direction -- so essentially everything would be XARM. That's right, the UFC turned into an arm-wrestling organization that forced two fighters to strap their left hand to each other on a podium and fight until a person was knocked unconscious, tapped out, or won the arm-wrestling match. We're serious here. The UFC would have been XARM, and Michael Buffer would have been announcing the whole thing. In fact, it would have looked something like this. It's a moment that will forever live on in MMA lore, proof that The Monster was just too much of a beast for himself. There's a few variations of the story, but let me start with the most popular one. Backstage before Kevin Randleman's first title defense which was scheduled at UFC 24, Team Hammerhouse (which at the time consisted of Kevin Randleman, Mark Coleman and an old, heavybag on Coleman's porch) was acting like a pack of enchanted wildebeests in order to get Randleman prepared for an up-and-coming undefeated Brazilian fighter known as Pedro Rizzo. Apparently Kevin Randleman was sprinting from one end of the hallway to the next and at some point he lost his footing over a rug, smacking head-first into the concrete floor. Another version of the story doesn't have Kevin sprinting, but suggests he was doing his patented jump when he slammed his head on a low-lying pipe, then collapsed to the ground, hitting his head once again on the concrete floor. Regardless of the details, Kevin Randleman ended his night inside Lake Charles Memorial Hospital on March 20th, 2000 as the medical personal attempted to revive him. He was diagnosed with a concussion and the bout was rescheduled three months later at UFC 26 where Kevin Randleman won a unanimous decision, handing Pedro Rizzo his first career loss. There's no video footage of the incident, but a member of The UG attempted to recreate the Kevin Randleman slip using MS Paint. That scenario happened in this universe, but those course of events would be entirely different in a parallel universe. Kevin Randleman warmed up backstage with Mark Coleman and he eventually slipped and slammed his head on the concrete floor. Instead of being knocked out, Kevin Randleman received a 'walking concussion' and was helped to his feet by Coleman. Not recognizing the symptoms of a concussion, Mark Coleman slapped Randleman in his face a couple times, screamed at him to focus and starting ranting about Chute Box being a 'cheap [expletives]' for no apparent reason. Kevin Randleman stumbled in the cage and was quickly TKOd by Pedro Rizzo in the first round. Pedro Rizzo went on to be the new UFC heavyweight champion and improved his record 10-0. According to Rizzo's actual record, he went on to finish Josh Barnett and Dan Severn, but if he was the champion in this parallel universe, those two fights would have been title defenses. Who knows if he could have defeated Randy Couture at UFC 31 with his newly found confidence, but the fact remains that for the duration of 2000-2001, Pedro Rizzo would have been considered the greatest heavyweight in the world and the first Brazilian champion in the UFC. However, in all available universes, Big John McCarthy still finds the entire ordeal hilarious. Most people are unfamiliar with the story of Pride FC nearly signing a lucrative deal with the G4 network, so throw that popcorn in the microwave and grab a seat. Don't burn it either, I don't want this place smelling like four-week old ramen. In 2007, Nobuyuki Sakakibara promoted Jerry Millen to the Vice President of Promotions of Pride FC in the US and placed him in charge of getting a television deal for the Japanese organization. Millen wanted to find a network to reach that coveted 18-35 male demographic so he chose to negotiate with the G4 Network, owned by NBC Universal. G4 was already in talks with King of the Cage to air events from the promotion, but just before they were going to pull the production trigger, Jerry Millen presented them with a enticing package from Pride FC. They were in talks four roughly a three-month period and the executives at G4 were pretty receptive to the form of entertainment Pride FC had to offer. A verbal agreement was struck to create a 'TUF-like' show which would take place in Japan and include fighters from across the planet. Instead of living in houses, these fighters would use modified old-school Japanese dojos for accommodation. Both companies also agreed on airing 'Pride Countdown shows' leading up to the PPVs and hosting 'specialty fights' that would air exclusively on G4. At the time, Pride FC was king. The UFC even loaned their fighters out to Japan in order to compete in those now legendary cards. It's been reported that the UFC deal to buy Pride FC came down just a few hours before Sakakibara flew to Los Angeles to meet with G4 executives. The deal happened so fast that Jerry Millen didn't have time to break the news to G4, they found out on the internet. From that moment on, ZUFFA disassembled Pride FC, only bringing a handful of fighters to the UFC. They went on to be the colossal juggernaut they are today due to literally buying out their competition. However, in a parallel universe, things went just a bit different. In this parallel universe, Sakakibara made it to the G4 meeting in Los Angeles and eventually signed a four-year deal with NBC Universal to not only air Pride FC on G4, but to even air a Pride event in a primetime slot on NBC in 2008. This would have incited the start of two separate MMA wars -- Pride FC would be involved in both. First, CBS and NBC would be going head-to-head with their monthly 'Saturday Night Fights' broadcast. Instead of choosing separate weekends to air the events, both networks felt the need to counter-program their rival, effectively 'piggy backing' off the advertising and buzz of their counterpart. The North American public would have been presented with cards like Kimbo Slice vs. Ken Shamrock on CBS for Elite XC going against something like 'Pride FC Openweight Grand-Prix' on any given weekend in NBC. The term 'freak show' would be so incorporated into the MMA lexicon that its negative connotation would be expunged. It would be the norm to have televised matches that focused on entertainment and shock-value over rankings and advancing in weight divisions. MMA transformed into an entertainment driven entity. The continued existence of Pride FC in the MMA world also meant that it would be in direct competition with UFC. Let's face it, Pride FC finding an American television partner is the only point of time in which the MMA landscape would have changed forever. With Pride FC and UFC competing for viewers, the war would have been reminiscent to the old WWF vs. WCW battle that happened in the mid-90s. In this parallel universe, the sport of MMA grew ten-fold solely because there was competition going on at the main stage of entertainment. Both companies were vying for legitimacy in the sports world, and the public took note. You may think UFC was created as a competitive arena to display the functionality of various martial arts, but in reality, it was manifested to show how much Gracie Jiu-Jitsu kicked ass. Seriously. Rorion Gracie wanted to take the Gracie Challenge one step further and invite fighters from all disciplines to be schooled by this new form of combat. That's not even an exaggeration. When Rorion linked up with Art Davie to host the first UFC, Rorion made it abundantly clear that the UFC would be a platform to launch Gracie Jiu-Jitsu to a nationwide audience. Art Davie liked what he heard and on November 12, 1993, the UFC had their inaugural event. Within the family, it was widely known that Rickson Gracie possessed the greatest skill level and even Royce Gracie went on record to state 'Rickson is 10 times better than me. He's the only one who can beat everybody.' In reality, that's exactly what the Gracie's wanted; someone that can step inside the cage with any person and have a 100% success rate at defeating the opposition. It was clear that Rickson would be the premiere choice to represent the family name at UFC, but Rorion had other plans. Royce trained with Rorion in California and he knew that if he granted Royce with a slot in the first UFC show, he would literally become an overnight celebrity, which ultimately meant more people would train at Rorion's academy. While most of the Gracie family disagreed, Royce was pegged to be the sole representative of the Gracie name at UFC 1, and history was made. At the second UFC event, it was rumored that Rickson Gracie was offered to be included in the tournament, but priced himself out of negotiations with a ridiculously high sum of money. But what if Rickson Gracie was the first and only Gracie to represent jiu-jitsu in the early days of UFC? You don't have to ask that question because according to the laws of quantum physics, that scenario already happened. To this day, Rickson Gracie still claims that he's 400-0 in MMA. With him competing at UFC 1 in an alternate reality, that record would have only inflated to epic proportions. In 1993, Rickson would have been thirty-five-years old, a full eight years older than his younger brother Royce. One would assume that Rickson Gracie would have easily disposed of Art Jimmerson, Ken Shamrock and Gegard Gordeau at UFC 1, but 1993 is also the same year when Rickson Gracie received his first official loss in his thirty-three year long career. The defeat was against Ron Tripp at the US Sambo Nationals in Norman, Oklahoma, although Rickson suggested the loss should not count since he was allegedly misinformed of the rules before the event. In a parallel universe, Rickson signed the UFC contract to compete at the inaugural event, the failed bout against Ron Tripp never materialized. However, in this timeline, Rickson was destined to have one loss on his record in the year 1993, and it just so happens that it occurred in the UFC tournament against Ken Shamrock. The tournament failed to place the Gracie name on the map and the 'Gracie Challenge' no longer existed. Shamrock went on to compete in future events, and ultimately gained name recognition early within the budding sport. The Gracies were only known as the family that failed at introducing their family secret to combat sports. While Gracie Jiu-Jitsu was still practiced in small gyms across California, the true fighting style everyone wanted to learn was classic shootfighting, which enabled Ken Shamrock to prevail at the very first UFC card. ProElite, the company that received second place in the 'Buy Strikeforce' marathon. In the Summer of 2011, we interviewed Paul Feeler, the CEO of Stratus Media Group (the organization that purchased ProElite's assets) and inquired about the rumor that ProElite offered to purchase Strikeforce for the sum of $40 million: It's rumored that you offered $40 million for Strikeforce, can you clear this up?"I can tell you that we were in significant discussions to acquire a large portion of Strikeforce and it did not materialize." So...what happened? "Well, it's well known that UFC came and acquired things." That was all we could get out of him regarding the failed deal, but leave it to MMAPayout to fill in the gaps of the entire story. According to MMAPayout, ProElite did in fact offer Strikeforce something in the vicinity of $40 million, but it was 'paper deal' meaning ProElite would take over Strikeforce by offering Scott Coker shares in the company followed by a smaller monetary offer. At the time, ProElite's stock was trading at $0.01 so one could either look at the stock trading glass as half-empty, half-full or half-what the hell is someone doing offering me stocks at $0.01 for a multi-million dollar company? Granted, as of September 29th 4:00pm EST, ProElite (PELE) is trading at an even $0.20, representing a 20x return on the deal that Scott Coker never made. Of course now we know that Coker never made the deal with ProElite because ZUFFA swooped in and offered him the same $40 million amount, but this time around it was tangible currency. The deal was agreed upon in January 2011 and on March 12th, 2011 Dana White announced that UFC acquired Strikeforce -- and thousands of heads simultaneously exploded and magically reassembled after the earth-rattling announcement. ProElite lost, UFC won -- again. But this feature isn't about what occurred in this universe. Not at all. We're in the business of discussing the top ten alterations to MMA history that 100% occurred in a parallel universe, and that's exactly what we'll do. In a parallel universe, the UFC deal never went through. Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment (the main investors of Strikeforce) decided to go with ProElite's paper deal and Strikeforce became a ProElite asset in 2011. Paul Feeler reopened communication with Strikeforce's television partner, CBS, and it was agreed the promotion would return to their Saturday night slot with Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley on April 9th, 2011. This marked the first time the organization returned to network television after the now infamous Strikeforce brawl at Strikeforce: Nashville in 2010. As you may remember, Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley was friggin' bonkers. The main card started with Shinya Aoki submitting the previously unsubmittable Lyle Beerbohm. The next bout was a somewhat uneventful one when Gegard Mousasi going the distance against Keith Jardine to receive an unexpected and strange draw from the judges' score cards. After that, we were treated to a 155lb domination as Gilbert Melendez went ravenous on Kawajiri to retain the Strikeforce lightweight belt. In the main event, we all witnessed perhaps the most entertaining round in MMA this year when Nick Diaz and Paul Daley stood in the pocket and traded strikes like suicide bombers. Diaz was ultimately the last man standing and the crowd inside the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California went absolutely bananas. The UFC still had forward momentum despite not acquiring Strikeforce, and the UFC on FOX deal was struck, with their first event, UFC on FOX: Velasquez vs. Don Santos, slated on November 12th, 2011 in Anaheim, California. Now in direct competition with another primetime network, CBS announced they would counterprogram UFC on FOX with their very own Strikeforce card: the conclusion of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand-Prix featuring Josh Barnett vs. Alistair Overeem (remember, due to ProElite acquiring Strikeforce, Overeem never made the UFC transition) and the winner would not only be awarded with the Strikeforce GP belt, but also the Strikeforce heavyweight title. Amazing stuff, these parallel universes. Yes, real live alligators surrounding the cage, swimming inside a make-shift moat. That was the plan going into UFC's first event until a doctor placed a seed of logic within Art Davie, advising that medically it's a really, really bad idea to have potentially man-eating creatures just a few feet away from humans. In retrospect, it seemed like such a frivolous concept, but it took a doctor's opinion to convince event planners to remove wild alligators from their itinerary. It was never included, and the UFC went on to be the brand that it is today. That's what happened in this timeline, however in the next -- the scenario played out just a tad bit differently. The medical doctor called in sick on the day of the event planning and the executives at the newly formed UFC office decided to go with the alligator/moat idea in order to get mainstream media outlets talking about the event. The word got out that UFC would be using live animals in their first event and PETA staged a massive protest, with a plethora of women removing their clothing in the name of animal rights. It never makes any sense, but whenever PETA is involved, the world expects random acts of unsolicited nudity. Despite the misguided protests, the first UFC event goes as planned and a year later at UFC 2, the alligators were reintroduced and have now become synonymous with UFC. From event to event, the UFC hired animal handlers and assigned the arduous task of lugging giant alligators across the country to new venues. With the persistent appearance of alligators at events, the general public now considered UFC as a 'gimmick' more than a sport, which opened the political playing fields for any career politician to throw dirt on the organization. Now embracing its badboy image and understanding they have fully sinked the sport of MMA in the US, UFC resorts to a new sport to attract everyone's attention: Alligator wrestling. Here's a brief video of how it played out in a parallel universe. Take a moment and digest the greatest MMA picture of 2010, captured by our bud Esther Lin. The raw emotion, confusion, relief and anxiety -- it's all there, and it's damn hard to miss it. Just thank whatever higher power you believe in for enabling you to be alive through July/August of 2010. We all witnessed some of the most exquisite and eloquent smack-talk that ever emerged from a human being. Chael Sonnen wouldn't even call it selling a fight, but simply 'telling the truth' and 'exposing Anderson Silva for who he is.' You could literally taste the energy surrounding the event, and it resembled the flavor of a handful of sunflower seeds. I managed to create the following video of Chael Sonnen's greatest quotes from a UFC 117 press conference, and I'm sure many of you are already familiar with the clip. The elements were in place for a grandiose Anderson Silva performance or a heart-thumping upset from the hands of Chael Sonnen. There would be no middle ground. We all knew the outcome of the fight would end in a remarkable fashion, and it did. The main event of UFC 117 began with Chael Sonnen advancing on Anderson Silva like some autonomous being, impervious to all pain. Sonnen put hands on The Spider, some would even say that Chael dropped Anderson in the opening rounds. Regardless of what happened in the stand-up, the fight always ended on the ground, with Chael controlling Silva for the better part of the rounds. An upset was imminent. All of the trash-talk, Brazil bashing and the awkward staredowns seemed like it finally paid off for the self-proclaimed 'fastest white Republican in MMA.' After being dominated for over twenty-three minutes, Anderson Silva threw a hail mary triangle up and it landed snuggly around Sonnen's neck. With the UFC middleweight title just two minutes away from being strapped around his waist, Sonnen was forced to tap out inside the Oracle Arena at Oakland, California. We emphasize the religious term 'hail mary' because according to an interview in Gracie Magazine, even Anderson Silva believed his victory was attributed to divine intervention. "I feel we learn in all our fights, in victory or defeat. We learn from everything, in every way, whatever the situation may be. What people sometimes forget is that God is above it all. I didn't stop thinking of him for a moment, and he didn't let me down. Of course, we have to train and all, but it's really important to have faith. I remember having looked up between rounds and asked him to guide my movements and he enlightened me. It's even hard to say something like that to a magazine like Gracie. A lot of folks will read it and think I'm playing to the media. But anyone who watched the fight could see all was lost and there were just two minutes to go. I felt a very strong presence from God there and that was important." At the end of the night, Anderson Silva remained champion and Chael Sonnen remained another unsuccessful challenger to the UFC middleweight title. Yep, you guessed it. In an alternate universe Chael Sonnen was never triangled by Anderson Silva in the fifth round and went on to dethrone the greatest MMA fighter of our time. Chael Sonnen wrapped the belt around his waist and went on a roaring media rampage, doing a potpourri of 'I told you so' interviews. Sonnen even returned to be a guest on the panel of FOX News in order to discuss not only being the newly crowned champion, but also to serve as a political analyst to argue against Obama Care. Everything was going as planned until the California State Athletic Commission accused Chael Sonnen of testing positive for performance enhancing drugs. Actually, the drug test denoted that Chael's testosterone levels were abnormally high, indicative of steroid use. He faced a year-long suspension, but the news surfaced that Chael Sonnen actually informed the CSAC before the fight that he would test for high amounts of testosterone. The hammer finally came down, resulting in Chael Sonnen being suspended a year from MMA. Chael appealed the decision, claiming he had hormone replacement therapy prior to UFC 117. His charges were somewhat dropped in an overly complex, roundabout way. However, just a few months after his hearing, Dana White suspended his UFC contract so that he could 'deal with personal issues.' Keep in mind that in this parallel universe that we all find ourselves in, Chael Sonnen was still the UFC middleweight champion throughout the post-fight ordeal. Being that the CSAC never officially suspended him, the belt remained under his control and even though he had to wait nearly a year to get back in the cage, he was still the champion. While Chael Sonnen was away, Anderson Silva felt that he simply didn't have it anymore and retired from the sport at the age of thirty-six. Dana White then created a UFC middleweight interim title match between Vitor Belfort vs. Brian Stann at UFC 126. Stann grabbed a unanimous decision over The Phenom and earned a chance to unify the titles as headliners in UFC 136. As far as UFC: Rio, the event materialized but without Anderson Silva in the mix, the card was simply a shadow of what it could have been. Due to Anderson Silva's absence from MMA, Burger King never got involved in the sport and we would have never seen video of Silva serenading a Double Whopper. Very rarely does one fight determine whether a MMA organization will survive or be another victim to the iron giant that is ZUFFA. When we say 'very rarely' we actually mean 'quite often'. We've seen it with EliteXC and everyone remembers the warm fuzzy feeling we had just before Barnett was accused of taking PEDs before Affliction: Trilogy. We all would like to forget the day in which Tom Atencio broke the news that Fedor/Barnett was canceled along with their entire MMA promotion. We all were left with handfuls of non-refundable plane tickets and pre-paid hotel rooms. MiddleEasy was all dressed up and had no where to go -- so we got drunk instead. Absolutely, mind-bending, time-traveling paraletic drunk. When we woke up the next morning, DirecTV decided to poop in their hands and rub it directly in our face via satellite signal with this nonsense. The entire ordeal was a traumatic experience, so I decided to create a permanent reminder of my pain in the form of this video of Affliction's eerie final phone call to the media. If you're a necrophiliac and a student of MMA history, then you can appreciate it. It's filled with scary accurate predictions from MMA journalists as well as highly contradictory statements from a variety of sources. The MMA world was on Defcon 4 at the end of July 2009. Couple that with OMA's prank of Kimo Leopaldo that ended up as the lead story of nearly every mainstream media outlet and you have a community of people that was suddenly placed on 'high-blood pressure alert' by their doctors. As we all know, the fight between the number one and two heavyweight in MMA never occurred and Affliction collapsed within just a few hours after the cancellation of Affliction: Trilogy. Barnett ended up suspended for an entire year while Fedor eventually moved to Strikeforce. UFC, DREAM and Sengoku picked at the corpse of the remaining Affliction contracts and it was 'business as usual' in the MMA world. That's the version you may remember, but in a parallel universe, everything changes. In this reality, Josh Barnett was never accused of using performance enhancing drugs prior to facing Fedor Emelianenko at Affliction: Trilogy. The show went on, and the PPV numbers reached well over 250,000. Josh Barnett managed to TKO Fedor through the use of oppressing ground-and-pound and became the linear heavyweight champion of the world. Due to the rampant success of the third show, Affliction received more financial backing from core investors like Donald Trump, Oscar De La Hoya and Mark Cuban. With its legendary million-dollar paydays, an influx of fighters tried flocking to Affliction in order to become a part of the high-paying fighter stable. With Fedor still under contract with Affliction and Dan Henderson now a free-agent that was leaning towards signing with Affliction, Strikeforce never had the opportunity to take their promotion to the main stage. CBS couldn't justify placing a card in a primetime slot on the network without a notable heavyweight headliner and the November 7th, 2009 show never happened. Showtime remained the home of Strikeforce and ZUFFA eventually let the promotion slowly die out instead acquiring it in 2011. As far as Affliction, with event payrolls topping $3.3 million, over twice as much as the live gate, the organization was doomed to self-destruct. At the end of the year, Affliction collaborated with FEG to deliver a monumental Dynamite!! 2009 New Year's Eve event that was on par with the attendance at 2002's Pride Shockwave. Under the impression that Affliction could garner those same monumental numbers in the US, the organization held another event on April 2010 entitled Affliction: Dominate. The card was insanely stacked, and even featured talent from DREAM and the upcoming Bellator FC. In the main event, Badr Hari took on Alistair Overeem in a mixed rules bout. The first round was all kickboxing while the second was entirely MMA. Each round lasted a total of ten minutes. Unfortunately, the bout ended in a draw, and the remainder of the card was filled with rather uneventful decisions. This was due to Affliction offering a $100,000 win bonus for each fight. The fighters were competing not to lose, finishing or knocking out their opponent was a secondary concern. On July 2010, Affliction could no longer sustain their daily operations and reverted to being just a clothing company. In this alternate universe, Dana White collected the remnants of another failed organization and assembled the parts to form the Voltron that we all know as the UFC. Another gem from Loretta Hunt's 'Let's Get It On' tells the tale of Rorion Gracie nearly creating his own MMA organization that would have undoubtedly rivaled UFC in the mid-90s. After UFC 5 in Charlotte, North Carolina, Rorion Gracie and Art Davie sold their portion of UFC to Semaphore Entertainment Group, an organization that worked with UFC since their initial start in 1993. While Art Davie chose to work with SEG as UFC's matchmaker, Rorion had other plans to create his own MMA organization that would attempt to overtake UFC. From the beginning, Rorion was never a fan of these things called 'rules.' For Rorion, fighter protection was just an annoying aspect that got in the way of pure physical combat. During UFC's beginnings, he was a huge advocate of removing all rules, rounds and officials. It appeared that Rorion was attempting to recreate the same fighting environment that his father thrived in back in Brazil. Rorion believed that when in danger, a fighter's natural bushido spirit would kick in and out of compassion for their opponent, fighters would stop on their own will and proclaim they are the winner. I don't think I have enough pens in my office to write down the ways in which that model would completely deteriorate within seconds of an actual MMA bout. It was Big John McCarthy that invented the term 'intelligently defending,' a concept that Rorion Gracie loathed. So when Big John informed Rorion that he would continue to officiate the UFC after April 1995, Rorion gave Big John an incredible ultimatum: Either get on board with the Gracie family and work for us in our soon-to-be formed MMA promotion, or leave us alone and stick with your UFC. With kids to feed at home and the steady income he received being a referee, Big John chose to go with the UFC and the rest is history. That actually happened. Due to Big John's lack of involvement in Rorion's idea of a new MMA promotion, it never came to fruition. However, we're operating on the plane of multiple universes, and in one universe, Big John chooses the red pill. He leaves UFC and gets on-board with Rorion and the rest of the Gracie family. They eventually create an MMA organization fueled by the Gracie Challenge and its appeal of a truly 'No Rules' sport. They host their first event in Anaheim, California and it features a group of relatively unknown fighters. The event is filled with elements of ultra-violence. Arms get broken, a fighter loses his eye-sight due to finger pokes -- by the end of the event, a fighter goes into a coma due to severe blood loss. With time, all the fighters eventually recover from their injuries and all but one resigns to compete in the next event. Pirated tapes of the card spread like a highly infectious disease and with just one event under Rorion's belt, the UFC is viewed by fight fans as an inferior product. Eventually, politicians begin to create legislation outlawing the events in certain states. This doesn't bother Rorion, however. He takes the event from state to state, completely mystifying live audiences until the US government permanently shuts down the events and MMA all together. Rorion takes his promotion to Japan and eventually merges with another young MMA organization called Pride FC. The Japanese audience consumed the newly created sport and with attendance records topping the 70,000 mark, it was clear that our civilization had an unquenchable thirst for ultra violence. People were killed inside the ring, limbs were severed from bodies, but the blood-lust simply fueled the fans. Dying meant nothing to a fighter, but it was the journey to death that mattered. In a long enough time span, Pride FC (led by Rorion Gracie) consumed the planet. There were no reality shows or package television compilations. Only guaranteed live deaths on television, a growing fad among the 18-35 male demographic. Rorion eventually parlayed the success he had with Pride FC into a endeavor: a live-action game show reminiscent of 'The Running Man.' Humanity's future was a bleak one, and it all can be directly attributed to that faithful day in Rorion Gracie's office when Big John made a pivotal decision that changed the course of humankind.

Posted in: ufc, mma, event, gracie, universe

Friday Link Club: UFC on Versus 6 Preview, Diego Sanchez vs. Jake Ellenberger Rumored

UFC on Versus 6 Event Primer | NBC Sports UFC on Versus 6 Main Event Breakdown: Dominick Cruz vs. Demetrious Johnson | MMA Fighting Dominick Cruz Reflects on Faber Win, The Ultimate Fighter, Being the Best Ever | Bleacher Report Stefan Struve: I’m not afraid to strike with Pat Barry | LowKick Pat Barry Describes No-Win Situation Fighters Face | 5thRound Diego Sanchez vs. Jake Ellenberger reportedly in the Works for UFC 141 | Cage Potato UFC 136: ‘Angry’ Gray Maynard will make sure Frankie Edgar is in pain on Oct. 8 | MMA Mania Gray Maynard seeking redemption, respect, and UFC gold | Five Ounces of Pain All kinds of messages sent by UFC with second show on same day as Japan event | Fight Opinion Watch a 16-year-old Shogun Rua fight some dude inside his friend’s living room | MiddleEasy Kimbo Slice prepares for Oct. 15 boxing match in Nebraska  | TheFightNerd UFC 135: Payout Perspective | MMA Payout Image via MMA Mania

Posted in: ufc, jake ellenberger, mma, vs, dominick cruz

USA TODAY/MMA Nation September 2011 Consensus Rankings: Heavyweight

Rank Fighter % Promotion Last Rank 1 Cain Velasquez 100 UFC 1 2 Junior dos Santos 95 UFC 2 3 Alistair Overeem 90 UFC 3 4 Brock Lesnar 86 UFC 4 5 Fabricio Werdum 79 Strikeforce 6 6 Frank Mir 74 UFC 7 7 Shane Carwin 73 UFC 8 8 Josh Barnett 68 Strikeforce 9 9 Daniel Cormier 67 Strikeforce 20 10 Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira 64 UFC 11 11 Antonio Silva 46 Strikeforce 5 12 Fedor Emelianenko 39 M-1 12 13 Cheick Kongo 33 UFC 15 14 Brendan Schaub 31 UFC 10 15 Roy Nelson 28 UFC 14 16 Sergei Kharitonov 25 Strikeforce 13 16 Travis Browne 25 UFC 16 18 Matt Mitrione 23 UFC 17 19 Mike Russow 22 UFC 18 20 Cole Konrad 22 Bellator 19 21 Mark Hunt 16 UFC NR 22 Pat Barry 14 UFC 25 23 Stefan Struve 14 UFC 24 23 Shane del Rosario 14 Strikeforce 27 25 Mirko Filipovic 13 UFC 27 #1 Cain Velasquez will defend his belt against #2 Junior dos Santos as they headline the UFC's first ever appearance on network television. UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson this weekend will feature #22 Pat Barry vs. #23 Stefan Struve as they struggle to remain relevant in the admittedly shallow heavyweight division. And somehow, those two fights make up all of the relevant heavyweight bouts scheduled between now and the next edition of these rankings. 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, strikeforce, fighter, ranking

Inside MMA Preview: Vitor Belfort & Eddie Alvarez Address Their Injuries

Inside MMA airs tonight on HDNet at 9:00 PM ET. Inside MMA Archive

Posted in: mma, vitor, vitor belfort, mma preview, mma airs

Latest UFC/MMA news and notes from around the web for the week of September 25, 2011

Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Stefan Struve and Demetrious Johnson pictured above, we can all "get along." Teaming up with MMA sites like MiddleEasy, Cage Potato, Fight Opinion and Five Ounces of Pain, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport. This week, Charlie Brenneman speaks with Lowkick about his upcoming fight, UFC bantamweight champion issues part three of his training diary for his UFC on Versus 6 title defense to NBC Sports and Fight Opinion's Zach Arnold discusses the mixed messages that are being sent about the UFC's decision to hold two events on the same night for its return to Japan. The full list of links is after the jump. - Exclusive interview with Charlie Brenneman (LowKick) - Dominick Cruz training diary part three (NBC Sports MMA) - Open discussion: Should marijuana be considered a PED? (Cage Potato) - Ryan Jimmo: UFC will be looking to sign me if I beat Sokodjou (Five Ounces of Pain) - Mike Chiappetta speaks with Roger Huerta (MMA Fighting) - Jon Jones has a 'How-To' manual for beating Rashad Evans (5thRound) - XARM is back! (MiddleEasy) - Fighter pulls off Fisherman Suplex in MMA bout (TheFightNerd) - All kinds of messages sent with same-day events planned for UFC in Japan (Fight Opinion) - Frank Mir inks sponsorship with Xyience (MMA Payout) - Paul Daley discusses his desire to return to the UFC (BleacherReport.com/MMA)

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, cage potato, fight opinion

UFC lobbies MMA in Ottawa

Cage fighting came to Parliament Hill on Thursday and, for a change, it was non-partisan and all rather tame.

Posted in: ufc, mma, thursday, parliament hill, parliament

UFC rankings/MMA rankings featured in USA Today for September 2011

Why are MMA fans so cranky? Yep, it's that time of the month again. Rankings! Our partners in crime over at BloodyElbow.com have once again published their divisional rankings for mixed martial arts in the nation’s largest daily newspaper, USA Today, for the month of September 2011. For those of you unfamiliar with the process, here’s how it works: "The rankings, which will offer a definitive perspective of top MMA fighters across all weight-classes, will be released monthly and published in the Sports section of USA TODAY, online at USATODAY.com and on SB Nation’s MMA commentary and community blog, BloodyElbow.com … The USA TODAY/SB Nation Consensus MMA Rankings are compiled each month by Nate Wilcox and Richard Wade of BloodyElbow.com. The rankings utilize each of the top MMA rankings from multiple unique sources. A weighted-formula is applied to normalize and distill the various rankings into one consensus ranking per weight class." To check out the latest USAT/SBN rankings click here. We’ve also listed their top 10 in each class after the jump for your convenience. Heavyweight: 1. Cain Velasquez2. Junior dos Santos3. Alistair Overeem4. Brock Lesnar5. Fabricio Werdum6. Frank Mir7. Shane Carwin8. Josh Barnett9. Daniel Cormier10. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira Light heavyweight: 1. Jon Jones2. Mauricio Rua3. Rashad Evans4. Quinton Jackson5. Lyoto Machida6. Dan Henderson7. Phil Davis8. Forrest Griffin9. Rafael Cavalcante10. Gegard Mousasi Middleweight: 1. Anderson Silva2. Yushin Okami3. Chael Sonnen4. Mark Munoz5. Vitor Belfort6. Brian Stann7. Demian Maia8. Michael Bisping9. Nate Marquardt10. Luke Rockhold Welterweight: 1. Georges St. Pierre2. Jon Fitch3. Carlos Condit4. Nick Diaz5. Josh Koscheck6. Jake Shields7. B.J. Penn8. Jake Ellenberger9. Charlie Brenneman10. Rick Story Lightweight: 1. Frankie Edgar2. Gray Maynard3. Gilbert Melendez4. Shinya Aoki5. Eddie Alvarez6. Ben Henderson7. Clay Guida8. Jim Miller9. Melvin Guillard10. Anthony Pettis Featherweight: 1. Jose Aldo2. Hatsu Hioki3. Chad Mendes4. Kenny Florian5. Pat Curran6. Marlon Sandro7. Mark Hominick8. Diego Nunes9. Tyson Griffin10. Manny Gamburyan Bantamweight: 1. Dominick Cruz2. Joseph Benavidez3. Brian Bowles4. Urijah Faber5. Demetrious Johnson6. Scott Jorgensen7. Miguel Torres8. Brad Pickett9. Takeya Mizugaki10. Masakatsu Ueda What do you think? Looking good on all fronts or are there a few issues with the consensus opinions here? Share your ranking rants in the comments section below.

Posted in: mma, usa today, usa, today, ranking

USA TODAY/MMA Nation September 2011 Consensus Rankings

September's USA TODAY/MMA Nation Consensus Rankings are now live. Be sure and pick up a hard copy of USA TODAY Friday to see them in print. Based on the premise that all MMA rankings are subjective but that it’s still useful and informative to know who the MMA community as a whole ranks as the best fighters in MMA, we collect and average the rankings of the top MMA sources 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. More details on our methodology in the full entry. NOTE: We have modified our method of gathering our rankings because the strict scheduling requirements of USA TODAY clash with the more irregular schedules of many of the MMA rankings sites. That was causing us to use a different set of sources almost every month. That combined with the small number of sites doing top 25 rankings was causing the Consensus rankings to have a lower "signal to noise" ratio than we would like -- that is if fighters are going to be moving up or down I would like it to be because there has been a change in the consensus opinion, not a change in our sources. Therefore we have cut back our sources to just those sites that we can depend on to update every month. We have also contacted many of the rankers that only publish top 10 lists and asked them to provide top 25 lists. As always we listen to your suggestions and are always working to improve the USAT/SBN Consensus MMA Rankings. Check out the USA TODAY/MMA Nation Consensus Rankings to see who's rising and who's falling.

Posted in: mma, fighter, &nbsp, ranking, consensus

Evolution of MMA: discuss.

I feel like we are reaching a sort of plateau in the evolution of MMA as a sport. We have fighters emerging in each weight division who are exemplars of every area of specialization relevant to MMA. We have champions who are so completely dominant that it becomes an exercise in futility even trying to find a viable opponent for them. I'd like to have a discussion to see what you all think. My personal thoughts are that this is a sort of Age of Heroes for MMA. These champions who are emerging are the forefathers of what MMA will be for the foreseeable future, just an amalgamation of everything great that has come before them. Just a really fucking exciting time in the sport's history. submitted by applesforadam [link] [comment]

Posted in: mma, sport, champion, weight division, sort

Rampage Jackson plans to move to boxing after his MMA career

I can only imagine the Klitschko brothers gathering around the kitchen table for a family breakfast and flipping open their iPad only to read that another MMA fighter plans to move to boxing after their MMA career is finished. In this imaginary scenario, I've always envisioned Vitali Klitschko slaving over a hot stove, draped in a pastel colored apron while his brother, Wladimir, patiently sits at the table with his legs crossed, reading the New York Times. These are the things that keep me up at 3:10am on a Thursday morning. I can't necessarily explain it. It just happens. Rampage Jackson had a brief chat on the ESPN UK UFC podcast this week and mentioned that when he eventually retires from MMA, he would like to try boxing. "I hate fighting people who are scared. When you fight somebody who is scared you never know what they're going to do. They turn and run. "That's why I'm gonna go to boxing. I'm gonna try boxing because they've got to stand with you. If I get knocked out I don't care because at least it's a fight. "I've tried a lot of boxing, I'm falling in love with boxing and I know I can put butts on seats over there." My suggestion is Rampage Jackson should try out for a role in Broadway's 'Jersey Boys.' If he's not satisfied, then he should transition to boxing -- but I'm relatively sure Rampage will be content as the focus of a musical. [Source]

Posted in: mma, rampage, rampage jackson, boxing, mma career

Tony Loiseleur and Daniel Herbertson Illuminate the 'Why' in the Decline of Japanese MMA

There's an ongoing pattern with how MMA writers respond to Japanese MMA. When Takanori Gomi lost to Nate Diaz, pieces went up exclaiming the "end of Japanese MMA's relevance". The same thing happened to Maximo Blanco, and it's been the story everytime a fighter cutting his teeth in Japan comes to the US, and loses. So what's the real narrative here? Are their North American counterparts just better? Or are other factors at play? Obviously, you can't talk about the decline in Japanese MMA without first looking at how the major shows burst into political flames. For Pride, it all started with rumors filed against Pride's then parent company, Dream Stage Entertainment, of being connected with the Yakuza. The pressure that came from these allegations in print forced FujiTV to drop DSE-related programming, and the rest was history. Japanese MMA isn't what it once was, but what has happened to all the ranked fighters? To Kid Yamamoto? Michihiro Omigawa? Takanori Gomi? Etc. In two of these cases, it should be pointed out that they were given title contenders right out the gate. Which is a bit much. On top of that neither Gomi nor Kid entered the UFC in their primes. Omigawa's stuck plummeted after losing to Darren Elkins (despite receiving a win bonus for a bogus decision). Already there's clearly more beneath the surface. And If Hatsu Hioki loses to George Roop, you can guarantee writers will be at it again proclaiming the death of Japanese MMA. "JMMA" may not be worthwhile to many writers, but their tone suggests it is worthless. However, there clearly is a gap between the type of MMA offered in Japan, and the type of MMA offered in North America. When it comes to knowledge of the Japanese MMA scene, it doesn't get much better than MMAFighting's Daniel Herbertson, and Sherdog's Tony Loiseleur. With the former doing brilliant work covering the unique journey of Enson Inoue, and the latter doing work on Shooto's tax scandal like an actual journalist, it doesn't get much better than these two. So why is Japanese MMA lacking? It turns out there's more to the equation than arbitrarily pointing fingers. When you think about what makes American MMA different, you have to also think about its wide, intimately linked network. The Greg Jackson's of the world aren't a dime a dozen, but there are enough facsimiles to emphasize how well MMA is understood, and how seriously it's taken in North America when it comes to understanding what makes for effective fighting. Many trainers understand concepts like "phase-shifting", and the ability to transition between disciplines. "A typical Japanese MMA training session would be an exhausting "warmup" that can sometimes take up to an hour, followed by one or two techniques repeated only a few times, then hours of sparring", Daniel Herbertson notes. "There are specialty coaches (striking, wrestling, and sub wrestling coaches at most good places) at gyms but they really aren't utilized to their full potential as the focus is so much on sparring and less on acquiring new skills" Tony Loiseleur expands on this, citing the anomaly that is Yushin Okami. "I've lost track of how many times I've interviewed a fighter off the record about their gameplan for an upcoming opponent, only to receive the answer 'I'm just training really hard and am prepared to react to what my opponent does....only within the last year or so have fighters realized that YouTube exists for more than just killing time...In the last interview I did with Okami, he brought up another important point in how training in the US differs from Japan: In Japan, we tend to be more more regimented between disciplines when we train; we do have MMA training, but boxing is boxing, wrestling is wrestling, and grappling is grappling. It's all separated and doesn't always flow into each other", explains Okami. Okami continues, "When you learn from an American MMA sensei, you learn MMA...Disciplines aren't so separated, everything flows into each other and you're able to understand what exactly MMA is. The role of geography is also something else Loiseleur highlights. This may seem like an irrelevant point on the surface, but geography ultimately speaks to the phenomenon that there are simply less resources available in Japan. "As Japan is a country that piles its best, brightest, and most commerically viable into its capital city of Tokyo, Japan's MMA industry is wholly located in this one city where space is naturally at a premium. It may sound strange, but having the space in which to train freely without bumping into the next guy, as well as the space to place the proper equipment is impossible to find here. Missing are the enormous warehouse-style all-in-one training centers that populate North America, where you can find a cage and a ring, workout equipment, mat space, and a large staff of specialized instructors working together to perfect their unique style of MMA" In addition, "Tokyo is one of the most expensive cities in the world, (making it) harder for fighters to maintain the kind of lifestyles that North American's top fighters might take for granted...Further, the monthly cost of training, a diet appropriate for sports, supplements, equipment, even clothing is fairly expensive here. One pound of whey protein, for example, goes for about $60 to $70 depending on the current rate of exchange, and it's not rare to see fighters being awarded a bag for winning a bout on the grassroots level...naturally, some things get left out and stay left out in a fighter's career" As observers of sports, we've never more critical of athletes then when they fail mentally. I would never argue that some sort of emerging pattern exists in the way Japanese fighters falter mentally. Quite the opposite: when you consider that their debut fights were against the reigning champion across the Pacific, Yoshihiro Maeda and Takeya Mizugaki put in gutsy, respectable performances against Miguel Torres (Torres may be forgotten, but it's not hard to imagine Torres fighting Cruz this weekend if the decision goes his way against Johnson). But an element of "culture shock" is worth reflecting on. Loiseleur continues, "In traveling to a country where everyone looks physically different from yourself, speaks a different language, and acts and reacts in different ways (it) can provide for a very jarring experience. The culture shock alone is enough to put one's mind off of training, let alone performing one's best in a fight. Case in point: when I had my first sit-down interview with Tatsuya Kawajiri, one thing he made abundantly clear was that while he liked the idea of fighting in a cage and using elbows, he absolutely dreaded fighting in the US and disliked Western fight culture. He was unsettled by the rudeness of the fans, particularly their readiness to boo" When you look at the UK, you might say they've picked on quick given the lack of MMA history. And yet Japan, with its very rich history, continues to lag. What explains that? Might the role of language be a factor? "Go "Shiroobi" Yamamoto wrote a short blog piece that touches upon this idea of exchange at his Skill MMA Blog. He notes in one segment how UK-based mixed martial artists have improved a lot in the past few years owning to the simple fact that they speak English, and thus have access to vast resources of MMA information, most of which is arguably in English. It took grappling nerds like Shinya Aoki to introduce the rubber guard to Japan a few years after Eddie Bravo was marketing it and witing books about it, mostly because Japanese fighters besides Aoki (at the time) had zero interest in what was going on across the Pacific", notes Loiseleur. Loiseleur and and Herbertson help illuminate what makes Japanese MMA so different, and more importantly, help explain how those differences affect performance. These are not meant to be excuses. Instead they're explanations for why where once Japan was a veritable Mecca for mixed martial arts, it has now become a punchline among MMA writers and observers. However, Japan has a nice amateur infrastructure: an infrastructure far removed from the types that have plagued North America. This was a big, but largely ignored story highlighted by Jake Rossen in the West Virginia scene a couple of years ago (Virginia being the place involving what is MMA's most heinous decision ever in awarding Mike Easton a split decision win over Chase Beebe). According to Herbertson, "The amatuer and rookie pro systems are easily the best in the world. The amateur Shooto, Pancrase, and ZST tournaments consistently turn out the best fighters in Japan....Nothing in Western countries can compare to the structure and support system in amateur Shooto. Once a fighter goes through the amateur system, the rookie pro tournaments in these promotions are also outstanding." Despite the state of Japanese MMA, it can't get any worse. And in some ways, it feels like it's beginning to grow again. Perhaps there's no hope for JMMA on a scale comparable to Pride in its heyday, but with real interest from fighters to travel abroad, and the UFC providing a nice payoff, it'll be interesting to see how this affects fighters coming from Japan long term. I can't imagine why MMA fans wouldn't be excited. If you don't like the prospect of fighters like Kyoji Horiguchi getting proper support with real training from real trainers, then you're watching the wrong sport.

Posted in: mma, fighter, japanese, japanese mma, japan

Mick Bower Joins Press Row

Every Wednesday, Administrative Editor Jordan Breen welcomes a member of the mixed martial arts media into “Press Row” on the Sherdog.com blog. This week, Breen welcomes Sherdog.com British correspondent Mick Bower to “Press Row.” Bower, the author of “Bloody Revolution: A Journey into UK MMA”, weighs in on the recent “cagefighting kids” controversy that hit British tabloids last week. Breen and Bower discuss what the incident says and means for the current climate of MMA in the United Kingdom. The pair also delve into Britain's history with wrestling and grappling, the UFC's shrinking role on the other side of the Atlantic, and what might lead MMA to prosper in Britain. Grab your credential and get a seat in “Press Row.”

Posted in: mma, press, row, breen, bower

Pro Elite Moves Next Show to Moline, Ill.; Tim Sylvia-Pedro Rizzo to Headline

Filed under: News Venue issues have forced Pro Elite into a change for its November show. Sources close to the promotion have confirmed to MMA Fighting that Pro Elite, in its second incarnation after folding up shop in late 2008, will move a planned Nov. 5 event from Atlantic City, N.J., to the iWireless Center in Moline, Ill. An official announcement from the promotion is expected by week's end. The main event is expected to be a heavyweight bout between former UFC champion Tim Sylvia and three-time UFC heavyweight title challenger Pedro Rizzo. Additionally, fellow former UFC heavyweight champ Andrei Arlovski will fight Travis Fulton, regarded as the busiest fighter in MMA history with more than 300 career fights. The event was originally targeted for Nov. 12 at the Resorts Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, but was moved to Nov. 5. Logistical trouble with Resorts caused the promotion to look elsewhere, and sources said when additional venues in Atlantic City didn't work out, the decision was made to move to the Quad Cities area in western Illinois. In addition to Moline, Pro Elite officials considered the Target Center in Minneapolis as a host venue for the show. The event now will take place Nov. 5 at the iWireless Center in Moline, which has hosted MMA events in the past - including Adrenaline MMA, the promotion started by MMA promoter and manager Monte Cox several years ago. Cox has been informally consulting with Pro Elite. Both the original Nov. 12 date and the new date of Nov. 5 are up against UFC events. In addition to the main and co-main events on Nov. 5, sources told MMA Fighting that Reagan Penn, brother of former UFC champion BJ Penn, will fight on the card, as will highly regarded women's 125-pounder Tara LaRosa. Pro Elite reformed earlier this year and hosted a show in Honolulu last month that included Arlovski, Reagan Penn and Kendall Grove. Sylvia and Arlovski on the same card sets up the possibility for a future meeting between the two, which would be their fourth fight. Arlovski won their first bout, taking the UFC interim heavyweight title at UFC 51. Sylvia then took the belt from Arlovski with a first-round TKO at UFC 59 and defended it at UFC 61 three months later. Though a published report says Slyvia and Arlovski will meet on the Nov. 5 show, Pro Elite VP of Event Operations T. Jay Thompson confirmed to MMA Fighting that Slyvia-Arlovski will not take place on that day. Additional sources told MMA Fighting it will be Rizzo meeting Slyvia - and that Sylvia-Arlovski IV is not in the promotion's current plans, but could be targeted down the road. It's a fight Arlovski, 1-2 against Sylvia, has wanted for some time. Sylvia (29-7) has rebounded after a rough stretch that saw him lose four of five fights. He lost his heavyweight title to Randy Couture at UFC 68. He then beat Brandon Vera, but followed that with a loss to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira that ended his run in the UFC. He moved on to Affliction's short-lived MMA promotion and suffered a quick submission to Fedor Emelianenko. Then came a 9-second knockout loss to pro boxer Ray Mercer that will likely be the biggest stain on his record. Since then, though, he has won five of six over the last two years, with all his wins by stoppage - and all at super heavyweight. Rizzo (19-9) has not fought since a July 2010 win over Ken Shamrock for Impact FC in Sydney. Rizzo has fought some of the sports heavyweight legends, including Mark Coleman, Dan Severn, Josh Barnett and Arlovski. In 2001, he twice lost to Couture challenging for the UFC heavyweight title. Since leaving the UFC in 2003, Rizzo's appearances have been more sporadic - with just nine fights in nearly eight years. Arlovski (16-9) snapped out of a four-fight skid with a win over Ray Lopez at Pro Elite's show last month. Prior to that, Arlovski lost to Emelianeko, Brett Rogers, Antonio Silva and Sergei Kharitonov, the latter three for Strikeforce. Fulton is an Iowa-based fighter with a career record of 247-48-10, according to most databases, though it is believed that 10 of those losses came in kickboxing competitions and not in MMA. Fulton fought 13 times in 2010, but has only fought twice in 2011 - going 2-0. The majority of Fulton's losses have come against future UFC fighters like Ben Rothwell, Forrest Griffin, Travis Wiuff, Rich Franklin and Evan Tanner. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, heavyweight, arlovski, nov

Jim Genia Talks UFC 135, UFC on Versus 6 and Raw Combat on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani

Exciting news… Our very own Jim Genia was a guest on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani earlier this week. Jim joined MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani, MMA Fighting’s Mike Chiappetta and TapouT’s Mike Straka in a media roundtable to talk about all the action from UFC 135 and preview this weekend’s UFC on Versus 6 card. Jim also talked about his new book Raw Combat: The Underground World of Mixed Martial Arts that’s due out on store shelves on Oct. 25. You can check out Jim’s segment above and the full show over at MMA Fighting.

Posted in: ufc, mma, mma hour, ariel helwani, jim

Not MMA but Badr Hari retires from kickboxing to pursue boxing

submitted by AbeRudder [link] [comment]

Posted in: mma, boxing, badr hari, hari, badr

ADCC 2011 Results: Gunnar Nelson Proves He Is Not A Fluke

This is a guest post by T.P. Grant, part of the Bloody Elbow Grappling Coverage Team In the 2009 ADCC, a young Icelandic grappler, wearing a brand new black belt awarded to him by Renzo Gracie made his debut. Gunnar Nelson had qualified for the 77 kg division at the most prestigious no gi grappling event in the world and fought James Brasco to a stand still but lost a referee decision. After one match, Nelson's ADCC run appeared to be over, but after the finals concluded he was given a second chance with an invite into the Absolute Division. And Nelson made the most of that second chance. Nelson defeated the much larger and stronger Jeff Monson in the first round and then slapped an rear naked choke on David Avellan in the quarterfinals. In the semis, Nelson faced the legendary Xande Ribeiro and lost via kneebar. Nelson would then lose the Bronze Medal Match to Vinny Magalhaes. This time around in the ADCCs, Nelson was intent on bringing home some form of hardware. In his weight-class Nelson won his first match on points but then ran into Andre Galvao who defeated Nelson and went on to win the division. Nelson was again given an invite to the Absolute bracket. Nelson took the back of Bruno Frazzato and while he didn't find a choke he was able to secure the win via points. Then the in the second round, Nelson was re-matched with Xande Ribeiro. This time Nelson was able to stave off the leg lock and go on the offensive. At one point in the match Nelson had a tight guillotine and threatened to take Xande's back but in the end Nelson lost on points. While Nelson leaves Nottingham with no medals, his grappling game has clearly taken a big stride forward and with the ADCCs now concluded he will likely resume his MMA career. Which is fantastic news to MMA fans because Nelson is one of the brightest European prospects. Nelson currently has an 8-0-1 professional record with 5 (t)KOs and 3 submissions and is currently under contract with BAMMA. He is also featured in Leland Rolling's simply awesome prospect rankings. While his grappling credentials are eye catching, the Icelander started his martial arts career as a striker. In his teens Nelson competed in Goju Ryu Karate and that Karate style is still present in his striking. Nelson uses very in-line footwork and an in-and-out attack similar to that of Lyoto Machida. Nelson's takedowns are quick and once he has an opponent on the ground his top position is punishing. It has reached a point though where Nelson is having difficulty finding legitimate opponents who are willing to face him under the BAMMA banner. Nelson is just 23-years-old and has time to develop, but at this point in his career leaving the European MMA circuit for a more established North American based promotion like King of the Cage, MFC, Sharkfights or even Bellator or the UFC should be his next step. While Nelson is still too young and too green for even the mid-levels of the UFC 170 division or the talent in Bellator's Welterweight tournament he is going to need consistent fights moving forward. Being in the U.S. would also expose him to more wrestling based fighters and allow him to work more closely with Renzo Gracie, his BJJ coach. The future is bright for this young man in both grappling and MMA. ADCC 2011 Coverage on SBNation

Posted in: mma, division, adcc, point, nelson

Bellator 51: 158,000 viewers

MMA Junkie reports that Bellator 51 held Saturday night drew an average of 158,000 viewers on MTV2. The results were up from last week but still an overall disappointing rating. The opening of the bantamweight tournament for Bellator featured a highlight reel knockout of Joe Warren by Alex Vila. But, it faced stiff competition from UFC 135 as well as the usual slate of college football. Payout Perspective: According to MMA Junkie, the 158,000 viewers were ranked 14th out of 17 Bellator shows on MTV2. Its a tough spot for Bellator considering it went up against UFC 135. If you consider the fact that the UFC 135 prelims had strong ratings, you can infer that most MMA fans were going to be focused on the UFC Saturday night.

Posted in: ufc, bellator, mma, viewer, alex vila

Paulo Filho has put down his fishing pole and will fight at KSW on Nov 20th

Fashion week in NYC concluded two weeks ago, and I was shocked the male models weren't kicking it on the runway - clad head to toe in cut-off flannel jumpsuits and facial tattoos. Real fashion has become too raw for fashion week, and somewhere in Brazil, Paulo Filho pities today's (deeply misled) top designers. It's only matter if time before you walk into a Versaci boutique and find the "Filho" collection. Until then, Paulo will remain perdominantly known for his ability to submit MMA fighters regardless of how much they struggle to defend against it. Last we heard, Paulo Filho was fishing to cope with his depression, but his sea-bound adventures will temporarily be put on hold as the Carlson Gracie phenom has decided to fight again on November 20th in Poland at KSW. That rounds out a solid card featuring several name-brand fighters competing that night. Aslambek Saidov vs. Rafal Moks James Zikic vs. Antoni Chmielewski Maciej Jewtuszco vs. Artur Sowinski Matt Horwich vs. Michal Materla Rameau Therry Sokoudjou vs. Jan Blachowicz Mariusz Pudzianowski vs. James Thompson Paulão Filho vs. Mamed Khalidov We like Polish MMA, or any brand of MMA that has Paulo Filho on the same card as Mariusz Pudzianowski. We also like fishing and Mexican food, so we hope any aspiring MMA promoters keep that in mind when planning your next event. [Source]

Posted in: mma, vs, filho, paulo, paulo filho

Pro MMA Radio 166: Rashad Evans, UFC 135 Recap

We have partnered with Pro MMA Radio to bring you weekly replays of PMR as the official radio show of MMAConvert.com. Pro MMA Radio can be heard live every Monday evening at 9PM ET/6PM PT. Replays and podcasts of every show are available 24/7 by going to the “Replay Corner” section of ProMMARadio.com, our own Pro MMA Radio page or by clicking the banner below. On this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio, Rashad Evans joined host Larry Pepe to give his thoughts on UFC 135 and talk about his upcoming title fight against teammate turned rival Jon Jones. ESPN’s Jon Anik also stopped by to help Pepe recap UFC 135 and preview this weekend’s UFC on Versus 6 card. You can listen to a replay of this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio by clicking the banner below. A radio player with links to the show’s archives will open in a pop-up window, so please make sure your browser is set to allow pop-ups for this site.

Posted in: ufc, mma, replay, radio, mma radio

Bubba Jenkins to Make MMA Debut at Tachi Palace Fights 11

NCAA Division 1 wrestling champion Bubba Jenkins will make his much-anticipated MMA debut on December 2nd at Tachi Palace Fights 11. He spoke to MMA Nation's Luke Thomas about his MMA aspirations back in April, and confirmed them in a statement to Bloody Elbow in May when he signed with Gorilla Management. Sherdog has the details of his fight: The NCAA All-American wrestler confirmed Monday to Sherdog.com that he has inked a deal with the Lemoore, Calif.,-based promotion and will make the move to MMA on Dec. 2, when he faces fellow professional newcomer Chris Huerta at TPF 11 "Redemption." Jenkins’ first fight will take place at 155 pounds, though the 23-year-old is expected to move down to 145 pounds for future bouts. Jenkins was a 2008 national runner up at 149 pounds when he was wrestling for Penn State, and won a national championship earlier this year at 157 pounds while competing for Arizona State. He has been training with American Top Team since he graduated, and is likely one of the hottest prospects in the sport right now.

Posted in: fight, pound, mma, mma debut, jenkin

One FC's Eddie Ng ready to shine in 2012

Eddie Ng burst onto the Asian scene with a bang with a spectacular one punch knock out win at ONE Fighting Championship 1. It has been a roller coaster ride for the Cantonese fighter who was living and training in England until he was recruited by Evolve MMA and promptly offered a contract with Asia’s most ambitious MMA promotion. Ng was training alongside the likes of Shinya Aoki and Gregor Gracie in preparation for his fight with Yuan Chuan Bo but despite his perfect preparation he almost got caught in a surprisingly slick Armbar attempt by the Chinese fighter. “I was surprised when he went for the Armbar but he was slightly too low on the arm so my elbow was practically out as he went for it but it did catch me off guard. I was going to work my way past the guard slowly using a methodical Jiu-Jitsu game and when he crawled the legs up for the Armbar I thought ‘Hes not going to do that,’ because he’s a Sanda guy and the next thing I knew I was in an Armbar attempt but I’ve been in that situation so many times in training that I knew what I had to do so I didn’t panic,” he said. The 25 year old, who is originally from Hong Kong but grew up in England, was able to power his way out and then land a couple of devastating punches which knocked Yuan out cold, to the amazement of everyone watching, “Shinya has taught me a lot about top position for MMA, we were actually working the EXACT same scenario in the pre-fight as to how the fight ended! Afterwards we laughed and joked about how perfect the pre fight was. That’s the first knock out finish I’ve ever had.” All of Ng’s previous fights have taken place in conference centres or clubs in England and he has never fought in front of a crowd like the one at the sold out Singapore Indoor Stadium before. He claims it wasn’t until after he had won his fight that he began to realize that 7,000 people had been watching, “I had a job to perform on that night and I was too focused on it to let anything affect or distract me. It wasn’t until after my fight when I walked out to watch my team mate Zoro’s fight where I thought ‘WTF there are A LOT of people here!’ I was scanning the stadium from left to right for about five minutes thinking about where and how all these people turned up because I didn’t notice them earlier!” ONE Fighting Championship’s first show was extremely successful and the promotion is planning on putting on events all over Asia in the coming months and years, including in Ng’s hometown of Hong Kong. Full One FC Results After his victory at the inaugural show Ng appears to be an integral part of the organization’s plans and will continue to compete in the increasingly competitive lightweight division, “In the past I have fought at 170 lbs but 155lbs is my goal for the future. I wasn’t quite sure how my body would cope with the change in training, climate, food etc and with so many new factors that I had to take into account, I didn’t want my weight to be an issue which is why this fight was at 160 lbs. I will be fighting for One FC again and I have spoken to Victor Cui about the possibility of fighting on a One FC show in Hong Kong. That would be an absolute honor.” He feels that training at Evolve MMA has helped him to take his game to a completely different level and has been learning trade secrets from some of the best MMA fighters and grapplers in the world. “The training at Evolve has been absolutely unreal. Altogether, the world champion trainers literally have a lifetime worth of knowledge and experience between them. I’m able to share this knowledge and learn from their experiences every single day and it’s the reason that I feel as though I am growing as a fighter, a martial artist and as a person every day. Working with the likes of Shinya, Renzo Gracie, and Gregor (Gracie) has been an amazing experience. They know what works at an elite level and they are happy to share information which many would keep “hush hush” and that shows what type of human beings they are.” Ng was one of six Evolve MMA fighters on the card at One FC 1 and there has been a lot of intrigue about this state of the art facility in Singapore which is home to the likes of DREAM lightweight champion Aoki and UFC contender Rafael Dos Anjos as well as an entire team of champions from the world of Muay Thai and BJJ. Almost all of the Evolve MMA fighters are also full time employees who train all year round and Ng talks us through a typical day for the fight team, “An average day consists of a morning workout which focuses on MMA cage work, MMA sparring, positional work, strength and conditioning. An afternoon workout follows where we do a one on one session with a Muay Thai world champion instructor. Several times a week, a third evening workout of the day occurs where we are able to brush up on the weaker areas of our game.” Hong Kong, Macau, and Shanghai are on the OneFC destination list and Ng is set to be one of the superstars of this new promotion which is rapidly becoming Asia’s answer to the UFC. With a ground game which is reportedly world class and rapidly improving stand up skills he looks to be an early contender for the lightweight title when it is eventually introduced. His Cantonese heritage and undeniable fighting ability made him an obvious addition to the One FC roster and Ng has already started to develop a Chinese fan base. He is happy to have so many Asian fans but has a message for them, “People keep coming up to me and trying to talk to me in Mandarin but I only speak Cantonese! My message to my Chinese fans is that I hope I can do everyone proud and show that there are Chinese fighters that can perform at the highest levels.” For more information about ONE Fighting Championship visit their website at OneFC.com. PHOTO CREDIT – Shafudin Jaya Tweet

Posted in: fight, mma, fighter, training, ng

Chuck Liddell Talks Retirement, FOX Deal and 'Hawaii Five-0' Cameo

Filed under: MMA Rumors, MMA Videos, UFCDENVER -- UFC legend Chuck Liddell met with the press at UFC 135 to discuss the current issues with MMA judging, whether he still has an itch to fight again, the new UFC on FOX TV deal and his upcoming cameo on CBS' Hawaii Five-0 series. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, fox deal, mma videos, nbsp ;permalink

Wanderlei Silva will get very mad if Cung Le tries any of those silly spinning kicks at UFC 139

In Japan, more money is spent on the porn industry than their entire country’s military. That’s actually a fact. Even military secrets get leaked because officers can’t help but exchange porn while on duty. If you’re into porn, Japan is definitely the place to be. You don’t even need money in your day to day life; you can swap a couple of XXX DVDs to pay for the sushi that arrives on your conveyor belt and your cashier will go home happier than any monetary charity you slip into the tip jar by the register. While some people will question if valuing porn is as important as a solid military, most of the people reading this tune the Japanese political stuff out and focus on MMA, and that’s what we’ll try to do in the remainder of this article. In Japanese MMA, your wins and losses mean a lot less to fans than they do in the UFC; and that’s a good thing. Most of the fan favorite fighters competing in the UFC today still have their origins rooted from the PRIDE FC competitions where fighters were treated like demi-gods. Being bummed over a loss is never as bad as it seems when a library of porn awaits you at your hotel. Not sure if that is how Wanderlei Silva gets over his ‘less-than-perfect’ performances, but we’d like to think soft-core videos can calm you down and give you what you need to regroup for a fight against Cung Le at UFC 139. No loss is too hard to overcome when you’re the Axe Murder, and as he puts together his game-plan for defeating MMA’s San Shou wizard, just be thankful we’ll get to hear “Sandstorm” at least once more on November 19th.

Posted in: ufc, mma, loss, wanderlei silva, porn

Rashad Evans fires back at Jon Jones on tonight's presentation of Pro MMA Radio

And here ... we ... go! Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans, who will challenge former training partner Jon Jones for the 205-pound strap at an event to be determined, is firing back at the champ on tonight's (Sept. 26) presentation of Pro MMA Radio. Tonight's audio feed begins promptly at 9 p.m. ET. "Bones," who told media members that "Suga'" ruined his special night (a UFC 135 beatdown of "Rampage" Jackson), will be the focus of tonight's discussion as Evans unloads on his bitter rival. Hear it straight from Evans at 9 p.m. ET after the jump. Click the banner below or right here to listen to Pro MMA Radio.

Posted in: mma, radio, mma radio, evan, media members

Former NCAA All-American Wrestler Bubba Jenkins to make MMA debut at Tachi Palace Fights 11 on Dec. 2 in Lemoore, California

Wrestling is taking over. It was announced earlier today that yet another top level collegiate wrestler will join the ranks of professional mixed martial arts (MMA). Former Penn State University (PSU) and Arizona State University (ASU) wrestler Bubba Jenkins is scheduled to make his MMA debut at Tachi Palace Fights 11 in Lemoore, Calif., on Dec. 2, 2011. Jenkins will take on fellow newcomer Chris Huerta, who will also be making his MMA debut. During his time at PSU, Jenkins amassed a record of 73-21 before transferring to ASU for his senior year. In his final year (2010-2011), Jenkins went 21-3, defeating previously unbeaten David Taylor for the championship. Jenkins is perhaps looking to follow in the footsteps of another ASU alum, Cain Velasquez, following the heavyweight champion out to San Jose to ensure his transition to MMA is equally as successful. Jenkins, who joined American Top Team (ATT) in June, will debut as a lightweight, but has been said to be interested in moving to the featherweight division after his initial fight. On the same card as Jenkins' debut, Ian McCall will defend his belt against former World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) fighter Will Campuzano in the main event. MMAmania.com will have updates on Jenkins' MMA progress, as well as information about the Tachi Palace Fights 11 card as news develops. What do you think, Maniacs? Are you intrigued?

Posted in: fight, mma, mma debut, debut, jenkin

a MMA game my coworker and I play to kill time...

We have a job that has a large amount of downtime, so one day he said "name a heavyweight." So, I said Cain. He then came up with Miguel Torres. Then said to connect the two by linking them through the people they have fought. I guess it is like Six Degrees Of Separation With Kevin Bacon but with MMA. Now, whenever it gets slow, he names any fighter, and I do the same, then we race to see who can connect them first. Not knowing who the other person is gonna pick makes it difficult to cheat. Anyway, that is a decent way to kill time in an office where there is no internet. submitted by NewUploader1 [link] [4 comments]

Posted in: mma, miguel torres, kevin bacon, mma game, time ....

Cris Cyborg to Meet Hiroko Yamanaka at Strikeforce Event on December 17th

Strikeforce women's 145 lb. champion Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos (10-1) officially re-signed with the company last month, and after over a year out of the cage, she will finally return to defend her title in December. She will meet Jewels regular Hiroko Yamanaka (12-1), who is ranked # 2 in the world in the women's 145 pound weight class by MMA Rising (probably the best source for women's MMA around). The fight was announced on Friday's Strikeforce Challengers 19 broadcast. The challenger Yamanaka has had an interesting past. According to her wiki page, she was a dominatrix that got into MMA because "she thought it would help her in providing better service to her clients". Wow. Turns out she is pretty good at MMA, and has won 8 fights in a row. She's also avenged her only loss to Hitomi Akano by defeating her in their rematch. Santos hasn't competed since June 2010 when she defeated Jan Finney via TKO in the second round. She originally won the Strikeforce women's 145 lb. belt back in August 2009 when she defeated Gina Carano in one of Strikeforce's highest-rated bouts ever (at least on Showtime). Carano is also rumored to be competing on the December 17th card, which will take place in San Diego, CA. The event will be main-evented by a Strikeforce lightweight title fight between Gilbert Melendez and Jorge Masvidal. More SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal

Posted in: mma, strikeforce, women, san diego, strikeforce women

Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen trains MMA and compares Dana White to Kanye West (Video)

After the interviewer asks him who in the music industry has a "big mouth" like the UFC President. Nice. "Well, there's plenty of them ... (long pause) ... Kanye gets into trouble a lot, Kanye West ... uh ... (long pause) ... there's loads of 'em! And some of 'em it's a front as well." The 53-year-old guitarist feels like "Superman" now that he quit drinking and started training in mixed martial arts to stay fit when he's on the road touring with Def Leppard. And why not? Training MMA is the "hip" thing to do if you're a celebrity. Anyone out there agree with Collen and think Dana White is the Kanye West of MMA because his mouth gets him into trouble? Or has the Brit poured a little too much sugar on himself over the years? Any Def Leppard fans out there care to weigh in on this debate?

Posted in: mma, kanye west, kanye, training mma, leppard fans

2011 NCAA champion Bubba Jenkins set to make MMA debut at Tachi Palace Fights 11

The wait is over. Nine months after capturing a NCAA wrestling championship for the Arizona State wrestling team, Bubba Jenkins (0-0) is one step closer to his first foray into the cage. Sources close to the situation have informed ULTMMA.com (www.ULTMMA.com) that Jenkins' MMA debut will likely occur on Friday December 2nd for California's Tachi Palace Fights promotion.The hyped college wrestling to MMA transition for Jenkins will begin in the sports 155 pound lightweight division. At press time an opponent has not been confirmed for Jenkins. Tachi Palace Fights 11 Redemption takes place at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, CA and will feature a main event of Ian McCall vs. Will Campuzano.A 2008 runner-up at 149 pounds for Penn State University, Jenkins hinted at a possible move into MMA prior to his senior season at ASU. The 23 year old Jenkins was an All American for the Nittany Lions in 2008 before he transferred to ASU for his final year of eligibility. At 157 pounds Jenkins went 21-3 during his senior year for the Sun Devils. Jenkins capped off his 2010-11 season with a run through the NCAA tournament that included a win over undefeated Penn State wrestler David Taylor in the finals. In June, Jenkins officially joined the American Top Team fight team. After a summer spent conducting wrestling camps, Jenkins will call ATT's Coconut Creek, Florida facility home as he preps for his MMA debut. With official MMA record of 0-0 Jenkins is a four star prospect at 155 pounds according to ULTMMA.com. Based on his amateur wrestling credentials as well as his ATT coaches and training partners Jenkins checks in at number 46 in the ULTMMA50; a pound for pound listing of the top 50 unsigned prospects in MMA.

Posted in: pound, mma, mma debut, jenkin, tachi

UFC 135: Complete Fight Night Photo Gallery

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Posted in: fight, mma, rampage, jone, card

NCAA Champ Jenkins Signs with Tachi; MMA Debut Set for Dec. 2

Bubba Jenkins will make his MMA debut inside the Tachi Palace Fights cage.

Posted in: mma, mma debut, debut, jenkin, tachi

Yodsanan Sityodtong Talks to MMA-Japan - Picks on Pacquiao vs. Mayweather

[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on MMA-Japan, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] Now that you've made your MMA debut, how does it feel?I love MMA. I'm 100% focused on my MMA career now. I am so thankful to everyone who supported me. I trained every day in Muay Thai, BJJ, Boxing, and Wrestling. I did 5-6 hours of hard training 6 days a week for our 8 week training camp. I would like to thank the leader of the Evolve Fight Team, Chatri Sityodtong. He gave me a huge opportunity and he gave me all the guidance. I would like to thank all of our BJJ world champions. I would like to thank all of our Muay Thai world champions. I would like to thank my Evolve Family for the love and support. You've competed in a plethora of combat sports, did MMA differ quite a bit from Thai Boxing and boxing?MMA is the greatest high. I've had over 60 professional boxing fights. I've had over 60 professional Muay Thai fights. But so far, MMA is the best. My goal is to become world champion in MMA. My body is 25 years old because I don't smoke or drink - never have in my whole life - and because I train every day. I love training. It's not work to me. It's in my blood. I'm a fighter and this is what I was born to do.Daniel shot in for a take down and actually went for a leg lock - were you ever worried when the fight went to the ground?I was worried because I had a bad injury on my left knee - I hurt it quite badly a few weeks before the fight during our MMA cage training session. We almost had to pull out of the fight. At one point, we had decided to pull out. So I was actually concerned about my left knee the whole fight. I train with our BJJ Black Belt World Champions every day. And most of the purple and blue belts at Evolve MMA cannot submit me. So I was not afraid of Daniel's ground game. I've been training in BJJ for the last 2 years. Read More...

Posted in: fight, world, mma, training, . i

TWIQ: MMA Quotes for the Week of September 18 - 24

FOR BRITISH EYES ONLY "The most creative or versatile to date...I don't know, man. That's a good question. I didn't really think about that." - Quinton Jackson, on UFC 135 opponent Jon Jones. Jones would up his game with MMA Nation's Luke Thomas. (Luke Thomas) "Well, you know, I'm British, so being a double agent is what we do. So, it wasn't a distraction. I simply got caught." - Jon Jones, "admitting" to having a spy in "Rampage's" training camp...entirely in an English accent. (MMA Nation) "Yeah, he caught me. It was his chef. Chef kinda put me out there a little bit. I'm comfortable with it, too late now." - Jones. Hello there, children! "I'm going to end his hype tomorrow, that's what I told him." - Jackson, on what he told Jones during their staredown at the weigh-ins. Jones stifled Jackson for three rounds before finishing him by rear naked choke in the fourth. (MMA Mania) NOTE: THE WEEK IN QUOTES IS A WORK OF SATIRE, AND I HAVE A MASSIVE HANGOVER. OH CANADA "People ask me how MMA got big in Canada and I say, ‘Are you kidding?!? You actually think Georges St. Pierre is the one that made it big?’" - MFC owner Mark Pavelich, in a dark corner, laying in the fetal position. (Five Ounces of Pain) "I made it big! There was no MMA before I was here. I made it. I. Me, me, and me." - Pavelich " And you know what? Before I’d never talk like this but I swore starting today I’m gonna shove it in everybody’s face." - Pavelich, who was quickly arrested by mounted police for indecent exposure. OVEREEM, OVERDUE "[FEG] didn't pay me [for winning the 2010 K-1 Grand Prix]." - Alistair Overeem, with a statement that shocks just about nobody. (MMA Fighting) "We're on the verge of starting up legal action, but Japan is a hard environment to move. You have the language barrier, you have the culture barrier. Are we expecting something from it? It's hard to say. I actually think it's going to be really hard." - Overeem. That's what she said. "FEG has a lot of outstanding liabilities, a lot of unpaid bills, so maybe mine is just going to be put underneath the stack of the other bills. They have a lot of debt." - Overeem WHITE NOISE "Yeah it will go away when the Fox deal starts, which is in January." - UFC President Dana White, on Strikeforce. Just kidding. He's talking about Facebok fights. (El Octagono) "I believe, and maybe I'm a little goofy, that I have a good rapport with this kid and we can work together." - White, on Justin Bieber. (MMA Torch) "If you really look at what I call ‘the spirit of the deal’, it’s the wrong thing to do. The thing is, you have to understand, in my opinion it’s Spike not being honorable." - White, finally able to speak his mind about Manswers. (MMA Fighting) PARTING SHOTS "My wife tells me I'm done fighting. She wanted me to retire after the [fight with] B.J." - Matt Hughes, prior to his UFC 135 loss to Josh Koscheck. (MMA Torch) "Fighting Matt Hughes is a good comeback fight for me." - Josh Koscheck, with fight code for "this dude is over the hill." (MMA Mania) "I think the judge will decide on this issue that we have, and when that is decided, we will see who was right and who was not." - Bas Boon, reacting to Alistair Overeem leaving Golden Glory. (MMA Junkie)

Posted in: mma, overeem, jone, ."&nbsp, &rsquo

MMA on TV

Welcome to “MMA on TV”, Five Ounces of Pain’s weekly update on the upcoming MMA-broadcast schedule. Miss the latest episode of “MMA Live” or “UFC Unleashed”? Wondering when Strikeforce or HDNet are airing a replay of their latest offering or interested in finding out where to tune into live shows occurring over the next seven days? September 26 – October 2 All Times Eastern Monday (9/26) WEC WrekCage (Replay) on VS. at 1am MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 5am MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 10am MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 3pm Tuesday (9/27) MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 11:30am Strikeforce GP Prelims (Replay) on HDNet at 4pm MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 4:30pm Strikeforce Challengers: Larkin vs. Rossborough (Replay) on ShowtimeEX at 10pm Wednesday (9/28) UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 3pm Legacy FC 8 (Replay) on HDNet at 4pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 4pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 5pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 6pm The Ultimate Fighter (Replay) on SpikeTV at 7pm Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 7:30pm Art of Fighting (Replay) on MAVTV at 8:30pm UFC Unleashed (Premiere) on SpikeTV at 9pm MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 9:30pm The Ultimate Fighter 14 (Premiere) on SpikeTV at 10pm King of the Cage (Replay) on MAVTV at 10pm Thursday (9/29) UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 12am The Ultimate Fighter 14 (Replay) on SpikeTV at 1am Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 1:30am Art of Fighting (Replay) on MAVTV at 2:30am King of the Cage (Replay) on MAVTV at 3:30am Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 12pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 3pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 4pm Best of DREAM (Replay) on HDNet at 4pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 5pm Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 5pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 6pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 7pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 8pm M1 Challenge 26 (Replay) on ShowtimeEX at 11pm Friday (9/30) MMA Live (Premiere) on ESPN2 at 2am Strikeforce GP Prelims (Replay) on HDNet at 4pm Inside MMA (Premiere) on HDNet at 9pm DREAM 17 (Replay) on HDNet at 10pm Shark Fights 2011 (Premiere) on FUELTV at 10pm Saturday (10/1) Fight Vault: Keita Nakamura Special (Premiere) on HDNet at 1am Shark Fights 2011 (Replay) on FUELTV at 1am Inside MMA (Replay) on HDNet at 1:30am DREAM 17 (Replay) on HDNet at 2:30am Fight Vault: Keita Nakamura Special (Replay) on HDNet at 5:30am MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 12:30pm Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 1pm Legacy FC 8 (Replay) on HDNet at 4pm Inside MMA (Replay) on HDNet at 5:30pm MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 5:30pm Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 6pm UFC Live 6: Cruz vs. Johnson (Live Event) on VS. at 9pm Bellator 52 (Live Event) on MTV2/EPIX at 9pm Shark Fights 2011 (Premiere) on FUELTV at 10pm Sunday (10/2) UFC Live 6: Cruz vs. Johnson (Replay) on VS. at 12:30am Bellator 52 (Replay) on MTV2 at 1am Shark Fights 2011 (Replay) on FUELTV at 2am King of the Cage (Replay) on MAVTV at 11am King of the Cage (Replay) on MAVTV at 4pm MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 11pmSimilar Posts: MMA on TV MMA on TV MMA on TV MMA on TV MMA on TV Tweetgovernment,politics news,politics news,politics

Posted in: ufc, mma, replay, pm, mavtv

The MMA Hour With Cruz, Johnson, Brenneman, Vila, Hamman and Roundtable

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

Randy Couture insists he’s done with MMA, but we can still see him on the big screen

Randy Couture is the story of a man that met a hot girl, made that girl into a hot wife and then divorced that hot wife...and that hot wife refuses give up his last name. Regardless, Randy Couture is MMA and without his father having unprotected sex with his mother forty-eight years ago, MMA would just be another backyard sport people would have bootlegged videotapes of. Technically and in some aspects, it still is. At least it has elevated from the status of all of those old 'Dog Brother' tapes that floated around in the early 90s. All of that stuff was taped right here in Southern California and surprisingly, they're still around. The Natural is a pioneer in the sport we all love, so it's puzzling that he would take the time to talk to us about, well, anything. We have nothing in common, aside from his taste in the opposite sex. LayzieTheSavage caught up with Randy Couture to see what's going on in his budding acting career, along with some other stuff that you probably want to hear.

Posted in: mma, randy, is mma, dog brother, sex

Despite Being Covered in Tombstone, Japanese MMA Still Delivers

It became clear, very fast, that Takanori Gomi didn't resemble the Gomi of yesteryear. Gomi has always been flawed. Even during his prime, he was prone to bizarre performances. But he hid those flaws with the type of punching power that could put fingerprints on Wolverine's bones. This weekend we saw a caricature of that man: recognizing his only option was to land a wild punch in an exchange, he resorted to the type of aimless swinging not even a poolhall junkie in a Steven Seagal movie could envy. In other words, Gomi fought like a moron hanging with the wrong crowd. And yet, I'm not interested in celebrating this fact. Sergio Hernandez over at MMA Mania has an article up entitled "The boys from 209 and their beatings of Takanori Gomi highlight the end of Japanese MMA's relevance". I understand what makes people critical of Japanese MMA. For the diligent followers, you may be disenchanted by their business practices: practices illuminated by Zach Arnold over at Fight Opinion. Maybe you're a casual fan and simply don't care. Or maybe you're an MMA writer, and just enjoy dancing on JMMA's grave with all the cool kids. Those are all valuable reasons, but MMA not Zuffa owned doesn't mean it can't deliver. There's a strange, dismissive tone in the way MMA writers talk about Japanese MMA. It's as if the sport in that region is a waste of time if prospects over there aren't having success coming stateside. Yet what's so different about what DREAM, and Shooto produce versus, say, Bellator? MMA doesn't need to be owned by Zuffa in order to be wortwhile. I sometimes wonder if this attitude doesn't contain a self-fulfilling prophecy element. When Hiroyuki Takaya made his WEC debut following his fantastic back and forth war with Antonio Carvalho, his first fight was against Leonard Garcia before he became a punchline (Garcia was making his first drop in weight, and was still fresh off his big fight with Roger Huerta at UFC 69). However, that was child's play compared to Gomi's debut, which came against a two time LW contender in Kenny Florian. Kid Yamamoto debuted against Demetrious Johnson, who is fighting for the title this weekend. And Takeya Mizugaki fought for the title in his first fight stateside against Miguel Torres. While I do think there are real identifiable factors to point to and say "yea, Japanese MMA is inferior here", I don't think it's fair to simply dismiss the entire region simply because some fighters have failed amidst lofty (and sometimes unfair) expectations. To me, this weekend was about the success of MMA on the whole (at least in the ring/cage). UFC 135 may have been a little lackluster despite a few brilliant performances (Mizugaki among them), but Bellator and DREAM picked up whatever slack was left from Zuffa in a big way. I'd add to that, combat sports in general, as boxing delivered with Jorge Arce's 4 round bout with Simphiwe Nogqayi. After the jump I've posted random videos of fights that highlight what's great about combat sports even when celebrity, and spectacle are stripped away, from Alexis Vila's brilliant KO over Joe Warren, to Yasuhiro Urushitani's fantastic head kick knockout of Yuki Shojo at Shooto's Legacy 3 show (and Jorge Arce's fantastic performance). Yasuhiro Urushitani vs Yuki Shojo (via HipHopPhilosopher) Masakatsu Ueda vs Rumina Sato (via HipHopPhilosopher) Takeshi Inoue vs Caol Uno (via fightnext) Jorge Arce vs. Simphiwe Nongqayi - Rounds 1-3 (via SuperBoxingVideos) BELLATOR FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIPS (via Shanetisdale)

Posted in: fight, mma, japanese, gomi, japanese mma

Luke Thomas brings you MMA Nation radio live tonight at 9pm ET. How to Listen:If you're in...

Luke Thomas brings you MMA Nation radio live tonight at 9pm ET. How to Listen: If you're in Washington, D.C. tune your radio dial to 106.7 FM To stream over the Intrnet, 106.7 on Radio.com Mobile devices - Cherry Player App for Droid or AOL Radio App for iPhone For a look inside the studio, On ustream.tv How to Interact Call the show TOLL FREE: 1-800-636-1067 Register at MMA Nation and leave a comment luke.thomas@sbnation.com @SBNLukeThomas facebook.com/MMANationDotCom

Posted in: mma, radio, nation, player app, radio dial

UFC 135 Morning After: An MMA Overdose Weekend

Filed under: UFCYou probably have more of a life than I do, which means you probably haven't watched as much mixed martial arts on TV as I have in the last couple days. But if you wanted to, you could have. On Friday night I had two TVs going in one room, one on HDNet and one on Showtime, as I watched both the Titan Fighting Championships and Strikeforce cards. After a few hours of sleep I got up very early Saturday morning and watched the Dream card on HDNet. On Saturday evening I kept an eye on Bellator on MTV2 while watching the UFC fights on Facebook, on Spike and on pay-per-view. I watched about three dozen live MMA fights in a span of just over 24 hours from Friday night through Saturday night. As an MMA fan, I was in heaven. More: UFC 135 Results | UFC 135 Post-Fight Press Conference The story everyone is talking about coming out of UFC 135 is Jon Jones' impressive title defense over Rampage Jackson, but what this weekend really solidified to me was just how far this sport has come, and how much good MMA there is for the fans to watch. It wasn't that long ago, before the UFC got on basic cable with The Ultimate Fighter, that getting a chance to watch live MMA was a special occasion for fans. In 2004 -- the last year before The Ultimate Fighter -- the UFC put on only five fight cards, for the entire year, and all of them were on pay-per-view. Other MMA promotions existed, but few fans ever got to see them live. Now there's so much MMA on TV that even the hardest of hard-core fans miss some fights. It's impossible to see it all. And it's only getting better. With a UFC heavyweight title fight coming to Fox in November, MMA will really be everywhere. This sport has accomplished so much in so little time that those of us who love it don't often stop to consider how lucky we are to have so many MMA options available to us. Probably because we're too busy watching fights. UFC 135 notes -- The UFC 135 main event was a good demonstration of how much this sport has changed: Rampage is one of the great fighters of the last decade, but he's a fundamentally one-dimensional fighter. Jones is on a completely different level, with far more ways to win a fight. The amazing thing about the way this sport continues to evolve is that some day someone will come along whose fighting style makes Jones look old-fashioned. -- James Te-Huna had never fought outside Australia before Saturday night, as the UFC mostly had him on the roster as a local guy to throw on the undercard in their trips Down Under. But Te-Huna got his first chance to fight in the Octagon on U.S. soil at UFC 135, and he delivered in a big way with a terrific first-round knockout of Ricardo Romero. When Romero went for a low takedown attempt, Te-Huna made him pay for it with a huge low punch that knocked him cold. The whole fight lasted just 47 seconds. -- We haven't seen a lot of top-notch talent come out of The Ultimate Fighter in the last couple years, but Tony Ferguson, who won Season 13 of The Ultimate Fighter, might just be a future star. Ferguson knocked out everyone he faced on The Ultimate Fighter, and he showed off the same lethal striking against Aaron Riley on Saturday night. Ferguson is a force to be reckoned with. %VIRTUAL-Gallery-134788% UFC 135 quotes -- "I just want to say thanks to Matt Hughes for taking tis fight late in his career. He's a legend and I'm really proud that I had the opportunity to fight a legend like Matt Hughes."--Josh Koscheck, after beating Matt Hughes in what may have been the final fight of Hughes' career. Although Koscheck plays up the role of villain in the UFC, Koscheck's post-fight comments toward Hughes were pure class. -- "I don't think I've ever seen a guy this tired in the Octagon before."--UFC announcer Joe Rogan on Ben Rothwell in the third round of his loss to Mark Hunt. The Denver altitude didn't help, of course, but Rothwell really looked like he needs to work on his conditioning. Good call -- Greg Jackson, in the corner of Aaron Riley, did exactly the right thing to protect his fighter after the first round, when Tony Ferguson broke Riley's jaw with an upper cut. Riley went to his corner and said he had a broken jaw, and Jackson immediately told the referee, "It's over." That's what the corner man is supposed to do. Bad call -- Two of the three judges gave Junior Assuncao a 10-8 third round in his victory over Eddie Yagin, as they should have, but I want to know what the judge who only scored it a 10-9 was thinking. Assuncao spent the better part of the round on top of Yagin, pounding away, and provided a textbook example of what should earn a fighter a 10-8 round. Some judges are too hesitant to award 10-8 rounds, and the one who only scored the third 10-9 for Assuncao is one of them. Stock up -- Tim Boetsch is looking great at middleweight. If you look at the fights Boetsch has lost in his career, they were all against big, strong light heavyweights who could overpower him: Boetsch's four career losses are to Vladimir Matyushenko, Matt Hamill, Jason Brilz and Phil Davis. Now that Boetsch is at middleweight, he's overpowering people and earning his "Barbarian" nickname. Boetsch easily beat Nick Ring and is now 2-0 as a middleweight. "I'm loving middleweight so far," Boetsch said afterward. Stock down -- I didn't like the antics between Assuncao and Yagin at the weigh-ins, when the two of them acted like they wanted to brawl right then and there. And I really didn't like how tentative both of them looked once they actually got into the Octagon: If you're going to act like you're eager for a knock-down, drag-out battle, don't step into the cage and act like it's a staring contest. Assuncao won easily, but he did far too much showboating: He raised his hands up, shuffled his feet, danced around and even waved his finger at the crowd while Yagin was attempting a guillotine choke. Assuncao was respectful afterward and said he was just trying to get in his opponent's head, but the crowd booed Assuncao's antics, and as far as I'm concerned, the stock of both Assuncao and Yagin is down after that fight. Fight I want to see next It looks like we're finally getting close to seeing Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans, the grudge match between the two training partners that's been talked about for months. Seeing Jones and Evans in the Octagon together after Jones won the UFC 135 main event was a great reminder that for as dominant as Jones has looked, he's not without legitimate challengers. %VIRTUAL-Gallery-134788% Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, fighter, assuncao

Travis Browne Apologizes to Fans After His UFC 135 Performance

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosDENVER -- MMA Fighting caught up with Travis Browne after he earned a unanimous decision win over Rob Broughton at UFC 135. Browne talked about his fight, why he wasn't able to knock Broughton out and a potential shopping trip in the future. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, browne, travis browne, shopping trip

Tony Ferguson Believes 155 Pounds Is a 'Good Home' for Him

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosDENVER - MMA Fighting caught up with Tony Ferguson after his knockout win over Aaron Riley at UFC 135. Ferguson discussed how he didn't want to "flake" his 'video game' punch, if he knew he broke Riley's jaw and why he dropped down to 155 pounds. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mma, ferguson, aaron riley, mma videos, nbsp ;permalink

Tim Boetsch Excited About 'Fresh Start'

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosDENVER -- MMA Fighting caught up with Tim Boetsch after his unanimous decision win over Nick Ring at UFC 135. Boetsch discussed his second fight at middleweight, his game plan and his specialty, the hip toss. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mma, tim boetsch, boetsch, nbsp ;permalink, nick ring

Takeya Mizugaki 'Exploded With Emotions' After Knockout Win

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosDENVER -- MMA Fighting caught up with Takeya Mizugaki after his second-round TKO against Cole Escovedo at UFC 135. Mizugaki discussed if this was his best UFC performance so far, his post-fight celebration and if he wants to fight next when the UFC returns to Japan early next year . Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, takeya mizugaki, mizugaki, post-fight celebration

James Te Huna Discusses Knocking Out Ricardo Romero at UFC 135

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosDENVER -- MMA Fighting caught up with James Te Huna after his first-round knockout win over Ricardo Romero at UFC 135. Ferguson discussed his injuries recently suffered in training camp, his performance and his surprise group of fans. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, nbsp ;permalink, ricardo romero, surprise group

ESPN MMA Live: UFC 135 Preview

On this week’s edition of ESPN MMA Live, Jon Anik and crew preview UFC 135. ESPN MMA Live Archive If you have trouble playing the video, you can also watch it on ESPN.com.

Posted in: ufc, mma, espn, espn mma, jon anik

Supremacy MMA video game available today in North America

Woodland Hills, CA – Global videogame publisher 505 Games and developer Kung Fu Factory today announced that their brutal, no-holds barred approach to the mixed martial arts genre, Supremacy MMA™, is now available in North America for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system. Supremacy MMA brings the brutality of unsanctioned, amateur and unlicensed MMA fighting to videogame fans that can follow the rise of several fighters and their individual stories as they work toward supremacy. Created in a fast-paced arcade style, the game gives players the opportunity to stylistically dispatch their opponents by choosing from a cadre of hardcore fighters, each with a unique MMA style. Fans master their abilities to perfectly execute fantastic fight sequences and become invincible in every match-up with a dizzying array of kicks, gravity defying moves and brutal finishing blows. "Supremacy MMA delivers fast-and-furious gameplay and underground aesthetics over the slower simulation-style presentation found in traditional MMA games," said Ian Howe, President of 505 Games, North America. "This unique style evokes a feeling of competitive compassion like no other game, featuring the hard-working underground MMA fighters and the dangers that they face every day, including broken bones and other serious injuries." Supremacy MMA is armed with arcade-like speed and real in-game fighters such as former UFC champ Jens Pulver and K1 kickboxing legend Jerome Le Banner, as well as the first female fighters in an MMA game, Felice Herrig and Michele Gutierrez. "The Kung Fu Factory team is excited to offer a new level of strategy, fun fast combat and true-to-the-sport brutality in an MMA game," said Ricci Rukavina, director at Kung Fu Factory. Rated ‘M’ for Mature by the Entertainment Software Review Board (ESRB), Supremacy MMA will launch in Europe on September 23. For more information about Supremacy MMA, please visit the official website www.supremacymma.com and YouTube page and then follow us on Facebook and Twitter. About 505 Games Based in Los Angeles, CA, 505 Games (U.S.) is the North American division of 505 Games, a global videogame publisher. Launched in the U.S. in 2008, 505 Games publishes quality interactive entertainment on all handheld, mobile and console gaming platforms, offering a broad selection of videogame titles in all genres for players of all ages. For more information on 505 Games and its products please visit www.505games.com. About Kung Fu Factory An independent videogame developer driven to bring its seasoned perspective of combat and violence to the interactive entertainment world, the Kung Fu Factory team consists of leading game and technology experts best known for their collective work on titles like the original UFC (Dreamcast), The Warriors, Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, Scarface, True Crime and most recently UFC Undisputed 2009. Founded by industry veterans and childhood friends Daryl Pitts and Ricci Rukavina, KFF’s primaries have worked in the industry for nearly two decades. For more information on Kung Fu Factory, please visit www.kungfufactory.com

Posted in: mma, game, supremacy, fu, supremacy mma

Friday Link Club: UFC 135 & DREAM.17 Previews

UFC 135 Event Primer | NBC Sports Jared vs. Ben — ‘UFC 135: Jones vs. Rampage’ Edition | Cage Potato UFC 135 Fight Card: 5 Fights That Will End in a Knockout | Bleacher Report Nowhere Man: Josh Koscheck faces a difficult future after UFC 135 and Matt Hughes, win or lose | MMA Mania My Plea To Jon Jones: Be Ali | Five Ounces of Pain Jon Jones: Jealous Rampage Jackson is just another hater | LowKick DREAM.17: Aoki vs. McCullough Preview and Predictions | MMA Fighting Cain Velasquez on Brock Lesnar: Win Over Alistair Overeem Warrants Title Shot | 5thRound UFC on Fox: The importance & need of growing the right demographic for future expansion | Fight Opinion Kimbo Slice vs. Dada 5000 will go down January 12th 2012, yes you read that right | MiddleEasy Is GSP the UFC’s biggest PPV star? | MMA Payout “Supremacy MMA” Video Game Review  | TheFightNerd

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, jone, vs

The Friday Morning MMA Link Party

Today will be the day in which you rise up from your office cubicle, remove your tie and wrap it around your head like Rambo and just start kicking inanimate objects. Water coolers, computer monitors and display stands will all be under the jurisdiction of your right foot today. Be bold knowing that your leg has the power to topple over anything that gets in your way but before you do all of this, check out our Friday Morning MMA Link Party. Red cups are on the chair, the keg is in the backyard. Enjoy. [list class="bullet-6"] [li]Rampage Jackson Says Jon Jones Disrespected His Coach at Open Workouts. [MMAFighting][/li] [li]Jon Jones Used to Sing in Jazz Choir, and Other Uncomfortable Revelations. [CagePotato][/li] [li]Kenny Florian: “I think I do everything well.” [Fives Ounces of Pain][/li] [li]TUF 14 Diary: Episode 1 Recap and Analysis. [LowKick][/li] [li]MMA Notebook: Dana White presser notes. [NBC Sports][/li] [li]Jon Jones Gives Weird, Awkward Interview In British Accent (Update). [MMAConvert][/li] [li]Vladimir Matyushenko Meets Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 141. [5th Round][/li] [li]UFC 135: Where Would a Rampage Upset Over Jones Rank? [Bleacher Report][/li] [li]“Supremacy MMA” Video Game Review. [The Fight Nerd][/li] [li]Jon Jones vs Rampage Jackson: Who has the statistical advantage at UFC 135? [MMAMania][/li] [li]Jeff Monson asks Pat Miletich, “How can you not consider America a terror organization?” [FightOpinion][/li] [li]Dana White: UFC will be on Spike TV in 2012, Spike Not Honoring “Spirit of the Deal”, & Strikeforce’s Future. [MMAPayout][/li] [/list]

Posted in: ufc, mma, jone, li, ][/li

Check out the MiddleEasy Guide to Your MMA Weekend

submitted by ju11ce [link] [comment]

Posted in: mma, middleeasy guide, mma weekend, middleeasy, guide

UFC Quick Quote: Mark Pavelich made MMA big in Canada -- not Georges St. Pierre

"People ask me how MMA got big in Canada and I say, ‘Are you kidding?!? You actually think Georges St. Pierre is the one that made it big?’ I made it big! There was no MMA before I was here. I made it. I. Me, me, and me. Me and my family. That’s it. And you know what? Before I’d never talk like this but I swore starting today I’m gonna shove it in everybody’s face. My family pioneered MMA in Canada." Maximum Fighting Championship (MFC) President Mark Pavelich, who will bring the "Rundown" to the Mayfield Inn Trade and Conference Centre on October 7 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, tells 5oz of Pain he wants a little credit for bringing the sport of mixed martial arts to Canada and making it popular long before UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre was able to influence the hometown crowd. While "Rush" is a three-time Canadian "Athlete of the Year," Pavelich has continued to bring Canucks a steady diet of MMA action since the MFC was launched in 2001. Let's hear from our Canadian fight fans, did you get into combat sports because of GSP or Pavelich? Or neither?

Posted in: mma, georges st, &rsquo, canada, pavelich

ESPN MMA Hot Button: Will 'Bones' Be Reigning a Year From Now?

Every week inside ESPN.com's MMA section, two scribes debate the most pressing issues in the sport in the Hot Button. This week, Sherdog.com Administrative Editor Jordan Breen and ESPN.com's Chuck Mindenhall debate whether or not Jon Jones will still rule the UFC light heavyweight division by the end of 2012. No UFC light heavyweight champion since Chuck Liddell has successfully defended his belt more than once. Will Jones' natural skill and ability make him the first since, or does the fact he has yet to face adversity, plus a deep division, mean his days are numbered as champ? Click here to read the latest ESPN MMA Hot Button.

Posted in: mma, espn mma, chuck liddell, button, mma section

DREAM 17: MMAmania.com Interview Exclusive With Lightweight Champion Shinya Aoki

Shinya Aoki is back in action this weekend when he takes on former WEC champion Rob McCullough at Dream 17 on Sept. 24 from the Saitama Super Arena live via HDNet. The Japanese promotion has made some changes, introducing five minute rounds, and so has Aoki, relocating to Singapore where he has reportedly been working very hard on his Muay Thai at Evolve MMA.On the eve of his fight with McCullough he took time out to answer sone questions for MMAmania.com about his training and his thoughts on his latest opponent. Check it out. Why did you decide to train outside of Japan?I want to be a completely new fighter. I want to change my style. What impressed you about Evolve MMA? It is the best MMA camp in Asia. It has everything that a top professional MMA fighter like me needs. It has world champions in every discipline...lots of them too...Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Mixed Martial Arts, Boxing, and No Gi Grappling. The facilities are also world-class. The Evolve Fight Team is also the best fight team in Asia. My teachers and training partners at Evolve MMA help me so much to improve as a martial artist in every area of my game. It's a very big team with 50+ instructors for me to learn from. Are there any other fighters at Evolve MMA to look out for? Every fighter on the Evolve Fight Team is tough, talented, and professional. Each fighter has different strengths and weaknesses. I believe there are many future world champions on the Evolve Fight Team. The team is truly impressive and strong. The toughest fighter is Zorobabel Moreira. He can already beat many of the top lightweights in the world. What are your thoughts on your opponent at Dream, Rob McCullough? He is a very tough fighter with lots of power. He is a Muay Thai Champion. Have you been working hard on your stand up and Muay Thai at Evolve MMA? Can fans expect to see a change in your style for the fight against McCullough? I have started my style change at Evolve MMA. Please give me time to show the new me. My cornermen are Chatri Sityodtong, Yuki Nakai, and Ryo Chonan. They have a great game plan and strategy for me for this fight. You are rumoured to be fighting Eddie Alvarez again at Bellator next year. Do you enjoy fighting outside of Japan or do you prefer to compete in your homeland? I want to challenge myself against the best in the world. I am willing to fight anyone, anywhere. This is my life. You are one of the few remaining top ranked MMA fighters who have not been signed up by the UFC. Have the UFC ever contacted you and would you be interested in fighting for them? I am fighting exclusively for DREAM. How does the training at Evolve MMA differ from the training in Japan? In Japan, the facilities are very small. And I have to go to three to four different gyms to get a complete workout in every area of my game. I also don't have many high level training partners in Japan. At Evolve MMA, I have everything I need. It is the best camp in Asia by far. Big team. Deep experience. Mega facilities. You are renowned for wearing crazy outfits when you fight yet you seem like a very quiet person outside of the ring and I know you don't drink. Do you feel that your personality when you are fighting is very different from your personality away from the ring? People might judge me from my actions in the ring, but I am a normal human being. Mizuto Hirota is back after recovering from the broken arm he suffered in his fight with you and he just won the Deep lightweight championship. Would a rematch with him to unify the Dream and Deep titles interest you? I will fight anyone, anywhere. Would it effect you mentally going into a fight with him again knowing that even if you put him in a dangerous submission he might not tap or are you prepared to inflict an injury again if your opponent forces you to do so? I am a fighter. Dream seems to have switched from a ring to a cage. Which do you prefer fighting in and why? I love both the ring and cage, but lately I love the cage more. How do you like life in Singapore, do you miss Japan? Singapore is a great life. Food is great. People are nice. I love Evolve MMA! You didn't put in the best performance of your career in the fight with Gilbert Melendez. Do you feel you had the wrong gameplan going into that fight and would you like to fight Melendez again one day? I am upgrading myself with Evolve MMA. His reluctance to talk about much except how happy he was with his training camp is understandable given that Aoki answered these questions less that 48 hours before defending his Dream lightweight title and obviously had his 'fight head' on.Aoki has a phenomenal ground game but has been criticized in the past for being too reliant on it. With his stand up skills looking considerably sharper in the pre fight publicity videos it will be interesting to see just how much he really has evolved since making the move to Singapore. For more on DREAM 17 click here.

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Unbeaten & Still Mostly Unknown, Lorenz Larkin Continues Climb Up Strikeforce Ranks

Filed under: Strikeforce, MMA Fighting Exclusive These days, Lorenz Larkin goes by the nickname "The Monsoon," a tribute to his chaotic fight style as much as it is an homage to his brother, whose given first name actually is Monsoon. That wasn't always the case. When Larkin was in the first days of his MMA career, he had a different nickname, one that was decidedly less intimidating. It was "the Chihuahua." Amazingly, he gave the first moniker to himself, but for a purpose. "I was thinking about what would be the funniest thing to throw somebody off guard," he told MMA Fighting. "I could imagine the promoter telling my opponent, 'We got this guy who's called 'The Chihuahua,' and then they see me." The name was short-lived. Around his third amateur fight, Larkin had the foresight to realize "that name probably wouldn't go too good if I went anywhere." He's somewhere now, a still unbeaten, rising light-heavyweight talent who will be featured in the main event of Friday night's Strikeforce Challengers 19 card against Nick Rossborough. Larkin recently turned 25 years old and is now considered one of Strikeforce's best prospects, but his background would have hardly suggested such a path. He grew up in Riverside, California as the youngest of nine children. As a kid, he wanted to participate in contact sports, but was not allowed to by his father, who was worried Lorenz could get hurt. Larkin characterizes those early days as "sheltered" as a result. When he was 12 years old, he took up boxing. Still, that came with a caveat. He was to work technique only, never spar and certainly not compete. Because of that, he says he became a gym rat. "I wasn't allowed to fight so all I could do is go to the gym and train," he said. "When it came time for fight time, I couldn't fight. That made me a gym rat because i wanted to learn and I wanted to fight even though I couldn't." As adolescents do, Larkin had to test his boundaries. He began sparring, but it still could go no further as he had no prayer of his father signing off an an amateur card which would have allowed him to compete. Still, Larkin's love affair with the sport was a rocky affair at first, sometimes quitting and returning after some struggles. "At the time, I was going against Golden Gloves champs and good guys, and I was getting worked," he says now with a laugh. "So I'd be training and then on sparring day, I'd get my butt whooped and I'd say, 'that's enough of that.'" He kept finding himself drawn back for more. Part of it was that he just liked fighting. Another part was that despite his difficulty with the best guys in the gym, when he'd face someone with a similar experience level to his own, he would routinely pound them. In 2008, Larkin participated in his first boxing tournament, The Desert Showdown in Indio, California, and won all four of his bouts to win his weight class. At the time, the 5-foot-11 Larkin weighed about 225 pounds. Thinking about his future, he realized going pro would put him in the heavyweight class, leaving him at a severe size disadvantage at times. His mind started racing. "I already watched MMA, but that's when I started venturing off to try it," he said. "My buddy trained, so I figured I'd go with him to a couple classes to try it, and I finally made the switch over." Soon after making that decision, Larkin moved to Kentucky to begin his amateur career. He racked up fights and wins in a hurry, going 10-0 before returning home to California to turn pro. SInce then, he's gone 11-0, but he's only recently made a dent in the major MMA landscape with impressive Strikeforce wins over Scott Lighty and Gian Villante. It also changed things at home. "My dad didn't fully understand it until I made my debut in Strikeforce," he said. "That's when he started coming around and saying, 'OK, this might go somewhere.' He's so into it now and so proud. He's 100 percent behind me now." Larkin's style fits perfectly with his "Monsoon" nickname. He is a whirlwind of activity, you never quite know where's coming from, and he leaves damage in his wake. He says that his flashy style was influenced by many fighters, including boxers Jorge Paez, David Tua and Mike Tyson, and mixed martial artists Chuck Liddell, Randy Couture and Andrei Arlvoski, among others. It's also part of his experimental training, in which he enjoys trying "new and awkward things," and tries to adapt them to MMA. Despite his quick success and a headlining spot, Larkin concedes he's still finding his comfort level in the cage. It's been a fast rise, and as the wins pile up, the stakes get bigger. Though he's never lost, he says the unbeaten stretch means little and that he's not scared to blemish his record. He's still green and he's still learning, so much so that he concedes he wouldn't take a title shot if it was offered to him. From "the Chihuahua" to "the Monsoon," Larkin has already matured his MMA game, and even if there is still a long way to travel, he's in no rush. "i just look at it like I'm a freshman in high school," he said. "I'm still trying to get a hang of things and find out how things work. I'm still getting settled in. I want to be a well-tuned fighter. I just want to get through this year and then I'll start making moves." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: fight, mma, strikeforce, larkin, thing

Latest UFC/MMA news and notes from around the web for the week of September 18, 2011

Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Takanori Gomi and his fight team pictured above, we can all "get along." Teaming up with MMA sites like MiddleEasy, Cage Potato, Fight Opinion and Five Ounces of Pain, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport. This week, The Fight Nerd reviews MMA Supremacy, Ariel Helwani catches up with Quinton Jackson at his new training facility and 5th Round speaks with UFC heavyweight challenger Junior dos Santos. The full list of links is after the jump. - Vito Belfort calls out Chael Sonnen, and gets response (LowKick) - Waylon Lowe to make boxing debut (NBC Sports MMA) - Eight local show KOs you probably haven't seen before (Cage Potato) - My plea to Jon Jones: Be Ali (Five Ounces of Pain) - Rampage being Rampage (MMA Fighting) - Junior dos Santos focusing on standup and jiu-jitsu (5thRound) - Jason High's obsession with whole foods and shoes (MiddleEasy) - 'Supremacy MMA' video game review (TheFightNerd) - Jeff Monson and Pat Miletich duke it out on twitter (Fight Opinion) - Mayweather-Ortiz payout perspective (MMA Payout) - MMA's seven best up and coming fighters (BleacherReport.com/MMA)

Posted in: fight, mma, cage potato, fight opinion, boxing debut

Check out the MiddleEasy Guide to Your MMA Weekend

When things get a little hectic in the universe, we all need a little guidance to find our true path in life. Whether it's selling newspapers on a street corner or slinging enchiladas at your local Mexican restaurant. We all have a purpose in this world, but for this weekend set all of that existential nonsense aside. You have one thing to do in the next 48 hours, and that is to watch as much MMA as spiritually possible. Your job, kids, car note, roach infestation, roommates, girlfriend mean nothing anymore. It's your time to shine, and you can do so by reading the 'MiddleEasy Guide to Your MMA Weekend.' This is for you to keep -- a present from everyone at MiddleEasy. We love you. You already know this. Now be bold. Go forth and be the greatest MMA fan you can possibly be this weekend.

Posted in: mma, weekend, middleeasy guide, mma weekend, middleeasy

UK: Contender Asia star Sean Wright headlines free MMA stream

On Top, Scotland’s number one MMA promotion, are once again streaming an excellent fight card for free. 'On Top 3', which takes place at the Kelvin...

Posted in: mma, fight card, stream, mma promotion, mma stream

Kimbo Slice vs. DADA 5000 Being Planned For 2012

Many people called DADA 5000 a Kimbo Slice clone. After all, he was the next man to take up the mantle of king of the backyard brawlers before a move to turn professional in MMA. While DADA didn't have the pull and public demand of Slice, he is a bit of a "name" in the Florida area. The inevitable seems set to happen now as DADA says that he will be fighting Kimbo in January. Via the Fight Nerd: Florida-based street fighter DADA 5000 went on the Rodolfo Roman show yesterday to announce that he would be fighting for the WFO heavyweight championship of the world. Additionally, on January 12 he will be fighting Kimbo Slice in an MMA match on pay-per-view at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, or possibly at Universal Studios in Florida (venue is still to be locked down). DADA learned towards Universal Studios since he said "they would give a bigger purse." Why is this match so big? For the Florida fighting community, both fighters are hometown heroes who rose up from obscurity to top-dollar fighting careers. Bragging rights will be on the line, but more importantly, so will a lot of money. First of all, I have about as much faith in this fight actually happening as I did Ken Shamrock vs. James Toney. So, I don't actually think it happens. Still, if it does it will do a little bit of live gate business in Florida (the idea of doing it in Vegas is crazy) and I'm sure a few people would order the pay-per-view. More importantly, I think this says plenty about Kimbo's future. While Jared Shaw ran around claiming that Kimbo's knockout of a guy who barely qualified as a boxer was proof that Slice was "an injection into the boxing scene steroid-free serum" and that he was moving toward an eventual championship run, the real plan is simply to find ways to make money. There's nothing wrong with that. If anything, it's a much more intelligent way to deal with Kimbo. He has bad knees and is in his late thirties. There's no real possibility that he ever becomes a relevant fighter in MMA or boxing beyond the novelty factor, so hopefully he can use that novelty and make himself some money before he just can't go anymore. If they were serious about his boxing career, they wouldn't halt his progress at this age so that he could go back to MMA to take a fight with another backyard fighter. Jared can keep playing with daddy's money, playing dress up games like "look at me! I'm a rapper!" and "Now I'm an injection into the boxing scene kimbo-free serum!" But when he sits back and is honest with himself, he knows this is as good as it is likely to get for Kimbo.

Posted in: mma, dada, slice, kimbo, florida

5 Oz. MMA Link Club

Welcome back to another edition of “MMA Link Club”, Five Ounces of Pain‘s weekly smorgasbord of offerings from our brothers and sisters in the MMA community. Enjoy… Dana White Confirms Rashad Evans is Still Next in Line for Title-Shot (MMATraining.com) “Rampage” Being “Rampage” (CagePotato.com) Kids in a Cage – What Could Go Wrong? (MMAMania.com) Drama Between Alistair Overeem and Golden Glory Heats Up (LowKick.com) UFC President Opens Up on the Mayweather/Ortiz Fight (MMAConvert.com Kimbo Slice’s Next Bout Lined Up for January Against Fellow Street Fighter (TheFightNerd.com) MFC’s Mark Pavelich Calls Himself the Floyd Mayweather of MMA Promoters (FightLine.com) Cain Velasquez Thinks Brock Lesnar Deserves Shot at Title with a Win Over Overeem (5thRound.com) Strikeforce’s Future Depends on Showtime, Not Zuffa (MMAFighting.com) UFC Lightweight Aaron Riley Talks “Van Damme” Kick and More (MiddleEasy.com) Does Matt Hughes Have One Final Run Left? (BleacherReport.com) Miesha Tate Lands Major Sponsor (MMAPayout.com) Dominick Cruz’s Latest Training Blog (NBCSports.com) One of the Worst Fouls You’re Likely to Ever See in MMA (FightLinker.com) White Talks About B.J. Penn’s Starpower (FightOpinion.com) Xtreme Couture Coach Breaks Down UFC 135 Fights (Fighters.com) PHOTO CREDIT – UFCSimilar Posts: 5 Oz. MMA Link Club 5 Oz. MMA Link Club 5 Oz. MMA Link Club 5 Oz. MMA Link Club 5 Oz. MMA Link Club Tweetgovernment,politics news,politics news,politics

Posted in: ufc, mma, club, oz, coach breaks

Josh Koscheck Enjoyed His Time Away From MMA

Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, VideosDENVER -- MMA Fighting spoke to Josh Koscheck on Thursday about his upcoming fight at UFC 135 against Matt Hughes, why he agreed to take the fight on short notice, why he has wanted to fight Hughes for so long, his time away from MMA and whether this will be his final fight at welterweight. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: fight, mma, josh koscheck, nbsp ;permalink, fight hughes

MFC’s Mark Pavelich: “You actually think GSP is the one that made (MMA in Canada) big?”

The great country of Canada has played host to the Maximum Fighting Championship for more than a decade and has watched the promotion grow from its humble beginnings to a regular staple on HDNet’s regular cycle of live MMA programming. The company’s next show, MFC 31, comes on October 7 and boasts two particularly interesting pairings at the top of the card with undefeated finisher Dhiego Lima locking horns with hard-hitting UFC veteran Terry Martin and 15-1 light heavyweight Ryan Jimmo seeking his sixteenth straight victory with talented judoka Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou standing in his way. Five Ounces of Pain recently caught up with MFC President Mark Pavelich to talk about the upcoming card and, in standard form, was as animated as ever while discussing what fans can expect at the Edmonton event as well as his key role in MMA’s growth North of the Border and why he doesn’t watch other organization’s offerings. “I match-made the card for me. I’m not joking,” Pavelich began on MFC 31. “This is the first time ever in eleven years I have. I usually do everything for the fans. I am by the far the most fan-friendly owner of any organization in the world including (Dana White). I do anything for them. I respond to everything from them whether it’s Facebook or Twitter. Whatever they want, I do for them, but this show’s for me.” But people need to understand that instead of the peoples’ champion I’m the MMA promotion for the people – the peoples’ promoter,” he continued. When asked to elaborate on the show’s lineup, Pavelich pointed to the probability of finishes in all of the match-ups as the reason for his enthusiasm in terms of providing an entertaining offering for all, himself included. “I’m finishing the main fight card right now and I’m almost positive not one fight will go the distance. If any one would it would maybe be Jimmo vs. Sokoudjou but I don’t see it happening. I don’t want to jinx myself.” When it comes to good fights MFC has certainly delivered in the past, a viewpoint Pavelich feels should have merited him more credit than he currently has for MMA’s evolution in Canada. “People ask me how MMA got big in Canada and I say, ‘Are you kidding?!? You actually think Georges St. Pierre is the one that made it big?’ I made it big! There was no MMA before I was here. I made it. I. Me, me, and me. Me and my family. That’s it. And you know what? Before I’d never talk like this but I swore starting today I’m gonna shove it in everybody’s face. My family pioneered MMA in Canada.” Pavelich also blasted the way fans let other MMA promotions slide on lazy matchmaking, saying, “I think most MMA shows now, and I won’t say their names, you know the outcomes of the fights before they happened.” “When St. Pierre fights Carlos Condit what’s going to happen,” he asked rhetorically before adding he would be willing to bet most people would have the same answer as him (lay on top, grind him out for five rounds and pick up the decision). “Isn’t that amazing,” Pavelich continued. “That’s pro wrestling. That’s WWE wrestling when you know the outcomes of things. Do you really know what’s going to happen between Lima and Martin? Do you know what’s going to happen between Jimmo and Sokoudjou? You don’t, and that’s the beauty of MFC. You’re going to see real fights where you go, ‘Sh*t, I don’t know what’s going to happen here.’” “I can’t stand it. That’s why I don’t watch that stuff,” he concluded on other organizations’ style of putting fights together. “MFC 31: The Rundown” will be shown live on HDNet, part of their recently signed five-year deal. In addition to the previously mentioned bouts MFC 31 will also feature a handful of other match-ups including submission specialist Kajan Johnson looking to snap 11-1 opponent Richie Whitson’s five-fight winning streak. PHOTO CREDIT – HDNETSimilar Posts: MFC’s Mark Pavelich points finger at “celebrity referees” charging additional fees George St. Pierre responds to Pete Sell Dhiego Lima: “I’m there to win a fight; I’m going to be mean. I’m not going to laugh at you; I’m not going to be your little buddy.” Condit talks Prater in anticipation of rematch UFC 137 Press Conference Highlights Tweetgovernment,politics news,politics news,politics

Posted in: fight, mma, ’t, ’m, mfc

GSP, not Lesnar, is the biggest PPV draw in MMA - Dana White

submitted by xtr3m [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: mma, ppv, gsp, dana, xtr

Inside Nippon Top Team: Kitaoka, Kawajiri and Otsuka Train for DREAM.17

Filed under: DREAM, JapanIn 2008, three of the most ruthless grapplers in MMA, DREAM champion Shinya Aoki, former Sengoku champion Satoru Kitaoka and two-time Deep champion Masakazu Imanari, founded Nippon Top Team. Three years, and a host of brutal submission victories later, a significant number of top fighters and former foes have joined the quirky trio to make Nippon Top Team the most star-studded team in Japanese MMA. MMA Fighting was allowed inside the doors of Nippon Top Team to capture Satoru Kitaoka mercilessly piledrive and submit his sparring partner, a slimmed down Tatsuya Kawajiri prepare for his featherweight debut and Takafumi Otsuka work his wrestling with former Shooto champion Hideki Kadowaki, all in preparation for their respective bouts at DREAM.17 on Sept. 24. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mma, team, dream, champion, nippon

Controversy Over Kids MMA fight in the UK even though there was no striking allowed

submitted by KissMeBeard [link] [2 comments]

Posted in: fight, mma, uk, controversy, kissmebeard

WWE's CM Punk Calls Triple H's Comments on MMA 'Insane'

Filed under: Fighting, NewsWWE pro wrestler CM Punk strongly disagrees with WWE executive senior advisor and on-screen "COO" Triple H's remarks in a recent Moviefone interview where he stated, "I don't think we (the WWE and pro wrestling) have to evolve" and "if anybody needs to evolve, it's [the UFC]." The 32-year-old Punk, one of the most popular pro wrestlers today and a longtime MMA fan, appeared on this past Monday's The MMA Hour and explained that although Triple H's comments might be the WWE's corporate stance, that's not the case with him. "Triple H just doesn't get mixed martial arts. he doesn't watch it either," said Punk. "Saying the UFC needs to evolve, I guess he's not wrong, but I think he's missing the picture that UFC is evolving. There's only one other sport entity in the world that has production rights to their own material on network and that's the NFL. UFC has just bartered a huge deal [with FOX]. That's evolution." Further, Punk made it clear he shared a completely different opinion from Triple H's comment that the WWE does not need to evolve. "I think that's absolutely insane," Punk said. "Any human being, any business, any sport needs to constantly evolve. I'm not a big football guy, but look at the NFL, they're constantly evolving -- whether it's good or it's bad, they're evolving. And if you don't evolve, you die." WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon has stated over the years that UFC is not a competition to the WWE. However, consistently strong UFC pay-per-view buys and tumbling WWE numbers would state otherwise. Punk believes fans can enjoy both products, but it would be impractical to say both products aren't competition for the consumer's time and money. "I wouldn't say [MMA has] 'hurt' us, I think that might be a little harsh of a term, but to deny that UFC is our competition is a little ridiculous," Punk explained. "Cirque du Soleil is our competition. Mad Men and Breaking Bad is our competition . I think everything that people spend their time on and their money on is our competition and to blatantly say that mixed martial arts has no barring on what's good or bad in our business, is silly; it's close-minded. You're putting a band-aid on a gunshot wound." In a relatable way that the UFC went through and is still continuing an education process to explain many of the basic elements of the sport and overcome negative preconceptions to the unconverted, that's perhaps what the WWE execs need, according to Punk. "Pro wrestling as a whole in my opinion has a lot to do to get to where I would like it to go," Punk said. "I think the people who discredit mixed martial arts in pro wrestling have very antiquated ideas and honestly, I think it's an education thing. I've had many conversations with Triple H about mixed martial arts, and he just doesn't get it. " In that same regard, Punk finds humor in the way people have come to embrace or reject professional wrestling. "It's funny, because pro wrestling many people don't get, and there's an old saying, "Pro wrestling is religion. They're very similar in regards that if you're trying to explain to somebody who doesn't get it, there is no explanation that will get them to get it. But someone who gets it, there is no explanation needed. It's just very black and white. On the business end, whether MMA purists would admit it or not, the UFC has followed and expanded on WWE's early business models. On the most basic level, both have television shows to drive interest in selling pay-per-views and what the UFC and WWE are in essence -- entertainment-based products. And with that, there's only so much money to go around for everyone. "UFC is entertainment. WWE is entertainment," Punk said. "And regards to people spending their money on it. It's definitely a competition. I think the way things are in our economy, there's a billion pay-per-views between UFC, [other MMA pay-per-views] and the WWE, we're competing for each other's dollars, absolutely." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, punk, wwe, competition

What are the ADCCs and Why Should You Care?

This is a guest post by Ben Thapa, part of the Bloody Elbow Grappling Coverage Team In an era of alphabet soup, we fight fans have our own shorthand - MMA, BJJ, UFC, KTFO and so on. Well, BloodyElbow and MMA Nation is out to change that acronym vocabulary by expanding our submission grappling coverage to include previews, live-blogs and recaps of the ADCCs on September 24th and 25th in Nottingham, England. The phrase "ADCCs" may have come across your eyeballs before, only to slip by without much notice. This must change and we'll tell you why. The Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) Submission Wrestling Championship is the super-elite, invitation only competition in which the best of the best get worked over by the true apex predators of the grappling world. In short, the ADCCs are perhaps the closest thing that we will ever publicly see to the no holds barred tournament from Enter the Dragon. Incredibly wealthy backer with extensive martial arts experience? Check. The hundred best grapplers in the world? Check. A trip to a far-off location for a two day long tournament? Check. Big prizes to the winners? Check. Unfortunately, Bolo Yeung will likely not be present. The creator (and near total sponsor) of the ADCCs is Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed al Nahyan, the half-brother of the current president of the United Arab Emirates. You may have heard of Sheikh Tahnoon before, as he is a part-owner of the UFC and has sponsored a number of high-profile tournaments in the Brazilian jiu-jitsu and submission grappling world for many years now. Sheikh Tahnoon also happens to be a black belt in BJJ and regularly trains with some of the greatest legends submission grappling has ever known. His immense wealth and magnanimity has allowed the creation of a giant stage for submission grappling to be shown to the world and we can now watch the tournament live through a BudoVideos.com stream. We at BloodyElbow and MMA Nation believe that this competition, featuring some of the current and future stars of MMA and the best grapplers in the world, is worth bringing to your attention and will cover as much as we possibly can with our Grappling Team. With such a large group of the strongest competitors in submission grappling being invited to the ADCCs, the weight class championships are highly respected and the winner of the Absolute division has a very good case to be acclaimed as the Greatest Grappler on the Planet. Champion wrestlers, world-class judo players, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu players, Luta Livre fighters and Sambo competitors have all entered and won medals in the past. Today, experienced, highly skilled grapplers from all over the world and from all walks of life are ready to compete with every inch of their being to test themselves, to build careers, to vindicate their training, to honor their loved ones and to win the lucrative cash prizes in Nottingham just one week from now. Some of the finest ground game wizards in MMA today like Fabricio Werdum, Demian Maia, Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, Ricardo Arona and Roger Gracie are gold medal winning champions at these competitions and have brought their skills into MMA to our general enjoyment as well. In years past, MMA stars like Georges St-Pierre, Mark Kerr, Tito Ortiz, Matt Hughes, Diego Sanchez, Urijah Faber, Vitor Belfort, Jake Shields, Ricardo Arona, Josh Barnett, Chris Weidman, Hayato "Mach" Sakurai and Shinya Aoki have competed (with varying amounts of success). Gracie legends like Renzo and his cousin Royler dominated their weight classes in the early tournaments. Eddie Bravo made his career by triangle choking Royler in 2003. In that same year, Marcelo Garcia, perhaps the greatest pound for pound grappler in the recent history of the sport, became a 19 year old champion and began his decade of world dominance. However, it is the Absolute champions who receive the lion's share of the glory. Braulio Estima capped off his 2009 season - perhaps the finest year of any grappler not named Roger Gracie - by winning the ADCC Absolute championship. This year, in a Superfight, Braulio will be facing Jacare Souza, the 2009 Superfight champion in a highly anticipated match. Jacare has confirmed that he will be present and ready to regain the taste of victory after narrowly losing his Strikeforce middleweight title to Luke Rockhold. The rules are simple. There are multiple weight classes for both the men and women, with an open weight competition being held afterwards for the divisional champions and those who want to enter. No striking, biting, gouging, greasing or single digit manipulations. The winner is determined by submission, points or referee decision. There are basically no limits on what submissions can be applied and to encourage submissions, the first half of each match is not scored with points. If the match continues past the halfway mark, points are assigned by the referee for positional improvements and sweeps. If the match is tied on points after time is up, the referee picks a winner. Stalling is penalized. Slamming is allowed to escape a submission. The competitors are free to wear whatever they want (although Tetsu "Hadairo" Suzuki tested that decency standard with his nude-colored booty shorts in 2005). Saulo Ribeiro, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu legend, famously entered his final ADCC match (before retiring from the competition scene) wearing a kimono top. In the early days of the tournament, the rules were more wrestler-friendly (stalling was more common) and many medals were won by behemoth top-control wrestlers like Mark Kerr. Due in part to rule changes over the years and the lures of MMA fame and fortune, the tournament has recently become dominated by those from a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu background who now live, teach and train in the United States or in Europe. A handful of competitors this year will be fighters recognizable from Strikeforce, UFC, WEC or other fight promotions. Fabricio Werdum is perhaps the best heavyweight grappler in any major MMA organization and he is likely to defend his 2009 ADCC title. Rousimar Palhares is a terror for anyone who likes having working legs and could make a title run in the 88 kg bracket. Vinicus Magalhaes pulled off one of the best MMA submissions of 2011 with his mount gogoplata in April at M-1 Challenge XXV. Paulo Filho may or may not show up, but he has serious grappling game and could collect some arms. Jeff Monson has been a mainstay at high-level grappling tournaments for years and he travels the world to pick up MMA fights wherever he can. It is worth noting that several prominent invitees have chosen to withdraw due to MMA commitments. Takanori Gomi, the ADCC Japan divisional winner, will fight Nate Diaz at lightweight at UFC 135. Vagner Rocha, an invitee with serious game, fights Cody McKenzie at lightweight on the undercard of UFC Fight Night: Shields vs. Ellenberger. Roger Gracie, an invitee, has chosen to focus on MMA after his recent loss to Muhammad Lawal - which has his entire 99 kg bracket thankful and hungry to win in his absence. Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva, an invitee, withdrew from the +99kg division, citing his need for surgery after the loss to Daniel Cormier. Despite the list of competitors still being somewhat fluid, you can rest assured that on the 9 square meter mats in Nottingham, eighty highly skilled men and sixteen highly skilled women will duel to determine who is the best in the world at submission grappling. Stay tuned for more coverage from the Bloody Elbow Grappling Team.

Posted in: world, mma, submission, year, adcc

Report: Mark Scanlon Injured, John Maguire Steps In to Face James Head at UFC 138

The UFC played a little game of Musical British Welterweights today, with Team Kaobon product, Mark Scanlon bowing out of the UFC 138 card due to injury, and fellow Brit, John Maguire, signing with the UFC to replace him and fight James Head at UFC 138 on November 5th. MMA Junkie has the report: Scanlon (7-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) had been set to face James Head (7-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC) on the event's preliminary card, but fellow U.K. welterweight John Maguire (16-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) now gets that opportunity, a source close to the event today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). Maguire trains out of the Tsunami Gym in Cambridge, England, and will bring a solid 16-3 record into his Octagon debut, with his only career losses coming against notable names, including Norwegian standout, Simeon Thoresen, and BAMMA middleweight champ, Tom Watson. It appears that Maguire is mostly a submission fighter, with 9 sub wins and 3 TKOs on his record. John Maguire (16-3)Win Peter Irving (unam. decision) - UCMMA 23Win Jamaine Facey (submission - kimura) - UCMMA 20Win Dean Amasinger (submission - rear naked choke) - UCMMA 18

Posted in: ufc, mma, john, mark scanlon, maguire

Pro MMA Radio 165: Lorenz Larkin, UFC 135 Preview

We have partnered with Pro MMA Radio to bring you weekly replays of PMR as the official radio show of MMAConvert.com. Pro MMA Radio can be heard live every Monday evening at 9PM ET/6PM PT. Replays and podcasts of every show are available 24/7 by going to the “Replay Corner” section of ProMMARadio.com, our own Pro MMA Radio page or by clicking the banner below. On this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio, Lorenz Larkin joined the show to talk about his headlining fight against Nick Rossborough at Strikeforce Challengers 19 this weekend. MMA Mania’s Jesse Holland also stopped by to help Larry Pepe recap UFC Fight Night 25 and preview UFC 135. You can listen to a replay of this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio by clicking the banner below. A radio player with links to the show’s archives will open in a pop-up window, so please make sure your browser is set to allow pop-ups for this site.

Posted in: mma, show, replay, radio, mma radio

Ben Rothwell Feels He's Heading Into UFC 135 as an 0-0 Fighter

Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosDENVER -- MMA Fighting spoke to Ben Rothwell about returning to the UFC at UFC 135 on Saturday night against Mark Hunt, the injuries he had to overcome, why he's a different fighter, his place in the heavyweight division and his take on the fight. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mark hunt, mma, ben rothwell, nbsp ;permalink

MMA Top 10 Rankings: Jake Ellenberger and Josh Barnett Making Waves

The updated MMAWeekly.com World MMA Rankings were released on Sept. 21, ranking the Top 10 MMA fighters in each of the seven most widely accepted men’s weight classes and the Top 10 pound-for-pound women fighters.

Posted in: jake ellenberger, mma, fighter, josh barnett, ranking

MFC's Mark Pavelich says he's the Floyd Mayweather of MMA

If Mark Pavelich is the Floyd Mayweather of MMA, then I'm the H. Jon Benjamin of MMA journalism. That's right, try to comprehend that obscure reference. I'm not even going to give you guys a handy hyperlink to a page that explains who H. Jon Benjamin is. Not this time. If you want to know, put on your Inspector Gadget hat and use one of those yellow glove contraptions to find your true path in life. Alternatively, if you want to know why Mark Pavelich claims he's the Floyd Mayweather of MMA, read this quote from an interview with FightLine. "I'm on the grind. Actually, forget that, I invented the grind. I'm the Floyd Mayweather of MMA. I don't get my props. Eleven years, undefeated. Sold out eighteen straight shows. I'm the only promotion in Canada on live television. The ONLY show. And I don't ever get my respect and I don't care anymore. I'm gonna keep kicking ass and taking names" The Pav, what an interesting human being -- and it seems like just yesterday he was selling his entire organization for a pricetag of $3,200,000. We will never be able to fully understand you, Mark. [Source]

Posted in: mma, mayweather, floyd, floyd mayweather, jon benjamin

Kazushi Sakuraba Flaunts Photoshop Skills in Preparation for DREAM.17

Filed under: DREAM, MMA Videos, Japan, VideosDue to his catch wrestling and pro wrestling roots, Kazushi Sakuraba refuses to train in front of cameras and so the Japanese MMA legend has always taken a unorthodox approach towards the customary media workouts that come before any major MMA event. Returning from a horrific ear injury suffered on New Year's Eve 2010, and in preparation for his Sept. 24 DREAM.17 bout with promotional newcomer Yan Cabral, Sakuraba performed one of his strangest media "workouts" yet. He drew a picture of a robotic cat in Photoshop. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mma, dream, sakuraba, kazushi sakuraba, mma videos

DREAM 17: The Corpse of Japanese MMA Still Twitches with the BW GP, and Other Relevant Bouts

Well, you, dear reader, may not care about Japanese MMA. But I do, and I'm the one with the binary pedestal. So besides Jones vs. Rampage, we're also getting DREAM 17 this weekend. The event finally introduces the three five minute rounds that hasn't been a part of Japanese MMA, and so it'll be interesting to see what, if any, effect this has on the fights themselves. Japanese MMA may be dead, but as the recent Shooto card proved, it still occasionally twitches. Shinya Aoki vs. Rob McCullough Aoki's brainfarts are few and far between. For as much as people like to draw him as a one dimensional grappler (which he sort of is), and pretend a strong wrestler with good striking will always beat him (which his victories over Kawajiri, Alvarez, and JZ proved over and over is not the case), he's still one of the most reliable fighters when it comes predicting the early submission. You could argue that if a cross dressing kickboxer with minimal MMA experience could beat him, so could "Razor" Rob, but I don't see it happening. Rob's not a cross dresser, and at least "Jienotsu" Nagashima is a respected K-1 fighter. McCullough is neither of those, so I'll go with Aoki by round 1 RNC. Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Joachim Hansen The two first met in 2006 at Shooto: The Victory of the Truth (huh?), and what promised to be a dynamic matchup ended in one of the loudest scrotum slaps in MMA history. A leg kick from Hansen accidentally reached Tatsuya's balls, and the tadpoles within were never to be heard from again. It was enough to stop the fight. Let's hope the rematch doesn't suffer the same fate. What's crazy is that both men were at one time, consensus top 10 LW's: hell, Kawajiri was essentially #1 at one point (when the UFC had no LW division of course). Kawajiri looked great in his last fight, but he seems to be the guy who just can't win the big fight. Even worse, against Melendez, he looked like the guy who didn't deserve the big fight. He's still a quality fighter though. Although how the weight cut (he's moving down to FW, which seems unreasonable when you look at Kawa's build) will affect him is anyone's guess. Hansen, meanwhile, seems to be deteriorating despite his modest resurgence with wins over Ishida, Aziz, and Tokoro. I expect this fight to go the way it would have the first time: with Kawajiri dominating with top control. Tatsuya seems destined to slug it out in the big fights, where he loses, but displays his smooth wrestling/grappling hybrid game when a title's not on the line. This isn't a big fight, and so expect Kawajiri to win by decision. Takeshi Inoue vs. Caol Uno In what seems to be the recurring theme of the night, two fighters not what they used to be battle it out for "pride". That sentence makes me want to vomit, but whatever. Inoue, the man they call "lion" (a nickname right up there with "tiger" and "bear" for its wit), once held the proud distinction of being one of the top FW's in the world. He's still good, and his recent losses are to Hioki and Miyata: two very good fighters on the rise. The question is how he'll be able to handle a crafty veteran like Uno? I admit, I've got a soft spot for Uno. He has to work extra hard to protect his frail chin, and I love the version of SLTS by Nirvana he comes out to (yea the song is "old hat", but it takes me back to 6th grade, when I didn't have to fake ambition). Inoue's best chance is, of course, his striking. He's a solid boxer with decent pop to his fists, and his grappling is competent enough that he could conceivably outpoint Uno. Still, nostalgia (Uno) wins this one by decision. Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Yan Cabral The last time we saw Sakuraba, his ear was falling off like he was the grandma in Peter Jackson's Dead-Alive. Thankfully, he doesn't have to worry about a Zaromskis' like fighter as Cabral is pure grappler. The 9-0 Brazilian holds the distinction of having finished all of his fights by submission. So Dream hasn't exactly picked Cabral out of mothballs. On the other hand I think it's clear Sakuraba simply needs to retire. The guy will go down as one of the greats, with not a single person capable of saying a bad word about him. But it's been a tough career. I don't think he'll have to rely on will against a prospect who should be willing to take it to the ground where Sakuraba thrives, but a win just means a greater potential for a future matchup that will again exploit his age. However, I think he takes the loss here, even if the mat becomes the sandbox. Sakuraba's grappling isn't what it once was either if his loss to Miller is any indication, and Cabral has a respectable pedigree having been on the grappling mat with legends like Xande Ribeiro. Cabral by decision. Satoru Kitaoka vs. Willamy Friere Easy win for Kitaoka here. Well, scratch that. Kitaoka is as likely to score an easy win over a respected fighter as he is to score a lackluster win over a mediocre fighter. The latter was the case in his last win over Jutaro Nakao. With submission wins over Gomi, Condit, and Daley, Kitaoka is the quintessential wild card. Either he wins early and looks brilliant, wins late and looks mediocre, or loses dramatically. Whatever the case, this seems to be the pattern for him and his stable mates at Nippon Top Team. Friere, the former Shooto Welterweight titleholder had his chance in the big leagues, and blew it in a decision loss to Waylon Lowe. While I don't think the lone loss should have led to him being cut, it's clear he's not "UFC material". Can he avoid the early submission attempts from Kitaoka? While I wouldn't be shocked to see him avoid the submission, I would be shocked to see him avoid the takedown. Kitaoka by lackluster decision. Kazuhiro Nakamura vs. Gerald Harris While it's unfortunate about what happened to Harris' UFC career, it's nice to see him in a respectable scrap. Nakamura may not be elite, but he's a good fighter, and his experience deserves mention as a fighter that has been in and hung with Shogun, Wanderlei Silva, and Lyoto Machida. I think Harris will be able to take him down, and dominate with top control. He'll have a hell of a time given his Judo background, so expect this fight to be a very ugly one if Kazuhiro can't find Gerald's questionable chin. Harris by decision. Ikuhiso Minowa vs. Baru Harn No I didn't spell the infamous kickboxer's name wrong. Harn is an MMA neophyte, and Mongolian wrestler. It's a hand picked fight, but that's not to say Minowa won't still have trouble. Despite his fan following, he's not exactly a world beater. Bantamweight Tournament The BW Tournament is relatively stacked. What makes it highly interesting is the presence of veterans, favorites, and dark horses. That's the case with most tournaments, but here it's pretty emphasized. For example, Imanari is favored to beat Callum, and likely will. He matches up well with the rest of those in the tournament. I expect Antonio Banuelos (last seen fighting like a complete harebrain against Miguel Torres) to upset Tokoro as I think he has the power to put him away, giving the tournament a respectable US rep. Fernandes vs. Otsuka is a fine rematch, but my real interest is in seeing what Yusup Saadulaev can do on the big stage. He hasn't been in the ring or cage since January of last year, but he's a prospect to watch out for. If you don't believe me check out his youtube highlight. Of course, the tournament will prove to a tough baptism, but I'm eager to see what he can offer. Poll Japanese MMA: does it still matter and are you interested? Hell yea it matters. It matters because it's MMA. No. I'm just interested in clean cut Americans whipping foreign ass. 0 votes | Results

Posted in: fight, mma, fighter, vs, japanese mma

Shane Carwin Says He Could Have Gone 10 Rounds With Brock Lesnar

MMA Nation's Thomas Myers caught up with UFC heavyweight Shane Carwin this past weekend in New Orleans. Carwin, who had a rough time in his last fight (against Junior dos Santos), gave updates on his health and more. From the interview: Thomas Myers, MMA Nation: If I remember correctly, you were cut up pretty bad in your most recent fight against Junior dos Santos. Any of those injuries keep you on the sidelines longer than expected? Shane Carwin: It's still pretty ugly man, right (as he points to scarred meat dangling from his eye)? But it's okay, I've now got a big 'ole freakin' ball there or something. It took a while. I think I had sutures in about five different spots on my face. It was pretty bad. It took a little time, but it's part of the game. I don't mind it. In fact, I kind of enjoy the warrior wounds, you know? I'm already ugly so it doesn't really matter. ... Thomas Myers, MMA Nation: So right now, you're completely healthy -- the back and the eye are all healed up? Shane Carwin: The back is as good as it can be. I've got some issues back there, but I just do my best to not make it any worse and stay as healthy as possible. Perhaps more interesting though, was Carwin's talk about his UFC 116 battle with Brock Lesnar: Thomas Myers, MMA Nation: Did the previous loss to Brock Lesnar, with the whole adrenaline dump issue, help you persevere at all beyond that first round? Shane Carwin: You know what, actually, I think it became too much of a focus. You guys, the media, decided to pick and harp on it. So then my coaches picked up and harped on it. It became a bigger issue than it really was. That was the focus of the entire camp for Junior. Honestly, I felt I could have gone 10 rounds. I doubt there is any heavyweight who is capable, or willing, to do that. I was in shape for that Brock fight. I threw something like 110 punches in one round, which is something most heavyweights don't do in an entire fight. I just got a little to excited. Go check the full interview at MMA Nation.

Posted in: mma, mma nation, thomas myers, carwin, shane carwin

MMA Nation has launched a new morning round up of all the MMA (and combat sports) news. Check it...

MMA Nation has launched a new morning round up of all the MMA (and combat sports) news. Check it out: MMA Nation Round-Up: Floyd Mayweather's Ranking, Jon Jones' Reach, Anderson Silva's Falsetto Duet

Posted in: mma, floyd mayweather, combat sports, morning round, nation

UFC Ultimate Collector Series 7 drops this week with more Round 5 MMA action figures scheduled for...

UFC Ultimate Collector Series 7 drops this week with more Round 5 MMA action figures scheduled for release later this year. To see the complete line-up and more click here.

Posted in: figure, mma, week, .... ufc, series

Now playing: Pro MMA Radio featuring Strikeforce Challengers 19 headliner Lorenz Larkin

With Strikeforce Challengers 19 just around the corner, surging light heavyweight up-and-comer Lorenz Larkin stops by Pro MMA Radio TONIGHT (Sept. 19) at 9 p.m. ET right here on MMAmania.com. "The Monsoon" will break down his upcoming headliner against Utah "Leatherface" Nick Rossborough at the "Sin City" event, scheduled for "The Pearl" at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hosted by Larry Pepe, Pro MMA Radio is professional, guest-driven program that features some of mixed martial arts biggest names right here on MMAmania.com every Monday night at 9 p.m. ET through our exclusive live feed. Live feed begins tonight at 9 p.m. ET after the jump. Click the banner below or right here to listen to Pro MMA Radio.

Posted in: mma, radio, mma radio, guest-driven program, sin city

Brace yourself! The Finland 2011-2012 MMA season starts this weekend

Imagine a world where MMA is organized like Football or Baseball and the only time you get to watch fights is during the season. Imagine having to go months upon months without being able to watch any fights. Please check your heart rate and oxygen intake. Most of us can't even go a full week of zero MMA without having physical withdrawl symptoms like convulsions or random acts of vomitting. It's a frightening concept for us, but a reality for MMA fans in Finland. That's because Finland doesn't do MMA in the summer, only the winter. Sort of like our Football or Hockey seasons. I guess it's not so bad because a Finnish winter can last anywhere from 100-200 days depending on how far north you go. That means they only go about 3 months or so without any MMA and it's not as though they don't have access to the internet or television. Still at 3 months without local events, I might need grief counseling or medication to treat my depression. Maybe the time without MMA makes the lead up to the events even more exciting. I picture the Finns holding tailgate style parties outside the arenas prefight. Coming together in fight night comraderie to celebrate with pickled herring and roasting reindeers on giant spigots and chugging bottles of homebrewed juniper beer. Here's what the lineup of first three weeks of Finland MMA 2011-2012 looks like. There's a few UFC vets in the mix: Botnia Punishment X on Sept 23, 2011 Jarkko Latomäki, Team BP / Shooters MMA 18-7-0 vs Diego Gonzalez, Hilti BJJ, Sweden 13-5-0 James ” Scraps ” Saville, Caged Steel, England 8-3-0 vs Thomas “Moon Lee” Hytten, Team Hell Boy, Norway 9-7-1 Welterweight title fight : Olli-Jaakko Uitto, Team BP 7-1-1 vs Manuel Sully, Parebellum Combat Club, France 6-1-0 Glenn Sparv, Team BP 3-0-0 vs Jan Doskocil, GFC Team / UFC Hradek Kralove, Chech Republic 4-0-0 Johnny Isaksson, Team BP, Finland 3-0-1 vs Filip Macek, GCF Team, Chech Republic 5-2-0 Juhani Aho, Team BP / Shooters MMA 0-0-0 vs Tommi Marttinen, Mikkeli Full Contact 1-0-0 Fight Festival 31 October 1, 2011 Lucio Linhares, Brasilia vs Kenny Robertson, USANiko Puhakka, Espoon Kehähait vs John Gunderson, USAMarcus Vänttinen, Fight Factory vs Victor Valimaki, KanadaJarkko Jussila, Vaasan Budokan vs Petar Zivkovic, SerbiaJuha-Pekka Vainikainen, Espoon Kehähait vs Steve Lopez, USAJoni Salovaara, Espoon Kehähait vs Paul Reed, EnglantiJanne Elonen-Kulmala, Espoon Kehähait vs Donatas Karlonas, LiettuaMikael Silander, Espoon Kehähait vs Perttu Paatola, Tampereen Kamppailu-urheilijat Cage 16 Anton Kuivanen GB Gym / Team MMA Finland ( 15-4-0 ) vs Curt Warburton ( 7-3-0 ) Wolfslair Academy England Ville Räsänen ( 11-3-0 ) MMA Imatra vs Assan Njie (11-2-0 ) GBG MMA Tom Niinimäki (15-5-0 ) FFG vs Johnny Fracley ( 13-8-0 ) A.B.S / F.S.T Jarno Nurminen (5-2-0 ) Team Scandinavia vs Catalin Zmarandescu (6-2-0) Romania Maiju Kujala (6-3-0) MMA Lappeenranta vs Karla Benitez ( 5-0-0 ) Espanja Whoa, that's a whole bunch of MMA for the next three weeks in the land of fin. Looks as though the Bosnia Punishment event is something fans can even check out via Facebook according to thier website. You can get updates and more info on Finland MMA via Beatings from the North. Nautiskella. [source]

Posted in: fight, mma, vs, team, finland

URCC helping spread love of MMA in Philippines

You probably haven’t heard of Universal Reality Combat Challenge yet but if they keep finding and showcasing the best fighters from a country which is already crazy about MMA then, believe me, you will. The URCC is a Filipino promotion which was founded way back in 2002 and has put on 37 cards to date making it one of the longest running MMA events around. In an industry where new shows are launching and failing all the time the longevity of the URCC is truly remarkable. Why has the URCC continued to go from strength to strength while countless other promotions have failed? One of the major reasons is that Filipino people love MMA and, as the only event putting on cards in the Philippines, the URCC is in pole position to feed this enormous appetite for the fastest growing sport in the planet. The other major factor behind the URCC’s remarkable success has been its ability to repeatedly unearth fighters with world class potential from towns and cities all across the country. Two of them, Eduard Folayang and Eric Kelly, were in action at ONE Fighting Championship and, on a star studded card featuring the likes of Yoshiyuki Yoshida and Phil Baroni, quite literally stole the show. Full Breakdown of ONE FC Results Folayang is the reigning URCC welterweight champion and he showed the sort of remarkable resilience for which he is rapidly gaining a reputation to defeat A Sol Kwon by unanimous decision in the main event. The image of the popular Filipino having his hand raised at the end of the night despite a bruised and battered face and a badly broken nose is an enduring one. Folayang, who is 10-1 and fought three times for Martial Combat last year, was not the only Filipino fighter to make a name for himself that night. Earlier in the evening Kelly, who had never previously fought for any promotion other than the URCC, made his international debut against the much vaunted Singapore based fighter Mitch Chilson. Many pundits were predicting Chilson would win because, even though Kelly was 5-0 going into the fight, all his wins had come against little known Filipino fighters. The URCC Featherweight Champion wasted no time in proving them emphatically wrong, slicing his stunned opponent open with an elbow from the bottom before submitting him with a Rear-Naked Choke. It was the sixth consecutive submission win of Kelly’s career and the message his impressive performance sent out was clear; never underestimate a little known Filipino fighter. One FC’s first event was an undisputed success and received rave reviews from all over the world but it also represented a turning point for Filipino MMA. People now know that Folayang and Kelly are elite mixed martial artists, even if they might not realize that it was the URCC which gave them their opportunity and nurtured their careers. What people probably don’t know is that there are more than two outstanding fighters on the URCC roster right now. In fact there are a lot more. Kevin Belingon is the URCC flyweight champ and has a perfect record of 9-0. He has fought outside of the Philippines three times already easily dispatching opponents from Thailand, South Korea and China. Honorio Banario is the URCC lightweight champion, he only made his professional debut last year but is already 5-0 and has stopped all five of his opponents. Roy Docyogen is the URCC pinweight champion and also has a perfect record of 9-0. The talent pool in the Philippines is as deep as any country in Asia, outside of the traditional powerhouses of Korea and Japan. The only reason you just haven’t heard of the likes of Docyogen, Belingon and Banario is that they have all been busy fighting for the URCC. In the Philippines the URCC receives regular coverage from national newspapers and is also broadcast on cable TV but the rest of the world is blissfully unaware that this organization is persistently putting on cards which feature fighters who are not only good but will one day be great. It’s surprising that such a significant and successful MMA promotion has managed to slip under the international radar for so long but as fighters like Folayang and Kelly start to receive widespread media attention it is worth taking a moment to cast a glance at the place where they came from MMA in the Philippines is growing at an alarming rate and, with every single home grown fighter on its roster, the URCC is Filipino MMA. For more information visit the URCC Website. PHOTO CREDIT – ONE FC Tweet

Posted in: mma, fighter, urcc, filipino, philippine

MMA on TV

Welcome to “MMA on TV”, Five Ounces of Pain’s weekly update on the upcoming MMA-broadcast schedule. Miss the latest episode of “MMA Live” or “UFC Unleashed”? Wondering when Strikeforce or HDNet are airing a replay of their latest offering or interested in finding out where to tune into live shows occurring over the next seven days? September 19 – September 25 All Times Eastern Monday (9/19) MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 5am MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 10am MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 3pm Strikeforce at the Mansion 2 (Replay) on ShowtimeEX at 10pm Tuesday (9/20) MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 11:30am Art of Fighting (Replay) on MAVTV at 1pm DREAM: Japan GP Final (Replay) on HDNet at 4pm MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 4:30pm WEC WrekCage (Replay) on VS. at 5pm Art of Fighting (Replay) on MAVTV at 6pm Shark Fights 2011 (Replay) on FUELTV at 7pm Strikeforce Challengers: Gurgel vs. Durate (Replay) on ShowtimeEX at 10pm UFC 135 Countdown (Premiere) on SpikeTV at 11pm WEC 50: Cruz vs. Benavidez (Replay) on VS. at 11:30pm Wednesday (9/21) UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 3pm Strikeforce HW GP Prelims (Replay) on HDNet at 4pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 4pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 5pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 6pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 7pm Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 7:30pm UFC Unleashed (Premiere) on SpikeTV at 8pm Art of Fighting (Replay) on MAVTV at 8:30pm The Ultimate Fighter 14 (Premiere) on SpikeTV at 9pm MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 9:30pm King of the Cage (Replay) on MAVTV at 10pm Thursday (9/22) The Ultimate Fighter 14 (Replay) on SpikeTV at 12am UFC 135 Countdown (Replay) on FoxSports at 12am Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 1:30am Art of Fighting (Replay) on MAVTV at 2:30am King of the Cage (Replay) on MAVTV at 3:30am Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 12pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 3pm UFC 135 Countdown (Replay) on FoxSports at 3pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 4pm King of the Cage: Imminent Danger (Replay) on HDNet at 4pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 5pm Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 5pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 6pm UFC 135 Countdown (Replay) on VS. at 7pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 7pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 8pm WEC 53: Henderson vs. Pettis (Replay) on VS. at 8pm UFC 135 Countdown (Replay) on FUELTV at 8pm Friday (9/23) UFC 135 Countdown (Replay) on FUELTV at 1am UFC 135 Countdown (Replay) on SpikeTV at 9am MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 10:30am MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 3:30pm Inside MMA (Premiere) on HDNet at 6pm UFC 135 Countdown (Replay) on HDNet at 8pm Inside MMA (Replay) on HDNet at 9pm UFC 135 Countdown (Replay) on FUELTV at 9pm UFC 135 Countdown (Replay) on FoxSports at 9pm Titan FC 20 (Live Event) on HDNet at 10pm Strikeforce Challengers: Larkin vs. Rossborough (Live Event) on Showtime at 11pm Saturday (9/24) UFC 135 Countdown (Replay) on FUELTV at 12am MMA Live (Premiere) on ESPN2 at 1am UFC 135 Countdown (Replay) on HDNet at 1am Inside MMA (Replay) on HDNet at 2am DREAM 17 (Live Event) on HDNet at 3am MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 12:30pm Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 1pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 1pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 2pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 3pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 4pm Strikeforce HW GP Prelims (Replay) on HDNet at 4pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 5pm Inside MMA (Replay) on HDNet at 5:30pm MMA H.E.A.T. (Replay) on MAVTV at 5:30pm UFC 135 Countdown (Replay) on SpikeTV at 6pm Ultimate Combat Experience (Replay) on MAVTV at 6pm UFC Unleashed (Replay) on SpikeTV at 7pm UFC 135 Prelims (Live Event) on SpikeTV at 8pm UFC 135: Jones vs. Rampage (Live Event) on PPV at 9pm Bellator 51 (Live Event) on MTV2/EPIX at 9pm Bellator 51 (Replay) on MTV2 at 11pm Sunday (9/25) King of the Cage (Replay) on MAVTV at 11am King of the Cage (Replay) on MAVTV at 4pm MMA:30 (Replay) on MAVTV at 11pmSimilar Posts: MMA on TV MMA on TV MMA on TV MMA on TV MMA on TV Tweetgovernment,politics news,politics news,politics

Posted in: ufc, mma, replay, pm, mavtv

The MMA Hour With Alistair Overeem, CM Punk, Bas Rutten, Mitrione/McCorkle

Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, VideosThe MMA Hour has finally reached 100 episodes, and we're bringing out the big guns for our centennial episode. Here's who will be stopping by the show Monday afternoon. * The newest member of the UFC heavyweight division Alistair Overeem will talk about his UFC 141 fight against Brock Lesnar. * WWE superstar and long-time MMA fanatic CM Punk will discuss his love for all things MMA and MMA's influence on pro wrestling. * MMA legend Bas Rutten will talk about his career and the latest news in MMA. * MMA Fighting's Mike Chiappetta will review UFN 25 and preview UFC 135. * Good friends Matt Mitrione and Sean McCorkle will return for another installment of "The Minute." * And Jake Ellenberger will discuss his big knockout win against Jake Shields at UFN 25. 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. (Editor's note: Today's show is now over, but the video should be available Tuesday or Wednesday). Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, show, mma hour, hour

Still, to this day, one of the coolest finishes I've ever seen in MMA..

submitted by tekprodfx16 [link] [20 comments]

Posted in: mma, tekprodfx, day

Mayweather vs. Ortiz Results: Why Boxing and MMA Don't Need a Floyd Mayweather

"Who exactly is Floyd "Money" Mayweather? It depends on who you ask. Is he the greatest boxer of his generation? Or is he a coward who ducks the best opponents? A showman playing the game? Or a disrespectful loudmouth?" These are the questions Fraser Coffeen over at Bloody Elbow has posed to the readers, and his answer is the unequivocal affirmative: boxing and MMA need Floyd Mayweather. I do disagree with this (for reasons made explicit by the title), but only on certain points, so before you tell me I'm clueless (largely true), let me explain myself in a few hundred words. Yes, Floyd's actions attract fans. But his actions are intimately connected to his ability: people tune in precisely because he's a bombastic constellation of all of the above. As a showman, as a phenomenal boxer, as a sport politician, and as a goon...he's the perfect storm of what attracts us to sports because no matter how much we hate him, he's a brilliant boxer. And no matter how brilliant his boxing is, he's disrespectful, and a clown. To the end that MMA needs a big draw like Floyd himself, no. An emphatic no. Moreover, why? Floyd Mayweather, despite his obvious boxing draw, is a headcase. Writers, specifically MMA writers, seem knee deep in this pro wrestling mentality that how you put on a show is more important than the show itself (not that the former is unimportant). Mayweather is a certified headcase. For as much money as he's made for boxing, he's also cost them. Have people suddenly forgotten the frustration over the lack of Mayweather vs. Pacquiao on the horizon? Newsflash: Ortiz will lose the rematch, and lose it badly. As far as I can tell, the question on everyone's mind, and the question Mayweather dodged that Larry Merchant was surely approaching before suggesting 50 years is all that separated Merchant from attacking Floyd with a busted beer bottle and his walking cane, was "what about Manny?" In addition, this ignores Floyd's troubled history away from the ring. It would be one thing if Floyd were simply a loudmouth. But he's not. He's a loudmouth with a rich history of domestic disputes involving assault against women: the count is up to 8 charges of domestic violence in fact. Should this be ignored in favor of saying "well, it's ok because you make boxing a lot of money, and us writers get more material". Manny Pacquiao will fight Juan Manuel Marquez in what should be a fantastic scrap. Boxing will live on. UFC 136 and 137 are on the horizon, and they are fantastic cards. Guess what, MMA will live on. Speaking for myself, I don't care about the extracurricular activity. It's amusing, and in last night's case, I got a good laugh, but do the people that paid good money to watch the fight pay because they were under the impression boxing was finally delivering (insofar as they could without offering the Mayweather/Pacquiao fight), or because Floyd would do something classless in the 4th round (I've already articulated, however, why Ortiz and Cortez are equally if not more so, at fault in this case however)? Everyone I talk to feels like they got ripped off. People like Mayweather are compelling, but only up to a point. And their behavior deserves condemnation, as opposed to the type of enabling you see in the blogosphere. So no, boxing and MMA don't need Floyd Mayweather. Not because he's valuable to the sport, and one of a kind (which he is), but because he's a luxury, plain and simple. Poll Boxing and MMA: do they need Floyd Mayweather? Yes No 1114 votes | Results

Posted in: mma, mayweather, boxing, floyd, floyd mayweather

Pavia sells agency to Paradigm

MMA Weekly reports that MMA agent Ken Pavia has sold his agency, MMA Agents, to Paradigm Sports Management. The transaction includes Pavia’s company and his stable of fighters. Pavia is moving on to become Vice President of Business Development at sports agency Takedown Entertainment. Via MMA Weekly: Speaking to MMAWeekly.com on Friday, Pavia confirmed that he has sold his company and fight roster to Paradigm Sports Management, but will remain on in a consultant’s role to help the transition for his fighters. Takedown Entertainment is a publicly traded company that produces and packages MMA shows for broadcast as well as digital release. Mike Whitman of Sherdog spoke to Pavia about the offer from Paradigm: “The timing and the opportunity were both right. Takedown represented an opportunity that, in the long run, not only benefits me, but also benefits my clients and the industry,” Pavia said. “The funny thing is that over the last four or five [years], because of my roster and connections, I’ve been offered two or three things a week — whether it’s helping out with a promotion or consulting or advising in some capacity, but it was never the right time or opportunity. With Takedown’s business model, it was an offer I couldn’t refuse.” Pavia indicated that all employees of his company were going to Paradigm or staying with him in his move to Takedown so the transition would not leave anyone without a job. Payout Perspective: Its an interesting move within the industry and we will see if any of Pavia’s fighters will seek other representation. The report indicates that Pavia will stay on with MMA Agents for a period of time to ensure a smooth transition so maybe there will be no switching of agents. Based upon the recent MMA Fighting article on the state of MMA sponsorships, the role of the MMA agent can be a difficult task. It appears as difficult as an NFL or NBA agent without the market of sponsors or big financial payoff as the two sports. This could change, ever so slightly, with the UFC-Fox deal. We are not saying that Pavia left for any specific reason, merely pointing out the tough and competitive job it is to be an MMA agent.

Posted in: pavia, mma, agent, takedown, paradigm

TUFF-N-UFF NAMES HEAVYWEIGHTTITLE IN HONOR OF MMA LEGEND RANDY COUTURE

LAS VEGAS – The TUFF-N-UFF organizationin conjunction with Justice Entertainment Group (JEG) is proud to announcethey will honor MMA legend Randy Couture at their upcoming TUFF-N-UFF:The Future Stars of MMA event by naming the heavyweight championship titleafter him. The heavyweight belt holder will be further known as “The RandyCouture TUFF-N-UFF Heavyweight Champion.” A championship belt [...]

Posted in: mma, heavyweight, randy, mma event, tuffnuff