MMA-URLS

Prior to my self induced cable TV strike, also known as being temporarily disconnected due to non payment of $472 in pay per view charges (just kidding...kind of), my son and I would spend rainy evenings laughing at back to back episodes of MTV's show 'Ridiculousness.' If you haven't watched the show yet, its kind of like an updated version of that show 'America's Funniest Home Videos.' MTV's 'Ridiculousness' is based on Youtube videos and hosted by Rob Dyrdek. Instead of AFHV's overabundance of stupid 'talking' animal clips and old people falling on the dance floor, this show is just a boatload of jackassery-filled with tons of painful nut shots, and stupidity induced injuries. It is great. Each episode is divided into two or three categories of ridiculous behaviors caught on video and uploaded to Youtube. Some of my favorites from the first season were the 'Run it off' and 'Guys getting schlagered.' This new season look to be entertaining as well and thankfully I don't even need to pay that $472 cable bill to watch any of the episodes. Last night I discovered my new neighbors have opted for the unsecured option on their wifi connection so I can stream all my rainy day hilarity from MTV.com. Love those new neighbors-I really need to bake them some special brownies as a gesture of gratitude. I really like free wifi. I also really like tall Dutch Surinamese men, pulled pork sandwiches and this latest episode of Ridiculousness featuring Rampage Jackson. Check it out:  Ridiculousness - Full Episodes

Posted in: show, video, episode, ridiculousnes, youtube videos

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Strikeforce fighter payouts for those who competed at the "Barnett vs. Cormier" event this past Saturday night (May 19, 2012), which aired on the Showtime network from the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., were released earlier today by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC). Leading the fiscal charge was mixed martial arts (MMA) veteran Josh Barnett, who cleaned nearly a quarter-milliion greenbacks ($200,000) for advancing to the finals of the promotion's heavyweight grand prix. However, the "War Master" didn't get the full job done, losing to tournament replacement Daniel Cormier -- who earned just half of Barnett's salary ($100,00) -- via clear-cut unanimous decision. Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez wasn't far behind, taking home a second-best $175,00 for earning a split decision nod over Josh Thomson ($90,000) after 25 minutes of action in their defining trilogy match. That's not all. Check out the complete list of Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" salaries and payouts after the jump: Daniel Cormier -- $100,000 ($50,000 to show, $50,000 to win)Josh Barnett -- $200,000Cormier defeated Barnett via unanimous decision Gilbert Melendez -- $175,000Josh Thomson -- $90,000Melendez defeated Thomson via split decision Rafael Cavalcante -- $66,000 ($33,000 to show, $33,000 to win)Mike Kyle -- $25,000Cavalcante defeated Kyle via submission (guillotine) in round one Lenny Christopher Spang -- $12,000 ($6,000 to show, $6,000 to win)Nah-Shon Burrell -- $7,000Spang defeated Burrell via knockout in round one Isaac Vallie-Flagg -- $6,000 ($3,000 to show, $3,000 to win)Gesias Cavalcante -- $18,000Vallie-Flagg defeated Cavalcante via split decision Carlos Inocente -- $4,000 ($2,000 to show, $2,000 to win)Virgil Zwicker -- $3,000Inocente defeated Zwicker via unanimous decision Gian Villante -- $24,000 ($12,000 to show, $12,000 to win)Derrick Mehman -- $3,000Villante defeated Mehmen via unanimous decision Quinn Mulhern -- $12,000 ($6,000 to show, $6,000 to win)Yuri Villefort -- $2,500Mulhern defeated Villefort via split decision Bobby Green -- $12,000 ($6,000 to show, $6,000 to win)James Terry -- $9,000Green defeated Terry via split decision The total disclosed payroll for Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" was $768,500. The reported gross gate for the event was $226,005. Final ticket sales figures are still pending. Keep in mind the salaries listed above do not include fight bonuses, sponsorships, percentages and other unofficial payments. It also does not include deductions for expenses such as insurance, taxes, etc. For complete Strikeforce: "Barnett vs. Cormier" results and blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action click here and here.

Posted in: strikeforce, show, decision, barnett, cormier

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The MMA Hour is back in your life. Here's a rundown of who will be stopping by the show on Monday and when: 1:00 pm ET -- Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix champion Daniel Cormier. 1:20 -- Bellator 115-pound champion Zoila Frausto Gurgel. 1:40 -- UFC lightweight Jacob Volkmann 2:00 -- UFC heavyweight Shane del Rosario 2:20 -- UFC welterweight Dan Hardy 2:40 -- World Jiu Jitsu Expo promoter Junior Nalty, who will discuss why the Nick Diaz vs. Braulio Estima match never happened. 3:00 -- Heavyweight Bob Sapp 3:20 -- MMAFighting.com's Mike Chiappetta 3:40 -- #mioenergystrikes viewer questions. Plus, we'll be taking your calls on anything and everything. Got a question or comment? Give us a call at 1-888-418-4074. Watch the show live below beginning at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT / 6 p.m. GMT. Subscribe to The MMA Hour on iTunes: audio feed here; video feed here. Download previous episodes here. Listen to the show via Stitcher here or via TuneIn here.

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

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Chael Sonnen used his art of smacktalk to compete in sports radio personality Jim Rome’s annual “Smackoff.” The annual contest on Jim Rome’s nationally syndicated radio show features Rome’s listeners calling in to determine who has the best “smack”. Sonnen became one of the few celebrities to appear as a contestant. The purpose of the show is to determine the show’s best caller. Jim Harbaugh, Tom Tolbert and Jay Mohr have also appeared. Rome has a nationally syndicated radio program with over 200 affiliates in the US, Canada, online and touts 2 million listeners. He has amassed a cult following and the “Smackoff” is a spinoff of the popularity. Rome was an early convert to the UFC and has had many stars on as guests including Dana White, BJ Penn and Sonnen. Sonnen’s smack talk didn’t focus on Anderson Silva or anyone in the UFC but on other sports including the NFL, NBA and NASCAR. Payout Perspective: The contest is subjective as there is no fan vote or poll but is up to Rome and his crew. Rome has monetized this contest so that there are sponsors. Last year, it included a UFC-themed gift package. No word on whether Sonnen gets a prize for winning.  Since the UFC has bought radio time on Rome’s show, one could argue that Sonnen should be disqualified. But, winning the contest is beside the point here. The underlying value of Sonnen appearing on the show is that Rome promoted his July 7th fight prior to his appearance. It also helps get Sonnen out there to Rome’s 2 million listeners on a day in which a high volume of Rome fans tune in to hear the smack talk. Sonnen’s smack talk amounted to a preview of the hype leading to what the UFC hopes to be the fight of the year. Expect more from the reigning king of smack leading up to July 7.

Posted in: ufc, show, radio, sonnen, rome

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MMAWeekly Radio Weekend Edition returns with a loaded show including Titan FC's Dave Branch, trainer Trevor Wittman and Xbox Live's Mike Mahar joining the show. Retweet this Share on Facebook • Email • StumbleUpon • Reddit • Digg • Technorati • Instapaper • Tumblr • Google Reader • LinkedIn

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Check out the show opener for tonight's Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier on Showtime. The opening features Gilbert Melendez, Josh Thomson, Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier. Retweet this Share on Facebook • Email • StumbleUpon • Reddit • Digg • Technorati • Instapaper • Tumblr • Google Reader • LinkedIn

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight number one contender Chael Sonnen took time out of his busy schedule training for his fight against Anderson Silva at UFC 148 on July 7 in Las Vegas, Nevada, to drop in on Jim Rome's radio show as an entrant in the 2012 Smack Off competition. If you're unfamiliar with the Smack Off, here's a synopsis via Wikipedia: The Smack-Off is an annual competition on The Jim Rome Show, in which select listeners are invited to provide their best "smack talk", with Rome and his show personnel determining the winner. It is held in mid-to-late spring and takes up the entire program on a Friday. The contest is a way to recognize the best callers to the show, as well as a means of determining the best caller of the year. Show host Jim Rome has referred to the Smack-Off as the most important show of the entire year. And today marked the crowning of the biggest mouth in mixed martial arts (MMA). Rome announced as much on his Twitter account before going on to defend his decision against his legion of clones who felt the fix was in, seeing as Rome has been a longtime fan of both the UFC and MMA and has had a history with Sonnen. #Smackoff 2012 champ....CHAEL FREAKING SONNEN. ... Some of you: "Fix was in. Rome wanted a celebrity to win." Right. Jay Mohr has never won. Jim Harbaugh was hammered for his appearance. ... I did what I've done 18 times now: given it to the best caller. There were a half dozen incredible calls. Sonnen's was the best. #Smackoff Listen to the audio above and give us your thoughts on Sonnen's smack talk, the highlight of which may have been his declaration that "basketball used to be about great athletes. Now it's about who's taking their turn on a Kardashian next." After the jump, read a complete transcript of Sonnen's rant. "Enough of amateur hour and rookies calling in on bad cell phones. What a boring waste of our time, Jim. Me and the listeners would have rather looked at racy photos of Wayne Gretzky's daughter on Twitter than to have to listen to that again. Fans would be more entertained watching John Travolta practice rough trade than by some of these rants I've heard today. I've been in the presence of silent films that had better vocals than these guys that have got on. "Hey Jay Mohr, I know you're out there listening, buddy. Loved you in Suicide Kings. It's an apt title for your career, by the way. "Football, America's past time. Look guys, nobody cares what you do with the ball out on the gridiron for 11 minutes of action in a four hour game. It's about the beer people; take the beer out of the stadiums and you'll take the people out as well. I wish I could wear 40 pounds of Kevlar body armor, run 10 yards, then rest for two minutes. Hey guys, that's what I do before practice. "Basketball. It used to be about great athletes. Now it's about who's taking their turn on a Kardashian next. I was going to work Kobe into this whole rant but what can I do to Kobe that god hasn't already done. "Baseball. It's America's sport because Americans are obese, the end. "Golf. That's the sport where Dancing With the Stars rejects go to die. The best thing Tiger Woods ever did was that hot Norwegian wife of his. "NASCAR. Wow, I just love it. A bunch of guys with a tooth missing for every decade of their life thinking they're Vin Diesel or the Dukes of Hazzard. It just kills me. You know what else chases each other in circles, Jim? Headless chickens. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and getting a different result. Yet every Sunday, they take the same white privileged males, put them in the same car doing the same thing and we get a different result. FIXED. Let's not forget, NASCAR plays to the same uneducated, southern white males professional wrestling got its licks from in the 1970s. How many of your listeners have a car? How many of you listeners if you raced your neighbor today and beat him would expect to not also win tomorrow and the next day. Look guys, the only way the results change if you're in the same car doing the same thing is if you let the results change. WAKE UP, KENTUCKY. "I should probably go off on my own sport for a minute but here's a question for you guys. I heard the winner gets UFC tickets, right? That's what I heard. I've heard you're all pandering, gabbering and whoring out for chuckles for a glimpse of yours truly. Well shucks, guys, I can understand and I'm flattered. "Still undefeated Jim, still undisputed, you're listening to Chael 'Perfection' Sonnen and that, ladies and gentlemen, what you just heard, was the 'Voice of Reason.'"

Posted in: guy, show, sonnen, jim, rome

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will be cutting a few checks this week following its UFC on FUEL TV 3: "Koran Zombie vs. Poirier" broadcast last Tuesday night (May 15, 2012) from the Patriot Center in Fairfax, and figures released from the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation in Virginia tell us who's getting what. "Cowboy" up. Donald Cerrone leads the payday way with $60,000 following a lopsided unanimous decision win over Jeremy Stephens. "Lil' Heathen" takes home $24,000 in defeat. Coming in second was former Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 7 champion Amir Sadollah, who banked $48,000 for squeaking past Jorge Lopez ($6,000) via split decision. That's not all. The complete list of UFC on FUEL TV 3 payouts and salaries after the jump. Chan Sung Jung: $34,000 ($17,000 to show, $17,000 to win)Dustin Poirier: $14,000Jung def. Poirier via submission Amir Sadollah: $48,000 ($24,000 to show, $24,000 to win)Jorge Lopez: $6,000Sadollah def. Lopez via split decision Donald Cerrone: $60,000 ($30,000 to show, $30,000 to win)Jeremy Stephens: $24,000Cerrone def. Stephens via unanimous decision Yves Jabouin: $20,000 ($10,000 to show, $10,000 to win)Jeff Hougland: $8,000Jabouin def. Hougland via unanimous decision Igor Pokrajac: $34,000 ($17,000 to show, $17,000 to win)Fabio Maldonado: $11,000Pokrajac def. Maldonado via unanimous decision Tom Lawlor: $24,000 ($12,000 to show, $12,000 to win)Jason MacDonald: $19,000Lawlor def. MacDonald via knockout Brad Tavares: $20,000 ($10,000 to show, $10,000 to win)Dongi Yang: $12,000Tavares def. Yang via unanimous decision Cody McKenzie: $20,000 ($10,000 to show, $10,000 to win)Marcus LeVesseur: $6,000McKenzie def. LeVesseur via submission T.J. Grant: $30,000 ($15,000 to show, $15,000 to win)Carlo Prater: $10,000Grant def. Prater via unanimous decision Rafael dos Anjos: $32,000 ($16,000 to show, $16,000 to win)Kamal Shalorus: $11,000Dos Anjos def. Shalorus via submission Johnny Eduardo: $12,000 ($6,000 to show, $6,000 to win)Jeff Curran: $8,000Eduardo def. Curran via unanimous decision Francisco Rivera: $12,000 ($6,000 to show, $6,000 to win)Alex Soto: $6,000Rivera def. Soto via unanimous decision The total disclosed payroll for UFC on FUEL TV 3 was $481,000. Keep in mind the salaries listed above do not include fight bonuses, sponsorships, percentages and other unofficial payments such as PPV bonuses, among others. It also does not include deductions for expenses such as insurance, taxes, etc. For example, the UFC often hands out extra cash for "Fight of the Night," "Knockout of the Night" and "Submission of the Night." To check out these figures for the "Korean Zombie vs. Poirier" event click here. For complete UFC on FUEL TV 3 results and blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action click here.

Posted in: ufc, show, decision, tv, fuel

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Next weekend, K-1 returns with their first card since a huge change of ownership last year, and it's a big one, with the start of the K-1 MAX 2012 Grand Prix, and Heavyweight fights featuring Badr Hari and Mirko Cro Cop. Check out the full line-up here. With this big event approaching, K-1 has been in the news quite a bit recently - sometimes for good reasons, sometimes bad. Here's a quick look at everything happening in the world of K-1, including the true story behind their alleged bankruptcy, and how you can watch their May 27 return show. FEG Declared Bankrupt by Japanese Courts FEG, the former parent company to K-1, is officially dead. Last week, the Tokyo DIstrict Court declared the company bankrupt and insolvent. This should come as no shock to anyone who has been following the K-1 saga over the past two years, as many fighters including Alistair Overeem, Ray Sefo, and Giorgio Petrosyan have been very public about being owed huge amounts of money for previous K-1 appearances. Recently, the most vocal has been Golden Glory head Bas Boon, who claims he is owed $2 million by FEG to pay fighters and trainers. It was Boon who pushed FEG into bankruptcy court in an attempt to force the company to pay off their creditors. This story is getting a lot of press, and to be perfectly honest, I'm not sure why. Some articles are reporting that "K-1" is bankrupt, which is simply not true. The K-1 brand was sold last year to a company called EMCOM which has since branded itself K-1 Global. There remains some confusion over the details of this sale and exactly who makes up K-1 Global, but It's Showtime head Simon Rutz has very publicly stated that former FEG executives, including former K-1 head Sadaharu Tanikawa, are no longer involved. Once the sale was made, FEG was essentially dead - this ruling simply makes it official. Unfortunately, the confusion surrounding this sale is causing a lot of misinformation about this bankruptcy ruling. Sherdog ran an article titled "K-1 Parent Company FEG Declares Bankruptcy in Tokyo Court" and speculated that this may cause the May 27 event to be cancelled. Dave Meltzer also reported on it and described FEG as the parent company to K-1, going on to say "K-1... is virtually dead." To be clear, FEG is not the parent company to K-1. They are the former parent company to K-1, which is a major distinction. There are no longer any ties between K-1 and FEG, and this bankruptcy should have no impact on the upcoming K-1 show or the company's future. Surely Boon will continue to push the courts for more information on the sale to EMCOM, but it should be noted that Boon has ties to Glory, K-1's top competitor, so while he has every right to be paid what he is owed, he also has a further interest in K-1 not being able to succeed moving forward. I've been very skeptical of K-1's announced plans in the past, but this is different. On May 27, I fully expect to be watching the arrival of the new K-1, and the legal issues surrounding their former partners should not change that. K-1 May 27 Show Live Stream Online On to more positive news. The May 27 show in Madrid will indeed be available for viewers throughout the world. The show will be streamed on K-1's new UStream channel and will cost US $19.99. As of a few weeks ago, K-1 was still hoping to secure a deal with their former home at HDNet, though that deal doesn't look like it will come through in time for next weekend's show. Cross your fingers that they will work something out for the future. K-1 2012 Schedule Finalized The schedule for 2012 has been set, and for fans in the US, you couldn't ask for much more. Check it out: Early September - Qualifying World GP 2012/World MAX 2012 in Los AngelesOctober - K-1 World GP 2012 Final 16 in MiamiNovember - K-1 World MAX 2012 Final in TaipeiDecember - K-1 World GP 2012 Final in New York So both a MAX and a Heavyweight Grand Prix, with the HW finals and the MAX Final 16 taking place in the US, plus an additional qualifying show in LA and the MAX finals in Asia. It will be a hard wait until September, but if this schedule pans out, the end of the year will be huge for kickboxing fans. Masato Named New Executive Producer In what may amount to mostly a PR angle or could be something more, retired K-1 MAX champion Masato has been named the new Executive Producer of K-1 Global. His first public statement in his new role is interesting, as he is very vocal about K-1 having fallen from its former heights, but stating his intention to bring it back to glory. It's unclear just how hands-on a role Masato will have, but he's definitely a good name to have involved, both for his position in the Japanese media, and his ties to K-1's past. May 27 Promo Video And finally, I leave you with this fan promo video for the May 27 show in Madrid. Watch it and get excited people.

Posted in: world, show, feg, max, company

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submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: show, mattyblayze, tommy, noshow, tommy toe

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The UFC is in Fairfax, Virginia, Tuesday night for a rare midweek show. Watch the main card at 8 pm ET and follow live results at 5:30 pm.

Posted in: ufc, show, pm, tuesday, virginia

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MMAjunkie.com editor-in-chief/USA TODAY senior MMA editor Dann Stupp is a guest on today's edition of "The MMA Show with Mauro Ranallo." Stupp joins Ranallo's "Media Mondays" segment to preview tomorrow's UFC on FUEL TV 3 event. Catch the show live at 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT) on radio.thescore.com/live, or download the archive on iTunes. "Media Mondays" begins at approximately 2:45 p.m. ET.

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

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submitted by MoLiHuaLong [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: diaz, show, dana, people, molihualong

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Join us at Bloody Elbow tonight at Midnight ET/9 p.m. PT for discussion of the seventh episode of The Ultimate Fighter Brazil. The show will be aired on Globo in Brazil, and UFC.com everywhere else (some countries are blacked out, but the United States and Canada are good to go). Last week's fourth featherweight bout saw Team Silva's Rony Jason defeat Team Belfort's Anistavio Gasparizhno by submission to finally pick up a win for his team. Team Belfort had won five straight fights going into that bout. Jason did a fair amount of damage to Gasparzinho's arm with the finish, but he was cool with it as the two are friends. Belfort and Silva got into a pretty heated argument afterwards and they are clearly not enamored with each other at this point in the show. Tonight's show will feature the third middleweight bout of the first round. Tune in tonight and let everyone know what you think.

Posted in: show, bout, team, belfort, brazil

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There are three things in life that are certain: 1) Death, 2) Taxes, and 3) If left to his own devices, Nick Diaz is probably not going to show up to whatever engagement he may have at any given time. Such was the case last night (Sat., May 12, 2012) at the Convention Center in Long Beach, Calif., when Diaz failed to shows up for his planned Brazilian jiu-jitsu superfight against Braulio Estima. And, naturally, Estima is pissed off about it: "I know he's supposed to be the big MMA bad guy and he's all tough, he's supposed to be showbiz, but what is this? When you make an announcement that you're going to fight for charity and you don't show up, what the hell is going on? It's not about showbiz. It's about being a good person. I don't know what is going on. ... I'm a professional athlete. I never thought he wouldn't show up. I came from the U.K., I made the weight, I made 185 pounds, I didn't expect him to not show up. I don't understand why he'd run away." There's more to the story, of course. Diaz was reportedly told the day before the event that Estima would not be able to make weight for the submission grappling match, though that ended up not being the case. His trainer, Cesar Gracie, told MMAFighting.com he had no idea where Diaz was and no one was able to locate him. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fans know all too well what it's like dealing with the Stockton slugger, who lost out on a welterweight championship opportunity against Georges St. Pierre after no-showing multiple press conferences. Not quite the same as Estima literally waiting for him on the mats in front of fans, but you get the point. Hear more from Estima after the jump, including his all but challenging Diaz to an MMA fight on his terms. Editor's note: Nick Diaz's YouTube account actually "liked" this video shortly after it went up. Take that for what you will.

Posted in: diaz, show, nick, estima, beach calif

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submitted by theomegachrist [link] [2 comments]

Posted in: show, nick, jiujitsu, theomegachrist, disgrace

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Nick Diaz once again ditched an event, this time no-showing a scheduled grappling match against Bralio Estima at the World Jiujitsu Expo. Estima who was disappointed at Diaz for being unprofessional, took to twitter shortly after the bout: @BraulioEstimaBraulio Estima Unfortunately the so expected super fight Estima vs Diaz didn't happened. I'm very sad as I did everything possible for it to happen. I weighed in at 180lbs this morning at 10 am as agreed and asked to see nicks weighing too but I was informed by Cesar his Coach that he was 180lbs in the previous night and that he ate and is over 180lbs even though I just let it go an still showed up to fight. What pisses me off the most is that he was telling he was going to give his purse to charity for the childrens hospital and than don't show up. What kind of person is that. Shame. Ps. I'm sorry for all the ones who stayed up to watch this fight but I'm sure the prelims fights was amazing. Thank u all for the support aways May 13 via Twittelator Favorite Retweet Reply A furious Estima also talked about this on MMA Fighting's video, where he calls Diaz "disrespectful to him, the sport, and the kids in his charity". More quotes after the jump. "I know he's supposed to be the big MMA bad guy and he's all tough, he's supposed to be showbiz, but what is this? When you make an announcement that you're going to fight for charity and you don't show up, what the hell is going on? It's not about showbiz. It's about being a good person. I don't know what is going on." "I'm a professional athlete. I never thought he wouldn't show up. I came from the U.K., I made the weight, I made 185 pounds, I didn't expect him to not show up. I don't understand why he'd run away." "I'll fight him in MMA. If maybe he feels more comfortable there, I'll do it. I gave up a lot of things to make this to happen. I came here to fight, you said you were going to be here, were going to give your purse to charity. It is very disrespectful." "It's a shame. I'm sorry on his behalf that the show didn't happen. All you guys, I was really looking forward to it. Unfortunately, it didn't happen. It's a shame, it's disrespectful for me, and for the sport, and for the kids in his charity."

Posted in: fight, diaz, show, estima, charity

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submitted by Sin2K [link] [4 comments]

Posted in: night, diaz, show, superfight, bjj

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The Ultimate Fighter Live had a little added intrigue to the show tonight after news broke earlier this week about Coach Dominick Cruz’s knee injury but the focus was on the quarterfinals for tonight’s show. Both quarterfinals did not disappoint as Mike Chisea upset show favorite Justin Lawrence in a thrilling fight, while James Vick kept Joe Proctor off the mat to secure a pass to the semifinals. After the last fight, UFC President Dana White announced the final quarterfinal pairings with Team Cruz’s Vinc Pichel vs. Team Faber’s Chris Saunders and Team Faber teammates  Al Iaquinta and Andy Ogle facing off. Also of note, White stated that Urijah Faber’s new opponent would be named this coming week and that Dominick Cruz would remain Coach at the request of his team. It had been speculated that Faber’s new opponent would continue the previous trend of taking over the coaching reigns of the injured coach but this episode confirmed that he would remain on the show as coach. For the complete bracket, click here. MMAFrenzy.com

Posted in: show, coach, quarterfinal, faber, quarterfinal pairings

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Fellow BE insomniacs and wrestle-heads, join us tonight at 01:00 AM ET / 10:00 PM PT / 06:00 AM GMT for the results and play by play discussion of the 2012 FILA World Cup of Freestyle Wrestling, live from Baku, Azerbaijan. USA Wrestling have a team ready to continue their winning ways with such standouts as World Champion Jordan Burroughs and Jake Varner. The last major international tournament in Freestyle Wrestling before the London 2012 Summer Olympics, many of the heavy hitters on the global scene are also taking part, and as Mike Riordan points out, this is the most important pre-Olympic test for Team USA, who has not won the World Cup in nearly a decade. Related: 2012 FILA World Cup of Freestyle Wrestling Preview | U.S. Freestyle Wrestling Olympic Trials Preview | Olympic Gold Medalist Henry Cejudo Retires From Wrestling The competition pools are as follows: Pool A: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan,and RussiaPoll B: USA, Georgia, Japan, Iran and Turkey The US will be wrestling Japan in the first round. The following initially listed wrestlers will not be participating: USA: 84kg: Jake Herbert, World silver medalist Belarus: 96kg: Ruslan Sheikov, World bronze x3 (NO SHOW) Bulgaria: 55kg: Radislov Velikov, World gold and silver, Olympic bronze (NO SHOW)60kg: Anatolie Guidea, World silver (NO SHOW)66kg: Serafim Barzakov, World gold x2, World silver x2 (NO SHOW) Georgia: 66kg: Otar Tushishvili, World bronze x3, Olympic bronze (NO SHOW)96kg: Giorgi Gogshelidze, World gold, silver and bronze (NO SHOW) Kazakhstan: 74kg: Abdulhakim Shapiev, World bronze (NO SHOW) Grappling Editor KJ Gould and Bloody Elbow Wrestling contributor Coach Mike Riordan will be handling the action throughout the night.

Posted in: world, show, kg, freestyle, bronze

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The UFC has announced its next international version of the The Ultimate Fighter will take place in Australia. The show will pit a team from Australia against a team from the United Kingdom. At the time of this post no coaches have been announced. The two nations which have long-standing sports rivalries and the nickname of the show, “The Smashes,” is play on the countries cricket rivalry. UFC Managing Director of International Development Marshall Zelaznik had this to say: “Australia and the UK have a fierce, long-standing rivalry, and where better to settle the score than in the UFC’s Octagon. The popularity of MMA has exploded in Australia and the UK, with gyms opening all over the respective countries. There is an athlete in one of those gyms who hasn’t had the chance to show the world what he can do – The Ultimate Fighter is going give to him that opportunity. We’re going to discover the UFC’s future stars, you can bet on it.” MMAFrenzy.com

Posted in: ufc, show, team, rivalry, australia

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Yesterday it was announced that former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight champion Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal had signed with Bellator. Shortly thereafter, Strikeforce came out with news of their own, announcing a July 14 show to take place in Portland, OR. There are a number of good match-ups on the card, with the main event set to feature Middleweight champion Luke Rockhold defending his belt against top contender Tim Kennedy. Luke Rockhold's win streak stands at 8 in a row after his stoppage of

Posted in: strikeforce, show, rockhold, title fights, portland

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

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

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The next major Strikeforce card will be headed to the Rose Garden in Portland, Ore. on July 14, and two more fights have been confirmed for the show. Retweet this Share on Facebook • Email • StumbleUpon • Reddit • Digg • Technorati • Instapaper • Tumblr • Google Reader • LinkedIn

Posted in: show, strikeforce card, bull, show retweet, portland ore

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The third UFC on Fox show was certainly entertaining, but one of the bigger stories wasn't the excitement and the fights, it was that 50% fewer people tuned in for this card than the previous network effort. It was a predictable drop-off for a variety of reasons, but UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta doesn't seem too worried. Via Kevin Iole at Yahoo! Sports: "Would we like to see the numbers be trending differently? Yes, of course," Fertitta said. "But we're not concerned and we don't think it's an overall reflection of our business. There are reasons for it. If you think about it, for the first [Fox] fight we had a massive amount of promotion within the NFL on Fox. And we led with our big show, the heavyweight championship, so of course, we were going to draw a much broader range of viewers. "The fight in January in Chicago actually performed pretty well, even though it was a little below the first one. It was still super solid. This last show, I'd say it was a moderate performance. Really, what we're looking at is, 'How did we rank within the competition compared to what was going on that night?' And in hindsight, going on Cinco de Mayo may not have been the best thing to do." This is basically what I said the other day when talking about the ratings drop. A bad show rating isn't the end of the world, Fox appears to have a bigger commitment than would lead to them to make a major decision off the performance of the third Fox effort. Obviously no one involved is going to be happy with the dip in ratings. A 50% dropoff is really, really bad. One of the biggest questions is, if the UFC will try to change up their plans for the fourth Fox show. Brian Stann vs. Hector Lombard certainly doesn't strike me as something that is going to pull in the masses. They may want to try to shift some stuff around to boost the card. While a single poor rating isn't a horrible thing, starting to create a string of low-rated shows could be.

Posted in: ufc, fight, show, fox, rating

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Bloody Elbow Radio, presented by Bad Boy, will be LIVE! at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT for another edition of the show. Join hosts Matt Bishop and MMA Mania's Brian Hemminger as they discuss all the latest news in mixed martial arts, including a preview of Bellator 68, which is headlined by the Season 6 Featherweight Tournament final between Daniel Straus and Marlon Sandro. We'll also discuss the booking of the Jon Jones/Dan Henderson fight and more. We've got another loaded lineup of guests. On today's show, we'll chat with: UFC flyweight Louis Gaudinot about his "Fight of the Night" win against John Lineker at UFC on FOX 3. We'll talk with him about what that win means and more. UFC bantamweight Jeff Hougland will be with us to talk about his return to the cage to face Yves Jabouin at UFC on FUEL TV 3 next week in Virginia. We'll discuss that fight, the long layoff, being on a UFC main card so soon and more. UFC light-heavyweight Ryan Jimmo will join us to talk about his UFC debut against Anthony Perosh at UFC 149 in July. Plus, the former MFC light-heavyweight champion will respond to Mark Pavelich's epic burial of him on Tuesday's show. UFC lightweight Danny Castillo will be on the show to discuss his UFC on FOX 3 win against John Cholish. We'll talk about that win, where he feels he is in the stacked lightweight division, what's next for him and more. We'll also welcome Legacy FC promoter Mick Maynard to preview Legacy FC 11, which airs live Friday on HDNet. We'll chat with him about that show, signing Gerald Harris long-term, the Jamie Varner situation and more. Bloody Elbow Radio is sponsored by Bad Boy. Get your Alexander Gustafsson UFC on FUEL TV walk out T-shirt only from Bad Boy at BadBoy.com. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook and tell them Bloody Elbow sent you. How to listen: Live/archived on the player below I iTunes I RSS feed I Direct download link (available after live broadcast) Want to get in touch with the BE Radio crew? Here's how you can do so: Phone: (347) 202-0934E-mail: bloodyelbowradio@gmail.comTwitter: @mbish86 or @BrianHemmingerBloodyElbow.com: Leave a question or comment in this post For those calling in, you will first be picked up by our producer who will take your information and get what you want to talk about. You will then be queued. We will try to get to everyone as soon as we can. We ask that you call in around the time of the topic you want to discuss. SBN coverage of Bellator 68 SBN coverage of UFC on FUEL TV 3 SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 3

Posted in: ufc, show, radio, elbow radio, elbow

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

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

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TV By The Numbers has up the overnight ratings for the UFC on Fox 3 card and they are down dramatically from the January show. The show did 2.25 million viewers and a 1.0 rating, while the aforementioned January show had overnight numbers of 3.98 million viewers for hour 1 and 4.77 million viewers for hour 2, pulling well over a 2.0 rating. Last night did a 4 share, compared to a 7 share in January. And neither show came close to the first Fox effort, which was the single heavyweight championship fight last November. This has to be seen as somewhat predictable as the starpower for this show was down significantly from that second Fox effort. While that show had Michael Bisping, Chael Sonnen and Rashad Evans, last night had Josh Koscheck, Jim Miller and Nate Diaz. This does fight against the idea that it's the brand that people will tune in to Fox to see. The fact of the matter is, there was also a major boxing pay-per-view with two fights that had huge casual interest. I doubted that this would be as good for the UFC as they suggested it would, thinking people would turn it into a big night of fights rather than just spending $70 on the pay-per-view and sticking there. These overnight ratings do tend to change, but not so significantly that it's going to catch up to the previous Fox efforts.

Posted in: fight, show, fox, rating, fox effort

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

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

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

NEW YORK -- With 2012 barely one-third over, the UFC is already looking well into the future, even into the next calendar year. While they can't predict what might happen in fights, it's part of the business to be prepared for any eventuality, and apparently, if one particular scenario plays out, the UFC would produce its second stadium show.Among the possible locales for the event? The massive Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, along with Toronto's Rogers Centre, the site of the biggest MMA event in North American history, April 2011's UFC 129. What could necessitate about such a setting? White wouldn't offer specifics, but in the past he has been candid in acknowledging that a major stadium show would need a major main event. We’ve been talking to [Dallas Cowboys' owner Jerry] Jones and his crew about doing a fight in Dallas' Texas Stadium, but we need a fight that’s big enough to do it," White said on Thursday after the UFC on FOX 3 press conference. "The last fight I was going to try to make there was Brock [Lesnar] and Fedor [Emelianenko].That fight, of course, never happened after Emelianenko signed with Strikeforce instead of the UFC.But what kind of superfight could draw upwards of 50,000 fans to a huge complex? Could it be Jon Jones and Anderson Silva? To those questions, White played coy."I don't know," he said. "We'll see what happens. We'll see what we end up putting together."But although he suggested no one was specifically lined up for a major stadium show, it seemed clear he does have something particular in mind. For now we'll have to wait and see if things play out the way he envisioned, otherwise, he said, the show would probably end up in Las Vegas.

Posted in: ufc, fight, show, stadium show, stadium

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Some love him, others loathe him, but there's no denying Pat Barry is looking out for the fans.

Posted in: show, goal, barry, love, others loathe

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The UFC is committed to doing big fights on the biggest stages including more stadium shows in the next year. Retweet this Share on Facebook • Email • StumbleUpon • Reddit • Digg • Technorati • Instapaper • Tumblr • Google Reader • LinkedIn

Posted in: show, google, stadium, bull, year retweet

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submitted by BlueWg [link] [5 comments]

Posted in: show, check, bluewg

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

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

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Last Friday’s installment of “The Ultimate Fighter Live” was the least-watched episode in the show’s 7-year existence.

Posted in: show, fighter, episode, viewer, leastwatched episode

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MMAWeekly Radio is back with a big show to kick off the week including UFC on Fox 3 headliner Jim Miller, Bobby Lashley and Louis Gaudinot all joining the show. Retweet this Share on Facebook • Email • StumbleUpon • Reddit • Digg • Technorati • Instapaper • Tumblr • Google Reader • LinkedIn

Posted in: show, miller, louis gaudinot, jim, show retweet

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The Ultimate Fighter's ratings may still be good enough to be number one in the key demographic for Friday nights, but it's hard to look at the show as a success. This season is the show's first on FX, a more reputable network than Spike, and the combination of the new "live" format had people expecting bigger things in the ratings. Instead, numbers have been unimpressive. The show drew it's lowest viewership ever for episode five and, aside from the fight being live, the format has never felt so stale. But Dana White doesn't seem too worried, telling The Orange County Register that the show is a home run, but not good enough for him yet: "I love the format, the format's awesome," White said. "As far as the shoe goes, it's a (expletive) home run for FX. It's on Friday nights. Friday nights they do movies and reruns. We're the No. 1 thing in males 18-34 every Friday night. If not we're No. 2 if they pull something off that beats us. They're happy as a pig in (expletive). For me, I want to pull 3 million viewers on FX. We're No. 1 on Friday nights every week, which they've never had. The (UFC 145) prelims on Saturday on FX were No. 1. It's a home run for them, but it's not necessarily a home run for me." Dana has also been on the record complaining about people who have a problem with the show. The problem is, people like me who have a problem with the show are in the key demographic. I want to watch fights every night of the week if possible. I want The Ultimate Fighter to be good and a part of my weekly routine. There is no reason to tune in to any part of the show other than the fight right now. Maybe I'm not a TV "expert" but I don't see anything in the future that changes under this format. I don't think the audience is that big for lame pranks and guys sitting around a house repeatedly talking about being bored. I also think that commentary is a must at this point. I know they want viewers to be able to hear the coaches, but the casual viewership that they're coveting still would benefit from having someone explain and enhance the drama of the moment. And it's incredibly clunky to go from a fight with no commentary to live in-ring interviews after the fights. The transition is weird, the lack of a crowd makes the interview feel really bizarre and it's so out of place on the show. Maybe they'll prove me wrong and find some small thing to fix and turn the show around, and I'm sure they're fine with the ratings being "good enough" but I just don't see the space for growth.

Posted in: fight, night, show, home, format

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The main event of Ring of Combat 40 was originally scheduled to feature Tom DeBlass, but the light heavyweight heeded the call from the UFC for its show in Sweden on April 14.

Posted in: ufc, show, prospect, ed, light heavyweight

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Invicta FC kicks off at 8 p.m. ET tonight, marking an important moment in women's MMA as a promotion with clear vision and dedication puts on eleven high quality WMMA bouts. The show will feature some of the best talent in the sport including former Strikeforce champion Marloes Coenen, Liz Carmouche, Jessica Penne, Sarah D'Alelio and former Olympian, Randi Miller. The show will stream live on Invicta's website, allowing everyone to check out this important moment in the sport's history. Here's the full card: Featherweight (145 Pounds): Marloes Coenen vs Romy Ruyssen Atomweight (105): Jessica Penne vs Lisa Ellis Bantamweight (135): Liz Carmouche vs Ashleigh Curry Bantamweight (135): Kaitlin Young vs Leslie Smith Bantamweight (135): Sarah D'Alelio vs Vanessa Mariscal Strawweight (115): Sally Krumdiack vs Sarah Schneider Atomweight (105): Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc vs Amy Davis Flyweight (125): Sarah Maloy vs Michele Gutierrez Featherweight (145): Randi Miller vs Mollie Estes Strawweight (115): Ashley Cummins vs Sofia Bagherdai Atomweight (105): Cassie Rodish vs Meghan Wright Previews after the jump... The media has been all over Invicta, looking at it as a step forward that the sport needs. We ran an interview with Shannon Knapp, Invicta's promoter, back in March (when we also broke the news that the show would be streamed live) and she explained the promotion and why Invicta got started: I've worked in this business forever and this is definitely something new, but it's also something I feel extremely passionate about. I've worked for the past 12 years with the boys, and I've always been a huge advocate for the sport and the athletes, and to be very honest, to the detriment of my own job. I've been threatened so many times, or reminded of who I worked for.When I parted ways with Strikeforce, I looked at what I wanted to do, and decided that I wanted to make a difference. I'm definitely not that cookie cutter kind of person. I like to fight the fight. I started getting calls from girls that were scared, because nobody knew what was going to happen to Strikeforce. Were they going to stay around? Were they going to disappear? These girls were looking for some help. 12 years ago, for the men, it was not as much of a mess as it is today for the females. There is so much disorganization and lack of opportunity, so I looked at that, aligned myself with a good business partner and decided to roll up my sleeves and get in there to make a difference. We're really excited, but we know it's not going to be a walk in the park. It's not going to be easy. You've got to build that awareness, that platform. You've got to make people want to watch. We're definitely in this for the long haul, though. Sports Illustrated talked a bit about the show and Olympic medalist Randi Miller's spot on the card: Like Rousey, Randi Miller won a bronze medalist in the 2008 Games. But while Rousey made the podium in judo, for Miller it was in wrestling. "I think people are really excited to see her," says Knapp. Part of the reason for that is, in the wake of Rousey's emergence, we're learning what an elite athlete can do even with little MMA experience. Another reason: The buildup of anticipation for Miller's debut has been building for quite a while. As early as 2010, she was slated to take on Hiroko Yamanaka, a veteran fighter who, despite being swarmed in 16 seconds last December by Cyborg (although the result was changed to a no contest after the Brazilian tested positive for steroids), would have been a tough test for a newcomer. Miller pulled out of the fight, saying she wasn't ready. Then the bout was rescheduled, and Randi ended up pulling out again. "It was a humbling experience," Miller remembers. "As the fight grew closer, my preparation wasn't progressing well enough. It was a feeling I couldn't even remember, like when I first set foot in a wrestling room and was getting beat up." Loretta Hunt also has a great article at Sports Illustrated about the history of all-female MMA promotions and talking about Jeff Osborne's all-women show back in 2001. We'll have much more on Invicta including a live discussion and results post.

Posted in: show, vs, sport, miller, invicta

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The UFC will return to the birthplace of the promotion in August for an anniversary show. UFC 150 will take place Aug. 11 at the Pepsi Center in Denver.

Posted in: ufc, show, pepsi center, denver site, anniversary show

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Monday Night RAW this week was like trying to stay awake after taking an Ambien: a couple moments of near-delirium followed by hours of wanting badly to fall asleep. Except for a big surprise cameo and one solid-enough match between Kofi Kingston and Chris Jericho, Monday night was mostly a good example of why I dread three-hour shows. We didn’t get more or longer matches. The extra hour didn’t help spotlight any rising talent who’d been lacking screentime, except maybe Nikki Bella, who along with her sister Brie is on her way out by most reports. There wasn’t even a unifying gimmick like a WWE draft or that poorly rigged roulette they use in Las Vegas. Unless you’re a fan of video packages there wasn’t that much for you. If you are a fan of video packages then for God’s sake keep reading. What Did the Divas Getting RAW Duo Think of the Show? You Think You Know Me? Edge was my first favorite wrestler, back when he posed and played kazoos with Christian. Hell, before that, he was my go-to character on the Wrestlemania N64 game back when he was a silent ambiguous vampire who hung out with fellow Brooder Gangrel. (The reasons for this: 1. That game gave you about a ten-second window to pull off finishers,and he could do four Downward Spirals in one Tombstone Piledriver’s worth of time, and 2. Hhis music was the best.) So keep in mind that I am biased and prone to hyperbole when I say that his unannounced appearance was better than Ghandi and the Miracle On Ice combined. Within a couple of minutes, Edge took over the show so completely that I forgot I was annoyed about the bait-and-switch by John Laurinaitis and Brock Lesnar that would have gotten the contract signing out of the way at the start of the show for once. His promo revisited the highlights of the various John Cena-Edge feuds over the 2000s including that one memorable time when Edge got tossed into the nasty-ass Long Island Sound and provided a sense of urgency that the buildup to Cena and Lesnar’s Extreme Rules match-up lacked. Without having to say so in as many words, Edge reminded Cena and the audience that Lesnar has had a privileged career in WWE, that Lesnar’s early push to the top, his ability to reshuffle his career at will, and his lucrative return contract are unique to him. Oh My God, They Killed Paul Bearer One of the stories inexplicably spread out across multiple segments of the never-ending Raw featured Randy Orton and Kane spending another night trying to out-angry each other. Kane cut the same 1600s Puritan fire-and-brimstone promo he’s used for the last ten years and got interrupted by Orton on video wheeling out with Kane’s father, frequent kidnappee Paul Bearer, who is still around despite being having been encased in concrete and thrown off a ladder. To earn his paycheck Monday night, Bearer got rolled into what was supposed to be a giant icebox but whose billowing fake fog and mood lighting was more reminiscent of a South Beach VIP room. In a blow to his campaign for 2012’s Son of the Year, Kane showed up to Club FREEZR apparently to rescue Dad, but instead shoves him back inside to be charged $12 for a Corona. Tensai Continues Eating Dudes Lord Tensai took a break from playing Wilson in the touring Cast Away musical to defeat R-Truth in a brief, misty match following his win over Cena last week. In my head, Prince Albert chose his own name when he was promoted to lordship and got a new title, like the pope. And Then There Was a Video Package… …so very many video packages. The Colossus and Rhodes Big Show and The Great Khali are an awful tag team because Big Show should never be in a position where he’s the athletic one. Nevertheless their match was reasonably entertaining, thanks largely to the efforts of their opponents, Alberto Del Rio and especially Abercrombie & Fitch Ninja Cody Rhodes. Rhodes seems to expand his offensive repertoire every time he gets in the ring. This time it was a neat figure four leglock on Big Show. Khali wasn’t required to do anything strenuous like fall down, and Del Rio, who left Cody alone mid-match to take the loss, made his appearance while recovering from injury. We got ten minutes of wrestling out of it instead of a video recap of twenty minutes ago. Good deal. Michael Cole needs to stop talking over Ricardo Rodriguez. It is rude. In other tag team news, champions Primo and Epico got beat yet again, this week by the wacky team of Santino Marella and Zack Ryder. Yeah, I don’t care either. Eve Torres Gets New Job, Beth Phoenix Gets Hurt, Nicki Bella Gets Giant New Butterfly Accessory Eve Torres is the new Personal Something Or Other to GM Laurenaitis which will give her lots of opportunities to boss people around and read from cue cards backstage. Torres interrupted the Divas’ Championship match between contender Nikki Bella and champion Beth Phoenix and changed it to a quote-unquote Lumberjill match to get the women on the roster on TV without making them relevant to anything going on. Nikki wins the Big Purple Belt after rolling up Phoenix, who was selling an ankle injury so convincingly it could’ve come straight out of the opening scene of Saving Private Ryan. She’s fine, if you were wondering. The consensus seems to be that the Bellas will be leaving WWE soon, and that Nikki’s title win is a short-term transition until Kharma returns to obliterate her and everybody else. By the way, any children in the audience definitely got a lesson in female anatomy based on Nikki’s choice of ring attire. Yikes (in a good way)! Anyone else think that Torres’ entrance music sounds like something you’d say about a used car? “Here’s a 2002 Kia Sorrento we just got with power everything and only 20,000 miles, what do you think?” / “She looks good to me, Jim.” Let’s Get All the Punk-Jericho Crap Out of the Way In One Section Jericho and Kingston had the best match of the night, predictable as it was that Jericho would take the win before his match with Punk on Sunday. Kingston seems to have settled into a routine where he shows up consistently to let the crowd enjoy him jumping around before losing to someone who actually has a match on the pay-per-view, at least not when he’s getting thrown together with a random tag partner. Afterward CM Punk and Jericho engaged in a series of interactions that got less and less interesting as the night went on. Jericho sends over a gift basket of booze that seemed way too expensive for a passive-aggressive insult. Punk says he isn’t going to drink it, but possibly does according to a snitching Alex Riley and an odd camera angle. A seemingly drunk Punk has his championship stripped from him for failing a baffling “field sobriety test” administered by Teddy Long in the ring that consists of walking straight on a red line and saying the alphabet backwards while Jericho yells at him, none of which seems permissible in any court of law. Punk reveals he was faking, smacks Jericho in the head with the mic, gets his belt back, and it’s all really silly. Punk, whose wink-nudge sarcastic quips remind you in case you had forgotten that what you’re watching is ridiculous, needs to be kept away from this kind of asinine crap as long as it’s established that his character is too cool for it. Jerry Lawler’s response to possibly seeing Punk drinking was “I don’t know what to think about what we just saw,” which should be the title of his autobiography (and his collection of T-Shirts). Daniel Bryan As Referee? Yes. The Sheamus-Mark Henry match featured positive thinking specialist Daniel Bryan as guest referee. It was an instance where a short match made sense, since why wouldn’t Bryan count a pin for Henry as fast as humanly possible against his most hated rival? Taking advantage of a distraction by Henry, Bryan put Sheamus in the Yes! Lock accompanied by his usual chorus of chants and scattered boos. A fun five minutes. By comparison, the Orton-Kane-Bearer skits took up an estimated 587 hours. Even the Funkadactyls Couldn’t Save This Poor Justin Roberts. After having to help restrain charging Londoners last week, he had to proclaim the following with the same enthusiasm he uses for Wrestlemania main events: The following match is proudly presented by Taco Bell’s Doritos Locos Tacos! Appropriately, the short Brodus Clay/Hornswoggle vs. Jack Swagger/Dolph Ziggler match that followed gave me gas. After his team’s DQ victory, Hornswoggle bit Vickie Guerrero on the ass, because why the hell not? This Title Sponsored By Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches Aside from Edge’s pep talk, the highlight of RAW’s Lesnar-Cena developments was Lesnar awkwardly tossing backstage interviewer Josh Mathews-with-one-T into a black curtain for asking really stupid questions. After that we waited and waited for the contract signing that finally happened with about ten minutes left in the third hour. The contract signing was perfectly fine once they got around to it. I’m enjoying Lesnar as an entitled, arrogant jock in the mold of Terrell Owens or Floyd Mayweather, Jr., because it doesn’t seem like that much of a stretch. Of course he wants a private jet. Of course he wants his name in the title of the show. But it may be time to retire the in-ring contract signing segments for a while. The anticlimactic by design ending this week, in which a silent Cena stared down Lesnar as Lesnar slipped out of the ring wearing a Rhodes-like self-satisfied grin, was fresh and suited the characters, but it annoyed the crowd and ended the go-home show before the PPV on somewhat of a sour note. The alternative would be the usual, predictable back-and-forth insults leading up to a brawl. I don’t see how this is the best use of TV time, especially considering the main event match this week involved Hornswoggle. I hope reading this recap didn’t feel as endless as watching RAw did. We’ll be back soon with coverage of Smackdown and Sunday’s Extreme Rules. See you soon! PHOTO CREDIT – WWE Tweet

Posted in: show, ’t, punk, lesnar, jericho

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

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

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MMAWeekly Radio returns with a big show to close out the week including Sirius/XM radio host Jason Ellis, Invicta FC's Marloes Coenen and MFC fighter Adam Lynn joining the show. Retweet this Share on Facebook • Email • StumbleUpon • Reddit • Digg • Technorati • Instapaper • Tumblr • Google Reader • LinkedIn

Posted in: show, radio, jason, coenen, show retweet

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Bellator's philosophy after the defection of middleweight champion Hector Lombard to the UFC? The show must go on. And the show will go on in the middleweight division as they will crown a new champion later this year. Retweet this Share on Facebook • Email • StumbleUpon • Reddit • Digg • Technorati • Instapaper • Tumblr • Google Reader • LinkedIn

Posted in: show, champion, middleweight division, bull, year retweet

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submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [11 comments]

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While there was Brazilian media reporting just under a week ago that the UFC could possibly be forced to relocate UFC 147, it now appears that we can put that whole situation to rest as the UFC will be holding a press conference in Brazil this morning to confirm the location. The event, which is set to feature the highly anticipated rematch between Chael Sonnen and Anderson Silva, was originally planned for Sao Paulo, Brazil but issues with noise regulations and the late hour required to broadcast the show live in the United States forced the card out of the city. A second snag had arisen when Brazil reportedly became a bit uncertain about the UFC being in town at the same time as the United Nations conference, but this tweet from Dana White seems to put that all to rest: @danawhiteDana White Just landed in Rio with Chael Sonnen to announce the fight with Anderson Silva and some other fights for Brazil! Apr 24 via Twitter for iPhone Favorite Retweet Reply It will be good once they finally put this scheduling nightmare behind them and can focus on the fight. With the issues affecting the UFC 146 card after Alistair Overeem's failed drug test making marketing that show difficult, one would think the UFC was ready for the easy sell that was the Silva vs. Sonnen rematch. But without a confirmed location and the bout not being officially signed, the early promotion for the June 23 show was held up. Luckily, there is still plenty of time before the show and more than enough time to promote, sell tickets and everything else that goes into making an event click. This is also an important show because 146 is not a guaranteed big seller with Overeem out and UFC 148 doesn't have a big headlining fight yet, although Dan Henderson made it clear that he wants to be a part of that show with his title challenge against Jon Jones.

Posted in: ufc, show, press conference, brazil, chael sonnen

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First things first, let’s talk about that Green Day song. Green Day was a lot of fun when you were 13 and hormonally pissed off for vague reasons and enjoyed funny and bouncy songs about masturbating and haven’t discovered the Dead Kennedys yet. Then a decade and then nearly two passes after their breakthrough, and the bsnf’d jukebox musical on Broadway is situated some few hundred feet from the stage adaptation of Mary Poppins. They are still kind of nice to listen to sometimes, such as when Time Of Your Life plays at the CVS while you are in line to buy a diet green tea. If you are 13 and watching Smackdown now, chances are there are musicians who your parents didn’t listen to who you probably enjoy more, say, one of those bands from Nickelodeon and Disney Channel comedies that make piles of money on tour in real life. Justin Bieber, maybe those dancing kids from the UK that are giving tween girls worldwide new and exciting feelings. I don’t know, Adele? Anyway, my point being, I do not know who my enemy is, and I am not going to figure that out just because Green Day keeps asking me. Between Smackdown’s theme and CM Punk‘s use of Cult of Personality should fans really be surprised when Daniel Bryan walks out one day with the sweet sounds of Creed? Speaking of Bryan, who could probably make Scott Stapp look like Bret Hart in the ring, let’s get on to the show… Daniel 3:16 says “Yes” Bryan starts the show off accompanied to the ring by his now standard combination of affirmative chanting and boos that were not necessarily inserted in the editing room, then cuts a promo in which he attempts to turn “Yes” into an arrogant refrain instead of a rallying cry. It seems works a little bit with the London crowd, but not much. Audiences will naturally pounce onto a catchy catchphrase delivered with some amount of charisma, just ask The Rock or Zack Ryder or even the Road Dogg (who made his career on an entire catch-monologue). Despite being less thematically appropriate for WWE’s Extreme Rules than Kane and Randy Orton banging each others’ heads on poles for ten minutes, the two of three falls match stipulation is an especially good one for Bryan as it allows him to build up to it by highlighting his ability to–in his words–”wrestle,” a term that I’m thankful no longer seems verboten on TV. Bryan taunting his skills, and the fact that Sheamus will be on thin ice during their match for having Brogue Kick’d an innocent referee, gives Bryan at least a little cred in saying he’s got the edge going in. I doubt Bryan will win, but I’m cautiously optimistic that he and Sheamus will have a match that involves two above-average professional wrestlers engaging in professional wrestling…and that’s at least NINETEEN seconds long! The Wrath of AJ And then Bryan demonstrated that emotionally abusing your ex-girlfriend in public still helps at getting you booed, at least a little. Progress! It’s a little sad, but WWE has just a couple of stock roles that most of its women performers get shoehorned into. For the most part your best shot at becoming a top Diva are developing your skills at smiling and pointing (Kelly Kelly, Eve Torres, 2007-late 2011), or getting good at teenage mean girl deceit and manipulation (Torres, late 2011-present, LayCool). AJ got the chance to tap into another one of those tropes by getting berated by Bryan and taking it out by beating on Natalya, who makes a poor heel as she is always so chipper, sweet, pretty, and says things like “Cool your jets, mister” to Michael Cole on commentary. So, apparently, AJ is crazy now. I hope she makes it work: wrestlers as successful and generally awesome as Victoria and Mickie James cut their teeth on the hysterical woman stereotype and made characters that were their own. Barring nuanced, well-developed, motivated female characters on WWE TV, this will have to be okay. You’re Welcome Judging by Damien Sandow’s introductory promos he can pile on the know-it-all bullshit at least as well as most cable TV talking heads and way better than Donald Trump stumbling his way through his lines on RAW. Looking forward to his debut. Funkasaurus Update Eesh. I really hope Brodus Clay and Hornswoggle are just a one-time thing. And I hope they find something better than the lame gangbanger getup for Hunico. Long Night Former Smackdown GM and current Guy Hanging Around Teddy Long has a crappy time on the show, first being talked down to by the likes of Darren Young and Titus O’Neil, then being put on silent London cliche funny hat guard by John Laurinaitis, then having his sort-of girlfriend Aksana wave around her strapping friend Antonio Caesaro under his nose before retreating to Laurinaitis’s office for what let’s hope was not a three-way. One would think Long has an easy hostile work environment lawsuit, but Laurinaitis recruited the only lawyer on the roster. He’s got it tough. Randy Orton’s Dad Is Fine, You Guys And at Extreme Rules Kane will feel the dark and twisted pain of his soul, voices, tortured, etc. WWE is lousy with teenage emo poets in big tattooed bodies. Tag Team Division Just Has Flesh Wound, Not Dead Yet Young and O’Neil debuted on Smackdown as a perfectly serviceable thrown-together tag team to beat the Usos, who at least got to do their cool Siva Tau chant and have a real match on TV. Young and O’Neil aren’t exactly fresh new faces, though; Young was in Nexus for a while, and for the last 4,300 weeks they’ve performed on the current “season” of NXT, WWE’s silly, surreal, sometimes brilliant online showcase for lower card wrestlers and William Regal that no longer bothers with the pretense of being a phony contest for rookies. Damas y Caballeros: A Brief Appreciation of Ricardo Rodriguez Ricardo Rodriguez has the best job in pro wrestling. His voice is instantly recognizable. He gets huge reactions with a sneer and a rehearsed monologue. He doesn’t have to put himself through physical hell on a regular basis, though he’s capable of it: YouTube is full of his crazy 450 splashes and corkscrew moonsaults. He can take a finisher like a champ, which has come in handy very, very often. Alberto Del Rio even seems to actually like him, which is more than you can say for most wrestlers who have subordinates. If you are not a Spanish speaker, Rodriguez’s extremely funny, over-the-top ring intros are as good a place as any to start learning. Del Rio’s match against Big Show was fine, nothing we didn’t see a bunch of times in 2011. Cody Rhodes, whose Disaster Kick I like to use for any video game create-a-wrestler who I want to have cool ninja moves, interfered to give Del Rio the win with what was the first of Rhodes’s multiple moments of greatness throughout the evening. Ryback Continues Rybacking I don’t know what a Ryback is. Did his parents name him that? Old football nickname? Is there a reason he’s not Skip Sheffield anymore? I like to imagine that Heath Slater and Drew McIntyre just hang around all the time as they did during this match, shooting the sh*t about squash matches and how much Flo Rida sucks. The Main Event or, Oh, So That’s Why The Great Khali Was There I had a couple of paragraphs on being confused as to why The Great Khali had found himself in Friday’s main event, teaming with Sheamus and Orton against Bryan, Mark Henry, and Rhodes, though much of it was just “What the hell?!?” over and over. But then Khali collapsed like the top-heavy bookshelf he is after a typically perfect Rhodes sneak chop block and I approved. Like his teammate for the night, Bryan, Rhodes has a great “Yeah, I just did that” sh*t-eating grin that he pulls out whenever someone gets screwed over. I have no idea why Big Show got to just show up and tag himself in, but it helped push the PPV’s matches and set up a feel-good ending that saw all the babyfaces show their finishers off against human concrete slab Henry. Though between those six guys a lot of time was spent on what we’ve seen before–Bryan and Show, for instance, need a little time away from each other–some of the combinations were fresh: Rhodes/Sheamus, Bryan/Orton, or if they’re serious about the tag team division’s kick in the behind, Bryan and Rhodes joining forces to create Team Ultimate Smugness would make for some excellent TV. That’s it for my recap of Friday’s Smackdown. I’ll be back with coverage of Monday Night RAW this week (which I’ll be previewing later today before the epic three-hour episode starts up live on USA). PHOTO CREDIT – WWE Tweet

Posted in: show, ’t, bryan, wwe, rhode

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Posted in: ufc, show, preview

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

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

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submitted by swampskater [link] [comment]

Posted in: show, study, damage, swampskater link, hint

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While all the hype is on Jones-Evans, there are lots of fights at UFC 145 that could steal the show.

Posted in: ufc, hominick, show, lot, jonesevan

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Part two of the three-part "UFC 145 Primetime" series debuts this past Friday, and the full episode can now be watched online in its entirety. The April 13 show aired on FX following a new episode of "The Ultimate Fighter: Live." The half-hour show again previews this weekend's UFC 145 headliner between UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones and challenger Rashad Evans.

Posted in: ufc, show, part, primetime, halfhour show

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submitted by tekprodfx16 [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: show, tekprodfx, morning, gentlemen, mmacentric

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The sixth episode of The Ultimate Fighter: Live pulled in one million viewers (props to MMAWeekly). The number, while certainly nothing to boast over, is an improvement from last week’s figures. Episode five of The Ultimate Fighter: Live drew an audience of 947,000, which marked the first time in fifteen seasons that the show’s viewership dropped below the one million mark. As part of the UFC’s deal with Fox, The Ultimate Fighter was pulled from its longtime home at SpikeTV and deposited on FX. SpikeTV continues to counter-program the show with past TUF installments, as they still have access to the catalog. This, coupled with the show’s new Friday night time slot may account for this season’s low ratings average. The Ultimate Fighter:Live improves upon past seasons in that it is edited to air weekly, with each episode accompanied by a live fight. This season’s coaches are UFC bantamweight champ Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber. Episode six of TUF: Live saw Team Faber’s “quiet dog” Joe Proctor defeat resident Team Cruz loudmouth Chris Tickle by submission.

Posted in: show, fighter, season, episode, viewers props

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Welcome to another edition of the pro wrestling post where he cover some business headlines from the world of pro wrestling.   WWE and “Deadliest Catch” team up for show premiere The Discovery Channel’s “The Deadliest Catch” and the WWE have teamed up where WWE stars are promoting the show’s premiere.  The debut promo occurred during the Wrestlemania PPV two weeks ago. According to a Discovery Channel press release, “We could have just bought an ad, but to have an opportunity to bring these two brands together and really engage the fans with our content was really important to us,” said Discovery’s Chief Marketing Officer David Shackley. Running through mid-April for the 100th episode of the popular Discovery show, WWE will post exclusive videos with WWE Superstars and Divas promoting Deadliest Catch, homepage takeovers, Facebook alerts from WWE talent and live events presence. Payout Take: An interesting partner for the reality show although it’s likely that the demos crossover a bit.   Tito Ortiz to the WWE? Cageside Seats via an interview with MMA Heat’s Karyn Bryant states that the Huntington Beach Bad Boy may be thinking of a run in the WWE after his MMA finale with Forrest Griffin this summer.   As most know, Ortiz changed his nickname to “The People’s Champ.”  Not sure if paperwork was actually filed to do this although I’m sure he consulted with Sean Combs aka Puff Daddy aka Diddy (j/k). Payout Take:  Ortiz actually participated as a ref with the TNA organization in 2005 so a run in pro wrestling is not out of the question.  He definitely would have the persona and attitude for sports entertainment. WWE Raw ratings drop slightly despite Lesnar’s second appearance PW Torch reports that the April 9th edition of Raw ratings dropped by 10 percent as it received a 3.1 rating down from the preceding week’s 3.4.  It averaged 4.29 million viewers for Lesnar’s second appearance back with the WWE as opposed to 5 million for the April 2nd edition of Raw. Payout Take:  Television by Numbers reports that Raw was second to “Pawn Stars” for highest rated cable show for April 9th. The WWE announcers promoted (and Lesnar used in his promo) his UFC background.  He also delivered a real blow to John Cena which busted Cena’s face (not sure if it was scripted or not).  Wonder if the transition from real to fake may actually be hard to do? Wrestlemania 28 buy rate The Wrestling Observer reports that the initial buy rate for the WWE’s biggest show of the year scored 1.1 million buys which is off from the ambitious prediction of 1.9 million. Last year, WM 27 scored 1,059,000 buys with the Rock playing a minor role at the show.   Payout Take: This could be seen as disappointing considering the year long build-up for The Rock vs. Cena matchup.  It will be interesting to see what the WWE does with the build-up for Lesnar in the main event in New Jersey next year.  Already, the WWE will have Lesnar in the arena more than The Rock which should help.   Hall arrested again For those that watched the E:60 piece on Scott Hall late last year, you would think that he was trying to turn around his life of addiction.  Looks like it has not.  Hall was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence.  TMZ reports that he had been “drinking for days.” Payout Take:  No real take hear except the fact that it’s a sad look at the many issues with pro wrestlers.  Most of us grew up watching Razor Ramon and to see him deteriorate right before our eyes is depressing.

Posted in: show, year, wwe, lesnar, payout

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) was back on cable television last night (Fri., April 13, 2012) with episode six of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15 "Live" on FX. And the most interesting character on the show has fallen. Indeed, the oft troubled Chris Tickle climbed inside the cage for his first fight since making it into the house and the result was a first round submission defeat at the hands of Joe Proctor. The louder they are, the more pleasurable it is to see them get choked out. Tickle's antics, namely the fact that he's simply a natural heel and an easy to hate character, provided one of the few bright spots for a show sorely lacking excitement over the first half of this latest season. And now he's gone. That's the bad news. The good news is he may have been replaced by an even more interesting character with even more fighting skill -- Justin Lawrence. The Team Black House trained striker made waves when sparring with Mike Rio and directly disobeying the rules of the gym, rules put forward by Dominick Cruz himself. When Rio didn't take well to this, Lawrence displayed a rebellious, unapologetic side we hadn't been exposed to prior. In short, he gave hope that he would not only kick ass inside the cage like he did in the very first fight in the house, but he would also provide a few cheap thrills in the training room. Hey, with a show like this, you take what you can get. This rings especially true when considering the two coaches have yet to do much of anything to bring across the point that they don't actually like each other. Sure, they've made a few cracks at one another but the best Cruz could come up with for Urijah Faber was the following put down: "The only thing you could ever beat me in is a short off, Faber." Yes, those words were actually uttered on a television broadcast featuring a grown man talking to another grown man. This is the state of this stale show. Nonetheless, it will go on and next week will showcase yet another fight between two guys we hardly know but will have 45-minutes to learn about next Friday night. Joy. For complete results and the running live blog of last night's TUF 15, episode six click here.

Posted in: night, show, result, house, character

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Swedish light-heavyweight Alexander Gustafsson is facing Brazilian Thiago Silva on Saturday in a televised UFC show in his hometown, airing on Sportsnet ONE at 3 p.m. ET.

Posted in: show, gustafsson, ufc show, hometown, swedish

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

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submitted by 10thMoon [link] [1 comment]

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Join us this evening at Bloody Elbow for live discussion of UFC Tonight, which airs on Fuel at 10 p.m. EST/7 p.m. PST. The show has been quite interesting so far and the UFC has used the show to break news as well, so it's worthy of a watch if you get Fuel. The episode will be hosted by Todd Harris and Kenny Florian. Here's the official description of the show from the website: UFC Tonight is the official weekly news and information show of the UFC. With in-depth event coverage and analysis, jaw-dropping highlights, exclusive fighter interviews before-and-after bouts, and segments unavailable anywhere else, UFC Tonight is your number one source for the latest happenings in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Tonight's main guests will be the main eventers of this Saturday's UFC on Fuel 2 event in Stockholm, Alexander Gustafsson and Thiago Silva, who will discuss their bout at length. In addition to that, Florian and MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani will sound off on Alistair Overeem's UFC 146 issues, and they will discuss a bunch of the other fighters on this Saturday's UFC on Fuel 2 card. There will also be a fight announcement for UFC 149. So tune in and check it out.

Posted in: ufc, show, thiago silva, fuel, saturdays ufc

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If you haven't watched this season of The Ultimate Fighter on FX, you're missing out. It's expertly produced, the live format is significantly more engaging, much of the unpleasant, fabricated variety of ‘drama' has been mercifully stripped out and the talent is at least on par with previous seasons. But if ratings are any indication, the adjustments to the show and the changing of platform have not yielded the results Zuffa anticipated. The most recent episode of TUF: Live pulled in 947,000 viewers, thereby making it the lowest-rated episode in the history of the show. The season itself is on track to be the lowest-rated to date. How can that be? FX is in as many homes as Spike TV, the show was heavily advertised across a variety of sports media platforms and the addition of the live fight should have made the show more DVR-proof than ever. Except that it didn't. And it didn't for reasons that are potentially disconcerting. What's impeding the show could be less about cosmetic adjustments that UFC or FX need to make. It's perhaps existential and intractable realities of television and today's MMA that no amount of adjusting can necessarily fix. Why are things where they are? Let's take a look at what may be causing the declining numbers in the most important show in the history of the sport: 1. MMA Is Deeper and the Climb Steeper Consider this: Forrest Griffin's fourth fight in the UFC was the feature bout for UFC 59 against Tito Ortiz. In fact, the promotional poster for the event had the Griffin vs. Ortiz imagery ahead of Sean Sherk vs. Nick Diaz, the actual co-main of the fight card. Griffin would eventually lose by split decision, but many feel he was the rightful winner. That means Griffin was a legitimate challenge to Ortiz and merited a key fight card promotional position. The point is this: TUF winners or standouts cannot advance through the UFC system as quickly as they once could. There are a few reasons for that. The talent level among more recent cast members isn't as high as it once was. Smaller promotions like Bellator take many high-level prospects away. In fact, so does the UFC. They often take developing talents, e.g. Michael McDonald, and place them directly into the UFC fighting pipeline. UFC also has more shows with different tiers and implications for victory. There's UFC on FUEL TV, UFC on FX, UFC on FOX (which is becoming more than a FX show, but slightly less than a pay-per-view) and pay-per-view shows. High-level talent can be placed on any of these cards, but there is a general sense of hierarchy when it comes to importance, prestige and skill levels of rosters. Let's also contrast the experience of Jonathan Brookins (season 12 winner) with that of Griffin. Three fights into his UFC career and where is he? He just defeated Vagner Rocha on the undercard of FUEL TV. He's about to face Charles Oliveira on the undercard of UFC on FOX 3 for his fourth bout. Simply stated, it's a lot harder and a much slower process for TUF grads to advance through the UFC to the point where they're in relevant fights against known commodities on grand stages. If it takes that long for prospects to turn into stars - and that alteration is by no means a given - is there really a strong incentive to watch the early stages of ascension? 2. Friday Nights Makes Anything DVR-Friendly Part of the impetus to turn TUF fights into live fights was to make them DVR-proof. If the television industry has learned anything, it's that sports are far less likely to be recorded for later consumption. Either you watch sports live or you don't watch them at all. There's an open debate about whether adding the live element to TUF contests - namely, bouts between unknown and still developing fighters - enhances the interest, but we haven't really tested the theory. Friday nights appear to be directly undercutting the effort. Much of the demographic that would or does watch TUF isn't at home on a Friday or is busy with other engagements. TUF on Fridays might be good for FX (more on this later), but it isn't the right format to test the theory about live vs. recorded fights. And of all of TUF's problems, this appears to be the easiest to fix. While such a change wouldn't fix all of the show's issues, the improvement would likely be more than negligible. 3. Changing Channels Isn't Easy Not for programs, anyway. Ask anyone in radio or television: if you change time slots, you risk losing listeners or viewers. Sometimes a lot of them. Now imagine what happens when you change stations or channels. There isn't much the UFC can do about this problem. They aggressively advertised the new show and the change to Spike. And as hard as it may be to believe for the hardcore that it's essentially common knowledge the show moved to FX, it's not. How sizable the casual audience is that is unaware of the transition is not clear. It's likely not a major contributor to the ratings decline. Still, it's another challenge the show is up against and one without any obvious remedy. 4. What's Good for the Goose Is Not Good for the Gander There is a suggestion that while TUF might not be setting the world on fire, this is an improvement for FX. Friday nights are typically dead nights, so if UFC content can spruce this up even just a little, that's a win. The claim is debatable, but let's assume it's true. If it is, only FX wins. This is much more a zero-sum game than one of mutual benefit. The UFC is in a position where it needs to do everything it can to facilitate star growth. Not only does TUF's positioning compromise what it can do with cast members and winners, but it's not helping as a lead-in programming for Primetime shows either. High TUF and Primetime ratings don't necessarily translate to strong gate receipts or pay-per-view buyrates, at least not on a one-to-one basis. But the mass exodus of several top UFC stars in their thirties (BJ Penn, Tito Ortiz, Rampage Jackson, Anderson Silva, Rich Franklin and many, many more) is just a few years away or less. The UFC needs all the star power it can get. Creating figures of public appeal is as much luck as it is craft. Knowing that key programming designed to promote future fights is not being maximized is not a reality the UFC can blithely accept. 5. The Coaching Rivalry is PG Urijah Faber and Dominick Cruz are by no means also-rans or unknowns. They are as adept as coaches as they are fighters. They are also active participants in the ‘reality show' trimmings of pranks, stunts and squabbling. Unfortunately, their rivalry isn't a rising tide floating others' boats. Both men are simply too professional to let themselves descend into the frothing at the mouth style of reckless abandon that's historically pulled ratings. That isn't to suggest there's nothing redeeming about their inclusion on the show. But there is reason to reconsider not all rivalries are the same. The ingredients of a successful dispute are more than an impending fight or vocal displeasure. There has to be exquisite disgust and neither Cruz nor Faber seem really capable of it. 6. MMA Is a Star-Powered Sport The highest-rated season of TUF was season 10. It featured all heavyweights, several former NFL players and one Internet sensation who fought people in backyards named Kimbo Slice. Almost unilaterally, it was Slice who helped deliver records for Spike TV and the UFC during that season. The rule in MMA is incontestable: stars move the needle. Yes, they need the right platform. And it's true outside of the UFC many MMA stars have no star power at all. But every conceivable metric - gate receipts, pay-per-view buys, merchandise sales - confirms MMA is a star-driven sport. Reproducing a Kimbo Slice-effect each season is like asking UFC to catch lightning in a bottle. In series history, though, star coaches have provided that role. But even that effect is hard to create. The biggest MMA star of the last five years in Brock Lesnar turned in very tepid numbers as his ‘rivalry' with Junior dos Santos never heated up. Season 11 featured coaches Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell, but those ratings don't stack up against season 3's Ortiz vs. Shamrock. This isn't to suggest star power doesn't matter. Rather, it's in tighter supply now than it once was. And even when it's available, getting the application of it right can be tricky. Underscoring problems is a far simpler task than providing meaningful solutions. I am not attempting to draw attention to alleged UFC or FX mismanagement. What we should bear in mind is just how significant the challenge is of maintaining a reality show. That's especially true when the reality show has the rare honor of being the most important television programming in the history of a burgeoning sport. Maybe it's that importance that makes TUF's issues so sticky. Most shows in this genre are eminently disposable programming. There appears to be a natural half-life to them and when a tipping point is reached where the effect the show once had can no longer be duplicated without excess cost or effort (or at all), they are discarded. No show is meant to last forever, but the reality aspect tends to accelerate the timeline. Easy come, easy go and there's relatively low production costs along the way. TUF, by contrast, does not share the luxury of being ephemeral without consequence. The changes the UFC has made are not cosmetic. They're substantive and forward-thinking. It's true the show still revolves around the core concept of fighting in a reality show tournament for a six-figure contract in the UFC. Yet, compare the first season to today's and for better or worse the contrast becomes stark. It's true all reality programming has a dose of gimmick to it, but today's show is truer to MMA than ever before. Most importantly, the show has historically been central to the popularity of the sport and many of its top stars. It's at a minimum responsible for keeping the UFC brand on television on a weekly basis in front of young men 18 to 34 years of age. More than creating tomorrow's stars, that's the real value of TUF today. That's why letting go of it is not an option now or anytime in the foreseeable future. The undeniable issue is what trajectory the show is on and how long it can maintain a steady path. There's a rule in computer programming called GIGO ('garbage in, garbage out') that is as applicable to that science as any other. If you put nothing of value into a system, you get nothing of value out. UFC is still getting value out of the TUF system, but at a significantly greater cost and with less return. And they're not putting proverbial 'garbage' in. Real financial and manpower resources are being invested. That could mean there's a potential issue with the system, not what's being put in or spit out. So what happens when that machine can't run anymore? No one knows and I am not advocating the dismissal of TUF. Not by a long shot. But given how tenuous the hold reality programming is over audiences - especially as those audiences mature - alternatives to showcasing UFC content need to be considered. Calling for revision of the show is helpful in certain respects, but the time for comprehensive overhaul of the show has long passed. It's not clear drastic changes would help. Frankly, it's not clear they're even possible. We have to at least entertain the idea iterating something isn't enough to keep it viable. In the capricious and fast-changing world of reality television, sometimes being new is better than being different from what's old.

Posted in: ufc, show, season, star, tuf

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As Bellator holds its first show in Windsor Friday night, the Chicago-based MMA organization confirmed details for its fourth trip to Canada

Posted in: bellator, show, canada, friday, trip

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Here are some picks for Friday's Bellator show, and was anyone surprised by the Overeem news?

Posted in: show, prediction, athlete, friday, athletes predictions

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MMAjunkie.com medical columnist and consultant Dr. Johnny Benjamin is a guest on today's edition of "The MMA Show with Mauro Ranallo." Dr. Benjamin and Ranallo discuss UFC heavyweight contender Alistair Overeem's failed drug test and how the UFC could implement its own year-round drug testing. Catch the show live at 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT) on radio.thescore.com, or download the archive on iTunes. test

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

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Bloody Elbow Radio, presented by Bad Boy, will be LIVE! at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT for another edition of the show. Join hosts Matt Bishop and MMA Mania's Brian Hemminger as they preview Friday night's Bellator 64 show with coverage from the site of the event, Caesars Windsor Hotel & Casino in Windsor, Ontario. At Wednesday's open workouts, we spoke with the following people for today's show: Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren about his title defense, the state of college wrestling, what makes a good wrestler and more. We talked to his opponent, No. 1 contender and Season 5 tournament winner Douglas Lima about the fight, as well, and what he did in camp to prepare for Askren. We'll also chat with Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney about Bellator 64 plus a host of other Bellator issues, including the Cole Konrad/Eric Prindle fight, the move to Friday nights, how he'd evaluate this season so far, what type of crowd they expect Friday and the company's upcoming reality show. We'll also bring you interviews from the open workouts with featherweights Chris Horodecki and Marlon Sandro, both of whom will be competing on Friday's card. Horodecki talked about his move to featherweight, moving on without Shawn Tompkins, fighting in front of his local fans and more. With Sandro, we talked about his featherweight tournament fight with Alexandre Bezerra, wanting another fight with Pat Curran and more. In addition to talking to many of the competitors on Friday's show, we'll also preview the event with our world-famous "Bellator Brian Breakdown," while also taking your calls, emails, tweets and comments. We'll also discuss all the latest news in mixed martial arts, including Alistair Overeem's failed drug test. Bloody Elbow Radio is sponsored by Bad Boy. Get your brand new Alexander Gustafsson UFC on FUEL TV walk out T-shirt only from Bad Boy at the brand new BadBoy.com. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook and tell them Bloody Elbow sent you. How to listen: Live/archived on the player below I iTunes I RSS feed I Direct download link (available after live broadcast) Want to get in touch with the BE Radio crew? Here's how you can do so: Phone: (347) 202-0934E-mail: bloodyelbowradio@gmail.comTwitter: @mbish86 or @BrianHemmingerBloodyElbow.com: Leave a question or comment in this post For those calling in, you will first be picked up by our producer who will take your information and get what you want to talk about. You will then be queued. We will try to get to everyone as soon as we can. We ask that you call in around the time of the topic you want to discuss. SBN coverage of Bellator 64

Posted in: bellator, show, radio, friday, boy

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Strikeforce has added three more fights to its May 19 show at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., including a lightweight bout between Billy Evangelista and James Terry.

Posted in: show, hp pavilion, jose, san, billy evangelista

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Join us this evening at Bloody Elbow for live discussion of UFC Tonight, which airs on Fuel at 10 p.m. EST/7 p.m. PST. The show has been quite interesting so far and the UFC has used the show to break news as well, so it's worthy of a watch if you get Fuel. The show is hosted by former WEC commentator Todd Harris and UFC fighter Kenny Florian. Here's the official description of the show from the website: UFC Tonight is the official weekly news and information show of the UFC. With in-depth event coverage and analysis, jaw-dropping highlights, exclusive fighter interviews before-and-after bouts, and segments unavailable anywhere else, UFC Tonight is your number one source for the latest happenings in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. This evening's show will see UFC middleweight Brian Stann show up as a guest, along with new segments involving Chael Sonnen and Urijah Faber. MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani will also stop by to talk about Nick Diaz and Fedor Emelianenko.

Posted in: ufc, nick diaz, show, analysis jawdropping, information show

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Spike TV announced today that it is collaborating with the co-creator of “The Amazing Race” to develop a reality show for Bellator Fighting Championships.  The one hour unscripted show is set to debut in 2013 and feature Bellator fighters. The network will work with Bertram van Munster, an eight-time Emmy Award winner most famously known for co-creating the widely popular “The Amazing Race.”  The concept of the show is being withheld at this time. Payout Perspective: This should be very helpful for Bellator when it comes to Spike TV in 2013 when introducing its fighters to a broader audience.  The concept of the reality series is a smart move because not only does it appeal to MMA fans, it could attract some crossover appeal. The partnership with van Munster does not mean that the Bellator fighters will be racing around the world (although that would be fun to watch), but it means that Spike is making sure that the show is done well and produced by a veteran with a good track record.

Posted in: bellator, show, spike tv, tv, spike

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Bellator Fighting Championships’ rumored reality show now has a heavy hitter on board.

Posted in: bellator, show, reality show, reality, championships ’

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New York, NY, April 3, 2012 - Spike TV and Bellator Fighting Championships are partnering with one of television’s most acclaimed producers, eight-time Emmy® Award winner Bertram van Munster, the visionary behind "The Amazing Race," to create a cutting-edge new unscripted reality show. The one-hour original Spike series will premiere in 2013 and will showcase the fighters from the emerging mixed martial arts league, Bellator Fighting Championships. Details of the show will be kept closely under wraps until later this year. "Some of the most physically-gifted and fascinating athletes in the world fight in Bellator, and I believe they make ideal subjects for an innovative new non-scripted series," noted van Munster. "We are thrilled to partner with an industry legend such as van Munster, whose creativity and ingenuity will help expose Bellator to an expanded new audience next year on Spike," said Bjorn Rebney, CEO and Founder of Bellator. "The concept of this ground-breaking new series will broadly appeal to not only mixed martial arts fans, but to reality show enthusiasts as well," said Sharon Levy, Spike TV’s Executive Vice President of Original Programming. van Munster and Elise Doganieri will serve as Executive Producers for the new series. Levy and Tim Duffy, Senior Vice President, Original Programming, Spike TV, will oversee the project for the network.

Posted in: bellator, show, series, spike, van munster

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As expected, Bellator Fighting Championships is getting into the reality TV game.Spike TV announced on Tuesday that it will team up with eight-time Emmy Award winner Bertram van Munster, the co-creator and executive producer of The Amazing Race on CBS, to produce a Bellator reality show. The show will air on the cable network in 2013. No further details about the show, including its air date, were announced at this time."Some of the most physically-gifted and fascinating athletes in the world fight in Bellator, and I believe they make ideal subjects for an innovative new non-scripted series," van Munster stated in a press release issued by Spike TV.Bellator will move from MTV2 to Spike TV in January 2013. Company CEO Bjorn Rebney has teased a new reality show in the past, as well as three-hour fight night broadcasts and highlight shows once the promotion moves to its new home next year."The concept of this ground-breaking new series will broadly appeal to not only mixed martial arts fans, but to reality show enthusiasts as well," stated Sharon Levy, Spike TV’s executive vice president of original programming.

Posted in: show, spike tv, tv, spike, reality

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submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [6 comments]

Posted in: show, reality show, spike, mattyblayze, reality

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Last night was an evening more than a year in the making thanks to the headlining bout between The Rock and John Cena at Wrestlemania 28. However, it could be argued the show was truly had a generation of work behind the build considering the absolute brilliance of HHH’s epic encounter with The Undertaker. Regardless of what bout stood out to you the most, the event was certainly one of the most memorable Wrestlemanias on record. Just not always for the right reasons. To get the ugly out of the way first, having Daniel Bryan lose to Sheamus in less than twenty seconds was a shameful opening to the card, almost like getting a hair in the first bite of what is expected to be a gourmet meal. There’s certainly nothing wrong with letting Sheamus shine with a title in tow but to take the Royal Rumblewinner and have him blast a longstanding champion in such a fashion was a poor decision and resonated as such with fans who chanted Bryan’s name numerous times throughout longer bouts less-deserving of the time. The two of them should have been given time to work or at least set up shenanigans featuring John Laurinaitis giving Bryan an immediate rematch later in the show after interfering in the GM bout. Also downright bad were the backstage segments promoting The Deadliest Catch and Flo-Rida. It’s the year’s biggest show yet each of those could easily go on next week’s edition of WWE’s Are You Serious and fit in perfectly alongside the other comical offerings they dig up. On to the better, Kane-Randy Orton and Big Show-Cody Rhodes were both serviceable scraps. They had some solid spots and unexpected results, at least in terms of Orton’s loss to Kane. Team Johnny vs. Team Teddy was decent, though the storyline between Zack Ryder and Eve Torres has run its course. Were fans really supposed to believe she was going to wear the proverbial white hat for the bout after being a “bad girl” an hour prior during the Divas’ tag-team affair? Speaking of which, all of the Divas looked beautiful and I was particularly impressed by Kelly Kelly’s somersault off the top rope. It should have been the match’s finishing move but alas they had to promote Maria Menounos. CM Punk’s collision with Chris Jericho was very entertaining without question. Both men are some of the best workers in the business and showed flashes of brilliance at times. Punk taking a suplex overt the top rope onto the floor still stands out for me as the “holy sh*t” moment of the night, so that’s at least saying something, plus I loved that he let Jericho lock in the rarely seen old school Walls of Jericho for a bit. Their exchange of grappling at the end was also a thing of beauty. Cena vs. Rock was what it was. Both men looked good and kept things going as best as possible. It’s hard to fault either, though the cynic in me didn’t buy that Cena would make a mistake as obvious as mocking Rock before finishing him off. Hopefully it’s something he addresses tonight on RAW as though it’s eating at him to have acted in a cocky way and blown the biggest fight of his career because of it. Finally, I can think of a ton of adjectives for descriptive use in terms of the classic between HHH-Undertaker and all of them are positive. Their bout, made better by Shawn Michaels’ presence both in terms of the emotion he showed throughout as well as his decision to Super-Kick Taker, was a back-and-forth war between two icons. Each absorbed damage as indicated by a number of bruises/welts but kept on trucking until the end. Without question this match was the highlight of the show and one any fan should rush out to watch. WWE Superstars Discuss Meaning of Wrestlemania at Press Conference All in all, I enjoyed Wrestlemania 28 minus a few instances of questionable judgment. It was four hours full of entertainment and memories that will last a lifetime. PHOTO CREDIT – WWE Tweet

Posted in: time, show, bout, bryan, wrestlemania

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MMAjunkie.com staff reporter Steven Marrocco is a guest on today's edition of "The MMA Show with Mauro Ranallo." Marrocco joins host Mauro Ranallo and veteran journalist Dave Meltzer to review this past weekend's Bellator 63 event and "The Ultimate Fighter: Live" debut, as well as the ongoing struggles of Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal. Catch the show live at 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT) on radio.thescore.com, or download the archive on iTunes.

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

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MMAjunkie.com Radio today welcomes to the studio former Tachi Palace Fights champ Ulysses Gomez, who helps co-host today's show. And calling in to the show are UFC 148's Michael Bisping, Bellator welterweight champ Ben Askren and Bellator 64 winners Ben Saunders and David Rickels. MMAjunkie.com Radio airs from noon to 2 p.m. ET (9-11 a.m. PT) live from Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Listen to and watch a video stream of the two-hour show at www.mmajunkie.com/radio, or watch it live on select television markets as part of Fight Now TV.

Posted in: show, radio, las vegas, video stream, mmajunkiecom

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LockDown MMA held its first-ever mixed martial arts (MMA) show last Saturday (March 31, 2012) from the Bowlers Exhibition Centre in Trafford Park, Manchester, England. And it was a doozy. The rookie promotion, founded by Manchester Predators coach Will Burke, erupted into a full-blown riot after a "few drunken yobs" went crazy and started slinging bottles and chairs. Burke takes to his Facebook account to apologize: Thanks to everyone who helped build and run the show last night. I can only apologise for the unfortunate early end to the show due to a few drunken yobs who decided to ruin it for everybody. Those involved should be utterly ashamed not just for last night, but for being such inferior and unfortunate human beings. Thankfully nobody was hurt, nevertheless there will be a lot of changes to the next event to ensure that this NEVER happens again. Video of the carnage (via Cage Potato) after the jump. The good news is that order was quickly restored after police arrived and no one was hurt. But a couple of yobs will have some explaining to do when they eventually sober up.

Posted in: mma, show, yob, chairs burke, fullblown riot

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Four episodes into the first season of "The Ultimate Fighter" on FX, and it's clear the new network has made its mark. With the show switching to a live format, every episode has a very different feel from the show's previous 14 seasons, which aired on Spike. Though the fights have been exciting -- particularly Friday's three-rounder between Al Iaquinta and Myles Jury -- the show still hasn't quite found a rhythm. Here are some ways they could work on that: Fit the show in the timeslot : Every episode to date has run over its timeslot, with fight decisions and fight announcements coming after the show was scheduled to end. It's 2012. Nearly 40 percent of American homes have DVRs. The UFC targets men 18-49, and they really think that age group is going to stay home and watch one fight on a Friday night? Fights don't normally start until 45 minutes into the show, and there is way too much filler throughout the show. Edit it more tightly, and the show will fit. Figure out a place for Jon Anik : When word came Anik was going to be involved with TUF, it seemed like a great step for the show. Coaches yelling directions to fighters was not as interesting as producers wanted it to be, and the show could use someone to talk about the fights as they happened. Anik has proven himself to be a talented play-by-play man for Bellator and the UFC.

Posted in: fight, show, way, episode, anik

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The MMA Hour is back on Monday with another loaded show. We're going two-plus hours again, and here's a list of who will be stopping by: * Wanderlei Silva will discuss his coaching sting on TUF: Brazil and his upcoming match against Vitor Beflort at UFC 147. * Cain Velasquez will preview his heavyweight showdown against Frank Mir at UFC 146. * UFC heavyweight Brendan Schaub will talk about his UFC 145 fight against Ben Rothwell. * Trainer Greg Jackson will explain why he chose to corner Jon Jones against his former fighter Rashad Evans at UFC 145. * Ben Askren will preview Friday night's Bellator welterweight title defense against Douglas Lima at Bellator 64. * And Che Mills will talk about his UFC 145 fight against rising star Rory MacDonald. Plus, we'll start the show with a whole segment devoted to your calls. Got a question or comment? Give us a call at 1-888-418-4074. Watch the show live below beginning at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT / 6 p.m. GMT. Subscribe to The MMA Hour on iTunes: audio feed here; video feed here. Download previous episodes here. Listen to the show via Stitcher here or via TuneIn here.

Posted in: ufc, show, mma hour, hour, wanderlei silva

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) was back on cable television last night (Fri., March 30, 2012) with episode four of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15 "Live" on FX. And wouldn't you know, it's the same old, same old. The allure of the live fight format has already worn off and we're only four episodes in. Sure, it still serves to create the kind of feel a prerecorded bout could never come close to, but when you strip it all away, does it really matter if the fights are live? It's still the same show, after all. Last night's episode truly showcased that watching men train and game plan for their upcoming fight can only make for good TV for so long. And by so long, I mean a few episodes. Where's the meat? Because of the way the show is set up, TUF inevitably runs into the wall of having to introduce each contestant on the show. This despite the fact that sooner rather than later, that very same contestant isn't going to be an active participant. Such was the case with Myles Jury, who was a heavy favorite to defeat Urijah Faber's top pick, Al Iaquinta. In fact, it was widely expected that Jury could be one of the two men remaining at the live Finale in Las Vegas. So we got to know him and the fact that this was his second go-round on the show, the first coming during season 13 when he was bounced unceremoniously thanks to a knee injury. He was created into somewhat of a sympathetic character because of this and it was hard not to hope for the best for him. And then a scene plays that showcases Team Dominick Cruz pulling Jury out of the shower to lead him in a cheer for his upcoming fight. And suddenly we're smacked in the face with a reminder that this is just a silly reality show and there's no real reason to care at all. That's why it didn't matter all that much when Jury turned in an uninspiring performance in the eventual fight. He didn't do what he was told by his coaches and he failed miserably to live up to his 9-0 record. Al Iaquinta, on the other hand, looked outstanding in his role as the underdog who can scrap. Urijah Faber took control of the game with Iaquinta's win and so chose the next match-up, a right with which UFC President Dana White seems to believe the entire show revolves around. We know this because he makes sure to remind us how important the fights are because it will determine who controls the next match-up. Even though eventually the list whittles down to a point in which it doesn't matter. Just more trivial garbage to pass the time, I suppose. For complete results and the running live blog of last night's TUF 15, episode four click here.

Posted in: fight, show, tuf, episode, jury

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Tatsuya Kawajiri is ready to conquer the featherweight division and after two wins there in 2011, he's ready to show the top fighters what he's all about in 2012.

Posted in: show, fighter, kawajiri, featherweight division, tatsuya kawajiri

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We have partnered with Pro MMA Radio to bring you weekly replays of PMR as the official radio show of MMAConvert.com. Pro MMA Radio can be heard live every Monday evening at 9pm ET/6pm PT. Replays and podcasts of every show are available 24/7 by going to the “Replay Corner” section of ProMMARadio.com, our own Pro MMA Radio page or by clicking the banner below. On this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio, Vancouver Athletic Commissioner Jonathan Tweadle joins the show to talk about marijuana use in MMA, the Nick Diaz case and touch on TRT. Also, Bellator Lightweight Lloyd “Cupcake” Woodard came in for the Toe to Toe segment to talk about his huge upset win over tournament favorite Patricky Freire and his upcoming bout with Rick Hawn. You can listen to a replay of this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio by clicking the banner below. A radio player with links to the show’s archives will open in a pop-up window, so please make sure your browser is set to allow pop-ups for this site.

Posted in: mma, show, replay, radio, mma radio

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The UFC has long coveted landing a show in China and it looks like they will achieve it in 2012.

Posted in: ufc, show, event, china, landing

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"For me, I look at this as a second chance to be able to show everybody what I'm about. I haven't had a clear mind in a long time. The fact that I get to solely focus on training is going to make me a 100-percent different person. I already know, the way I'm training now, I feel different. It's unexplainable. People that watch me train have noticed a huge difference. They ask if I've been eating different or doing something different. The biggest thing is that my mind is clear. I have no worries. I'm going to give (McDonald) his introduction to the real world of MMA. I'm not going to test him at all. I'm going to show him what's up. Big difference: when you give a test, you can pass and fail a test. When you show somebody what's up, that's what you show them. I'm going to show him what's up." No way to spin this one, Maniacs, as former World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) Bantamweight Champion Miguel Torres (via The MMA Hour) has a statement to make against Michael McDonald at the upcoming UFC 145 pay-per-view (PPV) event, which takes place on April 21, 2012, at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. That statement? "This is what's up." Then again, McDonald, who has 12 finishes in 14 wins, could have Torres yelling "Mayday" come fight night. It's old school vs. new in "The Peach State." Who takes it?

Posted in: show, test, mcdonald, im, what

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MMAjunkie.com Radio today welcomes to the show UFC 145 fighters Travis Browne and John Makdessi. Additionally, UFC 148's Cung Le, Invicta Fighting Championships fighter Randi Miller and One FC CEO Victor Cui all join the show to discuss their current plans. MMAjunkie.com Radio airs from noon to 2 p.m. ET (9-11 a.m. PT) live from Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Listen to and watch a video stream of the two-hour show at www.mmajunkie.com/radio, or watch it live on select television markets as part of Fight Now TV.

Posted in: show, radio, las vegas, video stream, mmajunkiecom

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MMAjunkie.com Radio today welcomes to the show UFC 145 fighters Travis Browne and John Makdessi. Additionally, UFC 148's Cung Le, Invicta Fighting Championships fighter Randi Miller and One FC CEO Victor Cui all join the show to discuss their current plans. MMAjunkie.com Radio airs from noon to 2 p.m. ET (9-11 a.m. PT) live from Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Listen to and watch a video stream of the two-hour show at www.mmajunkie.com/radio, or watch it live on select television markets as part of Fight Now TV.

Posted in: show, radio, las vegas, mmajunkiecom, twohour show

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Stat sheets may list Miguel Torres as inactive for the past four months, but for a so-called break, the fighter's life has been awfully eventful. Back in December, Torres' hammer dropped swiftly and without remorse. After posting a misguided Workaholics joke on Twitter, the 31-year-old bantamweight found himself drowning under a firestorm of outrage, and soon after, exiled from the UFC. Torres eventually worked his way back into Dana White's good graces, expressing remorse and donating money to local rape centers on his own dime, however the experience of losing everything in a split-second left him a changed man. "I learned to watch what I say and to appreciate what I have," Torres candidly admitted on Monday's edition of The MMA Hour. "I had no idea what was going to happen. The situation was all fun and games, and then it got real really quick. ... Now my mindset is this could be taken away from me at any time. I have to make the most of what I have, while I have it." It's easy to lose sight of such things after twelve years of fighting for a living. But facing the stark reality of a life without the UFC, Torres quickly began to realize the implications of what he initially thought was a harmless joke. "I just didn't take it into perspective like I do now," he said. "I was too busy taking care of everything else. Running my business, being with my family, traveling, fighting, training, training other people, just doing so many things that I didn't appreciate little things, like being hired in the UFC. So something like that makes a huge difference in your life, and I appreciate that now." Ultimately, Torres' renewed self-awareness has become a blessing in disguise. After experiencing such an eye-opening downslide, his commitment to fighting is the strongest it has ever been, and as he prepares for a potential number-one contender match against upstart prospect Michael McDonald at UFC 145, everything from his diet to his training has transformed for the better. "My whole career has been about proving people wrong," Torres asserted. "Ever since the beginning, people have never given me a benefit of the doubt and never given me a chance. "For me, I look at this as a second chance to be able to show everybody what I'm about. I haven't had a clear mind in a long time. The fact that I get to solely focus on training is going to make me a 100-percent different person. I already know, the way I'm training now, I feel different. It's unexplainable. People that watch me train have noticed a huge difference. They ask if I've been eating different or doing something different. The biggest thing is that my mind is clear. I have no worries." With three recent wins sandwiched between a loss to top contender Demetrious Johnson, Torres (40-4) appears poised to make another run at the belt that once rested on his mantle. McDonald's stock may be skyrocketing, but at just 21 years old, having barely grazed the legal drinking age, the young Californian is still extremely untested, and he hasn't yet had to fight anybody like Torres. According to the former WEC champion, that chasm of inexperience is going to become very clear, very quickly. "I'm going to give him his introduction to the real world of MMA," Torres finished intensely. "I'm not going to test him at all. I'm going to show him what's up. Big difference: when you give a test, you can pass and fail a test. When you show somebody what's up, that's what you show them. I'm going to show him what's up."

Posted in: ufc, show, training, torre, im

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Join us this evening at Bloody Elbow for live discussion of UFC Tonight, which airs on Fuel at 10 p.m. EST/7 p.m. PST. The show has been quite interesting so far and the UFC has used the show to break news as well, so it's worthy of a watch if you get Fuel. Kenny Florian is back in the analyst chair for this week's show, along with regular host Todd Harris. Here's the official description of the show from the website: UFC Tonight is the official weekly news and information show of the UFC. With in-depth event coverage and analysis, jaw-dropping highlights, exclusive fighter interviews before-and-after bouts, and segments unavailable anywhere else, UFC Tonight is your number one source for the latest happenings in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The major guest on tonight's show will be Jacob "Stitch" Duran, cutman of the stars, who will discuss his long tenure in the corner of MMA fighters. Florian and MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani will also discuss the third fight between Tito Ortiz and Forrest Griffin, the recently-announced UFC 147 rematch between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen, and who Jose Aldo should defend his title against at UFC 149.

Posted in: ufc, show, jose aldo, analysis jawdropping, analyst chair

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In what has become an obsessive exercise for some wishing to point to weekly ratings as a litmus test for organizational health, the ratings came out for week three of The Ultimate Fighter Live on FX and were slightly up. Week three garnered 1.2 million viewers, a smidge up from week 2's 1.1 million and a smidge down from the 1.3 that the two hour premiere brought in. This is the UFC's first season bringing their flagship reality show to an outlet other than Spike TV. This season features one live fight every week with supporting footage filmed the prior week, giving the show more of an unpredictable feel. The next week's fight is also selected at the end of every show, giving fans and media a chance to research, debate and talk about what could happen. Week three featured Justin Lawrence earning a second round KO win over Cristiano Marcello, picking up the second straight win for coach Dominick Cruz's team. Next week, Cruz team member Myles Jury faces Urijah Faber charge Al Iaquinta.

Posted in: show, week, hour premiere, cristiano marcello, justin lawrence

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In a milestone for Brazilian MMA, “The Ultimate Fighter Brazil” began on Sunday, the first edition of the reality show to take place outside the U.S.

Posted in: show, fighter, reality show, brazil, debut episode

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Jon Jones appears on Brazilian reality show “Sensei Noção”.

Posted in: show, jone, jon jones, brazilian, reality

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MMA Junkie reports that despite good reviews, The Ultimate Fighter Live ratings are not reflective of the praise.  Still, Dana White believes that the show is positioned well on FX. The debut of TUF Live on FX scored an average of 1.28 million viewers yet saw a decline in the ratings over the course of the show. The second episode last week were down with a 1.1 million viewer average. We may discount last week’s ratings decrease since it went up against the NCAA Tournament. Via MMA Junkie: “There’s so many things that are involved in those numbers,” White said. “I didn’t expect to jump on FX and do 3.5 million viewers right out of the gate. But here’s the thing: The format is awesome. It’s perfect. We’ve got a great season, and we’re going to build this thing. “Believe me, the way that FX deals with their programming and how they handle it, they’re so analytical. These guys are like [expletive] rocket scientists how they break this stuff down and look at it. Trust me, everything is positive over there.” One thing that has peaked White’s interest is that Vegas sportsbooks are taking action on the TUF Live fights.  White also addressed the fact that the ratings are due in part to the NCAA tourney. “March Madness” will wrap soon, casual viewers will eventually figure out the show is now on FX, and hardcore fans may very well become again interested in the show thanks to the new format. Payout Perspective: We may discount last week and this week due to the tournament but we shall see if viewers will gravitate to FX.  We will see if the ratings will increase over the season as White predicts (or hopes).  The UFC has tinkered with the show to keep the show different and the jury is still out on whether the live fights will attract more viewers.  Of course, there was White’s initial expectations about the viewership doubling on FX.  Perhaps we were not to take this literally or expect the ratings to double in the first season on FX but there are definite expectations on how TUF Live will perform.

Posted in: show, fx, tuf, rating, viewer

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) was back on cable television last night (Fri., March 23, 2012) with episode three of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15 "Live" on FX. And now that we've settled in to a groove just a few episodes in, suddenly the reality television show looks like, well, a reality television show. That's because the initial allure of the live fight format has somewhat worn off, mostly because that's only for the final 15 minutes of each respective episode. The first 45 minutes are still filled with all the usual nonsense we've come to know and hate. Manufactured drama? Check. Petty bickering over ridiculous issues? Check. Stupid pranks that even the most unintelligent of human beings find unfunny? Check. Training montages with voice overs interspersed with interviews? Mate. Essentially, for 45 minutes it's the same old, same old, which makes it so very tough to get to the excitement of the final 15. But that doesn't mean there aren't reasons to really like the show, some of which were on full display last night. Watching a fight live is very much like catching a live musical act. Sure, it's enjoyable no matter what way you slice it but there's just a different connection to it when taking it in live, as it happens. In the case of this season of TUF, it adds a level of enjoyment to the training and game planning process that would otherwise not exist. It's endlessly fascinating to see Dominick Cruz coach up his fighter, Justin Lawrence, on the exact takedowns his opponent, Cristiano Marcello, would be working for once the bout got underway. "The Dominator" more or less told his pupil to expect the Brazilian jiu-jitsu expert to exchange briefly before shooting in for a takedown. So they planned for such a thing and brought in a special training partner to get Lawrence ready. This made it all the more incredible to watch Lawrence put what he learned into practice in the actual fight. That kind of access isn't something UFC fans are used to. The depth of consumption typically consists of press conferences, weigh-ins and then the fight itself. TUF gives us the added benefit of seeing the game plan and watching for certain subtle nuances. Or sometimes, in the case of Marcello, not so subtle. Urijah Faber, Marcello's coach, warned him of the dangers of the high looping left hand Lawrence loves to throw with such dangerous intentions. So when we watched it happen in the fight, and it landed hard enough to end the fight, it gave the viewer a certain appreciation we may not have felt otherwise. That's without mentioning Faber's palpable frustration at the fact that Marcello just refused to tuck his chin, which helped lead to the knockout loss. Watching coaching in action, as well as seeing a fighter ignore it, is really a thing of beauty and an aspect of the show that we should all appreciate. But can you make it through those 45 minutes of ridiculously stupid "pranks" and silly manufactured drama? Let's be real: Seeing Faber "kick Cruz's team out of the gym" by simply holding the door open and saying, "Please leave, guys," had to be a lowlight of the entire series. Legitimate beef is fine, laid back surfers attempting to get lippy is just silly. But hey, we're two elimination fights in and we've seen two knockouts. Can't beat that, right? For complete results and the running live blog of last night's TUF 15, episode three click here.

Posted in: fight, show, tuf, episode, minute

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Live Radio: Tara LaRosa on ‘Savage Dog Show,’ Mark Hominick on ‘Beatdown’ (1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT)

Posted in: hominick, show, tara, beatdown, dog

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Join us at Bloody Elbow to discuss tonight's episode of MMA Uncensored Live, which airs on Spike at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT. Hosts Nate Quarry, Craig Carton and Mike Straka will discuss a wide range of MMA topics. The show has been a bit uneven so far, but there has been one bright spot - MMA Fighting's Luke Thomas. And according to Mr. Thomas he will be in not one, but TWO segments on this week's show. That's worth tuning in for, right? For those of you that missed the first few episodes, this is how co-host Nate Quarry describes the show: "More than anything, it's less of a sports reporting show talking about the scores that just happened and more of an opinion piece. It's a lot more like a forum than it is a news show. You know when you go to the forums and there's about 90% sh*t talking and 10% intelligence? We're hoping to raise the bar closer to 15%," Quarry quipped. Besides The Beard, UFC 145 main eventer Rashad Evans will be a guest on tonight's episode. So tune in and speak your piece here.

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

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We have partnered with Pro MMA Radio to bring you weekly replays of PMR as the official radio show of MMAConvert.com. Pro MMA Radio can be heard live every Monday evening at 9pm ET/6pm PT. Replays and podcasts of every show are available 24/7 by going to the “Replay Corner” section of ProMMARadio.com, our own Pro MMA Radio page or by clicking the banner below. On this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio, Jake Ellenberger joined the show to talk about his win over Diego Sanchez, his upcoming fight against Martin Kampmann and his thoughts on the UFC welterweight title picture. MMA Mania’s Jesse Holland also stopped by to talk about all the latest news in MMA with host Larry Pepe. You can listen to a replay of this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio by clicking the banner below. A radio player with links to the show’s archives will open in a pop-up window, so please make sure your browser is set to allow pop-ups for this site.

Posted in: mma, show, replay, radio, mma radio

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Silva vs. Sonnen 2 is headed to a soccer stadium show in Brazil with the Engenhao outside of Rio being the most likely landing spot for the card.

Posted in: show, vs, rio, silva, landing spot

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

As expected, the UFC is returning to Canada for a July show in Calgary. During today's press conference in the city, UFC president Dana White and UFC-Canada head Tom Wright announced that the Canadian city will host UFC 149 on July 21. UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo headlines the show against an opponent to be announced.

Posted in: ufc, show, july, july show, canadian city

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Join us this evening at Bloody Elbow for live discussion of UFC Tonight, which airs on Fuel at 10 p.m. EST/7 p.m. PST. The show has been quite interesting so far and the UFC has used the show to break news as well, so it's worthy of a watch if you get Fuel. Normally the show is hosted by former WEC commentator Todd Harris and Kenny Florian, but Florian's out tonight and two big-name guest analysts, Chael Sonnen and UFC Hall of Famer Matt Hughes, are taking his place. Here's the official description of the show from the website: UFC Tonight is the official weekly news and information show of the UFC. With in-depth event coverage and analysis, jaw-dropping highlights, exclusive fighter interviews before-and-after bouts, and segments unavailable anywhere else, UFC Tonight is your number one source for the latest happenings in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Tonight's episode will both guest hosts covering a variety of topics. Hughes talks about whether he'll fight again, and responds to Dan Hardy's recent comments about him. Sonnen discusses his rematch with Anderson Silva at UFC 147, and gives his opinion on the UFC 146 main event between Junior dos Santos and Alistair Overeem. Both analysts also take the time to talk Georges St. Pierre, UFC 145, Ben Henderson, and much more. Should be good.

Posted in: ufc, show, hell fight, place heres, dan hardys

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Chael Sonnen returns this evening as a guest on UFC Tonight and discusses the prospects of an upcoming match with UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva. Sonnen, who said he has not signed a contract yet, did confirm that the UFC was sending out a film crew for the “Countdown” show that normally airs to help hype upcoming pay-per-view fights. That would leave many to believe an official decision is on the horizon. I believe I have the fight. I believe it’ll happen in June. But I still don’t have a contract. But the ‘Countdown’ show is scheduled to come out to my home in two days, so I guess something is going to happen. The rumors have Silva-Sonnen II taking place this summer from Sao Paulo, Brazil. “The Spider” earned a submission victory against Sonnen in the first meeting, pulling the win out of nowhere while down on the scorecards. If this match does take place in Brazil – Silva’s native country – it will be anything but a polite welcome for Sonnen. Since the Silva fight, Sonnen has attacked Silva, his family and the Brazilian people seemingly every single day. Photo credit: CombatLifestyle.com

Posted in: ufc, fight, show, silva, sonnen

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With the UFC in hibernation, the kickboxing world continues to shine. Already this month we had Mirko Cro Cop vs. Ray Sefo - this week kickboxing action returns with a pair of exciting shows featuring, arguably, the top 2 kickboxers in the world. Today, we'll take a look at the United Glory show from Moscow, and check back later for this weekend's Fight Code show from Italy. This Friday, March 23, United Glory presents the first show in their Glory World Series 2012. An offshoot of the famed Golden Glory gym, United Glory has been producing occasional shows for some time, but starting in late 2010 they began to focus more on a regular schedule. The current plan is to run this weekend's show, then twice more in 2012. The show will be available online in a live stream at GFL TV. The stream costs $15 US and begins Friday morning at 10 a.m. ET / 7 a.m. PT. Headlining the show are three big kickboxing bouts, with a nice undercard of both K-1 and MMA action. Here are the highlights: Semmy Schilt vs. Brice Guidon The main event of the evening sees 4 time K-1 champion Seemy Schilt return to action for the first time since the 2010 K-1 Grand Prix. Schilt's style is not for everyone, and he has a lot of detractors, but there's no denying that he is still the king at Heavyweight. From 2005 to now he has absolutely dominated the Heavyweight ranks with those 4 big Grand Prix wins and only 3 men to have defeated him. The Heavyweight ranks just feel empty without him, and it's good to see him back at last. Guidon is a training partner of Jerome Le Banner. He had a good run in 2010, including a win over Hesdy Gerges, and was a top 20 fighter when the Heavyweight division dried up. During Schilt's absence, he's gone 3-1, with his only loss to Gokhan Saki. He's a good opponent, and a tougher challenge than I expected for Schilt here, but still, it's Semmy Schilt, and Guidon will be the heavy underdog. More in the full entry. Jerome Le Banner vs. Errol Zimmerman If you know these two, you can'ty help but be excited for this fight. Le Banner is one of K-1's original heavy-hitting dynamic KO artists. He's been around the sport for nearly 20 years, and though he's definitely winding down his career, there's still some life in him - he's 5-1 in his last 6 including a win over Tyrone Spong. Zimmerman is the new version of JLB - the new generation's dynamic slugger. He burst onto the scene with a tremendous 2008, but then had a very rough run in 2009/2010, going 3-6 due to what seemed to be a general apathy towards the sport and training. Many wrote Zimmerman off, but he came back with a fury last year, and has won his last 7 straight - 5 of those via first round knock out. This is going to be great. Sergei Kharitonov vs. Mark Miller Strikeforce and Pride veteran Sergei Kharitonov returns to kickboxing rules here. He's dabbled a bit with kickboxing lately, going 2-2 since 2009 and using his stand-up to make the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix semifinals last year. Interesting to see him competing here though, as it seems to indicate that he is unlikely to make the jump to the UFC Heavyweight division soon. His opponent is Mark Miller, the American who last year made an amazing comeback after open heart surgery to defeat Nikolaj Falin in mere seconds in what I called the kickboxing KO of the year. He's a great story, and this is a well put together fight between two men at similar points in their careers, but also with some name value. Plenty of other good fighters round out the undercard including Nieky Holzken, Zabit Samedov, and former UFC champion Ricco Rodriguez. Check out the full line-up below, and join us this weekend for more coverage. Untied Glory World Series 2012March 23, 2012Moscow, Russia MMA -95 kg Ilir Latifi vs Vladimir GerasimchikMMA -65 kg Cesario di Domenico vs Murad MachayevMMA -76 kg Anatoly Safranov vs Gasan UmalatovMMA HW Ricco Rodriguez vs Ruslan MagomedovKB -73,9 kg Nieky Holzken vs David KiriaKB -72,5 kg Maxim Vyrovski vs Dzhabar AskerovKB HW Jamal Ben Sadik vs Vitaly OparinKB HW Igor Jurkovic vs Zabit SamedovKB -98 kg Ali Cenic vs Sergey MaslobojevKB HW Sergei Kharitonov vs Mark MillerKB HW Errol Zimmerman vs Jerome Le BannerKB HW Sem Schilt vs Brice Guidon

Posted in: show, vs, glory, he, schilt

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MMAjunkie.com editor-in-chief Dann Stupp is a guest on today's edition of "The MMA Show with Mauro Ranallo." Stupp and Ranallo discuss the latest MMA-ratings news, including Bellator 61's dip to just 108,000 MTV2 viewers for this past weekend's event. Catch the show live at 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT) on radio.thescore.com, or download the archive on iTunes.

Posted in: show, mma show, todays edition, weekends event, mmaratings news

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The Ultimate Fighter reality show has constantly reinvented itself with fresh new formats over the years to keep the content engaging and appealing to viewers. Since 2005, the series has utilized numerous gimmicks to keep fans tuned in, including its current format that features...

Posted in: show, fan, reality, format, allfemale cast

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The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15: "Live" got into full swing with the second episode last night (March 16, 2012), as coaches Urijah Faber and Dominick Cruz picked their teams, set up the first fight and got the training underway. This week's show was capped off by a brutal knee knockout by James Vick over Daron Cruickshank that surprised most people, including me. For a detailed account of how it all went down be sure to hit up out TUF 15: "Live" results post right here. Nonetheless, several things became evident in episode number two: Cruz is super uncomfortable in front of the cameras. We pretty much knew that based on his past on-camera appearances for fight-hyping press ventures, but it became overwhelmingly evident on the show, especially when he is seen talking to his guys. One-on-one, he seems to do okay, but in front of a big group, he seizes up. Maybe he'll get better and relax. We'll see. As much as Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White takes a bad wrap from time to time for being so outspoken, I thought this episode showed a side of him that we do see every now and then, but doesn't get publicized often. After Michael Chiesa experienced the loss of his father, White paid for him to fly home, take a day to be with friends and family, then allowed him to come back to the show. I'm not trying to give the guy a Nobel Peace Prize, I just thought it was good to see a more "human" side of Dana. It's still a little awkward how they're balancing the "LIVE" action with the canned/production stuff. The episode went About 40 minutes in before we heard from sometimes-host Jon Anik for the second time. It was brief and felt forced, almost like they're trying to find something for him to do. I don't hate the FX production quality of TUF, but it definitely still feels like they're figuring it out. Without further ado (which, I believe is Latin for: "jibber jabber"), here are the TUF 15 Power Rankings for episode two: For this week's power rankings, I deferred to the coaches. Call that a cop-out, if you will, but I figure guys who get paid to fight and have been training in mixed martial arts (MMA) their whole lives know better than I do. Cruickshank was, of course, left off the rankings, reflecting that he lost his fight and is out of the competition (barring a wild card scenario). (Note: The numbers in parenthesis indicate each fighter's ranking from the previous week.) 1) Justin Lawrence: (7)2) Al Iaquinta: (11)3) Sam Sicilia (3)4) Cristiano Marcello (1)5) Myles Jury (13)6) Mike Rio (8)7) Joe Proctor (9)8) James Vick (14)9) Michael Chiesa (2)10) Vinc Pichel (5)11) John Cofer (15)12) Chris Tickle (6)13) Andy Ogle (16)14) Jeremy Larsen (10)15) Chris Saunders (12) It's still early, so it's hard to make a lot of predictions yet, but these are the things I'm going to be watching for as the season unfolds: In my opinion, Michael Chiesa is still one of the guys to watch for, but how will he respond to the loss of his father? Sometimes, that kind of setback can be a huge motivator. Sometimes, it can cause the heart to get in front of the head and bring about big losses (see: Jake Shields, Mark Hominick and Sam Stout). I'm pulling for him, and I hope he's able to overcome this obstacle, but it's with reservations that I believe it's going to happen. For now, anyway. Vick may very well be a sleeper here. I liked Cruickshank a lot. Vick has now beat two established MMA fighters in back-to-back appearances. He seems to be learning quickly and has the build and frame to be a potentially very good fighter. His length may pose a problem for many of the guys in the house. It will be interesting to see how Faber handles the first loss. Can he rebound and shake it off, or will he follow in the footsteps of other coaches like "Rampage" Quinton Jackson, Ken Shamrock, Frank Mir and Josh Koscheck, who talked a good talk, but didn't end up being able to back it up in the coaching category. Now's the part where you get to beat me up. In the comment section below, leave us a note (or 15) to tell us what we got wrong, your predictions, as well as any other things that stand out to you thus far, in regard to TUF 15. Sound off! Miss the show last night? No problem, we've got you covered. Check out a compete recap of TUF 15: "Live" Episode 2 right here.

Posted in: guy, show, fighter, tuf, episode

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The new, revamped, FX version of The Ultimate Fighter on Friday night mixed some of the old -- reality show fodder from 16 mixed martial artists living together -- and a lot of the new -- the show had a fresh feel aided by its quick turnaround time, and the fight at the end of the episode was live, as every fight will be in this, the show's 15th season. The fight, James Vick vs Daron Cruickshank, was a good one. Cruickshank was the aggressor from the outset, hitting Vick with a wide array of strikes. But when Cruickshank ducked down to go for a takedown, Vick landed a perfectly timed knee to Cruickshank's chin, knocking Cruickshank cold and ending the fight by first-round knockout. It was an exciting fight, made more exciting by the fact that it was live. The live fights are this year's major innovation on The Ultimate Fighter, but the show also felt fresher because everything on it was new -- all of the action in the house and the gym came from the last week. The episode's most compelling moment came inside the house, when Mike Chiesa found out that his father died. The UFC and FX did a great job of taking the viewers inside every moment as Chiesa sobbed when he got the news, then made the decision to leave the house briefly to attend to his family but come back after a couple of days. UFC President Dana White, who usually strictly forbids fighters from leaving during the taping of The Ultimate Fighter, made an exception to give Chiesa a few days off for the funeral. Chiesa said his dad would want him to come back and win the show, and that's what he hopes to do. We might not see something that emotional every week, but the FX makeover of The Ultimate Fighter promises to give us a new and improved version of the UFC's longtime reality show.

Posted in: fight, show, fighter, cruickshank, chiesa

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Join us at Bloody Elbow to discuss tonight's fourth episode of MMA Uncensored Live, which airs on Spike at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT. Hosts Nate Quarry, Craig Carton and Mike Straka will discuss a wide range of MMA topics.The show has been a bit uneven so far (to say the least) but there's room for growth and it's probably worthy of another chance. Plus, the last two weeks have featured segments with the one and only Luke Thomas (which has been the best part of the shows), and he might just show up again tonight. For those of you that missed the three two episodes, this is how co-host Nate Quarry describes the show: "More than anything, it's less of a sports reporting show talking about the scores that just happened and more of an opinion piece. It's a lot more like a forum than it is a news show. You know when you go to the forums and there's about 90% sh*t talking and 10% intelligence? We're hoping to raise the bar closer to 15%," Quarry quipped. This week, the show will feature an interview with the one and only Gangster from West Linn, Chael Sonnen. There will also be a segment that covers War Machine's last 48 hours of freedom before he begins another stint in jail. And, Craig Carton will probably be his usual annoying self. Tune in and speak your piece here.

Posted in: mma, show, luke thomas, news show, self tune

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When the UFC announced the Ultimate Fighter would go to a live format, UFC President Dana White predicted the numbers for the show on FX would be greatly exceed those on Spike TV. In one interview, White claimed he even believed the new TUF would generate three million viewers on its new broadcast home. However, the season debut of TUF 15 took place last Friday and viewer-wise the show came up well short of White’s expectations. According to a report from MMAJunkie the ratings for the show came in at 1.3 million viewers. The reality-based series was generating between 1.5 and 1.8 million on Spike TV. However, as might be expected, the UFC had a different take on the situation, issuing a press release showing how well the debut had performed in comparison to the rest of the cable-television landscape while pointing out it still beat Spike TV’s attempt to counterprogram and Bellator 60. The show will continue this week with the first normal episode in that the debut featured over two hours of live, one-round fights allowing winners to move into the TUF house. On this week’s episode coaches Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber will select their teams this week while also picking the first two competitors to battle it out in hopes of moving on to the quarterfinals. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, show, spike tv, tv, cabletelevision landscape

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

Bellator has not only built a nice niche for itself by possessing some of the best fighters in the lower weight classes, but they also seem to have a knack for finding local talent and showcasing them on their undercards. This gives these particular fighters an opportunity to fight in front of a larger audience, on a bigger stage and it helps prepare them for what will hopefully be a long, successful career. Metairie, Louisiana native Eric Scallan will take what he hopes to be the first step on his way to top of the mountain this Friday night when he faces Texas native Derrick Krantz in front of what should be a wild and raucous crowd at the Horseshoe Riverdome in Bossier City, LA. “I grew up right outside of New Orleans and started wrestling when I was just eight years old,” said Scallan in an interview with Fighters.com. “I kind of excelled at it and I placed three times in the states. My senior year I placed second in state and continued on as a freshman at Dana College in Omaha, Nebraska and was a teammate of Benson Henderson. I was young and really didn’t focus so I transferred to Wartburg College in Iowa. Again I failed to live up to my potential and made the move to Lafeyette, LA.” “I started training with Dustin Poirier at some rinky dink Karate Dojo where we would choke each other with belts and punch sand,” Scallan continued, half-joking. “We made the best of it. I had a wrestling background and Dustin had great hands and a killer instinct. We made the move to Gladiator Academy and joined up with Tim Credeur. From there things really took off. He showed us what being a martial artist was all about. He was an awesome coach; he showed us real Jiu-Jitsu and helped me rid my life of all the garbage and nonsense that surrounded me.” With both he and his opponent living in close proximity to Bossier City there may not be a home-field advantage, but that doesn’t make a difference as far as Scallan is concerned. As long as he has a chance to showcase his skills he’s more than happy. “Krantz has actually fought in Shreveport a lot,” explained Scallan. “To be honest he may have the hometown advantage. The most important thing is getting to fight on the main stage. I’ve been through so much bullshit fighting in these smaller organizations and traveling throughout Texas and Mississippi just to get some fights. Watching Dustin in the limelight has pissed me off because I feel as though I should be there with him, but I have no one to blame but myself.” Scallan has worked hard to get where he is at. He admittedly made a lot of mistakes and because of his immaturity he feels as though he never fully lived up to his potential as a collegiate wrestler. Thankfully he has woken up and with the help of some great teammates and the support of his family and friends he is looking forward to becoming a world class mixed martial artist. He understands that anything worth having takes hard work and persistence. Combine his natural athletic ability with those important virtues and you have a recipe for something special. His background plays a huge role in who he is and where he plans on going. “I knew if I worked hard I would catch a break. I had one of my old fight promoters put in a good word for me and Bellator called me to replace Krantz’s original opponent who had gotten injured. I’m not looking at this fight as something to be grateful for because I know I deserve to be here,” Scallan revealed. “I feel like I definitely belong here and I’m ready to show everyone that I belong here fighting amongst the best in the world. I am fully disciplined now and changed my life around, I haven’t drank in over nine months and changed my diet, my whole lifestyle revolves around MMA.” Recently there has been some attention thrust upon the guys at Gladiator in particular Poirier. He was shown training alongside Matt Schnell from the MTV reality series Caged and, according to Scallan who was there, they handed Schnell a beating to see where his true intentions were at. Scallan was more than surprised and walked away somewhat impressed at how dedicated Schnell is to becoming a legitimate Mixed Martial Srtist as opposed to a reality show star. Schnell found something out about Poirier that Scallan has known for a long time and that is Poirier is as dedicated to MMA than any other fighter. “Dustin made it pretty clear in one of his interviews that he wasn’t really looking to be filmed for the show,” offered Scallan. “They came down and just trained for the one day. We have kind of a big ego at our gym and we beat the sh*t out of Schnell. He was beat up before Poirier even got to him, we had him sparring for five minute rounds. We actually liked the kid and have a lot of respect for him. He came in really humble and worked really hard. He didn’t act like a bad-ass or anything.” “From what I have been told he is training down in Sacramento with Team Alpha Male and Joseph Benavidez,” Scallan elaborated on his fellow Louisiana fighter. “He’s set up with Tito Ortiz’s group Team Punishment. He is really taking advantage of the opportunities the show has created for him. He really likes Dustin and admires the discipline that he has. Poirier is a great guy to follow, he works hard and has come a long way. He is definitely something special, he lives and breathes MMA. He’ll work out three or four times a day and I can call him to work out with me and he’ll never say no. You have to tell him no sometimes, he’s been a huge inspiration to me.” With a great team behind him, a positive attitude, and desire to become one of the best in the sport, Scallan will face the toughest test of his short MMA career on Friday night. Krantz is 10-5 and has finished every one of his victories. He also has faced a higher level of competition. One advantage Scallan has over Krantz is two of his teammates have fought and defeated Krantz within the last fifteen months. “If you’re from Texas or Louisiana then you know who Derrick Krantz is,” Scallan said. “He had about 20-30 amateur fights and had a pretty start to his professional career winning his first seven fights. The only people he has lost to are Poirier, another teammate of mine in Rich Clementi, one guy who fights for Bellator, and two guys who are in Strikeforce now. He hasn’t lost to anyone who he wasn’t supposed to lose to. He’s not a traditional wrestler, but has good takedowns and is really strong. His stand-up is not technically good, but he’ll keep coming forward no matter how many times you hit him. My cardio is better than is, but once it gets out of the first round it’ll be all downhill after that.” As everything else falls into place around him, Scallan is able to focus fully on his fighting career. He recently signed on with Alchemist Management which has alleviated a lot of his fears concerning the outside distractions. Alchemist has become the home for many of today’s top Mixed Martial Artists including Nate Marquardt, Stephen Thompson, Brendan Schaub, Rory MacDonald, Thiago Silva, and many others. Scallan knew it was imperative that he had the right people behind him looking out for his best interest so that he can concentrate on training and becoming the best fighter he can be. “Things are really coming together for me now,” said an excited Scallan. “Signing with Bellator and Lex McMahon and the Alchemist group gives me a clear cut path to the UFC and to the top. I’m finally ready to grab the brass ring. If this would’ve happened earlier I don’t think I would’ve been ready for it. Finding the right representation was a big concern for me and finding someone who is trustworthy. Everyone I have talked to has said Lex is a guy I can trust. No one had a bad thing to say about him or Alchemist and that really put my mind at ease.” Scallan is very confident and he has no problem admitting that he has an ego. He feels as though his talent is as good as anyone else in the sport. He has the perfect opportunity to show the world what he is made of and what he has to offer. That comes as good news to those who are behind Scallan, but for the man who will be locked inside the cage with him it spells nothing but trouble. “You are going to see me show up, this is the biggest fight of my life on the biggest stage,” exclaimed Scallan. “I always perform my best under pressure; it’s going to be non-stop action. You won’t see me get tired and you’ll never see me quit. Every time I get hit I’m going to swing right back. My pace gets better as the fight goes on. Anything can happen in MMA with those four ounce gloves, but Krantz will have to kill me if he wants to beat me. I have so much on the line and I’m so focused on winning that I can’t see it going any other way that in my favor. Expect to see me finish him and put on an exciting show for the fans.” Catch Scallan fight on the Bellator 61 prelims starting at approximately 6:00 PM EST. The show is highlighted by the opening round of the organization’s Season 6 middleweight tournament and a rematch between heavyweights Thiago Santos-Eric Prindle to determine the Season 5 tournament champion. Tweet

Posted in: fight, show, ’t, poirier, scallan

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Quinton Jackson has been all over the mixed martial arts (MMA) news this week, making the headlines for a series of anti-Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) tweets and staying squarely in the spotlight by going on to repeat those sentiments in an interview with Bas Rutten & Inside MMA that aired last night.Chief among his complaints is the fact that the UFC is insistent with matching up against wrestlers. In his sharpest comments to date on the matter, Jackson suggested that UFC matchmaker Joe Silva should be shot in the face for doing so. Jackson also asked for his release from the organization instead of fighting out his contract. What did the UFC think of all this? On the most recent episode of UFC Tonight, on FUEL TV, we got our answer when it was revealed that Rampage will indeed have one more fight in the UFC: A rematch against a man who devastated him back in their Pride days, Mauricio Rua. If after this fight Jackson does indeed hit the free-agent market, is there even a place for him to go? One would think that Rampage would command a pretty penny, something not too many MMA organizations can offer, but Rampage was quick to tell Rutten that he isn't looking for money: For me, the respect is worth more than the money. I'll go fight for some other show for free. I'll prove to the fans that I'm not all about money. I'll go fight for some other show for five dollars. With it looking like it really will be one more and done for Rampage, after the jump we take a look at five possible fights for Rampage outside the UFC: 1. Todd Duffee -- Super Fight LeagueThe first SFL show is garnering some attention around the MMA world. Unfortunately, it's all the wrong kind of attention. The show is being mocked for the theme song, for the production work and for the in-cage product. (Bob Sapp isn't respected in the MMA world as a legitimate headliner. Gee, has he ever been?) But, bear with me for a moment: The two men responsible for the show are heavy hitters on the Bollywood scene and there was a lot of Bollywood star power at the first event. I know they enjoyed it, because they continually took the camera off the fights that were taking place to show us beautiful Indian actresses in awe of what they were seeing. So they clearly have the financial means to bring in Rampage. And despite Rampage claiming that he'll fight for free, I highly doubt he actually would. Not only that, but the upstart promotion has already announced dates for its next six shows. The biggest problem they currently have is elite talent, so a guy like Rampage would be just what they need. And when you think about it, Rampage is perfect for promoting MMA to a new audience. The chain, the howling ... it would be his early days in Pride all over again. Plus, we know Rampage is down for the ladies, and boy, does Super Fight League have ladies. All the beautiful starlets in the front row and the intermission dancing girls would leave him in heaven. Finally, Duffee is exactly the kind of opponent Rampage is looking for. Sure, he's a heavyweight, but Rampage should have no problem putting on weight, especially if he continues to use TRT and eat Japanese fried chicken.2. Muhammed Lawal -- StrikeforceWhen King Mo heals up from the staph infections that have him in rough shape, he's going to need a fight. Rampage and Mo have a history of sniping back and forth, so the fight would garner instant attention. I realize that some of you are going to say "Strikeforce is Zuffa, no way he leaves the UFC and goes to Strikeforce," but consider that Nate Marquardt signed with Strikeforce after being black-listed from the UFC, setting the precedent that fighters with UFC issues are not necessarily out of the question for Strikeforce. Would Rampage be interested in a bout with Mo, a fantastic wrestler? Probably not, but this fight would attract a good deal of attention if it were to happen, which means we can't rule it out.3. Fedor Emelianenko -- DreamThis would actually be a pretty cool fight to see come to fruition and one that has largely been ignored when it comes to discussions of either man's futurte. Fedor last fought against Satoshi Ishii at the Dream event on New Year's eve. He is looking to fight again in the summer, although he doesn't have an opponent yet. Fedor recently stated that he would have to go to America to fight against top competition, but Fedor making nice with the UFC is almost surely out of the question. Enter Rampage who, just one fight removed from a UFC title fight, would be exactly the top competition Fedor wants. As for Rampage, he'd get his wish to fight someone who won't "just take him down and hump his leg." Should this fight come together it would have the added benefit of getting under the skin of Dana White. This would be a huge fight wherever it took place but especially in Japan; both Fedor and Rampage were huge stars during the Pride era and I'm sure they still have some appeal, even if it is not nearly as great as five years ago. 4. Evander Holyfield -- BoxingYeah, I know you just did a double take, but hear me out for a moment. Holyfield is actually still fighting. As recently as last month he spoke of the possibility of a title fight with one of the Klitschko brothers. We have had James Toney vs Randy Couture in MMA, but I honestly can't remember the last time, if ever, a big MMA star has fought a boxer on the boxer's terms. I would be shocked if there weren't at least a few boxing promoters who would be interested in putting this match together. The name value of both fighters alone would make it a big fight wherever it takes place. And when you add in the MMA vs Boxing angle you have a guaranteed money maker. I'd definitely pay to watch this fight even if it took place in Eastern Europe and was broadcast on a cheap Internet stream. 5. Pro Wrestling Rampage has appeared on WWE Raw before, as a promotional stunt for the A Team movie. I personally would have no interest whatsoever in watching him go down that road in America, but I would be intrigued if Jackson ventured into Japanese Pro Wrestling. I have to admit that I don't know much about the pro-wrestling scene in either America or Japan, but as Quinton still has some star power in Japan, I'm sure that he would be welcomed by any of the current promotions putting on shows. It's worked out for Josh Barnett, among others, so this actually might happen in addition to the other four options already mentioned. So what do you think Maniacs? Is Rampage headed overseas to compete in MMA? Is he headed to boxing? Who do you think his next fight outside the UFC is going to be against? Does anyone care anymore?

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, show, rampage

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Join us this evening at Bloody Elbow for live discussion of UFC Tonight, which airs on Fuel at 10 p.m. EST/7 p.m. PST. The show, which is hosted by former WEC commentator Todd Harris and Kenny Florian, has been quite interesting so far and the UFC has used the show to break news as well (two weeks ago they broke the story about Nate Marquardt signing with Strikeforce), so it's worthy of a watch. Here's the official description of the show from the website: UFC Tonight is the official weekly news and information show of the UFC. With in-depth event coverage and analysis, jaw-dropping highlights, exclusive fighter interviews before-and-after bouts, and segments unavailable anywhere else, UFC Tonight is your number one source for the latest happenings in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Tonight's show will feature an in-depth interview with Jake Ellenberger, Kenny Florian discussing a variety of topics including Junior dos Santos vs. Alistair Overeem and Quinton Jackson's recent comments about wanting to leave the UFC, and some interesting news from MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani about the future of lightweight Anthony Pettis.

Posted in: ufc, show, news, nate marquardt, analysis jawdropping

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By Alex Mattis This past Friday kicked off season fifteen of The Ultimate Fighter, the UFC’s flagship show. The Ultimate Fighter reality show has brought the UFC, and mixed martial arts, where it is today. The first season of the show revolutionized the sport and took its public interest to levels that hadn’t been dreamed [...]

Posted in: show, season, alex mattis, hadn ’t, tuf premiere

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MMAjunkie.com staff reporter Steven Marrocco is a guest on today's edition of "The MMA Show with Mauro Ranallo." Marrocco joins host Mauro Ranallo to review this past weekend's Bellator 60 event and "The Ultimate Fighter: Live" debut, as well as other topics. Catch the show live at 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT) on radio.thescore.com, or download the archive on iTunes.

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

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The MMA Hour is back on Monday with another two-hour loaded show. Here's a list of who will be stopping by: * UFC middleweight fighter Chris Leben will discuss for the first time his one-year suspension after testing positive for banned substances following UFC 138. * Former UFC fighter Anthony Johnson will discuss life after the UFC and what went wrong at UFC 142. * Matt Mitrione will return to the show after a several month hiatus to talk about what's his next step following his loss to Cheick Kongo at UFC 137. * Pat Curran, the new Bellator featherweight champion, will talk about his big win over Joe Warren on Friday night. * Marlos Coenen will preview her upcoming fight for the upstart Invicta Fighting Championships and the current state of Women's MMA. * And MMAFighting.com's Mike Chiappetta will look back at the TUF Live premiere and the return of Bellator. Got a question or comment? Give us a call at 1-888-418-4074. Watch the show live below beginning at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT. Subscribe to The MMA Hour on iTunes: audio feed here; video feed here. Download previous episodes here. Listen to the show via Stitcher here.

Posted in: ufc, mma, show, mma hour, hour

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The UFC’s historic 2012 continued last Friday night when the organization unveiled the latest season of TUF, bringing the popular reality show to a new network along with a new format. While the show drew mild criticism from fans expecting a more-polished product, Dana White was thrilled with how things went off considering the number of potential problems with a live show let alone one without past production to learn from. “Going into this thing … you’re always nervous when you do something new and do something different. We worked long and hard on this show to make sure this came off with no hitches,” said White to MMAJunkie, adding, “I’m very happy to with how it came off. It was perfect. Everything went according to plan. There were literally no hiccups whatsoever.” “It’s not easy doing this live. Nobody’s even done this before, and it could have gone any more perfect,” he concluded. Though there may have been a few minor issues, including a curse word or two making air as well as some questionable decisions created by the single-round set-up, for the most part the TUF 15 debut was well-received based partially on half of the bouts ending in some form of a finish. “We’ve got a lot of guys who are very good, guys who are strong finishers,” the pleased UFC President stated. “I love that. I love guys with killer instincts.” TUF 15 is back this Friday night with another live fight between two of the sixteen men who made it into the house as well as highlights from the past week including coaches Urijah Faber-Dominick Cruz selecting their teams. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: show, ufc president, friday night, ufc ’s, singleround setup

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Sometimes these things happen in MMA when the ref is clad in jeans and a tee. What we have here is your typical outdoor MMA show. Tank tops, green grass, even a white picket fence, Americana. This is also your typical show where commissioning is nowhere to be found and the ending to the fight is as awkward as the beginning (where red shorts looks to touch gloves and throws a kick to the body instead). Watch one of the most strange endings to a fight we've seen in a long time as this ref just lets red shorts take a nasty shot to the dome after everyone in the ring stares at each other for a while. Crazy. [Source]

Posted in: fight, show, fight weve, ring stares, touch gloves

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"How the hell is the UFC going to get 16 fights into less than three hours?" That was the main question most people were asking going into Friday's The Ultimate Fighter premiere on FX, answered quickly within minutes of the show opening up: one five minute round per fight. Yes, you read that correctly. A sport that is already a max of 15 minutes for non-title fights was cut down to just five minutes...and it worked. On Friday, the UFC did what so many promoters around the world wish they could do: promote a two-and-a-half hour amateur MMA show on a major ad-supported cable network. Here's five quick-hit thoughts that stood out to me: 1) The format worked What felt like a Friday night high school sporting event was a hell of a lot of fun. Shot in the same venue that the UFC has run TUF fights in for years, it was exactly what we were promised: a live TUF show. Jon Anik was the host, Dana White, Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber provided sparse commentary and 16 fights took place in front of less than a hundred people. When the UFC signed with Fox, we heard how TUF was going to be different. While it's probably foolhardy to expect sweeping change with the hourly episodes every week, the relationship got off to a fresh and fun start Friday and will likely be a constant in future seasons moving forward. 2) Finishes galore Whether it was the shortened fights or the nature of the TUF fight-in beast, there was a glut of bouts that ended in finishes that ranged from eight second KOs to plain ol' rear naked chokes. Considering the relative unknown nature of those that competed, it made for a fast paced night that left impressions on some potential top-level competitors on this season. The first four fights wrapped in just over 30 minutes and out of 16 fights, half needed the full five minutes. The sense of urgency was there, a reason the single round was a great idea. $40,000 worth of bonuses ($5k per finish) were given out. Again, it worked. 3) Faber and Cruz more friendly than enemies For two guys that were have been painted, promoted and portrayed as bitter rivals, both Faber and Cruz were downright civil throughout the broadcast. They interacted like two scouts would at a football game without any unpleasantries being exchanged. With 13 weeks, there will be plenty of time for the two to build toward July's climax in their trilogy. Friday wasn't about them at all and I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not. 4) Who stood out? With the way that MMA is today, the talent level on these shows is always tough to judge early on. However, there was a few fighters that caught my eye. Sam Sicilia stands all of 5'7" but knocked out Erin Beach in just eight seconds. Vinc Pichel opened up Cody Pfister with a nasty elbow, resulting in a big gash and bloodiest fight on the show. Daron Cruickshank was my favorite fighter of the night with his Stephen Thompson approach to the game. Michael Chiesa could be a fun character to watch, as is the 21-year-old Justin Lawrence. White wasn't shy in calling out favorite target Steve Mazzagatti ("They call him 45-minute Mazzagatti" after a slow stoppage) and ripping on Chase Hackett for not doing anything against a seemingly gassed Chris Saunders. As the show went on, you heard more from White, Cruz and Faber but it was subdued and welcome. The three seemed more natural than any of the banter on Spike's MMA Uncensored Live. And for all that was made of poor Dakota Cochrane's past this week, he lost in a rather boring fashion and won't be on the show. What a waste of time that turned out to be. 5) A few production notes I don't think they ever said what weight class the guys were fighting at. I assumed 170, but when a guy that writes about MMA isn't sure, that's a sign they need to not assume everyone knows this...Phil Davis and Ross Pearson were among those helping out in the back and at cageside. But they weren't mentioned by name at all, which felt odd to me...White's dialogue with Faber and Cruz about the lack of clocks in the corners was pretty funny...I can't wait to see the ratings as FX did a ton of advertising leading up to Friday in every medium possible.

Posted in: ufc, fight, show, friday, minute

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A new era of the UFC's reality show, "The Ultimate Fighter," dawns tonight as the show moves to FX and starts airing live. Starting at 9 p.m. ET, tonight's episode will run for two and a half hours. As has … Continue reading →

Posted in: show, fighter, tonights episode, half hours, show moves

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With the 15th season of The Ultimate Fighter set to kick off tonight with a special two hour episode at 9 PM EST on FX, UFC announcer Joe Rogan takes a look back at his favorite moments from the previous seasons of the long-running reality show. This season marks the first time in the show’s history that the fights will air LIVE as they happen. In addition, this will also be the first season not to air on Spike TV, as FX takes over the rights of the show due to the UFC’s exclusive network deal with Fox and its networks FX and Fuel TV. Take a look back with Rogan, as he presents a few of his favorite moments of the show’s history.

Posted in: show, fx, season, rogan, moment

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It's already been confirmed that the UFC and FX knew about former gay pornstar Dakota Cochrane's hardcore past before they added him to the show, and Dana White has said he has no problem with it. Now here's video from the TUF media day where Dana White lays out how few f*cks he gives. He does sound like he's mentally steeling himself for the possibility of a homophobic witch hunt in the house though: "It's not like racism or things like that you have to deal with, but it's sort of a form of that, and it is what it is. The guy did it. Now he's got to live with it. He's got to handle himself in the real world. Dude is pretty tough. He made it on to the show, so any guy who has anything to say to him, he gets to kick his [expletive] ass two days later. That's the great thing about being on this reality show."..."I don't know if I have 15 homophobes here or 15 guys who could care less about it. I have no idea. No one has been talked to on the show. 'We have a very sensitive issue.' None of that has happened. We don't do that [expletive]. Whatever happens in that house happens, and then I'm going to have to deal with it. If there's some crazy [expletive] going on, you know how it works with me. I'm going to be fair and do the right thing. But if stuff crosses the line and bad things happen, I guess I'm going to be going over there a lot." All this wondering about what's gonna happen when Cochrane hits the TUF house could be moot after tonight when the elimination round goes down. It seems like half the interesting candidates for the show get axed before they even get in ... my biggest nightmare is if Saturday comes and both Epic Mustache Dude and Gay Porno Guy are gone. Oh well. No matter what, Master Thong will still be helping Urijah Faber coach, and he's more fun than a whole barrel full of gay porno guys. THONG STYLE! BOOM!

Posted in: guy, show, thing, he, heres video

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We have partnered with Pro MMA Radio to bring you weekly replays of PMR as the official radio show of MMAConvert.com. Pro MMA Radio can be heard live every Monday evening at 9pm ET/6pm PT. Replays and podcasts of every show are available 24/7 by going to the “Replay Corner” section of ProMMARadio.com, our own Pro MMA Radio page or by clicking the banner below. On this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio, Ryan Bader joined the show to talk about his win over Rampage Jackson at UFC 144 and share his thoughts on Rampage’s revelation that he used testosterone replacement therapy prior to their fight. MMA Mania’s Jesse Holland also stopped by help host Larry Pepe recap UFC on FX 2 and Strikeforce “Tate vs. Rousey.” You can listen to a replay of this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio by clicking the banner below. A radio player with links to the show’s archives will open in a pop-up window, so please make sure your browser is set to allow pop-ups for this site.

Posted in: mma, show, replay, radio, mma radio

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Join us at Bloody Elbow to discuss tonight's third episode of MMA Uncensored Live, which airs on Spike at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT. Hosts Nate Quarry, Craig Carton and Mike Straka will discuss a wide range of MMA topics.The show has been a bit uneven so far (to say the least) but there's room for growth and it's probably worthy of another chance. For those of you that missed the first two episodes, this is how co-host Nate Quarry describes the show: "More than anything, it's less of a sports reporting show talking about the scores that just happened and more of an opinion piece. It's a lot more like a forum than it is a news show. You know when you go to the forums and there's about 90% sh*t talking and 10% intelligence? We're hoping to raise the bar closer to 15%," Quarry quipped. Last week's episode featured an emotional retirement speech from Nate Quarry, which was pretty heartfelt. You can check it out here. This week, they will be previewing Bellator 60 and the featherweight title fight between Joe Warren and Pat Curran. Tune in and speak your piece here.

Posted in: mma, show, episode, nate, quarry

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UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz sure picked an interesting time to become a coach on The Ultimate Fighter. Not only does the position pit him opposite his fiercest rival -- former WEC champion Urijah Faber -- it also throws him into the reality show franchise’s first season of live television. If all that weren’t enough to think about, the show’s starting cast has already garnered headlines for including a fighter with a history as a gay porn actor.But if you ask Cruz, he’ll tell you that that’s not a particularly important piece of personal history as far as he sees it. He’s more concerned with whether guys like Dakota Cochrane can fight, he told MMA Fighting recently, and he expects the other fighters on the show to approach it the same way. "I don’t even really think about it, honestly," Cruz said. "He’s another guy on the show. I think that’s how everyone will see it."For Cruz, the goal with all the fighters who fight their way into the house on the live premiere of the show this Friday night is the same, whether they’re among the ones he knows personally from the San Diego MMA scene or whether they’re total strangers."For me, it’s a personal thing to make these guys better," he said. "It’s about seeing what I can show them, seeing what I can give them to help the rest of their careers. It’s also about hopefully helping a guy from my team win a six-figure contract with the UFC. That’s what it’s all about for me, and that’s the only thing I’m thinking about."As for his old foe and rival Faber, who he’s slated to meet for a third and, if you ask Cruz, hopefully final time, once the season is finished? They might have spent more time together lately than either would have liked, but that doesn’t mean Cruz finds the challenger’s company any more agreeable, he said."I’ve been around Faber a lot. But we’re both professionals. I don’t think we’re going to lose it and just start scrapping each other. We both know we’ve got a date July 7, and I’m prepared to fight him on that date and not before."

Posted in: guy, show, fighter, cruz, itrsquo

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Tickets for the UFC's third show on the Fox network, UFC on Fox: Diaz vs. Miller, go on sale today for Fight Club members. The show is May 5 in East Rutherford, N.J.

Posted in: ufc, show, fox, sale today, jersey tickets

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Join us tonight at Bloody Elbow for live discussion of UFC Tonight, which airs on Fuel at 10 p.m. EST/7 p.m. PST. The show, which is hosted by former WEC commentator and Kenny Florian, has been quite interesting so far and the UFC has used the show to break news as well (last week they broke the story about Nate Marquardt signing with Strikeforce), so it's worthy of a watch. Here's the official description of the show from the website: UFC Tonight is the official weekly news and information show of the UFC. With in-depth event coverage and analysis, jaw-dropping highlights, exclusive fighter interviews before-and-after bouts, and segments unavailable anywhere else, UFC Tonight is your number one source for the latest happenings in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Tonight's show will feature the one and only Chael Sonnen apparently apologizing to Anderson Silva (yes, I'm serious). In addition, Ian McCall will discuss his rematch with Demetrious Johnson, Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber will talk TUF 15, and MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani will cover some news. Tune in tonight and speak your piece. Below the jump, you can see a tidbit of what Chael Sonnen has to say on the show. "Anderson, over the last several months, I've disparaged your name in attempt to garner respect and attention for my own. That was wrong and I apologize. My actions were unsportsmanlike, they were uncalled for."

Posted in: ufc, show, chael sonnen, news, kenny florian

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Good news for fans of the new Ultimate Fighter Live in the U.K. as the show will broadcast in England with no tape delay.

Posted in: show, fighter, debut, uk, air

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MMAjunkie.com Radio today welcomes to the show UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. Additionally, Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix finalist Daniel Cormier and UFC flyweight tourney fighter Ian McCall join the show to discuss the latest in their careers. MMAjunkie.com Radio airs from noon to 2 p.m. ET (9-11 a.m. PT) live from Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Listen to and watch a video stream of the two-hour show at www.mmajunkie.com/radio, or watch it live on select television markets as part of Fight Now TV.

Posted in: show, radio, mmajunkiecom, twohour show, strikeforce heavyweight

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Miesha Tate was one of four fighters to receive indefinite medical suspensions following Saturday's Strikeforce show.

Posted in: show, fighter, suspension, tate, miesha

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MMA has made huge leaps in promoting fights. Instead of videos that just show highlights backed by loud rap or metal music, they tell the story of why you want to tune in. These two videos from Bellator and the … Continue reading →

Posted in: fight, show, video, metal music, fight promos

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On Fri., March 9, 2012, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will bring fans the fifteenth installment of the reality television series, The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) on FX at 9 p.m. ET. However, viewers can expect to see things ratcheted up a notch this season. On top of the fact that the TUF 15 coaches (Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber) happen to be two fighters who can hardly stand to be in the same room with each other, the innovative way that this series will be broadcast and presented is certainly an exciting prospect. Unlike past seasons, the footage we see, each week, will be very recent (usually shot within the past day or two). Also, the actual fights will be shown live on FX, every Friday night. No editing, no commentators ... just live mixed martial arts (MMA) goodness on your TV screen, in your living room. Last night (March 1, 2012), FUEL TV ran a preview show for the upcoming TUF 15 debut, which included some nostalgic looks back on previous season highlights, as well as interviews with UFC President Dana White and several other UFC personalities. Spoiler alert! Dana is excited: "What we are doing this season with ‘The Ultimate Fighter Live' - it's never been done with television, with sports, with anything," says White. "Basically, the reality portions of the show that you're going to see will have been shot in the last two days, so everything is real time. The most incredible part of all this is that these fights are live, every Friday night. This is revolutionary television." It's well documented that TUF 15 coaches, Cruz and Faber, have little love lost between them. Last night's TUF preview episode continued to document the bad blood. Never one to lack confidence, "The California Kid" has a simple gameplan going into the show: "I'm gonna beat him in the coaching game. I'm gonna beat him up in the fight and then walk away with the belt." "The Dominator" was equally candid about their relationship and how it's festered into what we currently see today on the screen and in the cage: "He's always taking shots and I'm always taking shots. It's basically a never-ending rivalry. That's where we're at now. We're gonna be in there literally trying to kill each other. (creepy laugh)" Ultimately, it's not really about Dominick and Urijah. It's about 32 fighters looking to make a name for themselves and work towards the possibility of one day wearing UFC gold. White believes those factors are what truly make TUF a success on the airwaves: "‘The Ultimate Fighter' has become so popular because, in my opinion, it's the most relevant reality show on television," White continues. "It's not some reality show where you see a bunch of weirdo's on a show for a few weeks and then it's over and you never see them again. These kids are coming in and competing to try and get into the UFC and hopefully become a world champion someday." In addition to TUF being shot in a live format for the first time, it's also the first time the series will be seen on FX (via the UFC's new deal with FOX Sports). White had nothing but good things to say about the way the new deal will improve the way we see TUF on TV: "It was 11 years ago that we bought this company and got into this sport. We had a vision for this thing, and our goal was to get this thing on to television, and then eventually -- network television. The deal that I always dreamt about and the deal that I always wanted was FOX. Our sport lines up perfectly with their network. Now that we're here and we're doing massive fights on FOX and now that we have this opportunity to be on FX and do 'The Ultimate Fighter' LIVE -- this is revolutionary television. Nobody's ever done this before. If you love sports, you love 'The Ultimate Fighter.' You love drama, you're gonna love 'The Ultimate Fighter.' You love reality shows, you're gonna love 'The Ultimate Fighter.' I don't care what type of television that you're into and you like to watch, 'The Ultimate Fighter' is the television show for you." There you have it. It looks like we can expect a very tough cast of competitors, as well as a lot of live drama to keep the fans entertained for an entire season of reality TV goodness. Will you Maniacs be tuning in for the TUF 15 debut? What about this upcoming season excites you the most? Opinions please. Remember to tune in to FX on Fri., March 9 at 9 p.m. ET!

Posted in: show, fighter, tuf, love, television

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Join us at Bloody Elbow to discuss tonight's second episode of MMA Uncensored Live, which airs on Spike at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT. Hosts Nate Quarry, Craig Carton and Mike Straka will discuss a wide range of MMA topics. MMA Fighting's Luke Thomas is scheduled to be guest on the show, which should be reason enough for y'all to tune in. For those of you that missed the premiere episode this is how co-host Nate Quarry describes the show: "More than anything, it's less of a sports reporting show talking about the scores that just happened and more of an opinion piece. It's a lot more like a forum than it is a news show. You know when you go to the forums and there's about 90% sh*t talking and 10% intelligence? We're hoping to raise the bar closer to 15%," Quarry quipped. Last week's episode featured an awesome story on the fall of Pride, put together by Dan Herbertson with some major input from Zach Arnold of Fight Opinion. If that's any indication of the type of stories Uncensored is going to feature in the future, you should all be watching.

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

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We have partnered with Pro MMA Radio to bring you weekly replays of PMR as the official radio show of MMAConvert.com. Pro MMA Radio can be heard live every Monday evening at 9pm ET/6pm PT. Replays and podcasts of every show are available 24/7 by going to the “Replay Corner” section of ProMMARadio.com, our own Pro MMA Radio page or by clicking the banner below. On this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio, Anthony Pettis joined the show to talk about his big win over Joe Lauzon at UFC 144 and share his thoughts on potentially fighting Ben Henderson for the lightweight title. CBS Radio’s Dave Farra also stopped by to discuss all the UFC 144 fallout with host Larry Pepe. You can listen to a replay of this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio by clicking the banner below. A radio player with links to the show’s archives will open in a pop-up window, so please make sure your browser is set to allow pop-ups for this site.

Posted in: mma, show, replay, radio, mma radio

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) officials today announced "The Ultimate Fighter Live: The Preview," a 30-minute special airing TONIGHT (March 1, 2012) at 11:30 p.m. ET on FUEL TV, featuring a sneak peek at the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15. TUF 15, which premiers LIVE on March 9 via the FX Channel, will feature 32 lightweight contestants vying for the coveted "six-figure contract" under the tutelage of bantamweight coaches (and division rivals) Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber. From UFC President Dana White: "What we are doing this season with ‘The Ultimate Fighter Live' - it's never been done with television, with sports, with anything. Basically, the reality portions of the show that you're going to see will have been shot in the last two days, so everything is real time. The most incredible part of all this is that these fights are live, every Friday night. This is revolutionary television. The Ultimate Fighter' has become so popular because, in my opinion, it's the most relevant reality show on television. It's not some reality show where you see a bunch of weirdo's on a show for a few weeks and then it's over and you never see them again. These kids are coming in and competing to try and get into the UFC and hopefully become a world champion someday." White will co-host tonight's preview show alongside UFC commentator Jon Anik. Also getting in on the action are Cruz and Faber, who will square off for "The Dominator's" title at UFC 148 on July 7, 2012, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. But the longtime rivals aren't doing anything in "Sin City" until they satisfy their coaching duties on TUF 15, beginning with the two-hour season premiere on March 9 and then one hour every Friday night (at 10 p.m. ET) for the following 13 weeks up until the June 1 live finale. A video of what you can expect during this upcoming live season, after the jump. The complete TUF 15 roster right here.

Posted in: ufc, show, fighter, tuf, march

Read the full article at MMA Mania

There was a lot of hand-wringing going into UFC 144 that it would not perform well on pay-per-view (PPV) and that the main event should have been saved for UFC on Fox 3. It appears that those concerns were unfounded. Dave Meltzer at the Wrestling Observer (subscription required) is reporting that early PPV estimates are "about 375,000 buys." Those numbers, on top of the UFC's best yet numbers for preliminaries on FX, are a very strong performance for the UFC and ex-champion Frankie Edgar. Edgar's most recent title defenses at UFC 125 and UFC 136 (both against Gray Maynard) did 270K and 225K respectively. Edgar did headline UFC 118 which did 570K PPVs, but that was against B.J. Penn and also featured a heavily promoted Randy Couture vs. boxer James Toney bout. Meltzer commented: It's a good sign because the usual rule is that an overseas show doesn't do as well as a North American show, and may be a very positive sign for the upcoming Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen fight. The surprising numbers have started ever since the move back an hour which seems to have resulted in stronger West Coast numbers. That also coincides with the FOX deal going into effect. As far as reasons, I did see a lot more advertising for this than usual with a lot of televised stuff. The pre-show being two hours and doing a good rating may have helped. The TV commercial was also good. And it could be that Edgar was finally getting over (in looking at trending patterns before the show and who had the most interest, it was Edgar slightly ahead of Jackson, with Henderson about half that of Edgar and Ryan Bader next, and well below Henderson). This also came with a Countdown show airing on Fuel (it probably aired on Fox Sports Net as well but wasn't advertised and probably didn't do much in the way of viewers). But across the board, everything was positive here. This is excellent news for the UFC and bodes very well for the rest of 2012. SBN coverage of UFC 144: Edgar vs. Henderson

Posted in: ufc, show, henderson, number, edgar

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The SRN goes live today at 3 p.m. ET/noon PT.

Posted in: show, pt, breen, etnoon, srn

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The SRN goes live today at 3 p.m. ET/noon PT.

Posted in: show, pm, pt, breen, etnoon

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Bloody Elbow Radio, presented by Bad Boy, will be LIVE! at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT for another edition of the show. Join hosts Matt Bishop and special guest host Matthew Roth as they discuss all the latest news in mixed martial arts, including all the aftermath from this past weekend's UFC 144. We'll also discuss the FX prelims ratings, how we think the show did on pay-per-view and take an early look at this weekend's Strikeforce show. We'll be joined by UFC bantamweight Chris Cariaso, who is fresh off the biggest win of his career against former title challenger Takeya Mizugaki this past weekend at UFC 144. We'll chat with him about that fight, a potential future at flyweight and much more. We'll also be joined by Titan Fighting CEO Joe Kelly in advance of his promotion's show this Friday on HDNet. We'll talk with him about that show, which features Jorge Santiago in the main event, the prospects on the card and much more. Bloody Elbow Radio is sponsored by Bad Boy. Get your Legacy Fight Shorts, seen on Yushin Okami, Vaughan Lee and Hatsu Hioki tonight at UFC 144, only from Bad Boy at the brand new BadBoy.com. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook and tell them Bloody Elbow sent you. How to listen: Live/archived on the player below I iTunes I RSS feed I Direct download link (available after live broadcast) Want to get in touch with the BE Radio crew? Here's how you can do so: Phone: (347) 202-0934E-mail: bloodyelbowradio@gmail.comTwitter: @mbish86 or @BrianHemmingerBloodyElbow.com: Leave a question or comment in this post For those calling in, you will first be picked up by our producer who will take your information and get what you want to talk about. You will then be queued. We will try to get to everyone as soon as we can. We ask that you call in around the time of the topic you want to discuss. SBN coverage of UFC 144: Edgar vs. Henderson SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey

Posted in: ufc, show, elbow radio, elbow, boy

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Spike debuted MMA Uncensored Live last Thursday, kicking off the show with a live interview with Nick Diaz, following up with an in-depth look at the Yakuza's role in PRIDE and closing with a chat with Dan Henderson. The debut had mixed reviews, but you can now stream the entire 27 minutes on Spike's website and make the call for yourself. The show is hosted by Craig Carton, former UFC fighter Nate Quarry and longtime MMA writer/media personality Mike Straka. Last week, we had an interview with Quarry about his role on the show and what to expect out of it. Spike has also released their entire 37-minute interview with Miro Mijatovic, the former manager for Mirko Cro Cop and Fedor Emelianenko that is credited with taking down PRIDE. The three part interview starts here and goes into details about the Yakuza's involvement in PRIDE, alleged fight fixing and more. Former MMA Fighting writer Dan Herbertson was the person interviewing Mijatovic. Remember that every week, BE will post a live discussion thread during MMA Uncensored Live, so you can talk with fellow MMA fans while the show is going on.

Posted in: mma, show, interview, spike, craig carton

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The UFC and FX have revealed 32 lightweight fighters who have been selected to compete on "The Ultimate Fighter 15." The show (also dubbed "TUF: Live") debuts March 9 on FX with a two-and-half-hour episode that features 16 live elimination-round fights. All the winners earn official cast-member status. UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz and top contender Urijah Faber serve as coaches on the tournament-based show, which initially was slated to feature both lightweights and welterweights.

Posted in: show, fighter, eliminationround fights, tournamentbased show, twoandhalfhour episode

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The cast for the new Ultimate Fighter has been revealed with the show kicking off with 16 live fights on Friday, March 9 at 9pm ET/PT.

Posted in: fight, show, fighter, cast, friday

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"The Ultimate Fighter" season 9 aired on Spike TV in the spring of 2009. Appearing on the show were fighters such as Che Mills, DeMarques Johnson, James Wilks, Waylon Lowe, Andre Winner and Ross Pearson. Today it seems that the UFC may have missed the boat on one fighter that submitted a video to be included on the show.  That fighter, the new UFC Lightweight Champion Benson Henderson. The show began filming in early 2009, about the same time that Henderson made his WEC debut at WE 38. During his run

Posted in: show, fighter, henderson, spike tv, wec debut

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The UFC is likely set to hold its first show in "The Great White North" this year when it travels to Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on July 21, 2012, according to Sportsnet.ca. The event will likely be held at the Scotiabank Saddledome, which is where the NHL's Calgary Flames play. This will be the first of a possible three shows to be held north of the border this year. Spoiled, Canadians.

Posted in: ufc, show, year, calgary, scotiabank saddledome

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Watch the only official UFC pre-fight show with hosts Dave Farra and Megan Olivi, plus some of the industry's best journalists at 5:30 p.m. Eastern here on HeavyMMA.com.

Posted in: ufc, fight, show, megan olivi, prefight

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MMAjunkie.com lead staff reporter and MMA insider John Morgan is a guest on today's official UFC 144 pre-event show, "Fight Day." The show, hosted by Dave Farra and Megan Olivi, also includes Canadian broadcaster "Showdown" Joe Ferraro. You can watch the show, which airs live from Saitama, Japan, from 6-7 p.m. ET at www.heavy.com.

Posted in: show, megan olivi, staff reporter, dave farra, saitama japan

Read the full article at MMA Junkie

We have partnered with Pro MMA Radio to bring you weekly replays of PMR as the official radio show of MMAConvert.com. Pro MMA Radio can be heard live every Monday evening at 9pm ET/6pm PT. Replays and podcasts of every show are available 24/7 by going to the “Replay Corner” section of ProMMARadio.com, our own Pro MMA Radio page or by clicking the banner below. On this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio, Anthony Pettis joined the show to talk about his upcoming fight against Joe Lauzon this weekend at UFC 144. TJ Dillashaw stopped by to talk about his win over Walel Watson at UFC on FUEL 1. MMA Mania’s Jesse Holland also joined the show to help host Larry Pepe preview UFC 144. You can listen to a replay of this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio by clicking the banner below. A radio player with links to the show’s archives will open in a pop-up window, so please make sure your browser is set to allow pop-ups for this site.

Posted in: mma, show, replay, radio, mma radio

Read the full article at MMA Convert

If you thought Spike TV was out of the mixed martial arts (MMA) programming business after severing ties with Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), you were wrong. Tonight (Feb. 22, 2012), the network launched a new MMA news program called "MMA Uncensored Live." It featured former UFC middleweight Nate Quarry, HD Net's Mike Straka (known primarily for his work on the hit program "Fighting Words") and Craig Carton (who is largely recognized for his sport radio show that he co-hosts with former NFL great "Boomer" Esiason) all served as anchors on the new show that aired at 11 p.m. ET on Spike TV. The show joins the ranks of other MMA news programming such as HDNet's "Inside MMA," ESPN's "MMA Live" and FUEL TV's "UFC Tonight." Interestingly enough, the promotional slogan for the new show is: "No Bias. No Boundaires. No B.S." Not that its inferring this is not the case for other shows in their genre (wink, wink). After the jump, we'll recap the highlights of the latest MMA news broadcast to hit the airwaves: The show kicked off with a round table set-up, circled by the aforementioned panelists: Quarry, Straka and Carton. The opening dialogue felt a bit forced and was led by a joke from Quarry about being glad to be on Spike without being punched in the face. Comedic gold. Without much of a transition, the show cut (almost immediately) to a live interview with UFC welterweight Nick Diaz that very well may have been the most awkward interaction between human beings ever. Right off the bat, Carton lost the mercurial Diaz by leading with a question about his positive drug test after UFC 143. Diaz spent the next several minutes refusing to make look into the camera, giving short answers and just looking generally miserable to be there. It did get better as the interview went on and Diaz seemed to loosen up a bit. However, the interview was generally pretty hard to watch. After a break, the program took some viewer questions, did a brief UFC 144 preview and then transitioned to an interesting story that linked the fall of the Japanese based PRIDE organization to ties with the Yakuza mafia and other excursions in lawlessness. The show wrapped up with an interview with Dan Henderson that pushed things over the originally alloted 30 minutes. Bad news for anyone who recorded the show via DVR or Tivo. Overall, it wasn't a bad debut. I thought they did a decent job, gave good content and showed promise for future broadcasts. Its got some things to clean up, but hey, "Inside MMA" has been on the air for years and Kenny Rice still can't get the fact straight or pronounce the simplest of names. It will certainly be interesting to see how things progress. Did any of you Maniacs catch the the debut episode of "MMA Uncensored Live" on Spike TV? If so, what did you think? Opinions, please.

Posted in: ufc, mma, show, spike tv, tv

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Join us at Bloody Elbow to discuss tonight's premiere episode of UFC Uncensored Live, which airs on Spike at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT. Hosts Nate Quarry, Craig Carton and Mike Straka will discuss a wide range of MMA topics. Dan Henderson will be a guest on the show and they will air a story about the Yakuza's influence on Pride, which is particularly relevant considering the UFC is back in Japan this Saturday night for UFC 144. Quarry's description of the show from an earlier piece by Josh Nason: "More than anything, it's less of a sports reporting show talking about the scores that just happened and more of an opinion piece. It's a lot more like a forum than it is a news show. You know when you go to the forums and there's about 90% sh*t talking and 10% intelligence? We're hoping to raise the bar closer to 15%," Quarry quipped. You can catch a short preview clip after the jump, and be sure to pass by and share your feelings on the show.

Posted in: saturday night, show, news show, opinion piece, yakuzas influence

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Tim Burke: Dave Meltzer reports that UFC 144 ticket sales are doing very well (currently at 17,000 with a 3.1 million dollar gate). Does this lead you to believe that the UFC could have a bright future promoting events in Japan, or is it meaningless considering it's a sold show (meaning that the UFC was paid a flat rate for the show and ticket sales don't matter to them)? Josh Nason: It's tempting to say, "Yes! Of course!" but let's see how things play out with the crowd, the event, how everything goes this week, etc. I think in general, fans assume that ticket sales equal success when there's a lot of other factors that go into a successful event. Having a full house is a positive though and I'm intrigued if it will be a quiet respectful crowd like in PRIDE or otherwise. That could make for an intriguing viewing experience at home. Matt Roth: I'm honestly not sure. One one hand I think that having fans in the arena is a good thing, especially with the start time of like 9:30 AM local on a Sunday. Saitama Super Arena is 40 minutes outside of Tokyo which means that people want to get there to see the fights. On the other hand it's still hard for me to say this is anything but a vanity project. Yes it evolved from "We're running simultaneous PPVs" to just the solo show, but with the current MMA market in Japan, there's really no reason to believe they will be returning anytime in the near future. And by near future I mean in the next three years. Tim Burke: I believe that the curiosity factor is the main reason for the ticket sales here, and it'll be an uphill battle for the UFC to maintain this sort of interest in Japan, especially with no Japanese fighters in the main or co-main event. But it has to be a positive sign to see that Japanese fans do still care about MMA. The market is there, if the UFC plays their cards right. Sold show or not. Ben Thapa: At the same time, this can be viewed as an investment in the future of Japanese MMA, as the UFC is far, far less shady than PRIDE was in its heyday and how DREAM and K-1 have been handled of late. Despite this not airing live, the cordiality and respectability of the organizers, show runners and others could go a considerable way towards showing people in Japan that fights can be done on a big scale in a yakuza-free manner that is entertaining and features Japanese fighters battling at the highest levels. The Japanese media may not be as aflame about this event as the Brazilians are, but this event could pay off nice dividends in the future. Instead of a "We came, we saw and we conquered" moment, it could be "We came, we saw and we went away leaving behind good impressions of ourselves on this live audience and whatever TV masses we reach". We can build on this! - Herman Edwards Ben Thapa: Of course, I am doing a disservice to organizations that are righting themselves or have been chugging away solidly for all these years. DEEP, Shooto, Pancrase and the others have all built more solid frameworks to develop existing talent than many areas of the United States. Unfortunately, the Japanese gym culture is screwed up in a way that is truly hard to call "talent finding" or "talent building" and that is going to hurt. At least we have Ryo Chonan and his full time MMA gym. "Chenge oppernent! Honebackle is influenza!" T.P. Grant: I think the Japanese MMA fan has been starved of top flight fighters and have been misunderstood by MMA promoters. There seems to be a general sense that Pride was only successful because of the spectacle it created with intros, music, fireworks, giant monitors and rules that geared fights towards finishes but don't forget there were a lot of elite talent in that promotion. Promoters think that Japanese fans need Japanese fighters to cheer for, but again looking back many of the most popular fighters in Japanese MMA history have been foreign to Japan: Rampage Jackson, Ken Shamrock, Cro Cop and Wanderlei Silva. I think the UFC is doing this the right way in coming to Japan. Don't try to be Pride, just be the UFC. The focus in the UFC is all on the fights, so bring elite fighters. Ticket sales to me are a sign that the hardcore Japanese MMA fans are excited that a big time show and elite fighters have returned. Anton Tabuena: The UFC hasn't been there in years, and ticket sales doing great in Japan simply because there are enough hardcore MMA fans in country. No one can really put much meaning in to it aside from that. The Japanese MMA scene is still declining, and what the UFC has shown isn't really enough to grow the sport for the long term. With the UFC in the country, it's easy to assume that that the interest in JMMA is high, but the reality is, after they leave, everything will dry up and return to how it was. Don't get me wrong though, if they visit Japan again a year from now, I think they will still be able to get similar numbers (like a sold-out arena), but again, that's just because they have enough hardcore fans that they can milk. The sport isn't flourishing, and this isn't a case of like Brazil, where you can see massive interest and a fanbase that keeps growing, nor is this a case of them being able to regain the level of interest that PRIDE once had. Kid Nate: couple of things 1) according to Zach Arnold the sold show deal with Dentsu is for a series of fights over the next couple of years. 2) many of the biggest Pride-era MMA events in Japan featured no Japanese fighters in main events. K.J. Gould: I think we need to forget about 'Japanese MMA' as anything meaningful beyond nostalgia. It's a paid show as mentioned, and it'll be interesting to see how many of those sold seats actually have butts in them come fight time. For the first show back the novelty might be enough to fill it, but future shows done at early AM hours in Japan to cater to the PPV prime time in North America might not be so great. By far the bigger picture is 'Asian MMA' both in terms of television revenue - assuming the PPV model doesn't work in Asia like it does in North America - as well as the live show and merchandise revenue, which is where the UFC can clean up if they price it right. The international tours WWE does makes for a significant part of their revenue stream with their domestic PPV shows being down year on year. Even with UFC's downturn in the last couple of years due to various factors, their domestic PPV numbers is still thought to be larger than WWE's global PPV numbers, and that's probably true of Boxing as well considering how many PPV cards UFC puts out. Ben Thapa: On a more serious note, Dentsu is apparently a top of the line media negotiating company and with the might and power behind the UFC, they were barely able to get a sniff in the TV market. Why is this so? Are the TV execs so confident in the various soothsayers that yell MMA is dead in Japan or is there some level of racism and/or exclusivism going on? Where is the adventuresome and fearless spirit that Sakuraba supposedly instilled in so many with his death defying bouts? Fraser Coffeen: Ben - the cynical answer to why the TV market is an issue is that, as was pointed out above, the UFC is trying to run things above the board without shady Yakuza influence, and that hurts them. I guess I view this as no different than any new(ish) market. They'll draw well the first time, but the real proof comes in when they return. Is it one time nostalgia that is bringing fans out? And will they have a good experience, or will the early morning show be just too much of a pain for them? I think that's the real question. They're definitely making choices to maximize the show's PPV appeal, but those choices also hurt the live experience. That's not a bad idea, but it could hurt their next Japan show's live draw. K.J.Gould: I wonder if Gaijin companies always suffer in Japan without a Japanese figurehead to represent them. As good as Mark Fischer can be, I get the feeling in Japan - which has historically always had a strong sense of nationalism - he's always going to be up against that particular roadblock. Plus the Yakuza issue as mentioned, which makes working in Japan even more pointless when you have better long term options in the rest of Asia. Dallas Winston: I'm fascinated to see how this show is received in Japan. The UFC's purchase of Pride left a bad aftertaste because it unfolded more like assassinating the competition than bolstering their roster with a host of elite fighters and staking a claim in a new, lucrative market. The oft-scrutinized decline of Japanese MMA was triggered by Pride's dissolution and there seems to have been a tangible divide between North American and overseas MMA. C'mon, son ... "we are all one." Dana and Lorenzo have opened up in recent years and divulged that they were sappy Pride fanboys just like many of us were, so I'm sincerely hoping that this show is a success and that Japan and its fighters will be an influential partner to improve global MMA rather than a separate faction with emaciated potential. Furthermore, I'd actually love to see the UFC alter their repetitive (and near-stale) formula and add a little Pride flavor to their Japanese shows. Random ideas are letting Lenne Hardt introduce the fighters before they walk to the cage, perhaps splice in a few pyrotechnics and/or bring back the legendary "ramp" from Tito Ortiz's heyday. I think it was obvious that Strikeforce was catering to the Pride nostalgia by accenting their shows subtly with some of the Pride-inspired theatrics, and a slight deviation from their format and paying tribute to Japan/Pride would be a welcome change.

Posted in: ufc, mma, show, japanese, japan

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

MMA Uncensored Live is set to make its long-awaited debut tonight on Spike TV, where it will focus on UFC 144 and the demise of one of MMA’s greatest promotions, PRIDE Fighting Championships, with former PRIDE champion Dan Henderson as the honorary first guest of the show. Spike’s Press Release: Coming to you from the heart of New York City in Times Square, MMA Uncensored Live will feature debate and discussion, interviews, in-depth features, highlights and interaction with the viewers through Twitter, Facebook and other social media channels. We’re gearing up for a premiere on Thursday, February 23 at 11/10c, right after IMPACT WRESTLING. What’s more, we have three fine gentlemen to help you navigate all the news, opinion, interview and rumors we can fit into a half an hour. Let’s meet them now. Craig Carton – Host Craig currently co-hosts one of the most popular morning sports radio shows in the country, WFAN’s “Boomer & Carton” alongside NFL great Boomer Esiason. He’s been in the sports broadcasting game for over twenty years, having started at WGR Buffalo in 1991. Since then, Carton has worked in sports strongholds like Cleveland, Philadelphia and Denver, and has brought his irreverent energy to sports fans across the country through syndicated radio networks. We’re happy to have Craig back, as he also used to host Weekend Pre-Game on Spike. Mike Straka – Fight Expert Mike is a familiar face to any fan of MMA, considering he was the first mainstream media broadcaster to cover the sport. He’s the host of “The MMA Experience” on Fight Now TV, as well as “TapouT Radio” on SiriusXM Sports, and was the host of HDNet’s Fighting Words With Mike Straka. Prior to that, Mike served as vice president and executive producer of FOX News Digital, as well as a FOX News Channel on-air personality. He’s the author of two books, most recently 2011′s “Fighting Words”, published by Triumph Sports. Nate Quarry – Fight Expert Nate “Rock” Quarry is no stranger to Spike audiences. The founding member of Team Quest was Team Couture’s first pick during the first season of Spike’s “The Ultimate Fighter”. He followed up his tenure on TUF with three UFC wins before being stopped in his quest for the Middleweight Title by then champion Rich Franklin. Nate won four of his last six fights, including a fight of the night win over Tim Credeur in September of 2009. We’re excited to have these guys on board, and can’t wait for February 23, when we kick off “MMA Uncensored Live” at 11/10c! We’ll see you there. *** Spike TV announced this morning that one of the true legends of mixed martial arts, Dan Henderson, will be the first guest on the new primetime magazine show “Spike’s MMA Uncensored Live”. “Hendo” is a former Strikeforce and PRIDE champion, and most recently defeated Shogun Rua in an all-time classic at UFC 139. The premiere “MMA Uncensored Live” will also take a look at the rich history of mixed martial arts in Japan as the UFC descends on Saitama for UFC 144. The show will explore the roots of modern MMA, the sport’s meteoric rise, and how the corrupt business practices led to its downfall in Japan. The panel will then breakdown UFC 144, which features a light heavyweight match between Ryan Bader and Japanese favorite Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, as well as a lightweight championship match between Frankie Edgar and challenger Benson Henderson. Join host Craig Carton and fight experts Mike Straka and Nate Quarry on February 23 for the premiere of “Spike’s MMA Uncensored Live”!   Payout Perspective: MMA Uncensored Live’s debut will focus tonight on the demise of the PRIDE and their dealings with the Yakuza and other corrupt practices which eventually brought down the biggest MMA promotion at the time. The project was lead by long-time Japanese MMA reporter Daniel Herbertson, whose work was aided by the years of coverage provided by Zach Arnold of FightOpinion.com. Dan Henderson as the honorary first guest is a great choice for the show, as I’m sure he will be able to tell his own stories regarding PRIDE and Japan as a former PRIDE champion. Another interesting storyline here is that initially, Spike TV announced the name of the show as “MMAJunkie Live”, where MMAjunkie.com would be involved in producing the show.  In the last month or so, Spike TV changed the name to MMA Uncensored Live and MMAJunkie’s affiliation with the show was no more. Yesterday, MMAJunkie announced via Twitter that the following: We’re no longer involved with @Spike_TV‘s new MMA show but sincerely wish them the best of luck with tomorrow’s #MMAUncensored Live debut — Dann Stupp (@MMAjunkieDann) February 23, 2012   We just couldn’t make this project work (sorry for lack of details), but @Spike_TV will do a good job. Definitely check it out tomorrow. — Dann Stupp (@MMAjunkieDann) February 23, 2012

Posted in: fight, mma, show, sport, spike

Read the full article at MMA Payout

In the final fight of an eight-plus year career, Nate Quarry lost by second round TKO to Jorge Rivera. Nearly two years later, Rivera debuted on the infrequent ESPN MMA Live, while Quarry kicks off his first major venture into the analyst's chair with MMA Uncensored Live, an hour long MMA news and talk show debuting on Spike Thursday at 11 PM EST. A month removed from his 40th birthday, Quarry finds himself in an unfamiliar place, analyzing and giving praise or criticism to those that he may have trained with and competed against. Quarry said that initially concerned him, but watching some jovial interplay between football analysts and players recently eased some of his mental burden. "I saw that and really hope all the fighters that we cover have that same attitude, but it's a different sport with different attitudes. I know when someone said online or in interviews that I was going to lose, it pissed me off," Quarry said. "It's my job to give perspective. If I sit there and say I'm not going to say anything bad or realistic about a fighter, the show's not going to be good at all. "From a fan's perspective, it's a sport and they're watching it to have fun. As someone now going back into that role as a fan, I hope fighters can understand my perspective. Every time there's a prediction for a fight, someone's going to be pretty pissed off. Hopefully, I don't have half of the fighters in the land hating me," he joked. The show is a weekly venture featuring Quarry, Craig Carton (co-host on WFAN Radio with Boomer Esiason) and author/media personality Mike Straka. The three will broadcast live from Times Square in New York City, debating and discussing everything in the UFC, Strikeforce and Bellator with Twitter interaction from those watching at home. But what will make this a must-watch show in an already crowded MMA media marketplace, one that got more packed with the recent addition of Fuel TV's UFC Tonight? "More than anything, it's less of a sports reporting show talking about the scores that just happened and more of an opinion piece. It's a lot more like a forum than it is a news show. You know when you go to the forums and there's about 90% sh*t talking and 10% intelligence? We're hoping to raise the bar closer to 15%," Quarry quipped. For more on what to expect from the first show, join us after the jump. Quarry is familiar with Spike, a network he appeared on regularly during the first season of The Ultimate Fighter and on five Spike UFC events during his five years in the Octagon. He had done some work on the short-lived 2011 Comcast Sports Net American Cage Fighter show and after some screen tests and follow-ups, he was given his new role. He's been in New York all week as the group continues to prep for tonight's debut. Quarry admits he's bad with names, something Straka has razzed him about -- a dynamic that he thinks people watching will really get into. "What I like most is we're not playing roles. With us, it's like three buddies sitting in our basement and talking about the fights and what's coming up. We all have opinions on them. I've never understood why journalists can never share their opinions. For me, I'm not a journalist. Straka is and he's an opinionated journalist -- more than happy to tell me why he's right and I'm wrong." The new show is one of several MMA related projects Quarry is involved in as he continues his "fun project" Zombie Cage Fighter and The Better Way Back, a group that specializes in helping those with back and spine injuries that uses Quarry as a spokesperson, even naming an award after him. But it's this newest venture that has him most excited. With 100 million potential households, the backing of a major ad-supported cable outlet like Spike and a dynamic subject to talk about, Quarry feels fans will be able to relate to what Uncensored turns out to be. "We're going to be telling the stories and going behind the scenes. This week, we're doing a feature on the Yakuza and PRIDE with stories that have never been told," Quarry said. "It's so close to Real Sports on HBO that it blows me away. Because we're not tied to any one organization, we can tell the stories from every angle. We're going to be talking about the same things that fans are BSing about with their friends. " MMA Uncensored Live airs at 11 PM EST Thursday on Spike TV with Dan Henderson as a guest. Bloody Elbow will have a discussion thread on the site for fans to talk about the show and give their thoughts.

Posted in: mma, show, fighter, spike, quarry

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

Lots of angles to look at for Saturday's UFC Japan 2012 show.

Posted in: ufc, show, angle, japan, heatup

Read the full article at Fight Opinion

Nate Quarry has seen and participated in a tremendous amount of mixed martial arts history throughout his nearly 10 year professional career. A cast member of the inaugural season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), he was the first participant to actually earn a title shot, although he lost to Rich Franklin back at UFC 56. He had 10 total fights in the UFC, holding a 7-3 record in the promotion, but at 39 years old and realizing that time was no longer on his side, he's decided it's time to move on and take the next logical step. Tomorrow night, "The Rock" will be making his debut as an analyst on Spike TV' s mixed martial arts news show MMA Uncensored Live alongside Mike Straka and Craig Carton. The middleweight veteran spoke with MMAmania.com about his upcoming role in the show, what will help set them apart from everyone else and what fans can expect in this exclusive interview. Check it out: Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): What's your role on the show MMA Uncensored Live? We've seen a lot of fighters get an opportunity to be on shows like this with ESPN's MMA Live or Inside MMA. What do you expect your role to be on this show? Nate Quarry: More than anything, I'm just bringing street cred to the show. I'm the guy who's been there and done that and can speak for pretty much any situation a fighter is going to be in. I fought in a warehouse and I fought for the world title at the MGM Grand so any time we've had a fighter on there, I can relate to what they've gone through and my co-hosts Craig Carton and Mike Straka, they're the knuckleheads that'll be speaking from the total fans point of view or the journalist point of view and every once in a while they need to be kind of shut down and told how it really is in our world so I bring the fighter's view point but at the same time, before I was a fighter, I was a fan so I'm bringing the fan's viewpoint as well. I'll talk about the fights I want to see and what still excites me still after 15-16 years of watching fights. Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): I'm interested in some of the preparation you've done before this show. I remember your work as a motivational speaker, watching one of your speeches about the heart and toughness and coming back from your back surgery. How much did being out there and all that experience speaking in front of large groups help you land this role? Nate Quarry: Yeah, it's been a huge part of it with my speaking for the company that had my invasive back surgery. Working with them, we had it to where I was able to travel around and speak to people that are suffering so I would go to hospitals and tell my story and half the crowd would be UFC fans and half the crowd would be 90 year old people with degenerative scoliosis so I had to learn how to feel and speak to everyone in the crowd, make them feel like I was here relating to them no matter who they may be. I attended the TED conference in San Francisco and even being a young child in church, I was always doing bible readings in front of crowds. Everything kind of led up into this moment and I think once you get the opportunity, that's when the work really starts. I'm starting to hone my craft so I can speak more fluently and fluidly as these opportunities have come my way. The biggest research and preparation I've had to do is memorizing everyone's names and their records. That's been the hardest thing for me because I'm so, so bad with names. We were doing a test shoot the other day and I was trying to think of Gray Maynard's name when Frankie Edgar fought him and I'm just sitting there saying, "You know, the guy. He fought last time at the thing and the did the what-what" and Mike Straka is just laughing at me because he knows everybody's names and their records and all that stuff. This is gonna be a live show too so you'll have plenty of fuel to trash me at the end of everybody episode for sure. I'll probably be mispronouncing names but it's gonna be fun. Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): You also has some experience doing your own show. It wasn't on as big of a scale as this but American Cagefighter in California on Comcast, did that help you as well? I think you said that your role on that show was a little different than this one, though. Nate Quarry: Yeah, for that show, I was the host. I was the main host and a lot of it was me introducing segments as well where from here, I'm interacting with my co-hosts, I'm talking with the fighters and doing stuff that I really want to do where we can just sit around and talk about UFC 144. I'm not just sitting there introducing the segments and going from the camera shot to the commercial for it. We're sitting here talking about who I think is going to win. Is it going to be Edgar or Bendo? To me, that's where the fun comes in and it's not just us sitting around reporting the scores, it's us giving our opinions. Just like anybody, like you do with your friends when you talk about the upcoming fights. All the swearing and arguments that you've gotten in where you went back and forth, to me, that's the whole fun in the fight game. Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): Do you think that natural flow between the hosts, the opinion, is that going to help set your show apart from some of the other shows out there? Nate Quarry: Yes, I really do. We've got personalities. Craig Carson is the number one sports radio guy in New York. Mike Straka, he left Fox News to follow MMA several years ago and now this is his dream job as well where he just gets to sit down and talk about fighting and he's been doing that with fighters for years. Then you've got me. I've always been one of the most opinionated guys. I've just never been given an opportunity to say my opinion. I think having the three of us interacting with each other, and Straka has already been screaming and yelling at me and I've had to tell him to use his inside voice. You're not gonna get that on any of the other shows. You take a fighter who doesn't even own a suit and you pour him into one, he just looks so stiff. With us, it's clothes we would wear on the street. It's words we would use on the street. I hope my mother's not watching. It's gonna be fun more than anything. Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): You guys have a great first show lined up. Dan Henderson is planned to be your first fighter guest. Do you feel that will add a lot of legitimacy to the show, getting a guy that's in line to fight for the UFC light heavyweight title in 2012 to be on your debut show, an MMA legend? Nate Quarry: Yeah, I think right out of the gate it's gonna show that we have such a good show that Dan Henderson is wanting to be a part of it. He doesn't have to do anything so we're just really thankful for him being on. I've known Dan for 15 or 16 years and it's nice to sit him down once again and talk about his career, where he's come from and where he's going. Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): Do you feel like you guys are going to be able to give out good balanced view of everything? There are some shows that only show UFC stuff, some shows only discuss other stuff that they have a corporate interest in. Do you feel like you'll be able to give everybody a fair shake? Nate Quarry: Well, obviously we're gonna spend a majority of time talking about the UFC because it's the biggest show, but Bellator's gonna be making a big wave too in the next coming year so we'll be taking a big focus on that too but because we're not expressly affiliated with any one brand, that gives us an opportunity to talk about whatever we want to talk about. We're not a UFC sponsored show. We're not a Bellator sponsored show. We're here to talk about every show from the smallest to the biggest. To me, that's just very exciting. It's not gonna be a half hour advertisement for UFC or for Bellator or anything. Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): Dan Herbertson, one of the best MMA reporters out there from Japan, he hinted this morning that he's debuting a big story about the death of Pride in Japan and all that stuff on Thursday through Spike TV. Is that going to be something that you guys have on your show? Nate Quarry: Yeah, that's an incredible segment that we're doing on Pride and behind the scenes and the involvement with the Yakuza. It's cool to see this footage and see the interviews that everyone's got together. We've got this behind the scenes stuff that you never really see. Some people, they just watch the fights and then they turn it off and that's the entire thing. They don't think about the behind the scenes stuff where they sit these guys down and even myself, I cornered Dan Henderson when he fought [Murilo] Bustamante and what an incredible experience to be there and be behind the scenes and see the two fighters be given a duffel bag full of cash. I'm not gonna anything about the Yakuza because I like my pinkies but that's going to be a big show. Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): So is that something that's going to be an important part of your show, these really big segments to get these well-researched stories out there? Nate Quarry: Yeah, I think it's going to depend on the week. It's going to depend on what big fights are going on and what's the big controversy. We're not affiliated with any organization so sometimes the controversy will be Joe Rogan confronting Mario Yamasaki in that one fight where he disqualified Erick Silva and what a controversy on that or maybe something about better training with judges and referees or it will be Nick Diaz failing his drug test and missing his rematch with Condit or it will be a recent fight like Sanchez-Ellenberger and how the UFC made a mistake and it should have been five rounds and it was only three rounds. Did that give Ellenberger a break? It's a bunch of things that the fans are already sitting around and sharing their opinions about. We're no different. Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): I read that there's gonna be something called live Twitter interaction because the show's gonna be live. Can you tell me about the whole twitter interaction thing that you guys are planning for the show? Nate Quarry: Yeah, we're gonna have this hashtag #MMAUncensored so if people are tweeting to me or Straka or Craig Carton, we're gonna be looking at those tweets during the show and we'll pick out a couple of them to ask myself or Mike Straka or maybe even Dan Henderson. So the fans will really just be the fourth person there in the studio trying to get their names on the wall so we can relate to them and answer their questions. Like I did on my facebook on my twitter, I said, "We've got Dan Henderson coming on. What questions do you want me to ask him?" I see these fans who just love MMA so much, they've got these incredible thought-provoking questions that I never would have thought of myself. Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): Just promise me you guys won't just pick out the most vanilla questions like, "Who's your favorite fighter" and "How was training camp" and stuff like that. Nate Quarry: You know, it's funny you would say that because we were talking the other day about what questions to ask and that was one of the questions, "who do you want to fight next?" and "What's your gameplan for upcoming fight?I said, "Man, I'm not gonna ask that. First off, you're going to get the answer every single time about the gameplan: 'Well, I'm training for everything because he's a well-rounded fighter.'" You're never going to get, "Well, right now I'm working on my double jab into an overhand right so I can shoot with a double-leg takedown. I think this is really going to work well and he's not going to be expecting it." You heard it here first on MMA Live Uncensored, double jab into overhand right into double leg takedown and I hope your opponent is not watching! Those questions are never going to be answered so what I'm going to be asking or talking to Dan Henderson about, we're going to be looking back at the times he's came through and where he's going now which I honest want to know as a human being. Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): That's very refreshing. Now I don't know if you're even aware of this one, but two hours ago, Vitor Belfort tweeted at you that he wants to train together with you and get you in his next camp for his fight with Wanderlei. Did you see that and do you have a response? Nate Quarry: I woke up this morning and I saw that and I was like, "What the hell?" I didn't even know I was on Vitor's radar. That was really surprising to me. I don't even know what camp he trains at or where he's at. Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): I believe he's at Xtreme Couture. Nate Quarry: Oh, so he's in Vegas. Well, I'll reach out to him for sure but with my weekly commitment here in New York City, I don't see how that would be possible. But yeah, talk about waking up in the morning and getting a surprise. That was amazing. I couldn't believe that. Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): Does it concern you at all, you were originally going to be doing a thing with MMA Junkie but they got cold feet a month or two out. Do you have any words on that? Nate Quarry: To me, it doesn't really matter. I'll let the businessmen decide what they're gonna do. I'm just gonna focus on the show and to me, that means I get to be a fan and a fighter and express my opinions and that's a great job to me. I'll let the higher-ups worry about their drama and their politics and everything. I just want to sit around and talk about fighting. This is an incredible opportunity for me. I'm really hoping that once the show gets going, everyone will see that we're not here to hurt anyone or compete against anyone. We're just here to talk about fighting. Hopefully everyone will jump on board and recognize that and want to be a part of what we're doing. Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): This has nothing do to with the show at all, but since you're such a big fan of zombies and everything, how cool was it that you got an opportunity to be a guest zombie on the Left for Dead video game? Nate Quarry: That was pretty awesome. My buddy works at Valve Software and when I wasn't in the first UFC game, he called me and said, "We've got to put you in a game here," so I went up to Seattle and they used some digital photos of me in some 3-dimensional photos and they put me in the game. That was really cool and it played right into my Zombie Cagefighter line. I hate to say there are times in my career that I was left wanting but people spat in my face, betrayed my trust, stabbed me in the back but then for every person that's ever stabbed me in the back, there's two or three or even five guys that stood up and helped me when I needed it and it's just an awesome opportunity to do any of this stuff. To be a zombie in a video game, to be able to sponsor some fighters with my Zombie Cagefighter line in Dream or in Bellator and see people wearing my shirts around or getting excited about it, it's a dream come true. Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): That's about everything I had for you Nate, but before I let you go, did you have any last words about the show or anything else you wanted to add? Nate Quarry: Nothing I can really think of. I think you pretty much covered everything. (laughs) MMA Uncensored Live debuts tomorrow night, Thursday, February 23rd at 11 p.m. eastern time on Spike TV. You can follow Nate on twitter @NateRockQuarry.

Posted in: show, nate, quarry, im, mmamaniacom

Read the full article at MMA Mania

UFC Tonight is like a weekly UFC variety show designed to try and draw some attention for FuelTV. This week on said variety show, Dana White gives a 'Presidential Address' on the subject of ... Floyd Mayweather and Jeremy Lin? Yep, as the Baldfather's power continues to grow he is stretching his tentacles out past the combat sports dimension into basketball. I don't blame him ... what would he talk about that was MMA related? It's been kind of a slow news week. I look forward to next week when he breaks down the NHL playoffs.

Posted in: show, week, floyd mayweather, variety, baldfathers power

Read the full article at Fightlinker

Part One: Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson  Part Two: Ryan Bader vs. Quinton Jackson   Part Three: Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Jake Shields    Part Four: Joe Lauzon vs. Anthony Pettis  

Posted in: show, video, vs, edgar, frankie

Read the full article at UltMMA

When Spike TV first got into the mixed martial arts game, Nate Quarry was a part of it, as a contestant on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter. Seven years and a 10-fight UFC career later, Quarry is back on Spike this week as one of the hosts of MMA Uncensored Live, Spike's new studio show, which premieres on Thursday at 11 p.m. Quarry said it never even crossed his mind when he started fighting in a cage that he could actually become a professional broadcaster, and he said making any kind of a living at all "is beyond a dream come true." What Quarry says viewers will see from him is as simple as one former fighter discussing his passion for MMA. "It's something I enjoy doing," Quarry said. "I had a small show on the West Coast, American Cage Fighter, on Comcast Sports Net, and I enjoyed doing that, sitting around with other fighters and talking about the game." As a new and still relatively small sport, MMA hasn't had many opportunities for former athletes to make a living in broadcasting the way former players in the NFL or NBA or Major League Baseball can. But Quarry thinks he can be a trailblazer on that front, and he also thinks his background is going to make him a strong interviewer who isn't afraid to ask tough questions. "Most journalists are coming from a position of being fans and having watched the sport, but I'm coming from a position of being a fighter and I know what it's like," Quarry said. "I can ask Anthony Johnson why he can't make weight and it's not disrespectful because I've made weight every time I've fought." Quarry didn't go to school to learn to become a broadcaster, but he says he learned public speaking in a surprising way: His upbringing as a Jehova's Witness. Quarry left the religion as an adult but the emphasis the Jehova's Witnesses place on every member being a preacher helps Quarry to this day. "My formal training has been that I was raised as a Jehova's Witness as a child, from birth until about 20 years of age or so," Quarry said. "They have kids who do Bible readings or little talks at the church. From the age of 7 I was doing a Bible reading, taking a chapter of the Bible and reading a few verses of it and then talking about it, and then when you're done you're critiqued on it and told how well you spoke. So from a very young age I worked on this." Spike TV had a long and mutually beneficial relationship with the UFC, but that relationship has come to an end, and the network and the UFC have butted heads more recently. Quarry said he isn't sure whether the UFC will allow MMA Uncensored Live to show highlights, or whether the UFC will encourage its fighters to appear on the show, but Quarry himself makes clear that he remains a UFC fan. "I hope the UFC will see what a great show MMA Uncensored Live is and they're going to want to work with us, give us their footage, send their fighters to talk to us because it's good exposure and we're doing a phenomenal job of getting the word out there and getting people interested in the fighters, so it benefits everyone," Quarry said. "I don't know the relationship with Spike, but I know we at MMA Uncensored aren't battling anybody, we're not counter-programming any of the shows. The UFC is the biggest game in town and we'll be talking about the UFC." Quarry describes the show as an unscripted conversation, "as if you're hanging out with three of your buddies talking about the upcoming card and who you think is going to win." Spike is joining a crowded space, alongside HDNet's Inside MMA, ESPN2's MMA Live and FUEL's UFC Tonight and UFC Ultimate Insider, but Quarry said he thinks there's room for everyone. "I think HDNet with Bas Rutten has always been the gold standard because Bas has been around fighting forever and he's a great personality, and I like other fighters I've seen doing jobs like this like Kenny Florian," Quarry said. "If we get good ratings that doesn't mean Bas Rutten is going to be homeless because nobody is tuning into his show. I think there's room for all these shows to be successful."

Posted in: ufc, mma, show, fighter, quarry

Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse

Monday's episode of The MMA Hour is already yours for the taking below, as we had to tape the show Friday because I'll be traveling to Japan for UFC 144 Monday morning. Here's you will hear from on the show, which can be found below: * UFC lightweight contender Joe Lauzon discusses his UFC 144 against Anthony Pettis. * MMA broadcaster Mauro Ranallo talks about his fond memories of calling PRIDE FC fights in Japan. * Sean Loeffler discusses his heart-breaking injury just prior to his Octagon debut at UFC on FUEL TV 1. * And journalist Daniel Herbertson looks at the buzz in Japan for the UFC's return to the "Land of the Rising Sun" for the first time in over a decade. Watch the show right now by clicking on the player below. Subscribe to The MMA Hour on iTunes: audio feed here; video feed here. Download previous episodes here. Listen to the show via Stitcher here.

Posted in: ufc, mma, show, mma hour, mondays episode

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The UFC takes The Ultimate Fighter to FX for the first time on March 9 for its fifteenth installment, debuting a new format for the show’s new home. For The Ultimate Fighter 15, coaches Dominick Cruz (UFC bantamweight champion) and Urijah Faber will oversee teams of lightweight and welterweight UFC hopefuls as they vie for a UFC contract and will do battle themselves upon the show’s conclusion– nothing unusual there when compared to other seasons. The changes come in the show’s duration, in that it will be taped over thirteen weeks as opposed to the usual six, with quicker turnaround in the editing room, so that new episodes air weekly as they’re taped, and with the fights being aired live each week. That will include the sixteen initial fights required to see who makes it into the TUF house, as will be sorted out in the season’s premier episode when the thirty-two lightweights and welterweights who made it through the primary screening process descend upon Las Vegas to chase their UFC dreams. The show will debut at 9p.m. ET/PT with a two-hour special and will air from then on out on Fridays at 10p.m. ET/PT. Cruz and Faber are slated to meet in the Octagon at UFC 148 this July. <iframe width=”640″ height=”360″ src=”http://www.youtube.com/embed/1bQIz4V2OgU” frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen></iframe>

Posted in: ufc, fight, show, ufc contract, ufc dreams

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submitted by MMA_Nostalgia [link] [comment]

Posted in: show, ken shamrock, ken, mmanostalgia link, mmanostalgia

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We have partnered with Pro MMA Radio to bring you weekly replays of PMR as the official radio show of MMAConvert.com. Pro MMA Radio can be heard live every Monday evening at 9PM ET/6PM PT. Replays and podcasts of every show are available 24/7 by going to the “Replay Corner” section of ProMMARadio.com, our own Pro MMA Radio page or by clicking the banner below. On this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio, Ryan Bader joined the show to talk about his upcoming fight against Rampage Jackson at UFC 144. MMA Mania’s Jesse Holland also joined host Larry Pepe to talk about the UFC on FUEL 1 show and Nick Diaz’s failed marijuana test. You can listen to a replay of this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio by clicking the banner below. A radio player with links to the show’s archives will open in a pop-up window, so please make sure your browser is set to allow pop-ups for this site.

Posted in: mma, show, replay, radio, mma radio

Read the full article at MMA Convert

UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones continues to make the media rounds, dropping by the Opie & Anthony radio show Monday to talk MMA and show off his submission skills in the process. The popular XM satellite radio show routinely has UFC guests on and counts Dana White among its largest fans. When fighters drop by the New York studio, it's a tradition for comedian and show friend Jim Norton to have them apply submission holds and throw strikes to see how long they can last. Fedor Emelianenko famous bugged Norton's eyes out, while Anderson Silva delivered his famous front kick with great results. Another one of the show's regulars is comedian Bobby Kelly, who has appeared on Ariel Helwani's MMA Hour before. On Monday, it was Kelly's turn and he asked Jones to apply a rear naked choke on him. See the video and the predictable result after the jump.

Posted in: ufc, show, jone, kelly, comedian

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

MMAjunkie.com lead staff reporter John Morgan is a guest on today's edition of "The MMA Show with Mauro Ranallo." Morgan joins host Mauro Ranallo to review Wednesday's UFC on FUEL TV event, as well as discuss other happenings in the world of MMA. Catch the show live at 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT) on radio.thescore.com, or download the archive on iTunes.

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

Read the full article at MMA Junkie

Thursday night's Superior Cage Combat show in Las Vegas has lost one of it's main bouts less than 24 hours before the show.

Posted in: show, las vegas, jesse taylor, terry martin, thursday nights

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

This Wednesday night, a major fight takes place in the UFC Welterweight division, as Jake Ellenberger faces Diego Sanchez. Winner could easily be next in line for a shot at Carlos Condit and the Interim title. It's also an exciting match-up between two dynamic fighters. So, cause for celebration, right? Sure - if you are one of the people who will actually be able to watch the fight. Sanchez vs. Ellenberger headlines the UFC's debut on Fuel, and as we draw closer to the fight, the reality is beginning to set in - not everyone who wants to is going to be able to see this show. Fuel is currently in 36 million US homes. Compare that to the 96 million homes that have Spike and you see what a difference there is. Personally, my carrier doesn't offer Fuel. No one I know in my area has it. So I am left with an interesting dilemma - skip the show entirely or find some sort of unauthorized online stream. Why is the UFC forcing fans to make this decision? Why have they taken such a huge step backwards by going from Spike to Fuel? The answer is obvious - the Fuel deal was part of their access to Fox. And there's no denying that running shows on Fox is a massive gain. But do those gains outweigh the negatives of the move to Fuel? In the short term, there are two downsides to this move. The first is that less fans will see Ellenberger vs. Sanchez and the entire card Wednesday night. This is particularly problematic given the current Welterweight division. Jake Ellenberger is not a big name yet, and if this fight leads to a Condit vs. Ellenberger title fight, he needs the extra exposure that will be missing by being on Fuel. These free TV shows also typically serve in part as a hype show for the next PPV. With UFC 144 headlined by Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson, a fight without a lot of casual fan interest, an extra push would again be a real benefit. So that's possibly two upcoming PPV's who could see a buyrate boost from this show, but could be ngatively impacted by lower viewership. But to me, the bigger problem is in the long-term perception of UFC shows. Over the years, the company has done a great job conveying the feeling that every show is a Must See. Starting last year, they made every fight available to fans, again cultivating the kind of completist "I must watch it all" mentality that is so beneficial to an organization like the UFC. By making fans miss this show and subsequent Fuel programming, the UFC is in danger of reversing this message. There's no doubt that fans will miss this show. But the question is, over time, will this give the message that certain shows are indeed OK to miss? That every show is not in fact must see TV? That's a message casual fans already know, but if it gets into the heads of hardcore fans as well? That has the potential to be a serious long-term problem. And so far, it's not a problem the UFC has addressed publicly in any way. Will low viewership Wednesday night cause them to reconsider hw they use Fuel programming? If it doesn't, it will be their loss - now and later. SBN coverage of UFC on Fuel TV

Posted in: ufc, fight, show, fan, fuel

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

IP 360, a legal daily focusing on issues in intellectual property reports on a trade secret lawsuit filed in Illinois involving an MMA reality show focusing on women. The producers claims that several fighters on Ultimate Women’s Challenge revealed results of the yet-to-be aired show. Essentially, Sean Morrison Entertainment, LLC (SEM) is suing a Wisconsin law firm and several of the women fighters that were contestants on the show for allegedly revealing results. The fighters claim that they were not paid for their participation on the show. In filing a claim for nonpayment, they revealed results of the show. Ultimate Women’s Challenge finished production in September 2010 but has yet to air. Originally, it was scheduled for NBC although there are no signs it will be on NBC or its new sports network. The fighters claim that the trade secret lawsuit filed by SEM has no merit since the fighters are not a business seeking to compete with SEM. Also, the fighters and law firm are requesting sanctions for what they perceive as a harassment lawsuit which only is meant to drive up litigation costs. SEM claims that the wage lawsuit filed by the fighters should have been filed under seal so the public would not be able to access the facts of the lawsuit. Also, SEM claims, regardless of the lawsuit, attorneys and fighters leaked results of the show. The fighters also argued that jurisdiction (the court which the lawsuit should be filed) in Illinois was not appropriate. And to reaffirm the fact that lawyers can be prickly, here’s a portion of the fighters’ response to the jurisdiction issue in SEM’s lawsuit: Either plaintiffs’ counsel lacks the knowledge of a first-year law student or, more likely, its Illinois attorney chose to ignore the law and decided to file in Illinois anyway, because as an Illinois-based LLC, this jurisdiction would be most convenient for plaintiff and its attorney, (h/t IP 360) A copy of the lawsuit and the participation agreement signed by the fighters are here at the Brooklyn Law School Trade Secret Institute page. Payout Perspective: It’s been awhile since we last reported on this show, July 2010 to be exact. It’s obviously been shelved indefinitely and will unlikely see television for a variety of reasons, the lawsuit being one of them. From SEM’s perspective, revealing results is the worst thing that could happen to a reality show premised on a tournament where the outcome is uncertain. From the fighters’ perspective, if they were not paid, and SEM denied payment, it seems like a claim for wages was the only other way to seek payment. The participation agreement (at paragraph 5) indicates that the fighters will be paid $1,000 plus $100 for each day on the show. Based on this, one can deduce from a fighter’s complaint for wage how long an individual lasted on the show. The participation agreement is an interesting read in the rights of the contestants and is a glimpse into the world of reality television contracts. MMA Payout will keep track of this litigation as it progresses.

Posted in: show, fighter, claim, lawsuit, sem

Read the full article at MMA Payout

The MMA Show is landing in the United Kingdom in May featuring some of the top fighters for training sessions and meeting fans from all over the world.

Posted in: mma, show, mma show, training sessions, meeting fans

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

We have partnered with Pro MMA Radio to bring you weekly replays of PMR as the official radio show of MMAConvert.com. Pro MMA Radio can be heard live every Monday evening at 9PM ET/6PM PT. Replays and podcasts of every show are available 24/7 by going to the “Replay Corner” section of ProMMARadio.com, our own Pro MMA Radio page or by clicking the banner below. On this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio, Urijah Faber stopped by to talk about his upcoming coaching stint on TUF 15. Stephen Thompson also joined the show to talk about his spectacular knockout at UFC 143 and where he sees himself in the UFC’s welterweight division. You can listen to a replay of this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio by clicking the banner below. A radio player with links to the show’s archives will open in a pop-up window, so please make sure your browser is set to allow pop-ups for this site.

Posted in: mma, show, replay, radio, mma radio

Read the full article at MMA Convert

Rolles Gracie is preparing to take on Bob “The Beast” Sapp in a Super Heavyweight clash at ONE FC: Battle of Heroes in Jakarta on Saturday despite giving away around 100 pounds in weight. However, the member of MMA’s first family is determined to put on a the sort of performance which could establish him as a serious contender for the ONE FC heavyweight title as well as belts outside of the organization. Gracie spoke with Five Ounces of Pain about becoming the latest in a long line of his family members to fight in Asia, his anguish at being cut by the UFC after only one fight, and how excited he is to be a part of the fastest growing mixed martial arts organization in the world. Bob Sapp is 100 pounds bigger than you and you are naturally a heavyweight, not a super heavyweight. Did you have any doubts about taking this fight? Gracie: No, none whatsoever. To me there is no difference between heavyweight and super heavyweight. Its just a number after it gets to the point where you are more than 100 kilograms – you should be ready fight everybody. I respect Sapp as an opponent. I respect every opponent I fight. You have to give respect to anybody who steps inside the cage and Bob Sapp is no different.  he has a history in the sport, he has beaten so many people, he is massive, and so you have to give him respect. Sapp’s strength is his striking and he has competed in K-1 and beaten Ernesto Hoost. Do you feel like this is a dangerous match up because his strengths are your weaknesses? Gracie: It’s a challenge. The power behind his punches is huge so he is definitely dangerous and if I blink I might wake up on my back with people looking down at me. I give him respect and that’s why I trained hard and am ready to do my job. I had a couple of big guys to train with but not as heavy as him. I don’t know how much he even weighs. I think it is between 340lbs and 370 lbs and I had a couple of guys who were 300 lbs so not as big as him but close. Does having such a large opponent make you more reluctant to shoot for the takedown in case he ends up on top of you? Gracie: I’m comfortable on my back. It doesn’t matter who is on top of me. I am comfortable it doesn’t make a difference who they are. I am confident in my guard and think I can pull off submissions or sweeps from there. I’m ready to go three rounds with him if I have to. People say that he is gonna’ gas quick but I didn’t base my camp on that. I am ready to go five rounds if I have to. I trained as if he isn’t ever going to get tired. Have you focused your training more on striking and MMA, or do you still train BJJ with a gi? Gracie: I always train with a gi but once it gets close to the fight, like six weeks away, I won’t put the gi on unless I have had a really hard day and just want to do some free rolling. Then I put my gi on and go and roll with my students. I focus on everything but I cannot forget where I come from or what brought me here which is BJJ so I can’t make the mistake of not training BJJ. I train BJJ and I train the other things like wrestling and boxing. Sapp fought Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, who also has very good BJJ, at a PRIDE event back in 2002. Have you watched that fight again recently? Gracie: I watched Sapp’s fight with Nogueira. It was an epic. Hopefully my fight won’t be like that but that was a fight which I watched a lot and I could see things I could work on for strategy but the fight happened ten years ago and both him and Noguiera have improved a lot since then so I can’t base too much on that. You cornered Gregor Gracie at the first ONE FC show at the Singapore Indoor Stadium last September. What did you think of that? The first ONE FC show was awesome, I liked it so much I wanted to fight on the next one. It was a great show and the One FC guys do everything right, they take really good care of the fighters, they put on shows in sold out arenas, it’s awesome. Gracie: I have been waiting for something like this and the time has come. I’m ready to represent and to put on a show for the Asian fans. My whole family has fought in Asia, not just Renzo Gracie, and this is my third time fighting in Asia and I like the crowd here. It’s the birthplace of martial arts and I think Asia is like where the majority of martial arts were born it’s in people’s DNA to understand martial arts and they love it a lot. It’s a different crowd. Your only loss came against Joey Beltran in your UFC debut. Did you learn a lot from that experience? Gracie: I couldn’t prepare the way I wanted and I couldn’t perform the way I wanted. It wasn’t the greatest thing to happen to my career, I would never call a loss a great thing, but I learned a lot from that and it made me change my training and made me think. I was so excited to fight for the UFC, my last fight was like six months before and I didn’t want to put it off and wait another three months to fight again but the right thing would have been to pull out and get another show. How disappointed were you to get cut by the UFC after only one fight? Gracie: I was very disappointed to get cut by the UFC because they knew I was injured and wasn’t 100% but I did the fight anyway and then they didn’t give me another shot . It wasn’t me performing but to be honest I didn’t think I performed that bad. I out-struck Beltra, I took him down, and I mounted him. But my cardio was bad and he was only able to take advantage of me after I ran out of gas and that’s something I can fix. All I had to do was step up my cardio. Would you ever consider fighting for the UFC again? Gracie: If they call me I will see but I am happy where I am right now. I’m happy to fight for ONE FC. That’s all I’m thinking of. Joey Beltran just got cut by the UFC. Would you be interested in a rematch if ONE FC decided to sign him up? Gracie: I truly believe I can beat Beltran. I think if we fight ten times I’m going to beat him nine. The only time he is going to beat me happened already. I can beat him any area, a grappling match, a wrestling match, a kickboxing match. So you are confident in your stand up? Gracie: I am very confident in my stand up, just because I don’t show my striking much doesn’t mean I don’t have striking. I have great striking partners and if I feel if I cannot take somebody down I am happy to use my striking, but if I can take them down I will. Would you like to be the first ever ONE FC heavyweight champion? I want to win the ONE FC heavyweight belt. I wanted them to make this fight a championship match but I know they are working on their belts and this is only the second edition of the show but I am looking forward to having that belt. My manager is talking to Victor Cui about future opponents and future shows. I had a great experience with Gregor here and I am ready to embrace this project. 5 OZ: How important to you think it is for there to be a show in Asia which fans all over the world can enjoy instead of just watching the UFC? Gracie: I don’t believe in monopoly. The more shows we have the better. If you only think about one or two shows you are not really thinking about the sport. The initiative which Cui is doing, partnering up with smaller shows in Asia, is great because it is going to create opportunities for more fighters. If you have only one show how many fighters can you have on your roster? It’s great and this is going to be one of the best shows in the world. 5 OZ: Is there anything else you want to add? Gracie: I want to thank everyone from Renzo’s team, guys from Fuji gis and Tokyo Fight Brand. The ONE FC undercard will stream for free starting at about 8:00 AM EST on Saturday morning with the main card available for $9.99. Check out the organization’s website or Facebook Page for more info.

Posted in: fight, show, ’t, fc, gracie

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

This appears to be footage from a Dutch TV show featuring UFC heavyweight contender Alistair Overeem attempting to use one hand to remove the bras from a long line of women wearing animal masks while holding a pint of beer in his other hand. He's not very good at it.

Posted in: show, contender, footage, animal masks, hand hes

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

UFC on Fox 4 has now been scheduled with the show taking place on August 4 in Los Angeles.

Posted in: ufc, show, fox, lo, angele

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

Last night’s show featured far more misfires than bulls-eyes with things starting off on a sour note in the form of HHH once again stealing the spotlight from more-active competitors, talking about how he felt bad for the Undertaker after the beatdown he’d laid on him at last year’s Wrestlemania. By that logic Kevin Nash should have turned down his eventual bout with HHH out of pity since he also sent him off with medical personnel. The reality is the WWE should have actually shown HHH as being a bit intimidated, seeing that he hadn’t intimidated Undertaker to the point of picking a new adversary. After all, Taker did beat HHH (something Hunter’s promo failed to mention). Even worse was the video clip from Taker as a response to HHH’s actions. There’s nothing wrong with putting together a package like that and as a stand-alone piece it was entertaining. However, having him take that route rather than make his comments in person was silly and did nothing to elevate what is supposed to be one of the biggest angles of this year’s big show. By the way, hearing that Shawn Michaels will be at RAW next week was affirmation to me he may be involved in the Wrestlemania bout. Why not do a Triple Threat with three of the company’s icons, plus what more impressive way to have Taker go 20-0 and retire? Big Show-Daniel Bryan remains a strange storyline to me and I’m not sure what the payoff will be. Bryan’s heelishness seems forced and let’s be honest – is AJ supposed to be the least intelligent Diva on the roster? The way her cluelessness is being sold to viewers implies a bottle of Jim Ross’ BBQ sauce has more intellectual prowess than Bryan’s girlfriend. Having Sheamus beat David Otunga, not to mention sell to the point of only finishing the bow-tied brawler based on his overconfidence, made little sense to me. If they’re trying to get Otunga over as a worker the WWE should reconsider. He looked stiff in there and way too stunt-oriented as opposed to being able to flow. Also, was it me, or did it seem like both men were working a little rough against each other? Some of the execution had a shootish feel. I was more disappointed in CM Punk’s silent response to Chris Jericho’s behavior than I was by the weeks of Y2J not talking. As long as they eventually start going at each other verbally I’ll be happy, as it will highlight two of the best talkers in the business, and I understand the reason Punk let his belt send the message. It frustrated Jericho, was great for the storyline, and was unique so WIN X 3 on that front. The tag-team bout between Khali-Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes-Wade Barrett could have been much better, giving Rhodes-Barrett a chance to shine instead of focusing fully on the simmering feud between Khali and RKO. Who isn’t drooling over that one, right? Sarcasm aside, Orton was left looking like a golden boy, i.e. business as usual. Nothing much to be said about the Divas’ tag-teamer other than that I don’t understand why Tamina doesn’t work barefoot to get over the “Superfly” angle and the Bella Twins’ outfits would make Attack of the Show’s Candace Bailey proud based on glitter and a certain animal’s toe. I enjoyed the Six Pack Challenge without question and thought the end went over well. Jericho vs. Punk is clearly being built for Wrestlemania and I for one can’t wait to watch it develop. The show ended with Kane stalking Eve Torres. All I’ll say is the “Big Red Meh-Chine” has done his job by bringing out the hate. Not John Cena’s, mind you, but mine in terms of how much I despise this angle. It’s ridiculous on so many levels it isn’t funny and does nothing for either man other than to show Cena knows how to do a psychotic smile while dishing out damage. PHOTO CREDIT – WWE Tweet

Posted in: show, ’t, hhh, wwe, i ’ll

Read the full article at Fighters.com

UFC 143 fighter payouts for those who competed at the "Diaz vs. Condit" pay-per-view (PPV) event this past Saturday night (Feb. 4, 2012) from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, were released to MMAmania.com earlier today by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC). As expected, headlining fighters Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit were the top earners of the night. "The Natural Born Banker" is now depositing $110,000 for taking home a unanimous decision victory over his befuddled foe, who will be cashing his check for $200,000 in the Stockton Security Exchange later this week. UFC import/export extraordinaire Fabricio Werdum was also in triple figures ($100,000) thanks to the Muay Thai clinic he put on Roy Nelson. "Big Country" can buy a lot of Whoppers with the $20,000 he earned in defeat. Rounding out the big bucks was welterweight bad boy Josh Koscheck ($146,000) and middleweight Ed Herman ($62,000). But that's not all. Here is the complete list of UFC 143 salaries and payouts: Carlos Condit: $110,000 ($55,000 to show, $55,000 to win)Nick Diaz: $200,000Condit def. Diaz via unanimous decision Fabricio Werdum: $100,000 (no win bonus)Roy Nelson: $20,000Werdum def. Nelson via unanimous decisionJosh Koscheck: $146,000 ($73,000 to show, $73,000 to win)Mike Pierce: $20,000Koscheck def. Pierce via split decisionRenan Barao: $22,000 ($11,000 to show, $11,000 to win)Scott Jorgensen: $20,500Barao def. Jorgensen via unanimous decisionEd Herman: $62,000 ($31,000 to show, $31,000 to win)Clifford Starks: $8,000Herman def. Starks via submissionDustin Poirier: $24,000 ($12,000 to show, $12,000 to win)Max Holloway: $6,000Poirier def. Holloway via submissionEdwin Figueroa: $16,000 ($8,000 to show, $8,000 to win)Alex Caceres: $8,000Figueroa def. Caceres via split decisionMatt Brown: $30,000 ($15,000 to show, $15,000 to win)Chris Cope: $8,000Brown def. Cope via technical knockoutMatt Riddle: $30,000 ($15,000 to show, $15,000 to win)Henry Martinez: $6,000Riddle def. Martinez via submissionRafael Natal: $20,000 ($10,000 to show, $10,000 to win)Michael Kuiper: $6,000Natal def. Kuiper via unanimous decisionStephen Thompson: $12,000 ($6,000 to show, $6,000 to win)Dan Stittgen: $5,000Thompson def. Stiigen via knockout The total disclosed payroll for UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit" was $880,500. Keep in mind the salaries listed above do not include fight bonuses, sponsorships, percentages and other unofficial payments such as PPV bonuses, among others. It also does not include deductions for expenses such as insurance, taxes, etc. For example, the UFC often hands out extra cash for "Fight of the Night," "Knockout of the Night" and "Submission of the Night." To check out these figures for UFC 143 click here. For complete UFC 143 results and blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action click here.

Posted in: ufc, night, diaz, show, condit

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Watch the only official UFC pre-fight show with Clay Guida, Ronda Rousey and some of the industry's best journalists at 6 p.m. Eastern here on HeavyMMA.com.

Posted in: ufc, show, pm, prefight, industry

Read the full article at Heavy MMA

MMAjunkie.com lead staff reporter and MMA insider John Morgan is a guest on today's official UFC 143 pre-event show, "Fight Day." The show, hosted by Dave Farra and Megan Olivi, also includes perennial UFC lightweight contender Clay Guida and Strikeforce female title challenger Ronda Rousey. You can watch the show, which airs live from Las Vegas, from 6-7 p.m. ET at www.heavy.com.

Posted in: show, las vegas, megan olivi, staff reporter, dave farra

Read the full article at MMA Junkie

It appears the UFC's famed gladiator is no more. The UFC will debut a new 60-second opening for its pay-per-view events at this weekend's "UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit" show in Las Vegas. It'll replace the one that's been in use for nearly a decade. The segment, which was produced by the digital-production company Digital Domain (and sister company Mothership), features highlights from 18 of the UFC's most iconic fights.

Posted in: ufc, show, payperview events, show opener, digitalproduction company

Read the full article at MMA Junkie

As a frequent guest of Pro MMA Radio (PMR), which we host weekly right here on MMAmania.com, I'm proud to announce it has now become the official mixed martial arts (MMA) radio show of the Armed Forces Network. That means you can hear PMR in 170 countries across the globe and on 150 ships at sea. Ooh-rah! From today's press release: Larry Pepe's Pro MMA Radio will be broadcast on the Armed Forces Network (AFN) on its main channel, The Voice, every Saturday at 5PM PST beginning Feb. 11, 2012. The one-hour program will be the exclusive radio show on AFN covering the fastest growing sport in the world, mixed martial arts, complete with fighter interviews, industry news, event previews, recaps, analysis and more. Armed Forces Network Director Jeff Reilly feels that Pepe's show is the perfect fit. "AFN is thrilled to have Larry and his Pro MMA Radio on board supplying our heroes overseas weekly information on everything MMA. MMA is wildly popular with our troops and we thank Pro MMA Radio for its support of our valued and respected service-members." Can the soothing sounds of Nostradumbass bring peace to the Middle East? Or start another war? Probably neither, but at least you'll get some decent MMA analysis and fight breakdowns. For the PMR archive click here.

Posted in: mma, show, radio, mma radio, forces network

Read the full article at MMA Mania

The UFC will be making their third effort on Fox on May 5. As mentioned yesterday, the fights will be the same night as the Floyd Mayweather vs. Miguel Cotto bout on HBO PPV. Going on the same night as a major boxing event would seem to require a big main event to ensure people are willing to skip a portion of the PPV card to watch the UFC's effort. So I was a bit surprised last night when the UFC tweeted: So, @UFConFOX news? Diaz/Miller now the 5 round main event, also on main card heavyweight battle @LavarJohnson vs Pat @hypeordie Barry Both of those fights are good bouts that are sure to be plenty exciting, but neither features a huge name. I have my concerns about how well this show will draw on Fox. Again, the concern isn't about action, it's about name value. This has the feeling of a FX main event, not a headliner on a major network. You can try to sell the idea of action but people have to be drawn in by fighters they know. The first show had a heavyweight title bout which carries a natural allure. The second event featured Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis had a former champion who had done multiple stints on The Ultimate Fighter and had main evented multiple successful pay-per-views. In this main event you have a guy who won The Ultimate Fighter but never really took off as a top fighter against a very talented fighter who hasn't really "caught on" yet. I look back at EliteXC's second network effort to sort of cement my thinking. Robbie Lawler and Scott Smith had put on a great show on the first CBS show, a show which averaged 4.85 million viewers. When it ended due to an accidental foul, they were rematched on the second CBS show. The promise of action was obviously not a draw as viewership dropped by over two million viewers without the Kimbo Slice name. Obviously, the UFC name brand is at play here so I wouldn't expect the ratings to drop by 50% on the third effort, but I do think there will be a very noticeable drop. The other thing I'm not sure the UFC and Fox realize is that the "our fights will be done before Floyd Mayweather and Miguel Cotto step into the ring" line isn't going to work as well this time around. It's looking like Saul "Canelo" Alvarez will be in the co-main event slot. Alvarez is arguably the biggest Mexican draw in the sport, fighting on Cinco de Mayo on a major PPV. It looks like Alvarez will be fighting Shane Mosley in what is a big enough "name fight" to keep the 1.5 million (early estimates for the PPV) buyers locked in to the show they shelled out $60 for, especially if the alternative is a Fox fight involving fighters the general public isn't familiar with. I'm all for Miller vs. Diaz on Fox, I think it's a great fight and I think using Fox to elevate talented guys like that is a very good thing. I just think you have to do it with a bigger "drawing" fight in the main event slot.

Posted in: ufc, fight, show, fox, event

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

Forgive me for my next statement, as it could be considered blasphemy to some, but I actually thought last night’s RAW was far superior to Sunday night’s Royal Rumble PPV. The action was great, there were a handful of nice twists/turns, the booking made sense, and a handful of storylines were either progressed or developed. However, and I’m sure he’d even admit it, CM Punk should never be given a microphone again…at least when it comes to singing, that is. The show kicked off with a segment with Punk serenading Interim GM John Laurinaitis with the infamous “nah nah nah nah” chant in expectations that “clownshoes” would be fired later in the show during a performance evaluation with HHH. I thought Laurinaitis showed some personality for the first time during the segment, as he did again when confronted by HHH, and his ass-kissing was entertaining (nearly foreshadowing too as it turned out). Randy Orton vs. Dolph Ziggler was a fantastic fight with Ziggler selling his ass off for an animated “Apex Predator”. To me Ziggler is a star in the making since he’s above average on the stick and does a great job telling a story through his in-ring action. My only issue with the segment was Wade Barrett watching from a luxury box. There’s no reason he should be afraid of Orton after the past exchanges they’ve had, many of which he came out ahead in through underhanded means, and if the idea was to show he wanted to watch Orton from afar he could have just done it from backstage or the top of the ramp. The Brodus Clay bout was standard fare with the exception of showing he can indeed be damaged. The slow build on his vulnerability is a smart move by WWE, as it will make him out as someone who is tough to take down but not invincible. He also showed a few new moves including his “Hulk Up” shimmy. Last but not least, his dancers looked fantastic. I’m pretty sure they account for at least half of my appreciation for Clay’s character. The interaction between Daniel Bryan and Punk was fun, especially for hardcore fans who are familiar with their work on the indie scene, and the bout played out as nicely as it could without giving away too much or making either look immensely better than the other. I’m also interested in seeing how Punk’s feud with Chris Jericho develops. Then again, I suppose Y2J needs to actually start talking again before the world will find out what the deal is. However, once the two of them go back and forth it’s going to be brilliant given their shared ability to cut terrific promos. The resulting fight will be good too as both are smart, solid workers. On the opposite front, the John Cena-Kane thing I can still do without on all levels. Eve Torres’ involvement was predictable, as was Cena swooping down to save the day while showing how tough he is by beating Kane down. It’s simply not an interesting storyline to me and seems forced as WWE waits for The Rock to show back up for the final push towards Wrestlemania. Speaking of Wrestlemania, the final segment on RAW was heavy on teasing a second scrap between HHH and the returning Undertaker but we’ll get to that in a second. I thoroughly enjoyed HHH’s performance review of Laurinaitis. He let him twist in the wind and for a second I actually thought WWE was going in a megalomaniac direction with HHH actually letting Laurinaitis join the “Kiss My Ass Club”. However, Taker’s gong hit and then the true brilliance of the bit played out. BTW – Laurinaitis was never fired so he’s still Interim GM, an aspect I’m sure will be touched on next week. It’s always a blast to see the Undertaker show up. Something about the lighting, music, and general aesthetic of his entrance takes me back to being a kid. Though his interaction with HHH was little more than pantomime, the intention was clear – Taker wants to fight him and HHH isn’t taking the bait. Maybe he’ll claim to do so as a means of moving on in his career, maybe he’ll claim it’s about avoiding the danger of permanent injury after his close call with Kevin Nash. Regardless, in the end I’m fairly certain the two of them will face off at Wrestlemania and for some reason I can see Shawn Michaels being involved. There’s clearly more to the story and I have to congratulate WWE because I’ve bitten the hook. Oh, and my omission of Sheamus was not intentional. I honestly forgot he showed up until after reviewing my mental recap. I cannot think of a more forgettable role for a Rumble winner on a post-PPV RAW than the one he played last night. I’m still unsure as to why he was given the Rumble rub to begin with. Clearly they’re setting him up to face Bryan but is that really “headliner” worthy? The whole thing stinks like week-old fish as far as I’m concerned. PHOTO CREDIT – WWE Tweet

Posted in: show, i ’m, hhh, laurinaiti, wwe

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The final ratings for UFC on FOX 2 are in, and like the show they’re just okay, but nothing spectacular. MMA Junkie has the numbers. This past weekend’s UFC on FOX 2 event, which featured three main-card bouts, averaged 4.7 million viewers and a 2.6 household rating. MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) today confirmed the figures with industry sources. Overall, the Jan. 28 event – which ran two hours and 19 minutes – scored a 3.21 rating among men 18-49 and a 3.21 among men 18-34. It’s tied for the second-highest-rated MMA event in U.S. television history. MMA Payout’s Jose Mendoza adds that the show peaked with 6 million viewers. Here’s ratings guru Dave Meltzer’s take on the numbers. 2.7, a little lower than expected given the early numbers.  I would call those numbers acceptable, not bad but not cause for celebration.  It’s above what FOX gets in the time slot. Unfortunately, those numbers are down a bit from the numbers UFC on FOX 1 put up with a minute of fighting. That show averaged 5.7 million and peaked with 8.8 million. UFC on FOX 1 did however feature a heavyweight title fight and had the novelty of being the first UFC show on primetime network television, so I suppose that’s not too surprising. It’s worth noting tough that UFC on FOX 2 still bested EliteXC’s Kimbo Slice vs. James Thompson event on CBS which averaged 4.3 million, so at least we know something is still right in this world. All in all, UFC on FOX 2 wasn’t a disaster, but it wasn’t a home run either. It may have set up two big fights in Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans and Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen II, but neither Evans or Sonnen’s performances left anyone blown away and looking forward to their title fights anymore than they already did. The FOX shows are meant to be a “commercial” for big pay-per-view fights, but I’m not sure UFC on FOX 2 is going to sell any more pay-per-views for Evans-Jones and Silva-Sonnen than they would have sold without it. Sherdog has a more detailed ratings breakdown for those interested.

Posted in: ufc, show, fox, rating, number

Read the full article at MMA Convert

Brazil's Esporte is reporting that noise ordinances may preclude the UFC doing a stadium show in Sao Paulo, Brazili this summer. The promotion is hoping to feature a middleweight title rematch between champion Anderson Silva and his nemesis Chael Sonnen this summer and had talked about doing the show from a Sao Paulo stadium. "We still do not have a decision on the UFC, but for me and to the Mayor (Gilberto Kassab), we'd like for it to happen in the Pacaembu (stadium). However, we have a legislation (in the city), and we have to respect a limit in the scheduling due to the noise. Because of this, it's getting harder to hold events in São Paulo. Even in the Morumbi (stadium), there would be difficulties and I feel that, if this doesn't work out, the UFC will have to look (for another city to host its event)," said Bebetto Haddad, the Secretary of Sports in Sao Paulo. Haddad was trying his best to get the smaller Pacaembu Stadium (40k + spectators) to hold the UFC event instead of the bigger Morumbi stadium (75k+ spectators), claiming that the UFC wouldn't need to pay the rent of 2 million Reais and would also bring in a special team to set up and dismantle the octagon after the event, claiming it would not damage the field. A non-profit organization called Viva Pacaembu, would be thrilled to bring the UFC to the stadium, but claims it needs to happen at the appropriate time slot: What is obvious is that this (event is going to show fights), but the type of show that accompanies this type of event brings in loud music, and this can't happen. I believe they'll have the common sense in finding another place (to hold the UFC) - said the president of the Viva Pacaembu, Iênidis Benfati. The law prohibits major noise from 10PM to 8AM, the UFC is scheduled to end around 2AM in June. Translations by Bloody Elbow's own Orcus.

Posted in: ufc, show, event, paulo, stadium

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

Tickets for UFC 145 - an April event that's expected to feature UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones vs. recent UFC on FOX 2 winner Rashad Evans - go on sale in a few weeks. The event takes place April 21 at Atlanta's Philips Arena. Ticket prices haven't been announced for the show, which includes a pay-per-view main card.

Posted in: ufc, show, event, ticket, feb

Read the full article at MMA Junkie

Just a day after One FC announced their new television partnership with ESPN Star Sports, the promotion has now confirmed their third show for March 31 with two familiar faces at the top of the card.

Posted in: show, espn, partnership, fc, television partnership

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

UFC's second show on FOX was a step forward, but there's still progress to made made.

Posted in: ufc, business, show, fox, there

Read the full article at Yahoo! Sports

UFC President Dana White has certainly been called a number of names throughout his career as the main executive voice for the world’s foremost MMA promotion and, as such, it’s likely the term “bozo” was among them. However, White came face-to-face with the real deal late last week while in Chicago for UFC on FOX 2. While doing a media appearance for the show at WGN, the central hub of Chicago broadcasting for years, White stumbled upon the set from the long-loved Bozo Show where he was inclined to investigate further. The scene is one of the numerous humorous bits captured in his latest video blog where he also jokes around with Joe Rogan about the UFC’s battle with hackers and attends the weigh-ins including a close-up perspective of the face-offs. Check out the entire vlog below:

Posted in: ufc, show, video blog, mma promotion, executive voice

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

The second effort by the UFC on Fox was rather inconsistent in action and had many people wondering how the ratings would look. The overnight numbers are in and they are quite interesting. Via TV By The Numbers: FOX easily cruised to victory in adults 18-49 with two hours of UFC on FOX 2 with a fight card headlined by Evans vs. Davis. Again, these numbers are far more likely to be adjusted (and adjusted up) than normal due to the nature of live programming. But in the preliminary non time zone adjusted numbers the fight card averaged a 2.2 adults 18-49 rating between 8-10p and 4.37 million viewers. As they said, the numbers will be adjusted up in the final numbers but it's entirely fair to compare this directly to the overnight ratings of the first Fox show. The first show had overnights of a 2.5 rating and 7 share in the 18-49 demographic with 4.64 million viewers (source) for the one hour broadcast. By comparison, hour one of last night's show had a 2.0 rating and 6 share with 3.98 million viewers while hour two went up to a 2.5 rating, 7 share and 4.77 million viewers. I have no doubt that the slow intro to the show combined with a fairly horrible first fight led to a lot of people tuning out until the main event, which would explain the big gain in the second hour. It's clear that the very short fight in the debut show didn't chase off all the viewers at the very least. SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 2

Posted in: show, fox, rating, viewer, number

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

Six things we learned from Saturday night’s UFC on FOX: Evans vs. Davis show in Chicago.

Posted in: ufc, show, fox, brydon, thing

Read the full article at sportsnet.ca

Join your old pal Nostradumbass for a special UFC on FOX 2 post-fight radio show starting at 10pm ET on FOX Sports Radio. I'll be stopping by to help host Larry Pepe break down all the action from the "Evans vs. Davis" network television event and it's time to find out if I eat crow or say I told you so. Fans can call in and sound off at 1-877-996-6369. Don't get FOX Sports Radio in your neck of the woods? Go here (www.foxsportsradio.com) then click the "Listen Live" button to stream the show. See you tonight!

Posted in: show, fox, sport, radio, pal nostradumbass

Read the full article at MMA Mania

I sat in on a short Q&A chat Chael had this morning. Here is it if anyone's interested: 11:03 Comment From Allan Why do you say that Anderson Silva will never fight again? Is it only a hunch or do you have some hot info? 11:04 Chael Sonnen: I think he may fight plenty of people, but I don't think he won't fight me. Our business is done. I want to focus on guys who will sign contracts and get onto the topics of people who will fight me. So I am letting people know, we will not fight again. 11:04 Comment From Jeff Chael, what would be your first order of business if you were elected President of Brazil? 11:05 Chael Sonnen: I'm not an aficianado on that country or culture. But they have a guy down there who has a PHD in charisma. They have the number five economy in the world. We could probably take some lessons from their president. 11:05 Comment From Jeff What was Big Nog's reaction when the bus wouldn't eat the carrot? 11:05 Chael Sonnen: I think he was just confused. You never know. He may have thought it was a llama or a goat. It was a weird thing. 11:06 Comment From Tiberiu Rusu When walking out to the octagon at UFC 136, do you remember what you were saying to yourself? Your lips were moving. 11:06 Chael Sonnen: Yes, I do. But I'm not sharing it. 11:06 Comment From Tiberiu Rusu How did you choose 'Too Much Fun' as your entrance song? Any special meaning? 11:07 Chael Sonnen: It does. It dates back to college. I enjoyed the song and I always thought to myself, when I'm in the UFC someday, this is the song I'm going to walk out to. And I actually told my friend that when we were kids. He laughed because he thought I would never get in the UFC. 11:07 Comment From Niall how much do you walk around at before cutting weight? 217? of muscle steel and sex appeal? 11:07 Chael Sonnen: 217 pounds of muscle, steel and sex appeal. Yes. 11:07 Comment From Brett What advice would Chael give a young amateur fighter or a fighter at the start of his professional career? 11:07 Chael Sonnen: Get a coach that you trust and respect. Show up every single day. 11:07 Comment From David Rodriguez Have you seen Anderson Silva singing in the Burger King commercia? If yes what are you thoughts? 11:08 Chael Sonnen: Yes I have. I thought he did a pretty good job. 11:08 Comment From mike-nava chael , will we ever see you in the wwe? 11:08 Chael Sonnen: Every time they come to Portland, I try to check out the show. But the last time I went, the tickets they gave me were up in the nosebleeds. Draw your own conclusions. My ego was affected that they invited me and sat me way up there. Why would you invite me if I can't see the show? 11:09 Comment From domenic who do you think truly built this business ? and how do you feel about the Gracie family and their contribution to the sport? 11:09 Chael Sonnen: The Gracie Family truly built the business of MMA. Anyone who starts a discussion about that doesn't know the fact. It's off limits. They are MMA royalty. 11:09 Comment From Davy Chael, how do u come up with the name Danger waffles for ur dog? its classic 11:12 Chael Sonnen: The dog is very small. He was supposed to get to 12 pounds. It turned out to be a con woman who fibbed about his weight. When I got him he was 4.2 pounds. That's what a girl weighs. I was embarrassed to have it. His little legs couldn't even climb up the stairs to go to bed at night. So I instantly named him Danger. And the next morning he jumped up on the table because he didn't know that table food was not for him. And when I came back to the kitchen, my waffle was gone. So I gave him the last name Waffles. 11:12 Comment From mike-nava if i walked the mean street of west linn oregon with my sonnen shirt, am i safe? 11:12 Chael Sonnen: 100%. 11:12 Comment From Dirty Dan Hey Chael...Fellow Eagle Here...Lorenzo talked about fighter incentives during his ESPN interview...Being a guy who promotes fights better than anyone else, and since you've fought in other organizations what's your stance on how fighters are being paid in the UFC? 11:14 Chael Sonnen: It's sure been nice seeing the numbers rise as they have. My first fight was in 2005 and was headlined by a bum named Andrei Arlovski, who was the heavyweight champ. That's the biggest prize in the industry. And his pay that night was $9k to show and $9 to win. And they told us that night that they wanted to pay us more, and that as soon as they could, they would. They just couldn't at the time. But the very second they started to grow, they made good on their word, and everybody's numbers went up. I get that everyone wants more. I do too. But you have to have an appreciation for the honest they have and the generosity they have. If this sport was like amateur wrestling, where you have to pay, I would still pay my entry fee and fight Michael Bisping on Saturday night. 11:14 Comment From SprUtch Do you really believe PRIDE was fake, and if so: do you think every fight was? 11:15 Chael Sonnen: I know that it was fake, without question. But not all of it. That was the briliance of PRIDE. They slipped in the fake stuff with the real stuff. 11:15 Comment From Adam Any thoughts on the retirement of Brock Lesnar? 11:16 Chael Sonnen: I am disappointed, but I am happy for him. He brings a presence and an excitement that is very rare. All he had to do was be him, to show up. He just has a presence. I was bummed. He was good for the industry and the company. But at the same time, I get it. If you can't fight, you need to not be in the fight business. 11:16 Comment From Erik Franklin Do you think the Bug (Anderson) will show up Saturday in Chicago and if so do you plan to address him once again, upon winning your bout? 11:18 Chael Sonnen: No and no. I don't think he's going to be here. I would imagine that would have slipped out and they would have used it as a marketing tool for the 2 or 3 fans he may have. I am just trying to get that guys name out of my mouth. I saved his career when they were going to release him. He's never repaid it and he's never done anything for me. It's better for me to move on and to find some competitors who will actually compete against me. The quicker I can get his name out of my mouth, the better off I will be. submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: fight, business, show, sonnen, chael

Read the full article at Reddit

Just prior to UFC on FOX 2 on Saturday, MMAjunkie.com Radio will host a special pre-event show to preview the network-televised fight card. The live one-hour special takes place at 3 p.m. ET (noon PT). Scheduled guests include UFC on FOX 2 fighter Shane Roller and on-site MMAjunkie.com reporter Dann Stupp.

Posted in: show, fox, mmajunkiecom, noon pt, preevent show

Read the full article at MMA Junkie

We have partnered with Pro MMA Radio to bring you weekly replays of PMR as the official radio show of MMAConvert.com. Pro MMA Radio can be heard live every Monday evening at 9PM ET/6PM PT. Replays and podcasts of every show are available 24/7 by going to the “Replay Corner” section of ProMMARadio.com, our own Pro MMA Radio page or by clicking the banner below. On this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio, host Larry Pepe recaps last weekend’s UFC on FX 1 show and preview this Saturday’s UFC on FOX 2 card. You can listen to a replay of this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio by clicking the banner below. A radio player with links to the show’s archives will open in a pop-up window, so please make sure your browser is set to allow pop-ups for this site.

Posted in: mma, show, replay, radio, mma radio

Read the full article at MMA Convert

The meteoric rise of unbeaten female fighter Ronda Rousey continued yesterday when the Strikeforce bantamweight contender appeared as a guest on G4′s Attack of the Show where she talked about her upcoming fight with champion Miesha Tate in addition to her rivalry with Cristiane Santos and an episode from her earlier days where she beat up a group of guys in a movie theater after watching Juno of all films. The segment was capped off by Rousey flipping host Kevin Peireira over onto a mat in a demonstration of from bread-and-butter discipline, judo. However, Peireira fortunately avoided the experience of an Armbar. “My mom liked snapping arms, actually,” Rousey joked when asked about her success on the mat. “She taught me how to Armbar things instead of giving me Barbies.” Check out the video below: Video Game – E3 2012 – MMA Chokehold

Posted in: show, rousey, miesha tate, armbar things, movie theater

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

A little trivia for everyone out there: a video I recorded of an RC car crashing into a single lonely tree was played on Attack of the Show back in 2006. So actually, I was on the show well before Gina Carano or Ronda Rousey. Bam. How awesome is that? Not really. Thinking about 2006 is pretty wild though; Overeem was on a losing streak, I was playing Final Fantasy 11 and it was years before Ronda Rousey would start snapping arms and stealing hearts like no one we've ever seen before. Watch this charming interview from G4's Attack of the Show. The more I learn about Ronda Rousey, the more I'm convinced she's the female Judoka version of Good Guy Greg. [Source]

Posted in: show, attack, ronda rousey, rousey, ronda

Read the full article at Middle Easy

Ronda Rousey stops by G4's Attack of the Show to discuss her upcoming title fight with Miesha Tate, and even manages to judo throw one of the hosts of the show.

Posted in: show, title fight, attack, ronda, miesha tate

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

This Saturday night won’t mark the first time UFC light heavyweight Rashad Evans has headlined a show but even he understands fighting in the main event on the first major FOX card means more than any match-up he’s been in before. It’s a distinction Evans embraces as a competitor who is not only confident in his abilities but also appreciates the opportunity he’s been given by his bosses. Evans opened up about his UFC on FOX 2 fight against Phil Davis during a video blog for the event where the camera follows him from signing the contract to training sessions and media appearances. In it the former divisional champion acknowledged the pressure to win but also plans to entertain no matter what. Evans Sees Davis as a “Boy”, Not a “Fighter “Being a main event, having to be the anchor of the show, pretty much gotta close the show…that’s always a tough position because you want to go out there and perform but at the same time you don’t wanna do nothin crazy to jeopardize the win,” Evans explained on the topic. “But you’ve gotta give just enough excitement to where it’s entertaining but at the same time you wanna win.” Beyond simply the notion of coming out victorious on network television Evans also wants to live up to the expectations of his employers, adding, “I’m excited that the UFC’s got so much faith in me. Dana (White), Lorenzo (Feritta) and those guys…Joe Silva…they put me in the main event and that’s an honor in itself. That’s something where I want to go out there and fight hard just for those guys alone. Just so they know you that you put me at the end of the show to close out a show no matter how big it’s gonna be and I’m gonna put on a good show. Whether I win, lose, or draw I’m gonna put on a good show for you guys and I’m honored they gave me that spot.” Make sure to catch Evans-Davis on FOX when the card starts at 8:00 PM EST and in the meantime watch his video blog below: PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: guy, show, i ’m, ’m, evan

Read the full article at Fighters.com

submitted by jonbuchan [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: strikeforce, show, march, ronda, jonbuchan

Read the full article at Reddit

MMAjunkie.com editor-in-chief Dann Stupp is a guest on today's edition of "The MMA Show with Mauro Ranallo." Stupp, who's in Nashville, Tenn., for tonight's UFC on FX 1 event, helps preview the show and its Jim Miller vs. Melvin Guillard lightweight headliner. Catch the show live at 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT) on radio.thescore.com, or download the archive on iTunes.

Posted in: show, stupp, mma show, tonights ufc, nashville tenn

Read the full article at MMA Junkie

This article was oringally posted at Bloody Elbow by Fraser Coffeen United Glory has announced a partial line-up for their next show, and there are some very interesting fights shaping up, particularly for kickboxing fans. The show will take place on March 23 in Moscow and will feature both MMA and kickboxing fights. In the most notable development for MMA fans, Strikeforce Grand Prix semi-finalist Sergei Kharitonov is scheduled to compete, but it will be under K-1 rules. Kharitonov will face Mark Miller, the American fighter who returned from open heart surgery last year and took home the best kickboxing KO of 2011 in the process. Kharitonov has been off the radar since his GP loss to Josh Barnett, with his name not often coming up in the discussions of Strikeforce's future. With the Heavyweight division on its way out, and the Pride veteran now taking a fight that is not under the Zuffa banner, you have to wonder if he will be brought into the UFC at all, or simply released. The big news for K-1 fans is the return of 4 time K-1 Grand Prix champion Semmy Schilt. Schilt has been completely MIA since his 2010 GP loss to Peter Aerts, and his absence has been notable in the Heavyweight kickboxing ranks. Particularly with Badr Hari's upcoming retirement, Schilt is a very welcome return. He'll be competing in a K-1 rules match against a yet to be determined opponent. One final fight announced is Jerome Le Banner vs. Errol Zimmerman in what should be a fantastic slugfest. United Glory is the promotional arm of Golden Glory gyms, home to many of these fighters and rumored part owner in the new K-1. They have produced shows in Europe before, but it's important to note that that are also notorious for not delivering the expected line-up. Last July they announced an October 2011 show featuring Kharitonov and Alistair Overeem that never happened, and in the past they have advertised many fighters who ultimately were not on the show, including Shinya Aoki and Paul Daley. I spoke to Miller who confirmed that his fight is indeed set, which is a good step, and their website indicates more information to come at the beginning of February. So a great start to the card so far - just be prepared for changes, and take it all with a massive grain of salt. The current line-up: K-1 Rules: Semmy Schilt vs. TBAK-1 Rules: Sergei Kharitonov vs. Mark MillerK-1 Rules: Jerome Le Banner vs. Errol Zimmerman

Posted in: fight, show, glory, kharitonov, rule

Read the full article at Head Kick Legend

The rescheduling of a March show marks the first time in 10 years that the UFC has postponed a competition.

Posted in: ufc, show, year, yahoo, march

Read the full article at Yahoo! Sports

United Glory has announced a partial line-up for their next show, and there are some very interesting fights shaping up, particularly for kickboxing fans. The show will take place on March 23 in Moscow and will feature both MMA and kickboxing fights. In the most notable development for MMA fans, Strikeforce Grand Prix semi-finalist Sergei Kharitonov is scheduled to compete, but it will be under K-1 rules. Kharitonov will face Mark Miller, the American fighter who returned from open heart surgery last year and took home the best kickboxing KO of 2011 in the process. Kharitonov has been off the radar since his GP loss to Josh Barnett, with his name not often coming up in the discussions of Strikeforce's future. With the Heavyweight division on its way out, and the Pride veteran now taking a fight that is not under the Zuffa banner, you have to wonder if he will be brought into the UFC at all, or simply released. The big news for K-1 fans is the return of 4 time K-1 Grand Prix champion Semmy Schilt. Schilt has been completely MIA since his 2010 GP loss to Peter Aerts, and his absence has been notable in the Heavyweight kickboxing ranks. Particularly with Badr Hari's upcoming retirement, Schilt is a very welcome return. He'll be competing in a K-1 rules match against a yet to be determined opponent. One final fight announced is Jerome Le Banner vs. Errol Zimmerman in what should be a fantastic slugfest. United Glory is the promotional arm of Golden Glory gyms, home to many of these fighters and rumored part owner in the new K-1. They have produced shows in Europe before, but it's important to note that that are also notorious for not delivering the expected line-up. Last July they announced an October 2011 show featuring Kharitonov and Alistair Overeem that never happened, and in the past they have advertised many fighters who ultimately were not on the show, including Shinya Aoki and Paul Daley. I spoke to Miller who confirmed that his fight is indeed set, which is a good step, and their website indicates more information to come at the beginning of February. So a great start to the card so far - just be prepared for changes, and take it all with a massive grain of salt. The current line-up: K-1 Rules: Semmy Schilt vs. TBAK-1 Rules: Sergei Kharitonov vs. Mark MillerK-1 Rules: Jerome Le Banner vs. Errol Zimmerman

Posted in: fight, show, glory, kharitonov, rule

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

Following community unrest about the lack of a discussion post for Countdown to UFC 142, we will be providing discussions for UFC programming on Fuel TV. Tonight is a show called 'UFC Tonight', a news centric program to keep up to date on the current happening of the UFC. Tonight's show features Kenny Florian breaking down UFC Rio and providing predictions of UFC on FX: Guillard vs Miller. There will also be an exclusive interview with UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre. St. Pierre was scheduled to defend his title against Nick Diaz at UFC 143 before getting sidelined because of a knee injury. Hopefully the interview will provide some insight into his recovery from injury and when he is expected to return to active competition. UFC Tonight airs weekly on Fuel TV on Tuesdays at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT. The show is co-hosted by Kenny Florian and Todd Harris. Ariel Helwani is also a member of the show.

Posted in: ufc, show, fuel tv, discussion, discussion post

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

If you’ve ever seen The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, then you’re probably familiar with the “Moment of Zen” that closes each show, which the best way I can describe is usually a humorous WTF? video clip of the day. Well, this video CagePotato stumbled upon is a moment of zen if I’ve ever seen one. I have no idea how it came about, but while in Brazil this past weekend for UFC 142, light heavyweight champion Jon Jones moonlighted as a male runway model in a fashion show. I could be wrong, but I’m pretty sure that’s a first for a mixed martial artist. Here’s a picture of Jones in his swanky new duds via Brazil Male Models along with a brief reaction to his first runway model experience via MiddleEasy.

Posted in: show, jon, jone, model, runway model

Read the full article at MMA Convert

Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, NewsOur long national nightmare is over. The MMA Hour returns after a one-month hiatus this afternoon, for a special live show from a new studio. Here's a rundown of who will be stopping by: * Brazilian MMA journalist Marcelo Alonso of Portal do Vale Tudo will discuss the UFC's second event in Rio de Janeiro. * MMAFighting.com's Ben Fowlkes will look ahead to UFC on FX Fight Night this Friday night. * Friend of the show Sean McCorkle will break some news about his fighting future. * And ProElite's head of fight operations T. Jay Thompson will preview the organization's third show this week and also break some big news. Got a question or comment? Give us a call at (866) 220-2893. Watch the show live below beginning at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT. Subscribe to The MMA Hour on iTunes: audio feed here; video feed here. Download previous episodes here. Listen to the show via Stitcher here.  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, show, mma hour, hour

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Variey reports that MTV’s “MMA” reality show “Caged” drew poor ratings in its debut. The show drew 619,000 viewers and only a 0.64 rating in the targeted 12-34 demographic. The series features young, small town males trying to make it in the local MMA promotion. Unbeknownst to the MMA fan hoping to watch young, up and comers trying to make it up the ladder, many of the main characters are self-trained and are only looking to party and score girls. While the partying and girl problems may be an inherent part (for some) of being a young athlete, the series fell short on MMA. Payout Perspective: The debut did run opposite the BCS National Championship Game so that might be a reason for the lower than expected ratings. However, after seeing the first episode, many fans hoping to see an MMA reality show may not tune in again. The 10 episode run caters to a certain MTV reality audience interested in shows like “Teen Mom,” “Jersey Shore” and “The Theriot Family.” “Caged” served as the intro to “Shore” and “Theriot” on Monday night. While MMA fans were enticed by the MMA marketing, it was a disappointment.

Posted in: mma, show, monday night, rating, mma fan

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UFC 142 is just a day away and on Friday MMAWeekly's lead writer and radio show host Damon Martin will join Mauro Ranallo on 'The MMA Show' to break it down.

Posted in: show, mmaweekly, mma show, mauro ranallo, friday mmaweeklys

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We have partnered with Pro MMA Radio to bring you weekly replays of PMR as the official radio show of MMAConvert.com. Pro MMA Radio can be heard live every Monday evening at 9PM ET/6PM PT. Replays and podcasts of every show are available 24/7 by going to the “Replay Corner” section of ProMMARadio.com, our own Pro MMA Radio page or by clicking the banner below. On this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio, Chad Mendes joined the show to talk about his upcoming title fight against Jose Aldo this weekend at UFC 142. MMA Mania’s Jesse Holland also stopped by to help host Larry Pepe preview UFC 142. You can listen to a replay of this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio by clicking the banner below. A radio player with links to the show’s archives will open in a pop-up window, so please make sure your browser is set to allow pop-ups for this site.

Posted in: mma, show, replay, radio, mma radio

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MMA Junkie reports that the UFC’s Rich Franklin made an appearance today on “The Doctors” daytime talk show. Franklin describes practical tips for self-defense. The segment featuring Franklin is here: Payout Perspective: Although the “self-defense tactics” segment has been done over and over again, its nice to see Franklin appear on the show. Unlike Bas Rutten’s show on Fuel which is more entertainment that practical tips, Franklin shows his teacher roots. He’s articulate and explains the situations very well. Not sure if Franklin will be back in the Octagon, but being an “MMA Ambassador” seems like a good way for the UFC to use him to promote the brand and teach the practical tips of mixed martial arts. Appearances like these humanize fighters and it can ease the tension between bloody cagefighter to actual person.

Posted in: show, franklin, tip, show franklin, arts appearances

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It's a packed show for Wednesday as UFC 142 fighter Anthony Johnson, TUF 15 coach Urijah Faber and former AKA trainer Dave Camarillo join the radio show as well as debate in 'The Sixth Round'.

Posted in: show, mmaweekly radio, radio, radio show, dave camarillo

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Is The Nick And Nate Diaz Show Real Life Drama Or Regular Old Fight Hype? Kid Nate and Luke Thomas mull the existential dilemma at MMA Nation.

Posted in: show, life, nate, luke thomas, life drama

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When MTV announced their new reality series Caged not too long ago, I was a little bit skeptical at first, which worried me a little bit. I mean, I love any MTV reality show that doesn’t include teens who are pregnant or who have been pregnant and obviously I love MMA, otherwise you wouldn’t be reading these words on your computer screen right now. So how come I didn’t immediately set my DVR to record every episode of this series? Maybe it was because my Monday night TV schedule is already pretty full with Pretty Little Liars, Gossip Girl, Two Broke Girls, The Lying Game, and Hart of Dixie. You don’t have to Google those shows to know that Monday night is Ladies Night in the Lambert Man Cave. Or maybe it was because I knew the show wouldn’t be accepted by most MMA journalists so why should I bother? That’s when I knew I should watch. Because if there’s one thing I love more than MTV and MMA, it’s Taylor Swift. And if there’s one thing I love less than Taylor Swift but more than MMA and MTV, it’s going against the grain from the thinking of most journalist who still think MTV stands for Music Television, when nowadays it stands for Moms, Teens, and VeryLoudGuido’s. So here’s my running journal of the premiere episode of Caged: The first words of the show are, “Here in a small town in Louisiana, once you graduate high school, nothing is given to you.” So I guess they give you a high school diploma. This is followed by some guy saying, “there are three things to do: go out and get laid, get drunk, and beat some guys ass. If you don’t do that, you don’t feel right about yourself.” I feel like that’s all that happens in any small town, not just in Louisiana. Also, wasn’t Britney Spears from a small town in Louisiana? Times have really changed in that state I guess. The cage brings everyone together on Saturday’s in this town. They even shut down stores and stuff. They don’t just fight in the cage though, they fight in life. Even though the show is called Caged and everything revolves around the cage. OH GOD! THIS GIRL HAS A CHILD! WHY MUST EVERYONE ON A MTV SHOW HAVE A CHILD?!?!?! This better not be Teen Mom: MMA Edition. The dad of the child is Wes aka “CAT Smasher.” He’s a fighter. The mom to the child is named Red. I’m assuming that’s not her real name. She’s a nursing student. Her and Wes no longer date, but they’re still friends and stuff because they have a kid together. So it’s not totally like Teen Mom. Red is pretty cute, if you can get past that whole, “she has a kid at like 19” thing. Red says her and Wes broke up 30 minutes ago. WHAT?!?! AND IT WASN’T SHOWN ON TV?!?! They’re pretty civil for a couple that just broke up 30 minutes ago. By the way, their sons name is Jax. Wes has a fight on Saturday. He doesn’t know how to lose. “I tried to lose before, but I just can’t” Why did he try to lose before? Was he paid to take a dive or something? I want to know more about that statement. “You put me in there with a grizzly bear and I’ll fight him.” Move to Japan, they can arrange that. Red tries to study but Jax is all, “feed me.” He can’t actually talk. “I love Jax, but if you’re gonna have a baby, you should get your career all straightened out.” Should have thought of that about a year ago. It’s Monday, which means there are five days until Saturday, which comes after Friday. Wes is training in his friends yard. He doesn’t have time to go to a real gym he says. He’s basically using his friend as a punching bag. His friend has the same pink and brown Tapout shorts that Rich Franklin wears. His friend is not Rich Franklin. Wes says that an armbar is too advanced. HE WANTS TO PUNCH PEOPLE NOT SUBMIT THEM! Last Friday night, he drank $100 worth of beer. I’m not sure if he was signing that Katy Perry song or just making conversation. Then he throws up. Wes has to cut 12 pounds by Friday. His trainer, who is really just his friend but says he’s the trainer, doesn’t think he’ll make it. I notice a pool in their training area, so I hope he’s at least got a copy of “B.J. Penn: Advanced Water Training” DVD lying around. Now they’re in a garage, or as it’s called on the show, THE SHOP. Doesn’t look like you can buy anything though. They’re playing beer pong. So at least I know he’s read the “Chuck Liddell: How to Party before a Fight” book. Daniel aka “Golden Boy” is the owner of THE SHOP. He’s also a fighter. He’s never been knocked out, which means he’s probably been submitted a couple of times. Daniel isn’t drinking. So maybe he hasn’t read the book. Brittini shows up. We’re informed that she’s Daniel’s on-again, off-again girlfriend. Or as we realists like to call people like her, “booty calls.” She’s pretty cute, but I like Red more. Brittini has a lip ring and seems like she’d cut me if I crossed her. They talk about love and junk. The next morning, Daniel takes his ADD medicine. Hopefully he didn’t get those from Cristiane Santos. Everyone knows his name in this small town. So it’s like Cheers, I guess. Daniel actually trains at a gym called Karate Mafia. It’s run by Lyoto Machida and Giovanni Gambino. Some guy named Matt aka “Danger” trains there as well. He’s apparently a top prospect. Daniel is fighting Quentin Henry, who is a big dude with a lot of power. At least that’s what we’re told. Daniel’s trainer tells him to, “KEEP YOUR F*CKIN HANDS UP!” Good advice. Matt says he’s an average dude with no talent, but he loves fighting. He also didn’t wish his trainer a Happy Birthday on Facebook, further proving that Facebook ruins relationships. Red picks up Jax from daycare and takes him over to Wes’. Jax got sick at daycare, which upsets Wes because he’s all like, “Daycare is dumb. Your grandparents should watch him” and she’s all “My grandmother is 82.” He talks about the break up and says, “I was working and making money and taking care of her and Jax, but when I get home, the dishes aint done and the food aint cooked.” I feel ya brother. Then he says Red and him might get married, followed by him telling Jax, “Don’t grow up and be like your mom, because she’s crazy.” He adds that he’s kidding though. This was the best segment of reality TV ever. Daniel gets in his last full work-out before the fight. While he’s hitting the heavy bag, he talks to his friend about Brittini and Hannah, who is another ex-girlfriend of Daniel’s, but she died in a car crash. So Brittini is a rebound booty call. That should end well. Bri, who is Matt’s stripper sister, meets him for dinner. Matt doesn’t like the word “nipples.” I have a feeling that Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira wouldn’t grapple with Matt. Matt’s parents are divorced and their dad doesn’t come to his fights. Bri pays with a wad of ones. She’s pretty hot, if you can get past that whole “stripper” thing. Red and Brittini are friends. And side by side, it’s pretty obvious that Red is hotter. Red wants to get out of the small town and is all mad that Wes doesn’t support her decision to go to school. They talk about the fights and relationships. This was annoying. IT’S GIRLS NIGHT! Every chick has a drink and a cell phone in their hand. That can only mean trouble. Back at Wes’s apartment, he’s watching tape on his opponent. He’s also jealous of Daniel because he had to work and Daniel didn’t. It’s your typical, “I’ve been fighting my whole life” story. There’s a fundraiser for Hannah. Daniel says, “Me and Hannah were like Reggie Bush and Kim Kardashian.” I’m going to avoid making any kind of jokes since Hannah has passed away. Daniel reminisces about Hannah with her brother and tells the story of possibly ejaculating prematurely when Hannah touched his leg while driving. I’m not making that one up. Watch the scene for yourself. A lot of sadness in this scene. This isn’t what I signed up for. Wes tries to cut twelve pounds in three hours to make weight. He decides to get in a sauna suit and sit in a car in the sun. Gabe Reudiger should have tried this. He loses about three pounds in an hour. So he gets back in the car. The math isn’t in his favor here. All the fighters weigh-in. Daniel and Matt make weight. A drawn out Wes comes in at 159, which is 1 pound under the 160 limit. THE FIGHT IS ON! The town shuts down for the fights. There’s a bunch of hotties, but we don’t learn their names. I’m thinking of being a cage fighter in a small town just for the groupies. I can train in backyards like Wes. Wes comes out to “Bonfire” by Childish Gambino. Holy crap. What an awesome choice by Wes. PLUS FIVE. The cage door closes we’re ready to rumble. They throw a bunch of wild punches, end up on the ground, and Wes submits him with an Armbar. HOLY FORESHADOWING BATMAN! Wes gives an amazing post-fight interview. “He was hitting me but it wasn’t hurting. It was like he had pillows in his gloves or something. I wanted to apologize to him before the fight because I knew I was gonna kick his ass.” Then he gives a bow. SIGN THIS MAN UFC! Wes is clearly the star of this show. Matt is up next. He dominates his opponent and submits him with an armbar. His mom is really happy. Daniel is up next. Brittini is not at the fight. Oh uh. Daniel’s corner tells him to “keep your hands up.” Why do I get the feeling that he’s going to drop his hands in this fight? Daniel gets blasted with a counter left hook and is knocked out cold. THEY TOLD YOU TO KEEP YOUR HANDS UP! Thank God Brittini wasn’t there to see that. She’d be the booty call for the winner. Daniel is finally helped up but he’s wobbly and needs to be helped to the back. His corner tells him, “sh*t happens.” Yup. The doctor suggests no head shots for at least 60 days. This is either an extremely long reality show or we won’t see Daniel fighting again. Or Daniel will just ignore the doctor, which is the most likely answer. Someone says, “Superman just fell down.” I didn’t know Cam Newton was on this show. Daniel calls Brittini after the fight. He says, “I’m fine. I guess.” Well, that sounds better than, “Baby, I got knocked the f*ck out.” And so ends the first episode of Caged. Will I continue watching? Does “sh*t happen”?

Posted in: fight, show, ’t, daniel, we

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I will be honest, I like his show and I think he asks some good questions, but man, I have never seen a reporter of any kind get so much extreme bias from the fans, especially on mmania and sherdog. I'm just curious what you guys think, and what it is that makes him this way. submitted by PizdaMasii [link] [24 comments]

Posted in: guy, show, man i, sherdog im, bias

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A pair of finishes on Saturday's Strikeforce show exemplify the need to stop fights at the right time.

Posted in: fight, show, need, referee, yahoo sports

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The returns to Brazil this week for Saturday's UFC 142 event. The show, which is the UFC's first of 2012, takes place at HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro. In an extended video preview of the show, we take a look at the championship headliner between Brazilian featherweight titleholder Jose Aldo and undefeated title challenger Chad Mendes.

Posted in: ufc, show, video preview, championship headliner, hsbc arena

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submitted by alphahouse44 [link] [4 comments]

Posted in: ufc, show, countdown, appearance, ufc countdown

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The slow burn of Cage Warriors rise to prominence engulfed three different countries in 2011. In 2010 the UK based MMA promotion organized a modest three events, the first in May 2010, before a new management team took over a brand that has existed since 2002. The culture and mission statement of Cage Warriors were both rebranded under new management and the momentum founded in 2010 carried over to the 12 months that followed. In 2011 Cage Warriors held a total of seven successful events. Already the longest running UK MMA promotion in term of number of years, Cage Warriors expanded outside their localized London comfort zone in 2011. Behind the scenes Cage Warriors press corps have kept their promotion in the news and a media friendly policy has allowed the UK promotion to garner national attention from normally US centric websites. Television deals, a solid online event streaming model and a planned 17 shows for 2012 made Cage Warriors stand out from other regional promotions in 2011. In perhaps the last year you could label them a "local MMA promotion" Cage Warriors has been named the 2011 Local Promotion of the Year from ULTMMA.com. Cage Warriors joins Shark Fights in 2009 and Tachi Palace Fights in 2010 as ULTMMA.com award recipients. ULTMMA.com sat down with Cage Warriors Fighting Championship matchmaker Ian Dean to look back at the year that was for the top UK MMA promotion. ULTMMA.com: Can you update us on what happened when new management took over Cage Warriors?Ian Dean: Basically Cage Warriors have been doing shows since the summer of 2002. They were doing regular shows in the UK until about 2008. Then there were nearly no shows in the UK for about two years.The people lead by Graham Boyd (Director) liked what they saw in the brand and saw its potential. They liked its history. It had prestige and they believed in it.ULTMMA: When you think of Cage Warriors most people point to the locals of Nottingham and Sheffield. Looking back to 2011 and ahead to 2012 has Cage Warriors outgrown the "local or regional" promotion label? Dean: That might be the goal of Graham (Boyd) and the management team. I kind of feel that when shows label themselves as "massive", "biggest show the UK", biggest show in Europe" I really don't think that is for the promotion to decide. I think that's for pundits, journalists and fans and fighters to say. Anyone can say they are the best. For me I know what we are doing is good and we're excited. I still say we are a UK brand but we are definitely growing and expanding overseas. Next year we are only doing three shows in the UK and Ireland, everything else abroad. ULTMMA: For an organization your size Cage Warriors marketing and social media efforts are very streamlined. Where does that part of your business come from?Dean: First of all it took time for that to happen. The first the things the guys had to do is get out and put on shows. You can put on fantastic shows but if you're not getting the news or press out than who is going to see it? It just seems ridiculous that you spend thousands and thousands of pounds on great production, TV, and online streams but don't have a dedicated media team than how are you going to progress?These things take time. The website got a quick make over when the takeover started but Graham is a perfectionist sometimes so we had to redo it and that takes time. By the time we did our second show in Jordan we brought on Paul Dollery (Press Officer) and what he has done is he has made us look even more professional.I think we have kind of embraced that social media side of it as well. We're not too in your face as other people are. Social media is a fantastic tool and underutilized but it at the same time I don't think you want to overuse to the point you are attention seeking.ULTMMA: Talk about the evolution of the UK MMA scene over the last few years and how that has affected Cage Warriors.Dean: I can't even explain the differences now. I think with the advent of the UFC coming properly to the UK in 2007 was a major game changer. As the scene outside of the UK has grown with shows like Strikeforce, Bellator and even One FC there are more options for fighters. If you're not taking it professionally and doing it properly you're not going to get there. I think that's what pushed UK MMA to grow.Back in 2008 when we did Enter the Rough House 7 in Nottingham we ran the same day as Cage Rage and we had Paul Daley on our show. Those were the dying days of the old Elite XC and Cage Rage. We have to remember in 2008, 2009 and 2010 the recession hit people's pockets as well. For the Enter the Rough House 7 we had a lot of good fighters on there like Daley and Jim Wallhead but production wise it wasn't a tenth of what it is today.As for the fighters themselves I think the scene is getting better all the time. The one thing that is happening right now in UK MMA is you're getting fighters that are very choosy about who they fight. Not all of them but in certain camps and in certain areas are just looking to pad their record. In one respect you can't blame them because you'll hear Dana White at the TUF tryouts to tell fighters to go out and pad your records.A lot of fighters don't want to fight on our show because they can go down and fight on a local show and be matched up with some guy who will just phone it in for their paycheck.ULTMMA: Were there any goals the Cage Warriors staff had going into 2011 that were not accomplished? Dean: Maybe the fact that we didn't have a show in the final quarter of 2011. After the October 1st show we have been very busy in other areas. There has been a lot of housekeeping in the last quarter with new website and partnerships established. To be fair I never expected this year to be the way it was. I thought the brand would be a success but it has been pretty mind blowing. I think if you ask me this question again next year than I think what will happen in the next 12 months could be completely different that what actually happens.ULTMMA: Cage Warriors seems to ahead of the curve when it comes to broadcasting their events. How big is it that your promotion can successfully showcase your event online and on TV?Dean: It's a massive deal. If you want to be taken seriously as a organization you have to be on TV and you have to be on TV that looks good. There are a lot of shows in the UK and I'm almost certain in the states that are on small channels that don't have the bandwidth, production, or film crew. You go to the car park at our show and its filled with satellite trucks and film crews. People are in makeshift offices to make sure the TV and online stream work.I remember our show in April which I think may be the one you were talking about as well it was crazy to look at my twitter feed and see people talking about Cage Warriors. On the February show we had Rosi Sexton and Roxanne Modafferi, you see guys who have fought exclusively on the UFC watch our show. That day we were head to head versus BAMMA as well. When you see write ups from big US websites like Sherdog and MMA Junkie it's brilliant. For me it's a brilliant feeling.

Posted in: promotion, show, cage, warrior, uk

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Strikeforce fighter payouts for those who competed at the "Rockhold vs. Jardine" event this past Saturday night (Jan. 7, 2012), which aired on Showtime from the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, were released to MMAmania.com earlier this morning by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC). Hard-hitting middleweight brawler Robbie Lawler was the top earner of the night, bagging a "Ruthless" $150,000 for beating the brakes off Adlan Amagov in the night's co-main event. Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold didn't fare too badly himself, giving Keith Jardine 90,000 reasons to go back to light heavyweight. Speaking of the 205-pound class, former division "King" Muhammed Lawal can buy himself a fancy new umbrella for his next walkout, thanks to the $95,000 check he received for grounding and pounding Lorenz Larkin. That's not all. Here is the complete list of Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine" salaries and payouts: Luke Rockhold: $90,000 ($65,000 to show, $25,000 to win)Keith Jardine: $30,000Rockhold def. Jardine via TKO Robbie Lawler: $150,000 (flat rate, no win bonus)Adlan Amagov: $10,000Lawler def. Amagov via TKO Muhammed Lawal: $95,000 ($80,000 to show, $15,000 to win)Lorenz Larkin: $17,000Lawal def. Larkin via KO Tyron Woodley: $60,000 ($30,000 to show, $30,000 to win)Jordan Mein: $9,000Woodley def. Mein via split decision Tarec Saffiedine: $31,000 ($15,500 to show, $15,500 to win)Tyler Stinson: $4,000Saffiedine def. Stinson via split decision Na-Shon Burrell: $8,000 ($4,000 to show, $4,000 to win)James Terry: $9,000Burell def. Terry via split decision Gian Villante: $20,000 ($10,000 to show, $10,000 to win)Trevor Smith: $4,000Villante def. Smith via TKO Ricky Legere: $10,000 ($5,000 to show, $5,000 to win)Chris Spang: $6,000Legere def. Sprang via unanimous decision Estevan Payan: $8,000 ($4,000 to show, $4,000 to win)Alonzo Martinez: $5,000Payan def. Sprang via unanimous decision The total disclosed payroll for Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine" was $571,000. Keep in mind the salaries listed above do not include fight bonuses, sponsorships, percentages and other unofficial payments. It also does not include deductions for expenses such as insurance, taxes, etc. For complete Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine" results and blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action click here and here.

Posted in: strikeforce, show, decision, rockhold, jardine

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MMAjunkie.com editor-in-chief Dann Stupp is a guest on today's edition of "The MMA Show with Mauro Ranallo." Stupp and journalist/MMAjunkie.com contributor Danny Acosta review this past weekend's "Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine" event and look ahead to Saturday's UFC 142 show. Catch the show live at 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT) on radio.thescore.com, or download the archive on iTunes.

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

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Without going into a long diatribe about what MTV used to be, I was fairly certain what to expect when two press screener episodes of MTV's new reality series "Caged" arrived at my doorstep and after viewing them, I was correct. If you're into teen reality drama shows with a modicum of sports, this show is for you. Otherwise, MMA fans can skip the series which debuts Monday on MTV at 10 PM EST. The debut sets the scene in Shreveport, Louisiana, and neighboring Minden where we're told the only thing for high school graduates to do is drink, get laid and beat some guys up. That's actually a direct quote from Wes Branch, an amateur fighter with an ex-girlfriend, a young son and aspirations to be a big-time MMA star. He trains in a friend's backyard as he doesn't have the time to go to a real school, yet brags about drinking $100 worth of beer at a recent party before vomiting. Not surprisingly, there is concern about him making weight for a fight that weekend. Red is Wes' ex, a seemingly nice person who is attending nursing school while raising their son Jaxon. They broke up three months ago. We also meet Daniel Payne, a likeable tall blonde fella who apparently has never been knocked out. He too is an amateur with a fight coming up, has a girl that he falls in and out of love with and he dated the late sister of his best friend. The two discuss her passing in an awkward forced scene as they're hitting a heavy bag in Daniel's garage. Along the way, fellow amateur and Payne teammate Matt Schnell is introduced. According to his coach, he's the best of the group. His sister is also a stripper. He wants his dad to be proud of him. Family drama? Check and check. Essentially, the show is no different than any teen reality drama on MTV. It merely has MMA as a backdrop as a way to get out of this supposedly terrible situation they're all in. They all compete for Ring Rules, an amateur only organization in Louisiana run by Will Broyles, who also co-produces the show. The events are similar to football games in "Varsity Blues" where the town completely shuts down to go watch the events. At the end of the show, all three fighters step into the cage and compete with plenty of of piped-in crowd noise, girlfriend drama and the like laid out for the viewer. I won't spoil the results for you here, but it fits with the rest of the show. It's very MTV-like. Scenes from the rest of the series promise more of the same. Perhaps this will be a real launching pad for some of the talent on the show, but there isn't much here of substance for MMA fans.

Posted in: mma, show, mtv, amateur, reality drama

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submitted by sealtron [link] [2 comments]

Posted in: show, jeff monson, web, sakuraba shirt, tvor

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"The best is the best, I think he UFC owns both organizations and I think it would do huge things for Strikfeforce. They say they want to build it and load up this year, well let's bring over a top contender and I'll show you who the true number one contender is." -- Step aside Gilbert Melendez, there is another Strikeforce champion calling out the best of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Fresh off of defending his Strikeforce middleweight title for the first time against Keith Jardine last night (Jan., 7, 2012) in Las Vegas, Nevada, at Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine," Luke Rockhold stated in his post-fight interview that it's high time the UFC bring over some of the top185-pound pound fighters from its roster to challenge him to see who the best really is. The American Kickboxing Academy product (AKA) finished "The Dean of Mean" in the first round using his nasty stand up skills, delivering plenty of shots to the dome of Jardine before Herb Dean put a halt to the fight. Unfortunately for Rockhold, he will have to keep holding his breath if he ever hopes that Zuffa will co-promote even if its owns both mixed martial arts (MMA) organizations. He is now one of the faces of Strikeforce and will have to make do with the competition there, seeing as how UFC President Dana White said the rest of the Strikeforce roster will stay in tact for the foreseeable future. Being undefeated (8-0) with the San Jose-based promotion and as dominant as his win was over Jardine, did Rockhold speak a little too prematurely? Did anything in his performance last night show you that he is ready for UFC's elite?

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, show, rockhold, jardine

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Get More: Caged In prep for the season premiere airing this Monday January 9th, MTV has put the full first episode of their Hillbilly MMA reality show online for us to enjoy. Well, you anyways. As I live in this exotic land called Canada, I am "unable to view this video in my region." Awesome. So be a pal and tell me what it was like in the comments section. Paint me a picture like I am old blind man sitting before a beautiful sunset.

Posted in: show, mtv, season premiere, canada i, hillbilly

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Can I just get this out of the way: I'm so thankful Strikeforce is still around. If Strikeforce wasn't in existence we wouldn't be able to have these fascinating interviews with Strikeforce champions using MMA math to leverage title shots in the UFC. You know what? They should just make an entirely new reality show focusing around the Strikeforce fighters. It can focus on all of the fighters that the general public doesn't know about and build the brand and the fighters like TUF did. There can even be built in rules, like if you win the title and defend it twice then you are granted the next possible title shot in your weight division in the UFC. Fighters from the UFC will be calling out the fighters from Strikeforce, there will be cross promotional fights and all the while human stories could be told outside the training and cage. Hopefully at the very least this show could get Tim Kennedy and Jacare more fights. Zuffa, you can email me Jason@MiddleEasy.com if you want to flesh out this sure fire hit show. Now I will get off my TV show pitching soapbox. Watch this interview with Luke Rockhold explaining to LayzieTheSavage what he thinks his future looks like in the Strikeforce middleweight division, and what a good run of wins can do for his chance at Anderson.

Posted in: title, strikeforce, show, fighter, luke rockhold

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Can I just get this out of the way: I'm so thankful Strikeforce is still around. If Strikeforce wasn't in existence we wouldn't be able to have these fascinating interviews with Strikeforce champions using MMA math to leverage title shots in the UFC. You know what? They should just make an entirely new reality show focusing around the Strikeforce fighters. It can focus on all of the fighters that the general public doesn't know about and build the brand and the fighters like TUF did. There can even be built in rules, like if you win the title and defend it twice then you are granted the next possible title shot in your weight division in the UFC. Fighters from the UFC will be calling out the fighters from Strikeforce, there will be cross promotional fights and all the while human stories could be told outside the training and cage. Hopefully at the very least this show could get Tim Kennedy and Jacare more fights. Zuffa, you can email me Jason@MiddleEasy.com if you want to flesh out this sure fire hit show. Now I will get off my TV show pitching soapbox. Watch this interview with Luke Rockhold explaining to LayzieTheSavage what he thinks his future looks like in the Strikeforce middleweight division, and what a good run of wins can do for his chance at Anderson Silva.

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Earth-shattering numbers? Not exactly, but considering that UFC 141: "Lesnar vs. Overeem" was held on a Friday night and not Saturday, coupled with the fact that Brock Lesnar was facing Alistair Overeem, an international fighter who was making his Octagon debut, and suddenly 750k seems like a home run. Dave Meltzer breaks it down in his Wrestling Observer newsletter: Because of the holiday, our early PPV numbers are somewhat sketchy but early industry estimates have ranged between 750,000 and 810,000 North American buys, which would be slightly higher than most expectations. The show probably would have hit the 1 million mark if it was on New Year’s Eve. The original plan was to do a New Year’s Eve show from Abu Dhabi, but when that fell through, they booked the MGM Grand. Because the strip in Las Vegas is shut down from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. on New Year’s Eve, it really would be impossible to run a show like they do in Las Vegas on that night. More analysis on the UFC 141 PPV event, which took place on Dec. 30, 2011, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, after the jump. It would be either the second or third biggest number in UFC history drawn by a non-title match. Rashad Evans vs. Quinton Jackson holds the record at around 1 million, Ken Shamrock vs. Tito Ortiz II was second at 775,000, and please don’t insult anyone’s intelligence by claiming the Tim Sylvia vs. Andrei Arlovski heavyweight title match on that show was really the main event. The show appears to have done the most buys in the U.S. for any PPV show since Lesnar’s prior fight with Cain Velasquez, and it may have done the biggest number overall since that time, although the Georges St. Pierre fights with Josh Koscheck and Jake Shields may slip ahead overall because of the strong Canadian numbers. Sketchy trending information indicates it appears to have set the company record for any show in Australia. The bottom line? Win or lose, Brock Lesnar was a draw. The former UFC heavyweight champion was finished by way of technical knockout (TKO) in the very first round against "Demolition Man," promptly retiring from the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) following the "Sin City" stoppage. The promotion's other "go-to guy" when it comes to selling PPV's, Georges St. Pierre, is currently on the shelf rehabbing a bum knee. Who will be the UFC's next big star? For more on UFC 141: "Lesnar vs. Overeem" click here.

Posted in: ufc, ppv, show, vs, number

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UFC 141 was a big-time experiment as, even with a main event of Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair Overeem, placing the show on a Friday rather than a Saturday carried a degree of uncertainty on if the public would tune in. Dave Meltzer is reporting in the Wrestling Observer newsletter that the numbers were very solid. From the newsletter: Because of the holiday, our early PPV numbers are somewhat sketchy but early industry estimates have ranged between 750,000 and 810,000 North American buys, which would be slightly higher than most expectations. The show probably would have hit the 1 million mark if it was on New Year's Eve. The original plan was to do a New Year's Eve show from Abu Dhabi, but when that fell through, they booked the MGM Grand. Because the strip in Las Vegas is shut down from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. on New Year's Eve, it really would be impossible to run a show like they do in Las Vegas on that night. It would be either the second or third biggest number in UFC history drawn by a non-title match. Rashad Evans vs. Quinton Jackson holds the record at around 1 million, Ken Shamrock vs. Tito Ortiz II was second at 775,000, and please don't insult anyone's intelligence by claiming the Tim Sylvia vs. Andrei Arlovski heavyweight title match on that show was really the main event. 750,000 is what I predicted the show would do. Even with Lesnar seeming very human in his last two trips to the cage he still carries a mystique and the WWE crowd is still interested. Add to that a long layoff that had people interested in another Lesnar fight and an opponent who made for a great visual and easy sell. SBN coverage of UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem

Posted in: ufc, show, vs, las vegas, lesnar

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The UFC is expanding its European presence and will hold its first Scandinavian show in Stockholm on April 14.

Posted in: ufc, show, april, scandinavian show, european presence

Read the full article at sportsnet.ca

Chael Sonnen will be taking a step down from his 100,000+ follower twitter soapbox tonight to appear on the much smaller FUEL channel show UFC Tonight. It's your standard Chael smacktalk schtick everyone knows and loves, but I have to wonder what guys like Wanderlei Silva are going to think about their promotion pimping material that calls them washed up and over the hill. It's one thing to claim Chael's gonna say what he's going to say and another to actually produce, package and present his disses as part of a UFC television show. They are pretty entertaining, though. Here's a zinger Chael pulled off last night: Machida used his Twitter account to call out Sonnen. In Portugese, he wrote a message that translated to, "Chael Sonnen, just got out of surgery, but can give you your gift inside the octagon with one arm and only you accept the fight."Sonnen responded that he "doesn't have time for pee-pee mouth," referring to Machida's practice of drinking his own urine. You can catch UFC Tonight at 10PM EST on FUEL (if you're lucky enough to get it). It should answer the classic philosophical question: If Chael flaps his gums about someone on a TV show but no one is watching, does it still make a sound?

Posted in: ufc, show, sonnen, chael, night machida

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Always outspoken, never apologetic Chael Sonnen will now get his own voice on a new segment on the new show 'UFC Tonight' on Fuel TV.

Posted in: ufc, show, chael sonnen, show ufc, chael

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Despite a dominant performance, Shinya Aoki didn't finish Satoru Kitaoka at Dream's New Year's Eve show, so he's not completely satisfied, but he's already plotting his return to action.

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After Johny Hendricks knocked out Jon Fitch, after Nate Diaz and Donald Cerrone settled their differences by beating the tar out of each other and even after Alistair Overeem body kicked Brock Lesnar out of the UFC, a wholly different type of mixed martial arts (MMA) show was taking place a world away. The latest -- and quite possibly the last -- in a long line of New Year's Eve combat sports offerings from Japan took place in the wee hours of the morning for those of you living stateside. "Genki Desu Ka Omisoka" replaced "Dynamite!!" as the year-end extravaganza but the name wasn't the only change that was made. In addition to the usual mixture of kickboxing and MMA bouts, this year's show also included professional wrestling matches courtesy of Inoki Genome Federation (IGF) founder Antonio Inoki. While that may seem odd to American fans, having all three on the same card made perfect sense in Japan where the histories of each are intertwined much more closely than they are here in the states. The entire event clocked in at just under nine hours, beginning right about when UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem went off the air and ending just in time to catch the breakfast menu at McDonald's. Featuring the likes of Kazushi Sakuraba, Josh Barnett, Tim Sylvia and of course Fedor Emelianenko, "Genki Desu Ka Omisoka" -- which translates to "How Are You! New Year!" -- provided all the action and wackiness that has become par for the course as Japanese fight fans ring in the new year. Read on if you dare! Starting off the show were a trio of MMA bouts in the bantamweight division. All part of a 135-pound grand prix, the first fight was a reserve bout that very well could have stolen Knockout of the Year at the last second. Ever since winning a tournament held earlier in the year, Hideo Tokoro hasn't been able to get back into the win column and that streak continued tonight when he was the victim of an absolutely brutal slam at the hands of Russian Yusup Saadulaev less than a minute into their tilt. With the win, Saadulaev earned the right to take the place of either Bibiano Fernandes or Antonio Banuelos -- who defeated Rodolfo Marques and Masakazu Imanari, respectively -- should they have gotten injured. But the Russian's services wouldn't be needed as both winners were healthy enough to take part in the finals. There, the former DREAM 145-pound kingpin once again became champion albeit in his new, smaller weight class. Representing kickboxing were two K-1 MAX bouts that pitted Masaaki Noiri against Kengo Sonoda and Yuta Kobo against Nils Widlund. Noiri took his bout by unanimous decision but Kobo ended his fight a bit more dramatically. The Japanese kickboxer lit up the Swede with a head kick and then finished him off with a knee that put him down for the count. In MMA action, Japanese veteran Hayato Sakurai outlasted Ryo Chonan, earning "Mach" his first win since April 2009. He had since lost four straight which fueled rumors that he may soon be hanging it up. Picking up his second straight win at 145-pounds, Tatsuya Kawajiri disposed of Kazuyuki Miyata in easy fashion. "Crusher" forced his opponent to tap to a second round arm triangle after dominating the pace of the fight with his perfectly timed takedowns. And in women's action, Bellator veteran Megumi Fujii made quick work of Karla Benitez when she secured an armbar in 75 seconds. The win was "Mega Megu's" 25th of her career. There were a total of four IGF pro wrestling bouts on the card but only two of them were worth watching. The matches between Tim Sylvia and Jerome LeBanner -- huh? -- and Kazuyuki Fujita and Peter Aerts were essentially a waste of time but Josh Barnett's catch wrestling bout with Hideki Suzuki was fantastic and reminiscent of the classic UWF-i wars from the early 1990s. Japanese legend Kazushi Sakuraba teamed up with Katsuyori Shibata to take on the duo of Atsushi Sawada and Shinichi Suzukawa. That match ended with "Saku" sinking a choke in on Sawada and was followed by an all-out brawl. But the pro wrestling wasn't even the craziest part of the show. Just like last year, K-1 MAX star Yuichiro Nagashima was involved in another mixed rules fight that saw the first round play out as a kickboxing match while the second round had an MMA ruleset. But unlike last year where the costume play fan knocked out Shinya Aoki, Nagashima was on the receiving end of a beatdown as Katsunori Kikuno was able to get a stoppage victory in the second round. The gems of the show, however, were the two title fights and the main event. Hiroyuki Takaya looked to defend his 145-pound title against Takeshi Inoue. Inoue is also known as "Lion" but fought like anything but. He allowed the champ to control the pace of the bout for the entire 25 minutes and offered little to no offense. It was a disappointing effort form the challenger but marks the second defense for Takaya who won the belt from the aforementioned Fernandes a year ago today. Shinya Aoki returned to New Year's Eve after an embarrassing showing last year that saw him avoid a K-1 round against Nagashima only to get kneed into unconsciousness mere seconds into the MMA round while shooting in for a takedown. He came back in impressive and dominant fashion, beating Satoru Kitaoka in every aspect of the fight over the course of 25 minutes. The first two rounds were a grappling affair as excepted but rounds three and four included glimpses of the submission specialist's ever-improving striking. And in the main event of the evening, Fedor Emelianenko made his return to Japan for the first time since the 2007 New Year's Eve show where he submitted human giant Hong-Man Choi. An equally impressive win was his reward as he knocked out Olympic judo gold medalist Satoshi Ishii. The MMA newcomer had absolutely nothing for "The Last Emperor" who knocked out his opponent with a powerful jab that crushed the Japanese fighter's nose. Emelianenko has now won two in a row after dropping three straight during his Strikeforce tenure. If this is indeed the final year-ending show in Japan, it's only fitting that it included a little bit of everything: MMA, kickboxing and pro wrestling. For complete DREAM: "Genki Desu Ka Omisoka" results, including blow-by-blow coverage of the MMA portion of the eclectic fight card, click here.

Posted in: mma, show, bout, round, year

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UFC 141 fighter payouts for those who competed at the "Lesnar vs. Overeem" pay-per-view (PPV) this past Friday night (Dec. 30, 2011) from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, were recently released to MMAmania.com by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC). Brock Lesnar, who was returning after a 14-month layoff because of surgery to correct an intestinal disorder, unsurprisingly led the UFC 141 payout pack with a cool $400,000. His opponent, Alistair Overeem -- who won the main event fight via first round technical knockout, which also sent Lesnar into MMA retirement -- wasn't far behind, collecting nearly $386,000 in his Octagon debut. However, there is an asterisk beside that amount, which you can learn more about in the extended entry below. Dong Hyun Kim, who was buried on the under card, was next in line, taking $82,000 back to South Korea for his dominant performance over Sean Pierson. Nate Diaz ($74,000) and Jon Fitch ($60,000) rounded out the top five breadwinners. Here is the complete list of UFC 141 salaries and payouts: Alistair Overeem -- $385,714.28 (264,285.71 to show, 121,428.57 to win)*Brock Lesnar -- $400,000Overeem defeated Lesnar via technical knockout in round one Nate Diaz -- $74,000 ($37,000 to show, $37,000 to win)Donald Cerrone -- $30,000Diaz defeated Cerrone via unanimous decision Johny Hendricks -- $52,000 ($26,000 to show, $26,000 to win)Jon Fitch -- $60,000Hendricks defeated Fitch via knockout in round one Alexander Gustafsson -- $32,000 ($16,000 to show, $16,000 to win)Vladimir Matyushenko -- $40,000Gustafsson defeated Matyushenko via technical knockout in round one Jim Hettes -- $16,000 ($8,000 to show, $8,000 to win)Nam Phan -- $8,000Hettes defeated Phan via unanimous decision Ross Pearson -- $40,000 ($20,000 to show, $20,000 to win)Junior Assuncao -- $8,000Pearson defeated Assuncao via unanimous decision Danny Castillo -- $38,000 ($19,000 to show, $19,000 to win)Anthony Njokuani -- $12,000Castillo defeated Njokuani via split decision Dong Hyun Kim -- $82,000 ($41,000 to show, $41,000 to win)Sean Pierson -- $8,000Kim defeated Pierson via unanimous decision Jacob Volkmann -- $32,000 ($16,000 to show, $16,000 to win)Efrain Escudero -- $10,000Volkmann defeated Escudero via unanimous decision Diego Nunes -- $24,000 ($12,000 to show, $12,000 to win)Manny Gamburyan -- $18,000Nunes defeated Gamburyan via unanimous decision Matt Riddle -- TBDLuis Ramos -- TBD(Fight canceled -- Full details here) *Overeem had his purse withheld because of a lawsuit filed by his former management company, full details for which can be found right here. The total disclosed payroll for UFC 141: "Lesnar vs. Overeem" was approximately $1.37 million, excluding the Riddle and Ramos salaries, which are in question because of the unique circumstances. Keep in mind the salaries listed above do not include fight bonuses, sponsorships, percentages and other unofficial payments such as PPV bonuses, among others. It also does not include deductions for expenses such as insurance, taxes, etc. For example, the UFC often hands out extra cash for "Fight of the Night," "Knockout of the Night" and "Submission of the Night." To check out these figures for UFC 141 click here. For complete UFC 141 results and blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action click here.

Posted in: ufc, overeem, show, decision, lesnar

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Watch the only official UFC pre-fight show with Junior dos Santos, King Mo Lawal and Urijah Faber at 6 p.m. ET right here on HeavyMMA.com.

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On the final day of Brocksmas Matt Roth gave to me, Brock Lesnar and Big Show collapsing the ring. It's the final day of Brocksmas, the professional wrestling career retrospective of Brock Lesnar. And I've saved the best moment for last. Brock Lesnar had captured the WWE heavyweight belt after defeating Kurt Angle at Wrestlemania 19, even after the botched shooting star press which could have ended his career. Riding a wave of popularity, the WWE entered him into a program with their biggest superstar: The Big Show! The Big Show is billed as 7 feet tall and 485 pounds making him the largest wrestler on the WWE's roster. Lesnar at his heaviest walked around at around 295 pounds. It truly was a case of what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object. On an episode of Smackdown, then the WWE's Thursday night programming, the Big Show and Lesnar met in the ring. In front of a sold out crowd at the TD Waterhouse Center in Orlando, Florida the two big men squared off for Lesnar's belt. What happened next absolutely no one expected, including the ring announcers who were as surprised as the crowd in attendance. More coverage and video after the jump... SBN coverage of UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem The set up was for Big Show to finish Lesnar from the top rope. Lesnar hit a chop to escape and then climbed the ropes for a superplex. Considering the size of the two men it was a move that absolutely no one expected to ever see. When they finally landed on the mat, the combination of the force and momentum caused the ring to collapse. It was a true "HOLY SH*T!" moment. The crowd's reaction as well as the reaction of Michael Cole and Taz were as genuine as you'll find in professional wrestling. The ring had never collapsed before which made this a truly unique and great moment. While the ring was likely gimmicked, it created enough suspension of belief that was possible that the combined weight and force of the two actually caused the ring to implode. I hope you've enjoyed this series and maybe you'll see it again sooner rather than never.

Posted in: show, brock lesnar, wwe, lesnar, ring

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MMAjunkie.com lead staff reporter and MMA insider John Morgan is a guest on today's official UFC 141 pre-event show, "Fight Day." The show, hosted by Dave Farra and Megan Olivi, also includes former WEC champ Urijah Faber and MMA Fighting's Ben Fowlkes for panel discussion, as well as interviews with UFC heavyweight champ Junior Dos Santos and former Strikeforce champ Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal. You can watch the show, which airs live from Las Vegas, from 6-7 p.m. ET at www.heavy.com.

Posted in: show, champ, las vegas, staff reporter, dave farra

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Last night marked the final RAW of 2011, but unfortunately the show ended the year with then fizzle of red fireworks rather than the bang accompanying Kane’s trademark pyrotechnics. However, the show started out on a strong note with the Chicago crowd paying appropriate homage to their native son, CM Punk, as soon as “Cult of Personality” hit the speakers. As it turned out the Windy City had to pop twice for Punk after the original intro brought John Laurinaitis down to the ring, mocking the fan-favorite under the guise of honoring him in his home town. Their eventual exchange led to a Gauntlet Match with Jack Swagger, Dolph Ziggler, and Mark Henry each aiming for a title-shot in victory with Punk being given a match-up with Laurinaitis if he survived the scraps unscathed. I thought the storyline was executed nicely with one exception, as I never expected Punk to actually get his hands on everyone’s favorite suit but I thought it was lame to have him duped so easily. Punk is supposed to be an intelligent, crafty competitor and yet he was fooled by Laurinaitis climbing up on the apron and saying, “Hey, Punk! Punk! Look at me! Look at me!” I was happy to see Ziggler go over since I’m all for his continued build towards the top but the way it was done reeked of stupidity. In between the beginning and end of the “Punk Plot” quite a bit happened as well. For some strange reason WWE decided to have semi-retired Booker T go over future-star Cody Rhodes. If the company’s goal is to show Rhodes as being so slimy he can only win through shenanigans I suppose I understand the point of having a “legend” beat him but to do so cleanly did little to show him as even being remotely close to a threat. Why not include a spot where Rhodes grabs a chair to hit Booker T and disqualify himself, then ends up taking the chair to the face after Booker T ducks and kicks it? The finish would have still occurred and Rhodes would still be seen as a cheater but minus the price he paid by giving up a clean pin. The mixed-tag bout (Zack Ryder-Eve Torres vs. Tyson Kidd-Natalya) was uneventful other than Natty having to constantly adjust her top to avoid a wardrobe malfunction. It’s been too long since WWE has had one of those by the way but I digress. I fear for Ryder’s future unless his character develops beyond what he’s already shown. His “bro” segment with John Cena was painfully forced. Hopefully at some point he’ll shed the act so he’s not so cartoonish. I also have no interest in where the Torres-Ryder situation goes. Eve seems lost push-wise at the moment so maybe WWE is just throwing stuff at the wall to see what sticks. Beyond that, the Miz vs. R-Truth feud was a given at some point based on their history and the way their partnership ended. Miz will clearly be playing the heel so I hope WWE allows him to add some complexity to his character by continuing his recent mean streak. An eventual “Extreme Rules” bout would be perfect for such a scenario to play out. Big Show vs. Mark Henry was also essentially guaranteed to go down with Daniel Bryan in the mix. It should make for a fun “Triple Threat” title-fight down the road. Also, can we end the Bella Twins’ tease and just have them throw down already? Alberto Del Rio’s preceding bit was so-so. I would have liked to see Ricardo Rodriguez struggle more with the announcing based on his neck, as it made for a great comedic situation WWE didn’t capitalize on. Oh, and Jerry Lawler’s comment about Del Rio’s ride was classic! Finally the show closed with Kane explaining why he’d targeted Cena in previous weeks in an awkward speech about “hate” being a natural emotion people shouldn’t “rise above”. In my humble opinion there was nothing redeeming that came out of the segment or will come from the storyline other than that it showed by Cena is so superior to a guy like Kane (at least when it comes to mic work). For a minute I truly thought “The Big Red Machine” was channeling Isaac Yankem because watching him try to lead “Cena Sucks” chants was akin to having teeth pulled. It was that bad. His character has undergone so many changes as of late, including the recent addition of a welding mask/contoured mask combo that looks like one straight out of a documentary on “real life superheroes,” that it’s literally a mess and one I don’t personally want to see in the squared-circle. It would be much better if they let Kane drop the WWE Superstar schtick and be a regular guy who has some sadistic tendencies. That’s it for this week. See you all in 2012 when we watch Ziggler job to Punk while foiling some dastardly plot by Laurinaitis to cost him the belt! PHOTO CREDIT – WWE Tweet

Posted in: show, cena, punk, wwe, kane

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The Ultimate Fighter started in 2005 on Spike TV. In 2012, the show will move to a live format on FX. That’s not the only change made to the program that put the UFC on the map as TUF will go international for the first time in the show’s history with TUF Brasil debuting in March on Globo. Serving as coaches on the show will be Brazilian and MMA legends Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort, both of whom look to mentor the next crop of UFC talent before squaring off in June in a long awaited rematch. The first time the two met back in 1998, Belfort blitzed Silva with a flurry of punches and finished him in just 44 seconds. UFC cameras were with “The Axe Murderer” when the announcement of the show was made to capture his reaction, with Silva confessing his goal was not only to highlight the hungry talent in Brazil but also to inspire those in difficult situations, revealing, “We’ll also be showing out of the 300 fighters in the UFC…I don’t know how many came from a rich family. It’s not my case and it’s not the case of any of my friends, who like me came from humble beginnings. We prove that through hard work and dedication you can achieve things you would never imagine.” Check out the video below: PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, show, silva, tuf, ufc …i

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Friday, Friday, there's a big fight going down on Friday. If there's one area the UFC really needs to focus their marketing and promotion on this week for their end of the year Pay Per View show featuring the Mega-Headline bout that is Brock Lesnar vs Alistair Overeem, it's making sure everyone knows it'll air on a day of the week that's not the norm. But even if Zuffa goes all out and creates something like a 'UFC on Friday' logo with Dana White wearing a t-shirt and starting every Youtube vlog this week with the 'Friday' message, the UFC still has an uphill battle with casual fans that are used to Saturday shows. Even if the UFC opt for a Rebecca Black viral video remix for the purpose of getting an irritating mantra stuck inside people's heads, the UFC could still lose out on hundreds of thousands in potential PPV purchases. The Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer expressed his concern for the Friday event at the beginning of December when he was a guest on the FightFans Radio podcast (transcription by me): Of all the things, the Friday night concerns me the most. It's a big enough fight to where I think it'll do over half a million (buys) no matter what, but I just think there's going to be a lot of people who on that Friday night are thinking "Yeah, tomorrow night is the Lesnar fight", and then they're going to wake up on Saturday and see the results and go "Oh my god, I missed the fight!". Because we're so intuned as creatures of habit, I mean I never think on Friday night of UFC, OK? Ever ... but when I wake up Saturday morning it's like "There's probably a UFC fight". So I think that Friday is going to hurt, especially with this fight. I know why they did it ... it'd be hard to book hotels, and that's true. In Vegas to get people in ... they didn't want to compete with New Year's Eve entertainment. But I think with this fight, if it had been on New Year's Eve it would have been just gigantic on Pay Per View, and I'm worried a little on the Friday aspect. It'll still do well though, but I just think there's going to be ... a hundred, two-hundred thousand people that would have bought that show, on Saturday morning are going to go "Oh my god, the show was last night!?". Even with the awareness of the show coming up, just because it's Friday and ... they just don't think about it (being) on Friday. ... if this was like an Edgar / Maynard show on December 30th, I mean I think it would have done, like, horrible! Now because it's Lesnar I think there's going to be a lot of awareness the week (of), and a lot of people are going to figure it out. But ... the one thing that always hits me is when WWF [sic] does their 3 hour RAWs, and like 20% of the audience still tunes in at 9 o'clock. And this is with them going on TV usually for 2 weeks, "We've got a 3 hour RAW in 2 weeks, we've got a 3 hour RAW next week ..." over and over, "Don't forget we're on an hour early, don't forget we're on an hour early ...", and still 20% of the audience doesn't get that message, and I'm afraid that like that's what's probably going to happen here, that 20% of the audience is going to go "Yeah I know, Lesnar's fighting this week" and not think about it until Saturday morning; "Oh yeah, lets get together and watch the Lesnar fight", you know, with their friends. I just feel like it's going to be 20%... maybe it'll be more, maybe it'll be less, but I think a pretty darn significant percentage is going to miss that fight because of it being on Friday. UFC 141 top to bottom is a very solid card with Nate Diaz vs Donald Cerrone almost guaranteed to excite, and for a few people the return of Jon Fitch against the rising NCAA Champion Johny Hendricks is intriguing in its own right. With Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem closing the show, the strength of the card can not be faulted. But as Meltzer mentions, we tend to be creatures of habit that get used to a routine, and Friday night is bound to catch a lot of people out who would have otherwise caught the fights live. For a year plagued with injuries, the fallout from the bitter separation of Spike TV and the UFC, and not a single PPV card that has cracked the 1 million mark this year, 2011 has to be considered one of the worst PPV years in the post-TUF boom era. Short of a Mayan apocalypse, let's hope 2012 fairs better.

Posted in: ufc, fight, show, week, friday

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UFC 129 in Toronto was the company’s first stadium show which set records for attendance, gate and bonuses. The bonuses were the biggest ($129,000) in recent memory. It also held the first of two UFC Expos held this year. In the end, the UFC had a substantial impact on the economy in Toronto. The card featured the showdown between GSP vs. Jake Shields, Jose Aldo vs. Mark Hominick and Randy Couture (in his final match) vs. Lyoto Machida. UFC 129 was the biggest PPV buy of this year (excluding UFC 141) with 800,000 buys. We will see how it does in January for UFC 142 as Aldo headlines the card. UFC 134 in Rio De Jineiro, Brazil was a return for the company. The show was a sellout and similar to Toronto, the crowd was hot during the entire show. Anderson Silva headlined the show by defeating Yushin Okami. Notably, the UFC promoted that it would air the prelims on a digital screen in the Little Brazil section of Times Square to watch the prelims. Unfortunately, due to Hurricane Irene, this promotion was thwarted. Silva scored major sponsors for UFC 134 including a soccer club, Burger King and Nike. He also starred in a Budweiser commercial that aired in Brazil. Bonuses were huge as well with every category winner getting $100,000. Unlike 129, UFC 134 did not score as well with PPV as it only garnered 335,000 buys. The UFC’s return to Toronto this December did not garner as much fanfare as 129 but received a nice PPV number of 480,000 buys worldwide. These two shows paved the way for international expansion for the UFC. 129’s stadium show displayed the type of draw and economic impact it could have over an area when it comes to town and its Rio show spawned UFC 142 and the first international TUF.

Posted in: ufc, show, toronto, brazil, stadium show

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Strikeforce fighter payouts for those who competed at the "Melendez vs. Masvidal" event this past Saturday night (Dec. 17, 2011), which aired on Showtime from the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, Calif., were released to MMAmania.com this evening by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC). Unsurprisingly, lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez led the payout pack, earning $150,000 for his five-round unanimous decision victory over Jorge Masvidal in the main event of the evening. "El Nino" was adamant after the fight that he could compete against the cream of the crop in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 155-pound division; however, he might want to reconsider based on his payday, which was $48,000 more than the base salary that Frankie Edgar took home for his performance at UFC 125 earlier this year. Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Gegard Mousasi was also rewarded handsomely for his 15 minutes of work, defeating Ovince St. Preux via unanimous decision to inch himself closer to another championship opportunity. That's not all. Here is the complete list of Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" salaries and payouts: Gilbert Melendez: $150,000 (no win bonus)Jorge Masvidal: $23,000Melendez defeated Masvidal via unanimous decision Cristiane Santos: $66,000 ($33,000 to show, $33,000 to win) Hiroko Yamanaka: $8,000Santos defeated Yamanaka via knockout in round one Gegard Mousasi: $150,000 (no win bonus)Ovince St. Preux: $17,000Mousasi defeated St. Preux via unanimous decision KJ Noons: $ 65,000 ($35,000 to show, $30,000 to win) Billy Evangelista: $20,000Noons defeated Evangelista via unanimous decision Caros Fodor: $20,000 ($10,000 to show, $10,000 to win)Justin Wilcox: $12,000Fodor defeated Wilcox via knockout in round one Roger Bowling: $14,000 ($7,000 to show, $7,000 to win) Jerron Peoples: $2,000Bowling defeated Peoples via knockout in round one Devin Cole: $12,000 ($6,000 to show, $6,000 to win) Gabriel Salinas: $3,000Cole defeated Salinas-Jones via unanimous decision Eddie Mendez: $6,000 ($3,000 to show, $3,000 to win)Fernando Gonzalez: $3,000Mendez defeated Gonzalez via split decision Herman Terrado: $6,000 ($3,000 to show, $3,000 to win) Chris Brown: $3,000Terrado defeated Brown via submission (armbar) in round three The total disclosed payroll for Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" was $580,000. Keep in mind the salaries listed above do not include fight bonuses, sponsorships, percentages and other unofficial payments. It also does not include deductions for expenses such as insurance, taxes, etc. For complete Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" results and blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action click here.

Posted in: strikeforce, show, decision, masvidal, melendez

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) color commentator Joe Rogan was a guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Friday night (Dec. 16, 2011) to promote the return of NBC's Fear Factor and show his support for Ron Paul, Republican Party candidate for the 2012 presidential election. For more on the new season of Fear Factor click here.

Posted in: show, joe rogan, ron paul, jay leno, party candidate

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submitted by DonRicoVilla [link] [6 comments]

Posted in: show, paul, rogan, ron, ron paul

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Strikeforce women’s featherweight champ Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos has been waiting a long time to get back inside the cage and perform. Saturday night, Santos will face Hiroko Yamanaka at Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal in the co-main event. After successfully defending her title back in 2010 against Jan Finney via knockout, Santos was forced to the sidelines as contract negotiations took place. Now, “Cyborg” is ready to add another victim to her resume in Yamanaka. “I’m very happy to fight and I know there are a lot of expectations around that,” said Santos, in a recent interview with Strikeforce’s website. “Even before thinking about winning the fight, I want to put on a really, really good show, and definitely for the fans, I’m going to go beyond any expectations.” The 26-year-old became frustrated with the delay in working out a deal with Strikeforce, saying, “I’m always working to get female MMA to grow, and I want to see more girls fighting and I want to grow the event and make it better by giving the best show I can. So I was definitely frustrated with the big gap between fights because I always expect to fight three or four times a year if possible.” As for her future now that Strikeforce has one, Santos is interested in competing in both the 135/145-pound divisions. That means a possible date with Ronda Rousey down the road, who is an up-and-coming fighter looking to make a big splash in women’s MMA. In the main event of Saturday’s show, Gilbert Melendez will defend his Strikeforce lightweight title against Jorge Masvidal. Recently, it was announced that Melendez, Santos and the rest of Strikeforce’s non-heavyweight fighters will remain the company. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: fight, strikeforce, show, saturday, ’m

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

"The expectations are great. The main idea is to show how is the life and the trainings of a fighter, make them focus and don’t get disturbed by the cameras or anything else, stay focused on the training. All athletes there I believe have a certain experience, so they don’t let it get to them. I wanna show the good side of the martial arts, show the positive aspects of practicing martial arts and make it popular to people who has never watched MMA in their lives, and maybe help people

Posted in: show, wanderlei silva, people, art, arts show

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Fuel TV has released their full UFC schedule for January which includes five show premieres and a 24-hour marathon that kicks off 2012. The network plans to air more than 2000 hours of UFC content in their debut year with more than 100 hours dedicated to live events, weigh-ins and pre/post-fight analysis shows. Sunday, January 1 The UFC will air the following eight-hour block three times, starting at 12 AM EST. UFC Reloaded 1: Reloaded will be three-hour shows featuring past pay-per-views with 14 editions planned for this year. The numbered series kicks off with UFC 79, co-headlined by Matt Hughes vs. Georges St. Pierre and Chuck Liddell vs. Wanderlei Silva. UFC Bad Blood: Liddell vs. Ortiz: This 90-minute show is the same as the 2011 DVD release with Chuck Liddell vs. Tito Oritz fights, interviews, countdown show footage and more. UFC Champions Roundtable with Jay Glazer: The new 30-minute show features Fox reporter/MMA insider Glazer talking with current and past UFC champions. Jon Jones, Frank Mir, Chuck Liddell and Forrest Griffin will be on the debut show. UFC Unleashed: The popular series that ran seemingly non-stop during the UFC/Spike era debuts on Fuel with 12 new one-hour editions on tap. UFC Ultimate Knockouts: Two hours of fighters knocking each other out. Tuesday, January 3 7 PM EST: Best of PRIDE. 12 one-hour shows are planned. 10 PM EST: UFC Tonight debut Tuesday, January 10 6 PM EST: UFC Best of 2011 9 PM EST: Countdown To UFC 142 Friday, January 13 1 PM EST: UFC 142 Weigh-Ins Saturday, January 14 1 AM EST: UFC 142 Post-Fight Show Thursday, January 19th 5 PM EST: UFC on FX Guillard vs. Miller Weigh-Ins Friday, January 20 6 PM EST: UFC on FX Guillard vs. Miller Prelims 11 PM EST: UFC on FX Guillard vs. Miller Post-Fight Show Friday, January 27 5 PM EST: UFC on FOX 2 Weigh-Ins Saturday, January 28 5 PM EST: UFC on FOX 2 Prelims 10 PM EST: UFC on Fox Post-Fight Show Saturday, January 31 9 PM EST: Countdown to UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit

Posted in: ufc, show, vs, pm, january

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"There are many things they do on the American show that I particularly don’t think is nice. I believe we gotta sell the sport as it is. Martial arts are about respect, discipline, posture. And that’s what they’ll see happening here, but it’s not going to be messy. Not in my side, at least. But people will have to sign a deal on which they say that if they mess up with me, it’ll get ugly. I wanna show the good side of the martial arts, show the positive aspects of practicing martial arts and make it popular to people who has never watched MMA in their lives, and maybe help people who do many things wrong, like doing crack and other drugs. Sometimes it happens because the guy doesn’t have anything to do, his friend starts doing it and he goes and does it. I guess we gotta bring these guys from the bad side and show them some things that are good, that’s my mission." Put the pipe down and get your ass in the gym. That's the message from mixed martial arts megastar Wanderlei Silva (via Tatame.com), who travels back to his native homeland to coach an upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) Brazil opposite fellow countryman and longtime rival Vitor Belfort. "The Axe Murderer," who rose to prominence in PRIDE and then again in the UFC, is ready to give back to the sport that made him financially secure by taking on a team of up-and-coming fighters from the mean streets of Brazil. Anyone think Wandy is being melodramatic? Or can he go all "Band of the Hand" and shape career criminals into championship fighters?

Posted in: show, people, brazil, thing, art

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MMAjunkie.com Radio today welcomes to the show Roger Bowling, who meets Jerron Peoples at Saturday's "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal" event. We also talk to Legacy Fighting Championships promoter Mick Maynard about Friday's HDNet-televised event and Fight Code promoter Carlo Di Blasi about this weekend's Fight Now TV-televised kickboxing show in Hungary. MMAjunkie.com Radio airs from noon to 2 p.m. ET (9-11 a.m. PT) live from Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Listen to and watch a video stream of the two-hour show at www.mmajunkie.com/radio.

Posted in: show, radio, las vegas, video stream, mmajunkiecom

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The two-hour UFC 140 prelims show on Ion did average numbers, drawing 808,000 viewers. While they were well below the usual prelims specials on Spike TV, Ion has less subscribers and viewers and two previous prelims shows on Ion did similar numbers. A UFC 125 show did 829,000 viewers, while a UFC 127 show did 714,000. show did 714,000.

Posted in: ufc, show, viewer, prelim, ion

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We have partnered with Pro MMA Radio to bring you weekly replays of PMR as the official radio show of MMAConvert.com. Pro MMA Radio can be heard live every Monday evening at 9PM ET/6PM PT. Replays and podcasts of every show are available 24/7 by going to the “Replay Corner” section of ProMMARadio.com, our own Pro MMA Radio page or by clicking the banner below. On this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio, Joseph Benavidez stopped by to talk about the UFC’s new flyweight division. MMA Mania’s Jesse Holland also joined the show to help Larry Pepe recap UFC 140 and preview Strikeforce “Melendez vs. Masvidal.” You can listen to a replay of this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio by clicking the banner below. A radio player with links to the show’s archives will open in a pop-up window, so please make sure your browser is set to allow pop-ups for this site.

Posted in: mma, show, replay, radio, mma radio

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The UFC and Fuel TV weren't kidding around when they said the fledgling network would be the home for the organization. Sergio Non of USA Today reported Monday that UFC Tonight -- a weekly 30-minute news show -- will begin on Tuesday, January 3rd.WEC play-by-play announcer Todd Harris and current UFC lightweight/fill-in color commentator Kenny Florian will be the anchors for the show with Jay Glazer providing features and MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani taking the role of industry insider. The show will air at 10 PM EST for six months and could increase in frequency depending on how things go. Florian has been a fixture on ESPN's MMA Live for years, but with he and Jon Anik leaving within a span of two months, one has to question the future of the show on ESPN. Due to constant preempting, it's already difficult enough to find and there hasn't been a new episode since November 26th. Fuel is also carrying six live events per year, the former Facebook prelims, pre and post-event coverage and more, contributing to 2000 hours per year in UFC programming. They recently announced the first live event for February 13 featuring Jake Ellenberger vs. Diego Sanchez in the main event. The network is seen in 36 million homes.

Posted in: ufc, show, year, espns mma, industry insider

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Efrain Escudero's friend enabled me to pass Spanish 202 at the University of Arizona, and I bought him a 12-pack of Moosehead Lager for it. I just needed an outlet to tell someone that. Without him, I would still be slamming my head on the wall, years later. College Spanish cost me a case of Mooshead, and it was the greatest $13.99 I've ever spent. Aside from my brief stint of foreign languages in college, I learned most of my Spanish from watching 'Caliente' on Saturday mornings. It was a show in which gorgeous women danced in some undisclosed location, while rudely being interrupted by some guy talking with a microphone. In the greater scope of the universe, the show was meaningless. It only served a purpose for sexually deprived males who happened to be up early on a Saturday. That's it. For some reason, I think the director of 'Caliente' is now in charge of 'Las Senadoras,' a show hosted by these three investigative reporters. Recently, Jorge Masvidal appeared on the show to promote his upcoming title fight with Gilbert Melendez which goes down this Saturday on Showtime. You may not be able to understand Spanish, but I'm sure you can fully appreciate this video anyway. [Source]

Posted in: show, saturday, jorge masvidal, spanish, saturday mornings

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Welcome, all you fine, discerning readers, to another wistful look back upon The Ultimate Fighter on Spike TV. Coming up in our second and final installment, awards for Best Season, Worst Season, The Ken Shamrock Memorial Award for Exceptionally Absurd Characterization, and more... Best Season Guys, Team Nogueira vs. Team Mir was pretty excellent. Following on the heels of Team Hughes vs. Team Serra and Team Rampage vs. Team Forrest, both of which featured unremarkable casts and hinged almost entirely on the coaches' dynamic, Season 8 of The Ultimate Fighter was a breath of fresh air. Led by well-intentioned coaches who weren't stuck there just to fill the spotlight (hello, Team Lesnar vs. Team Dos Santos) it featured a respectable cast that, on the light-heavyweight end of things, ended up adding a fair bit of heft to the UFC talent pool. And while only two of the show's lightweights have since found any purchase in the UFC, the show's smaller competitors did offer a nice thread of drama, with general loudmouth and noted disaster Junie Browning finally getting his comeuppance in the show's final episode, via a D'Arce choke from Efrain Escudero. Add to this the fact that nearly all of the fights featured on the show finished by TKO or submission, and that once in a while some old man named Stankie managed to sneak onto the set to convey strange, hobo wisdom to the contestants, and you have a winning season. The Ken Shamrock Award for Exceptionally Absurd Characterization Everyone knows that "reality TV" is a bit of a misnomer. The facts of a matter take a back seat to drama, and show producers often see fit to bend the truth and alter the sequence of events in order to more completely make a fool out of somebody. Let us honor the sorriest of these hapless goofs: Gabe Ruediger and Noah Inhofer. Gabe Ruediger was portrayed as eating all manner of baked goods even as he infamously struggled (and failed) to make weight. As Ruediger explained after the show, though, scenes of him beasting on ice cream cake took place well before he began struggling with the cut. And while we could debate the wisdom of beasting at any point in time on any amount of ice cream cake when you're on a show whose theme song challenges you to "bear witness to the fitness," I think we can agree that that season's producers really went the extra mile in painting Ruediger as a grinning, cake-crazed madman. Noah Inhofer left the show after receiving a distressing letter from his girlfriend. To reiterate, he left a show, which stresses no contact with the outside world, be it by email, phone call, or whatever, after receiving a letter. Uh, why did he get that letter? The only conclusion left to make is that Chuck Liddell was afraid that Inhofer would grow to be too much of a challenge at light-heavyweight and asked Dana White to find a way to eliminate him from the show. After the jump, "Worst Season" and "Sad and Awkward: The Award" Worst Season Season 13's Team Lesnar vs. Team Dos Santos was just a sad pile of disappointment and confusion, starting with the premise that a pair of massive heavyweights would be the best fit to coach a cast of 155-pound fighters. Given the unremarkable cast of lightweights assembled, the producers were clearly counting on Brock Lesnar to be the center of the show, but what we got was less "Furious Dynamo Brock Lesnar" and more "Can't-You-See-I've-Had-a-Long-Day-at-Work-Tired-Angry-Dad-Brock-Lesnar." With Lesnar's spirit off somewhere in the mountains slaying saber-toothed tigers, we were left with the grinning, vaguely coherent Dos Santos, whose big move that season was to fire coach Lew Polley from his staff for reasons that I'm still not entirely clear on (see: vaguely coherent). To top it all off, the fight between Lesnar and Dos Santos never happened. Terrible. Sad and Awkward: The Award "You who don't want nothing to do with Jens Pulver, raise your hand." It's been three or four times that I've watched this sorry scene, where B.J. Penn puts the question to the Season 6 contestants during team picks, and it's always a colossal bummer. Watching Jens Pulver look over all those raised arms with a distant, disbelieving smile has to be one of the saddest moments from the series' run. That Pulver went on to prove himself a far more dedicated coach makes things all the more obscene. Honorable mentions: the sight of Jason Thacker standing before a seated Randy Couture, sniffling and teary-eyed as he received the news that he was being cut from the show because their team, like, lost an obstacle course race or didn't win a hardboiled-egg-eating contest. There's also Ken Shamrock's surprise birthday party from the third season. I guess his wife wasn't given the memo that Shamrock's whole team hated his guts. Cue the saddest, most awkward singing of the birthday song I've ever seen on TV (and I've seen A LOT).

Posted in: show, season, team, lesnar, award

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submitted by ReallyCoolGuy [link] [14 comments]

Posted in: show, ive, strategy, rmma ive, reallycoolguy

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Sportsnet is your home for UFC 140: Jones vs. Machida Saturday with a chat, play-by-play, preview show & live fights starting at 5:45 pm ET.

Posted in: ufc, show, sportsnet, machida, sportsnetca

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If we're witnessing the evolution of MMA, then MTV's new reality show called 'Caged' is undoubtedly an act of creationism. The network's new docuseries will depict the lives of a few recent high-school graduates that hold backyard MMA bouts to keep entertained in rural Louisiana. Here's an excerpt from Variety Magazine on the show. "Caged," which takes places in rural Louisiana, examines twentysomethings who gather to fight in cages -- all the while trying to figure out what to do with their lives. Series is set to go into production shortly and will likely launch in 2012. "We're always looking for subcultures to explore and do a deep dive into their lives," MTV programming topper David Janollari told Variety. "What I love about the show is that it's not just about fighting, but examining life in everytown America." Janollari said the fights will likely be shown in each episode, all leading up to a bigger fight later in the season. The bouts are intense but aren't so graphic that they would offend viewers. The actual debut date for 'Caged' is January 9th 2012 and MTV has released the first trailer of the reality show for your viewing pleasures. [Source]

Posted in: show, reality show, mtv, reality, live

Read the full article at Middle Easy

A middleweight title fight between Luke Rockhold and Keith Jardine is official for a Jan. 7 Strikeforce show. Robbie Lawler and King Mo Lawal are also on the card.

Posted in: show, rockhold, luke rockhold, keith jardine, jardine

Read the full article at Heavy MMA

Most fans’ first experience with Chan Sung Jung relates to the frenzied pace of his fight against Leonard Garcia at WEC 48 where the two threw caution to the wind (and wild punches) for the bout’s fifteen minute duration. However, Jung mistakenly gave in to the pressure of following up the performances with something similar and paid the price for it after getting head-kicked into oblivion by George Roop. For Jung’s last fight, a rematch with Garcia this past March, the 24-year old South Korean went back to his roots with more than half of his wins involving a submission-based stoppage rather than one related to stand-up. The decision to do so paid off with second round tap-out via the rarely seen Twister and $55,000 “Submission of the Night” check to boot. Jung recently spoke some about his style, saying he hopes to implement the same approach when he faces Mark Hominick this weekend at UFC 140. And, while he was happy to show the mainstream he’s more than a scrapper, the 11-3 Jung knows he still has a long road to travel before meeting his own expectations where ability is concerned. “It was nice to be able to show some of the aspects of my game (against Garcia), explained Jung in an interview with the UFC’s website. “I think a lot of fans who aren’t familiar with me don’t think I have a ground game at all, that I’m just a brawler. Don’t get me wrong, I do like to brawl, but I’m trying to develop as a fighter. My goal is to always be better in each fight than I was in my last. So, it was great to show the fans something that many of them haven’t seen before.” As far as how he thinks he can improve “The Korean Zombie” didn’t name any one area – he named all of them. “I still need to work on being more well-rounded as a fighter. In this game, you always have to be working on getting better, or someone else is going to pass you by. I think I made progress after my fight with Roop. It was definitely the right decision to develop my style, but I don’t know if I’ll ever be completely satisfied.” When it comes to Hominick, Jung admitted part of him will definitely want to abandon his grappling despite “The Machine” possessing some of the featherweight division’s best striking. Hominick Out to Destroy Jung at UFC 140 “Yeah, that temptation is always there. I like brawling and I like putting on a show for the fans, but I just don’t give into it,” concluded Jung. “I just have to stay calm and stick to my game plan.” Interested parties can catch Jung vs. Hominick on the PPV portion of UFC 140 when the broadcast starts at 9:00 PM EST. Other bouts include a headlining tilt between light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and former title-holder Lyoto Machida, as well those paying homage to the PRIDE vs. UFC days with Frank Mir vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Tito Ortiz vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira also expected for this weekend’s card. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, fight, show, vs, jung

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JAKARTA, Indonesia -- One Fighting Championship unveiled details about their Feb. 11 show in Kelapa Gading Sports Mall during a press conference Thursday at the Grand Hyatt Jakarta.

Posted in: show, feb, jakarta, fc card, gading

Read the full article at Sherdog

MTV has released a trailer for its new MMA-themed reality series "Caged." The show follows the lives of young amateur MMA fighters in small-town Louisiana. The show debuts Jan. 9 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on MTV's flagship channel and follows four young and diverse fighters early in their MMA careers. International markets begin airing the show in May 2012.

Posted in: show, mtv, amateurmma series, mma careers, smalltown louisiana

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submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [2 comments]

Posted in: show, video, mattyblayze, jim norton, shin

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Nearly seven years ago, a tv show brought the sport of Mixed Martial Arts to the mainstream public. When The Ultimate Fighter season one debuted January 17 2005 it was a big gamble for ZUFFA at the time to venture into the unknown waters of reality television. That crapshoot paid off, gave birth to a legion of loyal fans, and created superstars and champions out of many who appeared on the show. After fourteen seasons, the show that saved the Ultimate Fighting Championship will now start a new chapter in

Posted in: show, season, reality television, fighter season, tv show

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Starting at 5:15 p.m. ET, the UFC will stream six preliminary fights from The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale on their Facebook page. Interest in this undercard has been average at best but I thought I'd still provide a very brief and quick assessment of the match ups. Johnny Bedford vs. Louis GaudinotStephen Bass vs Marcus BrimageJohn Albert vs Dustin PagueJosh Ferguson vs Roland DelormeJosh Clopton vs Steven SilerDustin Neace vs Bryan Caraway Johnny Bedford (17-9-1) vs. Louis Gaudinot (5-1) -- Gaudinot is a natural 125er and Ring of Combat flyweight champion. He's a good wrestler, very scrappy and much better than he showed in his loss to Dustin Pague (who happens to be the Ring of Combat bantamweight champion). Gaudinot and Dodson (another ranked flyweight) are the smallest guys on the show (5'3") and Bedford is the tallest (5'10"). Bedford is decent everywhere (striking, BJJ, wrestling); Gaudinot probably has more more punching power and is stronger but should struggle with the huge size difference. Stephen Bass (10-0) vs. Marcus Brimage (3-1) -- I don't know a lot about Bass but Brimage is an athletic but inexperienced ATT fighter with sweet stand up. He's really quick, strong and seems to have a knack for fighting. He might have a submission disadvantage but he's tough to take down and has feisty scrambling. I think his striking will be too much for Bass here. More after the break. SBN coverage of The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale John "Prince" Albert (6-1) vs. Dustin "The Disciple" Pague (10-4) -- Albert was considered one of the weaker guys on the show who fought Dodson first instead of Dillashaw. He's a member of Victory Athletics where he trains alongside Dennis Hallman and Brad Blackburn. Pague was a nice surprise with sharp kickboxing (he's 5'9" with a long -- 74" -- reach) and also a good grasp of BJJ (subbed Gaudinot). He trains at the Tapout Ranch with Cerrone and, besides losing his first MMA fight, lost three straight halfway through his career to Jeff Lentz (former TUFer), Anthony Leone (former WECer) and Din Thomas. I'm anticipating a strong finish for Pague, likely clipping Albert on the feet and then subbing him, but I don't have the best grasp on Albert's potential. Josh Ferguson (8-3) vs. Roland Delorme (6-1) -- Delorme lost to Dillashaw (he had the swollen foot/staph concern) on the show but submitted Ferguson's brother to get into the house. Ferguson lost to Bedford on the show by decision but is a really tough and mean little spark plug with good strength and aggressive kickboxing. He'll be smaller (5'5" vs. 5'9") but I still think he can win with footwork and boxing. Delorme has a formidable arsenal of submissions and could finish if he can get it to the floor. Josh Clopton (6-1) vs. Steven Siler (18-9) -- Clopton was decisioned by Neace in the first episode and didn't make the show but did have a really solid performance despite the loss. He's a Skrap Pack fighter with the likes of Gilbert Melendez and Matt Wiman. Siler threw everyone off by whipping Micah Miller's ass but then fell to the devastation of finalist Diego Brandao in 30 seconds. He has losses to Chad Mendes and Cole Escovedo. I'm leaning towards Clopton but Siler is a tough and experienced gamer who could pull off a win. Dustin Neace (23-17-1) vs. Bryan Caraway (15-5)-- This is actually an intriguing scrap. These were probably the two best wrestlers on the show. Neace lost to Akira Corassani in the "fake tap" debacle and seems to have some decent sub skills to match his wrestling. Caraway has the most experience: in the WEC (lost to Mark Hominick and Fredson Paixao), in EliteXC (he was subbed by Bellator's Wilson Reis) and in Strikeforce (on the Melendez vs. Thomson undercard; won by sub). Caraway supposedly has some kind of Fila or US wrestling credentials but I thought his takedowns and set ups on the show were mediocre. Neither is known for their striking -- Neace might be a tad better -- so it will probably come down to takedowns and control. I think Caraway should be the favorite but Neace could take it.

Posted in: show, fighter, vs, he, neace

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Variety reports that MTV is set to debut “Caged,” a reality show featuring 4 Louisiana teenagers trying to make it in the world of MMA. MTV announced the debut of the show for January 9, 2012. Via Variety: [“Caged”] follows of a group of small-town Louisiana teens who engage in cage fighting to help them cope with the struggles in their lives. The amateur mixed martial arts bouts give the protagonists a sense of accomplishment both inside and outside the ring. “We’re always looking for subcultures to explore and do a deep dive into their lives,” MTV programming topper David Janollari told Variety when the show was first announced earlier this year. “What I love about the show is that it’s not just about fighting but examining life in every-town America.” Via MMA Junkie: The series follows their lives in and out of the cage. As is typical with such programs, a small mix of personalities gets camera time, including the rich kid whose first love died in an accident, the college grad who’s handling life with his new girlfriend/fighter/nursing school student and son, and a fighter hoping to make his parents proud as a pro competitor. The show is scheduled to air Monday nights with a 10 episode run. Payout Perspective: We’ll see how MMA is portrayed by the show and perceived by the teenagers. MMA is starting to build popularity and its interesting to see how it will grow. The perception of violence is definitely an obstacle that MMA must deal with in an attempt to appeal to the mainstream. Hopefully the show will humanize the people that fight rather than glorify the violence. For those that recall, MTV did a “True Life” on MMA several years back. One of the guys it featured was a young Frankie Edgar. It was a good behind the scenes look at Edgar’s life before he made it big. Hopefully, “Caged,” will give the same behind the scenes look.

Posted in: mma, show, life, mtv, debut

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Prelims start at 5:15PM EST and then the show on Spike at 9PM EST. As usual, we'll have the chat here ready for ya!

Posted in: show, pm, chat, finale, ya

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The 10th and final episode of TUF 14 garnered the highest rating for the season with an average viewership of 1.7 million viewers. The ratings results were sent out via an email by Spike TV officials. Via MMA Junkie: Wednesday’s episode, which concluded the season’s quarterfinal round, scored a 1.7 rating among men ages 18-49 and a 1.91 among men 18-34 The 14th season of TUF averaged 1.5 million viewers for the season. The average is up from season 13 but the 12th season garnered a 1.7 million average. The last episode featured two nice knockouts by John Dodson and Diego Brandao. One observation. On Dodson’s KO, during the fight someone was yelling out for a 4 (right uppercut). But Dodson used a 5 or 3 (left uppercut/left hook) for his KO. Another interesting mention is that Miller/Bisping will be the first time coaches will be fighting in 9 seasons. Payout Perspective: Was this season’s TUF a success? It did bounce back from TUF 13’s disappointing ratings. It also did what it planned to do: showcase the bantamweight and featherweight divisions. We saw great pace and action in most fights on the show which was the intent of featuring the divisions on TUF. For that, I think viewers will pay more attention to these divisions. Unfortunately for the finale, TUF 14 seems like a lame duck on Spike TV. With the buzz and excitement of Zuffa’s move to Fox, little has been done to promote this Saturday’s TUF Finale. On a broader scale, how much does TUF help the careers of those that get on the show. ESPN’s Josh Gross commented: TUF is a ratings grabber, and as such a valued television property. That’s fine. But it’s hard to get past the fact that absent TUF’s early seasons, as a vehicle for new stars carrying a lasting impact inside the Octagon, the show is as meaningful to the UFC as Golf Channel’s “The Big Break” has been to the PGA Tour. I don’t think we’ll see a Matt Serra-type scenario ever again which was an initial allure of the show. The fact that anyone can come out of nowhere and win a championship made for good television. As Gross points out in his article, competition for talent is fierce and most up and coming talented fighters would not need a show to get into the UFC. So, we’ll see how the UFC and Fox handle TUF from here on out. It will definitely need to stress the personal stories of its fighters as well as rely on interesting coaches to keep viewers interested.

Posted in: show, season, tuf, rating, viewer

Read the full article at MMA Payout

The TUF 14 bantamweight final is set after the final show aired Wednesday.

Posted in: show, wednesday, bantamweight, tuf

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

Jason “Mayhem” Miller took the high road before beginning his coaching stint opposite Michael Bisping on the current season of The Ultimate Fighter. Miller, who made a name for himself as host of MTV’s Bully Beatdown show, decided to avoid forming an opinion on Bisping before the two started as coaches on the hit reality show. However, much like many before him have found out, Bisping is difficult to like. Miller quickly took to itching for December 3 to roll around so the two could square off at The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale, an event taking place this Saturday night. Miller and Bisping spent six weeks going back-and-forth, but the two had to avoid any actual punches during that time. That all changes when they close the Octagon door behind them and the bell rings. “I didn’t have an opinion. I didn’t formulate one. I didn’t care. I never really paid attention to the guy. I thought as far as a fighter, I thought, ‘Oh, I can beat this guy,’” said Miller, in an interview with MMAWeekly Radio. “I fell in line with everyone else’s opinion that he’s a giant douche or a turd sandwich. One or the other. I can’t wait to kick his ass on December 3.” Miller has faced some of the best fighters in the world, including the likes of Jake Shields, Tim Kennedy and Robbie Lawler, but finding motivation to face Bisping was not difficult at all. “I’ve thought about nothing but beating up Michael Bisping since we filmed that show. He’s super overrated,” Miller said. “They put him up in there with guys he gets to have an easy little kickboxing match with, and he gets to dictate the pace by throwing jabs out there and his right hand. He’s not going to be able to do that with me. He bit off more than he can chew. He’s going to feel bad about the day he agreed to fight me.” Fans can watch the middleweights square off in the main event of Spike’s 8:00 PM EST broadcast of the show. Other bouts include Tony Ferguson vs. Yves Edwards and the respective finals from TUF 14‘s bantamweight/featherweight tournaments. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE/UFC

Posted in: show, fighter, miller, bisping, michael bisping

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

With the last live UFC show on Spike TV on tap, here’s a look back at ‘The Ultimate Fighter’s’ best moments.

Posted in: show, fighter, spike tv, ufc show, fighter ’s

Read the full article at Yahoo! Sports

We have partnered with Pro MMA Radio to bring you weekly replays of PMR as the official radio show of MMAConvert.com. Pro MMA Radio can be heard live every Monday evening at 9PM ET/6PM PT. Replays and podcasts of every show are available 24/7 by going to the “Replay Corner” section of ProMMARadio.com, our own Pro MMA Radio page or by clicking the banner below. On this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio, TUF 14 cast member TJ Dillishaw joined host Larry Pepe to preview this weekend’s TUF 14 Finale and talk about his time on the show. You can listen to a replay of this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio by clicking the banner below. A radio player with links to the show’s archives will open in a pop-up window, so please make sure your browser is set to allow pop-ups for this site.

Posted in: mma, show, replay, radio, mma radio

Read the full article at MMA Convert

The Japanese-based DREAM organization and the upstart ONE Fighting Championship promotion today announced a partnership. As part of the deal, the organizations will co-promote events and have agreed to exchange fighters for their respective shows. The deal goes into affect immediately, and the first co-promoted show is tentatively slated for March 31.

Posted in: show, deal, copromote events, exchange fighters, copromoted show

Read the full article at MMA Junkie

MMAjunkie.com editor-in-chief Dann Stupp is a guest on today's edition of "The MMA Show with Mauro Ranallo." Stupp and Bellator broadcaster Jimmy Smith review this past weekend's Bellator and KSW 17 events, and we look ahead to The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale this weekend. Catch the show live at 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT) on radio.thescore.com, or download the archive on iTunes.

Posted in: show, stupp, mma show, todays edition, weekends bellator

Read the full article at MMA Junkie

Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson admits that his new style of fighting that he adapted in his UFC days has actually got him in more trouble lately. So will the Pride Rampage show up at UFC 144 in Japan?

Posted in: ufc, show, rampage, pride, ufc days

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

Filed under: UFC, Strikeforce, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosThe MMA Hour is back in your life on Monday with another two-hour live episode. Below is the show lineup: * We'll be joined by Strikeforce women's bantamweight champion Miesha Tate and top contender Ronda Rousey at the same time to discuss Rousey's climb up the 135-pound ladder and a potential title fight between the two. * Later, contender Sarah Kaufman will weigh-in on the Strikeforce title situation. * Featherweight Mark Hominick will discuss his UFC 140 fight against Chan Sung Jung. * Friend of the show Matt Mitrione will stop by for another edition of "The Mitrione Minute." * And we'll go "5 Rounds" on the news making headlines in MMA with reigning champion Ben Fowlkes and ESPN.com's Chad Dundas. Of course, we'll also be taking your calls as we look aheard to Saturday night's TUF 14 Finale, so give us a shout at: 212-254-0193, 212-254-0237 or 212-254-0714. *** You can also stream the show live on your iPhone or iPad by clicking here. Watch the show live below beginning at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT. Subscribe to The MMA Hour on iTunes: audio feed here; video feed here. Download previous episodes here. Listen to the show via Stitcher here. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mma, show, mma hour, hour, mitrione minute

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Mike Tyson singing ‘The Girl From Ipanema’ in Brazilian TV show Promoted to the Front Page by Anton Tabuena

Posted in: show, mike, front page, mike tyson, lsquothe girl

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

This article was originally posted by Fraser Coffeen on BloodyElbow. It used to be that following kickboxing largely meant following K-1. But now that the world's #1 kickboxing organization has stepped into a (temporary? permanent?) hiatus, it's a bit harder to follow the sport. That doesn't mean things aren't happening though. In 2011, a number of organizations throughout the world, and particularly in Europe, have stepped up and put on increasingly stacked shows featuring the world's top kickboxing talent. Here, we round up recent results, news, and fight announcements from the international kickboxing scene. Earlier this month, It's Showtime held an event in Spain (full results here). The big name on the card was #1 Middleweight and all around kickboxing phenom Giorgio Petrosyan, who faced the unranked Zeben Diaz. Petrosyan got the win, but it wasn't easy, as he took a split decision. Petrosyan should have rolled right over Diaz - just an off night, or a sign of troubles ahead? We may find out on January 21, as Petrosyan faces Abraham Roqueni (who holds a 2011 win over Andy Souwer) in Italy. That show brought It's Showtime's 2011 to an end, but the company has big plans in 2012, including a November 2012 show in Brazil. Next up for It's Showtime is a huge show on January 28 from The Netherlands. That show is headlined by Badr Hari's retirement fight against Gokhan Saki, but it's a stacked line-up outside of the main event as well, and features Tyrone Spong vs. Melvin Manhoef, Daniel Ghita vs. Hesdy Gerges, Errol Zimmerman vs. Rico Verhoeven, and a lot more. On paper, it's the best kickboxing card we've seen since the demise of K-1. Check the full line-up here. Over in Japan, RISE held a big show yesterday that featured an 8 man Heavyweight Grand Prix. Former K-1 GP Final 16 fighter Singh "Heart" Jaideep emerged the winner from a field that included Stefan Leko and Mighty Mo. Japan's women's kickboxing star RENA was also victorious on the card, defeating Erika Kamimura. In other Heavyweight tournament action, Errol Zimmerman won an 8 man tournament for SuperKombat, defeating Roman Kleibl in the finals. Also participating were Ben Edwards and Stefan Leko. This is a big win for Zimmerman, who was at one time a top 5 Heavyweight, but has really struggled as of late. Also on that card, Rico Verhoeven upset Hesdy Gerges by decision. Andy Souwer rematched Bellator fighter Toby Imada under Shootboxing rules. The two met in 2010, with Imada scoring the huge upset win over the highly decorated Souwer. This time, Souwer was better prepared and defeated Imada to gain his revenge. It was a needed win for Souwer, who was 5-3 in the past year. That doesn't sound so bad, until you realize that prior to this run he had only lost 9 times in roughly 130 pro fights. Upcoming fights to watch out for: Artur Kyshenko vs. Yodsaenklai Fairtex (Nov. 26, Rumble of the Kings); Ryuji Kajiwara vs. Tetsuya Yamato (Dec. 9, Krush.14); Jerome Le Banner vs. Andrei Kirsanov (Dec. 30, Thailand); Giorgio Petrosyan vs. Abraham Roqueni, Buakaw Por. Pramuk vs. Dzhabar Askerov (Jan. 21, Yokkao Extreme); Badr Hari vs. Gokhan Saki, Tyrone Spong vs. Melvin Manhoef, more (Jan. 28, It's Showtime)

Posted in: show, vs, kickboxing, souwer, petrosyan

Read the full article at Head Kick Legend

It used to be that following kickboxing largely meant following K-1. But now that the world's #1 kickboxing organization has stepped into a (temporary? permanent?) hiatus, it's a bit harder to follow the sport. That doesn't mean things aren't happening though. In 2011, a number of organizations throughout the world, and particularly in Europe, have stepped up and put on increasingly stacked shows featuring the world's top kickboxing talent. Here, we round up recent results, news, and fight announcements from the international kickboxing scene. Earlier this month, It's Showtime held an event in Spain (full results here). The big name on the card was #1 Middleweight and all around kickboxing phenom Giorgio Petrosyan, who faced the unranked Zeben Diaz. Petrosyan got the win, but it wasn't easy, as he took a split decision. Petrosyan should have rolled right over Diaz - just an off night, or a sign of troubles ahead? We may find out on January 21, as Petrosyan faces Abraham Roqueni (who holds a 2011 win over Andy Souwer) in Italy. That show brought It's Showtime's 2011 to an end, but the company has big plans in 2012, including a November 2012 show in Brazil. Next up for It's Showtime is a huge show on January 28 from The Netherlands. That show is headlined by Badr Hari's retirement fight against Gokhan Saki, but it's a stacked line-up outside of the main event as well, and features Tyrone Spong vs. Melvin Manhoef, Daniel Ghita vs. Hesdy Gerges, Errol Zimmerman vs. Rico Verhoeven, and a lot more. On paper, it's the best kickboxing card we've seen since the demise of K-1. Check the full line-up here. Over in Japan, RISE held a big show yesterday that featured an 8 man Heavyweight Grand Prix. Former K-1 GP Final 16 fighter Singh "Heart" Jaideep emerged the winner from a field that included Stefan Leko and Mighty Mo. Japan's women's kickboxing star RENA was also victorious on the card, defeating Erika Kamimura. In other Heavyweight tournament action, Errol Zimmerman won an 8 man tournament for SuperKombat, defeating Roman Kleibl in the finals. Also participating were Ben Edwards and Stefan Leko. This is a big win for Zimmerman, who was at one time a top 5 Heavyweight, but has really struggled as of late. Also on that card, Rico Verhoeven upset Hesdy Gerges by decision. Andy Souwer rematched Bellator fighter Toby Imada under Shootboxing rules. The two met in 2010, with Imada scoring the huge upset win over the highly decorated Souwer. This time, Souwer was better prepared and defeated Imada to gain his revenge. It was a needed win for Souwer, who was 5-3 in the past year. That doesn't sound so bad, until you realize that prior to this run he had only lost 9 times in roughly 130 pro fights. Upcoming fights to watch out for: Artur Kyshenko vs. Yodsaenklai Fairtex (Nov. 26, Rumble of the Kings); Ryuji Kajiwara vs. Tetsuya Yamato (Dec. 9, Krush.14); Jerome Le Banner vs. Andrei Kirsanov (Dec. 30, Thailand); Giorgio Petrosyan vs. Abraham Roqueni, Buakaw Por. Pramuk vs. Dzhabar Askerov (Jan. 21, Yokkao Extreme); Badr Hari vs. Gokhan Saki, Tyrone Spong vs. Melvin Manhoef, more (Jan. 28, It's Showtime)

Posted in: show, vs, kickboxing, souwer, petrosyan

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

Fresh off a win over the weekend, Fedor Emelianenko has been tentatively scheduled to fight on Dream's New Year's Eve show in Japan.

Posted in: fight, show, dream, japan, fedor

Read the full article at sportsnet.ca

On its face, Extreme Challenge sounds like one of the many regional shows given a flashy adjective to suggest a connection to the UFC. Look into its history, though, and you'll see a breeding ground for some of the biggest names in MMA today. On Wednesday, the Midwest promotion visits Harrah's Casino in Council Bluffs, Iowa, for its 200th show - 15 years to the day after the Quad City Ultimate became Extreme Challenge and held a show 100 or so miles away at the Supertoad Entertainment Center in Des Moines. Monte Cox remembers that day and remembers thinking, "this is bull[expletive]."

Posted in: show, challenge, mma today, challenge brass, quad city

Read the full article at MMA Junkie

Pro Elite will move forward with their third show since coming under new leadership, and this time they are adding a little flair to the card.

Posted in: show, prix, grove, elite, mcmann

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

UFC 139 fighter payouts for those who competed at the "Shogun vs. Hendo" pay-per-view (PPV) event this past Saturday night (Nov. 19, 2011) from the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., were released to MMAmania.com this evening by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC). Former Strikeforce middleweight champion Cung Le got paid like a Hollywood action hero, pocketing $350,000 for his co main event nose re-arranging technical knockout loss to Wanderlei Silva, who earned $200,000 for finally resurrecting the "Axe Murderer" inside the Octagon.   Dan Henderson wasn't too far behind Le, earning a cool quarter-million for his 25-minute war with Mauricio Rua in the main event of the evening. "Shogun" left the "Shark Tank" with more than just cuts, bumps and bruises, taking home $165,000 to Brazil for his part in perhaps the "Fight of the Century" thus far.  Here is the complete list of UFC 139 salaries and payouts: Dan Henderson -- $250,000Mauricio Rua -- $165,000Henderson defeated Rua via unanimous decision Wanderlei Silva -- $200,000Cung Le -- $350,000Silva defeated Le via technical knockout (strikes) in round two Urijah Faber --  $64,000 ($32,000 to show, $32,000 to win)Brian Bowlesc-- $19,000Faber defeated Bowles via submission (guillotine choke) in round two Stephan Bonnar -- $68,000 ($34,000 to show, $34,000 to win)Kyle Kingsbury -- $10,000Bonnar defeated Kingsbury via unanimous decision Martin Kampmann -- $58,000 ($29,000 to show, $29,000 to win)Rick Story -- $19,000Kampmann defeated Story via split decision Ryan Bader -- $48,000 ($24,000 to show, $24,000 to win)Jason Brilz -- $13,000Bader defeated Brilz via technical knockout (strikes) in round one Michael McDonald -- $14,000 ($7,000 to show, $7,000 to win)Alex Soto -- $6,000McDonald defeated Soto via technical knockout (strikes) in round one Chris Weidman -- $24,000 ($12,000 to show, $12,000 to win)Tom Lawlor -- $12,000Weidman defeated Lawlor via submission (d'arce choke) in round one Gleison Tibau -- $54,000 ($27,000 to show, $27,000 to win)Rafael dos Anjos -- $16,000Tibau defeated dos Anjos via split decision Miguel Torres -- $60,000 ($30,000 to show, $30,000 to win)Nick Pace -- $4,000Torres defeated Pace via unanimous decision Seth Baczynski -- $16,000 ($8,000 to show, $8,000 to win)Matt Brown -- $12,000Baczynski defeated Brown via submission (guillotine choke) in round two Danny Castillo -- $34,000 ($17,000 to show, $17,000 to win)Shamar Bailey -- $8,000Castillo defeated Bailey via technical knockout (strikes) in round one The total disclosed payroll for UFC 139: "Shogun vs. Hendo" was $1,524,000. Keep in mind the salaries listed above do not include fight bonuses, sponsorships, percentages and other unofficial payments. It also does not include deductions for expenses such as insurance, taxes, etc. For example, the UFC often hands out extra cash for "Fight of the Night," "Knockout of the Night" and "Submission of the Night." To check out these figures for UFC 139 click here. In addition, Pace and Bailey were required to forfeit 20 percent of their fight purses to their opponents for failing to make weight in their respective bouts. For complete UFC 139 results and blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action click here and here.

Posted in: ufc, show, round, knockout, knockout strikes

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Strikeforce Challengers 20: "Britt vs. Sayers" went down last Friday night (Nov. 18, 2011) from "The Pearl" at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. Now that the dust has settled, it's time for these guys to get paid. Russian middleweight  prospect Adlan Amagov was the top earner of the night, banking $10,600 for knocking out Anthony Smith and then taking an extra $600 from Smith after he could not make the 186-pound limit. But that's not all. Here are the complete salaries and payouts for Strikeforce Challengers 20: "Britt vs. Sayers:" Lumumba Sayers $6,000 ($3,000 to show, $3,000 to win)Antwain Britt $6000Sayers defeated Britt via KO (punches)Ronda Rousey $8,000 ($4,000 to show, $4,000 to win)Julia Budd $3,500Rousey defeated Budd via submission (armbar) Adlan Amagov $10,600 ($5,000 to show, $5,000 to win + 20% of Smith's purse for missing weight)Anthony Smith $2,400Amagov defeated Smith via KO (punches) Trevor Smith $6,000 ($3,000 to show, $3,000 to win)T.J. Cook $3,000Smith defeated Cook via submission (guillotine choke) Derek Brunson $9,000 ($4,500 to show, $4,500 to win)Nate James $3,000Brunson defeated James via unanimous decision Matt Ricehouse $8,000 ($4,000 to show, $4,000 to win)Bill Cooper $3,000Ricehouse defeated Cooper via unanimous decision Bobby Green $8,000 ($4,000 to show, $4,000 to win)James Reese $3,000Green defeated Reese via submission (rear naked-choke) Quinn Mulhern $7,000 ($3,500 to show, $3,500 to win)David Hulett $3,000Mulhern defeated Hulett via unanimous decision Andreas Spang $5,000 ($2,500 to show, $2,500 to win)Willie Parks $3,000Spang defeated Parks via TKO (punches) The total disclosed payroll for Strikeforce Challengers 20: "Britt vs. Sayers" was $97,500. Keep in mind the salaries listed above do not include fight bonuses, sponsorships, percentages and other unofficial payments. It also does not include deductions for expenses such as insurance, taxes, etc. For complete Strikeforce Challengers 20 results of all the main card action click here.

Posted in: show, challenger, smith, britt, sayer

Read the full article at MMA Mania

submitted by thedude108 [link] [6 comments]

Posted in: fight, show, fedor fight, youd, thedude

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MMAjunkie.com lead staff reporter and MMA insider John Morgan is a guest on today's official UFC 139 pre-event show, "Fight Day." The show, hosted by Dave Farra and Megan Olivi, also includes Bleacher Report's Brian Oswald and perennial UFC welterweight contender Jon Fitch. You can watch the show, which airs live from San Jose, Calif., from 5-6 p.m. ET at www.heavy.com.

Posted in: show, megan olivi, staff reporter, dave farra, mmajunkiecom

Read the full article at MMA Junkie

No need to ask why I'm tuning in. Show starts at 11pm on Showtime and the chat will be up so we can cheer Ronda Rousey on to another victory that takes just over a minute. It'll be UFC on FOX all over again, but without the anxious fears that the Almighty Mainstream didn't enjoy the taste of our sport's pee-pee.

Posted in: show, showtime, chat, ronda rousey, minute itll

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Former UFC lightweight and reality show fighter Kit Cope was forced to withdraw from his WBC Muay Thai championship fight against Jose Palacios on Nov. 18 after he was unable to secure a license to fight from the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC). Three-time world champion Malaipet Sasiprapa will step in to replace him.

Posted in: show, muay, nevada state, jose palacios, wbc muay

Read the full article at MMA Mania

The UFC on FOX 1: "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos" event was a "beautiful sports production" and a "100-percent successful home run show" according to UFC President Dana White. This despite his post-fight complaints regarding the performance of Cain Velasquez, who lost the heavyweight championship that night (Sat., Nov. 12, 2011) to Junior dos Santos in Anaheim, California. The event broke the record for the most-watched fight in mixed martial arts history, averaging 5.7 million viewers for the hour long primetime broadcast and peaking at 8.8 million viewers for the 64 second fight. One of the many criticisms of the event is the fact that there was far too much talking, far too little fighting. Naturally, there's always room for improvement. We'll get to find out exactly how different things will be with the UFC on FOX 2 show, which has been announced for Jan. 28, 2012, at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. White confirmed this to Ariel Helwani of MMAFighting.com, as well as offering up a couple more details of the second network television broadcast. For starters, the main event will not be a championship fight as it was on the first show. It will be "a real exciting fight" but a title will not be up for grabs. Secondly, the main card will feature four bouts. White did not indicate how long the broadcast is scheduled to run but if each fight is slotted a half hour of time and you adjust for commercials, that should land the show right around the previously rumored two and a half hours. All this sounding good to you, Maniacs? Hear more from White in the full entry, including his thoughts on the folks who were picketing the UFC offices during the first FOX show, the upcoming UFC 139 fight card and a when the date might be for Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen part deux.

Posted in: ufc, fight, show, fox, event

Read the full article at MMA Mania

The success of the first ever UFC on Fox show continues to grow with ratings, and the fighters in the sport are just as excited.

Posted in: show, fox, fox show, sky ’s, viewers show

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

Two featherweight matchups have been announced for Dream's annual year-end show, promotion officials announced Thursday.

Posted in: show, dream, dec, takayainoue kawajirimiyata, featherweight matchups

Read the full article at Sherdog

The official fighter purses for those who competed at UFC on FOX: "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos" this past Saturday night (Nov. 12, 2011) from the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., were released earlier today by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC). Main event participants, former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez ($100,000) and newly-crowned division kingpin Junior dos Santos ($220,000), claimed nearly half the disclosed $666,000 fighter payroll. Former WEC lightweight champion Ben Henderson came in second with $60,000 by defeating Clay Guida ($40,000), while Mike Pierce got a cool 36k for outworking Paul Bradley ($8,000). Here is the complete list of UFC on FOX payouts: Junior dos Santos: $220,000 ($110,000 to show, $110,000 to win) Cain Velasquez: $100,000 Dos Santos def. Velasquez via knockout Ben Henderson: $60,000 ($30,000 to show, $30,000 to win) Clay Guida: $40,000 Henderson def. Guida via unanimous decision Dustin Poirier: $20,000 ($10,000 to show, $10,000 to win) Pablo Garza: $8,000 Poirier def. Garza via submission (Brabo choke) Ricardo Lamas: $20,000 ($10,000 to show, $10,000 to win) Cub Swanson: $15,000 Lamas def. Swanson via submission (arm-triangle choke) DaMarques Johnson: $28,000 ($14,000 to show, $14,000 to win) Clay Harvison: $8,000 Johnson def. Harvison via knockout Darren Uyenoyama: $12,000 ($6,000 to show, $6,000 to win) Norifumi Yamamoto: $15,000 Uyenoyama def. Yamamoto via unanimous decision Robert Peralta: $16,000 ($8,000 to show, $8,000 to win) Mackens Semerzier: $8,000 Peralta def. Semerzier via technical knockout Alex Caceres: $16,000 ($8,000 to show, $8,000 to win) Cole Escovedo: $6,000 Caceres def. Escovedo via unanimous decision Mike Pierce: $36,000 ($18,000 to show, $18,000 to win) Paul Bradley: $8,000 Pierce def. Bradley via split decision Aaron Rosa: $12,000 ($6,000 to show, $6,000 to win)Matt Lucas: $6,000 Rosa def. Lucas via majority decision Keep in mind the salaries listed above do not include fight bonuses, sponsorships, percentages and other unofficial payments. It also does not include deductions for expenses such as insurance, taxes, etc. For example, the UFC often hands out extra cash for "Fight of the Night," "Knockout of the Night" and "Submission of the Night." To check out these figures for UFC on FOX go here. For complete UFC on FOX 1 results and blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action click here and here.

Posted in: ufc, show, fox, do, velasquez

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Imagine living in a house where at any possible moment, the probability of Hector Lombard slapping you in the face for not washing the dishes is at an all-time high. Just fill a house with a bunch of popped-collar wearing frat boys, throw Hector Lombard in the middle and the last person not to piss Hector Lombard off wins $100,000. Call the show 'America's Got Idiots' and Hector Lombard will be the only judge needed. That's a world I want to live in. That is change I can believe in. Unfortunately we're going to have to wait for what is now known in my mind as 'the greatest reality show ever,' because Spike TV president Kevin Kay says that while there will definitely be a reality show on Spike TV for Bellator, don't expect sixteen guys to live in a house. Loretta Hunt from Sports Illustrated caught up with the Spike TV to discuss what he has planned. "One thing we won't do is duplicate The Ultimate Fighter. It's a great franchise and it's going to go on to another network. I actually think the tournament format is a little bit like The Ultimate Fighter without the reality piece of it, per se, because every fighter is fighting three times over the course of the tournament to win the championship. You fight, you lose, you go home. There's a lot of reality already baked into that idea. There's different kinds of reality ideas that were starting to kick around -- nothing we have our hearts set on yet -- but we're hearing lots of good ideas for reality programming around Bellator. But it won't be 16 guys in a house. We're not doing that show over again." Let's hope Bellator ring girl Jade Bryce is somehow included in the reality show, because television needs more heart-shapped glasses. I've been disgusted with this boycott for a while. [Source]

Posted in: show, reality show, hector lombard, spike tv, reality

Read the full article at Middle Easy

Spike TV announced today that it will unveil a prime time mixed martial arts news magazine show in 2012: “MMA Junkie Live.” Spike TV will partner with the recently acquired MMA Junkie web site for this half hour show starting this January. Via Spike TV press release: Spike TV will debut its first ever prime time mixed martial arts news magazine show, “MMA Junkie Live,” in January 2012, it was announced today by Jon Slusser, senior vice president, sports and multi-platform programming, Spike TV. Broadcast live from the iconic MTV Studios in Times Square, the heart of New York City, this half-hour, multi-platform show will feature a look ahead at the weekend’s big mixed martial arts fights, and a look back at the action from recent bouts. Partnering with the award-winning MMA news website, “MMAjunkie.com,” part of the USA TODAY Sports Media Group, the half-hour show will be hosted by an all-star team of MMA experts and journalists who will engage in discussion and debate regarding the latest news from the sport. “MMA Junkie Live” will also feature live in-studio interviews with many of the world’s top fighters, in-depth features, action-packed highlights, as well as viewer interaction via Twitter, Facebook and other social media channels. “The goal of the series will be to create the must-see destination for MMA fans who crave news, discussion, information, and expert opinion about the sport they love in a unique and entertaining way,” said Slusser. “Building on our multi-platform success, this show will be an experience that takes advantage of social and mobile platforms to engage viewers in real time and make them a part of the live show.” Payout Perspective: So we now see one of the reasons for the purchase of MMA Junkie. The move increases the presence of MMA on Spike TV and shows the network’s commitment to the MMA business. MMA Junkie Live also shows an extension of coverage of MMA. It joins InsideMMA on HD Net and MMA Live on ESPN as shows covering news around the world of MMA. It will be interesting to see how Junkie will be presented and how it will distinguish itself from the others.

Posted in: mma, show, tv, spike, junkie

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MMAWeekly Radio is back with a huge show to kick off the week as UFC 139 main eventer Dan Henderson, Matt Brown and Derek Brunson stop by the show.

Posted in: ufc, show, mmaweekly radio, matt, derek brunson

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Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosThe MMA Hour returns on Monday afternoon with another jam-packed two-hour show. Here's who will be stopping by: * Light heavyweight Stephan Bonnar will preview his UFC 139 fight against Kyle Kingsbury and look back at UFC on FOX 1. * UFC play-by-play man Mike Goldberg will also recap the historic night that was in Anaheim, Calif. * Bantamweight Miguel Torres will talk about his UFC 139 fight against Nick Pace. * Middleweight Tom Lawlor will preview his Saturday night fight against Chris Weidman. * And we'll debut a new segment called "5 Rounds," where two MMA journalists debate five topics with yours truly serving as judge after each "round" using the ever effective 10-point must system to determine a winner. The fifth round winner will be decided by the fans via our chat and Twitter. This week, MMAFighting.com's Mike Chiappetta and Michael David Smith will go toe-to-toe. Of course, we'll also be taking your calls as we recap UFC on FOX and look ahead to UFC 139, so give us a shout at: 212-254-0193, 212-254-0237 or 212-254-0714. *** You can also stream the show live on your iPhone or iPad by clicking here. Watch the show live below beginning at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT. Subscribe to The MMA Hour on iTunes: audio feed here; video feed here. Download previous episodes here. Listen to the show via Stitcher here.  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, show, mma hour, round winner

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Scratch everything we said about the UFC on FOX ratings from the initial reports. Those numbers weren’t terrible, but as more information came in, the ratings grew enough to set new records for the most-watched MMA television event in US history and the most-watched UFC event ever. Yahoo! Sports’ Dave Meltzer has the new ratings and a few comments from a very relieved Dana White. UFC on Fox did a 3.1 rating and 5.7 million viewers for the one-hour broadcast, based on the fast national Nielsen numbers. It was the largest audience ever to watch an MMA television show in the United States, breaking the record of 5.3 million set on Sept. 30, 2009, for an episode of “The Ultimate Fighter” reality show on Spike TV featuring a taped match of Kimbo Slice vs. Roy Nelson. “I’m pumped,” said UFC president Dana White when he got the numbers Sunday. “I wouldn’t change a thing. We had to introduce the sport to a bunch of people who had never been it before. It would have been great to have had a three-round war, but we can’t control how the fight is going to go.” The show was an even bigger success in the target demographics, doing a 4.3 among males aged 18-34 and 4.0 in males 18-49. Both numbers are 3- percent and 33-percent higher than Slice vs. Thompson on CBS. Perhaps most impressive, the show drew 1.7 million women over the age of 18. The peak numbers still aren’t available for the fight, but hopefully it will top the 6.5 million that watched Kimbo Slice pop James Thompson’s ear on CBS. The ratings would have been even better if the fight had lasted a few rounds or they aired the Ben Henderson vs. Clay Guida fight, but word is everyone’s happy with the numbers considering the fight only lasted 64 seconds. I’m just happy it beat all of Kimbo Slice’s fights, including the taped one with Roy Nelson at TUF 10. Makes me feel a little better about humankind and life in general. Image via Esther Lin for MMA Fighting

Posted in: ufc, fight, show, rating, number

Read the full article at MMA Convert

Fast Nielsen numbers show that Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos was the most-watched fight in North American MMA history.

Posted in: show, velasquez vs, rating, knockout, mostwatched fight

Read the full article at Yahoo! Sports

Everyone was pretty curious about how the UFC's first event on FOX was gonna look. Questions were asked, nervous answers from UFC brass were delivered, and many a run through was done by production staff leading up to the show. In the end, I'd say things went pretty well. You'd need to get down to nitpicking to find fault with the presentation, so I'd label that part of things a success.'FOX Sports' was the vibe for the show, with their football fanfare music playing throughout the broadcast. We went from our standard Goldberg / Rogan setup to a dual setup where we got passed back and forth between Ye Olde Sportsdesk and the commentary team. Generic FOX Sportsdude Curt Menefee's souless blah blah blah drove things along well enough, and Dana White and Brock Lesnar added some stiff but passable analysis to get us through things.Once things switched over to fight time, it was more or less a return to the standard way the UFC runs things. Even though the fight went just over a minute, there were no hiccups in how the show felt ... some commercial breaks and a return back to the sportsdesk killed the last 15 minutes and with that the first UFC on FOX was in the bag.The major complaint coming out of the event was how the fight went. After 30 minutes of hype and build-up, Cain Velasquez went down in the first exchange to a glancing blow off his temple. It wasn't one of those famous knockdowns that look like a guy just ate a shotgun blast to the head. Cain just lost his balance, rolled, then ate a few more shots before Big John stepped in to stop things. Several of the casual people around me checking out the fight looked around in confusion. "So ... was that it?"In the end, the fight went down like many of my sexual encounters. Lots of hype and build-up ... then 65 seconds of action culminating in a not so orgasmic finish. After all the sizzle, there was barely a bite of steak for potential MMA fans to enjoy.Let this be a lesson to FOX: more MMA is always better than less. The UFC had set things up so that Ben Henderson vs Clay Guida was ready on the sidelines in case what happened on Saturday night happened. Unfortunately, the decision was made to focus on the heavyweight championship fight and only the heavyweight championship fight. It was a decision that probably made sense at the time ... not so much in retrospect. Big fights might get people to tune in, but it's often the guys on the undercard making sure fans leave an event feeling like they got enough fights to fix them until next time.

Posted in: ufc, fight, show, fox, thing

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"You know, if you want every show to be the perfect show, it's never really going to happen. What mixed martial arts is, is that its unpredictable and this sort of showcased that tonight. It wasn't the best result in terms of getting the most viewers to watch. If there was some crazy four round war where eventually one man over came the other one and he had to come through adversity to get there, then maybe that would have brought more viewers. But ultimately, mixed martial arts is pretty much unstoppable; it's just too exciting it's just too good and it doesn't matter if a thousand less or a hundred thousand less people tune into the next one because of tonight. Ultimately this is going to be gigantic. It's going to be much bigger than it is. The fact that now it's on broadcast television, the fact that it is now available for free for millions of people who have never watched it before, the door is open, the flood gates are open. It's just a matter of time now." -- Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) color commentator Joe Rogan gives Ariel Helwani his thoughts on how he feels the future success of UFC on FOX cards will be based on last night's (Nov. 12, 2011) promotional debut on network television. After Junior Dos Santos ended the reign of Cain Velasquez as UFC heavyweight champion in a little more than a minute, fans and media alike began to question the decision to show only one fight and snub many of the nights other great fights, including Ben Henderson vs. Clay Guida. Rogan feels that regardless if the promotion loses a few thousand viewers based on last night's fight, that MMA and the UFC will eventually move forward with unstoppable force. Do you agree? Or will the UFC's next venture on FOX struggle with ratings in light of what went down last night in Anaheim"

Posted in: ufc, fight, night, show, viewer

Read the full article at MMA Mania

In prelude to the Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez fight, HBO will offer “Fight Day Now.” The show, which gets its take from NCAA Football’s GameDay on ESPN will be live from the lobby of the MGM Grand to offer hype for Saturday night’s fight. The Sports Business Journal reports that “Fight Day Now” will air at 4 p.m. Saturday on the HBO Zone channel. The hour long live show is sandwiched between two episodes each of HBO’s 24/7 series. The live show and 24/7 reruns give the third fight in the Pacquiao-Marquez trilogy 6 hours of same day hype. The live show hyping the Pacquiao fight hopes to garner the same buzz and fan frenzy as Saturday morning GameDays on ESPN. Payout Perspective: “Fight Day Now” will go directly against pre-UFC on Fox hype on Fuel TV so we’ll see which pre-show wins out. Honestly, if HBO ran Marquez-Pacquiao I and II prior to the PPV, it would be sufficient as in my opinion those fights (which are airing on the Audience Network) are the best vehicles of hype for this fight. The live show should capture the fan support for each fighter. Its an interesting programming move to sandwich the show between 24/7s. I think its a good move for those that love the 24/7 series. They’ll get the live show in between. However, not having the show on the main HBO channel might hurt viewership. On another note, with most of the pre-fight hype shows, how much do they help with viewership. There’s only so much you can talk about with Pacquiao-Marquez. On the UFC side, one might argue that there is reason to have an extended pre-fight show considering the number of casual viewers that may give the UFC a try Saturday night. But, how much is too much?

Posted in: fight, hbo, show, hype, pacquiao fight

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MMAjunkie.com lead staff reporter John Morgan is a guest on today's edition of "The MMA Show with Mauro Ranallo." Morgan joins host Mauro Ranallo to preview this weekend's historic UFC on FOX event, offering breakdowns in the evening's key fights and discussing the importance of the event. Catch the show live at 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT) on radio.thescore.com, or download the archive on iTunes.

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

Read the full article at MMA Junkie

I'm normally a glass-half-full guy, but I can't help but think of the drawbacks of having just one fight on the UFC's first FOX show.

Posted in: ufc, show, i cant, glasshalffull guy, glasshalffull

Read the full article at sportsnet.ca

UFC president Dana White gives you behind the scenes look leading into the historic UFC on Fox show.

Posted in: ufc, show, fox, dana, scene

Read the full article at Heavy MMA

submitted by mackmack [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: show, halloween, frye, frye outtakes, mackmack

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We already talked about how bad ProElite's Andrei Arlovski fight was over the weekend - the normally oh so polite robots at MMA Junkie called it 'a turd', which will never stop amusing me. But that wasn't the only craptacular match on the card. Tim Sylvia also decisioned Andreas Kraniotakes in even more terrible fashion. Apparently it was three rounds of wall and stall that had Timmy's hometown crowd booing the hell out of him. That didn't stop him from talking about his UFC ambitions afterwards: "I want to get up there. I want to get on the big stage again and prove myself. It's not about winning titles. I've won five of them in the UFC, I've won other ones in other organizations; I don't care about fighting for the UFC title again if it never happens. But I do want to get back in the UFC and I do want to fight all the fights that I think the fans want to see (and) the fights that I want. I want to fight (Antonio Rodrigo) Nogueira again. I want to fight Frank Mir again. I'd like to fight Brock Lesnar, you know, Alistair Overeem... I want to fight all those guys. I just think it would be great for the fans. Just keep me around and let me have those great fights. I'm going to put on a show no matter what. I'm going to fight. I'm going to show up and I'm going to fight. .... Dana White, I don't know if (you're watching) but give me a shout." He's going to put on a show no matter what, huh? Replace 'show' with 'debacle' and we're getting a little warmer. As far as Dana White giving him a shout ... well, the last time that happened here's what the Baldfather said: "We all have to thank [Fedor] for getting rid of Tim Sylvia. He'd been stinking out the joint the last couple of years and Fedor did everyone a favor by beating him so easily and getting rid of him." As far as keeping him around and letting him have those great fights ... I dunno if his current promoter is even interested in doing that any more. After Sylvia's fight, T Jay Thomson tweeted Never again. Perfect for describing our feelings about the Holocaust and Tim Sylvia fights.

Posted in: ufc, fight, show, sylvia, im

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Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, M-1 Global, Videos, UFC on FOXThe MMA Hour is back in your life on Monday with another loaded two-hour show. * Fedor Emelianenko will stop by via Skype to discuss his upcoming fight against Jeff Monson on Nov. 20. * Alistair Overeem will break major news about his career and discuss his UFC 141 fight against Brock Lesnar. * MMA Fighting's Mike Chiappetta and ESPN.com's Chuck Mindenhall will join us for another media roundtable to discuss all the comings and goings in the world of MMA and all the news coming out of UFC 138 and preview UFC on FOX 1. * We will also address the future of MMAFighting.com and The MMA Hour with a guest to be announced on the show. * Plus, we'll give away two sets of the Ultimate Fight Collection, 2011 Edition. It's a 20-disc DVD set that has over 40 hours of footage of UFC fights from July 2010-June 2011 and 10 hours of content never before available on DVD. It will go on sale exclusively at Best Buy on Tuesday, Nov. 8. It will go to the best calls of the day, and the winners have to be United States residents. So, give us a shout at: 212-254-0193, 212-254-0237 or 212-254-0714. *** You can also stream the show live on your iPhone or iPad by clicking here. Watch the show live below beginning at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT. Subscribe to The MMA Hour on iTunes: audio feed here; video feed here. Download previous episodes here. Listen to the show via Stitcher here. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, show, mma hour, hour

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At last, some positive news for fans of K-1 and Dream. After various cancellations and postponements, it looks like we finally have some real news about two of Japan's biggest yearly events - the New Year's Eve show, and the K-1 Grand Prix. First up, New Year's Eve. This week, pro wrestling legend and (arguable) MMA pioneer Antonio Inoki announced that he would be staging a major show on December 31 at the Saitama Super Arena in Japan. Inoki will be co-promoting the show with representatives from Dream, and it will be the heir to the Dynamite!! franchise. Because the name Dynamite!! was sold earlier this year, Inoki's show has instead been given the odd name of "Are You Healthy?!! New Year's Eve!! 2011" (Genki Desu Ka!! Omisoka!! 2011 for the Japanese speaking audience).  The card will feature 20 bouts, including a mixture of MMA, K-1 rules kickboxing, and pro wrestling under the banner of Inoki's IGF organization. Initial fight announcements could come any day. The New Year's Eve card is a huge tradition in Japanese MMA, and it's exciting to see it will once again be honored this year.  As for K-1, the news is potentially even bigger. Former K-1 head Kazutoshi Ishii announced the formation of a new organization called FIKA (Federation International K-1 Association) that will serve as a new governing body for K-1. And they are coming out of the gates strong with plans for a full line-up in 2012 culminating in the return of the K-1 Grand Prix. Plans right now call for a return to the old Grand Prix format of international qualifying events with the winners moving to the finals. Their tentative timeline has the international qualifiers beginning in April 2012, followed by a round of 32 in May or June, a round of 16 in September or October, and the traditional Final 8 in December. They are also planning to keep the same three weight classes last used by K-1 - Heavyweight, 70kg (MAX), and the recently added 63kg. One final interesting note on FIKA - they are creating their main base of operations in China, not Japan, which has always been home to K-1. It will be interesting to see just what that means for television and sponsorship deals. Overall, great news all around for fans of the Japanese scene. HT: LiverKick, Nightmare of Battle

Posted in: show, year, japan, prix, eve

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

The UFC show that Zuffa and Spike TV didn't want you to know about.

Posted in: ufc, show, spike, ufc show, mystery

Read the full article at Fight Opinion

UFC President Dana White, who was in attendance for the UFC 138 Post-Fight Press Conference, shares his thoughts on the event and discusses various other hot topics. White promises that the fighter's will be well-compensated for putting on a great show and blasts those who were critical of the card before it had actually taken place.

Posted in: ufc, show, dana, share, topic

Read the full article at Low Kick

What once seemed like a happy marriage now resembles that of a messy, bitter and public divorce. For the UFC and Spike TV, the latest casualty of the finality of their relationship is taking place in front of our very eyes this week. The "kids" that are suffering from all the vitriol between the two mainstream MMA parents are the fighters competing on Saturday's UFC 138. You remember UFC 138, don't you? That's the event on Spike featuring Chris Leben and Mark Munoz in the main event. Remember Thiago Alves? He's on the card too! That fancy British bantamweight with the cool hat...what's his name? Oh, Brad Pickett! He's taking on someone in Renan Barao who hasn't been defeated in 27 straight fights! These and more stories have been waiting to be told, but in case you haven't noticed, there's been zero attention placed on UFC 138 all week. Sure, we're right at the halfway point of four events in four weeks, but every show is an important one, right? Well, apparently not if it airs on Spike TV these days. The Card That Didn't Exist Here's a few things that stuck out this week about the non-promotion: - On Wednesday's The Ultimate Fighter, there wasn't a single mention/ad for Saturday's event. There were two promos for UFC 139: Henderson vs. Shogun, two deceptive spots for the Cain Velasquez/Junior dos Santos 11/12 Spike marathon, a UFC Best of 2011 DVD set ad and a promo for Ultimate Knockouts 2. To repeat, the show is on Spike TV THIS SATURDAY and there was nothing done on a UFC show aired on Spike to promote it.- There was no UFC 138 media conference call this week or even last week. I can't remember the last time that happened in recent memory. I realize the fighters are in London and there's a time difference, but that hasn't stopped these from happening before.  - Dana White took most of the week off Twitter. There was no 'FIIIIIGHT WEEEEEEEK!' tweet to get people excited and no activity at all until Thursday. White, Twitter and fight promotion go together like the Kardashians, paparazzi and dumb people caring. He lives and breathes UFC especially in a fight week and suddenly he goes silent on his favorite social media platform? That doesn't compute. A scan of UFC.com Thursday night tells the user all they need to know: the November 12th UFC on Fox date is all that matters. Between the ads running to three of the top six lead story slots devoted to Cain Velasquez, UFC 138 is already an afterthought before it even begins. It's obvious that since the Fox deal was announced (and really even before that), things have gotten increasingly ugly from both sides. Recent glaring examples are Spike's decision to run the aforementioned Velasquez/dos Santos marathon against the Fox show and the decision to air Bellator prelim fights on Spike.com. The UFC countered by not listing Spike as a place to watch events, directing people to UFC.tv instead.Just think of that for a minute. When's the last time you heard of a broadcasting relationship where an entity didn't list on their website where to watch the event on TV for free? How this bodes for the TUF finale in early-December is anyone's guess. Do It For The Kids While the pissing match between the two is a sad end to a once-fruitful relationship, the ones getting punished are the "kids" -- aka the fighters competing Saturday. Leben and Munoz didn't ask to be flown to London to main event a star-lacking show. Pickett didn't ask the promotion to run four straight Saturdays of shows when he's co-main eventing in the biggest fight of his career in front of his countrymen. The near-sellout crowd at Birmingham, England's LG Arena that has already set an arena record for revenue didn't ask for any of this. They want a great show and want to feel like they're seeing a great show. If the UFC doesn't seem to care, why should they? Even if this card is viewed as a dog, there are still 20 men competing that deserve the UFC and Spike's best effort in telling people they should watch this show. This is one of two final live events both sides have to co-produce and then, they can go their separate ways (minus the footage Spike can air throughout 2012). Things may be difficult, but the fighters and the fans shouldn't be the ones that suffer the brunt of the punishment as a result. As long as those three letters are on the marquee, it's in both parties' best interests to swallow some pride and represent like any other show. SBN coverage of UFC 138: Leben vs. Munoz

Posted in: ufc, show, week, event, spike

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Nick Diaz and  B.J. Penn pictured above, we can all "get along." Teaming up with MMA sites like MiddleEasy, Cage Potato, Fight Opinion and Five Ounces of Pain, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport. This week, Cage Potato speaks with Dan Severn about the end of his career, Lowkick provides some exclusive UFC Undisputed 3 photo coverage and The Fight Nerd speaks with Bas Rutten about his new show on Fuel, "Punk Payback." The full list of links is after the jump. - UFC Undisputed 3 photo coverage by Scott Hirano (LowKick) - Dan Severn still wants Coleman and Shamrock, will likely retire next year (Cage Potato) "I want specific fights right now. I've had some verbal offers but haven't had the opportunity to bring some of these matches to life. Two particular matches I'm still interested are ones with Mark Coleman and Ken Shamrock. Realistically, I think that 2012 will be my final year as an MMA competitor. So whatever gets done gets done; whatever doesn't, I'll have to learn to live with I guess." - Grappling with Issues 11-3-11 (Five Ounces of Pain) Is B.J. Penn retired for good or will he fight again? How likely is it Mark Munoz vs. Chris Leben will go a full five rounds? What is your take on this weekend's lackluster UFC 138 lineup? Should Jay Hieron have to go through another tournament to earn a rematch with Ben Askren? - All-access pass (video) (MMA Fighting) Get inside look to Mark Munoz's training camp for UFC 138 fight - "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal" official trailer (5thRound) In anticipation of what could be Strikeforce's final major event on Showtime, the premium cable network has released the official trailer for "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal." - Tank Abbott vs Scott Ferrozzo II (video) (MiddleEasy) Remember that Tank Abbott fight that was supposed to go down at a strip club? Well we have video of it... - Bas Rutten on his new show "Punk Payback" and self-defense (TheFightNerd) The Fight Nerd spoke with Bas Rutten, whose new show on FUEL TV, "Punk Payback" debuts tonight, which is a show that has the former UFC Heavyweight Champ and King of Pancrase breaking down real-life self-defense situations caught on tape, and showing you at home what to do if you were in that situation (think of his "Lethal Street-Fighting" DVD, but more!). We discussed the show at length, explaining what the concept is, how much of the self-defense that Bas shows is improv or scripted (along with the craziness that he says), and what is ahead in Bas' acting career. We also discuss the real-life implications of some of these scenarios, and what is legal to do if you need to defend yourself. - Takeaways from UFC 137 (Fight Opinion) Donald Cerrone is ripping through the UFC competition. I love it. Not only does he win, he does it with style and takes no prisoners. He's gotten better each time he fights. He finished Dennis Siver so fast, Spike TV had time to show Brandon Vera's three round fight. - Zuffa maintains "BB" credit rating, "Stable" is key (MMA Payout) "UFC's seven year TV deal with Fox Sports Media Group, replacing Zuffa's current deals with Spike TV and Versus, offers more stable and favorable economics over the term of the TV deal in hope of potentially reducing Zuffa's dependency on the more-volatile event based revenue....Nearly 75% of Zuffa's total revenue is event based. The majority is composed of PPV buys and ticket sales. Remaining 25% revenue is composed of live and taped television broadcasts, sponsorship, merchandising, licensing, and content distribution deals." - The 100 greatest moments in UFC history (BleacherReport.com/MMA) At this point, it's safe to say the UFC's popularity is snowballing. Even that may be a mild analogy. With the UFC and its fighters finding newer and wider avenues into the mainstream seemingly every day, MMA's premier promotion is more like a magnet in a river of paper clips, or a molten ball of caramel careening down a mountain of chopped walnuts. You get the idea. These are heady times for the UFC. - UFC 138 Preview - ‘unloved and unwanted in the UK' edition (MMA Convert) Britain's "best" may not be on the card (Michael Bisping has got a date with Jason "Mayhem" Miller further down the line, and Dan Hardy is off getting his hair rehabilitated), but the main event promises to be a dramatic reenactment of William Shakespeare's "I Punched His Freakin' Head Off". - Shane Carwin refutes retirement rumors (Fightline) Don't get it twisted folks, Shane Carwin isn't going anywhere. The 36-year-old bruiser recently went under the knife to correct a long-standing back problem and will be out of action until the middle of next year. Having undergone intensive neck surgery already and considering his age, some began speculating that The Engineer would soon be hanging up his four ounce gloves..

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, show, bas rutten

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Chris Leben guarantees a great show at UFC 138. He and Mark Munoz mutually agree that bombs will be thrown in the U.K. main event.

Posted in: ufc, show, mark munoz, leben, bomb

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

YES! One of the original winners of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) wants back on the show ... this time as a coach. Diego Sanchez, the network reality show's season one winner, has expressed interest in coaching the show and already has an opposing coach in mind. B.J. Penn. "The Dream" (via Fight Hub TV) states that while he wants to challenge for the title one day, he wouldn't mind coaching on a future season while he's getting there: "My thing right now is to coach that show, I know that a title shot for me is going to happen one day it will but I would love to coach that show right now. I would like it to be against BJ (Penn); he is back at welterweight, let's go do it and have a rematch, I think it would be great. I have a lot I can show these guys and Jesus Christ has blessed me with an ability that needs to be shared." As is tradition on the show, the two opposing coaches fight each other at the end of the season. Penn and Sanchez have already faced off at UFC 107 back in December of 2009. Penn defeated Sanchez in the fifth and final round of their lightweight title fight via doctor stoppage due to a cut on Diego's forehead thanks to a well placed kick by "The Prodigy." Sanchez will probably have to find another counterpart if he were to earn a slot as coach, as Penn recently announced he was taking time off to enjoy life after his loss to Nick Diaz at UFC 137 last weekend. The athlete formerly known as, "The Nightmare" would join Rashad Evans, Forrest Griffin, Michael Bisping, Josh Koschek and Matt Serra as former participants on the show to return as coaches. The Ultimate Fighter is in its last season on SPIKE and will now be carried on FOX in 2012. Anyone lucky enough to grab a spot as a coach will recieve some very good exposure to such a wide audience. Would a season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) pitting "The Dream" and "The Prodigy" as opposing coaches be must see TV for you, or does Penn stand benefitting anything from a fight with Sanchez after already having soundly defeated him? Thoughts?

Posted in: show, season, coach, sanchez, penn

Read the full article at MMA Mania

"The Ultimate Fighter 15" - the first season of the UFC's long-running reality series to air on FX - will feature lightweight and welterweight fighters, officials today announced. Hopefuls can apply online or attend an open tryout on Dec. 5 in Las Vegas. "TUF 15" is the first season of the show to include live fights.

Posted in: show, fighter, season, welterweight, dec

Read the full article at MMA Junkie

Filed under: UFC, NewsThe UFC continues its expansion at a blistering pace, recently signing a major television deal with Brazil's Globo, and planning a February show in Japan, an event that will mark the first event there under Zuffa ownership. But according to UFC president Dana White, that's just the tip of the iceberg. On a Wednesday teleconference to discuss the UFC on FOX premiere, White discussed some other worldwide plans, including an Ultimate Fighter "World Cup" that would take the winners from several international editions and match them against each other to produce one champion. The idea has been a long-held one for White, and though its production remains off in the future, steps towards making it a reality are in the here and now. A deal to produce the UFC's first international edition, has been struck, and the show will soon begin taping in Brazil, likely in the spring of 2012. "It's really spread like wildfire all over the world," White said of MMA. "There literally isn't a country that you could point your finger on the map that we couldn't get a fighter from. I think we've done a great job finding and cultivating talent from all these different countries." White said he expected a "phenomenal" amount of talent to emerge from the new Brazil edition of the show, which will probably air in the US on FUEL. Of course, to pull off a World Cup-type of event, the UFC will have to produce several more versions of the show around the globe. The next likely destinations include Canada, the Philippines and the UK. "We're getting closer and closer to this dream I've had for the last five years," he said. As an example of the promotion's growing appeal, White noted that the upcoming UFC on FOX event would air live in 19 countries, including some places not thought of as MMA hotbeds like Italy, Korea, Croatia and Greece. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, world, show, event, country

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"Fear Factor" is officially back on NBC beginning Dec. 12. As the network previously announced, UFC color commentator Joe Rogan, who hosted "Fear Factor" during its initial run from 2001 to 2006, has signed on for a relaunch of the show. Eight new episodes of stunt/dare reality show are in the can, and a preview is now available.

Posted in: show, joe rogan, fear, factor, fear factor

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Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, VideosThe MMA Hour returns on Monday with another two-hour live show. Here's who will be stopping by: * UFC 138 headliner Chris Leben will preview his fight against Mark Munoz. * Brad Pickett will talk about his UFC 138 co-main event fight against Renan Barao. * Carlos Condit's manager Malki Kawa will explain why Condit chose to give up his title shot to Nick Diaz. * Jason Hehir, the producer of UFC on FOX Primetime, will talk about the critically-acclaimed show. Plus, we'll discuss all the news coming out UFC 137 and we want to hear from you. So, give us a shout at: 212-254-0193, 212-254-0237 or 212-254-0714. *** You can also stream the show live on your iPhone or iPad by clicking here. Watch the replay below. Subscribe to The MMA Hour on iTunes: audio feed here; video feed here. Download previous episodes here. Listen to the show via Stitcher here.  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, show, mma hour, hour

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Video highlights of the UFC 137 post-fight press conference via MMA Fighting. Other fighters were there, but it was definitely the Nick Diaz show.

Posted in: ufc, diaz, show, nick, conference

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MMAjunkie.com lead staff reporter and MMA insider John Morgan is a guest on today's official UFC 137 pre-event show, "Fight Day." The show, hosted by Dave Farra and Megan Olivi, also includes Canadian UFC contenders Mark Hominick and Sam Stout, as well as former UFC champion Vitor Belfort. You can watch the show, which airs live from Las Vegas, from 5-6 p.m. ET at www.heavy.com.

Posted in: ufc, show, las vegas, staff reporter, dave farra

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submitted by sucksatprogramming [link] [2 comments]

Posted in: show, analysis, i cant, cant, chael

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The UFC's reality show is headed to South America. Read here to see what Dana White had to say on the situation.

Posted in: ufc, show, dana, brazil, pre

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submitted by m0nyagi [link] [comment]

Posted in: show, tv, halloween, recreation, park

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Watch the entire UFC 137 preview show, featuring B.J. Penn vs. Nick Diaz, right here on HeavyMMA.com.

Posted in: ufc, diaz, show, right, heavymmacom

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One FC announces future expansion & show plans for 2012.

Posted in: show, network, fc, expansion, asian mma

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I've got to admit the idea of hopping on a Greyhound bus and traveling to Atlantic City has never been on my top ten list of things I'm really interested in doing before I die. Actually it has never even been on my list of things to ever contemplate doing in my life. I would have probably thrown going to Atlantic City on my list of things I'll be happy to never do. Fortunately my good buddy Bauzen used some jedi mind trickery and dangled some Catvonc style kryptonite in front of my face and convinced me to cash in some travel vouchers and head to the Jersey shore for the weekend. I say fortunately because had Bauzen not exploited my weakness I might not have gone out of my way to attend what in my opinion was one of the most well run, classiest and amazing combat sports events I've ever attended. The show that Take On Productions puts on is a well oiled machine and I can only hope they continue to grow and their show is able to expand throughout the country. From the local favorite talented ring announcer Larry Legend to MuayThaiislife.com owner Eric Rivera handling the fight commentary, to the promotors and fighters-this is a professional and entertaining show. I know from personal experience, we've got nothing that even comes close to their level of production quality here in Atlanta. Take On's event truly made me fall deeper in lust with the sport of Muay Thai and if you ever have the opportunity to go to one of their shows I say you had better jump on it. I'm not even mad that I somehow lost an earring, a ring, a phone charger and a flat iron in the post fight celebrations. I'll blame all of that on sharing too many watermelon rock rancher drinks with Bauzen's girlfriend. The West Coast has always boasted about having the creme de la creme of Muay Thai fighters on American soil but I think the gyms on the East Coast are ready to give them a run for their money. Gyms like Sitan NY, Phil Nurse's The Wat, Cool Hearts from Philly and Boston Muay Thai just to name a few-have trained and assembled crews of skilled and exciting fighters that combat sport junkies need to start paying close attention to. From the ammy fights to the pro debuts and full rules title fights-there was not one moment where I felt the action was lagging. Here's some of the highlights of the night: Amateur fight Rich Brattole of Weapons 9/Strategic Combat Gym vs Tim Scmeier of Sitan NY These guys were both obviously not used to wearing headgear, which is a New Jersey athletic commission rule and not a requirement where the fighters normally fight in their home state of NY, but despite that they went to war with each other trading blows back and forth for the entire 3 round contest. Amateur fight Caitlyn Dempsey of Impact Martial Arts vs Christina Rodriguez of Girl Fight MMA NJ The ladies brought the first blood of the evening and the first extremely loud crowd response of the night. Caitlyn Dempsey won her debut fight and the crowd erupted in excitement. Amateur fight Tianna Urman of The Wat vs Prarie Ruglio of Girl Fight MMA Prarie came at Tianna Urman raging with unrelenting fists for one full minute before her right hand shut Urman down for good. Girl Fight MMA fans in the crowd went absolutely bonkers and let's be honest, Bauzen had a momentary fear of being trampelled by a mass of angry lesbians. Main event Justin Greskiewicz of Cool Hearts Muay Thai Philly vs Eddie Martinez of Sitan Gym NY Another really great fight featuring one of the Sitan gym fighters Eddie Martinez versus the always fun to watch purple haired Justin Greskiewicz. Justin took full advantage of the NJ elbow allowance and used those along with some kicks and punching combos to take the very close split decision win over Eddie Martinez. Pro fight Jay Matias of Sitan Gym NY vs Jake Mainini of Boston Muay Thai Saving the best for last here-this was the pro debut for both of these fighters and most of the media in attendance agree it was hands down the fight of the night. These two stole the show and put on an amazing display of technical and precise Muay Thai from round one all the way to the end of the fifth round and never once looked fatigued. Jay Matias gave the crowd a show that they will talk about for years afterwards with his arsenal of kicks and unrelenting combinations that ultimately won him the unanimous decision over an also very skilled Mainini. Here's a small video clip from this fan favorite fight to help fill your hungry Muay Thai bellies.  I know right now you are sitting there dying to watch the rest of that fight. As a matter of fact, I'm certain you want to watch the whole event and you are now angrily axe kicking your little sister into your mom's plastic covered couch because you missed out on all the action this weekend. Well calm down and stop being an angry bully. You can go check out the whole event on GFL.tv right now. The full event results on TakeOnProductions.com and don't forget to follow TakeOn Muay Thai on Twitter and like them on Facebook for all the information you are going to need about their upcoming shows. 

Posted in: fight, show, event, muay, thai

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Brendan Schaub is adamant that he wasn’t calling Fabricio Werdum out when he said in a recent interview that the Brazilian would be a good opponent...

Posted in: show, werdum, fabricio werdum, schaub, werdum show

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After a successful debut show in September all has been quiet from One Fighting Championship but the brand new promotion broke its silence in spectacular style this evening to announce three shows in three countries in the space of three months in 2012. The official dates are as follows: February 11: Jakarta, Indonesia at Kelapa Gading Sports Mall March 31: Singapore at the Singapore Indoor stadium April 27: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia at the Stadium Negara A large number of fighters have also signed long term contracts with another announcement imminent this week. After testing the water with a successful show at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on September 3rd which was witnessed by almost 7,000 people as well as many more watching on a free online stream One FC are set for an aggressive international expansion in 2012. The first show featured impressive performances from URCC champions Eduard Folayang (below) and Eric Kelly with both Filipino fighters posting wins. The highlight for many in the crowd though was an emphatic first round victory for Singapore's first professional MMA fighter, Radeem Rahman and he is likely to be back in action on March 31st. Rahman was not the only fighter from the world renowned Evolve MMA camp to impress that day. Eddie Ng from Hong Kong, former boxing world champion Yodsanan Sityodytong from Thailand and BJJ world champions Zorobabel Moreira and Leandro Issa from Brazil also registered decisive wins and might well be given a second chance to impress in front of the fans in their adopted home in March. Adam Kayoom (below) is one of the most decorated fighters in Malaysian history and has been widely linked with a long term One FC contract. He hold multiple regional and national titles in BJJ and is a former Muay Thai world champion who was ranked top ten at Ratchadamnern, he also has a professional MMA record of 2-1 and, assuming he has signed, is highly likely to feature on the Kuala Lumpur card in April. The actual One FC roster remains shrouded in mystery but according to the official Twitter feed a series of major announcements will be taking place this week which is likely to include the identities of the fighters who have been signed. One FC have a TV deal with ESPN Star Sports which is Asia's biggest sports broadcaster and is available in 24 countries and the September show is scheduled to be shown early next month, after having already been screened on domestic TV in Singapore. This arrangement will presumably remain in place for future shows although there is always the possibility that ESPN Star might begin to broadcast the event live. With ambitious plans and a budget which is believed to be unprecedented in Asian MMA history One FC is rapidly establishing a reputation as the UFC of the East. According to various online reports shows have also been booked in Seoul and Manila and if these stories are accurate it would mean five events in five different countries will be taking place in the first half of 2012. Multiple shows in multiple countries was what One FC promised when it was launched amidst a fanfare of publicity in July and it appears that they are all poised to deliver in 2012.

Posted in: world, show, fighter, fc, singapore

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Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, Strikeforce, MMA Fighting ExclusiveThe MMA Hour is back in your life on Monday. Here's who will be stopping by for our 105th show. * Thomas Gerbasi, the author of "UFC Encyclopedia" and the editorial director for Zuffa, will be in studio to talk about his new book and his work on UFC.com and Strikeforce.com. * Cesar Gracie, Nick Diaz's manager and trainer, will preview Diaz's fight against BJ Penn at UFC 137. * Featherweight Bart Palaszewski will discuss his move to 145 pounds and his fight against Tyson Griffin at UFC 137. * "King" Muhammed Lawal will discuss what's next for him and will help us preview Saturday night's UFC pay-per-view. Of course, we'll be taking your calls. Give us a shout at: 212-254-0193, 212-254-0237 or 212-254-0714. *** You can also stream the show live on your iPhone or iPad by clicking here. Watch the replay below. Subscribe to The MMA Hour on iTunes: audio feed here; video feed here. Download previous episodes here. Listen to the show via Stitcher here. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, show, mma hour, hour

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Tonight, like every Sunday, MMA Nation Senior Editor Luke Thomas hosts his weekly radio show of the very same name. His guests this week are Rich "Ace" Franklin and Dave Meltzer. The show goes live in 3 minutes! Go listen!

Posted in: show, radio, dave meltzer, ace franklin, radio show

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

Chael Sonnen has done an incredible job at becoming the best talker in MMA. His ability to cut a promo has become legendary and his post fight victory speech after defeating Brian Stann at UFC 136 was talked about for hours afterward by members of the press. It seems the year of Chael is continuing as he got the nod to host the World MMA Awards by Fighters Only Magazine. The World MMA Awards by Fighters Only Magazine are the MMA industry's equivalent of the Academy Awards or Grammy's.  The Fighters Only awards cover everything from Promotion of the Year to Journalist of the Year. There are also categories for apparel and ring card girls. This will be the fourth year the show as been held and will take place at the Pearl Theater at the Palms in Las Vegas. The date is November 30th and the event is open to the public. If you are in the Vegas area, you can pick up tickets on Friday at the Pearl ticket booth.  The news was broken by MMA Weekly earlier today. Sonnen will join Molly Qerim, who hosted last year's show with UFC legend Randy Couture. A change that no doubt has occurred due to the UFC's relationship with Fox, is that the show will air via delay on Fox's regional sports networks as well as Fuel TV. No word on when the show will air, but the schedule is expected to be released in the upcoming weeks. Bloody Elbow Radio's sponsor Bad Boy was named the best technical brand at last year's show and are nominated again this year. You can place your votes here. 

Posted in: mma, show, year, award, years show

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At 41 years old, Matt Lindland may not be fighting, but he's sure keeping busy. The 2000 Olympic silver medal winner in Greco Roman wrestling was at one time standing at or near the top of the MMA middleweight division but has since entered a state of semi-retirement after a rough stretch of fights that included the likes of Vitor Belfort, "Jacare" Souza and Robbie Lawler. Lindland is still the head of Team Quest, a wrestler's paradise up in Portland, Oregon that has been home to fighters like Randy Couture, Chael Sonnen, Chris Leben and Yushin Okami over the years and he's also been in charge of his own promotion, Sportfight, which holds events regularly in the Pacific northwest. "The Law" has experience fighting, coaching, managing and he even took a stab at politics in his native Oregon. His experience has given him the opportunity to advise up-and-coming MMA businesses. Look no further than his recent role he's taken with the upstart Takedown Fight Media, who will be filming his event Sportfight 30 and trying to turn it into a pilot series for future MMA endeavors. Sportfight 30, which will be headlined by a lightweight bout between Ryan Healy and Paul Kelly, will be taking place tomorrow night (October 22, 2011) and Lindland took the time to speak with MMAmania.com about his upcoming show, his new advising role with Takedown Fight Media and how Takedown can change the way people view regional MMA events. At 41 years old, Matt Lindland may not be fighting, but he's sure keeping busy. The 2000 Olympic silver medal winner in Greco Roman wrestling was at one time standing at or near the top of the MMA middleweight division but has since entered a state of semi-retirement after a rough stretch of fights that included the likes of Vitor Belfort, "Jacare" Souza and Robbie Lawler. Lindland is still the head of Team Quest, a wrestler's paradise up in Portland, Oregon that has been home to fighters like Randy Couture, Chael Sonnen, Chris Leben and Yushin Okami over the years and he's also been in charge of his own promotion, Sportfight, which holds events regularly in the Pacific northwest. "The Law" has experience fighting, coaching, managing and he even took a stab at politics in his native Oregon. His experience has given him the opportunity to advise up-and-coming MMA businesses. Look no further than his recent role he's taken with the upstart Takedown Fight Media, who will be filming his event Sportfight 30 and trying to turn it into a pilot series for future MMA endeavors. Sportfight 30, which will be headlined by a lightweight bout between Ryan Healy and Paul Kelly, will be taking place tomorrow night (October 22, 2011) and Lindland took the time to speak with MMAmania.com about his upcoming show, his new advising role with Takedown Fight Media and how Takedown can change the way people view regional MMA events. Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): This is your 30th event with Sportfight, but is it different now that your priorities have shifted a bit in your career? Matt Lindland: I don't know about that. I've always taken this pretty serious as far as the way I put on shows and I represent it and the quality of fights I put on, the quality of production. I don't do all the work, I'm an organizer. I'm a manager. I do a lot of work especially when you're just starting out and you don't have the finances and the resources to go out and hire to get the stuff done so you're doing a lot of the labor-intensive stuff. The longer you've been doing it, I've been doing over 40 shows now. The longer you've been doing it, the more organized it gets, the simpler it gets. There's no less work to do, you're just more organized now.  Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): It seems like this event in particular, Sportfight 30 has gotten more attention. How big do you want this to get? Do you want to remain on the regional scene and help fighters develop or do you want to be a bigger player? Matt Lindland: My goal is to be the leader in the northwest, the premier fighting organization for all the guys in the northwest. I consider the northwest the entire territory from northern California, Idaho, Washington and Oregon, even up into Canada as far a British Columbia. That's really where we draw most of our talent from. From Vancouver all the way over to northern California and over to Idaho. We have a pretty big region and a lot of talent up and down this corner of the continent. There's so many great fighters that have come out of the northwest. Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): I'd like to talk about this Takedown Fight Media deal. I know you advise for them but what does it mean for you that they chose your show to film their pilot episode? Matt Lindland: Yeah, I think they're doing important things and going to continue to do important things for promotions around North America. They're giving a voice to a lot of the MMA that's going on out there. It's an honor that they decided to use Sportfight to film that pilot. They understand the level of fighters we use, the type of show we put on and we're honored to be that show that they use as the pilot Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): So are you going to advise for them for just the Sportfight shows that they film or for everything as they go around the country? Matt Lindland: I'm an adviser for them for everything and I've been an adviser for a lot of promotions. The difference between Takedown and what you've seen in the past is we've only ever really seen one business model in MMA where the promoter goes out and puts on fights and he goes and takes the product to broadcasters and the broadcasters deliver that product. The thing for promotions though is you get caught up with everything. You're matchmaking, you're promoting, you're taking care of every single detail and filming. You're marketing that to broadcasters, you're delivering that content. The UFC does a fantastic job of doing that but look at the size of their staff, what it takes to do that. The difference with Takedown is they film it for you, they help put the venue together, they produce and they make a television show out your event. Takedown is basically a TV company. We're putting together TV shows. We're working together with fight promoters hand in hand and after a live product, we take that live product and we show it to networks. What no promoter in the country is capable of doing is putting on consistent programming 40+ weeks a year. Nobody can do that. The size of your staff you'd have to have to do that kind of show, film that and deliver it to a broadcaster would be enormous but what Takedown can do is they have their own staff that comes in and films, shoots this product and you've got another small staff that's out marketing and developing and selling it to broadcasters and we let the fight promoters do what they do best, which is put on live events. We just turn it into a TV show. Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): Are you planning on moving directly from your show to another event or are you going to wait to move on to a network before you begin going to these shows ever week? Matt Lindland: We're gonna sell our product first. We're gonna sell this pilot. Things change, keep that in mind. Things change and we're not gonna stop moving forward but what we are gonna do, the plan right now is to take this pilot and go out and sell it to broadcasters and get a broadcast partner with it as well. Takedown is not a network.  Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): Is the plan to pretty much go to a new event around the country every week if and when you do get picked up by a network? Matt Lindland: Absolutely. We're gonna sell them North America which is a terrific MMA market and the biggest audience that we have. We're gonna stick with North America right away. Of course we've got plans for global expansion with Europe and Asia and of course South America but you've got to start somewhere. The first year in 2012, it's gonna be North America. We're gonna pick up the cream of the crop, the best shows. We've signed over 50 organizations to letters of intent. Unfortunately not all of those shows will be a broadcast partner with Takedown. We're gonna have to pick and choose. There's gonna be opportunities to use some of that content in other formats though, maybe streaming internet, other plans of delivery besides broadcast on networks but our main priority will be getting a network, something like a weekly show, like an American Idol of fighting. At the end of this series, whether the fans want to see a particular fighter, there's a lot of those details to be worked out. But really, every story needs a beginning, a middle and an end. You can't just keep showing fights, fights, fights with no end. The season will end after 40 weeks and we'll start over next year. Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): I think a lot of people will also appreciate giving a voice to the shows that people normally wouldn't get a chance to see on television on the national scale. Matt Lindland: You know, we've done some broadcast deals with HDNet in the past. They were a great partner. They put out a great television show and they own the network themselves. This is a different model though. They were trying to film the content, edit the content and deliver it on their own network. In this business model, everybody does what they do best. Promoters promote fights, broadcasters broadcast fights and networks distribute fights. This is the way that business is done. You let everybody get a piece of the pie and everybody wins. The promoter wins, Takedown wins and the networks win. Guess who else starts winning? The fans. They want to see the fights, they win. Sponsors win, advertisers. If you build a relationship where everybody wins then we're all in a team together.  Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): And the fighters should win too, right? Matt Lindland: Absolutely. more opportunities to fight, bigger purses, bigger sponsorship opportunities for the fighters, for the athletes. Absolutely. Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): Has working with Takedown allowed you to increase the fighter purses of your own show, if I may ask? Matt Lindland: Yeah because there's a licensing fee for the content. If you look at some of our recent shows, we were only able to do 4-5 professional fights and fill the undercard with some of the up-and-coming amateur guys or lower level professionals. This card, I believe we've got I know for sure seven and we might have added and eighth professional fight and purses are going to go up. When we sign the broadcast partner there will be more money and with sponsorship dollars rolling in, those purses will continue to climb. An organization like Sportfight can start doing longer term contracts too. I've never done long term contracts with my fighters because frankly, I don't want to keep them from making a good living. If they can showcase their skills in Sportfight, give us a great fight for our fans and then move on to a bigger show, I want that. I've been an athlete, I understand that. You want to get paid for your efforts. You want to get promoted on a bigger stage so I've never tried to tie anybody up with long-term contracts but with this deal, we might be able to do some multi-fight contracts with athletes if we're able to pay them bigger purses.  Join us for part two later tonight where we talk about coaching, Yushin Okami, the deal with Anderson Silva and of course, Chael Sonnen.

Posted in: fight, takedown, show, event, sportfight

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submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: mma, show, chael sonnen, mattyblayze, chael

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The fifth episode of the UFC's reality show pulls in 1.6 million viewers for a 1.2 rating.

Posted in: ufc, show, episode, rating, viewer

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MMAjunkie.com Radio today welcomes back to the show former "TUF" correspondent Chris Cope, who fights at November's UFC 138 event. Additionally, undefeated prospect Joey Gambino makes his first appearance on the show, and Aaron "Tru" Teweles calls in to discuss his new show on Fight Now TV. MMAjunkie.com Radio airs from noon to 2 p.m. ET (9-11 a.m. PT) live from Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Listen to and watch a video stream of the two-hour show at www.mmajunkie.com/radio, or watch it live on select television markets as part of Fight Now TV.

Posted in: show, radio, television markets, mmajunkiecom, twohour show

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For about 45 minutes or so, it looked like a classic Nick Diaz performance. That is, if you count Diaz's out-of-the-cage behavior as part of his fighting signature, and chances are, you do. Diaz was trending nationwide on Twitter not long after he apparently no-showed a media call in support of the pay-per-view event he's now headlining opposite B.J. Penn, UFC 137.

Posted in: ufc, diaz, nick diaz, show, nick

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submitted by byronsucks [link] [6 comments]

Posted in: ufc, nick diaz, show, conference, ufc conference

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submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [comment]

Posted in: show, brazil, mattyblayze, mattyblayze link, brasilia brazil

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TITLE OF SHOW: Red vs. Blue FORMAT OF SHOW: Reality Series LOGLINE: The Ultimate Fighter meets White Collar Boxing meets Glenn Beck fights John Stewart. Self proclaimed Democrats and Republicans, who have no previous professional fighting experience, are selected to be trained and coached in Mixed Martial Arts for 10-12 weeks and live in a house together. They get to settle their political differences with their fists in the ring/cage. SYNOPSIS: Ron Profitt, Rand Paul supporter, head stomps a democrat party member at a political rally. Democrats are furious, but they can’t do anything to him. Profitt goes so far as in saying he wants an apology from the woman he stomped on. This past election (2008) has shown that Democrats and Republicans have moved beyond the point of disagreeing on ideology. The talking heads sit and verbally attack each other on news channels 24-hours a day, but it’s always just talk, no one ever concedes and no one ever wins. Let’s let them fight. Democrats and Republicans fight to prove who the toughest political party is in America. 14 people are selected to represent two teams in a team MMA fight. Of the 14 people, 7 will be self proclaimed Republicans and the other 7 self proclaimed Democrats (Red vs. Blue). They will all weigh between 150-220 lbs. They will live together in a large house, but train separately with their teams. Trainers from different disciplines of MMA (Kickboxing, boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jujitsu, etc.) will come and train the teams for their upcoming fights. The participants will be from all walks of life and include many professionals as well as blue collar workers. The common thread for each team is their passionate political stance. All participants must have a minimal knowledge of current politics and their liberal or conservatives views must be reflected in that knowledge. After initial training the fighters will participate in a one on one fight with a fighter from the opposing team and the winner will win a point for their political ideology. In the end, we will see if the Democrats or Republicans win the fight for America, or at least who’s tougher. The participants live together in a large house and must deal with living together as well as potentially facing each other in a future fight. The tensions will rise as they get annoyed with each other’s idiosyncrasies as well as the conflicts in political ideology. They will be participating in daily training routines taught by professional trainers to learn different aspects of mixed martial arts. The rules can be from any organization, but as UFC is the most popular MMA organization, UFC rules would be the best. The training sessions will be extremely intense and some participants will want to quit and they will have to push each other as a team to win. The matches will pit fighters of comparable weight against each other for two 3-minute rounds. If it is a tie at the end of the two rounds they will go to a third tie-breaking round. Scoring will be based on UFC(Or whatever organization we choose) rules. A fighter can win by knockout, technical knockout, submission or decision. The winner of each fight will earn himself a cash prize of which half will go to the fighter, and the other half go towards a political candidate or organization of the fighter’s choosing as a political contribution. The winning team will win another contribution to either the Democratic National Convention or the Republican National Convention and title of toughest political party in America. OUTLINE: Get to know the fighters before they move into the house, family background, career, etc. Show clips of the fighters where they have participated in political rallies as well as previous athletic backgrounds. The fighters can explain why they wanted to be on a show like ours and why they want to fight a member of the opposing political party. Describe process of show to fighters and audience. After initial day’s introductions we ask fighters, by secret ballot, to select the top 3 fighters on the opposing team they would like to fight based on first impression. Then we choose the best match and announce first fight for next week’s episode along with weigh-in results. The fighters meet their trainers and spend a few days training for their upcoming fights. The tensions in the house start to boil over as participants butt heads over political ideology. Trash talking ensues. Each participant is again asked to list the name of the top 2 other people on the opposing side that they would like to fight after spending time watching each other train as well as interacting in the house. Fighters who want to fight each other will put on a better show and better television. Choose match up for next fight based on fighter requests. Show first fight from selection of last week. Announce the next week’s fight and have a weigh-in at the end of the episode Follow the fighters scheduled for this week’s fight. Have more in-depth profiles about these participants as well as show their families and what has inspired and shaped their current political ideology. Follow antics in the house as more trash talking ensues. New twist to the fight selection this week. Participants have a contest this week where the winning team gets to select the next fight. Participants make calls to campaign contributors and try to raise money for their political party. The team that raises the most money gets to select the next fight. The participant who raises the most money on his team gets to select if he wants to fight next week and if so, who he wants to fight. If he opts not to fight, democratic vote by team to select fighters. More training, then show scheduled fight. The winner of the campaign contest stands up and selects who he wants to fight, or who the selected fighters are if he opts not to fight, they weigh in. Teams design political slogan t-shirts with help from political activists and clothing designers. Teams head out to a college campus to sell t-shirts and meet college students. Team that sells most t-shirts wins the event. Wining team gets taken out to get suits made. Winning team comes home in suits and shows off to other team. Gloating and trash talk in the house. More training, fighter background and then fight for the week. After the fight the teams get together. We are a democracy so each team gets to choose its representative for the next fight. Fighters are announced and weighed in. Teams put on new suits and now go door to door to rally voter support. The twist is that they must enter a district that heavily favors the opposing political party. Using their persuasive skills Team Democrats must convince citizens living in a Republican dominated district to sign a petition in support of climate protection or gay marriage and Team Republicans must convince Democrats to oppose Obamacare or support harsher immigration restrictions(AZ law). The team that collects the most signatures wins. Winning team goes to fancy dinner, wearing new suits, with a political candidate for the upcoming 2012 election. Show training, fighter background and fight for the week. The winner of the fight’s team gets to select the next week’s fighters, they will vote within the team. Announce fighters and show weigh-ins. Again follow the fighters who are going to fight on this episode. Then have host enter the house with a new team challenge. Both teams are sent to a location, probably a shopping mall or some other place that has many people, and set up a booth to register voters. Teams are competing to see who can register the most voters with whatever creative antics they can come up with. Winning team wins a (prize). Show training and the fight from this week. Describe the importance of voting and getting people out to vote. Demonstrate this importance by announcing the winners of the contest not only get the prize, but the ability to select the last two fights. Follow last four fighters and profile them, showing them train and finally their fight. Then tell teams there is another twist to competition. Intelligence and knowing the issues is also important to successful political discourse. Teams will compete in intellectual competition involving political trivia as well as questions about the Constitution, American Government, etc. Winning team gets to choose final wildcard match up, which allows them to select any fighter on their own team versus any fighter on the opposing team. The winner of the fight’s team wins a (prize). Show fighters prepare for their elected champions for the last and final fight of the event. After fight there is a celebration BBQ and the fighters reconcile. They have learned to respect each other after fighting each other and though they still disagree, they are willing to respect the opposing point of view (hopefully). All participants win a prize(Hopefully a sponsor steps up here) for raising political awareness amongst young people and money for the political process. Show ends with one political party named the toughest party in America. TL;DR Ultimate Fighter style competition but based on political ideology. Think Bisping vs. Hendo season, but instead of USA vs. Britain. Democrats v. Republicans submitted by hagen0 [link] [3 comments]

Posted in: fight, show, fighter, week, team

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It was a busy day over at Pro Elite where they signed a deal to broadcast their second show on HDNet and found a replacement to face Tim Sylvia on the Nov. 5 card.

Posted in: show, face, tim, hdnet, elite moves

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Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosThe MMA Hour is back in your life on Monday for our 104th show. Here's a list of who will be stopping by: * Former middleweight turned light heavyweight Rich Franklin will talk about his recent shoulder surgery and what's next for him. * UFC light heavyweight Brandon Vera will discuss his UFC 137 fight against Eliot Marshall. * Heavyweight Matt Mitrione will return for another installment of "The Mitrione Minute." * MMA agent turned entrepreneur Ken Pavia will talk about selling his MMA agency and teaming up with Takedown Fight Media. * And MMA Fighting's Ben Fowlkes will dissect the news making headlines around the MMA world. Of course, we'll be taking your calls. Give us a shout at: 212-254-0193, 212-254-0237 or 212-254-0714. *** You can also stream the show live on your iPhone or iPad by clicking here. Watch the replay below. Subscribe to The MMA Hour on iTunes: audio feed here; video feed here. Download previous episodes here. Listen to the show via Stitcher here. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mma, show, mma hour, heavyweight, show heres

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submitted by col0rado [link] [comment]

Posted in: night, bellator, show, result, spoiler

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Here are the rules I'll go first: Although I watched early UFC as a show, I never thought of MMA as a sport until Pride. I still hate to see elbows designed to end the fight via cut and prefer the knees on the ground (N-S shouldn't be a relatively safe position). submitted by daengbo [link] [2 comments]

Posted in: show, sport, rule, n-s shouldn, rules i

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Filed under: UFC, NewsDespite two pay-per-view caliber matchups, the UFC 136 Prelims show on Spike TV Saturday drew an unusually small audience of only 1.0 million viewers and a household rating of 0.8. The viewership for the UFC 136 prelims show is the lowest for a live prelim show on Spike TV and surpasses only the two preliminary shows aired on ION. As a lead-in to the UFC 136 pay-per-view, the UFC offered popular ex-WEC champ Anthony Pettis taking on power puncher Jeremy Stephens and former title challenger Demian Maia facing off against former Sengoku champ Jorge Masvidal. The preliminary bouts series was coming off a strong performance from the Sept. 24 UFC 135 undercard show, which drew an average of 1.6 million viewers and an average 1.0 household rating. The live fights for the UFC 135 undercard featured Tony Ferguson vs. Aaron Riley and Tim Boetsch vs. Nick Ring. The next UFC Prelims card, for UFC 137 on Oct. 29, is expected to feature Donald Cerrone vs. Dennis Siver and Tyson Griffin vs. Bart Palaszewski. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, show, vs, viewer, prelim

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submitted by col0rado [link] [4 comments]

Posted in: show, stadium show, stadium, dalla, cowboy

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HOUSTON - After hosting a another successful show in the Lone Star State, the UFC could return to Texas with an even bigger event. It fact, the state could host the UFC's next major stadium show. And following his impressive victory over Brian Stann at Saturday's UFC 136 event at Houston's Toyota Center, Chael Sonnen could get his long-awaited rematch in the show's headliner.

Posted in: ufc, show, toyota center, star state, silva-sonnen ii

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MMAjunkie.com lead staff reporter and MMA insider John Morgan is a guest on today's official UFC 136 pre-event show, "Fight Day." The show, hosted by Dave Farra and Megan Olivi, also includes former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz, fast-rising lightweight contender Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone and Canadian MMA personality "Showdown" Joe Ferraro. You can watch the show, which airs live from Houston, from 5-6 p.m. ET at www.heavy.com.

Posted in: show, fight day, john morgan, staff reporter, dave farra

Read the full article at MMA Junkie

Welcome to this edition of MMAterial Facts, where we feature articles from around the MMA community. *** This week’s MMAterial Facts: - Fedor vs. Henderson Caricature (LowKick) “The arena will be open for 22,000 people. Right now we have certain difficulties with tickets, simply because our partners at Kassir.ru are unable to cope with such a high demand for tickets. But I want to assure everyone that the issue will be solved and everyone will have an opportunity to purchase a ticket.” - Jon Jones Explains Why He Is Fighting Lyoto Machida at UFC 140 (MMA Fighting) “To [Rashad's] surprise, I took the fight, and after I took the fight, he decides that his hand isn’t ready, and he’s going to need more time. So, with me already agreeing with Dana that I would take a fight at UFC 140, Dana called me back and said, ‘Hey, listen, Rashad decided that he can’t compete at UFC 140, what would think about fighting Lyoto Machida?’ And I said ‘absolutely’.” - All kinds of messages sent by UFC with second show on same day as Japan event (Fight Opinion) “By UFC running a show in Las Vegas on the same day as their Japanese event, it will allow them to give the media a cue to bury the importance of the Japanese event and to hype the Vegas show as the A-show. The flip-side of this, of course, is that the Japanese fans are smart customers. Already telling them to show up for a main card at 10 AM at Saitama Super Arena is a joke and now telling them that the Japanese show is essentially a B-level show is basically waving the white flag at this point. Sure, UFC could conceivably book Rampage Jackson vs. Shogun if Shogun loses to Dan Henderson, but that’s not a main event that’s going to draw a huge crowd in Japan. However, it would allow UFC to split the difference and give their American fans a reason to downplay the struggles of the Japanese show. You run Shogun/Rampage in Japan as the Japanese main event but have it air on American PPV as the semi-main event fight for a big Vegas PPV card.”… Matt Hume, on Mauro Ranallo’s radio show yesterday, claims that Softbank is supporting UFC’s Saitama event.” - UFC 136: Brian Stann only needs five seconds to knockout Chael Sonnen (MMA Mania) “I think people are underestimating me. I’m a difficult guy to wrestle to the ground. I’m also a difficult guy to hold on the ground. Chael’s the best at doing those things so we’re gonna find out quickly. People forget that I train with the best guys in the world. Obviously, I wouldn’t be confident if I was losing every single second of every day at the gym.” - Jon Jones Buys First New Car, A $190,000 2012 Bentley (MMA Convert) “Today was a good day for Jon Jones. Actually, “one of the best days of [his] life,” as he put it. Jones bought himself his first new car — a very expensive first new car in the form of a 2012 Bentley Continental GT. Jones didn’t say how much he paid for it, but the sticker price for that particular model comes in at a whopping $190,000. It’s good to be the champ.” - Rejoice, The UFC will soon be on your Xbox dashboard (MiddleEasy) “Wow, the promises made at E3 are coming to fruition: The UFC is coming to your Xbox dashboard in a big way on December 1st. Finally you will be able to order UFC Pay Per Views through the Xbox in HD (UFC 140 is the first available live show), you will be able to view what I assume to be an extended back catalog of Zuffa owned fights, and even predict live UFC matches and compare your fight prediction record with your friends. “ - Can Fedor right the ship? (NBC Sports MMA) “The UFC’s breakneck stretch of four events in four weeks ends this Saturday in Houston, with arguably the promotion’s best card since it invaded Toronto’s Rogers Centre in March, wowing a record 55,000 fans. Instead of limping to the finish line, the UFC boasts a show that features two title fights, a true No. 1 contender fight, and a possible No. 1 lightweight contender in the making.” - MFC 31 Results: Jimmo Wins 16th Straight, Judges Test Half Point Scoring (Cage Potato) “If last night’s MFC 31 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada , which utilized the half-point scoring system that Doc Hamilton proposed would improve MMA judging, taught us anything it was that half-point scoring is just as flawed as whole point scoring.” - Frankie Edgar is looking for an answer against Gray Maynard tomorrow night (Five Ounces of Pain) “That (trash talk) always get the people going and it sells fights, but for myself, and being the kind of person I am, I’d rather do my work in the cage,” Edgar explained in a conversation with the UFC’s website. “Gray’s a pretty reserved dude, and so am I, and I think our fight will speak for itself.” - Third Time’s the FINAL Charm for Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard (5thRound) “If posting a 2-1-1 record against Maynard is Edgar’s lifelong goal, which it likely isn’t, UFC president Dana White (Pictured) professed there will not be a fourth tango between the two – regardless of what goes down during their trilogy this Saturday.” - Culinary Workers Union creates anti-UFC website (TheFightNerd) “Maintained by the Culinary Workers Union, Local 226, the website uses the acronym of UFC to stand for “Unfit For Children” instead of the “Ultimate Fighting Championship.” Dana White’s many rants are listed in detail on this page across a series of sub-categories, including “Obscenities”, “Slurs” which features many of the comments DFW directed at Loretta Hunt among others, “Cheap Shots” which focuses on remarks about random people involved in entertainment and sports, and “Other $#@%!!!” which documents rude comments that UFC fighters have said about others, including Chael Sonnen’s negative thoughts on Brazil. On the sidebar of the page, the Union also lists companies that promote and support the UFC, including TapouT, Xyience, Bud Light, and Harley Davidson. “ - UFC 136: The 5 Most Pivotal Rematches in UFC History (BleacherReport.com/MMA) “But, with such a meaningful rematch approaching that will change the look of the division for the foreseeable future, I find myself reflecting on previous rematches that had a similar effect. Fights that represented a fork in the road and created a new era.”

Posted in: ufc, fight, show, japanese, event

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Watch the full UFC 136 Countdown show, for free, right here on HeavyMMA.com

Posted in: ufc, show, right, countdown, countdown show

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It's time for Spencer's customary look back at Saturday's UFC show. Check out the talking points from UFC on Versus 6.

Posted in: ufc, show, check, point, ufc show

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MMA Junkie reports that the UFC plans to hold a “doubleheader” in February 2012 as it will air an event in Japan and Las Vegas on the same day. UFC head Dana White confirmed that the shows will air live on TV with the Japan event airing live on free TV and the Vegas event being the PPV. Via MMA Junkie: As White previously announced, the UFC, which hasn’t promoted a show in Japan since UFC 29 in late 2000, heads to Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, on Feb. 26, 2012. To accommodate the traditional live North American broadcasting on Saturday night, Feb. 25, the event takes place Sunday morning at 10 a.m. local time. Payout Perspective: The UFC does not believe there will be a logistical problem with holding simultaneous shows per the UFC’s multi-team approach. The question is whether fans are willing to watch 5 or 6 hours of mixed martial arts. It seems like the UFC may be hurting its own product by having two events in one night. First, the fact that it will have a show on free TV and then a PPV. Certainly, people watch the Spike Prelims and then the PPV but not sure if fans will want to watch a full show and then pay $55 for a pay per view. Second, holding an event Sunday morning seemingly hurts the chances of attendance and gate in Japan. While there will be buzz for the return to Japan, the starting time seems to hurt the chances of its success. Thus, it appears that the UFC return to Japan will be in name only. While there are likely business reasons for holding the show Sunday morning, it should not go over well with Japanese MMA fans. Finally, the inference taken from the announcement that the Las Vegas show is the PPV show is that the show in Japan will not have the same quality of talent. Although we just saw a title bout on free television and will see another on November 12th, the caliber of fights on free television are usually not on par with PPV fights. Another result of having two shows in one night is the bigger reality of Strikeforce folding and its competitors coming to the UFC. With the announcement that Gilbert Melendez will be in the UFC soon, it almost spells the ending of the organization. Also, we can also see the debut of the Flyweight division on the dual cards.

Posted in: ufc, ppv, show, event, japan

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Back again with another blog for Fighters.com! When it came to team selection, to be honest, I was just ecstatic winning to get into the house and it didn’t really matter to me as far as who picked me. Although, secretly, I was kind of hoping to be on Michael Bisping’s team because I was hoping he might bring Quinton Jackson in as a surprise coach. I love “Rampage”! But for the most part it didn’t matter to me. I was just happy to be on the show. As far as whether my wish came true, that is a negative. Trust me, if “Rampage” had been on the show I would have ended up breaking the $5 million confidentiality clause because I would have told everybody, probably Tweeted something like, “Oh my god! I just met ‘Rampage’!” But unfortunately he didn’t show up this time. I found out pretty quickly that when you meet a person, like Bisping, it’s completely different than how they might be portrayed on television. He was actually pretty cool. At times, he did some douchebag stuff – I’ll admit that – but overall, as a coach, he was solid. I was very pleased with his ability on that front. When I first walked into the house it was amazing! There are a bunch of big portraits of fighters you grew up watching like Georges St. Pierre, Matt Hughes, “Rampage” Jackson, Lyoto Machida…they had a picture of Randy Couture of when he knocked out Tim Sylvia. With Forrest Griffin they had a big ass Jesus-pose shot. It was surreal because it was like, “Wow! This is really happening! I’m in the Ultimate Fighter house!” As fighters, we want to get to the top and when you achieve that level of success it comes with perks like having a big house. It was a little overwhelming once you first get into the house. And of course people opened the fridge and wanted to have a BBQ or whatever, but with it being the first time at 145 I was freaking out about my weight. Plus, I looked at the rest of the guys as potential opponents. I don’t want to get in close, make friends, with anyone I may have to fight. That’s why in the beginning of the episode you didn’t see me until teams were picked and then again until weigh-ins and fight time. I didn’t hang out with anybody. I was in the corner reading the Bible. I was in fight mode and me being in fight mode isn’t good television. I get quiet, reflective. Getting picked to fight first, frankly, sucked ass. I was trying to get acclimated to the house, to the schedule…just trying to figure out what to do and how the whole TUF experience worked. We moved into the house day one, picked teams day two, and then day three all of the sudden I’m already fighting somebody. But then again I’m on the show for a reason and that’s what I came to do. After I got chosen to fight Bryan Caraway, I didn’t feel sorry for myself. I thought, “Okay, time to put on your boots and go to work.” The weight trick they showed Bisping teaching me resulted in literally the easiest cut of my career. It was shocking. I’m good with dieting and I know how to lose weight but when it comes to dropping I’m usually in the sauna, getting delirious, but Bisping’s salt bath was amazing. I lost a bunch of weight without even really trying. I was thinking, “Whoa! This is off the chain! I’m supposed to feel crazy and drained.” So it really helped and it’s definitely going to be something I continue to do to make weight. The weigh-in chant had nothing to do with me. It was all Akira Corrasani and Josh Ferguson. Akira is a crazy character! And like I said before, I’m quiet when I’m getting ready to fight and I was focused purely on the bout. Everybody else, they could still have fun, and when the group saw I was the one who got picked to fight so they all kind of relaxed. I’ll be honest – my performance against Caraway sucked. I had moved from Alabama to Georgia to Florida for American Top Team in the months prior to the show, and then before I know it I made the Ultimate Fighter and head out to Las Vegas. It was just a strange situation because I never had a real chance to settle. It’s hard to explain other than to say I was very disappointed in how I did because my mind wasn’t in the right place. Dana White was there, the cameras are on…all I could hear was my heartbeat. In the second round I just wanted to kill Caraway because I knew the first hadn’t gone my way at all. I kept thinking about White’s infamous words, “You never leave it in the hands of the judges.” And here it is a two-round fight and I’m already down a round. I learned from the experience and trust me, I’ll be back stronger and more-prepared the next time you see me in the cage! It may not have gone my way but I’m still very thankful for the opportunity. And don’t worry, you’ll still be seeing more of me on the show as you probably guessed by the preview for the next episode. Now that I’ve lost, let’s just say my personality will come out a bit more. Before ending this week’s blog, I want to give a shout out to all of my fellow Dragon Ball Z fans for hitting me up on Twitter. I got a lot of positive feedback about giving Dragon Ball some love on the show and I appreciate it. I also want to say Roll Tide! We might be #3 in the nation but we’re going to get that top spot and another national championship. I also want to give a shout out the 117th in Birmingham – my National Guard unit – for being so supportive and to American Top Team too. They’re my home. They’ve taken me in, welcomed me with open arms, and I greatly appreciate that. Thanks to my old gym too, Spartan Fitness, in Hoover, Alabama. I’m nothing without them and wouldn’t be anywhere near the man I am today without their help. To my family and friends back home too. And of course thanks to my strength and conditioning coach too for keeping me looking like a smaller, sexy Bobby Lashley. Thanks for reading again. I’ll be back next week with some more insight on what went down. In the meantime check me out on Twitter (@brim205) or see what else I had to say on my video blog. Tweet

Posted in: fight, show, ’t, i ’m, ’m

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The second episode of The Ultimate Fighter 14 attracted a slightly larger audience than the first episode last week, which is a good sign. The show earned a 1.22 household rating and averaged 1.6 million viewers, up from 1.5 million last week.

Posted in: show, fighter, week, episode, audience

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Roger Huerta will return to competition on Nov. 26, when “El Matador” locks horns with fellow UFC veteran War Machine at Ultimate Warrior Fighting’s inaugural show in Pharr, Texas

Posted in: show, machine, el, nov, lock

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Gray Maynard wants to let out all his pent-up frustration and show the world he’s better than Frankie Edgar.

Posted in: show, frankie edgar, blogger maynard, maynard, frankie

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submitted by truthjusticeUSAway [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: ufc, show, counter-programming, ufc counter-programming, japan show

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Strikeforce Challengers 19: "Larkin vs. Rossborough" went down last Friday night (Sept. 23, 2011) from "The Pearl" at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. Now that the dust has settled, it's time for these guys to get paid. Up-and-coming light heavyweight prospect Lorenz Larkin was one of the top earners of the night, banking $10,000 for outpointing Nick Rossborough in the "Sin City" main event. Rounding out the three-way tie for biggest bankroll was Ryan Couture and Lavar Johnson. Lil' Naytch had the majority on his side in a tough win over Maka Watson while "Big" came up small against Shawn Jordan, tapping out to a keylock midway through the second stanza. But that's not all. Here are the complete salaries and payouts for Strikeforce Challengers 19: "Larkin vs. Rossborough:" Lorenz Larkin $10,000 ($5,000 to show, $5,000 to win)Nick Rossborough $3,000Larkin def. Rossborough via unanimous decision Shawn Jordan $4,000 (no win bonus)Lavar Johnson $10,000Jordan def. Johnson via submission (keylock) Ryan Couture $10,000 (no win bonus)Maka Watson $2,000Couture def. Watson via via majority decision Jason High $8,000 ($4,000 to show, $4,000 to win)Todd Moore $4,000High def. Moore via unanimous decision Brian Melancon $6,000 ($3,000 to show, $3,000 to win)Felipe Portela $2,000Melanoon def. Portela via unanimous decision James Terry $8,000 ($4,000 to show, $4,000 to win)Magno Almeida $2,000Terry def. Almeida via TKO (punches) Bobby Green $6,000 ($3,000 to show, $3,000 to win)Charon Spain $3,000Green def. Spain via submission (arm-triangle choke) Chris Spang $5,000 ($3,000 to show, $2,000 to win)Joe Ray $2,000Spang def. Ray via unanimous decision Quinn Mulhern $4,600 ($2,100 to show, $2,500 to win)Danny Davis $2,900Mulhern def. Davis via submission (arm-triangle choke); however, Mullhern forks over $400 of his $2,500 show money for missing weight. The total disclosed payroll for Strikeforce Challengers 19: "Larkin vs. Rossborough" was $92,500. Keep in mind the salaries listed above do not include fight bonuses, sponsorships, percentages and other unofficial payments. It also does not include deductions for expenses such as insurance, taxes, etc. For complete Strikeforce Challengers 19 results and detailed blow-by-blow commentary of all the main card action click here and here.

Posted in: show, challenger, larkin, rossborough, larkin vs

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MMAjunkie.com editor-in-chief Dann Stupp today joins "The MMA Show" with Mauro Ranallo" (2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT) and the "Jeff Allan Show" (10:30 a.m. ET). Stupp discusses the latest MMA news, including UFC 135, with Ranallo. He discusses the "kids cagefighting" controversy with Allan. Catch Ranallo's show at radio.thescore.com, and listen to Allan's show at CKGL/570 in Canada's Waterloo Region or at www.570news.com.

Posted in: show, mma show, mauro ranallo, allan, ranallo

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MMAjunkie.com lead staff reporter and MMA insider John Morgan is a guest on today's official UFC 135 pre-event show, "Fight Day." The show, hosted by Dave Farra and Megan Olivi, also includes former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans, "The Ultimate Fighter 14" coach Michael Bisping, UFC broadcaster Mike Goldberg and Canadian MMA personality "Showdown" Joe Ferraro. You can watch the show, which airs live from Denver, from 5-6 p.m. ET at www.heavy.com.

Posted in: ufc, show, fight day, john morgan, joe ferraro

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Filed under: UFCDENVER -- Michael Bisping and Jason "Mayhem" Miller make for an unlikely movie date, but in some bizarre way the pairing works. The two showed up at the Paramount Theater on Wednesday night for a private screening of The Ultimate Fighter season 14 premiere looking less like rivals and more like...well, not friends exactly, but also not quite enemies. "He's not a bad guy. He's alright," Bisping admitted, nodding over at Miller who was, at the very moment, practically shouting into a video camera a few feet away. "But trust me, that in your face for six weeks? You're going to kill the guy." Now that filming is over and Bisping can get back to dealing with Miller "in small doses," the two seem to get along just fine. Or at least, that's how it seemed as they sat down together with a handful of media members to watch the first episode of the Spike TV reality show inside the 80-year-old art deco theater. The show's first episode didn't give the coaches all that much to do, however. After a brief introduction, complete with highlight reels, they spent the bulk of the episode separated by UFC president Dana White, watching TUF hopefuls scrap for a spot on the show inside the empty Mandalay Bay Events Center. Not that there weren't a few barbs here and there, of course. When Bisping appeared on screen, describing Miller's current bleached blonde look as a cross between "Josh Koscheck and a toilet brush," even Miller reared his head back and laughed along with the rest of us. And all night long, both on screen and in person, the one thing they agreed on was a mutual respect for the talent level of the fighters in this season of the show. Miller estimated that at least eight of the competitors were worthy of UFC contracts, regardless of how they fared during the reality show tournament. But while seeking refuge in the lobby during the final half-hour of the show, Miller hinted that some days had been tougher than others when working alongside his British counterpart. "I wanted to hit him," he said. "I'd be like, today I'm going to hit him." What stopped him, he explained, was that he worried it would make him look like a jerk once the show aired. "And then my mom would get mad," he added. The six weeks of filming in Las Vegas and the ensuing media tour to hype the show have ensured that Miller and Bisping hardly go a day without talking about one another. For a fight that's still more than two months away, that's an uncommon amount of preamble, even in the UFC. In fact, Miller said, it's taken almost every bit of patience he has to keep from freaking out with so much time to think about the fight. In his younger days, he said, this is exactly the kind of thing that might have sent him looking for trouble at a local bar. "Or I'd start an argument with my girlfriend, just for the drama," he said. These days, as he jets from southern California to New York for talk shows, then to a private screening in Denver, more often than not it's Bisping who is his date. And as they bickered about practical jokes and busted one another's chops on stage following the show's premiere, they seemed not unlike an old married couple -- though maybe one that's headed for divorce. "During the show, I wanted to kill him," Bisping said. "I'm going to kill him." Miller just rolled his eyes, flashing the same unimpressed expression we'd seen just moments before on the giant screen behind him. "Save your breath for cooling your pies," he said. "Whatever that means," Bisping shot back. As with any couple, few battles are as fierce as the fight for the last word. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: show, day, miller, bisping, michael bisping

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After a so-so Season 13 of 'The Ultimate Fighter', it looks like the reality TV show has gone back to basics. Focus on the fights.

Posted in: fight, show, fighter, fighter ',, basic

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Join Bloody Elbow every Wednesday night to discuss the latest episode of the Ultimate Fighter 14, featuring coaches Michael Bisping and Jason "Mayhem" Miller. I'd love to do an uplifting obituary for the Ultimate Fighter on Spike TV. The show -- and particularly the finale between Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar -- helped lift the UFC out of the $44 million hole the Fertitta brothers had dug for themselves. Without the Ultimate Fighter, it's possible we aren't talking about the UFC at all, let alone a landmark deal on network television. The show needed to get off Spike, though. It wasn't nearly as bad as people, myself included, made it out to be up to the heavyweight season with Kimbo Slice. (Spike, however, filled that season with bait-and-switch tactics that turned me off.) The eleventh season, featuring Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz, was the first time I stopped watching mid-season. These weekly TUF posts were preceded by a trip to Wikipedia to find out what happened the week before. My lack of interest carried over into subsequent seasons. The problems are numerous: a shallowing pool of talent, a Chuchillian stubbornness resisting change, a lack of engaging personality from the coaches, etc. The show, already in the toxic genre of "reality TV," gradually became a caricature of itself, utterly predictable season to season. How that blame should be divvied between Spike and the UFC is up for debate, but the move to FX has instigated a major change to the format: the taped portion of the show will be from the preceding week, followed by a live fight to cap off each episode. It seem unlikely, on a cable channel that decided to play hardball by using TUF 13 as a lead-in for the doomed Coal series, that such a change would have been possible on Spike, considering the investment necessary. So here we are, the final season on Spike TV, with a pair of coaches that will probably put on an entertaining 13 weeks of television. Or as entertaining as this trailer with donkeys, naked dudes, and mariachi bands might indicate. And then it's goodbye. Sneak peek of the first episode (9 p.m. ET) after the jump. SBN coverage of The Ultimate Fighter 14 debut Sneak Peek: Ultimate Fighter - Team Bisping vs. Team MillerGet More: Watch The Ultimate Fighter TUF 14 Dana White Michael Bisping Jason "Mayhem" Miller Josh Ferguson BJ Ferguson Casey Dyer featherweights bantamweights

Posted in: show, fighter, season, &nbsp, spike

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We have partnered with Pro MMA Radio to bring you weekly replays of PMR as the official radio show of MMAConvert.com. Pro MMA Radio can be heard live every Monday evening at 9PM ET/6PM PT. Replays and podcasts of every show are available 24/7 by going to the “Replay Corner” section of ProMMARadio.com, our own Pro MMA Radio page or by clicking the banner below. On this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio, Lorenz Larkin joined the show to talk about his headlining fight against Nick Rossborough at Strikeforce Challengers 19 this weekend. MMA Mania’s Jesse Holland also stopped by to help Larry Pepe recap UFC Fight Night 25 and preview UFC 135. You can listen to a replay of this week’s edition of Pro MMA Radio by clicking the banner below. A radio player with links to the show’s archives will open in a pop-up window, so please make sure your browser is set to allow pop-ups for this site.

Posted in: mma, show, replay, radio, mma radio

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There must be some secret code in the makeup of the universe that causes the majority of talk show hosts' first names to begin with the letter 'J'. To take it even further, if you are a talk show host with a name that starts with 'J' you are also more likely to really dig the sport of MMA. I say there must be some sort of metaphysical scientific reason for why this happens. Earlier this year Rashad Evans was on Jimmy Fallon, last week Mayhem Miller was on Jimmy Fallon and now Jon Jones and Rampage both show up on Jimmy Kimmel. This is no coincidence my friends. It has to be the result of some sort of magnetic field created by an intergalactic planetary and celestial lineup at the times when these two Jimmys were born that caused them to become MMA supporting late night talk show hosts. Naysayers will just point out that MMA is just booming in popularity and that 'J' names are just plentiful. I rebuke these ridiculous logical arguments. Say what you want, it's my hypothesis and I'm sticking to it. Check out this clip of Rampage and Jon Jones carrying on the predestined relationship between 'J' named talk show hosts and MMA late last night while having to brush knees on Jimmy Kimmel's couch. 

Posted in: show, jimmy, jon jones, show hosts, host

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UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and his UFC 135 opponent Quinton "Rampage" Jackson will both be guests on tonight's edition on Jimmy Kimmel Live. They will be out there at the same time apparently too, which should be interesting. The UFC is teasing that Dr. Phil is also a guest and he might interact with the two fighters - "It's unknown at press time whether the third guest on the show, Dr. Phil, will be brought in to try and smooth things over between the two." The show is on at Midnight ET/PT on ABC.

Posted in: ufc, show, jimmy kimmel, press time, guest

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Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, VideosThe MMA Hour has finally reached 100 episodes, and we're bringing out the big guns for our centennial episode. Here's who will be stopping by the show Monday afternoon. * The newest member of the UFC heavyweight division Alistair Overeem will talk about his UFC 141 fight against Brock Lesnar. * WWE superstar and long-time MMA fanatic CM Punk will discuss his love for all things MMA and MMA's influence on pro wrestling. * MMA legend Bas Rutten will talk about his career and the latest news in MMA. * MMA Fighting's Mike Chiappetta will review UFN 25 and preview UFC 135. * Good friends Matt Mitrione and Sean McCorkle will return for another installment of "The Minute." * And Jake Ellenberger will discuss his big knockout win against Jake Shields at UFN 25. Of course, we'll be taking your calls. Give us a shout at: 212-254-0193, 212-254-0237 or 212-254-0714. *** You can also stream the show live on your iPhone or iPad by clicking here. Watch the show live below beginning at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT. Subscribe to The MMA Hour on iTunes: audio feed here; video feed here. Download previous episodes here. Listen to the show via Stitcher here. (Editor's note: Today's show is now over, but the video should be available Tuesday or Wednesday). Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, show, mma hour, hour

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