MMA-URLS

With an all-heavyweight main card, UFC 146: Dos Santos vs. Mir takes place this Saturday, May 26th, as a live pay-per-view event from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Vegas. Heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos meets Frank Mir in the main attraction, which is complemented by 4 other heavyweight match ups. 4 bouts will air on the FX Channel at 8:00 p.m. ET, where recent TUF winner Diego Brandao faces Darren Elkins, and 3 scraps are lined up on the UFC's Facebook page prior to the FX broadcast. Here's the entire cast of characters for the UFC 146 card: UFC 146 Live PPVJunior Dos Santos vs. Frank Mir (UFC Heavyweight Championship)Cain Velasquez vs. Antonio SilvaRoy Nelson vs. Dave HermanStipe Miocic vs. Shane Del RosarioStefan Struve vs. Lavar Johnson FX Channel PrelimsDiego Brandao vs. Darren ElkinsEdson Barboza vs. Jamie VarnerJason Miller vs. C.B. DollawayDan Hardy vs. Duane Ludwig Facebook Stream PrelimsJacob Volkmann vs. Paul SassKyle Kingsbury vs. Glover TeixeiraMike Brown vs. Daniel Pineda Jacob Volkmann (14-2) vs. Paul Sass (12-0) After incurring his first and only career losses in his opening UFC run as a welterweight, Jacob "Christmas" Volkmann has dropped to lightweight and notched 5-straight victories. Winning all by decision, his streak includes Ronys Torres (split), Paul Kelly (unanimous), Antonio McKee (split), Danny Castillo (unanimous) and Efrain Escudero (unanimous). The 3-time NCAA All-American wrestler from the University of Minnesota has incrementally adapted his background to better suit MMA's dynamic environment: he's been hunting for top-side submissions like Anacondas and D'arce' chokes, defending himself better from striking and submission attempts and improving his knowledge of grappling position. Paul "Sassangle" Sass has managed to uphold his undefeated record and ridiculous string of submission wins in the UFC, catching Mark Holst with a triangle and Michael Johnson with a heel hook, both in the 1st-round. Sass began his career with 7-straight submissions by triangle choke (6 in the 1st-round) and now has submitted 11 of his 12 opponents, with only Rob Sinclair surviving to a decision. Continued in the full entry. SBN coverage of UFC 146: Dos Santos vs. Mir Since neither are a force in stand-up striking, the Volkmann vs. Sass match up boils down to a "wrestler vs. submission grappler" contest. Both endeavor to bypass the Free-Movement Phase in order to impose their respective specialties on the mat, and Sass has consistently plied his trade quickly and effectively where as Volkmann is tasked with laboring away in top-position for 15 minutes. On paper, this sure seems like nothing short of a nightmare opponent for Volkmann. Succeeding with his wrestling only places him firmly in the maw of one of the most freakishly creative submission artists in MMA today. Sass' style is so obviously venomous that I wouldn't be surprised to see Volkmann keep the fight standing to rely on his granular advantage in striking. That line of thinking might sound bizarre to anyone who's witnessed Volkmann's wrestling-heavy strategy -- however, while the power of wrestling can negate many other proficiencies, there is no way to circumvent Sass' extensive arsenal of high-tech submissions. I'd consider both fighters as C-level strikers, but Volkmann has more pop in his boxing combinations and throws his punches a little tighter, giving him an estimated C+ grade versus a straight C or C- for Sass. Regardless, even though he might be better off sprawling-and-brawling than taking Sass down, I'm skeptical that Volkmann can execute that gameplan for 15 minutes. Sass has been creative in applying submissions and I envision him pulling guard or diving for a leg lock before chaining together his brilliant transitions until he forces the tapout. My Prediction: Paul Sass by submission. Kyle Kingsbury (11-3) vs. Glover Teixeira (17-2) After dropping a decision to Tom Lawler at the TUF 8 Finale, Kyle Kingsbury rattled off an impressive streak of 4 wins: Razak Al-Hassan, Jared Hamman, Ricardo Romero and Fabio Maldonado, defeating all by decision except for Romero, which was a 1st-round TKO. Kingsbury, a former football player at Arizona State University, has learned to capitalize on his massive frame (6'4"), athleticism and strength through a wicked Thai clinch, which has become his preferred realm of combat. Glover Teixeira has long been considered one of -- if not the -- best 205er outside of the UFC. He started his career in forgettable fashion by splitting his first 4 outings (one loss was to the UFC's Ed Herman) but has exploded with a 15-fight win streak since. Teixeira is unique in that he's a credentialed BJJ black belt who won the 2009 ADCC Brazilian trials and beat Dean Lister on points, yet he's clubbed the majority of his opponents with his malicious kickboxing (11 of 17 wins by TKO, 4 by submission). His most recent sequence includes voracious stoppages over former UFC fighters: Ricco Rodriguez (1st-round submission via strikes), Marvin Eastman (1st-round KO), Antonio Mendes (1st-round submission) and Marcio Cruz (2nd-round TKO). Kingsbury does have the chance to replicate his strategy against Fabio Maldonado, who has a style similar to Teixeira, by nullifying Teixeira's striking and grappling in the clinch. Kingsbury does a great job of transmitting his height and strength into massive leverage in the clinch, particularly because he grips the crown on the back of the head rather than the neck. Trying to fight or even function with your chin buried in your own chest and your upper-spine folded sharply forward can be incredibly limiting. Teixeira is not known for his wrestling and the height deficit (5'10" vs. 6'4") will fortify Kingsbury's clinch assault even more. However, it's challenging enough to force a striking or grappling match, but it takes a special kind of fighter (see: Randy Couture) to neutralize someone in the clinch for 15 minutes. I expect Teixeira to be well aware of and prepared for Kingsbury's intentions, concentrating on footwork to avoid being cornered and stinging Kingsbury with stiff punches when he closes distance. I've been thoroughly impressed with Kingsbury and feel he has the size, skill, drive and smarts to pull it off, but the odds should favor Teixeira's violence. My Prediction: Glover Teixeira by TKO. Mike Brown (25-8) vs. Daniel Pineda (17-7) Pineda has roared his way into the Octagon with back-to-back submission wins: a rear-naked choke on Pat Schilling in 1.5 minutes and a triangle-armbar combo on Mackens Semerzier in 2 minutes. The sequence extended Pineda's current win-streak to 7 and he's also kneebarred the UFC's Johnny Bedford in the past. The remarkable aspect of Pineda's record is that he's finished all 17 of his wins (11 TKOs and 6 submissions; 11 1st-round stoppages). Mike Brown is the former WEC featherweight champion and MMA veteran from American Top Team. Though his career has been a little streaky and inconsistent, Brown is a legit 3-dimensional fighter with heavy-handed boxing, strong wrestling and black-belt level submissions. His finishing rate includes 13 wins by submission with 5 TKOs and he's spent time fighting as a lightweight as well. Since he defeated Urijah Faber to become the featherweight champion, Brown has gone an uncharacteristic 3 of 7: his first pair of losses were TKOs to Jose Aldo and Manny Gamburyan, which were followed by back-to-back decision losses to Diego Nunes (split) and Rani Yahya (unanimous). At age 36 with over a decade of high-level competition, the years might be catching up to Brown. Normally, I'd pick him over Pineda in a heartbeat, who's wildly talented but unproven against A-list competition. Brown's high mileage and recent slump combined with Pineda's "who gives a f*ck" attitude and fearless aggression is cause for hesitation. A prime Mike Brown would be well equipped to unhinge Pineda: his sharp boxing is suited for Pineda's wild striking style, his explosive wrestling could keep him out of trouble standing and his submission game should be sturdy enough to ward off Pineda's attempts. The Mike Brown we've seen lately has been a step slower than usual. While I'm not entirely confident about it, I suppose Brown can eke out a win here if he can still fend off Yahya's submissions and avoid the KO power of Nunes. My Prediction: Mike Brown by decision. Poll Jacob Volkmann vs. Paul Sass Volkmann Sass   17 votes | Results

Posted in: ufc, submission, vs, sas, volkmann

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You probably heard about Australia's CFC 21 this past weekend because of that embarrassing performance from Bob Sapp, where he rolled over and tapped to strikes in 12 seconds. What you probably didn't know, is that there was a rare submission that was executed on that card. Somewhere, Eddie Bravo is smiling as Australian flyweight Shabe Kafo (6-2) landed one of his trademark moves during the second round of his bout against Kian Pham. Check out as Kafo finished the fight with 'The Twister': Related: Judo Chop Breakdown: How 'Korean Zombie' Chan Sung Jung Landed Eddie Bravo's Twister | Gracie Breakdown: Alan Belcher Almost Catches Rousimar Palhares With A Twister The submission was originally a wrestling move called the guillotine, which was then popularized by Eddie Bravo in JiuJitsu circles. A handful of people have landed the slick submission in MMA, with the first twister finish in the UFC coming from 'The Korean Zombie' Chan Sung Jung back in March of last year. HT: BE Reader DamnSevern

Posted in: submission, eddie, eddie bravo, twister, year ht

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With the majority of his mixed martial arts wins coming by way of submission, including back-to-back tap outs of Pat Schilling and Mackens Semerzier in his first two UFC bouts, Daniel Pineda could be mistaken for a lifelong jiu-jitsu practitioner, and not a guy who used to think “it was better just to punch somebody in the mouth and get them out of there quicker than trying to get somebody’s neck.”But by late-2009, a promising career had turned into something else for the native of Dallas, Texas. In 2008, he tried out for season nine of The Ultimate Fighter, assuming that his 6-2 record and finishing instincts would earn him a place on the reality series. That didn’t happen.“I had a good record, and I was like ‘if I didn’t make it with that, I’m never gonna make it,’” said Pineda. “So I stopped caring.”Not that he stopped fighting. He kept accepting bouts and kept showing up, but after upping his record to 8-2 in the immediate aftermath of the TUF tryouts, he lost four in a row, three by submission. At 8-6, he was now on the road to journeyman status, or even worse, ‘opponent’ status.“I knew I had to do something because I was getting tapped out,” he said. “I was a wrestler and all I did was take people down and pound them, and I knew in my mind that I had to work on my ground and do some standup. So I started standing up, I did the ground game, and I just picked up on everything. Then once I started getting submissions, I was like ‘oh man, this is pretty cool.’” Crediting his family, his brother (and Strikeforce vet) Jose Santibanez and standup coach Bob Perez for getting him motivated again and keeping him in the sport, Pineda turned a corner. He went on a streak where he won seven of eight, all via KO or submission, and in January, he got the call to compete in the UFC’s featherweight division. First up was unbeaten prospect Schilling, and if Pineda was nervous in his 97 second submission win in Nashville on January 20th, he didn’t show it.“Knowing that I was there where I wanted to be, it took my nerves away,” he said. “When I fight in Houston (his current hometown), I always get nervous because I didn’t want to let anyone down. But in Nashville, I didn’t know anybody.” But the world watching knew him after the impressive debut, and March, the BJJ purple belt made it two in a row in the Octagon, as he finished Semerzier with a triangle armbar in just over two minutes. Now that failed tryout in Chicago is just a memory.“I made it to the interview but never got called back, and that put me down a lot,” said Pineda, 17-7, of TUF 9. “So when I made it to the UFC and made those two statements, I feel like I’m telling you ‘yeah, I could have made it.’”One memory that hasn’t faded is his previous losing streak. In fact, that may just be what’s pushing the 26-year old to new heights as he awaits his UFC 146 assignment against former WEC featherweight champ Mike Brown this Saturday.“I think about that a lot. It’s still in the back of my head and it’s not gonna go away. I don’t like losing and that’s one thing nobody wants to do.”It’s been over two years since he saw someone else’s hand raised in a fight, and now, there’s no talk of losing from Daniel Pineda, only of winning and getting in position to become a featherweight contender, then a title challenger, and finally, a champion. “I think if I beat Mike Brown come UFC 146, I think I should be (a contender),” he said. “But first we have to beat Mike Brown, and then we can see. But that is my goal, and it’s everybody’s goal – to get the belt. That’s what I want.”

Posted in: ufc, submission, ’t, i ’m, pineda

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submitted by illskillz [link] [3 comments]

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

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  Bellator 69 resultsLake Charles, LAMaiquel Falcao def. Andreas Spang via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)Karl Amoussou def. David Rickels via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)Jessica Aguilar def. Megumi Fujii via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)Mark Holata def. Abe Wagner via submission Achilles lock 2:24 R1Emanuel Brooks def. Kalvin Hackney via unanimous decisionJosh Quayhagen def. Cliff Wright via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)Shanon Slack def. Booker Arthur via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)Andrey Koreshkov def. Derrick Krantz via TKO (strikes) 0:51 R3Richard Hale def. Josh Burns via submission punches 0:38 R1All tournament rankings are done by ULTMMA.com prior to the opening round of the Bellator eight man bracket. These rankings are unofficial. Former MMA prospects ranked and graded by ULTMMA.com who are making their Bellator tournament debuts include: Mike Corey, Ricardo Tirloni, Karl Amoussou, Raul Amaya and Bruno Santos.Bantamweight spring 2012 tourneyApril 6, Ontario, CanadaTravis Marx (#6) def. Masakatsu Ueda (#1) by unanimous decisionHiroshi Nakamura (#8) def. Rodigo Lima (#5) by unanimous decisionApril 13, Atlantic City, New JerseyMarcos Galvao (#3) def. Ed West (#4) by unanimous decisionLuis Nogueira (#7) def. Alexis Vila (#2) by unanimous decisionMay 11, Atlantic City, New JerseyMarcos Galvao (#3) def. Travis Marx (#6) by unanimous decisionMay 25, New Orleans, Louisiana Luis Nogueira (#7) vs. Hiroshi Nakamura (#8)Featherweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 9, Hammond, IndianaMarlon Sandro (#1) def. Roberto Vargas (#6) by Submission RNC R1Mike Corey (#7) def. Ronnie Mann (#2) by Unanimous DecisionAlexandre Bezerra (#3) def. Kenny Foster (#8) by Submission RNC R2Daniel Straus (#4) def. Jeremy Spoon (#5) by Unanimous DecisionApril 6, Ontario, CanadaMarlon Sandro (#1) def. Alexandre Bezerra (#3) by Split decisionApril 13, Atlantic City, New JerseyDaniel Straus (#4) def. Mike Corey (#7) by Unanimous DecisionMay 11, Atlantic City, New JerseyDaniel Straus (#4) def. Marlon Sandro (#1) by Unanimous DecisionLightweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 23, Laredo, TexasLloyd Woodard (#4) def. Patricky Freire (#1) by Submission Kimura R1Rick Hawn (#2) def. Ricardo Tirloni (#3) by TKO R1Brent Weedman (#8) def. J.J. Ambrose (#6) by Submission Von Flue Choke R2Thiago Michel (#5) def. Rene Nazare (#7) by Split DecisionApril 20, Cleveland, OhioRick Hawn (#2) def. Lloyd Woodard (#4) by KO R2Brent Weedman (#8) def. Thiago Michel (#5) by split decisionTBDRick Hawn (#2) vs. Brent Weedman (#8)Welterweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 30, Uncasville, ConnecticutKarl Amoussou (#3) def. Chris Lozano (#4) by Unanimous DecisionBen Saunders (#1) def. Raul Amaya (#5) by Submission Rear Naked Choke R1David Rickels (#8) def. Jordan Smith (#6) by KO R1Bryan Baker (#2) def. Carlos Pereira (#7) by Split DecisionMay 4, Ontario, CanadaBryan Baker (#2) def. Ben Saunders (#1) by Unanimous DecisionMay 18, Lake Charles, LouisianaKarl Amoussou (#3) def. David Rickels (#8) by Split Decision TBDBryan Baker (#2) vs. Karl Amoussou (#3) Middleweight spring 2012 tourney-* Andreas Spang replaced injured Bruno Santos in semifinalsMarch 16, Bossier City, LouisianaMaiquel Falcao (#2) def. Norman Paraisy (#7) by Unanimous DecisionBrian Rogers (#6) def. Vitor Vianna (#1) by KO R1Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (#3) def. Victor O'Donnell (#8) by Unanimous DecisionBruno Santos (#4) def. Giva Santana (#5) by Unanimous DecisionApril 20, Cleveland, OhioMaiquel Falcao (#2) def. Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (#3) by unanimous decision*Andreas Spang (#8) def. Brian Rogers (#6) by KO R2May 18, Lake Charles, LouisianaMaiquel Falcao (#2) def. *Andreas Spang (#8) by unanimous decisionBellator 68 results

Posted in: decision, submission, city, falcao, split

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The long awaited finale for the Heavyweight Grand Prix is upon us, as Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier takes place this Saturday night from the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California. Catch-wrestling connoisseur Josh Barnett meets Olympic wrestler Daniel Cormier in the headliner of the 4-piece main card and the 5 preliminary matches listed below will air on Showtime Extreme. Gesias "JZ" Cavalcante vs. Isaac Vallie-FlaggJames Terry vs. Bobby GreenVirgil Zwicker vs. Guto InocenteGian Villante vs. Derrick MehmenQuinn Mulhern vs. Yuri Villefort Gesias "JZ" Cavalcante vs. Isaac Vallie-Flagg Once expected to become an undisputed force in the stateside lightweight class, "JZ" Cavalcante (16-4) has hit a rough stretch of road after setting the overseas market afire. The Brazilian drew attention right out of the gate with a commendable 8 wins throughout a 9-fight stretch. The sequence included a submission (1st-round guillotine choke) of Bart Palaszewski and becoming only 1 of 2 fighters to stop the venerable Michihiro Omigawa with strikes (1st-round TKO). The sole defeat was in his 3rd pro-fight; a competitive decision to Joachim Hansen, who had just lost the Shooto welterweight (154-pounds) title to Vitor Ribeiro by submission. The surge earned Cavalcante a spot on the K-1 Hero's roster and his dominance continued, only with more intensity and against higher-caliber opposition. JZ devoured a who's-who of the Japanese lightweight scene, finishing 6 of his next 7 foes in the 1st round -- and did so with supreme violence. Hiroyuki Takaya, Nam Phan and the aforementioned Ribeiro were all vanquished by TKO while Rani Yahya -- the WEC/UFC fighter and former ADCC World Champion -- and Chute Boxe rep Andre Amado were dealt submission losses. Savvy veteran Caol Uno was the only to survive to a decision. Cavalcante is a dually (2006 and 2007) crowned champion of the K-1 Hero's Middleweight (154-pounds) Grand Prix and amplified his hype even more with a game decision loss to Masato in a straight kickboxing match. He transferred to the Dream organization in 2008 and things went downhill from there. Continued in the full entry. SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier In his last 7 turns, Cavalcante has won a measly 2 (split-decisions over Katsunori Kikuno and Bobby Green) with 3 defeats (Shinya Aoki, Tatsuya Kawajiri and Josh Thomson; all by decision) and 2 No Contests (vs. Aoki for illegal elbows and Justin Wilcox for an inadvertent eye poke). Many things are worth noting from this stretch: JZ was plagued with a number of injuries that hindered him from 2008-2010, the lightweights he lost to undoubtedly represent the most elite competition outside of the UFC and many thought he deserved the nod against Thomson -- which was one of the most controversial decisions of 2010. Isaac Vallie-Flagg (12-3) is a Greg Jackson welterweight now dropping to lightweight for the first time. Starting his MMA career in pedestrian fashion in 2003, Vallie-Flagg split results in his first 6 turns (all losses were via submission) but has gone undefeated in his last 10 with 9 wins and a draw. He's earned 5 wins via TKO and 3 by submission, holds a purple belt in BJJ and could be a handful at 155. Despite his momentum and size advantage, this will be an astronomical leap in competition for Vallie-Flagg. He crept by brawler Brian Melancon by split decision in his last outing and was nearly choked out in the opening moments. Cavalcante has a stiff set of hands, wicked knees (especially of the flying variety), a strong clinch with good wrestling and an elaborate, black-belt-level ground game. He might not be the terror he once was, but he's still competitive with top-tier lightweights and should have his way with Vallie-Flagg, standing or on the mat. My Prediction: JZ Cavalcante by submission. James Terry (11-4) vs. Bobby "King" Green (17-5) James Terry is a student of Cung Le who started wrestling at age five and went on to wrestle for Arizona State University. However, he can chain a variety of kickboxing techniques together so fluently that you'd never guess his background is in wrestling. Terry started as welterweight and won 7 of his first 8 matches to get a shot at Tarec Saffiediene in Strikeforce. In the 6 outings since, Terry has dropped to lightweight and won 4, though he's dropped 2 of his last 3 to stiff competition in Caros Fodor and main-card participant Nah-Shon Burrell. You might recognize the name Bobby Green from a few different places: he's the reigning King of the Cage lightweight champion, he appeared on MTV's Bully Beatdown and petrified his inexperienced "opponent" into quitting in between rounds and he unleashed a confusing but vicious animosity toward Dan Lauzon's groin on the Affliction: Day of Reckoning card. (Green had two-points deducted and lost by 1st-round submission.) Green is a quick and athletic fighter with 8 wins by sub and 7 TKOs. Since the Lauzon fight, Green has won 9 of 12 with losses to legit, A-level competition in "JZ" Cavalcante and the UFC's Tim Means and David Mitchell. This match up is extremely close on paper and a virtual toss-up. Terry has displayed huge potential with his effective combination of footwork, kickboxing and wrestling, and Green has a similar arsenal and physical stature. Both fighters typically draw from their agility, strength, striking and/or wrestling to pinpoint their opponent's weakness and have been difficult to put away. I can see this one going in either direction but will take the polished kickboxing and pedigreed wrestling of Terry in what could be a great scrap. My Prediction: James Terry by decision. Virgil Zwicker (10-2) vs. Guto Inocente (5-0) Virgil "Rezdog" Zwicker is a Team Quest fighter of Native American descent and a former heavyweight making the drop to 205-pounds for the first time. He was undefeated throughout his first 8 fights, which ended with an impressive TKO over Ovince St. Preux, but has dropped 2 of his last 4, the most recent being a 1st-round knockout loss to Lavar Johnson. Zwicker was always a smaller heavyweight (222-pounds) who relied on quickness and heavy-handed boxing (7 TKO wins, 2 subs), so it will be interesting to see how his size and speed translates to 205. Carlos Augusto Filho, aka "Guto Inocente," is an undefeated member of the newly formed Blackzilians team with a nice medley of striking and BJJ. Though only 5-fights deep and lacking big-name wins, Inocente is a solid prospect who's long overdue for his stateside debut: he signed with Strikeforce many moons ago (July of 2011) and also turned down a 4-fight deal from the UFC. Zwicker is a tough cat and will be Inocente's biggest test, but I don't think the drop in weight will help much against the Brazilian, who is a good-sized light-heavy himself (6'3") and a young (25-years-old) up and comer. My Prediction: Guto Inocente by submission. Gian Villante (9-3) vs. Derrick Mehmen (12-4) Villante was a standout wrestler and football player at Hofstra University with hopes for a career in the NFL. He's the current Ring of Combat heavyweight champion and even after 4 appearances in Strikeforce, though both losses were to reputable opposition in Chad Griggs (in the Heavyweight Grand Prix reserve bout) and Lorenz Larkin (back at his intended weight of 205-pounds). Villante is a physical specimen and a banger with 6 TKOs and 2 subs. "Caveman" Mehmen has also fallen to respectable names in former UFCers Rodney Wallace (decision), David Branch (rear-naked choke) and Mike Ciesnolevic (guillotine choke). Mehmen trains at ATT and is a heavy-handed clubber as well, lacking big-name wins but finishing 9 of 12 by TKO with 2 catches. Anything could happen with these sluggers. 2 of Villante's 3 losses are by TKO and Mehmen is a beefy 6'4" who will come out swinging. His hands are pretty quick for being such a hulking 205er, but Villante is a little more polished with his boxing and should be able to out-finesse the "Caveman" if he keeps his chin protected. My Prediction: Gian Villante by decision. Quinn Mulhern (17-2) vs. Yuri Villefort (6-0) 2010 Bloody Elbow Scouting Report nominees collide here, as former King of the Cage welterweight champ Quinn Mulhern, the #8 prospect, meets the #1 prospect in Yuri Villefort. Bloody Elbow Scouting Report #1 Welterweight Prospect: Yuri Villefort Bloody Elbow Scouting Report #8 Welterweight Prospect: Quinn Mulhern Mulhern is a gangly (6'3") BJJ specialist with submissions accounting for 11 of his 17 wins with 3 TKOs. His only defeats are to UFC-level fighters in Mike Guymon (submission via strikes) and Jason High (decision). Yuri trains with the Blackzilians and is one-time UFCer Danillo Villefort's brother. He's an intriguing concoction of Judo, BJJ and Muay Thai, and just a mean S.O.B. overall. He's finished 5 of his 6 wins with 3 TKOs and 2 submissions. Mulhern will have an edge in experience -- both in volume and value of competition -- and is fluid on the mat. I see him struggling to match the physical strength and aggressive Thai onslaught of Villefort, who should have the grappling savvy to avoid entanglements on the mat. My Prediction: Yuri Villefort by TKO. Poll Cavalcante vs. Vallie-Flagg, Terry vs. Green Cavalcante and Terry Cavalcante and Green Vallie-Flagg and Terry Vallie-Flagg and Green   0 votes | Results

Posted in: tko, submission, vs, terry, cavalcante

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All is fair in love, war and fight promoting. The second weekend of May was earmarked by the World Fighting Federation for their "big city" debut. 100 miles south of Phoenix, the WFF has cornered MMA market in Tucson since their debut in 2010. About a month before the WFF's scheduled May 12th event, Phoenix based Rage in the Cage casually announced an event for the month of May. The date for RITC 159 would be Friday May 11th.With six months to prep for their Metro Phoenix debut the WFF carefully selected the venue and slow played the matchmaking of the card. The result of WFF's effort was a main event featuring WEC vet Edgar Garcia and a co-main event that booked an underrated member of the famed Power MMA fight team in Brandon Tierney. The art of counter programing a potential competitor is as old as the fight game itself. In 15 plus years of promoting fights in Arizona, Rage in the Cage rarely if ever had a competitor that snuck around for multiple events. With seven events under their belt in Tucson the WFF was far from an overnight sensation. So how did RITC book their 159th numbered event? The Arizona MMA staple went back to the well one more time with a main event that featured Joe Riggs versus Aaron Brink. Riggs alone had already competed in over 15 RITC fight cards. When the weekend was over reports and reviews for each event were mixed. The undercard on RITC 159 was scheduled with many amateur fighters making their in cage debuts. WFF elected for an outdoor venue at the Salt River Baseball Field and temperatures around fight time remained near 100 degrees. Attendance for both events was widely viewed as low and without a doubt each Grand Canyon state promotion cannibalized the other's ticket sales. In theory competition should breed a better end product for both Arizona fans as well as local fighters. The million dollar question is which AZ promotion will take charge and distant themselves from the other contenders. Will signing UFC quality fighters for local events get more fans through the turnstiles? Improved production values? A bigger marketing push? With one round of the Arizona promotional battle in the books the final score looks to be a push or a draw. The behind the scenes Arizona MMA drama will write another chapter in June when the Coalition of Combat, the WFF and RITC all plan to hold events. Rage in the Cage 159 resultsChandler, AZJoe Riggs def. Aaron Brink by Submission Armbar 1:18 R2Bryan Pardoe def. Julian Hamilton by Submission Rear Naked Choke 0:56 R1 Dusty Ramirez def. Miles Dehart by Unanimous Decision Mike Poe def. Travis Wallace by Submission Knee Bar 1:18 R1 Drakkar Klose def. Jeff Thornton by TKO (Punches) 2:39 R1 Randy McCarty def. Jarnell Miranda by Submission Armbar 0:43 R1 David Nuzzo def. Johnie Camara by KO 2:18 R1 World Fighting Federation 8 resultsScottsdale, AZBrendan Tierney def. Billy Colon by TKO (Punches) 1:31 R1Benny Madrid def. Joe Torrez by Submission Guillotine Choke 0:58 R1Adam Padilla def. Paul O'Keefe by Submission Choke 3:22 R1Jeff Fletcher def. Frankie Saenz by DQ 4:12 R1Joe Cronin def. Roe Harris by Split Decision Matt Betzold def. Rudy Kennedy by Submission Rear Naked Choke 1:53 R1Thomas Soto def. Joey Miolla by Submission Armbar 3:35 R1

Posted in: fight, submission, event, cage, wff

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UFC on Fuel 3 resultsFairfax, VAChan Sung Jung def. Dustin Poirier via technical submission D'arce choke 1:07 R4Amir Sadollah def. Jorge Lopez via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)Donald Cerrone def. Jeremy Stephens via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)Yves Jabouin def. Jeff Hougland via unanimous decision via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-27)Igor Pokrajac def. Fabio Maldonado via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)Tom Lawlor def. Jason MacDonald via knockout (punches) 0:50 R1Brad Tavares def. Dongi Yang via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)Cody McKenzie def. Marcus LeVesseur via submission guillotine choke 3:05 R1T.J. Grant def. Carlo Prater via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)Rafael Dos Anjos def. Kamal Shalorus via submission rear naked choke 1:40 R1Johnny Eduardo def. Jeff Curran via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)Francisco Rivera def. Alex Soto via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)Of the night bonuses 40KFight: Chan Sung Jung vs. Dustin PoirierKO: Tom LawlorSubmission: Chan Sung Jung Attendance: 4,592Gate: $343,175

Posted in: decision, submission, jung, jeff curran, submission darce

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14 year MMA pro Din Thomas (26-8) refused to pass the torch in the main event of Pure MMA 2. 21 year old prospect Cody Bollinger (12-3) was pitted opposite Thomas for the Pennsylvania's promotion's second card. The fight for Thomas was his in over two years and comes after a car crash in October scrapped the 35 year old's last bout. After avoiding Thomas' initial strike attempts Bollinger scored points with an aggressive takedown. Off his back Thomas threw up submission holds that halted Bollinger's efforts at offense from the top. Bollinger, a product of Joe Stevenson's Cobra Kai gym, battled out of Thomas' first armbar attempt but had more trouble with the second arm bending maneuver. Thomas locked onto Bollinger's arm just past the two minute mark and did not let go. The four star featherweight prospect was forced to tap out at the 2:09 mark of round one. Thomas has now won his last four fights via stoppage or submission. The loss for Bollinger snaps a four fight winning streak. Bollinger last loss came at the hands of lightweight prospect Magno Almeida (9-3) by first round armbar in July 2010. A lanky 5'10 featherweight, Bollinger viewed the fight with Thomas as the final step prior to a eventual UFC contract. Bollinger is roughly one to two wins away from a big league call-up and the California fighter remains a four star prospect at 145 pounds. In the latest ULTMMA.com prospect rankings Bollinger hits the number 10 spot in the unsigned featherweight division. Pure MMA 2 Next Episode resultsWilkes-Barre, PADin Thomas def. *Cody Bollinger by submission armbar 2:09 R1Waylon Lowe def. Mike Diggs by TKO (strikes) 3:13 R2Pete Martin def. Michael Byrnes by unanimous decision*Rustam Khabilov def. Jason Dent by unanimous decisionWilliam Miller def. Andrew Osborne by submission guillotine choke R1Lazaro Gonzalez def. Craig Moyer by submission guillotine choke 0:19 R1Eddie Ramos def. James Watts by submission guillotine choke 1:51 R1Brett Martinez def. Kenneth Nagle by submission rear naked choke 1:54 R1*Prospect to watch

Posted in: submission, prospect, submission guillotine, thoma, bollinger

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In the main attraction of tonight's UFC on Fuel TV 3 event, a pair of the most entertaining and offensive-minded featherweights will tear into each other with a future title shot at stake. Chan Sung Jung vs. Dustin Poirier are both electrifying fan-favorites with a well-earned reputation for exciting finishes. There are quite a few similarities between "The Korean Zombie" (12-3) and Dustin "The Diamond" Poirier (12-1). Of their 12 career wins, they've finished 10 with just 2 decision wins: Jung boasts 7 submissions and 3 TKOs while Poirier is split evenly between TKOs and subs with 5 apiece. They both have an explosive, dual-pronged attack of vicious striking and clever submission grappling with nearly identical physical proportions at a lean 5'9" tall with incredible reach length (73" for Poirier, 72" for Jung). More UFC on Fuel TV 3 Dissections Sadollah vs. Lopez | Cerrone vs. Stephens | Lawlor vs. MacDonald Maldonado vs. Pokrajac | Jabouin vs. Hougland | Facebook Undercard Many fighters could be categorized as "vicious strikers" yet very few discharge every combination like an earth-splitting cannonade or the thunderous grand finale of a fireworks show. When Jung and Poirier unreel their hands, it's a blinding salvo of skull-splitting punches, all of which are clearly designed for mass destruction. Though Jung has 3 losses, the decisions defeats to Leonard Garcia and Masanori Kanehara are widely considered to be so controversial that the overused "R-word" -- robbery -- is almost befitting. Poirier was manhandled by Team Alpha Male bully Danny Castillo in a WEC lightweight match, which propagated Poirier's drop to featherweight and subsequent domination. Jung's vicious knockout loss to George Roop is a significant and pronounced finish with no parallels to Poirier, however, I don't think it's a stretch to say that Jung's past opposition (Garcia x2, Roop and Hominick, Kanehara and Michihiro Omigawa) is clearly a level above that of Poirier's (Zachary Micklewright, Josh Grispi, Jason Young, Pablo Garza, Max Holloway). Continued in the full entry. SBN coverage of UFC on FUEL TV 3 Clinch Phase Jung doesn't hang around in tie-ups too often. He's quite adequate in the clinch with knees and dirty boxing, but generally prefers to disengage and uncork a whirlwind of leather. We've seen Poirier more often and more active in the clinch, though it was against opponents who were at a disadvantage on the mat. Jung will be more than game to tangle in a grappling match, so I'm not sure if this aspect will be crucial, as both are most comfortable chucking punches in open space or fully engaged in a grappling match. Regardless, Poirier has been more inclined to clinch and effective in the position. Advantage: Poirier (slight) Grappling Phase Their differences in past competition make this a subjective category. Obviously, they're both wildly talented in submission grappling. Poirier might have a small edge in wrestling and takedowns, but Jung has been much more of a force with his submission acumen, both in and before the UFC, and has enforced his submission wizardry more often, more effectively and against a higher level of opposition. No offense to Max Holloway, who only had 4 pro-fights and was making his UFC debut, or Pablo Garza, who is equally talented and inconsistent. Jung was a terror on the mat before his appearance in the Sengoku tournament, has been the same in the few grappling instances we've seen of him in the WEC-UFC and has the superior submission rate to prove it. Advantage: Jung Striking Phase Well, this is what it all seems to come down to, doesn't it? Jung is known for hurling wide loopers and the unrefined "Zombie style" that Roop capitalized on. Poirier fires off very tight sequences of lefts and rights and keeps his elbows tight to his ribs. He typically waits for the ideal time and position before squeezing off anywhere from 2 to 20 blistering punches while wading straight forward. He's not much of an angle-guy but his furious stream of punches and high-pressure mentality have been enough to keep opponents quite occupied. Jung has made a distinct change to his unpolished brawling and his performance against Hominick is the perfect example. The understandable specs on that match up were that Hominick's technical precision would carve through Jung, yet it was Hominick who was dusted by the more accurate and technical fundamentals. While miniscule details like Poirier's reach and Jung's past opposition may be minor influences, it's too hard not to call this dead even. Poirier would appear to have better defense, particularly with head movement, yet the best striker he's encountered is Young, who is extremely technical but light on TKOs (3 total). Jung has a much wider and more unpredictable arsenal, such as his spinning back-fists and leaping knees, but Poirier's no-frills boxing is highly effective. Advantage: even I don't see any distinct and indisputable cases for either fighter. There are arguments for Poirier's striking because of Jung's loss to Roop, yet Poirier isn't what I'd call a power-puncher; there are arguments for Jung having the superior ground game, but he rarely looks to exploit it and is quite content to trade haymakers. I think the way Jung has tightened up his striking and his under-rated submission wizardry will pull him through. My Prediction: Chan Sung Jung by submission. Poll Chan Sung Jung vs. Dustin Poirier Jung Poireir   41 votes | Results

Posted in: ufc, submission, vs, jung, poirier

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Canadian Jason MacDonald meets "Filthy" Tom Lawlor in a middleweight bout to launch Tuesday's UFC on Fuel TV 3 event. The Fuel TV broadcast will deliver a half-dozen match ups beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET with Chan Sung Jung vs. Dustin Poirier forming the headliner. For Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners in MMA, black belts are more common nowadays and belt color doesn't translate to the cage as accurately as it used to. Jason "The Athlete" MacDonald (25-15), however, is a verifiable black belt in the gi or in the cage. 19 of his 25 wins are by submission and he's tapped out reputable opposition like Chris Leben, Ed Herman (a pair of wins that earned him the short-lived nickname "The TUF Killer") and Joe Doerksen. Though he was defeated, MacDonald cemented his grappling prowess when he fearlessly engaged BJJ phenom Demian Maia on the ground at a time when that was considered sheer suicide, and MacDonald held his own quite impressively. After closing out his first 11-fight stint (5-6 overall) with consecutive losses in triplicate, MacDonald notched 3-straight outside the Octagon to earn another chance. Thus far, he's dropped 2 of 3 with losses to Alan Belcher and John Salter (in which MacDonald broke his leg pursuing a takedown) with a submission win over Ryan Jensen in between. More UFC on Fuel TV 3 Dissections Maldonado vs. Pokrajac | Facebook Undercard Tom Lawlor (7-4) has gained just as much notoriety for his goofball persona and creative cage entrances as he has for his fighting prowess. That's not to say the scrappy wrestler and former light-heavyweight is absent skill, which is simply not the case. He first emerged on TUF 8 but was TKOd by eventual winner and current top 205er Ryan Bader in his first match. Despite scoring a decision win over fellow cast member Kyle Kingsbury at the TUF 8 Finale, Lawlor dropped down to middleweight and started strong with authenticating performances over a pair of D1 All-American wrestlers in C.B. Dollaway (1st-round submission win) and veteran Aaron Simpson (contentious split-decision loss). Lawlor's momentum took a hit after he dropped 2 of his last 3, succumbing to submissions from Joe Doerksen and Chris Weidman but defeating Patrick Cote by decision. Continued in the full entry. SBN coverage of UFC on FUEL TV 3 The fight styles of Lawlor and MacDonald represent a certain degree of Kryptonite to each other: Half of Lawlor's losses were dealt by submission purists and MacDonald has historically struggled with heavy-handed top players. The key aspect of this match up might be outside of their respective grappling backgrounds. Lawlor has become a competent boxer with tight combinations and heavy hands where as MacDonald's striking is nothing to write home about. Lawlor excels at maintaining his balance and not over-committing on his punches; a trait that does not always come easy to wrestling-based fighters. Lawlor has a nice uppercut and he's used it effectively against opponents who aspire to take him down. He's clever in attacking the neck with a variety of chokes from the front headlock position as well, such as the guillotine and D'arce chokes, though MacDonald should be too savvy for those -- unless he penetrates too deep with his neck on takedown attempts. Though Lawlor has the better striking technique, MacDonald's extremely long (80" reach) and tall frame (6'2") will present some challenges for Lawlor (6'0" tall, 74" reach) on the feet. Additionally, despite lacking the wrestling credentials of Lawlor's past competition, MacDonald is ultra-crafty in forcing a ground battle. He'll shoot takedowns from outside or after he's initiated a clinch tie-up, then sneak a hook in when his opponent sprawls and either pull guard or just latch on standing. I expect Lawlor to use his wrestling in reverse and make MacDonald come to him, then pepper with short and controlled bursts while using evasive footwork or defensive clinch-work. Another option for Lawlor is to unload leather from the top cautiously and disengage quickly, but that only puts him closer to the danger of MacDonald's potent submission game. A catch by MacDonald is far from unlikely but I think Lawlor is smart enough to avoid grappling engagements at all costs. At age 36, time is not on MacDonald's side either and the 29-year-old Lawlor still has room to improve. My Prediction: Tom Lawlor by TKO. Poll Jason MacDonald vs. Tom Lawlor MacDonald Lawlor   6 votes | Results

Posted in: submission, tv, macdonald, lawlor, fuel

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Tachi Palace 13 Unfinished Business resultsLemoore, CAJoe Soto def. Chad George by submission rear naked choke 2:01 R2Ian Loveland def. Alexander Crispim by KO (Knee) 4:23 R1Tony Llamas def. Poppies Martinez by submission guillotine choke 1:00 R1Art Arciniega def. Sergio Cortez by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)*Darrell Montague def. Taylor McCorriston by TKO (Strikes) 2:46 R1*Chidi Njokuani def. John Reedy by TKO (Strikes) 0:55 R1Andrew Valladerez def. Martin Sandoval by submission guillotine choke 1:52 R3Paul Ruiz def. Ruben Trujillo by TKO (Strikes) 1:13 R1*Prospect to watch  Watch 24 year old Darrell Montague (11-2) in action after the jump  

Posted in: submission, strike, submission guillotine, alexander crispim, darrell

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Bellator 68 results Atlantic City, NJDaniel Straus def. Marlon Sandro via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)Marcos Galvao def. Travis Marx via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)Marcin Held def. Derrick Kennington via submission heel hook 2:08 R1Marius Zaromskis def. Waachiim Spiritwolf via TKO (doctor's stoppage due to cut) 5:00 R2Don Carlo-Clauss def. Jacob Kirwan via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)Aung La Nsang def. Jesus Martinez via TKO (punches) 0:36 R1Anthony Leone def. Claudio Ledesma via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)Francois Ambang def. Gregory Milliard via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)All tournament rankings are done by ULTMMA.com prior to the opening round of the Bellator eight man bracket. These rankings are unofficial. Former MMA prospects ranked and graded by ULTMMA.com who are making their Bellator tournament debuts include: Mike Corey, Ricardo Tirloni, Karl Amoussou, Raul Amaya and Bruno Santos.Bantamweight spring 2012 tourneyApril 6, Ontario, CanadaTravis Marx (#6) def. Masakatsu Ueda (#1) by unanimous decisionHiroshi Nakamura (#8) def. Rodigo Lima (#5) by unanimous decisionApril 13, Atlantic City, New JerseyMarcos Galvao (#3) def. Ed West (#4) by unanimous decisionLuis Nogueira (#7) def. Alexis Vila (#2) by unanimous decisionMay 11, Atlantic City, New Jersey Marcos Galvao (#3) def. Travis Marx (#6) by unanimous decisionFeatherweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 9, Hammond, IndianaMarlon Sandro (#1) def. Roberto Vargas (#6) by Submission RNC R1Mike Corey (#7) def. Ronnie Mann (#2) by Unanimous DecisionAlexandre Bezerra (#3) def. Kenny Foster (#8) by Submission RNC R2Daniel Straus (#4) def. Jeremy Spoon (#5) by Unanimous DecisionApril 6, Ontario, CanadaMarlon Sandro (#1) def. Alexandre Bezerra (#3) by split decisionApril 13, Atlantic City, New JerseyDaniel Straus (#4) def. Mike Corey (#7) by Unanimous DecisionMay 11, Atlantic City, New Jersey Daniel Straus (#4) def. Marlon Sandro (#1) by Unanimous DecisionLightweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 23, Laredo, TexasLloyd Woodard (#4) def. Patricky Freire (#1) by Submission Kimura R1Rick Hawn (#2) def. Ricardo Tirloni (#3) by TKO R1Brent Weedman (#8) def. J.J. Ambrose (#6) by Submission Von Flue Choke R2Thiago Michel (#5) def. Rene Nazare (#7) by Split DecisionApril 20, Cleveland, OhioRick Hawn (#2) def. Lloyd Woodard (#4) by KO R2Brent Weedman (#8) def. Thiago Michel (#5) by split decisionTBDRick Hawn (#2) vs. Brent Weedman (#8)Welterweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 30, Uncasville, ConnecticutKarl Amoussou (#3) def. Chris Lozano (#4) by Unanimous DecisionBen Saunders (#1) def. Raul Amaya (#5) by Submission Rear Naked Choke R1David Rickels (#8) def. Jordan Smith (#6) by KO R1Bryan Baker (#2) def. Carlos Pereira (#7) by Split DecisionMay 4, Ontario, CanadaBryan Baker (#2) def. Ben Saunders (#1) by Unanimous DecisionMay 18, Lake Charles, Louisiana Karl Amoussou (#3) vs. David Rickels (#8)Middleweight spring 2012 tourney-* Andreas Spang replaced injured Bruno Santos in semifinalsMarch 16, Bossier City, LouisianaMaiquel Falcao (#2) def. Norman Paraisy (#7) by Unanimous DecisionBrian Rogers (#6) def. Vitor Vianna (#1) by KO R1Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (#3) def. Victor O'Donnell (#8) by Unanimous DecisionBruno Santos (#4) def. Giva Santana (#5) by Unanimous DecisionApril 20, Cleveland, OhioMaiquel Falcao (#2) def. Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (#3) by unanimous decision*Andreas Spang (#8) def. Brian Rogers (#6) by KO R2May 18, Lake Charles, Louisiana Maiquel Falcao (#2) vs. *Andreas Spang (#8)Bellator 67 results

Posted in: submission, city, split, spring, decisionapril

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While preparing for his UFC fight vs. Tom Lawlor next week, it was nice to hear some flattering words from one of his bosses.

Posted in: week, submission, athlete, word, athletes submissions

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 -Nate Diaz is now 11-5 in the UFC. Diaz began his UFC career with a five fight winning streak -Diaz has four submission wins by triangle choke, two by armbar, one by keylock, one by injury and now four by guillotine choke -Diaz has won UFC fight of or submission of the night bonuses in four of his last six fights-Diaz has 12 submission wins in his pro MMA career-Diaz is 9-3 as a UFC lightweight-The submission loss to Diaz was the first time Jim Miller had been stopped in 25 career pro MMA fights and two amateur bouts.-After a seven fight winning streak Miller is 1-2 in last three bouts-Miller is 10-3 in the UFC-Per FightMetric Diaz blew out Miller in total strikes with a final tally of 97-27 in the nine minute bout-Johny Hendricks has won via spilt decision in two of his last three fights-Hendricks is in the midst of a four fight winning streak-Five of Hendricks' nine UFC fights have gone to decision- Josh Koscheck has now lost six times as a MMA pro; four have come via decision-Koscheck is 3-2 in his last five fights-After a run of 21 fights with no split decision wins or losses, Koscheck has rendered a judge's split decision in his last two bouts-The Hendricks-Koscheck match up was the first time two former NCAA Division I wrestling champions competed against each other in the UFC-Per FightMetric Hendricks out struck Koscheck 82-57 in total strikes- FightMetric Effectiveness Score gave the fight 259-180 in favor of Hendricks -Betting underdogs won six fights they competed in. The biggest dog to payout was flyweight Louis Gaudinot at +250.-The UFC returned to the Izod Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey for the first time since UFC 32 in June 2001. UFC 32 was headlined by a light heavyweight title fight between Tito Ortiz vs. Elvis Sinosic. Below is an attendance and gate comparison between the two shows.UFC 32Attendance: 12,500Gate: unavailableUFC on Fox 3Attendance: 10,788Gate: 1.1 million

Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, submission, hendrick

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UFC on Fox 3 resultsEast Rutherford, NJNate Diaz def. Jim Miller via submission guillotine choke 4:09 R2Johny Hendricks def. Josh Koscheck via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)Alan Belcher def. Rousimar Palhares via TKO (strikes) 4:18 R1Lavar Johnson def. Pat Barry via TKO (punches) 4:38 R1Michael Johnson def. Tony Ferguson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)John Dodson def. Tim Elliott via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)John Hathaway def. Pascal Krauss via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)Louis Gaudinot def. John Lineker via technical submission guillotine choke 4:54 R2Danny Castillo def. John Cholish via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)Dennis Bermudez def. Pablo Garza via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)Roland Delorme def. Nick Denis via submission rear naked choke 4:59 R1Karlos Vemola def. Mike Massenzio via submission rear-naked choke 1:07 R2

Posted in: decision, submission, john, submission guillotine, jim miller

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E. RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Nate Diaz's nasty guillotine choke of Jim Miller didn't just earn him a likely title shot against the winner of September's Ben Henderson-Frankie Edgar lightweight title rematch. It gave him a heavier wallet. Diaz's slick finish earned him submission of the night honors, meaning he'll pocket an extra $65,000 on the evening. Diaz's efforts edged out a pair of strong submissions: Roland Delmore's rear-naked choke of Nick Denis that finished their fight with one second left in the first round, and Louis Gaudinot's guillotine of John Lineker, which stopped their bout with six seconds left in round two. Gaudinot didn't walk away empty-handed, though. His flyweight bout with Lineker, which was two rounds of nonstop action, earned fight of the night honors. Both fighters pocketed $65,000. Also leaving town with an extra 65 grand was heavyweight Lavar Johnson, who scored KO of the night for his first-round finish of Pat Barry. With Johnson winging about three dozen punches in his finishing flurry before the fight was called off, that comes out to about $1,800 per punch.

Posted in: fight, night, diaz, submission, john lineker

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Nate Diaz continued his dominant return to the UFC lightweight division Saturdya by defeating Jim Miller by submission in the second round.

Posted in: diaz, submission, miller, jim miller, division saturdya

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The UFC on FOX 3: "Diaz vs. Miller" main card going down tonight (Sat., May 5, 2012) in New Jersey started with a heavyweight slugfest and kept right on rolling with a middleweight mash up pitting the streaking Alan Belcher against Brazilian tree stump Rousimar Palhares. Belcher, though only competing three times in the past two years, came in on a three-fight win streak. Palhares, meanwhile, also came in having emerged victorious in his last three fights, two of which came by way of his trademark leg lock. Unbelievably enough, he had a hold of one of Belcher's legs in this fight, too. And it looked like he was taking it home with him but "The Talent" proved wily enough on the mat to not only attempt a submission of his own, but to get out of bad positions on multiple occasions. Even more impressive was how he ended the fight. Once Belcher turned around into Palhares' guard, he started raining down elbows and before long, the Brazilian was staring up at the lights, which were on but nobody was home. In the post-fight interview, Belcher said he was coming for the middleweight title. We believe you, sir. The size difference was noticeable quickly, as Belcher towered over the much shorter Palhares. Belcher had Rousimar pushed up against the fence but the Brazilian quickly shot for a leg and got a quick takedown. Immediately after, they tangled up on the floor, and while Belcher looked as though he might threaten with a submission, Palhares quickly grabbed a leg lock. And that meant trouble. At least it seemed that way at first. To his credit, Belcher busted hump to kick out of the submission. The Brazilian looked like he had a knee, an ankle, a leg, a thigh, a hip, all of it. But "The Talent" still managed to move and avoid getting tapped by the submission specialist. Suddenly, Belcher started throwing huge elbows that were landing strong. In fact, Palhares stopped defending and not long after the referee stepped in to stop the fight. What a ground war between two super talented middleweights. And all for free on FOX. I think UFC President Dana White just tweeted a smiley face. Remember, too, that MMAmania.com has live ongoing coverage of the UFC on FOX 3 event with blow-by-blow coverage of all the night's action right here.

Posted in: belcher, fox, submission, leg, palhare

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With his unreal ability to find submissions from virtually anywhere, Rousimar Palhares has become the Mike Tyson of submissions. He's the guy who inspires terror because you know precisely what he's coming to do, and yet he's incredibly hard to stop from doing it. There's a wonderful cache Palhares' game adds to the submission element of mixed martial arts (MMA), because his setups and technical mastery of how to wrench limbs combines high science with brutal visuals. In other words, he makes submissions cool as hell again, and something you can point to to turn casual fans on to that part of the sport. He's also built perfectly to pursue the holds he so readily exploits, with a massive, compact frame, tree-trunk limbs and the upper-body of a heavyweight. His opponent later tonight (May 5, 2012) at UFC on Fox 3 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J., Alan Belcher, meanwhile, is aptly named "The Talent," due to an admirably well-rounded game and considerable potential. The Louisianan has developed into a potent fighter in recent outings, and after overcoming an eye injury that threatened his career, he's a win away from being considered a top-five middleweight contender. With a huge frame for the weight class, dynamic stand up and a good jiu-jitsu game, Belcher is emblematic of the "athlete" designation that's thrown around in modern-day MMA because he moves and performs like one. Smooth and polished on the feet, he also possesses a requisite mean streak, and that is exactly the kind of guy you need to be to deter a killer like Palhares. Follow me after the jump for a complete breakdown of the UFC on Fox 3 fight between Rousimar Palhares vs Alan Belcher: The Breakdown Palhares tends to compensate for lack of technique in takedowns with brute-force shots, which he can get away with against a certain level of competition. His stand up is equally rough, but heavy-handed, and his chin is outstanding. Just watch his epic battle with Dan Henderson at UFC 88, where "Toqhuino" absorbed plenty of H-bomb right hands from "Hendo" only to shoot in time and again, often dropping for heel hooks after getting blasted. His stand up is the biggest hole in his game, but his ability to pull guard and hunt for limbs makes him eminently dangerous, even when he's dropped. Belcher definitely needs to find the "right" range to fight, and defend and maintain it with consistency and deal. He will sometimes seem content to laze in the clinches and work for Muay Thai-style attacks, whether it's knees or dirty boxing, but that may be a bad idea here as Palhares can pull guard or create a scramble that will offer a submission attempt. In a straight standup match, Belcher was the moxie, range and technique to badly outclass Palhares, and perhaps stop him. The Pick Palhares is back to his streaking, steamrolling self, winning his last three since getting stopped by Nate Marquardt. Belcher is an exceptionally talented guy, however, and has developed some tactical smarts, enough to not freeze up and seem like a deer in the headlights, which is a big part of Rousimar's aura. He simply overwhelms people until they can't operate, and then finishes them off. The guess here is that Belcher knows a good shot to the puss is the best way to keep Palhares from getting too bold, and he'll deliver some good, crisp striking early, while moving readily, changing angles and using his six-inch height advantage to keep Palhares from lining up opportunities to get it to the mat. If taken there, Belcher will be defensive and sound enough to survive, and extricate himself from impending submissions. This is a dynamite matchup that should promise some wild swings of momentum and the air of constant danger for both, but Belcher's size, athleticism and far better stand up should be enough to wear down and frustrate Palhares en route to a late stoppage. Belcher via technical knockout Be sure to join MMAmania.com this evening for LIVE, detailed UFC on Fox 3 results of all the "Diaz vs. Miller" action. It will include blow-by-blow coverage of the Facebook video stream, FUEL TV "Prelims" bouts, and of course, the FOX broadcast. We'll start RIGHT HERE at around 4 p.m. ET and carry straight on through early Sunday morning. See you later! Jason Probst can be reached at twitter.com/jasonprobst or jasonprobst@gmail.com.

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  Bellator 67 resultsOntario, CanadaMichael Chandler def. Akihiro Gono via TKO (strikes) 0:56 R1Bryan Baker def. Ben Saunders via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)Ryan Ford def. Luis Santos via TKO (strikes) 1:24 R2Damian Grabowski def. Dave Huckaba via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)Will Romero def. Matt Veal via TKO (strikes) 4:25 R2David Harris def. Nick Kirk via (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)Cosmo Alexander def. Lorawnt-T Nelson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)Nordine Taleb def. Matt MacGrath via TKO (punches) 2:30 R2Dom O'Grady def. Nathan Gunn via submission armbar 4:51 R2Video highlights and welterweight bracket update plus fighter rankings after the jumpAll tournament rankings are done by ULTMMA.com prior to the opening round of the Bellator eight man bracket. These rankings are unofficial. Former MMA prospects ranked and graded by ULTMMA.com who are making their Bellator tournament debuts include: Mike Corey, Ricardo Tirloni, Karl Amoussou, Raul Amaya and Bruno Santos.Bantamweight spring 2012 tourneyApril 6, Ontario, CanadaTravis Marx (#6) def. Masakatsu Ueda (#1) by unanimous decisionHiroshi Nakamura (#8) def. Rodigo Lima (#5) by unanimous decisionApril 13, Atlantic City, New JerseyMarcos Galvao (#3) def. Ed West (#4) by unanimous decisionLuis Nogueira (#7) def. Alexis Vila (#2) by unanimous decisionFeatherweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 9, Hammond, IndianaMarlon Sandro (#1) def. Roberto Vargas (#6) by Submission RNC R1Mike Corey (#7) def. Ronnie Mann (#2) by Unanimous DecisionAlexandre Bezerra (#3) def. Kenny Foster (#8) by Submission RNC R2Daniel Straus (#4) def. Jeremy Spoon (#5) by Unanimous DecisionApril 6, Ontario, CanadaMarlon Sandro (#1) def. Alexandre Bezerra (#3) by split decisionApril 13, Atlantic City, New JerseyDaniel Straus (#4) def. Mike Corey (#7) by unanimous DecisionMay 11, Atlantic City, NJMarlon Sandro (#1) vs. Daniel Straus (#4)Lightweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 23, Laredo, TexasLloyd Woodard (#4) def. Patricky Freire (#1) by Submission Kimura R1Rick Hawn (#2) def. Ricardo Tirloni (#3) by TKO R1Brent Weedman (#8) def. J.J. Ambrose (#6) by Submission Von Flue Choke R2Thiago Michel (#5) def. Rene Nazare (#7) by Split DecisionApril 20, Cleveland, OhioRick Hawn (#2) def. Lloyd Woodard (#4) by KO R2Brent Weedman (#8) def. Thiago Michel (#5) by split decisionTBDRick Hawn (#2) vs. Brent Weedman (#8)Welterweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 30, Uncasville, ConnecticutKarl Amoussou (#3) def. Chris Lozano (#4) by Unanimous DecisionBen Saunders (#1) def. Raul Amaya (#5) by Submission Rear Naked Choke R1David Rickels (#8) def. Jordan Smith (#6) by KO R1Bryan Baker (#2) def. Carlos Pereira (#7) by Split DecisionMay 4, Ontario, CanadaBryan Baker (#2) def. Ben Saunders (#1) by Unanimous DecisionTBDKarl Amoussou (#3) vs. David Rickels (#8)Middleweight spring 2012 tourney-* Andreas Spang replaced injured Bruno Santos in semifinalsMarch 16, Bossier City, LouisianaMaiquel Falcao (#2) def. Norman Paraisy (#7) by Unanimous DecisionBrian Rogers (#6) def. Vitor Vianna (#1) by KO R1Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (#3) def. Victor O'Donnell (#8) by Unanimous DecisionBruno Santos (#4) def. Giva Santana (#5) by Unanimous DecisionApril 20, Cleveland, OhioMaiquel Falcao (#2) def. Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (#3) by unanimous decision*Andreas Spang (#8) def. Brian Rogers (#6) by KO R2TBDMaiquel Falcao (#2) vs. *Andreas Spang (#8)Bellator 66 results

Posted in: tko, submission, spring, decisionapril, welterweight bracket

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Seven fighters joined UFC® President Dana White at the UFC® on FOX post-fight press conference: Nate Diaz, Jim Miller, Lavar Johnson, Alan Belcher, Johny Hendricks, Josh Koscheck and Louis Gaudinot.In a night that saw several impressive submissions, headliner Diaz won Submission of the Night for his second-round submission of fellow BJJ black belt Miller. Diaz used his boxing to outwork Miller on the feet, then forced the tapout with a slick guillotine choke. With the performance, Diaz becomes the first man to stop Miller in Miller's professional career.Johnson earned Knockout of the Night for his first-round starching of Pat Barry. After surviving an early submission scare, Johnson was able to pin Barry against the cage before unleashing a barrage of punches that sent Barry crashing to the mat. This is the second consectuive KO of the Night bonus for Johnson, who finished Joey Beltran in his Octagon™ debut.Fight of the Night was awarded to Gaudinot and John Lineker for their back-and-forth brawl. After setting a blistering pace from the opening bell, Gaudinot got the fight to the ground in the second round, eventually sinking in a choke that put Lineker to sleep. All bonused fighters received $65,000.Check back soon for post-fight press conference videos.

Posted in: ufc, night, diaz, submission, miller

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Shooto Americas held their 29th event in Brazil in Rio de Janeiro. At the top of the card a handful of Brazilian bred MMA prospects picked up huge wins that may carry them to bigger stateside promotions. In the main event former challenger to UFC champ Jon Jones, Carlos Eduardo (9-2) shocked former five star prospect Marcos Rogerio de Lima (9-2). After a close first round between to the two light heavyweights Eduardo knocked out Lima in spectacular fashion. It was the first clean KO of Eduardo's nine year MMA career. Coupled with his loss in his Strikeforce debut Lima has now lost back to back fights. In a somewhat shallow 205 pound prospect field Eduardo's now seven fight win streak will get in him long looks from the both the UFC and Bellator as a potential signee. Bantamweight prospect Zeilton Rodrigues (8-3) continued his string of exciting victories. Rodrigues choked out Mauricio Santos Jr. (6-7) midway through the second round. A 5'8 bantamweight, when he wins Rodrigues has stopped all eight of his pro opponents. Perhaps the best prospect in action was 26 year old welterweight Hernani Perpetuo (13-3-1). Perpetuo put away newcomer Edgar Sedovia (0-1) in under two minutes. Perpetuo submitted Sedovia with a slick kimura at the 1:46 mark of round one. A product of Nova Uniao, Perpetuo is 4-0-1 in his last five fights. If, Perpetuo's hot streak continues a call-up to the UFC is not out the question before the end of 2012. Shooto Brazil 29 resultsRio de Janeiro, Brazil*Carlos Eduardo def. Marcos Rogerio de Lima* by KO (Punches) 0:17 R2*Zeilton Rodrigues def. Mauricio Santos Jr. by Submission Guillotine Choke 2:09 R2*Hernani Perpetuo def. Edgar Sedovia by Submission Kimura 1:46 R1Rafael Viana def. Alessandro de Jesus by TKO (Punches) 1:40 R1Eduardo Betini def. Rodolfo do Carmo by Submission Rear Naked Choke 1:26 R1Raoni Barcellos def. Gilmar da Silva by Submission Guillotine Choke 1:16 R1Caio Alencar def. Felipe Gutemberg by Submission Arm Triangle Choke 2:30 R1*Prospect to watch

Posted in: submission, prospect, lima, eduardo, perpetuo

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Bellator Fighting Championships will head to the great north this Friday night (May 4, 2012) at Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, Canada The main card will air live on MTV2 and Epix HD on fight night, beginning at 8 p.m. ET. Headlining the main event will be a lightweight non-title bout as Bellator 155 pound champion Michael Chandler takes on Japanese Pride, UFC and Dream veteran Akihiro Gono. Also on the card is a Bellator season six welterweight tournament semifinal fight between former tournament finalists Bryan Baker and Ben Saunders in a fight that expects to bring some serious violence. There are also two non-tournament fights on the main card as heavyweights Damian Grabowski and Dave Huckaba will duke it out while welterweights Ryan Ford and Luis Santos plan on scrapping.Our Bellator 67 preview and predictions are after the jump. 155 lbs.: Michael Chandler (9-0) vs. Akihiro Gono (32-17-7) Michael Chandler had a tremendous run in 2011. He blitzed through a very tough season four tournament field of Marcin Held, Lloyd Woodard and Patricky Freire before pulling off a coupe de grace by stopping Eddie Alvarez to win the Bellator lightweight title in one of the year's finest fights. He's been in the gym ever since and is very excited to showcase everything he's been working on. Akhiro Gono is a longtime veteran of the fight scene, even holding victories over the likes of Hector Lombard and Gegard Mousasi back in 2006 but his career has trailed off since then. He had a tough run in the UFC at welterweight and enters this bout having lost his last two fights including his lightweight debut at Sengoku 14. If Chandler is intent on showcases his skills, I expect to see him keep this fight standing and try to knock Gono out with his improving boxing. He treats his striking like a new toy, something vastly different and fresh from his wrestling background at Missouri. If things don't go as expected, he has his powerful takedowns and ground and pound to fall back on. Gono may put up a fight with his experience but at 37 years old, I don't expect much resistance. Final Prediction: Chandler via TKO in round two 170 lbs.: Ben Saunders (13-4-2) vs. Bryan Baker (17-3) Ben Saunders has looked terrific in his Bellator career thus far. "Killa B" has gone 4-1 in his 13 month career with the promotion thus far, showcasing his terrific muay thai skills and his very dangerous ground game as well. Saunders is always looking to bring the violence, at times to a fault as he can get overeager to go for submissions or other attacks, but he's still very capable of winning this thing. Bryan Baker made it to the finals in the Bellator season two middleweight tournament despite battling cancer and he made it to the semifinals last year but TKO losses convinced him to drop down to welterweight. He trained at Greg Jackson's before this tournament and, while patient, he was able to eek out a win in his 170 pound debut against Brazilian Carlos Alexandre Pereira in the quarterfinals. Both Saunders and Baker have knockout power and are proficient on the ground with submissions. Baker has better wrestling skills, but his ability to take a big punch may be lacking. He said he had a horrible weight cut in his quarterfinal fight, accidentally cutting way too much and that could have affected his performance. If he cuts correctly, this should be a very close fight, but I see Saunders' superior technique paying off for him on the feet. If he puts Baker in the clinch, "The Beast" is getting slain. Final Prediction: Saunders via knockout in round three 265 lbs.: Damian Grabowski (15-1) vs. Dave Huckaba (17-4) Damian Grabowski entered the Bellator season three heavyweight tournament with a wave of hype behind him. "The Polish Pit Bull" barely edged out a decision in his promotional debut and then was smothered by current champion Cole Konrad for three rounds to be handed his only career loss. He's looked to improve his ground game since, scoring two straight submissions including an impressive Kimura against Eddie Sanchez just four days ago. Dave Huckaba is a finishing machine. Of his 17 career victories, 14 have come by way of knockout with two submissions as well. He hasn't been able to score a signature win yet, losing to Lavar Johnson and Jon Murphy in his most high profile fights. Huckaba will be trying to knock Grabowski's block off with his power, but he lives by the sword and dies by it. He's been finished in all four of his losses. Grabowski should hold a technique edge on the feet and he definitely is more well versed in submissions. If this fight goes to the ground, I don't think it will last long there. Final Prediction: Damian Grabowki via submission in round one 170 lbs.: Ryan Ford (17-4) vs. Luis Santos (50-7-1) Ryan Ford is one of Canada's best welterweights. "The Real Deal" had some mixed success in the MFC but he scored a huge victory over Karo Parisyan last year. Ford has a solid grappling game and loves to take his opponents down and beat on them on the ground. His stand-up still has a ways to go, but he's a pretty solid fighter. Santos has been fighting for 12 years now. He looked terrific on the Brazilian circuit, incredibly compiling 49 wins in the southern hemisphere. He earned an invite to the Bellator season five welterweight tournament and made a good first impression, beating Dan Hornbuckle soundly in the quarterfinals but he had major issues with Ben Saunders' rubber guard in the semis and would be bounced out of the field. He's hoping to earn another shot if he can beat Ford. Santos should have a major striking edge and is almost certainly the better submission fighter, but Ford will have a wrestling advantage and is better with ground strikes. This should be an interesting battle as both men try to impose their wills and while wrestling can be the great equalizer, I feel Santos has too much experience and overall weapons for Ford here. Final Prediction: Santos via decision So what do you think, Maniacs? Will Chandler walk right through Gono? Who's your pick to make it to the welterweight tournament finals? Are you expecting any surprises on this fight card? Sound off!

Posted in: fight, bellator, submission, tournament, saunder

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

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

Read the full article at sportsnet.ca

Now you see them, now you don't. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight contender Alan Belcher is no stranger to the submission aspect of mixed martial arts (MMA). He is, after all, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and his last two victories have come via tapout. Though "The Talent" has faced some experienced grapplers in his time, it's safe to say he has yet to encounter someone with the submission talents that are on the same level as the man he will go toe-to-toe with this weekend (May, 5, 2012) at UFC on Fox 3 in Rousimar Palhares. Belcher (via MMA Weekly) appreciates the ground game of the Brazilian, but plans to surprise some people with his defensive moves aimed at preventing the submission wizard from claiming yet another victim. Those comments, after the jump. "You can't over train and over think it. The more you train, the more you are going to be prepared for it. Where people make mistakes, it's that they don't believe in the power of leg locks and foot locks and stuff. I mean, I was getting a little bit like that myself, but you know, in the Jiu-Jitsu community, you train everything. Leg locks, for years, a lot of people never figured out how to defend them because they'd be, 'Oh, I can't get caught at the high level.' Lately, the last couple of years, foot locks have made a huge comeback and there are some awesome technicians like Rousimar Palhares has proved. So, I think people going into a fight here just thinking, 'Yeah, well, you can't get me in that. I'll just turn out of it or twist put of it and pull my leg out or I will just punch him in the face or something.' Then they get their knee hurt. I'm aware of what I have to do and how dangerous those situations can be. That is something that will give me an advantage. He will feel it right away when he tries to grapple with me or go for my legs. They just won't be there, I will block and avoid, break him down and really frustrate him. I am going to surprise some people." "Toquinho" has five submission victories during his time with the UFC, including three by heel hook, which just so happen to be his specialty. You can bet that once the Octagon door closes behind them, Palhares will be looking to snatch one of Belcher's legs like a starving rabid dog looking for a bone. What say you, can Belcher stop the relentless submission attempts of Rousimar? Or will the stocky Brazilian black belt be successful in doing what he does best, and make his foes tap? Opinions, please.

Posted in: belcher, submission, leg, people, rousimar

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MMA Attack 2 results Spodek, PolandDamian Grabowski def. Eddie Sanchez by Submission Kimura 2:02 R2Robert Burneika def. Marcin Najman by Submission Punches 0:32 R2*Hans Stringer def. Michal Fijalka by Unanimous DecisionSergej Grecicho def. Sebastian Grabarek by Submission Rear Naked Choke 3:01 R2 Peter Sobotta def. Juan Manuel Suarez by Submission Rear Naked Choke 2:18 R1Wendres Carlos da Silva def. *Piotr Strus by Submission Brabo Choke 0:44 R2Krzysztof Jotko def. Damir Hadzovic by Unanimous Decision Arbi Shamaev def. Rafal Raczynski by Unanimous DecisionArkadiusz Zaba def. Remigiusz Gros by Submission Triangle Choke 1:10 R2Livio Victoriano def. Robert Bryczek by Submission Heel Hook 1:38 R1*Prospect to watch

Posted in: submission, eddie sanchez, piotr strus, decisionarkadiusz zaba, michal fijalka

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Former Strikeforce 135 pound champion Marloes Coenen (20-5) showed no rust after a turbulent nine months away from the cage. Coenen headlined Invicta FC's first event with France's Romy Ruyssen (5-2) from the Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas. The fight was a rematch of an August 2008 won by Coenen via second round rear naked choke. Coenen dominated the three round fight over Ruyssen with strikes and timely takedowns. It was Coenen's first fight outside of Strikeforce since January 2009 and all three judges scored the fight 30-26 in favor of her. The undercard of the all female promotion was stacked with top ten fighters and prospects. Bellator vet Jessica Penne (9-1) and Lisa Ellis (14-8) fought in a bloody three round battle at 105 pounds. Penne stopped Ellis with punches after the Washington state fighter gave up her back and suffered a broken nose. The 29 year old Penne has won seven of her nine pro fights via stoppage or submission. 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Randi Miller (1-0) made her highly anticipated debut versus Missouri's Mollie Estes (1-1). After Estes battered Miller with knees and strikes on the feet, the Olympian took over in rounds in two and three. Miller landed a takedown in round three and finished Estes with heavy ground n' pound at the 3:27 mark. The 28 year old Miller will continue her MMA career as a 145 pound featherweight. Invicta FC 1 resultsKansas City, KSMarloes Coenen def. Romy Ruyssen via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)Jessica Penne def. Lisa Ellis via TKO (punches) 2:48 R3Liz Carmouche def. Ashleigh Curry via TKO 1:58 R1Kaitlin Young vs. Leslie Smith ruled a split draw (29-28, 28-29, 29-29)Sarah D'Alelio def. Vanessa Mariscal via submission punches 3:19 R2Sarah Schneider def. Sally Krumdiack via submission armbar 3:01 R1Amy Davis def. Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc via submission kimura 3:47 R2Sarah Maloy def. Michele Gutierrez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)Randi Miller def. Mollie Estes via TKO (punches) 3:27 R3Ashley Cummings def. Sofia Bagherdai via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)Cassie Rodish def. Meghan Wright via submission guillotine choke 0:36 R1

Posted in: fight, round, submission, miller, coenen

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BloodyElbow.com was on deck at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, Philippines, where the Universal Reality Combat Championship's (URCC) 21st major event was held. It was a long and fun night of fights, so let's get right down to a quick recap and analysis. Headlining the event was Froilan Sarenas, the reigning URCC Middleweight (179 lbs.) Champion, who moved up in weight and took on Nicholas Mann, the current URCC Light Heavyweight (189 lbs.) Champion in a Super-Fight. While both fighters have been trying to round up their overall MMA game, there were clear advantages each competitor had over the other, and this was prevalent on the fight. Sarenas, a top notch grappler from Submission Sport Philippines, usually takes opponents down from the clinch, but when he couldn't buck the much bigger fighter, it became his downfall. Mann defended well in the clinch, forcing Sarenas to stand with the better striker from Hybrid Yaw Yan (a Filipino Martial Art). This was the case for majority of the fight, and it earned the Australian an impressive and well deserved decision victory. Also on the card, the duo from Team Buffet in Mark Striegl and Will Chope both picked up impressive victories. The Filipino-American fighter in Striegl came in on very short notice, but still imposed his game against Alcer Lozada. He got several takedowns and dominated on the ground until he eventually landed a huge knee that dropped Lozada and locked in a rear naked choke. Striegl, a high level grappler, who is one of the fastest rising stars in Asia, improved to 10-0 with the dominant performance, solidifying his case as one of the fighters to look out for in the region. His teammate in Chope on the other hand, moved up in weight, and took out former URCC lightweight champion, Angelito Manguray, a Karate expert in his 40's, who has been dominating guys half his age for most of his career. Manguray, like the UFC's Lyoto Machida, is great at using his karate base and out-striking opponents from a distance. Chope, a Muay Thai-based fighter, smartly took him out of his game, constantly pressuring him up close, and using the clinch effectively. He battered the former URCC champ, and finished the fight with a rear naked choke. With the win, the 21-year-old Chope won his fourth straight, and 8 of his past 9. As he improved his unbeaten URCC record to 4-0, he asked for a shot at the title, and he called out Manguray's teammate, current URCC interim featherweight champ, Ricardo Sapno. "I'm coming for your belt" he shouted to the crowd. Much more analysis along with full-results after the jump. Follow me on twitter -- @antontabuena. Quick Hits: Nicholas Mann, Mark Striegl, and Will Chope all picked up impressive victories, but fight of the night definitely went to the co-headliner between Alvin Ramirez vs. Roy Doliguez as the duo stole the show in an impressive display of heart and striking ability. Ramirez is such a huge fan favorite, because of his entertaining fighting style and his massive heart, and this fight is another testament to that. He came in with an injured and bandaged knee, and for the most part of the fight, it was the sole target of Roy Doliguez. He took dozens and dozens of chopping leg kicks, that clearly did damage, but Ramirez kept on battling, countering with his trademark spinning back fists, and back kicks with that 'swagger' he's known and loved for. Watching the fight ringside, I thought the fight was very close and extremely entertaining, with judges eventually giving Doliguez the nod after 20 minutes. Ramirez is still very young and he still has a lot of potential to improve, but even if he doesn't reach the elite levels, he will always have a spot in the hearts of Filipino fight fans for his heart and fan-friendly fighting style that just makes people gravitate towards him. Doliguez was a national level pro-boxer, but for someone who only has 1 URCC fight, the guy looked like a seasoned MMA fighter. He was known for his heavy hands, but he also displayed athleticism, strong leg kicks, and good defense on the ground. Mario Sismundo, looked a lot like Manny Pacquiao, and it was hilarious how the audience kept on chanting "Manny! Manny!". He was the better striker, but unfortunately for him, Miguel Alo was a good wrestler, and like Pacquiao, he didn't know what to do after he got taken down. He just closed his guard, and didn't attempt to sweep or get back to his feet. His face was swollen and disfigured from all the ground and pound work, and he eventually succumbed to an armbar in the 2nd round. Another fighter Filipino fans can look out for is Jonathan Sumogat. He's only 20 years old, but already shows a lot of promise, and looks more composed than guys more experienced than him. He passes the guard very well, and if his career is handled properly, he could eventually blossom to a top-level URCC fighter. Estoro and Transmonte was a fight between two Muay Thai experts. The fight may not have lived up to people's expectations during the build up, but it was still a very entertaining bout. Jerson Estoro may have won the fight easier with more combinations instead of looking for a solid one-shot counter, but his overall MMA game looks to be improving. Nicholas Mann has won two straight bouts against top notch MMA fighters and talented BJJ purple belts. I think ONE FC should start looking to match him up against the other Asian 185'ers. Interesting to note that URCC founder, and BJJ Black Belt Alvin Aguilar also celebrated his birthday at the same time of URCC 21. While Sismundo looked like Pacquiao, Charles De Tomas did look like a tiny Nogueira. It was an ugly fight, with a lot of blunders from both fighters, but referee Joey Lepiten did get a good reaction from the crowd every time he scolded fighters for spitting out their mouthpiece, or attempting to pass while they were being restarted. I'll have a photo gallery up soon, so keep an eye out for that. You can watch the video of the event here. If you don't have time to watch everything, skip to the 5th fight, and make you watch Jonathan Sumogat, Mark Striegl, Will Chope, along with that Doliguez vs. Ramirez bout. Full Results: - Adam Cacay def. Fred Lim Jr. by Submission (Armbar), 6:47 Round 2- Isaac Tuling def. Charles De Tomas by Submission (strikes), 9:29 Round 2- Rasel Iniong def. Mark Dialogo by Submission (Armbar), 7:20 Round 2- Miguel Alo def. Mario Sismundo by Submission (Armbar), 9:34 Round 2- Jonathan Sumogat def. Mark Joseph Abrillo by Submission (Rear Naked Choke), 6:37 Round 2- Mark Striegl def. Alcer Lozada by Submission (Rear Naked Choke), 3:24 Round 1 - Will Chope def. Angelito Manguray by Submission (Rear Naked Choke), 2:55 Round 1- Jerson Estoro def. Reysaldo Transmonte by Decision (Unanimous), 5:00 Round 3- Roy Doliguez def. Alvin Ramirez by Decision (Unanimous), 10:00 Round 2- Nicholas Mann def. Froilan Sarenas by Decision (Unanimous), 10:00 Round 2 [Super-Fight Title]

Posted in: fight, fighter, round, submission, urcc

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Invicta Fighting Championships made history last night by hosting the first ever all-female MMA fight card – and they did it at their inaugural event. Invicta FC 1 went down from the Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas and saw a host of talented female mixed martial artists do battle. At the top of the card, former Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champion Marloes Coenen defeated past opponent Romy Ruyssen by unanimous decision. Following her victory, Coenen called out current Strikeforce 135lbs champion Rowdy Ronda Rousey. “Ronda Rousey, I’m coming for you,” said the Dutch fighter, who improved her record to 20-5 in victory. Check out the full list of results below. Marloes Coenen defeated Romy Ruyssen via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26) Jessica Penne defeated Lisa Ellis via TKO at 2:48 of round three Liz Carmouche defeated Ashleigh Curry via TKO at 1:58 of round one Kaitlin Young and Leslie Smith fought to a split draw (29-28, 28-29, 29-29) Sarah D’Alelio defeated Vanessa Mariscal via submission (punches) at 3:19 of round two Sarah Schneider defeated Sally Krumdiack via submission (armbar) at 3:01 of round two Amy Davis defeated Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc via submission (kimura) at 3:47 of round two Sarah Maloy defeated Michele Gutierrez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27) Randi Miller defeated Mollie Estes via TKO at 3:27 of round three Ashley Cummings defeated Sofia Bagherdai via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) Cassie Rodish defeated Meghan Wright via submission (guillotine choke) at 0:36 of round one

Posted in: round, decision, submission, coenen, sarah maloy

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About a month ago the Ultimate Absolutes NYC II took place. This event represents another push in the submission grappling community to create a professional circuit for grapplers by offering cash prizes for the competitors. Similar to the ADCCs, the Ultimate Absolutes is no gi grappling only, allows all submissions and features only elite grapplers. Unlike the ADCCs, there are no weight-classes at the Absolutes, as it is an open-weight tournament featuring sixteen grapplers all competing for a $10,000 first place cash prize with $1,000 bonuses for submission victories. Taking place in the Hotel Pennsylvania, the Absolutes delivered some high paced action with a start studded lineup. The full list of competitors is available at the event's official website, but one competitor is a name very familiar to MMA fans in Wilson Reis. A BJJ world champion as a brown belt, Reis turned his focus to MMA. Since then Reis has competed in four indurations of the Bellator Featherweight Tournament, reaching the semi-final rounds three times. All of Reis' Bellator losses came against tournament champions: Patricio Freire, Joe Soto and Eduardo Dantas. Following the Dantas loss Reis has moved back to Brazil fighting in local shows waiting for another opportunity in a large MMA promotion. Weis' grappling is excellent and he is featured in several Judo Chops here on Bloody Elbow. His first round opponent was Denny Prokopos, the first man to be awarded a black belt in Jiu Jitsu by the ever controversial Eddie Bravo. Prokopos runs the 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu school in San Francisco, and is known for his aggressive guard work and excellent guillotine choke. Prokopos won the first IBJJF brown belt no gi world championship in 2007 and placed third as a black belt in 2009. The promoters for Ultimate Absolute have released official video of the match which can be found after the jump as well as a highlight of the event. via UltimateAbsolute

Posted in: submission, belt, grappler, rei, absolute

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Bellator 66 resultsCleveland, OHEddie Alvarez def. Shinya Aoki via TKO (strikes) 2:14 R1Andreas Spang def. Brian Rogers via knockout (punches) 3:34 R2 Maiquel Falcao def. Vyacheslav Vasilevsky via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-29)Rick Hawn def. Lloyd Woodard via KO (punch) 0:10 R2Brent Weedman def. Thiago Michel via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28) Jessica Eye def. Anita Rodriguez via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)John Hawk def. Marcus Vanttinen via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)Attila Vegh def. Dan Spohn via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)Frank Carabello def. Donny Walker via knockout (flying knee) 2:25 R4Julian Lane def. Joe Heiland via submission guillotine choke 2:49 R1Middleweight and welterweight bracket update plus fighter rankings after the jump All tournament rankings are done by ULTMMA.com prior to the opening round of the Bellator eight man bracket. These rankings are unofficial. Former MMA prospects ranked and graded by ULTMMA.com who are making their Bellator tournament debuts include: Mike Corey, Ricardo Tirloni, Karl Amoussou, Raul Amaya and Bruno Santos.Bantamweight spring 2012 tourneyApril 6, Ontario, CanadaTravis Marx (#6) def. Masakatsu Ueda (#1) by unanimous decisionHiroshi Nakamura (#8) def. Rodigo Lima (#5) by unanimous decisionApril 13, Atlantic City, New JerseyMarcos Galvao (#3) def. Ed West (#4) by unanimous decisionLuis Nogueira (#7) def. Alexis Vila (#2) by unanimous decisionFeatherweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 9, Hammond, IndianaMarlon Sandro (#1) def. Roberto Vargas (#6) by Submission RNC R1Mike Corey (#7) def. Ronnie Mann (#2) by Unanimous DecisionAlexandre Bezerra (#3) def. Kenny Foster (#8) by Submission RNC R2Daniel Straus (#4) def. Jeremy Spoon (#5) by Unanimous DecisionApril 6, Ontario, CanadaMarlon Sandro (#1) def. Alexandre Bezerra (#3) by split decisionApril 13, Atlantic City, New JerseyDaniel Straus (#4) def. Mike Corey (#7) by unanimous DecisionMay 11, Atlantic City, NJMarlon Sandro (#1) vs. Daniel Straus (#4)Lightweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 23, Laredo, TexasLloyd Woodard (#4) def. Patricky Freire (#1) by Submission Kimura R1Rick Hawn (#2) def. Ricardo Tirloni (#3) by TKO R1Brent Weedman (#8) def. J.J. Ambrose (#6) by Submission Von Flue Choke R2Thiago Michel (#5) def. Rene Nazare (#7) by Split DecisionApril 20, Cleveland, OhioRick Hawn (#2) def. Lloyd Woodard (#4) by KO R2Brent Weedman (#8) def. Thiago Michel (#5) by split decision TBDRick Hawn (#2) vs. Brent Weedman (#8)Welterweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 30, Uncasville, ConnecticutKarl Amoussou (#3) def. Chris Lozano (#4) by Unanimous DecisionBen Saunders (#1) def. Raul Amaya (#5) by Submission Rear Naked Choke R1David Rickels (#8) def. Jordan Smith (#6) by KO R1Bryan Baker (#2) def. Carlos Pereira (#7) by Split DecisionMay 4, Ontario, CanadaBen Saunders (#1) vs. Bryan Baker (#2)Karl Amoussou (#3) vs. David Rickels (#8)Middleweight spring 2012 tourney-* Andreas Spang replaced injured Bruno Santos in semifinals March 16, Bossier City, LouisianaMaiquel Falcao (#2) def. Norman Paraisy (#7) by Unanimous DecisionBrian Rogers (#6) def. Vitor Vianna (#1) by KO R1Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (#3) def. Victor O'Donnell (#8) by Unanimous DecisionBruno Santos (#4) def. Giva Santana (#5) by Unanimous DecisionApril 20, Cleveland, OhioMaiquel Falcao (#2) def. Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (#3) by unanimous decision *Andreas Spang (#8) def. Brian Rogers (#6) by KO R2TBDMaiquel Falcao (#2) vs. *Andreas Spang (#8)Bellator 65 results

Posted in: bellator, decision, submission, vs, split

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Here are the UFC 145: Jones Vs Evans staff picks. We start off with the undercard this time around, as there are some pretty interesting fights taking place, including former TUF champions Mac Danzig and Efrain Escudero doing battle, as well as John Makdessi and Anthony Njokuani getting together for what should be an elite striking battle. Let us know who you are picking in the comments sections! Marcus Brimage vs Maximo BlancoEarl - Marcus Brimage is an awesome dude. We have learned that he loves BBWs, getting "white girl wasted", DragonballZ and farting on camera during intense pre-fight promos. I am going to be sad to see him get absolutely trucked here by Maximo. Maximo Blanco, KO, Round 1.Elliot - I actually really like Marcus’ striking, it’s fluid, technical, and he puts together good combos that have good snap. As much of a powerhouse Maxi is, I don’t think he should try to trade with Brimage here. If he puts Marcus onto his heels, and asserts his takedowns, then I see this being very one sided. Although I know Blanco likes to brawl, I think he will bully Marcus around for an eventual TKO or decision.Patrick - Brimage has potential: he’s both a total character and a fun offensive striker. Blanco, however, is on another level. Brimage is the guy who knew nothing about basic techniques from the guard nine months ago, so there’s no way he’ll be able to deal with Blanco’s top game; I think Maxi gets him down and punishes him. Blanco by TKO, Round 2.Cory - I have no reason to go against the grain here. Brimage has done some decent things in his stint on TUF, but not enough to convince me that he can hang with someone with the rugged power of Blanco. Blanco - TKOLuke - I thought of a couple of reasons to go against the grain here. First reason: Blanco has fought all but one of his fights overseas in Japan. He lost the one he didn’t. Second reason: Blanco is dropping down to featherweight for the first time in his career. I’m also not too high on Blanco’s strength of schedule over in Japan. Of course, Brimage hasn’t done too much in the professional world of mixed martial arts himself and as Patrick noted, he doesn’t have much of a ground game. I think he’ll wind up on his back any time he gets any momentum going but, since he’s fighting in his backyard, he should get to the judges scorecards. Blanco, Unanimous decision.Keith Wisniewski vs. Chris ClementsEarl - Clements is a striker with massive power who has finished all 10 of his victories via KO/TKO. Three of his four losses are via submission and I think "The Polish Connection" has the veteran savvy to weather the storm, drag this one to the mat and get the tap. Keith Wisniewski, Submission, Round 2Elliot - I only know Wisniewkski as the guy who Josh Neer mauled with elbows and then choked the hell out of. I have no knowledge of Chris Clements, other than that fightfinder tells me he stopped Clementi and Goulet recently. It looks like Clements loses by submission more than Wisniewkski loses by knockout, so I will copy the nobleman of Montclair, and say The Wis™ takes a submission win.Patrick - Clements is a significant favorite: Wisniewski is hittable, and Clements hits really, really hard. I’m not confident in this pick, but I’ll say Clements by TKO, Round 2.Cory - I’m with Patrick on this one for mostly the same reasons. It’s nice that the UFC is bringing back an old vet to give him one last shot at some glory, but I think that Wis drops his UFC record to 0-3 and is gone likely for good. Clements - TKOLuke - Wisneiwski didn’t look so great against Josh Neer, but then again, Neer is a very good and complete fighter who poses multiple risks. Clements is primarily a power striker, making this a scarier but likely easier proposition for Wisniewski. If he gets caught, well, he gets caught, but I’m on the same page as Earl and Elliot are. Wisniewski, Submission, Round 2.Mac Danzig vs. Efrain EscuderoEarl - Mac Danzig is 4-5 in the UFC (counting his awful loss to Matt Wiman via Yves Lavigne stoppage) and Escudero is just the kind of guy to allow him to even up his record. Efrain gets his walking papers after this one. Again. Mac Danzig, Unanimous Decision.Elliot - I’ll never forget seeing Danzig doing jedi training at Xtreme Couture, with a pole tied to his head, shadowboxing with a tennis ball attached to a string at the end of the pole. Mac is a true gym rat, and although he may not be the most physically gifted athlete, he has certainly maximized his abilities in a way that Escudero never has. Maybe Efrain has a reason for his weight problems, maybe he’s every bit as dedicated as Danzig... but I doubt it. And although Efrain is probably more naturally talented- hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. Danzig takes a decision, or perhaps a late sub.Patrick - A semi-interesting battle of lower-tier gatekeepers. I doubt this fight gets finished either way, but I think Danzig’s cardio will give him the edge late to take a Unanimous Decision.Cory - Efrain has done very little over the course of his career that has made me think he will be anything but a journeyman. None of his wins have been terribly impressive, and all of his losses were fairly convincing. Mac Danzig is kind of the same way, and I wouldn’t be too upset if both of them were cut after this, but I think Danzig does enough. Danzig - Decision.Luke - Neither of these guys have turned out to be much of anything after they won their respective seasons of The Ultimate Fighter. Danzig, who won season six, has been better than Escudero, the season eight winner. Mac has fought a higher level of competition, having gone up against Clay Guida and Jim Miller, two of the division's current contenders. He even holds a submission victory over Mark Bocek. As for Escudero, well, he struggled to a 2-2 record in his first go-round with the promotion and was cut after failing to make weight in his losing effort against Charles Oliveira. He went 5-1 outside the promotion, including victories over current TUF competitors Mike Rio and Jeremy Larsen. He returned to the UFC and lost a reasonably close decision to Jakob Volkmann in his last fight. This fight will probably come down to the wrestling of Escudero. If he can get Danzig down, he wins. I don’t think he can. Danzig, Unanimous decision.John Makdessi vs. Anthony NjokuaniEarl - After giving both guys matchups with grapplers in their previous outings and watching them both lose, Joe Silva wised up and decided to have these two strikers face each other. This one should be an exciting FOTN candidate if it goes the distance and is an easy KOTN candidate if it doesn’t. Anthony Njokuani, Unanimous Decision.Elliot - Should be a great fight, however- Mak already looks like he should be fighting at 145, and Njokuani is flippin huge for a lightweight. That said- Anthony has shown himself susceptible to the spinning attacks Makdessi is so very proficient with (the spinning wheel kick Barbosa hit him with; the spinning backfist Jewtuszko KO’d him with), which makes this fight very interesting. I will go against my better judgement, and give the exciting new prospect in John Makdessi the edge here, winning a decision, or perhaps drilling Njokuani with a spinning attack for the (T)KO finish.Patrick - For all of Njokuani's flaws - and there are many - his Muay Thai is absolutely top-notch. I think that Makdessi's an exciting prospect, but his future has to be at 145; I just don't see him closing the range against the much taller Njokuani, and he has zero track record of successfully implementing an alternative gameplan. Still, Njokuani is hittable, so there is a possibility that Makdessi will land one of his huge spinning strikes. I’ll take Njokuani by close Unanimous Decision.Cory - This is kind of a toss-up to me. Both fighters have their upsides, but I’ll play a hunch and say Makdessi takes the decision based upon some of the reasoning that Elliot mentioned.. Makdessi - Decision.Luke - Both men have been showing very impressive striking in their time inside the Octagon, but what makes this match up so intriguing is their backgrounds. Makdessi is a Taekwondo guy, while Njokuani comes from the Muay Thai school. In my mind this fight will be decided by the ability of Makdessi to close the distance, as he’s quite a bit smaller than Njokuani. Makdessi has shown a fairly dynamic attack with his use of side kicks and, as the other staff members have mentioned, spinning strikes. I believe it will be dynamic enough to get him on the inside. Will he be able to get a finish? I don’t think so. Makdessi, Unanimous decision.Matt Brown vs. Stephen ThompsonEarl - Matt Brown got his groove back by wrecking Chris Cope in his last outing. Nobody has ever defeated Matt Brown by KO/TKO but Stephen Thompson is an elite striker who has all the ability to do it. Dan Stittgen was just a warm up for Wonderboy. Don’t blink. Stephen Thompson, KO, Round 1.Elliot - I don’t think Thompson will be the first man to KO the ridiculously tough Matt Brown, but I think Stephen Thompson will be able to land the better shots throughout and outduel Brown to a decision.Patrick - Thompson isn’t quite the uber-prospect he’s being made out to be, though his striking is absurdly good. He’ll eventually be beaten by one of the many wrestlers inhabiting the top echelon of the division, but Brown isn’t the guy to do it. Thompson by dominant Unanimous Decision.Cory - I kind of want to say Brown, as he’s a tough grinder that stands a good shot at dragging this into quicksand, but how can I pick against Wonderboy when he’s so much fun? Wonderboy - TKOLuke - I think Patrick is on the right track, but I actually think Matt Brown is going to be the one to put a stop to the Wonderboy hoopla real quick. We’ve seen a ton of strikers come into the Octagon, win a fight or two with magnificent striking, only to lose to a mediocre gatekeeper who has a passable ground game. Wonderboy supposedly has a ground game, but I’m not buying it until I see him use it. You know what else has me down on Thompson’s chances? Matt Brown is a tough son of a gun, who himself has struggled with ground fighting. The opportunity to "pay it forward" and show Thompson what the UFC is really all about is something that I believe Brown will relish. Brown, Unanimous decision.Travis Browne vs. Chad GriggsEarl - The best sideburns in the business make their UFC debut and find themselves pitted against a gigantic man in Travis Browne. Browne may not be a top level HW (yet) but he is far superior to the jabronis Griggs was defeating in Strikeforce. This one should be dominant. Travis Browne, KO, Round 1.Elliot - Griggs is a puffed up light heavyweight, and although he’s tough as all hell, and very likeable, he is outmatched here. Travis Browne will beat Chad up something fierce, en route to a lopsided decision.Patrick - I’ll go one further, Elliot, and say that Griggs is downright lovable. Unfortunately, Browne is a monster with slick movement, great athleticism, and huge power. Browne by dominant decision.Cory - Yea, I can’t think of a reason to pick Griggs either. I like him, but he’s got very few avenues to win here. Browne - KOLuke - Browne has been equal parts awe-inspiring (his stoppages of James McSweeney and Stefan Struve) and disappointing (his draw with Cheick Kongo and his decision over Rob Broughton) in his Octagon career. Still, he’s a monster of a man and training at Jackson’s MMA should have improved him a lot since his last bout back in September. Griggs is a heavyweight Chris Lytle; fights fires outside the ring, fights inside the ring with the workmanlike ethic that such a day job provides. Like Lytle though, he has his limitations and I think Browne is a little bit much for him. If Browne is on his game, easy TKO victory. If not, he’ll struggle to a unanimous decision. I’m gonna go with the TKO. Browne, TKO, Round 1.Mark Bocek vs. John AlessioEarl - Alessio is making his return to the Octagon against submission specialist Mark Bocek who is coming off a victory of Nik Lentz. Alessio is coming in on fairly short notice but it is now or never for him to make a run in the big leagues and I say he seizes the opportunity. John Alessio, Unanimous Decision.Elliot - Alessio is a cool dude, and I took a few MMA classes under him at Xtreme Couture, so it pains me to say this, but Bocek has him beat here. He is the superior grappler, and has improved his striking to the point where Alessio won’t have a huge edge over him there. Bocek takes a decision, or late submission.Patrick - I’m glad to see Alessio back in the big show - he’s certainly earned it - but this is a bad matchup for him: Alessio tends to get subbed, and Bocek has a nasty submission game. Bocek by submission, round 3.Cory - This is indeed a rough matchup for Alessio here. Bocek wins this 4 out of 5 times I think. Bocek - Submission.Luke - A couple of Canadians going at it in this bout, with Alessio coming off a victory over a guy who reminds me of Bocek, Ryan Healy. Alessio is somewhat of a smooth operator who likes to use technical striking and slick grappling to get the job done. Bocek, like Healy, is a grinder extraordinaire who was able to win a unanimous decision over Nik Lentz despite spending much of the fight in a guillotine submission hold. Bocek simply got the takedown, defended the submission, prevented Lentz from doing much else, and happily got the judges nod. Not the most exciting way to win to be sure, but fairly effective. It’s been a long time since Bocek fought a "strike first" opponent, and the opportunity to showcase his offensive jiu jitsu is something he should welcome. Bocek, Submission, Round 1.Mark Hominick vs. Eddie YaginEarl - Squash match. Hominick, TKO, Round 2.Elliot - Hominick was obviously not in the right mindset for the fight with Jung. Yagin hasn’t impressed me much, and has been stopped by much lesser fighters than Hominick. Earl has it right- this will be a blowout. Hominick stops him with strikes.Patrick - Watching Hominick ply his technical kickboxing against infinitely less-skilled opponents is always a pleasure. Gamblers, don’t be seduced by the gaudy +450 line on Yagin: you’ll be wasting your money. Hominick by TKO, Round 1.Cory - I mean wow. Did Eddie do something to upset Joe Silva? Not too many rougher welcomes into the UFC rougher than Jr. Assuncao followed by Mark Hominick. Hominick - Pain.Luke - To put it simply, if Yagin wins, everyone in the UFC organization, from Lo Fer down to the mail room staff, is going to be very surprised. Squash match indeed. Hominick, TKO, Round 1.Miguel Torres vs. Michael McDonaldEarl - Fresh off RapeVanGate, Miguel Torres has got himself back in the UFC against a young man who has been on a gravy train with biscuit wheels. Mayday has absurd power and is very aggressive in his attack. I wish McDonald was fighting the 4 years ago version of Miguel Torres. Nevertheless, this will be the biggest win of his career. Michael McDonald, TKO, Round 2.Elliot - This isn’t as much of a blowout for McDonald as some people are making it out to be. Torres has had trouble with powerhouse wrestlers, which Mayday is not. When Torres decides to, he controls range extremely well with a telephone pole of a jab, and sharp kicks. This is important because the two things that McDonald had trouble with in his very close fight with Chris Cariaso were getting kicked, and Cariaso’s guard submissions (another thing Torres excels at). I think McDonald will take the decision, but it will be close, and Torres will have his moments.Patrick - Razor-close fight. Elliot’s breakdown is spot-on: Mayday can certainly be hit, and it’s imperative that he close the distance. I think he’s aggressive enough to do just that. McDonald by Unanimous Decision.Cory - Fine, I’ll be that guy who roots for Miguel Torres. Torres - SubmissionLuke - I don’t even think this fight is that close. Torres is going to win and kick off a run at the title. Renan Barao should get the next shot at the 135 pound title, and Torres will need one more win after this one to solidify himself as the next guy in line. McDonald is young and he hasn’t faced anyone that I would consider good just yet. For his first big fight to be against a former champion who is looking to both redeem himself in the eyes of his bosses and put himself into the title picture is simply too much, too soon. Torres, Unanimous decision.Brendan Schaub vs. Ben RothwellEarl - Brendan’s chin will be in question for the rest of his career and his win over Cro Cop was less than impressive. I see him winning this but it will not be spectacular. Brendan Schaub via plodding UD.Chris - Ben Rothwell has done absolutely nothing to impress me in any of his UFC performances. Schaub is by no means a top level heavyweight, but Big Ben shouldn’t give him much trouble here. However, the only time Ben’s been stopped in the UFC was by Cain Valesquez as he was in the process of standing up against the fence. Schaub shouldn’t struggle too much in taking the decision, but expect this fight to get really ugly in the second and not get better before the final bell sounds. Brendan Schaub by DecisionElliot - I expect Rothwell to be in better shape in this fight, and not fighting in Denver should really make a difference for him here. That said, Schaub is harder/ better/ faster/ stronger than Big Ben in pretty much every aspect... the only thing Ben has on Schaub is a titanium chin. I will follow suit and say Schaub takes the decision.Patrick - Rothwell is... not that great. He has a distinct tendency to get hit by anyone and everyone he fights, and Schaub hits pretty hard; he also has a poor track record against faster and more athletic opponents (Arlovski, Velasquez, etc.), a category to which Schaub definitely belongs. Still, Rothwell's a tough guy. Schaub by Unanimous Decision.Cory - There’s not much else to be said that hasn’t been covered already. I can see Rothwell putting the dangadadang on Schaub, and I’m kind of rooting for it to happen, but I think it’s unlikely. Schaub - DecisionLuke - I’m probably going to watch this card at a house party, which means that I’ll have an excuse not to watch this fight. I’ll just watch Schaub/Gonzaga if I really feel the need to see what happened. Schaub, Unanimous decision.Rory MacDonald vs. Che MillsEarl - Squash match No. 2 - Rory MacDonald, Submission, Round 1.Chris - I’m with Earl on this one. No reason for The Waterboy to lose this one (No, Rory, you can’t just change your nickname) Rory MacDonald - TKO Round 1Elliot - Che’s only chance is to get Rory into a slugfest, which he and Zahabi are too smart for. Rory can take Mills down basically at will here, and from there it will be slaughter. MacDonald via first round stoppage from strikes or submission.Patrick - I highly doubt Mills will be able to stuff MacDonald’s powerful and creative takedowns. Once he’s down, there's no way Mills can deal with MacDonald's top game. The Waterboy, TKO Round 1. Cory - If Rory somehow manages to lose this one, I will consider dunking a hat in ketchup and eating it live on cam. This is his fight to lose and everyone knows it. RMac - TKOLuke - Rory MacDonald is a great young fighter, who has already had his "eye opening moment" against Carlos Condit, and now it’s time to start his first run at the belt. Che Mills is a tough nut to crack, but so was Mike Pyle, who MacDonald put out with savage ground and pound from the top position. MacDonald will announce himself as one of the top 10 welterweights in the world tomorrow. MacDonald, TKO, Round 1.Jon Jones vs. Rashad EvansEarl - After an eternity of hype, injuries, petulant "no, you are" back and forth bickering and 2 of Jon Jones’ special nights being ruined these two will finally fight. Jon’s freakish length and wrestling background should be the keys for him to get through this fight. Rashad’s head movement is far too predictable and overrated. He may get a couple takedowns early and might win the first, possibly even the second round as well but once Jon gets his timing down it is going to be Stanky Leg 2.0....and STILL your Light Heavyweight Overlord, Jon Jones via Massive Elbows TKO, Round 3.Chris - My first thought on this fight is that it’s about 9 months too late and the UFC is trying to drown us in the drama that would have been capturing last summer. At this point, I just want the fight to be over. Fortunately for me, I don’t think the main event is going to last too long. Considering his dominating performances against Tito Ortiz and Phil Davis, many fans are looking toward Rashad as the one to push Jon Jones to his limits. I just don’t see any way he’s going to pull that off. Jones has shown no weaknesses that would allow Rashad to implement his strengths. Jones by Submission - Round 3Elliot - Rashad isn’t being given the credit he deserves. He has the wrestling to stuff Jon better than Page did, the foot and hand speed to get to Jon’s chin like Lyoto did, and the knowledge of Jon’s game to not get surprised by anything big. That said, JJ has the vastly broader repertoire, and should be able to disarm Rashad on the feet, do damage in the clinch, and get the better of the wrestling exchanges to get on top and let loose with those ridiculous elbows, en route to a Jones decision. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Rashad win a round or two, though.Patrick - There are two significant variables in this fight: first, Rashad's ability to use his movement to get inside, and second, Jones' clinch work. As for the first, I don't give Rashad much of a chance to land hard punches on Bones. He had trouble getting inside on Phil Davis, who doesn't use his length nearly as effectively as Jones: Rashad landed only eight power strikes on Mr. Wonderful at range the entire fight. As to the second major variable, if and when Jones gets ahold of him the clinch will be a nightmare for Rashad against the taller and probably stronger Jones. Rashad does have ways of winning this fight, by utilizing his superior footwork to take good angles, consistently moving in and then well out of range, throwing on the exit from the clinch, and grabbing opportunistic takedowns through caught kicks and the like. Unfortunately, he has absolutely zero margin for error, and at some point, Bones will land a big strike or put Rashad on his back and either get the ground and pound stoppage or a submission. I’ll take Jones by TKO, Round 4.Cory - I kind of want to write a novella about this, but my better sense is telling me that you’ve heard it all already. There are too many things working against Rashad Evans in this fight for me to pick him. Jones’ phenomenal reach advantage and the way he uses it. Jones’ infinitely more diverse striking attack. Jones’ outstanding wrestling in the clinch. Jones’ weight advantage. Jones’ submission game.Rashad has a puncher’s chance here. He’s got solid power and he transitions beautifully from striking to wrestling. There’s just too many things not to like. A number of the fighters that he’s finished (Forrest, Liddell, Ortiz) all ended up having chins and bodies that we look at as suspect. For example, Forrest is credited with being "rugged and durable" from the Bonnar fight, but that’s because Bonnar isn’t that hard of a hitter. The Evans KO was the third of five (T)KO’s that FoGriff has had, so it isn’t like that was his first time in la la land.As a fan, Jon Jones is rapidly turning into an Anderson Silva. I watch not just to see him win, but what new and exciting way will he win next. He was the first guy since Kazushi Sakuraba to submit Rampage. The first person to submit Machida. The first guy to TKO Shogun (not including the arm break against Coleman). As a fan, Rashad is one of the fighters I don’t care much for. The "suck my dick" tap he did to Forrest was disgusting sportsmanship. I hate his tedious wrestling style - HE HAS ZERO SUBMISSION ATTEMPTS IN HIS UFC CAREER! HE TOOK THIAGO SILVA DOWN EIGHT TIMES AND THREW THREE PUNCHES ON THE GROUND! Ugh. Yea, I’ll go with Bone Jones - SubmissionLuke - I think it’s pretty clear by now that I think this is going to be one of the all time great fights. I see it going back and forth, with both men having takedown success. Jon Jones has never gone to a fifth round, and I’d love to see he and Evans begrudgingly acknowledge each other before the start of a fifth round that will determine the winner of the match. Jones, Unanimous decision.

Posted in: fight, jone, round, tko, submission

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While many MMA fans are getting excited the UFC 145 match between Jon Jones and Rashad Evans, do not forget the absolute treat that awaits the attentive fan this Friday night. One of the most accomplished lightweights in MMA, Shinya Aoki, will be fighting on American soil for just the second time in his career. The Japanese born fighter will be facing former Bellator Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez, whom Aoki defeated by heel hook in 2008. Widely considered one of the best in the Lightweight division, Aoki has one of the most diverse and aggressive grappling games in the entire sport. What makes Aoki so dangerous is his ability to seamlessly blend together different styles of grappling. Aoki is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Judo, as well having trained in the Catch Wrestling based shoot wrestling, Eddie Bravo's 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu and recently has made a commitment to developing his traditional western style wrestling since moving to Evolve MMA. Related Articles Shinya Aoki's New Submission | Shinya Aoki's Next Level Grappling | Judo Chop: Shinya Aoki and the Rear Face Lock | Judo Chop: Shinya Aoki Breaks Mizuto Hirota's Arm Aoki has worked on his stand up in the past and has decent kicks, but his primary goal on the feet is to get things on the mat. While many fans' image of Aoki is as a flopper with no wrestling game after the jump we are going to look at how Aoki gets things on the floor. SBN coverage of Bellator 66 Gifs after the jump... Aoki's challenge has always been closing distance but if Aoki is able to close that distance he has a very good clinch takedown game, in which he shows excellent chain takedown ability. On the left, Aoki catches a leg kick and lunges in for a single leg and then steps behind the leg to try to get a trip takedown. When that doesn't work Aoki switches to a waist lock. Aoki's opponent attempts an Uchi Mata takedown but Aoki's base is too solid. Aoki slips behind his hips and spins him to the ground. This is an excellent example of chaining together techniques that keeps an opponent off balance and on the defensive. Even when his takedowns fail Aoki either transitions to another takedown or right into a submission attempt. (linked gif by Grappo) Slipping around to the back is one of the key's to Aoki's clinch game, from there he has a variety of takedowns. If the opponent defends those takedowns, Aoki will immediately put his hooks in and climb on to the back. If all else fails, Aoki is not afraid at all to pull guard in dramatic fashion. Aoki has long and flexible legs, ideal for playing a very active guard. Aoki has also trained in the 10th Planet system, a style of grappling developed specifically for use in the context of MMA. The centerpiece of the 10th Planet system is the famous rubber guard, which Aoki can make excellent use of because of his flexibility. Aoki playing rubber guard. Photo by Daniel Herbertson of Sherdog Using a combination of traditional guards and the rubber guard, Aoki aggressively sets up submissions from his guard. From his back Aoki is also extremely fond of leg locks. This hardly surprising as one of Aoki's long time training partners is Masakzau Imanari, a leg lock master. Aoki makes heavy use of footlocks, especially against American grapplers because Aoki believes they are less experienced at defending against leg locks. Aoki spinning for a heel hook against Eddie Alvarez, Gif by Smoogy Aoki's training in shoot grappling has given him a killer instinct when it comes to footlocks not found in your common BJJ black belt. In his first fight with Alvarez, Aoki found himself on bottom with Alvarez advancing towards mount. Aoki adapts a classic BJJ escape when the top man kicks his leg over to mount. As Alvarez kicks his left leg over it takes weight off of his right leg. Aoki turns hard toward that right leg, but instead of just getting back into half guard as in the classic escape, Aoki slips under for the heel hook. This awareness for opportunities combined with a creative flair is what makes Aoki so dynamic on the mat. It is because of joint awareness and flair that Aoki is able to use such a diverse array of techniques, including many not seen commonly in MMA. The Aoki-plata, Gif from MMA-Core.com One of the most famous examples is the Aoki-plata, which is a gogoplata shin choke from the mount that he used to tap out Katsuhiko Nagata. It is a move that requires a great deal of flexibility and control. it is originally an Eddie Bravo submission take comes from the mount, but Aoki has made this submission his own. From the mount Aoki keeps his weight heavy and slides his leg around the shoulder, in what is called the "gangsta lean mount" in the 10th Planet nomenclature. Aoki then slides his foot across the bottom man's face, until gets to the other side of the head. The shin then is across the neck and Aoki pulls on the back of the head to tighten the choke, forcing a tap. Another famous Aoki moment came when he used a Judo technique called Waki Gatame, which is a takedown that uses a straight arm lock to force an opponent to the mat. If the opponent fights the takedown at all the arm can be broken and used to be illegal in Judo competitions because it caused too many injuries. Aoki adapted the Waki Gatame to MMA and actually snapped Keith Wisniewski's arm while still standing using that technique. While Aoki is an amazing grappler, he is a liability on the feet and doesn't have the most stout chin. As a result Aoki's fights are almost never dull as he is normally either working for a submission or living on borrowed time on the feet, a exciting finish often results either way. So take some this Friday and have a Bellator appetizer for your UFC meal on Saturday. And as a primer, here is Aoki pulling off the Waki Gatame in just his fifth professional fight. (Skip to about 2 min for the submission)

Posted in: aoki, leg, takedown, guard, submission

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Feisty veteran John Alessio begins his 3rd tour of duty in the Octagon as a late replacement for an injured Matt Wiman, stepping in to face BJJ black belt Mark Bocek in the opening bout of Saturday's UFC 145: Jones vs. Evans. For those unfamiliar with Xtreme Couture fighter John "The Natural" Alessio (32-14), here's the specs: At 32-years-old, he has 46 professional fights and 14 years of experience (he started his career as a welterweight at age 19 in 1998). In his Octagon debut at UFC 26 in 2000, Alessio was brought in to challenge legend Pat Miletich for the the welterweight title, losing by 2nd-round armbar. In his 2nd UFC run circa 2006, Alessio drew another pair of monsters in a prime Diego Sanchez (controversial decision) and Thiago Alves (unanimous decision). Switching over to the WEC and scoring a 1st round sub on Brian Gassaway, Alessio was aligned with current UFC welterweight interim champion Carlos Condit, who tapped him with a rear-naked choke. Alessio has competed for the UFC, Pride, the WEC, Dream, King of the Cage (where he held the welterweight and superfight championships), and Canadian promotions TKO (where he was the welterweight champion) and MFC. To get a handle on the legion of killers he's fought, and in addition to the aforementioned opponents, Alessio's noteworthy losses are to Joe Doerksen, Jason Black, Jonathan Goulet, Brock Larsen (Alessio was DQ'd for an illegal knee), Paul Daley (who was the first fighter to finish Alessio by TKO) and Siyar Bahadurzada (who just clobbered Paulo Thiago and was the second fighter to stop him with strikes). His wins include UFC-caliber opposition in Sean Pierson (head-kick KO), Chris Brennan (1st round TKO), Ronald Jhun (decision), Pete Spratt (rear-naked choke), Gideon Ray (1st-round TKO), Luigi Fioravanti (3rd-round KO), Jon Koppenhaver, aka "War Machine" (rear-naked choke) and Eiji Mitsuoka (2nd-round TKO). Of his 34 career wins, 15 are by submission with 10 TKOs. After losing by armbar to submission virtuoso Andre Galvao in Dream, Alessio has put together 10 wins in his last 11, with Bahadurzada, in the finals of the United Glory welterweight tournament, accounting for the lone flaw. Alessio recently made the plunge to lightweight and defeated former Pride fighter Luis Firmino and Team Quest's Ryan Healy. UFC 145: FX and Facebook Preliminary Card Dissection Submission specialist Mark Bocek had the fortune of training Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu which, after he started his MMA career by orchestrating 4-straight catches in the 1st round, paved the way for his UFC debut. He premiered against eventual champion Frankie Edgar at UFC 73 and lost by TKO in a back-and-forth 1st-round, evened things out with a decision victory over Douglas Evans, then tapped out to a 3rd-round choke courtesy of Mac Danzig. Bocek would build up momentum with 3-straight chokes of his own (Alvin Robinson, David Bielkheden, Joe Brammer) before alternating results in his last run. He lost to Jim Miller, defeated Dustin Hazelett, lost to current champion Benson Henderson, and bested Nik Lentz -- all by decision save his win over Hazelett, which was a high-tech triangle choke in the 1st. He's a 3-time Pan-Am medalist, a North American ADCC Trials champ, a World Cup BJJ champion and a 5-time Canadian grappling champion. Bocek has finished 7 of his wins by submission with 2 TKOs and 1 decision. Complete analysis in the full entry. SBN coverage of UFC 145: Jones vs. Evans Bocek's game boils down to elaborate submission wizardry and deceivingly overbearing takedown prowess, even though he lacks a distinguished wrestling pedigree. He has a particular knack for enveloping his adversaries with forceful double-leg takedowns and continuing to weigh down heavily in the front headlock position even if they fail. He also holds a black belt in Kempo karate but doesn't really embody the panache typically associated with such an accolade. On the feet, Bocek's boxing is uncommonly slow, stiff and rigid, but the way he floored Edgar with a short jab testifies to his punching power. On the surface, Bocek's striking seems painfully statuesque and clunky, especially in open space, yet he's held his own with accomplished lightweight strikers and his 10-ton clinch and fluid scrambling have compensated well. Edgar is also the only fighter to stop Bocek and he's been highly durable against potent opposition. Bocek is at his best in close and at contact-range, where he has excellent strength, control, dirty boxing and takedowns in the clinch or brilliant technique on the mat or in transitions. For as robotic as his stand up is, Bocek is as smooth as can be in all grappling aspects. His guard play, guard passing, position-work, ground-and-pound and submission awareness are top-notch. Over nearly 1.5 decades of competition, Alessio has accrued a fully functional arsenal in every facet. He's been a little prone to submissions, which account for 7 of his 14 losses, and defensive lapses, though both can generally be attributed to his offense-first mentality. Anchored by a plunging jab, a cracking straight right and a crisp counter left hook, he's a handful on the feet with tight and thunderous boxing. His offensive and defensive wrestling are sound, the latter being on full display in the admirable sprawl-and-brawl he executed flawlessly against a prime Sanchez. His grappling is complete with a wide range of submissions and exemplary knowledge and confidence in any and all scenarios. Alessio is a thoroughly diversified athlete with unshakable composure, well-tamed aggression, a vast toolbox of options and the intelligence to implement his skill effectively. Movement-wise, he's calculating in employing angles and footwork to wreak havoc with his striking and can quickly change gears from methodical counter-striking to explosive attacking. He was a firecracker at welterweight and stands to benefit largely from dropping to lightweight. He will also come in having nothing to lose and eager to revivify his career by capitalizing on this short-notice opportunity -- and he definitely has the abilities to pull off the upset. Bocek is a massive favorite on the betting lines at a minimum of -400. I think that's way too steep but I understand the slant. The clear and easy conclusion is a Bocek submission, yet Alessio is troublesome and crafty enough to consider as a legitimate underdog here. Not only will he be more agile and athletic, Alessio thrives in staying elusive on the feet and chucking precise and powerful punches against grappling-based opponents. If Bocek is able to corner and contain him, it's only a matter of time before he sticks to him and works his submission savvy. Alessio should be able to dictate the striking exchanges and force Bocek to chase him down, and I'm tempted to give him the nod by TKO or decision here. With that disclaimer aside, I'll play it safe and predict that Bocek will lock horns and tie on a submission or can out-work Alessio in the greater number of rounds. My Prediction: Mark Bocek by submission.

Posted in: ufc, tko, submission, bocek, alessio

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Posted in: ufc, submission, trademark, parkwaydrive

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With title belts on the line two of the east coasts top MMA prospects leaped over another hurdle in their progression as fighters. Cage Fury Fighting Championships returned to Atlantic City, New Jersey for their 14th event entitled No Mercy. On the undercard of CFFC 14 five star bantamweight prospect Aljamain Sterling (6-0) and rising flyweight prospect Sean Santella (10-3) were in action in separate championship bouts. In his first title defense of the CFFC bantamweight belt Sterling was paired with unheralded North Carolina fighter Casey Johnson (3-2). The upset minded Johnson caught Sterling in a tight triangle choke in the first round but was unable secure the fight ending submission. Sterling powered out of Johnson's triangle choke and would batter his opponent for much of the next two rounds. Midway through the third round Sterling would ice the fight on the ground. Using his wrestling and lightweight level power Sterling took Johnson's back. The unbeaten bantamweight secured the rear naked choke submission at the 2:11 point of round three. At 22 years of age Sterling is one of the ten best prospects in MMA today. A member of the famed New York gym Team Bomb Squad, Sterling's natural wrestling abilities are the base for a well rounded MMA fighter. Sterling is currently the number one ranked bantamweight prospect in MMA per the latest ULTMMA.com rankings. In a New Jersey versus Pennsylvania clash Santella took apart Tuan Pham (4-5) with relative ease. When the fight hit the floor in the opening minutes of their 125 pound fight, Santella quickly sliced through all of Pham's defenses on the mat. Santella would eventually take Pham's back and lock in a rear naked choke for the win. The official time of Santella's submission was the 1:53 mark of round one. Santella has now won five of his last six loss with his lone defeat in the stretch coming in a 135 pound fight versus Aljamain Sterling. Now firmly implanted as a flyweight prospect the 27 year old Santella should be added to the UFC sooner rather than later. A key member of the AMA Fight Club in New Jersey, Santella would add great depth to the newly installed UFC 125 pound division. Santella is tabbed as the number 15 ranked flyweight prospect according to ULTMMA.com but his last few fights has strengthen his case as a four star prospect and a spot in the unsigned top seven. Cage Fury Fighting Championships 14 No Mercy resultsAtlantic City, NJGeorge Sullivan def. Greg Soto by KO (Punch) 2:09 R1Aljamain Sterling def. Casey Johnson by Submission Rear Naked Choke 2:11 R3Sean Santella def. Tuan Pham by Submission Rear Naked Choke 1:53 R1Artur Rofi def. Evan Chmielski by Submission Triangle Choke 1:23 R2Danny Holmes def. Erik Purcell by Submission Guillotine Choke 2:48 R1Jonavin Webb def. Robert Gittens by Submission Rear Naked Choke 2:35 R1Mike Medrano def. Matt Nice by Submission Guillotine Choke 0:47 R1 Shedrick Goodridge def. Michael Wilcox by Submission Guillotine Choke 1:17 R1Brian Kelleher def. Raphael Chaves by TKO (Punches) 3:41 R2Ozzy Dugulubgov def. Brian Nielson by TKO (Punches) 1:41 R1Travis Wynn def. Anthony Craparo by Unanimous Decision

Posted in: fight, submission, prospect, sterling, santella

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Posted in: submission, head, james head, papy abedi, insicknes

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There's not much either Jon Jones or Rashad Evans aren't good at in mixed martial arts. If the numbers tell us anything, it's that these are superb fighters and their impending bout at UFC 145 is something akin to a MMA all-star match-up. Jones and Evans are statistically record holders in the stand-up and ground portions of the fight. Both have tasted championship glory. Both only have one loss on their record (though the complexions of their losses differ dramatically). Both have mutual opposition they've defeated. These two may be rivals, but they're more similar than each cares to admit in small part due to what they've accomplished and how they did it. But neither light heavyweight is without shortcomings and the data demonstrates that quite clearly. The real question is can whatever statistical weakness that exist also offer blueprints for game plans or predict an eventual outcome? Probably not. It's frankly hard to overstate just how good these bitter enemies really are. It's also had to walk away from these numbers and not consider the uphill climb for Evans may not be insurmountable. Before we begin enumerating their superlative skills or accomplishments, it should be noted Jones and Evans have three opponents in common: Stephan Bonnar, Lyoto Machida and Quinton Jackson. Jones defeated all three, stopping Machida and Jackson by submission. Evans lost to Machida, but defeated both Bonnar and Jackson by decision. Typically mutual opposition is the best way to compare to fighters' abilities or tendencies, but that's not necessarily the case here. In short, the Bonnar who fought Evans isn't the same Bonnar who necessarily fought Jones. And the Evans or Jones who fought Bonnar won't be the same Evans or Jones who show up Saturday night. The only commonality is both Evans and Jones landed seven takedowns against Bonnar, but that tells us more about 'The Ultimate Fighter' season one alum's takedown defense than anything else. We should also resist trying to glean too much from the stats from each of their Machida fights. They lack a sufficient amount of information to make any sort of definitive conclusions. That Machida stopped Evans and yet was stopped by Jones is indicative of something. But what? Without overreaching, we can only safely say Jones was more effective striking in his bout with Machida than Evans. But relative to Evans, it's hard to say much else insofar as drawing conclusions from data is concerned. The fights with Rampage, however, might be more helpful. For starters, the bouts took place in reasonably close proximity. And from Jackson's perspective, his performance against each was nearly identical. Against Evans, he landed 17 significant strikes, 27 total. Facing Jones, Jackson landed 16 significant strikes, 24 total. Against both Evans and Jones, Rampage attempted one takedown in each fight and was stuffed both times. The only real differentiator is Rampage's knockdown of Evans. And that fact speaks to some larger trends in Evans' striking. Namely, his opponent's ability to land on him. Let's keep things in perspective. Evans' striking - offensively and defensively - is very good. He has a 66.7% career striking defense, making it the third best in light heavyweight history and better than Jones' current defensive rate. But his striking differential - the number of strikes he lands relative to those he absorbs per minute - is only .23. Jones' mark, by contrast, is 2.40, the fourth best total in UFC history. In addition, Evans' measured striking accuracy is 39.5% to Jones' 51.9%. Evans may have only been stopped once by strikes in his MMA career, but that it was by strikes is in concert with what the larger data set says of of Evans' striking ability. Striking stats also tell us Evans is something of a head hunter. That isn't to suggest he doesn't enjoy body work, but he's gone to the head 84% of the time. As for the body and legs? Just 11.2% and 4.1%, respectively. The UFC light heavyweight champion is the much more diverse in terms of where he throws and subsequently lands strikes: 53% to the head, 25.4% to the body and 21.5% to the legs. When Jones is throwing, there's a lot more confusion about what might be thrown and where it might land. None of this is to suggest Evans can't land on Jones. Instead, it's that while Evans is statistically speaking hard to hit, he has to throw a lot more to eventually find the mark and also gets hit more often per fight than Jones. There is less of an advantage, however, for Jones on the ground. Again, that isn't to say he can't or won't win there. Jones is deadly essentially everywhere and my personal hunch is who dominates this space ultimately wins the contest. But Evans' comfort zone is historically on top on the ground after executing a takedown. In fact, Evans has taken down everyone he's every fought. According to FightMetric, "Evans' average of 4.32 takedowns per 15 minutes of fighting is the 2nd highest average in light heavyweight history. He's managed to takedown every single opponent that he has tried to get to the ground. His takedown accuracy is second only to Jon Jones, with a 53.3% success rate, 2nd best in division history." But Jones is no slouch himself. FightMetric also notes Jones' "takedown accuracy of 63.6% is the very best in light heavyweight history. He's already scored 21 takedowns, 4th most in division history, and his 3.32 takedowns per 15 minutes average is the 4th highest in division." Some will suggest even if we were to grant Evans and Jones are basically commensurate as takedown artists, Jones is more grappling and submission savvy. And they could be right. Both are actually adept guard passers. Jones routinely passes guard: once on Machida, three times on Rampage, twice on Bader and so on; Evans accrued no guard passes against Rampage, Bonnar or Machida, but in the two fights since defeating Rampage - two wins over Tito Ortiz and Phil Davis - he managed 10 guard passes in a little over seven rounds. Yet, Evans has not attempted a submission in his entire MMA career. He advances position, but only to facilitate ground and pound. Jones, on the other hand, has historically attempted 1.11 submissions per 15-minute fight. The reigning light heavyweight champion has tapped out 3 of last 4 opponents and has 5 submission wins in his MMA career. Submissions as a portion of his finishing arsenal is the clearest demonstration of Jones' superior offense given that Evans doesn't even try in this aspect. Taking all of this information into account, what can we reasonably conclude about Jones' or Evans' chances on Saturday night? On balance, Jones has the advantages. That's especially true in striking and submissions. Yet it's hard to look at the accumulated data and conclude Evans is somehow doomed. Evans can be taken down, but he's only spent 4.4% of the time in his UFC career on bottom - not a ton of time to do significant damage. Jones is clearly better at submissions, but Evans has never been submitted. Jones has never been taken down, but Evans has taken down everyone he's fought. Jones has the statistical wind at his back, but Evans has a demonstrated ability to rise to the occasion. There's also the x-factor of how much their perceived intimate knowledge of each others game plays a role. What we have with Evans vs. Jones is a perfectly good case where relying on quantitative information for predictive insight can be tricky. I suspect whoever prevails at UFC 145 will do so by re-writing today's numbers, not fulfilling historical patterns. The real test for both will be to get takedowns where others couldn't; to score from spaces where others couldn't; to control position and times held in those positions where others couldn't; in short, to make the other fight in ways they haven't. Jones is the odds-on favorite. He should be. He's got more ways to win and is statistically impressive almost everywhere. But Evans offers challenges in professional competition Jones has not faced. By the time Saturday night is over, the real story on the numbers behind these two fighters may be less how much they foreshadowed the future and more about how drastically they need to be amended. All quantitative data provided by FightMetric.

Posted in: fight, takedown, jone, submission, evan

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23-year old Brazilian Eduardo Dantas became the newest Bellator champion on Friday night with a career-defining performance, choking former title-holder Zach Makovsky unconscious in the second round of their headlining tilt at Bellator 65. The performance improved Dantas’ overall record to 14-2 and snapped Makovsky’s an eight-fight winning streak. Also on tap pat the event, 135-pounders Marcos Galvao and Luis Nogueira advanced to the semifinal round of the organization’s ongoing bantamweight tournament with decision victories over Ed West and Alexis Vila respectively. Daniel Straus also moved on to the Season 6 featherweight final by outpointing Mike Corey. As a result he will face Marlon Sandro later this season for an opportunity to win Pat Curran’s divisional strap. Here is a complete rundown of Bellator 65 winners/losers: Duane Bastress def. Plinio Cruz via TKO Round 2 (Strikes) Will Martinez Jr. def. Terrell Hobbs via Submission Round 1 (Rear-Naked Choke) Kenny Foster def. Jay Haas Submission Round 1 (Guillotine Choke) E.J. Brooks def. Mikhail Malyutin via Unanimous Decision Lyman Good def. LeVon Maynard via TKO Round 1 (Strikes) Scott Heckman def. Lester Caslow via Submission Round 1 (Rear-Naked Choke) Kris McCray def. Ailton Barbosa via Split Decision Marcos Galvao def. Ed West via Unanimous Decision Luis Alberto Nogueiradef. Alexis Vila via Unanimous Decision Daniel Straus def. Mike Corey via Unanimous Decision Eduardo Dantas def. Zach Makovsky via Technical Submission Round 2 (Arm-Triangle Choke) Tweet

Posted in: bellator, round, decision, submission, danta

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UFC on Fuel TV 2 resultsStockholm, SwedenAlexander Gustafsson def. Thiago Silva via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)Brian Stann def. Alessio Sakara via knockout (punches) 2:26 R1Siyar Bahadurzada def. Paulo Thiago via knockout (punches) 0:42 R1Dennis Siver def. Diego Nunes via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)John Maguire def. DaMarques Johnson via submission armbar 4:40 R2Brad Pickett def. Damacio Page via submission rear naked choke 4:05 R2James Head def. Papy Abedi via submission rear naked choke 4:33 R1Cyrille Diabate def. Tom DeBlass via majority decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-28)Francis Carmont def. Magnus Cedenblad via submission rear naked choke 1:42 R2Reza Madadi def. Yoislandy Izquierdo via submission guillotine choke 1:28 R2Simeon Thoresen def. Besam Ypusef via submission rear naked choke 2:36 R2Jason Young def. Eric Wisely via unanimous decision (30-28, 29-28, 29-28 )Of the night bonuses 50KKO: Siyar BahadurzadaFight: Brad Pickett vs. Damacio PageSubmission: John Maguire

Posted in: decision, submission, thiago, tom deblass, homecoming ufc

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

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

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Four of the six fights on the preliminary card of UFC on Fuel TV: Gustafsson vs. Silva ended in submissions on Saturday in Sweden.

Posted in: ufc, submission, vs, silva, tv

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Bellator 65 resultsAtlantic City, NJEduardo Dantas def. Zach Makovsky via submission arm triangle choke 3:26 R2Daniel Straus def. Mike Corey via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)Luis Nogueira def. Alexis Vila via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)Marcos Galvao def. Ed West via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)Duane Bastress def. Plinio Cruz via TKO (strikes) 2:52 R2Will Martinez def. Terrell Hobbs via submission rear naked choke 4:13 R1Scott Heckman def. Lester Caslow via submission rear naked choke 3:40 R1Kris McCray def. Ailton Barbosa via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)Lyman Good def. LeVon Maynard via KO (punch) 0:13 R1E.J. Brooks def. Mikhail Malyutin via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)Bantamweight update and fighter rankings after the jumpAll tournament rankings are done by ULTMMA.com prior to the opening round of the Bellator eight man bracket. These rankings are unofficial. Former MMA prospects ranked and graded by ULTMMA.com who are making their Bellator tournament debuts include: Mike Corey, Ricardo Tirloni, Karl Amoussou, Raul Amaya and Bruno Santos.Bantamweight spring 2012 tourneyApril 6, Ontario, CanadaTravis Marx (#6) def. Masakatsu Ueda (#1) by unanimous decisionHiroshi Nakamura (#8) def. Rodigo Lima (#5) by unanimous decisionApril 13, Atlantic City, New JerseyMarcos Galvao (#3) def. Ed West (#4) by unanimous decisionLuis Nogueira (#7) def. Alexis Vila (#2) by unanimous decisionFeatherweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 9, Hammond, IndianaMarlon Sandro (#1) def. Roberto Vargas (#6) by Submission RNC R1Mike Corey (#7) def. Ronnie Mann (#2) by Unanimous DecisionAlexandre Bezerra (#3) def. Kenny Foster (#8) by Submission RNC R2Daniel Straus (#4) def. Jeremy Spoon (#5) by Unanimous DecisionApril 6, Ontario, CanadaMarlon Sandro (#1) def. Alexandre Bezerra (#3) by split decisionApril 13, Atlantic City, New Jersey Daniel Straus (#4) def. Mike Corey (#7) by unanimous DecisionTBDMarlon Sandro (#1) vs. Daniel Straus (#4)Lightweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 23, Laredo, TexasLloyd Woodard (#4) def. Patricky Freire (#1) by Submission Kimura R1Rick Hawn (#2) def. Ricardo Tirloni (#3) by TKO R1Brent Weedman (#8) def. J.J. Ambrose (#6) by Submission Von Flue Choke R2Thiago Michel (#5) def. Rene Nazare (#7) by Split DecisionApril 20, Cleveland, OhioRick Hawn (#2) vs. Lloyd Woodard (#4)Thiago Michel (#5) vs. Brent Weedman (#8)Welterweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 30, Uncasville, ConnecticutKarl Amoussou (#3) def. Chris Lozano (#4) by Unanimous DecisionBen Saunders (#1) def. Raul Amaya (#5) by Submission Rear Naked Choke R1David Rickels (#8) def. Jordan Smith (#6) by KO R1Bryan Baker (#2) def. Carlos Pereira (#7) by Split DecisionMay 4, Ontario, CanadaBen Saunders (#1) vs. Bryan Baker (#2)Karl Amoussou (#3) vs. David Rickels (#8)Middleweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 16, Bossier City, LouisianaMaiquel Falcao (#2) def. Norman Paraisy (#7) by Unanimous DecisionBrian Rogers (#6) def. Vitor Vianna (#1) by KO R1Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (#3) def. Victor O'Donnell (#8) by Unanimous DecisionBruno Santos (#4) def. Giva Santana (#5) by Unanimous DecisionApril 20, Cleveland, OhioMaiquel Falcao (#2) vs. Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (#3)Bruno Santos (#4) vs. Brian Rogers (#6)Bellator 64 results

Posted in: decision, submission, vs, spring, decisionapril

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Another fighter was eliminated and one more advanced on the sixth episode of The Ultimate Fighter: Live.

Posted in: fighter, submission, episode, recap, advance

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Week 6 of UFC's The Ultimate Fighter Live is upon us, and we are ready to determine our 5th quarter-finalist. This week's bout was made by Urijah Faber and pits his #4 pick Joe Proctor against Dominick Cruz #7 Chris Tickle. Last week's Michael Chiesa vs. Jeremy Larsen fight was a bit one-sided, but this week should get us back to a more competitive fight. Keep reading for an in-depth breakdown of each man, plus fight videos. As always, The Ultimate Fighter airs live on FX Friday night at 10 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. PT. So far in the show, Chris Tickle has received a fair amount of screen-time, but it's been due to his made for reality TV persona, not his fighting. We've seen him wear a gas mask, steal a parking sign, refuse to take part in Faber's workshop, and complain, complain, complain. Oh, and we saw him look like a buffoon during his staredown last week with a very prolonged "Come at me bro!" that just seemed silly. This week, the story writes itself - can he back up all his talk, or is he just a blowhard? Unfortunately for Proctor, I expect he'll take a back seat to Tickle this week. CHRIS TICKLE (7-4)5'9" | 29 years old | 69.5" reachTUF record: def. Austin Lyons (TKO, R1) Tickle hails from Illinois and has fought primarily in the Midwest circuit. He's listed as training out of Onestep Fitness, though it's been mentioned a few times on the show that he doesn't have a real formal camp he trains with. Tickle is currently on a 5 fight win streak that includes victories over fringe UFC veterans Brian Geraghty and Steve Berger. He had a rough start to his career, going 2-4 in his first 6, with all 4 loses coming via submission. Though he didn't show it against Lyons, Tickle's base is wrestling. He has a nice Greco-Roman style throw that he favors to get the fight to the mat. But over the course of his career he has focused more on his striking. As we saw on the premiere, he's a hyper aggressive fighter who likes to come out swinging - the kind of person tailor made for UFC bonuses. He throws it all into his shots, winging every one with power. And he does have nice KO power - he's won 5 of 7 via KO. He also has a decent, and probably overlooked, submission game. His biggest problem is that aggression. He throws himself fully into his punches, his kicks, and his submission attempts, but can do so a bit too recklessly. Particularly on the ground, he can get into trouble by going for a submission without first securing position. But that aggression also can quickly overwhelm opponents and earn him the definitive victory. Against Proctor, expect him to try and make it a slugfest and score the big KO. JOE PROCTOR (7-1)5'10" | 26 years old | 72" reachTUF record: def. Jordan Rinaldi (Dec) Joe Prcotor is a Massachusetts native training under UFC Lightweight Joe Lauzon. After starting his career as more of a boxer, Proctor has really emphasized his jiu jitsu game in recent years under Lauzon's tutelage. He has 4 submission wins and has been the distance 3 times. In his last fight, he won the Reality Fighting Lightweight title from Matt Bessette. In terms of technique, Proctor has come a long way from the start of his career. Watching his early fights, you see a wild striker who windmilled punches with no regards for defense or planning. He's since tightened that game up quite a bit from a technical standpoint, and also crafted a clear purpose to his strikes. Like his mentor Lauzon, Proctor uses his strikes to create an opening, then seizes that opening to lock on a submission. This was on full display against Rinaldi, where Proctor used the smallest of openings to secure a perfect guillotine. That said, his striking still has some areas to work on. He's very focused on his hands at the expense of a more complete striking game. He also still has a tendency to get hit, and while he's demonstrated a good chin, it's been tested a bit too much for my liking. For the Tickle fight, look for Proctor to be patient and try to lock on a submission for the win. Prediction: Joe Proctor by submission, round 1 I might be overestimating the comparison, but this is the kind of fight Lauzon excels in, and I think Proctor will do the same. Tickle is over-aggressive and reckless, and Proctor will find that opening and close the show. I suspect this will be short, but action-packed. Fight footage in the full entry. Joe Proctor vs. Casey MilikenAn amateur fight from Proctor that shows how far he has come Joe Proctor vs. Neil StrebigJan. 17, 2009More early action from Proctor Chris Tickle vs. Marshall BlevinsJune 27, 2009Tickle's 4th pro fight, with a fun pre-fight interview Chris Tickle vs. Todd MurpheyAugust 28, 2009An example of Tickle's over-eagerness costing him Chris Tickle vs. Jimmy DonahueNovember 19, 2010Not the best quality footage, but a more recent big dominating win from Tickle and a huge KO finish Poll Who wins tonight? Chris Tickle Joe Proctor   2 votes | Results

Posted in: fight, submission, joe, proctor, tickle

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Leading off the main card of UFC on Fuel TV 2, which commences at 3 p.m. ET this Saturday from Stockholm, Sweden, is a bantamweight brawl pitting Brad Pickett vs. Damacio Page. The consensus MMA rankings assess Pickett as the #9 and Page as the #20 bantamweight in the world. The former WEC standouts are both well rounded, experienced, well trained, bullheaded and diverse athletes with one-shot knockout power. Coincidentally, each have been relatively inactive due to random injuries. Since 2010, Pickett has competed 4 times while Page has made just 2 appearances. They also share common opponents in Scott Jorgensen and Demetrious Johnson. Page's frenetic scrambling and active guard facilitated a win over Jorgensen where as Pickett didn't have an answer for the D1 wrestler (both were decisions). Conversely, Page was submitted by Johnson and Pickett sprawled and brawled his way to a unanimous decision. Page, a Greg Jackson product, has a highly under-rated takedown and clinch game. Since tapping to a Genki Sudo triangle in K-1 circa 2006, Page has won 7 of 10 that includes a KO over Bellator's Marcos Galvao, a submission over Will Campuzano and double-guillotine losses to Brian Bowles. With the exception of Jorgensen, Page has finished every win (8 TKOs, 6 subs). After Pickett lost to Hideo Tokoro by submission in K-1 back in 2007, he's won 10 of 12 with only Jorgensen and Renan Barao accounting for his defeats. However, most of that streak took place in the UK-based Cage Rage and Ultimate Challenge promotions. Gifs and analysis in the full entry. SBN coverage of UFC on FUEL TV 2 Though he's not absent skill, Page is a rugged brawler. Not uncommonly, he'll unload a frenzied volley of massive overhands, high kicks and flying knees as he does against Bowles to the right. He's never been stopped by strikes, though 5 of his 6 losses are by submission. His bulletproof beard affords him the luxury of putting his head down and swinging for the fences. His pace and conditioning have always been solid, so Page will generally be whirling massive strikes from start to finish at a steady rate. The other traits that allow Page to get away with being reckless are his tremendous balance, strength and clinch game. He hits a nice Harai Goshi against the slippery "Mighty Mouse" to the left. His clinch prowess along with the aforementioned scrambling he used to keep Jorgensen at bay are hearty weapons, albeit rarely implemented. If Page had his way, he'd stand and wang 'til the cows come home, and Pickett shares that mentality. Though he's also a high-voltage pressure striker, Pickett is more methodical and brandishes a tight and technical boxing arsenal. He will throw knees in the clinch and at close range, but his typical strategy is to intently study his opponent's tendencies and rattle off a variety of crisp counters as they advance. Pickett follows the basic boxing handbook and targets all levels with counter punching. While every fighter basically tries to punch his adversary in the head, Pickett has a knack for gauging his foe, making on-the-fly adjustments and snapping quick and accurate punches through their defense. That's one sign of his strong fight I.Q. and another is the way he mixes in takedowns (left). Pickett actually opens up more opportunities for his striking by springing for well-timed double legs, which gives the defender another dimension to be concerned with. He starts off committing himself to explosive combinations to get his opponent back on his heels or stationary while deflecting blows, then drops levels and rifles deep into the pocket. Submission-wise, I gained a newfound respect for Pickett's ground game after he caught Kyle Dietz with a Peruvian Necktie at WEC 45. There are a lot of commonalities between Pickett and Page: they're dangerous strikers with deceiving capabilities in the clinch and on the ground. Standing, Page will swing for the fences and Pickett will use angles and head movement to counter. They're both tanks in the clinch; Page might be susceptible to submissions but I'm not sure Pickett can or will attempt to exploit that. I was thinking Page when this was first announced, but his idle schedule and the style match up have me leaning toward Pickett. Someone is going down if either land flush so I see this as almost a pick-em fight. My Prediction: Brad Pickett by decision. All gifs via Zombie Prophet of IronForgesIron.com Poll Brad Pickett vs. Damacio Page Pickett Page   10 votes | Results

Posted in: submission, jorgensen, page, he, pickett

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Fresh off a 13 second win in his last bout, Minnesota lightweight Damion Hill (6-0) dragged out his fight with Kenn Glenn (4-1) at Downtown Showdown 4. In fight billed as the main event of Downtown Showdown 4 Hill and Glenn fought at a catch weight of 150 pounds. The first fight sequence would lead to the end of fight and Hill closed the show with a emphatic statement. After the opening bell both fighters met in the center of the cage and Hill fired off multiple kicks to the body. Glenn caught a kick and held tightly until Hill quickly followed up with punches. Multiple punches from Hill landed on Glenn's unprotected chin. A power punch from Hill wobbled Glenn and the fight would end moments later by knockout. The official time of the knockout win for Hill was a mere 15 seconds into round one. Five of Hill's six pro wins have come inside the first round. A 20 year old lightweight prospect with the potential to possibly move down to 145, Hill turned pro in October 2011. With six fights in ten months Hill's active schedule has put him on the map to watch as a prospect to watch out of the Midwest in 2012. Downtown Showdown 4 resultsMinneapolis, MN*Damion Hill def. Kenn Glenn by KO (punches) 0:15 R1Paul Bradley def. Ryan Braun by submission arm triangle choke 2:11 R2*Bill Friday def. Lloyd McKinney by submission guillotine choke 0:26 R2*Brett Murphy def. Eddie Castillo by unanimous decisionDave Owens def. Brandon Pease by TKO (punches) 0:16 R1Tom Lytle def. Jake Erickson by submission triangle choke 1:31 R1Codie Kahler def. Dustin Wieland by TKO (punches) 1:36 R1Zaur Jalil def. Randal Rasmussen by submission Americana 2:20 R2Corwin Nichols def. Jeffery Brummett by TKO (punches) 3:00 R1Jake Grisel def. D. Rice by submission arm triangle 2:51 R1Mikey Wavereck def. Peter Riojas by submission triangle choke 1:31 R2*Prospect to watch

Posted in: fight, submission, punch, hill, glenn

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We’re almost there, Maniacs. After six painful Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)-free weeks, we will finally get our fill of major league face-punching this Saturday (April 14, 2012), as the world's pre-eminent mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion heads to Stockholm, Sweden, for UFC on FUEL TV 2. Leading the way for the organization's first Swedish show are local Light Heavyweight superstar Alexander Gustafsson and Brazilian bongo master Thiago Silva, the latter of whom is replacing an injured Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. In addition, Brian Stann and Alessio Sakara will try to bounce back from recent wrestling-based trouncings by bludgeoning one another, while Afghan kickboxing ace Siyar Bahadurzada will make his long-awaited Octagon debut opposite Paulo Thiago. But, before all that, we’ve got a stacked set of "Prelims" loaded with local talent and rising stars, set to be shown on Facebook. Dive in after the jump for part one of our UFC on Fuel TV 2 "Prelims" breakdown: 155 lbs.: Reza Madadi vs. Yoislandy Izquierdo Not one to gorge himself on lower-class fare, Reza Madadi (11-2) hasn’t taken an easy road lately -- his last three opponents (Rich Clementi, Carlo Prater and Junie Browning) have all been UFC veterans. And all of them have fallen to the "Mad Dog." While we unfortunately won’t get to see his stylish Iranian-flag grappling tights on display, we will get to see a quality submission game mixed with aggressive striking. Madadi was originally slated to debut back at UFC on FX 1 before injuries derailed the bout, and after a year on the sidelines, he’s most likely champing at the bit for his first UFC opponent. A powerful striker who most recently derailed previously-unbeaten Patrick Cenoble to win the CFA Lightweight title, Yoislandy Izquierdo (6-0) was booked to take on Bernardo Magalhaes on the first UFC on FUEL card, but a contract dispute nixed the fight. The heavy-handed "Cuba" fought four times in 2011 alone and, with the head of steam he’s built after his knockout victory over Cenoble, is set to make his mark in the UFC’s craziest division. Entertaining as his striking is, Izquierdo’s takedown defense is pretty much nonexistent, and despite Madadi’s moniker, he is very, very good on the ground. He had no trouble dealing with the guard of black belt Carlo Prater in their bout and has demonstrated solid takedowns to go along with it. Honestly, there isn’t a lot in "Cuba’s" favor here. He’s dealing with someone well-equipped to exploit his biggest weakness and competent enough on the feet to minimize his puncher’s chance. In addition, Madadi has homefield advantage, a more impressive resume, and significantly more experience overall. Entertaining as Izquierdo is, I don’t see him accomplishing much before Madadi brings him down and squeezes the life out of him. Prediction: Madadi via submission in round one 170 lbs.: Simeon Thoresen vs. Besam Yousef While famed Norwegian bruiser Joachim Hansen has vowed never to fight for the UFC, we’ll be getting the next best thing in Simeon Thoresen (16-2-1), the Pride FC veteran’s top pupil. A grappler by trade, "The Grin" has an astounding 14 submission victories to his credit and is the last man to defeat UFC Welterweight John Maguire. After a surprising knockout loss to Seydina Seck in March 2011, Thoresen has reeled off two consecutive first-round submissions (rear-naked choke), and will become the first Norwegian to win inside the Octagon should he be successful this Saturday. Sweden’s Besam Yousef (6-0), meanwhile, is not one to waste time. After his first career trip to the judges, he’s made up for lost time by winning his last two bouts in a combined 2:42. The undefeated Yousef could make one hell of a statement this Saturday if he manages to knock off the highly-touted Thoresen. The Seck loss has me rather concerned about Thoresen’s chin and his resume isn’t all that great outside of Maguire, but Yousef does not strike me as someone to exploit Thoresen's faults. He’s got a third as many fights as Thoresen, his stand up isn’t great, and he hasn’t beaten anyone worth a damn. I don’t know how high Thoresen’s ceiling is, but he’s the protege of a very smart, very effective fighter and has the skillset to give most folks in the 170-pound division a migraine. I will be very surprised if he doesn’t run roughshod over Yousef. He tends to have submission streaks (a bunch of armbars, then maybe a bunch of triangles, etc.), and his last four victories have been via rear naked choke, so expect him to drag Yousef down, latch on and bring a victory home for "Hellboy." Prediction: Thoresen via submission in round one 145 lbs.: Jason Young vs. Eric Wisely British banger Jason Young (8-5) was pretty much a non-entity in the Featherweight picture before his UFC 131 bout with Dustin Poirier, which made it all the more surprising when "Shotgun" very nearly defeated the "Diamond," chopping down the bigger man with hard leg kicks and effective striking combinations. He would be slightly less successful in his sophomore effort, however, as the stifling Judo prowess of Michihiro Omigawa proved too much for Young to defend. Now 0-2 in the promotion, he could be teetering on the brink of being cut despite his strong showing against Poirer, and will need to make a statement against Lee to remain employed. Correctly making the decision to cut 10 pounds after getting stifled by the ginormous Pat Healy, Eric Wisely (19-7) had the misfortune of meeting Charles Oliveira in the latter’s 145-pound debut, becoming the victim of a picture-perfect calf slicer at UFC on Fox 2. Before those missteps, "Little Lee" had proven himself a contender with wins over UFC veterans Hermes Franca and Matt Veach, but all that could be for naught if he can’t take out Young. Young’s stand up acumen is undeniable, but he suffers from a bad case of British wrestling. And while Wisely has more knockouts than submissions, he’s deadly on the ground, as evidenced by the headaches he gave the notoriously stifling Healy. While Young most likely has a significant advantage on his feet, I’m just not convinced that he can stop Wisely’s takedowns or take him out before he gets a chance to try. He’s a joy to watch, but lacks the positional control necessary for a striker to succeed at this level. Look for Wisely to spend most of the fight on top before locking up something unpleasant. Prediction: Wisely via submission in round two Stop by tomorrow for a look at the three remaining fights on the UFC on Fuel TV 2 under card, featuring the likes of Papy Abedi and Francis Carmont, among others. See you then! Remember, too, that MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of UFC on Fuel TV 2, beginning with the "Prelims" bouts on Facebook scheduled for around 12:30 p.m. ET. In addition, we will also provide LIVE, real-time results of the main card action as it happens throughout the afternoon this upcoming weekend.

Posted in: ufc, submission, hersquo, madadi, thoresen

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At Bellator 64 welterweight champion Ben Askren once again showed why he’s one of the most dangerous wrestlers in MMA at the moment with another dominant performance involving his adversary spending the bulk of the bout on his backside. Though not conducive to putting together aesthetically pleasing performances, Askren’s uncanny ability to take opponents down and control them from on top is highly effective as opponent Douglas Lima learned last night in their title-fight. Askren picked up a Unanimous Decision win after five-rounds of raining down shots from above and avoiding the occasional submission attempt. The victory ran Askren’s perfect record to 10-0 since transitioning from being an Olympic wrestler to Mixed Martial Artist. A Closer Look at Askren’s Toughest Fight to Date Also worth noting, Marlon Sandro advanced to the Season 6 featherweight final by narrowly outpointing Brazilian countryman Alexandre Bezerra, while bantamweights Hiroshi Nakamura and Travis Marx moved on to their respective tournament’s semifinal round with decision wins. Read below for a full list of Bellator 64 results: Jason Fischer def. Taylor Solomon via Technical Submission Round 3 (Rear-Naked Choke) Kyle Prepolec def. Lance Snow via Submission Round 1 (Armbar) Elias Theodorou def. Rich Lictawa via Verbal Submission Round 1 (Eye Injury) Nordine Taleb def. Matt Secor via Unanimous Decision Mike Richman def. Chris Horodecki via Knockout Round 1 (Strikes) Chad Laprise def. Josh Taveirne via Submission Round 1 (Triangle Choke) Hiroshi Nakamura def. Rodrigo Lima via Unanimous Decision Travis Marx def. Masakatsu Ueda via Unanimous Decision Marlon Sandro def. Alexandre Bezerra via Split Decision Ben Asken def. Douglas Lima via Unanimous Decision Tweet

Posted in: round, decision, submission, lima, askren

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Here's few of the big news coming out of the Asian MMA scene: Legend FC 8, which happened in Hong Kong last weekend, was originally supposed to be in Jakarta, headlined by Indonesia's home town hero, Fransino Tirta. Unfortunately, he ruptured his appendix before the fight, and had to be scrapped from the card. After several more injuries and a whirlwind of events, the promotion decided to move the show to their home-base of Hong Kong, just two weeks before the event.It was a tough task, but their co-founder Chris Pollack claims that they still broke attendance records in the country. "We had to uproot our show, change countries and come to Hong Kong and put on a fight with only two weeks notice," he said, "But despite all the challenges we faced, we still saw our strongest ever ticket sales in Hong Kong." Headlining the event was Jadamba Narantungalag taking on Nam Yui Chul for the Legend FC lightweight title. After winning the first round where Jadamba had dropped his Korean opponent, the Mongolian fighter locked in a guillotine on the second round to successfully defend his lightweight belt for the first time. For the co-headliner of the night, Yusuke Kawanago took home the vacant Legend FC featherweight title by submitting Chinese fighter, Ji Xian, who was stepping in on short notice. With the victory, Kawanago is expected to make his first title defense against Fransino Tita when the fight gets re-booked for that planned Indonesian card in July. Those title fights will obviously get the most attention, but the two bouts that stole the show were on the prelims. (You can watch them here). Filipino fighter Augustin Delarmino was losing all three rounds on his fight, showing lack of takedown defense and jiujitsu skills. He was able to survive though, and with just 29 seconds left he displayed his excellent Muay Thai, and KO'd Kai Kara-France to win his second straight Knockout of the Night bonus in as much fights. Rob Hill also made a splash as he made the most of his opportunity when he stepped in on short notice against a then undefeated Japanese fighter in Yusuke Kasuya. Interestingly enough, Hill, who is known for brawling, choked out Kasuya with a move which the Japanese submission fighter is well known for. He got Submission on the Night honors as a late replacement, on his birthday weekend. Quite an interesting night for the Australian. More Asian MMA news after the jump, focusing on the UFC TV deal in India. -- Follow me on twitter. Full Results for Legend FC 8:Jadamba Narantungalag (Mongolia) def. Nam Yui Chul (Korea) by submission 0:58 Round 2Yusuke Kawanago (Japan) def. Ji Xian (China) by submission 4:18 Round 2Sam Brown (New Zealand) def. Yuki Niimura (Japan) by unanimous decisionKeita Nakamura (Japan) def. Kim Hoon (Korea) by technical knockout (injury) Round 1Wu Haotian (China) def. Daniel Hooker (New Zealand) by submission 4:52 Round 2Rob Hill (Australia) def. Yusuke Kasuya (Japan) by submission 4:55 Round 1Wu Chengjie (China) def. Leonard Delarmino (Philippines) by unanimous decisionDanaa Batgerel (Mongolia) def. Jazor Ablasi (Philippines) by unanimous decisionAgustin Delarmino, Jr. (Philippines) def. Kai Kara-France (New Zealand) by knockout 0:29 Round 3Terrance Chan (Hong Kong) def. Alex Lee (Hong Kong) by submission 1:55 in Round 2 There are more than a billion residents in India, and the UFC has been hoping to tap into that market for quite some time now. They took the first step to that recently after signing a 4-year deal with Multi Screen Media, or MSM, to broadcast events in India. UFC programming will now be shown on a new channel called Sony SIX. This can be very instrumental in helping the sport grow in a country where MMA is still in it's infancy. There are currently 2 promotions running in India with 2 very different business models. There's Full Contact Championship (FCC), which has been quietly running shows since 2009, and has a model that believes in developing a true grassroots program that pits their local guys against each other to further develop talent. On the other hand, there's the more popular SFL, or Super Fight League who are grooming their Indian fighters by having them compete against foreign fighters from countries such as Sri Lanka, the Ivory Coast, and others. SFL spends more and gets more attention by bringing in familiar names from the US, along with several concerts, musical acts and Bollywood dances, while FCC takes the more typical and conservative approach by slowly building up a grassroots movement. Time will tell on which business model will succeed in the long run, but it's guaranteed that the UFC TV will do wonders for both promotions.

Posted in: fight, fighter, round, submission, hong

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 Bellator 64 results Ontario, Canada Ben Askren def. Douglas Lima via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45, 50-45)Marlon Sandro def. Alexandre Bezerra via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) Travis Marx def. Masakatsu Ueda via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)Hiroshi Nakamura def. Rodigo Lima via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)Elias Theodorou def. Rich Lictawa via TKO (retirement) 0:33 R3Kyle Prepolec def. Lance Snow via submission armbar 2:54 R1Chad Laprise def. Josh Taveirne via submission triangle choke 2:48 R1Mike Richman def. Chris Horodecki via knockout (punches) 1:23 R1Nordine Taleb def. Matt Secor via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-24)Taylor Solomon def. Jason Fischer via technical submission rear naked choke 4:59 R3Bantamweight update and fighter rankings after the jumpAll tournament rankings are done by ULTMMA.com prior to the opening round of the Bellator eight man bracket. These rankings are unofficial. Former MMA prospects ranked and graded by ULTMMA.com who are making their Bellator tournament debuts include: Mike Corey, Ricardo Tirloni, Karl Amoussou, Raul Amaya and Bruno Santos.Bantamweight spring 2012 tourneyApril 6, Ontario, Canada Travis Marx (#6) def. Masakatsu Ueda (#1) by unanimous decision Hiroshi Nakamura (#8) def. Rodigo Lima (#5) by unanimous decisionApril 13, Atlantic City, New JerseyEd West (#4) vs. Marcos Galvao (#3)Alexis Vila (#2) vs. Luis Nogueira (#7)Featherweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 9, Hammond, IndianaMarlon Sandro (#1) def. Roberto Vargas (#6) by Submission RNC R1Mike Corey (#7) def. Ronnie Mann (#2) by Unanimous DecisionAlexandre Bezerra (#3) def. Kenny Foster (#8) by Submission RNC R2Daniel Straus (#4) def. Jeremy Spoon (#5) by Unanimous DecisionApril 6, Ontario, CanadaMarlon Sandro (#1) def. Alexandre Bezerra (#3) by split decision TBDMike Corey (#7) vs. Daniel Straus (#4)Lightweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 23, Laredo, TexasLloyd Woodard (#4) def. Patricky Freire (#1) by Submission Kimura R1Rick Hawn (#2) def. Ricardo Tirloni (#3) by TKO R1Brent Weedman (#8) def. J.J. Ambrose (#6) by Submission Von Flue Choke R2Thiago Michel (#5) def. Rene Nazare (#7) by Split DecisionApril 20, Cleveland, OhioRick Hawn (#2) vs. Lloyd Woodard (#4)Thiago Michel (#5) vs. Brent Weedman (#8)Welterweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 30, Uncasville, ConnecticutKarl Amoussou (#3) def. Chris Lozano (#4) by Unanimous DecisionBen Saunders (#1) def. Raul Amaya (#5) by Submission Rear Naked Choke R1David Rickels (#8) def. Jordan Smith (#6) by KO R1Bryan Baker (#2) def. Carlos Pereira (#7) by Split DecisionMay 4, Ontario, CanadaBen Saunders (#1) vs. Bryan Baker (#2)Karl Amoussou (#3) vs. David Rickels (#8)Middleweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 16, Bossier City, LouisianaMaiquel Falcao (#2) def. Norman Paraisy (#7) by Unanimous DecisionBrian Rogers (#6) def. Vitor Vianna (#1) by KO R1Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (#3) def. Victor O'Donnell (#8) by Unanimous DecisionBruno Santos (#4) def. Giva Santana (#5) by Unanimous DecisionApril 20, Cleveland, OhioMaiquel Falcao (#2) vs. Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (#3)Bruno Santos (#4) vs. Brian Rogers (#6)Bellator 63 results

Posted in: decision, submission, vs, spring, decisionapril

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Bellator 64 took place tonight live from Windsor, Ontario. In the card’s main event, Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren dominated Douglas Lima for five rounds to retain the belt. The card’s co-main event was the first featherweight semifinal with Marlon Sandro edging Alexandre Bezerra by split decision. In the first two bantamweight quarterfinals, Travis Marx and Hiroshi Nakamura secured their spots in the semifinals with victories. Main Card Welterweight Championship: Ben Askren (c) def. Douglas Lima via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45) Featherweight Semifinal: Marlon Sandro def. Alexandre Bezerra via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) Bantamweight Quarterfinal: Travis Marx def. Masakatsu Ueda via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) Bantamweight Quarterfinal: Hiroshi Nakamura def. Rodigo Lima via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27) Preliminary Card Mike Richman def. Chris Horodecki via knockout (punches) at 1:23 of Round 1 Chad Laprise def. Josh Taveirne via submission (triangle choke) at 2:48 of Round 1 Kyle Prepolec def. Lance Snow via submission (arm-bar) at 2:54 of Round 1* Elias Theodorou def. Rich Lictawa via verbal submission (blindness) at 0:33 of Round 3* Nordine Taleb def. Matt Secor via unanimous decision(30-27, 30-27, 30-24) Taylor Solomon def. Jason Fischer via via technical submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:59 of Round 3 *- took place after the televised card

Posted in: round, decision, submission, card, alexandre bezerra

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[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on DstryrSG, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] How many times do you hear people explaining how important basics and fundamentals are to anyone's Jiu Jitsu game? Answer: All the time. We all want to be that smooth as silk grappler who pulls off seemingly impossible transitions leading to ridiculously embarrassing submission (for our opponents, of course). And, we see the pros do that kind of thing at big tournaments like the Pans this past weekend ... and we feel entitled to do them ourselves. But, we shouldn't. There is no submission without good balance, weight distribution, hips escapes, grips, understanding of joint manipulation. And, there should be no berimbolo or tornado sweep or any submission requiring a shoulder roll or inversion without a first mastering the basic submissions (i.e., armbar, triangle, collar and rear naked choke and kimura) from the traditional positions. At least, that's what I think. Now, watch Denis Kang show you how it's done with an airtight method for armbar from side control. This should work with or without the gi. You Kang Click Here For More...

Posted in: submission, side control, armbar, dstryrsg part, middleeasy networkdiv

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Former UFC heavyweight John Olav Einemo has announced his retirement from MMA in an interview with the Norwegian newspaper, VG Nett. Einemo, who went 0-2 in his brief career inside the Octagon, said he felt a return to the UFC could be in his future, but the time it would take away from his family was not worth it. The former ADCC Submission World Champion is 36 years old. He was released from the UFC when issues with payment between fighters from Golden Glory came about. Einemo’s MMA record stands at 6-3, with five of those six victories coming by way of submission. He also is on the short list of people to defeat Roger Gracie in the Abu Dhabi Combat Club tournament.

Posted in: ufc, mma, submission, john, einemo

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This week on the UFC's The Ultimate Fighter Live, Urijah Faber is once again in control as he chooses his #5 pick Michael Chiesa to face Dominick Cruz #8 Jeremy Larsen. We've been a bit spoiled by big fights the past few weeks, so this one, while definitely containing some intrigue in the stylistic match-up, is a bit lackluster. On paper at least. In the cage? We'll have to see just what these two deliver. Once again, here we'll break down the match-up, including video of each contestant to get you ready. The Ultimate Fighter airs live on FX Friday night at 10 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. PT. After Al Iaquinta defeated Myles Jury last week, Team Faber regained control of the fight picks, setting up this contest. This choice stands as a sharp contrast to Cruz's style from the past two weeks. Where Cruz was trying to push his guys with tough match-ups and take out Faber's legs, Faber is favoring a more conservative matchmaking style built around pairing guys who match up advantageously for his side. At least, that's the hope. Last time he tried that, Daron Cruickshank ended up knocked out. One last quick note - unlike previous weeks, there is not much footage from either man available, so my analysis is based primarily on their TUF fights. That's not much to draw from, but it's the best we can do. MICHAEL CHIESA (7-0)6'1" | 24 years old | 76" reachTUF record: def.Johnavan Vistante (Sub, R1) Chiesa is, sadly, best known at the moment for the passing of his father in the first week. It's a sad story, and one that really shows you just how much these guys are human beings, dealing with all the same issues of family and responsibility as the rest of us. It's also a heavy mental burden to carry. Now, Chiesa fights for his dad - which could either be a great motivator, or provide too much pressure. Chiesa fights out of the Pacific Northwest. He's undefeated at 7-0 with 5 submission wins, though he has not faced any particularly noteworthy competition. When picking the fight, Faber described Chiesa as a wrestler, and while that is true, Chiesa uses his wrestling in a different way. He's quick to shoot and get inside, then drag the fight to the mat. Once there, he focuses his attack on submissions instead of just maintaining control or ground and pound as many wrestlers do. He has long limbs and uses them to tie up his opponent, never releasing his grip. He's very active with those submissions, transitioning between attempts. I'd say his submission style is based strongly on that Gracie model of position, then submission, meaning he establishes a controlling position, then attacks for the sub. It's a good style that he employs well. On the feet, there is very little to judge, but what I've seen looks pretty sloppy and only serves to set up the takedown. Against Larsen, I expect Chiesa to close the distance quickly, take the mat, and start working his submission game. Hopefully, he's spending some time this week working with Cristiano Marcello, who has a very similar grappling style. JEREMY LARSEN (8-2)5' 8" | 21 years old | 67" reachTUF record: def. Jeff Smith (Dec) At this point in the show, Larsen is pretty much a total unknown - I couldn't even remember anything about him before I started looking into him this week. He's from the Arizona area, but previously spent some time in California where he trained with his TUF coach Dominick Cruz. The fact that he has trained with Cruz and Cruz picked him last does not fill me with confidence. Nor does Cruz's statement that he struggles against wrestlers (which Faber rather brilliantly brought up at the fight announcement last week). However, he has faced some of the best competition of anyone in the house. His two losses come against TUF champion Efrain Escudero and UFC veteran Edgar Garcia. The Smith fight, and Cruz's comments during that fight, are all I have to go on here. Larsen describes himself as a boxer who wants to trade, but he also looked comfortable on the ground (and Cruz said he was indeed comfortable grappling). He has decent submission defense, and did a good job regaining position against Smith. On the feet, he didn't show good cage control in that fight, allowing Smith to close the distance quickly and secure the clinch. His striking style looks to be from the Chris Leben mode - a swinging brawler looking for the KO. For the Chiesa fight, he'll need to control that distance and keep Chiesa away. If Larsen keeps the fight standing, he'll be playing to his strengths and his opponent's weakness. Prediction: Mike Chiesa by submission Larsen is resilient, and I suspect he'll put up a fight on the ground. But I don't see him keeping this standing against Chiesa, and I also think Chiesa's relentless submission attacks will eventually get through. Fight footage in the full entry. Like I said, not a lot of footage from either man this week. Sorry. Michael Chiesa vs. ???No details on this fight, and it's not even complete, but it's all I've got to share. Also, you like slams? Chiesa (in green) throws a beauty here.

Posted in: fight, week, submission, cruz, chiesa

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Watch as Japanese submission legend Shinya Aoki pulls off a stellar triangle finish against Clay French at Pride Bushido 13, courtesy of "The Best of Pride" on Fuel TV.

Posted in: submission, aoki, triangle, pride, triangle submission

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Gilbert Yvel def. Houston Alexander by KO (Punch) 3:59 R1Maurice Smith def. Jorge Cordoba by KO (Head Kick) 2:05 R3Fight videos featuring prospects Tim Elliot, Jared Downing and Derek Lewis Timothy Elliott def. Josh Rave by Technical Submission Brabo Choke 0:28 R1Jared Downing def. Alessandro Ferreira by Unanimous Decision Derrick Lewis def. Justin Frazier by TKO (Knee to the Body and Punches) 2:37 R1Tara LaRosa def. Kelly Warren by Submission Armbar 4:59 R3Cliff Wright def. Dakota Cochrane by Technical Submission Rear Naked Choke 4:39 R1

Posted in: submission, houston alexander, jorge cordoba, justin frazier, kelly warren

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One FC has posted video of the entire One FC: War of the Lions event, which took place yesterday in Singapore from the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Notable fighters such as Melvin Manhoef and Tatsuya Kawajiri participated in the promotion’s third event, after the organization debuted in 2011. The results for the entire 11-fight event: Main Card Zorobabel Moreira defeated Felipe Enomoto via submission (Armbar) at 1:04 of round 3 Tatsuya Kawajiri def. Donald Sanchez via submission (triangle choke) at 3:32 of round 1 Ole Laursen def. Eduard Folayang via split decision Fabricio Monteiro def. Yuya Shirai via unanimous decision Melvin Manhoef vs. Yoshiyuki Nakanishi – Fight ruled a no contest Eddie Ng def. Jian Kai Chee via TKO (punches) at 0:43 of round 1 Preliminary Card Masakazu Imanari def. Kevin Belingon via submission (reverse heel hook) at 1:18 of round 1 Nicole Chua def. Jeet Toshi via submission (rear naked choke) at 2:07 of round 1. Quek Kim Hock def. Juan Wen Jie via submission (rear naked choke) at 3:18 of round 2. Jiang Long Yun def. Yodsanan Sityodtong via submission (rear naked choke) at 4:28 of round 1 Danny van Bergen def. Richie Whitson via submission (armbar) at 1:17 of round 1 The entire event’s video is below:

Posted in: round, submission, video, event, submission armbar

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If you're suffering from a case of the Lazy Sundays, Singapore's ONE Fighting Championship has made available the entire 11-fight card from its weekend event. Among the recognizable names competing: Melvin Manhoef, Tatsuya Kawajiri, and submission whiz Masakazu Imanari. The event took place before 8,000 fans at Singapore Indoor Stadium, who saw Zorobabel Moreira beat Felipe Enomoto via submission in the main event. War of the Lions was the third event hosted by the fast-growing promotion, which was launched in 2011. The full event video is available after the jump. Full Results Main CardZorobabel Moreira defeated Felipe Enomoto via submission (Armbar), Rd. 3Tatsuya Kawajiri def. Donald Sanchez via submission (triangle choke), Rd. 1Ole Laursen def. Eduard Folayang via split decision. Fabricio Monteiro def. Yuya Shirai via unanimous decision. Melvin Manhoef vs. Yoshiyuki Nakanishi - no contest, injury stoppage, Rd. 1 Eddie Ng def. Jian Kai Chee via TKO (punches) at 0:43 of round 1. Preliminary Card Masakazu Imanari def. Kevin Belingon via submission (reverse heel hook), Rd. 1Nicole Chua def. Jeet Toshi via submission (rear naked choke), Rd. 1. Quek Kim Hock def. Juan Wen Jie via submission (rear naked choke), Rd. 2. Jiang Long Yun def. Yodsanan Sityodtong via submission (rear naked choke), Rd. 1 Danny van Bergen def. Richie Whitson via submission (armbar), Rd. 1

Posted in: submission, event, rd, felipe enomoto, yodsanan sityodtong

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Many of you younger fans will not be familiar with Maurice Smith, the former UFC heavyweight champion. That's too bad because Mo had two HUGE accomplishments in MMA: he was the first kickboxer to take the UFC heavyweight title (at that time the best in the world); and he helped Frank Shamrock develop the first fully well-rounded skill-set in MMA history, sending Frank on one of the all-time title runs. Now Smith has added another unique accomplishment to his resume: he won a professional MMA bout at age 50, by KO. Smith (13-13, 4-3 UFC, 50 years old ) fought Jorge Cordoba (4-3, 0-0 UFC, age unknown) at Resurrection Fighting Alliance 2 in Kearney, Nebraska last night. MMA Mania's Adam Guillen, Jr reports on the fight: The 50 year-old didn't look a day over 30 in his performance, connecting repeatedly at will on his young counterpart. Throughout the fight, Cordoba was the aggressor, rushing in and swinging wildly at times, but catching air for the most part. While, Smith remained calmed and picked his shots carefully, battering Cordoba's face. With two minutes remaining the fight, it seemed Smith was well on his way to a unanimous decision victory, but that was not what the kick boxer had in mind. After eating a right hand from Smith, Cordoba tried to make some distance between he and the 50 year-old, but did so with his hands down. That was all Smith needed to connect with a clean head kick that put the young fighter out for the count. The event also saw UFC veteran Gilbert Yvel take on Houston Alexander, Tara LaRosa and The Ultimate Fighter not-quite contestant Dakota Cochrane. Complete results after the jump. Complete event results and animated gif of the KO after the jump: Gilbert Yvel beat Houston Alexander via knockout at 3:59 of round 1Cliff Wright Jr. beat Dakota Cochrane via submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:40 of round 1Maurice Smith beat Jorge Cordoba via knockout (head kick) at 2:05 of round 3Tara LaRosa beat Kelly Warren via submission (armbar) at 4:59 of round 1Derrick Lewis beat Justin Frazier via knockout at 2:37 of round 1Tim Elliott beat Josh Rave via technical submission (darce-choke) at 0:28 of round 1Jared Downing beatAlessandro Ferreira via unanimous decisionLaramie Shaffer beatAaron Ely via split decisionElaina Maxwell beat Ashley Sanchez via unanimous decisionTyler Shinn beat Cody Land via submission (north-south choke) at 3:53 of round 3Aaron Derrow beat Jordan Johnson via submission (triangle choke) at 2:12 of round one 1Angelo Antuna beat Chad Obermiller via submission (rear-naked choke) in round 2Darrio Mobley beat John Gettle via technical knockout in round 3Tyler Perry beat Wayman Carter via submission (arm-triangle choke) in round 1

Posted in: ufc, round, submission, smith, cordoba

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Anyone up early enough to catch this morning’s mayhem in Singapore at ONE FC: War of the Lions enjoyed a breakfast of brutality, blood, and brilliant groundwork. The organization further cemented its place as a potential force in the Far East by presenting an entertaining card featuring a handful of familiar names including Masakazu Imanari, Melvin Manhoef, and Tatsuya Kawajiri. Though Manhoef’s bout with Yoshiyuki Nakanashi was ultimately ruled a No Contest, the clash still satisfied from a primal perspective after a clash of legs resulted in each suffering a gruesome wound. However, the damage didn’t dampen either’s spirits as both competitors looked ready to continue the clash had ringside officials allowed them to. Kawajiri and Imanari both scored slick submission wins, the former improving his record to 3-0 since dropping down to featherweight. Kawajiri made quick work of apt adversary Donald Sanchez, locking in a Triangle Choke, while Imanari needed half as much time to tap Kevin Belingon using a trademark Heel Hook to do so. Read below for a complete list of ONE FC 3 results: Danny van Bergen def. Richie Whitson via Submission Round 1 (Armbar) Long Yun Jiang def. Yodsanan Sityodtong via Technical Submission Round 1 (Rear-Naked Choke) Kim Hock Quek def. Majee Overall via Technical Submission Round 2 (Rear-Naked Choke) Nicole Chua def. Jeet Toshia via Submission Round 1 (Rear-Naked Choke) Masakazu Imanari def. Kevin Belingon via Submission Round 1 (Reverse Heel Hook) Eddie Ng def. Jian Kai Chee via TKO Round 1 (Strikes) Melvin Manhoef vs. Yoshiyuki Nakanishi – No Contest Fabricio Monteiro def. Yuya Shirai via Unanimous Decision Ole Laursen def. Eduard Folayang via Split Decision Tatsuya Kawajiri def. Donald Sanchez via Submission Round 1 (Triangle Choke) Zorobabel Moreira def. Felipe Enomoto via Submission Round 3 (Armbar) PHOTO CREDIT – FEG

Posted in: round, submission, kawajiri, imanari, kevin belingon

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Melvin Manhoef and DEEP champion Yoshiyuki Nakanishi were on there way to a spectacular fight, until both guys got cuts from a kick. Manhoef's shin hit Nakanishi on the knee, and both impact points suffered nasty cuts. Manhoef didn't realize it at first, cause the doctors checked on Nakanishi's cut, but as pictured above, Melvin definitely got the worst of that impact. The fight was turned into a no-contest despite both guys still wanting to get it on after the fight has been waived. Related: ONE FC 3: War Of The Lions Live Video Stream And Results There are more photos after the jump, and you can expect a full ONE FC gallery in the coming weeks. All photos taken by Anton Tabuena Full Results: Ole Laursen def. Eduard Folayang via Split Decision Fabricio Monteiro def. Yuya Shirai via Unanimous DecisionMelvin Manhoef vs. Yoshiyuki Nakanishi No Contest (Accidental Injury)Eddie Ng def. Jian Kai Chee via TKO (Punches) at 0:43 of Round 1Masakazu Imanari def. Kevin Belingon via submission (Reverse Heel Hook) at 1:18 of Round 1Yuji Shimada Nicole Chua def. Jeet Toshi via submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 2:07 of Round 1 Kim Hock Quek def. Majee Overall via technical submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 3:18 of Round 2Long Yun Jiang def. Yodsanan Sityodtong via technical submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 4:28 of Round 1Danny van Bergen def. Richie Whitson via submission (Armbar) at 1:19 of Round 1

Posted in: round, submission, submission rearnaked, manhoef, nakanishi

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Bellator 63 resultsUncasville, CTKarl Amoussou def. Chris Lozano via submission rear naked choke 2:05 R1Bryan Baker def. Carlos Pereira via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)David Rickels def. Jordan Smith via knockout (punches) 0:22 R1Ben Saunders def. Raul Amaya via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-38, 29-28)Matt Bessette def. Saul Almeida via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)Dan Cramer def. Jeff Nader via split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)Andrey Koreshkov def. Taiwan Howard via knockout (punch) 1:26 R1Munah Holland def. Marianna Kheyfets via knockout (punches) 4:45 R2Brandon Fleming def. Pete Rogers via submission Peruvian necktie 3:39 R1Welterweight bracket update and fighter rankings after the jumpAll tournament rankings are done by ULTMMA.com prior to the opening round of the Bellator eight man bracket. These rankings are unofficial. Former MMA prospects ranked and graded by ULTMMA.com who are making their Bellator tournament debuts include: Mike Corey, Ricardo Tirloni, Karl Amoussou, Raul Amaya and Bruno Santos.Featherweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 9, Hammond, IndianaMarlon Sandro (#1) def. Roberto Vargas (#6) by Submission RNC R1Mike Corey (#7) def. Ronnie Mann (#2) by Unanimous DecisionAlexandre Bezerra (#3) def. Kenny Foster (#8) by Submission RNC R2Daniel Straus (#4) def. Jeremy Spoon (#5) by Unanimous DecisionApril 6, Ontario, CanadaMarlon Sandro (#1) vs. Alexandre Bezerra (#3)Mike Corey (#7) vs. Daniel Straus (#4)Lightweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 23, Laredo, TexasLloyd Woodard (#4) def. Patricky Freire (#1) by Submission Kimura R1Rick Hawn (#2) def. Ricardo Tirloni (#3) by TKO R1Brent Weedman (#8) def. J.J. Ambrose (#6) by Submission Von Flue Choke R2Thiago Michel (#5) def. Rene Nazare (#7) by Split DecisionApril 20, Cleveland, OhioRick Hawn (#2) vs. Lloyd Woodard (#4)Thiago Michel (#5) vs. Brent Weedman (#8)Welterweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 30, Uncasville, ConnecticutKarl Amoussou (#3) def. Chris Lozano (#4) by Unanimous DecisionBen Saunders (#1) def. Raul Amaya (#5) by Submission Rear Naked Choke R1David Rickels (#8) def. Jordan Smith (#6) by KO R1Bryan Baker (#2) def. Carlos Pereira (#7) by Split DecisionMay 4, Ontario, Canada Ben Saunders (#1) vs. Bryan Baker (#2) Karl Amoussou (#3) vs. David Rickels (#8) Middleweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 16, Bossier City, LouisianaMaiquel Falcao (#2) def. Norman Paraisy (#7) by Unanimous DecisionBrian Rogers (#6) def. Vitor Vianna (#1) by KO R1Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (#3) def. Victor O'Donnell (#8) by Unanimous DecisionBruno Santos (#4) def. Giva Santana (#5) by Unanimous DecisionApril 20, Cleveland, Ohio Maiquel Falcao (#2) vs. Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (#3)Bruno Santos (#4) vs. Brian Rogers (#6)Bellator 62 results

Posted in: bellator, submission, vs, chris lozano, amoussou

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"I think he was more surprised. There's that almost denial that he feels because there is a high confidence level that he is about to get out. As his brain is trying to figure out an answer on what to do to get out of this, he is in a panic, I am still applying the move. I'm not sitting there waiting for him to figure out what to do. And so, you know, his brain never really accepted defeat. He was looking for a way as to what to do until the end. As far as what I would do, I say, that, if it's a limb thing, I definitely would, once I know I feel something starting to pop, I think I would slap out to, tap out and say screw it. I don't want to have a broken bone and shred something and alter the way I walk or maybe the way I brush my teeth the rest of my life. On chokes, I've been known to be a dick in the gym and pass out and to go very close." -- Being one of the top Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialists in the world with nine submission victories under his belt, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight Frank Mir knows a thing or two about forcing a tap from an opponent. On Dec., 10, 2011, Mir submitted fellow jiu-jitsu black belt, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, with a bone shattering kimura after "Minotauro" refused to tap at UFC 140 because of his "denial," as Mir told Sherdog.com. In the process, Mir became the only man to ever finish the Pride FC legend via knockout (UFC 92) and submission. Not one to be proud to a painful fault, the former UFC Heavyweight champion says that he is not opposed to tapping if it means ensuring no broken bones. Mir will next take his submission skills inside the Octagon against former champion Cain Velasquez in a number one contenders fight on May 26, 2012, at UFC 146 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Though the win is the number one goal, it's safe to say Mir wouldn't mind being the first-ever to submit the Mexican-American brawler ... or break another wing. For the record, Mir has yet to tap himself in a professional mixed martial arts (MMA) bout.

Posted in: ufc, mir, submission, bone, record mir

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 California promotion Xplode Fight Series held their third event of 2012 with a massive 15 fight event. In the main event (video above) local California prospects Jason Miknuk (4-2) and David Salas (4-2) continued the breakneck pace of the bout sheet with ninth first round finish of the night. Miknuk sniffed Salas with a solid knee and finished him with punches in the fight's opening exchange. A 6'1 featherweight prospect the win for Miknuk snapped a two fight losing skid. Former WEC bantamweight and current flyweight prospect Danny Martinez (16-4) picked his third win in a row with a first round stoppage of Rich Bonafidini (0-1). Martinez, now training out of Alliance MMA in San Diego, overwhelmed Bonafidini with punches just past the two minute point of the opening frame. The official time of Martinez's TKO win was 2:33 of round one. Martinez has won seven of his last nine fights with both losses coming at the hands of world ranked 125 pounders Joseph Benavidez and Jussier da Silva. At 125 pounds Martinez's combination of offensive wrestling and world class training partners make him ready made for the UFC's newly former flyweight division. Still just 26 years of age Martinez is four star prospect at 125 pounds that should be scooped up by the UFC before the end of 2012. In the latest ULTMMA.com prospect rankings Martinez is slotted in the four spot at flyweight. Xplode Fight Series Disarm resultsValley Center, CaliforniaJason Miknuk def. David Salas by KO (Knee) 0:16 R1Merwyn Rivera def. Anthony Moore by Submission Armbar 0:15 R1Marcus Aven def. Squire Redfern by Submission Rear Naked Choke 2:24 R2Shane Kruchten def. Jordan Gammel by Submission Rear Naked Choke 0:09 R1Chris Brown def. Doug Trotter by TKO (Punches) 0:15 R1*Danny Martinez def. Rich Bonafidini by TKO (Punches) 2:33 R1Jesse Lopez def. Joey Apodaca by TKO (Punches) 0:45 R1Carlos Baruch def. Keith Welpner Submission Rear Naked Choke 1:42 R1Derek Anderson def. Dino Valdez by Submission Guillotine Choke 0:26 R1Giovanni Davis def. Casey Ryan by Submission Arm Triangle Choke 0:44 R1Bubba Pugh def. Joe Neri by Submission Triangle Choke 0:57 R1Brandon Morris def. Cardell Williams by Unanimous Decision Kevin Michel def. Jeremy Hernandez by Unanimous Decision Joshua Aveles def. Matt Madrid by Submission Armbar 2:29 R3Ivan Herrera def. Matt Butler by Unanimous Decision *Prospect to watch

Posted in: fight, submission, prospect, martinez, punch

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The UFC's Calgary debut in July, which will serve as UFC 149, now has its first official bout, as the UFC's Canada office tweeted today that Canada's own, Mitch Gagnon, will make his UFC debut against TUF 14 semifinalist, Bryan Caraway, who will be moving down from 145 lbs.: Sudbury's own Mitch Gagnon is confirmed for #UFC149 in Calgary card as he faces bantamweight Bryan 'Kid Lightning' Caraway Gagnon appeared on BloodyElbow.com's 2011 World Scouting Report as the #10-ranked featherweight, but he has since been competing at 135 lbs. Now riding a six-fight winning streak, the submission specialist who trains with Team Shredder was supposed to make his UFC debut as a short-notice replacement against Johnny Bedford in November, but visa issues prevented Gagnon from getting into the U.S. in time for the fight, and he'll now make his debut in his homeland instead. Caraway, a member of Team Alpha Male along with his current significant other and former Strikeforce women's champion, Miesha Tate, hasn't seen action since he submitted Dustin Neace on the TUF 14 Finale card. "Kid Lightning" will have a significant experience advantage over Gagnon as he's faced much stiffer competition during his previous stints in Strikeforce, EliteXC, and the WEC, but we'll see if his top-notch wrestling abilities are enough to fend off the submissions of the Canadian newcomer. Mitch Gagnon (8-1)W David Harris (submission - guillotine) - Ringside MMA 12W Rejean Groulx (submission - slam) - Ringside MMA 10W Guillaume Lamarche (submission - guillotine) - Ringside MMA 6 Bryan "Kid Lightning" Caraway (16-5)W Dustin Neace (submission - RNC) - TUF 14 FinaleW Marlin Weikel (submission - RNC) - CageSport 13L Fredson Paixao (split decision) - WEC 50 UFC 149 coverage

Posted in: ufc, submission, ufc debut, gagnon, mitch gagnon

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The first episode of TUF Brasil was unveiled Sunday night for audiences outside of Brazil with sixteen fighters in the middleweight and featherweight divisions advancing into the house on an evening full of highlights. Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort both clearly enjoyed what they saw during the episode based on the number of finishing performances, as each is serving as a coach on the first season of the Ultimate Fighter outside of America. The two, along with the finalists in both weight classes, will all compete at UFC 147 later this year in Brazil. While different in origin, TUF Brasil follows the same guidelines as the previous seasons of the standard version. Fans can catch new episodes every Sunday night on TUF.TV (with past episodes still available) though the season is expected to air later this year via FUEL TV for those interested in watching on a bigger screen or with limited bandwidth. Here are the complete results from the elimination fights earning each winner a spot in the house: -Featherweights- Rony Mariano def. Dileno Lopes by TKO Round 1 (Strikes) Godofredo de Oliveira def. Johnny Goncalves by Submission Round 1 (Triangle Choke) Hugo “Wolverine” Viana def. Alexandre Ramos by TKO Round 1 (Strikes) Rodrigo Damm def. Fabricio Guerrero by Submission Round 2 (Rear-Naked Choke) Wagner Campos def. Fernando Guerra by Unanimous Decision Anistavio Medeiros def. Rafael Bueno by Unanimous Decision John ‘Macapa’ Teixeira def. Giovanni Souza Jr. by Submission Round 1 (Armbar) Marcos Vinicius Pancini def. Peter Noble by TKO Round 1 (Strikes) - Middleweights - Francisco Drinaldo def. Charles Maicon by TKO Round 1 (Strikes) Cezar Ferreira def. Gustavo Sampaio by submission Round 2 (Guillotine Choke) Daniel Sarafian def. Richardson Moreira by Unanimous Decision Sergio Moraes def. Thiago Rela by Submission Round 1 (Heel Hook) Thiago Perpetuo def. Joao Paulo De Souza by Unanimous Decision Delson Heleno def. Gilberto Galvao by Unanimous Decision Renee Forte def. Fabio Bolinho by Unanimous Decision Leonardo Teixeira def. Samuel Trindade by Unanimous Decision

Posted in: round, decision, tko, submission, sunday night

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The Ultimate Fighter Brasil started the season out on the right note last night with an elimination round full of scintillating scraps including a number of brutal knockouts and vicious submissions. Not only was the presence of talent clearly evident, but the fighters also showed a great deal of personality ranging from enthusiastic youngsters to self-admitted villains to seasoned competitors simply happy to have an opportunity to finally shine inside the Octagon. Of the many highlights, not counting the inclusion of profanity based on different standards on Brazilian television and its American counterpart, were seven opening round stoppages. Well-known veterans Delson Heleno and Rodrigo Damm were also among the group of sixteen earning a spot in the house. TUF Brasil marks the first international version of the hit reality show, featuring Brazilian legends Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva coaching competing teams comprised of featherweights/middleweights. Silva-Belfort, as well as the divisional finalists, will then face off this summer at UFC 147 in Rio de Janeiro. The show is available for streaming through the UFC’s website with new episodes every Sunday at midnight EST. Here is a complete rundown of results with the first eight involving featherweights and the second group middleweights: Rony Mariano def. Dileno Lopes by TKO Round 1 (Strikes) Godofredo de Oliveira def. Johnny Goncalves by Submission Round 1 (Triangle Choke) Hugo “Wolverine” Viana def. Alexandre Ramos by TKO Round 1 (Strikes) Rodrigo Damm def. Fabricio Guerrero by Submission Round 2 (Rear-Naked Choke) Wagner Campos def. Fernando Guerra by Unanimous Decision Anistavio Medeiros def. Rafael Bueno by Unanimous Decision John ‘Macapa’ Teixeira def. Giovanni Souza Jr. by Submission Round 1 (Armbar) Marcos Vinicius Pancini def. Peter Noble by TKO Round 1 (Strikes) — Francisco Drinaldo def. Charles Maicon by TKO Round 1 (Strikes) Cezar Ferreira def. Gustavo Sampaio by submission Round 2 (Guillotine Choke) Daniel Sarafian def. Richardson Moreira by Unanimous Decision Sergio Moraes def. Thiago Rela by Submission Round 1 (Heel Hook) Thiago Perpetuo def. Joao Paulo De Souza by Unanimous Decision Delson Heleno def. Gilberto Galvao by Unanimous Decision Renee Forte def. Fabio Bolinho by Unanimous Decision Leonardo Teixeira def. Samuel Trindade by Unanimous Decision Tweet

Posted in: round, decision, tko, submission, strike

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The first international edition of The Ultimate Fighter got underway last night and featured the initial elimination round bouts held to determine this season’s cast members. For TUF: Brazil, the elimination round fights were contested over two, five-minute rounds with a sudden death round in place in case of any draws. UFC president Dana White, as well as coaches Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva, were in attendance to watch the proceedings. When all was said and done, the original field of thirty-two middleweight and featherweight fighters was pared down to sixteen. You can check out the full results below and don’t forget that TUF: Brazil is currently airing Stateside on Sunday nights via TUF.tv. Featherweight Rony “Jason” Mariano Bezerra defeated Dileno Lopes by TKO in round one Godofredo “Pepey” de Oliveira defeated Johnny Goncalves by submission (triangle choke) in round one Hugo “Wolverine” Viana defeated Alexandre Ramos by TKO in round one Rodrigo Damm defeated Fabricio de Assis Costa da Silva by submission (rear naked choke) in round two Wagner “Galeto” Campos defeated Fernando Duarte Guerra by decision Anistavio “Gasparzinho” Medeiros de Figueiredo defeated Rafael Bueno by decision John “Macapa” Teixeira defeated Giovanni da Silva Santos Jr. by submission with an armbar in round one Marcos Vinicius “Vina” Borges Pancini defeated Pedro Nobre by technical knockout in round one Middleweight Francisco Drinaldo defeated Charles Maicon by TKO in round one Cezar Ferreira defeated Gustavo Sampaio by submission (guillotine choke) in round two Daniel Sarafian defeated Richardson Moreira by decision Sergio Moraes defeated Thiago Rela by submission (heel hook) in round one Thiago ‘Bodao’ Perpetuo defeated Joao Paulo De Souza by decision Delson Heleno defeated Gilberto Galvao by decision Renee Forte defeated Fabio Bolinho by decision Leonardo Mafra Teixeira defeated Samuel Trindade by decision

Posted in: round, decision, submission, tuf brazil, richardson moreira

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One of the notable moments from the first episode of TUF Brazil? That photo of The Axe Murderer bragging about the size of his junk. The debut episode of The Ultimate Fighter Brazil aired last night, with Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort coaching featherweight and middleweight hopefuls. In case you missed it the first time, you can also watch the entire episode here. After the jump, quick results on the 16 fights from the show. Featherweights:- Rony Mariano def. Dileno Lopes by TKO Round 1- Godofredo de Oliveira def. Johnny Goncalves by Submission (Triangle Choke) Round 1- Hugo Viana def. Alexandre Ramos by TKO Round 1- Rodrigo Damm def. Fabricio Guerreiro by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) Round 2- Wagner Campos def. Fernando Guerra by Decision- Anistavio Medeiros def. Rafael Bueno by Decision- John Teixeira def. Giovanni Souza Jr. by Submission (Armbar) Round 1- Marcos Vinicius Pancini def. Peter Noble by TKO Round 1Middleweights:- Francisco Drinaldo def. Charles Maicon by TKO Round 1- Cezar Ferreira def. Gustavo Sampaio by Submission (Guillotine Choke) Round 2- Daniel Sarafian def. Richardson Moreira by Decision- Sergio Moraes def. Thiago Rela by Submission (Heel Hook) Round 1- Thiago Perpetuo def. Joao Paulo De Souza by Decision- Delson Heleno def. Gilberto Galvao by Decision- Renee Forte def. Fabio Bolinho by Decision- Leonardo Mafra Teixeira def. Samuel Trindade by Decision Three fighters from the World MMA Scouting Report won their bouts namely Rony Mariano, John Teixeira, and Thiago Perpetuo.

Posted in: round, decision, tko, submission, thiago

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Tom "Kong" Watson (15-4) retained his BAMMA middleweight title for the third straight time on Saturday night, defeating Jack Marshman (10-1) via second-round TKO at BAMMA 9 at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, England. The 29-year-old Watson has now won 11 of his last 12 fights, fueling speculation that he will soon sign with a major North American promotion in the coming months. Prior to the fight, "Kong" told Fightline.com that he has had preliminary talks with Strikeforce. "After the last fight I had quite a bit of contact with Sean Shelby of Strikeforce. Everything is about timing in this business and the best thing that I can do is go out and win this fight against Marshman on March 24." And he did just that on Saturday night. Below are the full BAMMA 9 results: Tom Watson def. Jack Marshman via TKO -- RD 2, 4:50 Colin Fletcher def. Jason Ball via unanimous decision Jason Jones defeats Przemyslaw Mysiala via TKO -- RD 1, 3:51 Jake Murphy defeats David Round via submission -- RD 2, 1:40 Patrick Vallee defeats Andrew Punshon via submission -- RD 2, 2:16 Tom Breese defeats Mark Tucker via submission -- RD, 1:30 Dale Hardiman defeats Antanas Jazbutis via unanimous decision Leeroy Barnes defeats Matt Ewin via submission -- RD 1, 4:57 Rab Truesdale defeats Sam Mensah via TKO -- RD 1, 4:32 Marc Godbeer defeats Catalin Zmarandescu via TKO -- RD 1, 5:00 Luke Barnatt defeats Lee Johnson via submission -- RD 1, 2:36

Posted in: saturday night, tko, submission, defeat, rd

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Bellator 62 may have lost its main event at the last second after heavyweight Thiago Santos failed to make the required limit for his bout with Eric Prindle but the card certainly didn’t suffer, as all four lightweight fights were memorable for various reasons and likely kept viewers glued to their sets throughout the two-hour broadcast. Capping things off was Lloyd Woodard’s surprising submission finish of Patricky Freire who came out swinging, hurting “Cupcake” early and seemingly being en route to a stoppage before the Montana native battled back in the second round to end things with a Kimura. The submission loss was the first in Freire’s career and ended his run at a rematch with champion Michael Chandler. Also worth mentioning, Rick Hawn and Brent Weedman looked solid in their 155-pound debuts after opening eyes as welterweights in previous tournament action. Hawn picked up a devastating knockout win over Ricardo Tirloni in the opening round of action while Weedman finished JJ Ambrose with a unique Shoulder Choke. Also joining Hawn, Weedman, and Woodard was newcomer Thiago Michel who took home a Split Decision over Rene Nazare. A Look at the Bellator Season 6 Lightweights Semifinal scraps will involve Hawn vs. Woodard and Michel vs. Weedman. Read below for a full list of Bellator 62 results: Luis Vega def. Sonny Luque via Submission Round 1 (Arm-Triangle Choke) Chris Jones def. Steven Peterson via Split Decision Rad Martinez def. Douglas Frey via TKO Round 1 (Strikes) Sean Spencer def. Joseph Daily via Submission Round 2 (Rear-Naked Choke) Dave Jansen def. Jacob Kirwan via Unanimous Decision Thiago Michel def. Rene Nazare via Split Decision Brent Weedman def. JJ Ambrose via Submission Round 2 (Shoulder Choke) Rick Hawn def. Ricardo Tirloni via TKO Round 1 (Strikes) Lloyd Woodard def. Patricky “Pitbull” Freire via Submission Round 2 (Kimura) Tweet

Posted in: round, decision, submission, hawn, weedman

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Bellator 62 resultsLaredo, TXLloyd Woodard def. Patricky Freire via submission kimura 1:46 R2Rick Hawn def. Ricardo Tirloni via TKO (punches) 2:36 R1Brent Weedman def. J.J. Ambrose via submission Von Flue choke 3:26 R2Thiago Michel def. Rene Nazare via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) Luis Vega def. Sonny Luque via submission arm triangle choke 3:43 R1Chris Jones def. Steven Peterson via split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)Dave Jansen def. Jacob Kirwan via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)Rad Martinez def. Douglas Frey via TKO (punches) 4:08 R1Lightweight bracket update and fighter rankings after the jumpAll tournament rankings are done by ULTMMA.com prior to the opening round of the Bellator eight man bracket. These rankings are unofficial. Former MMA prospects ranked and graded by ULTMMA.com who are making their Bellator tournament debuts include: Mike Corey, Ricardo Tirloni, Karl Amoussou, Raul Amaya and Bruno Santos.Featherweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 9, Hammond, IndianaMarlon Sandro (#1) def. Roberto Vargas (#6) by Submission RNC R1Mike Corey (#7) def. Ronnie Mann (#2) by Unanimous DecisionAlexandre Bezerra (#3) def. Kenny Foster (#8) by Submission RNC R2Daniel Straus (#4) def. Jeremy Spoon (#5) by Unanimous DecisionApril 6, Ontario, CanadaMarlon Sandro (#1) vs. Alexandre Bezerra (#3)Mike Corey (#7) vs. Daniel Straus (#4)Lightweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 23, Laredo, TexasLloyd Woodard (#4) def. Patricky Freire (#1) by Submission Kimura R1 Rick Hawn (#2) def. Ricardo Tirloni (#3) by TKO R1Brent Weedman (#8) def. J.J. Ambrose (#6) by Submission Von Flue Choke R2 Thiago Michel (#5) def. Rene Nazare (#7) by Split Decision April 20, Cleveland, Ohio Rick Hawn (#2) vs. Lloyd Woodard (#4)Thiago Michel (#5) vs. Brent Weedman (#8)Welterweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 30, Uncasville, ConnecticutKarl Amoussou (#4) vs. Chris Lozano (#5)Raul Amaya (#6) vs. Ben Saunders (#1)Brian Foster (#3) vs. David Rickels (#8)Bryan Baker (#2) vs. Carlos Pereira (#7)Middleweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 16, Bossier City, LouisianaMaiquel Falcao (#2) def. Norman Paraisy (#7) by Unanimous DecisionBrian Rogers (#6) def. Vitor Vianna (#1) by KO R1Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (#3) def. Victor O'Donnell (#8) by Unanimous DecisionBruno Santos (#4) def. Giva Santana (#5) by Unanimous DecisionTBDMaiquel Falcao (#2) vs. Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (#3)Bruno Santos (#4) vs. Brian Rogers (#6)Bellator 61 results

Posted in: bellator, decision, submission, vs, spring

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Seven years after its debut in the United States, in 2005, the first international edition of the famed reality TV show The Ultimate Fighter® begins in Brazil.  Co-produced by Brazilian production company Floresta, the inaugural Brazilian version of the show is the first time a TUF series was filmed outside of the United States.The Ultimate Fighter - Brasil® features UFC legends Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort as the coaches of the first season, which features both the featherweight (145 lbs) and middleweight (185 lbs) divisions. As is standard on this series, the coaches will face-off in a highly anticipated live rematch in June for the grand finale.The Premiere episode will showcase elimination bouts, narrowing down the initial group of 32 fighters to the final 16 who will move into the TUF house. From there, they will be split between “Team Vitor” and “Team Wanderlei” and face weekly eliminations until the finale, where a winner from both weight classes will be declared The Ultimate Fighter® and win an international UFC contract.The highly anticipated Premiere is scheduled to air Sunday night, March 25, on Rede Globo in Brazil after the Big Brother finale. All 13 episodes will first air on Rede Globo in Brazil Sunday nights and then on en.TUF.tv globally (not available in Brazil, India or Canada) at midnight ET / 9:00 p.m. PT.The initial 32 contestants, in  both the featherweight and middleweight divisions, hail from 15 of the 26 states inBrazil and represent a diverse cross-section of the country including São Paulo (8), Paraná (4), Rio de Janeiro (3), Amapá (2), Santa Catarina (2), Ceará (2), Brasília (2), Rio Grande do Norte (2). Also, the states of Minas Gerais, Roraima, Bahia, Mato Grosso do Sul, Espírito Santo, Amazonas and Paraíba have one representative each.Although many of the details will be kept under wraps until the Premiere, it has been revealed that a few famous personalities visited the house and training center during the taping. There are special appearances by UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva, UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior Dos Santos, UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo, former UFC Light Heavyweight Champions Lyoto Machida and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.The series is one of the most successful sports reality shows in the US, having discovered some of the most talented fighters in the UFC. It has also helped leverage the promotion’s popularity amongst American audiences. The first edition, which had UFC legends Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture as coaches, featured big names such as Diego Sanchez (middleweight winner of that season), Forrest Griffin (light heavyweight winner), Josh Koscheck, Stephan Bonnar and Kenny Florian.A part last season’s featherweight winner, Diego Brandão, the first Brazilian to ever win the show, other Brazilian fighters have appeared on previous editions. Heavyweight icons Rodrigo “Minotauro” and Dos Santos have been coaches. Minotauro appeared on the eighth edition, which aired in 2008, against former UFC Heavyweight Champion FrankMir. Both winners from that season, light heavyweight Ryan Bader and lightweight Efrain Escudero, were members of “Team Nogueira”. Brazilian fighter Vinicius “Pezão” Magalhães was one of the finalists from that edition, but lost the title to Bader. Dos Santos competed against former champion Brock Lesnar on the 13th season. The Brazilian TUF pioneer was Jorge Gurgel, eliminated on the eighth episode of the second season.This season’s contenders include:FlyweightName: Alexandre RamosNickname: SangueAge: 23 years oldRecord: 5-0Fighting out of: Curitiba (PR)Features: Single, no kids, Sangue built his career on Brazilian events, like Brave FC, where he made his debut, and also on Brazilian Fight League. Aside from his win via decision over Marcos Bicudo, all his bouts were finished in the first round by submission or knockout.Name: Rony Mariano BezerraNickname: JasonAge: 27 years oldRecord: 10-3Fighting out of: Mossoró (RN)Features: Single dad with two kids, “Jason” won seven of his fights via submission. One of them, over Felipe Sertanejo who now fights in the UFC, via triangle choke. Bezerra also fought Renan Barão, in2006, with a loss via split decision.Name: Godofredo PepeyNickname: NoneAge: 24 years oldRecord: 8-0Fighting out of: Fortaleza (CE)Features: Single, no kids, Pepey teaches Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai, showcasing his versatility. Six of his wins were by submission and the other two by knockouts.Name: Marcos Vinicius Borges PanciniNickname: VinaAge: 31 years oldRecord: 19-3-1Fighting out of: Curitiba (PR)Features: Single, no kids, Vina’s record shows he’s good both standing and on the ground. Six wins by knockout and 13 by submission. None of his wins were decided by the judges.Name: Anistávio MedeirosNickname: GasparzinhoAge: 23 years oldRecord: 12-7Fighting out of: Natal (RN)Features:  Single, no kids, Anistávio has plenty experience for a 23 year old. Of his 19 bouts, he has two losses over big names like Renan Barão and Willamy Freire.Name: Johnny GonçalvesNickname: CabeçaAge: 22 years oldRecord: 4-0Fighting out of: Taubaté (SP)Features:  Single, no kids, the student is a specialist in Muay Thai, which he also teaches. Two of his four wins were by knockout. The other ones were by decision.Name: Hugo VianaNickname: WolverineAge: 29 years oldRecord: 5-0Fighting out of: Salvador (BA)Features: Single, no kids, the physiotherapist Wolverine in undefeated in MMA, but yet, as never submitted or knocked out an opponent. All his wins are by decision.Name: Fernando Duarte GuerraNickname: NoneAge: 28 years oldRecord: 10 -1Fighting out of: Dourados (MS)Features: Married, with no kids. Fernando is a physical education teacher. Fighting MMA professionally since 2009, most of his wins (six) were earned by decision.Name: Rodrigo DammNickname: NoneAge: 31 years oldRecord: 9-5Fighting out of: Vila Velha (ES)Features: Married and father of three kids, Damm is the most experienced flyweight on the show. He fought in big international events, such as Bodog Fight, Sengoku and Strikeforce.Name: John TeixeiraNickname: John MacapáAge: 25 years oldRecord: 12-0-1Fighting out of: Macapa (AP)Features: Single, no kids, Teixeira began his career with four wins by armbar. He has managed eight victories by submission, two by knockout and three by decision.Name: Rafael BuenoNickname: NoneAge: 24 years oldRecord: 7-1Fighting out of: Bragança Paulista (SP)Features: Single no kids, Rafael is a fighter, but also makes a living as a coach. In his career, he has fought eight bouts, won seven and lost only the last one. He finished five of his fights and knocked out two opponents.Name: Wagner CamposNickname: GaletoAge: 30 years oldRecord: 11-3Fighting out of: Pinhais (PR)Features: Married with two kids, Galeto is a pro in MMA since 2006. He likes to fight standing up and has won six fights by knockout. One of his losses was to Jonn Lineker, the Brazilian who recently signed with the UFC.Name: Peter NobleNickname: NoneAge: 25 years oldRecord: 10-0-1Fighting out of: Rio de Janeiro (RJ)Features: Single no kids, Peter Noble is one of the great promises of the famous Brazilian Top Team gym. He has finished all of his fights – with seven knockouts and three submissions.Name: Fabricio GuerreroNickname:Age: 21 years oldRecord: 10-0-1Fighting out of: Santana (AP)Features: Single father with a son Fabricio is the youngest fighter in the show. Although he's just 21 he's been here for quite some time and proved to be tough in the ring, undefeated, he won ten matches and had one draw.Name: Lim DilenoNickname: NoneAge: 27 years oldRecord: 7-0Fighting out of: Manaus (AM)Features: Single no kids, the fighter and master of Jiu-Jitsu Dileno Lopes honors the tradition of the soft art. Seven of his victories came by submission, showing variations between guillotine (four), rear naked choke (two) and armbar.Name: Giovanni da Silva Santos JrNickname: SoldadoAge: 24 years oldRecord: 10 - 1Fighting out of: João Pessoa (PB)Features: Married, with kids, Soldado made his debut in MMA with a loss in 2006. Later he recovered and started a 10 consecutive winning streak, five by knockout, a submission and four by decision.MiddleweightName: Sergio MoraesNickname: NoneAge: 29 years oldRecord: 6- 1Fighting out of: Sao Paulo (SP)Features: Single father of two kids, Moraes is a four-time Jiu-Jitsu world champion. Of his six career wins, five have been by submission and one by decision. His only loss was to Brett Cooper by knockout, at Jungle Fight 16 in 2009.Name: Cezar FerreiraNickname: MutanteAge: 26 years oldRecord: 4 - 2Fighting out of: Belo Horizonte (MG)Features: Married, has a son, Mutante’s last two fights were in the US, with a win over Chaun Sims, and a loss to Elvis Mutapcic. Strong standing up, three of his four wins came by knockout.Name: Leonardo MafraNickname: MacarrãoAge: 22 years oldRecord: 5-0Fighting out of: Balneário Camboriú (SC)Features: With an MMA career in southern Brazil, Macarrão has three wins by knockout - all in the first round - and two by decision. Aggressive in his standup game, the Chute Boxe Academy fighter bets on his punch power to win in the Octagon.Name: Daniel SarafianNickname: NoneAge: 29 years oldRecord: 7 - 2Fighting out of: Sao Paulo (SP)Features: Strong in the ground game, with six of his seven victories won by submission, Sarafian shows a wide range of moves, including guillotine, armbar, and triangle choke. Of his two losses, one was by knockout.Name: Gustavo SampaioNickname: LabaredaAge: 35 years oldRecord: 5 - 1Fighting out of: Brasília (DF)Features: Specialist in kickboxing, Labareda is also strong on the ground, getting three of his five wins by submission. He has some international experience, with two wins in two tournaments in Spain.Name: Fabio Luiz Vital CoastNickname: BolinhoAge: 28 years oldRecord: 9-0-1Fighting out of: Natal (RN)Features: Undefeated in 10 MMA fights, Bolinho won eight of his 10 fights by decision. Of those, only one was a split decision. He also won by TKO against Nilton Santos, at Platinum Fight in 2009, where he last fought.Name: Richardson MoreiraNickname: MonstrãoAge: 27 years oldRecord: 3 - 0Fighting out of: Campinas (SP)Features: With three wins in three fights, Monstrão has yet to be pushed past the first round. Adding up the time of his three fights, this Team Nogueira athlete has only fought a total of 4 min. 56 sec. Outside the ring, Monstrão is a graduate in Engineering.Name: Renee StrongNickname: NoneAge: 24 years oldRecord: 7 - 1Fighting out of: Fortaleza (CE)Features: With two victories by knockout, two by submission and three by decision, Forte has a good career in MMA. His only loss was by knockout, against Mario Sartori, in IFC, in August 2011. Fighting professionally since 2006.Name: Joao Paulo de SouzaNickname: TubaAge: 28 years oldRecord: 8 - 4Fighting out of: Curitiba (PR)Features: With 12 fights on his record, including one at Wembley Stadium in London, Tuba has good experience in MMA. His last five fights went to the judges' decision, and he lost only the last one to Valentino Petrescu.Name: Francisco DrinaldoNickname: MassarandubaAge: 33 years oldRecord: 10 - 1Fighting out of: Brasília (DF)Features: Fighter hired by Jungle Fight, Massaranduba is undefeated in his last four fights. With four knockouts, three submissions and three wins by decision, he only lost to the experienced Yuri Marajó in Jungle Fight 22 in September of 2010.Name: Thiago RelaNickname: NoneAge: 22 years oldRecord: 3 - 1Fighting out of: Itatiba (SP)Features: With his three victories by submission, his only loss in 2010 came when he was submitted by Alvaro Head in a Campinas Fight. His specialty is the rear naked choke, which has won him three bouts.Name: Charles MaiconNickname: NoneAge: 33 years oldRecord: 8 - 1Fighting out of: Sorocaba (SP)Features: Undefeated in his last eight fights, his only loss came in his fighting debut, losing by knockout to Sergio Junior in 2007. After that, he built an eight-win streak by knockout, and all in the first round. His nine fights in the Octagon lasted only 6 min. and 26 sec.Name: Gilberto GalvãoNickname: GibaAge: 28 years oldRecord: 17 4 -1Fighting out of: Balneário Camboriú (SC)Features: With 11 of his 17 victories by submission, Giba shows he is an expert on the ground. He is strong and also relies on his "ground and pound" to halt his opponents.Name: Thiago de Oliveira PerpetualNickname: BodãoAge: 24 years oldRecord: 8 - 1 -1Fighting out of: Santo André (SP)Features: Coming off four consecutive wins, Bodão last six of eight wins have come by knockout. His last - and only - loss was in 2009, to Danilo Pereira, in Full Fight 2 via submission by a rear naked choke.Name: Samuel TrindadeNickname: NoneAge: 25 years oldRecord: 6- 1Fighting out of: Boa Vista (RR)Features: With his career built in MMA in Northern Brazil, Trindade had been undefeated in his last six fights, following a loss to Ronys Torres in 2009. He won three fights by submission, one by knockout and two by unanimous decision.Name: Delson HelenoNickname: Pé de ChumboAge: 34 years oldRecord: 23 - 6Fighting out of: Teresópolis (RJ)Features: The veteran Pé de Chumbo is an expert in the ground game winning 12 of his fights by submission. The Jiu Jitsu World Champion had his last fight in November 2011, in the MMA contra a dengue event in Rio de Janeiro.

Posted in: fight, submission, year, kid, oldrecord

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The spate of welterweight bookings in the UFC continued this morning, with the announcement of yet another 170-lb match-up for the June 22nd UFC on FX 4 card in Atlantic City. According to UFC.com, quirky veteran Brian Ebersole will meet slick submission artist, T.J. Waldburger: One more welterweight bout was added at the end of Wednesday: submission specialist TJ Waldburger will face relentless wrestler Brian "Bad Boy" Ebersole. Ebersole, a long-time veteran of the sport who has trained in Australia in recent years, finally made his UFC debut last year in an entertaining, upset win over Chris Lytle, and then followed that up with a quick drubbing of fellow journeyman, Dennis Hallman. Ebersole remained undefeated in the UFC with his most recent win over Claude Patrick in December, but it was a much closer fight than the first two, and the crowd wasn't exactly enthralled with Ebersole's decision to use his wrestling to wear down Patrick and fend off his submission attempts. Nonetheless, it will likely be the same strategy he'll employ against Waldburger, although the Texan's submission game is more aggressive and diverse than Patrick's, especially in scrambles. Additionally, Waldburger has been successful against tough, grinding wrestlers in the past, most notably in a five-round title fight win against Pat Healy in the Shark Fights promotion in 2009. Brian "Bad Boy" Ebersole (49-14-1, 1 NC)W Claude Patrick (split decision) - UFC 140W Dennis Hallman (TKO - elbows) - UFC 133W Chris Lytle (unam. decision) - UFC 127 T.J. Waldburger (15-6)W Jake Hecht (submission - armbar) - UFC on FX 2W Mike Stumpf (submission - triangle choke) - UFN 25L Johny Hendricks (TKO) - UFN 24 UFC on FX 4 coverage

Posted in: ufc, submission, tj, ebersole, waldburger

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DARE Championship, Thailand's only professional mixed martial arts (MMA) organization, was formed last year and is already going from strength to strength. The card for the fourth event was the best to date, featuring 14 fighters from the region all of whom had professional experience and headlined by the historic clash between Arnaud Lepont (above) and Krzysztof Hajtalowicz. Both Lepont and Hajtalowicz are long-term residents of Thailand, although the Frenchman recently moved to Malaysia to join the team of Muayfit. Hajtalowicz, from Poland, booked his spot in the quarter finals of the DARE welterweight tournament courtesy of a second round submission win over Wiktor Svensson, while Lepont got past Jian Kai Chee. The fight between the two was the most eagerly anticipated MMA match ever held in Thailand and a capacity crowd gathered at the Insomnia Night Club to see which of these two warriors would book their spot in the semifinals and take a step closer to winning the $125,000 prize money. Loud music and lasers were the order of the day as the fans were treated to the sort of intense audio visual experience that they have come to associate with DARE. Hajtalowicz has won numerous Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitions and is renowned for his ground game, while Lepont has more experience in the cage and has a reputation as being an extremely aggressive fighter. The Frenchman landed a couple of hooks early in the fight and Hajtalowicz ended up on his back with Lepont doing some damage from within his guard. However the Polish fighter was extremely active and after multiple submission attempts was able to reverse the position. Lepont looked a little uncomfortable and ate a few hard shots but was able to survive strikes and submissions and work his way to his feet. Hajtalowicz obviously had a gameplan and used his superior height to clinch and land a series of devastating knees some of which connected clean with the face of the French fighter. It appeared that the Polish submission specialist was getting the better of the stand up exchanges as he clasped his hands around his opponent's neck and dominated him in the clinch, landing shots which seemed to leave Lepont on wobbly legs. A Hajtalowicz win seemed inevitable at this stage but just when Lepont looked a spent force he was able to somehow sink in a standing guillotine choke while defending a takedown. The fight veered spectacularly, as only an MMA contest can, mere seconds after he had seemed to be firmly in the driving seat Hajtalowicz found himself forced to tap as Lepont pulled guard and squeezed for all he was worth. It was an incredible come from behind performance which saw Lepont pull out the guillotine from nowhere just as he appeared to be on the brink of defeat. With his fifth consecutive win the French fighter improved to 8-1 and progressed to the semifinals, sending out the following warning: "I will never give up and as long as I am alive the fight is never over because I am prepared to die in the cage. I knew I was losing the round but I was patient and waited for my opportunity. People think he is going to beat me because he is good on the ground, but it is not jiu-jitsu it is MMA. He was very strong in the clinch, I didn't think he would have the balls to strike with me but he did. This is my last fight as a welterweight, it is not my natural weight and after this I will be dropping to 155 pounds." Also celebrating was up and coming Thai fighter Shannon Wiratchai who is winning himself a lot of fans with his fun fighting style and willingness to adapt and learn the MMA game. He took on TDR Panjabutra who was looking for a little vengeance after Wiratchai defeated his brother at DARE 2/11. Wiratchai was appearing in the cage for only the second time but already has a significant fan following in Thailand. He made a slow start not really coming to life until the closing seconds of the opening round when he launched a flurry of punches and kicks. The second round was a different story as Wiratchai landed a couple of perfectly timed counter hooks which rocked Panjabutra and allowed him to take the fight to the floor. From there he was able to work diligently to take his opponent's back and sink in a rear naked choke which forced the tap. The win saw Wiratchai progress to the semi finals of the featherweight tournament and put him two victories away from the $125,000 prize money. The other five fights where all in the opening round and saw five more fighters book quarter final spots. Mark Striegl is one of the most exciting young fighters in the region and the 23 year old Filipino showed why he is so highly rated by dominating Marko Huusansaari. The tenacious Finnish fighter showed off a sophisticated submission defence to survive an opening round which he spent almost entirely on his back but in round two he was finally forced to tap to a modified arm bar. Striegl's friend and training partner Will Chope (above) was fortunate to have been allowed to fight after missing weight by almost 5 kgs. In the end he was able to submit Saengchot Parkaiphet with a rear naked choke in the opening round and afterwards, to his credit, apologized profusely for his struggles with the scales. The rematch between Bruce Loh and Shodiyor Jurabekov ended in disappointment as Loh was unable to continue after damaging his hamstring after some exciting early exchanges. Alexandro Machado was out-powered by Kristoff Petersson who stopped him with strikes in round two while Dan Kerr was submitted by the significantly larger Andre Marcolla. Complete DARE Championship 2/12 Results: Shodiyor Jurabekov defeated Loh Kainkai via TKO (injury) Will TheKill Chope defeated Saengchot Parkaiphet via submission (rear naked choke) Shannon Cai defeated Tondamrong Panjabutra via submission (rear naked choke) Kristoffer Persson defeated Alexandro Machado via TKO (strikes) Mark Striegl defeated Marko Huusansaari via submission (modified armbar) Andre Marcolla defeated Daniel Kerr via submission (armbar) Arnaud "TheGame" Lepont defeated Krzysztof Hajtalowicz via submission (guillotine choke) For more information about DARE Championship visit: www.darefightsports.com.

Posted in: fighter, round, submission, lepont, hajtalowicz

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Aleksander Emelianenko (19-5), who has had quite a checkered career in MMA thus far, stepped back in to the M-1 ring last night in St. Petersburg's Ice Palace at M-1 Challenge 31. He faced Lithuanian super heavyweight Tadas Rimkevicius (19-7) in the main event of the show, and had brother Fedor Emelianenko in his corner. The bout was pretty entertaining. Other than some brief clinching early, it was a slugfest for the whole first round. Emelianenko bloodied up Rimkevicius' face, but Tadas responded with a shot that dropped Aleks E. near the end of the round. Watch for Rimkevicius' amazing flying submission attempt with about 50 seconds to go in the round as well. The standnbang continues in the second under the bout is halted, in a somewhat underwhelming finish. Here's the video, and you can catch the full event results below the jump (which includes a win by Jeff Monson). M-1 Challenge 31 Results: Jeff Monson def. Alexey Oleinik via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)Alexander Emelianenko def. Tadas Rimkevičius via TKO (punches) at 1:52 of round 2Rashid Magomedov def. Yasubey Enomoto via unanimous decision (50-45, 49-47, 50-45)Alexander Yakovlev def. Shamil Zavurov via TKO (retirement) at 5:00 of round 3Deniss Smoldarev def. Denis Komkin via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)Abdulmajid Magomedov def. Arthur Shumakov via submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:53 of round 1Vugar Bakhshiev def. Jerome Bouisson via TKO (doctor stoppage) at 5:00 of round 2Marat Gafurov def. David Kozma via submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:10 of round 2Ilya Doderkin def. Alexey Martynov via submission (triangle choke) at 1:57 of round 1Bruno Carvalho def. Ramazan Esenbaev via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Posted in: round, decision, submission, emelianenko, tada

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Jeff Monson defeated Alexey Oleinik via split decision in the headlining bout of M-1 Challenge 31 at the Ice Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia on Friday night. Monson (44-13), a former contender for the UFC's heavyweight belt, outclassed Oleinik (33-9-1) on the mat for a majority of the first and third frames, surviving a stifling second round to earn the narrow judge's nod via scores of 29-28, 28-29, 29-28. The 41-year-old Monson, who appeared to be running on fumes as the final bell sounded, has now split his last four bouts, rotating wins over Oleinik and Paul Taylor between losses to Fedor Emelianenko and Daniel Cormier. Also highlighting the card, former PRIDE standout Alexander Emelianenko (19-5) overwhelmed Tadas Rimkevicius (19-7) midway through the second frame to earn a dubious TKO victory. Emelianenko, with his brother Fedor shouting from his corner, found his mark with crisp striking throughout much of opening seven minutes, before Rimkevicius mysteriously turned away and tapped unprovoked while on the feet. Afterward Rimkevicius appeared to be unhurt and left the ring under his own power. Rashid Magomedov (14-1) outworked Yasubey Enomoto (9-4) to steal away the M-1 welterweight title via unanimous decision (50-45, 49-47, 50-45). The victory pushed Magomedov's win streak to seven straight since 2010. Elsewhere on Friday night, UFC veteran Mike Guymon (13-5-1) crushed Cris Leyva (9-4) for a second-round TKO win in the main event of BAMMA USA ‘Badbeat 5,' held at the Commerce Casino in Commerce, CA. Fresh out of retirement and making his lightweight debut, the 37-year-old Guymon survived a shaky opening frame to blast the fading Leyva with a mixture of hammerfists and knees to the body, before being mercifully stopped at the 4:10 mark of round two. It was Guymon's first fight in over 14 months and first win since 2010. In the co-main event, Scott Catlin (5-6) stormed back from early trouble to defeat UFC veteran and former WEC lightweight champion Gabe Ruediger (17-8) via TKO just 36 seconds into the second frame. Ruediger dominated the opening five minutes, locking in a body triangle and unsuccessfully hunting for a rear-naked choke throughout much of the action. His first win in two years within his grasp, Ruediger promptly ate a straight left from Catlin to kick off round two. Stunned, the TUF 5 contestant reeled backwards across the cage before being dropped with a commanding flurry and pounded out. Catlin now finds himself riding a surprising two-fight win streak since tasting defeat in five straight. Full M-1 Challenge 31 and BAMMA USA ‘Badbeat 5' results can be found below. M-1 Challenge 31 results: Jeff Monson def. Alexey Oleinik via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)Alexander Emelianenko def. Tadas Rimkevičius via TKO (punches) at 1:52 of round 2Rashid Magomedov def. Yasubey Enomoto via unanimous decision (50-45, 49-47, 50-45)Alexander Yakovlev def. Shamil Zavurov via TKO (retirement) at 5:00 of round 3Deniss Smoldarev def. Denis Komkin via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)Abdulmajid Magomedov def. Arthur Shumakov via submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:53 of round 1Vugar Bakhshiev def. Jerome Bouisson via TKO (doctor stoppage) at 5:00 of round 2Marat Gafurov def. David Kozma via submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:10 of round 2Ilya Doderkin def. Alexey Martynov via submission (triangle choke) at 1:57 of round 1Bruno Carvalho def. Ramazan Esenbaev via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) BAMMA USA ‘Badbeat 5' results: Michael Guymon def. Cris Leyva via TKO (punches) at 4:10 of round 2Scott Catlin def. Gabe Ruediger via TKO (punches) at :36 of round 2Chad George def. Shad Smith via submission (arm-triangle choke) at 1:56 of round 1Mychal Clark def. Josh Bennett via KO (spinning back elbow) at 2:36 of round 1Chris Beal def. Jose Morales via TKO (elbows) at 4:44 of round 1Joe Condon def. Ismael Gonzalez via split decisionJason Carbajal def. Bobby Sanchez via submission (triangle choke) at 3:05 of round 1Eric Brown def. Brandon Anderson via submission (guillotine choke) at :20 of round 1Gil Guardado def. Chris Costello via TKO (punches) at 2:21 of round 2

Posted in: round, decision, tko, submission, tko punches

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BAMMA USA's BadBeat 5 took place last night (Fri., March 16, 2012) at the Commerce Casino in Commerce, Calif., and featured a nine-fight card with plenty of UFC flavor. The main event of the evening saw Mike Guymon make his return to active competition for the first time since announcing his retirement following a submission loss to DaMarques Johnson in Jan. 2011. Guymon took on Cris Levya, who proved to be a formidable foe, giving Guymon a run for his money in the opening frame. He faded in the second, though, and was eventually overwhelmed with punches. Welcome back to MMA, "Joker." Gabe Ruediger was also in action on the card, as he squared off against Scott Catlin, who boasted a career record of 4-6 heading into the night's festivities. Make it 5-6 after he ripped off a technical knockout in the second round. "Godzilla" who? That's not all the action from the card last night. Hit the jump for complete results (via Sherdog) from BAMMA USA BadBeat 5: Mike Guymon def. Cris Leyva via TKO in round twoScott Catlin def. Gabe Ruediger via TKO in round twoChad George def. Shad Smith via submission (arm triangle) in round oneMychal Clark def. Josh Bennett via knockout in round oneChris Beal def. Jose Morales via TKO in round oneJoe Condon def. Ismael Gonzalez via split decisionJason Carbajal def. Bobby Sanchez via submission (triangle) in round oneEric Brown def. Brandon Anderson via submission (guillotine) in round oneGil Guardado def. Chris Costello via TKO in round two

Posted in: round, tko, submission, gabe ruediger, guymon

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Bellator 61 resultsBossier City, LAMaiquel Falcao def. Norman Paraisy via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Vyacheslav Vasilevsky def. Victor O'Donnell via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) Bruno Santos def. Giva Santana via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28Brian Rogers def. Vitor Vianna via knockout (flying knee) 4:14 R1Josh Quayhagen def. Brent Taylor via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Derrick Krantz def. Eric Scallan via technical submission brabo choke 3:01 R1Jason Sampson def. Jeremy Myers via submission rear naked choke 2:25 R3Trey Houston def. Jeremiah Riggs via submission armbar 3:30 R1Middleweight bracket update and fighter rankings after the jump All tournament rankings are done by ULTMMA.com prior to the opening round of the Bellator eight man bracket. These rankings are unofficial. Former MMA prospects ranked and graded by ULTMMA.com who are making their Bellator tournament debuts include: Mike Corey, Ricardo Tirloni, Karl Amoussou, Raul Amaya and Bruno Santos.Featherweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 9, Hammond, IndianaMarlon Sandro (#1) def. Roberto Vargas (#6) by Submission RNC R1Mike Corey (#7) def. Ronnie Mann (#2) by Unanimous DecisionAlexandre Bezerra (#3) def. Kenny Foster (#8) by Submission RNC R2Daniel Straus (#4) def. Jeremy Spoon (#5) by Unanimous DecisionApril 6, Ontario, CanadaMarlon Sandro (#1) vs. Alexandre Bezerra (#3)Mike Corey (#7) vs. Daniel Straus (#4)Lightweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 23, Laredo, TexasPatricky Freire (#1) vs. Lloyd Woodard (#4)Rick Hawn (#2) vs. Ricardo Tirloni (#3)J.J. Ambrose (#6) vs. Brent Weedman (#8)Thiago Michel (#5) vs. Rene Nazare (#7)Welterweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 30, Uncasville, ConnecticutKarl Amoussou (#4) vs. Chris Lozano (#5)Raul Amaya (#6) vs. Ben Saunders (#1)Brian Foster (#3) vs. David Rickels (#8)Bryan Baker (#2) vs. Carlos Pereira (#7)Middleweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 16, Bossier City, LouisianaMaiquel Falcao (#2) def. Norman Paraisy (#7) by Unanimous DecisionBrian Rogers (#6) def. Vitor Vianna (#1) by KO R1Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (#3) def. Victor O'Donnell (#8) by Unanimous DecisionBruno Santos (#4) def. Giva Santana (#5) by Unanimous DecisionTBDMaiquel Falcao (#2) vs. Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (#3)Bruno Santos (#4) vs. Brian Rogers (#6)Bellator 60 results 

Posted in: bellator, submission, vs, roger, brian

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MMA Fighting has Ultimate Fighter 15 Episode 1 results for Friday's TUF 15 debut from Las Vegas.On the first episode, 32 fighters will compete for 16 spots in the house.Check out the Ultimate Fighter results below. The show is live on FX at 9 p.m. ET and we will post the matchups and results as they happen. Each fight is one 5-minute round. TUF Live Fights Joe Proctor def. Jordan Rinaldi via submission (guillotine)Cristiano Marcello def. Jared Carlsten via submission (rear-naked choke)Sam Sicilia def. Erin Beach via TKO (8 seconds)Chris Tickle def. Austin Lyons via TKO (24 seconds)Andy Ogle def. Brendan Weafer via unanimous decisionVinc Pichel def. Cody Pfister via submission (rear-naked choke)John Cofer def. Mark Glover via unanimous decisionChris Saunders def. Chase Hackett via unanimous decisionJames Vick def. Dakota Cochrane via split decisionMichael Chiesa def. Johnavan Vistante via submission (rear-naked choke)Mike Rio def. Ali Maclean via submission (rear-naked choke)Justin Lawrence def. James Krause via first-round TKODaron Cruickshank def. Drew Dober via unanimous decisionJeremy Larsen def. Jeff Smith via unanimous decisionAl Iaquinta def. Jon Tuck via unanimous decisionMyles Jury def. Akbarh Arreloa via unanimous decision Below is the cast list:Akbarh Arreloa, Chula Vista, Calif.Al Iaquinta, Wantagh, N.Y.Ali Maclean, Belfast, North IrelandAndy Ogle, Tynemouth, EnglandAustin Lyons, Cordova, Tenn.Brendan Weafer, New York, N.Y.Chris Tickle, Bloomington, Ill.Cody Pfister, Amarillo, TexasCristiano Marcello, Curitiba, BrazilChase Hackett, Littleton, Colo.Chris Saunders, Long Beach, Calif.Dakota Cochrane, Omaha, Neb.Daron Cruickshank, Wayne, Mich.Drew Dober, Omaha, Neb.Erin Beach, San Diego, Calif.James Krause, Blue Springs, Mich.James Vick, Fort Worth, TexasJared Carlsten, Los Angeles, Calif.Jeff Smith, Mechanicsburg, Penn.Jeremy Larsen, Phoenix, Ariz.Joe Proctor, Pembroke, Mass.John Cofer, Hull, Ga.Johnavan Vistante, Pearl City, HawaiiJon Tuck, Hagtna, GuamJordan Rinaldi, Matthews, N.C.Justin Lawrence, Villa Ridge, Mo.Mark Glover, Liverpool, EnglandMichael Chiesa, Spokane Valley, Wash.Myles Jury, San Diego, Calif.Mike Rio, Miami, Fla.Sam Sicilia, Spokane Valley, Wash.Vinc Pichel, Sherman Oaks, Calif.

Posted in: result, fighter, submission, rearnaked, austin lyons

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Cage Warriors Fight Night 4 resultsDubai, UAEMike Hayes def. Andreas Kraniotakes via submission kimura 4:21 R3Assan Njie def. Stevie Ray via submission guillotine choke 2:29 R2Lucio Linhares defeats Kyle Baker via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)Sheila Gaff def. Jennifer Maia via knockout (punches) 0:10 R1Phil Harris def. Casey Dyer via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)Mansour Barnaoui def. Brad Wheeler via submission rear naked choke 4:26 R3Bradley Scott def. Mok Rahman via TKO (strikes) 2:45 R3Cyril Asker def. Adam Brearley via TKO (strikes) 4:30 R1

Posted in: submission, brad wheeler, casey dyer, mok rahman, adam brearley

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Another Friday is here, and with the end of the week trailing behind it today brings us another solid offering from Bellator. Bellator 61 rolls into Bossier City, Louisiana, and features the opening round of the Season 6 middleweight tournament. With tourney-veterans Vitor Vianna and Brian Rogers, as well as former UFC fighter Maiquel Falcao, tonight’s fantastic fight card promises some exciting and violent action! Before we get started here, my god does Bellator ever go crazy with where they place their fights on the card, so please note the order the fights appear here is almost certainly not the order in which Bellator will have them. I mean, come on, Alexandre Bezarra fighting in a tournament bout on the preliminary card last week? What was what?! Moving on, it’s time to get down to business and roll with the punches. Here is my breakdown of Bellator 61: Eric Prindle vs. Thiago Santos has been pushed back to next week’s Bellator 62 due to Prindle coming down with the flu. It’s also been reported that Santos weighed nearly 300 pounds on the day of weigh-ins, so there’s that, though no confirmation of that has been offered up by any officials (unlike Prindle’s health). Falcao vs. Norman Paraisy has been promoted to the new main event on the card. Jeremy Myers (3-3) vs. Jason Sampson (8-1) Myers is coming off of two straight losses and faces a tough challenge in 8-1 Sampson. I don’t know much about these two, but on paper Sampson takes this by decision or submission. Winner – Jason Sampson defeats Jeremy Myers via Unanimous Decision Derrick Krantz (10-5) vs. Eric Scallan (10-3) Krantz has never won a fight that has gone the distance. With five knockouts and five submissions to his credit, “D-Rock” is a finisher. Win or lose, he leaves it all in the cage. On the other side of the cage, Scallan has never scored, or been on the receiving end of, a knockout. With seven submissions in ten wins, this man loves to take the fight to the ground. I see this fight as a toss-up. Both are capable of finishing, but should Scallan avoid the striking of Krantz and get this fight to the ground he should take it. Winner – Eric Scallan defeats Derrick Krantz via Submission Round 2 Trey Houston (8-0) vs. Jeremiah Riggs (7-5) Undefeated “That Just Happened” Houston has never gone the distance. He has slick submissions and half of his wins have come in the first round. Riggs, most famous for wooing Daisy De La Hoya on VH1 as well as ALMOST winning WWE Tough Enough and then whining about it, is on a five-fight winning streak. I believe that run comes to an end tonight, and he’ll be cast away from Bellator just as we was from the WWE. Trey Houston defeats Jeremiah Riggs via Submission Round 1 Brent Taylor (0-0) vs. Josh Quayhagen (2-0) Taylor makes his professional debut after going 2-1 as an amateur. Much like some previous fighters on the card, there’s not much known about him, but he appears to be a sufficient enough striker to have both of his wins by TKO. Quayhagen shocked many by defeating Cosmo Alexandre in his professional debut. Cosmo was a hell of a striker, and Quayhagen passed the test against him, I expect he does the same here. Winner – Josh Quayhagen defeats Brent Taylor via Unanimous Decision Giva Santana (17-1) vs. Bruno Santos (12-0) In the first of four middleweight tournament bouts, “The Arm Collector” returns to Bellator and hopes to add some more limbs to his collection. With 13 of his 17 victories coming by Armbar, including a staggering  ten straight om the first round earlier in his career, the decorated grappler attacks from every angle, and if he gets your arm you’re best off just to tap. Santos is undefeated with ten of his wins coming by decision. The grappling heavy, grinding Brazilian is still young but has a lot of potential, especially as his striking and submission skills improve. I think Santos can take down Santana, but I don’t think he should. Giva will attack from any and every angle, and at even the slightest sign of ground and pound he’s giving up his arm for Santana to potentially latch onto. Winner – Giva Santana defeats Bruno Santos via Submission Round 1 Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (15-1) vs. Victor O’Donnell (11-3) Despite sneaky legal games being played by M-1 Global, “Slava” (i.e. Vasilevsky) enters the Bellator middleweight tournament on the strength of a fourteen-fight winning streak. The well-rounded Russian has only been defeated once in his career and has the tools to give any fighter a headache. O’Donnell looks for redemption following a poor performance against Rogers at Bellator 50. The submission-savvy Team Vision fighter has all but two of his wins coming by submission and has notable wins over Forrest Petz and Rafael Natal. “Slava” has the clear striking advantage in this fight and should be more than capable of handling himself on the ground if need be. This fight features two tough-as-hell middleweights, and I don’t see either succumbing to anything. Winner – Vyacheslav Vasilevsky defeats Victor O’Donnell via Unanimous Decision Brian Rogers (8-3) vs. Vitor Vianna (12-2-1) One of the more exciting middleweights in the tournament, Rogers always comes to fight. The former Strikeforce and two-time Bellator fighter is out to rebound from a loss to Alexander Shlemenko. Known for his violent striking, Rogers will definitely try to impose his will on his opponent and look for that oh-so-satisfying knockout. Vianna was a finalist in the last middleweight tournament in the promotion and is looking to take home the whole thing this season. With some great striking and submissions, Vianna can bring it to just about anyone. Rogers could very well win this fight, but he’s going to need to do it early if he wants to secure the victory. I expect the more cautious Vianna to weather any early storm, get the fight to the ground, and pull off a slick submission. Winner – Vitor Vianna defeats Brian Rogers via Submission Round 2 Maiquel Falcao (28-4 1 NC) vs. Norman Paraisy (10-1-1 1 NC) In the new main event, Falcao, a one-time UFC fighter and Brazilian phenom, makes his Bellator debut and is widely regarded as one of the favorites in this tournament. With 23 knockouts in his career, you do NOT want to be on the end of this man’s fists. A fantastic striker with sufficient grappling abilities, Falcao has the skills to pay the bills and he hopes to be a little richer after this fight. The Frenchman, Paraisy, is no slouch himself. With victories over Paulo Filho and Jack Mason to his credit, the 25-year old is very well-rounded although he seems to favor submissions ever so slightly. The only thing in question here is Paraisy’s heart. He has been broken down before and Falcao tends to give fighters all they can handle mentally/physically. Falcao will likely take control at some point in the first round, and if he doesn’t end it in that round he’ll end it in the second. Winner – Maiquel Falcao defeats Norman Paraisy via TKO Round 2 Overall, I believe this card will be awesome. I even think with the heavyweight tournament finals being postponed it is even better than it would have been since fans will see more technique on display. The action goes down at 7:00 PM EST on Spike.com before for the evening’s highlighted bouts head over to MTV2 (or TheScore.ca in Canada) an hour later. Enjoy the fights! PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR

Posted in: fight, bellator, round, submission, vs

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No one has earned their nickname more than Giva Santana. "The Arm Collector" has one of the nastiest reputations around in mixed martial arts, having finished his opponents by armbar in 13 of his 17 career victories. This includes an incredible streak of 10 straight armbar finishes from 2005-2007 which brought him some major attention in EliteXC. On top of being a tremendously successful mixed martial artist with a 17-1 pro record, Santana also teaches Brazilian jiu-jitsu at Team Oyama with notable students like UFC fighters Shane Del Rosario and Ian McCall. He made his Bellator debut last October winning (of course) by armbar against Daryl Cobb in the first round. Santana will be competing this Friday night (March 16, 2012) at Bellator 61 in the quarterfinals of the Bellator season six middleweight tournament. The submission ace spoke with MMAmania.com during a special guest appearance on The Verbal Submission this past Sunday night, talking everything from balancing coaching and competing, getting into the fight mentality and his thoughts on fellow armbar specialist Ronda Rousey in part one of this two-part interview. Check it out: Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): You're facing Bruno Santos. He's a strong wrestler and he's more of a ground based guy that's about the top control. I know that you're really good with the armbar but do you prefer to go for the armbar from your back or from top position? Giva Santana: I don't have a preference. An armbar is just an easy way, I can't get too into it but there's so many submissions in jiu-jitsu that I love to work on that I don't have a preference. If a submission is top or bottom, I like to go wherever it is. I feel my game, I feel like my opponent, of course he's pretty strong but size don't mean much because I come from jiu-jitsu and we use that against you. Adjust weight, adjust leverage and all those things I've been doing my whole life. It's not a big issue and I'm ready for the fight in bottom or top, whether we're standing, I'm prepared for all the situations. Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): I want to ask you about this upcoming tournament format. You've been fighting twice a year the past four years ever since 2008. Are you concerned at all about potentially fighting three times in three months? Giva Santana: No. I fought two times a year but it's not my will. Unfortunately, until I got a shot in Bellator and I was pretty happy with them for the opportunity, it was hard to get fights and I was fighting in small leagues and I didn't even get excited when I had fights booked because I know like two or three weeks away, some guy is gonna pull out or someone don't want to fight me or they want double my money just to face me because of my record and everything and that's what happened. I dropped one fight last year because of an injury, I think it was my elbow or something like that. I dropped one but I got dropped in two shows because there was no opponent for me. It's hard training like when you don't got nothing coming up. I fought last October in Bellator and they already told me I'm gonna be in the tournament. Since then, I've been training six months to get ready for it. My strength and conditioning coach is from Brazil and I explained to him how it would be in the tournament, three fights in three months and we started sharpening up and it's been pretty much maintaining and keeping the strength and keeping the cardio and just moving forward. Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): You're a terrific Brazilian jiu-jitsu coach as well. You've had several of your students have tremendous success. Shane Del Rosario is about to make his UFC debut and Ian McCall just made his UFC debut. Is it difficult balancing being a coach and training to fight as well? Giva Santana: Yeah, it's pretty hard because some days I just want to train. Not with those guys of course, because we're all different weights but it's hard when you got someone in your own division and you're trying to work something and they stop to ask some questions, I'm like, "Come on, man, not now. Let's keep working and then I'll answer any question you want." It's hard but I love it because sometimes they bring the questions that make me think because sometimes you start getting used to one game, tapping everyone else from one position or you control that position really well and they come up with the question that make you think about it. You never stop. You never get too comfortable in one situation because they'll be like, "What if the guy do this?" or "What if the they do that?" If I don't have the answer, I've got to go to my lab and put someone in the position to start working on it to find the answers they need. The good thing is guys like Shane, they put a lot of time in jiu-jitsu right now. When you start mixed martial arts, maybe you've got a background like a wrestler and you try to get by on your background, like beat everyone with your wrestling but when you start getting better in the game and facing stronger opponents, you know the wrestling isn't gonna be enough so that's when you start working on your striking, your jiu-jitsu and everything. In the beginning, I told them, "Hey right now, I help you guys to survive if you fight a jiu-jitsu guy but I want a commitment because when you go to the ground, I want you guys finishing fights. I want you to be able to submit people, surprise them, not only be like a counter guy. Be an offensive guy." Of course, it depends who you go against and they worked pretty hard and put up some submissions and positions and I'm pretty happy with them. Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): Now you're nickname is "The Arm Collector" because of your incredible ability with the armbars. I want to know, what's your opinion on Ronda Rousey? She's come out of nowhere and just taken over women's MMA and she's been crushing everyone with the armbar. I know it's different styles but I want to know what you think. Giva Santana: She's doing pretty well. She's doing pretty good. I want to give my props to her. She's been able to capitalize on the positions, the submissions and put it on. She's doing pretty good. I'm pretty impressed. The only thing I think she works more striking and be ready for all the different situations because the big test is if you get someone that pushes you through the first round and you got frustrated that you didn't pull the submission and then we'll see what you're able to do. People were doing it with Jon Jones and, "Oh I want to see him after the second round," and we see what he's able to do. He's pretty talented. She's doing pretty well, man. I'm pretty excited. I look forward to seeing her fight more and proving that she's the one. Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): I want to ask you about finishing instinct. You've got this incredible finishing instinct when you're fighting. Is it something where you're capitalizing on an opponent's mistake or it's more from you're pushing the pace and trying to overwhelm your opponent? Giva Santana: I try to push the pace. I try to make him go in the directions that I want him to go. It's a combination of a lot of stuff. All those years of experience in jiu-jitsu, pushing the pace, changing a little bit, going slow, going quick, change it up because that's the thing that makes a huge difference. If you go with someone that has a jiu-jitsu background and you use one position the whole time, it's gonna be pretty hard to tap him out. If you switch to one, two, three, four positions all the time, you make him get confused and that's when he opens up for the submission. It's just like with my experience, I've been in the position so many times, I know which way the body go and which way the arm go. I think I didn't get to the big show before Bellator because people were like, "Oh, he don't strike. Good striker will hit him with a good punch and knock him out." That's the same feeling I have when I tap someone out. I stop them. Striker guys, they stop people by knocking them out and I stop people with submissions. It's the same feeling and that's what I'm always gonna try. You see me out there. The fight that I lost, people say, "He was just trying armbar," but I'm like, "No, I'll try anything. I'll try any submission. Whatever I can pull off in the fight, I'll go for. If I can get a good submission, a good punch, I want to do whatever it takes to get the win." If I have the chance to tap people out, that's what I'm gonna do. Ben Thapa: What is your process of getting down to the fight mentality? Do you include your family? Do you try to isolate yourself? What's your mentality? Giva Santana: I'm a guy that's pretty much family. Of course, working hard, it's been two years, I don't go back home to see my mom, see my brothers and everybody but we keep in touch like every other day. They support me. I'm pretty quiet and once I start getting close to the fight. I start to get, not much friends around, not much people around. It's not that I feel bad, but a lot of people talking about things, they want to talk about the fight. You already have your strategy set, your goals set and I don't want to get any distractions so I just keep watching my opponent's fights and I try to find little holes that I missed when i was watching with my coaches and everything and I try to add that on, categorize and try to make the game better. That's just pretty much what I do. Stay tuned for part two tomorrow where Santana talks his training, his origins in MMA when he won four fights in one night and even golf. You can follow him on Twitter @GivaSantana. So what do you think, Maniacs? Will see see Santana do more of the same this Friday night in Bellator with an armbar victory? Is he a legitimate threat to win this tournament? Sound off! To listen to the complete audio of our conversation with Giva Santana, click here (interview begins at 1:31:00 mark)

Posted in: fight, guy, submission, im, santana

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Bellator Fighting Championships will head to "The Bayou State" this Friday night (March 16, 2012) at the Horseshoe Riverdome in Bossier City, Louisiana. The main card will air live on MTV2 on fight night, beginning at 8 p.m. ET. Headlining the main event will be a heavyweight tournament final that features two men with some serious unfinished business. Thiago Santos and Eric Prindle's original bout at Bellator 59 ended in a dreaded "No Contest" after a low blow from Santos forced a stop to the fight just 74 seconds into the first round. Now they're back and there's a heavyweight title shot on the line. The rest of the main card will comprise the Bellator season six middleweight tournament, which features top competitors like Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) veteran Maiquel Falcao, as well as season five mainstays like Brian Rogers and Vitor Vianna. Also competing is the top Russian prospect Vyachaselav Vasilevsky and "The Arm Collector" Giva Santana. Check out our complete Bellator 61 preview and predictions after the jump: 265 lbs.: Eric Prindle (7-1 1 NC) vs. Thiago Santos (10-1 1 NC) Thiago Santos entered the Bellator season five heavyweight tournament as an alternate but proved his worth by dropping season three finalist Neil Grove with an overhand right and finishing him with a rear naked choke in just 38 seconds. Santos is large, powerful and while he's not the most technical guy on the ground, he's definitely dangerous with submissions if he can gain an advantage. Eric Prindle is probably one of the biggest heavyweights in the world. Originally cutting down from about 300 pounds to make the 265 pound limit. Prindle showcased his boxing skills in the semifinals by destroying the heavy hitter Ron Sparks in just 40 seconds, The key for this fight will be for Prindle to try and keep the fight standing or in the clinch while Santos also looks stand or score takedowns. Prindle has some terrific boxing skills and tremendous power, but this fight will hinge on whether he can remain upright. He was dumped on his back in the last fight before the ill-fated low blow, so he's going to have to put forth a better effort to stay standing if he wants to win this time around. Santos has proven he's capable both standing and on the ground and in my opinion, that will likely be the key difference. Final Prediction: Thiago Santos via submission in round one 185 lbs.: Maiquel Falcao (28-4 1 NC) vs. Norman Paraisy (10-1-1 1 NC) You might remember Maiquel Falcao, he's the man who was the reason for Gerald Harris' release from the UFC due to his funky fighting style and lack of action in the final two rounds. He also got screwed out of a potential fight-ending submission after the round was ended four seconds early and he had Harris on the verge of tapping out. He was released by the UFC after some legal trouble back home and has gone 2-1 since. Norman Paraisy might be known best for being the French fighter who failed to answer the bell for the second round against James Hammertree in a fight to enter the house for The Ultimate Fighter season 11, which drew plenty of jokes. Since then, however, Paraisy has gone 5-0-1 competing around the globe including a victory over former WEC champion Paulo Filho. One must questions Paraisy's heart a bit heading into this fight and how he will react if Falcao is able to take control. Also, Paraisy's lone career loss came under the Bellator banner in 2009 against Dave Menne so that will likely be wearing on him as well. Falcao is very powerful and he's skilled in both striking and submissions. I feel if he can begin to gain an advantage, he's going to break Paraisy at some point. Final Prediction: Maiquel Falcao via TKO in round two 185 lbs.: Vitor Vianna (12-2-1) vs. Brian Rogers (8-3) Vitor Vianna was widely regarded as one of the best middleweight prospects on the planet. He proved it in the last Bellator middleweight tournament, knocking Bryan Baker senseless before coming up short against Alexander Shlemenko in the finals via decision. Vianna has some extremely good jiu-jitsu skills and he mixes that well with some improving stand-up and power. Brian Rogers is one of the best middleweights in Ohio. "The Predator" entered the Bellator season five tournament on a six fight streak which included six first round knockouts. He kept the streak alive, stopping Victor O'Donnell inside two minutes at Bellator 50 but he also was halted by Alexander Shlemenko, although he gave the Russian quite a beating before fading in the second round. Rogers is at his best when he's swarming and overwhelming opponents early with his heavy power shots including kicks and knees. He's going to have to hurt Vianna with some punches and kicks in the opening minute if he wants to present himself with an opportunity to finish the fight. Vianna, on the other hand, should fire back by playing it cautious early or potentially taking the fight to the ground and working his world class submission game. If he can drag this fight into the second or third round, his odds of winning go up drastically. Final Prediction: Vitor Vianna via submission in round three 185 lbs.: Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (15-1) vs. Victor O'Donnell (11-3) Vyacheslav Vasilevsky is a very explosive and capable middleweight. A former M-1 light heavyweight champion, he's used to fighting men much larger than him and winning. Vasilevsky would prefer to keep this fight standing where he's most dangerous but if the fight goes to the canvas, that's not the end of the world either as he's highly capable on the ground. Victor O'Donnell was another Ultimate Fighter season 11 fighter who failed to make it onto the show. He fell short to Brian Rogers via first round TKO in the last tournament but he protested the stoppage and was given another shot for this tournament. O'Donnell trains out of Vision MMA in Cincinnati alongside top prospects like Roger Bowling and Daniel Straus and he's pretty dangerous everywhere. Vasilevsky will be trying to stand and trade with O'Donnell where he should have a power and technique advantage. He's got some terrific footwork and he can take a shot so he would be willing to eat one to give one. O'Donnell has some respectable striking, but he does most of his damage on the ground whether it's ground and pound or submissions. Both men are very tough and pretty evenly matched so I don't see this fight getting stopped. Final Prediction: Vyacheslav Vasilevsky via decision 185 lbs.: Giva Santana (17-1) vs. Bruno Santos (12-0) Giva Santana is an extremely dangerous submission expert. "The Arm Collector" has finished 13 of his 17 career victories via armbar including a ridiculous 10 in a row during a two year stint from 2005-2007. Santana also splits his time by being the head jiu-jitsu coach at Team Oyama where he trains current UFC fighters like Shane Del Rosario and Ian McCall. His age is getting up there, but he's still extremely nimble and is one of the most dangerous middleweights in the world on the ground. Bruno Santos is a very interesting Brazilian prospect. He's been able to develop a tenacious grinding style which has helped him win all 12 of his career fights. Santos does not have much finishing ability, however, and he's gone to decision in all nine of his most recent fights, winning them all unanimously. His submission and striking skills are still progressing and he's still young enough at 24 years old to add them to his arsenal. Santos has zero chance of submitting Santana but perhaps if he's got enough confidence in his defense, he could work for takedowns and try to ground and pound his opponent. I expect Santana to immediately be attacking from every angle, and if Santos leaves an arm even close to exposed, he's going to snatch it up and mount that sucker on his wall. Final Prediction: Giva Santana via armbar in round one So what do you think, Maniacs? Who do you see winning the Bellator heavyweight finals and do you think either man can challenge Cole Konrad? What are your picks for the Bellator season six middleweight tournament? Sound off!

Posted in: fight, bellator, round, submission, he

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News broke today that former number one middleweight contender Demian Maia has decided to cut down to welterweight for his next fight. Maia himself tweeted the news: Guys, now I ll moving down to 170 pounds. Next fight I ll be a welterwheight @ufc — Demian Maia (@demianmaia) March 14, 2012 The news comes as a bit of a surprise to me, as the upper echelon of the welterweight division is filled with power punching wrestlers, which is not exactly the type of fighter Maia excels against. Indeed, his last two losses (to Chris Weidman and Mark Munoz) have come against wrestle-boxers, so moving down to a division that is filled with guys who fit that description is a bit curious. "Curious" is perhaps the best way to describe Maia's fighting career as of late, though. After winning four submission of the night bonuses in his first five UFC fights, (all submission victories) his offensive jiu jitsu game has been noticeably absent ever since his 21 second loss to Nate Marquardt, at UFC 102. Maia has chosen to contest large portions of his subsequent fights on the feet, and he has gone to the judges in seven consecutive matches since falling to Marquardt, winning four and losing three. Of course it would be foolish to simply state that Maia has abandoned his jiu jitsu attacks in favor of the striking game. Mixed martial arts is a very complex and fast moving sport and there are probably some very reasonable explanations for why Maia has been unable to get the submission once his last seven matches have hit the mat. I'm just not sure what they are. Could it be that his opponents are prepared for his grappling attack and are ready to defend against the submission at all costs? Decision wins over far less decorated grapplers Dan Miller, Kendall Grove and Mario Miranda lend credence to this possibility.Could it be that his level of opposition is just that much higher? Of course that has come into play, but I'm not really ready to say the guys he's beaten in Miller, Grove, Miranda and Jorge Santigo are miles better than Ed Herman, Nate Quarry or Chael Sonnen were, at the time he fought and submitted them. Maybe his grappling game has suffered due to an increased focus on his stand-up game but if that's the case I would suggest that he get back to his roots in a hurry, as while his stand-up has improved over the years, it isn't at the level where he can win fights with it. No, in my opinion, Maia is much better off using his striking to help him get the fight to the mat and once there, going after submissions relentlessly. Perhaps Maia is hoping that a move to the welterweight division is going to give him a strength advantage over his opponents and that will be the difference he needs to finish with submissions. That could be, but as I mentioned above, the top of the welterweight division is full of powerful wrestlers who are practically impossible to submit, while the guys who aren't powerful wrestlers haven't been submitted in years. The last time one of the top ten guys (Georges St. Pierre, Carlos Condit, Nick Diaz, Jake Ellenberger, Johny Hendricks, Josh Koscheck, Jon Fitch, Jake Shields, Martin Kampmann and Diego Sanchez) was tapped out it was Condit way back in 2006. Of the next ten (Thiago Alves, Rory MacDonald, Rick Story, Charlie Brenneman, Paulo Thiago, Mike Pierce, Brian Ebersole, Dong Hyun Kim, John Hathaway and Mike Pyle) only Alves has been tapped out recently, with Ebersole and Pyle being the only other guys on the list who even have a loss via submission. So if Maia is expecting to come down to 170 and get back to his submission ways, he might have another thing coming. It should be interesting to watch though. Who do you think he should face in his first fight in the division? I have a feeling he could very well be matched up against Alves, as both are coming off a loss and Alves seems to represent the best chance for him to get that tap out.

Posted in: fight, guy, submission, welterweight division, maia

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After a lengthy absence, the Bellator promotion came back with a bang last week. The show was headlined by a rollicking clash between Pat Curran and Joe Warren and the opening round of the 2012 featherweight tournament. From The Riverdome in Bossier City, Louisiana, Bellator 61 on Friday night (March 16) marks Bellator's second entry of 2012 and features a rematch between Eric Prindle and Thiago Santos for the heavyweight strap and the premiere of this year's middleweight tournament. The main card will be televised on MTV2 and the EPIX network at 8 p.m. ET with one hour of preliminary fights streaming on Spike.com and Bellator.com at 7 p.m. ET. The televised broadcast shapes up like this: Heavyweight Tournament ChampionshipEric Prindle vs. Thiago Santos Middleweight TournamentMaiquel Falcao vs. Norman ParaisyBrian Rogers vs. Vitor ViannaGiva Santana vs. Bruno SantosVyacheslav Vasilevsky vs. Victor O'Donnell Eric Prindle (7-1) vs. Thiago "Big Monster" Santos (10-1) The finalists of last year's heavyweight tournament are engaging in a rematch after their initial meeting ended in a No Contest. In the first round of their Bellator 59 match, Thiago Santos punted the prone Eric Prindle square in the nether regions and the fouled fighter was unable to continue despite his allotted five-minute respite. Prindle, a mammoth heavyweight who barely sneaks in under the 265-pound limit, was an amateur boxer in the military. He's finished five of his seven victories, all via strikes, and hasn't lost since his MMA debut in 2008; a 1st-round submission against Jimmy Ambriz, the former King of the Cage Super-Heavyweight champion. His tenure in Bellator consists of three straight wins (Josh Burns and Ron Sparks by KO, Abe Wagner via decision) leading up to the No Contest with Santos. "Big Monster" is just that -- like Prindle, he also tips the scales at the heavyweight maximum, but his BJJ black belt and heavy hands give him a dual-pronged approach (2 TKOs, 5 subs). Hailing from Brazil, Santos was a strong new acquisition for Bellator but struggled to make a timely entrance. An undisclosed injury forced him to withdraw from his intended promotional debut against Derrick Lewis at Bellator 45 and visa issues prevented his participation in the heavyweight tournament at Bellator 52. He finally made an appearance at Bellator 53 in a bout to determine a standby replacement in the tournament and tapped out Josh Burns with a first-round rear-naked choke. Inserted into the brackets after tournament competitor Mike Hayes suffered an injury, Santos was slated to face Blagoi Ivanov -- his originally intended opponent -- but Ivanov was removed due to injury as well. Veteran Neil Grove was the selected replacement and Santos duplicated the outcome of his promotional debut with a quick submission to advance to the finals against Prindle. Gifs and analysis in the full entry. SBN coverage of Bellator 61 From Bellator's Youtube channel, the video above is a highlight of the Bellator 56 event in which both Prindle and Santos advanced to the finals with first-round stoppages. Both men are leviathans with huge punching power. They share boxing as their main style of striking, and Prindle is a little more polished in his technique, throwing tighter punches with a better defensive guard and footwork. That slight advantage could easily be outweighed by the strong submission acumen of Santos. Though he's not an accomplished wrestler, Santos still has decent takedowns. His malicious striking complements his ground game nicely, as opponents are often lured into a standing brawl and become susceptible to takedowns or, as the video depicts, Santos will pounce with submission attempts after scoring a knockdown on the feet. The betting lines recognize Santos' diversity and hold him as a big favorite at -425 odds. While Prindle's ability to end the fight at any time with his hands makes that rating a little steep, Santos is my pick as well. The Brazilian should be able to avoid the haymaker and eventually force Prindle to the mat to open up a submission. My Prediction: Thiago Santos by rear-naked choke. Maiquel Falcao (28-4) vs. Norman Paraisy (10-1) Falcao had a brief stint in the UFC that was riddled by unusual circumstances. In his Octagon debut at UFC 123, he blitzed Gerald Harris with combinations and won the first two rounds handily, but the showcase performance was marred by prolonged hesitancy from both fighters in the third round. Falcao locked in a deep rear-naked choke to close out the first round, but it later emerged that the horn sounded seven seconds earlier than it was supposed to; an error by the attending official that very well may have robbed Falcao of the finish (below). Falcao was pulled from his scheduled UFC 134 bout against Tom Lawlor in Rio and subsequently released by the UFC for some old legal troubles that sprang back up. Since that departure, he's won two of three in Brazil with two first-round knockouts and a submission loss to Antonio Braga Neto -- a Gracie Fusion talent who also just kneebarred Brock Larson -- on the Amazon Forest Combat card. Two of his four career losses came at the hands of the UFC's Fabio Maldonado. Falcao boasts a shocking twenty-four wins via utterly violent striking, all but one of which were delivered within the first five minutes of the contest. He's a head-hunter with blazing hand-speed, a solid Thai game in the clinch, good trips and throws, and overwhelming ground-and-pound. Formerly a Chute Boxe product, Falcao now trains with the Luta Livre based Renovacao Fight Team under Marcelo Brigadeiro. His opponent, Norman Paraisy, is another compelling prospect returning to Bellator for the first time since losing to former UFC champion Dave Menne by submission at Bellator 4 in 2009. Along with one No Contest and draw apiece, this is the only flaw on Paraisy's record, though the Frenchman was defeated by James Hammortree when trying out for TUF 11. His biggest wins are decisions over Paulo Filho and Japanese journeyman Hidehiko Hasegawa at M-1 Challenge 6, and he's finished five by submission with two TKOs. Paraisy is a burly middleweight with a strong arsenal overall. From what I've seen, he appears capable with striking and grappling, has a strong clinch and takedowns with good control and ground-and-pound; no glaring weaknesses nor specific areas of excellence. Falcao has been asserted as a heavy favorite to win the tournament and is also the biggest favorite on the betting lines, coming in at -310. By my estimation, that's about dead-on. Paraisy's sole defeat is by submission, but he's yet to face a devastating striker like Falcao, who I expect to triumph with a highlight-reel stoppage. My Prediction: Maiquel Falcao by TKO. Brian "The Predator" Rogers (8-3) vs. Vitor Vianna (12-2) Rogers posted a monumental first-round knockout of fellow Bellator 61 cast member Victor O'Donnell in his debut in last year's tournament. The former four-year college linebacker has just three years of MMA experience under his belt and is now complementing his natural athleticism and freakish punching power with increasing technique. His Bellator debut came on the heels of six consecutive first-round TKOs, the last coming over Iam Rammel on the undercard of Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson. Rogers started strong against Alexander Shlemenko (right) but eventually succumbed to strikes in the second. Wand Fight Team rep Vitor Vianna defeated Sam Alvey by decision and then clobbered Bryan Baker (left) to advance to last year's tournament finals. There, he was also defeated by Shlemenko, but endured three rounds of the Russian's bombardment to drop a decision. Vianna is a BJJ black belt with rugged striking and a hard-nosed clinch game. He has a balanced finishing ratio with five TKOs and four submissions. Along with Shlemenko, his only other career defeat was the UFC's Thiago Silva in 2006, though an arm injury was the impetus for the TKO loss. Vianna got some love in the third spot of last year's BloodyElbow Scouting Report and comes in as the narrow favorite at -170, which is understandable considering he's the more diverse and consistent fighter. He might be the safer pick, but I'd stay away from a wager here. Rogers has unparalleled athleticism and excellent natural instincts, and is rapidly transforming into a more complete martial artist. He's hell on wheels in the first round and I like him to pull out the upset here. He's in trouble if he finds himself entangled with Vianna on the mat, but he can match his power standing and wields a mixed onslaught of heavy leather, high kicks and flying knees. My Prediction: Brian Rogers by decision. Giva "The Arm Collector" Santana (17-1) vs. Bruno Santos (12-0) The nickname, seventeen submission wins with thirteen by armbar sum up Giva Santana's method of handling business. The Team Oyama middleweight is a top-shelf grappler with only one career defeat; a split-decision to Jaime Jara on a 2008 ShoXC card. His rap sheet includes submissions over former WEC fighters Doug Marshall and Anthony Ruiz and a TKO victory over TUF product Lodune Sincaid. His last fight was a first-round armbar fitted on Darryl Cobb in his Bellator debut (right). Bruno Santos was the fifth selection in the 2010 version of the BloodyElbow World MMA Scouting Report. Being a control-based decision fighter is his unfortunate calling card, finishing his first and third opponent but grinding out his remaining wins on the score cards. He holds a win over Chute Boxe fighter Daniel Acacio and won last year's Bitetti Combat middleweight tournament with three decisions and forty-five minutes of stifling control in one night. Hailing from Ze Mario team in Brazil, Santos is a young fighter who basically waits for the prime opportunity to snare a single leg and bury his opponent underneath him. Having no prior experience in traditional martial arts, Santos is surrounded by BJJ artists and undoubtedly honing his knowledge of submission grappling, but is yet to face a submission whiz like Santana, who is the most poisonous match up for Santos out of all the competitors. His unrelenting takedown and top game is highly effective and I could see him pulling out a forgettable upset, but his style is perfectly suited for Santana. My Prediction: Giva Santana by submission. Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (15-1) vs. Victor O'Donnell (11-3) Two more Scouting Report entries square off here. Vasilevsky was the fourth-ranked middleweight in 2010 and Vianna came in ninth. Vasilevsky is a Russian with a background in Combat Sambo and slick boxing skills. Former UFC competitor Xavier Foupa-Pokam stands as his biggest win but Vasilevsky's track record is particularly devoid of top-level competition. His Sambo skills offer a decent clinch and grappling game, but his technical boxing is his best weapon. Victor O'Donnell was the fighter who lost to Chris Camozzi in the TUF 11 elimination bout, but he knocked Camozzi around enough to break his jaw, requiring his early departure from the show. He's faced three UFC-level opponents in his career: impressive stoppages over Forrest Petz (submission) and Rafael Natal (first-round TKO) and a decision loss to Constantinos Philippou. Though he seems like more of a banger, O'Donnell has nine submission wins with one TKO and decision. His knockout loss to Rogers in last year's tournament was the first time he's ever been finished. Vasilevsky is a deceivingly venomous boxer with solid technique and control of striking range. O'Donnell would be well advised to avoid a straight shootout and phase shift, muffle the Russian in the clinch or pursue takedowns. The Russian should be just a little too precise on the feet and should pick up a rif he can't elicit an early stoppage. My Prediction: Vyacheslav Vasilevsky by TKO. All gifs via Zombie Prophet of IronForgesIron.com

Posted in: bellator, submission, vs, tournament, prindle

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When UFC matchmaker Joe Silva goes hunting for an opponent for Rousimar Palhares, he rarely gets an immediate yes. But when he recently called Alan Belcher, Palhares wasn't the first option. Belcher was actually not interested in his original offer, and Silva said there was no one else unless he wanted to fight Palhares. To Belcher, it was a matchup that made perfect sense. "I’m getting close to being at the top," he recently told MMA Fighting. "I’ve been chasing that belt but I’m not in that picture of the top two or three guys. But I’m about to break into that elite group right there, and this is maybe the fight to do it for me." The 27-year-old Belcher (17-6) has been a UFC mainstay since August 2006, but his recent stretch has been his best, winning five of six, including three straight stoppage wins. But that momentum was temporarily delayed by emergency eye surgery in August 2010 that briefly threatened his career. It eventually put him out of action for 16 months. When he returned, he faced Jason MacDonald and promptly earned a first-round stoppage in a fight that effectively proved to be a tuneup for arguably his most dangerous opponent, Palhares.The powerful Brazlian has gained a reputation as one of MMA's submission masters. He's won six of his last fights, with four coming via tapout, and his favored methods seems to be attacking the lower limbs. He's got three heel hooks and one kneebar tap during that stretch.He's also gained a reputation as a bit of a loose cannon due to some of his antics, which have included him jumping atop the cage during the middle of a fight, turning his attention to the referee while an opponent finished him, and holding on to submissions a bit too long.That perceived instability along with his violent submissions is what has caused many to back off from fights with Palhares, but Belcher says the matchup plays in his favor. A Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt in his own right, Belcher says his complete game is tailor-made to beat Palhares at UFC on FOX 3."I’m not going to force a grappling match," he said. "I’m much better striking than him. Faster, longer, better boxing, better kicking. So I’m going to be smart, but when it comes to a grappling situation, it’s a natural action. I can choke anybody. I can take their back, choke them, I have a bunch of really good moves. But would I like to win by submitting him? Yes, it’d be awesome. People would realize I’m not just good, but one of the best grapplers in the division, too."Belcher says Palhares' proven history of losing focus also weighs in his favor, feeling that he'll be able to frustrate him after shutting down repeated attacks. In other words, he'll use Palhares' aggressiveness against him."When you’re going for something and trying to force it and it’s not happening, you’re always open for something," he said. "He’ll leave himself open, and I’m planning on countering with good position, punching, and then maybe a submission or something."The suggestion that he might beat Palhares at his own game might sound like a stretch to some, but Belcher has nearly evenly distributed his wins by TKO (8) and submission (7), and tapped out other black belts like Denis Kang. Admittedly, Palhares is a level above anyone when it comes to ground skills, but rather than being a reason not to fight him, it's exactly why he embraces the challenge."I’m not scared of his strength," he said. "It’s not takedowns or striking, but submissions. He goes down on the ground. He doesn't really take you down. He's just going to go for submissions, so he can’t beat me out of a decision. He’s just going to go for leg locks. I’m just not scared of someone submitting me."A solid win over Palhares would certainly make Belcher one to watch as the UFC looks for new contenders to the middleweight throne. He knows he probably still has work to do, but beating Palhares at his own game would prove his complete skill. Now older and wiser and with the experience of nearly losing his career behind him, Belcher knows it's just as much about the journey as it is about the destination. "I’m just going to win the fight, keep winning, and once you put together so many wins, you’re going to get to the belt," he said. "I’m just taking it one at a time, and just winning, winning. I’m not in a hurry. Before I felt I was in a hurry to get good, win and get the belt, and that would have been my life accomplishment. But I think to really make it happen, I have to take my time and take it one fight at a time."

Posted in: fight, belcher, submission, palhare, irsquom

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King of the Cage Breakthrough resultsTulsa, OKDavid Heath def. Sidah Parker by TKO (Punches) 4:48 R2Brendan Tierney def. Tommy Jones by Submission Rear Naked Choke 1:09 R1Tyler East def. Tracy Willis by Submission Punches 1:12 R1Kinney Spotwood def. Dingo Brown by Decision (Split)Cody East def. Jeff Karriman by Submission Arm-Triangle Choke 2:52 R3Archie Lowe def. George Palmer by Submission Armbar 2:27 R1Ray Borg def. Antonio Taylor by Submission Rear Naked Choke 0:54 R1Marvin Rowell def. Aaron Chavers by Submission Rear Naked Choke 0:39 R1Airyn Burr def. Marcus Kincaid by Submission Armbar 0:13 R1

Posted in: submission, jeff karriman, tommy jones, tracy willis, antonio taylor

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 32 lightweights made the casting cut but only 16 would make it into the Ultimate Fighter Live house. The UFC and FX went with a one round five minute format for the preliminary fights. The results of the TUF shoot out was a mixed bagged of talent. TUF Live Fights resultsLas Vegas, NVJoe Proctor def. Jordan Rinaldi via submission (guillotine)Cristiano Marcello def. Jared Carlsten via submission (rear-naked choke)Sam Sicilia def. Erin Beach via TKO (8 seconds)Chris Tickle def. Austin Lyons via TKO (24 seconds)Andy Ogle def. Brendan Weafer via unanimous decisionVinc Pichel def. Cody Pfister via submission (rear-naked choke)John Cofer def. Mark Glover via unanimous decisionChris Saunders def. Chase Hackett via unanimous decisionJames Vick def. Dakota Cochrane via split decisionMichael Chiesa def. Johnavan Vistante via submission (rear-naked choke)Mike Rio def. Ali Maclean via submission (rear-naked choke)Justin Lawrence def. James Krause via first-round TKO (85 seconds)Daron Cruickshank def. Drew Dober via unanimous decisionJeremy Larsen def. Jeff Smith via unanimous decisionAl Iaquinta def. Jon Tuck via unanimous decisionMyles Jury def. Akbarh Arreloa via unanimous decisionUpsets, favorites and dark horses after the jump. Biggest upset: Justin Lawrence def. James Krause- 25 years old and with nearly 20 fights worth of pro experience under his belt James Krause (15-4) was a fighter built to win the TUFL tournament. A 5'8 lightweight with just three lackluster pro fights Justin Lawrence (3-0) was just another name among the 32 fighters. Lawrence needed less than 90 seconds to crush Krause with punches and earn his spot in the house. Favorite that impressed: Mike Rio- A wrestling powerhouse Mike Rio (8-1) was close to earning a UFC contract with his regional dominance on the Florida MMA scene. Rio took care of business with a quick submission win over Ali Maclean (9-5-1). The 30 year old Rio should have a deep run the TUF Live tournament. Favorite that disappointed: Al Iaquinta- Talent wise Al Iaquinta (5-1) is a top three prospect in the TUF Live cast. Iaquinta had a tough draw with underrated Guam fighter Jon Tuck (6-0) in the prelim round. The 24 year old edged out Tuck in a close fight and will do well on the show where two round fights are the norm. Dark horse that emerged: Sam Sicilia- Eight seconds was it all took to get Sam Sicilia (10-0) into the TUF Live house. Sicilia will be fresh heading into the tournament when he needed just single overhand right hand punch to knockout Erin Beach (3-1). The 26 year old Sicilia stockpiled a perfect record almost exclusively on the Washington state MMA scene where the 155 pound competition is subpar.

Posted in: fight, submission, rio, tuf, sicilia

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While there wasn't a major UFC card this weekend - and won't be for over a month - this weekend was packed with lesser action from across the world. I mean, this was just a ridiculous weekend. And one of the first things I want to say is props to some of the smaller places throughout the world for putting on good fights with decent available names, decent enough production and mostly well-run and -officiated. One of the pitfalls of smaller promotions is when they skimp and cut corners trying to make that extra buck. When things go well, it's usually because they did a good job trying to put on a good event. The organizers in Croatia packed 15,000 or so into their arena, brought over Michael Buffer and a former Miss America to work the mic (and look good), and got a decent mix of name kickboxers and prospects to compete. Super Fight League over in India had the right mix of carnival and sport, complete with concert, dancing hotties and they brought Herb Dean over to ref. Bellator had some ref problems, especially in the Jeff Curran/Joe Warren contest, but other than that, it was fairly decent. They need to work on their timing of getting fighters into the cage, but other than that, not too many complaints. Bellator reinforced that they're one of the best orgs outside of the Zuffa umbrella. The Ultimate Fighter season 15 kicked off, and while it wasn't revolutionary, their format change made it a nice switchup from the past few seasons. The one-round fights with $5,000 bonuses for finishes certainly helped bring some excitement to the fights, as a number of dudes were just flat-out going for broke to make an impression. There was also a ton of even smaller MMA cards that have been reported to Sherdog's Fight Finder, and beneath the jump, I'll try and pull the relevant information from them. Also beneath are gifs, full videos for Super Fight League, Mirko Filipovic vs. Ray Sefo and full results for the mid-majors. Young Danish striker Mikkel Parlo bumped his record to 7-0 at RA - Royal Arena with a win over some guy who will never get anywhere in this sport, the now 3-5 Martin Tondryk, who fought for the first time in almost 9 years. Well-traveled striker Radoslaw Piechnik from Poland went up to 6-0 by submitting (via punches) another can in Miroslav Kuban. This marks the sixth fight in six different organizations for the 29-year old and his first fight in three years. 24-year old grappler Albert Odzimkowski picked up two wins in a tournament style format last night to bump up his record to 4-0, all by submission. Anyone who has three heel-hook wins in four fights is alright by me. Shooto Brazil was nice to three Brazilian prospects. Sengoku and Bamma vet Leonardo Santos ran his record to 10-3 with an arm triangle. Fellow Nova Uniao fighter, light-heavyweight Francimar Barroso went up to 13-3 with a guillotine, and former Jon Jones victim Carlos Eduardo won his sixth in a row when his opponent quit on the stool. In the struggle to find more viable talent in the field of women's MMA, Vanessa Porto is struggling to climb her way into relevancy. With losses to Roxanne Modafferi, Cristiane Cyborg Santos, Carinna Damm AND Amanda Nunes on her record already, she may never get there, but she picked up her fourth win in a row last night, KO'ing Luana Teixeira to make her record a not-so-embarassing 14-4 at Pink Fight 2. Promising 2010 rookie standout Kyoji Horiguchi is now 7-1 after a TKO victory in Shooto Japan. Rather than bore you with details of my own, I'll just link to Tony Loiseleur's recap on Sherdog of the event. In boxing, Orlando Salido and Juan Manuel Lopez put on a fight that many are labeling as an early contender for Fight of the Year. It was Salido's second stoppage of Juanma, and it may have saved boxing from yet another controversy. SBNation's boxing blog Bad Left Hook had Salido up handily, as did the unofficial scoring on Showtime and much of the public from places like Twitter, but when they released the judges' scorecards after the fight, they had it as a win for Lopez. Fortunately for boxing, Salido saved them from themselves late in the fight with the TKO that can be viewed below (Skip to 1:10 if you just want to see highlights of that fight). Back in MMA, longtime home to some of the best flyweight and bantamweights in the world, Tachi Fighting Palace is probably going to struggle a bit with relevance now that the UFC has added those divisions into their fold. There are still quite a few good ones out there, however, and there were a few nice fights last night. Strikeforce veteran Casey Olson had himself a fairly dominating win over Cody Gibson in the main event, racking up the unanimous decision victory. UFC and Pancrase vet Rob Emerson nearly went the distance, but got himself the RNC with 30 seconds left in the fight over Savant Young. While some of you may recall Mexican fighter Antonio Duarte from the undercard of Affliction's Fedor/Arlovski card, he ended up getting himself KO'd early by UFC and WEC veteran Francisco Rivera. Full results: Bantamweight bout: Casey Olson def. Cody Gibson by unanimous decisionLightweight bout: Robert Emerson def. Savant Young by submission (rear naked choke) Rd 3 (4:29)Bantamweight bout: Francisco Rivera def. Antonio Duarte by KO (punches) Rd 1 (1:15)Lightweight bout: Bubba Jenkins def. Chris Gomez by submission (rear naked choke) Rd 1 (2:07)Heavyweight bout: Dave Huckaba def. Liron Wilson by TKO (punches) Rd 2 (1:05)Featherweight bout: Anthony Avila def. Art Becerra by submission (guillotine choke) Rd 1 (4:08)Flyweight bout: Alex Perez def. Edgar Diaz by submission (kimura) Rd 1 (2:33) Bellator 60 was definitely the most relevant of the events held this past weekend (you can tell because we had a live thread for it), and Pat Curran solidified his place as a top-10 (and possibly a top-5) Featherweight in the world. His third round destruction of Joe Warren is one of the most ridiculous finishes you will ever see in the history of MMA, due in no small part by some of the worst incompetence you will ever see from a ref in this sport. Warren ate about 40 unanswered shots, and was clearly only standing up because the cage was there to keep him there. If you haven't seen it now, check it out: via ironforgesiron.com Just ridiculous. Warren apparently suffered a pretty bad concussion and his Olympic hopes are almost certainly out the window along with his jaw. On a more positive note, Bellator's new tournament format kicked off, and Daniel Straus, Alexandre Bezerra, late-replacement Mike Corey and long-time stalwart Marlon Sandro advanced to the semis. UFC vets Travis Wiuff and Sean McCorkle all picked up wins as well. Travis is now 11-1-1 in his last 13 and Sean picked up his sixth in a row since getting cut. Young welterweight Josh Shockley looked to be a sacrificial lamb to UFC and Strikeforce vet Shamar Bailey, but he outgrappled Shamar en route to a unanimous decision win. Full results: Featherweight Championship bout: Pat Curran defeated Joe Warren via KO (punches) at 1:25 of round 3 to become the new Bellator Featherweight Champion.Featherweight Quarterfinal bout: Daniel Straus defeated Jeremy Spoon via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27).Featherweight Quarterfinal bout: Mike Corey defeated Ronnie Mann via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).Featherweight Quarterfinal bout: Marlon Sandro defeated Roberto Vargas via submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:35 of round 1.Featherweight Quarterfinal bout: Alexandre Bezerra defeated Kenny Foster via submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:57 of round 2.Bantamweight bout: Jake Nauracy defeated Cory Galloway via submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:22 of round 2.Catchweight (215 lbs) bout: Travis Wiuff defeated Anthony Gomez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).Catchweight (280 lbs) bout: Sean McCorkle defeated Richard White via submission (neck crank) at 1:02 of round 1.Catchweight (165 lbs) bout: Josh Shockley defeated Shamar Bailey via unanimous decision.Catchweight (148 lbs) bout: Genair Da Silva defeated Bobby Reardanz via TKO (leg kicks and punches) at 0:51 of round 3. This morning's Super Fight league over in India is notable not only for being the first MMA card in the worlds largest or second largest nation, but for who they had on it. UFC washouts Jimmy Ambriz and "Professor" Xavier Foupa-Pokam both had early TKO's to open the action, with Jimmy getting the ridiculous 14-second clobbering in of his outmatched opponent. The main story was long-time MMA punchline Bob Sapp faced off against the slightly less of a punchline, James Thompson. To no one's surprise, JT bullied Sapp down early, but shockingly, Bob reversed the Colossus, even getting him into a mounted crucifix position, but then he apparently remembered that he's Bob Sapp, somehow allowed Thompson to roll out of the crucifix and double-leg him to the ground. In the midst of that takedown, Bob somehow injured his leg and tapped out. Of note, he walked back to the end just fine. SFL was kind enough to make the entire video available by stream, so if you've got hours to kill, enjoy: The Ultimate Fighter kicked off its 15th season with a revamp to their format that saw 16 live one-round fights to get into the house. I have no need to bore you with details, as Chris had a quality live thread complete with results right here. My personal predictions are that Marcello, Cruikshank and Jury will be amongst the early favorites to win it all. Finally, the "Final Fight" for Mirko Cro Cop Filipovic was most likely a retirement for his opponent Ray Sefo. I won't go too bonkers here, as my live thread coverage is awesome and you should definitely click there right now. Also here's the entire fight between CC and Sefo if you desire just to see that. Personally, the headkick KO from Ghita is nicer.

Posted in: fight, bout, round, submission, featherweight

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UFC Welterweight prospect T.J. Waldburger has a knack for submissions. Despite being only twenty-three years old Waldburger is an experienced grappler with a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu brown belt and has numerous grappling competitions under his belt. Twelve of his fifteen professional MMA wins have come via submission and that includes his last two UFC bouts, in which he showed excellent command of transitions. Submission grappling arts like Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Judo and Catch Wrestling teach countless set ups for their submissions: from all different positions, grips, and angles. Students drill these movements until they are able to execute these techniques smoothly and seamlessly. These techniques are normally dictated by the position they start in: the armbar from guard, a mounted triangle or rear naked choke. Working from positions like the guard, mount or side control is where new students are taught how to gain and use the position to their advantage. But learning how to navigate the transition periods between positions is what separates advanced grapplers from beginners. And mastering attacking in transition is often the difference between a good grappler and an elite grappler. gifs and video after the jump... At UFC Fight Night 25, Waldburger faced Mike Stumpf from Team Curran. Late in the first round Waldburger went for an armbar from side control. It is clear Waldburger has drilled this a great deal, as the movement is very smooth and quick. But so is Stumpf's defense of the armbar; he instantly turns into the armbar and tries to jump over Waldburger's legs. This is a common outcome for a submission attack from a rehearsed position, an experienced opponent sees the submission coming and executes an equally well drilled escape. This allows him to slip out almost as soon as the attack starts. Waldburger rolls with Stempf to try to regain the armbar but Waldburger gains the upper hand is in the in the moment after Stumpf slides his head out of the armbar. Stumpf's arm is out of danger, but he has not yet passed to side control and they are in an awkward, in-between position. Here both fighters must make a split second decision and Waldburger acts first, putting a hand in Stumpf's armpit to push him back towards his legs. And it is here that Stumpf makes his mistake. He might be trying to simply get to his knees or he might be thinking of leaping over Waldburger's legs, but either way Stumpf turns towards Waldburger's legs and right into a triangle. This idea of locking in a submission during the transition created by an escape from another submission is referred to as "chaining submissions". In Waldburger's most recent fight on UFC on FX 2 against Jake Hecht, he lock up a submission from a true scramble. Waldburger had clinched and went for a takedown, but his momentum carried him down as well on top of Hecht into a pseudo-turtle position. It was from this transition that Waldburger locked up an excellent armbar. Attacking an opponent in the turtle position is an extremely common in Judo, so here is 2008 Olympian Matt D'Aquino demonstrating the traditional armbar attack from the turtle position. (Juji Gatame Turtle attack via BeyondGrappling) Now lets look at how Waldburger adapted this technique on almost pure instinct to fit the situation at UFC on FX 2. Waldburger is on top in the red trunks and he has landed on top of Hecht. Unlike the traditional Juji Gatame from turtle, Waldburger is not behind Hecht, instead he is off to the side. Waldburger has throw his right hand to check his momentum on the mat but his left arm is already controlling Hecht's arm. Right now Waldburger's hips are very high, he is not heavy of Hecht and his balance is off, to help steady himself Waldburger's left leg slips over Hecht's head. This all happens very quickly and as Waldburger catches his balance he seems to realize he is in ideal position for an armbar. He brings his left leg in tight to Hecht's face and hugs the arm tight to his chest to prevent it from being pulled free. Hecht is struggling at this point because he too has realized his arm is in danger. Waldburger wants to bring his right leg into play, so he steps it over Hecht's body. Now Waldburger has can use his entire body to straighten Hecht's arm. Hecht, now in serious danger, attempts to stand, hoping to then shake Waldburger off. But as he stands, Waldburger hugs the arm tight and keeps his hips close to Hecht, making him carry off all the weight as he attempts to stand, causing him to fall. Lets see that all together now. The speed at which Waldburger acts is what makes this armbar so impressive and difficult to defend. It also shows Waldburger's excellent grappling abilities as he was able to act so quickly and adjust his technique to fit the position. Hecht went from simply taking stock of an awkward position to being in an armbar in just 3 seconds. Now unlike the Juji Gatame video above Waldburger lands facing towards Hecht's head instead of the legs. While it is possible to break the arm from that position it isn't ideal, so after a quick attempt to force a tap but he quickly feels he isn't in the proper position. So Waldburger turns to face the legs, to force Hecht to roll on to his back like a classic Juji Gatame. While facing towards the head is not correct in the traditional armbar from turtle attack that most white belts are taught in Judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, there are plenty of variations. We will close with a video of Renzo Gracie teaching his own variation of the armbar from turtle that seems to be a more developed version of what Waldburger was attempting. Notice that Waldburger does slam his shoulder in to the mat as Renzo warns against in the beginning of his lesson. (Renzo's arm bar from turtle position via renzogracieholmdel) Thanks to KJ Gould for the filmstrip picture.

Posted in: submission, armbar, hecht, position, waldburger

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The UFC unveiled its latest incarnation of the Ultimate Fighter last night in the form of a live event featuring all sixteen of the qualifying bouts. While the show’s production received mixed reviews there was no question the action was entertaining throughout, especially in the case of eight individuals who won their way into the house with an opening round stoppage. Fueling the pace, fights were only a single frame in nature and each finish earned the related competitor a $5,000 bonus. The sixteen scrappers exiting the Octagon after a successful showing were highlighted by Chute Boxe staple Cristiano Marcello, highly-touted Miami prospect Mike Rio, Anderson Silva student Justin Lawrence, and former contestant Myles Jury who made his way back onto the show after a knee injury took him out of an earlier season. Urijah Faber Talks TUF 15 Coaching Staff Check below for a complete list of winners including results: Joe Proctor def. Jordan Rinaldi via Submission (Guillotine Choke) Cristiano Marcello def. Jared Carlsten via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) Sam Sicilia def. Erin Beach via Knockout (Strikes) Chris Tickle def. Austin Lyons via Knockout (Strikes) Andy Ogle def. Brendan Weafer via Unanimous Decision Vinc Pichel def. Cody Pfister via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) John Cofer def. Mark Glover via Unanimous Decision Chris Saunders def. Chase Hackett via Unanimous Decision James Vick def. Dakota Cochrane via Split Decision Michael Chiesa def. Johnavan Distante via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) Mike Rio def. Ali Maclean via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) Justin Lawrence def. James Krause via TKO Round 1 (Strikes) Daron Cruickshank def. Drew Dober Unanimous Decision Jeremy Larsen def. Jeff Smith via Unanimous Decision Al Iaquinta def. Jon Tuck via Unanimous Decision Myles Jury def. Akbarh Arreola via Unanimous Decision Tweet

Posted in: decision, submission, strike, submission rearnaked, rearnaked

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The Ultimate Fighter 15 kicked off last night with a two-and-a-half hour season premiere, featuring the initial thirty-two UFC hopefuls battling it out in sixteen, single-round fights to advance on to the TUF house. Held at the TUF gym in Las Vegas, the weeding-out fights were aired live and observed by UFC president Dana White, as well as this season’s coaches, Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber. The pot was sweetened with the promise of $5,000 to any fighter who finished his bout. The following are the results from last night’s fight, with a compiled list of the men who advanced to the next round of the tournament. -Joe Proctor defeated Steve Rinaldi via submission (guillotine) in 2:08 -Cristian Marcello defeated Jared Carlsten via submission (rear naked choke) in 2:43 -Sam Sicilia defeated Erin Beach via KO (punch) in :08 -Chris Tickle defeated Austin Lyons via KO (punches) in :24 -Andy Ogle defeated Brendan Weafer via unanimous decision (10-9, 10-9, 10-9) -Vince Pichel defeated Cody Pfister via submission (rear naked choke) in 3:39 -John Cofer defeated Mark Glover via unanimous decision (10-9, 10-9, 10-9) -Chris Saunders defeated Chris Hackett via unanimous decision (10-9, 10-9, 10-9) -James Vick defeated Dakota Cochrane via split decision (10-9, 9-10, 10-9) -Michael Chiesa defeated Johnavan Vistante via submission (rear naked choke) in 2:05 -Mike Rio defeated Ali MacLean via submission (rear naked choke) in 3:32 -Justin Lawrence defeated James Krause via TKO (strikes) at 1:25 -Daron Cruickshank defeated Drew Dober via unanimous decision (10-9, 10-9, 10-9) -Jeremy Larsen defeated Jeff Smith via unanimous decision (10-9, 10-9, 10-9) -Al Iaquinta defeated Jon Tuck via unanimous decision (10-9, 10-9, 10-9) -Myles Jury defeated Akbarh Arreola via unanimous decision (10-9, 10-9, 10-9) This season’s TUF cast: Michael Chiesa, John Cofer, Daron Cruickshank, Al Iaquinta, Myles Jury, Jeremy Larsen, Justin Lawrence, Cristiano Marcello, Andy Ogle, Vinc Pichel, Joe Proctor, Mike Rio, Chris Saunders, Sam Sicilia, Chris Tickle, James Vick

Posted in: season, decision, submission, jame, chri

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So you want to be an effin' fighter? Thirty-two up-and-coming mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters got the chance to prove that their answer to that question was a resounding, "Yes!," as The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) kicked off season 15 on FX with a 2.5-hour "Live" premiere episode that allowed fans to see the action, right as it was happening in real time. The teams are coached by Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) bantamweights Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber, and it's already clear that the bad blood between these two will certainly result in quite a bit of drama as the competition unfolds. The first episode raised the bar on past seasons when it was announced that, in addition to the action being LIVE, all the initiation fights would only be for the duration of one, five-minute round, causing each fighter to step up the intensity in a big way. It was also announced that each fighter who was able to finish his fight and keep things out of the hands of the judges would receive a $5,000 bonus check. Not too shabby. After the jump, we'll take a look at the 16 fighters who emerged victorious and do our best to rank them according to what we saw on the opening night of TUF 15: (1) Cristiano Marcello -- Prior to the Marcello's fight versus Jared Carlsten, footage was shown of each fighter bragging about their respective jiu-jitsu pedigree. Carlsten spoke of his Eddie Bravo-[resented black belt and his experience with the rubber guard. Marcello talked about his background that included being a Brazilian jiu-jitsu trainer for the likes of Mauricio Rua and Wanderlei Silva. It became apparent rather quickly whose grappling game was superior as Marcello was able to take full mount in very little time. It only took about a minute more for Marcello to soften Carlsten up, take his back and then get the submission via the rear-naked choke. Very impressive win. The majority of the guys in the house are probably going to want to steer clear of his ground game. (2) Michael Chiesa -- Chiesa, who trains with former TUF competitor Cody McKenzie and bears a striking resemblance to the Alaskan fighter, won a dominant victory over Johnavan Vistante with -- go figure -- a choke submission. Chiesa looks really dangerous. We didn't get a chance to see much of his striking game, but his takedown and grappling game both look very good. (3) Sam Sicilia -- Just six seconds into his bout against Erin Beach (Yes. It was a guy who spells his name like a girl.), Sicilia lobbed a furious overhand right that landed squarely on the button and sent Beach crumbling to the ground. The referee stepped in instantly and saved him from taking any further damage after what (was the most violent KO of the night). Hard to get a feel for Beach's overall game because the fight was so quick. Not his fault, per se, but it's hard to rank him higher without seeing more of his skill set. (4) Daron Cruickshank -- This guy is going to be a force to be reckoned with. His striking may very well be the best out of the whole cast. He has great takedown defense, as well as pretty good takedowns of his own. He's very well rounded, which was exhibited in his decision win over Drew Dober. Cruickshank would have likely ended up with a finish over most other fighters, but credit to Dober who survived and hung in there. (5) Vinc Pichel -- From the beginning of his fight with Cody Pfister, I just had the feeling that it was only a matter of time before Pichel took the fight over and ended things. Pfister looked nervous and was continual slipping and falling at the onset. Though Pichel did find himself on the bottom for the first couple of minutes, he was patient and eventually reversed things. When he was able to acquire a dominant position, he wasted no time in slicing Pfister's forehead open with a nasty elbow and repeatedly raining down more ground and pound. After it was clear that Pfister's will had been broken, Pichel jumped to take his back and choked him out, securing what was one of the nicer and more violent submissions of the night. (6) Chris Tickle -- In another one of the quicker fights of the night, Tickle landed a big right hand to the jawline, followed up by several more punches before Steve Mazzagatti jumped in an called a stop to the action. At first glance, it appear to be an unnecessarily quick stoppage. After watching the replay, it was clear that Tickle's opponent, Austin Lyons, went limp, momentarily, and could have taken serious damage if he was allowed to continue. Great KO victory for Tickle who is certain to be the subject of many terrible puns due to his last name. (7) Justin Lawrence -- James Krause was the guy most fans had heard of, based on his time fighting for Titan Fighting Championships, Shark Fights an World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC). However, it was Lawrence who stole the show, putting on a karate exhibition of kicks and an combinations that had Krause back-peddling the entire time. Lawrence finally was able to sen Krause to the canvas with one of the finer knockout blows of the evening. (8) Mike Rio -- For the first two minutes of his fight against Ali MacLean, Rio chose to stand and trade in what looked like it was going to be a stand up war. Rio id get a few good punches in, but he was losing the exchnages, for sure. Finally, he went for a double leg takedown and was able to secure top position. It was basically over at that point. Rio used his grappling to get a nice submission win over an opponent who clearly wasn't prepared for things to hit the mat. Rio has some nice potential. (9) Joe Proctor -- Proctor faced Jordan Rinaldi in the very first fight of the night, which saw Rinaldi coming forward as the initial aggressor. Rinaldi landed a few good combos and a left hook that clipped Proctor to cause a small cut over his eyebrow. Proctor remained calm and never really looked hurt. With a little more than a minute gone, Proctor finally found the range. He landed several punches, and it was instantly clear that Rinaldi was no longer interested in trading. As Rinaldi shot for a takedown, Proctor grabbed hold of his neck and never let go, leading to a guillotine submission. Proctor got the finish and looks like he'll have as good a chance as anyone. But I can't help feeling that his win came over a fighter with less experience and very little submission defense knowledge. (10) Jeremy Larsen -- Larsen is a bit of an enigma because he doesn't seem particularly well versed in any one area. He's just a fighter an a scrapper. He also exhibited a fair amount of toughness as, at one point, he found himself in a deep kneebar attempt by his opponent, Jeff Smith. Larsen's toughness and better than average striking make him a contestant to watch for. (11) Al Iaquinta -- Iaquinta is another fighter who looks to be tough and well rounded. Though he's primarily a jiu-jitsu guy, he's also a very good boxer. He trains with Matt Serra and Ray Longo, which explains the key attributes he brings to the Octagon. In "gruesome highlight" news, Iaquinta's opponent, Jon Tuck, ended up with a toe that was either broken or dislocated. Either way, it was pointing straight up by the end of the fight. Yeah. Toes aren't supposed to do that. (12) Chris Saunders -- Though he wasn't able to finish with either of his guillotine attempts, Saunders his opposed his will against Chase Hackett for most the round. He used his wrestling, submission attempts and a few unorthodox strikes (including a jumping knee off one leg) to garner the decision win. He didn't look amazing, but he did what he had to do to control an opponent with a significant reach advantage. (13) Myles Jury -- Jury is a good wrestler, and his takedowns were absolutely the difference in his fight against Akbarh Arreola. But let's face it, Arreola has zero takedown defense. At no point did Jury threaten to finish. His striking didn't look terrible but I don't see a lot of the fighters in the house being intimidated about standing with him. He looked good, but not great. We'll see what the future holds for the fighter who was supposed to compete pn TUF last season, before an injury forced him to withdraw. Good to see him getting a second chance. (14) James Vick -- It may just be because Vick was so evenly matched with Dakota Cochrane that the fight resulted in the wrestling equivalent of a five-minute staring contest. Either way, neither fighter really did a whole lot of anything to potentially finish the other. Vick apparently did slightly more, as the juges awared him the razor-thin split decision. Sad for Cochrane, whose story now ends up being more about his gay porn past than his skills as a fighter. Hopefully, he'll get another chance to redeem himself. Vick will really need to step his game up if he expects to make any kind of run in the competition. (15) John Cofer -- Right out of the gate, it was obvious that there was a variance in strategies between Cofer and Mark Glover. Glover wanted to stand and trade and was hoping for a brawl. Cofer did everything he could to hold onto Glover, dirty things up and looked like he was hoping to eek out a decision. Cofer did little to impress the fans, but apparently he impressed the judges enough to win the decision. He's got decent wrestling, and it will be interesting to see what he can do in a longer fight. Hopefully his future contests are a little more exciting. (16) Andy Ogle -- Ogle won the first fight of the night that had to go to a decision. It was a strange and uneventful affair as Ogle rushed in, early in the fight, to get the takedown against his opponent, Brandon Weafer. Unfortunately, he found himself inside a triangle attempt that lasted almost the entire round. It was the first time I'd ever found myself asking if the referee should stand up a fighter who was in the middle of a submission attempt. The problem was that Weafer was not using the attempt to finish Ogle, just to keep him there. Apparently, the judges thought Ogle landed enough punches during the boring foray to deserve the win. That's our power rankings from the first week. Stay tuned each week to see how things shift around as the fighters match skills and work their way to the top of the pile at TUF 15 on FX. Got any predictions for a winner? If you had to pick one fighter to go all the way, who would it be? In the comment section, let us know who you think may end up winning the competition and the six-figure UFC contract. Go for it.

Posted in: fight, takedown, fighter, submission, proctor

Read the full article at MMA Mania

Tachi Palace Fights 12 results Lemoore, CACasey Olson def. Cody Gibson by unanimous decision Robert Emerson def. Savant Young by Submission rear naked choke 4:29 R3Francisco Rivera def. Antonio Duarte by KO (punches) 1:15 R1Bubba Jenkins def. Chris Gomez by Submission rear naked choke 2:07 R1Dave Huckaba def. Liron Wilson by TKO (punches) 1:05 R2Anthony Avila def. Art Becerra by Submission guillotine choke 4:08 R1Alex Perez def. Edgar Diaz by Submission kimura 2:33 R1

Posted in: submission, bubba jenkins, chris gomez, edgar diaz, antonio duarte

Read the full article at UltMMA

The knockout still remains the ultimate fan favorite, but a slick submission can arouse a crowd just as well. Royce Gracie single-handedly began a revolution in MMA that saw the focus of fighters from traditional martial arts like tae kwon do and karate begin training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu...

Posted in: submission, mma history, royce gracie, royce, submission aces

Read the full article at Low Kick

The premiere episode of the newly re-branded Ultimate Fighter reality show – now called “TUF Live” and airing on the FX channel – featured a whole lot of fighting.  Like, a whole hell of a lot.  Thirty-two aspiring TUFers began tonight’s episode, which was broadcast live from the TUF Training Center in Las Vegas, and after sixteen bouts that field was cut in half.  What you need to know: the coaches of the two teams are bantamweight champ Dominick Cruz and top contender Uriah Faber; $5,000 was the bounty for every submission and knockout; the bouts were scheduled for one five-minute round; and, Dana White’s first f-bomb came when he said “Make it the best f***ing five minutes of your life.”  Here’s how all the fights went down: For the first TUF Live fight ever, Joe Proctor and Jordan Rinaldi came out swinging hard and with bad intentions, and though it was even for the first half of the round, a caught kick had Proctor pouncing on an off-balance Rinaldi and sinking in the guillotine from top position.  Rinaldi tapped at 2:08. PRIDE veteran and jiu-jitsu black belt Christian Marcello and Eddie Bravo-trained Jared Carlsten was a pretty straight-forward example of someone knowing jiu-jitsu basics and one sucking at them.  Sam Sicilia played it smart and brought a stick of dynamite into the cage against Erin Beach, said stick of dynamite taking the form of a killer right hand that he detonated against Beach’s chin after only eight seconds had transpired in the bout.  Beach was out, and was struggling against the referee when he regained his senses.   Chris Tickle came out swinging against Austin Lyons, and wasted no time rocking him with combo after combo until Lyons sank to his knees.  Unfortunately, from the couch potato vantage point it seemed as if Lyons had more fight left in him, but referee Steve Mazzagatti deemed otherwise, and jumped in at the 24-second mark. Can you win a decision ground-and-pounding from within a poorly-cinched triangle choke?  In the case of Andy Ogle versus Brendan Weafer, we almost got an answer, as Ogle took his opponent down and spent four minutes delivering punches from above while Weafer struggled to tap him with a triangle choke.  Ogle escaped, however, and a referee standup had Weafer going for a takedown and fighting a guillotine, so maybe we’ll never get our answer to the ground-and-pound-triangle thing.  What we do know: Ogle took the unanimous decision. Texan Cody Pfister wanted the fight on the ground, and that’s where he immediately took it.  Unfortunately for him, adversary Vinc Pichel was every bit as skilled when it came to grappling, and after about three minutes of back-and-forth scrambling, Pichel find top position, dropped an elbow that opened up a monstrous cut on Pfister head, and spun into a rear naked choke that had the Texan tapping at 3:39. Brit Mark Glover seemed pretty game when it was on the feet, but he had no fitting response to John Cofer’s wrestling attack – an attack that featured a bunch of takedowns and some uninspiring man-huggery when the duo was horizontal.  Cofer took the decision; however, he did not impress. Chris Saunders spent about a minute and a half total going for arm-in guillotines that did nothing but tire out his arms, but did Chris Hackett then capitalize on Saunders’ inevitable arm fatigue?  No!  Hackett inexplicably sought the clinch when he should’ve punched, and kicked when he should’ve done anything else.  Saunders took the unanimous decision when it was all over. To combat James Vick’s immense height and reach advantage, Dakota Cochrane sought the takedown like his life depended on it.  Too bad Vick had a solid sprawl and a tricky D’Arce choke to counter it all.  It truly was a stalemate, with neither really gaining much of an advantage over the other, so the judges must’ve awarded Vick the split decision based on a coin flip. With a shot like a bolt of lightning, Michael Chiesa took Johnavan Vistante down, shimmied onto his back, flattened him out, and battered him with fists and elbows until Vistante exposed his neck.  The choke, and subsequent tap out, came at 2:05. Mike Rio was eating about three punches to the face for every one he landed, so he wisely took Ali Maclean down, where he was able to flex his wrestling muscle on an Irishman who was like a fish out of the water when it came to grappling.  It wasn’t long before Rio had his foe’s back, and at the 3:32 mark, Maclean was tapping to a rear naked choke.   On paper, WEC vet James Krause should’ve killed Justin Lawrence.  But Lawrence – who possessed blazing speed and an insane variety of strikes in his arsenal – hunted Krause down like an apex predator, picked him apart with machine-gun like kicks and punches, and sent Krause stunned to the canvas at 1:25. Blending hard karate striking with solid wrestling and boundless aggression, Daron Cruickshank seemed to stay one step ahead of a very game Drew Dober, who himself appeared to be skilled in boxing and wrestling – just not skilled enough.  For inflicting more damage and forcing Dober to constantly defend himself, Cruickshank took the unanimous decision.  In the very back-and-forth fight, Jeremy Larsen and Jeff Smith spent just about the entire five-minute period threatening each other on the ground – Larsen with punishment from side-control in the latter half, Smith with a painfully-close leglock attempt in the earlier half.  The judges gave it to Larsen when time expired, but it could’ve gone either way. John Tuck sports some slick jiu-jitsu, and he used it to threaten Al Iaquinta when the bout began.  But Iaquinta knows his way around a submission, and soon he was out of trouble and stinging his opponent with punches and kicks on the feet.  To compound Tuck’s troubles, one of his toes broke in very gnarly fashion, so maybe the brief one-round limit was a blessing in that he didn’t have to fight too long with it. In a very anti-climactic final bout, Akbarh Arreloa – of Team Knowing No Wrestling – found himself repeatedly getting taken down by Myles Jury, and it was in that realm that Arreloa went for fruitless submission attempts while Jury tried to ground and pound.  It wasn’t thrilling in the least, but with Jury snagging the unanimous decision, we at least don’t have to worry about seeing Arreloa again. Full Results: -Joe Proctor def. Jordan Rinaldi via Submission (Guillotine) at 2:08 -Cristiano Marcello def. Jared Carlsten via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 2:43 -Sam Sicilia def. Erin Beach via KO (Punch) at :08 -Chris Tickle def. Austin Lyons via KO (Punches) at :24 -Andy Ogle def. Brendan Weafer via Unanimous Decision (10-9, 10-9, 10-9) -Vinc Pichel def. Cody Pfister via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 3:39 -John Cofer def. Mark Glover via Unanimous Decision (10-9, 10-9, 10-9) -Chris Saunders def. Chase Hackett via Unanimous Decision (10-9, 10-9, 10-9) -James Vick def. Dakota Cochrane via Split Decision (10-9, 9-10, 10-9) -Michael Chiesa def. Johnavan Vistante via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 2:05 -Mike Rio def. Ali Maclean via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 3:32 -Justin Lawrence def. James Krause via TKO (Punches) at 1:25 -Daron Cruickshank def. Drew Dober via Unanimous Decision (10-9, 10-9, 10-9) -Jeremy Larsen def. Jeff Smith via Unanimous Decision (10-9, 10-9, 10-9) -Al Iaqinta def. John Tuck via Unanimous Decision (10-9, 10-9, 10-9) -Myles Jury def. Akbarh Arreloa via Unanimous Decision (10-9, 10-9, 10-9)

Posted in: fight, decision, submission, punch, chri

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Bellator 60 resultsHammond, INPat Curran def. Joe Warren by TKO (Strikes) 1:23 R3Marlon Sandro def. Roberto Vargas by Submission Rear Naked Choke 3:35 R1Alexandre Bezerra def. Kenny Foster by Submission Rear Naked Choke 3:52 R2Daniel Straus def. Jeremy Spoon by Unanimous Decision R3Mike Corey def. Ronnie Mann by Unanimous Decision R3Josh Shockley def. Shamar Bailey by Unanimous Decision R3Genair da Silva def. Bobby Reardanz by TKO (Strikes) 0:51 R3Sean McCorkle def. Richard White by Submission Neck Crank 1:02 R1Travis Wiuff def. Anthony Gomez by Unanimous Decision R3Jake Nauracy def. Cory Galloway by Submission Rear Naked Choke 4:22 R2 All tournament rankings are done by ULTMMA.com prior to the opening round of the Bellator eight man bracket. These rankings are unofficial. Former MMA prospects ranked and graded by ULTMMA.com who are making their Bellator tournament debuts include: Mike Corey, Ricardo Tirloni, Karl Amoussou, Raul Amaya and Bruno Santos. Featherweight spring 2012 tourney March 9, Hammond, IndianaMarlon Sandro (#1) def. Roberto Vargas (#6) by Submission RNC R1Mike Corey (#7) def. Ronnie Mann (#2) by Unanimous DecisionAlexandre Bezerra (#3) def. Kenny Foster (#8) by Submission RNC R2Daniel Straus (#4) def. Jeremy Spoon (#5) by Unanimous DecisionApril 6, Ontario, CanadaMarlon Sandro (#1) vs. Alexandre Bezerra (#3)Mike Corey (#7) vs. Daniel Straus (#4)Lightweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 23, Laredo, TexasPatricky Freire (#1) vs. Lloyd Woodard (#4)Rick Hawn (#2) vs. Ricardo Tirloni (#3)J.J. Ambrose (#6) vs. Brent Weedman (#8)Thiago Michel (#5) vs. Rene Nazare (#7)Welterweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 30, Uncasville, ConnecticutKarl Amoussou (#4) vs. Chris Lozano (#5)Raul Amaya (#6) vs. Ben Saunders (#1)Brian Foster (#3) vs. David Rickels (#8)Bryan Baker (#2) vs. Carlos Pereira (#7)Middleweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 16, Bossier City, LouisianaMaiquel Falcao (#2) vs. Norman Paraisy (#7)Brian Rogers (#6) vs. Vitor Vianna (#1)Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (#3) vs. Victor O'Donnell (#8)Giva Santana (#5) vs. Bruno Santos (#4)

Posted in: bellator, decision, submission, vs, spring

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I had strongly considered renaming this column Break It Down after the DX jokes in the comments of my last piece, and I am stoked that we have some attitude era wrestling fan readers, but my editor has let me know our insurance will not cover giving birth to any hands, plus for legal reasons you can’t mention Katie Vick. Now on to the important stuff…are you ready? Then I’ve got two words for ya… SEASON SIX! Zuffa is taking a short break from live shows, so to speak. With the focus shifting to the new season of TUF and no other big cards on the horizon, Bellator plans to make the most of this lull in the action and returns tonight with Bellator 60. Featuring a featherweight title-fight between Joe Warren and Pat Curran, as well as the quarterfinals of their Season 6 featherweight tournament, the popular performance-based MMA promotion promises to make their premiere one to remember. It should be noted that after the weigh-ins, which featured four fighters missing weight, there were some shake ups made on the card. Tournament competitor Genair da Silva missed the featherweight limit by four pounds and was given two hours to lose more weight but unable to do so. Replacing him in the tournament is fellow 145er Kenny Foster. Foster’s original opponent, Bobby Reardanz, also missed weight, and at this time it is unknown if he will remain on the card and face Da Silva as has been rumored. The originally scheduled preliminary bout between Eric Oria and Lance Surma was also cancelled after it was revealed that Oria had a warrant out for his arrest. Oops! Despite the shake-ups tonight’s fights look to be exciting, and a great way to spend a Friday night outside of TUF or Tachi Palace Fights, of course. Without further adieu here is my breakdown of the card. Break it down! Da-na-na-na, bow ba bow bow. Bobby Reardanz (8-10) vs. Genair da Silva (11-4) Since I’m a optimist I’ll pick this fight even if it’s not official just in case. In the event that this bout takes place it is a major mismatch. Bobby “The Believer” has submission skills but is largely untested as a fighter, and an opponent such as da Silva would be a huge step up. Look for “Junior PQD” to work his exceptional striking to make quick work of Reardanz. Winner – Genair da Silva defeats Bobby Reardanz via TKO Round 1 Shamar Bailey (13-5) vs. Josh Shockley (8-1) Recent UFC castoff Shamar Bailey returns to the cage for the second time in 2012. Coming off of a win over Darrell Smith in January, Bailey looks to build some momentum towards a Bellator tournament slot or perhaps even a return to the UFC. Shockley, a fellow Indiana native, looks for his second Bellator win. The well-rounded fighter has only suffered one loss in his career. While Bailey has good wrestling, I think there is a pretty good chance that Shockley shocks him with his striking and ground game. Winner – Josh Shockley defeats Shamar Bailey via TKO Round 2 Sean McCorkle (15-2) vs. Richard White (15-12) “Big Sexy” wants back in the UFC, and will fight anyone and everyone to get there. Undefeated since his UFC release, Sean McCorkle has already won twice this year and looks to make it six in a row. White is 2-10 since 2010 but he basically needs a miracle in this 280 pound catchweight fight. This just really seems like a mismatch to me, sorry “Big Man”. Winner – Sean McCorkle defeats Richard White via Submission Round 1 Anthony Gomez (5-1) vs. Travis Wiuff (65-14 1 NC) Anthony Gomez returns to MMA for the first time in nearly two years. Riding a five fight win streak he faces the biggest test of his career in Travis Wiuff. Wiuff, who feels he’s the uncrowned Bellator light heavyweight champ after his victory over current title-holder Christian M’Pumbu, looks to win this fight and earn his way into the next 205 pound tournament. While Gomez is a promising prospect, I feel ring rust, as well as his lack of experience, will be his downfall against the veteran Wiuff. Winner – Travis Wiuff defeats Anthony Gomez via Unanimous Decision Cory Galloway (0-0) vs. Jake Nauracy (0-0) A fight between two guys I know almost nothing about! Great! I’ll go with stats here. Galloway is 4-0 as an amateur with two submissions and two decisions, though based on video footage he is relatively underwhelming at this point. Nauracy is 8-0 as an amateur, with seven submissions and one TKO which he scored in eleven seconds. All of his finishes have come within the first three minutes, so I’ll say he wins here in his professional debut, in under three. Winner – Jake Nauracy defeats Cory Galloway via Submission Round 1 Jeremy Spoon (12-0) vs. Daniel Straus (17-4) With eight submissions to his credit, the undefeated “Spooner” fights for the third time in Bellator. Relatively unknown amongst MMA fans, Jeremy Spoon looks to continue his undefeated streak and make a big statement in this tournament. Daniel Straus is the darkhorse in this tournament. 13-1 in his last 14, the strong, grinding fighter looks for redemption after coming up short in the featherweight tournament finals in Season 4. In general, Straus is a terrific wrestler who has really been working on his overall game. I expect this fight to spend more time on the feet than most would expect, but ultimately the bigger fighter, Straus, will take Spoon down again and again and grind him out for the full fifteen. Winner – Daniel Straus defeats Jeremy Spoon via Unanimous Decision Alexandre “PoPo” Bezerra (12-1) vs. Kenny Foster (9-5) “PoPo” is a bad ass Brazilian dude. The always dangerous prospect has great striking and strong submissions, and, with seven straight victories since his lone career loss, “PoPo” is looking to continue his streak of violence in Bellator. The lucky man (or unlucky man, if you will) of the night is Kenny Foster. Stepping in for Da Silva, “The Tooth Fairy” is seeking his first win in a year. With three straight losses, two in Bellator, the well-rounded fighter will attempt to prove his worth against a favored opponent. Unfortunately for him, I feel he falls short to Bezerra. “PoPo” is just too dangerous and too powerful in the striking and submission games. Foster is going to get hurt early and tap to whatever he gets caught in afterwards. Winner – Alexandre Bezerra defeats Kenny Foster via Submission Round 1 Mike Corey (11-2-1) vs. Ronnie Mann (21-4-1) Relatively unknown lightweight Mike Corey makes the drop to 145 for his big shot in the Bellator tournament. Originally an alternate, he steps in for injured Wagnney Fabiano and looks to make the best he can of this opportunity. Corey most recently went to a draw with Chris Horodecki in November and is need of scoring a big win tonight to establish himself as a threat. Former Summer Series tournament fighter Ronnie Mann returns to the cage for the first time since an October victory over Foster. The strong striker, who also possesses great BJJ, faces a stiff challenge in the bigger, stronger wrestler, Corey, but has no worries going into this fight and may very well add to the Bellator highlight reel while advancing in the tournament. Corey could very well win this fight. He’s big, powerful, and a very solid grappler. However, the weight cut could be an issue, as could be his conditioning. I expect Mann to use solid footwork and jabs to keep his distance. If Corey can continuously get a hold of Mann, he may find a way to win a decision, but in the end I think Mann finishes the fight within the distance. Winner – Ronnie Mann defeats Mike Corey via Submission Round 1 Marlon Sandro (20-3) vs. Roberto Vargas (12-1) Barely having blown out the 35 candles on his birthday cake, world-renowned fighter Marlon Sandro finally returns to the Bellator cage. Widely regarded as the favorite in this tournament, the violently powerful striker is one of the best featherweights on the planet. The Sengoku veteran, and former Bellator tournament finalist, is seeking redemption, planning to make his way through everyone who stands before him. Across the cage from Sandro, Roberto “Beto” Vargas is no slouch. With six straight wins behind him, the Millennia MMA fighter has all the momentum he needs going into this quarterfinal bout. A balanced fighter, with the ability to finish a fight wherever it may go, Vargas faces a tough test, and is aiming at staking his claim for the Bellator featherweight title with an upset victory over his Brazilian adversary. Vargas hasn’t looked spectacular in his last couple of fights, but I do imagine he fairs well against Sandro. That said, I believe Sandro is a few levels about Vargas and should be able to light him up on the feet likely en route to a knockout or TKO. However, just to be safe I’ll go with a decision here. Winner – Marlon Sandro defeats Roberto Vargas via Unanimous Decision Joe Warren (7-2) vs. Pat Curran (16-4) “The Baddest Man on the Planet” hasn’t necessarily lived up to his nickname as of late. Warren, as he is better known, is the Bellator featherweight champ and tried to win the bantamweight belt as well but fell short to the fists of eventual tournament finalist Alexis Vila. Warren is a powerful Greco-Roman wrestler and has great clinch work, but he is notorious for being a slow starter and his chin is questionable. Largely coming into his own during his Bellator stint, two-time Bellator tournament champion Curran is rabid for a belt and plans to take Warren’s by any means necessary. After knocking Sandro’s head off last year Curran will attempt to do the same to Warren and has made no secret about his intentions. Well-rounded with knockout power, passable wrestling, and excellent submission skills to his credit, the 24-year old has the tools to make a lasting impression in the MMA world. Warren has a lot to prove in this fight. Many have questioned his MMA potential following some less than stellar performances, as well as his knockout loss at Bellator 51. The keys to victory for him will be to utilize is Olympic level wrestling abilities while working some dirty boxing and clinch-technique. Still, Curran has youth, striking, and submission advantages on his side. To win, Curran needs to stay away from Warren’s clinch and just rip him apart on the feet. Originally I believed Curran would have to win early or else face a long, grinding decision, but after more thought I think his youth and technical prowess will guide him to victory. He has the tools to finish it early, and if he doesn’t, he has the tools to go the distance with Warren. I think we’re looking at a brand new Bellator champion tonight. Winner – Pat Curran defeats Joe Warren via Submission Round 2 Despite a shaky build to the fight night, Bellator is back and promises an action packed 2012, starting with tonight. The preliminary card goes down live at 6pm EST on Spike.com, and the main card actions starts at 8pm EST on MTV2 in the U.S. and on TheScore.ca in Canada. The card also replays on The Score in Canada on Saturday night. Don’t overlook this card, you’ll be sorely disappointed. Enjoy the fights! PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR

Posted in: fight, bellator, submission, tournament, defeat

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

If you're a fighter and most of your wins have come by submission, MMA might be a good home for you. After all, Shinya Aoki's fans don’t care that he avoids striking like a girl with cooties. On the flip-side, if most of your losses come by some form of submission, perhaps Muay Thai or Western Boxing would be a better career choice. Mike Glenn has about the same amount of wins and losses, and they’ve mostly all come by submission, but instead of sticking with MMA, he’s going to fight Kimbo Slice under boxing rules. It goes down on March 24th at the O’Reilly Center in Springfield, Missouri and it will be Kimbo’s fourth fight as a boxer. To give you a good idea of what to expect from Mike Glenn, here’s a video of his last fight, and if it doesn’t hype you up, Gary Shaw and his son will probably give you the finger. [Source]

Posted in: fight, submission, kimbo, mike glenn, ’reilly center

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Titan Fighting Championship 21 resultsKansas City, KSJorge Santiago def. Leonardo Pecanha via knockout (punches) 1:48 R1Joe Wilk def. Andrew Carrillo via submission guillotine choke 2:01 R1* Joe Ellenberger def. Jesse Zeugin via submission rear naked choke 1:16 R3* Ramiro Hernandez def. Kevin Croom via split decisionFabio Mello def. Josh Huber via submission arm triangle choke 3:26 R1Mirsad Bektic def. Cody Carillo via submission rear naked choke 3:12 R3*Prospects to watch

Posted in: submission, submission guillotine, jesse zeugin, andrew carrillo, cody carillo

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Bad Elvis Presley puns aside, Iowa fighter Elvis Mutapcic (10-2) continues on his trek for a deal with a national promotion. Mutapcic headlined the 39th edition of the Midwest Cage Championship versus middleweight Keenan Curry (2-4).On paper the match-up was a formality for Mutapcic but Curry was able to stretch the bout out for two rounds. In round one Curry came out the aggressor and scored two quick takedowns on Mutapcic. On the mat Mutapcic threatened with submissions including a heel hook and armbar that stifled Curry's offense. After a frantic opening five minutes round one closed out with both men connecting on power punches against the cage. To start round two Mutapcic changed the complexion of the fight with a flush knee that winded Curry. With the fight back up against the cage Mutapcic worked Curry's body with punches and knees. Mutapcic set up the fight ending sequence with a choke attempt that Curry wiggled from, in the ensuing scramble the Des Moines native grabbed a arm and forced a tap out. The official time of the submission win was 2:57 of round two in favor of Mutapcic.At 26 years old Mutapcic is ripe to be signed by a promotion like the UFC or Bellator in 2012. Mutapcic's name began to surface as a quality middleweight prospect after a five round decision victory over Strikeforce and Bellator vet Zak Cummings in June 2010. A powerful grappler Mutapcic suffered a hiccup versus Artenas Young (7-4) on year later at Shark Fights 16. In August 2011, Mutapcic earned his signature win versus highly touted Brazilian Cezar Ferreira (4-2). With promotions always chasing talent at 185 pounds Mutapcic next fight may be with a national MAM organization. Mutapcic is ninth ranked middleweight prospect in MMA and holds a four star grade in latest ULTMMA.com prospect listings. Midwest Cage Championship 39 Domination resultsDes Moines, IAElvis Mutapcic def. Keenan Curry by Submission Armbar 2:57 R2Steve Carl def. Mason Temiquel by Submission Kimura 3:01 R1Eddie Larrea def. Ronnie Britt by Submission Kneebar 3:14 R1Anthony Baccam def. John Milledge by Submission Punches 3:02 R1Benly Xamonty def. Nick Walker by KO (Punch) 2:09 R1

Posted in: fight, round, submission, cage, mutapcic

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Strikeforce fighter payouts for those who competed at the "Tate vs. Rousey" event this past Saturday night (March 3, 2012), which aired on the Showtime network from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, were released earlier today by the Ohio Athletic Commission. Former Middleweight Champion Ronaldo Souza was the chief check casher on Monday morning, with 92,000 reasons to hit the drive-up window at his local financial institution. Not far behind him was lightweight "Punk" Josh Thomson, who somehow turned shit into salad with his $80,000 payday. Showtime's leading lady and new 135-pound champion Ronday Rousey took home $32,000, which she can probably double by raffling off Miesha Tate's arm at a Columbus tricky tray. "Takedown" was beatdown, but still got a pretty penny with $19,000 simoleons. That's not all. The complete list of Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" salaries and payouts (via MMA Fighting) after the jump: Ronda Rousey: $32,000 (includes $17,000 win bonus)Miesha Tate: $19,000Rousey def. Tate via submission (armbar) Josh Thomson: $80,000 (no win bonus)K.J. Noons: $38,000Thomson def. Noons via unanimous decision Kazuo Misaki: $50,000 (no win bonus)Paul Daley: $45,000Misaki def. Daley via unanimous decision Lumumba Sayers: $10,000 (includes $5,000 win bonus)Scott Smith: $65,000Sayers def. Smith via submission (guillotine choke) Ronaldo Souza: $92,000 (includes $22,000 win bonus)Bristol Marunde: $10,000Souza def. Marunde via submission (arm-triangle choke) Sarah Kaufman: $25,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus)Alexis Davis: $4,000Kaufman def. Davis via majority decision Roger Bowling: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus)Brandon Saling: $5,000Bowling def. Saling via technical knockout Pat Healy: $22,500 (includes $5,000 win bonus)Caros Fodor: $12,000Healy def. Fodor via submission (arm-triangle choke) Ryan Couture: $10,000 (no win bonus)Conor Heun: $8,000Couture def. Heun via technical knockout The total disclosed payroll for Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" was $543,500. 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: "Tate vs. Rousey" results and blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action click here and here.

Posted in: strikeforce, submission, tate, rousey, submission armtriangle

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After six months away from action, Ronaldo Souza returned last night (March, 3, 2012) at the Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" event in Columbus, Ohio, to take on last minute replacement, Bristol Marunde. "Jacare" dominated the newcomer for the duration of the bout and after a few failed submission attempts, eventually trapped Marunde in a tight arm-triangle choke that gave the Brazilian a much needed, but expected win. What was more impressive than his submission victory? The fact that he fought for three rounds and was able to finish his opponent with a broken right hand ... and thumb. After the bout, the submission specialist knew he had injured his hand in the opening round, but did not know for sure the extent of his injuries. X-Rays later showed that he had indeed broken his right hand and thumb to accompany it and he sent Tatame the pictures to prove it while also confirming the injury via his official Twitter account. Ouch! Souza hoped that this win would earn him a title shot and a chance to avenge his loss to the man that took the title away from him, Strikeforce Middleweight champion Luke Rockhold, but the tough break (pun intended) will likely keep him out of action for a while. For complete results from last night's "Tate vs. Rousey" event click here and here.

Posted in: submission, hand, souza, right hand, marunde

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Oh, Ronda Rousey. Your beauty is only exceeded by your toughness. She won the 135-pound title from Miesha Tate last night (Sat., March 3, 2012) in the main event of Strikeforce: "Tate vs. Rousey" after snapping the Team Alpha Male product's arm in two. It's not like the result was altogether unforeseen. "Rowdy" had four wins going into the bout and all came thanks to her trademark submission. Plus, she straight out said that's what she was going to do, which made it all the more impressive when she actually did it! That's like Dirk Nowitzki, after sinking four straight three-pointers, dribbling down court and telling an opposing player he was going to make another one and there would be nothing he could do about it. Except in the NBA, the Mavericks would only add a few more points to their score. In mixed martial arts (MMA), Tate is getting fitted for a cast and out of work for a few months. Rousey wasn't the first to snap an arm in two in competition and she probably won't be the last. Since we here at Mania are depraved, we took a look in our history books and pulled out five of the grossest arm breaking submissions we could find. Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) experts, Japanese catch-wrestlers and former Las Vegas night club bouncers all make appearances on the list. Can you guess which submissions made the cut? Honorable mention: Mark Coleman vs. Mauricio Rua Although not actually due to a submission, Mauricio Rua had a pretty nasty elbow dislocation at Pride 31, an event that was ironically named "Unbreakable." Although for full-out irony, I suppose the event would have been called Undislocatable. Or something. "Shogun" had just won the 2005 grand prix and was looking to continue his winning ways. Coleman wasn't expected to put up much of a a fight against the young lion but less than a minute into the bout, the UFC Hall of Famer got his opponent on the mat. Some grappling back and forth ensued and when "Shogun" tried to get back to his feet, Coleman grabbed at the Brazilian's ankles. Rua ended up falling to the mat and in doing so, landed right on his elbow, popping that sucker right out of place.. The money shot comes at the 55 second mark. Ouch! Now on to the top five. 5. Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Renzo Gracie, Pride 10 At Pride 8, Sakuraba was booked against Royler Gracie and in a shocking upset, the Japanese legend locked in a kimura on the Brazilian, one Gracie couldn't get out of. The referee stopped the bout despite no tap -- or break -- and thus, the rivalry between "Saku" and the first family of MMA was born. Sakuraba went on to outlast Royce over the course of 90 minutes during the 2000 grand prix. With two Gracies down, Renzo took the plate to defend the family name. Just like in the bout with Royler, the Pride Fighting Championships ace locked in a tight kimura. Unlike in the bout with Royler, "Saku" torqued the arm a little further back, busted that baby up but nice. To his credit (I guess), Renzo never tapped. 4. Steve Cantwell vs. Razak Al-Hassan, UFC Fight for the Troops Of all the armbreakers on this list, Cantwell's is the least likely. The guy's never been known as a submission wiz but after he snapped Al-Hassan's arm in two, no one will ever think he doesn't know at least a little about the ground game. A lot of people were up in arms after the submission when Cantwell seemed happy to have broken his opponent's arm. "I always wanted to do that," he admitted. His detractors said it wasn't sporting, it wasn't gentlemanly. C'mon, son. If you ever take a Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) class, you want -- at least a little in your secret heart of hearts -- to break someone's arm in half at least once. Or maybe Cantwell was just excited because he knew it was the last time he would win inside the Octagon. 3. Frank Mir vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, UFC 140 It wasn't enough for Mir to be the first man to stop "Big Nog," he wanted to be the first fighter to make the Brazilian legend tap. And not only did he make Nogueira tap, he broken that arm in two. After the Las Vegas native got rocked on his feet, it looked like "Minotauro" was going to avenge his UFC 92 loss. Mir was almost out on his feet and when the fight went to the mat, it wasn't a stretch to imagine the Brazilian earning a technical knockout (TKO) stoppage or even a submission himself. Mir, once again, shocked everyone but latching onto a kimura, rolling through with it along with Nogueira while the Brazilian tried to wiggle out and making history by doing what Fedor Emelianenko, Dan Henderson, Josh Barnett and a mack truck couldn't do: he made Nogueira give up. Also, props to the random hillbilly who pops up in the middle of this clip. 2. Shinya Aoki vs. Mizuto Hirota, Dynamite!! 2009 "The Baka Survivor" had a bone to pick with Hirota going into their New Year's Eve bout a couple of years ago. The then-Sengoku champion had won his title earlier in the year by knocking out Satoru Kitaoka, a friend of Aoki's. Let that be a lesson to all of you: before you go knocking dudes out and taking their titles, make sure they don't have a rainbow pants-wearing submission wizard for a BFF. The best way to describe what Aoki did to Hirota was he "Wayne Arnold'ed" him. The bigger brother from The Wonder Years would constantly pester the younger Kevin, making him hit himself or bending his arms behind his own back. It's exactly what Aoki did that night in Saitama. Except Wayne, as big a butthead as he was, never went full-out and snapped Kevin's arm. And he never would have flipped Kevin off as he laid there with a broken wing. That's cold blooded, Aoki. Even more cold blooded considering it wasn't Aoki's first rodeo. 1. Frank Mir vs. Tim Sylvia, UFC 48 The granddaddy of them all. Back in 2004, Sylvia was the UFC heavyweight champion at the time as hard to believe as that may seem and was taking on a young Mir. Mir's BJJ credentials were no secret and "The Maine-iac" had already established himself as a heavy-handed knockout artist. So everyone -- including probably Sylvia himself -- was surprised when the champ caught a kick and took Mir to the mat. In the most clear cut example of messing the bull and getting the horns since The Breakfast Club, it took only seconds for Mir to transition into an armbar and forever burn this image into my brain. Any Maniacs out there manage to keep their lunch down after all that?

Posted in: mir, submission, arm, brazilian, wasnt

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submitted by LittleHoss [link] [2 comments]

Posted in: submission, gif, littlehos, alveskampmann submission, alveskampmann

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The car crash effect gets us all. For some reason, we turn into rubberneckers and slow down our speeding vehicles to catch a brief glimpse of the accident causing all the delays and traffic jams. The same thing roughly applies to mixed martial arts - except we replace the metal and plastic wreckage with organic, human bodily damage as limbs get torqued beyond their capacities. In a similarly macabre, but understandable fashion, the most savage of submissions in combat sports have been kept alive in the memories of fans for years through word of mouth, pictures and short video clips as some of the scariest bogiemen of the MMA and submission grappling worlds. We slow down and cringe when we see the limbs of skilled fighters stretched beyond breaking points and we cheer when they escape or groan when something snaps. Armbars have featured in some of the greatest and the grisliest submissions in MMA history, as well as in other combat sports. On March 3rd, Ronda Rousey may have given us the single most savage armbar in the history of MMA. This submission was expertly applied and Miesha Tate, the former Strikeforce bantamweight champion, fought it with every bit of grit and toughness in her. Tate tapped long after the elbow had been forced from its customary place and the fight was stopped with the arm visibly wrong. This is a submission that should live on forever - both for the setting upon which it was delivered and for the technique and ferociousness of the joint attack. I may be swept up in Rousey-mania at this point, but I am prepared to call that the best MMA armbar of all time. It would be remiss of me not to give the other candidates a fair look and thus this post was written. The Other Wrecks In Contention: In the cage, Frank Mir breaks every limb he can get a decent grip on and Tim Sylvia's arm at UFC 48 was no exception. "Pop!" went the forearm bones and in came Herb Dean to stop the fight. Kid Nate did a UFC 100 Special EditionJudo Chop on this now-legendary submission almost three years ago. This Judo Chop made reference to what may have been the first time we combat sports fans sort of saw a nasty armbar in the UFC - Royce Gracie's eternity-spanning belly down armbar on Jason Delucia from UFC 2. Unfortunately, that particular armbar has to be hunted down on DVD or old VHS tapes. After the jump, a GIF fest, starting off with the Mir/Sylvia submission and a few more special armbars that we wish we knew how to quit remembering and commemorating. As I grudgingly admitted in the UFC 140 Judo Chop on the Big Nog kimura, Mir has overcome quite a few technical imperfections with stunning improvisations and truly chilling strength. The cup within Mir's shorts gave him the fulcrum, but Frank had to create the leverage and apply the force. Frank Mir has broken more body parts within the UFC cages than many elite level grapplers have in their career - and a good living has resulted from Frank doing so much skilled violence. Amazingly, Sylvia barely noticed anything wrong with his forearm and continued to lift Mir's entire heavyweight frame off the ground as Dean stepped in. Some Brazilian jiu jitsu fans may remember the famous 2004 Mundials Absolute final where Roger Gracie lost a narrow decision to Ronaldo Souza - despite breaking Souza's arm. The armbar is threatened at the 1:08 minute mark and Jacare somehow keeps enough of a poker face throughout the breaking of the bone to convince the referee to let the match continue. The decision allowed Jacare's hand to be raised in victory, but he would have to forfeit the weight class final to Braulio Estima due to his inability to actually compete. Both Gracie and Souza now compete in MMA within the Strikeforce promotion - and with rumors on the horizon about Roger dropping to the middleweight division, they may face off again within the confines of the cage. At Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum, Magno Almeida lost a unanimous decision to Conor Heun - even after he made Heun's arm look like this: via Tracey Lee for Yahoo! Sports A human arm generally should not look like that. Almeida's armbar was performed in Round 2, but Heun managed to free his now-mangled arm and continue to fight in an obviously limited, but effective manner en route to the unanimous decision. Rousey is no stranger to this list, as her armbar of Julia Budd at Strikeforce Challengers: Britt vs. Sayers featured a superbly applied belly-down armbar - and maybe one of the worst refereeing performances in recent memory. Kim Winslow missed Budd's first tap, stayed well back from the action and only Rousey's surprisingly charitable decision to roll Budd over exposed the dislocated forearm and Budd's second tap to the inattentive referee. In each fight of Rousey's short career, we have been treated to a wonderfully skilled grappler who is able to make all roads lead to Rome - or to the Rousey-bar, if you will - again and again to gruesome and profitable fashion. Amazingly, the Rousey/Budd fight was the second fight inside a month that Winslow would referee a bout in which an armbar dislocated a fighter's arm. At UFC 137 in October of 2011, Eliot Marshall dislocated Vera's left arm in the third round and due to Vera's unwillingness to tap, flailing limbs and Winslow's bad positioning, the fight continued to a decision.GIF via Zombie Prophet at Ironforgesiron.com. At UFC: FIght for the Troops back in 2008, Steve Cantwell destroyed Razak Al-Hassan's right elbow with a superb armbar. Al-Hassan never actually tapped to it and Mario Yamasaki had to call an end to the damage and fight himself. This might be the closest analogue to the Rousey/Tate armbar within MMA in terms of where the unfortunate fighter's arm ended up, yet the stage and comparative skills of the fighters were not as memorable. A title fight between perhaps the two best athletes in a division trumps a Fight for the Troops armbar any day. However, the best match for what Rousey did to Tate comes from Japan's finest bonebreaker - Shinya Aoki. In a jiu jitsu match against Kuniyoshi Hironaka, Aoki successfully went for a flying armbar. Hironaka for whatever adrenaline/insanity-fueled reasons decided to not tap and to try and tough it out. Aoki calmly proceeded to bend Hironaka's arm completely the wrong way around his leg and tell the referee in an almost lukewarm voice that the fight was over. Aoki and Rousimar Palhares might be the only two people on the planet that are more dangerous in an MMA fight to the health of limbs than Frank Mir (now that Masakazu Imanari has slowed down some). In another phenomenal submission, Dustin Hazelett landed a helicopter armbar on Tamdan McCrory at UFC 91 after some phenomenally good grappling. The helicopter armbar hybridized with an omoplota and the creative seizure and positioning of the trapped arm forced "Barncat" McCrory to tap. McCrory's arm did not break, but the potential for a grisly snap was extremely high at the point that Hazelett stopped extending his arms and the referee began stepping in. This is perhaps a "could have been awful" submission rather than the multiple "hide the young 'uns" moments above. Were any other memorable armbars misssed in the construction of this strange celebration of the ability of humans to break each other with perfect skill and grimly compelling fashion? Let us know in the comments.

Posted in: ufc, fight, submission, arm, armbar

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Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey resultsColumbus, OHRonda Rousey def. Miesha Tate via submission armbar 4:27 R1Josh Thomson def. K.J. Noons via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)Kazuo Misaki def. Paul Daley via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)Lumumba Sayers def. Scott Smith via submission guillotine choke 1:34 R1Ronaldo Souza def. Bristol Marunde via submission arm triangle choke 2:43 R3Sarah Kaufman def. Alexis Davis via majority decision (29-29, 29-28, 29-28)Roger Bowling def. Brandon Saling via TKO (strikes) 1:15 R2Pat Healy def. Caros Fodor via submission arm triangle choke 3:35 R3Ryan Couture def. Conor Heun via TKO (strikes) 2:52 R3   

Posted in: decision, submission, arm, rousey, alexis davis

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"He (Semerzier) is a tough guy you know? He gets rocked and he keeps on going. When I rocked him, I knew I had to keep on going after him. No sir I do not like decisions. I only have one and I lost and ill never go to it again. I'm going to get knocked out or I'm going to knock them out, one of the two. That is how I see it. Submissions are good to right, that's how you start of a fight with a good show." Fast rising Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Featherweight Daniel Pineda tells UFC.com that is the motto he lives his mixed martial arts (MMA) career by. Pineda not only talks the talk, but he walks the walk too. All of his 17 victories have come either by submission or (technical) knock out. The only time Pineda went the distance, the judges didn't see it his way and awarded his opponent, Roberta Vargas, the nod back in 2009 at Bellator 8. Pineda upped his win streak to seven and followed up his impressive UFC debut victory at UFC on FX: Guillard vs. Miller" over Pat Schilling, with an even better outing last night (March 2, 2012) at UFC on FX 2: "Alves vs. Kampmann" against Mackens Semerzier. "The Pit" displayed his impressive submission skills as he trapped "The Menace" in a tight triangle and quickly transitioned to an armbar that forced the tap. In a division that could use as much talent as possible, the 145-pound weight class may have just found its new star. Anyone think Pineda has what it takes to make some noise at featherweight? One thing is certain, his "kill or be killed" attitude will definitely make him a fan favorite.

Posted in: ufc, submission, mackens semerzier, daniel pineda, pineda

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Martin Kampmann may have gotten a win over Thiago Alves at UFC on FX 2, but it did not unfold the way he had drawn it up.

Posted in: ufc, fx, submission, thiago alves, kampmann

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UFC on FX 2 resultsSydney, Australia Martin Kampmann def. Thiago Alves via submission guillotine choke 4:12 R3Joseph Benavidez def. Yasuhiro Urushitani via TKO (punches) 0:11 R2Demetrious Johnson def. Ian McCall via majority decision (29-28, 29-29, 29-28)Constantinos Philippou def. Court McGee via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)James Te Huna def. Aaron Rosa via TKO (punches) 2:08 R1Anthony Perosh def. Nick Penner via TKO (punches) 4:59 R1Steven Siler def. Cole Miller via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)Andrew Craig def. Kyle Noke via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)T.J. Waldburger def. Jake Hecht via submission armbar 0:55 R1Daniel Pineda def. Mackens Semerzier via submission triangle armbar 2:05 R1Shawn Jordan def. Oli Thompson via TKO (strikes) 3:53 R2

Posted in: decision, tko, submission, punch, ian mccall

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Hello again, fellow Legends. We’re going to switch up this round of picks a little bit for UFC on FX 2. It seems that all of us, when we do our picks, tend to peter out a bit as we get to the bottom of the cards. Certainly part of it is that the fighters are lesser known, and as such we have less to say about them than we would, oh... Anderson Silva. There’s also the possibility that your esteemed authors’ eyes start to glaze over as they sink deeper into their alcoholic stupor as the writing progresses. So in the interest of trying to be nicer to the undercard, we’ll be starting with them first. Preliminary card Heavyweight bout: Oli Thompson vs. Shawn JordanCory - Oli is an imposing man. The former Strongman competitor, once Britains’s Strongest Man, is now a 7-2 UFC neophyte looking to gain a win over former Bellator and Strikeforce heavyweight Shawn Jordan. Jordan’s the person with the more impressive win on his record, as he submitted Lavar Johnson with a Keylock last September. Lavar, as we probably all remember, dangadadanged Joey Beltran with gravity-defying uppercuts recently. The only "name" on Oli’s record is the bottom-of-the-ladder (for the UFC) heavyweight, Rob Broughton, to whom he lost to a couple years ago. While Oli’s shown some skill beyond huge muscles (lookin’ at you, Marius Pudz) in racking up multiple submissions, I’m going to go with the slightly more seasoned Jordan here. Jordan - TKOEarl - Both of these guys are making their UFC debuts here but Jordan has fought much stiffer competition than Oli and I think that will prove very important. Shawn Jordan, TKO, Round 2.Chris - Oli Thompson is a giant of a man. Aside from that, I don’t see a lot of advantages for him in this fight. He keeps his hands low and his striking is limited at best. He uses his size and strength to get the takedown, but doesn’t really know where to go when he gets it there. Shawn Jordan is no striker himself, so no one gets the advantage there. Jordan did prove against Lavar Johnson that he is a much more talented wrestler than Oli and he’ll be able to use that to get the win. Jordan by TKO.Luke - Okay, first things first. Thompson beat Broughton in the finals of an 8 man one night tournament on January 30, 2010. Thompson had actually lost in the semi-finals to a blown up middleweight, Joe Vedepo, but for some reason Vedepo was unable to compete in the finals, so the one big win on Thompson’s resume is seriously questionable. Jordan meanwhile is a Jackson’s fighter, who has fought for Bellator and Strikeforce. He took care of Lavar Johnson with a second round submission. I imagine it’ll be a similar fate for Thompson. Jordan, Submission, Round 1. The rest are after the jump Preliminary card (Fuel TV) Featherweight bout: Mackens Semerzier vs. Daniel PinedaCory - Former Marine Mackens Semerzier has not had a good run as of late. His last fight ended in a No Contest, as they went and looked back on film and saw that he got headbutted (accidentally) and not just blasted with the punch that Robbie Peralta threw. Before that, he managed to take out Alex "Bruce Leroy" Caceres, but that seems to be before Alex’s mini career resurgence. Suffice it to say, I’m not terribly impressed with the former boxer turned submission artist Semerzier. Pineda is riding a 6-fight win streak and also holds a win over TUF competitor Johnny Bedford. I don’t see either of these guys as future champs, but I think Pineda has the higher ceiling at this point. Pineda - DecisionEarl - Pineda has bounced back from a four fight skid in 2009 to win 8 of his last 9 bouts. Mackens has really been underwhelming since the merger and I don’t really see that stopping here. Daniel Pineda, Submission, Round 3.Chris - No reason to to disagree with Earl or Cory here. PinedaLuke - I’m not sure why you guys haven’t given Semerzier more credit for his competition. He’s fought good guys and has only lost once inside the distance, to jiu jitsu ace Javier Vasquez. I think some fighters take a little while to adjust to fighting top competition on a regular basis, and Semerzier has gone through that adjustment period, while Pineda put together his 16-7 record in mostly regional promotions. In his brief stints with Elite XC and Bellator he was 0-3. He does have the in-cage experience edge, with more than twice the number of fights that Semerzier has. That being said, I’m going to go with the guy who’s been fighting Zuffa caliber fighters since 2009. Semerzier, Unanimous Decision.Welterweight bout: T.J. Waldburger vs. Jake HechtCory - Both of these under-30 prospects are looking to come into their own and this is a really good matchup to see who’s where. Hecht is 11-2 and on a 4-fight win streak, including a great come from behind win over veteran Rich Attonito. Hecht has demonstrated a wide arsenal of finishing techniques in his career, as he’s got wins by triangle, rear-naked, north-south and multiple TKO wins. He’s got decent conditioning as well. TJ’s had one loss in his last six, and it was to Johny Hendricks. Seeing as how Hendricks is knocking on the door to a title shot, there’s no shame in that whatsoever. A fine grappler - probably better than Hecht - TJ has a slightly suspect chin that makes me think that Hecht takes it. Five of his six losses have come by way of strikes, and Hecht has shown the capability of tagging someone now and again. Hecht - TKOEarl - Waldburger and Hecht are each looking to get their 2nd straight win in the UFC in this matchup. Somebody is going to get a spectacular finish here. It will either be Waldburger with another beautiful submission or Hecht using his power to put TJ out. I think TJ is just a little too slick and he will seize the first opportunity Jake gives him. TJ Waldburger, Submission, Round 1.Luke - Waldburger is another guy who, like Pineda, has a dozen losses but is super young. Usually you don’t see fighters with more than one or two losses at the highest levels of prize fighting until they get into the twilight of their careers. MMA has been seeing a lot more guys like Waldburger and Pineda lately;many young fighters choose to rack up fights, win or lose, rather than build their careers in a slow and calculated manner. In an interesting twist, Hecht is a guy who has taken the slower route, fighting just three times in his first three years as a pro (Waldburger had 13 in his first three). As for the fight, Earl sums it up pretty well. I’ll go the other way though and take Hecht, who was very impressive against Rich Attonito, to get the stoppage. Hecht, TKO, Round 2.Middleweight bout: Kyle Noke vs. Andrew CraigCory - Noke was going on a nice little streak before he ran into the rejazzed Ed Herman. He had himself a nice little 5-fight streak going, including three in the UFC. Craig comes in on semi-late notice to replace Jared Hamman. He had enough time to get most of a camp in, but I’ll just stick with a guy who I know has been around the block and is a proven winner against some decent enough names (wins against Sotripoulos, Ebersole, Camozzi and a draw with borderline top-10’er Hector Lombard). Noke - DecisionI had that whole paragraph typed out, and then I remembered that Noke is coming off of a knee injury. I can’t recall the last time I saw a guy come back from surgery and perform well. I’m changing my pick. Craig - DecisionEarl - Kyle Noke is making his second UFC appearance in his native Australia here looking to rebound from his recent near limb removal at the hands of Ed Herman. He will be taking on an undefeated fighter making his promotional debut. I am hoping for a strong showing by Craig. New blood in the Middleweight division is a very good thing. Andrew Craig, Unanimous Decision.Luke - You know Earl, I’m hoping that Andrew Craig looks good too, because you are right, we need some new guys in that division. When I wrote about age demographics a few weeks ago the middleweight division was the oldest at the top levels. Surely we’re not going to get a shot in the arm from Craig though. Undefeated fighters with less than 10 wins rarely grab my attention unless they have a string of first round knockouts or perhaps have won all their fights with the same submission. Craig has gone to the judges three times already, in over half of his fights. Add in the fact that Noke is fighting at home and this becomes a bit of a no-brainer. Noke, Submission, Round 2Featherweight bout: Cole Miller vs. Steven SilerCory - Not a whole lot to say about this fight, other than I wouldn’t be surprised if Submission of the Night came out from here. Assuming the cut doesn’t make him Mechanic like, I’ll go with Miller - SubmissionEarl - This should be an awesome bout between two very solid submission fighters. Both guys have a ton of experience and are only in their mid 20’s so this should be dynamic. Cole will be fighting at 145 for the first time in years and I think he may have a bit of trouble. "Super" Steven Siler, Unanimous Decision.Luke - Cole Miller has an awesome picture on his wikipedia page. I suspect not too many fighters would be okay with a close up of their beaten face as the first thing that many new fans see, but Miller doesn't seem to give a damn. On top of that, he was 7-3 as a lightweight in the very tough UFC lightweight division, so he’s a real talent. In Siler he’s fighting a well rounded but limited guy who isn’t the flashiest but can get the job done when the fight goes to the mat. I’ve been picking against young guys with a lot of losses this event and I’m going to do the same again with this one. Siler might have stoppage Cole’s little brother to essentially get into the UFC, but big brother is going to get sweet revenge in this one. Miller, Submission, Round 1Light Heavyweight bout: Anthony Perosh vs. Nick PennerCory - Ever since he was fed to the ghost of Cro Cop, Perosh has looked like an actual for real MMA fighter. I don’t really know much about Mr. Penner, so I’ll go say that Hippo takes it. Perosh - SubmissionEarl - I cannot help but be a fan of a guy who is nicknamed "The Hippo" because Hippos kill more humans per year than any other animal. "The Hippo" has won 2 straight via RNC and I will not bet against him getting another one here. Anthony Perosh, Submission, Round 2.Chris - Penner is a Muay Thai fighter that wants to hurt whoever is placed in front of him. He likes to set up his combos with painful leg kicks from distance, while mixing in powerful head kicks when his opponent tries to work his way in. That said, he relies very heavily on kicks, much more than punching. Against a grappler like Perosh that’s most likely to leave him open to takedowns, where Perosh is going to have the advantage. On top of that, Penner is making his UFC debut, which gives a lot of people problems. Anthony Perosh by SubmissionLuke - Heard Nick Penner on the MMA Show with Mauro Ranallo this week and I really enjoyed hearing him talk about his experiences training at ATT with Ricardo Liborio. I think Chris has this fight pretty well nailed. Perosh can take a beating in order to get the fight to the ground and once it’s there he is efficient if unspectacular. I expect we’ll see another win for Anthony Perosh, which would amazingly bring his UFC record to 3-1. Perosh, Submission, Round 2.Light Heavyweight bout: James Te Huna vs. Aaron RosaCory - James Te Huna might end up being a top 25 LHW. I don’t know if Rosa ends up in the top100. Te Huna - KOEarl - Rosa at 205 is much better than Rosa at Heavyweight. James Te Huna is a monster whose last 6 wins have come via KO/TKO. The home crowd will get another chance to erupt for their fellow countryman here. James Te Huna, KO, Round 1.Chris - Despite his win over Matt Lucas, Aaron Rosa did not look good in his return to the Light Heavyweight division. He had almost no control over distance and his punches were looping. Te Huna is going to pick him apart and most likely embarrass him en route to a KO victory. Te Huna by KOLuke - I like James Te Huna, who has really showed some crisp striking in the UFC recently. I especially thought his hand speed has been much better than his opponents. Rosa used to be a heavyweight and while he is a more natural 205 pounder like Earl mentions, the speed difference is going to be hard for him to deal with. Te Huna should end this fight early. Te Huna, TKO, Round 1. Main card Middleweight bout: Court McGee vs. Constantinos PhilippouCory - McGee is a gritty, grind you down and go-for-the-choke when it presents itself kind of fighter. Philippou is a YOU-GOT-KNOCKED-THE-FUCK-OUT-MAN kind of fighter. Good luck to Court here, I think he’s gonna need it. Philippou - TKOEarl - Court McGee has flaws in his striking defense and Costa absolutely has the power to put one on Court’s chin and put him away. Costa comes from a better camp and I think he hurts Court here real, real bad. Costa Philippou, KO, Round 2.Chris - I’ve never been overly impressed with Court McGee. He’s solid pretty much all around, but not really more than good any where. Phillippou hits like a truck and I think he’ll find his chance to land on Court. Phillippou by (T)KOLuke - Court Mcgee has never really excited me, but he won the ultimate fighter by grinding down his opponents, which isn’t an exciting style. He can deal with adversity well and he took saavy vet Jeremy Horn to a decision in his only defeat. As for Phillipou, well, it wasn’t too long ago that he was eeking out a decision over Jorge Rivera, a guy that I think Mcgee would handle with relative ease. I think my esteemed peers are a little high on Costa based on his devastating knockout of Jared Hamman in his most recent performance. Mcgee will survice the early onslaught and grind it out. Mcgee, Unanimous decision.Flyweight bout: Demetrious Johnson vs. Ian McCallCory - McCall is as dynamic as it gets at this weight. He’s fast, strong and technical. That said, he’s going to get taken down and taken down often. McCall probably isn’t going to be able to submit a guy that Miguel Torres couldn’t tap either. DJ is one of the best wrestlers in two divisions, and he’s going to grind out Uncle Creepy. Johnson - SubmissionEarl - McCall is being criminally undervalued coming into this fight purely based on not fighting in the big leagues yet. Make no mistake, "Uncle Creepy" belongs here and has all the tools to give Johnson hell in this fight. Demetrious will be fighting at his natural weight class which should add to his quickness and help him get the fight where he wants it which is on the canvas. I’m so torn but I’ll go with the man who just went 5 rounds with the best Bantamweight on earth to get the W. Demetrious Johnson, Unanimous Decision.Chris - I’ve heard nothing but good things about Ian McCall. That said I’ve never seen him fight. Mighty Mouse, on the other hand, has been competing with the best of the best at Bantamweight, a division where he’s typically well undersized. On top of that, he’s got great combinations and can transition from striking to grappling faster than pretty much anyone in the sport. Johnson by DecisionLuke - Ian McCall shares the same rocky path that brought Court Mcgee to fighting: Both had serious drug problems in their lives that they eventually would replace with mixed martial arts. It just goes to show the trans-formative power that martial arts can have. McCall and Johnson share a decision loss to current UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz, although Johnson would likely argue that he not only faced a better Cruz but performed better against him as well. I really don’t know what to expect from this fight but I just feel like it's going the distance. Johnson has the wrestling to win any kind of close match, so I'm going with him. Johnson, Unanimous Decision.Flyweight bout: Joseph Benavidez vs. Yasuhiro UrushitaniCory - Speaking of "about to get outwrestled", I really don’t need to say much more about this fight other than there’s a reason that Joe is a quadruple-digit favorite at some bookmakers. Benavidez - SubmissionEarl - Finally, Joseph Benavidez gets the showcase he has deserved since the merger. Team Alpha Male will be represented in full force here and I can’t wait to see a little "Joe-Jitsu" @ 125. Joseph Benavidez, Submission, Round 2.Chris - Again, I’m looking at another fight where I only know one fighter. And again Joe, like Mighty Mouse, has been competing with the best at BW so I’m going to favor him and Joe-Jitsu. I’ll also be hoping for another brutal guillotine in the process. Benavidez by SubmissionLuke - Alpha Male is one of the best fight camps in the world in terms of overall talent. Faber, Mendes and Benavidez are among the best two or three guys in their weight class and Danny Castillo and TJ Dillashaw are well on their way to carving out a place in the top 10 of their divisions. The fact that so many talented little guys are training together is an element that other many other gyms don’t have. The only other camp with an excess of stars in the smaller weight classes at the moment is Nova Uniao. Urushitani has an incredible 6 draws on his record, including two against the same man! I don’t really have much else to say about him, as he’s a huge underdog in this fight and is in very tough against a motivated Benavidez, who should be able to get the tap in this one. Benavidez, Submission, Round 1. Welterweight bout: Thiago Alves vs. Martin KampmannCory - Thiago Alves has four losses in his last fifteen fights. All of them came at the hands of wrestlers who pressed him hard, made him work to fend off takedowns and not let him get his striking off. I like Kampmann, but that’s not what he brings to the table at all. I’ve got a feeling that Kamp tries to trade with Alves in center ring, and that’s generally a recipe for disaster and very bruised legs. Alves - TKOEarl - I am so thrilled that this fight is happening. Two of the best strikers at Welterweight will finally face off and with serious title implications to boot. Alves has the raw power but Kampmann is so technically sound and will have a lot of opportunities to land crisp counters. Kampmann’s main problem has always been that he fights to his opponents strength and not to his own. He played that game against Jake Shields and Diego Sanchez and lost decisions (one controversial and one atrocious). I just think Kampmann is on the rise and Alves is just the same guy he has always been. Martin Kampmann, Unanimous Decision.Chris - This is great stylistic matchmaking for a striker vs. striker match. Kampmann is a great technical striker able to use his reach and distance to pick his opponents apart. Thiago Alves, on the other hand, likes to punish with power. Kampmann will have some success on his part in being able to land when Alves misses. He’ll use straight punches to try to keep Thiago at bay. However, Kampmann rarely throws a lot of power behind those punches. On top of that, Kampmann has a habit of letting himself get in to bad position. Eventually, Alves will get Kampmann’s back against the cage and be able to land a brutal combo. Thiago Alves by TKOLuke - I think this fight has all the ingredients to be the elite welterweight slug fest that we thought we were going to get from Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit. In a division that has suddenly become very wide open, the winner of this match could well find themselves in the title picture with just one more victory. It makes for quite a fight, though Alves needs a win more than Kampmann does; Martin has been denied wins in some very controversial decision losses to Jake Shields and Diego Sanchez recently and likely will have one more chance to prove himself against top competition like before becoming a gatekeeper. Alves has beaten Papy Abedi and John Howard. By comparison it’s not even close, and the fact that Kampmann knocked off Rick Story while Alves struggled with him has me convinced that Kampmann is just on another level. While I think it’ll be a close and bloody affair, I see Kampmann coming out with his hand raised. Kampmann, Unanimous decision.

Posted in: fight, guy, fighter, round, submission

Read the full article at Head Kick Legend

Many fighters won't reveal their game plan prior to a fight. Not so for Joe Wilk. For him, it's submission or bust.

Posted in: submission, game plan, joe wilk, ’s submission, bust

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

The UFC‘s world tour continues with Dana White and company returning to Australia. Following an exciting and crazy UFC 144 card in Japan, UFC on FX 2: Alves vs. Kampmann brings an entirely different set of fights to the land down under. Featuring the semifinals of the UFC flyweight tournament, as well as what might very well be a “Fight of the Year” candidate in Thiago Alves vs. Martin Kampmann, Aussies and Americans alike (and even Canadians too) will be treated to an awesome night of fights this Friday. Before the fast-paced four fight main card gets started, the preliminary card will feature seven fights featuring several UFC veterans, a few newcomers, and a hell of a lot of submission specialists. Here’s my breakdown of the fights: Oli Thompson (9-2) vs. Shawn Jordan (12-3) Opening up the preliminary card on Facebook, the Brit, Thompson makes his UFC debut after a solid run overseas. The former Strong-Man competitor is currently riding a five fight win streak, having recently captured the UCMMA heavyweight championship. Originally expected to debut at UFC 138 against Philip De Fries before an injury scrapped that bout, Thompson is a legitimate threat with a relatively good grappling game. Across the cage from him will be Strikeforce import Shawn Jordan. Fresh off of his Strikeforce Challengers 19 victory over Lavar Johnson, the former college football player is an exciting prospect with heavy hands. Fighting out of Jackson’s MMA, the big man has both the skills, and coaching, as well as the athleticism, to take him far in the heavyweight division. If only he was a little taller… Not much is known about how far Thompson can go in his MMA campaign. Largely untested in his career, he has not faced nearly the level of competition as his opponent. Furthermore, his striking leaves a lot to be desired. With speed and athleticism in his favor, the more likely outcome sees the stone-fisted Jordan finding the Brit’s chin in an entertaining brawl that goes less than five minutes. As with much of the heavyweight division, if it goes much longer than that, it’ll be ugly, but I don’t think it will. Winner – Shawn Jordan defeats Oli Thompson via TKO Round 1 Mackens Semerzier (6-3 1 NC) vs. Daniel Pineda (16-7) “Mack Da Menace” looks to get back on track after his most recent bout, a loss to Robert Peralta, was changed to a no contest due to the two fighters clashing heads. Originally scheduled to be a rematch of the two, Peralta was forced to withdraw, and Semerzier now takes on Pineda. Semerzier is a great grappler with nearly all of his wins coming on the mat. Pineda has been around the block and back. Having finally made his UFC debut in January after compiling a five-fight winning streak, he made short work of Pat Schilling. Pineda is strong finisher with every one of his victories coming by TKO, KO or submission. Pineda steps in on short notice, replacing Peralta, and a win here would certainly make a statement. These two men are very evenly matched. Both have sufficient striking and solid ground games, and this fight very well might be a toss up. I don’t expect this fight to last long, but I do expect it to be one of the more exciting fights on the card, with Semerzier having the slight edge. It really could go either way though. Winner – Mackens Semerzier defeats Daniel Pineda via Submission Round 1 T.J. Waldburger (14-6) vs Jake Hecht (11-2) 23-year old Waldburger makes his fourth UFC appearance on this card. Having only suffered one loss under the Zuffa banner to top welterweight Johny Hendricks, Waldburger holds victories over Pat Healy, Pete Spratt, and Mike Stumpf. A submission specialist with 11 of his 14 wins coming that way, Waldburger has never been tapped himself. He is hard to handle for anyone who wants to take him to the mat and is always a threat. Following elbowing Rich Attonito into a figurative coma, the wrestler Hecht steps into the Octagon on Friday night as a man on a mission. With four straight opponents used as stepping stones to where he is now, the first of two “Hitmen” on the card relies heavily on his wrestling and looks to dominate all of his opponents. I expect this fight to hit the ground, as that is where each man is strongest. To Hecht’s credit, he has never been submitted, but he has also never faced a grappler quite like Waldburger. I see this fight hitting the mat, likely with Hecht on top, but I think in the end Waldburger gets his hand raised thanks to a slick submission. If I had to call it, I’d go for an Armbar. Winner – T.J. Waldburger defeats Jack Hecht via Submission Round 1 Kyle Noke (19-5-1) vs. Andrew Craig (6-0) Well known Australian fighter Noke returns home this Friday night and hopes to put on a hell of a show. The former bodyguard of the late “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin, Noke has been in the cage with some great fighters, having fought to a Draw with Hector Lombard, making extemetly short work of Chris Camozzi, and defeating surging welterweight Brian Ebersole. Noke, nicknamed “KO”, favors submissions more often than not but can win a fight just about anywhere. Stepping in on short notice for Jared Hamman, undefeated Craig has plenty of hype behind him. While relatively unknown, Craig has competed for both Bellator and Legacy Fighting Championship. Less than two years into his professional career, Craig is well-rounded, but seems to favor keeping the fight on the feet. The biggest factor in this fight, in my opinion, is the ground games of the respective combatants. Noke can make short work of many on the ground, although he sometimes falters against strong wrestlers. Comparably, Craig is no wrestler and his takedown defense is not really that great. I expect Noke to get this fight to the ground, and although Craig is no slouch, he just doesn’t have the grappling chops to compete with Noke on the floor. Winner – Kyle Noke defeats Andrew Craig via Submission Round 1 Cole Miller (18-5) vs. Steven Siler (19-9) Longtime UFC fighter Miller returns to the cage for the first time since an August victory over T.J. O’Brien. In what seems to be a recurring theme on this card, Miller is a submission specialist with 13 of his 18 wins coming by way of a tap-out. With solid victories over Ross Pearson and Dan Lauzon to his credit, “Magrinho” looks to build another winning streak inside the octagon and doesn’t care who he has to beat to get it. “Super” Siler fought his way into the UFC by defeating Josh Clopton at December’s Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale. Siler has done very well for himself as of late, losing only twice in official competition since 2007 (and once in an exhibition on TUF). While Siler doesn’t have many signature victories or career-defining moments to his credit, he is more than capable of finishing a fight, as he is (of course) a submission specialist, and a win over Miller could be the biggest win of his career. Almost straight out of professional wrestling, an interesting storyline accompanies this fight. Siler defeated Cole’s brother Micah Miller during TUF 14, and Cole is most certainly gunning for redemption here. On the flip side, Siler looks to join his teammate Roland Dulorme in defeating two brothers. A considerably tall featherweight, Miller will have a slight reach advantage and should be able to avoid the strikes of Siler. If this fight hits the ground, as I expect it will, we’ll all be treated to what just may be an excellent grappling clinic. That said, I expect Miller wraps his limbs around the neck of Siler at some point, and gets the finish. Winner – Cole Miller defeats Steven Siler via Submission Round 2 Anthony Perosh (12-6) vs Nick Penner (11-1) Australian grappling wiz (my god these submission specialists) “The Hippo” looks to build on his two fight winning streak in the UFC. Following a terrible performance against Mirko Filipovic, Perosh decided to drop down in divisions and put together back-to-back Rear Naked Choke victories over Tom Blackledge and Cyrille Diabate. While not necessarily the most consistent of fighters, Perosh is not afraid of fighting on the feet or on the mat and will take the fight to anyone that gets matched up with him. The Canadian Penner looks to take advantage of his momentum coming into his UFC debut. With an eight-fight winning streak behind him, the well-rounded Canuck has not really gone against any significantly great opponents, but he has the skills to finish fights and has often done so in the first round. It was relatively difficult to find relevant footage of Penner, but the opposition he’s faced leads me to wonder if he’s ready for the big stage. Having faced higher level opposition, having more experience, and having great grappling skills, I expect Perosh to have the advantage. While he does lack the striking necessary to compete at the higher level of the division, he has beaten dangerous strikers with disregard for their abilities as a whole. While the mystery of Penner’s game may carry him to victory, I expect his winning streak is halted, as he ends up on the wrong end of a submission. Winner – Anthony Perosh defeats Nick Penner via Submission Round 1 James Te Huna (13-5) vs Aaron Rosa (17-4) Rounding out the preliminary card, the New Zealander Te Huna looks to extend his win streak to two in this light heavyweight battle. A violent striker with wins over Igor Pokrajac, Perosh, and Ricardo Romero, Te Huna has lightning fast hands and can hold his own on the ground as well, although he clearly prefers to keep it standing. Looking to make a climb up the division, Te Huna will look to put his opponent to sleep on Friday and make the home crowd happy. After an embarrassing performance against Joey Beltran, Rosa returned to light heavyweight and scored a decision victory over Matt Lucas in November. The well-rounded Rosa loves to scrap, has submissions in his game, and is relatively hard to finish. The tough Texan will look to build his own two-fight streak here and will likely rely on his power and durability to guide him to victory. Looking at this fight, I do like Rosa’s chances. His toughness and well-roundedness are assets for him, and he can be a headache for Te Huna, as well as many others in the division. Having said that, I don’t feel like he really excels at any aspect of MMA, and that might be his downfall. He tends to get hit, and you just don’t want to be on the wrong end of Te Huna’s fists. Ultimately I think that will be the difference here. Winner – James Te Huna defeats Aaron Rosa via TKO Round 3 Getting underway on Facebook at about 5:30 PM EST, and moving to Fuel TV thirty minutes later, the preliminary card should be a hell of an exciting few hours of fights. Tomorrow, I’ll post my breakdown of the four-fight main card, as well as a look at the preliminary card for this Saturday’s Strikeforce: Tate vs Rousey lineup. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, fight, submission, vs, card

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

UFC on FX 2 goes live Saturday from Sydney, Australia and showcases a welterweight bout pitting Thiago Alves vs. Martin Kampmann. Prior to the four-fight main card on the FX channel, eight preliminary matches are slated for Fuel TV at 6:00 p.m. ET. We'll break those into two parts as noted below. James Te Huna vs Aaron Rosa (Part Two)Jake Hecht vs T.J. WaldburgerCole Miller vs Steven Siler Kyle Noke vs. Andrew Craig (Part One)Mackens Semerzier vs Daniel PinedaShawn Jordan vs Oli ThompsonNick Penner vs Anthony Perosh Kyle Noke (19-5-1) vs. Andrew Craig (6-0) Andrew Craig got the call for this fight when Jared Hamman withdrew. Craig is an undefeated middleweight and BJJ purple belt under Travis Tooke who's finished half his wins (2 TKOs, 1 sub). His biggest victory was his last; a decision over Eric Schambari, a well-traveled fighter who won two of three in the WEC in 2007 and recently beat Matt Horwich in Bellator, but was also defeated by Bryan Baker. Kyle Noke is an Aussie-born veteran fighting out of Greg Jackson's MMA. Before he appeared on TUF 11, Noke had split two fights with George Sotiropoulos (split-decision win, decision loss) in the Australian "Warrior's Realm" promotion, defeated UFC welterweight Brian Ebersole (decision) to win the XFC strap and fought to an impressive draw with Bellator brick-thrower Hector Lombard. Noke is a strong kickboxer and dangerous submission grappler (8 wins by sub, 6 by TKO). He was a heavy favorite to win TUF but was surprisingly man-handled by inexperienced wrestler and eventual finalist Kris McCray. Noke posted three straight stoppages in the Octagon after the show (Josh Bryant by TKO, Rob Kimmons and Chris Camozzi by submission) but found himself entangled in an Ed Herman heel-hook in his last. Gifs and analysis in the full entry. SBN coverage of UFC on FX 2 Kyle Noke is one of those guys who seems to have all the right tools to rise up, but hasn't been able to string together a memorable streak. Good kickboxing and wrestling, great grappling, technical BJJ game Considerable experience and past level of opposition Strong beard: only KO loss was to Scott Smith, ate spoonfuls of leather from Lombard Intelligent and composed; Greg Jackson product Standing, Noke attacks with kicks, knees and punches and has good overall defense and form. He does straight-line retreat on Camozzi's initial flurry to the right, but then cuts a sharp 3 o'clock angle on the second and presses with a nice double jab-knee combination. Camozzi is a pretty burly cat so it's impressive how he stuffs his shot and then reverses with a body-lock takedown of his own and lands in full mount. Shades of his keen grappling and veteran savvy are shown in the ultra-ballsy attempt at a mounted triangle, after which he transitions to the back for a rear-naked choke. Even though the sequence to the left against Herman doesn't pan out, Noke does an excellent job at setting up his first shot with strikes; interspersing the attempt as a fluid part of the combination rather than diving for an all-or-nothing shot. I don't want to paint him as a disappointment, as there's no shame in losing to a scrapper like Herman, but the way he sputtered out in his defeat to Kris McCray on TUF was a slightly concerning performance. I expected Noke to creep into the top 15 or 20 rankings during his UFC stint, but he still has time to thrive. Craig is like a less experienced version of Noke: strong Muay Thai, decent wrestling and solid BJJ. He has crisp leg kicks, a smoking straight right, good grasp of timing and range and his kickboxing is probably a little more formidable than his ground game. He's shown a specific knack to make opponents pay for shooting with a quick underhook sprawl that he quickly transitions into a Thai clinch with cleaving knees -- which is something Noke should be extremely wary of. He also has rugged ground-and-pound from the top with ill-intentioned elbows and spent time training with Thiago Silva to sharpen up his striking. In his only reputable victory over Schambari -- which isn't a bad thing for someone with just six fights -- Craig conducted himself with a level of thorny composure that leads me to believe he'll be a worthy new prospect. He threatened with a kimura to fend off the takedown against the fence, peppered with short punches on his way back up to his feet, didn't panic in precarious positions and was just a tough customer throughout. This is a fight in which it would be crazy to pick against Noke, who is more experienced and proven against better competition, but Craig shouldn't be a pushover by any means. He should be able to hang with Noke in striking, wrestling and submissions and make him work hard for the win. My Prediction: Kyle Noke by late submission. Mackens Semerzier (6-3) vs. Daniel Pineda (16-7) Daniel "The Pit" (?) Pineda debuted at the first UFC on FX show and handed Pat Schilling his first loss, which was the first-round mata leao to the right. In analyzing his record, Pineda has some promising potential despite some questionable losses: He's finished every win (10 subs, 6 TKOs, 10 on the 1st round) He submitted recent TUFer Johnny Bedford by kneebar, lost by triangle in the rematch He rear-naked choked former WECer Frank Gomez He's now riding a six-fight win streak Check out Pineda's slick rolling kneebar, Oleg Taktarov style, to the left when Gomez maneuvers to take his back. Pineda is cut from the cloth of a risk-taking aggressor -- if he sees an opening or thinks he can create one, he'll pursue it vigorously. This finisher's mentality can lead to unfavorable positions, but it's the type fans appreciate and makes him a tough fighter to prepare for or predict. Pineda is a BJJ purple belt with decent striking and wrestling, but his creative aggression is his best trait. Mackens Semerzier exploded onto the MMA scene by submitting highly accredited BJJ black belt Wagnney Fabiano in his WEC debut, which was jaw-dropping enough to win Sherdog.com's "2009 Upset of the Year." The feat was even more amazing because Semerzier had just four fights to his name (all wins: 3 subs, 1 TKO) going into that bout at WEC 49 in 2009. Things definitely cooled off after three consecutive defeats in the promotion: a decision to Deividas Taurosevicius, a submission to Javier Vazquez and a split-decision to Cub Swanson. The rear-naked choke on Alex Caceres to the left severed his losing streak, but the unintentional clash of heads against Robert Peralta (above) preceding the fight-finishing flurry was later overturned to a No Contest, sullying Semerzier's second straight win. He took up BJJ and Muay Thai at age twenty-three, which has made for a nicely balanced offense in all phases of combat, and Semerzier is now thirty-one and a BJJ purple belt under Pedro Sauer. In addition to his rounded technique, Semerzier is strong, quick and athletic with good timing and instincts. The conclusion for this match up mirrors the Noke vs. Craig fight above. Barring experience against high-level opposition, Pineda is quite similar to Semerzier: he's equally dangerous standing or on the ground (more so in the latter), he's tough overall with few weaknesses and he's never been knocked out or stopped with strikes. The difference, however, is that Pineda has a wealth of overall experience compared to Craig and Semerzier is still only nine fights deep. Still, that's not enough to steer me toward an upset, as I think Semerzier will be just a little bit sharper on the feet and on the mat. He also has a tendency to capitalize on mistakes, which becomes a prominent factor considering Pineda's admirable penchant to go all-out offensively. My Prediction: Mackens Semerzier by submission (decision also likely). Shawn Jordan (12-3) vs. Oli Thompson (9-2) Repping the incoming legion of Strikeforce heavies, Shawn "The Savage" Jordan, a Greg Jackson heavyweight, will make his Octagon debut against fellow newcomer Oli Thompson, a "World's Strongest Man" competitor from the UK. At first glance, Jordan is a rotund and broad-shouldered hunk of beef, but his deceiving grace and athleticism becomes apparent when he springs into motion. Jordan was a two-time state wrestling champion in high school but was unable to ply that trade further because he went on to play fullback at LSU. Though not an MMA accolade, that credential explains his freakish agility for a man with of his girth. A southpaw, Jordan is a technical boxer with a scary straight-left and a strong grasp of subtleties like feints, head movement and throwing out a lot of angles in the pocket. Shades of his wrestling roots are still evident, such as the hip throw on Devin Cole to the left which, in conjunction with his boxing, makes Jordan a dual-pronged threat. He's won eight by TKO and three by submission and is fresh off a win over Lavar Johnson by keylock on the Strikeforce Challengers 19 card. Jordan won nine of his first ten bouts and then split two fights in Bellator (KO loss to Mark Holata, TKO win over John Hill) and Strikeforce (decision loss to Devin Cole, aforementioned sub-win over Johnson) with a first-round TKO in a smaller promotion sandwiched in between. Polish strongman Mariusz Pudzianowski did not leave the most inspiring footprints in MMA for fellow strongman Oli Thompson to follow. Thompson is a multi-stint competitor in the European Strongman events with one first place, one second place and two third place finishes. Thompson's MMA career kicked off in 2009 after he retired from the strongman routine and he's billed as a BJJ purple belt and the reigning heavyweight champion of London's UCMMA organization. He's been flawless save a two-fight sequence in 2010 where he incurred consecutive losses to current UFC heavyweight Rob Broughton (decision) and former UFC middleweight Joe Vedepo by TKO. That type of rap sheet shouldn't add up to a significant threat for Jordan, who is a very game and dangerous heavyweight with a phenomenal strength-to-agility ratio. He should have a glaring edge in striking and wrestling while also being capable of stifling Thompson's submission grappling. My Prediction: Shawn Jordan by TKO. Anthony Perosh (12-6) vs. Nick Penner (11-1) Elvis Sinosic understudy Anthony "The Hippo" Perosh is the second Aussie on the card. Hot off two rear-naked choke victories (Tom Blackledge, Cyrille Diabate), he'll look to make it three straight against UFC newcomer Nick Penner, a once-beaten light-heavyweight fighting out of Canada's Hayabusa Training Centre. Though a bit of a loafing plodder with stiff striking, Perosh accrued back-to-back sub wins through his still-improving takedown prowess. He's a talented BJJ black belt who's generally in the driver's seat anywhere on the mat. He looks a little robotic in chasing Blackledge down above, but has been able to implement his submission grappling with Dad Strength and good ol' determination more than refined wrestling technique. Facing a stiff test in Diabate, a kickboxing extraordinaire, Perosh camouflaged his striking disadvantage in relentless pursuits of takedown attempts and tie-ups in the clinch. Perosh has finished all twelve of his wins, ten in the first frame, with nine subs and three TKOs. Nick "The Quiet Assassin" Penner is a dangerous kickboxer and BJJ purple belt whose lone defeat came at the hands of leviathan Jimmy Ambriz, the former King of the Cage super-heavyweight champion. Penner is a former Canadian and Muay Thai kickboxing champion with devastating low kicks and aggressive striking tendencies. Apart from Ambriz, Eric Esch is the only quasi-recognizable name on his record, who Penner dusted by first-round TKO in his second pro fight. I've underestimated Perosh one too many times against better and more experienced strikers than Penner appears to be. Perosh showed unbelievable heart in his last minute bout with heavyweight Mirko Filipovic at UFC 110 and, no matter how awkard and uncoordinated he seems on the feet, he's found a way to dominate with his overpowering submission grappling. My Prediction: Anthony Perosh by submission. All others via Zombie Prophet of IronForgesIron.com

Posted in: tko, submission, vs, semerzier, noke

Read the full article at Bloody Elbow

G'day, mate. This upcoming Friday (March 2, 2012), Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will pack its bags (again) and head off to the "Land Down Under" for its sophomore effort on the FX network. Leading the way at UFC on FX 2 from the Allphones Arena in Sydney, Australia, are Welterweight striking elites Martin Kampmann and Thiago Alves, who will look to claw their way back into the 170-pound title picture. In addition, flyweights will grace the Octagon for the first time ever when bantamweight standouts Demetrious Johnson and Joseph Benavidez meet top five-ranked contenders Ian McCall and Yasuhiro Urushitani, respectively, in the first leg of the mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion's inaugural 125-pound tournament. Once again, the "Prelims" will be available on the medium screen, this time on Facebook (Oli Thompson vs. Shawn Jordan) and the remainder of the under card on FUEL TV. Follow us after the jump for part one of our UFC on FX 2: "Kampmann vs. Alves" breakdown: 185 lbs.: Andrew Craig vs. Kyle Noke Amateur Urijah Faber impersonator Andrew Craig (6-0), fighting out of Team Tooke, was lauded as a future star by commentator Michael Schiavello after his impressive defeat of Bellator veteran Eric Schambari. Despite having debuted just two years ago, Craig already has some shiny hardware on his mantle, having beaten William Bush via fifth-round technical knockout to claim the Legacy FC middleweight title. He will replace an injured Jared Hamman against Noke and, considering the hype behind him, could make an immediate impact in the UFC with a victory. A man sufficiently badass to act as Steve Irwin’s bodyguard, Kyle Noke (19-5-1) was one of the favorites to win The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 11, displaying well-rounded skills that had once taken him to a draw with the vicious Hector Lombard. Unfortunately for the Aussie bruiser, he had no answer for the wrestling prowess of eventual finalist Kris McCray. Unfazed, "KO" proceeded to win three straight in the UFC proper before falling victim to the resurgent Ed Herman. Now he has a chance to get back on track, as well as pick up his sixteenth win on Australian soil at the expense of late replacement Craig. Craig impressed me with his victory over Schambari with his striking ability, and while he does indeed have a bright future, he’s got one major issue that will bite him in the arse against Noke: Takedown defense. Even after completely rocking Schambari’s world with a head kick in the first round, after which Schambari was operating at about 30 percent, he still had moderate success bringing down Craig. Noke is by no means an elite wrestler, but he’s plenty capable of taking the fight to the ground if, for some reason, he finds himself in a bad spot on the feet. Craig is a competent grappler, but Noke is dangerous enough to get Craig’s back and lock in the RNC that has served him so well lately. Craig is certainly one to watch in the future, but this is just too much, too soon, especially on his opponent’s home turf. Noke chokes him out in two. Prediction: Noke via second round submission 170 lbs.: T.J. Waldburger vs. Jake Hecht In only his second UFC effort, T.J. Waldburger (14-6) was matched up against future Jon Fitch slayer Johny Hendricks, falling victim to the latter’s vicious left hand little more than 90 seconds into the bout. In his third bout, however, he demonstrated the skills that got him signed by the promotion in the first place, taking out Jeff Curran protege Mike Stumpf with a beautiful submission chain. With 11 submissions to his name, Waldburger is a migraine-in-the-making for anyone looking to take it to the ground, which should make for an entertaining scrap with fellow grappler Hecht. Jake Hecht (11-2), a wrestler by trade, was paired up with fellow wrestling specialist Rich Attonito for the former’s first shot at the big time. After being controlled by "Raging Bull" in the first round, "Hitman" turned the fight on its head out of nowhere in the second round, crumpling Attonito with elbows to the temple while defending a single leg. Against another man looking to plant him on his back, Hecht will no doubt be aiming to prove his win wasn’t any sort of fluke. I hold fast to the principle that there is no such thing as a lucky punch, kick, elbow or submission in MMA; however, as can be expected, my stoicism was tested after Fedor Emelianenko vs Dan Henderson and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Frank Mir 2. That said, if Hecht fought Attonito 100 times, that would happen once. His wrestling, which is pretty much his only method of attack, wasn’t on Attonito’s level, and things are going to go even more poorly against Waldburger. T.J.’s jaw is pretty questionable, considering he’s been knocked out five times, but Hecht doesn’t have the striking tools to exploit it. Considering both fighters’ reliance on the ground game, the fight’s almost assured to hit the ground at some point, and Waldburger’s the superior submissions specialist by a fair margin. Whether he winds up on top or on the bottom, he’ll lock up something painful. Prediction: Waldburger via first-round submission 145 lbs.: Daniel Pineda vs. Mackens Semerzier While Daniel Pineda’s record (16-7) doesn’t look that great, an interesting fact is that, back in 2009, he was 8-6. "The Pit" has been on an absolute tear the last 1.5 years. The well-rounded Pineda proved the deceptiveness of his win-loss ratio in his debut against first-round-finish specialist Pat Schilling, submitting him in less than two minutes. Replacing an injured Robert Peralta against the well-regarded Semerzier, he will fight for the second time this year and could make a great leap up the featherweight rankings with a win on Friday. Mackens Semerzier (6-3, 1 NC), best-known for his unbelievable triangle submission of grappling monster Wagnney Fabiano, was in the midst of a fantastic scrap with power-puncher Robert Peralta when everything suddenly went wrong. In the third round, the two clashed heads during a particularly violent exchange, sending "Mack da Menace" tumbling to the canvas, where he was put away with punches. While the fight was eventually deemed a "No Contest," Sermizer certainly desired revenge, but an injury to Peralta short-circuited that plan, and if he wants a second crack at Peralta, he’ll have to take out a bona fide finishing machine in Pineda. If I had to make an early call for fight of the night, this would be it -- these guys just plain don’t go to the judges. Both of them are excellent strikers with very solid submission games. Honestly, this fight strikes me as a pick 'em because both of their skill sets match up extremely well. And when that happens, you pick the more durable one, grapplingwise. Yes, his most recent submission loss was two years ago, but Pineda has still been tapped six times and Sermizer has the tools to make it seven, and I expect him to have a slight advantage on the feet. It’ll be crazy while it lasts, which probably won’t be long, but Mack da Menace will get ahold of Pineda’s neck and won’t let go until he gets his second UFC victory. Prediction: Semerzier via first-round submission 265 lbs.: Oli Thompson vs. Shawn Jordan A successful competitor in StrongMan competitions, including a gold medal victory in 2006’s Britain’s Strongest Man, Oil Thompson (9-2) made the transition to MMA back in 2009 and, unlike fellow musclehead Mariusz Pudzianowski, took to it pretty damn well. Currently, he is in the midst of a five-fight win streak, one that made him the UCMMA heavyweight champion. He has finished his last four opponents, and after getting his UFC 138 bout with Philip De Fries axed because of injury, will finally get a crack at the big time against well-traveled Greg Jackson-trained fighter Shawn Jordan. Shawn Jordan (12-3), who has fought for Strikeforce and Bellator in the past, scored literally the biggest win of his career last September, defeating Lavar Johnson by second-round submission in a highly-entertaining affair. A former fullback on the LSU collegiate football squad, Jordan’s paunchy exterior belies impressive athleticism that lets him throw Superman punches and execute impressive takedowns. Jordan, who has 11 finishes, including eight knockouts, could become someone to watch at 265 pounds if he manages an impressive defeat of Thompson. Props to Thompson for developing a legitimate MMA game and not just relying on being strong to fight hand-picked competition, but he really doesn’t have much to offer Jordan. Thompson has a decent grappling game, but doesn’t seem to have a striking game to speak of, and while his build is pretty much the polar opposite of Jordan’s, the latter should have a noticeable speed advantage. Further, Jordan has a more technical wrestling game to match his striking advantage, meaning Thompson is most likely going to have to play whatever game Jordan wants. Oli is an intriguing fighter based on his background, but there just isn’t much he does that Jordan doesn’t do better, and the latter’s far tougher strength of schedule, combined with his experience on the big stage, leaves Thompson’s chances quite slim. It should be a decent scrap, but Jordan’s going to find Thompson’s chin either from top position or on the feet. Prediction: Jordan via first round technical knockout Stop by tomorrow for part two, featuring a pair of intriguing Light Heavyweight match ups (James Te Huna vs. Aaron Rosa and Anthony Perosh vs. Nick Penner), as well as some fraternal revenge (Cole Miller vs. Steven Siler). See you then! Remember, too, that MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of UFC on FX 2, beginning with the "Prelims" bouts on Facebook scheduled for around 5:30 p.m. ET. In addition, we will also provide LIVE, real-time results of the main card action as it happens throughout the evening this upcoming Friday night.

Posted in: ufc, submission, vs, jordan, craig

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"Showtime Kick" auteur and WEC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis meets Joe Lauzon in a lightweight clash at UFC 144: Edgar vs. Henderson from Tokyo's famed Saitama Super Arena on Saturday night. The career-boosting capabilities of one highlight-reel, cage-walking kick was evinced by Anthony Pettis (14-2) when he dethroned UFC 144 main-eventer Ben Henderson in the WEC promotion's farewell event. Pettis swallowed the blue pill and spat in the face of Sir Isaac Newton's equation by levitating off the fence wall and flattening Bendo with an unforgettably creative flying roundhouse kick. Pettis earned the 155-pound strap just as the promotion's doors closed. Ending on a four-fight roll, Pettis forged five wins in six turns in the WEC and finished all victories excluding Henderson (Mike Campbell, Alex Karalexis and Shane Roller by submission, Danny Castillo by head-kick TKO). His lone blemish was a competitive split decision against another UFC 144 cast member in Bart Palaszewski. Initially slated to challenge for the UFC lightweight belt after crossing over from the WEC, the draw resulting from the second Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard affair delayed his title aspirations. Admirably opting to challenge a top contender rather than stay idle awaiting his title shot, Pettis tangled with Clay Guida but had no recourse for his voluminous mop and boundlessly tenacious wrestling. The loss was the second of Pettis' career and inevitably deflated the lofty aura he soared in on. More UFC 144 Dissections Okami vs. Boetsch | Hioki vs. Palaszewski | Gomi vs. Mitsuoka | Yamamoto vs. Lee Fukuda vs. Cantwell | Mizugaki vs. Cariaso | Zhang vs. Tamura Bostonian Joe Lauzon (21-6) reinforced his propensity to pull off shocking upsets in his last foray by blasting an overconfident Melvin Guillard with a meathook in the first round. The stiff blow staggered Guillard just long enough for Lauzon to attach himself and encircle the throat for a dramatic rear-naked choke victory in the first. Lauzon flaunted his party-pooper costume in his UFC debut as well. He burst onto the big stage by unleashing an ungodly barrage of leather that separated former champion Jens Pulver from consciousness in less than a minute at UFC 63. He then signed up for TUF 5 and advanced to the semis with wins over Brian Geraghty and Cole Miller, but was scratched from the brackets by brawling Judoka Manny Gamburyan. "J-Lau" capitalized on two less than illustrious opponents by snaring submissions on Brandon Melendez and Jason Reinhardt before dipping into the upper-echelon of the division with mixed results. Lauzon split his next six with losses to Kenny Florian (TKO), Sam Stout (decision) and George Sotiropoulos (submission) and defeats over Kyle Bradley (TKO), Jeremy Stephens and Gabe Ruediger (submissions). He's pieced together two more sub-wins in a row with an elaborate "Trimura" catch on Curt Warburton and the aforementioned Guillard choke. Gifs and analysis in the full entry. SBN coverage of UFC 144: Edgar vs. Henderson Both Pettis and Lauzon are among the more innovative lightweights in the UFC, they just use different canvases for their artwork -- Pettis on the feet, as depicted to the right, while Lauzon is a mat-moster with submission complexity. Pettis' dynamic striking is rooted in Taekwondo where he's billed as a third-degree black belt, and the tutelage of kickboxing swami Duke Roufus has fortified his stand up into a dangerously unorthodox arsenal. Pettis has fast and precise boxing and uncorks high kicks seamlessly with no set up or forewarning. TKD is not the only traditional martial art that sparkles in his striking acumen, as Pettis has consistently executed a surprisingly wide array of Capoeira kicks as well. His use of the Au Batido and Martelo techniques warranted a Kid Nate Judo Chop that's well worth revisiting. His guard is also smooth and diverse and it's not quite as formidable as his striking, but perfectly adequate as a secondary aspect. Wrestling is the only area Pettis doesn't excel in, yet he's shown excellent composure and technique in repelling takedowns and getting back to his feet. Lauzon has an applause-worthy approach against superior strikers, which is merely to squeeze the trigger with conviction and unload a ferocious volley of punches. Defensively, he protects his chin well and isn't overly concerned with being susceptible to takedowns as it only puts him in his preferred phase of combat. Like Pettis, Lauzon isn't a credentialed wrestler but his willpower, aggression and determination makes him a legit takedown threat. Complementing his attempts well with his hands, Lauzon will rifle for doubles from outside or swallow up space and lock horns in the clinch to work from there. Here Lauzon unveils his dual-pronged assault of blazing the cannons on the feet, once again scoring with his trusty left hook, and treacherous submission grappling. After crushing him with a hell-fire combination, Lauzon craftily snatches a kimura when Warburton is in the process of placing his back on the fence to regain his footing. If there was such a thing as wild and risky brawling with submissions, that'd be Lauzon's calling card. He pounces on every opportunity and maliciously wrenches holds with reckless abandon. Lauzon has a solid guard but he's especially fearsome from the top, where he power-passes to half-guard and side control while thwacking heavy punches and elbows and hunting for kimuras and chokes. Lauzon's assertive ground tactics are subtly unique and difficult to prepare for. Pettis has to assume the role of the polished technician and employ intelligent footwork to stay in open space while knifing tight counter-shots while Lauzon's in hot pursuit. He can still look to land the knockout or drench Lauzon with a stylish kick, but must do so sparingly and pick his spots very carefully. Pettis has never been finished by strikes and has a beefy chin and should have the grappling awareness to survive his fair share of sequences on the ground ... though he's in trouble if Lauzon can get on top and limit his options by stuffing Pettis against the cage. My Prediction: Anthony Pettis by late TKO. All gifs via Zombie Prophet of IronForgesIron.com Poll Anthony Pettis vs. Joe Lauzon Pettis Lauzon   21 votes | Results

Posted in: ufc, submission, vs, petti, lauzon

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Here we go again! We're back with another contest. And once again our fast friends at Hayabusa -- a leader in producing the world's finest MMA apparel, gloves and gear -- are giving away another main card fighter's signature apparel. In fact, this could be our sexiest contest yet. That's because the winner will get the Yoshihiro Akiyama walkout gi (not the actual one he wears on fight night, but the same kind nonetheless), which will be on display when "Sexyama" walks out for his UFC 144 fight against Jake Shields this weekend (Feb. 25, 2012) at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. To check out what you're playing for click here. MMAmania.com's UFC 144: "Edgar vs. Henderson" contest give-a-way, sponsored by Hayabusa, is currently underway and will remain in effect until Saturday night at 10 p.m. ET. So, what do you have to do to win? It's simple ... follow us after the jump for complete details: The fight between Yoshihiro Akiyama and Jake Shields at UFC 144 is, quite simply, a battle of grappling deities. Two dynamic welterweights with slick submissions and impeccable ground control. However, the dynamic grappling duo are not the only ones more than capable of pulling of the "Submission of the Night" in the "Land of the RisingSun." That's where you come in. STEP ONE: Become a FAN at the official Hayabusa Facebook fan page by clicking here OR follow it on Twitter (@Hayabusa_MMA) if you don't already. STEP TWO: Predict the UFC 144 "Submission of the Night," which UFC President Dana White will award at the conclusion of the pay-per-view (PPV) event, in the comments section below. For example, Akiyama defeats Shields via submission (rear naked choke) in round two at 1:39; or Edgar defeats Henderson via submission (guillotine choke) in round five at 4:59. There are 12 bouts on the UFC 144 fight card and anyone of them -- or all of them -- can end via tapout. You just need to predict the prettiest, most bonus-worthy one to win a Hayabusa gi. And remember, it's winner, round, submission method and time. One entry per reader ... so make it count! To enter, leave your picks in the comments section below. Get moving! Contest ends Feb. 25 at 10 p.m. ET sharp! Good luck! For the complete UFC 144 fight card click here. To check out the entire Hayabusa product line click here. To "Like" them on Facebook click here.

Posted in: ufc, fight, submission, contest, hayabusa

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The spotlight match up on the UFC 144: Edgar vs. Henderson preliminary broadcast on the FX channel pits lightweights Takanori Gomi vs. Eiji Mitsuoka. The undercard features four bouts in all and will air at 8:30 p.m. ET on FX to preface the main card pay-per-view. Takanori Gomi (32-8) is one of many UFC 144 cast members endeavoring to reconstruct his once-resplendent reputation. Since it's still not fully realized or greeted with sour-faced skepticism, let's reiterate a fact: Takanori Gomi was once the undisputed number-one lightweight on the planet. Yes, he was indeed submitted by B.J. Penn immediately after "The Prodigy" drew with Caol Uno and departed from the UFC, but there are two imperative facts to consider: Penn abandoned the lightweight division for four years while traipsing around overseas in higher weight classes and the UFC completely liquidated their 155-pound class from UFC 49 in 2004 until UFC 59 in 2006. These two events triggered a monumental transformation for the global lightweight division, the most prevalent being that all of the 155-pound talent migrated to Japan to compete in Pride FC. Before the doors of the division swung shut in the UFC, the major lightweight players were: Jens Pulver, who was crushed by Gomi and Hayato Sakurai in Pride, Yves Edwards, who lost a tight split decision to Joachim Hansen in Pride's lightweight Grand Prix, Josh Thomson, who submitted one opponent in Pride before signing with Strikeforce (where he lost to Clay Guida for the vacant lightweight title in his debut) and Hermes Franca, who faded out when he dropped three in a row after his UFC tour. While all of this was transpiring, Gomi was ascending to legendary status by beheading a throng of lightweights with his skull-splitting boxing power. Since the former UFC fighters had all lost in Pride and were effectively out of the picture, the frontrunners for the lightweight throne were Tatsuya Kawajiri and "Mach" Sakurai ... both of whom Gomi trounced in the first round, becoming the Pride champion and undisputed alpha-lightweight in the process. That's the good part -- the rest gets ugly. Gomi had starched thirteen of his fourteen opponents in Pride and avenged his only loss before facing Nick Diaz, who latched a stellar gogoplata to end a dramatic brawl. Things went entirely downhill for Gomi from that point on. Halfway through his next six, he would incur back-to-back losses and then find victory in only one of his four Octagon stints. Gifs and analysis in the full entry. SBN coverage of UFC 144: Edgar vs. Henderson Initially paired with Aussie George Sotiropoulos, venomous submissionist Eiji Mitsuoka (18-7) has filled the void. No stranger to the Japanese circuit, Mitsuoka's decade long journey has meandered through Pride FC, Dream, Shooto, DEEP, MARS, Greatest Common Multiple (GCM) aka "Cage Force", World Victory Road's Sengoku promotion and King of the Cage. His noteworthy wins include UFC-caliber lightweights Gleison Tibau, Gerald Strebendt (both by TKO stoppage), Samy Schiavo and Brian Cobb (both by submission) along with reputable worldwide talent in Joachim Hansen (split decision), Rodrigo Damm and Clay French (both via submission). Anyone who thinks Gomi is getting a gimme-win here is sorely mistaken. Mitsuoka is a fierce wrestler with elite submission grappling and big punching power. He's definitely a UFC-level lightweight and also has the perfect style to exploit Gomi's known weaknesses on the mat. To be clear on his Achilles Heel -- Gomi is quite a capable wrestler but has always struggled against avid submission fighters. In his heyday, Gomi fit the "wrestle-boxer" mold to a tee: his wrestling complemented his striking perfectly to either stay upright and chuck bombs or score takedowns and shower frightening ground-and-pound from the top. Gomi was a pitcher in baseball throughout his youth and those mechanics can be seen clearly in his scorching left hand. He possesses some of the most fearsome knockout power the sport has seen and hurls his overhand left just like a fastball. Gomi's cement-filled hands give him the potential to end the fight at any time. In the gif above against Tyson Griffin, he proves that he's still a beast in the pocket and a highly inadvisable fighter to trade with. Notice how Griffin's low kick connects solidly and wobbles the lead leg, but Gomi doesn't let it stop the momentum of the massive counter-punch he's wheeling in response. The sequence to the left shows Gomi's take on neutralizing takedowns. While this exemplifies why he was such a devastating and exciting lightweight, his mediocre technique with the more traditional methods of takedown defense is the root-cause of his troubles. Though he has decent power on the feet, Mitsuoka is not a huge threat standing. However, he's an absolute animal with position, passing and submissions on the mat, and also has the wrestling background to implement it. Mitsuoka wrestled in high school and during college in Japan and began his MMA career as basically a one-dimensional takedown artist. Logging years in the gym and in the ring has drastically cultivated his submission grappling prowess, and he now stands as a cunning powerhouse on the mat. The armbar to the right is applied on Sergey Golyaev, the Russian who upset Gomi in Sengoku. On the left, against Bruno Carvalho in his last outing, Mitsuoka nailed a double-leg and doesn't even bother to defend the guillotine choke, but rather just fast-forwards to pinning the right-side knee in order to pass. Mitsuoka is a slick guard-passer with a knack for writhing his way into full mount, where he doubles up his attacks with heavy punches and submission attempts with a boat-anchor base to maintain control. Of his eighteen career wins, eleven are by submission with three TKOs and four decisions. I was (and still am) a sappy Pride fanboy and an unabashed Takanori Gomi mark. I've picked him to win every fight and this won't be an exception. However, there's no question that Mitsuoka typifies a poisonous match up -- perhaps even more so than some of Gomi's past opponents because his wrestling is just as perilous as his submission acumen. The dynamics here are the same as every other Gomi fight: he'll look to avoid takedowns and light off the cannons on the feet. An equally discouraging trend in Gomi's UFC turns is that he's been rather hesitant to pull the trigger. Since his obvious advantage lies in the stand up, complacency absolutely drains the life from his chances. Because he's such a tremendous slugger, Gomi reservations can be attributed to the fear of being countered with a takedown when his feet are planted, and that concern will only be heightened against Mitsuoka. An upset by submission or decision is not out of the question by any means. My Prediction: Takanori Gomi by KO. Gomi vs. Griffin gif via ZombieProphet of IronForgesIron.com All others via MMA-Core.com Poll Takanori Gomi vs. Eiji Mitsuoka Gomi Mitsuoka   22 votes | Results

Posted in: ufc, submission, gomi, pride, mitsuoka

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An intriguing match-up of lightweight ground specialists appears to be taking shape for the UFC 146 card in Las Vegas on May 26th. According to ESPN UK, british submission wizard, Paul Sass, will take on Minnesota's own Jacob Volkmann: Verbal agreements are in place for a lightweight match between England's undefeated submission specialist Paul Sass and Jacob Volkmann at UFC 146 in Las Vegas. Both men are riding extensive winning streaks and although they can both be considered "ground specialists", their styles are quite different with Sass employing a relentless submission attack, and pulling guard repeatedly to ensnare opponents in his signature submissions: the triangle choke and the heel hook. Volkmann, on the other hand, is a methodical, grinding wrestler who dominates and smothers via position before attacking, usually with d'arce or rear naked chokes. Volkmann's style has been roundly criticized as boring, but his awkward post-fight interviews and public statements about President Obama have gotten him some attention, although not always the kind he wants, as he's now been suspended twice by the high school that employs him as a wrestling coach. Paul Sass (12-0)W Michael Johnson (submission - heel hook) - UFC on Versus 6W Mark Holst (submission - triangle choke) - UFC 120W Jason Young (submission - heel hook) - OMMAC 4 Jacob "Christmas" Volkmann (14-2)W Efrain Escudero (unam. decision) - UFC 141W Danny Castillo (unam. decision) - UFC on Versus 5W Antonio McKee (split decision) - UFC 125 UFC 146 coverage

Posted in: ufc, submission, las vegas, sas, volkmann

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This Saturday, the 25th of February, marks the UFC's return to Japan for the first time in over a decade. Before the promotion was purchased by Zuffa, the SEG-owned league ventured to The Land of the Rising Sun on four different occasions: Ultimate Japan in 1997 (which staged the premiere of all-time great Kazushi Sakuraba), Ultimate Japan 2 and 3 in 1999 and 2000 and UFC 29: Defense of the Belts, also in 2000. UFC 144: Edgar vs. Henderson will occupy the renowned Saitama Super Arena in Tokyo and treat the fans in attendance to the UFC's best and most popular Japanese fighters. The show is headlined by a lightweight championship bout pitting Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson and complemented by hometown favorite Quinton Jackson taking on Ryan Bader in the co-main. A monumental seven fights are pegged for the show's main card with four preliminary match ups slated to air on the FX channel and one on Facebook. The lone Facebook bout will showcase Chinese standout Tiequan Zhang (15-2) vs. Issei Tamura (6-2). Tamura is replacing Leonard Garcia, who was originally paired with Zhang but forced to withdraw with an injury. He's been a staple in Shooto and won the longstanding feeder promotion's 2008 "Rookie Tournament." Tamura started off with a flawless record after five outings but has since dropped two of his last three; his best wins are over Australian bantamweight Gustavo Falciroli (9-3) and scrappy Japanese journeyman Katsuya Toida. Tamura reps Kid Yamamoto's Krazy Bee fight team and all but one of his six victories have come via decision. Zhang came on to the stateside scene as an undefeated and highly touted Chinese prospect and lived up to the hype with a first-round submission of Pablo Garza at WEC 51, but suffered his first career defeat to Danny Downes by decision at WEC 53. "The Mongolian Wolf" has since split results in the UFC by tapping Jason Reinhardt with a guillotine at UFC 127 and losing a decision to tenacious wrestler Darren Elkins at UFC 136. Zhang has finished each of his fifteen wins with twelve submissions and three TKOs. Gifs and analysis in the full entry. SBN coverage of UFC 144: Edgar vs. Henderson Now that we've seen more of Zhang against top-shelf competition, his overall skill-set is fairly commonplace except that he fearlessly hunts for submission attempts. That tendency has panned out with a pile of catch-wins, yet was also his downfall in his last foray against Elkins. Zhang pursued the guillotine choke from the front headlock position when Elkins shot in for takedowns, which consistently led to him being put on his back . Zhang's inability to recognize the fruitless attempts and blissful persistence with them unfolded as a glaring mental error. He snatched one guillotine per round and, although the first and third attempts were definitely threatening, they were ultimately stifled by Elkins, who went on to reverse position and take all three rounds on the score cards. The exact level of Elkins' submission defense isn't quite clear: he was armbarred by Charles Oliveira but displayed excellent technique against Zhang and Michihiro Omigawa. Striking-wise, Zhang is a very basic boxer who throws simple one-twos, generally as a means to close distance and clinch up. Zhang has progressed his grappling from blue to brown belt level since hooking up with Carlson Gracie student Ruy Menezes just before his North American tour began. Issei Tamura first took up Jiu Jitsu at age nineteen. Now twenty-seven, Tamura is still in his fourth year as a professional fighter but will be seriously under-sized for a featherweight (5'5") and generally devoid of experience against relevant competition. On the Shooto circuit, Tamura, a decent wrestler, typically applied his Jiu Jitsu knowledge defensively, assuming the top position after a takedown and thwarting his opponent's activity with ground-and-pound and guard-passing attempts. UFC newcomers always have their hands full and Tamura is even more encumbered in that he's lost two of his last three. This should be a nice showcase fight for Zhang, who I expect to take a convincing decision or win by submission. My Prediction: Tiequan Zhang by submission. Gifs via Zombie Prophet of IronForgesIron.com Poll Tiequan Zhang vs. Issei Tamura Zhang Tamura   11 votes | Results

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  Cage Warriors 45 resultsNorth London, EnglandBobby Brents def. Rogent Lloret via submission arm triangle choke 4:41 R1James Reese def. Brad Wheeler via unanimous decision*Chris Fields def. Jack Mason via TKO (kick and punches) 0:50 R1*Conor McGregor def. Steve O'Keeffe via knockout (elbows) 1:33 R1Dave Keeley def. Eddy Bengtsson via TKO (elbows) 4:40 R1Brett Sizeland def. Brett Bassett via TKO (cut) 1:47 R2Jacek Toczydlowski def. Shah Hussain via unanimous decisionCharlie Watts def. Chad Brown via submission punches 2:12 R2Ben Hajir def. Michael Jones via submission armbar 3:06 R3*Prospects to watch  

Posted in: submission, brad wheeler, decisionchris fields, steve okeeffe, tko kick

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The rumored rematch between submission savant Shinya Aoki and former Bellator champion Eddie Alvarez appears to finally have a destination and date after months of speculation on when or whether it would take place at all. The two lightweights originally met on New Year’s Eve in 2008 where the “Tobikan Judan” tapped Alvarez out with a Heel Hook in the opening minutes of their bout. Alvarez Anxious to Fight Aoki Again According to MMAJunkie, both Aoki and Alvarez have verbally agreed to fight on April 20 at Bellator 66. No specific location was revealed. Alvarez won seven straight after stumbling against the 30-5 Aoki but lost in his latest outing, a submission loss to rising star Michael Chandler this past November. Already holding victories over the likes of Pat Curran, Josh Neer, and Roger Huerta, the 22-3 Philly fighter is believed to be at the end of his Bellator contract and could be fighting in his longtime home for the last time, adding yet another layer of importance coming out with his hand raised against Aoki. Though Alvarez came up short in his last scrap, Aoki has found success in seven consecutive bouts including five by way of submission bringing his total career tap-outs to eighteen. Aoki last visited North American in April 2011 where he took out Lyle Beerbohm in 93 seconds at a Strikeforce event. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE Tweet

Posted in: bellator, submission, alvarez, shinya aoki, aoki

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Any chance of former Ultimate Fighter winner Kendall Grove earning another crack at success inside the Octagon took a major hit last night after the lanky Hawaiian was handled with relative ease by Jay Silva, an 8-5 competitor who has now won three of his last four fights. The loss came at Superior Cage Combat 4 where a few other UFC veterans took to the ring as well including Justin Buchholz and Jamie Yager. Silva finished Grove off in the second round after hurting him with strikes, then taking advantage of his damaged state by locking in a fight-finishing Arm-Triangle Choke. Grove did not tap and was put to sleep, resulting the first submission loss of his career and the first submission win of Silva’s. The 29-year old Grove had found success in back-to-back scraps entering his fight against underdog Silva, picking up wins over Joe Riggs and Ikuhisa Minowa since receiving a pink-slip from the UFC. “Da Spyder” now holds an overall record of 14-10 including an 8-7 mark since winning TUF 3. Meanwhile, Team Alpha Male fighter Buchholz had a three-fight winning streak snapped by John Gunderson, another name dedicated fans may remember from his handful of UFC appearances. Also notable, controversial Ultimate Fighter alumnus Yager quietly picked up his fourth straight victory by outpointing Danny Davis Jr. Yager is now 6-2 in his career and could be poised for a return to the UFC with another win or two. Here is a full list of SCC 4 results: Jimmy Jones def. Joao Victor via Submission Round 3 (Rear-Naked Choke) Walter Harris def. Anthony Hamilton via Knockout Round 1 (Strikes) Brandon Bender def. Marlin Weikel via Submission Round 3 (Triangle Choke) Paulo Silva def. Dominique Robinson via Unanimous Decision Jamie Yager def. Danny Davis Jr. via Unanimous Decision John Gunderson def. Justin Buchholz via Submission Round 3 (Kimura) Jay Silva def. Kendall Grove via Technique Submission Round 2 (Arm-Triangle Choke) PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, round, submission, silva, grove

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 Budding Las Vegas promotion Superior Cage Combat returned to the Orleans Arena for their first event of 2012. SCC 4 continued a matchmaking trend with a bevy of high quality prospects booked on the Nevada promotion's undercard. The main event was an upset as veteran Jay Silva (9-5) choked out Ultimate Fighter 3 winner Kendall Grove (14-10).Two regional heavyweights prospect with big league potential made for a quick fight as Alabama's Walter Harris (7-2) knocked out Washington's Anthony Hamilton (6-1) in round one. Now training out of Jackson's MMA in New Mexico, Hamilton scored with a quick takedown but was unable to keep Harris on his back. Harris planted a hard right hand on the chin of Hamilton and finished the fight with the ensuing punch combination. Harris was awarded the knockout win versus Hamilton at the 1:15 point of round one. A former college basketball player Harris is an athletic big man with ever improving hands. The 28 year old Harris should get long looks from the UFC and Bellator with both promotions always in search of depth for their heavyweight divisions. Harris checks in at number 13 in the latest ULTMMA.com heavyweight prospect rankings. A pair of 25 and under featherweight prospects battled for nearly three rounds as California's Brandon Bender (9-0) pulled off a late submission to halt a fast charging Marlin Weikel (9-3).In a frantic opening 10 minutes both fighters traded chain submission attempts in rounds one and two. With the scorecards up in the air heading into round three, Bender dropped Oregon's Weikel to the floor and moved into side control. Weikel would reserve position and end up taking Bender's back in a scramble before the fight settled into Californians' guard. Bender with a triangle choke off his back finally threw up a submission that Weikel was unable to break free from. Weikel tapped out at the 2:30 mark of round three. The loss snapped an impressive three fight run from Weikel. Only 23 years old, all three of Weikel's career losses have come via submission. Despite the loss Weikel is a very good 145 pound prospect who's all action style, one decision in twelve fights, could land him a spot in the UFC if he is able to string together another sustained win streak. A part of the famed Southern California team Millennia MMA, Bender remains on track for a deal with Bellator of the UFC. After a decision win in his MMA debut Bender has reeled off nine straight submission wins. The 25 year old Bender already has one win on a Bellator undercard and could get a call-up from the promotion depending on the how their spring 2012 145 pound bracket shakes out. Bender, a four star prospect, is the number 12 ranked featherweight in the latest ULTMMA.com top 20 prospect listing. Superior Cage Combat 4 Grove vs. Silva resultsLas Vegas, NVJay Silva def. Kendall Grove by Submission Arm Triangle 1:52 R2John Gunderson def. Justin Buchholz by Submission Kimura 2:34 R3Jamie Yager def. Danny Davis Jr. by Decision (Unanimous)*Paulo Goncalves Silva def. Dominique Robinson by Decision (Unanimous)*Brandon Bender def. *Marlin Weikel by Submission Triangle Choke 2:30 R3*Walter Harris def. *Anthony Hamilton by KO (Punches) 1:15 R1*Jimmy Jones def. Joao Victor by Submission Rear Naked Choke 3:49 R3* Prospects to watch

Posted in: submission, prospect, harri, weikel, bender

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XFC 16 resultsKnoxville, TNJamie Varner def. Drew Fickett by Submission Punches 0:40 R1Josh Samman def. Mikey Gomez by Submission Punches 3:37 R1Marianna Kheyfets def. Heather Clark by TKO (Doctor Stoppage) 5:00 R1Chris Wright def. Len Cook by Unanimous DecisionChase Gormley def. Brandon Sayles by Unanimous Decision Amaechi Oselukwue def. Gerardo Julio Gallegos by KO (Punch) 1:23 R1Dustin West def. Stoney Hale by TKO (Punches) 1:23 R1Scott Holtzman def. Brandon Demastes by Submission Rear Naked Choke 1:44 R2Chris Coggins def. Jay Meneghello by Submission Armbar 2:48 R1Daniel Crockett def. Shane Matchette by Unanimous Decision

Posted in: submission, punch, shane matchette, jay meneghello, heather clark

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Later tonight the UFC makes its “official” debut on Fuel TV with its first network-broadcast Fight Night event, UFC on Fuel: Sanchez vs Ellenberger. Yesterday I broke down the exciting four-fight preliminary card, and today I’ll be breaking down the main card. Featuring an intriguing welterweight bout between Jake Ellenberger and Diego Sanchez, as well as a heavyweight throwdown between Stefan Struve and Dave Herman, this card promises to leave fans salivating for more violence based on the relative bloodbath they may potentially witness this evening. Here are my picks and my breakdown of the six main card bouts… Ivan Menjivar (23-8) vs John Albert (7-1) The “Pride of El Salvador” looks to build on his successful UFC campaign with his third fight in less than a year. After making the move from the WEC, Menjivar walked through Charlie Valencia and went the distance with Nick Pace in 2011. A twelve-year veteran of the sport, Menjivar is in his prime, and with eight submissions and nine KO/TKOs to his credit he is more than capable of finishing a fight. Coming off a strong performance against Dustin Pague in his UFC debut in December, Albert returns to the cage looking for his eighth victory. Having never gone the distance in any of his professional or amateur fights, Albert is no stranger to finishing foes off. He has sufficient striking and can hold his own on the ground if need be. A majority of Menjivar’s losses come by decision, but I just don’t see him being outpointed, knocked out, or submitted in this fight. The crafty veteran will likely pierce “Prince” Albert’s defense (get it? har har) with his striking, use his superior grappling to get this to the ground, and get his pick up submission victory #9. Winner – Ivan Menjivar defeats John Albert via Submission Round 1 T.J. Dillashaw (4-1) vs Walel Watson (9-3) Dillashaw may have not faired too well in his UFC debut against John Dodson but he shouldn’t be dismissed. Fast and technically adept on the ground, Dillashaw is a good wrestler with a dominant top game. His ground and pound can cause problems for many, plus his stamina and constant pressure are a major asset in the bantamweight division. Watson, who has put together a 1-1 record in his UFC campaign, is an excellent grappler in his own right. The lanky submission specialist combines his strong BJJ game with his oft-flashy striking acumen. Watson’s long limbs usually give him a reach advantage, as well as give his opponents much to be concerned with when the fight hits the ground. While Watson is more than capable of submitting Dillashaw, I suspect T.J to take this fight to the ground as quickly and as often as possible. The Team Alpha Male fighter should be able to defend the wily submission attempts of Watson and impose his will, using top control in conjunction with ground and pound. While Watson is always dangerous, I expect Dillashaw to make this a long night for him. Winner – T.J. Dillashaw defeats Walel Watson via Unanimous Decision Stipe Miocic (7-0) vs Philip De Fries (8-0 1 NC) An exciting heavyweight prospect, Miocic is looking to remain undefeated in his career and go 2-0 in the UFC. With his most recent appearance, a one-sided beating of Joey Beltran, he proved that he can dictate the pace of a fight as it goes the distance. Prior to that fight, the NAAFS heavyweight champ had scored five knockouts and one submission. Also undefeated in his career, the Englishman De Fries went the distance in his UFC debut as well, a Unanimous Decision over Rob Broughton. The submission specialist has earned all of his other victories using his bread and butter – fantastic grappling. An exciting prospect in his own right, De Fries lacks the striking ability required to hang with the top of the division but has the BJJ chops to make anyone reluctant to hit the ground with him. In what can best be described as a striker vs grappler match, with each having a distinct advantage over the other in their perspective areas of expertise, the difference may come down to the wrestling. While De Fries will be looking to take this fight to the ground, Miocic’s wrestling experience should allow him to keep it standing, where he will be able to punish the Englishman. Winner – Stipe Miocic defeats Philip De Fries via TKO Round 1 Aaron Simpson (11-2) vs Ronny Markes (12-1) At 37 years old Simpson still fights like a young man. Continually evolving as his career progresses, the wrestler-by-trade has proven himself to be a dangerous striker as well, a fact he exhibited in his last fight against Eric Schafer. Going the distance in five of his last six fights, Simpson is no stranger to going into deep waters,and more often than not the decisions go his way. The Brazilian Markes makes his middleweight debut on the strength of a five fight winning streak, which includes decision victories over Karlos Vemola and Paulo Filho. Always dangerous, Markes is more than capable of finishing a foe with strikes, submissions, or even going the distance if need be. Although Simpson may have to weather an early storm from Markes, the weight cut may prove to be detrimental for the Brazilian. As the fight goes on, Simpson’s stamina, wrestling prowess, and clinch game should help him in getting the nod and moving up the middleweight ladder. Winner – Aaron Simpson defeats Ronny Markes via Unanimous Decision Stefan Struve (22-5) vs Dave Herman (21-2) Struve, the 6’11″ European fighter, has had quite the run in his nine UFC fights. His success in the Octagon has ebbed and flowed since his debut at UFC 95 where he suffered a TKO loss to Junior Dos Santos. Since that fight he has managed to put together six wins and two losses. While Struve has shown his toughness and heart in his victories, his defeats have been violent and disappointing. Herman, who now calls Team Quest home, made his UFC debut with a victory over the always tough Jon Olav Einemo in what would be a Fight of the Night winner. After a bout with Mike Russow scheduled for last year was scratched, Herman finally makes his way back to the Octagon for the first time since June 2011. Formerly known as “Pee Wee”, the now Sasquatch-esque Herman comes into this fight with 15 of his 21 victories coming by KO/TKO and undoubtedly will look to make it 16. Struve has a reach advantage and continues to look more technically sound every time he steps into the cage. The only problem with Struve appears to be his suspect chin, and he seems to get hit more often then a man of his stature should. Herman, on the other hand, is known for having an excellent chin, great submission defense, and ape-like power. While many seem to have this fight as a pick ‘em, I see a clear advantage for Herman. If Herman can continue his “jiu-jitsu doesn’t work” campaign and avoid a submission, he should be able to drag Struve into a brawl and make quick work of the Dutch striker. Winner – Dave Herman defeats Stefan Struve via Knockout Round 1 Diego Sanchez (23-4) vs Jake Ellenberger (26-5) Finding religion, dropping drugs and alcohol, and changing your nickname. If you’ve done all of these recently, you may be Sanchez. “The Dream” comes into this bout after a controversial decision victory over Martin Kampmann nearly a year ago, a fight many believe he should have lost. The former lightweight title challenger is hoping for a big win to remain relevant in the crowded welterweight division. While Diego is fighting to be in the mix, Ellenberger may be fighting for something more. With Georges St. Pierre out until November or December, and Nick Diaz facing a possible suspension for his positive marijuana test, “The Juggernaut” may find himself on the cusp of a title shot. With a five fight winning streak behind him, his last loss coming to current interim welterweight champ Carlos Condit, Ellenberger is aiming for a rematch against the “Natural Born Killer” with a win on Wednesday night. With seventeen knockouts to his credit, it’s no question that Jake has the power to stop just about anyone, as he showed against Jake Shields back in September. On the other hand, Diego has never been knocked out, his one TKO loss coming via doctor stoppage. I expect this fight to stay mostly on the feet, with Sanchez likely trying to engage in his usual brawling style, which is almost certainly a bad idea. Diego has the stamina and ability to push the pace, which may show as Ellenberger slows late in the fight. If Diego can survive an early onslaught, he should be able to take this fight the full three rounds, however, I expect Ellenberger to clearly win the first two rounds, and possibly the third, en route to a unanimous decision victory. Winner – Jake Ellenberger defeats Diego Sanchez via Unanimous Decision Wednesday’s fight card looks to be an explosive one that will show the full gamut of what MMA offers and should be a treat to diehard and casual fans alike. The preliminary card gets underway at about 6:15 PM EST on the UFC’s Facebook page with main card match-ups starting at 8:00 PM  EST on Fuel TV in the United States and Rogers Sportsnet in Canada. Enjoy the fights! PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, fight, submission, herman, victory

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Canadian welterweight Ryan Ford's (17-4) journey to Bellator took another curve at Aggression MMA 9 in Edmonton. The 29 year old Ford has been considered one of the best 170 pound free agents in MMA since early 2009. In 2011 Ford reportedly signed a deal with Bellator but lost his next fight to David Hulett (18-10). Ford headlined Aggression MMA 9 versus late replacement Ricky Goodall (9-5). The fight begins at the 4:35 mark of the video. Aggression MMA 9Edmonton, Alberta, CanadaRyan Ford def. Ricky Goodall by TKO (Elbows) 3:37 R1Victor Valimaki def. Tim Chemelli by TKO (Punches) 1:21 R2Stephen Beaumont def. Nick Heynen by Submission Rear Naked Choke 2:57 R1Sheldon Westcott def. Jay Jensen by Submission Guillotine Choke 0:26 R1Matt Bagshaw def. Greg Welsh by Submission Heel Hook 0:38 R1Jared McComb def. Chase Degenhardt by TKO (Doctor Stoppage) 0:45 R3Luke Harris def. Elliot Duff by Submission Rear-Naked Choke 0:52 R1Paulo Azambuja def. Adrian Cardinal by Submission Rear-Naked Choke 0:17 R1K.B. Bhullar def. Simon Shirt by TKO (Punches) 4:28 R1

Posted in: mma, submission, ford, submission rearnaked, ricky goodall

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 Photo courtesy of Keith Gunther  Two of the east coasts' best prospects utilized a rare submission hold to capture victories in separate bouts at Ring of Combat 39. New Jersey's ROC returned to the Tropicana Resort and Casino in Atlantic City for a 12 fight event. Light heavyweight prospect Tom Deblass (7-0) made a trek up to heavyweight for a fight with veteran Randy Smith (14-10-1) and a shot at another ROC title belt. After a short feeling out process the match hit the floor and Deblass latched on a fight finishing hold. Deblass locked a heel hook submission onto Smith's left leg and the New York big man tapped out at just the 41 second mark of round one. The win for Deblass harkened back to an April 2011 win via Achilles lock over Sean Salmon (18-18).At 29 years old the unbeaten Deblass remains on track for a possible UFC or Bellator contract before the end of 2012.A strong wrestler with heavy hands Deblass's ground game and defenses have improved on the New Jersey MMA scene over the past 12 months. In the latest ULTMMA.com prospects rankings Deblass checks in at number seven in the light heavyweight division. New Yorker Uriah Hall (6-2) reached deep into his bag of submissions to pull off a win over Daniel Akinyemi (2-1). A former fighter in the defunct WCL kickboxing league, Hall traded power strikes with Akinyemi in the opening moments of their middleweight contest. Hall seized the submission opportunity in a scramble back to the feet and caught Akinyemi in a heel hook that forced a quick tap out. The second submission win of Hall's eight fight career came at the 3:58 point of round one. Hall has won two straight since dropping back to back fights versus current UFC fighters Chris Weidman (8-0) and Constantinos Philippou (9-2). The 27 year old Hall's flashy and crowd pleasing striking style should eventually land him a call-up to the UFC or Bellator. According to the 2012 ULTMMA.com prospect rankings Hall is the number ten unsigned 185 pound prospect in MMA today. Ring of Combat 39 resultsAtlantic City, NJTom Deblass def. Randy Smith by Submission Heel Hook 0:41 R1Jeff Lentz def. Giovanni Moljo by Unanimous DecisionPete Sell def. Mitch Whitesel by Unanimous DecisionUriah Hall def. Daniel Akinyemi by Submission Heel Hook 3:58 R1Duane van Helvoirt def. Lester Caslow by Submission Triangle Choke 1:49 R1Ed Gordon def. David Tkeshelashvili by Majority Decision Jarred Mercado def. Rafael Fagundes Machado by Unanimous DecisionMunah Holland def. Pearl Gonzalez by Majority DecisionJames Jenkins def. Dwayne Shelton by TKO (Punches) 1:51 R3Frankie Perez def. Jeremy Uy by Unanimous DecisionAndre Harrison def. Carlos Fonseca by Unanimous Decision Whitney Jean-Francois def. Pat Defranco by TKO (Punches) 2:31 R1

Posted in: submission, prospect, hall, heel, deblas

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UFC president Dana White revealed on Twitter this morning that a very interesting middleweight bout has been added to the May 5th UFC on Fox 3 card in New Jersey, as Brazilian leg-mangler Rousimar Palhares will meet Louisiana's own Alan Belcher: Alan Belcher vs Rousimar Palhares fight added to FOX card!!!!!! Many fans had called for this match-up given the recent successes of both men and their positioning in the upper echelon of the UFC's 185 lb. ranks. Belcher returned in September after over a year spent battling a potentially career-ending eye injury, and he quickly dispatched of the always-game Jason MacDonald. Although he's shown a solid ground game in addition to his dynamic muay thai, Belcher will want to avoid the ground at all costs against Palhares, who is one of the most feared submission artists in modern MMA, given his brute strength and penchant for crushing leg locks, along with his ability to snatch them from seemingly any position. Alan "The Talent" Belcher (17-6)W Jason Macdonald (submission - punches) - UFN 25W Patrick Cote (submission - RNC) - UFC 113W Wilson Gouveia (TKO) - UFC 107 Rousimar "Toquinho" Palhares (14-3)W Mike Massenzio (submission - heel hook) - UFC 142W Dan Miller (unam. decision) - UFC 134W Dave Branch (submission - heel hook) - UFC on Versus 3 Here's how the UFC on Fox 3 card is shaping up: -Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller (5-round main event)-Josh Koscheck vs. Johny Hendricks-Alan Belcher vs. Rousimar Palhares-Pat Barry vs. Lavar Johnson-John Dodson vs. Darren Uyenoyama-Anthony Ferguson vs. Dennis Hallman-John Hathaway vs. Pascal Krauss-Danny Castillo vs. John Cholish-Louis Gaudinot vs. John Lineker-Mike Massenzio vs. Karlos Vemola UFC on Fox 3 coverage

Posted in: ufc, belcher, fox, submission, vs

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Cage Warriors Fight Night 3 resultsBeirut, LebanonJuha-Pekka Vainikainen def. Kyle Watson by TKO (Doctor Stoppage) 4:26 R2Mats Nilsson def. Tom Speer by Submission Arm Triangle Choke 4:17 R2Matteus Lahdesmaki def. Graham Turner by Submission Rear Naked Choke 2:19 R1Faycal Hucin def. Gareth Joseph by TKO (Punches) 1:14 R1Victor Cheng def. Matt Gabel by Submission Rear Naked Choke 1:49 R2Domingos Mestre def. John Donnelly by Unanimous DecisionBen Alloway def. Mauro Chimento Jr. by Unanimous Decision

Posted in: submission, matt gabel, john donnelly, gareth joseph, tom speer

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When the last name “Gracie” is mentioned in conjunction with a win it’s expected to have involved some form of submission given the clan’s storied history of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. However, at ONE FC 2: Battle of Heroes, Rolles Gracie tapped out Bob Sapp less than 90 seconds into their fight without the aid of his family’s craft. Gracie stopped Sapp with strikes in their match-up at the event to pick up his third straight win since falling to Joey Beltran at UFC 109. The performance improved his record to 6-1 with the entire lot coming by way of submission. Comparably the loss was Sapp’s fourth in a row and seventh in his last eight outings. Read below for a full list of ONE FC 2 results: Zuli Silawanto def. Agus Nanang via TKO Round 1 (Strikes) Pete Davis def. Ngabdi Mulyadi via Submission Round 3 (Triangle Choke) Irshaad Sayed def. Jessie Rafols via Knockout Round 1 (Strikes) Geje Eustaquio def. Alex Silva via Unanimous Decision Victorio Senduk def. Raymond Tiew via TKO Round 1 (Injury) Rolles Gracie def. Bob Sapp via Submission Round 1 (Strikes) Gustavo Falciroli def. Soo Chul Kim via Submission Round 1 (Rear-Naked Choke) Rustam Khabilov def. Rodrigo Ribeiro via Unanimous Decision Bae Young Kwon def. Honorio Banario via Submission Round 1 Felipe Enomoto def. Ole Laursen via Submission Round 2 (Rear-Naked Choke)

Posted in: round, submission, gracie, bob sapp, sapp

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Feb. 11, 2012 -- Indonesia -- ONE Fighting Championship's first show in Jakarta introduced Indonesian fans to mixed martial arts (MMA) in unforgettable style with submission and knockouts throughout the course of the 10-fight card. The main event was an all out war between Ole Laursen and Felipe Enomoto. Both fighters came out swinging in the opening round and exchanged wild shots with the Filipino getting the better of the exchanges, but taking some solid hits in the process. After having not fought for over a year Laursen appeared to enjoy being back in the cage as he repeatedly dropped his hands and grinned at Enomoto. Laursen looked to be ahead in the second round as he repeatedly tagged his opponent with left hooks and hard low kicks. Just as it appeared that Laursen was firmly in control of the fight, Enomoto dropped him with a solid head kick and followed him to the ground, taking his back and sinking in a rear naked choke. The crowd at the BritAma arena sounded their appreciation for both fighters at the end of the frantic battle. Despite being hit multiple times, Enonomoto exhibited an iron chin and admitted afterwards that he had been rocked several times during the fight. "Ole's a real warrior, a real fighter and the only way to fight a guy like this is to be a warrior yourself. Two times I was really hurt but I knew I just had to believe in myself and keep on going. My brother kept telling me to go for the high kick and that's what I did and luckily it worked." Earlier in the night Bae Young Kwon showed why he is rated as one of the top featherweight fighters in Korea when the Road FC veteran sunk in an inescapable rear naked choke submitted unbeaten URCC Champion Honorio Banario early in the opening round of their fight. It was a better night for Banario's Team Lakay training partner Geje Eustaquio, who took on Alex Silva in what turned out to be one of the most entertaining fights of the night. The Brazilian is a BJJ world champion and secured an early takedown but found himself on the receiving end of some vicious ground and pound which opened up a deep cut above his eye. After lengthy treatment, Silva was allowed to continue and almost finished the fight with a rear naked choke at the end of the first round, but Eustaquio showcased some outstanding submission defence. It was a close contest going into the third round when Eustaquio began to dominate the stand up exchanges to ultimately win a unanimous decision victory. Four local fighters were in action on the undercard with Victorio Senduk defeating Malaysian Raymond Tiew by TKO. The Indonesian appeared to be in trouble early on as he was mounted and repeatedly punched, but he was able to recover and secure a deep leg lock. Tiew showed great heart to fight his way out but sustained a serious knee injury and was unable to continue. A highly entertaining all Indonesian affair kicked off the evening, which ended with Zuli Silawanto knocking out Agus Nanang. ONE FC CEO/Owner Victor Cui was delighted to see so many Indonesian fans in the BritAma Arena, particularly given that MMA has been largely absent from Indonesia since 2007. "Tonight fight fans in Jakarta got a glimpse of exactly why MMA is the fastest growing sport on the planet. The fights were fantastic and had a little bit of everything, submissions, knockouts and some real battles. At ONE Fighting Championship we want to put on exciting, action packed fights and I feel that's exactly what we did tonight." Complete ONE FC: "Battle of Heroes" results: Felipe Enomoto vs Ole Laursen -- Enomoto wins via submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 3:49 of round two Bae Young Kwon vs Honorio Banario -- Kwon wins via submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 0:56 of round one Rustam Khabilov vs Rodrigo Ribeiro -- Khabilov wins via decision (Unanimous) Gustavo Falciroli vs Soo Chul Kim -- Falciroli wins via submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 1:12 of round one Rolles Gracie vs Bob Sapp -- Gracie wins via submission at 1:18 of round one Victorio Senduk vs Raymond Tiew -- Senduk wins via TKO (Knee Injury) at 4:02 of round one Geje Eustaquio vs Alex Silva -- Eustaquio wins via Decision (Unanimous) Irshaad Sayed vs Jessie Rafols -- Sayed wins via KO (Punch) at 1:49 of round one Peter Davis vs Ngabdi Mulyadi -- Davis wins via Submission (Triangle Choke) at 3:54 of round three Zuli Silawanto vs Agus Nanang -- Silawanto wins via TKO (Punches) at 0:47 of round one For more on ONE FC: "Battle of Heroes" be sure to check out our complete event archive right here.

Posted in: fight, round, submission, vs, enomoto

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Felipe Enomoto finished Ole Laursen with a rear-naked choke submission in the main event of One FC on Saturday at Sports Mall Kelapa Gading in Jakarta, Indonesia.As the fresher fighter in the second round, Enomoto capitalized on a head kick on Laursen by taking the back and forcing the tapout at three minutes and 49 seconds.Felipe Enomoto, the older brother of M-1 welterweight champ Yasubey, snapped a two-fight losing streak to improve his overall MMA record to 6-3. Laursen's pro record fell to 5-3.In heavyweight action, Rolles Gracie needed only 78 seconds to dispatch Bob Sapp. Gracie scored an early takedown and ground and pounded his opponent to submission. Gracie upped his record to 6-1, while Sapp lost his fourth straight fight within the first round. Despite losing seven of his last eight, Sapp's record stands at 11-10. UStream PPV Bouts: Felipe Enomoto def. Ole Laursen via submission (RNC) - R2, 3:49 Bae Young Kwon def. Honorio Banario via submission (RNC) - R1, 0:56 Rustam Khabilov def. Rodrigo Ribeiro via unanimous decision Gustavo Falciroli def. Soo Chul Kim via submission (RNC) - R1, 1:12 Rolles Gracie def. Bob Sapp via submission (punches) - R1, 1:18 Preliminary Bouts: Victorio Senduk def. Raymond Tiew via TKO (injury) - R1, 4:02 Geje Eustaquio def. Alex Silva via unanimous decision Irshaad Sayed def. Jessie Rafols via KO - R1, 1:49 Pete Davis def. Ngabdi Mulyadi via submission (triangle choke) - R3, 3:54 Zuli Silwanto def. Agus Nanang via TKO - R1, 0:47

Posted in: submission, gracie, sapp, laursen, enomoto

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Two undefeated heavyweight forces will collide this Wednesday night (February 15, 2012) as knockout specialist Stipe Miocic battles submission ace Philip De Fries on the UFC on Fuel TV main card in Omaha, Nebraska. Miocic entered the UFC after knocking out every opponent he had faced (although one was a submission to strikes) in the first six fights of his professional career. He defeated the battle-tested Joey Beltran in his debut and is hoping to make a major impact, capitalizing on his first taste of significant national exposure against De Fries. Philip De Fries, like Miocic, entered the UFC in 2011 with an undefeated record and after having stopped every one of his opponents in his seven prior victories, although they were all via submission. The four stripe Brazilian jiu-jitsu purple belt also went to a decision in his UFC debut, handily defeating Rob Broughton. He'll be hoping to showcase his skills to a greater degree against Miocic. Will Miocic be able to showcase his technical Strong Style stand-up skills? Or will De Fries' submission repertoire be on full display? How does each man keep their records unblemished on Wednesday night? Let's find out: Stipe Miocic Record: 7-0 overall, 1-0 in the UFC Key Wins: Joey Beltran (UFC 136) Key Losses: none How he got here: Stipe Miocic is an athlete, plain and simple. He was a successful collegiate wrestler and baseball player while attending Cleveland State University. After becoming a fireman/paramedic, he was requested to help train with Dan Bobish to prepare the MMA pioneer for an upcoming fight and he never looked back once he'd gotten a taste of MMA. The former Golden Gloves boxer started his professional career in 2010, winning by knockout in all four of his fights while competing primarily for NAAFS in Ohio. His 2011 got off to an equally impressive start, winning two more fights with his strikes before getting the call to the UFC. The Croation-American made his promotional debut at UFC 136 on the preliminary card against brawler Joey Beltran. Miocic utilized strong kicks and overall technique while mixing in takedowns to earn a unanimous decision against "The Mexicutioner." He'll be pitted against a fellow undefeated fighter on Wednesday night when he takes on Philip De Fries in Omaha. How he gets it done: Miocic has a respectable wrestling background and he utilized it pretty well against Beltran in his debut whenever he got in a rough spot, but he's going to have to entirely rely on his striking against De Fries on Wednesday. Expect to see him keep his distance early, working his powerful leg and body kicks while trying to avoid letting De Fries get too close and work for takedowns. Once Miocic gains confidence, he's likely going to be looking to unleash a torrid assault of strikes whether they be punches, kicks, knees or elbows. Miocic is a solid technical striker, so he might take a few minutes in the Octagon to loosen up, especially against someone who likely won't be looking to engage him much in De Fries, but once he does, he's going to be coming with a full fury. He'll be looking to use his wrestling in reverse, "sprawl and brawl" style to keep this fight standing. If he can accomplish this, he should have no problem outlanding De Fries and winning either by knockout or decision. Philip De Fries Record: 8-0 (1 no contest) overall, 1-0 in the UFC Key Wins: Rob Broughton (UFC 138) Key Losses: none How he got here: Philip De Fries has been a grappler in the heavyweight division from the beginning. The 6'5 Brazilian jiu-jitsu purple belt trains under Rodrigo Cabral and began his professional career in 2009, competing four times in the Strike and Submit promotion, winning all four bouts via submission. After a no contest against Dave Wilson, De Fries moved on to score three straight submissions in 2011, notably tapping out fellow top prospect Stav Economou with a second round rear naked choke at Ultimate Warrior Challenge 16. De Fries earned an invite to the UFC with the impressive showing and battled Rob Broughton on the UFC 138 undercard, outgrappling "The Bear" and scoring a unanimous decision victory. He'll be facing perhaps his stiffest career test this upcoming week in Miocic. How he gets it done: Plain and simple, De Fries needs to take this fight to the ground at all costs. He's not at a level yet where he can afford to stand and trade with legit strikers, especially heavyweights as talented as Miocic, for extended periods of time. He must close the distance early whether it be with takedown attempts or at least the clinch where he can work for trips or attacks against the fence. De Fries needs to pull out all the stops against Miocic in his efforts to get this fight to the canvas, even pulling guard if he must. His opponent is a competent wrestler so he's going to have to be extremely aggressive and willing to chain different takedown attempts together in order to perhaps overwhelm the Strong Style fighter. If he can get Miocic down, expect him to work a top game while threatening submissions just like in his fight with Broughton. The Sunderland native has some terrific guard passes and is capable of putting a stranglehold on just about everyone once he wears them down or surprises them. He'll need to keep very strong hip pressure, though, if he wants to keep his explosive opponent down. If he can accomplish this, he can definitely at least win a decision if not win via submission. Fight X-Factor: These are two completely different fighters. One is a knockout artist and wants to keep the fight standing while the other is a submission specialist who wants it on the ground. This an obvious one, but the biggest X-Factor for this fight is who can impose their will on their opponent. If Miocic forces De Fries to fight in his world, he's got a terrific shot of scoring a knockout. If De Fries can put Miocic on his back, he could score a submission. It's all about who is better at getting (or keeping) the fight where they want it. That's what makes this fight so interesting. Bottom Line: I'm not sure what to make of this fight. It's interesting because both fighters are so strong at their specific specialty, but neither fight is likely looking to engage their opponent in their strong suits either. Miocic is not looking to scramble on the ground with De Fries just like De Fries is not looking to test his kickboxing skills against Miocic. This fight has the possibility of being very awkward or very one-sided for either man. If De Fries can't score a takedown, he might flop to his back repeatedly or spend a large majority of the fight stalling in the clinch. The good news is there's also a possibility of a highlight reel knockout for Miocic or an awesome submission from the UK fighter. This bout is a complete wildcard. Who will come out on top at UFC on Fuel TV: "Sanchez vs. Ellenberger?" Tell us your predictions in the comments below! Poll Which heavyweight prospect will remain undefeated after their UFC on Fuel TV fight this Wednesday? Stipe Miocic Philip De Fries   0 votes | Results

Posted in: ufc, fight, submission, miocic, fry

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Two of the UFC's most entertaining featherweights have engaged in a bit of mild trash talking on Twitter in the last few days and it appears that they'll now get to settle their dispute in the Octagon, as UFC.com announced that Dustin Poirier vs. Chan Sung Jung will serve as the main event for UFC on FX 3 in Virginia on May 15th: "The Korean Zombie" Chan Sung Jung takes on Dustin "The Diamond" Poirier in a three-round main event, set for May 15th in Fairfax, VA. Jung, "The Korean Zombie" has quickly become a fan-favorite with an impressive highlight reel, including his legendary brawl with Leonard Garcia, the first ever Twister submission in the UFC, and his shocking 7-second knockout of heavy favorite, Mark Hominick, back in December. Although he's 3-3 in his last six fights, the Zombie's popularity and propensity for ending fights in exciting fashion could propel him to a title shot with a win over the equally fast-rising Poirier. It wasn't too long ago that Louisiana's Dustin Poirier was a heavy underdog to Josh Grispi, who had first been penciled in for a title shot against Jose Aldo, before an injury paved the way for Poirier to step in as a replacement. Poirier, who had previous flown under the radar in the WEC, sure didn't look like an underdog as he thrashed Grispi for three rounds, marking the start of a undefeated run in his first four UFC fights. Now hot on the heels of two impressive submission wins over Pablo Garza and Max Holloway, Poirier could see himself leap-frog the injured Erik Koch, who he was expected to fight for #1 contender status, and instead turn the fight with Jung into a bout that will determine Jose Aldo's next challenger. Chan Sung Jung "The Korean Zombie" (12-3)W Mark Hominick (TKO) - UFC 140W Leonard Garcia (submission) - UFN 24L George Roop (KO) - WEC 51 Dustin "Diamond" Poirier (12-1)W Max Holloway (submission) - UFC 143W Pablo Garza (submission) - UFC on Fox 1W Jason Young (unam. decision) - UFC 131 The card for UFC on FX 3 now includes: -Dustin Poirier vs. Chan Sung Jung-Thiago Silva vs. Igor Pokrajac-Donald Cerrone vs. Yves Edwards-Jason MacDonald vs. Tom Lawlor UFC on FX 3 coverage

Posted in: ufc, submission, vs, jung, poirier

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In conjunction with MiddleEasy WHOA! TV proudly presents our brand new series #Powerful Submissions. We start with Matt Hughes, no...the other Matt Hughes.

Posted in: hughe, submission, matt, tv, whoa tvs

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The UFC will visit the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia on May 15 when the promotion presents UFC on Fuel 3. Today the UFC announced the main event for the card, a three round Featherweight battle between Chan Sung Jung and Dustin Poirier. Jung is 2-0 with the UFC, defeating Leonard Garcia and Mark Hominick. The Garcia victory via the first twister submission in UFC history earned him “Submission of the Night” honors as well as “Submission of the Year” at the 2011 World MMA

Posted in: ufc, submission, “ submission, ufc history, headline ufc

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The most exciting facet of MMA is the spectacular knockouts and exhilarating submissions, otherwise known as "finishing moves." No, not the finishing moves that you envision with wrestling and the WWE...

Posted in: mma, submission, wwe, mma history, move

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Imagine just being 20 years old and already posting a 4-1 record in MMA, with an entire country’s MMA scene behind you as one of their top prospects and you’ll know what it is like to walk a mile in Soo Chul Kim’s shoes. When Soo Chul Kim signed with One FC last year his work was cut out for him, with his first test under the One FC banner being a widely-respected brazilian jiu-jitsu expert in Leandro Issa. It proved to be a learning experience for the then-nineteen year old, as he was able to hold on before dropping a decision. At One FC 2 in Jakarta, Indonesia, the deck is once again stacked against the Korean sensation as he squares off with yet another internationally-renowned BJJ expert in Gustavo Falciroli. Kim comes from Team Force in South Korea where he has honed his skills since the ripe age of fifteen to step into the MMA ring. Right after his eighteenth birthday, Kim turned pro and in his debut fight captured his very first championship, winning the Rising On Featherweight Championship. Feeling that Bantamweight was a more natural weight class for him, Kim dropped down in weight for his next bout and hasn’t looked back. His first two opponents learned all-too-well that Kim’s submission game is nothing to take lightly, with Kim’s career beginning with two first round submissions before taking a step up in competition and posting two solid decision victories. His biggest challenge came when One FC called him up onto their roster for their debut show and he found himself in a fight with Leandro Issa, a deadly submission artist. To set the stage for you, Issa going into that bout was 8-2, with seven submissions and one TKO victory. It was safe to say that Issa had a reputation for finishing fights and having incredible jiu-jitsu, but Kim was able to neutralize his submission attempts and looked incredibly competent standing up. There are many who have wondered “what if” during that fight, as Kim took an inadvertent low blow which definitely threw him off of his game a bit. If Kim was able to prove his durability and show composure under pressure at the debut One FC event, many believe that he will need those skills against Gustavo Falciroli at One FC 2 on February 11th. Falciroli is a more experienced fighter than Kim, as the Australian native has competed for Shooto Australia and Shooto Japan against some tough competition at Bantamweight. Falciroli posts an impressive 11-3-2 record in MMA, with his career goes back to 2007. It should be noted, though, that Falciroli began practicing jiu-jitsu way back in 1996, before achieving his black belt in 2003 and was no stranger to grappling competitions. He holds a second degree black belt in jiu-jitsu, which is really nothing to scoff at, with his MMA record showing an impressive six wins via submission. What Falciroli brings to the table that Kim’s last opponent didn’t is a better striking game, which could provide a challenge for the young Kim. A deciding factor in this bout could be age and experience, as Falciroli is ten years the elder and has bounced back from losses before, while Kim has yet to do so. Kim is coming off of his first loss and still has a lot to prove in the One FC ring, as the mark of a true warrior is being able to learn and evolve after a loss.

Posted in: mma, submission, fc, kim, falciroli

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Alliteration aside, Stefan Struve's slick submission skills often get overlooked. Of his 22 career wins, 15 have come by way of tap, nap or snap, and you can safely bet he will looking to add one more name to his long list of victims when he faces fellow heavyweight Dave Herman at UFC on Fuel TV next Wednesday night (Feb. 15, 2012) in Omaha. Rightfully nicknamed "Skyscraper," the 6'11" Struve makes excellent use of his very long limbs, but not in the way you would normally expect. Usually, someone so tall would be well advised to use their exceptionally long reach to keep his opponent at bay with jabs and kicks from a distance. Struve, on the other hand, uses his limbs to tangle opponents up in various submissions. Lets take a look: Prior to Sean McCorkle talking his way into the co-main event spot opposite Struve at UFC 124, "Skyscraper" was 4-2 in the UFC with two submissions. "Big Sexy" was 1-0, with an armbar finish over Mark Hunt. Struve would make rather quick work of his opponent, stopping McCorkle with punches in the first round. Check out the GIF below to see how the lanky Dutchman used his grappling prowess to earn the technical knockout (TKO) stoppage. Thanks to campizonemma.com for the GIF. The clip starts with Struve on his back after McCorkle took him down, with his guard closed and an overhook on his opponent's left arm. Any student of the jiu-jitsu game can tell that Struve is setting up a sweep here. A rather easy sweep to execute, in theory, but much more difficult to execute in practice at the UFC level, mainly because once someone tries to set it up, the victim knows it's coming and can stop it. Usually. Struve uses his left arm to secure an overhook on McCorkle's left arm. Once Struve has it, he opens up his guard and uses his right leg to hook outside Sean McCorkle's left knee, effectively "blocking" that knee and nullifying McCorkle's ability to post out on that leg. With his right arm overhooked and his right leg blocked by the leg of "Skyscraper," McCorkle is very weak on his right side. Posting on his right forearm and elbow, Struve "hips up" and thrusts his hips into "Big Sexy," forcing all of McCorkle's weight to his weakened right side. This allows Stefan to completely reverse Sean, and is the beginning of the end. Struve finishes the sweep by landing in full mount and immediately rains down punches. It's only a matter of seconds until the referee steps in and saves McCorkle. Grappling skill plus ground-and-pound equals UFC win number five for Skyscraper. After Struve suffered a slight setback in the form of a knockout loss at the hands of Travis Browne, "Skyscraper" was pitted against Southern slugger Pat Barry for UFC on Versus 6: "Cruz vs Johnson." While the staredown at the weigh-ins was rather comical (Struve is 6'11" and Barry is 5'11"), the threat to both fighters was anything but. This was one of those odd match-ups. The much shorter, much stockier fighter had a distinct advantage in the striking department and the much taller, longer fighter had a distinct advantage on the ground. Struve would end the fight using his length to his advantage, but not in the way you might think. Thanks to ZombieProphet and Ironforgesiron.com for the GIF. The clip starts with Struve on his back and Barry on top in cross-side position. Barry has been criticized for his submission defense (or lack thereof) but in all honesty, who expects to be triangled when they have cross-mount? The submission set-up starts as Struve is on his right hip, driving his right knee in between himself and Barry. As he does this, he also puts his left knee behind Pat's head and neck. Barry, unaware what is being set up, slips his right hand out from between Struve's legs, effectively helping Struve initiate the triangle. Reaching across his body and grabbing Barry's left tricep with his right hand, Struve slips his right knee completely through and hooks his right leg over his left ankle. With the triangle completely locked in, "Skysraper" now pushes "HD's" left arm across his face and pulls down on his head. With Stefan's left knee cutting off the blood flow through Barry's right carotid artery and Barry's own left arm restricting blood flow through the left, "Get Hype" is in lots of trouble. Barry is pretty much out of options at this point, and he knows it. As a last-ditch effort, Barry picks Struve up and slams him to the ground, hoping it will break the hold Struve has on his neck. Unfortunately for Barry, this only makes the triangle choke tighter, and Barry is forced to tap out. With the victory over Barry, Struve improves to 6-3 under the Zuffa banner. He undoubtedly plans on making it 7-3 when he climbs into the cage opposite "Pee Wee" next week in Omaha. Who ya' got? For more on their titanic tilt click here.

Posted in: right, submission, barry, struve, mccorkle

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Two very different styles of mixed martial arts will collide next Wednesday night (February 15, 2012) as bantamweights T.J. Dillashaw and Walel Watson meet in the opening bout of UFC on Fuel: Sanchez vs. Ellenberger, which will be the UFC's first foray on the Fuel channel. Dillashaw was a finalist on season 14 of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) but came up just short this past December against John Dodson, who handed him the first loss of his professional career. The Team Alpha Male fighter will be looking to wrestle his way back on track and even out his UFC record next week. Walel Watson, at 5'11 is taller than most welterweights in the UFC. He's tough to handle with his lengthy frame, although he found himself on the receiving end of a tough split decision defeat in his last fight at UFC 140. "The Gazelle" will be hoping to bounce back against his less-experienced foe. Will Dillashaw's wrestling prove too much for Watson? Can the Team Hurricane-Awesome fighter perplex Dillashaw with his unorthodox attack? What's the best path to victory for both bantamweights? Let's find out: T.J. Dillashaw Record: 4-1 overall, 0-1 in the UFC Key Wins: none Key Losses: John Dodson (The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale) How he got here: T.J. Dillashaw was a successful college wrestler at Cal State Fullerton and UFC middleweight Mark Munoz was one of his coaches. When his collegiate career was over, he gravitated towards Munoz and found himself recruited by Urijah Faber and the Team Alpha Male camp. He adapted quickly to mixed martial arts, posted a 2-0 amateur record and after a 4-0 start to his professional career, he was given an opportunity to compete on season 14 of The Ultimate Fighter. On the show, he was labelled arrogant, but he proved himself with three straight victories, the last over scrappy Muay Thai specialist Dustin Pague to punch his ticket into the finals. In the show finale, Dillashaw was never able to take John Dodson down in the first round, and suffered a tough knockout defeat via the quick hands of "The Magician." He's hoping to rebound against the long and lanky Walel Watson next Wednesday night. How he gets it done: Dillashaw will need to take advantage of his strength in this fight. He can't let Watson dance around him on the outside, he must cut him off and either take him down or put him against the fence where he has no escape. Standing and trading wouldn't be the worst thing in the world either, but he has to get inside to do it as Watson, at 5'11, is one of the tallest bantamweights with the longest reach in MMA? If Watson overcommits to a punch or kick, don't be surprised one bit if Dillashaw either changes levels and takes him down, or catches the kick and takes him down. The ground is Dillashaw's bread and butter and his opponents had serious issues dealing with his wrestling on the show. His opponent can be tricky on the ground, but he wasn't able to submit Yves Jabouin despite his best efforts in his last fight, so as long as Dillashaw has confidence in his submission defense and he's active with ground and pound, he should have no problems staying in top position with his significantly superior wrestling. Walel Watson Record: 9-3 overall, 1-1 in the UFC Key Wins: Joseph Sandoval (UFC on Versus 6) Key Losses: Yves Jabouin (UFC 140) How he got here: Walel Watson surprisingly has spent the majority of his professional career fighting in Mexico. Despite hailing from Texas and training in San Diego, he found a home away from home in Tijuana, where he fought six times from 2009-2011, winning all six. With the UFC acquiring new talent to fill up their 135 pound division, Watson seemed a perfect fit, making his promotional debut against Joseph Sandoval this past October and thoroughly thrashing him, dropping him three times inside 80 seconds to score a first round technical knockout (TKO) victory. His second UFC fight was against kickboxing veteran Yves Jabouin and the bout was extremely close, with neither fighter truly taking a big initiative. Watson threatened with submissions, but wasn't able to put Jabouin away and was disappointed to find himself on the losing end of a split decision. He'll get a shot at redemption against Dillashaw on the first UFC on Fuel TV show. How he gets it done: Watson is very long and lanky, and that body-type is perfect for either keeping his distance in the stand-up or for clinching and throwing vicious knees. "The Gazelle" has already utilized his frame to perfection against Joseph Sandoval, he can certainly do it again. If you remember, Dustin Pague caught Dillashaw with a pretty nasty flying knee during their fight during the TUF 14 semifinals, so landing a big knee is certainly a possibility. Also, if he can keep his distance and do it safely, Watson should work low leg kicks as long as he can snap them without getting them caught. I don't know if he's been working on his jab or not, but if he can keep popping a jab in Dillashaw's face to keep him at a distance, it would work wonders for scoring points and doing some damage. It's extremely likely that Dillashaw takes Watson down, as Yves Jabouin was able to do it repeatedly and he's not one fourth of the wrestler that Dillashaw is, so if and when it happens, "The Gazelle" needs to be prepared with a plethora of submission attempts, chained after each other. He's got to attack, attack, attack and either force Dillashaw to submit or scare him enough that he doesn't want to stay on the ground with him anymore. Fight X-Factor: The biggest X-Factor in this fight has to be Dillashaw's submission defense versus Watson's offensive submission abilities. While the stand-up is where the fight always starts, it's almost a certainty that this fight goes to the ground. Dillashaw is going to try to remain in top position and either pass guard working for a submission of his own, or posture up and work ground and pound. Watson, on the other hand, will likely be either tying Dillashaw up to force a stand-up or throwing repeated submission at The Alpha Male team member. Whoever wins this chess battle on the ground is going to be the victory, plain and simple. Bottom Line: This fight has boatloads of potential as both combatants are young (26 and 27), finishers (just two decisions total between them in 17 career fights) and best of all, bantamweights. They won't get tired and will be throwing down for three straight rounds if need be so expect some fun striking exchanges, big takedowns, submission attempts, ground and pound as one of these men tries to make their mark in the division. With both fighters coming off tough losses, they've got plenty to fight for, and hopefully that comes out in the Octagon on Wednesday night. Who will come out on top at UFC on Fuel: Sanchez vs. Ellenberger? Tell us your predictions in the comments below! Poll Who will turn around their one fight losing streak in the opening bout of the UFC's first event on Fuel? T.J. Dillashaw Walel Watson   16 votes | Results

Posted in: ufc, fight, submission, watson, dillashaw

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A pair of the Tristate areas best prospects were booked in title bouts at the latest Cage Fury Fighting Championship in Atlantic City, New Jersey. CFFC 13 was headlined by Tristar gym featherweight Joey Gambino (9-0) versus Bellator vet Kenny Foster (9-5). The fight for Gambino was his first versus an ex UFC, Bellator or Strikeforce featherweight. In a title fight that went the full 25 minutes Gambino imposed his will on Foster with a strong wrestling game coupled with powerful ground n' pound attack. After five rounds Gambino got the nod all three judges' scorecards. The decision was the first of Gambino's three year pro career. Foster has now lost his three bouts since a March 2011 upset win over Eric Larkin.With a breakneck style of fighting and a top shelf group of training partners Gambino is on track for a UFC call up in 2012. Gambino is a legit five star prospect at 145 pounds and will immediately find success on the entry level of the UFC's featherweight division. The New York born fighter is the number three featherweight prospect in MMA according to ULTMMA.com. Back in the flyweight division AMA Fight Club's Sean Santella (9-3-1) returned to the winner's circle versus Virginia's Bryan Lashomb (3-1). Santella relied on his superior submission game to eventually trap Lashomb on the ground. The 27 year old Santella latched on to Lashomb's left leg late in the second round and secured a kneebar for the win. The tapout came at the 4:47 mark of round two. Santella now has seven submission wins in his 13 fight career. A sparring partner of the Miller brothers and Charlie Brenneman, Santella is on the short list of potential signees for the UFC's flyweight division in 2012. CFFC 13 Gambino vs. Foster resultsAtlantic City, NJTravis Wynn def. Marcus Daniels by Unanimous DecisionBrian Nielson def. Dustin Baker by Submission Rear Naked Choke 4:37 R1Bradley Desir def. Luciano Cristovam by TKO (Punches) 2:43 R2Jackson Galka def. Terrell Hobbs by Submission Guillotine Choke 3:54 R2*Claudio Ledesma def. Pedro Gonzalez by Unanimous DecisionAnthony Morrison def. Jay Haas by Submission Guillotine Choke 3:37 R1*Sean Santella def. Bryan Lashomb by Submission Kneebar 4:47 R2*Joey Gambino def. Kenny Foster by Unanimous Decision *Prospects to watch

Posted in: fight, submission, prospect, gambino, santella

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Dustin Poirier talks his spectacular submission win at UFC 143 that won him a fight night bonus.

Posted in: ufc, fight, submission, fight day, poirier talks

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23-year old Dustin Poirier lived up to his nickname by turning in a performance as beautiful as any “diamond” by choking out Max Holloway in the opening round of their undercard bout on Saturday night at UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit. The 12-1 Poirier picked up the fifth submission win of his career with a slick, mounted Armbar-Triangle Choke. The technique not only moved him one step closer to a shot at featherweight champion Jose Aldo but also earned him $65,000 as the show’s Submission of the Night. Poirier Says He Trained for Holloway as Though He Was Facing Anderson Silva Meanwhile, Fight of the Night went to the combined efforts of Roy Nelson and Fabricio Werdum. The heavyweights went at it for fifteen minutes with “Big Country” fending off the Brazilian’s brutal Muay Thai. Similarly to Poirier, each man won $65,000 for the event-specific bonus. Last but certainly not least, debuting welterweight Stephen Thompson lived up to the hype by scoring an opening round finish with a beautiful head-kick to earn Knockout of the Night honors. Thompson is now 6-0 after winning more than 50 fights as a kickboxer without ever tasting defeat. He too took home $65k for his performance. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: night, submission, opening round, muay thai, poirier

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Mixed martial arts (MMA) veteran, Ed Herman, hopes to bump his win streak to three against unbeaten Clifford Starks, later tonight (Feb. 4, 2012) at UFC 143 from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. And with his big edge in experience, "Short Fuse" has a lot more to lose here than Clifford. A former Arizona State University (ASU) wrestler, Starks has displayed expectably good takedowns with little else in fights. He doesn't seem particularly comfortable and vetted in the stand up department, relying on getting it to the mat where he can ride out rounds and win fights instead. This is something that virtually every collegiate wrestler has to evolve through (remember when Josh Koscheck was considered a boring, one-dimensional fighter?), but at this point, he's going to have to show a lot of improvement off his decision win over Dustin Jacoby, a bout he took on short notice. Herman has drifted around the middleweight division for some time since his epic decision loss to Kendall Grove at the TUF 3 Finale in 2006. At times showing outstanding submissions and old-timer's savvy, he's been limited by lack of a stand up game himself. The Team Quest product never really developed much more than a perfunctory striking attack, relying on grappling, conditioning and submissions to pull out fights. Follow me after the jump for a complete breakdown of the UFC 143 fight between Ed Herman vs. Clifford Starks: The Breakdown Herman's last two showings have been first-round stoppages. With a knockout of Tim Credeur and a first-round heel hook of Kyle Noke, he's rejuvenated his career somewhat. This is an interesting piece of matchmaking because the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight division is exceptionally thin, and an unbeaten wrestler like Starks can have a considerable upside if he develops the striking and requisite skills to complement that core discipline. He'll have to show it against Herman, however, as that could go a long way. And while Ed's offensive stand up is limited, he still has decent defensive skills to avoid better strikers (which is almost everyone he faces) and somehow find a way to force the fight into a realm where he's more comfortable. Defensive wrestling is a key here for Herman. Starks likes to grab opponents and take them down to the mat and Herman's ability to use the cage and stymie these attempts will be a huge factor in the battle for momentum. Herman's had a ton of long, taxing fights, which is another advantage. If Starks can't plant him on the floor early, he may get tired trying over and over to get the tough veteran down. Also, I'm not entirely sold on Starks being able to outwrestle Herman in the first place. Herman's years of training with Team Quest are an invaluable source of experience, while Starks was only a wrestler of modest achievement at ASU. The Pick This fight could really go either way, with Starks scoring takedowns, riding out a decision, and showing (hopefully, for him) improved stand up to score in spots when he can't take Herman down. However, Herman's experience and ability to remain calm in bad spots is a real trademark. He's not going to panic, and can score submissions from his back. The longer the fight goes without Starks dictating what happens, the more that favors Herman, who's going to get stronger as they go deeper into the bout. Herman will stuff enough takedowns, and threaten with submissions and sweeps to wear Starks down en route to a third-round submission win. Herman via submission Be sure to join MMAmania.com this evening for LIVE, detailed UFC 143 results of all the "Diaz vs. Condit" pay-per-view (PPV) action. It will include blow-by-blow coverage of the Facebook video stream, FX "Prelims" bouts, and of course, the PPV broadcast. We'll start RIGHT HERE at around 7:00 p.m. ET and carry straight on through early Saturday morning. See you later! Jason Probst can be reached at twitter.com/jasonprobst or Jason@jasonprobst.com

Posted in: ufc, fight, submission, herman, stark

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J-Mac talks about his newly agreed upon bout against Tom Lawlor and gives his picks for Saturday's UFC 143.

Posted in: ufc, submission, saturday, jmac, tom lawlor

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The UFC has started to flesh out the two events they have scheduled for May, adding several fights today to the UFC on Fox 3 card at the IZOD Center New Jersey on May 5th, and the UFC on FX 3 show in Fairfax, Virginia on May 15th. In middleweight action on the New Jersey card, Garden State native Mike Massenzio will meet Karlos Vemola who's dropping down in weight class yet again. On the FX card in Virginia, another pair of middleweights will face off when Tom Lawlor meets Jason MacDonald, according to UFC.com: Verbal agreements are also in for a middleweight matchup at that (Virginia) event between "Filthy" Tom Lawlor and Jason "The Athlete" MacDonald. Plus, Karlos Vemola has verbally agreed to drop down to middleweight to face New Jersey’s own Mike "The Master of Disaster" Massenzio. Massenzio, now in his second stint with the UFC, is coming off a quick submission loss to Rousimar Palhares at UFC 142 last week, but it appears he didn't suffer any serious damage from the Brazilian's dangerous heel hook, as he'll step right back into the Octagon just four months later, and against a very different type of opponent in Vemola. The Czech native started out his UFC career at heavyweight, but after getting smothered by larger opponents, he cut down to light heavyweight, where, despite thrashing Seth Petruzelli, he again got ragdolled by Brazilian prospect Ronny Markes who exploited Vemola's inability to get off his back. Now hoping that middleweight is the finally the right weight class for him, Vemola will have to deal with Massenzio's improving boxing and solid submission grappling. Lawlor, a fan-favorite from the eight season of The Ultimate Fighter, is perhaps best known for his elaborate entrances rather than his fighting prowess, and with his current UFC record sitting at 3-3, and having most recently gotten choked out by uber-prospect, Chris Weidman, the Florida resident will have to do more to impress inside the cage, rather than outside of it. MacDonald, a longtime veteran of the Canadian scene and with 11 UFC fights under his belt will certainly hold the experience edge over Lawlor, while his dangerous submission game is always a threat, and has earned him three submission of the night bonuses in his UFC career. Although "The Athlete" has struggled to put together consecutive wins and is coming off a quick loss to Alan Belcher back in September, he's fought some of the best fighters the UFC's middleweight division has to offer, including Rich Franklin, Yushin Okami, Demian Maia, and Ed Herman and Chris Leben, both of whom fell victim to MacDonald's submissions, proving that the Canadian always has a chance to pull a rabbit out of his hat. UFC on Fox 3 coverage UFC on FX 3 coverage

Posted in: ufc, submission, macdonald, middleweight, vemola

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It's always interesting to look ahead at the next UFC card and try to pick who will take home the bonuses for the night's best knockout, submission and fight. UFC 143 features some heavy competition in each of those categories but there's always a surprise or two once the fights actually go down. Here are my picks for the bonuses, hit up the comments to let me know where you agree and disagree. Fight of the Night: Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit I think it's hard to pick anything other than the main event for this one. Nick Diaz is simply one of the most exciting fighters on the planet and in Carlos Condit he faces a fellow fighter who "brings it" every time out. It's a battle of different kinds of aggression and violence but similarly hard to break wills (something along the lines of "gameness" that Luke Thomas talked about). While I don't think this goes all five rounds, the action from bell to bell should be incredible and both men having the ability to fight on the feet or floor means there should be no real lulls in the action. Second Choice: Renan Barao vs. Scott Jorgensen - These bantamweights are going to bring some really solid action on the main card. Follow after the jump for submission and knockout picks... Knockout of the Night: Dustin Poirier Poirier hasn't finished anyone since coming to the UFC but he has laid some beatings on people. The diverse attack that he showcased against Josh Grispi in a fight where Poirier was basically there to play "opponent" is hard to overlook. In Max Holloway, Poirier takes on a guy with four career professional fights coming in on fairly late notice. Maybe it's cheating to pick the big experience differential and late notice fight, but I have a feeling Poirier is going to finish Holloway in violent fashion. Second Choice: Roy Nelson - I have a feeling that Werdum might get a little too cute and eat a big right hand from Nelson that ends his night. Submission of the Night: Edwin Figueroa Figueroa is set to face Alex Caceres on the FX portion of the undercard. The key here is that Caceres has lost four of his last six professional bouts by submission. Figueroa tends to finish fights with strikes more than submissions, but Caceres has such an easy to exploit game on the ground that I'm riding with Edwin to take a great submission in this one. Second Choice: Nick Diaz - Strange gut feeling here that at some point Condit looks to get the fight to the floor after not liking the combinations of Diaz and ends up in a fight ending triangle choke. So what do you think? Agree, disagree? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Posted in: fight, night, diaz, submission, poirier

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

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

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Roy Nelson and Fabricio Werdum are Brazilian jiu jitsu black belts. The years of dedication, practice, competition and travel between gyms have allowed them to refine their grappling skills to the point where we expect greatness of them if a fight goes to the ground. However, we are about to watch them in a mixed martial arts bout at UFC 143 - not a submission grappling event. The rules and the traditions of the cage are different and they are not conducive to grinding an opponent into submission. Remaining hopeful as to the appearance and quality of the potential grappling that could be on display is the best approach though. Andrew Keller of MMA Mania has a good quick look at two of the better moments in the public eye in the careers of Nelson and Werdum: Nelson's Grappler's Quest match against Mir in 2003 and Werdum's submission of Fedor Emelianenko in 2010. The Bloody Elbow crew has Judo Chopped the Fedor triangle before with the help of Seph Smith, a Fifty/50 instructor under Ryan Hall. Werdum himself explained the dramatic submission through video in typical hilarious fashion. Keller likens both fighters to patient arachnids, setting multidimensional traps for their opponents and pulls it off: Watching an experienced Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) player set up a submission is a lot like watching a spider weave its web. If one is not careful, one will wander right into their own demise. Roy Nelson and Fabricio Werdum are two of the best web-spinners in the fight game today, and grappling fans have the pleasure of watching them square off this Sat., Feb. 4, at UFC 143: "Diaz vs. Condit." Just as if two well-known knockout artists were facing off, I suggest as little blinking as possible during this potential grapple-fest. Here's why: [Go read the article, as it has plenty of GIFs and Keller's take on the moves.] My own complimentary thoughts after the jump: Keller errs a bit in referring to Nelson's ground game as world class. Nelson is a difficult beastie to control or deny top position, but his forte is not in attacking for and seizing submissions. The early streak of submission victories in Nelson's career have given way to decisions and knockouts as the competition level ratcheted upwards. His game is that of dominant top control and excellent submission defense - and he may no longer want to use it much in the cage. The last memorable submission attempt from Roy was back in 2008 against Andrei Arlovski. Nelson took the bout with just over a week's notice and nearly won the fight in the first round with a kimura attempt from side control - only to be denied as the referee, Jorge Ortiz, stood them up mid-attempt. Roy lost that bout in the second by KO. Since that fight and the subsequent Monson debacle it appears that Nelson has largely given up on his ground game and worked to improve his stand-up prowess. Knockout victories against Brendan Schaub and Stefan Struve seem to have proven this decision wise, before the batterings he received at the hands of Junior dos Santos and Frank Mir left him on a two fight skid. It is also possible that Keller underplays Werdum a bit in this article. Fabricio Werdum is the most decorated Brazilian jiu jitsu player to ever be in the UFC1. A freestyle wrestling equivalent could be Denis Tsargush (if he was a heavyweight and had Olympic medals to go along with his World titles). Werdum's multiple world titles, several ADCC gold, silver and bronze medals and lists of defeated opponents since the early 2000s make him absolutely one of the best submission grapplers in history. The success has transferred somewhat over to his MMA career, although his takedowns and top game, which hunts highly for the back take and submissions from the back, have not carried over so much. His game from the bottom is ferocious and many opponents have chosen not to engage him there. Werdum has shown a pattern of flopping to his back against several prominent opponents and this habit seems to be boom or bust. The Fedor triangle was certainly a rousing success for the strategy, but the weird fight against Overeem showed how the strategy can go off the rails with an uncooperative opponent. Nelson is more likely than Overeem to dive into Werdum's guard, but that certainly wouldn't happen with the abandon Fedor showed. Nonetheless, Keller's piece is a good examination at what both men are capable of and are likely to be doing when on the ground in Saturday's fight. If you go over and read the piece, let him know the quality of the article and support his future work. 1 Roger Gracie is the most decorated Brazilian jiu jitsu player to cross over into MMA thus far, although Alexandre Ribeiro is not far behind. Of course, Rickson Gracie has a comparable or better reputation than either of the three BJJ players, but his matches were generally not within the modern era of competitions.

Posted in: fight, submission, game, werdum, nelson

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Pat Barry was in trouble once again when Christian Morecraft landed on top of him in the first round of their Jan. 20 matchup at UFC on FX.

Posted in: ufc, submission, barry, christian, christian morecraft

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Ten months after West Virginia became the 45th state to legalize MMA Oho promotion the NAASF held the first pro card in the state's history. At a sold out Morgantown Events Center, six West Virginians competed on an 11 bout card. In the main event former UFC heavyweight Sean McCorkle (14-2) dispatched of Mike Gordon (4-1) in the first round. McCorkle locked up a quick arm triangle choke submission after a single takedown brought the fight to the floor. Gordon tapped out to McCorkle's submission at the 2:14 mark of round one. Since being released by the UFC in March 2011, McCorkle has racked up four straight first rounds wins on the regional scene. Ashley Cummins (2-0) bested Stephanie Frausto (1-3) in a match-up of women's 115 pound prospects. The 24 year old Cummins used takedowns to net a unanimous decision over Frausto.Ohio lightweight prospect Joey Bernard Holt (3-0) continued to impress in spectacular fashion. Holt blew out West Virginia fighter Nate Hall (1-1) in less than a minute after the bout's opening exchange. Against the cage Joey Bernard Holt punched out a defenseless Hall until the fight was stopped just 54 seconds after the opening bell. Holt has won all three of his pro bouts in the first round. NAASF Caged Fury 16Morgantown, WVChris Goldbaugh def. Brandon Johnson by Submission Rear Naked Choke 1:53 R1 Matt Montalvo def. Jeremy Czarnecki by TKO (Doctor Stoppage) 1:09 R2Marcos Pecina def. Matthew Garretson by Unanimous DecisionRonell Green def. Amos Collins by Technical Submission Guillotine Choke 0:27 R1Jason Cardillo def. Zac Gobel by Submission Neck Crank 4:47 R1Rick Day def. Nathan Bryant by KO (Head Kick) 1:26 R2Brandon Saling def. Mickey Hughes by KO (Punch) 2:06 R1Josh Stansbury def. John Opfar by Submission Guillotine Choke 1:55 R1*Ashley Cummins def. Stephanie Frausto by Unanimous Decision*Joey Bernard Holt def. Nate Hall by KO (Punches) 0:54 R1Sean McCorkle def. Mike Gordon by Submission Arm Triangle Choke 2:14 R1*Prospects to watch

Posted in: submission, submission guillotine, mccorkle, holt, west virginia

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In the fourth fight of the UFC on Fox 2 card during the Fuel TV preliminaries, Charles Oliveira made UFC history by submitting Eric Wisley with a calf slicer. The pain and discomfort Wisley experienced was apparent on his face and the bout was called to a halt as he tapped out at the 1:43 mark of Round 1. Oliveira earned the $65,000 Submission of the Night bonus and widespread acclaim for his exciting style. Our Grappling Team leader, Patrick Tenney, breaks down this rare submission and we discuss the details of the compression lock. As a preamble, the background of the calf slicer needs to be explained. This compression lock is an attack upon the leg that causes the calf muscle of the opponent to be painfully forced against and potentially split over the tibia of the person applying the submission. This pressure upon the calf muscle is the cause of the name "compression lock" and hurts like few other submissions. Despite being primarily a pain compliance move, the calf slicer can operate upon the knee and wrench certain tendons and ligaments out of alignment. The leglock is banned in certain grappling tournaments and is often utilized as a no-gi or sambo move. Besides being the sole calf slicer finish in UFC history, Oliveira managed to impress a very large audience. Vinny Magalhaes, ADCC gold medalist and M-1 light heavyweight champion, tweeted the following: @VinnyMMAVinny Magalhaes Wow,I don't know what surprised me the most.The calf slicer submission, or someone tap to that. I mean, I didn't even know that s**t worked. Jan 28 via web Favorite Retweet Reply To further show how much this affected the MMA-viewing public, look at how some joker edited the Wikipedia page for the UFC on Fox 2 page: Below the jump, cogent analysis by Patrick Tenney, fantastic GIFs by Grappo and a video of the other memorable calf slicer finish in MMA history - Ivan Menjivar's victory over Joe Lauzon at APEX: Undisputed in 2005. The rarity of calf slicers may lie in how the technique is often a stopping place for most grapplers between a more orthodox leglock and a back take. The three moves are frequently linked together into a flowing chain that can vary with the first step being a straight ankle lock - which works by hyperextending the foot - or a heel hook, which twists the foot and indirectly attacks the knee. Both bookends in that sequence are generally thought of as higher percentage moves and are usually easier to finish an opponent from than the calf slicer. In an earlier Judo Chop, Kid Nate took a look at Ultimate Fight Night 18, where Tyson Griffin was stuck in a different version of the calf slicer. Rafael dos Anjos's skillful maneuvering ultimately failed, but Griffin had to work his way out of a very tricky situation with some good technique and tons of grit. Patrick takes over from here: Do Bronx wisely switches to this submission from the two heel hook attempts, as Wisely correctly rotated and worked his way out of immediate danger. However, Wisely left his leg in the weave and Oliveira behind him, The right shin of Do Bronx creates a trap by pulling downwards against the back of Wisely's left calf/knee pit and Oliveira locks the leg into place by draping his left leg over the top to create a triangle. Despite the placement of the triangle, Wisely keeps trying to move forward in order to straighten his leg and escape. Do Bronx pulls him back by locking his hands around Wisley's waist and controls the hips, bending him backwards over his own knee and forcing pressure into the limb and causing the submission. Ben Thapa: What makes this different from the Tyson/Dos Anjos attempt besides shin placement? Do Bronx, after locking his legs, reaches up and controls the waist in order to pull his opponent back and fold the leg further. This also keeps the opponent from escaping forwards and away from him. Rafael went for some sort of spine lock/opportunity to punch Griffin in the face and never really controlled Tyson's hips or bent him backwards all that much. Ben: Why does Oliveira pull Wisely back into him? This is to keep Wisely from rushing forward and straightening his leg to slide out or at least create space to avoid tapping to the submission. The further back Wisely goes, the more pressure is placed on his calf muscle and knee. Ben: What are the options available if the opponent doesn't tap? Your only real option if the opponent doesn't tap is to let go and go up to take the back. Ben: What happens if the submission is fully applied - as in what breaks if this is taken to the full extent? This sort of compression lock (bicep/calf slicer) will first separate the muscle tendons around the bone and second, apply massive amounts of straight pressure onto the bone beneath the muscle. Think of it as standing a twig straight up and then slowly pressing your boot down on the top of the twig as it bends, bends and then snaps after too much pressure is applied. The knee of the leg trapped in the calf slicer can also be affected, as the tendons going over the front of the kneecap can get hyperextended or broken. Another calf slicer some of you may have seen live came way back in 2005, as Ivan Menjivar finished Joe Lauzon with one at Apex: Undisputed. Both fighters are now employed by Zuffa and have put on barnburners of fights in the years since. Menjivar himself uploaded the fight clip on YouTube a while back for us to enjoy. The set up and eventual finishing position are different, but the principles that cause Lauzon to tap are the same ones that caused Wisely to tap. The Human Weapon did a goofy simulation of a similar compression lock - although done much more like Menjivar's submission. Ovince St. Preux loves usng this particular calf slicer set-up in his matches and achieved a finish with it back in 2009 before he made it onto nationally televised shows.

Posted in: submission, leg, calf, slicer, calf slicer

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The UFC on Fox 2: "'Evans vs. Davis" main card on network television may not have delivered like fans surely hoped it would but the FUEL TV broadcasted portion of the "Prelims" sure as hell did. That's because it featured stoppages galore, including the very first calf slicer submission finish in the history of the UFC courtesy of Charles Oliveira, who nearly took Eric Wisely's leg back to Brazil with him. In a post-fight interview with Ariel Helwani, Oliveira described how he got to that move: "I didn't create that, my teacher taught me that. The MMA world has a lot of submissions like that and I train hard for that in this position. I started with a heel hook and he defended, I went to the knee bar and he defended and then I got the calf lock. I never did this before in tournaments but I train every day this position in the gym." Not only did "Do Bronx" make a successful debut in the featherweight division, he also earned a cool $65 large for "Submission of the Night" honors. Not a bad night at the office, if you ask me. Hear more from Oliveria after the jump, including more on his big win and his desire to fight on the card when the UFC travels back to Brazil in June in Sao Paulo.

Posted in: ufc, submission, oliveira, i train, calf

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Charles Oliveira discusses his move to 145lbs, the transitions he made the catch the calf slicer submission, and if he'd like to earn the 'Submission of the Night' bonus.

Posted in: submission, oliveira, move, charle, charles oliveira

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In the game of musical chairs leading up to the UFC on Fox 2: "Evans vs. Davis" final fight card line up, the middleweight showdown between Demian Maia vs. Chris Weidman later TONIGHT (Jan. 28, 2012) at the United Center in Chicago, Ill., may be a bit overlooked in favor of the Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping bout. But, it's an intriguing match up nonetheless. After rebuilding some of the career mojo he lost after the Anderson Silva fiasco, Maia gets a real handful in Weidman, who replaces the exited Bisping, Maia's original opponent. There are but a mere handful of fighters in the game for whom pulling guard is a legitimate offensive move, but Maia's on the short list, as he finds submissions the way most of us rummage through the fridge getting leftovers. There's almost always something to be had. Follow me after the jump for a complete breakdown of the UFC on FOX 2 televised main card fight between Demian Maia vs. Chris Weidman: The Breakdown To Maia's credit, after his disastrous 21-second knockout loss to Nate Marquardt in 2009, he put a lot of work in to improve his stand up. And the results have been obvious. Between his excellent striking displayed in the close decision loss to Mark Munoz, to using his striking to get four workmanlike decisions since the Marquardt debacle, he's shown he's more than just a submission ace. The wild card for the former Abu Dhabi Combat Club champion is how he can adjust against a ground beast like Weidman. Realistically, in preparing for Bisping, Maia was tuning his game toward forcing a takedown against someone who probably would resist it at all costs. Instead, he faces an outstanding former college wrestler who competed in Abu Dhabi after just a year or so of training, which is a phenomenal statement as to how gifted Weidman is. As the old saying goes, everybody's a blue belt once you get them on their back and punch them in the face, and Maia's blinding submissions may never come to fruition if Weidman's crushing top control and physical style negate them, as he's done with previous opponents.For every prospect, you like to see them in a tough, distance bout before you can truly make an assessment. That's because everyone looks like a monster in quick wins. It's the taxing, draining types of fights that let you see their mettle and how they adjust to fatigue and changing tactical conditions. For Weidman, his test couldn't have been much tougher, as he filled in on two weeks notice to defeat wily veteran Alessio Sakara in just his fifth fight. Using stifling wrestling and outstanding top control, Weidman cracked a very tough nut in Sakara, and followed up with a pair of quick submission wins over Jesse Bongfeldt and Tom Lawlor. Trained by Ray Longo, he's also got a developing striking game, and seems increasingly comfortable on the feet. But make no mistake, Weidman is your prototype smash-mouth grappler, who's going to look to takedown opponents simply because very few people can stop him, and he's got solid submissions, to boot. The Pick Maia's stand up has improved considerably, and it'll be a key factor in this fight. He'll have to move from his southpaw stance, circling and changing directions, while shooting in quick one-twos and the occasional kick. Weidman's ability to deal with the standup early is a huge factor. If he doesn't feel necessarily threatened and doesn't get caught with something (as Munoz did, which essentially turned the fight on its ear early), he'll bide his time and force a clinch at some point, taking Maia down at will. However, a big factor for Weidman is how confident he is that he can negotiate Maia's dizzying ground game and the expectable flurry of submissions the former world champ will bring. If Weidman gets a good position, he's very consistent with how he exploits it and makes good decisions, denying his opponent much chance at a sweep or reversal. Weidman works the body and head wisely, while staying busy enough to do damage and yet not risking too much. If he ends up on top this will be a critical factor in dictating the pace and influencing judges while not giving Maia too much of an opening to create a scramble, where he's great at coming out on top. Look for Weidman to feel Maia out early on the feet, then score a takedown or two late in the first round to test the waters. He'll be able to hold down Maia and score limited strikes on the ground, enough to win the round. He'll repeat the feat in the second and third frames, while fighting off a submission attempt or two, as Maia tires down the stretch. Weidman will close the fight, opening up with increasingly accurate ground and pound and make a big statement to the rest of the middleweight division, winning the bout by unanimous decision. Weidman via decision Be sure to join MMAmania.com this evening for LIVE, detailed UFC on FOX 2 results of all the "Evans vs. Davis" action on primetime. It will include blow-by-blow coverage of the "Prelims" under card bouts, and of course, the network telecast. We'll start RIGHT HERE at around 5 p.m. ET and carry straight on through into early Saturday morning. See you then! Jason Probst can be reached at www.twitter.com/jasonprobst

Posted in: fight, submission, maia, weidman, he

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The Downes Side is riding a lot of momentum after going 4-0 last week. Truth be told, it’s the most impressive I’ve felt since I had a friend’s older brother buy me a CD with a parental advisory sticker. Okay, so it was a KoRn album, but that did help me learn how to take a punch after my parents found it.Speaking of childhood memories, the UFC rolls into Chicago (my hometown) this week for the UFC on FOX tripleheader. The United Center isn’t too far from my old high school, which got me to thinking. The Ultimate Fighting Championship has a lot in common with high school. I mean there’s every clique imaginable represented (with maybe the exception of Goths), there are ample opportunities for both glory and embarrassment and your first time is usually awkward and uncomfortable. Mike Russow vs John-Olav EinemoThe night gets going with a heavyweight contest between Mike Russow and John-Olav Einemo. Russow, a Chicago native and police office, has constructed an impressive 14-1 record, showing a solid chin, knockout ability (even with one arm broken while facing the Former Next Big Thing Todd Duffee) and submission skills. Einemo’s been on the shelf for a while, with just one fight in the last four years – a TKO loss to Dave Herman in June. Prediction: My dad, also a Chicago cop, always told me that “you can’t escape the long arm of the law,” In Russow, that long arm has a 73-inch reach, and it’s more like, “you can’t escape the angry fist of the law.” I’m not trying to promote police brutality, but Russow via 1st round TKOEvan Dunham vs Nik LentzNext up: lightweight Evan Dunham against Nik “The Carny” Lentz. After dropping two in a row, Dunham scored a decision victory in September against Shamar Bailey. Lentz, stepping in on short notice, is looking for a quick bounce back after losing a decision to Mark Bocek a month ago at UFC 140. Prediction: Both guys have strong submission skills that will cancel each other’s out. Neither one of them have the edge wrestling either, so this one will be decided on the feet. With that being the case, Dunham has the superiority in that department and will ruin the Carny’s day faster than a visit from the county safety inspector.Demian Maia vs Chris WeidmanDemian Maia is looking to get back into the middleweight title mix after winning three of his last four. After a knockout by Nate Marquardt that was nastier than when they showed me the “Miracle of Life” video in health class, Maia has been working his striking ability with brutes like Wanderlei Silva. The undefeated All-American wrestler Chris “The All-American” Weidman is taking a big step up in competition, talking this fight on less than two weeks’ notice. He quickly submitted Tom Lawlor at UFC 139 and his looking to skip a couple rungs on the way up the middleweight ladder with a win over Maia.Prediction: Everyone talks about Maia’s grappling ability, which is superb, but he hasn’t had a submission victory in eight fights. Weidman, besides being an excellent wrestler, is a purple belt under Matt Serra and has had success at the Abu Dhabi tournaments. Maia will be on his back for the majority of the fight and while he’ll be throwing a lot of submissions, Weidman will be able to neutralize them and get the decision.Chael Sonnen vs. Michael BispingPersonally I’d rather see these two in one of those three-hour Lincoln Douglas debates or create their own spinoff of the Odd Couple, but watching them fight is a close third. Chael Sonnen is looking to get a rematch for the middleweight title and is making a good case after his second round submission of Brian Stann in October (his first finish since 2007). Bisping takes the spot for an injured Mark Munoz and is riding a four-fight win streak with the most recent one a beatdown of Mayhem Miller at the Ultimate FIgher 14 finale.Prediction: Bisping has the advantage in striking but Sonnen survived Anderson Silva, and he will survive enough of the Count’s strikes to get his takedown. The Count’s takedown defense will be about as effective as when I tried to get a date to Freshman Homecoming. The “217lbs of muscle, steel and sex appeal,” known as Chael Sonnen may knock people out with verbal assaults, but he’s going to grind this one out and win by unanimous decision.Rashad Evans vs Phil DavisI think that Rashad is like the school lunch lady – he gets taken for granted. Sure he may not have the sex appeal of the new science teacher who just graduated from college, but he’s there day in and day out serving you to the best of his ability. He’s been in the UFC since 2005 and his only loss has come against Lyoto Machida. The 9-0 Davis has had a fast rise to the elite level light heavyweight, most recently with a win over Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. Prediction: Mr. Wonderful has the superior grappling ability, both with regards to jiu jitsu and wrestling. These advantages, though, are only slight. Meanwhile Rashad has a tremendous edge in the striking department and he’ll use this to damage Davis as he comes in for the takedown. Rashad wins by TKO in the 2nd and the lunch lady gets her due. That wraps up the Downes Side for UFC on Fox 2. Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter @dannyboydownes or share your comments. Also, I’ll be down at the fights so feel free to share your thoughts face to face if you’re so inclined… Especially if we went to high school together and you’ve failed miserably in your young adult life.

Posted in: ufc, fight, submission, maia, ability

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Posted in: night, submission, postfight, night bonuses, video clips

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This is long overdue. URCC Cebu 7 happened almost two weeks ago, and I finally had the time to post the photos I took from the event. The show was headlined by a super-fight between the hometown hero and the #6 lightweight in the World MMA Scouting Report in Eduard Folayang, and the Brazilian Muay Thai Champ, and Nova Uniao BJJ Brownbelt in Wadson Teixeira. It was a fight that lasted only 56 seconds, and saw Folayang survive an early knockdown and eventually finish the fight with vicious ground and pound. You can read the recap of the event here. Pictured above is ONE FC 2 headliner Ole Laursen, who was visually disappointed that his teammate was so close to pulling off that upset. On the background is Teixeira, posing for photos after winning over and gaining the respect of the Filipino crowd for his performance. Check out the rest of the behind the scenes and event photos from URCC Cebu 7: Dominate after the jump. Follow me on twitter. -- @antontabuena You wouldn't know from just looking at the photo, but here are the head honchos of the URCC having a casual moment, relaxing after the weigh-ins: Ole Laursen and his teammate, Wadson Teixeira after the weigh-ins. One of three bouts that night that ended in less than a minute: Roel Rusauro landed a brutal spinning back fist that left his opponent out cold, and motionless for minutes: This was for the Visayan Pinweight Title. After a back and forth brawl on the opening minutes, Victor Torre chained a deep triangle and switched to an armbar to finish the fight: Another gritty fight that went back and forth until Carry Bullos was able to sink in a Guillotine choke to win the Visayan Bantamweight Title: Main Event, the superfight between Eduard Folayang and Wadson Teixeira. It only lasted for 56 seconds but it was a very entertaining bout. They stood for a bit, Folayang landed a couple of shots until the Muay Thai champ in Teixeira landed a hook that drops Folayang. Folayang recovers quickly on his guard, reverses position and takes Teixeira down. Teixeira, who is also a BJJ Brown belt, tried a guillotine choke as Folayang took him down. Folayang excapes, and lands very heavy ground and pound. Teixeira motions to tap, but he still goes out and was down for several moments: After the fight. A disappointed Ole Laursen sporting a jersey of his new Boracay gym, with his teammate in the background taking photos with Filipino fans who gained respect for the Brazilian fighter who almost stopped the local hero: URCC Cebu 7: Dominate Results Alde De Soza def. Samuel Estandarti by Submission (Punches), R1, 0:23Vaughn Donayre def. Hans Christian Lamanilao by TKO (Double Hammerfists), R1Roel Rusauro def. Arnel Ylanan by KO (Spinning Back Fist), R1, 9:11Jimmy Yabo def Urtych Alarin by KO (Punch), R1, 0:23Jonathan Sumogat def. Renan Noble Franca by Submission (Kimura), R1, 2:19Victor Torre def. Geronimo Etac by Submission (Armbar), R1, 6:19Carry Bullos def. Rex De Lara by Submission (Guillotine Choke), R2, 0:40Eduard Folayang def. Wadson Teixeira by Submission (Elbows), R1, 0:56

Posted in: submission, folayang, photo, teixeira, wadson teixeira

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UFC on Fox 2 is set to air this Saturday night (Jan. 28, 2012) live from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. On the fight card are two of the world's top middleweights: Chael Sonnen and Demian Maia. While they aren't facing off against each other, now is as good a time as any to take a look back at their UFC 95 tilt in February of 2009. Along with what's changed since then. We’ve all heard it, and some of us have even said it: "Chael Sonnen has no submission defense." While this is certainly an exaggeration, it cannot be disputed that the majority of Chael’s losses have come via submission and that his submission defense is not exactly the best on the planet. So when he was matched up against one of the world's most talented Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) blackbelts in Demian Maia, the writing was on the wall. As soon as Chael made a mistake, it would be over quicker than Kalib Starnes could backpedal the 100 meter dash. But would Maia be able to get Sonnen to the mat? After all, Sonnen is one of the best wrestlers in the sport, and Maia has no wrestling credentials to speak of. Follow me after the jump to see how it all played out. As mentioned earlier, Maia doesn’t have world-class wrestling credentials and this is highlighted in the Sonnen fight. Early in the first round, Maia shoots in from much too far away, without setting up the takedown at all and the overall level of technique shown in the single leg that he shoots with is not spectacular. Sonnen sprawls easily and begins to defend the takedown. This does not deter Demian however, and that is part of what makes Maia so effective, even against wrestlers. Lots of fighters, once having their takedown successfully stuffed by their opponent, would either keep driving forward, trying to complete the takedown and end up on top, or abandon the takedown and try to set a different one. Maia on the other hand, confident that he can finish the fight anywhere on the ground, uses his failed takedown to pull guard. Not many fighters in the world would be happy pulling guard on such an active top fighter like Sonnen, but Maia is not your average fighter and he does not have an average BJJ attack. After pulling guard, Maia has the fight where he wants it -- on the mat. Although Sonnen was able to stand up, Maia sent the message that he wasn't afraid of being on his back with Chael on top of him.Later in the fight, our two competitors are back on their feet. Maia rushes Sonnen with a flurry of punches, and Sonnen makes a classic mistake -- he backs straight up, not cutting an angle and finds his back against the cage. From here, Chael and Demian clinch up. Each fighter has one overhook and one underhook. Demian has his overhook on Sonnen's right side, and his underhook on Sonnen’s left side. Usually in this position, the highly decorated Greco-Roman wrestler would have a huge advantage. Not this time. Maybe it was arrogance on Chael’s part, thinking Maia couldn’t take him down from the clinch that allowed Maia to throw Sonnen like this. Maybe it was the element of surprise playing in Maia’s favor. Maybe Maia drilled this particular takedown over and over again in preparation for this fight. Whatever the case may be, Maia executes a beautiful Greco-throw. Using his right arm, which is the arm he has the underhook with, Maia pulls Chael off balance, making Chael take a step forward with his left foot. Maia is ready, immediately blocking Sonnen’s left leg with his right foot. Demian then throws Chael over his right shoulder, planting the Greco-Roman wrestler firmly on his back, and landing the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu wizard not only in mount, but in the beginnings of a mounted triangle choke. Note that as the fighters land, Maia’s right leg is over the top of Chael's left arm. This is the first step in Maia beginning to isolate Chael’s right arm for the triangle choke. Maia then slides his left leg up high, pinning Sonnen’s right arm up close to his own neck. Pulling up on his opponents head allows Maia to limit Sonnen’s mobility and also prepares the triangle choke to be locked in. This is where Sonnen makes the mistake that costs him the fight. He rotates his legs, gaining momentum to try and buck-and-roll himself into top position and eventually (in his mind), safety. That's the opposite of what happens. Sonnen should have looked to try and get his left arm back, out from under Maia’s leg, thus preventing the triangle choke. Instead, Sonnen goes from a bad position, to a worse position. As he rolls Demian over onto his back, Sonnen does not posture up, does not pull his head or his left arm out from Demian’s legs. This makes it almost too easy for Maia to slide his left knee over his right foot, completely locking in the triangle and spelling disaster for Sonnen. This is in no way a discredit to Maia’s Jiu-Jitsu skills. Notice how once they hit the ground, Demian is immediately working his triangle. Notice how very smoothly Maia locks up the choke when Chael rolls him. Demian certainly did not leave a lot of room for Sonnen to escape. The combination of Sonnen's submission defense being rather lacking and Maia's submission offense being among the best in the world led to one of the most beautiful submissions ever executed in the UFC. Sonnen went 4-1 in his next five fights, losing to Anderson Silva by submission at UFC 117. Maia went 5-2 and has failed to secure a submission win in any of those five victories. Next on the agenda for Maia is Chris Weidman, another very decorated wrestler, but with more than competent submission skills. Will he find a way to submit Chris Weidman the way he did Chael Sonnen? And will Sonnen be able to avoid a similar fate against Michael Bisping? Voice your opinions in the comments section below, Maniacs!

Posted in: submission, sonnen, chael, maia, demian

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With the UFC's first venture into the land of FX, we have another episode of 'Woulda, Shoulda, Coulda' delivered directly to your computer monitors free of charge. For those who are unaware, 10th Planet - West Los Angeles' Scottie Epstein and MiddleEasy have teamed up to provide a new feature called 'Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda.' It takes a black belt to truly analyze what submissions could have been pulled off during a fight. Luckily for us, 'Einstein' has all the necessary hardware to make that happen. This episode covers all the possible submissions that could have occurred at UFC on FOX, and I'm sure you will enjoy it. If you live in the Los Angeles area, be sure to take a visit down to 10th Planet West LA. Classes are offered for all levels, even the guys that sit on their couch and scream a submission is locked when it really isn't. Check out their website here. Besides, it has the smoothest logo in all of jiu-jitsu. If you tell them MiddleEasy referred you, your first class is free. Be sure to follow Scottie Epstein on Twitter at @scottiemc2.

Posted in: ufc, submission, episode, shoulda, fox episode

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East Rutherford, New Jersey could well be home to Fight of the Year this May 5 on FOX, as two of the best lightweights in the world collide to move closer to a title shot. New Jersey’s own Jim Miller, coming off of a Submission of the Night win over Melvin Guillard, will take on Nate Diaz, who is coming off a Fight of the Night-winning victory over Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone. UFC president Dana White tweeted the news today, noting that both men are known bonus collectors. Miller has won a Fight of the Night award and three Submission of the Night awards; Diaz has won three Submission of the Night awards and five Fight of the Night awards. Also at that event, verbal agreements are in for a meetup at 125 pounds between last season's Ultimate Fighter bantamweight winner, John Dodson, and Darren Uyenoyama. Both men are moving down from 135 pounds to do battle in the UFC's newest division, flyweight.

Posted in: fight, night, submission, award, night awards

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Southern California promotion the Xplode Fight Series held a massive 15 fight card at the San Pasqual Reservation entitled Brutal Conduct. The main evenet featured a lightweight prospect eliminator between Kris Armbrister (7-1) and Mike de la Torre (8-3). In a minor upset the 26 year old Armbrister wedged de la Torre in a fight ending triangle choke at the midpoint of round two. The top prospect on the card was one time WEC featherweight turned flyweight Danny Martinez (15-4). In his first action in ten months Martinez stomped out Nick Boyd (0-1) early in the first round. Martinez pounded out a fallen Boyd with punches at the 1:49. An Arizona fighter now working out of the Alliance MMA gym in San Diego, at 26 years of age Martinez is a surefire 125 prospect for the UFC's upcoming division. Xplode Fight Series Brutal Conduct resultsValley Center, CARichard Sansoucie def. Tony Dalton by Unanimous DecisionMarcelo Mafra def. Michael Ferguson by Submission Armbar 2:15 R1Derek Anderson def. Jeremy Michur by TKO (Knee) 1:40 R1Rich Power def. Mike Smith by KO (Punches) 0:11 R2Bronson Casarez def. Billy Kelley by KO (Head Kick) 0:55 R1Atiq Jihad def. Leo Franklin by Split DecisionShane Kruchten def. Doug Trotter by Submission Bulldog Choke 1:54 R2Merwyn Rivera def. Miguel Rojas by KO (Head Kick) 0:08 R1Mike Zamorano def. Giovanni Davis by TKO (Punches) 0:43 R1Brodie Farber def. Travis McCullough by Submission Rear-Naked Choke 2:11 R1Danny Martinez def. Nick Boyd by TKO (Punches) 1:49 R1Joe Barajas def. Brady Harrison by Unanimous Decision Armando Contreras def.Joshua Aveles by Submission Armbar 2:39 R1Kevin Michel def. Brad Gambrell by Submission Rear-Naked Choke 2:20 R2Kris Armbrister def. Mike de la Torre by Submission Triangle Choke 2:55 R2

Posted in: fight, submission, martinez, punch, armbrister

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[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on DstryrSG, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] That pretty much says it all.  Chock one up (or, should I say "Choke one up" - get it?) for BJJ and submission grappling.  Last night's UFC on FX: Melvin vs. Guillard featured 5, count'em 5, submission victories, 4 of which were good ol' RNC's (and one guillotine).  Jiu Jitsu wins! Of course, we've known submissions to be exceptionally effective in MMA since day-1, when Royce did his thing.  Last night's fights illustrate that even as the game evolves with wrestling and striking being more and more critical, subs are equally essential.  But, we already know this.  Still, it's fun to see it play out in such an obvious way as it did last night. Read More...

Posted in: night, submission, dstryrsg part, middleeasy networkdiv, rnc ftw

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ProElite 3 Grove vs. Minowa resultsHonolulu, HIKendall Grove def. Ikuhisa Minowa via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)Sara McMann def. Hitomi Akano via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)Richard Odoms def. Jake Heun via submission rear naked choke 1:56 R1 Ryan Martinez def. Cody Griffin via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)Patrick Cummins def. Tasi Edwards via submission arm triangle choke 4:01 R1Brant Schermerhorn def. Kaleo Gambill via knockout (punch) 0:45 R1Tatsuya Mizuno def. Ilima Maiava via submission arm triangle choke 1:47 R2Toby Misech sef. Steven Saito via TKO (knees) 1:53 R1Collin Mansanas def. Bryson Kamaka via submission rear naked choke 2:27 R1Sean Rush def. Jaymes Schulte via submission rear naked choke 2:37 R1

Posted in: decision, submission, grove, hitomi akano, jaymes schulte

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Last night Ultimate Fighter 3 winner Kendall Grove picked up his second straight victory since being released by the UFC after outpointing Japanese legend Ikuhisa Minowa in the main event of ProElite’s latest offering, a show also featuring Olympic wrestler Sara McMann in action against respected grappler Hitomi Akano as well as the semifinal round of the organization’s ongoing heavyweight tournament. Grove dealt with little adversity throughout the bout with “Minowaman”, using his size to control the 36-year old in most positions while fending off the occasional submission attempt and doing damage whenever Minowa shot in for a takedown. The performance improved Grove’s overall record to 14-9 and gave him his first winning streak in nearly three years. Grove Takes Out Joe Riggs in ProElite Debut McMann was also impressive en route to a decision win, using her strength and athleticism to repeatedly put Akano on her back. The Silver Medalist is now 5-0 since transitioning to MMA. Read below for a full list of results from ProElite: Grove vs. Minowa: Sean Rush def. James Schulte via Submission Round 1 (Rear-Naked Choke) Collin Mansanas def. Bryson Kamaka via Submission Round 1 (Rear-Naked Choke) Toby Misech def. Steven Saito via TKO Round 1 (Strikes/Knees) Tatsuya Mizuno def. Ilima Maiava via Submission Round 2 (Arm-Triangle Choke) Brent Schermerhorn def. Kaleo Gambill via Knockout Round 1 (Strikes) Patrick Cummins def. Tasi Edwards via Submission Round 1 (Arm-Triangle Choke) Ryan Martinez def. Cody Griffin via Unanimous Decision Richard Odoms def. Jake Heun via Submission Round 2 (Rear-Naked Choke) Sara McMann def. Hitomi Akano via Unanimous Decision Kendall Grove def. Ikuhisa Minowa via Unanimous Decision PHOTO CREDIT – PROELITE Tweet

Posted in: round, decision, submission, proelite, grove

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UFC on FX 1: Guillard vs. Miller resultsNashville, TNJim Miller def. Melvin Guillard via submission rear naked choke 2:04 R1Josh Neer def. Duane Ludwig via submission guillotine choke 3:04 R1Mike Easton def. Jared Papazian via majority decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-29)Pat Barry def. Christian Morecraft via knockout (punches) 3:38 R1Jorge Rivera def. Eric Schafer via TKO (punches) 1:31 R2Khabib Nurmagomedov def. Kamal Shalorus via submission rear naked choke 2:08 R3Charlie Brenneman def. Daniel Roberts via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)Fabricio Camoes def. Tommy Hayden via submission rear naked choke 4:03 R1Daniel Pineda def. Pat Schilling via submission rear naked choke 1:37 R1Nick Denis def. Joseph Sandoval via KO (elbows) 0:22 R1Of the night awards 45KFight: Pat Barry vs. Christian MorecraftKO: Nick DenisSubmission: Jim Miller

Posted in: submission, miller, melvin guillard, guillard, jared papazian

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UFC lightweight Jim Miller pocketed an additional $45,000 after earning Submission of the Night in his headlining affair against hard-hitting 155er Melvin Guillard at UFC on FX. The 28-year old grappler brought the award home after weathering an early storm from Guillard only to eventually get his back and lock in a Rear-Naked Choke. The submission was the twelfth of the 21-3 Miller’s career. Fight of the Night went to another main card match-up in the form of Pat Barry’s battle with Christian Morecraft. The fight didn’t last long but saw Morecraft jump ahead early, even working his way into full mount and what looked to be a convincing Armbar attempt. However, Barry defended as necessary, got back to his feet, and landed a stiff left hook to put Morecraft down to the mat. The affable kickboxer sprung on top shortly thereafter and pounded out the TKO victory. Both men were given an extra $45,000 for their performances. Finally, Knockout of the Night came early in the evening when Nick Denis dropped Joseph Sandoval less than thirty seconds into their card-opener. The win improved Denis’ overall record to 11-2 and was his tenth TKO. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, night, submission, jim miller, morecraft

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Tonight did a good job of reminding that the fighter who evolves his game past his crippling flaws is rare. The two featured bouts for UFC on FX saw men fall into the old traps that have always held their careers back, mainly an inability to deal with the submission attacks of other fighters. Melvin Guillard actually managed to hurt the iron jawed Jim Miller early in the fight and flurried to try to finish him off. Unfortunately for Melvin, he couldn't put him away and then went to a bad strategy. Guillard was content to rely on flying knee attempts, continually taking his feet off the ground was an invitation to Miller to take advantage and put him on the floor. That turned out to be exactly what happened and once there it was Miller moving to mount and Melvin recklessly trying to explode to his feet and giving up his back, leading to the rear naked choke submission. He had shown that he was strong enough to muscle out of takedown attempts by Miller, to continually take his base off the ground is just an example of a low fight IQ and is the number one reason he lost this fight. Guillard is a guy with the power to beat anyone on any given night, but also the flawed game to also be beaten by anyone. Once the fight hits the floor he is just so susceptible to submissions that it feels inevitable that he will tap. Luke Thomas tweeted a very accurate point right after the fight: "Everyone saying ' just learn jiu-jitsu, Melvin' just don't seem to realize not everyone can be great or good or even half-good at jiu-jitsu." Miller is incredibly tough. The guy was getting blasted clean by arguably the hardest hitting lightweight in the game and recovered with incredible speed to win the fight. He's incredibly underrated and incredibly tough. Duane Ludwig has the same problem as Guillard without it being quite as famous. He was picking Neer apart but did his standard thing where suddenly he finds himself in a bad situation and finished. He's as good as anyone at putting together technically solid combinations but he just tends to fall into positions that he can't get out of and it limits how far he can really go. Before I go any deeper on the card, the UFC deserves a ton of credit for putting together a card full of very fun fights even if there was very little action with any real top of the division relevance. This was a really fun night of fights. I'm still not sold on Mike Easton and tonight makes it hard for me to make up my mind one way or another. I didn't expect Jared Papazian to do much of anything in the fight but he looked very good. Given my questions about Easton coming in I'm forced to wonder if Mike not being as good as advertised is part of why Jared looked good, or if Jared is just better than I thought. Regardless, that was a hell of a fun fight. Pat Barry's ground game was good enough to survive when Christian Morecraft put him on the ground a few times. Being able to survive meant he was able to work his way to his feet and eventually find the space to land a bomb and put Morecraft out cold. The ref was slow getting in there at the end and resulted in Morecraft getting crushed by a few unnecessary shots. I guess before we get to the undercard it's time to talk about the announcers. I liked Anik for the most part, he had some rough spots but I'm willing to chalk those up to first time doing it live. Florian needs to turn it down a few notches and not go so hyperbolic with his post-fight analysis though. Kenny went to "world class" a bit too often tonight and it was jarring. More after the jump... SBN coverage of UFC on FX Jorge Rivera going out on a win was a nice moment. Eric Schafer folded a bit once he got tagged but Rivera getting the win was fun. He's been around for a long time without ever being a true top guy, but always evolving enough to remain relevant. That's more than most fighters will ever be able to say. The only fight I didn't enjoy on the show was Kamal Shalorus vs. Habib Nurmagomedov. Kamal looked like he never really recovered after being hurt in the first round and Habib (or Khabib) was rather unimpressive in victory. Charlie Brenneman did the Charlie Brenneman thing against Daniel Roberts. He worked takedowns and passes without really coming close to finish but making a clear case that he'd won the fight. I don't know that the UFC is going to be dying to put him on main cards anytime soon, but he'll be a Fuel staple. Tom Hayden did well as a guy fighting over his normal weight on late notice but once it turned into a ground fight, Fabricio Camoes was simply better and got the submission. Pat Schilling looked like he had no business in the cage with Daniel Pineda. Pineda was trouncing him on the feet, then once it was on the ground it wasn't even close as he got the submission. It's a shame that the event takes so long that it's easy to forget Nick Denis' beautiful elbow knockout of Joseph Sandoval. Denis is a lot of fun to watch and has a certain kind of explosiveness that is going to make him a must-see fighter.

Posted in: ufc, fight, submission, miller, ground

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

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

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

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

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Tonight the UFC debuts on FX with a pivotal match up between two top lightweights looking to rebound from recent losses in Melvin Guillard and Jim Miller. There will also be a Welterweight bout between Duane Ludwig and Josh Neer as well as a Heavyweight clash between Pat Barry and Christian Morecraft. The Bantamweights will also be getting some main card love when Mike Easton battles Jared Papazian. There is plenty of promising undercard action on Fuel as well so lets get to the card and the predictions.... Melvin Guillard vs. Jim Miller Earl - Melvin got subbed by Joe Lauzon with the quickness in his last fight and will most certainly be looking to get his name back "in the mix" @ 155. I believe he will be too aggressive in his attempt to do so and Jim will make him pay. Jim Miller, Submission, Round 2.Cory - Melvin is one of those strange fighters that has three or four awesome looking fights in a row, and then wakes up one day and found out he dookied all over the bed last night. He had his Depends moment last fight, and I think he manages to keep it together this time. Guillard, TKO, Round 2.Duane Ludwig vs. Josh NeerEarl - "Bang" got a long overdue accolade when he was finally recognized as the man with the fastest KO in UFC history. I don’t think he finishes the notoriously tough Neer and certainly not quickly. I do think he has what it takes to outpoint Josh on the feet and bust him up to a dominant victory. Duane Ludwig, Unanimous Decision.Cory - Josh Neer has just been one of those dudes who, for whatever reason, hasn’t impressed me all that much. I think Ludwig gets him with a latesub Duane Ludwig, Submission, Round 3.Mike Easton vs. Jared PapazianEarl - Easton will be looking to make it 2 in a row in the UFC and Papzian is looking to make a name for himself in his UFC debut. Papazian has a tattoo that says "Pain is temporary". His UFC career will be too. Mike Easton, TKO, Round 3.Cory - I pretty much agree with Earl the Pearl on this one. I don’t think that Papz’s skills will hold up through the lower and middle rungs of the UFC. The only fighter he’s ever faced who’s name I’ve even recognized is Abel Cullum, whom some may remember for getting armbar’d by Imanari this fall at DREAM 17. Mike Easton, Submission, Round 2.Christian Morecraft vs. Pat BarryEarl - Pat Barry is absolutely one of my favorite people in mixed martial arts. He has a great personality, exciting style and is endlessly hilarious. It is really too bad he hasn’t felt compelled to round out his game inside the cage. Training at Team DeathClutch didn’t save him from Stefan Struve and it damn sure won’t save him against Morecraft. So long, Pat. Christian Morecraft, Submission, Round 1.Cory - Damnit, E-Mo, why must you read my mind about this fight? Pat Barry is absolutely one of my favorite people in mixed martial arts. He has a great personality, exciting style and is endlessly hilarious. It is really too bad he hasn’t felt compelled to round out his game inside the cage. Training at Team DeathClutch didn’t save him from Stefan Struve and it damn sure won’t save him against Morecraft. So long, Pat. Christian Morecraft, Submission, Round 1.Jorge Rivera vs. Eric ShaferEarl - I think the El Conquistador Retirement Defying Train rolls on here in vicious fashion. "Red" is in deep here. Jorge Rivera, TKO, Round 2.Cory - Eric is another dude who I just can’t see climbing the ladder in this sport. His best win to date was... Houston Alexander? Meh. Jorge Rivera, TKO, Round 2.Kamal Shalorus vs. Khabib NurmagomedovEarl - Please Kamal, save me from having to type that name ever again. Kamal Shalorus, Unanimous Decision.Cory - The smart writer just copy/pastes the difficult stuff like that to ensure typos don’t occur. Editing process aside, I don’t really have a lot to say about this fight, so I’ll rock with the name I’m slightly familiar with. Kamal Shalorus, Decision.Charlie Brenneman vs. Daniel RobertsEarl - Charlie got his head almost kicked into the 10th row in his last fight. Thankfully for him, he is not going to be fighting someone 2 weight classes above him this time. Roberts is....not so great at anything other than bjj. Charlie got this. Charlie Brenneman, Unanimous Decision.Cory - I’m legally obligated to root for anyone who’s name vaguely resembles my own. Fortunately, I also think that Brenneman wrestles the pants off of Roberts and manages to stay out of getting his limbs turned in ways they aren’t supposed to go. Charlie Brenneman, Decision.Fabricio Camoes vs. Tommy HaydenEarl - I fully expect Brazil to roll here, just like at the last card. Fabricio Camoes, Submission, Round 1.Cory - Yup. Fabricio Camoes, Submission, Round 1.Daniel Pineda vs. Pat SchillingEarl - Much has been said about Pat Schilling’s lack of legit competition. Pat Schilling has had a severe lack of legit competition. Daniel Pineda, Unanimous Decision.Cory - Yup. Daniel Pineda, TKO, Round 2.Joseph Sandoval vs. Nick DenisEarl - Denis is a savage. This should not be close. Nick Denis, TKO, Round 1.Cory - Aaaaaaaaaaaaand yup. Nick Denis, TKO, Round 1.

Posted in: ufc, round, tko, submission, vs

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Filed under: UFCIn another situation, Jim Miller and Melvin Guillard could sit down with plenty to talk about. Both UFC lightweights were close to fighting for UFC gold, only to see the possibility slip away when their long win streaks were snapped. Instead of commiserating over their lost opportunities, the duo will stand across from each other and try to rebound back into the win column while worsening the other's pain. The success of the fighters is based on very differing skill sets. While Guillard favors open space as a way to utilize his quick and powerful strikes, Miller prefers to close distance, fight in tight quarters and drag the fight to the mat where he uses an attacking ground game. In the past, the latter type of approach has been Guillard's kryptonite. An immensely gifted fighter, Guillard has struggled with opponents who refuse to be bullied or scared off by his striking firepower. And he's had nightmares on the ground, with all five of his octagon losses coming via submission. That makes Miller (20-3) a logistical problem for him to navigate. In 23 professional fights, Miller has never been knocked out, and even against heavy-handed sluggers like Duane Ludwig and Kamal Shalorus, he hasn't been knocked down or even rocked. Because of Miller's chin as well as his ground prowess (11 of his 20 wins have come via tapout), oddsmakers have made him a comfortable favorite in the bout. Guillard though, may come with some new tricks up his sleeve. After having worked with the Team Greg Jackson camp in Albuquerque, New Mexico, for most of his recent fights, he moved his training to Florida to prepare with the fast-growing Blackzilians squad. There he reportedly worked hard on his ground game with jiu-jitsu coach Sergio "Babu" Gasparelli, a black belt who has tutored middleweight champ Anderson Silva and light-heavyweight contender Rashad Evans, among others. Whether that will be enough to get past Miller remains to be seen. Guillard, after all, had only about three months since his most recent fight, the loss to Lauzon. That's not a lot of time to make meaningful adjustments, particularly in an art so nuanced as the submission game. Miller will no doubt try to test him there. He averages about 3.1 submission tries per 15 minutes, a number that has him just outside the top 10 in UFC history, according to FIghtMetric. The difficulty for Miller may come in getting the fight to the ground. Historically, he is successful on only 47 percent of his takedown tries, but Miller is such a grinder that he often finds a way to drag his opponent to the mat, and occasionally, knock him down there. While Miller is best known for his submission game, he has underrated striking. The two hardest-hitters he's faced so far in his career are arguably Duane "Bang" Ludwig and Kamal Shalorus, and Miller knocked both of them down, directly leading to finishes. With Shalorus, he finished with ground strikes, while he locked in an armbar against Ludwig. So despite 34 percent striking accuracy, Miller remains a dangerous striker. He also has on his side the built-in advantage of being a southpaw. Guillard has faced a few of them during his UFC run and has had uneven performances, stopping Evan Dunham with strikes while losing to Nate Diaz by submission in a pair of examples. Guillard (29-9-2, 1 no contest) will likely be slowed down by the possibility of Miller's shot. Even though he has strong wrestling -- he stops 65 percent of takedown tries and often pops up quickly off the ground -- he's faced enough trouble there that he can't feel too confident when he goes to the ground with a black belt. Guillard himself connects at only a 40 percent rate, but that figure is a bit misleading, as many of his opponents stand at a distance where it's nearly impossible to be hit. Miller won't do that. He manages range well, and likely will try to get inside and limit Guillard's space. Miller has never shown a fear of engaging a striker, but he goes about it with a plan. Because Guillard is more of an improvisational fighter, this may favor Miller. Guillard will have his moments in this fight if he can keep Miller on the outside of his strikes. But Miller is a bulldog, and he won't be denied for long. Either he's going to get clipped on the way inside, or he'll find his way to Guillard and turn it into his kind of fight. While Miller looked uncharacteristically outclassed in his last bout, he recently admitted to MMAFighting.com that he was battling a kidney infection and going through a bout of mononucleosis at the time. Miller has never been rocked in his UFC career, so the odds and evidence suggest that he won't fall into that kind of trouble against Guillard, either. And what does that leave us? A fight where he's going to continue coming forward and trying to impose his plan. Over the years, we've seen Guillard panic in situations where he's pressured, and Miller is a high-pressure fighter who hunts openings. He'll find a way to get the fight to the ground and close it out with a second-round submission.  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: fight, submission, miller, ground, guillard

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2012 promises to be a monumental year for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. For the first time since 2005, the world’s MMA leader will no longer be associated with  Spike TV. Instead, a historic deal with Fox – and its affiliates — means the Zuffa based promotion will now have a home on network television. Headlining the UFC’s first ever card on the FX network is a lightweight scrap between heavy hitter Melvin Guillard and the always game Jim Miller. Just a few months ago, this bout would have served as a sure-fire title eliminator. Unfortunately, respective hiccups against Joe Lauzon and Ben Henderson have relegated the talented duo into mere afterthoughts in the division. This however, is nothing that can’t be rectified with an impressive showing in the evening’s main event, as both fighters bid to battle their way back into title contention. Preliminary Predictions: * Nick Denis to defeat Joseph Sandoval by Decision * Pat Schilling to defeat Daniel Pineda by Submission in Round 1 * Fabricio Camoes to defeat Tommy Hayden by Decision * Charlie Brennenman to defeat Daniel Roberts by Decision * Kamal Shalorus to defeat Khabib Nurmagomedov by Decision * Jorge Rivera to defeat Eric Schafer by TKO in Round 2 Main Card Predictions: * Pat Barry to defeat Christian Morecraft by TKO in Round 1 * Mike Easton to defeat Jared Papazian by Decision * Duane Ludwig to defeat Josh Neer by Decision Lightweight Fight: Melvin Guillard vs. Jim Miller Before Guillard’s overconfidence got the better of him against Lauzon, he was riding the most impressive winning streak of his career. Having moved to Greg Jackson‘s camp in Albuquerque, Guillard’s head at last looked to be in the right place, and he had finally started to make the most out of his immense skills and physical gifts. The results came accordingly, and “The Young Assassin” seemed destined for a shot at the lightweight title. Now, Guillard finds himself where he was three years ago. Once again, he changed his training camp — this time opting to train at Rashad Evans’ “Blackzillians” in Florida — and once again, he claims this is exactly the kind of switch-up he needed. Miller on the other hand, suffered a momentum-halting loss at the hands of Ben Henderson, who was able to take him down, shut down his submission attempts, and put a ground-and-pound clinic. For once in his career, Miller was thoroughly out-grappled. And while he doesn’t quite have to worry about that happening against someone like Guillard, he does need to worry about having his lights turned off in violent fashion. In addition to being arguably the hardest hitter in the division, Guillard possesses a diverse striking arsenal that is a handful for anyone to deal with. While he doesn’t flick his jab as often as he should, and is sometimes guilty of over-relying on single power shots, Guillard makes up for it with power and accuracy. As efficient as he is moving forward and throwing heavy leather, he has managed to develop into quite a lethal counter-striker. When initiating the offense, Guillard possesses a beautiful left hook-right uppercut combination that he times to perfection. Likewise, his overhand right counter is just as dangerous, and makes opponents think twice about rushing him. From close quarters, Guillard can absolutely crush an opponent with knees to the body. In fact, his  body work in general is much underrated. This creates quite  a tricky situation for Miller, who will need to get on the inside in order to work for takedowns or secure the clinch. As long as he’s on the outside, he will have very little success. From that range, Miller will offer little outside of the occasional head or body kick. His most effective work comes from mid-range and on the inside, where he has shown tremendous improvement in the past 18 months. He likes to leap in with a straight left or a lead uppercut, and often uses those punches to transition into takedowns. Guillard’s takedown defense has improved tremendously as off late, as he has learned to make full use of his athleticism and developed a very solid sprawl. More importantly, Guillard is very difficult to hold down, especially if taken down against the fence, where he can walk-walk and regain his vertical base. However, Miller’s strength isn’t in his ability to get clean takedowns. Instead, he is an expert at using scrambles to get dominant positions. Against Guillard, this could be key, as Melvin has a knack of giving up positions or leaving his neck exposed in scrambles. In particular, when attempting to regain his feet, Guillard is prone to having his back taken. This is especially worrying when factoring in Miller’s masterful ability of suddenly jumping in and latching onto his opponent’s back from out of nowhere. Moreover, Miller’s wide arsenal of submissions will prove problematic, especially since he isn’t really methodical in his approach, and is more reliant on scrambles to secure them rather than establishing position first. Whether it’s a guillotine, an armbar or a leg lock, Miller can get lock in a submission hold instantaneously. The guillotine in particular could be a difference-maker here, as Miller can wrap it up in the blink of an eye, and possesses a tremendous grip to boot. Guillard has never shown good defensive grappling when it comes to actually defending and escaping submission attempts, which doesn’t bode well for him should he find himself in such situations. Guillard is certainly capable of doing to Miller what he did to Evan Dunham last year. In fact, it is one of two likely outcomes in this bout. Either Melvin clobbers his opponent early, or Miller overcomes a difficult first round to submit Guillard in the second half of the fight. I expect the latter to happen. Official Prediction: Jim Miller to defeat Melvin Guillard by Submission PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: decision, submission, miller, guillard, defeat

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10th Planet - West Los Angeles' Scottie Epstein and MiddleEasy have teamed up to provide a new feature called 'Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda.' It takes a black belt to truly analyze what submissions could have been pulled off during a fight. Luckily for us, 'Einstein' has all the necessary hardware to make that happen. This episode focuses on two specific submissions at UFC 142 that could have happened -- but didn't. If you live in the Los Angeles area, be sure to take a visit down to 10th Planet West LA. Classes are offered for all levels, even the guys that sit on their couch and scream a submission is locked when it really isn't. Check out their website here. Besides, it has the smoothest logo in all of jiu-jitsu. If you tell them MiddleEasy referred you, your first class is free.

Posted in: submission, west, middleeasy, isnt check, planet west

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Another Strikeforce fighter has made the jump over to the UFC, but this time it's not a heavyweight, but rather a featherweight: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu-standout, Milton Vieira. Vieira's management revealed the signing to MMA Fighting: His manager Nima Safapour of Alchemist Management confirmed the signing to MMA Fighting on Tuesday morning. Vieira holds a second degree black belt in BJJ under Murilo Bustamente, head coach at Brazilian Top Team where Vieira trains alongside the UFC's resident leg-mangler, Rousimar Palhares. Vieira is perhaps best known as being credited with inventing the Anaconda Choke, which he has used to great success, winning four MMA fights with it. Although the choke was made popular by Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, it was Vieira who taught him the move back when Nogueira was still training at BTT. "Miltinho" has fought all over the world, including for Asian promotions like Pride, DEEP, and Shoot, in Russia for M-1, and most recently, for Strikeforce in the lightweight division, but he will cut down to 145 lbs. for his UFC debut. No date or opponent has been determined for Vieira's first fight, but we'll keep you updated when that information becomes available. Milton "Miltinho" Vieira (13-7-1)W Sterling Ford (technical submission - brabo choke) - Strikeforce ChallengersW Bruno Lobato (submission - anaconda choke) - Bitetti Combat 9W David Cubas (submission - armbar) - Bitetti Combat 7

Posted in: ufc, mma, strikeforce, submission, vieira

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A pair of former King of the Cage champions and New Mexico MMA scene natives took center stage at a Santa Fe event entitled Night Stalker. KOTC Night Stalker took place at the Buffalo Thunder Casino in Santa Fe. The top of the card featured Angelo Sanchez (12-3) and Donald Sanchez (24-12) advance in a mini tournament for the KOTC 145 pound title. Angelo Sanchez out grappled Richard Schiller (8-5-1) in the main event of the 13 fight card. Sanchez fought off an early takedown from Schiller as he looked for multiple submission attempts in the ensuing scrambles. After a failed armbar attempt from Sanchez, Schiller got caught in a fight ending arm triangle choke hold. The time of the tapout was the 4:01 mark of round one. The submission win was the seventh of Sanchez's career. The Santa Fe native has won four straight since dropping a split decision to Donald Sanchez in May 2010. Donald Sanchez was matched up with California's Chris Culley (12-9) in a battle of wrestler versus striker. The fighters traded jabs and knees in the early going before a trip takedown from Sanchez off the cage began the fight ending sequence for Culley. Sanchez took Culley's back and battered him with punches while he searched for a rear naked choke. Culley would roll out of any submission dangerous but was caught in Sanchez's mount where he ate a steady diet of elbow strikes. A handful of unanswered strikes caused the referee to halt the fight and award Sanchez the TKO victory. The bout officially ended at the 4:45 point of round one. Fresh off a 2-2 2011 campaign Sanchez has won back to back fights after he lost to current Bellator bantamweight Jeremy Spoon (12-0) in August. Angelo and Donald Sanchez are now scheduled to fight for third time under the KOTC banner later this year in New Mexico.King of the Cage Night Stalker resultsSanta Fe, NMAngelo Sanchez def. Richard Schiller by Submission Arm Triangle Choke 4:01 R1Donald Sanchez def. Chris Culley by KO (Punches) 4:45 R1Joby Sanchez def. Daniel Armendariz by Submission Rear Naked Choke 2:42 R2Billy Moore def. Terrin Yazzie by Submission Rear Naked Choke 1:46 R1Stacey Sigala def. Zuhey Quezada by Unanimous Decision.Tim Sosa def. Rudy Kennedy by TKO 1:15 R2Joey Miolla def. Dorian Dixon by Unanimous DecisionSteven Gonzalez def. Derek Perez by Submission Punches 2:11 R1Charlie Williams def. Jerald Tsosie by TKO 0:22 R2Eric White def. Fernando Sanchez by Submission Guillotine Choke 0:48 R1Laure Burley def. Tombert Frank by TKO 1:52 R1Malcolm Mitchell def. Sergio Gutierrez by TKO 1:29 R1Aaron Wilson def. Steven Baca by TKO 1:12 R1

Posted in: fight, tko, submission, sanchez, donald

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Posted in: submission, vote, tourlexur, decade

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UFC Featherweight champion Jose Aldo def. Chad Mendes via KO R1 Vitor Belfort def. Anthony Johnson via submission R1 Rousimar Palhares def. Mike Massenzio via submission R1 Carlo Prater wins via DQ over Erick Silva Edson Barboza def. Terry Etim va KO R3   Thiago Tavares def. Sam Stout via UD Gabriel Gonzaga def. Ednaldo [...]

Posted in: ufc, submission, anthony johnson, mike massenzio, chad mendes

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In a relatively thin middleweight division, champion Anderson Silva has few marketable challengers outside of Chael Sonnen. But Rousimar Palhares remains a talented, albeit enigmatic, product with an imposing skill set. Gifted with crushing strength and a nasty ground game, Palhares is somewhat plodding, but brutally committed on the feet, heaving big punches that aren't technically sound, but powerful nonetheless. His compact base and athleticism make for good takedowns and takedown defense, too. Mike Massenzio's had mixed results thus far in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), showing flashes of skill alongside disappointing performances. His stand up will be key in the this bout on the UFC 142 main card pay-per-view (PPV) from the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as Palhares' incredible ability to wrest lower-leg attacks from almost any position make taking him down an extremely dicey proposition, assuming an opponent can do it in the first place. Follow me after the jump for a complete breakdown of the UFC 142 fight between Rousimar Palhares vs. Mike Massenzio: The Breakdown Plainly put, Massenzio will have to keep this on the feet early and use long one-two combinations to punish Palhares as he tries to close the gap. Circle away, keep it somewhat static, and extricate himself from tie-ups, which Palhares will use, especially against the cage, to dump him on the mat. It doesn't figure to be much of a stand up battle as both men will eventually be looking to take it down, but the key for Massenzio is to wear Palhares down early and frustrate him, before shifting to a ground fight. Another wild card is Palhares' recurring inability to control his emotions in a fight, which has cost him. Whether it was complaining about Nate Marquardt allegedly being greased, and subsequently getting KO'd, holding submissions too long, or thinking the fight against Dan Miller was over, while referee Herb Dean and everyone else wondered why he'd stopped fighting, Palhares' head just isn't all there at times. He'll need to focus and avoid fouling, throwing fits or generally subverting his own efforts. It's a shame, too, because at his best he's one of the most dangerous middleweights in the game. The Pick This is a good style match up for Palhares, and he shouldn't be at too much of a stand up deficit to pull it off. While he's made headlines for his occasional outbursts and controversial antics, check his fight with Dan Henderson to see how difficult an assignment he can be. In the decision loss to Hendo, Palhares tried endless takedown attempts, ate plenty of massive right hands, and still kept coming. At times, he'd get drilled hard and dropped, only to immediately transition into a leg submission. He's simply too tough and capable here. With some refinements to his raw stand up game he could be an elite contender, and he'll have too much for Massenzio, pushing a fast pace early and unleashing brutal ground and pound and overwhelming grappling en route to a second-round submission. Palhares via submission Be sure to join MMAmania.com this evening for LIVE, detailed UFC 142 results of all the "Aldo vs. Mendes" PPV action. It will include blow-by-blow coverage of the Facebook video stream, FX "Prelims" bouts, and of course, the PPV broadcast. We'll start RIGHT HERE at around 7:30 p.m. ET and carry straight on through early Saturday morning. See you then!

Posted in: ufc, fight, submission, palhare, massenzio

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Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes Rainer - I nearly forgot about Aldo’s fight with Faber, and my initial impulse was to say that the champ hasn’t yet faced a wrestler of Mendes’ caliber. And while it’s true that Mendes may be a little faster than Faber and less enamored of the striking game, suggesting a more distinct threat of top control, I don’t think those advantages will be enough to see Mendes to victory. With excellent timing and superb finishing power, Aldo will retain his belt. Aldo, TKO, Round 3.Earl - Mendes is in the unfortunate spot of being the best available option and completely not ready for this. If Chad can’t get it to the ground, he is going to get crippled just like Faber did. I think Chad will get it to the ground eventually but Aldo is a black belt and will finish Chad off his back. Aldo, Triangle Choke, Round 3.Chad - Although I think Mendes has a better chance than most of the MMA Community is giving him, I can’t pick against Aldo right now. He’s looked unstoppable inside the cage, and should have the takedown defense needed to keep the fight standing. Aldo, TKO, Round 3. Chris - I agree completely with Earl. Mendes is a good wrestler but he’s no where near where he needs to be to upset Aldo. As far as Aldo is concerned, in his last couple fights he hasn’t looked comfortable unleashing his vicious striking while being ready for the takedown. Unless he’s really improved there, I’d expect to see a repeat of the Florian fight. Aldo by Unanimous Decision.Cory - I’m just going to be a contrarian for no good reason. I’ll actually be surprised if Mendes does it, but i’ll go with an upset. Mendes by Decision. Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony JohnsonRainer - Johnson by wrestle-brawling. Belfort has never fared well against takedown-minded opposition, and though Johnson isn’t a grappler on the level of Dan Henderson or the Tito Ortiz of yester-year, I think he’ll nevertheless manage to confound Belfort with a multifaceted plan of attack. Of course, I feel like I’m constantly over or underestimating Belfort, so who really knows. Johnson, TKO, Round 2. Earl - I wanted to pick Anthony Johnson here and then he crushed the scale @ 197 pounds so now I REALLY want to pick him here. Win or lose, Rumble will get cut. Here is hoping Vitor sends him packing in devastating fashion. Vitor Belfort, KO, Round 1.Chad - I sincerely hope Rainer made his pick before yesterdays weigh ins, because I see very few reasons to go with Johnson now. It’s been reported he’s ill, and prior to the weigh ins, the doctor had given Johnson "tons" of fluids. Combine that with the stipulation that he must weigh in under 205 before he enters the cage, and it seems the odds are now stacked against Johnson. Belfort, KO, Round 1.Chris - I’m torn on this fight. Rumble proved in the Hardy fight that he’s got enough fight IQ to fight smart when he needs to. With his size, wrestling pedigree, and Belfort’s historical weakness against opponents willing to grind out a win, I’d be inclined to give Johnson the nod. On the other hand, Rumble is coming off being hospitalized because of his cut and probably won’t be able to fully hydrate as he has to hit the 205 weight limit tomorrow. That could give Vitor just the edge he needs to land some brutal power shots. I’ll flip the coin and go with Belfort via KO, Round 2Cory - I can’t, in good conscience, root for someone who has screwed the pooch as much as Johnson has done at this point. Vitor Belfort, TKO. Mike Pyle vs. Ricardo FunchRainer - Funch hasn’t had much to offer in previous Octagon appearances, and that he’s coming in on short notice this time will only emphasize his lack of seasoning. Pyle all the way. Pyle, Submission, Round 2.Earl - Funch is exactly the type of fighter Pyle should manhandle. Pyle, Submission, Round 1.Chad - Mike Pyle should win this fight decisively. After the tough loss to Macdonald, he has a lot to prove, and I don’t see Funch offering much offense. But to his credit, Funch survived three rounds against Hendricks, so I wouldn’t expect a finish here. Pyle, Unanimous Decision.Chris - I don’t know anything about Funch, so I’m gonna go with the crowd. Pyle by SubmissionCory - Earl the Pearl stole my line almost word for word. So here it is. Funch is exactly the type of fighter Pyle should manhandle. Pyle, Submission, Round 1. Thiago Tavares vs. Sam StoutRainer - When confronted with a grappler vs. striker match-up, I tend to put greater faith in mat work. However, both Tavares and Stout have managed to shore up their weaknesses a bit. Muddying waters further are the intangibles at play: Tavares’ recent, uneven performances, and the recent loss of friend and trainer Shawn Tompkins suffered by Stout. I’ll guess that on home soil Tavares works doggedly, and succesfully, for top control. Tavares, Split-Decision.Earl - Maybe I am still buzzing from that sickening KO on Yves Edwards, but I think Stout has got a sequel in store for us here. He needs about 3 more of those to truly be "Hands of Stone" and I think he gets one of those here. Sam Stout, KO, Round 1.Chad - This is a very even match up, and I’m not confident in picking either fighter. Stout has the power to end it at any point, but I see Tavares mixing up his strikes with some effective takedowns, controlling the majority of the fight. Tavares, Unanimous Decision.Chris - I’ve been a Sam Stout fan for a long time now and always rooting for him. He’s always in fun fights and I just don’t see Tavares having what it takes to get past him. Stout by DecisionCory - I think Stout is a live dog and will be able to grind out a decision. Stout by Split Decision Edson Barboza vs. Terry EtimRainer - Barboza’s recent, surprisingly competitive fight with underdog Ross Pearson has cast the Brazilian in a slightly dimmer light. However, I don’t think Etim possesses Pearson’s speed or accuracy on the feet, and I doubt he’ll be able to take bring the fight to the mat where the Brit has snagged most of his finishes. Barboza, Unanimous DecisionEarl - Edson is going to be far too active on the feet in this fight and I think he makes Terry pay everytime he tries to close the distance and get the fight to the floor. Barboza, TKO, Round 3.Chad - Besides maybe Sam Stout, Etim has yet to face a striker like Barboza. Unless he’s able to secure an early submission, it could be a long night for Etim. Barboza, Unanimous Decision.Chris - I really like both of these guys as rising contenders in the Lightweight division. But I have to agree with Chad on this one. Barboza’s striking is sharp enough that he should be able to manage the distance and keep Etim from taking him to the ground. Barboza by DecisionCory - I’ll be the ornery guy again. I think Etim is wily enough to latch onto a limb or neck and turn it in ways it shouldn’t go. Etim, Submission, round 2 Erick Silva vs. Carlo PraterRainer - We didn’t get to see much of Silva in his last appearance, as he put away Luis Ramos in under a minute, but, you know, one gets the impression that he’s hell on wheels. Prater enjoyed a resurgence in 2011, going 4-0-0, but you can’t ignore the fact that all of those victories came at lightweight. Though he has an edge in experience, I believe Prater will be at a loss against the bigger Silva. Silva, TKO, Round 2.Earl - It is great to see Carlo in the UFC but Silva is an absolute savage. Erick should impress once more. Silva, TKO, Round 2.Chad - Silva may have some serious hype behind him, but Prater is a veteran and shouldn’t be underestimated. I expect Silva to finish the fight in impressive fashion, but wouldn’t be surprised if Prater manages to pull of f the submission. Silva, TKO, Round 3.Chris - Silva looked incredible against Ramos, so I’m jumping on that hype train. Silva by KO, Round 1Cory - Same reason as Chris, Silva looked incredible against Ramos, so I’m jumping on that hype train. Silva by KO, Round 1 Michihiro Omigawa vs. Yuri AlcantaraRainer - On the one hand, you have Omigawa, a quality competitor with a dispiriting record thanks to over-ambitious matchmaking early in his career. On the other hand is Alcantara, whose record is great, though most of it was composed on the regional circuit. Upon closer examination, however, it becomes apparent that though Alcantara wasn’t fighting international world-beaters, he was indeed putting away some journeymen of respectable record and superior experience. I’ll be pulling for the durable Omigawa, but Alcantara is the real deal. Alcantara, Unanimous Decision.Earl - I can’t pick against Omigawa. Michihiro Omigawa, Unanimous Decision.Cory - I think Omigawa manages to break out of his half-funk and wins a close one here. Michihiro Omigawa, Decision.Chad - Alcantara has looked spectacular, and I don’t have much confidence in Omigawa. Alcantara, Unanimous Decision.Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Edinaldo OliveiraRainer - Gonzaga has never reacted well to getting hit, but hitting things extremely hard just happens to be Oliveira’s forte. Oliveira, KO, Round 1.Earl - I am very happy to see Gonzaga back in the big show but I hope it is in better form than when he left. I think it is going to be a horrendously ugly fight but "Napao" will grab an arm late. Gabriel Gonzaga, Submission, Round 3.Chad - Rainer pretty much summed it up. Oliveria, KO, Round 1. Chris - Gonzaga didn’t look great toward the end of his first run in the UFC. I think the time off will remind him that he’s a grappler first and not a kickboxer. Gonzaga by SubmissionCory - Oliveira looked about as doughy as I’ve seen since Roy Nelson. That said, he still packs a punch and Gonzaga gets packed by punches. Do Brooklyn by TKORousimar Palhares vs. Mike MassenzioRainer - When it comes to striking, Massenzio might be a little more eager and confident, but the threat of a takedown will likely cause some hesitation. That leaves the grappling, where Palhares has a distinct edge. Palhares, Submission, Round 2.Earl - Massenzio is a solid fighter who looked very good against Steve Cantwell in his last outing. Unfortunately for him, Rousimar is a human dismembering, scatterbrained tree stump and he will add another appendage to his collection here. Palhares, Submission, Round 2.Chad - Massenzio is a decent grappler, but he’s not prepared for what Palhares brings to the table. Palhares, Submission, Round 1Chris - Palhares by Submission. ‘Nuff said.Cory - If Paul Harris doesn’t take home a limb here, I’ll consider eating my hat on live cam. - Miniature Ape by _CL destroying submissionFelipe Arantes vs. Antonio CarvalhoRainer - I can’t say I have much direct knowledge regarding either of these featherweights. However, I expect that Arantes’ edge in Octagon experience will be offset by Carvalho’s long-standing position among the upper levels of the division. Carvalho, Unanimous Decision.Earl - I will pick Carvalho in this one and hope for the best. Carvalho, Unanimous Decision.Chad - Both fighters have identical records, and are the same height, but Arantes is much younger. Hopefully youth prevails. Arantes, Split Decision. Cory - I don’t have too much to go on here, so let’s coin flip and go with Arentes by TKO.

Posted in: fight, round, submission, silva, chad

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BloodyElbow.com was on deck at the packed Cebu International Convention Center as the Philippines' biggest star headlined URCC Cebu 7: Dominate. In what has almost been a trademark in each of his fights, Eduard Folayang once again displayed his massive heart and found a way to win despite facing adversity early on. Folayang landed a few shots standing before getting dropped by a flush left hook from the Brazilian Muay Thai champion in Wadson Teixeira. The Wushu expert survived, regained guard, and reversed the position only to fall on a guillotine attempt from the BJJ brownbelt. Folayang defended well, and started raining down several of the loudest elbows I have ever heard. After taking all those heavy elbows, Teixeira signaled to tap, but the Nova Uniao and Legacy Gym product still went out, and remained down on the mat for an extended period. All that in just 56 seconds of fighting. With the victory, Folayang, who is ranked as the #6 lightweight in the World MMA Scouting Report, improved to 11-1 and extended his winning streak to six. Check out the full results after the jump. Photo Gallery will be up soon, and as always, follow me on twitter. URCC Cebu 7: Dominate Results Alde De Soza def. Samuel Estandarti by Submission (Punches), R1, 0:23Vaughn Donayre def. Hans Christian Lamanilao by TKO (Double Hammerfists), R1Roel Rusauro def. Arnel Ylanan by KO (Spinning Back Fist), R1, 9:11Jimmy Yabo def Urtych Alarin by KO (Punch), R1, 0:23Jonathan Sumogat def. Renan Noble Franca by Submission (Kimura), R1, 2:19Victor Torre def. Geronimo Etac by Submission (Armbar), R1, 6:19Carry Bullos def. Rex De Lara by Submission (Guillotine Choke), R2, 0:40Eduard Folayang def. Wadson Teixeira by Submission (Elbows), R1, 0:56

Posted in: submission, folayang, teixeira, wadson teixeira, cebu

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That’s right everyone, the Downes Side is back. I believe the first column went well, judging by the fact that my family downgraded my abuse from condescending remarks (e.g. "When are you going to get a real job?") to backhanded compliments (e.g. “Nice to know your head’s good for more than getting punched.”). The slight increase in respect was even more impressive considering my picks went 0-4. Statistically speaking, however, that's just as difficult as going 4-0, so at least I have that. This weekend the UFC is rolling into Rio. I was hoping that maybe they'd send me so I could type this from a beach in Brazil instead of the public library -- after all, didn't Zuffa save a bunch of money by not having to hire Blackwater to protect Chael Sonnen from angry Brazilians? Plus I assume that Brazilian women have a bunch of jacked up tan men surrounding them, so they’d like to change things up with a pale, skinny internet columnist. Well, shocking but true, I'm stuck here in Wisconsin and the picture above is Photoshopped. Still, a guy can dream, can’t he?Barboza vs EtimThe main card kicks off with a lightweight matchup. Terry Etim enters after a 17 second submission win against Edward Faaloloto at UFC 138; undefeated Edson Barboza comes off a controversial decision (outside of Brazil, anyway) victory over Ross Pearson in August. This fight boils down to the freakish athleticism and power of Barboza against the finesse and technique of Etim.Prediction: Barboza is stronger, faster and more explosive, but Etim has the advantage in pale gangly limbs (something I respect in a fighter). In this early stage of his career, Barboza is still one-dimensional and Etim will take advantage. Barboza will come out wild, Etim will weather the storm, secure a takedown and finish it by submission in the first. (Barboza will totally own Etim in the swimsuit competition, though.)  Silva vs. PraterThe next bout takes place between welterweights Erick Silva and Carlo Prater, and what this fight lacks in name recognition, it makes up for in Fight of the Night potential. Silva recently scored a first-minute TKO in his UFC debut. He hasn’t lost in more than five years, has great stand-up skills, and seven of his 13 wins have come via submission. He’s also a former Jungle Fight champion, which I assume is some type of guerrilla warfare competition. Prater (29-10-1) is a former top contender for the WEC welterweight title, comes from a Muay Thai background, and has also won over half his fights by submission. Prediction: This could be one of those fights where you’ll wish it were five rounds instead of three. Unfortunately for the Jungle Fight champion, the Brazilian athletic commission is just as strict as Nevada’s with regards to its “no firearms” policy. Prater will outgun the younger fighter and take it by unanimous decision. Palhares vs. MassenzioNext up we have Rousimar Palhares vs Mike Massenzio. The one wildcard here is, well, wildcard Rousimar Palhares. Whether it be the premature celebration against Dan Miller, the complete lapse against Nate Marquardt or his holding on to submissions for too long, let's just say few would blink if his next walkout kit included a tin foil hat to block thought-stealers. Most people are counting Massenzio out, considering this a “gimme” fight to set up Palhares for a contender matchup next. Prediction: Normally, I hate to agree with most people. That’s why I listen to bands you’ve never heard of (even when I don't like them) and refuse to wash my hands after using the bathroom. In this case, though, they’re right about the outcome. "Toquinho" (or “Torquinho” if you choose to dwell on his joint-dislocation abilities) will be mentally focused come Saturday night and will finish it in the first with one of his patented leg locks.Belfort vs. JohnsonAnthony Johnson will make his eagerly anticipated debut at middleweight against Vitor Belfort. Even with moving up in weight classes “Rumble” will be the bigger, stronger competitor. Belfort, after falling victim to Anderson Silva’s super-secret Steven Seagal front kick, rebounded with a big KO of Yoshihiro Akiyama in August and will have the advantage in hand speed, defense and (definitely) experience. Prediction: Belfort hasn’t had a fight go the distance since 2007 and he won’t start 2012 with one either. The key here will be Belfort’s ability to use his footwork and attack from angles. Johnson is definitely strong enough to compete at middleweight, but he’s in for rough introduction. Belfort wins by TKO in the first and Johnson calls up Charles Barkley for some diet tips. Aldo vs. MendesThat brings us to the main event of the evening. Jose Aldo is making his fifth title defense (and third in the UFC) against Chad “Money" Mendes. After going on a KO tear, the fact that Aldo has gone to a decision his last couple of bouts has diminished his aura of invincibility. Still, the champ is extremely dangerous. Mendes, an elite wrestler with an undefeated record against top dudes, has the skill set to take the title away. Prediction: For Chad Mendes to win, two things are necessary: conditioning and judging. If he can keep a solid pace for five rounds he’s going to take Aldo down and grind him and get the decision victory. Picture this as a featherweight version of Silva vs Sonnen, but without the fifth-round Hail Mary triangle. The hometown fans won’t like it, but on the bright side, I picture Mendes' Team Alpha Male victory party to look like a mini version of an LMFAO video, which should be fun.That concludes this iteration of the Downes side. Feel free to leave some comments, although the last batch (a la “YOUR WRITING SUX!!!!!!!”) was about as helpful as the pre-flight safety checks on an airplane. It's the internet, so I understand the compulsion to try and hurt my feelings. Please remember, though, I'm an expert in psychological warfare – I went to Catholic school.

Posted in: fight, submission, vs, barboza, belfort

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With Sherdog's report that Maiquel Falcao will indeed take part in Bellator's Season 6 middleweight tournament, the field of 185-pound fighters has expanded to six. Falcao fought in the UFC once, in November of 2010, taking a unanimous decision win over Gerald Harris. However, as legal complications arose relating to a 2002 arrest, Falcao was cut from the ranks before he could make a second appearance. Falcao has competed three times since then, with a submission loss to Antonio Braga Neto splitting a pair of first-round TKO victories. Falcao will be competing against a host of knockout artists and submission specialists, most of them so far only strongly rumored participants, for a shot at the Bellator championship. Below, a look at the likely tournament contenders... Brian Rogers (8-3-0) compiled a seven-fight winning streak, including wins in both Strikeforce and Bellator, before falling last October to Alexander Schlemenko's knees. He is the only other tournament participant to be definitely confirmed. Brett Cooper (16-7-0) followed his own loss to Schlemenko with three straight victories, including slight upset victories over Joe Doerksen and one-time Bellator finalist Jared Hess. Eleven of Cooper's sixteen victories have come by (T)KO. Like most of the men on this list, Vitor Vianna (12-2-1) also saw a win streak come to a halt courtesy of Alexander Schlemenko. A Season 5 finalist, Vianna holds wins over Bryan Baker and current UFC middleweight Francis Carmont. Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (15-1-0) has spent his entire career fighting on the European circuit. He's currently on a fourteen-fight tear, which includes a third-round submission victory of UFC vet Xavier Foupa-Pokam. Giva Santana (17-1-0), known also as "The Arm Collector," has defeated fifteen opponents by way of submission, and no less than thirteen of those by armbar. His current six-fight win streak includes victories over former WEC champion Doug Marshall and former Strikeforce title contender Anthony Ruiz.

Posted in: ufc, bellator, submission, victory, falcao

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The UFC returns to Brazil on Saturday, January 14, for UFC 142 RIO: Aldo vs. Mendes. At least one Brazilian will make an appearance in each of the event's ten total match ups. Along with four other bouts on the pay-per-view echelon, featherweight assassin Jose Aldo will defend his title against Chad Mendes in the headliner. After a litany of changes, the bottom half of the lineup, to be analyzed herein, will be available for viewing as well. The FX Network will air four of the five preliminary card fights and the sole remainder will stream live and free on the UFC's Facebook page beforehand. The finalized undercard shakes out like this: FX Network - 8 p.m. ET Thiago Tavares vs. Sam StoutGabriel Gonzaga vs. Ednaldo OliveiraYuri Alcantara vs. Michihiro OmigawaRicardo Funch vs. Mike Pyle UFC's Facebook Page - approx. 7:30 p.m. ET Felipe Arantes vs. Antonio Carvalho Here's a quick review of the alterations to the original card. Stanislov Nedkov was aligned with Fabio Maldonado, but visa issues forced Nedkov to withdraw. Caio Magalhaes was chosen to replace Nedkov, but Maldonado suffered an injury and the bout has been nixed entirely. An injury prevented Paulo Thiago from competing against Mike Pyle, and Brazilian Ricardo Funch will replace him. Rob Broughton was pulled from the card and now Gabriel Gonzaga will return against fellow Brazilian Ednaldo Oliveira Siyar Bahadurzada was set to make his UFC debut against Erick Silva, but has now been swapped with Carlo Prater. We'll rendezvous in the full entry for a walk-through of each of these five preliminary fights. SBN coverage of UFC 142 RIO: Aldo vs. Mendes Sam Stout (17-6-1) vs. Thiago Tavares (14-6-1) Leading up to his bout with Yves Edwards, Sam Stout had gone to decisions in nine of his ten Octagon fights. His only "finish" was the bad kind, which was tapping to a Kenny Florian rear naked choke in 2006. "Hands of Stone" was starting to become an unfitting nickname. Though he has nine knockouts throughout the course of his career, the first-round left hook that flattened Yves Edwards (right) was his first in the UFC. Stout has notched four bonus-worthy performances in his last five outings: three consecutive "Fight of the Night" awards against Matt Wiman, Joe Lauzon (decision wins), Jeremy Stephens (split-decision loss) and "Knockout of the Night" versus Edwards. After suffering back-to-back losses in 2008 (Rich Clementi, Terry Etim), Stout has turned things around nicely with four wins in his last five. The Canadian and TKO lightweight champion is one of the few singularly-styled fighters at MMA's top level. Stout boasts a 16-4 kickboxing record and is billed as a Canadian and North American Muay Thai champion on UFC.com. His stand up technique is fundamentally flawless and machine-like, albeit a little slow in delivery. He's been adept at defending or avoiding takedowns and scrambling back to his feet against threatening grapplers to exploit his striking. Tenacious is the best word to describe BJJ black belt Thiago Tavares. Though a submission specialist (11 of 16 wins by catch), his shocking quickness and frenetic pace make him a challenge for any lightweight in any phase of combat. Tavares is an excellent scrambler and his wrestling has progressed, as evinced to the left in his second round stoppage of Fisher. His UFC record is five wins (Naoyuki Kotani, Jason Black, Michihiro Omigawa, Manny Gamburyan, Pat Audinwood) and four losses (Tyson Griffin, Matt Wiman, Kurt Pellegrino, Shane Roller) with one draw (Nik Lentz). Two of those losses were knockouts on account of some technical deficiencies with his striking, which spells trouble against Stout. His tendency of dropping his hands in exchanges allowed Wiman to find his chin and Roller capitalized on his habit of retreating in a straight line by timing an overhand right. The obvious specialties of Stout and Tavares gives the match a striker vs. grappler slant. Both fighters are difficult to finish but two submissions account for Stout's stoppage-losses; two TKOs for Tavares. Even though he hasn't been impossible to take down, Stout has solid takedown defense and also excels at creating space or cage-walking to break loose. He's been able to defeat bigger and better wrestlers than Tavares by forcing a shootout on the feet for the bulk of the fight. Tavares is an explosive little firecracker and the type to stick like glue and make something happen if he can force a grappling match. I'd estimate the gap in their skills on the mat to be much closer than the yawning chasm of their standing differential. I expect Stout to battle through a tough first round and then start to dial in his striking to out-point Tavares. My Prediction: Sam Stout by decision. Michihiro Omigawa (13-10-1) vs. Yuri Alcantara (26-3) After an unsuccessful stint at lightweight in his 2008 Octagon debut and then colliding with powerhouse wrestlers Chad Mendes and Darren Elkins in his return at featherweight, Omigawa has finally scored his first UFC win. The seasoned Japanese veteran rolled out his elite Judo arsenal -- hitting the deashi barai or forward foot sweep in the clip to the right -- to stifle talented marksmen Jason Young for a unanimous decision at UFC 138. Despite opening up with consecutive UFC losses again, this time at featherweight, Omigawa was impressively resilient when faced with the paralyzing ground control of Mendes and Elkins, both of whom are amongst the top wrestlers in the division. He lost all three rounds to Mendes but was active on the feet and off his back, and the decision with Elkins was a hotly debated and controversial outcome that five of the popular media sources scored in his favor. We're yet to fully grasp the potential Alcantara has in the UFC. He's a Jungle Fight lightweight champion with a BJJ black belt and wicked Muay Thai, currently soaring on a twelve-fight streak and boasting wins in all but one of his last nineteen. "Marajo" made his stateside debut at WEC 53 as a lightweight and shellacked Ricardo Lamas for a first-round KO, then dropped to 145 for his Octagon debut and employed his wrestling and submission grappling to out-hustle Felipe Arantes. Beating Lamas was a huge testament to his skill as all of Alcantara's previous fights took place on the Brazilian circuit. Omigawa has been increasingly effective with his Peek-a-boo style of boxing though he is not without random lapses where he drops his hands and his head-movement goes stale. Omigawa's unique striking, astronomical Judo and feisty ground game will be an interesting contrast with Alcantara's Muay Thai and BJJ medley. It's not that I'm unimpressed with Alcantara -- frankly, I just don't know how good he is. Lamas is really his only A-level opponent. Plus, he's tangling with one of the most durable and experienced featherweights in the game. Omigawa has only been finished twice in his ten losses, and those stoppages were Omigawa's first two pro-fights in 2005 against sturdy lightweights Aaron Riley and Gesias Cavalcante. My Prediction: Michihiro Omigawa by decision. Gabriel Gonzaga (12-6) vs. Ednaldo Oliveira (13-0-1) This heavyweight tilt features two Brazilians: one experienced veteran returning to the spotlight and one newcomer looking to shine in his big-stage debut. Gonzaga was released after his twelve-piece Octagon stint culminated in back-to-back defeats circa 2010 (Junior dos Santos, TKO; Brendan Schaub, decision). His career-defining victory was crushing Mirko Filipovic with the Croatian's signature "Cemetery Kick", but Gonzaga, a BJJ black belt under Wander Braga and successful sport grappler, seemed to fall in love with his striking after the ironic upset. Taking that win out of the mix, Gonzaga basically ran through the mid- and lower-tier heavyweights but fell short against the upper echelon. He did notch an arm-triangle over Parker Porter since being cast off, maintaining his 100% finishing rate with seven career submissions and five TKOs. Oliveira is a boxer who trains with dos Santos and is unbeaten in the Brazilian fight scene. His only two opponents of note are Geronimo dos Santos and Joaquim Ferreira; the latter being responsible for Junior dos Santos' sole blemish, which was an armbar in 2007. Since Sherdog lists him at 6'7" and the UFC at 6"5", let's just say he's a fairly tall heavyweight. Oliveira's striking style is not what I'd call finely polished or highly technical. He's more of a wild brawler with sketchy defensive tendencies and wide, loopy punches. Gonzaga is not an accomplished wrestler but has the robust size (252-pounds) and willpower to put Oliveira on his back, where I don't think the younger athlete can compete with the submission specialist. My Prediction: Gabriel Gonzaga by submission. Ricardo Funch (8-2) vs. Mike Pyle (21-8-1) Funch trains at Team Link in Massachusetts alongside fellow Brazilian Gabriel Gonzaga. He kicked off his career with seven straight wins, which included a TKO over eventual UFCer T.J. Waldburger, to get a shot in the Octagon in 2009. There, he dropped both of his fights and was released, though facing Johnny Hendricks (decision loss) and Claude Patrick (guillotine loss) is no picnic. Funch has since defeated ATT-Connecticut's Ryan Quinn. He's a BJJ black belt but prefers to pound with four TKOs and one submission. Pyle is a heavily experienced Xtreme Couture rep who has hit his stride late in his career. He's competed in the WEC, IFL, Sengoku and Strikeforce and tackled a number of big names. Only a brown belt in BJJ, Pyle's grappling tactics are perfectly attuned to MMA and he's one of the slickest ground technicians around, as supported by his sixteen submission wins. His boxing has vastly improved and he seems much more comfortable transitioning between striking and grappling. Pyle now has seven UFC fights under his belt: he lost to Brock Larson in his debut, but then compiled four wins in his next six, losing only to Jake Ellenberger and Rory Macdonald. Both Funch and Pyle are aggressive gamers with similar styles and this should be an exciting affair. Pyle is a very strong favorite on the betting lines but Funch has shown shades of brilliance, such as his shocking display of takedown defense against Hendricks. However, I've been impressed with Pyle's late-stage evolution and like him for the win here. My Prediction: Mike Pyle by submission. Felipe Arantes (13-4) vs. Antonio Carvalho (13-4) -- streaming on Facebook Arantes is a Chute Boxe product now training under Jorge Patino and the Macaco Gold Team. "Sertanejo" is a smooth striker with an adequate submission grappling acumen, winning six by TKO with four catches. He recently made his Octagon debut on the last Rio card in a competitive decision loss to Alcantara. Carvalho is a Canadian who's had an interesting journey. The BJJ black belt first appeared in the Shooto promotion undefeated after seven outings and defeated "Lion" Takeshi Inoue to establish himself as a soaring new prospect. The tables would quickly turn. His flawless streak crumbled with four losses in his next six and he faded out of the scene for two years. "Pato" made a comeback in 2010 and accrued three straight and is now granted the biggest opportunity of his life with a shot in the UFC. Carvalho is also a talented kickboxer, giving him a stylistic mix of striking and submissions that's very similar to Arantes'. Even though he's been a little streaky, I expect Carvalho to justify why everyone was so excited about his potential in the past. My Prediction: Antonio Carvalho by submission. All gifs via Zombie Prophet of IronForgesIron.com Poll Stout vs. Tavares, Omigawa vs. Alcantara Stout and Omigawa Stout and Alcantara Tavares and Omigawa Tavares and Alcantara   4 votes | Results

Posted in: ufc, submission, vs, tavare, omigawa

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With less than two weeks to go until the UFC's first FX-televised event, there was still one more fight to be added, and it will feature two UFC newcomers in the featherweight division: Daniel Pineda and Pat Schilling. The UFC tweeted news of the match-up yesterday: Nashville @FXNetworks card changes: Mike Brown injured; Daniel Pineda vs. Pat Schilling and Mike Easton vs. Jared Papazian added Schilling trains out of Ambition MMA in Minnesota under head coach Joey Clark, and has relied mainly on his ground game to go undefeated in his first five pro fights, with four of those wins coming via submission. Competing on the Minnesota and Canadian regional scene, Schilling''s competition hasn't exactly been too impressive, with his most recent win coming against an 0-7 fighter. Pineda is a native of Houston, Texas and trains at the 4oz Fight Club. He'll have a significant experience advantage over Schilling, with 22 fights under his belt, and against tougher competition in larger organizations like Bellator and Legacy Fighting Championship. Pineda has only been to a decision once, although that's probably the result of his reckless style, as Pineda has 6 submission losses to go along with his 9 submission wins. Perhaps the most notable name on Pineda's record is current UFC bantamweight and TUF 14 cast-member, Johnny Bedford, as Pineda and Bedford split a pair of fights in 2009, with each man getting a submission win over the other. Pat "Thrilling" Schilling (5-0)W Cody Larson (submission - punches) - Brutaal Fight Night: Brutaal MythW Tom Waters (submission kneebar) - W-1 MMA 6W Dustin Smith (submission - RNC) - Brutaal Fight Night Daniel "The Pit" Pineda (15-7)W Gilbert Jimenez (KO - spinning backfist) - Legacy Fighting Championship 9W Frank Gomez (submission - RNC) - Legacy Fighting Championship 7W Ray Blodgett (KO - punch) - Legacy Fighting Championship 6 UFC on FX 1 coverage

Posted in: ufc, fight, submission, schilling, pineda

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Somewhat lost amidst the announcement of the main event for the UFC's Sweden debut, featuring Alexander Gustafsson vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, was the additional confirmation of an intriguing bantamweight scrap for the same card, with Brad Pickett taking on Damacio Page: Additional bouts for this card include bantamweight action pitting British bomber Brad Pickett vs. free-swinging American Damacio Page Pickett came into a very emotional bout in his native England at UFC 138 as one of the top-ranked bantamweights in the world, but after throwing strategy out the window and engaging in a wild firefight with Renan Barao, he ended up getting clipped on the feet and then choked out on the ground. Now in bad need of a win to regain his footing on the 135 lb. ladder, Pickett will once again compete in Europe, against another powerful puncher. Page rarely finds himself in a boring fight, but like Pickett did against Barao, the Greg Jackson-trained fighter often employs a go-for-broke style rather than fighting with a smarter gameplan. It will be over a year since Page's last fight when April rolls around, as an injury forced him out of a scheduled bout with Norifumi Yamamoto back in September. "The Angel of Death" is also looking to put a stop to a two-fight losing streak, with both losses coming via guillotine choke to Demetrious Johnson and Brian Bowles respectively. Brad "One Punch" Pickett (20-6)L Renan Barao (submission) - UFC 138W Ivan Menjivar (unam. decision) - WEC 53L Scott Jorgensen (unam. decision) - WEC 50 Damacio "The Angel of Death" Page (12-6)L Brian Bowles (submission) - UFC on Versus 3L Demetrious Johnson (submission) - WEC 52W Will Campuzano (submission) - WEC 43 UFC on Fuel 2 coverage

Posted in: ufc, submission, wec, page, pickett

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2011 may be one of the biggest years in MMA history. From the Strikeforce purchase to the UFC's deal with Fox, there were some incredible moments inside and outside of the cage. The Bloody Elbow Staff will be discussing the best moments of 2011 and posting the full conversations in the upcoming days. To kick things off, the staff discussed what was the best submission of 2011 and the overwhelming favorite was Frank Mir's kimura on Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 140. It was just so unexpected that many of us got caught up in the significance. The other popular choice was Chan Sung Jung's twister over Leonard Garcia. Just the fact that it's a low probability submission made it a clear contender. The fact that we'll likely never see it again kept it in the conversation. Tim Burke: Chan Sung Jung's twister submission of Leonard Garcia. Case closed. Josh Nason: Love that one, but want to nominate Tito Ortiz' guillotine win over Ryan Bader and Michael Chandler's rnc sub of Eddie Alvarez, the former for sentimental reasons and the latter because it was a big upset to close a great fight. KJ Gould: Jon Jones' front chancery choke / prayer choke left a lasting impression, with the way Machida dropped after John McCarthy stopped the fight. No one had ever submitted Machida before, and Shogun remains the only one to knock him out cold. Brent Brookhouse: I'm going to go with Mir's armbreaker over Nogueira. Nogueira had him practically KO'ed, then went for the choke, Mir survives the submission by a heavyweight MMA submissionlegend and gets his own kimura on and breaks the arm in half? That's submission of the year stuff for me. Fraser Coffeen: Hate to repeat, but Brent has this. Many, myself included, assumed Mir vs. Nog II would be another standing battle, but instead we got the quick ground war between two Heavyweight Jiu Jitsu greats that we had hoped for - and then Mir snapped Nog's arm like a twig. Nasty? You bet. But clearly the sub of the year. Ben Thapa: I was a big fan of Joe Lauzon's trimura and Pat Curran's Peruvian Necktie. Oh and lets not forget Vinny getting the gogoplata from mount in M-1. Dallas Winston: The Korean Zombie's Twister was a lock for this spot until Nog x Mir. One of our last discussions was how "significance" played into annual awards, and that's what launches this one out of the ballpark. Mir and Nog are traditionally considered the most proven heavyweight submissionists of all time but they were isolated in different organizations for most of their careers. They're both old schoolers who are still pushing at the top level and the way this fight unfolded was downright historic. David Castillo: All great choices, and while Nog/Mir should be the winner, I think Pablo Garza's flying triangle on Yves Jabouin is worth highlighting. Flying submissions of any kind are so rare, and so awesome. If we're talking submissions on the whole, however, my personal favorite was Vinny Magalhaes' banana split on Daniel Gracie at the Ultimate Absolute. Matt Roth: I'm going with Mir/Nog as well. I think with everything you have to include significance and being the first man to submit nog really makes it the best of the year. Just watching the whole sequence and arm break. Jeez, I can't think of another submission that caused so many different emotions at once.

Posted in: fight, mir, submission, year, nog

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After a three event schedule in 2011, Indiana based Colosseum Combat returned to their home base of the Kokomo Event Center for CC19. In the main ex UFC lightweight Shamar Bailey (13-5) looked to snap a two fight skid versus Hoosier state journeyman Darrell Smith (16-19).The 155 pound scrap turned into a game of survival for the overmatched Smith. Bailey went back his wrestling roots and planted Smith on his back repeatedly in rounds one and two. On the floor Bailey pattered Smith with punches that forced his opponent to fight off submissions advances from the three time UFC fighter. In the final round Bailey finally secured a fight ending choke on Smith. After a barrage of punches Bailey latched on a D'Arce choke that induced a quick tap out from Smith. A cast member of the Ultimate Fighter 13 Bailey won his UFC debut in June 2011. Bailey was released from the promotion in November after back to back losses. 19 year old flyweight prospect James Porter (4-0) impressed in the co main event slot of the card. Matched up with Ohio gamer Carson Gainey (8-8), Porter's high octane offense led to a finish early in the second round. The first round saw Porter stifle Gainey with submission attempts and mat acrobatics off his back. Round two began with a takedown from Gainey. In the transition from feet to floor Porter slipped a triangle choke around Gainey's exposed neckline. A power slam out of the submission was for not as Gainey tapped out of the 1:17 mark of round two. With armbar and rear naked choke pro wins under his belt Porter adds triangle choke to his list of stoppages. The win at 125 pounds keeps Porter firmly on the UFC's radar for potential additions to their newfound flyweight division. With the UFC looking to add a new weight class to their ranks in the first half of 2012, Porter may be a mere one to two wins away from a call up to the biggest MMA promotion in the land. Colosseum Combat 19 resultsKokomo, INTerry House, Jr. def. Henry Goonen by Unanimous DecisionAtsuhiro Takano def. Michael Shields by Submission Arm Triangle Choke 2:16 R1Michael Eikenberry def. Jason Wilson by TKO 3:32 R1Bobby Emmons def. Matthew Perry by Unanimous DecisionCory Mahon def. Brady Hovermale by Submission RNC 1:22 R1*James Porter def. Carson Gainey by Submission Triangle Choke 1:17 R2Shamar Bailey def. Darrell Smith by Submission D'Arce Choke 3:53 R3*Prospects to watch

Posted in: round, bailey, submission, smith, porter

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If you submit a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt who has never tapped before, you're on the right track for Submission of the Year. Snap his arm? Uncle! You win, Frank Mir – you win.

Posted in: submission, brazilian jiujitsu, arm uncle, right track, mir –

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J-Mac gives his Strikeforce picks and explains an obvious tell as to why he believes Donald Cerrone had an off-night against Nate Diaz.

Posted in: strikeforce, submission, athlete, donald cerrone, jmac

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J-Mac gives his Strikeforce picks and explains an obvious tell as to why he believes Donald Cerrone had an off-night against Nate Diaz.

Posted in: strikeforce, submission, athlete, donald cerrone, jmac

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Today we are here to announce the winner of Head Kick Legend's 2011 Submission Of The Year. There were several phenomenal performances could earn the nod in this category but there was one that stood head and shoulders above the rest for the staff here at HKL: via cdn.bleacherreport.net MDH - Chan Sung Jung’s Twister on Leonard Garcia - At UFC Fight Night 24 "The Korean Zombie" had a chance to avenge his controversial split decision loss to Mr. You Know Who. Their first encounter was widely considered the Fight Of The Year in 2010 and many (including myself) felt as though this fight should never have been booked because there was no way it could ever come close to the pure insanity that their first encounter delivered. Boy, was I ever wrong as Jung locked in a spectacular Twister on Garcia, getting the tap with one second left on the clock in the second round. It was the first time in UFC history that a fight was won with that move and it was absolutely fantastic. I would like to throw out honorable mentions to Pablo Garza for his flying triangle choke he tapped Yves Jabouin with @ UFC 129 and Vinny Magalhaes for his ridiculous gogoplata/neck crank victory over Viktor Nemkov @ M-1 Challenge 25. Chris - Can’t really disagree with MDH here either. Watching that Twister come to life was nothing short of spectacular, especially for someone, like myself, who had never heard of it much less had any idea what was being set up. On that note, I have to throw out Mir’s humerus breaking Kimura on Big Nog. Mir went from being all but finished to working that keylock. Then he rolls right through Nogueira’s reversal attempt to re-solidify his position. And when the tap wasn’t coming he cranked it on, with a viciousness I’ve only ever seen from Frank Mir in MMA. Mir’s BJJ had been widely criticized prior to this, not that he wasn’t talented, but that he couldn’t keep up with an established top level talent like Big Nog. Well, he definitely proved his mettle at UFC 140 and, for that, if nothing else, he deserves a nomination here. Rainer - It’s hard to deny Jung’s claim to submission of the year. Not only did he execute a rarely-seen maneuver, but in doing so he took revenge over an opponent who, in their previous match, had been given an ill-deserved judges’ decision. Excellent all around. I’d be remiss, however, if I didn’t mention Michael Chandler’s guillotine of Eddie Alvarez-- which rocketed him into the top 10 of the lightweight division--or Miesha Tate’s surprising arm-triangle choke of then-champion Marloes Coenen, which, coming amidst a heated scramble against so respectable a grappler, speaks to Tate’s quick thinking and fine instincts. And there is, of course, Tito Ortiz’s guillotine of Ryan Bader, marking Ortiz’s first victory in some five years, and his only submission victory of the decade. Poll What was your Submission Of The Year? Vinny Magalhaes' Gogoplata/Neck Crank on Viktor Nemkov Tito Ortiz's Guillotine on Ryan Bader Frank Mir's Kimura on Big Nog Chan Sung Jung's Twister on Leonard Garcia Miesha Tate's Arm Triangle on Marloes Coenen Pablo Garza's Flying Triangle Choke on Yves Jabouin Michael Chandler's Guillotine Choke on Eddie Alvarez None Of The Above!   1 votes | Results

Posted in: ufc, submission, year, ryan bader, guillotine

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The opening match on the main card of Saturday's Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine will be a welterweight bout featuring Tarec Saffiedine vs. Tyler Stinson. You might recall Tyler Stinson (22-7) from his four-fight foray in the Bellator promotion, where he was triangle choked by Dan Hornbuckle and Steve Carl but picked up wins over Leonardo Pecanha and Nate James. He's fresh off a fifteen-second knockout of Eduardo Pamplona in his Strikeforce debut, which snapped the Black House fighter's ten-fight win streak. The way that Stinson started out in MMA is best told in his own words. From his Strikeforce.com profile page: I started watching the first season of TUF with my buddy Jake and we thought, "we could do that". So we bought some cheap boxing gloves and started sparring in our kitchen. A couple days later I found a website for an Oklahoma promotion called Masters of the Cage. They had a "fighter application" and so I filled it out, and lied about everything as far as training. I said I had been training in boxing, wrestling, and jiu-jitsu. But I couldn't even tell you where a gym was back then. They called me the next day and offered me a pro fight at middleweight that upcoming weekend. Tarec Saffiedine is a Team Quest product who is originally from Belgium and has been steadily attracting attention as a young (age 24) and noteworthy (11-3) prospect. He holds a black belt in Shihaishinkai Karate, an art that combines striking, Judo throws and ground work, and later rounded out his foundation with Thai fights and grappling competitions. Saffidiene won six of his first seven fights -- five by submission -- to get the call from DREAM for two fights in 2009. He defeated Seichi Ikemoto by decision and then nearly upset middleweight and Olympic-level Judoka Dong Sik Yoon, who eked out a split decision. He's won four of his five subsequent bouts: beating James Terry (decision), Nate Moore (KO), Brock Larson (decision at Shark Fights 13) and Scott Smith (decision) but falling to the wrestling prowess of Tyron Woodley (decision) on the Challengers 13 card. Gifs and analysis in the full entry. SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine It just doesn't feel right to analyze Saffiedine without starting with the Brazilian kick (right). It's a highly creative technique popularized by kickboxer Glaube Feitosa that I think we'll be seeing more often in MMA, and Saffiedine unrolls it effortlessly here. Though not heralded for his power (one career TKO), Saffiedine has dynamic stand up, his footwork and defense are excellent and he's dangerous with both his hands and feet. Thus far, his chin has been solid and he's been tough to put away with all of his losses coming by way of decision. To the left "The Sponge" shows how natural and fluid he is in unleashing his kicks. The spinning back kick is no longer a rare delicacy in MMA, but it is somewhat uncommon to set it up with a jab and uncork it in the pocket this effortlessly. Also, there are generally some telltale signs that the kick is coming in the footwork beforehand, but Saffidiene cloaks it well with the jab. What stands out the most is how he maintains his balance throughout the kick, which is always a nice indicator of striking prowess. As with the spinning kick above, there's nothing audacious about throwing a standing elbow. However, it is somewhat unusual to integrate it into a standing combination so seamlessly, and what I really appreciate about this sequence is the trajectory of the strike. Notice how Saffiedine distinctly drops his shoulders and lowers his stance after plunging the jab, which seems to be the start of a common uppercut. Saffiedine changes gears and torques the elbow over the top of Smith's defense beautifully. Stinson is a spidery welterweight at 6'3" with a long reach that complements his boxing combinations nicely. To the left is Stinson making quick work of Pamplona with vicious hand-work. The southpaw tags him early with a crisp left hand and then snipes away with two more, dropping Pamplona with a shovel punch and pouncing with a hammer-fist to finish the job. The animation shows deadly precision and you can clearly see the massive extension he gets on his punches with his considerable reach. He closes out another poor soul with a violent series of left hands in the sequence below. Stinson prefers to handle all of his business on the feet with fifteen of his twenty-two wins coming by TKO. Though he's compiled five submission victories, he has an equal number of submission losses, leaving his grappling defense as a little suspect. Saffidiene's striking is more polished and proven, but I expect Stinson's power and gangly reach to cause him some problem. Plus, Stinson is a scrapper to the core, he's highly aggressive and will absolutely not be intimidated by Saffiedine's status. As much as I'd love to see the pair trade hands for all three rounds, Saffiedine would be well advised to employ the wrestling game he's been sharpening at Team Quest and riddle Stinson with submission attempts on the mat. That's where his clear advantage lies and jousting on the feet is just playing with fire when it comes to Stinson, who has nothing to lose in this bout and will take it to Saffiedine right out of the gate. Someone is likely to score an upset on this card and this could be it. Saffiedine has shown he can take a punch and I think his chances will drastically increase by falling back to his ground game if the standing battle is not to his liking. My Prediction: Tarec Saffiedine by submission. Saffiedine gifs via Zombie Prophet of IronForgesIron.com Stinson gifs via Caposa Poll Tarec Saffiedine vs. Tyler Stinson Saffiedine Stinson   8 votes | Results

Posted in: decision, submission, he, stinson, saffiedine

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From vets making their last stand and young guns showing their stuff to a pitched battle for the top spot, 2011 saw more than its share of memorable submission wins. Here are five of the best of the best, at least unofficially.10 - Chris Lytle over Dan HardyWith three Submission of the Night awards in his UFC career, this spot is almost like a lifetime achievement award for Chris “Lights Out” Lytle, who announced his retirement from the sport after finishing Dan Hardy with a guillotine choke in their August bout. And though the final move won’t compare aesthetically to his triangle kimura of Jason Gilliam in 2007 or his kneebar of Brian Foster in 2010, he showed off in 14:16 what he was all about as a fighter, as he went toe-to-toe with “The Outlaw” and then put the finishing touches on the bout by coming out of nowhere with the guillotine. What a way to go out.9 - Terry Etim over Edward FaalolotoAfter 19 months out of action due to injury, lightweight Terry Etim’s biggest concern might have been ring rust when he entered the Octagon to face Edward Faaloloto at UFC 138 in November. Well, it still may be a concern because it took all of 17 seconds to end the Hawaiian’s night via guillotine choke. It was the Brit’s fourth Submission of the Night award, and if you didn’t know by now, you will be told again – don’t leave your neck exposed anywhere the long-limbed lad from Liverpool, because he will find a way to get it.8 - Tito Ortiz over Ryan BaderIf you had to pick just one memorable moment from 2011, this may very well be it. Former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz, winless in nearly five years, has a win or go home ultimatum staring him in the face heading into his July bout against Ryan Bader. So what did Ortiz do? He won, stunning Bader while standing, and then locking in a guillotine choke that ended the bout moments later. There are no words to describe the scene in Las Vegas that night as Ortiz sunk in the choke, with seconds seeming like hours before the tap came. If you’re looking for drama in sports, this was it.7 - Jon Jones over Lyoto MachidaThough his flashy standup moves get all the attention, UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones is becoming quite the submission artist, and his 2011 campaign proves it, as his 4-0 record contains one knockout, two tap outs, and this December finish of Lyoto Machida, in which he caught the black belt in a standing guillotine after staggering him with a punch and then put him to sleep against the fence. Four wins, four finishes, three wins over current or former UFC champions. It was a year not likely to be touched by anyone anytime soon.6 - Diego Brandao over Dennis BermudezDiego Brandao has a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, but like Jose Aldo before him, it was almost like an urban myth, because all fans of The Ultimate Fighter’s 14th season saw was Brandao blasting out opponent after opponent with his fists en route to the season finale. But then Brandao got a taste of his own medicine from Dennis Bermudez and found himself on his back with his opponent looking to lower the boom. It could have been the signal for the bully to turtle up and go away, but instead, Brandao turned things around with his ground game, sinking in an armbar that finished the bout with nine seconds remaining in the opening round. Welcome to the UFC, Diego.5 - Nate Diaz over Takanori GomiIn his return to 155 pounds after a 2-2 run at welterweight, Nate Diaz looked like he was on his way to a Knockout of the Year nomination after lighting up former PRIDE champion Takanori Gomi on the feet for much of the first round in their UFC 135 bout. But then, as if bored of getting the best of the standup, Diaz went to the mat with Gomi, transitioned smoothly from a triangle to an armbar, and forced the Japanese star to tap out. If there was a more complete career performance from Diaz, I haven’t seen it.4 - Joe Lauzon over Curt WarburtonA lot of fighters like to brag about their submission skills before a bout, saying “yeah, I’m gonna take his arm home with me.” Well, that doesn’t really happen now, does it? Joe Lauzon didn’t say such things before his June bout with Curt Warburton, but he almost pulled it off (pardon the pun) with a vicious kimura that followed a knockdown that you thought the New Englander was going to use to finish the fight with strikes. Instead, he yanked at Warburton’s arm and got the tap out with one of the most painful looking kimuras we’ve seen in a while. That Lauzon, he isn’t getting paid for overtime; he’s a finisher, and he proved it a second time in October when he ended Melvin Guillard’s winning streak via rear naked choke.3 - Pablo Garza over Yves JabouinNote to anyone wanting to earn a spot on this unofficial list – pulling off anything with the word ‘flying’ in it is pretty much a guaranteed winner. Strangely enough, 2010’s KO of the Year list had Pablo Garza included for his highlight reel knockout of Fredson Paixao. So what were the odds of him topping that victory against Canada’s Yves Jabouin in April? Probably slim and none. That’s how devastating the Paixao finish was. So what did the North Dakota product do for an encore? Only a flying triangle that thrilled the over 55,000 fans in Toronto’s Rogers Centre and those watching at home. And while Garza didn’t initially finish the bout when the two hit the mat, he did so seconds later, garnering him an A for effort and for the eventual tap out by Jabouin at 4:31 of the first round. Remember, flying always wins.2 - Chan Sung Jung over Leonard GarciaBefore Chan Sung Jung’s March rematch with Leonard Garcia, you might have assumed that the fight game of “The Korean Zombie” started and finished with his ability to brawl. Maybe Garcia, who defeated Jung in their classic 2010 bout, figured the same thing. He might have even thought that he was safe as the seconds wound down in round two in Louisville. But that’s when Jung struck with Eddie Bravo’s “Twister,” a painful maneuver that had never finished a fight in the UFC – well, up until Garcia’s tap out at 4:59 of the second round. It was a beautifully executed move, and a historic one that had the Unofficial 2011 UFC Submission of the Year locked up until December 10th…1 - Frank Mir over Minotauro Nogueira There is a small school of believers that think a knockout is more devastating than a submission. Frank Mir does not go to that school, and for years, I’ve thought of the two-time former heavyweight champion as someone who approaches subs the way a prime Mike Tyson approached knockouts. On December 10th, he proved it again, becoming the first man to submit former PRIDE / UFC champ Minotauro Nogueira. To do that while one hundred percent is impressive; to do it after getting buzzed and almost finished by one of the greatest heavyweights of all-time takes it to another level. There was a debate in my head about Mir’s kimura and Jung’s Twister battling it out, but in the end, Mir’s win will forever change the way those ‘KOs over Subs’ folks think about submissions, and that’s more than enough to earn the number one spot.Honorable Mention – Stefan Struve-Pat Barry, TJ Waldburger-Mike Stumpf, Chris Weidman-Jesse Bongfeldt, Nik Lentz-Waylon Lowe, Ed Herman-Kyle Noke, Joe Lauzon-Melvin Guillard, Chris Weidman-Tom Lawlor, Urijah Faber-Brian Bowles, Chael Sonnen-Brian Stann, Paul Sass-Michael Johnson

Posted in: ufc, bout, submission, ’t, year

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It's no surprise that the "The Hippo" has landed on the UFC's FX-televised card in Sydney, Australia, scheduled for March 3rd. The UFC announced last night that Australian MMA pioneer, Anthony Perosh, will face newcomer, Nick Penner, in a light heavyweight bout: "11-1 light heavyweight prospect Nick Penner has verbally agreed to make his UFC debut against Anthony ‘The Hippo’ Perosh," said UFC Managing Director of International Development, Marshal Zelaznik. "Perosh is coming off back-to-back submission wins and looks to make it three in a row in his home country." It is surprising to some that the aging BJJ black belt is on a two-fight winning streak, considering his return to the UFC in early 2010 was seen by many simply as an effort to provide Mirko Filipovic with a warm local body to wail away on at UFC 110. Although Perosh lost, he put in a valiant effort and has since rebounded with the two wins (both by rear naked choke) against Tom Blackledge and Cyrille Diabate. Penner is a native of Manitoba and has competed mainly on the Canadian regional scene, including fights for King of the Cage and Maximum Fighting Championship. The most high profile name on his resume is Eric Esch, better known as "Butterbean" to boxing fans, who tapped to strikes from Penner back in 2007. Penner is currently riding an eight-fight winning streak that dates back to 2008. Anthony "The Hippo" Perosh (12-6)W Cyrille Diabate (submission) - UFC 138W Tom Blackledge (submission) - UFC 127L Mirko Filipovic (TKO) - UFC 110 Nick Penner (11-1)W Tim Chemelli (unam. decision) - AMMA 8W Jon Ganshorn (TKO) - Bully's Fight Night 2W Ryan Fortin (submission) - MFC 23 UFC on FX 2 coverage

Posted in: ufc, submission, anthony, perosh, penner

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A look at the best knockouts, submissions and fights in all of MMA in 2011, using 10 unique categories.

Posted in: mma, submission, brydon, category, knockouts submissions

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A look at the best knockouts, submissions and fights in all of MMA in 2011, using 10 unique categories.

Posted in: mma, submission, brydon, category, knockouts submissions

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Video courtesy of Middle Easy "My beef with Obama? It seems like all his decisions, he's not really thinking them through, he's basing his decisions, it seems like, on who is paying him the most money. They're not really logical, they're not good policies. Like making a home affordable plan, the health care plan he's got, it's like, 'Where'd you come up with that? Were you even thinking when you wrote it?' I would for sure take him down and submit him. I would try to make it a very painful submission though. Try and do like a Kimura or an armbar, try and rip it." Apparently that little visit from the Secret Service did little to deter Jacob Volkmann's bone-crunching fantasies about submitting President Barack Obama with a "very painful" submission. "Christmas" was unable to do anything of the sorts against Efrain Escudero on the undercard of UFC 141 last Friday night (Dec. 30, 2011) on the "Lesnar vs. Overeem" preliminary broadcast, taking home the Dubya by unanimous decision and pushing his win streak to five straight. But is he going to end up in a losing proposition after these latest comments about the leader of the free world? And how will Dana White and Co. react to yet another fighter garnering some unwanted attention, if at all?

Posted in: decision, submission, he, money theyre, obama

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Earlier this month, we here at MMAmania.com embarked on a quest to determine the best of the best in the year 2011. Naturally, that includes submissions, the grislier the better. That's evidenced by the winner in the category, as the calm, cool and collected Frank Mir snapped Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira's arm in half at the UFC 140: Jones vs. Machida event this past Dec. 10, 2011, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was the first time in the legendary "Minotauro's" career that he had been submitted. Interestingly enough, the commission considers the arm break a technical knockout, meaning it won't officially go down as an actual submission. It's our winner, nontheless. It was a two-horse race, in the end. The only other submission to even challenge Mir breaking Nogeira's arm was Chan Sung Jung's tapout inducing Twister of Leonard Garcia back at UFC Fight Night 24 back in March. The full results of our poll for the best submission of 2011 are after the jump. Poll results: Frank Mir vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira -- 753 votes Chan Sung Jung vs. Leonard Garcia -- 518 votes Richard Hale vs. Nik Fekete -- 66 votes Vinny Magalhaes vs. Viktor Nemkov -- 55 votes Pablo Garza vs. Yves Jabouin -- 46 votes Pat Curran vs. Luis Palomino -- 20 votes Other -- 16 votes Remember to check out winners in other categories including "Fight of the Year" and "Knockout of the Year" by clicking here and here.

Posted in: mir, submission, vs, vote, arm

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In a bout that has Fight of the Night written all over it, the ever-displeased Nate Diaz squares off with accelerating WEC crossover Donald Cerrone in the co-main event of UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem. The intriguing lightweight collision has captivated fans just as much (or more) than the evening's headliner, and understandably so. They're both consistent crowd-pleasers who are built for violence and extremely aggressive. They share the same type of long and lanky physique, their preferred weaponry is a smooth but vicious medley of striking and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and they're both exceptionally technical martial artists who apply their skills with the rugged mentality of a street fighter. Big-picture similarities aside, it's the finite differences that will decide the outcome. Ironically, despite engaging his opponent ceaselessly and being fully capable wherever the fight goes, Nate -- like big brother Nick -- is notorious for performances that don't sit well with judges. Of his seven losses, six are by decision; the remainder was a 2006 submission to Hermes Franca when Nate was a wee 21-years-old. This is a curious phenomenon, and I'm not exactly sure if the cause is a lack of top-shelf wrestling, physical strength or a strategy flaw that surrenders the influential element of control to his opponent. With Diaz, it seems to be all about finding his rhythm. He's typically a slow starter who is very hittable while he's gauging the pace and dialing in his striking range. Quick and assertive fighters have been able to jump on him from the get-go and never let him settle in, putting Diaz behind on the score cards early and into recovery-mode during the later rounds. Conversely, if he does get a comfortable grasp of distance and timing and starts working his hands, the tempo and angles of his unorthodox boxing are a nightmare to defend and can shift the momentum completely in his direction. Cerrone is more explosive and straightforward. His boxing is tight and crisp, his low and high kicks are crippling, he's a decent wrestler and his submission grappling is voracious. Since coming to the UFC, he seems to have drastically matured. In the WEC, he was pleasingly reckless and succumbed to his raw instincts, but has harnessed his bloodlust into a more functional approach. Cerrone has found a nice balance by taming his fiery aggression and now battles with intelligence and a steely composure. While Cesar Gracie is undoubtedly a premiere coach, there is none better than Greg Jackson when it comes to devising a concisely effective gameplan, and this along with Cerrone's recent evolution could be more of a factor than how their individual combat skills compare. Match up analysis in the full entry. SBN coverage of UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem Even though they're comparable in size, Diaz will enjoy a 3" reach advantage. He'll come out in a closed southpaw stance -- and one that's dangerously flat-footed with a lot of weight on his front leg -- and paw continuously with his lead hand while looking for holes to stuff counter punches through. This "feel out" period will be crucial in assessing Cerrone's strategy and whether he's apt to shoot takedowns and lead the striking attacks or playing things more cautious and defensive. The element of surprise probably lies with Cerrone as Diaz's pace and intentions are much more predictable. In most cases, Diaz is content to walk his opponents down and throw his uniquely-angled punches from the perimeter or deep in the pocket. He will also clinch up on the fence to pressure with dirty boxing and knees to the thighs and body. Cerrone will have more options. Shooting for takedowns, even if Diaz defends them or eventually escapes back to his feet, will be key in disrupting his rhythm and for scoring purposes. While Diaz's lanky counter punching will always be a concern, Cerrone's cleaving low kicks could materialize as a game-changer in open space, especially considering Diaz's slight reach advantage and skill from a distance. Connecting on a few Thai kicks to the lead leg will force Nate to disengage and reset or lure him into closer range. Both are excellent BJJ players but I would give a distinct edge to Diaz in a straight grappling match. Since Nate is more of a volume puncher than a knockout artist, I think his proficiency in guard with sweeps and submission attempts is his most formidable asset and his best chance for a stoppage. His ground game is a seriously under-utilized tool that I don't think he exercises nearly enough, usually because he's happy to brawl on the feet. He has the type of dynamic creativity off his back that makes him very difficult to hold down and his busy hips almost always produce advantageous opportunities. His solid Judo game offers a sound avenue to ground the fight but he rarely imposes that strength and only implements it opportunistically. Again, this plays into the perils of the Diaz style: unless he's able to finish on the ground or latch on a legitimately threatening submission, interactions where he can sweep or escape back to his feet are generally scored for his opponent. Cerrone is far from a pushover on the mat and will make Diaz work hard to secure a catch or he'll be able to initiate a scramble to break free. Along with his more diverse kickboxing, Cerrone has better footwork, head movement and defense and should have the quicker hands as well. They both have rock-solid chins and are difficult to finish, so it's likely that this contest will go the distance. Even though Cerrone has more options and a better chance of winning a decision, I had initially picked Diaz for the win here. However, after further scrutinizing the positives and negatives of this match up, I find myself inclined to change it up and go with Cerrone. I think his broader set of tools, footwork and hand speed will put him in the driver's seat early, his chin and ability to shoot takedowns are viable back-up options if he takes too much heat standing, he's likely to be on top in any grappling exchanges and his BJJ acumen should be savvy enough to stay out of submissions. My Prediction: Donald Cerrone by decision. Poll Nate Diaz vs. Donald Cerrone Diaz Cerrone   13 votes | Results

Posted in: diaz, submission, nate, cerrone, he

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Posted in: ufc, submission, athlete, jmac

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It will be two Americans facing off in Sydney, Australia, as Missouri native, Jake Hecht, will meet Texas-born submission ace, T.J. Waldburger, in a welterweight match-up at UFC on FX 2 on March 3rd. Hecht announced the booking on his Twitter account today: Just confirmed my next fight for march 3 in sydney, australia vs tj waldburger. Back on the diet and hard training after the new year. Trained by longtime Matt Hughes associate, Marc Fiore, Hecht made his UFC debut on short notice, taking on Rich Attonito at UFC 140 last month. Hecht impressed by taking out Attonito via TKO in the second round after landing some thudding elbows to the temple. That marked Hecht's fourth straight victory. Waldburger, on the other hand, prefers to make his opponents tap, rather than slugging it out, and the Grapplers Lair product is quite good at it, with 11 submissions in 14 career victories. Waldburger set a new UFC record for most submission attempts in his debut, a decision win over David Mitchell, and most recently, he put his BJJ to good use once again, slickly transitioning from an armbar to a triangle choke to get the tap from Mike Stumpf at UFN 25 in New Orleans. T.J. Waldburger (14-6)W Mike Stumpf (submission) - UFN 25L Johny Hendricks (TKO) - UFN 24W David Mitchell (unam. decision) - UFN 22 Jake "Hitman" Hecht (11-2)W Rich Attonito (TKO) - UFC 140W Michele Verginelli (unam. decision) - CWFC Fight Night 1W Craig White (submission) - CWFC 42 UFC on FX 2 coverage

Posted in: ufc, submission, tj, hecht, waldburger

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Alistair Overeem faces Brock Lesnar this Friday night in the main event of UFC 141 in what many are calling a battle of striker vs. wrestler. It's easy to understand given Overeem's success in kickboxing, having won the K-1 World Grand Prix, and Lesnar's phenomenal success as an amateur wrestler in college. But, in his latest blog at Yahoo! Sports, Overeem says that the bout is much more complicated than that: While he doesn't have world-class technique, Mr. Lesnar is a big man who can punch, and I have trained to avoid Lesnar's strikes like I would any opponent. I will never give an opponent a chance he cannot create for himself by not preparing for any situation. It is not only about respecting Mr. Lesnar, but also respecting myself and the sport. I'm an all-around fighter. I do everything. I've got wrestling, I've got submissions and I've got striking. Of course, I like to knock people out - and that is the plan Friday - and my striking is something that I focused on because I wanted to be the first MMA champion to also win the K-1 kickboxing Grand Prix, which I did a year ago. Obviously my strikes were my best weapons even before K-1, but they got a lot better because of the K-1 competition. Right now, I don't feel anyone in the division can strike with me, but this is MMA and I have prepared very hard for any eventuality. There's a chance I could use a submission. This fight isn't just a case of my strikes against his wrestling, I have won big fights with submissions, and while I think every fighter prefers to win by KO, at this level you take any chance to win. While there is an obvious need for Overeem to not get hit clean by a big Lesnar punch, this is still a bout which is likely to be decided entirely by where it is fought. On the feet, Lesnar can not win the fight other than through a single knockout blow while Lesnar on top on the ground is a nightmare for Overeem. Alistair does have a decent submission game, but it's hard to see him getting a guillotine on Lesnar or being able to lock in a kimura (especially as fatigue sets in). If Lesnar gets on top and can sit in half guard and pound away, it's going to mean a lot of trouble for Overeem. While no MMA bout is entirely as simple as "takedown wins it" or "defend one takedown and you win" this is very, very much a case of wrestler vs. striker. SBN coverage of UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem

Posted in: overeem, bout, submission, vs, lesnar

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The introduction of the Twister to the UFC hangs on as our choice for the top Submission of the Year. In March, "The Korean Zombie" Chan-Sung Yung utilized a Twister to submit Leonard Garcia, demonstrating that there are still new submissions to master in this ever-evolving game of MMA 17-plus years after the inaugural UFC. Since the Twister has already been covered in our Half-Year awards, let's take a closer look at a recent submission that's just as worthy as being called the Submission of the Year. No. 2: Frank Mir breaks Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira's arm (UFC 140 on Dec. 10) Long considered as one of the best heavyweight Brazilian jiu-jitsu artists, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira went over 12 years and 42 fights before he finally fell prey to a submission maneuver. It all went down in a rematch earlier this month against Frank Mir at UFC 140. Nogueira had Mir rocked and was seemingly close to finishing Mir on the ground with punches. However, Nogueira took the risk to attempt a guillotine choke (giving up position in the process) rather than maintain control on top with punches. But Mir escaped, and that was all he needed to turn the fight around. Nogueira tried to hit the switch to take Mir's back but Mir held on to stay on top. Mir then applied a kimura and hopped over to side mount. Nogueira tried rolling as an escape but Mir followed him, holding onto the move, breaking the Brazilian great's right arm and forcing him to tap. It wasn't unconceivable that Nogueira would lose by submission. All the best grapplers eventually are going to submit at some point when you're fighting top flight competition. And Mir is no slouch on the ground. He's been tapping out BJJ black belts since his UFC debut 10 years ago at UFC 34. The distinguishing characteristic of this finish comes from Nogueira's unwillingness to tap until his arm had already been broken. In a sport with no shortage of punishing sights, the image of Nogueira's bent arm flew beyond disturbing into cringe-worthy. No. 3: Richard Hale repeats Toby Imada's inverted triangle choke (Bellator 58 on March 26) In March, Richard Hale made his Bellator debut with a submission as if he were a fighter 50 pounds lighter. The Bellator light heavyweight performed the 2009 Submission of the Year popularized by Toby Imada. While hanging upside down, resting on top of opponent Nik Fekete's shoulders, Hale locked in a triangle choke to render Fekete unconscious. Hale put himself on the map by making the best out of an undesirable position. No. 4: Jon Jones chokes out Lyoto Machida (UFC 140 on Dec. 10) In line with Mir's finish against Nogueira, Jon Jones' modified guillotine came after trailing against his opponent and produced an impressive win with a brutal finish. After knocking down Lyoto Machida in the second round and with Machida trying for the takedown to reset, Jones grabbed a front headlock and drove Machida standing against the fence. Jones then applied a modified guillotine (a guillotine with a different grip), the same finish he used to defeat Ryan Bader earlier this year but in this instance pressed Machida against the cage for additional pressure. Machida, refusing to tap, went limp and the bout was called off by referee "Big" John McCarthy. Rather than guide Machida gently to the floor, Jones released the hold sending a bloodied and unconscious Machida crashing to the mat. A definitive conclusion to perhaps the best year of an individual in the history of MMA. No. 5: Diego Brandao's blink-and-you'll-miss-it armbar over Dennis Bermudez (TUF 14 Finale on Dec. 3) In one of the best fights of the year, Diego Brandao submitted Dennis Bermudez with an armbar to clinch his first UFC win and TUF 14 featherweight title. Known for his aggressive striking style, Brandao was on his way to winning the first round before walking into a right hand. Burmudez stayed active on top of Brandao in pursuit of a TKO or at least stealing the round. But all of a sudden Brandao threw up his legs for an armbar and in seconds rolled Burmudez over for the win. The submission came out of nowhere in what had already been an explosive round of fighting. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, nogueira, mir, submission, year

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Two talented and entertaining featherweights will meet inside the Octagon this Friday night (Dec. 30, 2011) as The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 12 veteran Nam Phan takes on undefeated submission wizard Jim Hettes in the opening bout of the UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem main card. Phan, after an onerous start to his UFC career, finally earned his first victory in the promotion in his last bout, a revenge match against Leonard Garcia, which turned out to be one of 2011's most entertaining featherweight scraps. He hopes to even out his UFC record with a victory over a rising prospect. Hettes is a submission machine, finishing all four of his amateur bouts and all nine of his professional fights via some form of tapout. His undefeated streak includes a rear naked choke over Alex Caceres in his UFC debut this past August after stepping in on short notice. He'll look for the most significant victory of his young career against the veteran Phan. Will Phan's experience be enough to edge him out over "The Kid?" Can Hettes continue his insane submission streak against a seasoned Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt? What's the path to victory for both entertaining featherweights on Friday night? Let's find out: Nam PhanRecord: 17-9 overall, 1-2 in the UFCKey Wins: Leonard Garcia (UFC 136), Cody McKenzie (Ultimate Fighter season 12)Key Losses: Mike Brown (UFC 133), Michihiro Omigawa (Sengoku 8), Gesias Cavalcante (Dynamite!! USA) How he got here: Believe it or not, Nam Phan has been fighting professionally for almost exactly 10 years now. While he had a background in karate, what truly brought him into the sport of mixed martial arts was Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Throughouts Phan's career, he's had a history of coming up just short in the big fights. His first loss was to eventual WEC lightweight champion "Razor" Rob McCullough via unanimous decision and he would drop his WEC debut with a split decision. After seven straight victories on the local circuit, he would again get an opportunity against top competition, losing in a Strikeforce lightweight title shot to Josh Thomson and then getting smashed "JZ" Gesias Cavalcante in consecutive bouts. He would again build himself up and come up short against Billy Evangelista and then top-ranked Japanese featherweight Michihiro Omigawa before earning a spot on season 12 of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF). On the show, Phan would defeat Spencer Paige and Cody McKenzie before coming up just short against Michael Johnson in the semifinals. In his UFC debut, Phan solidly outstruck Leonard Garcia on the TUF 12 finale but was the victim of some horrific judging as two of the judges sided with "Bad Boy" in a split decision. Phan then took on former WEC featherweight champion Mike Brown and rebounded from a poor first round to make it a tough fight, again losing a decision. He earned his revenge against Garcia at UFC 136, thoroughly outstriking "Bad Boy" in the first two rounds to score an emphatic unanimous decision victory plus his second "Fight of the Night" bonus in three fights. He remains incredibly active in the final half of 2011, taking on a tough undefeated prospect in the year's final event. How he gets it done: Phan has a strong attack in the stand-up department in which he mixes in head strikes and body blows very well. He has some of the best body punches of any featherweight in the UFC. If Hettes has his hands up, he needs to drop for that liver shot repeatedly. Hettes has not been tested in the striking department much in his career as his primary goal is to take his opponent down and submit them. That's what he's been able to do in all nine of his professional fights thus far. Phan should be prepared to sprawl early and often, stuffing every attempt Hettes throws at him as Hettes is not the strongest wrestler. If he can force the undefeated prospect to have to stand and trade with him, he's going to have a HUGE advantage in the striking as his technique is world's better than the Pennsylvania product. If for some reason, Phan is put on his back, he should use his black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu defensively, doing whatever it takes to avoid submissions and just pop back to his feet because he has such a tremendous advantage in that department. Jim HettesRecord: 9-0 overall, 1-0 in the UFCKey Wins: Alex Caceres (UFC on Versus 5), Jacob Kirwan (MASS), George Sheppard (Cage Fight 6)Key Losses: None How he got here: Hettes has been successful on every level. He was a state Judo gold medalist, and truly took to Brazilian jiu-jitsu at 16 years old. After transitioning to mixed martial arts, he went undefeated (4-0) as an amateur, finishing all of his fights in the first round. His professional career got off to a similar start, winning his first six fights via first round submission before he began to be tested. In November of 2010, he finally entered the second round in a tough scrap with MMA Institute's George Sheppard before eventually submitting him. He would again be tested by scrappy wrestler Jacob Kirwin before again scoring a second round submission, winning the MASS featherweight title in the process as well as earning an invite to the UFC. In his debut with the big leagues, he battled Alex Caceres in a grueling ground war that saw a plethora of submission attempts before "The Kid" was finally able to overwhelm The Ultimate Fighter season 12 veteran with a rear naked choke. He's looking to keep his 13 fight submission streak alive, but will have his hands full against veteran Nam Phan. How he gets it done: Despite having a respectable background in boxing, the stand-up department is not Jim Hettes' world, at least not yet. He needs to do whatever it takes to get this fight to the ground and he needs to be crazy aggressive. If Hettes stands at all, it should be to set up takedown attempts. Nam Phan doesn't have devastating one-punch knockout power, so he should be safe to strike long enough to get Phan's guard down. If regular takedown attempts don't work, expect Hettes to clinch early and often, hoping to throw Phan around with his judo base as well. If and when Hettes puts Phan on the canvas, he should mix it up instead of immediately diving for submissions. Phan is well versed in jiu-jitsu and has a black belt so what he should really do is take a page from Mike Brown's book and really open Phan up with ground and pound. Phan was dominated by ground and pound against Brown in the first round and with the way he covered up, it could lead to some huge openings for submissions as long as he can pounce on them quick enough. If one submission attempt appears to be defended, expect to see Hettes chain them together. He's very good at transitioning to new attacks and keeping up the pressure, eventually hoping to overwhelm his foe. Needless to say, his technique is going to have to be spot on if he wants to tap Phan. If he can't submit him, perhaps he could do enough from top position to earn his first decision victory. Fight X-Factor: Clearly, the biggest X-Factor for this fight is experience. Phan has battled some of the best lightweight and featherweight fighters on the planet. He fought former WEC champs Mike Brown and Rob McCullough, former Strikeforce champ Josh Thomson, as well as JZ Cavalcante and Michihiro Omigawa in their primes. Jim Hettes? His biggest career victory is over current 6-4 bantamweight "Bruce Leroy." This is a HUGE step up for him and it's going to be very interesting to see how he responds to by far the biggest test of his career. If he's not intimidated and fights with his trademark aggressive submission style, he could pull off a huge upset. If he can't get rolling, he could get blown out of the Octagon. Bottom Line: This bout was chosen as a main card fight for a reason. Phan puts on high quality bouts by pushing a high pace, throwing a large quantity of strikes and landing a significant portion of them. He's well-rounded and dangerous just about everywhere. Hettes likely won't be able to hang with him on the feet, but he's at least Phan's equal if not superior on the ground and if this fight goes to the canvas, expect an incredibly entertaining series of scrambles, sweeps, submission attempts and exchanges. This bout has the potential to be one of the year's most entertaining ground battles of the year so keep your eyes glued to the TV once it goes there. Who will come out on top at UFC 141? Tell us your predictions in the comments below! Poll Who will earn a "W" in the opening bout of the UFC 141 main card? Nam Phan Jim Hettes   1 votes | Results

Posted in: ufc, fight, submission, phan, hette

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Looking forward to Alistair Overeem vs. Brock Lesnar and many other "gifts" the future holds.

Posted in: submission, alistair, future, brock, christma

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Deck the halls with knockouts and submissions. Here's a look at the ultimate mixed martial arts Christmas list.

Posted in: submission, list, art, christma, submissions heres

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There were many great fights and submissions this year, but nothing gets fans riled up like a knockout. Here's top 10 MMA knockouts of 2011.

Posted in: mma, submission, year, knockout, knockout heres

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If you watched the UFC 140: "Jones vs. Machida" event that went down this past Dec. 10 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, you saw what was undoubtedly one of the most impressive (and nasty) submissions of your life. Frank Mir, he who possesses a dangerous Brazilian jiu-jitsu game, snapped the arm of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, an actual Brazilian thought to have an even more dangerous jiu-jitsu game. When I say snapped, I mean broken in half. Check this picture out if you don't believe me. He just had surgery to repair the damage this past week. How it happened, though, is the amazing part. Nogueira was handily winning the bout in the standing exchanges, using an underrated boxing game to take his opponent off guard and rock him to the point that he was maybe one solid punch away from ending the fight. And then, inexplicably, "Minotauro" went for a guillotine. When a punch would have finished the job, the deadly grappler instead wanted a submission. That paved the way, of course, for Mir to regain his senses and make a furious comeback. So the question on everyone's mind since that night is just what exactly Nogueira was thinking when he dropped for a submission instead of ending it with punches. His answer (via Tatame.com): "Last Saturday I fought and lost via submission for the first time in my career, it was a bad feeling, but it's part of the sport. Everything that happens in a fight is quick and the fighter acts most based on his instincts and reflexes than on his mind. I knew I made a mistake as I tried to submit on a fight where I could have won by KO. But when Frank Mir was practically knocked out I heard the judge as me to stop punching him at the neck and that exactly when I tried to choke him. Mir put himself together and must be congratulated for submitting me. I checked the videos and I wasn't hitting him on the neck, but on Mir's side of the head, which is allowed. But I'm not here to apologize. I lost, I'll recover from my arm injury and then move on, probably on the second UFC Rio of 2012." Ah, the old chuck-the-ref-under-the-bus defense. Tried and true. This will surely be well received by Mir, who reveled in the destruction he caused shortly after winning the bout. In fact, he had said beforehand that he wanted to beat Nogueira even worse than he did the first time, when he won via technical knockout. And that's exactly what he did. The first time, though, "Big Nog" was suffering from staph infection, a point he made sure to make clear. Mir took it as an excuse, got pissed and broke his arm in the rematch. Now Nogueira is blaming the referee (in a roundabout way) for costing him this fight. I'd sure hate to see what Mir would do to him in a third fight. All that said, how do you Maniacs feel about the legendary Brazilian's excuse reasoning? Anyone buying it or was Mir just the better man? For a refresher course on the fight be sure to check out the video highlights right here.

Posted in: fight, nogueira, mir, submission, arm

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Snap, crackle, pop. The world of combat sports has continued to push the boundaries of shutting down opponent’s biological processes in its eternal quest to make everyone watching incredibly uncomfortable. As such, we’ve been witnesses to a plethora of creative and painful submissions over the past twelve months. Butwhich one was the best of 2011 in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and mixed martial arts (MMA) overall? Follow me after the jump for some of this year's top candidates and to cast your vote for 2011's "Submission of the Year:" Richard Hale vs. Nik Fekete, Bellator 38 As mentioned before, Bellator Fighting Championships has this strange knack for producing amazing moments. In the opening round of their light heavyweight tournament, they decided to go retro; after being put on his back and stuck in side control, Hale tossed his legs over Fekete’s back and, after a strange sequence, latched onto an inverted triangle, sending viewers’ nostalgia glands into full gear as Fekete fell over unconscious and Toby Imada silently applauded. Chan Sung Jung vs. Leonard Garcia, UFC Fight Night: Nogueira vs. Davis Photo via UFC.com After his teeth-rattling head kick loss to George Roop, the "Korean Zombie" vowed to fight smarter in the future, and looked to utilize his brutal grappling attack against old foe Leonard Garcia. After winning the first round (though not in the sort of horrendously one-sided fashion that is necessary to win a round against Garcia), Jung managed to take his opponent’s back, and after losing a hook, decided to forgo the whole "choking" thing and just do bad things to his spinal column instead. Jung locked up a twister in the waning seconds of the round, forcing Garcia to submit at 4:59 and making Eddie Bravo the happiest man in the room. Vinny Magalhaes vs. Viktor Nemkov, M-1 Challenge XXV: Zavurov vs. Enomoto Ever since being cut from the UFC, Vinny Magalhaes has been on an absolute tear, claiming gold at ADCC and winning seven of his past eight fights. Against Nemkov, a Sambo specialist fighting out of the legendary Red Devil Sport Club, Magalhaes had to dig deep after an early submissions onslaught failed. In the third round of their tilt, which had the M-1 light heavyweight title on the line, the fresher Nemkov dropped the Ultimate Fighter (TUF) veteran hard, but the latter managed to secure a takedown, move to mount, and lock in a ridiculous gogoplata neck crank that likely had Shinya Aoki taking notes. Pat Curran vs. Luis Palomino, Bellator 46 You’ve got to hand it to Pat Curran for being culturally sensitive. Taking on Peruvian veteran Luis Palomino in the opening round of Bellator’s featherweight Summer Series tournament, Curran looked better than ever at his new weight, and after getting Palomino to turtle, locked up a dramatically-appropriate Peruvian Necktie, kicking off a spectacular tournament run that was capped off by his incredible head kick knockout of Marlon Sandro. Pablo Garza vs. Yves Jabouin, UFC 129 Photo via nationalpostsports.files.wordpress.com While stream issues left viewers at home unable to watch the first minute or so of their UFC 129 clash, the picture popped in just in time to see the lanky Garza getting his legs pulverized by Jabouin’s kicks, and despite his massive height and reach advantages, he seemed doomed to a long, painful night. Eschewing the traditional countering tactic of standing really far away and letting the short guy pummel the air for a while, Garza moved into the clinch and jumped into a flying triangle, foreshadowing an amazing night of finishes and sending Jabouin down to bantamweight to lick his wounds. Frank Mir vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, UFC 140 Photo via UFC.com You know what? You all watched this one. You know what happened. I am nowhere NEAR intoxicated enough to write any more about this fight without breaking down sobbing, and I don’t want to have to call the Geek Squad to fix the salty tear damage on my keyboard. Overall, it’s been a good year for connoisseurs of bending things in the wrong direction; if any contortion aficionados out there have a candidate we missed, let us know in the comments and make sure to check back tomorrow as we evaluate "Fighter of the Year." For "Knockout of the Year" click here. Poll What was the 2011 Submission of the Year? Magalhaes vs. Nemkov Jung vs. Garcia Hale vs. Jabouin Hale vs. Fekete Mir vs. Nogueira Curran vs. Palomino Other   26 votes | Results

Posted in: ufc, round, submission, vs, year

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This post was edited and promoted from the Fanshots by Cory Braiterman. Hello, This is the third article in a weekly series meant to test the validity of various parts of the MMA gospel using statistics. The first article looked at when a submission was most likely to be successful and the second article took that a step further, exploring what type of submission was the most successful. In the comments section of the second post, Rainer Lee wondered what the numbers from five years ago would look like and I agreed to take a look at them. Compared to today the UFC was putting on far fewer events per year, Strikeforce had just started promoting shows and Pride was still active. As such I decided to combine 2006 and 2007 together and I looked at all the fights put on by Strikeforce, Pride, UFC and EliteXC during those years. Here are the numbers: 197 fights ended in submission.135, or 68%, ended in the first round.48, or 24%, ended in the second round.14, or 7%, ended in the third round.No fights ended in the fourth or fifth rounds. When you compare those numbers to the 2011 numbers, they are almost identical. The biggest difference in terms of percentages was in first round submissions. Of fights that ended in submission, 5% more ended in the first round in 2006/07. As for the second and third rounds, the differences were negligible. In 06/07, the average length of a fight that ended in submission was 4:40 seconds.In 2011, the average length of a fight that ended in submission was 5:15 seconds. Again, not much of a difference here either. One thing I didn't do in the first two articles was figure out what percentage of all bouts ended in submission, so I thought I'd figure that out this time around. In 06/07 there were 597 fights. 197, or 32%, ended in submission.In 2011 there were 625 fights. 166, or 26%, ended in submission. So we can see right away that less fights are ending in submission nowadays. Taking it a step further and just looking at first round submissions: 22% of all fights in 06/07 ended via first round submission.16% of all fights in 2011 ended via first round submission. This seems to suggest that submission defense is improving. To make sure that this is the case, I looked at the type of submissions being landed. Remember that 50% of successful subs in 2011 were either by Guillotine or RNC. I theorized that this was because with both the Guillotine and RNC your opponent has likely suffered damage from strikes immediately preceding the submission attempt. What kind of submissions were being landed in 06/07? Rear Naked Choke - 65Armbar - 38Guillotine - 19Triangle - 15Strikes - 12Kimura - 11Arm Triangle - 8Ankle Lock - 4Heel Hook - 4Injury - 4Anaconda - 3Americana - 2Triangle/Armbar - 2Von Flue Choke- 1Toe Hold - 1North South - 1Neck Crank - 1Kneebar - 1Keylock - 1D'arce - 1Achillies lock - 1 In the comments section last week, Mr. Lee stated: My impression lately has been that there used to be a lot more arm-centric submissions than there are today. He is exactly correct. Rear Naked Chokes were still the most successful submission. Strangely enough they comprised 32% of all submissions in both 2006/07 and 2011. Things get muddled after that though. In 06/07, Armbars were next, at 19% of all submissions, while Guillotines made up 9%. This year those numbers basically flip flopped. 17% of all subs landed were Guillotines, while 10% were Armbars. Something seems to be happening but I'm not satisfied that it is simply a case of submission defense improving. If that were the case I would expect the distribution of the various submissions to be roughly the same. Many questions come to my mind: Were there less takedowns (and less opportunities for guillotines?) in 06/07? Are fighters being stood up more (more opportunities for takedowns/guillotines) nowadays? There are certainly more wrestlers in the sport today, where as in 06/07 there would have been more jiu jitsu players. Are wrestlers less aware of the guillotine than jiu jitsu guys? Is it a matter of wrestlers shooting double and single legs more often? At the same time, due to their powerful base are wrestlers better at defending armbars? Are fighters today better at defending armbars? Are fighters today worse at applying armbars? As always I seem to end up with more questions than answers. In order to get a more complete picture I feel like I need to look at what was happening in between 2007 and 2011 as well as what was happening in the years prior to. Next week I'm going to cover 2008-2010 and the week after that I'm going to do the entire history of submissions in Pride Fighting Championships. In the meantime, what do you guys make of this? Thanks for reading. All comments and criticisms are welcomed.

Posted in: fight, round, submission, number, guillotine

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The UFC's first-ever Fuel TV event now has a heavyweight bout on the card, with undefeated fighters, Stipe Miocic and Philip De Fries, set to throw down in Omaha on February 15th. The UFC announced the booking today: "Undefeated heavyweights will collide as verbal agreements are in for 8-0 Phil De Fries versus 7-0 Stipe Miocic on February 15 in Omaha, Nebraska," said UFC President Dana White. Miocic, a Croatian by heritage but born and raised in Ohio, came into the UFC as a highly-touted prospect given his Golden Gloves boxing credentials and NCAA D-1 wrestling experience at Cleveland State. Although he didn't show the knockout power or crushing leg kicks he had used to finish all his previous opponents when he faced Joey Beltran at UFC 136, Miocic was still able to cruise to a decision win by out-boxing Beltran and using his wrestling to deliver some ground and pound as well. De Fries, who hails from Sunderland, England, was known for having skills vastly different than those of Miocic when he debuted at UFC 138. The Brit's major strengths are his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu skills, with a purple belt under Rodrigo Cabral to his credit, and 7 submission wins in 9 career fights. De Fries shifted his training camp to the U.S. prior to his successful UFC debut against Rob Broughton, training at Alliance in San Diego, alongside the likes of Phil Davis, Brandon Vera, and Dominick Cruz. Stipe Miocic (7-0)W Joey Beltran (unam. decision) - UFC 136W Bobby Brents (submission - leg kicks) - NAAFS Fight Night 7W William Penn (KO) - NAAFS Caged Vengeance 9 Philip De Fries (9-0)W Rob Broughton (unam. decision) - UFC 138W Stav Economou (submission - RNC) - UWC 18W Colin Robinson (submission - armbar) - Supremacy Fight Challenge 2 UFC on Fuel 1 coverage

Posted in: ufc, submission, miocic, stipe, fry

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submitted by DeadFlux [link] [comment]

Posted in: submission, zombie, year, deadflux link, twist

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   Nick Denis slam-KO’ing Nick Mamalis at Wreck MMA. Tachi Palace Fights 11  Bubba Jenkins vs. Josh Williams (Pro Debuts of both)Jenkins by Submission (Strikes), 2:04 of Round 1   Francisco Rivera vs. Brad McDonald Rivera by KO, :40 of Round 1 Georgi Karakhanyan vs. Isaac DeJesus Karakhanyan by Submission (Triangle), 4:02 of Round 1   ~much more after the break!~ read more

Posted in: round, submission, vs, wreck, nbspnbspbubba

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Ring of Fire 42 resultsBroomfield, COBernardo Fanti def. Noland McLaughlin by Unanimous Decision Tyson Grippen def. Jeff Malaterre by Submission Rear Naked Choke 2:40 R3Randy Caruso def. Andrew Kauppila by KO (Punch) 0:24 R1John Zahn def. James DeHerrera by Submission Guillotine Choke 0:26 R3Aaron Romero def. Santana-Sol Martinez by Submission Guillotine Choke 0:28 R2Scott Cleve def. Johnny Torres by TKO (Head Kick) 1:04 R2Czar Sklavos def. Mike Baldwin Submission Rear Naked Choke 2:53 R1Justin Gaethje def. Donnie Bell by TKO (Punches) 2:57 R2Ryan Schultz def. Angelo Duarte by Submission Rear Naked Choke 2:47 R1Lacey Schuckman def. Michelle Blalock by Submission Guillotine Choke 1:02 R2Tyler Toner def. Nick Macias by Unanimous Decision

Posted in: submission, submission guillotine, guillotine, tyler toner, jeff malaterre

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At this point in time, it is safe to say that if there is something on Vinny Magalhaes's mind, he is going to let everyone know. Magalhaes is the reigning M-1 light heavyweight champion and an elite submission grappler with many prestigious titles in his past. Earlier this year, he made a stellar run to the finals of the +99 kg division of the Abu Dhabi Combat Club submission grappling tournament, where he out-pointed Fabricio Werdum in a legendary match. In a recent interview with Kid Peligro, Vinny opens up about his ADCC experience - in particular, surviving the locked-on armbar Werdum had on him in the finals - and makes some very pointed comments about his M-1 experience. Kid Peligro - In 2009 you had a very good performance, but this time you won and is a champion, what was the difference this time around? Vinny Magalhaes - In 2009 I had a dream tournament; I had beautiful matches, I had spectacular submissions in some matches and I took home two medals (third palace weight and absolute) that was my first ADCC! But I didn't conquer the Gold Medal which is the one everyone desires. And that is the one people remember the most. This time I came in with the idea of fighting to win, that it would better to fight ugly and to win than to fight beautifully and leave without the Gold. For sure my performance in ADCC 2009 will be remembered one way or another for the flying arm-locks that I did and other submission, as in my fight with Cavaca and against Glover, but none of that is worth more to me than the Gold medal I conquered this year. Hitr the jump for more ADCC talk and the eyebrow raising M-1 tidbits Vinny drops. En route to the +99 kg title, Vinny beat acclaimed grapplers like Gerardi Rinaldi (the Cornell wrestling product who competed with the likes of Phil Davis and Chris Weidman), Bruno Bastos, Jose Junior and Fabricio Werdum. Only Werdum scored points during that run and Vinny would go on to compete in the Absolute, losing out by a narrow referee's decision to Murilo Santana. In short, Vinny grapples real good. His MMA career is now his focus and the interview excerpts below reflect that. Make sure to read the entire interview, as Vinny is always entertaining when speaking his mind. Kid Peligro - At that moment on the final your arm was stretched out to the max, how did you overcome that? Vinny Magalhaes - I simply put in my head that I couldn't tap, because it was the finals of ADCC and I was ahead on points. I thought about letting the arm break, if necessary, because I would never give up, after all winning ADCC is like winning the Olympics, not only that but winning ADCC is the highest achievement a grappler can get in their career. If I tapped I would be ruining a great opportunity of making a name for myself. KP- You were in the U.F.C., you did the Ultimate Fighter and competed a few times in the main event, now what would it be like to return to the UFC Octagon? VM- My dreams go beyond "returning" to the UFC, I dream of returning to stay and to become a Champion. In my first time in UFC I was too inexperienced, I wasn't training correctly and all I wanted was to be there, in UFC, But I wasn't training and preparing with the ambition and desire that I have today. I wasn't fighting with the passion that I fight today! Today, I believe that when I return to the UFC I will have a much better and stronger presence than before. You can call me crazy but my desire is to have that belt no matter what the costs are and I am going after reaching that dream! KP- What do you believe it will take for you to return to the UFC? VM- The only thing missing is for my contract with M1 needs to expire. I believe that as soon as I am free of any contract with M-1 I will have my foot on the door of UFC, after all, of the 12 wins that I have in MMA they are all by submission or KO. I don't have a single win by decision, on top of that, the fans have recognized my efforts, because I was a part of TUF, and now ADCC Champion. So I believe that perhaps not immediately but with one or two more wins the UFC is going to be calling me back. What do you readers think? Is Vinny's MMA career going to keep climbing upwards to international stardom, riches and rewards? Would it be best for Vinny to put aside the anger and get a few more exciting finishes for M-1? Where do you see him in the 205 division in a few years? Poll Where will Vinny Magalhaes be ranked within the 205 division in two years? Top Five Top Ten You Crazy - Nowhere Near the Top   14 votes | Results

Posted in: ufc, time, submission, vinny, adcc

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Get hyped for UFC 141 with Nate Diaz and his awesome submission over Kurt Pellegrino from 2008, complete with Stockton Salute.

Posted in: diaz, submission, nate diaz, pellegrino, kurt pellegrino

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There's a bunch of news coming out of the Asian region, so let's get right to it: URCC Champion and ONE FC star, Eduard Folayang, has been being booked as the headliner for URCC: Cebu VII. An opponent hasn't been finalized as of this writing, but the URCC champ is likely to take on one of the fighters from the ONE FC network, possibly a contender from Dare Fight Sports in Thailand.Folayang is fresh off his Gold Medal run at the 2011 South East Asian Games for Wushu, and his last outing in MMA was that exciting win over A Sol Kwon at ONE FC 1.The show will be on January 13, 2012 in the province of Cebu, and it will also feature 2 Visayan title fights, Victor Torre vs. Geronimo Etac for the URCC Visayan Pinweight Title, and Carry Bulos vs. Rex De Lara for the URCC Visayan Bantamweight Title. Here's the latest promo for DREAM's NYE event featuring Fedor Emelianenko's return to Japan against Satoshi Ishii: Legend FC contender, Mark Striegl improved his record to 6-0 this past weekend. He moved up in weight, and choked out Taiwanese lightweight, Pan Wen Shi in the first round of their PRO Fighting 6 bout in Taiwan. Check out the video below. (HT: Zike Sugawara) More videos from PRO Fighting 6 after the jump, along with results from RUFF 2 in China, and URCC Tribal Brawl Finals. Follow me on twitter -- @antontabuena. Here are a few more PRO fighting vids, Vaughn Anderson vs. Wu Dong Xing: and Daniel Johan Macki vs. Nae Chul Kim: 6'4 bantamweight Will 'The Kill' Chope picked up his 4 straight victory on the same event, stopping Isamu Himura by TKO on the third. No video yet though. Ruff 2 in China also happened last weekend, with top Chinese prospects Jumabieke Tuerxun and Wang Guan picking up quality wins and extending their long unbeaten streaks. Here are the results:Wang Guan def. Wang JinGang by submission (punches), R1 0:50 Rodrigo Caporal def. HasiTieer TeerJiang by submission (armbar), R1 1:24 Jumabieke Tuerxun def. Zhao YanFei by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-27) Dong YanJun def. Xue GuoBin by submission (rear naked choke), R3 4:32 Amu RiJiRiGaLa def. Liu PingYuan by unanimous decision (30-28, 30-27, 30-27) Irshaad Sayed def. Ayideng Jumayi by split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) Li BoLin def. Li LinLin by submission (armbar), R3 1:42 Liu LianJie def. YangLiang by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) Wang HongChen def. Shinji Ichinose by submission (rear naked choke), R1 1:02 The URCC Tribal Brawl Finals, a nationwide amateur tournament hosted by the URCC in the Philippines concluded this past weekend as well. Ranel Tangguiyac, Fred Lim Jr., Kevin Yongaan, Jefferson Ng, and Rolly Rodavites won the Pinweight, Flyweight, Bantamweight, Featherweight, and Lightweight championships respectively. Expect to see these guys make waves as they jump to the pro ranks of the promotion.Third place finishes for these divisions also went to prospects Jr Rulloda, Nonoy Francisco, Eman Davis, Alvin Solinap, Arvin Chan as they all picked up quality wins on the same card.

Posted in: decision, submission, vs, urcc, brawl finals

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Welterweight prospect, Siyar Bahadurzada was one of several casualties that bowed out of the UFC 142 card today due to injury, but the UFC has now found a replacement for Bahadurzada to face blue-chip Brazilian, Erick Silva on the Rio card. The UFC's Brazil office tweeted that veteran fighter, Carlo Prater, has gotten the call and will make his UFC debut on the January 14th card against Silva: @ErickSilvaMMA tem novo adversário no #UFCRIO, agora ele enfrenta Carlo Prater Over his nine-year pro career, Prater has faced some tough competition while bouncing back and forth between lightweiht and welterweight, and he holds notable career victories over Melvin Guillard, Carlos Condit, Spencer Fisher, and Pat Healy among others. Although Prater is a Brazilian native, he has called Texas home for many years, spending a lot of time training with Yves Edwards, and fighting often on the regional scene there. Most recently, Prater finds himself riding a four-fight winning streak and finishing all four of those fights by submission. It's unclear whether Silva vs. Prater will remain on the PPV main card, but we'll update you when the UFC 142 lineup is finalized. Carlo "Neo" Prater (29-10-1)W Gleristone Santos (submission - arm triangle choke) - Capital Fight 4W Cameron Dollar (submission - kimura) - Legacy FC 7W Henrique Mello (submission - RNC) - International Fighter Championship UFC 142 coverage

Posted in: ufc, submission, silva, carlo, prater

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How dominant is Strikeforce 145-pound female champion Cristiane Santos? Look no further than the amalgam of betting lines that favor her in four-digit increments that range from -1400 to -1011 against Hiroko Yamanaka. The women's title will be up for grabs in the co-main event of Saturday's Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal event on Showtime. Women's MMA has made incredible strides in the last few years, but the progress was hindered by the UFC's purchase of Strikeforce, shrouding the future of the promotion and female fighting in uncertainty. Now, Strikeforce has extended their contract with Showtime and the ladies are featured in the supporting role to the show's headliner. After a year and a half on the bench, Cristiane Santos (10-1) will return to action after having crushed all four of her previous Strikeforce opponents with ferocious strike-stoppages. The Chute Boxe product has redefined the way public perceives female fighting by, quite frankly, performing with just as much athleticism, technique and violence as top-level male combatants. The challenger, Hiroko "Incomplete Queen" Yamanaka (12-1), will be making her stateside and Strikeforce debut, but she's far from a newcomer to the sport. Yamanaka is a former Smack Girl Open Weight champion and currently ranked second in the world (behind Santos) by MMARising. She is a composed and diverse mixed martial artist with solid striking and submission grappling. The sole blemish on her record was a 2008 submission loss to Hitomi Akano (who Cyborg defeated in her Strikeforce debut) but Yamanaka would later avenge the loss by split decision in the Jewels promotion. Match up analysis in the full entry. SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal Yamanaka is 5'11" and the tallest fighter that Cyborg has ever encountered. Considering the champ's propensity to rag-doll opponents, Yamanaka should endeavor to maximize the advantages of her size. She has previously implemented a hard-nosed sprawl and brawl strategy against Josh Barnett's student Shannon Hooper, where Yamanaka exacerbated her length with solid boxing and footwork. Striking-wise, she throws tight and precise punches. Though not a power puncher, her activity and accumulation of blows can be quite formidable and she also has a library of high-level submissions. Yamanaka is a crafty and composed fighter who I don't expect to be intimated by the tremendous challenge in front of her. Santos is the complete package in every aspect: boxing, Muay Thai, wrestling, submissions, strength, agility and aggression. Her chin has passed the test thus far and her only loss was via kneebar in her MMA debut back in 2005. Really, "Cyborg" represents the pinnacle of all aspects in women's MMA. She's steamrolled all comers and hasn't offered up any flaws to nitpick on even a microscopic scale. The two areas that prohibit any excitement for an upset are Yamanaka's lack of knockout power and wrestling. While she may be competent in keeping Santos on the end of her punches, she will be hard-pressed to finish the champ and avoiding her wrath in every round makes winning a decision unlikely. While her submission game is sound, she was taken down rather easily by Akano. This means that Cyborg will not only dictate the location of the fight, but will probably assume the top position on the ground, where her striking prowess is just as deadly as it standing and her submission awareness is intact. My Prediction: Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos by TKO Poll Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos vs. Hiroko Yamanaka Cyborg Hamanaka   15 votes | Results

Posted in: strikeforce, submission, yamanaka, cyborg, cristiane

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Continuing the card's theme of established star versus hungry up-and-comer, Dutch-Armenian kickboxer Gegard Mousasi meets physical leviathan Ovince St. Preux in a Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal 205-pound tilt. Gegard Mousasi (31-3) is one of the most contentiously ranked fighters in MMA, currently seated in the ninth spot on December's consensus world rankings. He initially cemented himself as a middleweight in the overseas market, beginning with Pride FC's "Bushido" series and, later, in Dream's Middleweight Grand Prix, where his four impressive victories earned him the promotion's middleweight title. Global recognition accompanied his achievements, and Mousasi was netted by Strikeforce to debut on American soil. In addition to the adversity of diving in at the top of the food chain, the Golden Glory fighter declared that he'd also be competing twenty-pounds higher at light-heavyweight, intensifying the skepticism. In the biggest fight of his life, with his career and reputation hanging in the balance, Mousasi lazily shuffled into the cage to face former UFC and then-Strikeforce champ Renato Sobral wearing a look of almost bored indifference. Sixty seconds later, "Babalu" was counting sheep and Mousasi was fidgeting with a shiny new belt around his waist. After clobbering two more victims, Mousasi incurred his third career loss when he was devoured underneath the takedowns and top-play of Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal, forfeiting the strap in the process. He has since notched three first-round stoppages along with a hotly debated draw with Keith Jardine. Ovince St. Preux played defensive end and linebacker for the University of Tennessee from 2001-2004. As you'd imagine from an athlete of that caliber, his strength-to-agility ratio is exceptional. Having wrestled at a young age, St. Preux took up martial arts training after graduating from college and, when he couldn't secure a spot in the NFL, started to gravitate towards MMA. "OSP" lost his first two fights, racked up three consecutive wins, then dropped three straight. As a footnote, it's worth noting that several defeats were very respectable (Rodney Wallace, Nik Fekete, Virgil Swicker) and his first two wins were accomplished by head kick KO and the rare calf-slicer submission. Overall, the first half of his career was quite commonplace. The second half was not. St. Preux's been a busy man, performing flawlessly in his last eight outings, all of which were accrued in just twenty-one months. He's launched himself into the spotlight and up the contender ladder by accenting his résumé with quality victories over former UFCers Jason Day (KO) and Benji Radach (decision). Match up analysis in the full entry. SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal Despite his billing as a kickboxer, Mousasi handles the vast majority of his customers with his hands. He started boxing at age fifteen and, just one year later, became an amateur boxing champion in the Netherlands. His roots also stem back to the art of Judo, which gives him a solid clinch and excellent balance, and his tenure at Golden Glory has been integral in enhancing his stand up and tying everything together. Because his first two defeats were by armbar, the aspect of Mousasi's submission grappling used to be a question mark, but he went on to triangle Denis Kang (a BJJ black belt with sixteen submission wins) and prove that he was far from a grappling novice. A persistent finisher, Mousasi now has a total of ten submissions on his record with a monumental eighteen wins by TKO, going the distance in only five of his thirty-six fights. When you break down Mousasi's only shades of mortality, the takedowns and the ground game were heavily involved. Thus, his machinations are all designed to maximize the fight-ending capabilities of his boxing. His footwork, defense, clinch and grappling are generally actuated to get him or keep him in the free-movement phase where he can blaze combinations. That spin makes St. Preux an intriguing challenge and a live underdog. The southpaw is shockingly diverse for such an inexperienced fighter, popping off stiff and straight punches on the feet while demonstrating a capable arsenal of sub-grappling and takedowns. Along with his imposing physicality and sponge-like ability to evolve, St. Preux seems to have a natural instinct for mixed martial arts. With a long reach measurement (79"), his competency standing could allow him to hold his own and set up his takedowns or clinch advances with strikes rather than telegraphing them or shooting with desperation. OSP has been pleasingly aggressive and offensive-minded on the mat but shifting a little more focus to control and defense might pay dividends if he can ground Mousasi. If he can maintain a semblance of controlling where the fight takes place and avoiding a three-round shootout on the feet, he's a legit threat to pull off the upset. I think the dramatic increase in competition will play a role here. Mousasi has been a busy fighter as well, only at a much higher level, and has only been held down by Lawal, who is an accredited wrestler. Mousasi's sweep and scrambling skills are top-notch and his striking and submissions are utterly volatile. I don't think St. Preux's athleticism and freakish potential can make up for Mousasi's finesse, composure and fine-tuned technique. My Prediction: Gegard Mousasi by TKO Poll Gegard Mousasi vs. Ovince St. Preux Mousasi OSP   11 votes | Results

Posted in: submission, vs, st, mousasi, preux

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Frank Mir stakes his claim to be up considered the best submission heavyweight in UFC history.

Posted in: mir, submission, claim, submission heavyweight, mir stakes

Read the full article at sportsnet.ca

When people think about grappling in Russia their thoughts almost certainly turn to sambo, a martial art focused as much on throwing an opponent as locking in a submission. However, accomplished BJJer Rodrigo Cabral is looking to change that perception through his work in the Eastern European nation at the Alliance Jiu-Jitsu Academy. Cabral heads the school, an opportunity that resulted from a chance meeting in his native Brazil. “It all started six months ago when Dmitry Selivakhin spent some time with us training in Rio de Janeiro,” revealed Cabral in an interview with BJJHeroes. “Dmitry belongs to an MMA team in Russia named Strela MMA and he showed interest in opening an Alliance franchise in Russia,” adding that he was selected based on his physical strength. A recent winner of a gold medal at the Brazilian nationals, the 30-year old Cabral also expressed his appreciation for how quickly his students have picked up on BJJ, crediting their backgrounds in Sambo and overall desire, saying, “They are very focused and determined in everything they do and this is extremely important… important for anything you want to achieve in life.” He also hopes to develop BJJ competitions in the region at some point to continue the sport’s growth, explaining, “They do have submission wrestling competitions but no Jiu Jitsu so far.” With another tool to work with, and BJJ’s popularity catching on in Russia, it may only be matter of time until the world’s top submission artists come from a far less temperate place than Brazil. PHOTO CREDIT – ALLIANCEBJJ Tweet

Posted in: submission, cabral, bjj, russia, european nation

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submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [3 comments]

Posted in: ufc, submission, mattyblayze, antonio, noguiera

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Damn you, Pride (FC)! After delivering a flush right hand to the back of Frank Mir's ear at UFC 140 this past weekend (Dec. 10, 2011) that had the former champion dancing a delirious ditty, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira inexplicably looked to secure a submission instead of continuing his onslaught of punches. After all, Brandon Vera, Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin essentially proved that Mir folds like a lawn chair when he's hurt bad and hammered with repeated strikes to the head. Not this time. That's because Nogueira gave Mir, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, too much space and time to recover. As a result, he was able to recuperate and eventually trap Nogueira, also a jiu-jitsu expert, in a kimura that crushed the former PRIDE and UFC heavyweight champion's upper arm like a bag of potato chips. Perhaps a little pride played a role in "Big Nog's" attempt to earn the victory via submission, seeing as how he has often been referred to as the best heavyweight submission fighter in mixed martial arts (MMA). And a decisive submission victory over another established and decorated jiu-jitsu player such as Mir would have definitely bolstered his resume. However, not only did Nogueira fail to get the victory, but he ended up getting submitted himself for the first time in his illustrious career; coincidentally, by the same man who was the first to ever finish him in a fight via strikes three years prior at UFC 92. Speaking to Globo.com (via BJPenn.com), "Minotauro" says it was just a stupid mistake that cost him a sure win in Toronto, Ontario, Canada: "It was stupid. The fight was won, but I made up my mind to go for a submission. Two more shots and I knocked out Mir for sure. But I wanted to finish the fight beautifully. I wanted to finish with a submission. For a long time I had not finished a fight with a submission, so for a moment I wanted to submit him (laughs). But it was stupid, I was should have gotten the knock out. The fight was mine and I missed the opportunity. I felt very well. I was fast with good movement and very confident. I tried to submit when I was in a position where he could counter attack and he ended up taking my arm. I made a mistake, it was stupid ..." The good news as that Nogueira, surprisingly, will not require surgery to repair his broken arm and could possibly return to competition in as few as nine months. Unbelievable, really, looking at these x-rays. Nonetheless, in a storied career that spans 13 years and 42 fights, Nogueira has truly earned the right to be called a legend. He is the only man to ever hold the Pride FC and UFC heavyweight title and his win column includes victories over several of the best MMA fighters to ever compete in the sport, including Randy Couture, Mirko Filipovic and Josh Barnett, among others. Whether or not Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) brass allow him to tack more pelts to his Hall of Fame-worthy wall and return to action so soon after suffering such a significant and high-profile injury is another story. He seems eager to get back to the cage, but at this point, does Nogueira, 35, have anything left to prove?

Posted in: submission, nogueira, ufc, fight, mir

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Sherdog's Jordan Breen was able to sit down with Frank Mir following his UFC 140 arm breaking submission victory over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and talk about the fight. Mir gave insight into what the actual submission was like among other things during the roughly ten minute interview. Here's the video: From the video: That's the great thing about submissions, you build up your strength and your power in the gym, but it's like having a lever, you want to get the lever in the right spot and use proper technique and then when it's in the right spot you want to jump up and down on it to get as much force as you can into it. It's a good combination of both strength and technique. So when I grabbed it and started cranking it just crushed like twisting a bag of potato chips. That's a special kind of graphic right there. Mir's win should have him positioned for either a title shot or title eliminator in the very near future. SBN coverage of UFC 140: Jones vs. Machida

Posted in: ufc, mir, submission, right spot, fight mir

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Calm. That is the word I would use to describe Frank Mir inside the Octagon: calm. Perhaps that seems like a strange word choice for a 260 pound man who has, on more than one occasion, snapped another man's harm like a matchstick, but it is the truth. As a fighter, Frank Mir is calm. At UFC 140, Mir showed that calmness in his victory over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. Dazed after a barrage of punches, Mir found himself on the mat trading submissions with his highly acclaimed submission master opponent. Mir stayed relaxed, fighting through the submission, reversing to his own kimura, and then sinking it in for the win and breaking Minotauro's arm in the process. Ben Thapa broke down the techniques Mir used to gain the submission: Once that bump into side control is achieved, Mir has the correct angles to get Big Nog's arm into the right positions. He has his left hand pinning Nogueira's right wrist to the ground and his right hand snaking underneath Big Nog's upper arm and locked onto his own left wrist. This is the classic figure four double wristlock that judokas call the reverse ude garami and BJJ players the "kimura". The submission is essentially set now. Mir steps over the head - or at least tries to - and smashes his chest downwards as Nog looks like he knows exactly what is coming and wants no part of it. From a technical standpoint, it was indeed impressive. But it wouldn't have worked if Mir had not kept his head focused, stayed ready for Nogueira, and fought through his tough spots. In short, if he had not remained calm. But for Frank Mir that calmness is a double-edged sword. When used properly, that attitude has propelled Mir to success. We saw it last night against Nogueira, and also against Roy Nelson and Mirko Cro Cop - two other fights where Mir stayed focused and executed his gameplan to win with apparent ease. Against Brock Lesnar (in the UFC 100 rematch) and Shane Carwin, that calm attitude yielded considerably different results. In both of those fights, Mir faced stronger, more aggressive fighters. Both men were able to get Mir in difficult positions, then bring down a series of blows to stop the fight. And in both instances, Mir remained calm... until it was too late. Trapped against the cage by Carwin, trapped beneath Lesnar's massive frame, Mir stayed relaxed. But as he did so, the blows quickly accumulated, and without even putting up a significant fight to escape the position, Frank Mir was done. In these fights, that calmness became almost complacency, and the fast, heavy hands of Lesnar and Carwin made Mir pay for his lapse. Now, as Mir prepares to once again make a run at regaining the UFC Heavyweight title that he held years ago, this issue is likely to come up once again. Because the men above him in the UFC are all the same kind of explosive knock-out fighters that have used Mir's calm against him. Cain Velasquez, Junior dos Santos, Alistair Overeem - these are powerful strikers who finish fights, and if they catch Mir, they will pour it on until he is done. As those heavy punches come at him, Mir will surely remain calm, maybe up until the point that he finds himself looking up at a referee waving the fight off. Can Frank Mir fix this issue? It's likely he can. But will doing so also cost him the ability to focus his attack, grab an opponent's arm and do what he does best? That's a more difficult question. But if he wants that UFC Heavyweight title belt back around his waist, it's a question Frank Mir will need to answer.

Posted in: ufc, fight, nogueira, mir, submission

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XFO hosted their 42nd event last night at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. Though sparsely attended (due, in all likelihood, somewhat to the UFC pay-per-view broadcast), the event delivered a healthy dose of action, with seven of the card's eleven professional bouts ending by (T)KO or submission in the first round. In the main event, Serbian heavyweight Miodrag Petkovic (32-18-1) snapped a five-fight losing streak as he earned a unanimous decision victory over TUF veteran Mike Marrello (12-4-1). Petkovic, who owns notable wins over Igor Pokrajac, James Thompson, and Tim Hague, has spent the majority of his career on the European circuit. Last night's fight is the second time in a row he's fought for a Chicago-based promotion. Bantamweight Danny Aguirre latched on a first-round arm bar in the night's co-main event, placing himself quickly back into the win column after his unanimous decision loss to Carson Beebe last October. Aguirre improved his record to 5-1-0, while his opponent, the formerly undefeated Jake Grigson, fell to 4-1-0. Kevin Knabjian and Carson Beebe, who had, like Marrello, each been eliminated in on of The Ultimate Fighter's entry rounds, would not be denied last night. Beebe (9-1-0) dominated opponent Lloyd Carter (3-3-0) for a unanimous decision victory, while Knabjian (11-6-1) pulled himself out of a three-fight skid with a submission by kimura against Brandon Adamson (11-11-0). Full results after the jump... Miodrag Petkovic def. Mike Marrello by Unanimous Decision Danny Aguirre def. Jake Grigson by Submission (arm bar) at 2:19 of Round 1 Kevin Knabjian def. Brandon Adamson by Submission (kimura) at 1:44 of Round 1 Carson Beebe def. Lloyd Carter by Unanimous Decision Darren Jacoby def. Kent Rexford by KO at 4:13 of Round 1 Adam Ward def. Danny Rodriguez by KO at 2:00 of Round 1 Joey Diehl def. Brandon Wood by TKO at :47 of Round 1 Ed Blake def. Matt Tobie by Majority Decision Guillermo Serment def. Vince Ramos by Unanimous Decision Chris Haney def. Johnny Coleman by Submission (strikes) at 2:25 of Round 1 Robert Couillard def. Anthony Goodwin by TKO at 3:22 of Round 1 Richard Lee/LoftySofty.com contributed to this report.

Posted in: round, decision, submission, beebe, jake grigson

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It pains me to write the following, but UFC 140 may have given us the greatest submission in mixed martial arts history. In terms of the caliber of fighters involved, the comeback nature of the submission and the defiant holding on until the bitter end, can you think of a better one? Whatever your opinion on the foregoing, this kimura (or ude garami/double wristlock) submission HAS to be analyzed and the set-up explained so that we can fully appreciate the violent beauty of this UFC 140 Submission of the Night . Time to make myself useful and launch into the table-setting. In one instant, we saw Frank Mir dazed and tilting severely to the left as several stiff punches from Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira thudded into his skull. Almost in the next instant, we saw Mir sprawling atop Big Nog with a kimura that seemingly appeared out of nowhere. Mir ruthlessly cranked the submission until the visible snap of the humerus occurred, forcing Herb Dean to immediately step in and probably thousands of viewers to visibly recoil. If we can get over the initial burst of discomfort from the actual snap, we can have a productive discussion about how exactly a kimura works and why it worked so well in this particular case. The basic mechanics to operate this specific submission have been known for quite a while. Catch as catch can wrestlers call this the double wristlock. Judokas call it the reverse ude garami. Brazilian jiu jitsu players mostly call this submission the "kimura", after Masahiko Kimura famously snapped multiple bones in Helio Gracie's arm in a challenge match held in 1951. The various grappling arts know of this submission and how it forces a near-Hobson's choice of "tap or snap" upon the person within the hold by exerting extreme torque on the upper arm. Join me after the jump for a breakdown of how exactly Mir came back from the near shores of unconsciousness to submitting one of the better heavyweight grapplers in mixed martial arts history. After wobbling and dropping Mir with several strong blows, Big Nog sprawled atop his nearly motionless opponent. For whatever reasons, Nog's take upon the gestalt of the fight led him to go for an arm-in guillotine. The combination of the spatial placement of both fighters, the timing and the physical sensations of Mir's motions led Nogueira to trust his instincts and seize upon the guillotine as his preferred fight ending action over the continued sprawling and flinging of punches to Mir's noggin. Unfortunately, the submission attempt led to an improbable sweep and a truly surprising finish. Here, we see Nogueira shift from punching Mir to going for the guillotine. Mir probably is not in full control of his faculties at this point, yet when Nogueira goes for the guillotine, Mir instinctively rolls over his right shoulder and flops to his right side. Yes, this gives Big Nog the top position and a clear path to mount, but it also alleviates some of the discomfort and pressure upon the carotids and windpipe that the guillotine creates. Immediately, Mir begins to separate himself from Nogueira's hips and we see how Nog continues to go after the choke. After a brief flirtation with pulling some kind of crazy half guard, Mir wises up and uses his right hand to push Nog's right hip away from him. Once Nog is perpendicular to Mir (and thus less able to apply that specific guillotine choke), Mir rocks backwards and lifts Nogueira's right leg off the ground. Due to Nog's dogged pursuit of the guillotine, his center of gravity is too far off of Mir to resist the sweep. Nog gets spun like a dreidel, yet in the classic "make lemonade out of lemons" style of his grappling, he refuses to concede side control and shifts himself into a wrestling sit out. The wrestling-style sit out allows a fighter to use the slightly askew center of gravity of the opponent on top to sprawl sitting up towards one particular side - and potentially offers avenues to rear mount or at least a bodylock on a turned away opponent. This particular sit out is nicely timed and showcases the more recent vintage of grappling the Nogueira brothers now train. However, Big Nog leaves his right arm down low, between Mir's legs. The left hand is controlling Mir's right hand nicely and the body is sprawled out in good fashion. The only weak link is that right hand. It should be up around Mir's waist and tight to the body. Instead, Big Nog leaves the arm out there and Mir latches on to it from an inferior position. From the brief rearranging of positions here, you can tell that Big Nog wanted to take the back from here or to prevent the shift into side control. Nogueira lifts the left leg - which is a miscalculation, as it allows the right leg to be lifted up and moved over onto the proper side of Nogueira to truly being exerting in terms of sports news and reporting. Mir has backed his way into side control and Big Nog does not expect him to be where he is or to possess the static strength he does. Once that bump into side control is achieved, Mir has the correct angles to get Big Nog's arm into the right positions. He has his left hand pinning Nogueira's right wrist to the ground and his right hand snaking underneath Big Nog's upper arm and locked onto his own left wrist. This is the classic figure four double wristlock that judokas call the reverse ude garami and BJJ players the "kimura". The submission is essentially set now. Mir steps over the head - or at least tries to - and smashes his chest downwards as Nog looks like he knows exactly what is coming and wants no part of it. At this point, Frank's massive static strength is starting to take over. Big Nog's right arm is being dragged into the classic right angle required for the reverse ude garami. The pressure of Mir's bodyweight is considerable, yet the location of his body allows Nogueira to upend him in an attempt to alleviate the increasing torque on the arm. Big Nog wants to straighten that arm out and shake loose from the double wristlocks grips, but it does not work. Mir keeps his grips tightly secured and continues to extend the arm behind Nogueira's back. Even when Big Nog is briefly on top, the torque of the kimura is sufficient that the only thing Big Nog can do to not tap out right there and then is to continue rolling and hope something shakes loose. No such luck happened. Once atop Big Nog again, Mir drags the right wrist along the ground and pulls the entire arm towards him. Within a second, that arm is bending in a way that the human body cannot tolerate and SNAP! Big Nog tapped, but it was too late. His humerus had been cleanly fractured and Frank Mir had his third career technical submission victory. This was far nastier than the armbar that snapped Tim Sylvia's forearm bones and much more difficult than the guillotine that put Cheick Kongo to sleep. This was legendary, as much as I hate to say it. Frank Mir tapped out Minotauro in brutal and memorable fashion. Perhaps this kimura used quite a bit more of brute strength than most submissions we are used to seeing within mixed martial arts. Perhaps Francisco Santos Mir is not quite the lovable icon that Big Nog is. But you should be respecting his ability to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat through some of the most singularly successful desperation comebacks through submission that we have ever seen. Porra!

Posted in: right, nogueira, mir, submission, nog

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Frank Mir reflected on his submission of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 140 with Sherdog.com’s Jordan Breen.

Posted in: ufc, nogueira, mir, submission, breen

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Check out our exclusive gallery from the explosive UFC 140 card in Toronto, from Mark Hominick's heartbreak to Jon Jones' submission win over Lyoto Machida.

Posted in: ufc, toronto, submission, gallery, machida

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 UFC 140 Jones vs. Machida resultsToronto, Canada Jon Jones def. Lyoto Machida via technical submission standing guillotine choke 4:26 R2Frank Mir def. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira via submission kimura 3:38 R1Antonio Rogerio Nogueira def. Tito Ortiz via TKO (strikes) 3:15 R1Brian Ebersole def. Claude Patrick via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)Chan Sung Jung def. Mark Hominick via TKO (punches) 0:07 R1Igor Pokrajac def. Krzysztof Soszynski via knockout (punches) 0:35 R1Constantinos Philippou def. Jared Hamman via knockout (punches) 3:11 R1Dennis Hallman def. John Makdessi via submission rear naked choke 2:58 R1Yves Jabouin def. Walel Watson via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)Mark Bocek def. NiK Lentz via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)Jake Hecht def. Rich Attonito via TKO (strikes) 1:10 R2John Cholish def. Mitch Clarke via TKO (strikes) 4:36 R2

Posted in: tko, submission, mark hominick, tito ortiz, lyoto machida

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UFC 140 "Of the Night" Bonuses Submission of the Night: $xxxxxx - Knockout of the Night: $xxxxxx - Fight of the Night: $xxxxxxx -

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If you’re looking for an appetizer before tonight’s UFC event, the biggest MMA company in England makes their US TV debut today on HDNet. Coming to us live from the Capital FM Arena in Nottingham, England, it’s BAMMA 8. As always, FiveOuncesOfPain.com will provide complete results including a fight recap of all the live televised action. The four fight card kicks off on HDNet at 4PM EST. BAMMA 8 is headlined by undefeated light heavyweight and UCMMA champion Jimi Manuwa making his promotion debut against veteran Antony Rea. Also on the card is Jim Wallhead taking on Joey Villasenor in a welterweight clash. Plus former TUF finalist Andre Winner battles Diego Gonzalez. PRELIMINARY CARD Brian Hyslop def. Ian Malone via Unanimous Decision Brent Crawley def. Mark Platts via Submission Round 1 (Rear Naked Choke) Danny Mitchell def. Dean Masinger via Submission Round 2 (Triangle Choke) Tom Breese def. Quasim Shafiq via Submission Round 1 (Triangle Choke) Colin Fletcher def. David Round via Submission Round 1 (Guillotine Choke) MAIN CARD Paul McVeigh vs. Erik Perez Andre Winner vs. Diego Gonzalez Jim Wallhead vs. Joey Villasenor Jimi Manuwa vs. Antony Rea

Posted in: round, submission, vs, card, bamma

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Jason (The Athlete) MacDonald breaks down the key matchups at UFC 140.

Posted in: ufc, submission, break, jason, athlete

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The opening pay-per-view bout of UFC 140: Jones vs. Machida should be an action-packed barn burner. Fan-favorite featherweights Mark Hominick and Chan Sung Jung will lock horns in a battle pitting prestigious fundamentals versus voraciously expelled aggression. Mark "The Machine" Hominick (20-9) is a seasoned veteran who's been tangling with top-shelf competition throughout his career and is currently ranked eighth in the world at 145. He's widely respected as one of the best kickboxers in the game for his utterly impeccable technique, much of which was crafted under the tutelage of the late Shawn Tompkins. A native of Ontario, Canada, Hominick is coming off a genuinely impressive five-round title bout with the mighty Jose Aldo, who has a well deserved reputation as an elite Muay Thai assassin. Despite sprouting a grotesque, B-cup-sized hematoma on his forehead that could double as a functional coat-rack, Hominick turned in a gritty and valiant performance against the habitually dominant champion. He ate spoonfuls of punishment but gave his fair share in return, fearlessly dueling with Aldo on the feet, deftly slipping punches, slamming his left hook downstairs and stealing the last round with a takedown and commanding top-play. Chan Sung Jung has only participated under the bright lights of the Zuffa banner three times. In each, the haymaker-hurling Korean has experienced the extreme emotions of either the soaring highs or the soul-shrinking lows of MMA. His North American premiere at WEC 48 in April of 2010 was an indelible clash with the ever-inclined Leonard Garcia where the pair delivered an epic spectacle of mass carnage. The sizzle of this instant classic was more of a strange human connection with caveman-era warfare than golf-clapping at an artistic chess match, and it garnered press as both a Fight and Robbery of the Year candidate. In retrospect, the contentious decision for Garcia might have rallied fans behind Jung even more so than if he'd won. Dana White and Joe Rogan flaunted his signature shirt with pride and the internet quickly exhausted every conceivable quip pertaining to necrophilia and eating brains. The consummately under-rated George Roop would then bring the Zombie madness to a screeching halt with one fell swoop of his left leg, knocking out Jung for the first time and shattering the mystique of his very namesake. The roller coaster of Jung's stateside stint plummeted to its bottommost depth and he went from adored icon to another failed import in one fight. In history defining fashion, Jung would claw his way out of the dregs by implementing his stellar grappling in the rematch with Garcia, fitting him with the Octagon's first Twister. Re-embraced by the public, the unorthodox submission resounded with fans, yet the general consensus for Saturday's collision is that Hominick's resplendent striking repertoire is tailor-made for Jung's reckless and unkempt stand up. Gifs and analysis in the full entry. SBN coverage of UFC 140: Jones vs. Machida For certain, MMA Math is a hideous practice quickly derided by the masses. It is, however, not entirely without merit and hereby offered as Exhibit A. George Roop, who virtually beheaded Jung with a left-legged lightning bolt, looked desperate and out of sorts when encumbered with Hominick's methodical weaponry. Despite enjoying an edge in height and reach, which are valuable assets in a striking match, Roop was handily dusted in a one-sided, first round stoppage. All the exemplary mechanics and finesse that Hominick is trumpeted for were on full display. Roop usually dictates the pace and controls range with his stretchy striking but "The Machine" was in no mood for it. Above, we see how Hominick wields simple tools with the utmost efficiency. Flashing a series of lefts while strategically steering Roop toward his power hand, Hominick plugs home a crisp right that drops him before easily brushing off a takedown attempt. To the left is more of the uncanny cage generalship, footwork and precise devastation of Hominick at work, who locks down all escape routes and wraps things up with pinpoint accuracy. Expertly jousting in the pocket, here Hominick turns a hard corner and couples his left hook with another that sweeps under Aldo's guard and rifles into his midsection. Throughout his career, the Canadian has been an excellent body puncher, whether it's with his bread and butter left hook, the straight right, kicks from outside or knees in the clinch. Though not your typical brick-fisted power puncher, his mastery of striking mechanics alone instills him with the capability to end fights in a hurry. Of his twenty wins, his finishing rate is split evenly with eight TKOs and submissions. The unexpected tide-turner against Aldo was launching for a takedown and smothering the champ -- a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt -- with a smattering of ground-and-pound with excellent posture from the top. As with his stand up tactics, Hominick is icy cool on the ground. He rarely over-commits on anything, forces something that isn't there or pursues a high-risk opportunity, yet the catch is that he still maintains a consistent level of offensive output while doing so. Like Jung, Hominick is known for adept striking and submission grappling as opposed to wrestling skill. The pulse-quickening whirlwind of blue leather depicted to the right aptly signifies the visceral eruption of violence that ensued in Jung's North American debut at WEC 48. Some justifiably speculated that a friendly Hey, Hold Still So I Can Punch Your Face Repeatedly agreement had been secretly agreed to beforehand, others, like myself, phoned relatives to insist they tune in with no regard for the mental scars it would leave on aging grandparents, and most just sat back and beheld the gratifying violence with slack-jawed bewilderment. While regularly categorized as a sloppy mugging, there is a definite semblance of skill in Jung's bobbing, weaving and visceral counter punching. In the sequel, correlating with Aldo vs. Hominick, the factor of wrestling became a hidden and pivotal variable, as it might again in this match up on Saturday night. Pressing forward aggressively as usual, this time Jung connected with Garcia and isolated his head while hammering a succession of knees. Once Garcia hit the mat, Jung was all over him. In his tour of duty in Sengoku and other pre-Zuffa contests, Jung's slick submission grappling was clearly his most effective tool. Out of the nine stoppages on his record, seven come via submission with two by TKO. To the right, the Twister cometh. Jung excels in scrambling, especially at taking the back, and he uses his spidery length and octopus-like limbs well to pass guard and create opportunities. Physically, Jung has one-inch in height on Hominick (5'9" vs. 5'8") but almost four in the reach department (72" vs. 68.5") and it's an aspect he's learned to capitalize on standing. Nothing will compensate for the inevitable contrasts of their striking but his slight edge in reach and still-durable chin should help to even the scales a bit more. Hominick being simply too technical on the feet is an overwhelming assessment for good reason. Along with Michihiro Omigawa, who won a hotly debated "must-decision" over Jung, Hominick represents the best competition Jung has ever faced with a style seemingly attuned for his trademark ballistics. He is an overwhelming favorite on the betting lines as high as -500. Obviously, Hominick is the safe and mature prediction. Fortunately, I am neither mature nor cautious and also emotionally attached to The Korean Zombie. Giving him the nod does involve more than personal bias: Jung's flat performance against Roop was incredibly uncharacteristic and a severe anomaly, his striking is on a level far beyond visceral brawling and will be enhanced by his reach advantage, his wrestling is mildly under-valued and his submission game is criminally under-appreciated. My Prediction: Chan Sung Jung by submission Jung x Garcia WEC 49 gif via MMATKO.com All others via Zombie Prophet of IronForgesIron.com Poll The Machine vs. The Korean Zombie Machine Zombie   10 votes | Results

Posted in: hominick, submission, vs, jung, roop

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Saturday night's UFC 140: Jones vs. Machida event is segmented into three factions: the event will begin with three bouts streaming on the UFC's Facebook page, four matches to be broadcasted on the ION television network, and the main card consisting of the five premiere fights on live pay-per-view. The Facebook portion will feature two lightweight pairings in Mark Bocek vs. Nik Lentz and John Cholish vs. Mitch Clarke along with a welterweight encounter pitting Rich Attonito vs. Jake Hecht. Nik Lentz (21-3-2) vs. Mark Bocek (9-4) "The Carny" is coming off his first quasi-loss in the UFC after Charles Oliveira tagged him with a knee when he was grounded. Initially deemed a loss, the result was overturned to a No Contest after it was reviewed. Other than Oliveira and a draw with Thiago Tavares in his second Octagon outing at UFC Fight Night 20, Lentz has emerged victorious in his remaining five outings. He defeated Rafaello Oliveira in his debut and chalked up four straight in between the Tavares draw and No Contest: Robert Emerson, Andre Winner (both decisions), Tyson Griffin (split decision) and Waylon Lowe (guillotine choke). Lentz has relied on his D1 wrestling experience at the University of Minnesota and decent boxing and submissions to draw from a variety of offense. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt and TriStar Gym product Mark Bocek welcomed Ben Henderson to the UFC in his last outing. The decision loss was Bocek's second in his last three fights, the other delivered by the venerable Jim Miller with an impressive submission win over Dustin Hazelett in between. Overall, Bocek has won five of his nine UFC forays. Each of Bocek's defeats were against top-tier lightweights -- the third was Frankie Edgar at UFC 73 -- except Mac Danzig, his fourth, who is indeed an experienced force but has never cracked into the apex-elite at 155. Bocek has contested well at the top level and taken home two "Submission of the Night" bonus checks but is yet to distinguish himself with a marquee win. In addition to Hazelett, his victories include Joe Brammer, David Bielkheden, Alvin Robinson (consecutive wins) and Douglas Evans. Gifs and analysis in the full entry. SBN coverage of UFC 140: Jones vs. Machida Bocek is a smooth scrambler and BJJ player, as evinced in his ground battle with Miller and the slick transition on Hazelett to the right. The thing that stands out to me about Bocek is that he's rather stiff and robotic -- but still quite strong and effective -- in the other aspects of his game. This applies to his striking, where he packs power but is somewhat slow and lumbering, as well as his deceivingly overbearing takedowns. For a guy who is so fluid and graceful on the mat, his characteristics elsewhere stand in stark contrast. To the left we see Bocek's intelligence and ability to create good opportunities from bad spots. First, from the unsavory butt scoot position, Bocek ensnares Bendo's left leg and starts to transition to a heel hook. He's a little loose on the leg so, when Bendo is knocked off-balance and starts to spin clockwise out of the hold, Bocek relents on the submission and controls Bendo's waist in an attempt to take his back. The subtle aspect here is how Bocek keeps his hook on Bendo's left leg and traps it (@ 2:53) at an awkward angle to diminish his base and limit his movement. Takedown-wise, Bocek is a killer from the front headlock position. Because of his lack of speed and agility compared to most lightweights, most of his takedowns come from the clinch or after initially failing on a shot but doggedly driving through and finishing when tied up. His commanding control of the head and upper body is also a location conducive to a litany of neck chokes. The sequence to the right is classic Bocek: he snaps the head down with force from the front headlock and then drops back for a guillotine when Bendo turtles to defend. Nik Lentz isn't really a heralded striker either, but his quickness and aggression standing could cause some problems. He typically sticks to decent and basic boxing with some low and mid level kicks mixed in. Conversely, Lentz has also been tagged frequently by counters when closing the distance purposefully. His defense is a little porous, especially when he's throwing punches and moving forward, as he leaves his hands down and his chin exposed with minimal head movement or use of angles. His only TKO loss is to the very hard hitting Mark Moreno and Lentz has a good chin with good recovery. The sequence to the right shows some of Lentz's defensive shortcomings when attacking with strikes at phone-booth range, the most obvious being that both hands are down at his waist when he starts trading in the pocket. Like Bocek, Lentz has used his wrestling experience as a conduit for gimme-subs when his opponent defends his takedowns and in scrambles. His only stoppage win in the UFC was the guillotine choke on Waylon Lowe (below), which is his most proven method of finishing (9 of his 21 wins are submissions, 6 by TKO), and the rest were decisions fostered by the control of his wrestling. Lentz catches Lowe here in the same common scenario we saw Bocek attempt on Bendo above. He vaults forward into range and Lowe foolishly holds his ground and drops levels for a half-hearted takedown attempt. Lentz immediately snakes an underhook and punishes Lowe for penetrating his head too deep by locking a tight arm-in guillotine and falling back to elicit the tapout. Lentz has better wrestling credentials but Bocek has proven to be a stout force in the clinch with takedowns and takedown defense, so I'm unsure on that facet. Bocek is not a fast and technical boxer, but he is a good counter-striker with surprising heft on even his short punches. It's amazingly just a tight and stiff, short-range jab that knocks Edgar on his can to the right. Also with one TKO loss on his record (Edgar), Bocek has displayed a pretty strong resilience to punches despite being a fairly available target. This leaves Lentz as a notch quicker with a potential advantage with takedowns, though I'm not thoroughly convinced of the latter. Bocek has a monumental edge with submission grappling and scrambling on the mat and also has more power on the feet, and for that I'm giving him the nod by decision or submission. My Prediction: Mark Bocek by submission Rich Attonito (10-4) vs. Jake Hecht (10-2) Rich Attonito was a cast member of TUF's eleventh season. His first opponent on the show was Kyacey Uscola, who was disqualified for tagging Attonito with illegal knees. After the fight, it was determined that Attonito could not compete due to a broken hand, paving the way for eventual winner Court McGee to get back into the brackets. Attonito, a middleweight, finished Jamie Yager by TKO at the finale and then picked up an impressive decision over Rafael Natal before losing by the same method to Dave Branch in his third. This prompted a move south to the welterweight division, where "The Bull" capitalized on a gassed out Daniel Roberts to win his 170-pound debut at the UFC Live on Versus 4 card. A former D1 wrestler at Hofstra University and BJJ purple belt at American Top Team, Attonito presents a stiff challenge with tenacious takedowns, busy ground-and-pound and decent striking. Though he's not necessarily extraordinary in any one category, his diverse skill-set and hard-nosed, grinding approach leaves him with few glaring weaknesses to exploit. His opponent is UFC newcomer Jake Hecht from Fiore MMA. After losing his MMA debut, Hecht's only loss is to experienced UK welterweight Che Mills who was recently acquired by the UFC. Hecht's background from UFC.com: When and why did you start training for fighting? I started wrestling when I was 14 in high school. In just 3 years of high school wrestling I became a state qualifier in 2002. I started boxing when I was 16. I won the golden gloves tournament the first year I started. I went on to wrestle in college at Lindenwood University, and continued my boxing career. I transferred colleges in 2003 and discovered an MMA gym in Columbia, MO. I instantly fell in love with the sport and had my first fight after only 5 weeks of training on 6 hours notice. I knocked the guy out in 96 seconds and have never looked back. What ranks and titles have you held? Missouri state qualifier wrestling 2002, Missouri Golden Gloves Champion 2002, Missouri Golden Gloves runner up 2004, Irish Open BJJ Champion 2011, Purple Belt in BJJ under Kiko France, a Ricardo Liborio black belt. From what little I've seen of Hecht, he could prove to be a viable prospect and a challenge for Attonito. He's similarly well rounded and might be a little slicker on the mat. However, as with all new entries who are foreign to the elite level of MMA, he has a lot more prove than his opponent. My Prediction: Rich Attonito by decision John Cholish (7-1) vs. Mitch Clarke (9-0) Both Cholish and Clarke are making their Octagon debuts in the lightweight division with rock-solid records. Cholish, a Renzo Gracie purple belt, has scored seven straight since losing his first professional fight with four submissions and two TKOs. Noteworthy wins include former TUFer Marc Stevens in Strikeforce and Jameel Massouh along with an inverted triangle on Rich Moskowitz that earned Cholish the vacant Ring of Combat lightweight belt. Mitch Clarke is an undefeated Canadian and purple belt under Rodrigo Munduruca, a world no-gi grappling champion in the Masters Ultra-Heavy division. Of his nine wins, Clarke has six subs and one TKO with all but two of those coming in the first round. Clarke has competed at 170 in the past and might be the more physically imposing fighter though Cholish has tackled a higher level of opposition. This one's a toss up for me but, if forced, I would make an uninformed guess for Cholish. All gifs via Zombie Prophet of IronForgesIron.com Poll Nik Lentz vs. Mark Bocek Lentz Bocek   17 votes | Results

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It's that time again. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is once again packing its bags for Canada, heading to the Air Center Center in Toronto, Ontario, to stage its latest pay-per-view (PPV) event on Sat., Dec. 10, 2011. UFC 140 will feature a main event between the seemingly-invincible 205-pound champion, Jon Jones, who will try to bring out his inner Dovahkiin to slay "The Dragon," Lyoto Machida, who himself appeared to be seemingly-invincible not too long ago. In addition, two legendary Brazilian brothers will be in action, with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira gunning for revenge against Frank Mir, while Antonio Rogerio Nogueira will look to finally bury Tito Ortiz's once and for all. As usual, we've got a bevy of undercard bouts to whet our appetites before the big boys sling leather. However, things will be a little different this week -- f the seven fights, three will be broadcast on the UFC's Facebook page as usual, but the other four will be shown on ION television. Follow me into the extended entry for a breakdown of the three fights that comprise the Facebook portion of the UFC 140 under card: 155 lbs.: Mark Bocek vs. Nik Lentz In the acidic morass that is the lightweight division, Canadian grappling whiz Mark Bocek (9-4) looked to be finally on the verge of breaking into the elite. Going into his UFC 129 clash with Ben Henderson, Bocek was on a fantastic streak, having submitted four of his past five opponents and giving Jim Miller the fight of his life. Unfortunately, despite Bocek’s bravado, Henderson once again proved himself inhumanly unsubmittable, battering his Canadian foe with short, vicious blows en route to a unanimous decision. The high-octane Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt has fallen short when trying to break into the elite, but he’ll look to finally prove himself a legitimate contender with a submission of Lentz. While not doing it in the most stylish manner, Nik Lentz (21-3-2, 1 NC) is the proud owner of one of the longest unbeaten streaks in mixed martial arts (MMA), going 12-0-2 with one No Contest since 2007. That’s not to say it’s been a smooth ride -- his split-decision win against Tyson Griffin was debatable, his third-round submission over Waylon Lowe came with him down two rounds, and Charles Oliveira was frankly beating the tar out of him before the illegal knee that made it a No Contest. Without a signature victory to his name and without the most fan-friendly style, "The Carnie" could very well need a win over Bocek to stay employed. Let me be blunt: Lentz is one of the luckiest sons a’ guns in the UFC. He’s yet to definitively beat high-level opponents, and he was in the process of losing in the draw and no contest he got against Tavares and Oliveira, respectively. Plus, in the Oliveira bout, he seemed unable to handle his foe’s grappling prowess. And considering Bocek’s skills on the mat, that doesn’t bode well for him. Lentz is almost exclusively a wrestler, and does not possess anywhere near the striking, submission, or ground-and-pound skills of Miller or Henderson. There really isn’t all that much to say. This is a terrible match up for Lentz, who’s going to get his back taken and throat compressed in short order. Prediction: Bocek via submission in round one 170 lbs.: Rich Attonito vs. Jake Hecht Attonito (10-4) made quite a few fans in his Octagon debut, stopping loudmouthed fellow "The Ultimate Fighter" (TUF) 11 competitor Jamie Yager with strikes in the second round of their fight. The American Top Team-based Attonito was originally forced off the show after suffering a broken hand while being illegally kneed by Kyacey Uscola, but was invited to the UFC afterward and has so far made the most of it. After falling to the wrestling prowess of Dave Branch, "The Raging Bull" dropped down to welterweight and looked very solid in his victory over Cesar Gracie disciple, Daniel Roberts. He will be hoping to go undefeated (2-0) against Octagon debutants by stopping his Ireland-based opponent. Jake Hecht (10-2), a wrestling specialist, has been quite busy in the past two years, fighting six times since Jan. 2010 and winning five of those contests. His sole loss came at the hands of recent UFC signee Che Mills, who proved in his fight with Chris Cope that losing to him was no shame. The Mills loss was Hecht’s first since his debut, and he’s scored seven stoppages in that time. The well-travelled "Hitman," who is replacing the upgraded Claude Patrick, has a great opportunity ahead of him and could establish a solid foothold in the welterweight division with a win over Attonito. Attonito really impressed me against Roberts, both in his wrestling prowess and in his complete neutralization of "Ninja’s" grappling. The best win on Hecht’s record, on the other hand, is TUF washout Charlie Rader. And despite his impressive finishing percentage, I’m just not that impressed by him. Attonito, despite the loss to Branch, has the wrestling prowess and power to impose his will on Hecht, and as much as I’m peeved by non-ferocious people being labeled "Raging Bull", I’m even more annoyed by the prevalence of false "Hitmen". Expect Attonito’s experience on the big stage to carry him to a dominant victory. Prediction: Attonito via unanimous decision 155 lbs.: Mitch Clarke vs. John Cholish Saskatchewan’s Mitch Clarke (9-0), a wrestler and submission specialist, has been bouncing around various promotions, scoring seven stoppages among his nine wins. Clarke was last seen defeating Eddie Rincon under the EFC banner, and will look to make the most of this step up in competition and prove himself a legitimate prospect. Strikeforce veteran and Renzo Gracie protégé John Cholish (7-1) lost in his debut and went to a decision in his second fight. Both outcomes have yet to be repeated, as Cholish has tapped out four and knocked out two. Cholish has picked up two of those submissions in the current year, pulling off a rolling kneebar against "The Ultimate Fighter" alum Marc Stephens and guillotining WEC vet Jameel Massouh for the CFFC lightweight title. Cholish -- a wrestler at Cornell who currently puts his degree to use as an institutional energy broker -- will look to replicate fellow part-timer Shane Carwin’s success in the UFC by outgrappling the unbeaten Clarke. Honestly, Clarke doesn’t have much going for him here. Yes, he has a zero where Cholish has a one, but his competition has been seriously questionable. Just three fights ago, he fought 5-14 Brandon MacArthur, and the aforementioned Rincon was 3-4 and in the middle of a three-fight skid. Cholish, on the other hand, has faced and beaten some serious competition, demonstrating solid stand up and excellent wrestling in addition to his submissions skills. I consider him a legitimate prospect at lightweight and a highly entertaining one to boot, and I think the massive gap between their strengths of schedule will be too much for Clarke to overcome. Look for Cholish to control where the fight goes and dominate wherever that may be. Prediction: Cholish via submission in round two Join us tomorrow for a look at the four fights comprising the two-hour UFC 140 ION Television broadcast. See you then. Remember, too, that MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of UFC 140, beginning with the preliminary card bouts on Facebook scheduled for 5:30 p.m. ET. In addition, we will also provide LIVE, real-time results of the main card action as it happens throughout the evening this upcoming weekend.

Posted in: ufc, fight, submission, attonito, cholish

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Canadian television network The Score continued their MMA event promotion with "Score Fighting Series Meltdown in the Valley" held at the RBC Center in Ontario. Local bantamweight hero John Fraser (10-3) closed the show with a first round choke out of Minnesota fighter Travis Reddinger (16-4).On the undercard the SFS spared no expense with a handful of impressive prospects in action. Michigan lightweight Daron Cruickshank(10-2) picked up his fourth win in a row with a first round finish of Canadian prospect Jesse Gross (6-3). The 26 year old Cruickshank laid out Gross with punches and halted the bout with hammer fists at 1:39 mark of round one. Grappling extraordinaire Misha Cirkunov (5-1) went 15 minutes with local Ali Mokdad (4-2). Cirkunov used the fight to work on his improved stand-up and smothered Mokdad when the fight hit the floor. On the floor Cirkunov mounted Mokdad in all three rounds but was unable to finish the game light heavyweight. Due his grappling credits that include gold medals in Judo, submission wrestling and BJJ Cirkunov is a four star prospect at 205 pounds. The 2 year old Xtreme Couture team member remains on the fast track to hit the majors of MMA sometime in 2012. Score Fighting Series Meltdown in the Valley resultsOntario, CanadaCraig Hudson def. Blake Nash by TKO (Punches and Knees) 2:17 R1Randy Turner def. Clint Kingsbury by TKO (Punches) 3:40 R2Jason Meisel def. Joel Paquette by Submission Rear Naked Choke 4:16 R1Ryan Dickson def. Josh Taveirne by Submission Rear Naked Choke 4:03 R2*Jesse Ronson def. Tony Hervey by Submission (Rear Naked Choke 4:25 R2*Misha Cirkunov def. Ali Mokdad by Unanimous Decision*Daron Cruickshank def. Jesse Gross by TKO (Punches and Elbows) 1:39 R1Chris Clements def. Rich Clementi by TKO (Punches) 3:17 R3John Fraser def. Travis Reddinger by Submission Rear Naked Choke 2:54 R1*Prospects to watch   

Posted in: submission, punch, tko punches, cirkunov, series meltdown

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If you missed this one, be sure and click as you'll see one of the strangest submissions to ever go down inside the Octagon. If you did see it, you know you want to watch it again!

Posted in: ufc, week, submission, jung, ufc submission

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 Tachi Palace Fights 11 Redemptions resultsLemoore, CAJavy Ayala def. Freddie Aquitania by Split DecisionEdgar Diaz def. Alex Perez by Submission Guillotine Choke 0:43 R1Jesse Bowen def. Sergio Quinones by Unanimous Decision Anthony Figueroa def. Paul Ruiz by Unanimous Decision Bubba Jenkins def. Josh Williams by Submission Punches 2:04 R1Savant Young def. Robert Washington by Submission Guillotine Choke 2:41 R2Francisco Rivera def. Brad McDonald by KO (Punches) 0:40 R1Phil Collins def. Andrew Martinez by Submission Guillotine Choke 0:49 R1Dustin Ortiz def. Josh Rave by TKO (Doctor Stoppage) 4:38 R3Ulysses Gomez def. Cody Gibson by Submission Guillotine Choke 2:43 R3Georgi Karakhanyan def. Isaac DeJesus by Submission Triangle Choke 4:02 R1

Posted in: submission, submission guillotine, submission triangle, guillotine, sergio quinones

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Ulysses Gomez talked with Sherdog.com following his bout at TPF 11.

Posted in: bout, submission, tpf, gomez, titleclinching submission

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

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

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After back-to-back submission losses to kick off his UFC career, former TUF hopeful Cody McKenzie is starting over from scratch, which could explain his new look at the World MMA Awards (right) captured by Tracy Lee.

Posted in: loss, submission, ufc career, career, cody mckenzie

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An interesting lightweight match-up has been verbally agreed to for the second UFC on Fox event, scheduled for January 28th at the United Center in Chicago. ESPN UK reports that British submission wizard, Paul Sass, will meet well-rounded Xtreme Couture product, Evan Dunham, on the card: Undefeated submission specialist Paul Sass and Evan Dunham have verbally confirmed to meet at UFC on Fox 2 on January 28 in Chicago. Sass is undefeated at 12-0 and is best known for his flashy submission game and lethal guard, for which he'll relentlessly pull guard to employ. While his signature triangle choke and heel hook are his weapons of choice, Sass's striking game is still questionable, but training alongside the likes of Terry Etim and Paul Taylor at Team Kaobon can only help him with that aspect. Dunham will be a huge step up in competition for Sass, as Dunham, an excellent grappler in his own right, was at one point talked about as a title contender at 155 lbs, but a questionable decision loss to Sean Sherk and a much more clearcut TKO loss to Melvin Guillard derailed that rain for the moment. Since then, he has regained his form, battering Shamar Bailey for a unanimous decision win in September. It's not clear yet whether the Dunham-Sass bout will be featured on the Fox main card, or on the prelim card, but we'll keep you posted. Evan Dunham (12-2)W Shamar Bailey (unam. decision) - UFN 24L Melvin Guillard (TKO) - UFC Fight for the Troops 2L Sean Sherk (split decision) - UFC 119 Paul Sass (12-0)W Michael Johnson (submission - heel hook) - UFC on Versus 6W Mark Holst (submission - triangle choke) - UFC 120W Jason Young (submission - heel hook) - OMMAC 4 Here's the rumored UFC on Fox 2 card as it stands now: -Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis-Demetrious Johnson vs. Eddie Wineland-Mike Russow vs. Jon Olav Einemo-Evan Dunham vs. Paul Sass UFC on Fox 2 coverage

Posted in: ufc, dunham, submission, paul, sas

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Filed under: UFCSeason 14 of The Ultimate Fighter is in the books, with the two fights on Saturday night's Ultimate Fighter Finale determining this season's winners. In the featherweight Finale, Diego Brandao will face Dennis Bermudez. In the bantamweight Finale, T.J. Dillashaw will face John Dodson. (The main event at the Ultimate Fighter Finale will be Michael Bisping vs. Jason "Mayhem" Miller in the fight between the coaches.) How did Brandao, Bermudez, Dillashaw and Dodson get to the Finale? The full Ultimate Fighter Season 14 results are below. Episode 10 John Dodson beat Johnny Bedford by second-round TKO (punches) Diego Brandao beat Bryan Caraway by first-round TKO (punches) Episode 9 T.J Dillashaw beat Dustin Pague by unanimous decision Episode 8 Dennis Bermudez beat Akira Corassani by first-round submission (guillotine choke) Episode 7 TJ Dillashaw beat Roland Delorme by second-round submission (rear-naked choke) Episode 6 John Dodson beat John Albert by unanimous decision Diego Brandao beat Steven Siler by first-round knockout (punches) Episode 5 Akira Corassani beat Dustin Neace by majority decision Episode 4 Dennis Bermudez beat Stephan Bass by second-round TKO (punches) Dustin Pague beat Louis Gaudinot by second-round submission (rear-naked choke) Episode 3 Johnny Bedford beat Josh Ferguson by unanimous decision Episode 2 Bryan Caraway beat Marcus Brimage by second-round submission (rear-naked choke) Episode 1 Josh Ferguson beat Casey Dyer by first-round knockout (punches) Diego Brandao beat Jesse Newell by first-round knockout (punches) John Dodson beat Brandon Merkt by first-round TKO (punches) Dennis Bermudez beat Jimmie Rivera by second-round TKO (punches) Roland Delorme beat B.J. Ferguson by first-round submission (triangle choke) Marcus Brimage beat Bryson Wailehua-Hansen by second-round TKO (punches) Johnny Bedford beat Carson Beebe by first-round submission (guillotine choke) Dustin Pague beat Tateki Matsuda by majority decision Louis Gaudinot beat Paul McVeigh by third-round TKO (punches) Bryan Caraway beat Eric Mariott by unanimous decision Dustin Neace beat Josh Clopton by unanimous decision TJ Dillashaw beat Matt Jaggers by first-round TKO (punches) Steven Siler beat Micah Miller by third-round submission (guillotine) John Albert beat Orville Smith by first-round submission (rear naked choke) Stephan Bass beat Karsten Lenjoint by second-round submission (triangle choke) Akira Corassani beat Brian Pearman by first-round knockout(punches)  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: tko, submission, episode, punch, secondround

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In the mixed martial arts (MMA) world, timing and spacing are everything. From landing a strike first or creating the room to sneak your arm in for a choke, a split second and a millimeter in space can earn you a victory or cost you the fight. It is one of the most intriguing aspects of combat sports in that the smallest errors come with the largest of consequences. In mixed martial arts you have split seconds to adjust and adapt, it can be implied into any technique from slipping a punch to shooting a takedown. It also can be said that the grappling aspect of the sport is the most intricate in terms of hitting the right timing along with the best spacing. World Class Jiu Jitsu practitioners can make an opponent pay for mistakes with the most subtle of movements and simplistic methods. Chael Sonnen nearly landed three hundred punches on middleweight champion Anderson Silva prior to a triangle choke that was thrown up at the right moment with just the right amount of space. And just like that the tables can be turned 180 degrees. Even though we have had breakdowns on the simple chokes like the guillotine choke and simple joint submissions like the arm bar and several submissions in between, there is one technique that can be used for much more then just a submission attempt. For more on that follow me into the extended entry. Dustin Hazelett is a very creative and unique type of grappler. A black belt under Jorge Gurgel, Hazelett had amassed an 11-4 record before his bout with Tamdan McCrory and was fresh off a victory that earned submission of the night against Josh Burkman that saw the skilled grappler pull off a slick arm bar off a "whizzer." Let us first detail that Hazelett is very flexible and with that he is very crafty. Flexible legs tend to lead guys to using a lot of high guard and even Rubber Guard. This fight was no exception to that. While in guard, Hazelett has already broken the posture of McCrory and has sat up with his torso and has his hand and arm around the neck and back of his opponent. At this point Hazelett could attack with a choke or possibly an arm lock from the guard in his posture but instead elects to throw up his rubber guard. He does so by bringing up his left leg and clutching to it with his right hand. The right hand grabs the foot and pulls it beneath the chin of McCrory. You may remember this is the similar set up to the Gogoplata. As you can see the shoulder and arm that is trapped of McCrory has pressure already being applied to it, the pain involved isn’t as severe as an arm bar but uncomfortable nonetheless. And too add the hold is very restricting as you can not do very much once trapped. The left leg goes right over the shoulder and under the chin and Hazelett locks the trapping leg with his free leg to tighten the grip and does so much like he would a triangle choke. Hazelett cuts the angle to sway head towards hip of McCrory and you can see the trapped arm is between the arm pit of Hazelett as well as still being torqued onto by the omoplata. The omoplata that Hazelett shows in the fight is a set up technique as much as it is a submission. It serves as a way to get back to the feet, take an opponents back or set up an arm bar. Hazelett capitalizes on his control over McCrory’s posture and mobility and attacks the trapped arm. He cranks the arm up using the left leg of the omoplata to serve as the hip/groin area would when performing a traditional arm bar. The submission is a little combination of an arm bar and an omoplata. An omoplata is actually a shoulder lock when used as a submission, the hold is basically a kimura but instead of using the figure four lock with your arms you use your legs. The technique is one of the more versatile in grappling as it can be applied to so many other things then just a straight submission hold. With good timing to get to the omoplata position it remains all about space once the hold is locked on. Hazelett doesn’t allow any space between the shoulder and the trapping legs to allow an escape. Both the pain and the way the hold keeps you grounded makes escaping very hard and allows fighters time to set up transitions or submissions.

Posted in: submission, leg, arm, arm bar, hazelett

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FanPost edited and promoted by MMAmania.com. On Saturday night (Dec. 3, 2011 the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will host its Ultimate Fighter (TUF) Finale live from the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. Two of mixed martial arts most colorful personalities will engage in middleweight warfare as Michael Bisping (21-3) trades leather with recently signed and re-debuting Jason Miller (24-7, 1 NC). For weeks we saw their feud build as the two coaches led their teams consisting of featherweights and bantamweights to their dreams of one day becoming the next 'Ultimate Fighter.' Bisping has one win over 'Mayhem' as he was able to win $10,000 for himself and $1,500 for each of teammates in a game of good ole' air hockey in the coaches challenge. Now the fight is just days away and I shall give you a closer look at who should win this bout Follow me after the jump. Striking Michael Bisping wins by TKO/KO: 13Jason Miller wins by TKO/KO: 6 Michael Bisping losses by TKO/KO: 1Jason Miller losses by TKO/KO: 1 Bisping's reach: 75.5"Miller's reach: 77.0" No bones about this one as Michael Bisping is a much better striker then Miller. Bisping is actually a very accomplished kickboxer in Britain as he's held the North West Area title and the Pro British light heavyweight kickboxing title. Bisping actually left combat sports on at least two different occasions and when he came back the second time, he reclaimed the Pro British light heavyweight kickboxing title. Bisping seems to have lost a lot of his power shot since dropping to middleweight because while in British promotions Cage Rage and Cage Warrior he had many TKO stoppages. Of his first ten professional MMA bouts he had 10 stoppages and seven were due to strikes. In his first five bouts for the UFC at light heavyweight he had three TKO wins. In his nine fights at middleweight he has only three stoppages by strikes and a TKO (arm injury) win over Charles McCarthy at UFC 83, his middleweight debut. Jason Miller is not a striker by any stretch of the imagination as he has all of six TKO/KO wins in his life. The one thing he has is a toughness about him as we saw him get his ass handed to him by current UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre at UFC 52. Miller uses his striking to obtain sweeps and take downs so he can apply his jiu-jitsu game. He uses Muay Thai as his main striking discipline but uses it more to get inside and start working his way to the ground. Both men have chins and each have a single loss from strikes in their 20+ fights each. People love to recall the night Dan Henderson dropped an 'H-Bomb' upon Michael Bisping not once but twice at UFC 100. Bisping has a knack for taking an overhand right and stumbling but one man was able to crack that, that man also holds the only knockout over Fedor Emelianenko. Miller may have one loss via strikes to Frank Trigg but has been used as a punching bag even more then Bisping has. I see Bisping using his jab to keep out of Miller's grappling game and slowly pick him apart on the feet. Bisping is just far too good a striker to get outstruck or knocked out by 'Mayhem.' As long as Bisping keeps range he could pile on the points or slowly outstrike Miller for a TKO. Edge: Michael Bisping Submission: Bisping wins by submission: 4Miller wins by submission: 14Bisping losses by submission: 0Miller losses by submission: 1 Bisping submission attempts per 15 minutes: 0.8Miller submission attempts per 15 minutes: 1.18 In the case of Bisping, don't let the zero in his losses by submission fool you. Bisping has not faced any elite grapplers and the best he has faced was arguably Denis Kang or Dan Miller. Kang, a fighter once touted as the next big thing, is no longer with the UFC and Dan Miller is a toughed-nosed journeymen. Bisping surprisingly has four wins by submission and unless you are a huge Bisping fan that should raise an eyebrow. Bisping's last submission win was in 2005 over fellow British fighter Ross Pointon. One of his submission wins was really a tap out due to strikes in 2005 over Jakob Lovstad. Bisping's main goal to avoid the ground and trade punches instead of transitions. Jason Miller will be his toughest test in classic match-ups of striker vs. grappler. Miller holds all the dominance in this category and if he can clinch and sweep then it's a race. If he can keep Bisping on his back the he should be able to do his damage. Miller recently earned his black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu at King's MMA and it's well deserved. Miller holds notable submission wins over Kazushi Sakuraba, Kala Hose, Robbie Lawler, Lodune Sincaid. Falaniko Vitale and Denis Kang. As you can see he holds one win over a pure striker like Bisping in Robbie Lawler. The thing is Bisping tends to be a lot more active and shifty in comparison to Lawler who doesn't use his angles and stands in the pocket. Lawler stinks on the ground as best seen in his recent title fight loss to Ronaldo Souza at Strikeforce: 'Diaz vs. Cyborg.' Edge: Jason Miller Wrestling Bisping takedown accuracy: 51%Miller takedown accuracy: 40%Bisping takedown defense: 58%Miller takedown defense: 44% Bisping has some of the most impressive takedown defense at middleweight as he has done fairly well against powerhouse wrestlers Rashad Evans and Matt Hamill. Now he didn't stuff all their takedowns and lost the Evans fight due to his inability to stuff enough of them, but he did good. When you rewind your mind and see where he has come from since his stint on TUF 3, he has progressed quite a bit. In Britain wrestling isn't a high school or university sport and we've seen very few British do well against collegiate level wrestlers. Bisping is one of the few who has. As you can see he stuffs nearly 60% of the takedown opportunities and the one thing that number doesn't show is that Bisping usually gets up without absorbing a whole lot of damage. Bisping doesn't waste energy on useless takedowns and has scored some nice slams. He uses his striking to set up his shoots but late in fights trying to score some point he gets denied. I must say Fight Metric shocked me when I saw the low numbers for Miller who needs takedowns to win fights. His entire game is based off his ability to keep you down and smother you until an opening for a submission is available. If you look at Miller's record he only has one win against an elite level wrestler in Tim Kennedy (HDnet Fights: Reckless Abandon) but also holds a loss to Kennedy. He also has losses to Chael Sonnen (HFP 1), Georges St. Pierre (UFC 52) and Frank Trigg (Icon Sport: Mayhem vs. Trigg). Edge: Michael Bisping Variables Common opponent(s)- Both Bisping and Miller have one common opponent in former PRIDE star Denis Kang. Michael Bisping def. Denis Kang via TKO (punches and knees) UFC 105Jason Miller def. Denis Kang via submission (rear naked choke) Extreme Challenge 50 This one is a toss up as both Miller and Bisping stopped Denis Kang with a submission and TKO respectively. Now neither faced Denis Kang in his run at PRIDE and this isn't me knocking PRIDE's excellent track record of pre/post fight drug testing, but Kang never looked the same before or after.Edge: TIE Last five (5) fights:Bisping (4-1): Wins over Jorge Rivera (UFC 127), Yoshiro Akiyama (UFC 120), Dan Miller (UFC 114), Denis Kang (UFC 105). Loss(s) to Wanderlei Silva (UFC 110). Analysis: Bisping hasn't faced the cream of the crop and Miller is his best test since losing to Wanderlei Silva. His loss to Wanderlei wasn't a one-sided beat down but he did get caught a few times in a close fight. Two of his four wins were stoppages of Jorge Rivera and Denis Kang. He looked good in both wins over 'Sexyama' and Dan Miller who may not be winners in the grand scheme of things but both are good fighters. Miller (3-1 and 1 NC): Wins over Kala Hose (Kingdom MMA: Miller vs. Hose), Tim Stout (Strikeforce: Nashville), Kazushi Sakuraba (DREAM 16). Loss(s) to Jake Shields (Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers). No contest for illegal soccer kick (cut) against Ronaldo Souza (Dream 9). Analysis: Jason Miller hasn't been active since Sept. 2010 after the 'Nashville Brawl' where it is rumored no major network wanted 'Mayhem' to compete on their broadcasts. Miller has one notable win and that's Sakuraba but this isn't the 'Gracie Killer' we once saw. The Sakuraba we see now is vastly diminished due to his body being punished by oversized fighters. Miller did push Shields to a near choking but wasn't able to beat the bell. Miller has looked decent against the men he has beaten but not great when stepping up in challenge much like Bisping. Edge: Michael Bisping Cardio Bisping average fight time: 08:19 minsMiller average fight time: 08:56 minsThe fight isn't far off between the two and both have different methods to winning. Bisping being the better striker is able to finish guys quicker but Miller needs to work his submissions. Bisping may have lost to Hamill in the eyes of the people but be honest, who looked fresher? Bisping who had that last flurry of Hamill who looked gassed enough to collapse. A big reason the judges gave Bisping the nod was the activity from underneath Hamill who didn't do much when on top (See: Bas Rutten vs. Kevin Randleman).Miller has been beaten by wrestlers and has been outworked by some of the best. His pace isn't very fast by any stretch of the imagination. GSP outgunned him from bell to bell at UFC 52 and 'Rush' was exploding at all cylinders then. Edge: Michael Bisping (Michael Buffer with the announcement) The winner after three rounds by unanimous decision......MICHAEL 'THE COUNT' BISPING! Why? I think Bisping's use of range is just far too good and will frustrate Jason Miller from the get go. Miller's takedowns and wrestling aren't impressive while Bisping has a ground 'sprawl n' brawl.' Bisping's jab and bale to create combos also gives me the thought he will slowly accumulate damage upon Miller. I don't see either one getting knocked out and put into harm's way. Bisping is just better standing and wrestling and the only way Miller wins is by takedown which he hasn't had much success in. Bisping may not have faced the best fighters in the middleweight class but he has a win over a one dimensional slugger in Leben and Miller doesn't even have Leben's power. Thanks for reading and comment below to argue.

Posted in: ufc, fight, submission, miller, bisping

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A pair of MMA prospects from Minnesota took center stage at SEG Downtown Showdown in Minneapolis. In the main event one time Strikeforce fighter Eric Wisely (19-6) took on former Minnesota State wrestler Brandon Girtz (8-2). Wisely came into the fight in search of a win that would earn him a second chance at the big leagues while Girtz needed a signature win to make is fight resume pop. Girtz came out the aggressor and brought the fight to the floor with a big takedown in round one. Off his back it was Wisely who unleashed the most offense. Wisely racked up points with strikes from the bottom and submission attempts while Girtz was stuck in neutral in the top position. In the second frame Wisely and Girtz opened up more on the feet. Both men landed solid punches before Girtz brought the fight back to the floor. On the ground Girtz showed off his strength as he powered out of a Wisely triangle choke attempt before the fight would abruptly end of the feet. A right high headkick from Wisely was blocked by Girtz but the impact of the strike shattered Girtz. Moments later Girtz was forced to submit due to a broken arm. The loss snapped a three fight winning streak for Girtz. A 26 year old lightweight prospect Girtz remains a fighter to watch. Now training with the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy, Girtz is due for another run at a UFC or Strikeforce vet in one to two more fights. The win gives Wisely wins in six of his last seven bouts. The 27 year old from Iowa will most likely get his second chance in Strikeforce or the UFC in 2012. On the undercard featherweight prospect Mike Richman (11-1) picked up a victory over Iowa's Morgan Sickinger (8-5). Richman earned a unanimous decision with a strong boxing style and sprawl that halted most of Sickinger's takedown attempts. At 145 pound Richman is approaching rarified air with an 11-1 mark on the local scene. A five star prospect at featherweight Richman remains on course for a big league call up in 2012. Richman may or may not a quality win over a fellow prospect or UFC veteran to secure his spot but a big name win could be the final push the 26 year old needs. In the ULTMMA.com prospect rankings Richman is a top three level featherweight and sits in the top forty in the LUTMMA50; a pound for pound listing of unsigned MMA prospects. SEG Downtown Showdown resultsMinneapolis, MNEric Wisely def. *Brandon Girtz by submission injury (broken arm) 4:26 R2*Mike Richman def. Morgan Sickinger by unanimous decision Lloyd McKinney def. Erik Vo by unanimous decision James Clark def. Jay Paulson by TKO 1:59 R1Corwin Nichols def. Jake Wyman by submission rear naked choke 0:58 R1Nick Compton def. Bruce Johnson by submission guillotine choke at 1:46 R1Brandon Buchholz def. Panda Nguyen by submission triangle choke 1:54 R2*Prospects to watch

Posted in: fight, submission, prospect, girtz, richman

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Jungle Fight 34 resultsRio de Janeiro, BrazilVitor Riso def. Rogerio MG by Submission Armbar 3:28 R1Rodolfo Buda def. Carlos Clayton by Submission Rear Naked Choke 3:07 R1Sidney Oliveira def. Reynaldo Duarte by Unanimous DecisionAri Santos def. Douglas Bertazini by Submission (Triangle Choke 1:13 R1Marcos Vinicius def. Mauricio Rossi by TKO (Punches) 0:36 R1Diego Arturo Huerto Jauregui def. Francisco Cylderlan Lima da Silva by TKO (Punches) 4:31 R3Carlos Alberto Bazan Rojas def. Lucas Rota by Submission Rear Naked Choke 1:13 R1Adriano Martins def. Neilson Gomes by TKO (Punches) 1:21 R1

Posted in: submission, punch, submission triangle, neilson gomes, reynaldo duarte

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Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) champion, four-time Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) "Submission of the Night" winner and all around submission savant. Demian Maia definitely has the credentials to be considered one of the best submission artists in the world, let alone the most talented grappler in mixed martial arts (MMA). Maia burst onto the UFC scene with five straight submission victories, collecting four "Submission of the Night" checks in the process. Maneuvering on the ground with unmatched smoothness and locking in his opponents with submissions so tight that evens the jaws of life couldn't pry them free, Maia can truly lay claim to be one of the most decorated jiu-jitsu players in the world. However, after his impressive start, Maia has failed to make any opponent tap in three years.  In fact, Maia hasn't finished an opponent in his last four wins, with his last four victories coming via decision. With his recent lack of executing submission finishes, is Maia in danger of losing his appeal? Or does it even matter as long as he gets the victory? Speaking to Tatame.com, Maia says he always looks for the submission victory when he steps inside the Octagon, but because of the high level of competition in the UFC, it's easier said than done "That's my trademark and I want to submit again. If it depended exclusively on me (laughs)... I do my best on the trainings to get it, but we can't forget on the other side of the ring there's an opponent who's always getting better and better on a high level in the UFC. Despite I always want to submit them, finish it earlier, I can't complain. I must be humble and accept that there'll always be a well-prepared person, too." Maia, who is currently without an opponent, hopes to one day fight in his native country Brazil, which will host UFC 142 at the HSBC Arena on Jan. 14, 2012: "I'm not that worried about where I'm fighting and when; however, what I wanted was to fight until February to keep my rhythm. It'd be good to fight in Rio and we're doing some negotiation, but it depends on some things about UFC, so let it be. I know I'll eventually fight in Brazil. If it's not on this one, there'll be another one in Sao Paulo, probably in the middle of the year. What, to me, would mean the most, due to the fact it'll be in my hometown. I guess there'll be three events in Brazil next year, so it'd be a natural thing for me to fight here." Maia made his UFC debut in 2007 at UFC 77 with a rear naked choke submission victory over  Ryan Jensen in the very first round. Six months later, Maia cashed in on yet another award-winning performance as he literally put Ed Herman to sleep at UFC 83 with a triangle choke (and a few blows to the head for good measure). The jiu-jitsu ace then reeled off two consecutive rear-naked choke victories over Jason McDonald and Nate Quarry in a span of three months at UFC 87 and UFC 91, respectively. Maia's last submission victory came at UFC 95 in 2009, when he locked in an air-tight triangle on Chael Sonnen that had the former number one contender tapping for air in the very first round. Submitting folks has proved to be a rather lucrative trade for Maia, as he has collected nearly a quarter-million ($215,000) total throughout his tenure with the promotion with his four "Submission of the Night" bonus checks. Maia's hot start  was cooled off by Nate Marquardt at UFC 102 on Aug. 29, 2009 when "The Great" knocked him out just 21 seconds into the first round. Since then, Maia has gone 4-2 in the UFC, which includes a unanimous decision loss to UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva at UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi. Even though Maia is currently without an opponent lined up, it would be wise for him to brush up on his jiu-jitsu skills. He appears to be focused on returning to his submission roots, and there's no better place to do it then where it all began. But, against who?

Posted in: ufc, submission, opponent, maia, victory

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Guam's premier MMA organization, Pacific X-Treme Combat, hosted their third show in the Philippines last Saturday, with PXC 28. BloodyElbow.com was on deck at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City, as Filipino fight fans were treated to 11 exciting fights, including the headlining bout between Filipino-American, Tristan Arenal, and Abu Dhabi grappling champ, Jon 'Super Saiyan' Tuck. Tuck, who is known for handing the Filipino MMA star, Eduard Folayang, the only loss of his career, made a successful return to MMA after being away from the sport for more than two years. During that time off, he worked diligently on his grappling and eventually became an Abu Dhabi Grappling Champion, before signing up with the PXC. This improvement with his ground game was evident during the fight. The Filipino-American, Arenal, hurt him with a combination early, but Tuck quickly gathered his wits, got it to the mat, and took over from there. After a few moments of controlling him on the ground, Tuck was able to posture up and land one of those heavy bombs he's known for, leaving Arenal out cold and stiff as a board. He followed up with two more big shots right to the chin, before the referee was able to stop the fight. The fighter from Guam got a spectacular finish on his PXC debut, and also earned the respect of the Filipino crowd. "I know I fight Filipinos, but I have lots of Filipino friends and family," Tuck said post-fight as he drew cheers and won over the crowd, "I have the Cruz name, and I consider myself Filipino" During the post-fight interview, it was revealed that Tuck will be the next challenger for the PXC Lightweight crown, which belongs to another Filipino-American, in Harris Sarmiento. "I know they’re trying to set me up with Harris, but he’s my kuya (older brother) from another nanay (mother)," said Tuck. "Every time he goes to Guam, I take care of him as much as I can. I trained with him and even went as far as cutting coconuts and letting him drink that buko juice to recover. There’s some brotherly love there." After the jump, a recap of the other bouts, and a few exclusive photos from the main event. Quick hits: Ali Cali stole the show with his showmanship. The former boxer kept Dylan Pablo guessing with his fancy unorthodox strikes, feints, and footwork. He 'danced', skipped, and punched his way en route to a very entertaining albeit one-sided decision victory. Team Lakay Wushu, one of the best teams in the Asian region, went 2-1 at the event. Denver Labrador and Crisanto Pitpitunge picked up quick and impressive stoppages against their opponents. Geje Eustaquio, on the other hand, dropped a split decision loss to Korean Top Team's David Cho in an absolute war that got both fighters battered and bloody. Cho had a large hematoma on his forehead, and Eustaquio had a black eye, a bloody lip, and probably had a broken nose after both men took their opponent's best shots without going down. In the end though, the Korean won a razor thin decision despite taking a point deduction for throwing a punch after the 1st round ended.  As always, stay tuned for a full photo gallery from the event, but for a teaser, here's a few photos from the main event: All photos taken by my brother, Paolo Tabuena Full Results: Jon Tuck def. Tristan Arenal by KO (Punch), 1stCrisanto Pitpitunge def. Jerry Cimeni by Submission (Strikes), 1stDenver Labrador def. Orlimer Celeste by KO (Head Kick and Punches), 1stAli Cali def. Dylan Pablo by Decision (Unanimous)Elliot Untalan def. Rolando Dy by Submission (Rear Naked Choke), 1stDavid Cho def. Geje Eustaquio by Decision (Split)Jon De Los Reyes def. Virgil Ortigas by TKOJoseph Mercado def. Benjie Lumacad by Submission (Rear Naked Choke), 1st Moses Baca def. Jerry Legaspi by Submission (Armbar), 1stAlvin Cacdac def. Josh Alvarez by TKO, 1stCarlo Astudillo def. Chris Cabredo by Submission (Armbar), 1st

Posted in: mma, decision, submission, filipino, pxc

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With injury comes opportunity and former TUF finalist Phillipe Nover has his opportunity to reintroduce himself to the MMA world Saturday at Bellator 59 against Marcin Held. Nover/Held was originally slotted for the non-televised portion of the card, but an injury to main card fighter Michael Costa this week resulted in the fight being bumped up to TV. A source close to the situation said Lyman Good turned down two replacement options and was removed from the card completely, thus the opportunity for Nover and Held to make their presence felt to a national TV audience. Best remembered for having a huge fan in UFC President Dana White ("a young Georges St. Pierre") during the eighth season of TUF, Nover (6-3-1) was released in early-2010 from the UFC after three straight losses. He disappeared for 18 months and resurfaced on a regional show in August, picking up a unanimous decision win over Jake Murphy. He was later inked by Bellator and will make his debut Saturday. Held (11-2) returns to Bellator for the first time since losing to Michael Chandler by first round submission earlier this year. The 19-year-old (yes, he's that young) got back to his winning ways in September with a first-round submission victory at an Australian event. The Polish Held has been a pro since September 2008, competing solely in his native country before making his Bellator debut. How do these two stack up? Nover: 27 | 5'9" | Preferred form of victory: submission (50%) Held: 19 | 5'9" | Preferred form of victory: submission (55%) Why should I watch? On paper, this could be a fun ground battle with plenty of submission attempts. Both guys will be looking for a slot in the next lightweight tournament and it should be interesting to see if Bellator has found anything in a potentially revitalized Nover. SBN coverage of Bellator 59

Posted in: bellator, submission, card, opportunity, nover

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Photo courtesy of Keith Gunther  Ring of Combat 38 resultsAtlantic City, NJPat Defranco def. Robert Gittens by Unanimous Decision Andre Harrison def. Alex Davydov by Unanimous Decision Chris Wade def. Vinicius Agudo by Unanimous DecisionTom English def. Anthony Facchini by Unanimous Decision Frankie Perez def. Allen Cozze by Submission Guillotine Choke 1:09 R1Ryan Vaccaro def. Mike Prokop by Unanimous DecisionJarred Mercado def. Jay Isip by Unanimous DecisionBrett Linebarger def. Fikret Darzanoff by Unanimous DecisionDrew Puzon def. Aung La Nsang by Unanimous DecisionPat Audinwood def. Al Iaquinta by Submission Armbar 2:06 R1Deividas Taurosevicius def. Marlon Moraes by Submission Arm Triangle Choke 2:34 R1Nordine Taleb def. Pete Sell by TKO (Punches) 0:53 R2Tom DeBlass def. David Tkeshelashvili by Unanimous Decision

Posted in: decision, submission, decision chris, decisiondrew puzon, david tkeshelashvili

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Dan Henderson edged Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in a narrow unanimous decision to win his return to the Octagon in the main event of UFC 139 on Saturday night in San Jose, California. UFC 139 also saw Wanderlei Silva return to the win column with a second-round knockout of Cung Le, while Urijah Faber likely earned a third meeting with bantamweight champ Dominick Cruz with a second-round submission of Brian Bowles. Stay tuned for MMAFrenzy.com’s complete UFC 139 recap. The complete UFC 139 results were: MAIN CARD Dan Henderson def. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47) Wanderlei Silva def. Cung Le via KO (strikes) – Round 2, 4:49 Urijah Faber def. Brian Bowles via submission (guillotine) – Round 2, 1:27 Martin Kampmann def. Rick Story via split decision (28-29, 30-27,29-28) Stephan Bonnar def. Kyle Kingsbury via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-25, 30-27) PRELIMINARY CARD Ryan Bader def. Jason Brilz via KO (punch) – Round 1, 1:17 Michael McDonald def. Alex Soto via KO (punches) – Round 1, 0:56 Chris Weidman def. Tom Lawlor via submission (D’arce choke) – Round 1, 2:07 Gleison Tibau def. Rafael dos Anjos via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27) Miguel Tores def. Nick Pace via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Seth Baczynski def. Matt Brown via submission (guillotine) – Round 2, 0:42 Danny Castillo def. Shamar Bailey via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:52

Posted in: ufc, round, decision, submission, brian bowles

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UFC 139 resultsSan Jose, CADan Henderson def. Mauricio Rua by unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47)Wanderlei Silva def. Cung Le via knockout (strikes) 4:49 R2Urijah Faber def. Brian Bowles via submission guillotine choke 1:27 R2Martin Kampmann def. Rick Story via split decision (28-29, 30-27, 29-28)Stephan Bonnar def. Kyle Kingsbury via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-25, 30-27)Ryan Bader def. Jason Brilz via knockout (punch) 1:17 R1Michael McDonald def. Alex Soto via knockout (punches) 0:56 R1Chris Weidman def. Tom Lawlor via technical submission (D'arce choke) - Round 1, 2:07Gleison Tibau def. Rafael dos Anjos via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)Miguel Torres def. Nick Pace via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)Seth Baczynski def. Matt Brown via submission guillotine choke 0:42 R2Danny Castillo def. Shamar Bailey via TKO (punches) 4:52 R1

Posted in: decision, submission, punch, knockout, submission guillotine

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Former Olympic judoka Ronda Rousey continued her impressive run in MMA since transitioning to the sport by picking up a win at Strikeforce Challengers 20, running her record to 4-0 with the quartet of victories all coming in 2011. Equally amazing, “Rowdy” Ronda rearranged the physiology of an opponent’s limb for the fourth time as well with her victim this time around being talented striker Julia Budd who refused to tap and ended up suffering a gruesome broken arm as a result. Rousey Says Foes Shouldn’t Be Fooled by Looks Other notable performances at the Strikeforce event include Lumumba Sayers who flattened organizational veteran Antwain Britt in the opening round, as well as Trevor Smith and Adlan Amagov who also found success in the first frame of their respective fights. Here is a complete list of Strikeforce Challengers 20 results: Andreas Spang def. Willie Parks via TKO Round 1 (Strikes) Quinn Mullhern def. David Hulett via Unanimous Decision Bobby Green def. James Reese via Submission Round 3 (Rear-Naked Choke) Matt Ricehouse def. Bill Cooper via Unanimous Decision Derek Brunson def. Nate James via Unanimous Decision Trevor Smith def. T.J. Cook via Submission Round 1 (Guillotine Choke) Adlan Amagov def. Anthony Smith via Knockout Round 1 (Strikes) Ronda Rousey def. Julia Budd via Technical Submission Round 1 (Armbar) Lumumba Sayers def. Antwain Britt via Knockout Round 1 (Strikes) PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE Tweet

Posted in: strikeforce, round, submission, adlan amagov, ronda

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Thanks to all of you who participated in our giveaways the last few weeks. We might do it again in the near future, but there isn’t anything this week. Winners have been contacted and all remaining prizes will go out to the winners shortly! We’ll have a look at the Topps Finest MMA card set very shortly, and there will be more giveaways from there. Everything we pulled will be up for grabs, and I will be sharing that with you in the coming days. Now on to UFC 139, one of the biggest cards of the year featuring six former champions on the PPV portion of the event as well as a plethora of talent beyond the former title-holders. Today we’ll take a quick look at the UFC 139 prelims and tomorrow morning I’ll be back with a breakdown of the main card. An Extended Look at UFC 139 Shamar Bailey vs. Danny Castillo Castillo, an explosive force in the lightweight division of WEC, has been a bit timid in his UFC career in comparison. His striking has been slightly muzzled, and he probably won’t get much of a chance to show it off against a freestyle wrestler like Bailey. Both need victories to make a good case to stay in the UFC, so I’m not looking for either to take a bunch of risks. Both fighters have good wrestling, and their power striking is very similar too, with Bailey getting the benefit of having Chris Lytle as a frequent training partner. However, Bailey’s lost three of his last four and can’t afford to lose this one. Take him in a closely fought contest, with Castillo getting another chance to stay on with the UFC in the near future. Prediction: Shamar Bailey def. Danny Castillo via Unanimous Decision Matt Brown vs. Seth Baczynski “The Immortal” Brown has had one of the biggest rises and falls from immortality in recent memory. After racking up a trio of quick wins in the UFC, Brown lost three straight before rebounding against John Howard in June. Taking on BJJ fighter Baczynski, winner of four of his last five (all by stoppages), he draws someone who brings in who will prefer to take him to the ground with his relentless takedowns and submission expertise. Brown would be wise to get back to basics and stay standing against Baczynski, but may get caught trying to get inside on the reach and size advantage he gives up. They are both are well disciplined on the ground, but Baczynski’s size and experience might be too much for Brown in the end. Give this one to the “Polish Pistola” in a decision. Prediction: Seth Baczynski def. Matt Brown via Unanimous Decision Miguel Torres vs. Nick Pace After his meteoric rise, Torres is about the last fighter you’d expect to have a losing record in his last five fights. He draws choke-enthusiast Nick Pace in what could be the final fight in the Octagon for the latter with a loss. This is Torres’ rebound fight in essence. He needs to go back to what made him so intimidating for so many years. His powerful striking, overwhelming presence, and his domineering BJJ won him 36 of his first 37 fights. Things have changed since his loss to Brian Bowles, however, as he’s appeared pensive and often overwhelmed which cost him the Benevidez fight and possibly even his bout against Demetrious Johnson as well. However, Torres is too good to lose 4 of 6, and I can’t see a way for him to lose this fight if he goes at it with the determination that started to help him right the ship against Antonio Banuelos and Charlie Valencia prior to the UFC/WEC Merge. Prediction: Miguel Torres def. Nick Pace via Submission Gleison Tibau vs. Rafael dos Anjos It’s a little known fact that prior to his MMA career, Tibau was the lead singer of the Fine Young Cannibals. Don’t believe me? Go watch the music video for “She Drives me Crazy” and tell me Roland Gift and Tibau aren’t the same person. Now that I have the song stuck in your head, both fighters have looked good winning 4 of 5 each. Despite his credentials, Dos Anjos was supposed to be a rebound fight for George Sotiropoulos but ultimately won in under a minute with a stunning knockout, his first in a seven-year career. As a fan of ground-based grappling this is probably my most anticipated fight on the card. Both fighters bring in world class BJJ, and the fight should feature some very advanced techniques countering other advanced techniques. Where this fight will be judged closely will be cage control and who can maintain dominant position on the ground. Dos Anjos will be giving up much size to Tibau, who regularly adds 12-15% water weight after weigh-ins. Tibau’s strength and balance make him very hard to take down, and even harder to keep down. While Dos Anjos will be the favorite in a standing battle, I don’t see it being one of those, and I’m going to give Tibau the nod in a razor thin decision. Besides, I can’t pick against the guy who brought us “Good Thing.” Prediction: Gleison Tibau def. Rafael dos Anjos via Split Decision Tom Lawlor vs. Chris Weidman Welcome back “Filthy” one! It’s been over a year since we saw Lawlor last, a bout where he escorted Patrick Cote out of the UFC thanks to the judges’ scorecards. A trail of injuries have delayed his return, but he’s back now facing the undefeated Weidman. This is a perfect matchup for Lawlor, as it will be a perfect indication of which fighter that shows up on Saturday night – the deadly one who fought Cote or the uninspired one who fought Joe Doerksen. It’s hard not to think that Lawlor’s the underdog here, as Weidman’s dominance on the ground pushed him to a quick submission victory back in June and a finesse victory over Alessio Sakara. Weidman possesses a dangerous combination of high level wrestling and BJJ, so the only chance Lawlor has of winning this fight is if he comes in with the same level of gumption and determination he displayed against Cote and CB Dollaway. I’d say Weidman’s got the edge on all technical aspects of the fight, and Lawlor’s going to have to look to catch him offguard to make a quick night of things, otherwise it might be a quick night. I’m taking Weidman here, who is one of the up and comers at middleweight. This is his stepping stone to bigger fights at 185. Prediction: Chris Weidman def. Tom Lawlor via Submission Michael McDonald vs. Alex Soto This fight features two of the more interesting stories in the UFC. There’s McDonald, who isn’t old enough to drink in his home state yet, and Soto, the retired Army infantryman who now trains dolphins as a member of the US Navy. Both fighters are undefeated over the last two years, both have very versatile skillsets, and both have fun-to-watch fighting styles. McDonald is viewed a bantamweight blue chipper, yet Soto’s got a great team around him and isn’t to be overlooked. This will come down to whomever has the better ground game. McDonald is a BJJ brown belt and has great striking, while Soto has a very seasoned submission game and can hold his own in a fistfight. McDonald should be able to overpower Soto and take this fight. He’s on the rise right now, and should expect to see someone of Demetrious Johnson’s caliber sometime soon. Prediction: Michael McDonald def. Alex Soto via TKO Ryan Bader vs. Jason Brilz This fight again is being viewed as a rebound fight for Bader. Few people have given Brilz much of a chance, despite solid wrestling skills, a .500 record in the UFC, with one of those being a razor thin loss against Antonio Rogerio Noguiera that could have either way. Brilz was KO’d silly by Vlad Matyushenko last time out, and a loss here will all but seal his fate with the promotion. Bader, on the other hand, stormed to an 12-0 record before submission losses to Jon Jones and Tito Ortiz. With their wrestling pedigrees both fighters look very comfortable on the ground, though Bader has had trouble finishing fights when action hits the mat. Brilz began his career with a slew of submission victories, but has not added one to his record since joining the UFC. I would wager fans shouldn’t expect to see a submission here either. Bader is consistent if nothing else, at least in terms of his approach to fighting. You know you’re going to get strong wrestling mixed with a bit of crisp, powerful striking, as well as a lot of cage control and a dominant, possibly unspectacular performance. Ditto on Brilz if he gets the chance. This won’t be the Fight of the Year, and almost certainly won’t be Fight of the Night, but the match-up should draw TUF and wrestling fans all the same, and ultimately turn into an entertaining encounter. Prediction: Ryan Bader def. Jason Brilz via Unanimous Decision That’s it for the preliminary pairings. Make sure to check back here tomorrow morning for my breakdown of the UFC 139 main card including bouts between Urijah Faber/Brian Bowles, Martin Kampmann/Rick Story, Wanderlei Silva/Cung Le, and headliners Dan Henderson/Mauricio Rua. Tweet

Posted in: ufc, fight, fighter, submission, lawlor

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CHICAGO (Nov 14, 2011) - M-1 GLOBAL presents "Battle of the Legends" Fedor vs Monson from Olympic Hall in Moscow Russia, which will air LIVE on PPV via Ustream http://www.ustream.tv/m1global on Sunday, November 20th with the FREE undercard streaming live on Facebook and by Integrated Sports Media, the pound-for-pound king of sports distribution in North America via iN Demand, DIRECTV, DISH Network and Avail-TVN (www.integratedsportsnet.com). "Judging by ticket sales, I think I made the right decision by setting up this event at one of the largest arenas in Moscow. We are practically sold out." - said M-1's president Vadim Finkelstein last week in an interview with Sports illustrated. Universally recognized MMA superstar Fedor "The Last Emperor" Emelianenko (31-4), the greatest heavyweight in MMA history, is returning home to Russia to fight there for the first time in four years.  The Russian combat sports icon is coming off of three straight losses in the United States to Dan Henderson, Antonio Silva and Fabricio Werdum. "I cannot wait to compete again," Fedor remarked. "Monson is a great athlete who is skilled in many areas.  He is a very worthy opponent. "I'm really happy to be fighting in Russia, as mostly my fights happened overseas. The only time I fought in Russia before was in St. Petersburg four years ago. Feels good and I'm looking forward to it. I'd like to thank all my fans; I know there are a lot in America. I truly appreciate their support. I hope Jeff and I will offer an entertaining fight." Wrestling and Brazilian Jui Jitsu specialist Jeff "The Snowman" Monson (43-12), fighting out of Miami, Florida, is a two-time Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling World Championships gold medalist. "Fedor is the best heavyweight of all-time," a respectful Monson commented.  "It's an honor to be fighting him.  A win would be the highlight of my career.  My trainers at American Top Team are preparing me for all possibilities." "Fedor has been very vocal about wanting to continue his fighting career," noted Evgeni Kogan, Director of Operations for M-1 Global, Europe's undisputed MMA leader in Europe. "Fedor vs. Monson is a classic that had been in crosshairs for years. All parties have come together to make this fight a reality." In the co-feature, M-1 Challenge Lightweight Champion Jose Figueroa (10-4, 4 KOs, 5 Submissions), also fighting out of Florida, defends against German challenger Daniel Weichel (27-7, 4 KOs, 16 Submissions). Scheduled to fight on the PPV undercard is also Russian welterweight Aleksander Yakoviev (12-3, 4 KOs, 7 Submissions) vs. undefeated Spanish prospect Juan Manuel "Juanma" Suarez (8-0, 1 KO, 3 Submissions), Austrian welterweight Mairbek "Beckan" Taisumov (15-3, 8 KOs, 6 Submissions) vs. Josh Thorpe(10-6, 3 KOs), from Alabama, and Russian middleweight Arthur Guseinov (9-2, 6 KOs, 2 Submissions) vs. French veteran Xavier "Professor X" Foupa-Pokam (21-16, 11 KOs, 7 Submissions). Access to all the fights will be available on Ustream.tv, iN Demand, DIRECTV, DISH Network and Avail-TVN, M-1global.com, and Facebook. http://www.ustream.tv/m1global http://www.m-1global.com http://www.integratedsportsnet.com M-1 Global is now in full-swing treating the world-wide MMA community to 3 upcoming world-class events: M-1 Challenge XIX (also available via PPV on www.ustream.com/m1global) taking place at Ufa Arena in Ufa, Russia on November 19th, with a night of top level action featuring Dmitry Samoilov (Alexander Nevsky) 12-5-1 vs Mario Miranda (Black House, Brazil) 12-3, and with the co-main event featuring Eric Oganov (Alpha Omega MMA) 10-11 vs Daniel Madrid (USA) 7-2, followed by M-1 "Battle of the Legends" Fedor vs Monson on November 20th, a mega event with "The Last Emperor" Fedor Emelianenko making his return to Russia as he faces submission specialist and MMA veteran Jeff Monson live from the Olympic Hall is Moscow, Russia and live via PPV (for details visit www.m-1global.com or www.ustream.com/m1global), and closing the year with M-1 Challenge XXX December 9 from The Hangar at the OC Fair in Costa Mesa, California and live on Showtime.

Posted in: ko, submission, vs, fedor, russia

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CHICAGO (Nov 14, 2011) - M-1 GLOBAL presents "Battle of the Legends" Fedor vs Monson from Olympic Hall in Moscow Russia, which will air LIVE on PPV via Ustreamhttp://www.ustream.tv/m1global on Sunday, November 20th with the FREE undercard streaming live on Facebook and by Integrated Sports Media, the pound-for-pound king of sports distribution in North America via iN Demand, DIRECTV, DISH Network and Avail-TVN (www.integratedsportsnet.com). "Judging by ticket sales, I think I made the right decision by setting up this event at one of the largest arenas in Moscow. We are practically sold out." - said M-1's president Vadim Finkelstein last week in an interview with Sports illustrated. Universally recognized MMA superstar Fedor "The Last Emperor" Emelianenko (31-4), the greatest heavyweight in MMA history, is returning home to Russia to fight there for the first time in four years.  The Russian combat sports icon is coming off of three straight losses in the United States to Dan Henderson, Antonio Silva and Fabricio Werdum. "I cannot wait to compete again," Fedor remarked. "Monson is a great athlete who is skilled in many areas.  He is a very worthy opponent. "I'm really happy to be fighting in Russia, as mostly my fights happened overseas. The only time I fought in Russia before was in St. Petersburg four years ago. Feels good and I'm looking forward to it. I'd like to thank all my fans; I know there are a lot in America. I truly appreciate their support. I hope Jeff and I will offer an entertaining fight." Wrestling and Brazilian Jui Jitsu specialist Jeff "The Snowman" Monson (43-12), fighting out of Miami, Florida, is a two-time Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling World Championships gold medalist.  "Fedor is the best heavyweight of all-time," a respectful Monson commented.  "It's an honor to be fighting him.  A win would be the highlight of my career.  My trainers at American Top Team are preparing me for all possibilities.""Fedor has been very vocal about wanting to continue his fighting career," noted Evgeni Kogan, Director of Operations for M-1 Global, Europe's undisputed MMA leader in Europe. "Fedor vs. Monson is a classic that had been in crosshairs for years. All parties have come together to make this fight a reality." In the co-feature, M-1 Challenge Lightweight Champion Jose Figueroa (10-4, 4 KOs, 5 Submissions), also fighting out of Florida, defends against German challenger Daniel Weichel (27-7, 4 KOs, 16 Submissions). Scheduled to fight on the PPV undercard is also Russian welterweight Aleksander Yakoviev (12-3, 4 KOs, 7 Submissions) vs. undefeated Spanish prospect Juan Manuel "Juanma" Suarez (8-0, 1 KO, 3 Submissions), Austrian welterweight Mairbek "Beckan" Taisumov (15-3, 8 KOs, 6 Submissions) vs. Josh Thorpe(10-6, 3 KOs), from Alabama, and Russian middleweight Arthur Guseinov (9-2, 6 KOs, 2 Submissions) vs. French veteran Xavier "Professor X" Foupa-Pokam (21-16, 11 KOs, 7 Submissions). Access to all the fights will be available on Ustream.tv, iN Demand, DIRECTV, DISH Network and Avail-TVN, M-1global.com, and Facebook. http://www.ustream.tv/m1global http://www.m-1global.com http://www.integratedsportsnet.com M-1 Global is now in full-swing treating the world-wide MMA community to 3 upcoming world-class events: M-1 Challenge XIX (also available via PPV onwww.ustream.com/m1global) taking place at Ufa Arena in Ufa, Russia on November 19th, with a night of top level action featuring Dmitry Samoilov (Alexander Nevsky) 12-5-1 vs Mario Miranda (Black House, Brazil) 12-3, and with the co-main event featuring Eric Oganov (Alpha Omega MMA) 10-11 vs Daniel Madrid (USA) 7-2, followed by M-1 "Battle of the Legends" Fedor vs Monson on November 20th, a mega event with "The Last Emperor" Fedor Emelianenko making his return to Russia as he faces submission specialist and MMA veteran Jeff Monson live from the Olympic Hall is Moscow, Russia and live via PPV (for details visit www.m-1global.com or www.ustream.com/m1global), and closing the year with M-1 Challenge XXX December 9th from The Hangar at the OC Fair in Costa Mesa, California and live on Showtime. SBN coverage of M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Monson

Posted in: ko, submission, vs, fedor, russia

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The card for UFC 141 is rapidly filling up with the addition of a featherweight bout today. The UFC announced that TUF alum, Nam Phan, will face undefeated submission specialist, Jim Hettes, at the December 30th event in Las Vegas: Featherweights Nam Phan and Jim Hettes have verbally agreed to fight at UFC 141 on December 30th. Phan is coming off win marked by a record-setting offensive display, while Hettes remains undefeated, finishing all opponents by submission. Phan lost to Michael Johnson in the lightweight semfinals of TUF 12, but is now finding success at his more natural weight of 145 lbs. In his most recent fight, the Vietnamese-American fighter finally exacted his revenge on Leonard Garcia, after Garcia took a very controversial split decision win in their first fight. Phan thoroughly outstruck Garcia for most of the rematch at UFC 136, winning a unanimous decision, although he made it closer than it needed to be when he left his chin exposed late in the fight and Garcia nearly finished him off. Hettes, a Pennsylvania native and a BJJ and judo specialist, make a splash in his UFC debut against Alex Caceres at UFC on Versus 5, relentlessly pursuing submission after submission in a back-and-forth grappling battle, before finally getting the tap from Caceres with a no-hooks-in-rear naked choke Nam Phan (17-9)Win Leonard Garcia (unam. decision) - UFC 136Loss Mike Brown (unam. decision) - UFC 133Loss Leonard Garcia (split decision) - TUF 12 Finale Jim "The Kid" Hettes (9-0)Win Alex Caceres (submission - rear naked choke) - UFC on Versus 5Win Jacob Kirwan (submission - triangle choke) - MASS: InaugurationWin George Sheppard (submission - rear naked choke) - Cage Fight 6 UFC 141 coverage

Posted in: ufc, submission, phan, garcia, hette

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There is a well-documented negative side to “hype” for a fighter. It creates cynicism and a belief that the excitement for this particular fighter is disingenuous. It also causes additional pressure to be placed on the success of said fighter. Those would all be relevant issues if that fighter was not a two-time NCAA Division I All-American wrestler who qualified for the 2009 ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship by winning the East Coast trials after only eight months of formal Brazilian jiu-jitsu training, who has an undefeated pro MMA record, including two wins inside the Octagon, and is already the proud owner of a “Submission of the Night” bonus in his second fight in the UFC. Actually, the hype can’t even compete with the reality of Chris Weidman.“I am in this 100%,” declares Weidman. “The only reason I got into this sport was to be the champion. I wasn't doing this for any other reason. Where I'm at right now, with the hype behind me, if that wasn't behind me or if I wasn't undefeated, I don't care if I'm undefeated, just as long as I'm on the right streak towards the top. I have put this pressure on myself since day one, so it is nothing new.”At 27 years old, this Hofstra University alum from “Strong Island” was at the top of every MMA website’s must watch and see list. Weidman was the prospect of prospects coming into his hurried Octagon debut in March at UFC Live against veteran UFC middleweight Alessio Sakara. On less than three weeks’ notice, Weidman went toe-to-toe with Sakara for a grueling and bloody three rounds in which Weidman controlled all the action. It was a true test for Weidman with little prep time - a tough opponent on a three fight win streak, and it was a physically exhausting fight which he won in every aspect. “It was huge for me,” says Weidman. “It was a great experience. I was in there with a seasoned guy and I knew he was ready for a full fight. I wasn't in the best shape going into that fight for sure. It was pretty much two weeks’ notice, so I was a fat kid two weeks before that. So for me to get in the shape I did and to be able to go three full rounds and get the win even though I wasn't in the best shape makes me feel confident, especially having a full camp to be able to go three rounds at a fast pace. I felt like I went hard in that fight for all three rounds, but I didn't go for some submissions that I usually would have because I wasn't in my usual top quality shape. It was a great experience. He was a tough guy, and to go all three rounds like that was good for me.”About three months later, Weidman was itching for another fight, and he replaced Court McGee in his bout with Jesse Bongfeldt. This time he had eight weeks’ notice to prepare, which was really the first time in Weidman’s six fight career that he had a dedicated training camp. Most of Weidman’s other fights were on short notice, with just enough time to make sure his cardio was there. Weidman had the opportunity to get better during the full camp and was considering this a statement fight, which was bad luck for Bongfeldt, “Every fight is a big fight,” tells Weidman. “After the Sakara fight there was a lot of hype about me and where my future is heading. I think every fight is going to be kind of like that, but the fight with Jesse Bongfeldt really felt like people were trying to figure where I'm at. I wanted to show that I belong here in the UFC and that I'm someone who is going to be no joke and that I'm coming up.”In his second Octagon appearance, Weidman didn’t disappoint, displaying the vaunted wrestling and submission skills everyone expects to see. “It's definitely one of the things I work on - the kimura from side control,” notes Weidman, who attacked Bongfeldt with that move numerous times in the first round, and even though he didn’t secure it, it helped win the fight. “It's one of my go to moves and I tried to set that up for the finish. He did a good job defending, but it ended up working out that I got another submission. As long as I am keeping pressure and attempting submission after submission, even if I don't get it, it is mentally breaking the guy and sooner rather than later I'm going to get the submission.”The “Submission of the Night” finish came at 4:54 in the first. As the two scrambled to their feet, Weidman drilled Bongfeldt with a knee to the mid-section and followed up with a standing guillotine choke. It was a lethal combo, which did help stamp Weidman’s arrival into the UFC middleweight division as a fighter whose power and submissions can make quick work of anyone. “When I hit him with the knee, I knew I took the air out of him and my arms were instantly around his neck,” remembers Weidman. “I knew he wasn't going to have much fight because he just took a knee to the stomach pretty hard and probably wasn't expecting me to go so hard with the choke because of the short time. I was pretty confident with it that I would get the finish even with the time that was left.”In San Jose this Saturday, Weidman will tangle with the returning Ultimate Fighter season eight alum “Filthy” Tom Lawlor for his third trip to the Octagon in less than a year. At 3-2 in the UFC, facing all recognizable opponents, Lawlor will look to employ his own wrestling, submissions and strikes on Weidman. Although it was 11 months ago, Lawlor had his best Octagon appearance to date in his dominance of former number 1 contender Patrick Cote at UFC 121. Lawlor is durable, versatile and will be hungry for a win over a young, but rising, name like Weidman.“I think he is going to be a great test,” admits Weidman. “I think he is a tough kid and he's going to come forward. I think he has good wrestling, good jiu-jitsu and good striking, so he's well-rounded. I'm really excited and I think he's going to be a good test to where I stand. I want to be on the top of this sport and these are the type of guys I need to be able to beat: tough guys who are well-rounded. It's going to be an exciting fight, a good test for me and I'm going to try to win in a dominant way and get the finish.”To prepare for this fight, Weidman is training with the dynamic duo from Long Island and TUF season six: Matt Serra and Ray Longo. Both coaches have vibrant personalities and a near unparalleled amount of experience, which they both use to pass on their fighting knowledge to Weidman. They have been with Weidman since the beginning and facilitated his quick rise in MMA by pushing Weidman to go pro immediately after believing in what they saw in him in their gyms. Weidman also trains a couple times a week in Manhattan with Serra’s own jiu-jitsu mentor, the legendary Renzo Gracie.“They're great coaches, so it makes it easier for me to become a fast learner because they're great teachers,” asserts Weidman. “They're both fun to be around. They're easy going guys. They make light of tough situations if you're having a bad day and they're making you laugh. They make it fun. Having them together in your corner is a perfect combination. I think we match up well as far as them being the coaches and me being the student because as a wrestler I was a very technical wrestler and that's what they're all about - the technique. The way I learned wrestling from technique to technique is how I'm trying to learn jiu-jitsu and the standup. It's not that much of a different type of learning than when it was wrestling.”At UFC 139, Lawlor will be playing a dangerous game by standing on the tracks with Weidman’s hype-train ready to come through. “Just like any fight, I'm completely ready for a war,” states Weidman, who has higher aspirations than being a prospect; he’s looking to make the middleweight division his own, one fight at a time. “I'm 100% ready for a three round back and forth crazy slugfest, on to the ground then back up again, attempting submissions, and non-stop action. I'm totally prepared for that. And I'm going to be looking for the submissions and looking for the knockouts the whole entire fight. Without a doubt.”

Posted in: fight, time, submission, weidman, im

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Ronda Rousey is fighting Julia Budd this friday, and you better enjoy it while you can. Not only has Ronda cemented a reputation for finishing faster than Junior Dos Santos, she also doesn't plan on spending the rest of her life rattling around the MMA scene. In a conversation with USA Today, she said she saw her career lasting something like four years. Not a bad estimate considering we've noticed a trend of fighters rising and falling over that general timeperiod. Any fighter who hasn't thought about what happens past that is liable to find themselves 35, broke, and being fed to the next generation.Hopefully before she leaves, she'll force women's MMA to evolve to the next level. If her opponents don't learn what she's up to quickly, she's liable to take ALL THE BELTS off the strength of her transitions from throws to submissions. Here she is talking about her current bread and butter finish: the harai goshi to armbar. You keep winning your fights with variations of the same move. Why do you think opponents keep leaving their arms out there?They're not leaving their arms out there. I try to create reactions in people. If you know how people will react to something that you do, you can kind of predict it. It's very hard to describe, the way that you're fighting. It's like thinking without thinking. They're specifically walking in there thinking about not getting armbarred, but I feel like I know what things to do to create the reactions I want.But they train too. Presumably they train armbar defenses. Is there a common vulnerability that you see? Are they just not familiar with judo newaza?Judo is a very different style. Jiu-jitsu, they don't concentrate so much on the taking down and then starting part. They start on the ground. Wrestling, they don't really focus on submissions so much. I think judo is one of the very few grappling arts that deals with as soon as the takedown happens, you have to go straight to submissions. I don't think that any of these other girls are used to transitioning from standing to ground as quickly as I am.Even among judokas who have gone into MMA and are very good with throws, there aren't many who go right into a submission the way you do. Why do you think that isn't seen much?For a judo player, I had a very, very strange style. I was always very ground oriented. My mom, she blew out both of her knees while she was competing. She probably won only two matches in her whole life by throws. She won all of her fights on the ground because she couldn't stand up, really. She had me drilling, doing mostly a ground-based game and teaching me armbars when I was 12, 13 years old. I tore out my knee when I was 16. Almost for that whole year, I just predominantly did all ground stuff.When I continued on later, I was training with the Pedros in Boston. They're also known for being more of a matwork-dominated judo style. So I had a very unique style of judo that I was lucky enough that applied very well to MMA. I've also included a video of Ronda talking to Ariel Helwani about dropping down to 135 and taking the belt off Miesha Tate. With Gina Carano waffling on her return, there's not a hell of a lot to do at 145 other than fight Cris Cyborg. Since that's the one opponent Ronda seems a bit hesitant to fight, perhaps a diversion down to 135 to beat up on the smaller women could be fun.

Posted in: submission, ground, judo, style, ronda

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 It’s about time. This Saturday (Nov. 19, 2011), Pride FC legends Dan Henderson and Mauricio Rua will collide inside the Octagon in what very well may be a 205-pound number one contender eliminator match in the UFC 139 main event. In addition, former bantamweight champions Urijah Faber and Brian Bowles will go head-to-head for another crack at Dominick Cruz, while Strikeforce sensation Cung Le will return to the cage after more than a year away to face one of the most beloved fighters in history: the legendary "Axe Murderer," Wanderlei Silva. UFC 139: "Shogun vs, Henderson" will take place at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., and be available to watch on pay-per-view (PPV), beginning at 9 p.m. ET on fight night. But, before we get to that, we’ve got some excellent "Prelims" action to whet your appetites, featuring the likes of former WEC champion Miguel Torres and blue-chip prospect Chris Weidman. Follow me into the extended entry for a breakdown of the five fights that comprise the Facebook portion of the under card: 185 lbs.: Tom  Lawlor vs. Chris Weidman Everyone loves a showman. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) class clown Tom Lawlor (7-3, 1 NC) -- legendary for his hilarious weigh-in impersonations -- looked on the verge of being cut as he stepped into the cage against former title challenger Patrick Cote at UFC 121 back in Oct. 2010. Despite upsetting C.B.  Dollaway in less than one minute at UFC 100, Lawlor had dropped two straight. Thankfully for fans of the eccentric The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) veteran, he controlled the Canadian brawler on the ground and secured a unanimous decision. Now a year removed from the cage because of injury, "The Filthy Mauler" is out to prove that the middleweight division hasn’t passed him by. Chris Weidman (6-0), a former All-American wrestler and jiu-jitsu prodigy, was given one of the unfriendliest UFC debuts to date, taking on deadly Italian striker Alessio Sakara on just two weeks’ notice. Weidman, who has given recent ADCC Absolute champion André Galvão one of his toughest grappling matches to date, easily handled Sakara, cutting him up badly en route to a dominant decision. After nearly tearing grappling specialist Jesse Bongfeldt’s head off at UFC 131 (also on short notice), "All American's" hype train is at full speed, and he has every intention of running over anyone, like Lawlor, unfortunate enough to find himself on the tracks. This may be oversimplifying things a little, but the result of this fight seems fairly straightforward: What is Lawlor good at? Wrestling and chokes. What is Weidman good at? Wrestling and chokes. And who is better at both those things? Probably the multiple-time All-American who gave Andre Galvão a closer fight than Rousimar Palhares after only a year of jiu-jitsu training. This is just a stylistic nightmare for Lawlor, who not only will have even less of an experience advantage than the last couple guys Weidman fought, but who also hasn’t fought in a year. I don’t think this is even going to be close, actually. Look for Weidman to get Lawlor down early, latch onto his neck, and squeeze Lawlor into submission in short order. Prediction: Weidman via first round submission 155 lbs.: Gleison Tibau vs. Rafael dos Anjos Size matters. Lightweight leviathan Gleison Tibau (24-7), who for reasons I don’t understand chooses not to use his very awesome real name (Janigleison Herculano Alves), has been knocking at the door of contendership for quite a while, but has never managed to take that final step. Though his losses to Melvin Guillard and Jim Miller weren’t exactly disastrous, the American Top Team product still has yet to break into the elite. Recently, though, he’s been on the right track, scoring a decision win over Kurt Pellegrino and a dominating submission of Rafaello Oliveira. Against dos Anjos, he’ll look to put together a third consecutive win for the first time in his UFC career. Rafael dos Anjos (15-5), coming back from a nearly year-long layoff after getting his jaw broken by Clay Guida, was not expected to be anything more than a roadblock for big-time prospect George Sotiropoulos at UFC 132, himself coming off a decisive loss to Dennis Siver. Shockingly, the Brazilian, who had but a single knockout win up to that point, crushed the Aussie grappler with a right hook in less than one minute. This wasn’t the first time dos Anjos had played spoiler -- a year earlier he submitted English prospect Terry Etim with a beautiful armbar in the second round of their UFC 112 showdown. Riding high on a wave of momentum, crushing Tibau would put Rafael dos Anjos in a great spot in the murderous UFC lightweight division. Tibau is a phenomenally frustrating fighter to watch. He has big power, a significant size advantage over 90 percent of the division, a very effective grappling game and a complete inability to utilize them with any sort of consistency. He was giving Jim Miller some problems in their fight, but was unable to muster consistent offense after the first round. Plus, the Pellegrino fight could have gone either way. Dos Anjos, on the other hand, has looked excellent since eating one of the nastiest uppercuts in UFC history against Jeremy Stephens. In addition, while I’m of the firm belief that there is no such thing as a lucky punch, if he fought Guida 10 more times, I highly doubt that jaw-breaking hook "The Carpenter" landed would land again. Also, even with the broken jaw, dos Anjos was still arguably winning the fight before being "submitted." With all that said, I’m still throwing my lot in with Tibau. All things being equal, take the guy with better wrestling. Dos Anjos is a phenomenal jiu-jitsu player, but he seemed entirely unable to fight back against Guida once he was put on his back. Granted, there are very few people out there who can fight back with Clay Guida in full Snuggie-mode, but considering he’ll face an absolute giant with a relentless takedown attack, I have my doubts as to his offensive efficacy. Plus, his best stand up weapon -- his leg kicks -- may be neutralized by the threat of a takedown from Tibau. I’m very much looking forward to this fight -- it should be entertaining no matter where it goes,. But, I expect Tibau to maintain top control long enough to secure a narrow decision. Prediction: Tibau via unanimous decision 135 lbs.: Miguel Torres vs. Nick Pace Mighty, fallen, etcetera etcetera. Former bantamweight deity Miguel Torres (39-4) hasn’t been having the best few years. Not only was he brutally knocked out by Brian Bowles and carved up by Joseph Benavidez, he has also gone 1-1 in the UFC, scoring a dull decision win over a massively outsized Antonio Banuelos and being narrowly defeated by Demetrious Johnson in a bout that had many questioning the current scoring system. Nevertheless, a loss is a loss, and considering he’s had three of those in his past five fights, he simply cannot afford another. Nick Pace (6-2) hasn’t been doing much better. After getting manhandled by Demetrious Johnson in his WEC debut, the Tiger Schulmann fighter missed weight for his first UFC bout, and despite submitting Will Campuzano with a never-before-seen no-arm triangle, was denied "Submission of the Night." While he was actually NOT the one who missed weight in his subsequent bout against Ivan Menjivar, he was unable to overcome the striking prowess of the "Pride of El Salvador." Now 1-2 under the ZUFFA umbrella, he could very well be fighting for his job against the former WEC champion. Dear UFC brass: there is a right way and a wrong way to treat a promising prospect. Throwing him in against two consecutive top-tier bantamweights is the latter. Granted, Torres hasn’t been setting the world on fire lately, but considering that all three of the guys he lost to wound up fighting for the title, I think he’s still a pretty dangerous opponent for everyone. Plus, you could easily make the argument that he won the Johnson fight, as he had "Mighty Mouse" in all sorts of trouble from his guard. Pace is a solid grappler, but there’s a pretty freaking big difference between submitting Will Campuzano and handling a well-travelled jiu-jitsu expert like Torres. He doesn’t have the startling power of Bowles or the blitzkrieg wrestling of Benavidez or Johnson, and even if he does manage to get Torres to the ground, I doubt he’ll be able to overcome the former champ’s guard work. The experience gap will just be too much for Pace, who’s going to find himself caught in a nasty triangle sometime in the early going. Prediction: Torres via first round submission 170 lbs.: Matt Brown vs. Seth Baczynski "Come back with your shield or on it." Welterweight striking machine Matt Brown (12-10) went to the judges in his last fight with John Howard. Considering he’d only ever won one fight that went past three rounds, this was a new experience for the veteran. Prior to this effort, "The Immortal" had lost three straight, all by submission, and looked to be at a point where not even his balls-out style could keep him employed. Luckily for fans of the scrappy brawler, the win over Howard gave him a reprieve, one he intends to take full advantage of against Baczynski. While the title of "unluckiest man on TUF 11" went to Kyacey Uscola, who had his pecker mangled by feral dogs, Baczynski (14-6) was the runner up. Near the end of the first round of his fight with Brad Tavares on the show, "The Polish Pistola" inadvertently soccer kicked his foe, losing the fight via disqualification. In their battle on the show’s finale, the two went back-and-forth for three rounds, with Tavares eking out a questionable decision. After two impressive stoppages on the regional circuit (including one that saw him come back from a broken arm in the first round to knockout his opponent), though, he was invited back and demolished Clay Harvison on short notice. He’ll need more of the same to survive the nasty striking of Brown. I’ll grant that Brown didn’t exactly get submitted by scrubs -- Brian Foster, Chris Lytle and Ricardo Almeida are all noted grapplers. Still, eight submission losses is a pretty hard statistic to ignore, and as good as he looked against Howard, "Doomsday" executed one of the more boneheaded gameplans in recent memory by completely abandoning his vaunted punching and kicking power in favor of repeated, impotent takedowns. Baczynski hasn’t been fighting the cream of the crop, but his grappling should be more than enough to overcome Brown’s questionable submission defense. There’s always the chance that Brown will blast Baczynski standing before he gets the chance to bring it to the ground, but I simply can’t, in good conscience, pick a guy with that many submission losses over someone I know to be a solid grappler. Whatever happens, this fight ought to be excellent -- all but one of their combined 26 wins have come via decision. This fight’s going to continue two trends: Matt Brown never being in a boring fight, and Matt Brown getting submitted before the third round. Prediction: Baczynski via first round submission 155 lbs.: Shamar Bailey vs. Danny Castillo Just another wannabe TUF guy? Shamar Bailey (12-4), Junior dos Santos’s first pick on TUF 13, had some pretty lofty expectations to meet, and seemed on his way to doing so after smothering Nordon Asrih for two rounds. Unfortunately, he went on to lose a decision to Chris Cope and, despite grinding out Ryan McGillivray on the show’s finale, may find himself on the chopping block after getting completely outclassed by Evan Dunham. Now having lost three of his last four fights and not possessing the most crowd-pleasing style in the world, a dominating win over Alpha Male’s lightweight representative may be necessary for his continued employment. Castillo (11-4), a WEC veteran whose biggest highlight in that organization was a brutal head kick loss to Anthony Pettis, looked on the right track toward establishing himself as a credible contender after easily outclassing Joe Stevenson. Several takedowns and a veritable cavalcade of D’arce attempts from Jacob Volkmann, however, knocked "Last Call" down to size. With Chad Mendes fighting for a title in 2012 and Urijah Faber facing off against Brian Bowles for another shot at Dominick Cruz, Castillo has a high bar to clear if he wants to properly represent Alpha Male, and a domination of Bailey would be a good first step. Dunham is a phenomenal fighter despite his beatdown at the hands of Melvin Guillard, so there’s no shame in dropping a decision to him, but Bailey has been consistently underwhelming. He went on the show in the midst of a two-fight losing streak, and he really has demonstrated no skills besides a solid wrestling game. Despite the loss to Volkmann, who I consider very underrated, Castillo is a very good fighter. While he’s generally faltered at the upper level of competition, Shamar Bailey is not at the upper level of competition. Castillo also has a solid wrestling game, honed by the likes of Joseph Benavidez and Chad Mendes, and his striking is nothing to scoff at. It wouldn’t surprise me too much if Shamar managed to "Fitch" his way to another unanimous decision, but there’s a pretty significant gap between the two in every other area, one that I don’t think Bailey will be able to overcome. Look for Castillo to control the bout on the feet, generally breaking even with Bailey when he tries a takedown and racking up enough point to take home the decision. Prediction: Castillo via unanimous decision Join us tomorrow for a look at the two Spike TV fights anchoring the live broadcast: Michael McDonald vs. Alex Soto and Ryan Bader vs. Jason Brilz. See you then. Remember, too, that MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of UFC 139, beginning with the preliminary card bouts on Facebook scheduled for 5:30 p.m. ET. In addition, we will also provide LIVE, real-time results of the main card action as it happens throughout the evening this upcoming weekend.

Posted in: ufc, fight, round, decision, submission

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Former WWE superstar Bobby Lashley (7-1) made his Shark Fights debut in the main event of SF 21 in Lubbock, Texas. After multiple opponent changes Lashley was eventually paired up with journeyman Karl Knothe (20-7) in a five round fight for the Shark Fights heavyweight title. In a brief one round tilt it was Lashley who had his hand raised after a battle on the ground. After Lashley secured a takedown Knothe was unable to shake the former amateur wrestler on the mat. Lashley pattered Knothe with punches while he searched out submissions from the top position. With Knothe's arm isolated Lashley applied a keylock submission hold that forced the tap out. The official time of Lashley's win was 3:44 of round one. The win for Lashley was his first action in six months. Once the most promising pro wrestling crossover prospect in MMA, Lashley's career has largely fizzled after a two fight stint with Strikeforce. A 5-0 start to his MMA career on local heavyweight scene put Lashley in position for a shot in the majors. Lashley's 1-1 record with Strikeforce put him back on the open market after a loss to Chad Griggs and contract talks went south. Now Lashley has supplemented his work with American Top Team for his MMA training with work inside Strikeforce heavyweight contender Josh Barnett's camp. The outside influence and improved training partners may give Lashley the final bump in his MMA career. For a prospect with as much hype and big name drawing power as Lashley a shot inside the UFC should still be his ultimate end game. If Lashley's MMA experiment is to be filed under "success story" a big pay day from the UFC and a win or two inside the Octagon must be part of his fight resume. Lashley will most likely need two to three big wins on the local MMA scene before the UFC may show any interest. Shark Fights 21 resultsLubbock, TXMatt Hobar def. Marcus Baldivia by Submission North South Choke 0:53 R1Jon Voth def. Jeremiah Castillo by Submission Armbar 2:27 R1Orlando Coulter def. Chase Watson by TKO (Punches) 2:39 R3John King def. Daniel Almeida by Split Decision Warren Stewart def. Gabriel Vasquez by Submission Rear Naked Choke 3:46 R1Cody Pfister def. Isaias Martinez by TKO (Punches) 4:09 R1Cody East def. Andenilson Clementino by TKO (Punches) 1:15 R2Bobby Lashley def. Karl Knothe by Submission Keylock 3:44 R1

Posted in: fight, mma, submission, lashley, knothe

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Headlined by a pair of tournament finals, Bellator 57 was poised to be an entertaining card and certainly started out on the right note with five straight finishing performances to open the evening up. Living up to the early fireworks, the main card also featured some competitive clashes as well as one of the most brutal submissions in the organization’s history and a UFC veteran left with his lights out. A Pre-Fight Look at the Middleweight and Welterweight Finals On the Season 5 middleweight side of things, Alexander Shlemenko outscored a feisty Vitor Vianna to improve his overall record to 43-7. In addition to a $100,000 payday, the 27-year old also earned an opportunity to face 185-pound title-holder Hector Lombard a second time after both battled it out a year ago with the Cuban champion edging Shlemenko out on the scorecards. Meanwhile, Douglas Lima lived up to his nickname – “The Phenom” – by stopping apt adversary Ben Saunders with strikes early in the second stanza of their headlining bout. The win was Lima’s ninth straight including victories over Ryan Ford, Terry Martin, and Chris Lozano. Here is a complete rundown of Bellator 57 results: Taylor Solomon def. Mike Sledzion via TKO Round 1 (Strikes) Josh Shockley def. Eric Moon via Submission Round 1 (Guillotine Choke) Denis Puric def. Chuck Mady via TKO Round 2 (Retirement) Dave Jansen def. Ashkan Morvari via Submission Round 2 (Rear-Naked Choke) Matt Van Buren def. Shawn Levesque via Submission Round 1 (Rear-Naked Choke) Chris Horodecki Majority Draws with Mike Corey Alexandre Bezerra def. Douglas Evans via Submission Round 1 (Heel Hook) Roger Hollett def. John Hawk via Split Decision Alexander Shlemenko def. Vitor Vianna via Unanimous Decision Douglas Lima def. Ben Saunders via TKO Round 2 (Strikes) PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR Tweet

Posted in: bellator, round, submission, shlemenko, vitor vianna

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Shark Fights was at it again last night (Nov.11, 2011), holding its latest event, Shark Fights 21: "Lashley vs. Knoth" from the Fair Park Coliseum in Lubbock, Texas.  And the organization crowned another heavyweight champion. Former WWE superstar Bobby Lashley claimed the heavyweight title, which was vacated by The Ultimate FIghter (TUF) alum, Darill Schoonover, defeating Karl Knothe via submission in the very first round. Lashley was able to catch "The Original Son of Punishment" in an Americana hold early. And it was all she wrote from that point forward with Knothe forced to tap at the 3:44 mark in the opening stanza. Knothe, who was riding a 12-fight win streak heading into the fight, stepped in on three days notice after a trio of opponents dropped out of the fight. Lashley, the American Top Team (ATT) member, worked closely with Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix finalist, Josh Barnett, in preparation for this title bout. It showed. Lashley's win makes it two in a row since losing to Chad Griggs at Strikeforce: "Houston" on Aug. 21, 2010, bringing his professional mixed martial arts (MMA) record to 7-1. Shark Fights 21, which only saw one bout go to decision, is scheduled to air on FUEL TV on Dec. 23, 2011. In the meantime, check out full results of Shark Fights 21 after the jump. 250 lbs.: Bobby Lashley def. Karl Knothe via submission (americana) at 3:44 round one250 lbs.: Cody East def. Adenelson Clementino viat TKO at 1:15 round one155 lbs.: Cody Pfister def. Isias Martinez via TKO at 4:09 round two205 lbs.: Warren Stewart def. Gabe Vasquez via submission ( rear naked choke) at 3:46 round one205 lbs.: John King def Daniel De Almeida via split decision205 lbs.: Rashad Coulter drf. Chase Watson via TKO at 2:39 round three145 lbs.: Jon Voth def. Jeremiah Castillo via submission (arm bar) at 2:27 round 1145 lbs.: Matt Hobar def. Marcus Baldivia via submission (north-south choke) at :53 round one For more on Shark Fights 21 be sure to check out our comprehensive event archive right here.

Posted in: fight, round, submission, lb, lashley

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BloodyElbow.com was on deck as the URCC hosted their 20th major show last weekend. It was filled with 10 exciting fights that all ended in the first round, with the main event bout between Reydon 'The Filipino Bolo Punch' Romero, and Jessie Rafols ending up as one of the most entertaining URCC bouts of the year. You can also check out the complete rundown and recap of the event here Here is our exclusive gallery from the URCC's milestone event, with all photos taken by my brother, Paolo Tabuena, and the editing done by myself. Be sure to check out a bunch of other photos after the jump.  Rodel Orais vs. Jilmar Tangayan   Pete Brooks vs. Frank Navarro [Cruiserweight Championship]   Andrew Benibe vs. Sulpiano Laurio     Honorio Banario vs. Patrick Manicad   Adam Cacay vs. Lando Espinosa   Will Chope vs. Jerson Estoro   URCC's first Hall-of-Fame inductee, former Heavyweight Champion, Rogelio Tiu   Froilan Sarenas vs. Robin Jose [Middleweight Championship]   Igor Subora vs. Ryan Paglinawan [Heavyweight Championship]   Nicholas Mann vs. Chris Luna [Light Heavyweight Championship]   Reydon Romero vs. Jessie Rafols [Bantamweight Super-Fight]   Misc Photos:   Complete URCC 20 results: - Reydon Romero def. Jessie Rafols by submission (strikes) at 5:27 R1 [Bantamweight Super-Fight Championship]- Nicholas Mann def. Christian Luna by TKO (punches) at 4:59 R1 [Light Heavyweight Championship]- Igor Subora def. Ryan Paglinawan by TKO (punches) at 0:49 R1 [Heavyweight Championship]- Froilan Sarenas def. Robin Jose by TKO (punches and kicks) at 1:42  [Middleweight Championship]- Will Chope def. Jerson Estoro by Submission (Standing Guillotine Choke) at 3:07 R1- Adam Cacay def. Lando Espinosa by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 1:23 R1- Honorio Banario def. Patrick Manicad by Submission (armbar) at 3:09 R1 [Lightweight Championship]- Andrew Benibe def. Sulpiano Laurio by TKO (Punches) at 5:37 R1- Pete Brooks def. Frank Navarro by Submission (Strikes) at 1:13 R1 [Cruiserweight Championship]- Rodel Orais def. Jilmar Tangayan by Submission (strikes) at 5:27 R1

Posted in: submission, vs, urcc, championship, tko punches

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At just 30 years old, Cole Escovedo has seen just about everything. "The Apache Kid" was the inaugural WEC featherweight champion, and throughout his career, he's squared off against some of the best bantamweight and featherweight fighters on the planet. In fact, the man who took his WEC title was none other than Urijah Faber. After dropping down to bantamweight, Escovedo campaigned heavily to be a cast member of season 14 of The Ultimate Fighter, but was instead given a fight in the UFC against Renan Barao, one of the current top contenders for the title. After dropping a hard-fought decision, he was stopped in a wild battle with former title challenger Takeya Mizugaki just over a month ago in a bout that was entertaining enough to make the pay-per-view broadcast. Just one and a half months later, Escovedo is making his return to the cage, taking on Ultimate Fighter season 12 alumni Alex Caceres, better known as "Bruce Leroy," who will be making his bantamweight debut on the UFC on FOX: "Velasquez vs. dos Santos" preliminary card this Saturday night (November 12, 2011). The longtime veteran was a guest today on Bloody Elbow Radio and had a very interesting discussion with host Matt Bishop about getting back on track, how he got a fight so quickly and how he plans to finish "Bruce Leroy" in their upcoming fight. To get things started, Escovedo discussed how he was able to get a fight with such quick turnaround, especially after suffering a technical knockout loss to Mizugaki. As many fans likely understand, getting a call from the boss so quickly after a losing performance is usually not a good thing. "I didn't expect to get a phone call so soon from them as I did let alone a phone call that wasn't me getting my pink slip so it was a pretty welcome phone call. I would say it was within a week of the Mizugaki fight that they called me to see how soon I could get medically cleared and stuff. Any time when you lose a fight and you've got the boss calling you, it's like any other job, you don't want to mess up a presentation or something and then the boss calls you the next day, that's never good. It was a little surprising and it is what it is. If they were gonna cut me, they were gonna cut me but it was a pretty positive phone call." For a fighter who's been in the game as long as Escovedo, he understands that his back is against the wall heading into this bout. There's no room for failure because a three fight losing streak has only been survived by the most popular of UFC competitors. He also believes that after stepping in against some of the toughest bantamweights on the roster in his first two fights, this is an opportunity to showcase what he's capable of. "For me, the third time's a charm. I definitely want to get in there, get my first win, show everybody that I am capable of winning on this level so it's good because I was already on training regimen and this just kinda pushed me right back into training regimen so I don't really feel like I missed any time or anything. I feel right off the bat from where I left last time." Escovedo also has a unique mentality when it comes to fighting. To him, there's nothing more important than being entertaining, not even winning. He'd rather lose a fight that has the fans giving him a standing ovation than ever win a fight and hear boos. "That's how I go with every fight, to go for broke. At the end of the day, whether you win or lose your fight, you could get cut. If you win and  you're boring, then you could get cut. If you lose but you were exciting, you could keep your job. It's a matter of going out there and just doing my job. I don't go out there with the fear that, "Oh God, if I lose I'm gonna get cut!" and try to do whatever I can to try and get the 'W.' I'd rather go out there and go for broke and have an exciting fight and have some super-exciting submission or knockout win or lose as long as the fans are on their feet. I say it time and time and time again. It's like a broken record. If the fans are on their feet and they're cheering and screaming, it doesn't really matter if I win or lose. I want to win, but at the end of the day, I want to have a good fight. I want to have a fight that people talk about whether I'm on the receiving end or the gaining end of it. I just want to have an exciting fight. I want to give fans what they paid for." Escovedo's opponent, Alex Caceres sports a 5-4 overall record with all four losses coming by way of submission. He believes the ground is where his advantage lies. "I'd like to think I [have an advantage on the ground] given that all his losses are by submission and I've got a plethora of submission wins against guys that say they couldn't have been subbed or shouldn't have been subbed and I end up putting them to sleep so I think if it goes to the ground I will have the definite advantage but I kind of think that with just about any fight. I think my ground game, I'm no black belt or anything but in my last two fights, neither of the guys wanted to go to the ground with me so it's just kind of reputation. I'm not a psycho on the ground but I'm definitely dangerous. I think his gameplan will be to try and keep it on the feet and utilize the reach we have." When pressed for a fight prediction, "The Apache Kid" was very straightforward. He is confident in his ground skills and he's going to be too much for Caceres come fight night this Saturday.  "I honestly see it with me winning by a submission, probably maybe end of the first or early into the second when he gets frustrated that he's not capable of using his reach maybe and thinking that the ground game might be his alternative. Realistically, that's it. I can't guarantee you anything except that I'll go out there and do my job and leave with my shield or on it. That's what I always say. I think it'll be a good fight for me. It'll be my first interview with Joe Rogan is pretty much what I'm visualizing." So what do you think, Maniacs? Will Escovedo earn that much anticipated post-fight interview with Joe Rogan on Saturday? Does he have the skills to overwhelm "Bruce Leroy" on the ground like he believes? Sound off!

Posted in: fight, time, submission, ground, escovedo

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In less than one week (Nov. 12, 2011), Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) unveil its premier brand of mixed martial arts (MMA) for the world to see on the FOX television network. UFC on FOX 1: "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos," which will take place from the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., is significant for the sport, featuring the biggest and most successful promotion putting its best foot forward to finally make it mainstream. For more than one decade, UFC has shined a bright spotlight on many of the world’s finest athletes in their respective combat disciplines. It was one core martial art, however, that rose above the rest in the early days thanks to Royce Gracie and his family's style of Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Most non-fringe fans today are very well versed and informed when it comes to knowing what is happening when two combatants begin to grapple, whether it is on the feet or on the mats. However, as we usher in a new audience from the network television broadcast of the promotion's heavyweight title fight between Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos on Saturday night, it is a great opportunity to take a look at some of the most often used submissions we will see executed inside the Octagon in primetime. Follow me into the extended entry below as we look at the most frequent submissions in MMA, .gifs included: Submissions can come in several ways, some quick and straight forward, while others require some set up and may be flashy. The bottom line is they almost all restrict breathing or cause pain in some limb of the body. Let's take a look at some of this Saturday’s competitor’s using several of these techniques. Fringe contender Ben Henderson will look to solidify himself atop the lightweight rankings when he faces fellow contender Clay Guida on Saturday night. Henderson is a former World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) champion who holds several notable victories and has a knack for the grappling game as it compliments his amazing physical dexterity and flexibility. With a 14-2 record, "Smooth" has eight submission victories with half of them coming via guillotine choke. Very well rounded, Henderson is a black belt in Taekwondo, a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and a former NAIA Division I wrestler. Following his decision win to become the Interim WEC champion, Henderson would face the promotion's top lightweight Jamie Varner. Varner, a fellow wrestler and outstanding grappler, would offer Henderson his stiffest test up to that point in his young career. Henderson passed with flying colors.     Varner would eat a very powerful knee to the abdomen as he shot in for a takedown, which allowed Henderson to use his powerful base and balance to remain upright. As Varner drove Henderson backward, he left his head and neck in a position where Henderson could slip his left arm underneath the neck of "C-4." Henderson immediately jumped on the opportunity … literally. As he got his left arm underneath the chin of Varner, Henderson clutched the free hand, which was coming over and through the arm pit, making this choke an "Arm-In Guillotine" (To read up on this choke in depth click here), meaning the arm of Varner was stuck within the clutch Henderson had between his hands. Henderson would jump onto Varner, establishing a standing guard position as he wrapped his legs around the body, which made it more difficult to escape since a slam would land Varner in the same position. The choke itself is very useful when facing wrestlers, as the guillotine is often available on wrestler’s who shoot in for takedowns. It is also very fight-altering because the choke -- even if it isn’t finished -- saps loads of energy from the lungs of the opponent. Before the main event on the broadcast on Saturday night, an upcoming prospect, Pablo Garza, will look to keep his perfect record (3-0) under the sport's brightest lights intact with his return to the Octagon against fellow prospect Dustin Poirier. On the heels of a highlight worthy submission, Garza could very well duplicate the wizardry he showed in his last bout. Just like fellow UFC on FOX participant Ben Henderson, Garza used his grappling prowess in a standing position initially. Utilizing unorthodox set ups to traditional submissions causes chaos in terms of defending because the unorthodox set up often calls for untraditional counters. This sort of technique relies on tons of athleticism, fast twitch muscle fibers and trust in your own skills. It is a high-risk, high-reward type of move and the consequences could lead to a slam and (technical) knockout. "The Scarecrow" starts with some work from within the clinch. He sees an opening with his opponent Yves Jabouin’s right arm trapped low enough to get his left leg over it and atop that shoulder. That is the key to setting up the submission hold. As Garza falls backward, he lands on his back and Jabouin is now trapped inside a triangle choke. (For more on this choke specifically click here. For more in-depth analysis on the general choke click here.) The choke itself is complicated -- the pressure applied by the left leg over the neck of Jabouin and the free leg is locked in over the ankle in the crevice of the knee. This pressure causes Jabouin to essentially choke himself with his trapped arm/shoulder. While locking in the choke, Garza reaches under Jabouin’s leg to take away mobility and any opportunity to escape. The triangle choke is a favorite amongst lanky-long limbed fighters. Garza uses the surprise element of fighting to catch an opponent off guard, fighting is much like a chess match and Garza set up his "checkmate" very well. On the undercard of the UFC on FOX event, WEC veteran Mackens Semerzier will fight in second bout since the UFC absorbed the WEC promotion. He looks to stay on the winning path, a road Semerzier hasn’t walked down since upsetting highly touted Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace, Wagnney Fabiano, more than two years ago. In his first fight under the UFC banner, Semerzier would impress with a dominant first round stoppage victory.   The most dominant position you can achieve in grappling is the back mount. When you are able to wrap yourself around your opponent on, while on his back, it extremely limits the options he has to offer. You won’t be able to offer any offense if at all, your defense is limited to fighting off hands and arms trying to choke and pry for arm locks. Most people choose to create a scramble, but that also is risky at several times it lands you in an even more vulnerable position. Semerzier is sitting snuggly behind opponent Alex Caceres in the .gif above, looking to find a home for the rear naked choke (For the in-depth breakdown of this choke click here). The choke will require Semerzier to get his forearm under the chin and tightly on the throat, from there that choking hand will grab onto the free hand to allow leverage and strength to take over. Semerzier places the right arm as the choking arm and connects it to his left bicep. The left hand now goes atop Caceres in a defensive posture, preventing Caceres from loosening the hold. As you can see, Semerzier also has Caceres' body controlled with his legs, too, which prevents a roll to escape the danger of the choke. Mike Pierce will rematch a former foe, Paul Bradley, in the middleweight division on the undercard alongside Semerzier. He will bring in his wrestling pedigree as he will try to once again attempt to make a run to contendership. Even though only one of his 12 wins have come by way of submission, that lone submission victory is a perfect example as to how dangerous submissions can be.   Pierce is lying in a very dominant position, with the upper body heavy on the on the body of his opponent. While his leg is stuck in a half guard, he still attacks the right arm. Arm locks that require you to stay heavy on top is a wrestler favored technique because their background really focuses on staying on top, being heavy and using their leverage to gain the advantage. With his left hand clutching the right wrist, he is attempting to execute an arm lock submission to secure victory. He has so many options at this point as he can try for a kimura or Americana (For more on those click here), but instead he opts for a straight arm bar. Pierce uses the off hand that isn’t grabbing the wrist to clutch onto his own wrist once it is snaked through under his opponents arm. That position that Pierce’s arms and hands create apply a lot of tension onto the elbow. As Pierce continues to straighten the arm and torque it outward, the consequence of not submitting will be a dislocated elbow or broken arm. He just makes a statement with an arm bar (For the breakdown on the submission click here). That is all for now fight fans. These are just several submissions we may see this Saturday on the inaugural UFC on FOX event. 

Posted in: submission, henderson, arm, hand, varner

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Colt 45 URCC XX provided an awesome advertisement for Filipino MMA with all ten fights finishing with first round stoppages. Fans packed into the World Trade Centre in Manila for one of the best cards in the promotion’s nine year history and were treated to a night of non stop action. In total there were six titles on the line including Honorio Banario defending his lightweight strap, Froilen Sarenas fighting for the middleweight version and Jessie Rafols and Red Romero doing battle for the interim bantamweight belt. URCC Spreading Love of MMA in the Philippines The highlight of the night was the main event between Rafols and Romero with the champion setting a quite staggering pace. It was back and forth to begin with as both men battled for position with Rafols scoreing multiple takedowns only to see his opponent explode out and escape. Rafols was looking to swarm all over Romero, who was a replacement for injured URCC flyweight champ Kevin Belingon, right from the opening bell. He came close to finishing the fight with an armbar but Romero showed real courage and resilience to power his way out. In the end Rafols paid the price for starting so fast as he began to tire and Romero took advantage in clinical fashion by mounting him, taking his back and ground and pounding his way to a stoppage win. It was a frenetic fight which had the crowd on its feet throughout and a fitting end to a fantastic card of action. Speaking afterwards Romero said he had been prepared for the frightening pace which Rafols would set, “I was expecting that because it is how he fights, we know that is his style and so we had a counter prepared for everything he would do. I could feel him getting tired but so was I because he is so strong, I am very happy to have fought in front of so many fans and to have won the title,” he said. While Romero’s win over the highly rated Rafols was something of an upset rising star and reigning lightweight champion Honorio Banario made no mistake against Patrick Manicad, improving to 6-0 with a submission win. Manicad had a background in Muay Thai and was making his debut but showed impressive composure as he used his height and reach to good effect in the early exchanges. Banario is a part of Team Lakay Wushu and he was able utilize the strong wrestling skills we have come to expect from the Baguio based camp to duck under some wild strikes and take the fight to the floor. Manicad showed a surprisingly sophisticated ground game to tie up his unbeaten opponent sufficiently long enough for the referee to stand up the fight but proved only a brief respite as Banario started to become increasingly more effective with his offence and was able to use the strikes to set up a second takedown. This time there was no escape as Banario moved into side control and then took Manicad’s back before transitioning into an armbar which forced his opponent to tap. Team Lakay Wushu fighters seldom win by submission and the URCC lightweight title-holder admitted that this was very much on his mind going into his title defense,“My plan was to take advantage of his height to take him down but I wanted to finish the fight by submission because I wanted to show that Team Lakay is evolving. Even though everyone thinks we are stand up fighters we can also fight on the ground and I wanted to win with a submission to show this,” he said. Sarenas defended his middleweight title successfully but was also able to finish the fight in an unexpected way. He has a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu but proved he is much more than merely a submission specialist by standing and trading with Robin Jose who has a background in Muay Thai. The reigning URCC middleweight champion looked in no hurry to take the fight to the floor as he showed off some of his new found striking skills early in the opening round. When the fight finally did go to the ground he chose to pulverize Jose, securing the first TKO win of his career by standing up and throwing vicious soccer kicks to the body of his grounded opponent. A large contingent of Sarenas supporters from Submission Sports, one of the biggest BJJ schools in the Philippines, sounded their appreciation of the unbeaten fighter’s performance and afterwards he said he had set out to put on a show for the fans, “I won both my previous fights by submission but this time the promoter told me he wanted an exciting fight. I wanted to finish the fight with strikes and not a submission and that’s why I stood up and went for the soccer kicks instead of staying on the ground and going for a submission.” Three brand new URCC titles were on the line and the newly crowned champions are heavyweight Igor Subora, cruiserweight Pete Brooks and light heavyweight Nicholas Mann. It was a triumphant night for the most prestigious promotion in the Philippines and owner Alvin Aguilar was quick to sound his appreciation,“We have been putting on shows since 2002 and next year, when we overtake PRIDE, the URCC will be longest running MMA show in Asia. We have had some great nights but this has to be up there with the best of them and the fight between Jesse and Red was one of the most exciting I have seen, the crowd were going absolutely crazy. I want to give a special mention to our main sponsors Tribal Gear and Colt 45 and thank them for all their fantastic support.” You can learn more about the URCC by visiting their website. PHOTO CREDIT – URCC Tweet

Posted in: fight, submission, urcc, romero, rafol

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UFC 138: "Leben vs. Munoz" took place this past Saturday night (Nov. 5, 2011) from the LG Arena in Birmingham, England, featuring "The Filipino Wrecking Machine" Mark Munoz putting a hurtin' on "The Crippler" Chris Leben. And calling out Anderson Silva when he was done. Renan Barao continued his rise to prominence, notching yet another victory with a first round rear-naked choke submission of Brad Pickett, who couldn't land that "one punch" to end it all. The Brazilian has now won 28 of his 29 career fights. Dominick Cruz, anyone? In other action, Thiago Alves scored a submission win over Papy Abedi, Anthony Perosh did the same to Cyrille Diabate and Terry Etim outdid them both with his "Submission of the Night" winning 17-second guillotine of Edward Faaloloto. A photo gallery (via UFC.com) is available for your viewing pleasure after the jump. Chris Leben vs. Mark Munoz Renan Barao vs. Brad Pickett Thiago Alves vs. Papy Abedi Cyrille Diabate vs. Anthony Perosh Terry Etim vs. Edward Faaloloto

Posted in: mark, submission, vs, leben, munoz

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Mark Munoz, otherwise known as 'The Filipino Wrecking Machine', may have solidified his place as the #4 middleweight in the world by trouncing Chris Leben at UFC 138, but that wasn't the only relevant fight for Filipino fight fans this past weekend. URCC hosted their 20th major event last Saturday, and it did not disappoint. The headliner was supposed to be a bout between the two most popular bantamweights in the country, in Kevin Belingon and Jessie Rafols. But when the Lakay Wushu product had to pull out due to injury, Reydon Romero stepped in against Rafols and took advantage of the opportunity in a big way. The featherweight contender dropped down to bantamweight and delivered on a super-fight that Filipino fight fans won't be forgetting any time soon. The fight was at a very fast pace with both guys going back and forth as Rafols had multiple takedowns and slams, and Romero, constantly explodied and scrambled out of danger. Rafols even had a deep armbar locked in at one point, but 'The Filipino Bolo Punch' toughed it out and worked his way out of the submission. After that crazy pace that kept the crowd going wild at every exchange, Romero eventually weathered the storm got in a dominant position, and started landing heavy ground and pound that stopped the fight. Romero celebrated after notching the biggest win of his career by upsetting Rafols in what was guaranteed to be the most entertaining URCC bout of the year. Alvin Aguilar, who founded the promotion almost a decade ago, also thinks it turned out to be a very special bout. "We have been putting on shows since 2002 and next year, when we overtake Pride, the URCC will be longest running MMA show in Asia," said Aguilar, "We have had some great nights but this has to be up there with the best of them and the fight between Jesse and Red was one of the most exciting I have seen, the crowd were going absolutely crazy." After the jump, a recap and analysis of the other key bouts from the event that had 6 title fights. Here are the other highlights of the night full of very fun and entertaining bouts: Froilan Sarenas, a BJJ purple belt, training at the Atos affiliated, Submission Sports Philippines, put an exclamation point as he successfully defended his middleweight title against Robin Jose. Known more for his submission game, Sarenas decided to change things up as he surprisingly striked with his opponent during the opening minute. He eventually landed a clinch takedown and unleashed a brutal beating that had him finishing up with punches and soccer kicks to the body of the downed challenger, forcing the referee to stop the fight in under 2 minutes."I wanted to finish the fight with strikes and not a submission", Sarenas exclaimed, "That’s why I stood up and went for the soccer kicks instead of staying on the ground and going for a submission." Honorio Banario successfully defended his lightweight crown against Patrick Manicad. Like Sarenas, the Team Lakay product wanted to prove critics wrong by showing other facets of their game. Their Wushu base usually leads to terrific striking and good clinch takedowns and ground and pound, but Banario wanted a submission, and that's what he got, taking down Manicad and eventually sinking in the armbar at 3:09 of the first round."My plan was to take advantage of his height to take him down but I wanted to finish the fight by submission because I wanted to show that Team Lakay is evolving," said the URCC lightweight champ who improved his record to 6-0, "Even though everyone thinks we are stand up fighters we can also fight on the ground and I wanted to win with a submission to show this," Three vacant titles were awarded. Igor Subora, the Philippine-based Ukrainian, interestingly came out to Skrillex blasting on the speakers, and quickly trounced Ryan Paglinawan with powerful punches that stopped him in just 49 seconds to win the heavyweight title.  Nicholas Mann, an Australian fighter who trains out of Hybrid Yaw Yan, landed hard shots that hurt Chris Luna standing, and he followed up and finished the BJJ purple belt from DEFTAC on the ground after about a minute of unanswered blows. The referee stopped the fight at 4:59 of the first round, crowning Mann as the new Light Heavyweight (189 lbs.) champion. Pete Brooks dominated an overmatched Frank Navarro, who was stepping in on extremely short notice. It only took him 1 minute and 13 seconds to make his opponent tap, and to claim the vacant URCC cruiserweight (199 lbs.) title. Also on one of the entertaining bouts of the night was Will "The Kill" Chope, a Phuket Top Team product who also spent time in the mountains of Baguio training with top notch Filipinos such as Eric Kelly and Mark Striegl. He went against Estoro, and immediately displayed good Muay Thai skills as he rushed in and landed a ton of good knees and elbows earlier on. Chope, who is probably the tallest bantamweight at 6'4, used his height advantage well, as he eventually sunk in a standing guillotine that forced the Filipino to tap at 3:07 of the first. Other fighters who picked up victories are Adam Cacay, Andrew Benibe, and Rodel Orais. In between those entertaining fights, was the URCC's first inductee to their Hall-of-Fame. After almost a decade running shows in the country, they decided to honor the achievements and contributions of TJ Tiu, their very first heavyweight champion, who went undefeated since his first fight at URCC 1 back in 2002. Full Results for URCC XX: - Reydon Romero def. Jessie Rafols by submission (strikes) at 5:27 R1 [Bantamweight Super-Fight Championship]- Nicholas Mann def. Christian Luna by TKO (punches) at 4:59 R1 [Light Heavyweight Championship]- Igor Subora def. Ryan Palinawan by TKO (punches) at 0:49 R1 [Heavyweight Championship]- Froilan Sarenas def. Robin Jose by TKO (punches and kicks) at 1:42  [Middleweight Championship]- Will Chope def. Jerson Estoro by Submission (Standing Guillotine Choke) at 3:07 R1- Adam Cacay def. Lando Espinosa by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 1:23 R1- Honorio Banario def. Patrick Manicad by Submission (armbar) at 3:09 R1 [Lightweight Championship]- Andrew Benibe def. Sulpiano Laurio by TKO (Punches) at 5:37 R1- Pete Brooks def. Frank Navarro by Submission (Strikes) at 1:13 R1 [Cruiserweight Championship]- Rodel Orais def. Jilmar Tangayan by Submission (strikes) at 5:27 R1 Quotes courtesy of James Goyder. Note: My brother, Paolo Tabuena, took a lot of photos from the event, so I will also be posting a separate 'URCC 20 photo gallery' piece in the coming days, so stay tuned for that. As always, follow me on twitter.

Posted in: fight, submission, urcc, filipino, punch

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UFC President Dana White might be seriously reconsidering his theory on ring rust right about now. The were questions about how young British lightweight Terry Etim would handle a 19 month injury layoff when he stepped into the cage last night against Chris Leben protege Edward Faaloloto. It only took 17 seconds to have them answered emphatically.  Etim quickly righted his ship with one of the fasted submissions in UFC history against the clearly overmatched Hawaiian. So how did Etim pull it off? And where does each young man go from here? There's not much to break down in a fight that only lasts 17 seconds. Etim opened with a strong leg kick and easily sidestepped Faaloloto's clumsy forward flurry. The second the Hawaiian squared up with him, Etim threw a sweet spinning back kick that looked like it connected directly to the liver. Faaloloto tried to change levels and shoot in for a takedown but he was immediately countered when Etim grabbed his exposed neck and jumped guard with an extremely tight guillotine choke. Faaloloto tried to shake him off but the Brit had a death grip on his neck and was not going to let go. The second the Hawaiian dropped to his knees, he allowed Etim to use hip pressure to make the choke even tighter. There was no escape for someone as clearly outclassed as Faaloloto and he was forced the tap or go to sleep on national television. He chose the former.  For Edward Faaloloto, it's time to go back to the local circuit. He was given Anthony Njokuani in just his third professional fight in his WEC debut and it has all gone downhill ever since. He's just not a UFC caliber fighter and he needs time to improve his skills and confidence against lesser quality opposition. There's no fighter in mind for him to face because he's 100 percent going to be cut after this performance. For Terry Etim, what a brilliant 17 seconds. Not only are his submissions as dangerous as ever but it appears, at least in our brief viewing experience that he's got some solid kicks that have been added to his arsenal. He's clearly made a welcome return to the crowded lightweight division. Some intriguing potential match-ups for the Brit would be fellow UK submission expert Paul Sass, Ultimate Fighter season five alumni Cole Miller of perhaps most interesting would be a quick turnaround bout against Anthony Njokuani, who had a fight with Paul Taylor cancelled this week after a freak car accident. Regardless of whether he fights again quickly or not, the $70,000 "Submission of the Night" bonus should pay off some bills. So what did you think, Maniacs? Did Etim's performance deserve as much hype as it's getting? Or should the fact that his opponent was clearly outmatched get in the way? Sound off! For complete UFC 138 results, including blow-by-blow, fight-by-fight coverage of the entire pay-per-view (PPV) event as well as immediate post-fight reaction click here, here and here. All gifs by Zombie Prophet via IronForgesIron.com.

Posted in: ufc, fight, submission, etim, faaloloto

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Posted in: submission, winner, knockout, spoiler, night winners

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UFC 138: "Leben vs. Munoz" from the LG Arena in Birmingham, England, has officially wrapped, which means it's time for those select fighters who went above and beyond in their respective fights to get a little extra grease for their efforts. To the tune of $70,000 each. The promotion dished out its standard post-fight monetary bonuses to four out of the 20 fighters on the card, and it's probably no surprise who's leaving "Second City" with a second sack of simoleons. On a night that featured four submission finishes of the five main card fights, Terry Etim's was deemed the most impressive as he earned "Submission of the Night" by tapping Edward Faaloloto via rear-naked choke in all of 17 seconds. Welcome back to the Octagon. Also hauling in a wheelbarrow full of cash is Che Mills, who introduced himself on Facebook by viciously knocking out Chris Cope via stunning knees to the grill. Earning "Knockout of the Night" in his UFC debut in front of the English crowd was just icing on the proverbial cake. Finally, Renan Barao and Brad Pickett took home "Fight of the Night" honors for their short but thrilling back-and-forth battled that resulted in the Brazilian subbing the Englishman inside the very first round. 17 wins in a row and it just keeps getting better. Here are the special fight bonuses for UFC 138: Submission of the Night -- Terry Etim Knockout of the Night -- Che Mills Fight of the Night -- Renan Baroa vs. Brad Pickett Again, each fighter received $70,000 extra for their performances in addition to their respective base salaries, which we will pass along as soon as possible. For complete UFC 138 results and blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action click here.

Posted in: ufc, fight, night, submission, card

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UFC 138 Leben vs. Munoz resultsBirmingham, EnglandMark Munoz def. Chris Leben via TKO (corner's stoppage) 5:00 R2Renan Barao def. Brad Pickett via submission rear naked choke 4:09 R1Thiago Alves def. Papy Abedi via submission rear naked choke 3:32 R1Anthony Perosh def. Cyrille Diabate via submission rear naked choke 3:09 R2Terry Etim def. Edward Faaloloto via submission guillotine choke 0:17 R1John Maguire def. Justin Edwards via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)Philip De Fries def. Rob Broughton via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)Michihiro Omigawa def. Jason Young via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)Che Mills def. Chris Cope via TKO (knee) 0:40 R1Chris Cariaso def. Vaughan Lee via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

Posted in: decision, submission, justin edwards, munoz, edward faaloloto

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Mark Munoz made his case for a shot at the middleweight title with a second-round TKO of slugger Chris Leben in the main event of UFC 138 on Saturday night in Birmingham, England. Munoz and Leben traded punches and takedowns in an exciting opening round, but Leben looked tired as they began the second round of the UFC’s first five-round non-title fight. Munoz took contol in the second, pummeling Leben with ground and pound that left “The Crippler” bloodied and his eye swelling. Leben continued to look for a finish and persuaded the referee to let him finish the round, but his corner called the fight with Leben unable to see out of his left eye, giving Munoz the win. Munoz improves to 12-2 with his fourth-straight win, while Leben falls to 22-8 after winning 4 of his last 5. In UFC 138′s co-main event another contender may have also earned a title shot, as bantamweight Renan Barao submitted England’s Brad Pickett in the opening round to improve to 2-0 in the UFC with his 27th-straight win. Terry Etim’s 17-second guillotine of Edward Faaloloto highlighted the rest of the main card, while Thiago Alves and Anthony Perosh also scored submissions over Papy Abedi and Cyrille Diabate respectively. The complete UFC 138 results were: MAIN CARD Mark Munoz def. Chris Leben via TKO (corner stoppage) – Round 2, 5:00 Renan Barao def. Brad Pickett via submission (rear naked choke) – Round 1, 4:09 Thiago Alves def. Papy Abedi via submission (rear naked choke) – Round 1, 3:32 Anthony Perosh def. Cyrille Diabate via submission (rear naked choke) – Round 2, 3:09 Terry Etim def. Edward Faaloloto via submission (guillotine) – Round 1, 0:17 PRELIMINARY CARD John Maguire def. Justin Edwards via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Phil De Fries def. Rob Broughton via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) Michihiro Omigawa def. Jason Young via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) Che Mills def. Chris Cope via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 0:40 Chris Cariaso def. Vaughn Lee via unanimous decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28) Pictured: Mark Munoz

Posted in: ufc, round, submission, leben, munoz

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Despite the lack of hype surrounding the UFC 138: "Leben vs Munoz" event, going down today (Fri., Nov. 5, 2011) in Birmingham, England, believe it or not a former title challenger was on the card. That would be welterweight warmonger Thiago Alves, who welcomed Swedish judo specialist Papy Abedi to the Octagon. "The Pitbull" came under fire before the bout for missing weight on his first attempt (though he later made the 170-pound limit) and this was widely considered a must-win for the Brazilian knockout artist. Win it he did ... and by submission no less. Alves was his usual aggressive self and after landing a few solid shots that had his opponent teetering on the brink of unconsciousness, he decided to lock in a rear-naked choke and force the tap inside the first round. Alves opened aggressively, firing off those vicious kicks he's become so famous for. Abedi stood right in the pocket and traded shots with him, though, never backing down. In fact, the Swede quickly became the more aggressive of the two, walking down the Brazilian with a confidence not usually seen from Octagon debutants. Of course, that aggressiveness can be costly and it surely was when "The Pitbull" landed a few huge shots to flatten Abedi. And while he furiously tried to finish with punches, he eventually settled on a rear-naked choke for the submission victory. Who woulda thunk it? Thiago Alves with the submission win. To check out MMAmania.com's LIVE UFC 138 results post, which includes up-to-the-minute, blow-by-blow coverage of EVERY fight click here.

Posted in: submission, abedi, thiago alves, birmingham england, alve

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Upstart Nevada MMA promotion Superior Cage Combat held their third event of the year at the Orleans arena in Las Vegas. SCC 3 was headlined by the debut of 13 year pro John Alessio (33-14) at lightweight. Alessio shared the main event marquee with five time Pride FC competitor Luiz Firmino (13-5). After three rounds Alessio took a unanimous decision over Firmino with a more aggressive submission game on the mat. Alessio has now eight of his past nine bouts. In prospect action two fighters on the undercard impressed with victories. Local Vegas middleweight Phil Dace (8-2) closed the book on his two fight series with former WEC fighter Dave Terrel (7-6).Dace controlled the fight for three rounds and took a tough unanimous decision over Terrel. The fight was a rematch of a May 2011 bout won in the first round by Dace.A 26 year old 185 pound prospect, Dace is on a five fight winning streak with four of five via stoppage. Oregon featherweight Shorty Weikel (9-2) established himself as the up and comer on the card with a second round win over Xtreme Couture's Kui Gonsalves (3-1). Weikel submitted Gonsalves with a rear naked choke midway through the second round. A 23 year old 145 pound prospect Weikel is trouble on the mat with seven of his nine career wins via submission. Superior Cage Combat 3 resultsLas Vegas, NVJohn Alessio def. Luiz Firmino by unanimous decision Bristol Marunde def. Jay Silva by unanimous decisionJames McSweeney def. Emanuel Newton by submission rear naked choke 4:25 R1Steve Lopez vs. Dominique Robinson declared a majority drawAlonzo Martinez vs. Porfirio Alves Jr. by unanimous decision Shane Nelson def. Lance Wipf by TKO (injury) 2:25 R2Phil Dace def. Dave Terrel by unanimous decisionCameron Diffley def. Sidney Silva by submission armbar 4:01 R1Shawn Fitzsimmons def. Blas Avena by TKO (punches) 3:42 R2Shorty Weikel def. Kui Gonsalves by submission RNC 2:30 R2

Posted in: round, submission, alessio, dace, weikel

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Main Event: Mark Munoz def. Chris Leben via TKO (corner’s stoppage) – Round 2, 5:00 Renan Barao def. Brad Pickett via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 4:09 Thiago Alves def. Papy Abedi via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 3:32 Anthony Perosh def. Cyrille Diabate via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 3:09 Terry [...]

Posted in: round, submission, brad pickett, submission rearnaked, rearnaked

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Posted in: submission, name, wonder, hugolp

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After a year and half absence due to a broken rib, UK lightweight Terry Etim returns to the Octagon at UFC 138: Leben vs. Munoz against Edward Faaloloto, a Hawaiian product under Chris Leben. At only age twenty-six, Etim stands as a legit up-and-comer and has unfurled a promising range of skill in his Octagon performances. After wrenching a guillotine on Matt Grice in his "Submission of the Night" debut at UFC 70, Etim suffered consecutive decision losses to veteran Rich Clementi and ATT's Gleison Tibau. He rebounded with four electric victories starting with the venerable Sam Stout (decision), followed by Brian Cobb (head kick KO), Justin Buchholz and Shannon Gugerty (both via submission). This set up a confrontation with BJJ black belt Rafael Dos Anjos at UFC 112 where Etim succumbed to a second round armbar after he took the lead in the opening frame. While preparing for a match with Joe Lauzon at UFC 118, Etim suffered an injury to his rib that has sidelined him ever since. After enduring many hardships in his personal life, Edward Faaloloto began his career as a welterweight in Hawaii's X-1 promotion with two wins, one decision and one submission. He immediately graduated to the WEC to face Anthony Njokuani, where the fierce striker finished him in the second round with a vicious elbow. Faaloloto's next foray was after the WEC-UFC merger, greeting reality show finalist Michael Johnson back to competition after losing to Jonathan Brookins at the TUF 12 Finale. Johnson's striking and pace was furiously aggressive and he caught Faaloloto with a combination for a first round TKO. Gifs and analysis in the full entry. With a body type that seems to be experiencing a surge in relevance at the top level, Etim's monumental wingspan for a lightweight (73" reach) and wiry frame accent his sharp Muay Thai striking well. Though he lands with the foot instead of the shin, check out the considerable distance between him and the unfortunate Brian Cobb in the crushing head-kick KO to the right. Known mostly for his submission prowess, Etim is equally dangerous standing, often relying on a long, stiff one-two and penetrating kicks. The only aspect he doesn't shine in is wrestling, but he's still adept in that department and opponent's takedowns only open the door for his threatening submission acumen. Most of his clinch tactics are offensive, spread between his wide range of Thai-flavored striking and snaking his spidery limbs for submission attempts. The latter is generally targeted at head and neck attacks like Brabo, D'arce and guillotine style chokes from his Luta Livre submission wrestling background. In these two animations versus Justin Buchholz, Etim implements his dual pronged clinch warfare. With a strong right underhook, Etim pushes Buchholz against the fence and slices upward with a left knee to the head. Despite the knee connecting with his chin, Buchholz is savvy to snare it up on the way down and pursue an attempt at an outside trip by sweeping Etim's right leg. Showing incredible balance, Etim extends his right underhook to encircle the neck and snaps down to force Buchholz to relent on the takedown and concentrate on fending off the choke. Etim cups the head with his left hand and slithers his right arm through, still with the underhook, to do the same with both hands. After pulling Buchholz closer to trap the head, he frees his left arm and locks his right hand on his left bicep to complete the Brabo. Not only is it a slick submission, but it shows an astute transition from striking to submission. Etim capitalizes on his hand position and arm placement in the clinch and adapts the setting right into another semblance of threatening offense. It's a fitting example of how his formidable stand up has flowed naturally into a submission-oriented attack. We haven't seen much of Edward Faaloloto so it's tough to assess his true characteristics or potential. I give him a lot of credit for being inexperienced but, like Etim, being a younger fighter facing a trial by fire at the elite level that will inevitably pay dividends. You can't really knock the guy for losing by TKO to Michael Johnson and Anthony Njokuani in only his third and fourth pro fights. After a rough upbringing and mentality that changed for the better after taking up some obscure Hawaiian martial arts and joining the Navy, Faaloloto is a baby in MMA terms and still has plenty of time to polish his skills. While that bodes well for the future, I think Terry Etim is too much in the present. The UK firecracker's length, smooth sub game and devastating stand up should propel him to snaring something crafty in a clinch engagement. My Prediction: Terry Etim by submission     Edward Faaloloto gifs via Zombie Prophet of IronForgesIron.com Terry Etim vs. Brian Cobb gif via MMA-Core.com All others via Sherdog Forums       Last 3 from Sherdog forums   Poll Terry Etim vs. Edward Faaloloto Terry Etim Edward Faaloloto   0 votes | Results

Posted in: right, submission, edward, etim, faaloloto

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Shooto Brazil 26 resultsRio de Janeiro, BrazilDanilo Noronha def. Leandro Caetano by Submission Rear Naked Choke 0:30 R2Rodrigo Otero def. Junior Vidal by Submission Keylock 3:00 R2Fernando Dias def. Helio Abicassiz by TKO (Retirement) 1:25 R3Rafael Viana def. Armando Sapinho by Submission Rear Naked Choke 2:39 R2Junior Oliveira def. Aquiles Campos by TKO (Punches) 2:50 R3Caio Alencar def. Wagner Camara by Submission Rear Naked Choke 3:10 R1Walber Barros def. Kellis Santos by Split DecisionAndrew Tigrao def. Julio Cesar de Almeida by Submission Rear Naked Choke 3:40 R1Jussier da Silva def. Michael William Costa by Submission Rear Naked Choke 4:55 R2

Posted in: submission, leandro caetano, helio abicassiz, wagner camara, aquiles campos

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Hello fight fans, this is Premiere Travet AKA Tha Premiere. And I just wanted to share my awesome hands-on experience at THQ with you guys here in the Undisputed community. Jason's note: For those of you who don't already know, Tha Premiere is pretty much MiddleEasy's resident pro gamer. The dude has spent time at the top of the leaderboards in Undisputed 1,2, EA MMA, Madden and Fight Night Champion. Whenever Zeus and I want to think we are good at gaming we just remember that Tha Premiere gets flown all over the country by these companies just so game developers can have him 'break' their game for them. Yes, Tha Premiere is a total gaming stud. THQ was the latest to give Premiere the five star treatment after he tested their upcoming title Undisputed 3, and here's what he thought about it. Take it away Mr Travet. Hello fight fans, this is Premiere Travet AKA Tha Premiere. And I just wanted to share my awesome hands-on experience at THQ with you guys here in the Undisputed community. I had the privilege of meeting several key members of the development and promotional crew for UFC Undisputed and I have to say-I was pleased with everyone I encountered. Not only their personalities, but their passion for the gaming industry and most specifically the Undisputed franchise. They care tremendously about the quality of their product, as well as the communities impressions of it. I walked away from from this experience pretty optimistic about the future of the Undisputed franchise in the hands of the THQrew. To be completely honest, saying that I was a bit skeptical leading up to getting my hands on Undisputed 3 is a gross understatement. Although the Developer Q and A's were promising, I wasn't even close to being sold on UFC Undisputed 3 being a quality title. But- all that changed once I got my hands on the game and started conversing with the dev crew about the new gameplay features and tweaks. The extra time taken to release a quality game is really reflected the moment you get into a match, even before the match actually. The presentation is awesome. Fighter entrances (especially in Pride) are authentic and exciting. The extravagance of Pride mode entrances (and post fight celebrations) are fantastic, but the gameplay itself is what really matters, and that's where UFC Undisputed 3 delivers. I am possibly the most vocal advocate for gameplay balance. The extreme dominance of clinching and grappling that existed in UFC 2010, throwing a hippopotamus onto the see-saw of balanced combat, does not exist in UFC 3. Strikers can be strikers and grapplers can be grapplers, or you can employ whatever strategy you choose...no one is forced to conform due to an imbalance of game mechanics. But like MMA, the fight can occur anywhere, so it’s best to hone your skills in every area. The roster...man oh man...the roster! So many fighters, so many unique styles, so many matches to be made! One interesting thing about this years edition is that a lot of fighters can fight one class above or below their natural weight class. Making superfights a reality...well not really a reality because it’s a video game but... well you know what I mean. So, Anderson Silva Vs. GSP? Set it up! Jon Jones Vs. Cain Velasquez? Who takes it? The possibilities are nearly endless with a roster of over 150 fighters. The knockout animations are amazing, they really are one of the shining examples of hard work by the development team. To get authentic, awe inspiring, scream and leap inducing knockout animations this year, it's just so satisfying to knockout someone out and then proceed to stomp their faces until the ref comes and spares your opponent in Pride mode. On the flipside it's equally as revolting to see yourself being soccer kicked into oblivion and brutally facestomped...but it all looks so awesome! Flash KO's are a possibility, but not a high possibility. As in, at no point will you be saying that your flash KO was unjustified. If you leaned directly into a left head kick from Pride Mirko Cro Cop, then it's likely you may be waking up covered in confetti during the post fight interview. If you try to run and shoot in on Jose Aldo and eat an intercept knee to the jaw, don't be surprised if you'll be eating through a digital straw for the next couple weeks. Of course, I'm exaggerating these circumstances, the game does not include doctors helping you slurp chicken broth through a straw or administering smelling salts. But the point is, the flash KO's that occur are justified. You wont be screaming BS when you get your block knocked off for playing recklessly. The submission system was probably the biggest question on everyone's mind leading into our first hand's on experience. I'm not going to lie, I was a bit skeptical at first, but after hearing how it works, and having a couple epic submission battles, it's probably one of my absolute favorite aspects of the gameplay. Seeing how stamina levels, character stats and movesets affect the advantage/disadvantage given in a submission battle is really something to be appreciated. A submission system in an MMA game can make or break it, since it is the quickest and surest way to immediately end a fight. But the balance of the factors that determine the winner of the submission battle is very comforting. On top of being able to deny submission attempts the same way you deny transitions. Your own personal ability to deceive and fool your opponent during the sub battle is another very exciting component to the submission system that I think everyone will enjoy. It's all very compelling and skillful. I love this game. All I will be doing come February is playing UFC Undisputed, as well as creating some exciting content featuring the game for you guys. I'm as excited to get my hands back on the game as I am for all of you to get your hands on it as well! I am certain your reactions will fall in line with mine.

Posted in: fight, submission, premiere, hand, game

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We’re counting down the hours to tonight’s UFC 137 PPV, which takes place live from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. It’s been a long road to Vegas, and overall, this could probably be described as one of UFC’s ‘cursed’ eventss, in which we’ve seen several significant changes to the fight card, including a reshuffling of the main event. From Nick Diaz’s press conference disappearances, to the unfortunate training injury sustained by the champion Georges St Pierre, the event has also been marred by Tim Credeur being “forced out” of his bout with Brad Tavares for reasons that are still not clear. After Dustin Jacoby was wheeled in to replace Credeur, Tavares himself then pulled out of the fight due to injuries sustained during training, being replaced by the undefeated rookie, Clifford Starks. In the final last minute twist, Tyson Griffin failed to make weight for his featheweight fight against Bart Palaszewski. After a change to ‘catchweight’ status and a hefty financial penalty for Griffin, the fight will, however, be going ahead tonight. Remember to catch the first portion of the prelims for free on Facebook, including Brandon Vera vs Eliot Marshall (I’m calling Vera by submission), before switching over to SPIKE TV for Tyson Griffin vs. Bart Palaszewski (I’m calling Griffin by TKO) and Dennis Siver vs. Donald Cerrone (I’m calling The Cowboy by TKO). Then, in the words of Bruce Buffer himself, “It’s time!” Here’s my breakdown for tonight’s card… Hatsu Hioki vs. George Roop Prediction: Hatsu by submission Hatsu crossed the ocean tonight for his first fight in the USA. A submission specialist and former SRC Featherweight champion, Hatsu brings with him and impressive record. Roop will be looking for some of the knockout ability that took out both Gripsi and Chan-Sung in recent fights. His mixed success so far in the UFC makes this an important fight for the 29 year old. I see Hatsu catching Roop in the third round and tapping him out. Scott Jorgensen vs. Jeff Curran Jorgensen by decision Unlike some of his WEC counterparts, Jorgensen made the transition to the UFC quite smoothly with an impressive first round knockout of Ken Stone at The Ultimate Fighter Finale back in June. Jeff Curren returns to UFC after seven successful years travelling around such organizations as PRIDE, WEC, XFO and Bellator, even mounting an unsuccessful challenge against Urijah Faber for his WEC Feathweight Championship. Both men tend to favor submission victories if they can get them, with the majority of their combined fights heading to the judges. I predict the same here, with Jorgensen leading the fight and controlling the cage, but in the end, this one will go all three. Roy Nelson vs. Mirko Filipović Prediction: Nelson by unanimousdecision Both guys really need a convincing win at this stage. ‘Big Country’ is fresh off to major losses to Junior Dos Santos and Frank Mir, although he was able to show his impressive ability to take a beating, especially against JDS when his heart and stamina won over the crowd and helped him survive a three round onslaught. Cro Cop is also coming away from losses to Mir and JDS, except both guys were able to finish Filipovic decisively with a KO and submission respectively. The fact that neither man could finish Nelson, but had little trouble putting down Cro Cop could be an indication of what we will see tonight. Nelson could end this fight with a well placed punch and earn a ground and pound victory. Cro Cop would have to hope to wear Nelson down and go for a submission, but I personally see both fighters playing this one safe and heading to the judges for a Nelson victory. Matt Mitrione vs. Cheick Kongo Prediction: Mitrione by split decision Kongo continues to be a somewhat unpredictable and inconsistent fighter, which makes it tough to make clear predictions in his fights. After the crazy ‘Knockout of the Night’ victory over Pat Barry back in June (which some fans feel Kongo owed to a very lenient referee who gave him plenty of time to recover from a Barry beatdown), Kongo looks to be a formidable opponent for Mitrione. However, when we look at how Kongo struggled against Travis Browne and Frank Mir in recent fights, the uncertainty returns. The man known as “Meathead” during his Ultimate Fighter run is currently enjoying a clean 5-0 record in the UFC, but it can be argued that Kongo will be his toughest challenge to date. I see Mitrione by decision, this one will probably go all the way. That being said, I can also see Mitrione catching Kongo for a 2nd round TKO, but I’m going with the decision win. B.J. Penn vs. Nick Diaz Prediction: Penn by 3rd round submission. This one all depends on which Penn shows up tonight. The Prodigy looked out of it, and almost bored, during his two fights with Frankie Edgar that ultimately ended up in losses. After rumors began to swirl that Penn’s heart just wasn’t in the fight game anymore and he was about to call it a day, Penn returned at UFC 123 for a stunning first round knockout of Matt Hughes. The recent draw with Jon Fitch at Australia’s UFC 127 left things somewhat in the air as far as Penn’s current fighting standard. Overall, if we see the UFC 123 Penn, fired up and focused, with his conditioning in the right place, I think Diaz will be outclassed by The Prodigy.

Posted in: ufc, fight, submission, vs, penn

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Rage in the Cage 156 resultsChandler, AZMatthew Garcia def. Tony Ortega by KO (Punches) 0:12 R1Kyle Duthie def. Terrence Ortiz by Submission Rear Naked Choke 0:55 R1Junior Robles def. Brodie Carr by TKO (Punches) 2:45 R2Chris Kirk def. Noel Soriano by Unanimous Decision Jarnell Miranda def. Stephen Wigginton by Submission Arm Triangle 2:39 R2Joe Cronin def. Shannon Ritch by TKO (Punches) 1:54 R2Robbie Gutierrez def. Mario Ortega by TKO (Punches) 1:53 R1Kelley Oser def. Bobby Pompa by Submission Von Flue Choke 1:59 R1Dan Charles def. Josh Maish by Submission Guillotine Choke 0:37 R1Arthur Ortega def. Brian Orr by KO (Punches) 0:49 R1Mike Zanski def. Roe Harris by KO (Punches) 0:13 R1Mike Whitehead def. Jojo Thompson by Submission Neck Crank 1:58 R1Middleweight prospect Arthur Ortega (3-0) vs. Brian Orr (2-1)

Posted in: ko, submission, punch, ortega, noel soriano

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Already one of the top lightweight prospects in the US, Calvin Kattar (12-2) dropped to featherweight for the main event of Combat Zone 39. CZ 39 took place in Rockingham Park in Salem, New Hampshire. Ohio featherweight Cody Stevens (8-3) was Kattar's first opponent in his new weight class home. Round one saw both men battle for position. Stevens attempted two takedowns but was unable get Kattar to the mat. From the clinch Kattar was unable to score a takedown of his own that put Stevens on his back for the back half of the round. The second round saw Stevens land multiple takedowns on Kattar. The New England based Kattar battled back to his feet after the first shot and peppered Stevens with punches as well as leg kicks. A single attempt by Stevens put Kattar on his back to close out round two. The fight to stay upright continued in round three. Stevens again got Kattar to the floor but was unable to chain together a sustained offensive attack. On top it was Kattar to work a series of punches and elbows when he worked his way into Stevens' guard. All three judges scored the fight to Kattar by a close unanimous decision. The fight was Stevens second straight loss to a Northeast based fighter with a unanimous decision loss to Saul Almeida from June also a blemish on his record. The 23 year old Kattar has now won three straight fights and moves to 2-0 on the year. Blessed with combination of heavy hands and wrestling to compete against lightweights at the regional level, Kattar may make 145 pounds his permanent home when he is called up to the big show. Kattar has lined himself up for a shot with the UFC in either his next fight or after one more solid win in his new weight class. Kattar is a five star prospect with the potential for long-term success inside a national MMA promotion. Kattar is the number two ranked lightweight prospect in MMA according to ULTMMA.com and checks in at number eight in the ULTMMA50; a pound for pound listing of the top 50 prospects in MMA. Combat Zone 39 resultsSalem, New HampshireAdans Cueto def. Nate LaBelle by Unanimous Decision Kurt Daniels def. Kyle Bochniak by TKO (Punches) 2:10 R2Tiago Campos def. Chris Hoggard by Submission Armbar 1:09 R2Walter Smith-Cotito def. David Clemens by Submission Armbar 2:35 R1Brett Trahan def. Wayne Ahlquist by Submission 1:59 R2Isaiah Gomez def. Mike Garcia by Unanimous DecisionMike Burke def. Michael Sullivan by Submission Guillotine Choke 0:30 R1Anthony Loycano def. R.J. Letendre by Split Decision Aaron Shultz def. Brandon Cyr by Submission Guillotine Choke 1:22 R1Perry Filkins def. Robert Burton by TKO (Punches) 0:15 R1John Green def. Adam Toussaint by Submission Arm Triangle Choke 1:24 R1Calvin Kattar def. Cody Stevens by Unanimous Decision

Posted in: round, decision, submission, steven, kattar

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XFC 14 resultsOrlando, FLSammy Rodriguez def. Damion Williams by Submission John Mahlow def. Bruce Connors by Unanimous DecisionCarlos Mikey Gomez def. Mike Bernhard by Submission Rear Naked Choke 3:50 R2Nicolae Cury def. Elijah Harshbarger by Submission Armbar 1:27 R1Reggie Pena def. Josh Clark by Unanimous DecisionMarianna Kheyfets def. Molly Helsel by Unanimous Decision Carmelo Marrero def. Scott Barrett by Unanimous Decision Jamie Varner def. Nate Jolly by KO (Punches) 1:09 R1

Posted in: submission, bruce connors, molly helsel, josh clark, decisionmarianna kheyfets

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Jimi Manuwa showed just why he's one of the hottest prospects outside of the big show on Saturday night (Oct. 22, 2011) with an emphatic first round victory over previously undefeated Nick Chapman at Cage Rage UK 24 from the Troxy in London, England. This victory marked Manuwa's fifth straight defense of his light heavyweight gold and was easily one of his most impressive performances. Nick Chapman failed to secure the takedown early on and soon found himself in the clinch, eating knees from every possible angle. Each shot seemed to find a home but one to the head opened up a huge cut on the challenger's forehead which gave the referee Grant Waterman little choice but to call a halt to proceedings. Manuwa's star seems to be rising at a truly meteoric rate and another call from the UFC seems to be a formality at this point. In the co-main event of the evening Polish wrecking machine Tomasz Czerwinski obliterated Ian Hawkins with a series of clubbing hooks. Hawkins showed phenomenal toughness but Tomasz turned on the power against the cage and landed two uppercuts and a huge standing hammerfist to force the stoppage. American Top Team's Michael Pastou showed crushing top control as he outwrestled Dominic Plumb for three rounds to take home a deserved decision. The much larger looking Pastou used a variety of great takedowns and ground and pound to earn the nod over a very tough opponent. Bola Omoyele took just a little over forty seconds to dispose of Lee Doski with a colossal knee from the clinch and TUF9 qualifier Tommy Maguire racked up another good win with a second round Kimura over Joe Holder. In the opening bout of the main card American Top Team's Luke Newman choked out boxing champion Andy Cona in a little over a minute of the first round. Cage Rage UK 24 will be broadcast on UK cable channel Sky Sports this Wednesday evening and is also available to watch at GFL.TV by clicking here. Complete Cage Rage 24 results: Jimi Manuwa def. Nick Chapman via TKO (Knees) - Round 1, 2:14 Tomasz Czerwinski def. Ian Hawkins via TKO (Punches) - Round 1, 1:25 Michael Pastou def. Dominic Plumb via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) - Round 3, 5:00 Bola Omoyele def. Lee Doski via TKO (Knee) - Round 1, 0:42 Tommy Maguire def. Joe Holder via Submission (Kimura) - Round 2, 3:06 Luke Newman def. Andy Cona via Submission (Rear naked choke) - Round 1, 1:17 Shane Fourie def. Rafik Benziada via TKO (Doctor Stoppage) - Round 1, 5:00 Dan Shortman def. Mark Carling via Disqualification (Illegal strikes) - Round 1, 2:03 Ben Callum def. Jason Radcliffe via TKO (Punches) - Round 1, 0:56 Amil Smith def. Jody Cottham via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) Max Nunes def. Grant Murray via Technical Submission (Rear naked choke) - Round 1, 2:12 Steven Stanley def. Huseyin Garabet via Submission (Armbar) - Round 3, 1:01 Eddie Kone def. Peter Waterhouse via Techical Submission (Triangle choke) - Round 1, 1:57

Posted in: round, tko, submission, cage, manuwa

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Bellator 55 kicked off tonight in Yuma, Arizona. The card was headlined by the semifinals of the bantamweight tournament, where Alexis Vila and Eduardo Dantas both won via split decision. Also on the card, tonight marked the first time a Bellator champion lost in a non-title feature fight with light-heavyweight champion Christian M’Pumbu lost to MMA journeyman Travis Wiuff. Meanwhile, TUF 8 champion Efrain Escudero won in his unaired dark-match. Main Card Results (MTV2 and EPIX2 HD) Bantamweight Semifinal – Alexis Vila defeats Marcos Galvao via split decision (27-30,29-28,29-28) Bantamweight Semifinal - Eduardo Dantas defeats Ed West via split decision (28-29,29-28,30-27) Light-heavyweight (non-title) – Travis Wiuff defeats Christian M’Pumbu (c) via unanimous decision (30-27,29-28,29-28) Lightweight – Ricardo Tirloni def. Steve Gable via submission (rear naked choke) at 3:54 of Round 2 Preliminary Card Results (Spike.com) Lightweight – Efrain Escudero defeats Cesar Avila via submission (guillotine choke) at 1:55 of Round 1* Catchweight (210lbs) – Richard Hale defeats Carlos Flores via knockout at 0:18 of Round 1 Middleweight – Kobe Ortiz defeats Edgar Garcia via knockout at 4:06 of Round 1 Lightweight – Erin Beach defeats Roscoe Jackson via submission (rear naked choke) at 3:52 of Round 1 Featherweight – Jade Porter defeats Nick Piedmont via unanimous decision Middleweight – Steve Steinbeiss defeats Dano Moore via submission (rear naked choke) at 4:52 of Round 1 *bout occured after main event and was not aired on Spike.com or MTV2

Posted in: round, decision, submission, card, defeat

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What "illegal submission" did Chael Sonnen try to pull off in his losing effort against Mark Munoz during a college wrestling match? Find out here.

Posted in: submission, chael sonnen, mark munoz, chael, munoz

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   Brazilian jiu-jitsu has often been recognized as a discipline that allows the smaller man to conquer an oftentimes over-sized opponent. This perception of the art has been around for mixed martial arts fans since Royce Gracie was submitting fighters over 200-pounds, who were muscular and massive in comparison to his own substandard stature. While this is very true, as the art of jiu-jitsu is focused immensely around leverage and technique and strays from the need to have brute strength, there is also a need for power. Whether that power comes in the form of amazing wrist control like that of Anthony Pettis or whether it be raw power shown in the upper body of Matt Hughes as he choked out third degree black belt Ricardo Almeida, the need for power remains in grappling. Not only is power used in takedowns and positional control, it is also highly beneficial to submissions. Prying an arm free for an arm bar or choking someone unconscious in three seconds, as opposed to eight, is a game changer. Follow me after the jump for a few examples of power induced submission finishes.    Brazilian jiu-jitsu has often been recognized as a discipline that allows the smaller man to conquer an oftentimes over-sized opponent. This perception of the art has been around for mixed martial arts fans since Royce Gracie was submitting fighters over 200-pounds, who were muscular and massive in comparison to his own substandard stature. While this is very true, as the art of jiu-jitsu is focused immensely around leverage and technique and strays from the need to have brute strength, there is also a need for power. Whether that power comes in the form of amazing wrist control like that of Anthony Pettis or whether it be raw power shown in the upper body of Matt Hughes as he choked out third degree black belt Ricardo Almeida, the need for power remains in grappling. Not only is power used in takedowns and positional control, it is also highly beneficial to submissions. Prying an arm free for an arm bar or choking someone unconscious in three seconds, as opposed to eight, is a game changer. Follow me after the jump for a few examples of power induced submission finishes. When you are a Division I wrestler it isn’t unheard of to become a very respectable grappler in mixed martial arts. When your teacher is jiu-jitsu black belt Matt Serra, it isn’t unheard of to develop a very slick submission game. Being a purple belt and having one year of formal jiu-jitsu training and entering into jiu-jitsu's most prestigious tournament, going toe-to-toe with one of the world’s best grapplers, well, that is unheard of.   That's the story of top ranked prospect and undefeated fighter Chris Weidman, though. He's a 6-0 Serra/Longo trained middleweight that is buzzing right now in the combat sports world. From giving Andre Galvao one of his stiffest tests in the 2009 ADCC competition to his perfect record in the mixed martial arts world, Weidman is moving on up.  He is a perfect example of someone who can use his remarkable strength to compliment his improving grappling skills. He showed that when he met up with tough Canadian Jesse Bongfeldt. Before we start, let me first give a thank you to Zombie Prophet for the .gifs. Check out his site (Ironforgesiron.com) -- he has .gifs and videos of fights up faster than anyone else on the 'net. Weidman initiates this sequence as he launches a solid knee into Bongfeldt's body. In anticipation of the knee, Bongfeldt folds in to soften the blow and moves in for the takedown just as the knee lands. Bongfeldt attempts to grab onto a single leg, the same leg that launched the knee. In attempting to takedown the All-American wrestler, the karate practitioner leaves his head in a very bad position. Recognizing that Bongfeldt left his head under his arm pit, Weidman retains balance as he slips his right arm up and under the neck and chin of Bongfeldt. Weidman quickly begins to put some force into the choke by squeezing the arm, clutching his free hand which is not being isolated by the left arm of Bongfeldt, making this a no-arm in guillotine. For more on guillotines read here. While fighting with Bongfeldt, Weidman remains calm with the choke. As he begins to push Bongfeldt back, he lifts his body up, arching his upper body, which, as you can see in the clip, makes for a very erect and pressure inducing posture. That lift allows the weight and leverage of the upper body to further strain the neck of Bongfeldt. This is the same movement you would see when this choke is being executed from your back, with the exception being the lack of hip involvement. This displays even more so the power used in a standing guillotine. Weidman pushes Bongfeldt back towards the fence and with the leverage and power being used there is no viable option then to tap out or go unconscious. Weidman shows, once again, why he is so heralded as a prospect and why the middleweight division should be on high alert. Rousimar Palhares is one of the most physically imposing fighters in the sport today. Incredibly muscled, the stout middleweight is built like a tree stump which is what his nickname, "Toquinho," means in Portuguese. Palhares has built a reputation as a dirty fighter but nevertheless is one of the most technically sound jiu-jitsu players in the sport. With 13 career wins, Palhares has notched nine submissions, six of those by way of leg lock. If you have seen him fight you have probably seen him go for leg locks frequently, as he may be regarded as the most dangerous fighter in MMA with a limb in his grasp. The reason being his power, Palhares is an insanely strong grappler that doesn’t need to power through submissions due to his technical prowess but only adds to the devastation with his brute strength. Never was it more evident then in his fight with Tomasz Drwal at UFC 111. Palhares evades a front kick and as Drwal falls to his back, Palhares swarms quickly. While scrambling, Drwal's left foot is served up on a silver platter. Leg locks are extremely dangerous and even more brutal. In this case Palhares attacks with a heel hook which can be easily chained to become a knee bar. Palhares, using his brute strength, doesn’t have to attack the knee or really set up the submission since as soon as he uses some of his power to put force on the hold, the pain sets in. The heel hook, as its name suggests, really attacks your opponent's heel but it also sends shockwaves down your leg and starts to really attack the knee. Ligament damage abounds.  In this clip, after grabbing the left ankle under the arm pit, Palhares drops to his back with it clutched together by his body and arm. In simple terms, he has a guillotine of Drawl’s foot. With that foot near the arm pit trapped, Palhares pulls back on that hold by using his weight and leverage to torque backwards while shifting his hips forward. For more on the leg lock, including Palhares' use of a knee bar, click here and here. The tap comes immediately, as do the torn ligaments. The hold is excruciating and immediately injures the knee and leg. This comes as little surprise considering the power of the initiator. With such strength in his upper body, Palhares' adds fear to go with his ridiculously technical arsenal of attacks. Leg locks do not have a 100-percent success rate; they can most certainly be fended off. There have been countless leg lock attempts in the UFC that have been countered or fought through. But when dealing with powerful grapplers who snap through defenses with brute strength, there isn’t much to do if one is caught this deep in a limb submission. That’s it for this week, Maniacs. Until next time.

Posted in: submission, arm, palhare, power, bongfeldt

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When the cage door closed in the main event Saturday night at W-1 Reloaded the difference between the two men standing across from each other was obvious – Marcus Davis, the 38-year old veteran with nine UFC wins and nearly 30 professional MMA bouts, on one side and Chuck O’Neil, the 26-year old Ultimate Fighter 13 alumnus with a single losing effort in the Octagon and less than half of Davis’ ring-time. However, in the end it was O’Neil who walked away with the victory after an evenly-matched, action-packed bout went his way via Split Decision. As competitive as the match-up was the difference likely came in the third round when O’Neil opened up a nasty cut on Davis’ forehead bleeding bad enough to paint parts of the canvas in crimson. The loss dropped Davis’ overall record to 20-9 and snapped a three-fight winning streak he had compiled since being released by the UFC earlier this year. It was also his fourth fight in the last six months, a fact hopefully indicating “The Irish Hand Grenade” will take a little time off to heal up before returning in 2012 to build on a career already featuring past victories over Shonie Carter, Pete Spratt, Jonathan Goulet, and Chris Lytle. Davis Says Lightweight Experiment Almost Killed Him O’Neil, now 9-4, hadn’t fought since falling to Chris Cope at the Ultimate Fighter 13 Finale. The performance only marked his second win by decision with seven stoppages to his credit including five submissions. Read below for a complete list of W-1 Reloaded results: Michael Quinones def. Denis Sejdievski via Unanimous Decision Anthony Garavito def. Davaun McKoy via Submission (Keylock) Michael Trujillo def. Eric Raposo via Knockout (Strikes) Giovanni Brugnoni def. James Wynn via Submission (Guillotine Choke) Suzie Montero def. Kim Couture via Unanimous Decision Frank Carrillo def. Joseph Watson via Knockout (Strikes) Kenny Moss def. Bruno Reis Da Maria via Submission (Shoulder Choke) Nathan Coy def. Patrick Mikesz via Unanimous Decision Alan Arzeno def. Tom Waters via TKO (Strikes) John Manley def. Sabah Homasi via Unanimous Decision Luis Palomino def. James Edson Berto via Unanimous Decision Chuck O’Neil def. Marcus Davis via Split Decision PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: decision, submission, davi, marcus davis, ’neil

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Vinny Magalhaes M-1 Challenge 27, M-1 Global’s latest Showtime-televised event, took place on Friday night in Phoenix, Arizona and featured The Ultimate Fighter 8 runner-up Vinny Magalhaes retaining his light heavyweight title with a third-round TKO of Mikhail Zayats. The card got off to a fast start with three first-round submissions taking just 2:45 combined, but an interim heavyweight title fight brought the momentum to a halt before Kenny Garner finally stopped Maxim Grishin with less than a minute to go in the fifth and final round. The official M-1 Challenge 27 results were: Vinny Magalhaes def. Mikhail Zayats via TKO (strikes) – Round 3, 1:13 – to retain light heavyweight title Kenny Garner def. Maxim Grishin via submission (strikes) – Round 5, 4:07 – to win interim heavyweight title Arthur Guseinov def. Eddie Arizmendi via submission (heel hook) – Round 1, 0:50 Yasubey Enomoto def. Josh Thorpe via submission (triangle) – Round 1, 1:07 Daniel Madrid def. Tom Gallicchio via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 0:48

Posted in: title, round, heavyweight, submission, vinny magalhaes

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M-1 Challenge 27 resultsPhoenix, AZVinny Magalhaes def. Mikhail Zayats by TKO (Strikes) 1:13 R3Kenny Garner def. Maxim Grishin by Submission Strikes 4:07 R5Arthur Guseinov def. Eddie Arizmendi by Submission Heel Hook 0:50 R1 Yasubey Enomoto vs. Joshua Thorpe by Submission Triangle Choke 1:07 R1Daniel Madrid def. Tom Gallicchio by Submission Armbar 0:48 R1Mike Chavez def. Joe Martinez by Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) Ryan Crouch def. Fredrik Lumpkin by TKO (Punches) 2:26 R2

Posted in: submission, submission triangle, fredrik lumpkin, joe martinez, azvinny magalhaes

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Filed under: M-1 Global, NewsIt didn't come the way most expected, but M-1 Global light-heavyweight champion Vinny Magalhaes successfully defended his championship, scoring a third-round TKO at 3:13 of the third round. Magalhaes, a jiu-jitsu star who just last month won the gold medal at the Abu Dhabi Combat Club submission wrestling world championships in his weight class, came into the fight with seven of his eight career victories by way of submission. And though he threatened at several moments of the fight, the end came after he slammed opponent Mikhail Zayats with a head kick, then finished him with ground strikes to force a referee stoppage. It was the fifth straight win for Magalhaes, who is now 9-5-1. Zayats had his moments, particularly in the standup, where he nailed Magalhaes with a series of leg kicks throughout the duration of the bout. But Magalhaes came alive in the third to pull out the win in the main event of a show held at Grand Canyon University Arena in Phoenix. In an interim heavyweight championship fight, Kenny Garner outlasted Maxim Grishin in a fifth-round submission due to strikes. It was a bout that saw both men battle through exhaustion before Grishin could take no more with just 53 seconds left in the five-round affair. The fight was somewhat marred by some bizarre problems, including a shortened round when the ringside clock operator did not heed the referee's timeout signal, referee positioning errors on restarts from under the ropes, and Grishin's near-refusal to get back to his feet near the end of round four. Amazingly, Grishin nearly came back to win, nearly locking Garner in an armbar before Garner pulled free and blasted his way tot the victory. Garner (8-3) is expected to next face current heavyweight champion Guram Gugenishvili, who injured his elbow just last week. Gugenishvili is undefeated at 11-0. The other three main card fights all ended in a flash. In the opener, Daniel Madrid defeated Tom Gallichio via armbar in just 48 seconds. Then, Yasubey Enomoto topped Josh Thorpe with a triangle in 67 seconds, and not to be outdone, Arthur Guseinov finished off Eddie Arizmendi with a heel hook submission in just 50 seconds. Main Card Results Vinny Magalhaes def. Mikhail Zayats via TKO (strikes) - Round 3 (1:13) Kenny Garner def. Maxim Grishin via submission (strikes) - Round 5 (4:07) Arthur Guseinov def. Eddie Arizmendi via submission (heel hook) - Round 1 (0:50) Yasubey Enomoto def. Josh Thorpe via submission (triangle) - Round 1 (1:07) Daniel Madrid def. Tom Gallicchio via submission (armbar) - Round 1 (0:48) Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: fight, round, submission, magalhae, grishin

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Rich Franklin went from a school teacher to one of the most respected champions in UFC history, but it all started in a small gym for the man who would become known as “Ace.” Franklin recently opened up about his first professional fight, a bout showing just how green (but talented) he was at an early age. “This is how dumb I was: we come out and we’re mixing it up, and I end up taking him down,” Franklin candidly began in an interview with MMAFighting. “I’m kind of cross-mounted on him and I have a submission, but I let it go and go to another submission, and I have a shoulder lock almost completely locked out, but then I thought, you know, I trained all these months, all these years, for a 30-second fight? I’m going to let him up. So I just let go, and the crowd – all 200 of them or whatever it was – went from screaming and yelling to completely speechless.” “He got up and we mixed it up on our feet some more, but it was clear to me that I was just a step above this level of competition,” Franklin continued. The popular 185er ended up finishing off the fight with a knee to the body when the referee stepped in before any more punishment could be unleashed. The bout gave him plenty of confidence, a point made clear by Franklin who said, “Early in my fight career, I really thought I was the baddest man on the planet. I was young and stupid.” Eventually, the promoter of the company asked Franklin to leave because he didn’t have any fighters that could match skills with “Ace.” Another promoter offered him a sizable raise, and Franklin knew he had a new career. “Before that I’d make a thousand bucks here or there and have a little extra money to buy Christmas gifts or something,” Franklin explained. “But to do this and really make money at it? That was a pretty wild idea. The sport was only just then evolving to the point where people were starting to make real money at it.” Franklin went on to win the UFC middleweight title and defend it successfully twice. He is 28-6 in his career, including fifteen knockout wins and ten submission victories including past victories over Ken Shamrock, Evan Tanner, Matt Hamill,  Yushin Okami, Wanderlei Silva, and Chuck Liddell. Currently, the 37-year old is sidelined with a tear of his labrum which he just had surgery to repair and won’t be back until 2012. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: fight, submission, franklin, ken shamrock, i end

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At UFC 136, there exist some eloquent maneuver of poetry in Chael Sonnen's arm-triangle of Brian Stann. A guy who's last seven losses came by the way of tapping out managed to drop his first submission on an opponent since he brabo choked Tim McKenzie in Bodog over four years ago. Relax, I've located a video of the match for your pleasure. The camera even cuts to Chael Sonnen's girlfriend at the time. If I told you she was Brazilian, would your head ignite from the bottom up? Well, watch the video and find out. I'm not here to give you any spoilers. Not at all. I'm merely here to inform you that Ryron and Rener Gracie have broke down Sonnen's submission over Stann, and it's something you should watch. [Source]

Posted in: submission, chael sonnen, sonnen, stann, tim mckenzie

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Ben Saunders continued his post-UFC surge Saturday, running his Bellator record to 3-0 with a third-round submission win that puts him in the promotion's 170-pound tourney finals. What stuck out was how Saunders (12-3-2) picked up the victory: keylock submission. It was the 28-year-old's first non-strikes submission win since August 2008: a streak of eight fights. While opponent Luis Ramos has a BJJ black belt, half of his 50 wins came via T/KO. Instead of engaging in a bloody 15-minute slugfest, Saunders changed up his game and it worked. Evolution of a mixed martial artist? Great game planning? Right opponent, right time, right place? Lesser competition? Whatever it is, Saunders is taking full advantage of his Bellator opportunity and finds himself one win away from a shot at either current champ Ben Askren or his October 29th challenger Jay Hieron."Killa" stuff, indeed. Lima BombsTo get that title shot, Saunders will have to get through another Brazilian in Douglas Lima, who punched his ticket to the finals with a second round KO of Chris Lozano.Lima (20-4) will take an eight-fight win streak into the Saunders fight, expected for November 12 at Bellator 57. During his run, Lima has three submission wins and two by T/KO, fueling a career 85% finish percentage. Lima didn't take any major damage and battered a tough Lozano Saturday, opening up a nasty cut under his left eye. The end came with Lima connecting on a straight right hand that had crumpled up Lozano, knocking him out before he hit the canvas. Both Lima and Saunders men should enter the finals relatively healthy and will have five weeks of preparation time if the November 12 date holds. Of Triangles And Arm CollectorsThanks to a few quick fights, viewers were treated to six bouts Saturday, giving two fighters an opportunity to introduce themselves to a national audience with impressive undercard performances. Of note was young David Rickels who pushed his record to 8-0 with a second round submission win over a bloody Levi Avera -- his third consecutive victory by triangle choke and fifth overall.He has yet to compete in a Bellator tournament, but it will be hard to deny the Kansas native a slot in 2012. What's great is how they've brought younger unknown talents like this along: slowly against comparable competition. This is the second time the 22-year-old welterweight has seen air time and if he keeps winning like this, it won't be the last. Then there was Giva Santana, a man with a reputation of being a bit obsessed with armbars as 12 of his 16 wins had come via that form of submission going into his Bellator debut. Make that 13 of 17 as he made Darryl Cobb tap via first round armbar, a fitting way to introduce himself to a national audience. The 185-pounder has now won six in a row and made his case to be one of the eight included in next year's 185-pound tournament.Bellator and MTV2 deserve a tip of the cap for smartly using their full two hours to getting Rickels and Santana some airtime with great performances. Quick HitsRonnie Mann rebounded from a loss to Pat Curran with a quick submission win over Kenny Foster…The promotion announced that heavyweight Mike Hayes is appealing a 60-day medical suspension that would eliminate him from the tourney semifinals. In a reserve bout, Thiago Santos submitted Josh Burns and will get the slot if Hayes cannot fight…Nine of the event's 10 fights ended in a finish. The Week AheadSaturday's Bellator 54 won't have Eddie Alvarez vs. Michael Chandler but Bantamweight Champion Zach Makovsky returns in a non-title bout against Ryan Roberts. Since winning the gold a year ago, Makovsky (13-2) has only competed once in another non-title defense.Bryan Baker vs. Vitor Vianna and Alexander Shlemenko vs. Brian Rogers compete in the middleweight semifinals as Rene Nazare vs. Jacob Kirwan round out the main card. The undercard features Daniel Gracie (5-3-1) looking for his first Bellator victory. SBN coverage of Bellator 53

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Bellator 53 took place on Saturday night in Miami, Oklahoma in the shadow of UFC 136 and saw Ben Saunders and Douglas Lima advance to the finals of the season five welterweight tournament, while Ronnie Mann, Thiago Santos, and Giva Santana all picked up first-round submissions. The official Bellator 53 results were: MAIN CARD Ben Saunders def. Luis Santos via submission (keylock) – Round 3, 1:35 (welterweight tourney semifinal) Douglas Lima def. Chris Lozano via KO (punch) – Round 2, 3:14 (welterweight tourney semifinal) Ronnie Mann def. Kenny Foster via submission (triangle choke) – Round 1, 3:52 Thiago Santos def. Josh Burns via submission (rear naked choke) – Round 1, 2:23 PRELIMINARY CARD Giva Santana def. Darryl Cobb via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 2:00 A.J. Matthews def. Rudy Bears via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) Raphael Davis def. Myron Dennis via KO (punch) – Round 2, 0:29 David Rickels def. Levi Avera via submission (triangle choke) – Round 2, 1:06 Luis Nogueira def. Zak Laird via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 0:51 And finally here’s video of Lima’s knockout of Chris Lozano:

Posted in: round, submission, welterweight, ronnie mann, chris lozano

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Thiago Santos, on the heels of an impressive performance and first-round submission win last Saturday night, will step in for the injured Mike “300”...

Posted in: saturday night, submission, mike, first-round submission, first-round

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It’s hard to tell how a fighter will react after being released by the UFC. Some bounce around on local shows hoping to string together a few wins over inferior competition while hoping to earn another shot in the Octagon, others take on all-comers with only moderate success. In the case of Ben Saunders, he’s gone 4-0 with a quartet of stoppages including three wins under the Bellator banner. Saunders’ latest example of success came last night at Bellator 53 where “Killa B” submitted 50-7-1 Luis Santos in the closing minutes of their Season 5 Welterweight Tournament semifinal scrap. The finish was only the second time Santos had been tapped in his career with the first occurring more than five years ago. Next up, the talented American Top Teamer will face 23-year old sensation Douglas Lima who flattened Chris Lozano with a right cross in the second stanza of their showdown despite having been hurt himself early in the fight. The powerful shot sent Lozano to the mat where he would remain until the referee jumped in to stop things and award Lima the knockout win. Lima has now finished seventeen of the twenty opponents he’s beaten. The winner of what should be an absolutely fantastic final between himself and Saunders will earn $100,000 and a shot at the Bellator welterweight title whether held by current champion Ben Askren or top contender Jay Hieron who fight for the belt on October 29 at Bellator 56. Askren Hungry for Competition in Bellator Here is the complete rundown of Bellator 53 results: Luis Nogueira def. Zak Laird via Submission Round 1 (Guillotine Choke) David Rickels def. Levi Avera via Submission Round 2 (Triangle Choke) Raphael Davis def. Myron Dennis via KO Round 2 (Left Hook) A.J. Matthews def. Rudy Bears via Unanimous Decision Giva Santana def. Darryl Cobb via Submission Round 1 (Armbar) Emanuel Brooks def. Greg Scott via TKO Round 2 (Strikes) Thiago Santos def. Josh Burns via Submission Round 1 (Rear Naked Choke) Ronnie Mann def. Kenny Foster via Submission Round 1 (Triangle Choke) Douglas Lima def. Chris Lozano via KO Round 2 (Punch) Ben Saunders def. Luis Santos via Submission Round 3 (Keylock) PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR Tweet

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While you were watching Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard put forth another thriller in UFC 136, Bellator 53 was playing out on MTV2, and bringing with it all its usual grit and fistic goodness.  The Season Five welterweight tournament semifinals went down, as well as a qualifier bout for the next featherweight tournament and a late heavyweight tournament reserve bout.  So what did you miss? Two men pushing the 265-pound heavyweight limit, and both known for their crushing power.  That was Josh Burns and Brazilian behemoth Thiago Santos, who met for a heavyweight tournament reserve bout (reserve with a very real chance of seeing tournament love, as quarterfinal winner Mike Hayes may not be medically cleared to move on).  They wasted no time mixing it up, with Santos dragging Burns down, softening him with punches while the American languished on all fours, a snatching the submission opportunity when it presented itself.  The opportunity turned out to be Burns raising his head and looking to his corner for advice, which gave the jiu-jitsu practitioner that chance to snake his arm around Burns’ neck and squeeze.  The tap out came at 2:23 of the first round. Wrestler Kenny Foster and Brit kickboxer and jiu-jitsu specialist Ronnie Mann wanted another crack at 145-pound tournament glory, and to earn their spot, they had to get past each other first.  Their stereotypical advantages shown through almost immediately once the action commenced; Mann was superior at throwing shins and leather, and threatened with submissions whenever he was on the bottom, and Foster could pretty much get his opponent down whenever he wanted.  One such instance of Foster being good at wrestling but inferior when it came to grappling marked the beginning of the end, as he put Mann on his back and found himself deep in a tight triangle – an untenable hold that he had no choice but to tap out to.  The official end of the bout was 3:51 of the first round. They call Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Giva Santana the “Arm Collector”, so going into his match-up against the unknown Darryl Cobb you had to assume someone was getting his limb torqued.  And yeah, that’s pretty much what happened.  After a minute and a half of tentative work on the feet, Santana caught Cobb coming in, dumped him onto the canvas, and kept transitioning from various positions until the American soon had his own arm extended.  The tap out was clocked at exactly 2:00 of Round 1. To earn their berths in the welterweight tournament semifinals, Douglas Lima and Chris Lozano had to wage war.  To move past the semifinals, they had to do more of the same.  The story of the first round was Lima moving forward and swinging, Lozano churning out counters, and the two eventually standing in front of each other playing “punchy face”.  Yet for all of Lozano’s boxing ability, it was Lima’s varied attack – his punching mixed with his hard leg-kicks – that made the difference, as it created the opening for the jab-cross combination that put Lozano to sleep at 3:14 of Round 2.  It was a dramatic finish, and with it Lima moves on to the tournament finals. On the other side of the bracket was TUF veteran Ben Saunders and Luis Santos, who went at it with just as much intensity as Lima and Lozana.  It took almost a minute and a half of struggling for Santos to get Saunders down to the mat, but when he got it there, he had to have been regretting it.  Tying up his foe with first a triangle, then Rubber Guard, then a modified omoplata, Saunders was able to punch Santos in the face at will.  Sensing Santos’ susceptibility to those moves, the American did pretty much the same thing in Round 2, tying Santos in knots and getting an omoplata that was ridiculously deep.  Santos survived, but it went from bad to worse for him in the third, as Saunders got on top and cinched on a keylock.  Santos tapped at 1:45 of the frame, and Saunders gets to face Lima for all the marbles. Results: -Ben Saunders def. Luis Santos via Submission (Keylock) at 1:45 in Round 3 -Douglas Lima def. Chrus Lozano via KO (Punch) at 3:14 in Round 2 -Giva Santana def. Darryl Cobb via Submission (Armbar) at 2:00 in Round 1 -Ronnie Mann def. Kenny Foster via Submission (Triangle Choke) at 3:51 in Round 1 -Thiago Santos def. Josh Burns via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 2:23 in Round 1

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The Massachusetts native kicked off the UFC 136 pay-per-view in impressive fashion, earning a quick submission win over the surging Guillard.

Posted in: ufc, submission, melvin guillard, guillard, joe lauzon

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As a self proclaimed gamer, I was distressed to hear that J-Lau was dedicated to CoD as his shooter of choice. Today relief washed over me in a wave over pure nerdiness when Sherdog reported that Joe Lauzon will be purchasing both Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Battlefield 3 this fall. Nice. When Battlefield 3 drops on October 25th, Joe will have two full weeks of Battlefield goodness to steer him to the light side of the force before COD hits November 8th. More than likely he will claim that BF3 was fun, but he will convert back to CoD. Then, slowly but surely he will realize how far superior of a shooter BF3 is and will yearn to get behind the flightstick of an F-16, and it will be good. Before Joe worries about his first person shooters he has a Young Assassin to focus on. Tonight at UFC 136 Joe will face the biggest test of his career in the Jackson trained lightweight contender Melvin Guillard. The fact that everyone expects J-Lau to lose doesn't worry him, Joe thinks Melvin's kyptonite is something he has plenty of: submissions. “All the pressure is on him from the start,” Lauzon said. “Going into this fight, he’s the betting favorite, he’s the favorite in this fight.  He’s the guy coming off five-to-six wins; he’s the guy pining away for a title shot, the guy calling himself the champ.  All the pressure is on him. “If I go out there and lose the fight, well you know what, Melvin was supposed to beat me, but there is a huge upside in the fact that I could go out there and win.  For him, it’s all downside.  He’s supposed to beat me, but I think I’m always dangerous, I’m always a submission threat, so it’s a tough fight for him too, especially when his kryptonite has always been submissions.” “There’s no better way to get knocked out than to be scared to punch and just shoot from too far away.  It’s how close can you put the hand to the flame before you get burned and that’s going to be thing with Melvin. We’re not going to shoot from a mile away; we’re going to have to make our way in and deal with him like that. “The last time that, that was the game plan was back at the Pulver fight.  A guy that was thought to have much better stand-up than me and we’re going to look to throw a couple of punches and get inside because we’re worried about the power and then we ended up knocking him out.  I did a lot of boxing, I did a lot of wrestling, and I did a lot of jiu-jitsu, so wherever the fight goes, I’m going to be ready to go.” [source]

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Bellator’s torrid pace keeps going this week with the continuation of the Season 5 Welterweight Tournament. It airs this Saturday on MTV2 after scoring their second highest rated show in history last week. Congratulations to Bellator and Bjorn Rebney – I still question the craziness of continuing to run up against major PPV cards, but people are definitely starting to take note that there are other sources of MMA out there that aren’t the UFC. I admit, I’m on a bit of tightened schedule this week, so I’m just going to run off predictions up to the tournament fights. Emanuel Brooks vs. Greg Scott Prediction – Emanuel Brooks def. Greg Scott via Submission Zak Laird vs. Luis Nogueira Prediction – Luis Nogueira def. Zak Laird via Unanimous Decision Levi Avera vs. David Rickels Prediction – David Rickels def. Levi Avera via Submission Raphael Davis vs. Myron Dennis Prediction – Raphael Davis def. Myron Dennis via Submission AJ Matthews vs. Rudy Bears Prediction – Rudy Bears def. AJ Matthews via Split Decision Thiago Santos vs. Greg Burns Prediction – Thiago Santos def. Greg Burns via Submission Ronnie Mann vs. Kenny Foster Prediction – Ronnie Mann def. Kenny Foster via TKO Darryl Cobb vs. Giva Santana Prediction – Giva Santana def. Darryl Cobb via Submission Welterweight Tournament Semi-Final: Chris Lozano vs. Douglas Lima Lima is probably the most overlooked fighter in the tournament, his dominance largely unknown outside of Canada, where he gained momentum in the MFC enroute to his entry into the tourney. Lima has won seven straight coming in, including victories over Ryan Ford and Terry Martin. He earned his spot in the semis by winning a decision over Steve Carl. Lozano, however, is no slouch, winning his last three and defeating Brent Weedman for his place. Lozano has a wrestling base, which will be countered by Lima’s BJJ. This fight should be a ground war, with both fighters probably very weary of the other’s knockout power. Lozano is going to want to keep this fight standing, as he’s got the definite power edge, while Lima is better on the ground. Lozano has good ground defense, and submission transition, but Lima’s ability to move flawlessly from one technique to another is what will be the deciding factor when this goes to the ground. He defeated Ford without much trouble, which at the time was all but inconceivable unless your name was Pat Healy. I said coming into this that Lima was one of my picks for the finals. I’m going to stand by that, and I think you’re going to see Lima grind out a close decision. Prediction: Douglas Lima def. Chris Lozano via Unanimous Decision Welterweight Tournament Semi-Final: Ben Saunders vs. Luis Santos Coming into this tournament, Saunders was the big “name” and probably the odds-on favorite to take it. A former UFC and TUF vet, Saunders is undefeated since leaving the UFC. He’s taken Bellator by storm, hitting two TKO victories on his way to the semifinals. Saunders took the UFC by storm a couple years back, winning four of his first five before losing his last two en route to release. With a new outlook on his MMA life, Saunders draws in against Santos, a winner of fifty fights coming in and a BJJ black belt. Santos poses a huge threat to Saunders’ run, having lost only one of his last fourteen, winning most by early KO or submission. Santos beat Dan Hornbuckle to get here and will probably take this fight to the ground to evade Saunders’ heavy hands. Saunders himself does have a BJJ background and a few submissions wins, but the standing game is his bread and butter. Santos is very game to strike, however, and I have no doubt that the majority of this fight will be spent in clinches and with both fighters throwing bombs at each other. This is Saunders’ fight to lose, really, and I expect you’ll see him walk away with this one handily, and head to the finals. Prediction: Ben Saunders def. Luis Santos via TKO Twitter Tip: If you follow Saunders (@bensaundersmma) and he reaches 10,000 followers, he says he’ll start his fight with a Guile Flash Kick. He couldn’t make good on his last promise because of censors, so it’s worth giving him a follow to see if he’ll do it. I have a feeling the ratings will dip this week slightly, which will be a shame, since there are a lot of fantastic fighters. Whatever you choose to do this weekend, enjoy. Happy Thanksgiving Canada! See you cageside! Tweet

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Despite being the underdog at UFC 136, Joe "J-Lau" Lauzon believes he possesses Melvin Guillard's Kryptonite... his submissions.

Posted in: ufc, submission, melvin guillard, lauzon, kryptonite

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Cage Warriors Fighting Championship 44 resultsKentish Town, North London, EnglandAdam Bearley def. Ben Reid by TKO (Punches) 0:32 R2Charlie Watts def. Tye Palmer by Unanimous DecisionDavid Howell def. Kieran Malone by TKO (Elbows) 2:19 R1Neil Seery def. Niko Gjoka by KO (Punches) 4:04 R2Steve O'Keefe def. Dean Reilly by Submission Arm Triangle Choke 0:54 R1Dayman Lake def. Rab Truesdale by Submission Arm Triangle Choke 1:24 R1Brad Wheeler def. Kevin Donnelly by Submission Rear Naked Choke 1:51 R3Graham Turner def. Ashleigh Grimshaw by Split DecisionBrian Foster def. Jack Mason by Submission Guillotine Choke 2:15 R1Ivan Musardo def. Joseph Duffy by Submission Guillotine Choke 4:25 R4

Posted in: submission, submission guillotine, ashleigh grimshaw, tye palmer, decisiondavid howell

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

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The third of four consecutive UFC events shakes down this Saturday night with the first free title fight in nearly four years. Due to injuries, it’s another abbreviated weekend of fights. However, ten free UFC fights are still ten free UFC fights right? There are a lot of fighters making their Zuffa debuts (or re-debuts) this weekend so you may get the chance to see some of the best fights of the year as these current first timers look to make their mark. Let’s take a look at the UFC Live 6 undercard, shall we? Walel Watson vs. Joseph Sandoval This should be an interesting first-timers tilt. Watson’s nickname is “Gazelle” and he might just live up to that. Standing nearly 6 feet tall, he cuts to 135 (seriously???) to fight. Watson trains with the likes of Strikeforce’s Liz Carmouche and prefers to do his damage on the ground. Standing nearly a half foot taller than most of the fighters in his division, Watson is someone who will be tough to stop if he gets Sandoval to the ground. Sandoval is a veteran of less fights than Watson, but comes in with a lot of punching power, which he’ll use to neutralize the takedown attempts of Watson. The thing that’s really going to aide Watson here is that he’ll have a huge size and reach advantage that he can put to use. His speed will play a factor in getting out of some tricky situations, however, he’s going to have to be careful that Sandoval’s aggression doesn’t push him toward the edges of the cage, where advantages he had may be nullified in a hurry. Still, Watson’s got what it takes to take Sandoval down to the ground, and his transitions and ground submissions should be enough to close the deal. Prediction – Walel Watson def. Joseph Sandoval via Submission Josh Neer vs. Keith Wisniewski This one’s a welcome back for both guys. Neer fought in August at Superior Cage Combat, and only days later for the call back up. Wisniewski hasn’t fought since April, but rides a six-fight winning streak, the last of which came against former UFC vet Chris Wilson. Since getting cut from the UFC in 2009, Neer has won six of seven. All six are stoppages, and you can’t fault him much for his loss since it was to Eddie Alvarez. Neer has done, and said all of the right things in his return to the cage, and will ride high with what I imagine is a higher level of confidence than ever before. I only remember Wisniewski for one thing – the graphic arm break he suffered at the hands of Shinya Aoki. The break was so severe Wisniewski went into near-immediate shock, and the fight (obviously) had to be stopped. The break caused a small career tailspin for Wisniewski, and after a bit of time off, he hasn’t lost in more than three years. Despite Wisniewski’s penchant for submissions recently, Neer has arguably better wrestling, training for years with Miletich Fighting Systems, though he’s been largely untested his past few fights. Both men really need to impress to get back to the level of fights they’ve experience before. Neer was fighting guys like Mac Danzig and Melvin Guillard before his cut, and Wisniewski very clearly needs to be fighting bigger and better names since he is easily outclassing whomever he fights on the smaller circuit. This one should be a 50/50 split on the ground and standing, though you should see much of that in the clinch. Neer has no business losing this fight, as he is the better fighter of the two. Hopefully he can corral his return to the UFC into better walkout tees as well. The neon font tees he was sporting at the SCC 2 weighins left something to be desired. Consider this Neer’s return to bigger and better things. Prediction -  Josh Neer def. Keith Wisniewski via Submission Mike Easton vs. Byron Bloodworth Originally, this was Easton vs. Jeff Hougland, and I had it scored in the favor of “L’il Zangief” Hougland. With a new challenger entering due to injury, I think Easton is now the better fighter coming in, though he’ll be a bit rusty after 2 years off. At the time of his injury riddled departure from MMA, Easton left on a huge win streak. He ended his (then) career with a victory over Chase Beebe. The victory, considered one of the worst judging decisions in MMA history, sent him into recovering from injuries suffered during a horrific elbow break in 2007. Bloodworth is a fairly infrequent fighter, chalking up a 6-1 record over a 3 year span at smaller shows. He’ll be coming in as a late addition and a fair unknown and in really tough against Easton, who is a BJJ Black Belt. This is going to be a match-up of inexperience against ring rust. Bloodworth is a dynamic striker, bringing in a mix of speed and technique, preferring to fight wherever the match takes him. This match will probably benefit him a little more if it stays standing. Easton’s usually quick with his transitions, and his grappling experience gives him a definite advantage over Bloodworth. Expect Easton to try to keep this to the ground, and work his game until he’s able to secure a submission. Prediction – Mike Easton def. Byron Bloodworth via Submission Shane Roller vs. TJ Grant This is basically a matchup of two fighters a bit down on their luck. Grant has not fought in nearly a year after battling injuries. Roller has remained healthy, but just can’t make it past that big test. He coasts along along until he reaches the breakthrough for that next point, and falls short. He was on the cusp of contending for the title in WEC, and lost to Anthony Pettis. He was starting to break through in the UFC, and got TKO’d by Guillard. This is Roller’s time to start climbing that hill again, and standing in his way is Grant, the Canadian who has altered wins and losses over the last couple years. Roller is strong lightweight who would prefer to keep it on the ground, with lots of his wins coming via submission. Grant, however, is a BJJ specialist who took Ricardo Almeida the distance, and does have what it takes to counter anything Roller throws at him. Only stopped once in his career, Grant should have no problem fighting out of Roller’s numerous submission attempts, but I don’t think he can fight his way out of the imposing force. Pick Roller here in a closely contested ground battle. Prediction – Shane Roller vs TJ Grant via Split Decision Michael Johnson vs. Paul Sass Life’s not easy for Johnson. After losing to Jonathan Brookins last December for the TUF 12 title, Johnson breezed though Eddie Faalaloto, but finds himself in deep waters against Sass, a human submission machine at 155. Sass lives to submit anything that walks, and that’s what you can expect him to do. With his relentless takedowns and chokes, Sass won’t want this to stay on the feet for long. Johnson is wrestling trained, but he hasn’t been given much opportunity to impose himself on his opponents. He might not get much chance against Sass here. While Johnson possesses a lot of upper body strength, Sass is an opportunist Prediction – Paul Sass def. Michael Johnson via Submission Yves Edwards vs. Rafaello Oliveira Both fighters come into this fight looking to rebound from stunning losses. Edwards was knocked out cold against Sam Stout at UFC 131, while Oliveira suffered a submission loss to Roland Gift doppelganger Gleison Tibau. Those losses snapped winning streaks for both fighters, and a loss for either could have them sitting on the fringe. Edwards shows is one of the most well rounded fighters at 155 when given the chance, and may be one of the few MMA fighters in history to win by decision, on the ground, on the feet and in mid-air, as his 2004 victory against Josh Thomson can attest. Now because of his versatile fight style, you’ll probably see Edwards try to keep the fight mobile and on his feet since he has the striking edge. Oliveira is less likely to score a knockout than Stout was, and it would keep his BJJ at bay. If it gets to the ground, however, Edwards is more than comfortable to mix it up, fighting the majority of the Cody McKenzie fight there before securing a choke victory. Approximately 1/3 of Edwards’ career victories are by submission as well, as Thugjitsu does blend a lot of wrestling and BJJ elements. Oliveira is a quick starter, however, and may look to take the fight in the opening moments, which may catch Edwards by surprise. If he can weather that storm, however, expect his superior skills to help him secure a victory. Prediction – Yves Edwards def. Rafaello Oliveira via Unanimous Decision Make sure to check back tomorrow when I break down the UFC Live 6 main card! Tweet

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The Ultimate Fighter finalist is looking to collect another first round finish against unbeaten British submission specialist Paul Sass on Saturday night.

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Posted in: submission, fotd, sub, cactusrat, type

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  As all fans of mixed martial arts know, sometimes the way to end a fight comes as easy as a tapout. However, achieving that tapout can be very difficult and when at the sport's highest level -- especially within the UFC ranks -- it becomes even more of an arduous task to gain submission victories. Submissions can come from a variety of disciplines stemming from the most feared Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ), to the under-appreciated Judo and even the often forgotten arts like Krav Maga and Aikido. Regardless of how you learn them, they are equally difficult in pulling off without proper set up and technique. Submitting people from your back is often considered much more beneficial in the mixed martial arts world since it is a counter to the influx of smothering top game wrestlers. Being well versed from your back makes it uncomfortable for opponents to attempt to fight on the ground. As we get into more detail in the art of submissions we come across a similarity in wrestling. That similarity is "chaining." I am sure we have all heard chain wrestling but how about chain submissions or chain grappling? It works the exact same way: it is basically throwing combinations (like in striking) except on the ground. When you set up the overhand right with a 1-2, jab and cross combo, it is much like using full guard and an arm trap to set up a triangle. Then when you use that triangle to finish with an arm bar, you have just chain submitted your opponent. For more in depth breakdowns, follow me after the jump. At UFC 135, Nate Diaz would look to defeat Japanese MMA legend Takanori Gomi. Diaz would be fighting him years after his brother submitted Gomi with a gogoplata following an all-out war between the two. Despite the bout being overturned, the Diaz rivalry would be rekindled as Nate would look to put Cesar Gracie’s Stockton boys 2-0 against "The Fireball Kid." Before we start, let me first give a thank you to Zombie Prophet for the .gifs. Check out his site (Ironforgesiron.com) -- he has .gifs and videos of fights up faster than anyone else on the 'net.     With under a minute left in a fight that saw Diaz absolutely train wreck Gomi with crisp and powerful boxing, we find ourselves watching Diaz trapping Gomi within a triangle choke. Diaz grabs an under hook on the untrapped arm of Gomi and uses that to swivel his hips to cut the angle causing the choke to be tighter. Gomi is working hard to defend. (For a breakdown on how this triangle works click here) Gomi stacks Diaz and lifts up for a slam, the slam is an attempt to looses the legs of Diaz and even cause them to separate however Diaz has this one way too tight. Diaz has it very deep and the choke causes Gomi to roll over in defeat. As he does he leaves his trapped arm within the wrist control of Diaz, the angle of the submission allows Diaz to fluidly throw the right leg over the head/face of Gomi transitioning into a beautiful arm bar causing the submission to go from choke to joint pain which causes Gomi to tap almost immediately. Chain submission victory from the Cesar Gracie disciple. Just a few weeks earlier relative unknown T.J. Waldburger would also put on his own display of chain grappling. An undercarder who had an average record, would put on a second fight that would feature highlight reel finishes.   Fasten your seatbelts for this one Maniacs. Mike Stumpf was thoroughly in for a ride when Waldburger began chaining his grappling together. With Waldburger in top control almost in a north-south position it appears that he is attacking with a kimura while over Stumpf, however he extends that arm out and immediately transitions into an arm bar. As he sits back on it Stumpf defends and doesn’t allow both legs to be placed in prime position, still Waldburger works for it.   While still pulling back on the arm and fighting to get his leg up and over, Waldbruger gets the arm bar and forces Stumpf who is now attempting to roll to go belly down. As Stumpf rolls he does help his cause, he rolls and pushes the leg over his face and keeps his arm out of danger escaping an arm bar or a triangle.   However, Waldburger remains in control of the trapped arm with his right arm and with his left hand he pushes Stumpf away creating enough distance to thread the leg over the shoulder once more trapping Stumpf in a triangle choke. Remember, in most submission posts, I always remind that distance and spacing is everything and this proves it yet again.   With the choke in place Waldburger pulls the head down and earns the tap out, adding to his already impressive grappling highlight reel.   Two fighters, two different submissions with the exact opposite set ups resulting in the same conclusion. Both Diaz and Waldburger show that the set up to the submission is just as dangerous and important as the execution of the submission itself.

Posted in: diaz, submission, nbsp, gomi, arm

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Former UFC welterweight and The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 2 contestant Marcus Davis was back in action this past weekend, headlining the main event for Global Fight League (GFL) 13: "Heavy Hitters" at the Portland Expo Center on Sept. 23 in Portland, Maine. "The Irish Hand Grenade" needed just over a minute to dispose of Team Juggernaut standout Travis Coyle via guillotine choke. Popular Northeast fight camps were represented in "Vacationland" as Team Sityadong and Team Irish defended their turf against members from Academy MMA. In addition to Davis, John Johnston, Josh Watson, Ryan Sanders and Eloy Kaminski all picked up wins in convincing fashion. Complete GFL 13 results (courtesy Northeast MMA) after the jump. Main Card:170 lbs.: Marcus Davis def. Travis Coyle via submission (guillotine choke)265 lbs.: John Johnston def. Shaun Durfee via TKO (punches)205 lbs.: Josh Watson def. Carlos Lovato via KO (punch)170 lbs.: Ryan Sanders def. Vincent Silvestre, via submission (guillotine choke)145 lbs.: Eloy Kaminski def. Nate Ainsworth via submission (arm-triangle choke) Preliminary card:135 lbs.: Ernesto Ornelas def. Steve Desjardins via submission (guillotine choke)145 lbs.: Ray Wood def. Elias Leland via submission (arm bar)145 lbs.: Trevor Kell def. Ted Washburn via split decision170 lbs.: Daniel Meuse def. Joel Adams via submission (arm bar)115 lbs.: Jill Valenzuela def. Sarah McLeod via unanimous decision125 lbs.: Maria Rios def. Heather Lambert, TKO (punches)190 lbs.: Buck Pineau def. Paul Sokolowski via submission (rear naked choke)135 lbs.: Tom Balzano def. Cecil Haney via split decision170 lbs.: Scott Lavoie def. Shaun Head via submission (arm bar)205 lbs.: Rick Garland def. Nolan Brown via unanimous decision155 lbs.: Ken Kersch def. Caleb Costello via unanimous decision155 lbs.: Jon Lemke def. Zach Labbay via TKO (punches)

Posted in: decision, submission, lb, davi, fight league

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With his dominant submission win over Quinton Jackson at UFC 135, light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, 24, is arguably the best fighter in the sport today. Agree or disagree? Read one of those arguments here.

Posted in: jackson, submission, champion, quinton jackson, sport today

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The DREAM.17 took place late last night at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. Shinya Aoki, Rob McCullough, Tatsuya Kawajiri, Joachim Hansen, Caol Uno, Kazushi Sakuraba, Satoru Kitaoka, Gerald Harris and Minowaman were all in action. The event also featured the opening round of DREAM’s bantamweight grand prix. MMA Junkie has a full recap of the action. Results below. Results Shinya Aoki def. Rob McCullough via Submission (Neck Crank) at 4:52 in Round 1 Tatsuya Kawajiri def. Joachim Hansen via Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke) at 2:30 in Round 3 Takeshi Inoue def. Caol Uno via Knockout (Kick) at 4:17 in Round 1 Yan Cabral def. Kazushi Sakuraba via Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke) at 2:42 in Round 2 Satoru Kitaoka def. Willamy Freire via Split Decision Gerald Harris def. Kazuhiro Nakamua via Split Decision Ikuhisa Minowa def. Baru Harn via Submission (Scarf-Hold Armlock) at 4:39 in Round 1 Antonio Banuelos def. Hideo Tokoro via Split Decision Bibiano Fernandes def. Takafumi Otsuka via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 0:41 in Round 1 Masakazu Imanari def. Abel Cullum via Submission (Armbar) at 0:46 in Round 3 Rodolfo Marques def. Yusup Saadulaev via Unanimous Decision Image via Daniel Herbertson for MMA Fighting

Posted in: round, submission, kazushi sakuraba, caol uno, joachim hansen

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Fairy tales may have happy endings but in the case of Kazushi Sakuraba’s storied career it seems his fans are unlikely to live happily ever after once the Japanese legend finally calls it quits. Sakuraba earned his reputation in MMA during his PRIDE days where he took on all-comers regardless of their size and beat a number of notable opponents including enough members of the sport’s first-family to earn a nickname of “The Gracie Hunter”. However, the only thing Sakuraba is killing these days is his legend. That point was put on display last night at DREAM 17 where Sakuraba faced, and fell to, submission-specialist Yan Cabral. Cabral dominated “Saku” while standing, even stunning him early on, and eventually locked in an Arm-Triangle Choke in the second round of their bout. Cabral is now 10-0 with ten tap-outs while Sakuraba has now dropped four straight fights and lost six of his last eight including four by way of stoppage. Dana White Says Japanese Promoters Ruined Sakuraba’s Career However, while Sakuraba’s time as an apt adversary is clearly over, fellow Japanese fighters Shinya Aoki and Tatsuya Kawajiri both had solid showings at the event and picked up a pair of submission victories. Aoki used his other-worldly grappling to get opponent Rob McCullough to the ground before locking in a Neck Crank, while Kawajiri looked sound in his featherweight debut where he beat Joachim Hansen with an Arm-Triangle Choke after two hotly contested rounds to open their fight up. Also worth mentioning, the show determined the final four fighters in the ongoing  DREAM Bantamweight Grand Prix with Rodolfo Marques, Masakazu Imanari, Bibiano Fernandes, and Antonio Banuelos all moving on to semifinal action. Here is a complete list of DREAM 17 results: Ikuhisa Minowa def. Baru Harn via Submission Round 1 (Scarf-Hold Armlock) Rodolfo Marques Diniz def. Yusup Saadulaev via Unanimous Decision Masakazu Imanari def. Abel Cullum via Submission Round 3 (Armbar) Bibiano Fernandes def. Takafumi Otsuka via Technical Submission Round 1 (Rear-Naked Choke) Antonio Banuelos def. Hideo Tokoro via Split Decision Gerald Harris def. Kazuhiro Nakamura via Split Decision Satoru Kitaoka def. Willamy Freire via Split Decision Yan Cabral def. Kazushi Sakuraba via Submission Round 2 (Arm-Triangle Choke) Takeshi Inoue def. Caol Uno via Knockout Round 1 (Head Kick) Tatsuya Kawajiri def. Joachim Hansen via Submission Round 3 (Arm-Triangle Choke) Shinya Aoki def. Rob McCullough via Submission Round 1 (Neck Crank) Tweet

Posted in: round, submission, dream, sakuraba, cabral

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 The fight card for DREAM 17: "Fight for Japan 2" completed last night (Sept. 23, 2011) at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. The lineup was filled with match-ups that were sure be crowd-pleasers, featuring a multitude of high profile names and Japanese mixed martial arts (JMMA) legends. In the headlining bout, former World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) brawler "Razor" Rob McCullough looked to test submission specialist Shinya Aoki and see if he could take him into deep waters. Instead, it ended up being Aoki who tested McCullough. The test involved seeing how far he could crank his neck before McCullough would finally tap. Many expected this to be an easy victory for Aoki. Many were right. McCullough found himself in bad positions the majority of the first round, before Aoki was finally able to get him to tap to a very nasty neck crank at 4:52 of the first round. Here's a look at the rest of the action: Tatsuya Kawajiri made his featherweight debut in a fight versus the highly ranked Joachim Hansen. This one was all about takedowns. "Hellboy" had zero answers for Kawajiri's takedowns, as "Crusher" put him on his back in this fight, almost at will. Kawajiri was able to use his takedowns to get and keep dominant top position for the majority of the fight. At 2:30 of the final round, Kawajiri was able to use his position to get Hansen in an arm-triangle choke, forcing him to tap. It's sad to see, as defending the takedown seems to be an obstacle which Hansen is simply unable to overcome. He coulda been a contender. Caol Uno has been around the block a few times. He's fought everyone from Hayato Sakurai to B.J. Penn. He's a fan favorite, especially in Japan. Uno looked to show the MMA world that he's still got what it takes to make some noise as he faced off against "Lion" Takeshi Inoue. Uno tried several times to take Inoue down, but was unsuccessful. On top of not being able to notch the takedowns, Uno also ate punches and kicks each time he made attempts. Inoue was too fast and had massively better stand-up. Uno was match. Finally, with a little less than a minute to go in the first round, Inoue caught Uno with brutal head kick, causing his head to bounce off the canvas, sending Uno into unconsciousness. Unfortunately for Uno, it looks as though the clock may have run out for him. Another JMMA veteran entered the ring as Kazushi Sakuraba squared off against unbeaten Brazilian fighter Yan Cabral. As most fans will recall, Sakuraba's last match ended with a doctor stoppage at Dynamite!! 2010 on New Year's Eve of last year in a fight versus Gegard Mousasi. Sakuraba's ear was grotesquely hanging from the side of his head. Certainly, that's not how he wants to be remembered. Cabral appears to be not much for sentiments as he spent much of this fight beating up Sakuraba and, to be blunt, exposing him as a fighter who really needs to call it a day. Sakuraba continually tried to pull Cabral, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) specialist who has won all of his fights by submission, into his guard. It was an odd strategy that ended poorly as Cabral was finally able to use an arm-triangle choke to make Sakuraba tap at 2:42 of round two. Live by the sword, die by the sword.  It's an odd state of affairs for old-school MMA fans and fighters. Chuck Liddell has a desk job now. Randy Couture makes bad action movies. Fedor Emelianenko has been relegated to fighting the Jeff Monson's of the world. Wait. Nevermind. Fedor actually is fighting Jeff Monson. How could I forget? Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz... Hopefully, Sakuraba has a back-up plan too. It's always sad to see a legend limping out of the ring. There's an unwritten rule in JMMA that goes something like this: "If you're not from Japan and you're fighting a Japanese fighter in Japan...don't let it go to a decision." Not that MMA judges anywhere are winning trophies these days for their merit, but in Japan, it's been particularly bad. Sadly, the Japanese scoring has become famous for their hometown bias and ridiculous decisions. Willamy Freire was the recipient of yet another slanted scorecard (two of them, actually), as he lost a split decision to Satoru Kitaoka. After three very close rounds, it looked as though Friere probably earned the nod, stuffing nearly every takedown attempt of his opponent and seeming to get the better of him on the feet. American judge Matt Hume scored in his favor. Surprise, surprise. The two Japanese judges did not. Moving right along. After two very even rounds between former WEC fighter Gerald Harris and Kazuhiro Nakamura, Harris dominated the third round. In the final frame, Harris was able to take down Nakamura, who looked gassed by this point, pretty much whenever he wanted to. Somewhat controversially, Nakamura could be seen grabbing the ropes to help defend against the takedowns and possibly keep himself in the fight. No penalty was given to Nakamura. Harris won the fight by split decision. John Hackleman product and best friend of Chuck Liddell, Antonio Banuelos, sought to get his fighting career back on track in a very difficult match against top bantamweight Hideo Tokoro. The fight hardly could have been any closer. Both fighters had their moments, heading into the third round, which proved to be where Banuelos was able to set himself apart. Again, it was a story of takedowns and an inability to defend them. Banuelos used his wrestling to control his opponent in the final round and win a very close split decision. There's not a whole lot to say about Bibiano Fernandes' fight against Takafumi Otsuka. It was violent. It was short.  In only 41 seconds, Fernandes was able to avoid a barrage of punches, get his opponent to the mat and sink in a rear-naked choke. Otsuka didn't even get a chance to tap. He was out before he knew what was happening. Fernandes showed why MMA fans are hopeful that they may see him fighting under the Zuffa banner some time soon. In another quick one, Masakazu Imanari used his submission skills to secure an armbar against Abel Cullum, and get him to tap at 0:46 of the first round. Cullum had a very difficult weight cut and it clearly had an effect on him. That aside, Imanari looked fantastic and the fight would have probably gone in this fashion, regardless. On a night that saw many razor-thin decisions, Rodolfo Marques earned the unanimous nod over Yusup Saadulaev. This was essentially a grappling exhibition. An exhibition that Marques won at every turn. He will now move on to the next round of the DREAM bantamweight tournament. Catch wrestling pioneer and judo expert, Ikuhisa Minowa, defeated Baru Harn with a scarf-hold armbar at 4:39 of the first round.  The match was an "open weight" contest, a loophole that Harn seemed to take far more advantage of than did "Minowaman." Harn came in 60-plus pounds heavier than did Minowa and looked to use that advantage by rushing him early in the fight. Minowa weathered the storm, was patient, and eventually used his far superior ground game to earn the victory. DREAM is alive. For now, anyway. Here are the complete DREAM 17: "Fight for Japan 2" fight results: Shinya Aoki def. Rob McCullough via submission (neck crank) at 4:52 of round one Tatsuya Kawajiri def. Joachim Hansen via submission (arm-triangle) at 2:30 of round three Takeshi Inoue def. Caol Uno via KO at 4:17 of round one Yan Cabral def. Kazushi Sakuraba via submission (arm-triangle choke) at 2:42 of round one Satoru Kitaoka def. Willamy Freire via split decision Gerald Harris def. Kazuhiro Nakamura via split decision Antonio Banuelos def. Hideo Tokoro via split decision Bibiano Fernandes def. Takafumi Otuska via submission (rear-naked choke) at 0:41 of round one Masakazu Imanari def. Abel Cullum via submission (armbar) at 0:46 of round three Rodolfo Marques def. Yusup Saadulaev via unanimous decision Ikuhisa Minowa def. Baru Harn via submission (scarf-hold armbar) - R1, 4:39

Posted in: fight, round, decision, submission, uno

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DREAM 17 took place earlier today in Saitama, Japan, where DREAM lightweight champion Shinya Aoki scored his sixth-straight win with a first-round neck crank submission of former WEC title-holder Rob McCullough. Other notable results included Tatsuya Kawajiri def. Joachim Hansen via third-round submission, Takeshi Inoue def. Caol Uno via first-round head kick KO, and Yan Cabral def. Kazushi Sakuraba via first-round submission. Also on the card, Antonio Banuelos, Bibiano Fernandes, Masakazu Imanari, and Rodolfo Marques advanced to the Bantamweight Grand Prix semifinals. The complete DREAM 17 results were: Shinya Aoki def. Rob McCullough via submission (neck crank) – Round 1 Tatsuya Kawajiri def. Joachim Hansen via submission (arm-triangle) – Round 3 Takeshi Inoue def. Caol Uno via KO (head kick) – Round 1 Yan Cabral def. Kazushi Sakuraba via submission (arm-triangle) – Round 1 Satoru Kitaoka def. Willamy Freire via split decision Gerald Harris def. Kazuhiro Nakamura via split decision Ikuhisa Minowa def. Baru Harn via submission (scarf hold) – Round 1 Bantamweight Grand Prix Quarterfinals Antonio Banuelos def. Hideo Tokoro via split decision Bibiano Fernandes def. Takafumi Otuska via submission (rear naked choke) – Round 1 Masakazu Imanari def. Abel Cullum via submission (armbar) – Round 3 Rodolfo Marques def. Yusup Saadulaev via unanimous decision Pictured: Shinya Aoki

Posted in: round, submission, dream, aoki, caol uno

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It is currently a little after 8AM Eastern time Saturday morning and three MMA cards have happened this weekend already. With DREAM 17 just wrapping up, here's a quick rundown on what went down last night and this morning. Strikeforce Challengers 19:Nick Rossborough, a late replacement for the injured Virgil Zwicker, fought Lorenz Larkin in the main event last night. Larkin weathered through a game Rossborough and landed a huge knee in the third round that allowed him to ride out a unanimous decision. He remains undefeated at 12-0. Ryan Couture got back into the win column in a closely fought majority decision win. The many years he's spent grappling with dad and company showed as he and Maka Watson went back and forth on the ground. As in the main event, it took a 3rd round momentum-shifting change that sealed the win. Not a knee this time, however, but a great sweep into top control. The only other "name" on the card was wrestler Jason High, and he used and abused Todd Moore in that manner. Moore has pretty much no answer for the wrestling and High was able to dominate in the unanimous decision win. Titan FC 20:The only thing most people care about on this card is the return of accused/alleged wife-beater Brett "Grim" Rogers to the sport. Fortunately for those who believe in karma, Eddie Sanchez leg kicked the stuffing out of Rogers. Channeling the spirit of Pedro Rizzo, Sanchez chopped at Rogers all night, beat him up in the clinch and made the one-time high-flier look like a chump. It's been a huge fall after rising to 10-0 and blitzing Andrei Arlovski like Andrei blitzes a vodka buffet. He's since lost 4 of 5 and the one win was against Ruben "Warpath" Villareal that many think Ruben won. Oh, and he "allegedly" beat his wife and kids and got canned by Zuffa. The actual highlight of the evening as far as MMA goes (compared to schadenfreude) goes to Dakota Cochrane, who surprised pretty much everyone with a lopsided win over former WEC champion Jamie Varner. Part of it seemed like Varner underestimated his opponent - he looked a little heavy and somewhat sluggish, but Cochrane did a fantastic job of displaying his striking skills, takedown defense and scrambling ability once Varner finally did land a double-leg in the 3rd. Keep that name in mind, folks, he should make some waves in the future. DREAM 17:The big deal here was to see if Rob McCullough could touch Shinya Aoki's chin before he got octopus'd to the ground and lost some extremity off his torso. It was not to be. Rob actually did a fairly good job, getting out from under Aoki once without much damage taken. The second time was the killer. Aoki ducked under a punch (Razor landed zero standing strikes), went for a double, transitioned to a single and proceeded to head/neck crank out McCullough with seconds left in the first round. Tatsuya "Crusher" Kawajiri and Joachim Hansen had one of the better fights of the evening in a closely contested bout that saw Crusher win his featherweight debut via arm triangle. Hansen did a good job all night of defending in Kawajiri's guard, but finally succumbed late in the 3rd. In the bantamweight grand prix, Bibiano Fernandes easily passed the chin check and choked out Takafumi Otsuka early, Antonio Banuelos got a controversial split-decision win over Hideo Tokoro (non-Japanese guy winning a close split decision in Japan? Bizarro!), Masakazu Imanari nearly ripped off Abel Cullum's arm and Rodolfo Marques easily decisioned Yusup Saadulaev. Other notable matchups saw kind of what we expect out of JMMA these days. The corpse of Kazushi Sakuraba took a beating from mildly-heralded Yan Cabral. Seriously, whatever debt that Saku owes the Yakuza has to be paid off by now. He lost an ear. Please stop having him fight. Minowaman beat some random moobed heavyweight named Baru Harn, Gerald Harris took a close fight from Kazuhiro Makamura (again with foreigners winning in Japan) and Lion Inoue blasted "Carl" Uno with a picture-perfect headkick early. Full results and gifs under the cut. Jamie Varner getting teeped into the cage: Brett Rogers getting Brandon Vera'd: Caol Uno having flashbacks to the BJ Penn fight: Rob McCullough's spine bending in ways it shouldn't:   Dream 17 results:Aoki defeated McCullough via submission (neck crank) at 4:57 of round 1.Kawajiri defeated Hansen via submission (arm triangle choke) at 2:30 of round 3.Inoue defeated Uno via KO (head kick) at 4:17 of round 1.Cabral defeated Sakuraba via submission (arm triangle choke) at 2:42 of round 2.Kitaoka defeated Freire via split decision.Harris defeated Nakamura via split decision.Banuelos defeated Tokoro via split decision.Fernandes defeated Otsuka via technical submission (rear naked choke) at 0:41 of round 1.Imanari defeated Cullum via submission (armbar) at 0:46 of round 3.Marques defeated Saadulaev via unanimous decision.Minowa defeated Harn via submission (scarf hold) at 4:29 of round 1. Titan FC 20 results:Cochrane defeated Varner via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)Sanchez defeated Rogers via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27).Gutierrez defeated Hutchinson via submission at 1:04 of Round 1.Krause defeated Wilson via submission at 2:39 of Round 1.Riley defeated Huddleston via TKO (referee stoppage) in round 2.Whitney defeated Shaffer via KO (flying knee) at 0:42 of Round 3. SF Challengers 19 results:Larkin defeated Rossborough via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27).Jordan defeated Johnson via submission (keylock) at 3:08 of round 2.Couture defeated Watson via majority decision (28-28, 29-28, 29-28).High defeated Moore via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).Melancon defeated Portela via unanimous decision (29-29, 29-28, 30-27)Terry defeated Almeida via KO (punches) at 3:21 of round 1.Green defeated Spain via submission (arm triangle choke) at 2:54 of round 2.Spång defeated Ray via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).Mulhern defeated Davis via submission (arm triangle choke) at 4:08 of round 3. Results copied from Wikipedia, gifs are all from IronForgesIron.com

Posted in: round, arm triangle, decision, submission, arm

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There was some doubt whether Shinya Aoki would attempt to stand and bang with former WEC lightweight champion Rob McCullough in the lead-up to their DREAM 17 main event showdown on Saturday night at Saitama Super Arena. Aoki had been training at Evolve MMA months ahead of the match-up, and there were significant improvements reported in his historically weak stand-up game. Fortunately for those who nervously thought Aoki would abandon the very skills that got him to where he is today, his trip to Singapore also helped solidify his grappling skills. Those skills, like many times before, were on full display on Saturday night. Aoki immediately took it to McCullough from the opening bell, moving inside on the WEC veteran, taking him down, and working from top control for most of the fight. McCullough briefly scrambled to his feet for a few moments before being dumped back down to the floor, but that was the only opportunity he had in the entire fight to lay waste to Aoki's consciousness. Aoki eventually blasted McCullough with knees to the skull when he attempted to stand back up. From there, Aoki moved to back control, cranking McCullough's neck until he tapped with only two or three seconds left in the round. The victory marks Aoki's sixth straight following his beatdown at the hands of Gilbert Melendez at Strikeforce: Nashville in April of last year. With a little more training and some luck, it isn't unfathomable that Aoki finds himself stateside again in the next year. Tatsuya Kawajiri made a successful featherweight debut in vintage 'Crusher' fashion as he submitted Joachim Hansen in the third round via arm triangle. Kawajiri survived an early scare in the first round after he was tagged moments after the opening bell, and the ensuing scrambles provided an entertaining pace for fans. It wasn't something Kawajiri wanted to continue to gamble in however.  The second and third rounds were more 'Crusher'-like. The Japanese wrestler took down Hansen at will, smothering him in ground and pound from the top side and winning the war of attrition. He eventually slipped underneath Hansen's neck in the final round from half guard, passed to side control, and squeezed for the tap. Impressive performance from Kawajiri at featherweight, sparking some discussion whether he can make a run in the UFC's ranks at the new weight class. Takeshi Inoue's year has been going well as he knocked off touted Japanese prospects Taiki Tsuchiya and Koichiro Matsumoto earlier in the year. He can now add UFC veteran Caol Uno to that list after mesmerizing him with flashy hand movement and shuffling feet. The quick movements distracted the veteran so much, in fact, that Uno didn't see see a brutal head kick sailing at his face. Inoue also caught Uno in the early minutes of the round, wobbling Uno and putting him imminent danger of being finished. Uno survived only to have his Nike's nearly knocked off his feet by Inoue's kick. The win puts Inoue at 3-0 on the year, and it's clear he needs to step up the ladder in terms of competition. Hiroyuki Takaya? Yes please. In what ended up becoming an embarrassing and sad situation, Japanese MMA pioneer Kazushi Sakuraba was dominated bell to bell by Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu whiz Yan Cabral. Cabral worked over the Japanese legend in every area of the fight, eventually submitting Sakuraba via arm triangle choke, a submission Cabral predicted in the lead-up to the fight. Sakuraba covered his face with a t-shirt in disgrace after the loss, and an entire arena of fans sat in silence. A sad day for Sakuraba as he continues his downward spiral past mediocrity and into embarrassment.  More analysis and results after the fold... The World Bantamweight Grand Prix quarterfinals provided solid entertainment on the early portion of the DREAM 17 card. WEC veteran Antonio Banuelos weathered Hideo Tokoro's reach in the stand-up department over the course of three rounds to narrowly edge the exciting Japanese fighter. Banuelos was being beaten on the feet for most of the fight, but he did manage to land more powerful shots throughout. At one point, Tokoro nearly knocked Banuelos' block off, glancing a head kick off his dome at the end of the second round. It apparently wasn't enough, however, as two judges awarded Banuelos the victory. Bibiano Fernandes destroyed Takafumi Otsuka in their encounter, submitting the Japanese striker quickly after the opening bell. Otsuka landed a few stiff punches early after Bibiano missed his attempts. Naturally, Fernandes blasted through Otsuka's takedown defense, took his back, and choked him out in one foul swoop. Impressive stuff from the Brazilian. Masakazu Imanari put on an impressive performance against Abel Cullum, flexing some power on the feet while putting on a grappling clinic for most of the fight. Cullum deserves some praise as well, making it down to the contracted weight limit after coming in four pounds overweight. He didn't look affected by the drastic weight cut and jet lag in this fight, avoiding most of Imanari's attempts on the ground.  Imanari dominated Cullum in the opening round with a bevy of submission attempts. Armbars, triangle chokes, omoplatas, and a gogoplata attempt kept Cullum at bay for a lengthy period of time. Cullum edged Imanari in the second on my scorecard as he was able to avoid getting controlled by Imanari for the most part, delivering some punishing ground and pound to the midsection. The third round wasn't as close. Imanari opened the round by uncorking a left hand that wobbled Cullum. A few choice shots later, Imanari blasted through Cullum's defenses, took him down, and transitioned to an armbar while rolling Cullum forward. Cullum tapped furiously as Imanari overextended his arm. The first quarterfinal of the World Bantamweight Grand Prix tournament was a pleasant surprise for fans eyeing future prospects. Rodolfo Marques won an unanimous decision over Scouting Report rankee Yusup Saadulaev, but it was a surprisingly entertaining affair on the ground. Saadulaev's poor strength of record didn't seem to be a factor as he gave Marques problems, and he was able to escape Marques' grips on the ground in some creative ways, nearly catching Marques in the third round with a leg lock after being mounted. Unfortunately, he was unable to produce much offense as he was on the defense for most of the fight. A solid win for the Brazilian. In the opening bout of the evening, the legendary Ikuhisa Minowa put on a vintage performance as he quickly dispatched of two-time Mongolian wrestling champion Baru Harn with a scarf hold armlock submission. Harn came out aggressive, trying to drive through Minowa's takedown defense to gain the upper hand. Minowa slyly evaded the takedown, however, and reversed the position, landing in top control. Moments later, Minowa was in full mount. After an armbar attempt failed, Minowa locked down the scarf hold as he slid up to the head of Harn from side control. Harn tapped immediately. Quick Results Shinya Aoki def. Rob McCullough via submission (neck/face crank), Round 1.Tatsuya Kawajiri def. Joachim Hansen via submission (arm triangle), Round 3.Takeshi Inoue def. Caol Uno via KO (head kick), Round 1Yan Cabral def. Kazushi Sakuraba via submission (arm triangle), Round 1Satoru Kitaoka def. Willamy Freire via split decision.Gerald Harris def. Kazuhiro Nakamura via split decision.Antonio Banuelos def. Hideo Tokoro via split decision.Bibiano Fernandes def. Takafumi Otsuka via submission (rear naked choke), Round 1Masakazu Imanari def. Abel Cullum via submission (armbar), Round 3.Rodolfo Marques def. Yusup Saadulaev via unanimous decision.Ikuhisa Minowa def. Baru Harn via submission (scarf hold), Round 1

Posted in: round, submission, aoki, cullum, imanari

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Filed under: DREAM, ResultsMMA Fighting has Dream.17 results for Shinya Aoki vs. "Razor" Rob McCullough and the rest of the Sept. 24 fights from the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. In a non-title bout, Dream lightweight champion Aoki faces ex-WEC titleholder McCullough. The card will also feature the likes of Tatsuya Kawajiri, Kazushi Sakuraba, Caol Uno as well as the start of the promotion's Bantamweight World Grand Prix. Dream.17 results are below. Non-Tournament Bouts Shinya Aoki def. Rob McCullough via submission (neck crank) - R1, 4:52 Tatsuya Kawajiri def. Joachim Hansen via submission (arm-triangle), R3, 2:30 Takeshi Inoue def. Caol Uno via KO - R1, 4:17 Yan Cabral def. Kazushi Sakuraba via submission (arm-triangle choke) - R1, 2:42 Satoru Kitaoka def. Willamy Freire via split decision Gerald Harris def. Kazuhiro Nakamura via split decision Ikuhisa Minowa def. Baru Harn via submission (scarf-hold armbar) - R1, 4:39 Bantamweight World GP Quarterfinal Antonio Banuelos def. Hideo Tokoro via split decision Bibiano Fernandes def. Takafumi Otuska via submission (rear-naked choke) - R1, 0:41 Masakazu Imanari def. Abel Cullum via submission (armbar) - R3, 0:46 Rodolfo Marques def. Yusup Saadulaev via unanimous decision Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: submission, dream, kazushi sakuraba, mccullough, caol uno

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Strikeforce Challengers 19 resultsLas Vegas, NVLorenz Larkin def. Nick Rossborough by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)Shawn Jordan def. Lavar Johnson by submission keylock 3:08 R2Ryan Couture def. Maka Watson by majority decision (28-28, 29-28, 29-28)Jason High def. Todd Moore by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)Brian Melancon def. Felipe Portela by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)James Terry def. Magno Almeida by TKO (punches) 3:27 R1Bobby Green def. Charon Spain by submission arm triangle choke 2:54 R1Chris Spang def. Joe Ray by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)Quinn Mulhern def. Danny Davis by submission arm triangle choke 4:08 R3

Posted in: decision, lorenz larkin, submission, nick rossborough, maka watson

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DREAM 17 kicks off at 3am ET on Friday night/Saturday morning on HDNet featuring the bantamweight tournament headlined by DREAM’s Japan Bantamweight Grand Prix winner Hideo Tokoro, who defeated Masakazu Imanari just two months ago. Also in the Grand Prix are Imanari, former DREAM featherweight champion Bibiano Fernandes, Abel Cullum, and former WEC and UFC fighter Antonio Banuelos, among others. The event is headlined by Imanari’s Nippon Top Team running mate Shinya Aoki in action against former WEC champion Rob McCullough in lightweight action. This is McCullough’s first fight since getting knocked out by Patricky Freire while Aoki is coming off a submission win over Rich Clementi. Also on the card, former UFC middleweight Gerald Harris will make his DREAM debut at the event against Kazuhiro Nakamura, former Strikeforce contender Tatsuya Kawajiri will face Joachim Hansen in Kawajiri’s featherweight debut, Caol Uno will face Takeshi Inoue also at featherweight, and Minowaman will face Mongolian Baru Harn. Finally, Kazushi Sakuraba will return to the ring for the first time after having his ear mostly detached at Dynamite!! 2010 against Marius Zaromskis and will face Brazilian submission specialist Yan Cabral in what will likely be a battle of submissions. What to watch for: Clearly the highlight of the card is the beginning of the Bantamweight GP, even though the previous one ended just a couple months ago. Hideo Tokoro should be a favorite to win, although Bibiano Fernandes should be one to watch. He has expressed some disappointment with the promotion in the past and with the problems Japanese promotions have had making sure paychecks make it to the fighters, he could be a candidate to be brought over to Bellator or possibly the UFC when he is done in this competition. Antonio Banuelos should do well, but much of his success will be dependent on how well he makes the transition from fighting in a cage to fighting in a ring. The fact that he is drawn in his opening fight against Tokoro is a problem as well. Imanari is known as the Master of Leglocks and should provide entertainment with his rather unorthodox approach to a fight. He will do anything and everything possible to induce a scramble, when he will grab onto a leg and yank. The fight between Kawajiri and Hansen should be a right scrap between two respected veterans, although how well Kawajiri makes the cut to 145 after having fought at 155 and how well his strength is maintained through that cut should be a factor. Hansen has phenomenal submission skills to try to counteract Kawajiri’s North American style wrestling, so this should be a really good fight. Professional wrestler Minowaman, quite possibly the absolute crowd favorite at this event will be taking on a Mongolian fighter who has one knockout win, but is labeled a Mongolian wrestler. I do wish, however, that I knew what to make of Sakuraba’s return to the ring. He has not looked good at all in his last few fights: a decision loss to Ralek Gracie, a submission loss to Jason “Mayhem” Miller, and of course the Doctor stoppage against Zaromskis where he looked terrible up until his ear was nearly kicked off his head. It feels like DREAM went out looking for someone who wasn’t going to try to stand and knock him out, but rather someone who he could use his immense catch wrestling skills against. If he loses, it could very well be his last fight, although he has said he wants to keep fighting. At some point for him, enough should be enough and DREAM should offer him a Godfather deal to stay out of the ring along the lines of the deal Dana White offered Chuck Liddell.

Posted in: fight, submission, dream, kawajiri, ring

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Bantamweight - Josh Ferguson def. Casey Dyer via knockout (punches) R1Featherweight - Diego Brandao def. Jesse Newell via knockout (punches) R1Bantamweight - John Dodson def. Brandon Merkt via TKO (strikes) R1Featherweight - Dennis Bermudez def. Jimmie Rivera via TKO (strikes) R2Bantamweight - Roland Delorme def. BJ Ferguson via submission triangle choke R1Featherweight - Marcus Brimage def. Bryson Wailehua-Hansen via TKO (strikes) R2Bantamweight - Johnny Bedford def. Carson Beebe by submission guillotine choke R1Bantamweight - Dustin Pague def. Tateki Matsuda by majority decision (19-19, 20-18, 20-18) R2Bantamweight - Louis Gaudinot def. Paul McVeigh via TKO (strikes) R3Featherweight - Bryan Caraway def. Eric Marriott via unanimous decision (20-18, 20-18, 20-18) R2Featherweight - Dustin Neace def. Josh Clopton via unanimous decision (20-18, 20-18, 20-18) R2Bantamweight - TJ Dillashaw def. Matt Jaggers by knockout (elbow strikes) R1Featherweight - Steven Siler def. Micah Miller by submission guillotine choke R3Bantamweight - John Albert def. Orville Smith by submission rear naked choke R1Featherweight - Stephen Bass def. Karsten Lenjoint by submission triangle choke R1Featherweight - Akira Corassani def. Brian Pearman by knockout (punches) R1ULTMMA.com Bantamweight power rankings episode one 1. T.J. Dillashaw (4-0)2. John Dodson (11-5)3. Dustin Prague (10-3)4. Johnny Bedford (17-9-1)5. Louis Gaudinot (5-1)6. Roland Delorme (6-2)7. Josh Ferguson (7-3)8. John Albert (6-1)ULTMMA.com Featherweight power rankings episode one 1. Steven Siler (18-9)2. Diego Brandao (13-7)3. Akira Corassani (9-3)4. Dennis Bermudez (7-2)5. Bryan Caraway (15-5)6. Marcus Brimage (3-1)7. Stephen Bass (10-0)8. Dustin Neace (22-17-1)

Posted in: tko, submission, strike, submission guillotine, submission triangle

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This is a guest post by Ben Thapa, part of the Bloody Elbow Grappling Coverage Team In an era of alphabet soup, we fight fans have our own shorthand - MMA, BJJ, UFC, KTFO and so on. Well, BloodyElbow and MMA Nation is out to change that acronym vocabulary by expanding our submission grappling coverage to include previews, live-blogs and recaps of the ADCCs on September 24th and 25th in Nottingham, England. The phrase "ADCCs" may have come across your eyeballs before, only to slip by without much notice. This must change and we'll tell you why. The Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) Submission Wrestling Championship is the super-elite, invitation only competition in which the best of the best get worked over by the true apex predators of the grappling world. In short, the ADCCs are perhaps the closest thing that we will ever publicly see to the no holds barred tournament from Enter the Dragon. Incredibly wealthy backer with extensive martial arts experience? Check. The hundred best grapplers in the world? Check. A trip to a far-off location for a two day long tournament? Check. Big prizes to the winners? Check. Unfortunately, Bolo Yeung will likely not be present. The creator (and near total sponsor) of the ADCCs is Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed al Nahyan, the half-brother of the current president of the United Arab Emirates. You may have heard of Sheikh Tahnoon before, as he is a part-owner of the UFC and has sponsored a number of high-profile tournaments in the Brazilian jiu-jitsu and submission grappling world for many years now. Sheikh Tahnoon also happens to be a black belt in BJJ and regularly trains with some of the greatest legends submission grappling has ever known. His immense wealth and magnanimity has allowed the creation of a giant stage for submission grappling to be shown to the world and we can now watch the tournament live through a BudoVideos.com stream. We at BloodyElbow and MMA Nation believe that this competition, featuring some of the current and future stars of MMA and the best grapplers in the world, is worth bringing to your attention and will cover as much as we possibly can with our Grappling Team. With such a large group of the strongest competitors in submission grappling being invited to the ADCCs, the weight class championships are highly respected and the winner of the Absolute division has a very good case to be acclaimed as the Greatest Grappler on the Planet. Champion wrestlers, world-class judo players, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu players, Luta Livre fighters and Sambo competitors have all entered and won medals in the past. Today, experienced, highly skilled grapplers from all over the world and from all walks of life are ready to compete with every inch of their being to test themselves, to build careers, to vindicate their training, to honor their loved ones and to win the lucrative cash prizes in Nottingham just one week from now. Some of the finest ground game wizards in MMA today like Fabricio Werdum, Demian Maia, Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, Ricardo Arona and Roger Gracie are gold medal winning champions at these competitions and have brought their skills into MMA to our general enjoyment as well. In years past, MMA stars like Georges St-Pierre, Mark Kerr, Tito Ortiz, Matt Hughes, Diego Sanchez, Urijah Faber, Vitor Belfort, Jake Shields, Ricardo Arona, Josh Barnett, Chris Weidman, Hayato "Mach" Sakurai and Shinya Aoki have competed (with varying amounts of success). Gracie legends like Renzo and his cousin Royler dominated their weight classes in the early tournaments. Eddie Bravo made his career by triangle choking Royler in 2003. In that same year, Marcelo Garcia, perhaps the greatest pound for pound grappler in the recent history of the sport, became a 19 year old champion and began his decade of world dominance. However, it is the Absolute champions who receive the lion's share of the glory. Braulio Estima capped off his 2009 season - perhaps the finest year of any grappler not named Roger Gracie - by winning the ADCC Absolute championship. This year, in a Superfight, Braulio will be facing Jacare Souza, the 2009 Superfight champion in a highly anticipated match. Jacare has confirmed that he will be present and ready to regain the taste of victory after narrowly losing his Strikeforce middleweight title to Luke Rockhold.   The rules are simple. There are multiple weight classes for both the men and women, with an open weight competition being held afterwards for the divisional champions and those who want to enter. No striking, biting, gouging, greasing or single digit manipulations. The winner is determined by submission, points or referee decision. There are basically no limits on what submissions can be applied and to encourage submissions, the first half of each match is not scored with points. If the match continues past the halfway mark, points are assigned by the referee for positional improvements and sweeps. If the match is tied on points after time is up, the referee picks a winner. Stalling is penalized. Slamming is allowed to escape a submission. The competitors are free to wear whatever they want (although Tetsu "Hadairo" Suzuki tested that decency standard with his nude-colored booty shorts in 2005). Saulo Ribeiro, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu legend, famously entered his final ADCC match (before retiring from the competition scene) wearing a kimono top. In the early days of the tournament, the rules were more wrestler-friendly (stalling was more common) and many medals were won by behemoth top-control wrestlers like Mark Kerr. Due in part to rule changes over the years and the lures of MMA fame and fortune, the tournament has recently become dominated by those from a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu background who now live, teach and train in the United States or in Europe. A handful of competitors this year will be fighters recognizable from Strikeforce, UFC, WEC or other fight promotions. Fabricio Werdum is perhaps the best heavyweight grappler in any major MMA organization and he is likely to defend his 2009 ADCC title. Rousimar Palhares is a terror for anyone who likes having working legs and could make a title run in the 88 kg bracket. Vinicus Magalhaes pulled off one of the best MMA submissions of 2011 with his mount gogoplata in April at M-1 Challenge XXV. Paulo Filho may or may not show up, but he has serious grappling game and could collect some arms. Jeff Monson has been a mainstay at high-level grappling tournaments for years and he travels the world to pick up MMA fights wherever he can. It is worth noting that several prominent invitees have chosen to withdraw due to MMA commitments. Takanori Gomi, the ADCC Japan divisional winner, will fight Nate Diaz at lightweight at UFC 135. Vagner Rocha, an invitee with serious game, fights Cody McKenzie at lightweight on the undercard of UFC Fight Night: Shields vs. Ellenberger. Roger Gracie, an invitee, has chosen to focus on MMA after his recent loss to Muhammad Lawal - which has his entire 99 kg bracket thankful and hungry to win in his absence. Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva, an invitee, withdrew from the +99kg division, citing his need for surgery after the loss to Daniel Cormier. Despite the list of competitors still being somewhat fluid, you can rest assured that on the 9 square meter mats in Nottingham, eighty highly skilled men and sixteen highly skilled women will duel to determine who is the best in the world at submission grappling. Stay tuned for more coverage from the Bloody Elbow Grappling Team.

Posted in: world, mma, submission, year, adcc

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The Ultimate Fighter 14 debuted Wednesday night on Spike TV featuring Michael Bisping and Jason “Mayhem” Miller as coaches of featherweight and bantamweight fighters for the first time in TUF history. The 145- and 135-pounders squared off in 16 elimination matchups on the two-hour premiere to decide who would advance to The Ultimate Fighter house and who would be going home. The episode also marked the beginning of the last season of The Ultimate Fighter on Spike TV before the series moves to FX in 2012 with a new live format. The official results from the first episode were: Josh Ferguson def. Casey Dyer via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 0:14 Diego Brandao def. Jesse Newell via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 0:47 John Dodson def. Brandon Merkt via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 1:37 Dennis Bermudez def. Jimmie Rivera via TKO – Round 1, 1:40 Roland Delorme def. BJ Ferguson via submission (triangle choke) – Round 1, 1:56 Marcus Brimage def. Bryson Wailehua-Hansen via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 0:21 Johnny Bedford def. Carson Beebe via submission – Round 1, 4:19 Dustin Pague def. Tateki Matsuda via majority decision (19-19, 20-18, 20-18) Louis Gaudinot def. Paul McVeigh via TKO (strikes) – Round 3 Bryan Caraway def. Eric Marriott via unanimous decision (20-18, 20-18, 20-18) Dustin Neace def. Josh Clopton via unanimous decision (20-18, 20-18, 20-18) TJ Dillashaw def. Matt Jaggers via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 5:00 Steven Siler def. Micah Miller via submission (guillotine) – Round 3 John Albert def. Orville Smith via submission (rear naked choke) – Round 1 Stephen Bass def. Karsten Lenjoint via submission (triangle choke) – Round 2 Akira Corassani def. Brian Pearman via KO (punches) – Round 1 Stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com for complete coverage of The Ultimate Fighter 14 every Wednesday before The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale on Dec. 3.

Posted in: fighter, round, tko, submission, strike

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This Friday kicks off a ridiculously busy weekend of MMA. In terms of national telecasts, you’ve got Titan FC, Strikeforce Challengers, UFC 135 and, as evident from the title of this article, the latest DREAM event. This one, the seventeenth in the perennial Japanese MMA powerhouse’s series says goodbye to a popular tradition – the ten minute round followed by the one five minute round has been scrapped in favor of the more traditional 3-5 minute round format. This might be the best night of fights this weekend. Many old friends (Kazushi Sakuraba, Kazuhiro Nakamura, Caol Uno) are fighting, as well as many debuting former Zuffa vets. At the heart of this entire card is the bantamweight tournament showcasing both familiar names and a few unfamiliar ones. I’m going to offer up a slightly more condensed form of my predictions than usual, focusing in on the tournament itself in a later piece, but also breaking down a couple of key match ups around it. Predictions come in no particular order. Kazuhiro Nakamura vs. Gerald Harris It feels like Nakamura has been around forever, though he is the same age as Harris. Nakamura just hasn’t looked as crisp since his PRIDE days, and I don’t know that he has what it takes to keep up with the torrid pace Harris like to put out. If Nakamura can fend off Harris’ early charge and let him wear himself out, the night could easily turn out in his favor, however, I don’t think that’s going to happen. Prediction: Gerald Harris def. Kazuhiro Nakamura via TKO Takeshi Inoue vs. Caol Uno It’s been a rough few years for Uno, who has only 2 wins in his last 8 bouts. Inoue is an opposite 6-2 in his last 8, however, he hasn’t really beat top tier competition in that time (an aging Rumina Sato being the biggest one.) Uno has looked like a shadow of his former self as of late, especially during his last jaunt through the UFC in 2009, where he looked out of his comfort zone, and couldn’t muster much up against the likes of Spencer Fisher and Gleison Tibau. This is a tale of two fighters going in different directions. This is the “name win” Inoue needs to get noticed. Look for him to do it. Prediction: Takeshi Inoue def. Caol Uno via Unanimous Decision Satoru Kitaoka vs. Willamy Friere If nicknames won fights, Satoru “The Catch Wrestling Koala Bear” would win by three-second knockout. Friere had a strange one and done loss in the UFC earlier this year and has not fought since. Both men possess excellent submissions and groundwork, with Kitaoka having submitted some huge names in the sport (Carlos Condit and Takanori Gomi amongst them.) Expect this whole fight to be contested on the ground and turn into a smorgasbord of submissions. Kitaoka is so crafty that he could find a way to armbar a fish. If I had to pick a fight that I told all ground game enthusiasts to watch this night, it would be this one. Kitaoka is always so much fun to watch, and this fight will be no exception. I don’t expect this one to end without a submission victory. Prediction: Satoru Kitaoka def. Willamy Freire via Submission Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Joachim Hansen A rematch of sorts. Kawajiri holds a DQ victory over Hansen from back in 2006. The Norwegian “Hellboy,” Hansen is a very unpredictable fighter. Some days he looks so unbeatable, you’d think a guy like Jose Aldo’s days were numbered if they stepped in against each other. Others, you wonder why you uttered the sentence previous. Kawajiri is best known stateside for his quick loss to Gilbert Melendez last April, after spoiling Josh Thomson’s road to another Strikeforce title shot. Hansen will probably look to take this to the ground with his BJJ excellence, however, Kawajiri has good ground defense, losing via submission only twice in 37 pro fights. I think Hansen’s got what it takes to overpower Kawajiri and take this fight, though I don’t think you’ll see a stoppage here, and you may see the closest contested fight of the night. Prediction: Joachim Hansen def. Tatsuya Kawajiri via Split Decision Ikuhisa Minowa vs. Baru Harn Minowa is one of the strangest cookies in MMA history. He basically just weighs in at whatever, and fights whomever. I don’t recall the last time he didn’t fight someone he was giving up a massive size advantage to. But I suppose that’s what gives Minowa his charm. He’s the joker in a deck of cards – The unpredictable giant killer of MMA. Harn I admit I’ve never heard of, to the point where I started typing this out wondering why I couldn’t find any details on “Baru Ham.” Naturally, it wasn’t surprising when I found out he weighs nearly 300 pounds and is Minowa’s opponent. I don’t know what to make of Minowa’s fights. They can be amazing watches, or they can be the most boring fight on the card. Minowa’s relegated himself to somewhat of a gimmick fighter the last few years – He probably realized he didn’t have what it took to compete amongst the elite any longer, but he wanted to go out there and entertain. I would expect this to be standard Minowa fare – Tire the big man out, shoot for the legs and hit some sort of submission. Either that or attempt to tire the big man out, shoot for the legs, get picked up with one arm and pounded into Dream 18 like a bad Bugs Bunny cartoon. Minowa’s matches are the car wrecks of MMA – You never want to see one, but when it happens, you can’t turn yourself away… Prediction: Ikuhisa Minowa def. Baru Harn via Submission Shinya Aoki vs. Rob McCullough I like this fight on paper. Everything is right about this bout. In one corner you have McCullogh, the former WEC and Muay Thai world champion with hands of stone. In the other, you have Aoki, the unbelievable and often outlandish Grandmaster of Flying submissions. Aoki, simultaneously amongst the most and least disciplined MMA fighters depending on the day of the week never disappoints. Even during his embarrassment of an exhibition match against Yu Nagashima last year he went out like a champ, getting spectacularly highlight reel knocked out and giving people a reason to watch that abomination of ten minutes again and again. Aoki’s game plan will be pretty obvious from the getgo: Take McCullough down to the ground, and try to submit him quickly. If he gets in the way of “Razor” Rob’s fists, the night could be over before Lenne Hardt sits down from her introductions. Aoki is one of the best fighters in the world when he wants to be, and I hope we see the worldbeater in full force Friday. Prediction: Shinya Aoki def. “Razor” Rob McCullough via Submission Aoki Scores Submission of the Night at “Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley” Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Yan Cabral Aging superstars take two paths. Randy Couture was pretty respectable on his way out. At age 47, you believed he could still take on the world’s best and make a go of it. Then there are fighters like Sakuraba. “Saku” reminds me a bit of Ric Flair, i.e. a man who did everything, couldn’t possibly accomplish more, but just can’t walk away. I don’t believe in tarnished legacies (short of legal troubles like OJ Simpson) but Sakuraba isn’t exactly endearing himself to the new generation of fight fans. Five losses in his last seven fights, including three first round stoppages have him looking way on the outside of any realistic title picture or contention. Of course, to be fair, one was due to him losing half his ear but that’s a different story. Sakuraba seems to be happy playing the role of gatekeeper though. He’ll welcome fighters into DREAM with his odd blend of bandaged knees, cauliflower ears, and can-do spirit. However, it’s those same injured knees, cauliflower ears, and can-do spirit that often are his downfall. He looks sluggish in the ring nowadays, and is being outpaced and outhustled by fighters years younger than him. Disappointing considering just give years ago he was still one of the world’s very best fighters, standing toe to toe with anybody and capable of beating them. Cabral enters the night undefeated at 9-0, however, having not fought for nearly two years. He brings a very sound BJJ background in with him, having won all of his matches with 1st or 2nd round upper body submissions. Sakuraba’s straight up knowledge and awareness in his catch wrestling is sound enough to keep him out of trouble, however, the speed, the hands, the reflexes – they just don’t seem to be there anymore. As an MMA fan, I admit Sakuraba is one of my all time favorites. I will always sit and watch a fight if he’s in it. His PRIDE bout against Carlos Newton is far and away my favorite of all time. I just can’t enjoy him fighting knowing he’s in this condition. Perhaps we’ll see the Sakuraba of old, reasonably heeled after some time away, looking to make one last run at the title. Till I’m proven wrong, however, I can’t in good faith pick him to take this one in good faith. Prediction: Yan Cabral def. Kazushi Sakuraba via Submission Tweet

Posted in: fight, fighter, submission, minowa, sakuraba

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New England based promotion the American Fighting Organization returned to Revere, Massachusetts for the second time in two months with AFO The Perfect Storm. The ten fight card featured nine amateur fights with a catchweight fight as the main event that featured rising featherweight prospect Rodrigo Almeida (9-2).South Shore fighter Lee Metcalf (5-5) opposed Almeida in a 152 pound professional catchweight fight. In the brief one round contest Almeida showcased his greatest strength versus Metcalf. Almeida's grappling prowess threw Metcalf for a loop in the early moments of the fight. After a takedown by Metcalf, Almeida threatened with submissions off his back that stifled his opponent's offensive gameplan. With the fight moved back to standing Metcalf shot for another single attempt and Almeida again looked for a submission hold. In the transition from on the feet to the floor Almeida locked in a guillotine choke with a vice grip. Unable to escape or tapout the referee called the fight at the 4:31 point of round one and relived a passed out Metcalf from Almeida's guillotine choke. The win for Almeida was his third straight. A 25 year old Massachusetts prospect, Almeida is in the discussion as the next 145 pound fighter from the New England area to get his shot in the big leagues. Almeida has not turned his back on tough regional competition with his two career losses coming to fellow respected prospects Calvin Kattar (11-2) and Justin Homsey (8-1). A rematch and win over either Homsey or Kattar could give Almeida the push he needs to separate himself from the crowded pack of quality east coast featherweights. AFO The Perfect Storm resultsRevere, MANick Logan def. Cody Platner by TKO (Punches) 1:08 R1Nicc Kossivas def. Tunde Odumosu by Submission Armbar 0:41 R2Nathan Oses def. Chris Tier by Unanimous Decision Kin Moy def. Luis Ramos by Technical Submission Triangle Choke 1:47 R2Anthony Bernardi def. Vyacheslav Phinney by Unanimous Decision Bret Braxton def. James LaJoie by KO (Punch) 4:41 R1Kody Nordby def. Matt Doherty by Unanimous Decision Joe Cloutier def. Virgil Stone by Unanimous Decision Shawn Summey def. Louis Torres by TKO (Punch) 0:18 R1Rodrigo Almeida def. Lee Metcalf by Technical Submission Guillotine Choke 4:31 R1

Posted in: fight, submission, almeida, metcalf, lee metcalf

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Top-ranked prospect, Guram Gugenishvili has been putting the competition to sleep faster than a licensed anesthesiologist since coming on the scene in July of 2009. Sporting a perfect 11-0 record and the M-1 Global heavyweight strap, the Georgian powerhouse has fully recovered from his training injury which forced him to postpone his US debut and is ready to land Stateside on October 14th at M-1 Challenge XXVII; he'll look to defend his title against Kenny ‘Deuce' Garner in the card's headline bout and mop the mat with the A.T.T. standout once again. The battle from inside the new 5,500 seat Grand Canyon University Arena in Phoenix, Arizona can be caught LIVE on SHOWTIME starting at 11 p.m. ET/PT (Delayed on the West Coast). Fighting out of Makariv, Kiev Oblast in the Ukraine, Gugenishvili had been the cornerstone of the Makfight team since beginning his professional career; as with all fighters aiming to evolve, Guram made the tough decision to move to the Aris Sport Club earlier this year, where a modern facility is set to provide him the tools to become an even more dominant force. Although in a new team, Guram remains under the instruction of Coach Ioseb Koberidze, who is dedicated to improving his pupil's striking and Jiu Jitsu. As the winner of the inaugural 2010 M-1 Selection Eastern European tournament and Europe's leading MMA promotion's reigning heavyweight champion, what's most notable about Guram is his agility; at 6'4" and 250lbs, he moves around the ring lightly, maintaining precise ring positioning. He's methodical, calm and systematic in his movements; in his mind, he's won the fight before the sound of the bell and the course of action within the ropes is only a formality. No one has been able to expose holes in his abilities to date. All but two of his victories have ended early in the first round and seven of these come by way of suffocating, anaconda-like rear naked chokes. Aspiring fighters often rely on one or two bases early in their career and Guram is no different; he has a sound freestyle wrestling base that he leverages to set up submissions but there is room to improve. Guram and his coach are actively improving his sambo and striking techniques while also working in boxing and Muay Thai sessions. He has the confidence, work ethic and determination to elevate his proficiency in all fighting styles and evolve into an even more fearsome, versatile fighter. Simply put: Gugenishvili is proving himself as the top-ranked heavyweight prospect in MMA and the global fan base has no choice other than to take notice. Guram captured the inaugural M-1 Global heavyweight belt with a commanding submission win at M-1 Challenge XXI over Garner. After some momentary trouble handling Garner's submission game, the Georgian powerhouse disposed on his foe early in the second round, capturing the card's Submission of the Night honor thanks to a standing guillotine choke that put Garner on the mat, out unconscious. His first title defense was M-1 Challenge XXIII this past March where he collided with Red Devil prospect, Maxim Grishin, who nearly shocked the world in the early seconds of the battle when he floored the champ with a left hook. With the dangerous situation short-lived, Guram got back to his feet and engaged Grishin quickly; after a brief exchange, the pair hit the mat with Guram working from his foe's guard, firing effective blows through Grishin's defence. As Guram postured up and stepped over into full mount, Grishin made the fatal mistake of rolling over in an attempt to escape, giving up his back and exposing his neck; it took Guram a split second to recognize the position and quickly wrenched in his patented, text-book RNC, forcing the tap at 3:38 of the opening round. As the reigning Heavyweight Champion, Guram is now climbing the next steps of his professional career where the level and calibre of competition gets tougher. Although extremely successful to date and able to manhandle his opponents at will, it's inevitable to envision the type of fighter that Guram will evolve into with exposure to elite-level coaching and training in striking and jiu jitsu; incorporating these elements into his already powerful arsenal will make Guram a force to be reckoned with anywhere on the planet; his first foray outside of Europe lands him in the United States on October 14th when Garner will get a second shot to stop the Guram hype-train. With M-1 Challenge champions established in all five weight classes, a true contenders system will fuel events throughout 2011, driving M-1 Global's growth as a leading brand in the US and international markets. 2011's full slate of M-1 Challenge events held in the United States and Europe are primed to be mega-event spectaculars where Champions defend their titles and contenders jockey for position for a coveted shot at the gold. Feeding the contention system will be two Selection tournaments in 2011 with details being announced shortly.

Posted in: heavyweight, submission, guram, challenge, heavyweight champion

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Here are results from UFC Fight Night 25: Battle on the Bayou — which aired on Spike TV — and featured a welterweight showdown between Jake Shields and Ellenberger. Main Card: Jake Ellenberger def. Jake Shields via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 0:53 Court McGee def. Dongi Yang via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-28) Erik Koch def. Jonathan Brookins via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27) Alan Belcher def. Jason MacDonald via verbal submission (punches) – Round 1, 3:48 Prelims: Vagner Rocha def. Cody McKenzie via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 3:49 Evan Dunham def. Shamar Bailey via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Lance Benoist def. Matt Riddle via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) Ken Stone def. Donny Walker via technical submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:40 Seth Baczynski def. Clay Harvison via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 1:12 T.J. Waldburger def. Mike Stumpf via submission (triangle choke) – Round 1, 3:52 Robert Peralta def. Mike Lullo via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) Justin Edwards def. Jorge Lopez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) (Results courtesy of MMA Junkie) The fight card wasn’t the best UFC Fight Night event, but did feature what should have been an appealing matchup between Shields and Ellenberger.

Posted in: fight, jake shields, round, decision, submission

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UFC Fight Night 25 results New Orleans, LA Jake Ellenberger def. Jake Shields via TKO (strikes) 0:53 R1Court McGee def. Dongi Yang via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-28)Erik Koch def. Jonathan Brookins via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)Alan Belcher def. Jason MacDonald via verbal submission punches 3:48 R1Vagner Rocha def. Cody McKenzie via submission rear naked choke 3:49 R2Evan Dunham def. Shamar Bailey via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)Lance Benoist def. Matt Riddle via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)Ken Stone def. Donny Walker via technical submission rear naked choke 2:40 R1Seth Baczynski def. Clay Harvison via submission rear naked choke 1:12 R2T.J. Waldburger def. Mike Stumpf via submission triangle choke 3:52 R1Robert Peralta def. Mike Lullo via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)Justin Edwards def. Jorge Lopez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)Of the night bonuses-55kFight- Lance Benoist def. Matt RiddleKO- Jake EllenbergerSubmission-T.J. Waldburger

Posted in: decision, submission, jake ellenbergersubmission-t.j, donny walker, shamar bailey

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The results from BAMMA 7 at the NIA Arena in Birmingham, England on Saturday evening: Main Card: Jim Wallhead def. Frank Trigg by Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27), R3 Paul Daley def. Jordan Radev by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28), R3 Jack Marshman def. Carl Noon by TKO (Strikes) at 2:09, R3 Andre Winner def. Jason Ball by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27), R3 Prelims: Rob Sinclair def. Diego Vital by KO (Punch) at 3:00, R3 Dale Hardiman def. Scott Jansen by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 1:16, R2 Chris Fishgold def. Jeremy Petley by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 4:33, R1 Undercard: Pindi Madahar def. Danny Compton by TKO at 1:06, R2 Eugene Fadiora def. Robert Devanne by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 4:35, R1 Tom Breese def. Lee Taylor by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 2:26, R1 Dean Amasinger def. Shah Hussain by Unanimous Decision, R3 Fraser Opie def. Robert Krecicki by TKO at 3:19, R1 Erik Perez def. James Brum by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 3:31, R1

Posted in: decision, submission, saturday evening, nia arena, lee taylor

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