MMA-URLS

Josh Neer vs. Mike Pyle Slated for UFC on FX 3

A welterweight bout between Josh Neer and Mike Pyle has been added to the fight card of UFC on FX 3. Pyle tweeted the news on Friday morning. UFC on FX 3 is scheduled for June 8, 2012 and is headlined by a flyweight semi-finals rematch between Ian McCall and Demetrious Johnson. Fans can decide the location and venue of the card by voting in the UFC's Hometown Throwdown sweepstakes. Neer (33-10-1) enters the contest riding the momentum of a six-fight win streak, including a pair of stoppage victories over Keith Wisniewski and Duane Ludwig since rejoining the UFC for his fourth tour of duty. At 28 years old, "The Dentist" has proven himself to be a fearsome finisher, ending 29 of his 33 wins before reaching the judge's scorecards. Across the cage, Pyle (22-8-1) looks to continue a recent career resurgence that has seen the 36-year-old taste victory in four out of his last five appearances, capped by a 82-second TKO victory over Ricardo Funch in January. Notably, "Quicksand" is one of only four men to ever defeat world-renown welterweight Jon Fitch, handing the AKA product a first-round loss in his first professional fight.

Posted in: ufc, fx, keith wisniewski, neer, pyle

Mike Pyle vs. Josh Neer Likely for UFC on FX 3

With UFC on FX 4 quickly filling up, the UFC is making sure not to leave UFC on FX 3 in the dust. According to a video posted by Fight Church Las Vegas, welterweights Mike Pyle and Josh Neer could be matched up against one another at the event, which will take place on June 8th at a city and venue to be announced. Pyle (22-8-1) mentioned the possible matchup at the end of video posted below. “Quicksand” last fought at UFC 142 in Brazil, defeating Brazilian native Ricardo Funch in the first round via TKO. This returned Pyle to the win column after suffering a setback against Rory MacDonald at UFC 133 in August. The 36 year old is enjoying the most successful period of his career, having signed with the UFC at 33, nearly ten years after his first career fight (a loss against Quinton “Rampage” Jackson). The former WEC welterweight champion is 5-3 during his UFC career, which includes wins over John Hathaway and Ricardo Almeida. He will be facing off against another longtime veteran of the sport, Josh Neer (33-10-1). “The Dentist” last fought at UFC on FX 1 in January, defeating Duane Ludwig via guillotine. Now in his fourth career stint in the UFC, Neer is 2-0 in his return to the organization. With wins over notable names such as Melvin Guillard, Joe Stevenson, and Mac Danzig, Neer is hoping the fourth time is the charm for him and his UFC title hopes. UFC on FX 3 will feature the rematch between Ian McCall and Demetrious Johnson in the first round of the UFC flyweight tournament. The event will take place on June 8th at a soon to be named city and venue. For complete coverage of UFC on FX 3, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com Pyle mentions the matchup at the end of the video below:

Posted in: ufc, fx, career, neer, pyle

Read the full article at MMA Frenzy

Josh Neer talks win over Duane Ludwig, training with the Diaz Brothers

One of the most underrated finishers in MMA is Josh Neer, a fan-favorite amongst the hardcore group of enthusiasts who picked up a win this past Friday night at UFC on FX: Guillard vs. Miller after choking out Duane Ludwig in the opening round of their bout. The submission was the twelfth of the 33-10-1 Neer’s career. It was also the 29th time he’d finished a foe including his last nine wins. Neer’s propensity for putting opponents away stems from his forward-first approach to fighting, an attitude kicked into high gear based on a sense of urgency after suffering a cut in the early stages of his match-up with Ludwig. “I knew when I was on top and I’d seen the blood start to trickle down, I didn’t know how bad my cut was and I was just like, ‘Oh, I’ve gotta finish this quick,’ so he kind of scrambled, I saw his neck and just jumped to the Guillotine,” Neer explained to UFC cameras shortly after the win. “He’s definitely the hardest puncher I’ve ever fought.” The 28-year old, currently on a six-fight winning streak, also provided a little insight on having spent some time with similarly-programmed fighters Nick Diaz and Nate Diaz while preparing for the bout. Check out the video below:

Posted in: diaz, neer, ludwig, duane ludwig, bout check

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

UFC on FX 1 results recap: One last look at the electric Jan. 20 event in Nashville

The inaugural UFC on FX 1 show at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., on Jan. 20, 2012. is in now just a speck in the rear-view mirror. The action-packed card featured ten exciting mixed martial arts (MMA) fights that really delivered from start to finish. Eight of the 10 bouts were finished either by (technical) knockout or submission, which should give you some idea of just how fast-paced the action was on this card. Jim Miller was able to elevate himself back into the title mix by notching an impressive submission victory over Melvin Guillard. Jorge Rivera ended his career on a high note by going out with a win. Those weren't the only highlights. Not even close. After the jump, we run through some of the other important moments from UFC on FX 1: In the main event, Melvin Guillard vs. Jim Miller competed to regain their legitimacy, at least from a perspective of being a top contender in the 155 pound division. At first, it looked like "The Young Assassin" was going to be able to use his striking and athleticism to punish Miller and make him quit. But, Guillard got cocky. He threw one too many flying knees and left himself exposed for a takedown. From that point on, it was all downhill for Guillard. The ground game is Miller's world and he proved it by sinking in a deep rear-naked choke, causing Guillard to finally give in and tap. The win propels Miller back into title contention. The loss sends Guillard back to the drawing board and should hopefully force him to address some areas of concern. Read a full recap with in-depth analysis of the Melvin Guillard vs. Jim Miller fight at UFC on FX 1 here. The co-main event saw Duane Ludwig -- the owner of the quickest knockout in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) history -- taking on Josh Neer in a welterweight battle between a striker and a well-versed Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner. The fight started off with a "Bang," as Ludwig delivered some brutal strikes during the initial stand up exchanges. In fact, during one such exchange, Neer lost his mouthpiece and was given a moment to replace it. The respite seemed to fluster Ludwig and give Neer new life. It wasn't long afterward that Ludwig haphazardly dove headfirst into a guillotine choke by Neer that was tightened so quickly, Ludwig never even got a chance to tap, slipping into unconsciousness as a result of the technically precise submission. It looks as though Neer's time training with the Diaz brothers may be paying off, after all. Read a summary with detailed analysis of the Duane Ludwig vs. Josh Neer fight at UFC on FX 1 here. On Friday night, fan favorite Pat Barry found himself placed in the middle of a tough heavyweight showdown versus Christian Morecraft. After losing three of his last four fights (prior to his fight with Morecraft), a win was not a luxury -- it was a necessity. The 6'6" Morecraft used his size and wrestling to bully Barry for the first minute of the fight. He threw several very dangerous submission attempts at "HD," and even looked very close to finishing him with an armbar. But, that's not how Barry wanted to go out. After surviving the attempts, Barry was able to get out of harm's way, back on his feet and to lay enough leather on Morecraft's chin to have him sleeping softly in the middle of the cage before he knew what hit him. Read a comprehensive commentary of the Pat Barry vs. Christian Morecraft fight at UFC on FX 1 here. Well before he stepped inside the Octagon this weekend, UFC veteran Jorge Rivera broke the news that he would retire after his fight with Eric Schafer, win or lose. For a little more than a round, it looked as though "El Conquistador" was going to be exiting the eight-walled cage for the last time as a conquered man. If Rivera has proven anything in his career, it's that you can't really ever count him out. In the second round, during a scramble for position, Rivera was able to land a strike that dropped his opponent, seriously wobbled by the punch. It was the beginning of the end from that point, as Rivera pounced on Schafer, raining down punches until the referee finally stepped in to call a stop to the action. Read a retrospective piece on Jorge Rivera and what he has meant to the sport of MMA here. With a hearty 80 percent of the scheduled fights never making it to a judges decision, choosing a winner for "Knockout of the Night" and "Submission of the Night" was not an easy decision to make. So just who did the UFC reward with big checks for their efforts? Read the list of fight bonus award winners, including "Knockout of the Night," "Submission of the Night," and "Fight of the Night" here. For complete UFC 142 results and a detailed recap of all the action click here. That's our version of the noteworthy highs and lows of the UFC on FX 1 weekend. Did we miss anything? Let us know with a well-thought out comment! For complete UFC on FX 1 results and a detailed recap of all the action click here. To check out a recap of the UFC on FX 1 prelim fights that were seen on FUEL TV, click here. And just in case you want to get up to speed on the entire UFC on FX 1 fight card from top to bottom click here.

Posted in: ufc, fight, fx, guillard, neer

UFC on FX 1 Musings

IS HE NEXT?Jim Miller is in the midst of tremendous UFC career. After 12 fights in the promotion, his record stands at an amazing 10-2. There aren’t many guys in any weight class that hold 10 wins through their first 12 trips to the Octagon. With Frankie Edgar set to defend his title against Benson Henderson at UFC 144 on February 25, there is a big-time scrum going on to determine who is next in line. The ultra-deep lightweight division has no shortage of deserving challengers, with Nate Diaz, Clay Guida, Edson Barboza, Anthony Pettis, and Donald Cerrone just a few names that quickly come to mind. None of those guys have enjoyed the same recent success as Miller. Former champion Sean Sherk is another who could make a solid case, based on his career accomplishments. In fact, he might be the only one who can put together a case that trumps Miller, if one ignores the fact that Sherk has been on the sidelines for the past 16 months due to a run of injuries. Assuming Edgar wins, Jose Aldo is the guy I’d like to see challenge for the belt. Edgar is a great matchup for him on paper, and the chance for a guy to make history (i.e., holding two belts at the same time) is always something that brings tremendous intrigue. If Aldo isn’t interested in moving up, then Miller is the logical next choice, in my opinion. If Henderson wins, an immediate rematch is likely, but Edgar will likely drop back into the 155-pound pack if he suffers a one-sided loss. In that instance, Miller is at the top of my list for three reasons. First, Miller has earned the right based on his body of work in the UFC. Second, I don’t think Aldo matches up as well with Henderson, due to the size difference, so I don’t think the reigning featherweight champ would move up. Third, Henderson-Miller reminds me a lot of Henderson-Guida from a matchup perspective, which should make for a tremendous fight.Should Miller be next in line? Tell me what you think in the comment section below.MELVIN, MELVIN, MELVIN…Friday’s bout between Melvin Guillard and Jim Miller went almost exactly as predicted. Guillard showed his vast superiority on the feet. But he was exposed, yet again, once the fight hit the ground.The affable lightweight now has six career UFC losses. All six came via submission. All six were some form of choke. If that isn’t a telling statistic, then I don’t know what is.Guillard is constantly referred to as one of the best, if not the best, athletes in the UFC. I fully agree with that notion, which makes it all the more frustrating to watch him lose by choke again and again. Imagine how good this guy would be, if he could address that gaping hole in his game. Guillard’s hands are as good as anyone in the division. His flying knees are at the top of the lightweight food chain. His physical strength probably rivals that of most welterweights. And he is a very good wrestler. Yet, Guillard will never fulfill his amazing potential until he addresses his lack of submission defense. If I was in his corner, I’d have him take a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu sabbatical—nothing but submission defense for the next several months. Most 60-fight veterans don’t have much room left for growth. They are so set in their ways that dramatic improvement isn’t really an option. Guillard is the exception to that norm. He is just now coming into his fighting prime. The growth he showed during his stint as a student at Greg Jackson’s gym was amazing. That suggests to me that he is still a sponge waiting to soak up more knowledge. For Guillard’s sake, I hope that knowledge is filled with submission defense.NO ROOT CANALS FOR NEERJosh “The Dentist” Neer earned his nickname because he reportedly left more than a few teeth on the canvas – none of them his own – during his amateur career. His professional career has been equally exciting. I don’t know if he has extracted any teeth from his opponents, but Neer has certainly engaged in slugfest after slugfest with some of the baddest dudes on the planet. That is why many people thought that his bout with Duane Ludwig, arguably the best technical striker in the welterweight division, would be a Fight of the Year candidate, though many thought Ludwig would be the one playing the role of dentist.The bout was certainly fun while it lasted, but the explosive rock’em, sock’em robots war that everyone hoped for didn’t materialize because Neer opted to fight with his head, not his ego. Ludwig is the better striker; that much was obvious early on. He was basically landing crisp, hard shots at will. But this is mixed martial arts, not kickboxing or boxing, so Neer took Ludwig to the place where he often struggles – on the ground.It only took Neer a matter of seconds to submit Ludwig once the action hit the floor. The result should serve as a reminder that this guy is far more than just a slugger. Neer is a very skilled mixed martial artist. He now owns six consecutive wins, the last two coming in the UFC. Neer has always excelled against the middle tier. The question is whether he can compete with the true cream of the welterweight crop. A win over Ludwig is a good step in that direction.POSSIBLY THE BEST BARRY, BUT IS IT THE BEST WEIGHT CLASS?363 days since last winning in the Octagon, Pat Barry finally righted the ship with a savage first round knockout win over Christian Morecraft. The fight was typical Barry, with good back-and-forth action before a sudden end. This time, however, “HD” showed a vastly improved ground game. The much bigger, heavier Morecraft twice got him to the ground. Barry, who is routinely criticized for having a limited ground game, worked back to his feet both times. The second trip to the canvas saw Morecraft mount his foe and then sink what appeared to be a very deep arm bar. Barry didn’t panic. He instead showed high-level submission defense by working his way out of the arm bar and back to his feet. Moments later, Barry showed his elite striking by slipping a wild right hand and countering with a perfectly placed leaping left hook. The follow-up punches were just icing on the cake. That was probably the most well rounded performance of Barry’s UFC career, one that proves he is working hard to shore up the shortcomings in his game. I firmly believe that he will continue to get better as a fighter. But the one thing he cannot overcome is his height. Mark Hunt is listed as the shortest heavyweight in the UFC at 5’10 to Barry’s 5’11. But I highly doubt that Barry is actually taller than Hunt. I actually think the opposite might be true. Whatever the case, he is extremely vertically challenged for a UFC heavyweight. I often wonder how Barry would perform if he found a way to cut to light heavy. I know he is sick of hearing that. But I cannot help but wonder. And I can’t help but wonder why he hasn’t hired a diet guru to find out for himself. Maybe he just loves being David each and every time he fights, because the average heavyweight certainly looks like Goliath every time Barry steps into the Octagon.

Posted in: ufc, ’t, miller, barry, neer

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Josh Neer: “He’s definitely the hardest puncher I’ve ever fought.”

He’s fought Melvin Guillard, Eddie Alvarez, and both Diaz brothers. However, according to seasoned veteran Josh Neer, none of the aforementioned lot pack the power he faced last night at UFC on FX: Guillard vs. Miller when he took on Duane Ludwig. Though “The Dentist” ultimately opted for a High-Elbow Guillotine Choke instead of Novocain to leave Ludwig in a numbed state, the hard-hitting kickboxer still landed a few solid strikes leaving Neer’s face bloodied and swollen before going out on his shield a few minutes into the first round. Neer spoke about the fight in a post-victory interview with the UFC where he paid respect to Ludwig’s stand-up. “I don’t know what he hit me with. He hit me with, in the beginning of the fight, with some good stuff. He’s definitely the hardest puncher I’ve ever fought.” Neer Preparing for a War Against Ludwig The 33-10-1 welterweight who is now on a six-fight winning streak including two inside the Octagon also discussed training with Cesar Gracie’s camp and more. Check out the video below: Tweet

Posted in: neer, ludwig, ” neer, dentist ”, lot pack

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After hitting favorite submission, Josh Neer targets quick UFC return

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Veteran welterweight Josh Neer admits Duane "Bang" Ludwig was able to hurt him in their UFC on FX 1 matchup. Then again, when facing a Muay Thai specialist, Neer said you have to be aware of the possibilities. So Neer said he instituted his backup plan when the need arose, and things went exactly as he hoped.

Posted in: ufc, muay, josh, neer, backup plan

UFC on FX results recap: Josh Neer vs Duane Ludwig fight review and analysis

In an evening that featured several thrilling comebacks, veteran Josh Neer may have had the most impressive one of all against Duane Ludwig in the co-main event of the first-ever UFC on FX show last night (Jan. 20, 2012) in Nashville, Tennessee. Neer was battered and bruised badly by Ludwig, a former Muay Thai kickboxing champion who now holds the fasted knockout in UFC history. Things were starting to get ugly for the Iowan, but then he turned the tides in dramatic fashion, not just winning the fight, but emphatically putting his opponent to sleep. So how did Neer shift the momentum? And what's next for both fighters? Let's find out: From the early onset of the fight, it was obvious that Ludwig had a significant striking advantage. Neer pushed forward with both hands up but repeatedly was getting tagged by the Grudge fighter's precision punches. "Bang" even stumbled Neer early with a left hand and proceeded to blast him with knees to the body as he attempted to recover. "The Dentist" attempted a body lock to secure a takedown, but Ludwig fended him off and responded with a huge knee. Both men exchanged big blows but again, Ludwig got the better of it and then pressed forward with big knees to the body which seemed to hurt the scrappy Iowan. Neer continued to absorb some big strikes to the head and body, but he finally grabbed a single leg and turned the corner, putting "Bang" on his back. Ludwig obviously wants to get back to his feet, but in his haste, he turtled on his way up and completely left his neck exposed. Seeing the neck ripe for the picking, Neer immediately latched on a guillotine choke which was so tight that Ludwig didn't even have time to tap out, going unconscious in just five seconds. It was one of the tightest chokes you'll ever see. For Duane Ludwig, he's got to be frustrated with what happened. He was on a nice win streak and was just brutalizing Neer in the stand-up exchanges with his punches and knees. He's made strides in his wrestling and takedown defense, but once he was put on his back, it was likely only a matter of time before he was submitted. Scrambling to his feet while leaving his neck completely exposed like that was a rookie mistake on the ground. I'd think Ludwig would be the perfect opponent for Dan Hardy's comeback fight in the welterweight division as both men are entertaining strikers who likely won't want to go to the ground. Other possible opponents for "Bang" include Claude Patrick and Carlos Eduardo Rocha. For Josh Neer, he's now 2-0 in his fourth stint in the UFC. His striking showed some serious holes, but he was tough enough to absorb the damage and impose his will and then submit his opponent. Neer surprised me as I thought he would be too stubborn and would stand and trade with Ludwig for too long, but he only kept the fight standing long enough to close the distance and score a takedown. On the ground, it was his world and he latched onto that guillotine choke with excellent technique. Neer apparantely called out Brian Ebersole after his fight, so that would be an intriguing potential match-up. Other potential opponents for "The Dentist" include Seth Baczynski or potentially Mike Pyle. Whoever he faces, Neer will likely continue to put on exciting fights, which is why he keeps getting invited back to the promotion. So what did you think, Maniacs? Did Neer pull this out with superior technique, or did Ludwig blow it? Did anything happen in this fight that surprised you? Sound off! For complete UFC on FX results, including blow-by-blow, fight-by-fight coverage of the entire event as well as immediate post-fight reaction click here, here and here.

Posted in: ufc, fight, opponent, neer, ludwig

Josh Neer Puts Duane Ludwig to Sleep

Josh Neer managed to survive an early onslaught from Duane Ludwig before locking in a deep guillotine choke that put Ludwig to sleep. After the fight hit the mat, Ludwig tried to scramble and left his neck exposed to an extremely gritty veteran. Besides being rocked on the feet during an initial striking match, Neer also realized he had to keep busy: “When I was on top of him I could feel blood trickle down my neck,” Neer said post-fight. “I didn’t know how bad the cut was above my eye, so I knew I had to finish him and finish quick. I saw an opening and got him.” Since returning to the UFC in late 2001, Neer has gone 2-0, including a TKO against Keith Wisniewski last October. Expect the former FMS product to receive another tough test in the lightweight division later this year, while he hopes to build his UFC resume (again).

Posted in: keith wisniewski, neer, josh neer, ludwig, duane ludwig

Read the full article at MMA Opinion

UFC on FX 1 Results: Miller Submits Guillard, Neer Chokes Out Ludwig

Jim Miller weathered some early damage to submit Melvin Guillard just over two minutes into the lightweight matchup, which headlined UFC on FX 1 on Saturday night in Nashville, Tennessee. Guillard got off to a strong start as he dropped Miller with knees early in the opening round, but Miller persevered and found his way onto Guillard’s back, where he locked in a rear naked choke for the submission finish. Miller improves to 21-3 with the win and is back on track following his August loss to fellow contender Ben Henderson, while Guillard has now dropped two straight to fall to 29-10-2 after a fight-fight win streak. A similar scenario played out in the co-main event between welterweights Duane “Bang” Ludwig and Josh Neer, as Ludwig took control early with his striking, but was quickly choked unconscious with a guillotine by Neer. In other main card action, bantamweight Mike Easton outpointed newcomer Jared Papazian in an entertaining slugfest that a majority of the judges saw for Easton, while Pat Barry escaped several near-submissions to knock Christian Morecraft out cold in the opening round. The UFC on FX 1 prelims saw Jorge Rivera retire with a TKO win over Eric Schafer, while Khabib Nurmagomedov, Charlie Brenneman, Fabricio Camoes, Daniel Pineda, and Nick Denis also picked up wins. The complete UFC on FX 1 results were: MAIN CARD Jim Miller def. Melvin Guillard via submission (rear naked choke) – Round 1, 2:04 Josh Neer def. Duane “Bang” Ludwig via technical submission (guillotine) – Round 1, 3:04 Mike Easton def. Jared Papazian via majority decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-29) Pat Barry def. Christian Morecraft via KO (punches) – Round 1, 3:38 PRELIMINARY CARD Jorge Rivera def. Eric Schafer via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 1:31 Khabib Nurmagomedov def. Kamal Shalorus via submission (rear naked choke) – Round 3, 2:08 Charlie Brenneman def. Daniel Roberts via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) Fabricio Camoes def. Tommy Hayden via submission (rear naked choke) – Round 1, 4:03 Daniel Pineda def. Pat Schilling via submission (rear naked choke) – Round 1, 1:37 Nick Denis def. Joseph Sandoval via KO (elbows) – Round 1, 0:22

Posted in: round, submission, miller, guillard, neer

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UFC on FX 1 results: Neer puts Ludwig to sleep in first round

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Turns out "The Dentist" can put you to sleep, as well. Welterweight veteran Josh Neer survived an early striking onslaught from Duane "Bang" Ludwig and earned a first round technical-submission win, choking out his opponent with a well-timed guillotine choke. The two fought in the co-feature of Friday night's UFC on FX 1 event at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn.

Posted in: neer, bridgestone arena, round technicalsubmission, welltimed guillotine, tenn

UFC On FX Results: Josh Neer Puts Duane Ludwig To Sleep With Guillotine

Josh Neer defeated Duane Ludwig by guillotine choke. The technical submission came at 3:04 in the first round. Jon Anik repeated multiple times in the build up that Josh Neer was an honorary Diaz Brother because of his ability to survive big shots and his slick submissions. That turned out to be a great comparison at Neer held his own against the K-1 veteran, trading punches with Duane Ludwig. Though Ludwig was getting the better of the stand up, he wasn't dominating Neer as most would expect. It was Neer's legendary chin that kept him in the fight and allowed him to put together a pretty technical finish. Sinking in a guillotine choke, he put Duane Ludwig to sleep before Duane could tap out. Neer improves to 33-10-1 in his career. Duane Ludwig drops to 21-12 in MMA. It was the sixth submission loss of his career. SBN coverage of UFC on FX

Posted in: neer, guillotine, duane, ludwig, duane ludwig

UFC on FX 1 results: Josh Neer submits Duane Ludwig

The welterweights were at war tonight (Fri., Jan. 20, 2012) at the UFC on FX 1: "Guillard vs. Miller" event in Nashville, Tennessee, as Duane Ludwig battled Josh Neer. Both men are veterans of the sport and came in riding win streaks, Ludwig with two straight and Neer having won five in a row dating back to his May 2010 loss to Eddie Alvarez in Bellator. Make it six now, including his second straight inside the Octagon, as "The Dentist" surgically disposed of "Bang" with a first round guillotine submission victory. Ludwig couldn't help but smile when he woke up but it will be a long road back to his old spot in the welterweight division for the 33-year-old vet. As for Neer, could this signify a rebirth of sorts? The fight opened as all fights do, with both men standing and looking to land that one big shot that will put the other away in spectacular fashion, earning not only knockout win but a big bonus in the process. Sometimes, though, a submission is just as sweet. After getting Ludwig to the floor on a caught kick, Neer worked to a guillotine and squeezed until his foe went limp. The cash for "Submission of the Night" is just as green, after all. And a win is a win. Moving on up. Be sure to hit up MMAmania.com's for up to the minute results and blow-by-blow coverage of the rest of the night's UFC on FX: "Guillard vs. Miller" action by clicking here.

Posted in: submission, neer, ludwig, duane ludwig, kick neer

UFC on FX Results: Josh Neer Chokes Out Duane Ludwig

Filed under: UFCIn a short but entertaining fight on Friday night's UFC on FX card, Josh Neer withstood an early barrage from Duane Ludwig, then ended up choking Ludwig unconscious in the first round. Early on Ludwig looked great, battering Neer with punches that seemed to be hurting him, and Neer was backing away. At one point Ludwig also knocked out Neer's mouth guard, and Neer may have benefitted from a brief pause in the action so that he was able to put it back in. At the start of the first round, it looked like Ludwig would have his way with Neer standing up. But Neer bided his time and took Ludwig down, and once he did that he was in control. First Neer landed punches on the ground, then he slipped in a guillotine choke from half guard. Ludwig looked like he was about to tap out and then he simply slumped down, and Neer yelled to referee Josh Rosenthal that Ludwig was out. Rosenthal checked, saw that Neer was right, and stopped the fight. The fight lasted 3 minutes, 4 seconds. "It was a good win," Neer said. "I wanted to stand up and trade more but he was getting the better of me so I took it to the ground to finish him." The win improves Neer's MMA record to 33-10-1 and puts him on a six-fight winning streak. Ludwig falls to 21-12 and snaps a two-fight winning streak of his own. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: fight, josh, neer, ludwig, duane ludwig

UFC on FX Live Blog: Duane Ludwig vs. Josh Neer Updates

Filed under: UFCThis is the UFC on FX live blog for Duane Ludwig vs. Josh Neer, a welterweight bout on tonight's main card from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. Ludwig (21-11) aims for his third straight UFC win after taking decisions over Amir Sadollah and Nick Osipczak. Neer (32-10-1) returned to the UFC last October and stopped Keith Wisniewski in a bloody brawl. The live blog is below. More: Latest UFC News | UFC on FX Results Josh Rosenthal is the referee. Round 1: No touch of gloves. Neer immediately gets in Ludwig's face. Ludwig lands a right hand that staggers Neer. Neer recovers and presses Ludwig against the cage. Round 2: Round 3: Follow Us on Twitter Friend Us on Facebook Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, round, neer, amir sadollah, ludwig

UFC on FX 1: Duane Ludwig vs Josh Neer prediction and preview

The co-main event of tonight's (Jan. 20, 2012) UFC on FX 1 event, which is the Ultimate Fighting Championship's (UFC) debut on the cable network channel, will feature two streaking welterweights in Josh Neer and Duane Ludwig. Both are currently enjoying win streaks with Ludwig having won his last two under the UFC banner and Neer having reeled off five straight victories, with four coming in smaller promotions outside the Octagon. After making a successful return after receiving an invite back to the world's largest mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion at UFC on Versus 4, "The Dentist" hopes to become a mainstay in the wide open welterweight division. Ludwig on the other hand, has earned back-to-back victories against Nick Osipczak and Amir Sadollah after previously losing two consecutive in the UFC. After finally receiving his long awaited recognition as the true owner of the fastest knockout in UFC history, "Bang" can't sit back and enjoy his new-found placement in the record books and must instead focus on keeping his momentum going against a very tough Neer. Make the jump for a complete breakdown of the UFC on FX 1 co-main event between Duane Ludwig and Josh Neer. 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;} THE BREAKDOWN Josh Neer has proven he can be a very competitive MMA fighter, winning seven out of his last eight bouts since his last release from the promotion. His only loss during that stint came to former Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez. Neer is one of those fighters who is not great at one particular discipline, but can definitely mix together just enough to catch you with a submission or knock you out if need be. Having recently spent time training with the Cesar Gracie crew which includes Nick Diaz, Nate Diaz, Gilbert Melendez and Jake Shields, it’s safe to assume that his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) skills and boxing could have improved. If nothing else, his overall toughness surely rose a bit, if that's even possible. Duane Ludwig is coming off an impressive unanimous decision win over former Ultimate Fighter (TUF) winner Amir Sadollah at UFC on Versus 5 this past August, which upped his win streak to two in a row. Ludwig, much like his opponent, isn’t a specialist in one given area, but prefers to keep the fight on the feet. If he has an advantage over Neer, it may be his striking, even though "The Dentist" isn’t necessarily opposed to getting in a stand up brawl. If the fight goes to the ground, this is where things get a bit more interesting. Neer isn’t a jiu-jitsu black belt by any stretch of the imagination, but he can pull off a submission victory if the chance presents itself. This will be Neer’s best chance to pull off a finish as "Bang" has proven that his submission defense isn’t the greatest by losing his last three bouts via submission. Furthermore, Ludwig’s last submission victory came over four years ago. PREDICTION This fight will come down to who is the most aggressive. Both are proven hard-nosed veterans who aren’t afraid to test the waters on the feet or the ground. This fight won’t be pretty, but a relentless Neer will out work Ludwig in all areas of the game. Ludwig’s best chance at victory is to try and keep his distance and pick apart Neer on the feet. I just don’t see it happening as Neer isn’t opposed to eating a couple of shots in order to get a hold of you or deliver a few strikes of his own. As proven strikers, oddly enough, I don’t anticipate this fight to stay on the feet very long with Neer going for an early takedown and keeping Ludwig on the mat for the majority of the fight, doing enough to earn a unanimous decision victory. Prediction: Josh Neer defeats Duane Ludwig via unanimous decision

Posted in: ufc, fight, neer, victory, ludwig

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

UFC on FX: ‘Guillard vs. Miller’ Preview

As last week’s pre-UFC 142 pay-per-view prelims on FX had no “gladiator man” intro at the beginning, Friday night will feature the UFC’s true inaugural show on the network. And just as some of the low voltage SpikeTV cards we were privy to, this one features one fight that’s a shiny beacon of pugilistic goodness, plus a selection of meaningless matchups. Which isn’t to say you shouldn’t tune in – you should. It will be fun in its own way. At the top of the card, Melvin Guillard and Jim Miller, both coming off of losses that derailed their lofty title aspirations, should have an exciting and worthwhile throwdown. Meanwhile, the lesser pairings (i.e., pairing that will have no bearing on the rankings) include the veterans Josh Neer and Duane Ludwig, who are usually good for a scuffle, as well as unrepentant banger Pat Barry against Christian “1-2 in the Octagon” Morecraft. Like I said, it’s not a high-powered card. But I get FX for free, and at this stage in the game I’d watch cockroaches battle if the UFC logo were visible somewhere. So! Preview time! -Melvin Guillard vs. Jim Miller – Aside from a submission loss to Nate Diaz back in 2009, Guillard was on quite the tear, wrecking dudes like Denis Siver, Evan Dunham and Shane Roller, and smashing a host of others. Then came a regrettable performance against Joe Lauzon at UFC 136, and now the “Young Assassin” is in desperate need of getting back on track. Unfortunately for him, someone with an even more impressive win streak – a streak broken only by a recent loss to top lightweight contender Ben Henderson – stands in his way. To say Miller holds the advantage over Guillard in nearly every area that matters would be an understatement. With his wrestling chops Miller can take him down, and with his black belt-level jiu-jitsu Miller can tie him in knots. And as Lauzon proved, you don’t have to be a world-class striker to catch Guillard and stun him; if Miller can put down the iron-chinned Kamal Shalorus with a knee to the grill, he can definitely do the same to Guillard. Guillard is a fast and entertaining denizen of the UFC lightweight division, but Miller is putting him away. -Josh Neer vs. Duane “Bang” Ludwig – Neer reached his ceiling in the Octagon a while ago, when Kurt Pellegrino and Gleison Tibau both decisioned him back in 2009. But the man has still got some fire in him, and he’s always good for putting forth a strong effort in the cage. “Bang”, meanwhile, just got official recognition by the UFC that his six-second knockout of Jonathan Goulet back at UFC Fight Night 3 (in 2006) is the fastest KO in UFC history. That little tidbit, plus the hard-fought decision he snagged over TUF winner Amir Sadollah at UFC Live: “Hardy vs. Lytle”, probably means something. I’m not sure what, though, other than that Ludwig has still got some fire left in him too. He won’t be knocking Neer out in six seconds (or thirty, or 120), but odds are he’ll be able to thwack his opponent right back for every fist and shin he eats. In terms of predictions, Neer is superior on the ground and Father Time has made Ludwig a bit slower, so look for the Midwesterner to tap out the Colorado native. -Mike Easton vs. Jared Papazian – UFC newcomer Papazian may have made his bones punching dudes in the long-running promotions King of the Cage and Rage in the Cage, but the bantamweight has got a tall order before him in Easton, who wields dangerous Muay Thai to go along with his Lloyd Irvin-trained black belt-level submission skills. Given both guys’ penchant for banging out wars, this donnybrook could very well be a crowd-pleaser – a crowd-pleaser that I see Easton emerging victorious from via decision. -Pat Barry vs. Christian Morecraft – Having lost to Tim Hague, Mirko Crocop, Cheick Kongo and Stefan Struve, it’s simply amazing that Barry has a job. I guess a willingness to trade blows with reckless abandon goes a long way towards job security… or something like that. Anyway, Barry can hit and hit hard, and he can break his hands and feet and render himself defenseless, and he can get taken down and submitted like a white belt – traits that, if he were facing any other heavyweight, could spell his doom. But he’s facing Morecraft, who may be competent on the feet and on the ground, yet somehow finds ways to lose spectacularly. I’m not going to make a prediction in this one, although I will go on record and say that, unless these guys make total fools of themselves, they’ll likely still remain employed by the organization.

Posted in: ufc, vs, miller, guillard, neer

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UFC On FX: Guillard Vs. Miller Staff Predictions

Melvin Guillard vs. Jim MillerBrent Brookhouse: Miller’s striking is good enough to hang for the little bit of the fight he’s going to have to spend on the feet. That isn’t to say that Guillard doesn’t have the pop to end it if he gets in a few good shots, but I think Miller’s game is more suited to win this match-up than Guillard’s. Melvin isn’t easy to take down but Miller will mix things up enough to confuse him, get to the ground and work to a submission. I think Melvin is way too in his own head, when he’s got a good run going he’s more dangerous and I think, coming off a loss, the second the fight hits the ground he’s going to freak out a bit and leave the opening for Miller to finish. Jim Miller by submission, round 1.Leland Roling: I have a creeping suspicion that Guillard may somehow destroy Miller’s chin in the opening frame and shock fans. But I’ll subdue my gut feeling and go with the grinding, blue-collar efforts of Miller here. His wrestling is solid, and he has savvy submission skills. Hopefully, he knocks off the low percentage attempts and puts himself into more dominant positions in this fight. I wouldn’t sleep on Guillard, but if pressed for a decision, I’ll go with Miller. Jim Miller via submission, Round 2Tim Burke: Joe Silva did well with this matchup. On the surface, this is a very tough fight to pick. Guillard has better hands, Miller has a better chin. Both have great wrestling. Miller has the sub advantage. Guillard has the size advantage. To me, it’s about takedowns. Despite what people think about Guillard, he gets taken down a fair amount. He’s just very adept at getting up, normally. I think Miller can keep him there enough to win the fight, and could even get the sub. It’s that simple for me. Jim Miller by decision.Anton Tabuena: I think Jim Miller is by far the better overall fighter, but as always, their stylistic match up makes it harder to predict. I think Guillard is good enough to keep this on the feet long enough to land a few hard shots. The question is, when he lands, will he be able to stop Miller who has a strong chin and is known to be one of the toughest dudes in the UFC? Cause if he can’t finish, I don’t think this bout will be staying standing for 15 mins, and the longer it gets, the more chances Miller gets to lock in a submission. It’s never happened before, but I’m going with my gut here and picking the upset. Melvin Guillard by TKO, Round 1.T.P. Grant: A lightweight barn burner. Burke hit this right on the head, fantastic bit of match making by Joe Silva. Guillard and Miller are excellent stylistic foils, both are aggressive fighters: Miller with a grappling background, Guillard from striking. Guillard has very good counter wrestling, but he isn’t immune to takedowns. I think MIller gets him down and locks on a submission. Jim Miller via Submission, Round 1. David Castillo: This is easily one of the worst matchups for Guillard in the division: a scrappy, tough as nails, crafty grappler who also happens to be a competent boxer with a lights out submission game. Melvin can’t rely on one big punch to end it, meanwhile, Jim has just enough power to rattle Guillard’s sort of questionable chin (well not really, but I don’t like the fact that Lauzon and Stevenson hurt him with minor punches), and once he latches on to a submission it’s over. I don’t mean to be overly critical of Guillard, but his five fight win streak convinced some people that he was elite when his competition in those wins, and his losses combined to argue otherwise: of Melvin as simply a very talented, but limited gatekeeper. With Guillard’s back against the wall, I wouldn’t be surprised by a Stephens-like performance. Thankfully, Miller would never allow that. Jim Miller by rear naked choke, round 3. Fraser Coffeen: When Guillard wins, it comes from outworking his opponents on the feet and landing that big power punch. That’s not going to work here. Miller has a tough enough chin to not get KO’d and is a workhorse. Henderson brought the perfect strategy against him and executed it flawlessly, but that kind of game just isn’t in Melvin’s playbook. Jim Miller by submission, round 1KJ Gould: Both guys are coming off less than stellar outings where obvious mistakes in strategy were made. The question is who has made a better correction and will they be able to implement their strongest area to beat the other man. Guillard relied too much on his athleticism to try and blast Joe Lauzon out early, he got reckless with his own defense resulting in him getting countered on the feet and submitted on the floor. Miller tried an all-or-nothing standing arm triangle on Ben Henderson and then got smashed on the ground when he spent too long looking for a finish off of his back. I’m almost certain Guillard has had it drilled into him by Greg Jackson to be more composed and methodical, coupled with his physical talents that might be enough to defeat Miller, who I suspect may drop to Featherweight for his next fight. Guillard by TKODallas Winston: At first glance, Miller’s triple threat of BJJ, boxing and wrestling would seem to be sheer Kryptonite for Guillard’s known weaknesses. What makes this intriguing is that he’s not an outright dominant wrestler or a power puncher and Melvin has made great strides in footwork, takedown defense and scooting his back to the fence to stand. The swaying factor for me is Miller’s pure toughness and rugged chin, which should see him through the rough spots and bide him enough time to finagle a sub. I could see Melvin forcing the ref to step in if he catches Miller and/or stuns him and pounces with GnP, but Miller’s big heart and sick BJJ should prevail. Jim Miller by submission.Staff Picking Guillard: Anton, KJStaff Picking Miller: Tim, Grant, David, Fraser, Dallas, Leland, Brookhouse, Roth SBN coverage of UFC on FXDuane Ludwig vs. Josh NeerBrent Brookhouse: This might be kind of fun. Neer is dangerous but I think Ludwig is better suited to the kind of fight they’re going to have here. I also can’t stand multiple time drunk drivers (especially ones that run from the cops at 100 MPH, risking hundreds of lives and then have the balls to say the cops were too rough after the arrest) and I’ll never pull for Neer to win another fight in his life. Duane Ludwig by KO, round 1.Leland Roling: Neer looked great against Keith Wisniewski, but that was a given considering Wisniewski couldn’t even push away Neer in the clinch. Ludwig comes from a kickboxing and Muay Thai background, and the clinch isn’t an unknown place for him. I imagine Ludwig maintains range and peppers Neer from distance while avoiding his sharp elbows, taking the decision. Duane Ludwig via decision.Tim Burke: I can’t believe this is co-maining in 2012. Ludwig owns the standup advantage, but anyone with any brains (and wrestling) puts Ludwig on the floor. Neer floors it and elbows him into oblivion before setting up the sub. Josh Neer by submission.Anton Tabuena: Neer might be a bit undersized at welterweight, but Ludwig isn’t the biggest guy either. I think Neer wins this on the ground. Josh Neer by TKO.T.P. Grant: Neer is going to take Ludwig down and beat him up on the ground. It seems pretty straight forward to me. Josh Neer by TKO, Round 2. David Castillo: I didn’t realize how utterly thin this card was until having to predict this co main event. To be fair to both guys, they’ve more or less earned a proper fight (not TV time per se). Ludwig had a pretty good scrap with Amir, but expect Neer to do as everyone says: take him down and beat him up. However, I believe Ludwig is rejuvenated now that he’s the official record holder for fasted knockout in the UFC. That’s my scientific analysis on top of that fact that Neer doesn’t always fight to his strengths. Duane Ludwig by TKO, round 2. Fraser Coffeen: Ludwig is better standing, Neer is more well rounded. Normally there I go with the well rounded guy, but I’ve liked Bang in his recent outings, and I think he pulls Neer into a kickboxing battle here, which he wins. Duane Ludwig by decisionKJ Gould: I’m not sure why Ludwig is still competing in the UFC, other than an additional token gesture for finally correcting his fastest KO in UFC history accolade. While Neer’s not a world beater he is by far more complete and can finish by strikes on the ground. Neer by TKO Dallas Winston: I have a ton of respect for both guys. Neer is a raw scrapper and his natural toughness is his best aspect. He has good length, solid boxing and has really made his slashing elbows a key part of his arsenal. Ludwig is one of the better Thai purists in the game so this should be a case of "Bang" trying to out-finesse the brawler. I expect him to employ good footwork to chip away from the fringe. Neer will look to follow behind his one-twos and clinch up to either smash Ludwig with dirty boxing and short elbows or work takedowns. Ludwig will have to be selective with his kicks so Neer doesn’t snatch his leg. Earlier in the UFC, Neer had to focus heavily on his wrestling and BJJ but, while he’s improved there, I think the gap on the feet is much larger. Duane Ludwig by decision. Staff Picking Ludwig: David, Fraser, Dallas, Leland, Brookhouse, RothStaff Picking Neer: Tim, Anton, Grant, KJMike Easton vs. Jared PapazianBrent Brookhouse: I don’t really buy Easton as being all that great, maybe I’ll be proven wrong eventually but I don’t think this is the fight that proves much. Mike Easton by decision.Leland Roling: Papazian is a solid addition to the UFC, although he should be in the flyweight division. Easton’s power is the major difference here. Mike Easton via TKO.Tim Burke: Papazian’s actually not bad at all. His fight with Abel Cullum was pretty good, and he’s got a good chin. Easton’s at a different level though. Mike Easton by decision.Anton Tabuena: I agree with Tim. Both are talented, but I think Mike Easton is better. Mike Easton by decision.T.P. Grant: Prospect vs Prospect! Young fighters clashing, anything can happen. That said I’ve been a fan of Easton for a while and the guys at Alliance MMA rave about this kid. Mike Easton via Submission, Round 3.David Castillo: Papazian will prove to be game, but being ‘game’ doesn’t mean much in the context of winning, and Easton is simply the more talented fighter. His original opponent, however (Ken Stone), would have been my pick. Mike Easton by decision. KJ Gould: I like to support Hayastan guys and see them do well, but Papazian doesn’t fit the typical mold of crazy Armenian with judo and possible leglock skills. Easton is with a more proven MMA camp plus has his first UFC fight under his belt and out of the way, in front of his hometown no less. Just wild speculation, but I’d imagine Easton will just look more comfortable fighting his second UFC fight with Papazian feeling the pressure of his UFC debut. Easton by Decision. Dallas Winston: I’m usually the last one to whine about things like this but, out of all the match ups on this card, this just strikes me as an odd choice for the main. Still, I love watching the Hayastan crew and these are worthy prospects. It’s quite unsettling that Papazian was triangled by Shad Smith (not for that reason) and Easton is just a tough S.O.B who won’t be so tentative in his second go-around. Mike Easton by rear-naked choke.Staff Picking Easton: Tim, Anton, Grant, David, Fraser, KJ, Leland, Dallas, Brookhouse, RothStaff Picking Papazian: Pat Barry vs. Christian MorecraftBrent Brookhouse: I’d much rather watch Pat Barry fight than Christian Morecraft, but I like Morecraft to grind out an ugly win here where he gets in trouble early but rides out the last two rounds. Christian Morecraft by decision.Leland Roling: Does time heal all wounds? How about your fight IQ? If Barry has learned anything from his recent roller coaster ride, he should win here. He must remain patient and stop going berserk at the first sign that a guy is hurt. If he can do that, Morecraft will get finished quickly. Pat Barry via KO, Round 1.Tim Burke: Can Morecraft get it to the ground? I don’t think it’s an automatic win if he can, but he’s not gonna win the standup. I’ll go with the sentimental pick though, because everyone knows HD’s a good dude. Pat Barry by KO.T.P. Grant: Pat Barry is just an awesome dude, but his MMA career is not a good place right now. Since the end of 2008 Barry is 2-4 in the UFC, and while Morecraft isn’t a world-beater he is an up-and-comer who is consistently improving his game. I think Morecraft is going clinch with Barry, take Barry down and wear him down. Christian Morecraft via TKO, Round 3. David Castillo: Until Barry picks up some kind of killer instinct, I’ll never pick him with confidance, even against a journeyman like Morecraft. I still can’t shake that image of Mirko Filipovic of all people scoring the RNC with no hooks. Unbelievable. The guy will never be any good, but at least he’s entertaining when he’s upright. Morecraft is more well rounded, and can submit once they go to the ground. Christian Morecraft by submission, round 2.Fraser Coffeen: Reread everything I wrote about Neer and Bang, and apply it here. Although Barry has not much impressed me lately, I am hoping the change in camps will help him improve TD defense and force the fight to stay standing. I hope. Pat Barry by TKO, round 2. KJ Gould: Come on Pat, Morecraft is tailor made for you to look good against. Destroy his legs and take his head. Barry by KODallas Winston: I was shocked at how fluid the massive Morecraft was off his back versus McCorkle, who finished in the top-five of the ADCC qualifiers with only 6 months of BJJ. As mentioned in the Dissection, Barry should be able to revert back to his steady stream of leg kicks and use his monumental speed advantage to dismember Morecraft or sting punches and get out of dodge. Morecraft is a goliath with decent wrestling and a slick sub-game, so he’ll devour "HD" for the slightest mistake. Pat Barry by TKO via leg kicks (!).Staff Picking Barry: Tim, Anton, Fraser, KJ, Leland, DallasStaff Picking Morecraft: Grant, David, Brookhouse, RothJorge Rivera vs. Eric SchaferBrent Brookhouse: Rivera is a weird guy to watch. He has fights where he looks completely shot and then goes on a little run where he looks like a new man. This is a good match-up for him where he should be able to keep it on the feet and bust up Schafer. Jorge Rivera by decision.Leland Roling: Rivera should have the takedown defense to avoid Schafer’s shots, leaving him in a well-known predicament... being beaten to a pulp while he turtles to the ground. Jorge Rivera via TKO.Tim Burke: Schafer possesses a good ground game and a good chin. But I’ve never been all that impressed with his takedowns, and Rivera is still a crafty, tough fighter. I think Rivera beats him up on the feet and Schafer just takes it. Jorge Rivera by decision.Anton Tabuena: Schafer will win this on the ground, and Rivera will get cut. Eric Schafer by SubmissionT.P. Grant: Two veterans on the downside of their careers. Both are moderately well rounded and entertaining but aren’t going to set the world on fire. I just have a weird feeling Schafer pulls this one out. Eric Schafer via Decision. David Castillo: My brain cells have had to organize themselves to make sense of fights involving Duane Ludwig, Josh Neer, Pat Barry (all featured), and suddenly it hit me: this card is basically UFC 55 minus Sean frikkin Gannon. It’s utterly mediocre, but I expect it all to be a bizarre, fun sort of mediocre. Rivera against Schafer is not what I singed up for, but I think Jorge will score on the feet, and pick up the win. If there’s one thing that has been moderately impressive about Jorge’s career it’s that he’s improved steadily on the feet and even developed power along the way. I still maintain he was looking alright agaisnt Bisping, even though his cardio doesn’t exist. Jorge Rivera by TKO, round 3. KJ Gould: These guys have really lucked out to still fight under the UFC banner. Rivera is getting too old and Schafer has never come across as well rounded or athletic. Schafer is younger, and he ought to have been improving his striking with team Duke Roufus, right? I don’t know. It’s hard to pick a guy who’s been used to pad Michael Bisping’s record, and both of them have played that role. Schafer by Decision.Dallas Winston: Castillo?!?! Sean Gannon is the man -- plus he’s a police officer and your comments and personal info have already been passed along. Focus, Dallas! OK. I see this fight going exactly like Simpson vs. Schafer with the caveat that Rivera can’t wrestle as well as Simpson, but people’s heads just fall off when he punches them. Yes … their heads just fall off. Jorge Rivera by referee intervention due to strikes.Staff Picking Rivera: Tim, David, Leland, Dallas, Brookhouse, RothStaff Picking Schafer: Grant, Anton, Fraser, KJKamal Shalorus vs. Khabib NurmagomedovBrent Brookhouse: Not a fight I’m looking forward to live blogging. Luckily, copy-paste makes Nurmagomedov not a huge pain. Shalorus should get a win here. Kamal Shalorus by TKO, round 2.Leland Roling: I’m definitely interested in this fight, mainly because we axed Khabib on the 2012 Scouting Report due to his soft strength of record and seemingly one-dimensional style. Can AMA Fight Club improve his weaknesses and make him well-rounded? We’ll find out. Shalorus can wrestle, and I’m going with what I know of Khabib already... he possesses good wrestling, and a suspect technical grasp of the submission game. Gotta go with Kamal. Kamal Shalorus via decision.Matt Roth: Early vote for fight that I really don’t want to do results for because the names are just too impossible. Shalorus is just better at everything than Nurmagomedov. The only question for me is that this is the first fight where Kamal has changed camps and that can kill a fighter’s career if it was a bad move. But I’m going with the known known and picking Kamal Shalorus by Decision.Anton Tabuena: Easy. Shalorus by Decision.Tim Burke: Shalorus has ugly standup but heavy hands, a terrible tank, and really good wrestling. Nurmagomedov, from what I’ve seen, has pretty good wrestling, okay subs, and okay hands. I think Shalorus is a bad matchup for Khabib, and Shalorus will take a decision (if he doesn’t pass out from exhaustion before the final bell). Kamal Shalorus by decision.T.P. Grant: Kamal is going to refuse to use his wrestling, he is going to fling wild hooks, he is going to gas out in three minutes and he will win a split decision. Kamal Shalorus by Decision. David Castillo: I wasn’t even sure Shalorus was still fighting. Still, I think he’s an interesting fighter. The only thing that has defined him is his wrestling, and his ability to completely withstand that high kick that landed flush from Jim Miller that didn’t even cause Kamal to blink. That wild, sloppy as hell striking of his will ge tthe job done. He’s nothing if not good at intimidating his opponents, and Nurmagomedov will be intimidated. Kamal Shaluros by TKO, round 2. KJ Gould: I believe since his loss to Jim Miller, Kamal made the decision to move from Austin, Texas to Santa Monica, California, with a brief stop at Las Vegas, Nevada to train his submission game - which was already partly Catch and Wrestling based - with Neil Melanson at Xtreme Couture. He’s also been improving his striking at Anthony Hardonk’s gym in CA, so could we see a more technical, well rounded Prince of Persia take the stage? Most are picking him based on his raw striking power alone. Shaluros by TKO.Dallas Winston: Shalorus is a straight up bruiser who seems to genuinely dislike his opponents in the heat of battle and, sometimes, their nether regions. He’s got a wicked (albeit inaccurate) inside low kick, he’s a wild brawler on the feet with a decent chin and can always fall back on his wrestling. Nurmy has made impressive strides for such a young fighter and he’ll be pretty good everywhere but excellent nowhere. Kamal Shalorus by TKO.Staff Picking Shalorus: Tim, Anton, Roth, Grant, David, Fraser, KJ, Leland, Dallas, BrookhouseStaff Picking Nurmagomedov:Charlie Brenneman vs. Daniel RobertsBrent Brookhouse: Clearly the UFC sees Brenneman’s win over Rick Story as a fluke. Bouncing him way down to the prelims for an FX card seems to show that. Still, better fighters usually win. Charlie Brenneman by decision.Leland Roling: Brenneman gives Roberts the blue-collar treatment. Grinds him out to a decision with superior wrestling. Charlie Brenneman via decision.Tim Burke: I’ve never really felt that Roberts was UFC-caliber despite his submission game, and Brenneman is just a lot better than him. Easy pick for me. Charlie Brenneman by decision.Anton Tabuena: Brenneman is one of the more talented guys in the division, and I think he’s much better than Roberts. Charlie Brenneman by Decision.T.P. Grant: This one seems pretty easy to me. Brenneman’s only UFC losses are to a LHW (Anthony Johnson) and an elite wrestler (Johny Hendricks) and Daniel Roberts is neither of those things. Charlie Brenneman via Decision. David Castillo: Easy pick here. Roberts is heralded for his jiu jitsu, but compared to other grapplers, there’s nothing about his game that especially stands up, and he’s not dynamic enough from his back to counter Brenneman’s top control. Charlie Brenneman by decision. KJ Gould: Picking the stand out wrestler here. It just makes the most sense. Plus that hair … Brenneman by decision.Dallas Winston: Wow … I’m a little surprised no one picked Roberts, even though I’m not either. Brenneman is fairly one-dimensional and Roberts has the edge standing and with subs. Still, that one dimension should be good enough to negate the rest. Charlie Brenneman by decision.Staff Picking Brenneman: Tim, Grant, Anton, David, Fraser, KJ, Leland, Dallas, Brookhouse, RothStaff Picking Roberts: Fabricio Camoes vs. Tommy HaydenBrent Brookhouse: Camoes probably should win this, but I’m going with the young American with the high finishing rate to make a big splash with an impressive win. Tommy Hayden by decision.Leland Roling: Nothing I’ve seen from Hayden has impressed me, but this will be the step-up in competition he needs. This should give us a better sense of where he stands. Unfortunately, I think it’s too much. Camoes is far from a world beater, but he can beat Hayden. Fabricio Camoes via decision.Tim Burke: I’m happy Morango got another chance in the UFC. Aaand that’s all I have to say about this fight. So...what did the fisherman say to the bartender? "Pick a cod, any cod!" Fabricio Camoes by decision.T.P. Grant: Another salty veteran vs undefeated prospect match up, Camoes getting a second shot in the UFC, this time at Featherweight. Hayden trains under Jorge Gurgel, and like Gurgel he has great jiu jitsu and unlike Gurgel he uses it. Camoes is no stranger to the ground game being the proud owner a Gracie black belt. I think Camoes gets this fight to the mat and gives the youngin’ a lesson. Fabricio Camoes by Decision. David Castillo: Camoes is an alright figher with just the right matchup in this one. his win over Efrain Escudero got him back into the UFC, and a win over Hayden, who isn’t all that special on the feet, will keep him there. Fabricio Camoes by decision. Dallas Winston: I actually think Camoes is kind of a beast. He’s a frenetically paced scrambler with good wrestling and sick submissions and I never really thought he deserved the axe originally. Fabricio Camoes by submission.Staff Picking Camoes: Tim, Grant, Anton, David, Fraser, KJ, Leland, Dallas, RothStaff Picking Hayden: BrookhouseDaniel Pineda vs. Pat SchillingBrent Brookhouse: Pineda is going to trounce him. Schilling’s record is meaningless (see Dallas’ pick) Pineda by TKO, round 1.Leland Roling: I’ll go against the betting line here as Schilling took a play out of the Jason Reinhardt school of record padding. Pineda has fought far better competition. Both guys are aggressive, so anything can happen... but I’ll go with experience. Daniel Pineda via TKO.Tim Burke: I haven’t taken the time to watch tape on either guy, but all the early betting was on Schilling so I’ll go with him. Crappy analysis FTW. Pat Schilling by submission.T.P. Grant: Pineda is an aggressive top position beast, but he is not a well rounded grappler. Schilling is aggressive on the feet and on the mat, with a good submission attack. Schilling has the means to win the fight where ever it ends up, so I’ll play those odds. Pat Schilling via Submission. David Castillo: Tough fight to pick, in my opinion, mainly because both guys are aggressive and the exchanges will likely turn it into a coin flip. But Schilling is a bit more polished. Pat Schilling by TKO, round 2. Fraser Coffeen: Schilling has never been pushed past the first, and if Pineda can do that, in Schilling’s UFC debut, it could cause him troubles. But I don’t think he can. Pat Schilling by KO, round 1Dallas Winston: When Leland says "record padding," that’s putting it lightly. From the prelims Dissection: "While Pineda will have a significant edge in experience with four-times as many fights, Schilling's past level of competition leaves much to be desired. His opponents have a poor cumulative record (14-31) and two are yet to win (0-1, 0-7). In fact, he's only beaten one fighter with a winning record, which was Tom Waters (4-3)." Daniel Pineda by TKO.Staff Picking Pineda: Leland, Dallas, Brookhouse, RothStaff Picking Schilling: Tim, Grant, Anton, David, Fraser, KJJoseph Sandoval vs. Nick DenisLeland Roling: Nick Denis. What can I say... dude slammed Nick Mamalis into unconsciousness after he was being wrestled to death. Nick Denis by TKO.Tim Burke: The Ninja of Love finally gets his long-overdue callup to the big leagues. Nick’s puttin the stamp on kids, son! Nick Denis by KO.T.P. Grant: Nick Denis is an interesting fighter and powerful Bantamweight. Denis is a very active and aggressive fighter from all positions, wearing down opponents. I think Denis starts off his UFC run with a W. Nick Denis via TKO, Round 2. David Castillo: Despite the image of Denis in my head of him getting his head dribbled off the canvas like a basketball with Sandro’s right hand, he’s the perfect matchup for Sandoval, whose wild striking will be neutralized by Denis’ top game. Nick Denis by decision. Fraser Coffeen: Kyokushin karate? Awesome. Go Denis go! Nick Denis by decision.Dallas Winston: The Ninja of Love via cuddle-jitsu. Which means knockout. Nick Denis by TKO.Staff Picking Sandoval: Staff Picking Denis: Tim, Grant, Anton, David, Fraser, KJ, Leland, Dallas, Brookhouse, Roth

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Josh Neer ready to go to war with Duane Ludwig

All that Josh Neer wants is a fight. When that cage door closes, “The Dentist” wants to go toe-to-toe with the man standing opposite him. Friday night, Neer will likely get just that, as the veteran meets Duane Ludwig at UFC on FX: Guillard vs. Miller from Nashville, Tennessee. For Neer, this opportunity to compete back inside the UFC’s Octagon after being cut is exactly why he went any and every where to fight. The Iowa native won six of seven bouts after his axe from the UFC, falling only to Eddie Alvarez. This past October, Neer was signed to fight Keith Wisniewski, earning a victory and another shot at redemption. “I didn’t get the best match ups that I wanted to get (during my first stint in the UFC),” said Neer, in a recent interview with the UFC’s website. “(Ludwig) is a real technical fighter, and he’s the type of fighter that I like to fight. He’s gonna try to finish and not just wins by points. I think he’s good.” As for his future, Neer is only concerned with Ludwig, but adds, “I think everybody that fights should want to be a world champion. That’s definitely one of my goals, but I think more of a realistic thing is to be someone like Chris Lytle that has exciting fights every time I fight, and go in there and be remembered that way.” Catch Ludwig-Neer when the main card fires up at 9:00 PM EST with preliminary action on Fuel TV beginning three hours earlier. Other bouts include Pat Barry vs. Christian Morecraft and a headlienr between top 155ers Melvin Guillard and Jim Miller. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, fight, neer, ludwig, duane ludwig

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

Ludwig: Neer Shouldn’t Stand & Strike, But Probably Will

Duane Ludwig won’t tell Josh Neer what to do, but he thinks Neer should probably try to get him to the ground when they meet Jan. 20 at UFC on FX “Guillard vs. Miller.”

Posted in: ’t, neer, josh neer, ludwig, duane ludwig

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Josh Neer Promises He Won’t ‘Fight Scared’ Against Bang Ludwig

Josh Neer has never shown much fear in any of his fights, and that won't change when he faces Duane 'Bang' Ludwig at UFC on FX 1.

Posted in: fight, josh, neer, josh neer, bang

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Duane Ludwig Ready for Wherever Josh Neer Fight Goes at UFC Nashville

Welterweight Duane Ludwig doesn't care where his fight with Josh Neer goes on Friday – he's ready for whatever "The Dentist" brings to the table in Nashville.

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UFC on FX 'Guillard vs Miller' fight card: Duane Ludwig vs Josh Neer preview

Two heavily experienced combat sports veterans will duke it out this Friday night (January 20, 2012) as recently crowned UFC fastest knockout record holder Duane Ludwig takes on 11 fight UFC veteran Josh Neer in the co-main event of UFC on FX: "Guillard vs. Miller" in Nashville. Duane "Bang" Ludwig has experienced a huge career revitalization since moving up a weight class to welterweight, winning his past two fights including a very strong performance against The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season seven winner Amir Sadollah at UFC on Versus 5. He's looking for his third straight UFC victory against a highly experienced foe in Josh Neer. Josh "The Dentist" Neer has been competing off and on in the UFC since 2005. His current stint in the promotion is his fourth, primarily due to his dominance of fighters on the regional circuit (21 first round stoppages outside the UFC) and his extremely fan-friendly and aggressive fighting style. Neer returned with a crushing victory over Keith Wisniewski this past October and is hoping to even his UFC record with a victory over Ludwig. Will Duane go out with a "Bang" against Neer? Can "The Dentist" make his fourth stint last the longest with a strong showing? What's the best path to victory for both men on Friday night? Let's find out: Duane Ludwig Record: 21-11 overall, 4-2 in the UFC Key Wins: Amir Sadollah (UFC on Versus 5), Nick Osipczak (UFC 122), Yves Edwards (Strikeforce: Destruction) Key Losses: Jim Miller (UFC 108), Lyle Beerbohm (Strikeforce Challengers 2), Takanori Gomi (Sengoku 1) How he got here: Duane "Bang" Ludwig has spent a lengthy career in both mixed martial arts and kickboxing. He actually started both professionally at about the same time back in 2000, when he fought five times in MMA and at least three kickboxing matches. His overall kickboxing record was 48-7-1 but he's no longer a regular competitor in the sport, instead choosing to focus on MMA. After a successful run outside of the UFC, including a brilliant knockout of former UFC champion Jens Pulver, he made his UFC debut against Genki Sudo, winning a close split decision. In his return to the UFC nearly three years later, he would go on to score the fastest knockout in UFC history against Jonathan Goulet, so fast that the timekeeper didn't realize the fight was over already and the knockout is still officially recorded as 11 seconds despite happening nearly twice as quickly. Ludwig spent much of the next three years competing in Strikeforce as well as the Colorado MMA promotion ROF before again returning to the UFC against Jim Miller in early 2010, losing via arm bar in the first round. His return fight against Darren Elkins would be cut short after a freak injury to his ankle while defending a takedown forced a stop to the fight. After healing up for eight months, the Grudge fighter moved up to welterweight and eeked out a close split decision victory over Nick Osipczak in Germany. He followed it up by taking on Ultimate Fighter season seven winner Amir Sadollah and severely outstriking him over the course of three rounds in his best performance in the UFC since his return to the promotion. He'll get an opportunity to keep the momentum rolling on Friday night. How he gets it done: Duane Ludwig loves to strike. What more can be said about the man with the fastest knockout in UFC history as well as 56 professional kickboxing matches? He's got a strong base in Muay Thai kickboxing and he'll be looking to use his excellent technique against Neer, a man known for being more of a scrapper and "in-your-face fighter than a technician on the feet. Don't be fooled by his six career submission victories, most of them were from exhaustion or from strikes. Just like his nickname, Ludwig will want to stand and "Bang." Expect to see the Grudge product move to the center of the Octagon and stand in the pocket, ready to trade blow for blow. He will likely be the larger man this time out as both fighters have competed at lightweight and welterweight throughout their career, so clinching would not be a bad idea as he'll likely tire Neer's shoulders out. The key for Ludwig is to keep Neer from setting the pace of the fight and to utilize his technique advantage in every exchange. Josh Neer Record: 32-10-1 overall, 5-6 in the UFC Key Wins: Melvin Guillard (UFC Fight Night 3), Mac Danzig (UFC Fight Night 17), Keith Wisniewski (UFC on Versus 6) Key Losses: Eddie Alvarez (Bellator 17), Gleison Tibau (UFC 104), Kurt Pellegrino (UFC 101) How he got here: Josh Neer has been here before, this is actually his fourth stint in the UFC for the 28 year old Midwestern scrapper. "The Dentist" originally entered the UFC after accumulating a 13-1-1 record on the regional circuit, but was submitted in his UFC debut by Drew Fickett in the inaugural UFC Fight Night event. He was brought back four months later most likely as a feeder to Melvin Guillard, but Neer surprised fans and UFC execs by submitting "The Young Assassin" in the first round and then following up his victory by defeating Ultimate Fighter season two winner Joe Stevenson, halting his nine fight win streak. Neer would find himself on the outside looking in after two straight losses including a submission defeat to Nick Diaz, but would work his way back once more by going 6-1 in regional shows over the next year. In his third stint with the UFC, the native Iowan defeated Din Thomas, lost a close split decision to Nate Diaz and then tapped out Ultimate Fighter season 6 winner Mac Danzig with a triangle choke to earn some high profile fights. He found himself on the receiving end of consecutive decisions after being controlled by wrestlers Kurt Pellegrino and Gleison Tibau which again left him looking for work outside the UFC. Neer bit off a bit more than he could chew in losing to Eddie Alvarez in a Bellator "superfight" but worked his way back to the UFC with four straight first round stoppages. He performed admirably against Keith Wisniewski in his return, elbowing his opponent into oblivion which forced a doctor stoppage at the end of the second round. With the victory, Neer gladly accepted a bout against fellow veteran Duane Ludwig. How he gets it done: The biggest difference in skill for this fight is on the ground, but can Neer put Ludwig there, and would he want to? Josh Neer is the type of fighter who loves to stand and scrap if he's able to, and scoring a big fight against a striker like Duane Ludwig might present a challenge that he wants to conquer. If he chooses to stand and "Bang," Neer absolutely needs to put a ton of pressure on Ludwig. He can't sit around on the outside trying to match technique for technique because he's going to get destroyed that way. The key for Neer in the stand-up is to constantly be moving forward, force Ludwig to fight from his heels and really get in the Grudge fighter's face. If the fight enters the clinch, Neer has two options: he can try to work those vicious elbows which helped put him over the top against Keith Wisniewski his last time out, or he can work for takedowns whether it's some sort of throw or if he can try to drag the Muay Thai fighter to the canvas. Once on the ground, he should have a serious edge and scoring a submission would be a real possibility but again, he has to actually want to put the fight on the ground. "The Dentist" might wait until he's absorbed a ton of punishment before trying and by then, it could be too late. Fight X-Factor: The biggest X-Factor for this fight has to be striking technique. Josh Neer is one hell of a scrappy brawler, and he loves to stand and bang, but he could seriously be biting off more than he can chew this time around if he wants to just trade blow for blow with the former I.S.K.A. Muay Thai World Kickboxing champion. Even if Neer attempts his in-your-face style and puts a ton of pressure on Ludwig, "Bang" should be very comfortable up close due to his proficiency with short elbow and knee attacks in Muay Thai from all those years of sparring and competing. If this turns into a stand-up fight and Josh Neer is too stubborn to utilize the rest of his skill-set, he could be in some major trouble. Bottom Line: Both of these men put forth tremendous efforts every time out and their biggest weakness (strong wrestlers) is almost certainly not going to be exploited here. This fight almost has the perfect recipe of a fan-friendly stand-up battle. Both Neer and Ludwig are likely expecting to come forward and throw down with big punches and kicks, so despite not having much of an impact on the welterweight division, this should be the type of fight that viewers are tuning in to see. Expect some fireworks. Who will come out on top at UFC on FX: Guillard vs. Miller? Tell us your prediction in the comments below! Poll Which veteran welterweight will score a big victory on the national state this Friday night in the co-main event of UFC on FX: Guillard vs. Miller? Duane Ludwig Josh Neer 8 votes | Results

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Resilient Josh Neer welcomes slugfest at UFC on FX 1

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - In earlier octagon times, Josh Neer got caught up in the hype of thinking his opponents would welcome a slugfest. It was the UFC, after all, and everyone was tough. Who wouldn't want to test himself? With calluses worn onto his back, he found out differently. On Friday, Neer embarks on the second fight of his fourth stint in the UFC, and he's fighting one of the better pure strikers in the welterweight division.

Posted in: ufc, slugfest, neer, josh neer, friday neer

Josh Neer - Proudly Representing The Old School

Josh Neer doesn’t ask for much. He doesn’t have a ten deep entourage to cater to his every whim, doesn’t request that the brown M&M’s to be removed from a candy bowl. All he wants is that when you sign to fight him, you fight him.It should be a simple request, but Neer has seen his aggressive style get nullified more than once in the past, and it even cost him his UFC job in 2009 when he lost back-to-back bouts against Kurt Pellegrino and Gleison Tibau. It could have been the sign for him to make a drastic stylistic overhaul, but that’s not his style. Yet while the attitude remains unchanged, he did add a few wrinkles to his game over the last couple years to make life a little easier on himself.“I didn’t get the best matchups that I wanted to get,” said Neer of his bouts against Pellegrino and Tibau, both of which he lost via unanimous decision. “I think that I do better against the actual fighters. I think there are a lot of guys that are just athletes that are fighting, as opposed to actual fighters. I fought two good athletes and I didn’t go in there with the right gameplan. I went out there thinking that they’re gonna come out and try to fight me and beat me, and really, they went in there just with the gameplan to try to win the fight. Guys say that they’re gonna stand up and trade and get Fight of the Night and everything else, but most of the time they’re really not gonna fight that way, especially those types of fighters like the athletes. I realized that I have to go in there and defend the takedown and try to stay up and make it a more exciting fight.”Iowa’s Neer may be just 28 years old, but he’s got an old soul when it comes to fighting. When you’re estimated to have had close to 100 amateur fights, countless gym wars, and 44 “official” pro bouts, that’s probably as old school as you’re going to get, and as far as he’s concerned, when you have the gloves on, you’re not supposed to engage in a wrestling match.“In the old days, it was mainly just fighters that were in the UFC, and now, I think there are more athletes in there and it’s more of an athlete thing than an actual fighter thing,” he said. “But there are still a lot of veterans around, and a lot of them are at the top right now. Anderson Silva, Lyoto Machida, Shogun (Rua), Wanderlei (Silva). Those guys are still around.”Neer may not have the accolades of the above group just yet, but he is cut from their cloth, and he’s got the respect of his peers. What earned him even more is his route back to the UFC following his release in 2009. Unlike many cut fighters who will engage in one or two easy bouts and then light up matchmaker Joe Silva’s cell phone asking for a return, Neer did what he always did – fight. If the call came, great. If it didn’t, he still had to make a living.“I like to fight wherever,” said Neer, a pro for nearly a decade. “The UFC chose to cut me so I had to fight elsewhere.”As for those “other” guys that try to shortcut their way back?“Guys that do that kind of annoy me,” he said. “I think those guys are just looking to get noticed and get attention. I don’t really understand it, but I like to fight, and I tried to fight good competition when I was outside the UFC, just trying to earn my way back, as opposed to just winning a couple of easy fights and then try to get back in. I earned my way back in.”That he did. From 2010 to his callback to the organization for last October’s bout against Keith Wisniewski, Neer fought seven times, losing only to Eddie Alvarez. All of his victories came by way of knockout or submission, making his return an unsurprising one. It was still nice though. “It was good to get the call back and get back in there and get to fight some of the best guys.”Neer also got a willing dance partner for his first fight back, as fellow veteran Keith Wisniewski went toe-to-toe with “The Dentist” for 10 minutes and took a series of hellacious shots until the Octagonside physician called a halt to the bout at the conclusion of the second round.“I knew he was a tough guy because we fought on a couple of the same cards, and I knew it was gonna be a tough fight,” said Neer of Wisniewski. “He’s experienced, he’s well-rounded, and he’s been around forever, so it was a tough fight, but yeah, some of the shots I hit him with, I thought he was done, but then he just kept coming. He was like the Terminator.”It was precisely the fight that Neer craves, and he’s likely to get a similar scrap when he takes on Duane “Bang” Ludwig this Friday night in Nashville. Ludwig is another vet who was fighting back before fighting was cool, and when he steps into the Octagon, all the kind words and handshakes go out the door. That’s Neer’s kind of fighter.“He’s a real technical fighter, and he’s the type of fighter that I like to fight,” said Neer of Ludwig. “He’s gonna try to finish and not just win by points. I think he’s good.”But what of Josh Neer’s future in the game? He’s won big fights, earned Fight of the Night bonuses, and beaten top-level opposition, but he has never put together the kind of streak that would land him in the title picture. Is reaching the top of the welterweight division still the goal?“I think everybody that fights should want to be a world champion,” said Neer. “That’s definitely one of my goals, but I think more of a realistic thing is to be someone like Chris Lytle that has exciting fights every time I fight, and go in there and be remembered that way.”Well, “Lights Out” wouldn’t be a bad role model, as you won’t find anyone with a cross word to say about the recently retired Indiana native. Neer could live with having that type of legacy.“That definitely is a big deal for me,” he said. “You look at Wanderlei Silva and he’s never been the champion of the UFC, but he has everyone’s respect. The same thing with Chris Lytle.”And Josh Neer.

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UFC on FX Video: Fastest KO Propels Duane Ludwig to Bang with Josh Neer

Duane "Bang" Ludwig talks with MMAWeekly.com's Conner Cordova about finally being recognized for the fastest KO, his upcoming fight with Josh Neer, and, of course, action figures!

Posted in: josh, neer, josh neer, duane ludwig, fx video

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Now a 'certified ninja' in UFC record books, Ludwig turns attention to UFC on FX 1

Duane "Bang" Ludwig has been in the news a lot lately. And none of it has been related to his upcoming fight against dangerous veteran Josh Neer. With the UFC deciding to formally recognize Ludwig's 2006 six-second knockout of Jonathan Goulet in its record books as its fastest ever, it's now time to recalibrate for more pressing business: Friday's UFC on FX 1 co-headliner with Josh Neer.

Posted in: ufc, neer, ludwig, jonathan goulet, record books

UFC on FX Debut Set for January with Ludwig-Neer, Barry-Morecraft

The first UFC on FX event is set for January and features fan favorites in its first two bouts, as heavyweight Pat Barry takes on Christian Morecraft and Duane “Bang” Ludwig meets fellow lightweight slugger Josh Neer, the UFC announced today. Barry (6-4) is in a two-fight skid that includes a comeback KO to Cheick Kongo in June and submission to Stefan Struve last month to fall below .500 in the UFC at 3-4, while Morecraft (7-2) fell to 1-2 inside the Octagon with a knockout at the hands of Matt Mitrione in June. Meanwhile, Ludwig and Neer are on the rise after Ludwig (21-11) topped Amir Sadollah in August for back-to-back wins following a pair of losses, while Neer (32-10-1) stopped Keith Wisniewski in his return to the UFC in October for his fifth-straight win. An exact date and location for the event will be announced soon. For the latest UFC on FX 1 news stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com. Pictured: Duane Ludwig

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UFC on FX Fight Card to Feature Neer-Ludwig, Barry-Morecraft

Filed under: UFC, NewsThe first live UFC on FX event will happen in January and while an exact date and location is to be announced, there are now two fights scheduled. On Wednesday, the UFC announced that Josh Neer will fight Duane Ludwig in welterweight action and Pat Barry will take on Christian Morecraft in a heavyweight scrap. Under UFC's deal with FOX, the promotion will bring four live events to FOX and six to FX each year. These live cards on FX will be similar to the former "Fight Nights" on Spike/"UFC Live" on Versus events. All four fighters announced so far are coming off appearances on UFC Live cards. Neer and Ludwig matchup well considering that Neer has an aggressive style and Ludwig's strength lying in his background as a Muay Thai fighter. Neer (32-10-1) made his return to the UFC last month with a bloody TKO win over Keith Wisniewski. Ludwig (21-11) has won his last two fights and last competed in August, beating TUF winner 7 Amir Sadollah via unanimous decision. Barry and Morecraft are heavyweights desperately in need of a win. Barry (6-4) is riding a two-fight losing streak from losses to Cheick Kongo and Stefan Struve. Morecraft (7-1) was knocked out in June by Matt Mitrione and is 1-2 in the UFC. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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UFC on Versus 6 winner Josh Neer just happy to fight no matter the venue (MMAJunkie.com)

Josh Neer (32-10-1 MMA, 5-6 UFC) has fought in front of 500 people and in front of 5,000 people.

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UFC on Versus 6 Preliminary Card Results

If you missed the UFC on Versus 6 preliminary card on Facebook, fear not. Bloody Elbow is here to bring you all the results, with a little bit of analysis too.Today's undercard featured six fights, all of which took place at welterweight and below. Here's how it went down. Walel Watson vs. Joseph Sandoval - Both bantamweights were making their UFC debut. Watson landed a huge head kick while Sandoval was coming in that dropped him briefly. Watson followed up with three head kicks in a row and some solid punches and Sandoval hit the deck once again. Two punches and it was over at 1:17 of round one via TKO. Extremely impressive debut by Watson that might very well make the Versus broadcast tonight. Josh Neer vs. Keith Wisniewski - Both of these guys were making their UFC return after long absences. The first round was an impressive display of varied techniques by two veterans, but Neer probably got the best of it with elbows, uppercuts, and leg kicks. Neer thought that he suffered a broken rib near the end of the first round, but carried on. The second round was one of the most unique I've ever seen. Neer threw dozens of standing elbows that cut Wisniewski to mincement, but he was given a reprieve when Neer's mouthpiece somehow fell under the cage just before the doctor checked his cuts. Yes, under. Neer unloaded even more after the restart, and was busting Keith up. A late standing guillotine made blood pour out of Wisniewski's head like a faucet. After the round was over, the doctor had no choice but to stop the fight. Neer won by TKO at the end of the second, but it was a massive display of toughness from both men and a great fight. Shane Roller vs. T.J. Grant - Grant opened up the fight with some excellent grappling, putting the decorated wrestler on his back multiple times. It was definitely Grant's round. The second round featured some excellent grappling, with the fighters alternating positions a few times. The third round saw Grant taking over to a degree and he was probably cruising to a decision victory anyway, but a quick transition from a guillotine to an armbar caused the referee to stop the fight late in the third. There was no tap though, and whether there was a scream in pain was a bone of contention between the two fighters. Strange ending to a great fight. Mike Easton vs. Byron Bloodworth - Easton was extremely popular with the DC crowd and came out with a ton of energy, but neither fighter showed a lot of offense in the round. Easton threw a nice spinning back kick and a couple of leg kicks, but ate some jabs as well.The second round was all Easton, with some thundering leg kicks that wobbled Bloodworth. Near the end of the round Bloodworth had him clinched up against the cage, but Easton landed three straight high knees to the head then buried one in Bloodworth's gut, which dropped him. Easton finished it shortly thereafter. Slow start from Easton (which Luke Thomas of MMA Nation says is the norm for him), but he devastated Bloodworth in the second. Impressive. Michael Johnson vs. Paul Sass - Johnson opened up with some good striking and appeared to have hurt Sass early, but he soldiered on. Sass was all about getting it to the ground and when he finally did, he latched on a heel hook and got the submission at the three minute mark. He might be a tad one-dimensional, but what a dimension it is. Yves Edwards vs. Rafaello Oliveira - Oliveira came out with a ton of energy and landed a bunch of shots early, but Edwards settled in and controlled the second half of the round. Oliveira shot in for a takedown late and almost at it, but ate a big knee on the way out. The second started with some spirited exchanges, but Edwards landed a beautiful counter right that crumpled Oliveira. Somehow Tractor was able to survive the Thugjitsu onslaught and got back to his feet, but a huge Edwards headkick and about 20 straight punches to the face finally earned the finish. Overall, it was an excellent undercard. More SBN coverage of UFC on Versus 6

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UFC on VS 6 Post Fight: Josh Neer Happy to Be Back in the UFC, Now a Full Time Welterweight

It felt good to be back in the UFC for midwestern fighter Josh Neer, and he made the most of his first fight back.

Posted in: ufc, josh, neer, time welterweight, josh neer

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UFC Live 6 Prelim Results - Hulk Smash; Easton Wins by KO in Debut

WASHINGTON, D.C., October 1 – A 10-year journey for D.C.’s own Mike "The Hulk" Easton finally reached the UFC Octagon, and the bantamweight marched full speed ahead in his debut at the Verizon Center Saturday night, chopping down and then stopping Byron Bloodworth in the second round of their UFC Live prelim bout.After an energetic entrance into the Octagon, Easton stayed busy with plenty of motion, but little in the way of actual scoring. Bloodworth wasn’t able to compile anything of note either, but a couple solid strikes from the local favorite may have allowed him to take the round.Stalking with a little more in the way of bad intentions, Easton drilled Bloodworth with leg kicks as the second round opened, and with two minutes gone, it was clear that the shots were starting to take their toll on the late replacement for the injured Jeff Hougland. As the round was coming to a close, the two locked up near the fence, and in what is usually a safe zone in terms of power shots, Easton turned up the heat with a series of right knees, first to the head and then the body, putting a hurt Bloodworth on the canvas. A series of follow-up strikes ended the bout, with referee Kevin Mulhall calling it at the 4:52 mark.With the win, Easton improves to 11-1; Bloodworth falls to 6-2.EDWARDS vs. OLIVEIRAVeteran lightweight Yves Edwards got back in the win column following his June loss to Sam Stout, using a varied striking attack to halt Brazil’s Rafaello Oliveira in the second round.Oliveira came out as the aggressor, throwing wild strikes, one of which opened a cut over Edwards’ right eye. The veteran was unfazed, and as the round wore on, he began warming up, landing with hard kicks to the legs and body and adding punches upstairs and down just before the bell.Taking the same tact in round two, Oliveira appeared to rock Edwards with his punches to the head, but as the Brazilian moved in to press his advantage, a knee from Edwards forced him to the canvas and to reset. Moments later, with his legs under him, Oliveira was hurt again and dropped by a punch. He survived an initial onslaught, but after rising and jumping back into the fray, a left head kick sent him down a third time. After a series of unanswered blows, referee Mario Yamasaki called a stop to the bout at the 2:44 mark.With the win, Edwards ups his record to 41-17-1; Oliveira falls to 14-5.SASS vs. JOHNSONUnbeaten Liverpool tap out king Paul Sass made it two for two in the UFC, finishing The Ultimate Fighter season 12 finalist Michael Johnson with a heel hook in the opening round of their lightweight bout.Sass didn’t hide his intentions as the bout began, rushing Johnson (10-6) in search of a takedown that was turned away a number of times. In the process, Johnson made sure his opponent paid for every missed attempt, but the gutsy Brit wouldn’t let up in his quest. Midway through the round, the bout strayed to the mat, with Sass locking up the leg of “The Menace.” Moments later, at the 3:00 mark, Sass’ heel hook forced the tap, upping his perfect record to 12-0. GRANT vs. ROLLERCanada’s TJ Grant made a successful jump to the 155-pound weight class, submitting Shane Roller in the third round of an entertaining scrap that saw plenty of back-and-forth action on the mat and the feet.After eating some of Roller’s thunder early, Grant shot in for a takedown, but nearly got caught in a guillotine choke. Grant pulled off a slick reversal to get into side control, then Roller did the same thing moments later, with the fans loving every second of it. Midway through the round, Grant rose and fired off strikes from the top position, eventually settling into his opponent’s guard. After another guillotine attempt from Roller, Grant pulled free and again took the dominant position, finishing strong with strikes.Grant (17-5) rocked Roller with a knee to the head in the opening stages of round two, with Roller returning the favor with his punches. A subsequent guillotine attempt from Roller came up empty, again allowing Grant to take the top spot against the Dallas resident. With less than 90 seconds remaining, Roller reversed position, but it was Grant almost locking up an arm at the bell.Roller (10-5) showed an increased sense of urgency in the final round as he looked to catch Grant with one of his power shots, but it was Grant landing the telling blow, a straight right to the face. With a little over three minutes left, Roller shot in for a takedown and Grant almost caught him with a guillotine, but after powering out, an armbar attempt followed. In the midst of it, referee Fernando Yamasaki called a stop to the bout at the 2:12 mark due to a verbal tapout, incensing Roller and the fans in attendance.“I ended up in the armbar,” said Roller. “I was trying to defend it, it got locked up tight, and the ref stopped it.”“He made a sound like ‘arrgh.’ They told us before the fight that you can’t do that, that they’re going to stop the fight,” said Grant, giving his side of the closing sequence.NEER vs. WISNIEWSKIWelterweight veteran Josh Neer returned to the UFC with an impressive display of elbow strikes which cut Keith Wisniewski and brought a halt to their exciting bout at the end of the second round.“I work on my elbows all the time,” said Neer, now 32-10-1. “I respect Keith a lot. He’s a warrior. Neer got what he wanted in the first round, as Wisniewski had no issue standing with him for the entire five minute period. But while “The Dentist” was able to jump into the lead behind a furious body attack and close range elbows, his apparent disregard for the power of his fellow Midwesterner left some defensive openings that Wisniewski was able to take advantage of.Wisniewski (28-12-1), also making a return visit to the Octagon, closed the gap early in round two and began his own body assault, but Neer’s continuous use of elbows to the head quickly bloodied his foe, prompting a break in the action for the doctor to look at the cuts on the Indiana native’s face. After getting cleared to resume, the bout remained in limbo as Neer’s lost mouthpiece got lodged in the grill around the Octagon. When finally brought back together, Neer and Wisniewski picked up where they left off, with neither fighter willing to back down. With seconds remaining, Neer almost finished the bout with a guillotine choke, but the bell intervened. The doctor had seen enough though, calling a stop to the bout between rounds due to the severity of Wisniewski’s cuts.“That was for my Grandpa, he’s one of the toughest guys I know,” said Neer of his grandfather, who is battling cancer.WATSON vs. SANDOVALIn a battle of bantamweight newcomers, Walel Watson introduced himself to UFC fans in impressive fashion, stopping previously unbeaten Joseph Sandoval via strikes in the opening round.Watson’s striking was sharp from the start, with the only deviation being a low kick the briefly interrupted the action. After the fight resumed, Watson began delivering his strikes upstairs, with a right kick to the head dropping and stunning Sandoval. The Texan shot right back up to his feet, but Watson wouldn’t let him breathe, eventually sending him to the canvas a second time with a right-left. This time, referee Mario Yamasaki had seen enough, halting the bout at the 1:17 mark.With the win, Watson improves to 9-2; Sandoval falls to 6-1.

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Keith Wisniewski's Long-Awaited UFC Return 'Just Another Fight'

Filed under: UFC, NewsMuch has changed in the MMA world since the last time Keith Wisniewski stepped into the UFC Octagon. But as far as he's concerned, his UFC return is just another fight. Wisniewski last fought in the UFC in November 2005, a decision loss to Nick Thompson at UFC 56. Nearly six years later, he is back in the promotion with a fight Saturday against fellow returnee Josh Neer at UFC on Versus 6 in Washington, D.C. But Wisniewski, who lives and trains in Northwest Indiana and runs the Duneland Vale Tudo gym with his brother Keith - a gym that has helped produce UFC fighters Eddie Wineland and Darren Elkins - is taking his long-awaited return in stride. "It's definitely been a goal of mine," Wisniewski told MMA Fighting on Friday after making weight for his welterweight bout. "I don't want to exaggerate - it's still just another fight. I know a lot of guys make a big deal about one fight versus the next. But it's not a huge difference from fighting Chris Wilson or fighting Josh Neer, or fighting Derrick Noble or fighting Josh Neer. It's just different venues. I'm very excited to be in this venue, but it's the same type of fight - you've got to get ready and execute." In April, Wisniewski (28-12-1, 0-1 UFC) fought Wilson in a Hoosier Fight Club show essentially in his backyard. Wilson, a four-time UFC vet, had been living in Brazil training with the Nogueira brothers. Wisniewski dispatched Wilson with relative ease, sweeping a unanimous decision, including a 30-26 score. And it was the strength of that victory that got him the welcome-back call from the UFC he had been hoping for when he took the fight. The win put the cap on six straight victories for Wisniewski, five of them stoppages, that came in the wake of a five-fight skid that started with his loss to Thopmson at UFC 56. Wisniewski, who has seen many of the changes in the UFC since his first go-round thanks to cornering stints with Wineland and Elkins, said a win over Neer (31-10-1, 4-6 UFC) is the kind that could start to make some big changes for him. When he's not running training camps at Duneland Vale Tudo, he's a union iron worker. "I'd like to be able to make a living as a fighter," Wisniewski said. "I'm proud of being an iron worker, and I really enjoy being part of Local 395. But it's been a goal of mine for some time to actually make a career as a fighter. And this is the type of fight that ultimately puts me in the position to be my main source of income." Wisniewski believes he has the edge against Neer standing up, as well as in the wrestling game, and has gameplanned around that. "I'm hoping to get the better of the standup," Wisniewski said. "Ideally, I'd like to get takedowns - probably in each round. Obviously if I can put him away with a strike, or put him away with a submission or TKO, I'm going to take that. But the game plan is to get the better of the striking exchanges, maybe spend a few minutes doing that each round, and as the round wears on, I'll put him on his back and wear him out a little bit there." That plan sounds like a carbon copy of how he beat Wilson in April. With a win over Neer, Wisniewski might just be ready to stick around for the long haul this time. Wisniewski and Neer fight on the preliminary card of UFC on Versus 6 from the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. The preliminary card fights will stream live on the UFC's Facebook page starting at 6:40 p.m. Eastern on Saturday. The main card follows on the Versus cable channel at 9 p.m., featuring a main event bantamweight title fight between Dominick Cruz and Demetrious Johnson. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, wilson, neer, wisniewski