MMA-URLS

Diaz fined, suspended one year by NSAC

MMA Junkie reports Nick Diaz has been suspended one year retroactive to February 4th per the Nevada State Athletic Commission ruling. In addition, Diaz was fined 30 percent of his UFC 137 fight purse which amounts to $60,000. The NSAC determined Diaz had failed his UFC 143 drug test and was less than truthful on his pre-fight medical questionnaire. Diaz’s attorney was unsuccessful in arguing that a showing of marijuana metabolites did not prove he had used it for in competition use and that the World Anti-Doping Agency code does not prohibit out of competition use of marijuana. Despite a medical witness on behalf of Diaz, the Commission handed down a 1 year suspension. The Commission indicated that there’s a strict liability standard that makes an athlete responsible for what’s in their body. However, according to the report by MMA Fighting, the Commission inferred that it would have entertained a usage exemption for Diaz’s use of marijuana based on his past medical history. Payout Perspective: The suspension is another chapter in the tumultuous career of Nick Diaz. It will definitely hurt Diaz’s career and the UFC’s welterweight division. The Nate Diaz-GSP matchup would have drawn considerable interest especially if it would have been slated for GSP’s return at UFC 154 in Montreal (assuming that’s when he comes back). The Diaz legal team put up a novel defense but in the end none of the legal wranglings could save Diaz from his fate. Worse for Diaz is that the legal efforts probably means a big legal bill in addition to his fine and suspension. Maybe Diaz will focus his time on triathlons, boxing or help out his brother. But, if and when Diaz returns, hopefully he matures and gets his act together. He’s an asset to the UFC and that’s why the UFC hasn’t bailed on him yet.

Posted in: ufc, diaz, year, commission, competition use

Nick Diaz suspended for a year, fined $60,000 for failed drug test

Any hopes of UFC welterweight Nick Diaz beating the rap for a failed drug test and returning to the ring rather than remain retired were dashed earlier today when the Nevada State Athletic Commission reviewed his case, shrugged off his team’s arguments, and threw the book at him for their trouble. Diaz, who has been at outspoken proponent of marijuana use and receives it legally in California, was popped for “marijuana metabolites” in his system after a February fight with Carlos Condit. As a result of the NSAC’s findings Diaz will be suspended from competition for a year and was fined 30% of his purse from the bout (equating to $60,000). A Look at Diaz’s Case Against Suspension Diaz tested positive for marijuana use five years ago after a match-up with Takanori Gomi, also in Nevada, and was handed a six-month suspension in that instance. The 28-year old has not commented publicly on the matter but, at least for the time being, it appears his MMA career is officially over (or at least until 2013). PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: diaz, year, drug test, marijuana, marijuana use

NSAC suspends Diaz one year for positive test

Nick Diaz was suspended for one year by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for his positive test for marijuana metabolites at UFC 143.

Posted in: diaz, year, test, nevada state, marijuana metabolites

If you're thinking Frank Mir is going to win on Saturday, don't forget he's suffered defeat in the past 6 years only by PUNCHES

submitted by drbonerlol [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: mir, year, youre, dont, saturday dont

Despite broken hand, battle-tested Cormier expects 'plus-one fight' before year's end

Daniel Cormier has faced his share of battles, and that doesn't even include Saturday's grueling "Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Final" win over fellow tournament finalist Josh Barnett. After a life fraught with personal tragedies, Cormier admits his recent success feels all the sweeter. So despite a broken hand, he anxiously awaits his return to the cage, which could come by year's end

Posted in: year, cormier, strikeforce heavyweight, plusone fight, tragedies cormier

Originally an Alternate, Daniel Cormier Now Ready to Fill In as Strikeforce Champion

A lot can change in a year. Just ask Daniel Cormier. Half of the main event for Saturday’s Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Championship was just a blip on the radar at this time last year. Now, not only does he have the opportunity to win the tournament, but he is also enjoying more success at home and in the gym as a coach. The former Olympic wrestler was set to face Shane del Rosario in June of last year. But a car accident forced del Rosario to withdraw from the bout, and Cormier went on to face off against Jeff Monson. It was there where Cormier displayed his vastly improved striking, earning a unanimous decision victory, and a spot as an alternate in the Heavyweight Grand Prix. After Alistair Overeem pulled out of the tournament, Cormier was named his replacement, taking on Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva in September. He famously knocked out the significantly larger Brazilian, breaking his hand in the process. Because of that injury, the tournament final was put on hold. Now the tournament that began over a year ago finally comes to an end, as Cormier takes on former UFC heavyweight champion Josh Barnett. “It’s crazy how much everything has changed,” Cormier admitted to MMAFrenzy.com. “This time last year, I had just had my son in February, and Shane and I were going to decide who was going to move forward in the division. Shane got hurt, and I just continued to move forward. Fast forward a year, and I beat Jeff and Antonio, and then I had another child, my daughter. In one year, I went from a guy barely in the top 25 to a guy in the top 10. And now I have two kids. My mind is actually blown just how much my life has changed in such a short period of time.” Unfortunately for Cormier, it has not been a short period of time between his last fight and his next one, as he has not fought since that win over Silva in September. The eight month layoff is the longest break of his career. Having fought for only two and a half years, Cormier has averaged four fights a year. In fact, he fought six times in 2010, including three times in a three week span during the summer. As a man accustomed to remaining active even when not in competition, the layoff has been even tougher for Cormier, who grew up maintaining a busy schedule as he developed his wrestling career. “I’m a guy that always likes to stay busy,” said Cormier. “It’s difficult to sit back and not fight. But not only that, I wasn’t able to do much in training. A lot of my improvements come between fights, so to not be able to train as hard as I want to, it was very hard.” That inactivity in training came due to the broken hand that he suffered in his fight against Silva. What did not help matters was that Cormier suffered a setback just three months later, delaying his return to full-time training even longer. “I actually broke my hand again in December,” said Cormier. “I was starting to heal, and I pushed it a little too much. I took a step back in training, and just did a lot of wrestling and jiu-jitsu through January. In February, I started to hit a little bit. Then two weeks before the Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey fight(which took place March 3rd), I got clearance from a doctor, and the matchup with Barnett was announced to the public. I’ve been hitting pretty good with my hand since then.” Aside from the striking aspect of his training, Cormier has had to face the challenge of Barnett calling him out and stating that he will be able to take the former Olympic wrestler down. Cormier certainly is not shying away from that, embracing the friendly challenge from his opponent. “I’m not a guy that turns away from a challenge,” Cormier said. “Honestly, I have prepared harder for this fight than I have in my entire life. Not only during my fighting career, but I have trained harder than for any of my high-level wrestling matches.” For Cormier, he will not only be fighting for pride and the opportunity to win the tournament, but he will be fighting in front of his hometown crowd for the first time. Despite fighting for Strikeforce for nearly three years, this will be his first match in Strikeforce and American Kickboxing Academy’s hometown of San Jose, California. “I am super excited to be fighting at home,” said Cormier. “HP Pavillion is only a ten minute drive from my house, so I can stay at my house during fight week. I get to be around my kids the entire time. So things can stay normal. Plus, San Jose has great fight fans. They come out in numbers and show support for their local guys. They adopt fighters. Even though a lot of guys are not originally from here, they adopt us into their family.” Another family that Cormier is a part of is American Kickboxing Academy, which will have the opportunity to earn not only the Grand Prix Championship, but also the Strikeforce lightweight title, as Josh Thomson will take on Gilbert Melendez in the co-main event. Despite Josh Koscheck leaving the team earlier this year, Cormier and the rest of the team still feel the entire group is continually improving every day. “The atmosphere at AKA is stronger than ever,” admitted Cormier. “It is going to show in this next month with all of the big fights we have. You will notice the changes in our gym in these fights. Obviously we miss Josh, but it was time for him to move on. Any time that you have a guy that is that unhappy with a situation, you want him to get out of it. It means a lot to our guys to be able to contend for titles. It would be great to be like Cesar Gracie and his camp when Jake Shields, Gilbert Melendez, and Nick Diaz were all champions. We could have a lot of hardware in our gym by the end of the year.” MMAFrenzy.com

Posted in: fight, time, guy, year, cormier

Dana White to miss first UFC event in 11 years

UFC on FUEL TV 3 will be an historic event, as it will mark the first time in 11 years that UFC president Dana White will miss a UFC event.

Posted in: ufc, event, dana, year, ufc event

UFC prez White misses first event in 11 years

UFC on FUEL TV 3 was a historic event, as it marked the first time in 11 years that UFC president Dana White missed a UFC event.

Posted in: ufc, event, year, ufc prez, prez

Chan Sung Jung, Dustin Poirier Cleared for UFC on Fuel TV 3 Main Event

A pair of blue-chip featherweights find themselves on a collision course with one another as the Ultimate Fighting Championship drops anchor in Virginia for the first time in more than two years

Posted in: year, championship, tv, collision course, collision

Gegard Mousasi out until at least November with torn ACL, has 6-7 fights left for Strikeforce

It looks like former Strikeforce champion Gegard Mousasi won’t be joining the UFC anytime soon. The 26-year old, who holds an overall record of 32-3 and has only lost a single time since 2006, recently revealed he’s in the process of recovering from a serious knee injury and is also contracted to Strikeforce for enough fights to keep him busy for a couple of years. “The operation was successful. The recovery is doing very well. I will be back 100 percent again, but it will just take time,” said Mousasi in an interview on MMAJunkie Radio, adding he hadn’t spoken about his status before because “no one asked”. The talented light heavyweight didn’t go into detail on how the injury occurred but mentioned he would fight before the end of the year assuming his rehabilitation went as planned. With Mousasi out for another six months it’s difficult to know exactly what type of promotion he’ll be returning to given Strikeforce’s issues drawing attendance and relative lack of overall depth. However, Mousasi plans to honor the deal he signed and will continue competing under their banner until told otherwise. “I had one fight left. Then I was hoping maybe to go to the UFC after that, but then they offered me – they said we’re going to give you a new contract. So I signed for another six fights. Now I have a six (or) seven-fight deal, I believe, in Strikeforce,” explained Mousasi. “(Zuffa) said the Strikeforce fighters were going to stay with Strikeforce. And that’s the thing that it was, so we signed again.” For reference, Mousasi has only fought for Strikeforce five times since initially inking a contract in 2009. However, when he makes his way back to the organization his presence will certainly be welcome as often as possible given his success in the ring including past victories over Mark Hunt, Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou, Ronaldo Souza, Renato Sobral, and Hector Lombard. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: fight, strikeforce, ’t, year, mousasi

Interview: Announcer Mauro Ranallo On The Future Of Strikeforce

One year ago, Strikeforce was a company who looked to be on the verge of something big. After growing from an extremely popular regional show into a national player in the MMA scene, they seemed poised to make a huge impact in 2011 with their Heavyweight Grand Prix. A year later, that Grand Prix is finally ready to wrap up next weekend with the big Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier final. And for Strikeforce, what a difference that year has made. Since the Zuffa buyout in 2011, it's been a rocky time for Strikeforce. They've seen their champions moved to the UFC, the Grand Prix limp along, big names forced to the sidelines for various reasons - it's been tough. But with this show, they look to remind fans that they are still a viable force in the MMA landscape. Heading into the show, I spoke to longtime Strikeforce announcer Mauro Ranallo about Barnett vs. Cormier, the changes since the Zuffa buyout, and how Strikeforce can succeed in the future. On the state of Strikeforce a year ago: Mauro: There was a palpable buzz about Strikeforce, especially the Heavyweight division compared to the UFC and it seemed like it was beginning to pick up momentum. But with the Fedor costs, I think they [owners Silicon Valley Entertainment] were more in interested in bringing an NBA franchise to San Jose and they just didn't want to cut the checks anymore, so they were forced to sell. On how things have changed since the buyout: Mauro: The UFC being the parent company, they've been able to purloin some of the major names like Nick Diaz, Jake Shields, and we know what happened with Alistair Overeem. But the fact is with Strikeforce there aren't as many events this year. I know that all of us probably would like to see more Strikeforce events. All of us want to keep working and the fighters want to fight. There's a roster of fighters that are just biding their time right now and there aren't enough events, but it's better than nothing. So the biggest change has been less events. Now with losing King Mo and Cyborg to the drug tests and whatnot it's not maybe as much of a buzz with the fans as it was a year ago, but when you watch Strikeforce for what it is, the quality of the fights I would put up against anything in the sport. More in the complete entry. On the future of Strikeforce: Mauro: Strikeforce wants to maintain its own identity, but it's hard to do with fewer events and the fact that a lot of the top tier talent has gone to the UFC. That doesn't mean there's not a lot of amazing talent still in Strikeforce because there is, and I just think like anything else it's all about promoting the events and getting the word out there that this is still high quality MMA and for as long as its on Showtime I know the commitment is there to putting on the best cards possible. The UFC brand is omnipotent, but at the end of the day it is about the sport of mixed martial arts and there are some great athletes all over the world. The biggest congregation of them find themselves under the UFC banner, but I truly believe in a perfect world, and I know there may be some contractual roadblocks because of the deal with Fox, but if the UFC was really serious about keeping Strikeforce as a vibrant brand, they would send guys who were maybe just a step below where they used to be to give Strikeforce a bit of a shot in the arm in terms of talent. But I don't see that happening because of contracts. Strikeforce has now acquired Nate Marquardt, but we need to have more injection of prospects and talent and try to maintain the fact that Strikeforce and the UFC are on an even keel in terms of the quality of fighters. If you got the best of the rest so to speak - the top tier prospects - and focused on the women and focused on the weight classes that may need a shot in the arm overall, I think Strikeforce can really put itself on the map. On the idea of bringing Strikeforce champions into the UFC: Mauro: A guy like Gilbert Melendez has earned the right to fight for the best championship in the world, whatever that may be. Maybe it's the Strikeforce title. On Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier: Mauro: It comes down to the amount of experience Josh Barnett brings to the table, but you contrast that with the hunger and the natural ability that Daniel Cormier has shown as a world class wrestler and two time Olympian really sharpening his striking skills at American Kickboxing Academy. Josh Barnett is one of the only people I think who has tested positive 3 times for steroids and yet is still a commodity and someone who I think is one of the top 5 Heavyweights in the world. When you break it down it probably tends to favor Barnett, but Cormier is not showing up on May 19 just to be an opponent. I think he has his designs set on not only winning the Grand Prix, but going to the UFC with a big bang. And despite the past with Zuffa, Dana, and Josh Barnett, I think a great showing by both athletes means an opportunity to get into the UFC. In addition to serving as commentator for Strikeforce and numerous other organizations, Mauro Ranallo is the host of the MMA Show. He is also currently working on recording the audiobook version of MMA memoir Caged by Cameron Conaway. More on all of his projects at MauroRanallo.com.

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, year, barnett, mauro

Scott Coker Claims Strikeforce Will Be On Showtime 'For Many Years To Come'

Strikeforce held a conference call yesterday for their upcoming May 19th event, and CEO Scott Coker had a few things to say about his organization. After months of negotiations late last year, Zuffa/Forza was able to secure an eight-card, one year extension with Showtime. At that time it was decided that the heavyweight division would move over to the UFC at the conclusion of the heavyweight grand prix and one more "big heavyweight bout". Coker claims that it was a mutual decision to move the heavys over (transcribed by 5thRound.com): "The heavyweight division, they all agreed that there wasn’t going to be enough athletes to support both [UFC and Strikeforce] and they wanted to bring some of the fights over there at that time," Coker shared during Thursday’s conference call. "But now that the Showtime relationship has been renewed and it’s been solid, I think you’re going to see those great fights on the lighter weights – starting with light heavyweight on down in Strikeforce." And he believes that Strikeforce will be able to stay on Showtime for a lot longer than the rest of this year: "We have a great relationship with Showtime, I think we have provided great fights with great ratings. I think you’ll continue to see Strikeforce on Showtime for many years to come." I'm probably the biggest Strikeforce mark you're going to find and even I don't believe this. The ratings for their three cards in 2012 have not been good, and while I commend them for trimming down the roster, getting their website back up, and promoting the heck out of Ronda Rousey, it still seems clear that SF is dying. Either way, I'll enjoy them while they're around because they usually put on good cards, and the May 19th show (Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier in the main event) looks like one of them.

Posted in: strikeforce, heavyweight, showtime, year, heavyweight division

Former UFC Lightweight Champ Sean Sherk Wants 'Right Fight'

The last we saw of Sean Sherk, the former UFC lightweight champion took a hotly contested split decision from Evan Dunham at UFC 119. That bout, which earned Fight of the Night honors, was conducted more than a year and a half ago. Since then, "The Muscle Shark" has been all but invisible on the MMA scene. But Sherk recently told "The MMA Hour" that just because he's been out of sight, it doesn't mean you should put him forever out of your mind. "I'm not ready to walk away," said Sherk. "I consider myself still one of the top fighters in the world, I just want to get the right fight, get the right fight for my legacy." The 38-year old Sherk has been competing in combat sports since age seven, with a decorated career as an amateur wrestler before making his mixed martial arts debut in the pre-Unified Rules era in 1999. And while he's been lucky enough to go as long as he has without suffering a serious injury, the cumulative effect from three decades of scrapping was his reason for taking an extended break. "It's just normal wear and tear," said Sherk (36-4-1). "I've been competing in wrestling since I was seven years old, for 13 years, and I've been fighting professionally for 12 years. My first fight was in ‘99, so, you know, it's been a long road. I've always trained hard, my goal was work hard in the gym so I wouldn't have to suffer defeat, wouldn't ever have to get tired, wouldn't have to watch my opponent get his hand raised. Obviously over time, that stuff adds up." Sherk first excelled in the UFC as an undersized welterweight during the era in which the company had no lightweight champion. He took then-champion Matt Hughes the full 25 minutes the middle of a period when Hughes was steamrolling most of his competition. When the company restored the lightweight championship in 2006, he made the drop to 155 pounds and defeated Kenny Florian to claim the gold. While he was stripped of the title a year later for a positive steroid test, he remained a formidable force in the division. So with a career resume that includes wins ranging from Karo Parisyan to Nick Diaz to Kenny Florian to Hermes Franca to Tyson Griffin and Dunham, Sherk doesn't want to come back and take a fight for the sake of taking a fight. "I don't want to fight up and comers," said Sherk, who has two bouts left on his UFC contract. "I don't want to fight guys trying to make a name for themselves, I want to fight guys who have been there and done that, guys who I feel like have something to offer me just as much as I have to offer them. It's big fights, is what I want." But Sherk isn't ready to call out anyone by name. "A rematch would be nice, one of my losses," Sherk said. "I'm always game for trying to avenge a loss, or maybe just another contender, someone who's exciting, someone who's fast-paced. Off the top of my head, take your pick, the lightweight division is stacked with so many great fighters out there." Sherk made his UFC debut at UFC 30 on Feb. 23, 2001, which just happened to be the first card under the Zuffa regime. Sherk, though, isn't going to pretend like he knew t the time what the new ownership group would achieve over the next decade. "Well, back then I think I had maybe 12 fights under my belt and really new in the industry and really kind of starstruck, just being in the organization," said Sherk, who defeated Tiki Ghosn that evening. "I had watched UFC going back to UFC 2, had always been a huge fan. I watched every PPV, knew all the fighters, was a total fanboy. I was a little starstruck, I didn't know who Dana [White] was, who Lorenzo and Frank [Fertitta] were. I didn't really know the UFC was in jeopardy. I thought the UFC was making tons of money. "I've been saying since 10 years ago this is the sport of future. I didn't think it would happen as fast as it did, and didn't think I'd be part of it. I always thought it would be by the time I had kids and they were in their 20s, maybe it would be big then. This thing blew up fast." And if he has his way, Sherk will contribute more to the sport before his fighting days are through. "I was tentatively thinking I'd like to fight this summer," he said. "That would be fun, if I get a phone call and they say they've got a great fight, or a great card, I'm in."

Posted in: ufc, fight, year, right fight, sherk

No MMA in New York Once Again This Year

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

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

New York MMA Legislation Falls Short Despite Growing Support

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

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

Brock Beat: Lesnar 'Quits' WWE, Paul Heyman Returns

There was no Brock Lesnar on WWE Monday Night RAW as he "quit' the promotion in storyline, announced by Lesnar's friend and someone that has dabbled in MMA the past few years: Paul Heyman. Lesnar was asked to be at the show, but instead sent his "legal representative" in Heyman, a longtime wrestling personality who has been one of the former UFC champion's closest friends since his early WWE days. After cutting a promo on the virtues of what Lesnar brought to the table, Heyman read a prepared statement from Lesnar where he quit the promotion. Read more about what happened and Heyman's recent MMA business after the jump. Of course, he is signed for a year and will return in August for one of WWE's biggest pay-per-views of the year in Summer Slam, where he is expected to face Triple-H. He attacked HHH on last week's show, "breaking" his arm and setting up the angle. Heyman co-authored Lesnar's 2011 autobiography and did some work with both Strikeforce and Shane Carwin in the past on various promos and segments. In case you missed it earlier, we brought you a clip of the Gracie brothers breaking down Lesnar's kimura.

Posted in: year, brock lesnar, wwe, lesnar, heyman

MMA in New York Will Have to Wait Again, As 2012 Bill Stalls Out

Another year, another disappointment for fans of mixed martial arts in New York. In a scene that is getting to be reminiscent of Lucy snatching the football away from Charlie Brown just as he gets ready to kick, New York state assembly speaker Sheldon Silver has again decided against bringing MMA to a vote despite seemingly growing support for it. In a Monday report by The Daily News, Silver confirmed the bill had effectively stalled. Silver's conclusion came after a Democratic conference of Assembly members. According to the report, Silver, who decides what bills come to the floor for a vote, determined that the bill did not have enough support to pass, although another source told the newspaper that among those in the room, 60 legislators intended to vote for it, and only 25 did not. The source told the News that Silver alleged that others had privately expressed their opposition to the bill, changing the count. Officially, he told the paper, the issue "was pretty evenly divided." Not surprisingly, the UFC immediately expressed disappointment with the decision, with its vice president of regulatory affairs Marc Ratner saying that he felt "150 percent" confident the bill would have passed if it went to the Assembly for a full vote. Legislation geared towards regulating MMA has passed the state's senate as well as Assembly committees in 2012 as well as several years in the past. This year's bill easily sailed through the senate by a 43-14 vote. In 2011, the UFC promised the state two major events within the first calendar year of sanctioning, which would generate around $16 million in economic activity. That hasn't been enough yet to even get Silver to give Assembly member a chance to vote on it. Silver told the Daily News that the situation was "evolving," basically suggesting that MMA will have a better chance of being sanctioned by the state in the future, but given the history of disappointment, that can hardly be considered good news.

Posted in: vote, year, bill, silver, assembly

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

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

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

Report: MMA legislation dead again in New York assembly

Another year, another disappointment - or so it seems for MMA in New York. The "New York Daily News" reported today that a bill to legalize the sport in the Empire State will not receive a vote in the assembly during this year's legislative session. "It will not come to the floor this year," Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver told the paper.

Posted in: year, york, empire state, assembly, york assembly

Michael Bisping is 'pissed off' after learning of Hector Lombard's future title shot

Since when does knocking out "John the baker" put you in line for a title shot? That's a question longtime Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight title chaser Michael Bisping wants answered after learning that Bellator import Hector Lombard could earn a crack at the division crown by stopping Brian Stann at UFC on FOX 4 later this year. "The Count," meanwhile, is relegated to "Barbarian" bashing at UFC 149 on July 21 in Calgary. Fighting Tim Boetsch north of the border is a direct result of losing to Chael Sonnen at UFC on FOX 2 earlier this year, but Bisping is still "pissed off" that Lombard is shooting up the ranks like "Lightning." From MMA Die Hards: "It does piss me off a little bit, you know? I’ve been slugging away in the UFC for six years now, fighting the best guys in the world and just because Hector Lombard’s been knocking out little part-time fighters who probably hold down jobs full-time and he’s been knocking out people that I haven’t got a clue who they are, I haven’t even heard of them, you know, while I’ve been knocking out the best fighters in the world and fighting the best consistently for six years and he’s going to come in from knocking out John the baker from around the corner and you know, he gets a title shot?" Hear more from Bisping on Lombard, Boetsch and his loss to Sonnen, after the jump. For more on Michael Bisping vs. Tim Boetsch at UFC 149 in Calgary click here.

Posted in: ufc, lombard, title, year, bisping

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

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

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

Johny Hendricks: “I don’t try to knock anybody out. I really don’t.”

Typically when you hear about the training camp of a high-level Mixed Martial Artist the process is associated with a number of renowned trainers and comparable competitors to work out with. However, UFC welterweight Johny Hendricks prepared for his fight tomorrow night against Josh Koscheck at UFC on FOX 3 by mixing it up with a group of no-name amateurs. Of course, they also happen to belong to one of the finest wrestling programs in the history of collegiate sports where Hendricks also excelled, Oklahoma State. The 28-year old has recently made it a point to spend time with his fellow Cowboys as a way of not only sharpening his technique but to also remind himself of where he’s come from. “Once I got that loss, I started going back to Oklahoma State and I got that (fire) back,” said Hendricks in an interview with the UFC’s website. “It’s hard to mimic these 20-year olds looking at you and licking their chops because they know you’re 27, 28 years old, and they’re going through wrestling season and all you’re doing is fighting for a living.” “Fighting’s easy compared to wrestling, and whenever I got back in there, you gotta get that toughness back, that want, and it’s very easy to lose,” he continued. “You think you still have it, but it slowly slips away until you get put back in that kind of situation. And then all of a sudden, man, it hits you, and you get fired up and the next thing you know, you get that anger and desire back that you lost. It’s pretty nice to have Oklahoma State only four hours away.” The 12-1 Hendricks has won three straight since his lone stumble including two strike-based stoppages, adding credence to his statements. Interestingly enough, while more than half of his victories have involved a TKO, Hendricks has never entered a bout gunning for a knockout. “The Lord has blessed me with some power, and one thing that I have noticed is that I don’t try to knock anybody out. I really don’t. All I’m trying to do is throw fast and about 80 percent. That’s all I need to throw,” admitted Hendricks. “I’m just trying to get it there as fast as I can. That’s it. Because the faster my hands go, the quicker I can see what I need to do. For some reason, time slows down and me and my opponent slow down when I’m in the Octagon, and whenever I do something, I can sorta see what’s coming.” Koscheck has only been finished with strikes a single time in his career, falling to Paulo Thiago more than three years ago, while facing hard-hitters like Anthony Johnson and Paul Daley since. Tune in to see if Hendricks can deliver #2 on FOX when the broadcast fires up at 8:00 PM EST. Prelims will air through Fuel TV and Facebook in the hours leading up to the event. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: i ’m, year, i need, hendrick, oklahoma state

It's just not a Thursday without seeing Gerorge Roop's nailless toe

The year was 1987. I was a happy five year old shopping for groceries with my aunt while riding in the little area below the shopping cart normally reserved for bottled water and dog food. I remember thinking that this particular supermarket had a very spacious undercarriage in their carts, and I enjoyed the leg room and newfound maneuverability. Then like an idiot five year old I stuck my thumb in the cart's wheel and it tore my thumbnail out at the root. Blood gushed everywhere (not really) and I made a big scene. June 12th, 1996. The Chicago Bulls just lost to the Seattle Supersonics in that year's NBA Finals, putting the series 3-1. Since I couldn't celebrate the Bulls winning a fourth NBA title (yet) I climbed up to the roof of the local elementary school. Somehow I ended hanging off the roof by the gutter, then the gutter broke and I fell twelve feet to the ground but landed quite comfortably into a bush. After creating such a racket I sprinted home and made it halfway before realizing I somehow tore half of my nail off the pointer finger. I continued running home then I made a big scene. Winter 2002. I slip on ice and slam my car door on my hand. My thumbnail turns black and later falls off. I put the nail on roommates food. He made a big scene. It's nice to know George Roop and I have a decent conversation starter if we are ever sharing an elevator or something, the Korean Zombie Killer just tore the nail right out of his big toe last night training. This post is from his Facebook. 'I got my whole toenail completely ripped off last night in training w/ one swift movement. It hurts, just sayn' Thanks to Zach Lambertski for the find! [Source]

Posted in: year, scene, nail, cart, night training

Dan Henderson: “I am taking it year by year, not necessarily fight by fight.”

When Dan Henderson finally meets Jon Jones for the UFC light heavyweight title he will be 42 years old meaning he was a senior in high school when Jones was still an infant. However, the wily veteran has no plans of slowing down in the near future as long as his body holds up, and when considering his recent success it’s hard to blame the former PRIDE/Strikeforce champion. Henderson recently spoke about his approach to competition where he made it clear he expects to be taking to the cage in 2013 and beyond. “I see myself fighting another couple years at least,” said Henderson in an interview with Fightlinker. “Right now I am taking it year by year, not necessarily fight by fight. I do feel as though I have a few good years left in me and I love to compete. I am training a lot smarter than I used to, I don’t beat my body up as bad as I used to.” Jones Hopeful Henderson Will Avoid Trash-Talk In Jones the 29-8 legend will take on an opponent unlike any he’s faced before, combining raw athletic ability with creative striking and technically sound grappling. It’s a match-up that clearly excites Henderson. “It’ll probably be a more entertaining fight than if I had faced Rashad Evans. Evans would’ve looked to put me on my back and try to win the fight on the ground whereas Jones would be more apt to keep the fight standing,” admitted Henderson of Jones in comparison to the champ’s adversary two weeks ago at UFC 145. “I think the fans are happy that I will be facing Jones instead of Evans.” No date has been set for Henderson’s shot at dethroning Jones though it seems late August or early September could be in line for the bout. “Hendo” is currently on a four-fight winning streak including success against Renato Sobral, Rafael Cavalcante, Fedor Emelianenko, and Mauricio Rua. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, fight, jone, henderson, year

Mayweather Vs. Cotto: Floyd Not The Best Boxer Of Last 25 Years

When Floyd Mayweather steps into ring to face Miguel Cotto this Saturday on HBO pay-per-view he will bring a 42-0 record with him. Odds are, he'll add one more to the win column before going off to do a stint in jail (nine month sentence, likely to serve 5-6 months). In his mailbag today, Kevin Iole of Yahoo! Sports addressed the issue of where he sees Floyd fitting in as far as the top fighters of the past 25 years. I don't really get Iole's methodology on a lot of this, he has guys who were great but well past their prime on the list simply because they did fight in the last 25 years. George Foreman is not someone I'd put at #6 on a list of the best fighters of the past 25 years, but his methodology is his, not mine. Regardless, here's where Kevin ranked Floyd and his synopsis: 9. Floyd Mayweather Jr., 1996-present, 42-0, 26 knockouts - Mayweather was at his best at super featherweight, when he had a streak in which he beat a string of elite fighters. He remains a masterful defensive fighter who has underrated counterpunching ability. I think a guy like Julio Cesar Chavez belongs above Floyd, and I have no problem with Evander Holyfield, Pernell Whitaker and Roy Jones, Jr. It does remain straight up crazy for people to treat Floyd like he's in the running for greatest fighter of all time, a fight with Pacquiao (who ranked #12 on the list) would be a great help to his legacy, but there are simply too many great fighters ahead of him. Then again, I also think his "0" has an asterisk given that i think he lost the first fight with Jose Luis Castillo (which necessitated a rematch to "clean up"). Regardless, nothing can take away from Floyd's status as a great fighter and his accomplishments to this point are outstanding.

Posted in: mayweather, fighter, floyd, year, list

53 year old man wins MMA fight against someone 30 years younger

submitted by redbeardb [link] [5 comments]

Posted in: fight, year, mma fight, someone, redbeardb

Blue Chip Sponsor Anheuser-Busch Warns UFC About Fighters’ Sexist, Homophobic Comments

AdvertisingAge reports that Anheuser-Busch, a major blue chip sponsor for the UFC, has “reprimanded the mixed-martial arts organization for remarks made by some fighters”. Multiple advocacy groups have recently criticized several UFC employees and fighter comments as “sexist and homophobic.” A-B recently released a press release which stated the following: “We’ve communicated to the UFC our displeasure with certain remarks made by some of its fighters, and they have promised to address this. If the incidents continue, we will act” In a statement to AdAge regarding the A-B situation, UFC issued the following response: With over 425 athletes on our roster, there have unfortunately been instances where a couple athletes have made insensitive or inappropriate comments. We don’t condone this behavior, and in no way is it reflective of the company or its values …. unlike most other sports leagues, we encourage our athletes to engage online. It is part of our company culture, and whenever you are at the forefront of a trend or initiative, it comes with its own pitfalls. We will continue to embrace social media while looking for better ways to stay in front of the issues. This includes a mandate for our athletes to attend sensitivity training and a seminar on proper use of social media. AdAge also went ahead and cited 3 recent incidents that were documented in a letter by the National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence. One involves UFC fighter Quinton “Rampage” Jackson urging Japanese fans to say homophobic statements, another of UFC fighter Rashad Evans hyping his fight against Penn State alumni Phil Davis inappropriately stating “I’m going to put those hands on you worse than that dude did them other kids at Penn State”. The last is not a fighter, but UFC announcer Joe Rogan, who used sexist and misogynist language against Yahoo Sports blogger Maggie Hendricks after she pointed out Rampage Jackson’s inappropriate behavior towards female reporters. Plenty of other instances regarding UFC president Dana White performing similar acts have also been reported within the last few years, but were not cited in the write-up. The letter that caused a lot of the recent commotion for A-B and the UFC was a letter from the group Alcohol Justice, who titled it “An Open Letter to Anheuser-Busch InBev (ABI) Shareholders – RE: Opposition to sponsorship of the Ultimae Fighting Championship (UFC). The letter states the following: Dear Shareholder: As fellow shareholders and as public health advocates, Alcohol Justice (formerly Marin Institute) asks you to vigorously oppose ABI’s sponsorship of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the world’s largest promoter of violent cage-fighting events. We believe ABI’s sponsorship of UFC must come to an end as there is a very tangible risk to the bottom line of dividends and stock price value as well as long term bad press as the relationship of this patently brutal blood sport to predatory marketing of Bud Light to underage youth are played out on the global stage of public opinion. It’s already being called “Blood Light.” This cannot be good for business, sales, or long-term profitability. Alcohol Justice, the alcohol industry watchdog, has served as a leading research and advocacy institution for over 24 years. We monitor and expose the alcohol industry’s targeting of youth and minority populations, as well as the industry’s adverse effect on public health and the environment globally. There is compelling evidence that exposure to alcohol advertising and marketing increases the likelihood of underage drinking. Since 2001, at least seven peer-reviewed, federally funded, long-term studies have found that young people with greater exposure to alcohol marketing — including on television, in magazines, on the radio, on billboards or other outdoor signage, or via in-store beer displays, beer concessions, or ownership of beer promotional items or branded merchandise — are more likely to start drinking than their peers. As the primary sponsor of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Anheuser-Busch InBev (ABI) is delivering harmful content to millions of underage youth. At center stage is the ever-present Bud Light logo, imbued throughout all of UFC’s violent events, including live fights, Pay-Per-View, and television broadcasts that reach 354 million homes worldwide. These homes are filled with children! In addition, millions of UFC fans of all ages have access to live streaming of fights via Facebook, and limitless YouTube videos of bloody fights, promotions, and “pornohol” such as Bud Light Lime ads featuring UFC “Octagon Girl” Arianny Celeste topless, underwear-clad and rolling around in a bed of limes. UFC President Dana White has been quoted as saying “our targeted audience is anywhere from age 17 to 35.” He and a number of UFC athletes have recently come under fire for sexist, homophobic, violent and derogatory remarks, including jokes about rape and sexual assault. As A-B InBev shareholders we should be outraged by this behavior. Given that alcohol is the number one drug of choice among America’s youth, and the U.S. Surgeon General estimates that approximately 5,000 people under age 21 die from alcohol-related injuries involving underage drinking each year, board members, shareholders, and consumers will become more aware of the ethical ramifications that continued sponsorship of UFC will have on ABI. Do we really want Bud Light ads to be condemned for irresponsibly delivering harmful content to millions of youth, exposing them to people beating one another to a bloody pulp? We believe this will lead to mounting litigations, inevitable regulatory and legislative actions, and growing concerns about the safety of youth exposed to harmful content by viewing UFC promotions. All of this can only hurt ABI’s reputation as a corporate citizen and its robust revenue. As shareholders we have an obligation to help protect stock value by holding the corporation to higher standards of responsibility, especially those related to underage consumption and harm. We can insist that management address these ethical issues with more integrity by pulling its support of this graphic, violent, bloody sport. While the world may still want to enjoy a Bud Light, it does not need “Blood Light.” Respectfully, Bruce Lee Livingston, MPP Executive Director/CEO *** That very same day, Business Insider Advertising also wrote a write-up titled “Budweiser Threatened To Pull Its Ad Dollars From The UFC After Seeing This Guy’s Nazi Tattoos”. They went to state that the statement released by A-B regarding the inappropriate language and behavior is “almost unheard of in sports sponsorship, where advertiser displeasure is usually delivered to media partners behind closed doors”. The website also stated “While the sport can’t be expected to be a bastion of Edwardian manners, it is not until you see a collection of the kinds of things said by UFC pros that you realize just how unprofessional the organization is. What follows is a slideshow of incidents in which offensive language and behavior is used in the UFC”. If you recall back at UFC 100 – the biggest show in UFC history to date – Brock Lesnar stood on the Bud Light logo, pointed at it, and said he was looking forward to going home with his wife and “drinking a Coors Light because Bud Light won’t pay me me anything”. That problem was dealt with behind closed doors as both the UFC and Lesnar were reprimanded by A-B and during the post-fight press conference, Lesnar answered questions and apologized for his behavior as a Bud Light bottle was strategically placed in front of him. Courtesy of Bleacher Report *** Regarding who is responsible for triggering most of this recent bad press for the UFC, look no further than the Culinary Workers Union Local 226, who has had ongoing labor disputes with Station Casinos and UFC owners Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta -both firmly against labor unions. So far, the Culinary Union has been credited for keeping the UFC out of the state of New York for several years by backing anti-MMA legislators in the state, triggering a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigation, writing letters to UFC advertisers and TV partners (FOX) informing them of the inappropriate language and behavior of the organization and its fighters, the creation of http://www.unfitforchildren.org/ (a website illustrating many of these examples), and just recently, drafting up a version of MMA Bill of Rights and presenting it in front of the Nevada State Athletic Commission and recently in front of the California State Athletic Commission. In terms of the labor union’s efforts against the UFC owners, this week has been a rewarding one. The letters to UFC sponsors and multiple anti abuse and violence groups has increased the awareness of lack of etiquette it has haunted the UFC in the past, when they just weren’t quite mainstream enough for anyone to care. Landing the recent FOX deal and essentially putting all their main competitors out of business in recent years has caught the attention of mainstream groups in the last year. Earlier this week, the proposed Bill of Rights hearing in Sacramento (AB2100) passed committee on a 5-3 vote. This bill would essential give fighters rights – many derived up from the Ali Act in boxing – which the UFC greatly apposes. UFC representatives essentially told the committee that if the bill passed, it would essentially drive the UFC away from California, which would have a great economic impact on not only the fighters, but also on the state. It would also cause a heavy burden and expense on the CSAC, which they are not equipped to handle. List of parties who are in favor and against AB2100 amendments: Support: American Rights at Work, Arete Agency. California Conference Board of the Amalgamated Transit Union. California Conference of Machinists. California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO. California Police Activities League. California Teamsters Public Affairs Council. Engineers & Scientists of California, IFPTE Local 20. Fighters Online, International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Jockey’s Guild, Mixed Martial Arts Fighters Association, Patient Networks, Professional & Technical Engineers, IFPTE Local 21, United Food & Commercial, Workers Western States Council, UNITE-HERE, AFL-CIO, Utility Workers Union of America, Local 132, two private citizens (Eddie Goldman & Juanito Ibarra) Opposition: Goossen Tutor Promotions, Honda Center, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, HP Pavilion at San Jose, Ultimate Fighting Championship … Notice the opposition here. - UFC is a given. - Notice HP Pavilion in San Jose. Last year, the UFC’s purchased Strikeforce, which at the time was it’s main competitor, from the Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment based out of San Jose, who also owns the San Jose Sharks and manages the HP Pavilion. The problem with owning Strikeforce was that it kept UFC out of San Jose, a hotbed for MMA at the time, due to the nature of being competitors. Part of the deal to sell Strikeforce to Zuffa was for the UFC to put on several shows at the HP Pavilion per year. Since the purchase, Zuffa has visited San Jose for UFC 139 late last year and is currently scheduled for the Strikeforce HW GP finale on May 19th. Another date for a smaller UFC show was discussed for July and another big UFC numbered event is in talks before the end of the year. A bill which would would drive the UFC away and it’s now close ties to the promotion would obviously be bad business for the San Jose based venue. - The Honda Center is the other California venue listed as opposition. Interestingly enough, that’s the UFC’s preferred venue when visiting Southern California, where they can heavily push and market towards the Hispanic demographic as they did for Cain Velasquez against Brock Lesnar and most recently on their FOX debut against Junior Dos Santos. UFC’s plan was to host another big event at the Honda Center by the end of the year. - The other is Goossen Tutor Promotions, which is ran by Dan Goossen, who is a boxing promoter and the manager of ex-boxing champ James Toney, who fought for the the UFC in 2010 at UFC 118 against Randy Couture. Goossen negotiated Toney’s contract to fight in the UFC. Goossen also wanted to do James Toney vs Tito Ortiz around 2003-2004 and a previous Toney vs Couture bout about five years ago. *** Looking at the Culinary Union’s efforts the past few years, it’s apparent that their efforts have focused on keeping the UFC out of New York, trying to do the same in California (one of their biggest current markets within the US), and impacting the relationship between their major blue chip sponsors is quite the strategic plan. All would impact the UFC’s bottom line. I’m not sure the labor union can continue to be successful and continue to lobby against the UFC for years to come, but they are doing something most other groups have failed to do in a very long time, and that’s pose a challenge. If they weren’t taken seriously before, I can assure you no one from Zuffa is laughing at their efforts now. At the very least, it causes a few annoying and pesky headaches here and there for the Fertitta brothers in hopes that one day both sides can come to an agreement. Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear that a compromise will be reached anytime soon.

Posted in: ufc, fighter, year, light, california

Rey Mysterio suspended by WWE for second time due to wellness violation

WWE Superstar Rey Mysterio is far from the largest athlete on the company’s roster meaning much of the wear-and-tear he’s suffered throughout his career has taken a greater toll on his body than it might if he was a foot taller and a hundred pounds heavier. Unfortunately, the abuse has left him injured with regularity over the past few years and it looks like he’s resorted to illegal means to deal with the pain/recovery. According to an official announcement by WWE, Mysterio has been suspended for sixty days based on a second violation of the organization’s wellness program. His first transgression came in 2009, while a few years prior he was connected to a case involving steroid use. If he violates it a third time he will be released by the organization per WWE policy. No statement has surfaced yet from Mysterio’s camp explaining the issue as of this report. The 37-year old Mysterio, born Oscar Gutierrez, is a three-time world champion under WWE’s banner and is known for his high-flying style and infamous masked appearance. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: year, official announcement, wwe, mysterio, rey mysterio

Rory MacDonald can beat any UFC welterweight, but will never fight Georges St. Pierre

After dominating Che Mills this past weekend (April 21, 2012) at UFC 145 in Atlanta, Ga., Rory MacDonald upped his win streak inside the Octagon to three, continuing his ascension to the top of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Welterweight division. From the opening bell, MacDonald dominated the overmatched Mills, leaving him bloodied and battered after the first five minutes of action. Ultimately, "Ares" proved to be too much for the Brit, as the referee was forced to step in and save "Beautiful" from further punishment at the hands of the young Canadian in the second round. With his lone loss coming at the hands of the mixed martial art (MMA) promotion's current interim welterweight champion Carlos Condit at UFC 115 two years ago, MacDonald is one step closer to possibly getting his rematch with the "Natural Born Killer" should he get past MacDonald's training partner, reigning 170-pound champion, Georges St. Pierre, later this year. Describing his style as a "technically aggressive," MacDonald has proven that despite his young age (22), he has what it takes to compete with the best 170-pound fighters in the world not named St. Pierre. Not because he thinks he can't beat "Rush," but because he believes in his principles -- no amount of money would ever make his step into the Octagon against a man he considers his friend. He said as much in a recent interview with Sportsnet : "I think I could beat anybody in the division right now. I know my skill level. I've evolved so much, added so many tools to my game. I feel like I've put so many things in my game that I can be aggressive but technical at the same time. It takes experience (to learn how to stay calm). I've lost control in one of my fights before (but) basically (I) try to keep composed and try not to make mistakes and keep my technique. A lot of people think it's better to go into berserker mode, but it's not actually. I'm a pretty exciting fighter without going into berserker mode." After seeing the fallout between former friends and training partners Jon Jones and Rashad Evans, Rory is going to make sure that doesn't happened between he and "Rush:" "It's about principle. You can't dance with the devil. I didn't get into (mixed martial arts) for money ... I'm not taking a fight against Georges. We're training partners and help each other get better ... I stick to my principles. I believe in friendship. I have to think more tomorrow and 10 years from now." With the UFC set to head to Canada at least three times this year -- UFC 149 in Calgary on July 21, UFC 152 in Toronto on Sept. 22 and UFC 154 in Montreal on Nov. 17 -- the young Canadian would like nothing more to compete on his home turf next time out: "I've got to heal my elbow up and see how I feel in two weeks. I don't want to fight too soon so I'll be injured when I fight ... I definitely want to make an appearance on Canadian soil." With one or two more impressive victories, MacDonald could be well on his way to his own title shot. But, who should he face in his next outing? The winner of Josh Koscheck and Johny Hendricks, who are set to tangle at UFC on Fox 3 on May 5, 2012, could be a good option and could prove to a be an intriguing test for the young welterweight. Unless, of course, you have a better opponent in mind?

Posted in: ufc, welterweight, year, macdonald, berserker mode

Alistair Overeem Suspended 9 Months By The NSAC

Technically it isn't a suspension as he was never licensed at the time, it's a denial of license, but it's essentially the same thing and quite frankly, everyone knows what a suspension is without having to explain it. Even though I just did. Whatever. The suspension/denial is retroactive to March, done somewhat purposely so that 'Reem would be able to fight on the traditional New Year's Eve card. Quick aside, this business savvy on the part of the NSAC illustrates that they're not dummies and know what side of toast their bread is buttered on. The UFC draws a lot of money into the state and 'Reem is a fairly big attraction (no pun intended). Going very harsh on him would not be in their best business interests, and quite honestly the language they used was nothing short of fellatio. Again, this is done purposely. When you're the big star with real lawyers and the whole nine yards, you get treated better than if you're undercard Joe Nobody. Here's what the days events boiled down to: Overeem tried to lay the blame at the hands of a doctor (more on him later), whom he was recommended to by friend and former UFC fighter Tra Telligman. His claim was that the doctor gave him a shot that unbeknownst to him, had testosterone in it. Some of this claim was probably aided in the fact that his doctor, one Dr. Hector Molina, came across as a bumbling idiot incapable of properly administering Tylenol, much less give valid medical advice. The flip side of it is that he associated himself with such a moron, that he should be punished just for that. There's more to it than just that, however. Both Overeem and the doctor gave such conflicting, roundabout stories that at least to me, it basically came across as a lie followed by a series of other lies to cover up that lie. As anyone who's ever got caught telling a lie to their parents can attest (or the other way around), it's fairly easy to pick up on, because it snowballs and it's hard to keep stuff straight. For example there's this part from early in the hearing: Overeem tried to flee the building at time of random test, jumped into a car and sped off despite being told that he had to stay to give a sample. Claims he "didn't realize" he needed to stick around and was going to an interview, then changed story that he was going to talk about his battery case, then changed story again that he was going to try to avoid Golden Glory serving him papers. UFC says they made it entirely clear that he needed to stick around. I mean... wow. You can get a really good summary of quotes from the hearing over at BE (which is what I did, so much easier than typing all that myself), but the long and short of it is that today was a circus. It's his fault, no I told him that, now it's this story, now that story... Blah. It's frustrating that as a fan we have to become equal parts science majors and pre-legals to know the ins and outs of what's happening with this sport, but that's what we've come to now. Oh, and we're also part detective. Check this information that one intrepid googler found on that thread: Overeem’s physician Dr. Hector Molina was also disciplined for selling narcotic prescriptions online back in ‘04. There’s a newspaper article pasted here: http://www.voy.com/156189/3/494.htmlHe also did this: http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/health/2011/12/20/plastic-surgery-nightmare-for-texas-teen/And has a domestic violence arrest on his record: http://www.localnewsonly.com/2010lno/news/05/10_05_01colleyarrests.htm Quite frankly, I'm glad this whole absurdity has been closed for some many months. Alistair cheated, whether unknowingly (right) or knowingly and got punished mostly in line with other people caught for this offense. Santos got a year. Lawal got nine months. Sonnen got a year and had it reduced upon appeal. This was neither light nor harsh, and unless Dana White tells 'Reem to go pound sand, he'll have a fight at the end of the year. Hopefully he'll also be tested like very month to ensure he doesn't cheat again (or at least cheats better. Shrug).

Posted in: year, part, month, story, doctor

Let Eddie Alvarez explain how he feels about leaving Bellator to fight in the UFC

The first time I saw Eddie Alvarez fighting, he was 8-0 and fighting on Bodog Fight's Costa Rica Combat. Totally bizarre set-up but I also managed to catch Roy Nelson, Rosi Sexton, Jake Ellenberger, Chael Sonnen, Jake Shields and Brad Pickett on Bodog Fights so totally worth it and if you can catch any of these events online I wholly endorse blowing off work today to watch them. This was the first time I has seen any of these fighters but it was Eddie Alvarez who blew me away and I immediately loved the guy. I started watching Bellator because he was fighting, same with DREAM. I'm not going to pretend I've been following MMA since the NHB days like a lot of guys do. I started following MMA because of Eddie Alvarez. You can only imagine how I felt when Shinya Aoki heel hooked his way to victory over my boy Eddie on that fateful New Years Eve. 92 seconds of intense emotions kicked my ass that night. I can now relate directly to how Gary LaPlante felt when Shogun lost to Jon Jones. Eddie has since avenged that loss but if things go well, he could be fighting in the UFC by the end of the year. He appeared on The MMA Hour to talk with Ariel Helwani about a number of things but most prominently about his contractual obligation with Bellator and how he feels about interest from the UFC. After informing us that his Bellator contract has either one fight or four months left, he had this to say on the interest from UFC. “Yeah man, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't interested in fighting for the UFC. You have to be crazy, that's every fighters, that is the Mecca of all fighting and we all sort of strive for, to get in there and get that belt. I'm still obligated to a contract and I'm going to fulfill my obligations for the contract. I don't even know what I can say or anything. I'm going to fulfill my obligations, and then we will figure out and maybe take bids from other companies. I made an agreement with Bjorn four years ago and I want to fulfill that agreement. I'm not trying to be a bad guy or anything, but like any employer, if you are with a company for four years, I think everybody that has been with Bellator so far, who have been there for four years have got a raise, you know? They have got their contracts renegotiated and got raises. I'm an employee of Bellator and I feel I have that right, after these four years they can assess my performance and what I have helped the company with and they can say if I deserve a raise or if I don't, and at that point, maybe another company can step in and say what they are offering.” I can’t say Eddie’s habit of getting rocked early and coming back to win would work out in the UFC, all I know is that I’ll most certainly be watching if it happens. [source]

Posted in: bellator, year, eddie alvarez, eddie, im

Rory MacDonald: “I’m gonna be champion, there’s no doubt. It’s about when.”

UFC welterweight Rory MacDonald may look his age but the 22-year old Canadian approaches his chosen profession with the wisdom of a much older individual. Shortly after finishing Che Mills in convincing fashion on Saturday night at UFC 145 “Ares” was asked how he felt about his performance, and rather than revel in his domination he referred to the mistakes he made. “I’m very happy that I won,” began MacDonald in an interview with Fuel TV before picking apart his effort. “I made some technical errors that I need to look back (at) and fix. But I’m happy with it because I can improve as a fighter that way. I backed up against the cage, I let him close the distance on me instead of keeping my distance, I didn’t use my fakes and set-ups properly…but that’s gonna come with experience.” Clearly a perfectionist, MacDonald is also dead set on avenging the lone blemish Carlos Condit put on his record with a last-second TKO stoppage a little less than two years ago. Though he understands Condit is currently busy, likely fighting divisional champion Georges St. Pierre in November, MacDonald has no problem waiting as long as he eventually gets another crack at him. “I want my rematch with Carlos soon. Hopefully Georges beats him and I get my shot,” said MacDonald of what’s on his agenda. “Besides that, just keep fighting, getting experience…I don’t care who.” As long as the “who” isn’t mentor/teammate St. Pierre, that is, creating a match-up MacDonald is not willing to entertain. Of course, with years to go before entering his prime the 13-1 fighter seemingly has plenty of time left to eventually win UFC gold. “Of course I’m gonna be champion, there’s no doubt. It’s about when,” MacDonald concluded. The full interview with MacDonald can be found below: PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, year, macdonald, ’m, ’t use

Professional Fighters Brain Health Study Shows Bad News For Veteran Fighters

We have all heard stories of the hard-headed warrior who refuses to quit and sends all advice to hang up the gloves in one ear and out the other. In recent news, a scientific study done by the Ruvo Brain Health Center in Las Vegas suggests that there may be an actual threshold at which the brains of veteran fighters start to shrink and show significant decline or damage. If the study turns out the way these initial results suggest, that veteran fighter could literally be able to predict the point at which too many brain cells are dribbled away to go unscathed- and that threshold may be reached sooner than you think. This is one serious, scary set of finds to look at and if the multi-year study continues to get the funding and participants it has been, this could force major changes in all professional sports. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) has been a regular topic here at Bloody Elbow, as scientists and fighters are finding out that there are indeed links between repetitive blows to the head, not enough rest in between blows and mental disorders or diseases like Parkinson's, Lou Gehrig's, pugilistic dementia and an array of other lifelong and debilitating conditions. Related Links: Ben Thapa on New Jersey's Fighter Safety Symposium | Brent Brookhouse talks Gary Goodrige and Traumatic Brain Injury | David Castillo on Concussions and Lou Gehrig's Disease | David Castillo on NCAA and NFL Lawsuits about Concussions and Dementia | Bloody Elbow's Best Writing of 2011: Michael David Smith on Jose Figueroa license to fight in California 2 weeks after being KO'd in Russia The meat and potatoes of the study will be discussed after the jump. The particular study hitting the newswires in recent days is run out of the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, a division of the Cleveland Clinic in Las Vegas, NV. The four year study (as currently planned right now) is run by a man named Dr. Charles Bernick, the associate director of the Ruvo Center. As Las Vegas is one of the premier fight cities in the world, the Cleveland Clinic has worked with hundreds of fighters to get their medicals, x-rays and brain scans done. There is a fairly large pool of willing participants for this study there. Dr. Charles Bernick via photos.lasvegassun.com The abstract or study itself is somewhat hard to find at the moment, but a variety of mainstream publications hvae chosen to cover this (primarily for the boxing angle). Trawling through those articles, we find that Bernick and his team arranged the study in a particular way that ended up showing an unusually early onset point for the criteria used to measure the brain health and mental performance of the athletes: As part of an ongoing study on brain health, the researchers divided 109 licensed boxers and mixed martial artists into three groups: those who had fought for less than 6 years, 6 to 12 years or more than 12 years. Their average age was about 29. Participants underwent MRI scans to measure their brain volume and tests of their thinking and memory. "In those that fought less than 6 years, we didn't find any changes," Bernick said. For that group, he said, "the more you fought didn't seem to make any differences in the size of brain structure or their performance on some of the tests like reaction time." But for the other two groups of boxers and combat athletes, "the greater number of fights, the sizes of certain volumes of the brain were decreasing," he said. "But, it was only in those that fought more than 12 years that we could detect the changes in performance in reaction time and processing speed." Women made up about 10 percent of the fighters in the study, too small a number to make any comparisons for now, Bernick said. Quoted from Lisa Esposito, US News HealthDay reporter. As of right now, the results are still being presented to the attendees of the week-long seminars in New Orleans by the American Academy of Neuroscience. As more information comes out, we at Bloody Elbow will update you - this is a significant topic in MMA and should be covered as much as possible. In the Los Angeles Times coverage, the "ultimate" goal of the study is laid out for us: Currently, fighters are required to undergo only one brain MRI test, which could be taken at the beginning of their career. State commissions can request an additional MRI if they're alarmed by a fighter's age, performance or behavior. But pinpointing when to stop a fight remains an undefined point of discretion. With his research, Bernick was hoping to help establish the threshold neurologists can use to determine the start of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease. The coverage at CNN makes a good point with this: What the study cannot yet account for is what makes one fighter more susceptible to CTE than another. Findings in the Professional Fighters Brain Health Study will later include factors such as genetics, proteins in the blood, speech analysis, educational level, and other factors that could paint a more vivid picture of the disease. I strongly suspect that training methods - fighters not wearing headgear or sparring at near full fight intensity levels with few restrictions on head blows - will show to be much more significant than things like blood proteins or muscular structure. The old days of the Ken Shamrock-run Lion's Den is exactly what fighters should never be enduring during their training or beginning stages. As the Los Angeles Times notes, this study has gained significant funding this year and in part from one of the owners of the UFC: The study received a $12-million boost in funding earlier this year from a Las Vegas dinner and auction. One of the highlights of the night was Ultimate Fighting Championship Chairman Lorenzo Fertitta outbidding Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, spending $1.1 million for a pair of autographed gloves belonging to Muhammad Ali. The following of fighters who show mental deterioration and evident physical signs of declining brain health could be possible with this level of continued funding and openness. This is good for the sport of MMA and for all professional athletes putting their livelihood and lives on the line for a few short years of notoriously fickle athletic fame and fortune.

Posted in: fighter, year, brain, study, health

UFC Quick Quote: Dan Henderson doesn't have a (expletive) chance of beating Jon Jones

"He doesn't have a fucking chance. Does anyone? Don Frye if he got off his lazy ass. I said this about a year ago about the same question. [Jones is] gonna run the gamut in the light heavyweight division until he goes to the heavyweight division. He's six four and twenty three years old so he can only stay at 205 for so long, so then age and gravity will kick in and he just won't be able to stay there. So until he moves up to heavy and has a hell of a fight against Junior Dos Santos no one will touch him. Dos Santos is going to run the heavyweight division until Jones gets there. No one can challenge Dos Santos just like no one can challenge Bones at light heavyweight." Sorry, Hendo, but former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Tournament Champion Don Frye (via Middle Easy) doesn't think you have an effing chance of beating reigning 205-pound champion Jon Jones, who continued his divisional dominance by disposing of former titleholder Rashad Evans at UFC 145 last Saturday night (April 21, 2012) in Atlanta, Georgia. "Bones" is expected to welcome his latest challenger, Dan Henderson, in a light heavyweight showdown later this year. Is Don just saying what we're all thinking? Or has he simply had one too many BudFryezers before breakfast? Opinions, please.

Posted in: ufc, jone, heavyweight, year, doesnt

Bellator Quick Quote: Eddie Alvarez open to trilogy fight with Shinya Aoki on neutral ground

"[Aoki] got me when I went over to Japan three years ago and I got him here tonight. Maybe we can meet somewhere halfway like in Hawaii or something and fight somewhere nice or whatever. This is like one of those fights, man, where I'm a striker, he's a devastating grappler and it could go either way. I had a good night tonight, it's no more than that." -- Former Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez avenged one of his two career losses at 155 pounds against top Japanese talent Shinya Aoki this past Friday night (April 20, 2012) in the main event of Bellator 66 in Cleveland, Ohio, with a first round technical knockout. He now holds a 1-1 career record against Aoki with both men defeating each other in their respective home countries. This victory was huge for Alvarez, who dropped his title to Xtreme Couture's Michael Chandler last year in one of 2011's finest fights. The Philadelphia native chose to forgo an opportunity to enter this season's lightweight tournament and instead focus on avenging the Aoki loss. His Bellator contract is set to expire later this year, but has he priced himself out of getting another Bellator contract by scoring this high profile win?

Posted in: fight, bellator, year, aoki, bellator contract

UFC 145 Musings

JONES TAKES IT TO ANOTHER LEVELUFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones answered any remaining critics with a virtuoso performance on Saturday night. He completely shut down arch nemesis Rashad Evans in every facet of the game. The win erased any doubt over the legitimacy of his championship reign.Remember that it was Evans, not Jones, who was originally supposed to face Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 128 in Newark, New Jersey. When Evans injured himself, the UFC opted to substitute in Jones, rather than delay the championship bout until the rightful number one contender healed. That decision sparked controversy inside one of the most successful mixed martial arts teams in the world – Jackson-Winklejohn MMA – and ultimately left a cloud of doubt lingering over Jones’ reign.Jones not only cleared the skies with his win. He firmly placed himself in the middle of the vaunted pound-for-pound debate with fellow mega stars Georges St-Pierre and Anderson Silva. If one just considers fights since January 1, 2011, it is tough to argue that anyone other than Jones deserves to be considered the sport’s single best competitor.Let’s take a look at the comparables.During that span, Jones has five annihilation wins in five fights. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Shogun Rua, Lyoto Machida, and Rashad Evans were all reigning or former champions at the time they faced him. Yet, “Bones” Jones literally outclassed each of them, making it seem like they didn’t belong on the same level as him. Oh yes, before dispatching with all those elite stars, Jones thrashed then-undefeated star prospect Ryan Bader.GSP and Silva are also undefeated over the last 16-plus months. But the two have combined for only three fights during that period due to injuries. GSP’s lone victory was a decision win over Jake Shields, who arguably has been the best fighter in the world outside of the UFC for the past few years leading up to the GSP fight. While GSP’s win was impressive, it was just one win. Had the champion also faced and defeated Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit, then one could make a great case for GSP being the sport’s most accomplished fighter since January 1, 2011. One win isn’t enough.Silva only holds two victories during that span. He made former champion Vitor Belfort and perennial top contender Yushin Okami look amazingly ordinary in those two bouts. That in itself is an amazing feat. Add to the mix that Silva, who is currently in the midst of a 14 fight UFC winning streak, holds just about every UFC championship record imaginable, and it is tough to argue that anyone other than Silva deserves the top spot based on a complete body of work. But we aren’t looking at entire careers right now. We are just looking at the last 16 months. Nobody in the sport has accomplished more than Jones during that period. Nobody has faced tougher competition. And nobody has made more successful title defenses.2011 was undoubtedly the “Year of Jon Jones.” 2012 might not be any different.HENDO NEXT UP FOR THE CHAMPIt doesn’t take long for UFC officials to add a sobering dose of reality to a champion’s victory party. Dana White announced after Jones’ dominating win over his bitter rival that Dan Henderson will be up next. For those who don’t have a long memory, this is the same Dan Henderson who won the PRIDE 183-pound and 205-pound belts. He remains the only man in history to simultaneously reign over two divisions of a major fight promotion. This is the same Dan Henderson who savagely knocked out Fedor Emelianenko in a heavyweight bout. Yes, the same Fedor who was once thought to be the most dangerous man on the planet. It is the same Dan Henderson who represented the United States in two separate Olympic games. Anyone who thinks that his better days are behind him at 41 years old need only look back to UFC 139, where Hendo survived a back-and-forth war with former champion Shogun Rua in what many believe was the best fight in UFC history. We will break down the fight from every angle as it approaches, but Hendo might just be the toughest matchup for Jones so far in his illustrious career – at least on paper that seems to be the case. IS MACDONALD-GSP THE NEXT JONES-EVANS?Rory MacDonald won’t turn 23 years old until July 22. Yet, he is already a veteran of five UFC bouts. His only loss among them was a dramatic, come-from-behind win by Carlos Condit at UFC 115. Had he survived seven more seconds, he would be a perfect 5-0 right now, because he was ahead on two of the three scorecards at the time of the stoppage.Condit is the reigning interim UFC welterweight champion, just in case you forgot. That tells you just how good MacDonald really is. The question now is whether this guy is the future of a division currently ruled by his mentor and training partner Georges St-Pierre?Several youngsters have entered the UFC amidst tremendous hype. None more so than Vitor Belfort, who, at 19 years old, won a UFC heavyweight tournament. He instantly became one of the sport’s favorite sons. His lightning-fast hands, Gracie pedigree and good looks made him an instant star in the sport’s early years. Yet, it took Belfort seven more years before he finally won his first UFC title. And he wasn’t able to successfully defend it. Belfort has had a great career and remains one of the very best fighters in the sport, but he has never quite lived up to the tremendous hype that followed him during his early years.Jon Jones didn’t enter the UFC with the same wave of popular support as Belfort. Some could argue that he competed under the radar for his first several fights before finally getting everyone’s attention with his destruction of Brandon Vera two fights before capturing the 205-pound championship. There is little doubt that Jones has exceeded all but probably his own expectations at this early point in his career. Of course, the expectations for him now are through the proverbial roof. Unless he becomes the next Anderson Silva (or first Jon Jones), I’m not sure whether people will view him as fulfilling his destiny or not. That brings us to Rory MacDonald. This guy is definitely the real deal. His near-miss with Condit and win over Nate Diaz are vivid evidence of that truism. Expectations for him are building like those for few other 22-year-old fighters in the sport. I’m not so sure he will be able to live up to them any time soon.That isn’t by any means meant to be a knock on his skills. MacDonald has plenty of those. It is instead the reality of competing in a division that is currently ruled by an all-time great who remains squarely in the prime of his athletic career. GSP turns 31 next month.Unless GSP starts to decline due to injuries or accumulated cage mileage, it is tough to imagine anyone derailing his career in the short term. Condit certainly has a shot at it. Maybe Johny Hendricks and Nick Diaz, too. But none of those guys will be betting favorites against the champion. It is equally tough to imagine MacDonald staying out of the welterweight title picture during the next couple of years. So it seems that GSP and MacDonald two are on a collision course, much like Evans and Jones when the two were both training under the same roof. I know I’m getting way ahead of myself. GSP is currently recovering from an ACL tear and MacDonald is not yet considered a true welterweight contender. He’s also gone on the record saying that he won’t fight his training partner. But I have no doubt that GSP will be back as good as before and MacDonald will enter contender status by the end of the year or possibly early in 2013.So when the time comes…if the time comes…will GSP and MacDonald compete as teammates? Will one of them leave Zahabi MMA and Tristar Gym as their collision course starts to draw near? Those questions will make MacDonald’s rise through the division that much more interesting in the coming months and years, in my opinion.THE TIME IS NOW FOR BROWNEThe UFC heavyweight division is about as deep as it has ever been with guys like Junior dos Santos, Cain Velasquez, Frank Mir, Alistair Overeem, Mark Hunt, “Minotauro” Nogueira and others. The UFC now has the luxury of putting on non-title marquee matchups, just like it does in other divisions, to sort out the championship challenger queue. Travis Browne is ready for one of those marquee matchups.Five fights into his UFC career, Browne already owns a couple of bonus checks for Submission of the Night and Knockout of the Night. He also has a draw on his record against the well-respected Cheick Kongo – a fight that many believe he should have won. Still undefeated through 14 professional fights, “Hapa,” as he is known, is now ready for the big time.

Posted in: ufc, fight, jone, ’t, year

Don Frye tells us Hendo has no chance against Bones Jones, goes off on Chael Sonnen, and gives us life advice

You never really know what to expect when you interview Don Frye, you kind of lob your questions like a grenade over your shoulder then grab your helmet as debris from The Predator's explosive words rain down upon your head. It's OK though, talking to Don Frye is worth taking a piece of shrapnel in the butt. Today I was tasked with talking to Don Frye about his new Round 5 special edition action figure, instead, I learned the age Don Frye started masturbating. Sometimes these things happen in MMA interviews. Enjoy Don The Predator Frye completely uncensored and hiding from his Sunday chores in this interview (for added effect read it in Don Frye's voice). Did you see the fights last night? Yeah, yeah I did. Joe Silva does a hell of a job matchmaking, that's where it all is right there. He deserves all the credit in the world. Do you think Dan Henderson can beat Jon Jones? He doesn't have a fucking chance. Does anyone? Don Frye if he got off his lazy ass. I said this about a year ago about the same question. He's gonna run the gamut in the light heavyweight division until he goes to the heavyweight division. He's six four and twenty three years old so he can only stay at 205 for so long, so then age and gravity will kick in and he just won't be able to stay there. So until he moves up to heavy and has a hell of a fight against Junior Dos Santos no one will touch him. Dos Santos is going to run the heavyweight division until Jones gets there. No one can challenge Dos Santos just like no one can challenge Bones at light heavyweight. As a fan do you enjoy the dominant champions in a division or do you like the divisions where the belt changes hands often? Like a bar of soap and no one can hang onto it haha! You know what? It's six and one half dozen, it's like when Tyson was coming up, he just destroyed everyone. Just destroyed em. So everyone was all excited about Tyson at first then they got pissed off about it saying 'whaa whaa I didn't get my money's worth'. He was awesome, he destroyed everyone then they complain about that and how he didn't have a challenge, but then when he did have a challenge he was washed up you know? Everyone is an armchair quarterback but no one has the balls to get in the ring and fight. Then you have these idiots that say, well for a million dollars I'd fight Mike Tyson...No, no you wouldn't fight Mike Tyson, he would kill you. It wouldn't be a fight. There's a big difference between fighting Mike Tyson and getting killed by him. That's the thing with Jon Jones, he's a superior athlete. Anderson Silva, Jon Jones, Junior Dos Santos and GSP. These guys are so head and tails above everyone else in their division. Do you keep up with MMA, it seems like your finger is on the pulse. Of course, if you're a great athlete, yeah. Even the girls, what's her name? Ronda Rousey. Yeah! Ronda Rousey, dang phenomenal and my old sensei helped train her when she was a little girl, but you won't hear that. That's the thing about this game how quickly we forget. Who's that asshole, what's his name? Dominick Cruz. The guy is full of bullshit and is a lying turd. He says he learned how to fight in his garage? Bullshit. My guy Rocko taught him and then he went off by himself, that guy is a lying scumbag. Rocko trained for a couple years with this asshole, and he says something like that? I have no use for him. But I'm a fan of Urijah Faber, so I hope Urijah kills him the next time they fight. That should be the conclusion to a good trilogy. Yeah, they are both good fighters, Dominick is an asshole but he's a good fighter. And in order to be a top fighter you've gotta be an asshole. At least be an honest asshole, give credit where credit is due. Is that a metaphor for life? Do you have to be an asshole to get to the top? Sure, but be an honest asshole. You understand? Believe me I do. Haha! I hear that partner, I bet you've seen it all in this sport. This whole deal is a microcosm of life and if you survive this sport and this game you will survive life. What are your thoughts on the PED crackdown in MMA right now? The whole friggin' world is falling apart, and there is more shit going on than some athletes taking drugs. Ten years ago, a decade ago they figured 80% of currency had traces of cocaine on it. Look at the arrest records of the people in congress and the senators and so on. It's disgusting, and yet every time the administration or whoever is going to rob the people blind, they come up with a sports hero guilty of drugs. Like 'look at my right hand while I pick your pocket with my left'. There is a lot more shit going on in this planet than an athlete taking drugs. And if they do take the drugs it just puts more currency into the gross national product. I don't mean to be an asshole but look at the big picture, look at the economy, the security of the nation and everything else going instead of worrying about a guy taking drugs. It's stupid, it gives me a headache. A few years ago Jeff Monson said all steroids and PED's should be legal. What do you think about that theory? Do you agree? Yeah you know, I do. My wife called me a hypocrite last year, but I said 'Yeah, I am, oh well'. She asked if I was fine with being a hypocrite and I said shit yeah. Jeff Monson has a point. Everything should be legal to someone who generates income. Athletes generate income and happiness for the people. The athletes distort the view of what is actually going on in the world. So politicians should legalize everything and then the dumb masses can continue to be ignorant about what's really going on. During our conversation I was able to text someone from the site that is with Ronda Rousey right this second, and she says she loves you and your mustache. Ha! Tell her thank you, I would make a smart ass comment but I'm afraid she'd break my arm. I'd enjoy it if she did it though... Has the mustache gotten you a lot of ladies over the years? Oh yeah, yeah. You know what? I get in the way of the mustache sometimes. That's the problem. The mustache pulls in the women but my brain and mouth get in the way then drive them away. Do you still think Russians are the last men on earth? Hell yeah, look at the pansies we got representing us. Back to the whole drug thing. We are worried about athletes enhancing their performance? That's been going on since the age of man. Everyone in congress can use a shot of testosterone. Every one of em. They are all full of estrogen and douche bags. Male or female. I think the females in congress have more testosterone than some of the men in office. Holy shit. Do you have an idea of who you'll be voting for this year? I'm voting Romney. If I could vote twice I would vote twice for Romney. Let's just be honest and not stack the deck and bus people in and then tell people who to vote for...They've been buying votes since voting has been around though. My God. No one thinks about the big picture or they would piss themselves. What do you think about God in sports? I think God is God. Yahweh. You could call him Allah or Buddha. There is one God and many different names. I talked to a friend of mine years ago and said 'Hey, one day I want someone to say after the fight: 'I got my ass whooped and God turned his back on me. Hahaha. I guess God liked the other guy more tonight.' The other guy worked harder and deserved it. That's it in life and sports: work hard and you'll get something, lay on your ass and you'll get nothing. The Puritans had it right, work hard and reap what you sow. Do you appreciate today's more evolved MMA style, more technical, over the clash of styles from the old days? Now you're insulting me? Where do you live boy? Chicago, I just watched UFC 8 the other day... Oh yeah have you seen UFC 9? Of course! You better watch UFC 9. Who did I fight? Uh, you knock out the big guy to open the show? That's 8. That's 8. You're in Chicago you yankee. I'm coming for you yankee. I'm going to stomp your guts out. Amaury Bitetti. You pronounced it wrong. You're worse than Chael Sonnen. Every Brazilian will kill you. What are your thoughts on Chael? Bitetti, what a fighter...Chael? He's an extremely competent fighter, I like Chael. He's extremely competent because he's been beaten by the same hold four times haha. You know? Chael Sonnen is fun to listen to, but he doesn't write his own material. Some homo in Queens living in his mother's basement in his underwear is writing Chael's material for him. Chael is a good guy he just isn't smart enough to do it himself. That's why he's a felon, he wasn't smart enough to not get caught. Hoho! So Bitetti. Did you want to continue that story? No. I wanted you to tell me how great of a fight that was. But clearly you haven't seen it. I've seen it, just not recently. You lying son of a bitch. No I'm serious, I've definitely seen that fight. Lies!!! I will watch the fight again today in your honor. Lying sack of shit. You tell me about UFC 9 right now. That was in Detroit, with the worst headliner ever - Ken Shamrock and Dan Severn. So boring. You're full of shit. Let me see here, no I'm right. Headlined by Shamrock... You're looking it up on the internet! I didn't look it up, but I confirmed it. I rented that tape when I was fourteen. I remember this; the UFC section was next to the porn section and... You're full of shit and if you chose the UFC over porn, there's something wrong with you. I couldn't rent porn I was fourteen! I was masturbating when I was ten! There were other means by which I could obtain porn, I didn't have to steal it from a video store... At fourteen watching two men fight in their underwear instead of watching porn? There is something wrong with you boy...You've lost all credibility with me. I told you a beautiful story about a young boy watching you fight. A beautiful story about going to a porn shop, yeah right. So you have another action figure coming out soon, another from Round 5. how does it feel to be immortalized yet again? Fuck, I've been being immortalized for a decade. I love the Round 5 one's though. Well, Pride had nice ones, the Jaks UFC ones look like shit but the Round 5 ones and the Pride action figures look the best. It's impressive what they do to capture all the different body types, the different molds for each fighter. So many different abs and legs... Are you happy with your figure? It looks great, they helped out my hairline but put a little too much fat on me, heh, but I love it! Well I think that about wraps it up... That's it? That's all you've got? This is going on a half hour, by now most people can't wait to get off the phone. You call me up on a Sunday and you just want me to answer five questions? Well, I'll be honest. I'm hiding from my wife, she's mad at me for working on a Sunday and I'm supposed to be working in the garden, so lets keep this going. The longer I'm on the phone the less work I have to do. OK Don Frye, I will chat with you on a Sunday afternoon. Who wins the UFC on Fox main event: Diaz or Miller? Ohhh shit. When is that? Two weeks, May 5th, Cinco de Mayo. Diaz (kind of grumbles and exhales)....OK where is Miller from? Jersey I believe, he came out to the Sopranos theme... And where is the fight? In New Jersey. If Diaz doesn't finish him and it goes to a decision I think Miller takes it. If you're a fighter and you are in someone's hometown and it goes to those judges you deserve to lose. Never let it go to the judges. Has MMA judging gotten better or worse over the years? It reached it's climax at UFC 1. I don't think it's improved any or decreased any. Boxing has such a big influence on the planet for the last hundred and fifty years, that it's just ruined perspective. You saw the fight last night between that Filipino kid and Hominick right? Yes, I thought Hominick won. Right! In Pride rules he wins. The boxing is from England then transfers to America and then blah blah blah, but Pride rules is how it should work. The white kid should have won. So what? He had two knockdowns, two flash knockdowns, but it's completely different in MMA and boxing is fucking it all up. God Damn, Hominick whooped the shit out of that kid in the last round and looked like he got in a car wreck yet gets his hand raised? If you whip my ass for the first two and a half rounds but I'm standing and in the last half of the third round and you're knocked on your ass there's something wrong. In a street fight you know you don't say hey I won the first ten seconds! No, sorry kid, you lost. Josh Barnett Vs. Daniel Cormier? When is that? Where is that? Why do I care? What does that do for anyone. I don't care. Pedro Rizzo and Fedor? I didn't know anything about that. Same deal, when, where and who cares? What organization? M-1. Who cares? Pedro has been on the shelf the last five years laying on the beach chasing broads and selling clothing, but all of a sudden he comes out of retirement? The Russians. this is why I say, the Russians have the most money to go out there and bring anyone out of retirement to take a fall. A lot of people are saying Fedor is tarnishing his legacy by continuing to fight, what are your thoughts? My wife accused me of the same thing. Fighters fight. That's what they do. If I wasn't fighting, or hanging out here at the house doing nothing worrying about my legacy, I don't care. Fighters fight. If you don't understand that then I don't know what to say. Don enjoyed hiding from his wife's chores so much that he said he want's to talk to us again whenever he has work to do around the house. So expect more from Mr. Frye and his mustache.

Posted in: fight, right, year, im, that

UFC President Dana White still happy for Brock Lesnar's WWE return

Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar is now firmly entrenched in his spot on the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) roster, this after just a few weeks since making his big return the night after WrestleMania 28 on April 2, 2012, in Miami. The beefy badass came back after having conquered the world of mixed martial arts (MMA), breaking into the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in Feb. 2008 and winning the promotion's heavyweight title in November of that very same year. But then his career took a turn for the worse when, just one year later, he was diagnosed with diverticulitis, an intestinal disorder that nearly took his life and had him on the shelf for an extended period of time. He would come back for a few more fights but the disease struck again and just this past December, he lost to Alistair Overeem at UFC 141 and retired from MMA. And went running right back into the loving arms of Vince McMahon and the WWE. What's been interesting about the entire ordeal isn't that Lesnar went back to the pro wrestling world. No, that was expected, as he was offered an insane amount of money for a very small amount of work, relatively speaking. The surprise has come in just how WWE has elected to make use of the former champion. They've liberally thrown around his past accomplishments with UFC, using his legitimate sport fighting career to bolster his reputation in the land of make believe. He was even quoted as saying it was on his "blood, sweat, and tears" that UFC has found such great success in recent years. That may be true, to an extent, but it's a blatant exaggeration that one would think Dana White wouldn't exactly be glowing about. But one would be wrong. In fact, White isn't upset at all. To take it one step further, he says he's happy for the big lug. "When he did the deal with the WWE, all the rumblings started with you guys," White told reporters at the UFC 145 post-fight press conference last night (via MMAWeekly.com). "He never called me. He never told me. He didn't have to. It was always up front and said in his deal, he could do the WWE. One of the things I love about Brock is, everything we did with that guy, nothing ever leaked out of that camp. I'm happy for him. To do what he did in the WWE, came here and did what he did, now he's back over there. Good for him; good for them." Any press is good press, just as long as they spell your name right, huh? That may be the case and as long as WWE isn't publicly disparaging UFC, which they have yet to do, then I can't imagine a scenario in which White would get upset with Vince McMahon, whom he's always maintained a solid relationship with. Hell, maybe they can work together at some point down the road in an official capacity. Something that could be mutually beneficial for both parties. And if you think that's crazy, look no further than the partnership Bellator is in the midst of forging with Total Nonstop Action (TNA), the second biggest pro wrestling company in the industry. UFC and WWE. What a couple it would be.

Posted in: ufc, year, wwe, brock, vince mcmahon

Closing the Book on UFC 145

ATLANTA -- The Jackson family civil war is over for now. Longtime pupil Rashad Evans won't be heading back to Albuquerque anytime soon, but there are signs that healing between the two sides has already begun.After ripping his former coach Greg Jackson in public for the decision to accept Jon Jones on his team -- a decision that ultimately led to Evans leaving the team -- Evans lost to Jon Jones at UFC 145. But among the first to console him for the defeat was Jackson.The two shared a moment after the fight which was not caught on camera, with Jackson walking over and whispering something in his former champion's ear, and Evans' seemingly accepting the peace offering. More Coverage: UFC 145 Results | UFC News The third member of the messy situation, Jones, more publicly offered an olive branch to Evans both before and after the fight. Less than an hour after it finished, he said that he hopes to regain Evans' friendship after over a year as bitter enemies."I still have a lot of thinking to do with the whole situation, but one thing I do want to get out of this is to rekindle a respect level and some type of communication with Rashad," he said. "Hopefully we can do that in private and work on that in the future. I do have tons of respect for Rashad, and I know he does respect me to some degree. There's a lot of emotion between us that can lead to a friendship."Evans didn't shut the door on it, saying he would need a while to let the whole situation sink in."I don't know," he said. "It takes some time for the lessons you learn in the situation to kick in. But like Jon was saying, you never know what happens in future. We were friends before, so you never know what could happen. We got some cool experiences we shared together. We'll see. We'll probably compete again one of these days, so we’ll keep it on a level where we can say 'What's up’ but beat the hell out of each other when we have to."MMA doesn't necessarily need sentimental endings to rivalries, but it's nice to hear the bad blood may be a thing of the past. Other UFC 145 thoughts…- Jones often gets accused of arrogance, but he showed some candid vulnerability in the moments after the fight when he admitted that he had some actual fear about engaging Evans, which led to uncertainty about his approach to fight."I think i was a little intimidated at some points to just believe in my ability, speed and coordination. As a result, I didn't fight as clean as I would have liked to."- Travis Browne is becoming quite a beast. The 6-foot-7, 255-pounder smashed Chad Griggs before submitting him. It was an impressive performance, even in a fight he was supposed to win. Browne has showed an ability to integrate his impressive athleticism to go with his big power, and he's going to be a tough out as he continues to ascend up the UFC's heavyweight ladder.Maybe he'll get a chance to impress in the near future. UFC 146 has an empty slot for a heavyweight, and when asked if he'd be willing to fill it on short notice, he didn't hesitate."I'm ready," he said.- With his back against the wall, Ben Rothwell delivered. After losing two of his last three, Rothwell probably had his UFC career on the line against Brendan Schaub. In fact, he might have had his entire career on the line, as he said he might have retired with a loss. Instead, he came into the fight in the best physical condition he's been in years, withstood an early barrage, and finished Schaub early."It was all or nothing," he said. "I said it before the fight, that my first three performance in UFC -- one of them being a win -- were all very disappointing. I knew that I had so much more to show. I'm just very thankful that Dana White and Joe Silva were patient with me. [Saturday], they got to see why they brought me to the UFC."It may be hard to believe, but at 30 years old, Rothwell is only a year older than Schaub.- UFC 146 was a youth movement. Aside from 24-year-old Jones winning, 22-year-old Rory MacDonald and 21-year old Michael McDonald smashed their way to impressive victories over Che Mills and Miguel Torres, respectively.Rory is certainly a contender to watch at 170 while Michael could just be a win or so away from getting a bantamweight title shot. - It appears Torres' run as one of the bantamweight division's best may have hit its end. He was violently knocked out, and couldn't walk out of the octagon on his own, requiring his cornermen to walk back to the locker room. The 31-year-old is just 3-3 in his last six fights, and he's been KO'd twice. It would be a long climb back to the top for him. - UFC 145's feel-good story has to go to Eddie Yagin. The 33-year-old has been fairly unheralded throughout his career, but earned the biggest win of his life in a split-decision over former featherweight top contender Hominick. Yagin dropped Hominick twice during the fight, nearly finishing him before settling for a decision. He may be nowhere near the top 10, but he certainly created a moment he could savor no matter what his future holds.

Posted in: ufc, fight, jone, year, evan

Bellator 66: Eddie Alvarez brutalizes Shinya Aoki in Cleveland

CHICAGO, Ill. (April 20, 2012) — The rematch more than three years in the making finally culminated as former Bellator Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez and current DREAM Lightweight Champion Shinya Aoki met in one of the most anticipated fights of the year. The finals of the Bellator Season 6 Middleweight and Lightweight Tournaments are now set as Andreas Spang, Maiquel Falcao, Rick Hawn and Brent Weedman all moved on to their respective finals with impressive wins at Bellator 66 from the I-X

Posted in: bellator, year, eddie, brent weedman, cleveland chicago

The Greatest Fights That Never Happened - Part 2

We continue our examinations into the the greatest fights in the history of mixed martial arts that never happened. Here are the numbers 5 through 2 of fights that - unbelievably, inconceivably, frustratingly - have failed to take place. 5. Frank Shamrock vs Kazushi Sakuraba In August of 2000, going into their encounter at Pride 10, Frank Shamrock was viewed as one of the most skilled fighters in MMA, having left the UFC the previous year as a five-time defending Light Heavyweight Champion, while Kazushi Sakuraba was arguably the biggest star in all the sport, having recently defeated the unbeaten Royce Gracie in a grueling 90 minute marathon of a fight. But, of course, the two never fought. What would have been a fight between two of the best at the time was replaced by a bout between Sakuraba and Renzo Gracie, as Pride looked to capitalize on Sakuraba's newfound status as the "Gracie Hunter". "It never happened", Frank explained later "because we just could never come to terms with it and at the time. Sakuraba was the biggest thing in Mixed Martial Arts and honestly my brand was on the decline." In hopes of increasing his value, Shamrock tried to get the fight made in the United States, where he had a small, but devoted following amongst MMA enthusiasts. In late 2000 it was announced in Black Belt Magazine that a match between the two was in the works for early next year, to be held in San Jose and promoted by something called "Strikeforce", a small California company which was known for hosting kickboxing shows on ESPN. Unfortunately, the state of California's legislation didn't get around to approving the regulation of mixed martial arts until 2006, 6 years after the State's athletic commission had already voted unanimously in favor. Thus, Shamrock-Sakuraba fell through again. In late 2003 rumors were rampant that Pride was again making plans for the fight, which was to take place the next year at an event in Las Vegas. This was confirmed in March of 2004 on Frank's own website that the two would meet before the end of the year. But as 2004 gave away to 2005, still no contest. Talk of the fight heated up again in 2006, when in promotion for his fight against Cesar Gracie, Frank stated that Sakuraba was the opponent he wanted next. By October of that year, things were looking good, when Shamrock confirmed that he actually had a contract with Pride FC to meet Sakuraba in 2007 at an event in Las Vegas. Unfortunately, fate intervened again when Pride collapsed spectacularly before the fight could take place. Opportunity appeared again in 2009, when Strikeforce and Dream announced an agreement to share. New talks arose of a Sakuraba-Frank Shamrock match as part of a proposed Dream versus Strikeforce card. Whatever the reasons, the fight never got made, and Frank would retire in 2010 without every having met Sakuraba in the ring or cage. 4. Ken Shamrock vs Frank Shamrock Two estranged brothers with troubled background, settle their differences in the cage. When the film "Warrior" came out it was ridiculed for being built on that very premise, and yet, we were very close to having almost the identical situation played out before us only a few years earlier. What had began as a family squabble between adopted brothers Ken and Frank Shamrock evolved over a 15-years span into a full-fledged blood feud. Older brother Ken, a UFC Hall of Famer, accused his younger brother Frank, the former 5-time UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, of being an ungrateful punk who betrayed the Lion's Den and disrespected their father, Bob. Not to be outdone, Frank accused Ken of being a paranoid, selfish narcissist who needlessly bullied others and did everything in his power to hamper his career. The Holidays were definitely uncomfortable at the Shamrock household. The troubles between Ken and Frank suddenly went from an internal family issue to a possibly very public one when Gary Shaw announced in November of 2007 that Elite XC was planning to promote "megafight" between the brothers. As Ken Shamrock put it, "I'm looking forward to getting in there and doing a little sibling rivalry in the ring." via blog.chron.com Ken would have to wait, but a year later it was announced that the two brothers had agreed to meet on a payperview televised fight sometime in early 2009. "We've both signed a contract to fight each other," younger brother Frank Shamrock told ESPN.com. "Ken is down with it. We talked about it two years ago, and we've agreed materially to fight." Unfortunately, only days later Elite XC collapsed, thanks in part due to Ken Shamrock dropping out at the last minute from his fight with Kimbo Slice at their Heat show. Afterwards, CBS and Showtime made it clear that they wanted nothing to do with Ken Shamrock. The end result is we were not only denied a Shamrock versus Shamrock fight, but closure to a family drama that was more riveting than anything Hollywood could make up. 3. Georges St-Pierre vs Anderson Silva via mmehfighter.com "I think if Georges St-Pierre wins this fight he'll get Anderson Silva," That was UFC President Dana White's response on November 30th, 2008, to the question of who will St-Pierre fight after UFC 94. Fans were delighted by this answer. Rumors soon appeared that a match between the two pound-for-pound kings was in the works for UFC 100, but after GSP-Alves was booked for that show the Superfight was moved further back on the calender. "I'm focused on Toronto now," White said in April of 2009. "I want to do a big event in Toronto. And who knows? Like I said, I don't like to look past guys. Everybody who fights in the UFC is tough. (But) if Georges St-Pierre could get through Thiago Alves, who knows? Maybe we do Anderson Silva and Georges St-Pierre in Toronto."The year would end with no Silva-GSP in Toronto or anywhere. Talk of the fight did not die though, and in 2010 it picked up renewed life leading up to UFC 112. There in Abu Dhabi, George St-Pierre sat ringside as where Anderson Silva defended his title against Damien Maia. Reportedly the plan was for St-Pierre to enter the cage after Silva's victory so that they could announce a fight between the two while they faced off. This plan was derailed as Silva put on an infuriating performance that elicited chants of "GSP, GSP" from the crowd. Afterwards, St-Pierre was not called into the Octagon, and Silva was punished by not getting a Superfight the fans were chanting for. But the idea of a superfight between the two was not dead yet. In February of 2011, Dana White confirmed that he was ready to make the dream fight that year. He said it would be "later this year" and could be staged either in Toronto at Rogers Centre or at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. "These are the best guys in the world - a legacy fight - two guys both in a place in their career where they're ready to test themselves." 2011 ended with no Silva-GSP contest. But hope hasn't been completely abandoned. Only a few weeks ago Dana White revisited the subject of the Superfight and how he'd really like to get it done. So we hold out hope that eventually we may get a fight between two great champions, both of which having expressed interest in the contest and having agreed in the past to move up or down in weight to make it happen, but for whatever reasons has failed to materialize. 2. Rickson Gracie vs Kazushi Sakuraba via i43.tower.com What could have been? In late 2000, Sakuraba had become the biggest star in sougou kakutougi by running off a series of victories over the famed, and previously unbeatable, Gracie clan. Royler, Royce, Renzo, Ryan. He had become the Gracie Hunter. But there was one name conspicuously left off that list. The Gracie family champion. The man that had beaten Sakuraba's mentor Nobuhiko Takada. The best of not only all the Gracies but also perhaps the best in all sougou kakutougi. Rickson Gracie.In late 2000, the odds on favorite was for Rickson Gracie to face Nagoya Ogawa at the Coliseum 2001 show at the Tokyo Dome, but Dream Stage Entertainment threw a wrench into these plans by offering not only a fight with Kazushi Sakuraba in their Pride FC promotion but also an unheard of pay day. "That fight would have been the biggest payout of all times," according to Rickson. "They offered me five million dollars, it would have put me on easy street. He beat a number of Gracies, and it would have been a good fight for me, perhaps the best fight. He really was a thorn in the side of all the Gracies." DSE had been trying to put the fight together all year, but it was only after Sakuraba had defeated Ryan Gracie at Pride 10, cementing his "Gracie Hunter" title and his place as the biggest star in JMMA, that a contest between the two became such a big money fight. Unfortunately, disaster struck when Rickson's son Rockson tragically died in December of 2000. Devastated, Rickson turned down the fight and retired. Interest in a Rickson Gracie-Sakuraba fight was briefly resurrected in 2007 when Rickson had made an appearance at a HERO's Yokohohama Arena show. Soon thereafter FEG Event Producer Sadaharu Tanikawa was calling for a Sakuraba versus Rickson Gracie fight in 2008. "I'm up for it," Sakuraba replied when asked about facing the now 49-year-old Rickson. But this proved to be a false alarm and neither the Gracie champion nor the Gracie Hunter ever got the chance to test themselves against the other. Next up our number one in "The Greatest Fights That Never Happened - Part One" via i2.kym-cdn.com

Posted in: fight, year, shamrock, sakuraba, gracie

Fedor Emelianenko vs. Pedro Rizzo Slated for June 21

Pedro Rizzo has been tapped as Fedor Emelianenko's next opponent. An M-1 Global official announced on Twitter Friday that "The Last Emperor" has agreed to meet "The Rock" on June 21 at the Ice Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia. No other event details were announced, including whether the fight will air live in North America. Emelianenko (33-4, 1 NC) has gotten back on the winning track after losing three straight fights in Strikeforce in 2010-11. He snapped his losing streak by defeating Jeff Monson via unanimous decision in Nov. 2011, and then knocked out Satoshi Ishii on New Year's Eve in Japan. The 37-year-old Rizzo (19-9) hasn't fought since he defeated Ken Shamrock at Impact FC 2 in July 2010. He was scheduled to fight Tim Sylvia at a ProElite event late last year and Valentijn Overeem on an Italian card earlier this year, however, injuries forced him to pull out of the bouts. The former UFC fighter will enter the bout riding a three-fight winning streak.Bobby Lashley and Rolles Gracie were some of the other names discussed as potential opponents for Emelianenko before settling on Rizzo.

Posted in: fight, year, rizzo, emelianenko, italian card

Mark Hominick - Revving Up "The Machine" for Atlanta

Not that Mark Hominick really needed any reminders, but hearing the joyous noise coming from his nearly year old daughter Raeya in the background during an interview before his UFC 145 bout against Eddie Yagin this Saturday is a friendly nudge to let him know what’s important in life. “It definitely gives you a lot more excitement and a lot more focus,” said Hominick of fatherhood. “The path you’re going on changes a lot as well. That’s the biggest thing, just the day to day. We have so much fun during our time, so I really enjoy it. She comes to the gym too, so it’s nice. Our gym has a real family atmosphere and everyone’s a training partner to the people there, so it’s a big family, and she’s at home there.”Family, both in and out of the gym, is what Hominick needed after what proved to be a trying 2011 year for him personally and professionally. The birth of Raeya to Hominick and his wife Ashley was the unquestionable high point, but the sudden death of his longtime coach Shawn Tompkins and two crushing UFC defeats were reality checks no 29-year old needs.Yet while his five round decision loss to Jose Aldo at UFC 129 earned a Fight of the Night award and was a competitive 25 minute battle, his seven second knockout defeat at the hands of Chan Sung Jung at UFC 140 was harder to deal with, though he also learned how to let it go and move on.“That last fight, it was such a letdown on all accounts – to myself, to my fans, and for me going in there and wanting to prove so much,” said Hominick. “So yeah, there are a lot of letdowns, but I didn’t want to sit and dwell on it too much because it was a seven second knockout. If I would have gone out there and got dominated for three rounds, then I could say ‘okay, I gotta go back to the drawing board and fix a few things.’ But I was in great shape, I just came in out of character and I paid the price for it.”Hominick, now 20-10, also puts to rest any talk that the Jung fight came too soon after the August death of his mentor and coach.“It wasn’t too soon,” he said. “I just went in there with the wrong mindset. I went in there with a chip on my shoulder trying to prove something as opposed to just going out there and winning. I just wanted to win so bad that I fought out of character.”Having been down that road before, Hominick knows that after such setbacks, the best remedy is to get right back in the gym and in the Octagon. Hence Saturday’s bout in Atlanta, a fight originally scheduled for his native Canada, but later switched to the States. If UFC 145 landed in Montreal, it would have been his third consecutive appearance in his home country, but “The Machine” isn’t complaining about having a little more low-key outing this time.“It was a nice change of pace,” said Hominick of the lead-up to Saturday. “There’s a lot of added pressure fighting in your home country. It (fighting at home) is definitely a huge opportunity and something I want to do moving forward, but it was a little quieter leading up to this training camp as opposed to the others, so it’s nice just to focus on the task at hand. This fight (UFC 145’s main event between Jon Jones and Rashad Evans) is so huge, and it’s kinda stealing all the hype for the fight, so it’s nice to be on the main card, but also having the responsibility to just focus on training.”That training with his usual Team Tompkins squadmates, including Sam Stout and Chris Horodecki, has been supplemented by visits to Illinois to work with an old friend, UFC vet Jeff Curran.“Jeff was with me for my first fight in the UFC at UFC 58 (vs. Yves Edwards) and he cornered me for my second fight against Jorge Gurgel, so we’ve had a longstanding relationship with Curran Martial Arts,” said Hominick. “And after Shawn passed, it was my first thought to go back there, but I almost had a chip on my shoulder with that last fight, because I wanted to go out there and prove that we’re not changing, we’re not going anywhere, we’re Team Tompkins. And we’re definitely gonna carry that name on, but I have to go in there and I need great coaching, and that’s what Jeff represents. He’s been with Team Tompkins for over eight years now.”Hominick sounds as if he’s in a good place mentally leading up to the fight, and when he’s on, he’s tough to beat. And even though Hawaii’s Yagin isn’t a household name, Hominick is more than familiar with “The Filipino Phenom,” and he wasn’t surprised that he wasn’t given a more high-profile foe for the main card PPV bout.“I’m coming off a loss, so whoever the UFC gives me, I’m gonna take,” he said. “I know Eddie very well. When I was 18 or 19 years old, I fought in Hawaii, and I remember him being the main event back then. So he’s been around a lot longer than me and he’s got a ton of experience. He just hasn’t had the exposure. So for me, I heard that name, and I’m like ‘okay, that’s a seasoned vet.’ Even though it’s a newcomer to the casual fan, I know him a lot better than a lot of guys that the casual fan may know. He’s got more of a track record, more experience, and more years in the game than a lot of the guys in our division combined.”So expect a scrap on Saturday night, because that’s what Hominick is training for. He’s not looking forward to the rest of the year and the idea that a couple good wins can get him right back in the title race. He knows that without a win over Yagin, any such scenarios will fade into the background.“A lot of times in this sport, you’re only as good as your last fight, so the way I kinda erase that is I go out there and I dominate,” he said. “I go out there and win. That’s my focus, that’s my intention, and that’s what I’m gonna do. I’m just focusing on winning right now. That’s what’s on my plate and I’m ready to go out there and win, that’s it.”

Posted in: ufc, fight, hominick, year, lot

'Cyborg' Cristiane Justino continues to plead ignorance regarding 'mistake' that got her suspended

Do you remember when Cristiane Justino (formerly Cristiane Santos) used to sit atop the totem pole of women's mixed martial arts (WMMA)? It's not like we're talking about ancient history, but it almost feels that way, these days. For almost five years, "Cyborg" was undefeated, and she wasn't just winning, she was ruthlessly destroying each every woman who dared to enter into the cage with her. To say she was dominant would be drastically understating matters. But everything got turned upside down when "Cyborg" tested positive for steroids after defeating Hiroko Yamanaka at Strikeforce: "Melendez vs. Masvidal" in San Diego, Calif. on Dec. 17, 2011. (The win was overturned after her positive test.) In the very same month, "Cyborg" also split up with her husband of six years, Evangelista Santos, who also fights for Strikeforce. Justino, who is in currently in the middle of a one-year suspension, sat down with "Inside MMA," along with her translator, to answer a few questions about her positive steroid test, as well as her future in the sport of MMA: "The product she took was simply to lose weight. She had no idea there was any steroids in it. Her main problem was losing weight, so she did take something to lose weight. She had no idea what was in it. She would never put her career to risk. A person she knew, in Brazil, for a long time, in the camp she was training, offered it to her to lose weight, and that's how she accepted it, and how she found out what happened." If "Cyborg" is to be believed, she really had no idea the substance contained illegal ingredients. But is that good enough? With all the flack the sport of MMA has taken recently for fighters using performance enhancing drugs (PED), you'd think every fighter would be a lot more careful about using anything at all. Still, she continued to stick to the script: "It was a mistake that she made. She totally trusted this person, and this person probably didn't even know what was in that medicine, as well. So, she was totally innocent of what was taking place. She thought she was taking something just to lose weight." Justino was then asked if she thought the penalty for her transgression was too harsh. Like most of the questions, her answer was circuitous, but she wisely avoided going after the Commission: "She was saddened, of course, by what took place. She's training very hard, and she hopes after paying the one year that she already did, that she will be able to get in other shows, and that she will be ready to fight." So what does the future hold for "Cyborg?" For now, she plans on focusing on training hard and competing in whatever events are allowable under the rules of her suspension: "She's gonna do jiu-jitsu competitions and amateur competitions for a while. Before the event, she had no adversary at all, when this took place. There was nobody for her to fight. She was already without a fight for a year and a half, before this took place." Only time will tell what the history books will say about "Cyborg." Regardless of the circumstances, she has certainly let down her fans and is part of an unfortunate blemish on the entire sport. For more on her recent suspension click here.

Posted in: year, weight, place, cyborg, justino

Bellator 65 Results Recap: The Eduardo Dantas Bantamweight Era Begins

A week after a somewhat ill-received title fight between Ben Askren and Douglas Lima, another Brazilian got an opportunity at a Bellator championship Saturday but took full advantage. At just 23 years old, Eduardo Dantas now sits as Bellator Bantamweight Champion after a dominant second round submission win over Zach Makovsky at Bellator 65. Based on his performance, it might be a while before he loses his new piece of hardware. Aggressive early, Dantas used his right leg to tenderize Makovsky's side and even when the now ex-champ took him down, Dantas worked for his own submissions and used his physical advantages to control him. He went into the fight with a six inch reach advantage and used it, setting up a head/arm triangle that put Makovsky to sleep. With the win, Dantas (14-2) extends a seven fight win streak and in winning last year's tournament, has essentially already defeated most of the top 135'ers Bellator has to offer. There are some interesting possibilities (Marcos Galvao stands out), but if Dantas continues to improve at this pace, his next challenger will have all they can handle. For more on the rest of the card, Makovsky's future and video from the show, join us after the jump. For Makovsky, the defeat snapped an eight fight win streak compiled over a busy two years. The fight against Dantas was the first defense of the strap he won in October 2010, exposing a flaw in the tournament system that the promotion has looked to rectify this year. At just 5'4", he's ideally built for 125 pounds and depending on his contract status, he could be worth a longshot look for a certain large promotion looking to build up their flyweight division. Speaking of the bantamweights... On Saturday's undercard, Galvao (11-5-1) picked up a unanimous decision win over tourney veteran Ed West, while Luis Nogueira (13-2) defeated last year's finalist Alexis Vila by unanimous decision to advance into the 135-pound semifinals. The two join Travis Marx and Hiroshi Nakamura in the final four with the next bouts expected for mid-May. Featherweight finale is set Daniel Straus (19-4) beat up Mike Corey over three rounds to earn a unanimous decision win and advance to the featherweight tournament finals against Marlon Sandro. This will be his second straight final, losing last May to Patricio Freire by unanimous decision. Sandro (22-3) is also a former finalist, losing to eventual winner and current champion Pat Curran last summer. With the back stories of both men and what's at stake, this has the promise to be a rather fun fight. The next welterweight tourney While this year's welterweight tournament presses on, next season's tournament is already coming together. On Saturday, former champion Lyman Good needed just 13 seconds to knock out LeVon Maynard, while former TUF finalist Kris McCray earned his way in with a split decision win over Ailton Barbosa. McCray (8-3) was cut after three straight UFC losses, but has won his last three. SBN coverage of Bellator 65

Posted in: fight, bellator, decision, year, danta

The pro wresting post: WWE-Discovery team up, Wrestlemania buy rate and Hall arrested

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

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

UFC on FUEL TV 2: The future of the UFC was on display in Sweden

Chuck Liddell had lost three fights in a row and five of his last six. The mohawked warrior who once ruled the light heavyweight division with an iron fist, stopping each and every one of his opponents struggled to find a win. The final nail in his coffin was a knockout loss to Rich Franklin, a blown up middleweight not known for putting opponents to sleep. Randy Couture was finding success moving between light heavyweight and heavyweight, taking showcase bouts more than anything. But after three consecutive wins, the possibility of another title shot became more realistic. Nearing 50 years old, he was booked against Lyoto Machida but the former champion's crane kick not only knocked out Couture tooth's, it also forced "The Natural" to retire for a second -- and more permanent -- time. Tito Ortiz, once the poster boy for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), has only won one fight in over five years. The past half decade has been marred by losses, injuries and more tabloid fodder than Kim Kardashian could handle. It's expected his UFC 148 bout with Forrest Griffin will be "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy's" last. These three men were all responsible for bringing the UFC to the level it is at today. Ortiz's dominant run through the 205 pound division gave the company the star it needed to survive "The Dark Ages" and those early, shaky years after Zuffa became owners. Liddell and Couture served as coaches on the inaugural season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) and became instant stars as a result, ushering the company into a new era. But the latter two are retired and Ortiz looks to be on his way in few months. The UFC found replacements in Brock Lesnar, Anderson Silva and Georges St. Pierre but the heavyweight is once again a professional wrestler, the middleweight kingpin is no spring chicken and the French Canadian's bevy of decision wins have worn fans' patience thin. Not to worry as UFC on Fuel TV 2: "Gustafsson vs. Silva" proved there are plenty of young up and comers to take their place. Who are these heirs apparent? Find out after the jump. Siyar Bahadurzada finally made his Octagon debut last night and didn't fail to disappoint. As I highlighted last month, "The Great" has a nasty penchant of knocking his opponents out in brutal fashion and lived up to the hype when he stepped inside the cage with Paulo Thiago. A little over 30 seconds into the fight, the Brazilian charged forward and caught a short punch to the jaw which immediately put him to sleep. "The Killer" had mounted another victim and turns 28 on Wednesday. John Maguire was a highly touted British prospect when he signed with the UFC late last year. He boasted a record with 16 wins and only three losses when he was picked up and booked for UFC 138. His win over Justin Edwards wasn't anything to write home about but when he stepped inside the Octagon last night against DaMarques Johnson, it was a completely different affair. The TUF 9 runner-up was thoroughly outclassed in every department. Johnson couldn't defend any takedowns and once the fight went to the mat, he was outgrappled by his British opponent. A longshot kimura attempt from the American led to a beautifully transitioned armbar a la Matt Hughes' win over Georges St. Pierre at UFC 50. The Briton is still a year and some change away from his 30th birthday. The main event saw Alexander Gustafsson, only 25 years old, completely dominate Thiago Silva, a five year UFC veteran. In that time, Silva has stepped inside the Octagon with the best of the best. He's taken on Machida and Rashad Evans while notching up brutal knockouts over Keith Jardine and Houston Alexander. Gustafsson almost made him look like an amateur. Almost every time the Brazilian threw a punch, it connected with nothing but air. The Swede used his reach to keep Silva on the outside and peppered away with jabs, busting up the Brazilian's face in process. And that's not even including the first round knockdown "The Mauler" managed to score. Gustafsson looked better than he ever had in his previous six UFC bouts. Is he ready for a title shot? No. Are Maguire and Bahadurzada? Again, that would be negative. But these three young men, all under 30 years old, prove old stars will retire but new ones will always be there to take their place. We saw a few of time shine last night.

Posted in: ufc, time, silva, year, gustafsson

Alexis Vila on Bellator 65 Clash with Luis Alberto Nogueira: He’s Good, But I’m Better

At 41 years old, Alexis Vila is far past what most consider the prime years for a professional athlete, but he feels that his mixed martial arts journey is just beginning.

Posted in: i ’m, year, alexis vila, vila, arts journey

Thiago Silva - The Road Back

You’ll get different answers when asking a fighter what he missed the most during a long layoff. Some are brutally honest and say the paychecks, others simply crave the competition and the camaraderie of their training partners. Thiago Silva cuts right to the chase as he gets ready to return to the Octagon for a Saturday main event against Alexander Gustafsson in Stockholm, Sweden. What did the Brazilian banger miss the most?“Fighting,” he said through translator Primo Miranda. And if you know the 29-year old’s personality and Octagon style, that’s as truthful a statement as you’ll ever hear. Sure, this is how Silva provides for his family, but you get the impression that if he worked a 9 to 5 somewhere, he would still find a way to compete in this sport. It’s simply in his blood.If you need any proof, consider that for a long time, the Sao Paulo native had been dealing with a back problem that just got worse and worse. In an important 2010 bout with former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans, the injury acted up, only to get to the point after the three round decision loss where he could barely move.“It was a very frustrating 12 months I had,” he said. “When I injured my back the second time in April, after the Rashad fight, I lost feeling in my thigh and didn't regain the feeling until last year.” But with a good spot in one of the UFC’s most competitive divisions, Silva, whose 5-2 record only had losses to champions Evans and Lyoto Machida, was not about to take an extended break to get better. He accepted a January 1, 2011 bout with Brandon Vera, and he impressively won a three round unanimous decision. The only problem was that to get his back well enough to compete, he took injections of a banned steroid and then attempted to hide the appearance of this substance in his urine. When his post-fight drug test came up as “inconsistent with human urine,” the Nevada State Athletic Commission suspended him for a year and fined him, and also rendered the Vera bout a no contest. Silva owned up to his punishment and served his suspension, and while he was out, he finally got the time to heal properly, even if it wasn’t an ideal situation.“I did a lot of rehab and lifting weights to make my whole body stronger,” said Silva. “I also did sparring, but not a lot. I allowed my body to heal during the time off, and I constantly have to work on my core so it won't happen again. I have to listen to my body when I feel something is wrong.”After his suspension was up, Silva was eager to get back in the Octagon, and he was scheduled to get his chance in May in a rematch against Vera. But an injury scrapped the bout almost as soon as it was made. “I didn't have time to get excited about it because he pulled out two days after it was announced,” said Silva, and while a replacement opponent was found in Igor Pokrajac, a better offer came through in early March when he was asked to replace countryman Rogerio Nogueira against Gustafsson this weekend.“I was like a kid in a candy store,” he said. “I was very excited when they asked me if I wanted this fight, and I just wanted to fight as soon as possible. It didn't matter who my opponent was, I just want to get back in the cage and fight.”Silva doesn’t even worry about being the “bad guy” in Stockholm when he faces the hometown hero in the UFC’s first visit to Sweden. Not that you thought he would.“To me it doesn't matter,” said Silva. “At the end of the day, it's only him and I in the cage. I don't pay attention to the crowd because I am focused on my opponent.”And focused on getting his promising career back on track as he looks to erase the turmoil of the last year. “I just want to make up for lost time and fight as much as I can in 2012,” he says, and while many would consider rehabbing an image to be an uphill battle, the 29-year old Silva has said his apologies, and now he’s going to do his talking in the Octagon. And if his future opponents want to hold his past against him, that’s fine, but he’s still going to fight.“I don't worry about if guys respect me or not, but if they don't, they will find out the hard way.”

Posted in: fight, time, silva, year, octagon

After More Than a Year Away, Alessio Sakara Excited for Return at UFC on Fuel in Sweden

Alessio Sakara returns for the first time in more than a year when he meets Brian Stann in the Saturday co-main event of UFC on Fuel TV: Gustafsson vs. Silva. "Legionarius" tells HeavyMMA's Duane...

Posted in: year, brian stann, alessio, fuel, alessio sakara

Alessio Sakara Looks Back at Tumultous Two-Year Stretch, Ahead to Brian Stann

Alessio Sakara could use a break. Consider Sakara's last two years: he pulled out of his UFC 116 fight against Nate Marquardt after his mentor and coach, who he considered his father, passed away. He pulled out of a UFC 118 fight due to an injury. He was taken off UFC 122 on the morning of his fight against Jorge Rivera after suffering from flu-like symptoms. When he was ready to fight again last March, he was forced to fight little-known Chris Weidman on a couple weeks notice after his original opponent Rafael Natal pulled out of the fight. Weidman dominated Sakara on the ground en route to a unanimous decision. And then prior to UFC 133 last August, the Italian fighter tore his ACL, forcing him to be sidelined for several months. So just like that, the 30-year-old Sakara hasn't won a fight in over two years and hasn't fought multiple times a year since 2008. On Saturday afternoon in Sweden, he will try to get back on track against Brian Stann at UFC on FUEL TV 2. MMAFighting.com recently spoke to "Legionarius" about his recent troubles, fighting Brian Stann and his dream of fighting on a UFC card in his home country. Ariel Helwani: You had to pull out of your UFC 133 fight against Jorge Rivera due to a knee injury. What exactly happened and how are you currently feeling?Alessio Sakara: When I was sparring at American Top Team, I tore my ACL while attempting a single-leg. It was a very bad situation because I was supposed to fight Rivera three times. I came back to Italy and recovered with the best medical team in Italy and now my knee is 100 percent. I am very happy. Everything is good in my leg.How frustrating have the last couple years been for you? Every time I'm preparing for a fight, I have an injury or a bad situation in my home. My father died and every time I have bad luck. But I'm coming back 100 percent and I'll give the best fight for the UFC, my fans, my family. How did you deal with your father's death? Now, it's passed, but before it was a very bad situation because he was my trainer and father too. When I was young, I stayed in a home with this coach that was with me my whole career, so it was a very bad situation. But now he passed, it's life. Everything is good now. How did he die? He died because he was very old. Do you feel like you must win this fight in order to remain in the UFC? I never think about if the UFC lets me go because my job is to fight. I want to think only in the present. My present now is April 14. I don't want to see the future or the past. Sometimes a fighter loses, but if he gives 100 percent and people like his style, maybe the UFC doesn't let you go. Why do you think your fight against Chris Weidman last year was so one-sided? The opponent changed two weeks before the fight and I had a different strategy. He is a very good wrestler, an All-American, and I needed to train more in takedown defense. But it's no excuse. He won because he had a great strategy and I lost because my defense wasn't very good. What did you think Stann's performance in his last fight against Chael Sonnen? I watched every one of Brian's fights. Chael Sonnen had a very good strategy and Stann had an awful performance. Maybe because he's not very good at jiu-jitsu or wrestling, but every fight is different. I don't want to think on April 14 about the Stann that fought Sonnen. I want to think about my job and I want to strike with Brian Stann. If it goes to the floor, I'm very happy because I know I'm better than him in jiu-jitsu. I train a lot in jiu-jitsu. I never use my jiu-jitsu in the UFC because I like striking. I train jiu-jitsu a lot at American Top Team. I'm a black belt and I have trained for six years in Brazil and two years at American Top Team only with black belts. Stann said recently that he expects to face a more elusive version of yourself on April 14. What do you make of that? I want to strike with Brian Stann, but every fight is different. Maybe he wants to go to the floor or maybe I want to use my jiu-jitsu. But my style is striking, and I want to strike with Brian Stann. Do you have a lot of friends and family attending the fight since your home country of Italy is so close to Sweden? Only my uncle and my best friend. My wife and mom don't watch me live, only television. Why not live? (Laughs) Because I'm my mom's son and she's afraid. It's normal. Italian mothers are very protective. If you have a little injury or sick, she thinks you died. It's crazy. Do you think you will suffer from cage rust on Saturday considering you haven't fought in over a year? I haven't been very lucky over the years, so I am used to this. Every time I have a fight, there's always something happening, like the loss of my father or my knee injury, so I'm used to this. Would you ever consider going back to boxing? I'm done with boxing. I train boxing a lot because I love to box because it was my first sport, but I only focus on MMA training. UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta told us recently that they are hoping to put on an event in Italy in the near future. How popular is the sport there right now? The UFC is very, very popular now in Italy. Every time I walk on the street, people recognize me and talk about the next fight. I would be very happy if the UFC came to Italy. It would be very exciting. Do you look at a situation like Alexander Gustafsson headlining this card in Sweden and think that if you go on a winning streak you could maybe headline an event in Italy? Yes, that's my dream. It's possible; it depends on me. If I do a good job now for the UFC, I could maybe be in the main event.

Posted in: ufc, fight, year, stann, im

Nick Diaz gets his opponent for World Jiu-Jitsu Expo: multi-time BJJ champ Braulio Estima

Nick Diaz never backs down from a challenge. On May 12, at the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo in Long Beach, Diaz will get just that, as he has been paired with widely-respected grappler Braulio Estima in a previously announced superfight. The WJJE confirmed the match-up this week. Estima is a multi-time winner of several Brazilian jiu-jitsu tournaments including a victory over Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza at the 2011 Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling Championship. The 31-year old Estima is slated to make his MMA debut later this year and is currently training with the Blackzilians in Florida. Diaz, also known for his ability on the mat, announced his retirement from MMA following a loss to Carlos Condit even though many feel he’ll return down the road. The 28-year old is a black belt in BJJ under Cesar Gracie but has not competed in a BJJ bout in over two years. However, he’s also never been submitted in 34 MMA bouts. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: diaz, year, estima, jiujitsu, florida diaz

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

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

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

Randy Couture’s Top 4 Pound-for-Pound UFC Fighters (Video)

Of all the people that discuss pound-for-pound rankings, there are few more qualified to present their opinions than former UFC champion Randy Couture. “The Natural” broke down his top four, in weight division order (lightest to heaviest). Couture, the first ever champion in two divisions, discusses why he feels these four particular fighters are the best in the world, and what differentiates them from other fighters. His list is made up of four UFC champions- Jose Also, Georges St. Pierre, Anderson Silva, Jon Jones. Couture speaks particularly highly of Jones, specifically with the 24-year old’s rapid development during his three year UFC career. Watch as Couture speaks about all four champions and why they are a step above their competition:

Posted in: ufc, fighter, champion, year, poundforpound rankings

Cristiane Santos suspended for a year after CSAC denies appeal

Despite claims she had no knowledge she was using an illegal substance, only taking a dietary supplement a teammate had recommended to her, former Strikeforce featherweight champ Cristiane Santos will still be sidelined until the end of the year due to a suspension stemming from steroid use. “Cyborg” tested positive for Stanozolol after a successful title-defense this past December against Hiroko Yamanaka. Santos appealed her twelve-month suspension in front of the CSAC on Monday, hoping to see the athletic commission it cut in half, but was denied by the regulatory board. Santos Explains Her Side of the Steroid Story “I want to thank all my fans, friends, coaches, legal counsel, (and) sponsors who are with me. Unfortunately we could not reduce my penalty. I’m sad … But after a storm in the morning see the sun shine,” wrote Santos on her Facebook page. After her initial positive hit the 26-year old was handed her mandatory vacation in addition to being fined, stripped of her belt, and forced to watch a sixteen-second victory over Yamanaka turned into a No Contest. She will be able to apply for a new license in California on December 17. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE Tweet

Posted in: year, hiroko yamanaka, facebook page, twelvemonth suspension, sixteensecond victory

Head Kick Legend Group Discussion: Is Brock Lesnar A Future UFC Hall Of Famer?

On today's MMA Hour, host Ariel Helwani had Brittish journalist Gareth A. Davies and writer Mike Chiappetta on, and one of their topics of discussion was "Should Brock Lesnar get into the UFC Hall of Fame?" Both Ariel and Gareth emphatically said that Brock Lesnar was a UFC hall of famer, while Mike wasn't terribly warm to the idea. Here's what our ragtag group of arguers had to say about this.Chris HallMakes perfect sense and there's not a strong argument to the contrary.Cory Braiterman4-3 UFC record, only fought for three years. There are much more deserving people imo and it would look very much like a cash inChris HallBeat a legend for the title and defended as many times as any other UFC heavyweight champion ever has. On top of that, he's definitely had an incredible level of competition. And finally being the biggest name in the sport for almost the entirety of his career does get him points in this.Patrick WymanYes, he's a Hall of Famer. His in-cage accomplishments are outstanding, as Chris pointed out, but my reasoning has more to do with what he's meant to MMA on the whole: he brought massive numbers of new fans, drove popular interest, and most importantly showed what a real, top-flight athlete can do in mixed martial arts. Don't get me wrong, there were great athletes before Lesnar (Kerr, Randleman, Hendo, etc.), but nobody with his kind of freakish ability. Along with guys like Jon Jones, GSP, and Jose Aldo, he's the physical prototype against whom all future fighters will be compared. Jack SlackI can see the case for this. But the accomplishments are largely fabricated. Brock was given gift matches against Mir and Herring - neither of which was a competent wrestler or striker, and then against Couture - another one dimensional wrestler who was 50lbs lighter, and an untested Carwin.The Couture match is given so much weight because he was the most credible of Brock's opponents. But people so easily overlook the enormous weight advantage of Lesnar, and the fact that Couture had already been out of the sport for a year. Anyone else would have been stripped of the title and dropped from Sherdog's rankings, but he wasn't, so that Lesnar's career could be made to seem more than it actually was.There is a great deal of argument over his number of defenses and so on, but if I gave Junior Dos Santos average one dimensional strikers such as Cheick Kongo, Pat Barry or Antoni Hardonk to fight, I could have him defend his title a record number of times too.Truly, he could beat Frank Mir or Couture on any day of the week. But lesser ranked heavyweights could destroy him. He benefited enormously from numbers and rankings, as opposed to actual quality of opposition. But that is just my 2 cents. Cory Braiterman"what he's meant to MMA on the whole: he brought massive numbers of new fans, drove popular interest, etc"Let's make a comparison to another sport. Within the next three years, Jeremy Lin and the Knicks win a championship. At the end of three years, Lin blows out his knee and is unable to play and retires. Lin played at the level he was playing before he got hurt for those years.Is he a hall of famer?Does he get his number retired?He did the exact same things that you just said are the reason Lesnar should be in.Patrick WymanBasketball has been a popular sport in the US for fifty years. MMA is fifteen years past being labeled as human cockfighting by one of the most respected public figures in the US. Lesnar bringing in new fans and Lin potentially doing so are not analogous situations. Cory BraitermanThere's another interesting way to take this then. People look back on current pro HoF's and see some of the people and think it's a joke. People see miserable statistics, maybe they were on winning teams, but they were not very good players, and they lower the benchmark for what people say should be new HOF'ers. Think about that; these are long term legacies here. People are going to look on this in another thirty years and go "that induction into the HOF is bullsh**. He's 4 and f'n 3! How is Fitch not in the hall? How is [inset tons of other names here] not in?"Earl of MontclairLook, I love BROCKLESNAR!!!! more than most people but even I can fully acknowledge that Brock is not a UFC Hall Of Famer. He had a fantastic career and brought a ton of new eyes to the UFC (myself included) but drawing eyeballs is not all that is needed to join the HOF. Brock is responsible for some of the biggest buyrates in the company's history and he shares the record for most defenses of the UFC Heavyweight strap but there is no longevity and no imprint on the industry other than the amount of viewers he brought with him. Patrick WymanThat's generally why halls of fame have waiting periods prior to induction and veterans' committees, to avoid knee-jerk elections and to ensure that overlooked greats eventually get in. I'd rather err on the side of too many HoFers than too few, myself. As far as Lesnar himself is concerned, do you want to judge his career by its peaks - in which case he's a shoe-in - or is long-term consistency your major criterion? That's the real question here, as far as in-cage performance is concerned. The other parts are debatable ad infinitum.Cory BraitermanHis peak was just far too short for me. I'm also generally in the camp of smaller HoF's than large. Being Very Good is nice, but being Elite is what should be the benchmark.Luke NelsonIs Brock a UFC hall of gamer? He is exactly that. One of the most popular figures in company history and he took them to great new heights. Is he an MMA hall of famer? That is a better question and one that is much more likely to stir up a good debate. A purist might say no he isn't, while a realist might be a little more open to it.I personally say that he is a hall of famer.I fall in the camp that thinks Brock was devastated by his illness and thus accomplished far less than he could have in MMA. His fights against Cain and Overeem were the most challenging of his career and he was at his least prepared for them. And he still gave Cain a hell of a fight. No one seems to want to talk about it much but Cain hurt his shoulder in the fight bad enough to keep him out for a year and perhaps he'll never be the same, as shoulder injuries are particularly troublesome to pitchers and punchers. So there has to be some consideration of his health problems in the discussion as well.On a final note, he essentially played the role of Big Foot to Couture's Fedor, and yet it's rare to hear the two fights being compared. Both had old veteran stars losing to new breed monsters with huge weight advantages....kinda interesting to think about that huh? Earl MontclairWell see that is why he may actually get in is because the UFC HOF is kind of silly since there is no committee or waiting period. Put it this way, the only person in the HOF who had less of an impact on the sport than Brock did was Mask, who honestly is only in the HOF because he died. Not to be cold, but I am just being honest.Elliot MathenyThe UFC's already made it clear that the Hall of Fame is for fighters who toe the company line, and are big ticket draws, as opposed to being a pure meritocracy. So I don't see why they shouldn't induct Brock into the hall of fame, other than the fact that maybe they don't want to give him any extra notoriety or credibility while he's in the WWE.Patrick Wyman"Impact on the sport" is the key phrase there, though, and that's the crux of this debate. All sports Halls of Fame include athletes who have no business being there on the basis of their long-term, in-game performance: even Jackie Robinson fits into this category, and while Lesnar is obviously no Jackie Robinson, they'd fall under the same principle as far as their inclusion is concerned. Cory BraitermanIn regards to Luke, I'd say that I don't view Bigfoot as a new breed fighter. He's been fighting for some time, and if we were to compare him to anyone, I'd say he's a better version of Tim Sylvia. Don't forget that Tim was an earlier version of "The Big Monster", so was Mark Kerr (just not in the UFC). Also, injuries are a huge game changer in regards to being in the HoF. Terrell Davis isn't ever getting in the HoF because he was only the starter for four years and then was gone. He's got incredible team records, is one of only 6 people with 2,000 yards rushing in one season in the 90 years of history of the NFL. Short careers are a defining feature of "not being qualified for the HOF".Insofar as Mask, pretty much all HOF's have an announcer/owner/coach/media section. I've got no problems with that being the case.Comparing Jackie to Brock is like comparing Wayne Gretzky to Scott Gomez - I'm not even a hockey fan and I know the difference. Scott was one of the very first hispanics to play NHL hockey and created a fair amount of excitement because of that, and was the first person of both Columbian descent and from Alaska to play in the NHL. Same with Lin in basketball - I notice no one's answered my earlier questions on that yet. If one of the biggest selling points you're giving me is that you attract a new fanbase, then that seems like a pretty weak argument.Patrick Wyman I did address your point earlier: basketball and MMA aren't similar enough at this point to make your comparison meaningful. Basketball has been widely popular in the US for the last fifty years, and was a niche sport for thirty years before that. The number of new fans that Lin could bring in at this point in comparison to the present fanbase is not even close to Lesnar's impact. If we're talking basketball in 1950, then in your hypothetical example I'd say absolutely Lin should be in the HoF.Luke NelsonSounds like you are much more of a hockey fan than you claim to be!And that'd be cool because hockey is the greatest sport ever, and I'm getting all ready to be taken on another glorious ride to the most difficult team championship to win in all of sports, the Stanley Cup. Hopefully we win it this year. As for the comparisons, I don't think Gomez had that big of an impact off the ice. He's just another good player in the history of the game with an interesting back story, although his recent play has led him to be more of a punch line than anything else.Jackie Robinson was one of the all time great sporting figures of his time, and although he was a great player, he is immortalized for his skin color, not his playing accomplishments.Brock isn't comparable to either man, as he had a bigger impact than did Gomez, yet the reasons for his impact are nowhere near, on the human level, Robinson's.Bottom line from me is Lesnar is HOF because the UFC is young and he was a major factor in it's growth. In 50 years we'll have seen fighters who will make Chuck, BJ and Matt Hughes seem like scrubs, just like Hughes made Royce look like a scrub. As the sport evolves, we won't see a Brock Lesnar type in the hall. But he was an early trailblazer and as such, deserves a place.

Posted in: ufc, year, lesnar, brock, hall

Rashad Evans: “It’s time for me to cement my legacy.”

UFC light heavyweight Rashad Evans will enter the Octagon for the fifteenth time in his career when he faces off against Jon Jones on April 21 for the title. Since debuting in the organization the TUF 2 winner has compiled a 12-1-1 record including success against former champions Tito Ortiz, Forrest Griffin, Chuck Liddell, and Quinton Jackson. However, at 33, Evans knows he likely only has a few more years left as an elite competitor which is in part why sees his UFC 145 match-up with Jones is so important. Though taking “Bones” belt and satisfying the personal score with his former training partner are important to him, beating the dynamic divisional king is also an opportunity for Evans to remind the world why he’s a future Hall of Famer. “I’m one of the very best light heavyweights out there and it’s time for me to cement my legacy,” wrote Evans in a blog entry he penned for Yahoo Sports. “I’ve beat top guys for years and years – before Jon was even in the UFC – and in a sport where everyone loses big fights here and there, I’ve had one bad night in seven years. This is the perfect opportunity and perfect chance for me to show that I’m as good as my record says I am.” To dethrone Jones, Evans believes he’ll have to avoid the mental mistakes past opponents have made by often taking a tentative approach to exchanging offense with the seemingly unbeatable 24-year old. “The illusion of or the mythical Jon Jones that the other guys fought, it doesn’t exist for me. I know how weak he is mentally – all the doubts he has about himself. I’m going to be the first one to stop this kid,” explained Evans of his intentions. “I saw an interview where he says he’s not giving it to me. He don’t have to. I’m taking it from him…” The bout will mark the climax of the longstanding rivalry between the two 205ers stemming from Evans feeling as though Jones slighted him while teammates. Now it appears Evans is ready to return the favor, showing a gross lack of respect come showtime in Atlanta. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: jone, jon jones, i ’m, year, evan

A fourteen year old choked his cousin to death. This is the Gracie Breakdown

[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on DstryrSG, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] In the wake of the tragic accident that occurred last week, the Gracie Brothers explain precisely how Stephen Arceneaux III was choked to death by his younger cousin with hopes of educating our youth about the serious risks of practicing jiu-jitsu techniques, chokes in particular, without proper training and supervision. On Sunday, April 1, 2012, a Louisiana man was choked to death by his younger cousin. Stephen A. Arceneaux III, a 24-year-old from Destrehan, was pronounced dead at 10:39 p.m. Sunday night, April 1, 2012. The two were at a house party and began wrestling around on an inflated mattress when the 14-year-old, 110 lbs. younger cousin placed Arceneaux in a Rear Naked Choke. After 30-40 seconds, witnesses noticed Arceneaux was turning blue so the choke was released. Arceneaux's girlfriend tried unsuccessfully to revive him before he was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. With the surge in popularity of MMA/BJJ almost every teen or adult can recognize a guillotine or rear naked choke. These moves are not new, they've existed for literally thousands of years and for thousands of years men, women and children have been killed or maimed by random "horseplay." (No not the kind you paid to see in Tijuana.) In Martial arts, in particular the grappling arts, opponents have one job - neutralize the attacker by any means. Breaking, choking and killing are what these arts are about and if your naive enough to think anything different I suggest you quit right now because you pose serious threat to yourself and everyone around you. It's with this knowledge that martial artists/grapplers have an intimate understanding of the possibilities and the end result. This knowledge allows us to work within these confines and reduce bodily harm as much as possible (the loose definition of safety.) As with any sport or physical activity there are inherent risks involved and participants must thoroughly understand what negative outcomes may lie ahead. How do we gain this knowledge? - Through learning and experience. Mixed martial arts and grappling have become an entertainment platform that reaches millions of people world wide. Everyone that is exposed to these arts are somehow influenced by them, whether its in adoration, hate, entertainment or passion. In my opinion there are two ways to learn - by seeing or by experiencing. We are influenced by both. We can "see" something happen by various means, whether that be auditory, tactile or visual. When we experience something first hand it encompasses all of our senses as well as teaching us the mechanics and sensitivity needed to accomplish the particular action. It's a fact that both children and adults watch sports, movies, play video games, and we are all somehow influenced by them. Every year hundreds of adults and children are killed and injured while participating in main stream sports while utilizing all of the safety precautions possible. At the same time hundreds are killed or injured by pure ignorance and lack of knowledge of the "end result." For years kids have wrestled with each-other emulating there favorite Pro Wrestler, movie hero or sports icon. Without the proper knowledge and explanation of realistic consequences, the idea of safely participating disappears. How would we expect anyone to know how dangerous something is unless it was clearly stated to us. We gain knowledge by seeing and experiencing and it is human nature to experiment and replicate actions especially if we want to further understand them. I can almost guarantee that everyday someone dies due to emulating something they saw. It could be racing your car down the highway, backyard wrestling, climbing a tree, or grappling with your friend or family member. By understanding the inherent risks we decide our level of participation within them. Those that lack the knowledge can and will always replicate the actions of others with the increased risk of harm or death. So, how do we solve this this problem? I don't know. As most things in life, knowledge is key. So, if parents, guardians and peers lack the understanding and appreciation of martial arts or sports then it's on the sports themselves to warn those that are ignorant of the end result. Martial arts are not a game; they are a means to an end, whether they are in a sport context or that of self defense. I, for one, love martial arts and I think everyone should experience them as an adult. But, as anything we do in life there are risks we take to accomplish those actions. I can only hope that this incident and public uproar doesn't further fuel the ignorance of those that call Martial arts and MMA inhumane and barbaric. We can only hope to educate those around us with the truth and hope they listen with an open mind and an open heart. The Gracie Breakdown...

Posted in: sport, year, art, knowledge, risk

Bloody Inbox: UFC Options After Overeem's Drug Test Failure, #RallyForMarkHunt, Bellator Problems And Filipino MMA

Remember, you can submit your questions to: BloodyElbowMailbag@Gmail.com Question from OurBovinePublic: Dana always claims he makes the fight that fans want to see. We stayed up all last night plastering him on twitter with requests to make the JDS-Mark Hunt fight but he has ignored all of us so far. Do you think the fans can really have an influence on him so will he just make the fights that he wants i.e. Frank Mir. I get that Hunt doesn't have a great record and that Mir is ahead of him in the queue but why not have Mir fight Cain in a number 1 contender match so he has a chance to get the next shot anyway and capitalize on Hunt's popularity and current momentum? #RallyForMarkHunt I don't know that more fans actually want to see Mark Hunt than Frank Mir. There's just a vocal part of the hardcore fanbase that really wants to see the Cinderella story that would be a Mark Hunt title shot. Mir is still the option that would sell the most tickets, which makes him the obvious choice to replace Overeem. The truth remains that Hunt is still a guy who lost to Sean McCorkle less than two years ago. He has some work to do to really be in a spot to get a title shot, let alone a title shot when the much more well known Mir is available and coming off an incredible win over a former title holder in Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. All that said, the idea of Hunt getting a title shot is kind of crazy and could be a lot of fun. It'd likely be a short and violent affair and Hunt does have the proverbial "puncher's chance." Does he have a better chance of knocking out Junior dos Santos than Mir has of submitting him? I don't know. The whole situation kind of reminds me of when Hasim Rahman had proven to be, at best, on the fringes of the top 10 (Hunt currently sits ranked #13), lost to Oleg Maskaev and rebounded by winning three fights over fringe-level opponents (Cheick Kongo playing the Corrie Sanders role of hard hitting non-challenger) and somehow earned a title shot against Lennox Lewis only to land the shocking KO as a more than 20-to-1 underdog. You just never know what can happen when a heavyweight with power is given his shot. Question from HaterSlayer: Alistar almost doomed the New Years card with his drug drama and he followed that up by blowing one of the biggest fights of the year. So do you think Alistar will be released from Zuffa again if his B sample comes back positive? Given the tone Dana White took when addressing the situation, I'm pretty confident that Overeem will be cut. He cost a huge fight and his ratio being 14:1 is pretty inexcusable. The doubt that would surround Overeem going forward given his physique is going to make him a very hard sell in the future. There are also massive doubts cast over every accomplishment in his heavyweight career. Where Cristiane Santos may be able to come back to Strikeforce because of a lack of depth and names in women's MMA, there are plenty of heavyweights in the UFC sea and, as such, it's probably for the best to cut loose a man who tested positive here and cost the promotion a major title shot after the situation before the Lesnar fight. Also, unlike Chael Sonnen's badly failed test, that failure came after Sonnen lost the fight so it had little to no impact on anything. Also, Chael had the whole "testosterone replacement" thing which, legitimate or not, is at least some sort of excuse. Overeem has spent so much time bragging about being clean that he can't use that excuse. If he tries he is going to be blasted for not disclosing it with all the scrutiny he's been under for his U.S. career. Question for Anton Tabuena from WARISTOTLE: My question is, how long do you think it would be before there is a true-blue Filipino fighter in the UFC? I always thought Folayang was going to be that guy, and in my opinion he was only a couple of notable wins away before the Ole Laursen fight. Filipino MMA was looking real good just a couple of months ago, and now it seems to have hit a bump in the road with the losses of Eduard, Belingon and Banario. Anton: Thanks for the question. There are lots of up-and-comers in the country, so despite those setbacks you mentioned, I think it's only going to take a couple of years, if not earlier. When talking about candidates for a UFC move in the near future though, contrary to popular belief, I actually think that his teammate, Kevin Belingon, has a much better chance. Lightweight is just such a stacked division that making it to the UFC is a longer and harder road, so Eduard Folayang would've had a much more difficult time. Belingon on the other hand, was reportedly already being scouted by Zuffa a while back, and had he won that fight against Imanari, who is still ranked in the top 20 at bantamweight, he would've obviously been ready then. But as you already know, Kevin got a bit too aggressive and it got him caught on that crazy chain of leg lock submissions. Even after fights where he dominates though, Belingon still looks much better each and every time. He's still very young, and he's constantly improving, so I think having this first loss against a guy that experienced can be very beneficial for his career. Also, regardless of the outcome of that fight, I think Team Lakay was already planning on making him drop back down to flyweight. He wouldn't have much of a size and strength disadvantage, and he also has a much better chance of making it to the UFC in that division. If he can cut down properly and win a few key bouts, he can expect a lot of interesting phone calls. Question from Andy Anderson: What is wrong with Bellator? I know this is a huge question but they are like that friend you have that has a lot of potential but they never put it all together. Bellator is on a bit of a roll as far as having really entertaining shows so far this season, but the way they handle titles and the strict adherence to the tournament format as the only possible way to challenge for a belt is always going to hold them back. You've got champions either kept on the shelf for a crazy amount of time or fighting in meaningless non-title fights. Eddie Alvarez vs. Michael Chandler is a rematch that every MMA fan wanted to see, but we have to have Alvarez fight Shinya Aoki (in a still kind of important/legitimate rematch) and know that Alvarez vs. Chandler probably can't happen under the rules of Bellator for at least a year. If Eric Prindle's hand remains an issue, we'll probably see Cole Konrad sit idle for close to a year. Chandler is being forced into a farce of a non-title fight against Akihiro Gono which isn't going to do anything for his profile. They may lose Hector Lombard without giving him fully compelling fights during his run, instead throwing stiffs at him while only defending his title once. It'd probably be a better idea to do away with the idea of having champions beyond the tournament. Just keep putting the tournament winners back in the tournament to try to run through the field again. Saying Lombard won multiple tournament championships is a hell of a lot more impressive than saying he fought nobody ex-NFL players and defended his title one time. The already solid lightweight tournament could have Alvarez and Chandler in instead of Rene Nazare and Ricardo Tirloni and be much more appealing than using Chandler against Gono. They just aren't doing things that I think are going to help them grow long-term. Question for KJ Gould from Pankration Philosopher: How did you get into catch wrestling? How is the catch wrestling community up there in the UK? I am aware of Jake Shannon, Tony Cecchine, and other catch wrestlers in America, but in your opinion, what is the overall state of catch wrestling in the world? I would love to one day have catch wrestling as popular as BJJ. Thank you for time. KJ: My first experience with Catch Wrestling was pretty inadvertent. About 13 years ago I was taking part in a Jeet Kune Do concepts martial art, and it was primarily a kick boxing hybrid with Filipino Knife and Stick based martial arts thrown in. The only grappling arts really around at the time was Judo, and grappling within what I did was pretty basic. I got to go to a Sifu Richard Bustillo seminar, and Bustillo is one of the old school guys like Guru Dan Inosanto. The seminar was obviously in JKD, and Bustillo specialised in Muay Thai and Filipino Martial Arts, and we got to do some grappling based on BJJ and Catch As Catch Can. The Catch element was possible from Gene LeBell, but also the late Larry Hartsell who was a great American Jeet Kune Do guy that focused on the grappling arts. It was also around this time my family got web access through dial up, and just looking online for videos following the UFC where I could, I found some videos on a website that featured Muay Thai, BJJ and some no gi instructionals, and the no gi stuff was Erik Paulson video clips from the late 1990s. His videos on leglocks kept me awake at night as my brain went into overdrive! Since then my interest only really resurfaced in the last few years through information and communities online such as the Sherdog grappling forum. Catch Wrestling in the UK is making a comeback now that Coach Roy Wood and Andrea Wood have brought back the 'Snake Pit' catch wrestling training to Wigan, but there have also been other guys plucking away at it for years such as Ian Bromley, Tommey Heyes, Jack Mountford etc. The Snake Pit are putting on intensive seminars throughout the year, and are planning to stage competitions as well I believe. The world of Catch Wrestling though is pretty fragmented and has been for years. A lot of it is too many egos competing instead of working with each other, plus lineages are harder to verify compared to BJJ where there's a better documented 'family tree'. Sometimes a great coach doesn't need to have a lineage to be able to teach Catch well, but you have to be wary of any coach that claims a lineage he can't verify just to bolster their 'credibility'. For instance, the late Karl Gotch only ever endorsed one man to coach his style of Catch Wrestling, and that was Yoshiaki Fujiwara. Anyone else claiming to teach the 'Gotch Style', or claims endorsement by Gotch is unfortunately out their to con you. You do now currently have guys still around like Billy Wicks, Dick Cardinal, Billy Robinson and Roy Wood who will endorse guys, and in some cases like Billy Robinson will document down to the hour how much time on the mat you've spent under his direct supervision as a means of quality assurance. You also have a lot of no gi gyms appearing to teach Catch Wrestling, when it's just Submission Grappling using 'Catch' as a current buzzword. In my opinion, Catch really needs an oversight like an IJF or IBJJF, or even recognition from something like FILA as a legitimate wrestling style, and as a sport that includes pins and submissions as well as generally longer time limits to differentiate itself from the generic no gi submission grappling style. Consistency and structure are key for Catch's survival in its own right, rather than just being absorbed and assimilated into other arts as it has been.

Posted in: fight, time, title, question, year

UFC agrees to TV deal in India

The UFC and Multi Screen Media announced a four year deal to broadcast UFC programming in India. Multi Screen Media is a subsidiary of Sony Pictures Television and its new sports channel, SIX, will air UFC events, taped special and fights from the UFC library. Via UFC press release: “When we went to India over a year ago I felt the market held enormous potential for the UFC,” said Lorenzo Fertitta, Chairman of UFC. “India has a long history of martial arts and traditional wrestling like Kushti. Indian athletes have also demonstrated worldclass levels in combat sports as evidenced by the country’s 2008 Olympic medalists in wrestling and boxing.” “I’ve been saying for a few years that India would be next and it was just a matter of finding the right partner in the market. MSM has been a pioneer in India, broadcasting new sports franchises like the IPL. We’ve got big plans for India and MSM couldn’t be a better partner” said Dana White, President of the UFC. Payout Perspective: This should be a good partnership for the UFC as it builds its product overseas. Recently, a Sports Business Journal full page ad indicated that international version of The Ultimate Fighter Live would have a stop in India (as well as Australia). A recent MMA startup league, Super Fight League, ran its first card this year and it looks like the sport is growing interest. Having UFC shows on a dedicated channel should help build into the MMA fan base in India.

Posted in: ufc, sport, year, india, sports franchises

Head Kick Legend Group Discussion: Alistair Overeem Tests Positive For Elevated Testosterone

I don't think that we need to bother with the back story here, but if you haven't heard yet, news broke yesterday that Alistair Overeem has failed a random drug test, and will almost surely be refused a license to fight at UFC 146 by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. This is what the staff had to say about it: Chris Hall:This is the perfect chance for another group discussion. What is your immediate reaction to the news? What should the UFC do with AO moving forward? And who should replace him and why? Elliot Matheny: Frank Mir is the obvious choice here. As much play as Mark Hunt is getting lately, this is a guy who has only had his shit together for a year now; his wins are over, at best, pretty mid- tier heavyweights. Mir is riding a 3 fight win streak over much better competition. I can't help but think that Alistair must have been caught with his pants down by the drug tests at the press conference. I suspect that he's perfected a cycling routine, where his levels will be at a normal level by fight time, and getting tested so far in advance must have caught him before he was able to bring his T levels down. I'm not morally incensed by the fact that Reem was using, and don't see any reason to cut him. Going forward, they just need to be clear that he can't get caught again. Patrick Wyman: My immediate reaction to this awful, terrible, life-alteringly bad yet not entirely unexpected news is disappointment. As soon as I heard of the drug test after the UFC 146 presser, I felt sure that there would be trouble ahead - seriously, these guys are heavyweights, and human beings generally aren't supposed to look like that - and this confirms it.Aside from appearance (and some will certainly argue that's enough), the fact that Overeem was able to pile on so much muscle over the last six or seven years should have made us suspicious, though perhaps not for the obvious reason. While it's entirely possible to get that much bigger and stronger (roughly thirty pounds, since he used to cut from about 230) if one focuses solely on weight training and eats a specialized diet suited to that purpose, it isn't possible to invest that much effort in a strength program while also making incredible improvements to a skill set, which Overeem did with his kickboxing. The body simply can't handle that much training, but I'd argue that's the real benefit performance-enhancing drugs offer: they aren't magic pills that automatically make you huge and strong, but allow they allow you to work much harder than any human being should. That's what makes Overeem so compelling: while he certainly has some flaws in his kickboxing, I don't think there's any question that his standup is world-class. In a division so heavily populated with grapplers trying to strike (even Cain Velasquez falls into this category), he brings something unique: explosive, powerful, and highly technical Muay Thai. The matchup with JDS - the only other pure striker with enough grappling acumen to keep it on the feet - was the most compelling the heavyweight division has seen in years. It felt like a real heavyweight title fight. Now it's almost certainly gone, and I'm highly disappointed. Where to go from here? Frank MIr is the most logical replacement, but he presents an entirely uninteresting matchup: his wrestling isn't good enough to get JDS to the ground, and there's no way he's capable of standing with him given his serious defensive issues, most notably his lack of head movement and tendency to keep his back to the cage. I'd much rather see Dan Henderson or even Mark Hunt get the shot; they at least present interesting matchups. As for Overeem, I'm sure he'll have to forfeit some pay from the Lesnar fight, accept a suspension, and then I'd imagine we'll see him back in the UFC when it's up. Pragmatically speaking, the market for top-flight heavyweights is too thin to go cutting a guy like Overeem over a positive test. Chris Hall: Mir is easily the most obvious choice. I totally agree with that. But I don't think he's the best choice by any means. His striking defense has been exposed numerous times and to put him against JDS on short notice is setting him up to fail. I feel exactly the same about Cain. I think they can both provide difficult fights against Dos Santos, but I don't think it helps either by cutting their training camp and strategy short.Hunt is the only one amongst the top tier who is available and has the striking acumen to compete with JDS on short notice. I think it's very odd that Dan Henderson keeps getting brought up into this conversation. Despite his victory over Fedor, there's absolutely no reason for the UFC to give Hendo a HW title shot. Cory Braiterman: The fact that Overeem was able to pile on so much muscle over the last six or seven years should have made us suspicious. Come on now, it's been widely speculated that Overeem has been using PEDs for years. I almost want to say that it's too late to just re-book a match for 146, but we ARE 7 weeks out. I would assume Mir gets the opportunity, since it doesn't make all that much sense for Cain to get an immediate rematch after getting KO'd in 1. I think it makes almost no sense to give it to Hendo, but my pants sure do get tight at the thought. Elliot Matheny: I disagree that Mir is an uninteresting matchup for Junior. Mir has only been beat up, standing, by Vera (in a time when everyone generally agrees that he hadn't fully recovered from that motorcycle accident), and by Nog in their rematch.Junior would rightfully be the favorite, but I think Mir presents an actual submission threat, which is much more substantial than the possibility of Mark Hunt or Dan Henderson beating Cigano to the punch. Cory Braiterman: He got stankylegged by nog with a jab and crushed by Carwin up against the fence standing. I think JDS obliterates him and would consider emptying my bank acct on Jr at anything better than -300. Elliot Matheny: I agree that Junior would likely starch Frank, but I'm a big proponent of MMA as a meritocracy. Mir deserves it more than anyone else, is a fresh matchup, and has a better chance of subbing Junior than someone like Mark Hunt has of besting Cigano on the feet. Cory Braiterman: Oh I agree on the merit point, 3 in a row, 4 out of 5, former champ, arguably the best submission HW in the history of the sport. I'm just saying I wouldn't be surprised if this gets pulled from 146 completely either. Jack Slack: Firstly, I barely care for the news that Overeem is in trouble over PEDs from an emotional standpoint, only from the viewpoint that we are losing the most entertaining prospective UFC HW match up ever. Every sensible fan had already acknowledged the likelihood of him using PEDs, along with the majority of other fighters. I was once told by a former coach of an ex-UFC LHW champion that almost every professional fighter is cycling PEDs to aid in the recovery from the sheer amount of work that they do. Until more money is spent on testing than is spent on the science of cycling, it's safer to just assume that everyone is cycling and to not get too upset about it.Heavyweight title picture? Frank Mir still hasn't done enough to justify a title shot - he beat some severely decayed old fighters, and a couple of one dimensional journeymen - which we already knew he could do, but he hasn't faced another competent wrestler - the guys who generally pound him out on his back while he is gassing, attempting a submission. From a stylistic standpoint I also can't see a man who got rocked by Big Nog (who is famously slow and pillowfisted) doing well against the premier puncher in the division. Hunt has just as weak a case, he crushed Kongo for sure, but even the UFC brass believe that Kongo isn't much - they just build him up against terrible fighters to lose to the guys they want to sell as hot prospects. That said, he'd stand a much better chance against JDS than Mir does. In addition to the still formidable chin, he has some heavy hands and great technique. Could ask Cain to step in at short notice, and get another truckload of excuses about being unprepared when his mediocre striking defense gets him knocked out. I'd honestly like to see a wild card come in - Josh Barnett or Bigfoot Silva. Both those guys could give JDS all kinds of trouble by dogging him for the takedown, as Carwin and Cain completely failed to do. Even give Werdum a rematch - he only lost last time due to overconfidence in his stand up. If he got on top of JDS I'm fairly sure he'd submit him. At any rate, the rest of this event should still be entertaining as hell. It's just ruined the main match up. Earl Montclair: So as far as the Overeem positive test is concerned, I see it as an absolute blessing. He was going to pop dirty at dome point so it is best that it happened now. I think Frank Mir had the best case for a title shot and will receive it in the next week or so. The Mark Hunt thing is fun but there is no reason that he should get one under any circumstance. I know it sounds absurd but I really wish Dan Henderson would get it. He KO'd Fedor @ HW and lets face it, Dan is old. With the MW belt tied up and 205 being ruled by Bones this might be Dan's only shot at a belt in the next year and I say give to the man. He presents a very interesting stylistic matchup for JDS and he has never been more popular as he is after the FOTY with Shogun. Dana can just say the man needs a crack at a belt and what a man Hendo is for going up in weight to get it. Luke Nelson: I'll get to Overeem in a moment but first I wanted to talk about the replacement options. So far the consensus seems to be that Frank Mir is the best option, but nobody is particularly excited about it.I think it highlights the fact that the heavyweight division is still a weak division, despite the talk about UFC 146 being the best heavyweight card in history. It wasn't before Overeem popped and it certainly isn't now. In fact, if JDS gets pulled from the card, it looks pretty weak. Could you imagine this happening in the same situation in any other division? If 10 of the top fighters in any other UFC division squared off on one main card and the title challenger got hurt or busted for PEDs, the card would be just as exciting. Even the light heavyweight division, which has been plagued for two years by injuries to the number one contender, has been able to give us exciting match-ups for their champion and has Dan Henderson available should Evans not be able to go.The division is old and the guys who are at the top of the contender list without Overeem being around are Mir and Mark Hunt, who as Jack pointed out have beaten fairly weak opposition to get themselves to where they are.At this point I think the most intriguing match up at heavyweight for JDS is Jon Jones, and I wouldn't be surprised to see this fight happen early next year. Jones will have to stop Evans and Hendo and maybe Gustafsson and if you give him four months between fights he'll be finished with them by the end of this year. Dos Santos will simply destroy Mir (if he indeed gets the shot) and now I could imagine JDS facing the winner of the SF grand prix right away later this year. If he and Jones are still champions by the end of 2012, I think that fight will be what everyone wants to see.As for Overeem, the only thing that is surprising and disappointing to me is the fact that he was busted for plain old elevated testosterone. I thought there was a real possibility that he could have been on some next level, undetectable shit. There were whispers of intriguing sounding medical procedures, things like "experimental gene therapy", (or EGT, if you are a cool guy). Now it appears as though he's just a regular old test cycler and not even a good one at that.The Reem documentary is (or was) a great public relations vehicle. It revealed Overeem to be a well spoken and kind hearted guy, a stark juxtaposition to the savage and artificially enhanced monster that he had turned himself into. And really, who could blame him? He was getting his lights shut off on a regular basis in Pride, an organization chalk full of drug abusers. In fact, he fits the Barry Bonds profile perfectly: Super talented young guy doing what he can naturally, getting surpassed (and at times knocked out) by those who have enhanced themselves. So in a way I say, good for you Alistair, go get yours. But don't get caught. Okay we've all said our piece, now lets hear from you guys. What is your reaction to this news?

Posted in: overeem, guy, mir, year, jd

Top 5 Knockouts of the Year in the UFC (Video)

Three months into the year, the UFC already has a strong highlight reel of knockouts. That much is evident with Fuel TV posting a video of the top five knockouts of the year so far, and Anthony Pettis’ head kick knockout of Joe Lauzon isn’t even able to make the list. Watch as they count down the top five of the year so far, with additional gems added as honorable mentions. Only one event this year was not represented in the countdown, UFC on Fuel TV 1. The other six events of 2012 were represented, with UFC 144 being represented the most with three knockouts. Warning: Make sure to turn your volume down in your headphones or for your speakers during Joe Rogan’s excitement following Tim Boetsch’s knockout of Yushin Okami at UFC 144. Top 5: 5. Nick Denis over Joseph Sandoval-UFC on FX 1 4. Tim Boetsch over Yushin Okami- UFC 144 3. Stephen Thompson over Dan Stittgen- UFC 143 2. Jose Aldo over Chad Mendes- UFC 142 1. Edson Barboza over Terry Etim-UFC 142 Honorable Mention: Anthony Pettis over Joe Lauzon- UFC 144 Issei Tamura over Zhang Tiequan- UFC 144 Joseph Benavidez over Yasuhiro Urushitani- UFC on FX 2 Cub Swanson over George Roop- UFC on Fox 2 Pat Barry over Christian Morecraft- UFC on FX 1 Lavar Johnson over Joey Beltran- UFC on Fox 2

Posted in: ufc, fx, yushin okami, year, knockout

Top 5 Knock-Outs of the Year: UFC Tonight

submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [2 comments]

Posted in: ufc, year, knockout, mattyblayze, year ufc

Sam Stout vs Spencer Fisher 3 in the works for UFC on FX 4 in Atlantic City on June 12

The emergency glass has been shattered. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White assured Sam Stout after his unanimous decision loss to Spencer Fisher in their electric rematch back in 2007 that he was putting their trilogy match in his back pocket for future use. White apparently plans to throw his trump card on the table five years to the day of making that promise. "Showdown Joe" reports that Stout and Fisher will mix it up in a third and likely final Lightweight scrap at UFC on FX 4, which is tentatively scheduled to take place at the Revel Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, NJ, on Sat., June 12, 2012. Talk about knowing when to hold 'em. "Hands of Stone" and "The King" first collided at UFC 58 back in 2006, with Stout earning a very close split decision win in a fight that the mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion considers among its 100 best of all time (#88). One year later, the pair ran it back in yet another barn burner, which Fisher ultimately (and to some, controversially) secured a unanimous decision victory. It's taken nearly six years, but the fighters, as well as the fans, will finally tie a ribbon around one of the more entertaining, and classy, rivalries in the sport. In his most recent appearance, Stout had a two-fight win streak snapped by Thiago Tavares, losing a decision to the brawny Brazilian at UFC 142 earlier this year. Fisher, meanwhile, is eager to steer himself out of a back-to-back losing skid, which includes a technical knockout loss to the aforementioned brawny Brazilian his last time out. UFC on FX 4 will feature a a pivotal 155-pound showdown between Gray Maynard vs. Clay Guida in the main event of the evening. Elsewhere on the card, former Middleweight mainstay Dan Miller will make his Welterweight debut against Ricardo Funch. For the latest UFC on FX 4 news and notes be sure to hit up our complete event archive right here. And to check out the most recent UFC on FX 4 fight card and rumors click here.

Posted in: ufc, fx, decision, year, fisher

Video: Former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar returns to WWE for the first time in eight years

Posted in: ufc, champion, year, return, brock

Wanderlei Silva Has Been Waiting 14 Years To Face Vitor Belfort Again

Wanderlei Silva has been involved in plenty of rematches throughout his long MMA career. One rematch, however, has avoided him for 14 years in Vitor Belfort. Silva and Belfort, who are currently coaching opposite one another on The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil, will square off at UFC 147: Silva vs. Sonnen 2 on June 23. During an appearance on The MMA Hour earlier this week, Silva discussed just why he’s so excited to face “The Phenom” once again. Belfort earned a KO victory over Silva in 44 seconds back in 1998. This is the fight of my life. I’ve waited all my career for this fight. I’ve waited for (14) years for this fight. He is one of the guys I really, really want to fight before I (retire). This fight is the fight of my dreams. I’ve been fighting since I was 13 years old. I’ve fought for 21 years of my life. Silva also talked about knowing the end of the road is coming up, as he is currently 35 years old. The former superstar in Japan added that he’d like to make one more appearance in Japan before calling it a career. Belfort and Silva could each make another run at the UFC middleweight title, but both are several victories away. Belfort will have the speed advantage on Silva, but you always have to be on the lookout for Silva’s knockout ability.

Posted in: fight, silva, year, wanderlei silva, belfort

2012 Pan Ams: Post Event Recap and Thoughts

The 2012 Pan Ams took place this last weekend and with over 3,200 competitors it goes down as the largest single BJJ event in history. The mats were full to bursting almost every moment of the four day event and there is almost too much to talk about. Full results can be found at the IBJJF's official website, my live blog can be found here and the play by play of the finals here. It was Alliance that took home the team award with an impressive 86 team points. Second was Checkmat, who came charging up the rankings with a strong showing on Sunday with 63 points. Finally, Gracie Barra came in third with 58 points. This team bronze continues a strong start Gracie Barra had at the European Championships, winning their first team gold at a major IBJJF competition since 2010. The GB competition team has been hurt in the last few years by retirements to teaching and moves to MMA by some of their elite competitors. The rapid growth of the sporting aspect jiu jitsu has meant being competitive on the team level is now more than just having the best competitor at the tournament. Like in all sports, it is quickly not becoming just about the athletes but also about organizational strength, consistent development of talent and other logistics. While Alliance has developed a strong association, even their leaders have comment that Gracie Barra's infrastructure, which they have been building for years, is unlike any other academy. This strong start to the year is a clear sign the Gracie Barra's work is bearing fruit, expect more strong showings from the GB team in the coming years. Other post-event thoughts: Rafael Mendes might very well be the best pound-for-pound Brazilian Jiu Jitsu grappler on the planet. In Rafael's match with Cobrinha he certainly looked like the best in the world. That match was sublime and is a must watch for anyone who is even a moderate fan of grappling. To be sure thought it would be nice if he and Marcelo Garica would meet in an absolute match, but it is pretty rare for featherweights to enter in the open weight divisions. Checkmat had an amazing showing in the blackbelt division. They collected eight medals, including three golds and four silvers. Perhaps most impressive of the ground was Yuri Silva, who finished in second in the Heavyweight division, in just his first black belt competition. The Pan Ams is known as the tournament of new faces and one such new face was Leandro Lo at Lightweight. While Leandro is not a complete unknown to grappling fans, he cut through a stacked weight class and made it look very easy. Leandro defeated rising star Zak Maxwell impressively and then dominated Gracie Barra stalwart Phillipe Della Monica. He then used his extremely technical open guard to confound Lucas Lepri. Keep an eye out for Leandro at future events, this certainly will not be his last podium appearance. The 50/50 guard was in heavy use in this weekend, which is not a shock as it is becoming an essential position for all elite competitors to learn. This year the IBJJF referees have been very quick to hand out stalling penalties, particularly in the 50/50 guard. But this weekend the 50/50 was used heavily in offensive roles. All over the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu world, men and women are learning different ways to attack and sweep from the position and this weekend it became very obvious that results of all that training are that the 50/50 has become and offensive weapon. more after the jump... Caio Terra is just on a different level than any other Roosterweight. His technical ability is legend already and despite having been a black belt for six years, he could just be hitting his stride. Leglocks were everywhere. Vitor Estima used his signature ankle lock to great success this weekend but other competitors not known for leglocks made heavy use of them. Caio Terra won his finals match with a kneebar and Clark Gracie started every match by pulling guard and looking for an ankle lock to name just a few. Leglocks are becoming more and more apart of the BJJ landscape as more competitors add them to their games. This is running in conflict with some of the IBJJF's rules, like the reaping the knee rule, which got Vitor Estima disqualified in the Open Weightclass. Kron Gracie, son of Rickson Gracie, continues to seek his first major black belt gold. Again Kron had an impressive weekend with amazing matches and impressive wins, but then again felt just short of his goal. At Brown Belt Gracie Barra prospect and former Ohio State wrestler A.J. Agazarm had an extremely impressive run to the gold medal. He showed off excellent technical skills and is a prospect to keep an eye on. Renzo Gracie whiz-kid Gianni Grippo won his weight-class at brown belt, continuing success he has shown at every level. This kid is going to make one hell of a black belt. Atos brown belt Ronaldo Candido won Light Featherweight, just a year after winning that weight-class as a purple belt. Keenan Cornelius of Llyod Irvin BJJ won gold in the Middle and Open weight-classes at Purple belt. Cornelius is considered a top prospect in the grappling world, and this Friday he scored an impressed submission victory locking up an armbar from the 50/50 guard. On the women's side of things man of the expected big names won. Hannette Stack, Luanna Alzuguiar, Beatriz Mequita and Gabby Garcia all won their weightclasses. What was surprising was Team Llyod Irvin placing ahead of traditional women's powerhouse Gracie Humaita. This was the result of strong showings by Llyod Irvin brown belts Rachel Demara and Nyjah Easton.

Posted in: team, belt, year, competitor, gracie

Gilbert Melendez matched with Josh Thomson for May title-defense

Former Strikeforce lightweight champ Josh Thomson may have thought his previous performance was akin to excrement but it was apparently good enough in the eyes of some to earn “The Punk” a crack at current title-holder Gilbert Melendez’s belt. Thomson outpointed opponent K.J. Noons in a convincing though not particularly exciting effort a month ago at Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey. Strikeforce officials have confirmed the match-up’s addition to a May 19 card in San Jose also featuring Josh Barnett-Daniel Cormier facing off in the Grand Prix final. The bout marks the third fight in a series between Thomson-Melendez with things currently tied at one apiece. The 19-4 Thomson is 3-0 in his last three appearances under the Strikeforce banner including victories over Pat Healy and Gesias Cavalcante. However, prior to the win over Noons the 33-year old lost a Unanimous Decision to Tatsuya Kawajiri in Japan and sat out for more than a year afterward due to injury. Melendez hasn’t tasted defeat since falling to his friendly rival on the scorecards four years ago, racking up six consecutive wins with one involving success against Thomson in late 2009. “El Nino” holds other past triumphs over Kawajiri, Clay Guida, Shinya Aoki, and Jorge Masvidal. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: strikeforce, year, gilbert melendez, thomson, tatsuya kawajiri

Brock Lesnar Returns to WWE, What’s Next? Fan’s Take (Yahoo! Contributor Network)

In recent years, World Wrestling Entertainment has tried to cash in on the expected added viewers of the Monday Night Raw immediately following WrestleMania by doing things out of the ordinary. In years past, we have seen the WWE Draft held on this night, but it was last year that...

Posted in: year, monday night, years world, fan ’s, wwe draft

UFC Quick Quote: Vitor Belfort rematch is the fight of Wanderlei Silva’s life

"This is the fight of my life. I've waited all my career for this fight. I've waited for (14) years for this fight. He is one of the guys I really, really want to fight before I (retire). This fight is the fight of my dreams. I've been fighting since I was 13 years old. I've fought for 21 years of my life. But, I still feel really good. I feel really motivated. You need to respect the body. We're not 22, 23 years old. I'm 35. I'm not looking 35, but I'm 35. But I'm not too old, I'm not too young. Maybe I can make my last fight in Japan. Maybe, I don't know. But we're going to check with the boss when they're going to have their next show there. I want to make my last fight in Japan." -- Appearing on "The MMA Hour" today (April 2, 2012), Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight contender Wanderlei Silva says that when he finally faces off against fellow The Ultimate Fighter (TUF): "Brazil" coach, Vitor Belfort inside the Octagon, it will be the dream match he has long desired. "The Phenom" blitzed passed "The Axe Murderer" at UFC: "Brazil" way back on Oct. 16, 1998, in a matter of 44 seconds of the opening round of their first encounter. Fourteen years later, Silva will have the chance to avenge his quickest loss to date in the place where the first fight went down, as the two are tentatively penciled in to collide at UFC 147: "Silva vs. Sonnen 2" in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on June 23, 2012. After 16 years of entertaining fans with some of the most brutal knockouts and memorable fights in mixed martial arts (MMA) history, Silva also says that when the day comes he has to hang up his 4 oz. gloves for good, he hopes the UFC will grant him his final fight in the Far East, in Japan, where his career took off with Pride FC. What say you Maniacs, will Silva be able to seek his long desired revenge against Belfort? Or will "The Phenom" turn Silva's dream fight into a real life nightmare ... again?

Posted in: ufc, fight, silva, year, im

Wanderlei Silva Reflective of Career, Ready For ‘Fight of His Dreams’

Wanderlei Silva has been waiting a long time for this, and he's not shy to say so. When Silva meets rival The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil coach Vitor Belfort at UFC 147, it'll be in a rematch 14 years in the making, after Belfort needed just 44 seconds to crush Silva back at the UFC's inaugural trip to Sau Paulo in 1998. As one can imagine, that loss never sat well with Silva, and the chance to avenge it on the biggest stage means June can't come soon enough. "This is the fight of my life," Silva proclaimed on Monday's edition of The MMA Hour. "I've waited all my career for this fight. I've waited for (14) years for this fight. He is one of the guys I really, really want to fight before I (retire). This fight is the fight of my dreams." These days retirement seems to come up more often than not for Silva. Luckily, by now he seems to have acknowledged that fact, or at least grow accustomed to it, and so he has very few reservations about taking a trip down memory lane. "I'm so happy for my career," Silva reflectively said. "I've been fighting since I was 13 years old. I've fought for 21 years of my life. But I still feel really good. I feel really motivated." Over that time, Silva has witnessed an explosion of Brazilian culture into the modern MMA landscape that no one could have foreseen. Now South America's largest country has seemingly become the center of the fighting world. With Brazilian contenders shooting through each of the UFC's division, a landmark stadium show already on the books, and TUF: Brazil shattering the rating standards set by its American counterpart, MMA has evolved from a niche sport into a Brazilian national pastime. In Silva's eyes, UFC President Dana White is the biggest cause of the growth. "He's a really good businessman. He brings really good jobs with the UFC," Silva explained. "A lot of guys were thinking bad things about MMA before, but now they have a different vision. The fighters have more respect in society. They make it to more events. We go to the good programs, we have more fun." When the subject of Brazil arises, it's easy to see how dramatically Silva's role has shifted. He's no longer just a fighter, but also a national ambassador to the sport, with an entire generation raised on the violent exploits of "The Ax Murderer." With that in mind, the idea of retirement no longer seems as daunting as it once may have. In fact, Silva says he finally has a plan for life after fighting. He hopes to work inside the UFC, focusing on bringing charitable events to gyms throughout the world, helping young fighters get the opportunities he never had. While that time may not be here yet, he's confident he'll know when to call it quits. "You need to respect the body. We're not 22, 23 years old. I'm 35. I'm not looking 35, but I'm 35," Silva laughed. "But I'm not too old, I'm not too young." In the interim, it's not like Silva's plate is particularly empty. First there's the national publicity parade that is TUF: Brazil, and then of course, an extraordinarily formidable challenge in Belfort. Silva is understandably the heavy underdog heading into the fight, but it almost seems criminal to count him out after the facial reconstruction he sent Cung Le's way. Even more intriguing, if Silva can stun the world and emerge victorious, claiming wins over Belfort, Le, and Michael Bisping over his last four fights, "The Ax Murderer" could potentially put together one of the most improbable contender runs in UFC history. With his immense marketing muscle, the notion isn't as far-fetched as it may seem. But again, that's a lot of "what ifs," and Silva has never been one for skepticism. All he knows is regardless of how this final chapter plays out, when it's all said and done, he'll still have one final box left on the checklist. An ultimate farewell for a legend of the sport; back to the place where it all began. "Maybe I can make my last fight in Japan," Silva concluded. "Maybe, I don't know. But we're going to check with the boss when they're going to have their next show there. I want to make my last fight in Japan."

Posted in: ufc, fight, silva, year, im

Report: John Cena vs The Rock WrestleMania 28 rematch signed for UFC 152

Following in the footsteps of Brock Lesnar, two WWE Superstars have signed with Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) to participate in a bout that will take place later this year. Tonight (April 1, 2012) at WrestleMania 28, John Cena and The Rock will take part in a scripted professional wrestling match that has been one year in the making. But, at UFC 152, tentatively scheduled for sometime in Oct. 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada, the two men will do battle inside the Octagon with no script to follow and no pulled punches. UFC President Dana White took to Twitter this morning to announce the bout: "Make sure u watch wrestle mania tonight. part 1 of the rock and john cena. pt 2 will be inside the octagon!" It's being reported the history-making fight is part of a deal involving Brock Lesnar being allowed to re-sign with WWE. When WWE Chairman Vince McMahon began negotiating with the former UFC Heavyweight Champion, he discovered a clause in Lesnar's contract with Zuffa that prevented him from signing with any fight promotion or wrestling organization for at least three years following his mixed martial arts (MMA) retirement. McMahon got on the horn with White and the two titans of their respective industries hammered out a deal. Lesnar was allowed to re-sign with WWE -- and will likely make an appearance at tonight's WrestleMania 28 event -- and White would get dibs on the John Cena and The Rock rematch inside the Octagon. The two superstars have made it no secret their animosity extends well beyond the storyline in which they are involved. Cena resents The Rock -- real name Dwayne Johnson -- for abandoning the wrestling company to become a big time Hollywood actor, while The Rock's patience with Cena's constant jabs over the years is growing thin. While both are professionals and will do what needs to be done tonight in Miami, both jumped at the chance to trade suplexes for kimuras and bodyslams for overhand rights. More information on this historic bout after the jump: The Rock has long been a Muay Thai practitioner, having perfected The People's Elbow several years ago. The strike has put more than one opponent away and the former champion will look to nail Cena with it both tonight and in October. It's unknown exactly how long he's been training, but it's long enough to be able to hold his own once the Octagon gate shuts. Cena, on the other hand, has an amateur wrestling and boxing background. His Attitude Adjustment finisher is essentially a fireman's carry -- a basic wrestling throw -- on steroids and his Five Knuckle Shuffle punch has had opponents reeling for years. His amateur wrestling prowess is such that WWE Studios filmed a documentary called "Legendary" a few years back. While the winner of tonight's WrestleMania 28 main event will soon be decided, the winner of UFC 152's main event will be decided in October when "The People's Champion" and "The Doctor of Thuganomics" step inside the Octagon. It's as real as it gets ... unlike this article.

Posted in: ufc, cena, year, wwe, rock

Tonight's AFC 2 rematch with Menne begins Bustamante's final year of competition

For just the second time in more than four years, Murilo Bustamante is returning to the cage. The jiu-jitsu trailblazer and former UFC middleweight champion meets a fellow ex-UFC titleholder in Dave Menne in the headliner of tonight's Amazon Forest Combat 2 event. For the 45-year-old Bustamante, it's the beginning of the end for a legendary martial-arts career.

Posted in: year, tonight, bustamante, dave menne, jiujitsu trailblazer

Former UFC Champ Brock Lesnar May Return At Sunday's WWE Wrestlemania

Just a few months after hanging up his four ounce gloves, former UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar is apparently nearing a return to the ring: the WWE ring, that is. Wrestling Observer founder Dave Meltzer reported Friday that Lesnar has been in talks with WWE for several weeks and when this year's headliner Dwyane "The Rock" Johnson worked around whether a question about Lesnar could be a future opponent, the rumor mill began to heat up. The WWE's biggest event of the year is Sunday's Wrestlemania 27 and there is speculation that Lesnar might make an appearance to help generate buzz for an appearance at the 2013 event. There is no indication that Lesnar wants to return to wrestling full time as he wasn't a fan of the road schedule before his departure in 2006. According to Meltzer, Lesnar is no longer obligated to the UFC: Dana White confirmed that Lesnar is legally able to do WrestleMania. He had been under a UFC contract but had retired from the promotion. White was not aware if Lesnar was doing the show. Lesnar (5-3) retired at December's UFC 141 following a first round TKO loss to Alistair Overeem. The 34-year-old dealt with diverticulitis for more than two years, throwing his career into a state of chaos. He lost the title to Cain Velasquez in October 2010, snapping a four fight winning streak.

Posted in: ufc, year, wwe, lesnar, wrestlemania

With five fights left on contract, UFC 148's Cung Le taking it one bout at a time

If you haven't yet noticed, Cung Le has other things he can do. No fewer than three movies featuring Le are scheduled for release this year. In one of them, "The Man with the Iron Fists," he co-stars with Hollywood heavyweights Russell Crowe and Lucy Liu. Le is 39 years old and has been fighting in one way or another since his tweens. He has another way to make a living in which it's far less likely he'll have his nose rearranged. So why keep doing it?

Posted in: way, year, cung, iron fists, lucy liu

IBJJF 2012 Pan Ams Preview

This weekend Irvine, California will play host to the biggest Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competition in history. The Pan Ams are one of the three biggest competitions hosted by the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) and always attracts a good number of competitors. This year, the field is huge. It is so big in fact, that for the first time ever, the Pan Ams will be taking place over four days starting today and ending Sunday. Budovideos will be streaming every single match of this Pan Ams live on their website with single day passes and package deals for several days. For MMA fans, Strikeforce welterweight Tarec Saffiedine will be competing on Friday morning at men's Medium Heavy purple belt. The black belts will be taking the mats on Sunday. A quick blast through the black belt divisions follow: One of BJJ's biggest names, Caio Terra will be competing at Rooster weight. Terra is a technical wizard, true innovator and steadfast opponent to PEDs. He famously spoke out against the use of steroids at last year's Pan Ams and called for testing after winning his weight-class last year. Terra is a clear cut favorite to win his weight and is a must-watch anytime he is on the mat. World Champion brothers Rafael and Guilherme Mendes will be be representing Atos at Feather and Light Featherweight. Both are fantastically athletic grapplers who make excellent use of the 50/50 guard as a sweeping weapon, yet have opened up their game in recent competitions to submit most of their competitors. Rafael's bracket includes fellow Atos Featherweights David Lemes and Michael Fowler (who recently switched affiliation with amicability all round), so there is a chance we could see an all Atos final. But the presences of Rubens "Cobrinha" Charles cannot be discounted and a Rafa vs Cobrinha final would be a continuation of the fantastic rivalry that has begun to slide inexorably towards Rafa. Historically, Cobrinha holds the advantage, but in recent matches on the biggest stages of grappling, Rafael has held an advantage. The Lightweight division will feature one of the art's rising young stars, American born Zak Maxwell. A product of the powerhouse Gracie Humaita and son of a pioneering American black belt, Maxwell has been making big impressions in the last year. Recently, he outpointed Kron Gracie at the 2012 World Abu Dhabi Pro Qualifiers in a minor upset. Middleweight this year is absolutely stacked, even with the withdrawal of reigning ADCC Absolute champion Andre Galvao due to injury. Gracie Barra's Victor Estima will be in attendance, as will Clark Gracie along with Marcos de Souza of Atos. Kron Gracie has also moved up in weight to compete at Middleweight - some think to avoid a rematch with Zak Maxwell or the other beasts in that division. Either way, Kron is a young star still searching for his first big break and bouncing between weight classes might allow him to get over the hump and claim his first major tournament win at black belt in a while. Medium-Heavy will feature two Gracie Barra stand outs Karyon Gracie and Romulo Barral have entered their names in the lists. Oliver Geddes, a Roger Gracie black belt and frequent Sherdog forums participant, is also in the division. The woman's side of things is pretty bare, but world champions Gabi Garcia and Hannette Stack will both be taking part in single matches and could possibly meet in an Absolutes rematch. Another side note, former UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar's BJJ coach Rodrigo "Comprido" Mederios will compete in the Masters (30+ years old) division. This Pan Ams 2012 tournament is a lock to be a fantastic weekend of grappling. Be sure to check back here at Bloody Elbow for continuing coverage.

Posted in: belt, year, gracie, pan, am

King Mo to the WWE?

From Dave Meltzer's Wrestling Observer newsletter: MMA fighter King Mo Lawal, who was suspended nine months by the Nevada Commission and then fired from Strikeforce by Dana White, is interested in joining WWE. Lawal has been a long-time pro wrestling fan and has expressed interest in joining WWE in the past. Gerald Brisco recruited Lawal years ago but it never worked out as Lawal wanted to compete in the Olympics. When he didn't make the Olympic team, he started MMA instead. Seems crazy to me, but then again I think anyone who willingly throws their body through the meatgrinder that is the WWE circuit is nuts. Let's see what sounds better: being on the road all the time performing over 150 times a year and maybe ... MAYBE ... making it to the point where you crack a six figure salary. OR stick to MMA, fight three times a year for at least 50k a pop plus sponsorships, and as a nice little bonus you get to keep your dignity. It's a good thing for Mo's career that these kinda WWE rumors almost never end up going anywhere.

Posted in: mma, time, year, wwe, lawal

Dana White says UFC will be in China by year's end, Venetian Macao likely to host

LAS VEGAS - The UFC's international expansion has a new destination. UFC president Dana White today said Macau, a special administrative region of China known for tourism and gambling, is expected to host a UFC event soon. Just how soon? "Very soon," he told MMAjunkie.com following a UFC 146 kickoff press conference in Las Vegas. "It will happen this year."

Posted in: ufc, year, las vegas, la, ufc event

Five Years Ago: UFC Purchases Pride Fighting Championships

March 27, 2007 was a year that changed everything in the MMA world. During a press conference in Tokyo, Japan, Lorenzo Fertitta announced that the UFC had purchased Pride Fighting Championships. With today serving as the five year anniversary of the announcement, we know that we never got some of the bigger ideas talked about in the purchase like the two promotions continuing to operate independently with a "Super Bowl" style event. With it appearing to be a more difficult task than they expected, the UFC quickly shifted their talk to the UFC "not being wanted" in Japan, resulting in the way we saw the situation play out. Here are some quotes from the press conference where the announcement was held (via ESPN): "This is really going to change the face of MMA," Lorenzo Fertitta said. "Literally creating a sport that could be as big around the world as soccer. I liken it somewhat to when the NFC and AFC came together to create the NFL." The deal allows the Fertitta brothers to broker the biggest MMA fights possible in the near future, increasing their influence in this sports entertainment business. "We will be able to literally put on the fights that everyone wants to see," Lorenzo Fertitta said. "It will allow us to put on some of the biggest fights ever." There was a single DSE promoted PRIDE event held following the sale and Zach Arnold of Fight Opinion discussed that show (as well as what happened in the wake of the sale) over at Fight Opinion: What did happen was a rather pathetic ending for PRIDE. Their final show was in April of ‘07 at Saitama Super Arena and Nobuyuki Sakakibara, the front man for PRIDE, used the occasion and the show as his final goodbye. In addition to having graphics all over the arena with his face on them, he had the fighters on the card come out and talk about what a great man he was and how sad they were to see PRIDE die. It was a pathetic, but fitting spectacle for a man of such character. Soon after the sale took place, Zuffa hired Spectrum Gaming to run the background check on DSE for ‘due diligence.' Yes, they did ‘due diligence' after the transaction instead of before it. I wonder why. This resulted in a legal battle between the two parties over the asset sale agreement. The initial report was that $70M USD was paid but most insiders believe the final total was in the $10-13M USD range. While we may have never received the mega-crossover Super Bowl events that we all expected as MMA fans, Pride was on life support prior to the purchase anyway. The sport has grown so much over the past five years that wishing Pride was still around seems pointless. It was a fantastic and wild ride while it lasted, but it had to end sometime. And the beginning of that end was five years ago today.

Posted in: fight, year, pride, sale, fight opinion

UFC Video: In-Depth Dana White Interview Talks His Vision For The Next 5 years

UFC president Dana White sits down with Marcus Kowal of Sweden's MMAnytt for a very interesting interview that cover's Dana's whole history with MMA in pretty serious detail. Topics covered include: How Dana and the Fertitta Brothers got into MMA, first as students of Jiu-Jitsu, then as promoters; The business philosophy of the UFC: sport over spectacle; How he works with UFC matchmaker Joe Silva; Dana's unsuccessful efforts to book a Dan Henderson vs Mauricio "Shogun" Rua rematch; The UFC's goals for the next five years (notably one of the key goals is letting people know that now they're on Fox, FX and Fuel); Efforts to get the UFC regulated in New York, France and everywhere around the world; The move from Spike TV to Fox; Dana outlines his insane travel schedule at length; Dana's plans to get everything "dialed-in" over the next two years so he can coast for the next five; His plans to appear on every international edition of The Ultimate Fighter. More SBN Coverage of UFC on Fuel TV 2

Posted in: ufc, dana, year, detail topics, business philosophy

Post-PRIDE five years later: What happened to the main players? @MMASupremacy @MiddleEasy @FrankTrigg

Five years later, the Japanese fight scene is burnt to a crisp after PRIDE's demise.

Posted in: japanese, year, mmasupremacy, middleeasy, postpride

Read the full article at Fight Opinion

Alan Belcher Thinks It 'Would Be So Cool' To Heel Hook Rousimar Palhares

This is a guest post by Stephie "Crooklyn" Daniels. Follow Crooklyn on Twitter @CrooklynMMA. By the time Alan Belcher steps back into the octagon on May 5, against super tough Brazilian, Rousimar Palhares at UFC on Fox 3, he will have been away from the sport for the better part of a year, but "The Talent" says that it feels like he just dispatched Jason McDonald only yesterday. With a little under six weeks to go before their scheduled bout, Belcher has once again brought in Daniel Moraes, and has added another well known name in Brazilian jiu jitsu to his camp, Dean Lister. In a recent interview, Alan details his preparation for Palhares, and talks about a new personal challenge he has set for himself, competing in gi jiu jitsu tournaments. SD: In a recent interview you did, you stated that you want to beat Rousimar by submission. Is it safe to assume that you'd like it to be a heel hook? AB: [laughs] Oh, that would be so cool to get a foot lock or a heel hook or something like that. That'd be great, but you know, I think I'd just be very happy with a win. If I could chose a way to win, definitely, but I don't think I'm going to put myself in that situation, so that's probably not going to happen. SD: Do you feel that you will be able to capitalize on your size advantage, and have you ever fought anyone as compact as Palhares? AB: I actually have fought someone like that. Not in the UFC, it was before I got signed. They have their advantages and their weaknesses, just like I do. I feel comfortable though. I'd rather fight someone shorter and stockier than me, than someone taller. SD: Many feel that you have a significant striking advantage. What do you think you'll be able to capitalize most with, kicks or punches? AB: Kick and go is definitely going to be a part of my game. I definitely want to be kicking him, slowing down his legs, shooting in, and making him think twice. People say 'You don't want to kick too much, and give him your leg,' but I have a lot of different weapons. I can punch straight down the middle, hooks, uppercuts, knees elbows, and I can kick high and low. All those things can throw my opponent off, so I don't want to limit myself to any one thing. I'm developing some slick tactics and strategies, for sure. SD: What do you think Rousimar's weaknesses are? AB: Obviously his striking. He doesn't have a lot of range, because he's kind of short. He also gets a little bit frustrated sometimes. If it's not going the way he wants, he's always quick to try to talk to the referee, and that's a bad habit to get into. He's really strong and explosive, but not really technical. He's got some nasty leg locks and foot locks, but still, on the technical side of it, I just think don't think he's all around as good as me, ground or standing. SD: You've been working with Duke Roufus for a while now, but have you brought in anyone special to your training camp this time around? AB: I'm going to go up to Roufusport in the middle of April, about two or three weeks before the fight. I want to at least get in a solid two weeks with Ben Askren and Duke Roufus. Those two guys are really good friends, and my main reason to go up there. I'm doing most of my camp here with Daniel Moraes, Davi Ramos and Dean Lister. SD: When did you add Dean Lister to your camp? AB: Yesterday, actually. He got here yesterday, and will be here for a few weeks. Dean Lister is an amazing guy. He's really technical and really strategic. It's really cool having him around. Just last night and today, we trained, and I've already learned a lot of cool stuff from him. He won't be going to Duke's with me, or be in my corner, but I just need a few weeks to pick his brain, and I think I'll be Palhares proof. Daniel Moraes is a five time jiu jitsu champ, and I've had him in my last few camps. He's the one that I went to Brazil with, and he's going to be with me the whole time, so he's kind of coordinating everything with me. I've got three really good black belt world champions. SD: You've had a fairly long layoff since your last fight, just shy of nine months. Do you foresee any issues with conditioning or ring rust at all? AB: I've kept myself in shape this whole time. The reason for my layoff this time was because my little boy had just been born, and I didn't want to get right back in there. It went by so fast that I feel like I'm in another training camp right away. It doesn't even feel like a layoff. It feels like I'm right back in there on schedule. My life is just going so fast right now. It's fun, and I'm having a good time right now, but I don't even feel like I've had any real layoff. SD: Do you have plans to fight again this year? AB: I think one more time would work for me. Maybe August or September at the earliest, and then at the beginning of next year. SD: Ideally, is two fights a year good for you, or would you like to shoot for three next year? AB: There's really no reason for me to fight three times in a year. I don't really need the money. My life is going fast anyway, so I don't want to just to cram fights in. I want to take my time, and make sure that I give myself time to focus on my fights from the mental aspect. Physically, I'm training year round. Two times a year is plenty for me. I love my family and my wife. Everything is great, and I have everything that I want. My fighting career is just a bonus, a personal challenge for me. You know, I did the gi world championships a couple years ago, and I lost my first match. It was really close, but now that I'm a black belt, I would like to put together a real training camp for that, and go for it, just as another personal achievement. To win a match as a black belt in the Worlds, that would be great, and it would mean a lot to me. It may not mean much to anyone else, and they may not care, but it does to me. It's [Worlds] coming up after my fight, so I might be doing that. SD: How important was your win over MacDonald, considering that he has a phenomenal ground game, and you were coming off a long layoff due to your eye injury? AB: It was great. I was obviously nervous about coming back off that injury. It was awesome that I was challenged by such a good black belt. SD: Where do you think that a win over Palhares puts you in the division? AB: My personal opinion, is that it puts me up in the top two or three guys. There's always going to be someone that's kind of equal to you, and I think it puts me into that category, like the three number one contenders [laughs]. One thing I keep saying in my interviews, is that I know if I win, I won't go backwards. Follow Alan via his Twitter @alanbelcherufc

Posted in: fight, time, year, ab, sd

Bellator Continues To Assail 2012 As A Can't-Miss Fight Promotion

Bellator was absent from the MMA landscape from late November of 2011 until March 3rd of this year. The promotion has, however, more than compensated for their extended hiatus by flooding the market with riveting events every week. Bellator's return was wisely synchronized with the debut of The Ultimate Fighter on FX and the corresponding six-week lull between major UFC shows. Thus far, in their three offerings of 2012, Bellator has produced two "Knockout of the Year" candidates and one "Fight of the Year" candidate. It began with a featherweight extravaganza. Bellator 60 on March 9 featured the featherweight tournament quarterfinals and was headlined by immodest featherweight champ Joe Warren defending against surging tactician Pat Curran. The main event delivered all the ingredients to sate the appetite of ravenous fight-fans: two top-shelf mixed martial artists, heavy anticipation stemming from Warren's confident boasting, an absorbing ebb and flow, technical combat and an obscenely violent knockout. Along with Strikeforce's Gilbert Melendez, Curran is the highest ranked non-UFC fighter and he justified that lofty status with the unruly shellacking of Warren to assume the featherweight mantle. Curran has also become one of my favorite fighters to watch in MMA -- he's an unshakably composed, three-dimensional juggernaut with some of the best technical defense in the business. Next up was the middleweight quarterfinals at Bellator 61. The show kicked off with last year's finalist and this year's favorite, Vitor Vianna, a Wand Fight Team rep and two-time BJJ world champion, taking on the volatile Brian Rogers. Vianna quickly determined that the striking exchanges were not to his liking and pursued takedowns with the hope of impose his submission grappling advantage, but Rogers, whose stand up was unfailingly crisp, tight and on-balance, negated each attempt easily. Rogers uncorked a stiff one-two late in the first that wobbled Vianna, then exploded with a picturesque flying knee that landed square on Vianna's chin. Knowing the airborne assault turned Vianna's lights out, Rogers was walking away with his arms raised in celebration before the referee had even waved the fight off. Continued in the full entry. Last Friday's Bellator 62 show staged the stacked lightweight tournament, replete with stellar new prospects and two reputable welterweights dropping to lightweight for the first time; one, Rick Hawn, an Olympic caliber Judoka. The event was captained by tournament favorite Patricky Freire colliding with the staunch Lloyd Woodard, both of whom were defeated by Bellator's newly minted lightweight champion Michael Chandler. World champion kickboxer and #1 Scouting Report entry Thiago Michel cemented his potential by upsetting Rene Nazare in the opening bout, Brent Weedman latched on a Von Flue choke to tap J.J. Ambrose, Hawn notched a rousing, first-round knockout over Ricardo Tirloni and the main event was pure insanity. Freire and Woodard tore into each other from the get-go, swapping serious leather on the feet and engaging in lively transitions on the mat. Freire dazed Woodard with a punch halfway through and stole the round by fishing for a kimura as it ended. The knockdown, drag-out brawl that started in the first roared back to life in the second. Both fighters hurled ill-intended haymakers and mutually found the mark, then Woodard clipped "Pitbull" with a knee from clinch and pounced with ground-and-pound. Freire repelled him with an armbar attempt, but Woodard countered and hopped into side control to threaten with an armlock of his own, eventually executing a rolling kimura to submit the Team Nogueira black belt. The bout was action-packed and mesmerizing from start to finish. The three-years-young fight league has concocted a formula that just works. Match-maker Sam Caplan has lured relevant, name-fighters to their roster while simultaneously scouring the globe to attract legitimate prospects. The results-driven tournament format has long been adored by fans since the heyday of Pride Fighting Championships and, barring the recent flyweight tournament, something curiously amiss in the UFC. The commentary duo of Jimmy Smith and Sean Wheelock is phenomenal. They have a straightforward, no-bullshit style with the right blend of technical observation and astute play-by-play that caters to new fans and hardcores alike. Referee Jason Herzog, who handles a great deal of Bellator's shows, is flat-out one of the best referees in the sport, if not the best. Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney has been adamant that fighters must prove themselves as top contenders by rising above in the tournament for a crack at the champ, propagating Bellator's signature catchphrase, "Where title shots are earned, not given." Without the convenience of the UFC's overflowing stable, Rebney's managed to avert the calamity of last-minute requirements by swapping match-ups sensibly (da Silva vs. Reardanz and Bezerra vs. Foster at Bellator 60) or nixing them entirely (Prindle vs. Santos at Bellator 63). Amidst all of these subtle but critical accomplishments, the thing that stands out the most is that Bellator fighters are just downright hungry. Regardless of experience, popularity or position, the Bellator mixed martial artists all fight like they have something to prove. Which they do -- Bellator and its fighters will always be compared to the UFC, and having the undisputed alpha-promotion as an eternal benchmark can be quite grueling and tedious for an aspiring fight league. All they can hope to do is put on entertaining fights between exciting and relevant fighters ... and that's exactly what Bellator has done so far.

Posted in: fight, bellator, fighter, year, tournament

Muhammed Lawal contemplated giving up during infection ordeal

High-level fighters are generally prepared for any challenge they face whether in the ring or outside of it, as a certain level of mental toughness created by years upon years of grinding in the gym and absorbing damage in a sport predicated on physical contact. However, when it comes to the battle Strikeforce light heavyweight Muhammed Lawal is currently embroiled in pertaining to his health, the former champion nearly called it quits to what would have been life-altering or even life-ending results. Lawal recently peeled back a layer to reveal how low he’d sunk during his painful, extended treatment for a staph infection inside his knee occurring after he’d had surgery to repair ligament damage inside it. The situation got so serious he nearly had his leg amputated, had a catheter inserted into his heart, and has lost more than 30 pounds since first going under the knife. “I got to the point where I was like, f*ck it. I just felt like, hey, I’m going to quit taking this medicine, and if I die then I die. I’m tired of this stuff,” said Lawal of the circumstances in an interview with CNNSI, adding it really hit him how bad were things when it looked in the mirror and could see his hip-bone. Fortunately, as individuals like Lawal often do, the 31-year old fought through the adversity and came out on top. While he’s still not completely out of the woods yet health-wise, things appear to be progressing in a positive direction including Lawal’s state of mind. “I feel like I looked death in the face, and I survived. I’m talking death of my career, and death in life. I faced that. It was tough. It really did make me appreciate my life, just my everyday life,” Lawal explained. “I used to think, not that I hated working out, but that I hated feeling tired. Now, I miss feeling tired. I miss getting punched, kicked, kneed, elbowed. I miss all that.” It is still unknown when Lawal will be fit enough to get back to training at 100%, but, it appears he’ll do so as a new man who takes nothing for granted, and one thing that can be said with certainty is a motivated “King Mo” should make for an especially dangerous individual. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: muhammed lawal, year, life, thing, lawal

Can Jose Aldo be Beaten? A Meditation on Perfection in MMA Today

This fan post has been promoted to the front page Jose Aldo is currently riding a fourteen-fight winning streak, with eight of those wins coming by absolutely vicious knockout. He has not been seriously tested during that time: in fact, he has only lost three or at most four rounds out of twenty-eight since making his debut in the WEC, and has never found himself anywhere close to being finished or losing a decision. I say this not to rehearse the obvious point - that Aldo is really, really good - but to emphasize the sheer enormity of his dominance since reaching the biggest stage in MMA. It's possible that we've never seen a fighter as well-rounded as Jose Aldo, GSP included, and I would argue that we've never seen anyone with his combination of well-roundedness, explosive athleticism, and absolutely vicious finishing ability. At this point, then, one question stands out: who is capable of beating Jose Aldo? My intention here is to briefly discuss all possible challengers, with the goal of discerning who precisely has the best chance of beating him at featherweight; there are potential matchups at 155 as well, but I'd like to focus on the here and now. Let's start with the obvious contenders first. For each, I'll give a brief rundown of when they might expect to receive a title shot, the most likely fashion in which such a fight would play out, and finally my guess at what the betting line would be, purely as a means of quantifying the likelihood of a win by the contender. (Note: -400 means that Aldo would be a 4-to-1 favorite, for example). After running through the list, I'll conclude with a discussion of what Aldo's dominance means for the sport of MMA as a whole. Hatsu Hioki: It seems likely that Hioki will receive the next title shot (slated for July), and frankly I'm not thrilled about his chances. He has a solid standup game, and relies heavily on his long jab, straight right, and low kicks; in the clinch, he shows good takedowns and the ability to generate some offense. His top game, however, is by far his best asset: alternately suffocating and vicious, Hioki is capable of dropping heavy ground and pound, usually in order to set up a submission. I'm not familiar with his guard game, but given his build and otherwise good BJJ game I'd assume that it's solid at worst and potentially excellent (if anyone has more information, please say so in the comments). In a potential fight with Aldo, however, Hioki would be badly overmatched: his standup game is light years behind Aldo's, and the champion's speed would likely be the difference maker. It's also unlikely, given Aldo's astounding takedown defense, that Hioki would be able to implement his top game, and even if he did Aldo's own ground skills are far from meager. I'd bet on Aldo by knockout. Potential betting line: Aldo -400. Chan Sung Jung: The Zombie's impressive wins over Garcia and Hominick have catapulted him from entertaining brawler to potential title challenger, with a title shot likely on the line (presumably to be contested in the fall) in his upcoming matchup with Dustin Poirier. Even if Jung manages to get past Poirier - and I doubt that he will - a fight with Aldo would be like a lamb to the slaughter. If Leonard Garcia was able to repeatedly tag him in both of their fights and Roop could land a flush high kick, Aldo can do bad, bad things. Given the difficulty involved in getting Aldo to the ground, it's difficult to imagine the Zombie implementing his creative submission game, either. Aldo by KO would be the pick here. Potential betting line: Aldo -600. Dustin Poirier: I'm much, much higher on the long-term prospects of Poirier than I am of Hioki or Jung, for several reasons. First, Poirier's game is very well-rounded, especially considering his relative youth: he's been fighting as a professional for less than three years (with several amateur fights before then), but is capable of finishing both on the feet and on the ground, and possesses a deep arsenal of submissions. Second, he has the kind of explosive athleticism that's now a prerequisite for competing at the highest levels of MMA; he might not be on Aldo's level in that regard, but is still light years beyond Jung or Hioki. Third, and perhaps most important within the context of a potential matchup with Aldo, Poirier is a finisher. When he smells blood or gets his opponent in a bad position, the ground and pound and submission attempts come fast and furious. Of all the fighters currently competing at 145, I'd give Poirier the best chance of eventually dethroning Aldo, but he's still very green and ideally could use another three fights (roughly a year) to deepen his skills. Given the likely timeframe for a fight with Aldo, however, give me Aldo by decision in a fight that happens this fall; too much speed and too much experience would be the difference-maker here. Potential betting line:Aldo -300. Erik Koch: Koch is another potential challenger on whom I'm very high. He could potentially be slotted in to face Aldo this summer, though I think it's more likely that Hioki gets the shot, or he could be tapped for that match in the fall or sometime next year. Simply put, the more time the better: Koch has only recently made the jump from prospect to legitimate top-10 contender, and while he's made enormous strides from his first fight in the WEC to his last performance against Brookins, he's still raw. Though he may not possess the athleticism of his stablemate Anthony Pettis, his skill sets are quite similar: unorthodox, powerful kickboxing, solid clinch work, excellent takedown defense (with the exception of the Mendes fight more than two years ago), and a good if not spectacular ground game. Out of all of the fighters I've mentioned here, Koch presents the most interesting challenge on the feet for Aldo: he's long and rangy, and knows how to emphasize his reach by means of the jab and his kicking game. It would be fascinating to see whether Aldo could use his speed advantage to close the distance. Still, if the fight were this summer, I'd take Aldo by submission or ground and pound TKO; next year, I think Koch would have progressed enough to weather out a decision loss. Potential betting line: Aldo -350. Frankie Edgar: Although he's slated to receive a rematch with Ben Henderson this summer, there's still a good chance that Frankie makes the cut to 145 at some point in the future. Out of all the potential challengers to Aldo's throne, I think Edgar has the best chance of beating him right now. He has the cardio to really push the pace - the one area in which Aldo's shown even a sliver of weakness in the last several years - and his technically sound movement could make it difficult for Aldo to stalk him down and land his strikes. Moreover, Edgar's ability to mix his strikes and takedown attempts gives him a legitimate shot of putting Aldo on his back despite the champ's preternatural defensive skills; although Edgar hasn't shown much of a top game, successful takedowns would be essential to breaking up Aldo's rhythm on the feet. While there's a clear path for Edgar to win that fight, I don't rate his chances too highly: the real difference-maker, in my opinion, would be Aldo's use of low kicks to first redirect Frankie's movement and eventually take it away altogether with cumulative damage to the legs. Additionally, for a fighter as hittable as Frankie, the power in Aldo's strikes could easily spell disaster. Potential betting line: Aldo -200. It should be clear at this point that I don't believe Aldo can be beaten by anyone currently capable of making the cut to 145. Should he move up to 155, I think the monsters of the division, most notably Henderson and Maynard, could physically overpower him. Henderson in particular would be a nightmarish matchup on the feet in terms of his ability to use kicks to control the range, and he could match Aldo's speed and explosiveness with a much bigger frame. Even then, I'd still have Aldo as a favorite over Maynard and probably even money with Bendo. At 145, however, there's nobody who fits that profile, and barring the meteoric rise of a new prospect the belt is his for the foreseeable future. The more interesting question, to my way of thinking, is precisely what the past and potential future dominance of Jose Aldo tells us about the current state of MMA. I touched on this earlier, but I'd like to go into more specific depth: that dominance is a function of several factors. First, Aldo is possibly the most well-rounded fighter in MMA. He possesses technically sound boxing skills, vicious step-up knees and kicks, preternatural takedown defense, an explosive wrestling shot, and the ground skills to get the better of Kenny Florian, a well-respected black belt. Second, I'd argue that he's the best athlete, in the sense of speed and explosiveness, currently competing in MMA: the other contenders would be GSP and Jon Jones, but neither of them appears to be operating in a different gear in the way that Aldo does when compared to his opponents. Third, Aldo is a true finisher, with a prime-Shogun level of killer instinct; he was battling a serious illness during the Hominick fight, and still put a beating on him, while Florian survived only by following the most conservative possible gameplan to a T. What's more striking, however, is that Aldo's finishes aren't a product of the wild, unorthodox techniques that someone like Jones uses to set up his more conventional top game and submission attempts. Instead, he throws everything from his low kicks to flying knees with picture-perfect technique, and his finishes are a product of that repeated technical perfection (see the excellent Bloody Elbow Judo Chop on his low kicks, for example). Aside from the speed with which it was thrown (something you could say about any Jose Aldo strike), the knee that nearly decapitated Mendes was nothing special: it's a pretty standard Muay Thai technique that any competent instructor will have you practice hundreds, if not thousands, of times a year. via www.mma-core.com What is special about it, however, is the context in which Aldo threw the strike: Mendes had his back, but Aldo broke wrist control, spun, and then delivered the knee flush to Mendes' chin. That sequence incorporates a transition from clinch-grappling to striking in the space of a heartbeat, and transitions of that kind are the core of what makes modern MMA a sport in its own right, rather than a simple amalgamation of different styles. Aldo's ability to generate knockout offense from any position, especially during those fleeting transitional moments, makes him the perfect fighter for this day and age of MMA, and truly puts him in a league of his own.

Posted in: fight, mma, year, game, aldo

Jiu-jitsu is no joke, it takes years to master.

submitted by xKrazExMNUx [link] [2 comments]

Posted in: year, xkrazexmnux, jiujitsu, joke, master

Ken Shamrock Explains Infamous 'Cut' That Sidelined Him From Fighting Kimbo

Seth Petruzelli is often remembered as the fighter that exposed Kimbo Slice, but he would have never gotten the chance to be in that position if it wasn't for a now-infamous cut suffered by Slice's original opponent the night before their fight. It was supposed to be Ken Shamrock facing Kimbo at EliteXC: Heat in Florida that night when everything went haywire. More than three years have passed, yet Shamrock hasn't talked much about the incident, which turned controversial as rumors spread that Shamrock purposely injured himself after a late request for an increased payday were refused.In a recent interview on The MMA Hour, Shamrock discussed the incident in detail. First off, Shamrock denied that it was a money grab gone wrong. According to him, there was a financial issue related to the fight. His deal stipulated that he was to be the highest-paid fighter on the card, a discrepancy that never got resolved because of the cut that knocked him out of the event.But, he said, this issue wouldn't have stopped him from fighting. "We never got an opportunity to straighten that out, but it wasn't like it wasn't going to get straightened out," he said. Asked if he would have fought had it not been straightened out, Shamrock didn't need to hear the entire question."Absolutely," he said.Some of the rumors came from people inside the company, lending credence to what was said. But Shamrock said that was a byproduct of the anger from many because the fight wasn't happening.The injury took place the day of the fight. The night before, he had received a phone call that his adoptive father Bob, who had been in the hospital for months, had taken a turn for the worse. It had gotten so bad that during the call, they asked Shamrock if he wanted to consider ending life support procedures for him.With his fight looming, Shamrock asked them to delay that agonizing decision for afterward. But it still weighed heavily on his mind as he made final preparations to face Slice. In his mind, it was an easy fight, but he feared his distraction could cost him, so on the day of the bout, he called his friend Dan Freeman to come to his hotel room and go through drills.The session was a light one, with Shamrock practicing takedowns, mounts, ground and pound, and rear naked chokes. That's how he figured the fight would go. At one point, he had Freeman's back and went to sink in the choke, but Freeman popped his head up and caught Shamrock around the outside of his left eyebrow. Shamrock saw a drop of his blood fall on Freeman's back, but since he hadn't felt any pain, his initial thought was it was hardly serious. When he looked in the mirror, he knew it was worse than expected, and called a doctor who was part of his camp. Shamrock eventually had the laceration double-stitched, and prayed that the Florida State Boxing Commission would allow him to compete. But when they looked him over, they quickly scratched him,"I was upset, obviously," he said. "It’s Kimbo Slice, for God's sakes. How hard is that going to be? And that’s exactly what I said. I said, ‘It ain’t going to take long. He’s going to go to the ground and the fight’s over.' Basically that was my case to them, but they came back and said it wasn’t going to happen."Shamrock said that in the aftermath, he was surprised with the blowback he was receiving, and the accusations that were flying his way, as if the previous years of his career suddenly counted for nothing.The entirety of the situation made it difficult to digest. "I don't understand some of the comments that were made," he said. "I mean, who am I? Who is this Ken Shamrock, all of the sudden that cut himself? Who is this guy who went into the ring fearless for 13, 15, 20 years, would fight anybody... all of the sudden he's changed?"Despite it all, Shamrock says that he's comfortable with his legacy as a fighter, even though he might not be done in the cage. Though he turned 48 years old last month and hasn't competed since November 2010, Shamrock said he'd be willing to take a fight as long as it interested both him and the fans.

Posted in: fight, year, shamrock, ken shamrock, freeman

Video: Anderson Silva judges big-bootied Brazilian babes in body-painting contest

Yes, it's Friday. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva, who is expected to put his 185-pound strap on the line against Chael Sonnen (again) at UFC 147 later this year, truly leads a charmed life. "The Spider" was a special guest judge late last year for a Brazilian body-painting contest, which means a bunch of thick and juicy babes strutting their stuff for him (and now us) to see. Thanks to MircMirc at The Underground for digging up this treasure. More on Silva's next fight right here.

Posted in: fight right, year, chael sonnen, guest judge, bodypainting contest

Pressure's on for TUF Live's Lawrence

Perhaps the best aspect of The Ultimate Fighter’s new live format is its immediacy. No longer do you wait months after the fact to hear about who did what in the house or speculate about the favorites to win the competition when you know that the die has already been cast during taping. So when Missouri’s Justin Lawrence stopped WEC vet James Krause during the TUF Live season premiere, the reaction was live and uncensored. The general consensus? The 21-year old was suddenly the favorite to win the whole competition. Not bad considering that 15 other fighters won on that same night in Las Vegas and that entering the house, Lawrence only had three pro fights (all wins).But there’s something about a fighter with a little flash in his striking game that gets everyone’s attention, and it wasn’t just the viewers that marked “The American Kid” as a fighter to watch, as UFC bantamweight champion and TUF coach Dominick Cruz made Lawrence his first pick.“Being chosen first, in a way, kind of made me feel confident, but then again, I kind of felt a target being placed on my back,” said Lawrence. “It’s definitely more pressure. A lot of people expect a lot more from me now. All I can do is go in there and fight. I’ve been fighting since I was six-years old.”So there is more to him than three pro bouts and an impressive showing against Krause. According to his TUF Live bio, he has over 150 amateur kickboxing bouts, and when you add in some high school wrestling and a couple St. Louis Golden Gloves titles, Lawrence suddenly looks even more dangerous, so much so that Cruz didn’t hesitate to throw him in the Octagon as soon as he got control of the fight picks, with his first fight of the tournament taking place this Friday night. His opponent isn’t some wide-eyed, green prospect though. In fact, in Team Faber’s Cristiano Marcello, Lawrence will be facing a 14-year vet who has appeared in PRIDE, but more importantly, the Brazilian is the former jiu-jitsu coach of the legendary Chute Boxe Academy.“I trained the best fighters in the world in the best time of their careers,” said Marcello, who gave Wanderlei Silva and the Rua brothers (Shogun and Ninja) their black belts. Winner of four of five bouts after a nearly three year layoff from 2007 to 2010, Marcello earned his way into the house with a submission of Jared Carlsten, and though he is 13 years older than his opponent, he isn’t about to let this chance of a lifetime pass him by.“I’m 34 years old, and in this sport, each person starts now more younger than ever,” said the married father of two. “You have to take the opportunity. For me, it’s just one more fight. He’s a tough kid, everybody in the house is tough, and it’s gonna be a tough fight.”And in this matchup, it’s the classic case of striker vs. grappler, with the winner possibly being decided by who can last the longest in the other’s world. Despite Lawrence’s armbar win in his last pre-TUF fight and his work with the Black House team, Marcello definitely holds the edge on the mat. It’s also key to point out that the Brazilian vet may be best remembered by diehard fight fans for a backstage altercation with Charles “Crazy Horse” Bennett at a PRIDE show in Japan, showing that he’s not afraid of a scrap, something he probably ran into a lot with the killers in the Chute Boxe gym. Having said that, Lawrence will take his chances standing with Marcello.“I’m definitely training hard for my upcoming fight again Marcello,” he said. “It’s exciting, nerve-racking, and he’s a very good grappler, so I really want to try and stay on my feet and make him feel uncomfortable as much as possible. I don’t want this to turn this into a Jiu-Jitsu match ‘cause I know that’s his strength. Dom’s crew (Team Cruz) has been doing a phenomenal job in training and preparing me and I’m pumped. I just have to fight my fight.”If he does, earning a ticket to the next round of the TUF Live competition in the process, just get ready for the world of social networking to explode once again.

Posted in: fight, year, house, marcello, lawrence

TUF Brasil Premieres Online Sunday

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

UFC Quick Quote: 'Smarter' Dan Henderson wants to fight for three more years

"I've got three more fights on my deal, and I'll probably sign one more deal after that. So two or three more years. I definitely won't be as old as Randy [Couture] when I retire! I've changed my training, I'm smarter with my training. I'm also smarter with my positioning and techniques. I know what works and what doesn't. And I'm still learning from those at my gym. I guess others lose motivation but my I know my time is limited and I want to make the most of it." -- With one of the most storied and respected mixed martial arts (MMA) careers in his back pocket, Dan Henderson isn't looking to hang up his gloves anytime soon. At least that's what the 41-year-old told ESPN.com. "Hendo" has been competing in MMA for more than 15 years and has been involved in plenty of memorable bouts against some of today's top star such as Quinton Jackson, Fedor Emelianenko, Wanderlei Silva and, of course, his epic bout against Mauricio Rua last November at UFC 139. Along the way, Henderson picked up the Pride FC Welterweight and Middleweight titles, as well as the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight strap. Though he won the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 17 Middleweight tournament in 1998, the former Olympic wrestler has yet to win a UFC world title, but that's not to say he hasn't had his chances. Henderson came up short in his two previous back-to-back title bids against "Rampage" Jackson at UFC 75 for the 205-pound title and against 185-pound kingpin Anderson Silva at UFC 82. With a few years left in his stellar fight career, perhaps one cannot blame Henderson for passing up rematches in favor of holding out for title shots. So i leave it to you Maniacs, will "Hendo's" legacy be incomplete should he fail to capture UFC gold, or has he done enough thus far to cement his place in MMA history?

Posted in: ufc, title, henderson, year, training im

Best of 2011 – Jon Jones vs. Rampage at UFC 135 (Fight Video)

2011 was a huge year for UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. Not only did he capture the belt early in the year, but he won four out of four fights, including this brutal victory over Rampage.

Posted in: ufc, fight, rampage, jone, year

UFC Planning Three Events In Canada This Year

UFC president Dana White has made it his mission to keep Canada happy, as the UFC boss announced three UFC cards for this year in the country. In addition, White said during a press conference in Calgary earlier this week, the UFC will look to hold three shows a year in Canada on a regular basis. You guys are awesome. You know, I always say it; I love this place. Man, I love coming up to Canada. You guys are the best fans in the world, we appreciate it so much. UFC 149 will be held in Calgary on July 21, with Jose Aldo defending his UFC featherweight title in the main event. UFC 152 is set for Toronto on September 22, while UFC 154 will take place November 17 from Montreal. Several Canadian MMA superstars were on hand or joined the press conference via satellite, including UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre. GSP told the crowd that he would like nothing more than to return at UFC 154 in Montreal to unify the UFC welterweight title with Carlos Condit. However, nothing has been made official in regards to the card.

Posted in: ufc, press conference, year, canada, ufc planning

UFC 148: Demian Maia welterweight debut comes against Dong Hyun Kim on July 7

If at first you don't succeed, dust off 10 pounds and try again. That's the game plan for Demian Maia, who revealed one week ago that he would officially make the drop to welterweight after failing in his quest to secure gold at 185-pounds. Now he's got a date and opponent for his first test at his new weight class. The UFC revealed today that Maia will take on Korean judo stylist Dong Hyun Kim at the upcoming UFC 148 event set to go down on July 7, 2012, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Maia (15-4) was widely criticized for his lackluster performance in a unanimous decision loss to Chris Weidman at the UFC on Fox 2 event earlier this year. It was the seventh consecutive fight that ended in decision for the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) black belt, who began his UFC career with five straight submission victories. Will shedding a few pounds get him back to his winning ways? It took more than seven years from the start of his professional mixed martial arts (MMA) career for Dong Hyun Kim to finally taste defeat. But when he was hit with his first loss, he was hit hard to the tune of a flying knee knockout courtesy of current Interim Welterweight Champion Carlos Condit at UFC 132 during the Fourth of July weekend last year. He rebounded with a unanimous decision victory over Sean Pierson last December, a performance far more in tune with what we're used to seeing from "Stun Gun." Will he have better luck over the holiday weekend this year? Stay tuned. UFC 148 is expected to feature a bantamweight title fight between TUF 15 coaches (and bitter rivals) Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber, in addition to middleweight match-ups between Rich Franklin vs. Cung Le and Tim Boetsch vs. Michael Bisping. Oh and don't forget Tito Ortiz's retirement fight rubber match against Forrest Griffin. Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for more details on this upcoming fight card as they develop. In the meantime, see what's in store for "Sin City" on July 7 right here.

Posted in: ufc, fight, year, maia, july

Quinton Jackson admits he’s to blame for fallout with UFC

While fan-favorite Quinton “Rampage” Jackson is not backing off statements he’s made in the last few weeks pertaining to problems with the UFC, he did recently provide a level of accountability many might not have felt was in him by confessing he’s at fault for the original issue snowballing into his current state of circumstances. Jackson’s admission came this week while stopping by Sherdog Radio where he said things had gone downhill after his decision to take a starring role in The A-Team, backing out of a planned and heavily promoted fight with Rashad Evans in the process. “I know I messed up the relationship by doing the movie over fighting Rashad. It was my fault,” revealed Jackson. I’ve got to keep it real. I did that. I messed up. I should have honored my contract and fought Rashad after The Ultimate Fighter.” “Before that Dana and I was really cool. I was really cool with the UFC, Lorenzo (Fertitta) and everybody. We were all cool, but I messed up the relationship by doing the movie and I’m aware of that,” the 33-year old continued. The former light heavyweight champion also addressed his future in the UFC, stating he still intends to fight Mauricio Rua as soon as he’s healed from surgery on both of his knees. While that also means he wants to fight Forrest Griffin again, “Rampage” said Rua is the more enticing option for a last hurrah given how long he’s had to reflect on the TKO defeat he suffered in PRIDE. “I want to rematch everybody who’s done kicked my ass. I’ve been asking for Forrest for years. I don’t know how come that never happened, but I’d rather fight ‘Shogun’ first and then Forrest because ‘Shogun’, I’ve been wanting to revenge that loss for years. That fight haunted me for years,” said Jackson. “So yeah, I want to fight Shogun. It’s perfect. I’m happy with that and I plan on that being my last fight in the UFC.” No timetable was offered on when Jackson expected to be fully rehabbed and ready to fight again. PHOTO CREDIT – LEXANI TIRES / UFC

Posted in: ufc, fight, jackson, i ’m, year

Luke Thomas Lists 2012 NCAA Division I Wrestlers He'd Like To See In MMA

Anyone working within the MMA media for the past 7 days shouldn't have failed to notice the increased coverage of collegiate wrestling this year compared to years past. I feel that we in particular among the SBNation community of websites offered the most comprehensive and frequent coverage out there, including Bloody Elbow's former editor-in-chief and current MMA Fighting senior editor, Luke Thomas. The coverage of the 2012 NCAA Division I wrestling championship wasn't arbitrary, either, as it was a way of giving back to the sport that has been the quintessential back bone of Mixed Martial Arts, while also providing a glimpse at potential future prospects. At MMA Fighting, Luke Thomas does just this in his NCAA to MMA Wrestling Draft: The development of the relationship between collegiate wrestling and MMA is both organic and inevitable. As high-level wrestlers consider their future, the path towards MMA becomes increasingly intriguing as it does actionable. As old teammates take the plunge and demonstrate success, a new crop of wrestlers become aware of and interested in the intriguing career path. This all naturally raises the question: who could conceivably cross over? Thomas hits on many of the 'All Americans' I myself have considered as candidates for a career in MMA, some of whom I believe have what it takes to become future contenders and even champions in years to come. Head on over to MMA Fighting now via the link above and find out some of the names fight fans should be keeping an eye on. Stay tuned to Bloody Elbow this year as we continue to bring you exposure to the foundation arts of MMA, as we have the Olympic trials next month, and we'll have the World IBJJF Jiu Jistu Championships and the Olympics coming up this summer.

Posted in: mma, year, luke thomas, thoma, foundation arts

The World's Oldest UFC Fan?

Fill in the blank: The oldest UFC fan I have ever met is __ years old. 63? 67? 72? You can stop scanning your brain. I got ya beat. I’m confident that the man who would set the record for oldest UFC fanatic lives right here in the fight capital of the world, Las Vegas. He is a native New Yorker and World War II Army veteran. He has worked extensively as an ad exec, painter and sculptor. And, in his spare time, his daring choice of television programming has prompted his wife of 62 years to ask him on many a night: “Why are you watching that again?”“Cuz’ it’s the best thing on television!” he responds in an affable tone, citing humor as paramount to his long-lasting union. The name of this unique superfan: Mr. Sam Chinkes. Born in 1923. 88 years young. And living proof that although the UFC impressively reels in the male 18-34 demographic, and has hooked a surprising number of female fans on the sport as well, that the elder statesmen among us are not immune to the allure and artistry of a cagefight. After all, a fascination with fighting is in every human being’s DNA. Since the early 1990s, Chinkes said, he has been faithfully watching UFC. Back when Royce Gracie put UFC on the map with mind-blowing victories over 250-pound Goliaths. “My wife doesn’t care for it,” Chinkes confided, “but she has her own TV. I watch (UFC) whenever I can and most of the time I find it’s the best thing on TV … except for some old movie favorites of mine. I watch movies about the mafia all the time. I mean, I’m from New York. But I’ll still watch UFC instead of my favorite movies because I’ve seen the movies many times before. I make sure to catch the statistics before all of the fights. I’m crazy about the announcer, Bruce Buffer. He’s terrific! Very dramatic. He’s a real pro.”Track and field was Chinkes’ forte in his prime, though he was always smitten with the sport of boxing. As a child growing up in the Bronx, he and some friends would test themselves on a makeshift punching bag made from a potato sack. They donned gloves and lightly sparred under a fire escape stairway. “We never hit each other hard – though I saw stars one time,” Chinkes reminisced. “I’m not a fighter. I’ve never been in a fight in my life. But if the UFC were around when I was younger, I would have liked to have coached a fight. I’m absolutely sure I could have done it. I would understand my fighters, be a good strategist. I was a survivor of World War II, so I think in those terms. “So I’ve always liked the sport. It’s athletic. There’s an art to keeping your balance, hitting someone and avoiding getting hit. The strategy involved is the most amazing part. It’s also very mentally challenging for anyone to enter the ring or the Octagon.”I ask Mr. Chinkes to name his favorite UFC fighters. “The Canadian guy … what’s his name? … GSP,” he replied. “The heavyset guy who was beat recently… the heavyweight champ … Brock Lesnar! Yeah. He’s a guy I got to like for awhile. But then I saw that as tough as he is, as big as he is – he can’t take a punch. Am I wrong?”Bonus Material: How I (Accidentally) Met Sam ChinkesGood stories, like $100 bills, aren’t supposed to miraculously fall from the sky and into your lap. Cosmic luck caused mine and Mr. Chinkes’ paths to cross. I was reading alone at what seems like the world’s last bookstore when a gentleman sat down at the table next to me. For as long as I can remember I’ve had a soft spot for most of my elders, particularly those of upbeat energy and the glass-is-half full cheer. The laid-back but self-assured stranger beside me fit the bill. I asked what he was reading and the conversation flowed easily from that point on, as if I had known this man for many years. He seemed super-sharp, showing off a very agile mind. “You must read a lot,” I presumed. “As a matter of fact, not all that much,” he countered. That veered us in to more interesting turf: He’d been married 62 years to the same woman. 62 years! How many things, other than food and water and a toilet, do you think you’ll enjoy a 62-year relationship with? I’ve always been fascinated by seniors, by the wisdom they’ve accrued that could save the rest of us the suffering of wisdom by Trial & Error. I’ve always been irked by what seems, in my opinion, a society that treats seniors as second-class citizens. There are other cultures where seniors are treated with reverence. Here we tend to treat them with deference, as if they are all senile, all something none of us wants to be. And I’ve always, always, always been fascinated by people that can make their marriage work for a long time. 30 years. 40 years. 50 years. And not suffer the marriage, but enjoy it. A divorcee myself, I perk up when marriage marathoners share their secrets and advice. “You want to know what it is?” he tells me. “It’s humor. We’re always making each other laugh. I used to think that the younger years would be the best. But the truth is, our older years are the best. We laugh more now than ever.” He asks me to guess his age. I concentrate on his face and build. I’ve always possessed a whacky (and incredibly useless) skill of being able to guess how much people weigh within two or three pounds. I get it from my wrestling background. People’s ages stump me more, because some people age prematurely and others so gracefully. “76,” I tell Mr. Chinkes. Stumping me makes him smile. “88.”We talk some more and somehow or another we start discussing television programming. I live in a four bedroom home and have 20-inch television that I have never, not once, turned on or watched. My instant friend watches his fair share of television. “You know the best thing on television these days?” he asks rhetorically. “It’s UFC.” I didn’t instantly perk up. I didn’t make the connection. UFC? That must be three initials that stand for some senior citizen organization. He couldn’t be referring to the UFC I know and love – Ultimate Fighting Championship. But just to be sure … “What do you mean by UFC? You don’t mean cagefighting UFC, do you?” “Yeah, the cage fights! I love watching that!” And there you have it. Apparently every demographic on the planet is susceptible to the UFC, which is one of the few places left on earth that is truly a meritocracy. Unlike almost every other business, UFC isn’t a who-you-know industry. It isn’t about who has the most money, or the best lawyers, or the prettiest mug. It’s mano y mano. May the best man win. Sam Chinkes “gets it,” reminding me – reminding all of us – that we should learn and evolve and stay open-minded for as long as we are here. I walk him to his car. He wants to show me something. He opens the trunk of his car. There are dozens of black shirts in a box. He holds one up: It is a sketch of one fighter front kicking another to the face. Reminscent of the breathtaking technique that Anderson Silva used to knockout Vitor Belfort. “I drew that sketch right off the top of my head in seconds,” Chinkes said. Sam Chinkes gave me one of his shirts. And I thought so highly of this extraordinary fan, and his love of UFC, that I wrote a story about him. Sam has never been to a live UFC event. The UFC and myself are going to change that very soon. Do you know a UFC fan who breaks the mold, or are you one? Email a picture and description to fanpic@ufc.com to be considered for a future feature!

Posted in: ufc, ’t, year, ’ve, chinke

Brian Rogers Talks 'Google It' Catchphrase, Bellator Tournament Format

Post-fight interviews can be a fascinating bit of performance art to watch. Whether it's Sonnen-esque declarations or Volkmann-like train wrecks, in the aftermath of wrecking another human being, anything is fair game. So when Brian Rogers' knee separated Vitor Vianna from consciousness late in the first round at Friday's Bellator 62 event, everyone knew the possibility for interview gold was in play. "That's my third flying knee knockout," Rogers went on to proclaim. "Google it! I'm going to throw it, and you're not going to stop me." Of course, the more he demanded you ‘Google it,' the more fight fans loved it. In fact, days later Rogers is still hearing about the meme-worthy phrase. "It popped in my head and it's just something I've been laughing about for a while," Rogers said with a chuckle on Monday's edition of The MMA Hour. "I had a couple different shirts made a few years ago. One said ‘I'm legit' and one said ‘Google me.' I've used that on my banner before, with like a cartoon version of me with the hair and a little predator sitting on my shoulder." Between all the googling and Rogers' stunning knockout, Friday marked a perfect start to this year's Bellator tournament run for the 28-year-old middleweight. It also provided a necessary reprieve from last year's trip, which ended prematurely with a TKO setback to eventual Season 5 winner Alexander Shlemenko. Though, if moral victories exist in sports, the loss to Shlemenko would be counted among them. "It just gave me confidence in my abilities," Rogers explained. "That, even though it was a loss, I could compete with the best guys in the world. Alexander Schlemenko is probably a top-15 or top-20 middleweight. "So it just kind of let me know that I belong on that stage." "The Predator" now heads to his home state of Ohio to take on unbeaten Bruno Santos at Bellator 66, with a spot in Season 6's middleweight finals up for grabs. And with Bellator's 185-pound division in flux, and reigning champion Hector Lombard mired in a shaky contract situation, a tournament victory would be a monumental step in Rogers' young career -- which is somewhat surprising given that he never even expected to be here. A year ago Rogers was fresh off an impressive first-round TKO win over Ian Rammel at Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson. The bout was his first with a bigtime promotion, and after such an stirring debut, he anticipated a call back. It never came. In retrospect, in the backdrop of the Zuffa-Strikeforce acquisition, bad timing was the most likely culprit. "They got rid of Rich Chou, who was the Strikeforce matchmaker at the time," Rogers said. "They told me they were interested and I'd be hearing from them, but I feel like I just got lost in the shuffle with the Zuffa purchase. Rather than wait around, Bellator offered me an opportunity and I ran with it." While the tournament format has its own faults, Rogers echoed the sentiments of new Bellator featherweight champion Pat Curran, lauding the straight-forward nature of earning your own title shot. "I like that you can make it happen for yourself," Rogers mused. "100-percent. You literally control your own destiny." "You know if you win this month, you have a fight the very next month, and you know what you're looking at getting paid and everything like that. So you can make your cash and make your name throughout the tournament."

Posted in: bellator, year, tournament, roger, middleweight

The Wrestling Draft: Which NCAA Stars Are Headed for MMA?

More than any year is previous history, 2012 featured real connectivity between the collegiate wrestling and MMA worlds. As this year's NCAA Division I national wrestling championships unfolded, the eyes of the MMA world watched to see who won, lost, made a name for themselves or announced interest in pursuing a career as a professional mixed martial artist. The development of the relationship between collegiate wrestling and MMA is both organic and inevitable. As high-level wrestlers consider their future, the path towards MMA becomes increasingly intriguing as it does actionable. As old teammates take the plunge and demonstrate success, a new crop of wrestlers become aware of and interested in the intriguing career path. This all naturally raises the question: who could conceivably cross over? Getting a list together of those top collegiate wrestlers who are considering MMA can be tricky. Many want to try their hand at the next level of wrestling before deciding if MMA is right for them. It's rare to find a graduating senior both clear on their intent to fight and vocal about the intention given many simply do not know. In addition, those who do wish to go into MMA will often keep their plans secret in an effort to not ruffle the feathers of coaches who want their wrestlers strictly focused on winning national titles. For now, this is how many of today's best collegiate wrestlers and graduating seniors are looking ahead: 1. Chris Honeycutt The senior out of Edinboro is a sure thing. He's openly declared his intention to enter mixed martial arts now that his wrestling career is over. And his entrance should be exciting. Wrestling at 197 pounds, Honeycutt is a bulldozer. He's a talented wrestler, but relies on his physical strength and athleticism for some of his success. He has an excellent double leg and finishes takedowns with authority. Those are key ingredients for success. It should also be noted UFC welterweight Josh Koscheck is a graduate of the same university. MMA Fighting has learned there are top MMA teams interested in Honeycutt, however, there is no known connection between Honeycutt and Koscheck at this time. 2. David Taylor Without equivocation, the Penn State sophomore is the best wrestler in all of college wrestling irrespective of weight class. It's frankly hard to overstate just how outstanding he is. Were it not for him falling short against Arizona State University's Bubba Jenkins in the finals of the 2011 NCAA wrestling championships, Taylor likely would match his coach Cael Sanderson's achievement of never having lost a single wrestling match in college. Penn State officials declined to comment to MMA Fighting on the plans of Taylor, stating only the standout wrestler is merely a sophomore and "let's let [him] enjoy college for a while." Fair enough. Still, Taylor is incontestably the biggest prize, either for the sport of mixed martial arts or USA Wrestling. Taylor isn't necessarily a physical specimen, but is nearly technically flawless in every dimension of the game. His wrestling IQ is off the charts and as aforementioned, some experts believe he won't lose again in college. While MMA would be lucky to have him, the elite wrestling community will be doing everything in their power to make sure he represents the United States on the international stage. Who can blame them? 3. Kyle Dake Right behind PSU's David Taylor is Cornell University junior Kyle Dake. Last weekend, Dake become the first college wrestler in history to win three national titles in three different weight classes (141, 149 and most recently, 157 pounds). Like Taylor, Dake is incredibly tough everywhere. He's also lauded for having a remarkable degree of mental durability, drive and focus. Cornell University tells MMA Fighting Dake has no interest in MMA at this time. His post-collegiate path could follow Taylor's to the international arena or he may find himself with a host of coaching options. He could make as much or more money coaching at an elite Division I program than in MMA all while not taking potentially brain-rattling shots. One can hope Dake eventually reconsiders, but he's locked into wrestling for the foreseeable future. 4. Cam Simaz Like his counterpart at 157 pounds, Cornell University senior Cam Simaz won the national title this past weekend at 197 pounds. And like Kyle Dake, Cornell University officials tell MMA Fighting Simaz also has no interest in MMA at this time (it was coincidentally Simaz who defeated Edinboro's Honeycutt in a closely-contested final this year). The standard argument goes that almost any wrestler in the national NCAA Division I championship could perform well in MMA. That's probably true. Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans never even reached All-American status, and has not only achieved MMA's top honors, he did so beating other former wrestlers who had better collegiate credentials than he. One can also make the case that wrestling styles being good or bad predictive success in MMA are overblown. After all, Ben Askren and Phil Davis are hardly unstoppable power double, physical brutes. All of this is to say Simaz would likely be a successful MMA fighter if he so chose to be one. And he's on this list becomes MMA fans have expressed interest in him. Yet, he lacks both the physical style and seemingly the willingness to participate. Those are not necessarily the best raw materials for a wrestler turned fighter. 5. Bekzod Abdurakhmonov Clarion University's Abdurakhmonov is an interesting case. The graduating senior took third this year. What's notable about him, though, is his lineage. His brother, Muzaffir Abdurakhmonov, is 1-1 in MMA competition and was the wrestling coach to UFC lightweight Kenny Florian. Neither Clarion nor Abdurakhmonov responded to requests for comment, but sources tell MMA Fighting the graduating senior is likely looking to wrestle for his home country of Uzbekistan in freestyle after graduation. 6. Borislav Novachkov Novachkov is one to watch. The graduating senior took third this past year at 141 pounds and became a three-time All-American for Cal Poly in the process. That's the same Cal Poly that produced Chuck Liddell and Chad Mendes. Cal Poly officials tell MMA Fighting Novachkov is looking towards freestyle wrestling after graduation either for the U.S. or his native Bulgaria (he retains dual citizenship). However, sources also tell MMA Fighting Novachkov has ties to Mendes and while the Bulgarian hasn't formally trained at Team Alpha Male, the relationship is there to facilitate any entry into MMA. 7. Frank Molinaro This PSU senior at the moment does not have interest in MMA. School officials tell MMA Fighting he's not ruling out either competition in freestyle wrestling or coaching to stay involved in the sport. That's something Molinaro should reconsider. Ultimately, the wrestler should do what he prefers, but a career in MMA could service him well. ‘The Gorilla Hulk' has incredibly strong if not exactly diverse takedowns, is physically dominant and the mental fortitude to be more than a noteworthy MMA prospect. If he chooses wrestling, that's a fine decision. But he may soon find the MMA waters are more favorable given his unique talents. 8. Chris Perry Sources tell MMA Fighting the Oklahoma State junior is solely focused on winning a national championship his junior and senior years, but has considered MMA as a possible career option when his collegiate career is over. You'll note Perry comes from Oklahoma State, the most dominant collegiate program in college wrestling history. It's also a school with a who's who list of wrestling to MMA crossovers: Randy Couture, Frank Trigg, Johny Hendricks, Jake Rosholt, Shane Roller, Daniel Cormier and Muhammed Lawal among others. Coach John Smith, largely considered to be the greatest American wrestler ever, is likely looking to place an Olympic champion rather than UFC champion. His best chance in that effort is likely sophomore Jordan Oliver (who did not return a request for comment for this story). Perry is an immensely talented wrestler and could pursue international wrestling if he so chose, but could also make a splash pursuing the fight game. Time will tell which way he chooses. 9. Devin Carter Virginia Tech's top 133-pound wrestler didn't have the tournament this year he'd hoped for, but still earned All-American honors en route to taking fifth place. The sophomore is extraordinary athletic and when performing at his best, wrestles as dominantly as anyone in the division. Virginia Tech head coach Kevin Dresser - who told MMA Fighting he believes MMA is a good option for graduating wrestlers - said Carter has yet to express interest in post-collegiate plans and declined to speculate as to what Carter may choose. 10. Kellen Russell Along with Dake and Taylor, Russell is the third wrestler this year who will likely be heavily sought after by USA Wrestling. Russell is a two-time NCAA champion, three-time All-American and four-time Big Ten Champion senior out of the University of Michigan. Russell is arguably the most talented graduating senior in the entire nation. Some experts suggest Russell's style isn't necessarily suited for freestyle and there's no word on whether he has any interest in MMA. USA Wrestling will likely be looking to see what Russell can do against the world's best, but the Wolverine is too talented and too technical a wrestler for MMA audiences to ignore. Wild Cards Austin Trotman (Appalachian State University) Trotman put on one of the most unexpected and sensational performances of any wrestler in this year's tournament. Seeded ninth heading in, he ultimately win third place and did so by hitting a spectacular blast double on Robert Hamlin of Lehigh (who has seeded No. 2) in overtime. Trotman has everything you could potentially want in a MMA prospect from wrestling: supreme athleticism, ferocious takedowns and a mental fortitude second to none. Montell Marion (University of Iowa) The three-time All-American from Iowa continues to come up short in the NCAA tournament, but is consistently impressive. Of note: he is technically proficient everywhere and absolutely explodes off the whistle. The University of Iowa does not have a strong tradition of sending their elite wrestlers into MMA, but if Marion busts down those doors, many could follow. Cayle Byers, Jamal Parks (Oklahoma State) Byers, 174 pounds, and Parks, 149 pounds, are graduating seniors and both took third at this year's tournament. Both are physical wrestlers (particularly Byers) and insanely strong on top. Given the doors previous Oklahoma State wrestlers have opened, the path to MMA is easily available should they choose to take it.

Posted in: mma, year, state, wrestler, university

UFC 129 Nominated For Sports Business Journal Event Of The Year

The bible of the sports business industry has nominated the UFC for their second-ever award as UFC 129 is up for the Sports Business Journal's Sports Event Of The Year. This is the second award the UFC has been nominated for, following last year's competition for Sports League Of The Year. They didn't win that award and were also shut out this year of any additional nominations for company personnel. They are up against four big events that span the sports spectrum: 2011 Carrier Classic: This was an NCAA men's basketball game played between North Carolina and Michigan State aboard the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson on Veterans Day. 2011 Humana Challenge: This is an annual PGA event played in January, formerly known as the Bob Hope Classic. Jhonattan Vegas (yes, that's his real name) won the 2011 edition. 2011 NBA Finals: The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Miami Heat in six games to take their first NBA title. Super Bowl XLVI: The New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots 21-17 to win their fourth Super Bowl title. By comparison, UFC 129 drew a North American record 55,724 fans to Toronto, Canada, for the organization's first-ever event in the city. Packed with a UFC Fan Expo, the Rogers Centre crowd saw countryman Georges St. Pierre successfully defend his welterweight title against Jake Shields, while Lyoto Machida knocked out Randy Couture in the latter's final bout. The April 30th event brought in more than $12.1 million in ticket sales and an estimated 800,000 buys on pay-per-view. This year's winners will be announced during a late May ceremony in New York City. A mix of sports industry experts and SBJ staffers will decide the winners.

Posted in: ufc, title, sport, event, year

UFC 129 earns SBJ nomination for “Sports Event of the Year”

The Sports Business Journal has named UFC 129 in Toronto as one of the nominees for Event of the Year in its annual sports awards. The awards will be handed out May 23rd in New York. As you know, UFC 129 was the biggest show in UFC’s history. It was the first stadium show for the company and received the biggest gate and attendance for an MMA event. UFC 129 will compete in the “Event of the Year” category with the 2011 Carrier Classic (November’s men’s college basketball game held on an aircraft carrier between North Carolina and Michigan State), 2011 Humana Challenge, 2011 NBA Finals, and Super Bowl XLVI. As MMA Junkie points out, it missed out on nominations for “Sports Executive of the Year” and “Best in Sports Event and Experiential Marketing.” Notably, Fox Executive, David Hill, who worked with Dana White with the UFC-Fox deal was nominated for exec of the year. Payout Perspective: While the awards are not an indication of the success of the UFC, its a recognition of its accomplishments in the sports industry. UFC 129 may have a shot at winning its category although the 2011 Carrier Classic may be the front runner for that award simply due to the uniqueness of the event. As Junkie points out, its interesting that Dana White was not nominated for Sports Executive of the Year although Hill was named. Obviously, Hill did other things for Fox this past year but the UFC deal was one of the bigger acquisitions.

Posted in: ufc, sport, event, year, year ”

UFC 129 earns 2012 Sports Business Award nomination for 'Event of the Year'

For the second straight year, the UFC has been recognized with a Sports Business Award nomination. This past April's UFC 129 event - a first-ever stadium show that set a North American and UFC attendance record with 55,724 - earned a nomination for "Sports Event of the Year." However, unlike 2011, the UFC wasn't nominated for "Sports League of the Year."

Posted in: ufc, sport, year, nomination, sports league

Rich Franklin Vs. Cung Le On Tap For UFC 148 On July 7th

The UFC's annual Independence Day card is generally one of the biggest cards of the year, and the UFC announced the first official bout for it today. Former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin will make his return to 185 and take on former Strikeforce middleweight champion Cung Le at UFC 148. UFC.com shared the news along with the Clay Guida vs. Gray Maynard matchup: UFC 148 on July 7th will feature a middleweight showdown between former champion Rich Franklin and striking standout Cung Le. Franklin hasn't competed in over a year, when he dropped a decision to Forrest Griffin at UFC 126. He was expected to face Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 133, but a late injury to Nogueira forced the bout to be scrapped. Shortly after that, Franklin injured his shoulder and underwent surgery in October. This will be his first middleweight bout in almost four years, with the last being a TKO win over Travis Lutter at UFC 83. Le signed with the UFC last year after an extended break from fighting due to his acting schedule. He was expected to debut against Vitor Belfort at UFC 139, but an injury changed that to a bout with Wanderlei Silva. He lost the bout via TKO in the second round. The only other bout rumored for the card at this point is the third fight between UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber. SBN coverage of UFC 148

Posted in: ufc, bout, year, middleweight, franklin

The best punch Bob Sapp has landed in several years

submitted by NOOKASTEVE [link] [comment]

Posted in: year, punch, bob, sapp, nookasteve link

The best punch Bob Sapp has landed in several years

(Source: ForGIFs.com)

Posted in: year, punch, bob, source, forgifscom

Dr. Benjamin: Stoppages like Joe Warren's require longer recovery, honest evaluation

Ninety days? More like a year. That's the minimum time MMAjunkie.com medical columnist Dr. Johnny Benjamin believes former Bellator featherweight champ Joe Warren should stay on the bench - if he returns at all. "He needs a year off for his brain to heal and then reassess his life and say, 'Is this what I want to continue to do?'" Benjamin told MMAjunkie.com Radio.

Posted in: year, time mmajunkiecom, benjamin, joe warrens, year thats

2012 NCAA Wrestling Championships Finals Preview

It's the final day of the 2012 NCAA Wrestling Championship, with the finals taking place at 7:30 p.m. ET tonight (March 17, 2012) at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis. Unlike the hugely popular NCAA basketball tournament that takes place over the course of three weeks, the wrestling championships are short and sweet, running over 350 competitors through 10 weight classes in just three days. MMAMania.com has all the results up to this point:Day 1:Session 1, Round of 32 resultsSession 2, Round of 16 results Day 2:Session 1, Quarterfinal resultsSession 2, Semifinal results Going into the finals the team championship has all but been decided, with Penn State University (PSU) holding a commanding 22.5 point lead over Minnesota University. The Nittany Lions will send five wrestlers out to the mats for the finals, including three top seeds. Here are the standings: 1st. Penn State - 124 points2nd. Minnesota - 101.53rd. Iowa - 93 points4th. Cornell - 86 points5th. Ohio State - 60 points Here are the match ups, with a little information on how they got there: 125 Final: 1st: Matt McDonough (Iowa) vs 10th: Nicholas Megaludis (Penn State) McDonough is in his third straight final, looking to win for a second time after being knocked off in the finals last year by the one legged Anthony Robles. In Megaludis he is facing the 10th seed, who has put it all together at the tournament after a good, but not great, regular season. Megaludis got PSU started off with upset victories in both the quarters and semis and he'll try to do the same tonight. 133 Final: 1st: Jordan Oliver (Oklahoma State) vs 2nd: Logan Stieber (Ohio State) Oliver will be after his second straight title, trying to duplicate a feat that UFC welterweight contender Johny Hendricks accomplished for Oklahoma State (165) in 2005 and 2006. He'll be facing second seeded freshman Logan Stieber. The good news for Oliver is that he's already beaten Stieber once this year and only a month ago at that, so the psychological edge is definitely with Oliver. The two have combined for five pins so far in the tournament, so this one could have fireworks. 141 Final: 1st: Kellen Russell (Michigan) vs 3rd: Montell Marion (Iowa) Two familiar faces match up at 141 pounds, with defending champion Kellen Russell taking on three time final four qualifier Montell Marion. Russell has beaten Marion three over their collegiate careers, including in last year's tournament, so the money is squarely on Russell to take home back to back championships. 149 Final: 1st: Frank Molinaro (Penn State) vs 7th: Dylan Ness (Minnesota) Molinaro has steadily improved each year at the tournament, going from 9th to 7th to 2nd. He's put together an undefeated season and along with David Taylor and Ed Ruth comprises the meat of the Penn State team. Dylan Ness has had a good tournament but he's lost three times to Molinaro this season alone. This one should be academic. 157 Final: 1st: Kyle Dake (Cornell) vs 2nd: Derek St. John (Iowa) Another undefeated top seed who has mowed through the field, Kyle Dake is in the rare position of having a chance to win three straight NCAA titles in three different weight classes. He won the 141 pound division as a freshman, dispatched Molinaro last year at 149 and has moved up to 157, where he really hasn't found any more of a challenge. Derek St. John is certainly a tough opponent, but Dake is really in a class of his own. 165 Final: 1st: David Taylor (Penn State) vs 11th: Brandon Hatchett (Lehigh) Brandon Hatchett has been one of the surprises of the tournament and is the highest seed to make it to the finals. His prize? Only the most impressive wrestler of the tournament so far, Penn State's super sophomore David Taylor. It's taken Taylor just 8:46 seconds to dispatch of his four foes, all by way of the pin. I wouldn't want to miss this one, as Taylor might not end up going into mixed martial arts but he certainly has "future Olympic champion" written all over him. 174 Final: 1st: Edward Ruth (Penn State) vs 3rd: Nick Amuchastegui (Stanford) If there is any single match that you shouldn't miss, it's this one. Both Ruth and Amuchastegui have gone undefeated this year. Amuchastegui fell one win short last year, but in the process he took out Ruth. For Amuchastegui, the championship is all that matters, while Ruth will be looking not only for the title, but a little revenge. 184 Final: 4th: Steve Bosak (Cornell) vs 6th: Quentin Wright (Penn State) The only final that doesn't involve a first or second seed, don't be fooled. Quentin Wright is the defending champion, who actually had a better regular season this year than he did last year, when he came into the tournament ranked 9th. He didn't get much love this year from the seeding system either but it hasn't stopped him from marching right through the tournament again. Bosak finished fourth last year and has already gotten one win further than he did last year. He'll be in tough against Wright, who defeated him earlier this season in a lopsided decision. 197 Final: 1st: Cam Simaz (Cornell) vs 2nd: Christopher Honeycutt (Edinboro) Another battle of the top two seeds. Cam Simaz finished third in the last two NCAA championships and has finally gotten over the hump and made it to the finals. Meanwhile, Christopher Honeycutt is trying to finish his career with a championship at 197 after spending his entire career at 184 pounds. Heavyweight: 2nd: Anthony Nelson (Minnesota) vs 4th: Zachery Rey (Lehigh) Defending champion Zachery Rey wrestled like it in the semifinals, taking out a very impressive number one seed in Ryan Flores in the semis, earning the chance to go up against Anthony Nelson. The Minnesota product has already greatly improved on last year's seventh place showing. Join us here for live updates as the finals progress. They can be seen live on both ESPN and ESPN 3. I know some of you are asking "why should I care about this?" and I thought I'd take a moment to address that a little deeper than the standard "because wrestling creates the most athletes for mixed martial arts (MMA) in North America." In most major sports leagues and certainly in the big four North American leagues: The NFL, NHL, NBA and Major League Baseball, the scouting systems are identifying potential big league talents as early as 10 years old. Why? Simple, there is a lot of money in it, and the earlier you can get a talented kid into an elite program, whether it be at the high school or college level, the more chances you'll have at making some money off him in the future. Another driving factor is the competition for talent; we've particularly seen a cross-over between basketball and football, where a decent amount of professionals could likely have played either sport. There has really been no such scouting system in MMA. Up until very recently, most of the fighters came to the sport on their own accord after they were done college, in some cases long after they completed their college career. There wasn't much money in the sport, so there wasn't many guys going around looking to recruit talented martial artists in any discipline. With the rapid increase in popularity the sport has seen, this is almost surely going to change. As the pay increases, elite wrestlers who weren't too stoked on getting punched in the face are going to start coming around to the idea. It seems to me that it's only a matter of time before a wrestling program pops up that presents itself as a "home to future UFC champions," in an attempt to attract top talent. It is already happening to some extent. Bubba Jenkins, who won the 157-pound class last year, spent his first four years of college wrestling at PSU, before academic restrictions prevented him from competing for the Nittany Lions as a senior. Forced to chose a new school to wrestle at for his senior year, Jenkins went to Arizona State University (ASU), which of course was the college home to a handful of current UFC fighters, including Cain Velasquez, Ryan Bader and C.B. Dollaway. Jenkins is now one fight into his professional MMA career. Was his decision to go to ASU as simple as all that? Obviously not. But I wonder if it didn't play a role and will play a role in the future as MMA continues to grow. So that's why you should, at the very least, be checking out the names of some of the champions. Chances are, one guy competing this evening is going to be UFC champion one day in the near future.

Posted in: vs, st, year, tournament, state

Chael Sonnen calls Quinton Jackson a “crybaby” but still likes him

When you give Chael Sonnen an open mic and allow him to speak his mind you better believe he is going to do just that. While a guest on last night’s episode of MMA Uncensored, Sonnen was asked his opinion on a number of subjects. One of them included Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, specifically in terms of how the former UFC champion has been going about trying to get out of his contract. “I like him. Look, he’s a crybaby, but I find it interesting,” said Sonnen. “I like it when he goes on his campaigns about entitlement and how he should be given easy fights. A lot of things are expected of him and he’s not quite delivering.” Jackson, you might remember, missed weight for his bout with Ryan Bader in the co-main event of UFC 144: Edgar vs. Henderson last month in Japan. He quickly let it be known a knee injury caused him to miss several days of training, not allowing him to get in the kind of shape he needed and thus he couldn’t cut the necessary weight. In more recent days, Jackson has tried to push his way out of competing in the final fight on his UFC contract. Instead, it was announced “Rampage” would meet Mauricio “Shogun” Rua later this year, though, before a date could be set, Jackson remarked he would undergo double-knee surgery and be out for an extended amount of time. When the 33-year old caught wind of Sonnen’s comments, Jackson addressed them on Twitter, writing, “I’ll walk up to him and smack him like a bitch on camera for the whole (world) to see.” Sonnen is rumored to be fighting Anderson Silva for the UFC middleweight title later this year in Brazil, though the outspoken 185er reiterated he still hasn’t signed a bout agreement and that nothing official is in place. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, jackson, year, chael sonnen, sonnen

Shannon Knapp Talks Invicta FC, Plans To Stream First Show Live And Free In HD

This is a guest post by Stephie "Crooklyn" Daniels. Follow Crooklyn on Twitter @CrooklynMMA Women's MMA has always been a bit of a delicate situation, never really gaining a strong foothold in the industry until 2007 with the entry of the first incarnation of Pro Elite. Their inaugural event, co-promoted with Strikeforce, did something extraordinary for WMMA. For the first time ever, a female bout was put onto a large cable TV network (Showtime). Since then, promotions have come and gone, leaving only Strikeforce, and to some smaller extent, Bellator, to provide the best platform for large scale exposure. After the ZUFFA buyout, Strikeforce's future became opaque, leaving many to wonder if this once safe haven will be able to provide a stable home for the world's brightest female stars. Enter Shannon Knapp, a staple in the MMA industry for the last 12 years, having worked for several promotions, including the UFC and the aforementioned Strikeforce. Shannon's new promotion, Invicta FC is not the first all women's promotion, but she hopes to give it the one quality the others lacked, longevity. Invicta's first event will be in Kansas City at Memorial Hall, and features a 12 fight card, stacked with some of the best names in WMMA. Marloes Coenen will be headlining the card, facing off against Romy Ruyssen. In a recent interview, Knapp details some of the finer points of the Invicta infrastructure, as well as plans to provide free streaming of their first event. TR: Tell me about Invicta FC, and are you feeling the pressure of getting this first event in the books? SK: I've worked in this business forever and this is definitely something new, but it's also something I feel extremely passionate about. I've worked for the past 12 years with the boys, and I've always been a huge advocate for the sport and the athletes, and to be very honest, to the detriment of my own job. I've been threatened so many times, or reminded of who I worked for.When I parted ways with Strikeforce, I looked at what I wanted to do, and decided that I wanted to make a difference. I'm definitely not that cookie cutter kind of person. I like to fight the fight. I started getting calls from girls that were scared, because nobody knew what was going to happen to Strikeforce. Were they going to stay around? Were they going to disappear? These girls were looking for some help. 12 years ago, for the men, it was not as much of a mess as it is today for the females. There is so much disorganization and lack of opportunity, so I looked at that, aligned myself with a good business partner and decided to roll up my sleeves and get in there to make a difference. We're really excited, but we know it's not going to be a walk in the park. It's not going to be easy. You've got to build that awareness, that platform. You've got to make people want to watch. We're definitely in this for the long haul, though. TR: Several of the girls featured on your card are currently on the Strikeforce roster. Is that an open ended arrangement or do you intend to eventually become the mecca for female MMA? SK: A lot of the girls are still signed with Strikeforce. Strikeforce is in a unique position right now. With a limited amount of shows, they aren't able to keep all of their athletes active. What they've done, and I think it's a great thing, is they're allowing those girls to participate on our card. I think it's a great gesture, letting these girls stay active. I think it would be great if the girls had one platform, instead of being so scattered. When Dana (White) said that there was a lack of depth with the women, he was absolutely correct, but the rebuttal to that is that he's only seeing four or five girls active. How do you gauge the depth when they're so spread out? I think with us coming in and building a solid foundation to bring all these girls together, we can solidify these weight classes. I think we're going to be able to make a difference. TR: Tell us a little about your infrastructure and how Invicta came into existence. SK: To start, we've kept it low key. It's been eight or nine months in the making, and it's just myself and my business partner. We're in control of our product, and as far as sponsors go, we are aligning ourselves with different ones, and working on that every day. To say that we have one sponsor that's footing the bill on this...that's not true. This comes down to just myself and my partner (Janet Martin). We haven't really gone out and aggressively pursued sponsors because this is our first event. Our main goal is to have an event, put our product out there, and show people what we want to do with it. We want to show our vision. We haven't told anybody else this yet, but what we're going to do is have the show blacked out in Kansas City. We have a film crew coming in to film in HD, and we're going to stream it live, for free, to everyone, no matter where you're at, excluding Kansas City, right from our website. It's kind of Marketing 101, but we're going to give the product away. I think that's the best way to do it. One of the things that I learned from the UFC, is that maintaining control of your product is way more advantageous to us as a company. TR: How many shows do you have planned for 2012? SK: We're committing to 3 shows this year, because we're starting a little late. Our goal is to put on four shows a year going forward. Could that change? Yes it could, but for now, we're committed to three shows at this point. Thanks to strong relationships with Sean Shelby, Sam Caplan and Joe Silva, the fighter exchange program will be moving full steam ahead on April 28, with the debut of Invicta FC. Having over a decade of experience in the MMA industry, and a solid understanding of the intricacies of promoting, Shannon Knapp may not only be breathing financial life into the careers of some hungry female fighters, she might just be providing them with a home for the future. Follow Shannon via her Twitter @shanknapp

Posted in: strikeforce, event, year, girl, invicta

NCAA Wrestling Championships 2012 Results

While everyone may be filling out their last-minute March Madness basketball brackets, it would be more than an oversight to not mention today also kicks off the beginning of the 2012 NCAA Division I National Wrestling Championships. The sport of wrestling has given so much to mixed martial arts, so why not return the favor with a little bit of coverage? Besides, tomorrow's MMA champions are today's wrestling standouts. Do yourself a favor and scout them before they become big sensations. To help us make predictions for the field: Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren. Who better to break down this year's tournament than a man who is not only one of MMA's champions, but also won the tournament in 2006 and 2007? For a full primer on this year's tourney (including brackets, betting odds and how to watch), SB Nation has you covered. For now, let's get right to Mr. Askren's predictions: Preparation Most teams go two days early. It's kind of weird for me because it's the first time that I haven't been involved in years. I'm just going as a fan this year which should be fun. They get there two days early, get their practices in, get their weight down and get ready to rumble. The Field This Year There are a lot of number ones that stand out and haven't really been touched this year. I would venture to say, I haven't looked up stats, but I would venture to say that there is more undefeated wrestlers in the tournament this year than any in recent past. The Top Teams Who to watch: Oklahoma State, Penn State University, University of Minnesota I would say [Penn State]. I would like to see Minnesota win it. I cheer for them, I like those guys but Penn State I would say would be the definite favorite. 125lbs Who to watch: Matt McDonough, Iowa University; Zachary Sanders, University of Minnesota [Matt] McDonough is the clear leader. He's won it before, was a close second to Anthony Robles last year. I would like to see Alan Waters come through and pull it out from my alma mater of Mizzou. The problem is he lost to Zach Sanders of Minnesota twice and Zach Sanders has lost to Matt McDonough twice so I'm just not sure that it's gonna happen but that's what I'm cheering for. Dark horse at 125lbs It does happen every once in a while, but the majority of the time, a lot of these guys wrestle each other so I would say no. Maybe [Ryan] Mango, I don't know, I forgot where he's seeded but he might be the dark horse because he dropped from 133. He's definitely got the tricks in the bag but I don't know if he can put it all together or not. 133lbs Who to watch: Jordan Oliver, Oklahoma State; Tony Ramos, Iowa University; Logan Stieber, Ohio State University Ramos beat him on a one hour weigh-in. Oliver cuts a lot of weight, everyone knows that. If he does, if Ramos does face Oliver which is a big question mark because he'd have to end up beating Logan Stieber, Oliver will have the whole day to recover and he'll be ready to go. Oliver looked dominant in his win over Stiever so I would be shocked to see anyone beat Jordan Oliver so I would say he's a big favorite. Can Jordan Oliver wrestle internationally? Definitely. I'm kind of disappointed to see him not do any summer wrestling these past two years. I thought he would have kind of mixed it up with some of the guys. I think he would do pretty well but I haven't seen him in the summers the last couple of years so I don't know where to put him at right now with all those other guys. 141lbs Who to watch: Kellen Russell, University of Michigan; Montel Marion, Iowa University; Michael Mangrum, Oregon State University You know what? Russell, he wrestled a lot of people close last year but I definitely watched the Big 12 tournament and he looked better this year than last year that's for sure. I think that could have been a criticism of him last year but he looked really solid at the tournament. 141 pounds is a good weight for me because we had two former Arrowhead Warhawks in the tournament at 141 pounds. That's my high school. Nick Hucke's got Kellen Russell first round and then Jake Sueflohn, I think he's a 10 seed or something so I would actually say, I would venture to say that 141 pounds is one of the more open brackets in the tournament. A lot of these guys have beaten each other before, even all the way down to Hunter Stieber at number 5, he's the one who's been coming up this year and a lot of these guys went back and forth. I would say this is definitely one of the more open weights in the tournament. I think anyone, even down to [Borislav] Novachkov at 6, I think even he could pull it off. 149lbs Who to watch: Frank Molinaro, Penn State University; Jamal Parks, Oklahoma State University He's definitely the clear cut favorite but like you said, the favorite doesn't always win. I think Jamal Parks at number two could give him a run for his money and then Cole Von Ohlen at number three, he was coached by one of my old college coaches and he's tough as nails on top and that's where Molinaro struggles, in the bottom position so that could be someone who could give him a good run for his money. 157lbs Who to watch: Kyle Dake, Cornell University Not that [Kyle Dake] can't get beat, but I'd say it's highly unlikely that he gets beat. I want to say [the rest of the field] are a step down below Dake. [Derek] St. John has some bright spots, [Jason] Welch has had some bright spots, but I don't think any of them got anything for Dake. He's just really strong everywhere. Dake won the title at 141lbs as a freshman and 149 as a sophomore. Could he move to 165lbs next year? I think it'd be very unwise of him to do that. 165lbs Who to watch: David Taylor, Penn State University 165 is just a really tough weight class. Well, ok, sorry, it's not a tough weight class this year. This year it's actually an easy weight class. David Taylor is dominating everyone and none of the other guys are standouts by any means. I don't think you've even got a handful of All-Americans in the bunch behind him. [Robert] Kokesh, never an All-American. [Michael] Evans, never an All-American. [Bezkod] Abdurakhmonov, never an All-American, [Andrew] Sorensen, never an All-American. So, all these guys they're not that good, right? But then next year you got Andrew Howe - a champ and finalist coming back - and you got Tyler Caldwell, NCAA finalist coming in from red shirt. So, 165 between Taylor, Howe and Caldwell will probably be the toughest weight next year. 174lbs Who to watch: Ed Ruth, Penn State University; Nick Amuchastegui, Stanford University; Chris Perry, Oklahoma State [Ed Ruth] has been as dominant as Taylor this year, but this is more where I think the seeding committee messed up. [Nick] Amuchestegui is undefeated and Amuchastegui beat Ed Ruth and placed higher than Ruth in the NCAA tournament last year. There's no reason Amuchastegui shouldn't have been number one. And that would've put Ruth and [Chris] Perry at 2 and 3 and Chris Perry's beaten Ed Ruth many times through their youth and high school and early in college stuff, so I would be shocked if Perry beat him again, but it wouldn't be too much a stretch of the imagination. Like I said, Amuchastegui, he kind of put the hammer on Ruth last year - obviously Ruth's a year older, a year wiser - so we'll see what happens. 184lbs Who to watch: Quentin Wright, Penn State University; Steve Bosack, Cornell University; Robert Hamlin, Lehigh University I say along with 141lbs this is the real toss-up weight. I would say everyone [seeded] 1 through 7 has a decent chance. Obviously 6 is Quentin Wright, he's a returning national champ. At number 2 is Robert Hamlin, he won it last year. 7 is [Josh] Ihnen, he beat Quentin Wright. Bosack was third last year, so you got a lot of really tough guys here. That's a tough one to pick. I don't know how it's going to shake out. One guy that's hot right now is Kevin Steinhaus. Like I said, it's a tough one to pick. 197lbs Who to watch: Cam Simaz, Cornell University People gave [Simaz] too much of a hard time. He didn't fall apart [at last year's national tournament]. [Ed] Kilgore was just that good. Kilgore's a stud. He's an Olympic red shirt, he's coming back next year. But this is one of those weights also where it's kinda Simaz at top and I think everyone else below him. I think after number 1 any of those guys can go in any order. I would be shocked if anyone beats Cam Simaz. Askren's thoughts on Edinboro's Chris Honeycutt, who has expressed interest in MMA: Yeah, Honeycutt, I don't think he's got the mat wrestling to go with Simaz. Simaz can wrestle everywhere: top, bottom, neutral. He's got the whole package. Honeycutt's got some holes in his game, so I would be surprised by that result if Honeycutt makes out with a win. That being said, Honeycutt's going to be an outstanding mixed martial arts prospect. 285lbs Who to watch: Ryan Flores, American University; Zach Rey (defending national champion), Lehigh University Flores beat Rey twice this year, so obviously he's got the upper hand there. And then Tony Nelson coming through on the bottom. He's tough also, so he's only got two losses. He can come through there. Number 9 is a guy I coached last year, Levi Cooper. He pulled some huge upsets at the tournament last year. He actually beat Zach Rey earlier this year, so maybe he can pull some more upsets and sneak in there as a dark horse. Askren on what differentiates wrestling at 285lbs vs. the other weight classes: 285 is different that everywhere. It's just a different kind of match. There's not as much going. There's obviously not as much athleticism. The thing I tell guys is 'get as big as you can' because the bigger you get, the more athletes that are in other sports. I wrestled 174lbs, so I say once you get above 174lbs all the great athletes are playing football, basketball and baseball. I think that's what you see in the heavyweight weight classes. You do have some great wrestlers, but most of the really outstanding athletes are playing other sports.

Posted in: guy, year, lb, he, university

Quinton Jackson and the Top Five Fighters to Leave the UFC in the Last Year: A Fan's View (Yahoo! Contributor Network)

According to a Yahoo! Sports report, the UFC and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson are headed for "Splitsville" after his upcoming fight against Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, in a rematch seven years in the making.

Posted in: ufc, jackson, year, quinton jackson, yahoo

2012 NCAA National Wrestling Championships Predictions With Ben Askren

While everyone may be filling out their last-minute March Madness basketball brackets, it would be more than an oversight to not mention today also kicks off the beginning of the 2012 NCAA Division I National Wrestling Championships. The sport of wrestling has given so much to mixed martial arts, so why not return the favor? Besides, tomorrow's MMA champions are today's wrestling standouts. Do yourself a favor and scout them before they become big sensations. To help us make predictions for the field: Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren, Who better to break down this year's tournament than a man who is not only one of MMA's champions, but also won the tournament in 2006 and 2007? For a full primer on this year's tourney (including brackets, betting odds and how to watch), SB Nation has you covered. For now, let's get right to Mr. Askren's predictions: Preparation Most teams go two days early. It's kind of weird for me because it's the first time that I haven't been involved in years. I'm just going as a fan this year which should be fun. They get there two days early, get their practices in, get their weight down and get ready to rumble. The Field This Year There are a lot of number ones that stand out and haven't really been touched this year. I would venture to say, I haven't looked up stats, but I would venture to say that there is more undefeated wrestlers in the tournament this year than any in recent past. The Top Teams Who to watch: Oklahoma State, Penn State University, University of Minnesota I would say [Penn State]. I would like to see Minnesota win it. I cheer for them, I like those guys but Penn State I would say would be the definite favorite. 125lbs Who to watch: Matt McDonough, Iowa University; Zachary Sanders, University of Minnesota [Matt] McDonough is the clear leader. He's won it before, was a close second to Anthony Robles last year. I would like to see Alan Waters come through and pull it out from my alma mater of Mizzou. The problem is he lost to Zach Sanders of Minnesota twice and Zach Sanders has lost to Matt McDonough twice so I'm just not sure that it's gonna happen but that's what I'm cheering for. Dark horse at 125lbs It does happen every once in a while, but the majority of the time, a lot of these guys wrestle each other so I would say no. Maybe [Ryan] Mango, I don't know, I forgot where he's seeded but he might be the dark horse because he dropped from 133. He's definitely got the tricks in the bag but I don't know if he can put it all together or not. 133lbs Who to watch: Jordan Oliver, Oklahoma State; Tony Ramos, Iowa University; Logan Stieber, Ohio State University Ramos beat him on a one hour weigh-in. Oliver cuts a lot of weight, everyone knows that. If he does, if Ramos does face Oliver which is a big question mark because he'd have to end up beating Logan Stieber, Oliver will have the whole day to recover and he'll be ready to go. Oliver looked dominant in his win over Stiever so I would be shocked to see anyone beat Jordan Oliver so I would say he's a big favorite. Can Jordan Oliver wrestle internationally? Definitely. I'm kind of disappointed to see him not do any summer wrestling these past two years. I thought he would have kind of mixed it up with some of the guys. I think he would do pretty well but I haven't seen him in the summers the last couple of years so I don't know where to put him at right now with all those other guys. 141lbs Who to watch: Kellen Russell, University of Michigan; Montel Marion, Iowa University; Michael Mangrum, Oregon State University You know what? Russell, he wrestled a lot of people close last year but I definitely watched the Big 12 tournament and he looked better this year than last year that's for sure. I think that could have been a criticism of him last year but he looked really solid at the tournament. 141 pounds is a good weight for me because we had two former Arrowhead Warhawks in the tournament at 141 pounds. That's my high school. Nick Hucke's got Kellen Russell first round and then Jake Sueflohn, I think he's a 10 seed or something so I would actually say, I would venture to say that 141 pounds is one of the more open brackets in the tournament. A lot of these guys have beaten each other before, even all the way down to Hunter Stieber at number 5, he's the one who's been coming up this year and a lot of these guys went back and forth. I would say this is definitely one of the more open weights in the tournament. I think anyone, even down to [Borislav] Novachkov at 6, I think even he could pull it off. 149lbs Who to watch: Frank Molinaro, Penn State University; Jamal Parks, Oklahoma State University He's definitely the clear cut favorite but like you said, the favorite doesn't always win. I think Jamal Parks at number two could give him a run for his money and then Cole Von Ohlen at number three, he was coached by one of my old college coaches and he's tough as nails on top and that's where Molinaro struggles, in the bottom position so that could be someone who could give him a good run for his money. 157lbs Who to watch: Kyle Dake, Cornell University Not that [Kyle Dake] can't get beat, but I'd say it's highly unlikely that he gets beat. I want to say [the rest of the field] are a step down below Dake. [Derek] St. John has some bright spots, [Jason] Welch has had some bright spots, but I don't think any of them got anything for Dake. He's just really strong everywhere. Dake won the title at 141lbs as a freshman and 149 as a sophomore. Could he move to 165lbs next year? I think it'd be very unwise of him to do that. 165lbs Who to watch: David Taylor, Penn State University 165 is just a really tough weight class. Well, ok, sorry, it's not a tough weight class this year. This year it's actually an easy weight class. David Taylor is dominating everyone and none of the other guys are standouts by any means. I don't think you've even got a handful of All-Americans in the bunch behind him. [Robert] Kokesh, never an All-American. [Michael] Evans, never an All-American. [Bezkod] Abdurakhmonov, never an All-American, [Andrew] Sorensen, never an All-American. So, all these guys they're not that good, right? But then next year you got Andrew Howe - a champ and finalist coming back - and you got Tyler Caldwell, NCAA finalist coming in from red shirt. So, 165 between Taylor, Howe and Caldwell will probably be the toughest weight next year. 174lbs Who to watch: Ed Ruth, Penn State University; Nick Amuchastegui, Stanford University; Chris Perry, Oklahoma State [Ed Ruth] has been as dominant as Taylor this year, but this is more where I think the seeding committee messed up. [Nick] Amuchestegui is undefeated and Amuchastegui beat Ed Ruth and placed higher than Ruth in the NCAA tournament last year. There's no reason Amuchastegui shouldn't have been number one. And that would've put Ruth and [Chris] Perry at 2 and 3 and Chris Perry's beaten Ed Ruth many times through their youth and high school and early in college stuff, so I would be shocked if Perry beat him again, but it wouldn't be too much a stretch of the imagination. Like I said, Amuchastegui, he kind of put the hammer on Ruth last year - obviously Ruth's a year older, a year wiser - so we'll see what happens. 184lbs Who to watch: Quentin Wright, Penn State University; Steve Bosack, Cornell University; Robert Hamlin, Lehigh University I say along with 141lbs this is the real toss-up weight. I would say everyone [seeded] 1 through 7 has a decent chance. Obviously 6 is Quentin Wright, he's a returning national champ. At number 2 is Robert Hamlin, he won it last year. 7 is Eanan, he beat Quentin Wright. Bosack was third last year, so you got a lot of really tough guys here. That's a tough one to pick. I don't know how it's going to shake out. One guy that's hot right now is Kevin Steinhaus. Like I said, it's a tough one to pick. 197lbs Who to watch: Cam Simaz, Cornell University People gave [Simaz] too much of a hard time. He didn't fall apart [at last year's national tournament]. [Ed] Kilgore was just that good. Kilgore's a stud. He's an Olympic red shirt, he's coming back next year. But this is one of those weights also where it's kinda Simaz at top and I think everyone else below him. I think after number 1 any of those guys can go in any order. I would be shocked if anyone beats Cam Simaz. Askren's thoughts on Edinboro's Chris Honeycutt, who has expressed interest in MMA: Yeah, Honeycutt, I don't think he's got the mat wrestling to go with Simaz. Simaz can wrestle everywhere: top, bottom, neutral. He's got the whole package. Honeycutt's got some holes in his game, so I would be surprised by that result if Honeycutt makes out with a win. That being said, Honeycutt's going to be an outstanding mixed martial arts prospect. 285lbs Who to watch: Ryan Flores, American University; Zach Rey (defending national champion), Lehigh University Flores beat Rey twice this year, so obviously he's got the upper hand there. And then Tony Nelson coming through on the bottom. He's tough also, so he's only got two losses. He can come through there. Number 9 is a guy I coached last year, Levi Cooper. He pulled some huge upsets at the tournament last year. He actually beat Zach Rey earlier this year, so maybe he can pull some more upsets and sneak in there as a dark horse. Askren on what differentiates wrestling at 285lbs vs. the other weight classes: 285 is different that everywhere. It's just a different kind of match. There's not as much going. There's obviously not as much athleticism. The thing I tell guys is 'get as big as you can' because the bigger you get, the more athletes that are in other sports. I wrestled 174lbs, so I say once you get above 174lbs all the great athletes are playing football, basketball and baseball. I think that's what you see in the heavyweight weight classes. You do have some great wrestlers, but most of the really outstanding athletes are playing other sports.

Posted in: guy, year, lb, he, university

Anderson Silva teases possibility of fighting for ten more years

UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva doesn’t appear to be going anywhere in the immediate future except to the gym and the Octagon. Silva, who has a clash with Chael Sonnen likely coming later this year, believes he still has a decade left in him as far as being an active fighter. “The Spider” is currently 36-years old and has been competing since 1997, meaning the number could just be an exaggeration on his part to show his interest in sticking around the UFC for several years to come. Then again, when it comes to the dynamic Brazilian it seems nothing is impossible. “I think I still have another ten-year career, but have not discussed my contract with the UFC,” said Silva in an interview with SporTV. “After this fight, I think there are still two or three, I’m not sure.” Silva and Sonnen is rematch of a 2010 meeting where “The Spider” earned a submission victory over Sonnen via Triangle-Armbar. Sonnen has used the public forum to constantly call out Silva, though the divisional king has ignored his trash-talk for the most part. When Silva was asked in the interview who he would most like to compete against, he reiterated his desire to face his clone, adding, “I want to fight even with my clone. (That) would be a fantastic fight.” He also pegged Roy Jones Jr., as the one person he would most like to box against if he were to compete inside the squared circle. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, silva, year, “ i, sonnen

Rising star Edson Barboza not resting on laurels as UFC 146 approaches

At just 26 years old, Brazilian striker Edson Barboza went from prospect to contender with one well-placed spinning heel kick. The devastating knockout of Terry Etim earned Barboza two "Fight Night" bonuses and loads of exposure, not to mention a guaranteed spot on UFC highlight tapes for years to come. But for Barboza, one shining moment does not a career make. While the "Knockout of the Year" candidate ensured Barboza is now a respected commodity in the UFC's lightweight division, he's not happy with just a little recognition.

Posted in: ufc, barboza, year, year candidate, terry etim

Five to watch at NCAA Division I wrestling championships ()

The NCAA Division I wrestling national championships start on Thursday in St. Louis, and it will undoubtedly feature future stars of MMA. Randy Couture, Mark Munoz, Urijah Faber, Phil Davis, Ben Askren, Chael Sonnen, Tyron Woodley, Daniel Cormier, Chad Mendes, Frankie Edgar, Gray Maynard, Josh Koscheck, Brock Lesnar and so many more familiar names from the fight world once wrestled in this tournament. MMA fans should tune in, so here's what you need to know. Penn State has the ability to repeat as champions. They won the Big Ten title last week, but will have plenty of challengers. Minnesota won the dual meet championship earlier this year. Missouri won the Big 12 and was the only team in the country to qualify a wrestler at every weight class. (Ed. note -- GO TIGERS!) Cornell won their sixth straight EIWA title. Perennial powers Oklahoma State and Iowa will also be expected to challenge for a team trophy. The 2012 field isn't as star-studded as some of the top wrestlers, like Mizzou's Dom Bradley, took a redshirt to focus on making the U.S. Olympic teams. Well known wrestlers like Anthony Robles and Bubba Jenkins from Arizona State and Jordan Burroughs from Nebraska have graduated. However, there are plenty of wrestlers to watch during the tournament. Kyle Dake, Cornell : When Dake was a freshman, he wrestled at 141 lbs. and won a national championship. His sophomore year, he moved up at 149 lbs. again took home the title. This year, he is a junior and at 157 lbs. His goal is to keep the streak alive.

Posted in: title, team, year, championship, wrestler

If you want to see what War Machine was up to 48 hours before going to prison, watch this

When we published our story of War Machine trying to clean-up his life and return to MMA back in 2010, we used a picture of one of his mugshots because we literally exhausted all of our War Machine profile pictures. Minutes later he called just to tell me that it was pretty messed up that we used his mugshot. Yeah, it was. I personally changed the picture immediately after the phone call. 48 hours later, he broke the news to the MMA world that he would be going to prison for a year due to an incident that occurred near a night club in San Diego. Now two years later (after serving his initial one-year sentence), War Machine will be going back in the slammer for an additional year. Tomorrow, Spike TV's MMA Uncensored will air a special documenting the last 48 hours before War Machine's year-long prison stint. Check out the preview below. {iframe}http://media.mtvnservices.com/embed/mgid:arc:video:spike.com:8effa8c2-583c-4982-8812-ee23fe09e561{/iframe}

Posted in: year, war machine, prison, war, machine

Carlos Condit still fine with waiting for GSP to heal up

Don’t mind Carlos Condit if he sits on the sidelines, waiting for a title-unification bout with Georges St. Pierre. Condit, who defeated Nick Diaz earlier this year for the interim belt, plans to remain true to his word in holding off on fighting again before facing linear champ GSP later this year. “Well, the bottom line is, I have my heart set on fighting Georges St-Pierre,” said Condit, while visiting Inside MMA this week. “I’m waiting for Georges and that would be my next opponent.” St. Pierre remains on track to return in November following his recovery from knee surgery. The Canadian suffered the injury in training to face Diaz, prompting the UFC to create an interim champion in his place. However, Condit is willing to wait forever, as “The Natural Born Killer” added that if St. Pierre is forced to sit out past the end of this year he will entertain the thought of fighting someone else. Check out the complete interview below: PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: pierre, st, year, condit, george

UFC on FUEL TV Preview - Stann vs. Sakara

Despite coming off 2011 losses, middleweight standouts Brian Stann and Alessio Sakara have the opportunity to begin 2012 with a clean slate when they collide in the co-main event of April 14th’s UFC on FUEL TV card in Stockholm, Sweden. It’s a pivotal battle for both men careerwise, but in addition, it’s a pleasing stylistic clash that is likely to produce more than its share of memorable standup exchanges. But who has the edge a month from now? Let’s break it down as we take a closer look at the matchup.WHERE THEY’VE BEENThe mettle of Captain Brian Stann of the United States Marine Corps was proven in a place far removed from the UFC Octagon, as he received the Silver Star for his valor in battle while serving in Iraq. And while this aspect of his past was an intriguing angle for the media from the time he entered the WEC in 2006, in recent years, the man dubbed “All-American” has developed into a legit force in his new weight class of 185 pounds. That move to middleweight in 2010, coupled with his work at Greg Jackson’s camp in Albuquerque, was a career saver for Stann, who struggled at 205 while in the UFC, losing two of four bouts. At middleweight, Stann has won three of four, finishing Mike Massenzio, Chris Leben, and Jorge Santiago consecutively before an October 2011 submission loss to Chael Sonnen. Now he’ll look to start another winning streak against “Legionarius.”A member of the UFC roster for over six years, Italy’s Alessio Sakara dazzled fight fans in his 2005 debut against Ron Faircloth, lighting the veteran up with strikes until a shot to the groin in the second round rendered him unable to continue and forced a no contest ruling. From there, the former pro boxer has had an up and down run in the Octagon, but with the exception of a 2009 bout with Thales Leites (which ironically was one of his biggest wins), he’s always put on exciting fights. In late 2008, Sakara broke out of his inconsistent funk, defeating Joe Vedepo (with a highlight reel headkick), Leites, and James Irvin for his first three fight win streak in the organization. It was a streak snapped by a decision loss to late replacement Chris Weidman in March of last year, but like Stann, someone is going to start a new win streak next month.WHERE THEY’RE ATAs mentioned earlier, both middleweights are looking to get back in the win column after seeing identical three fight winning streaks snapped. So who’s in the better spot heading into Stockholm? That depends on who you’re talking to. Stann can say he lost to the second best middleweight on the planet in Sonnen, which was a big step up for him in just his fourth fight at 185 pounds. He can also say that the crafty number one contender took him to a place where he’s had difficulty in the past by simply putting him on his back and keeping him there until he submitted him via arm triangle in the second round. If you’re a Stann supporter, you say the odds of a repeat strategy from Sakara are slim and none. If you’re Sakara, you can chalk up your recent form to a number of factors, not the least of which are the injuries and the illness that saw UFC 123 and UFC 133 bouts against fellow striker Jorge Rivera get scrapped. Want more to support Team Sakara? How about going from preparing for a standup battle with Rivera to a fight with a wrestler in Weidman on short notice? Sure, you could say that with his experience, Sakara should be ready for anything at this point, but at this level of the game, it only takes one wrench in the works to throw everything off when you least expect it. The edge? It’s a toss-up.WHERE THEY’RE GOING2012 will be an important year for both Stann and Sakara, and it’s imperative for each fighter to get it off to a good start. Surprisingly, despite the difference in experience between the two, Stann is the older man at 31, to Sakara’s 30. In terms of fighting mileage though, the 19-8, 1 NC Italian (who is also 8-1 in pro boxing) has seen a lot more in the fight game than the 11-4 American. Add in the fact that Sakara’s toughest opponent in the last few years has been his own body (he’s only fought once in each of the last three years due to injury), and Stann is definitely the fresher fighter. On paper, Stann has a lot more to lose heading into this bout, as a win over Sakara and another couple victories can put him in the title picture. Sakara probably has a longer road to build momentum and get into a similar position, but hey, there’s no better time than now to start a run. WHAT TO LOOK FORStann has proven both in the WEC and UFC that he can bang with anyone, and while everyone looks at Sakara’s striking and boxing background, the “All-American” has one shot stopping power that is far superior to Sakara’s. Don’t get me wrong, Sakara has great handspeed and technique, but in a firefight, you may want to give the edge to Stann. But will it even get to that point? Sakara’s Achilles Heel in the past has been getting into early wars with guys who have one punch KO power (McFedries, Alexander, Leben). Of course, you have to mention that two of those losses came at light heavyweight, probably making his chin a little sturdier at 185. But the point remains that if this one erupts into a slugfest, Stann probably wins it on power alone. If it’s more of a measured standup battle, Sakara’s ability to rip off combinations and use his speed could cause Stann trouble, despite the American's improved ability to stick and move under Jackson’s tutelage (see the third Cantwell fight for proof). Stann has greatly toned down his WEC habit of putting his chin in the air during exchanges, and the positive results since then show that, but if you get pecked and poked enough by a legit boxer, then old habits can return in the heat of battle. And who knows, Sakara may want to take the fight to the mat and show off his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt. That’s not likely from a guy who hasn’t scored a submission since 2002, but stranger things have happened, and with two of Stann’s four losses coming via tap out (and the third coming via decision in a bout against Phil Davis fought primarily on the mat), it may be an option Sakara looks into. Then again, with Stann willing to stand and trade, Sakara’s ego may not allow him to do anything but throw hands with his opponent. Whether that’s a good call or not for him, we’ll find out on April 14th, but for us watching, it’s definitely the scenario we would like to see played out.NOTABLE WINSStann – Steve Cantwell (twice), Doug Marshall, Mike Massenzio, Chris Leben, Jorge SantiagoSakara – James Irvin, Joe Vedepo, Victor Valimaki, Elvis SinosicOTHER NOTABLE OPPONENTSStann – Krzysztof Soszynski, Phil Davis, Rodney Wallace, Chael SonnenSakara – Assuerio Silva, Dean Lister, Drew McFedries, Houston Alexander, Chris Leben, Thales Leites, Chris Weidman, Roman ZentsovCOMMON OPPONENTChris Leben – Stann TKO1, Sakara TKO by 1

Posted in: ufc, fight, year, stann, sakara

K-1 Champion Buakaw Por. Pramuk Leaves Gym Amidst Rumors Of Corruption

It's been an interesting few days in the life of former K-1 MAX champion Buakaw Por. Pramuk. Last week, he pulled out of a scheduled March 17 fight against Fabio Pinca in France. His camp in Thailand then reported him as "missing" according to the Bangkok Post. Now, the story has escalated and taken something of an ugly turn as it looks like Buakaw has left the Por. Pramuk gym amidst rumors of corruption. In an interview on Thai TV, Buakaw spoke out about his frustrations with his longtime training home. In particular, he noted that he wanted to retire in 2009, but that his gym would not let him. Instead, Buakaw has been fighting through injuries over the past years and is now looking to recover both mentally and physically. Last week, he left his gym and went into seclusion, refusing to take their calls. Recent issues seemed to begin with the departure of the gym's physical therapist Theerapat Yewyim. Along with his departure, new leadership took over at the gym. Buakaw states that he has felt disrespected for years by the gym, and that these changes were the last straw, leading to Buakaw and his personal trainer to leave: I left because they hurt my soul with bad words insulting me. I have done my best. I have been honest and diligent but they kept telling me, "I'm so tired of you, you are such a trouble maker, you're useless," but in fact I have been working hard. I've done my best, but they seemed to not be satisfied with me so I decided to leave. It has been years like this. Buakaw says he is taking an indefinite amount of time off to recover for the moment. As for his future with the camp: In my deepest heart I want to be Buakaw Por Pramuk, I want to do my responsibility... [but] I don't think I will be back there. I just want to take care of myself more than other things now. The unspoken issue in this interview, and one that Buakaw refuses to directly address, is financial. For years there have been rumors of financial disputes inside the Por. Pramuk camp, with Buakaw in particular being taken advantage of. At Thai gyms, taking a fee when fighters compete is common, however in the case of Buakaw and the Por. Pramuk gym, there are long-standing accusations of the gym taking a significant majority of Buakaw's earnings, leaving the Thai champion with relatively little. Former Por. Pramuk fighter Namsaknoi has also allegedly been taken advantage of over the years. Whatever comes of this, it's definitely an unfortunate situation. Buakaw is one of the most internationally successful Thai fighters, whose 2 championship runs in K-1 MAX are legendary. But he seems to have lost a step in recent years, and has not fought at the highest level lately - his desire to retire, combined with mental and physical stress would certainly account for this. We'll keep an eye on this situation as it develops.

Posted in: year, gym, buakaw, por, pramuk

The Fighter Who Stayed Too Long

Ask his friends and they’ll tell you. The changes to Gary Goodridge’s personality happened the same way the brain damage did: gradually, over the course of several years. It wasn’t like he took one big blow to the head and woke up the next day with a mind that could no longer trace the thread of a conversation or remember what he’d had for dinner the night before. It was the little stuff. His speech got a little harder to understand. He didn’t tell as many jokes. He forgot things. But everybody forgets things. Everybody gets older. So what? Even the people who’d known him since childhood couldn’t say for sure that there was something wrong with Goodridge at first. It was hard to notice, until it wasn’t."When talking to him on the phone, his speech was becoming slurred," said Mike Mobbs, who’s counted Goodridge as his best friend since the two were nine years old, growing up in Barrie, Ontario together. "It got to the point where, when having phone conversations with him, I found myself constantly saying, ‘What did you say? Pardon?’ That, to me, was the tip-off." He’d forget appointments, forget whole conversations. He’d call a friend on the phone, talk to them for a while, then hang up and call them back ten minutes later. ‘How’s it going?’ he’d ask. And what were you supposed to say? That it was going exactly the same as it was ten minutes ago? That his brain was broken, and that there was nothing anybody could do about it?If you ask Goodridge now, he’ll tell you that his last good fight was in 2003, when he knocked out Don Frye in his Pride "retirement match." Even then he was suffering from back pain so severe that he hardly trained at all before the fight. He landed a head kick in the first minute that kept the world from finding out just how far from fighting shape he really was. Then he fought for seven more years. He had 13 more MMA fights and more than 30 kickboxing matches in that time. He took probably a dozen more concussions, at least. He ran up a tab using his body and his brain as collateral. Now the bill has come due."I had no idea about CTE," Goodridge said. "I didn’t know anything." Punch-drunk, is what the old-timers called it. Dementia pugilistica, if you wanted to sound smarter than you were. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, or CTE, is what it’s been dubbed by the researchers who have begun slicing open the brains of deceased football and hockey players, many of whom died by suicide or drug overdose, sometimes after months or years of bizarre, out-of-character behavior. What those researchers are finding when they look at those brains now are the unmistakable brown splotches, the nerve cells filled with tau protein that sprawl out like weeds in an untended garden, indicating CTE. It’s something you might expect in the brain of an elderly person with an extremely advanced case of Alzheimer’s disease. Not something you expect in a 46-year-old man like Goodridge.And yet, according to Dr. Donna Ouchterlony, the director of the brain injury clinic at Toronto’s St. Michael’s Hospital, that’s what’s most likely happening in Goodridge’s brain right now. It would take a post-mortem examination to determine conclusively, but after conducting tests of Goodridge’s cognitive abilities, his balance, and even his sense of smell, Dr. Ouchterlony wrote in her report: "It seems clear that Gary Goodridge has CTE and has had the disease for some time." During the exam, she noted that he couldn't stand on one leg without falling over. His sense of smell was diminished in one nostril. His cognitive abilities were clearly impaired. "I had no idea it was coming," said Goodridge. "You don’t know. Everyone around you tells you it’s happening, but you don’t notice it yourself."A Changed ManAt the Boston University Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy, where the bulk of the research is being done, they describe CTE as "a progressive degenerative disease of the brain found in athletes (and others) with a history of repetitive brain trauma, including symptomatic concussions as well as asymptomatic subconcussive hits to the head." The tau protein builds up and disrupts normal brain function, leading to symptoms such as "memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, impulse control problems, aggression, depression, and, eventually, progressive dementia."And yeah, Goodridge’s friends will tell you. That’s Gary these days. Though it didn’t used to be."Gary used to walk into a room and he owned the room," said Mobbs, who’s now a police officer in Ontario. "His charisma, his wit -- he was one of the wittiest guys I knew. He was quick to laugh, charming, and within five or seven minutes of him walking into a room, people just gravitated to him. It wasn’t like he was trying to do it, either. He was just such a strong personality, so fun and vivacious, so full of life." These days he spends most of his time in bed. He watches a lot of TV, probably ten hours a day, according to friends, and he’s more or less glued to his iPhone, which he uses as a sort of exterior memory bank. It reminds him who he needs to talk to and where he needs to be. At the same time, even the iPhone can only help him so much.According to Mark Dorsey, who co-wrote Goodridge’s memoir, Gatekeeper: The Fighting Life of Gary "Big Daddy" Goodridge, the former UFC and K-1 fighter’s long-term memory is still "impeccable." It’s the short-term he can’t get a grip on."I’ve gone on trips with him and we’ll be in the hotel at night and he’ll ask me, ‘What did we do today?’" said Dorsey. "I won’t give it to him right away and he’ll sit there and try to rack his brain and remember."Dorsey flew with Goodridge to California recently so the fighter could appear on an episode of Inside MMA. Goodrige seemed mostly fine at first, Dorsey said, but "on the plane ride he back he couldn’t remember why he had gone to California. I mean, and that’s after we said goodbye to the guys from Inside MMA that morning. Five hours later, he couldn’t remember why we had even made the trip in the first place."According to Mobbs, it’s made Goodridge more introverted and less outgoing. He’s not the same quick-witted guy he used to be, and he avoids long conversations because "he doesn’t know what he’s already said."The memory problems are "frustrating as hell," Goodridge said, but that’s not the worst of it. His friends tell him that his whole personality has changed. He gets angry much easier. He’s more impulsive. He knows this, in a way, but it’s hard for him to fully comprehend."I’m still not aware," Goodridge said. "I’m trying to get a grasp on it. I’m starting to understand that there’s something wrong with me, but I’m still trying to get my head around it that I’m different than who I was. It’s hard for me to see the difference, but there is a difference."For starters, he recently had a rare argument with his mother that resulted in the two not speaking for several weeks. For some people, the occasional battle with their mother might be normal operating procedure. For Goodridge, it was unheard of."I never talked back to my mother. Never, ever," he said. "I’m 46 years old, and I’ve never talked back to my mother. I actually talked back to her in a very rude, harsh way for the first time a couple months ago. That’s not me."At least, it wasn’t him. Not for most of his life. But now Goodridge has to accept that years of head trauma may have changed his entire personality. And while the multiple medications he takes and the occupational therapy he undergoes a couple times a week can help mitigate the effects, there’s no known way of reversing the brain damage he’s suffered. In all likelihood, it will only get worse as the years progress, something Goodridge says he thinks about "quite a bit" these days."You’re kind of in disbelief when you first hear it," he said. "I thought, it must be something else. Maybe it’s a misdiagnosis. I’m still getting used to the idea that I’m not going to be okay ever again. This is my life."Asking for TroubleThe question you almost can’t help but ask when you look at Goodridge’s MMA and kickboxing records is, didn’t he know what he was doing to himself? He lost his last eight MMA bouts, with the most recent one coming in December of 2010. He suffered 14 TKO or KO losses as a kickboxer. He fought more than 80 bouts between kickboxing and MMA in a little over 14 years of competition. Didn’t he know that there might be consequences?The answer, according to Goodridge, is yes. Sort of. He knew there were risks, even if no one was talking about CTE -- at least not in those terms -- when he made his MMA debut at UFC 8 when he was 30 years old.At the same time, the risks always seemed to be so hypothetical, so distant. Risks were something for other people to worry about. Goodridge had to worry about the present, and about putting money in his pocket."I just knew that I was trying to do the best for my family," he said. "I have two girls, and I wanted to do my best for them." He came from poverty and he never wanted to go back. Born in Trinidad and Tobago, he moved to Canada with his family when he was seven years old. As he wrote in his book, he stuck out in Barrie, Ontario "like a fly in a bowl of milk." He got involved in competitive arm-wrestling at 15, and went on to become a champion. Then came boxing, where the 6'3", 250-pound Goodridge became the super heavyweight amateur champion of Canada. One thing, as they say, led to another.At K-1 kickboxing events, he was known as the guy who would do his best to make sure somebody got knocked out. That earned him many repeat performances, despite a winless streak that lasted for more than four years at the end of his career."They paid me a lot of money for that, because they knew there would be a KO," he said of his K-1 days. "Either I'm getting knocked out or you're getting knocked out. That’s what they wanted to see. They paid me to do that."In MMA, after his glory days in Japan's Pride Fighting Championships organization were done, he became the guy who you could get when you needed somebody with a name, and you needed them in a hurry. In 2008, after Aleksander Emelienanko was pulled from the Affliction: Banned fight card at the last minute, Goodridge stepped in as a replacement against heavyweight Paul Buentello. He made $25,000 for going three rounds in a losing effort. When he took on Gegard Mousasi at FEG’s Dynamite!! 2009 event, he said he was promised $30,000 for the short-notice bout. The fight was over in a minute and a half. It took him a year to get partial payment from the FEG promoters.For at least the last five years of his career, fighting was something he couldn’t talk about with his childhood friend Mobbs, who was adamant that Goodridge should hang up the gloves. If he mentioned anything about an upcoming fight, it was Mobbs who would tell him that his skills had deteriorated with age and he needed to get out of the game. Yeah, you’re right, Goodridge would tell him. Then he’d take the fight anyway, because he had no other source of income.In an attempt to make his point via other means, Mobbs sent Goodridge the video of an interview he’d done at UFC 8 in 1996. Then he sent him one that he’d done in 2009. "Not the same person," Mobbs said. "Very, very different. And I think he saw the difference, but he still needed the money. He’d been out of the workforce for 13 or 14 years, had no trade, no real employment history."As he told me in 2010, when he was in the final throes of his fight career, no one who cared about him wanted to see him fight anymore."I should not fight again," he said. "I know I shouldn't. But I have to get paid. I'm trying to get a job. But in the meantime I have to get paid, and people take advantage of you."He took one more MMA fight and two more kickboxing bouts after that conversation. He lost them all.From Goodridge’s perspective, it was the same thing over and over again. He’d tell himself he was done fighting, and set to looking for a job. How seriously he looked depends on who you ask, but eventually some fight promoter would call him up with another chance to make 20 or 30 grand for a few minutes of work, which meant a chance to pay some bills and get some financial breathing room, so he’d take it."No one likes to lose, and it’s always about ego on some level," said Mobbs. "But honestly, I can’t remember the last time he got in the ring really wanting to win. It was only about the paycheck at the end."When word of his diagnosis spread throughout the MMA community, Goodridge was quick to claim that it was the kickboxing and not the MMA bouts that were responsible."Gary and I disagree on that," said Dorsey, who followed Goodridge’s fighting career closely even before the two started working on the book together. "He says it was all from kickboxing, and that’s his line whenever he’s asked about it. He says his only knockout [in MMA] was from Gilbert Yvel, and all the damage came from kickboxing. Well, you’ve followed his career and I’ve watched every one of his fights, and I can guarantee he got damaged in mixed martial arts. I could probably bring up ten fights where he got concussed. I don’t think he really realized what was happening until his kickboxing career, and he took more noticeable knockouts there, but to me there’s no doubt that all the training, the sparring, the fights during his long mixed martial arts career also had a significant effect."Beyond the brain damage, Goodridge’s body is still dealing with the consequences of both sports in other ways, Dorsey said. He has back and leg issues, and a sciatic nerve that often gives him trouble."The guy can hardly stand for 20 minutes at a time without having to sit down or stretch. He’s got a lot of damage in his legs, and I think that affects him at times just as much as the brain damage. He can’t really go out a lot of places. If you can’t go anywhere where you might have to stand in line or walk around and be standing up for more than 20 minutes, that severely limits you."An Uncertain FutureSay your brain no longer cooperates with you. Say it never will again, at least not like it used to. Conversations you had 20 years ago are still crystal clear, but yesterday is a total mystery, irretrievable without the help of some outside force. Even if someone tells you what you did all day, it’s like someone describing your first birthday party to you. Ah yes, you tell yourself. I remember now. Or maybe it’s just your imagination filling in the gaps. Maybe some things, once you lose them, are lost forever.Say you’re angry and depressed, impulsive and moody, aggressive and afraid. Say your friends don’t even recognize the person you’ve become, and you know they must be right, if only because they all say the same thing. But the person they remember seems like a flickering dream to you. You remember vague outlines of it, but the particulars are hazy at best. Say this is your life from here on out. What are you supposed to do with it? What if you’ve got 30 or 40 more years of this? He thinks about this all the time now. He never lived like he was trying to make it to old age, which is maybe the reason why he could disregard all the risks he was taking, but also the reason why he doesn’t regret any of it."If I had it to do all over again, I’d do it the exact same way," he said. His friends aren’t so sure. Maybe he’d do less kickboxing, they say. Maybe he’d walk away sooner, find something else to do while he was still capable of learning how to do it. But then, with something like CTE, nobody can tell you for sure when you’ve gone too far. Sometimes the symptoms show up months after the trauma. Sometimes it’s decades. Maybe it was Fedor’s punches that did it. Maybe it was the head kicks from Pat Barry. He’ll never know.Still, he was a star once. In Japan they lined up around the block to see Gary Goodridge. He’d go to restaurants and the chef would come out to ask him what he’d ordered, just so he could make sure and do his best on "Big Daddy’s" meal. He had women and money and nights that he thought would never end. Then it all ended, and his life went on."I had a great kick of the can," he said. "Now in my twilight years -- if you can call this my twilight years -- I’m going through some stuff. But I’m trying to get on top of it. I’m doing the best I can.""I’m heartbroken," said his childhood friend Mobbs, who looks back now and wonders if he should have done more to try and make Goodridge stop. If he thinks about it too much, the tears start in his chest and move up through his throat. He stops and says he's sorry. The tough guy cop, apologizing for getting choked up. He thinks about another friend of theirs, how it used to be the three of them together for years. Decades, really."We often get together, and one of the things we say now is we wish our friend was back. We miss our friend."What were you supposed to do? You couldn’t choose for him, even after you knew without a doubt that there was only reasonable choice. And by the time the signs were obvious, it was already too late."It kind of sneaks up on you," said Goodridge. "You don’t really understand. People have to tell you what’s going on. Even when you do get a notion of it, you think it’s normal. I mean, you forget things sometimes. That’s normal."You forget things. You stay in bed. You get hit in the head for money. You get used to it. You settle into your new normal. You wait to find out what tomorrow will look like. You don’t have much choice. Your life rolls on. Who can say where it will go next? Who can tell you what debts you already owe, or when you incurred them? And who can tell you what you're supposed to do if you can't possibly pay?

Posted in: fight, year, brain, goodridge, hersquod

NCAA 2012 Division I Wrestling Brackets And Who To Look Out For

March Madness is underway and while the focus from most media outlets will be on NCAA basketball, Bloody Elbow is more interested in power-slams than slam-dunks as it aims to bring you coverage of the 2012 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championship. Taking place at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri, the tournament kicks off this Thursday on March 15 and goes through to the finals on Saturday March 17. For those fortunate enough to live in the USA, the ESPN TV network is expected to include coverage from the mats via ESPN 3 and ESPNU, which are also available as a live stream via ESPN.com. For those outside the USA, reduced coverage is expected to be available through TheMat.com and Flowrestling.com. The brackets for the tournament have been out for a little less than a week now and can be viewed as a pdf courtesy of TheMat.com - The Official Website of USA Wrestling. Here's a look at some of the wrestlers worth keeping an eye on this week. Name: Matt McDonough Weight: 125lbsCollege: IowaSeason Record: 31-1Tournament Seed: #1 The 2010 NCAA Div I champion, McDonough fell short of the title last year as he faced the unstoppable, inspirational Anthony Robles of Arizona State University (ASU) in the finals. With a near perfect season record and the top seed going into this weeks competition, McDonough has to be considered the favourite to win this year. Name: Jordan OliverWeight: 133lbsCollege: Oklahoma StateSeason Record: 24-1Tournament Seed: #1 Last year's winner at 133lbs, Oliver looks to make it two in a row as he enters the tournament as the number #1 seed. Oliver brings an intense attitude to the mats and is always fun to watch and reminds me a bit of a mini-Cain Velasquez. Oliver has at least another year of eligibility and may have Olympic aspirations for 2016. Name: Kellen Russell, Montell MarionWeight: 141lbsCollege: Michigan, IowaSeason Record: 28-1, 27-3Tournament Seed: #1, #3 Although the 2011 champion at 141lbs, the semi-finals match between Russell and Montell Marion (Iowa) was rife with controversy as a vocal contingent believed Marion was screwed out of points for two takedowns in the first over time period, enough to win him the match when time was up. Neither was scored and Russell went ahead to complete an undefeated season, the first and only time in his career thus far. Marion is the #3 seed this year and won't get to face Russell unless both can make it to the finals in what many should expect to be an explosive showdown. Marion will have to get past #2 seed Kendric Maple (Oklahmoa) should they meet in the semi-finals before he can settle the score with Russell. Name: Frank MolinaroWeight: 149lbsCollege: Penn StateSeason Record: 28-0Tournament Seed: #1 The NCAA Div I runner up in 2011, this 3 time All American likely has his final chance at a championship title this year. Molinaro lost to Kyle Dake (Cornell) last year and was completely dominated by Dake who has since moved up a weight class. Nicknamed 'Gorillahulk', Molinaro has a punishing, clubbing style as he likes to look for snap-downs and grind his opponents. With the rigorous training of coach Cael Sanderson, and the iron-sharpens-iron mentality of his Nittany Lion teammates, I expect Molinaro to go through the tournament with a do-or-die ethos. Name: Kyle Dake Weight: 157lbs College: Cornell Season Record: 30-0Tournament Seed: #1 Winning the 141lbs title last year by beating the above Frank Molinaro, Dake looks set to win his second title and be one of the few to do so in a different weight class at 157lbs. Dake punished Molinaro with a Power Nelson Crossbody Ride racking up an impressive 8-1 points lead. Last year's 157lbs champion Bubba Jenkins has transitioned to MMA with a solid first round stoppage at Tachi Palace Fights a few months ago, and with Penn State's Paul Taylor himself moving up a weight class it would appear the road to the championship is wide open for Dake. Derek St. John (Iowa) finished 4th last year, but with two heavy hitters gone this time around, he may take full advantage of his #2 seed and work his way to the finals against Dake, outside of other upsets happening. Name: David Taylor Weight: 165lbs College: Penn State Season Record: 27-0Tournament Seed: #1 The hometown audience in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania were utterly stunned last year when Taylor succumbed to a suicide cradle pin by Bubba Jenkins for the 157lbs title. By this point Penn State had amassed an unbeatable team points lead, but having their top prospect lose by fall to someone that Coach Cael Sanderson had cut from the team a year earlier was shocking. Now at 165lbs and without the Jordan Burroughs Juggernaut to contend with, Taylor is determined to capture an individual title and put to rest the specter of Bubba Jenkins, and show he might just be the best pound for pound Collegiate wrestler in the country. Name: Edward Ruth, Nick Amuchastegui Weight: 174lbs College: Penn State, Stanford Season Record: 26-0, 20-0Tournament Seed: #1, #3 Last year's 174lbs champion Jonathan Reader has graduated to Freestyle wrestling and representing Team USA, with hopes of making the Olympic team next month at the trials in Iowa City, Iowa. In the tournament's bloodiest match, gutsiest match Nick Amuchastegui lost on points to Reader in the finals as both suffered cuts at different points in the bout. Ed Ruth of Penn State finished 3rd, but as a freshman he scored two of the quickest pins of the tournament last year. Ruth has looked absolutely dominant this season, and with the experience of a sophomore going into this week and the skills to rack up team points by scoring falls, versus the gameness and never-say-die drive to make it to the finals of Amuchastegui, these two are the ones I look forward to watching in this division, though Oklahoma State's #2 ranked seed Chris Perry shouldn't be overlooked despite having a 25-7 record the previous season. Name: Quentin Wright, Robert Hamlin Weight: 184 lbs College: Penn State, LeHigh Season Record: 26-3, 29-1Tournament Seed: #6, #2 Don't let their seed placement fool you, as both Quentin Wright and Robert Hamlin were last year's 184lbs finalists. Quentin Wright was one of Penn State's only individual champions last year, beating Robert Hamlin in a 5-2 decision. Wright also scored my favourite pin of the tournament with an incredibly cleanly executed cradle in the semi-finals. With their bracket placement, the best we can hope for is a rematch in the semi-finals this year between Wright and Hamlin, where the #1 seed Joe LeBlanc (Wyoming) will have to work his way to the finals on the other side of the bracket. Name: Cam Simaz, Micah Burak, Christopher HoneycuttWeight: 197 lbs College: Cornell, Penn State Season Record: 26-1, 19-4Tournament Seed: #1, #11, #2 Last year's drama at 197lbs featured Kent State's Dustin Kilgore with a come-from-behind pin against Oklahoma State's Clayton Foster, when Kilgore re-countered Foster's defense of his single-leg takedown attempt with a cradle. Until the pin fall, Foster was leading 5-1. Without either competing collegiately anymore -- Kilgore has Olympic ambitions for this Summer should he do well at the trials next month -- the drama may come should Cam Simaz and Micah Burak meet in the final, in a rematch from their EIWA Championship final earlier in the month. Both were the #1 and #10 seeds respectively and in that match, Simaz looked to score with High Single-legs, while Burak would counter well with the Whizzer and Front-Headlock. The first period went scoreless, and Murak's aggressive defense meant Simaz wasn't going to have an easy time of it. Simaz is still the odds on favourite to win his division, but Murak might be somewhat of a dark horse especially considering the Cael Sanderson coached team he has behind him. #2 seed Christopher Honeycutt (EDIN) is perhaps a safer bet as to who might meet Simaz in the final, but you never can know. #7 Mario Gonzalez is also a name worth keeping an eye on and might surprise a few people. Name: Zachery Rey, Ryan Flores Weight: 285lbs College: Lehigh, American Season Record: 22-2, 17-0Tournament Seed: #4, #1 Zach Rey is in his final year of collegiate competition having won the NCAA Championship last year against Ryan Flores. Both were similarly ranked last year, and both had a finals win apiece with Flores beating Rey at the EIWA Championship final, and Rey getting the win at the NCAA's. Earlier this month, Flores beat Rey again at the EIWA Finals, but due to the bracket structure and seeding for this years NCAA's, the best we can hope for is a semi-finals showdown. If the semi-finals features and is won by either of these two, it almost seems a certainty that the winner will go on to take the title in the final. Rey can also sometimes be fun to watch, ragdolling and bear mauling his opponents should he get the opportunity to through a series of takedowns, slams and trips. Think I've left anyone out worth mentioning? Got the inside scoop on some of this year's participants? Let us know in the comments.

Posted in: year, tournament, lb, seed, state

Sean McCorkle gives fighter’s perspective on Bellator 60

This past Friday night former UFC heavyweight Sean McCorkle silently ran his post-Octagon record to 6-0 with the entire lot coming by way of an opening round submission. Known for his frank albeit funny commentary, the always-entertaining McCorkle was at it again this weekend after picking up a victory at Bellator 60, this time offering up his opinion on what he experienced as one of the organization’s newest competitors. “I was very impressed with Bellator as a promotion as a whole fighting for them last Friday night. Their entire staff is very professional, they treat all of the fighters with the utmost respect almost going overboard catering to the fighters, and look to really be trying to build their promotion the right way,” wrote the 16-2 McCorkle in a post on The Underground, adding, “We stayed in an expensive hotel, the per diem money was way more than I expected or needed, and the production crew to the PR people to the cut guys were awesome.” Still glowing, the 35-year old continued, “I love the tournament format they have, and the philosophy that fighters can and should fight more than just a few times a year. Obviously nobody will be able to compete with the UFC for many years, but Bellator really did impress me. It will be very interesting to see where the deal with Spike and Viacom has them after the next 18 months.” Spike TV is expected to start broadcasting Bellator events in 2013 once the remaining aspects of the UFC’s contract with their former home finally expires. Currently Spike.com plays host to Bellator’s preliminary pairings. While most of McCorkle’s take was positive, he did mention the one sour note he came across involved fallen featherweight champ Joe Warren who was knocked out by Pat Curran earlier in the evening. Many watching felt the stoppage came late and even Bellator edited out part of the finish on a highlights package circulated online. Tim Hague Wants to Mix It Up with McCorkle “I did not get a chance to see the Curran/Warren fight the other night because they were on right before me, but Warren did not look in good shape at all backstage after the fight,” said McCorkle. “I’m not one to have my stomach easily turned either, but I was genuinely afraid for him when he passed by as they were practically carrying him. I keep hearing it was a late stoppage, and then that it wasn’t, back and forth. Either way, I genuinely hope that he is OK. That’s a scary thing to see.” McCorkle will compete again later this month in headlining action against Brian Heden on a WMMA card in Texas marking the fourth time “Big Sexy” will have fought this year. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: bellator, fighter, year, friday night, mccorkle

The Strange Disappearance Of Buakaw Por. Pramuk Gets Even Weirder

It's been a strange week for premier Muay Thai superstar Buakaw Por. Pramuk. The 29-year old, real name Sombat Banchamek, was reported missing a few days ago right before his upcoming fight with Fabio Pinca. Now according to a new report from fightsportasia.com (which your author saw on bjpenn.com, proper hat tips all around), Buakaw had been fighting for as little as $200 and was shared housing. WTF. It was insinuated throughout the interview that Buakaw had been threatened. At the very least, that he has been forced into acquiescence by Por.Pramuk for years upon years, the gym in which he lives in a room with three other men. Yeesh. If BPP can ever get himself extricated from Thailand, he'd have at least one home, as Duke Roufus took to The UnderGround in the thread regarding this to state that Roufusport would gladly host him. Below the jump is the video of Buakaw's awkward interview (in Thai, obviously). If any of you kind folks speak the language, you got anything for us the original articles didn't mention?

Posted in: year, buakaw, fabio pinca, kind folks, thailand hed

Luke Rockhold “excited” to be facing Tim Kennedy soon

Strikeforce middleweight champ Luke Rockhold has been looking forward to defending his title against Tim Kennedy since winning the belt. Rockhold claimed the title with a decision victory over Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza last year and was poised to face the polished Texan next before an injury to Kennedy forced a defense against Keith Jardine this past January, a bout Rockhold won via TKO. Fortunately for the 27-year old, if all goes as planned, the two will finally square off later this year. “I’m excited about the fight with Kennedy,” said Rockhold, in a recent interview with MMAWeekly Radio. “I think he’s highly underrated, very tough dude, he poses a lot of challenges. I’ll be ready.” “It looks like it’s finally going to happen,” the 9-1 Rockhold continued. “I’ve been waiting for that one for a long time, and I’m excited. I’m getting on my wrestling. Wrestling’s a key for this fight, I gotta control the wrestling.” Kennedy has not fought since July of last year when he defeated Robbie Lawler. Injuries have kept the Green Beret sniper on the sidelines for several months, though he’s recently spoken publicly about his desire to fight and even offered to fill in on short notice against Souza earlier this month when the Brazilian found himself without an opponent for a Strikeforce event in Columbus. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: fight, rockhold, year, kennedy, tim kennedy

Free-agency primer: Manning, Nicks among the big offensive options ()

Unlike some free-agent classes that feature one huge name and a bunch of lesser lights, the 2012 class features one big haul on each side of the ball. Obviously, Peyton Manning is the big name on offense, and we have Mario Williams as the main man on defense. By position, here's a look at the most important names to know once the new league year kicks in on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m., and the pursuit of many great players begins. First, the offense: Quarterbacks Once Manning makes his decision, and gets a major front-loaded contract as a result, other teams will scatter to other options, which in turn will be made more interesting and plentiful by Manning's decision. No matter what happens, Matt Flynn of the Green Bay Packers becomes the A-player of the bunch. Like Kevin Kolb a year ago, Flynn will parlay a small sample size from a greased-up, quarterback-friendly offense into a huge payday somewhere. Seahawks GM John Schneider was in the Packers' front office when Flynn was drafted, and new Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin was on Green Bay's coaching staff as Flynn developed. Those are two likely spots, but if Manning chooses Arizona, Kolb could be cut loose. Whether his availability cuts into Flynn's value is an interesting topic. Beyond that, pickings are relatively slim this time around. At this point, Alex Smith and Jason Campbell are among the most "interesting" options at the position, and most people expect Smith to re-sign with the 49ers. If you're looking closer to the bottom of the barrel, but need a guy who could spot-start, Kyle Orton and Chad Henne are among those players you could try. Running Backs With the Big Four off the board -- Ray Rice and Matt Forte have been franchised, and Marshawn Lynch and Arian Foster have signed new deals with their old teams -- the list grinds down pretty heavily. You can take a shot on Cedric Benson, see what Joseph Addai has left in the tank, or go after underrated rotational backs like Justin Forsett and Tashard Choice. We'll talk more about these guys when we write up the more underrated players in 2012 free agency, but Mike Tolbert and Michael Robinson should get a lot of looks. Receivers Things are a bit more interesting here -- teams can look at return-specially speedsters like Ted Ginn and Harry Douglas, or veterans such as Brandon Lloyd and Legedu Naanee. But it's a position of big names at the free-agent level this year, starting with ex-Chargers receiver Vincent Jackson, who will certainly grab a big-money contract from some team desperate for his combination of speed and physical play. If the Steelers aren't able to come to terms with restricted free agent receiver Mike Wallace, the cost for certain teams in need of an elite downfield threat (hello, New England Patriots) might not be too much. Add in two New Orleans Saints who might be on the outside looking in with their team's many troubles -- receivers Marques Colston and Robert Meachem -- and there's a clear path to upgrading many passing games around the NFL.

Posted in: team, year, name, flynn, receiver

Chris Leben Calls Positive Drug Test 'Best Thing to Ever Happen to Me'

Speaking publicly for the first time since the UFC suspended him for testing positive for painkillers at UFC 138, Chris Leben said that the suspension forced him into rehab and forced him to turn his life around. "I've battled drugs and alcohol," Leben said on The MMA Hour. "I've battled with those for my entire life. I've had an issue with being addicted to painkillers for years now. I had some issues with my camp and it was almost a cry for help. I knew I was going to get caught and I just didn't care at the time. I'm extremely embarrassed, I feel like I let down the UFC, but at the same time I think getting caught is probably the best thing to ever happen to me. The UFC has been unbelievable, they sent me to a rehab facility and they really took care of me." Leben said he knew he had the oxycodone and oxymorphone pills with him at the UFC event in England knowing he would be drug tested, and that while he hoped he could force himself off the pills just long enough to get through the fight and start taking them again afterward, as the fight approached he just couldn't stop. "My wife had brought them to me for after the fight, and I had tapered off them for the fight, but there were some issues, a lot of stress, and I cracked," Leben said. "It was as simple as that. I knew they were there and I cracked. I couldn't hold out." That was five months ago, and when the positive drug test came back the UFC suspended him for a year. Leben said that he's taking that year to get his life back on track, and that he hasn't taken a pain pill since he went to rehab. However, he did admit to "a slip" in which he "had a drink -- more than one." Since then Leben has been taking Antabuse, which will make him sick if he has a drink. Leben said that slip, however, is not a fall. "Right now life is actually going well for me -- it's going great, considering," Leben said. "Life's going really good, better than it has in a long, long time." If Leben can keep his life moving in the right direction, he says, "I hope to God" he'll be back in the Octagon late this year.

Posted in: ufc, year, life, drug test, leben

Dana White: ‘I Do Believe There Will Be A Day Where There Probably Isn’t Pay-Per-View’

Do you long for the day that you don’t have to shell out $50 a month or even double that to watch every single UFC pay-per-view? Well, according to Dana White, that day could actually come. At the UFC on FOX 3 press conference last week, Dana explained that he believes there will come a day where they’ll no longer be on pay-per-view. Transcription via 5thRound.com: “Yeah, with this FOX exposure, we’re only a few months into this deal, but yeah, as we continue to put on shows and showcase talent over the next several years, the fan base is going to grow bigger and bigger and bigger,” White expressed during last week’s press conference. “That’s why this thing has gotten as big as fast as it has, not just [in America] but all over the world. Yeah, [UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta] and I talk about this all the time. I do believe there will be a day where there probably isn’t pay-per-view.” “As the landscape in television continues to change – a lot of people believe everything is gonna go to the Internet – like, now, when you buy your cable and there’s basic cable and you can add other stations. We’re probably gonna get to a point where you can just pick exactly [which channels] you want,” White added. “It’s very interesting to see where all this goes over the next several years, but I think the UFC is definitely gonna be a power player in the sports world.” It’s long been reported that pay-per-view accounts for roughly 75% of the UFC’s annual revenue. That number is likely smaller now with their new FOX deal, but Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta made it clear when the FOX deal was announced that pay-per-view still butters their bread. I would say that day is probably a long ways off, likely years and years, but if it ever comes, they would certainly be hard-pressed to find a single fan who would complain about not spending $50 to watch a UFC event.

Posted in: ufc, day, year, fox deal, payperview

Dana White: I believe there will be a day when there probably isn't pay-per-view

Sports fans love sports rivalries. The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees go to war a couple of times a year, as do the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics. Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys? There's a pretty good chance someone in the stands will lose their life on that day. Now imagine you had to buy a pay-per-view (PPV) to see any of those games happen. That's pretty much how it goes down in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). You can get your fair share of free fights on a number of network television stations, like FOX, FX and FUEL TV, but for the big-time match-ups, like Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans at UFC 145 on April 21 in Atlanta, Georgia, you have to shell out an average of fifty bucks. But for how much longer? UFC President Dana White, along with the Fertitta brothers, was instrumental in bringing the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) to network television and even envisions a day in the not-to-distant future where there are no more monthly PPV events. Those comments (via MMA Weekly) after the jump. "Yeah, I do believe there will be a day when there probably isn't pay-per-view. With this Fox exposure, we're only a few months into this deal, but yeah, as we continue to put on shows and showcase talent over the next several years, the fan base is going to grow bigger and bigger and bigger. As the landscape in television continues to change - a lot of people believe everything is gonna go to the internet. Like, now, when you buy your cable, and there's basic cable and you can add other stations. We're probably gonna get to a point where you can just pick exactly what you want. I want this channel, I want that channel, and I want that one, and that's it. It's very interesting to see where all this goes over the next several years, but I think the UFC is definitely gonna be a power player in the sports world." UFC channel? As cable and satellite providers continue to embrace the power of the internet, as well as incorporate its capabilities into their programming options, the UFC could become just another channel. Or it could become something else entirely. It's still too early to tell when and if the world's largest fight promotion puts the PPV model out to pasture, or even how, but it's got several years under the FOX umbrella to figure it all out. Anyone want to play Nostradumbass and predict the future of televised fighting?

Posted in: ufc, day, sport, year, channel

The 10 best things about being a Pirates fan ()

The request we're sending to bloggers of all 30 teams this spring is a simple one: What are the 10 best things about being a fan of your favorite team? What features of the franchise have you excited for opening day and what keeps you coming back year after year? We're about halfway through our little experiment and we're glad to hear that so many of you are enjoying the ride. Up next is a BLS series regular, Tom Smith of Rum Bunter , to tell us why he's still a Pirates fan after all of these playoff-less years. 1. It has to end soon: There are Pittsburgh Pirates fans all over this country. And yes, we are well aware our baseball team has lost 1,713 games over the past 19 years. The last 19 years of our lives have been wrapped up in waiting for a winning season from the Bucs. Nineteen years of shaking our heads. Nineteen years of screaming into our hands at the top of our lungs as another first round draft pick gets the news that he will be heading to see Dr. Andrews. You're right. It has been a long time, with plenty of people calling the team a laughingstock along the way, but there is no way we can give up on 'em now. We have too much invested. So before we leave for the opening day tailgate on April 5, we will take our familar spot in front of the bathroom mirror and say 'this will be the year.'

Posted in: team, year, fan, pirates fan, tom smith

Four Cinderellas to consider picking in your bracket this year ()

Ah, Cinderella's. They really do make the NCAA Tournament worth watching. These are not sleepers mind you or dark horses, these are teams that just need just one win, one feather in their cap, to throw the entire tournament off its axis. Before we get started, it's important to know exactly what a Cinderella is: A Cinderella MUST be seeded 13 or lower and come from a non-major conference. All a Cinderella needs is one major win and it is by definition a Cinderella. Think Santa Clara over Arizona, Hampton over Iowa State, Bucknell against Kansas or VCU against, well, everyone. A Cinderella doesn't even need to get out of the second round, that one victory against an unsuspecting 4 seed or higher is enough. So here are a few Cinderella's that might make this year's tournament interesting: Iona (14): Yes, Iona has to beat BYU in a play-in game, but after watching BYU in the Mountain West Tournament, that doesn't seem too far-fetched. Iona was knocked out of its conference tournament early, but has enough firepower to be as dangerous as any team in the field. The Gaels have already beaten Maryland, St. Joes and Nevada this year and lost to Purdue by just a point. The Gaels do have the extra game, but so did VCU last year and look how well the Rams did? If Iona can get past BYU, it will be the most dangerous of all the Cinderella seeds. Belmont (13): This will be the second time Belmont has faced Georgetown in the tournament and the Bruins are hoping this go-round is better than the 80-55 beatdown in 2007. While the Bruins have never won during their four NCAA tournament appearances, they are best remembered for nearly upsetting 2-seed Duke in a game where a controversial call cost the Bruins a 71-70 victory. Belmont comes into Friday's game against the Hoyas on a 14-game winning streak. The Bruins lost to Duke by just a point earlier this year and played Memphis tough. And remember, Georgetown was picked off by Cinderella VCU a year ago. St. Bonaventure (14): Florida State has had some great wins this year, but it's also played down to the level of its competition against teams not named Duke or North Carolina and suffered some bad losses (see Boston College). So it wouldn't be a surprise to see a highly-motivated St. Bonaventure team beat the Seminoles. The Bonnies haven't been to the tournament since 2000, but barely lost to Kentucky 85-80 in the always intriguing 5-12 matchup. St. Bonaventure has a strong history in the tournament and went to the Final Four in 1970. The Bonnies stole a bid from several deserving teams by winning the A-10 Tournament, so they're going to want to show that they deserved it. Ohio (13): Ohio knows what it's like to be a Cinderella. In 2010, the 14-seeded Bobcats knocked off 3-seed Georgetown before losing to Tennessee in the second round. The Bobcats have won eight of their last nine games while Michigan has struggled some in the last couple weeks. Earlier this year, Ohio nearly upset No. 7 Louisville, but fell 59-54. Of all the Cinderella teams, Ohio might have the easiest shot to the Sweet 16. And wouldn't it be great for Ohio to get a measure of revenge against Michigan, which uses the Bobcats (in a demeaning way) name to refer to Ohio State?

Posted in: team, year, tournament, game, cinderella

Spend a year with Grudge training center in new web series ()

Unless you're training for a fight, it's hard to understand the ins and outs of an MMA gym. Even people who train part-time struggle to know just how difficult the days and weeks are for fighters working full-time to prepare for a bout. With that in mind, MMA Fighting's Ben Fowlkes decided to spend a year with Grudge Training Center in Colorado. Home to Shane Carwin, Brendan Schaub and Nate Marquardt, Fowlkes worked with head trainer Trevor Wittman to get an inside look at what happens in an MMA gym over the course of year, and chronicle it in the must-read series, "The Hurt Business." What Fowlkes didn't anticipate was how eventful 2011 would be for Grudge. Marquardt went from a UFC contender to unemployed after failing to pass medicals for his UFC on Versus fight in June. Schaub's red-hot streak was stopped by Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in August. Carwin lost to Junior dos Santos in June and then did not fight again in 2011 because of injuries. Fowlkes spoke to Cagewriter, and admitted he had no idea how the year would turn out when he first spoke to Wittman. "I chose Grudge for two reasons, really. One, Denver is close enough to where I live in Montana that I could get down there often enough," Fowlkes said. "And two, Trevor Wittman was the only trainer I talked to who seemed as interested in the idea as I was. The others I mentioned it to were like, 'Yeah, that would be cool project...for you to do at someone else's gym.'"

Posted in: year, mma gym, fowlke, grudge, mustread series

VCU takes out an ad promising to ‘bust your bracket’ again ()

When 11th-seeded VCU made its improbable run from the First Four to the Final Four last March, the school responded by selling t-shirts with clever slogans like "There goes my bracket" and "Whatcha talkin' 'bout Bilas?" The Rams made the NCAA tournament again this year ... and this time they didn't even bother to wait for an opening-round victory before dishing out some bravado. Readers who opened the Washington Post's special NCAA tournament section on Monday morning were greeted by an ad the VCU public relations department took out that read: "Back to Bust Your Bracket." The 12th-seeded Rams open NCAA tournament play on Thursday in Portland against Wichita State. VCU certainly showed bracket-busting capabilities again this season despite losing four starters from last year's Final Four team. The Rams aren't as prolific on offense as they were a year ago when they had versatile forward Jamie Skeen and crafty point guard Joey Rodriguez, but they still force turnovers and score in transition. They overcame a bumpy non-league portion of the season to win 17 of their final 18 games, beating fellow CAA powers George Mason and Drexel on back-to-back nights to win the conference tournament. Another Final Four would be an incredible long shot considering VCU's half of the South Region alone includes formidable Wichita State, Big East tournament champion Louisville and national title favorite Kentucky. Still after what Shaka Smart's team accomplished last year, it's probably not wise to count the Rams out.

Posted in: year, tournament, ncaa tournament, vcu, ram

Anthony Davis’ mom wore a unibrow mask to the SEC championship ()

Standing together with her son in unibrow solidarity, Eranier Davis, the mother of SEC Player of the Year, future No. 1 draft pick and Bert-lookalike Anthony Davis wore a unibrow mask to Sunday's SEC championship game in New Orleans. Mrs. Davis was seen cheering on her son, who is almost as famous for his singular eyebrow than he is for his shot-blocking prowess, from the stands in a Mardi Gras mask with a drawn-on brow. She also wore the mask to Saturday's semifinal game. It was probably hard to see through the mask, which may not have been a bad thing on Sunday. Though Davis contributed a double-double, Kentucky was upset by Vanderbilt, 71-64. It was the Wildcats' first loss SEC loss of the year and only the team's second defeat this season. Davis and Kentucky are the top overall seed in this year's NCAA tournament. The team opens play on Thursday at 6:50 p.m. EDT against the winner of a play-in game between Mississippi Valley State and Western Kentucky. Oh, and in case you were wondering, Mrs. Davis does not share her son's monobrowistic tendencies under that mask:

Posted in: year, davi, sec, mask, unibrow mask

How to fill out your 2012 NCAA tournament bracket ()

Before you fill out your bracket for Yahoo! Sports' Tourney Pick'Em , read The Dagger's tips on how to win your NCAA tournament pool. Don't pick more than two No. 1 seeds to make the Final Four Three No. 1 seeds advancing to the Final Four is rare. That's happened four times in the 27-year history of the modern NCAA tournament. And forget about having all four No. 1s go that far; 2008 was the first and last time that feat was accomplished. The numbers say your best bet is to put two No. 1 seeds in the Final Four and fill out the other half with a No. 3 seed and Butler. And, yes, we're aware Butler isn't in the tournament this year. That only slightly hinders their chances of advancing to a third-straight Final Four. Don't pick crazy upsets, particularly late in the tournament No NCAA pool was ever won on the first weekend, but plenty have been lost, mainly by people who thought it was a good idea to pick against a tourney favorite in the round of 32. Smaller pools tend to be won by those who play it relatively safe. Granted, defying the odds and successfully picking Creighton over North Carolina will be a bracket story you can tell your grandkids, who will then beat you in an NCAA tournament pool because you're the kind of person who picks Creighton over North Carolina. Ignore seeding in the No. 8 vs. No. 9 game The lower seed is 57-51 overall in those matchups. Beware of trendy picks You know what happens when you go all-in on trends? You try to catch up and then -- boom -- suddenly you're stuck with a closet full of trucker hats. Since everyone else is bound to hear the same "hot tips" that you do, try and go the other way. Don't let Missouri or Long Beach State be your skinny jeans. Defy conventional wisdom This goes hand-in-hand with "beware of trendy picks." Remember last year when everyone thought UConn wouldn't have the legs for the tournament because of the team's five wins in five nights at the Big East tournament? Or the year before when Duke was getting overlooked because of the team's recent lack of March success? Treat your bracket like the stock market: Find undervalued teams and ride them to greatness. For this tournament, that means jumping on the stalled jalopy that is the Ohio State bandwagon. Don't "show me" the Irish In Notre Dame's past 10 tournament appearances, the Fighting Irish have advanced to the second weekend just once. That's good news for fans of Xavier and Duke.

Posted in: year, tournament, ncaa, seed, dont

Video: Gerald Green finishes the alley-oop of the year ()

Despite having elite athleticism, Nets wing Gerald Green has had a frustrating NBA career, finding his way out of the league several times while never really figuring out how to become consistently productive. For all that disappointment, though, there's no denying that the man can dunk. He won the 2007 dunk contest , and a year later performed one of the most hilarious and creative dunks of all time by blowing out a candle on a cupcake placed on the rim. Never mind that it was no one's birthday — that was the part of the fun. Green hasn't been on many fans' radars for the last few years, but any time he enters a game, no matter where it is, there's the potential for greatness. That's exactly what happened on Saturday night when Green took a pass from MarShon Brooks on a fast break and threw it down for a windmill alley-oop. It's the best lob of the year, if not the best dunk entirely. Watch the video above. No one can blame you if you do it more than once. It might be a long time before Green does something like this again. But, after moments like this one, it's hard to complain that they come too infrequently. Just enjoy it for what it is.

Posted in: time, year, nba career, marshon brooks, greatness thats

Orlando Salido vs Juan Manuel Lopez 2 full fight video highlights from Puerto Rico on Showtime

Mexican slugger Orlando Salido was out to prove last night (March 11, 2012) on Showtime that his upset of Puerto Rico's Juan Manuel Lopez last year was no accident. And Salido did just that, in hostile territory no less, when he scored a sensational technical knockout over Lopez in the tenth round of their rematch at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It was a back-and-forth slugfest that our very own Patrick Stumberg coined a potential 2012 "Fight of the Year" candidate, which produced a thrilling round (number nine) that Showtime's Al Bernstein described as one of the best ever in a number of years. With the victory, Salido retains his WBO Featherweight Championship and likely earns a date with Mikey Garcia later this year, who outlasted Bernabe Concepcion to win a unanimous decision in the co main event of the evening. For complete, detailed play-by-play results of the rematch between Orlando Salido vs Juan Manuel Lopez 2 click here and for a post-fight recap click here.

Posted in: year, juan, lopez, salido, mikey garcia

At The Quarter Pole

Even though March is only 11 days old, Martin Kampmann’s come-from-behind, last minute submission win over Thiago Alves in the main event of the UFC on FX 2 event in Sydney, Australia marked the end of the first quarter of the event calendar in the UFC.With the Octagon not scheduled to make another appearance until it lands in Stockholm, Sweden for the first time in mid-April, I thought this would be a great time to look back at the highlights from the first three months.From the explosive knockouts and stunning submissions to the great fights and genuinely entertaining moments, here’s a look back at the best of best so far in 2012.KNOCKOUTSEdson Barboza KO, R3 (Spinning Wheel Kick) vs. Terry Etim — UFC 142Not only was this easily the best knockout of the year thus far, Barboza’s finish in Rio de Janeiro stands as one of the best knockouts in UFC history. The unbeaten Brazilian connected on a beautiful spinning wheel kick, stiffening Etim on impact, sending the Liverpudlian crashing to the canvas as everyone watching picked his or her jaw up off the floor.Barboza earned Knockout of the Night honors for the performance, and took home his third straight Fight of the Night award as well, making his next bout likely to be one of the most anticipated lightweight contests on the calendar.Stephen Thompson KO, R1 (Front Leg Round Kick) vs. Dan Stittgen — UFC 143If not for Barboza’s ridiculous finish a month earlier, “Wonderboy” would be leading the Knockout of the Year race for his first round finish of Dan Stittgen in his UFC debut back in February.The decorated kickboxer and undefeated welterweight connected with a combination he and his coaches call “The Moneymaker,” a right cross followed by a lead-leg round kick that — if delivered properly — the opposition doesn’t even see coming. Such was the case with Stittgen, who leaned out of the way of the right hand only to be laid out by the right leg of Thompson that landed flush on the side of his head.Next up for the 28-year-old South Carolina native is a meeting with TUF 7 alum Matt Brown at UFC 145 in April.Nick Denis KO, R1 (Standing Elbows) vs. Joseph Sandoval — UFC on FX 1“The Ninja of Love” didn’t waste much time making an impact in the UFC’s bantamweight division.Denis needed just 22 seconds to put away Sandoval in the opening bout of the UFC’s inaugural event on FX, grabbing a half collar tie with his left hand while unleashing a barrage of elbow strikes to the side of the Texas native’s head with his right.The Ottawa, Ontario native who holds a Masters degree in biochemistry will return to action against TUF 14 semifinalist Johnny Bedford in May on the UFC on FOX 3 undercard.Honorable Mentions: Issei Tamura KO, R1 (Punch) vs. Tiequan Zhang — UFC 144; Anthony Pettis KO, R1 (Head Kick) vs. Joe Lauzon — UFC 144.SUBMISSIONSDustin Poirier SUB, R1 (Mounted Triangle Armbar) vs. Max Holloway — UFC 143After going the distance in his first two UFC appearances, the 23-year-old featherweight contender has shown off his submission skills in each of his last two outings.In February, Poirier followed up his second-round submission win over Pablo Garza with a beautiful mounted triangle armbar finish of young Hawaiian Max Holloway on the Condit vs. Diaz undercard.A purple belt under TUF 7 alum and UFC middleweight “Crazy” Tim Credeur, Poirier returns to the cage in May to face “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung in the main event of UFC on FUEL TV 3 in Fairfax, Virginia.Charles Oliveira SUB, R1 (Calf Crusher) vs. Eric Wisely — UFC on FOX: Evans vs. DavisThe energetic 22-year-old Brazilian made his featherweight debut a memorable one by earning Submission of the Night honors for this first round finish.Wisely defended a series of submission attempts from Oliveira, avoiding both a heel hook and a kneebar before getting caught in the unexpected hold, which saw Oliveira triangle his legs around Wisely’s calf and pull him to the ground, putting immense pressure on the calf, as well as torquing his knee simultaneously.Oliveira looked comfortable making the cut to 145-pounds for the first time, rebounding from a three-fight winless skid after winning 14 straight as a lightweight.Vaughan Lee SUB, R1 (Armbar) vs. Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto — UFC 144The diminutive Birmingham native dealt the Japanese crowd a blow with his slick finish of hometown favorite “Kid” Yamamoto at UFC 144.While the former K-1 Hero’s standout was getting the best of things in the stand-up department, he made a mistake on the ground late in the opening frame, and Lee capitalized. The 29-year-old British bantamweight grabbed Yamamoto’s arm, and transitioned from a triangle choke into an armbar, becoming the first person to submit Yamamoto.The win leveled Lee’s record at 1-1 in the UFC, and sets the British submission specialist up as someone to watch in the coming months.Honorable Mentions: UFC on FX 2 Submission Trio — Daniel Pineda SUB, R1 (Triangle Choke Armbar) vs. Mackens Semerzier; TJ Waldburger SUB, R1 (Armbar) vs. Jake Hecht; Martin Kampmann SUB, R3 (Guillotine Choke) vs. Thiago AlvesFIGHTSFrankie Edgar vs. Benson Henderson — UFC 144Regardless of whom you had winning this fight, there is no denying that it was one of the most exciting of the year thus far.Once again, Edgar showed the heart of the champion and the incredible resiliency that carried him through the dire opening rounds of his two engagements with Gray Maynard last year, continually pressing forward, never slowing down. Across from him, Henderson stood his ground, a calm look on his face, casually clearing the hair from his eyes between throwing heavy punches and kicks.The judges saw the fight in favor of Henderson, making him the second former WEC champion to claim UFC gold already this year, but each round was closer than the final scores show. For a third straight year, Edgar will fight in a rematch, as the two will meet again later this year in a bout that will most likely join this one on a list of the best fights of 2012.Demetrious Johnson vs. Ian McCall — UFC on FX 2The flyweights finally made their UFC debut at the start of the month in Sydney, Australia, and the first fight in the history of the 125-pound division was one of the best of the year.As expected, former bantamweight title challenger Demetrious Johnson and Ian McCall, the top-ranked flyweight in the world, paired off in a spirited affair that revved up to 100mph right out of the gate and never backed off the gas pedal.Like Edgar and Henderson, McCall and Johnson will also meet for a second time later this year. The fight, which is officially ruled a draw, should have advanced to a “sudden victory” round, but a transcription error led to the contest being declared a majority decision for Johnson.Three more rounds of “Mighty Mouse” vs. “Uncle Creepy” later this year? Sounds good to me.Mike Easton vs. Jared Papazian — UFC on FX 1These two bantamweights went toe-to-toe, meeting head on in the center of the Octagon in the middle of January before spending the next 15 minutes trading punches and kicks all over the cage.Easton emerged victorious, earning the majority decision with scores of 29-28, 30-27, and 29-29 to push his record to 2-0 in the UFC and 12-1 overall. “The Hulk” returns to the Octagon on May 15 to face Yves Jabouin on UFC on FUEL TV 3.Papazian, who took the fight on short notice after Ken Stone was forced from the bout due to an injury, put up a valiant effort, and established himself someone to keep an eye in the bantamweight ranks.Honorable Mentions: Matthew Riddle vs. Henry Martinez — UFC 143; Jake Ellenberger vs. Diego Sanchez — UFC on FUEL TV 1.10 ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2012 THUS FARJose Aldo celebrates with the crowdAfter defeating Chad Mendes and defending his UFC featherweight title in the main event of UFC 142, the dynamic Brazilian champion ran from the Octagon and celebrated his victory amongst the crowd assembled at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro. This was one of the most genuinely entertaining post-fight celebrations ever.Jorge Rivera goes out with a winHeading into his fight with Eric “Red” Schafer at UFC on FX 1, TUF 4 alum and UFC veteran Jorge Rivera announced he’d be calling it quits after the bout.Through the first round, it looked like the Milford, Massachusetts native would end his career on a three-fight losing streak, but in the second, Rivera took charge, earning the stoppage win just 91 seconds into the round. The 40-year-old finished his career with a 20-9 record overall, and an 8-7 mark in the UFC.WEC Champions Become UFC ChampionsBoth Carlos Condit and Benson Henderson wore gold during their days in the WEC. This year, the two World Extreme Cagefighting alums became UFC champions, Condit claiming the interim welterweight title at UFC 143, while Henderson earned lightweight gold at UFC 144.Counting featherweight champion Jose Aldo and bantamweight champ Dominick Cruz, four of the organization’s current champions are former WEC title holders. Flyweight tournament finalist Joseph Benavidez could become the fifth later this year.The WEC may be gone, but these boys are helping make sure it’s never forgotten.Round of the Year: Ivan Menjivar vs. John Albert — UFC on FUEL TV 1It may have only lasted three minutes and 45 seconds, but Ivan Menjivar and John Albert crammed an entire fight’s worth of back-and-forth action into that time in Omaha, Nebraska.Menjivar came out strong early, only to have Albert turn up the intensity and look like he was close to finishing midway through the fight. “The Pride of El Salvador” weathered the storm, and emerged on the other side to submit the Ultimate Fighter Season 14 alum shortly thereafter, earning Submission of the Night honors in the process.The Imperial March vs. The PRIDE ThemeThough the fight between Ryan “Darth” Bader and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at UFC 144 didn’t quite deliver as much excitement as expected, their choice in walkout songs produced the best pairing of the night.Bader strode to the cage to the sounds of Rage Against the Machine’s rocked-up version of the Imperial March — the music that announces Darth Vader’s presence in the original Star Wars trilogy — while Jackson came out to the theme from PRIDE.As a big Star Wars nerd, I’ve always loved the Imperial March. As an even bigger MMA nerd, the PRIDE theme still gives me chills, with Jackson’s entrance in Japan making it even more awesome than normal. Too bad the fight wasn’t as good as the entrances.The ComebackTim Boetsch made a lot of writers delete nearly completed fight recaps in his bout with Yushin Okami at UFC 144.After being dominated throughout the first two rounds, most believed the former title challenger would complete the clean sweep against Boestch as the third round began. “The Barbarian” had other ideas, coming out of the break looking to finish, and doing just that thanks to a series of uppercuts along the cage that flattened Okami.UFC President Dana White praised Boetsch’s performance after the event, holding it out there as an example of how he would like everyone who is down on the scorecards to approach the final round.Pat Barry defends submissions, knocks out Christian MorecraftThe charismatic heavyweight showed that all the time he’s been putting in with the heavyweight wrestling monsters who make up the DeathClutch team in Minnestoa has been paying off.In his UFC on FX 1 encounter with Morecraft, Barry escaped a pair of submission attempts on the ground before knocking out the 25-year-old New York native. Now that he’s shown everyone he can defend on the ground, Barry has vowed not to cut his hair until he gets a submission win over his own inside the Octagon.His next chance comes in May on the UFC on FOX 3 card against Lavar “Big” Johnson.Shawn Jordan’s BackflipAfter earning a second-round TKO victory over Oli Thompson in his UFC debut in Australia, Jordan, a former fullback at LSU, landed a perfect backflip in the center of the Octagon.Maybe he can give welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre some pointers next time he’s down in Albuquerque working with Team Jackson.Brazilian Dominance in BrazilBrazilian fighters went 10-4 when the UFC returned to Rio for the first time last August, with three of those losses coming in fights featuring two Brazilian fighters.In January, the local fighters continued their dominance, posting a 9-3 mark at UFC 142, with a pair of those losses stemming from fights pitting Brazilians against one another.Overall between the two events, Brazilians are 19-7 inside the Octagon, with five unavoidable losses. We’ll see if the trend continues when the UFC heads back to Brazil for the third time.All Kinds of Awesomeness AheadJones vs. Evans. “Cigano” vs. “The Reem” for the heavyweight title. Cruz vs. Faber 3. The list goes on and on, making the upcoming schedule filled with outstanding fights one of the biggest highlights of the year so far.

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

Remy Bonjasky preparing for return to the K-1 ring

[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on LiverKick.com, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] Never say never in the fighting world, and in the case of Remy Bonjasky being retired, chalk that up to "not yet." Bonjasky had to bow out of action a few years ago due to an eye injury as well as a few others that have plagued him for the last few years of his career. It had looked like that was the end of the line for the three-time K-1 World Grand Prix Champion. There were talks of a possible retirement fight for the thirty-six year old "Flying Gentleman" but that he was looking for a cool million dollar payout for that last fight. With K-1 in dire straits over the last year and It's Showtime not having that kind of money at their disposal, it looked like we had heard the last of Bonjasky for a while. There have been reports of a possible return for Remy Bonjasky, as well as a million dollar prize for this year's K-1 World Grand Prix that looks to be pulling Bonjasky back into action. After speaking with a few of our sources, we can confirm that Remy Bonjasky will be back in action this year with K-1, but that the rumored fight with Daniel Ghita is simply not happening yet. Bonjasky was offered the fight with Ghita, but instead turned it down citing it being too big of a challenge for a comeback fight. The date being tossed around circles in Europe right now is May 27th will be the comeback of K-1, and could possibly be when Bonjasky competes for K-1 next, although there is talk of him taking a warmup fight in April before jumping into the deep end of the pool. Read More...

Posted in: fight, year, bonjasky, remy bonjasky, remy

Joe Namath has confidence in Peyton Manning’s NFL future ()

All but one year of Joe Namath's 13-year NFL career was spent with the New York Jets, so the Hall of Fame quarterback knows a little bit about what Peyton Manning is going through right now. Manning, who missed the entirety of last season following multiple neck surgeries, was released from the Indianapolis Colts on Wednesday , drawing a close to a legacy that turned around the downtrodden franchise. Much like Namath, who left the Jets in 1977 to play one season with the Los Angeles Rams, Manning is now looking for his first team since being drafted by the Colts 14 years ago. "I made that move after 12 years and it was very difficult. So much newness involved and I made the move because I wanted to play," Namath told Yahoo! Sports. "The move was made because the Rams' coach was Chuck Knox and I had a relationship with him, one dating back to high school, actually. I thought I was sound enough to play and the Jets were going through a rebuilding situation and Richard Todd wanted to play. But I see Peyton going to a contender; I can't see him going to someone who can't contend. If he goes to Miami, he'd be in that situation certainly." Namath (a contributor to the Shutdown Corner Blog during the playoffs ), sees that Manning playing in Miami with the Dolphins would make sense, especially since the team finished last year on a strong note and has several offensive playmakers plus a good offensive line. In addition, Manning lives in south Florida, seemingly making it a natural fit. On Friday, Manning visited the Denver Broncos, and the Arizona Cardinals will also get consideration from a quarterback who has thrown over 54,000 yards and 399 touchdowns in the regular season alone. First and foremost, Namath is concerned with Manning's health, but he doesn't think teams should shy away from him just because of the neck surgeries and nerve impingement. "I wouldn't be surprised if he can play another five years if he's healthy," Namath said. "The number one thing with him is his arm strength because he does have excellent health otherwise .If anyone can swing this and be successful it is Peyton Manning — and let's not forget that Joe Montana was reasonably successful in Kansas City after all those years in San Francisco. I'm not concerned about him going somewhere new. I'd want to see him throw that ball. What about that arm strength?"

Posted in: joe, year, namath, neck surgeries, peyton

Outland winner Barrett Jones moves to center for Alabama ()

In his first two years at Alabama, Barrett Jones started 25 games at right guard. Last year, Jones' primary position was left tackle. After being one of the best guards in the country, he was arguably the best left tackle in 2011 and won the Outland Trophy, given to the best interior lineman on either side of the football. After he decided to stay at Alabama for his senior year, Jones will be a frontrunner for more hardware in 2012. But if Alabama's first spring practice is any indication, it won't only be for the Outland, but for the Rimington Trophy as well. The All-American played four positions on the line at various points in 2011 and is starting spring practice at center for the defending national champion Crimson Tide. And according to coach Nick Saban, this isn't a test. Why? Because of sophomore tackle Cyrus Kouandjio's development. You may remember Kouandjio as the player whose dramatic recruitment was one of the top stories of 2011 signing day. He committed to Auburn, but didn't submit his letter of intent , and signed with Alabama three days later. Kouandjio received significant playing time as a freshman, but suffered a season-ending knee injury against Tennessee. From the AP: "We thought (Kouandjio) was a starter last year," Saban said. "Obviously he's a freshman, but he made tremendous progress. Obviously his injury set him back a little bit but he's worked very hard and made a good recovery. "We think he can be a very, very good player. There's no experiment involved in Barrett playing center. That experiment was all done last year. He got a lot of reps and played some in games. I don't think there's any question about the fact he'll do a really good job." Tight End Michael Williams called Jones "a genius, almost," so line calls and blocking assignments at yet another new full-time position probably won't be an issue. Minnesota's Greg Eslinger is the only player to win both the Rimington and the Outland Trophy, but he won them both while playing center in 2005. No player has won the Outland Trophy at guard or tackle and then the Rimington Trophy. Had Jones left for the NFL Draft after last year, he was projected by many to be a top-1o pick. While centers traditionally aren't drafted as high as tackles or even guards, in this case, Jones' versatility may only serve to help his draft status, as if he succeeds at center, whoever drafts him could plug him in at virtually any position.

Posted in: jone, year, center, alabama, outland

Sean Sherk Ready to Return to the Octagon, Wants Top Name Opponent

Former UFC lightweight champion Sean Sherk is ready to return to the UFC. After recovering from multiple injuries over the past year, Sherk is hoping to return to the Octagon before year’s end. Sherk last fought at UFC 119 in September 2010, defeating Evan Dunham via split decision. “The Muscle Shark” (36-4-1) has fought just twice in the last three years, which includes a decision loss to Frankie Edgar at UFC 98 in May 2009, and the win over Dunham at UFC 119. Between those two fights, Sherk pulled out of three scheduled fights due to injury. The scheduled opponents for Sherk were Gleison Tibau, Jim Miller, and Clay Guida. This is the third extended layoff for Sherk, as he also faced nearly a year-long layoff following his UFC 73 win against Hermes Franca in July 2007. Following the fight, Sherk failed a post-fight drug test, testing positive for the steroid Nandrolone. However, his suspension was reduced to six months after successfully appealing the charges. He returned to the cage against BJ Penn at UFC 84 in May 2008, losing to the Hawaiian via TKO. Now, after yet another long period of inactivity, Sherk is set to return. He went to his Twitter account to declare that he is ready, stating “I will be coming back before the years end. But I need a good fight, not some chump who needs some fame!” Sherk has long expressed his desire to continue fighting top contenders, instead of being relegated to fighting prospects. With top contenders such as Clay Guida, Gray Maynard, and Anthony Pettis currently without a scheduled opponent, plenty of options are available for the former champion’s return.

Posted in: ufc, year, clay guida, return, sherk

A New Era Begins for The Ultimate Fighter Tonight

Making it to the 15th season of anything on television is an impressive feat. And if you have made it that far, the plan moving forward is usually “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” But when it comes to playing it safe, UFC President Dana White is the wrong guy to talk to. So when he got a new broadcast partner in FX, it was time to shake things up, and tonight will be the first test of what promises to be a compelling new experiment in reality TV.“Basically, the reality portions of the show that you’re gonna see will have been shot in the last two days,” said White. “So everything is real-time. And the most incredible part of the whole thing is that every Friday night, these fights are live.”That’s right, when the 15th season of TUF, entitled “The Ultimate Fighter Live,” premieres on FX, there will be 16 live fights to determine which 16 fighters continue on to the traditional TUF house to be coached by either UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz or former WEC featherweight champ and current number one bantamweight contender Urijah Faber. And each week, the pattern will continue, with a week’s worth of filming culminating in a live fight on Friday night. That’s bold, but it’s also innovative, and something never before done in combat sports. “Even if you look at formats like 24/7 on HBO, where they do real-time things leading up to a fight, it never ends in a fight,” said White. “The fight is on Pay-Per-View or whatever. This is real-time and the fight is every Friday night.”Yet despite the new format, one of the always popular features of the show, which launched in 2005, is the fact that when the bell rings, all you’ll hear are the fighters’ cornermen, their teammates, and the referee. “One of the cool things about this show is that when you’re watching it, there’s no commentary, there’s no crowds cheering, there’s no announcers going back and forth,” said White. “It’s very raw and very, very cool. You feel like you’re a fly on the wall in this place and you’re watching these fights happen.”And when the fight’s over, the cameras will continue to roll, letting viewers in to see what happens after the final bell has sounded, a look behind the scenes that few will forget.“As soon as it’s over, we follow them back to the locker rooms and you’ll feel all the emotion,” said White. “Let’s say you’ve been here sacrificing everything, giving a hundred percent of yourself, and then you lose. You were that close and you lost. All that drama and all that emotion pours out right there live in front of you. It’s not canned, it hasn’t been edited; you’re seeing it as it’s happening.”So who are the 32 lightweight hopefuls competing for a UFC contract and the chance to change their careers and lives over the space of just three months? They range from seasoned vets to youngsters with just a handful of pro fights, and they hail from everywhere from Tijuana and Belfast to England and New York. Here’s a look:Akbarh Arreola (19-6-1) – A Mexico native who lives in Tijuana, but fights and trains out of Chula Vista, California, Arreola has faced the likes of Mac Danzig, Toby Imada, and Ronys Torres, and owns a win over UFC and TUF5 vet Gabe Ruediger.Al Iaquinta (5-1) – The 24-year old Serra / Longo fight team member from Wantagh, New York has come up in the same Ring of Combat promotion that once played host to UFC vets like Frankie Edgar, Jim Miller, and stablemate Chris Weidman.Ali Maclean (9-5-1) – A 22-year old Belfast native, Maclean is the first Irish fighter on TUF, and he brings a five fight winning streak into the competition. “Growing up, everyone else played soccer, but I was rubbish in that and every other sport,” he said. “So I do what I do best and what my life revolves around and that is train and fight.”Andy Ogle (8-1) - Tynemouth, England’s Ogle did play soccer in high school, but by 2008 he was competing as an amateur in MMA, and a little over a year later he made his pro debut. Following a loss in his second fight, he has won seven in a row.Austin Lyons (9-1) – Tennessee submission specialist Lyons has finished seven of his pro wins by tap out, and he expects similar success on TUF. “Guys don’t want to go to the mat,” said Lyons, who once tipped the scales at 250 pounds. “I’ll let somebody take me down because I know I can submit them.”Brendan Weafer (6-3) - New York’s Weafer began fighting in 2005, though after an on and off career, it wasn’t until 2011 that the 28-year old striker began to hit his stride, as he won two in a row leading into this week’s premiere.Chris Tickle (7-4) - Bloomington, Illinois’ “Bad Boy” Tickle gets right to the point when it comes to his fighting philosophy heading into the TUF competition: “I want it more than anyone,” he said. “I’m experienced, relentless, very aggressive and like to beat you up.”Cody Pfister (6-3) – Tough Texan Pfister learned to fight “as the smallest kid growing up, weighed about 80 pounds.” That scrappy attitude and determination has led him to six pro wins in nine fights and a shot at earning a spot in the TUF house.Cristiano Marcello (12-3) – The lone Brazilian in the 32-man field, Marcello hails from the same city as Anderson Silva and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, and with wins in six of his last seven bouts, the former Chute Boxe jiu-jitsu coach is hoping a win on TUF will allow him to join his countrymen in the Octagon.Chase Hackett (4-1) – 4-1 as a pro with three victories by submission, Littleton, Colorado’s Hackett has gotten off to a good start to his career, but until he starts winning on TUF, the talk will likely center on the epic mustache sported by the man nicknamed “Prison Stare.” Chris Saunders (9-2) – A veteran of nearly three years in the pro game, Long Beach, California’s Saunders was in with WEC veteran Chris Horodecki in his most recent bout last July.Dakota Cochrane (11-2) - Omaha, Nebraska’s Cochrane has been a pro since 2009, but his biggest win came last September, when he decisioned former WEC champion Jamie Varner. Now he’s got the opportunity to take things even further if he can win on Friday night.Daron Cruickshank (10-2) – Cruickshank has done well for himself thus far in MMA, but that’s not surprising, considering that the 26-year old Wayne, Michigan native’s mother is a former pro kickboxer and that his father is his striking coach. Now it’s time to see if TUF is ready for his family’s brand of Taekwondo.Drew Dober (8-3) – Being in the world’s living room every week is nice, but that’s not why Omaha’s Drew Dober is here. “I’m here because this is what I was meant to do. And destiny, fate, whatever, but I believe I’m going in the right direction and I’m going to be the Ultimate Fighter because I work hard, I push myself, and I have a lot of heart and passion in this.”Erin Beach (3-1) – Motivated by the birth of his daughter to give his MMA career a hundred percent in terms of dedication, San Diego’s Beach will likely have one fan cheering him on Friday night, his Alliance MMA stablemate and TUF Live coach Dominick Cruz.James Krause (15-4) – One of the most experienced fighters in the 32 man field, Blue Springs, Missouri’s Krause is a WEC veteran who faced Donald Cerrone and Ricardo Lamas in the blue cage. Winner of three in a row, Krause is eager to get back in the big show.James Vick (4-0) – Unbeaten as a pro, Fort Worth, Texas’ Vick has got his future in the sport all planned out. “If I get on this show and win, with basically five years of training, then in my mind I can be a world champ in another five.”Jared Carlsten (3-0) – Nicknamed “Crazy Legz,” LA’s Carlsten has finished all three of his pro bouts via submission, not surprising considering that he owns a brown belt under Eddie Bravo.Jeff Smith (9-1) – 24-year old Smith lost his first pro bout via submission in 2009, but no one has come close to beating the Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania native since, with seven of his nine wins coming by way of tap out. Jeremy Larsen (8-2, 1 NC) – A veteran of the Arizona fight scene, Phoenix’ Larsen has won four of his last five, with the only loss coming to UFC vet Efrain Escudero. Joe Proctor (7-1) – Despite graduating with a degree in business management from UMass-Dartmouth, Pembroke’s Proctor just wants to fight. “I have more drive than anybody else,” said the 26-year old. “I have so much heart and I want to fight for a living.”John Cofer (7-1) – If Hull, Georgia’s Cofer wins on Friday night and gets into the TUF house, he may have a leg up on his competitors because it’s likely that he got some pointers from his trainer at the Hardcore Gym, TUF3’s Rory Singer. Johnavan Vistante (3-1) - Pearl City, Hawaii’s Vistante goes by the nickname “The Immortal Warrior,” and if you sport a moniker like that, you’d better be ready to back it up. He is. “I’m a monster striker,” he said. “If Anderson Silva and Jon Jones had a baby, it’d be me.”Jon Tuck (6-0) – Guam’s Tuck doesn’t mess around when the bell rings, ending all six of his pro bouts in the first round. And with three knockouts and three subs, he can get you wherever the fight goes.Jordan Rinaldi (5-0) – Hailing from Matthews, North Carolina, Rinaldi is a highly-regarded prospect who has finished four of his five pro opponents by submission. Included in this list is TUF 14 finalist and current UFC fighter Dennis Bermudez.Justin Lawrence (3-0) – The 21-year old Lawrence, who has been kickboxing since the age of six, claims to have over 150 amateur fights, which makes him an interesting puzzle to solve for any opponent.Mark Glover (6-1-1, 1 NC) – Thai specialist Glover makes no bones about it; when this Liverpool native is in there, expect fireworks. “I don’t like all these wrestlers who hold people down and bore the crowd. People pay good money to watch you put on exciting fights and that’s the mindser to go into fights with.”Michael Chiesa (7-0) - Spokane Valley, Washington’s Chiesa has represented the Pacific Northwest well thus far as a pro, winning all seven of his bouts, including five by submission.Myles Jury (9-0) – The unbeaten Jury is no stranger to TUF fans, as he was a competitor on season 13 before a knee injury forced him from the show. Promised by White to get another shot, that shot comes this Friday for the San Diegan.Mike Rio (8-1) – A two-time state wrestling champion in high school, Miami’s “Wolverine” is a well rounded competitor who has ended four of his victories by knockout and three by submission.Sam Sicilia (10-0) – With three consecutive wins in less than 30 seconds, hard-hitting Spokane Valley, Washington product Sicilia may be one of the best finishers on this season’s 32 man roster.Vinc Pichel (6-0) – But then there’s Sherman Oaks, California’s Pichel, whose six pro wins have all come by knockout, making him a pretty fair bet for some future Knockout of the Night bonuses should he get past Friday night’s elimination bouts and go on to win a UFC contract.There you have it - 32 fighters, one UFC contract, and what promises to be a season to remember, not just for the competitors, but for everyone watching.“You have people that have dreamt and trained for this moment and this opportunity their whole life, and then you get to sit back and watch what they do with this opportunity,” said White. But he forgot one thing…You watch it live.

Posted in: ufc, fight, fighter, year, tuf

After toughest year ever, Myles Jury relishes second 'TUF' opportunity

"It was probably one of the hardest times I've ever had in my life," said featherweight Myles Jury. "[This past year] was really, really tough." The new year is now fully upon him, and he has another chance to make his mark in the UFC. One year after he left the set of "The Ultimate Fighter 13," Jury is back at the UFC training center in Las Vegas preparing for a fight that will determine whether he'll even make the cast of "The Ultimate Fighter: Live," which debuts Friday on FX.

Posted in: year, las vegas, myles jury, jury, times ive

Fedor Emelianenko once again eyeing a potential run in the UFC

There’s a classic saying reading, “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.” However, when it comes to be fooled three or four times the picture becomes a little less defined. On that note, heavyweight icon Fedor Emelianenko has once again brought up the notion of taking his talents to the Octagon to cap off his fantastic career on the sport’s biggest stage. Emelianenko, who had been rumored for a fight in his native Russia this summer, is now contemplating a clash elsewhere. “Of course, I want to compete at home, in front of my countrymen,” said Emelianenko in an interview with SportBox.ru. “But at the moment, the strongest and most respected MMA organization is situated in America. It’s the UFC. Therefore, I have to go to the US in order to face the strongest opponents.” UFC President Dana White has shot down the idea of “The Last Emperor” joining the UFC in recent months after failed negotiations a few years back, though that certainly isn’t to say the outspoken executive wouldn’t reverse course if Emelianenko’s team at M-1 Global reversed course on a few financial issues. White Waves Off Idea of Emelianenko vs. Cain Velasquez Regardless, it appears Emelianenko will at least look to build on his current two-fight winning streak at some point this summer. The 35-year old recently took out Olympic medalist Satoshi Ishii on New Year’s Eve with an opening round knockout as well as Jeff Monson in November via decision. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE Tweet

Posted in: ufc, year, fedor emelianenko, emelianenko, mma organization

The Hurt Business: A Year in the Life of an MMA Fight Team Part 1

submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [comment]

Posted in: business, year, life, mattyblayze, mattyblayze link

Look, but don't touch: Showtime blows it by refusing Dana White's creative input for Strikeforce

One week from today, it will have been one year since the shocking news that Zuffa -- the parent company of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) -- purchased its biggest competitor in Strikeforce. The announcement was sudden and took most mixed martial arts (MMA) fans by total surprise. Much like when Zuffa purchased Pride Fighting Championships -- coincidentally around this time of year half a decade ago -- the back and forth between pundits and fans was of cross-promotional title unification bouts, mergers and even super cards. It became apparent, after being used around 78 times during the video, almost none of those hopes would come to fruition and the meme "business as usual" was etched into the MMA lexicon. It hasn't been "business as usual," per se. For example, Strikeforce is without a heavyweight, light heavyweight and welterweight champion after Alistair Overeem, Dan Henderson and Nick Diaz all signed contracts to bring their talents to the Octagon. Aside from those deviations, the company Scott Coker founded as a kickboxing organization plugged along with the only huge difference being UFC pay-per-view commercials during the Showtime telecasts. The company did indeed stay on the premium cable channel, although the future of their relationship was murky. The contract was set to expire in early 2012 and many expected the promotion to move stations or be absorbed -- a la World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) -- into the UFC. Neither happened as an extension through the end of this year was announced last December. It seemed as if Showtime and Dana White -- a pair with no love lost in the past -- had found a way to play nice. Whoa, pump the breaks. I spoke too soon. It was long expected that this past Saturday's (Mar. 3) event, Strikeforce: 'Tate vs. Rousey', would be the first to have the Dana White touch to it. He was even set to miss the UFC on FX event -- held a world away in Australia -- to be in Columbus for the Strikeforce show, marking the first time in over a decade the foul-mouthed President wouldn't be sitting next to the Octagon. But things didn't quite turn out that way. According to an interview today at the UFC on Fox press conference hyping the May 5 event headlined by Nate Diaz and Jim Miller, White revealed he received a call a week before he was set to fly out to Ohio and was told his presence wasn't needed. "It's quite simple. We had four meetings ... and obviously there's some creative differences between me and the producer of the show. And this guy's not a bad guy. ... Creatively, we have some differences ... and we're always gonna. ... While he has that type of power, I guess I ... won't be in the mix." If this is the case and White's input on Strikeforce has been flat out refused, I can only wonder what is going through the mind of Showtime Sports head honcho Stephen Espinoza. Sure, White can often be obnoxious. Okay, that's putting it lightly. The UFC President can be a straight pain in the butt from time to time. He engages in Twitter flamewars with D-level MMA personalities, uses a four-letter word every 10 seconds and doesn't go to bed at night before he's said at least one negative thing about Fedor Emelianenko. But there's absolutely no one on the planet who has done his job -- running a fight promotion -- longer and better than he has. Coker only recently branched outside of southern California while the UFC has been breaking ground in the Middle East, Australia and will do so in Sweden next month. Bellator bigwig Bjorn Rebney has only be in the game a few years and all the power players in Japan are either in jail or in hiding. There's a wealth of knowledge White has which Showtime is squandering. Here, they have the man who has helped MMA become one of the fastest growing sports in the world and the man who partly owns the promotion on their own network and what do they say? Thanks, but no thanks. The decision is baffling and could potentially lead to Strikeforce's demise. Zuffa bought a new toy in Strikeforce but Showtime isn't letting them play with it. If White and company came into the deal thinking they would have some input only to instead get shut out, will there be any incentive to renew the contract once the time comes? No, there won't be. And that will lead to a mountain of uncertainty. Will Strikeforce go to a different network? Or will it close its doors and get absorbed into the UFC? Where would that leave fighters like Nate Marquardt, Paul Daley and the bevy of women fighters under Coker's employ? The small act of Showtime refusing White's help could have major ramifications.

Posted in: ufc, time, strikeforce, showtime, year

UFC on FUEL TV 2: Can Alessio Sakara break his streak of bad luck by breaking Brian Stann?

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight veteran Alessio Sakara (15-8) has only competed once over the past two years, a three round unanimous decision beatdown at the hands of surging division prospect Chris Weidman. A myriad of injuries, illnesses and what the Italian boxer refers to as all-around "bad luck" has plagued him in recent years, taking the momentum out of a three-fight winning streak, prior to his loss to the "All American," that began back in late 2008. But a win over wily war hero Brian Stann at UFC on FUEL TV 2 booked for April 14, 2012, at the Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, could quickly put him back on the fast-track to bigger and better opportunities inside the Octagon. "Legionarius" breaks down his upcoming battle (via Tatame.com) after the jump. "I really believe my boxing skills for this fight but we train it all. We’ll see if I have to change my game plan on this one. The trainings here at American Top Team (ATT) are great. There are many good sparrings. Me and Thiago Silva train a lot together and it’s all perfect for this fight. Stann is a tough guy and was close to fighting Anderson (Silva), but it’s not impossible beating him. You just have to be ready for it ... And that’s why I train at ATT. I really believe my Boxing skills for this fight but we train it all. We’ll see if I have to change my game plan on this one. (Chael) Sonnen was perfect against him and I’m sure I can beat him if things take place on the ground. I didn’t have much luck these last couple of years, but I’m coming back with everything I’ve got to get rid of this bad luck that’s been stalking me." Stann (11-4) also saw his three-fight win streak come to an abrupt halt, thanks to hands of Chael Sonnen, who cut off the oxygen at UFC 136: "Edgar vs. Maynard 3" back in October of last year. He was widely considered to be a strong contender for division deity Anderson Silva until the recent hiccup, but will no doubt be looking to get back on his war horse for another run at 185-pound gold. Unless Sakara has something to say about it first. Who ya' got? More on this middleweight tilt by clicking here.

Posted in: ufc, year, chael sonnen, game plan, boxing skills

Lumumba Sayers: A 15-Year Overnight Success

It's take all of 15 years for Lumumba Sayers to become an overnight success.

Posted in: year, lumumba sayers, success, lumumba, sayer

Thiago Alves happy with weight-cut, ready to finish Martin Kampmann

For Thiago Alves reaching the welterweight limit has been a struggle he has dealt with for years. Now, thanks to the direction of renowned dietician Mike Dolce, “The Pitbull” can focus solely on bettering himself as a fighter. Alves made the welterweight limit with ease Thursday night during weigh-ins for his main event fight with Martin Kampmann tonight at UFC on FX 2, making sure to credit Dolce beforehand for the changes to the lifestyle beforehand causing him to become one of the few fighters associated with consistently missing weight. Alves talked about the road to 170 pounds, saying he was just fifteen ticks over with four weeks to go – quite the difference compared to the 25 he used to come in at with the same amount of time remaining before a scheduled bout. “Everything is different now,” Alves said in an interview with FightLine.“Dolce has taken over my diet and changed my nutrition and my strength and conditioning program.” Coming off a victory over Papy Abedi last year, Alves now finds himself back on track in the division as well as in terms of managing his weight. As such, he knows a win over Kampmann would put him a step or two closer towards challenging for the UFC belt once again. “I know it’s going to be an awesome fight for the fans, but it’s not going to be like any of his other fights because I plan on knocking him out or submitting him,” boasted Alves, “He’s a really tough guy who’s beaten some top fighters, but I know I have all the skills to put him away.” If all goes according to plan, the 28-year old hopes to squeeze in two more fights this year as well to set up a title-shot in 2013. “I want to stay active this year,” explained Alves. “I want to fight on Saturday night, again in July and then I’d like to fight again in December. Hopefully by then I can fight for the belt or at the very least against one of the top contenders. I’ll do whatever the UFC asks me. I’m all about getting paid and winning fights. I don’t care who it is in front of me as long as I can keep busy and work my way towards the top again. I got my head in the right place and I know as long as I’m healthy I can beat any welterweight who steps inside of the cage with me.” Fans can catch Alves-Kampmann when the main broadcast fires up on FX at 9:00 PM EST with prelims taking place on Facebook/Fuel TV a few hours earlier. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: fight, year, welterweight limit, alve, martin kampmann

Thiago Alves: “I am going to go in there to be relentless and break him over fifteen minutes.”

It appears “The Pitbull” has his bite back. UFC welterweight Thiago Alves made a reputation for himself as one of the division’s legitimate finishers, possessing knockout power in each of his limbs in addition to an underrated ground-game. However, the 28-year old endured the roughest patch of his career in the not-too-distant past, losing three of his last five fights including an unexpected defeat to Rick Story last May. Alves bounced back strong in his last bout, submitting the previously unbeaten Papy Abedi at UFC 138 and showing he still possesses the skills pushing him to a title-shot a few years ago. The ATT-trained fighter faces his next test tonight in the form of well-rounded competitor Martin Kampmann as the main event at UFC on FX 2, a match-up he’s confident he’ll win based on improved fitness and, perhaps more importantly, a more-mature mindset. “2012 is going to be my year,” said Alves in an interview with MMAFrenzy. “2012 will be a lot like 2008 for me. I was one of the fighters of the year and it was the best year of my career. I had three great fights and three great wins, and that is how I see 2012. I’m very confident and I’ve learned in this game that anything can happen. I’ve learned that if you have a good heart and good work ethic, great things will happen. If you do the right things and stay positive, you can’t lose. 2012 is going to be my year, and I am going to make a statement this year. And in 2013, I will have the belt.” Alves Hopes to Fight Two More Times in 2012 In terms of an example on how he differs from the Alves of old, the 19-8 slugger explained, “I overlooked Rick Story. I thought it was going to be easy and that I was going to run right through him. While I still think I won that fight, I know I gave that fight away. I thought that as soon as I threw a punch, he was going to go down. I was far too comfortable against him, and that was something I should not have done. But that is a mistake I will never let happen again, and I know it made me better.” Against Kampmann in particular he understands looking past the polished Dane is a dangerous proposition. Still, that doesn’t mean Alves isn’t confident in his ability to take “The Hitman” out whether by finish or one-sided decision. “Martin and I, I just know we are going to put on a great show. He is a top striker who is well-rounded and is a pretty tough guy,” said Alves of his adversary. “But for me, I know I am fully prepared. I’m in the best shape of my life and I have been working with a dream team of coaches. I’m excited to go there and show all of the hard work I have put in with them. I am going to go in there to be relentless and break him over fifteen minutes.” Fans can catch Alves-Kampmann is headlining action tonight on FX starting at 9:00 PM EST. Preliminary pairings will start approximately three hours earlier on Facebook/FX. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, fight, year, i ’ve, alve

Nearing 40 years old, UFC on FX 2's Anthony Perosh finally hitting his stride

SYDNEY - Four years, seven months and 19 days. That's the amount of time Australian veteran Anthony Perosh spent between his octagon debut at UFC 61 and his first-ever UFC win, which came at 2011's UFC 127 event. Now, at 39 years old, Perosh feels like he's finally found his role in the sport. And with back-to-back octagon wins, "The Hippo" thinks he's actually entering the prime of his career.

Posted in: ufc, year, anthony perosh, perosh, stride sydney

War Machine is back in jail

An unexpected thing happened during Jon Koppenhaver aka War Machine's stint in prison for assault: I kinda sorta started to like him. His blogs from jail were full of all sorts of deep bro musings ("Why are the laws so gay?") and anecdotes ("I just waxed my asshole/crack with my thumb and index finger! LMAO! It took like 25 minutes and hurt like a mofo!"), and once he gained his freedom again it seemed like he was ready to turn a new leaf and stop punching people in the face for looking at him funny.Unfortunately for War Machine, while he may be done with his past, his past is not done with him. A separate assault case from a few years ago that was set to be plead down to a misdemeanor resurfaced and has resulted in War Machine's return to jail. Here's what I guess will be the first of several more 'jail time blogs': For those of you who don't know: over 3 years ago while working at a club in Vegas, I was involved in an altercation with a co-worker. This guy was 6'3" and over 300 lbs. and he did not like me. Long story short, after a couple months of tension it came to a head, and we got in a big argument. Unfortunately, words could not solve this problem and he came at me [ed - wow, real people actually use this expression]. Luckily for me, I was quicker, and with my training as an MMA fighter, I was able to protect myself against my much larger opponent.The "fight" wasn't sh*t, one punch landed, and after a brief wrestling match, I landed on top. The problem was that the one punch caused a cut that needed stitches and during our fall his knee was injured. That being said, it shouldn't be a problem at all, but in America, the winner of a fight goes to jail. I guess it's like survival of the weakest nowadays, at least in this country. So for the last 3+ years, my lawyer and the D.A. have been in negotiations. D.A. didn't want to risk trial 'cause his case was pathetic & weak, but didn't want to dismiss charges 'cause the big guy had medical bills and I didn't want to plea out to something because it was self-defense. So this sh*t went on and on and then I do a year in San Diego on a different fight. I do my time and just want to get on with my life and put all drama behind me, so I tell my lawyer, "f*ck it I'll sign their B.S. deal as long as there's no time involved, just med. bills and probation." Bam, I sign it and enter plea of guilty. A month later, I go before the sentencing Judge Valerie Adair, and I'm accused of taking steroids and on and on, 1 year in jail! WTF!? Yeah, my attorney conveniently forgot to mention that if the judge doesn't like my physique, profession, and is on the RAG, she can totally disregard the plea agreement and do whatever she wants. Yup, good ole' U-S of A. Land of the free (wait, I'm in jail), home of the brave (umm... defending yourself & winning a fight against a dude twice your size, isn't that brave?)... F*ck it! I WILL GET BACK UP. You can read a transcript of the hearing over at Bloody Elbow, and I'm shocked to find I agree with a statement that's coming out of War Machine's mouth: the judge seemed so rag-tastic I bet she was foaming blood bubbles out her mouth during the hearing. Now rather than Mr Machine being able to pay restitution to his victim with the earnings he was set to make fighting for Bellator, he'll now be costing the taxpayer roughly $47,000 dollars for his one year stay in the clink. THE SYSTAM WERKS!!11

Posted in: year, war machine, war, machine, jail

Thiago Alves Travels Down Under to Get Over Inconsistent Last Few Years

For Thiago Alves, a matchup with Martin Kampmann this Saturday at UFC on FX 2 is perfect. It is a perfect matchup at a perfect time in his career. Coming into his first fight in 2012, Alves is excited to see what the year will bring. After a rough couple of years, going 2-2 in 2010-2011, Alves is ready to make a return to title contention in the welterweight division. That begins this Saturday with Martin Kampmann in Sydney, Australia. For Alves, a strong striker, he is ecstatic about the matchup with Kampmann, who is also a top striker. Headlining an event in Australia? Well that’s even better. “Martin and I, I just know we are going to put on a great show,” Alves said to MMAFrenzy.com “He is a top striker who is well-rounded and is a pretty tough guy. But for me, I know I am fully prepared. I’m in the best shape of my life and I have been working with a dream team of coaches. I’m excited to go there and show all of the hard work I have put in with them. I am going to go in there and be relentless and break him over fifteen minutes.” That seemed to be the same strategy that he wanted to employ in his last bout, a win over Papy Abedi at UFC 138 last November. For Alves, the win could not have come at a better time. Coming off of a disappointing loss to Rick Story earlier in the year, Alves was put in a difficult situation. The former title contender was 1-2 in his last two fights, and was having trouble figuring out what was wrong. But then the infamous Mike Dolce came into the picture. Alves brought Dolce on full-time to help figure out the issues he was having. “Mike was a life changer,” Alves explained of the impact Dolce has had. “He saved my career. Since he took over, so much has changed. Before he was in the picture, I was competing at maybe 50-60% of my capabilities. After my fight with Jon Fitch in 2010, I had to change my image. But even after my fight with Rick Story, something was missing. I told Mike that I wanted him to run my strength and conditioning program, and the improvements were obvious in my fight against Abedi.” Before Dolce was working full-time with him, Alves faced off against up-and-coming welterweight Rick Story at UFC 130 in May. Going into the fight, Alves was as confident as ever. But that quickly turned to false confidence, as Alves made one of the biggest mistakes any fighter can make. “I overlooked Rick Story,” Alves said. “I thought it was going to be easy and that I was going to run right through him. While I still think I won that fight, I know I gave that fight away. I thought that as soon as I threw a punch, he was going to go down. I was far too comfortable against him, and that was something I should not have done. But that is a mistake I will never let happen again, and I know it made me better.” That knowledge was put to the test against his next opponent, Papy Abedi. The Swedish Judo expert was making his UFC debut, and Alves knew he could not make the same mistake in overlooking an opponent. Alves passed that test, defeating Abedi via first round submission, the first submission win of his career. “That fight felt like I was releasing two years of aggression,” Alves said of the win over Abedi. “It usually takes two years to get used to new coaches, along with everything else I went through, like my brain procedures. I did not even know it was my first submission victory until Joe Rogan pointed it out. But every time I go to England, I have great results. “ Now looking back at 2011, Alves is thankful for what he had to go through. While no fighter wants a loss to go on his or her record, often times, improvements are most significant after dealing with them. “My 2011 was a very long experience,” Alves said. “It started off very crappy because of my very disappointing loss to Story. But it made me better, and you could see that in my performance against Adebi. He was probably the biggest guy I’ve ever fought at 170, and I took him out.” Now in 2012, Alves is ready to declare this the year that he makes his return to the top of the division. “2012 is going to be my year,” said Alves. “2012 will be a lot like 2008 for me. I was one of the fighters of the year and it was the best year of my career. I had three great fights and three great wins, and that is how I see 2012. I’m very confident and I’ve learned in this game that anything can happen.” “I’ve learned that if you have a good heart and good work ethic, great things will happen. If you do the right things and stay positive, you can’t lose. 2012 is going to be my year, and I am going to make a statement this year. And in 2013, I will have the belt.”

Posted in: fight, year, story, abedi, alve

Reinventing Cole Miller

The decision to make the leap to a new weight class isn’t one to be taken lightly, and unfortunately, it’s usually done when a fighter has reached a dead end in his career predicated by a series of losses. A change in scenery can do you good, the story goes, but often even a drop of 10, 15, or 20 pounds doesn’t always do the trick.Cole Miller doesn’t fit that stereotype. For much of his career, he fought at featherweight, a veritable no man’s land in terms of big show exposure in the United States in the years before the WEC made its mark on the MMA landscape. He then moved to the 155-pound lightweight division, no problem for his 6-foot-1 frame, and after parlaying that move into a spot on season five of The Ultimate Fighter, he appeared to have found his home.But even though he won seven of ten fights at lightweight, collecting three Submission of the Night awards and one Knockout of the Night bonus, the thought of dropping back to featherweight was always there, a notion that grew stronger when the WEC merged with the UFC in late 2010.“I’ve been thinking about this for years now,” said Miller, winner of three of his last four at 155 pounds. “The only thing that really kept me from not moving down was the bonus money. I was getting injured and only fighting about twice a year at the time, and I had made a couple bonuses and that big bonus money wasn’t in the WEC. I had never fought at 155 really until The Ultimate Fighter. I fought a couple times there, but it was only to get some recognition as a lightweight so I could get into the UFC – that was my goal. So I fought the whole first half of my career at 145 pounds, and I definitely wanted to be competing at the top level, so I’ve been thinking about it for a few years now. And once they brought the WEC into the UFC, I was like ‘all right, this is something I’ve gotta do.’ I knew I was gonna move down.”This Friday night (Saturday morning in Australia), Miller makes the move official when he takes on Steven Siler in a UFC on FX 2 featherweight bout. But nothing is ever as cut and dried as that, especially when it comes to the career of “Magrinho,” one that has seen his most difficult foe become his body, not the person standing across from him on fight night.“I’ve been fighting twice a year for five years now,” he admits. “I’ve had a surgery every other year since I got into mixed martial arts in 2003. It just sucks and I’m tired of it.”He’s not exaggerating either, and as a point of reference, just look at 2006, a year Miller fought eight times, winning seven. From there, he went straight into the Ultimate Fighter house, and following a finale card win over Andy Wang, he was apparently on his way to big things. But injuries and losses to Jeremy Stephens, Efrain Escudero, and Matt Wiman kept him from putting together more than a two fight win streak in the Octagon (something he’s done three times). More tellingly, the hard days of training when he was healthy, with teammates that were lightweights in name only, were beginning to wear him down.“I was giving away a lot of size, and size isn’t everything and I wouldn’t say it’s the reason I lost some of my fights,” said Miller of life as a lightweight. “I made some mistakes, and you lose fights for a lot of different reasons. But the point is, why give up the strength and size if I don’t have to? And it wasn’t just the in fight stuff that gets you beat down and worn out; it’s the training. I’m training with real lightweights. I’m 165 pounds and I’m training with (Gleison) Tibau. 155 pounds isn’t big, but 190 pounds of muscle is big, and this is the weight of the guys I’m training with when I’m walking around at 165. I was worn out more after training, I was having to do strength and conditioning three days a week, and a lot of it was heavier lifting just so I could maintain some size and strength, and I was just beat down and worn out physically and mentally.” So after his submission win over TJ O’Brien last August, he decided it was time to return to featherweight. Of course, a broken right hand suffered in the first round of the fight postponed that move, but once he was cleared to resume training and he got the Siler fight, a new day dawned for the Georgia native.“Now I’m training with guys my size, and I feel it,” he said. “I don’t feel beat down constantly anymore, and I feel better. I’m at the same speed, but my strength has gone up, and I’m able to train the way I naturally do. As a martial artist, I’m able to throw higher outputs because I don’t have to worry about takedowns as much. I can stop them coming from featherweights. It’s just completely changing the way that I’m training and functioning. Fighting at featherweight and training with featherweights full-time, I feel I’ve got a couple more years before I really start to hit my physical prime, and I think this is gonna be key to bring the most out of my game.”And as fate would have it, who does Miller get to show off his new featherweight game against? The same fighter who defeated Miller’s brother Micah to get into the house on season 14 of The Ultimate Fighter. Bad blood? Revenge? Fighting for the family honor?None of the above.“I’m not some guy that needs to come in here and defend my little brother’s honor,” said Miller. “My brother’s a grown-ass man and my brother’s a better fighter than I am. Fortunately for Siler, things happened, and my brother happened to get food poisoning and a stomach illness when he fought Micah. And in reality, why would I want this fight? If I go in there and let’s say I beat this guy, I beat this guy but my brother couldn’t. It doesn’t really make it look as good. So I’m not excited to jump in and take this fight for that reason. I’m excited because I haven’t fought in six months and this guy’s just another name for me. I’m ready to go in there and kick his ass because the bank account’s low and I’m ready to kick somebody’s ass. I don’t care that he beat a lackluster Micah Miller.”Miller’s confidence is evident, and he’s earned that right. But at the same time, he’s also not about to dismiss Siler, an experienced vet who is underrated by many in the game. Cole Miller is not about to underrate him.“I certainly don’t look at Steven Siler as just some scrub,” he said. “I’ve got respect for the guy, he’s been around, he doesn’t have the greatest record, but he definitely doesn’t have a bad record. I have a very realistic viewpoint of his skill level and I trained according to that.”So while Siler may be the wild card in this matchup, what Miller is sure of is that a win in his new division will kick off plenty of speculation that with his name, skill level, penchant for exciting fights, and a wide open contenders’ class at 145 pounds, he could be on the fast track to the title picture sooner than most. He knows that talk is out there, but first things first.“I think the one thing at lightweight and featherweight that they have in common is that there is really no clear-cut path,” he said. “There’s just too many guys. But the one thing that featherweight has that I have an advantage at is I’m new to it, so I think that as long as I win and I win in a good fashion and I perform in the way that I’m capable of, with the right fights I can certainly be on what you call a fast track. But I’m not looking past my next opponent and I’m not underestimating him. I don’t want to say I’m looking past him, but I am looking through him. I’ve got high hopes and aspirations about moving down to 145 pounds, and I’m not just seeing this light at the end of the tunnel. I’m seeing every road block that’s in my way, and I’m training according to them.”Cole Miller has probably seen more roadblocks than the majority of his peers, and for five years, he’s managed to stay afloat and relevant under circumstances that would have eliminated most other fighters. He knows it too. But he also knows that he can’t take another five years of the same thing, or even one year. Now’s the time to make his run, and he’s got all the confidence in the world that he’ll be able to do it his way.“If 2012 isn’t different from 2011, I’m about to be up out of this,” he admits. “I can’t be doing this. I can’t be fighting twice a year and winning half the fights I fight in a year. To be honest, if 2012 goes the same way as 2011, I’m gonna find something else to do. But the way I’m seeing 2012, I just keep thinking that things can’t keep going the way they’re going. I struggled too much and put so much into this sport, and there’s definitely people that have had it harder than me in life and in the game, but I’ve paid some dues and I need a little bit of good luck on my side. I’m gonna think that 2012 is gonna be a good year, an undefeated year, and I’m gonna have four fights. And by the end of this year, I will be a top contender for that title.”

Posted in: fight, ’t, i ’m, year, ’m

Josh Thomson - The Punk's Not Dead

When it comes to bad luck, Josh Thomson has endured more than his share. He once was one of the top lightweights in the UFC, at least until the organization dropped the weight class for nearly two years. Then he became one of Strikeforce’s bright lights and that promotion’s champion, but then injuries had him sitting more than fighting. It’s enough to make a young man want to ask ‘what in the world am I doing this for?’“I’ve gotten to that point several times, but then it’s a fire thing,” said Thomson. “As soon as you step away from the sport for a while, you get that itch and it’s hard for people to walk away. I am at the point in my career where I am starting to look and focus on opening my own gym, starting my own career, and starting my own businesses and stuff. So those are things you start to think about; it’s like how much more can your body take? And you start looking towards your future. That’s realistically what you start doing.”But like anyone with a fighter’s heart steeled in battle, Thomson isn’t ready to give up yet. This Saturday in Columbus, Ohio, nearly 15 months after his last fight against Tatsuya Kawajiri in December of 2010, “The Punk” returns to Strikeforce to face KJ Noons. It’s a fight that Thomson sounds like he’s looking forward to as much as diehard MMA fans are. “He’s a very talented, very athletic kid,” said Thomson. “He’s very explosive, and he’s becoming more well-rounded. If you notice in the last fight, he took Billy Evangelista down two or three times, he shot three or four times, and he’s definitely trying to open up his game. And not only did he do that, but he was able to avoid getting submitted in the third round and he’s going to be a dangerous fighter. He’s opening up his kickboxing, you can tell he’s working his kickboxing more instead of just being a flat-footed boxer, and we’ll see what happens. He’s really trying to open his game right now, and I think with the time off, he’s just getting back to his true MMA form. I told everybody this, I’m gonna end up getting the best KJ that you guys have seen since he’s returned.”But the question most have is whether everyone will get the best Thomson. And the scouting report there is ‘so far, so good.’ And that’s welcome news considering all he’s been through, not just in the last few years, but throughout his 11 year pro career. A shooting star who always showed great potential, Thomson flew out of the gate in 2001, and by the end of his first year as a pro, he was fighting Japanese superstar “Kid” Yamamoto. Four fights later, he was in the UFC, and after back-to-back wins over Gerald Strebendt and Hermes Franca, he was knocked out by Yves Edwards at UFC 49 in August of 2004. It was to be the last lightweight fight in the UFC until 2006.Undaunted, Thomson fought and beat Daisuke Sugie in PRIDE Bushido and then fought in the first Strikeforce event against Clay Guida in 2006. He lost to Guida that night, but it began a long relationship between the San Jose native and the promotion, particularly CEO Scott Coker. To date, Thomson has competed 11 times in Strikeforce, winning and losing the lightweight belt against Gilbert Melendez, and if the 33-year old has one wish, it’s to get back to the form he showed during the 2006-08 stretch where he won eight in a row.“I was able to stay healthy and go on a good run, like an eight fight win streak, and then I beat Gilbert and then I ended up breaking my ankle,” said Thomson. “That whole year I just spent re-breaking my ankle over and over. I broke the same bone in the same ankle three times in a year. I noticed that my game never got back to that level. And I’m still, at this moment, trying to get it back to that level. I know my conditioning and all that stuff has been spectacular, but my technique and everything else has kinda dwindled a little bit. I have been working a lot more on trying to get back to that and focusing on that, but we’ll see what happens.”Winner of two of his three bouts in his last active year in 2010, Thomson now returns to an organization that looks a lot different than it did then. Zuffa is now in control of the promotion, giving it the behind the scenes muscle to take Strikeforce in an even bigger and better direction. And Thomson’s eager to get started.“Scott Coker is still the CEO, and I’m a huge fan of Coker,” he said. “He brought me up from taking me over from PRIDE in Japan and bringing me here, and fighting in Strikeforce. I also have a lot of respect for Dana (White) and Lorenzo (Fertitta) and those guys at the UFC because back in the day Dana took a chance on me and signed me against some of the other guys that said I wasn’t quite ready. But the UFC signed me in Japan after I fought Kid Yamamoto, he loved the way I fought, and I owe a lot of my career to him as well. So honestly, I’m fighting in the best and the biggest promotion in my eyes because I helped build Strikeforce to the level where it is. Honestly, the benefit of it all is that it doesn’t matter if Dana is the promoter or Scott’s the promoter – it doesn’t change the way I fight. I’m gonna fight my ass off and train my ass off and go out there and give the best show I can.”And if he can recapture his prime form and get past the dangerous Noons, Thomson will be in a prime spot in the weight class, as it won’t take too much to promote a rubber match between him and Melendez. It may even be the biggest match Strikeforce can make at 155 pounds. Thomson agrees, and after all the ups and downs, what sweeter ending would there be than a title fight in which he regains the title? That may just make all the aches and pains from over the years worth it.“I definitely think I’m the one that poses the biggest threat against Gilbert, and I’ve proven it before,” said Thomson. “I’ve beaten him and beaten him convincingly all five rounds, and I was beating him in the second fight in the first round and three quarters of the second round, but I got a little arrogant and cocky and got dropped at the end of the second round. I look at it as if the fight was actually mine and it was going the way I wanted it to go, but I think my confidence got the better of me, and it ended up costing me. The tide turned after that. Had we finished out those last 15-20 seconds of the round, I would have been up two rounds to none in a five round fight and all I would have needed to do was win just one more round. So yeah, I’d say I pose the biggest threat in Strikeforce right now to beat him. And the person that’s gonna beat him is somebody who’s well-rounded like myself – someone who can wrestle, someone who can stand, and there is a submission threat there. I haven’t really seen a whole lot of guys in the sport right now that can do that to him.”

Posted in: fight, strikeforce, round, year, thomson

Ian McCall Ready to Make A Big Impact In the UFC’s Smallest Division

For the first time in nearly ten years, the UFC will be holding a divisional tournament. And with that comes another first, as the organization is introducing a new division with the flyweights (125 pounds) now a part of the company. With UFC on FX 2 this Saturday, an additional first is likely to take place, as this will likely be the first time many viewers have ever seen Ian McCall. The man they call “Uncle Creepy” will make his UFC debut against Demetrious Johnson this Saturday at the event in Sydney, Australia. For McCall, it has been quite a long journey. A veteran of mixed martial arts for nearly ten years, McCall made his MMA debut in August 2002. With three fights in the WEC to his name, including a matchup with current UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz, he has slowly worked his way up the rankings throughout the years. After losing to Cruz at WEC 38 in January 2009, McCall dropped from bantamweight to flyweight, and thus changed the outline of his career. From there, McCall went on to defeat the #1 ranked flyweight Jussier Da Silva in February of last year. He then defeated Darrell Montague to earn the Tachi Palace Fights flyweight championship. Now one year after his first big win at flyweight, he finds himself in the UFC, which is something he still finds surreal. “Being in the UFC is a dream come true,” McCall said to MMAFrenzy.com “It is every person in MMA’s dream to be in the UFC. I wanted to be here so bad that I was considering a move back up to 135 pounds just to have a chance to be in the UFC.” Luckily for McCall, he never had to make that move, as late last year, he received a call from UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby concerning a possible move to the UFC- at flyweight. “Sean Shelby tweeted me and asked for my phone number,” McCall explained. “I actually got hurt a few days before my scheduled Tachi Palace Fights championship fight (McCall was set to take on Jose Rave on December 2nd). I separated my ribs and had to pull out of my fight. But then Shelby tweeted me and I talked with him. He told me they were wanting to start the flyweight division pretty soon and that they wanted me to join it. He said to me ‘don’t tell anybody’, but of course I told my wife.” Now McCall is set to take on former bantamweight title contender Demetrious Johnson. Johnson, like McCall, has a loss to champion Dominick Cruz on his record. For McCall, “Mighty Mouse” will present quite a challenge, but he has confidence he is better than Johnson, both inside and outside of the cage. “I’ve never fought anyone of Johnson’s caliber,” said McCall. “[Jussier] Da Silva was the closest, so this is a great way to test myself. But I was the #1 ranked guy for a reason, and this tournament will be awesome to be a part of.” “The flyweight division has plenty of strong guys at 125 pounds, plenty of entertaining guys that will help sell the division. But Demetrious..I don’t want to be rude, but Demetrious has the personality of a block of wood.” That tournament that McCall mentions, which starts on Saturday, is the 4-man flyweight tournament. McCall and Johnson make up one half of it, with former bantamweight contender Joseph Benavidez and Yasuhiro Urushitani making up the other half. Regarding that side of the tournament, McCall remains just as confident, stating “Joe is going to finish Urushitani within three rounds. Joe’s a beast and he hits real hard. Trust me, I have been hit by him plenty of times. Urushitani is good, but Joe has fought a lot of tough guys and nearly beat all of them.” For “Uncle Creepy”, who actually is called that by his friend’s son, the tournament brings a great blend of old school with the classic tournament format to mix in with the new school with the introduction of the new weight class. “It is awesome to be fighting in a tournament,” said McCall. “Although, I am glad that it is not all in one night. Even though that would be pretty cool, it would definitely be too much. “These are the four best guys in the world, so there is no better way to decide who really is best.”

Posted in: ufc, year, tournament, flyweight, mccall

Anthony Pettis: “I started feeling comfortable in my Southpaw stance and I caught him slipping.”

There was never any real doubt as to whether or not Anthony Pettis possessed the skills to beat Joe Lauzon at UFC 144. However, the speed in which he dismantled his apt adversary surprised many including Pettis himself. “Showtime” discussed his Knockout of the Night performance in an interview with Fuel TV shortly after picking up the victory, stating he expected a much tougher fight but was happy to use to momentum from it to propel him into a title-shot regardless. When asked about his expectations and whether they included an 81-second head-kick knockout an animated Pettis replied, “Not really. I knew this fight would be a tough fight. Joe’s one of those guys who can go anywhere. I expected more to be on the ground. I thought he would throw big punches and get a takedown but I started feeling comfortable in my Southpaw stance and I caught him slipping.” While he may not have been ready for such a quick finish Pettis still knew victory was in his grasp as soon as his memorable strike connected. “Oh I knew it was over,” said Pettis on the subject. “I felt where it was at on my shin, how hard it hit him, I saw his eyes roll back….I knew he was done.” Now that he’s won two fights in a row since losing a hard-fought decision to Clay Guida in his UFC debut the 15-2 Pettis feels he’s finally hitting his stride inside the Octagon and expects more big things in the coming months. “Definitely,” explained Pettis when asked if he felt fans had seen the “real” him this time around. “Last year wasn’t my year and I’m coming strong this year and I’m excited for 2012.” As far as who should be considered top contender to Benson Henderson’s title, Pettis laid things out is as simple a manner as could be asked for. “You’re looking at him,” the 25-year old responded. “Showtime” Feels He Has Unfinished Business with “Bendo” Pettis holds a previous win over Henderson in a bout featuring his infamous kick off the side of the cage. Check out the complete interview below: PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: fight, i ’m, petti, year, southpaw stance

Yodsanan Sityodtong: The Boxing World Champion Who has Learned to Love MMA

A lot of fighters fluctuate in weight and like to let themselves go a bit in between fights and almost all of them take a bit off time off between training camps to recuperate, recover and generally take it easy. Not Yodsanan Sityodtong. He has been competing at the same weight for at least 15 years, from the day he won the PABA Super Featherweight Title in 1997, to the day he took home the WBA Super Featherweight Title in 2002, to the day he made his MMA debut in 2011 he has remained at 135-pounds. It is an achievement made even more remarkable because Yodsanan's knock out power has remained with him throughout his career. He has an incredible boxing record of 57-3-1 and has won 50 of his last 51 fights with two of those three losses coming in his first year as a pro. He did briefly move up to 140 lbs in 2009 to claim the Australasian Light Welterweight title but had no problem getting back down to 135 lbs last September to destroy Daniel Mashamaite at ONE FC 1. He celebrated his 37th birthday last year but believes he has more longevity than most because of the care he has taken of his body. "I have never smoked or drank alcohol in my entire life. I have also never had a break from training in my whole life. I still run every day as I did when I was a child at Sityodtong Camp, I have never stopped. So even though I am 37 years old my body is still young and strong." There is often cynicism when a world class boxer announces they are transitioning to MMA. Fans are inclined to suspect them of simply jumping on the bandwagon with a view to picking up a James Toney style pay day. However Yodsanan finished his boxing career in a high, stopping all of his last nine opponents and is far from being past his prime. Yodsanan Sor Nanthachai - Boxing Highlight (via champchannel) He is now totally committed to his MMA career and is training every day with the team of world champion trainers at Evolve MMA in Singapore. As well as being a renowned boxer Yodsanan also has plenty of Muay Thai experience and is being nurtured as a mixed martial artist by the likes of renowned wrestling coach Heath Sims and BJJ Mundials winner Rafael "Gordinho" Correa de Lima. It is the perfect university for him to graduate from being an accomplished stand up fighter to a well rounded mixed martial artist and he has also been training alongside the likes of Shinya Aoki, Eddie Ng and Zorobabel Moreira. However Yodsanan was not rushed into his MMA debut at ONE FC 1 last September, in fact he had been preparing for well over a year. "I have been training MMA for about two years. I have over 60 professional boxing fights and over 60 professional Muay Thai fights so I have been focusing a lot on my wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Heath Sims, our new wrestling coach, has been a big help to me and everyone on the Evolve Fight Team. I train six days a week so I am fit all year round even if I have no fight coming up." ONE Fighting Championship's rise has been meteoric with shows booked in major cities all over Asia and a broadcast deal which puts it in at least 24 countries and Yodsanan looks set to be one of the organization's stars. Only a knee injury sustained during wrestling practise kept him from competing at the Jakarta show earlier this month and now that he is fully fit again matchmakers have slotted him straight into the second Singapore card. Yodsanan is currently halfway through an intensive eight week training camp in preparation for his next MMA fight at ONE FC 2 on March 31st. He will once again be fighting at the Singapore Indoor Stadium and is confident he will make an even better impression than he did on his debut, "My opponent is confirmed but I cannot discuss anything until ONE FC releases the fight card. I was nervous before my MMA debut and I hope to perform better on March 31. I want to fight as many times as possible in 2012, I want to be very active as a fighter. MMA is my career now." Mashamaite came into the fight with Yodsanan with more MMA experience and a strong background in Muay Thai but he wanted no part of the stand up exchanges and shot for the takedown at the earliest opportunity. This will probably be the blueprint for future opponents because no-one in the bantamweight division is going to want to trade punches with a world champion boxer. "I have adapted my style for MMA, but my KO power is still there. I love to knock people out, it is my specialty." Yodsanan Sityodtong vs. Daniel Mashamaite (via officialsherdog) A lot of MMA fighters talk the talk when it comes to having knockout punching power but with 47 KOs to his name at an elite level of professional boxing Yodsanan well and truly walks the walk. He is probably pound for pound the best boxer in MMA today and age doesn't appear to be in any danger of catching up with him anytime soon. He is also surrounded by some of the top trainers and fighters in the world at Evolve MMA and it is an environment in which he should flourish because he will continue to improve regardless of whether he has a fight booked. Yodsanan has won more than his fair share of silverware but is far from content to sit back and reflect on his illustrious career to date, his focus is firmly on the future, "I love it here. Evolve MMA is my family and I have known Chatri (the owner) for over 20 years from our days together at Sityodtong Camp in Pattaya. Here in Singapore I am getting the best training in the world and 7,000 people buy tickets to come and watch me fight, that makes me so happy and excited about MMA, I love this new sport." www.twitter.com/jamesgoyder

Posted in: fight, mma, day, year, yodsanan

Michael Bisping seeking May match-up

Now that UFC middleweight Michael Bisping has had some time to rest/recover since facing Chael Sonnen at UFC on FOX 2 it looks like “The Count” has gotten the itch to fight again and is already talking to the UFC about scheduling a summer scrap. The only problem is that the Brit isn’t quite sure who he wants to face next with a number of the division’s biggest names already set for action in the coming months. Bisping discussed his desire, as well as his belief that an impressive win would put him back into title-contention, in a recent interview where he started things out by saying he didn’t feel his controversial decision loss to Sonnen had damaged his stock so much as improved it. “I don’t think it was a step backward. If anything, I cemented myself as one of the top contenders in the division,” said Bisping as a guest on MMAJunkie Radio before adding, “I want to fight again soon. I’m aching to fight.” The polarizing Sonnen narrowly outpointed Bisping in a top contenders’ bout many felt the Ultimate Fighter 3 winner deserved the nod in. As far as who Bisping could be paired with next, the 33-year old (who celebrated his birthday today) is open to suggestion. Sonnen Says He’s Never Been Hit as Hard as He Was by Bisping “All the top guys seemed to be booked up at the moment, so I’m scratching my head thinking of who to ask the UFC for,” explained Bisping. “I’m sure they’ll come up with someone decent for me. That’s what they do. I just tend to accept the fights and try to do my best. I was thinking about that last night, and I couldn’t think of anyone.” “I’m hoping that (with) one more good win over a good opponent, I should fight the winner of Chael and Anderson (Silva) later in the year,” Bisping concluded. While his opponent is still up in the air, if Bisping has his way the date won’t be, stating he wants to fight in May so he’ll still have seven months left in the year to fight again. The UFC has three shows scheduled in May though two are already full meaning UFC 146 (5/26) is the most realistic option. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, fight, year, bisping, sonnen

War Machine Explains Why He’s Spending Another Year In Jail

Much to his dismay, War Machine broke news earlier this month that he had been sentenced to another year in jail for some “old bullshit” only months after his first stint behind bars. What War didn’t tell us at the time was what that “old bullshit” was. Well, now that War in back in the clink, he has finally found the free time to fill everyone in. For those of you who don’t know: over 3 years ago while working at a club in Vegas, I was involved in an altercation with a co-worker. This guy was 6’3″ and over 300 lbs. and he did not like me. Long story short, after a couple months of tension it came to a head, and we got in a big argument. Unfortunately, words could not solve this problem and he came at me. Luckily for me, I was quicker, and with my training as an MMA fighter, I was able to protect myself against my much larger opponent. The “fight” wasn’t shit, one punch landed, and after a brief wrestling match, I landed on top. The problem was that the one punch caused a cut that needed stitches and during our fall his knee was injured. That being said, it shouldn’t be a problem at all, but in America, the winner of a fight goes to jail. I guess it’s like survival of the weakest nowadays, at least in this country. So for the last 3+ years, my lawyer and the D.A. have been in negotiations. D.A. didn’t want to risk trial ’cause his case was pathetic & weak, but didn’t want to dismiss charges ’cause the big guy had medical bills and I didn’t want to plea out to something because it was self-defense. So this shit went on and on and then I do a year in San Diego on a different fight. I do my time and just want to get on with my life and put all drama behind me, so I tell my lawyer, “fuck it I’ll sign their B.S. deal as long as there’s no time involved, just med. bills and probation.” Bam, I sign it and enter plea of guilty. A month later, I go before the sentencing Judge Valerie Adair, and I’m accused of taking steroids and on and on, 1 year in jail! WTF!? Yeah, my attorney conveniently forgot to mention that if the judge doesn’t like my physique, profession, and is on the RAG, she can totally disregard the plea agreement and do whatever she wants. Yup, good ole’ U-S of A. Land of the free (wait, I’m in jail), home of the brave (umm… defending yourself & winning a fight against a dude twice your size, isn’t that brave?)… Fuck it! I WILL GET BACK UP. So basically, War just ran into the wrong judge who decided to throw out his plea deal based on her perception that he’s a juiced-up cage fighter with anger management issues. Assuming his side of the story and that assessment are accurate, that’s extremely unfortunate because while that may have been the case before (sans the steroids part, I couldn’t speak to that), WM seems to have learned how to control that side of him by removing all the bad influences in his life. The good news is War seems to be keeping a relatively positive attitude despite his latest detour in life and hopes to get some boxing tips from Floyd Mayweather Jr. when he does his stint in Vegas jail in June.

Posted in: time, year, month, war, jail

War Machine blogs about how he looks forward to meeting Floyd Mayweather in prison this June

The American legal system has its flaws, and unfortunately, MMA fighters are society’s newest scapegoats. Picking a fight with a professional fighter, then suing him after he defends himself is sadder than Taco Bell’s Cantina Taco campaign last year. In fact, calling his court experience “justice” is the moral equivalent of considering those Cantina Tacos actual Mexican food. This marks War Machine’s second stint in prison after he plea-bargained for no jail time on an old charge; an agreement the judge violated because she didn’t respect War Machine’s profession and accused him (without evidence) of being on steroids. The judge continued to allegedly violate Nevada’s code of judicial conduct throughout the legal process and the end result landed War Machine back in prison instead of this season’s Bellator welterweight tournament. As unfortunate as things played out, we’re glad War Machine has decided to continue blogging from prison. In his first entry back, he tells us his side of the story, and how he looks forward to meeting Floyd Mayweather this summer. Who would have thunk it? Well besides all of you haters that is. Fuck man! Even you fucking haters can't hate this time!! I was behaving! No problems on probation, no going out partying, no fist fights, no nothing! I did a year straight, got released, and TKO'd Roger Huerta 3 months later! Signed a contract with @BellatorMMA to fight in their Welterweight tourney on @SpikeTV and @MTV_2. Yup, things were going great, but like all great things in my life, just had to crash and burn. For those of you who don't know: over 3 years ago while working at a club in Vegas, I was involved in an altercation with a co-worker. This guy was 6'3" and over 300 lbs. and he did not like me. Long story short, after a couple months of tension it came to a head, and we got in a big argument. Unfortunately, words could not solve this problem and he came at me. Luckily for me, I was quicker, and with my training as an MMA fighter, I was able to protect myself against my much larger opponent.  The "fight" wasn't shit, one punch landed, and after a brief wrestling match, I landed on top. The problem was that the one punch caused a cut that needed stitches and during our fall his knee was injured. That being said, it shouldn't be a problem at all, but in America, the winner of a fight goes to jail. I guess it's like survival of the weakest nowadays, at least in this country. So for the last 3+ years, my lawyer and the D.A. have been in negotiations. D.A. didn't want to risk trial 'cause his case was pathetic & weak, but didn't want to dismiss charges 'cause the big guy had medical bills and I didn't want to plea out to something because it was self-defense. So this shit went on and on and then I do a year in San Diego on a different fight. I do my time and just want to get on with my life and put all drama behind me, so I tell my lawyer, "fuck it I'll sign their B.S. deal as long as there's no time involved, just med. bills and probation." Bam, I sign it and enter plea of guilty. A month later, I go before the sentencing Judge Valerie Adair, and I'm accused of taking steroids and on and on, 1 year in jail! WTF!? Yeah, my attorney conveniently forgot to mention that if the judge doesn't like my physique, profession, and is on the RAG, she can totally disregard the plea agreement and do whatever she wants. Yup, good ole' U-S of A. Land of the free (wait, I'm in jail), home of the brave (umm... defending yourself & winning a fight against a dude twice your size, isn't that brave?)... Fuck it! I WILL GET BACK UP.  Sooo Vegas jail, yeah I'm in the hole again, and I guess @FloydMayweather will be my neighbor come June. Maybe he'll give me some boxing tips? Pros and Cons: Vegas jail is much cleaner and has way better showers. Vegas has better clothes, oh, and here you get a pillow! In Vegas, we get 1 hour out of our cell every day as opposed to every other day. Oh shit, the amount of trash produced per inmate is disgusting, S.D. needs to get on it. Here, we use 3 disposable plastic spoons/day while in S.D. we had over a pound of trash/day from chow. The food, weird. EVERY dinner here is good, the worst one still better than the best of S.D. AND complete opposite for breakfast. S.D. has good breakfast, Vegas sucks. Lunch sucks @ both. S.D. wins because you get a lot of extras there, here you get none. In S.D. you get a lot of fruit too, where it's scarce here. Now Commissary changes everything and makes S.D. 100x better than here. 1st off, they charge fucking 80 cents for a stamped envelope here!!??! Food wise, you get a way better selection in S.D. and you can order $100 of shit per week, here... $15!! WTF?! That's INCLUDING your overpriced stamps too! Oh shit! And in S.D. you get nightly e-mails printed up; here, snail mail only! Ugh, yeah, Vegas jail sucks. Even the visits here are on a screen, you can't even see people through a glass. A TV SCREEN... blah.  Ugh... Man, I'll get into more emotional well being and shit in future blogs, just wanted to give you all the rundown in this one. I miss my friends, my students, training, and my szerelmem. Want to thank all you fans for sticking by me. I'll be back in @BellatorMMA Season 7 Tournament. The government CAN'T stop me, they're just delaying the inevitable.  I ALWAYS GET BACK UP." Floyd Mayweather’s camp could not be reached to confirm whether or not he’d be sharing a cell with War Machine, or which bunk he prefers. Regardless of those logistics, we hope both athletes return to their respective sports as fast as possible. We also hope the food in prison is better than Taco Bell’s Cantina Tacos. [Source]

Posted in: fight, year, vega, jail, sd

UFC Central: Recapping UFC 144 in Japan

Showdown Joe takes an in-depth look at the UFC's first trip back to Japan in over 11 years for UFC 144.

Posted in: ufc, showdown, year, japan, recapping

Observations from My Couch: UFC 144 ‘Edgar vs. Henderson’

A few observations from UFC 144: “Edgar vs. Henderson”: -The sad thing about Zhang Tiequan losing is that his defeat pushes the date of the UFC event in mainland China back by about three years. -Really, it’s hard to believe Steve Cantwell was ever the champ of any organization. -The competition in high-level MMA has passed “Kid” Yamamoto by. All that’s left of the man that once was is a bunch of violent clips on a highlight reel and a bunch of depressing losses. -If not for an aged opponent many years past his prime, we’d almost be saying the same thing about Takanori Gomi right now. -Congrats to Anthony Pettis, who, with one smooth knockout, has now place himself back in the mix of lightweight contenders. -Yes, Hatsu Hioki looked great and showed a lot of promise in terms of his standing in the division, but let’s be clear about something: it was only Bart Palaszewski he defeated. Beating Palaszewski does not mean you’re ready for Jose Aldo. -Tim Boetsch getting dominated and coming back to utterly crush his foe is the reason I watch mixed martial arts. Also, it’s the reason why I let myself get bitten by radioactive spiders, spend hours in the lab trying to create a Super-Soldier Serum, and blast myself with gamma rays. -Upon re-watching it, I can certainly see how the judges gave the bout to Jake Shields over Yoshihiro Akiyama. But that doesn’t take away from the fact that Shields isn’t capable of being exciting while Akiyama most definitely is. -I can’t believe that in the year 2012, Mark Hunt can now be considered a viable force in the heavyweight division. -Ryan Bader didn’t so much look good as Quinton Jackson looked awful. Great slam, though. -In my heart I wanted Frankie Edgar to win, but I can understand why the judges gave Ben Henderson the nod. Edgar played his Speedy Gonzalez game and scored liberally, yet in no way, shape or form did he visit upon his opponent the same destruction Henderson visited upon him. However, give the man his damn rematch if he wants it! Lord knows he’s earned it.

Posted in: ufc, ’t, henderson, year, edgar

We have a wild knockout and a sub of the year contender from Legacy Fighting Championships last night. Wanna see?

In the 90's we got a double dose of awesome out of Houston when the Rockets won back to back NBA titles. How could you not fall in love with Hakeem Olajuwon, Otis Thorpe, the slightly intergalactic-looking Sam Cassell and a very young Robert Horry coming out of a wide open western conference to defeat the New York Knicks in seven games? How could you not meet the Thorpe/Drexler trade leading to Houston sweeping a prime Shaq and Penny Hardaway led Magic the following year with an equal amount of heartfelt warmth? Of course the Rockets would have lost to a Jordan-less Bulls team had the worst foul call in history not been made by Hue Hollins in the Knicks series, but had that call not happened this article couldn't have been written. I'm getting off track, it's the whole 'double dose' thing I'm going after here. Houston got another double dose of awesome last night on HDNet at Legacy Fighting Championship 10. First, while many were watching the UFC 144 weigh-ins, Reynaldo Trujillo knocked out Munil Adriano with a Superman punch so perfect I think the 155 pounder could've knocked out Doomsday. Then the main event saw a possible sub of the year contender when Pat Audinwood took the back of Justin Reiswerg, eventually transitioning into a sweet armbar to end it. Check out the .gifs below from the Zombie Prophet. [Source]

Posted in: year, year contender, thorpedrexler trade, hue hollins, munil adriano

The UFC is likely set to hold its first show in "The Great White North" this year when it travels...

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

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

Is anyone interested in starting a collaborative project to list the most important fights/fighters of each year in MMA? (read more for details)

I love mma. I consider myself extremely knowledgeable about the technical aspects of the game, but I have a very hard time keeping up with all the less known fighters and smaller organizations. Basically it comes down to me having a short term memory when it comes to how each fighter is doing over a period of time. I was thinking we could organize it by listing the rising contenders each year and in each division,list their records and win streaks and what not, or we could just narrow it down to which fighters/fights/events/championships had the most significant impact of the year. I feel like it would be an easier way to put all the events in perspective and help us see trends and different improvements in fighters throughout the past year. In the same token it would be an awesome tool for easily seeing the results of all the major events and fights of the year that shook up the mma landscape and as a result give us better knowledge of the current standings and state of mma so we can be more informed about the next year. I'd love to hear more suggestions. submitted by PinkySlayer [link] [comment]

Posted in: mma, fighter, year, time i, mma landscape

Ronda Rousey is one tough chick

Ronda Rousey has taken a lot of crap from people in MMA because of her relative inexperience, as if her lifetime of martial arts experience doesn't count for diddly squat. Miesha Tate went so far as to call her 'pampered', which seems to have bugged Rousey a little. In her latest fight blog for Fighters Only, Ronda lays out some of the notable moments from her upbringing that may dissuade you from that characterization: I remember my first injury very well. I was 11 years old and I broke my big toe doing judo. To an 11 year old this is a very big deal, so I stopped fighting and started to cry. My mother then made me run laps around the mat for the rest for the night. I thought she was just being cruel at the time but she told me, “Sometimes you have to fight when you're injured. You need to know you're capable of that.”A few years later I was 15 and broke 3 bones in my foot (jumping over a fence, during my first and only attempt to try and ditch class) That weekend my mom sent me up to northern California to fight in two divisions in a tournament that was hosted by the club of one of my biggest rivals at the time.I was sent with no coach and injured, fought eight matches in front of a biased crowd that were cheering against me. When I asked my mom why she would do something so mean she said “You won't always have a coach, the crowd won't always like you, and you won't always be healthy when you fight. You need to know you can win anyway.”...I remember my first injury very well. I was 11 years old and I broke my big toe doing judo. To an 11 year old this is a very big deal, so I stopped fighting and started to cry. My mother then made me run laps around the mat for the rest for the night. I thought she was just being cruel at the time but she told me, “Sometimes you have to fight when you're injured. You need to know you're capable of that.”A few years later I was 15 and broke 3 bones in my foot (jumping over a fence, during my first and only attempt to try and ditch class) That weekend my mom sent me up to northern California to fight in two divisions in a tournament that was hosted by the club of one of my biggest rivals at the time.I was sent with no coach and injured, fought eight matches in front of a biased crowd that were cheering against me. When I asked my mom why she would do something so mean she said “You won't always have a coach, the crowd won't always like you, and you won't always be healthy when you fight. You need to know you can win anyway.” That's only the tip of the iceberg. From the sound of the article, Ronda has been bashed, smashed, tapped, snapped, broken, and mauled and none of it has stopped her from showing up for competition or training the same day. While there's still a good chance that Miesha Tate may be able to find a chink in her armor, I don't think it's going to be via Ronda's physical or mental toughness. Her mother and judo have already pushed her harder than your average Chinese circus child, and she survived that easy enough. MMA sounds like a cakewalk compared to what she's already done.

Posted in: fight, year, need, youre, ronda

Lefko on MMA: Upset on the mind

At UFC 144 Rampage Jackson is fighting in Japan for the first time in six years, but his opponent Ryan Bader plans on spoiling the party.

Posted in: rampage, jackson, year, party, lefko

Will 2012 be Another Year of Dominance for UFC Champions?

HeavyMMA's Duane Finley takes a look at the UFC's current champions and the tests they will face in 2012. Will the calendar year be a dominant one for them like 2011 was?

Posted in: ufc, champion, year, heavymma, calendar year

WWE Earnings disappoint for Q4

The WWE announced its Q4 2011 results on Thursday and the earnings were described as disappointing. WWE earnings were lower for the fifth straight quarter. The main culprit for the poor performance of the company was its film division and television licensing decisions according to Vince McMahon. In addition, costs from starting the WWE Network were cited as reasons for the softening of its earnings. With respect to its film division, McMahon indicated that the company would utilize different strategies to try to bolster the division’s profitability but if that did not work, the WWE would be out of the film business. The WWE lost $12.2 million in the Q4 alone due to film impairment charges. The television licensing decisions were based on the WWE’s decision not to distribute two of its properties, WWE Superstars and NXT, which have been showing online. Via WWE press release: Revenues totaled $112.9 million as compared to $122.5 million in the prior year quarter. Operating loss was ($13.1) million as compared to Operating income of $14.4 million in the prior year quarter. Net loss was ($8.6) million, or ($0.12) per share, as compared to Net income of $8.1 million, or $0.11 per share, in the prior year quarter. Excluding the impact of film impairments and network related expenses in the current year quarter, Adjusted Operating income was $3.1 million as compared to $14.4 million in the prior year quarter. Adjusted Net income was $1.8 million, or $0.02 per share, as compared to $8.1 million, or $0.11 per share, in the prior year quarter. The WWE spent $4 million in Q4 on the creation of the WWE Network. However, the position on rolling out the new network was uncertain. On the positive side, McMahon said during the earnings call that live attendance was up 7% for the quarter. Yet, this may be due to the fact that there were 11 fewer events in the quarter. The PPV revenues were up 2% from 2010’s Q4 and up 6% over 2011. However, this can be seen as the result of a strong Wrestlemania PPV which is likely due in part to the return of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. (H/t: Seeking Alpha) Payout Perspective: While overall revenues were up from 2010, it was mainly due to the success of Wrestlemania 27. It also looks like the WWE may need to see a significant turnaround if it wants to remain in the movie business otherwise it may continue to see huge losses. The gloomy numbers may mean some downsizing of the WWE talent roster which traditionally comes after Wrestlemania. The other notable news coming out of the earnings call was McMahon’s description of the WWE Network as “potential creation” of the network. This is interesting considering the prior hype for the network which included commercials for it on Raw and the initial belief that it would roll out by Wrestlemania this year. It looks like the WWE wants to make sure it gets it right before unveiling it. However, its sunk $4.0 million alone this quarter into the creation of the network and has committed staff and other startups to this venture in prior quarters. It will be interesting to see how the WWE will try to turn things around. Based on the great performance and impact last year’s Wrestlemania had on the WWE earnings, it will hope that this year’s Wrestlemania on April 1 will produce more of the same.

Posted in: year, wwe, network, quarter, earning

UFC 144: The Epic Drama Of Yoshihiro Akiyama

When Yoshihiro Akiyama debuted in the UFC in 2009 as part of the stacked UFC 100 card, there was a lot of excitement among fans of the Japanese MMA scene. Three years later, Akiyama is 1-3 in the UFC (and that one win is debatable) and when he faces Jake Shields at UFC 144 this weekend, his job could be on the line. For UFC fans who had never seen Akiyama before his trip into the Octagon, it's hard to look at him as an impressive force in any way. But fans who have followed him from his start in Judo, through his rise up the Japanese MMA scene and into the UFC know just what he is capable of. And what is that? In a word: entertainment. Akiyama may not be the best fighter, and his UFC career may be something of a bust so far, but what Akiyama brings to the ring is a great level of exciting unpredictability - a sense of the dramatic that many more well regarded fighters often lack. The best way to show just how dramatic Akiyama can be is to focus on the beautiful story of what I consider his most entertaining fight. And that story begins at the 2003 World Judo Championships. In 2003, Akiyama was a well respected and decorated judoka. He entered the World Judo Championships and made the semi-finals. But his first three opponents, all of whom lost to Akiyama, claimed his gi was greased. Officials examined the gi and found there was no issue, however he was required to wear a reserve gi to continue, and subsequently dropped his next two fights. Though officially cleared in the situation, doubts remained in the eyes of many. Fast forward three years. After making a successful transition to MMA in 2004, Akiyama had become a force in the Japanese MMA scene, putting together a 9-1 record that culminated in a win over Melvin Manhoef. With that momentum, Akiyama was invited to take part in the year's biggest event - the 2006 New Year's Eve Dynamite!! show. And he would face the greatest, most beloved fighter in Japan - Kazushi Sakuraba. In the main event of the evening, in front of Japan's biggest annual crowd, Akiyama defeated Sakuraba to establish himself as the new name in Japanese MMA. Or did he? SBN coverage of UFC 144: Edgar vs. Henderson Immediately after the bout (and even during it), in a repeat of 2003, Sakuraba complained of Akiyama being greased. This time, officials were not so easily won over. They determined that Akiyama had indeed applied an illegal substance, and the bout was ruled a No Contest. This was devastating to Akiyama's perception. It's bad enough that he cheated - but to have done so against the legend Sakuraba was unthinkable. He was suspended, and did not return for 10 months. His second bout back was again on New Year's Eve - this time against Kazuo Misaki. The two would meet one year after the Sakuraba controversy. Misaki, who had once trained with Sakuraba and his legendary mentor Nobuhiko Takada, originally stated that he would never fight Akiyama because he was a cheater. But he decided to defend Sakuraba's name and accept the challenge. Their fight in 2007 was a classic. Right from Akiyama's dramatic, operatic, entourage-heavy entrance, you can hear the energy in the crowd. The scene was dynamic, the crowd and the fighters all riled up. It's a fight you really must see. Note, there are two videos here - the first is the entrances, the second the fight. Don't skip the entrances - they are worth it: Late in the first round, Misaki pulled off what was something of an upset, KO-ing Akiyama. The pro-Misaki crowd went wild, culminating in Takada showing his respect to Misaki with the Antonio Inoki style fighting spirit slap. But with Akiyama, there's always more news around the corner. Post-fight, Akiyama protested that the KO kick was illegal as he was grounded, and kicks to downed opponents were not allowed in this fight. Officials agreed, and for the second time in a row, Akiyama's New Year's Eve fight was a No Contest. Misaki's amazing win and celebration were gone. There was talk of a rematch, but Akiyama went to the UFC before it could materialize. It may seem odd that I point out two instances of cheating and one KO turned into a No Contest to show why Akiyama is great. But these are the moments that make him such a unique fighter. They're the moments that transcend the skill in the ring and bring in the drama. And that flair for the dramatic? That is what I have always loved about Yoshihiro Akiyama. It's also what has mostly been missing from his UFC run. Will we see it this weekend at UFC 144? I hope so. If not, and he is cut? So be it - I'll tune in wherever he shows up next, just to see what happens this time.

Posted in: ufc, fight, year, sakuraba, akiyama

Title Writing: Numbers For Nerds 8 "Age Demographics In The UFC", Part 2 Of 3

Average Fighter Age In The UFC In March of 2010, the average age of UFC fighters was reported as 29.5 years. Somewhat surprisingly, there has been no change to that number some two years later, despite the addition of three new divisions full of young talent. By division:Heavyweight: 30.8 yearsLight Heavyweight: 32.2 yearsMiddleweight: 30.2 yearsWelterweight: 29.6 yearsLightweight: 29 yearsFeatherweight: 27.7 yearsBantamweight: 28.5 yearsFlyweight: 27.9 years By divisional top ten/rest of division split/champions age (Consensus rankings) Heavyweight: 32.2 / 30.2 / 28 Light Heavyweight: 31.2 / 32.7 / 24Middleweight: 32.4 / 29.6 / 36 Welterweight: 29.6 / 29.6 / 30 Lightweight: 28.2 / 29.2 / 30Featherweight: 26.5 / 28.1 / 25Bantamweight: 28.3 / 28.4 / 26** There are only 9 fighters and no champion yet in the flyweight division** Analysis and champions forecast after the jump. Analysis: Studying the UFC by age again shines a light on what could become a serious issue in the future of prize-fighting, a lack of heavyweight fighters. There are 30 heavyweights and 31 light heavyweights. Across the other five established divisions, the average is nearly 50 fighters. For the UFC to simply catch those two divisions up they would have to increase the size of the division by a whopping 60 percent. It seems impossible to do quickly, but it's necessary: these divisions are not only sparsely populated but trending towards the older side. The average age of the top 10 heavyweights is a shade over 32 years old. Fedor was tapped out by Fabricio Werdum at 33, to give you an idea of where I'm going with that. The 205 pound division is no better, as the contenders are 31 while the rest of the division is nearing 33 years old on average. One bright spot is that the champions, Junior Dos Santos and Jon Jones, are under 30, with Jones one of the youngest fighters in the organization at 24. As the company builds these divisions they are going to have to find challengers for these two but at least they can present them as dominant champions, should they beat up on sub-par competition for the next few years (Of course, both still have a challenge or two in front of them, but both are entirely capable of conquering them). The middleweight division seems to represent best the idea I introduced in part one: A dominant champion can cause a dearth of bonafide contenders once they finally are dethroned; all the would be champs were left to beat up on each other and younger fighters never got the chance to grow. The top ten is filled with guys on the other side of 30, with Alan Belcher being the only fighter under that number amongst the bunch. The rest of the division falls right into the average at 29.6 and there is 47 fighters in the weight class, so that's not terrible but the division does need to start focusing on younger guys for when Anderson Silva is no longer the champ. The other divisions are fairly well off actually. The champions are all 30 or younger, the entire welterweight and lightweight divisions are on average or younger than average across the board, with the two newest divisions having the youngest average ages. The featherweight division looks like the division to watch, strictly going with age; the division has the youngest top 10 average, at 26.5 years old. Jose Aldo is 25 himself, so there is plenty of time for the top group at featherweight to produce some fierce rivalries in the next few years. Champions Forecast Junior Dos Santos: Good. If he can beat Alistair Overeem, he should reign for years. This is probably the most important heavyweight fight in the history of the division, with the number of lineal titles ton the line. The only spoiler is the fact that Overeem would likely still need to beat Cain Velasquez before his dominance was unquestioned whereas Dos Santos stands one win away from locking up the division for a long long time.Jon Jones: Great. Jones is a tall fighter who knows how to use his length. Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson are great fighters but they are undersized for the division to begin with, so chances are Jones cleans out the division. From there, who knows.Anderson Silva: Poor. I know, he's the greatest champion of all time and his consecutive title defenses record will probably never be equaled. That's also why I'm saying it's about his time to either lose or walk away. The men chasing him are getting older too though, so he could very well defy father time for another three or four fights but I just can't count on it.Georges St. Pierre: Good. Call me skeptical of the contenders at 170 and faithful to the idea that Georges is the smartest fighter in MMA. If he's less of a physical beast he'll somehow compensate. I think he's a few years away from seeing a true challenge.Frankie Edgar: Moderate. Edgar is a wonderful champion and is probably my favorite fighter to watch in the UFC. I believe it took a lot out of him to stop Gray Maynard though, and he can't go to war for much longer before he runs the risk of getting turned off altogether. A decisive and safe win over Henderson would go a long way for him.Jose Aldo: Good. I would say great but for the young talent that surrounds him. He might have a lean year or two and the UFC might need to get creative to keep him active but by the time he hits 28 he'll have some mega tough fighters to deal with. Erik Koch, Dustin Poirier to name a few. Oh yeah, 155 pounders are still dropping down to challenge him, so there is that too.Dominick Cruz: Moderate. Tough fights with Renan Barao and Miguel Torres loom on the horizon for Cruz. Of course he must dispatch of Urijah Faber, for the second time in a little over a years time, but I really see no reason why he won't be able to do that. I've long thought Torres would be an interesting challenge for Cruz and Barao is a dynamo who would probably give some welterweights a good fight (I'm looking at you Matt Riddle). Thanks for reading. In part three later today i'll be looking back at the 2011 fight cards to see if age difference factored into winning and losing. I'll also be looking at the top 25 fighters under 25 in the UFC.

Posted in: fighter, champion, division, year, age

Takanori Gomi - The Fireball Kid Comes Home

It’s no secret that the Japanese mixed martial arts scene has fallen on hard times over the last few years, but with Saturday’s UFC 144 event at Saitama Super Arena, there is optimism from the local heroes on the card that this could be the start of a revival in Japan. One of those hopeful fighters is one who is no stranger to a thriving MMA scene at home, Takanori Gomi.“I think the level of Japanese MMA will rise as many people get to see the world’s top class bouts,” he said through translator Mizuka Koike. “I hope there’s gonna be a lot of Japanese guys who wish to be great fighters.”Gomi, the first and only PRIDE lightweight champion, as well as a Shooto welterweight titleholder, is no stranger to being in the role of flag bearer for the sport in his country. For years, “The Fireball Kid” took on and beat all comers, most notably going 13-1 with 1 NC from 2004 to 2007. Yet by the time Gomi arrived in the UFC in 2010, he was about to hit hard times in the Octagon. Just 1-3 in four UFC starts, with his Knockout of the Night finish of Tyson Griffin sandwiched by losses (all by submission) to Kenny Florian, Clay Guida, and Nate Diaz, the charismatic Kanagawa native has found himself in need of a win this Saturday against countryman Eiji Mitsuoka (a late replacement for the injured George Sotiropoulos). Yet on a positive note, the 33-year old southpaw appears to have pinpointed where he’s gone wrong in the UFC.“I think I lacked stamina and ground techniques,” he said. “I want to make an improvement on that, so I’ve reviewed the training regimen that I’ve done and trained even harder.”Well, if he was looking to see his ground game tested, Sotiropoulos was the perfect man to do it, but Mitusoka’s no slouch either, as the 36-year old has finished 11 of his 18 wins by submission.Said Gomi, “I think a fighter like Mitsuoka starts with boxing and then moves to grappling to end the fight with a submission. And when it comes to reach and body size wise, they (Mitsuoka and Sotiropoulos) are not very different, so it (the change in opponent) was okay.”It’s no secret that Gomi has had his difficulties with groundfighters (six of his eight losses are by submission), but he’s also had success against them over the years, and the one intangible when it comes to this weekend’s bout is that it is coming at home. That’s something that can’t be overlooked, especially when Gomi is so excited about his return.“I am really happy to have a chance to fight in UFC Japan,” he said. “I never thought it was going to happen this early, and I’m glad that I continued my career this long. It’s been a while, so I am looking forward to fighting in front of the Japanese crowd. I want to be my true self and show them a great fight.”Pardon the pun, but this is pride at its most telling and compelling. For a fighter like Gomi, one whose legacy is set no matter what happens against Mitsuoka, it is imperative that if he’s going to lose, it’s not going to be in front of his loyal fans. Not this weekend. Not at Saitama Super Arena. “I am proud of myself for being one of the Japan-born UFC fighters,” he said, “and I think Japanese fighters have this fighting spirit of not giving up until it’s really over.”And as far as Takanori Gomi is concerned, his run in the UFC is far from over.“The Fireball Kid is coming back,” he said. “Please keep an eye on me.”

Posted in: ufc, fighter, japanese, year, gomi

Ryan Bader - Climbing The Mountain Again

You learn a lot about a fighter after a defeat. You may find out even more after two losses. Luckily, Ryan Bader passed all his tests with flying colors after the lost first half of 2011 that saw him drop back-to-back bouts to future light heavyweight Jon Jones and former 205-pound boss Tito Ortiz.He didn’t fade into the background, he didn’t hide from the bright glare of the media or from the barbs of fight fans. He took the first two defeats of his pro career for what they were – simple setbacks, made some adjustments, and when he returned to the Octagon at UFC 139, he took just 77 seconds to blast out tough Jason Brilz and return to the win column. Sounds simple enough, but a lot went on between February and November of 2011, and to make it into 2012 as a promising 205-pounder on the verge of contendership again, he had to look back to his college days and a similar scenario.“In wrestling, I was ranked number one as a sophomore at one point, and I ended up shuffling between the top five and top ten,” said Bader, an Arizona State University wrestling alum. “You lose some, but I got fourth that year. But my junior year, I went out and I didn’t place, I didn’t become an All-American after being ranked so high in my sophomore year, and I was kinda in a slump.”Enter ASU’s assistant coach Aaron Simpson, a future training partner and fellow UFC fighter. Simpson sat Bader down and gave it to him straight, letting him know where he lost his way.“You’re going out there and if you don’t have a four point lead or something, you start to do crazy stuff, and they’re scoring on you and coming back to beat you,” said Simpson. “You need to go back to what you were doing sophomore year – going out there, grinding it out, and winning by one or two points, but being smart about it and doing what you do and not freaking out if you’re not beating them by a lot of points.” Bader listened to his coach, earning All-American status a second time in 2006. Now he looks to have a similar resurrection in mixed martial arts, where he tore out to a 13-0 record and the season eight Ultimate Fighter title before losing to Jones and Ortiz.“I’ve been there before, so I know that I needed to get in the right frame of mind, and I have,” he said. “Going into that last fight, I put those two losses behind me, and I went out there and fought aggressively to finish the fight, and that’s how I’m gonna continue to fight.”Changing things around in his Power MMA & Fitness gym in Arizona, as well as bringing in Carlos Condit’s original coach, Tom Vaughn, has done Bader good, but there are certain things that can’t be dealt with externally; they must come from within, and Bader passed this test by showing his grace while being constantly reminded of Ortiz’ stirring comeback win over him at UFC 132 last July.“These days with social media – Twitter, Facebook, and all that kinda stuff – you’re always being reminded, especially that fight with Tito,” he said. “I get Tweets up to today about it, and it just reminds you and motivates you, but at the same time, you can’t take it too much to heart. You’re out there doing it and putting it all on the line, and stuff happens sometimes.”True, but at least it’s good stuff now, as the win over Brilz propelled the 28-year old into a UFC 144 co-main event this Saturday night against former champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. “I finally have the ability to prove myself again with a fight like this,” said Bader. “It’s a huge fight, he’s coming off a title shot, he’s beat the Who’s Who of MMA, he’s a legend of the sport, everybody knows who he is, and he’s still in the Top Five of the division. So the opportunity is there for me again to go out there and beat him and let everybody know that I do belong with the top fighters in the division. It’s a great opportunity, and I’m gonna seize it.”And with Jackson hinting at a return to the aggressive, yet sometimes reckless, form that won him a legion of fans back in his PRIDE days in Japan, Bader sees that possibility as an opportunity to use his opponent’s aggression against him.“He’s mentioned that a few times in different interviews that I’ve seen, and when we were out there for the press conference in Japan, he said how he might be more open, trying different stuff, and taking risks to please all the Japanese fans,” said Bader. “I hope he does because if he does that, he’s opening himself up a little bit too. So there are pros and cons to it, but there’s nothing he’s gonna do that’s gonna really surprise us. We’re training to fight our fight.”That probably means using a controlled aggression, his underrated punching power, and his wrestling to keep Jackson off-balance, wondering where the next attack is going to come from. Defensively, Bader is probably safe from his Achilles Heel in his two losses – submissions – but among other things, Jackson has fight-changing power and the experience to get himself out of any serious jams.“Rampage is tough,” said Bader. “He’s obviously known for his heavy hands, he comes forward, he has great head movement, and not only that, he’s got great takedown defense. You don’t see many people taking him down. He has those heavy hips, he’s a big dude, he packs a hard punch and he can take a punch. So he’s gonna want to go in there and implement his gameplan and walk you down and land those big bombs on you, and try to put you away. That’s what he’s known for – knocking people out and slamming people and all that, but that’s what we’re ready for.”You hear that all the time from fighters, but you get the impression that Bader’s readiness is for real. He’s seen the bottom already; now it’s time to get moving back toward the top.“2011 was an interesting year, but I’m glad it happened because I wouldn’t have changed some things if those losses didn’t happen,” he said. “That was the catalyst for great things this year. I’m gonna go out there and beat a legend of the sport and I’m gonna be a new fighter. Each fight I’m gonna get progressively better and I want to get up there in the upper echelon of the 205-pound division and stay there.”

Posted in: fight, ’t, year, ’m, bader

Ghosts of Saitama: The Japanese New Year's Eve war starts with three blockbuster shows

The roar of the crowd ... the sound of bare feet shuffling against canvas ... the unexplainable electricity inside the building. They are all mere echos today as crowds in the tens of thousands have dwindled down to a fraction of that amount. The Saitama Super Arena, host of this Saturday's (Feb. 25) UFC 144 event, has been home to some of the greatest mixed martial arts (MMA) events in the history of the sport. "Ghosts of Saitama" will take a look at some of those moments, forever preserved and never forgotten. Yesterday we took a look back at 2011's New Year's Eve (NYE) event at the Saitama Super Arena, a show that very well could be the last in the near-decade long tradition. Indeed, the future looks grim from where we sit. It wasn't the case eight years prior when groups headed by Antonio Inoki, K-1 parent company Fighting and Entertainment Group (FEG) and Pride Fighting Championships (Pride), each decided to go to all-out television war on Dec. 31, 2003. Bom-Ba-Ye. Dynamite!!. Shockwave. Three huge events that had millions of combat sports fans glued to their television sets at home and more than 100,000 people packed into three different stadiums. Saitama Super Arena, of course, was one of them. The building played host to Pride's Shockwave event, also holding the honors for the next three years. It was supposed to be the dawn of a new age in mixed martial arts (MMA) and combat sports in general. And while it seemed to fulfill that very promise for the next couple of years, it also inevitably led to the downfall of the sport in Japan. Let's dive right in: Shockwave was a star-studded event naturally headlined by Japanese all-star Kazushi Sakuraba taking on the younger of the Brazilian twins, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. An Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) rematch also took place as Octagon originals Don Frye and Gary Goodridge locked horns for a second time. This time "Big Daddy" came out on top with a thunderous head kick that put "The Predator" immediately to sleep. Americans Quinton Jackson and Heath Herring each took on and defeated overmatched competition. In "Rampage's" case, it was Ikuhisa Minowa, a fighter he likely outweighed by 20 points. For "The Texas Crazy Horse," it was Giant Silva, a fighter who likely outweighed him by 100 but whose MMA skills were rudimentary at best. Akira Shoji would end up getting viciously knocked out by Murilo Rua only two months after Mauricio Rua achieved the same result. It seemed the Rua family had Shoji's number. Fellow Japanese fighters Yuki Kondo and Kiyoshi Tamura fared better aganist their competition, however. Kondo bested Brazilian legend Mario Sperry while longtime Sakuraba rival Tamura was able to submit Ray Sefo's baby brother Rony. A fight between Hayato Sakurai and fellow countryman Daiju Takase went the judges who scored "Mach" as the victor. The Gracie family earned back some respect for Brazil before the night was done. Daniel Gracie submitted his opponent with relative ease and while the result of Royce Gracie's bout with Hidehiko Yoshida is a draw, it was only the special rule set that defined it as such. After allowing the judoka to take his back the previous year and elicit a stoppage through a possibly dubious choke, the UFC Hall of Famer was not going to rest on his laurels. During their first bout, Yoshida employed the ezekiel choke using his gi. Staying in position for a few moments, the Japanese fighter then alerted the referee that Gracie had passed out. The bout was called and Yoshida popped up to his feet. The problem was so did Gracie. It seemed like the entire country of Brazil poured into the ring then to protest the stoppage so 16 months later, two fighters found themselves back where they started. Only this time, Gracie had a score to settle and a point to prove. The fight is officially a draw but in reality, it was a one-sided beatdown. The UFC legend dominated his opponent from bell to bell and despite not coming out with a win, he still earned back some of the respect he had lost the year before. It became the fight the event has become best known for. The bout was booked because Pride officials were eager to get both fighters back into the ring to settle the score after the scandalous ending to their first match-up over a year prior at a Pride/K-1 co-promoted event. Their hope was to make money while also hoping to quell any controversy. But controversy remained. Two names surprisingly absent from the Shockwave card were those of popular kickboxer turned MMA fighter Mirko Filipovic and Pride's heavyweight champion at the time Fedor Emelianenko. "Cro Cop" mysteriously took the night off while "The Last Emperor" actually appeared at Inoki's Bom-Ba-Ye event. The details surrounding those situations would eventually lead to Pride's downfall. Allegations of crooked promoters and even dirtier managers with the Yakuza having its fingers in everything. Two years after this event, the murky details began to surface and Pride wouldn't survive the fallout. It helps cast a shadow over this event since the competitiveness of Pride officials to put on the biggest and best show possible is also what led to the company's demise. The main event was Pride ace Sakuraba taking on the relatively fresh face of "Lil Nog." While older brother -- by 23 seconds -- was already an established name on the Pride circuit, Rogerio Nogueira had only stepped inside the promotion's ring three times. The two had a great fight. Really, it will probably go down as when two of the greatest fighters to never hold a major title met inside the ring. The pomp and the spectacle would reach even greater heights in the ensuing years -- Shockwave 2005 boasts nearly 50,000 fans in attendance -- but it all began in 2003 at the Saitama Super Arena. In a way, it's also where it began to end. More from the "Ghosts of Saitama" series: Ghosts of Saitama: After nearly a decade, the traditional New Year's Eve MMA event in Japan likely comes to an end in 2011 Ghosts of Saitama: In 2004, the world's greatest heavyweights descended upon Saitama Super Arena Ghosts of Saitama: Pride FC wastes no time making its debut at Saitama Super Arena in Japan

Posted in: fighter, event, year, pride, saitama

Strikeforce adds Nate Marquardt to welterweight division

It appears Strikeforce has strayed from the norm, signing notable free agent Nate Marquardt in hopes of strengthening the organization’s roster by inking a legitimate contender with name value. Marquardt brings both experience and ability with him, jp;domg numerous wins against respected adversaries including Rousimar Palhares, Martin Kampmann, Dan Miller, and Demian Maia. News of the 32-year old’s signing was confirmed on this week’s episode of UFC Tonight. He is expected to debut against Tyron Woodley with divisional gold on the line. Marquardt has been out of action for nearly a year after enduring an unfortunate mixture of injuries and contractual issues. He was released by the UFC relating to his use of doctor-prescribed testosterone, essentially being banished at the time, then signed with BAMMA before parting ways with the British promotion based on the company’s overall inactivity. “Nate the Great” holds an overall record of 31-10 with 23 stoppages while only having been finished a single time himself in more than seven years. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, year, nate, marquardt, tyron woodley

After A Year to Forget, Fukuda Aims to Make 2012 Memorable

In breaking down 2011, you have to wonder what was more painful for Tokyo middleweight Riki Fukuda: injuring his knee in a June car accident or his UFC debut loss to Nick Ring in February via highly controversial decision. A year after the Ring bout, Fukuda has recovered from both setbacks, grateful for the support he received from the fight community, especially those who lit up internet message boards and Twitter with outrage after UFC 127.“I was very happy to hear that most people believed I won the fight, but it was a close match and I did not feel I won 100%,” said Fukuda through manager / translator Fumihiko Ishii. Fukuda, Ring, and the three judges may have been the only ones who didn’t see him as the clear victor in Sydney that night, with UFC President Dana White even chiming in with the tweet “Fukuda got robbed.” But White didn’t stop there.“As you may know Dana treated me as a winner of the fight,” said Fukuda, “and gave me a win bonus, which I sincerely appreciated.”It was almost as if Fukuda’s seven fight winning streak wasn’t snapped, at least in terms of public perception, but if you think the 31-year old is resting on that perception, that’s not the case, as he definitely saw holes in his game that needed sewing up, and when asked what he would have done differently, he says, “I would be more aggressive and throw combination punches in the standup, and try to control the ground game.”And though his next outing at UFC 133 last August against Rafael Natal was scrapped due to the aforementioned car accident, he gets his second shot at a first UFC win this Saturday night against Steve Cantwell, and as far as he’s concerned, the Ring fight is simply a thing of the past.“It was not difficult for me to change my mindset to look at the next fight,” said Fukuda, who will be in with a young man in Cantwell who is in dire need of a win. Currently on a four fight losing streak, the former WEC champion may take even more risks than usual to heighten his chances to break his skid, but Fukuda sees himself just as hungry for victory at Saitama Super Arena in Japan.“I am honored to face a former WEC champion in my hometown,” said Fukuda. “But all of the fighters are looking for the win, including myself since I lost my last fight, and Steve is just one of them.”Unlike some of his countrymen on the UFC’s return to Japan, Fukuda hasn’t been too far removed from his homeland professionally, having fought in Tokyo as recently as August of 2010, when he stopped Ryuta Sakurai in two rounds to retain his Deep middleweight title. But at the same time, a lot has happened since then, both personally and professionally, most notably the earthquake and tsunami that devastated the nation in March of last year. So coming home for this fight means even more for Fukuda.“I am very happy to fight in front of my friends and fans and everyone who helped me to get back in the Octagon after my traffic accident,” he said. “Many friends and family are not able to see my fight due to overseas venues. But this time, they said, ‘I'm going to cheer your fight,’ and it is very encouraging to me. In addition, I would like to deliver my message through my fight to all the people in Japan who are working together to help the victims from the earthquake disaster.”That kind of motivation is tough to beat for any opponent, and in the back of the Japanese fighters’ minds is also the idea that a series of stellar performances from the local heroes can kickstart the MMA scene in the “Land of the Rising Sun.” “Yes, I do think so, as long as we can perform well and have a good show.”Well, when it comes to Fukuda, everything is aligned for such a performance, as he’s healthy, motivated, and has had a solid camp both in Japan with the GRABKA team and in the United States with AKA (American Kickboxing Academy), a team he has worked with for five years.“AKA treated me as a team member and it is like my home in California,” said Fukuda. “They have a great team and coach, which gives me the best training of my career.”Saturday night, he gets to show off that training in his biggest fight yet.“Anything could happen,” he said, “but I am betting on having the fight of my career 100%.”

Posted in: ufc, fight, year, fukuda, fukuda “

Ghosts of Saitama: After nearly a decade, the traditional New Year's Eve MMA event in Japan likely comes to an end in 2011

The roar of the crowd ... the sound of bare feet shuffling against canvas ... the unexplainable electricity inside the building. They are all mere echos today as crowds in the tens of thousands have dwindled down to a fraction of that amount. The Saitama Super Arena, host of this Saturday's (Feb. 25) UFC 144 event, has been home to some of the greatest mixed martial arts (MMA) events in the history of the sport. "Ghosts of Saitama" will take a look at some of those moments, forever preserved and never forgotten. We all assumed it would never end. Beginning in 2003, Japanese combat sports -- both mixed martial arts (MMA) and kickboxing -- shone brightest on the last day of the year. Events clocking in at five, six or even seven hours full of pomp and pageantry ushered tens of thousands of fans into the New Year each and every December 31. As the years passed, the MMA boom across the Pacific went from a sizzle to a simmer. The amount of New Year's Eve (NYE) events went from three to two and then finally to one in 2007, with Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, being its home beginning the following year. As fans and fighters entered 2012, it wouldn't seem remiss to even question if there was any heat left at all in what appeared to be a corpse. DREAM, the last bastion of the spectacular heights the sports reached in Japan, promoted only three shows last year, down from four the year prior. But, it seemed there would always be NYE. It was a tradition, dagnabit. And resources were frantically pooled to ensure the show would see the light of day. Less than eight weeks ago, Fighting and Entertainment Group (FEG) -- promoter of DREAM and K-1 -- held what very well may be the last NYE card fans will get to enjoy. Quite a few of them -- myself included -- realizing this might be the final chance to see MMA as what it once was gave their DVR the night off and stocked up on the energy drinks and junk food. They prepared for an all-nighter just like in the old days. After all the joy NYE had given fans, it was the least that could be done in return. Even before it began, a somber tone surrounded the event at the Saitama Super Arena. After the previous year's incarnation drew such poor ratings, television powerhouse Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) opted -- for the first time since the NYE events began in 2003 -- not to carry the show. Without TBS' muscle, FEG and Japanese legend Antonio Inoki struggled to garner much interest. Undaunted, they pressed forward and continued with the "Fight for Japan" theme DREAM had started earlier in the year. Stateside, the event began a little past midnight on Dec. 31, 2011, and continued into the morning light. For the Japanese fans in attendance, they made their way into Saitama Super Arena in the early afternoon only to see the show's conclusion -- the dawning of the New Year -- mere moments after the main event of Fedor Emelianenko taking on Satoshi Ishii ended. "The Last Emperor" scored a quick knockout against the overmatched Japanese judoka and in doing so, picked up his second straight win after dropping three fights for Strikeforce. Hours earlier, the festivities began with a brutal knockout slam courtesy of Yusup Saadulaev. He put Hideo Tokoro to sleep in a reserve bout for the one-night grand prix to crown DREAM's first bantamweight champion. In the tournament proper, former World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) star Antonio Banuelos and Bibiano Fernandes each earned the judges' nod to advance to the finals where the Brazilian became a two-division champ after stopping Banuelos in less than 90 seconds. Two K-1 MAX kickboxing bouts took place as did two DREAM MMA fights. Japanese stalwarts Tatsuya Kawairi and Hayato Sakurai each picked up a win that night. The two sports were -- like they were last year -- fused together when DREAM and DEEP veteran Katsunori Kikuno took one cosplay aficionado Yuichiro Nagashima. The anime-loving kickboxer had score an impressive knockout over Shinya Aoki seconds into the MMA round the previous year after the submission wizard spent the entire kickboxing round fooling around and killing time. Nagashima wouldn't be so lucky this year as Kikuno took the bout much more seriously than his predecessor and scored a second round technical knockout (TKO) for MMA. The most dominant women's MMA fighter showed up to do her thing, too. Megumi Fujii added another arm to her trophy case after picking up a quick submission win over her opponent. Meanwhile, two DREAM champions made successful title defenses. Hiroyuki Takaya -- who had won the featherweight title from the aforementioned Fernandes -- retained against Takeshi Inoue while Aoki kept his stranglehold on the Japanese lightweight scene by outpointing Satoru Kitaoka. The highlight of the evening for many were the Inoki Genome Federation (IGF) rules bouts that took place. IGF is Inoki's professional wrestling promotion and as such, each of the four bouts was a display of Japan's take on the sport otherwise known as puroresu. There was the wacky -- Kazuyuki Fujita submitting Peter Aerts with a Boston Crab and Jerome Le Banner pounding out former UFC champ Tim Sylvia -- and then there was the awesome. The latter comprised a tag-team match between the team of Kazushi Sakuraba and Katsuyori Shibata taking the team of Atsushi Sawada and Shinichi Suzukawa. Then there was the insanely fun catch-wrestling display Josh Barnett and Hideki Suzuki put on, which delighted old school fans of Pride Fighting Championships' predecessor Union of Wrestling Forces International (UWFi). On top of all that, you had Inoki coming out on a cross during an intermission performance that only the giant-jawed legend could have dreamt up. It was that type of showmanship and over-the-topness that NYE was known for. And we may never see it again.More from the "Ghosts of Saitama" series: Ghosts of Saitama: In 2004, the world's greatest heavyweights descended upon Saitama Super Arena Ghosts of Saitama: Pride FC wastes no time making its debut at Saitama Super Arena in Japan

Posted in: mma, dream, event, year, saitama

My Muay Thai Training Diary: Gear Review, 1 Year Later

Welcome back to my online diary documenting my very amateur experience training in Muay Thai. If you missed the previous entries on Bloody Elbow, read them here. When I first started out my training a year ago, I received a lot of advice about what gear to purchase. Some of it I used, some I did not. (Nothing personal, but, well, I was cheap, what can I say?) I'm appreciative of all the guidance I've received in this area as the world of gear acquisition can be incredibly daunting to a new trainee. There are just so many different pieces out there, and so many options for each one. Do I need ankle wraps? How about head gear? The super expensive mouthpiece or a more basic one? The Muay Thai steel cup, or something simple? 16 oz gloves? 14? 12? It's a lot to process. There's no shortage of reviews online, but these can also be confusing. In particular, I found that many reviews focus on the user's initial impressions, but don't always address how the gear holds up over time. So this week, I'm focusing on my gear and providing a quick review of how it's holding up one year later. Hopefully it will help you if you're looking into something similar. Gloves - I went with your basic Everlast boxing glove, 16 oz - this one I believe. Yes, yes, I know one of the first things you'll hear is that Everlast is the devil, but I chose these because I could try them on at my local Sports Authority, and they cost around $30. My first impression was that I had indeed made a bad choice, as part of the stitching quickly came loose. But 1 year later, I'm still using them, and they're fine. They're starting to get a little worn down, and I'll need to upgrade within the year, but for $30 I am happy. For new folks looking to get started and looking to not immediately drop a huge chunk of change, I think this is a good option. Wraps - Along with my gloves, I bought a pair of Everlast hand wraps (in snazzy yellow). They're OK, and again, I'm still using them, but not the best. The trouble is they tend to come loose as training goes on, especially if I am taking pads or gloves on and off. Need something tighter, or perhaps just need a better lesson in proper wrapping technique. I probably could have done better, but for around $8 they're fine. Shin pads - My best purchas. A have a pair of RevGear Defender Gel Shin Guards purchased online at MMA Stop. They cost me about $60 and are fantastic. I'm a tall guy with long legs, and these cover my entire shin and the foot with no trouble. They're big, so at first I felt a bit awkward in them, but with a few sessions, I was fine. I've used them a lot and they show absolutely no wear and tear - like, nothing at all. Perhaps the only downside is that when I drill a lot of leg kicks and checks, they will get knocked askew on my shin, but that's not a big deal. An enthusiastic thumbs up on these (and another thumbs up for MMA Stop, who was great to deal with). Cup - A terrible cup from Target. It has done OK for me, but I need to upgrade. Mouthpiece - I got a basic fitted mouthpiece, again from Target. I know I need something better, as I can tell it's not providing me with enough protection, and that's a bad thing. Headgear - Haven't purchased one yet, but am currently on the prowl. And that's it. I don't have ankle wraps, a fancy bag, Muay Thai shorts or my own pads. Of those things, my next purchase will probably be shorts, partly because they will be helpful, and partly (I admit) just because they look cool. Of course, those are my specific experiences based on my gym and trainer. Anyone starting off should have a conversation with their trainer to find out what is needed and hear their suggestions. But don't let the cost of the highest end gear turn you off from jumping in and getting started - you can always upgrade later, and better to get going now then wait until everything is perfect. Question(s) of the day: What is your best gear purchase? What was terrible for you? What did you not have that you needed? I train Muay Thai under Andre Madiz at Conviction Martial Arts, 4430 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL. www.convictionfitness.com. If you are in the Chicago area, come join us, and be sure to say hello.

Posted in: year, need, gear, theyre, glove

Jake Shields Ready to Begin the Next Chapter

Personally and professionally, 2011 was an arduous year for Jake Shields.Over the previous five-plus years, the American Jiu-Jitsu practitioner had defeated the likes of Martin Kampmann, Dan Henderson, and Carlos Condit to become one of the top pound-for-pound competitors in the sport.When the year began, Shields stood as the #1 contender in the UFC welterweight division, riding a 15-fight winning streak into the main event of UFC 129, the biggest show in the organization’s history, against its biggest star, Georges St-Pierre.The 33-year-old dropped a unanimous decision to the currently sidelined welterweight champion, his first loss since December 2004. The sting of losing to St-Pierre was nothing compared to the devastating loss Shields suffered four months later.In late August, Shields’ father and manager, Jack, passed away; he was 67-years-old.Scheduled to headline Ultimate Fight Night 25 in New Orleans, Louisiana less than a month later against the surging Jake Ellenberger, Shields went through with the fight, saying at the time that it was what his father would have wanted him to do.The bout lasted just 53 seconds. Before Shields had time to get comfortable in the cage, Ellenberger caught him with a knee that dropped him to the canvas, before pouncing on his downed opponent, and pounding out the finish. After five years without a loss in the cage, Shields had suffered back-to-back defeats in the span of five months, and a far more painful loss outside of the Octagon as well.“Six months ago was a tough time, losing my father; he was my manager, we were really close,” said Shields. “Losing him right before going into the Ellenberger fight was tough, and then walking in there, and getting clipped by a knee early on — in the first minute — and losing that.“It was a tough time — losing my dad, and the fight — I was a little depressed after that. It took me a couple of months to get my head back together, and start training again.”No one would have questioned Shields had he opted to withdraw from the Ellenberger fight. With five months to reflect the situation, he sees no point in second-guessing his choice to fight.“It was a tough decision to make back then, but it’s one of those things — you go out there and get clipped. You can’t go out there and have regrets or make excuses. It’s unfortunate that the night didn’t turn out the way I wanted, but I can’t go out there and have regrets about it. If I had pulled out, I probably would have had regrets about that. I made the decision, and now I have to live with it. All I can do is come back even stronger than ever in this fight.”Shields returns to the cage Saturday night, welcoming Japanese star Yoshihiro Akiyama to the welterweight division.Always considered undersized for the middleweight ranks, the 36-year-old judoka finally makes the move down to the 170-pound weight class in the midst of a three-fight losing streak, and having earned just a single victory — a controversial split decision win over Alan Belcher at UFC 100 — since signing with the UFC in February 2009.After having squared off with the Canadian superstar St-Pierre in front of 55,000-plus fans in the raucous Rogers Centre last April in Toronto, Saturday’s contest will mark the second time in 10 months that Shields has taken on the “hometown favorite” in front of a massive audience.He has no issues stepping in against Akiyama on his home turf, and appreciates the show of faith from the UFC, putting him right back on the main card despite his current two-fight skid.“I have no problem going and fighting people in their hometowns where they’re the favored ones,” admitted the former Shooto, EliteXC, and Strikeforce champion. “And it’s great that even after my back-to-back losses, the UFC hasn’t lost faith in me; they’ve still put me as one of the top fights on this card. It means a lot that they still have that faith in me, and I want to go out and show them that they’re not making a mistake, and put Akiyama away.”Having suffered a pair of defeats professionally, and one of the greatest losses anyone can face in his personal life, Shields is using the trials and tribulations of last year as motivation to help him get back on track in 2012, beginning this weekend at UFC 144.“I think I’m more motivated,” Shields said when asked how the last year has impacted his approach to his career. “Going on a six-year winning streak, and then having back-to-back losses, losing my father — it was a tough year for me in 2011. I want to change that, get that behind me, and start out fresh this year, starting with Akiyama; put on a great performance, and get back into title contention.“Right now I’m in a great headspace; I feel great. As far as training goes, I feel the best I’ve ever felt. I just can’t wait to get out there and fight. If I feel the way I do (now) in the fight, I have no doubt that I’ll go out there, perform well, and bring home the victory.”Shields mixed things up for this training camp, moving around more than he had in previous camps in order to get a fresh look or two in preparation for his return to the Octagon.“I do the majority of my training with Cesar Gracie still — with Nick (Diaz), Nate (Diaz), (Gilbert Melendez), and those guys — but I spent a week out with Michael (Bisping), and the guys at Imperial (Athletics). It gave me some different sparring partners, some different looks; helped me see a few different things. I think it’s always good to stay open-minded and try to expand what you’re doing.”After well over a decade in the sport, Saturday night’s contest will mark the first time Shields has stepped into the cage on a two-fight losing streak. Not only is he hungry to get back into the win column, but Shields also sees his return to Japan as the ideal location to commence the next chapter in his career.“Japan is where I first started making a name for myself. I was completely unknown and they brought me out to fight (Hayato) “Mach” Sakurai — who was #2-ranked fighter in the world at that time — and I went out there and pulled a huge upset.“Pretty much no one picked me, and that kind of got me started on my career as a real professional fighter. To go back to where I got my career started is great. I want to go out there and re-energize my career where I first got it going 10 years ago.”

Posted in: fight, shield, loss, year, month

UFC 144 Preliminary Card: Things to Watch

UFC 144 kicks off this Saturday at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. MMAFrenzy begins its coverage of UFC 144 with writers Chris Leslie and Bryan Robison taking a look at the preliminary card. The preliminary card begins with a one fight Facebook card around 7:30pm ET and the rest of the prelims taking place on FX at 8pm ET. Bryan Robison’s Things to Watch Does Takanori Gomi have anything left? The last time we saw Gomi, he was being dismantled by Nate Diaz at UFC 135 in September. Now he returns to the venue that made him a star over five years ago. “The Fireball Kid” has been disappointing since making his way stateside in the UFC. At 1-3 in the organization, Gomi could very well be fighting a farewell fight on Saturday. He faces an opponent in Eiji Mitsuoka, who stepped in for an injured George Sotiropolous with just a few weeks’ notice. Mitsuoka, a fellow former Japanese Pride fighter, has fought just twice over the last two years. His strength lies in Gomi’s weakness, and that is on the ground. Of Mitsuoka’s 18 career wins, 11 are by submission. Even though he is a late-notice opponent, Gomi should not look pats Mitsuoka because of his strong submission game, and if he loses, it could be his last time entering the Octagon. Can Steve Cantwell return to the win column? Cantwell’s last victory was over three years ago. That came in December 2008 against Razak Al-Hassan, who has long been gone from the UFC. Now Cantwell enters the cage on a four fight loss streak. This will be his second fight at middleweight, so if he is to lose, he will no longer have an excuse to fall back on concerning a new weight class. Four years ago, Cantwell was transitioning to the UFC with the WEC light heavyweight championship belt around his waist. Unfortunately for Cantwell, everything has gone downhill for him since then. Cantwell faces Riki Fukada, who last fought over a year ago at UFC 127. Much like Cantwell, the former Deep middleweight champion has suffered from injuries over the last few years. With this fight, it seems apparent that the loser will certainly be fighting for the final time in the Octagon. Chris Leslie’s Things to Watch Can Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto stop the slide and stay relevant? At one point in Kid’s career he was one of the most promising fighters in all of MMA. A Japanese fighter with an amazing wrestling family and impressive wrestling credentials of his own, if any Japanese fighter seem poised for success in the US it seemed to be him. Now at 1-4 in his last five, Yamamoto needs a win in a big way. While there are rumors of a possible future at 125 for Kid, without a strong performance in Saitama he risks losing any relevance at both 135 and 125. Is Takeya Mizugaki a gatekeeper or a true threat? Takeya Mizugaki is one of the better Japanese fighters that people often forget. The reason people tend to forget him is that whenever he has fought top competition, he comes up short. In Chris Cariaso, Mizugaki faces a strong fighter who is poised for a run if he wins Saturday. Mizugaki’s skills are better than Cariaso’s but a loss Saturday could relegate him to being a gatekeeper in the UFC. Bonus thing to watch: The Japanese and Chinese have long had a rather frosty, at best, history with each other. Meaning the ovation that Chinese fighter Tiequan Zhang when he faces Japanese fighter Issei Tamura could be rather harsh, even with it being the first fight of the night. Stay tuned to MMAFrenzy for complete coverage of UFC 144.

Posted in: ufc, fighter, japanese, year, cantwell

John Nash presents a revised and updated Fighting Presidents post from last year over on Head Kick...

John Nash presents a revised and updated Fighting Presidents post from last year over on Head Kick Legend. Who knew that Abraham Lincoln was actually almost as awesome as the vampire huntin' movie makes him out to be?

Posted in: year, head, presidents post, abraham lincoln, john nash

Blank Canvas

Over the last two years, Frankie Edgar has logged nearly 19 rounds in four fights against two opponents.

Posted in: fight, year, edgar, frankie, canvas

Gregor Gracie: 'Hopefully I will be fighting for ONE FC on March 31 in Singapore'

Gregor Gracie turned to mixed martial arts (MMA) back in 2007 after helping out on his brother Renzo's International Fight League (IFL) team and realizing that he was just as good as many of the fighters. However, his career has progressed slowly, partly due to an injury that forced a two year absence from the sport. Gracie fought three times in 2011, finishing the year with a decision win over Seok Mo Kim at ONE Fighting Championship 1. His record now stands at 6-1 and he is coming off four straight wins and says he wants to fight regularly in 2012. "Last year I did three fights in the year and this year I am hoping to do as many or more. Hopefully I will be fighting for ONE FC on March 31st in Singapore, we are still working that out and we are working on finding an opponent but hopefully I will be there." He recently returned from Jakarta where he was cornering Rolles for his quickfire win over Bob Sapp at ONE FC 2. The Beast didn't win himself many fans with that performance but Gracie was relieved to see his brother emerge with the victory. "I'm very happy to get the win, Bob Sapp is a dangerous guy and he can end a fight any second so we worked a strategy to take him down and finish the fight right away and it worked. I really enjoyed fighting at the first show and being at the second show the memories came flooding back, I used to wake up in the middle of the night to watch Pride back in Brazil and so it is unbelievable to be a part of this show and have that same feeling again." In his last fight Gracie went the distance for the first time in his career, something which he regards as a mixed blessing. He would liked to have finished his opponent, Seok Mo Kim, but says he was happy to fight for the full 15 minutes. "I was a little disappointed that I couldn't find a way to submit him, I am always trying to finish fights and I was disappointed I couldn't do that. He was very tough so I have to give him credit but it was good because now I know I can go three rounds. I've always worked hard in training and done many rounds in the academy but it's not the same, now I know I can go three rounds no problem so I have a little more experience. Hopefully next fight I will be able to finish earlier." Gracie has won multiple Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) competitions at a national, regional and international level but has put his grappling on one side to focus on his MMA career, "I haven't done BJJ competitions for quite a bit, almost a year, it's hard to do both BJJ and MMA. if I get a chance I will compete again but I won't be as prepared as I should be because I am focusing more on MMA but I really enjoy BJJ competitions." He is based full time in New York where he trains and teaches at the Renzo Gracie Academy and works with fighters of the caliber of Ricardo Almeida and Frankie Edgar. "We have all the team there. I train with Renzo, Igor, Rolles, Ricardo Almeida, Frankie Edgar trains with us sometimes, we have a lot of great guys, we have a great team and have been doing very well in competitions." According to Gracie spending time with the UFC Lightweight Champion has helped him to make the transition from being a BJJ practitioner to becoming a fully fledged mixed martial artist. "I train with Frankie Edgar three times a week and I help him and he helps me also. The whole team is like this we help each other to grow each one has a strong point which they can teach, doesn't matter if they are UFC champ or just a guy who is starting, everybody has got something to teach and everybody has got something to learn." As he looks to follow in the footsteps of his half brother and training partner Renzo by establishing a reputation in Asia, Gracie is fortunate to have a base there. Evolve MMA in Singapore was founded by Chatri Sityodtong, one of Renzo's students, and is affiliated to the Renzo Gracie Academy. For Gracie having a base in Asia makes it much easier to make the journey from New York without losing any sharpness in the process. "Before my last fight I arrived one week before and I trained at Evolve MMA. If I fight again in March, which I hopefully will, maybe I will spend a bit longer there to get used to the time difference. It's a great training environment, they are really professional, it's like having a home away from home. They are the greatest team in Asia and they are growing a lot, I learn a lot from the guys there, it's a big help." The Gracie family have a long history of fighting in Asia and now that he, Igor and Rolles have all signed long term contracts with ONE FC and Gregor is very excited about the opportunity to showcase his talents on such a visible platform. "I was very surprised to see all the posters everywhere when I arrived in Singapore before the first show and the venue was unbelievable, I wasn't expecting this. That's why we came back for the second show and we want to be back for the third as well, it's a great event, it's really looking good." Without the Gracies it is highly doubtful whether MMA would every have developed into one of the most popular sports on the planet. There is a tremendous appetite so see fighters who bear this particular surname succeed and with a 6-1 record and a four fight winning streak Gregor is certainly on the right track.

Posted in: fight, mma, year, gracie, renzo

The Joe Lozito Story

A year ago, I discovered a little sandwich shop on Mulberry Street that produced the finest Chicken Parmesan sandwiches I’ve ever had. That entire summer, I continued frequenting the restaurant and also discovered their turkey sandwiches were enchanted with an unknown mysterious additive. No, it’s not just a turkey sandwich. They do something miraculous with turkey, skipping several generations of culinary & technological advancements to produce a sandwich that I refused to tell anyone about, because I didn’t want the most ballerish sandwichery in NYC to be discovered. Later that year, Anthony Bourdain’s highly acclaimed “No Reservations” show on the Travel Channel discovered the same place and America’s most outspoken food snob proclaimed “Torrisi” as one of NYC’s best kept secrets, thereby shredding any hope I had of keeping my gustatory treasure to myself; after millions of people watched the hour-long dissection of how amazing their food was, and how no other comparable restaurant sourced their ingredients as honestly, locally, and sustainably as them, it became instantly impossible to even see a table outside of their lunch hours. Formerly smug and well-fed foodies were forced to settle for something far less extraordinary in Little Italy just down the street, but on Wednesday, February 15, I found myself walking back up that same street for the first time in months to have a sandwich with Joe Lozito – avid MMA fan, assistant treasurer at Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center, loving father of two, and self-proclaimed Chicken ‘Parm’ aficionado. I tried to explain how amazing these sandwiches were, and insisted we endure the hour-long wait for a table (thanks to Anthony Bourdain’s endorsement). Ultimately, we were in great spirits following our brief walk up Mulberry Street, which consisted of smiles, jokes, and laughter as he brought closure to a yearlong saga that played out in New York City’s criminal court system. On February 12, 2011, Joe entered New York City’s subway system en route to work, following a routine he has practiced for years, just like millions of his fellow “straphangers”, as they’re known locally. What differentiated Joe from everyone else on the train was that his years of watching MMA would ultimately save his life, and the lives of every other man, woman, and child on the train that day. The "one" train he normally took uptown wasn’t in service that morning. Indifferently, Joe boarded the "three" line. He assumed a seat in the front car nearest to the subway operator’s quarters and waited for the doors to close but there was a delay as an ‘emotionally disturbed person’ boarded the same car and proceeded to pound on the operator’s door. If you’ve spent any extended time in New York City, none of this would seem out of the ordinary. In fact, I would venture to say I’ve never experienced a completely “normal” subway ride getting anywhere in the 25+ years I’ve lived in this city. Unbeknownst to Joe, this particular unhinged man was the focus of a city-wide manhunt following four consecutive murders stemming from the night before. When the conductor essentially told the man to get lost, he turned his eyes to Joe, the person geographically nearest to him at that very moment. He reached to his belt line and retrieved an eight-inch chef’s knife, the kind you’re probably accustomed to seeing in a kitchen, stared directly into Joe’s eyes and muttered “You are going to die”. Within seconds, the knife traveled into & out of Joe’s arms, shoulders, and head; a total of seven times. Joe immediately planted his legs on the vinyl-coated floor and shot for the most important single-leg takedown of his life while the train came to a screeching halt. A passenger must have triggered the subway’s emergency brake lever upon seeing the savage attack commence. Bleeding profusely, Joe wrestled the man to the ground, disarmed him, and more or less single-handedly brought an end to the Maxim Gelman 24-hour killing spree, while the rest of the subway’s patrons resisted getting their hands dirty. Several moments later, two New York police officers emerged from the conductor’s cabin, where they had resided for the duration of the train’s course. They immediately arrested Gelman and graciously accepted credit for apprehending NYC’s most wanted man while Joe continued to bleed out onto the dirty floor of the subway car. Nobody knows exactly what prompted two armed personnel sworn to protect and serve the people of New York to wait as long as they did to come out and pick up the suspect they were specifically stationed to look out for that day. It was nearly 25 minutes after the attack began when the train proceeded to the next station and Joe finally made it into an ambulance where his bleeding cuts were tended-to. To date, he credits his survival to a single compassionate passenger, Alfred Douglas, who found some clean napkins to compress his most critical wounds and kept him alive long enough for medics to take control of the situation. While Joe was rushed to the hospital, the local news coverage of his ordeal exceeded any other headlines that week. There wasn’t a single channel covering sports, pop culture, or politics, where the story wasn’t about Joe Lozito stopping a madman on a killing rampage. Less than a day later, Joe was considered medically stable enough to talk to media regarding his horrifying experience on the subway. Throughout the entire media-blitz, the reoccurring question remained, “How were you able to overcome a man stabbing you and end up disarming him?” Joe’s humble response, over and over again, was, “It’s something I’ve seen guys do in the UFC on a regular basis, but without the knife.” It’s the story he told FOX, ABC, CBS, TMZ, and finally Dana White - who responded by deeming Joe a true life “hero” and subsequently invited him and his family to sit at a VIP table at UFC 128 in Newark, New Jersey. Since then, Joe has sat ringside at multiple MMA events, considered a guest of honor - and in our opinion, it’s well deserved for many reasons. Besides the gravity of what he was able to overcome, protecting dozens of horrified passengers, this was the first time that all major media sources united to produce a story regarding Mixed Martial Arts in a positive light in a state where the sport is still illegal - In fact, it remains the ongoing joke of the MMA world that people like Bob Reilly have ignorantly (and without rational consideration) called mixed martial arts “savage” and unfit for the state of New York. I’d venture to guess that people like Mr. Reilly or any of his constituents at the New York State Assembly would struggle to remember any time when a baseball, football, or basketball fan was able to use what he saw on TV to stop a ruthless murderer and save potentially countless lives in the process. Needless to say, Joe Lozito is not impressed by their ignorance either. Eleven months later, MMA is still illegal in New York and Maksim Gelman will serve 200 consecutive years in prison without the possibility of parole. The local media swarmed the sentencing, capturing disturbing images of the psychopath verbally lashing out while the victims’ families cried over their lost loved-ones. It was a top story in a city where there’s rarely enough time to cover something that happened a full calendar year ago. Despite the lunacy, it wouldn’t be Gelman’s last time in court or his final hurtful remark. Just 27 days later, on February 15, 2012, Joe returned to court to face the man who tried to kill him, who was to be sentenced for up to an additional 25 years in prison, a formality at this point, but a final opportunity for Joe to say his piece to the murderer. While our cameras were not allowed in the courtroom, a brief transcript of Joe’s final statement to Maksim Gelman was clear and concise: “This guy has a lot of time he has to start serving... I don’t want to keep him here.” Joe proceeded to acknowledge Alfred Douglas for saving his life by giving him first aid after the attack. He then looked directly into Gelman’s eyes. “When you attacked and I took you down, you went down real easy,” “You didn’t take me down, you jerk-off,” Gelman fired back. Looking at the courtroom, Lozito responded, “Look, it’s the funniest Russian since Yakov Smirnoff.” A brief moment of laughter overcame the courtroom. Joe proceeded. “I appreciate that you chose me, I really do... Maybe if you’d continued your extreme cowardice, you would have picked on another person, a woman and maybe she couldn’t defend herself. Or a child.” Gelman resumed interjecting, “You fucking jerk-off. Moron!” “Why are you so angry?” Lozito mocked back. Clearly infuriated, Gelman began hollering loudly, forcing the judge to tell him to keep quiet. “Just think about the lives you have changed,” Lozito resumed, then listed the names of Gelman’s four victims. “They’ll never get to walk the face of this earth because you’re a spoiled little boy who nobody listened to as a kid. Instead of taking your ball and going home, you threw a tantrum.” “I wish you all the best. I hope you rot in your cell and you have hell to look forward to, so enjoy it.” Given a last chance to speak on his own behalf, Gelman’s final words were simply "Kim Kardashian, will you marry me?” followed by one last insult towards Lozito, “That jerk-off can suck my dick.” “No thank you, for the record,” Lozito replied as he took his seat and awaited the judge’s sentencing. "We've been subjected today to something of this man's evil, unrepentant nature," Judge Carruthers said. "Remove him." He handed down an additional 25 years in prison to the pre-existing 200 year sentence. Gelman was escorted out through the back of the courtroom for the last time, and the remaining spectators in the room were left looking around at one another in abrupt disbelief at what they had just witnessed. A quadruple homicide + attempted murder convict wasn’t in the same league as the other criminals before the judge that day. That kind of evil wasn’t even in the same galaxy of most people’s notions of reality. At a charity event MiddleEasy attended a few months ago sponsored by the New York Mixed Martial Arts Initiative, Joe was uncertain how he’d handle himself once the day arrived. It was our first time meeting, and he was reluctant to introduce himself, despite effortlessly being the most charismatic man in the room. My initial impression was that he was a soft-spoken individual who could say a lot without saying anything at all. The look on his face often tells a variety of stories. Joe will probably wear the physical scars of the wounds he sustained for the rest of his life, but emotionally, I’m convinced nothing could ever break him. When the time had come, Joe took a deep breath, stood up, and proceeded out of the courtroom just as confident as he walked in, answered a few questions amidst a flock of impassioned photographers and journalists, then insisted he wanted the best chicken parm sandwich on the island of Manhattan. Luckily, I knew just the place… We toasted a round of beers in the spirit of closure to a year-long wait to say his peace. You could ask Joe Lozito 10,000 different ways, and he’d deny that he’s anything remotely close to a hero, but the reality of what he did transcends any notion of just being humble. It’s because of him that dozens of people who rode the subway got home safely on the night of February 12, 2011. A year later, the people who sat there while Joe was getting attacked by a monster continue live their lives as though nothing ever happened, and they may never fully grasp how lucky they were that this particular MMA fan was aboard that train. Not only is Joe Lozito a hero, but he’s a person that can never be thanked enough for putting himself in harm’s way so that nobody else had to. If you haven’t yet, you should take a moment to send him a simple “thank you,” on Twitter. He whole-heartedly appreciate every single motivational message you send his way, insisting it makes his physical and mental recovery that much more bearable. He also responds to every last message and is always up for a discussion about sports. On a personal note, it’s people like Joe that give me faith in humanity, humility, and make me proud to be in a position to tell his story. Thank you, Joe Lozito. I’m proud to consider you a hero, and a friend. Additional thanks go out to Jason Nawara for editing this footage we obtained by sharing this day of closure for a lot of people.

Posted in: ’t, joe, year, lozito, gelman

Bellator looking to do Shinya Aoki-Eddie Alvarez on April 20

It has been a little more than three long years since Eddie Alvarez was submitted by Shinya Aoki in Japan on New Year’s Eve. In the bout Aoki tapped Alvarez with a Heel Hook92 seconds into their bout. Now, it appears the former Bellator lightweight champion is poised exact his revenge on American soil. Though no specific location was mentioned, it looks like Bellator is hoping to book Aoki-Alvarez II at Bellator 66. MMAJunkie was first to report the April 20 match-up. Since the loss, Alvarez has been defeated just once when Michael Chandler claimed the Bellator lightweight title in a thrilling contest last year. Prior to the defeat he’d won seven straight including victories over Josh Neer and Roger Huerta. Alvarez has been pushing for a rematch with Aoki, as the loss continues to haunt him, and will now apparently get his wish. It could also mark Alvarez’s last fight in the promotion making a win even more important. Aoki, currently on a seven fight winning streak, is considered to be one of the top BJJers in MMA. He has earned eighteen of his thirty total victories by way of submission including those over the likes of Alvarez, Rich Clementi, Lyle Beerbohm, Joachim Hansen, and Tatsuya Kawajiri. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE/BELLATOR

Posted in: bellator, year, alvarez, aoki, bout aoki

At 50 years old, former UFC champ Maurice Smith returns to MMA

Former UFC heavyweight champion Maurice Smith, at 50 years old, will fight again. MMAjunkie.com today confirmed with sources close to the fighter that Smith will compete at March's aptly-named Resurrection Fighting Alliance 2 event. Smith is expected to face Washington's Kyle "Kodiak" Keeney at the event.

Posted in: event, year, smith, mmajunkiecom today, maurice

BRUTAL- Hands down, the best elbow of (y)ear..

submitted by tekprodfx16 [link] [5 comments]

Posted in: tekprodfx, year, hand, elbow

WWE reveals location of next year’s Wrestlemania, confirms Rock will see action at event

With this year’s Wrestlemania only a few months away WWE has already started planting seeds for next year’s epic event, as the organization landed in East Rutherford, New Jersey earlier this week to announce MetLife Stadium will play host to Wrestlemania 29. The venue plays home to the NFL’s New York Jets and Superbowl Champion New York Giants with a seating capacity of 80,000+. Adding to the monumental nature of WWE’s announcement was that of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s expected participation. “My goal right now is to make Wrestlemania XXVIII the greatest Wrestlemania of all time,” said Johnson. “I will also come to Wrestlemania XXIX, and I will electrify MetLife Stadium like never before.” John Cena, also on hand, echoed Johnson’s sentiments, stating, “I’m glad you don’t have a roof on this building, because we sure would blow it off.” Wrestlemania 29 is set for April 7, 2013. PHOTO CREDIT – WWE Tweet

Posted in: year, johnson, wwe, wrestlemania, wrestlemania xxix

Reaction from the Action: UFC on Fuel TV 1 “Sanchez vs. Ellenberger”

Let the El-Lensanity begin! Well…maybe not. After a strong performance on Wednesday, Jake Ellenberger emerged victorious with a win over the always tough Diego Sanchez. He might have the rulebook to thank for it, due to the match being scheduled for just three rounds. After a dominating first two rounds, Sanchez began to get comfortable, and was able to get Ellenberger to the ground late in the round. However, even with a few submission attempts and strong ground-and-pound, he was unable to finish “The Juggernaut”. Afterwards, the judges all agreed, and Bruce Buffer announced the 29-28 score in favor of Ellenberger. So, what now? Earlier this month at UFC 143, Carlos Condit defeated Nick Diaz by decision to win the interim welterweight title. Because of just how closely contested the fight was, a rematch was discussed and likely would have taken place later this year. However, Diaz failed his post-fight drug test for marijuana, thus throwing that rematch out the window due to Diaz being suspended. Now Condit will likely wait for welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre to return from a torn ACL. That means Condit will wait on the shelf until later this year, likely November. Nine months. That means the Duggar family (famous for having 19 kids…and counting!) will likely have another child before we see the pair step foot in the Octagon. This begs the question- what was the point of having the interim belt? If Condit is only going to fight once during St. Pierre’s downtime, why have an interim belt at all? Why not just make him the number one contender with the win over Diaz, and at least not make the interim belt even more of a phony than it already is? Or even better, do not label the fight with Condit and Diaz at all, and let the division sort itself out to determine who the proper contender for St. Pierre is for when he returns. Now, with the win on Wednesday over Sanchez, Ellenberger is stuck. He is at least a year away from a title shot, if not more, depending on how St. Pierre’s recovery goes. A fantastic rematch between Condit and Ellenberger is sitting in Dana White and Joe Silva’s lap, but instead they will just give us something else, just like Santa Claus at the mall. Ellenberger, who fought nine times in 2005, does not have the benefit of waiting around. That does not get him anywhere, especially due to not being a number one contender. But, the one benefit of him fighting a few more fights this year is that he will get to fight in five-round matchups. He was visibly tired in the third round; something Sanchez was able to take advantage of. Now he can work on his fitness and gradually work his way up to being ready for that title shot whenever it is awarded to him. Biggest winner: Stefan Struve Before the fight, Struve stressed how much he just wants to continue growing in the cage. His maturity and growth may have never been more evident than on Wednesday against Dave Herman. After a slow first round, Struve picked his spots very well in the second round, eventually knocking Herman down with an uppercut. From there he was able to finish the fight. A year ago, Struve might have grown impatient midway through the first round, perhaps putting him in trouble. At 23, he still has plenty of time to develop. After entering the Octagon for the tenth time, Struve might finally be on his way to reaching his potential. Biggest loser: Dave Herman Herman just had to know that scarf did not go well with that sweater. Fashion mistakes aside, Herman’s lack of focus on his career might be catching up to him. The raw talent is evident, but for a guy that has never taken his career overly serious, he might have reached the peak of where natural skills can take him. After testing positive for marijuana prior to UFC 136, and not really confirming or denying it, and then his antics throughout the week, Herman might get a talking to from UFC brass before he gets cut. And yes, Pee-Wee, that’s the word of the day. Biggest question: Did anyone get to see the excellent debut on FUEL TV? With an attendance of just over 6,000 in the Omaha Civic Auditorium, that still might be a larger audience than the amount of people that watched on television. With just a few months between the signing with FOX late last year and the debut on FUEL TV, it would have been a good idea to have all cable events take place on FX in 2012, and then hold events on FUEL TV in 2013. Instead, thousands of fans will be unable to watch multiple events throughout this year, as it is a much more difficult process to change cable providers or demand a channel than some people in the UFC believe. Future matchups to make: Jake Ellenberger vs. Johny Hendricks/Josh Koscheck winner: I would love to put Ellenberger/Condit II here, and I think it might still happen. But for now, it sounds like Condit will wait for St. Pierre. Hendricks/Koscheck takes place in May at UFC on FOX 3. This will allow Ellenberger some time off, and put together an excellent matchup between “The Juggernaut” and the victor later this year. Diego Sanchez vs. A return to lightweight: After the fight, Sanchez discussed how tough it is to put on enough muscle in order to take on the stronger welterweights. While he did not like the cut to 155 pounds, Sanchez looked at his best in the division. Let him have some time to cut the weight, and let him return to his stronger division. Stefan Struve vs. Mike Russow Struve seems to be on the right track after hitting a few rough patches throughout his career. Russow has yet to see a rough patch, winning the first four fights of his UFC career. He deserves a tough test, something “The Skyscraper” would provide. Ronny Markes vs. Ed Herman Markes is a huge middleweight who made his debut at 185 pounds on Wednesday. That cut seemed evident at times, as the fight dragged at some point in every round. But with his size and skill, Markes poses a strong challenge to the entire division. Coming off of a win against Clifford Starks at UFC 143 earlier this month, Herman would test Markes both on the feet and on the ground.

Posted in: ufc, fight, ellenberger, round, year

Jon Jones, Rashad Evans Reignite Rivalry as UFC 145 Buildup Begins

The first time Rashad Evans marched into Atlanta, he was a sizable underdog trying to make a legacy for himself. Next time he does, he'll again be a sizable underdog, this time trying to seal a legacy as a two-time UFC light-heavyweight champion.Nearly a year after the long-simmering grudge between Evans and Jones began, there's finally an end game, UFC 145 in April. But until then, expect salvos to be fired and returned. A full two months before the two meet in the cage, they met at a spot overlooking downtown Atlanta, with Evans reasserting his belief that his previous work with Jones would give him the advantage in their matchup, and the champion admitting that the broken friendship and personal feelings would play a motivational role in his training. "I think that my opponent will be in my head this fight," he said. "And I want him in my head because I realize when people are in my head, it brings out the best in me, and that’s what I’m prepared to show."The 24-year-old has seen his star rise over the last year following a brilliant stretch that saw him win four times in 2011, including three finishes over former UFC champions. But it was a question of whether Jones could finish Evans within one round that led to the most animated exchange between the two fighters. It started innocently enough from Jones."I’m going to be cliche and say I’m going to go out there with great intentions and train really hard and just have fun," he said. "I realize when I have fun great things happen. Magical things happen."But as he finished his thought, Evans interjected, saying "What do you really think, though?""You remember what I told you," Jones said."I remember what you told me, but I remember you didn’t mean it," Evans said.Some rowdy fans in the crowd yelled out, asking Evans what Jones said, and Evans mimicked Jones nervously saying, "Rashad, I’m going to be the first one to finish you in the first round…," stuttering his way throughout the less-than-flattering imitation.That brought laughs from the audience, and even got a chuckle from UFC president Dana White. Jones portrayed the hint of a smile, but wasn't quite so amused."I remember being here and Rampage was doing the same thing, so …," Jones said, letting his words trail off and throwing his hands up, letting the memory of his fourth-round submission win over Jackson finish his thought.The easy rapport the two shared mostly replaced by acrimony, the two did share a couple of lighter moments throughout. But most of the time, it was a case of one answering a question, and the other rebutting the answer as though they were debating.Jones smiled throughout the 30-minute press conference, although the two didn't look each other in the eye during a post-even staredown photo opportunity or share a handshake at its conclusion. Evans was clearly the crowd favorite of the two, with one fan routinely yelling out support to the point where Evans adopted him as his "hype man."That's been par for the course for Jones, who has watched his popularity rating increase right alongside his list of detractors, one of MMA's most beloved and hated at the same time. That's a typical symptom of the overnight superstar, and that's certainly what Jones has become, winning the title in what is traditionally MMA's most competitive division within three years of taking up the sport. But even with all the proclamations about Jones as MMA's present and future, Evans wouldn't give in, anointing himself a "spoiler" on April 21."There’s been so many people like him that’s been ‘the one,’" he said. "But that’s the secret: there is no ‘one.’ Anybody can lose any given day, and he’s going to find that out."The back and forth about who knows more about the other from their days training together has been discussed ad nauseam, and will continue to be rehashed for another two months until they're finally standing across the cage from each other. Then we'll get our answer.But for now, we're left with the same thing we've had for the last year, loaded words going back and forth, just setting the stage for what's to come. As for what might be afterward, well, the two opened a window on that when a fan innocently asked if the two would be able share a smile or handshake after going five hard rounds in April.It was as if they didn't even hear the question."This fight won't go five rounds," Evans said."Mark his words," Jones said. And so it goes, a blood feud in need of a conclusion, a money rivalry to end in the place where for Evans, it all really began.

Posted in: ufc, time, jone, year, evan

The Suicide Six: As The Remaining Members Of The Ultimate Fighter Season 1 Approach The End Of Their Careers, Brutality Awaits.

The first article I ever wrote on MMA was a plea for professional contact sports to drop the charade surrounding performance enhancing drugs and either provide a reasonable, safe, doctor monitored drug program to all competing athletes or make real inroads into removing the drugs completely. My reasoning for wanting the playing field to be leveled was the recent medical confirmation that repeated blows to the head, no matter how forceful, can lead to irreversible brain trauma. I thought, "it's bad enough that these athletes are risking their long term mental and physical health. If they are competing against supermen, it's infinitely worse." That was about a year and a half ago. Of course, nothing has really changed. Contact sports regulators are content to address the issue with window dressing (see the UFC's new drug testing policy, or Alistair Overeem being allowed to submit to a random drug test some weeks after it was requested). Meanwhile, we've had a handful of high profile PED busts in MMA over the last 18 months, proving once again that yes, there is indeed a problem. This morning Bloody Elbow's Brent Brookhouse, who has been (to my eyes, at least) the most vocal member of the MMA media/MMA blog-o-sphere on the issue of traumatic brain injury, penned a piece on Gary Goodridge. Goodridge has been officially diagnosed with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (boxer's dementia) at the age of 46. Goodridge is the first high profile MMA fighter to discuss his issues publicly. He is surely not going to be the last. Chuck Liddell, the most popular mixed martial arts fighter of the past decade, ended his career after suffering three consecutive knockouts, two of which were of the one punch variety and all of which were difficult to watch. Will we be reading that Chuck has been diagnosed with CTE one day? I suspect Chuck won't be as open about his health as Goodridge has been. Gary is promoting his autobiography and can likely use all the publicity he can get. Whether he would otherwise be sharing this bit of tragic information with us is debatable. Goodridge and Liddell both come from the "Pride era" of mixed martial arts history, which lasted approximately a decade from the mid nineties until 2005. If they are the poster boys for traumatic brain injury from an era gone by, one must wonder who will be the unfortunate souls from the current era to take their place? ***Follow the jump for more*** The end of the Pride era was brought about partly by poor business practices but, primarily, it was due to the rise of the UFC, and that in turn can largely be attributed to the success of the first season of The Ultimate Fighter reality show. If the popular television program shown on Spike TV ushered in the next era, it only makes sense that some of the era's biggest stars came from the shows epic first season. Forrest Griffin, Stephan Bonnar, Diego Sanchez, Josh Koscheck, Chris Leben, Mike Swick. These are names that just about every fan knows from their time on the reality show. They are also the only remaining cast members still competing in the UFC, though their days are numbered. Griffin has lost three of his past five fights by TKO or KO, including a particularly bad loss to Shogun Rua at UFC 134 this past summer. Sanchez has yet to suffer a serious KO loss, but he took extensive damage in three of his last four fights, courtesy of BJ Penn, John Hathaway and Martin Kampmann (in a fight that Sanchez won, no less). Leben suffered a nasty KO loss to Brian Stann at the start of 2011 and he is currently serving a year long suspension for using pain killers prior to his last fight, another TKO loss to Mark Munoz. Koscheck is 34 years old and looked every day of it while eeking out a split decision victory over Mike Pierce. He faces heavy handed destroyer (and a guy who knocked out his best friend and training partner in 12 seconds) Johny Hendricks in May. Swick has been dealing with serious health issues (not related to his brain, thankfully) for awhile and hasn't fought in the UFC since February of 2010, some two years ago. If he ever returns, he'll be playing catch-up in a division full of young killers. Stephan Bonnar is just about the only one of the bunch who hasn't lost a step. Bonnar did not have nearly the same success as his TUF counterparts in his first few years after the show, settling into a role as a gatekeeping brawler instead of challenging for a title. In what is a bit of cool irony (as opposed to the usual cruel irony), he has re-invented himself over the course of his past three fights, abandoning stand up wars in favor of a calculated ground attack. Did coming up on the losing end of a couple brawls early on in his UFC career drive Bonnar to see the writing on the wall and make a change before it was too late? You'd have to ask him, but it doesn't seem much of a stretch to me. Meanwhile, Sanchez faces Jake Ellenberger tomorrow night in the main event of the first UFC on FUEL offering. The fight will go a long way in determining the future of the welterweight division. Should Sanchez fall in devastating fashion, it could also mark the beginning of the end of the TUF era.

Posted in: ufc, fight, year, drug, era

UFC on Fuel TV’s Stefan Struve Just Looking to Continue Growing

Forgive Stefan Struve, but all he wants to do is continue growing. While that seems strange for a man that stands 6’11 tall, the tallest fighter in the UFC, Struve knows he is still developing every time he steps inside the Octagon. At 23 years old (he turns 24 on Saturday), Struve has nearly as many career wins, 22, as he does years walking the Earth. Yet when talking with Struve, he still feels there is a long way to go until he reaches his potential. That potential was first flashed in the UFC at UFC 95 in February 2009, just days after his 21st birthday, where Struve lost to future heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos. While Struve acknowledges he was overwhelmed at the time, he was back in the cage just four months later, defeating Denis Stojnic at UFC 99. Now he is set to hit the double-digit landmark, entering the Octagon for the tenth time in his career. But even with that, Struve maintains the objective is the same as it was three years ago. “I’ve learned so much, but I still have a lot of growing to do,” Struve said when speaking with MMAFrenzy.com. “I’ve come a long way during my career, but there are things I still need to learn. I still need to use my size better, which I did not do in my losses to dos Santos and Roy Nelson. But I feel I have been improving a lot, and I will get even better now that I have a new striking coach.” On Wednesday, those improvements will be put to the test against Dave Herman at UFC on Fuel TV 1 in Omaha, Nebraska. Coincidentally, “Skyscraper” takes on a fighter known as “Pee-Wee”. But even with the opposing nicknames, Struve feels the pair puts together a terrific matchup. “Dave and I are both known to deliver exciting fights,” said Struve. “He had a great fight in his UFC debut against [John-Olav] Einemo back in June, but I feel I am better on the ground and standing up against him.” “I’ve noticed that he is a brawler that backs up a lot while he fights. I look forward to fighting that kind of style, especially because it will be quite different to my last opponent, Pat Barry, who moved forward throughout our fight.” In that fight, a second round submission win over Pat Barry, Struve was able to battle through the striking of the kickboxer. However, Struve was fighting with a twelve inch height advantage, something he will not experience against the 6’5 Herman. But Struve feels he will be fighting with a different advantage this time – experience. “I am probably the best guy he’s ever fought,” Struve said. “He doesn’t have a lot of notable guys on his record, and his last win was over a guy [Einemo] that hadn’t fought in five years. I am a big step up in competition for him.” Struve feels he too will be taking a big step on his own in the near future – cutting weight. Weighing in at 240 pounds in his UFC debut in February 2009, now Struve is nearing the 265 pound weight limit every time he steps on the scale. He has continually built muscle mass in the three years since. While he admits he is not quite at the point of having to cut weight, he knows the time is nearing. “Right now, my weight comes off naturally during training camp,” Struve explained. “But I would say I will have to start cutting weight in about a year. Pretty soon I’ll have to cut weight to make the weight limit. But for now, it is still right around that limit during my camps.” Add that to the list of challenges that Struve has had to go through due to his height and size. Even though he never trains with guys that stare back at eye level, Struve feels he has been able to accommodate his style for his body. “My size takes nothing away from my wins,” said Struve. “My striking is different than guys that are my size or close to my size. Plus I have a better ground game than almost anyone at my size. And I am always developing.” Even as he continues to develop, it is obvious that the “Skyscraper” still feels he is only scraping the surface of his potential.

Posted in: ufc, time, year, weight, struve

War Machine Sentencing Hearing: Complete Transcript

John Koppenhaver was once considered one of the best young fighters in MMA. Having the opportunity to train with Ken Shamrock and Oleg Taktarov, Koppenhaver had coaches that most regional level fighters could only dream of having. It was on the fifth season of the Ultimate Fighter that fans became aware that Koppenhaver may have some real demons that he had to deal with in his life. After his tenure in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Koppenhaver's life too a turn for the weird. He legally changed his name from John Koppenhaver to 'War Machine' in hopes of blocking a battle over his likeness. A series of nihilistic tweets about wanting to die in the Philippines after a knife fight and a stint as an adult actor soon followed. Koppenhaver admittedly views this as an extremely self-destructive time in his life. He was training less and partying more and was having difficulty balancing the various segments of his life. He was incarcerated for a year due to a fight in San Diego and during this time he had nothing to do but think. Fans were able to follow his life via a weekly blog and it quickly became apparent that he saw the error of his ways and was using is time in prison to better himself as a person. He wrote about opening a gym and trying to mentor at-risk fighters so they would not make the same mistakes that he once made. Once released War Machine cut a deal with the District Attorney's office about an incident that took place at a local San Diego bar called 'Thrusters Lounge'. In his deal with the DA, he agreed to pay for the victim's medical bills and serve probation. On February 2, 2012 War Machine appeared before Judge Valerie Adair of the Clark County district court in Nevada. It was intended to be a sentencing hearing with War Machine and his attorney expecting the judge to sign off on the plea bargain with the DA. A transcript of the hearing shows that this wasn't as typical of a sentencing as one would come to expect. NOTE: This is an issue where the news is being presented as news. State your opinions but try not to go overboard. Full transcript after the jump... Source DISTRICT COURTCLARK COUNTY, NEVADA STATE OF NEVADA,Plaintiff,vs.WAR MACHINE, aka, JONATHAN PAUL KOPPENHAVER,Defendant. ) CASE NO. C276252-1DEPT. XXI BEFORE THE HONORABLE VALERIE ADAIR, DISTRICT COURT JUDGETHURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2012RECORDER'S TRANSCRIPT OF HEARING RE:SENTENCING APPEARANCES:FOR THE STATE: SHAWN A. MORGAN, ESQ.Deputy District AttorneyFOR THE DEFENDANT: GARRETT T. OGATA, ESQ. RECORDED: LAS VEGAS, CLARK COUNTY, NV., THURS., FEB. 2, 2012THE COURT: State versus War Machine. MR. MORGAN: Court's indulgence.Steve Miller.Judge, we do have a speaker; I'd ask that he be able to speak last. THE COURT: That's fine.And, Mr. Morgan, what's the State's position? No opposition to probation but has retained the right to argue all terms and conditions, and I'm assuming the underlying sentence as well? MR. MORGAN: That's correct, Judge. I just -- I understand that we're asking for probation, and I would ask that it be on the felony given the facts of this case, the extensive damage to the victim, and I think it's appropriate given all the facts as well as when you look at the defendant's other criminal history and his two prior violent felony convictions. With that I'd submit it. THE COURT: And I'm assuming the 61,000 and change in restitution reflects the extensive medical bills that the victim had to incur as a result of this? MR. MORGAN: That's correct, Judge, workmen's comp payout. THE COURT: All right. Your true name is Koppenhaver but you've had it legally changed? THE DEFENDANT: Yeah, I had it legal -- I had to change it for legal reasons. I was getting sued for copyright infringement. It's my nickname -- THE COURT: Right, you were a fighter? THE DEFENDANT: Yeah. THE COURT: All right. What if anything would you like to state to the Court before the Court pronounces sentence against you? THE DEFENDANT: Well, I just want to say that, you know, like, my lifelong dream was to become a professional athlete and make it to the UFC, all right. I got into the UFC; I had a couple fights. And then when I lost my contract, I got, you know, I battled a lot of depression, and I got real self-destructive, and there's about -- about two and a half years, three years where I just kinda stopped caring about anything and acted like a jerk, you know. I never had gotten in trouble before, and these three years I just, you know, I went out a lot. I was drinking too much. I was getting in bar fights, and I was just, you know, acting irresponsible and acting stupid.After this case I actually got into a fight in San Diego, and I served a year straight. I just got released in July. In that year I had a long time to sit there and think, you know. Before it's like I was getting in trouble, getting in trouble, but I was never -- I never got punished, you know. Like if you touch a hot stove and it doesn't burn you, you touch it again, you know. So that year really gave me a lot of time to reflect, and a -- and it remotivated me to get back into my career and do the right things. And since then I've been married.I've been out for six months now and haven't been in any trouble. I've been doing my anger classes. I've been staying sober, and I've just been avoiding bars and avoiding alcohol, and just, you know, trying to live life correct. I made a lot of mistakes but that year -- THE COURT: What are you doing to address your alcohol problems, and do you have, like, counseling or AA or -- THE DEFENDANT: No, I didn't have an alcohol problem like that; I just had a problem with -- really it was bars. It was a combination of bars and drinking and my temper and the fact that I just didn't care about anything, you know. I mean, I was being -- I get tested every -- I'm on probation in California so I get tested, you know, once a week for alcohol. I do anger management classes, you know, and I'm just avoiding stuff. I'm staying in the gym, teaching classes, training, hanging out with my wife. I'm just not -- I've just changed my lifestyle. I'm just -- I'm not doing that anymore. THE COURT: Mr. Ogata. MR. OGATA: Thank you, Judge.Judge, I think you've heard it from him. I think it's pretty clear, and in fact, in know that in the time that I've know John it actually has changed a lot, drastically. I mean, even from the beginning, you know, there would be missed phone calls when we were supposed to talk on the phone. Now, it seems like he calls before I even get on the phone, before I even say did John call, he's already left messages. And I know that a lot of that is on the side of what's going on, but, Judge, I think he really -- that year has really set him straight.I know that he knows now when he fights he fights professionally. He fights in the gym. He fights in the ring. He gets paid for this. He does not need to do these bar fights, stupid bar fights, and I know that his priors, if you look at them, they're all bar fights.We went through the discovery of the medical bills, and that was one of the things that was concerning to me was that amount, but after reviewing it with John and going over this thing, it actually made sense, and he even told me, he says, you know what, I just want to make it right. I want to pay the guy off. I want to do what I need to do for probation. The issue I know with the State is we have no opposition to probation for the felony, but I know it's a wobbler, and I know this is a stretch, Judge, is asking the -- THE COURT: Yeah, you know, you're really stretching because here's the thing. You know, he's gotten in trouble before, and, you know, he's a professional fighter -- MR. OGATA: I understand, Judge. THE COURT: -- and he's picking on people who aren't professional fighters. I mean, it's ridiculous, and he says he wants to -- he's hurting himself. Well, he's not punching himself in the face, I mean, you know, to be blunt. He, you know, he's a professional fighter, and he needs to show, in my view, that he's a tough guy, and he gets drunk, and he picks on people who are not professional fighters. I mean, to me, it's not just some other, you know, drunken, you know, ordinary person like you or Mr. Morgan getting drunk and taking a swing in a bar. It's a guy who's trained to really hurt people -- MR. OGATA: I understand, Judge. THE COURT: -- and, you know, it's a whole different -- whole different thing than just a bar fight in my view. And so, you know, the time has come in my mind, Mr. Ogata, for a felony. And now what we're talking about is his freedom, I mean, I'll just be candid with you because, you know, it's great he learned in jail and this and that, but, you know, maybe if he does really well, and he's lucky enough to get probation, you can come see me later, but, you know, again, he, you know, I mean, I don't really know why it took him a year of sitting in jail to figure out, oh, hey, I'm a professional fighter; I really shouldn't be popping innocent people in the face, you know, because I get drunk and angry and I have a temper. You know, to me that should have been -- he should have been a little more self-aware down the road.And frankly, you know, wanting to be a professional fighter, you know, is like, kind of like wanting to be a rock star or a movie star, something like that. Not everybody gets to do it. So the fact that his career was, you know, going sideways a little bit, in my view is no justification, you know, for this kind of violence, and it's repeated violence. So, I'll just be candid with you, Mr. Ogata, that's where we are when I looked at this. MR. OGATA: So my request of reducing it down to a gross misdemeanor -- THE COURT: Well, you know, like I said he's -- MR. OGATA: I just wanted to throw it out there, Judge. I know -- THE COURT: -- if he's lucky -- if he's lucky enough to get probation and he does really well, then you can pitch that to the Court. I'm not making any commitments or promises. We'll see what direction his life takes, you know. MR. OGATA: I understand, Judge. THE COURT: But, you know, honestly, you know, he's dangerous, and he's dangerous because of his training and everything like that, and that makes it different than just some person out there getting in bar fights. MR. OGATA: I understand, Your Honor. THE COURT: In my view. MR. OGATA: I think Mr. Koppenhaver understands that too; we've discussed that. THE COURT: All right. MR. MORGAN: Judge, we do have a speaker. THE COURT: I know. Thank you. It's Mr. Miller.Is Mr. Miller here? MR. MORGAN: Yes, Your Honor. THE COURT: Sir, I need you to just follow my marshal and come up, you know, right here. Just right up here to the witness stand. And please, sir, remain standing facing our court clerk, and she will administer the oath to you.(Speaker sworn.) THE CLERK: Please be seated, and would you please state and spell your name. THE SPEAKER: Steven Edward Miller, S-t-e-v-e-n, Edward, E-d-w-a-r-d, Miller, M-i-l-l-e-r. THE COURT: All right, sir. Thank you for being here. What would you like to say today? THE SPEAKER: I'd like to say there's -- first of all there's a couple of corrections that need to be said from the opening from what I heard. First of all, it's not a worker's comp issue. The State picked it up because the company I worked for did not have valid worker's comp insurance. So therefore I went 90 days after being kicked out of a hospital and not treated and getting the surgeries that I needed to where I was supposed to go to an assisted living facility to learn how to walk again because I had a broken left knee, fractured right ankle, torn ligaments in my right knee, along with a cut and the fracture over the bottom of my right eye. None of this was done. I still can't do my duties at work properly.And to sit there and say this was a drunken bar fight, we were both at work that night. I witnessed you go out and get into a fight with a customer. I took it to management. Management had you up at the front. I was dismissed to go back to the door where I work. You waited for me to turn to the side to walk away before you punched me. Plain and simple. Preyed on somebody as a professional that wasn't even facing you. Okay.Now, when you sit there and say, okay, yeah, the year, you sat there and had a year to think about it and everything else, all I have to ask is did you hear any remorse, any at all? If you had a year knowing that this date was coming up, I would think you would come up with a better excuse than what you had, honestly.I mean, I still -- I don't know what they can do with my knee. I can't even see a doctor seeing me on a medical lien because the case was dismissed out of bankruptcy court where the company was lost. THE COURT: Oh, okay. So you did pursue a civil remedy -- THE SPEAKER: Yes. So there's nothing left. There's nothing else there. This is it. THE COURT: All right. So no doctor will take it on a lien for your civil case? THE SPEAKER: Right. I can't work properly. I can't bend. I wake up in the middle of the night. I don't sleep properly. I don't have the medications that I need, nothing. This has been going on for almost three years. THE COURT: All right, sir, and what would you like to see happen today? THE SPEAKER: Well, I sit there and I look at he was on probation from San Diego for another fight. Obviously not a drunken fight; it happened outside of a gym after training. Don't go to a gym training on alcohol. At work, once again, not alcohol related. Everything that his attorney said, none of it makes sense. None of it's the truth. It seems to me that it's all fabricated, something to make you kind of feel a little bit weepy eyed to say, oh, yeah, he can do it on his own, but I know that you see through it. THE COURT: Let me ask you this. The State in this case negotiated the case -- and in fairness, it was not Mr. Morgan who negotiated it -- and they're agreeing to probation for this defendant.Did you have an opportunity to discuss the negotiation with the State in this case before they entered -- THE SPEAKER: That was not discussed with me or with my attorney that's in the courtroom as well. That was done totally outside of us, and I would not see probation, like you said, being a professional, going out and having actions like this, knowing the consequences of your actions; I don't see where probation in my mind fits the crime. Basically, I can't do what I've done for a living since '94. THE COURT: And let me ask you this. In the PSI it's talking about just the injury because the Court, you know, we don't get everything that the State has or the defense has. We get what they put in the PSI. They're focusing on the injury to your face, but as -- there obviously was more of a fight where your leg was injured and -- THE SPEAKER: Right. I had a broken left knee to where when I went to the ground my knee twisted. The upper leg turned causing the bottom of the kneecap, the bone to split out where I was supposed to have a pin inserted and have it fixed, but since there was no insurance that never happened. So anytime I turn to my left, there's no anchor on my knee. It can pop out and just go. Other than that I had a fracture to my right ankle and torn ligaments in my right knee. So my right ankle still gets painful every once in a while because I didn't get all the physical therapy. I didn't have any surgeries that, once again, there's supposed to be a pin. They were going to go in -- or a plate, whatever it is they were going to do. I know I didn't get treated right because of the insurance thing. So, you know, it's ruined my life. THE COURT: All right. Thank you for being here.Does the State have any questions for the victim speaker? MR. MORGAN: No, Judge. THE COURT: Mr. Ogata, do you have any questions for the victim speaker? MR. OGATA: No, Your Honor. THE COURT: Sir, thank you for being here. And you can just follow my marshal and return to your seat next to your attorney who's here in court today.Here's the thing. As I said, you know, he was a professional, and the victim in this case is a large man, but he, you know, tall man is what I mean, but he's not a professional fighter, and it sounds like he -- to use a colloquialism -- kind of sucker punched him by having his head turned and then hit him. And again, you know, he obviously has issues with anger. I don't know if there's steroid abuse involved or what or it's just something psychiatrically wrong with him.I am going to follow the negotiation of probation; however, the time he spent in jail in San Diego is about that victim in San Diego. We're about today this victim. So I think he needs to do jail time for this victim not the victim in San Diego because that doesn't, you know, mean a hill of beans to the victim who's sitting here. So I will go along with the negotiation having said that because there needs to be some punishment for what he did in Nevada and what he did to this victim.All right. By virtue of your plea of guilty you are hereby adjudged guilty of the felony crime of attempt to commit battery with substantial bodily harm.In addition to the $25 administrative assessment, the $150 DNA analysis fee and the fact that you must submit to a test for genetic markers, you are sentenced to a minimum term of 18 months in the Nevada Department of Corrections and a maximum of 60 months in the -- I'm sorry, 48 months in the Nevada Department of Corrections; that's the maximum on this charge, restitution in the amount of $61,114.92.Your sentence is suspended. You are placed on probation for a period of time not to exceed 5 years. Sir, 5 years is the maximum on probation.Here are the conditions of your probation. Number 1, you're going to spend the next year for this crime in the Clark County Detention Center.Number 2, when you're released you're going to complete anger management counseling. What you're doing in San Diego may satisfy Nevada P and P, if not, you're going to have to do separate anger management counseling, and I want you in that as soon as you're released from custody.Number 2 (sic), you're not going to have the use, possession or control of alcohol, and I can see you steaming right there right now, the anger. You're trying to control yourself. You have a serious issue because the next time you wind up killing somebody, and, you know, you're going to be in prison for a minimum of 20 years. THE DEFENDANT: I'm not steaming, ma'am. THE COURT: Well, you look like you're -- THE DEFENDANT: I'm just nervous. I'm -- THE COURT: Sir, that's fine. I mean, you know, you know what you need to do. I don't want any alcohol. You can't frequent any establishments that serve alcohol as their primary function, casino bars, freestanding bars, anything like that.You're going to do -- have a substance abuse evaluation. I want that done within 30 days of your release, and you're going to do whatever counseling is deemed necessary.You're going to obtain lawful, fulltime employment to get this restitution paid. If you can make enough money as a fighter, that's fine, but again, you know, that's one of those professional athlete, model, singer, dancer, whatever, you know. Not everybody gets to do that. So you may have to get some other kind of a job to make restitution. That will be as directed by P and P.I want you tested for the use of anabolic steroids because that in my view may be what's contributing to your anger problem. Any use of anything like that will be considered a violation of your probation.And finally, your probation is contingent on your good behavior within the Clark County Detention Center. So if there's any bad behavior, that will be considered a violation, meaning beating up the other inmates, fighting with the guards, anything like that.So we're going to have a status check regarding your behavior in the detention center before I release you on your probation because again, you know, you're a professional fighter in there, and I don't want any kind of problems in the detention center.Let's status check it for six months to see how he's doing. MR. MORGAN: And, Judge, just so the record's clear, the restitution needs to be ordered to the Division of Industrial Relations not the victim. THE COURT: All right. You know -- MR. OGATA: Judge, he's requesting if he can get his things in San Diego together because he had to travel here. He's showed up for every court date for -- THE COURT: Doesn't he have a wife? MR. OGATA: He does. THE COURT: Can't she do it? THE DEFENDANT: My wife -- my wife's an immigrant from Hungary, and she doesn't have a license, none of that stuff. She doesn't have anyone here but me. It's just her and I together here. She moved here from Hungary a year ago. And, I mean, like when I did my year in San Diego, I turned myself in. I did the time. There was no problem, you know. I just want to get my stuff in order -- THE COURT: Sir, I'm not anticipating a problem. I'm anticipating that you're going to be a good inmate, but I'm looking at you; you're a professional fighter. I just want to make sure you understand that it's not going to be do whatever you do at the Detention Center and then go on your merry way and I'm not monitoring what you're doing at the Detention Center -- THE DEFENDANT: I understand. Ma'am -- THE COURT: -- ‘cause we've had other professional fighters in the Detention Center, and I just need to know that you're on your best behavior and not taking advantage of your superior training or whatever. THE DEFENDANT: Can I say one thing. When I did my year in San Diego I was never involved in one fight. THE COURT: That's good. Then there should be no problems. THE DEFENDANT: So I'm just letting you know that, you know, I haven't had any problems since then. THE COURT: Good. That's fine then. MR. OGATA: So the request, Judge, I know that he's complied -- I mean, he's been to every court date that I've ever had with him. He will comply with any requirements -- THE COURT: What is it you need to do in San Diego? THE DEFENDANT: Well, I need to get rid of my car. I want to, like, put my stuff in storage. I want to get everything done, get my wife situated. I mean, we came here thinking that we're getting probation and that was it. So this is like a shock. That's why I might look -- whatever you said I looked like. I'm just nervous. I didn't expect this, and she doesn't expect it, and, you know, my job, I want to get -- THE COURT: Mr. Ogata? MR. OGATA: Judge, the request is, I mean, if we can get some time for him to get these things together. I know that he can come back and check himself back in. THE COURT: Here's the deal. I'll give you two weeks for a surrender date. Understand this, you don't come back, you get in a fight, you get in trouble, get a DUI, anything like that, you're going to prison. There is no probation. So basically, you know, the future's in your hands, you know, and we'll modify this, you know, give you 19 months on the bottom end in prison instead of the Detention Center.So just appreciate that basically, you know, it's up to you now to come back, not get in trouble, and then we'll, you know, you'll get the opportunity at probation. THE CLERK: Surrender date is February 16 at 9:30. THE COURT: Mr. Ogata, is that for you? MR. OGATA: That's it, Your Honor. THE COURT: Thank you, sir. MR. OGATA: Thank you, Judge..

Posted in: right, year, court, mr, ogata

2012 World MMA Flyweight Scouting Report: #1 - Dileno Lopes

Name: Dileno Lopes Nickname: -- Age: 23 Height: -- Location: Brazil We've finally made it. This is the end of the line for the 2012 World MMA Scouting Report, so without further adieu -- I present to you our #1 flyweight prospect -- Nova Uniao's Dileno Lopes (8-0). Lopes is hands down the smoothest operator in the prospect pool, utilizing a slick, effortless Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu grappling game that's coupled with calculated, above average striking. Those well-balanced attributes have helped him record eight wins since his debut in late 2007. Lopes' rise to prominence has been slowed by his low rate of activity during his early years, fighting only three times in three years. Once he signed to fight for Amazon Show Combat, work got steadier, submitting Adriano Balbi and Samuel Xavier in bouts a little over a month apart in late 2010. Last year was by far the busiest of his career, beating Josenaldo Araujo Silva and Adson Jander by submission, then narrowly edging Wellington Davila in a rematch of their encounter two years prior. With the inclusion of the 125 lbs. weight class in the UFC, he should begin fielding phone calls for more action, possibly from Joe Silva. Lopes' record is heavily weighted in submission wins, seven of his eight to be exact. While that's an obvious sign that he possesses quality grappling chops, most readers would glance at those stats and deem Lopes a one-dimensional fighter who will never make it without some semblance of a stand-up game. Fortunately, many of those wins were created from stunning shots that Lopes delivered on the feet. He has solid defense, good footwork and head movement, and counter punches accurately, leaving more aggressive strikers reeling. Against rangier competition, Lopes has problems trying to get inside to land punches, and he isn't much of a knockout threat. Those issues haven't been problematic as of yet due to his top-tier grappling game, and some of those opponents were outside of his natural weight class. Regardless, Lopes has gotten far too aggressive when he's facing fighters with similar striking styles, going for broke at times when he can't use a ranged striking attack of his own. Those are minor issues however. By all indications, Lopes is a legitimate talent who could have a long, successful career in the sport with steadier work and continued improvement. At only 23 years of age, time is on his side, and he's already one of the smoothest transition fighters we've seen among our prospects, moving effortlessly between striking and grappling as if he's done it for years. With any luck and a couple of more wins, Lopes will undoubtedly call the UFC home in 2012. Tune in tomorrow for our honorable mentions for this year's report. Footage of Dileno Lopes after the fold... FlyweightBantamweightFeatherweightLightweight #1 - Dileno Lopes#2 - Jose Maria Tome#3 - Sergio Pettis#4 - Rafael de Freitas#5 - Alexandre Pantoja#6 - Hector Sandoval#7 - Jesse Riggleman#8 - Sean Santella#9 - Claudir Dutkevis#10 - Kevin Belingon #1 - Rony Mariano#2 - Aljamain Sterling#3 - Chris Holdsworth#4 - Josh Hill#5 - Fabiano Fernandes#6 - Claudio Ledesma#7 - Sirwan Kakai#8 - Kyoji Horiguchi#9 - Leandro Hygo#10 - Pedro Munhoz #1 - Hacran Dias#2 - Joey Gambino#3 - Brandon Bender#4 - Lance Palmer #5 - Jim Alers#6 - Anthony Gutierrez#7 - Max Holloway#8 - John Teixeira#9 - Cody Bollinger#10 - Bubba Jenkins #1 - Fabricio Guerreiro#2 - Alessandro Ferreira#3 - Adriano Martins#4 - Justin Salas#5 - Neilson Gomes#6 - Eduard Folayang#7 - Zorobabel Moreira#8 - Anton Kuivanen#9 - Jordan Rinaldi#10 - J.P. Vainikainen WelterweightMiddleweightLight HeavyweightHeavyweight #1 - Andrey Koreshkov#2 - Dhiego Lima#3 - Brandon Thatch#4 - Nordine Taleb#5 - Hernani Perpetuo#6 - Brock Jardine#7 - Alan Jouban#8 - Mohsen Bahari#9 - Andre Santos#10 - Stephen Thompson #1 - Antonio Braga Neto#2 - Marcelo Guimaraes#3 - Claudio Silva #4 - Bojan Velickovic#5 - Ildemar Alcantara#6 - Michal Materla#7 - Elvis Mutapcic#8 - Tor Troeng#9 - Jack Hermansson#10 - Tim Ruberg #1 - Wagner Prado#2 - Phelipe Lins#3 - Tom DeBlass#4 - Misha Cirkunov#5 - Kyle Cerminara#6 - Robert Drysdale#7 - Artur Alibulatov#8 - Thiago Perpetuo#9 - Steve Bosse #10 - Juha Saarinen #1 - Magomed Malikov#2 - Magomed Abdurahimov#3 - Alexei Kudin#4 - Levan Razmadze#5 - Chris Birchler#6 - Ruslan Magomedov#7 - Adam Parkes#8 - Richardson Moreira #9 - Jan Jorgensen 10 - David Oliva Lopes vs. SoldadoDileno Lopes HL Dileno Lopes vs. Samuel Xavier Dileno Lopes vs Edson " Jacaré Jander Dileno Lopes vs. Unknown

Posted in: vs, year, game, report, dileno

Cung Le Wants To Fight In The UFC Again In 2012

Former Strikeforce middleweight champ Cung Le lost to Wanderlei Silva at UFC 139, but he doesn't intend to go out like that. Le, who was just awarded a $65,000 Twitter bonus from the UFC tweeted yesterday to his 21,000 followers: @CungLe185Cung Le "@T_Webb_31: Cung Le any chance we see you back in the @ufc :) a thank you to your fans perhaps" that's my plans this year! Feb 08 via Twitter for Android Favorite Retweet Reply The 39-year-old Le has been mostly focused on acting in Hollywood productions for the last few years but it looks like he intends to get a few more UFC fights in before Father Time forces him to call it a career. Le was undefeated in a decade-long combat sports career before getting KTFO'd by Scott Smith in 2009. He beat Smith soundly in their 2010 rematch then moved to the UFC and got KO'd by Silva. Le made a reported $350,000 for his UFC debut and presumably will be earning a comparable amount for a second bout with the promotion. Poll Do you want to see 39 year old Cung Le fight again in the UFC? Yes No 173 votes | Results

Posted in: ufc, fight, year, cung, hollywood productions

Tim Kennedy: “I’m getting real sick of this MMA scene right now.”

Middleweight Tim Kennedy has endured some of the harshest conditions known to mankind as a Special Forces sniper with numerous tours of duty in hot-zones like Iraq and Afghanistan. However, when it comes to what he’s put up with since deciding to fully focus on his MMA career, the 32-year old isn’t sure he can take much more. Kennedy, signed to Strikeforce, has only fought twice a year since 2009 and hasn’t been seen in the cage since July when he beat Robbie Lawler. With the exception of a minor injury issue forcing him out of an expected fight with Luke Rockhold, Kennedy has not only been ready to compete but actively lobbing for an opportunity to do so. Unfortunately his pleas have for the most part fallen on deaf ears, a byproduct of Strikeforce officials being preoccupied with their own organizational issues. Regardless, the situation as a whole has now worn Kennedy down to the point he’s considering other career options, a point he expressed in a telling conversation with MiddleEasy. “I’m getting real sick of this MMA scene right now. Waiting around for fights and the politics between Strikeforce and Showtime and the UFC and Zuffa. I’m just kind of getting over it, man. I miss the simplicity of life as a soldier,” said Kennedy. “So, I don’t know. I don’t know what I want to do. I have some extreme survival and athlete type shows possibly going and, so, I don’t know, man, I don’t know. It’s going to be a curious year. I haven’t fought in…months. Now it will be a year before my next fight. A year lay off, and not by choice. I was out two weeks with an injury in a twelve month time frame? It’s shenanigans. If my job is to fight and I only get a fight once every twelve months I can’t afford to keep fighting. I gotta do something else, I have to figure it out.” Kennedy is also understandably in tune with world news, particularly related to potential conflict in the world, and sees the distinct possibility of having to return to the battlefield full time depending on how messy things get between Israel-Iran in the coming months. Though the bulk of his attention is still on Mixed Martial Arts his mind is still very aware of how numbered his days in the sport may be whether by choice or otherwise. “Fight-wise, I’m training my butt off. I’m supposed to fight Luke Rockhold when his hand is better. I would fight him next week if his hand was better. I’m training as if I have a fight in two months, even though I know he just got his cast off,” explained the candid Kennedy of his present circumstances. “Is my focus going to be shifting (to military duties)? Uh, not yet. It may be a little premature. I’m still going to be training a lot with my unit. I’m still working on a lot. But no. Day to day not much will change, it’s just always going to be on mind as to what I’m doing with my time.” The 14-3 Kennedy has won six of his last seven scraps including his last two with the lone exception being a closely contested decision loss to Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza. He has never been cleanly finished in his career, another testament to his toughness and potential, losing due to a cut in his MMA debut with the other stumble a subsequent outpointing to Jason Miller in 2007. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: fight, year, month, kennedy, man i

ONE Fighting Championship 'Battle of Heroes' preview for Feb. 11 in Jakarta

After a four month break ONE Fighting Championship is back this Saturday night with a card in Jakarta, Indonesia. It features a mixture of established international superstars who will need absolutely no introduction and up and coming fighters who fans outside Asia might not be so familiar with. 2012 is set to be a big year for ONE FC who will be putting on a minimum of eight events in cities across Asia and have also signed a historic ten year television deal with ESPN Star Sports. It is a tremendous opportunity for fighters to make a name for themselves competing on a show which will be available in more homes than any other in the history of Asian MMA. The action gets underway at the BritAma Arena in Jakarta with a five fight undercard which will be streamed free of charge on the ONE FC website and facebook page followed by a five fight main card which will be available via U-Stream for just $9.99. After the jump is a preview of all ten fights Ole Laursen vs Felipe Enomoto (Lightweight) Ole Laursen is a former Muay Thai, kickboxing and K-1 star who is rated very highly indeed. He has been out of action for over a year with injuries and needs to put in a good performance to show that he is still a force to be reckoned with in the ONE FC lightweight division. His opponent, Felipe Enomoto, is no stepping stone though, he is extremely well rounded and has faced UFC calibre fighters in a career spent mainly competing on the European scene. Laursen was once selected for the Filipino national boxing team, an offer he was unable to accept, and will be looking to let his hands go and throw combinations of punches and kicks. Enomoto who has been preparing for this contest at Tiger Muay Thai in Thailand might well want to take the fight to the floor where he can put almost ten years of BJJ experience to use. Laursen is no slouch on the ground though and even after such a long and successful career he should have no problem motivating himself for this fight. If Laursen can keep the fight standing he will be a strong favourite, but his takedown defence has looked a little questionable in the past and he also has a dangerous tendency to give up his back. Given that Enomoto has fought three times since he last stepped in the cage the Swiss/Japanese fighter probably has to be the slight favourite but that makes it a fantastic opportunity for the Filipino to prove that even after an extended absence he is still a serious threat. Honorio Banario vs Bae Young Kwon (Featherweight) When Eric Kelly was forced to pull out from this fight due to personal problems ONE FC were fortunate to find a perfect replacement in Honorio Banario. Just like Kelly he is a URCC champion, the only difference is that he holds the lightweight belt and will be dropping down to 145 lbs for the first time in his career. Bae Young Kwon is coming off a big win against Brian Choi which firmly established him as the number three featherweight in Korea behind UFC veteran Chan Sung Jung and Doo Ho Cho who is fighting for the Deep title this month. He is a strong wrestler with outstanding Judo skills who also packs a serious punch. Banario is a typical Team Lakay fighter who is well conditioned, well rounded and has a Wushu base. He has never been beaten but he has never faced an opponent of Kwon's calibre. Kwon might be a slight favourite based on the calibre of opposition he has faced but URCC fighters like Kelly and Eduard Folayang have done very well in international competition. Rustam Khabilov vs Rodrigo Ribeiro (Welterweight) This is a fascinating fight because it pits a Russian Sambo world champion against a Brazilian with a third degree BJJ black belt. Khabilov has the potential to pick Ribeiro up and slam him to the canvass but if he doesn't knock him out cold in the process (which he has done before) he's likely to be the subject of multiple submission attempts. Khabilov's record is UFC calibre and if he can improve it to 13-1 by beating Ribeiro the sky is the limit for him career wise. Ribeiro is a seasoned veteran whose record may not be as impressive as his opponents but he has fought extensively in Brazil where the competition is a little more intense than in Russia. This contest is intriguing partly because the participants have such contrasting martial art background but also because they train at two of the most renowned camps in the world. Ribeiro is at Evolve MMA which is widely regarded as being Asia's top training centre but Khabilov has been working with legendary trainer Greg Jackson and it could well come down to who is able to execute their game plan more effectively. Gustavo Falciroli vs Soo Chul Kim (Bantamweight) Falciroli is a second degree BJJ black belt and the reigning CFC bantamweight champion. He is the number one 135 lbs fighter in Australia and won a contract with ONE FC courtesy of a submission victory at CFC 19 last year. Kim is only 20 years old and is a prodigy who is highly rated in Korea but he will be up against a much more experienced opponent for the second consecutive fight. At ONE Fighting Championship's inaugural show last September he put up a good performance to go three rounds with BJJ world champion Leandro Issa but couldn't quite do enough to win that fight. Life won't get any easier for him against Falciroli who is a veteran of the Australian scene and has also fought for Shooto in Japan. Falciroli has never been stopped and one went the distance with UFC lightweight Bernardo Magalhaes, only losing by majority decision. Kim is improving rapidly and is an exciting prospect for the future but I expect Falciroli's experience to tell and his superior ground game will probably be the defining factor. Bob Sapp vs Rolles Gracie (Super Heavyweight) The first fight on the main card is big in more ways than one. Bob 'The Beast' Sapp will probably be tipping the scales at 350 lbs and is coming off a kickboxing win in Dubai last weekend. Rolles Gracie is one of the most exciting heavyweight prospects outside of the UFC and will be looking for the sixth submission win of his career. This will probably prove popular with the Indonesian crowd but it could also be a defining moment in both men's careers. A win against such a large opponent would reflect extremely well on Gracie but Sapp is a K-1, Pride and Dream veteran with knockout power in both hands and could be a very dangerous proposition for someone who is primarily a grappler. This fight ends one of two ways and is highly unlikely to last more than a round. Either Gracie submits Sapp or Sapp knocks out Gracie but whatever happens it will probably happen fast. UNDERCARD Raymond Tiew vs Victorio Senduk (Featherweight) Victorio Senduk won a silver medal for Wushu at the SEA Games in Indonesia last year and has a 2-0 record from MMA fights in Indonesia which took place around eight years ago. He will be giving up three inches in height to Raymond Tiew who also has a background in Wushu and Taekwondo. This looks set to be a stand up war with neither fighter likely to look for a takedown. Tiew has a 5-2 record from fighting in local events in Malaysia, if he can utilize his superior height and reach he should take this but Senduk has competed at a higher level and might have sufficient experience to negate the size difference in front of his home fans. Jessie Rafols vs Irshaad Sayed (Bantamweight) If I had to pick a probable fight of the night this would be it. Rafols fights at 100 mph, once the bell goes he simply does not stop and is relentless with takedowns, ground and pound and submissions. Sayed is one of the most dynamic strikers in the division and like his friend and training partner Vuyisile Colossa he is a Muay Thai world champion whose striking is just as deadly in MMA. Rafols was originally scheduled to face Ngoo Ditty, who Sayed holds a win over. If the fight stays standing the South African should dominate but if Rafols can impose his gameplan and take the fight to the floor I expect him to prevail. Whatever happens it is unlikely to be boring. Alex Silva vs Geje Eustaquio (Flyweight) This is another interesting match up stylistically because it pits a BJJ world champion against a Wushu expert. Geje Eustaquio trains at altitude in Baguio with Team Lakay and Alex Silva is coming off a two month training camp with all the world champions at Evolve MMA so both should be capable of setting a fearsome pace. Evolve MMA completely transformed Shinya Aoki's Muay Thai so it would be overly simplistic to say that Silva needs a submission to win but he will definitely want to get the fight to the ground if he can. Eustaquio might try to keep the fight standing and use his Wushu striking but he has some explosive takedowns in his arsenal making this fight extremely unpredictable. Peter Davis vs Ngabdi Mulyadi (Lightweight) Mulyadi is a veteran of the now defunct TPI FC organization in Indonesia who has a 5-2 record with his only losses coming against outstanding fighters. He is also an out and out wrestler who will be up against someone with some unconventional and explosive striking skills. Davis is better known in Malaysia for acting and modelling work but the word coming out of his training camp, where he is working alongside experienced fighters like Eric Kelly and Arnaud Lepont, is that they are very excited about his potential as a mixed martial artist. Mulyadi will be relentless in his pursuit of the takedown but if he can't get it I expect Davis to pick him apart with his superior striking. Zuli Silawanto vs Agus Nanang (Welterweight) The undercard gets underway with an all Indonesian affair which is sure to get the crowd going. Silawanto is a seasoned TPI FC veteran who has plenty of experience and claims to be very well rounded. Nanang is a wrestler who will not want the fight to remain standing for too long if he can help it. It's difficult to make predictions but if SIlawanto can impose his stand up he will probably be favourite, Nanang might need to put him on his back if he wants to win. For information about viewing these fights on the internet visit the One FC website.

Posted in: fight, fighter, vs, year, fc

Ten years ago, only time Nick Diaz has been stopped (aside from Noons' doctor stoppage)

submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [2 comments]

Posted in: year, doctor, mattyblayze, stoppage, noon

Back to jail for War Machine; Bellator debut called off

War Machine’s Bellator debut has been put on hold after the controversial competitor was sentenced to a year in jail earlier this week. The charge stems from an case unrelated to the one causing him to serve a similar sentence previously. Machine (a.k.a. Jon Koppenhaver) confirmed the news of his impending sentence on his Twitter account, writing, “Seems my year in jail wasn’t enough. Just got sentenced to another year in Vegas for some old bullsh*t. Nevermind I’m rehabilitated. Nevermind I’ve been out for over six months now and doing great and am finally back on my feet. Nevermind all my students that will miss me. Do another year and rot n waste time. Make no money, pay no taxes.” The 12-4 30-year old was released from jail in July after serving a year for an assault charge. After defeating Roger Huerta in his return fight this past November, Machine was signed by Bellator to compete in the upcoming sixth season welterweight tournament. He was slated to face Karl Amoussou in the opening round. Bellator has yet to comment on the situation. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC/BELLATOR

Posted in: bellator, year, machine, jail, nevermind

War Machine heading back to prison for 'some old BS'

The artist formerly known as Jon Koppenhaver is heading back behind bars. "War Machine," who served a year in prison for assault, recently returned to mixed martial arts (MMA) as a surprising addition to the Bellator roster following his technical knockout finish over former UFC standout Roger Huerta back in November. The ex-porn star vents on his Twitter (compiled by Middle Easy): "Seems my year in jail wasnt enough. Just got sentenced to another year in Vegas for some old bullshit. Nevermind Im rehabilitated. Nevermind Ive been out for over 6 months now and doing great and am finally back on my feet. Nevermind all my students that will miss me. Do another year and rot n waste time. Make no money, pay no taxes. Whatever, I just hope my boy @bensaundersMMA wins @BellatorMMA tournament. Fuck the motherfucking system! Fuck the bullshit! Vacation time, back to jail in 2 weeks! Cant stop me, all you can do is delay the inevitable. War Machine will always be back! Oh ya the judge looked and me and said she can tell Im on steroids and that thats prolly why I got in so many fights and am angry..lol Bitch" Bellator has not commented on Koppenhaver's recent statements and outside of his tweets, no details are yet available on his upcoming stint in the pen. Stay tuned.

Posted in: year, war machine, war, bellator roster, motherfucking system

War Machine To Serve Another Year In Jail

It looks like more jail time for War Machine. The former Ultimate Fighter contestant and UFC fighter (at the time going by his birth name of John Koppenhaver) tweeted last night that he was sentenced to another round of jail time after serving a stint previously for a felony assault conviction. From War Machine's twitter (with some censorship on our part): @WarMachine170War Machine Seems my year in jail wasnt enough. Just got sentenced to another year in Vegas for some old bulls**t. Nevermind Im rehabilitated. Nevermind Feb 02 via Twitter for Android Favorite Retweet Reply @WarMachine170War Machine Ive been out for over 6 months now and doing great and am finally back on my feet. Nevermind all my students that will miss me. Do another Feb 02 via Twitter for Android Favorite Retweet Reply @WarMachine170War Machine year and rot n waste time. Make no money, pay no taxes. Whatever, I just hope my boy @bensaundersMMA wins @BellatorMMA tournament. Feb 02 via Twitter for Android Favorite Retweet Reply War Machine and Junie Browning are the two most prominent examples of former UFC fighters (in the "modern era") who have been unable to keep their names out of the papers for very negative situations. There's quite a bit more at War Machine's Twitter if you want to check it out. But then again, isn't there always quite a bit more at War Machine's Twitter?

Posted in: time, year, war, machine, twitter

Ex-UFC Fighter War Machine Headed Back to Jail for Year

TUF 6 veteran War Machine announced via Twitter he is heading back to jail for a year. The recent Bellator signee now in all likelihood is out of the promotion's welterweight tourney.

Posted in: year, war, machine, bellator signee, jail

War Machine Is Going Back To Jail

Just when War Machine was finally getting life on the right track his world is crashing down around him once again. War broke the news on Twitter today that a Las Vegas judge sentenced him to another year in jail for some “old bullshit.” “Sick to my f*cking stomache! Just wait until you all hear the horrible f*cking news I just got…makes me too sick to say it yet.. Seems my year in jail wasnt enough. Just got sentenced to another year in Vegas for some old bullshit. Nevermind Im rehabilitated. Nevermind Ive been out for over 6 months now and doing great and am finally back on my feet. Nevermind all my students that will miss me. Do another year and rot n waste time. Make no money, pay no taxes. Whatever, I just hope my boy @bensaundersMMA wins @BellatorMMA tournament. Fuck the motherf*cking system! F*ck the bullshit! Vacation time, back to jail in 2 weeks! Oh ya the judge looked and me and said she can tell Im on steroids and that thats prolly why I got in so many fights and am angry..lol Bitch … F*ckkkk this is really disheartening. To have done all that time and to be out for this long and doing well to have to go back…kills me.” Wow. War Machine has always been a hard guy to have sympathy for, but I honestly feel bad for him this time. He’s made plenty of mistakes in the past, but he did his time and more importantly learned from it. He really seemed to have his head on somewhat straight, his priorities in order and his career back on track with a win over Roger Huerta and a spot in Bellator’s upcoming welterweight tournament. Instead, he’s losing another year wasting away in jail, which I fear will actually undo all the progress he’s made. Heck, he’s already talking about how he wished the plane he flew in today would crash. Great job US justice system.

Posted in: time, year, war machine, war, jail

Nick Diaz - The Last Gunslinger

If you want to define the pure essence of the word “fighter,” odds are that eventually you will find yourself face to face with the story of Nick Diaz. In many ways, he’s been fighting since his days growing up in California, moving from school to school and always being the new kid. It’s a story shared by thousands, but few have taken it as far as Diaz has – to the main event of UFC 143 this Saturday and a shot at the interim welterweight title against fellow contender Carlos Condit.But for all the media attention and scrutiny around the 28-year old from Stockton since his return to the UFC late last year, all you really need to define who Diaz is would be a look at his second pro fight in July of 2002 against Chris Lytle. Yeah, that Chris Lytle, who at the time was already a seasoned vet of the sport. But when Lytle’s original foe, Jake Shields, was forced from the fight due to a staph infection, it was his 18-year old teammate, Diaz, who stepped in.“This guy had something like 20 fights,” said Diaz in an interview before his 2011 bout with BJ Penn. “Chris was fighting in Japan, he was ranked in Pancrase, he was way older than I was, and I was supposed to lose.”But he didn’t. Instead, Diaz pounded out a three round split decision that earned him his first title, the IFC welterweight belt, and truly started him on a career that he has had a love-hate relationship ever since. And though a lot of water has gone under the bridge since that day, he still has fond memories of his first big win.“I think I was a lot happier when I won back then,” he said. “It was more about proving myself. Back then I really had something to prove and I really needed to be more than what I was. After those fights, I felt established in all sorts of ways. It was good.” “When people would hear about who I was, they would pretty much think I was full of s**t,” he continues. “And even after these fights they would think the same thing, but at least I would know I’m not, and it was just enough for me to keep going.”A jiu-jitsu player since he was 15, and a pro MMA fighter from 18, Diaz has spent more than half his life in the sport that made him a worldwide star, one of the best welterweights on the planet, and perhaps the game’s most intriguing figure. It’s a trio of titles that Diaz could probably do without, well, at least two of the three, and when it comes to being the best in the world, Diaz would likely enjoy that title if he didn’t have to deal with all the miscellaneous distractions and requirements that come along with it, like media obligations, etc. But he has no apologies for who he is.“With me, you get the real me, real martial arts and a real warrior mentality,” he said at the media workouts for his fight with Condit. “I don't act friends with anyone I am going to fight. That's crazy, I don’t understand that. Some people aren’t mature enough to understand I don’t want to put on an act for the cameras. I’m real. I’m acting natural, I don’t want to be friends around a guy I am about to fight.”You could chalk up such comments to Diaz being a hard man in a hard sport, and his mean mugs, and trash talking and taunting during fights do little to dispel that image. But we may not be seeing the full picture of the enigmatic welterweight.“I don’t know how I come off, but I don’t like to hurt people, first off,” he said last year. “You get these guys like ‘I’m going through a lot and I’m real pissed off and I’m ready to fight and I just want to hurt somebody.’ I don’t say that and I don’t feel that. I don’t want to hurt anybody; I don’t want anybody to be hurt. I want to win, I want to come out on top, and I want to be in an exciting fight because I worked hard, but I don’t necessarily want anyone to hurt. That’s what I don’t like about fighting. I like the competition, I love it, but I don’t love fighting for money, because it hurts people.”It may be why Diaz has been fairly reclusive when it comes to the media, and why he wants to keep his day job and his personal life as two separate entities.“I’m trying to separate life and MMA fighting because they’re really two different things for me and that’s kinda rough for me to deal with and it’s probably been my biggest problem, more than the fights,” he said. “It’s my challenge to separate the two.”So when he falls short of succeeding in that challenge, he’s left with two things – training and fighting. And with 11 consecutive wins constituting an unbeaten streak that has lasted nearly four years, it’s obviously something that has worked for him professionally. Personally? That may be another tale to tell.“I don’t have any life, I don’t have anything else going on,” he said. “All these other people are like ‘oh, I have a wife and kids now.’ I don’t have any of that. I screwed all that potential stuff I had going for that up way back when I was too busy training to fight and acting crazy to train. Now I don’t really like the idea of changing what’s been working for me right now. So as long as I’m fighting, I don’t see things changing for me.”Especially not with an interim title shot and the prospect of fighting current champion Georges St-Pierre right at his doorstep. But first he has to get by Condit, an equally hungry contender who has earned Diaz’ respect.“He’s the next guy I need to prove myself against,” said Diaz. “We are both top level and we win by doing damage, not by trying to score points. He has a realistic fighting style like I do. Carlos is a very well rounded guy. He’s tough and it will be a fight.”If Diaz emerges victorious on Saturday night, he will once again be the center of attention, something that has seemingly plagued him for years, but never more than when he missed two press conferences for a proposed fight with St-Pierre last year and saw the fight scrapped. He was eventually brought back into the fold for his UFC 137 bout with Penn, which he won via unanimous decision, and is now slated for Saturday’s matchup with Condit, which was originally going to be the GSP fight until the champion injured his knee and was sent to the sidelines. But during all of this, Diaz became mixed martial arts’ anti-hero, the most interesting man in the world not appearing in beer commercials. It’s everything that he didn’t want, but with another stellar performance, the focus will be on his fighting and not everything else that he’s already put to the side to focus on his craft. On Saturday night, he could make his case for being the best welterweight in the MMA world, something that will only be proven as fact should he beat Condit AND St-Pierre. But he already has an endorsement from boxing’s best at 168 pounds, super middleweight champ Andre Ward.“I've worked (sparred) with Nick and his brother Nate in the past,” said Ward, who was recently named 2011 Fighter of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association of America. “Both are extremely good boxers, and have a great feel for standup boxing. Nick specifically, is left handed, tough as nails and physically strong. That's why we work with him. I like Nick Diaz in an Octagon against anyone. I also feel he could compete in a boxing ring, if he so chooses.”That’s the kind of respect Diaz wants. He’s not interested in photo shoots, autograph signings, or the bright lights. This is a fight. And if everyone else hasn’t figured that out yet, that’s not his problem.“This isn't soccer, it’s fighting,” he said. “I've got no problem that this is a sporting event and being respectful, but it is a fight. It is what it is. It matters how I am seen by fans; sometimes I care, sometimes I don't, but when I think about it, I try to be real.”

Posted in: fight, diaz, ’t, i ’m, year

On Saturday night the gladiator is no more!

Everyone was pretty excited when Dana White announced that 2012 would bring us not only the end of the world, but the end of Gladiator Dude and the dulcet tones of Stemm's "Bring the Pain." Then UFC 142 happened, and it looked a lot like UFC 141, UFC 140, and every other event from the past 6 years. Not that I'm complaining too much. Thus far 'positive' production change has involved replacing prelim fights with sportsdesk ka-ka. Because people watching sports want less sports and more not-sports. At least this sounds positive: The UFC will debut a new 60-second opening for its pay-per-view events at this weekend's "UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit" show in Las Vegas. It'll replace the one that's been in use for nearly a decade.The segment, which was produced by the digital-production company Digital Domain (and sister company Mothership), features highlights from 18 of the UFC's most iconic fights.For years, the UFC has used an opening spot that features a gladiator suiting up for battle. The clip, though, has become infamously outdated and mocked.According to a release, Digital Domain created the one-minute spot to encompass all eras of the UFC. Fights clips will combine archival footage with "entirely imagined backgrounds" that are meant to show the evolution of the sport. Additionally, the score was created by famed film producer and music producer Hans Zimmer through his company, 14th St. Music. BRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHM! Oh yeah, they got the guy from Inception, so we can expect 400 tubas playing a low C note to visuals of Anderson Silva front kicking people in outer space. Whatever it is, I hope it's good because based on the UFC's glacial pace of change, it might be what we're stuck with until the year 2020.

Posted in: ufc, sport, year, company, gladiator

Bummer, War Machine returns to jail for another year

Bringing bad news is part of the news. If there was no bad news, we’d be forced to lie to you, and we care too much about not getting smitten by whatever spirit you believe in to do that. Before you make any assumptions, no, War Machine didn’t do anything new that prompted this return to jail. He was actually well behaved since his release from prison six months ago. Instead, this is an old charge that has resurfaced and carries a sentence of one additional year in prison for the former Ultimate Fighter runner-up. He had this to say in a series of tweets: “Seems my year in jail wasnt enough. Just got sentenced to another year in Vegas for some old bullshit. Nevermind Im rehabilitated. Nevermind Ive been out for over 6 months now and doing great and am finally back on my feet. Nevermind all my students that will miss me. Do another year and rot n waste time. Make no money, pay no taxes. Whatever, I just hope my boy @bensaundersMMA wins @BellatorMMA tournament. Fuck the motherfucking system! Fuck the bullshit! Vacation time, back to jail in 2 weeks! Cant stop me, all you can do is delay the inevitable. War Machine will always be back! Oh ya the judge looked and me and said she can tell Im on steroids and that thats prolly why I got in so many fights and am angry..lol Bitch” A year in prison means War Machine will have to sit out of Bellator’s Season 6 tournament, and resume his MMA career anew in 2013, which according to the Mayan calendar will never happen. Perhaps it will be War Machine who proves the Mayans wrong and defies the demise of civilization. I have faith…

Posted in: year, war machine, war, machine, jail

MMA prospect rankings update heavyweight-light heavyweight: Tyler East, Phelipe Lins, & Jared Rosholt join ranks

ULTMMA.com has released and updated its 2012 set of Mixed Martial Arts prospect rankings. The rankings cover a top 20 for each of the eight major MMA weight classes heavyweight through flyweight with a total of 160 unsigned prospects rated.----The race to find the next great light heavyweight or heavyweight MMA fighter is a contest more about potential than proven cage work. When it comes to developing fighters in the sport's two biggest weight classes the regional scene's lack of "big man" depth provides prospects with slim options.Fighting out of the MMA hotbed of New Mexico heavyweight Tyler East (10-3) is a three year pro at the ripe age of 22. Currently in the midst of six fight winning streak the lanky 6'6 East holds notable wins over Nick Gaston and Esteves Jones. Now training at Jackson's MMA in Albuquerque, East is a young, well coached heavyweight which should garner him serious attention from any and all national MMA promotions. A three time All American wrestler out of Oklahoma State Jared Rosholt (4-0) has quickly risen up the MMA prospects ranks. At 260 pounds Rosholt has dominated all four of his local opponents with takedowns an a suffocating top game. The 25 year old Rosholt has such a strong base to jump off from that 2012 will be another year the four star MMA prospects rounds out his skill set on the local MMA circuit.Brazilian 205 pound prospect Phelipe Lins (5-0) returned to the cage for the first time in over five years. Lins knocked out his opponent in emphatic fashion and in the process once again became a major player in the Brazilian light heavyweight division. The 26 year old Lins is a physical force and will fight two to three times in his home country before he may be signed by a stateside promotion. 28 year old prospect Jan Blachowicz (14-3) entered 2011 on a nine fight winning streak. Sandwiched between a loss and a win versus former pride star Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou, Blachowicz picked up the seventh submission win of his career. The polish grappling wiz is a proven commodity on the European MMA scene and Blachowicz is in position to land a fight deal with the UFC or Bellator in 2012.Middleweight and welterweight breakdown Lightweight and featherweight breakdown Bantamweight and flyweight breakdown Light heavyweight and heavyweight updated top 20 prospects

Posted in: mma, heavyweight, prospect, year, rosholt

The MiddleEasy Comment Awards II

The podium sits alone on the stage as the low but excited hum of the award nominees and guests of the 2011 MiddleEasy Comment Awards shuffle into their assigned seats. Tuxedos and gowns made in only the finest silks will be worn this evening, where tears of joy and sadness will be shed gloriously in the name of witty comments. As usual, Synthsis was the first to arrive. He actually got to the theater before the red carpet was even rolled out and was seen sitting in the third row staring forward for for most of the afternoon. Very weird guy. Backstage the MiddleEasy network was hard at work. Cat and Bauzen were in charge of the lights and sound, which explained the Wu Tang and funky lightshow as all of the anonymous attendees made their way inside. They would never actually shut off Wu Tang for the remainder of the evening...to no one's disapproval. Kieran and Jason were in charge of the sandbags that seem to only be used on a theater stage to catch bad guys at an opportune time in adventure/comedy movies, but nothing was getting done. Rather than do their job a once simple discussion of the physics required to lift the sandbags and open the curtain to the stage led to multidimensional paradox theories. The curtains would not be opened on time because of this. LayzieTheSavage provided the smoke and all the pyrotechnics. Some attendees complained that the smoke smelled funny, but not everyone. Nobody knew were Zeus was, but like the omniscient being that he is, he was pleased and levitated around the theater as an invisible elemental. Another year and another Reader Comment Awards is upon us. Let us embrace the strange and wonderful community that MiddleEasy.com has become, for the children and for us. Over three thousand articles were reviewed for these awards, and many common themes were encountered; Religion, humanity, but underlying it all was love. So thank you readers for commenting and making the thankless and horrible job of going through all of those articles for your enjoyment possible. Lets get to the awards. Chad Griggs is awesome, and we here at MiddleEasy want to encourage the discussion of the fireman and his Sideburns of Power™. Thus, we are giving away an award for it. [div2 class="highlight1"] "God bless you Chad Griggs, you marvelous bastard." - (Maximum Spaniard - 2011-02-22 17:31, "It appears that Bobby Lashley has left Strikeforce and will never return.")[/div2] Another strange comment from an anonymous user, and once again religious...I think? This comment underneath an article about King Mo getting his teeth knocked out by Tyrone Spong was just too confusing to not win an award, so we bestow the most confusing comment of the year upon you, Anonymous user. [div2 class="highlight1"] "The engineer understood him at christian louboutin canada once. He seized Pencroft by the arm, and dragged him to his house. There the sailor developed his project, which was indeed extremely simple. They christian louboutin risked nothing but their lives in its execution. The hurricane was in all its violence, it is true, but so clever and daring christian louboutin sal." - (Anonymous - 2011-05-18 01:49, "King Mo's teeth were knocked out by Tyrone Spong, but don't worry, he's getting them fixed.")[/div2] [div2 class="highlight1"] "daley hits hard, he's got a lot of power, he's knocked a lot of dudes out, and he's a decent technical striker with a couple dangerous combos/strikes, but the same could be said of lawler, zaromskis, gomi, kj noons, and sakurai. they all fell, daley will fall toohe's got a puncher's chance against a guy with a granite chin and better boxing, so unless daley detonated a nuclear bomb directly on the button (which is possible, but not probable), i don't see how anyone can doubt that diaz has thisso, uh, you know, war diaz, 209 motherfucker..." - (Beefheart - 2011-03-07 19:40, "Paul Daley has opened the smack talk salvo over the 209.")[/div2] There are moments where a well placed comment can derail a perfectly good Frate Trane of a comment section. It's funny how these things go...what should turn into a friendly gathering of like minded and passionate MMA fans turns into a cesspool of hatred and vitrol. This is the craziest derailed comment section of the year. Congratulations to everyone who contributed to this horribleness. [div2 class="highlight1"] "Seal Team Six was in attendance at UFC 130."[/div2] This actually comes from an article that was published in 2010, but the comment itself is from 2011. That's right people...anything can happen in the MiddleEasy Reader Comment Awards. Ladies and gentleman, this anonymous fellow has officially educated us all on the history of the fade in a few short sentences, congratulations to you Anonymous, not registered user. We appreciate your fade knowledge. [div2 class="highlight1"] "Cro Cop should be at 1. and fades aren't a mexican thing, back in 92 I came from Poland and the majority of my friends came from former ussr countries, believe me fades started with dads and uncles coming back from military service and all the kids trying to be like them. I had a fade at the age of 7. I went to Vietnam last year and saw the 2 and 3 year old kids with fades so yea mexicans might have started the whole fade boom in the states but not the world." - (Anonymous - 2011-01-15 11:35, "The Top Ten Fades in MMA.")[/div2] The Graphic interchange Format was made popular by Compuserve in the late 80's/early 90's and without it our lives would be void of short yet hilarious clips depicting actions that must be viewed hundreds of times in low resolution. The gif of the year is from uber commenter Synthsis featuring Anderson Silva kicking Vitor Belfort in the face. [div2 class="highlight1"] - (synthsis - 2011-02-06 13:21, "Anderson Silva pulls off the front kick to end all front kicks and knocks out Vitor Belfort.")[/div2] 2011 brought a lot of changes to MiddleEasy.com, one of the most important among them was the addition of Tim Kennedy for his reoccurring column: Cooking With Tim. Tim has taught us a lot about cooking, but very little in the way of his second love: guns. Luckily we have commenter's like Sidecheckkick who will be sure to educate us on firearms for the foreseeable future. [div2 class="highlight1"] "Hah this is funny the video i mean and the fact that i actually thought about getting a SVL and then to see Rener with one in the header seems like he knows his guns.For those who dont know... its a pretty badass rifle maybe the best today but its custom made by rather small russian manufacturer, who mainly supply russian special forces and sports-shooters, and not very well known outside of russia (or at least what i thought)I guess even gracies have to come up with jitsu for a distance of 2.3 km yet" - (Sidecheckkick - 2011-06-20 17:38, "Watch this video of Rener Gracie pranking EVERYONE in his academy.")[/div2] It's shocking how many history majors frequent MiddleEasy. A lot of different comments were in the running for this award, but ultimately, this verbal beatdown Tobikan Judan gave an anonymous (and mildly crazy) reader was one of the most impressive displays of dominance we've seen ever. You get the award, history teacher of our nations future. Let your pupils go forth and prosper with the knowledge that their sage teacher is a MiddleEasy award winner. Check out this wild comment section that spins out of control on the subject of the origins of the United States. [div2 class="highlight1"] "Besides, in 1775 there were more people of Swedish, Dutch, German, French, African, and Native ethnicities living in the colonies than actual English. I can go on for days about how this country was formed, and it's more than just English v. Dissidents and the French. So please stop attacking people with your association fallacies. KEEP IT MMA buddy." - (Tobikan Judan - 2011-02-27 13:40, "Michael Bisping defeats Jorge Rivera, apologizes, gets in Jorge’s face, then apologizes again.")[/div2] Who would have thought that a throwaway comment would lead to the best non-MMA related image in a comment in 2011? iamphoenix posted this cutaway image of mitochondria which is not only completely off topic but also beautifully informative. If I was wearing a hat, I’d have doffed it. [div2 class="highlight1"] - (iamphoenix - 2011-10-02 15:25, "Vitor Belfort reveals the extent of his injury and says he could sell a fight against Chael Sonnen.")[/div2] If all you know of irony is what you have heard in Alanis Morissette songs then I’m afraid you only understand coincidence expressed through similes and not irony, sorry. Luckily you don’t need to understand either to appreciate how spot on this commenter’s observation is. [div2 class="highlight1"] “hahah chaels face looked like a group of people just walked in on him jacking off” - (Anonymous - 2011-10-02 22:12, "After watching this clip, it's clear that Chael Sonnen doesn't think highly of Travis Browne.")[/div2] People love MiddleEasy and we are forever thankful for this, because otherwise we would be sitting at our computers laughing at our own jokes and sharing Grass Fights via e-mail. Not that we don’t do those things anyway but it does soften the blow when we receive comments with so many kisses at the end that we expect them to be followed by the words ‘no homo’ in parentheses. We love you too, anonymous commenter. [div2 class="highlight1"] “I've been waiting for the mill, But made my day when you said u dont give a fuck bout these cunt's who moan about the ad's thank u middle easy you grew a pair of balls now all you need to do is stop hyping overeem and we can live happy ever after Zeus if your ever in ENGLAND OR THAiLAND GIVE ME A SHOUT ill hook you up even if your a yank your ok wth me dude xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxx” - (Anonymous - 2011-10-02 16:07, "The Sunday Morning Rumor Mill.")[/div2] Gardenninja's user name now makes a lot more sense considering he clearly possesses the knowledge required to marinating and cultivating a large crop of marijuana. Ironically this is probably one of the few times you would want to be an anonymous user on the site. The award for marijuana cultivation and street pricing information goes to gardenninja. Congratulations? [div2 class="highlight1"] "6 plants worth $122,880 hahaha I wish... The biggest outdoor plant harvest I've seen is a dried trimmed 4 lb per plant and he was getting 8 lb+ that sounds like crazy marijuana math to me.(at 2,300 a pound market rate)" - (gardeninja - 2011-03-11 09:56, "Matt Lindland comments on his alleged marijuana thievery.")[/div2] When someone turns up to a party with so much self-confidence they could punch Satan in the face, there won’t be a cry of “SHIT JUST GOT CHAEL” because it never caught on as a meme, but it should have, so we at MiddleEasy want to commemorate this saying with this award. [div2 class="highlight1"] "SHIT JUST GOT CHAEL" - (Anonymous - 2011-10-08 21:52, "My GOD this Chael Sonnen...")[/div2] When it comes down to being prophetic, every commenter wants to claim their superiority over the others. It's the most alpha part of internet nerdary. "Dude, I called that with my brother at Buffalo Wild Wings' or some variation of that, is something every MMA can confess to claiming at one point in their lives. Well, we have actual proof...too bad the commenter wasn't registered and now we'll never be able to truly give him props. Oh the ironing. I wonder how many people in these comments will claim to be this anonymous fellow eh? [div2 class="highlight1"] "This is the fight that will make Couture officially retire." - (Anonymous - 2011-02-22 17:31, "Randy Couture has verbally agreed to fight Lyoto Machida at UFC 129.")[/div2] If hundreds of articles lead us to believe anything, it's that Zeus lives with multiple large and aggressive cockroach nations that are vying for control of his apartment. Luckily we have this anonymous award winning reader who goes out of their way to help Zeus finally conquer his roach problem. [div2 class="highlight1"] "If you don't have any pets in the house, take a bottle cap and put some peanut butter in it. Lace the peanut butter with your liquid chemical poison of choice, and leave it in a spot where roaches are known to roam. They will come over, thinking its a nice little feast, and then their insides will melt. Fuck 'em." - (Anonymous - 2011-03-09 15:00, "M-1 Global denies that a Fedor vs Henderson bout is on the horizon")[/div2] You know you visit the site a little too often when you can recall almost verbatim a Hawaiian news broadcast from 1300 articles ago, and that's exactly what aint.that.a.kick.in.the.head and Twinny did. It made me laugh really hard. Thanks for being so nutso about the site guys, here's an award. [div2 class="highlight1"] "Ever since that fucking auto play I forever will remember KHON2 news with Canoa Leahy, Chad Owens, BJ Penn and Matt Hughs training together before his fight with Fitch." - (aint.that.a.kick.in.the.head - 2011-07-04 08:52, "According to this Hawaiian news broadcast, Andrei Arlovski will fight in ProElite on August 27th.") "i'm STILL in shock that Chad Owens re-upped with the Argonauts" - (Twinny - 2011-07-04 12:31, "According to this Hawaiian news broadcast, Andrei Arlovski will fight in ProElite on August 27th.")[/div2] This comment was either posted by the smartest spam bot in the world or was genuinely posted by a Middle Easy reader who is also designing an energy efficient sports car that looks like a rocket on wheels. I am not entirely sure that either option here is preferable but it was unique enough to win this award. [div2 class="highlight1"] “Jon Jones has good taste in luxury cars.I am developing a completely new niche in high end automobiles-Eco Exotic Sports cars.I am looking for well established daring individuals to collaborate with me and help in the development of this world changing vehicle concept.The full size model can be seen at www.zoleco.ca” - (Zoltan Bod - 2011-11-24 18:58, "Jon Bones Jones' new ride is pretty damn slick.")[/div2] There were plenty of absolutely wrong comments. So very many wrong comments, and for so many different reasons. It came down to the committee having to filter the selection process, so we decided to get really specific. Below are the winners of the most wrong comment of the year about Diaz/Daley and the most correct comment of the year about Diaz/Daley. [div2 class="highlight1"] "So...Daley (a guy with a piss poor ground game) is expecting Diaz (a BJJ blackbelt) to keep it standing?" - (Jonesy 2011-02-21 11:02, "Paul Daley says Nick Diaz is phenomenal, but his expiration date is coming up.")[/div2] I have no idea what this comment has to do with the article it was posted on but at the same time that is one of the greatest things about Middle Easy. If I knew Nikola Tesla (which I didn’t, but let’s pretend I do) he would be smiling in whatever after-life scenario you believe in because of this comment. [div2 class="highlight1"] “No one ever gives any fucking credit to Nikola Tesla.” - (Anonymous - 2011-10-07 00:56, "Shogun Rua thinks Dan Henderson is the favorite at UFC 139 because he defeated Fedor.")[/div2] The engineer understood him at christian louboutin canada once. He seized Pencroft by the arm, and dragged him to his house. There the sailor developed his project, which was indeed extremely simple. They christian louboutin risked nothing but their lives in its execution. The hurricane was in all its violence, it is true, but so clever and daring christian louboutin sal

Posted in: year, middleeasy, award, div, classhighlight

MMA prospect rankings update middleweight-welterweight: Benjamin Brinsa, Andre Santos, & Brandon Thatch earn high grades

ULTMMA.com has released and updated its 2012 set of Mixed Martial Arts prospect rankings. The rankings cover a top 20 for each of the eight major MMA weight classes heavyweight through flyweight with a total of 160 unsigned prospects rated. 120 prospects from 125-185 pounds have been added with the remaining two weight classes updated by February 1.---- A sign of how the UFC, Bellator and Strikeforce are handling their rosters the welterweight and middleweight divisions have gone through a massive change over in the past 12 months. 170 pounds remains talent rich in prospects despite seeing many of its best prospects get scooped up in 2011. At 185 pounds prospects from Europe and Brazil dominant the rankings in a weight class normally seen as shallow in the US. In the highly competitive Brazilian MMA circuit, Team Nogueira welterweight Andre Santo (28-6) surged to the head of the pack in 2011 with a 6-2 record. After a two fight losing streak in the span of 16 days in May 2011, Santos finished the year with four straight wins. In October Santos may have secured his call up to a major US promotion with an impressive one night tournament victory at Bitetti Combat 10.Stateside Colorado welterweight Brandon Thatch (6-1) had his best year of his career in 2011. A hyped but relatively inactive prospect, Thatch stifled his regional competition with three straight first round finishes. At 26 years of age Thatch is a skilled striker who has rounded out his game at the famed Grudge Training Center.A former soccer player, Germany's Benjamin Brinsa (11-0) has quietly built a killer reputation under home country the Free Fight Championship. At 185 pounds Brinsa is aggressive striker with ten career stops in 11 pro fights. Only 22 years of age Brinsa's ground game and defense can improve but his hype as a five star prospect will likely lead him into international waters in the near future. The journey of British middleweight Tom Watson (16-4) has taken twists and turns across the UK MMA scene since 2006. A winner of 10 of his last 11 bouts Watson has carried England's torch into bouts with UFC, Pride and IFL veterans. The 27 year old Watson is a prospect already capable of headlining events but the allure of fighting on the UFC's next stop in the UK could draw the striker up to the major leagues of MMA. Lightweight and featherweight breakdown Bantamweight and flyweight breakdownMiddleweight and welterweight updated top 20 prospects

Posted in: mma, welterweight, prospect, year, brinsa

Hacker who attacked UFC.com is 13 Years Old

submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [5 comments]

Posted in: year, mattyblayze, ufccom, hacker

Want to get your fill of the UFC's middleweight "Crippler," but don't want to wait for his one year...

Want to get your fill of the UFC's middleweight "Crippler," but don't want to wait for his one year suspension to expire? Then you're in luck, as Round 5 is releasing a limited edition Chris Leben figurine this April as part of its "Ultimate Collector" Series 9. Get all the details here.

Posted in: ufc, year, dont, crippler, year suspension

Badr Hari Retires, Daniel Ghita the Man to Beat at Heavyweight

[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on LiverKick.com, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] It's Showtime 55 was an explosive show, and in the realm of the Heavyweight division helped to organize it and make some sense of what was a rather confusing division. The retirement of Badr Hari was the big story for this show, and quite honestly, Badr Hari looked better than he has looked in a long, long time in the ring. He was focused, in control and defending just about everything that Saki had to offer. It is a shame that we will not get to watch him fight again for an undisclosed amount of time, but he is off to try his hand at Boxing where he will try to become a star in America. What is clear is that Daniel Ghita's win over Hesdy Gerges has proven that Ghita is finally making good on his potential. Ghita burst onto the international scene in 2009 when he first appeared in the It's Showtime ring, stopping Tomas Hron with deadly low kicks. He then went on to win the K-1 WGP Final Qualifying Tournament in Japan three months later, which gave him the unenviable task of making his K-1 World Grand Prix Final 16 debut against Semmy Schilt. Ghita was yet to become a complete fighter and Semmy was able to pick him apart in typical Schilt fashion. The years that have followed have been important learning years for Ghita, with the last two years in particular with him realizing that he needed to improve his hands to hang with the elite Heavyweights. Read More...

Posted in: heavyweight, year, badr hari, hari, ghita

UFC On FOX: Winds Of Change Swirl As The Windy City Awaits

MMA Nation ran an article this week penned by Nate Wilcox that asked the question: Has UFC Hit An Inflection Point? In the story, Nate provides us with a layman's definition of the term "inflection point" For those of you who didn't take calculus, an "inflection point" is the point on a curve where it changes direction. For a fight promotion like the UFC an inflection point is a critical point in time that determines whether the next phase of the business will be one of growth, stagnation or decline. The article goes on to detail some key recent happenings that indicate that the UFC is facing one of these points. It's a good read for those who are interested in the business side of the sport. The application of inflection points isn't limited to discussions relating to the business side of MMA. The concept can be readily applied to individual UFC fighters as well, who fight so rarely that most matches have to be considered critical in determining their future. A win at the right time and you become a main card fixture, while a loss at the wrong time and you may fall far down the rankings. Dan Hardy and George Sotiropolous are perfect examples of this. Hardy's victory over Mike Swick at UFC 105 was clearly an inflection point in his career. Hardy was given a title shot for his next fight and, despite losing it and his following two matches, was given a headlining spot at a UFC Live event last year. He won a single important fight and saw his career grow exponentially, despite being unable to win a fight since then. Sotiropolous entered his fight with Dennis Siver at UFC 127 undefeated in the UFC, his 7-0 record drawing much attention to him as the next title contender. He dropped a unanimous decision to Siver and found himself fighting Rafael Dos Anjos on the undercard his next time out. G-Sot was caught by a Dos Anjos hook just a minute into the fight and now he is fighting Takanori Gomi in what looks very much like a loser leaves town match. The UFC on FOX main card features half a dozen men and, as we'll see after the jump, each one of them are facing a career definining moment: Rashad Evans: "Suga" has been treading water as the number one contender to the Light Heavyweight crown for nearly two years. A win over Phil Davis earns him a spot in one of the two biggest fights of the year, a championship match with his former friend and training partner Jon Jones. A loss and Evans will likely never fight for the title again, nor will he get the chance to face his biggest rival. Phil Davis: Undefeated in the UFC with a 5-0 record, Davis is someone we think of as still fairly new to the sport. As such, a loss here in his first major test wouldn't be devastating but it would set him back a few years. If we've learned anything from Rashad, it's that your salad days can go by a lot faster than you think and at 27 years old, Davis would be approaching 30 by the time he worked his way back into the title picture, if he ever did. A win, on the other hand, and Davis would find himself fighting for the title before the end of the year. Chael Sonnen: Much like Rashad, Sonnen has been in a bit of limbo for the past few years. He burst onto the scene with his pro wrestling style promotion of his title fight with Anderson Silva. He was submitted by Silva at UFC 117 but he was the toughest opponent Silva has ever faced in the UFC. He has been clamoring for a re-match ever since, watching Anderson dispatch Vitor Belfort and Yushin Okami with ease while he waits on the sidelines. Should Chael defeat Michael Bisping, UFC president Dana White has promised that he will match Sonnen and Silva together again, in the other candidate for biggest fight of the year. If he were to fall to Bisping all this talk of him re-matching Silva would be gone and Sonnen would return to his former role as a middling middleweight, his days in the spotlight gone for good. Michael Bisping: Is Michael Bisping a great fighter or has he simply benefited from being British and facing weak competition his entire career? That is a pretty black and white way of looking at the multi-colored world of MMA but unfortunately for Bisping his career will almost surely be defined that way based on this fight with Sonnen. The accomplishment of being the man to shut the mighty mouth of Chael Sonnen would ensure his legacy will be a positive one, while a loss here and he'll be recalled as "that over-rated twit the UFC desperately tried to build into a contender because of his nationality." Demian Maia: Another man who had a shot at Anderson Silva and came up short, Maia has quitely worked on his stand up skills and has put together a 3-1 record since losing to the champion. His loss during the stretch was to rising contender Mark Munoz, and Maia found himself on the pre-lims after that. Were he to drop a second straight match to an up and comer it would signal the end of the Brazilian's time as a top 5 middleweight, while a win would likely punch his ticket to a number one contender's match, potentially against Vitor Belfort or Rousimar Palhares.Chris Weidman: Weidman has perhaps the least on the line of all the fighters on the FOX show. He is very green, having only taken up the sport in 2009, and he is taking this fight on very short notice. It's pretty unlikely that his career will go into the tank if he loses. If he wins though, he'll have just beaten a top five fighter, on national television, on short notice. This is the type of opportunity that only comes around once, maybe twice, in a career. He's young enough to one day get that second chance but if he has serious championship aspirations, this is his opportunity to start a run. Three men will win and three men will lose on Saturday night. How it all plays out is anyone's guess. One thing is for certain though and that is, win or lose, none of their careers will ever be the same.

Posted in: ufc, fight, year, career, point

MMA prospect rankings update lightweight-featherweight: Bubba Jenkins, Joe Ellenberger, & Doo Ho Choi enter top ten

ULTMMA.com has released and updated its 2012 set of Mixed Martial Arts prospect rankings. The rankings cover a top 20 for each of the eight major MMA weight classes heavyweight through flyweight with a total of 160 unsigned prospects rated. 40 prospects from 125-155 pounds have been added with the remaining four weight classes updated by February 1.----Perhaps two of the deepest divisions in MMA, prospects in the featherweight and lightweight classes provide matchmakers in the UFC and Bellator plenty of worthy options. At 145 and 155 pounds the number potential prospects could easily hold a top 25 or top 40 ranking. The hype behind featherweight prospect Bubba Jenkins' (1-0) MMA debut began before his senior year wrestling at Arizona State University. Jenkins backed up his talk in March 2011 by capturing a NCAA championship for the Sun Devils at 157 pounds. Jenkins made a successful MMA debut in December 2011 and has the ability to fight at 145 or 155 pounds in 2012.South Korean featherweight prospect Doo Ho Choi (8-1) used a pair of dramatic upsets over Japanese MMA stalwarts to launch his stock in 2011. Choi, a four star prospect, knocked out former Deep lightweight champion Nobuhiro Obiya (12-5-1) in October with a highlight reel flying knee strike. The 20 year old Choi closed the year in December with a first round stoppage of ex-Pride star Mitsuhiro Ishida (20-8).One of the best stories of 2011 on the local MMA scene was lightweight prospect Joe Ellenberger's (12-1) return to action. In 2009 Ellenberger was a surefire four star prospect before injuries and a life threatening illness sidelined his career. At 26 years of age and with a 2-1 record in 2011, Ellenberger reclaims his status as a top 155 pound prospect to watch in 2012. French lightweight prospect Mansour Barnaoui (6-0) came out nowhere to make noise in his home country and draw the eyes of European talent scouts. Just 19 years old Barnaoui made his pro debut in February and submitted all three of opponents in a one night tournament. Barnaoui's final three opponents of a busy year held a combined record of 22-12. The young Frenchman's violent striking coupled his natural grappling ability make him worth of a four star grade with the potential to improve even more in 2012. Bantamweight and flyweight breakdown Lightweight and featherweight updated top 20 prospects

Posted in: pound, mma, prospect, year, choi

UFC left off of Businessweek’s Top 100 in Sports

The UFC was shutout for the 2nd straight year in Bloomberg Businessweek’s Top Power 100 Sports Ranking. Notably, boxers Manny Pacquiao (28) and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (49) were on the list.Drew Brees edged out Aaron Rodgers for the top spot this year. Brock Lesnar and Fedor made it on the list in 2010. The list is based on an athlete’s performance, popularity and marketability. Last year’s top spot, Peyton Manning, fell to 51st on the list. Lance Armstrong, No. 8 on the list last year, fell off the list completely as he announced his retirement last February. Despite retiring, Shaquille O’Neal remained No. 7 on the list. Payout Perspective: Will there be a UFC fighter on this list next year? Certainly, Jon Jones and Georges St. Pierre would be the two names that would come to mind when it comes to the criteria. Jones would be more likely to make the mainstream jump this year consdering GSP’s injury. A combination of Jones’ personality, his athletic ability and the UFC’s visibility through the Fox deal should help land Jones on this list.

Posted in: ufc, jone, year, list, year ’s

HKL's 2011 Fight Of The Year - Reader's Choice

It is time for us as a community to decide which fight was the Fight Of The Year for 2011. Vote in the poll and let us know why you voted that way in the comments section if you feel so inclined. Also, if we snubbed anyone, let us know that as well. The poll is after the jump. Let the voting begin! Poll The 2011 Fight Of The Year goes to.......... Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard II Nick Diaz vs. Paul Daley Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard III Eddie Alvarez vs. Michael Chandler Dan Henderson vs. Mauricio Rua 0 votes | Results

Posted in: fight, vs, year, comments section, poll

Think the first UFC on Fox was the most important UFC in years? Luke Thomas argues that UFC on Fox...

Think the first UFC on Fox was the most important UFC in years? Luke Thomas argues that UFC on Fox 2 is even more important. Read it at MMA Nation.

Posted in: ufc, fox, luke, year, thoma

MMA prospect rankings update bantamweight-flyweight: Aljamain Sterling, Anthony Gutierrez, & Alexandre Pantoja eye big league call up

ULTMMA.com has released and updated its 2012 set of Mixed Martial Arts prospect rankings. The rankings cover a top 20 for each of the eight major MMA weight classes heavyweight through flyweight with a total of 160 unsigned prospects rated. 40 prospects from 125-135 pounds have been added with the remaining six weight classes updated by February 1. ---- A storyline in MMA to watch 2012 will be the continued emergence and recognition of fighters under 135 pounds. In December the UFC finally announced the addition of the flyweight division and booked a four man tournament to crown a champion.. On TV, bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz (19-1) and contender Urijah Faber (26-5) will coach the 15th installment of the Ultimate Fighter reality series set to air in April. 135 pound prospect Anthony Gutierrez (4-0) lived up to the hype on 2011. After a unheard of 17-3 amateur record Gutierrez was projected as a steady three star prospect when he turned pro in January 2011. In the cage Gutierrez waxed all four his pro opponents over the next 12 months and out of the cage he supplemented his training with trips to Team Alpha Male. The 21 year old Gutierrez is a surefire five star prospect at bantamweight with potential fights in the featherweight division as well. In the bantamweight division no prospect's stock has risen faster than New York's Aljamain Sterling (5-0). A two time NCAA Division II All American out of SUNY Cortland, Sterling cut his teeth as a member of Team Bombsquad and posted a 6-1 amateur mark before turning pro. The 22 year old Sterling made his pro MMA debut in April and finished the year with five wins versus the likes of Sean Santella (8-3-1) as well as Claudio Ledesma (5-2). 21 year old Brazilian Alexandre Pantoja Passidomo (9-2) had a quite 2011 filled with matches falling apart and injuries. A muay thai instructor at the renowned Nova Uniao gym, Passidomo is positioned for a run at the newly formed UFC 125 pound weight division. Passidomo is a violent flyweight with striking power on the feet and gifted skills on the floor. Out of stateside MMA hotbed New Mexico flyweight Frank Baca (13-1) had the best year of his career in 2011. Only 25 years old Baca has been a successful pro since 2008. Fighting out of Fit NHB, Baca is arguably the best American trained 125 pound prospect in MMA. Baca is a strong four star prospect in the flyweight division with the ability to move up and compete at bantamweight. Bantamweight and Flyweight updated top 20 prospects

Posted in: mma, prospect, division, year, flyweight

Fighter Profile: Chris "All-American" Weidman

Stepping in on just two weeks notice to fight BJJ wizard Demian Maia is surging Middleweight prospect Chris Weidman. With many fans asking who he is, or what he has done to earn a shot at top 5 former title contender Maia, this seems the perfect to introduce "The All American" to the mass audience. Born in 1984 in New York, in his college years, Weidman received much recognition for becoming an 2 time NCAA Division 1 champion and finishing third in his senior year. With an impressive overall career, he

Posted in: year, weeks notice, maia, weidman, mass audience

The Long Wait Over, Bedford Aims For The Next Step

Whether it takes a fighter 10 weeks, 10 months or 10 years to make their Octagon debut, that one bout is only the beginning of their new and much more challenging career as a UFC fighter. The UFC is both the end of one journey in obscurity and the start of another in the limelight against the elite. Every MMA fighter outside of the UFC is trying their hardest to get inside it, but once they do, they revel in the uphill battle to maintain and ascend their position among the sport’s best. No one is more excited for the tough sledding ahead than “Brutal” Johnny Bedford, who premiered inside the Octagon last year and plans to make his mark in it in this one. “This is my year,” declares Bedford. “2011 was a great year, but this year is my breakout year. This is the year I get to show that I'm one of the best in the world. I plan on fighting hopefully three or four times and winning. I work with a sports psychologist and he called it in December 2010 before I fought Frank Gomez, which was the first fight we worked together on. I ran right through Frank and he said, ‘This is the beginning Johnny. 2011 is going to be your year.’ In 2011, I got onto the show, I did well on the show - I would have liked to have done better - and I had a big win on national TV at the finale. This is not going to stop. I'm training hard, I'm training smart and I've got great training partners here in Texas. I'm ready to get this win. I'm ready to stay active, stay healthy, to keep improving and to win.”At 29 years old, the Ohio native was every bit his nickname in his first official UFC scrap at The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale against fellow housemate Louis Gaudinot. On a card stacked with bantamweight action, Bedford’s bullying beatdown of the now 5-2 Gaudinot was arguably the most complete performance of the night. From the standup to the ground work, he was in total control of every frenzied second, leading some judges to score the two opening rounds both 10-8 in Bedford’s favor. As far as statement fights go, he showed no hesitation or jitters in dispatching his opponent and looked ready for all comers. “It went exactly as I planned,” states Bedford. “I wanted to control all aspects of the fight. I went in there on a mission to secure my job and to secure my future for my family. I wanted to go in there and be dominant and put on a good performance. It wasn't personal, but I wanted to beat him up. It was a lot more dominant than I thought it would be. I did expect to win the fight handily, but after watching the fight it was like he didn't fight back. It was crazy to watch. It was definitely very one-sided. It set the stage for me moving forward in the UFC and I was blessed to be chosen to have the fight televised.”The end of the onslaught and fight finally came via TKO (knees to the body) at 1:58 in the third round. Bedford attacked Gaudinot’s midsection throughout the bout with knees in the clinch, body punches and more knees and more punches to the body when on the ground. The final exchange was a knee to the stomach that dropped Gaudinot, which led to vicious soccer-style kicks to the belly and another smattering of knees. This devoted and sustained destruction of the torso was reminiscent of a highlight reel from boxing great Miguel Cotto. “My boxing trainer-slash-manager, Rafael Casias, would say it is all him,” tells Bedford. “He's going to take credit for it and I'm going to give him credit for it. He jokes around that I fight like a Mexican fighter. At the gym here, I'm known to go to the body. I'll get your hands up with punches and as soon as you bring your elbows up I'm looking to go to the body. For people who may not understand the fight game or who haven't been hit in those areas, it is the worst spot. I would much rather you punch me in the face than in the body - it takes the fight right out of you. I'm known in this small area in Texas for doing it and in that fight with Louis it was the first MMA fight I really got to capitalize on it. I've always wanted to do that and it is always the gameplan to go there when they raise their hands up a little bit, but it has never opened up like it did in that fight. I did it perfectly. I loved watching that fight because I was cutting angles and ripping shots to the body and you could see the fight just falling out of him.”Besides being his manager, cornerman, and the man instructing him to throw knuckle sandwiches to the bread basket, Casias also owns a gym with Bedford named Fitness Fight Factory in Colleyville, Texas. “Here in Texas, I say this all the time and I truly mean it, we have one of the best and deepest most talented training camps in the country for the 145 and 135 pound fighters,” asserts the 18-10-1 Bedford, who hones his aggressive edge with Casias in the Lone Star State gym with a gang of 145 and 135 pounders including UFC and WEC veteran Will Campuzano. “I think Team Alpha Male would be considered the number one gym because Joseph Benavidez, Chad Mendes and Urijah Faber are all great and big names. But other than that, I don't think there is a more stacked 135 or 145 pound room when we all get together and beat the crap out of each other.”Up next for Bedford is a January 28th tussle in the Octagon with the submission savvy Mitch Gagnon at UFC on FOX 2 in Chicago, Illinois. Less than two months following his debut, Bedford is ready for more fisticuffs, not only to keep his momentum going, but he is also expecting his second child with his wife in early April. It’s good news for the Bedfords, but bad news for the 8-1 (all submission victories) Gagnon, whose first UFC fight will be against the surging Ohio native. “Gagnon's pretty good at hiding video, but the little I do know about him is that he's not that fast wrestler type who is going to shoot for that double leg,” says Bedford. “He's going to look to clinch with me and overpower me with that bear hug and all that under-over stuff. All of that completely falls into my gameplan because wrestling is my home. I wrestled my entire life and I was never that fast type of guy. I wanted to get a hold of you, get into the clinch and that's where I'm good from. This guy trying to get a hold of me and trying to take me down, it's going to excite me - I welcome it. Try to turn it into a wrestling match. He's going to get boxed up coming forward and once he gets into the clinch he's going to be surprised, feel how good I am there, be put on his back, and panic, in my opinion.”Being a UFC fighter, even one that is so far only 1-0, affords one certain opportunities, and Bedford took advantage of a big one during the first week of this month. In preparation for his bout with Gagnon, the former Cleveland State University wrestler flew to Denver, Colorado to train with three world class level fighters and wrestlers: Scott Jorgensen, Joe Warren and Stephen Abas. Jorgensen is a household name for UFC fans, consistently holding a place at the top of the bantamweight pack. Warren is one of the most heavily decorated Greco-Roman wrestlers as well as a fighter sporting a 7-2 MMA record. As for Abas, he’s simply the three-time NCAA Division I National Champion of wrestling out of Fresno State University. “It was just an awesome week of training with guys who are at the top like that,” says Bedford. “It was humbling for sure, but being with these guys and doing well against them made my confidence go through the roof. Those are also relationships that I built there that I hope to continue in the future and train with those guys again. It shows what the UFC does and did for me. It was a breakout year for me last year becoming a household name and developing a huge following. It's finally coming altogether. In 2010, I don't know if I could have seen that I was going to be 1-0 in the UFC and fighting again in January 2012 and being called out by top level guys to go train with them. I'm honored to be in the room with those guys and with that being said I think I can compete with them. I think I've always known that I could compete at this level and now I have these opportunities to take full advantage of them.”This Saturday at the United Center in Chicago, Bedford will square off with Gagnon in search of his second win inside the Octagon. “I plan on boxing his ears off and cutting angles and making him hate his life out there,” affirms Bedford, who wants to be victorious in all facets of the fight and move another step forward in the bantamweight ranks. “I'm a complete mixed martial artist. If it goes to the ground it will be exciting there too. I plan on moving forward and I plan on getting another dominating win.”If 2011 was only a preview of Bedford’s in-cage abilities, then this year will be a “Brutal” one.

Posted in: ufc, fight, year, bedford, im

2012 World MMA Heavyweight Scouting Report: #10 - David Oliva

Name: David Oliva Nickname: The Mayan Assassin Age: 28 Height: 5'11" Location: Chicago, Illinois Here we are, fight fans, standing at the base of the mountain, ready to ascend to the peak to reveal MMA's best heavyweight mixed martial arts talent. I'll be frank. It's more of a hill than a mountain. But there is potential in many of the prospects we've picked to grace our report this year. Illinois-native David Oliva (6-0) begins the countdown, claiming the #10 spot on this year's report. Undefeated in six professional bouts, Oliva has been on an extended layoff since defeating Chuck Hoskins at an event in Milwaukee in August of 2010. He was scheduled to face Justin Lemke at Bellator 29 in September of the same year, but experienced weight issues in the lead-up to the bout, forcing him to withdraw. A little over a year later, in November, Oliva resurfaced to battle 2011 Scouting Report prospect Shamil Abdurahimov at Pro FC 37 in Russia. The bout never happened, continuing Oliva's dry spell into 2012. Before his lengthy absence, Oliva was gaining attention as one of the few heavyweight prospects in the talent pool with the wrestling skills to smother legitimate opposition. He worked over 2011 Scouting Report prospect Konstantin Gluhov at KSW 13 in May, slamming him to the ground with incredible strength and controlling him for three rounds. He did the same to the majority of his opponents. Oliva lacks the size and stand-up skills to be considered a well-balanced mixed martial artist. He does, however, know how to play to his strengths. A powerful wrestler with sufficient conditioning and an iron will, Oliva is capable of relentlessly powering through his adversaries. If he can resolve the weight problems and gain a submission game, there's no doubt Oliva will have some momentum heading into tougher fights. It doesn't take much to get interest from the UFC or Bellator if you're a heavyweight, and a little consistency and a few wins can go a long way in helping Oliva sign a major league contract this year. Footage of David Oliva after the jump... FlyweightBantamweightFeatherweightLightweight #1 - #2 - #3 -#4 -#5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - Rony Mariano#2 - Aljamain Sterling#3 - Chris Holdsworth#4 - Josh Hill#5 - Fabiano Fernandes#6 - Claudio Ledesma#7 - Sirwan Kakai#8 - Kyoji Horiguchi#9 - Leandro Hygo#10 - Pedro Munhoz #1 - Hacran Dias#2 - Joey Gambino#3 - Brandon Bender#4 - Lance Palmer #5 - Jim Alers#6 - Anthony Gutierrez#7 - Max Holloway#8 - John Teixeira#9 - Cody Bollinger#10 - Bubba Jenkins #1 - Fabricio Guerreiro#2 - Alessandro Ferreira#3 - Adriano Martins#4 - Justin Salas#5 - Neilson Gomes#6 - Eduard Folayang#7 - Zorobabel Moreira#8 - Anton Kuivanen#9 - Jordan Rinaldi#10 - J.P. Vainikainen WelterweightMiddleweightLight HeavyweightHeavyweight #1 - Andrey Koreshkov#2 - Dhiego Lima#3 - Brandon Thatch#4 - Nordine Taleb#5 - Hernani Perpetuo#6 - Brock Jardine#7 - Alan Jouban#8 - Mohsen Bahari#9 - Andre Santos#10 - Stephen Thompson #1 - Antonio Braga Neto#2 - Marcelo Guimaraes#3 - Claudio Silva #4 - Bojan Velickovic#5 - Ildemar Alcantara#6 - Michal Materla#7 - Elvis Mutapcic#8 - Tor Troeng#9 - Jack Hermansson#10 - Tim Ruberg #1 - Wagner Prado#2 - Phelipe Lins#3 - Tom DeBlass#4 - Misha Cirkunov#5 - Kyle Cerminara#6 - Robert Drysdale#7 - Artur Alibulatov#8 - Thiago Perpetuo#9 - Steve Bosse #10 - Juha Saarinen #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - David Oliva David Oliva vs. Konstantin Gluhov Daniel Omielańczuk vs David Olivia David Oliva vs. Lee Defoose David Oliva vs. Matt Hirsch David Oliva vs Unknown - 09/26/2009 David Oliva vs. Unknown - 06/20/2009

Posted in: vs, year, david, report, oliva

Mirko Filipovic returns to kickboxing for final fight against Ray Sefo

37-year old PRIDE icon Mirko Filipovic may be done with Mixed Martial Arts but it appears he’s still got a little fight left in him. According to Ray Sefo via Twitter, who is a decorated striker in his own right, the two are set to collide in Croatia on March 10 as part of a kickboxing event in Filipovic’s proverbial backyard. The show will be promoted by a Croatian television network called Fight Channel Promotions and it is believed “Cro Cop” will call it quit for goods after the bout regardless of result. Though neither man has actively competed in the sport for years both have experienced a high level of success in the past including numerous wins under the K-1/ISKA banners. Filipovic’s last kickboxing match came in 2003 and capped off a four-fight winning streak including victories over Mark Hunt, Bob Sapp, and Remy Bojansky. Comparably, Sefo didn’t take to the ring in 2011 but had a handful of appearances in years prior including three wins in his last four fights. PHOTO CREDIT – FEG

Posted in: fight, year, kickboxing, sefo, filipovic

Bellator Announces Featherweight Tournament Match-Ups

On the same night that reigning Bellator Featherweight Champion Joe Warren defends his title against No. 1 contender Pat Curran, the road for a new challenger begins in Hammond, IN. The March 9th season debut will feature the featherweight tournament's first round with mix of several Bellator vets, a couple new faces and a former top 145'er returning after a long layoff. Marlon Sandro (19-3) vs. Roberto Vargas (12-1) The 34-year-old Sandro advanced to the featherweight summer tournament finals and was knocked out by Curran in the second round. He returned to the winner's circle with a first round submission victory over Rafael Dias in November and is 5-2 in the last two years. Vargas returns to Bellator after a near three year absence, riding a six fight win streak in regional promotions. Ronnie Mann (20-4) vs. Wagnney Fabiano (14-3) The 25-year-old Mann was also a victim of Curran, dropping a unanimous decision to him in the tourney semifinals. He rebounded with a first round submission win over Kenny Foster in October and has won five of his last six. In Fabiano, Mann will face someone once regarded as one of the best featherweights in the world. The former IFL 145-pound champion won two straight after joining the WEC, but went 2-2 with defeats to Joseph Benavidez and Mackens Semerzier before being cut. When he steps into the cage, it will be his first action in 15 months. Alexandre Bezerra (12-1) vs. Genair da Silva (11-4) After ripping through four non-tourney opponents in 2011, Bezerra finally gets his shot in a Bellator tournament. He's a finisher with stoppages in 11 of his 12 wins and hasn't been in a fight that's gone the distance in over three years. da Silva returns to Bellator after being dispatched by Sandro last year in the summer tournament's opening round. He's coming off a first round submission win over Brian Goldsby and is 5-1 in the last two years. Daniel Straus (17-4) vs. Jeremy Spoon (12-0) Straus did just fine in his first 145-pound tourney, advancing to the finals of the spring tourney against Patricio Freire. The unanimous decision loss that night snapped a 12-fight winning streak, but he bounced back with an October decision win over Jason Dent in a non-Bellator fight. The undefeated Spoon gets his first crack in a tournament after two Bellator wins last year with Straus as his toughest competitor in his young career. Last week, Bellator confirmed that this event will be their season opener, originally slotted for March 2nd. The aforementioned Freire has also earned a title shot with his spring 145-pound tournament victory but a hand injury prevented him from taking the first shot at Warren.

Posted in: bellator, round, year, tournament, featherweight

UFC on FX 1 Video: Melvin Guillard Says Give Him a Year and His Jiu-Jitsu Will Be Top Notch

Melvin Guillard knows it takes time to learn anything new, and with his team at the Blackzilians behind him he says give him about a year and he'll be the one submitting fighters.

Posted in: year, hell, guillard, melvin, notch

MMA Top 10 Featherweights: Any Challenges Left for Jose Aldo?

Filed under: DREAM, UFC, Bellator, Rankings, FeatherweightsThe No. 1 featherweight in mixed martial arts returned to the cage at UFC 142 and needed less than one round to dispatch an opponent who entered the fight undefeated and widely regarded as the No. 2 featherweight in MMA. So where does Jose Aldo go now after defeating Chad Mendes? Aldo's camp has indicated he doesn't intend to move up to 155 pounds unless it's to fight for the UFC lightweight title. So that's probably not in the offing. And that raises the question: Are there any challengers left for Aldo at 145 pounds? For the identity of some potential opponents for Aldo going forward, check out the latest list of the top 10 featherweights in mixed martial arts below. Top 10 Featherweights in Mixed Martial Arts (Number in parentheses is the fighter's previous ranking.) 1. Jose Aldo (1): What's been so impressive about Aldo is how none of his fights are even close. Since signing with Zuffa in 2008 Aldo is 11-0, with four wins by first-round knockout or TKO, three wins by second-round knockout or TKO, one win by third-round TKO, and three wins by unanimous decision. He didn't lose more than one round in any of the three decisions, all of which were five-round fights. 2. Hatsu Hioki (3): Hioki has a great resume, with wins over Marlon Sandro, Takeshi Inoue, Ronnie Mann and Mark Hominick twice. But he looked just so-so in winning a split decision over George Roop in his UFC debut. He'll have to look better when he faces Bart Palaszewski back home in Japan at UFC 144 if he wants to prove he belongs in the Octagon with Aldo. 3. Chad Mendes (2): The best hope Mendes had of beating Aldo was getting him down and getting on top of him, and Aldo's takedown defense proved to be too good. (Aldo did benefit from grabbing the fence at one point.) Mendes is a good enough wrestler to threaten almost anyone at 145 pounds, but Aldo is leaps and bounds better than him as a striker. 4. Pat Curran (4): Curran looked outstanding in defeating Marlon Sandro in the Bellator featherweight tournament final, and Bellator has a great featherweight title fight lined up for March 9, with Curran taking on Joe Warren. 5. Erik Koch (5): Koch was supposed to fight Dustin Poirier at UFC 143 in what could have given the UFC its next No. 1 contender at featherweight. Unfortunately Koch is injured and had to drop out of the fight, and a return date for Koch has not been announced. 6. Bart Palaszewski (NR): Palaszewski's impressive win over Tyson Griffin establishes him as a potential future contender to the featherweight belt. Moving down to featherweight was a great move for him, but he'll have a tough test on his hands against Hioki at UFC 144. 7. Tatsuya Kawajiri (9): After dropping down to featherweight last year, Kawajiri submitted both Joachim Hansen and Kazuyuki Miyata. A fight with Dream featherweight champion Hiroyuki Takaya would be great. 8. Dustin Poirier (10): Poirier will take on Max Holloway at UFC 143, and if he puts on a good show he might find himself getting Aldo next. 9. Chan Sung Jung (NR): After Aldo, the Korean Zombie might be the hottest featherweight in the sport right now. He was recognized as having the Fight of the Year in 2010 with Leonard Garcia and the Submission of the Year in 2011 for finishing Garcia with a twister in their rematch, and then he needed just seven seconds to knock out Mark Hominick. Jung is on such a roll right now that there's some talk he could be next in line for Aldo, although that would be an extremely tall order: Jung is a lot of fun to watch, but Aldo is on another level as a striker. 10. Mark Hominick (6): Hominick is now on a two-fight losing streak after falling to Aldo and Jung, but he'll hold onto his spot in the Top 10 for now. He's a skilled striker who's still only 29 years old and has a good future in the featherweight division, but he should get a step down in quality of competition, which is just what he will get when he takes on Eddie Yagin, tentatively scheduled for UFC 145. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, year, featherweight, aldo

2012 World MMA Light Heavyweight Scouting Report: #5 - Kyle Cerminara

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

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

UFC postpones Montreal event (Yahoo! Sports)

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

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

UFC on FX 'Guillard vs Miller' fight card: Mike Easton vs Jared Papazian preview

Two young and very hungry bantamweights will be making their major television debuts this Friday night (January 20, 2012) as Alliance MMA's Mike Easton takes on King of the Cage champion Jared Papazian on the UFC on FX: "Guillard vs. Miller" main card in Nashville.Easton is the current hype man for UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz, but he proved he's got some major skills as well when he made his debut in the UFC last October, smashing fellow newcomer Byron Bloodworth via second round technical knockout. Another strong showing on the FX main card could completely change his life. Jared Papazian won the King of the Cage bantamweight crown last June against Abel Cullum and at just 23 years old, was already asking Sean Shelby to give him a shot in the UFC. Well, he got his wish and now it's time for him to make the most of this tremendous opportunity as he'll likely have more eyes on this fight than all of his prior 21 bouts combined. Will Easton continue to barrel through the lower ranks of the UFC bantamweight division? Can Papazian seize Easton's momentum and become and instant player at 135? What's the key to victory for both men on Friday night? Let's find out: Mike Easton Record: 11-1 overall, 1-0 in the UFC Key Wins: John Dodson (UWC 4), Byron Bloodworth (UFC on Versus 6), Josh Ferguson (UWC 6) Key Losses: none How he got here: Mike Easton began fighting professionally at just 20 years old but his schedule was extremely sporadic. He competed just four times in his first three years, winning all four bouts. His pace didn't truly pick up until he received his black belt in 2007 and began competing in the East coast's Ultimate Warrior Challenge promotion. "The Hulk" won his first four fights in the UWC, including bouts with future Ultimate Fighter season 14 competitorJosh Ferguson and show winner John Dodson, which earned him a shot for the title against former WEC bantamweight champion Chase Beebe. Easton would win a split decision over Beebe in one of the most controversial and heavily criticized decisions in MMA history. After the fight, Easton would suffer a series of injuries and setbacks which delayed his return for two full years. When he finally made his comeback, it was in the UFC against fellow newcomer Byron Bloodworth. Easton crushed Bloodworth to take a second round TKO victory in his promotional debut. He was originally slated to face Ken Stone, but Papazian stepped up on short notice when Stone went down with an injury. How he gets it done: Easton utilized kicks extremely well in his last fight with Byron Bloodworth, so he'll be looking to keep his distance early in the stand-up portion and work Papazian's legs with repeated kicks. If he sees an opening to get inside, Easton is also very powerful with the short strikes, so he'll likely be looking to follow up with those leg kicks by closing the distance with knees or hooks. If he can get the fight to the ground, he should have an advantage over Papazian, who comes from more of a kickboxing and Muay Thai background. Easton is very powerful and has been a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu for over four years now. Expect to see him try to work his ground game against the King of the Cage champion as his submissions and top control should give him a huge advantage on the canvas. Jared Papazian Record: 14-6 (1 No Contest) overall, 0-0 in the UFC Key Wins: Abel Cullum (KOTC: Epic Force) Key Losses: Jimmie Rivera (KOTC: Empire) How he got here: Jared Papazian actually entered the sport of mixed martial arts because he got jumped by 10 guys when he was in high school and he wanted to learn to fight back properly. After a rough 4-4 start to his mixed martial arts career, he turned it all around after switching management and training camps. Papazian has been extremely active in his career thus far, fighting six times in 2009 and following that up with seven fights in 2010. "The Jackhammer" rode a wave of momentum all the way to a bantamweight title shot against top prospect Jimmie Rivera, losing a highly controversial decision. When Rivera vacated his title to compete on season 14 of The Ultimate Fighter, Papazian got another shot at the belt against veteran Abel Cullem, and he made the most of it by defeating "The Silent Assassin" via five round decision in a thrilling affair. After defending his title once more and handing Marvin Garcia the first loss of his career, Papazian stepped up on short notice in place of the injured Ken Stone to fight in the UFC. How he gets it done: Papazian should try to avoid the ground game against Easton at all costs, even if it means playing slightly defensive. In the stand-up, expect to see him really work the clinch, which has been his go-to area in times of need. Papazian is very good at controlling his opponents in the clinch, even if he doesn't do much damage as he can still score some points there with the judges. Something else to keep in mind is his endurance. "The Jackhammer" fought in three five round decisions last year, so he's clearly got the gas in the tank to push an incredible pace for three rounds and not lose a step. He needs to take advantage of that, get in Easton's face and keep him guessing and working hard throughout the course of the fight. If he can force Easton to work harder than he expected, he could wear him down and that could create all the openings he needs to get off with his strikes. Papazian has a tremendous opportunity in front of him and the 23 year old needs to make a good first impression. Fight X-Factor: The biggest X-Factor for this bout is most likely the fact that this is Papazian's Octagon debut. Say what you want about ring rust, but Octagon jitters are as real as it gets. We've seen it time and time again that fighters blow their gas tank quickly trying too hard or they psyche themselves out completely. Papazian's experience as King of the Cage champion should help him in that department slightly, but he's still just 23 years old. Even Easton looked awkward and unsure of himself in the first round of his Octagon debut against an overmatched opponent. The fact that this debut is also taking place on the main card of an FX fight event which will be seen by millions of people around the world certainly won't help either. Bottom Line: Despite being a late injury replacement, this should be a competitive and highly interesting match-up in the UFC bantamweight division. Jared Papazian has a ton of talent which is just now beginning to be tapped while Mike Easton proved late last year that he's got the power and skills to make an impact at 135. Both of these young men have an exciting fighting style which should be a solid recipe for entertainment. There's even a bit of fight drama as Papazian has been critical of Easton's friend and training partner Dominick Cruz in the past. There is potential for a stellar showcase of bantamweight talent in this bout. Who will come out on top at UFC on FX: Guillard vs. Miller? Tell us your predictions in the comments below! Poll Which bantamweight will score a victory in their national television debut this Friday night? Mike Easton Jared Papazian 2 votes | Results

Posted in: ufc, fight, year, easton, papazian

Georges St. Pierre Looking To Return Late This Year

UFC Welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre has revealed a tentative timeline for his return to action. The injured champion told Inside MMA that he is planning on resuming hard training in July, and is looking to return to the Octagon in late October or early November of this year. Hard training will [resume] in July, and fighting again... for the timing to get back I would say the beginning of November. I can come back in November. You think you will fight before this year is up? Oh yeah, of course. I hope so, please, give it to me... Late October, beginning of November. That would be good. St. Pierre was scheduled to defend his title at UFC 137, and then at UFC 143, but was sidelined due to an ACL injury. If he does return at the end of October, it will be roughly 18 months since his last fight, an April 2011 title defense against Jake Shields at UFC 129. The question for the UFC will be what to do with the Welterweight title in the meantime. Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz fight for the interim belt on February 4, leaving a full 9 months before a possible title unification bout with GSP. That's a tough timeline. Do you gamble on GSP returning as scheduled and put the belt on hold for 9 months, potentially leaving a hot Condit or Diaz out of action for the bulk of the year? Or do you schedule an interim title defense - a move that could lead to another title change and potentially weaken interest in the unification match? And if you do schedule another defense, who is the challenger? It's a tough call, and I imagine depends in part on how Condit vs. Diaz plays out. But either way, it's good to hear that GSP is on his way back. Whatever you think of his style, his absence from the division is notable, and I'd rather see him fight than fade away due to injury. Full video, including some advice from Phil Davis, in the complete entry.

Posted in: ufc, title, year, november, return

Now that unreleased footage of Lorenzo Fertitta is out, the ESPN vs. UFC beef is in full swing

The beef between Dana White and Josh Gross goes back a long time. I truly don’t remember an era in MMA history when they ever got along, but veterans of sports journalism claim it existed. Unfortunately, any amends that were made in the past 3+ years were deposited into a cryogenic freezing locker (where they’ll remain until the sun eats the earth) following this weekend’s episode of ‘Between The Lines’ which criticized every aspect of the UFC’s salary structure and the fighters’ reluctance to speak out for fear of repercussions. While the broadcast made good points comparing the income disparity of the UFC with that of all other sports franchises (NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA), ESPN failed to acknowledge that professional MMA is in its infancy, and the UFC has only been profitable for approximately six years. Each year, salaries escalate, and there is a direct correlation between performance and subsequent discretionary bonuses. In any case, Lorenzo doesn’t appreciate ESPN criticizing the UFC while some of their own contracted boxers don’t earn enough money to buy themselves an iPhone. Here’s the footage that ESPN didn’t air during their Sunday morning special. Keep in mind this was released by UFC.

Posted in: ufc, espn, ’t, year, time i

UFC 142 Results: Edson Barboza Locks Up KO of the Night

It's only mid-January, but Edson Barboza may have already wrapped up the 'Knockout of the Year' for 2012.

Posted in: barboza, year, knockout, edson barboza, edson

Ryan Jimmo-Karlos Vemola off UFC on FX card

Canadian light heavyweight Ryan Jimmo will apparently have to wait a little longer before making his UFC debut after suffering an injury while training for a bout next weekend against Karlos Vemola at UFC on FX: Miller vs. Guillard. No specifics were given on his condition and it is unknown whether the UFC will seek a replacement or not given the January 20 date attached to the event. News of the card’s change was confirmed by the UFC. It was also revealed Reza Madadi had withdrawn from a bout against Fabricio Camoes with the organization remaining hopeful a 155er can be found to fill in. Jimmo has racked up sixteen straight victories since falling in his first MMA fight nearly five years ago. The 30-year old has spent the last few years as part of the MFC roster where he earned the divisional title with success against UFC veterans like Marvin Eastman, Wilson Gouveia, and Rameu Thierry Sokoudjou. UFC on FX: Miller vs. Guillard is headlined by former lightweight contenders Jim Miller and Melvin Guillard getting it on in the Octagon with other match-ups including Pat Barry vs. Christian Morecraft, Charlie Brenneman vs. Daniel Roberts, and Duane Ludwig vs. Josh Neer. PHOTO CREDIT – MFC

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

One to Watch: Antonio Carvalho / UFC 142

A large number of UFC debuts are scheduled to take place in the early part of 2012, some as last minute replacements and others as long awaited unveilings. The next four Saturdays are eack slated to feature a UFC event, and with every show there is at least one new prospect stepping foot inside the Octagon for the first time in his career worth watching. Each week, I’ll take a look at a new debuting fighter, discussing why you should take a look at the fight. This week’s candidate is: Antonio Carvalho – UFC 142 (vs. Felipe Arantes) A Look at the UFC 142 Countdown Special It could be argued Carvalho’s debut has only taken this long because of the fact that he’s been a featherweight for the last few years and the division is relatively new to the UFC. Carvalho holds belts in numerous disciplines and mixes an unorthodox striking game with strong ground transitions, setting up to one of his favorite ways to end – ground and pound. He does hold three submission victories but hasn’t won a fight that way in nearly seven years. Within his decade long career the 32 year old Canadian has fought the likes of Rumina Sato, Takashi Inoue, as well as UFC vets Doug Evans and Jeff Curran, not to mention being one of the few to hold a victory over Japanese standout Hatsu Hioki. After going a quick 8-0 to open his career, Carvalho suffered his first career loss to Curran before going to Japan to compete in Shooto. It was there that he gained some notoriety, especially when he defeated Hioki who was riding a ten-fight unbeaten streak at the time and was a heavy favorite coming in. Unfortunately, injuries have slowed him down slightly over the years, javing only fought five times since November 2007. In fact, his UFC debut was also delayed due to an injury but, as you now know, he’ll finally make his debut at UFC 142 as the first match on the undercard against youngster Arantes. You can catch Carvalho-Arantes on Facebook when the UFC broadcast starts up at 7:00 PM EST. Tweet

Posted in: ufc, time, year, career, carvalho

Vitor Belfort Eyes the Coming End to His Time in the Cage, Vows to 'Enjoy the Moment'

Filed under: UFC, NewsWhen I asked Vitor Belfort what he thought it would feel like to walk out in front of a screaming crowd of his countrymen in Rio's HSBC Arena for UFC 142 in the wee hours of Sunday morning, he described it in one word: intense. "I do my best no matter where I'm at, but I know that crowd's going to be the loudest crowd ever," Belfort said. "I'm going to enjoy the moment. It's a party every time I step in that Octagon. It's party time. The hard work is done and it's time to do what you do every day in the gym. Of course, you have only one chance, so you have to enjoy the moment." And yet I admit that, based on what I've learned of fighterspeak over the years, something in that statement set off alarms in my head. Not only did Belfort say he was going to 'enjoy the moment' twice in the span of about six sentences, he went on to use that exact same phrase at least half a dozen more times in the less than ten minutes we spent on the phone. For a normal person, maybe that means nothing. But a fighter? In my experience, once they stop talking about their obsessive desire to win and perform and become a champion, and they start talking about enjoying each passing moment of fight week, it usually means they're thinking about hanging it up soon. It made me wonder: is Vitor Belfort closing in on retirement? Is that even possible? Belfort is a little like the anti-Wanderlei Silva in some ways. With Silva, you think about his long, memorable career and look at his weathered face -- even after plastic surgery, it remains a rugged timeline of his experiences in the fight game -- and you can't believe he's only 35 years old. Then you look at Belfort, who still looks fresh and eager and in possession of roughly the same facial symmetry he started with, and it's hard to believe he's actually 34. At the same time, it makes sense. They came up more or less as contemporaries. When they faced off at UFC Brazil in 1998, they were both 5-1 as professionals. But in the intervening years it seems like Silva's lived several brutal lifetimes, while Belfort's best days have seemed always just in front of him, like a hill he never quite seems to crest. When I spoke to him in the Copacabana Palace Hotel the last time the UFC was in Rio, he was fresh off a knockout of Yoshihiro Akiyama and all he could talk about was getting another shot at middleweight champ Anderson Silva. When I mentioned that it might be tough to do, considering how recently he'd been beaten by the champ, he just shook his head intently as his young son hammered one overhand right after another into his father's gut in an attempt to get the old man's attention. "I'll do it," Belfort said confidently. "I'll do whatever I have to do." But this time, just a couple days away from a fight with Anthony Johnson, which -- win or lose -- will lead him straight into an Ultimate Fighter coaching gig opposite his old friend Wanderlei, Belfort struck a very different tone. "I'm enjoying the moment," he said again. "I'm enjoying every time I can enjoy, all of this. Right now I'm enjoying everything as it comes." Maybe it's the weight-cut talking. Maybe it's too many phone interviews lined up back to back to back to back. Maybe it's just something he says when he's not sure what else to say. But when I put it to Belfort straight and asked him if all this 'enjoy the moment' talk meant he was looking at his career and wondering how many such moments were left in it, he didn't shoot me down. Far from it. "I want to finish strong," he said. "I want to finish the best I can finish. We'll see when God's going to decide to speak to my heart and tell me that it's the moment to finish. I know that the time is coming, so I'm preparing to finish the best I can finish." At first, it still seems hard to believe. When you think of the guys who might need to hang it up soon, Belfort's name doesn't spring to mind. He still looks good in the cage, can still take and deliver a punch with the best of them. But the years are the years and the numbers are the numbers. The bout with Johnson will be his 30th professional MMA fight in a more than fifteen-year career. Almost all of that time has been spent at the sport's highest level, against top-tier opponents. Surely, that takes its toll whether we see it etched into a man's face or not. But when you're still as competitive as he is is well into your mid-thirties, I asked him, how do you know when it's time? "God will speak to my heart," Belfort answered. "I will feel the moment. I don't have any ego or pride. In life, you have to understand that everything has a beginning, middle, and end. The only thing that doesn't have an end is God's presence, and God Himself. He's the only thing that doesn't have an end. ...That time will come and I will feel it. And when it comes, I'm going to accept it." For those of us who were teenagers ourselves back when Belfort got his start as the blistering 19-year-old who knocked people out in a matter of seconds -- back when he was "The Phenom," who eventually gave way to the talented, but not quite dominant middle-aged fighter -- it's strange to think that he must now be closer to the end than the beginning. But then, that time comes for every fighter. The time when you start actively trying to enjoy these fleeting moments as a pro fighter because you realize there's only a finite number of them left. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: time, year, belfort, moment, im

Let's Be Frank - UFC 142 By The Numbers

0: Number of losses for featherweight challenger Chad Mendes (11-0), Edson Barboza (9-0), and promising heavyweight prospect Ednaldo Oliveira (13-0-1, 1 NC), who is a training partner of world champ Junior dos Santos. 1: Number of UFC 142 fighters who have worked as models in Japan (that would be Canada’s Antonio Carvalho). 4: Number of world title defenses for UFC featherweight champ Jose Aldo (two of those defenses came while holding the WEC belt)4.5: Number of southpaws fighting on the card (Vitor Belfort, Mike Massenzio, Ricardo Funch, Yuri Alcantara and Carlo Prater, who is comfortable switching stances). 7: Combined UFC Fight of the Night Awards for Sam Stout and Thiago Tavares, who clash on the 142 undercard8: Number of letters in Toquinho, which means “tree stump” in Portuguese and is the aptly given nickname for the ferocious leg lock monster that is Rousimar Palhares. 11: Number of years Sam Stout spent studying under Shawn Tompkins, the widely respected trainer who died last year in his sleep from a heart attack at the age of 37. 11: Number of BJJ black belts on the 142 card. 13: Number of consecutive fights Jose Aldo has won. 14: Age that Ednaldo Oliveira started training martial arts. Number of months since his opponent, Gabe Gonzaga, last fought in the UFC.15: Number of years Vitor Belfort has been fighting (since 1996)29: Number of wins welterweight Carlo Prater has amassed, tops on the 142 card.34: Number worn by gridiron great Walter Payton, the late Chicago Bears running back whom co-main event fighter Anthony Johnson counts as one of his heroes.

Posted in: ufc, year, card, number, years sam

New York MMA Update – 1.12.12

Like a recurring outbreak of a painful African strain of chicken pox, or a crazy stalker ex-girlfriend who also happens to be a government-trained assassin (and damn, why won’t the broad leave me alone?), the issue of getting MMA sanctioned in New York arises yet again. UFC president Dana White is making proclamations, lawyers are sparring over lawsuits, domestic violence organizations are writing letters, and the interminable wheels of the legislature are beginning their annual churn towards fruitlessness. Here, then, is an update. (Note: if you were to print all these updates out, staple them together and rapidly flip through the pages, the words would form an abstract animated picture of a fist slowly giving MMA fans the middle finger.) -White issued a bold statement on MMAFightCorner’s radio show last week, declaring that this will be the year New York finally sanctions this great sport of ours. The word “guarantee” was used, which, if White were the Pope or President of the United States, would be pretty darn cool and somewhat ironclad. But alas, he is not… “I hope Dana is correct,” said Steve Koepfer, a New York-based sambo instructor and founder of the Coalition to Legalize Mixed Martial Arts in New York. “Sambo Steve” has been spearheading the grassroots movement here for the past few years, pushing for sanctioning by organizing sit-downs with Assemblymen and industry insiders. “We certainly have made incredible strides with the people and legislators of New York,” said Koepfer. “But, nothing in New York politics is a guarantee.” He added: “We may have some new opponents in key positions this year,” alluding to incoming legislators who are against having MMA in the Empire State. Ugh. When will it end? -In November, attorneys representing Zuffa (and a number of other parties affected by New York’s lack of MMA sanctioning) filed suit against the State saying that the law banning MMA violates the Constitution worse than Quinton Jackson violates female reporters. Well, representatives for the State have begun their efforts to escape the courtroom submission attempts and mount a counter-attack. Justin Klein over at the FightLawyer blog has been monitoring the proceedings and giving his analysis – check it out here. The gist of it is that, thus far, things don’t look too bleak for Zuffa, et al. The central argument of the lawsuit is that the law violates some First Amendment protections (i.e., “Free Speech”), and at this stage, the State isn’t even trying to tackle that issue. To quote the great Nick Diaz, “Don’t be scared, homie.” -Remember that letter the Culinary Union circulated stating that the UFC was bad, so very bad, evil in fact, and probably responsible for everything from the genocide in Rwanda to the high price of oil? The National Center for Domestic and Sexual Violence apparently liked what they saw, so they sent a letter of their own to the members of the State Assembly. “We urge you to continue to uphold the ban on cage fighting, given that the UFC, the largest promoter of cage fighting events in the U.S., has failed to demonstrate that it is willing to ensure its fighters behave in a socially responsible way, even as the company expressly markets its fights and fighters to children.” Read the rest here. Personally, I’m not going to lose any sleep over this letter. Sure, it just adds more fuel to the fires that the opposition has been trying to stoke, but so what? If MMA gets sanctioned this year, it’s going to be because the lobbying machine is finally in sync with the legislating machine, and no trash-talking letter is going to affect that. Regardless, here’s Pete Lampasona over at TheFightNerd with a rebuttal. -And last but not least, that faint creaking sound you hear is the noise created by the rickety wheels of the legislature, inexorably moving towards a session where bills are made into laws. Or not. Either way, here’s evidence that the State Senate has begun the process of approving their half of the MMA bill. Just keep in mind, the Senate has been cool with putting their stamp on the bill in the past – it’s the Assembly that’s been the problem.

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

We predict 2012 is the year of the rat

[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on DstryrSG, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] Well people it's 2012, we have survived to live another year. Although some of you may have thought you were close to a near death experience this past New Year's Eve, it's more likely that it was just you and the toilet on a long voyage of sickness. Now that we've made it to a new year we have less than 12 months to enjoy life to the fullest before the world ends - just like those damn Mexicans predicted. That would leave the world inhabited by roaches and rats and a possible Ninja Turtle or two. Those f*^kers can survive anything. I hate rodents like most people and up until Sunday I only ever liked one rodent; he's a rat, and his name is Splinter. Why am I talking about the apocalypse and vermin? I don't know, really. Possibly because I had to remove a rotting mouse from my closet wall that somehow happened to wedge itself between flooring and the sheetrock, (pictures not included for your sake) which will traumatize me for the remainder of 2012. Now onto today's real topic - The RAT. About two weeks ago we featured some sweet moves from the guys at Synergy BJJ utilizing the Leg loop guard. Today we have yet another addition to the family from the masterminds over at Radical MMA NYC. They have developed the Loop/London/Lister/Williams guard into an MMA specific guard named "The Rat." Read More and Watch the Video...

Posted in: year, rat, anything i, closet wall, rodent hes

Ottavia Bourdain's Festivus Power Guillotine, The 49th Midlands Championship Videos and Results, Who Is Tiago Camilo and More News

Recent happenings in the worlds of sambo, judo, Brazilian jiu jitsu, submission grappling and/or collegiate/freestyle wrestling. If it takes place on the ground and it's interesting, it should be here. By now the newness of 2012 may have worn off. Vows made to improve physical fitness or to stop lusting after worldly goods could be in danger. Fight the temptation! Do not let winter colds drag you down or veg forever on that couch - except if you are reading this column. Hopefully the holiday seasons were good to you and yours and this dose of grappling news revives your warrior spirit. Ottavia Bourdain, the lovely wife of Chef Tony and fierce fighter in her own right, kicks us off into 2012 the right way with her Festivus Feat of Strength. Ottavia has a Twitter account which shows her ardent dedication to combat sports on top of her own busy life and the demands of keeping Chef Tony in fine company. I am stunned enough to completely blank on a No Reservations or Layover pun. All due respect to the Bourdains' union of coolness and expertise. After the jump, delicious video highlights of the 49th Annual Midlands Championships along with an insider's perspective on the tourney, then we go globe-trotting with wrestlers and Brazilian judoka, start digging into the technique-explaining bon bons of the grappling world and there are some delectable brain food Odds & Ends links for your consumption. If you have any links of your own, questions or comments, leave them below or get word to me at DefGrappler on Twitter. Please let me know if I missed anything major and I will fix this, that and the other thing. A list of official crew Twitter accounts is right here for your pickings: BloodyElbow Twitter, Luke Thomas, Kid Nate, Brent Brookhouse, Leland Roling, Richard Wade, Chris Barton, Damon O,Scott Broussard, Tim Burke, Matt Bishop, Fraser Coffeen, Dallas Winston, KJ Gould, Matt Roth, Anton Tabuena, T.P. Grant, Josh Nason. Wrestling News: I am telling you ahead of time that this is going to be a T.R. Foley-heavy section. If you do not like to read the stories of a 2004 wrestling All-American and his friends who have traveled to places like Mongolia, Ethiopia, India and Vietnam to go wrestle people in their native styles of grappling, then you are advised to skip down to the NCAA event results or to the Judo news. Although long out of college and admittedly not in the shape an elite college wrestler should be in, Foley wrestled at the 2011 Midlands in the 184 lb division. The opening paragraphs of his tourney round-up should tell you how good a story teller he is: The night before stepping on the scales at the 49th annual Midlands wrestling tournament, I went to a low-key dinner at a Mexican-fusion restaurant down the street from my Chicago apartment. My best friend and former teammate was visiting from out of town, and a dinner with mutual friends seemed appropriate for his arrival. I'm not a monk, and as promised in an earlier article, I drank a few glasses of red wine. My meal was equally indulgent, as I took down healthy portions of chips, salsa, and a lime-cooked ceviche appetizer. Glasses were clinked; jokes were told. The next morning I arrived at Welsh-Ryan Arena fifteen minutes before weigh-ins. In the back room of the complex I was reminded of the less-playful realities inside a collegiate weigh-in: gaunt-faces, sallow skin and the constant thwacking of jump ropes. Some of the Northwestern wrestlers I've come to know over the years paced by me, most shirtless and shoeless, each holding their phone manically checking the time and texting loved ones their current condition. Their faces looked soured, lips purple. I was wearing jeans, some boots, and a sensible winter sweater. Foley went 1 and 2, with the first loss being against Braden Atwood of Purdue University (who would lose to top ranked Robert Hamlin of Lehigh in the semi-finals). I do not agree with Foley's closing thoughts about collegiate wrestling being the sport that demands the most physically from its athletes out there. I lean more towards freestyle wrestling or judo, but his writing is phenomenal and provides a window into what a wrestling tournament looks like from a more worldly perspective. Now for the other part of the T.R. Foley writing endeavors I like so much. He started a website called Wrestling Roots, which is basically designed to collect the experiences of people in traditional combat sports around the globe. The latest entry, written by Mark L., is an absolutely brilliant photoessay of a folkstyle wrestler in Ethiopia learning about and then entering a Tigel tournament off the cuff. Tigel is the local form of grappling, which is at times like Greco-Roman and more like Mongolian wrestling at others. It may also be the source of that greeting between people where you shake hands and then go in for the shoulder bump - or so Mark says. Please read that article. It has pretty pictures like this: via wrestlingroots.org The archives of Wrestling Roots are absolutely worth spending a few hours browsing through. I particularly like the Mongolian stories and the brief summary of kushti, the Indian dirt wrestling. The latter is noteworthy because it provides the link to kushtiwrestling.blogspot.com, which is the most comprehensive collection of videos, articles and pictures of indigenous wrestling that I have ever seen (note that translations into English may not always be available). The full 49th Midlands Championships results, courtesy of the NCAA, are right here. For those of you looking for a shorter recap, Bill Hupp over at InterMat has the big storylines summarized and the outcomes of the divisional finals. Gary Abbot over at The Mat has a rundown of the Top 10 wrestling stories of 2011. Jordan Burroughs, Cael Sanderson, the Times Square duals with Russia and more are all there. A surprising amount of these stories appeared here on Bloody Elbow - which proves that we are paying attention to the right stuff and will hopefully continue to do so in 2012. In one of the most hotly anticipated duals of the season, Oklahoma State, ranked #2 at the time, narrowly beat out #1 ranked Iowa in a tie-break over total points scored - which made for a final score of 17-16. InterMat has the rundown and Flowrestling has the video highlights. Watch more video of Iowa vs Oklahoma State on flowrestling.org During the intermission of OK St and Iowa, two high level freestyle matches took place. Brent Metcalf, the 145 lber, won 1-0, 1-0 against the Canadian Haislan Garcia, a 2010 Worlds 5th place finisher. Steve Mocco, the 265 lber beat the German Nick Matuhin 1-0, 2-0. All four are aiming to represent their countries in the 2012 Olympics and are tuning up for the qualification process. This is the video of the Metcalf/Garcia match from Flowrestling. This link is the video of the Mocco/Matuhin match, also from Flowrestling. If you are a college wrestling rankings junkie, InterMat has them ready and waiting for you. In sadder news, Jake Deitchler, a 22 year old former Olympian and University of Minnesota wrestler, was forced to end his wrestling career early due to multiple concussions. Deitchler had enormous talent, as he was the first high schooler to make the U.S. Olympic team since 1976, but the concussions caused him to sit out and attempt a comeback. Unfortunately, the problems persisted and he called it quits. Most fans may not care, but CTE is a supremely scary thing that all combat sports - not just boxing - must confront in the coming years. On the positive side, Deitchler retains his scholarship and will finish his degree and remain with the Golden Gophers team in some capacity. Judo News: The first 2012 big event of the international scene will be the World Masters tournament in Almaty, Kazakhastan on the 14th and 15th. The World Masters will kick off the competitive build-up to the Olympics in London later this year. Of course, the athletes with their eye on Olympic gold have already been training for most of the last decadeand are probably wishing July would hurry up and get here. Until then, we have to content ourselves with some more Qingdao Open videos, Dr. Ann Maria DeMars giving us some more great competition tips and Jim Hettes tossing Nam Phan all over the cage. Everybody and their mother - if she paid attention to grappling news - saw the video of Demian Maia training with a Brazilian judoka named Tiago Camilo. It got linked to all up and down the Interwebs, but usually without much context. To put it briefly, Camilo is a judo monster. Right now, he is the #4 ranked judoka in the world at 90 kg (roughly 198 lbs) and a beastly ippon machine. At the age of 18, Camilo fought his way to a silver in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. In 2007, he became the U81 kg champion in the Worlds (held in Brazil) with what I call the "Jacare-style bull rush"because I am a BJJ dork. At the Beijing Olympics, he won the bronze (unfortunately, I cannot find video of that medal-winning match). In 2011, Camilo was a quarter-finalist in Paris at the World Championship (check out Nishiyama's ridiculous te guruma to beat him), a bronze medalist at the Grand Slam in Brazil (losing to his rival Asley Gonzalez Montero, took gold by ippon at the Pan Ams in Gudalajara and won a Grand Prix event in Amsterdam by sweet tai otoshi. How Maia's training with Camilo helps or hinders the upcoming fight with Michael Bisping remains to be seen, but Camilo knows his way around the mats very well. Props should be given to Demian Maia for working with him. If you have access to the MGinAction video library, you can pull up the video of Jimmy Pedro, an American judo world champion, rolling with Marcelo Garcia and doing quite well at times. If I had to guesstimate, I would say Camilo is a bit better than Pedro and Maia a bit worse than Marcelo, but we all win when these guys share video of their training sessions. Submission Grappling/Brazilian Jiu Jitsu News: The grapplers over on Reddit have started my favorite Brazilian jiu jitsu meme ever: Kurt Osiander quotes combined with a picture of Osiander pointing at you. Osiander is a Bay Area BJJ legend with a black belt from Ralph Gracie and quite the competition resume. He sporadically puts up a Move of the Week video on YouTube that is always filled with solid technique and often hilarious explanations. I'm partial to this picture from the Reddit thread: But feel free to make your own, using this handy webtool. The YouTube videos are full of quotable moments, but real time pithiness is always appreciated. Jen Flannery, a purple belt over at Fifty/50 BJJ in D.C., gives us a very solid recap of the year for women grapplers over on the Fightworks Podcast. There is still much work to be done, yet things are improving for ladies everywhere in terms of prospects, gyms, tournaments, sponsorship, coverage and opportunities. Christian Graugart, the best BJJ blogger anywhere, is in the midst of writing a book about his trip around the world, spent teaching and learning grappling, as well as taking tons of amazing photos and videos. He did a recap of his year, which simultaneously reignites the competitive fire in me and firms up my belief that the combat sports community worldwide is perhaps the best anywhere. The provocative Renato Laranja gave us another glimpse into his amazing life and lets loose on all kinds of topics. Check out the entertaining Q&A session and pictures of the InsideBJJ interview and remember that true Brazilians pronounce their "r" as "h". Matthew Maldonado, an Alliance brown belt in New York City, gives us two escapes from the brutal position that is knee on belly. Be warned that the second may not be IBJJF-legal, but it works fine in the home gym or non-IBJJF tourneys. On what is fast becoming one of my favorite BJJ blogs, The Jiu Jitsu Laboratory brings you a breakdown of the smash pass - or whatever you or your instructors call the battle to push the opponent's knees together on one side and pass guard. Also, lookit the banner image: If that call back to the old days of video games (featuring Rafael Lovato Jr.) doesn't draw you in, I shake my head sadly. DSTRYSG had a great post about a counter to the berimbolo - a flashy back-taking technique often used on the big stages of Brazilian jiu jitsu tourneys - from Davin Maxwell. This counter is probably going to be used against that purple belt who has seen the latest tourney highlight videos and is now trying new moves out on your unsuspecting keister. The Copa Nova tournament was held in Virginia this past weekend. Some of the videos have popped up on YouTube and the full results can be found on their website. This tourney has a particular connection with Bloody Elbow as several teammates of Patrick Tenney (BE Grappling Team) competed and won medals. Gianni Grippo, a brown belt and multiple belt level champion who trains at Renzo Gracie, has a Young Guns profile over at Submission Control. I liked that one, but my heart fell for the other Young Guns profile on Filipino brown belt Ralph Go, who took second at the 2011 Mundials (to Jordon Schultz, an Alliance brown belt). Seeing this profile on Go and Anton Tabuena's awesome coverage of Southeast Asian MMA reminds me of Ratatouille. Not everyone can be a great fighter, but a great fighter can come from anywhere. NAGA was quiet, but Grapplers Quest is running their Florida State Championships this weekend. If you are in the Coral Springs area, consider turning out to watch, learn and interact with your fellow Floridians and submission grapplers of all ages, shapes and sizes. Odds and Ends: I missed this Black Belt magazine article with Chael Sonnen when it appeared back in October. Sonnen is the master of the Sweet'n'Sour talk and has polarized MMA for the past year and more. However, this interview is all sweet and really has Chael at his most earnest - which displays his genuine knowledge and love for combat sports. Be careful when out at the bars in Phuket, Thailand. Even if you are Jeremy Renner, fresh off Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol and have a whole crew with you, people can get into bar brawls and stabbed. Combine this super-smart post by Mike Shatzkin about the future of publishing books vs. e-books with Clay Shirky's genius-level thoughts on newspapers and paywalls. Add in combat sports. What do you get? I keep ending up at "Judo Chops" and some vague stuff about communities while seeing a desperate struggle to get and hold the attention of small chunks of the faceless masses. Eh, cool your overheating brain off with these pithy quotes accumulated by Kevin Kelly. I should do an MMA-specific version of these. Or you can try this Big Picture "Images of the Year" compendium. There is no better build-up possible to the latest #GrapplAnimals than the words of Deo Wade: "Acrobatic rolling, some cardio and the most devastating back mount control ever." Without further ado, Stoat Kills Rabbit 10 Times Its Size, courtesy of the BBC's Life series. [Embedding disabled at the BBC's request] People, I always need more awesome Odds & Ends. Videos, gifs, links, whatever. Do not hesitate to send them my way in the comments or on Twitter. Def Grappler out!

Posted in: world, video, belt, year, news

Vitor Belfort - Making Every Moment Count

If you’ve been following mixed martial arts long enough to remember the “old” Vitor Belfort, the 19-year old teenager with the blazing hand and foot speed who captivated everyone back in 1997, you could almost feel like a proud parent watching him during the kickoff press conference for this Saturday’s UFC 142 event in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.There he was, not only the local kid coming back home as a triumphant hero and international star, but a mature 34-year old man whose goals aren’t just to win fights and championships, but to be an ambassador for the sport that has been his life for over 15 years.“People who knew me a long time ago but don’t know me now, they have a disadvantage,” explained Belfort. “Every day I’ve had to increase knowledge, increase wisdom, increase my talent and add new tools to my game and to my life. I take every day as the last day of my life, and some days are hard, some days are easier, but the bottom line is that whoever doesn’t know me now has a disadvantage if they just know me from back then.”Back then, Belfort was as wild as his flurries in the Octagon. In other words, he was like any other 19-year old thrust into the public eye. There would be soaring highs and catastrophic lows, but unlike the man he was most often compared to, former heavyweight boxing champ Mike Tyson, Belfort’s career didn’t flame out after a few dazzling prime years. The fighter dubbed “The Phenom” weathered every blow that came his way, and amazingly, he is still relevant and still a contender with realistic championship potential as he prepares for Saturday’s co-main event with Anthony Johnson.“He’s young and has a big future in front of him,” said Belfort of “Rumble,” who is making his 185-pound debut. “He’s a tough opponent and he has the skills. He’s a great athlete, great wrestler, and it’s going to be pretty interesting to see how he’s gonna act in the ring. Will he try to take me down or will he try to stand?”That decision may dictate whether Belfort goes into his stint as a coach on the first edition of The Ultimate Fighter Brazil with a win or a loss. And while Johnson has proven that he can be a chameleon in the Octagon, opting to use his wrestling to defeat Dan Hardy while returning to his bombs away strategy for his most recent win over Charlie Brenneman, Belfort says that his own strength comes from not straying too far from what he knows.“I always knew what I was and always knew what my skills were and what I was capable of doing,” he said. “You have to know who you are and what you’re capable of. It’s very important.”Fresh from an August knockout of Yoshihiro Akiyama that eased the disappointment of losing his early 2011 title fight against Anderson Silva, Belfort looked to be in prime form against the Japanese star, and the victory propelled him into this bout, which marks his first fight at home in Brazil since he knocked out his TUF Brazil coaching rival Wanderlei Silva in 44 seconds in October of 1998. But even as what promises to be an emotional night draws nearer, he’s doing his best not to get caught up in the distractions that come with fighting in his home city.“I’m kinda thinking about that a little bit, but I’m trying to stay out of it,” he said. “I don’t want anything to take me away from my training. Every time I see myself drifting from my duty today, I try to go back, and me and the coaches are always focusing on what’s next so on the day, things will take care of themselves.”A win over Johnson will be Belfort’s 21st as a professional, and seventh in his last eight fights. Next is the coaching stint on TUF Brazil, and then a rematch with Silva. It’s as close as a fighter will get to having a set schedule for the bulk of the year, and Belfort embraces it.“That’s the advantage,” he said. “It’s a good thing I have another thing lined up, and I just focus on what’s next and what’s positive and what makes you happy and what makes you perform good.”As for the opportunity to coach a group of UFC hopefuls, Belfort is looking forward to teaching the lessons he’s learned over the years and also letting his team know that to build the sport, they must realize that more eyes are on them than ever before, so the true responsibilities of being a professional lie beyond what happens in the Octagon.“I’m going to be myself,” said Belfort of coaching TUF. “People will have a chance to know me more, how I am, what my values are when it comes to the sport, and how I respect my opponents and the fans. Bottom line, it’s a reality show, so it has to be real. I know some people have the tendency when they’re on TV to be one person and they try to get more attention so they get more money. I see a different way. If I can be true to people and be myself to them, I’m gonna get the respect. Either they like it or they don’t, but they’re gonna respect me because I respect them as well. And in this sport, we have a responsibility bigger than any other athlete, any other soccer player, anybody else. If you do something to somebody, you have a bigger price to pay because you’re a mixed martial artist. This is what I’m about to show them, and lead them in a way of being responsible and not letting fame get in the way.”Coming from Belfort, a statement like that will carry more weight with the fighters he coaches simply because they know it’s not talk. He’s been where they are, he’s gone through the good, the bad, and the ugly of the sport, and he’s still standing. And more than that, he’s now able to focus his energies on the fight, and when that final punch is thrown and his hand is raised in victory, there are few people ever happier in that moment.“It’s a payday process,” he said. “It’s like when a farmer sees his seeds turn into something. It’s an awesome feeling and it’s so great to see the reward from the sacrifices we made. So many people are involved, and you think about the process that turned into a win. It’s a great time and you’ve got to enjoy it and live the moment because that moment may never come back. Life is made by moments and sometimes even the bad moments make yourself better and make you stronger. So the focus should be on what’s next. Life is made day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute, and like the Americans say, ‘time is money’ (Laughs) so I invest my time like my money, in every way possible.”

Posted in: day, ’t, year, belfort, moment

2012 World MMA Middleweight Scouting Report: #6 – Michal Materla

Photo by KSWFoto.com/ASMMedia.com Name: Michal Materla Nickname: Cipao Age: 27 Height: 6'0" Location: Szczecin, Poland When we think of talent-rich regions throughout the world, Central Europe is lucky if it even gets a mention. Among hardcore fans, it gets a little more respect, but it's difficult to look past problems like public outcry against the sport and a lack of world-class trainers. Surprisingly, despite the hurdles, there are fighters from the region who have defied the odds. Look no further than Germany's Dennis Siver as the perfect example. Polish mixed martial artist Michal Materla (16-3) hopes to become another name we mention alongside Siver. The 27-year-old has recorded sixteen wins since debuting in 2003, capping off a four-fight win streak in November against Matt Horwich at KSW 17. His only blemish in five years came against UFC vet Antonio Mendes at KSW 7, narrowly losing via split decision. Unfortunately, losing hasn't been the worst of it for Materla. Constant injuries have left Materla with a tattered resume. After the loss to Mendes, Materla was sidelined for nearly two years, returning in February of '09 to submit Bohumil Lungrik in two minutes and twenty seconds. Two years after the win, Materla entered the ring again, beating Gregory Babene by guillotine choke at KSW 15. Within the span of four years, Materla only had two fights. When Materla is inside the ring, he can be a dominant force, employing an aggressive wrestling-centric style of fighting that relies on takedowns and control from the top. He's also competent off his back, executing good defensive tactics to avoid damage and reverse positions. He is particularly adept at securing the guillotine choke in the scramble. On the feet, Materla isn't the most polished striker. His aggression tends to create brawling exchanges, and it's clear that he'd rather bring the fight to the ground than risk being out struck by more technical punchers. He'll need to fine tune those skills in order to threaten tougher competition in other areas, otherwise he'll be a sitting duck against better wrestlers who can strike. Despite those flaws, Materla is a promising prospect from a region that doesn't produce a lot of top-tier talent in general. Last year's hot prospect, Jan Blachowicz, was derailed by UFC veteran Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou in March, which undoubtedly hurt his chances of getting a contract with Bellator or the UFC. Can Materla get that opportunity and succeed? We should find out in 2012. Check out video footage of Michal Materla after the jump... FlyweightBantamweightFeatherweightLightweight #1 - #2 - #3 -#4 -#5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - Rony Mariano#2 - Aljamain Sterling#3 - Chris Holdsworth#4 - Josh Hill#5 - Fabiano Fernandes#6 - Claudio Ledesma#7 - Sirwan Kakai#8 - Kyoji Horiguchi#9 - Leandro Hygo#10 - Pedro Munhoz #1 - Hacran Dias#2 - Joey Gambino#3 - Brandon Bender#4 - Lance Palmer #5 - Jim Alers#6 - Anthony Gutierrez#7 - Max Holloway#8 - John Teixeira#9 - Cody Bollinger#10 - Bubba Jenkins #1 - Fabricio Guerreiro#2 - Alessandro Ferreira#3 - Adriano Martins#4 - Justin Salas#5 - Neilson Gomes#6 - Eduard Folayang#7 - Zorobabel Moreira#8 - Anton Kuivanen#9 - Jordan Rinaldi#10 - J.P. Vainikainen WelterweightMiddleweightLight HeavyweightHeavyweight #1 - Andrey Koreshkov#2 - Dhiego Lima#3 - Brandon Thatch#4 - Nordine Taleb#5 - Hernani Perpetuo#6 - Brock Jardine#7 - Alan Jouban#8 - Mohsen Bahari#9 - Andre Santos#10 - Stephen Thompson #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - Michal Materla#7 - Elvis Mutapcic#8 - Tor Troeng#9 - Jack Hermansson#10 - Tim Ruberg #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - Michal Materla vs. Matt Horwich Michal Materla vs. James Zikic Michal Materla vs. Gregory Babene Michal Materla vs. Bohumil Lungrik Michal Materla vs. Antonio Mendes

Posted in: vs, year, materla, michal, mendes materla

Title Writing: Numbers For Nerds 6 'Jackson's MMA: Myth or Legend?'

Numbers for Nerds is a weekly series that uses statistics to test various parts of the mixed martial arts gospel. Last weeks installment can be found here. Yesterday on Head Kick chris81203 wrote a very good article challenging the reputation of Greg Jackson as a master strategist. This reputation was built on the shoulders of Georges St. Pierre, who has become synonymous with fighting safe and smart. Chris used Leonard Garcia, who fights neither safe nor smart, and the lack of on-the-fly adjustments in Donald Cerrone's recent fight with Nate Diaz as examples to show that Jackson may not be all he is cracked up to be as a game planner. Chris' article led me to look at Jackson's win/loss record. As of September 2007, according to Sherdog's database of team records, Jackson's fighters were winning 81% of the time. Today, his fight team has a lifetime winning percentage of 71%. The 10% drop was all I needed to convince me that this subject merited some in-depth research. After the jump I take a closer look at the results of Jackson fighters in the past two years. In order to evaluate Jackson's abilities as a game planner, I think there are a few important statistics to take into account. As mentioned, I started with his win/loss record. The Sherdog numbers are lifetime and also include smaller shows that I don't see as fully relevant, so I narrowed it down to just his UFC and WEC wins and losses. Second, I looked at the camp's finishing rates as compared to the rest of the UFC. If Jackson advocates doing the bare minimum to get the decision, you would expect to see his fighter's go to decision more often than everyone else in the UFC. You might also expect that they would lose more often by decision than by finish, since fighting safe promotes going to a decision. Finally, I looked at the record of his fighters in the fights that went to decision. All things being equal having the superior strategy should get you the nod, should the fight go to the judges. I didn't compare this to the rest of the camps out there but I did think it would be interesting to see what was happening to his fighters when the fight went the distance. I chose to limit my research to 2010 and 2011 in an attempt to keep it focused on his current roster of fighters and also because his reputation has only come under scrutiny in the past few years. Here are the results: 1. Win/Loss % Jackson's camp is finding it harder and harder to maintain their sublime winning percentage from back in the day. In the past two years Jackson's gym has won 62% of the time out, with a record of 52-30-2. If you took away Jon Jones and Georges St. Pierre they would be a very pedestrian 51%. 2. Finish % vs the rest of the UFC Of all the fights involving a Jackson's fighter, 58% of the time the fight was finished inside the distance. During the same stretch, 52% of all UFC fights were finished inside the distance. Of those fights that were stopped, Jackson's was on the winning side 67% of the time (33-16). This leads us to the final statistic: 3. Win/Loss % in Decisions The camp had a 57% victory percentage in fights that went to decision over the past two years, (19-14). ************ So what to make of these numbers? First of all it should be stated right away that the rest of the MMA world has caught up to Greg Jackson and his team. The days when a Jackson's fighter entered the cage almost assured of a win are long gone. The idea that he favors a safe fighting style? The evidence does not support this, at least not over the past two years. Jackson's fighters not only finish fights more often than the average UFC fighter, they lose more often by finish than they do by decision. As for the notion that Jackson is a master game planner? There isn't much there to support that either. His fighters are winning decisions more often than they are losing them, but certainly not by much. Is it possible that Jackson has changed his ways in the past few years in an effort to produce more finishes and those changes are responsible for the drop in overall winning percentage? It could very well be the case. What about the notion that he is the Phil Jackson (a good coach made great by the talent that he has to work with) of the MMA world? When I look at the 9-0 record that Jon Jones and GSP have compiled over the past two years, I tend to think that might be the case. Whatever the explanation may be, what Chris suggested through anecdotal evidence seems to be borne out by the scientific evidence I gathered. Greg Jackson is not the master of all things MMA that he is made out to be. He might once have been, but he certainly is not anymore. Thanks for reading. Comments are welcomed below!

Posted in: fight, jackson, fighter, decision, year

Eddie Alvarez Not Taking Final Bellator Lightweight Tournament Spot

With one slot remaining for the next Bellator 155-pound tournament, it was assumed that former champion Eddie Alvarez would take it and get on the path toward reclaiming the belt from Michael Chandler, the first man to beat him in nearly three years. However, that won't be the case as Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney revealed Wednesday that the Philadelphia, PA, native will not be among this year's field. In an interview with MMA Junkie Radio, Rebney said both sides decided it wasn't the right time for Alvarez (22-3) to enter the tournament field, which would be his first since winning the title in Bellator's first season. Instead, they are still moving ahead on talks for Alvarez to rematch with Shinya Aoki, the last man to beat him before the Chandler defeat. The two fought on the K-1/DREAM New Year's Eve show in 2008 and Aoki (30-5-0-1) tapped Alvarez to a heel hook in the first round to win the BAMMA 155-pound title. That would be Alvarez' last fight outside Bellator, but Rebney said he's unsure if the rematch would take place in the Bellator cage or for DREAM. Rebney added they will choose between three lightweights to take the open spot.

Posted in: bellator, year, alvarez, tournament, rebney

Best of MMA 2011: UFC 139 is Event of the Year

It was a close battle between UFC 139 and UFC 129 for the year's best event. But ultimately, San Jose got the nod over Toronto – though we couldn't go wrong.

Posted in: ufc, event, san jose, year, toronto –

Dana White promises New York for 2012

I'd gotten kinda tired of Dana White promising every season of TUF has the best fights ever, but I'll never fault him on his optomism for New York legalization: MMAFightCorner.com: How close are you getting to having MMA sanctioned in New York?Dana White: Real close. It’s going to happen and I guarantee it’s going to happen this year. The UFC's line is that a Vegas union has put it's political power against passing the bill, which has kept it from being called to the floor for a voite. It's something that's not too hard to imagine considering this Union also sent out a press release calling the UFC homophobic leading up to their FOX debut. And then there's that website they made devoted to Dana White's potty mouth. Basically, the UFC has a troll ... a well connected and very dedicated troll. Sorry, two trolls.It has been three years now that the UFC has been playing this legislative game, and three years the bill has timed out somewhere short of the finish line. They have been getting closer and closer every year though, and you figure after this many years of finagling they've finally figured out how to butter enough bureaucrats up to get this done.

Posted in: ufc, dana, year, yorkdana whitenbsp, vegas union

Fedor is such a nice guy, not a bus-hogging MMA diva

Matt Hume, head trainer at the American Martial Arts Center (AMC) in Kirkland, Wash., has a different version of the diva-like bus demands that "The Voice," Michael Schiavello claims that Fedor Emelianenko made after his win over Satoshi Ishii on New Year's Eve (Dec. 21, 2011) in Saitama, Japan, at DREAM: New Year! 2011 "Genki Desu Ka!!" "The Voice" claimed that "The Last Emperor" acted like a "bus-hogging diva" by making the rest of the competitors -- along with their trainers -- get off of the bus he was on and get on to a more crowded one after waiting for more than 90 minutes because he Emelianenko allegedly wanted his own bus. However, according to Hume -- who has known Fedor since his Pride FC days and has been a main figure in Japanese mixed martial arts (MMA) as a rule director and judge for the DREAM organization -- that simply wasn't the case. Check out his account, as well as a video interview, after the jump: "What really happened is that Fedor was doing interviews and everyone was waiting on two buses and Fedor was to get on one of those buses and go back and both buses were waiting for him. Everyone else had finished their press. Of course, Fedor is very popular in Japan he had not finished his press yet they were still keeping him there so everyone was staying there waiting. So Fedor, asked if they could let the people who wanted to get back to their hotel go. So Fedor, very graciously, said, 'Hey why don't you just let those guys go home.' So they asked us to get on one bus and there was plenty of room on one bus for everybody. One bus was just going to take Fedor back later. I've known Fedor for years and years and probably would have drove the bus back for us, he is such a good nice guy." DREAM Bantamweight Grand Prix winner Bibiano Fernandes, who was one of the fighters that was allegedly booted from Fedor's bus, also chimed in on the issue: "Fedor have good heart, very good guy. Wow, believe that he would never do something like that. That's the life. It's not true, coach tell the truth to the story and that's it." Can we consider the "Fedor is a bus-hogging diva" matter closed?

Posted in: guy, year, fedor, bus, course fedor

Karo Parisyan is hoping for a happy new year

There have been signs that Karo Parisyan has been turning things around lately. He had a pretty good performance against Ryan Ford where he only lost because of a cut and it sounds like he's finally out the other side of that painkiller issue. So let's check in and see where his head's at: “I’m known for doing interviews, opening up to people and telling them what the hell’s going on, but it’s not going to change anything if I have five more people feel f–king sorry for me,” Parisyan began before continuing, “Man, it’s pretty bad. I don’t even care anymore. Right now, I’m in the worst time of my life. With Christmas and New Year’s…I’m in the worst time financially – but, you know what? It’s gonna be good. I never cry about it, I’m not gonna cry about it. I’m gonna do what I have to do to come back. I’m a grown ass man and enough is enough. For the time being, my head is just with the family. Trying to get by, trying to have a Christmas and trying to have a New Year’s and see what 2012 f***ing brings.”“I guess enough is enough,” Parisyan said of his stalled career. “I’ve got to either come back and really give it my all, or f***ing hang up the gloves and stop embarrassing myself.”Asked to elaborate, Parisyan explained, “For the first time in three and a half years, I would have to look at everything in a serious way again. Before, I looked at it in a very serious fashion. It was my lifestyle. This sport was my lifestyle, it wasn’t my job. When it becomes your job, that’s when you start hating it. Who the f*** likes their job? I mean, you can say, ‘I love my job,’ but when it comes down to it, eventually you’re going to be like, ‘Ugh, I don’t want to go to work today.’ When it comes down to a job, I don’t want to do this sh*t no more. I’ve just gotta turn it into a lifestyle.”“Back in the day, this sport was a lifestyle for me,” the 19-8 Parisyan reflected. “I’d wake up in the morning and it’s, ‘Hey, do you wanna go run for seven miles?’ ‘Yeah, let’s go.’ And we’d go run for seven f**kin’ miles. Why? Because that’s all we knew how to do, is to train. It was bred into us since we were kids, eight years old – bred. Everyday, training, hurting your opponent, dismantle, hit, hit, break – it was all we did, it was a lifestyle. We did all this stuff because we wanted to, not because we had to. When it started to get to the point where I have to, is when I started not liking it.” Now he's got a family to support and a job that's not doing that. I can't imagine the kind of stress that causes. Karo's plans for 2012 involve waiting for a 60-man tournament in Vegas that may or may not happen. Where's his manager in all this? He should be fighting 5 times this year in smaller shows across the US. It's always a bit of a risk going down a level in case you lose, but Karo's got the name to make some money and the money will make him sane and the sanity will allow him to win. Just my roadmap, I'll be happy with anything that gives Karo some space to breathe a little.

Posted in: i ’m, job, year, parisyan, lifestyle

Sam Stout ready to honor Shawn Tompkins’ memory this weekend at UFC 142

Sam Stout knows he won’t be entering Saturday night’s UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes card alone. Rather, in the mind and heart of Stout, former coach and best friend Shawn Tompkins, who passed away last year, will be watching from above. For Stout, this is another chapter in a long road ahead without Tompkins in his corner. The Canadian was with Tompkins for the better part of ten years, and even became a brother-in-law to him when his sister married Tompkins. “He’s the biggest influence I’ve ever had in my life,” said Stout, in a recent interview with UFC’s website. “I spent so much time with him and we were so close that I feel like I can really look inside myself and realize what he would be telling me. I just have to remember all of the lessons he taught me over the years. Just because I don’t hear him in my ear doesn’t mean I can’t look inside of myself to the things he used to inspire me.” Stout takes on Thiago Tavares at the event where Jose Aldo will also defend his UFC featherweight title in the main event against Chad Mendes. While the Canadian knows he won’t be the fan-favorite based on his opponent’s nationality he remains carefree, eagerly anticipating the atmosphere in the arena rather than being concerned about it. “There’s nothing I love more than going into an arena and you can feel that electricity in the air,” Stout said. “I’m sure that’s how it will be in Brazil. The first couple fights in Canada were like that. You can feel that rumbling in the arena and it’s an amazing feeling.” Stout is 17-6-1 in his career, and “Hands of Stone” will be looking to make it three straight wins when he squares off with Tavares. Since 2009, Stout is 4-1, while his overall UFC record stands at 5-3. Catch his bout with Tavares on the PPV portion of the show. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, ’t, year, arena, tompkin

Submission Of The Year 2011 Bloody Elbow Roundtable

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

Best of MMA 2011: Chris Weidman is Newcomer of the Year

A unanimous decision sweep in a short-notice fight and a pair of first-round submissions have made Chris Weidman Heavy's MMA Newcomer of the Year.

Posted in: mma, year, newcomer, shortnotice fight, decision sweep

If I want to start getting into MMA how would I go about it?

I have been obsessed with it for a few years now and while I have no clue where to start I was hoping someone could point me in the right direction. I'm 21 years old and my fighting experience is next to none but I just figure everyone has to start somewhere and better late than never. I am in the San Marcos area so Austin and San Antonio are within traveling distance. submitted by Coltfourty5 [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: right, year, san, figure everyone, san antonio

Fedor is First Step to Helping Revive Japanese MMA Scene

Japanese fans love Fedor Emelianenko, as the Russian fighter bounces back from a three-fight losing streak in Strikeforce. In doing so, Fedor can also help give JMMA a desperate spark needed to help rejuvenate a nation with a faltering MMA scene. Hans Thompson, HDNet commentator, noted that the most recent DREAM fight on New Year’s Eve didn’t have the same flare as past events. I would say that it didn’t have quite the luster that even last year’s event – which was a relatively small event – because although there were a lot of good fighters, a lot of them had been fighting on Dream events all year long. I didn’t have big expectations for the card, but it turned out to be an entertaining – if not long – night of fights. In terms in size of the live audience, it looks the same as it did last year, but the absence of a major TV deal is a big obstacle for them. I think if they can get that sorted out, it will change the scale of the NYE shows and they might approach the scale of the shows in the past. But it’s a big if.” JMMA is said to be dying — and it’s honestly very hard to argue against that — but DREAM has continued to do its best to keep things going. However, as MMA begins to explode in China, Singapore, and other parts of Asia in 2012, there is a good chance some of that will trickle back to Japan. In addition to keeping its current stars active and successful, the next generation of Japanese fighters must begin to take the reigns. We’ll see if changes can be made in 2012, as Japanese MMA fighters and promoters seek methods to

Posted in: mma, fighter, japanese, event, year

Read the full article at MMA Opinion

With or without Cyborg: Scott Coker on future of Strikeforce women's 145-pound division

If you're a mixed martial arts (MMA) fan and haven't been living under a rock, you've surely heard the news regarding the failed drug test by Strikeforce women's 145-pound champion "Cyborg" Cristiane Santos. After years of looking of looking invincible while mowing down her opposition, a fairly major hit was taken by the former champion when it was revealed that she had tested positive for steroids. According to Santos, she was taking some kind of dietary supplement and was unaware of any illegal substances therein. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker joined the guys at "Inside MMA" (via telephone interview) this evening to react to all of the events of the past few days. Hear what he had to say after the jump: "She's (Santos is) gonna be stripped of her belt and her title. And, you know we're gonna let the California State Athletic Commission do their due process. But you know, like, when little situations like that happen, when fighters were caught using steroids, they're (usually) gonna be out for a year. In that time, we're gonna be looking for another 145-pound title holder, and I think we're gonna move on. If she's out for a year, it might mean she's out for a year and four months. It might mean she's out for a year and six months before she can come back and fight. She will lose her belt. It's a penalty you pay and she's gotta be held accountable. I think she feels bad about what happened, and most likely, the situation that she's saying, she took the supplements and she didn't know she was taking (steroids), but at this point, you have to look at what the California State or Nevada State Athletic Commission says is not legal and a fighter has to abide by those rules and regulations like everybody else." Coker was asked by "Inside MMA's" Bas Rutten about whether or not he felt the penalty for a failed drug test was stiff enough. Though he didn't directly answer the question, he voiced his opinion that fighters who do get busted for steroids certainly are punished for their misdeeds. "If it's the first time and you didn't know, well, it's a one-year penalty. Not fighting for a year. You guys know: That means a lot of money in the MMA world. 'Cyborg' is gonna be without pay for a year. By the time she comes back, it could be a year and six months before she can fight again. That's gonna cost her a lot of money. Who knows, in endorsements, what that might cost the athlete. I think a year is good, but maybe there should be a bigger fine. If you get caught again, I think the situation would be a ban for a while. I'm not sure what that ruling is, but I'm pretty sure it's hefty to get caught one more time. It's why I always encourage the fighters to stay off the supplements." One thing Coker did not equivocate on was the fact that Santos should have known better. While he feels bad for his former champion, he's puzzled as to how she could have made the mistake: "That's the way I understand it and they're very clear. I think you can even go on the website and you can look up every supplement and see what's illegal. I don't think you can even take caffeine, before your fight. They're very tricky about their rules and supplements and anything that's a stimulant. They consider ephedrine or anything that's a fat burner or weight loss product -- they consider that a stimulant." Directly after Santos' positive drug test, there was immediate speculation of a possible dissolution of the women's featherweight division. Coker went on record as saying that he disagrees with this move and that he believes the division can successfully go on without her: "You know what? We're gonna talk to Sean (Shelby) and the guys and talk this whole thing over. This all happened so quickly over the weekend. We were focused on our event. I think by the end of the week, we'll probably have some gameplan of what we're gonna do. I do know there's some fighters at that weight class, at 145, that can compete at a very high level. Finding girls to compete at 145 from all over the world, that's not gonna be a problem. I think it's just gonna be a conversation with the guys from Vegas and just see what they wanna do." Should the Strikeforce 145-pound division keep on trucking without "Cyborg?" At this point, does it even matter to you? Opinions, please.

Posted in: year, supplement, drug test, coker, she

UFC's Ten Best 2011 Fights of the Year. What's your top ten?

submitted by Telescopy [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: ufc, fight, year, what, year whats

Title Writing: Mopping the Mats 6 "Strikeforce Rockhold vs Jardine"

Hello, Mopping the Mats is a weekly Monday feature meant to wrap up the weekend that was in Mixed Martial Arts. Last week I focused on the final UFC event of 2011, which saw heavyweight superstars Alistair Overeem and Brock Lesnar do battle. Today's edition is all about Strikeforce, as their Saturday night event was accompanied a day earlier by the news that Cristiane Santos, the female 145 pound champion better known as "Cyborg", had tested positive for banned substances following her bout on December 17th and would be suspended for one year. THE EVENT: Strikeforce: Rockhold vs Jardine The first Zuffa event of 2012 was a Strikeforce joint, featuring a fighter that is quickly becoming one of the top middleweights in the world, in Luke Rockhold. Don't believe me? That's fine, but I'll be saying I told you so soon enough. Rockhold burst onto the scene last fall when he defeated Jacare Souza to become the Strikeforce middleweight champion. Not many people gave him a chance against Souza, long considered one of the top 10 grapplers in the world at any weight class. Why would they have? Rockhold grew up training wrestling and jiu jitsu, ultimately leaving the wrestling behind to focus on the gentle art. If grappling was his strong suit, surely he would be eaten up by the man they call "Crocodile"? This would not be the case, as Rockhold not only out-struck the champion, he also out-grappled him en route to a five round decision victory. Rockhold has a lot going for him: He is a large middleweight, standing at 6'3. He is young, having just turned 27 years old and he trains with a great camp in American Kickboxing Academy. Ironically the only thing holding him back from the bigtime might just be his championship belt, which he defended against Keith Jardine on Saturday. Follow the jump for the event results and some takeaways from the weekend, including my thoughts on Cyborg's positive drug test. THE RESULTS: AKA gets back on track and vacant title pictures start to clear up. Rockhold got a quick win over Jardine, stopping the former UFC light heavyweight via strikes in the very first round. For the second straight main event I felt like I was watching two men headed in vastly different directions. Rockhold, like Overeem, moving towards the top of the fighting world while Jardine, like Lesnar, moving towards the end of the line. In my opinion, the most under-reported storyline currently flowing through MMA is the lack of fights at the highest level between two fighters from the next generation. Jon Jones' entire 2011, which has been trumpeted as the greatest year of all time by many (including our own David Castillo), consisted of beating three fighters whose glory days were firmly in the rear view by the time he took them out. Yes, Lyoto Machida, Quinton Jackson and Shogun Rua are still considered upper echelon fighters but that is largely because no one else has been allowed to move them along. I can understand why Zuffa is reticent to put two young guys in together: They don't move the needle nearly as much as the Pride era stars do. We had Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard combine for two spectacular title fights last year but, according to the MMAPayout.com Blue Book, the cards they headlined were the two lowest buy rates of the year. Contrast that to the cards featuring Jones and the old lions, which had the 4th, 5th and 6th highest buy rates, behind cards featuring GSP, Anderson Silva and Brock Lesnar. Until they signed the seven year deal with Fox, the UFC had been dependant on the revenue stream coming from pay per view events, so they had to make fights that sold. At the same time though, it's frustrating to see two fighters at such different points in their careers competing together. The way to build stars and make rivalries is to have young champions face young challengers! The stars of yesterday were all older when they started, but when Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell fought each other for the first time they both had less than 15 fights. There is reason to be optimistic on the horizon though: Jose Aldo and Chad Mendes are both new generation fighters and they'll face off for the 145 lb title this weekend. The star power of Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz will never have been higher for either man when they meet at UFC 143. Those are the kind of fights I want to see and I hope we get more like them this year. Back to Rockhold and Strikeforce though. His victory over Jardine did little for him other than give him a little boost in recognition. He wants to fight someone in the top 10, which means someone in the UFC and he said so after the victory. He should fight Tim Kennedy first though, as Kennedy has far more to offer than Jardine did and Tim has actually beaten a Strikeforce middleweight. If Rockhold gets past him, which I expect he will, then we can hear his argument for moving to the number one promotion. As for the rest of the big names on the card, Rockhold's stablemate at AKA King Mo Lawal dispatched Lorenz Larkin with a second round TKO in a light heavyweight bout, while Tyron Woodley won a close but somewhat lackluster decision over Jordan Mein in the welterweight division. Both divisions are currently without a champion and Mo and Woodley are front runners for the vacant titles. I'd like to see Strikeforce work a little bit at building up the legitimacy of their championships before they put on those title fights. At 205, Gegard Mousasi, Feijao and Mike Kyle join Lawal as the best of the bunch. I'd like to see those four square off in some combination of matches before a championship fight is made. As for the welterweight division, Woodley looks like he is in a class by himself. There was talk of him facing Tarec Saffiedine (who was also on the card, defeating Tyler Stinson by decision) for the strap but he already beat Saffiedine just one year ago. He's already beaten Paul Daley too. A fight with Jason High makes some sense, but not for a title. Woodley and Melendez are probably the two Strikeforce fighters that deserve to me in the UFC the most right now both because of their accomplishments and the lack of competition for them. I'll be following their next moves very closely. THE TAKEAWAYS: Strikeforce is the home of fun, if not particularly relevant, fights. Out of competition testing is a must for mainstream legitimacy. The main card featured three knockouts: Joining Rockhold and King Mo was Robbie Lawler, who finished main card newcomer Adlan Amagov in just under two minutes. Amagov took Lawler down early in the fight and proceeded to hit him with an illegal knee to the face while Lawler was in the process of getting back to his feet. Lawler responded with a flying knee of his own, clipping the Russian on the top of the head and finishing him with precision strikes. All in all it was a pretty exciting event, which is something I've come to expect from Strikeforce going back to the days of Nick Diaz throwing middle fingers at anyone and everyone who crossed his path. The promotion seems to be quite good at making matches that produce knockouts. Numbers for Nerds, my Wednesday feature, will be looking at this in the near future. As long as they keep making fights with exciting finishes they'll keep their head above water, which is why I don't mind them taking some time to find new champions. This exciting style of matchmaking is what (to me) led them to be purchased by Zuffa in the first place, so I would say keep doing what you are doing. As for Cyborg, I don't want to rehash what others have said about it, but I liked these three articles the most: Cory Braiterman looks at the positive aspect. Ben Thapa gives an insightful look at the reality of the situation. Female fighter Rosi Sexton pleads for higher testing standards To me, the only answer to the performance enhancing drug issue is out of competition testing. Currently the testing is mostly limited to pre and post fight testing. The Nevada State Athletic Commission has a random drug testing program, but they barely have enough funding to keep it running at all times. It's far too easy for fighters to use drugs during their off time. Most of the drugs will be out of their system by the time their fight roles around. If the state athletic commissions can't afford to test year round I'd love to see the UFC institute a testing system of their own. I'm thinking three tests per year, at random, in order to get a license to fight for the promotion would be just fine. This would be the type of forward thinking that Dana White and Zuffa have become known for. They are already ahead of the other pro sports leagues in terms of social media and using it to their benefit. Why not lead the way in the field of drug testing? Alas, I'm not sure that it's really on the Zuffa agenda. As Thapa notes, sports are focused on the here and now, and drug cheats are usually welcomed back once they have served their time. Thiago Silva is just up off suspension. Anyone not excited for his next fight? I hate to admit that I am, but the 205 pound division needs contenders and he fits the bill. So unfortunately I think it'll be business as usual on this front. Thanks for reading. As always, any comments or criticisms are welcome.

Posted in: fight, time, strikeforce, rockhold, year

HBO-Showtime in bidding war for boxing in 2012

The Sports Business Journal reported about the possibility of Showtime surpassing HBO Boxing for marquee fights and fighters. The article underscores the change at the top of each network’s sports divisions as a possible reason. SBJ (subscription required) points to the Andre Berto-Victor Ortiz rematch, which many believe was the Fight of the Year for 2011, as evidence that Showitme is making a move on HBO. Also, changes at the top of each network’s sport division may be the reason for the sudden competition for boxing rights. Ross Greenburg left HBO last year and was replaced by Showtime head Ken Hershman. Hersman, as some recall, butted heads with Dana White regarding negotiations with Strikeforce. This may have been one of the reasons that Showtime and Zuffa were able to strike a new deal for Strikeforce late last year. Showtime replaced Hershman with Golden Boy’s former attorney Stephen Espinoza. Espinoza’s quickly moved on the Berto-Ortiz rematch as Showtime paid only $100,000 more than HBO: $2.2 million. The article also indicates that HBO’s budget “will be about $35 million this year, about half of what it spent as recently as five years ago.” On the other hand, Showtime will increase its budget to at least $28 million. Payout Perspective: This will be an intriguing year for boxing fans as we may see a shift of key fights moving from HBO to Showtime. Last year, we saw that Showtime take the Pacquiao-Mosley fight only for HBO to step up an regain Pacquiao for Marquez as well as Miguel Cotto-Antonio Margarito. The SBJ points out that this is the first time in 20 years that there has been an authentic fight for US television rights. The newfound bidding war in boxing can only help the sport and perhaps revitalize tv interest in the fight game. We’ve recently seen NBC Sports and Spike TV announce plans to feature boxing in its programming. The only question is how promoters plan to market their fighters. Right now, only a few boxers stand out and the rest are not known to the casual viewers.

Posted in: fight, hbo, boxing, showtime, year

Ten Best - 2011 Fighter of the Year

Picking the man at the top of the Fighter of the Year list was easy. The rest, not so much, as the past 12 months was filled with consistently stellar performances from some of MMA’s best. But enough yapping. Without further ado, here’s the unofficial list of the top UFC fighters of 2011.10 - Dominick Cruz Being the man tasked with leading the 135-pound weight class into the UFC was a pressure-filled position for former WEC boss Dominick Cruz, but “The Dominator” gladly took on the job and showed fight fans just what high-level bantamweight action was like, winning a Fight of the Year candidate against Urijah Faber in July, and then turning back the challenge of number one contender Demetrious Johnson in October.9 – Donald Cerrone The busiest man in the sport, Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone would have landed even higher on this list had he beaten Nate Diaz at UFC 141 last month, but even with that exciting Fight of the Night loss, there’s no downplaying of the year this lightweight contender had, as he turned back Paul Kelly, Vagner Rocha, Charles Oliveira, and Dennis Siver before the Diaz bout, picking up either a Sub, KO, or Fight of the Night bonus in three of those four wins.8 – Mark Munoz Middleweight standout Mark “The Filipino Wrecking Machine” Munoz lived up to his nickname in 2011, impressively stopping CB Dollaway and Chris Leben and pounding out a hard-fought decision win over Demian Maia to earn himself a title elimination bout later this month against Chael Sonnen. He’s come a long way since losing his debut at light heavyweight to Matt Hamill in 2009. 7 – Johny Hendricks Johny Hendricks continued to develop his overall MMA game in 2011, and while opponents still fear his wrestling attack, it’s his punching power they should really be looking out for, as he sent TJ Waldburger and Jon Fitch to knockout defeats. In between, the newly christened “Bigg Rigg” gutted out a three round decision win over Mike Pierce, proving that whether the fights are 12 seconds or 15 minutes, he’s got the tools to win.6 – (tie) Nick Diaz and Dan Henderson I never like to include fighters who fought just once in a calendar year on these lists, but I couldn’t resist when it came to Nick Diaz and Dan Henderson. Both came back to the UFC after fighting in the Strikeforce organization, where Diaz defeated Evangelista Santos and Paul Daley in 2011, and Hendo knocked out Rafael Cavalcante and Fedor Emelianeko before returning to the Octagon. Those four combined victories would have been enough for Fighter of the Year consideration if we included non-UFC wins here, but then both upped the ante, Diaz defeating BJ Penn at UFC 137 in October and Henderson winning the Fight of the Year over Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 139 in November. What more can you say about the year both men had? Welcome back. 5 – Benson Henderson After losing his WEC lightweight title to Anthony Pettis on the organization’s final card in December of 2010, Benson Henderson was destined to make a low-key UFC debut in 2011, and he did, decisioning Mark Bocek at UFC 129. But then “Smooth” kicked into gear, ending Jim Miller’s long winning streak in August, and then winning one of the best fights of the year against Clay Guida. And while it took a year longer than originally expected, Henderson finally has his UFC title shot coming up against Frankie Edgar.4 - Frankie Edgar The biggest hit to come out of New Jersey since Springsteen, Frankie Edgar had to dig into the depths of his fighting heart to come back from a horrific first round in both of his two five rounders against the only man to beat him, Gray Maynard, but come back he did, drawing in the first bout at UFC 125 and then knocking out Maynard and handing him his first loss at UFC 136. It was stirring stuff, and when some compared him to the late Arturo Gatti in terms of being able to pick himself up off the canvas to win, that’s high praise.3 - Anderson Silva MMA’s pound for pound king kept on rolling in 2011, first making the front kick to the head the move du jour as he knocked out Vitor Belfort in February, and then going on to headline the UFC’s return to Brazil in August with a knockout of the last man to beat him, Yushin Okami. If the Silva is slowing down at all at 36, it’s certainly not showing on fight night, as his record shattering performances continue.2 – Junior dos Santos The latest star from Brazil, Junior dos Santos was in top form in both of his bouts in 2011, winning a lopsided three rounder over Shane Carwin in June and then capturing the UFC heavyweight title with a 64 second knockout of Cain Velasquez in November. But as spectacular as his performances were, his poise in going from contender to superstar was even more impressive. With his knockout power, poise, and improving overall game, his reign at the top may be the one to break all existing records.1 – Jon Jones Well, when you defeat an unbeaten prospect (Ryan Bader) and three current or former UFC champions (“Shogun” Rua, “Rampage” Jackson, Lyoto Machida), taking the 205-pound title in the process, not only did you have the best year of any fighter in 2011, but you’ve had one of the best years ever. And did I mention that Jon Jones also foiled a robbery on the day he won his UFC title in March? Oh yeah, this was the easiest call of any award this year. Jon “Bones” Jones is your 2011 Fighter of the Year.Honorable Mention – Jose Aldo, Jake Ellenberger, Chan Sung Jung, Brian Ebersole, Alex Gustafsson, Tony Ferguson, Michael McDonald, Chris Weidman, Rory MacDonald, Aaron Simpson, Frank Mir, Urijah Faber, Clay Guida, Nate Diaz, Danny Castillo, Jacob Volkmann, Michael Bisping, Gleison Tibau, Dustin Poirier

Posted in: ufc, fight, fighter, henderson, year

Hermes Franca sentenced to 42 months in prison for sexual assault

Former UFC lightweight contender Hermes Franca will face the toughest battle of his life over the next three-and-a-half years as a member of Oregon’s prison system, the sentence being handed down last week after the 37-year old grappler pled guilty to charges of sexual abuse and unlawful penetration from a 2010 case involving a teenage student at one of his training academies. Franca will also be forced to register as a sex offender once he is released and spend another four years on probation. Franca Faces Charges in Sexual Assault of Teenager News of Franca’s punishment was first reported by The Oregonian. His admission of guilt only pertained to a single charge of each offense as part of a bargain with the State. Franca originally faced seven charges of sexual assault and two of second-degree unlawful penetration. Though Franca’s MMA career was at its tail end to begin with his legal issues will almost certainly marks the conclusion with certainty and may also prevent him from teaching MMA again. He compiled a 22-12 record over a decade in the sport including wins over Jamie Varner, Spencer Fisher, and Nate Diaz. Tweet

Posted in: year, charge, assault, training academies, grappler pled

Esther's Best of 2011

Our favoritest photographer in the world of MMA has put together a video of her favoritest photos from last year. Check out Esther Lin's Retrospecticus 2011, and here's looking forward to another year of historic moments in UFC history captured with her camera!

Posted in: year, ufc history, year check, favoritest photographer, favoritest photos

Dana White: Fans can expect the same from Strikeforce that they get from the UFC (Video)

After a few decidedly tumultuous months, Strikeforce re-upped with Showtime and presented its first fight card of the year last night (Sat., Jan. 7, 2012) with its "Rockhold vs. Jardine" event in Las Vegas. During the show, UFC President Dana White stopped by for an interview and when asked by Mauro Ranallo what can fans expect from Strikeforce in the coming year, replied with the following: "I think (the fans) can expect the same thing (from Strikeforce) that they get from the UFC. We're going to put on great shows, live shows, television shows, exciting fights -- everything you've come to expect from the UFC, you will see here on Showtime and Strikeforce." They didn't exactly get off to a hot start last night, as the crowd at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino seemed as alive as a cemetery and most of the action on the card left a lot to be desired. The broadcast was aesthetically pleasing, sure, but good production doesn't replace exciting fights between legitimate contenders. Name value also matters and the sad fact of the matter is Strikeforce doesn't have it. Which is why Keith Jardine fought for the promotion's middleweight title. He was obliterated, as expected. Of course, we're talking about just one event and there will be at least seven more this year, so perhaps it's best to hold off complete judgement of Strikeforce under the Zuffa banner. There are improvements to be made, but we're being assured that we'll happen so let's let it happen, right Maniacs? Speaking of upcoming events, the Miesha Tate vs. Ronda Rousey fight was finally booked for March 3 in Ohio and White talks about how much he's looking forward to it in the full entry.

Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, year, fan

Let Cris Cyborg Work Through This Steroids Debacle and Return a Cleaner, Smarter Fighter

The furor over Cristiane Santos and the CSAC proceedings regarding her positive test for stanozolol metabolites has triggered quite a bit of commentary from all kinds of people with wildly divergent perspectives on Cris Cyborg, steroids, women's mixed martial arts and even sports themselves. One of the more common things I see in the writings here and there, formal and informal, (even from MMA-specific writers) is the idea that the career of Cris Cyborg can be declared "dead" and that she will never fight again in a prominent MMA organization. I do not agree with that one bit nor do I agree with the logic that leads to such conclusions. That type of "never" has a short half life with people like Ben Johnson, Michael Vick and the many other steroid users or athletes with a violent crime on their permanent record that we soon ignore or forget about. The anger of the sporting public fades, even if memories and records do not. Suspensions end. People are let back in their sports. The positive test and subsequent suspension of Cris Cyborg for one year by the California State Athletic Commission is destined to be a simple footnote in the endless battle for athletic achievement, fame and fortune. The rage of the sporting public burns hot, but it burns short. We let the Michael Vick dog-fighting debacle simmer down. The bizarre Evander Holyfield ear-bitings are a faded memory for those familiar with Mike Tyson. In time, the Penn State cover-ups will recede into dim recollection despite being the biggest and worst scandal in college sports history. Time passes and as it does, disgraced athletes are allowed to work their way back into the limelight and to clean up their acts. Many do not, but the opportunity is there for them. That is how things should be for Cris Cyborg. The same opportunity accorded the male mixed martial arts athletes who test positive for steroids to work to improve themselves, their adherence to the rules and to redeem themselves should be given to her. This is a steroids bust - not a Margarito-style loaded wraps deal. If the latter were to occur in MMA, I would be among the forefront of those looking for the imposition of severe penalties as far up to a life ban. This "death blow" for the women's 145 division was already coming. Cyborg has nobody else to fight within that division and there was building talk of her dropping down to the 135 lb division (however feasible that may have been). What this positive test does is accelerate the end of that particular division - not WMMA in its entirety. As for her career, people pay attention to Cyborg Santos. The ratings during Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal peaked during her 16 second beatdown of Yamanaka. Gina Carano might have been the flash in the pan of all flash in the pans not named Kimbo Slice or James Toney, but Cyborg has more staying power, more fights and is the most dominant champion in all of mixed martial arts. The ratings for Cyborg, for Ronda Rousey, for Miesha Tate, for Sarah Kaufman and for Marloes Coenen look like they say that people are willing to tune into WMMA if a quality fight is on or if a beatdown is about to occur. Which is exactly the same pattern male MMA generally follows. If Cyborg takes the year off as an opportunity for positive change (as she said she would), actually hits 135 lbs in a healthy manner and provides clean tests, I believe that she will be right back in the thick of things. Look at how many male fighters test positive and work their way back into Zuffa good graces, let alone other fight organizations. In a year, very few people will care with the passion being thrown about now and the accidental beauty about this process is that it allows the opportunity for redemption. Let's have a bet on how Cyborg is treated a year from now. I say "Essentially no change from just before steroids story", you say "MMA pariah with an irrevocably ruined career." Who do you think is closer to being right? After the jump, a look at the many women athletes who have been caught using steroids like Marion Jones, the East German women back in the 1970s and 1980s, a professional boxer who subsequently fought seven title bouts and a Chinese heavyweight judo champ, as well as more thoughts on Cyborg Santos. Elite sports has long been a place where competitors use every edge legally possible to inch ahead. Every year, we hear of athletes using controlled, banned, illegal or criminalized substances as performance enhancers or plainly to abuse them. The steroids debate has been going on for decades and will continue to be a topic of discussion among competitors and regulators long after we are dust. In the here and now, performance enhancing steroids are banned from most forms of regulated sporting competition - including MMA. When athletes get caught crossing that fine line between legal and illegal actions, they take the punishment meted out and life moves on. Catching these cheaters is the tough part. Way back in the 1970s, the East German state athletic programs made steroids a nearly universal part of the training regimen for pre-teens on up to Olympic athletes. East German athletes in track and field, swimming, skiing and all the other less famous Olympic sports were basically training on steroids under state supervision and then cycled off before the big competitions. Due to the state support, very few East German athletes were officially identified as submitting a hot drug test - but the majority of the ones who were caught were women. Heidi Krieger, a shot-putter, claimed that she was on so much steroids since she was 16 that it was the cause of her eventual sex reassignment surgery (and name change to Andreas Krieger). Many East German athletes claimed the cycles were administered unknowingly, but several defectors came out and publicly stated their regimens or even presented some of the drugs they were using in East Germany. This went on for decades and bushels of world records were set by the East Germans. Some of those records still stand. The Olympics responded over time by instituting stricter drug testing, which includes rules like an automatic four year ban for track and field athletes missing a demanded random drug test. Of course, Olympic athletes still cross that line between "acceptable" and "really bad idea" and use steroids. Many get caught too. We hear many more cases of men testing positive, but women athletes as a group are not innocent of this. In the arms race between cheater and tester, athletes of both genders commit themselves to shaky nights worrying about random drug tests, whether the masking agents worked or if they cycled off in time and they concoct absurd-sounding excuses to employ if caught. MMA is sadly not free of this and many rumors float around about the percentage of people on and off the gear. Instead of focusing on the women athletes who tested positive (too many to discuss in depth), I decided to look at the women athletes who decided not to leave their athletic careers permanently and chose to make a serious attempt at getting back to the competition level they were at before their career-jeopardizing positive drug test, which is a smaller crowd. "Hotstuff" Hollie Dunaway is a boxer fighting in the lighter weight classes. She tested positive after a WIBF flyweight title bout in Germany during April of 2005. She was hit with a one year suspension from WIBF and chose to continue fighting. Since 2005, she has fought ten times for a title in various weight classes - including for the WIBF again in 2007. Dunaway went 4-6 in those title fights and appears to be boxing as long as the promoters and managers let her. Marion Jones is maybe the highest profile female athlete to admit steroid use - admitting to the illegal usage after years denying the constant questions and rumors. Jones was married to C.J. Hunter, a shot-putter who failed four tests for nandrolone, in a romantic relationship with Tim Montgomery, a sprinter who was stripped of nearly his entire career's achievements for his involvement with BALCO and coached by Trevor Graham, who was given a life ban from track and field and house arrest for lying to the federal investigators about his role in drug cheating. She still spent years denying the use of any performance enhancing drugs and made herself the face of the USA contingent in the 2000 Olympics. After admitting in 2007 that she had used the "clear" product supplied by BALCO, Jones was retroactively stripped of all titles, medals, wins and records all the way back to before her five medal winning effort in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Jones received a two year suspension from her sport, but chose to retire from track and field entirely and served a short time in jail for perjury and check fraud. Jones was 31 at the time and no longer the dominant figure in women's sprinting like she once was. After her release in 2008, Jones decided to try for a WNBA career and tried out for several teams. The Tulsa Shock picked her up in early 2010 and kept her until July of 2011. Marta Bastianelli was a promising Italian cyclist who'd won what they call a world championship within the sport and was preparing for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. In mid-2008, she tested positive for fenfluramine, a banned anorectic drug. Bastianelli received a two year suspension and missed the Beijing Games. After serving her suspension, she came back to professional cycling in 2011 and is now riding for an elite team run by Mario Cipollini. Jessica Hardy, a U.S. swimmer, had a sample that tested positive for clenbuterol in 2008. She left the Olympic team, blaming a supplement and served a one year suspension from the sport. In 2009, she came back and promptly broke the world record in the 50 and 100 meter breaststrokes. Today, she is still an elite swimmer and wins world championship medals in her events. Tong Wen, the female Chinese heavyweight judoka and multiple time world champion, as well as the 2008 Olympic gold medalist, tested positive for clenbuterol in mid-2010. Most famously, she blamed roided up Chinese pork chops for her troubles. Wen was forced to hand back her 2009 World Championship gold medal and began serving a two year suspension. However, thanks to some smart and dedicated legal work by her attorneys, Wen was able to get the Court for Arbitration of Sport to overturn her suspension on a procedural failure, reinstate her 2009 gold medal and render no opinion on whether or not she used clenbuterol in a rule-breaking way. Wen went out and won the 2011 Judo Worlds, the Moscow Grand Slam and the Qingdao Grand Prix too. Dunaway was about 22 at the time of the positive test and will turn 28 in 2012. Bastianelli was 22 at the time of her bust and is now 24. Hardy is 24 now and was 21 in 2008. Wen is nearly 29 now and was 27 at the time of her allegedly porcine-related problems. Jones is the only one of these four other women athletes to be caught past the age of 30. Cyborg Santos is 26 years old. She is not in a desperate sprint against the ticking clock of age to get all her fights in before the finish line of "Too Late" is past. There is time to address the problems making the lower weight class of 135 lbs. Her commitment to legal sporting competition can be reforged. Her technical skills in striking and grappling can be vastly improved in that one year span. Perhaps she can win more medals in Brazilian jiu jitsu or submission grappling competitions. Perhaps she can focus on training fighters at her gym. Perhaps she can take up yoga or the Dolce Diet. The possibilities for her are not super-limited. Cyborg has the opportunity to change for the better and I see very little reason why her career should be called to an end - even after this disheartening revelation. By all means, be disappointed over the steroids usage, but treat Cristiane Santos as the talented, young and exciting mixed martial arts athlete she is. Allow her to use this time wisely if she can and give her the opportunity to return a wiser, better fighter. And nobody give her Chinese pork chops either.

Posted in: time, year, athlete, steroid, cyborg

2012 World MMA Welterweight Scouting Report: #3 – Brandon Thatch

Photo by Isaac Hinds, Sherdog Name: Brandon Thatch Nickname: Rukus Age: 26 Height: 6'2" Location: Denver, Colorado At age 5, Brandon Thatch (6-1) had a life-altering moment that brought him to where he is today in the sport of mixed martial arts. He was adopted by Clarence Thatch, a seven-time Sabaki champion and ISK heavyweight contender, that his mother began dating when Brandon was just a child training in Clarence's karate class. Eleven years later, Brandon became enamored with the sport, and one year later at age 17 - he fought in his first official kickboxing match. Brandon is now 26 years old, and it comes as no surprise that he's one of the fastest rising prospects in MMA, amassing a 6-1 record in four years. All six of his wins have come by way of stoppage inside the first round, five by knockout and one by submission. The most notable win on his record is against UFC veteran Anthony Njokuani's little brother Chidi, who is also a rising prospect in his own right. It took Thatch fifty-three seconds to stop him at Ring of Fire 41 in August. He followed up the win with a fifteen seconds stoppage of France's Patrick Vallee at Instinct Fighting 2 on December 2, extending his streak to five. Thatch's brutal brand of Muay Thai striking is his primary means of finishing off his opposition. With a 6'2" frame, Thatch can work from range and in the clinch with ease, but he's far more destructive in close quarters, shoving opponents' faces into his knees and following up with strikes.On the ground, Thatch is an excellent grappler who has the know-how to smother opponents. Aside from the obvious advantage due to his long frame, he's adept at maintaining control from the top and accurately punching opponents out. With the support of an exceptional training team at Grudge Training Center in Colorado, Brandon Thatch could become an upper-echelon talent in the UFC in a few years. Right now, it's deceptive to suggest he's ready for the big time without seeing him against stiffer competition. From everything we've seen so far, however, Brandon has all the skills to succeed at a higher level, possibly even in the UFC or Bellator. Check out video footage of Brandon Thatch after the jump... FlyweightBantamweightFeatherweightLightweight #1 - #2 - #3 -#4 -#5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - Rony Mariano#2 - Aljamain Sterling#3 - Chris Holdsworth#4 - Josh Hill#5 - Fabiano Fernandes#6 - Claudio Ledesma#7 - Sirwan Kakai#8 - Kyoji Horiguchi#9 - Leandro Hygo#10 - Pedro Munhoz #1 - Hacran Dias#2 - Joey Gambino#3 - Brandon Bender#4 - Lance Palmer #5 - Jim Alers#6 - Anthony Gutierrez#7 - Max Holloway#8 - John Teixeira#9 - Cody Bollinger#10 - Bubba Jenkins #1 - Fabricio Guerreiro#2 - Alessandro Ferreira#3 - Adriano Martins#4 - Justin Salas#5 - Neilson Gomes#6 - Eduard Folayang#7 - Zorobabel Moreira#8 - Anton Kuivanen#9 - Jordan Rinaldi#10 - J.P. Vainikainen WelterweightMiddleweightLight HeavyweightHeavyweight #1 - #2 - #3 - Brandon Thatch#4 - Nordine Taleb#5 - Hernani Perpetuo#6 - Brock Jardine#7 - Alan Jouban#8 - Mohsen Bahari#9 - Andre Santos#10 - Stephen Thompson #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - Mike Arrant vs. Brandon Thatch Brandon Thatch vs. Patrick ValleeBrandon Thatch vs. Brandon Magana Ring of Fire 32 HL

Posted in: ufc, year, he, brandon, thatch

2011 Kickboxing Year in Review: Fighter, Fight, and KO of the Year

This article was originally posted by Fraser Coffeen at Bloody Elbow. I'm reposting it in it's entirety. All credit goes to Fraser. Earlier this week, I looked at 2011: The Year in Kickboxing, with a focus on the big news stories of the year, and asked you, the reader, if you thought the year was one of transition or decline for the sport. An overwhelming 70% of you said it was in decline. Sad, but understandable given all the bad news kickboxing fans were subjected to over the past 12 months. Today, I take one final look at the year, but this time with a focus solely on the good. Here, my picks for year end awards in the world of kickboxing. Because despite all the trials and tribulations, there was still a lot of action this year, with amazing fights, jaw-dropping KO's, and beautiful performances from some of the best strikers in the world. So let's take a look at the highlights of 2011: 2011 Kickboxer of the YearGIORGIO PETROSYAN It seems almost automatic to hand the award to Petrosyan once again, but he's undeniably deserving. Petrosyan is the clear-cut top kickboxer in the world, and I'd place him on a level with men like Anderson Silva and Manny Pacquiao as the best stand-up fighters in the world, period. Just look at the stats: a remarkable record of 69-1-2. Undefeated in 5 years. The two time (and, in theory, reigning) K-1 MAX champion. And, unlike some top names (Buakaw, I'm looking at you), Petrosyan is not slowing down with a more relaxed or sparse schedule. He fought 5 times in 2011, all while taking care of his nagging hand injuries, defeating men like Sudsakorn and Cosmo Alexandre. In fact, Petrosyan is so good that any minuscule chink in his armor is seen as a huge deal. Some look at his 2011 as a down year for him because he did not actually defeat Chahid Oulad El Hadj (an accidental low blow led to a No Contest) and because some extremely questionable judging led to a Split instead of Unanimous Decision win over Zeben Diaz. When those are the biggest signs of weakness you can come up with, you're dealing with a serious force. Up next for The Doctor is Abraham Roqueni on January 21, and, in what should be a massive fight, Artur Kyshenko on March 24. Kyshenko is one of the few names Petrosyan still needs to vanquish - a win here will only further the dominance of this rare and gifted artist. Fight of the Year and KO of the Year, with videos, in the full entry 2011 Fight of the YearARTUR KYSHENKO vs. YODSAENKLAI FAIRTEX If you have any doubt why Petrosyan vs. Kyshenko is such a big deal, let this fight from Rumble of the Kings 2011 on November 26 explain it to you. From roughly 2007-2008, Kyshenko looked like the heir apparent in K-1 MAX - the next super fighter to put his name next to Buakaw, Souwer, and Masato. He made it to the 2008 Max GP Finals, defeating Andy Souwer along the way, and when Masato retired, many (including myself) picked him as the next Grand Prix champion. That didn't happen. He fell to Souwer in 2009, then had a tough 2010 with a pair of unexpected loses. After that, he changed camps, joining up with Mike's Gym (home to Badr Hari and Melvin Manhoef), and absolutely got his career back on track. 2011 was a great year for him, with a series of impressive wins and his only loss coming in the finals of a grueling tournament. Heading into this fight, Kyshenko was undeniably back. Yodsaenklai was, at one time, the clear cut best Middleweight Muay Thai fighter on the planet. From 2005-2010 he was virtually unbeatable, establishing himself as a dominant force in the international scene. Starting in 2010, his 200+ professional fights began to catch up with him, and the once unassailable Yodsaenklai suddenly started to lose a few fights. But don't take that to mean he was falling apart - just that the formerly undefeatable Thai fighter was in fact beatable now, if you played your cards just right. When these two came together, the result was a classic. Huge shifts in momentum, technical brilliance from both ends, great heart - it's everything right about the sport. Enjoy: 2011 KO of the YearMARK MILLER vs. NIKOLAJ FALIN From the United Glory World Series Finals on May 28, this incredible 9 second KO would merit discussion for the punch alone, but it's the backstory that really makes it unique. After gaining some exposure in the international kickboxing scene thanks to fights in K-1, in 2006, Miller discovered he had a very serious heart condition. In 2007 he had open heart surgery. For most athletes, such a massive operation would spell the end of their professional careers, and for awhile, that seemed to be the case with Miller as well. But Miller never gave up. He continued training, and in 2011, his first fight back after the surgery was set. Simply stepping into the ring on May 28 would have been a huge accomplishment - winning, an even greater feat. But for Miller, just competing - even just winning - wasn't enough. He wanted to prove to everyone what he could still accomplish. And with a bomb of a right hand, he did just that. A beautiful story, capped off by a beautiful punch straight out of a Rocky movie. It's one of those rare moments that transcends the sport - where the action becomes not just a story of two kickboxers, but a story of true human struggle and triumph. There you have it - my picks for the kickboxing highlights of 2011. Let's see what 2012 brings us. What about you? What were your favorite kickboxing moments of 2011?

Posted in: fight, year, kickboxing, kyshenko, petrosyan

2011 Kickboxing Year in Review: Fighter, Fight, and KO of the Year

Earlier this week, I looked at 2011: The Year in Kickboxing, with a focus on the big news stories of the year, and asked you, the reader, if you thought the year was one of transition or decline for the sport. An overwhelming 70% of you said it was in decline. Sad, but understandable given all the bad news kickboxing fans were subjected to over the past 12 months. Today, I take one final look at the year, but this time with a focus solely on the good. Here, my picks for year end awards in the world of kickboxing. Because despite all the trials and tribulations, there was still a lot of action this year, with amazing fights, jaw-dropping KO's, and beautiful performances from some of the best strikers in the world. So let's take a look at the highlights of 2011: 2011 Kickboxer of the YearGIORGIO PETROSYAN It seems almost automatic to hand the award to Petrosyan once again, but he's undeniably deserving. Petrosyan is the clear-cut top kickboxer in the world, and I'd place him on a level with men like Anderson Silva and Manny Pacquiao as the best stand-up fighters in the world, period. Just look at the stats: a remarkable record of 69-1-2. Undefeated in 5 years. The two time (and, in theory, reigning) K-1 MAX champion. And, unlike some top names (Buakaw, I'm looking at you), Petrosyan is not slowing down with a more relaxed or sparse schedule. He fought 5 times in 2011, all while taking care of his nagging hand injuries, defeating men like Sudsakorn and Cosmo Alexandre. In fact, Petrosyan is so good that any minuscule chink in his armor is seen as a huge deal. Some look at his 2011 as a down year for him because he did not actually defeat Chahid Oulad El Hadj (an accidental low blow led to a No Contest) and because some extremely questionable judging led to a Split instead of Unanimous Decision win over Zeben Diaz. When those are the biggest signs of weakness you can come up with, you're dealing with a serious force. Up next for The Doctor is Abraham Roqueni on January 21, and, in what should be a massive fight, Artur Kyshenko on March 24. Kyshenko is one of the few names Petrosyan still needs to vanquish - a win here will only further the dominance of this rare and gifted artist. Fight of the Year and KO of the Year, with videos, in the full entry 2011 Fight of the YearARTUR KYSHENKO vs. YODSAENKLAI FAIRTEX If you have any doubt why Petrosyan vs. Kyshenko is such a big deal, let this fight from Rumble of the Kings 2011 on November 26 explain it to you. From roughly 2007-2008, Kyshenko looked like the heir apparent in K-1 MAX - the next super fighter to put his name next to Buakaw, Souwer, and Masato. He made it to the 2008 Max GP Finals, defeating Andy Souwer along the way, and when Masato retired, many (including myself) picked him as the next Grand Prix champion. That didn't happen. He fell to Souwer in 2009, then had a tough 2010 with a pair of unexpected loses. After that, he changed camps, joining up with Mike's Gym (home to Badr Hari and Melvin Manhoef), and absolutely got his career back on track. 2011 was a great year for him, with a series of impressive wins and his only loss coming in the finals of a grueling tournament. Heading into this fight, Kyshenko was undeniably back. Yodsaenklai was, at one time, the clear cut best Middleweight Muay Thai fighter on the planet. From 2005-2010 he was virtually unbeatable, establishing himself as a dominant force in the international scene. Starting in 2010, his 200+ professional fights began to catch up with him, and the once unassailable Yodsaenklai suddenly started to lose a few fights. But don't take that to mean he was falling apart - just that the formerly undefeatable Thai fighter was in fact beatable now, if you played your cards just right. When these two came together, the result was a classic. Huge shifts in momentum, technical brilliance from both ends, great heart - it's everything right about the sport. Enjoy: 2011 KO of the YearMARK MILLER vs. NIKOLAJ FALIN From the United Glory World Series Finals on May 28, this incredible 9 second KO would merit discussion for the punch alone, but it's the backstory that really makes it unique. After gaining some exposure in the international kickboxing scene thanks to fights in K-1, in 2006, Miller discovered he had a very serious heart condition. In 2007 he had open heart surgery. For most athletes, such a massive operation would spell the end of their professional careers, and for awhile, that seemed to be the case with Miller as well. But Miller never gave up. He continued training, and in 2011, his first fight back after the surgery was set. Simply stepping into the ring on May 28 would have been a huge accomplishment - winning, an even greater feat. But for Miller, just competing - even just winning - wasn't enough. He wanted to prove to everyone what he could still accomplish. And with a bomb of a right hand, he did just that. A beautiful story, capped off by a beautiful punch straight out of a Rocky movie. It's one of those rare moments that transcends the sport - where the action becomes not just a story of two kickboxers, but a story of true human struggle and triumph. There you have it - my picks for the kickboxing highlights of 2011. Let's see what 2012 brings us. What about you? What were your favorite kickboxing moments of 2011?

Posted in: fight, year, kickboxing, kyshenko, petrosyan

UFC veteran Hermes Franca sentenced to over three years in prison for sexual abuse

All the way back in May of last year, former UFC lightweight fighter Hermes Franca turned himself over to the Clackamas County Jail in Portland, Oregon, charged with seven counts of sexual abuse in the first degree as well as two counts of unlawful sexual penetration in the second degree. He made bail and his court date was set for later in the year. Now, the hammer has come down and Franca finds himself staring down the barrel of a long prison sentence. OregonLive.com has it: A former Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight title contender has been sentenced to more than three years in prison after being convicted this week of sexually abusing an underage female student at his Clackamas martial arts school. Hermes Franca Barros, 37, pleaded guilty in Clackamas County Court on Wednesday to one count of unlawful penetration and one count of first-degree sexual abuse. He was sentenced to 3½ years in prison. ... Barros will also have four and a half years of post-prison supervision and must register as a sex offender. Do the crime, do the time. Case closed. This likely signals the end of a fairly long and relatively successful career in mixed martial arts (MMA) for Franca, who, at one time, challenged for the UFC lightweight title. Franca (22-12) was one of the industry's most feared lightweights not many years ago. After winning eight straight fights including submission victories over Toby Imada, Jamie Varner and Nate Diaz, Franca finished Spencer Fisher at Fight Night 8 to earn a crack at Sean Sherk's 155-pound title at UFC 77 back in July 2007. He would drop a unanimous decision to "The Muscle Shark" and subsequently test positive for steroids. Unfortunately his career would go into a tailspin following his loss to Sherk. After returning from a 12-month suspension stemming from his positive drug test, he came up short against Frankie Edgar in his July 2008 comeback fight at UFC Fight Night 14. The Brazilian managed to bounce back with a win against his former Brazilian jiu-jitsu teacher Marcus Aurelio at UFC 90: "Silva vs. Cote" in October but then shortly thereafter was arrested in Jupiter, Fla., on suspicion of Driving Under the Influence (DUI). Franca was scratched from his 155-pound match up against Joe Lauzon at UFC Fight Night 17 in Feb. 2009 due to an ACL tear in his right knee. He was paired up with Tyson Griffin at UFC 103 later in the year where he was stopped via TKO in the second round. He was later released by the UFC. Franca competed four times in 2011, going 3-1 and losing by knockout to Thawa Ril in his last fight under the IFC banner back on April 29. His next fight, if there is one, will likely take place in a recreational room in the big house. Quite the fall from grace.

Posted in: ufc, fight, year, prison, count

There and back again: A rebirth at 185 pounds could put Keith Jardine back in the spotlight

With heavy steps, the kind only a feeling like disappointment can bring out, Keith Jardine walked through the back corridors of the Palms Casino Resort. Each time his foot pressed onto the floor, it triggered a new -- and frightening -- question in his mind. He had the same job for nearly five years but as he left the Octagon that night, as he made his way backstage for a doctor's examination and to get his wraps removed, an anxious, almost nauseating feeling began to creep into his gut. It's the feeling you get when your boss catches you sleeping at your desk or you screw up a major project and your employment status suddenly comes into question. How did I get here?, Jardine must have asked himself. Just a year prior he was two rounds away from fighting for the 205-pound title and enjoyed a healthy notoriety thanks to his stint of the second season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF). Fighters like those -- the Chris Lebens, the Stephan Bonnars and the Mike Swicks -- don't necessarily need standout win/loss records to keeping getting a paycheck with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) logo on it. But four losses in a row -- and five in six fights -- is a bullet that even the beloved Chuck Liddell couldn't dodge. Five days after the majority decision loss to Matt Hamill, Jardine hit the Octagon cutting block. How did he get there? And with his first title shot tonight at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine, is he on his way back to mixed martial arts (MMA) relevance? Jardine had good wins. "The Iceman" being chiefest amongst them but his list of accomplishments also includes finishing another former light heavyweight champion in Forrest Griffin. Sure, his embarrassing knockout loss to Wanderlei Silva will long be a staple of Pride Fighting Championships fanboys' dreams and Jardine was also put to sleep by Houston Alexander but who knew the UFC debutee had cinder blocks for fists? "The Dean of Mean" almost always found a way to win and almost always frustrated his opponents into settling for a judged victory. He did the former against Liddell and Brandon Vera and the latter against Quinton Jackson and Hamill. It was the fight against Jackson that would have earned Jardine a crack at the 205-pound title. He had won two of his last three including the career-defining split decision victory over Liddell. "Rampage" had lost his title to Forrest Griffin -- a man Jardine had defeated -- but bounced back with a brutal knockout loss to Silva -- a man who trounced Jardine. MMA math is the most absurd method to help decide who would win a hypothetical fight and the UFC 96 main event served as a classic example of why. It took Jardine three years -- from when he first entered the TUF house -- to get to that point but it took only three rounds for all of his work to come undone. "The Dean of Mean" achieved come success in the first round but soon the experience, technique and power of his opponent took over. Immediately after the fight, then-teammate Rashad Evans stepped inside the Octagon to challenge Jackson and in the ensuing brouhaha, Jardine was left in the shadows, an afterthought in the light heavyweight division. Everyone cared about Evans/Jackson -- well, at least a million pay-per-view (PPV) buyers did over one year later -- but it didn't seem like anyone gave a second thought to a man who had defeated two champions -- one former and one future -- and had just taken a third to a decision. But Jardine doesn't seem to have the "it" factor and in a marketing sense isn't viewed as "sexy." The cold, hard truth is there's very little money to be made off a fighter like that. The only fighter who fits that description and has banked -- Fedor Emelianenko -- needed a flawless 10-year span to pull it off. After the loss to "Rampage," Jardine's career began to free fall. Two knockout losses in a row to Thiago Silva and Ryan Bader put his Octagon future in doubt and the fourth and final loss to Hamill ensured his walking papers. In his first fight outside the UFC -- a bout with another UFC also-ran Trevor Prangley for the Shark Fights promotion -- Jardine suffered his fifth straight loss. But just like any smart fighter should know, two or three wins on the regional MMA circuit and a willingness to jump into a bout on short notice can get almost any former UFC fighter back into the promotion. That's exactly what happened when Gegard Mousasi's original opponent in Mike Kyle fell to injury and "The Dean of Mean" stepped in a week before the event. It was another typical performance from Jardine: grinding but ugly in which he took a highly regarded fighter and made him look terrible. A point deduction kept the Armenian from winning the fight and both men had to settle for a draw. Tonight, once again taking advantage of injury and Strikeforce's shallow roster, Jardine takes on Luke Rockhold in what will be the middleweight champion's first defense while also being Jardine's first dip into the 185-pound talent pool. Jardine will turn 37-years old this year. Time is not on his side. A loss against Rockhold would cement the UFC veteran as a "good but not great" fighter, always within reach of the brass ring but never quite able to come away with it. If he hopes to rewrite his legacy, it has to start tonight.

Posted in: fight, fighter, loss, year, jardine

Former UFC Title Challenger Hermes Franca Sentenced to Over Three Years in Jail

Former UFC lightweight title challenger Hermes Franca was sentenced to three and a half years in jail yesterday for sexual abuse of an underage student. The original charges were seven counts of sexual abuse and two counts of unlawful sexual penetration but a guilty plea got those charges reduced to one count of each. Via Oregon Live: Hermes Franca Barros, 37, pleaded guilty in Clackamas County Court on Wednesday to one count of unlawful penetration and one count of first-degree sexual abuse. He was sentenced to 3½ years in prison. He was arraigned in May on seven counts of first-degree sexual abuse and two counts of second-degree unlawful sexual penetration. The remaining counts were dismissed. Barros will also have four and a half years of post-prison supervision and must register as a sex offender. Barros, a resident of Jupiter, Fla., turned himself in to Clackamas County Sheriff's Deputies in May after a warrant was issued for his arrest, stemming from a December 2010 encounter with one of his students. I'll refrain from any comment here as I don't have any more details, but it's been a very quick decline for Franca since getting his title challenge.

Posted in: year, half years, count, abuse, postprison supervision

2011 - The Year in Retirements

Perhaps more than any other year in recent history, mixed martial arts saw a host of top fighters retire from the sport, ranging from Hall of Famer Randy Couture to action hero Chris Lytle. And while the following fighters won’t be gracing the Octagon again, it’s clear that they’ve made a mark in the sport that won’t be forgotten anytime soon. Ricardo Almeida One of the top jiu-jitsu fighters to compete in the Octagon, Ricardo Almeida pulled off the impossible in 2008 when he returned for a second stint in the UFC after nearly four years away from the sport. What followed was a 5-3 run that reintroduced the “Big Dog” to the fight world. And while he retired in March at the age of 34, he is producing the next generation of MMA fighters as a coach in his academy in New Jersey. read retirement statementAlmeida Retires From MMAKEY FIGHT – UFC 81 – Wsub1 Rob Yundt QUOTABLE – “As a competitor I can think of no bigger thrill than to stand in the center of the Octagon with my hands raised.”Randy CoutureThere is really no way to introduce one of mixed martial arts’ true legends, because everyone knows what Randy Couture has brought to the table for this sport that he helped build. In short, UFC Hall of Famer, five-time UFC champion in two weight classes, and participant in some of the UFC’s greatest battles. So when he decided that his UFC 129 bout with Lyoto Machida was his last, it was a sad moment, but also a time to reflect on a career that is unlikely to ever be matched. hear from Couture after his last fightCouture To Retire After Machida BoutRandy Couture – A Fighters’ TributeKEY FIGHT – UFC 44 – W5 Tito OrtizQUOTABLE – “I want to go out on my terms and decide when enough is enough, and I think that time is come.”Mirko Cro CopFormer PRIDE superstar Mirko Cro Cop will be the first to admit that his 4-6 record in the UFC isn’t one that sits well with him, but at the same time, it also won’t define a career that saw him dominate in Japan for years, mainly with his laser-like left hand and even more crushing left kick to the head, the cemetery in the classic “right leg hospital, left leg cemetery” quote. Following his UFC 137 loss to Roy Nelson, Cro Cop ended his UFC career, and it’s doubtful that the defeat did anything to affect his tremendous worldwide fanbase. watch Cro Cop retirement speechUFC 137 MusingsThe Past, Present, and Future of Mirko Cro CopKEY FIGHT – UFC 115 – Wsub3 Pat BarryQUOTABLE – “In a certain way, fighting keeps me alive. And I’m aware that one day when I stop fighting, part of me, a big part of me, will die with that decision.”Mike GuymonOwner of an inspirational story that saw him rise from the depths of depression to make it to the UFC in 2010 after over a decade in the sport, Mike Guymon may not have made it to the top of the welterweight division in his four fight Octagon stint, but his ever present smile will never be forgotten by UFC fans as he always gave his all when the bell rang. see Guymon congratulate his last opponent and announce his retirementGuymon’s Journey Brings Him to AnaheimKEY FIGHT – UFC 113 – W3 Yoshiyuki YoshidaQUOTABLE – “I could care less about winning the title in the UFC; I just want to be there, be successful, and keep winning.”Matt HamillDeaf, and with barely any MMA experience, Matt Hamill was the underdog of all underdogs to make it in the UFC. But after appearing on season three of The Ultimate Fighter, he did just that, going 9-4 over a five year period that saw him become a legitimate light heavyweight contender with wins over Tito Ortiz, Mark Munoz, Keith Jardine, and even a DQ victory over current 205-pound boss Jon Jones. But Hamill’s greatest impact was on the deaf community, as he inspired a host of people that if they work hard and believe, anything is possible. read retirement statementHamill Retires at 34 KEY FIGHT – UFC 121 – W3 Tito OrtizQUOTABLE – “Today is a sad day for me. After six years and 13 fights in the UFC I’m ready to hang up my gloves and retire from this amazing sport.”Antoni Hardonk4-4 in his three year UFC career, Antoni Hardonk always came to fight, and win or lose, the Dutch kickboxing ace gave fight fans exciting heavyweight battles on a consistent basis, whether with Pat Barry, Eddie Sanchez, or Colin Robinson. Now coaching the likes of Vladimir Matyushenko and Jared Hamman, expect to see plenty of Hardonk outside the Octagon in the coming years. see Hardonk in his new roleHardonk Retires, Begins Next Chapter as CoachKEY FIGHT – UFC 104 – TKO by 2 Pat BarryQUOTABLE – “Fighting is a full-time job. It’s not something you can do on the side, and I didn’t want to do things halfway.”Brock LesnarIt was a shocker when Brock Lesnar came to the UFC, it was shocking when he won the heavyweight title in just his fourth fight, and it was even more shocking when he returned from two bouts with diverticulitis. It’s a lot to fit into an eight fight career, but it also guaranteed that we’ll be talking about the big man from Alexandria, Minnesota for a long, long time. watch Lesnar retirement speechBrock Lesnar, The UFC’s Shooting Star, Retires At 34KEY FIGHT – UFC 91 – TKO 2 Randy CoutureQUOTABLE – “There’s nobody out there like me. I was born to do this, and I’ll fight whoever they put in front of me. I’ve proven myself over and over again that this is my way of life.”Chris LytleThe sad part about the fight game is that it’s almost impossible to go out on top. Chris Lytle flipped that script in August when he announced that his fight with Dan Hardy would be his last one, and then he went on to defeat Hardy and pick up Submission and Fight of the Night bonuses in the process. It was a heartwarming ending for one of the game’s true good guys, and the capper on 12 years in the sport in which a fight to remember was always guaranteed. watch Lytle retirement speechLast Call For “Lights Out”KEY FIGHT – UFC Live – Lytle Wsub3 Hardy QUOTABLE – “I want to go out there and win the fight quickly. I’m not gonna go out there and say ‘I’m gonna take him down and grind this sucker out.’ I’ll never try and do that. I’d rather go out there and try to knock him out and get knocked out than try to grind it out.”And...Though he said it was probably the last time he was going to appear in the Octagon following his UFC 137 loss to Nick Diaz, here's hoping that we see another run to the top from BJ Penn in 2012. And that might be the case considering that just days after his announcement post-Diaz, he issued the following statement on his website: “I want to thank all of the fans for their love and support. I’m going to take some time off to enjoy life, train and teach. I will keep you guys’ posted with what’s next."But if this is the end for "The Prodigy," UFC.com's Frank Curreri paid tribute to the Hawaiian great following the bout with his piece, "BJ Penn - They Only Made One."

Posted in: ufc, fight, sport, year, octagon

Grappling with Issues – 1/6/11

What was your reaction to Brock Lesnar‘s retirement? Should any hope remain where Fedor Emelianenko signing with the UFC is concerned? Will “King Mo” fight in Strikeforce again after tomorrow night’s bout against Lorenz Larkin? Is Jake Ellenberger more likely to earn a title-shot in 2012 than Johny Hendricks? Keyboard warrrrriors….come out to plaaaay-yay! Welcome to Grappling with Issues, our site’s regular weekly feature highlighting insight and opinion from myself and resident workhorse Jeremy Lambert whose general contributions and “Scorecard” event-breakdowns can be regularly found on Five Ounces. As always, just because we staffers get the fancy set-up, please don’t hesitate to offer your own take on the topics in the “Comments” section below. Who will Tyron Woodley face for the Strikeforce welterweight belt if he beats Jordan Mein tomorrow night? Lambert: Logic says he’ll face the winner of the other welterweight fight on the card; Tarec Saffiedine vs. Tyler Stinson, especially since Stinson has already come out and said he’s going to ask for a title shot if he wins. Then again, you can never count on Strikeforce to be logical, and honestly, does it matter? No offense to any of the 170 pounders in Strikeforce, some of whom could make it in the UFC, but we all know the welterweight title is completely secondary when all the best welterweights are in the UFC. Conlan: Jon Fitch. Okay, I know it’s a relatively insane prediction but bear with me for a second while I attempt to explain the source of my delusion. For starters, there is zero public interest in seeing Woodley face Saffiedine (again) or Stinson and in fact I’d wager good money that most fans have no idea who either man is. However, as is the case with Keith Jardine, average MMA enthusiasts know who Fitch is and (unlike Jardine) understand he has been a top contender for the past few years. The UFC could easily transfer Fitch’s deal over to Strikeforce as they have in reverse with Nick Diaz, Alistair Overeem, etc. and book him to face Woodley for the belt. Plus, it’s not like Fitch would have to go to Strikeforce for more than a year since the company only has seven events left on its 2012 deal (not counting tomorrow night’s show). He’s coming off a loss, sure, but quick KOs happen – just ask Georges St. Pierre – and I suspect most of you would agree Fitch is still better than 95% of the Strikeforce welterweight division. Why let the defeat set him back two years in the UFC when he could come in to Strikeforce for a year, possibly pick up a belt along with a few wins, and then return in a year with more momentum? It’s not as though he’s a money-making draw in comparison to some of his peers so harness his dwindling spotlight and direct it at a promotion in desperate need of a respectable, well-known contender. True/False – Saturday night will mark Muhammed Lawal’s last fight in Strikeforce. Lambert: I hope so. Once again, Strikeforce is filled with guys who could likely be competitive in the UFC, but we don’t know until we actually see it. There’s no one else for The King of Mo to fight in Strikeforce, and while I think he’d do fine in the UFC, I want to see it before I believe it. No knock on the guy, who I’m a particular fan of, but while he has all the talent in the world, it’s not like he’s beaten a ton of great competition. He out-wrestled Gegard Mousasi, lost to Rafael Cavalcante, and then beat a bunch of mediocre guys. There’s no one else for him to fight in Strikeforce, so let’s see how good he really is in the Octagon. Conlan: I hope not. Lawal would be lost in the UFC’s light heavyweight division and wouldn’t have nearly the impact on the organization that he could in regards to Strikeforce. The promotion needs to hold on to a few fighters, like Gilbert Melendez, with a solid profile and skills to boot while things unfold over the next year. By staying in Strikeforce and potentially picking up 2-3 more wins in 2012 Lawal could enter the UFC as an immediate contender instead of a guy who was 2-1 in his last three. Again, Strikeforce is almost certainly going to be folded into the UFC after their current contract runs out so Lawal is destined for a date there at some point anyways. It’s all a matter of how he’s used beforehand that matters. A rematch with “Feijao” could be done to erase the lone loss of his career, then maybe a fall date with a well-known UFC castoff, and he could truly debut in the Octagon as more than a paper king. Fill in the Blank: Brock Lesnar deciding to retire was ______. Lambert: Unfortunate. Although he’s been through a lot with his illness and he never reacted well to pain or punishment, possibly proving that he wasn’t long for the MMA world, no one can deny that when Lesnar fought, you got excited. I won’t say that the heavyweight division is now boring because Brock is gone, but it definitely loses some “big fight feel” luster without him. It’s also unfortunate for the UFC, because Brock was guaranteed to pop a buyrate, and now they don’t have that. Conlan: A welcome sight. I respect Lesnar’s accomplishments but I also think they’re overrated by most. To say the division loses some “big fight feel” by watching a 34-year old with a 5-3 record walk is beyond revealing in how successful the UFC’s marketing machine is. As such, the only people who should genuinely be missing Lesnar’s presence are the higher-ups at Zuffa who no longer have his PPV appeal to promote with. Did he cut a great promo? Yes. Was he a great fighter? No. His decision to retire before the Overeem bout showed at UFC 141 and indicated to me the world had been duped by guy who thought he wanted to be a Mixed Martial Artist just like he thought he wanted to play football or be a professional wrestler. Shane Carwin snapped him into reality, Cain Velasquez sealed the notion, and Overeem put a stamp on it. Lesnar’s retirement was a GOOD thing for him, his family, and the sport of MMA as a whole. There’s no need for a mediocre guy making $400,000 win/lose when some of the sport’s best don’t make 1/10 of that. BUY/SELL: Fedor Emelianenko will compete in the UFC in 2012. Conlan: SELL. Dana White wants nothing to do with M-1 or Emelianenko and let’s face it, does anyone actually believe Fedor can contend against the UFC’s brightest based on victories over Jeff Monson and Satoshi Ishii? The Emelianenko Express has departed the station where hopes of seeing him in the Octagon are concerned, and in fact I’m not even sure he’ll ever fight in North America again. Lambert: BUY. Call me crazy or laugh at me (both would be acceptable responses to what I’m about to write), but I believe that we’re going to see Fedor in the UFC on July 4th weekend fighting Lesnar. Why do I believe this? Well, I have a gut feeling, and we all know how well those usually turn out. Honestly, I realize it’s an outlandish prediction and extremely wishful thinking that Fedor will even fight in the UFC, but if it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen in 2012 because this will probably be the last year of his career. Which former Strikeforce champion had the most impressive debut/re-debut in the UFC this past year? Conlan: Nick Diaz. Overeem’s win over Lesnar was solid, and Dan Henderson’s dance with Mauricio Rua was a classic, but Diaz came in and beat B.J. Penn soundly (and who has ever done that before other than maybe GSP or Matt Hughes via Crucifix). Lesnar was a bit shaky coming into last weekend’s loss after having been out with illness for a year, while Henderson-Rua was as much a draw as it was a victory for “Hendo”. Lambert: I’m actually going to go with Overeem, since he actually finished his opponent and did so in very impressive fashion. Say what you will about Lesnar being out for a year and being affected by the illness, and while it’s true, it’s also a bit of revisionist history since all the talk leading up to the fight was that Lesnar was now 100% and the best he’s ever been in his fighting career. Plus, it’s not like Lesnar was a cakewalk opponent for “The Reem” given their styles. Overeem showed an aggressiveness, put Brock on his heels, made him pay for closing the distance with knees, and then finished him quickly. More likely to get a title shot in 2012: Johny Hendricks, Jake Ellenberger or Mike Pierce? Conlan: Jake Ellenberger. He’s got a devastating knockout win over Jake Shields, a former top contender and decorated champ in his own right, and a winnable opponent in the form of Diego Sanchez. If he comes away with his hand raised against Sanchez he’ll be a single victory away from a title-shot while Hendricks/Pierce aren’t quite as close (especially Pierce). Lambert: If Ellenberger gets by Sanchez, I think we’re going to see Ellenberger vs. Hendricks in a #1 contenders bout down the line. There’s no way Ellenberger will sit out most of 2012 after he theoretically beats Sanchez, and that’s what he’ll likely have to do if he waits to challenge the winner of St. Pierre vs. Diaz/Condit. I’ll go with Ellenberger as well since I think he beats Hendricks, but I wouldn’t sleep on Sanchez beating him, setting up Sanchez vs. Hendricks and knowing Jake out of contention for the time being. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC/STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, year, lesnar

Jon Jones Wants Four UFC Fights in 2012

UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones hopes to fight four times in 2012 following a busy 2011 that also saw him fight four times, including winning the title on short-notice from Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and defending it over former champions Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Lyoto Machida. Jones had planned on taking up to five months off to start the year after submitting Machida at UFC 140 in December, but recently told ESPN that he now hopes to fight three or four times this year. “My goal is to finish every fight in 2012. If I do that, a lot of other things will fall into place naturally. I want to finish every opponent,” Jones said “I’ve been thinking recently about trying to compete four times in the year again. I grew so much as a person that by doing that again in 2012 will just make me a better athlete. “Originally I said I wanted to take off four or five months, but I may reconsider and come back sooner and have three or four fights this year.” Jones’ next challenger will likely be decided when former champ Rashad Evans and undefeated prospect Phil Davis meet in the main event of UFC on Fox 2 on January 28. For the latest UFC news stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com. Pictured: Jon Jones

Posted in: ufc, fight, time, jone, year

Head Kick Legend's 2011 Submission Of The Year

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

Sixth Ounce Podcast: Episode 13

It’s the first episode of the The Sixth Ounce Podcast in 2012 and boy is it a big one. First Brendhan Conlan and Adam Tool join Jeremy Lambert to talk about the year that was 2011 in MMA. We’ll discuss our favorite fights and fighters from this past year and preview the upcoming year in MMA by saying who we think is in for a breakout year and what fights we’re looking forward to in the new year. Plus we’ll talk about what the UFC on FOX deal means for both companies moving forward. Then Jeremy is joined by Samer Kadi and Dan Plunkett to talk about the business of MMA in 2011. We’ll discuss the PPV buyrates of the UFC and why they were down from the 2010 numbers. Plus we’ll talk about what UFC can do moving forward in order to get the buyrates back up and whether or not they’re running way too many shows for that to even happen. It’s two hours of MMA talk, so check it out. Podcast Powered By Podbean Download (Right Click -> Save Link As) – iTunes

Posted in: ufc, mma, year, podcast, samer kadi

You Decide MMAWeekly.com’s 2011 Breakout Fighter of the Year

It was a stellar year in 2011 for a lot of fighters that have been trying to break into the limelight of mixed martial arts. We want you to choose who was most successful.

Posted in: fighter, year, mmaweeklycom, limelight, breakout

Early Estimates Suggest UFC 141 Broke UFC Out Of Pay-Per-View Slump

2011 wasn’t the greatest year for the UFC on pay-per-view, especially in the latter half of the year. According to MMA Payout’s Blue Book, most events fell in the 225,000 – 350,000 range with the exception of UFC 135 and UFC 140 (~480,000 each) while it wasn’t uncommon for events to eclipse the 500,000 mark in 2010. Needless to say, the UFC was certainly hoping Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair Overeem would give them a strong finish to what was otherwise a relatively disappointing year. Well if the early estimates are any indication, Lesnar vs. Overeem brought in the kind of the numbers the UFC hasn’t seen since UFC 129 despite major concerns about running the event on a Friday. Here’s The Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer with the numbers via BE: Because of the holiday, our early PPV numbers are somewhat sketchy but early industry estimates have ranged between 750,000 and 810,000 North American buys, which would be slightly higher than most expectations. The show probably would have hit the 1 million mark if it was on New Year’s Eve. The original plan was to do a New Year’s Eve show from Abu Dhabi, but when that fell through, they booked the MGM Grand. Because the strip in Las Vegas is shut down from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. on New Year’s Eve, it really would be impossible to run a show like they do in Las Vegas on that night. As Meltzer mentions, scheduling the show on a Friday probably hurt the buy rate, however 750,000 buys is still pretty impressive considering Brock Lesnar was coming off a loss and Alistair Overeem was just being introduced the UFC pay-per-view buying fan base. I don’t know what the UFC’s expectations were for the event, but I doubt they’re disappointed with the numbers all things considered. On an interesting side note, here’s MMA Payout’s Jose Mendoza with some interesting updates on Alistair Overeem and Brock Lesnar’s pay in light of the news. Overeem pay based on 800K UFC 141 PPV Buys: (777K PPV Buys * $2) + $385K (disclosed pay) + $333K (signing bonus) = $2.27M #MMA #UFC #Payoutabout 16 hours ago via webReplyRetweetFavorite@MMASupremacyMMA Supremacy Not including sponsor money, Brock Lesnar has made roughly $17M dollars during his UFC career. Avg pay per UFC fight = $2.4M #MMA #UFCabout 14 hours ago via webReplyRetweetFavorite@MMASupremacyMMA Supremacy Image via Tracy Lee for Yahoo! Sports

Posted in: ufc, overeem, year, las vegas, lesnar

The Top 10 MMA Fights of 2011

By Alex Mattis 2012 has officially begun. Apparently, we are all living the last year of our lives so it’s time we live it up! Before we do that, however, it’s paramount that we reflect upon the last year in MMA fighting. By gosh, we had a plethora of news, fighters, and fights to discuss [...]

Posted in: fight, mma, year, ’s time, news fighters

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Jon Jones Plans To Fight 4 Times In 2012

Following his successful title defense at UFC 140 against Lyoto Machida, Jon Jones stated he wanted to take five months off. Dana White echoed this in post-fight interviews adding that the champ deserved the time off after his epic 2011. Well it appears that Jones has changed his mind regarding his plans for 2012. Jones recently appeared on Josh Gross' podcast for ESPN.com to discuss what has been described as 'the single most impressive year in MMA history' and what he hopes to accomplish in 2012. From the discussion with Josh Gross: Yeah, you know my goal is to finish every fight in 2012. It's a goal of mine. I may do that and then things just naturally fall in line. Just to finish every opponent. Fight to finish the fight. And been thinking recently to try and compete four times again in 2012. I grew so much as a person doing that and trying to do that again will make me an even better athlete and put me in a pretty awesome spot in the sport. I was saying recently that I was going to take off four to five months but I'm starting to reconsider and come back sooner. Try and get three to four fights in this year. This is great news for the UFC. After Jon's breakout year and the retirement of Brock Lesnar, they are desperate for a champion to carry the promotion. With hugely marketable fights awaiting with both Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson, Jones has the opportunity to cement himself as the PPV draw for the UFC, especially with Georges St. Pierre reportedly out for the majority of the year. In 2011 he defeated the likes of Ryan Bader, Mauricio Rua, Quinton Jackson, and Lyoto Machida, a literal whose who of the division. Should Jones continue his run through the light heavyweight division, it will be very difficult for his detractors to not acknowledge that he's the best fighter of all time. The only question is can the rest of the division keep up or will they be left in the proverbial dust.

Posted in: fight, time, jone, year, lyoto machida

Jon Jones may compete four times in 2012

Which means there could be up to four light heavyweights who are about to have a very bad year. UFC 205-pound champion Jon Jones, who is fresh off another dominant win inside the Octagon, this time over former division kingpin Lyoto Machida back at UFC 140 on Dec. 10 in Toronto, capped off what could be one of the most dominant years in the promotion's history with four straight wins (and four straight finishes). That was 2011. In 2012, he hopes to do it all over again, despite his initial plans to take some time off, because the busy schedule can help him become a "better athlete," if that's even possible. "Bones" breaks it all down for ESPN: "My goal is to finish every fight in 2012. If I do that, a lot of other things will fall into place naturally. I want to finish every opponent. I've been thinking recently about trying to compete four times in the year again. I grew so much as a person that by doing that again in 2012 will just make me a better athlete. Originally I said I wanted to take off four or five months, but I may reconsider and come back sooner and have three or four fights this year." Jones kicked off his 2011 fight campaign by defeating Ryan Bader to earn a 205-pound title shot against Mauricio Rua. Just six weeks later, he made the most of his opportunity by dominating "Shogun" at UFC 128 in a way not seen before. His first title defense came against Quinton Jackson and Jones once again dominated, becoming just the second man in the history of MMA to submit "Rampage." Less than three months later, the Greg Jackson-trained phenom became the first man to submit Machida, putting him out cold with a standing guillotine choke. That's 4-0, two title defenses, all finishes, against the best competition available, namely three of the four opponents being former champions. All in one year, folks. Is this going to be a championship run not seen since the likes of Anderson Silva? Or will "Suga" Rashad Evans have something to say about his success in 2012? Thoughts?

Posted in: ufc, time, title, jone, year

2011 Kickboxing Year in Review: A Year of Transition or a Year of Decline?

Half full, or half empty? That's the question you have to ask yourself when trying to evaluate 2011 in the world of kickboxing. There's no doubt this was the most tumultuous and news-worthy year in kickboxing in quite some time, but exactly how you view all these events depends on your own views. Let's take a look at both sides: The Glass is Half Empty: 2011 as a Year of Decline It's been a disheartening experience trying to cover kickboxing this year. Obviously, the big news of the year all centered around the collapse of K-1 - an event that has been a long time coming. For some time, we had heard stories of fighters never being paid for taking part in K-1 shows. In late 2010 and 2011 that list grew out of control, with major names like Giorgio Petrosyan and Ray Sefo coming forward and saying they were owed vast sums by the organization. K-1 went on an indefinite hiatus at the start of the year, and as the months continued, the end seemed inevitable. In summer, the company was finally sold, to a shell company whose true partners remain somewhat unclear. There was talk of a 2011 K-1 Grand Prix to be co-promoted by It's Showtime at the end of the year, but that didn't happen, and for the first time since 1992, this year will see no K-1 Grand Prix champion crowned. The loss of K-1 had a ripple effect throughout kickboxing, particularly in the Heavyweight division. K-1 had always been the main home for Heavyweights, and their absence led to a real lack of action in the division in 2011, with potentially far-reaching changes. Biggest Heavyweight news is the retirement of Badr Hari. After a mostly inactive 2010 and 2011 due to various legal issues, Hari will fight his final kickboxing fight in 2012 before moving on to a career as a boxer. Hari was a divisive figure, but there's no doubt his presence will be missed. We've also lost Kyotaro to boxing, Cosmo Alexandre to MMA, and there's talk of both Tyrone Spong and Gokhan Saki following Cosmo's lead. Amongst the K-1 legends, Semmy Schilt has been totally MIA all year, while Ray Sefo, Peter Aerts, and Jerome Le Banner have been more occupied with pro wrestling careers than with kickboxing. So no K-1, no Schilt, no Hari, no Aerts, no Grand Prix... it was a rough year. And it will take a lot for the sport to push through this rough patch. So if you want to view this as the end of the sport, you certainly have reason to. However... The Glass Is Half Full: 2011 as a Year of Transition It's important to remember that K-1 is not the same thing as kickboxing. They are a kickboxing organization - one of many. True, they are (were?) the biggest, and their loss is akin to MMA losing the UFC. But that doesn't mean the sport is dead, and in the absence of K-1, a number of organizations have stepped up their game around the world, including Krush and SuperKombat. No organization had more success in 2011 than It's Showtime. The long-time top kickboxing organization in Europe established itself as #2 to K-1 a few years ago, and took that #1 mantle this year. 2011 highlights include the year's biggest tournament (the 70kg Fast and Furious show), strong shows throughout Europe, and building up new names. 2012 looks even better with a big January 28 show headlined by Badr Hari vs. Gokhan Saki, rumblings of a major show in the spring, and planned expansion into major markets in Australia, Japan, and Brazil (still no US though!). It's Showtime has slowly built themselves up thanks partly to a more sports-oriented approach, and their hard work has now truly begun to pay off. And of course, the K-1 news isn't all bad. As 2012 begins, the chances of K-1 actually mounting a comeback are strong, with a new organization (FIKA) and leader (original K-1 founder Kazuyoshi Ishii) at the helm. They have announced plans for a full Grand Prix schedule in 2012, and rumors of shows in the spring have begun to circulate. For the first time in nearly a year, I am (cautiously) optimistic about the future of K-1, and the chances for a return of the Grand Prix. Add in new fighters like Robin van Roosmalen and Ismael Londt making a name for themselves in 2011, and you can see a lot of positives for the future, and a clear path to a better 2012. In the end, perhaps it is too early to truly tell the story of kickboxing in 2011. If the sport continues the downward slope of the year, this will likely be looked at as the beginning of the end. If it bounces back, this will be a bumpy patch in the road and a time of transition. Which will it be? No one can say for sure right now - we can only guess at what the future holds. So, half full, or half empty? Check back all week for more 2011 Kickboxing Year in Review coverage. Poll Kickboxing in 2011: Transition or Decline? Transition Decline Too soon to say 7 votes | Results

Posted in: time, year, kickboxing, organization, half

Best of MMA 2011: Jon Jones is Fighter of the Year

Jon Jones went an amazing 4-0 in 2011 – including three wins in light heavyweight title fights. The youngest-ever champ in the UFC had arguably the most impressive single year in MMA history and is...

Posted in: mma, jone, year, mma history, youngestever champ

Ten Best - 2011 Submission of the Year

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

Notes on the Concussion Crisis: Worker's Compensation and Dementia

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While the Penn State scandal dominated the airwaves, there was no shortage of cases illuminating a corrupt system with a fundamental problem in ignoring its labor force. Cars, and prostitutes from irresponsible boosters are "chump change" compared to the billion in receipts the Southeastern Conference took in last year, or the $900+ million the Big Ten acquired from television contracts, merchandise, ticket sales, and so forth all while the college athlete got nothing in disclosed income. Bouncing off of Branch's article, and the topic of big business corruption in college sports, Joe Nocero from The New York Times went a step further. Yes, let's pay these athletes. How? Why not lifetime health insurance, for one? College football players are not immune to concussions, and in fact, might be the most vulnerable. With a growing body of evidence indicating the degree to which younger people are at risk for long term damage after a concussion (especially in high school where the brain has not yet fully matured), it's perhaps even scarier to see, as was the case with Owen Thomas (just 21) that nor are they immune to the progressive brain disease known as CTE. The NFL recently dealt with several high profile concussion lawsuits, in part because the NFL has its own sordid history. Dr. Elliot J. Pellman was the league appointed official, trained in the scientific method, but ignorant of the virtue inherent to it, who acted as the mouthpiece for the NFL's former stance on concussions: 'they're not good for you, but don't worry, long term effects are not an ingredient of any given concussion'. Which is, of course, patently false. But the NCAA too, has been the target of concussion lawsuits. If the league has avoided liability, it's been due to the language applied to college athletes. Mining further from Taylor Branch's article in The Atlantic, he goes on to cite how...at least in college: Using the "student-athlete" defense, colleges have compiled a string of victories in liability cases. On the afternoon of October 26, 1974, the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs were playing the Alabama Crimson Tide in Birmingham, Alabama. Kent Waldrep, a TCU running back, carried the ball on a "Red Right 28" sweep toward the Crimson Tide’s sideline, where he was met by a swarm of tacklers. When Waldrep regained consciousness, Bear Bryant, the storied Crimson Tide coach, was standing over his hospital bed. "It was like talking to God, if you’re a young football player," Waldrep recalled. Waldrep was paralyzed: he had lost all movement and feeling below his neck. After nine months of paying his medical bills, Texas Christian refused to pay any more, so the Waldrep family coped for years on dwindling charity. The language of 'athlete', 'injury', and what it means for worker's compensation is an issue I'll return to concerning the NFL. For now, you might want to know how Waldrep's story ends: Through the 1990s, from his wheelchair, Waldrep pressed a lawsuit for workers’ compensation. (He also, through heroic rehabilitation efforts, recovered feeling in his arms, and eventually learned to drive a specially rigged van. "I can brush my teeth," he told me last year, "but I still need help to bathe and dress.") His attorneys haggled with TCU and the state worker-compensation fund over what constituted employment. Clearly, TCU had provided football players with equipment for the job, as a typical employer would—but did the university pay wages, withhold income taxes on his financial aid, or control work conditions and performance? The appeals court finally rejected Waldrep’s claim in June of 2000, ruling that he was not an employee because he had not paid taxes on financial aid that he could have kept even if he quit football. (Waldrep told me school officials "said they recruited me as a student, not an athlete," which he says was absurd.) What kind of case does an athlete have to receive worker's compensation for concussion-induced dementia? Michelle L. Modery at the Temple Law Review makes a compelling case in the affirmative. There are a number of obstacles to making one. First, a number of states don't legally define professional athletes as employees. In Massachusetts, Wyoming, and Florida, professional athletes are excluded from coverage: a decision upheld on the basis of pay (they eat and live well), and an assumption of risk. However, as Michelle notes, these decisions require further scrutiny. For one, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average yearly wage for the professional athlete is $79,460. While certainly higher than the average citizen, it is not an extraordinary gap. A case against worker's compensation for athletes crumbles further when you consider that non-athletes with high salaries are not discriminated against. Moreover, the average NFL career lasts between two to four years. A few years ago Pablo S. Torre ran ran an extensive story for Sports Illustrated on how athletes go broke. Within five years of retirement, somewhere close to 60% of all former NBA players go broke. 78% of all former NFL players go bankrupt within two years of retirement, and a large majority end up working in the blue collar sector of employment. The importance of worker's compensation is that it covers occupational diseases as well. So the question then becomes, should dementia fall into this category given what we know of concussions in general, and CTE specifically? Last year, a case went to a California court over this very issue on behalf of Eleanor Perfetto, representing her husband and former NFL lineman Ralph Wenzel (currently suffering from dementia). However, a causal link needs to be made between concussions and dementia, and that's where things get tricky. We know a lot more now than we did several years ago. In addition to the aforementioned stats (like that the rate of dementia in professional athletes is five times the national average), there are a growing number of links between traumatic brain injury and other diseases. Ann McKee's work has revealed that 3 out of the 12 deceased athletes she looked at (who had CTE) also showed signs of a motor neuron disease similar to Lou Gehrigs. A correlation between TBI and Parkinson's also made headlines recently off of UCLA research, highlighting the relationship between dopamine and brain injury*. And one of the pioneers of concussion research, Dr. Robert Cantu, has been vocal in underscoring the link between brain trauma and addiction. His suspicions were raised with the death of Derek Boogaard as he was the third NHL player within four months of each other to die under suspicious circumstances. However, again cribbing from Michelle Modary's argument, there is precedent when it comes to showing causal links in a very broad light. In the relationship between concussions, and dementia, is it necessary to show strict causation? Not according to Modery. Enter Fiore v. Consolidated Freightway. The case involved an employee's heart problems, and the conflict centered around whether or not the employee's heart problems were due to the toxic substances exposed to at work on one hand, and on the other, whether or not the employee's heart problems were due to their family history, cigarette habits, and so forth. The New Jersey Supreme Court found a resolution by establishing "dual causation", meaning it wasn't necessary to establish the exposure to toxic substances at work as the sole cause. Only that the work environment contributed in some way. Another case, Ford v. Industrial Commission of Arizona, illuminated a similar relationship: "After examing prior law and policy behind the workers' compensation system, the court held that an employee need not establish that a risk inherent in his employment is the sole cause of the injury or disease. Employees are therefore eligible to assert a claim for an occupational disease if they can prove that the employment hazard was a contributing risk that materially affected the severity or onset of the disease." To avoid triggering the statute of limitations, dementia would need to be defined as a disease rather an injury, and this classification already exists. In Brunell v. Wildwood Crest Police Department, it was established that depending on the circumstances: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder may qualify as either an accidental injury or an occupational disease. When the facts of the case fit both categories, a worker is entitled to file both claims. Moreover, in the narrow class of accident cases that result in latent or insidiously progressive injury, the accident statute of limitations does not begin to run until a worker knows or should know that he or she has sustained a compensable injury. The application of dementia as a result of concussions, then, would make for a smooth transition. The evidence is on the side of the athletes. Zuffa has not had to deal with these issues, but you can bet it's 'in the cards', so to speak. Thankfully, Dana White is fairly honest when he says that he "doesn't want to make one dollar of that kind of money" when responding to people that asked him about what'll happen if someone like Wanderlei Silva gets knocked out again. Cynics might find this questionable given how "oh so greedy" Dana is, but I find that to be misguided. It would have been very easy to have Chuck Liddell have a few more send-off fights with someone like Tito Ortiz, or Forrest Griffin for example. But he didn't. However, that's not to say his work is somehow finished. In a way, it's only just begun. *Something that I found interesting that Jonah Lehrer communicated to me, which concerned dopamine itself and why this neurotransmitter might be senstive to any type of brain injury on its own: The reason dopamine neurons are so vulnerable to any sort of brain injury in dopaminergic areas (such as the basal ganglia) is that dopamine neurons are actually pretty rare. It's hard to get a precise estimate, but they seem to only account for between 1-3 percent of all cortical neurons. Nevertheless, they play an outsized role (as demonstrated in Parkinson's) in the assessment of alternatives and the generation of emotion. So even a little damage to particular dopamine-rich areas can have pretty severe consequences...

Posted in: year, injury, athlete, case, concussion

Out-Liar: What Malcolm Gladwell Gets Wrong About the Relative Age Effect in Pro Hockey

In trying to bring more coverage to Bloody Elbow regarding sports and science, I thought it would be fitting to get interesting contributors to explore the relationship between the two. And I can think of none more interesting than Jon Levey who was kind enough to allow me to post his article addressing the relative age effect. A brief paragraph from the original piece was published in Sports Illustrated in its August issue as part of a small 'Mythbusters' series. Below is the article in its entirety. Jon Levey can be found on twitter @72unforced. You can find more of his work here at his website. After lording over some of the most heralded teams in college basketball history, the great John Wooden concluded: "I'd rather have a lot of talent and a little experience than a lot of experience and a little talent." The debate over whether great athletes are born or made has become fertile ground for research and speculation. Lately, there has been increasing support given to the school of thought that what we see as a unique talent on the playing field is actually a product of circumstance. In his recent best-seller, Outliers, native son Malcolm Gladwell claims that if a Canadian wants a chance to skate for Lord Stanley's Cup it's a huge help to be old. Not Martin Brodeur old, but old relative to his peers. It's what's known as the relative-age effect, the results of which suggest that being born in a particular month can greatly influence an athlete's prospects for long-term success; circumstance matters just as much, if not more, than natural talent. In Gladwell's analysis it leads to what he calls an "iron law of Canadian hockey: in any elite group of hockey players - the very best of the best - 40 percent of the players will have been born between January and March, 30 percent between April and June, 20 percent between July and September, and 10 percent between October and December." It's a compelling theory as to why some hockey players become stars, and others don't. It's also not true. In Canada the eligibility cutoff for age-class hockey is January 1. Someone born in February therefore has an extra 10 months of growth over a December baby. While insignificant to an adult, to a 9-year old hockey player, that could mean an additional sweater size. The relatively older players are bigger, stronger, more coordinated, and thus get more pats on the back. Accurate or not, these kids merit the "gifted" label. They play in more games in better leagues while receiving superior coaching. It's what sociologists commonly refer to as accumulative advantage; the initial gap in perceived ability gets widened even further. On the other hand, relatively younger players develop slower, get relegated to lesser-skilled teams, grow frustrated, and perhaps prematurely hang up their skates. Only obvious talents - August baby Sydney Crosby - can overcome the disadvantages of their birth months. Gladwell points to this uneven playing field as the reason why so many relatively older players have achieved success in professional hockey. Reorganizing this shortsighted approach to development could lead to more kids like Syd. Except for this problem: Being relatively young in Canada is not a death sentence for a professional hockey career. Far from it. In fact, "younger" players cash fatter paychecks and more of them make the country's Olympic team. For a mite in Moose Jaw with a Christmas birthday, those are some pretty good job prospects. One of the first to research relative age in Canadian hockey players was Dr. Roger Barnsley. In the mid-1980s he studied players in the Western Hockey League (WHL) and found that if the calendar is divided into quarters, the first three months of the year will have given birth to the largest percentage of players, and the numbers will decrease with each subsequent quarter. Indeed the team Gladwell uses to illustrate the point, the 2007 Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL, was heavily skewed with players born in the first quarter of the year. Now here's where the relative-age effect gets more complicated. Barnsley's research was done primarily on 16-to-20 year-old prospects. While he hasn't monitored the numbers in many years, he's confident the effect still holds true in the WHL. If the Medicine Hat team is any indication, he's correct. But as you move up the food chain to more elite teams, the case for talent starts to rear its innate head. For example, take any Canadian Olympic team with professionals - the epitome of the very best of the best. Here's how the birthdates of players selected to those rosters break down by time of year: Team # born Jan-March # born after March # born in the 2nd half of year 2010 3 (13%) 20 13 2006 4 (14%) 24 12 2002 5 (22%) 18 10 1998 4 (17%) 19 12 Incidentally, the 1994 Olympic hockey team - the last to use prospects instead of pros - had a roster with 12 of 23 players (52%) born in the first quarter. Yet the only star player to come out of the group was Paul Kariya: an October baby. Barnsley admits that it's at the lower levels that the relative-age effect really bears fruit. "The classic early numbers - the 40, 30, 20, 10 - comes out of the developmental league," he says. "The NHL is not as predominant as that." Not by a slapshot from the blue line. According to nhl.com, at the 2010 Olympic break there were 499 Canadians on NHL rosters. That's about 55% of the players in the entire league. If you broke their birthdates down by quarters of the year you get the following: Canadians Non-Canadians (as of the end of the 09-10 season) Jan-Mar: 25.7% 34.2% Apr-June: 28.5% 23% July-Sept: 25.5% 21.3% Oct-Dec: 20.3% 21.5% As you can see, if there's a country with an "old" hockey workforce, it's not Canada. There were actually more Canadian NHL players born in September (43) than January (41), and June was the most populous month (50). True, there are more players born in the first half of the year, but the notion that Canada is only producing successful players from a small portion of the calendar seems to be, at best, somewhat of an overstatement. So what happened? If the predominance of Canadian prospects are relatively older, how come that's not represented on the country's most elite team (Olympic) or its highest professional level (NHL)? Let's put on our Gladwell hat and (blindly) speculate. Perhaps the best place to start is back in the 1980s when Barnsley was conducting his research. During the 1984-85 NHL season, 512 Canadians occupied roster spots, essentially the same number as today. But back then, with nearly 240 fewer players, that number comprised 76% of the league. Here's what the birthdate breakdown looked like that season: Canadians Non-Canadians Jan-Mar: 30.3% 36.4% Apr-June: 29.9% 23.5% July-Sept: 22.2% 24.7% Oct-Dec: 17.6% 15.4% While they fall short of the 40-30-20-10 pattern, the birthdays that season definitely trended older than the current configuration. Why? One possibility is with more roster space open to Canadians, teams had to fill those spots with whatever talent was available. "Where you get the age effect is on the tail of the competency to make it in," says Barnsley. "What you're getting are players that would not have made it on talent alone but got all that other benefit of the age effect." Fast-forward 15 years to the 1999-2000 season. Over that time the NHL underwent significant changes. Most notably it expanded by a third, from 21 to 28 teams. (We won't debate the questionable logic of putting franchises in cities like Nashville, Phoenix, and Atlanta). Even though this meant openings for more players, the 532 Canadians constituted only 57.5% of the league. Thanks to the fall of the Soviet Union, a flood of talented Eastern European players entered the league and gobbled up jobs. It's freshman econ: the skill level had gone up and opportunities for Canadian players had gone down. Here is the birthdate breakdown for that season: Canadians Non-Canadians Jan-Mar: 28.2% 35% Apr-June: 29.3% 23.7% July-Sept: 22.2% 23.4% Oct-Dec: 20.3% 17.9% The numbers still reflect a bias towards players born in the first half of the year. But you begin to see the trends, especially among the Canadians. And while Europeans have the option of coming to North America to play hockey, there are also many professional leagues in their native countries. Canadians are only going to play in the NHL, which, like all marketplaces, has gotten more competitive. As a result, only the most skilled Canadians are finding work. Those who once earned spots as role players in the big leagues are topping out in the minors. "As you shorten the number of spots, you can be more selective in who you pull in," says Barnsley. "My bet is that talent wins then." This is in no way meant to disparage Canadian hockey. As the Olympics proved, the country is pound-for-pound the sport's undisputed champ. Perhaps recognizing the relative-age effect and more effectively mining talent from its younger population is a reason why. Mike Pelino was the men's hockey coach at Brock University in Ontario when he participated in a relative-age study that was published in 2000. He has also served a four-year stint as a coach with Hockey Canada at various levels and worked as an assistant coach with the Florida Panthers, New York Rangers, and most recently in the Phoenix Coyotes organization. It wouldn't be inappropriate to say he's a hockey lifer. And over that lifespan he's seen the game and the teaching of it evolve. "When I was playing juniors back in the 50s and 60s you played hockey in the fall and winter and then other sports the rest of the year," says Pelino. "Now kids play all year round. It's very specialized. If somebody falls behind his peers, there's more opportunity to make up the gap." Which begs the question: Is it such a disadvantage to be born relatively young? A study done in 2007 by Joseph Baker and A. Jane Logan at York University in Canada looked at the birthdate and birthplace effects in North American NHL draftees from 2000-05. While their findings upheld that more relatively older players were drafted, the researchers were surprised that it was the younger players who were chosen earlier in the draft. They concluded that these players must have exhibited superior performance or shown better long-term potential to warrant the higher selections. While fewer in numbers, on a whole, the younger players were the class of their classes. Which was also seen in the results of a study conducted by John Ashworth and Bruno Heyndels examining the relative-age effect on the earnings of German-born soccer players in the Bundesliga. Again, they found an overrepresentation of relatively older players, but the younger players had higher average salaries. One of their hypotheses for the discrepancy was that the latter group represented a more selective subgroup of players that survived a system that discriminated against them. That which didn't kill them only made them stronger, and eventually wealthier. A comparison of the top salaries in the NHL for the 2009-10 season showed a similar pattern. According to nhlnumbers.com, 72 of the top 150 salaries in the league belonged to Canadian players, roughly half (35) of which were born in the second half of the year. Only 11, or 15%, of these top earners were born in the first quarter of the year, while 13 were born in the last three months. The numbers reflected a similar scenario with the non-Canadian players. More of them had birthdays in November and December (15) than January and February (12) and a majority (43) had birthdays after June. While salary level isn't necessarily an accurate indication of talent, it's certainly a fair barometer of a professional athlete's worth and - to Gladwell's point - success. In this regard, there seems to be almost no relative-age bias in the NHL. "If Canada had a second hockey league for those children born in the last half of the year," Gladwell proposes, "it would today have twice as many adult hockey stars." For that to be true, there would have to be twice as many stars born in the first half of the year. Given the equality of top-earners across the entire calendar, that's clearly not the case. At best, a second league for "younger" players might result in a few more Canadian players earning the league minimum. It might be arbitrary which players start out with the most advantages, but having broad shoulders, superior hand-eye coordination, and a wicked wrister is what makes a player a star. Not a winter birthday. Some have even suggested that relatively young players are better off for having started behind the eight-ball. Another study explored different variables - competition level, gender, nationality, career stage, and position - that may moderate the relative-age effect of German handball players (Schorer et al., 2009). In addition to finding that relatively younger players enjoyed longer careers, the researchers determined that the long term effect of relative-age is questionable. They noticed a significant spike in relatively older players in the early stages of competition, but the trend dissipated at the higher levels. Here's their theory as to why: "It might be beneficial for relatively younger players to have the opportunity and necessity to develop the specific technical or tactical skills needed to be able to compete successfully against their older, more mature opponents. In the long run, this may result in a larger repertoire of skills, making them superior performers." Think of it as the "Big Brother" effect. How many hall-of-famers, in any sport, credit an older sibling for providing their first meaningful measuring stick? They were forced to compete against a bigger, more advanced opponent, and it significantly enhanced their own abilities in the process. Once they matured and lack of size was removed from the equation, overall skill became the determining factor for their continued success. Perhaps the clearest answer can be offered by Gladwell's Medicine Hat team. It's been four years since they lost in the Memorial Cup final, the top prize in the top junior hockey league in the world. The players are now at an age and experience level where most should have graduated from prospect status. But of the 23 Canadians on the team (there was a Slovak and an American), 17 have never suited up for an NHL team. And of the six who have stepped on NHL ice (one for nine minutes as an emergency goalie), not one has made a significant impact in the league. There's not an All-Star in the bunch. The benefits of the relative-age effect took them as far as they could go: the top of the juniors. Even with the all the extra early coaching and ice time, their comparative lack of skill kept them from achieving the highest of success in the sport. To be fair, one of the players, Tyler Ennis, is only 22 years-old and a highly touted winger for the Buffalo Sabres. There's still time for him to blossom into a star. Of course, he was born in October.

Posted in: team, year, canadian, player, hockey

HKL's 2011 MMA Awards: The Leonard Garcia Memorial Award (Robbery Of The Year)

It is time for us here at HKL to pass out the awards for the best and worst of 2011. First up on the list of awards is the 2011 Leonard Garcia Memorial Award for Robbery Of The Year. Strangely enough, the man who's name appears on this award has not been chosen. He did, however take a stab at the crown with his absurd split decision victory over Nam Phan. Sadly for Leonard, it was not to be for him. Let's go to the results to see who got the nod from the HKL staff: MDH - Diego Sanchez’s "victory" over Martin Kampmann, hands down. How does a man win a fight in which he is successful on 1 of 15 takedown attempts, gets outstruck clearly in the first two rounds and has the appearance of someone who’s face got assaulted by a wolverine? We would have to ask Chris Lee, Sal D’Amato and Mattingly William who scored this fight 29-28 Sanchez across the cards. Perhaps it was his Leonard Garcia-esque style of ambling forward, windmilling haymakers ala Lisa Simpson all while getting absolutely busted apart by crisp counters. Perhaps they though it was all blood transfer from Kampmann that occurred while Martin was shaking off 93% of Diego’s takedowns. Who knows. Hopefully the massive $160,000 FOTN bonus Dana handed out to each fighter took away some of the pain for Martin. Surely rolling around in a huge pile of money helped heal Kampmann’s non-existent wounds. Rainer - Fighter injuries vs. Fans. This year has played host to what feels like an unprecedented number of high-profile fighter injuries and illnesses, resulting in the cancellation of some potentially tremendous fights and leaving some of the sport’s biggest stars sidelined. Brock Lesnar’s career was put on hold for the year until he returned seemingly diminished and ready for retirement. Georges St. Pierre pulled out of his fight with Nick Diaz and won’t be back until late this year, at best. Jones vs. Evans has been set and then cancelled more times than I care to remember. Up and down the cards, UFC matchmakers and hopeful fans have been confounded. Plus, I hurt my knee, leaving the world of Brazilian jiu-jitsu bereft of a brilliant rising star. Chris - Gotta be Rashad Evans’s title shot. It’s been well over a year and a half since Rashad Evans earned his title shot in a victorious decision over Rampage Jackson. In March 2011, Jon Jones got that shot after Rashad suffered a knee injury in training. Then Jones pulled the ole’ bait and switch, after being set to face Evans this past summer. Again Evans was promised a shot after a destruction of Tito Ortiz and Jones first defense against Rampage Jackson. Once again, Rashad’s title aspirations were foiled when Jones was set to match Lyoto Machida instead. Who knows, maybe 2012 will finally be the year Evans finally gets another chance at the title or maybe not. Poll Who Gets Your Vote? Sanchez v. Kampmann Injured Fighters v. The Fans Rashad Evans' Title Shot These are all terrible! I'll tell you who should have won in the comments! 0 votes | Results

Posted in: jone, year, shot, evan, award

LiverKick.com Exclusive Miran Fabjan Interview

[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on LiverKick.com, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] We sat down with Miran "Rocky" Fabjan, a fighter in the underappreciated weight range around 80kg. Miran is nipping at the heels of breaking into the Top 10 at Light Heavyweight. For the better part of his career, Miran has fought in Slovenia for WFC, where he's made a name for himself. He's looking to make a name for himself internationally in 2012, as he enters the 2012 Tatneft Cup, which features some of the best Light Heavyweight fighters in the world. We talked to Miran about a plethora of subjects, including his background as a fighter and the popularity of kickboxing. Liverkick: To the people who don't know you, introduce yourself and tell us about your fighting background. Miran: I am Miran Fabjan. I am a 26 year old fighter from Slovenia. I started training Muay Thai at Yaksha Combat Team at 19 years old. After one year I moved - The first event I had seen was (Giorgio) Petrosyan vs. Tavelek. And I was so impressed with Petrosyan and I watched him everywhere he fought. And he trains like 30 minutes away from my house and after one year of training at Yaksha I spent three years training with Petrosyan with Alfio Romanut. I did like 9 fights after for that gym and then I moved back to Yaksha Combat Team where I startedto train again with my first trainer. But I keep a very good relationship with Petrosyan. Now I started to do professional fights and I hope it will continue this way. Read More...

Posted in: fighter, year, petrosyan, miran, fabjan

Ten Best - 2011 Upset of the Year

On any given night…it’s the mantra of underdogs in all sports, and in the UFC in 2011, these gentlemen proved that when everything is clicking on fight night, anything can happen. Here are the 2011 Unofficial UFC Upsets of the Year.10 - Dustin Poirier over Josh GrispiOn January 1, 2011, Josh Grispi was supposed to be fighting in the first 145-pound title fight in UFC history against champion Jose Aldo. Aldo got injured and was forced to pull out of the bout. Instead, Grispi got to face a Louisiana buzzsaw named Dustin Poirier, and in 15 minutes he was issued his first loss in four years. That’s not to say that Poirier had come out of nowhere, but consider that the previous four names on Grispi’s victims list were Mark Hominick, Micah Miller, Jens Pulver, and LC Davis, and he finished all four in the first round. So for Poirier to come into the Octagon that night and not only win, but steamroll Grispi sent shockwaves through the featherweight division. 9 - Wanderlei Silva over Cung LeIn any other year, Wanderlei Silva defeating Cung Le wouldn’t have raised an upset eyebrow, simply because the two premier strikers would be seen as evenly matched, with Silva probably getting an edge from fans and oddsmakers. But in 2011, despite Le’s year and a half layoff, Silva was coming off a crushing 27 second knockout loss in July to Chris Leben, and many were calling for his retirement. You can’t kill off an “Axe Murderer” that easily though, and Silva turned back the clock for a Fight of the Night performance that ended with a vintage second round TKO of Le and propelled him into the New Year with a new lease on his career.8 - Rick Story over Thiago AlvesRick Story was a promising up and comer when he agreed to put his five fight winning streak on the line against veteran contender Thiago Alves at UFC 130 in May. The key word there was ‘promising,’ as it was expected that while the future would belong to Story, the present was the property of Alves, who was going to use a win to propel himself back into the title picture at 170 pounds. Story didn’t play along with conventional wisdom though, taking Alves down and keeping him on the mat for the bulk of their three rounder to earn a close, but unanimous, decision, announcing his arrival to the ranks of contenders in the process.7 - Demetrious Johnson over Miguel Angel TorresPeople forget that before his loss to Brian Bowles, Miguel Angel Torres was seen as a significant threat to Anderson Silva’s hold on the mythical pound-for-pound title. A WEC bantamweight champion with out of this world submission skills and a willingness (some might say eagerness) to scrap while standing, Torres was riding high until he lost his belt and then dropped a subsequent bout to Joseph Benavidez. But with comeback wins over Charlie Valencia and Antonio Banuelos, he looked to be on his way back. But bantamweight prospect Demetrious Johnson stopped Torres’ winning streak at UFC 130 with a wrestling-based gameplan that put him in the dominant top position for much of the bout. Yes, Torres fought well and attempted submissions from the bottom, but when the close verdict was rendered, it was no surprise that it went in favor of “Mighty Mouse.”6 - Brian Stann over Chris LebenUnder the tutelage of Greg Jackson, Brian Stann had come a long way from his days as WEC champion, but even though he had sewn up most of the holes in his defensive game, the fairly new arrival in the middleweight division still had a tendency to raise his chin when a firefight broke out in the Octagon. It was assumed that a brief moment like that would be all knockout artist Chris Leben needed to end their UFC 125 bout in January. Yet it was Stann who brought out the big guns on fight night, stopping Leben in the first round and letting his 185-pound peers know that sometimes, the best defense is a good offense.5 - Stanislav Nedkov over Luiz CaneNo one in recent memory had more starts and stops to a UFC debut than Bulgaria’s Stanislav Nedkov, but finally, in August, he stepped into the Octagon for the first time. The catch? He was fighting a Brazilian, Luiz Cane, in Brazil, in the UFC’s first visit to the country in 13 years. Those are some daunting odds to face, but Nedkov fought like he was a 10 year UFC vet, keeping his unbeaten record intact by not only beating the favored Cane, but by stopping him in the first round. The looks on both fighters’ faces after the bout spoke a thousand words, with Nedkov ecstatic and Cane simply stunned, a feeling shared by his countrymen at HSBC Arena.4 - Charlie Brenneman over Rick StoryHollidaysburg’s Charlie Brenneman wanted nothing more than to fight in his home state of Pennsylvania on June 26th’s UFC Live card in Pittsburgh, but though there were occasional rays of light, it just didn’t look like it was going to happen. First, he wasn’t even scheduled to fight, but then Matt Riddle was forced out of his bout with TJ Grant and Brenneman was called to fill in. Next, Grant went down with an illness and withdrew, leaving Brenneman without a fight on such short notice. But amazingly, on the day of the weigh-in, Nate Marquardt wasn’t medically cleared to fight and Brenneman was asked to fill in against rising star Rick Story. He made weight, stepped into the Octagon, and fought 15 minutes with his fans cheering him on. When the bout was over, he had snapped Story’s six fight winning streak and created the MMA version of a Rocky story.3 – Dennis Siver and Rafael Dos Anjos over George SotiropoulosEntering their UFC 127 bout in February, Dennis Siver was a legit lightweight contender with a nice two fight winning streak, but Aussie hero George Sotiropoulos had an even nicer eight fight hot streak, he was fighting at home, and he seemingly had the perfect style to defeat the Germany product. But after leaving Sotiropoulos in the dust in the first round, Siver maintained his fast start, didn’t let the bout stray to the mat where he could get submitted, and went on to pull off the three round unanimous decision win. Shockingly, things got even worse for Sotiropoulos in 2011, as he suffered a second consecutive defeat at UFC 132 in July, getting knocked out in 59 seconds by Rafael dos Anjos.2 - Johny Hendricks over Jon FitchWhen you discuss the idea of a ‘live’ underdog, once-beaten welterweight Johny Hendricks defined the term heading into his UFC 141 bout against perennial contender Jon Fitch. But…Fitch, with a 13-1-1 UFC record, was expected to grind out the win and keep his spot in the 170-pound pecking order intact. And if Hendricks did manage to pull off the win, it was probably going to be of the three round decision variety. So when Hendricks knocked Fitch out in 12 seconds, it was one of the most shocking moments of 2011, especially considering that the former Oklahoma State wrestling standout delivered a finish that fighters like Georges St-Pierre, BJ Penn, and Thiago Alves (twice) couldn’t. That’s impressive, and a heck of an upset.1 - Tito Ortiz over Ryan BaderIf you picked 36-year old Tito Ortiz to defeat Ryan Bader at UFC 132 in July, you probably did so just for sentimental reasons. Why? Because the former light heavyweight champion had shown nothing in his previous five fights (a 0-4-1 stretch) that would make you think he could turn the tide against young powerhouse Bader. Yes, Ortiz was dealing with injuries during his losing streak and even then he had brief glimpses of his old form, but in a 15 minute scrap with an opponent who could very well send him to join Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture in retirement, what would he do to win? Well, he did it by shocking Bader with a flush punch to the jaw and then finishing matters with a guillotine choke that ignited the MGM Grand Garden Arena crowd and resurrected Ortiz’ career. At a time when you usually bow your head and dread the day that an aging superstar steps into the Octagon and doesn’t have it anymore, Ortiz came alive and proved that the great ones always have one great fight left in them. Honorable Mention – Dennis Siver-George Sotiropoulos, Costa Philippou-Jorge Rivera, Jared Hamman-CB Dollaway, Minotauro Nogueira-Brendan Schaub, Jake Hecht-Rich Attonito, Igor Pokrajac-Krzysztof Soszynski, Chan Sung Jung-Mark Hominick, Jimy Hettes-Nam Phan, Demetrious Johnson-Kid Yamamoto, Brian Ebersole-Chris Lytle

Posted in: ufc, fight, bout, ’t, year

My Muay Thai Training Diary: Year One

Welcome back to my online diary documenting my very amateur experience training in Muay Thai. If you missed the first entry on Bloody Elbow, read it here. One year ago, I started down an exciting path of personal growth - I began training in Muay Thai. Now, with year one down, I thought it was a good chance to step back, share some of my experiences, and look forward to the coming year. First up, and I can not stress this enough, if you have ever considered exploring any martial arts training, do it. Training helps me feel considerably better, both physically and mentally, and it has added so much to my appreciation of MMA and kickboxing. There is just something about trying these techniques out yourself that really helps you see the details in every fight. Really, dive in and give it a shot. As for that extra appreciation for MMA, the Muay Thai training has definitely opened my eyes to a lot of MMA striking. It's helped me to see the good as well as the bad. And there are plenty of examples of both. But one thing that sticks out is the way MMA striking has not always kept up with the advances in other disciplines. Think of wrestling, where fighters like Georges St. Pierre have demonstrated how to take the best wrestling has to offer, adapt that for MMA, and use it to such great successes. You don't see as much of that with Muay Thai, and that's a shame. I'd like to see more fighters utilizing Muay Thai elbows and knees, or really committing to leg kicks. Now, the counter argument here is obvious - in Muay Thai, fighters don't have to worry about being taken down (well, being taken down and having the fight continue - contrary to some beliefs, takedowns are a part of Muay Thai, it's just that the fight does not continue on the mat). And that is true. But you could also say that in wrestling, a wrestler doesn't have to worry about being punched, or in grappling matches, there's no fear of the ground and pound. Both of those disciplines have been adapted to MMA, with changes made to protect against this new element. Muay Thai and other striking arts are making progress in this area, but are not there just yet, though Lyoto Machida showed that a specific striking style can have great success in MMA. We'll see what the future holds for Muay Thai and other specific striking arts in our sport. Enough pontificating. I'll wrap it up with a few personal goals for year two and my continuing work in Muay Thai: Improve my cardio. This speaks for itself. Get consistency on my kicks. I can land a solid kick that is vastly improved from where I was a few months ago, but after about 10 in a row, they start to get weaker. Need to build those up. Also need to improve the left leg overall. Keep the jab stiff. I use it as a pawing punch too often - need to send it out with power and take advantage of my height and reach. Get new gear. Specifically headgear, new gloves and wraps, Muay Thai shorts, and a better mouthpiece and bag. Any suggestions on those? And if any companies out there have equipment they are itching to get reviewed, get in touch. Thanks for reading, and happy new year to all.

Posted in: mma, year, muay, thai, muay thai

Strikeforce champ Rockhold: Despite recent bumps, AKA poised for breakout year

It's been a bit of a seesaw for American Kickboxing Academy. This past September, the team went 4-0 at "Strikeforce Grand Prix: Barnett vs. Kharitonov," and middleweight Luke Rockhold unseated the promotion's middleweight champion, Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza. The year 2011 did not come to a successful conclusion, though. But Rockhold believes 2012 will be the year the California gym quickly gets back on track.

Posted in: rockhold, year, breakout year, california gym, bumps aka

2011 World MMA Scouting Report Review - Lightweights

This is a guest post by Rory MacLeod (smoogy) A year ago, we selected the inaugural class of fighters that would make up the first edition of the World MMA Scouting Report. It's been a gratifying experience to see some of the athletes we selected go on to succeed in major fight opportunities, and a heartbreaking one to see others come up just short. For each pick that claimed a significant title in 2011, there were at least two that didn't make their breakthrough, or fell off the rails entirely. Here's a recap to give you a sampling of the highlights (and lowlights) from a tumultuous time in the careers of these MMA prospects. 1. Thiago Michel Pereira Silva (9-2) After falling to Alessandro Ferreira in his first post-scouting report fight, Thiago Michel came back strong, notching two 2011 first round stoppages in front of his partisan home crowd in Minas Gerais, Brazil. After his last bout, he announced to the crowd that he would be making his North American debut next as part of Bellator's sixth season. Michel enters a tournament field stacked with talent including returning finalist Patricky Freire (10-2), 2011 #2 Lightweight selection Ricardo Tirloni (14-1), and former welterweight tournament fighters Rick Hawn (11-1) and Brent Weedman (18-7-1). 2. Ricardo Tirloni (14-1) Ricardo Tirloni earned his place in Bellator's season six lightweight tournament via a dominant second round submission victory over Steve Gable (5-2) in his promotional debut. Tirloni showed some of his kickboxing ability, but the fight was memorable mainly for his complete shutdown of Gable's takedown attempts. Most shots resulted in Ricardo casually reversing the attempt into top position for himself. Now he presumably heads into the tournament behind in the odds to favorites Freire and Hawn, but it would be unwise to count him out. 3. Magno Almeida (9-3) Although he graduated to Strikeforce in 2011, Magno Almeida finished the year in a precarious position. His June debut at Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum against Conor Heun (9-4) was a hit. Magno nearly submitted Heun with a leglock combination and then an armbar, inflicting injuries to both limbs targeted. But the judges favored Heun's escape artistry and third round comeback, awarding him the decision. It still could have been a source of career momentum for Almeida if not for his follow-up effort at Strikeforce Challengers 19 in September, a one punch knockout loss to James Terry (11-3) on the unaired preliminary portion of the card. With Zuffa and Showtime reducing the number of Strikeforce events for 2012, it remains unclear if he will have another chance with the promotion. 4. Yui Chul Nam (13-3-1) Yui Chul Nam started 2011 on the wrong foot with another dubious judge's decision against Adrian Pang (19-8-2) at Legend Fighting Championship 4, dropping a split loss after being dealt a draw in the first meeting. But since then "The Korean Bulldozer" has been better than ever, finishing the year on a three fight winning streak. Sometimes Nam even finds the self-discipline to rein his wild, brawling style now. His July win over Aussie Rob Hill (9-5-1) at LFC 5 put him back in the promotional #1 contender slot. Nam is expected to challenge Sengoku standout Jadamba Narantungalag (7-2) next for the belt Jadamba took from Pang at LFC 6 in October. 5. Henrique Mello (12-4) Henrique Mello entered 2011 on an eight fight winning streak with five straight finishes. An opportunity with a major promotion seemed inevitable. But the worst year since his 2006 debut puts him at the back of the line in an increasingly competitive Brazilian circuit. After dropping a decision to Luta Livre specialist Julio Cesar de Almeida (15-6) on April 16th, Mello opted to fight just 13 days later against WEC veteran Carlo Prater (29-10-1). Prater, a double black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Luta Livre, dismantled Mello for a rear naked choke win in under a minute. Now Prater awaits his UFC debut while Mello tries to figure out where to begin rebuilding. 6. Reza Madadi (11-2) Reza Madadi rappelled his way onto the rooftop of our hearts last year with his bombastic demeanour and complete victories over UFC veteran Junie Browning (4-5) and UFC newcomer Carlo Prater. He capped off his run in Stockholm, Sweden's Superior Challenge series by edging Rich Clementi (42-21-1) in a three round affair. From the pre-fight chatter to the highly disputed outcome, there was no love lost between the two. Madadi recently infiltrated the UFC and will make his debut January 20th at UFC on FX: Guillard vs. Miller in Nashville, Tennessee. He is facing the toughest opponent of his six year career, Brazil's Fabricio Camoes (13-6-1) 7. Alexander Sarnavskiy (17-0) Alexander Sarnavskiy ran his record up to a gaudy 12-0 within two years of his pro debut, but why stop there? In 2011 the 22 year old collected five more wins to reiterate his status as one of the most fearsome young fighters in Europe. A May submission over UFC veteran Doug Evans (13-10) proved he can handle a step up in competition. He almost took another against Francisco Drinaldo (10-1) at M-1 Challenge 30 in December, but he had to settle for steamrolling late replacement Sergio Cortez (7-7) instead. Sarnavskiy is the obvious #1 contender for Daniel Weichel's M-1 Lightweight Championship, but with his contract set to expire soon, Alexander could take a break from his busy schedule and test the free agent waters rather than challenging for the belt. 8. Ole Laursen (5-2) A 2010 three fight win streak in Martial Combat transformed Ole Laursen from a forgotten K-1 castoff into one of the most popular Southeast Asian circuit fighters. After his selection for the 2011 report, Ole was signed to the ambitious new pan-Asian promotion, One Fighting Championships, a spiritual successor to Martial Combat. Laursen was matched with Eduard Folayang (10-1) for the September 2011 main event of One FC's inaugural card in a battle for bragging rights between Thailand and the Philippines. Unfortunately an injury suffered by Laursen in training forced him to withdraw from the bout. A planned fight on the sophomore One FC event against Bernardo Magalhaes (11-1) was also turfed; now Laursen will face Felipe Enomoto (5-3) at the February 11th, 2012 show in Jakarta, Indonesia. 9. Guillaume DeLorenzi (9-1) If all had gone to plan, Guillaume DeLorenzi would be the Next Big Quebecois Thing in the UFC. The Zahabi MMA fighter had built big buzz on the Canadian circuit with a four fight win streak including three in Ringside MMA, Montreal's biggest pro series. Being a prominent training partner to UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre didn't hurt either. But lingering, recurring injuries have forced DeLorenzi away from the cage since a June 2010 win over UFC veteran Dale Hartt (6-3). Guillame has continued to train in the interim, and in 2011 he underwent surgeries on both of his knees. With a major hurdle cleared, Delorenzi is hitting the comeback trail, but he's far from his fighting weight and admits he will need some time to get back to top condition. Expect to see him return no sooner than the latter half of 2012. [Thanks to Clement Delestrade (@ClementH2) for translating DeLorenzi's comments] 10. Al Iaquinta (5-1-1) It was a mixed 2011 campaign for Serra-Longo Fight Team's Al Iaquinta. Continuing exclusively under the Ring of Combat banner, he first engaged in a terrific three round dust-up with Vitor Shaolin Jiu Jitsu's Gabriel Migloili (2-3) which Iaquinta was lucky to come away from victorious. An immediate rematch was staged in September, this time for the vacant 155lb. ROC title. This time it was over in a matter of seconds due to a front snap kick from Iaquinta that blinded Miglioli and sent him reeling back for the referee to save. Al's good luck would run out in November against UFC veteran Pat Audinwood (10-2-1). The towering Team Bombsquard lightweight relieved Iaquinta of his title with a tight armbar submission in the opening round.

Posted in: ufc, fight, round, year, debut

DREAM New Year! 2011: Josh Barnett and Hideki Suzuki Save NYE

It is no secret that I am not a Josh Barnett fan. Before I became the writer that you all know and love, I would compose open letters to certain MMA personalities that I took issue with, one of which is Barnett. Well this past weekend immediately after UFC 141, I became a Josh Barnett fan. At the DREAM New Years Eve event in Japan, he showcased his professional wrestling skills against Hideki Suzuki. For those of us who pulled off the incredible 15 hour marathon that evening/morning, the Barnett wrestling match was one of the highlights of the night. Barnett and Suzuki put on an absolute clinic working some fantastic professional wrestling spots into a lot of technical grappling. Though it was an obvious work, Michael Schiavello calls the action as if the two were in fact having an MMA fight. Among the high spots: Sit-out Powerbomb Northern Lights Suplex Brain Buster to a pin At the time I refused to do a play by play because I was enjoying the match way too much and even now I can't do it justice. Needless to say the match saved the night and made me stoked I decided to take the play by play duties. SBN coverage of DREAM: New Year! 2011

Posted in: year, josh, barnett, hideki suzuki, night barnett

Thiago Silva's suspension has been served, eligible to re-apply for fight license

UFC light heavyweight Thiago Silva has served his one year suspension for failing his drug test prior to his win over Brandon Vera at UFC 125 on Jan. 1, 2011. Silva popped positive for a prescription steroid that his doctor administered via epidural to his back injury that he has suffered with over the last couple years. Silva admitted to the NSAC that he knew he was violating their rules but felt he needed to do so in order to support his family. He was fined $33,750 and suspended for one year. He has only fought twice in two years due to injury and suspension. Here is what Thiago told the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) last year. "I just want to apologize for what I did, I did what I did because my back was very, very bad a couple months (before the fight). I had not fought for one year. I was completely broke. I have a family. People depend on my money. I was desperate to do something. I know what I did is wrong. Like I said, I'm so sorry. I had my reasons. People depend on my money, and I had to give them support." When reached for comment, NSAC Executive Director Keith Kizer informed MMAmania.com that Silva's license was revoked, not suspended, and he can now reapply for a 2012 fight license anywhere. In Nevada, though, he will "need to appear on an agenda for a licensure." You ready to bring the Brazilian banger back to the UFC? Who would you like to see welcome him in his return to the Octagon? A handy-dandy poll with a few worthy contenders after the jump. Silva vs. .... Poll Who would you like to see welcome Thiago Silva back to the 205-poun division? Mauricio "Shogun" Rua Stephan Bonnar Antonio Rogerio Nogueira Rich Franklin Forrest Griffin Other (see comments) 115 votes | Results

Posted in: fight, silva, year, year i, thiago

Ten Best - 2011 Newcomer of the Year

In the last few years, the top prospects in mixed martial arts, guys like Jon Jones, Junior dos Santos, Cain Velasquez, and Phil Davis, skyrocketed to success as soon as they were given their chance to shine on the sport’s biggest stage – the UFC Octagon. Will that be the case for 2011’s Unofficial UFC Newcomer of the Year? We can’t wait to find out.10 - Costa Philippou A former pro boxer, 32-year old Costa Philippou garnered a solid reputation on the east coast MMA scene, but after losing on season 11 of The Ultimate Fighter and then dropping a late notice UFC debut to Nick Catone, many questioned whether he was cut out for the big leagues. But in the second half of the year, the New Yorker defeated veteran Jorge Rivera by showing off his ground game, and then he brought the big guns out for his UFC 140 bout with Jared Hamman, knocking his foe out in the first round. Now Philippou is a player in the middleweight division, and this year he’ll get his shot to go from prospect to contender.9 - Walel Watson Too small to play Division I college football, Walel Watson instead found his niche in mixed martial arts, and after putting together a solid record in California and Mexico, he was brought to the UFC in October to see if he could hang with the best bantamweights in the sport. Well, so far he has, impressively stopping Joseph Sandoval in 77 seconds in his Octagon debut, and then going toe-to-toe with veteran Yves Jabouin in an entertaining December bout that saw “The Gazelle” lose a close split decision, but gain plenty of fans in the process.8 - Che Mills Expected to make a run for The Ultimate Fighter season nine crown, Che Mills instead lost to eventual winner James Wilks and was sent back to the local British MMA scene. Undaunted, Mills put together a solid winning streak and earned an invite to the Octagon for November’s UFC 138 card. And while it took him years to get to this point, he only needed 40 seconds to make an impression as he knocked out Chris Cope. Now it’s off to Montreal and a UFC 145 bout against Rory MacDonald, and if Mills scores his second UFC win, his road to the top may be shorter than most.7 - Dave Herman The best line of 2011 may have come from heavyweight Dave Herman, who wrote on his UFC bio form that he didn’t start training until two years ago. That was after he ran up a 15-1 pro MMA record. But that loss to Choi Mu Bae in 2009 sparked Herman to go chase after his potential, and in his UFC debut in June, he showed just what he brings to the table as he won an exciting Fight of the Night against John-Olav Einemo, stopping his foe in the second round. Now we’ll see what he can do in 2012.6 - Mike Easton A 10 year journey finally put Washington D.C. bantamweight Mike Easton in the UFC, and after a slow start, “The Hulk” erupted in front of his hometown fans in Octagon, with the Lloyd Irvin jiu-jitsu black belt showing off his striking as he halted Byron Bloodworth in the second round. In a crowded 135-pound weight class, Easton has a charismatic presence that makes you want to see him throwing hands with the best the division has to offer, and he’s likely to get that chance this year.5 - Diego Brandao / John Dodson It’s only fitting that The Ultimate Fighter season 14’s two winners (and Jackson MMA teammates) share the fifth spot, given their friendship and spectacular debut victories on December 3rd. That night, featherweight Brandao came back from almost certain defeat to submit Dennis Bermudez, and bantamweight Dodson took less than two minutes to knock out favored TJ Dillashaw, earning each a UFC contract. More importantly though, it means that we’re going to be getting even more excitement from these two standouts in the next 12 months and beyond. 4 - Jimy Hettes Jimy Hettes’ UFC debut in August (a submission win over Alex Caceres) flew under the radar a bit. But his second Octagon bout against Nam Phan last weekend on the UFC 141 main card certainly didn’t, as the world got a dose of one of the featherweight division’s top prospects in spectacular form. Going the distance for the first time in his career, the unbeaten submission ace showed off a complete MMA game in dismantling a veteran who simply doesn’t get taken apart the way he was that night in Las Vegas.3 - Tony Ferguson The Ultimate Fighter season 13 winner, Tony Ferguson won his crown by leaving no doubts in the eyes of fight fans, knocking out Ramsey Nijem in the first round. Next up was a drop to 155 pounds and back-to-back wins over two of the sport’s most respected veterans, Aaron Riley and Yves Edwards. It’s the type of old-school upbringing that bodes well for the future of “El Cucuy,” as he’s proving that he’s not afraid to earn his keep in the Octagon.2 - Brian Ebersole It’s a little odd to call a veteran of 65 pro fights a newcomer, but Brian Ebersole was new to UFC fans when he made his organizational debut in February against Chris Lytle. But by the time the UFC 127 bout was over, his unorthodox, yet entertaining style had made an indelible impression, and after 15 minutes, he had scored an upset victory over “Lights Out” and even earned a Fight of the Night bonus. Two more wins followed in succession, a TKO of Dennis Hallman and a close decision victory over Claude Patrick, and amazingly, at 31, the US native and Australia resident may just be entering his fighting prime, making the future an interesting one for the man with the most creative chest hair in MMA.1 - Chris Weidman Long Island, New York’s Chris Weidman has been saddled with the “Next Big Thing” tag from the time he turned pro in 2009, but even his staunchest supporters had to be a little concerned when he accepted a UFC fight against veteran Alessio Sakara on two weeks’ notice (and with injured ribs) in March. But Weidman proved that the high expectations for him were justified as he scored a clear-cut decision win over “Legionarius” in Louisville. Next up was a June showdown against Jesse Bongfeldt, and he delivered his first UFC finish, submitting the Canadian with six seconds left in the first round. But the biggest impression left by the unbeaten Weidman came in November, when he put fellow prospect Tom Lawlor to sleep in with a D’arce choke in a little over two minutes. If you had questions about the second Serra-Longo team member to make this list, they were likely answered that night.Honorable Mention - John Cholish, Stanislav Nedkov, Stipe Miocic, Edwin Figueroa, Erick Silva, Robbie Peralta, Darren Uyenoyama, Lance Benoist, John Maguire, Johnny Bedford, Hatsu Hioki, Vagner Rocha

Posted in: ufc, mma, year, debut, veteran

Thiago Silva finished with one year suspension.

submitted by zontarrr [link] [10 comments]

Posted in: silva, year, thiago silva, year suspension, zontarrr

Five Ounces 2011 Year-End Awards: The Meat and Potatoes

The first week of 2012 has arrived, and though 2011 may not have delivered on the public’s long-standing dream of flying cars and laser-blasters it was certainly a period filled with memorable months from a Mixed Martial Arts viewpoint. We witnessed champions fall in dramatic fashion, prospects rise from the ranks to become divisional kings, and numerous fighters emerge victorious by the skin of their teeth. We saw shocking signings and ridiculous releases; countless classics and numerous nod-offers; moves in the ring unlike any other before and some hopefully never seen again. With the close of the year, Five Ounces of Pain is bringing you our annual awards as we wind things down and get ready for the adventures the coming twelve months will undoubtedly bring. Today we’ve arrived as the “meat and potatoes” otherwise know as Knockout of the Year, Submission of the Year, Fight of the Year, and Fighter of the Year. As always, 5 Oz. invites our readers to offer their own opinions in the “Comments” section on who should have taken home the hardware (or in this case digital love). We would not be here without you, and rest assured the Staff not only appreciates your contributions from a “page view” standpoint, but genuinely enjoys reading our community’s take on topics. And HAPPY NEW YEAR! - Knockout of the Year - Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort: “OHHHHHHHHH, HE FRONT KICKED HIM IN THE FACE!” – Joe Rogan. For once, the commentating crew’s blatant stating of the obvious was forgivable, as there simply was nothing else Rogan could have said in that instant to describe what had just happened. After spending the better part of three minutes engaging in a staring contest, Silva and Belfort remembered they were in a fight. “The Phenom” was the first to draw blood by scoring with a one-two, but it was a combo that seemed to have awakened the beast. After a quick takedown, both fighters regained their feet, where Silva somehow had the audacity to drop his hands while standing in front of one of the most feared strikers in MMA history. Seconds later, Belfort found himself staring at the ceiling courtesy of a front kick to the jaw. From there, Silva nonchalantly walked over, threw his compatriot’s legs to the side, and finished him off with a couple of extra punches. It was truly one of the most amazing displays of technique, speed, timing, distancing and creativity you’re ever going to see in this sport. - Submission of the Year - Frank Mir’s Kimura of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira: There were other contenders to be sure but no tap-out had the drama of Mir’s stomach-turning submission of “Minotauro” at UFC 140. Leading up to the fight there was a bit of animosity between the two stemming from Nogueira’s excuses about losing their first encounter. Shortly after action started in the second scrap it seemed apparent Nogueira would win, dropping Mir and nearly pounding him out before making the ill-fated decision to go for a Guillotine Choke instead. As fate would reveal, Mir then rolled out of it while procuring a Kimura he ultimately broke the Brazilian’s arm with based on the veteran’s refusal to tap. In the process Mir, often overlooked as one of MMA’s greats, not only solidified a likely 2012 shot at winning the title but also became the first man to submit Nogueira (while already being the first to TKO him). - Fight of the Year - Mike Chandler vs. Eddie Alvarez (Bellator 58): Alvarez was considered to be a top five, if not top three, lightweight in the world when he stepped into the cage on November 19 while Chandler was just a prospect who was in over his head at this point in his career. Alvarez was the long reigning Bellator champion and the poster boy of the organization while Chandler was just another fight who Eddie could put on a show against. The only problem was, nobody told Chandler that it wasn’t supposed to be his time to shine, and the result made for the best fight of the year. From the opening bell, Chandler wanted to prove that he wasn’t impressed with Alvarez’s accomplishments by immediately charging out and throwing a barrage of punches that had the champion on the defensive and nearly out of the fight. Alvarez managed to survive the early flurry though, compose himself, and get back into the fight before getting dropped again at the end of the first round. It was a round that proved Chandler wouldn’t be backing down despite the experience difference and told Alvarez that he was in for the toughest fight of his life. The one minute break between rounds served Alvarez well as he found his rhythm in the second round and started to get the better of the young challenger with his hands. It looked as if Chandler may have blown himself up in the first round as he dramatically slowed down in the second round, but still kept things competitive with his wrestling. The third round was seemingly the turning point of the fight as Alvarez really turned up the pressure and nearly put Chandler away with a variety of combinations and shots to the chin and body. At one point, Chandler reached down to check his foot after throwing a kick, a sign that he was hurt and was moments away from being done. Despite looking completely gassed out and getting hit with every punch in the book, Chandler never once went down, but did look out on his feet for the majority of the round. Alvarez appeared to be in complete control heading into the championship rounds, but like the champion did between rounds one and two, the challenger used the one minute break between rounds three and four to refocus himself and get an extra wind. All of a sudden, Chandler looked like he was back in the first round, pressing Alvarez and forcing the champ to fight his fight. The end came when Chandler dropped Alvarez with an overhand right, got on top, improved his position, got the back, and sunk in a rear naked choke for the tap out. This fight had everything. Dramatic momentum swings in both directions, both fighters showing a ton of heart, striking, wresting, grappling, a title on the line, and a conclusive finish. Alvarez vs. Chandler is truly what MMA is all about. Make sure to check out the bottom of this article for complete video of the 5 OZ Fight of the Year! - Fighter of the Year - Jon Jones: Was there really any other choice? Samer Kadi: “Bones” Jones not only had the best year of any fighter in 2011, he may have had the best year of any fighter ever. He won four fights, one man was undefeated at the time, the other three were former champions, and he finished all four opponents. In a year where he was supposed to just be built up as the next contender in the division, he immediately jumped into the title picture thanks to a Rashad Evans injury and never looked back. The way he handled top lightweights such as “Shogun” Rua, Quinton Jackson, and Machida was once in a lifetime beauty. He absolutely destroyed Rua, turning him into his personal punching bag. He made Jackson look like a one-dimensional amateur. And, facing a bit of adversity for the first time in his career, he choked out Machida with a Standing Guillotine Choke, which is an extremely difficult hold to finish against a top level fighter like “The Dragon” Think of all the great years fighters like Chuck Liddell, Georges St. Pierre, Fedor Emelianeko, Wanderlei Silva, “Spider” Silva, and Kazushi Sakuraba put together when they were at their best. None of those years compare to what Jones did in 2011. It’s rare that a top guy fights four times a year, it’s even more rare that he looks as impressive as Jones, especially considering the level of talent he faced. Jeremy Lambert: When 2011 began, Jones was widely regarded as the hottest prospect in MMA, and many tipped him to be the next ruler in the heavyweight division. However, few could have imagined it would happen as early as it did. In fact, Jones himself couldn’t have possibly anticipated such overwhelming success in a calendar year. A lucky break saw former teammate and now bitter rival Evans pull out of his scheduled bout with champion “Shogun” Rua, and Jones was called upon to serve as a replacement. Just five weeks after his handling of Ryan Bader, Jones turned in the performance of his career and a violent beatdown of the much more experienced Rua, eventually stopping him with strikes in the third round in what was a brutal display of domination from start to finish. From there, Jones cemented his status as one of the absolute best fighters on the planet by out-classing “Rampage” Jackson four three-and-a-half rounds before submitting Machida inside two rounds to cap off what could well be the most sensational year in MMA history for a single fighter. Brendhan Conlan: There’s not much to be said beyond what Lambert/Kadi have mentioned but a few points to further demonstrate why Jones’ 2011 was so impressive. 1.) He out-wrestled Bader, a NCAA wrestling champion, 2.) He was the first person to finish Jackson in more than five years, 3.) He was the first person to submit Jackson in a decade, 3.) He was the first person to ever stop Rua with strikes, and 4.) He was the first person to ever stop Machida via submission. Jones’ 2011 was akin to the greatest feats in any sport and unquestionably made him the year’s top fighter. — As a special treat, courtesy of Bellator, you can re-live Alvarez vs. Chandler below:

Posted in: fight, round, year, chandler, alvarez

The Top 6 Photos From The Year 2011 (WARNING: EPIC & GRAPHIC)

submitted by MentalMidgetGSP [link] [comment]

Posted in: year, photo, warning, mentalmidgetgsp, mentalmidgetgsp link

Will The UFC Be Up or Down on Pay-Per-View in 2012?

The UFC had a remarkable 2011 in the face of a painful bad luck streak of injuries, illnesses and suspensions that cost them 11 out of 14 planned main events according to CEO Lorenzo Fertitta talking to the LA Times. There were at most only three UFC cards that sold more than 500,000 pay-per-view buys (UFC 126, 129 and maybe 141) compared with 11 500K + PPVs in 2010. But it was more than just the injuries and the loss of the mega-events that hurt the UFC in 2011. Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer (subscription required) has put together a comparison of what he calls "baseline shows" from 2009, 2010 and 2011. Once you eliminate the Brock Lesnar, Georges St. Pierre and Rashad Evans vs. Rampage Jackson cards a clear picture emerges, the UFC brand is selling fewer PPVs: We all know the prime reason UFC was down the level it was down is because of all the injuries this year. There were more baseline shows which took down the average. The only positive to come out of the year was the light heavyweight title, the historically best title when it comes to drawing, had three defenses, plus Jon Jones appears to be a slightly bigger draw as champion than Shogun Rua was. But just the name UFC on PPV seems to mean 14% less than two years ago and 9% less than last year. Part of the downslide is the weakness of the lighter divisions as PPV attractions. With the loss of superstar champion B.J. Penn, the lightweight title is now one of the weakest headliners possible for a UFC card. The new featherweight and bantamweight divisions are even weaker. It's possible that Urijah Faber and Dominick Cruz coaching the first FX season of The Ultimate Fighter will turn things around, but if Faber loses to Cruz again, don't hold your breath waiting for another bantamweight title fight on top of a PPV card. The next factor hindering growth has been the failure of new stars to emerge as bonafide PPV draws. The generation of UFC stars that the 2005-2010 explosion was built on -- Chuck Liddell, Tito Ortiz, Randy Couture, Matt Hughes -- has faded from the scene. The only two true stars to emerge since then, Georges St. Pierre and Brock Lesnar, were largely unavailable in 2011 and GSP won't return until late this year. Lesnar is now retired. Light heavyweight champion Jon Jones may yet emerge as a superstar, he's certainly got the talent, but so far he's failed to put up huge PPV numbers. Middleweight champ Anderson Silva finally showed signs of emerging as a draw in 2010/2011 but its clear that he's only a draw when facing a perceived threat to his title. He'll be out with injuries until mid-2012 regardless. MMA Payout identifies the other big factor hurting the UFC's PPV business: Of course another factor in addressing the PPV buys is PPV fatigue. There will be 16 PPVs this year with a PPV almost a bimonthly happening. Its hard for a fan to pay over $100 bucks a month in PPVs in addition to their normal cable/satellite bill. BE alumni nottheface expands on this point at Headkick Legend and even takes the speculation another step: The common wisom is that the FOX deal will play big dividends for the UFC, and I don't disagree. I just don't think it will stop the decline in payperview sales. For starters they can expect no more than one fight from GSP and none from Brock Lesnar, by far the two biggest draws they've had the last few years. In addition they face the reality that half of all households in the U.S. have no disposable income so none of these new Fox fans are going to buy into a payperview market they've already oversaturated and bled dry (intentionally in my opinion -they knew the fad wouldn't last). The repercussions are going to big, with a lot of disgruntled stars now making a smaller cut of the revenue and large debt payment eating up all the owners profits. Zuffa will sell the UFC OK, a couple of caveats wth this one. One, I'm going to give myself an extra 6-months for this to happen. July 1st, 2013. Secondly, I don't mean Zuffa will sell the whole company, although that is a possibility, but they will sell at least 20% of the UFC to an outside party. By doing so Zuffa can eliminate a lot of their debt payments and not have to worry about tightening their belts and eliminating the dividend payments the owners have grown so accustomed to. I'm a bit more sanguine about the UFC's chances over the short term than NTF. I think that the emergence of Nick Diaz and Alistair Overeem as stars is a very real possibility in 2012, especially with the PR muscle of Fox Sports pushing them. What do you think? Will the UFC turn things around in 2012 or not? Poll Will the UFC beat 2011's anemic PPV numbers in 2012? Yes No 24 votes | Results

Posted in: ufc, ppv, title, star, year

Your New Year's resolution: To watch more Enson Inoue documentaries

[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on DstryrSG, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] We promised you a few weeks back that we were going to feature the Enson documentary and finally here it is. Enjoy and have yourself a Merry Grappling New Year! {iframe}http://player.vimeo.com/video/31333866?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0{/iframe} Watch the Second Part of the Video...

Posted in: year, dstryrsg part, middleeasy networkdiv, enson documentary, years resolution

Strikeforce preview and predictions for 'Rockhold vs Jardine' on Jan. 7 in Las Vegas

FanPost edited and promoted by MMAmania.com. Happy New Year Maniacs! Believe it or not the first major mixed martial arts (MMA) event of 2012 happens this Saturday night (Jan. 7) and it's headlined by a middleweight title fight between Strikeforce 185-pound champion Luke Rockhold taking on UFC veteran Keith Jardine at "The Joint" from the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Other match-ups booked for the "Sin City" fight card include "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler vs. Adlan Amagov, former light heavyweight champion Muhammed Lawal vs. Lorenz Larkin and Tarec Saffiedine vs. Tyler Stinson. MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine," beginning with the Showtime telecast at 10 p.m. ET on Jan. 7. In addition, we will deliver up-to-the-minute quick results of all the under card action much earlier on fight night. Preview and early predictions, after the jump. Preliminary Bouts:Welterweight Bout: Ricky Legere vs. Chris SpangBackground: Legere is 13-4 and Spang is 4-0. Neither of these fighters are very well known yet. Both competitors have fought at welterweight and lightweight in their respective careers. Ricky Legere has spent most of his time in King of the Cage (KOTC), a professional since 2007 with 12 out of 13 victories coming via stoppage. He's only been to a decision twice in his career. This is going to be his Strikeforce debut. Chris Spang is 24 years old and has been a pro since 2008. He only has four fights to his name but this is second fight in Strikeforce. In his four victories he's finished his opponent three times. My Pick: I'm going to go with Legere because he has a lot more fights under his belt. I would like to say I had better information, but his experience and seven (T)KO victories gives me a hunch he'll defeat Spang via stoppage. Light Heavyweight bout: Trevor Smith vs. Gian VillanteBackground: Smith is 9-1 and Villante is 8-3. Both of these men are Strikeforce veterans; Villante with three fights under the promotion and Smith with two. Trevor Smith is 30 years old, has never been to a decision in 10 career fights and has been a pro since 2009. His two fights under Strikeforce have been submissions, which brought his career total of submissions to eight. He's fought mostly on smaller shows but his consistent submission finishes is a good sign. He is a former high school All-State and college All-American wrestler from Iowa State University. He is currently on a five fight win streak. Gian Villante is 26 years old and has fought mostly in New Jersey. He has been to decision twice in his career, with seven finishes among his eight career victories. He has competed at both heavyweight and light heavyweight, holding a heavyweight title in a smaller promotion. He made his first Strikeforce appearance against recent UFC acquisition Chad Griggs, and his second against Lorenz Larkin. He lost both fights. He rebounded in August against Keith Barry at another Strikeforce Challengers event. He is 2-3 in his last five fights. He is a blue belt in Brazilian Jiujitsu, is a former New York State wrestling champion and successful college wrestler and was nearly recruited into the NFL as a linebacker. My Pick: This is actually a really intriguing match up for me, both men have good wrestling credentials and good finishing ratios. This a real toss up because they seem to be very evenly matched. Smith has his five fight win streak behind him and appears to have the better wrestling credentials and submissions, so I think he's going to control the fight to a unanimous decision. Welterweight Bout: Nah-Shon Burrell vs. James TerryBackground: Burrell is 7-1 and Terry is 11-3. Another good undercard bout. Nah-Shon Burrell is 21 years old and as been a pro since 2010. He has competed under Strikeforce twice and has been successful in both outings. He has been to decision twice in his career and has six finishes to his name, all (T)KO's. He has no wrestling credentials that I was able to find and has been training full time since he was 18 years old. All of his finishes have been standing (T)KO's, so it's safe to say he's willing to stand and trade with Terry. James Terry is 30 years old and has been a pro since 2006. Terry is 4-1 in his last five with five knockouts in his 11 career victories. His other wins are via decision. He is also a former All American wrestler and was third place at the NJCAA wrestling finals in 2002. He trains kickboxing under Cung Le and has been training under him since 2006. Terry is a eight time fighter in Strikeforce and is 6-2 under the promotion. My Pick: Burrell comes to finish the fight whereas Terry seems more content to let it go to a decision, with three fights going to decision in his last six and three ending via TKO. Terry has never been knocked out and neither has Burrell. I expect Terry to grind out a unanimous decision in a back and forth stand up fight with Terry mixing up takedowns and ground control, using his wrestling background to win a decision. Main Card:Welterweight Bout: Tarec Saffiedine vs. Tyler StinsonBackground: Saffiedine is 11-3 and Stinson is 22-7. First fight on the main card looks like good test for both men. Tarec Saffiedine is 25 years old and has been a pro since 2007. He is a two time DREAM veteran, a one time Shark Fights fighter, and a four time veteran of Strikeforce. He holds a victory over UFC, EliteXC, and Strikeforce veteran, Scott Smith. He has five submission victories in 11 professional victories. He is 4-2 in his last six with two decision losses, one to rising star Tyron Woodley. He was a successful amateur kickboxer and blue belt in Shihaishinkai Karate and a blue belt in BJJ. Tyler Stinson is also 25 year old and has fought as a professional since 2006. He as a lot more fights than his opponent, with 15 (T)KO's and five submissions. However he also has five submission losses. He is a four time Bellator veteran and one time Strikeforce participant. He earned his blue belt in BJJ under Kiko France. He is 5-1 in his last six fights with three KO's due to punches. My Pick: I really want to see this fight. Saffiedine has had better success with mid-to-higher caliber opponents, whereas Stinson is 2-2 in Bellator. That being said, he did win his Strikeforce debut. If Stinson can keep this fight standing, I see him winning via (T)KO in the second. If Saffiedine can impose his gameplan he'll win the decision. I'm favoring Stinson in the second by (T)KO.Welterweight Bout: Jordan Mein vs. Tyron WoodleyBackground: Mein is 23-7 and Woodley is 9-0. Jordan Mein is 22 years old and a professional fighter since 2006. He has been on a great run, he is 20-3 in his last 23 fights and is on a six fight win streak, including victories over Evangelista Santos, UFC veteran Joe Riggs, and DREAM Welterweight Champion/Strikeforce veteran Marius Zaromskis. He has 13 wins by (T)KO, and seven by submission. In total, he has only gone to decision five times in 30 pro fights. He did lose to rising star, UFC fighter Rory MacDonald in his pro debut in 2006. Tyron Woodley is 29 years old and has been a pro since 2009. He is currently undefeated with five submission wins, one KO win, and three decision wins. Woodley's biggest asset is his high level wrestling ability. He is a two time All-State wrestler, a two time NCAA Div I All-American and the 2003 Big Twelve Conference Champion and 2005 Runner Up. He is a seven fight veteran of Strikeforce, with wins over former UFC fighter and Strikeforce welterweight title contender Paul Daley, and Abu Dhabi Gold Medalist Andre Galvao. He is ranked 17th in the world by the "Consensus Rankings" as of December 29, 2011. My Pick: This is a very tough fight to call. Woodley's best weapon is his grappling/wrestling and will probably look to control the fight with ground and pound and look for a submission. However, even though Mein has four losses via submission, he hasn't been submitted since 2008. Even though he is the younger man, Mein has 21 more fights than Woodley, in exchange Woodley has an insane amount of amateur wrestling matches under his belt. A lot of people are probably picking Woodley to win this fight, but I'm going with Jordan Mein, via KO in the third round. Light Heavyweight bout: Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal vs. Lorenz LarkinBackground: Lawal is 8-1 and Larkin is 12-0. "King Mo" Lawal is 30 years old and a professional fighter since 2008. He is the former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion, NCAA Div II and NCAA Div I All-American, and 2007 Pan American Gold Medalist in Freestyle wrestling. Despite his heavy wrestling background, King Mo has six wins via (T)KO and two by decision. He most recently defeated Roger Gracie by KO. He is currently ranked 11th in the world by the "Consensus Rankings" as of December 29, 2011. Lorenz Larkin is 25 years old and a professional since 2009. He is currently undefeated and is a three time Strikeforce veteran with eight knockout victories, he also was undefeated as an amateur boxer. Possibly his most impressive victory to date was TKO victory over Scott Lighty, a veteran of 42 pro kickboxing bouts and a 6-2 MMA record. This is huge step up in competition for Larkin, and it remains to be seen how he will fair against upper tier light heavyweights. My Pick: Like I said up there, Mo is a huge step up for Mr. Larkin. I haven't been able to find Vegas odds for this fight yet, but I hazard a guess that Lawal will be the heavy favorite. I am expecting King Mo to knock out Larkin in the first or second round. Co-Main Event:Middleweight Bout: Robbie Lawler vs. Adlan Amagov Background: Lawler is 18-8 (1 NC) and Amagov is 9-1-1. Robbie Lawler is 29 years old and made his professional debut back in 2001. He is a known commodity for a lot of MMA fans, being a veteran of UFC, PRIDE, EliteXC, and Strikeforce. He is also the former EliteXC middleweight champion. Inconsistent with a limited ground game, (five of his eight losses are via submission), Lawler is known for his heavy hands and solid boxing game. Currently, he is coming off of a two fight losing streak, going 2-4 in his last six fights. If he wants to move forward with his career he really needs a victory on Saturday night. He is currently ranked #21 in the world. Adlan Amagov is 25 years old and has be a pro fighter since 2007. He went 0-1 in his first fight, losing to Bellator and BodogFight veteran Alexey Oleinik before going on a 10 fight unbeaten streak; (9-0-1) with six (T)KO's and three decisions. He has appeared in two Strikeforce: Challengers events, defeating Anthony Smith and Ronald Stallings. He recently won the Silver medal at the Expert level at the 2011 NAGA World Championship in No-GI grappling on back on May 7. He has no wins via submission, but it's clear he has a grappling game that's developing. My Pick: Lawler is on a major downward spiral as a fighter. He's had a rough couple years and desperately needs a win. It's possible that he is being used as a stepping stone for the up and coming Amagov, a big name for him to knock off. I'm going with the up and comer, Amagov via submission in the second round. Main Event:Keith Jardine vs. Luke Rockhold (Strikeforce Middleweight Championship) Background: Jardine is 17-9 and Rockhold is 8-1. "The Dean of Mean" Keith Jardine is 36 years old and well known veteran of the UFC, with wins over former UFC light heavyweight champions Forrest Griffin and Chuck Liddell, along with UFC vet; Brandon Vera. He has been fighting as a professional since 2001, and appeared on the Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season two. Jardine has had a lot of ups and downs in his career, with big wins over top 10 fighters, but periods of going winless got him expelled from the UFC. He's 3-6-1 over his last 10 fights with two of his wins coming over relative unknowns. Last April, he had a draw with #9 ranked light heavyweight Gegard Mousasi, likely due to Mousasi being deducted a point for an illegal upkick. Jardine needs this win, not only to stay relevant as a fighter, but to keep his career and his head above water. He is a black belt in Gaidojutsu. Luke Rockhold is 27 years old and has been a pro since 2007. He went 1-1 in his first two fights but has gone on a seven fight win streak which includes a win over UFC/DREAM vet Jesse Taylor, and not to mention, his win over DREAM veteran and Abu Dhabi champion Ronaldo Souza for the Strikeforce Middleweight Championship. In his title fight he showed excellent stand-up skills, despite having only one win via (T)KO. He has six wins via submission and is a brown belt in BJJ. Rockhold is ranked ninth in the world as a middleweight. Current Betting Odds: -600 Rockhold, +400 Jardine My Pick: I am afraid I am in total agreement with the odds makers for this fight. Keith Jardine is likely done and I don't expect him to be able to deal with Rockhold anywhere the fight goes. I'm predicting a second or third round stoppage. Rockhold by TKO. That's it, Maniacs. Let me know what you guys think and what you expect to happen this weekend at Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine." To get up to speed on all the Strikeforce news and notes click here. Poll Biggest Strikeforce upset at "Rockhold vs. Jardine?" Keith Jardine over Luke Rockhold Adlan Amagov over Robbie Lawler Lorenz Larkin over "King Mo" Lawal Jordan Mein over Tyron Woodley King Kong over Godzilla No upsets! All the favorites win 12 votes | Results

Posted in: fight, strikeforce, decision, vs, year

5 Predictions for 2012

It is a tradition of sorts amongst hack writers looking for material to ring in the New Year with a list of predictions for the next 12 months. Buttressed by my string of success in fight prognostication (having successfully picked every UFC and Strikeforce card main event since UFC 136) I've decided to go big or go home, with five Nostrodamus-like predictions for 2012: Anderson Silva will lose to a Team Quest fighter who undergoes Testerone Replacement Therapy Anderson Silva is perhaps the best fighter in the short history of mixed martial arts and during his career he has definitely been better than potential opponents Chael Sonnen or Dan Henderson. He will also be 37-years of age and coming off of surgery if he faces either of them next year. Throw in the fact that the only chink in his armor to ever be demonstrated in the UFC was against wrestlers, specifically the wrestling of Sonnen and Henderson, two fighters that have been on a terror while Silva has been recuperating and I can't help but feel sorry for the security responsible for restraining the sure-to-be angry Manaus crowds. Ceasar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu will hold at least one UFC belt at the end of 2012 The Gracie team has got just too much talent and will have too many opportunities this year for it not to happen. With Nick Diaz posed for an interim title fight next month, Gilbert Melendez holding the Strikeforce belt and waiting to be brought over to the UFC, and Nate Diaz now moving into title contention the odds are definitely in Ceasar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu's favor. Needless to say George St-Pierre will not be the champ come January 1st 2013 If there is one thing this past year has shown us it is how big an impact injury and layoff plays on performace. Brock Lesnar, Cain Velasquez, Shogun Rua. All of them came back after surgery and long layoffs. All of them got destroyed. There is a reason Teddy Roach thinks St-Pierre should get a tune-up fight first: he knows how difficult it will be for GSP to come back anywhere close to what he was after an ACL tear and knee surgery. Payperview sales will be down again next year The common wisom is that the FOX deal will play big dividends for the UFC, and I don't disagree. I just don't think it will stop the decline in payperview sales. For starters they can expect no more than one fight from GSP and none from Brock Lesnar, by far the two biggest draws they've had the last few years. In addition they face the reality that half of all households in the U.S. have no disposable income so none of these new Fox fans are going to buy into a payperview market they've already oversaturated and bled dry (intentionally in my opinion -they knew the fad wouldn't last). The repercussions are going to big, with a lot of disgruntled stars now making a smaller cut of the revenue and large debt payment eating up all the owners profits. Zuffa will sell the UFC OK, a couple of caveats wth this one. One, I'm going to give myself an extra 6-months for this to happen. July 1st, 2013. Secondly, I don't mean Zuffa will sell the whole company, although that is a possibility, but they will sell at least 20% of the UFC to an outside party. By doing so Zuffa can eliminate a lot of their debt payments and not have to worry about tightening their belts and eliminating the dividend payments the owners have been so pleased with. There are my five predictions for 2012. If you think you can do better list them below and we'll compare them next year during Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz's and Middleweight Champion Chael Sonnen's catchweight superfight. Poll Which Prediction Do You Think Is the Least Likely to Happen Anderson Silva Losing to Chael or Hendo Cesar Gracie Fighter Holding a UFC Belt George St-Pierre No Longer Champ PPV Sales Even Lower than 2011 Zuffa Selling the UFC None. They're All Gold. 2 votes | Results

Posted in: ufc, belt, silva, year, prediction

Apocalypse Now! Five Things to Look Forward to in 2012

You could call John Cusack's 2012 a lot of things. Exciting. Tightly-scripted. Superbly Performed. An edge-of-your-seat thrill-ride...with heart. But prophetic? Only those eggheads over at NASA know for sure. Until such time as we all sink into the ocean, then, here are a few things to look forward to this year... A Revived UFC Welterweight Division The title reign of Georges St. Pierre has been alternately fabulous and maddening. Consisting of victories over nearly every top-ten welterweight, certainly it's been absolute. This year, however, St. Pierre is tasked with nursing his knee injury and will be, for better or worse, removed from the 170-pound equation. His stifling rule has given way to a more open field of contention, an effect compounded by the recent knockout of perennial number-two man Jon Fitch. It seems that the division, once ruled by a caste of elites, is in the hands of a new crop of welterweight roughnecks, headed by interim title contenders Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit. A Smaller, Stronger Strikeforce With the dissolution of Strikeforce's heavyweight division, the organization has more capital and card space to devote to its other weight classes. Dana White's emerging involvement with the promotion further suggests that we'll see a more focused, relevant Strikeforce this year. A Bigger, Stronger UFC Heavyweight Division The UFC heavyweight division will enjoy an appreciable influx of talent in 2012, courtesy of Zuffa's purchase of Strikeforce. It's hard to tell for sure how much of a lasting impact these new fighters will have (remember that neither Heath Herring, Antonio Nogueira, nor Mirko Cro Cop quite fulfilled their promise after making the jump from PRIDE), but at least one of them has already made a big splash. Flyweights in the UFC Consider the upcoming tournament between Ian McCall, Demetrious Johnson, Yasuhiro Urushitani, and Joseph Benavidez. With an astounding cumulative record of 59-10-6, and an impressive thirty-two of those victories coming by way of (T)KO or submission, the tournament promises balls-to-the-wall action, and the winner will certainly have the claim to number one flyweight in the world. Not a bad way to kick off the 125-pound proceedings. New Blood Climbing the Top 10 With his knockout of Vladimir Matyushenko, Alexander Gustaffson made it clear that he's ready for a shot at the upper echelon. Phil Davis will get one himself in his upcoming fight against Rashad Evans. Meanwhile, both Nate Diaz and featherweight Jimy Hettes saw a jump in rankings and visibility, respectively, with their recent victories at UFC 141. And there are, of course, the burgeoning new class of welterweights, including Rory Macdonald and Jake Ellenberger. Outside the UFC, Michael Chandler heads into this new year with quite a bit of buzz following his recent submission of Eddie Alvarez, and his fellow Bellator fighters Eduardo Dantas and Pat Curran are likewise poised for a break-out year, with Dantas slated to fight Bellator bantamweight champion Zach Makovsky and Curran riding high off a knockout of Marlon Sandro this past August. I'll be looking forward to these five things the most this year. What'd I miss?

Posted in: ufc, welterweight, division, year, thing

Best event of 2011: UFC 139 featuring Shogun Rua vs Dan Henderson

Earlier this month, we here at MMAmania.com embarked on a quest to determine the best of the best in the year 2011. The final category voted on by you, the fans, was the "Event of the Year." And while there were plenty of worthy candidates, there were two that stood out from the rest. They also happened to occur not long before the voting process started. A case of what's freshest instead of what's best? Perhaps but the eventual winner, the UFC 139: "Shogun vs. Henderson" event, featured the "Fight of the Year" in Dan Henderson vs. Mauricio Rua, so it is somewhat fitting that it emerged victorious. The show also saw Wanderlei Silva stop Cung Le and Urijah Faber earn a bantamweight title shot against Dominick Cruz by besting Brian Bowles. Then again, the other event in the running, UFC 140: "Jones vs. Machida," was headlined by the "Fighter of the Year," Jon Jones, who defended his light heavyweight title in spectacular fashion with a submission win over Lyoto Machida. Plus, this was the same fight card that gave us the "Submission of the Year" when Frank Mir snapped Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira's arm like a twig. You decided, Maniacs, so maybe you can tell us how UFC 139 beat out UFC 140. Do so after checking out the full results of our poll for the best event of 2011 after the jump. Poll results: UFC 139: "Shogun vs. Henderson" -- 946 votes UFC 140: "Jones vs. Machida" -- 873 votes UFC 132: "Cruz vs. Faber" -- 184 votes UFC 129: "St. Pierre vs. Shields" -- 179 votes Strikeforce: "Fedor vs. Silva" -- 105 votes Other -- 103 votes Remember to check out winners in all the other categories including "Fight of the Year," "Knockout of the Year," "Submission of the Year" and "Fighter of the Year" by clicking here, here, here and here.

Posted in: ufc, vs, event, vote, year

Best fighter of 2011: UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones

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 means we had to find the man (or woman) who rose above the rest to earn the distinction of "Fighter of the Year." And that honor belongs to UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones. Because who else? Really, there was no other viable option and the voting reflected as much. "Bones" kicked the year off by defeating Ryan Bader to earn a 205-pound title shot against Mauricio Rua. Just six weeks later, he made the most of his opportunity by dominating "Shogun" in a way not seen before. That right there warrants consideration. What he did next was downright astonishing. His first title defense came against Quinton Jackson and Jones once again dominated, becoming just the second man in the history of MMA to submit "Rampage." Less than three months later, the Greg Jackson trained phenom became the first man to submit Lyoto Machida, putting him out cold with a standing guillotine choke. That's 4-0, two title defenses, all finishes, against the best competition available, namely three of the four opponents being former champions. All in one year, folks. Get some. It wasn't even close but there others who received votes. Check out the full results of our poll for the best fighter of 2011 after the jump. Poll results: Jon Jones -- 772 votes Dan Henderson -- 150 votes Junior dos Santos -- 115 votes Nick Diaz -- 97 votes Donald Cerrone -- 67 votes Other -- 26 votes Remember to check out winners in other categories including "Fight of the Year," "Knockout of the Year" and "Submission of the Year" by clicking here, here and here.

Posted in: jone, champion, vote, year, man

Best of the Best: The 2011 MMA Awards

2011 is officially in the books! It was an extremely memorable year in the MMA world filled with fantastic fights, ascending superstars, and major stories such as the UFC buying Strikeforce or signing a deal with FOX. Today we’ll look back at the past twelve months to re-live a few of the highlights by naming Fighters.com’s “Best of the Best” from 2011. In some cases you may not agree with our choices but bear in mind that is simply testament to how incredible the year was, not a matter of being right or wrong. - Biggest Story of the Year - UFC-FOX: It was only a matter of time before the UFC signed a deal with a network but the scale of their agreement with FOX could only have been dreamt of. With multiple live shows expected to air on FOX, Fuel, and FX, as well as live Ultimate Fighter match-ups, the next few years look extraordinarily bright for MMA. - Biggest Disappointment of the Year - UFC’s Handling of Strikeforce: When the UFC bought Strikeforce it was unexpected and extremely exciting. However, after being promised “business as usual”, the UFC signed away most of Strikeforce’s stars and did little to promote the organization as a whole. Instead of either creating a competitive league or feeder promotion Zuffa let Strikeforce die on the vine. - Knockout of the Year - Cheick Kongo vs. Pat Barry: Sure, Johny Hendricks made a late run at the honor by finishing off Jon Fitch, plus there was also the front-kick mastery of Lyoto Machida and Anderson Silva to consider, but for our money Kongo’s KO of Barry at UFC Live 4 was the cream of the crop. Barry had put Kongo on downhill path to Dream Street twice in the opening minutes of action only to get caught, the crash to the canvas in a creepy eyes-wide-open ending. - Submission of the Year - Frank Mir vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira: This was an epic finish for a few reasons. First, Nogueira had never been tapped out before and was seen as being the heavyweight division’s BJJ king. Secondly, Mir pulled off his Kimura after being on the cusp of defeat courtesy of Nogueira’s crisp, powerful striking. Finally, he snapped his arm like a twig, and though it was not a highlight I’d watch repeatedly there’s something to be said about the brutal nature of a “tap or snap” scenario. - Fight of the Year - Dan Henderson vs. Mauricio Rua: Few and far between are the remaining match-ups involving decorated champions with a decade of success behind them who are in the same weight class and never crossed paths. However, in the case of Henderson-Rua fans were witness to just that and it delivered beyond the expectations of many. The PRIDE/UFC legends locked horns for twenty-five minutes, battling back and forth with each nearly seeing his night end thanks to the other’s abilities. It was every bit as epic as the participants themselves and easily 2011’s crown jewel where fights are concerned. Honorable Mention: Michael Chandler vs. Eddie Alvarez was every bit as fantastic but lacked the historical significance. - Female Fighter of the Year - Ronda Rousey: Though it could be argued Rousey won this award by default since Miesha Tate and Cristiane Santos only fought a single time in 2011, Rousey is certainly deserving of the honor as a rising star who went 4-0 with four first-round finishes. Her Olympic background in judo coupled with a ferocious appetite for Armbars have made for a dangerous combination, while her personality and looks have earned her a spot as one of the most popular fighters, male or female, of the year’s latter half. - Male Fighter of the Year - Jon Jones: Not only did no other fighter come close to having the year Jones did but we aren’t sure any in history has. “Bones” beat four opponents including three former UFC champions (Quinton Jackson, Machida, Rua) and one then-undefeated contender named Ryan Bader. Furthermore he dominated all four fights, becoming the first person to finish “Rampage” in more than five years, as well as the first ever to stop “Shogun” with strikes and tap out Machida. Tweet

Posted in: ufc, fight, strikeforce, fighter, year

Happ New Year 2012: Gina Carano Dance Edition

Nope, Gina Carano’s hot little dance number at UFC 141 has nothing to do with New Year’s but I figured you’d rather look at her than a picture of fireworks or something. Happy New Year everyone!

Posted in: year, dance, carano, gina, dance number

Fuel TV’s 24-Hour UFC New Year’s Day Marathon

In 2012, Fuel TV telecasts more than 2,000 hours of UFC programming, kicking the year off with 24 hours of UFC programming on New Year's Day.

Posted in: ufc, hour, year, tv, ufc programming

New Year’s Resolutions from Around the MMA Community

It’s officially 2012. You know what that means…..THE WORLD IS ENDING THIS YEAR! GET TO DA CHOPPA! It also means everyone will make new years resolutions that are sure to be broken within the first 24 hours. In fact, my new years resolution was to not mention Taylor Swift once in my columns, and by already telling you all my resolution, thus mentioning the singers name, I’ve already screwed up. Hopefully these fighters can stick to their (fake) resolutions better than I stuck to mine. Dana White: Don’t drop an “F Bomb” the entire year. I’m 100% confident this will be broken in the first interview he does with Ariel Helwani. Cain Velasquez and Jon Fitch: Stick to the game plan. They better start going for the takedown within the first minute of the fight or else risk getting knocked out again. Donald Cerrone: Fight once a month. Cerrone fought five times in 2011. I’m pretty certain that if he stays healthy he can fight once a month with all the injuries that hit UFC cards. Georges St. Pierre: Finish a fight. Come on man, you’ve got 25 minutes to put your opponent away and you’re one of the three best fighters in the world. Don’t let Samer Kadi down! Chael Sonnen: Continue to upset the entire country of Brazil. If he ends up fighting and beating Anderson Silva in Brazil then I think it’s safe to say that this one will end up happening. Dominick Cruz: Fight only on PPV. He better hope Urijah Faber keeps earning title shots. Jon Jones: Get some fans. Beating Rashad Evans, who is just as disliked him, would be a good start. Scott Coker: Not have Keith Jardine headline anymore events. No disrespect to “The Dean of Mean” but when he’s headlining your events in 2012, your organization isn’t in very good shape. Josh Barnett: Win the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. Because that might be the only way he ends up in the UFC. B.J. Penn: Be known as the best ever. Is that too much to ask? Dan Hardy: Come to WIN. You know, instead of coming to WAR. Anthony Pettis: Prove to be a top-level lightweight. That way people won’t continue to think of him as only, “that guy who performed that cool kick off the cage.” Vitor Belfort: Stop global warming. That’s the only way he can truly create a better atmosphere. Quinton Jackson: Only fight in Japan. Since apparently he doesn’t like American fans and doesn’t perform as well in front of them. Arianny Celeste: Get title fights to be more rounds. The more rounds a fight goes, the higher her IQ score is according to Chael Sonnen. The Diaz Brothers: Avoid shoving during any pre-fight staredown. Given the intensity of Carlos Condit, I’m fairly certain that this one won’t happen. Tim Kennedy: Secure a cameo on the TV show Homeland. Come on Showtime, you claim you’re behind MMA and Strikeforce, make this happen. Kennedy would be great as one of those marines standing around and rapping to Eminem lyrics. Brock Lesnar: Beat the Undertaker at Wrestlemania. And avoid body shots in the process. Kazushi Sakuraba: Beat Triple H at Wrestlemania. Alright, so this one obviously isn’t happening, but I’d like to see Sakuraba stick to pro-wrestling like he did at DREAM New Years Eve 2011 and not fight. The Nogueira Brothers: Keep smiling. Keeping shining. Knowing you can always count on me, for sure. That’s what brothers are for. Michael Schiavello: Have Frank Trigg always be his “verbal sparring partner” for every show. If you watched the HDNet broadcast of DREAM, then you saw Schiavello throw out his back carrying his broadcast partners. He and Trigg have great chemistry and should never be broken up. Antonio Silva: Learn how to defend against the overhand right. He better hope he never faces Dan Henderson. Frank Mir: Retire Lesnar. What’s this?!? Damn you Alistair Overeem! Frankie Edgar: Avoid fighting Ben Henderson twice. 2010 was Penn. 2011 was Gray Maynard. Will Edgar finally fight more than one opponent in 2012? Tito Ortiz: Retire with a victory. Not many fighters have done it. Maybe Tito can finally out-do Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture. Leonard Garcia: Develop a second punch. His fastball punches haven’t been working well as of late, he needs to get a new strikeout pitch before he ends up like Jonathan Papelbon. Ronda Rousey: Collect more arms. This could be a tough one if she steps up in competition to take on Sarah Kaufman, Miesha Tate, or Cristiane Santos. Jade Bryce: Beat out Brittney Palmer for my affection. Let me tell you, you may not think it’s possible, but I promise you that it is. Happy New Year everyone! What are your MMA-related resolutions? Share in the “Comments” section below!

Posted in: fight, ’t, year, doesn ’t, resolution

MMAjunkie.com reader poll: Who is the 2011 Fighter of the Year?

Each year MMA pundits and media sources reflect on the previous 12 months of in-cage action and announce the fighter they consider to have accomplished the most. MMAjunkie.com decided to instead poll our readers to vote on the fighter they believe deserves the title of 2011 Fighter of the Year. Tens of thousands of votes were cast, and as was perhaps was to be expected, one fighter rose head, shoulders and "Bones" above the competition.

Posted in: fighter, year, incage action, year tens, head shoulders

2012 World MMA Lightweight Scouting Report: #5 - Neilson Gomes

Photo by Marcelo Alonso, Sherdog Name: Neilson Gomes Nickname: -- Age: 24 Height: 5'10" Location: Paulo Alfonso, Bahia, Brazil If you're considered one of the top prospects in the world, there's a good chance that you've been born and bred in Brazil. The country's extensive support system has produced not only quantity, but quality over the years, and it isn't going to end any time soon. With world class trainers in both Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai available to mold the country's youthful competitors into well-rounded fighters quickly, Brazil will continue to be a prominent fixture in the talent market for years to come. Within the confines of the lightweight division, Champion Team's Neilson Gomes (13-2) is one of the young fighters who has benefited greatly from everything Brazil has to offer. A seasoned Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter who possesses a threatening top control game and brutal ground and pound skills, he also boasts a diverse striking game. The 24-year-old had accumulated eleven straight wins over the course of the last two years until getting stopped cold by fellow prospect Adriano Martins at Jungle Fight 34 on November 26. Despite the setback, it's difficult to dismiss Gomes' previous eleven-fight winning streak. During the run, which spanned over three years, Gomes bested notables Julio Cesar de Almeida (15-6), Jadson Souza Costa (11-3), Ciro Rodrigues (10-4), and Silmar Nunes (14-5), giving him one of the strongest strengths of record among our lightweight prospects. Gomes' versatility has been the key to his success. Threatening from top control with damaging ground and pound or endangering his opponents with savvy submission skills, Gomes has proven he isn't to be taken lightly. He's also adept at standing toe-to-toe with his opposition, showcasing a variety of kicking attacks and combinations that keeps his opponents guessing. It isn't all good news however. He does have a tendency to get wild on the feet, and his defense has holes in it, as evident by the fact that Adriano Martins knocked him out in only one minute and twenty-one seconds. Those issues can be corrected, but there is a concern that Gomes might not have the defense to get past the creme of the crop that stands in his path at the top of the food chain in his weight class. If he can't stop his opposition from laying waste to his chin, it's going to be a tough mountain to continue climbing. There isn't much evidence to support the theory that his career will suddenly trend downward. Martins may have bested him on an off-day, but everything else points toward success in the future. With the help of Champion Team, I'm optimistic that Gomes will find a way to keep winning, likely putting him into the good graces of the UFC or Bellator by the end of 2012. Check out more video footage of Neilson Gomes after the jump... FlyweightBantamweightFeatherweightLightweight #1 - #2 - #3 -#4 -#5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - Rony Mariano#2 - Aljamain Sterling#3 - Chris Holdsworth#4 - Josh Hill#5 - Fabiano Fernandes#6 - Claudio Ledesma#7 - Sirwan Kakai#8 - Kyoji Horiguchi#9 - Leandro Hygo#10 - Pedro Munhoz #1 - Hacran Dias#2 - Joey Gambino#3 - Brandon Bender#4 - Lance Palmer #5 - Jim Alers#6 - Anthony Gutierrez#7 - Max Holloway#8 - John Teixeira#9 - Cody Bollinger#10 - Bubba Jenkins #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - Neilson Gomes#6 - Eduard Folayang#7 - Zorobabel Moreira#8 - Anton Kuivanen#9 - Jordan Rinaldi#10 - J.P. Vainikainen WelterweightMiddleweightLight HeavyweightHeavyweight #1 - #2 - #3 -#4 -#5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - Adriano Martins vs. Neilson GomesJungle Fight 34 - November 26, 2011 Eliene Piti Silva vs. Neilson GomesJungle Fight 33 - October 22, 2011 Neilson Gomes vs. Silmar NunesJungle Fight 23 - October 30, 2010

Posted in: year, brazil, isnt, gome, neilson

Saturday Night's Mania Event: UFC deal with Fox more important than ever after Brock Lesnar's retirement

What's this? A Saturday Night's Mania Event on a fight weekend? Indeed, the UFC decided to hold an event on a Friday night (Dec. 30, 2011) to avoid having to leave Las Vegas for its annual year end event, and it brought a big one to town. Brock Lesnar headlined against Alistair Overeem in a colossal heavyweight showdown that would determine the next contender to Junior dos Santos and his 265-pound title. All was grand heading into last night, save for a few minor worries that the show would do less than desirable business at the box-office thanks to the unusual day it ran, not to mention that it went back to the old 10 p.m. ET start time. All things considered, the show had to be deemed a success ... until the main event. Make no mistake, Overeem is a million miles ahead of Lesnar in the fight game. He's so far ahead, in fact, that he won last night's fight by landing 20 of his 25 strikes and easily shaking off Brock's one lone takedown attempt. He deserves all the accolades coming to him. But let's be real, folks: this was a disaster for the UFC. UFC President Dana White outright admitted during the post-fight press conference that he thought Lesnar was going to win. That's a rather telling admission. He is, after all, the man who set the fight up and he's got a vested interest in who the winner is. He would probably never tell you as much but he didn't just think Lesnar was going to win last night. He wanted him to. This past year was a down one for the UFC. They accomplished quite a few major feats, like buying out their chief competitor, Strikeforce, and striking a deal with a major network like FOX. But pay-per-view business was down in a big way. There are quite a few reasons for that but the biggest is that the two biggest stars of the promotional fought a combined two times. Now, one of them (Georges St. Pierre) has a knee injury that could signal the beginning of the end of his career and the other (Lesnar) just retired. Where, oh where, have all the stars gone? And who is going to step up to pick up the slack? Let's compare pay-per-view numbers from 2010 to 2011. It's a pretty bleak outlook. 2010: UFC 108: Evans vs. Silva -- 300,000 UFC 109: Couture vs. Coleman -- 275,000 UFC 110: Nogueria v. Velasquez -- 215,000 UFC 111: St. Pierre vs. Hardy -- 770,000 UFC 112: Silva vs. Maia -- 500,000UFC 113: Machida vs. Shogun -- 520,000 UFC 114: Evans vs. Rampage -- 1,050,000 UFC 115: Liddell vs. Franklin -- 525,000 UFC 116: Lesnar vs. Carwin -- 1,160,000 UFC 117: Silva vs. Sonnen -- 600,000 UFC 118: Edgar vs. Penn 2 -- 535,000 UFC 119: Mir vs. Cro Cop -- 295,000 UFC 121: Lesnar vs. Velasquez -- 1,050,000 UFC 123: Rampage vs. Machida -- 500,000 UFC 124: St. Pierre vs. Koscheck -- 800,000 That is one astounding year. 11 of the 15 pay-per-views broke the 500,000 buy mark with three going over 1 million. In all, the UFC sold 9,095,000 PPV buys in 2010. Here's how this past year looked in comparison. 2011: UFC 125: Edgar vs. Maynard 2 -- 270,000UFC 126: Silva vs. Belfort -- 725,000UFC 127: Penn vs. Fitch -- 260,00UFC 128: Shogun vs. Jones -- 445,000UFC 129: St. Pierre vs. Shields -- 800,000UFC 130: Rampage vs. Hamill -- 325,000UFC 131: Dos Santos vs. Carwin -- 325,000UFC 132: Cruz vs. Faber -- 350,000UFC 133: Evans vs. Ortiz -- 310,000UFC 134: Silva vs. Okami -- 335,000UFC 135: Jones vs. Rampage -- 480,000UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard 3 -- 225,000UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz -- 280,000UFC 139: Shogun vs. Henderson -- 290,000UFC 140: Jones vs. Machida -- 485,000UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem -- Unknown Quite the turnaround, no? Of 16 events held, just three (assuming UFC 141 does at least 500,000 and it looks like it did) surpassed half a million buys and not a single one broke the 1 million buy barrier. In fact, only one event got up to 800,000 buys. After tallying them all up, the result is a paltry 5,905,000. Even if we add 500,000 for UFC 141, we only get up to 6,405,000. That's a difference of 2,690,000 for all you math majors out there. Now here's the really alarming part. Imagine the absence of St. Pierre and Lesnar. Without "Rush," you can wipe out 2,370,000 buys over the past two years. Not even including UFC 141, Brock accounts for 2,210,000. That number could very well reach over 3 million. What's truly troubling here is that there seems to be no one to replace these men. St. Pierre could very well recover from his knee injury and go on to remain the mega-draw he is today but he'll be out for nearly the entirety of 2012. And with Lesnar gone, how low are the numbers going to go? The first PPV event of the year is on Jan. 14, the UFC 142 event that will be headlined by Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes. It's entirely possible that fight card will become the first since UFC 55 back in Oct. 2005 to fail to crack the 200,000 buy mark. The good news, though, is that the UFC's deal with FOX officially kicks in at the start of the new year as Dana White so gleefully tweeted: "Happy New Year everyone! At midnight its official we r now on FOX, Fuel and FX." Indeed, the first fight card held on FOX to start the new year is a big one. Rashad Evans will headline against Phil Davis in a bout that will determine the next challenger to Jon Jones' light heavyweight championship while Chael Sonnen takes on Mark Munoz in a middleweight title eliminator. That's all without mentioning Michael Bisping vs. Demian Maia, which is also being billed as a 185-pound number one contender bout of sorts. Two of those men (Evans, Davis) have headlined highly successful PPVs, while another (Bisping) is going to be expected to going forward. And this is where we can truly determine the success of the FOX deal. The UFC has maintained that it is a PPV company first. That means the fact that they are giving away three major fights for free is simply their way of doing what they can to maximize the future drawing power of those stars. If Evans headlines this FOX show, wins big and goes on to challenge Jon Jones for the title on PPV and it doesn't do great numbers, the FOX deal, at that point, can be considered a short term failure. That's not to say that fight would do poorly, as the complete opposite is likely to happen if it does occur. But it's a risk the UFC is taking by giving away the milk for free and hoping audiences will still want to purchase the cow later on. And with St. Pierre and Lesnar not around to bolster business, it's downright scary to think of what the numbers will look like if fight fans ditch the cow. The sky isn't falling but at this point, it's worth keeping your head up.

Posted in: ufc, vs, event, year, lesnar

Ring of Greatness: WWE 2011 Awards

The final day of 2011 has arrived and it has most certainly been a busy year in the world of professional wrestling. Fans saw the return of Kevin Nash, the retirement of Vince McMahon, The Rock in all his glory, the rise of undersized athletes, as well as countless other moments standing out among the plethora of storylines and scraps. In honor of the twelve months at were I have put together a list of awards covering the basic categories as well as a few out-of-the-ordinary angles. Re-live some memories, enjoy, and have a safe, fun-filled New Year! ***Most Undeserved Push*** Mark Henry: Look, I have a lot of respect for Henry the person and I appreciate his contributions to the business. However he’s Xanex on the stick and far from entertaining in the ring. To not only carry the title for as long as he did but also “take out” a bunch of notable stars in the process was unnecessary and a push I hope to see end in the near future. ***Head-Scratcher of the Year*** Hornswoggle Speaking: First of all, it’s amazing Hornswoggle is still around on the roster. He does very little but provide generic comedy I assume is appreciated by children even though some of his schtick involves adult humor. Regardless, Santa Claus granting him the gift of speech was beyond bizarre (and not funny). All that was missing was Mrs. Claus giving birth to a hand. Kane’s hate of Cena’s lack thereof is a close second place. ***Rising Star of the Year*** Dolph Ziggler: Sorry Zack Ryder fans, but Ziggler is a far more interesting character with greater depth and potential. Ziggler is also an excellent wrestler and can sells like few others. I expect a huge year for him in 2012 including at least one World/WWE title-run. ***Tag-Team of the Year*** Air Boom: Though I enjoyed a few of the random teams pasted together for a few months, such as Miz and R-Truth, Evan Bourne and Kofi Kingston have brought back some of the things that made tag-team wrestling of yesteryear so great. They’re charismatic, work together in a coordinated manner, and are a believable pair. I would love to see WWE develop more legitimate teams in the same way, something they appear to possibly be doing based on some of the duos to show up lately. ***Diva of the Year*** Vickie Guerrero: Guerrero has more personality than any Diva on the roster even if she lacks their looks or athletic ability. She gets the heat of Beth Phoenix-Nattie Neidhardt combined and is one of the better managers in recent history. ***Angle of the Year*** CM Punk’s “Shoot”: It’s not as if anyone over the age of 12 who has their mental capacities about them believes WWE is real. However, it was still awesome to see Punk talk about aspects of the business that had been true for a long time and still were to an extent; that muscular giants without talent got pushed while those with real ability were overlooked. He said things fans never expected to hear on TV even if they felt them to be true. Seriously, one of the great performances/stories in recent history, and one that was good enough to get people back into WWE who vowed to stop watching years ago. ***Wrestler of the Year*** CM Punk: Was there any question Punk was at the top of this list? John Cena has done a commendable job in the face of so much criticism but nobody has entertained on the microphone, or in the ring, like Punk. Plus, he called for the return of WWE ice cream bars, and that in itself is a glorious notion. ***Match of the Year*** HHH vs. Undertaker – Wrestlemania 27: I don’t think anyone felt HHH would go over to break Undertaker’s streak but these two sure made it look like it a few times. Perhaps it’s unfair to pick the annual appearance from Taker but he simply knows how to make magic with other guys of his ilk. PHOTO CREDIT – WWE Tweet

Posted in: punk, year, wwe, ziggler, santa claus

Five Ounces 2011 Year-End Awards: Jaw Droppers and Arm-Poppers

The final week of 2011 has arrived, and though the year may not have delivered on the public’s long-standing dream of flying cars and laser-blasters it was certainly a period filled with memorable months from a Mixed Martial Arts viewpoint. We witnessed champions fall in dramatic fashion, prospects rise from the ranks to become divisional kings, and numerous fighters emerge victorious by the skin of their teeth. We saw shocking signings and ridiculous releases; countless classics and numerous nod-offers; moves in the ring unlike any other before and some hopefully never seen again. With the close of the year, Five Ounces of Pain is bringing you our annual awards as we wind things down and get ready for the adventures 2012 will undoubtedly bring. Over the next few days we will announce our winners in somewhat unique categories with a final batch of standard distinctions handed out on Monday, January 2, once all the year’s performances have been turned in. As always, 5 Oz. invites our readers to offer their own opinions in the “Comments” section on who should have taken home the hardware (or in this case digital love). We would not be here without you, and rest assured the Staff not only appreciates your contributions from a “page view” standpoint, but genuinely enjoys reading our community’s take on topics. Have an incredibly fun, albeit safe, NYE weekend! – Who Saw That Coming – Zuffa buys Strikeforce: It seemed like a typical non-event Saturday. There was no anticipation of a big fight later that night, no last minute bets to be placed, and no all-day discussions of who we thought would win later that evening. Then, in the early afternoon, Dana White dropped the bombshell: Zuffa has purchased their biggest competitor Strikeforce. While Dana claimed that things would be “business as usual” for Strikeforce, that quickly changed when UFC took Strikeforce champions Nick Diaz, Dan Henderson, and Alistair Overeem along with top local draw Cung Le to compete in the octagon. Strikeforce events almost immediately became even more secondary with most wondering when Zuffa would just fold the organization and bring the talent over the UFC. It was a move that changed the landscape of the MMA world as Bellator became the defacto #2 promotion while Zuffa tightened its guillotine on the entire sport. – Old Timer of the Year – Dan Henderson: A couple of years ago, many would have argued that Dan Henderson’s resume was somewhat overrated. And they would have had a point. It’s not that the man hadn’t accomplished much – he had – but between gift decisions, hold the PRIDE welterweight (183 lbs) title in a non-existent division, and then briefly holding the middleweight title (205 lbs) only to lose it in a unification bout against Quinton Jackson, Henderson’s achievements were slightly overstated. However, at 41 years of age, “Hendo” just had the best year of his career. He started things off with a knockout of Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante to add yet another title to his resume, before securing two of the biggest wins of his career back-to-back. His knockout of Fedor Emelianenko is even more impressive when factoring in the fact that for much of his career, Henderson competed two weight classes below the great Russian. He finally capped things off with one of the greatest in MMA history when he bested Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in an epic twenty-five minute war. – Most Meteoric Rise – (Tie) Ben Henderson/Ronda Rousey: Both Rousey and Henderson went unbeaten in 2011, rising up from relative obscurity to receive consideration as being among the top fighters in their respective weight-classes. Henderson rise to the next level seemed in doubt after coming up short against Anthony Pettis to close out 2010, yet “Bendo” picked up wins on all three of his UFC fights including those against top contenders Jim Miller and Clay Guida and now has a future date with 155-pound champion Frankie Edgar. While Rousey’s in-ring accomplishments are in no way as impressive as Henderson’s, her outspoken nature, aggressive style, and girl-next-door good looks have thrust her into the spotlight and made her one of the most popular competitors in MMA. Snapping another girl’s arm in two during a fight didn’t hurt her profile either, just Julia Budd’s limb. Make sure to check back in on Monday when we reveal our selections for “Knockout of the Year”, “Submission of the Year’, “Fighter of the Year”, and “Fight of the Year”. You can also check out our previous 2011 Year-End Awards by clicking this link.

Posted in: strikeforce, henderson, year, thing, zuffa

DREAM results recap: Fedor Emeliankenko knocks out Satoshi Ishii to close New Year's Eve show in Japan

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

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

UFC 141 Results: Does Brock Lesnar's Retirement Make Him 'The Ultimate Quitter'?

From a physical standpoint, Brock Lesnar is a rare human being. He has a rare combination of size, strength and general athletic ability. He also has shown a tendency to pack it in when things get difficult in his career choices. Lesnar started training to be a pro wrestler in 2000, just after graduating college. By 2004 he had called it a career, having been one of the fastest rising stars in the history of the WWE. But the travel and the physical grind was too much for Brock. Something he described in his Death Clutch book: My first year on the main roster in WWE was a blur. My second year was even worse. I was running into the grind. Same routine every day, day in and day out. The money was great, and I was buying a lot of nice things, but I had no time to enjoy any of it. That touring schedule just eats you up. I just kept thinking that there has to be a better way to make some real money. Lesnar actually had upset many in the WWE by acting as though he was "above" the other members of the roster. Having just signed a new deal with the promotion, he decided that (even with his own personal jet to lessen travel issues) he wanted out. Maturity was seen as an issue for many as well, as seen in this post from the day of the news at the PW Torch: Lesnar is said to be discontent backstage and was very upset that he had to fly all the way to South Africa "just to wrestle Hardcore Holly" instead of being used in a higher profile match on the tour. With his long term contract reportedly signed for 7 years, Lesnar doesn't feel he is being protected properly for the long term by the WWE. He is also upset that the current plan is for him to face the Undertaker as he feels he will likely "be fed" to the Undertaker, thus discounting his character. Lesnar isn't alone in this thinking as many have voiced their opinions against the return of the no-selling "Deadman" gimmick. He and McMahon were said to have had a very intense discussion last week resulting in his considering to take some time off after WM XX. As of this report, the WWE isn't making any post-WrestleMania plans involving Lesnar and have removed his name from all publicity material for upcoming shows. The recent purchase of a $400,000 jet for his business travel remained the hot topic of conversation last week in both RAW & Smackdown locker rooms. While he did use his own money and receive the "OK" from WWE corporate, many still feel this was out of line as Ric Flair, Steve Austin, Undertaker, and others who have substantially more tenure and "weight" within the company have never done such. Individualism such as this caused immediate heat backstage for Lesnar who was also scrutinized for seemingly letting his push "go to his head" and other reported instances where his maturity was brought into question. More about Lesnar's time in the WWE, NFL and UFC after the jump... SBN coverage of UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem Many felt like his unwillingness to travel as a part of the "group" and not return the favor given to him where he had been "put over" by many more established wrestlers to build his character as a dominant force was an issue of Lesnar being very much a "kid" mentally. Lesnar decided to chase a spot in the NFL after his WWE career ended. As a profile piece done by ESPN explained, Brock claimed that he was fully committed to a career in football: "This is not some half-assed shot to see what I can do and try to make the NFL," Lesnar said. "For me, this is balls out, 100 percent." While Lesnar's physicality impressed many in his attempt to make the Minnesota Vikings roster, those same old maturity issues popped up again. Lesnar was laying out quarterbacks with full speed hits, a big no-no in NFL training camps, and was involved in a handful of scuffles. In the end it was decided that he wasn't ready for the NFL roster without a little more developing but he was invited to take a year in NFL Europe to develop. His agent told ESPN that Lesnar was ready to go through with the opportunity: Lesnar wasn't available at camp to comment. His agent, Ed Hitchcock, said Lesnar wants to continue his development on the practice squad and in NFL Europe. "He's committed to this long-term," Hitchcock said. "He's realistic about what it takes to develop. There are players who've played this game all their lives who take a couple of years to develop [in the NFL]." But Lesnar's attempt to make an NFL roster never moved past that invitation. Lesnar explained the situation in a Yahoo! article: "You have to feel confident and I didn't," Lesnar said about his brief NFL experience. "I realized I was unprepared at the Vikings training camp. I was thinking to myself, 'What am I doing here?' Because of my lack of experience, I felt it wasn't for me." What should have been an impressive feat (making the NFL Europe cut with relatively no experience is amazing) turned out to be just another time when Lesnar wasn't willing to make the sacrifices that came with the job. In his UFC career, Brock was able to find success quickly once again. Remaining in Minnesota, he was able to work in the area he wanted and on a schedule that fit him better. While he dropped his first UFC bout when Frank Mir kneebarred him, he was able to get his career back on track and beat Heath Herring and then a Randy Couture who had been out of the cage for over a year to win the UFC heavyweight title. The best win of Lesnar's career came at UFC 100 when he brutalized Frank Mir in their rematch to earn a second round TKO win. Brock took a shot at UFC sponsor Bud Light, promoted rival beer Coors Light and then said that he was going to go "climb on top of his wife" leading to having to apologize at the post fight presser. Lesnar's battles with diverticulitis made his life extremely difficult over the past few years. No one can dispute that. But it's hard to not look at his decision to retire following his TKO loss to Alistair Overeem as making the decision to not gut through the hard times in his career yet again. Lesnar has been able to make tremendous money in his life and that has allowed him to quit a promising wrestling career after only three years on the biggest stage, walk away from his NFL goals without accomplishing anything and now walk away from MMA after only roughly four years. Brock has been a professional success, but I can't help but wonder if he has ever spent enough time trying to be the best to truly leave his mark on any pursuit.

Posted in: year, career, wwe, lesnar, nfl

UFC 141 results: Alistair Overeem doesn't think Brock Lesnar should retire from MMA

Following his crushing first round technical knockout loss at the hands of Alistair Overeem in the main event of UFC 141 in Las Vegas last night, Brock Lesnar announced his retirement from MMA. No doubt his absence from future fight cards will deal a decidedly large blow to the pocketbooks of those in command of the world's largest fight promotion. But when it's time to go, it's time to go. Or, as UFC President Dana White put it, "guys know when it's time to retire." Indeed, Lesnar has been suffering through medical issues for years now, including a bout with diverticulitis that forced him to undergo surgery to remove 12 inches of his intestines earlier this year. It's hard enough fighting the best heavyweights in the world. Dealing with faulty equipment while attempting to do so is an exercise in futility. And so, the Brockness Monster retreats to the cold, blistery confines of his home in Minnesota to enjoy his time with his family. But there's one man who doesn't want to see him go. The man who sent him on his road to retirement, "The Reem." From the UFC 141 post-fight press conference: "I think he shouldn't walk away. Because, love him or hate him, but it's always something when Brock's fighting, like Dana said. I mean, he's a guy who goes for it. I think he achieved a lot in a short span and yeah, it would be a shame if he stops now. I think there's still more to gain for him." There's no questioning the fact that Lesnar accomplished a lot in the short amount of time he was involved in the sport. He signed a deal with the UFC in 2008, won the heavyweight championship that same year after just two fight with the promotion and successfully defended it twice over the next two years. But once he was hit with diverticulitis he was simply never the same. Cain Velasquez embarrassed him in the first round of their UFC 121 fight to take the 265-pound title and now Overeem has done the same at UFC 141 just over a year later, taking his last chance to earn a crack at winning it back. Really, this seems like the proper time for Lesnar to call it quits. Does he have more to gain in the sport? Overeem says he does but it doesn't quite seem that way to me. Maniacs, what do you think?

Posted in: ufc, fight, time, year, lesnar

DREAM: New Years Eve 2011 Live Coverage and Results

It’s become tradition in Japan to hold the final event of 2011 and this year is no different, although this could be the biggest Japanese New Years Eve event ever.. Coming to us live from the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, it’s Fight For Japan: Genki Desu Ka Omisoka 2011. As always, Five Ounces of Pain will provide complete results along with a fight recap of all the live televised action. The event, which is scheduled to last nine hours, kicks off at 1AM EST on HDNet. DREAM: New Years Eve 2011 will be headlined by Fedor Emelianenko making his return to Japan to take on Olympic Gold Medalist in Judo, Satoshi Ishii. Also on the card, lightweight submission expert Shinya Aoki defends his DREAM lightweight title against top contender Satoru Kitaoka. Plus the bantamweight Grand Prix wraps up as Bibiano Fernandes meets Rodolfo Marques Diniz while Antonio Banuelos takes on Masakazu Imanari with the winners squaring off in the finals. MAIN CARD Yusup Saadulaev vs. Hideo Tokoro Antonio Banuelos vs. Masakazu Imanari Rodolfo Marques Diniz vs. Bibiano Fernandes Karla Benitez vs. Megumi Fujii Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Kazuyuki Miyata Ryo Chonan vs. Hayato “Mach” Sakurai Masaaki Noiri vs. Kengo Sonoda (kickboxing match) Yuta Kubo vs. Nils Widlund (kickboxing match) Josh Barnett vs. Hideki Suzuki (pro-wrestling match) Yuichiro Nagashima vs. Katsunori Kikuno (mixed-rules bout) Jerome Le Banner vs. Tim Sylvia (pro-wrestling match) Peter Aerts vs. Kazuyuki Fujita (pro-wrestling match) Atsushi Sawada and Shinichi Suzukawa vs. Kazushi Sakuraba and Katsuyori Shibata (pro-wrestling match) Hiroyuki Takaya vs. Takeshi “Lion” Inoue Shinya Aoki vs. Satoru Kitaoka Fedor Emelianenko vs. Satoshi Ishii

Posted in: vs, dream, year, japan, prowrestling

DREAM Fight for Japan New Year's Eve Preview and Predictions

Mixed martial arts may not be the hot trend anymore in Japan, but that hasn't stopped Japanese fight promotion DREAM from putting together one of the best MMA events we've seen all year in the Land of the Rising Sun. Fight For Japan: Genki Desu Ka Omisoka 2011 will air live on HDNet at 1 AM ET on Saturday, December 31, and it will feature a main event heavyweight showdown between former Pride heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko and 2008 Beijing Olympic Judo gold medalist Satoshi Ishii. Also featured on the card, DREAM lightweight kingpin Shinya Aoki will defend his title against former Sengoku lightweight champion Satoru Kitaoka, and DREAM featherweight champion Hiroyuki Takaya will attempt to defend his crown against the resurgent Takeshi "Lion" Inoue. If that's not enough action to get you excited, check out the rest of this phenomenal card below in our complete preview of Fight For Japan: Genki Desu Ka Omisoka 2011: Heavyweight: Fedor Emelianenko (32-4-0-1) vs. Satoshi Ishii (4-1-1) When this fight was first announced, I was hesitant to deem the bout an easy lay-up for Fedor. For many years, Fedor's well-balanced, destructive attack dismantled any and all challengers to his title as the greatest of all-time, and once he had laid waste to the heavyweight talent pool in Pride -- he was as easy of a lock as Georges St. Pierre or Anderson Silva in beating anyone he was matched up against. Today, that isn't the case. Three straight losses have mortalized the 'Last Emperor', and 2008 Beijing Olympic Judo gold medalist Satoshi Ishii is waiting his turn to take advantage of Fedor's fall from grace. Unfortunately for Ishii, Fedor proved that he can evolve when he beat up UFC veteran Jeff Monson at M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Monson in late November, uncharacteristically kicking Monson's leg into bits and pieces over three rounds of action. A measured approach from Fedor kept him out of harm's way while evading every attack that Monson could muster. It's likely that a similar gameplan is in the works against Ishii. Ishii's strengths are in the clinch, and the only way he can ensure his own safety while scoring points against Fedor is if he can toss the Russian to the mat and dominate him positionally. That's going to be a tough strategy to implement if Fedor is moving laterally, popping off two-to-three strike combinations, and evading Ishii's counters. Fedor's experience and ringsmanship should assist him in maintaining that strategy. I don't anticipate him needing the entire fifteen minutes to win, and I fully expect Fedor to stun Ishii and finish him at some point. Fedor Emelianenko via TKO. Lightweight (Title Bout): Shinya Aoki (29-5-0-1) vs. Satoru Kitaoka (29-10-9) Strong grappling acts clash as DREAM lightweight champion Shinya Aoki meets former Sengoku lightweight champion Satoru Kitaoka for Aoki's second title defense on Saturday morning. Kitaoka is currently riding a four-fight win streak with notable victories over Willamy Freire, Jutaro Nakao, and Kuniyoshi Hironaka. Aoki submitted former WEC champion Rob McCullough, UFC veteran Rich Clementi, and Strikeforce veteran Lyle Beerbohm earlier in the year, extending his streak to six. Usually when two grapplers meet, the battle focuses on the secondary skills that each fighter possesses. In Aoki's case, he's worked extensively on improving his striking at Evolve MMA in Singapore while Kitaoka still sports a brutish striking style that's known in most parts of the world as brawling. On top of Kitaoka's lack of technique on the feet, he's inept at defending his face from incoming strikes, and his management skills, particularly in the cardio department, are lacking. Aoki has more than enough skill to submit Kitaoka once he tires him out, and he should be able to get there by peppering Kitaoka from range with his improved striking technique. Shinya Aoki via submission. Featherweight (Title Bout): Hiroyuki Takaya (16-9-1) vs. Takeshi Inoue (21-5) If I weren't such a hardcore fan of Japanese mixed martial arts, I'd probably hold a grudge against Takeshi Inoue. The 'Lion' singlehandedly beat down two 2011 World MMA Featherweight Scouting Report rankees in Taiki Tsuchiya and Koichiro Matsumoto earlier this year. As the editor of the report, I was disappointed, yet excited at the prospect of Inoue reviving his career after many thought it had been derailed from losses to Kazuyuki Miyata and Hatsu Hioki. Inoue provided further proof that his career had only gone on hiatus after he magnificently crushed UFC veteran Caol Uno at DREAM.17 in September, extending his current streak to three and declaring himself the clear cut challenger to the featherweight crown. He gets his wish on Saturday morning against title holder Hiroyuki Takaya. Takaya had the opposite experience of Inoue this year. A tremendous three-fight run in 2010 was capped off by an unanimous decision win over Bibiano Fernandes at Dynamite 2010 last year to win the featherweight strap. Four months later, Takaya shockingly dropped a split decision to Robbie Peralta on the Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley preliminary card. The loss was another nail in the coffin for fans hoping Japan's best could make an impact stateside. Takaya rebounded impressively against Kazuyuki Miyata at DREAM: Japan Grand Prix Final in July. It was a redeeming win for the disgraced 'Streetfight Bancho', but it's too little, too late for the 34-year-old. It doesn't get any easier for Takaya either. Inoue's power striking should give him problems, but as Taiki Tsuchiya proved in April -- speed can beat Inoue's defenses, an attribute that Takaya has used to beat many of foes in the past. Inoue's unorthodox Thai style of striking combined with his power has taken him to the promise land, and I fully expect him to take out Takaya, inevitably catching him at some point during the five-round affair. If he wins, it will cap off one of the most impressive runs by any fighter in 2011. K-1 PrimerBy Fraser Coffeen K-1 Rules: Yuta Kubo vs. Nils Widlund This is a 64kg fight that involves one of the best at that weight. Yuta Kubo is the winner of the 2011 K-1 World Max 63kg tournament, defeating Koya Urabe, Masaaki Noiri, and Kizaemon Saiga to take that crown. That's an impressive night of work. Prior to that big win, he was the runner-up in the 2010 tournament (losing in a great final to Tetsuya Yamato) and the runner-up in the 2009 Krush Lightweight tournament. Kubo is 24 years old, and his lanky frame and calm demeanor make him look like not a huge threat, but he is a very dangerous fighter, largely thanks to his ability to read his opponents and make in-fight adjustments. Kubo is an expert at finding holes, and if he can't find them, creating them. The best example of this was his 2010 win over Yoshimichi Matsumoto where Kubo drew Matsumoto into dropping his hand, then blasted him with a stiff head kick for the knock out. With a record of 30-4-1, Kubo has really come into his own in the past two years, establishing himself as perhaps THE top fighter at the weight. Widlund is a fun opponent, but honestly, he's here to show off Kubo. The Swedish fighter has experience primarily in Sanshou (the fighting style of Cung Le), with some kickboxing experience primarily in Europe. With that Sanshou background, I would expect him to bring some flashy elements to the fight. Those moves will make it exciting, but will likely spell his demise against the more calculating Kubo. K-1 Rules: Masaaki Noiri vs. Kengo Sonoda Again, this is a fight primarily to highlight one man, and in this case, it's Masaaki Noiri. The young fighter made an early name for himself in K-1, winning the 2009 K-1 Koshien tournament by beating the heavily pushed HIROYA at Dynamite!! 2009. Noiri has been in a number of big tournaments in the past few years, and has been a favorite in all of them, but it was at the recent Krush Supernova tournament that he finally reigned again, defeating HIROYA again and Koya Urabe to win that event. Noiri looked good in that outing, and has always been a fighter who uses his reach to his advantage nicely. Sonoda, like Noiri, came up through the K-1 Koshien system (basically a youth league), and has since made the transition to the big leagues. He was also in this year's Krush Supernova tournament, losing in the quarter finals. I don't see him posing much of a challenge to the technically superior, and more well traveled Noiri. Mixed rules fight (1R 3 minutes kickboxing, 2R 5 mins DREAM rules): Yuichiro "Jienotsu" Nagashima vs. Katsunori Kikuno This isn't actually a K-1 rules fight entirely, as like last year's Nagashima vs. Shinya Aoki fight, it will be fought under mixed rules - a 3 minute K-1 round to start, and a 5 minute MMA round after that with an automatic draw if it goes the distance. Last year's fight under these rules was a bizarre affair, with MMA fighter Aoki dodging K-1 fighter Jienotsu for the K-1 round, only to be caught with a knee in the opening seconds of the MMA round and knocked out. Nagashima later revealed that he was terrified of the MMA portion, and vowed he would never fight MMA rules again, but here we are. Jienotsu is one of the most colorful figures in the kickboxing scene. The K-1 MAX (70kg) fighter is known for being a cosplayer, meaning he dresses up as typically female characters from anime. That flamboyant personality got him booked consistently in K-1 starting in 2009, but he had trouble stepping up from the smaller shows he was previously competing on, and went 1-3 in his first 4 in K-1. In 2010, things came together for Nagashima, who worked with legendary MAX fighter Masato and greatly improved his technique, focusing on his counter-punching. With his improved skills, he won the 2010 K-1 MAX Japan tournament and made his way to the K-1 MAX 2010 World Grand Prix final 8, where he was defeated by Mike Zambidis. This year, as K-1 has been closed, he has primarily been working as a professional wrestler for Inoki's IGF, where he recently had the odd honor of pinning the 300+ pound Bob Sapp. Kikuno is an MMA fighter who started his career with great success in Japan's DEEP organization. He made the switch to Dream in 2009, turning heads with a stoppage win over Andre Dida and a tough loss to Eddie Alvarez. He's struggled to find consistency at the higher levels though. Unlike Aoki, Kikuno is more of a stand-up fighter, who likely won't be afraid to engage in the K-1 round with Jienotsu. Kikuno has an odd style to his stand-up, partially derived from his experience in Kyokushin Karate. It gives him a strange stance, that has worked for him so far, but I think will cause him troubles against Nagashima. Look for this to be primarily a K-1 fight, with Nagashima to take the win after some goofiness from both men. Quick Picks Welterweight: Hayato Sakurai (35-12-2) vs. Ryo Chonan (20-12): Chonan getting knocked out cold by one of Japan's guilty pleasures in Taisuke Okuno at Soul of Fight last year only confirmed my suspicions that Chonan has faded quickly. Despite Sakurai's four-fight losing streak, all of his losses have been against legitimate competition. It could be argued that Chonan hasn't beaten a legit mixed martial artist since UFC 88. Sakurai gets back in the win column. Hayato Sakurai via TKO. Featherweight: Tatsuya Kawajiri (29-7-2) vs. Kazuyuki Miyata (11-8): This clash of the relentless wrestlers has flown under the radar for most fans. I have a feeling it's because many fans saw pro wrestling bouts and didn't look at the rest of the card. That's too bad because Kawajiri vs. Miyata could be an epic war for the ages. Kawajiri at 145 lbs. is a tough match-up for anyone, but Miyata has the wrestling ability to match his strength. Unfortunately, Miyata's striking is nowhere near what Kawajiri can offer. Kawajiri is from from an elite striker, but he has a strong chin and stopping power. Kawajiri can work over Miyata in all areas of this fight, but I think it's easier for Kawajiri to keep this fight standing and batter Miyata to a decision. Tatsuya Kawajiri via decision. Women's MMA fight: Megumi Fujii (24-1) vs. Karla Benitez (6-1): Mega Megu is a -1700 favorite against Benitez. While I normally don't just run with the odds, Spain isn't a MMA powerhouse, and I actually saw Benitez lose to Katja Kankaanpaa at Cage 16 in September. How's that for hardcore? Mega Megu wins this easily. Megumi Fujii via submission. DREAM Bantamweight GP Semis: Bibiano Fernandes (12-3) vs. Rodolfo Marquez Diniz (14-1): Marques put together an impressive performance against Yusup Saadulaev in the opening round, but he'll meet his demise in the semifinals against former featherweight champion Bibiano Fernandes. Marques has the grappling prowess to hang with Fernandes on the ground, but his striking isn't on par with Fernandes. Unless he finds a way to bring this fight to the ground, Fernandes outlands Marques and wins the two-round affair easily. Bibiano Fernandes via decision. Note: It took Marques three attempts to make weight. DREAM Bantamweight GP Semis: Masakazu Imanari (23-9-2) vs. Antonio Banuelos (19-7): Banuelos hasn't been submitted in ten years, and his takedown defense is very good. Unless Imanari pulls out a somersault like he did against Mike Brown, it's going to be tough for him to get close. Strangely, this hasn't stopped Imanari from winning in the past. His bizarre approach usually causes hesitance from his opponents, and Imanari knows how to take full advantage. It's difficult to see how Imanari wins here. Then again, most of his past bouts have been complete shocks to me. Banuelos is a solid underdog pick, but I'll trust that Imanari finds a way to the ground and wins. Masakazu Imanari via submission. DREAM Bantamweight GP Semis: Hideo Tokoro (30-24-1) vs. Yusup Saadulaev (8-1-1): Despite losing to Rodolfo Marques in the opening round, 2011 World MMA Scouting Report-ranked fighter Yusup Saadulaev put on an impressive performance, threatening Marques and hanging with the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu whiz on the ground. Tokoro offers a similar style in that he's more grappling centric than a puncher. The major difference, however, is that Tokoro relies heavily on quick transitions and submissions versus the grinding style of grappling that Marques implements. That could spell disaster for Tokoro if he's too aggressive and leaves himself open to strikes. Saadulaev is no slouch on the feet, boasting a powerful Muay Thai stand-up game that has led to many of his submission wins. Since Saadulaev was one of our picks on the 2011 World MMA Scouting Report, I'll be shamefully biased and pick Yusup to win. Yusup Saadulaev via decision. Pro-Wrestling Is Real IGF rules match: Jerome Le Banner vs. Tim SylviaIGF rules match: Kazuyuki Fujita vs. Peter AertsIGF rules match: Atsushi Sawada & Wakakirin vs. Kazushi Sakuraba & Katsuyori ShibataIGF rules match: Josh Barnett vs. Hideki Suzuki Yeah right. You guys really thought I'd pick these? Poll Pick your horse: Fedor Emelianenko vs. Satoshi Ishii, Shinya Aoki vs. Satoru Kitaoka Fedor, Aoki Fedor, Kitaoka Ishii, Aoki Ishii, Kitaoka 5 votes | Results

Posted in: fight, vs, year, aoki, fedor

Five Ounces 2011 Year-End Awards: Bummers, Bravado, and Brouhahas

The final week of 2011 has arrived, and though the year may not have delivered on the public’s long-standing dream of flying cars and laser-blasters it was certainly a period filled with memorable months from a Mixed Martial Arts viewpoint. We witnessed champions fall in dramatic fashion, prospects rise from the ranks to become divisional kings, and numerous fighters emerge victorious by the skin of their teeth. We saw shocking signings and ridiculous releases; countless classics and numerous nod-offers; moves in the ring unlike any other before and some hopefully never seen again. With the close of the year, Five Ounces of Pain is bringing you our annual awards as we wind things down and get ready for the adventures 2012 will undoubtedly bring. Over the next few days we will announce our winners in somewhat unique categories with a final batch of standard distinctions handed out on Monday, January 2, once all the year’s performances have been turned in. As always, 5 Oz. invites our readers to offer their own opinions in the “Comments” section on who should have taken home the hardware (or in this case digital love). We would not be here without you, and rest assured the Staff not only appreciates your contributions from a “page view” standpoint, but genuinely enjoys reading our community’s take on topics. Have an incredibly fun, albeit safe, NYE weekend! – Most Epic Event – UFC 139: Any event featuring one of MMA’s all time greatest bouts is surely going down as a memorable one. When an event contains not only an all time classic, but some breathtaking action from top to bottom as well, it has to go down as the best of the year. From the very first Facebook fight to the epic main event, UFC 139 delivered on every level and then some. After some terrific finishes on the prelims, the main card started somewhat slowly with Stephan Bonnar’s dominant but unspectacular win over Kyle Kingsbury. However, the pace quickly picked up once again after that, as Martin Kampmann and Rick Story battled in a highly entertaining affair that saw the Xtreme Couture product edge out his foe by the slimmest of margins. Urijah Faber then produced one of the best finishing sequence ever witnessed inside the Octagon to dispose of Brian Bowles, before Wanderlei Silva rolled back the years with a vintage cringe-inducing beating of former Strikeforce middleweight champ Cung Le. But the night would belong to Dan Henderson and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, who put on one of the most thrilling bouts in MMA history, which was later deemed by many to be the best fight of all time. While that notion is debatable, the fact that Henderson and “Shogun” produced one for the ages is anything but, making UFC 139 worthy of being called 2012’s most epic event. – Best Performance in a Losing Role – Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 139: I have a hard time calling “Shogun” a loser in his fight at UFC 139 against Henderson, not only because I thought he won the fight or, at worst, it should have been ruled a draw, but when you go five rounds with “Hendo” at light heavyweight, live to tell about it, and put on what many are calling one of the best UFC fights of all-time then I think loser is a pretty harsh term. Seemingly done multiple times during the bout, Rua managed to survive multiple “H-Bombs” and, like a true warrior, fought back with Ginn-Su swords and ninja stars. Rua displayed the kind of heart that Edgar Allen Poe wrote about in his famous short-story. – Most Disappointing Moment – Georges St. Pierre’s inability to fight: GSP is one of the premier talents in MMA; a top pound-for-pound fighter whose athleticism and technique are rarely matched on any level in the sport. However, while he may possess a spectacular Superman Punch, he is in fact a mere mortal as proven by a series of injuries shelving him for more than a year. To endure the roller-coaster ride from the past few months has been rough in particular, seeing two fights with Nick Diaz laid to waste and a third against Carlos Condit experience the same fate. Heal up, champ! “Da Riddum” Nation needs you! Check back in tomorrow when we discuss the awards for Most Meteoric Rise, “Who Saw That Coming,” and Old Timer of the Year! You can also catch yesterday’s honors to see who took home the Beatdown of the Year, Trash-Talk Gone Wrong, and “Sometimes These Things Happen in MMA” trophies… PHOTO CREDIT – COMBAT LIFESTYLE

Posted in: ufc, fight, time, event, year

Phan Feels Like the ‘Old Dog’ Against Hettes

Nam Phan is only 28 years old, but he sees himself as the grizzled veteran ahead of his UFC 141 bout Friday against Jim “The Kid” Hettes.

Posted in: year, phan, hette, jim “, dog ’

Assuncao: Fear of Failure a Motivating Factor in Second UFC Tour

Junior Assuncao remembers what it feels like to lose, even though he has not experienced a defeat in three years, seven months and one day

Posted in: ufc, year, assuncao, assuncao fear, ufc tour

Gil Martinez Blog: A VERY Happy New Year!

Christmas was great. I hung out with my family and friends and had dinner at Ray Sefo’s house. I ate more at Thanksgiving but I still ate way too much during Christmas. I’ll be at UFC 141 on Friday. I don’t have any fighter on the card so I’ll be able to enjoy all the fights as a fan. As far as the main event, I’m leaning towards Alistair Overeem. Brock Lesnar is a great wrestler and is a big, strong guy, but Overeem is just as big and strong. He doesn’t have the same wresting background but he has a good submission game and is striking is at another level. I really like the Donald Cerrone vs. Nate Diaz fight. They’re both tough as nails and have no quit in them. It should be a great fight. I don’t know who is going to win. It’s too close to call because they’re so evenly matched. It’s going to be a great fight though. I don’t think their paths have ever crossed but they’re both there to prove something and they’ve built up a genuine dislike. It’s going to be a crazy fight. The plan for New Year’s Eve is up in the air but I will most likely end up at Randy Couture’s house to ring in 2012 with friends and family. We’ve also talked about getting a table at a club. A couple of my friends want to go to the strip, but I’ve done that plenty of times and it gets a little too crazy, even for me. I have a New Year’s resolution to stick to training more jiu-jitsu. I’ve done a few classes with Vinny Magalhaes. He’s an amazing instructor. My schedule has been crazy but in 2012 I plan on working my schedule around his so I can be in his class at least once a day. I also want to improve my knowledge of the game and be one of the best coaches in MMA. Those are my goals for next year. After the tiny bit of time off for NYE it will be back to the grind preparing fighters. I’ve been working with Vitor Belfort and he’s been looking sharp. The training camp started a little slow but things have picked up. I like the momentum we’ve got right now and where things are at. I know Anthony Johnson is a tough opponent and I think he’s going to be even stronger at 185 because he doesn’t have to cut weight, but the stuff we’ve been working on is a good game plan. We’ve been studying Anthony and we have some things we’re going to do to avoid his takedowns. I like where Vitor’s head is right now and he’s really excited. We know Anthony is a dangerous opponent and we’re not taking him lightly. We know to get another title shot we can’t have any backwards steps. The team is working well together and his jiu-jitsu coach, Gilbert Durinho, is one of the best out there. We plan on leaving for Brazil on January 3. It’s summer time over there and our hotel is on the beach, so I’ll definitely have to resist the urge to get into some trouble. That’s it for this week. Thanks for reading my blogs this year. I look forward to bringing you more insight in 2012. Have a great NYE! Until next week make sure to keep up with me on Twitter (@mastermitter) and make sure to have the happiest of holidays! PHOTO CREDIT – GILMARTINEZBOXING.COM Tweet

Posted in: fight, ’t, year, ’ve, ’re

Dream New Year's Eve Predictions

Filed under: DREAMWill Fedor Emelianenko continue his winning ways on New Year's Eve in Japan? Or will Satoshi Ishii take an enormous step forward in his MMA career with a huge upset? Will Japanese stars Shinya Aoki, Hiroyuki Takaya and Tatsuya Kawajiri put on impressive performances? Will American fans manage to stay awake after UFC 141 and watch several more hours of fighting into the wee hours of Saturday morning? We'll attempt to answer those questions and more as we predict the winners of this year's New Year's Eve event in Japan below. What: Dream: Fight for Japan New Year 2011 Where: Saitama Super Arena, Saitama, Japan When: Friday late night, the HDNet broadcast will begin at 1 AM ET, just after the conclusion of UFC 141. Predictions on all the MMA fights below. Fedor Emelianenko vs. Satoshi Ishii Fedor is 5-0 fighting in Japan on New Year's Eve, and it would be an enormous upset if he doesn't improve to 6-0 against Ishii, a former Olympic judo gold medalist who is 4-1-1 in his MMA career. Fedor has obviously declined significantly from the days when he was the top fighter in the sport, but I don't think he's fallen so far that he'll lose to Ishii. This should be a relatively easy win for Fedor. Pick: Emelianenko Shinya Aoki vs. Satoru Kitaoka Aoki is arguably Japan's best pound-for-pound fighter, but he'll have his hands full with Kitaoka, who's a good grappler and has beaten some very solid opponents, including Carlos Condit, Paul Daley and Takanori Gomi. I see this one going the distance and being closer than most people think, with Aoki eking out a close decision. Pick: Aoki Hiroyuki Takaya vs. Takeshi Inoue Takaya is making his second defense of the Dream featherweight title, which he won by defeating Bibiano Fernandes on New Year's Eve last year. Inoue is coming off a great head kick knockout of Caol Uno, but Takaya's kickboxing is better than Inoue, and I like him to win by decision. Pick: Takaya Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Kazuyuki Miyata Kawajiri dropped to featherweight and looked great in his recent win over Joachim Hansen. His striking will be too much for Miyata. Pick: Kawajiri Hayato Sakurai vs. Ryo Chonan Both of these guys are past their primes (Sakurai is 36 and has lost four in a row; Chonan is 35 and has fought low-level competition since losing three of four in the UFC a few years ago), but I think Sakurai has a little more gas left in the tank and will avenge Chonan's 2003 victory. Pick: Sakurai Megumi Fujii vs. Karla Benitez Fujii is one of the best pound-for-pound female fighters in the world, and Benitez is simply not at her level. This should be an easy submission victory for Fujii. Pick: Fujii Bantamweight Tournament Semifinal: Bibiano Fernandes vs. Rodolfo Marques Fernandes, the former Dream featherweight title, is more comfortable fighting at bantamweight, and he has to be considered the favorite to win this tournament. I look for him to beat Marques easily. Pick: Fernandes Bantamweight Tournament Semifinal: Masakazu Imanari vs. Antonio Banuelos Banuelos was released by the UFC after losing a decision to Miguel Torres early this year, but he's a dangerous opponent for anyone and a much better striker than Imanari. I like Banuelos to win by TKO. Pick: Banuelos Bantamweight Tournament Reserve Bout: Hideo Tokoro vs. Yusup Saadulaev Tokoro, who lost a split decision to Banuelos in the tournament quarterfinals, should win the reserve bout against Saadulaev, who lost to Marques. Pick: Tokoro Bantamweight Tournament Final: Winner of Imanari/Banuelos vs. Winner of Fernandes/Marques Fernandes has an excellent opportunity to make a statement that he's the best bantamweight outside Zuffa, and I think he'll put on a show by beating Banuelos in the tournament finale. Pick: Fernandes Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: vs, year, tournament, japan, fernande

Just a nice compilation of slow-mo KO's from this year.

submitted by Diss1dent [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: ko, year, compilation, slowmo kos, slowmo

UFC 141 Breakdown: The Main Event

Over a year after a devastating loss to Cain Velasquez, former UFC champ Brock Lesnar makes his long awaited return to the Octagon to face off against former Strikeforce heavyweight title-holder and UFC newcomer Alistair Overeem. Eager to finish 2011 on a high, both men will be looking to put a difficult year behind them. Earlier in the year, Lesnar’s career was once again in jeopardy after being re-diagnosed with diverticulitis, while Overeem’s turmoil saw him drop out of the Strikeforce heavyweight Grand Prix and subsequently released from the promotion, before being predictably signed by the very company that owned his previous employer. And because there is never enough outside-the-cage drama in this sport, the Dutchman found himself in hot water with the Nevada State Athletic Commission after some drug testing related issues, but was ultimately cleared to fight. Luckily, the stage has been set for this mega clash of the titans, and the heavyweight behemoths will finally lock horns this Friday night. Heavyweight Fight: Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair Overeem Once again, Lesnar will be entering a fight with question marks surrounding his health. Perhaps more worryingly, he is coming off a fourteen months layoff, most of which spent outside of the gym. When Lesnar first burst onto the scene, he was deemed to be someone learning on the job, and the general consensus was that at such an early stage in his career, he will improve on a fight-to-fight basis. While that notion might still hold true, Lesnar’s progress has certainly been hindered significantly in the past two years, as injuries kept him out of the cage and training camp. Lesnar’s striking in particular, has held him back considerably. Throughout his young career, Lesnar’s stand-up has consisted of a straight right hand, occasionally set up by a halfhearted jab, and very little else. In his defense, his frame will always be a major limitation when it comes to his striking, which is partially why he looks so stiff on the feet, especially compared to how fluid his movement looks in grappling oriented situations. However unimproved his offensive striking will look, it will be vital for Lesnar to rectify the defensive mistakes he has committed in the past. When pressured, Lesnar reacts awkwardly. His immediate instinct is to backpedal in a straight line rather than switch levels and drop for a takedown, or simply circle out. In such situations, Lesnar would at least need to attempt to cut his opponent off and clinch. Overeem brings a striking acumen that none of Lesnar’s previous opponents possessed. However, he has thus far failed to translate some of the aspects that led him to K-1 glory to MMA. Most notably, Overeem’s ability to slip punches and counter with power shots — especially a right hook — has been missing in his MMA fights. Additionally, the Fabricio Werdum bout saw a Overeem content to throw single strikes rather move forward and put together combinations. Given Lesnar’s apparent inability to hold off any barrage of punches, Overeem would be best served to let his hands go and throw with volume, especially given his unique blend of power and technique. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, overeem, heavyweight, year, lesnar

2011 World MMA Scouting Report Review - Featherweights

This is a guest post by Rory MacLeod (smoogy) A year ago, we selected the inaugural class of fighters that would make up the first edition of the World MMA Scouting Report. It's been a gratifying experience to see some of the athletes we selected go on to succeed in major fight opportunities, and a heartbreaking one to see others come up just short. For each pick that claimed a significant title in 2011, there were at least two that didn't make their breakthrough, or fell off the rails entirely. Here's a recap to give you a sampling of the highlights (and lowlights) from a tumultuous time in the careers of these MMA prospects. 1. Antonio Carvalho (13-4) Antonio Carvalho was a controversial top pick for our featherweight report last year due to his age, as well as his prominent place in Shooto's 143lb division prior to Zuffa's adoption of the 145 lb. weight class. But considering his lack of mileage due to a self-imposed hiatus from the sport between 2008-2010, we had a hunch that "Pato" would try to make up for lost time in a division that appeared to have left him behind. After a June win over UFC veteran Doug Evans (13-10) put him at 3-0 since his return, the UFC inked Antonio to a contract and set his debut for August against Brazilian standout Yuri Alcantara (26-3). An injury to Carvalho in training scratched the bout, and now he will face the man who replaced him in that bout, Felipe Arantas (13-4), at UFC 142 in Rio on January 14th. At 32, he's hardly the oldest rookie the promotion has ever seen. 2. Taiki Tsuchiya (9-3) After running his Shooto win streak to six straight, including a win over former champ Hideki Kadowaki (14-11-3), Taiki Tsuchiya was booked for the biggest fight of his young career against another former title holder, the legendary "Lion" Takeshi Inoue (21-5) at Shooto: Tradition 2011 in April. Tsuchiya held his own for the first half of the three rounder with effective use of his uptempo, fleet-footed striking style. But like many challengers before him, he was unable to sustain his work rate and weather Inoue's heavy blows as the fight wore on, forcing Taiki to be saved by the referee late in the second round. Unfortunately, he hasn't fought since, and there's been no word on what's next for him since vacating the Shooto Pacific Rim lightweight championship after the loss. 3. Mark Adams (6-0) Having posted a perfect 5-0 record two years into his campaign as a professional fighter, it wasn't a surprise when Mark Adams got the call to challenge for the British Association of Mixed Martial Arts (BAMMA) featherweight championship against Germany's Alan Omer (17-3) in May 2010. As the inexperienced underdog, Adams wasn't expected to control the fight from top position for the full five rounds and defend everything thrown at him from Omer's dangerous guard like he did. Though the decision was hotly disputed, the judges favored the grappling of the Portsmouth, England-based athlete, bringing the belt back to the UK. A February title defense against journeyman Robbie Olivier (17-9-1) was cruelly cancelled due to a snowstorm, and the promotion hasn't found space for Adams on any of their three subsequent events; his span between pro fights now stands at 18 months (and counting). 4. Alan Omer (17-3) As a Kurdish-German former Iraqi refugee, Alan Omer isn't a stranger to turbulent times. While it hurt Omer's standing in the UK to take the BAMMA featherweight championship off Paul Reed (19-9-1) only to drop it to unheralded Mark Adams (6-0) in his next fight, he hasn't let the setback faze him. Since then he's built a three fight win streak, mostly recently submitting Dutchman Joziro Boye (4-1-1) with an omoplata in Germany. Omer was passed over for inclusion in The Ulitmate Fighter 14; UFC ought to take another look now. 5. Koichiro Matsumoto (15-3-1) It took winning 11 of 12 fights in Deep across four years for promotional featherweight champion Koichiro Matsumoto to get his big shot, a featherweight contest with "Lion" Takeshi Inoue on the DREAM: Fight for Japan card in May. Once again, Inoue played spoiler to a younger, up and coming countryman, wearing Matsumoto down for the TKO finish 6:51 into the ten minute opening round. Koichiro appeared to rebound nicely with a second round stoppage over Yoshida Dojo prospect Tatsunao Nagakura (6-2) at Deep 55 in August to retain the title, but afterwards made the stunning announcement that he was retiring from MMA to pursue a career in comedy. Matsumoto left the door open for a return at some point, so at just 25, let us hope he fails as a standup comedian. 6. Tom Niinimaki (16-5-1) There may not be another prospect in Europe who is as skilled and well prepared for an opportunity on the world stage as Tom Niinimaki. Unbeaten as a featherweight and currently riding a seven fight win streak, he's also one of the best in his division on the Euro grappling circuit and is nationally ranked in amateur boxing. For whatever reason, Niinimaki can't find any opportunities outside of Finland, and the lack of capable opposition nationally leaves him with few worthy matches unless international opponents agree to fight him on his home turf. It was almost a year between fights when Tom dispatched France's Johnny Frachey (14-9) via knockout in 69 seconds at Cage 15 in November. Maybe he should beat up his manager next because at 29, Niinimaki is ready to make the leap sooner rather than later. 7. Marcos Vinicius Costa Silva (7-2) Like 2011's #6 Bantamweight Adrian Wooley, a little luck would have gone a long way for Marcos Vinicius in 2011, but there was little to be found. He followed a March split decision loss in his home base of Recife, Brazil to Brazilian Top Team journeyman Janailson Lima (24-14) with another one to Nova Uniao's Rodolfo Marques (14-1) in April. A win in the latter fight could have put him in DREAM's inaugural Bantamweight Grand Prix to boot. Where's a hometown decision when you need one? To add insult to injury, a December rebound fight in Recife Fighting Championships was scratched at the last minute. Expect Marcos to resurface in RFC in 2012; he remains bound to the region as the head instructor of his NineNine academy. 8. Matt Fiordirosa (14-1) When we check in with Matt Fiordirosa a year ago, it seemed like "Sunshine" had his stop-and-go career back on track. Following a three year break from professional fighting, two wins in 2010 for the Ingleside, Illinois based fighter put him back at the top of the discussion of the state's best fighters. Fiordirosa has other career aspirations outside of fighting, and his studies at Trinity International University have kept him out of the cage for 2011. He further splits his time as the head wrestling coach of nearby Lake Forest High School. Matt is still listed as a member of Team Curran, but there is no word on if or when he will return to action. 9. Isaac DeJesus (9-4) Back in February 2010, Isaac DeJesus was fresh off of clobbering Nam Phan (17-9) in under three minutes to take the vacant Tachi Palace Fights featherweight championship. An opporunity in a major promotion loomed large, but a disastrous four-fight winless streak suggests he may have found his ceiling as a fighter. A misguided move up to face Rob McCullough (19-8) at 160lbs. earned DeJesus a first round TKO beat down. He failed to make weight for a title defense against The Ultimate Fighter 14's Micah Miller (17-4), so while he was submitted in that fight, he retained the title in the process. A May 2011 knockout of Fresno's Russ Miura (9-1) was overturned due to Isaac testing positive for marijuana, and the belt was vacated. DeJesus was awarded another chance at the strap in December, but Bellator veteran Georgi Karakhanyan (17-3-1) took it home with a slick first round triangle choke submission. Tachi Palace promoter Jeremy Luchau continues to give Isaac good opportunities, but he simply hasn't risen to the occasion as expected. 10. Mitch Gagnon (8-1) It would be fair to say that some of the 2011 featherweights fell short of expectations (see above), but at least Sudbury, Ontario's rising star Mitch Gagnon ends this review on a pleasant note. The reigning Ringside MMA featherweight champion first defended his belt in April against Rejean Groulx (5-1) at the Bell Centre in Montreal. The back and forth affair was one of the best fights of the year in Canada, punctuated by a devastating third round slam that put Groulx away. Mitch moved down to challenge for the bantamweight championship in November against Stephane Pelletier (5-1), but a late change of opponent due to injury meant he had to settle for a catchweight contest with Detroit's David Harris (6-3-1). Gagnon made short work of the late replacement, latching on with an arm-in guillotine to score the submission win at 2:09 of round one. Gagnon will now face Johnny Bedford as a late replacement for Eddie Wineland on the UFC on Fox 2 card next month.

Posted in: fight, fighter, round, year, featherweight

The MMA Chain Gang: A Depressing Review of 2011's Criminal Activities

Most ‘crimes’ in MMA take the form of inept judging and flagrant rule breaking, but this past year many professional fighters were caught up in activities that landed them inside of a very different sort of cage. Get ready for a trip down memory lane in our most depressing “booking roundup” of the year. Here’s your run down of 2011’s biggest arrests, convictions, acquittals, and sentencings.

Posted in: mma, year, memory lane, activity, chain

For Donald Cerrone, Nate Diaz ‘Just Another Name on the List’ at UFC 141

‘Cowboy’ says he’ll fight again in February if UFC will let him LAS VEGAS – It’s no small feat to get two wins in the UFC in one calendar year. Three is outstanding. Four is phenomenal. Going...

Posted in: ufc, year, ’ll fight, calendar year, list ’

Alistair Overeem - Strictly Business

In December of 2010, Alistair Overeem fought four times. A year later, he will slack off (note sarcasm) and fight just once. So when he had to break his training camp in the Netherlands earlier this month to travel to London for a mandated pre-fight drug test as a condition of his licensure by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, it was a mere hiccup in the life of “The Reem.”“Last year I had four fights in one month – the K-1 tournament and the Dream title fight – and a lot of media stuff in between and a lot of distractions,” he said. “Compared to December of 2010, this is a walk in the park.”It’s not the usual reaction you would expect, but after 47 pro MMA fights and over a dozen more in kickboxing, you get used to adapting on the fly. Overeem had to do it when he was released from Strikeforce, where he was heavyweight champion, only to be signed up shortly thereafter by the UFC. Then it was a change in gym and management teams. And then came the illness of his mother, which prompted him to leave his new camp in Las Vegas to go back home to the Netherlands, leading to the miscommunication that forced him to have to go through the stringent process of getting licensed to fight this Friday night in the UFC 141 main event against Brock Lesnar. That’s some 2011.“It’s been a little bit hectic, but the good thing about the whole preparation is that I started on time, I put the work in, my conditioning is there, technique wise I’m there and I’m in great shape,” he said. “I believe as a champion you have to be able to deal with setbacks, and that’s exactly how I see it. It’s a setback, and nothing more than that, and this is my job. You have to get a license, and if there are some conditions to that license, you fulfill them because it’s your job. So I see it as part of what I do, and if you gotta do it, you gotta do it. If it meant that I had to go to the North Pole and back to do my job, it’s what I do. I can also add that I like my job and I’m one of the fortunate people that have been able to make my sport, which is my passion, my job, and sometimes you have these setbacks, but you adapt. That’s what it’s all about. You adapt to setbacks. I’ve had a lot of setbacks in my life and my career, and I’ve always adapted, and compared to some other setbacks that I’ve had in my life, this is just a small detail thing. I’m not even worried about it.”And luckily, at the end of this rocky road, there’s a fight, one Overeem has been waiting for with baited breath, but one that is also a day away.“This is the biggest fight ever and I can only be excited,” he said. “Brock is a dream match, I think the fans will agree on that, and I never thought the fight would be possible because I was outside of the UFC, and now that I’m in the UFC, I’m just so excited.” That’s not surprising, considering that a win over the former UFC heavyweight champion puts Overeem in a 2012 title fight against current champ Junior dos Santos, and also that he apparently does his best work in the last month of the year, going a combined 10-1 (5-0 in MMA) in December bouts over the years. So when you’re talking about what to give the 31-year old for Christmas, getting him a fight usually does the trick.“You want to end the year good,” said Overeem. “I’ve had a lot of fights at year’s end, and I’m used to it. I’m actually looking forward to the fight. It might sound crazy to some people, but I’m looking forward to the fight itself, the attention, the knockout that I’m gonna make, and it’s gonna be great. I worked hard for this moment for the last four months. I’ve been dedicated, and December 30th is gonna come up and I’m looking forward to that.”When it comes to confidence, Overeem has been glowing with it ever since the Lesnar bout was announced. Maybe it’s the fact that the big man from Minnesota has been out for over a year due to his surgery for diverticulitis, or that in his last bout against Cain Velasquez, he was stopped in the first round, showing plenty of holes in his standup game. Whatever it is, the former K-1 World Grand Prix champion makes no bones about it – if Lesnar hasn’t sewn up those standup holes, it may be a quick night.“I’m sure he’s gonna work on that because he had a lot of criticism about it, and I’m sure we’re going to see a Brock better equipped to deal with that situation,” said Overeem of Lesnar’s striking. “Then again, there’s a difference, because if you think Cain hits hard, wait until you see me hit him.”On the flip side, many expect the outcome of the fight to be determined by where it takes place. On the feet – Overeem. On the mat – Lesnar. What many forget though is that Overeem has more submission wins than knockouts (19 to 14) in MMA, making him dangerous on the mat as well, even if he doesn’t care to go there.“I am more of a striker these days,” he said. “I prefer striking over submissions and I prefer knockouts over a tap. I don’t know if people underestimate my submission game. If they do, it’s only to my advantage. If they don’t, they should take it into account.”And to be clear, he hasn’t neglected the ground game in training for this bout.“Of course, I work on everything and I’m an all-around fighter and you have to be these days. You have to work on everything.”But is he getting the same level of training he got in his years as a member of the Golden Glory team. Overeem split with the group, which also handled his management, earlier this year, and when he left Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas to tend to his ailing mother, you had to wonder whether he was able to build a team in time. He says it was not an issue.“We had a plan for that, and that went into effect immediately when I left Golden Glory,” said Overeem. “Before, I was arranging all the sparring partners, and my team helped me with that. Of course, Golden Glory has excellent K-1 sparring partners, and in MMA I always needed a little bit extra, so I was already looking around for the past two years to expand on my knowledge of MMA and technique and sparring partners. We just expanded on that route and arranged for sparring partners and it’s been working fine.”Aiding in the transition is also the fact that in the UFC, his immediate future is already set should he beat Lesnar. It may seem like a little thing to those on the outside, but knowing what’s next should he win has taken the guesswork out of the equation for Overeem, and that’s a good thing coming from a situation in Strikeforce where he didn’t know what the future held.“Of course it works to my advantage,” he said. “I like certainty, and I think everybody likes certainty because that gives you the ability to plan stuff, and also for your family and relationships, it’s better to plan things ahead of time and it lets you get prepared.”Being in the biggest organization in the sport is pretty cool too.“People worldwide know UFC; they don’t even know mixed martial arts, but they know UFC,” he said. “So in that sense, it’s definitely bigger, there’s a lot more media attention and hey, I’m not complaining because this is part of the game, and I’m glad I’m in this position because I worked very hard to get here.”Now it’s time for that work to pay off, but in keeping with his personality, he’s keeping emotions out of his day job.“I don’t really have any emotions when I see him,” said Overeem of Lesnar. “I saw him before the Cain vs. dos Santos fight for the first time, and he seems like an okay guy. I do watch his fights and I think his fights are entertaining. He’s a strong, big guy, a tremendous athlete with excellent wrestling, but there’s no emotional thing there when I look at him.”Call it strictly business.

Posted in: fight, overeem, i ’m, year, ’m

HDNet confirms live Japanese NYE insanity

Allah be praised, HDNet has confirmed that 'Genki Desu Ka Omisoka 2011' aka 'Fight for Japan: How are you! New Year!', aka 'That goofy MMA / pro wrestling NYE event' will be aired live and uncut in it's entire 9 hours of glory. If you were one of the 7 people who stayed up to watch last year's equivalent event you may remember some serious bullshit involving a two hour tape delay. Not gonna happen this year, which is nice since it made witty banter via the Fightlinker chat and twitter nearly impossible without dreaded spoilers. It all goes down at 1AM, just a short hour or two after Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem are set to slam together like giant horny alpha bucks.

Posted in: hour, year, brock lesnar, giant horny, year aka

2011 MMA Year in Review and Preview of UFC 141

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Posted in: ufc, year, review, preview, podbean

Figure skater Patrick Chan beats Georges St. Pierre to win 'Canadian Male Athlete of the Year'

Tough year for UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre. Sure, "Rush" successfully defended his 170-pound title against Jake Shields at UFC 129 back in April, but he also blew out his knee and was named one of the "Most Overhyped Athletes of 2011" by his own countrymen. That's not all. Today (Dec. 28, 2011), it was revealed that St. Pierre was also beat out by figure skater Patrick Chan in the voting for "Canadian Male Athlete of the Year," an award he's bagged and tagged for three straight years. Yahoo! Sports delivers the bad news: Chan, who will turn 21 on New Year's Eve, received 102 points in voting conducted by Canadian sports editors and broadcasters. He easily beat off tennis player Milos Raonic (70) and UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre (66). Hopefully they mean "P-Chiddy" beat out Raonic and St. Pierre. We certainly don't want to reinforce any negative stereotypes surrounding male figure skating. Has St. Pierre's stock reached an all-time low? Despite his nine fight winning streak, GSP is coming off four consecutive unanimous decision victories and hasn't finished a fight early since B.J. Penn threw in the towel way back at UFC 94 in Jan. 2009. Could a violent finish in his next fight -- which may not be until late 2012 -- do anything to reverse his declining popularity? What say you?

Posted in: ufc, pierre, st, year, st pierre

Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 115: King Mo Lawal, Year in Review Part 4

Bloody Elbow Radio, presented by Bad Boy, will be LIVE! at a special time of 1:30 p.m. ET/10:30 a.m. PT for another edition of the show. Join hosts Matt Bishop and Brian Hemminger as they discuss all the latest news in mixed martial arts, including the final installment in our "Year in Review" series. We'll take a look at both the best fights of the year 2011 and also the best show of the year. We'll also dish out other random thoughts about the year that was along with some of our favorite moments of the year. We'll be joined by former Strikeforce light-heavyweight champion "King" Mo Lawal as he prepares for his Jan. 7 fight with Lorenz Larkin at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine. We'll talk with him about that fight, the state of Strikeforce, his goals moving forward and much more. Bloody Elbow Radio is sponsored by Bad Boy. Bad Boy, the 2010 and 2011 World MMA Awards winner for "Best Technical Clothing Brand" can be found at BadBoyMMA.com. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook and tell them Bloody Elbow sent you. How to listen: Live/archived on the player below I iTunes I RSS feed I Direct download link (available after live broadcast) Want to get in touch with the BE Radio crew? Here's how you can do so: Phone: (347) 202-0934E-mail: bloodyelbowradio@gmail.comTwitter: @mbish86, @sprewellrimz or @gotahemmiBloodyElbow.com: Leave a question or comment in this post For those calling in, you will first be picked up by our producer who will take your information and get what you want to talk about. You will then be queued. We will try to get to everyone as soon as we can. We ask that you call in around the time of the topic you want to discuss. SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine

Posted in: strikeforce, radio, year, elbow, boy

Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 114: Johny Hendricks, Lorenz Larkin, Year in Review Part 3

Bloody Elbow Radio, presented by Bad Boy, will be LIVE! at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT for another edition of the show. Join hosts Matt Bishop and MMA Mania's Brian Hemminger as they discuss all the latest news in mixed martial arts. We'll touch on the continuing situation between the UFC and Spike TV and much more. We'll also continue our Year in Review series with "Knockout of the Year" and "Submission of the Year." We have two guests on tap for the show. We'll be joined by UFC welterweight Johny Hendricks as he prepares for his critical fight with Jon Fitch on Friday at UFC 141 in Las Vegas. We'll talk with him about what this fight means for his career, how he matches up with Fitch and much more. We'll also be joined by Strikeforce light-heavyweight Lorenz Larkin as he also heads into the biggest fight of his career next week with Muhammed Lawal at "Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine." We'll chat with him about his breakout in 2011, what he'll have to do to upset Lawal and much more. Bloody Elbow Radio is sponsored by Bad Boy. Bad Boy, the 2010 and 2011 World MMA Awards winner for "Best Technical Clothing Brand" can be found at BadBoyMMA.com. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook and tell them Bloody Elbow sent you. How to listen: Live/archived on the player below I iTunes I RSS feed I Direct download link (available after live broadcast) Want to get in touch with the BE Radio crew? Here's how you can do so: Phone: (347) 202-0934E-mail: bloodyelbowradio@gmail.comTwitter: @mbish86, @sprewellrimz or @gotahemmiBloodyElbow.com: Leave a question or comment in this post For those calling in, you will first be picked up by our producer who will take your information and get what you want to talk about. You will then be queued. We will try to get to everyone as soon as we can. We ask that you call in around the time of the topic you want to discuss. SBN coverage of UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine

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

11 for 11: No. 4 Injuries plague PPVs; Buy rates down

Injuries have plagued 2011 as many of the UFC’s top stars have had to postpone or delay fights this year. GSP, Brock Lesnar, Jon Jones, Frankie Edgar, Gray Maynard and Rashad Evans are just a sample of the fighters that were scratched from PPV cards due to injury. This does not even touch upon the number of fighters on the undercards that have been shuffled due to injury. Lorenzo Fertitta acknowledged this fact in a recent LA Times interview. Via the LA Times: …but our biggest issue lately has been 11 of our last 14 main events have fallen out and required replacement fighters. It’s like there’s been a hex over us. So it’s been a challenge to run the business how we’ve planned to. Fetitta indicated that if the UFC gets a run of of good health (and is able to book the fighters and fights it can), then the business will take off. Injuries haven’t helped with the PPV buys for the UFC. This year we saw a decrease in PPV numbers and only two shows (UFC 126 and UFC 129) reached 500K PPV buys. In 2010, 11 PPVs scored 500K or better. If the Brock Lesnar factor holds true, UFC 141 would be the only UFC PPV this year to go over 1 million PPV buys. At the beginning of the year, Dave Metzler believed that 2011 would be a rebuilding year for PPVs. But, he cited the need to build up the bantamweight and featherweight divisions and building new stars as reasons for smaller PPV numbers. Jon Jones is a new star that the UFC hopes to build into a PPV attraction. However, the PPV numbers do not reflect the bantamweight, featherweight or lightweights gaining traction as main eventers. As an example, the third fight between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard at UFC 136 received only 225K PPV buys. It will be interesting to see how 2012 will fare on the injury front. We already know Anderson Silva will not be available until mid-2012. This will delay a guaranteed PPV draw, a potential rematch with Chael Sonnen. Also, GSP will be out until late 2012 and the division will have an interim champion in the meantime. We will see if the UFC tries to push Jon Jones to the forefront as a PPV draw. Also, how will the UFC utilize the flyweight division. And, will the lighter weight divisions draw. We shall see at UFC 142 as Jose Aldo fights Chad Mendes in the main event. Of course another factor in addressing the PPV buys is PPV fatigue. There will be 16 PPVs this year with a PPV almost a bimonthly happening. Its hard for a fan to pay over $100 bucks a month in PPVs in addition to their normal cable/satellite bill. Couple the economic factor with the injuries to main events, and its a combination which likely led to the lower numbers. Photo via LA Times

Posted in: ufc, ppv, year, injury, number

March 2011 MMA Recap: Zuffa Buys Strikeforce, Jon Jones & Dan Henderson Win Gold

Competitors became companions, the youngest UFC champion in history was created while Strikeforce got one of their oldest and a California Kid made his presence felt in the Octagon. Let's look back at March 2011, one of the busiest and most important months in recent MMA history. March 2011 - The Most Important Business Month Ever? Most MMA fans will remember where they were when they got the news that Zuffa had purchased Strikeforce, putting the UFC's top competitor under their control. News broke unusually on a random Saturday afternoon, done via a video with MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani.We all had more questions than answers. Would the UFC and Strikeforce immediately merge? What about the champions? Why did they buy them? Was this good for the industry? As the year would play out, we got our answers but still have a lot of questions as we cross into 2012. But in many circles, that wasn't even the biggest story of the year. That would come later on in the year. **** Just a short time after the UFC/Strikeforce news, the UFC saw one of its power players complete his journey as Jon Jones became the youngest champion in UFC history with a dominant TKO victory over Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC 128. Weeks after he had earned the shot due to a win over Ryan Bader and an injury to top contender Rashad Evans, Jones found himself with a shiny belt and an aura of invincibility. Following the win, Dana White decreed that Jones would face Evans next and after hearing his friend say he would fight him, Evans was more than willing to step in against him. The Jones/Evans feud would play out throughout the year with everyone associated getting involved, including coaches. It turned out to be a sad situation and because of injuries, fans are still waiting to see if they will ever get the fight they want to see. **** After his crowd-pleasing KO win over Michael Bisping at UFC 100, Dan Henderson famously left the organization for Strikeforce. The move paid off as he knocked out Rafael Cavalcante in the third round, giving him the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight title and a renewed vigor as a champion in the sport. But without any real divisional depth, Kid Nate wanted Hendo to fight Fedor Emelianenko...and he'd eventually get it. Other Stuff That Happened At UFC 126, Urijah Faber made his UFC debut count over Eddie Wineland and earned a shot at Bantamweight Champion and rival Dominick Cruz in the process...Phil Davis remained undefeated and Anthony Johnson ensured that Dan Hardy's struggles continued...Chan Sung Jung submitted Leonard Garcia with an awesome looking twister, which Eddie Bravo broke down. Japan was hit by a massive earthquake, which affected the ailing Japanese scene and martial arts community as a whole...Thiago Silva admitted he cheated on his pre-UFC 125 drug test...Matt Lindland suffered some reefer madness...Nick Diaz vs. Paul Daley was booked for Strikeforce's April show, even with Daley's tenuous standing with Dana White...Diego Sanchez got beat up by Martin Kampmann but still squeezed out a decision...it was announced the 14th season of TUF would feature 135 and 145'ers for the first time...Cristiane Santos was rumored to be in conversations with WWE. March's full archive of stories Past Monthly Recaps: February 2011 January 2011

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, champion, year, march

2011 year in review: Brydon on UFC

As 2011 draws to a close, we present a week-long look-back at the year in our five major sports. On Boxing Day, we begin with the UFC.

Posted in: ufc, brydon, year, boxing day, review brydon

2011 year in review: Brydon on the UFC

As 2011 draws to a close, we present a week-long look-back at the year in our five major sports. On Boxing Day, we begin with the UFC.

Posted in: ufc, brydon, year, boxing day, review brydon

MMAFighting.com's 2011 Year In Video Part 1 (Part 2 in comments)

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Posted in: video, year, part, newuploader, mmafightingcom

Submission of the Year: The Korean Zombie Introduces Twister to UFC

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

Best of 2011 MMA Interviews

Filed under: UFC, Strikeforce, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosThis year, MMAFighting.com covered virtually every major UFC and Strikeforce event. And as we've been known to do, we talked to a lot of people along the way. Below is a highlight reel of our most memorable interviews and moments of the year, shot and edited by E. Casey Leydon. Check out part two after the jump. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mma, year, interview, strikeforce event, year shot

Bloody Elbow Round Table: What Were The Best Combat Sports Moments Of 2011?

Matthew Roth: 2011 was a gigantic year for combat sports, what was your favorite moment(s) of the year? Not talking fight of the year, I'm talking moments. The kind that gave you goosebumps or made you jump out of your seat. Tim Burke: Two moments made me run around my house like a crazy person. The first was Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira knocking out Brendan Schaub. That ruled on so many levels. The second was the very next bout, when Shogun bounced Forrest Griffin's head off the mat like a basketball. UFC 134 made my Pride fanboy year. There was also UFC 135, when Mark Hunt went for that armbar... Matthew Roth: For me, my favorite moments didn't actually take place in MMA. My first favorite moment was Mark "Fight Shark" Miller's return to kickboxing. Mark has one of those amazing stories where he's dealt with adversity his entire life. Being able to return to kickboxing after open heart surgery was huge. Winning in seconds just made it an incredible moment for me. Just so much going on that I had a personal investment in the fight. My other favorite moment was Badr Hari's walk out in France against Tony Gregory. The fight was complete ass but the walkout was Muhammed Ali in Africa-esque. He was swarmed by fans who awaited his return. It literally gave me goosebumps. Tim Burke: If we're including other sports, Jim Gray eviscerating Russell Mora after his terrible reffing in the first Mares/Agbeko fight makes it there for me too. Gray is generally a moron, but he was absolutely awesome in those few moments. More after the jump... Ben Thapa: 2011 was the year that Nick Diaz ascended to stardom. By now, it is apparent to almost all combat sports fans that Nick is fundamentally not built to fight in a non-entertaining way. His start to the year with the Evangelista Santos fight was fun, but his next fight with Paul Daley would yield maybe the most exciting round in the history of mixed martial arts. I watched it live, jumped out of my seat upon the first knockdown, stayed up hollering at the TV like a demented monkey until the surprising end and still cannot watch that fight months afterwards without getting charged up. Then Nick went out and put on the B.J. Penn fight. His fighting skills were on full display, but the star-making performance came from his particular brand of volatile complaining interspersed with extremely quotable and directed verbal jabs at future opponents and those around him. Nick touched all kinds of nerves that night and everything was right to give him the shot against Georges St. Pierre. Unfortunately, the injury saga of GSP has tabled that fight, but we still get to see Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz fight soon. How awesome is that? And it's all due to Nick Diaz being a stubborn, squeaky wheel type who won't back down from anyone and has the skills to back it up. Dallas Winston: Maybe it's more recent and still weighing on my mind, but The Korean Zombie's KO of Hominick is my choice. The guy has a knack for pulling off amazing accomplishments and no one giving him a chance in hell made it that much sweeter. Honorable mention would be Nick Diaz's UFC debut against Penn. I like and respect both fighters but Diaz replicating the same level of pitter-patter domination he did in Strikeforce made for a phenomenal statement. David Castillo: Easy pick: the end of round 1 as Frankie Edgar walks to his corner at UFC 136. Edgar/Maynard 3 may not be the best fight of the year when all is said and done, but that moment could not have been more vivid or surreal. Edgar gets smashed in round 1, and we're left wiping the reality windshield like Jeff Goldblum in Jurassic Park as if we're not sure we aren't watching a replay of the second fight earlier this year. But specifically following round 1 at 136, you just weren't sure. Would Maynard, having learned his lesson, finally capitalize? Or would it be all Edgar from here on out just like in the 2nd fight? A moment in MMA that was at once, confusing, exhilarating, and important. Plus the fight capped off an end to one of the few, and truly great trilogies in MMA history (and no the first fight wasn't that bad). KJ Gould: Time to give some non-MMA, lower profile combat sports some love. Bubba Jenkins upsetting Penn State's David Taylor in the 157lbs NCAA Division I final, in Pennsylvania, rubbing it in the face of his former team and of his former coach Cael Sanderson. Jordan Burroughs going from his second NCAA championship to being World Freestyle champion just a few months later. Vinny Magalhaes gutting his way through a Fabricio Werdum applied armbar to a points victory that won him Heavyweight gold at ADCC in Nottingham, England. Andre Galvao winning his division and the open weight Absolute at ADCC, showing an improvement in his wrestling, the ability to survive a Rousimar Palhares heelhook attempt, and finishing Pablo Popovitch with a Frank Gotch-esque toehold. With the double gold Galvao has the right to claim to be the best active submission grappler in the world. Ben Thapa: Marcelo Garcia ripping through the Mundials and ADCCs was incredible too. I think Murilo Santana might have been the only person to score points on him this year. Anyone ever get the feeling watching grappling tournaments that we've been thisfreakinclose to seeing Rickson pull a Jordan and re-enter competition? Seeing that craggy, super-intense face matside is probably up there with having John Smith walking the mats during college wrestling meets. Also, Burke, no mention of this magical CM Punk moment? Is this a secret shame of yours like owning Mandy Moore's first album? KJ Gould: Oh, you have to add Anthony Robles to the list. One legged wrestler who competed against and beat able bodied opponents to become an NCAA Division I champion? Plus is now going round giving motivational seminars and the like? This young man wins at life. T.P. Grant: Robles would be near the top of the list, as is vinny weathering werdum's armbar at adcc. UFC Rio as a show was just awesome. KJ took most of my moments in the world of grappling. For me 2011 was the year of the UFC mega card between UFC 111 and UFC Rio those two cards were just plain special in a way I hadn't experienced since UFC 100. Matthew Roth: 2011 has produced so many moments where I went 'woah'. Even inside MMA with seeing Frankie Edgar's knockout over Gray Maynard from press row. That was so ridiculous. No one expected it.Obviously Anderson's front kick to Vitor's face is up there. But for me the most memorable moment in MMA this year was Henderson beating Fedor. That was the best of the year. Junior Dos Santos' reaction to beating Cain Velasquez is a close second. Josh Nason: There were so many great moments in the cage or ring that I want to change gears and mention two "Holy sh*t" moments I'll always remember 2011 for that happened outside of it. The first was when I got the text on Saturday, March 12 that UFC had bought Strikeforce. I thought it was a joke and then, my Twitter feed exploded. I couldn't wrap my head around what happened and couldn't get enough news on what the story was. The other was the first wide shot from April's UFC 129 in Toronto. The sheer visual of that many people in one place to watch the UFC was something to see. Tim Burke: The SF buy was a total 'no way' moment for me too. Good call Jason. Fraser Coffeen: Roth hit the nail on the head with Mark Miller's big KO. I wish I could give more from the world of kickboxing, but not too much else really stuck out and grabbed me this year there.As for MMA, I've already written maybe 3 articles on what I think is the singular moment of the year, but I have no issues writing about it again: Tito Ortiz. UFC 132. Grave digger. Love Tito or hate Tito, if you've been a fan of the UFC for more than a few years, you have seen a lot of Tito Ortiz in the Octagon. And you've likely seen him in some absolutely incredible, dramatic wars. Fights against Frank Shamrock, Ken Shamrock (the 1st fight), Forrest Griffin (again, the 1st), the two Chuck Liddell fights - Tito brought a level of emotion and excitement to so many classic UFC showdowns. I'm a fan, but I admit it - I thought he was done, and that Bader would knock him out hard. Didn't happen. The run down, beat up champ got that one last win, and then did what he does better than anyone else in the business - celebrate. The grave digger routine, the leap onto the cage, the shouted message to the fans - it was like watching 2002 all over again, and I ate it up.The sport will always have icons, and people will, over time, surpass Tito Ortiz. But for a distinct period of UFC history, he was THE icon, the superstar, the legend. To see him have his one final moment of glory was a beautiful thing. Josh Nason: You know, for a singular "Wow!" moment, that Ortiz submission over Ryan Bader was incredible. I think that got overlooked with the amount of title matches.

Posted in: ufc, fight, nick, year, moment

Bloody Elbow Round Table: Does A FOTY Candidate Have To Take Place In The UFC?

Brent Brookhouse: Last week we ran a Fight Fix in which Luke Thomas said that his pick for Fight of the Year was Eddie Alvarez vs. Michael Chandler. In the comments of that post a debate emerged with many readers saying that for a fight to truly be worthy of Fight of the Year it needs to take place on the biggest stage possible, meaning the UFC. Does this line of thought hold any weight for you? Even if it isn't the ultimate determining factor, does a fight taking place in the UFC rather than Bellator/DREAM/whatever give it a slight bump over a fight of roughly the same quality? Tim Burke: While I believe there has to be some significance to the bout, it doesn't necessarily deserve a boost if it's a UFC bout (or the main event of a UFC card). It shouldn't really be considered if it took place at Wild Bill's in Iowa, but it's shouldn't be looked down upon if it took place in Bellator or Dream. It all comes down to how people define a "fight of the year" though, and why people disagree on it all the time. Was Chandler/Alvarez better than Henderson/Shogun? No, I don't believe it was, and I don't believe I would feel any differently if it took place on a bigger stage. I just fundamentally disagree with Luke on this, regardless of the variables involved. Fraser Coffeen: I wouldn't say it absolutely must be in the UFC, but to me the Fight of the Year does have some extra, intnigble factor beyond just being technically great. Something like Uno vs. Hansen (yep, diggin way into the past there!) may be a technical mavel, but for FOTY, I go with a bigger meaning fight. Why? Because to me, a great fight needs drama, and that drama comes from being invested in the fighters. Good example: I picked Tim Sylvia vs. Randy Couture for FOTY once, which I guess from a technical, back-and-forth standpoint actually wasn't THAT great of a fight - but it had the drama of Couture coming back to try and end the annoying reign of Sylvia, and that's what makes it special. I did love tht Bellator fight, but FOTY? Not for me. Tim Burke: And that's where me and Fraser differ. I don't judge a fight based on how important it is or the repercussions of the outcome. I just it simply on what happened in the cage/ring. This has been a huge debate between myself and friends of mine, and has been raging for a long time. They thought Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen was fight of the year in 2010 because of the significance and the comeback. Personally, I found the actual fight boring a lot of the time, so there's no way it was fight of the year for me. It didn't even make my top 5. More after the jump... Dallas Winston: MMA is MMA. However, as with everything else, the mega-exposure of the UFC will always carry more weight in significance. I think that's salient but not a requirement and, at the end of the day, people are going to choose whatever moved them most. The Fight of the Year generally needs that heightened level of memorability or mystique that puts it in the unparalleled category. Chandler x Alvarez was a little more dramatic than Hendo x Shogun. It also delivered the pleasing finish, where the scoring of Hendo x Shogun dulls the luster a tad. My personal pick is Kongo x Barry, which is less "significant" than any of the other offerings. Ben Thapa: I am generally with BeerMonster here: people get too wrapped up in the emotional side of fights and lose track of the technical skills, momentum shifts and heart that both fighters in a Fight of the Year bout display. Pettis/Henderson was my 2010 Fight of the Year, with Silva/Sonnen and Santiago/Misaki being right behind. Despite these three all being five round title fights, only one of them took place in the UFC and that fight was perhaps the least entertaining of the three. The platform that is the UFC isn't the message, the fight is. I will forever cherish the WEC as a promotion that built itself up to a world-class level, yet it was the amazing fights that took place within its cages that made the WEC so great. The Showtime Kick capped off a legendary night, which was awesome, but the fight itself was a see-saw battle between two soon-to-be elite fighters. Santiago may not have a job with the UFC right now, but that title fight in Sengoku showcased his heart and he got the finish in the end. I found Chandler/Alvarez to be very entertaining, but that second round in which neither fighter put forth much offense dims its luster in my eyes. Both fighters were missing punches, having their ground game stuffed and there wasn't the clear, crisp technical moments in that round that get the thrills going in my heart. The terrific comeback win by Chandler over the crisper boxing from Alvarez keeps this in my top three fights of the year for sure, but Henderson/Rua had the added benefit of not having a down round at all. Chandler/Alvarez is a fine, fine fight and I greatly look forwards to Bellator's lightweight fights in 2012, but I just can't give it the nod over Hendo/Shogun as the fight of the year. I also hope nobody gets brain damage chasing that FOTN bonus. Entertaining us is terrific, but preserve your future career longevity, fighters... David Castillo: I'd say that yes, absolutely a fight of the year needs to have people invested beyond the fight itself. That's precisely what makes the first viewing so special, and why a big fight with big implications that turns out great seems better than any other fight: because we've exhausted the possibilities, and history has primed our expectations. When those expectations are met and exceeded, like they were in Henderson/Rua fight, it just feelsdifferent. It feels special. Chandler/Alvarez was a great fight, but there was nothing mysterious about it. We knew we'd get "two dogs going at it", as Rogan would say. But there's something to be said for a fight that leaves you interested after the action, and I can't say Chandler interests me while he's stuck in Bellator. Or at least as much as he could fighting in the UFC, for example. Where does he go moving forward? Don't get it twisted: Chandler's an awesome fighter, and I'll keep my eye on him. But I'll only ever remember his performance: not the iconic reflections of it. And even then some of that fades, in part by assumptions of Chandler the fighter. He may not ever duplicate his performance, and it's even possible Alvarez wins his title back whereas Shogun and Rua were engaged in an outpouring of fists, and legacy. At least that's how I make sense of it. I personally don't feel like Chandler will be a mainstay at LW, whereras fights that were similar in profile, like Edgar/Griffin in 2007, or Henderson/Pettis in 2010 gave you the sense that the fighters involved would eventually grow to be icons themselves (admittedly, Griffin being a comical refutation of this, but who didn't think these guys were the future back then?). I'm rambling, and possibly off-topic, but I agree with Fraser. KJ Gould: The size of the stage isn't relevant. Swap both fights around between Bellator and the UFC, Henderson vs Shogun is still better and I believe Luke Thomas' opinion is wrong. While it can be fairly argued that the Chandler vs Alvarez fight had more on the line in terms of hypothetical divisional ranking, sometimes judging the quality of a fight has to include the build up to it, and not just the process or result. You can argue about the little details between the fights regarding refinement of technique or the capacity to endure, but for many Shogun vs Henderson offered a lot more. It was the rare culmination of two storied careers that some how had yet to include a fight between each other, and when their paths finally did cross in the cage, magic happened. So while Chandler remains undefeated, and beat the highest ranked non-UFC Lightweight in an upset performance, Shogun vs Henderson has the historical impact so few fights these days do. Fraser Coffeen: Back to Tim - see, and Silva vs. Sonnen was totally my pick for FOTY last year. But then again, I'm one of those guys who still thinks Royce Gracie vs. Kazushi Sakuraba is the best MMA fight of all time, so that should tell you something about where I stand. I guess for me, it just needs that story behind it to get me interested. I love hearing the stories of fights, and figuring out what makes these two men, fighting this night, so special. Like KJ said, Hendo vs. Shogun had massive history behind it, and delivered (and then some). I guess to me, without stories behind the fights, I just end up feeling a bit hollow. T.P. Grant: My vote goes hendo/shogun because of all that went into that fight. Pride glory days, strikeforce champ vs former ufc champ, title contender possibly at stake, 5 round non-title fight. And then it just blew the doors off the place. A fight I want to mention just because I feel it was a fantastic fight that should be at least mentioned is Aldo/Hominick. Just a gutsy preformance from both guys. Josh Nason: The stage and ability to actually see the fight totally are relevant. I could say I saw a FOTY candidate on a local event here in New England but unless there's some real steam behind it nationally, no one would consider it because of the limited nature. I think at minimum, a FOTY candidate has to take place in an organization where there's people to see it (UFC, S'force, Bellator) and even the organizations that run on HDNet. Let's be realistic though: people aren't looking past the Big Three for a FOTY these days and most will stick to the UFC because of the brand name. Fraser Coffeen: I enjoy Bellator, really I do, but there is something about them that always feels so "minor leagues" to me that I can't put it alongside the UFC and SF. Personally, I'd be more likely to pick a Dream fight for FOTY over a Bellator fight.

Posted in: ufc, fight, vs, year, place

2011 The Year in MMA: The Death of the K-1 Grand Prix

How will we remember 2011 in Mixed Martial Arts history? So much happened in our sport this year, from huge business moves to epic fights to legends falling. Here, we'll attempt to recap some of the biggest stories of the year and figure out just how to define MMA in 2011. As I think back on the events of 2011, there is one glaring gap in my year - an event that was consistently one of my favorite nights of the year, and one that I sorely missed this year. That event? The K-1 World Grand Prix. Now, I know that some are rolling their eyes right now, saying "that's not MMA" and "who cares?" but consider this: since 1993, the K-1 World Grand Prix has, every year without fail, crowned the best heavyweight in kickboxing. It's a highly prestigious title, whose roots actually predate the UFC. Before there was Royce Gracie winning UFC 1, there was Branko Cikatic winning the first K-1 Grand Prix. Since that time, the best strikers in the world have held the crown - men like Peter Aerts, Ernesto Hoost, and the late Andy Hug. Two current UFC fighters are former champions (Mark Hunt and Alistair Overeem), with the current GP champion set to headline UFC 141 in one week's time. Whatever your opinions on K-1's business side, or your personal take on kickboxing, there is no denying that the Grand Prix is a big deal. And this year, it was gone. We've covered the roller coaster ride for K-1 in 2011 in detail previously, but the short version is this: the company had been in financial turmoil for some time, with numerous fighters owed large sums of money. At the start of 2011, they went into hibernation, with all signs pointing to the end. K-1 was sold in mid-2011 to a group of investors who is still not 100% clear, but little else happened. Late in the year, K-1 founder Kazuyoshi Ishii announced the formation of FIKA, a new organization that would manage K-1 and bring the Grand Prix back in 2012. Will that happen? I remain skeptical. But I certainly hope it does. There is something about the Grand Prix that always grabs you. It adds an element of rankings, and something like a post-season championship, that is so common in most sports, but absent from MMA. In K-1, if you fought and won, and kept winning, you would be crowned the best kickboxer of the year - and every year we knew who that best in the world was. That's something you can't say for MMA, and that is a shame. What has the loss of the GP meant for MMA? So far, it's actually been somewhat of a good thing. Top kickboxers like Tyrone Spong and Gokhan Saki are looking at a move to MMA, and could help to elevate the level of striking in the sport over the next few years. In 2013, will I be writing a piece about the arrival of K-1 kickboxing in MMA? It's possible. And that is a definite silver lining. For MMA fans, that is probably enough. But for those of us who have ever stayed up until the wee hours of the morning to watch the Grand Prix - who have seen fights like last year's Peter Aerts vs. Semmy Schilt semi-final, or Badr Hari vs. Alistair Overeem from 2009, or Jerome Le Banner vs. Mark Hunt in 2002 or so, so many more - far too many to name - the loss of the Grand Prix is a hard blow. Now, all our hopes rest in the hands of Ishii and FIKA. Let's hope they make it happen, and 2012 sees the K-1 Grand Prix champion crowned once again. Check back all week for more of 2011 in MMA History.

Posted in: ufc, world, mma, year, prix

2012 World MMA Featherweight Scouting Report: #9 - Cody Bollinger

Name: Cody Bollinger Nickname: -- Age: 20 Height: 5'10" Location: Sultana, California During our arduous journey through the sport's vast prospect pool, one trend stood out as a prevalent course moving forward. Young fighters are gaining the experience and skill they need to succeed at the highest levels at a much quicker pace. It isn't surprising considering the theory that the talent pool would get younger was a topic of discussion only a few years ago. The second generation of fighters, the kids who sat alongside their fathers or siblings watching MMA and became enamored with it, are now rising to the top. One of the fighters on the cutting edge of that movement is Cody Bollinger (12-2). The 20-year-old featherweight fighter, who trains at Millennia MMA and with Greg Jackson, has already amassed thirteen career fights in over four years of fighting, making him only sixteen years of age when he first stepped into the cage. Impressively, Bollinger has made quite a name for himself regionally, defeating The Ultimate Fighter contestant Cameron Dollar in September at an event in Oklahoma. He followed up the victory with another decision win, this time against Gladiator Challenge lightweight champion Aaron Neveu, on December 4th. As one might expect, Bollinger's quick success at such a young age is backed by a strong wrestling base. At his high school in Sultana, California, Bollinger wrestled all four years, amassing a 45-3 record his senior year. He went on to join the wrestling squad at close-to-home Cerritos College in 2010, recording a 19-5 record for the year. The most notable element of Bollinger's style is his fondness of the clinch. He works well at pressuring opponents to the fence, securing a body lock, and toppling them to the ground. If he happens to get stuffed, his relentless, tireless pace eventually finds a way to get a fight to the ground. On the floor, Bollinger isn't an adept submission specialist by any means, but he possesses solid ground and pound skills and the know-how to slap on an armbar or rear naked choke when the opportunity is there. Bollinger can stand to improve the most in the striking department, specifically from range where he's awkward at times. In the scramble, however, Bollinger is dangerous and threatening, utilizing quick hands and decent power to stun and even stop opponents. At 5'10", however, it's unsettling to think he has no recourse if he can't find a way to get his opponent to the ground, especially with such a long frame. Bollinger's youth and lacking strength of record were the key determinants in his late ranking. While a victory over UFC veteran Cameron Dollar looks good going forward, we aren't casual fans being tricked by name value. Bollinger needs to fight better competition if he wants the recognition as a top prospect. The next season of The Ultimate Fighter could act as a platform for achieving that goal. Unfortunately, last season featured the featherweight division, making lightweight the only possibility for Bollinger. It's possible he can pull it off, although I think a good showing and a cut to 145 lbs. after the show concludes is more likely. The good news is that both scenarios will play out next year, which should give us a definitive idea where Bollinger sits among his fellow prospects. Video footage of Cody Bollinger after the jump... FlyweightBantamweightFeatherweightLightweight #1 - #2 - #3 -#4 -#5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - Rony Mariano#2 - Aljamain Sterling#3 - Chris Holdsworth#4 - Josh Hill#5 - Fabiano Fernandes#6 - Claudio Ledesma#7 - Sirwan Kakai#8 - Kyoji Horiguchi#9 - Leandro Hygo#10 - Pedro Munhoz #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - Cody Bollinger#10 - Bubba Jenkins #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - WelterweightMiddleweightLight HeavyweightHeavyweight #1 - #2 - #3 -#4 -#5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - #1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 - Cody Bollinger vs. Mike Christensen Gladiator Challenge - Hostile - April 22, 2011 Cody Bollinger vs. George SanchezGladiator Challenge - Royal Flush - October 24, 2010 Cody Bollinger vs. Sam RodriguezGladiator Challenge - Bad Behavior - June 27, 2010 Cody Bollinger footage Check out all of his wrestling footage from high school and college on Google Videos as well.

Posted in: fighter, year, ground, cody, bollinger

Tim Sylvia, Josh Barnett Returning To Pro Wrestling On New Year's Eve

While his DREAM date with Brett Rogers was canceled due to a visa issue, Tim Sylvia has found work on New Year's Eve after all as he's been booked for a pro wrestling match with Jerome Le Banner, reported by Heavy MMA. The bout will be part of the Inoki Genome Federation's contribution to the DREAM show, which features a mix of legitimate MMA bouts and pro wrestling matches featuring current MMA fighters. The card will be aired stateside on HDNet. Fedor Emelianenko faces Satoshi Ishii in the main event with Hayato Sakurai vs. Ryo Chonan and Shinya Aoki vs. Satoru Kitaoka on the undercard. Josh Barnett returns to wrestling action against Hideki Suzuki on the 17-match card as he awaits the official announcement of his Strikeforce Grand Prix Final bout against Daniel Cormier. The former UFC Heavyweight Champion Sylvia (30-7) is on a two-fight win streak and has victories in six of his last seven MMA fights. He made his wrestling debut against Barnett for the IGF in late-2010, while Le Banner is a former pro kickboxer who has competed six times in MMA. He also stepped into the ring against Barnett in wrestling action earlier this month and defeated the former UFC Heavyweight Champion by "knockout". SBN coverage of DREAM: New Year! 2011

Posted in: mma, year, official announcement, barnett, years eve

Vote for the best UFC/MMA knockouts, fights, submissions and more in 2011

Key business indicators have been down for the UFC in the year 2011. Unlike year's past, not a single pay-per-view event has broken the 1 million buy marker, thanks largely to the absence of Brock Lesnar. Ratings have been so-so at best, although the UFC on Fox 1: "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos" event was a smashing success. Basically, it's been a down year for the UFC and beyond. But that doesn't mean there wasn't greatness on display many times throughout the past year. From Jon Jones running roughshod through the light heavyweight division to the epic five-round war between Dan Henderson and Mauricio Rua to the crazy Strikeforce: "Fedor vs. Henderson" event to Anderson Silva's front kick destruction of Vitor Belfort, it's been a pretty damn exciting year. As you may or may not have seen, we here at MMAmania.com have been running down the best knockouts, submissions, fights, fighters, events -- all the good stuff -- this past week. And we need you, Maniacs, to cast your vote. Best UFC/MMA event of the year The UFC 140: "Jones vs. Machida" event is currently in the lead but UFC 139: "Shogun vs. Henderson" is hot on its heels and just 16 votes behind. Go make the difference and click here to vote. Best UFC/MMA fight of the year Was Dan Henderson vs. Mauricio Rua the best fight of the year? Or does Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard (one or two) deserve the honors? Click here and decide. Best UFC/MMA knockout of the year Anderson Silva front kicking Vitor Belfort's teeth down his throat would be tough to top, right? Well, Lyoto Machida did the same thing to Randy Couture, except he actually had him spitting his teeth up. The real kicker? Neither of those knockouts is currently in the lead, though it's close. Click here to find out who is (you'll be shocked) and cast your vote. Best UFC/MMA submission of the year Chan Sung Jung twisting up Leonard Garcia like a pretzel and making him tap was one of the better visuals inside a cage this year. But so was Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira staring at his mangled arm after Frank Mir broke it in half. Which one was a better submission. Go here and tell us what you think. Best UFC/MMA fighter of the year Jon Jones has had one hell of a year, winning four fights and defending the light heavyweight championship twice against two former division titleholders. But Donald Cerrone has done some big things since coming to the promotion and don't forget about Dan Henderson. Go let us know who you think right here. That does it, Maniacs. Go cast your votes and make your voice hear. It's all you've got.

Posted in: vs, event, vote, year, ufcmma

2011 The Year in MMA: The Rise of Jon Jones

How will we remember 2011 in Mixed Martial Arts history? So much happened in our sport this year, from huge business moves to epic fights to legends falling. Here, we'll attempt to recap some of the biggest stories of the year and figure out just how to define MMA in 2011. If 2011 was marked by the fall of the old guard, it was also marked by the rise of the new guard - or at least, the singular face of that new guard in MMA. The man who embodies the idea of pushing the sport forward - of setting a new standard for what can be achieved in the confines of an MMA contest. Can there be any doubt who this is? Jon Jones is the best fighter of 2011 - that much is obvious and shouldn't even be up for debate. The question some have asked is: Is Jon Jones's 2011 the best single year for any MMA fighter in history? I'd have to say it is. Jones started the year as an exciting prospect who many fans had high hopes for in the future. He ended the year as the UFC Light Heavyweight champion, with two successful title defenses and, in just one year, now finds himself only two fights away from cleaning out the upper most ranks of the UFC's most notoriously stacked and competitive division. Along the way, he dominated elite names in ways we had never seen them beaten before - Lyoto Machida choked into unconsciousness by a nasty guillotine variation, Rampage Jackson made to look like an amateur on the feet, Mauricio Rua unable to mount any offense. Jones faced some of the very best the division had to offer, and he crushed them all. As good as this year was for the young champion, we still end the year with questions about him. How will he deal with the heavy hands of Dan Henderson? Will he finally meet Rashad Evans and add the former teammate to his list of victims? Why was Lyoto able to find success against him? And the big question - just how dominant will this kid be? That's what is so exciting about Jon Jones in 2011. It's not just what he has accomplished, but the sense of what he still can accomplish. He's extremely young, both in age and in his career, and shows improvements every fight. Today, he is the best 205 pounder in the world, the best 205 pounder since Chuck Liddell, and already in talks as one of the top 2 pound for pound fighters in the world. Just how high can he go? Jon Jones today reminds me a lot of his sort-of teammate Georges St. Pierre a few years ago. Young, destructive, and the kind of fighter that looked ready to elevate the sport to new levels. St. Pierre's career took an interesting path where a shocking loss led to increasingly cautious and fan-displeasing performances, while at the same time becoming one of the sport's biggest stars and most dominant champions. GSP has indeed helped bring the sport to new levels of popularity, but he is no longer pushing the envelope of what is possible inside the cage. Is this the fate that awaits Jones? Will he meet his own Matt Serra? And if he does, how will he respond? What does the future hold for this young phenom? I don't have those answers - no one does. But I can't wait to find out in 2012. Check back all week for more of 2011 in MMA History.

Posted in: mma, jone, jon jones, sport, year

MMAterial Facts (12/23/11) : Holiday Season Edition

Welcome to this week’s edition of MMAterial Facts, where we feature articles from around the MMA community. *** This week’s MMAterial Facts: Courtesy of Strikeforce - AP Athlete of Year Voting Snub Shows How Far Mainstream — Not MMA — Has to Go (MMA Fighting) “Earlier this week, The Associated Press, which provides sports news to millions of readers around the world, named its male and female athletes of the year for 2011. Not a single mixed martial artist was named on a single ballot. It’s not as if non-traditional, non-stick & ball sports were not represented. Among those who received votes were sprinter Usain Bolt, surfer Kelly Slater and marathon swimmer Diana Nyad. “ - Randy Couture: Yeah, Title IX has really crippled wrestling programs badly (Fight Opinion) “There are two groups of people who would like to see some very different visions for the future of fighting. One is hoping for a renaissance of Catch-as-Catch-Can… and the other has a more futuristic view of where the fight business should be heading. … First, the fine group of humans who are interested in catch wrestling. As you can see up above, I highly recommend Jake Shannon’s book on Scientific Wrestling. He and many others are doing their best to emphasize the importance of Catch on the sport of MMA. Randy Couture did an interview with Eddie Goldman last Friday talking about this very issue in relation to his new book called The Last Round w/ Sara Levin (who worked for USA Wrestling). Book ordering/background information can be found on Amazon & Facebook. - Interview with debuting UFC flyweight Ian McCall (MMA Mania) “The self-destructiveness, how have you been able to overcome that? … Ian McCall: It seems like jail and rehab will teach you how to do it. It’s just the kind of thing where you grow out of it. I just finally one day was like, “Okay, I’ve had enough. I’ve had enough fun. I’ve partied enough in my life. This is kind of over with,” and from there, that was before me and my wife got together and she got pregnant and it was the kind of thing where I did it on my own and we and my wife reconnected because we’d dated on and off for five years and one day we started hanging out again and surprise, now I’ve got two dogs and a baby and a wife (laughs).” - Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Lansberg II Fallout: Sonnen Is ‘Done’ with Anderson Silva (MMA Convert) “The bottom line is, I’m done with the guy,” the 34-year-old Sonnen said in an excerpt released prior to the show by TSN. “He and I have no business. . . . He’s so far over the hill and past his prime it’s not worth talking about. … “I’m going to become the No. 1 contender on January 28th, but despite what you may think, I am not going to use that voucher to fight Anderson Silva. I’ll be looking at Dos Santos, Jones and possibly St-Pierre. … “I will take that voucher to (UFC president) Dana White and I will pick one of those guys. My time with Anderson is done.” - Surprise, Alistair Oveeem is in UFC Undisputed 3 and you have less than four weeks to unlock him (MiddleEasy) “Ubereem could also come with me to Venice Beach sometime next summer and we can take our shirts off and toss a frisbee on the beach like heterosexual men. Ronda Rousey could judge us on our frisbee throwing techniques and at the end of the day, we could grub down on all the horse meat tacos we want. That’s my only New Year’s Resolution. If that doesn’t go down next year, then at least I’ll know that I’ve unlocked Alistair Overeem in UFC Undisputed 3 simply by liking THQ’s official UFC Undisputed Facebook page — and you can too if you check out the very limited promotion. We’ve even included a video of the first footage of Ubereem within the game for your viewing pleasures..” - Jason ‘Mayhem’ Miller Staying Positive And Pushing Onward (FightLine) “Dana White was right,” Miller wrote in a recent blog post on his personal website. “He made some disparaging comments about my performance, and I agree with him. I displayed the worst of everything that night in the Octagon. I was tense in round one and I locked up after that. I didn’t perform to my potential, and I take full responsibility for it. That wasn’t a UFC caliber performance, and I’m not happy about it- I won’t, however, write a worthless diatribe on myself, because that is not constructive. I elect instead to take this misstep and make something positive out of it.” - MMA Video Tribute: The 25 Most Brutal Finishes of 2011 (Cage Potato) “With a little help from the Potato Nation, we spent the last couple days gathering videos of the nastiest, ugliest, most-painful looking knockouts and submissions from this year. Finding 25 of them was the easy part. (Damn, MMA fighters. You seemed especially angry this year. Problems at home?) Putting them in order was a little more challenging. Obviously, Frank Mir snapping Nogueira’s arm at UFC 140 was the people’s choice for #1. But how do you rank a head-kick knockout against a spinning-backfist knockout, when they both leave their victims zombie’d on the mat with their eyes open and their arms in the air?” - Gift Giving: Shopping for Fighters (Five Ounces of Pain) “It’s the holiday season and after fighting off crazed moms who just have to get that last bottle of Justin Bieber shampoo, I finally finished my MMA Christmas shopping. I couldn’t find a gift for everyone but I think I did well and hopefully all the fighters and MMA personalities appreciate all the thought and money I put into their gifts. … Lets have a look under the tree and see what we have, shall we?” - Urijah Faber Shaves Head in Support of Sister (Video) (5thRound) “Exactly four Fridays ago, Urijah Faber’s (Pictured) 19-year-old sister, Michaella Tastad, was involved in a horrific car accident. It was the morning after she had celebrated Thanksgiving dinner with her family. … Faber’s sister suffered a collapsed lung, spleen damage and received life-threatening head trauma that forced physicians to medically induce a coma at Sutter Roseville Medical Center in Sacramento, California.” - Satoshi Ishii trains at Black House for the fight with Fedor Emelianenko (LowKick) “In less than two weeks, 2008 Beijing Olympic Gold Medalist in Judo, Satoshi Ishii, will step inside the ring at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, for the biggest fight of his young Mixed Martial Arts career, against “The Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko. Ishii will be the eighth Japanese fighter to square off against Emelianenko, looking to become the first to defeat him. … The fight will headline the traditionally stacked DREAM’s New Year’s Eve fight card (Fight For Japan: Genki Desu Ka Omisoka 2011), which will feature blockbuster JMMA names such as Shinya Aoki, Katsunori Kikuno, Satoru Kitaoka, Hiroyuki Takaya, Tatsuya Kawajiri, and many others.” - Top 10 Biggest MMA Upsets in 2011 (TheFightNerd) “Everyone loves to see the underdog win, especially because they never expect it. In MMA, unpredictability is a constant variable that truly makes it one of the most exciting sports out there. Sometimes, it’s not even the underdog, but rather the fighter that most thought had zero chance at all to win, let alone survive the fight. … As this year wraps up, it’s time to look back and see who were the biggest underdogs that shattered expectations and, even if just for one night, made a name for themselves and proved everyone wrong. This is not a list of amazing comebacks in a fight, rather the matches that should have gone one way, and ended up entirely different. So, let’s jump into the top ten biggest MMA upsets from 2011!” - The 2011 Last-Minute Gift List for Your MMA Fan (BleacherReport.com/MMA) “This list is the top 10 gifts for the 2011 holiday season! … Do you have a special MMA fan in you life? Are you an MMA fan that is just looking for an excuse to buy more MMA stuff? Well, for the next 10 items, please think of yourself in the third person and shop as if you were shopping for someone else!”

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, fighter, year

Best UFC/MMA event of 2011

If there really can be "too much of a good thing," then mixed martial arts (MMA) fans should not complain. This year featured an unprecedented amount of MMA events, which were all available on free television and/or via pay-per-view (PPV). In fact, it was often harder to find a weekend without at least some MMA action than it was one without. With that much heavy leather flying around, things took a turn for the legendary more often than ever ... and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Follow me after the jump for some of this year's top candidates and to cast your vote for 2011's "Event of the Year:" Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva Photo via FCFighter.com Not only did this event provide a cautionary demonstration of what would happen if you taught a Yeti Brazilian jiu-jitsu, it also featured one of those rare all-heavyweight cards that proved extremely entertaining. The first four bouts --three of them deciding tournament alternates and one kicking off the promotion’s highly-anticipated heavyweight grand prix -- all ended inside the first round in dramatic fashion. The main event started out as a back-and-forth slugfest before devolving into a schoolyard beatdown, featuring Antonio Silva as the frustrated eighth-grader and Fedor Emelianenko as the first-grader in the wrong place at the wrong time. It’s always a good time to watch big guys who know what they’re doing, even if it includes the heart-breaking loss of a legend. UFC 129: "St. Pierre vs. Shields" Photo via ESPN.com The very first bout featured a flying triangle finish and it only got crazier from there. From the conventional (Jake Ellenberger flattening Sean Pierson with an evil left hook) to the bizarre (Lyoto Machida giving Randy Couture’s career an unwelcome Hollywood ending), UFC 129 delivered several of the best highlights of the year, producing two "Knockout of the Year" candidates, one "Submission of the Year" candidate, and one of the most entertaining title defenses in recent memory between José Aldo and Mark Hominick. Beauty, eh? UFC 132: "Cruz vs. Faber" While many were less-than-enthused about Urijah Faber receiving yet another title shot, the Alpha Male veteran, along with the rest of the cast, more than paid their dues, producing a spectacular event from top to bottom. The Spike TV "Prelims" lasted just over three minutes combined, featuring two brutal knockouts. And every single bout on the main card delivered in spades, too. Carlos Condit obliterated Dong Hyun Kim with a beautiful flying knee, Tito Ortiz stunned the world by rocking and submitting Ryan Bader, Dennis Siver and Matt Wiman left everything in the cage over three rounds, Chris Leben proved once again that being unconscious is no obstacle in his quest to knock out all foo’s with the bad luck of weighing 185 pounds, and the much-maligned Faber gave the heretofore-untouchable Dominick Cruz the toughest fight of his dominant reign. That’ll do, gentlemen. That’ll do. UFC 139: "Shogun vs. Henderson" Photo via KevinMarshallOnline.com Everyone knew there was no way the main event wouldn’t be spectacular, but the rest of the competitors went above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that fans weren’t paying $50 for one real fight. Gleison Tibau went to war with Rafael dos Anjos, while prospects Chris Weidman and Michael McDonald shined with brutal stoppages on the "Prelims," while Urijah Faber and Wanderlei Silva scored stunning victories on the main card. What truly elevated this card to one of the best of the year, however, was the unbelievable battle between Mauricio Rua and Dan Henderson, both of whom proved tough as nails and cemented themselves as two of the greatest fighters of our era. PRIDE never die! UFC 140: "Jones vs. Machida" I’m still trying to repress my memories of this one. If nothing else, UFC 140 wins the "Fight for the Troops" award for most nightmare-inducing event of the year. Jon Jones strangled Lyoto Machida into creepy unconsciousness, Frank Mir snapped Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira's arm like toothpick and Chan Sung Jung pasted Mark Hominick with a seven-second knockout, among other human destruction. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need something to drink that legally qualifies as drain cleaner in my vain quest to forget this one ever happened. If we missed some awesome event, be sure to let us know in the comments. Thanks for following MMAmania’s "Best of 2011" series and casting your votes. We'll share the final results of the voting early next week. In the meantime, have a very merry, and safe, Christmas holiday. To see our 2011 "Fight of the Year" nominees and cast another vote click here. To see our 2011 "Knockout of the Year" nominees and cast another vote click here. To see our 2011 "Submission of the Year" nominees and cast another vote click here. To see our 2011 "Fighter of the Year" nominees and cast another vote click here. Poll What was 2011's Event of the Year? Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva UFC 129 UFC 132 UFC 139 UFC 140 Other 13 votes | Results

Posted in: ufc, event, vote, year, cast

Jon Jones Receives No AP Athlete of the Year Votes - Snub or Not?

Despite having what many (including myself) feel is, without a doubt, the greatest year in the history of mixed martial arts, Jon Jones did not receive a single vote in the AP vote for Athlete of the Year. To Mike Chiapetta of MMA Fighting, this was proof that it is the mainstream that needs to catch up to MMA, not vice versa. From the article: I'm not arguing that Jones should have won the award. The winner, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, had an amazing calendar year. He won the Super Bowl, led his team to a 19-game win streak and has them in position to possibly repeat. Runner-up Justin Verlander of the Detroit Tigers won both the American League Most Valuable Player and Cy Young awards, the first pitcher to do that in 27 years. Third-place went to tennis star Novak Djokovic, who won 10 tournaments -- including three majors -- and finished the year with an exceptional 70-6 record. ... Jones, MMA Fighting's Fighter of the Year, had arguably the best calendar year in MMA history, winning four matches overall, defeating three former UFC champions and becoming the youngest title holder in UFC history. He wasn't exactly invisible doing it, either. He was a guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel Live, and on the day of his title win, helped thwart a robbery, an act that resulted in major national attention. If a boxer like Manny Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather put together a year like that, you better believe that they would have earned votes. But because Jones fights in a cage instead of a ring, his accomplishments go unappreciated and unrecognized. It's not like this was a small sample size; 212 alleged experts in sports cast ballots for the award. The problem with saying this is an example of a larger ignorance of MMA is that to vote for Jones meant that the voters would have had to have not voted for who they truly felt was deserving of the award. Yes, maybe some (most) of the voters are ignorant of MMA, but would more information have caused them to vote for Jones over Rogers? Is a courtesy vote really that important? And I'd also like to address the idea that a boxer would receive consideration. In 2008, Manny Pacquiao defeated Juan Manuel Marquez in a title bout at 130 pounds in a battle between two of the top three pound for pound fighters in the sport. Manny then went up to 135 and beat one of the top two lightweights in the world in David Diaz to capture a title, then went all the way up to 147 and decimated Oscar De La Hoya in a huge fight. He also received zero AP Athlete of the Year votes. Manny would get some votes in 2010, a year where he beat a very overmatched, no-name Joshua Clottey and a badly tainted Antonio Margarito. A much less impressive year than 2008. The difference between 2008 and 2010? Manny was mainstream. It's a mainstream sports award. Yes, someone cast a vote for surfer Kelly Slater and another for indy car racer Dario Franchitti, but those are guys with years and years of dominance in their sport. Those are also votes likely by someone with a specific agenda (especially the Slater vote). There was simply no bigger mainstream sports star more deserving of the title than Aaron Rogers (or maybe Justin Verlander) so it seems like the voting did the job it is actually supposed to do. Again, I just can't find a reason to truly care that no one cast a vote for Jones. Maybe with a few more years of dominance and additional mainstream attention from the Fox deal, we'll see Jones get some votes. But one big year in a fringe combat sport (boxing or MMA) isn't enough to get the votes right now.

Posted in: mma, jone, sport, vote, year

Kim Jong-Il’s bodyguards were pretty awesome

Like everyone else, my main thought when North Korean leader Kim Jong Il died last Thursday was, “Wow, he made it 69 years without pooping.” But the inventor of the hamburger also had many other achievements which even separately would each make him the greatest person in the history of mankind. This is the type of guy who would return from a record-setting round of golf and then promptly send you and your entire family to a gulag because you used his ashtray. He spent $800,000 a year on Hennessy, but that didn’t stop him from composing six operas in two years. This guy not only made Joe Rogan look dumb for saying “you can’t stop the Internet” by successfully cutting off an entire country from all outside information, he kidnapped a South Korean director and forced him to create a domestic Godzilla ripoff. So the North Koreans really aren’t missing much anyway. Kim Jong Il also took a personal interest in the training of his bodyguards, and any one of them would put our wussy Western-hemisphere-residing MMA fighters to shame. Mike Swick posted on twitter that the footage above is newly released, but it’s been around for a while (even though it is of dubious authenticity), a fact that pays homage to Kim’s time-and-reality-distortion field as much as it does to our prior negligence. According to this indisputable video evidence, the bodyguards hit stuff from the moment they wake up, smash 11 bricks at a time with their fists, drive nails through planks with their heads, shoot eight targets per minute (all through the heart, of course, while simultaneously doing acrobatics), have two-by-fours smashed over every limb, put blocks of concrete over their faces so another guy can hit the blocks of concrete with a sledgehammer, pull a truck full of people with their bare hands, dodge flying knives, smash glass with their bare feet, and of course, do lots of tae kwon do. And they do all of this completely voluntarily, because if they don’t, Kim Jong-Il will starve their children to death. But whatever. If he produces awesome killers like these, the world needs more leaders like Kim Jong Il.

Posted in: guy, ’t, year, kim, bodyguard

AP Athlete of Year Voting Snub Shows How Far Mainstream -- Not MMA -- Has to Go

Filed under: UFC, Sports Business and MediaEarlier this week, The Associated Press, which provides sports news to millions of readers around the world, named its male and female athletes of the year for 2011. Not a single mixed martial artist was named on a single ballot. It's not as if non-traditional, non-stick & ball sports were not represented. Among those who received votes were sprinter Usain Bolt, surfer Kelly Slater and marathon swimmer Diana Nyad. But not a single voter thought to write Jon Jones' name on his ballot. Given the consistent dismissal of MMA by the mainstream news establishment, this oversight is hardly a surprise. In the past, we've always shaped such snubs as part of a larger argument about how far MMA has to go. But not this one. Mainstream sports, this time, it's on you. I'm not arguing that Jones should have won the award. The winner, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, had an amazing calendar year. He won the Super Bowl, led his team to a 19-game win streak and has them in position to possibly repeat. Runner-up Justin Verlander of the Detroit Tigers won both the American League Most Valuable Player and Cy Young awards, the first pitcher to do that in 27 years. Third-place went to tennis star Novak Djokovic, who won 10 tournaments -- including three majors -- and finished the year with an exceptional 70-6 record. Those three are all deserving of the consideration they received, but it's a sign of the blissful ignorance of the AP voters that Jones wasn't considered alongside of other vote-getters like Derek Jeter, Robert Griffin III and Dario Franchitti. Jones, MMA Fighting's Fighter of the Year, had arguably the best calendar year in MMA history, winning four matches overall, defeating three former UFC champions and becoming the youngest title holder in UFC history. He wasn't exactly invisible doing it, either. He was a guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel Live, and on the day of his title win, helped thwart a robbery, an act that resulted in major national attention. If a boxer like Manny Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather put together a year like that, you better believe that they would have earned votes. But because Jones fights in a cage instead of a ring, his accomplishments go unappreciated and unrecognized. It's not like this was a small sample size; 212 alleged experts in sports cast ballots for the award. Some might suggest that awards like this don't matter. After all, in the big picture, it's the opinions of a few. But they are also the same people who help shape the national conversation of sports. As local newspapers continue their slow death spirals, the AP is called upon to provide more and more of the coverage that was once done in-house. That means a homogenized voice spreading a message that is not always indicative of the true, wider picture. It's the same voice that shut MMA out of the newspapers for far too long. But at least on that front, there is progress. In 2011, AP consistently began to provide papers with UFC event results. It might not be enough, but it's a start. Judging from their awards balloting, they still have a long way to go. MMA always blames itself for its shortcomings, and points out all the instances in which we're snubbed by the mainstream. It's proof, we say, that there is still much to do in order to truly break through. That's partly true, but we must also hold the sports experts to a higher standard. In any part of life, there's only so long you can disregard something popular before you can be accused of ignorance, and we've long passed that stage. At some point, it's up to the mainstream media to meet us halfway. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mma, jone, sport, year, award

Latest UFC/MMA news and notes from around the web for the week of December 18, 2011

Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Randy Couture and Kim Couture pictured above, we can all "get along." Teaming up with MMA sites like MMA Fighting, Cage Potato, Fight Opinion and The Fight Nerd, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport. This week, Ben Fowlkes of MMA Fighting writes an incredible piece on Dan Hardy, The Fight Nerd counts down the best upsets of 2011 and Bleacher Report speaks with Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker. The full list of links is after the jump. - Exclusive photo gallery of Satoshi Ishii's training (LowKick) - Six fighter letters to Santa (Cage Potato) With Christmas around the corner, we figured it would be a good time to share some of the letters we got our hands on from fighters to Santa. From Wanderlei to Alistair, Nick to Chael, it's interesting to hear what these guys want from St. Nick this holiday season. - Grappling with Issues - 12/22/11 (Five Ounces of Pain) Will lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez face a Strikeforce or UFC fighter next?? What would you like Dana Claus to bring you this year for Christmas? Would you lock horns in the cage with Cristiane Santos for the right price? Who in MMA deserves a lump of coal in their stocking this year? - The Outlaw and the losing streak (MMA Fighting) f Dan Hardy had his way he would have shaved the mohawk by now. Five minutes with some clippers, one quick swoop down the middle of his head, and the signature hairstyle that makes him so recognizable to fight fans could be gone. Maybe then he could blend in. Maybe then he could get a moment to be alone with himself and figure out just what in the hell is going on. - UFC 142 betting odds (5thRound) - Nick Diaz highlight by LazieTheSavage (MiddleEasy) LayzieTheSavage just dropped his latest quake inducing Nick Diaz highlight: Fight to the Finish Line. It's the spiritual sequel to Hey Nick, Nice Shot and it was a long time coming. Finally, it's here to reduce us to tears of rawesomeness. - The 10 biggest MMA upsets of 2011 (The Fight Nerd) Everyone loves to see the underdog win, especially because they never expect it. In MMA, unpredictability is a constant variable that truly makes it one of the most exciting sports out there. Sometimes, it's not even the underdog, but rather the fighter that most thought had zero chance at all to win, let alone survive the fight. - Randy Couture: Title IX really crippled wrestling programs badly (Fight Opinion) "I think, unfortunately, Title IX has been pretty hard on our sport over the years and I've done some fundraising and been involved in kind of raising some awareness about that and some of the college problems that have been put on the chopping block in recent years like Fullerton and University of Oregon's program and others and hopefully, you know, through Mixed Martial Arts I think we can turn the tide." - 11 for 11: No. 9 UFC's big shows in Toronto and Rio (MMA Payout) UFC 129 in Toronto was the company's first stadium show which set records for attendance, gate and bonuses. The bonuses were the biggest ($129,000) in recent memory. It also held the first of two UFC Expos held this year. In the end, the UFC had a substantial impact on the economy in Toronto. Read more " - Scott Coker on the future of Melendez, Cyborg and the Showtime deal (BleacherReport.com/MMA) "I think we can do both. We will find girls. There's girls around the world that will come to fight her. I think there's some girls that can be competitive with her. She's a tough girl. There's some guys that probably would want to fight her, right? She's a beast. At 45, she's pretty much dominated that division for awhile now. She said she wants to go to 35 to fight the girls. But personally, I'm not sure she can make 35. She's talking about fighting at catchweight first." - Jim Genia's 2011 holiday wish list (MMA Convert) I wish promoters would stop giving Jens Pulver fights. At this point, it's clear the former UFC lightweight champ isn't angling so much for a graceful retirement as a painful and debilitating permanent exit from the cage. Which means it's up to the promoters of the world to stop giving Pulver fights. Yes, he's beloved and charismatic, and at one point his name was synonymous with "stand and bang". But alas, those days when he could be competitive - and take a punch - are gone. So please, anyone out there with matchmaking duties, just cut it out. Let the man ride off into the sunset in peace. - The Daily Line: Knockout of the Year (Fightline) 2011 has been a huge year for MMA, both in terms of growth and the sheer entertainment value of the fights that have been waged. Over the next week, FightLine will take a look at the best performances turned in over the last year before the apocalypse.

Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, year, girl

Satoshi Ishii Ready for Wherever Fedor Emelianenko Wants to Fight

Satoshi Ishii entered the world of mixed martial arts with what were, in all likelihood, unfair expectations of greatness. It only took one bout, a debut loss against veteran Hidehiko Yoshida, for him to be written off as mostly hype by many fans. Since rattling off four wins and a draw (should be five wins), the 25 year old Ishii has somewhat rekindled interest in his future, and now a chance to face Fedor Emelianenko on New Year's Eve has him set to finally make the big splash many fans were hoping for. Lowkick's Anton Guervich had a chance to ask Ishii some questions about the upcoming fight and it resulted in a very interesting interview. A small sample: Many people say Fedor is a clear favorite against you. Do you like being the underdog, or it's something that gets in your head?That is fine that people consider Fedor the favorite. And it does not bother me at all that everyone thinks that I am the underdog. Less pressure for me. He is the one who has the most to lose going 1-3 in his last 4 fights. What in your opinion is your biggest advantage coming to this fight? How do you see your Judo skills coming in effect against Fedor Emelianenko?I would not say that I have any real advantage over Fedor the man is a legend and has faced all styles. But I am confident wherever this fight goes. Whether we stand and trade or on the ground. As far as my Judo against him, well yes I do feel my Judo will play a big part of this fight if he decides to clinch with me. Ishii also discusses training in America for this fight and being a Japanese fighter facing Fedor on a New Year's Eve card. Go give the full interview a read.

Posted in: fight, year, fedor, judo, ishii

Best UFC/MMA fighter of 2011

Every year in the world of combat sports, there are a handful of fighters who either defy the odds or support them wholeheartedly, laying waste to all in their path in unexpected (or entirely expected) fashion. Loved, loathed, or regarded with mild disinterest once their rampages get dull, these warriors command the attention of viewers through the universal language of violence. As such, we’ve seen the meteoric rise (or surprising rebirth) of a select few over the past 12 months. But which combatant 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 "Fighter of the Year:" (Insert Rocky and/or Hulk music here) Jon Jones Photo via Yahoo! Sports Despite caving in Brandon Vera’s eye socket and unleashing a hailstorm of elbows on Vladimir Matyushenko’s face the previous year, Jones still had plenty of questions to answer as he entered 2011. Unfortunately for the rest of the light heavyweight division, he quickly proved himself up to the task, throttling Ryan Bader at UFC 126 before defeating Mauricio Rua for the 205-pound title on short notice and defending it in dominating fashion against former champions Quinton Jackson and Lyoto Machida. The young phenom is quickly running out of obstacles in the way of uncontested dominance of the division, and MMA fans await his 2012 campaign with bated breath. Nick Diaz Photo via UFC.com Diaz has long been known for laying a physical and verbal smackdown on anyone unlucky enough to be on the opposite side of the cage, but his low level of competition left his status as a top welterweight up for debate. After submitting Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos, however, Diaz took steps to correct that issue, becoming the first man to ever knock out Paul Daley before returning to the UFC and absolutely decimating former champion B.J. Penn. Now scheduled to face former WEC champion Carlos Condit for the interim UFC welterweight title while champion Georges St. Pierre recovers from knee surgury, Diaz has the chance to finally be recognized as the premiere welterweight in the world on Super Bowl weekend. Donald Cerrone Photo via UFC.com WEC lightweights had a stigma attached to them of being second-rate, and the only thing that frustrated Donald Cerrone more than being disrespected was his apparent inability to win a title. After an illegal knee on his end forced an early end to his title fight with Jamie Varner, leading him to lose a technical decision, he took on Ben Henderson twice, falling both times. After getting revenge on Varner, though, "Cowboy" made his way to the UFC and commenced a thorough obliteration of everyone in his path. This year alone, he submitted Paul Kelly, battered Vagner Rocha, scored his first-ever (T)KO over Charles Oliveira, and pummeled Dennis Siver before choking him out. With his fifth fight of 2011, against Nate Diaz, scheduled for Dec. 30, Cerrone may be dangerously close to challenging for the title once again, only this time on the biggest stage there is. Junior dos Santos Photo via static.enlapelea.com Junior dos Santos only fought twice in 2011, but he made up for lack of quantity with sheer brutality. After coaching in Season 13 of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), "Cigano" was matched up against notorious knockout artist Shane Carwin, who was replacing the ailing Brock Lesnar. Dos Santos barely broke a sweat over the course of the fifteen-minute beatdown, crushing the American wrestler with brutally-precise punches. Impressive as this win was, his greatest highlight was yet to come; the hard-charging Brazilian got the opportunity of a lifetime this past November, headlining the UFC’s first show on FOX opposite heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez. Stunningly, dos Santos flattened his foe in a grand total of sixty-four seconds despite a torn meniscus, becoming the first Brazilian heavyweight champion since his mentor, "Minotauro" Nogueira, who guillotined Tim Sylvia for the interim title. At only 27, the best is yet to come for dos Santos, and I think I speak for all of us when I say that’s a bloody scary thought. Dan Henderson Photo via mmaweekly.com Dan Henderson has always had a right hand that he needed to register as a concealed weapon to wear a glove on, but in 2011, he truly, unequivocally mastered it. He started the year off by capturing yet another title, knocking out Strikeforce 205-pound champion Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante. He went on to score one of the biggest upsets of the year in late July, putting the legendary Fedor Emelianenko to sleep for the first time with a hard uppercut from behind. Not content with just making history, however, Henderson also won arguably the best fight of 2011, battering Mauricio Rua for three rounds and fending off a late rally from the deposed champ. On the cusp of a title shot and widely regarded as one of the best light heavyweights in the world, Henderson has defied age and expectations to establish himself as one of the finest fighters in the world. That's a wrap. Be sure to let us know if we missed anyone sufficiently awesome in the comments below and be sure to stop by tomorrow for the finale of our "Best of 2011" series, when we look for "Event of the Year." To see our 2011 "Fight of the Year" nominees and cast another vote click here. To see our 2011 "Knockout of the Year" nominees and cast another vote click here. To see our 2011 "Submission of the Year" nominees and cast another vote click here. Poll The best fighter of 2011 was: Jon Jones Nick Diaz Donald Cerrone Junior dos Santos Dan Henderson Someone else (see comments) 32 votes | Results

Posted in: diaz, title, henderson, champion, year

Matwork! Qingdao Judo Grand Prix Results, Midlands Contenders, Year's Best Awards, Christmas Grappling Videos and More

Recent happenings in the worlds of sambo, judo, Brazilian jiu jitsu, submission grappling and/or collegiate/freestyle wrestling. If it takes place on the ground and it's interesting, it should be here. This issue is hitting your eyeballs nine days before the end of 2011. As an opportunity for a fresh start, assuming no end of the world shenanigans actually happen, 2012 is fast approaching and most of the major combat sports have shut down for the holidays. Nevertheless, there are still events going on, videos to watch and articles to digest. First, feast your eyes on a terrific combination of scrambles and throws to close out the men's 60 kg finals in the Qingdao IJF Grand Prix. Georgii Zantaraia (Ukraine) went OFF at the end of the match and threw Naohisa Takato (Japan) for ippon with a soto makikomi. The video kicks off at the beginning of some serious action, yet if you've got some time, the whole match is fairly entertaining. Peep this clip and join me after the jump for more combat sports goodness. If you have any links of your own, questions or comments, leave them below or get word to me at DefGrappler on Twitter. Please let me know if I missed anything major and I will fix this, that and the other thing. A list of official crew Twitter accounts is right here for your pickings: BloodyElbow Twitter, Luke Thomas, Kid Nate, Brent Brookhouse, Leland Roling, Richard Wade, Jonathan Snowden, Chris Barton, Damon O,Scott Broussard, Tim Burke, Matt Bishop, Fraser Coffeen, Dallas Winston, KJ Gould, Matt Roth, Anton Tabuena. Wrestling News: It's winter time. X-Mas is right around the corner. Most college students are already home on break, stuffing their faces with home cooked bakery and figuring out ways to sneak off and party with friends they've missed. Dedicated (and unpaid) collegiate athletes are still watching their diet and sneaking into the gym to get those workouts in and ensuring that their competitors don't outwork them. This particularly holds true for wrestlers. The 2011 Midlands will be held at Northwestern University on December 29th and 30th. This is the big mid-season tournament, as most of the top individual wrestlers in each weight division will come and battle for the prestigious title. As the cherry on the top of that grappling sundae, the Midlands often feature a Super Match in which now-graduated college stars or Olympic-caliber wrestlers go against each other. Last year's Super Match was between Ben Askren and Jake Herbert, who is now second on the U.S. national team at 84 kg (behind Cael Sanderson). This may be a bunch of complete hot air, but Chael Sonnen was talking about how this year's Super Match would be between Askren and Jordan Burroughs, the new golden boy and current world champion at 74 kg. Burroughs and Askren have denied it on Twitter, yet it could still be possible. Anyways, the current rough draft of a line-up for the 2011 Midlands has been released. Note that there are some differences between that list of contenders and the InterMat rankings (updated and released here). The international freestyle scene has largely shut down for the holidays, so here's perhaps the silliest-looking scramble I've ever seen in folkstyle wrestling, courtesy of Flowrestling. Watch more video of Dirty Flo Scramble 2011-2012 on flowrestling.org I give much respect to those wrestlers for putting in all that hard work and not giving up, but that's funny stuff. Judo News: As mentioned above, the Qindao IJF Grand Prix was held over three days from Friday, December 16th, to Sunday, December 19th. JudoInside has the results, medal table and other cool stuff. This was another strong event, although not quite as many top ranked competitors showed up as did for the Grand Slam in Tokyo. A decent smattering of videos can be found on YouTube (especially the lighter weight finals), but the more spectacular matches and moments have not made the internetz yet. Maybe you readers will be content with the bucketfuls of video from last week's Tokyo Grand Slam. As can be seen on the World Rankings, several top 10 competitors among the various divisions showed up in Qingdao and had differing amounts of success. IntJudo has three good recaps of each individual day on their site. I have only been following judo for a short time, but homecourt advantage really does seem to have an effect. The Chinese judoka won the most medals here, with the Koreans second and the Japanese third. A couple of red cards (for illegal leg-based techniques) and penalty points were decisive factors in several of the semis and finals, which is kind of a shame. To continue the long tradition of America-centric news cherrypicking, U.S. judoka, Kayla Harrison won the women's 70 kg final with an ippon throw of the 2008 Beijing Olympic champion, Yang Xiuli. Big ups to her for the gold medal. Now that the judo season is at a close, we can come up with some of the better throws out there. I'm partial to the following throw by Artem Vaslyenko from the European Championships in the finals of the 81 kg. The technique has an actual name - sode tsurikomi goshi - and has been used many times in competition, yet in this match, Vaslyenko makes it look like pure magic. There's a decent compilation of ippons from Judo Scotland here, but I think finding a true 2011 Ippon of the Year is going to take quite a while of trawling through videos. This highlights of the World Championship ippons is a good starting point. This one might be my second favorite though, as Audrey Tcheumeo (France) footsweeps Akari Ogata (Japan) for the ippon: Submission Grappling/Brazilian Jiu Jitsu News: The results of Aesopian's Gi Survey are now out. The idea of the project was to take ratings of various gis owned by grapplers filling out the survey and then chop up the data to spit out some useful stuff. The project succeeded and Aesopian is now chopping up the data in bursts and will make the information available when he is ready. For now, he's released a short post that shows that the top 30 some brands essentially have little difference in overall customer satisfaction. This means that for the most part, gi companies are doing a good job, but also shows that crowd-sourcing which particular gi to buy for your individual tastes is probably not a good idea. Sizes and shapes vary among people and also among gis. Pay attention to shrinkage rates. I suggest that you go to your grappling teammates, find one that you like the looks and feel of and get that one. Or experiment and go get something that nobody there has ever heard of. My favorite bit of seeing the "We Are All One" slogan at work through combat sports this week has to be the ADCC Serbian Open. The quick results and some photos are available on the ADCC website. Genki Sudo may have retired and moved on to Japan's pop music scene, but that spirit of unity through beating the heck out of each other within the confines of sensible rules is still alive and strong. There is a strange and strong bond between people who have just grappled each other and I genuinely think this is somewhat key to world peace. The Renzo Gracie Open was held this past weekend within the MMA World Expo event held nearly on the waterfront of Hell's Kitchen. The results and video are not up yet, but I will keep you updated. The results of the Naga Worlds event that was slightly overlooked last week (no information available at that time) are now out. David over at the Jiu Jisu Laboratory blog has his 2011 BJJ Awards up. I agree with most of what's in here - particularly awarding Leandro Lo Pereira the Rookie of the Year award. Beating Celso Venicius and Michael Langhi within one tournament is going to turn heads. Stomping through the Brazilian competitions all year long, as Leandro Lo did, is cementing your place with style. I disagree with Competition of the Year, as I thought the Abu Dhabi Pro was better run than the ADCCs and featured a bit better BJJ. Best Throw has to go to Leo Vieira for his massive first round ADCC seo nagi (sadly the video was taken down, so I can't link you to it). Watch Augusto "Tanquinho" Mendes roll with Rafael "Formiga" Barbosa. This is high level grappling, courtesy of BJJ Weekly, and will show you what you are working towards. Formiga is narrating, so try to get through the Brazilian accent and enjoy a caipirinha while watching, if you like (and if it's legal for you to do so). Ricardo Abreu has one of my favorite Brazilian jiu jitsu nicknames ever in "Demente" (for his habit of purposely leaving an arm out for an opponent to seize onto before countering with a pass). He left elite competitive grappling for a while to work as a lawyer for a few years, but came back and started transitioning to an MMA career. Five days ago, he won his second pro fight at 205 lbs in 24 seconds on a card for BRFC - Desafio de Imortais in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Video of the knockout is here, but it seems like Leo Rocha, his opponent, caved before Abreu could display some serious skills. His July fight, which lasted a minute and change, displayed a bit more of his skills. A couple days later, Celso Venicius won a short match by submission to punches (from mount) at Face to Face 5 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Again, not as competitive as I'd like to see, but good prospects generally make short work of opponents. Demente reminds me of a slightly larger, much nicer version of Palhares with armbars being his particular submission love affair. Could be worth keeping an eye on, as he works his way through the Brazilian MMA scene. Celso Venicius is probably not going to make big waves in the lightweight division, but he could make a run in a lower division and his grappling is very, very good as well. Hopefully, I didn't steal any of Leland and Smoogy's thunder here. Odds and Ends: For those of you grapplers who have back trouble, try doing some of the exercises from this post by Christian Graugart. I am going to start doing them just to loosen things up and to head off some stuff with my sacroiliac joint that I can feel coming on. Note: this is not medical advice and you should consult with your doctors about your beat up body before doing anything crazy. Braulio Estima has a pretty decent sense of humor. He's also willing to make himself look silly in the pursuit of laughs. Check out how Santa Braulio gets a reindeer into the X-Mas spirit. To close out, I end with another Animals Grappling video. It starts off slow, but that tabby cat can go after the neck for sure. Much credit to DeoWade for showing me this one. People, I always need more awesome Odds & Ends. Videos, gifs, links, whatever. Do not hesitate to send them my way on here or on Twitter. Def Grappler out!

Posted in: world, video, year, end, judo

Jake Shields Hopes To Work His Way Back A Title Shot In 2012

“I’m feeling great about my opponent. [Akiyama] is someone that I should match up good against… I just wanna have a great year. 2011 wasn’t my best year and I just wanna get back on track and get a couple of big wins to get myself lined back up for another title shot. I would like to be the number one contender by the end of 2012… Right now I wanna see Nick [Diaz} go out there and take that belt and then I’ll worry about what I’m gonna do from there.” — Jake Shields talking to Fighting Famous TV (transcribed via MMA Mania) about bouncing back in 2012 Jake Shields definitely didn’t have the best year in 2012. In his defense though, the obstacles he was faced with were nearly insurmountable. First, he had to fight Georges St. Pierre which rarely turns out well for anybody. And then he was forced to deal with the unexpected passing of his father/manager, Jack Shields, just weeks before meeting Jake Ellenberger. Considering the circumstances, it wasn’t surprising that he didn’t perform well in that fight. A new year brings a new beginning though, and now Shields has the opportunity to get his career back on track. The only downside to that is he’s now in the hunt for the same title as his close teammate, Nick Diaz. It’s fact he’s well aware of, but he doesn’t think it will become an issue. The reality is though, as long as Georges St. Pierre or Nick Diaz hold the title, Shields is pretty much out of the welterweight title picture. If he gets a couple wins and one of them has the belt, might a move back to middleweight be in Shields’ future? It’s too soon to tell, but he says he’s open to it. Image via Esther Lin for Strikeforce/Showtime

Posted in: shield, jake, nick diaz, title, year

Rankings: Jones' stunning rise in 2011 (Yahoo! Sports)

Jon Jones went from unranked in 2010 to No. 2 a year later with an undefeated year that puts him in line as heir apparent to Anderson Silva.

Posted in: jone, silva, year, ranking, rankings jones

Jake Shields: I would like to be the number one contender by the end of 2012

It wasn't that long ago that Jake Shields had won 15 consecutive fights over some pretty big names, putting himself in position to be considered one of the world's best 170-pounders. Fast-forward to late 2011 and he's now coming off back-to-back losses for the first time in his career. After falling to the Canadian jab of death against Georges St. Pierre at UFC 129 last April, the former Strikeforce middleweight champion was stiffened by Jake Ellenberger at UFC Fight Night 25, just days after the passing of his father back on Sept. 17. In short, it's been a pretty shitty year for the American Jiu-Jitsu grappler. That's why his first bout of 2012, a welterweight scrap against Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 144 on Feb. 26 in Japan, is such an important first step in re-establishing himself as a dominant force in the promotion's crowded 170-pound division. "I'm feeling great about my opponent. [Akiyama] is someone that I should match up good against. I just wanna have a great year. 2011 wasn't my best year and I just wanna get back on track and get a couple of big wins to get myself lined back up for another title shot. I would like to be the number one contender by the end of 2012. Right now I wanna see Nick [Diaz} go out there and take that belt and then I'll worry about what I'm gonna do from there." Hear more from Shields, courtesy of Fighting Famous TV, after the jump. Anyone think Shields gets back "in the mix?" Or is he going to be relegated to the role of division gatekeeper for the foreseeable future? For more on Shields vs. Akiyama at UFC 144 click here.

Posted in: ufc, shield, year, akiyama, opponent akiyama

Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 113: Tyron Woodley, Marshal Carper, Year in Review Pt. 2

Bloody Elbow Radio, presented by Bad Boy, will be LIVE! at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT for another edition of the show. Join hosts Matt Bishop and MMA Mania's Brian Hemminger as they discuss all the latest news in mixed martial arts. We'll continue our four-part Year in Review series with our next two categories — Fighter of the Year and Comeback Fighter of the Year. We'll list our top-five in each category while taking input from the Bloody Elbow readers and listeners. We have two guests on tap for the show. We'll be joined by Strikeforce welterweight Tyron Woodley as he preapres for his upcoming "Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine" fight with Jordan Mein. We'll chat with him about that fight, plus we'll talk about his recent gym opening. We'll also welcome MMA author Marshal Carper to the show. He recently co-penned "Advanced Brazilian Jiu Jitsu" with Marcelo Garcia and Glen Cordoza. We'll talk with him about that book, which was reviewed here on Bloody Elbow yesterday, and much more. Bloody Elbow Radio is sponsored by Bad Boy. Bad Boy, the 2010 and 2011 World MMA Awards winner for "Best Technical Clothing Brand" can be found at BadBoyMMA.com. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook and tell them Bloody Elbow sent you. How to listen: Live/archived on the player below I iTunes I RSS feed I Direct download link (available after live broadcast) Want to get in touch with the BE Radio crew? Here's how you can do so: Phone: (347) 202-0934E-mail: bloodyelbowradio@gmail.comTwitter: @mbish86, @sprewellrimz or @gotahemmiBloodyElbow.com: Leave a question or comment in this post For those calling in, you will first be picked up by our producer who will take your information and get what you want to talk about. You will then be queued. We will try to get to everyone as soon as we can. We ask that you call in around the time of the topic you want to discuss. SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine

Posted in: radio, year, elbow radio, elbow, boy

The Best MMA Writing of 2011: Jordan Breen on Ian McCall Through the Lens of Shakespeare

The world of MMA journalism is often shunned, and criticized for its lack of diligence, and (at times) candor. Such criticism should not be ignored, but nor should we embrace the cynicism directed at our adolescent institution. This year was a good year to affirm as much. The Best MMA Writing of 2011 is not just a retrospective on some of the most interesting stories of the year, but a look at the valuable architects of disclosure, and calligraphy in our growing community. "Oh, Sherdog? Love you guys," he says, smiling through his cotton mouth. "Too bad you've got a bunch of Japanese fighters ahead of me in your rankings." - Ian McCall Jordan Breen's feature on the currently #1 ranked Flyweight in the world starts off on the same quixotic note McCall himself seems to operate on. Within the first page we know a few things about the man set to face Demetrious Johnson for the four-man UFC Flyweight tournament, slated for March 3, 2012 at UFC on FX 2. He loves his handlebar mustache, he loves his chihuahuas, and for some strange reason that I absolutely have to question, he loves John Leguizamo's rendition of Tybalt Capulet in Romeo and Juliet Casual viewers of the WEC might find the presence of McCall in any kind of upper echelon perplexing. When he fought a completely unheralded Charlie Valencia, the beating he took was a caricature of one. Tossed halfway across the cage with a suplex that ended up looking more like a catapult, Ian would end up getting choked out in the first three minutes of round 1 at WEC 31. It's the only loss that feels like a real stain on his record. His only other loss is to the current and reigning BW champion, Dominick Cruz. Meanwhile, he's climbed to the top at 125 while one legend has faded (Mamoru Yamaguchi), and the man to dethrone him (Yasuhiro Urushitani, who will also participate in the UFC tournament) has taken a backseat in the rankings to McCall, and the man he beat to vault him to the top in Jussier de Silva. McCall's deliberate pace and well rounded game feel like a far cry from a man nicknamed "Uncle Creepy", who was once an addict, and who got married on impulse. But it's also a reflection of how he's changed: a story documented brilliantly by Jordan Breen who doesn't get the opportunity to write as much as he should. Below is an interesting anecdote that could very well be the impetus for the UFC's flyweight tournament. But please read the full article here. "Hey! Where is my weight class, Sean Shelby?" McCall shouts, as he is having his hand wraps cut off, calling out the UFC matchmaker in absentia. Perhaps McCall’s personality is rubbing off on me. I decide to call his bluff, and I hand him my cell phone, with a blank text message open to Shelby. "Here’s your chance," I say. McCall is undaunted. As soon as his hands are free of tape and gauze, he types away. "Hey, pal, it’s Ian McCall ... give me my weight class." "Hey, Jordan," a voice says behind me. I turn around, and there stands McCall’s father. I am completely confused as to how he knows my name. "Oh, my dad is the coolest," he says, boasting. "He’s been reading Sherdog for 10 years." Ian McCall’s family members are not just Ian McCall fans; they are MMA fans.

Posted in: ufc, mma, year, mccall, ian

Watch the top 10 MMA knockouts of 2011

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

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

Lightweight Champ Edgar Looks to Build on Memorable 2011

With the end of every year comes award season. Each media outlet will dish out its own slew of honors for a bevy of categories, including "Fight of the Year," "Knockout of the Year" and "Submission of the Year."

Posted in: year, champ edgar, media outlet, year knockout, award season

Best UFC/MMA submissions of 2011

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

2011 The Year in MMA: The Fall of the Old Guard - Bloody Elbow

submitted by DeadFlux [link] [comment]

Posted in: year, guard, elbow, deadflux link, fall

MMAWeekly Radio Wednesday: Best of the Best 2011

It's the best of the best for 2011 on MMAWeekly Radio. Fight of the year, Fighter of the Year, KO of the Year and Sub of the Year all up for discussion.

Posted in: radio, year, mmaweekly, year ko, year fighter

Submission of the Year: 'Korean Zombie' twists to the top

submitted by DeadFlux [link] [comment]

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

Chad Griggs latest Strikeforce heavyweight heading to the UFC

First it was Alistair Overeem, then Fabricio Werdum, and now apparently Chad Griggs will follow suit in joining the UFC roster after Zuffa recently announced their plan to do away with Strikeforce’s heavyweight division. Though no official reason was given for the organization’s decision, the widespread assumption is that axing the heavyweights will serve as a means of increasing the UFC’s depth in that department. According to a report from MMAWeekly, Griggs has signed on to compete inside the Octagon next year thought the date of his actual debut is still up in the air. However, it’s likely he will fight sooner than later given that “The Gravedigger” has been out of action since June. A Detailed Look at Griggs’ Last Win The 33-year old Griggs holds an overall record of 11-1 and has won his last six scraps including victories over Bobby Lashley, Gian Villante, and most recently Valentijn Overeem. Adding to his appeal, Griggs has never gone the distance, finishing all eleven of his opponents (nine TKOs, two submissions) while suffering his lone career loss nearly five years ago courtesy of a Kimura. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE Tweet

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, year, chad griggs, grigg

2011 The Year in MMA: The Fall of the Old Guard

How will we remember 2011 in Mixed Martial Arts history? So much happened in our sport this year, from huge business moves to epic fights to legends falling. Here, we'll attempt to recap some of the biggest stories of the year and figure out just how to define MMA in 2011. As I look back over the MMA landscape of 2011, one of the stories that most sticks out to me is the fall of the old guard. Time and again over the past 12 months, we saw veterans of the sport fall and fall hard - the old guard replaced by the newer, younger, faster models. Of course, this is not an overnight process, as we've seen these things for the past few years, but 2011 felt like the year these moments all came together. Think of the legendary, unbeatable Fedor Emelianenko collapsing face first into the mat after a Dan Henderson punch. Think of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira looking in disbelief at his mangled arm while Frank Mir calmly walks away. Think of the look of pure shock and confusion on the face of Randy Couture as he fell to the mat, victim of a Lyoto Machida kick that was simply unfathomable during most of The Natural's career. And think of men like Matt Hughes, B.J. Penn, Mirko Cro Cop - three all time greats who, if not "retired", at least hung up the gloves for awhile after hard loses in 2011. This isn't the first time we've seen this in MMA, and it won't be the last. This group who faded away in 2011 was really the 2nd wave of MMA, and many of them made their names in the sport by defeating the 1st wave - the MMA pioneers - roughly 10 years ago. Back then, it was Royce Gracie being beaten down over 90 grueling minutes by Kazushi Sakuraba, Pedro Rizzo leg kicking Dan Severn into submission, Tito Ortiz establishing his dominance over Ken Shamrock. Today, all of those winners are at the very end of their own careers. Which brings me to one man. The man who, in many ways, defined that 2nd wave of fighters, at least for the UFC. And the man who defined that 2nd wave again this year. I'm talking about The People's Champ, The Huntington Beach Bad Boy, the former UFC Light Heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz. Tito Ortiz is a legend of the sport who looked to be finished before 2011. A grueling series of fights and a non-stop assault of injuries had slowed Ortiz down considerably, and it looked like 2011 would finally be the end of the ex-champ. But Tito Ortiz would not go into the night so quietly. At UFC 132, Ortiz pulled off the upset of the year, submitting Ryan Bader in the first round. That led to what was, for me at least, the emotional highlight of the year, as Ortiz dug out the old trusty shovel and body bag, and laid Bader to rest. It was a huge moment for anyone who has followed this sport since the days of Ortiz's UFC dominance, and a highly charged display from the notoriously emotional Ortiz. It wouldn't last. Mere weeks later, Ortiz had lost again, stopped by a nasty Rashad Evans knee to the sternum. And to wrap up the year, Ortiz was defeated once more, this time by Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 140. That fight ended with Ortiz grasping his side and grimacing in pain - an image that truly encapsulates this year for the fighters of Ortiz's generation. Still, Tito Ortiz (and let's not forget Minotauro here too) showed that, despite becoming holdouts from a bygone era in MMA history, that old guard keeps kicking, and remains dangerous. How much longer will we see anyone from that era compete? The clock is winding down, and 2011 definitely sped up that process. So as we look back at the year, we can remember the loses these men endured - but it's important also to remember the great heights they once reached that brought them to this point. Yes, we remember Fedor vs, Henderson, but also remember Fedor vs. Kevin Randleman. Remember Minotauro vs. Bob Sapp. Remember Matt Hughes vs. Frank Trigg. Remember the greatness these legends gave us over the years, and be thankful for having had the chance to see them do what they do best. Check back all week for more of 2011 in MMA History.

Posted in: ufc, mma, ortiz, sport, year

7-1 Frenchman Arnaud Lepont discusses fighting in Thailand, future of SE Asian MMA

Arnaud Lepont is a French fighter with a 7-1 record who has been living and fighting in Asia for the past few years. After moving to Bangkok in 2011 he has rapidly become one of the stars of the recently formed DARE Championship and a name to watch in general. In his first fight for DARE he blasted through top Malaysian fighter Jian Kai Chee in less than a minute and he will be back in action on January 7 when he takes on another top Thai fighter in Krzysztof Hajtalowicz. Hajtalowicz, originally from Poland but now based in Chiang Mai, submitted the previously unbeaten Wiktor Svensson in the second round of his DARE debut and this clash is one of the most eagerly anticipated in Thai MMA history. Lepont took time out from his training to talk to Fighters.com about the upcoming fights and his experiences of living and training in Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia: When did you start learning martial arts and why? I started martial arts when I was five years. As a boy I was rather exuberant with an overflow of energy. My father decided to enroll in karate classes to channel the overflow. This is the best decision that my father took me. I do not think I’d be where I am today a time had he not made this decision for me. Why did you decide to fight MMA professionally? After winning the French Pancrase Championship. I won my four fights by submission in the first round, one against a good friend from my own team who is now the champion of a high level promotion in France call KOC…I’m proud of him. I heard that it is doing good. Winning this tournament was like the unlocking process to become professional. A couple of years later I faced the new French Pancrase Champion champion in a Shooto fight in Belgium and got the submission in the first round by triangle choke. Was it difficult to find fights in Europe back in 2007? Yes, for sure. First because MMA is still yet illegal in my own country of France and a year ago we were taking the road to fight in England, Germany…it was weird. People were looking at us like underground fighters… Why did you move to Asia? I did several years of “back and forth” and the more time passed, the more I longed to stay there. Life in Asia is very different but it suits me better. I initially started my gym in Vietnam. Unfortunately my associates had troubles with the law and I was included in their problems because my gym was under their license. I did nothing wrong but I was asked to leave the country. I lost everything and many people I called “My Family” have turned their backs. I was fortunate to come across great people when I arrived in Thailand, there are just over a year ago. I went back to training and as fate would have it I ended up signing with DARE FC. You train at a lot of different places, why is that? Because I don’t believe in the superiority of one camp. I think that if you want to improve yourself and get better, as a fighter, you have to share experience. That’s why I train in 13Coins and Phuket Top Team in Thailand and MuayFit in Malaysia. And believe me, I feel I’m a way better fighter now. How did you enjoy fighting for DARE? What did you think of the show? I love DARE! I love the MC Jon Nutt who I think he’s one of the best in the business. Jussi (Jussi Saloranta, the promoter) put in his show something new that everybody was waiting for. It’s like watching an interactive video game. Fights are not enough to make a good show, everything is important and living the DARE experience is unique and epic. Is it true you are moving to Malaysia soon, can you tell us a bit about that? Yes. It’s true. My friend Paul Teo has the will to build the first professional MMA team in Malaysia and he will bring in it some of the best fighters in Asia like Eric Kelly, Isamu Himura, and Kai Chee. I am already 31 and you know, my time is now, I still have dreams as a fighter. I want a shot at one of the big show - ONE FC, DREAM, or the UFC! You have spent a bit of time in Malaysia lately, who are the fighters to look out for there? There is a lot of good fighters. Some of these guys will emerge and will become the next step of MMA in Malaysia. Guys, keep a eye on Peter Davis, Jian Kai Chee, Samir Mrabet, and Allamurad “Pretty Boy” Karayev. What are your thoughts on your next opponent, Krzysztof Hajtalowicz? Cris is a nice guy. I have a lot of respect for him. I think he is maybe the next big fighter to come out of Thailand. His ground is deadly and his will is tough to break. I hate to face someone I like. But I have to stop him now. He is improving every day. We gonna have a drink after the fight but in the cage, will be a war… For people who aren’t familiar with DARE can you tell them a bit about how it is different from other MMA shows? DARE thinks that the fights are only a part of the show. All has to be entertaining! It’s a real experience to live. Lights, sounds…all is done to blow your mind…The cream of MMA fighters of Thailand are there. Buy your ticket for January 7…if you like MMA, this is the place to be ! With a 7-1 pro record you are probably one of the top French welterweights, what are your ambitions as a fighter? Thanks but there is a lot a really good fighter in France! Seydina Seck, Gary Kono, Gael Grimaud, and Jess Liaudin are the top of the basket of welterweight French division…but in the others, there is guys like Christophe Gauthierot, the Fernandez Brothers, the Schiavo brothers, Patrick Vallee, Bryan Rafik, Christian M’Pumbu, Cyrille Diabate, Greg Babene… I fight because I love fighting. I don’t do it for money. If you do it for the paycheck, I think it’s better to stop and become teacher. I love a good brawl. I wish at least a fight in ONE FC or DREAM or UFC…just one shot…for me and those who believe in me. And to finish my career I want to make my last fight in MMA rules in Paris, France in front of my friends. Tweet

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

Fighter of the Year: Jon Jones

Filed under: UFC, Strikeforce, BellatorIn October 2010, UFC president Dana White tried to slow down the expectations for Jon Jones. The light-heavyweight talent had just run through veteran Vladimir Matyushenko and the buzz around him had grown to the point where people were trying to project him into the title picture. White, though, would have none of it. Jones was going to fight Ryan Bader in early 2011 and still probably have to win another 2-3 fights after that before fighting for the belt, White said. Just three months later, circumstances caused him to reconsider. In a perfect storm of a day, Jones blitzed Bader and White discovered he needed a challenger for Mauricio "Shogun" Rua when Rashad Evans got hurt and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson declined the fight on six weeks' notice. Jones got the call and answered the challenge in historic fashion, annihilating Rua to capture the belt and become the youngest UFC champion in history. Jones is the easy pick for fighter of the year, but in reality, his 2011 was more than that, arguably the finest single calendar year in MMA history. Consider this: he became the first man in history to defeat three former UFC champs in a single year. But he didn't just beat them, he finished each one of them (and choked out Bader for good measure). If you like statistics, Jones' dominance over the opposition can be proved numerically. In his four fights, he out-landed Bader, Rua, Jackson and Lyoto Machida by an obscene total of 233 to 56, according to FightMetric. Keep in mind, those four came into their respective bouts with Jones with a combined winning percentage of .851, yet Jones won all 11 rounds against them and only Machida had any moments of success. It's not easy to select a defining moment for Jones in 2011, but his title victory was certainly a moment of clarity for all the remaining skeptics. From the opening touch of gloves until the time referee Herb Dean pulled Jones away signifying the end, Jones' performance was nothing short of a masterpiece, MMA's equivalent of a perfect game. Rua, a vaunted striker who was believed to have the standup advantage over Jones, was simply overwhelmed in every aspect. Jones out-landed him by a ridiculous amount, 102 to 11 by FightMetric's count. He took him down on all three attempts. He passed his guard repeatedly. And finally, he finished the fight for good with a liver punch that crumpled Rua midway through the third. Showcasing his versatility, Jones became the first man in a decade to make Jackson tap out when he scored a fourth-round submission in his first title defense. And he saved his most mature performance for last, navigating his way through a rocky first round against Machida before dropping him with a straight left and finishing him by choking him unconscious in the second. The year saw Jones jump from prospect to champion in seemingly an instant. Just a few months before 2011 began, White thought Jones wasn't yet ready to fight for the belt, but by the time it was over, White, like everyone else, had been converted. "I don't know how you deny the guy anymore," he said. "He's literally walked through everybody. He fought four times this year, probably the nastiest schedule in the history of the company. He's incredible, man." And an easy choice for 2011's Fighter of the Year. 2. Dan Henderson When does time run out on Hendo? Judging from his 2011, it won't be anytime soon. The 41-year-old insists he's got a UFC title run in him, and his recent performances suggest he is indeed still a threat to either Jones or middleweight champ Anderson Silva. He started off the year in March by knocking out Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante to take the Strikeforce light-heavyweight title. Months later, he moved to heavyweight and scored a TKO over Fedor Emelianenko, and he capped off his year by outlasting Rua in an all-time classic at UFC 139. 3. Ben Henderson With dominant wins over Clay Guida, Jim Miller and Mark Bocek, Henderson proved that he belonged in the UFC's lightweight division and that he was a legitimate challenger to current champ Frankie Edgar. Just as impressive as his performance was his quick climb back from disappointment. It was just about a year ago when he lost to Anthony Pettis during the infamous "Showtime kick" match. The victory was supposed to get Pettis a title shot, yet it's Henderson who got there first. 4. Michael Chandler It wasn't a huge surprise when Chandler beat Marcin Held and Lloyd Woodard to advance to the Bellator lightweight tournament finals, but his tournament title win over Patricky "Pitbull" Freire raised some eyebrows, and then Chandler one-upped himself by toppling champ Eddie Alvarez in one of 2011's best fights, a wild back-and-forth classic that Chandler closed out with a rear naked choke win. 5. (tie) Nick Diaz What a wild ride 2011 was for Diaz, who earned early wins over Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos and Paul Daley before vacating his welterweight belt to move over to the UFC. He came to fight champ Georges St-Pierre, but never got the chance after he missed media commitments and the UFC removed him from the bout. As it turned out, St-Pierre ended up getting hurt and would have missed the match anyway, but Diaz decided to take a fight with BJ Penn and smashed him in a way that we've only see GSP do lately, building more anticipation for a possible future bout between the pair. 5. (tie) Junior dos Santos There's no way to keep the new UFC heavyweight champion off this list after he demolished Shane Carwin back in June, and then headlined one of the most important shows in UFC history in November. Sure, the 64-second knockout of Cain Velasquez at the inaugural UFC on FOX show seemed more than a bit anticlimactic, but it also put into perspective just how dominant dos Santos has been. Since signing with the UFC, he has never lost a round. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, title, jone, year

Educated By Tough Times, Matyushenko 'Enjoying The Ride'

Other people’s funny stories involve someone breaking wind in yoga class or fainting before a ‘will-you-marry-me’ proposal. Vladimir Matyushenko’s notion of funny is telling you about the time he got his nose broken in a professional fight. No joke. “I fought in Brazil in the Jungle Fights a few years ago against Carlos Barreto,” said the Belarus-born light heavyweight fighter. “It was in Manaus, in the Amazon. I got there and looked at him and thought, “Really, I’m gonna fight this guy?” He was a big guy (6’4”, 230 pounds) and I was fighting at heavyweight. We exchanged a few punches and he kicked me really hard. My hands were up, but he broke my freakin’ nose with his leg – but he broke his leg and I won the fight!! (laughs). “He just fell down. He broke his leg or twisted his knee, I don’t know what happened, but he fell to the canvas and I was still standing. So I punched him a few times and they stopped the fight. He broke my nose but I won the fight.” The blow left Matyushenko sporting a grossly crooked beak, but the plain-talking veteran’s sense of humor is as lively as ever. When you’ve been fighting 14 years professionally, and grew up scraping by in Belarus, you learn to see the lighter side of a very rigorous and often unforgiving sport. At 40 years of age, the barrel-chested pro is one of the UFC’s senior statesmen and he’s still formidable, as evidenced by him winning four of his past five bouts (Jon Jones being the lone blemish, far from something to be ashamed of). Next up for Matyushenko, a former elite Russian wrestler who once beat U.S. icons Royce Alger and Kevin Jackson in the same tournament, is Alexander Gustafsson (12-1) of Sweden. The matchup is highly intriguing, partly because it harbors a potential referendum on just how good the highly-touted Gustafsson is, or isn’t. Jon Jones, the 205-pound kingpin, has looked superhuman inside the Octagon. But when fight fans are polled about which fighter stands the best chance of unseating him, Gustafsson’s name surfaces in the top five. The Swede knockout artist can match Jones’ length (Gustafsson is 6’5” to Jones 6’4”), but not Jones’ reach. Gustafsson is rather athletic and is dangerous with submissions as well. Yet Matyushenko refrained from anointing Gustafsson as something special. “He has a long reach, he’s young, athletic, whatever,” said Matyushenko (26-5), not sounding overly impressed, before stating the obvious. “I’m working my striking a lot, but I know if I take him down it will be a plus for me.” Where does he rank Gustafsson among the light heavies?“MMA has evolved so it helps to be tall with a long reach and at the same time be a strong guy, like Anderson Silva and Jon Jones,” Matyushenko said. “But there are other things involved. You have to be strong in your mind. Physically Gustafsson matches all the criteria, but can he do it? I guess that’s why people will be watching on TV, to see if he can do it.” Since Matyushenko has faced Jones, I ask him whom he would peg as most threatening to the emerging superstar’s throne. I’m expecting one of the usual suspects to appear – former champ Rashad Evans or the unbeaten Phil Davis. Who has the best chance to beat Jon Jones? “Me,” Matyushenko says with a hearty chuckle, a glaring prognostication to anyone who watched Jones smash the Russian with elbows and finish their Aug. 2010 contest in under two minutes. “I knew when I lost to him more than a year ago that he was The Real Deal,” Matyushenko said of Jones. “Do you want to step up and do it?” Matyushenko continues to train in the Los Angeles area, working regularly with fighters such as Antoni Hardonk and Jared Hamman. He has also worked with Lyoto Machida and Fabricio Werdum, among others. Yet Matyushenko is not one to hop around from team to team, as many younger fighters do while proclaiming the variety helps their games. “The camps don’t change,” he said. “When you have a good camp people come and go to you. I’m not the person who goes around and looks for people to train with; people come and train with me. I trained with Lyoto Machida for a long time. I was supposed to fight Gustafsson in August and I was training with Dan Henderson and Team Quest; we exchanged people, but then I got hurt.” It is one of the downsides of being a week shy of 41; the body doesn’t heal and recuperate as quickly. Otherwise, Matyushenko thinks age stereotypes are exaggerated, though he concedes he used to believe in them when he was much younger. “When I was 30 I thought, ‘Oh, it’s too late now,’” he said. “But to encourage the young fighters right now, no, it’s not too late. You can go very far (at an advanced age) but of course you need to take some precautions. There is a fine line between being in good shape and not being hurt. You have to rest more and train smart.” He came to the U.S. many years ago with barely $100 in his pocket. He spoke virtually no English at the time. “I bought a one-way ticket from New York to California and I’ve achieved so much, so I think it’s a big encouragement to kids. You can do whatever you want, especially right now,” he said. “The last two years have been good for me. I signed up with the UFC again, I bought a house, I got married in Vegas. My son graduated high school and he’s in the Air Force right now. I’ve got a dog. So a lot of good things have been happening. I’ve been working hard for many, many years and now finally I’m happy and where I’m supposed to be. “MMA is on a roll and so am I. I am MMA and MMA is me. I like being part of me so I’ll stick around and do as much as I can do. This is what I do best. I don’t think there is anything I do better. If I find something that I do better, then I’ll probably quit or retire. But so far I enjoy it. I really enjoy being part of the UFC. Finally we’ve gotten through the tough times and I want to enjoy the ride.”

Posted in: fight, jone, year, matyushenko, gustafsson

BJJ queen Hannette Staack reaching out to help impoverished youth in Brazil

If you’re a fan of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu there’s a good chance you’re familiar with Hannette Staack, a multi-time BJJ World Champion and ADCC gold medalist. If not, you should be. Staack is one of the most decorated women to have ever strapped on a gi but more importantly she’s also an excellent human being. Her latest projects involves helping out people in the slums of Rio de Janeiro by providing them with a community training center equipped with mats and every other necessity. The 32-year old recently spoke about why it’s important to her to give back to her people, as well as offered up some thoughts on what else she has on tap in the future. “I believe that the biggest prodigies in the sport have come from the impoverished communities. I am an example of that, when I started BJJ I did not have means to pay the monthly fee. My coach sponsored my training and in exchange I dedicated all my time and effort to practice. Today I reap the benefits of this opportunity that was given to me 14 years ago,” Staack began in an interview with BJJHeroes. “I am thankful every day for having had the opportunity to learn Jiu-Jitsu and through it having become the person I am today. The difference between myself and many other people that were given the same opportunity (even here in my academy) is that I followed through, I believed in my dream and was not discouraged in front of adversity, but I have seen many that were handed the same opportunities that I had yet stayed behind because they did not have the same determination. Our biggest objective with this project is that people value their opportunities and that we can lead by example.” In terms of her continued career in BJJ, Staack is not looking to hang it up just yet even if she acknowledges the end will eventually comes. “If I could I would never stop,” Staack joked. “But the truth is, we need to know the right time to stop and give rest to our bodies. After all these years competing in all different weight categories and against so many different people, the time comes to put your body at ease.” “I hope I can be like Helio Gracie and get to 90 years of age still training,” she continued while referencing the BJJ icon. “Competition demands a lot from your body, when you are young you don’t feel it that much, the recovery is faster and so is the metabolism, but time is unforgiving and it gets to us all. If you don’t stop at the right time, your body will stop for you. I believe I will stick around for a couple more years and after that I will pass my knowledge to my son or daughter, if they want to learn, of course!” With a mother like Staack it seems her son/daughter will learn quite a bit and not just how to become a submission-specialist but rather a good person too. PHOTO CREDIT – BJJHEROES Tweet

Posted in: time, year, people, bjj, staack

Best UFC/MMA knockouts of 2011

There really is nothing like a good knockout. Oh sure, we’re always happy to see wars of attrition and gnarly submissions, but nothing beats a good old-fashioned separation of man and consciousness. Thankfully, this past year has been very good to us in this regard, producing several of the most memorable shellackings in combat sport's history. But which 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 "Knockout of the Year:" Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort, UFC 126 Photo via Heavy.com After months and months of waiting, the MMA world finally got its wish: a match up between the two best strikers in the middleweight division. Many questioned how the apparently-invincible Anderson Silva would handle someone with comparable striking prowess, and former champion Vitor Belfort seemed the perfect candidate to answer that question. Unfortunately for Belfort and his supporters, Anderson passed the test with flying colors, blasting his foe with a heretofore-unseen front kick directly to the jaw and shunting him back into the morass of middleweight contenders. Patricky Freire vs. Toby Imada, Bellator 39 After his brother’s rampage through the featherweight division, there were high hopes for the elder "Pitbull" brother as he made his way into the Bellator lightweight tournament. He took his first major step toward fulfilling those hopes in the first round, knocking out former WEC champion Rob McCullough with nasty punches, but it was his sophomore effort against two-time finalist Toby Imada that really put him on the map. After a short feeling-out process, Patricky Freire absolutely leveled Imada with a flying knee and, as the wobbly Judo specialist attempted to flee, put him violently to sleep with a left hook, establishing his place in the venerable pantheon of Bad Brazilians. John Makdessi vs. Kyle Watson, UFC 129 Photo via picdizzle.com There was a lot of hype surrounding Canadian striker John Makdessi. In his UFC debut against Pat Audinwood, he demonstrated one of the most varied and entertaining kicking games we’ve seen thus far in the Octagon. Against "The Ultimate Fighter" veteran Kyle Watson, he seemed on his way to taking a unanimous decision, but his passiveness despite a massive striking advantage tinged the bout with disappointment. Seemingly sensing this displeasure, Makdessi faked a low kick in the third round and unleashed a gargantuan spinning backfist, leaving Watson out cold on impact and further cementing UFC 129 as one of the craziest events in UFC history. Lyoto Machida vs. Randy Couture, UFC 129 Photo via www.cagedinsider.com Randy Couture, after putting James Toney to sleep in a laughable mismatch at UFC 118, stated his intention to end his career with a bang against beleaguered former champion Lyoto Machida, who was attempting to bounce back from consecutive losses to Mauricio Rua and Quinton Jackson. In the early going, the aging Couture seemed unable to impose his will, getting picked apart at range and stymied in his attempts to work from the clinch. Things went from bad to horrific in the second round, however, as a jumping front kick straight out of "The Karate Kid" sent Couture’s consciousness (not to mention a tooth) careening into the audience, producing the event’s second KOTY candidate. Cheick Kongo vs. Pat Barry, UFC Live: Kongo vs. Barry Photo via UFC.com I distinctly remember yelling "He’s out!" at least three times while watching this fight, referring to Kongo each time. To this day, I still have absolutely no idea how he survived and even less of an idea how he managed to muster up the presence of mind necessary to knockout Pat Barry. This was an absolutely absurd knockout, and Cheick Kongo finally got something to be remembered for that doesn’t involve the gratuitous destruction of genitals. Arthur Guseinov vs. Tyson Jeffries, M-1 Challenge XXVI: Bennett vs. Garner II M-1 catches a lot of flak for its management policies, but you can’t deny that they know how to put on a show. Team Quest fighter Tyson Jeffries, after getting brutalized by Magomed Sultanakhmedov, seemed on his way toward redeeming himself, taking down and controlling Guseinov in the early going. This success wound up lasting just over a minute before, returning to his feet, Guseinov uncorked a lethal spinning backfist, leaving Jeffries unconscious well before he hit the ground and damn near giving announcer Mauro Ranallo an aneurysm. Marius Zaromskis vs. Bruno Carvalho, Rumble of the Kings Things weren’t looking good for Marius Zaromskis, a notoriously-undersized welterweight taking on a man who, by his own admission, weighed 190 pounds on fight night. Indeed, the size difference was astounding -- it looked like the fighters were two weight classes apart. The "Whitemare," however, laughs at your pitiful "logic," and fired off a Harold Howard-esque somersault kick, catching Carvalho in the side of the head before finishing him off with punches. While Carvalho is protesting the knockout, claiming that Zaromskis greased (and that the kick was illegal and that the stoppage was early), it’s fairly obvious that it’s just sour grapes. It’s not every day you get knocked out by a natural lightweight with a move long-associated with a coked-up Karate fighter. Cairo Rocha vs. Francisco Neves, Brazilian Fighting Championships: "Desafio dos Imortais" Yeah, nothing I say here could do this knockout justice. Watch the video. Trust me, it’s worth it. That about does it. If your favorite knockout wasn’t on the list, make sure to let us know in the comments section. Also, be sure to pop in tomorrow when we look to determine "Submission of the Year." To see our 2011 "Fight of the Year" nominees and cast another vote click here. Poll What was the 2011 Knockout of the Year? Silva vs. Belfort Freire vs. Imada Makdessi vs. Watson Machida vs. Couture Kongo vs. Barry Guseinov vs. Jeffries Zaromskis vs. Carvalho Rocha vs. Cairo Other 1 votes | Results

Posted in: ufc, kongo, vs, year, knockout

Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 112: Tyron Woodley, 2011 Year in Review Part 1

Bloody Elbow Radio, presented by Bad Boy, will be LIVE! at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT for another edition of the show. Join hosts Matt Bishop and MMA Mania's Brian Hemminger as they talk all the latest news in mixed martial arts. We'll begin our four-part "Year in Review" series, starting with two categories: Rookie of the Year (defined as the fighter making the biggest splash on the national stage in their first year there) and Comeback of the Year. Matt and Brian will present their top five in each category and give debate to each. We'll also extend the debate to the people, taking your ballots for each category. We'll be joined by Strikeforce welterweight Tyron Woodley in advance of his "Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine" fight with Jordan Mein. We'll chat with him about that fight, the state of the Strikeforce welterweight division and much more. Bloody Elbow Radio is sponsored by Bad Boy. Bad Boy, the 2010 and 2011 World MMA Awards winner for "Best Technical Clothing Brand" can be found at BadBoyMMA.com. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook and tell them Bloody Elbow sent you. How to listen: Live/archived on the player below I iTunes I RSS feed I Direct download link (available after live broadcast) Want to get in touch with the BE Radio crew? Here's how you can do so: Phone: (347) 202-0934E-mail: bloodyelbowradio@gmail.comTwitter: @mbish86, @sprewellrimz or @gotahemmiBloodyElbow.com: Leave a question or comment in this post For those calling in, you will first be picked up by our producer who will take your information and get what you want to talk about. You will then be queued. We will try to get to everyone as soon as we can. We ask that you call in around the time of the topic you want to discuss. SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine

Posted in: strikeforce, year, elbow radio, elbow, boy

DREAM New Year's Eve Card Update: Kazushi Sakuraba Returns to Pro Wrestling

If there's one thing you can say for Japanese MMA, it's this: they sure know how to put together an entertaining card. This year's big New Year's Eve show is the Antonio Inoki/Dream co-promoted Genki Desu Ka!! and will be headlined by Fedor Emelianenko vs. Satoshi Ishii. Now, we have a number of other fight announcements - and some are pretty fun. First up, Japanese MMA legend Kazushi Sakuraba will return to action, but for the first time since the 1990's, it will be in a pro wrestling match, not MMA. Sakuraba will team with fellow wrestler turned MMA fighter Katsuyori Shibata to wrestle against Shinichi Suzukawa and Atsushi Sawada. Sakuraba started his career as a pro wrestler training under Nobuhiko Takada before making the switch to MMA when Pride started. Good move for Sakuraba here, who has looked increasingly bad inside the MMA ring in recent years. More on the pro-wrestling side: Peter Aerts, the legendary, multi-time K-1 champion, will face Kazuyuki Fujita. And there are rumblings of a possible Mirko Cro Cop vs. Jerome Le Banner wrestling match. Back in the world of real fighting, they've also announced the sequel of sorts to one of last year's most bizarre fights. Yuichiro "Jienotsu" Nagashima, the cosplaying K-1 fighter who shockingly defeated Shinya Aoki in last year's mixed rules fight, will face Dream veteran Katsunori Kikuno. Again, the fight will be mixed rules, with a 3 minute K-1 rules round to start, and a 5 minutes Dream rules round for round 2. One last announcement: in women's MMA action, it will be Bellator's Megumi Fujii vs. Karla Benitez. The Japan MMA scene may have had a rough year in 2011, but it's good to see there will still be a night of crazy action on New Year's Eve - it wouldn't be the end of the MMA year without it! Complete card (for now) is as follows: Fedor Emelianenko vs. Satoshi IshiiDREAM Lightweight Title: Shinya Aoki vs. Satoru KitaokaDREAM Featherweight Title: Hiroyuki Takaya vs. Takeshi InoueDREAM Bantamweight Tournament Semi-Final: Bibiano Fernandes vs. Rodolfo Marques DinizDREAM Bantamweight Tournament Semi-Final: Antonio Banuelos vs. Masakazu ImanariDREAM Bantamweight Tournament Reserve: Hideo Tokoro vs. Yusup SaadulaevDREAM Bantamweight Tournament FinalTatsuya Kawajiri vs. Kazuyuki MiyataHayato Sakurai vs, Ryo ChonanMegumi Fujii vs. Karla BenitezDREAM/K-1 Mixed Rules: Yuichiro Nagashima vs. Katsunori KikunoIGF (Pro Wrestling) Rules: Peter Aerts vs. Kazuyuki FujitaIGF Rules: Kazushi Sakuraba/Katsuyori Shibata vs. Shinichi Suzukawa/Atsushi Sawada SBN coverage of DREAM: New Year! 2011

Posted in: mma, vs, year, sakuraba, rule

Megumi Fujii-Karla Benitez added to DREAM: New Year! 2011

Another bout has been confirmed for DREAM: New Year! 2011, as Megumi Fujii will face Karla Benitez in Japan. The event goes down December 31 from the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. Fujii (24-1) has competed for Bellator in her career, along with a strong run in her native country of Japan. Fujii started her run with 22 straight victories before a loss to Zoila Gurgel in the Bellator 115-pound finals in 2010. Benitez (6-1) will be making her DREAM debut along with Fujii. She won her first six pro fights before falling to Katja Janjaanpaa this past October. DREAM: New Year! 2011 will be headlined by Fedor Emelianenko vs. Satoshi Ishii. The card is expected to be televised in the U.S. by HDNet. PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR

Posted in: dream, year, japan, dream debut, fujii

Andre Ward walks away with Super Six crown after outpointing Carl Froch in final

It took more than two years to get to last weekend’s final of the Super Six Super Middleweight Tournament and for good reason too, as the proceedings have ultimately determined the cream of the 168-pound crop and his name is Andre Ward. Ward, an Olympic Gold Medalist with a 25-0 record, used his mongoose-like reflexes to pick apart Carl “The Cobra” Froch in Saturday night’s showdown. The judges’ scores read as 115-113, 115-113, and 118-110 with all the nods going to the likeable Californian. The two were supposed to meet earlier this year but Ward was injured while training. “One of the strongest assets I have is my mind,” said Ward after the victory. “I kept my composure, I kept things under control. And we pulled it off.” “I hope I did a good job,” he continued before adding, “But we can still get better, believe it or not.” The loss was only the second of Froch’s career but came as an obvious disappointment to the Brit who had gone 4-1 in the lead up to headliner, yet had no answer for Ward’s athleticism and movement. The 34-year old now holds a 28-2 record and will go back to the drawing board to figure out what’s next. Here are highlights of the bout courtesy of Showtime: PHOTO CREDIT – SHOSPORTS Tweet

Posted in: year, ward, middleweight tournament, froch, likeable californian

Luke Thomas Gives Fight of the Year to Chandler vs. Alvarez and More on The Fight Fix

Luke Thomas appeared on the most recent edition of The Fight Fix for CSN Washington and gave his picks for some year end honors. While many of his picks were fairly in line with standard thinking, he did have at least one pick that will turn heads. Luke picked Eddie Alvarez vs. Michael Chandler for his fight of the year over Mauricio Rua vs. Dan Henderson. While Alvarez vs. Chandler was a great, great fight, many are now considering Rua vs. Henderson to be one of, if not the, best fights in the sport's history. Here's the video: On Fight of the Year: It was crazy that it happened this late in the year. I'm gonna actually go with Michael Chandler vs Eddie Alvarez. I had a close inclination to say Shogun Rua vs Henderson, but for what Chandler was able to do when the odds were stacked against him. He stated his claim ahead of time about what he was going to accomplish. And to do so after being in peril, after being tired, and against a fighter who was believed to be significantly better than him, I thought it was a helluva back and forth - a fight where he had to persevere. I was an incredible win for him and he's the new champion. I think for m that's a little bit better than a fight where Shogun Rua - great fight against Henderson, but a little bit sloppy, this one had a little bit more technique to it. I like hat one better. Luke's picks for fighter, KO, submission of the year and more after the jump... Fighter of the year: Jon Jones. It's pretty simple. I don't see anyway you can pick against Jon Jones. Here's a guy who had the best year of any MMA fighter irrespective of weight class. Sort of noodle that and think about how many great fighters there've been . How many great runs they've been on. This guy beat 'em all. Fought 4 times in a calendar year. Finished all 4 opponents. At the end of 2010 he had faced Vladimir Matyushenko. At the end of 2011, he had defended his title for the 2nd time by putting away Lyoto Machida with a standing guillotine. He is the best fighter of 2011 hands down. KO of the year: This one was a little more difficult for me to pick. There's been some pretty good ones. I'm gonna have to go with the front kick to the face. Anderson Silva against Vitor Belfort. We know Lyoto Machida had his own against Randy Couture. That looked kind of cool too - it was a little more Karate Kid sort of theatrics to it. I believe that the skill level/differential between Anderson Silva and Vitor Belfort was much narrower than it is between Randy Couture and Lyoto Machida. He sort of was the 1st guy. You see it in Tae Kwon Do tournaments, you see it in karate tournaments, but you never have seen it in MMA. With the stakes so high - it was the fight of the century as it was labeled in Brazil - you gotta give it to Anderson Silva. What an unbelievable way to dispatch opponents. Submission of the year: This was the toughest call I think of them all, or maybe the 2nd closest. I'm gonna say it was a tough choice between Chan Sung Jung & Leonard Garcia - the "Twister" - or more recently UFC 140 Frank Mir vs Nogueira. I think you could make a very, very compelling case for either one. In Mir' case, he broke a legend's arm. The first time this guy's been submitted - at least in MMA. He's been submitted in grappling tournaments. To do it on such a stage & after being hurt, that's pretty big. But, Chan Sung Jung - the "Twister" is such a novel submission. It's so difficult to pull of. It's never been done before in the UFC. You gotta give it to the Korean Zombie on that one. Event of the year: I think this one was the hardest one to go on and the reason why is not that there haven't been great cards. There've been a lot of card that were marred by injury, thing went wrong from the top all the way to the bottom. This was a bit of a challenging year even though the UFC had some breakthrough moments. This is gonna be super debatable and that's fine. My choice personally: UFC 129. Now I know the main event between St. Pierre & Shields didn't really deliver what people were expecting, but I was in Toronto when this went down. First of all, every aspect of this card was great. From the 1st fight tot the last there were finishes all the way through. They had a lot of Canadians on the card who stepped up in big important fights. You're very 1st of the night ended with a flying triangle! Yes, the main event not delivering hurts my argument. You could make a great case for UFC 134 in Brazil. You could make a case for UFC 139 more recently. Even 140! I think top to bottom, even with a suffering main event, you gotta go UFC 129 for me. What he expects in 2012: There's a lot to look out for. There's gonna be just an unbelievable amount of shows. 32 shows, Strikeforce is back now as well. There's gonna be a lot on the plate - Tuf Brazil I think that's pretty interesting. But for me, I got my eye on one guy. Guy named Alexander Gustafsson. He's a Light Heavyweight. He had a little bit of a rough run against Phil Davis to begin with, but I thought he was surprisingly challnging for Phil Davis and I think he's gotten way better. I think this is gonna be a year where you see some breakout performances. Note: when Jon Jones fought Andre Gusmao it was a nice win for him, but no one really knew a Jon Jones was on the rise. I'm not saying Alexander Gustafsson is on the same level, I'm just pointing out he seems to be ultra talented. He seems to be getting better. He's young. And I think he has a very bright future. LEt's see what he can do.

Posted in: ufc, fight, guy, vs, year

“Mega Megu” confirmed for NYE action in Japan

Fans who enjoyed this past weekend’s performance from top female featherweight Cristiane Santos will no doubt be glad to hear another of the elite women in Mixed Martial Arts has action coming up before year’s end as well. According to an official announcement, Megumi Fujii has been booked for a bout against well-rounded Spaniard Karla Benitez at DREAM’s annual New Year’s Eve extravaganza. The 24-1 Fujii will be looking for her third straight victory since losing her lone (a Split Decision to Zoila Gurgel), while Benitez also recently fell for the first time by way of the judges’ scorecards and no doubt has designs on bouncing back strong. A Closer Look at Fujii vs. Gurgel Fujii rose to attention after winning 22 straight fights to open up her career including eighteen instances of submission-based success. The bulk of her bouts have taken place in Japan though “Mega Megu” did participate in Bellator’s 115-pound tournament, taking out Lisa Ellis-Ward and Carla Esparza> before running into Gurgel. At 6-1, Benitez has an even split between submissions, TKOs, and decisions at 2-2-2-. Other bouts scheduled for DREAM: New Year! 2011 include Shinya Aoki vs. Satoru Kitaoka and Fedor Emelianenko vs. Satoshi Ishii. Tweet

Posted in: year, gurgel, fujii, megu ”, benitez

UFC 141 conference call LIVE updates today (Dec. 19) for 'Lesnar vs Overeem'

Ultimate Fighting Championship will hold a public press conference today (Dec. 19, 2011) in advance of UFC 141: "Lesnar vs Overeem," which will take place at the end of the year (Dec. 30, 2011). The conference call will begin at 2 p.m. ET. Scheduled to attend will be the headlining fighters of the evening, Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem, who will be battling for the right to challenge for the UFC heavyweight title. Lesnar is the former UFC heavyweight champion. The ex-WWE superstar and national champion Minnesota wrestler lost his title last year to Cain Velasquez. He's had a much publicized battle with diverticulitis which was (hopefully) finally cured with surgery earlier this year. His opponent, Alistair Overeem, is one of the scariest heavyweights on the planet. The Dutch kickboxer has not lost an MMA fight since 2007 and left Strikeforce as the promotion's heavyweight champion. But that's not all. He also won the single night K-1 Heavyweight Grand Prix to become a kickboxing champion last year. We'll have complete updates of the UFC 141 conference call after the jump: Brian Hemminger here. The press conference is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. ET.

Posted in: ufc, heavyweight, conference, year, lesnar

2012 World MMA Scouting Report Kickoff

Editor - Leland Roling Contributor/Creative Director: smoogy2012 World MMA Scouting Report logo by smoogy It's that time of year once again, fight fans. The 2012 edition of the World MMA Scouting Report will kick off in just a few hours, spotlighting ten prospects from around the world in each of the eight different weight classes. Last year's report proved to be a huge success with over 50% of the prospects on the report signing with a major mixed martial arts promotion in the following year. Even to this day, many of the prospects featured on the 2011 World MMA Scouting Report who weren't signed are now seeing interest, and we hope the same interest will come to this year's crop of fighters. Unlike last year's report, we've been planning this year's edition for five months, combing through a countless list of prospects hidden in the depths of the sport's regional landscape. Unexpected moments of excitement weren't common during the endless nights of daunting research, but the few moments in which we watched greatness overcome adversity made it all worth our while. Here's a little teaser featuring a few of those moments. Get excited! In order to make things easier and more focused, we've narrowed the criteria for inclusion on the report this year. Below is a list of the factors we outlined from the beginning of our research: Limiting Factors Prominence: Similar to last year, prospects are limited to unsigned fighters. Fighters in the UFC, Bellator, and DREAM were not considered. There is one exception to the rule however. Bellator has signed prospects to one-fight deals to fill out undercards. Those fighters are still under consideration until confirmed as tournament fighters or signed to long-term deals. Age: Less than or equal to 30 years of age. Exclusivity: All prospects are exclusive to this year's report. Prospects from previous year's reports cannot be included. Only fighters profiled in the end report honorable mention post are exempt. Our ranking methodology is fairly straightforward. The prospects who have proven track records and possess the skills to make an immediate impact in a top-tier mixed martial arts organization top our divisional rankings. Strength of record is a factor among the top fighters while potential is a more significant factor among prospects in the middle or near the bottom. A fighter's environment, training partners, and background all come into play as well, but nothing is as important as what we see inside the cage. Finally, this year's report will have some additions to the format. Last year was the inaugural edition, so there wasn't any room for features. This year, we will add two new features to the report: Honorable Mentions and 2011 World MMA Scouting Report Recaps, putting us at a grand total of 88 articles in 42 days. 2012 World MMA Scouting Report Structure Profiles: Eight weight classes will be featured. Flyweight was a late addition since the UFC just announced its inclusion in their ranks. It will be featured after the heavyweight division concludes. Every day, two profiles will be posted, usually at 8 AM ET and 8 PM ET. Times should be treated as tentative. 2011 World MMA Scouting Report Recaps: These pieces will recap last year's report. Where are they today? What are they doing now? They will be posted alongside their respective division after the countdown of the division has concluded. Honorable Mentions: At the conclusion of the report, we will publish a post outlining 8 fighters, one from each weight class, as honorable mentions. These fighters are still eligible for next year's report. Readers can find all of the 2012 World MMA Scouting Report posts under our new section here. Last year's report profiles will eventually be added to the section. Follow me at @lelandroling on Twitter for updates. Enjoy!

Posted in: world, fighter, prospect, year, report

Fab Five - Overeem's Greatest Hits

Alistair Overeem was just 23 years old, a light heavyweight wielding a big wooden hammer before every fight as “The Demolition Man.” But even then, as a 16-3 prospect on the rise getting ready to face Chuck Liddell in PRIDE’s 2003 205-pound Grand Prix, his philosophy on fighting was one he carries with him to the present day.“To win a fight is awesome on its own, but to finish a fight before the official time limit by way of KO is indescribable,” he said back then. “I’m a true believer that a fight can be decided by one punch, one kick or one knee. You just have to be patient, wait for that right moment and of course have the abilities to do so.”Over eight years since that comment, Overeem has gone on to move to the heavyweight division, win the Strikeforce and Dream heavyweight titles in MMA and the 2010 K-1 World Grand Prix in kickboxing, and on December 30th, he will make his UFC debut against Brock Lesnar in the main event of UFC 141. Here are five of his greatest hits...Vitor Belfort I – April 23, 2005 – PRIDE Total Elimination 2005Result – Overeem Wsub1Following a knockout loss to Liddell in 2003, Overeem won two fights outside of PRIDE before returning to the promotion in 2004 with a TKO of Hiromitsu Kanehara. Four months later, he would drop a decision to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, putting his PRIDE slate at 3-2 and making him the perfect foil for the return of Vitor Belfort, who was fresh off a five fight stint in the UFC in which he won and lost the light heavyweight title against Randy Couture. Overeem didn’t play along though, and he was far from rattled by the level of opposition or the magnitude of the fight. Instead, he showed off solid striking, good defense off his back, and after rocking “The Phenom” with a knee, he fired off a series of ground strikes before sinking in a guillotine choke and forcing a tap out.Badr Hari I – December 31, 2008 – Dynamite 2008Result – Overeem KO1Having periodically dabbled in kickboxing since 1999, Overeem began to take it more seriously in the latter part of the last decade, and his first major bout in that realm of combat sports was against one of the most feared men in the game, Badr Hari. And if you want to talk about statement making wins, this was it. Confident from the start, Overeem sent Hari down for the first time with a lightning fast left knee followed by a short left hook that you will miss if you blink. Hari made it back to his feet, but a second left hook finished him off, and now Overeem wasn’t just dangerous in MMA, he was about to make some serious noise in kickboxing.Brett Rogers – May 15, 2010 – Strikeforce: Heavy ArtilleryResult – Overeem TKO1Despite Overeem’s wins over top-notch talents like Belfort, after three consecutive PRIDE losses to Nogueira, Ricardo Arona, and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, it was clear that for him to truly make a mark in MMA, he would have to do it as a heavyweight. In 2007, he made the full-time move to life among the big men, and celebrated in November of that year by defeating Paul Buentello for the first Strikeforce heavyweight title. That San Jose bout was the last Stateside fans saw him in for two and a half years, so when he came back to face Brett Rogers in St. Louis, expectations were high, especially since the raw but heavy handed Rogers gave Fedor Emelianenko a solid fight before getting finished in the second round. Rogers wouldn’t be so lucky against Overeem, who needed just 3:40 to send “The Grim” packing. Now the speculation would begin in earnest about how Overeem would fare in the UFC.Peter Aerts II – December 11, 2010 – K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 Final Result – Overeem KO1A month before the Rogers bout, Overeem put all his cards on the table and began a journey not many believed he could complete – competing in and winning the prestigious K-1 World Grand Prix. Yet by December, wins over Dzevad Poturak and Ben Edwards landed him in the final leg of the tournament. To win, Overeem would have to win three times in one night, and amazingly he did just that, decisioning Tyron Spong, halting Gokhan Saki, and then capping off this unlikely run with a 67 second stoppage of kickboxing legend Peter Aerts.Todd Duffee – December 31, 2010 – Dynamite 2010Result – Overeem KO1You figure three K-1 fights in one night would have earned Overeem a nice holiday break. Uh-uh. Instead, he accepted a New Year’s Eve bout against UFC vet Todd Duffee for the Dream heavyweight crown. He described his December to remember earlier this year before his Strikeforce win over Fabricio Werdum.“We fought in the final 16 in October, came back home, took a week off to recover, then we went back to Japan in November to do a media tour, which was like 10 days,” said Overeem. “Then we went back home, before going to Thailand for a two week training camp, then from Thailand to Japan for the K-1 finals, won three fights, and then there was a lot of media stuff afterward, a lot of television shows. Then a new opportunity came to fight for the Dream heavyweight title and we grabbed it with both hands. That was December 31. I was gone for six weeks, I came home with two belts, four fights, and a lot of new experience.”Yeah, he won that fight with Duffee, needing only 19 seconds to do so. Now Overeem will be bringing his punches, knees, and an underrated submission game (19 of 35 wins have come via tapout) to the UFC. It’s going to be quite an experience.

Posted in: fight, overeem, heavyweight, year, december

DREAM releases preview for Fedor Emelianenko’s NYE fight against Satoshi Ishii

Former heavyweight superstar Fedor Emelianenko will make his return to Japan, much like he did earlier this year by heading back to Russia to compete, when he meets Satoshi Ishii in the main event of DREAM‘s New Year’s Eve card. The popular Russian became somewhat of a staple on similar cards before joining Affliction/Strikeforce. The event, which will take place on December 31, goes down at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. Emelianenko stopped a three-fight losing skid by earning a decision victory over Jeff Monson in his native country of Russia earlier this year. Fedor had previously lost to Fabricio Werdum, Antonio Silva, and Dan Henderson. The defeats knocked his profile down a few pegs but, in Japan, “The Last Emperor” is still widely-accepted as one of the best of all time. Ishii won Olympic gold in Judo for Japan and is 4-1 in his MMA career. He fought to a draw with former WEC champion Paulo Filho in his last match. Check out the preview below: PHOTO CREDIT – M1/FEG

Posted in: year, japan, fedor, satoshi ishii, ishii

Jon Jones (2011) vs Mauricio Rua (2005): Who had the more impressive year?

Four fights, four finishes, three of them title fights against three former champions, all in a span of ten months. That's the 2011 year Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight champion Jon Jones had, which is undoubtedly the greatest year in the promotion's history. At the young age of 24 and only three years into the sports of mixed martial arts (MMA), "Bones" is on the highest of highs and just getting started with plenty of years ahead of him to add to his ever-growing and impressive resume. The young UFC champion might have had the best year in UFC history, but does he have the best year in MMA history? If we take a trip back in time, six years to be exact, before Jones was running wild in the UFC light heavyweight division and beating his opponents with relative ease, there was another light heavyweight setting the MMA world on fire. That man was Mauricio Rua. In 2005, before "Shogun" brought his talents stateside to the UFC and claimed the UFC 205-pound title, Rua was a human wrecking machine in Japan's premiere MMA organization, PRIDE FC. Winning five fights in the span of six months, running through a who's-who of the top mixed martial artists on the planet in Pride's 2005 Middleweight Grand Prix, which included defeating two opponents in one night to become the youngest PRIDE FC champion ever; Rua had an equally impressive year that mirrors that of Jon Jones' 2011 year. Ironically enough, both did it at the age of 24 and both became the youngest world champions in their respective organizations. So the question remains, who had the more impressive year? After the jump, I'll compare the two extraordinary years that these two great mixed martial artists had. On February 20, 2005, before throwing his name into the tournament style Grand Prix, Rua took on Hiromitsu Kanehera at PRIDE 29; making short work of him in only one minute and 40 seconds into the opening round via soccer kicks, which were allowed in PRIDE. Two months later, the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) black belt took on Quinton Jackson in the opening round of the Grand Prix at Pride Total Elimination 2005. Again, Rua would make short work of his opponent, as he defeated "Rampage" halfway through the first round using his vicious soccer kicks. After taking 63 days to recover, Rua drew fellow Brazilian Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in the second round at Pride Critical Countdown 2005. In what proved to be a very close contest, "Shogun" and "Lil Nog" put on a back and forth striking and grappling clinic through 20 minutes of action that became known as one of the best fights in MMA history. When the final bell rang, the judges awarded the unanimous decision to Rua. In June of 2005, just two months later, at PRIDE Final Conflict 2005; Rua was matched up against Alistair Overeem for a chance to earn a trip to the championship round. Alistair proved to be a worthy opponent throughout the first five minutes of the round, but "Shogun" turned up the intensity and finished Overeem via technical knockout at the six minute mark of the first round, advancing him to the Grand Prix finals against Ricardo Arona. There was one catch though; the finale was scheduled for the same night. After taking time to rest and recover from the previous bouts, the two competitors stepped into the ring, both ready to make history. The end to a goal that started six months prior came swift and quick as Rua ran through Arona in just under three minutes of the first round to become the Pride Middleweight Grand Prix champion, capping off one of the most impressive runs in mixed martial arts history to date. Six years later, in today's premier MMA organization, the UFC; Jon Jones had an equally impressive 2011 year. His ran began on Super Bowl weekend, February 5, 2011, against another up and coming prospect in Ryan Bader. Jones made short work of his opponent as he convincingly defeated the previously unbeaten Bader in the second round with a guillotine choke. After the fight, "Bones," due to an injury to Rashad Evans, was surprised with the news that he was to be awarded a chance to vie for the UFC's 205-pound title just a month later. His opponent? None other than Mauricio Rua, who at the time was the UFC light heavyweight champion. In what many would perceive as somewhat of the passing of the torch, at UFC 128 on March 19, 2011, Jones became the youngest UFC fighter to hold a world title by destroying "Shogun." From the opening bell, Jones tagged Rua repeatedly and often, not allowing the champion to get off any offense of his own. In the third round, Jones stepped on the gas and unleashed a barrage of strikes that forced the referee to step in and save a bruised and battered Rua. Six months later on September 24, 2011, Jones was set to defend his title for the first time against former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson at UFC 135. "Rampage" who claimed to be in the best shape of his career, seemed to be the young champion's toughest test to date. In the fourth round, "Bones" found a way to take the fight to the ground and eventually submit Jackson, the first to do so in over a decade, to retain his title. This time, there would be no long layoff for Jones, as he was immediately set up to take on yet another former UFC champion in Lyoto Machida three months later at UFC 140 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. After what proved to be a very competitive opening round, it seemed as if Jones had finally met his match. Not backing down, the crafty Machida tagged Jones, in what could very well be the first and only time the young star had seen trouble in the octagon. In the second round, Jones adjusted and persevered, putting "The Dragon" to sleep via standing guillotine; capping the greatest single year run in UFC history. Six years apart, two of the best 205-pound mixed martial artists in the world displayed unmatched skill, technique and will two put on two of the best single year runs in MMA history, forever cementing their place amongst the greatests light heavyweights of their era. One, Rua, displaying his excellence Far East in "The Land of the Rising Sun" with little to no stateside exposure, the other, Jones, doing it at a time where MMA is at its highest point, with mainstream exposure worldwide. Both doing it against the highest level of competition. So I leave it you, in comparison, who had the best single year in MMA history, Mauricio Rua in 2005 or Jon Jones in 2011?

Posted in: ufc, jone, round, year, rua

One Year ago today

submitted by Avertr [link] [comment]

Posted in: year, today, avertr, avertr link

Three years after near-fatal crash, WEC vet Ribeiro recovering one step at a time

From a life of poverty to the Olympic boxing team to defeating former champ Chase Beebe in the WEC, there seemed to be no limits to how far Will Ribeiro could go. That is until three years ago today. After fulfilling a promise to deliver the gloves from his fight against Brian Bowles to a student in his native Brazil, Ribeiro's motorcycle was struck from behind by a racing car. It sent him flying through the air headfirst into a curb.

Posted in: year, wec, brian bowles, air headfirst, ribeiro

Dana White Named Broadcasting & Cable Magazine 2011's Top Sports TV Executive

UFC President Dana White has been named 2011 Sports TV Executive Of The Year by Broadcasting & Cable Magazine and is on the cover of their December issue. White has had quite a year, helping orchestrate the UFC's seven-year deal with Fox which will see the MMA organization run four events on "big" Fox with secondary programming featuring live events and compilation programs spilling over to FX, Fuel TV and other Fox family outlets. Fuel will become the unofficial home of the UFC with over 2000 hours per year of original and archived programming, driving demand among MMA fans who don't yet have it. He also helped facilitate a deal with Showtime to extend the Strikeforce brand for another two years in a deal announced Thursday, keeping another source of revenue alive while keeping competition off the pay-cable channel. In addition, Spike TV has one more year on their contract, giving the UFC more exposure on a major ad-supported cable network. In the cover story (available online for subscribers), White addresses pay-per-view numbers being down and what that means for the future. We are down, but not quite that much. We're in this funk right now. We are in this weird transition from Spike to Fox. If we were still deep in our Spike deal, I would be programming a lot of things on that network right now that I am not. So we are in this weird position between injuries and the transition period from Spike to Fox. We're not concerned. We had a lot of great main events lined up, and the list of injuries is crazy. We lost 10 main events [in 2011] to injury. The 42-year-old White has never won the award before.

Posted in: fox, event, deal, year, tv

Japan jerks Tim Sylvia around for the second year in a row

While we here in America celebrate CHRISTmas (and identify the Fallen by those who dare say "Happy Holidays"), the people of Japan are celebrating something a bit different. It's a relatively new tradition called 巨人をだまし, loosely translated to The Screwing Over of The Giant Goof.Here's how it works: every year DREAM calls Tim Sylvia up and tells them he's going to fight on their NYE card. And then they pull the football out from under him a week or two beforehand and he's stuck with a messed up Christmas / New Years because he was expecting to be training and in Japan. That's what happened last year and now it's happening again: Just two days after being released from jail in Minnesota, Brett Rogers got the news that in all probability his upcoming fight for Dream was off.Booked for a fight against former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia on New Year's Eve in Japan, Rogers won't receive a visa and won't be able to enter the country for the fight. Sources close to the fight confirmed the news to HeavyMMA.com late Wednesday.The now lack of opponent means that Sylvia will drop off the card, sources told Heavy. Of course, most of us find this news extremely satisfying because screw Brett Rogers that wife beating POS. But what did poor Timmay ever do to deserve this kind of treatment? He even agreed to this fight after the screwjob he got last year. We're all in agreement that a trip to the dentist is more pleasant than a Tim Sylvia fight, but disconnect your emotions for a second and look at how DREAM treats fighters. All I want for Christmas is a major Japanese MMA organization that isn't full of sketchy dickbags.

Posted in: fight, year, japan, tim, sylvia

Fedor Emelianenko vs Satoshi Ishii fight video preview for New Year's Eve in DREAM

Fedor Emelianenko, who slammed the brakes on a three-fight losing streak with a unanimous decision victory over Jeff Monson last month in Moscow, Russia, will compete for the fourth time this calendar year by taking on Olympic Judo gold medalist Satoshi Ishii on DREAM's upcoming New Year's Eve fight card on Dec. 31, 2011, at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. Can "The Last Emporer" finish his 2011 fight campaign at an even 2-2? Or will Ishii finish the Russian's storied career where it began, in "The Land of the Rising Sun?" For more on the FieLDS 'Genki Desu Ka!!' fight card and line-up click here.

Posted in: fight, year, jeff monson, decision victory, ishii

Don Frye needs to find a new job

For some reason, Don Frye spent last Sunday night in Lincoln California fighting Ruben 'Warpath' Villareal on a Gladiator Challenge card. It was his first fight in two years, and it didn't end all that great for the 46 year old. Which is especially sad if you're familiar with Warpath's body of work.Since the US government is busy passing laws that break the internet and allow the military to lock American citizens up forever without due process, maybe they'll pass a law sending sleazebag promoters to jail for booking over the hill fighters. Until then, we need to find Don something to do that doesn't involve stepping into the cage. How he isn't getting paid top dollar just to weave his verbal magic is beyond me. Those idiots at HDNet got Shark Fights to drop him as a commentator but they aren't above harvesting his solid gold Frye-isms for Inside MMA. Check out this video and tell me he shouldn't be calling fights. We've got a pun pushing carnival barker, a hopped up kiwi, a lich, and some 40 year old black woman dressing like a man on the MMA mic regularly. Why not Frye? Why not Frye???

Posted in: year, frye, mma check, sleazebag promoters, lincoln california

you too will need a hug after you read about the demise of Strikeforce Challengers

This has been auite a year for all of us Strikeforce lovers. From the moment we discovered that Dana White and the UFC had purchased the promotion that struck fear and confusion into all of our hearts to the Diaz vs Daley card back in April that made us all realize why we simply can't accept losing the ever improving promotion its been a steady stream of highs and lows. Everything about Strikeforce this year has taken us for a ride on a wild emotional roller coaster. Even Mauro Ranallo's extreme hairstyle changeup has played games with our emotions. This week is no different. Yesterday Showtime Exec. VP Stephen Espinoza shared with MMAWeekly that the Strikeforce Challengers series will no longer exist. "What we've decided to do in a sense is consolidate programming, we're going to have the preliminaries airing on (Showtime) Extreme, immediately preceding the televised main event, and primary undercard fights. Whether they'll be called Challengers or not is still something to be discussed." Now before you go stomping down your hallway into your bedroom, slamming the door and crying into your pillow over this revelation-there is actually positive news to go along with all of the death of the Challengers series. In a press release from Showtime and Strikeforce yesterday afternoon, the network also announced that they have reached a new programming deal and there will be up to eight televised Strikeforce cards next year. This is exciting news for those of us that feared the Jan 7th Keith Jardine vs Luke Rockhold card might be our last night of Strikeforce. According to a press statement even Dana White himself is stoked about Strikeforce in the coming year: "We’re excited about this renewal with SHOWTIME and I expect to put on some big Strikeforce events next year. I never thought I would say this, but I am very much looking forward to building Strikeforce and working very closely with Showtime.” Take a moment to embrace your homeboys and pour out a little liquor for your dead homie Strikeforce Challengers, but save the rest of the bottle for the celebration of at eight more Strikeforce shows in 2012. The 2012 season begins during Showtime's free programming week so even if you aren't a subscriber you can check out Jardine vs Rockhold and King Mo vs Lorenz Larkin for free on January 7th![source]

Posted in: strikeforce, challenger, vs, showtime, year

Shields Hopes to Kick Off 2012 on A High Note

Throughout his life, Jake Shields heard about everything he couldn’t do as a vegetarian in the sports world. He never wavered though. Instead, he just kept piling up accolades: All-American recognition as a wrestler at Cuesta College, a jiu-jitsu black belt, and MMA titles in a number of organizations, including Strikeforce, EliteXC, and Shooto.Today, he’s a UFC welterweight contender, and those people talking about his diet have gone silent, instead giving way to praise from the organization PETA2 (the young adult branch of the animal rights organization), which honored Shields in 2010 with a Libby Award as the year’s Most Animal-Friendly Athlete, beating out Strikeforce contender KJ Noons, New York Knicks star Amar’e Stoudemire, and WNBA standout Candace Parker.“They heard I was a lifelong vegetarian, so they wanted to do some work with me,” said Shields of his initial work with the group. “And I’m a lover of animals, so I agreed and I’ve done some small campaigns and stuff.”Now he’s looking to make it two in a row, as he’s up for the award again, this time squaring off against NFL running back Willis McGahee, Phillies second baseman Chase Utley, and WWE wrestler Daniel Bryan. But beyond awards, this is a cause close to the 32-year old’s heart.“I think it’s important,” he said. “As a kid I was always told that I couldn’t be an athlete and a vegetarian, and I like to show that that’s a myth. I’ve been a lifelong vegetarian and a successful athlete, and it’s good to show people an alternative. I’ve never been a preachy type person and I’m never gonna tell people what they should and shouldn’t do. But I like to be an example for people that are interested in that lifestyle, and let them know that they can, because so many people have the opposite impression.”Classifying himself as a vegetarian even though he tries to eat mostly vegan, Shields has maintained this lifestyle throughout his life, which can’t be easy, especially when you’re growing up and your buddies are all running to the local fast food spot for a bite to eat. “I just wouldn’t eat, or I would find something else to eat,” said Shields, who also admits to never eating an entire steak.“I’ve had a couple bites once or twice in my life, but I’ve never really eaten it,” he said. “Actually I got sick. In my opinion meat’s really hard on the body, so my body didn’t react good to it.”He wouldn’t change a thing though.“You just get used to it and it becomes easy,” he said. “When you first switch it would be hard, but once you get used to it, it becomes easy.”Easy wouldn’t be the way he would describe 2011, a year in which he not only lost back-to-back bouts against Georges St-Pierre and Jake Ellenberger (breaking a 15 fight winning streak), but lost his father Jack, who sadly passed away in August at the age of 67. Despite his dad's passing, Shields courageously went on with the Ellenberger fight just a few weeks later, only to get stopped in the first round. “It’s just one of those things,” he said. “I got a little anxious out there and kinda walked into a knee, and it could have happened at any time. Obviously, things possibly could have been different, you just never know. Jake’s a good power puncher and one of those guys you make one mistake and you can walk into something.” Undeterred, Shields will get his chance to rebound early in the New Year, as he will travel to Japan to take on Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 144 in February. Having fought three times in the Land of the Rising Sun on 2004-04, he’s got an edge on some of his peers who have never competed there, but that doesn’t mean it’s any easier.“It’s tough dealing with a long flight, and being vegetarian, it’s hard finding food to eat over there, but it’s one of those things you just deal with,” said Shields, who will be welcoming Akiyama to the welterweight division for the first time.“He’s a tough guy and I’m not taking him lightly,” said Shields of Akiyama. “He’s coming off a couple losses, but he’s lost to good competition and he’s had some close fights with some top fighters, so I’m taking him really seriously. He’s a phenomenal judo guy, possibly the best judo guy in the sport, and he’s also got heavy hands. I haven’t had a chance to study his tape yet, but I’m gonna start breaking that down and coming up with a game plan.”It’s the kickoff to a year he can’t wait for.“It (2011) has definitely been a tough year, but I’m hoping to bounce back and be a lot stronger in 2012.”To vote for Jake Shields for the 2011 Libby Award as Most Animal Friendly Athlete, click here. Voting closes on December 23

Posted in: shield, ’t, i ’m, year, ’m

Tim Sylvia vs Brett Rogers 'Dream' fight canceled on Dec. 31 in Japan

Surprise, surprise. Brett Rogers, who was recently released from prison after completing a 60-day jail sentence for domestic abuse in Minneapolis, Minn., was denied a visa to travel overseas to fight former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia, according to Heavy.com. "The Grimm," who still has to satisfy a three-year probation period and is forbidden from seeing his battered wife until he completes a domestic abuse program, was penciled in to battle the "Maine-iac" under the DREAM banner as part of the FieLDS 'Genki Desu Ka!!' New Year's Eve event at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, on Dec. 31, 2011. Now, he'll have to try and get his mixed martial arts (MMA) career back on track stateside until his international travel ban is lifted. The former tire mechanic has dropped four of his last five bouts, including a split decision loss to Eddie Sanchez at Titan Fighting Championship 20 back on Sept. 23. His lone victory during that span was a 2010 unanimous decision win over Ruben "Warpath" Villareal in Canada. Sylvia, according to the report, has been removed from the DREAM: New Year! 2011 fight card, which will be headlined by a heavyweight bout between Fedor Emelianenko vs. Satoshi Ishii. In addition, DREAM: New Year! 2011 will feature the conclusion of the promotion's bantamweight grand prix that includes Bibiano Fernandes vs. Rodolfo Marques on one side of the bracket and Masakazu Imanari vs. Antonio Banuelos on the other end. For more news and notes for DREAM's New Year's Eve supershow click here.

Posted in: fight, vs, dream, year, sylvia

Tim Sylvia vs. Brett Rogers Off DREAM/M-1 New Year's Eve Event

The much-anticipated heavyweight dream fight of the year of Brett Rogers vs. Tim Sylvia is off the New Year's Eve DREAM/M-1 Global event. (What, did you think I was talking about Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair Overeem?) Heavy MMA reported the news on Thursday that just two days after from being released from a Minnesota jail, Rogers was told he wouldn't be granted a visa and thus he can't travel to Japan for the event. Instead of booking a replacement, Sylvia has been dropped off the card as well. The story also said that Sylvia was considered as an opponent for Fedor Emelianenko before Satoshi Ishii was slotted for that fight instead. The show will also feature Shinya Aoki vs. Satoru Kitaoka and Hiroyuki Takaya vs. Takeshi Inoue. Sylvia (30-7) is in on a two-fight streak and has won six of his last seven fights. Rogers (11-4) has lost two in a row and was released from Strikeforce following his arrest for domestic violence. SBN coverage of DREAM: New Year! 2011

Posted in: vs, event, year, roger, sylvia

From Walk-On to Champion: Bellator’s Mike Chandler On His Quick Rise to the Top

As the year comes to a close, many MMA websites will look back on the year with topics such as “Fight of the Year,” “Upset of the Year,” and “Fighter of the Year.” When it comes to a fighter that can include his name in each of those discussions, look no further than Mike Chandler, who recently won the Bellator lightweight championship.Chandler took on champion Eddie Alvarez, who has long been considered a top five lightweight in the world, regardless of organization. On November 19th, Chandler shocked the world by defeating Alvarez. Perhaps most surprisingly, Chandler defeated Alvarez at his own game. From the beginning, Chandler was repeatedly connecting with his strikes against the strong boxer. Chandler nearly finished the fight in the first round, dropping Alvarez within the first fifteen seconds of the fight.But Alvarez had been in that situation before, and Chandler knew that. He trained for Alvarez to recover and fight back strongly.“We knew Eddie could be dropped,” said Chandler. “But he has always fought back after getting dropped, so I knew I had to stay calm.”“The fight is still twenty five minutes, so I had to keep my composure and not go for the finish too quickly.”Chandler credited his trainers for helping him stay calm, which he needed, especially after Alvarez had a strong third round.But in the fourth round, Chandler came out much like he had in the first round, standing and trading with Alvarez. Halfway through the round, Chandler threw a looping right hook, stunning Alvarez, and it was not soon after where Chandler was able to finish him off with a rear naked choke.With nearly twenty minutes of exhausting work put in during the title fight, Chandler says that is nothing compared to how hard he trains.Chandler credits all of that hard work to his head trainer, Gil Martinez, stating “Gil is the only one who works as hard as me before a fight.”He added “I am always moving forward, no matter what. And there is no way that anyone who steps into the cage with me has worked as hard as me.”That devotion goes back even further than Gil Martinez and the training staff at Xtreme Couture. Chandler walked on to Missouri University Wrestling team. It was there where he learned just how hard he had to work to get where he wanted to be.“I wasn’t highly recruited coming out of high school,” said Chandler. “I had scholarship offers from Division-2 colleges, but I wanted to wrestle at a top wrestling school.”“It was there I learned I had to work harder than everyone else. I had to prove myself.”One person there that he had to work with was Ben Askren, current Bellator welterweight champion. Askren, along with fellow Missouri wrestling product, Tyron Woodley, advised Chandler to work his way into mixed martial arts. Coincidentally, all three are undefeated, with a combined 27-0 record between them.From the beginning, Chandler was able to make a smooth transition to MMA, finishing his first six opponents, as not only his competition improved, but he did as well. But even after defeating Patricky “Pitbull” Freire, his impressive start was expected to come to a close against the champion in Alvarez. But for all of those that were stunned after defeating Alvarez, Chandler does not blame them.“You can’t expect people to think I am going to defeat Eddie,” said Chandler. “Eddie is a great fighter, so I didn’t take it personally.”And now, as the year comes to an end, Chandler is certainly enjoying the holidays this year.“It is obviously amazing to win the belt,” Chandler said. “But if I didn’t have my family and friends to enjoy it with, it wouldn’t mean a thing. I look forward to continue fighting for them, while enjoying the time off”“But make no mistake, I am already looking forwarding to getting better.”

Posted in: fight, year, chandler, alvarez, work

Should Strikeforce go full chickfight?

I don't know who Josh Nason is - actually, I don't really know who any of the randos writing on BloodyElbow are any more. But I do like his idea on what the UFC should do with Strikeforce now that the UFC has decided to keep it around: turn it into an all WMMA league. Here's some of his reasoning: We don't need more of the same MMA: Strikeforce's talent roster is thin and everyone knows it. There are guys fighting in the UFC solely because they're filling spots -- not because they're among the best fighters in the world. There's enough UFC events in 2012 to get the top Strikeforce talent action and create more exciting cards as a result. If they have to cut guys on either roster, so be it. Take aboard the best and let's get after it already. We simply don't need more of what we've seen this year: events for hardcore fans and constant questions of when the top talent like Melendez are going to shift over. Unless they move a hundred fighters from UFC over to Strikeforce to fill out the roster, what's the purpose in keeping it as is?It's a unique idea that hasn't been done on a national stage before: The UFC is on TV all the time. HDNet has hundreds of hours of live events a year. Bellator runs 25+ events a year. None of them have truly embraced women's MMA other than a scant few fights. If a promotion can actually focus solely on putting together the best women in the world, they will lead the pack in something new. Who doesn't want that?Zuffa has the money to do it: If there's any company in the world that can afford to take the risk, it's Zuffa. They also have the money and resources to do it right. Focus on two power divisions (130/140 or 135/145) and build from there. Sign everyone you can and make stars. Do what White has said there isn't and create depth by bringing all of this talent under one roof and pay them well to do so. Unfortunately, this isn't exactly what I would call a likely scenario. Above everything else, Strikeforce is sticking around in zombie mode to block other MMA promotions from moving onto Showtime. Anything else that comes of this is a bonus. You can also expect Zuffa to use it to counter-program other events and stop promotions from snapping up any fighters who have the marketability but not the skills to hang in the UFC.The best we can hope for is that matchmaker Sean Shelby has an interest and an aptitude for putting together great women's fights. Great fights turn into more excitement which turn into more exposure and maybe we'll start seeing more than one WMMA match every 2-3 cards. Who knows how this is gonna turn out? The official announcement from Strikeforce and Showtime hasn't even been made. How long, how many events, show format, length, who handles production, all of this is up in the air. If Strikeforce gets 2 years on Showtime, that's long enough for women to make real strides forward in the world of MMA. Strikeforce doesn't have to be all WMMA to save WMMA. It just has to treat it with some fucking respect and enthusiasm. The rest will follow.

Posted in: ufc, world, strikeforce, event, year

VIDEO: Jon Jones Calls Out The Rock, Spin Kicks An iPad

Last week, we told you about Jon Jones and his addition to the ESPN SportsNation Awesomest Dude Of The Year bracket. He's paired up against former WWE Champion and current movie star Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and despite his win Saturday at UFC 140, he's still losing in votes to the first "People's Champ". (Sorry, Tito Ortiz.)Jones stopped by ESPN Tuesday and shot some video with SportsNation co-host Michelle Beadle calling out Johnson and then was asked whether he could spin kick an iPad. Yes, you're reading that correctly. Here's the clip: Jones is one of eight athletes nominated for this year's award. He recently became the first fighter in UFC history to beat three current/former UFC titleholders in one year with his second round submission win over Lyoto Machida last Saturday. Jones could be looking for four in a row if former 205-pound champ Rashad Evans can defeat Phil Davis at UFC on Fox 2 in January.

Posted in: ufc, jone, year, wwe champion, youre reading

MMA Top 10 Pound-for-Pound: Jon Jones Moves Ahead of GSP

Filed under: UFCJon Jones has just completed one of the greatest calendar years in MMA history. Georges St. Pierre is in the midst of the most disappointing year of his MMA career. As a result, Jones has leapfrogged St. Pierre on the latest list of the Top 10 pound-for-pound fighters in mixed martial arts. And Jones is No. 2 with a bullet: He's getting awfully close to dethroning Anderson Silva as the top fighter in the sport, in any weight class. Considering that Jones is 12 years younger than Silva, it's only a matter of time before Jones is recognized as the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world. For now, I have Silva just ahead of Jones, and St. Pierre next. See how I rank the rest of the Top 10 fighters below. Top 10 pound-for-pound fighters in MMA (Number in parentheses is the fighter's rank in the last pound-for-pound list.) 1. Anderson Silva (1): The reckless style and killer instinct Jones has shown over the last couple years reminds me of the way Silva looked early in his UFC run. Silva is a little more cautious now, but his 14-0 record in the UFC leaves him a shade above Jones in my estimation. 2. Jon Jones (3): Jones's 2011 is the best year anyone has ever had in the UFC. In other MMA promotions, the only fighters I can recall who have had comparable years to Jones in 2011 -- in terms of staying active and earning quality wins over good opponents -- were Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in 2002 and Shogun Rua in 2005. Top-level fighters just don't fight more than three times a year these days, and for Jones to go 4-0 and beat four high-quality opponents handily, all in one year, is something to celebrate. 3. Georges St. Pierre (2): St. Pierre hasn't fought since April, and it will likely be late in 2012 before his surgically repaired ACL allows him to return to the Octagon. That's a year and a half of his prime without a single fight. That's a major disappointment for a great champion. 4. Frank Edgar (4): The lightweight champion of the world will finally get a new opponent when he faces Ben Henderson in February, after fighting only Gray Maynard in 2011 and only B.J. Penn in 2010. Edgar is the quickest fighter in the lightweight division and maybe the quickest in any division, and that should be a big edge against Henderson. 5. Jose Aldo (5): Aldo will defend the featherweight at home in Brazil when he faces Chad Mendes in January. Aldo has never fought a wrestler as good as Mendes before, but Mendes has never fought a striker as good as Aldo before. 6. Junior dos Santos (9): Dos Santos reached a big audience when he took the heavyweight title from Cain Velasquez on Fox. He'll have a huge fight in 2012 against the winner of the upcoming Brock Lesnar-Alistair Overeem bout. 7. Dominick Cruz (6): Cruz and Uirjah Faber will coach against each other on the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter and then meet in the cage for the third (and, presumably) final time in the summer of 2012. Cruz hasn't really caught on with MMA fans yet, but being featured every week on FX will introduce him to a new audience. 8. Dan Henderson (NR): Two things we need to remember when ranking Henderson on a pound-for-pound list: One is that he's the only elite light heavyweight who has also had success fighting at middleweight. The other is that one of Henderson's recent wins was over a heavyweight, Fedor Emelianenko. Henderson's ability to transcend weight classes earns him a spot on the pound-for-pound list. 9. Joseph Benavidez (NR): I've been saying for years that Benavidez would be the best flyweight in the world if he fought in a promotion that had flyweights, and the UFC's decision to launch the 125-pound class with a four-man tournament will be Benavidez's opportunity to prove that. Benavidez is 15-2 in his MMA career, with both losses coming to Cruz, despite fighting a weight class too high. He'll take on the reigning Shooto 123-pound champion Yasuhiro Urushitani in March. 10. Rashad Evans (NR): With one more win, against Phil Davis in January, Evans may finally get his chance to fight Jones. As great as Evans is, that's a fight hardly anyone will pick him to win. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: mma, jone, fighter, year, poundforpound

Time for the UFC to show confidence in Jon Jones

On UFC president Dana White‘s ever-changing pound-for-pound rankings, light heavyweight champion Jon “Bones” Jones is now the second best fighter on the planet. Whether that statement is true or false — it’s likely the latter — it is time for the UFC to start treating him as such. With the right push, Jones can become Zuffa‘s next PPV money-maker. With continuous question marks surrounding Brock Lesnar‘s health and dedication to the sport, and Georges St-Pierre sidelined for most of 2012, the UFC is in desperate need of a PPV savior. While this might seem like a harsh depiction of reality, some of the PPV numbers this year have been absolutely brutal. UFC 136, a card headlined by two title fights, failed to surpass the 300 000 buys mark — previously thought to be the worst-case scenario number for any UFC event. More worryingly, only two events have resulted in over 500 000 buys; a number that just last year, was being achieved with near-routine frequency. Whether it is due to the end of the MMA boom, the over-saturation of the product, or simply a stretch of bad luck that saw some of the UFC’s top attractions plagued by injuries, 2011 has been an incontestably substandard year on the PPV market. Lesnar is thirty-four years old, and can’t possibly be relied upon to drive the company forward in the next few years. By the time GSP returns from injury, he will be thirty-two. And while that definitely doesn’t make him old by any stretch of the imagination, ACL tears can severely hamper an athlete’s career. Anderson Silva will turn thirty-seven soon, and despite his immense success inside the cage, his drawing power has been mostly inconsistent. Consequently, the UFC is in dire need of a new star. Enter a twenty-four year old innovator of violence with supreme athletic gifts and a virtuosic skill set. When reports of UFC 128‘s buy-rate first circulated, the numbers were deemed disappointing. Jones’ title-winning performance against Mauricio “Shogun” Rua drew 445 000 people on PPV. By comparison, Rua’s fights with Lyoto Machida both eclipsed the half million mark. In hindsight, relative to the year the UFC has had on PPV, Jones’ fights drew well for an unproven commodity. In fact, Jones has featured on the second, third, and fourth biggest PPV’s of the year in terms of buy-rate. And while it would be disingenuous to credit him for UFC 126‘s success — the card was headlined by Silva and Vitor Belfort, and Jones was merely on the undercard — the numbers for his bouts with Rua and Quinton Jackson were comparatively encouraging. Jones has the charisma, swagger, and that aura of “stardom” around him… whatever that means. Moreover, he happens to be the light heavyweight champion of the world — a division that has long been MMA’s most appealing. And, most importantly, Jones is simply an exceptional, once-in-a-lifetime fighter. The brand of offense that he manages to produce on a fight-to-fight basis is incomparable, and the mixture of flash and substance in his game is particularly one-of-a-kind. To the delight of some, and to the horrors of many, Jones is fulfilling his potential and making the most of his peerless talent. Yes, a large contingent of the MMA fan-base seems to be quite critical of Jones — at least when he’s not rag-dolling opponents and rearranging their facial features. Whatever their reasons — they vary from “fake” to “cocky” to “he has a sense of entitlement” — and whether valid or not (some are, others aren’t), not everyone has warmed up to Jones. Crucially however, most people care about him, one way or the other. The interest in Jones is there, and the UFC should capitalize. It matters very little whether Jones’ efforts to “remain humble” are paying off, or whether Greg Jackson‘s pleas to “win some fans” end up prospering, as long as people tune in to watch him fight — regardless of whether or not their $60 are accompanied by a burning desire to see him clobbered. In fact, many have quite rightly argued that Jones would be better served to embrace his inner cockiness and put his real personality — if it is indeed that — on display. Jon Jones just capped off arguably the most spectacular year of any mixed martial artist in history, having beaten — and finished — then unbeaten prospect Ryan Bader, and three of the greatest light heavyweights of all time in Rua, Jackson and Machida. Yet, as evidenced by this past week’s UFC 140, the UFC has been unwilling to go all out with their marketing campaign when promoting Jones. That is not inexplicable by any means, as with so many PPV’s per year, the Zuffa brass needs to carefully select its battles. And with Lesnar headlining UFC 141 later this month, the UFC’s decision not to unleash its inimitable hype machine for Jones vs. Machida is understandable. However, with 2012 around the gates, it is time for the UFC to put its eggs in the Jon Jones basket. Trying to angle Jones’ next bout to take place right after a UFC on FOX event would be a step in the right direction, as using Fox to generate hype towards PPV’s is ultimately what the whole Fox deal is all about. With luck, Jones can finally fight bitter rival Rashad Evans next, in what is one of the few mega-fights for the UFC in 2012. Jones’ dislike for Evans has already resulted in him “breaking character”, and should the fight be made official, we may then finally see the champion in full blown arrogance mode. Legit stars are hard to come by. Creating stars is even more difficult. The UFC was lucky enough to have one fall into their laps, and they better capitalize. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, ppv, time, jone, year

Fedor Emelianenko returns to the ring on New Year’s Eve in Japan

Fresh off a November win over Jeff Monson, heavyweight legend Fedor Emelianenko has been named to the lineup for an upcoming card in Japan on New Year’s Eve in a move no doubt bringing back a number of fond memories for fans recalling the Russian’s previous performances on year-end events. Emelianenko will face Japanese judoka Satoshi Ishii at the event who holds a 4-1-1 record in MMA but is an Olympic Gold Medalist in his core martial art. Ishii holds past wins over Ikuhisa Minowa and Jerome LeBanner. Video: Monson vs. Emelianenko News of the match-up, set to take place at DREAM: New Year! 2011, was revealed by the promotion with Emelianenko’s management team M-1 Global serving as co-promoter. The 35-year old Emelianenko snapped a three-fight skid with his victory against Monson, ending questions about whether or not it was time for him to retire. The iconic competitor, who picked up wins over Mark Hunt and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira on past NYE shows, holds an overall record of 32-4 with 24 stoppages and success against some of the sport’s best while under the PRIDE banner. PHOTO CREDIT – M-1 GLOBAL Tweet

Posted in: year, emelianenko, monson, ikuhisa minowa, russian ’s

DREAM ‘New Year! 2011′ Fedor vs. Ishii Promo

DREAM “New Year! 2011″ takes place on Saturday, Dec. 31, at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan and will air on HDNet. The latest DREAM New Year! 2011 fight card can be found in our fight cards section.

Posted in: dream, year, saitama, saitama japan, dream ‘

Reaction From the Action: “UFC 140: Jones vs. Machida”

History is defined as “the branch of knowledge dealing with past events.” History is easy to identify since it is, ya know, everything that has already happened.But when it comes to witnessing history being made, that is much more difficult to identify. In terms of MMA and the UFC, names such as Fedor Emelianenko, Randy Couture, and Royce Gracie are mentioned regarding the history of the sport. But the current crop of fighters is the best this sport has ever seen. Current fighters like Jon Fitch, Kenny Florian, and Gray Maynard, who have never held a title, would have dominated the sport even as recently as ten years ago.But fighters that rise above this current crop, those are the truly elite, and ones that deserve to be mentioned amongst the greatest ever, even if it may be early in a fighter’s career. That can be argued to be the case for Jon Jones, even just sixteen fights into his career.The most fascinating aspect of history is that it is universal. It relates to any topic or subject.If a scientific breakthrough is made, it is historical. If a mathematical formula is created, it is historical.And much like that, if a fighter has a breakthrough like Jon Jones has had in 2011, it is historical.Jones fought four times in 2011, defeating four top opponents, including three former UFC Light Heavyweight Champions. He defeated Ryan Bader in February, then defeated Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua at UFC 128 in March to win the title. He then went on to dismantle Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson in September, and then this past Saturday night, he defeated Lyoto Machida at UFC 140.That is an incredibly impressive year, one that can be called arguably the greatest in MMA history.What does Jones’ 2011 compare to?For starters, his former opponent, ‘Shogun Rua’, had a spectacular 2005. Rua defeated ‘Rampage’ Jackson, ‘Little Nog’, Alistair Overeem, and Ricardo Arona that year. With that came being named the PRIDE Middleweight Grand Prix Champion.Then there is ‘Rampage’ Jackson’s 2007, in which he defeated Marvin Eastman, Chuck Liddell, and Dan Henderson.There are few instances in which a fighter had two impressive wins during the year, including Georges St. Pierre defeating both BJ Penn and Matt Hughes in 2006, Lyoto Machida defeating Rashad Evans and ‘Shogun’ Rua in 2009, and Randy Couture defeating both Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz in 2003. Even Fedor’s greatest year was not as amazing in comparison. In 2004 he defeated Mark Coleman, Kevin Randleman, and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.When putting all of those resumes together, Jones very well might have put together the greatest year in MMA history. And he’s just 24 years old. Not only is that hard to believe, but it makes me feel old.On Saturday night, Jones looked to be patient in the first round, attempting to figure out the puzzle that is Lyoto Machida. Both try to use distance as their method in attacking their opponent. Machida’s best attacks on the night were actually when he attempted to split that distance, choosing to attack first. But that came to an end midway through the second, as he found his back on the mat. It was quickly over after that, as his forehead became a bunker for the 18th hole at The Masters.Now Jones can look back at his 2011 as he will get to enjoy a much deserved vacation. But with how easy he made it look inside the cage this year, he very well may relax less on vacation than he did while fighting this year.Biggest winner: Frank Mir Much like Jones’ victory possibly cemented one of the greatest years in MMA history, Mir’s submission win over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira possibly cemented Mir as the greatest submission artist in heavyweight history. Mir was the first person to ever knock out the Brazilian legend, and he is now the first person to submit him as well. This was Mir’s ninth victory by submission, but just his second in nearly four years. Perhaps not coincidentally, all nine of Mir’s submissions have occurred in the first round.With three straight victories, Mir is not far off from a title shot.Biggest loser: Mark Hominick Unfortunately for Hominick, it took me longer to write this sentence than his fight with Chan Sung Jung. Knocked out in seven seconds, Hominick certainly did not expect that to be his return to his hometown of Toronto. The last time we saw Hominick, he was making Christian Slater jealous over the size of his forehead. This time around, Hominick didn’t even have time to yell out Christian’s name before he was knocked down.While Hominick most certainly dealt with the emotions of returning to the cage for the first time since the death of his trainer Shawn Tompkins, Hominick is far too disciplined to make a mistake of that magnitude, especially that early.Biggest question: Was Joe Rogan correct in welcoming us to the ‘Machida Era’? Joe Rogan was of course speaking positively about Machida, as he dubbed it the ‘Machida Era’ after he defeated Rashad Evans for the light heavyweight title at UFC 98 in May 2009. But since then, Machida is 2-3, with both one win and one loss considered a toss-up. His victory over ‘Shogun’ Rua at UFC 104 and loss to ‘Rampage’ Jackson at UFC 123 were both very close, but in the two other losses, Machida was put away rather easily. His only true win was over a 47-year old Randy Couture, who went into the fight knowing it would be his last.Now yes, Machida is fighting elite competition, but much like the ‘era’ that Rogan proclaimed, there was also an aura over Machida. That no longer seems to be there.Perhaps that ‘era’ is Machida easily being able to confuse mostly inferior opponents, but struggling with the division’s elite.Future matchups:Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans Now, this is only if Evans defeats Davis at UFC on FOX in March. I am not a big fan of the Evans/ Davis matchup since the two are at such different stages of their careers. Regardless, it does set up what occurs in the division in 2012. If Evans loses to Davis, then Dan Henderson would likely get the shot. For the sake of the hype of the fight, considering Jones and Evans’ history, the hope is that this is the fight to take place in summer 2012.Frank Mir vs. Cain Velasquez Mir mentioned he would be ready to step in for Alistair Overeem if he ended up being unable to fight at UFC 141 against Brock Lesnar in three weeks. But that seems to no longer be an issue, so Mir can enjoy his holiday break. Another person on a break is another former champion in Cain Velasquez. Undoubtedly still a top heavyweight, the pair can headline a pay-per-view card to decide who could possibly be fighting for the title in late 2012.Antonio Rogerio Nogueria vs. Rich Franklin The two were supposed to square off at UFC 133, but Nogueira pulled out of the fight. Franklin is currently recovering from shoulder surgery, but should be able to fight in late spring to summer of next year. With Little Nog’s brother nursing his injury, he will likely take some time off before returning to the cage.Chan Sung Jung vs. Manny Gamburyan/Diego Nunes winner The Korean Zombie does it big in the UFC. In March, he pulled off the first Twister submission in the organization’s history. Then on Saturday he tied the record for fastest knockout in history. Now he has his sights set on possibly making a title run in 2012. The division does not have much depth, but Gamburyan and Nunes both bring a big arsenal that would certainly test Sung Jung.Lyoto Machida vs. Alexander Gustafsson/Vladimir Matyushenko winner Quite simply, Machida just needs to get his confidence back. Even after the win over Randy Couture, a quick dismantling of the legend could not have done too much to help Machida recover from his recent slide. Jones did nothing but damage that confidence even more. In Matyushenko or Gustafsson, Machida can still be tested against a name opponent, but he should be able to return to the win column.

Posted in: ufc, jone, year, history, machida

UFC Continues To Add Fuel Programming With 'UFC Tonight'

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

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

Fedor Emelianenko vs. Satoshi Ishii announced for New Year’s Eve in Japan

After establishing himself as somewhat of a staple at similar events in his prime, Fedor Emelianenko will fight in Japan on New Year’s Eve for the first time in four years where he’ll attempt to add to his past NYE success against the likes of Mark Hunt and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira by beating Olympic Judoka Satoshi Ishii. The bout, scheduled to take place at DREAM: New Year! 2011, was announced earlier today by DREAM officials. Emelianenko, who for many years was seen as the consensus best heavyweight in MMA, will be looking for a second consecutive win after snapping his recent three-fight skid with a one-sided Unanimous Decision victory over Jeff Monson last month. “The Last Emperor” has racked up a 32-4 record during his storied run including those over Andrei Arlovski, Tim Sylvia, Mark Coleman, Kevin Randleman, and Mirko Filipovic. Though Ishii may only possess 1/7 of Emelianenko’s experience in the ring he has done well for himself since transitioning from judo, going 4-0-1 in five fights since dropping his debut to PRIDE icon Hidehiko Yoshida. Other match-ups expected at DREAM: New Year! 2011 include Ryo Chonan vs. Hayato “Mach” Sakurai and Shinya Aoki vs. Satoru Kitaoka. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE

Posted in: dream, year, emelianenko, threefight skid, month “

Kidfights! 8 year old Thai kickboxer girls edition

Here's a trailer for the upcoming documentary Buffalo Girls, which takes a look into the Thai world of kiddie kickboxing. Over 30,000 kids take part in the scene, and this documentary follows two 8 year olds around. One has 23 fights already, and we're talking about serious full throttle fights involving arenas full of old thai dudes smoking and gambling, not that wussy crap that caused so much outrage in Australia earlier this year.

Posted in: year, thai, kiddie kickboxing, thai world, wussy crap

Fedor Emelianenko vs Satoshi Ishii announced for New Year's Eve fight in DREAM

Fedor Emelianenko is about to do something he hasn't done in nearly seven years. "The Last Emperor," who slammed the brakes on a three-fight losing streak with a unanimous decision victory over Jeff Monson last month in Moscow, Russia, will compete for the fourth time this calendar year by taking on Olympic Judo gold medalist Satoshi Ishii on DREAM's upcoming New Year's Eve fight card on Dec. 31, 2011, at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. M-1 officials today confirmed the long-rumored booking, which we first reported back on Nov. 20. "M-1 Global in cooperation with Dream is very pleased to announce the bout which will bring the world's attention to Japan on December 31. Fedor has been in great shape, and is ready for what we think will be a hard and competitive fight." Can Fedor finish his 2011 fight campaign at an even 2-2? Or will Ishii finish the Russian's storied career where it began, in "The Land of the Rising Sun?" Here is the current FieLDS 'Genki Desu Ka!!' fight card and line-up: DREAM Bantamweight Grand Prix: 135 lbs.: Bibiano Fernandes vs. Rodolfo Marques 135 lbs.: Masakazu Imanari vs. Antonio Banuelos 135 lbs.: Winner of Fernandes-Marques vs. Winner of Imanari-Banuelos Main Card: 265 lbs.: Fedor Emelianenko vs. Satoshi Ishii155 lbs.: Shinya Aoki vs. Satoru Kitaoka 170 lbs.: Hayato Sakurai vs. Ryo Chonan 145 lbs.: Hiroyuki Takaya vs. Takeshi Inoue 155 lbs.: Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Kazuyuki Miyata 115 lbs.: Karla Benitez vs. Megumi Fujii 265 lbs.: Brett Rogers vs. Tim Sylvia For more news and notes for DREAM's New Year's Eve supershow click here.

Posted in: vs, dream, year, lb, fedor

Fedor Emelianenko vs. Satoshi Ishii Announced For DREAM New Year! 2011

A New Year’s Eve bout between Fedor Emelianenko and Satoshi Ishii has been rumored for weeks now. Today, it became official. M-1 Global and DREAM have announced that Fedor will in fact face Olympic gold medalist Satoshi Ishii at DREAM New Year! 2011 in Japan. M-1Global and DREAM officials announced today that legendary heavyweight Fedor “ The Last Emperor” Emelianenko will be facing Olympic Gold Medalist in Judo Satoshi Ishii on December 31, 2011 as part of FIELDS presents FIGHT FOR JAPAN “Genkidesuka!! Oomisoka!! 2011! The event, which takes place from the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, will be broadcast in North America on HDNet. The event marks the return of Fedor Emelianenko to Japan after a 3-year absence. “M-1 Global in cooperation with Dream is very pleased to announce the bout which will bring the world’s attention to Japan on December 31” – said M-1 Global Director of Operations Evgeni Kogan, “Fedor has been in great shape, and is ready for what we think will be a hard and competitive fight.” The fight may be on, but it remains to be seen if it will in fact be competitive. Ishii entered the MMA world with a lot of hype and fanfare and was even courted by the UFC despite not having a single professional fight under his belt, but has largely been a disappointment. After losing to Hidehiko Yoshida in his pro debut, Ishii managed to pick up wins against Tafa Misipati, Ikuhisa Minowa, Katsuyori Shibata and Jerome Le Banner, but hasn’t fought anyone even close to Fedor’s level. If he were to somehow win, it would likely be the biggest upset of the year. Image via Esther Lin for Strikeforce/Showtime

Posted in: dream, year, japan, fedor, ishii

Fedor Emelianenko Vs. Satoshi Ishii Confirmed For NYE

Fedor Emelianenko will face Satoshi Ishii in Japan on New Years Eve. Sherdog was the first to confirm this rumored bout after speaking with people close to DREAM 'Genki Desu Ka! New Year! 2011." The fight was rumored after being mentioned in Fedor's post-fight speech at the M-1 event in Moscow. Fedor was able to bounce back from a three fight skid with losses to Fabricio Werdum, Antonio Silva, and Dan Henderson when he defeated Jeff Monson in November. Ishii made news when he was wined and dined by the UFC only to choose Sengoku as his MMA home. His career got off to a rocky start with a loss to Hadehiko Yoshida but he's gone undefeated since with four wins and a questionable draw to Paulo Filho in September. 'Genki Desu Kai! New Year! 2011' will be live from the Saitama Super Arena on HD Net and will also feature the finals of DREAM's bantamweight tournament. DREAM is also showcasing two title fights with Shinya Aoki defending his lightweight belt against Satoru Kitaoka and Hiroyuki Takaya facing Takshi Inoue. SBN coverage of DREAM: New Year! 2011

Posted in: fight, dream, year, fedor, mma home

Fedor-Ishii Confirmed for Dream NYE Event in Saitama

Fedor Emelianenko will make his return to the Land of the Rising Sun on New Year’s Eve.

Posted in: year, return, saitama, land, emelianenko

Fedor Emelianenko vs. Satoshi Ishii Signed for New Year's Eve Event in Japan

Filed under: DREAM, M-1 Global, NewsFedor Emelianenko will face former Olympic judo gold medalist Satoshi Ishii on a New Year's Eve event co-promoted by M-1 Global and DREAM in Saitama, Japan. The promotions confirmed the fight's booking in a joint news release on Monday afternoon. It will be the first time Emelianenko fights in Japan in exactly four years, since defeating Hong-Man Choi. That fight led to his arrival in the US and Affliction before he eventually moved on to Strikeforce. Emelianenko (32-4, 1 no contest) recently snapped a three-fight win streak by defeating Jeff Monson in a unanimous decision at an M-1 event in St. Petersburg, Russia. The fight with Ishii had been rumored for some time, but for a time it wasn't expected to happen until officials pulled it together during the past week. Ishii will be at a severe experience disadvantage, having fought just six times in his career. He's 4-1-1 overall, and most recently fought at a independent show in Brazil where he fought to a draw with former WEC middleweight champion Paulo Filho. In 2008, Ishii captured an Olympic judo gold medal in the 100+ kilogram weight class. The New Year's Eve event -- titled Fight For Japan: Genki Desu Ka Omisoko 2011 -- will take place at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan and air on HDNet. Among the other fights officially confirmed are a lightweight bout between Shinya Aoki and Satoru Kitaoka, and a featherweight bout pitting Tatsuya Kawajiri and Kazuyuki Miyata. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: fight, event, year, japan, ishii

The Flyweights Are Here

The UFC’s first event of March 2012 will be a historic one, as the organization introduces the 125-pound division with two bouts that will determine the contenders for the UFC’s first-ever flyweight championship.UFC President Dana White made the announcement at Saturday night’s UFC 140 post-fight press conference.In the two bouts, which are part of the March 3 UFC on FX card, former number one bantamweight contender Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson battles Ian McCall, and longtime 135-pound standout Joseph Benavidez will also drop to 125 pounds to face Japan’s Yasuhiro Urushitani.Considered by many to be the best flyweight in the world today, California’s Ian McCall (11-2) has finally found a home at 125 pounds after competing against the best bantamweights in the world for years. A three fight alumnus of the WEC, where he won a stirring TKO over “Ox” Wheeler and went the distance with current 135-pound champion Dominick Cruz, the 27-year old McCall has won four in a row, a nice way to lead into his new career in the Octagon.A 5-foot-3 ball of energy that has been tearing through the bantamweight division of the WEC and UFC, Demetrious Johnson (14-2) soared to the number one contender’s spot in 2011 with UFC wins over “Kid” Yamamoto and Miguel Angel Torres. And though he lost a tough five rounder against Cruz in his October title fight, the flyweight division allows “Mighty Mouse” to compete on a level playing field against fighters closer to his natural weight.One of the top bantamweights in the world, Joseph Benavidez (15-2) is now looking to nab UFC gold at 125 pounds. Winner of seven of nine Zuffa bouts (WEC and UFC) with his only losses coming via close decision to Cruz, Benavidez has defeated the likes of Eddie Wineland, Miguel Angel Torres, Rani Yahya, and Jeff Curran. Now he’s got his sights set on taking out the flyweight elite.A Shooto bantamweight (123 pound) champion, Yasuhiro Urushitani (19-4-6) is currently sporting a five fight winning streak that matches the best he’s had in his 10 year pro MMA career. Owner of wins over recent Ultimate Fighter winner John Dodson, Mamoru Yamaguchi, and Daniel Lima, the 35-year old has ended his last two wins by knockout.

Posted in: ufc, pound, year, bantamweight, flyweight

Jones tries to finish off historic year at UFC 140 (Yahoo! Sports)

With a win over Lyoto Machida on Saturday, Jon Jones would cap one of the most brilliant years in mixed martial arts history.

Posted in: jone, year, lyoto machida, machida, art

UFC 140: Tito Ortiz contemplates retiring from 'the loneliest sport in the world'

Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Tito Ortiz wants to retire from mixed martial arts "on his own terms." However, if "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy" "The People's Champion" loses to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 140 tomorrow night (Dec. 10, 2011) in Toronto, he may not be afforded that option. That's because Ortiz (16-9-1) is 1-5-1 since beating the relevancy out of Ken Shamrock way back in 2006. His most recent defeat, a lopsided technical knockout loss to Rashad Evans at UFC 133, was a clear indication that at 36, he is no longer competitive in the promotion's crowded light heavyweight division. Whether or not that has to do with his deteriorating physical abilities, or just an influx of well-rounded second-generation fighters, is not clear. What is clear is that Ortiz recognizes he's in the final stages of a popular combat sports career, and that a win (or loss) in "The Great White North" will go a long way in determing if -- or when -- we see him step inside the Octagon again. MMA Nation has more: "Well, you know I have two more fights in my contract and I've gone through a lot of things in my history of fighting, surgeries and so forth. I've got three boys. I've got a family to take care of ... I've made my money. I've done my thing in the UFC and there's nothing else I can do in the UFC that I haven't already done. I don't want to have any more injuries ... Let's turn a chapter in my life and get into something a little less physical ... This is the most loneliest sport in the world. Fighting is nothing like no other. The mind games we play with ourselves, the physical games we play with ourselves, it's just like no other. We have our families that support us, our fans that support us, but at the end of the night, we go to bed and we think of the things on our own and it's tough, it's difficult to get through the things we do. Physically, mentally, emotionally, to get into the cage as I do and compete, it takes a strong will to do it and after the surgeries that I've had, it takes a strong will to do it year after year after year. I'm going on 15 years of doing it. I'm the longest competing competitive fighter in UFC history. I've got a couple more fights ahead of me and I'm thinking about it, I'm thinking about retiring and I think it makes sense to retire on my own terms." Owning a litany of industry "firsts," Ortiz is likely to be remembered as a legendary fighter despite never being able to win "The Big One," having been handily defeated by both Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture in the prime of his career. He was, however, able to sell the UFC at a time when it couldn't sell itself. Simply put, he put asses in the seats. Win or lose on Saturday night, his place in the history books is undoubtedly secure. Anyone out there disagree? For more on Tito's possible retirement click here. For a closer look at his UFC 140 fight against "Little Nog" click here. Lastly, a career retrospective can be found here.

Posted in: ufc, ortiz, year, thing, ive

Dana White: Strikeforce is here to stay; a deal should be wrapped up 'any day now'

Looks like Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White is going to bury the "Business as usual" punchline the mixed martial arts community has so lovingly embraced over the past 10 months. That's because White has declared that the Strikeforce promotion, gobbled up by the ZUFFA zealots back in March of this year, is "here to stay" as the UFC finalizes a television deal "any day now." From MMA Fighting: "It's staying. Just sit and wait and watch what I do. Trust me, it's going to be just fine. Like I said last time I talked to you guys about this, I'm getting into this and I'm going to handle it. Watch and see. We'll see what happens. I know I keep saying this every week, but that deal should be wrapped up any day now, and then I'll make the decisions on who goes where and what's going to happen. So we should know hopefully by Monday." Most fans expected ZUFFA to fold Strikeforce into the UFC, much like it did with World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) earlier this year, and it's hard to envision a scenario where it remains a separate promotion after its contract with Showtime expires. But then again, stranger things have happened, especially in this sport. Strikeforce will bring its "Melendez vs. Masvidal" event to the Showtime airwaves a week from Saturday (Dec. 17, 2011) and has already booked its next show, titled "Rockhold vs. Jardine," for the Hard Rock in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Jan. 7, 2012. There's also some unfinished business in the heavyweight division, as Daniel Cormier and Josh Barnett are still expected to slug it out for the right to be called Grand Prix Champion early next year. Will it be on Showtime? Or does White have another trick up his sleeve? Alright Maniacs, let's hear some predictions. Is Strikeforce going to hang around and if it does, what's the best way to utilize it? Thoughts?

Posted in: ufc, strikeforce, day, deal, year

ONE FC Anounce Major Indonesian TV Deal with Ole Laursen and Igor Gracie Set for Jakarta Card

Indra Senduk, Victor Cui, Zorobabel Moreira and Yodsanan Sityodtong in Jakarta yesterday ONE Fighting Championship hosted a press conference yesterday to reveal details about its Jakarta show. The event, which will be taking place at the BritAma Arena on February 11th, is the first professional MMA promotion to take place in Indonesia in over five years. Although the fight card is still being completed the identity of a number of the fighters was revealed including: Ole Laursen, PhilippinesIgor Gracie, BrazilKevin Belingon, PhilippinesYodsanan Sityodtong, ThailandYuya Shirai, JapanYoune "Indra" Victorio Senduk, Indonesia PLUS: Winner of the Cage Fighting Championship (CFC) bantamweight title fight between Gustavo Falciroli and Nick Honstein. No match ups were announced but it seems probable that Igor Gracie will be up against DEEP welterweight champion Yuya Shirai and the winner of the CFC Bantamweight title fight will face Kevin Belingon. The influence of the recently formed ONE FC Network can already be felt with champions promotions such as the URCC, CFC, and DEEP all set to star in Jakarta. A lot of attention will be on Filipino born kickboxer and Muay Thai fighter Ole Laursen. He has been out of action for over a year after suffering a couple of injury setbacks and will be looking to recapture the form which saw him submit BJJ purple belt Eduardu Pachu in a fight of the night performance at Martial Combat 2 last year. Ole Laursen in action against Eduardu Pachu at Martial Combat 2 With a perfect professional record of 9-0 Belingon is already regarded as one of the best bantamweights in Asia and the URCC Flyweight Champion (they have unusual weight classes) will be looking to extend his unbeaten run, possibly against the winner of tonight's CFC title fight in Sydney, Australia. Yodsanan Sityodtong is one of the best boxers ever to transition to MMA and put in an impressive performance on his debut at ONE FC 1, showing good Muay Thai skills as well as his incredible punching power to blow away Daniel Mashamaite early in the second round. They will be joined on the card by Youne Senduk who recently won a silver medal representing Indonesia in Wushu at the SEA Games. ONE FC has also signed a TV deal with a major Indonesian sports network in Indonesia and will be shown on Global TV which is the highest rated sports channel of the nation’s largest and only integrated media company, Media Nusantara Citra. There will be some sort of qualifier taking place in Indonesia later this year which will give more Indonesian fighters the chance to compete for a coveted spot on the ONE FC card. The identities of the remaining fighters and the actual match ups will be announced between now and February. At present ONE FC has shows booked in Singapore and Malaysia, as well as Indonesia, with events in Korea and the Philippines also believed to be close to completion. 2012 looks set to be a very busy year for the organization and it will kick off with three shows in three countries in the space of three months starting in Jakarta in February. Indonesia actually has a long history of BJJ and MMA with camps all over the country teaching the various components of mixed martial arts. In the past fighters had little or no opportunity to compete professionally but by putting on televised shows in major arenas ONE FC looks set to change all that and with the support of the biggest promotion in Asia behind them a new breed of mixed martial artists could be all set to emerge from Indonesia. The ONE FC cage, coming soon to Jakarta, Indonesia.

Posted in: fighter, year, fc, jakarta, indonesia

Just bought my tickets for UFC on Fox 2, what's the best way to tell my roommates?

I'm pretty excited about this. We've all been watching together for a few years and have wanted to go to a live event for a long time. Considering the guys on the card and the fact that the UFC Fight Club membership one of the roomies bought me last year, which allowed me to buy pre-sale tickets, was weeks away from expiring, it couldn't have worked out much better. I can usually keep a straight face, but I know I'm going to want to tell them asap. I'm considering these: Wait until Christmas. Wait until the tickets arrived in the mail: "Christmas came early this year, bitches!" Wait until tickets are sold out, then text the one who bought me the membership telling him I forgot to look when tickets went on pre-sale. Then, when he looks it up and finds they are already sold out, running the old switch-a-roo. Just running in to the living room tomorrow morning and yelling at them about it. All I've got so far. What would you do? Or how would you want to find out? submitted by lizard_king_rebirth [link] [4 comments]

Posted in: year, ticket, im, asap im, roommates im

Machida Ready To Resume An Era Interrupted

Before Jon Jones came along, swooped in and became the youngest champion in UFC history, it was supposed to be the Lyoto Machida era. Just two and a half years ago, the unbeaten Brazilian knocked out Rashad Evans, took the championship belt in his hands and said “Karate is back.” It was the sound bite heard throughout the mixed martial arts world, and with a resume that held wins over Evans, Thiago Silva, Tito Ortiz, BJ Penn, Rich Franklin, and Stephan Bonnar, few would have argued with the idea that Machida was going to reign for a long time.Well, you know how that story went. After a disputed decision win over countryman Mauricio “Shogun” Rua five months after winning the title, Machida lost the belt to Rua in May of 2010. A UFC 123 defeat to Quinton “Rampage” Jackson was another shocker, and suddenly a 16-0 record turned to 16-2 and many wondered if what they had seen in the Evans, Silva, and Ortiz fights was just a mirage. And no one took the fall from grace harder than the introspective Machida.“I miss realizing my dreams and my goals, my objectives,” he said, through translator Derek Kronig Lee, when asked what he misses the most about being a world champion.So as 2011 dawned, few would have pegged him as a title challenger come December. But Machida believed he had what it took to get back in contention and then regain the crown, and a stunning knockout of Randy Couture in April only heightened his expectations. But when he didn’t step up to face Evans in a short notice rematch at UFC 133 in August, “The Dragon” thought a short-term title opportunity was out of the question.“In all honesty, at the beginning of 2011 I believed I would fight for the title soon, but as the year progressed I felt like that dream got further away, so I didn’t know if I would be fighting for the title this year.”Ironically, it was an injury suffered by Evans in his win over Ortiz at UFC 133 that opened the door for Machida to face Jones in the main event of this Saturday’s UFC 140 card in Toronto, and now he gets the chance to resume a reign interrupted by the loss to Rua. So is it a different Machida than the one that first reigned over the 205-pound weight class?“I became more focused on details,” he said. “I’m smarter in training in order to get more out of each session.”Each trip to the gym is crucial against a fighter as dynamic as Jones, one that has earned the former champ’s respect with his performances thus far. That doesn’t mean he will be in awe of him when the bell sounds on fight night.“I always saw him as a very versatile fighter and he has a lot of different combinations, but I only began to study him recently,” said Machida. “Every fighter poses difficulties, it’s not because it is Jon Jones or anyone else. He has good reach, a versatile game and he fights well on his feet, on the ground and takedowns. I believe I am well-versed in all three areas as well and I believe this will be a war of strategies, that’s what will count the most in the fight.” It’s what makes Saturday’s clash so intriguing. It wasn’t so long ago that people were saying that Machida’s style wasn’t going to be deciphered anytime soon. Now they’re saying the same thing about Jones. But if anything is a given in the light heavyweight division, it’s that as special as you may be as a fighter, in this shark tank no one lasts on top for long.“This is the best category in the UFC,” said Machida. “We mix speed, strength and technique, and I believe it is the toughest weight class in the UFC.”He’ll get no arguments from the other recent champions pre-Jones, as only Machida and Jackson have managed to successfully defend the title out of the five men to hold the belt in the last four years before “Bones” took the crown. But that doesn’t matter to the 33-year old challenger now. The only history he is concerned about is becoming the second man (along with Couture) to regain the 205-pound title. It would be a feat even sweeter than the first.“Definitely, the ups and downs are important in anyone’s careers,” he said. “You improve a lot after losing, and I believe this victory will have a sweeter taste of accomplishment.”

Posted in: ufc, title, ’t, year, machida

Bellator Inks UFC Alum War Machine For Welterweight Division

Bellator made an interesting move in their welterweight division, announcing the signing of former UFC fighter, former porn actor and former inmate War Machine Thursday. The former Jon Koppenhaver (12-4) has been one of the sport's more infamous figures over the past few years, making a splash on the sixth season of The Ultimate Fighter. After a bloody Fight Of The Night win over Jared Rollins at the TUF 6 Finale, Machine was cut after a submission loss to Yoshiyuki Yoshida at UFC 84, mainly due to comments he made about the late Evan Tanner. It's been a strange few years for the 30-year-old Machine. He legally changed his name to War Machine because a professional wrestler was using it as a nickname and the organization threatened legal action if he used it as well, claiming they had the trademark on it. He signed a deal with Bellator in 2009, but was released before making his debut after he made some controversial comments about President Barack Obama on MySpace. (Yes, there was a social network before Facebook that people actually used.) He announced that he was shooting his first porn scene in the fall of 2009. In December of that year, a warrant was issued for his arrest following an incident at a porn actress' birthday party where he got into an altercation with several party goers. He was arrested in both February and March 2010 for two incidents involving physical altercations in California bars. As a result, he was later sentenced for one year in jail for a felony assault conviction and was released this past July. Something lost completely along the way during this insane stretch is that Machine picked up five straight wins on the regional scene and had finishes in all of them. Before going into jail, Machine had lost two of three but is already on the winning track following a November TKO win over fellow UFC and Bellator alum Roger Huerta. No date was announced for Machine's debut, nor whether he has a slot in their Season 6 welterweight tournament. Here's hoping his next four years are a lot more kind than his last four.

Posted in: ufc, bellator, year, war, machine

“Minotauro” Nogueira feeling better than ever after recent surgeries

When a fighter has been through as many back-and-forth battles as Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira there’s no question the abuse is going to take a toll on the individual’s well-being. Nogueira, who has put in forty fights over a twelve-year career involving fights against some of MMA’s top heavyweights, has had his physical shortcomings put on display over the past few years in getting floored twice in a three-fight span despite never having been stopped with strikes prior. However, thanks to an extended period of recovery dotted with multiple surgeries, Nogueira appears to be back better than ever and earned a knockout of his own in August against Brendan Schaub. Up next for “Minotauro” is an opportunity this weekend at getting revenge against former UFC heavyweight champ Frank Mir who flattened him in 2008. Entering the match-up the affable Brazilian will be healthier than he has been in years, a point he elaborated on in a recent conversation with the UFC’s website. “I was injured for about three years, and I couldn’t perform so well in the last fights. After my last surgery, I took the fight (with Schaub), even though I was like 70 percent. But it was enough for me to be way better than I was before. I was faster, I was punching faster, I had my hips to throw my right hand better because the power comes from the hips, and it was great to fight in better shape and in better condition,” began Nogueira before bottom-lining it by adding, “I’m feeling good right now….I’m feeling better. Before I was feeling like 45; now I feel like 25.” Still, Nogueira knows he’s not the only one to be a superior version of himself in comparison to three years ago, explaining of his UFC 140 opponent, “I think he’s improved his standup and his Muay Thai’s gotten better. He’s a complete fighter, and he’s improved his endurance. I know I’m gonna face a good opponent, but I’m ready for everything.” Mir Sees Nogueira as a New Opponent Fans can catch Nogueira and Mir mix it up on PPV when things start at 9:00 PM EST. UFC 140 is headlined by Jon Jones defending his light heavyweight title against polished Brazilian Lyoto Machida, while Nogueira’s twin brother Antonio Rogerio Nogueira will also battle former 205-pound king Tito Ortiz in other main card action. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, fight, nogueira, i ’m, year

Tito Ortiz Planning To Retire Next May, Wants Forrest Griffin In Final Fight

Tito Ortiz dropped an unexpected bomb yesterday at the UFC 140 open workouts. He told reporters that retirement is coming and he even has a specific date in mind. Via MMA Fighting: “May 30, 2012,” he told reporters. At first it sounded like a joke. As if he was getting intentionally overly specific to mock the idea that something like this could be planned. After all, May 30 is a Wednesday. Is he going to end his career with a sparring session? Then he kept going, and it became clear: Tito is serious about this. “That’ll be 15 years,” Ortiz said of the May 30th mark. “15 years has been my goal. I make it to 15 years, that’d be my second fight, finishing this contract, maybe it’s time to hang up the gloves, walk away while I’m still healthy. I don’t want to get any more surgeries. I have three boys. I have a family to take care of. I’ve made enough money to take care of my family now.” “What else do I got to prove?” Ortiz said. “I don’t have to prove anything else in this MMA world.” It wasn’t long ago that Tito proclaimed he was finally 100% healthy following neck and back surgeries and planned to make an impact in the light heavyweight division so it’s seems a little odd that he’s suddenly talking about retirement. However, Tito added that this 15 year mark is “set in stone” in his mind, so he seems pretty serious about it. Before he goes though, he has one request. He wants his rubber match with Forrest Griffin. “My last fight I would love to be against Forrest [Griffin],” he said. “I think I deserve that. I beat him the first time. The second time we fought, I beat him and they gave it to him. Let’s do three of a kind.” Their second fight didn’t exactly leave anyone clamoring for a third one, but it seems like a reasonable request give how much Tito has done for the sport and the UFC. If he really only has one more fight left after this weekend, Forrest Griffin is as good of an opponent as any. Image via Tracy Lee for Yahoo! Sports

Posted in: fight, tito, year, griffin, forrest

UFC 140 Real Time Press Conference Highlights

With only a few days to go before light heavyweight title-holder Jon Jones looks to go 4-0 in 2011 with three wins over former champions, anticipation for the event couldn’t be higher as fans ready themselves to see “Bones” take on Lyoto Machidaat UFC 140 in what many feel will be the dynamic 24-year old’s stiffest challenge to date. Before the two talented 205ers meet in the Octagon they will take to the stage this afternoon in Toronto to discuss the bout, as will fellow main card opponents Tito Ortiz/Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Frank Mir/Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. UFC President Dana White will also be on hand. Things kick off at 1:00 PM EST and Five Ounces of Pain will be tuned in to relay live results back to readers as they unfold in real time. Read below to check out all the scintillating soundbytes and relevant nuggets of information plucked from the proceedings: Jon Jones - Thinks he has gotten more and more respect amongst the MMA community since beating Quinton Jackson, says he just needs to win and everything else will take care of itself - Doesn’t have any interest in picking his opponents - Knew he would eventually fight Machida anyways as he will against Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson - Tells himself there’s no other place than in the cage he should be each time right before his fights, feels he’s blessed to know what he was put on the planet for / “This is my zone. This is my place. This is my house.” - Thinks MMA is one of the safest sports out there / “Yeah, we take risks, but this is what we chose to do with our lives.” - Loves the viral video of Machida inserted into “The Karate Kid” - Has learned a lot about Machida’s style and picked up on some tendencies after studying tape, won’t reveal specifics for obvious reasons - Knows he’s not invincible because he’s seen other people in similar positions fall, plus he’s surrounded by fantastic fighters at Greg Jackson‘s gym / “I stay on the prowl. I always work hard. I’m four years into my MMA career and there’s still so much I don’t know…There’s so much great stuff that my teammates are way better than me at.” Lyoto Machida - Feels he is more prepared to fight for the title now than he was the first time based on having matured - Loves fighting in Canada - Has been training the entire time since his last fight but nothing specific, just trying to improve all-around - Believes he’s changed a lot since losing to Mauricio Rua and “Rampage”, feels he is more mature as a fighter now - Did not train with Anderson Silva for the fight but talked and watched some videos he sent - Knows there is some pressure to win based on his popularity in Brazil but doesn’t concern himself with it Frank Mir - Lets performance speak for itself and doesn’t worry about the respect he gets from fans as long as he’s consistently winning\ - Thinks Nogueira underestimated him the first time they’ve fought - No longer prepares for the person but rather gets ready for the toughest fight possible so he’s okay in any position - Talks about how barbaric boxing is and that says the NFL has taken the UFC’s lead by making players sit out after being concussed rather than taking to the field again Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira - Thinks MMA is the #2 sport in Brazil behind soccer - “Is no excuse. He won the fight. He was faster….Now I gotta chance to face him, I want to show it’s a different fight. I will try to do my best…” - Was thrilled to be fighting on the same card with his brother and assisted in their training because they could spar against each other and bring in more people to help them based on both having camps, had missed doing that as they had while fighting for PRIDE - Is not worried about losing his title, understands there’s always the risk but “with great risk comes great reward” Tito Ortiz - Feels personal satisfaction in fighting three times this year after undergoing some of the surgeries on his neck/back he endured - Says he’s there for his fans which is why he’s now the “People’s Champ” / “I want to be an inspiration in people’s lives.” - Refuses to answer a question from Ariel Helwani, saying he doesn’t like him, but still replies after White ribs him - Changed his image and nickname based partially on his family too - Believes in karma and he plans on good things happening to him in the future based on his change in lifestyle - Mentions he’s fought for 15 years and is relatively fine while many boxers take serious brain damage based on standing eight counts - Has no regrets about not fighting Chuck Liddell a third time, is very thankful for how things played out Antonio Rogerio Nogueira - Says UFC Rio dramatically increased MMA’s popularity in Brazil - Thinks it will be a special night on Saturday - Knows this is a very important fight and will not let the opportunity pass him by Dana White - Isn’t sure what to expect in the main event other than it being a great fight based on both styles / “This is gonna be a fun fight.” - Acknowledges the importance of Mir/Nogueira - Is now a believer in Jones / “It’s pretty clear this guy is here to stay and is the real deal.” - Credits fans with picking fighters based on style/personality rather than nationality / “People aren’t buying tickets to watch Lyoto Machida come in here and give a speech.” - Again brings up the concept of a World Cup with Ultimate Fighter, says they’re casting the Brazilian version on Monday - Says they may do a stadium show this summer in Brazil - Names Georges St. Pierre as the most popular Canadian in sports and responds to the jeers by pointing out the love he experiences overseas and in Asia - Jokes that he’s told Jones he’s taking a mandatory vacation no matter what happens after such a busy year - Is not a fan of Ortiz’s new nickname because of how long he’s been known as “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” - “The next ten years are a lot more important than the last ten. We’ve still got a lot of work to do.” - Not concerned about GSP’s future because knee injuries happen to athletes all the time - Looking for new commentary talent starting next year to help with their expansion - Will know by next week how the Strikeforce talent will pan out in terms of bringing more fighters over - Evans will get a title-shot if he beats Phil Davis at UFC on FOX 2 but the same may not be true in return if Davis wins

Posted in: ufc, fight, time, year, fan

Tito Ortiz Sets a Date for Retirement, But Can He Keep It?

Filed under: UFCTORONTO -- When you get to be a fighter of Tito Ortiz's age and stature, there's really no escaping these kinds of questions. Not for long, anyway. People see you fighting into your mid-30s with mixed success and they want to know, how long can he keep this up? Perhaps what they really want to know is, how long does he think he can keep this up? In other words, it's the kind of question where you don't necessarily expect an honest or even realistic answer. Maybe that's why Ortiz's response at Wednesday's UFC 140 open workouts was so surprising. "May 30, 2012," he told reporters. At first it sounded like a joke. As if he was getting intentionally overly specific to mock the idea that something like this could be planned. After all, May 30 is a Wednesday. Is he going to end his career with a sparring session? Then he kept going, and it became clear: Tito is serious about this. "That'll be 15 years," Ortiz said of the May 30th mark. "15 years has been my goal. I make it to 15 years, that'd be my second fight, finishing this contract, maybe it's time to hang up the gloves, walk away while I'm still healthy. I don't want to get any more surgeries. I have three boys. I have a family to take care of. I've made enough money to take care of my family now." And when you think about it, that's the reasonable response. If anything, maybe it's too reasonable. After some of his contemporaries have been dragged kicking and screaming from the sport, who would have guessed that Ortiz would be the level-headed one to set a date? Who would have guessed that Ortiz would be the one to realize about himself exactly what others have said of guys like Chuck Liddell and Wanderlei Silva? "What else do I got to prove?" Ortiz said. "I don't have to prove anything else in this MMA world." But then, it's one thing to set a date, and another thing entirely to keep it. Fighters think retirement sounds difficult in theory, but it's nothing compared to the real thing. Many a pugilist has hung up the gloves, only to take them down and put them back on when the rocking chair didn't prove to be as satisfying as they thought. Ortiz says the date is "set in stone in my own mind," and you have to admit he has some good reasons. The surgeries have piled up lately, his neck is an almost constant concern, and there's the very real chance that he might stick around too long and do something to himself that cannot be undone. As he explained, he'd like to be able to play catch with his boys somewhere down the line, rather than grinding every last ounce of usefulness out of his body in pursuit of a paycheck he doesn't really need at this point. He doesn't expect retirement to come easy, he said, "but I don't want to disrespect the sport. I don't want to stay over my welcome. I want to make sure I walk away healthy. It's a family decision for me." He even has an idea of how he'd like to go out between now and May 30 of next year, regardless of how Saturday night's fight against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira turns out. "My last fight I would love to be against Forrest [Griffin]," he said. "I think I deserve that. I beat him the first time. The second time we fought, I beat him and they gave it to him. Let's do three of a kind." What, you thought just because he was leaving, he was going to stop being "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy"? He might have the self-awareness to see for himself when the ride is over, but that doesn't mean he's going to start acting like the sport's elder statesman just yet. But you have to give him credit -- or at least you will if actually sticks to his own plan. So many of his peers haven't been able to recognize the end for what it is, even when it's staring them in the face. Ortiz could go on, but that doesn't mean he has to. Not after the time he's put in, and the toll it's already taken on him. "15 years is a long time," he said. "To get up and do what I do every single day for 15 years, it's hard." After that long, waking up on the morning of May 31 and figuring out what to do next might not be so easy either. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: time, ortiz, year, i dont, dont

Minotauro Rises Again

Come on. You had to know that someone who survived getting run over by a truck at the age of 10 wasn’t going to leave the sport of mixed martial arts quietly. In fact, one of the most enduring qualities attached to former PRIDE and interim UFC heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira is his otherworldly level of toughness.Yet even his staunchest supporters had to wonder what his 35-year old body had left when he stepped into the Octagon in August to face up and coming knockout artist Brendan Schaub. Nogueira was coming off a layoff of over a year due to knee and hip surgeries, he had lost two of his previous three bouts, both by knockout, and in any combat sport, Father Time’s knock on the door can come at anytime once you hit your mid-30’s.But this was a rested Nogueira feeling better than he had in years, he was fighting in front of his home fans in Brazil for the first time ever, and that was really all the motivation he needed to turn back the clock, which he did by knocking Schaub out in the first round.“Fighting in Brazil was amazing to me,” said Nogueira. “It was the best experience of my career to fight in front of my people, my family, my closest friends. The arena is less than two miles from my gym, so I had a lot of support, energy, and motivation. Fighting is about motivation, and when you have a special case like this, you do your best and you can surprise people with how good you can do, and that’s what happened in this fight.”Nogueira has been around this sport long enough – over 12 years to be exact – to know what the whispers were heading into the Schaub fight. To many, he was done. But he knew better, and even though he admits that he wasn’t fully operational after his last surgery in February, even the level he was at was so much better than he had been over the last few years.“I was injured for about three years, and I couldn’t perform so well in the last fights,” he said. “After my last surgery, I took the fight (with Schaub), even though I was like 70 percent. But it was enough for me to be way better than I was before. I was faster, I was punching faster, I had my hips to throw my right hand better because the power comes from the hips, and it was great to fight in better shape and in better condition. I’m feeling good right now.”Almost like a new man. He laughs.“I’m feeling better. Before I was feeling like 45; now I feel like 25.”So there’s no better time than now to revisit a loss that still eats at him, his UFC 92 defeat to Frank Mir in December of 2008. Hit with a staph infection during training camp, Nogueira recovered, but was also saddled with his other injuries, and it was the worst timing in the world for him, as Mir was on top of his game that night in Vegas. What resulted was Nogueira’s first knockout defeat. Three years later, this Saturday night in Toronto, Nogueira gets his rematch.“He (Mir) won that day, I can’t change the story,” said Nogueira of their first bout. “That day he fought better. He was faster, he was more athletic than me, and it worked for his game. What made me sad was that I think that I can fight better than that day when I’m a hundred percent. So that’s what I’m hoping to do. A fight is a fight, but I think I can do better than the last fight.”We’ve already documented how different Nogueira will be this time around, but Mir has not sat idly by in the last three years either. His standup and wrestling have improved, and he’s constantly tweaking the areas of his game that he thinks need adjusting. This subtle transformation hasn’t gone unnoticed by Nogueira.“I think he’s improved his standup and his Muay Thai’s gotten better,” he said of Mir. “He’s a complete fighter, and he’s improved his endurance. I know I’m gonna face a good opponent, but I’m ready for everything.”A win would make it two in a row for Nogueira and end the year on a high note. But as far as title aspirations go, he doesn’t have any at the moment considering one of his protégés, Junior dos Santos, is the man holding the UFC heavyweight crown.“Right now I’m not thinking about that because of Junior,” said Nogueira. “I don’t have that goal right now to fight for the title because he’s got the title. I want to be the best I can in my weight division, but it (getting the belt) is not my goal right now.” That’s an admirable position to take, and when you hear him talk about dos Santos’ title winning effort against Cain Velasquez last month, it’s not as if Nogueira is a mentor or training partner, but more like a brother.“I feel happy,” said Nogueira. “He was a poor kid in Brazil and I feel great for him and how he improved. He took this very seriously and he became the heavyweight champion of the world.”That’s a title Nogueira wore with pride for a good portion of his career. Hopefully as mixed martial arts grows bigger and more mainstream, newer fans will recognize that fact and recognize him as one of the game’s greats. But for the moment, “Minotauro” is happy to be around to see the sport he helped build finally be accepted.“I see how great this sport became and I see how popular this sport became in Brazil,” he said. “Over 60 million people watched Junior’s last fight. It was so different back when it was illegal in a couple states in the United States, and now we have FOX TV. So this sport’s great, I love what I do, and I see how the sport improves every time. There are fighters coming up like Junior, Jon Jones, Lyoto Machida, and a lot of new guys, and I’m happy to be between them.”

Posted in: fight, nogueira, i ’m, sport, year

Tito Ortiz ready to retire in 2012

Light heavyweight legend Tito Ortiz knows his career is in the twilight years now. However, that doesn’t mean “The People’s Champ” will just lay down and let his final opponents walk all over him. Ortiz will look to rebound from a loss to Rashad Evans when he meets Antonio Rogerio Nogueira this Saturday night at UFC 140 from the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. For Ortiz, this fight marks the 26th time he will step foot inside the Octagon, a UFC record. Overall, Ortiz is 16-9-1 in his career, including eight victories via knockout “The finish line’s there for me. I’ve done everything underneath the sun in MMA, and it’s time for me to change this chapter of my life,” said Ortiz, in a recent interview with the UFC’s website. “I’ve got this fight and I got one more after it to finish my contract out. I’ve been competing for 15 years and that’s been my goal – to compete as a UFC fighter for 15 years.” Ortiz is training as hard as ever for the Nogueira bout, but by the tone of his voice, you can tell he knows the end is just around the corner. “I think I’ll miss the competition the most and competing against the best guys in the world,” Ortiz said. “I’m still young, I’m just going to be turning 37, but I don’t want to overstay my welcome and I don’t want to torture my body.” UFC 140 will feature a main event between UFC 205-pound champion Jon Jones defending his title against former title-holder Lyoto Machida in addition to a bout between Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Frank Mir. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, ortiz, nogueira, year, i ’ve

Georges St. Pierre Out of UFC 143: Are His Prime Years Gone?

Today's shocking news that UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre is injured and out of UFC 143 leaves a lot of questions to answer. How will the Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit interim title fight play out? How will the UFC deal with the loss of one of its biggest stars? And I'm sure Nick Diaz will demand we ask if GSP is ducking him. All of these are important questions, but to me the big one is this: Has Georges St. Pierre just lost the best years of his career? According to Dana White, the champion will be out of action for 10 months. Add in training time to get back in shape and we could be looking at early 2013 for a St. Pierre return. He already has not fought since UFC 129 in April and his defeat of Jake Shields. So now, we could be looking at a near two year gap between fights for St. Pierre. In the world of sports, and for a fighter in his prime, those two years are an eternity. St. Pierre will have to come back against either Condit or Diaz (or, potentially, some other challenger who wins the belt in the meantime), which will be a serious test for a fighter with such ring rust. And it is not just time off that is an issue - it's time off with a serious injury. We've seen fighters come back from big, injury-filled lay-offs and just not be the same. Shogun Rua, Frank Mir, Thiago Alves - there's a large list. Can St. Pierre do what he has done so many times before - prove that he is on a different level and win in the face of this adversity? It will be a tough road. Beyond just his immediate return, there is also the question of GSP's long-term run at the top. He fought Shields at the age of 29, and will return at 31 (or 32 if the recovery takes some time). Those are prime years of athletic peak that St. Pierre has had taken away from him. He already has 9 years of experience and 24 fights under his belt. Even without this injury it was fair to ask how much longer he could stay at the very top. Now, the question becomes even more important. As the leg injuries accumulate, and the years stack up, is it possible that we have seen the end of St. Pierre's run of dominance? Will it be that time and injury - those two enemies of all - have dethroned one of the top two fighters of this era? Obviously, it's too early to say. But when he comes back, I know we will all be watching closely to see if the St. Pierre that has dominated the division for 4 years is still here, or if that fighter is a thing of the past.

Posted in: time, fighter, pierre, st, year

Jimi Manuwa: Three years from now I will have the UFC belt (Exclusive Interview)

With eight of his ten victories coming by way of first-round knockout, undefeated Light Heavyweight Jimi Manuwa fights like a man that's in a hurry. However, when the UFC came calling earlier this year, "The Poster Boy" chose not to rush success. Though the world's most prominent mixed martial arts organization is where he aspires to be, Manuwa knew it wasn't the right time. In addition to being fresh of an injury that kept him sidelined for more than a year, the British slugger had blown through all...

Posted in: year, right time, manuwa, man thats, poster boy

UFC 140 Predictions

Filed under: UFCWill Jon Jones continue his domination of the light heavyweight division, or will Lyoto Machida get the belt back? Can Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira avenge his loss to Frank Mir? Will Tito Ortiz continue his surprising career resurgence, or will he be sent a step closer to retirement by Antonio Rogerio Nogueira? We'll answer those questions and more as we predict the winners at UFC 140. What: UFC 140: Jones vs. Machida When: Saturday, the Facebook stream begins at 5:45 PM ET, the Ion televised card starts at 7 and the pay-per-view starts at 9. Where: Air Canada Centre, Toronto Predictions on the five pay-per-view fights below. Jon Jones vs. Lyoto Machida With a win, Jones would put a bow on what may have been the best year any fighter has ever had in the UFC: Jones has already destroyed Ryan Bader, Shogun Rua and Rampage Jackson in 2011, and adding Lyoto Machida to that list would be an incredible feat. Machida, however, may be the light heavyweight whose style is the trickiest for Jones to handle. Machida is so elusive that Jones is going to have a hard time getting to him even with his decided reach advantage, and Machida is such a good counter-striker that Jones is going to have to be careful not to get too fancy. Machida has frustrated a lot of great fighters, and it wouldn't shock me to see him win a decision. But Jones has been so dominant of late that I simply can't pick against him. If Jones is able to take Machida down he should be able to use his superior strength to bully him on the ground, and even if the fight remains standing, Jones is eventually going to tag Machida the way Shogun Rua did. Of all the light heavyweights in the world, I give Machida the best chance of beating Jones. But right now I'd pick Jones over anyone. Pick: Jones More Coverage: UFC 140 Fight Card | UFC 140 Results Frank Mir vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira Mir has made no secret that he's a little annoyed that he even has to give Nogueira a rematch, three years after Mir won by TKO. And Mir really doesn't like the fact that Nogueira and his supporters have suggested that an illness prior to the last fight is the reason Nogueira won. This time around there should be no excuses, and the fight should go more or less the way the last one did: Mir will get the better of Nogueira standing, and he won't even try to engage Nogueira on the ground. Nogueira did earn a solid win over Brendan Schaub in August, but to the extent that these two have changed since the last time they fought, I think Mir has become bigger and stronger while Nogueira has become older and slower. Pick: Mir Tito Ortiz vs. Antonio Rogério Nogueira A year ago Ortiz was largely written off as washed up, but he deserves a lot of credit for persevering: He beat Ryan Bader soundly and then fought a good fight in a losing effort against Rashad Evans. And the mere fact that Ortiz is now preparing to fight for the third time in less than six months, after fighting only once a year every year from 2007 to 2010, says a lot about how much healthier he is after his recovery from back surgery. Nogueira, on the other hand, is on a two-fight losing streak and hasn't had a really strong performance since he TKO'd Luiz Cane more than two years ago. If either one of these guys has looked washed up recently, it's Little Nog. However, in this particular matchup Nogueira's boxing is going to carry the day: Nogueira should be able to keep Ortiz at range and batter him with punches, and eventually Nogueira will wear Ortiz down enough to win by TKO. Pick: Nogueira Claude Patrick vs. Brian Ebersole Patrick is 3-0 since signing with the UFC lat year, and if he can win this one he'll start to make some noise in the welterweight division. But Ebersole, who's been fighting for 11 years, is much more experienced than Patrick and has a more versatile ground game, and should be able to win a decision. Pick: Ebersole Mark Hominick vs. Chan Sung Jung My pick for fight of the night, Hominick vs. Jung has all the makings to be one of those fights that makes you lean forward, clench your fists and stare in awe of the intensity of the action. Hominick will have the hometown crowd on his side in Toronto, just as he did the last time he fought, when he lost to Jose Aldo at UFC 129, but in that fight it was a Rocky-like crowd, cheering him because he simply wouldn't quit no matter how much punishment he took. In this fight, Hominick will be the better striker in the cage, and he should be able to out-land Jung and win convincingly. Pick: Hominick Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: fight, jone, nogueira, year, machida

Tito Ortiz - No Longer "Bad," But Still Proud

Tito Ortiz can see the finish line. After nearly 15 years as a professional, the man once dubbed “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” has dropped that moniker, took on a new one, “The People’s Champ,” and he’s preparing for a final run – not for a title, not for accolades, but for himself.“The finish line’s there for me,” said the former UFC light heavyweight champion, who will step into the Octagon for a record 26th time on Saturday night to face Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 140 in Toronto. “I’ve done everything underneath the sun in MMA, and it’s time for me to change this chapter of my life. I’ve got this fight and I got one more after it to finish my contract out. I’ve been competing for 15 years and that’s been my goal – to compete as a UFC fighter for 15 years. I’ve been here when the UFC was not accepted and I worked so hard to help UFC get accepted by the public and I think I did a great job trying to do that. My career is there. I’ve done everything. I’m the longest competing UFC fighter, I have the most (light heavyweight) title defenses, and I’ve done a lot. So I don’t want to overstay my welcome. I haven’t gotten hurt seriously in the Octagon, I’ve never been knocked out unconscious, and I’d like to have my head on my shoulders.”If 2011 has proved anything though, the 36-year old is not attempting to go out quietly with a whimper. He’s going to go out guns blazing in a quest to be one of the few prizefighters to leave on top. And considering that he’s finally been healthy this year after two serious surgeries on his lower back and neck, he’s got the potential to do so. It’s not the happy ending many envisioned for Ortiz entering the year. Winless in five bouts (0-4-1) since 2006, Ortiz was under no illusions when he was matched with Ryan Bader at UFC 132 in July. And if he was, UFC President Dana White crystallized things for him when he said that if Ortiz lost to Bader, his career in the organization was over. But like all great fighters, the Californian showed that he still had one great fight left, and his 1:56 submission of Bader was an emotional victory and perhaps the feel good story of the year. It could have been one that Ortiz would choose to sit on for a bit, to bask in his regained glory. But a month later, he was back at it, coming in on short notice to rescue the UFC 133 main event against Rashad Evans, and almost pulling off the upset when he caught his rival in a guillotine choke before getting stopped in the second round. But Ortiz has no regrets, at least not about taking the rematch with Evans. If anything, his only regrets come from issues long in his past.“I actually had two huge regrets,” he said. “My biggest regret was that I wish my parents were never drug addicts and my other regret was that I wish I never turned my back on Dana (White) and (UFC Chairman and CEO) Lorenzo (Fertitta). I feel bad for doing that.”Ortiz’ battles with the UFC brass took on a life of its own a few years back, and now he is eager to put all that in the past. But as far as his parents and his upbringing go, he realizes that if he didn’t go through such experiences, he wouldn’t have become the fighter he is today.“My whole life I was always in survival mode,” he admits. “I was trying to survive and I could never trust anybody. I couldn’t trust my mother or my father, I couldn’t trust any of my family around me. I never had anybody to look up to besides people like Muhammad Ali or Hulk Hogan. I never had a father figure, and I never had any type of family at all. All I knew was how to survive. And throughout my fight career I’ve always been like that.”That fight to survive led him to the top of the UFC’s light heavyweight division, where no one successfully defended the crown as many times as he did. But more than that, Ortiz was the face of the UFC in the early-Zuffa days, the “Bad Boy” who could get attention from fans like no other, whether positive or negative. Now though, the only fights are in the Octagon because he’s made it. No longer a wild kid, Ortiz now has three kids of his own, and he’s grown up.“I’m very satisfied,” he said. “It’s a comfortable and confident place I’m in right now. It’s time to kinda reinvent myself and just take my life in a positive manner. I’m very thankful that my surgeries went as well as they did and God has blessed me, and I want to end my career on a positive note. I want to show people what hard work and dedication can get you. A lot of athletes are not supposed to compete after the surgeries that I had, but I still came back to compete and I’ve showed what heart and dedication are all about.”Notice that he doesn’t talk about the ferocious ground and pound or endless cardio that marked his prime years. For him, those were just byproducts of going to the gym every day and outworking everyone. And when the bell rang, you may get the best of him here or there, but you would never break his spirit. That’s the real legacy he wants to leave.“I have a huge heart,” said Ortiz. “I’m a fighter that has been battling for almost 15 years in the Octagon. I’m a fighter. I became a smart businessman as I grew older and I realized that I can’t fight for the rest of my life, but as a young kid, I fought through life to get to where I am today. There were three places I could be – I could be in prison, I could be dead, or I could be where I am right now. And I think it’s the determination and heart that I have that got me to where I am today.” He pauses.“I listen to a lot of music, I watch a lot of movies, and I look for messages in the premise of the movie and the music and why a person goes through these things,” Ortiz continues. “A lot of music Eminem has, I try to listen to the message he has, and the message that I’m trying to give to people is that with heart and determination and hard work, you can become anything. God has challenged every person one way or another in this lifetime, and there are people who succeed and people who fail. And the ones who succeed are the ones who are able to get through those things, and that’s what I do every time I come into the gym – I try to get through day by day, week by week, month by month, and with the surgeries I’ve gone through and the stuff I’ve gone through in my personal life, I don’t think I was ever supposed to succeed.”He did though, and no matter what happens on Saturday or beyond, nothing can ever change that. But like Ortiz said himself, he is a fighter, and we all know how fighters and retirement work out. So what happens if he blows through Nogueira and wins the final fight on his contract? Will he consider sticking around?“Right now, two and I’m done, but you never know what Lorenzo and Dana come at me with,” he laughs. “But I have to make sure it makes sense for me and my family. I want to see my boys grow up and I want them to have a father. I want to make sure I’m able to throw a football with my kids, go for a run, or just wrestle with them. And I’ve got to look out for my future.”So what will he miss the most?“I think I’ll miss the competition the most and competing against the best guys in the world,” said Ortiz. “I’m still young, I’m just going to be turning 37, but I don’t want to overstay my welcome and I don’t want to torture my body.”And like any fighter, he wants to leave on top. There’s no better final statement.

Posted in: ufc, ortiz, ’t, year, ’ve

Urijah Faber and Dominick Cruz Named Ultimate Fighter 15 Coaches

The end of the fourteenth season of The Ultimate Fighter is just 72 hours in the past and the Ultimate Fighting Championship is already announcing the coaches for the first season on FX. Bantamweights Urijah Faber and Dominick Cruz will be the opposing coaches. The fifteenth season of the Ultimate Fighter will have some major changes with every fight being aired live on Friday nights. The season will determine the Ultimate Fighter at lightweight and welterweight. Among the other confirmed changes are the thirteen week long season which will be the longest that contestants have been asked to stay in the "TUF house" in series history and fights decided by fan voting. The series will debut on March 9, 2012 with a two hour long episode at 9:00 PM ET/PT. After the first week the show will get moved to 10:00 PM ET/PT for the following 13 weeks. Urijah Faber and Dominick Cruz will put an end to their rivalry after the season ends midway through the year. Faber won the first fight with a quick guillotine choke. Cruz defended his bantamweight belt against Faber earlier this year. The fight this year is in the discussion for Fight of the Year.

Posted in: fight, season, year, faber, dominick cruz

Tito Ortiz focused purely on the positive from now on

When an actor plays a character to perfection for years he or she can often get “typecast” in the role, only being viewed as capable of performing in a certain way rather than accepted at face value. UFC icon Tito Ortiz found himself in a similar position a year ago after wearing a black halt for the bulk of his career. His public persona permeated his every action to the point he even chose a nickname representative of fans’ perception – “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy”. “People wanted to see the bad guy and I was the bad guy all the time,” explained Ortiz in a recent interview on the UFC 140 Countdown special. However, things changed for the 36-year old during the lead up to his bout with Ryan Bader at UFC 132 where he not only had the crowd’s support but came away with a huge upset win. Now named “The People’s Champ”, Ortiz explained his change in behavior and overwhelmingly positive outlook on life. “I thought in my mind, ‘Why be so negative about things now? Let’s change it to the people’s champ,’ because I’m here fighting for the people,” said Ortiz. “I’ve made my money. I’ve won my world titles. Now I want to show each and every person in the world that he can achieve anything in life.” Ortiz Wants One Last Go at Forrest Griffin Check out the full Countdown video below where Ortiz talks about life, as well as Antonio Rogerio Nogueira who he faces at this Saturday night’s event… PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, ortiz, year, life, people

Mark Hominick reflects on tumultuos 2011

Mark Hominick has experienced plenty of joys over the past 12 months, and a heart ache or two, as well. This Saturday, Hominick will complete his 2011 fight year by facing Chan Sung Jang at UFC 140 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. “The Machine”, a native of Canada, defeated George Roop in early 2011 to earn a shot at UFC featherweight champ Jose Aldo, While Hominick was unsuccessful in defeating Aldo, he enjoyed a happier moment a few weeks later when his wife delivered their first baby. For the 20-9 Hominick, the journey of the past twelve months has been a culmination of his entire career in MMA. “I would say it’s like a 15-year overnight success,” said Hominick, in a recent interview with the UFC’s website. “I think that’s the way it works with anything you’re passionate about. You see the same thing with musicians or people in any kind of art, movie stars, whatever it is, they work the grind for years and years and get that one opportunity, and all of a sudden they’re in the limelight. That’s the opportunity I’ve been given, and now it’s my responsibility to run with it.” Just like his fight career, however, there has been personal loss this year for Hominick. Shawn Tompkins, a trainer of Hominick’s and several others, passed away suddenly this year. “The birth of my daughter was definitely life-changing and the greatest thing that’s happened to me. It was an eye opener. And with Shawn, it was such a shock and I honestly don’t even think its hit me yet. But I’m looking at it as I have a responsibility to carry on his legacy, and the way I do that is I go out there and fight.” Hominick has earned plenty of admiration by the MMA community and fans for his effort against Aldo where he fought back from a several beating early on to go all 25 minutes with the champion. He has nine knockout and six submission victories in his career. “Anyone who likes to throw down and stand up, you’re gonna be a fan favorite,” Hominick said. “So I’m lucky that my style and my skill set cater to that.” UFC 140 takes place on PPV starting at 9:00 PM EST with a main event featuring Jon Jones defending his light heavyweight belt against former champ Lyoto Machida. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, hominick, i ’m, year, ’re

Jon Jones: Trust me, Rashad Evans does not have a chin ... at all

UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, Jon Jones, will step into the Octagon this weekend (Dec. 10, 2011) at UFC 140, which goes down at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, defending his 205-pound title against the always crafty and elusive, Lyoto Machida. The fight will mark the fourth fight for "Bones" in a span of only 10 months, including two title fights -- one against Mauricio Rua at UFC 128, who he destroyed to become the youngest UFC champion ever, and the other against Quinton Jackson at UFC 135, which he won via fourth round submission (rear naked choke) on Sept. 24, 2011, in Denver, Colorado. Certainly not the easiest of fight schedules. And in the UFC, where winning impressively is seemingly everything, no good deed goes unpunished. Should "Bones" be victorious this weekend once again, he will end 2011 on the highest of notes, marking one of the best championship runs in recent memory with three victories over former champions in as many fights. In the process, he could possibly set up a much anticipated championship fight against former training partner-turned bitter rival (also a former champion), Rashad Evans. Appearing on the MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani earlier today, Jones talked about the rigors of a busy year, Phil Davis vs. Rashad Evans, and the reason many people have branded him as "cocky." Check it out: On the difficulty of a busy fight year: " I have been training four times a day, and i rest in between training sessions. It's not like in the NFL, where you have one Super Bowl game a year, and once you play it and you win, you can breathe and relax and rest and look forward to next year. This is going to be my third Super Bowl this year and it's hard to keep that same focus and energy for each fight, but I have done it and will continue to do it." On whether Machida, who is 1-2 in his last three fights, deserved a title shot: "He looked great against Randy Couture, whether he deserves a title shot or not, he is Lyoto Machida, I'm happy for him. He has the name and recognition to get the title shot and now I'm here." On people's views on him and changing as a fighter and person: "I only mean well, a lot of things I say I can come off as arrogant, but I only mean well. I can't control the way people perceive me, it's just who I am. My ideals are just thoughts I share, I could just keep them bottled up. I realize that not everyone is going to love you. I have changed as a fighter and I do think I am the best fighter. I won't lose to Lyoto, I wont lost to Rashad or to Henderson or any other guy. Yeah I am a little cocky, and I think it's important to be that way. But I won't change as a person; I stay true to my friends, my family, Endicott, New York. But as Jonathan in the real world, anyone that has ever met me, they know I'll treat you with the upmost respect. Buy yeah; Jon Jones the fighter will beat you up." Jones does not shy away from his religious views, proudly displaying a Philippians 4:13 tattoo on his chest: "God has way more important things to think about than me winning a fight or Tebow winning a game, but religion is a big part of me, and if people can't accept that, then maybe I'm not meant to be that mainstream athlete." Of course, "Bones" touched on the upcoming number one contenders fight between his former training partner Rashad Evans taking on wrestling powerhouse Phil Davis: "It's an interesting fight. I'll go with Rashad because of the experience factor. But Phil Davis can win more than he realizes, he has to be comfortable striking. I won't say too much because I have my own ideas on how to beat Rashad, but, I don't think Rashad has a chin at all. Trust me Rashad does not have chin. But it will be a closer fight that people will realize." Jones, who trained alongside "Suga" over at Jackson's MMA in Albuquerque, NM.M., may know more about Evans than most because of their extensive training time -- the two were together on-and-off for more than two years. Perhaps he also watched Machida dim Evans' lights in brutal fashion not too long ago. Their much publicized rift and rivalry has hung in the headlines since Jones replaced Evans opposite "Shogun" earlier this year and won the title. Now, Jones may finally get his chance to test his "Rashad has no chin" theory, should he defeat Machida at UFC 140 in five days. Of course, Evans has to do his part and defeat an undefeated Davis when the pair headline UFC on Fox 2 on Jan. 28, 2012, which is set to take place at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Nonetheless, at the young age of 24 years old, Jones truly has accomplished in little time what many fighters haven't in their entire careers in the mixed martial arts (MMA) world. He has the looks, the personality, charisma and most of all, the skill set to be marketed as the future of the the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). It's scary to think that Jones has competed in the sport for only 3.5 years, making his debut on April 12, 2008. The sky is truly the limit for the young champion who says that just four years ago he was applying for a position as a janitor. Jones is now a full-time swagger-jacker. And he's damn good at it.

Posted in: ufc, fight, jone, year, rashad

Mark Hominick - A Year He Will Never Forget

It will be interesting to see how Mark Hominick will look back at 2011 after time passes and dulls the immediacy of a year in which he truly lived through the highest highs and lowest lows, both personally and professionally. From birth and death to wins and losses, Hominick experienced it all in the space of 12 months that will culminate in his Saturday bout against Chan Sung Jung in the main card opener of UFC 140.Starting out in January with a blistering 88 second stoppage of George Roop, Hominick went on to challenge Jose Aldo for the UFC featherweight crown in April, a bout that not only marked his first world title fight, but his first appearance in his home province of Ontario. And though he lost a Fight of the Night award-winning battle to Aldo in front of over 55,000 fans at Rogers Centre in Toronto, his gutsy effort and strong finish gained the classy Canadian even more followers for his second march toward the belt.“I would say it’s like a 15 year overnight success,” said Hominick of his long-awaited arrival on the world stage. “I think that’s the way it works with anything you’re passionate about. You see the same thing with musicians or people in any kind of art, movie stars, whatever it is, they work the grind for years and years and get that one opportunity, and all of a sudden they’re in the limelight. That’s the opportunity I’ve been given, and now it’s my responsibility to run with it.”The reaction to the bout was as good as a fighter can get from a loss, and two weeks after the final bell, the good vibes continued with the birth of his daughter, Raeya. Yet in August, a sudden heart attack tragically claimed the life of Hominick’s longtime coach Shawn Tompkins, a crushing blow not just to the Thamesford native, but to the mixed martial arts world. It was one that reminded Hominick of just how fickle fate can be.“The birth of my daughter was definitely life-changing and the greatest thing that’s happened to me,” he said. “It was an eye opener. You realize that you’re not the most important thing around and you put your daughter ahead of everything, and it’s always for the better. And with Shawn, it was such a shock and I honestly don’t even think it’s hit me yet. I think it’s gonna hit me the closer it gets to the fight, that last week and in the dressing room. But I’m looking at it as I have a responsibility to carry on his legacy, and the way I do that is I go out there and I fight.”It’s the only reaction Hominick and his close teammates, Sam Stout and Chris Horodecki, can have. They’re fighters, so they fight, but what they will also do is bring a piece of their coach with them wherever they go. And if there is any solace taken in the passing of the 37-year old Tompkins, it was that he got to see one of his prize pupils fight for a world title in front of the biggest crowd in UFC history. And despite the outcome, as Hominick and Tompkins walked from the Octagon back to their locker room after the bout, you could see the pride in the coach’s face after seeing his fighter give his all for 25 minutes.“It’s crazy,” said Hominick. “It’s almost like he (Tompkins) reached that point too. And we said the same thing: we were fighting for our world title. We worked so long and so hard for so many years to get to that point, and it was such a satisfying feeling to know that all the years were finally paying off just to get to that point. He kinda reached that Nirvana just like me, just getting there, and it was a surreal feeling. But now it’s our responsibility to carry on his legacy by moving forward.”So it was back to the gym, back to getting ready for a fight, and now with an added incentive – to represent his coach for a new generation of mixed martial artists. “I think it’s re-motivated the group and brought everyone closer together,” said Hominick. “It’s weird how a tragedy brings everyone closer, but it really does, and the team’s never been closer. We’ve all had to pick up a piece of his leadership and all fulfill it, and we’re all motivated to carry the legacy on.”Horodecki was the first core member of Team Tompkins to return, and he fought to a draw with Mike Corey in a Bellator bout in November. Stout returns in January to battle Thiago Tavares at UFC 142, and Hominick is back this week to face “The Korean Zombie,” in a bout that is even more intriguing than usual now that Jung showed off a slick submission game in finishing off Leonard Garcia with the “Twister” in March. It’s a move that never ended a UFC bout before, but Hominick wasn’t surprised that the home run swinging slugger turned black belt for the night.“I think he’s always had the skill set to go anywhere, but right away he got kinda poster boy’d as this guy who likes to throw down and never back down,” said Hominick of Jung. “And all of a sudden he got knocked out by George Roop and I think he went back to the drawing board and said ‘okay, I don’t have to swing for the fences and throw caution to the wind every time to win.’ I think after that fight he realized that he had to make some changes.”It’s almost the same tag placed on Hominick over the years, but his solid ground and pound work late in the Aldo fight and seven career submission wins (including tap outs of Yves Edwards and Bryan Caraway) show that he’s not just a striker.“People always overlook my ground game, but I have some big submission wins,” said the 29-year old. “But my strength is definitely on my feet, that’s where I like to keep the fight, and that’s where I do my best work. I’m still considered a striker, but I’ve been doing this professionally for over 11 years now so if I’m gonna be pegged for that, I don’t think it’s gonna change anytime soon. (Laughs)”That perception is not something that bothers him though, especially if he keeps the fans happy with his performances. That will definitely be the case on Saturday, as the young man who wasn’t able to fight in his home province for all of his pre-2011 pro career is now going to make it two in a row in Ontario when he faces Jung. Is this going to be a habit?“It is a pretty surreal feeling, but I thought it was definitely fitting, especially the way the last fight ended, to finish the rest of the story here in my home province, and then move forward,” said Hominick. “I know the fans are eager to see it, and I’m ready to perform for them.”He’s also ready to get back in line for another shot at Aldo, and in a relatively wide-open contenders’ race at 145 pounds, a couple good wins could be all it takes to shoot him back to the front of the line.“The division is still relatively new,” said Hominick of the featherweights. “The first title fight was at UFC 129, so I think any time that you get the opportunity to be on a Pay-Per-View and the main card of any card and put on a performance, you’ve pretty much cemented your spot as a contender. And the guys who make the loudest noise in their fights are the guys that are gonna be remembered and pushed up fastest. So I think that’s the important thing – going out there and making statement fights that people remember and make them want to put you in the spot as vying for that title.”So what’s more important, winning or being exciting? Mark Hominick, the 15-year overnight success, has figured that equation out just fine.“It is a fine line, but I think my style caters to being in exciting fights,” said Hominick. “Anyone who likes to throw down and stand up, you’re gonna be a fan favorite. So I’m lucky that my style and my skill set caters to that. I worry about winning, and that’s my main concern; I just think the way I do it is a lot more exciting than other people do.”

Posted in: fight, hominick, bout, i ’m, year

Brandao to visit and donate part of his fight bonus to children's hospitals. "I'm going to make a better Christmas in Brazil for the kids this year because I haven't had a happy Christmas since my dad passed away."

submitted by hong3822 [link] [comment]

Posted in: year, brandao, i havent, fight bonus, christma

Josh Barnett, Bobby Lashley Return To Pro Wrestling At Japanese Event

It wasn't in the Strikeforce cage, but former UFC Heavyweight Champion Josh Barnett returned to action Friday in Tokyo, Japan, competing in a pro wrestling match against former K-1 star Jerome Le Banner. In the main event at Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2011 in front of almost 8700, Le Banner won the match by "knockout" in 8:24 but from what Wrestling Observer editor Dave Meltzer heard, Barnett may not have got out of the match unscathed. I don't know if this is storyline or not, but they are reporting in Japan that Josh Barnett suffered a broken nose today in his pro wrestling match with Jerome LeBanner at Sumo Hall in Tokyo, where LeBanner retained the IGF world heavyweight title. Barnett has competed on and off in wrestling, starting in New Japan Pro Wrestling in 2003. In recent years, Barnett has worked for Antonio Inoki's IGF promotion, facing former Strikeforce heavyweight and former WWE star Bobby Lashley in a match earlier this year, and famously worked a match during a Strikeforce open workout earlier this year. Traditionally, Zuffa doesn't allow its talent to compete in other sports, recently denying Brock Lesnar the opportunity to wrestle at this year's WWE Wrestlemania. However, Barnett is still under his old Strikeforce contract and there is still no date for his Strikeforce Grand Prix tournament finale against Daniel Cormier. The event featured Lashley and plenty of K-1 and Japanese MMA alums. Lashley teamed with three-time K-1 World Grand Prix Champion Peter Aerts to defeat Kazuyuki Fujita & Kendo Kashi. Former PRIDE star and current DREAM fighter Ikuhisa "Minowaman" Minowa also made an appearance, defeating Atsushi Sawada in an IGF vs. DREAM bout. Former PRIDE and K-1 fighter Bob Sapp was defeated by Yuichiro Nagashima. Side note: Inoki competed in what some consider to be the first major modern MMA bout when he faced Muhammad Ali in Tokyo in 1976.

Posted in: strikeforce, year, lashley, barnett, nose today

Nick Diaz nominated for 2011 'Stocktonian of the Year'

And if there's any justice in this world, he'll win, if for no other reason than to hear his acceptance speech. The last man to hold the Strikeforce welterweight title, Nick Diaz, is under consideration for 2011 'Stocktonian of the Year' following a write-in ballot to his hometown newspaper, The Record, in Stockton, California. Says The Record: This isn't about maturity or proper behavior and decision making. The Stockton mixed martial arts fighter has none of those. What he has is talent and presence and - if he can keep (or get) that head of his on his shoulders - the potential to be a Stockton athletic rallying cry, ala Dallas Braden. Perhaps this is a year early. If he can win a huge upcoming fight and learn to act like an adult, maybe we'll have another Yaqui Lopez on our hands. The award, presented by the Central Valley Association of Realtors and the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce, recognizes "people who have made a positive impact on [the] community, often over decades." And if there is a fan among us who doesn't realize Diaz is from "The 209," then you just haven't been paying attention. Diaz trains out of the famed Cesar Gracie Academy along with his brother Nick and made his successful return to the UFC back in October with a three round unanimous decision win over B.J. Penn. That victory, coupled with his accomplishments in Strikeforce, earned him a 2012 title shot opposite Georges St. Pierre at UFC 143 on Feb. 4 in Las Vegas. Stocktonian of the Year in 2011, UFC welterweight champion in 2012? What say you?

Posted in: ufc, diaz, year, stockton, stocktonian

The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale Main Event Breakdown: Michael Bisping vs. Jason Miller

Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting ExclusiveMichael Bisping thinks he has the best case to be the next challenger for middleweight champion Anderson Silva. After all, the thought goes, Mark Munoz has lost more recently than him, and Chael Sonnen already had his shot and failed to capitalize. But Bisping likely has to win twice more before finally getting the opportunity that has eluded him so far in his UFC career. The first of those times comes on Saturday against the returning Jason "Mayhem" Miller, a rugged veteran who has spent most of the last few years as a mercenary for a host of promotions. Miller, last seen competing against and defeating Kazushi Sakuraba in DREAM over one year ago, will have the task of wiping off his ring rust against one of MMA's most active and well-conditioned middleweights. Bisping (21-3) is currently considered about a 2-to-1 favorite to win. The fight matchup is intriguing given their personal strengths, Bisping as a kickboxer and Miller as a grappler. But it's far from a striker vs. ground specialist matchup, too, as both are well-versed in the all-around game. Bisping's success mostly stems from his three things: his stamina, work rate and complete game. While he is not elite in any one category, he melds his skill sets together well into a well-rounded arsenal. At the heart of it is his kickboxing. He doesn't have traditional one-strike knockout power, but his ability to press his opponent from bell to bell makes him a tough matchup because it slows you down from getting truly comfortable against him. That is borne out in the statistics. According to FightMetric, Bisping is in the top 10 all-time in strike differential, a key stat which shows your ability to dole out punishment while avoiding return fire. Given his volume, that stat is even more impressive, as Bisping's 4.59 strikes landed per minute also ranks him among the top 10 in UFC history. Meanwhile, his opponents only connect on 29 percent of strikes against him, once again putting him in the top 10. Simply put, he spends a lot of time hitting people and not getting hit. This is where most people will inject a Dan Henderson joke at his expense, but the fact remains that the highlight-reel punch lies as a statistical aberration, one not surprisingly pulled off by one of the sport's historical greats. Despite having no roots as a wrestler, Bisping has also been very good in that department, taking down opponents on 53 percent of tries while stopping opponents on 58 percent of tries against him. He is also excellent at getting back to his feet off a takedown, a skill that may be key against Miller, who does his best work on the ground. Bisping's also never been tapped out, so even if Miller does manage to hold him down for an extended period of time, he's no easy pickings in the submission department. Despite having been in the sport as a pro for over a decade, Miller (24-7, 1 no contest) is just 30 years old -- two years younger than Bisping. The colorful fighter is willing to fight anywhere but is best known for his excellent ground skills, with 14 of his wins coming via tapout. Perhaps because he's not known for power, Miller gets a bad rap for his standup. The bottom line when it comes to striking is whether or not it's effective, not how pretty it looks. Miller can be unconventional at times, but he does have underrated fundamentals that allow him to connect at a 50 percent percentage, a better rate than Bisping (40 percent). It's on the mat where he shines though. Because of Miller's fun-loving personality, it's easy to underrate him, but he's been a high-level grappler for years, even before receiving his black belt in 2010. You may recall that in his November 2009 match with submission wizard Jake Shields, he had Shields in a rear naked choke to end round three but time ran out on him. That bout is also important for other reasons though. It remains the last time Miller faced top-quality competition. After that, he fought little-known Tim Stout in a Strikeforce fight that was put together on short notice, and then he faced a 41-year-old Sakuraba who had lost three of his last five. Because of that, how he will respond to being thrust into top competition again is anyone's guess. On one hand, it's been a long time. On the other, he's had quite a bit of time to work on improvements. When their respective styles meld, Bisping should have the advantage because of his active standup. It's never going to be easy to out-point him on the judges' scorecards when he throws and lands as much as he does. His underrated wrestling should also keep the fight up enough to stay away from Miller's strength. The five-round limit shouldn't be an issue for either, as both are known to be well conditioned and shouldn't have a problem going the distance. A 25-minute fight is a near-lock in this one. Bisping doesn't have the raw power to put away Miller, who has only been TKO'd once in his career, and Miller isn't likely to keep Bisping on the mat long enough to submit a fighter who has never tapped. That's going to leave a mostly standup battle, and Bisping has the greater possibility of impressing the judges with his quantity, quality and pace. Bisping via decision. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: fight, time, miller, year, bisping

Diego Brandao - Fighting for More than Titles

As ferocious as he is in a fight, bringing to mind the single-minded pursuit of knockouts shared by his heroes Mike Tyson and Wanderlei Silva, Diego Brandao’s personality goes in an entirely different direction when he talks about his mother.“I think about my mom every day,” said the Brazil native. “The thought of one day being able to give her a better life is what drives me every day in training. I made a promise for myself that I wasn't going to go back to Brazil until I made the UFC. I can't wait to see her face when I get back in a few weeks.”On Saturday, Brandao is one of four fighters from season 14 of The Ultimate Fighter competing for two UFC contracts. For those who have been watching the reality show, it’s been a six week process for these competitors to get to The Palms in Las Vegas for the finale. Yet for Brandao, it’s been a longer journey than that, one that saw him straying from the right path as a young man until finding a sport that gave him direction and drive and the possibility of a different life, not just for himself, but for his family.Part of that journey involved leaving home, and for over three years he’s been far from Brazil, training with the Jackson’s MMA team in Albuquerque. And though he came to the States with a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, he also packed a little bit more than most in his fists, something opponents found out about pretty quickly.“When I was 16 and just started training MMA, I was knocking out guys when we were just sparring in the gym,” he said. “This is when I realized I had power.” Suddenly the grappling expert began approaching bouts like the aforementioned Tyson and Silva. This wasn’t a sporting event anymore – it was a fight.“Wanderlei is one of my heroes for a long time because no matter what he always puts on a great show,” said Brandao. “He is also very aggressive and intense like me. Mike Tyson had a very similar upbringing as I did. And with all the things he had to overcome and let go of to become the champion, I feel like I can relate to him and the way he felt when he was fighting.”Brandao’s first fight in the United States was against Brian Foster. Yeah, that Brian Foster, UFC welterweight veteran. It was both a coming out party for Brandao and a rude awakening when it comes to fighting in a new country in someone else’s backyard.“I fought in his hometown and 5,000 people were yelling and trying to make me lose,” recalled Brandao. “He didn’t even make weight; he was five pounds over. Then before the fight people came into my dressing room and talked crap and I had to deal with this and still keep my focus.” He did, knocking Foster out in 94 seconds. Then it was time to get out of Oklahoma.“After the fight the cops told me to go home so there are no problems because people started to throw cups and food in the cage after the fight.”From there, Brandao would fight anyone and everyone, including Matt Veach and Ran Weathers, and in a nod to his relative inexperience, he would win some and lose some while usually giving up weight on fight night. But he has no regrets.“This is how it will be in the UFC,” he said. “I know that in the UFC you have to fight whoever they put in front of you. I did this so that I could prepare my mind and body for these moments.”And for Brandao, his moment came earlier this year when he was tabbed for season 14 of The Ultimate Fighter. Overlooked by many thanks to the seven losses on his record, “Ceara” crushed Jesse Newell, Steven Siler, and Bryan Caraway in successive bouts to make it to the featherweight final against Dennis Bermudez, and after such a devastating display of punching power, the 24-year old won’t be sneaking up on anybody anytime soon.“I don't think anyone was expecting three knockouts in the first round,” said Brandao, who also gained notice for his unrelenting intensity, which rarely wavered during the six weeks of taping.“I just think about helping my mom and family to have a better life,” he said. “I knew this was my time and my opportunity to show the world who I am. So it (being cut off from the outside world for six weeks) was easy, because I've been away from my family for three years.”As for Bermudez, Brandao doesn’t have much to say, only that “I feel ready for everything he does,” and that’s probably an accurate statement. Brandao has seen and experienced too much in his 24 years to be anything but prepared for his night in the spotlight. This is what he’s been sacrificing all these years for, and when you ask him how he pictures December 3rd, he says, “No matter what I am going to win and my dream is going to come true.”Or more accurately, his dream will come true when he makes a surprise visit to his mother back home and lets her know what her son has been up to here in America. “She really has no idea the scale of the situation,” said Brandao. “She is going to be so happy when I see her and tell her that she doesn't have to work anymore cleaning houses.”

Posted in: ufc, fight, year, brandao, brandao “

MMA Quick Quote: Nate Quarry wants back in the UFC

"I want to be an on-air personality for the UFC. There I said it ... My qualifications? Well, I've been a fighter for the past 14 years. I've trained with some of the legends of the sport and even cornered them for some of the greatest fights in UFC history. I was there when the UFC went from 5 shows a year to being in every home in America. And, I know my ish. Plus, I've been a public speaker since I was 7 years old, standing up in Church and giving Bible readings. Last year I spoke at a TEDx conference where it was me, a mike and 300 business people for 18 minutes. And now I travel around the country speaking on behalf of my XLIF back surgery that game me my life back. Not to mention I hosted my own tv show on Comcast called American Cage Fighter. It was only broadcast in Nor Cal but was really well received and replayed every day of the week. Do I have your support?" Former UFC middleweight mauler Nate Quarry states his case on The Underground for the position of "on-air personality," which the promotion may need in light of its recent expansion across three channels on the FOX network. Quarry, famous for his exciting fights and ability to take punishment, might have taken enough beatings to last him a lifetime. Now that he's enjoying retirement and putting more work into his Zombie Cage Fighter line, it looks like he's gunning for another go-round with the world's largest fight promotion. Anyone think he's got the chops to get it done? Or do you want to sample the product first before making your decision?

Posted in: ufc, fight, year, quarry, onair personality

2011 World MMA Awards: Jon Jones voted Fighter of the Year

The 2011 World MMA Awards went down last night from The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. The fourth annual ceremony, which was organized by Fighters Only Magazine and hosted by UFC Middleweight Chael Sonnen, alongside CBS Sports' Molly Qerim, revealed winners in 22 different categories.Among those honored were UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon "Bones" Jones, who was voted the Charles "Mask" Lewis Fighter of the Year, as well as the late Shawn Tompkins, nominated for a Special

Posted in: ufc, jone, fighter, year, shawn tompkins

2011 World MMA Awards results: Jon Jones gets the nod for 'Fighter of the Year'

2011 has been a fantastic and dynamic year for the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA). Championship belts have changed hands. Epic bouts have occurred that left fans wondering if they'd just seen the best fight of the year -- if not of all time. Last night (Nov. 30, 2011), the MMA community came together in "Sin City" to celebrate the highlights and, specifically, the fighters. The event, which was hosted by Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight Chael Sonnen and CBS Sports' Molly Qerim, did not air live from the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, but will be re-broadcasted on the FOX Sports Network on Dec. 11 at 8:00 p.m. ET. One of SBNation's newest additions, Ariel Helwani of MMAfighting.com, was honored as "MMA Journalist of the Year." After the jump, MMAmania.com has the list of winners and full results from the 2011 World MMA Awards: Notably, there were several categories of awards where the UFC (or someone within the promotion) was matched up against other organizations, such as: BAMMA, Bellator Fighting Championships, Strikeforce and DREAM. To the surprise of absolutely no one, the UFC won in a clean sweep of the "competition." It's good to be king.Without further ado, here are the complete results: "INTERNATIONAL FIGHTER OF THE YEAR"Nominees: Michael Bisping, Alexander Gustafsson, Joachim Hansen, Alistair Overeem and Dennis SiverWinner: Alistair Overeem"GYM OF THE YEAR"Nominees: Alliance MMA, Black House, Jackson's MMA, Roufusport and Xtreme CoutureWinner: Black House "REFEREE OF THE YEAR"Nominees: Herb Dean, "Big" John McCarthy, Dan Miragliotta, Josh Rosenthal and Mario YamasakiWinner: Herb Dean "COMEBACK OF THE YEAR" Nominees: Marloes Coenen vs. Liz Carmouche at Strikeforce: "Feijao vs. Henderson," Cheick Kongo vs. Pat Barry at UFC on Versus 4, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (career), Tito Ortiz (career) and Joe Warren vs. Joe Soto at Bellator 27Winner: Cheick Kongo "BEST TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT" Nominees: Bad Boy, Everlast, Hayabusa, Rival and VenumWinner: Everlast "MMA JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR" Nominees: John Morgan, Gareth A. Davies, Josh Gross, Ariel Helwani and Ben FowlkesWinner: Ariel Helwani "COACH OF THE YEAR" Nominees: Rafael Cordeiro, Eric Del Fierro, Cesar Gracie, Greg Jackson and Shawn TompkinsWinner: Greg Jackson "BEST LIFESTYLE CLOTHING" Nominees: Affliction, Bad Boy, Form Athletics, RVCA and TapouTWinner: TapouT "PROMOTION OF THE YEAR" Nominees: BAMMA, Bellator Fighting Championships, DREAM, Strikeforce and UFCWinner: UFC "MEDIA SOURCE OF THE YEAR" Nominees: "Inside MMA" on HDNet, MMAFighting.com, "MMA Live" on ESPN, MMAjunkie.com and Sherdog.comWinner: MMAjunkie.com "BEST TECHNICAL CLOTHING" Nominees: Bad Boy, Hayabusa, Jaco, Sprawl and VenumWinner: Bad Boy "MMA PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR" Nominees: Bruce Buffer, Jacob "Stitch" Duran, Joe Rogan, Bas Rutten and Burt WatsonWinner: Joe Rogan "FEMALE FIGHTER OF THE YEAR" Nominees: Marloes Coenen, Zoila Gurgel, Sarah Kaufman, Ronda Rousey and Miesha TateWinner: Miesha Tate "RING ENTRANCE OF THE YEAR" Nominees: Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 133, Vitor Belfort at UFC 133, Dave Herman at UFC 131, Mark Hominick at UFC 129 and Jason Miller at DREAM.16Winner: Jason "Mayhem" Miller "BREAKTHROUGH FIGHTER OF THE YEAR" Nominees: Donald Cerrone, Daniel Cormier, Phil Davis, Demetrious Johnson and Brian StannWinner: Donald Cerrone "SUBMISSION OF THE YEAR" Nominees: Chan Sung Jung vs. Leonard Garcia at UFC Fight Night 24, Pablo Garza vs. Yves Jabouin at UFC 129, Richard Hale vs. Nik Fekete at Bellator 38, Vinny Magalhaes vs. Viktor Nemkov at M-1 Challenge 25, and Tito Ortiz vs. Ryan Bader at UFC 132Winner: Chan Sung Jung vs. Leonard Garcia at UFC Fight Night 24 "RING GIRL OF THE YEAR" Nominees: Arianny Celeste, Kelli Hutcherson, Brittney Palmer, Chandella Powell and Mercedes TerrellWinner: Arianny Celeste "LEADING MAN OF THE YEAR" Nominees: Scott Coker, Lorenzo Fertitta, Marc Ratner, Bjorn Rebney and Dana WhiteWinner: Dana White "KNOCKOUT OF THE YEAR" Nominees: Patricky Freire vs. Toby Imada at Bellator 39, Cheick Kongo vs. Pat Barry at UFC Live 5, John Makdessi vs. Kyle Watson at UFC 129, Lyoto Machida vs. Randy Couture at UFC 129, and Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort at UFC 126Winner: Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort at UFC 126 "FIGHT OF THE YEAR" Nominees: Jose Aldo vs. Mark Hominick at UFC 129, Dominick Cruz vs. Urijah Faber at UFC 132, Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard at UFC 125, Nick Diaz vs. Paul Daley at "Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley," and Diego Sanchez vs. Martin Kampmann at UFC Live 3Winner: Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard at UFC 125 "CHARLES 'MASK' LEWIS FIGHTER OF THE YEAR" Nominees: Dominick Cruz, Nick Diaz, Dan Henderson, Jon Jones and Anderson SilvaWinner: Jon Jones So how do you Maniacs feel about the results? Did the right people and organizations win? What would you change? Any write-in votes? Sound off!

Posted in: ufc, mma, vs, year, nominee

World MMA Awards 2011 Results: Jon Jones, Alistair Overeem, Arianny Celeste Among Big Winners

The 2011 World MMA Awards will be aired on December 11, at FOX Sports Net, but was filmed on Wednesday night, so we now have all the results for those who are interested. Chael Sonnen and Molly Querim hosted the show, and handed out awards to several of the personalities in the sport including Jon Jones, Alistair Overeem, Arianny Celeste, and one of our new SBN writers from MMA Fighting, Ariel Helwani. Note: These are for achievements done from Sept 2010 - August 2011. This means Hendo vs. Shogun will only be eligible for next year's Fight of the Year award. Check out the complete results after the jump. Full results courtesy of our friends from MMA Fighting: International Fighter of the YearMichael BispingAlexander GustafssonJoachim Hansen Alistair OvereemDennis SiverWinner: Alistair OvereemGym of the Year Alliance MMA Black House Jackson's MMA Roufusport Xtreme CoutureWinner: Black HouseReferee of the Year Herb Dean "Big" John McCarthy Dan Miragliotta Josh Rosenthal Mario YamasakiWinner: Herb DeanComeback of the YearMarloes Coenen vs. Liz Carmouche (Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson)Cheick Kongo vs. Pat Barry (UFC Live 5)Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (career)Tito Ortiz (career)Joe Warren vs. Joe Soto (Bellator 27) Winner: Cheick Kongo Best Technical Equipment Bad Boy Everlast Hayabusa Rival VenumWinner: EverlastJournalist of the Year John Morgan Gareth A. Davies Josh Gross Ariel Helwani Ben FowlkesWinner: Ariel HelwaniCoach of the Year Rafael Cordeiro Eric Del Fierro Cesar Gracie Greg Jackson Shawn Tompkins Winner: Greg JacksonBest Lifestyle Clothing Affliction Bad Boy Form Athletics RVCA TapouT Winner: TapouTPromotion of the Year BAMMABellator Fighting ChampionshipsDREAMStrikeforce UFC Winner:UFCMedia Source of the Year "Inside MMA" on HDNet MMAFighting.com "MMA Live" on ESPN MMAjunkie.com Sherdog.comWinner: MMAJunkie.comBest Technical Clothing Bad Boy Hayabusa Jaco Sprawl Venum Winner: Bad BoyPersonality of the Year Bruce Buffer Jacob "Stitch" Duran Joe RoganBas Rutten Burt Watson Winner: Joe RoganFemale Fighter of the YearMarloes CoenenZoila GurgelSarah KaufmanRonda RouseyMiesha Tate Winner: Miesha Tate Entrance of the YearYoshihiro Akiyama (UFC 133)Vitor Belfort (UFC 133)Dave Herman (UFC 131)Mark Hominick (UFC 129) Jason "Mayhem" Miller (DREAM.16) Winner: Jason "Mayhem" MillerBreakthrough Fighter of the YearDonald CerroneDaniel CormierPhil DavisDemetrious JohnsonBrian StannWinner: Donald CerroneSubmission of the YearChan Sung Jung vs. Leonard Garcia (UFC Fight Night 24) Pable Garza vs. Yves Jabouin (UFC 129)Richard Hale vs. Nik Fekete (Bellator 38)Vinny Magalhaes vs. Viktor Nemkov (M-1 Challenge 25)Tito Ortiz vs. Ryan Bader (UFC 132) Winner: Chan Sung JungRing Girl of the Year Arianny Celeste Kelli Hutcherson Brittney Palmer Chandella Powell Mercedes Terrell Winner: Arianny CelesteLeading Man of the Year Scott Coker Lorenzo Fertitta Marc Ratner Bjorn Rebney Dana White Winner: Dana WhiteKO of the Year Patricky "Pitbull" Freire vs. Toby Imada (Bellator 39) Cheick Kongo vs. Pat Barry (UFC Live 5)John Makdessi vs. Kyle Watson (UFC 129)Lyoto Machida vs. Randy Couture (UFC 129)Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort (UFC 126)Winner: Anderson SilvaFight of the YearJose Aldo vs. Mark Hominick (UFC 129)Dominick Cruz vs. Urijah Faber (UFC 132)Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard (UFC 125)Nick Diaz vs. Paul Daley (Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley)Diego Sanchez vs. Martin Kampmann (UFC Live 3) Winner: Edgar vs. MaynardFighter of the YearDominick CruzNick DiazDan HendersonJon JonesAnderson SilvaWinner: Jon JonesLifetime Achievement Award Winner: Shawn Tompkins

Posted in: ufc, mma, vs, year, winner

2011 World MMA Awards: Jon Jones wins Fighter of the Year

The 2011 World MMA Awards ceremony took place tonight at The Pearl at the Palms Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The awards honor acheivements in MMA from September of 2010 to August of 2011. UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones took home the Charles “Mask” Lewis Fighter of the Year for a banner year in 2011 that has seen the young champion pick up the UFC light heavyweight title and three wins. Jones will look to continue his recent success when he faces Lyoto Machida at UFC 140 on December 10. The late Shawn Tompkins was honored with a special lifetime acheivement award for his service to MMA before his sudden death earlier this year. The Fighters Only organized event was not aired live via television or internet stream but will air December 11 on Fox Sports Net. UFC fighter Chael Sonnen and CBS Sports Network’s Molly Qerim. Results: INTERNATIONAL FIGHTER OF THE YEAR Nominees: Michael Bisping, Alexander Gustafsson, Joachim Hansen, Alistair Overeem and Dennis Siver Winner: Alistair Overeem GYM OF THE YEAR Nominees: Alliance MMA, Black House, Jackson’s MMA, Roufusport and Xtreme Couture Winner: Black House REFEREE OF THE YEAR Nominees: Herb Dean, “Big” John McCarthy, Dan Miragliotta, Josh Rosenthal and Mario Yamasaki Winner: Herb Dean COMEBACK OF THE YEAR Nominees: Marloes Coenen vs. Liz Carmouche at “Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson,” Cheick Kongo vs. Pat Barry at UFC Live 5, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (career), Tito Ortiz (career) and Joe Warren vs. Joe Soto at Bellator 27 Nominees: Cheick Kongo BEST TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT Nominees: Bad Boy, Everlast, Hayabusa, Rival and Venum Winner: Everlast MMA JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR Nominees: John Morgan, Gareth A. Davies, Josh Gross, Ariel Helwani and Ben Fowlkes Winner: Ariel Helwani COACH OF THE YEAR Nominees: Rafael Cordeiro, Eric Del Fierro, Cesar Gracie, Greg Jackson and Shawn Tompkins Winner: Greg Jackson BEST LIFESTYLE CLOTHING Nominees: Affliction, Bad Boy, Form Athletics, RVCA and TapouT Winner: TapouT PROMOTION OF THE YEAR Nominees: BAMMA, Bellator Fighting Championships, DREAM, Strikeforce and UFC Winner: UFC MEDIA SOURCE OF THE YEAR Nominees: “Inside MMA” on HDNet, MMAFighting.com, “MMA Live” on ESPN, MMAjunkie.com and Sherdog.com Winner: MMAjunkie.com BEST TECHNICAL CLOTHING Nominees: Bad Boy, Hayabusa, Jaco, Sprawl and Venum Winner: Bad Boy MMA PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR Nominees: Bruce Buffer, Jacob “Stitch” Duran, Joe Rogan, Bas Rutten and Burt Watson Winner: Joe Rogan FEMALE FIGHTER OF THE YEAR Nominees: Marloes Coenen, Zoila Gurgel, Sarah Kaufman, Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate Winner: Miesha Tate RING ENTRANCE OF THE YEAR Nominees: Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 133, Vitor Belfort at UFC 133, Dave Herman at UFC 131, Mark Hominick at UFC 129 and Jason “Mayhem” Miller at DREAM.16 Winner: Jason “Mayhem” Miller BREAKTHROUGH FIGHTER OF THE YEAR Nominees: Donald Cerrone, Daniel Cormier, Phil Davis, Demetrious Johnson and Brian Stann Winner: Donald Cerrone SUBMISSION OF THE YEAR Nominees: Chan Sung Jung vs. Leonard Garcia at UFC Fight Night 24, Pablo Garza vs. Yves Jabouin at UFC 129, Richard Hale vs. Nik Fekete at Bellator 38, Vinny Magalhaes vs. Viktor Nemkov at M-1 Challenge 25, and Tito Ortiz vs. Ryan Bader at UFC 132 Winner: Chan Sung Jung vs. Leonard Garcia at UFC Fight Night 24 RING GIRL OF THE YEAR Nominees: Arianny Celeste, Kelli Hutcherson, Brittney Palmer, Chandella Powell and Mercedes Terrell Winner: Arianny Celeste LEADING MAN OF THE YEAR Nominees: Scott Coker, Lorenzo Fertitta, Marc Ratner, Bjorn Rebney and Dana White Winner: Dana White KNOCKOUT OF THE YEAR Nominees: Patricky “Pitbull” Freire vs. Toby Imada at Bellator 39, Cheick Kongo vs. Pat Barry at UFC Live 5, John Makdessi vs. Kyle Watson at UFC 129, Lyoto Machida vs. Randy Couture at UFC 129, and Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort at UFC 126 Winner: Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort at UFC 126 FIGHT OF THE YEAR Nominees: Jose Aldo vs. Mark Hominick at UFC 129, Dominick Cruz vs. Urijah Faber at UFC 132, Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard at UFC 125, Nick Diaz vs. Paul Daley at “Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley,” and Diego Sanchez vs. Martin Kampmann at UFC Live 3 Winner: Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard at UFC 125 CHARLES “MASK” LEWIS FIGHTER OF THE YEAR Nominees: Dominick Cruz, Nick Diaz, Dan Henderson, Jon Jones and Anderson Silva Winner: Jon Jones

Posted in: ufc, vs, year, winner, nominee

2011 World Mixed Martial Arts Awards Winners

Fighters Only’s 2011 World MMA Awards went down earlier tonight at the Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. The show was filmed, but it won’t air until Sunday, Dec. 11, on Fox Sports Net at 8pm ET/PT. Chael Sonnen and Molly Querim hosted the event, so even if you know the winners, it’s probably worth checking out just to see Sonnen do his thing. The results are below for those who want spoilers. The awards were based on achievements from September 2010 – August 2011 so don’t get pissed when you don’t see Shogun vs. Hendo nominated for Fight of the Year. Results Winners in bold International Fighter of the Year Michael Bisping Alexander Gustafsson Joachim Hansen Alistair Overeem Dennis Siver Gym of the Year Alliance MMA Black House Jackson’s MMA Roufusport Xtreme Couture Referee of the Year Herb Dean “Big” John McCarthy Dan Miragliotta Josh Rosenthal Mario Yamasaki Comeback of the Year Marloes Coenen vs. Liz Carmouche (Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson) Cheick Kongo vs. Pat Barry (UFC Live 5) Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (career) Tito Ortiz (career) Joe Warren vs. Joe Soto (Bellator 27) Best Technical Equipment Bad Boy Everlast Hayabusa Rival Venum Journalist of the Year John Morgan Gareth A. Davies Josh Gross Ariel Helwani Ben Fowlkes Coach of the Year Rafael Cordeiro Eric Del Fierro Cesar Gracie Greg Jackson Shawn Tompkins Best Lifestyle Clothing Affliction Bad Boy Form Athletics RVCA TapouT Promotion of the Year BAMMA Bellator Fighting Championships DREAM Strikeforce UFC Media Source of the Year “Inside MMA” on HDNet MMAFighting.com “MMA Live” on ESPN MMAjunkie.com Sherdog.com Best Technical Clothing Bad Boy Hayabusa Jaco Sprawl Venum Personality of the Year Bruce Buffer Jacob “Stitch” Duran Joe Rogan Bas Rutten Burt Watson Female Fighter of the Year Marloes Coenen Zoila Gurgel Sarah Kaufman Ronda Rousey Miesha Tate Entrance of the Year Yoshihiro Akiyama (UFC 133) Vitor Belfort (UFC 133) Dave Herman (UFC 131) Mark Hominick (UFC 129) Jason “Mayhem” Miller (DREAM.16) Breakthrough Fighter of the Year Donald Cerrone Daniel Cormier Phil Davis Demetrious Johnson Brian Stann Submission of the Year Chan Sung Jung vs. Leonard Garcia (UFC Fight Night 24) Pable Garza vs. Yves Jabouin (UFC 129) Richard Hale vs. Nik Fekete (Bellator 38) Vinny Magalhaes vs. Viktor Nemkov (M-1 Challenge 25) Tito Ortiz vs. Ryan Bader (UFC 132) Ring Girl of the Year Arianny Celeste Kelli Hutcherson Brittney Palmer Chandella Powell Mercedes Terrell Leading Man of the Year Scott Coker Lorenzo Fertitta Marc Ratner Bjorn Rebney Dana White KO of the Year Patricky “Pitbull” Freire vs. Toby Imada (Bellator 39) Cheick Kongo vs. Pat Barry (UFC Live 5) John Makdessi vs. Kyle Watson (UFC 129) Lyoto Machida vs. Randy Couture (UFC 129) Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort (UFC 126) Fight of the Year Jose Aldo vs. Mark Hominick (UFC 129) Dominick Cruz vs. Urijah Faber (UFC 132) Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard (UFC 125) Nick Diaz vs. Paul Daley (Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley) Diego Sanchez vs. Martin Kampmann (UFC Live 3) Fighter of the Year Dominick Cruz Nick Diaz Dan Henderson Jon Jones Anderson Silva Lifetime Achievement Award Shawn Tompkins Image via Tracy Lee

Posted in: ufc, mma, fighter, vs, year

Johnny Bedford - From The Barn to The Palms

It was an angle too tempting to pass up, asking The Ultimate Fighter season 14 bantamweight Johnny Bedford about that time he fought in a barn.“Man, I probably fought in more than one,” laughed Bedford, and it was clearly time to grab the popcorn, because this wasn’t going to be your typical ‘journey to the UFC’ story. And the 28-year old Ohio native didn’t disappoint.“When I started fighting, there weren’t even athletic commissions,” he said of his formative years in MMA. “There was nothing. It was crazy. I was fighting up to three times a month a lot of times, making a couple hundred dollars to fight. There weren’t even win bonuses back then. You’d get like two hundred bucks to fight and you had to pay your gas, so by the time you got there and got back and got dinner, you made $50.”You could almost chalk up this beginning to Bedford being a wild brawler who was simply looking for a legal environment to scrap in. But that’s not the case. Bedford was a seven-time AAU national wrestling champ who even wrestled on the Division I level for a year and a half at Cleveland State University, and while he didn’t get his degree, he did still want to compete, hence his migration to mixed martial arts. But this wasn’t the MMA that you were seeing on the UFC or PRIDE level back then. This was a whole other animal, and Bedford was getting a crash course in the school of hard knocks.“It’s hard to get motivated when you fight three times a month, you don’t even know your opponent, and then they change it the day of weigh-ins,” he said. “I’ve had amateur fights where we showed up and they literally said ‘raise your hand if you want to fight.’ All the guys that wanted to fight got on a scale that looked like they borrowed it from his mother’s bathroom, and they said ‘okay, you two are the closest, you’re gonna fight.’”Bedford persevered though, hopeful that something would eventually break, just not him. His early record is spotty, with a few wins broken up by a loss or two before he began the cycle again, and soon, he wasn’t just in a situation where he was trying to support himself. Eventually, he got married and the couple welcomed a son into the world. Now what was a dream was turning into something where he had to figure out how to make ends meet.“It didn’t make a lot of sense,” he admits. “Luckily, in the real hard days, when I was making no money at all, I was still single at the time. But shortly after, I was married in 2006 and we had a son later on that year, and it was the same story. I was fighting all over the Midwest for a couple hundred dollars a fight, and by then you would get some travel money, but I was working at UPS just for the insurance. My paycheck every week from UPS was about $80. So I was fighting two, three times a month, and a great payday back then would be 2 and 2 or a 3 and 3. And that’s hundred, not thousand.”Being a fighter whose optimum weight is 135 pounds gave him even more of a burden to carry, especially since there were few options for bantamweights or featherweights with less than stellar records.“It was disheartening,” said Bedford. “I went through numerous times where my wife and I would have that conversation – is enough enough? Even making the WEC four years ago, which was the goal at the time, still didn’t pay what the UFC did, and you still didn’t get the notoriety. You tell the average fan that I’m hoping to get into the WEC and they’re like – what’s that? I started my career weighing at 155 pounds and that’s what I fought at because you couldn’t find fights at ‘45 and ‘35.” So when Bedford finally put together a solid run in 2009-10 when he won six of seven fights, including a December 2010 submission of WEC vet Frank Gomez, and got a call to compete for a spot in the Ultimate Fighter 14 house, he may have been an underdog, but he was an underdog that bites. And he certainly locked his jaws on favorite Carson Beebe (the brother of former WEC champ Chase Beebe), submitting him in the first round to earn his place on the TUF 14 cast. That was the easy part.“Some people think that it’s glamorous and it’s so awesome to be there,” he said of the TUF experience. “And my answer is always honest and to the point – it was terrible. (Laughs) It was the worst six weeks of my life. Would I do it again? Absolutely. But while you’re there for six weeks, it’s miserable. You’re literally cut off from the outside world. And me being a husband and a father, for the last four and a half years of my life, I woke up every day and saw the same two people. And they completely cut you off from that, and it was tough. It turned out to be tougher than I thought it would, for sure.”Bedford would go on to win another bout in competition, decisioning Josh Ferguson, before getting knocked out in the bantamweight semifinals by John Dodson. This Saturday he gets another shot at staying in the UFC though, as he’ll battle castmate Louis Gaudinot in the main card opener.“It’s a great fight for me,” said Bedford. “I think he (Gaudinot) is obviously talented. He was the first overall pick for (TUF14 coach Michael) Bisping, which I was kinda blown away by at the beginning. But he’s a small 135 pounder and I’m about as big as they get, and I think my size, my reach, and my height advantage is gonna play a big part in this fight. Another thing is that I have a much better wrestling pedigree and I can put him on his back when needed. I’m blessed to get that matchup and I feel like it’s a good matchup for me to get a win and keep moving forward in my UFC career.”A UFC career. It sounded like merely a dream for Bedford back in his salad days, but now it’s nearly a reality. And if you doubt what such a fistic upbringing can do for a fighter, don’t. Coming up the hard way can do wonders for you when you have to dig deep to win a grueling fight.“It builds toughness,” said Bedford. “It’s gonna be really hard to break me. I fought in the worst settings you could possibly think of. I’ve seen everything you can throw at me. These guys who are just getting into the sport, it’s crazy to think about. My brother in law (Evan Cutts) just fought on national TV two weeks ago. It was his third pro fight and he’s 20 years old. He fought Reagan Penn and beat him, and he made the equivalent of my best payday before the UFC. (Laughs) And he’s grateful for that.”Johnny Bedford is grateful to finally be here. And it will take a helluva fighter to make him leave.

Posted in: fight, time, ’t, year, bedford

Women’s Pound-for-Pounder Fujii Gets New Year’s Eve Date at Dream

Japanese promotion Dream has enlisted the services of one of the world’s top female fighters, Megumi Fujii, for its annual New Year’s Eve extravaganza at Saitama Super Arena.

Posted in: dream, year, world ’s, eve, fujii

Ex-UFC Champ Tim Sylvia Meets Brett Rogers on New Year’s Eve Dream Card

Tim Sylvia faces Brett Rogers on Dream's New Year's Eve card in Japan – just 17 days after Rogers will be released from jail.

Posted in: year, roger, tim, brett rogers, japan –

Miller vs. Bisping: Is Jason Mayhem Miller Ready to Be a UFC Fighter?

This Saturday, Jason Miller will return to the Octagon for the first time since losing to Georges St. Pierre all the way back at UFC 52. Much has happened in the career of Mayhem during those six years. He's become the host of Bully Beatdown, appeared as a coach on The Ultimate Fighter, been involved in the infamous Strikeforce brawl, and feuded with Nick Diaz. But there is one thing conspicuously missing from that list. Fighting. You know, fighting? The thing that is, in theory, Mayhem Miller's primary job? Since 2007, there has been precious little actual in-ring fighting in the career of Mayhem, and even less against legitimate top level talent. Miller had a solid 2006-2007, going 6-1 with wins over Robbie Lawler and Tim Kennedy. But since then, he's stalled out. Only 7 fights in the last 4 years, and only 2 in the past 2 years. Since defeating Kennedy in 2007 he has not defeated a single opponent of any merit, with his biggest win coming against Kazushi Sakuraba. And when your biggest win in years is against the 2010 version of Sakuraba, that's an issue. Instead of fighting, Mayhem has been focused on what marketing folks would call "establishing his brand." He's become a personality, not a fighter. And so far, it's worked. It's greatly increased his profile, and landed him a TUF gig that a fighter with his credentials normally would not be close to qualifying for. So, success, right? Not exactly. Mayhem is now in the UFC, and this is where the trouble comes in, because now, Mayhem is going to have to fight. And he's going to have to win. With Kimbo Slice, Dana White showed that simply being a personality is not enough to guarantee you a UFC slot, particularly if you are not a homegrown UFC talent. Miller will bring some attention with him, but like Kimbo, it's not attention based on his in-ring skills, but on his persona. And that persona can only carry him so far. A loss to Michael Bisping on Saturday won't set Mayhem back much. Bisping is a top 10 Middleweight potentially on a path to a title shot. Miller can survive that loss. But what if the next time out is a step down in competition and another loss? And another step down after that? Like Kimbo, Miller has a high enough profile that it doesn't make sense to have him fighting unknowns on the prelims, so at some point, he will need to prove he can hang in the best Middleweight division in the world. Does he have the skills to do it? Based on the past four years, I don't know how you could honestly say with any confidence that he does. Yes he looked good in his Dream loss to Jacare, and yes he had some success against Jake Shields, but even those fights were 2-3 years ago. We simply have not seen Mayhem fight enough lately to know where he stands. For now, the only person that may know this answer is Jason Miller. Is he motivated to once again become a fighter and not a personality? If he is, he could give Bisping real troubles, and could make a move in the UFC Middleweight division. But if not, his UFC return could be a lot of hype, and no substance. We'll take the first step towards answering this question on Saturday. SBN coverage of The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale

Posted in: ufc, fighter, miller, year, mayhem

Brett Rogers Gets 60 Days In Jail, Three Years Probation In Domestic Abuse Case

Brett Rogers has finally received his punishment for the third-degree felony assault charge he plead guilty to following the domestic abuse incident with his wife earlier this year. According to TwinCities.com, Dakota County District Judge Karen Asphaug sentenced Rogers to 60 days in jail and three years probation. Brett “Da Grim” Rogers, 30, of Apple Valley, pleaded guilty to felony third-degree assault in Dakota County District Court. Two felonies of domestic assault by strangulation and stalking were dismissed, as well as a gross misdemeanor charge of endangering a child. This morning, District Judge Karen Asphaug also ordered Rogers to three years probation with several conditions, including having no contact with his wife until he completes a domestic abuse program and his probation officer approves the contact. Rogers also cannot use alcohol and drugs. Here’s the kicker. The judge said he’ll likely only have to serve two-thirds of jail sentence and the 26 days he already spent will count towards the 60 days, so he’ll only have to spend a grand total of 14 more days in jail. That’s the US legal system for ya. Rogers’ defense team requested to postpone his sentence until after a fight Rogers has scheduled on Dec. 31, but they were denied. I don’t feel bad for him.

Posted in: day, year, roger, years probation, probation

2011 World MMA Awards Results

Filed under: MMA Media Watch, UFC, NewsMMA Fighting has 2011 World MMA Awards results from the Nov. 30 event at the Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. MMAFighting.com is a nominee for Media Source of the Year. Also, Ben Fowlkes and Ariel Helwani are both in the running for MMA Journalist of the Year. The two-hour show will start at 10:30 p.m. ET. Full results are below. Fight of the Year Dominick Cruz Nick Diaz Dan Henderson Jon Jones Anderson Silva Breakthrough Fighter of the Year Donald Cerrone Daniel Cormier Phil Davis Demetrious Johnson Brian Stann Fight of the Year Jose Aldo vs. Mark Hominick (UFC 129) Dominick Cruz vs. Urijah Faber (UFC 132) Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard (UFC 125) Nick Diaz vs. Paul Daley (Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley) Diego Sanchez vs. Martin Kampmann (UFC Live 3) Submission of the Year Chan Sung Jung vs. Leonard Garcia (UFC Fight Night 24) Pable Garza vs. Yves Jabouin (UFC 129) Richard Hale vs. Nik Fekete (Bellator 38) Vinny Magalhaes vs. Viktor Nemkov (M-1 Challenge 25) Tito Ortiz vs. Ryan Bader (UFC 132) Entrance of the Year Yoshihiro Akiyama (UFC 133) Vitor Belfort (UFC 133) Dave Herman (UFC 131) Mark Hominick (UFC 129) Jason "Mayhem" Miller (DREAM.16) Referee of the Year Herb Dean "Big" John McCarthy Dan Miragliotta Josh Rosenthal Mario Yamasaki Ring Girl of the Year Arianny Celeste Kelli Hutcherson Brittney Palmer Chandella Powell Mercedes Terrell Personality of the Year Bruce Buffer Jacob "Stitch" Duran Joe Rogan Bas Rutten Burt Watson Best Technical Clothing Bad Boy Hayabusa Jaco Sprawl Venum Media Source of the Year "Inside MMA" on HDNet MMAFighting.com "MMA Live" on ESPN MMAjunkie.com Sherdog.com Female Fighter of the Year Marloes Coenen Zoila Gurgel Sarah Kaufman Ronda Rousey Miesha Tate International Fighter of the Year Michael Bisping Alexander Gustafsson Joachim Hansen Alistair Overeem Dennis Siver KO of the Year Patricky "Pitbull" Freire vs. Toby Imada (Bellator 39) Cheick Kongo vs. Pat Barry (UFC Live 5) John Makdessi vs. Kyle Watson (UFC 129) Lyoto Machida vs. Randy Couture (UFC 129) Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort (UFC 126) Comeback of the Year Marloes Coenen vs. Liz Carmouche (Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson) Cheick Kongo vs. Pat Barry (UFC Live 5) Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (career) Tito Ortiz (career) Joe Warren vs. Joe Soto (Bellator 27) Coach of the Year Rafael Cordeiro Eric Del Fierro Cesar Gracie Greg Jackson Shawn Tompkins Gym of the Year Alliance MMA Black House Jackson's MMA Roufusport Xtreme Couture Leading Man of the Year Scott Coker Lorenzo Fertitta Marc Ratner Bjorn Rebney Dana White Promotion of the Year BAMMA Bellator Fighting Championships DREAM Strikeforce UFC Best Lifestyle Clothing Affliction Bad Boy Form Athletics RVCA TapouT Best Technical Equipment Bad Boy Everlast Hayabusa Rival Venum Journalist of the Year John Morgan Gareth A. Davies Josh Gross Ariel Helwani Ben Fowlkes Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, bellator, mma, vs, year

Brett Rogers sentenced to 60 days in jail, three years probation for domestic abuse

Back in June, former Strikeforce heavyweight Brett Rogers was arrested for assaulting his wife, who reportedly suffered injuries to her face, ear, neck and bac. And now the hammer has come down. Rogers was sentenced today to 60 days in jail, along with three years of probation that carries a few conditions. TwinCities.com has it: A heavyweight mixed martial artist was sentenced today to 60 days in jail for beating his wife in June at their Apple Valley home in front of their children and a neighbor. Brett "Da Grim" Rogers, 30, of Apple Valley, pleaded guilty to felony third-degree assault in Dakota County District Court. Two felonies of domestic assault by strangulation and stalking were dismissed, as well as a gross misdemeanor charge of endangering a child. This morning, District Judge Karen Asphaug also ordered Rogers to three years probation with several conditions, including having no contact with his wife until he completes a domestic abuse program and his probation officer approves the contact. Rogers also cannot use alcohol and drugs. The report goes on to note that Rogers already has credit for 26 days served and after serving over half his sentence, he has about 14 days remaining. After the incident, both Rogers and his wife, Tiuana, proclaimed the whole thing was simply a misunderstanding and he was innocent of all charges. Still, he pleaded guilty and now he'll go through a domestic abuse program to prevent any further "misunderstandings." Rogers was once viewed as the epitome of a "feel good story" in the mixed martial arts (MMA) world. The one-time Sam's Club tire flipper seemed to come out of nowhere when he debuted with Strikeforce in April 2009. But then after losing three fights in a row under the Strikeforce banner earlier this year, Rogers was cut by the organization and transitioned to Titan Fighting Championships, a regional promotion based out of Kansas City, Kansas. In his first fight with the promotion, Rogers lost what looked to be a very uninspired split decision to former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight Eddie Sanchez at Titan Fighting Championships 20. Rogers plans on fighting this upcoming Dec. 31. As a condition of the order, he can travel for work but will not be able to postpone his jail sentence until after the fight, as he originally wanted to.

Posted in: day, year, roger, years probation, probation

Anderson Silva Named GQ Brazil’s Sportsman of the Year

Anderson Silva is on fire down in Brazil. In addition to all the blue-chip sponsors and endorsements he has landed lately, GQ Brazil just named him their 2011 Man of the Year for sports. Translated via MMA.tv: “It was an historic year for the Mixed Martial Arts – the sport exploded in popularity on prime time TV – and especially for Anderson Silva. By defending his middleweight belt for the ninth time, The Spider won the fight of the year against Japan’s Yushin Okami in Brazil, and was proclaimed the greatest athlete in the history of MMA. “I know that my victories helped the success in the sport. I’m glad that people talk on the streets, that the academies sing up new students. We need new idols,” says the 36 year old fighter. On a semi-related note, here’s a new trailer for Silva’s documentary Like Water: HT: Fightlinker

Posted in: sport, silva, anderson silva, year, brazil

With or Without Awards, MMA Trainer Greg Jackson Is Just as Happy

LAS VEGAS -- Ask Greg Jackson's wife, Stephanie, if she minds all the Saturday nights her husband spends away from the family, calmly instructing grown men in the art of fighting other people for money, and you'll get a slight shrug and a deadpan response. "He just sits around," she says with a straight face. "I don't know why everybody thinks he's some big deal." She doesn't have to say she's joking, and he doesn't have to admit that he finds it funny. You know that line about how "love means never having to say you're sorry"? Somehow this seems better. Jackson is here because, once again, he's nominated for the Coach of the Year honor at this year's World MMA Awards. It's the same award he won last year. And the year before that. It's the award that's meant to honor not only the success of his enormous stable of high-level fighters, but also all the hours he puts in on the road at events and back home in Albuquerque in the gym. But don't expect Jackson to get too fired up about awards and honors, even now. It's "nice to be appreciated," he admits, but once you get him talking about it you get the sense that he might rather be holding pads than dressing up for an awards show. Maybe that's because, if given a choice, he would. "I think it was [Henry Wadsworth] Longfellow who said -- and I'm going to totally mess up the quote and say it not nearly so eloquently -- that the fame should be a natural consequence of the talent. You shouldn't wake up in the morning for the fame, you should wake up in the morning for the talent. For me, my talent is helping my guys." And sure, I know what you're thinking: did Greg Jackson just quote a 19th-century poet to answer a question about awards within the world of professional prizefighting? The answer is yes, but anyone who knows Jackson already knows that this isn't particularly unusual behavior for him. To Jackson, it seems as if the weird thing is not so much that he's been so successful as a coach and trainer, but that this is even a job at all. "It was on my mind today," he says. "Just look at all this talent, all this. You have stuff like the award shows. You know, I was happy teaching in a shack." That's not a euphemism, by the way. When Jackson met his wife he was "teaching in a 1,000-square-foot shack and living in 400 of them," he says. Stephanie walked into his gym one day learn some grappling after previously dabbling in karate and was struck by how young this new instructor was. "He was 23 at the time," she says. "You just didn't walk into dojos or martial arts studios and see someone so young." She was the only woman in Jackson's grappling classes at the time, she notes, but she "dropped karate like a hot potato because it was just so fun." Fourteen years later, the two of them are still together, Jackson's shack has grown into a martial arts empire, and MMA has gone from bizarre curiosity to mainstream sport. It's been a strange ride for Jackson, and one that still surprises him at times. Take this morning, for example, when he was working with another group of fighters, including the ones he refers to simply as "my Russians." It was one of those strange moments where he looked around the room and found himself thinking about the all the twists and turns it took to get to this place, without any of them really knowing where they'd end up. "And we had a blast today," he says. "We were all united by this love of MMA. So when I'm there teaching moves, it was like being surrounded by this hunger to learn. You have so many different cultures and different personalities and different stories, and they're all unified by this one unique thing. So I'm thinking, I'm just a kid from the south valley of Albuquerque, New Mexico. All the fighting I did was on the banks of the Rio Grande River, and no one knows where that is. How did I get here?" Maybe the better question is, what if he hadn't? What if the sport hadn't taken off? What if his students hadn't harassed him into being a part of it? What if he was still teaching in that shack in Albuquerque, with no awards or magazine clippings to put on the wall, and no famous students to spread his gospel? "Then I think I'd be just as happy," he says. "I really would." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: jackson, year, award, shack, teaching

Sorry Chael, but Anderson Silva is the GQ ‘Man of the Year’ in Brazil

This morning I woke up with the realization that Anderson Silva is MMA's equivalent of Michael Jordan and that every time we witness the guy fight, we are careful observers to the greatest of all time making permanent history one strike at a time. We're all going to mourn when he eventually retires. Tears will stream from our eyes like the blood of the undead horde Josh Barnett demolishes on a daily basis. Let's savor this moment of MMA, it's the golden renaissance. That's why the greatest deserves to be awarded the Brazilian 'GQ Man of the Year in Sports.' Sorry Chael, there's always next year. Check out this photo from GQ's 'Men of the Year 2011' issue. [Source]

Posted in: anderson silva, year, michael jordan, gqs men, chael theres

Anderson Silva GQ 'Man of the Year' in Brazil

Props: GQ Online (via MMA.tv) It was a historic year for mixed martial arts - the sport exploded in popularity on prime time TV - and especially for Anderson Silva. By defending his middleweight belt for the ninth time, "The Spider" won the fight of the year against Japan's Yushin Okami in Brazil, and was proclaimed the greatest athlete in the history of MMA. "I know that my victories helped the success in the sport. I'm glad that people talk on the streets, that the academies sign up new students. We need new idols," says the 36 year old fighter. The accolades continue to pour in for UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, who was named "Man of the Year" by GQ Brazil. "The Spider" is currently sidelined while recuperating from a shoulder injury and isn't expected back inside the Octagon until June 2012. When he does return, expect a pack of hungry 185-pounders to be waiting for him.

Posted in: silva, year, brazil, anderson, gq

UFC: Chris Leben Suspended One Year (Failed Drug Test)

UFC veteran Chris Leben has been suspended for one year after a positive drug test following his UFC 138 loss to Mark Munoz earlier this month. Leben tested positive for Oxycodone and Oxymorphone, very powerful pain medications likely used for abuse rather than performance enhancing purposes. Leben accepted the suspension and issued the following statement: “I would like to make it known that I fully accept this suspension and apologize for embarrassing the UFC, my friends and family, and sport of mixed martial arts. I’m learning that I’m my own worst enemy sometimes. I can’t succeed in the Octagon or in life behaving this way. I’ve got to make some real changes over the next year and I’m going to focus on getting my life and career back on track. Again, I’m sorry to the UFC and fans that’ve supported me since my days on The Ultimate Fighter.” UFC President Dana White had the following to say: “I like Chris and I want him to do well, but based on his actions, he’s been suspended for one year. If he needs professional help, we are going to be there for him. We want to see him succeed not only in the Octagon, but in his personal life.” Leben has previously battled alcoholism in the past, while also being suspended for the use of stanozolol.

Posted in: ufc, i ’m, year, ’m, leben

Read the full article at MMA Opinion

A guy I went to high school with years ago. He's legit as fuck.

submitted by robsodomy [link] [3 comments]

Posted in: year, school, guy i, hes legit, robsodomy

Can GSP repeat as Sportsnet Cdn AOY?

UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre has reigned as Sportsnet's Canadian Athlete of the Year for three straight years. Can he make it a fourth? Vote now.

Posted in: gsp, champion, year, canadian, sportsnet

'DREAM: New Year! 2011' adds Tokoro vs. Saadulaev tourney-reserve fight

Hideo Tokoro will meet fellow bantamweight Yusup Saadulaev at next month's "DREAM: New Year! 2011" event, officials recently announced. The fight will serve as a reserve bout for the night's world bantamweight grand prix. The event, officially dubbed "DREAM: Fight for Japan. How are you! New Year! 2011" takes place Dec. 31 at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.

Posted in: dream, year, dream fight, reserve bout, months dream

Chris Leben Tests Positive For Painkillers Following UFC 138, Gets One Year Suspension

After Chris Leben tested positive for steroids the last time he headlined a UFC UK card you would think he would have steered clear of any banned substances when he returned to Birmingham a few weeks ago to headline UFC 138. Apparently not. The UFC announced this afternoon that Leben tested positive for two painkillers, Oxycodone and Oxymorphone, following his loss to Mark Munoz in the main event and has been suspended for one year. “I like Chris and I want him to do well, but based on his actions, he’s been suspended for one year,” UFC President Dana White said. “If he needs professional help, we are going to be there for him. We want to see him succeed not only in the Octagon, but in his personal life.” “I would like to make it known that I fully accept this suspension and apologize for embarrassing the UFC, my friends and family, and sport of mixed martial arts,” Leben said. “I’m learning that I’m my own worst enemy sometimes. I can’t succeed in the Octagon or in life behaving this way. I’ve got to make some real changes over the next year and I’m going to focus on getting my life and career back on track. Again, I’m sorry to the UFC and fans that’ve supported me since my days on The Ultimate Fighter.” It’s good to see that the UFC is continuing to test their fighters where regulatory bodies aren’t present overseas, but man, what a bummer that Chris Leben continues to shoot himself in the foot. Image via Sherdog

Posted in: ufc, i ’m, year, chris leben, leben

Leben fails drug test, suspended for one year

Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight fighter Chris Leben has been suspended for one year after failing a drug test.

Posted in: year, test, drug, drug test, leben

Leben fails drug test, suspended 1 year

Middleweight Chris (The Crippler) Leben has been banned for a year after testing positive for Oxycodone and Oxymorphone after UFC 138.

Posted in: year, drug test, leben, crippler leben, crippler

Chris Leben suspended one year after failing drug test following UFC 138 loss to Mark Munoz

Oops, he did it again. Chris Leben has been suspended for one year by the UFC for failing his drug test following his loss to Mark Munoz at UFC 138 this past Nov. 5, 2011, in Birmingham, England. Leben tested positive for Oxycodone and Oxymorphine, two subscription painkillers. Here's what UFC President Dana White had to say about the personal demons that have plagued Leben throughout his mixed martial arts career: "I like Chris and I want him to do well, but based on his actions, he's been suspended for one year. If he needs professional help, we are going to be there for him. We want to see him succeed not only in the Octagon, but in his personal life." This is the second time Leben has failed a drug test, the first coming after his unanimous decision loss to Michael Bisping following UFC 89 back in Oct. 2008. That event, perhaps coincidentally, was also held in Birmingham, England. Included in the UFC report announcing the drug test failure is a statement from Leben himself, who takes responsibility for his actions and accepts the punishment handed down to him. "I would like to make it known that I fully accept this suspension and apologize for embarrassing the UFC, my friends and family, and sport of mixed martial arts. I'm learning that I'm my own worst enemy sometimes. I can't succeed in the Octagon or in life behaving this way. I've got to make some real changes over the next year and I'm going to focus on getting my life and career back on track. Again, I'm sorry to the UFC and fans that've supported me since my days on The Ultimate Fighter." Because there is no drug testing overseas due to a lack of sanctions from athletic commissions, the UFC typically takes the matter in its own hands, both in testing and any and all ensuing punishment. This being his second offense, the powers that be felt an entire year away from the sport was in order. In the days leading up to UFC 138, Leben had trouble cutting weight for the contest, reportedly dropping 21 pounds in just 24 hours in order to go ahead with the bout. He eventually lost via second round technical knockout following a doctor stoppage via cut. The 19 other fighters who competed on the card and were tested all passed with flying colors, according to the UFC.

Posted in: ufc, year, drug, drug test, leben

UFC Hands Leben 1-Year Suspension for Failed UFC 138 Drug Test

Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight Chris Leben has been suspended for one year by the Las Vegas-based organization after testing positive for banned substances.

Posted in: ufc, year, championship, leben, substance

Chris Leben fails UFC 139 drug test, suspended for one year

It hasn’t been a good month for UFC middleweight Chris Leben. The Ultimate Fighter alumni was knocked out of title contention at UFC 139 with a loss to Mark Munoz and today the company announced that Leben has been suspended for a year following testing positive for Oxycodone and Oxymorphone after the bout. With the event taking place in England, UFC officials handled the drug testing independently. Speaking to UFC.com, president Dana White said, “I like Chris and I want him to do well, but based on his actions, he’s been suspended for one year,” UFC President Dana White said. “If he needs professional help, we are going to be there for him. We want to see him succeed not only in the Octagon, but in his personal life.” Leben also released a statement via the organizations website saying, “I would like to make it known that I fully accept this suspension and apologize for embarrassing the UFC, my friends and family, and sport of mixed martial arts. I’m learning that I’m my own worst enemy sometimes. I can’t succeed in the Octagon or in life behaving this way. I’ve got to make some real changes over the next year and I’m going to focus on getting my life and career back on track. Again, I’m sorry to the UFC and fans that’ve supported me since my days on The Ultimate Fighter.” This marks the second time Leben has been suspended after failing a drug test in England. The first came back in October 2008 when he tested positive for Stanozolol in his loss against Michael Bisping. He was held out of action for nine months and fined 1/3 of his fight purse for that offense. All other 19 competitors drug tested from the November 5th event passed. *PHOTO CREDIT – UFC*

Posted in: ufc, i ’m, year, drug, leben

Chris Leben Suspended One Year for Failed UFC 138 Drug Test

Chris Leben has been suspended for one year by the UFC after the middleweight tested positive for the banned painkillers Oxycodone and Oxymorphone following his loss to Mark Munoz on Nov. 5 in the main event of UFC 138 in Birmingham, England. Leben was previously suspended for nine months after testing positive for steroids following his UFC 89 loss to Michael Bisping in 2008, which also took place in Birmingham. The UFC handled drug tests for both events along with other events outside the U.S. that lacked athletic commissions to oversee them. “I like Chris and I want him to do well, but based on his actions, he’s been suspended for one year,” UFC President Dana White said in a statement. “If he needs professional help, we are going to be there for him. We want to see him succeed not only in the Octagon, but in his personal life.” “I would like to make it known that I fully accept this suspension and apologize for embarrassing the UFC, my friends and family, and sport of mixed martial arts,” Leben said. “I’m learning that I’m my own worst enemy sometimes. I can’t succeed in the Octagon or in life behaving this way. I’ve got to make some real changes over the next year and I’m going to focus on getting my life and career back on track. Again, I’m sorry to the UFC and fans that’ve supported me since my days on The Ultimate Fighter.” The other 19 fighters on the UFC 138 card passed their post-fight drug tests.

Posted in: ufc, i ’m, year, ’m, leben

Chris Leben Suspended One Year After Failed UFC 138 Drug Test

UFC middleweight Chris Leben was suspended for one year after testing positive for Oxycodone and Oxymorphine following his UFC 138 loss to Mark Munoz.

Posted in: ufc, year, chris leben, chri, leben

Chris Leben Suspended for One Year After Failed UFC 138 Drug Test

The UFC's website just released some very big news. Chris Leben tested positive for Oxycodone and Oxymorphone after his UFC 138 bout with Mark Munoz. From the press release on the UFC website: As a result of the positive test, Leben will be suspended from fighting for one (1) year. "I like Chris and I want him to do well, but based on his actions, he's been suspended for one year," UFC President Dana White said. "If he needs professional help, we are going to be there for him. We want to see him succeed not only in the Octagon, but in his personal life." Leben said that he accepts the suspension and apologized to his fans. It's quite troubling that at a point when Leben had rebounded his career to being possibly a win away from being in title contention he popped a positive test for such serious substances. Leben appears to have some serious troubles that are going to require the professional help mentioned. Simply sitting around for a year thinking "I'm gonna turn it around" isn't likely to have any long-term positive effect on his life. Here's hoping Leben can use this chance to get himself right.

Posted in: ufc, year, test, chri, leben

Chris Leben Suspended for 1 year after UFC 138

submitted by Kalamestari [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: ufc, year, chris leben, chri, leben

Chris Leben Suspended for One Year After Failed Drug Test at UFC 138

Filed under: UFCMiddleweight Chris Leben has been suspended by the UFC for one year after testing positive for prescription painkillers oxycodone and oxymorphone following his loss at UFC 138 in Birmingham, England, the organization announced via its website on Monday. "I like Chris and I want him to do well, but based on his actions, he's been suspended for one year," UFC President Dana White said in a statement on UFC.com. "If he needs professional help, we are going to be there for him. We want to see him succeed not only in the Octagon, but in his personal life." This marks the second time that Leben, who lost by corner stoppage after fellow middleweight Mark Munoz opened a large cut over his left eye in their November 5 bout, has tested positive for banned substances via the UFC's independent drug-testing efforts. Leben previously tested positive for the steroid Stanozolol following his UFC 89 bout against Michael Bisping, which was also in Birmingham, England. For that offense, Leben was suspended nine months by the UFC and fined one-third of his fight purse. Since UFC events are not subject to any athletic commission-sanctioned testing in England, the UFC conducts its own tests for fights on British soil and hands out punishments for positive tests at its own discretion. In the official statement released by the UFC, Leben is quoted as saying: "I would like to make it known that I fully accept this suspension and apologize for embarrassing the UFC, my friends and family, and sport of mixed martial arts. I'm learning that I'm my own worst enemy sometimes. I can't succeed in the Octagon or in life behaving this way. I've got to make some real changes over the next year and I'm going to focus on getting my life and career back on track. Again, I'm sorry to the UFC and fans that've supported me since my days on The Ultimate Fighter." According to the UFC, the 19 other fighters on the UFC 138 card passed their post-fight drug tests. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, year, leben, im, birmingham england

Chris Leben suspended one year for failing post UFC 138 drug test

UFC veteran Chris "The Crippler" Leben has been suspended for one year due to testing positive for banned substances following his UFC 138 loss to Mark Munoz. UFC President Dana White confirmed the suspension today on the promotion's official website, UFC.com.“I like Chris and I want him to do well, but based on his actions, he's been suspended for one year,” UFC President Dana White said. “If he needs professional help, we are going to be there for him. We want to see him succeed not

Posted in: ufc, year, chri, crippler leben, suspension today

Ben Henderson contemplating future run at welterweight

Ben Henderson has his sights set on nothing but the UFC lightweight title right now, as “Smooth” will face off with 155-pound champion Frankie Edgar in February at UFC 144. However, Henderson knows that the lightweight division is not a permanent fixture for him, especially considering the rough weight-cuts that he puts his body through before each fight. For Henderson, welterweight looks like a good fit – just not in the immediate future. “I want 155 to be synonymous with myself. I want to be synonymous with the 155-pound weight class, but that being said, the older you are the harder it is to cut weight,” said Henderson during a recent appearance on MMAWeekly Radio. “I’m getting a little bit older now and cutting weights sucks.” Henderson, who is just 28 years old, brought up Dan Henderson, a former wrestler much like himself. “Hendo” has bounced around from middleweight to light heavyweight for much of his career, but has spoken many times about preferring to stay at 205 pounds, which is a weight he walks around at. “There are a few guys who’ve said things pretty similar as far as cutting weight when you get older, how hard it is. Dan is a perfect example,” Henderson said. “He’s wrestled forever. I wrestled and cut weight six months, seven months out of the year since I was 12 years old. It’s kind of getting old. I don’t like to so much anymore.” PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: henderson, year, weight, ’s wrestled, i wrestled

Marius Zaromskis Uses Somersault Kick to Beat Bruno Carvalho

Filed under: DREAM Marius Zaromskis has had a rough go of it in the last couple of years, but one thing he's always been able to do is kick his opponents in the head in spectacular fashion. And that's what he did on Saturday. Zaromskis used a great somersault kick to beat Bruno Carvalho by technical knockout in the first round of their fight in Stockholm, Sweden. That kick was the best highlight of a busy day on the international MMA scene, and it gave Zaromskis consecutive wins for the first time in two years. In 2009, Zaromskis captured the Dream welterweight title by knocking out both Hayato Sakurai and Jason High, both with head kicks and both on the same day. In his next fight after becoming the dream champ, he knocked out Myung Ho Bae with a head kick. But while those wins put him on the map in the MMA world, he hasn't had a lot of success since then. Zaromskis came to America in early 2010 and was beaten by Nick Diaz, then lost a Strikeforce fight to Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos and had a disappointing no contest when he accidentally poked Waachiim Spiritwolf in the eye. He did win a New Year's Eve fight against Kazushi Sakuraba in Japan, but that fight was more about Sakuraba looking old than it was about Zaromskis looking good. And then Zaromskis lost a disappointing decision to Jordan Mein this year. For those who enjoy the exciting striking style that Zaromskis employs when he's at his best, seeing him beat Carvalho in exciting fashion is a positive sign. Zaromskis may never be the Top 10 welterweight that some fans thought he was when he won the Dream title, but he can be a highly entertaining fighter to watch. That was certainly the case on Saturday. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: fight, dream, year, kick, zaromski

Bellator 59 Fight Card Primer: Alexis Vila vs. Eduardo Dantas

At 40 years old, the odds against Alexis Vila being a force in MMA are against him. But the Cuban-born Olympic freestyle wrestler is just one win away from winning Bellator's current 135-pound tournament and running his record to a perfect 12-0 in the process. A man 18 years his junior -- Eduardo Dantas -- stands in his way and the former Shooto champion is looking to complete his first run in a Bellator tournament with a big win. Vila (11-0) and Dantas (12-2) meet Saturday in the co-main event of Bellator 59 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, the promotion's final event of 2011.Vila represented Cuba in the 1996 Olympics, taking home a freestyle wrestling bronze medal in the light flyweight division along with medals in several World Championships and the Pan-Am Games in the early-to-mid 1990s. After defecting to the United States in 1997 and later serving a three-year prison term, the American Top Team member debuted in December 2007 and ran up a 9-0 record on regional shows before being signing with Bellator earlier this year.Despite being 22, Dantas also started in 2007 and competed mainly in Shooto in both Brazil and Japan before getting inked by Bellator. Dantas competed for the Shooto 132-pound title in 2009 and lost a decision to Masakatsu Ueda -- one of just two career losses. He comes into Saturday on a five-fight win streak. How do these two stack up? Vila: 40 years old | 5'4" | Preferred form of win: knockout (63%) Dantas: 22 years old | 5'10" | Preferred form of win: decision (42%) Before his decision victory in the semifinals, Vila had won six straight by T/KO and hasn't been past the second round in three years. While the majority of Dantas' wins are by decision, seven of his wins have come via T/KO or submission and before the West victory, he had finished straight four opponents. How did these two get here? In the tournament's opening round in late-September, Vila knocked out current 145-pound champion Joe Warren in 64 seconds, while Dantas knocked out Wilson Reis in 62 seconds with a flying knee strike. In the tournament's second round in late-October, Vila was on the right side of a controversial split decision win over Marcos Galvao, while Dantas also won a close split decision over Ed West. Why should you care? Makovsky needs quality opponents and either man will give him a run for his title. The story here is really Vila due to his age and his story, but a great fight could help create another two solid names that will be part of their bantamweight division for the next few years. One X factor? Dantas' six-inch reach advantage. SBN coverage of Bellator 59

Posted in: bellator, decision, year, vila, danta

Bellator 59 Fight Card Primer: Kurt Pellegrino vs. Patricky Freire

Athletes handle retirement differently. Some are able to go out gracefully and enjoy what they've accomplished. Others decide that returning to civilian life isn't that much fun and can't wait to get back into action. Then, there's Brett Favre. Earlier this year, Kurt Pellegrino announced he was hanging up the gloves and didn't pursue a new contract with the UFC. He was coming off consecutive losses to George Sotiropoulos and Gleison Tibau and found himself right back in the middle of the lightweight pack he was trying to free himself from. But that's the thing about retiring at 32 years old. There's a lot of life ahead of you and when opportunities to make money arise, you usually take them. Pellgrino returns to action Saturday at Bellator 59, but the man welcoming "Batman" back to action -- Patricky Freire -- is no joker. Freire is coming off a lightweight tournament final loss to Michael Chandler earlier this year and will be looking to send Pellegrino to his own Arkham Asylum with the power that knocked out his first two Bellator opponents. How do these guys stack up? Pellegrino: 32 | 5'8" | Preferred form of victory: submission (63%) Freire: 25 | 5'7" | Preferred form of victory: knockout (67%) How did both guys get here? Before decision losses to Sotiropolous and Tibau, Pellegrino (16-6) had won four consecutive fights. The near 10-year veteran debuted in the UFC in July 2006 and compiled a 7-5 Octagon mark. He's never been knocked out. Before his decision loss to Chandler in May, Freire (9-2) knocked out Rob McCullough and Toby Imada at the tail end of a five-fight win streak. Before signing with Bellator, the Team Nogueira member had competed solely in Brazil. Why should I watch? This will be a great test for Freire against a well-traveled and experienced fighter. A win over Pellegrino puts him in a great spot heading into next year's expected 155-pound tournament that will also likely feature former champion Eddie Alvarez. Pellegrino can't be counted out by any means, but the question is whether that desire to compete and win is still there following his short retirement. A victory Saturday puts him in a good spot in Bellator's lightweight division heading into 2012. SBN coverage of Bellator 59

Posted in: bellator, loss, year, freire, pellegrino

Shinya Aoki to face Satoru Kitaoka at DREAM’s new year show

After defending the DREAM lightweight title in a submission win over Tatsuya Kawajiri in July of last year, grappling wizard Shinya Aoki will finally defend his title once again when he squares off against former Sengoku lightweight champion Satoru Kitaoka. The bout is scheduled to take place at DREAM’s New Year’s Eve show dubbed Fight for Japan: How are you! New Year! 2011, an event taking place on December 31 at the legendary Saitama Super Arena. Since his win over Kawajiri, Aoki went on to record five consecutive victories, including multiple non-title affairs in Japan and a submission win over Lyle Beerbohm at Strikeforce: Diaz vs Daley in April. The “Submission Magician” has dropped just one of his last ten fights — a decision loss to Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez. Kitaoka is most famous for submitting Takanori Gomi to win the Sengoku lightweight title. He is currently riding a four-fight winning streak and has last competed against Willamy Freire in a bout that ended with a tight split decision win for the Japanese fighter. Also rumored for the card is a fight between Fedor Emelianenko and 2008 Olympic Judo gold medalist Satoshi Ishii. PHOTO CREDIT – DREAM/SRC

Posted in: year, takanori gomi, decision loss, willamy freire, lyle beerbohm

Phillipe Nover discusses major changes to his life a day out from Bellator debut

Three years ago UFC President Dana White labeled Phillipe Nover as being comparable to Anderson Silva based on what he’d seen during taping of the Ultimate Fighter Season 8. A trio of consecutive losses later, as well as a frightening episode featuring a backstage seizure, Nover found himself in the midst of free agency as well as dealing with some personal struggles. After taking a year to get his life straight Nover is ready to return to the ring on a full-time basis and will do so tomorrow night on MTV2/EPIX as part of the lineup for Bellator 59. The native New Yorker spoke some about how he’s evolved since fans last saw him in action, making it clear the athlete they see facing Marcin Held is far superior to the one first catching the world’s attention in 2008. Nover Anxious with Pending MMA Return “I definitely had some distractions before in my life,” Nover explained to MMAMania before referencing a bad relationship he was in, as well as some stagnation on the training front fixed by a change to Renzo Gracie’s academy and a serious neck injury. “My training partners and sparring partners range now from Frankie Edgar all the way to Charlie Brenneman,” said Nover after mentioning his loyalty to his original group kept him from polishing his skills alongside high-level partners. “I’m now including John Danaher in my corner. Just changing up completely with my training strategy-wise for my fighting. I think before, I had an approach which was definitely lacking in my fight career and now it’s a lot better. I look at fighting now completely different from how I ever looked at it.” “I don’t know for sure when the injury came first but I know I had a herniated disk and it was really bad,” the 27-year old revealed of another situation prohibiting his career. “I definitely fought with the herniated disk a few times, that was during the UFC and it just kept getting worse and worse.” Nover had his surgery a year ago, opting to compete successfully in a Muay Thai match-up in this summer before testing the MMA waters a few months later with a decision win in August. The winning trend is one he hopes to continue on Saturday in Atlantic City, New Jersey. “It’s a stacked division, I think even comparable to the UFC, so if I ever want to get back to the UFC I have to have hopes of making it pretty far in Bellator. This is a great opportunity for me to get back into the scene and I’m hoping to do well.” Action starts at 9:00 PM EST with other bouts on the card including Kurt Pellegrino vs. Patricky Freire and a pair of Season 5 finals between bantamweights Alexis Vila/Eduardo Santos and heavyweights Eric Prindle/Thiago Santos. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, year, nover, phillipe nover, john danaher

Jon Jones, Lyoto Machida discuss importance of title in extended UFC 140 preview

The UFC’s 205-pound champion, Jon Jones, will look to put a cap on his incredible 2011 when he meets Lyoto Machida in the main event at UFC 140 on December 10 from the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Jones successfully defended his title against Quinton “Rampage” Jackson earlier this year, adding to his championship victory over Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. “I believe it is my destiny to be the UFC champion for many years,” Jones said in an extended preview for the event. Machida lost the light heavyweight title to Rua after earning a controversial decision victory against “Shogun” last year. After losing to Jackson, “The Dragon” rebounded with a devastating knockout of Randy Couture. “I want to feel it again, that belt around my waist,” Machida explained of his longing for divisional gold. Along with Jones-Machida, Frank Mir and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira will compete in a match pitting former UFC heavyweight champs against each other for a second time. Mir defeated Nogueira in 2008. Check out the full video below: PHOTO/VIDEO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, title, jone, year, machida

UFC 144: Steve Cantwell vs Riki Fukuda on tap for Feb. 25 in Japan

After four straight losses inside the Octagon, it's safe to say that Steve Cantwell is in a do-or-die situation. That could be bad news for Riki Fukuda, who will do "The Robot" at UFC 144 on Feb. 25, 2012, from the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. MMA Weekly brought word of the pending match-up earlier today. Cantwell (7-5) lost back-to-back decisions to Luiz Cane and Brian Stann back in 2009, before taking a medical hiatus to deal with health issues that kept him riding the pine for well over a year. He returned in March of this year and picked up right where he left off, dropping back-to-back decisions, this time to Cyrille Diabate and Mike Massenzio. Here's to hoping the sun isn't the only thing that will rise in next year's trip overseas. Waiting for him will be Fukuda, who did what most Japanese mixed martial arts stars do in their UFC debut: He lost. That came at the hands of former Ultimate Fighter (TUF) contestant Nick Ring, who convinced the judges he was the better man at UFC 127 last February. The former DEEP star will have the hometown crowd on his side for this middleweight mash-up. UFC 144 is expected to be headlined by a 155-pound title fight featuring Ben Henderson, fresh off his unanimous decision win over Clay Guida, taking on reigning lightweight champion Frankie Edgar. In addition, Jake Shields returns to action against Yoshihiro Akiyama, while Yushin Okami battled Tim Boetsch in a manly middleweight match up. For the latest UFC 144 news and notes be sure to check out our complete archive right here.

Posted in: ufc, decision, year, fukuda, backtoback decisions

UFC Fight Night Bonuses: A Brief and Unofficial History

With so many bonus awards given out over the last five years, even Dana White can forget the pivotal moments. Good thing Stephan Bonnar was there to remind him.

Posted in: ufc, year, bonus, bonus awards, bonnar

Dream New Year’s Eve 2011 Fight Card Rumors

Dream New Year's Eve 2011 fight card rumors for December 31, 2011, at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.

Posted in: fight, dream, year, rumor, eve

Aoki vs. Kitaoka Agreed for Dream NYE

Dream lightweight champion Shinya Aoki has agreed to put his title on the line against former Sengoku champ Satoru Kitaoka on New Year's Eve.

Posted in: dream, champion, year, aoki, kitaoka

DREAM New Year! 2011 To Feature Fedor Emelianenko and Shinya Aoki

In case you haven’t heard, DREAM isn’t dead. In fact, they’re running another New Year’s Eve event this year and are rumored to run several more in 2012. They also reportedly just finalized a partnership deal with ONE FC that could result in at least one co-promoted event next year, so things are actually looking up for a change. As for the NYE card, several bouts have already been announced: FW Championship: Hiroyuki Takaya vs. Takeshi “Lion” Inoue Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Kazuyuki Miyata Ryo Chonan vs. Hayato “Mach” Sakurai BWGP SF:Rodolfo Marques Diniz vs. Bibiano Fernandes BWGP SF: Antonio Banuelos vs. Masakazu Imanari While neither have been confirmed by DREAM, Fedor Emelianenko and Shinya Aoki are also expected to compete on the card, according to HDNet’s Inside MMA. Inside MMA didn’t say who their opponents would be but rumor has it that Fedor will take on Satoshi Ishii and Aoki will meet former Sengoku lightweight champion Satoru Kitaoka. DREAM New Year! 2011 will take place on Dec. 31 at the Saitama Super Arena in Japan and will air on HDNet. It hasn’t been determined if it will air live or on tape-delay.

Posted in: vs, dream, year, shinya aoki, copromoted event

Emelianenko in Talks with Dream for New Year’s Eve Appearance

After a four year absence, Fedor Emelianenko is in talks to return to Japan for another of his once-annual New Year’s Eve bouts.

Posted in: year, talk, return, emelianenko, eve

The 5 OZ Submission: Matt Hamill Prize Pack Winners

A few weeks ago Five Ounces of Pain put together a contest for readers providing an opportunity to win a Matt Hamill Prize Pack by sharing an inspirational story (or through a few other means). All of the entries have been compiled and winners randomly drawn meaning a quintet of lucky entrants will be receiving an early gift this holiday in the form of a TapouT T-Shirt and some other swag related to The Hammer, a film documenting the struggles and success of the former UFC light heavyweight. On a personal note, I want to thank everyone who entered as many of your stories were moving and sincerely made me wish we had enough prizes to send to the entire lot. Never before have I been so proud to be a part of the 5 OZ community! And now for the winners (followed by some of the excellent entries we received)… Will Vogenitz Stephen Floyd Jones Ray Mercado Shane Reilly Christopher Bolinski If your name is on that list you will receive an email confirming the distinction. If not, again, thank you for taking the time to be part of this contest and rest assured we will have future giveaways coming down the road. And now for a few of your inspirational stories: “Five days after my fifteenth birthday my father passed away. He was only 41 years old and a diabetic. I found myself turning away from my family and mostly my mother and turning to my friends for guidance and support. At the ripe age of 17 I dropped out of high school and entered into the United States Army. Ft. Knox Kentucky is where at 17 I found myself amongst a group of much older and wiser men. Scared shitless would be to say the least. I was a kid trying to play an adults game. Two days after arriving I sprained my ankle on a march. I was placed in a cast and separated from all of the others. Two months and one day after I arrived I found myself with a medical discharge for my ankle injury. I was still 17 without the support and guidance of the US Army or the education from high school. I attempted to re-enter high school. The school district did not want to allow me to enter back as they stated that no one has ever dropped out and attempted to come back and be successful. I explained that they did not know me. Two years later I graduated with the largest scholarship awarded in my county, attended Utica College of Syracuse University and became Recreational Therapist. Currently I work with court adjudicated juvenile delinquents after they were placed in residential placements and have a wonderful family with a wife and 2 children, oh yeah and my 2 German Shepherds. Thanks for taking the time to read this even if I do not win, getting my story heard means a lot.” – Chris “My cousin Geoff was born with downs syndrome 25 years ago. I’ve seen this courageous young man grow into an amazing guy. He’s gone through alot in his life. He went to regular school and was picked on and such from a young age and still does today. Despite being picked on he overcame his “Disability” and has become a hard working, Dedicated young man. He’s been a true inspiration to me as watching him grow up showed me to never doubt yourself, Always believe that you can become anything and accomplish your goals. Geoff is my inspiration to become the best that I can be!” – Andrew “I was never comfortable with confrontation because I was beat up a lot back in high school. One day during driving class I was bullied to a fight which I promptly backed down for fear of becoming humiliated, walking away pretending I was “bigger than that”, honestly he would have had it coming. As I did I was attacked from behind and sent to the hospital for two days. I decided while in there that I needed to do something to end my shameful unwillingness to defend myself. I sought out several programs and decided to take a chance with something called “Krav Maga”. The first class I ever participated in I was throwing up flem (I don’t smoke). It was addictive for sure, then eventually they introduced different stress drills designed to get students used to our own nervous emotions and adrenaline rushes. I’ve been with it ever since then, however a year into it a random drunk tried shoving me to the side yelling at me for no apparent reason. Without thinking I swung…and knocked him out cold. I went to make sure his friends weren’t going to jump in and as I did I got punched in the back of my head sending my hand through a mirror above an ATM. They ran, I laughed, then I fished the piece of mirror lodged in my wrist out myself where the gashly scar remains. I literally look at it some days reflecting on my transition and my journey in doing so. I hold myself now at a higher standard without letting anyone take that right from me.” – Charles “My son was born a cardiac child. Three holes in his heart, parachuted mitral valve, enlarged pulmonary artery, cystic hygroma, and club feet. It’s a lot to work with for your first child, but we had been informed there were likely going to be these issues, ultra sounds are a wonderful early detection machine. The six open heart surgeries were tough to get through, as was the fact that he was blue for almost his entire first year. But the hardest part, at least for me, was the day we took him home. He was half the size of a normal baby so they couldn’t perform all the surgeries immediately. We had been living at the Ronald McDonald house near the hospital for 3 months while he was still in the NICU. We lived 100 miles away in a small town and wanted badly to take him home by Christmas. The doctors and installed and central iv line into his heart to deliver medicine every three hours 24/7. We assured them that, if they gave us the medicine, we would give it to him on time. The doctors agreed and let us take our child home for three months until his next scheduled surgery. My wife was still recovering from the pregnancy (whole ‘nother story) so the job of administering his medicine fell to me. For three months every day at Midnight, 3am, 6am, noon, 3pm, and 6pm; I woke, measured the medicine, attached the machine to my baby sons chest, delivered the medicine and observed him for any complications. Each delivery took around 30 minutes. For three months I didn’t sleep for longer than 2 hrs at a time. The doctors were impressed. Today my son is in the Second grade. He’s smart, funny, and a hell of a good dancer.” – Shane “My boyfriend Robert Flores has wanted to be an MMA fighter since he was a young child. He grew up watching wrestling and watching Tito Ortiz grow in the octagon and also knew he wanted to get into something fighting related. When he was 13 years old, his jiu jitsu instructor entered him in the local NAGA tornament where he competed against adults in the expert division. He won 1st place beating grown men. He was ecstatic and what made the day even better was that an idol of his, Matt Serra was there. He approaced Matt Serra after to get a picture with him and he told Matt that he has just won 1st place and Matt Serra responded “Thats good but this sport isn’t for everyone kid”, and walked away. Robbie was heartbroken and quit training for a while. He started fighting again a few years later and switched fight camps.He earned his black belt in MMA in 6 months, became a level 3 instructor and took a few kickboxing and MMA fights in 2008 and 2009. Robbie was doing really well until he got into a bad car accident and the contracted tuberculosis in the same year. He was quarantined in a hospital in Westchester, NY and was forced to put mma on the backburner. He has since recovered fully and changed camps again and is still struggling to take it to the next level. He has had such a hard road to his dream, and there is much more that I haven’t even mentioned.” – Dorothea “My side job is doing Quality Assurance Inspections for a local non profit which serves the Developmentally Disabled community. Day in & out I see folks whose afflictions interfere with and effect their avid pursuit of a fulfilling life… the clients I work with are involved in vocational programs and educational programs that help them become part of the community through work and social inclusions. There is a group of younger clients whom attend a vocational program in which they learn automotive maintance. At first you would say to your self sounds like a bit of a challenge for this particular sect of society BUT this group of guys ( most of whom have been part of the program 10 plus years) perform oil changes, rotate tires, change washer blades and a slew of other minor maintence issues. When this program started nobody believed this group could be successfully trained to perform these tasks but they have been so successful 2 of them have actually landed jobs in repair shops in the area. The mission statement of the org. is “What really matters is what you do with what you have…” I used to think blah blah another cheesy sentiment but then I realized as I worked with this community more and more they really truely make the most of their lives. Things we take for granted are major accomplishments for these folks and if the rest of the population put as much effort into bettering themselves as I have seen these folks put forth, then the world would probably be rolling a bit smoother.” – Ray “I have a friend that passed away on October 19, 2010. My friend Dane Strassman was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma back in 1996. Dane with his wife and 2 children battled his cancer through chemo for over a year and a half and in 1998 Dane was found to have beaten Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Surviving and beating cancer is an amazing miracle and Dane changed his life completely by eating healthly and being active. But sad to say that on October 19, 2011 my friend Dane was found passed out behind the wheel of his car at a traffic light in Philadelphia, Pa. A short while later he was pronounced dead due to a massive heart attack. Since Dane’s passing his life has been an inspiration to me. I have changed my life by living healthy and living it to the fullest. It just proves that we are here today but are not promised tomorrow.” – Will PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: day, year, month, school, program

Fedor Emelianenko, Shinya Aoki likely for 'DREAM: New Year! 2011'

New Year's Eve will apparently have a very familiar feel for mixed martial arts fans. Longtime PRIDE veteran Fedor Emelianenko, who fought five times for the promotion on year-end shows, and Japanese superstar Shinya Aoki, a four-time year-end fighter, each appear likely to fight at this year's "DREAM: Fight for Japan. How are you! New Year! 2011." fight card. The tentative additions were announced on Monday's new edition of "Inside MMA," HDNet's MMA news series.

Posted in: fight, year, fedor, arts fans, years eve

My friend fought in Vegas, and happened to get knocked out, with the knock out of the year.

submitted by swishd [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: year, vega, friend, swishd

Scott Coker says he feels confident Strikeforce will be around for several years

Whatever Christmas cards Dana White has in store for the media this year, the Showtime Network should not expect a seasons greeting. You guys don't remember last year's Christmas card? When you open it up, you can hear Dana White say 'So you wanna be a [expletive] fighter?'. If you flip the card over, there's a picture of Dana White wearing a shirt with the words 'Tito Ortiz is my [expletive]'. In fact, the entire thing is filled with expletives. It's more like a collection of unsolicited verbal warnings, than a 'Hope your family is doing well' card. It's well known that Lorenzo Fertitta is the ZUFFA liaison to Strikeforce due to a few public disagreements Dana White had with the network over the past few years. According to Scott Coker in this interview, he believes negotiations are going so well between the two parties that he feels confident Strikeforce will be around for several years.

Posted in: dana, year, card, scott coker, expletive

An unimpressive win over Jeff Monson does little to restore Fedor Emelianenko's prominence

There's more Diet Dr. Pepper Cherry and Monster Absolutely Zero flowing through my veins than blood. The bags under my eyes are big enough for a family's weeklong vacation. Having to wake up every morning around 8 a.m. regardless of what time I fell asleep the night before only because my infant daughter decides to wake up then can be rough but it affords me -- and other parents in the same boat -- a few rare opportunities. But while the others use that time to watch Good Morning America or whatever, I prefer to spend it doing something infinitely more satisfying like watching one of the greatest fighters in the history of mixed martial arts (MMA) throw down in his native Russia. Fedor Emelianenko stepped inside an M-1 Global ring early this morning (Nov. 20) for his first fight since losing three straight and cutting ties with Strikeforce. The Russian himself said he considered retirement before his bout with Fabricio Werdum while pundits and fans began pushing the issue after Emelianenko was brutalized by Antonio Silva and Dan Henderson. He, however, remains in the game and defeated former UFC heavyweight title challenger Jeff Monson in the main event to get himself back in the win column. On paper, it's a step in the right direction but the execution was something else entirely. So the question must be asked: has the sun set on "The Last Emperor"? For those in the United States who woke up early enough to watch the pay-per-view (PPV), they saw what essentially amounts to a repeat of Monson's fight with Daniel Cormier earlier this year in the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix. During that bout, the MMA newcomer stuck and move against the self-proclaimed anarchist, stuffing every single takedown "The Snowman" threw his way. Emelianenko followed a similar gameplan almost to the letter and stymied Monson for 15 minutes while landing punches and leg kicks at will. For his part, the American did next to nothing offensively. A few takedown attempts were easily avoided or reversed and "The Snowman" offered no threat in the stand-up. The matchmaking was scoffed at by many when announced and their reservations were proved correct when the fight played itself out. Monson is no longer a top caliber heavyweight at 40 years old with his best wins being two or three years behind him. He was defeated rather easily by Cormier who -- despite being an exceptional athlete -- gave up over a decade of experience to Monson. And yet, despite Cormier's inexperience inside the cage, Emelianenko -- once holding steady at the top of heavyweight mountain -- couldn't manage to win in a more impressive fashion. After dropping Tim Sylvia with a punch and finishing him off with a choke and nearly decapitating Andrei Arlovski and Brett Rogers, "The Last Emperor" spent three rounds point fighting against an opponent he would have easily finished just a couple of years ago. Following UFC 139 where Pride Fighting Championships stars Wanderlei Silva, Dan Henderson, and Mauricio Rua all impressed, Emelianenko's performance fell flat. Silva returned to his winning ways to defeating Cung Le -- and destroying his nose in the process -- while "Hendo" and "Shogun" battled back and forth in a fight many are already calling the best in the promotion's history. Yes, Emelianenko won but he did so in a fashion that is so unlike him. The Fedor of old would have knocked Monson out or at least tried to take the American's arm back home to Stary Oskol with him. The man standing inside the ring this morning was content merely to get backstage with a win under his belt. And that betrays his legacy -- that of one of the greatest fighters to ever live -- more than three consecutive losses ever could. "The Last Emperor" reigned over the greatest collection of heavyweights the sport has ever seen and walked away with an unblemished record. He did so with punishing ground and pound, savvy striking, and python-like submissions. None of those attributes were on display this morning. What a shame.

Posted in: heavyweight, year, morning, emelianenko, monson

'Fight of the year' debate changes in one night (Yahoo! Sports)

UFC 139 added two bouts to the forefront of the Fight of the Year debate

Posted in: ufc, fight, year, debate, forefront

Hendo v Shogun is EASILY fight of the year.

I don't feel like anything is even close. I am shocked at how awesome that was. submitted by luckydevil713 [link] [45 comments]

Posted in: year, shogun, hendo, anything, dont

Fedor Emelianenko vs. Jeff Monson: Last Stand for the Last Emperor?

This Sunday, M-1 Global plays host to one of the most notable fighters of our modern era in MMA: Fedor. Sunday morning (if you are in the US, Sunday evening if you are live) Fedor Emelianenko faces Jeff Monson in the main event of an M-1 show from Moscow, Russia. The show is available on PPV and for purchases online starting at 8 a.m. EST Sunday morning, with all the details at M-1's site. With all due respect to Monson, this is clearly a fight focused on one man, and it's not the American. Fedor Emeliananko was for years held up by many fans and analysts as the greatest fighter on the planet today. From 2002-2006 he ruled over the talent-rich Pride Heavyweight division, dispatching men like Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Mirko Cro Cop to establish his dominance. After Pride folded, Fedor made the move to America, starting strong with wins over Andrei Arlovski and Tim Sylvia (back when those were both very impressive wins). And then... Strikeforce. Fedor debuted for Strikeforce in 2009 on network television as part of a CBS deal, defeating Brett Rogers that night. Little did fans know, that would be the end of the road for the Fedor mystique. He's 0-3 since then, with the submission loss to Fabricio Werdum, the stoppage against Antonio Silva, and the big KO loss to Dan Henderson. Now, the former king of MMA, the once essentially undefeated 32-1 fighter, is on a 3 fight losing streak. Looking to make it 4 in a row for Fedor is Jeff Monson. Monson is one of those fighters who has been everywhere and fought everyone. In his 14 years in the sport he has over 50 pro fights against everyone from Forrest Griffin to Chuck Liddell to Kazuyuki Fujita. His biggest fame came in 2006 when he put together a 3 fight win streak in the UFC that earned him a title shot against then UFC Heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia. Monson lost that fight via decision and has not fought in the UFC since, though he did have a brief return to the US spotlight earlier this year when he lost to Daniel Cormier in an alternate bout as part of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. One of the big talking points about Monson is that he is an anarchist, but frankly, I only find that an interesting talking point if you are sitting around your college dorm room. The real interesting point about Monson is that, despite his stocky, muscular frame, he is actually an extremely skilled submission artist. He's competed in submission tournaments throughout the world, and is a multiple time champion at Abu Dhabi. In particular, Monson is very good with chokes, with the North-South choke being his specialty, and can give any fighter a tough time on the ground. All that said, this is Fedor's fight to lose. Monson has been very active lately, but not against anyone of note. For his last win over a remotely credible opponent, you have to go all the way back to April 2009 when he defeated Sergei Kharitonov in Dream. He's just not at the top of his game any more. He's also the exact kind of opponent Fedor has chewed up and spit out in recent years - a somewhat notable name thanks to a UFC run, impressive credentials that look good on the resume, and not a serious threat to win. That last point is key, because despite Monson's experience, he's doesn't have good tools to win here. He doesn't have Henderson's KO power, doesn't have Silva's ground and pound, doesn't have Werdum's ability to use submissions against top level MMA opposition. He's hand picked by Fedor's M-1 business partners to rebuild the legacy of The Last Emperor. So what if the unthinkable happens? What if Monson locks those arms around Fedor's neck and we see the former pound for pound king fall for the fourth straight time? What if Fedor can't even beat the perfect opponent? If that happens, it will be the crowning moment in Monson's 14 year career, and a black day for fans who still believe in the legacy of The Last Emperor - the Great Fedor.

Posted in: fight, year, fedor, monson, he

Dan Henderson and 'Shogun' Rua finally fight at UFC 139 after barely missing each other in Pride FC

When Mauricio Rua made his Pride Fighting Championships (Pride FC) debut in 2003, he was a fresh-faced prospect from Wanderlei Silva's camp. Barely past the drinking age, but already with five fights to his name, "Shogun" sparkled in his first fight across the Pacific, knocking out Akira Shoji in less than four minutes. Then, just two years later, the Brazilian made an impact on the 205-pound division that will never be forgotten. Punching, kicking and stomping his way through a minefield of 16 world class light heavyweights, "Shogun" emerged at the end of the promotion's grand prix tournament, the last man standing. By the time Rua stepped inside the Pride FC ring, Dan Henderson was six years and 16 fights into his career. Already amassing an impressive collection of accolades -- winning a UFC tournament stateside and Rings' King of Kings tournament in Japan -- "Hendo" had spent the better part of three years in Pride FC. But somehow, despite spending more than half a decade in the same promotion -- four years in Pride FC, a couple more in the UFC -- the two never got the opportunity to tangle. Tonight (Nov. 19, 2011) remedies that minor tragedy as the two future Hall of Famers lock horns in the UFC 139 main event. Before they do, let's take a look back at their histories, which never quite intertwined as much as fans would have hoped, in the extended entry: At first glance, the two men might not seem all that alike. One is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) black belt with Muay Thai chops few could match, and the other is the American wrestling prototype with the added weapon of a sledgehammer for a right hand. But, the similarities are there, rest assured. Both have spent most of their career fighting only the best of the best. "Shogun" has squared off with Lyoto Machida, Jon Jones and Quinton Jackson. "Hendo" has gone toe-to-toe against legends like Fedor Emelianenko, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and "The Axe Murderer." At the time of Rua's Pride FC debut, the two even shared a similar opponent in Renato Sobral -- who the Brazilian lost to, but Henderson managed to beat. Despite both men's proficiencies in their respective grappling arts, they've each gained a reputation as knockout artists, being able to rob their opponents of their consciousness in fashions that are as quick as they are brutal. "Dangerous" Dan earned a spot on the shortlist for "Best Knockout Ever" when he took out Briton Michael Bisping, while all but three of Rua's victories have ended in a post-fight concussion test for his opponent. With all this in mind, it's shocking that they haven't ended up as opponents at some point in the past eight years. Tonight's main event has all the makings of an instant classic and makes the hearts of fans who crave devastating knockouts skip a beat. With all that potential, why didn't Pride or the UFC make this fight happen earlier? I suppose you can place most of the blame on Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. "Little Nog" was booked against Henderson in the opening round of the 203-pound grand prix back in 2005 and eliminated the American with a perfectly executed armbar. Across the bracket, Rua battered "Rampage" en route to a dominant first round technical knockout (TKO). The two Brazilians would face off in the quarterfinals, while the loss not only bounced "Hendo" from the tournament, but also from the weight class. Starting with his next fight, Henderson began making the cut down to 183-pounds. And it wasn't until Pride FC offered him a fight against Vitor Belfort at its inaugural show in the United States that Henderson returned to light heavyweight. He won that bout and it earned him a show at Wanderlei Silva and the belt many thought would have to be pried from "The Axe Murderer's" cold, dead hands. "Hendo" came as close to that without actually killing the poor Brazilian. Henderson would then spend his next few fights bouncing between weight classes with mixed results. Facing the risk of drifting between 185- and 205-pounds until the end of his career, "Hendo" decided to make a statement at UFC 100. Everyone knows how that shook out. Well, everyone except Bisping, who likely doesn't remember a thing from that night. Failure to upend Jake Shields as Strikeforce's middleweight champ caused yet another shift in weight for Henderson. This move has proved more fruitful than any other. Three fights, three knockouts and one championship. On the flip side, "Shogun" has spent his entire career at light heavyweight. The enormous success he achieved in 2005 was dulled somewhat by a fluke injury loss to Mark Coleman and then completely smudged out when he was choked out by Forrest Griffin in his highly anticipated Octagon debut. He would eventually claw his way back to the top of the 205-pound mountain when he barreled his first in Machida's jaw and captured the most prestigious title in the sport. A knee injury kept him sidelined for nearly a year after claiming the belt. And when "Shogun" returned to the cage, he would end up losing the belt to Jon Jones at UFC 128 before exacting a measure of revenge on Griffin when the company returned to Brazil this past August. So what does the future hold for each man? "Hendo" seems to have hit his stride at light heavyweight while the shellacking Jones gave "Shogun" doesn't instill a desire in fans to see a rematch. It's also no secret that the Brazilian doesn't cut much to make weight, a practice that could be a death sentence in the sport. Both men step inside the cage tonight in a light heavyweight bout, but do both have futures at 185-pounds Henderson has a history at that weight and hasn't been shy about wanting a rematch with Anderson Silva. Middleweight is uncharted territory for Rua, but could be the change that gives his career a strong second wind if he's unsuccessful this evening. But that discussion can wait for Sunday. For now, let's just enjoy a fight we've wanted for years and are finally getting to see. Let's enjoy two living legends do what they do best. Finally fight.

Posted in: fight, henderson, year, rua, pride

UFC 139: Preview & Predictions

Breaking down all of the fights from one of the most stacked pay per view cards of the entire year.

Posted in: ufc, fight, year, prediction, view cards

Dream Bantamweight Tourney Pairings Announced

The Dream bantamweight tournament will come to a close on New Year's Eve, and the brackets have now been released, as well as a welterweight fight for the New Year's Eve card.

Posted in: year, bantamweight, years eve, eve, welterweight fight

'DREAM: New Year! 2011' adds Sakurai vs. Chonan, bantamweight grand-prix semis

A trio of bouts has been added to next month's year-end "DREAM: New Year! 2011" event. In a featured bout, Hayato Sakurai takes on fellow welterweight veteran Ryo Chonan. Additionally, the final two rounds of this year's world bantamweight grand prix conclude with Bibiano Fernandes vs. Rodolfo Marques Diniz and Antonio Banuelos vs. Masakazu Imanari.

Posted in: vs, year, bantamweight, chonan, sakurai

GENKIDESUKA!! OMISOKA!! 2011: Three Fights Added To NYE Card

The New Years Eve card at Saitama Super Arena continues to fill out as the folks at Dream and Fight for Japan release more details. Last night they sent out a press release stating that Hiroyuki Takaya would face Lion Takeshi for the featherweight title. They also matched up Tatsuya Kawajiri with Kazuyuki Miyata in another featherweight fight. Tonight they officially announced that the bantamweight tournament would come to a close on New Years eve. At Dream.17 Bibiano Ferdnandes, Rodolfo Marques Diniz, Masakazu Imanari, and Antonio Benuelos all advanced with victories. Bibiano is matched with Rodolfo while Imanari will face Banuelos. The winner of each fight will meet in the finals later that evening. Finally, they announced that Hayato Sakurai would meet Ryo Chonan in a welterweight clash. This is essentially a legend's fight between two of the all time greats of Japanese MMA. Sakurai hasn't competed since last year's Dynamite!! and is on a four fight losing streak. Chonan has stayed relatively active, fighting twice this year. He is undefeated in 2011.

Posted in: fight, year, years eve, featherweight fightnbsp, years dynamite

Dan Henderson - Like He Never Left

If we’re going by the usual order of the fight universe, at 41 years old, Dan Henderson should probably be either on the tail end of a lengthy losing streak or already retired. Instead, the ageless wonder is still fighting at a high level, is coming off a first round knockout of Fedor Emelianenko, and will be headlining Saturday’s UFC 139 event against Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.To borrow a phrase from his former teammate Randy Couture, “Not bad for an ‘old’ man.”Yet while wins in six of his last seven fights against top level foes speak for themselves, Henderson isn’t about to say that he feels 25 on the inside. In fact, when asked if there are things he can’t do now that he used to, he chuckles.“There are a lot of things. Give me a week and I’ll give you a list of what I used to be able to do. But the key is experience, knowing that I can relax in a lot of places where I used to not relax. I could keep going back then, but now I go when I need to go, and I put my energy and strength in the right places.”It’s worked for him, yet Henderson is not a cagey gameplanner like Couture was when he was beating top level foes into his 40’s. “Hendo” is still a free swinger and a deadly finisher if he lands his right hand. That hasn’t changed, and while it proved a detriment to him at times when he didn’t use the wrestling skills that got him to two Olympics, eventually he settled into a style where that right hand finds a home more often than not. It certainly did in the last fight of his previous UFC stint against Michael Bisping in 2009, and it worked wonders for him in Strikeforce, where he followed up a decision loss to Jake Shields in 2010 with KOs of Babalu Sobral, Rafael Cavalcante, and Emelianenko. So is it safe to say that he accomplished all he wanted to in Strikeforce before returning to the Octagon?“With the exception of the one loss,” he said. “I didn’t expect to lose, but that happens. I had a bad fight and I’m the one that has to learn from that and move on. I’m not dwelling on it at all, Jake did a good job and did what he needed to do, but regardless, I didn’t perform the way I knew I could, so the only thing I didn’t accomplish when I was there was a good performance in every fight.”But after the win over Emelianenko, at heavyweight no less, it was almost inevitable that the biggest fights left for the 14-year pro were going to be in the UFC. So Henderson was welcomed back into the fold, even though he didn’t know that was going to be the case when he left the UFC after the Bisping fight.“I didn’t know what to expect,” said Henderson. “When I left the UFC and went to Strikeforce, I didn’t know what was in the future. It was always a possibility; I knew the UFC wasn’t going anywhere and I know I didn’t leave on bad terms at all, so it was a matter of how things worked out at Strikeforce. And (UFC President) Dana (White) missed me so much he had to go buy Strikeforce.”Henderson laughs after deadpanning that last line, but in all seriousness, for the 41-year old, who is the first and only man to hold PRIDE titles in different divisions simultaneously, and who has done so much in the sport, a UFC title is the only thing missing on his resume, and he’s ready to make a final run at getting it.“I do this for the challenge as well, and not saying there’s not tough guys to challenge me in Strikeforce, but the bigger fights and better matchups for me right now are in the UFC, so I think I will be retiring in the UFC, and not somewhere else,” he said. “I’m not retiring soon, but I won’t be going anywhere and I’ll be fighting the remainder of my fights in the UFC I’m sure.”Does he think about a legacy that includes the aforementioned wins and titles, along with victories over Carlos Newton, Minotauro Nogueira, Renzo Gracie, Murilo Bustamante, Kazuo Misaki, Vitor Belfort, Wanderlei Silva, and Rich Franklin?“I don’t really give too much thought to that,” he said. “I know I’ve accomplished quite a bit in the sport, but in my mind, I’m not gonna be satisfied with what I’ve done when I have bigger goals that I want to accomplish. Once I accomplish those goals, maybe I’ll retire and be satisfied with that.”Probably not, as Henderson seems like the type to instantly formulate new goals as soon as he’s done with the first batch.“I’ve been doing it a long time and it’s tough to stay motivated throughout that many years of fighting, 14 years now, and the challenges with the different opponents is what kept me motivated.”On Saturday, it will be a fight fan’s dream fight when he takes on Rua, like Henderson a former PRIDE star now slugging it out in the Octagon. Henderson admits that he “really didn’t give too much thought” to a matchup with the Brazilian Muay Thai master while the two fought in Japan, but now that the fight is a reality, he’s preparing for the same ferocious force that tore up the ring a few years back.“He (Rua) has still got that youth to him, and obviously the rules are a little bit different now than they were in PRIDE, but he’s dangerous and he’s well-rounded, so I think he’s definitely as dangerous as he used to be,” he said. “He’s got a lot more experience and he’s better than he used to be as well.”As for Henderson?“I’m better.”That’s the answer you have to expect from a man who has been at the top of this game for nearly 15 years now. And when Saturday comes, expect him to be ready for five rounds, just like always.“My gameplan is to win every round, pick my shots, control him the whole fight, and beat him everywhere we’re at.”

Posted in: ufc, fight, ’t, henderson, year

Dream New Year’s Eve Card Adds Two New Bouts

Two new bouts have been announced for the year end Dream New Year's Eve card, including former top ten ranked lightweight fighter Tatsuya Kawajiri.

Posted in: bout, dream, year, card, eve

Of Critics & Ratings: The Banes of MMA Fandom

Filed under: UFCLast Saturday night brought it all to a head. UFC was finally coming to free network television. Millions would watch. Millions would learn. A sport that we love would put its best foot forward, and the stigmas that have plagued it for years would start to fade away. At least that's how it was supposed to be. By Sunday morning though, there was panic spreading. The early ratings had returned, and they weren't great. Just 4.6 million viewers was the estimate, a number below expectations. The hand-wringing started, and defensive instincts kicked in. It had only been a one-minute fight. The UFC made a huge mistake in only airing one match. The one-hour time was an unfair window. These were all common themes on that morning, and it all reeked of an inferiority complex undeserving of the big platform we had just been handed. Even before the revised ratings were released and indicated an average audience of 5.7 million and a peak of 8.8 million, the truth was that the stress that comes along with criticism and ratings is mostly wasted energy. Let's all remember that the deal between UFC and FOX is for seven years. Imagine having your future set for that long. That's a pretty secure feeling. That's a lot of time to establish a new brand, and make no mistake, FOX realizes that there is still work to be done. This isn't the NFL with a 90-year history, or baseball, with well over 100 years behind it. This is the latest sport to wedge its way into the American sports palate. It's one thing for UFC president Dana White to be stressed about it. This is his business, and it's one he treats like another child, he loves it so much. To carry that human analogy further, it was one that he was told would die, that it was just a matter of time. But he loved it, cared for it, spared no expense and no energy to nurse it back to health. He is invested in it every way, personally, financially, even physically, if you've seen his schedule. For others, it's a bit more perplexing. In no other sport is so much stock put into things like ratings and criticsm. So there are still people who don't like MMA? Who cares? We don't have to try to convert every living soul walking the earth. And we don't have to shoot down every voice who disagrees with us. Early Thursday morning, for example, The Washington Post, which is one of the most circulated and influential newspapers in the country, ran a column by a writer named Fred Bowen, which was headlined, "Ultimate Fighting is too brutal to be considered a sport, even if it's on TV." I probably know about as much about him as he does about MMA, which is to say, not much at all. A quick Google search shows that he is a sports fiction author for kids, and his column is also geared towards children. Every parent should determine whether their own child watches MMA. I wouldn't disagree with him on that. But the rest of his opinion, is quite simply that: his own opinion. Like where he claims that "ultimate fighting is not safer than cheerleading," even though a recent report by the National Association for Catastrophic Sports Injury research showed that cheerleading was the most dangerous sport in the nation. But in the end, his is just another among the voices who have tried to drown out the sport in recent times. I can guarantee that by the end of the day, the MMA mafia will unload on him in the comments, and some will write things that don't represent the sport's followers in a respectful manner, and a potential dialogue will be lost to a flame war. In some ways, it doesn't matter. For him and others, it's probably too late. Here's the thing: they all had the chance to kill off MMA back in the late '90s and early 2000s and couldn't do it. The sport was on its deathbed, they applied a pillow to its face, and couldn't snuff it out. Now it's a movement. It's not just popular here but in places far and wide. The fact that 8.8 million people were watching the bout should be the real takeaway. While that number doesn't come close to approaching the 20.9 million that watched the Patriots and Jets play the next night on NBC, it's a sign of the mainstream interest being piqued. So too are the criticisms and interest in the ratings. But that's all it is. There's a lot of hard work ahead for the UFC, as well as other promotions like Bellator that are hoping to cash in on the opportunities ahead. But our blood pressure doesn't have to rise every time someone says something stupid about the sport. The days of scratching and clawing for attention and acceptance are mostly over. At least for the next seven years, MMA has a major platform from which to shoot down misconceptions and misinformation. In that part of the fight towards mainstream, we have already won. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, mma, sport, year, rating

Kawajiri vs. Miyata, Takaya vs. Inoue Booked for New Year's Eve DREAM

Filed under: News, JapanA pair of featherweight bouts have been booked for the Dec. 31 "How Are You?" event (this year's Dynamite!! equivalent) with Tatsuya Kawajiri squaring off against Kazuyuki Miyata and Hiroyuki Takaya defending his belt against Takeshi "Lion" Inoue in Saitama, Japan. DREAM executive producer Keiichi Sasahara announced the bouts Thursday at a press conference in Tokyo. Kawajlri (29-7-2) fought in two of the three DREAM events in 2011, beating Drew Fickett and Joachim Hansen. In April, Kawajiri challenged Gilbert Melendez for the Strikeforce lightweight belt and lost by first-round TKO. In his most recent fight against Hansen in September, Kawajiri made the drop to featherweight. Miyata (11-8) fought once this year in a losing effort against Takaya with the DREAM title on the line. Takaya (16-9-1), who won the DREAM title last New Year's Eve, returned to the U.S. in April for Strikeforce and lost on the undercard to now-UFC fighter Robert Peralta. Takaya then bounced back in July with the aforementioned win over Miyata. Inoue (21-5) won all three of his fights this year against Taiki Tsuchiya, Koichiro Matsumoto and Caol Uno. The full card will be a mixture of MMA, kickboxing and pro wrestling matches and will air on HDNet. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: dream, kawajiri, year, miyata, takaya

Tom Lawlor's Back - And You Know What That Means

There’s no denying that Tom Lawlor is entertaining. From the Hulk Hogan entrance complete with feather boas, t-shirt ripping and “Real American” blaring, to the pre-fight weigh-ins dressed head to toe as Dan “The Beast” Severn at UFC 113, “Filthy” Tom knows a thing or two about showmanship and, simply, having fun. As he prepares for his UFC 139 bout with rising middleweight star Chris Weidman, Lawlor is focused on a lot more than planning a memorable walkout; he is planning an upset. “I would say that played and plays a huge part in being able to motivate me,” explains Lawlor. “In the past there has been a fight or two that I wasn't as motivated as I should have been. If you're a competitor there is always something that needs to drive you and if you don't have that then you're not going to perform at the best of your abilities. You're not going to put forth everything and you're not going to do everything you can to win the fight. The fact that there are so many MMA websites and so many people with their lists that tout Weidman highly, it really does drive me. On betting odds, I'm a 2-1 or 3-1 underdog, so I'm definitely pumped up for this fight. I'm pumped up to fight Weidman, I'm pumped up to fight his aura, his hype train - I'm ready for it all.In his first fight in over a year, Lawlor wants to mark his return to the Octagon on November 19th with a win against the top MMA prospect. It has been a while since UFC fans have seen any pre-fight antics from Lawlor, since his last cage appearance was in October of 2010 at UFC 121 against the heavy handed Patrick Cote. The dominant unanimous decision win over Cote snapped a two fight losing streak which started with a razor thin split-decision loss to Aaron Simpson followed by a second round submission loss to Joe Doerksen. Add to the mix Lawlor’s lightning quick guillotine choke of CB Dollaway, and he has fought four well-respected and recognizable names at middleweight in the UFC prior to Weidman.“A lot of people look at him as a real big prospect for this sport and some people think he might challenge for the title in the future, but in my opinion he is still young in his career,” says Lawlor. “He has a lot of competition experience in wrestling and in grappling, but he's still kind of putting it together as a mixed martial artist. I think I have a couple more years experience on him even though I don't have many more fights. I've been training and doing everything else like working on striking and blending everything together. On paper and the odds, I'm sure I'm the underdog. I've gone against guys who on paper are better wrestlers than me in the past and fought against guys who are better strikers on paper than me in the past and none of it ever deters me. I'm going to go out there and do what I do. I've seen some things in Weidman's game I think I can exploit. The people who think he is going to run over me because he has a better wrestling pedigree than me will be sorrily mistaken.”For a guy who is revered in the MMA blogosphere mostly for dressing up as an esoteric early days of UFC reference, Harold Howard, at a weigh-in, Lawlor is a solid, well-rounded fighter who owns a “Submission of the Night”, a “Fight of the Night” and a recent win over a former number one contender. At 3-2 inside the Octagon, Lawlor also holds the only UFC victory over fellow Ultimate Fighter season 8 alum Kyle Kingsbury at light heavyweight. On top of that, he looked at his best in his previous outing, manhandling Cote for three decisive rounds. Plus, the fight should have ended in the first with Lawlor’s arm-triangle choke, but Cote escaped by slyly grabbing onto the fence and pulling himself out of the attempt without the referee noticing the infraction“Honestly, during the fight I felt no danger,” asserts Lawlor. “I felt like I could have done what I wanted. I didn't stand up and throw down with him because that's where he's the most dangerous, but I really wasn't scared of his standup either. I feel like I could have stood with him and thrown down, but I had such a clear advantage on the ground that I wanted to keep up the pressure and not let him do anything. I pretty much shut him down for 15 minutes and it might not have been the most exciting thing to watch, but that's a guy who fought for the title before and is pretty well regarded. I was able to do almost whatever I wanted.”At 28 years old, the four-time NCWA All-American wrestler from University of Central Florida has spent the past year working on himself outside the cage. Following the Cote bout, Lawlor participated in a tour for the US troops where he injured his knee training with a few fellow fighters, which did sideline him from cagefighting for a little bit. Most of Lawlor’s time off has been spent in a series of new gyms in a familiar area of the country. It’s been an unexpected, but welcomed, time off, where he has gotten to sharpen and improve his skills while properly rehabbing injuries.“At the beginning of the summer, I relocated up to the New England area,” tells Lawlor. “I trained there before my last fight. That's where I originally grew up. I had moved down to Florida and that's where I had been training for the past 10 years. I had gone ahead and moved back home and moved to Providence, RI. I train at a couple different places. I have a great strength coach in Kyle Holland, who also works with Joe Lauzon and Kenny Florian. I work with the same boxing coach that Joe does, Steve Maze. I go up to Joe's gym a lot to spar with the guys he has there. I train five or six times a week at a phenomenal jiu-jitsu place, Tim Burrill's BJJ. He also coaches Jorge Rivera and Mike Campbell, and there are a lot of good guys that I have been sparring with in New England. Currently, I'm at Team Quest in Temecula, California getting ready and putting the finishing touches on for this fight. It's a great camp and there are a lot of good guys my size here. It doesn't hurt that Dan Henderson is here getting ready to fight in the main event as well.”Although Lawlor has not fought in 2011, the Weidman bout will be the third Lawlor’s been scheduled to be in. He was set to take on Maiquel Falcao at UFC 134 before Falcao was released, which led to Lawlor being matched up with Kyle Noke at UFC Live in August. In the training camp for the showdown in Milwaukee, Lawlor injured his arm, leaving him unable to punch and unable to continue with the fight. Nevertheless, Lawlor has been basically training for this return to the Octagon for the past nine months with a few hiccups, but he will have a renewed vigor to fight going into this bout against the undefeated Weidman.“I feel like I'm a better person than I was a year ago,” admits Lawlor. “Being away for a year, I haven't been working for a year. There have been a lot of things going on, from not having money, making a big move, buying a house, and a lot of things have gone on that really put things into perspective in the grand scheme of things. In a way, it excites me even more to go ahead to fight. I'm not as nervous to fight. Being away for a year, I really have the itch to fight, and after this fight I want to fight more often. I realized that your window is only open for so long in this sport, and to be out for a year is pretty big. I should be in my physical prime right now, even though my physical prime was probably when I six, so I'm way past my physical prime at this point. Taking a year off doesn't seem like a waste and probably will be good for me in the long run, but I'm definitely itching to get back in there and continue fighting more often.”This weekend, Lawlor wants to derail the hype train behind the young gun Weidman. And soon enough, his absence will only be a memory to fight fans, as he is preparing the expected tour-de-force of weigh-in and walkout hi-jinx, as well as the in cage grit and toughness that earned him his spot in the UFC. As Lawlor prepares to meet Weidman head on in a fight that will re-establish him in the UFC’s middleweight division, in typical fashion, Lawlor is doing it with a wink and a smile.“The number one thing I'm going to show off in this fight is my physique,” divulges Lawlor. “I'm getting prepared to make a run at the Mr. Olympia 2012 title; a lot of people don't know that. I've had a lot of time to work on my vascularity and my body building. Also, I have a new hair cut and a new beard, so those are things I will show off as well. You're not going to see too much difference in the way that I fight. I'm not going to say I'm going to look intimidating, but I'm going to look damn good - that's for sure.”A year on the shelf for Lawlor to prepare for a fight and to come up with a weigh-in costume will no doubt be entertaining.

Posted in: ufc, fight, year, lawlor, im

Ten Years Later, Shogun Looks to Avenge Brother's Loss to Henderson

submitted by col0rado [link] [comment]

Posted in: loss, year, shogun, brother, brothers loss

UFC on FX books Barry vs Morecraft and Neer vs Ludwig for January 2012

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) today announced a pair of upcoming bouts for its UFC on FX network debut, currently scheduled for January 2012, though an exact date and location have yet to be revealed. From UFC.com: A welterweight bout with fight of the year potential will unfold as Josh ‘The Dentist’ Neer and Duane ‘Bang’ Ludwig have verbally agreed to meet in the new year. In addition, a heavyweight showdown has been verbally agreed to for with Christian Morecraft taking on Pat ‘HD’ Barry." City, date and international viewing information will be made available shortly. Today's announcement comes less than one week removed from the UFC on FOX: "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos" network television event, held on Nov. 12 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. FX will also carry season 15 of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), among other things. Barry (6-4) is coming off back-to-back losses to Cheick Kongo and Stefan Struve. The stocky and cocky kickboxer may not be on the chopping block just yet, but a third consecutive loss certainly won't do him any favors, either. Matt Mitrione entered the "World of Morecraft" and left with a knockout win back at UFC on Versus 4, dropping Morecraft (7-2) to just 1-2 inside the Octagon. A loss in "HD" and it's likely curtains on his Zuffa career. Also fighting for a spot on the roster -- albeit a much higher one -- is Josh Neer (32-10-1). The welterweight "Dentist" has strung together five straight wins, all of them stoppages, including a technical knockout finish over Keith Wisniewski just last month. He'll get his favorite type of opponent after the new year, someone who likes to stand and "Bang," as Duane Ludwig (21-11) is riding high after outperforming Nick Osipczak and Amir Sadollah in recent bouts. Four tough competitors, two great fights. Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for more details on the UFC on FX debut, which is part of the promotion's seven year, $100 million broadcast agreement with the FOX network, as they become available.

Posted in: ufc, fx, year, network, morecraft

Shane Carwin Undergoes Successful Back Surgery

Shane Carwin underwent successful back surgery today. The procedure consisted of drilling out bone in the T10 – T12 vertebrae to relieve pressure on his spinal cord and repairing an unexpected herniated disk that doctors found during the operation. The operation was deemed necessary by doctors if Carwin wanted to continue his fighting career after he experienced paralysis in his legs for 10-15 seconds while he was drilling takedowns during a seminar earlier this year. Once Carwin awoke in recovery earlier today, he went on the UG to let everyone know he “made it out alive.” I amde (sic) it out alive. I am on some heavy meds but I already have my Carwin walk out tee on. I am ready! They found a pretty bad herniated disc while performing the surgery and they repaired that too. My doctor was surprised that I could do what I do with my back in such bad shape. He said I am as good as new now. That mountain top does not look so far away. Thanks to you the UG for the support. On Carwin’s official website, his wife added that “he’ll be better than he’s been in years” as long as his recovery goes well. Dr. Chad just came out and he’s done! He said that it couldn’t have went any better; he not only drilled out the bone in T10-T12 that was compressing his spine but also repaired a very herniated disk that they hadn’t found. He said as long as recovery goes well he will be better than he’s been in years….yes, years – and he will be back in the ring better than ever! It will be 1 hr – 1 1/2 hr before I get to see him, he’s still asleep, but doing great. THANK THE GOOD LORD FOR HIS HAND ON DR. CHAD AND MY HUSBAND!!!!!!! Carwin expects to have 10 weeks of downtime to recover, so it will likely be sometime in the late spring/early summer at the earliest before we see him back in the Octagon. Image via Shane-Carwin.com

Posted in: year, carwin, surgery, dr chad, recovery

For Stephan Bonnar, Fight of the Night Is Only Part of the Strategy

Filed under: UFC, NewsStephan Bonnar wanted a name opponent for his return to the cage this year, but what he was offered instead was rising star Kyle Kingsbury. And although Kingsbury might be a tad lacking in star power, there was an appeal. "I was content with [Kingsbury as an opponent] just cause of the fact he's got a couple Fight of the Night bonuses," Bonnar said with a laugh on Monday's The MMA Hour. "And that evens it out. I think our chances of getting a bonus are pretty good." More Coverage: UFC 139 Fight Card | UFC 139 Results Bonnar, who meets Kingsbury this Saturday at UFC 139, says his Fight of the Night chase isn't all about the paper. Bonnar feels he has the advantage on the ground and an early brawl is part of the strategy. "I know I say it in a way that I'm going to be stupid and reckless," he said. "But if I went out there like, 'I think I have a better submission, I'm just going to take him down and submit him,' I think it would be harder than if we slug it out first. Both of us landing some shots. I think that will help open up the submission a little better." In his last fight, Bonnar said he should have tried to soften up Igor Pokrajac before taking the fight to the mat. Sticking to a ground-centric effort, Bonnar wasn't able to submit Pokrajac, but did enough for a unanimous decision. It's been almost a year since that fight due to injuries and poor timing. While "time flies" as he commented, he's also been busy during the stretch with his broadcasting duties and his "Punch Buddies" tees, formerly "Trash Talkin' Kids" (name changed for legal reasons). Bonnar saw the T-shirt line as a creative outlet. "it wasn't so much as setting myself up for later," Bonnar said. "It's about, man, I wanted to use my brain a little more than something other than a punching bag." Last Saturday, Bonnar joined Kenny Florian and Jay Glazer in the handling of the UFC on FOX pre and post-fight show on FUEL. Bonnar has done commentary for Versus shows and has been a guest analyst on MMA Live on ESPN. As an on-air talent, the TUF 1 icon will have no trouble finding a way to stay involved in the sport once his in-ring career is over. Not that he still doesn't have quite a few fights left in him. "I've been doing this for 10 years," the 34-year-old said. "I haven't really put an exact date. It takes toll on you. I'm not getting any younger, guys are getting better. I'd say no more than five years if that." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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

UFC Bypasses NY Legislators, Files Lawsuit

It's attempts to go the legislative route to legalize MMA in New York thwarted year after year, the UFC on Tuesday announced they have filed a lawsuit against state officials.

Posted in: ufc, year, attempt, official, lawsuit

Lorenzo Fertitta: UFC is worth more than the New York Yankees and the Dallas Cowboys

Bronx Bombers? Pfft. More like pipsqueak pea-shooters. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is the world's most valuable sports franchise, worth upwards of $2 billion and far ahead of the New York Yankees (MLB), Dallas Cowboys (NFL) and even Manchester United (MLS). That's according to UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta (via New York Times), who ten years ago was writing payroll checks from his own personal checking account. Them days be over. "I feel pretty comfortable saying we’re the most valuable sports franchise on the planet, more than Manchester United, more than the New York Yankees, more than the Dallas Cowboys." And it's only going to get bigger if Fertitta can make good on his promise to "take this thing worldwide" in the coming years. One of the biggest concerns heading into the 2012 fight campaign is over-saturating the market. Pay-per-view buys, the core of the Zuffa business model, are down for 2011. Barry Bearak explains: Reasons for the decline include a fan base adept at video piracy. But more than that, some fight cards simply are less appealing than others, and this year one of the U.F.C.'s biggest draws, the heavyweight Brock Lesnar - a former pro wrestler - has been battling diverticulitis instead of opponents. The welterweight champ, Georges St-Pierre, has fought only once because of injuries. The U.F.C. galaxy needs more stars and less dark matter. The promotion's debut on FOX, scheduled for tomorrow night (Nov. 12, 2011) at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, is expected to kick-start the brand's extension into the mainstream market and introduce new fans to the product. And simultaneously re-invigorate old ones. The FOX network deal, valued at $100 million dollars across seven years, will also unveil a revamped "Ultimate Fighter" franchise that may have grown stale in its current format on Spike TV. The wheels are in motion. If the UFC is worth $2 billion today, what will it be worth in 2015? 2020? Time will tell.

Posted in: ufc, year, york, york yankees, sports franchise

UFC on Fox: For Champions, What A Difference Five Years Can Make

There's been a lot of talk this week about what the UFC on Fox event means historically. While true perspective can't be calculated until after things have concluded, Saturday will mark a pretty important day and milestone for the world's largest MMA promotion.It may sound like a 'duh' statement, but a lot can happen in a short amount of time in MMA. Just this year alone, we've seen No. 1 buy No. 2, No. 1 sign a network deal, champions cross over, miss press conferences and then get title shots, stars get injured and more. December will be a fun month for those year-end retrospective pieces as there's a ton to discuss.But with Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos set to go in front of potentially the biggest audience to ever watch an MMA bout, it got me to thinking about where the current crop of UFC champions were five years ago. To paraphrase the Talking Heads, how did we get here? Be the Sherman to my Mr. Peabody and jump in the time machine with me to November 12, 2006, when the UFC was ready to close out their second year of the boom period and had just wrapped their fourth season of The Ultimate Fighter. The UFC Five years ago today, the TUF 4 finale was set for Las Vegas and would feature Matt Serra picking up a split decision win over Chris Lytle to win a shot at the welterweight title and Travis Lutter submitting Patrick Cote in the first round to get a shot at the middleweight gold. TUF 4 was entitled "The Comeback" and featured all former UFC fighters looking to get back to the big time. Serra would take advantage of his opportunity, while Lutter couldn't make weight and failed at his. An interesting note on this card: Martin Kampmann beat Thales Leites by unanimous decision in the night's opening fight.One week later, then-UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Hughes was preparing to defend against Georges St. Pierre at UFC 65 with Tim Sylvia defending his heavyweight gold against Jeff Monson. For perspective, Sylvia just headlined for ProElite while Monson is preparing for a fight in Russia against Fedor Emelianenko. A lot can happen in five years. UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez The man that is preparing for the first defense of his gold was a month removed from the first pro win of his career five years ago, a 1:58 TKO win over Jesse Fujarczyk on the undercard of a Strikeforce event featuring Paul Buentello vs. Tank Abbott in the main event. UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick CruzThe reigning 135-pound kingpin was 9-0 and coming off his featherweight debut in a decision win over Shad Smith at a regional show. He was less than five months away from getting his only career loss at the hands of Urijah Faber in his WEC debut. UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones How quickly has Jones shot up the ranks? Five years ago, he had yet to compete professionally. That wouldn't happen until April 2008 and now he's beating up guys like Mauricio "Shogun" Rua and Rampage Jackson.UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo Five years ago, Aldo was sitting at 8-1 in the Brazilian MMA scene but had only fought once in 2006. It would be about 18 months until he went on his path of destruction in the WEC that would eventually lead to his current reign in the UFC. UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva "The Spider" was enjoying his first month as UFC Middleweight Champion after his destruction of Rich Franklin at UFC 64 -- the kickoff to a reign that is still going strong five years later. In that time, Silva is 12-0 in two weight classes and has defended his belt nine consecutive times. UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar The 4-0 Edgar was a week out from a tilt with Jim Miller for the Reality Fighting group in Atlantic City, NJ -- a fight he'd win by unanimous decision. He would get his first taste of UFC action four months later in a UFC 67 Fight Of The Night against Tyson Griffin and never looked back. UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. PierreReferenced earlier, St. Pierre was one week out from his first title shot and what would become a short first title reign that ended at the hands of the aforementioned Serra. St. Pierre has done just fine in the last five years with the majority spent being recognized as one of the two best fighters in the world. In November 2016, what will this list look like? Will we be talking about how the next UFC/Fox deal should double in rights fees? Will pay-per-view still be alive? Could any of these champions still be on the list? SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos

Posted in: ufc, time, champion, year, month

A Year Later, It's the Same Place But a Different Scene for Cain Velasquez

Filed under: UFC, UFC on FOXROSEMEAD, Calif. -- If it feels like we've been here before, that's because we have. Just a little over a year ago, in fact, and in this same exact place. That was a very different fight week -- big for different reasons. It was the Brock Lesnar show, and that show went where it pleased and performed on its own terms. Back then, when it was time for the main card fighters at UFC 121 to go through the plodding PR paces of the open workout, Lesnar was nowhere to be found. But Cain Velasquez, then the challenger for the heavyweight title, still had to show up at the UFC gym in Rosemead and be a good soldier, which is exactly what he did. Nearly 13 months later, Velasquez is back here against a very different opponent in a very different fight, but some things haven't changed. At around noon on Thursday afternoon the UFC heavyweight champ strolls into the same exact gym with the same unassuming air that he had last year. And, just like last year, he had his fans there waiting for him, waving Mexican flags and cheering him on as he stepped in the cage to throw a few perfunctory punches and kicks at the air for the sake of the cameras. But this time it's not about the celebrity of one of the participants. Bizarrely, it's not even really about the heavyweight title. Sure, it's there. It's a part of the package, but it feels more like an accessory than the real prize. How can you tell? Just listen to the questions he's peppered with as he moves down the seemingly endless media assembly line. Are you nervous about representing the UFC and the sport of MMA itself on network TV? Are you feeling the pressure from your boss, from the fans? In other words, are you freaking out yet, or are you going to wait until later? And for whatever reason -- maybe because it's true, or maybe just because his fighter's instinct is to resist pressure rather than succumb to it -- the champ refuses to play along. He's not especially nervous, he says. It's just another fight. He doesn't think about the stakes involved or the millions who'll be watching. He won't even admit to feeling the pressure of the champion or the betting favorite. "I feel like every time I go out to fight, I'm always the underdog," he insists. His trainer, Javier Mendez, stands nearby chatting with reporters and looking up with genuine surprise when nearby fans want their pictures taken with them. "This is all your guys' fault," he grumbles to the reporters before going over to fulfill his obligations as a newfound semi-celebrity. This didn't happen back before he was known as the champ's trainer, but such is the brave new world he finds himself in, for better or worse. Velasquez's opponent, Junior dos Santos, who shows up for his workout more than an hour later, also won't admit to feeling the heat. If anything, he does an even better job of selling his media tormenters on how relaxed he is, smiling through the multitude of interviews as if he's actually having an okay time. "When you are nice, nice things happen to you," he explains, as if it's the simplest, most obvious philosophy in the world. Like, haven't you guys figured that out by now? When asked how he managed to go from MMA neophyte to heavyweight title challenger on live network TV in just six years, he answers quickly: "Work. And be nice." You want outsized egos and superstar personalities? You want guys at each others' throats? Too bad. Regardless of what you want, this is what you're getting. It'll have to be good enough, at least for now. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, time, year, heavyweight title, network tv

UFC on Fox: Dana White, the Unlikely Man To Lead the UFC to Prominence

The American Dream. A three word cliche used to describe why people move to the United States by whatever means necessary. Chasing the mythical land of opportunity. Where any man or woman can change their stars should they work hard enough. The same can be said about Las Vegas, the home of Zuffa. It's a city where anyone can become a millionaire and a person can be whoever they want, if they they can dream it. It's a cliche that very often never actually plays out, with many of us continuing to work a job where upward movement is rare and the ability to become the CEO is nearly impossible. It seems that Dana White never got that memo. A hotel bellhop turned boxercise instructor, White was never supposed to become rich and famous. He reached his ceiling and would have to settle into a life as just another man living in Las Vegas. He was the manager for Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz, but with the SEG-owned UFC in shambles, the money just wasn't there in the sport to support a family on MMA. These relationships; however, did provide him some knowledge that SEG was looking to sell the company. Finding partners in childhood friends, Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta, Dana was given the opportunity to not only turn the promotion around but also his own career path. The Zuffa run UFC struggled for years, despite White's best efforts. A year into the purchase he was given his first opportunity to deal with network television, showing a single fight on Fox Sports' Best Damn Sports Show, Period. While it was a relative ratings success, the sport just didn't catch on in the United States. Four years and a reported debt of $44 million, Zuffa took one last gamble to make the UFC successful with the reality television show The Ultimate Fighter. Even with the finale happening live, the Spike TV execs wouldn't commit to a second season. It was only until Forrest Griffin vs Stephan Bonner that both sides knew they captured lightning in a bottle. We're just over 48 hours away from the UFC finally making their network television debut. The anxiety is high for everyone at Zuffa, with the understanding that Saturday could determine if MMA or Ultimate Fighting will be accepted by a much larger audience. The desire isn't to reach the casual fan. The hope is to capture the non-fan and detractor. Dana White said on yesterday's media call that the goal of the card and broadcast is to educate the audience on what they are seeing. Everyone involved has been rehearsing since Tuesday to make sure the fights go off without a hitch. Jonathan Snowden of MMA Nation knows what's at stake. Snowden, a former tape trader, has been a fan of this sport long before the Zuffa regime and has witnessed the rise and fall and rise again of the UFC. He also understands why the UFC is banking on Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos. The Fox experiment is just beginning. We'll all know soon enough if the average sports fan will love this sport the way hardcore fans do. For most of us, the UFC is more religion than sport. It's what we live and breathe. Once you get it in your blood, every other sport pales in comparison. The future of MMA is now - we've been on a roller coaster ride together for 18 years. Saturday we finally take the plunge down that first giant hill. The mainstream might end up rejecting our beloved. But it won't be because of Dana White and the UFC. They've done everything we could have possibly dreamed to get us here, to this pivotal moment. I'll be watching. I hope ten million more are by my virtual side. The UFC is leading with their best foot forward and Fox is keeping in stride. With a lead up to card spanning the entire suite of Fox platforms and Alistair Overeem and Brock Lesnar providing analysis on a pre-show, Saturday night is about the heavyweights. MMA fans complaining about Guida and Henderson being relegated to Facebook fail to see the big picture. White has dealt with the fans and media questioning his decisions and looking for an opportunity to say "told ya so" since he took over the UFC. Now 10 years after the purchase he finally has the chance to say it himself. He can say "I told you that pushing for government regulation when others were content fighting at Indian casinos as a good idea." He can say "I told you that a reality television show about fighters would work." And he can finally say "I was right all along for holding out on a network television deal." He can say all these things because they are true. He can say all these things because he possesses the vision to see where the sport will be in five years. And he can say these things because he, along with his friends turned a niche, dying sport, into a global powerhouse. The "American Dream" does exist as long as you are willing to make the sacrifice. Just ask Dana White. SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos

Posted in: ufc, fox, sport, year, fan

Lorenzo Fertitta: UFC on FOX debut will cost Zuffa $16 million ... but it's a worthy investment

Chump change! Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will make its network television debut this Saturday night (Nov. 12, 2011) with UFC on FOX 1: "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos," a five-round main event title fight between reigning division champion Cain Velasquez and number one contender Junior dos Santos. If you're thinking "that's a pay-per-view (PPV) quality headliner," it is. But a short-term loss is a long-term gain. That's according to UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta, who told the Sports Business Journal that he expects a healthy return over the next ten years thanks to FOX: "When we were on Spike TV, that was a launching pad. We look at Fox as a bigger and better platform that could elevate the brand. We’re flat out going to lose money on this fight. But that’s the investment we’re making. Those are the steps we’ve got to take to make Cain and Junior pay-per-view stars and lift up the whole thing. Maybe we think a little funny here, but that’s well worth forgoing $16 million. Take that out over the next 10 years and we get a healthy return." Fertitta's goal is to convert 100,000 freebies into 100,000 PPV buys, using the FOX network to re-launch the brand into the mainstream market in much the same way Spike TV did (on a smaller scale) back in 2006 with The Ultimate Fighter (TUF). Speaking of TUF guys, the proving ground for up-and-coming fighters is moving to a live format when it transitions to the FX channel in Spring 2012, with 13 live episodes followed by an all-live season finale to crown the next Ultimate Fighter champion. The landmark deal, one that spans seven years and is valued at $100 million, may just be a series of "commercials" to attract advertisers, sponsors and PPV buyers through the recruitment of new fans -- and the re-introduction to old ones. Anyone think the UFC has put its best foot forward? Or have you reserved judgement until the fighters actually throw down? For more on the "future investment" of the UFC click here.

Posted in: ufc, fighter, fox, year, fertitta

Rogue Fan Ran Through The Octagon At UFC 138

One ballsy British fan did what no one else in the past 10 years did. He slipped past security and ran through the Octagon at UFC 138 right before the main event started. Funny stuff. Even Dana White was amused. Fan just jumped the barrier and ran into the octagon! That's a first in 10 years!!!!! The Brits lolNovember 5, 2011 4:36 pm via Twitter for iPhoneReplyRetweetFavorite@danawhiteDana White HT: Yahoo! Sports

Posted in: ufc, year, fan, octagon, octagon thats

Japan Update: Announcing New Years Eve 2011, and the K-1 Grand Prix 2012

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

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

10 year old girl with better striking than most guys in the UFC

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Posted in: ufc, guy, year, girl, unicornpower

MMAterial Facts (11/04/11) : UFC 138 Unloved, The U.K. Market, & Undisputed 3 Coverage

Welcome to this edition of MMAterial Facts, where we feature articles from around the MMA community. *** This week’s MMAterial Facts: - UFC Hopes for Two Shows in UK in 2012 (MMA Fighting) “Since making the UK market a priority a few years ago, the UFC visited the country eight times between 2007 and 2010. And even though shows there have tended to do big business, 2011 nearly came and went without a return, until the promotion managed to wedge one into the final stretches of a hectic schedule.” - Japan 2011: The more things change, the more they stay the same (Fight Opinion) “What’s not incredible or shocking is that there will be yet another attempted New Year’s Eve event at Saitama Super Arena this year, promoted by Real Entertainment. The former employees of PRIDE will work in conjunction with Antonio Inoki as the front man, just like he was last year. The show title will be called “Genki desu ka!” which is Inoki’s trademark slogan. It’s a sweetheart deal for him. The discussion is that there will be 20 matches on the card and that IGF aces Peter Aerts & Jerome Le Banner will be on the card. There is some hope of getting the telecast on broadcast television, but nobody is sure how things will play out given that it’s already November and it’s short time for a TV network to get an ad agency working at the last-second to make the numbers work.” - Interview with UFC 138 main eventer Mark Munoz (MMA Mania) “I’ll take a submission victory or a knockout. I will take that for sure. I don’t see this fight going five rounds at all. I think we’ll see a guys that come in there swinging and there’s just gonna be fireworks happening. We fight to finish and not just score points so I don’t see this fight going to the end of the fifth round at all.” - UFC 138 Preview – ‘Unloved and Unwanted in the UK’ Edition (MMA Convert) “Part of what makes this UFC a “throwaway” is the fact that in the grand scheme of things, none of the bouts matter. Yet what should make people tune in is the fact that Leben and Munoz will be more than ready to leave it all in the cage.” - Preview of UFC Undisputed 3 (MiddleEasy) “First off Lenne Hardt is in the game and it’s awesome. The PRIDE production values are ridiculously spot on. You will have confetti swirling around you as you celebrate victory (or wallow in defeat) in the Saitima Super Arena. PRIDE’s home is represented along with a host of other real life locations (like Mandalay and the other usual suspects). Everything about UFC 3 screams ‘more’. More licensed referees, more weight classes, more fighters, hell, more MMA organizations. You can tell that the extra time they took paid off in the presentation department, I felt like in was 2005 all over again. I must note that Layzie and I never left PRIDE mode and after a few scans of the room (although influenced by the soccer kick drink) I think literally every monitor had a PRIDE match going down. What can I say, the media loves it when one person kicks another person in the head.” - UFC UK Vice President: We’re Committed To The UK Market (FightLine) “I think that in a perfect world we would be here more times a year, but as you know – you’ve heard our mantra: we’re trying to get everywhere. There’s a lot of pressure to bring the event everywhere around the world. It was a struggle just getting this event into the calendar. You may remember back in the day, there was a lot of discussion about whether we were coming back at all. We were able to, through the hard work of the office here and with the arena here, make this event happen. There’s actually an event in the arena the night before that we’re actually setting up, so it’s not ideal for us but we were committed to coming back to the market.” - Dan Severn Still Wants Coleman and Shamrock, Will Likely Retire Next Year (Cage Potato) “I want specific fights right now. I’ve had some verbal offers but haven’t had the opportunity to bring some of these matches to life. Two particular matches I’m still interested are ones with Mark Coleman and Ken Shamrock. Realistically, I think that 2012 will be my final year as an MMA competitor. So whatever gets done gets done; whatever doesn’t, I’ll have to learn to live with I guess.” - “Big” John McCarthy likely to referee UFC on FOX main event (Five Ounces of Pain) “Big” John McCarthy is the most famous referee in MMA, he’s been a part of the UFC organization since the beginning, and he’ll be in the octagon when the company makes their network TV debut on November 12. CSAC Executive Officer George Dodd informed the UFC that, “there is a 99% chance” that McCarthy will be the referee for the UFC on FOX main event between Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos.” - M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Monson” Comes With $30 Pay-Per-View Price Tag (5thRound) “This was a big decision for me, I took my time looking for the right management and I found it in Glenn Robinson and Authentic Sports Management,” said Shields. “ASM feels like a family environment. It has good people who are working hard, and he seems to really care about the fighters.” - UFC Undisputed 3 photo coverage (LowKick) “Liddell and Rampage were not the only fighters to play UFC Undisputed 3. Chad Mendes, Anthony Pettis, Erik Koch, and the People’s Champion Chael P. Sonnen all tested their gaming skills, as the rumor says Chael Sonnen played Anderson Silva, while Erik Koch played Chael Sonnen in their own version of the upcoming (or not) “Biggest Rematch in the UFC History”.” - Bas Rutten on his new show “Punk Payback” and self-defense (TheFightNerd) “The Fight Nerd spoke with Bas Rutten, whose new show on FUEL TV, “Punk Payback” debuts tonight, which is a show that has the former UFC Heavyweight Champ and King of Pancrase breaking down real-life self-defense situations caught on tape, and showing you at home what to do if you were in that situation (think of his “Lethal Street-Fighting” DVD, but more!). We discussed the show at length, explaining what the concept is, how much of the self-defense that Bas shows is improv or scripted (along with the craziness that he says), and what is ahead in Bas’ acting career. We also discuss the real-life implications of some of these scenarios, and what is legal to do if you need to defend yourself.” - The 100 Greatest Moments in UFC History (BleacherReport.com/MMA) “At this point, it’s safe to say the UFC’s popularity is snowballing. Even that may be a mild analogy. With the UFC and its fighters finding newer and wider avenues into the mainstream seemingly every day, MMA’s premier promotion is more like a magnet in a river of paper clips, or a molten ball of caramel careening down a mountain of chopped walnuts. You get the idea. These are heady times for the UFC.”

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

After Long Absence From UK Market, UFC Hopes for Two Shows in 2012

Filed under: UFC, NewsSince making the UK market a priority a few years ago, the UFC visited the country eight times between 2007 and 2010. And even though shows there have tended to do big business, 2011 nearly came and went without a return, until the promotion managed to wedge one into the final stretches of a hectic schedule. While some in those parts have claimed they've been neglected, UFC executives say they have already planned another event for the UK in 2012, and possibly a second. "It's still a work in progress but it's a work we're prepared to do, committed to do," UFC managing director of international development Marshall Zelaznik said on Thursday. "Dana and Lorenzo are coming. We're committed to this market. We love coming here. The fans have been very supportive ... We're not giving up on this market and you can expect to see us here next year and I hope more times in the years to come." The UFC has faced some troubles in the market due to unstable television contracts that have "disjointed" programming in Zelaznik's words, but each time they've brought the show to town, fans have turned out in droves. During the UFC 138 pre-fight press conference, he announced that Saturday's UFC 138 event, headlined by Mark Munoz vs. Chris Leben,at the LG Arena in Birmingham, would set a gate record. Because of time zone differences, North American TV audience sizes are often affected by events held in Europe as well, though Zelaznik did not mention that as a factor in their scheduling decisions. The UFC's ambitious international schedule -- Scotland and Italy are two European nations they've spoken of visiting in 2012 -- is ultimately to blame, according to the company. There are only so many shows they can produce, leaving someone, somewhere disappointed as a result. "In a perfect world we'd be here more times a year, but as you know, you've heard our mantra, we're trying to get everywhere, and there's a lot of pressure to bring the event everywhere around the world," he said. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, time, event, year, market

History in the Making: Mark Muñoz puts C.B. Dollaway to sleep in less than a minute

According to R. Lee Ermey in the film Full Metal Jacket, only two things come from Texas. If that truly is the case, then the argument could be made that only one thing comes from Oklahoma. Wrestlers. The state -- along with the University of Iowa -- has dominated the collegiate wrestling scene for, well, as long as there has been a scene to dominate. Over 30 team championships and nearly countless individuals accolades have been heaped upon the Oklahoma State Univesity (OSU) and its students over the past 80-odd years. One such athlete to come out of that championship program was current UFC middleweight contender Mark Muñoz. He earned third place in his weight class in 2000 but ended up winning gold the following year. His wrestling chops are no joke and the skills he honed during his time in Oklahoma City helped him make a smooth transition to mixed martial arts (MMA). On Saturday (Nov. 5), Muñoz has the biggest opportunity of his young career. Headlining a card for the first time ever, he takes on longtime Octagon veteran Chris Leben at UFC 138 with a win getting both fighters closer to their ultimate goal: a shot at the middleweight title. Leben is known for his heavy hands and putting opponents to sleep. While Muñoz isn't recognized as the knockout artist "The Crippler" is, he's no stranger to removing fighters from their consciousness as evidenced by his bout with C.B. Dollaway. Back in March of this year, he put the fellow collegiate grappler on ice. Let's take a closer look. Since dropping down to 185-pounds, he's been near unstoppable with the only detour on his road to the title coming at the hands of Yushin Okami. But a loss to a fighter of "Thunder's" caliber only three years into a career isn't anything to get discouraged about. Making the drop from 205-pounds after suffering a brutal knockout loss to Matt Hamill, Muñoz had a shaky start in his new weight class. Even though he won a split decision in an exciting back and forth bout with Nick Catone, it wasn't the dominant win he was looking for in his middleweight debut. He wouldn't get that until his next fight when he forced Ryan Jensen to tap out to punches. The icing on the cake came when "The Filipino Wrecking Machine" stopped The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 3 winner Kendall Grove three months later. His only hiccup came next when Okami bested him, winning by split decision. The more seasoned veteran was able to get the fight standing and experience won out that night in the Octagon. Muñoz was looking to make a statement after suffering his first middleweight -- and second overall -- loss. He had the talent and skill to win gold at Oklahoma State and he knew he had the talent and skill to do the same in the UFC. He bounced back against Aaron Simpson at UFC 123 but that performance needed an exclamation point. Unfortunately for C.B. Dollaway, he was next up for "The Filipino Wrecking Machine." The American opens up with a jab and a leg kick that smacks against his opponent's shin. Muñoz then begins to pressure "The Doberman," forcing the TUF alumni to circle away. Dollaway closes the distance in the blink of an eye and latches onto his opponent's body. He spins Muñoz around and drops him to the mat, landing in half-guard before transitioning to side-mount and then a north-south position. From there, Dollaway threatens with a guillotine choke forcing the Filipino fighter to defend rather than attack. But for some reason, "The Doberman" stands up and allows his opponent the same opportunity. It would be a decision he would very soon regret. A punch to the body grazes Muñoz and in the ensuing exchange, the OSU wrestler catches Dollaway on the jaw. The American is staggered and drops his hands. He is tagged a second time, causing him to collapse to the mat. Muñoz follows him and delivers two Donkey Kong-like hammer fists that would make Brock Lesnar stand up and cheer. The fight was stopped then despite protests from Dollaway. Devastating and brutal, two more that aptly describe the scene inside the Octagon that night in Louisville. With the knockout, he all but erased the loss to Okami and put himself back on track. A win over Demian Maia furthered his cause and put him in the main event slot he finds himself in now. In the biggest fight of his career, a fourth straight victory could put the wrestler in a title eliminator bout. A loss could potential derail his dreams forever. Nearly 34-years old, time is not on Muñoz's side. Will he crush his third TUF alumni or will "The Crippler" live up to his name of put the Filipino's title hopes on life support? We will find out Saturday.

Posted in: loss, year, dollaway, muntildeoz, cb dollaway

The Ultimate Fighter 15 to Feature Lightweights, Welterweights on FX

The Ultimate Fighter 15 will feature lightweights and welterweights when it debuts on its new home on FX with a new format next year. Tryouts for TUF 15 will take place on December 5 in Las Vegas, two days after The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale takes place in “Sin City.” Welterweights have been featured five times, most-recently for TUF 13 earlier this year, while lightweights were featured for the fourth time on TUF 12 last year. The Ultimate Fighter 15 fights will air live on FX on Fridays likely starting in March leading up to The Ultimate Fighter 15 Finale, with the coaches fighting one week later. For the latest UFC news and The Ultimate Fighter 15 coverage stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com. Pictured: UFC Preisdent Dana White

Posted in: fighter, year, tuf, lightweight, year tryouts

The Ultimate Fighter 15 to Feature 155lb. and 170lb. Fighters

The Ultimate Fighting Championship made a historic deal with FOX networks earlier this year. One of the biggest stories to come out of that deal is the new Ultimate Fighter format. Each year will feature two seasons of TUF, which each weekly fight airing live on FX. The Friday night show will feature a wrap up of the previous week, leading into the live fight, followed by what has been deemed the aftermath portion. This means that for 26 Fridays next year, there will be a live fight on FX. The finales will also air live on FX. Today the UFC announced that TUF 15 will feature lightweight (155 lb) and welterweight (170 lb) fighters. The coaches have yet to be named. Interested in trying out? Take a look at the application after the jump. TUF 15 features 155lb and 170lb Fighters TUF Application THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER® 15 (on FX) TRYOUTS The Ultimate Fighter® season 15 is open to Lightweights (155lb) and Welterweights (170lb) fighters. REQUIRMENTS: 1. All applicants must be at least 21 years of age. 2. All applicants must have a winning record of at least 3 PROFESSIONAL MMA fights. All records will be verified on sherdog.com and mixedmartialarts.com. If we cannot verify your record on either of these sites you will NOT be considered. 3. All applicants must complete and sign the application. THERE ARE 2 WAYS TO APPLY 1. Attend the Open Call in Las Vegas NV, on Monday, December 5, 2011 Texas Station 2101 Texas Star Lane North Las Vegas, NV 89032 Tryouts will be held in the Dallas Ballroom For room reservations please call 1-800-654-8888 All applicants must arrive between 8AM – 9AM for registration. Fighters will be required to grapple and hit pads, so please dress appropriately and bring all necessary gear. (Mouth guard, cup, hand wraps & gloves)

Posted in: fight, fighter, year, tuf, lb

Read the full article at Octagon Mania

Anthony Perosh - A Late Bloomer Gets Some Good Luck

You could excuse Anthony Perosh if he’s not too fond of picking up the phone for some news on fight week, especially since the last time he did it, he was brought in on just a couple days notice to face Mirko Cro Cop at UFC 110 last year. But this time around, the news was a lot different for the Australian light heavyweight, who was notified Tuesday that his UFC 138 bout against Cyrille Diabate had been bumped up to the televised main card after an injury to Paul Taylor scrapped his bout with Anthony Njokuani.“This one’s a lot better,” said Perosh. “I had a full ten week preparation and I’m coming off a win in February as well, and it’s like a bonus already moving up to the main card, opening up the show, and I’m excited.”It’s been that kind of year for the affable 39-year old, who had his UFC struggles in the past, losing bouts to Jeff Monson and Christian Wellisch in 2006 before running off wins in four of six fights outside the organization that put him in position to receive that late week call to step in for Ben Rothwell against Cro Cop in February of 2010. It was far from an ideal situation, but having the opportunity to fight in the first UFC show in Australia, a country where he helped (along with longtime friend and training partner Elvis Sinosic) build the MMA scene, was too tempting an offer to pass up. He would get stopped after two rounds when the Octagonside physician decided that he had seen enough, but his willingness to step up and put up a gallant fight earned him another shot in the Octagon, and in February of this year, his bout in Sydney against Tom Blackledge went in a completely different direction. This time, he was back at light heavyweight and looking sharp technically, and at 2:45 of the first round, he had his hand raised after sinking in a rear naked choke. Suddenly, Perosh had a UFC career to look forward to. Not bad for a guy turning 40 next October.“I’m 39 years old, but if someone asks when’s it time to retire, I always tell them, and myself as well, I’ll give it away if three things happen,” he said. “One, if my body just can’t keep up. Two, I lose more than I win. And three, I just don’t want to do it anymore. But at the moment, I’m winning more than I lose, I really want to fight and train, and believe it or not, I’m fitter than I’ve ever been, so I’m pumped and ready to go.”In the 38-year old Diabate, he will be facing an opponent who is similar in age, and similar in career stage. The French striker has been around, paid his dues, and now it’s time to win and move forward. And while the easy way to break the match down is as a typical striker vs. grappler bout, both fighters are fond of going home early, with Diabate finishing 72% of his MMA wins (87% of his kickboxing bouts), and Perosh ending all of his 11 victories before the final bell. So this one has the potential to produce some interesting action while it lasts, but Perosh will take the win any way it comes.“Every fighter wants to finish a fight as soon as possible, and from Day One, especially with my ground game, when I get you down and get on top, my goal is to keep you down and stay on top and work for that submission, and it’s worked well for me in the past,” he said. “But if on the weekend I get the win in the first, second, or third round, or even by decision, I’ll be happy.”And since he’s on the main card now, if this is your first look at the Aussie veteran, he’s eager to put on a show for you.“I’m really hoping they (the fans) see a complete MMA fighter, an aggressive fighter, and not just a BJJ grappler,” said Perosh. “That’s the main thing I want people to take away, and that I’ve given my all.”

Posted in: ufc, fight, bout, year, perosh

Anderson Silva Says He Won't Be Retiring Anytime Soon

It appears that UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva doesn't agree with what his manager has to say regarding his "impending" retirement. Ed Soares had made some waves a few weeks ago by saying that Anderson is 36 and will probably retire after four more fights. When asked about it, Anderson sang a completely different tune to UOL (translation by Tom Mendes): It’s not true. As one of my trainer’s say, I still have a lot of bottles to sell. I think I will still fight for another six to seven years. Four years ago I was a bit stressed. I had mentioned to my teacher Minotauro that I would stop after a year. He said there was no reason to do so, and then I stopped thinking about it, had another fight and so I thought; "I will postpone my retirement for some time". It’s be fine (to fight until 43). Randy Couture stopped when he was over 45 years old, Dan Henderson was the Strikefore Champion close to that age. This is the second time in recent weeks that Anderson has publicly rebuked his manager. After Black House posted a photo featuring Soares and Chael Sonnen on their page, Anderson decided to share his feelings: "I didn’t like this photograph either. I take this opportunity to say that only I myself can speak about my fights, my plans and career." Soares has been the sole mouthpiece for Silva for a long time, and it's interesting to see Anderson firing back like this. In terms of retirement, Anderson certainly doesn't look like a man that's slowing down or is inching towards retirement, and I always found the "four fights" stuff by Soares to be strange. Will we see Anderson fighting for the next seven years? I doubt it. But I think it will be for a whole lot longer than four more fights, and that's a good thing for UFC fans.

Posted in: fight, year, retirement, anderson, soare

BJ Penn: A Lesson in Greatness

When last we saw BJ Penn, the Hawaiian legend was battered and bloody and seemingly adamant about his UFC 137 appearance – a hard loss to Nick Diaz that left his eye purple and swollen – being his last trip into the Octagon. Then, days later, came the post on Penn’s website, saying he would take some time off and see where it goes from there. Which leaves us with what? A former welterweight and lightweight champ on the cusp of retirement? A warrior in the waning years of his career? Or simply a fighter who needs some time to reassess his place in the sport? I’d say definitely all of the above. Which isn’t to say Penn is washed up; he is, and will always be, one the best MMA has ever seen. To examine his triumphs, when fists were flying and chokes were constricting, is to be imparted with a lesson in greatness. I was there when Penn first fought in the UFC, and remember clearly the hype that had surrounded him. He was some sort of jiu-jitsu prodigy (hence his nickname, “The Prodigy”), attaining a black belt in only a few short years and using those skills to kick ass at the Mundials in Brazil. So, while it was amazing that Penn’s first MMA fight ever was at UFC 31, most already harbored great expectations of him. And against an overmatched Joey Gilbert, he did not disappoint. Two crushing performances later (against Din Thomas and Caol Uno) and Penn was taking on Jens Pulver for the title. Many measure Penn’s performances against those same high expectations, and use that as a gauge of his successes and failures in lieu of the usual “win/loss” method. That’s unfair. When Penn didn’t destroy the likes of Paul Creighton, Matt Serra and others, his victories in those bouts somehow meant less. But the fact is Penn won those fights, and he went on to handily defeat Takanori Gomi (considered Japan’s best at the time) and Matt Hughes (the UFC’s dominant welterweight champ). And he made it look easy. What made the Prodigy’s victory over Hughes all the more impressive was the step up in weight class, and he continued the trend, taking on everyone from Rodrigo Gracie to Lyoto Machida (!) to George St. Pierre to Hughes again. However, it was a return to the lightweight division that reasserted Penn’s mastery of the game, and he redefined the word “murder” with the way he put away top competitors Joe Stevenson, Sean Sherk, Kenny Florian and Diego Sanchez. If Penn retires, his record will stay at twenty-six fights, and his losses will have come at the hands of only the best – 155-pound champ Pulver, 205-pound champ Machida, 170-pound champs Hughes and St. Pierre, 155-pound champ Frankie Edgar, and Strikeforce champ Diaz. That’s one heck of a list of fighters to fall to, and there’s zero shame in it. Can he still compete with the sport’s elite, though? Only Penn can decide that, but worth noting is how many fighters can still be the best who saw their Octagon debuts in 2001 (answer: none). But in the end, it shouldn’t matter. As a fighter, a TUF coach, and the subject of a New York Times Bestselling autobiography, Penn has done and accomplished so much in his years in the mixed martial arts. If he never comes back, then in a year or two we won’t be talking about how he lost to Edgar and Diaz. No, we’ll be talking about BJ Penn’s legacy. That right there is greatness.

Posted in: ufc, ’t, year, champ, penn

What retirement? Anderson Silva claims he'll fight 'for another six or seven years'

Chilling words for all UFC middleweights. With Mirko Filipovic and B.J. Penn announcing their retirements from mixed martial arts after defeats at UFC 137 this past weekend, another combat sports legend, Anderson Silva, is halting all talks of cashing in early on his 401K. According to Tatame.com, the UFC middleweight champion appeared on the Brazilian TV show, "De frent com Gabi," and revealed that he has no plans to hang up his gloves anytime soon and says he will fight for at least six or seven more years. "I'll fight for another six or seven years and then I'll stop. I stopped to think about it and I'll postpone my retirement for a little longer. Then I'll think about TV. I guess it's interesting." This confirmation from "The Spider" contradicts Ed Soares, Silva's manager, who proclaimed his client would retire after four more fights and that he is only looking for mega-fights. Silva and Soares did agree on something however; they both feel Chael Sonnen does not deserve a rematch. "He doesn't deserve to fight me. The most important thing he didn't do: defeating me. He was caught on the drug test, which was the worse. I believe he shouldn't be on the sport, because he has no emotional control. While trying to provoke me, he makes the sport looks bad. He made bad comments, offended me and my wife.' It looks like slowly, but surely, Sonnen's words are finally getting to the middleweight kingpin. Silva is coming off a dominating victory over Yushin Okami at UFC 134 in Rio de Janiero, Brazil, back on August 27, 2011. The victory over "Thunder" extended his win streak to a record 14 straight in the UFC to go along with his nine title defenses, also a UFC record. "The Spider" is currently rehabbing a shoulder he tweaked while sparring against current number one UFC heavyweight contender Junior Dos Santos; an injury he fought with in his Okami rematch. This is good news for MMA fans, if he is indeed genuine, as we can now hope to see Silva inside the Octagon for at least six more years. How many fights that equates to, remains to be seen. How do you feel about Silva's postponement of an early retirement?

Posted in: ufc, fight, silva, year, retirement

Farewell, my sweet Crocop

UFC 137 was mostly forgettable past the Nick Diaz / BJ Penn fight, and we fans weren't the only ones left feeling disgusted by how things turned out. What the event lacked in action it more than made up for in guys retiring themselves after their fights. While we'll wait a few days for BJ Penn to decide if he really really really wants to retire (as BJ would say, "Find out on BJPenn.com!"), Mirko Crocop sounded pretty sure of his decision after losing to Roy Nelson.People wonder what ever happened to the old Mirko Crocop, and the answer is pretty simple: he died on the operating table. Not literally, but when the doctors sliced up his legs and tried to put his knees back together several times. That was the point where he couldn't compete the way he used to. Here he is talking about it over a year ago: "I had a very bad injury two years ago," "Cro Cop" said. "The knee was completely broken. I had three surgeries for the knee and of course it reflected on my kicking. I was afraid to kick, it was still very fresh. But I decided to take the risk for the [UFC 99] Cologne fight one year ago."If you noticed I didn't even try to do a kick with my German opponent [Al-Turk], and I didn't try - or I tried only once to kick Junior dos Santos because I didn't feel very stable in kicking. I didn't feel like my leg was good so I just didn't kick it. So of course it frustrated me a lot but it was my decision to enter the cage. It was my decision to accept the fight. Nobody forced me to do that. But thank god it's behind me now and my legs are okay now." Of course, that hasn't really been true. His legs may be 'okay' in that he is able to walk around on them, climb stairs, and do all sorts of normal dude stuff. He was even able to keep up some pretty good mobility in the cage over the past few years. But MMA fighters are like high performance cars. You lose a few fractions of a second in the speed department and you're done. And with Crocop, it was more than just his speed and agility that were compromised. His kicks - his fucking kicks! - were a thing of the past. When's the last time you remember him throwing his high kicks? His cemetery specials? So don't feel too bad about Mirko retiring. Age and injuries took their toll and it's impressive enough that we got over a decade of Crocop kicking ass (and face) across kickboxing and MMA. Let's just move forward and remember the awesome Crocop and all the sick performances he put on. And make a pact to punch any newb in the face that tries to tell you he sucks.

Posted in: year, leg, crocop, didnt, i didnt

Back for More: Donald Cerrone-Nate Diaz Planned for UFC 141

Filed under: UFC, NewsLAS VEGAS - Someone must have told Donald Cerrone when Chris Lytle retired, the UFC had a job opening for its Bonus King position. The "Cowboy" will go after his fourth bonus of 2011 and will tie the UFC's record for most fights in one calendar year when he meets Nate Diaz at UFC 141. Multiple outlets have reported the two lightweights have agreed to meet on the UFC's year-end card in Las Vegas, and MMA Fighting on Monday morning confirmed with sources close to the fighters that the bout is being planned. MMA Junkie first reported the news Sunday night. UFC 141 is expected for the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Dec. 30, a rare Friday pay-per-view for the UFC to avoid going head-to-head with the New Year's Eve holiday the following day. Scheduled to headline the card is a heavyweight contenders fight between former UFC champ Brock Lesnar and recent signee Alistair Overeem, the former Strikeforce heavyweight champion who was released from that promotion earlier this year only to sign with the UFC. Cerrone on Saturday won his sixth straight fight and fourth in the UFC since merging over from the WEC when he submitted Dennis Siver in the first round at UFC 137. Of his four UFC fights so far in 2011, Cerrone has three post-fight bonus awards - one each for Fight of the Night, Knockout of the Night and Submission of the Night, which came against Siver. Diaz snapped a two-fight losing skid last month when he submitted Takanori Gomi in the first round at UFC 135, winning Submission of the Night. That came after back-to-back decision losses to Dong Hyun Kim at UFC 125 and Rory MacDonald at UFC 129. Diaz has been nearly as active as Cerrone - he will fight for the fourth time this year. Cerrone's bonus money in 2011 totals $215,000. His show and win purse totals out to $174,000 this year. A win and another bonus against Diaz would put him over the half-million mark for the year - not bad for a fighter who last year at this time was winning $10,000 bonuses in the WEC. Diaz has won seven bonuses in his last 11 fights. The UFC record for non-tournament fights in one calendar is five, currently shared by Roger Huerta in 2007, plus Chris Leben and Nate Diaz's brother Nick, both in 2006. Assuming no delays in Cerrone's fight with Nate Diaz in December, he'll join that small group. After UFC 137 on Saturday, Diaz said he wanted to get back in the cage as soon as possible, and even mentioned he'd love to be on the UFC's December card. "I want to keep fighting," Cerrone said at the post-fight press conference. "I don't want to sit and wait. Cerrone even mentioned earlier in Fight Week that he was considering a move down to featherweight to fight Nam Phan, whom he believes disrespected his friend and teammate Leonard Garcia following his rematch win over him earlier this month. But that will get put on hold to stay at lightweight to fight Diaz. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, year, cerrone

Falling Action: Best and Worst of UFC 137

Filed under: UFCWith UFC 137 in the books and the spookiest day of the year now upon us, let's all grab a mini-Snickers and sort through the biggest winners, losers, and everything in between from Saturday night's action in Las Vegas. Biggest Winner: Nick Diaz I remember around this time last year, before Diaz fought KJ Noons, watching him put on the boxing gloves and headgear in his gym in Lodi, Calif., and walk down one sparring partner after another. In the beginning, most of them did pretty well against him. They landed some punches, circled away, and you could see their confidence growing. But Diaz never slowed down, never stopped coming, and eventually he'd end up backing them against the fence and digging into their ribs with hooks that you could hear over the constant stream of Tupac songs that blared all day long in the gym. One by one, he wore them down with sheer pace and pressure until they quit, both mentally and physically. Diaz performed the exact same act of will against Penn on Saturday night, and it was just as effective. He started slowly and gradually cranked up the volume, confident that his opponent would wilt before he would. He took it and he dished it out, and by the end of three rounds there was no doubt that he was the better fighter. Of course, as soon as the fight was over, he went back to being the bizarre, mercurial person we've gotten to know (and yet not know) over the last several years. Even when things had gone well for him, he remained unhappy. Even when he was offered the title shot he'd recently squandered, he remained utterly convinced of his own status as the permanent victim. What can you do with a guy like that? Put him up against the champ, I suppose. Let him do what he does best, which is fight, and hope the rest of us can tolerate what he does worst, which is just about everything else. Biggest Loser: B.J. Penn The nicest thing you can say about Penn's performance is that he didn't quit. Even though he didn't look thrilled about it, he got up off the stool for round three and took his medicine for five more minutes. Other than that, the bright spots were few and they dimmed in a hurry. I can understand why Penn, a nearly 33-year-old former champ, thinks it would be better to hang it up than continue on as some novelty act or gatekeeper, but beware of any retirement announcement that comes in the emotional moments just after a bad beating. This is the same Penn who licked his gloves and promised death to future opponents while jacked up on post-fight adrenaline. If those were the highs, this could simply be the low. Calling it quits in the cage immediately after a loss is a little like breaking up during an argument. The chances of it sticking are inversely proportional to how long you've been together. Six months? Sure, one bad argument might do it. But Penn and MMA have had a lengthy, sometimes rocky relationship. Seems unlikely that they won't try to patch things up at least once or twice. Hardest Working Man in the Fight Biz: Donald Cerrone His knockout of Dennis Siver was his sixth straight win and his fourth of 2011. Apparently he's not content with that, because he immediately turned around and lobbied for another fight before the end of the year, which it now looks like he'll get against Nate Diaz at UFC 141 in December. I'm not sure if Cerrone is putting title shots and other typical concerns out of his mind because he's savvy enough to see the situation for what it is in the crowded lightweight division, or if he's driven only by the reckless pursuit of a paycheck. Either way, he's at his best when he's busiest, and 2011 is turning out to be a banner year for his career and his bank account. After all the paper he's stacked via purses and bonuses, this is one year when you really want to be on "Cowboy's" Christmas list. Most Impressive in Defeat: Eliot Marshall Brandon Vera came in to the fight with Marshall as a 5-1 favorite, nearly got his head knocked off and his arm snapped in half, but still somehow emerged with the decision victory. It goes down as a loss for Marshall at a time when he can't afford it, but will the UFC brass see the process in addition to the result? It might not have been a spectacular fight, but for Marshall it was clearly a step in the right direction. It would be a shame for the UFC to cut him after a third round like that, which just might have been the single best round of his UFC career. If he sticks to his promise to retire after another UFC release, that's the kind of finish that could keep a man up at night for years to come. If only he'd had just a few seconds. If only he'd landed one or two more punches. You can play that game for a long time, particularly if it cost you your career. Least Impressive in Victory: Hatsu Hioki He did just enough to get the decision over George Roop, but not much more. At least Hioki started off his stay in the UFC with a win, which is more than you can say for a lot of his compatriots, though if that's the best you can do against a mid-level featherweight like Roop, how far can you really go in this organization? Maybe Hioki struggled with nerves, and maybe Roop's size and strength gave him more problems than he expected. I don't know. What I do know is that the Hioki we saw on Saturday looked like just another fighter, not some big name acquisition. You hate to judge a guy too harshly on the basis of one performance, so let's just say that Hioki still has plenty of work to do to make a name for himself on this side of the Pacific. Let's Hope We've Seen the Last Of: Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic He acquitted himself well in what he'd have us believe was the final fight of his career. He took some of Roy Nelson's best shots and even fired off a few of his own (though with that beard he probably had to guess at the location of Nelson's chin). Even if he didn't have enough to pull out the win, he still did better than most of us expected and ended on a classy, dignified note in his post-fight remarks. Unlike Penn, his retirement declaration didn't seem driven by emotion. It was clearly something he'd given a lot of thought to before the fight, and he did what he said he'd do if he came up short. The question is, will he disappear from the fight game entirely, or just the UFC? Cro Cop wouldn't be the first man to have a hard time turning down an easy buck from some small-time promoter looking to sell what's left of his name. You couldn't exactly blame him if he gave in to a tempting offer from M-1 Global or ProElite somewhere down the line, and he clearly still has at least a little bit of gas left in the tank. Still, no matter how many times you see that particular drama playing out with an aging fighter, it never gets any easier to watch. For the sake of his legacy and his health, let's hope Cro Cop really does know when it's time. Most Disappointing: Cheick Kongo vs. Matt Mitrione In retrospect, it seems silly. This was the co-main event? The UFC seemed to be banking on some heavyweight fireworks to help out a flagging fight card after the injury to GSP, but what it got instead resembled a staring match more than a slugfest. If you could knock a man out just with crazy eyes and feints, Mitrione would be the heavyweight champ by now. But once Kongo finally realized that the "Meathead" blitz wasn't coming, he settled down and managed to wrestle his way to a decision win. It was a fight both men might rather forget, albeit for different reasons. Kongo looked tentative and overly defensive in his first fight since the comeback win over Pat Barry. Mitrione never got started at all, and showed his inexperience on the mat in the final frame. In the end, it was a bummer of a fight that likely reminded the UFC why these two aren't quite ready for the top of a pay-per-view card just yet. Meanwhile, Donald Cerrone will just be over here, kicking people in the head on Spike TV for free. Begging for His Walking Papers: Tyson Griffin He missed weight (by a lot), looked flat and uninspired from the opening bell, and got himself knocked out in a little under three minutes for his fourth loss in five fights. I know he said he was under the weather coming into this fight, but I don't see how Griffin doesn't get cut after this terrible weekend. After he missed weight, he was on Twitter basically shrugging his virtual shoulders and explaining that he had "no excuses." Okay, so he's taking responsibility for his mistakes. That's a good sign. Then he gets knocked out and he's back on there telling his followers about his after-party at the Luxor. I'm not saying he needs to post pictures of himself crying into an appletini at Cathouse, but if he's not feeling a sense of desperation about his career now, what's it going to take? Best Quick Change: Roy Nelson He showed up to fight looking like a roadie for Foghat, then showed up to the post-fight press conference looking like a henchman from a James Bond movie. That's versatility, right there. Okay, so maybe that, plus his current one-fight win streak, isn't enough to get him that title shot he asked for, but at least it keeps him in the conversation at heavyweight. The guy's a character, and he can fight a little bit. Now his physique is even moving in the right direction, though there's still work to be done in that department before he appears in an Under Armour ad alongside GSP. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, year, penn, he

UFC 137 Results: Donald Cerrone's Destruction of Dennis Siver Vaults Him Into Relevancy

For most fans, WEC champion Anthony Pettis and the final challenger to his crown, Ben Henderson, were the only two fighters who might have an eventual impact at the elite levels of the UFC's lightweight division after the two promotions merged in December. They were obvious choices due to their status within the promotion's lightweight ranks, and a showdown between the two fighters at WEC 53 that became a fight of the year candidate only furthered the focus. In hindsight, we might have forgotten someone. Donald Cerrone, who fought for the WEC lightweight crown three times and failed, wasn't thought of as a man who could become a relevant fighter in the UFC. His aggressive and entertaining style of fighting would almost certainly pit him against beatable opponents for fan-friendly action, but questions still arose about whether he could ever compete against the better competition that awaited him. Those same questions were asked about Ben Henderson and Anthony Pettis, so why would anyone think Cerrone could have an impact when he couldn't sneak past Henderson on two separate occasions? Almost a year later, our assumptions couldn't be further from reality. Henderson, while playing second fiddle to Pettis at the end of the WEC's existence, has become the promotion's top import while Pettis faltered in his debut. And Cerrone? He's been quietly and efficiently dispatching of every fighter the UFC has put in front of him, stringing together four straight wins in 2011. Saturday night's performance at UFC 137 was icing on the cake for Cerrone. After beating up Paul Kelly, Vagner Rocha, and Charles Oliveira, he was finally given a challenge that fans felt was appropriate. The match-up had many of us questioning whether Cerrone could prevail. Unlike his WEC counterparts who were thrown tough opposition from the start, Cerrone was allowed to mature over the course of the year. That slowed progression has allowed Cerrone to develop his game, a more mature style than what we've seen from him in the past. Impressively, Cerrone dominated Siver at his own game, landing multiple head kicks that caused Siver to put on his best dance routine in front of the fans at the Mandalay Events Center on Saturday night. Siver, who's well known for his powerful punching and unpredictable kicking prowess, couldn't answer, eventually succumbing to Cerrone's grips on the ground. The victory puts Cerrone is a surprising position. He's gone from failing to win the WEC lightweight crown to sitting on the outside looking in at UFC lightweight contention in just a year. Even more impressive is Cerrone's focus and dramatic shift in his mentality. While he remains a fighter fueled by emotion outside of the cage, it couldn't be further from the truth inside the cage. The massive improvements he's made make a run toward the top a possibility next year. Is it possible we'll hear Donald Cerrone's name involved in contention next year? I think we will.

Posted in: ufc, fighter, year, wec, cerrone

UFC 137: The Card That Could Have Been and the PPV Repercussions

When I joined Bloody Elbow as a full time staff member, I said that UFC 133 would be the last card of the year to do mediocre buys. I looked at the rest of the year and the fights that were booked and expected everything from UFC 134 on to do at least 400k on PPV. It was a fair statement, the cards were stacked and after such a long drought of "can miss" events, it was logical to think that fans would flock to these incredibly deep PPVs. Alas, that is not the case. The rumored buy rates for UFC 134, 135, and 136 all remained sub 500k, with only UFC 135 breaking the 400,000 mark. These numbers are disappointing to say the very least and have caused many to question if the UFC had in fact peaked and was on the decline. UFC 137 was the guaranteed big money draw for the UFC. The return of Georges St. Pierre and the money match up with Nick Diaz. Then Diaz blew off two media appearances and the fight was off. Diaz claimed that he didn't know about them and that if he knew they were important, he'd have been there. Rumors swirled that he had been advised by those close to him to blow it off and let the presser come to him. This turned out to be terrible advice and fans know what happened next. Diaz was replaced by Carlos Condit and was matched up with B.J. Penn. The Condit/St. Pierre fight would essentially bring the same amount of attention as St. Pierre is the reason for anyone to purchase tickets or the pay per view. At this point in his career GSP could in fact "fight a broomstick" as KJ Gould so aptly stated, and people would buy the card. Fans felt the Condit fight would be more of a test for Georges, thinking that he would push the action and force the champion to fight. Others felt cheated out of the Condit/Penn fight that promised to be a fight of the year candidate. None of these discussions mattered in the end, when St. Pierre was forced to pull out of defending his title due to a knee injury. Nick Diaz again finds himself in the main event and again has displayed either an inability or a lack of desire to play the game. The very game that Dana White has been on record as the only thing preventing Diaz from crossing over into the main stream. Diaz missed the first thirty minutes of the UFC 137 media call, saying that not only was he unaware of the call, but that his phone was dead. He actually explained that he only found out about it 10 minutes before calling in. Fans know that once he enters the cage, he'll be the exciting fighter that we all enjoy watching. However, his total disregard for any media responsibilities is troubling. He feels that the rules don't apply to him and he's been coddled by people who are willing to feed into that mindset. This will be Nick's chance to prove to his doubters that he can sell a UFC pay per view on his own. People have criticized him believing that while there's interest on twitter, it doesn't necessarily mean that people will buy a card based on Diaz as the draw. He has the support of B.J. Penn as his opponent but the rest of the card is weak by casual fan standards. Most people are unaware who Hatsu Hioki is and Matt Mitrione vs. Cheick Kongo is one of the weaker co-main events in PPV history. This just proves how important St. Pierre was to this card. Losing one man has turned this from a "gotta buy" to a card where people have returned tickets for a refund. To provide perspective, prior to St. Pierre dropping off, the card was sold out. At this very moment you can purchase tickets on TicketMaster for face value. The UFC's PPV buy rates are down this year for a bunch of different reasons. From injuries to weak cards to just too much of an active schedule which caused fans to pick and choose which cards they were going to purchase. Since August, the UFC has promoted five PPVs. That's $275 to ask fans to pony up in a 90 day period. Add in the Mayweather vs. Ortiz PPV and the $70 price tag and fans were left with choices. A card like UFC 136, which sporting two title defense was passed over, with many fans planning on buying UFC 137. Now with UFC 137 not having a true headliner, the UFC may have back to back cards with sub-300k buy rates. Allow that to settle in for a moment. At the very height of UFC popularity in 2009, the UFC was regularly pulling 500k for PPVs. Many believed that 300k was the benchmark for what fans will buy based on UFC branding. Now two years later, the UFC's branding has either become weaker within a year or the schedule is causing fans to wait for big cards, only to not purchase them due to an injury at the top of the card. This weekend will probably be a great event, but with the loss of Georges St. Pierre, there will be a huge portion of fans that will never see it. And that's something that Zuffa will need to work through in 2012, a year that Dana White has stated will be a make or break year for the company. SBN coverage of UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz

Posted in: ufc, diaz, year, fan, card

Jiu-Jitsu gave Nick Diaz necessary stability as a youth

When people discuss Nick Diaz’s actions outside of the ring the focus tends to be on his occasionally bizarre behavior rather than the roots of it. Though Diaz is an extremely private person, the 28-year old recently opened up to shed a little light on his formative years in California during the UFC 137 Countdown special and made it a little easier to understand where his anti-social behavior comes from. “My parents moved around a lot when I was a kid. I just ended up getting taken out of schools and, you know, I didn’t like going into a new classroom,” Diaz revealed. “It was rough. I was hanging out with the wrong crowds and stuff because they were pretty much the only ones who were going to accept me when I was that age. I was just not doing well in high school.” On certain occasions when he was sent home for fighting Diaz would spend time with his grandfather, a track coach, who made him run and ultimately helped inspire Diaz’s hobby of competing in triathlons. However, it was his introduction to Jiu-Jitsu that changed the former Strikeforce champion’s life forever. “I found Jiu-Jitsu when I was 15…sophomore year in high school. As soon as I found some real direction I went really far with it and I could tell where it was coming from right away,” Diaz said of the martial art. “My idea was I was just gonna train harder than (the) top guys because I knew I could do that. It wasn’t long before they started putting me in fights.” Ten years later Diaz is still trucking, his next fight coming this weekend at UFC 137 in a headliner against popular Hawaiian BJ Penn. Diaz Wants Title-Shot with Win Over Penn Other bouts on the PPV include Matt Mitrione vs. Cheick Kongo, Hatsu Hioki vs. George Roop, and Roy Nelson vs. Mirko Filipovic. You can watch the entire segment from UFC 137 surrounding Diaz and Penn below: PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, diaz, year, school, fights ”

DREAM New Years 2011 Event Will Happen

submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: dream, event, year, mattyblayze

DREAM will have a 2011 New Year's Eve event, but it will NOT be called Dynamite!!, bummer

[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on MMA-Japan, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] Any questions regarding whether or not the 2011 New Years show would take place have been answered today, sources with the production outlet confirmed to MMA-JAPAN. The name, however, has yet to be decided upon. The words "DREAM New Years Eve" was the phrase used when speaking on the matter. Read More...

Posted in: year, years show, years eve, mmajapan part, words dream

Fresh Face: Undefeated UFC 137 newcomer Dustin Jacoby introduces himself

For UFC middleweight Dustin Jacoby, everything has happened incredibly fast. Less than one year ago, he was making his professional debut at Capital City Cage Wars fighting on the same card as his twin brother Darren. The Finney's Hit Squad fighter earned a first round technical knockout that night and hasn't looked back since. In six professional fights, he's only gone past the midway point of the first round once, and every bout has been finished via stoppage. The former collegiate starting quarterback was on Joe Silva's radar after knocking out 10-3 fighter Billy Horne just over one month ago and he stepped up on short notice in place of the injured Tim Credeur to fight on this Saturday's UFC 137 event.Jacoby spoke with myself and Matt Bishop when he was a guest this past week on Bloody Elbow Radio. We gave him an opportunity to introduce himself to a wider audience. Check after the jump and see what the top prospect had to say. "I'm 23 years old. I had my first amateur fight in the offseason. I played four years of college football and my twin brother Darren called me up one Saturday and said, "Hey man, I'm getting in a fight tonight," and I was like, "What do you mean?" I was 20 years old. I had never seen a UFC event nor had I ever seen a cagefight at that point and my brother called me up and sure enough, I got done with my football game and I drove about an hour away and I went and watched his first amateur fight and it was something I was very interested in but I could never see myself doing and heck, I went and had my first one and it was like an addiction. As soon as the next offseason came, I had another one and eventually I had 10 amateur fights." "I got done with school in May of last year and on June 4th, I went down to Granite City at the H.I.T. Squad at Hughes Intensive Training, I met up with coach Mark Fiore and I started training full-time from that minute. I had my last amateur fight, I turned pro in November of last year and I've posted six straight victories since then. I've stayed busy, stayed training and sure enough, I knew that as long as I kept working hard and listening to coach and just doing the right things in and outside of the cage that my chance would come sooner or later. Now here we are today and it's quite a bit of excitement. There's a lot of buzz here in our gym and all my teammates are here every single day getting me pumped up and they keep reminding me how big of an opportunity this is and I'm truly blessed man. It's an awesome feeling." Dustin Jacoby didn't just play college football, he was a three year starting quarterback for Quincy college. If you think of mixed martial artists that are former football players, you think of big defensive lineman or fullback at heavyweight like Matt Mitrione or Brendan Schaub or perhaps a hard-hitting linebacker at light heavyweight like Ovince St. Preux but as the undefeated middleweight mentions below, he wasn't one to shy away from contact. "I was the quarterback in college. I'll tell you what, I don't know how many times I got yelled at from my coach because when I started scrambling he would tell me to get down or get out of bounds and I was always fighting for that extra yard. It's something I've just always been. I've been competitive, I've had that competitive mindset since the day I was born. I was walking at seven months and my parents would joke that I came out of my mom's womb with a football in my hand and I've just never done anything else in life. I've always practiced, I've always played competitively in something and it's awesome. Not too many quarterbacks fall into cagefighting but I guess I'm kinda unique." Jacoby also delved into situations where his history at quarterback, his need to keep his wits about him in high pressure situations has helped in the transition to MMA. "As a quarterback, you have to keep your composure and you have to be very poised especially when you're playing on the collegiate level. I started three years at the collegiate level and that's always been my biggest asset, just being able to keep my composure and really staying poised in the heat of the moment and that's followed over into my cagefighting. It's not always the biggest strongest, meanest dude that you see beating up people. It's the guy that can effectively transition from position to position and always think ahead. It's kinda like playing chess, you've got to always think ahead. You never want to put yourself in a bad spot and that's what I do very well. I'm always playing through every scenario possible before a fight and I'm always one step ahead. That's something I did very well on the football field and it's translated over to the cage." Jacoby wasn't simply a football player making the transition to mixed martial arts either. He has a long and storied history of competition in very useful sports like wrestling and even a martial art like taekwando. As the Quincy University product explains, he's been working in sports nearly his entire life. "I grew up in Colorado and at the age of four years old, I have the twin brother and he and I started doing taekwando at the age of four and we started wrestling at the age of five. Growing in Colorado up wrestling was like basketball in Chicago or football in Georgia, it was the cream of the crop so we were wrestling year round. Eventually we put down the taekwando after four years of doing it because we were so busy with wrestling and then at the age of 12 we moved to a very, very small area in central Illinois and my high school didn't have wrestling at all and my brother and I were super bummed and we didn't know what we were gonna do. I never touched a basketball until I moved to Illinois but then I ended up being all-state in high school basketball so that just kinda tells you I'm real athletic and I can move well in different things I try. Me and my buddies had this underground boxing league, nothing real credible but I'll tell you what man, everybody I boxed ended up going down." A very animated Jacoby discussed just how and when it was that he came to find himself fighting at UFC 137 despite having been competing professionally for less than a year. "I had just fought Billy "Mojo" Horne, a very tough competitor and I had just fought him September 4th and that ended up being a really quick fight, I won in a 37 second knockout and I knew that with that win, the kid was 10-3, I knew that I was right there. I knew I was on the list. I knew that Joe Silva had warned us that I was on the radar so I told my manager and my coach, "We've got to get a fight ASAP, I want to be 7-0 and I want to get in the UFC before this year ends." They got me a fight, I was getting ready to fight on October 15th and at the very end of September I got the phone call, it was actually late at night, I was getting ready to go to bed and sure enough it was a call to fight in the UFC. At the drop of a dime I said, "I'm in, man." There was no hesitation. I'm already training for October 15th so I'll hold off a few weeks and go October 29th so it all worked out." The talented young fighter closed the interview by explaining what he needs to do on Saturday night if he wants to earn a win in his UFC debut. "The biggest key for me, I say it over and over again like I'm a broken record, but keeping my composure, not letting the pressure get to me, performing like I know how to perform, using my movement and not getting lackadaisical as far as leaving my hands down, remembering to say moving, keep my head moving and just be prepared for everything. It's a huge stage, but it's another fight. I've just got to be me and put on the show that I know I'm capable of putting on and I know I'll do just fine." So what do you think Maniacs? Can this former college quarterback score in his first UFC appearance? Or will this be too much, too fast for a fighter who hasn't even been active professionally for a year yet? What's your first impression? Speak up!

Posted in: ufc, fight, year, im, ive

Lyman Good gets green light for return at Bellator 59

One of Bellator’s longtime staples, Lyman Good, is poised to return to the promotion’s cage after suffering a leg injury earlier this year with the required recovery time costing him a shot at qualifying for the current season’s ongoing welterweight tournament. According to Bellator officials, the 26-year old New Yorker won’t have to venture far from his familiar stomping grounds when he fights in a month at Bellator 59 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Good will face Brazilian finisher Michael Costa at the event who has nine stoppages in ten total victories. “Coming off of that last fight, it really made me go back to the drawing board and start fresh,” said Good of an April loss to Rick Hawn in a Season 4 semifinal bout. “You’re going to see a new Lyman Good (on November 26), but at the same time it’s going to be the old Lyman Good. I felt like I got away from some things that made me who I was as a fighter, and I needed to get back to my roots. I can’t wait to get into that cage, trade some leather and get back to my winning ways.” Good vs. Hawn Highlights Action-Packed Bellator 39 Good holds an overall record of 11-2 with both losses coming as a result of the judges scorecards. He also held Bellator’s welterweight title until falling to current champion Ben Askren a year ago. Bellator 59 is also scheduled to feature the promotional debut of UFC veteran Kurt Pellegrino, set to take on Patricky Freire, as well as the final fight in the Season 5 Bantamweight Tournament with either Alexis Vila or Eduardo Dantas moving on to face divisional king Zach Makovsky. PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR Tweet

Posted in: fight, bellator, season, year, lyman

Is piracy on the rise hurting the UFC?

Dave Meltzer talks about piracy on the rise and what it means for the UFC: “I don’t think that there’s one specific reason. I think that there’s probably about 10 different reasons. But the key ones… I think the increase in piracy is one of them. I think too many shows and the effects of… this last one, it’s two weeks between shows. That’s always going to be tough unless you got something incredible. Running a PPV two weeks after your last PPV, I mean we’ve seen it with pro-wrestling… it’s always been, you know, a major effect on it, that’s just too quick. And, you know, just… just so many shows, it’s hard to get people ‘up’ for so many shows. I think those are all factors and also, you know, the different champions as compared to last year. “I have too many friends who started (streaming) in recent months. It’s picked up steam in recent months. How much? It’s impossible to say. I did a poll on my site and last year it was kind of like a 1:1 ratio and now it’s a 1:2 ratio in the sense of buying versus streaming. Now, it’s double the streaming versus the buying, that’s pretty significant.“I think it’s also affecting boxing, too, because the one thing I’ve noticed… you notice they never did announce that Mayweather/Ortiz buy rate and the reason is obviously because I think they were embarrassed of it and, you know, Mayweather’s drawing… Mayweather hasn’t had a bad PPV number since he had the fight with Oscar De La Hoya four years ago and he doesn’t fight so often that it’s overexposure, either.” It's been a bad year for the UFC, no doubt. 2011 is set to have 15 PPV events, and thus far the only huge fights they had for so many shows was Anderson Silva vs Vitor Belfort and Georges St Pierre vs Jake Shields. Between too many shows, too little talent, and that pesky recession, they've done some damage to their bottom line. Add in the de facto price hike for HD, and it's no surprise that piracy is only growing as a problem. The number of streams for events is growing, and it's getting easier for people to send those streams right out to their televisions.Fortunately, the UFC seems to be paying attention and is dropping the number of PPV events down to 12, which should help not only with the timing issues and wallet fatigue, but weak cards as well. People don't mind paying for UFC events, but I think there's a certain quality level they expect that has been ignored over the past two years as non-title events have become way too regular.

Posted in: ufc, ppv, event, year, piracy

Is rising piracy hurting the UFC?

Posted in: ufc, ppv, event, year, piracy

Wand: "Gonna try and beat Couture retirement age""

Appearing older than his 35 years, it seems improbable that Wanderlei Silva has another five years of fighting in him, let alone 20.Yet that is what his...

Posted in: silva, year, wanderlei silva, retirement, retirement age

Read the full article at Fighters Only

Looking to train for fighting

I am a 22 year old with very little proper fight training (about 3 months of Tai Kwon Do over a year ago) and I am looking to start training at an MMA gym in my hometown towards the start of February (currently deployed so just working on increasing overall fitness). What advice would you give a full-time college student who would like to train to compete? Thanks in advance. submitted by cookie-cutter [link] [comment]

Posted in: year, train, mma gym, cookiecutter link, fight training

Canadian prospects Alex Garcia and Mitch Gagnon rack up first round wins at Ringside MMA 12

The always controversial Paul Daley (29-11-2) headlined Ringside MMA 12 with his decisive decision over fellow UFC vet Luigi Fioravanti (22-11). Prior to the main event held at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Ringside MMA booked a trio of prospects with big league potential for the undercard. 24 year old welterweight Alex Garcia (7-1) was perhaps the prospect with the highest ceiling in action. A student of the Canada's famed Tristar gym, Garcia was in need of a bounce back win after a loss to current UFC welterweight Seth Baczynski in his last outing. A right hook from Garcia after the first exchange of the fight dropped his opponent Matt MacGrath (10-6). MacGrath was left unconscious just 34 seconds after the opening bell. The KO win for Garcia was his sixth inside the first round. Garcia remains a bona fide four star prospect at 170 pounds. Perhaps not quite ready for the UFC in his next fight, 2012 will be a developmental year for Garcia with a call up to the big leagues very possible by the end of the year. Michigan lightweight Daron Cruickshank (9-2) scored an upset over Canadian lightweight Mike Ricci (6-2). Cruickshank earned a very close unanimous decision win over the one time Bellator competitor Ricci after five rounds of action. Cruickshank has now won three in a row after a KO loss to Luis Palomino earlier in the year. In a battle of 135 pounders looking for a signature win it was Mitch Gagnon (8-1) who caught David Harris (6-3-1) early in round one. A 27 year old from Ontario, Gagnon seized the first opening the Harris gave him. Off a takedown attempt from Harris, Gagnon secured an arm in guillotine choke for the tap out win. The official time of the submission win came at the 2:09 mark of round one. With his lone career loss to William Romero, Gagnon has now won six straight fights since his lone career setback. Gagnon's exciting style, eight finishes in eight career wins, will get him major looks from both Bellator and the UFC in 2012. Ringside MMA 12 resultsMontreal, Quebec, Canada Vladimir Starcencov def. Craig Hudson by TKO (Punches) 0:59 R1Olivier Aubin-Mercier def. Guy Poulin by Submission Rear Naked Choke 0:58 R1Keven Tremblay def. Maxime Fecteau by Split DecisionFrancis Charbonneau def. Christ Franck by Unanimous DecisionBrett Portieous def. Tommy Cote by Split Decision Jason Saggo def. Kevin Morin by TKO (Punches) 3:49 R3Alex Garcia def. Matt MacGrath by KO (Punches) 0:34 R1Daron Cruickshank def. Mike Ricci by Unanimous DecisionMitch Gagnon def. David Harris by Submission Guillotine Choke 2:09 R1Paul Daley def. Luigi Fioravanti by Unanimous Decision

Posted in: round, year, garcia, harri, gagnon

Frank Mir feels Brock Lesnar should beat Alistair Overeem easily

Though once heated rivals, the feud between Frank Mir and Brock Lesnar has tapered off over the last few years due to new professional challenges for both, Lesnar’s health-related inactivity, and, as it turns out, the feelings never being all that hard to begin with. Mir recently spoke about Lesnar where he revealed his harsh words for the former UFC heavyweight champ, including his desire to break Lesnar’s neck and see him die of Octagon-related injuries, were little more than an attempt at hype. “In reality, I played that up because at that time in my life I thought being loud and saying those things would be good marketing for a third fight,” Mir admitted in a conversation with ESPN. “In the last couple years I’ve realized, if people are going to dislike me, I want it to be because of my personality and not because of something I did for marketing a fight.” In fact, Mir even went on record saying he felt Lesnar would handle Dutch finisher Alistair Overeem with ease when they lock horns at UFC 141. “I think we’re going to see the closest thing to a grappler versus striker match you’ll see nowadays,” said Mir on the subject. “Brock is going to cover up; maybe throw one jab. He’ll rush Overeem to the cage, reach down for a leg and rip him down. I don’t think he’s going to get off his back. I’d be very shocked – I’d applaud Overeem if he got off his back.” Given the hulking Minnesotan’s wrestling credentials and brute strength it’s hard to disagree with Mir’s assessment of the situation, though Lesnar has been out for a year while recovering from medical issues and few heavyweights have been as hot as Overeem over the past few years. As for Mir, up next is a rematch with a man who knows a thing or two about grappling – Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. The two fan-friendly foes will face off on December 10 in Toronto at UFC 140, a date giving Mir plenty of time to heal up and see if his prediction comes true three weeks later. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: overeem, mir, year, brock lesnar, lesnar

Chael Sonnen to host 2011 World Mixed Martial Arts Awards, annual event will air on FOX Sports Network

Fighters Only, the world’s leading mixed martial arts magazine, today announced that the most outspoken man in mixed martial arts will take center stage as host of the 2011 Fighters Only World MMA Awards ceremony in November. Never one to be left for words, or opinion, UFC middleweight contender Chael Sonnen takes over from last year’s lead presenter Randy Couture to join beautiful co-host Molly Querim on the stage for the 2011 ceremony at the Pearl Theatre at the Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas on Wednesday, November 30th. Known for his quick-wit and penchant for the controversial, Sonnen is destined to be the most outrageous presenter in the history of the awards, which brings together the very best of mixed martial arts for an evening of celebration. In further exciting news, this year’s event will be broadcast in primetime slots across the East and West coast’s of North America by the FOX Sports Network and then later re-aired by FUEL TV and FSN. The evening, sponsored once more by leading nutrition suppliers BodyBuilding.comand this year in association with Gaspari Nutrition, will be available in millions of homes across the US, providing fans with the opportunity to watch their favorite MMA stars throw down their fight gloves and throw on their tuxedos in anticipation of winning one of the coveted silver statues. Rob Hewitt, CEO of Fighters Only, said today: "I say it every year that we want to make the awards show bigger and better and every year we have done just that. However, none of it would be possible with out the support of the MMA industry, the fans, our sponsors and TV and venue partners who all believe as much as we do in this project. To celebrate the sport we love and the people within it in the way that we do is a crowning moment of the year for Fighters Only and we can’t wait to reveal this year’s winners." Tickets for the World MMA Awards 2011 are priced at $59, $79 and $99, plus additional fees, and go on sale on Friday, October 21st at noon. Tickets can be purchased at the Pearl Box Office, by calling 702-944-3200 or at any Ticketmaster location. Doors for the event on November 30thopen at 6 pm, with show time at 7.30pm. Fan voting ultimately decides the winners of each award category, with the voting period scheduled to end on Friday, November 25th. To vote visit www.worldmmaawards.com or download the Fighters Only Lowdown app for free from iTunes.

Posted in: fighter, year, november, award, art

For Shane Carwin, It's Surgery, Then Return to Address 'Unfinished Business'

Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, NewsThe days and nights are not especially comfortable for Shane Carwin. Sitting at his desk, he feels the middle three toes on his left foot go numb. Working out, his legs freeze for split-seconds at a time. Lying on his bed at night, he can't find a comfortable position to rest in. For Carwin, the problem will result in his second major surgery in a year. On November 15, doctors will perform a procedure that will drill out bone and give his spinal cord some room to keep a disc from pressing against his nerves. The surgery is scary, but as Carwin tells it, not as scary as the moment that led to it. He had noticed that anytime he was doing jumping exercises, his legs would lock up briefly, but he reasoned that his muscles were just taking longer than usual to warm up. But on one recent day, he was working on wrestling takedowns, and suddenly fell flat on his back. It was at that point when he realized that his legs had gone completely stiff. "Honestly, I thought I was almost paralyzed," he told MMA Fighting. The feeling came back about 15 seconds later, but Carwin knew something was very wrong with his body. A follow-up MRI revealed damage that put the former UFC interim light-heavyweight champion on the shelf and in a predicament. His doctor gave him two options. Either he could go through surgery, or he could retire. While it wasn't a snap decision, it wasn't a hard one either. After consulting with his doctor, Carwin (12-2) spoke with both his wife Lani and manager Jason Genet. To him, it sounded like the surgery was inevitable at some point as his symptoms weren't likely to just go away on their own. It was possible he could retire and need the procedure a year down the road, so, he reasoned, why not just do it now and continue on with his fight career? It's not like he's afraid of the hard work he'll have to put in to return. This is the guy who nearly won a UFC championship while holding a fulltime job as an engineer. If anyone was going to embrace this uphill task, it's him. "If I didn't believe I still had a title run left in me, I would retire," he said. "I feel like I still have some things to prove. I have unfinished business. I love the doubters." Carwin is not likely to return to the octagon until around the summer of 2012. At that point he'll be 37 years old, coming off two surgeries in less than two years, and looking to break a two-fight losing streak. So there will likely be many doubters to be found. It wasn't long ago though when he was the next big thing, an undefeated 12-0 with 12 first-round finishes heading into his heavyweight championship fight with Brock Lesnar at UFC 116. In that bout, he seemed on his way to lucky 13, punishing Lesnar in a first-round barrage that nearly caused a stoppage on more than one occasion. But Lesnar withstood the ferocious onslaught and rebounded with a second-round arm-triangle submission. After surgery in November 2010 that addressed neck and disc damage that was a result of wear and tear throughout his athletic career, Carwin came back almost a year after his last fight, ironically replacing a recently dethroned Lesnar in a No. 1 contenders bout with Junior dos Santos at UFC 131. The performance undeniably exhibited Carwin's toughness (he was outstruck 104-22 according to FightMetric), but for him, it ultimately proved to be the most disappointing of his career. Carwin offers few excuses for the loss, saying that it's the one fight he'd like to take back. "The Junior fight just wasn't me," he said. "I don't think mentally it was me. When I went out there, I didn't press and get in his face like I typically would. That's one time to perform, and I just didn't perform to my best. I could sit here and look at things here or there I could have done better, but the fact of the matter is that I didn't perform to my best." That memory will at least partially motivate Carwin forward as he works though rehabilitation and finds his way back into the gym. At least for a short time, it had already been doing so. Shortly before his injury occurred, the UFC had given Carwin an indication that he would be on the year-end event at UFC 141, and he had been in the gym gearing up his training. By the time he returns a few months from now, the division is likely to look quite different. A title fight with Cain Velasquez hoping to defend his belt against dos Santos is on the horizon, and at the end of the year, Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem will tangle in a bout that could produce the next top contender. "The heavyweight division is exciting," he said. "I can see any of those four guys holding the belt. It sure makes for some exciting matchups." But there's even more depth likely on the way. Top 10 heavyweight Fabricio Werdum is likely to be shipped in soon, and by the time Carwin returns, Strikeforce might have folded up shop and brought its talented big men to the UFC's octagon. Carwin has no predictions on the world he'll walk back into when his body is healed up, but he knows the division has its challenges. The only challenge for him now is getting healthy. Doctors have told him that he should return to "as normal as whatever athletes can be" after years of wear and tear. There is no guarantee, just the promise in his mind. Asked if he has anything he'd like to say about his future, the soft-spoken heavyweight laughs. There will be no big proclamations forthcoming. "I appreciate being part of the sport and the opportunities it's given me in life," he says. And with that, Shane Carwin goes back to work. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, year, carwin, surgery

Chael Sonnen to Host World MMA Awards, Will Air on Fox Sports and Fuel

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

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

K-1 Grand Prix 2011 Update: Final 16 Cancelled, Final 8 Still Possible

If you've been following our coverage of K-1 and the 2011 K-1 Grand Prix, you already know what a mess the entire situation is. As we reported last week, the GP appeared to be cancelled after K-1's long-standing financial difficulties could not be worked out. In the days since, we've had a bit more news on the situation. First up, It's Showtime confirmed what we already suspected - there will definitely not be a Final 16 event for the 2011 K-1 Grand Prix. Originally scheduled for October 29 in China, that event has been officially cancelled. K-1 hasn't actually made this official announcement, or updated their website, but that is not a surprise given the way they normally deal with news like this. The announcement from It's Showtime was actually quite detailed, which was a breath of fresh air after a year full of rumors and half-stories. It's Showtime president Simon Rutz clarified that FEG, the parent company to K-1, is indeed bankrupt, and the K-1 name is now owned by Barbizon. He also reports that there are a handful of investors interested in rebuilding the K-1 brand - one from Korea, one from the US that Rutz describes as "an American company which also has big opportunities to bring the K-1 brand to high levels," and a third party. These investors are working with long-time K-1 president Tanigawa as well as Golden Glory head Bas Boon to finalize their deals. However, none of these investors can move forward without the signature of Kazuyoshi Ishii, the founder of K-1. There is a lot of interesting news to unpack in this statement. Bas Boon has some official connection to K-1. When the Barbizon sale was announced it was a not discussed, but not very well disguised, secret that Boon was likely connected to Barbizon. Seems that this is probably the case, or at least that Boon does have some official interest in K-1. Ishii remains an official part of K-1. Despite leaving the company a few years ago, it's been known that he has some involvement still. But the fact that he must approve any investors is a rather large degree of control that Ishii still holds. Despite this year's troubles, there still is hope for the future, as any of these investors could bring K-1 back next year or beyond. It's Showtimer pledges their support in making that happen. So with that, it looked like we could hold out hope for a future Grand Prix, just not one in 2011. But of course, with K-1, things aren't that easy. Anil Dubar, the trainer to Daniel Ghita who first announced that the Final 16 was off, now says that K-1 has told Ghita to remain in shape and ready to fight in December. The plan now is to skip the Final 16 and just have 8 participants take part in a one night Final 8 GP in December. My opinion on that? Wishful thinking on everyone's part. K-1 doesn't like to admit defeat, and I in fact predicted that this would be their next move when we talked about the end of the Final 16 last week. So expect another two months of rumors and fighters being strung along before the ultimate cancellation. And for the future? I will join in the optimism there. There remains a vibrant international kickboxing scene and great interest in the sport in Europe. If a smart investor can come in, clean house, and run K-1 like a proper business, working with camps like It's Showtime and Golden Glory, we could see the Grand Prix crown once again. Just don't hold your breath.

Posted in: showtime, year, official, prix, investor

UFC’s Ability to Build Stars Hindered by Myriad of Perplexing Problems

The discussion surrounding the realization that the UFC is experiencing a decline in their pay-per-view business from last year to this year has been exacerbated by the recent low point of UFC 136. The card, headlined by a UFC lightweight title showdown between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard, produced an estimated 250,000 buys, which makes it one of the worst PPVs in terms of revenue of the year. It was, however, one of the best cards in terms of action and entertainment value. It simply didn't have the star power or promotional power to garner more interest from fans. The blame can't solely rest on whether Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard pander to the cameras. The UFC's marketing machine didn't promote an emerging star in Chael Sonnen at all in the lead-up to the fight, likely a decision based on the fact that his opponent, Brian Stann, was an American war hero who was immune to verbal jabs. Sonnen's own out-of-the-cage legal run-ins with the law were also probable reasons to keep him a low priority in the event's promotion. Other reasons have surfaced that are broader in scope than the attributes of UFC 137. There is a general sense that the UFC may have oversaturated the landscape. The counterargument to that has been that the quality of events has been significantly lower this year due to injuries that have destroyed potentially solid revenue-earning cards. The UFC's event schedule has also made it difficult, running sometimes two or three events in a short timespan. Obviously, that makes it tough on a fan's wallet, and it creates an environment where one must choose which cards to buy. Some weight classes lack appeal with fans due to unfamiliarity or the diminished star power of their most prominent fighters. What about our cultural propensity to gravitate toward the heavier weights, or the fact that the UFC only fields a few proven stars? We could sit here for hours speculating. Star power is a factor that has its hands in almost every one of those issues. It's an idea that can alleviate the smaller problems while singlehandedly propping up entire events. The perfect example is Brock Lesnar, a man who can bring over one million buys to an event by simply having his name on a poster and press release. What do the current stars in the UFC have that others don't? Skill has never been the issue. It's always boiled down to what fighters can offer emotionally for fans. St. Pierre is probably the least reliant on that idea, but he's gained his status by nationalism, playing the good guy opposite the bad, and having a love-hate or loving relationship with every fan who watches the sport. Lesnar and Jackson, on the other hand, have personalities that intrigue fans, crossover appeal to different segments of people, and the physical gifts to provide jaw-dropping entertainment. They fit a mold that is seen as the Holy Grail of what a star should look like. The discussion surrounding the realization that the UFC is experiencing a decline in their pay-per-view business from last year to this year has been exacerbated by the recent low point of UFC 136. The card, headlined by a UFC lightweight title showdown between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard, produced an estimated 250,000 buys, which makes it one of the worst PPVs in terms of revenue of the year. It was, however, one of the best cards in terms of action and entertainment value. It simply didn't have the star power or promotional power to garner more interest from fans. The blame can't solely rest on whether Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard pander to the cameras. The UFC's marketing machine didn't promote an emerging star in Chael Sonnen at all in the lead-up to the fight, likely a decision based on the fact that his opponent, Brian Stann, was an American war hero who was immune to verbal jabs. Sonnen's own out-of-the-cage legal run-ins with the law were also probable reasons to keep him a low priority in the event's promotion. Other reasons have surfaced that are broader in scope than the attributes of UFC 137. There is a general sense that the UFC may have oversaturated the landscape. The counterargument to that has been that the quality of events has been significantly lower this year due to injuries that have destroyed potentially solid revenue-earning cards. The UFC's event schedule has also made it difficult, running sometimes two or three events in a short timespan. Obviously, that makes it tough on a fan's wallet, and it creates an environment where one must choose which cards to buy. Some weight classes lack appeal with fans due to unfamiliarity or the diminished star power of their most prominent fighters. What about our cultural propensity to gravitate toward the heavier weights, or the fact that the UFC only fields a few proven stars? We could sit here for hours speculating. Star power is a factor that has its hands in almost every one of those issues. It's an idea that can alleviate the smaller problems while singlehandedly propping up entire events. The perfect example is Brock Lesnar, a man who can bring over one million buys to an event by simply having his name on a poster and press release. What do the current stars in the UFC have that others don't? Skill has never been the issue. It's always boiled down to what fighters can offer emotionally for fans. St. Pierre is probably the least reliant on that idea, but he's gained his status by nationalism, playing the good guy opposite the bad, and having a love-hate or loving relationship with every fan who watches the sport. Lesnar and Jackson, on the other hand, have personalities that intrigue fans, crossover appeal to different segments of people, and the physical gifts to provide jaw-dropping entertainment. They fit a mold that is seen as the Holy Grail of what a star should look like. Are there other fighters who possess those talents, and why isn't the current system in place to build those stars working? Out of an enormous roster of talent, the UFC has very few proven draws. We can eliminate most of the roster because they aren't featured, but that still leaves the upper-echelon talent in every division available for the star treatment. Why aren't there more stars then? The UFC's model, as MMAMania.com's Geno Mrosko opined yesterday during a conversation we had on Twitter, is based on excitement, emotional investment, and worth-your-money performances. If you're paying $55 dollars for a PPV, it better deliver. Imagine if the NFL ran under the same model. As Mrosko stated, Terrell Owens might be the main attraction and defense wouldn't be as important. What other sport shares this similar type of prioritization of appeal? Basketball. Personalities on top of exciting performances fuel interest in the sport. If that's the case for the NBA, then why can't the UFC create a bevy of stars with that same idea? Every one of those sports has time on their side. Fanbases that consistently replenish themselves across generations, the build-up of an end goal for its participants and fans every year, and an established farm system that is not only creating talent, but driving interest and creating insane levels of revenue every year, especially in basketball and football. The UFC has none of that, nor will it likely ever have that sort of structure in place. Those are long-terms problems. In the short-term, the UFC must still deal with the fact that they can't seem to drive interest in the ligher weight classes. The personalities don't exist to build within the current mold of how to drive stars, and nobody stands out as the man to break that mold. There is hardly any focus on personal stories either, which the UFC consistently fails to leverage. There doesn't need to be a Countdown show to tell those stories. There just needs to be a bigger outlet to get the message across to fans. How does the UFC progressively move toward a better way to build stars? The issues that plague it due to its uniqueness as a sport won't disappear, but they should only hinder it from maintaining fans across generations. Unless you're going to create teams based on fight camps or move to some sort of seasonal format like Bellator that actually has major relevance to the landscape of the sport, those issues are always going to remain unsolved. Time is an issue that is solved by sustaining the business. As the sport progresses and remains in the public's field of vision, it will gain more fans because it is seen as a legitimate sport. The more understanding by the public that this is, in fact, a competitive sport, not human cockfighting, the more sports' fans will embrace it. It will also expand the UFC's demographic from the 18-34 crowd to the larger 18-49 crowd. Eventually, we'll all be grandfathers watching this sport, and perhaps out kids and our kids' kids will be watching alongside us with interest. That expands the UFC's advertising potential and fanbase, adding years to its viability. Time only solves the issue of creating an established fanbase and enough viability to intrigue a more general sports fan, or a casual fan, as we like to call it, in MMA's case. The new Fox deal should provide a platform for more creative means to promoting fighters. Crossover promotion of the UFC with other sports is key, and publicizing backgrounds of fighters and creating an emotional connection is something the UFC can leverage with the new deal as well. In the aftermath of the UFC 137 buyrate news, many pundits clamored that the UFC needs to do a better job of producing stars without actually providing ideas to solve the problem. I can't fault those people, however, because there isn't clear how to do that. The new Fox deal will give the UFC a significant tool to increasing its chances, but I don't believe it's going to create a blueprint that can consistently create stars for the UFC for years to come. There will always be obstacles that stop the UFC from toppling the NFL, NBA, or MLB. The reality is that there is no obvious answer, only a myriad of perplexing problems that don't have the advantage of a historical counterpart to reference. At least not at the levels that Dana White is hoping to propel the UFC into in the coming years.

Posted in: ufc, star, sport, year, fan

Chael Sonnen to Co-Host 2011 World MMA Awards; Show to Air on Fox Sports

Filed under: MMA Media Watch, NewsChael Sonnen is taking his act to the 2011 World MMA Awards. The loquacious middleweight fighter has been named co-host for the 2011 World MMA Awards by Fighters Only Magazine, the publication announced Friday afternoon. Sonnen will share the stage with TV personality Molly Qerim, who co-hosted the event last year with Randy Couture. News of Sonnen hosting the show was first reported by MMAWeekly.com Friday morning. In addition, it was also announced that the awards show will air via tape delay across the Fox Sports regional networks and on Fuel TV. Air dates and times will be announced in the coming weeks. "I say it every year that we want to make the awards show bigger and better and every year we have done just that," Rob Hewitt, CEO of Fighters Only, stated in a release. "However, none of it would be possible with out the support of the MMA industry, the fans, our sponsors and TV and venue partners who all believe as much as we do in this project. To celebrate the sport we love and the people within it in the way that we do is a crowning moment of the year for Fighters Only and we can't wait to reveal this year's winners." World MMA Awards winners are selected by the fans. You can cast your vote by clicking here. The fourth annual World MMA Awards takes place Wednesday, Nov. 30, at the Pearl Theatre inside the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. The event is open to the public, and tickets go on sale Friday afternoon at the Pearl box office or any Ticketmaster location. Editor's note: MMAFighting.com is nominated for Media Source of the Year, while our own Ben Fowlkes and Ariel Helwani are nominated for Journalist of the Year. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: world, mma, year, award, awards show

UFC Halloween Costumes: Who wants to be a effing fighter?

The Seth Petruzelli costume as Kimbo Slice for Halloween (see the pic right here) will probably be hard to top this year, or any year for that matter, but Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is still giving you the tools to not look like a tool while trick-or-treating. So, you wanna be a effing fighter? Then dress like one, using these UFC "costumes" to walk around like the smasher that you are. Or just wear the same old crap you always wear to the live events, since it's basically the same thing. Board shorts + gratuitous Affliction shirt = instant costume. Or force your lovely lady to pile herself into one of these "authentic" UFC Octagon Girl outfits, complete with emergency frostbite kit for those chilly Halloween nights. Confession time, pumpkinheads, who's dressing up this year? And as what? Let's hear your best and worst costume ideas in the comments section below.

Posted in: ufc, year, halloween, costume, effing fighter

Dynamite!! 2011 may still have a chance

[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on MMA-Japan, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] For all intents and purpose, the K-1 Grand Prix is off this year unless someone pulls a magical rabbit out of a hat and turns it into sixteen kickboxers and a few sponsors. This is the first harsh reminder since the collapse of PrideFC that the state of combat sports in Japan is dismal. Dynamite!! 2010 happened in the final hour and ended up being as fun as ever, having the same aura that the NYE shows normally do, granted a much smaller crowd. Dynamite!! 2009 was likely the last big hurrah for a while until equilibrium is found and things can progress along at a pace that is acceptable for the environment in which they operate in. The X-factor in Dynamite!! happening this year is the promotional company, Real Entertainment. This is what DREAM has that K-1 doesn't. If these guys want to have a New Years show, they can make it happen and they have forged alliances with the likes of Bellator and would likely do so with M-1 Global if need be. The old power brokers from the PrideFC days are alive and well - they have not left the game in the least bit and if they want a show on December 31st, they will have one. Read More...

Posted in: year, combat sports, dynamite, pridefc days, years show

Dismissing the myth that kickboxing is dying

[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on LiverKick.com, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] With the K-1 WGP Final 16 being cancelled, making this the first year in K-1's existence without a World Grand Prix, many are throwing around the misconception that Kickboxing is dying. The statement couldn't be any more false. It's a reality of the Kickboxing world: For many, K-1 is kickboxing. With K-1 not hosting a World Grand Prix this year, many have also falsely declared that the organization is dead which is another notion that couldn't be any farther from the truth. The false thought of K-1 supposedly being dead in the minds of many fans is enough to claim that the entire sport of Kickboxing is dying. Dave Walsh gave some information on K-1's future here, to get rid of the thought that K-1 is dead. The reality is that right now, there are a lot more viable options for kickboxing than in the past. Yes, the big monster K-1 isn't around for the time being but think for a minute: For all the years that K-1 ruled kickboxing, was there really any alternatives with potential? Sure, SuperLeague was around for a few years and had some real quality, but it didn't last that long. There were pretty much no sustainable alternatives in Kickboxing that were easy to follow. Fast forward to the present day and there's a healthy stable of Kickboxing promotions slowly rising to prominence. It's Showtime in 2010 and mostly in 2011 has really expanded their territory, both geographically and in the general picture of Kickboxing. Fight Code has really put together a nice 2011, slowly gaining some ground. SuperKombat is also gaining ground, and with some tweaks here and there could really expand their product, especially its internet presence. Read More...

Posted in: world, year, kickboxing, liverkickcom part, kickboxing world

After Years of Problems, Kazuyuki Miyata Has Had Enough of FEG

Filed under: DREAM, K1, JapanFighting and Entertainment Group, the Japan-based K-1 promoter and co-promoter of DREAM, is falling apart at the seams. As if Simon Rutz's claims of bankruptcy earlier this week were not enough, top DREAM featherweight Kazuyuki Miyata also spoke publicly against Japan's leading fight-sport promoter this week, claiming in a blog post that after two and a half years of patience, he has had enough of the dishonesty and problems surrounding FEG. Speaking exclusively to MMAFighting.com, the recent DREAM title contender detailed his problems with FEG, his plans for the future and gave his thoughts on the UFC's 2012 Japan return. Although foreign fighters have been vocal about their problems with FEG, Kazuyuki Miyata became the first Japanese fighter to publicly speak out against the troubled Japanese promoter this week, stating in a blog post that his contract with FEG has been irreparably damaged due to payment issues and dishonesty and that he will not continue to work with them. "Well, as it has already been known or [at least] rumored by most in the industry for some time now, and recently has come to light in the world media, certain fighters, such as myself, have not been paid either in full, and/or at all by FEG for quite some time now... a couple of years actually, in my case," said Miyata to MMAFighting.com. "In the beginning, Mr. Tanikawa and FEG where very good to me. They treated me very well and I was on a good contract," said the former Olympic wrestler. "Before going any further, let me take this opportunity to state how much I sincerely appreciate those initial stages of my relationship with FEG and Mr. Tanikawa, The opportunities [I received due to that contract] helped me, my family and my career during those initial stages." Although falling victim to the incredibly difficult matchmaking during the early stages of his career, Miyata received almost unparalleled support from FEG at the height of the Japanese fight-sport bubble. In addition to the exceptional purses up for grabs in the Japanese fight scene during the mid 2000s, Miyata also received a monthly salary and support for his family during training camps. With the collapse of PRIDE in 2007 however, the fight-sport bubble was burst and Miyata, Alistair Overeem, Ray Sefo, Jerome LeBanner, Peter Aerts and many more have been chasing payments for years now. While Miyata declined to reveal how much is owed by FEG, if it is in line with his others who have gone public against FEG, it is likely to be a significant amount. "It is for the reasons above that I trusted Mr. Tanikawa and FEG and continued to be patient with the ongoing promises of being paid in full for as long as I did," said Miyata. Although Miyata has been able to survive financially due to sponsor support, after not receiving fight payment for so long, one may wonder where the recent DREAM featherweight title contender gets his motivation to compete. Removing money from the equation though has actually brought surprising clarity to Miyata's career. "Japanese events used to be on network TV and more mass media exposure. Being in the public eye really inspired and motivated me, but in recent times the events have been aired really late at night, edited down to only an hour or so, and eventually not aired on free to air at all," explained Miyata. "But now with events not being shown on network TV and without as much media exposure, it has made me realize my real passion for the sport and why I evolve and compete. [Fighting] has been my life for many years and I appreciate the opportunity to do what I love professionally. That's what really inspires and motivates me now." Despite his problems with FEG while fighting for DREAM, Miyata does intend to continue fighting and will fight in Japan's leading MMA promotion, at least for the time being. "Of course I am planning to continue competing," said Miyata. "My contract with FEG was completed at the end of last year and it was from that time forward that I negotiated a fight-by-fight contract with DREAM [co-promoter] Real Entertainment. I am very interested in the UFC and potentially entering that realm but at present, I have my sights set on the end of year show here in Japan [but] will consider my options after that, sometime early next year." Miyata mentioned in a blog post earlier this week that Real Entertainment, the company formed by ex-PRIDE FC employees who partnered with FEG to co-promote DREAM, is financially "healthy". Although DREAM still lacks TV support and sponsors, fighters who have been directly contracted to Real Entertainment (i.e. those who didn't extend their contracts from the former FEG-run K-1 Heroes promotion) have not publicly complained of payment issues. Whether or not the UFC can be successful in Japan with their Feb. 26 Saitama Super Arena daytime event is a hot topic among pundits. For Miyata though, rather than speculate on the possible failures of a Japanese UFC event, he is more interested in finally seeing the evolution of MMA in Japan. "I'm no expert on [promotion], but what I can say is that I am very interested in seeing firsthand the top fighters the UFC has to offer on Japan soil. I'm much more interested in the new and exciting evolution of the sport, rather than continually seeing ex-Pride fighters perform." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: miyata, feg, dream, year, japan

Ken Pavia Opens Up on UFC Lawsuit

Filed under: UFC, BellatorLast year the UFC filed a lawsuit against Bellator Fighting Championships and MMA agent Ken Pavia, claiming that Pavia gave confidential UFC documents to Bellator. Pavia, who has since sold his MMA agency, says he didn't give Bellator anything confidential, and that the lawsuit will show that. "The claim is that I shared confidential and secret information with a competitor that gave them some sort of advantage," Pavia said on The MMA Hour. "Time will tell I didn't. Did I share confidential information? Documents were passed, and we've been very forthright about that, and our contention is that they're a few documents that are readily available to the public. Google them. They're all there. They're all on the Internet. ... I guess I just saved them probably two hours of Googling." Pavia said some people have assumed he sold the agency because of the suit, but that in reality the vast majority of fighters he was representing at the time stayed with him. "My reputation took a little bit of a hit, which is unfortunate because a year and a half into it I think I'm going to be vindicated eventually. I feel very confident," Pavia said. According to Pavia, Bellator didn't even have any use for the documents in question. Eventually, Pavia expects all the facts to come out, although he doesn't know when that will be. "We're a year and a half in and we haven't even begun discovery," he said. "The American legal process, I guess." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, bellator, pavia, year, document

Mailbag: Jones the favorite for Fighter of the Year (Yahoo! Sports)

With one more win, Jon Jones will be a lock for Fighter of the Year. But what if he loses to Lyoto Machida?

Posted in: jone, fighter, jon jones, year, mailbag jones

Dana White ranks #38 in AskMen's Top 49 Men in 2011

The fact that Dana White throws verbal ninja stars at anyone in his vicinity shouldn't surprise you. If this news has startled you, we suggest you go back and look at every recorded interview White has done in the last five years. Hopefully you may run across Technoviking in your search and he will steer you in the right direction. If Dana White was an honorary member of the X-Men, his mutant power would be the ability to completely demolish your self-esteem within seconds. His words and actions are more influential than yours, which has earned him a place on this year's 'AskMen's Top 49 Men in 2011.' Last year Dana placed in the number 32 spot, and the year before he nabbed the 10th slot. This year, Dana White is MMA's sole representation coming in at number 38. Dana managed to beat guys like Dirk Nowitzki, Larry David, Tom Brady and Justin Timberlake -- but was superseded by Jimmy Fallon, Mark Zuckerberg, Mark Cuban and The President of the United States. According to the online magazine, the most influential man in the world this year is Steve Jobs, followed by Seal Team Six, the guys who located and killed the most wanted man on the planet. Larry Page, Warren Buffet and Kayne West followed exactly in that order. [Source]

Posted in: dana, year, steve jobs, year dana, years askmens

Kerry Vera Could Return to MMA Early 2012

Filed under: Strikeforce, NewsAfter over two years on the sidelines, Kerry Vera will look to return to the cage in early 2012, says her husband and UFC light heavyweight Brandon. Vera (2-0) made her Strikeforce debut in November 2009, putting on a kickboxing clinic in a dominant win over Kim Couture. She then seemingly disappeared from the MMA scene, but now, according to Brandon, is working her way back to active competition. "Kerry actually just started training two-and-a-half weeks ago," Brandon said Monday on The MMA Hour. "She blew out her knee and when she blew out her knee, she fractured her spine, her o4, o5. It's a super small hairline fracture. They couldn't do any surgical procedures on it." Brandon said since no procedure was possible, all Kerry could do was wait for the year to a year-and-a-half for her spine injury to heal. Brandon guesstimates that Kerry is now 96% and is looking to return early next year, "maybe February-March." Kerry remains under contract with Strikeforce. "She's so excited about training again, getting back in there and getting some," Brandon said. "She watches all the girl fights. Yeah, she's amped. She's super, super excited to get back in [the cage]." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: year, brandon, kerry, girl fights, kerry vera

Jorge Santiago Released by the UFC

Jorge Santiago has been released by the UFC. The Middleweight fighter is coming off a loss to Demian Maia at UFC 136. Santiago made his return to the UFC earlier this year, losing to Brian Stann at UFC 130 before falling to Maia. This was Santiago's second run in the UFC as he was 1-2 in the company back in 2006. In the years between his two UFC runs, Santiago established himself as one of the top Middleweights in the world outside of the UFC, putting together a solid 11-1 record. His major success came in Japan, where he claimed the Sengoku Middleweight championship and turned some heads with a pair of classic fights against Kazuo Misaki. His work in Japan earned him a lot of respect, and many fans were excited about his return to the UFC. At 1-4 in his combined UFC runs, and at nearly 10 years into his pro career, it's hard to envision Santiago making his way back into the UFC in the future. Although the Maia fight was a bit lackluster, Santiago still has the ability to put on very entertaining fights. With Bellator looking to build up champion Hector Lombard, Santiago would make a fine challenger. The two men are former training partners at American Top Team. Source: Tatame.com

Posted in: ufc, year, middleweight, maia, santiago

After Plenty of False Starts, UFC Ready for Primetime Network Debut

Filed under: MMA Media Watch, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, NewsThe UFC's head man, as always, has plenty on his plate. He recently completed an exhausting series of four events in four weeks, the first such stretch in UFC history. It won't take long to duplicate. Another four-week, four-event stretch begins on October 29. In between, he's flying around the world for press conferences, meeting with fighters, managers and agents, and putting out the everyday fires that come along with trying to accomplish so much in so little time. When you ask Dana White about any of this stuff, it seems almost mundane for him. He shows the same passion for his product, but after a decade in the trenches, there is a sense of routine to it all. After years as a micro-manager -- White is the first to admit he hates giving up control -- he has built a staff that he trusts, leaving him more time to focus on big picture issues. And that's a good thing, because the scope of what's in front of him is a dizzying expanse, the one world White has yet to conquer. If you were to say he is obsessed by his new primetime network platform, he might not disagree. "The only thing I care about right now is this first FOX fight on November 12," White told MMA Fighting in an exclusive interview. "We've been on cable television with Spike since 2005, and that was huge for us, but this is a whole other game. A whole other level. This is the time when everything changes." While 2005 is widely regarded as the first mainstream television breakthrough for the UFC, there was actually an opportunity before that. In 2002, White thought he was ready. Two years into Zuffa's ownership of the UFC, the promotion had just booked two events when Fox Sports Net agreed to air one fight in June during a series of summer specials. There was only one problem. The first event White booked was in early May, and the results would be known far in advance of the airing. And the second event was in July, too late. So White booked a third event in June, solely for the opportunity to air on Fox Sports. The event became known as UFC 37.5, and it marked the first time in company history promoting three events in three months. The show took place on a Saturday afternoon at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, and the plan was for Fox to air one full fight on Tuesday, three days later. While the main event pitted Chuck Liddell against Vitor Belfort, the UFC still planned to air the show on pay-per-view at a later date and could not give that fight away for free. So instead, UFC and Fox Sports Net decided on featuring Robbie Lawler vs. Steve Berger. The ensuing broadcast would be a huge success for the UFC, which saw its biggest audience ever. Mainstream legitimacy seemed around the corner. And then? Nothing. At the time, it was a monumental letdown for White and the Fertitta ownership group, who thought they were about to begin a fruitful relationship. "It was like, f---, we should've got that deal then," he said. "It should've happened. But it wasn't time. It didn't happen because it wasn't time. We weren't ready for that. We're ready now. Now we're ready, all our ducks are in a row. We're the best and what we do, and now we're going to go out there and f------ nail this in the next two years. But this next year is real important." For White and UFC senior VP of production and operations Craig Borsari, that has meant constant contact with FOX executives. It's meant regular, daily phone calls, and frequent flier miles to Los Angeles. White said either he or Borsari -- sometimes both -- has traveled to L.A. at least once a week every week since signing the new deal in August. "Thank God it's not New York," White said. If that seems like a lot of work for one, one-hour show (the Nov. 12 FOX TV offering will feature only one fight: a heavyweight championship match pitting Cain Velasquez against Junior dos Santos), White said it's extremely significant because the first show will be lay the groundwork for the entire seven-year relationship to follow. The Nov. 12 show is not officially part of the announced deal, which goes into effect on January 1. It's actually a bonus event worked out between the companies, and White feels it necessary to make that first network impression an indelible one. "They're not like any other network to deal with," White said. "They don't operate like any other networks do. They're so badass, it's really crazy. They do everything top-notch, first-class. They're innovative, they take risks. Being with these guys -- and I'm not complaining -- I just don't know how the f--- we didn't do this sooner. It's crazy. "FOX revolutionized football, NASCAR and all these other sports," he continued. "[FOX Sports chairman and CEO] David Hill has literally revolutionized how sports is filmed and broadcast. They have a lot of ideas for us, too, and I'm open to them." White is so focused on UFC on FOX 1 that many questions relating to surrounding issues can not yet be answered. Where will the rest of the card be broadcast? White doesn't know. Will subsequent network shows also be just one hour? That's still to be determined. What kind of viewership numbers are expected? Though FOX sold out its advertising allotment, no one offers a guess for that, either. Recently, White seemed to tip his hand on the last question. While discussing Spike counter-programming UFC on FOX 1 with a special "UFC Unleashed" featuring Velasquez and dos Santos, he told MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani, "I hope I pull 10 million on FOX and 2 million on Spike. Believe me, I'll be a happy camper that next day. But in a subsequent interview with MMA Fighting, White said that number was just off the top of his head. "I have no idea what the possibilities are on a Saturday night for free TV," he said. "FOX hasn't given us any expectations or any number that they expect. I'm going to be happy no matter what. The way I look at this first FOX fight, we're introducing the sport to everybody. I don't know what that number's going to be, but whatever it is, we're going to build off that. When we did our last Fight Night in New Orleans, 1.8 million people tuned in on Spike. How many people are going to tune in on FOX? I don't know the answer, and neither do they. This thing is an experiment." For both sides, it's an expensive experiment. FOX will be paying a reported $700 million over seven years, with rights fees starting lower than the average $100 million at the beginning and escalating each year. Meanwhile, the UFC is expected to lose money on the first show, with broadcast fees not likely to make up for the revenue that would have come from a pay-per-view offering. In the long run, though, the UFC has the cash coffers to withstand a loss-leader on such a high-profile platform. The upside is without question. FOX's multi-channel deal with the UFC will eventually put the promotion not only on FOX, but also on FX, which finished in the top five for cable ratings in the most recent week. In addition, UFC will become staple programming on FUEL, with the possibility of event pre- and post-shows, live undercards and foreign versions of The Ultimate Fighter. For the last few years, even as pay-per-view business exploded and the sport surpassed boxing and professional wrestling in revenue, White has always contended that the UFC and mixed martial arts had yet to hit mainstream. To get there, he's always said he needed network TV. The time is fast arriving. It's going to be a challenge for all of Zuffa, and it will certainly take its personal toll on White. The next year, he says, is going to "beat the living s--- out of me." The travel, the expanded schedule, the stress, it's all just going to continue to increase. But after waiting 10 years for this opportunity, there's no hesitation about what's to come. In the words of octagon announcer Bruce Buffer, it's time. "Next year, 2012, is going to be the biggest year for mixed martial arts," he said. "It's the one that's going to change everything. I know what I need to do. We're going to reach people who would have never watched us in a million years. We're going to kick it off and get a lot of buzz and a lot of hype, and we're going to grow off of it. We have a great partner. We're ready. Now we're going to take it to a whole other level." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, time, fox, event, year

MFC 32 Slated for January 2012, Kicks Off New Year with Lightweight Title Fight

The Maximum Fighting Championship on Sunday announced that MFC 31 brings the promotion’s year to a close. MFC 32 will mark the company's first event of 2012.

Posted in: title, event, year, title fight, mfc

HDNet’s Michael Schiavello Takes Stock of Dream, Says Dynamite May Be Done

HDNet's Michael Schiavello takes a look at the state of the Japanese fight promotion Dream, and says that the annual New Year's Eve extravaganza, Dynamite, may not happen this year.

Posted in: year, michael, hdnet, schiavello, dynamite

Jon Jones says "The More Active The Better" on his 2011 run

UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon "Bones" Jones reflected on his activity throughout 2011, and the fact that the UFC 140 encounter with Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida will be his fourth fight this year. According to Jones, "the more active the better", especially when you're a twenty-four year old Champion "with a small window of opportunities to do great things". Other UFC Champions defended (or will defend) their title only twice this year, excluding Cain Velasquez who will have his first title defense

Posted in: jone, jon jones, champion, year, ufc champions

This Day in MMA, Version 1.0 - Anderson Silva Establishes His Dominance

I've been meaning to start this series for a while, but certain people (I'm looking at you Mike Fagan) have held me back from getting my game on. Well, today's the day. You see, Mr. Fagan is what guys with girlfriends like to call an MMA historian. He has this huge calendar thinger in his house that chronicles everything that has ever happened in MMA, day by day. Instead of just entering the info into some internet database like a regular guy, he has it all on his wall like a serial killer. Occasionally he takes pictures of it and sends them to me (thank god that's all he sending), and I get a glimpse into the past. And today was one of those days. I'd like to take you back, back through time. We've got two stops. One is important, the other not so much. First up, October 14th, 2004, and a Pride event that approximately three people remember. Then two years later, some UFC event where A Spider Was Born. Seven years ago to the day, Pride Bushido 5 took place in the Osaka Castle Hall in Osaka, Japan. Every fight had a name you likely remember, but this was pretty much a forgotten card due to the lopsided matchups. Names such as Mauricio Rua, Minowaman, and Igor Vovchanchyn picked up wins. Takanori Gomi defeated Charles "Krazy Horse" Bennett in the main event, but likely the biggest story that came out of the card was superstar Hayato Sakurai losing to a man 30 pounds bigger than him, Crosley Gracie, by submission in the second round. Sakurai went on the next year to make the Pride Lightweight Grand Prix finals, before losing to the aforementioned Gomi via TKO. Five years ago to the day, UFC 64 took place in Las Vegas. The card featured eight fights, and you might recognize the undercard winners - Kurt Pellegrino, Clay Guida, and Yushin Okami. Guida was making his debut in the UFC, while the other two were in their sophomore fights. On the main card, Spencer Fisher stopped Dan Lauzon in the opening bout. It still amazes me that Lauzon got a bout in the UFC when he was only 13 years old. (Fine, he was 18). Cheick Kongo lost to Carmelo Marrero, which should give you a clue as to why the Frenchman is still not main eventing today. Jon Fitch got a judge to give him a 30-25 decision over Kuniyoshi Hironaka, who is actually a solid fighter despite your yawns. And there just happened to be two title fights on top of the card. Remember last weekend when Kenny Florian got blown out in a title fight? Yeah, that was happening five years ago too. Florian faced off with Sean Sherk for the re-imagined UFC lightweight title, and well...he lost. Bad. Two 49-46's and a 50-45. He just couldn't stop the takedown, and despite busting Sherk open with one of his vaunted elbows from the bottom in the second, he couldn't get anything else going. The main event did introduce a new face to UFC nobility though, and he's done nothing but impress since - Anderson Silva. Redman brought Silva to the cage, and a broken nose brought Silva to the title belt. Rich Franklin never stood a chance after he got caught up in the Thai clinch. Muay Thai took the middleweight strap home to Brazil, and no one has been able to wrest it away since. It appears that Chael Sonnen will get the next chance. We'll see about that. I'm on vacation and just happen to be writing this from a hotel business center in Tallinn, Estonia right now, so the next episode of This Day in MMA might not be tomorrow. But it will be back as soon as I get home, or when Fagan drinks enough to take more pictures of his bedroom wall. Freak.

Posted in: ufc, fight, day, year, card

Breaking Down the Official UFC Undisputed 3 Roster: Lightweights and Light Heavyweights

The third installment to the popular MMA video game, UFC Undisputed is set to be released on January, and the guys at THQ are beginning to reveal their official roster. They will also be having a PRIDE mode where you can get nostalgic as you brutally stomp and kick your over-matched opponents, although sadly, this list they have just released are for their UFC fighters only. So, who are the new additions? Who have been snubbed? Here's a complete breakdown of the official roster for the light heavyweight and lightweight divisions for UFC Undisputed 3: UFC Undisputed 3 Official Lightweight Roster Fighters from UFC 2010 Roster that were removed UFC Undisputed 3 Official Light Heavyweight Roster Fighters from UFC 2010 Roster that were removed Donald Cerrone (New) Caol Uno Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (New) Keith Jardine Evan Dunham (New) Cole Miller Brandon Vera Krzysztof Soszynski Frankie Edgar Diego Sanchez [WW] Chuck Liddell Luiz Cane Takanori Gomi (New) Hermes Franca Cyrille Diabate (New) Mark Coleman Clay Guida Jens Pulver Dan Henderson [MW] Stephan Bonnar Melvin Guillard (New) Joe Lauzon Forrest Griffin Steve Cantwell Ben Henderson (New) Kenny Florian Jason Brilz Gray Maynard Kurt Pellegrino Jon Jones Jim Miller (New) Nate Diaz Lyoto Machida Ross Pearson Spencer Fisher Matt Hamill B.J. Penn [WW] Terry Etim Mauricio Rua Anthony Pettis (New) Tyson Griffin Phil Davis (New) Sean Sherk Quinton "Rampage" Jackson Dennis Siver Rashad Evans George Sotiropoulos (New) Rich Franklin Joe Stevenson Ryan Bader Thiago Silva Tito Ortiz Vladimir Matyushenko (New) Who are the notable snubs on this latest roster? Check out after the jump. The lightweights: 8 additions from last year's roster, with the most notable ones being Jim Miller, and the guys coming from the UFC-WEC merger (Pettis, Bendo, Cerrone). 12 fighters have been removed with most of them have either been released from the promotion, or have changed divisions (Sanchez, Florian, Griffin, Diaz?) Notable snubs: Nate Diaz - Currently ranked #14 in the lightweight division. He was in last year's roster, but moved up to welterweight, and just recently dropped back down to lightweight where he drubbed Takanori Gomi. He might just be on the WW roster, but if not, Diaz is a one of the most notable snubs in the game. Rafael Dos Anjos - Currently Ranked #16 in the lightweight division, and recently knocked out George Sotiropoulos who is a new addition to the roster. Joe Lauzon - He was on last year's roster, so it doesn't make much sense why he's not in the game anymore. Now that he recently had a big win over Melvin Guillard, maybe the developers should consider putting him back in the game. Gleison Tibau and Matt Wiman - Both guys are ranked in the top 25 in the world, although they're not as popular to the casual fans as the other fighters in the roster, so it is understandable. Cole Miller - He's on last year's roster, and his only loss in the past 2 years was from fellow snubbed fighter, Matt Wiman. The Light Heavyweights: 4 new additions from last year's roster with the most notable being Mr. Wonderful and Lil' Nog. 6 fighters from last year's roster that were removed, with most of them have either been released from the promotion (Coleman, Jardine), or is on ugly losing streaks (Cane, Cantwell). Notable Snubs: Randy Couture - The UFC Hall-of-Famer also wasn't on last year's roster, from that whole issue with his rights being signed to the guys at EA MMA. Alexander Gustafsson - He's been tearing up a bunch of light heavyweights, and recently earned his #15 ranking in the light heavyweight standings. Krzysztof Soszynski and Stephan Bonnar - Neither guy are on the top of the division, although both guys were on last year's roster, and both guys are enjoying 2-fight winning streaks. Bonnar has always been mentioned as a staple in the UFC, so it's a bit weird how they decided not to include him in the game. Stanislav Nedkov - He just recently cracked the top 25 with his win over Luiz Cane, so while the guy has talent, it is understandable that he wasn't added on the roster just yet.

Posted in: ufc, guy, year, &nbsp, roster

Wright: UFC in Vancouver not likely for 2012

Pay-per-view shows in Toronto and Montreal look to be on the UFC's calendar again next year but Vancouver may be left out in the cold.

Posted in: ufc, toronto, year, vancouver, wright

Shawn Tompkins: Last Captured Training Footage

I don't believe in fate, but the timing of Gamma Labs CEO Cliff Morgan's email was coincidental all the same. I'm sitting in the bowling alley at the South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada for the Amateur Bowlers Tour Fall Nationals tournament. I sat here around the same time last year. One evening during the tournament, Shawn Tompkins walked in with a group in tow. There was nothing special about the run-in. I didn't introduce myself. (I wouldn't want random people walking up to me when I was trying to enjoy an evening with friends and/or family.) He went to the counter, got a lane, and bowled with the group. But now he's dead. And he looked so healthy a year ago. And he was only 37. Morgan sent me the link to this video. Gamma Labs have been giving fighters Flip cameras. The fighters film themselves training and using Gamma Labs products, return the camera, and the video goes up on the company's Youtube page. One of the fighters they gave a Flip camera to was Chris Horodecki. This video was shot just a few days before Tompkins passed. Like my run-in last year, there's nothing special about this video on the surface. It's four minutes of Horodecki hitting mitts and a heavy bag. Tompkins opens up the video. Horodecki's coming off his victory over Chris Saunders in Bellator, and he's back in camp just a couple weeks after the fight. It's alarming just how HEALTHY Tompkins looks. I didn't have much of a reaction when Tompkins passed away. Not that I didn't care, per se, but he was just a guy, a trainer, in the world of MMA. But this video hit me. We're all aware, somewhere deep in the recesses of our mind, of our own mortality. We try to ignore it, but sometimes it's a fact we cannot avoid. Sometimes it's in the form of Christopher Hitchens, battling through oesophageal cancer, coughing and willing his way through the acceptance of the Richard Dawkins award. Other times it's in the form of this video of Tompkins. It's the realization that life can be taken away in an instant, in ways we could never have imagined.

Posted in: video, year, las vegas, tompkin, shawn tompkins

Joe Son, Early UFC Fighter & Austin Powers Villian, Suspect in Homicide

Filed under: Fighting, NewsJoe Son, an early mixed martial arts fighter who later had a memorable acting role in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, has been identified as a suspect in a death being investigated as a homicide at the Wasco State Prison-Reception Center (WSP-RC) in Wasco, California. According to a press release issued by the California Department of Corrections on Tuesday night, a WSP-RC inmate whose name has yet to be publicly released pending next of kin was found dead in his cell on Monday, October 10 at about 5:50 pm, and Son, who is also an inmate at the prison, is a suspect. The 40-year-old Son has only been at the prison for less than one month, having arrived on September 16 after being sentenced to life with the possibility of parole for his part in a Christmas Eve 1990 gang rape. WSP-RC was likely only a temporary stop for Son, as the prison's primary mission, according to their website, is to provide short-term housing while determining security level for new inmates. The prison released no information on the dead inmate except that he was 50 years old and had been at the facility for a little over three months after being sentenced to two years in prison for failure to register as a sex offender. The Son rape case had been cold for nearly 18 years, until he was sentenced to jail time and probation for an unrelated case, and was required to provide a DNA sample as a condition of his guilty plea. That sample was linked to the 1990 rape, and he was arrested on multiple charges relating to the crime in October 2008. He originally faced a sentence of up to 275 years before several charges were dropped due to the statute of limitations, and he eventually received life with possibility of parole. According to the Orange County district attorney's office that prosecuted the case, Son and co-defendant Santiago Lopez-Gaitan kidnapped a 20-year-old woman who had been walking home with her dog after going to look at Christmas lights, then repeatedly raped her and threatened to kill her before letting her go free. Gaitan was also convicted and sentenced to 17 years and four months in prison. The 5-foot-4, 220-pound Son was 0-4 in an MMA career that spanned from 1994-2002. He is most remembered for a UFC 4 fight with Keith Hackney, which he lost by choke. In that fight, Son, who claimed to have developed his own fighting system called "Joe-son-do," was beaten after taking a series of punches to the groin, which were not yet outlawed. Son fought just once in the UFC, and also fought twice in PRIDE. His most mainstream exposure came in movies, and he famously played the role of Dr. Evil's henchman "Random Task" in 1997's Austin Powers. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: year, prison, son, inmate, mainstream exposure

UFC reverts to later starting time from UFC 141

The UFC’s experiment with an earlier start time is over.Earlier this year, the show commencement times were brought forward one hour. Where they...

Posted in: ufc, time, hour, year, over.earlier

Read the full article at Fighters Only

K-1 World Grand Prix 2011 Still Very Much In Doubt

In less than two weeks, the 2011 K-1 World Grand Prix is scheduled to begin. On October 29 in China, K-1 will hold the Final 16, with the winners moving on to the Grand Prix finals on December 10. It's the biggest yearly event in kickboxing, and a title with 20 years of proud heritage. So this is great news for kickboxing fans, right? Not so fast. As of today, the exact status of the Grand Prix remains very much in doubt. When the event was announced in September, 11 of the 16 participants were named, with 3 more later added. They also announced that the show would be co-promoted with Europe's It's Showtime organization. In the weeks since, we have seen some definite cracks forming. First up, It's Showtime has once again been public about their concerns over payment issues. For well over a year now, It's Showtime (who represents numerous notable K-1 fighters including Badr Hari and defending MAX champion Giorgio Petrosyan among others) has complained that many of their fighters are owed substantial amounts for past K-1 fights. The relationship became very rough earlier this year, but with the GP partnership, things seemed to be ironed out. But on September 28, in their announcement of Badr Hari's retirement, It's Showtime stated: If K-1 will host a World Grand Prix this year, Badr will also participate to that. The Grand Prix Final is scheduled for December 10 in China. If this World Grand Prix will take place, depends if K-1 will be able to pay its debts to IT'S SHOWTIME and others. If not, the fight on January 28 will be Badr's only remaining fight as a kickboxer. More questions came to the surface this weekend, when Tyrone Spong (another It's Showtime fighter) stated that he was still owed money for last year's Grand Prix, and that he would not fight without being paid. K-1 has made no public response to these claims, nor have spoken of the Grand Prix since the September announcement. Despite these troubles, rumors have begun to surface of a possible line-up, with 7 of the 8 fights included. That alleged line-up is as follows: Xhavit Bajrami vs. Daniel GhitaHesdy Gerges vs. Errol ZimmermanBen Edwards vs. Singh JaideepMourad Bouzidi vs. KyotaroPeter Aerts vs. Melvin ManhoefSergei Lascenko vs. Rico VerhoevenBadr Hari vs. Anderson "Braddock" Silva Notably absent from that list? Tyrone Spong. Notably ON the list? Peter Aerts. If true, Aerts is a huge addition, as he represents a link to the traditions of K-1. He also gives the tournament at least one former GP winner, and will almost guarantee a greater emotional investment from long-time kickboxing fans. But this list includes a number of It's Showtime fighters (Hari, Manhoef, Gerges, Bouzidi, Silva, and Verhoeven). If the company pulls their fighters out, it doesn't seem that K-1 can possibly continue on with the event. So three weeks from now, will we be reporting on the results of the Final 16? And if we do, will the winners actually move on to crown a new K-1 Grand Prix champion? Personally, I remain highly skeptical. I'd love to see it, even with a less than ideal line-up, but I have my doubts.

Posted in: vs, showtime, year, &nbsp, prix

Dana will bring the UFC to the next level or die trying

Now Dana White knows exactly how it feels to be a Mega Man fan. I can think of quite a few childhood memories that can be summed up in the same eloquent phrasing the UFC head honcho uses in regards to the growth of the UFC brand: "I will get to the next level or *expletive* die". But this isn't about Mega man (or is it?), this is about the UFC growing at a rapid pace, heading to Fox and putting on thirty four live events next year. Here is what the exhausted but inspired Dana had to say to MMAJunkie. "This year was a big year for us," "But the next year is going to be the real big year for mixed martial arts. Next year is going to be the real big year for MMA. Next year is the one that's going to change everything and take it to the next level." "It's been crazy, but I wouldn't change a thing. When you want to achieve and you want to do what we're doing, this is how you do it, and this is what you have to do. In no way, shape or form am I like, 'I need to lay off; [expletive] this.' "I love it. We have a plan. The next two years ... definitely the next is going to beat the living s--- out of me. The next year is going to be a real rough one for me. But I'm down for this. This is what I want to do. I have a plan; I know how I want to execute this next year. Because in my opinion, the next two years are the most important two years for this company and this sport." "I think we hit a lot fight fans with that first step (on cable television). Now we're reaching people that would have never watched us in a million years. It's the perfect time. We did that first fight on FOX, and it was such a huge success. 2002 we did the 'Best Damn Sports Show.' (People say) '[S---], we should have gotten that deal then.' But it wasn't time. It didn't happen then because it wasn't time. We weren't ready for that. We're ready now. "All the ducks are in a row, we've got this thing dialed in, we know what we're doing, we're the best at what we do, and now we're going to go out there, and we're going to f------ nail this in the next two years." "Hold this tape and watch what happens at the end of next year and where we are and what we're talking about. And believe me, I will f------- die before I let this not happen. I don't give a s---- how many cities or countries I have to fly to in the next 10 days or next year. I am focused and excited and ready to do this." Props to Dana and the UFC for blowing up the sport in just under a decade, but this is still more impressive. [source]

Posted in: ufc, sport, dana, year, level

What Does It Really Cost to Be a UFC Fan?

Filed under: UFCIf you've been feeling like the UFC is occupying a lot of your free time lately, it isn't your imagination. The world's foremost MMA organization is coming off a stretch of four straight events -- two of them pay-per-views, and all of them on Saturday nights -- before going into the briefest little two-week hibernation leading up to UFC 137 at the end of the month. After that, it's UFC 138 from England on November 5, then the UFC's FOX debut the weekend after that, and then UFC 139 in San Jose the weekend after that. Once we hit 2012, the UFC calendar only gets busier. It makes you wonder, between the UFC's pay-per-view offerings, cable TV events, and regular reality show installments, what's the true cost in both money and time for hardcore fans who simply have to see it all? For starters, take a glance at the pay-per-views. If everything proceeds according to schedule, the UFC will have put on 16 of them in 2011. They run you abut $55 a pop in HD ($45 in what I like to call "regular D"), so let's split the difference and call it $50 per event. If you had stayed home all by your lonesome and paid for every single event without any friends or even sympathetic, MMA-loving acquaintances to pitch in, you'd have spent $800 just on UFC events in 2011. Of course, that doesn't count the cost of monthly cable (which you need in order to watch those Spike TV or Versus events, not to mention the prelims before each pay-per-view) or monthly internet access (which you need in order to watch the Facebook prelims and, you know, read this article). But let's be realistic. Very few people are laying down the dough for each and every pay-per-view all by themselves. For the sake of argument, let's say you had three friends who were just as fanatical about seeing every single pay-per-view. Let's say the four of you split each one equally. Then you're looking at $12.50 a pay-per-view, and $200 on the year (not counting snacks, drinks, and carpet cleaner for when your friends inevitably get drunk and spill some snacks on your floor). That's no small chunk of change, but most of us probably spend at least that much per year on coffee or junk food, so it's not unreasonable, either. To put it in perspective, compare the cost to other entertainment expenditures. UFC president Dana White likes to tout his pay-per-views as being a relatively cheap form of entertainment, assuming you can get a significant number of people to chip in. The average price of a movie ticket in the U.S. now hovers around eight dollars, which means you could see about 25 movies per year for the same price as splitting 16 UFC pay-per-views among you and your three friends. Or, at $18 per month, you could pay for almost an entire year's worth of Netflix (assuming you want DVDs in the mail and instant streaming -- and be honest, you do), which would allow you to stay home and watch a theoretically unlimited number of movies (even if you have to wait an extra few months to see Real Steel). If you're the type who feels like Hollywood never measures up to real-life sporting events, however, you could buy tickets to about eight major league baseball games or about four NFL games, depending on the team, the seat, and how you go about acquiring them. Of course, that doesn't factor in parking, refreshments, or stadium pickpockets, though it does get you out of the house in a way that UFC pay-per-views don't. But it's not just money that fight fans invest in order to keep up with the UFC -- it's also a great deal of time. Those 16 pay-per-views in 2011? Those clock in at around three hours each, which adds up to 48 hours -- two whole days -- spent watching grown men beat each other up. Add up this year's Fight Nights, UFC Live events, TUF Finales, and UFC 138 on tape delay from England, and there's another 10 events at two hours each, including commercials. Then there's the one-hour UFC on FOX, for a total of 21 hours spent watching the UFC's free events. Add in another 22 hours spent watching two full seasons of The Ultimate Fighter, plus the one hour prelims before each pay-per-view event, and what you're looking at is 107 hours spent watching the UFC alone in 2011, and that doesn't even include little extras like Facebook prelims or Countdown shows. If you're curious, that's almost four and a half full days in front of the TV. But as general sports fandom goes, that's not even necessarily so extreme. For instance, over the course of the NFL's 17-week regular season, you could easily watch three full football games every Sunday, plus another one every Monday night. At around three hours per game, that's 204 hours a year. Factor in three weeks of playoffs, plus the Super Bowl, and you're up to about 237 hours, or nearly 10 full days. One major difference is that the 10 days of NFL viewing is packed into about five months, whereas the UFC's 4 1/2 days is spread out across the entire year. But then, NFL games take place mostly on Sundays, when people are more likely to be home anyway, whereas UFC events are almost exclusively on Saturday nights, when people are more likely to go out in search of some form of social life. The NFL is also almost entirely free to watch, if you don't count the toll that sitting through all those commercials takes on your mind and spirit. So what does it all mean? That depends on your perspective. If you're a lonely but dedicated fight fan doing it all by yourself, it means you could be taking a date to the movies almost once a week for what you're spending to watch the UFC alone at home on Saturday nights, and in the end you'd still have about seven extra hours to spend perusing online dating sites or improving your personal hygiene (perhaps some combination of the two would be best). If your UFC fandom goes hand-in-hand with your social group, you might only spend as much on pay-per-views as you do on pizza every year, and at least it's in the company of friends who will tell you if you have sauce on your face. Whatever you're spending, and however long it's taking you, get ready to put in more time and money next year. The UFC isn't slowing down. Not as long as its fans are still willing to do what it takes to keep up. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, hour, event, year, pay-per-view

Exhausted Dana White: 'I will [expletive] die' making sure UFC gets to next level

All told, the UFC has booked 27 events this year. In 2012, it's aiming to put on 34 shows, a 22 percent increase. In 2005, the year in which the promotion broke onto basic cable, 10 events filled the calendar. This upcoming year is the one "that's going to change everything and take it to the next level," an exhausted Dana White said.

Posted in: ufc, event, year, level, change everything

Power play: Former UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion Shane Carwin to become 'more aggressive' as a fighter

Be afraid. Be very afraid. Just over a year ago, hulking heavyweight prospect Shane Carwin was the scariest (expletive) on earth. Over a five year span, the full-time engineer had compiled a perfect 12-0 record en route to earning a big money match-up against then-division kingpin, Brock Lesnar. Carwin would take center stage at UFC 116 after claiming the Interim heavyweight strap, which came at the expense of Frank Mir's ability to chew solid foods. His frightening stoppage over the former 265-pound deity continued a streak of violent finishes that on paper, read like a work of fiction. 12 straight wins. 12 straight finishes. There wasn't a fighter to date that was able to survive more than three and a half minutes against the 5XL fist bumps. When the opposing goliaths eventually did hook 'em up on July 3, 2010, it seemed like just another day at the water plant for the Greg Jackson disciple. Lesnar wilted under the powerful paws of the beefy bumrush, and seemed seconds away from a technical knockout stoppage. Then something happened. After five straight minutes of cruel and unusual punishment, Carwin answered the bell for round two, the first time he was ever asked to do so in his entire career. Instead of picking up where he'd left off, he found himself in a state of suspended animation, as his muscular frame betrayed him after years of steadfast obedience. In the end, he did what he had done his entire career. He was aggressive. Only this time, it cost him the fight -- and his shot at unifying the division titles. Perhaps the cautionary approach in his next fight, a knee-jerk reaction in a number one contender's bout against brain-scrambling Brazilian Junior dos Santos, allowed "Cigano" to get the upper hand at UFC 131. And by "upper hand," I mean the kind of beating that gets most men 15-to-life in the state penitentiary. Was Carwin embroiled in a Catch-22? Too aggressive left him frozen beneath an eight-sided carbonite chamber. Not aggressive enough saw his blood sprayed across the canvas a la Jurgen Von Anhalt. But what if, just maybe, his loss to Lesnar was more about gameplanning and less about agression? In a recent conversation with MMAmania.com, Carwin talked about his pending return, both to the UFC and to the strategy that got him there in the first place. "Maybe at the end of the year, maybe the beginning of next year, we'll see what the UFC has lined up for me. I'm not in camp right now, but I'm working on the things I need to be working on to stay competitive. It's really up to the UFC, I'm taking it fight-by-fight. The division is full of talent and now we have the guys from Strikeforce coming over. Josh Barnett is a top heavyweight, you know there's actually a bunch of top heavyweights over there, just look at Daniel Cormier. Overall I think I've just got to go back to being a little more aggressive as a fighter. As long as I stay passionate about who as I am a fighter, as long as I still love it, then things will be fine." Climbing out of an 0-2 hole at the tender age of 35 leaves no margin for error. Fortunately the Coloradoan has enough highlight reel footage to make him a marketable contender -- as long as he continues to win. Another loss, at any level, would be disastrous for what is arguable his final run at the top. Will he get there? One thing is for certain, I don't envy any fighter tasked with the responsibility of stopping him. Just who that prospective opponent might be, at least for now, remains a mystery. But that shouldn't let us, as fight fans, play matchmaker for his 2012 fight campaign. Let's hear your best guess in the comments section below. Shane Carwin's next fight should be against ...

Posted in: ufc, fighter, heavyweight, year, carwin

Carwin wants to go "back to being aggressive"

Shane Carwin expects to be back in action some time around the end of this year or the beginning of 2012.He last fought in June, suffering a one-sided...

Posted in: year, end, carwin, shane carwin, shane

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UFC 136 fight card: Frankie Edgar vs Gray Maynard trilogy fight to finally put their feud to rest

All that glitters is not gold, as evidenced by the lightweight logjam created by Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard's inability to settle their differences inside the cage. They'll attempt to do so again tonight (Sat., Oct. 8, 2011) in the main event of UFC 136 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. The 155-pound championship has been in a suspended state since UFC 125 on Jan. 1 when "The Bully" failed to find "The Answer" to finishing Edgar and went home pissed off and empty handed after cageside judges couldn't make up their collective minds. Anger can be a crippling emotion but motivation fueled by failure can be equally as powerful. While Maynard was unable to defeat Edgar in their second meeting to kick the year off (read all about that incredible war here), he does hold the distinction of being the only man to hold a victory over the lightweight king. That victory, however, came all the way back in 2008. With everything that's occurred in the meantime, that seems like light years ago. Edgar holds victories over Hermes Franca, Sean Sherk, Matt Veach and B.J. Penn since then. That's an impressive resume and one that should serve to remind fight fans how exactly how dangerous the New Jersey native really is. Maynard has yet to truly taste defeat, although he might tell you otherwise. The draw on New Year's Day felt like a loss to him, especially considering the fact that he didn't get to go home with the title he's spent his life working for. He's got one more shot to grab that belt and take it for himself tonight. Failure is not an option. Can he do it? Stay tuned.

Posted in: ufc, year, edgar, maynard, victory

Leonard Garcia vs Nam Phan odds for UFC 136 fight on Oct. 8

At UFC 136 on Oct. 8 in Houston, Texas, Leonard Garcia will finally make good on his promise to give Nam Phan a rematch almost a full year after their initial meeting, and now they get to do it in front of a much wider audience after being promoted from the "Edgar vs. Maynard 3" preliminary card. These two were originally scheduled to rematch at UFC Fight Night 24 before Phan suffered an injury. That allowed Chan Sung Jung to step in and get his revenge against "Bad Boy," who served up one of his "Garcia Splits" to the "Korean Zombie" in April of last year. He did the same to Phan back in Dec. 2010, winning a controversial decision victory after three hard rounds of action. In fact, company President Dana White agreed with fans that Phan was robbed and paid him his win bonus to go along with his show money. Now he'll give him the chance to get in the cage and do what he couldn't do the first time -- finish the job -- something the oddsmakers think he'll be able to do after pegging him as the -225 favorite. Garcia limps in as the +175 underdog. When Phan climbs inside the cage at the Toyota Center in Houston he won't just be fighting for revenge, he may very well be fighting for his spot on the ZUFFA roster. That's because the former Ultimate Fighter contestant has lost both of his Octagon contests since getting out of the house late last year and has lost four of five overall. This one is important -- time to make something happen. Anyone laying down some coin on this lightweight scrap? Why or why not? For more UFC 136 odds and betting lines click here.

Posted in: ufc, year, phan, garcia, fighter contestant

A bunch of gifs from this year's 2011 ADCC tournament

submitted by BJJinMMA [link] [3 comments]

Posted in: year, tournament, adcc, gif, bjjinmma

If Bones can beat Machida...

...can there be any argument that he is Fighter of the Year? Bader, Shogun, Rampage and then Machida - all in one year? And is that the best year for any one fighter ever? submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [3 comments]

Posted in: rampage, fighter, year, machida, machida ....

Anyone else think 136 has potential to be one of the best cards this year?

submitted by satsantokh [link] [1 comment]

Posted in: year, card, anyone, year ?., satsantokh

Sonnen returns after roller-coaster year (Yahoo! Sports)

Chael Sonnen is older, wiser, but still talkative after his whirlwind year outside the Octagon.

Posted in: year, chael sonnen, whirlwind year, roller-coaster year, sonnen returns

Will There Be a 2011 K-1 World Grand Prix?

Following the once great K-1 in 2011 has been a maddening experience. The company has long had issues delivering on their promises, but between the rumored shows, bankruptcy, and sale, 2011 has been an especially befuddling year. Now, the 2011 K-1 World Grand Prix has entered this same state of confusion. Where do things stand exactly with the event? Let's see what we can figure out: All year, rumors of a 2011 K-1 Grand Prix were decidedly on-agan, off-again. Over the summer, the rights to K-1 were reported as being sold to an unrelated Japanese company, with some possible unnamed investors from the world of international kickboxing. After that sale, rumors continued to circulate, with fighters mentioning being approached to take part in a GP later this year. Earlier this month, K-1 officially announced the 2011 K-1 World Grand Prix, set to begin with the Final 16 on October 29 in China. Eleven of the 16 participants were officially announced: Badr Hari (77-11) - 2008 & 2009 K-1 GP runner-upHesdy Gerges (39-9-1) - Current It's Showtime Heavyweight championTyrone Spong (67-6-1-1) - 2010 Final 8Ruslan Karaev (13-9) - 2008 K-1 Taipei champion; 2005 K-1 Las Vegas championDaniel Ghita (39-7) - 2010 Final 8; 2009 K-1 Tokyo GP championBen Edwards (32-7-2) - 2010 K-1 Oceania GP championMelvin Manhoef (37-9) - 2009 Final 16Dzevad Poturak (47-16-1-1) - K-1 Grand Prix debutSergei Lascenko (27-9) - 2011 SuperKombat GP champion; 2009 K-1 Tokyo GP runner-upRico Verhoeven (35-5-1) - K-1 Grand Prix debutAnderson "Braddock" Silva (29-5-1) - K-1 Grand Prix debut Notable in this announcement was the news that It's Showtime would be co-promoting the show. It's Showtime has had a rocky relationship with K-1 in 2011, as they have very publicly spoken about their fighters not being paid, and had a falling out earlier in the year when K-1 pulled out of a planned co-promoted show in Amsterdam, forcing It's Showtime to cancel their yearly super show. Shortly after the announcement, 3 more names were rumored additions to the field. Ben Edwards stated that he would be fighting Errol Zimmerman in the Final 16, and both Rustemi Kreshnik and Xhavit Bajrami were also allegedly added, leaving just two remaining spots open. Last week, It's Showtime announced the retirement of Badr Hari, and in the midst of that announcement threw the entire Grand Prix into doubt, stating: If K-1 will host a World Grand Prix this year, Badr will also participate to that. The Grand Prix Final is scheduled for December 10 in China. If this World Grand Prix will take place, depends if K-1 will be able to pay its debts to IT'S SHOWTIME and others. If not, the fight on January 28 will be Badr's only remaining fight as a kickboxer. While it seemed K-1 and It's Showtime had worked out their financial issues, obviously that is not the case. To be clear, if It's Showtime pulls their fighters, the K-1 Grand Prix can not happen as it is currently planned. And as of right now, it seems It's Showtime thinks that is a definite possibility. K-1 is trying desperately to hold on, and so are we as fans. Yes this line-up is greatly diminished from last year's, but it was still the Grand Prix, and I was still greatly looking forward to it. But at some point, we may need to accept the reality. K-1 may pull something together, may even crown a 2011 GP champion, but the truth is, it's over. And it has been ever since Alistair Overeem put Peter Aerts down one year ago. The only question left is, when will they pull the plug?

Posted in: world, showtime, year, gp, prix

Boardrooms and Backstabs: The Coming Battle Between the UFC vs. Spike

It’s always hard to make the good things last. The UFC and Spike TV have had a great relationship for a number of years, one where both parties have benefited tremendously from the other’s involvement. Spike was still struggling to establish it’s identity and it’s place in the cable landscape when they took a chance on a reality show featuring the UFC. At the same time the UFC was putting on great fights, but they needed help expanding their audience. There have already been plenty of words written about how much of a game-changer The Ultimate Fighter was when it premiered. It allowed Spike to fully establish it’s own identity, as here was something unlike all of their other original programming. Of course the UFC found plenty of new fans thanks to the fighting styles of Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar. I can’t even really fully imagine where this sport would be had it not been for “TUF.” That’s how much of an impact it had. Now this relationship that worked out so well in the past is coming to a close. The UFC is taking their fights, their fighters, and their “Ultimate Fighter” and getting in bed with FOX. There’s no time for foreplay either, as the company has chosen to put a heavyweight title fight live on broadcast television on November 12th when Cain Velasquez defends his belt for the first time against Junior Dos Santos. That very same night Spike will run a marathon of UFC Unleashed featuring the two men fighting for the belt that same night. They can do that because Spike retains control of the UFC’s broadcast library throughout 2012. They are even going so far as to name this marathon “Velasquez vs. Dos Santos: Unleashed for the Heavyweight Title,” a name that was expertly crafted by the think-tank at Spike to be as confusing as possible for the casual fan. I know it seems kind of silly to think that anyone would confuse a marathon of old fights with an actual live title fight, much less a title fight that’s taking place on a broadcast television. Yet the fact is that not everybody is as smart and handsome as you, dear reader. There are plenty of casual UFC fans who have no idea that the company is parting ways with Spike next year. If these same people aren’t big fans of football or Glee then they might not know about the big title fight in November. Regardless of the counter-programming efforts of Spike executives, I think it’s safe to say that the UFC’s premiere event on Fox will do pretty well for itself. Let’s not forget though that Spike still has old UFC fights for an entire year. Once their current deal expires I expect Spike will take the gloves off completely, and begin airing more UFC marathons at the same time as PPV events. That’s when the UFC starts to run into some danger. Consider this – A UFC PPV event is this Saturday (it’s not, but play along here) and the main event is a somewhat mediocre non-title fight. That same evening Spike airs a marathon of old Fight Nights or Unleashed episodes. Given the choice between new fights that may or may not be good and classic fights you know are good, is your wallet going to let you pick the new fights every time? If Spike decides to show a few older Fight Nights or TUF Finales that you haven’t seen in a while, would that entice you to tune in? Time can only tell how the bitter battle between the UFC and Spike will play out over the next year. Of course, there is a way for the UFC to get out of this situation: they would simply need to buy back the rights to their own library from Spike. The only reason they aren’t doing it is because that then opens up Spike to start airing events from Bellator, who have become the nations de facto #2 MMA promotion since Zuffa purchased Strikeforce. Spike clearly wants Bellator on their network, as otherwise the fact that they’re streaming Bellator pre-lims on their website makes no sense at all. Spike and MTV2 are owned by Viacom so it would be an easy move to slide those events from one channel to the next. The question then becomes this: does the UFC stand to lose more viewers from showings of their old fights, or are they in greater danger from Bellator coming to Spike? Considering the fact that everything Dana White has done for the past ten years has been in service of growing the UFC brand, I’d say it’s the former. Bellator probably won’t see that big of a Spike for their ratings if they shift from one network to the next (save for the fact that Spike is available in more homes than MTV2). At the same time the fact that Spike has free reign to counter-program whatever the UFC does for a whole year has to be considered a problem heading into what could potentially be the biggest year in history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. If I was one of the owners of the UFC, I’d be living a wildly different lifestyle. But also I would be telling anyone who would listen that we need to buy back those rights from Spike. It doesn’t matter if they’re not ‘honoring the spirit of the deal;’ cut them a check and cut those ties for good. We need to move forward, and we can’t do that if some cable station is running old Brock Lesnar fights in between episodes of Manswers and reruns of CSI.Similar Posts: 32 live events starting in November, new TUF format with live fights, and more from the UFC/FOX presser Versus extension will include 2 live UFC events. MMA on TV MMA on TV TUF 1 marathon and reunion show scheduled for Saturday Tweetgovernment,politics news,politics news,politics

Posted in: ufc, fight, event, year, spike

Edwards Still Practicing the Modern Art of the Beatdown

When Yves Edwards starts explaining the creation of Thug-Jitsu with the words “It’s one of those things like the Big Bang theory,” you just know this is going to be good. And it is. But we’ll let the creator of this mysterious art continue.“That (the Big Bang theory) was a phrase they came up with because scientists thought the universe started through a big explosion, and some guy came along and said ‘they want to throw this Big Bang theory out there’ and he tried to use it as a diss, and it just kinda stuck,” said Edwards. “Back in Houston back in the day, it was a real jiu-jitsu town, and it still is pretty jiu-jitsu oriented. People were like ‘if you want to learn some good jiu-jitsu, you go train with this guy or this guy. But if you want to learn that Thug-Jitsu garbage, you go train with Yves and those guys, because they like to punch people.’ (Laughs) I liked it and it just stuck. It kinda hit me – Thug-Jitsu, that’s the modern art of the beatdown.”Years and years later, the 35-year old Edwards has not let up in his practice of the art, and this Saturday night in Washington, D.C., he’ll get to show it off again when he faces Rafaello Oliveira. This will be the 59th time the Bahamas-born Texan will walk up those four steps to compete in a pro mixed martial arts bout, and though he’s not the same person he was as a fresh-faced 21-year old making his debut in 1997, some things haven’t changed.“It’s a little different,” he said. “Before, as a kid, I used to be like ‘man, I’m fighting this week, I’m all excited.’ Now, I don’t think about it too much, but when I do think about it, that’s when I get really excited. I came home for a few days (before leaving for D.C.), and I walk around the house and I’m going ‘yeah, this is good.’ Then my wife starts cooking something and I’m like ‘I can’t eat that.’”Edwards laughs, knowing that in this game, you have to be able to take the good with the bad. Yet surprisingly, he says burnout has never entered the conversation.“Not a single day yet.”Is that the secret to his longevity?“I think that’s a part of it,” said Edwards, 40-17-1. “It’s been pretty good to me physically, and I’m trying to make it good for me financially also. I just love it. When I think about fighting itself, the most miserable time is when someone’s on top of me and I just can’t get them off me (Laughs), and even then, I’m having a good time.”Yet for all the good vibes around his career, everything came to a screeching halt at UFC 131 in June, when he was knocked out cold by Canadian banger Sam Stout. Edwards had been on the wrong end of knockouts before (against Jorge Masvidal and KJ Noons), but nothing like this. He accepts it as part of the game, but having to explain it to his wife and two kids is another dilemma in itself.“My wife is really understanding, so that part is easy,” said Edwards. “The kids, that’s when it gets kinda scary, because you see something like that – I’ve seen it for years – and it looks so devastating. When it happens, it sucks, but it’s not as physically bad as it looks. I think I’ve been able to explain that to everybody. They see I’m still the same guy. I guess it’s a good thing that they love me regardless.”Thankfully, Edwards bounced back quickly from the defeat, accepting a fight with a familiar face in Brazil’s Oliveira.“I trained with him for a week about two years ago,” said Edwards. “The guy’s tough, and I see some improvements in his game since the time we trained together. It’s like the evolution of the classic striker vs. grappler match where he’s a little more comfortable striking than the typical Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt five, ten years ago, and I’m a lot more comfortable on the ground than the typical striker was five, ten years ago. When I look at him, I just see a tough guy that’s just begging me to punch him in the face.”Winner of three of his last four and six of his last eight, Edwards has been going through a career resurgence that he hopes has only taken a minor detour with the loss to Stout, yet with this recent success, he’s found out that to many newer fans of the UFC, he’s just another “new guy.” That’s something incredulous to diehard fight fans who remember Edwards as one of the top 155-pounders on the planet in the early years of the new millennium. But when his crowning Octagon moment took place at UFC 49 in August of 2004, as he scored a highlight reel knockout of Josh Thomson, it was the last lightweight bout in the UFC for nearly two years. Now he’s trying to make up for lost time in a sport that is hitting the mainstream like never before.“The game has changed so much, it’s so huge right now, and if the game was the same six, seven years ago, it would be a different thing,” he said. “My name would probably be in league with a guy like Chuck (Liddell) or close to it. But that’s not when I hit my hot streak. So I’m trying to hit it now. I’m okay with it though. I do this for two reasons – the first reason I do it is because there’s nothing in the world I’d rather be doing with my own time and with my own choices because it’s the most fun thing in the world to me. And the second reason I do it is because it helps me put food on the table and be comfortable. The fame and everything else that comes with it, I don’t care. Back when PRIDE was around, I used to love going to Japan and fighting, and my reason was because I could be popular in Japan, and then I could come home and just be some guy at the mall. I don’t mind that (the popularity), and I understand that comes with success, and I do want to be successful, but it’s not something I aim for.”What Edwards does expect to hit every night are the kinds of fights that leave fans talking as they leave the arena as well as at the water cooler on Monday. And if he can keep doing that, he’ll keep spreading the Thug-Jitsu gospel to the masses. What could be better than that?“One thing I like about the current UFC is that job security comes from being entertaining and going out there and laying it on the line,” he said. “Yes, you do have to win, but there’s a benefit to being entertaining and really fighting your style. And to me, that’s my style; I cannot win a boring fight. If a fight’s boring, it’s probably because I’m losing.”

Posted in: guy, i ’m, year, ’m, edward

Defection, Prison Weigh Heavily on Alexis Vila

Filed under: BellatorAlexis Vila earned by far the biggest victory of his mixed martial arts career when he knocked out Bellator featherweight champion Joe Warren in the first round of the promotion's bantamweight tournament. For Vila, it was an achievement that had special meaning because of everything he's been through on his way to making his mark in MMA, at the age of 40. Vila was a bronze medalist in wrestling at the 1996 Olympics, when he represented his native Cuba. A year later he defected to the United States and began exploring the possibility of becoming a professional fighter -- but that process was nearly derailed when he was sent to prison for three years after what he says was an accident, but the authorities labeled a terrorist act. In an appearance on The MMA Hour, Vila described how his prison experience motivated him to make something of himself in MMA. "I was in prison for three years," Vila said. "It's no good. I'm a little guy so people who don't know me try things all the time. So I fought a lot. They didn't believe that I could fight. I said when I get out and I fight I'm going to be the champ." In 2004 Vila crashed his SUV into a crowded terminal at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. No one was hurt, and Vila has always maintained that it was simply an accident. But authorities initially believed Vila had committed a terrorist act, and charged Vila with committing airport violence, a felony that could have put him in prison for 20 years. He eventually pleaded guilty in exchange for a lesser sentence. Even before that incident, Vila had been through a lot. He still struggles with his decision to leave his family and his country behind in 1997. "My dad is really sick over there but there's nothing I can do. I can only send money, not visit," Vila said. "I tell my mom, I send money so you guys can have a better life." If Vila wins his next two fights and is crowned the Bellator tournament champion, he'll have a lot more money to send back home. After all he's been through, that's what motivates Vila. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: year, prison, lot, vila, prison experience

Ronaldo Souza retires from grappling tournaments with recent ADCC loss

It appears one of the most decorated submission-wrestlers in the sport’s history is calling it quits in order to focus 100% on his Mixed Martial Arts career, as Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza recently revealed this year’s ADCC tournament was his final go on the mat. The 31-year old Brazilian competed last weekend against Braulio Estima, a highly decorated BJJ artist in his own right, only two weeks removed from a hard-fought title-loss to Luke Rockhold at “Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Kharitonov”. “You only need to check my record,” said Souza when asked by Tatame how he’ll look back on his submission-wrestling career. “Whoever does it will know I (had) great bouts. Winning or losing is a part of the game. Like every other athlete, I got wins and losses. I’m leaving with my head up. I’m leaving it happily, independently of winning or losing. I know my record in grappling and Jiu-Jitsu is outstanding.” Souza’s success in grappling is well-documented with numerous tournament championships to his name including those in the BJJ World Cup, various CBJJ events, and of course ADCC. His abilities have clearly translated to MMA too given the fact eleven of his fourteen total victories have been the result of a submission. PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCESimilar Posts: “Jacare” Souza talks strategy for tonight’s title-defense against Robbie Lawler Dean Lister looking to take on Fedor at this year’s ADCC “Jacare” expresses interest in UFC, satisfaction with Strikeforce Luke Rockhold returns to the ring this September against Ronaldo Souza Trevor Prangley vs. Roger Gracie rumored for January 29 in San Jose Tweetgovernment,politics news,politics news,politics

Posted in: i ’m, year, adcc, souza, ronaldo

Werdum Ready to Fight in December, Whether in Strikeforce or UFC

Fabricio Werdum earned a new level of respect in the MMA world when he became the man to end Fedor Emelianenko’s 10-year dynasty. However, one year later, a poor performance against Alistair Overeem in the quarterfinals of Strikeforce’s 2011 heavyweight grand prix took away all hype and even turned many fans against him.

Posted in: year, alistair overeem, mma world, werdum, fabricio werdum

UFC 135: The boys from 209 and their beatings of Takanori Gomi highlight the end of Japanese MMA's relevance

We are gathered here today to pay our respects to a dear friend. In his prime, he was healthy and thriving with seemingly nothing to cap his potential. The sky was truly the limit. I am talking, of course, about the state of Japanese mixed martial arts (JMMA). In recent years, the situation has turned grim for the once booming business. Pride Fighting Championships (Pride) went belly up and was cannibalized by the UFC and its successors -- DREAM and Sengoku -- failed to reach the same heights. Sengoku closed up shop earlier this year and DREAM has been running fewer shows with each passing year. The point was made even more clear last night (Sept. 24) at UFC 135 when Nate Diaz thoroughly dominated the former number one lightweight in the world, Takanori Gomi. The beating was reminiscent of the one elder brother Nick Diaz handed Gomi four years ago in Las Vegas. Since "The Fireball Kid's" bout at Pride 33, he has gone a paltry 5-5 including losing all but one of his UFC bouts. And his fellow countrymen from across the Pacific aren't faring any better either. Shinya Aoki is one of the best 155-pounders that Japan has ever produced and has nearly 30 wins to his name that serve as evidence. But when he traveled to the United States for the first time to challenge Gilbert Melendez for his Strikeforce lightweight title, "El Nino" shrugged off each and every submission attempt the Japanese fighter threw at him, easily securing a decision victory after 25 minutes. Melendez's next fight was against the perennial Japanese contender Tatsuya Kawajiri. When they fought the first time five years ago, "El Nino" was lucky to get the nod from the judges. The second time around, Melendez ran through "Crusher" like a knife through butter. That same night, the current DREAM featherweight champion, Hiroyuki Takaya, lost to unheralded fighter Roberto Peralta and the Japanese promotion went 0-2 against its American counterpart. JMMA doesn't only have its native sons to blame for its woes. The success rate for non-Japanese fighters coming over to the UFC is shockingly low. Championships and accolades received in the Land of the Rising Sun don't seem to translate well to America at all. Take Maximo Blanco for example. The Venezuelan terrorized Sengoku's 155-pound roster with his deadly and frenzied stand-up, earning six stoppages during his time there. A living ball of violence personified, Blanco seemed poised to take Strikeforce by storm but instead, his stateside debut was spoiled by Pat Healy and a well-placed rear naked choke. Jorge Santiago became Sengoku's middleweight champion after a five-round war with Kazuo Misaki and he went on to replicate the performance with an equally thrilling bout in his rematch against the Japanese veteran. The second tilt was heralded as a Fight of the Year by many fans and pundits. But when he made his way back inside the Octagon at UFC 130, he was put to sleep within two rounds by Brian Stann. Claiming that the "sky is falling" whenever a fighter who found a lot of success overseas falters in the US isn't anything new. It happened when KID Yamamoto lost his UFC debut and it will likely happen again should he lose his next bout. Lately, it just has been getting harder and harder to ignore that a huge talent gap exists between the top fighters in the UFC and Strikeforce and those who ply their wares in Japan. It's a declaration I don't make lightly as I have been a long-time proponent of JMMA. Whereas in the past it was hard to compare fighters and their contemporaries, the world of MMA is getting smaller as the sport grows. If a fighter wants to fight top talent and prove himself one of the best, there aren't a whole lot options to consider. We are starting to see more fighters than ever competing under the Zuffa umbrella and with that, the ambiguity that comes when ranking fighters is dwindling. We are finally seeing the best fight the best with more frequency. Because of that, we are also realizing that the champions and top-level fighters from halfway across the globe aren't all they're made out to be. When the former number one lightweight gets shellacked by a middling 155-pounder, the suspicion that JMMA was almost all smoke and mirrors starts to become more and more apparent.

Posted in: ufc, fighter, japanese, year, el nino

Anderson Silva Needs to Fight a UFC Champion…Just Not GSP

It seems the only “super-fight” UFC President Dana White ever talks about is one pitting the middleweight master Anderson Silva against popular 170-pound champion Georges St. Pierre. It’s an intriguing bout on paper given GSP’s wrestling and Silva’s stand-up, but perhaps not a particularly competitive one in the end given the size difference between the two as well as the French-Canadian’s susceptibility to strikes. However, that’s not to say the UFC doesn’t have other options at their disposal when it comes to cementing Silva’s legacy in Mixed Martial Arts as he nears the final few years of his career. In point of opinion, there’s one in particular worth exploring that for some reason has eluded the UFC’s buzz-eliciting marketing machine – Jon Jones. Jones’ performance Saturday night against Quinton Jackson was the latest in a long line of dominant showings from the 24-year old light heavyweight title-holder. “Bones” hasn’t gone to decision since January 2009 with six wins since then and a seventh fight he essentially had won in the first round until an inadvertent illegal elbow cost got him disqualified. “Bones” Submits Jackson in One-Sided Affair “The Spider” has seen the scorecards come into play twice in that same time-span. St. Pierre? Four for four with his last finish ironically occurring at the very event where Jones last went the distance. If Jones can get by Rashad Evans and the winner of Dan Henderson vs. Mauricio Rua over the next 6-9 months with Silva remaining unbeaten a bout between the two seemingly invincible scrappers would result in a contest for the ages. Sure, the “Rush” rumble has its merits, but stylistically, and given their recent results, there’s no question Jones vs. Silva is Christopher Reeve “super” to St. Pierre vs. Silva’s Brandon Routh. It would also put two similarly sculpted opponents in the Octagon with each other rather than marring the match-up with a significant weight/height disadvantage. Jones is 6’4 and his Brazilian counterpart is 6’2, but GSP? 5’10. Silva hasn’t fought anyone that short since Ryo Chonan on New Year’s Eve in 2004 and…okay, maybe the UFC is onto something after all since that was Silva’s last loss. However, assuming St. Pierre didn’t exclusively train on how to implement a Flying Scissor Heel Hook, Jones facing Silva would create a situation where picking a winner would be akin to trying to fully understand why “The Situation” from MTV’s Jersey Shore made $5 million last year, i.e. mind-blowingly impossible. The only question is, are they “DTF” – “Down to Fight”? As friendly as Jones and Silva may be, they are both professionals and have no real personal ties to each other as being in the same camp might create. Both are interested in being seen as the best fighter the sport has ever seen and both appear poised to have a real claim to the distinction the way the last few years have gone. They’re also both competitors who would enjoy the challenge posed by testing themselves against each other. Long story short, the incentive is there for all involved parties to make Jones vs. Silva a reality in late 2012 if they continue to win in dominant fashion. It’s a thought-provoking pairing between two charismatic champions who possess other-worldly skills. It’s also arguably one of the biggest fights possible in MMA and might even be enough to take the UFC to the next level, especially if Jones comes away with a victory. Silva has fought at light heavyweight before. It’s time he does so again. PHOTO CREDIT – JON JONES Tweet

Posted in: ufc, jone, ’t, silva, year

K-1 Max 2011 70kg Japan Tournament Preview

[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on LiverKick.com, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] This Sunday marks the second big K-1 event of the year, the 70kg MAX Japan tournament. Last year's tournament featured Yuichiro Nagashima and Hiroki Nakajima scoring knockouts in their quarter and semifinal bouts which culminated in a dramatic 3rd round knockout by Nagashima in the finals in a wild brawl. This year's tournament is extremely interesting because, for the first time, K-1 has placed a former K-1 MAX World Champion into the field in Albert Kraus. It is also interesting because of the new blood brought in by K-1. They have brought in young prospects in RISE Middleweight champion Takafumi Morita, Krush 70kg tournament champion Kenta and K-1 Koshien 2009 70kg champion Shintaro Matsukura. Returning from last year's tournament are 2010 Japan MAX tournament finalist Hiroki Nakajima, 2009 K-1 World MAX semifinalist Yuya Yamamoto, 2008 Japan MAX tournament winner Yasuhiro Kido and Yuji Nashiro. Despite losing tournament mainstays Ryuji and Tatsuji as well as last year's winner Yuichiro Nagashima and semifinalist Hinata, the tournament field is as strong as ever and could produce a couple new stars for K-1. I have decided to rank the fighters in this tournament by their likelihood of winning to give people who may not know much about some of the participating fighters an idea as to where each fighter stands entering the tournament. Read More...

Posted in: champion, year, tournament, max, japan

Dana White: Larry Merchant Is Senile, Out of His Mind

After Floyd Mayweather Jr. landed a clean (both in its effectiveness and legality) left hook-straight right combination that put down the headbutting Victor Ortiz, Larry Merchant entered the ring for his usual post-fight shenanigans. He pressed Mayweather on the "unsportsmanlike" blows, which Mayweather deflected ("Protect yourself at all times.") and celebrated ("And that's all she wrote."). Merchant questioned Mayweather three times about the ending, and sounded like he was phrasing it a fourth way until Mayweather cut him off, telling Merchant he's never given him (Mayweather) a fair shake, he doesn't know "s***" about boxing, and that HBO should fire him. Merchant now famously retorted, telling Mayweather he would "kick his ass" if he were 50 years younger. UFC President Dana White has let his feelings be known about the fight, ultimately placing blame on referee Joe Cortez for his inability to control the action after the headbutt. White spoke to MMA Fighting about the Mayweather-Merchant altercation following the bout: "I actually thought that that was very embarrassing for HBO," the UFC president said. "The guy is senile, he's out of his mind. He's up there berating Floyd, but Floyd can't say anything back to you? You've been disrespecting guys your whole career, and guess what, you can go back 60 years, you're not kicking Floyd's ass, okay? Give me a break. And what's Floyd going to do? A 102-year-old guy just said that to him." Now, I don't think HBO should fire Merchant for this situation. (He should...be fired...for...sounding...like...he would...rather...be...watching...Golden Girls reruns...from...the comfort...of his...home.) But this was a less-than-professional, though hilarious, moment for Merchant. And, in my opinion, it came on the heels of Mayweather saying nothing that hasn't been said by viewers of HBO boxing over the last few years. Merchant came dangerously close to assaulting a fighter in the ring, his "if I was 50 years younger" qualifier and 1931 birth year saving him from that accusation. Yet, like the Ortiz situation, it's Mayweather who is portrayed as the villain.

Posted in: mayweather, hbo, floyd, year, merchant

Matyushenko, Gustafsson Set To Meet at UFC 141

Veteran Vladimir Matyushenko and upstart Alexander Gustafsson are going to attempt to face each other for the second time this year.

Posted in: year, attempt, matyushenko, gustafsson, vladimir

ADCC 2011 Submission Grappling Championship Preview

This is a guest post by Ben Thapa, part of the Bloody Elbow Grappling Coverage Team As part of the Bloody Elbow and MMA Nation grappling coverage, we bring you this preview of the Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling Championships (ADCCs). This elite, invitation-only tournament will be held in Nottingham, England on September 24th and 25th, 2011 and can be streamed live from BudoVideos.com. With a hundred or so grapplers competing, the live coverage of the stream will be somewhat fractured and the commentators may assume that viewers tuning in are already familiar with the storylines, favorites and the up-and-coming grapplers looking to make their name. We are here to help those new to the sport of submission grappling to get up to full speed and to provide some talking points for those who already know this stuff. The ADCCs are broken down into weight divisions and an open weight competition (called the Absolute) is held after the divisional champions are decided. The open weight competition is usually a sight to behold as there are many dream match-ups that can and do occur. As part of the ADCCs, a Superfight is generally held between two of the most esteemed grapplers on Earth. This year, there are two Superfights, with Braulio Estima grappling against Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza and Ze Mario Sperry taking on Renzo Gracie in a "Legends" bout of sorts. Both matches are relatively even and are highly anticipated.Below the jump is a breakdown of each division. Feel free to argue or agree with them in the comments. Men's 66 kg / 145 lbs and below. 2009 Champion: Rafael Mendes. Summary: All of the sixteen competitors in the 66 kg/145 lb division are strong, fierce, seasoned competitors with multiple titles, cool video highlights and razor sharp skills. However, it is likely that only a handful will seriously contend for the title. Can anyone beat Rafael Mendes? The Favorites: In the past two years, Rafael Mendes won the European open twice, the 2011 Pan Am championship, a no-gi World Pro championship and the last two Mundials titles in this division. In winning that boatload of titles, Mendes has mostly moved past his stalling reputation and displayed stunning skill in dispatching his divisional competitors. He also performed exceedingly well against much larger grapplers in reaching the finals of the absolute of the no-gi World Pros in Abu Dhabi. To put it lightly, he's on fire and the most likely threat to prevent him from repeating as ADCC champion is Rubens "Cobrinha" Charles - the other half of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu's Federer/Nadal-like rivalry. Cobrinha is a legendary competitor in his own right and his flashy open guard and back-taking game has legions of fans worldwide. Cobrinha lost to Rafael in the finals of ADCC 2009 in a thrilling overtime match and has regularly been a semi-finalist or finalist with many tightly disputed matches against Rafael that did not go his way. He has been looking to avenge that string of defeats for a while now. Rani Yahya may be best known from his MMA fights in the WEC and UFC, where he has fought and lost to the top-flight fighters at 145, but be warned that Yahya is the ADCC 2007 champion and was the runner-up to Leo Vieira in 2005. He has serious game and lost to Cobrinha in the semi-finals of the 2009 competition. Yahya will be in the medals picture for sure and may dispatch a fan favorite or two on the way there. The Possibles: Speaking of those beloved by the crowds, Ryan Hall has an enormous fan base and has been steadily improving for some time now. He competed for and won the bronze in ADCC 2009 (due to injuries to Leo Vieira and Rani Yahya). A recent training switch-up brought him in closer contact with Marcelo Garcia and Hall may be ready to push himself firmly into the medals conversation this year. Bruno Frazzato is one of the other Atos kings and may be at a slight size disadvantage in comparison to the others. He will attempt to show that exceedingly sharp skills and excellent scrambling abilities can tip the balance back in his favor. Robson Moura is perhaps the most decorated bantamweight fighter the sport has yet seen and has already had a legendary career at age 33. He too is smaller than the favorites and perhaps more comfortable in a gi; however, it may be possible for him to work some magic on the mats. Seasoned competitors like Jeff Glover and Barret Yoshida may be undersized tough outs as well. Men's 77 kg / 170 lbs and below. 2009 Champion: Pablo Popovitch. Summary: Pablo Popovitch, the ADCC 2009 divisional champion, is moving up to 88 kg. His absence will be noted, but since the 77 kg division is absolutely stacked with elite competitors, thrilling fights are certain to result. Can Marcelo Garcia win it again? The Favorites: Marcelo Garcia won the Mundials championship without a point being scored on him and won the 2007, 2005 and 2003 ADCC championships. He also placed second in a controversial decision to Popovitch in ADCC 2009. If the quietly dominant Garcia lost before the finals, it'd be an upset of truly shocking magnitude - at least according to conventional thinking. Kron Gracie is the son of perhaps the finest grappler to walk the Earth and a fierce, fierce competitor in his own right. The 2009 match-up between Kron and Marcelo was eagerly anticipated and Marcelo finished it with a lightning-quick guillotine. Kron has had a good year, most notably splitting a pair of high-profile matches with Gilbert Burns (the Mundials champion who is now focusing on MMA), and with Rickson Gracie in his corner, he'll be well prepared. Claudio Calasans is an Atos teammate of Rafael Mendes and has fought Marcelo numerous times before, as well as being the winner of World Pro and European titles. Calasans has a strong background in judo and plays a very heavy, pressing game. The Possibles: Augusto "Tanquinho" Mendes is a brilliantly skilled fresh face on the competition circuit and has beaten many of the Atos army this year. However, his unusual strength and base at featherweight may be slightly less spectacular in the heavier division of 77 kg. Tanquinho still shuts down the 50/50 guard better than anyone at the lighter weights and could show that his youth and smaller size is little issue at all. Murilo Santana is the ADCC South American Trials winner and had to take out a slew of hungry Brazilians to reach the top of that pedestal. He will present a strong challenge to the others. Leo Vieira, the 66 kg ADCC 2005 and 2003 champion, is also competing in this division. His super-exciting passing game is certain to be a fixture in the later rounds of this division, although like Tanquinho, he may be slightly undersized in comparison to larger competitors like Calasans and Victor Estima, Braulio's brother. SBNation ADCC 2011 Coverage Men's 88 kg / 194 lbs and below. 2009 Champion: Braulio Estima. Summary: With Braulio Estima, the 2009 88 kg/194 lb divisional champion, facing Jacare Souza in the Superfight on the last day, this divisional title is also up for grabs. Popovitch and Galvao in the finals? The Favorites: Andre Galvao came in second to Braulio in 2009, third in 2007 and third in the Absolute of that same year. Galvao's astounding athleticism and ability to crack open the guard has allowed him to amass heaps and heaps of titles for years now. I can see Andre spending much time riding turtled-up opponents en route to the finals. Pablo Popovitch is the reigning 77 kg champion and his nearly superhuman strength and crushing top game will likely see him make a deep run in this heavier division as well. It takes a certain kind of magic to beat Pablo and although there are a few who can display it, it'll be tough. It may be iffy for me to put Romulo Barral here as a favorite, but with his long, lanky frame and dynamic guard game, Romulo is usually in the title hunt of every competition he enters. The Possibles: Rafael Lovato Jr. is a world champion and actually beat Rodolfo Vieira, 2011's best grappler, earlier this year. The big Oklahoman is going to have to make zero mistakes and utilize his size to smash opponents into defeat. Sergio Moraes, an Alliance teammate of Marcelo Garcia, is perhaps the most subtle dark horse to win a medal here. He plays within the rules perfectly and manages to escape almost every fight with a victory on points - when he's not finishing in dramatic fashion. Moraes is usually known for winning in gi divisions, but if he can replicate that success in no-gi, he'll be tough to beat. If Rousimar Palhares, the Brazilian tree stump from the UFC, competes, every single competitor in this division will be drilling leglock defenses with particular care. However, I do not rate his ability to get a points victory highly and with the ADCCs being full of truly elite grapplers, he will likely not get a submission every time out. Jimmy Harbison is a recent and dynamic wrestling-based product of the Lloyd Irvin academies and has been a buzzsaw in the World Pro and in the Mundials. He is even better out of the gi and could be another young warrior ready to make his name stand out amongst the talented crowd here. Men's 99 kg / 218 lbs and below. 2009 Champion: Alexandre Ribeiro. Summary: The 99 kg division is probably going to come down to whether the reigning champion Alexandre "Xande" Ribeiro can defeat Rodolfo Vieira, the most dominant force in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu over the last year. The Favorites: Xande is known for being somewhat fragile, but but he remains one of the few genuine threats to beat anybody in the world at any time. Xande is one of the few people to beat Roger Gracie in the last few years and was an Absolute runner-up in 2009. Rodolfo Vieira is unstoppable at this point, with numerous titles to his credit. Many fans and commentators were speculating as to how a match between Rodolfo and Roger Gracie would turn out. Unfortunately, that won't happen on this platform this year, but we can hope for the future and see how Xande and Rodolfo fare this year. The Possibles: This in no way denigrates the other competitors, but with Roger Gracie and Robert Drysdale not competing this year, the division isn't as crowded as it could be. It is possible Dean Lister, a former ADCC Absolute champion, or Joao Assis, the 2011 Mundials bronze medalist, could upset either Xande or Rodolfo. Antonio "Batista" Peinado won a bronze in the Super Heavyweight division at the 2011 Mundials and could beat one of the older, more established competitors. Men's +99 kg / 218 lb and above. 2009 Champion: Fabricio Werdum. Summary: The ultra-heavyweight division could be wide open for someone to make a statement. Fabricio Werdum, of Strikeforce notoriety, is the 2009 champion, but I count at least four credible threats to a repeat performance. The Favorites: Werdum is perhaps the best heavyweight grappler in MMA and has always been a strong competitor in the submission grappling world as well. If he competes, he could repeat his 2009 performance very readily. Joao Assis won bronze at the 2011 Mundials this year and has usually been a bit better outside of the gi. Vinicus "Vinny" Magalhaes blew the minds of MMA fans everywhere with his mount/off-set gogoplata in his M-1 fight back in April. Back in 2009, he won two bronzes in the Absolute and the 99 kg division in spectacular fashion. Vinny cannot be counted out in any competition he enters. Lucio "Lagarto" Rodrigues is back in full from his battle with Hodgkin's and given his recent training with Braulio and other BJJ greats, I'm fairly sure he'll be in the medal picture. Roberto "Cyborg" Abreu is perhaps more famous now for his Tornado Guard seminars and DVDs, yet his competition success is absolutely nothing to sneeze at. He too scored a bronze medal in the Mundials this year and could make a run to the top with ease. Bruno Bastos has been around for years and is a tough competitor to beat. He generally plays a slower game than the others and likes to win without taking too many risks. The Possibles: Jeff Monson is another familiar face, but I believe his time as a truly elite competitor may be past him. I may be stretching in my next pick, but I truly believe Alexander Trans (winner of every major title at brown belt for the last year and training at Alliance headquarters) has a shot to make a big statement in his first tournament at this elite level. Speculation on Men's Absolute Nobody ever counts Marcelo Garcia out in any competition, but it is getting harder and harder for the smaller guys to win medals in the absolute. On the flip side, Rafael Mendes made it to the finals of the no-gi World Pro. If he enters, Rafa is probably going to be a nightmare for whoever matches up with him, due to his movement and impeccable timing. However, I predict that size will win the day with Rodolfo matching up against Xande or Vinny Magalhaes. Andre Galvao could enter and surprise some people again - like he did in 2007. Werdum and Lister are previous Absolute medalists. The picture is somewhat fuzzy, since nobody knows exactly who will enter, but Rodolfo is probably an odds-on favorite to win it all right now. Speculation on Superfights Everybody with a brain knew that Royler would probably stomp Eddie Bravo in the re-match that fell through. However, we are still getting a battle of legends in the match between Ze Mario Sperry and Renzo Gracie. Ze Mario will probably enjoy a slight size advantage, but the two are closely matched in their accomplishments, age and reputation. I have a feeling Renzo will take this, as he remains super-active in coaching and grappling with today's MMA and grappling superstars. We can all expect excellent and fluid submission grappling from both legends. In Ronaldo 'Jacare' de Souza vs. Braulio Estima, we are seeing perhaps the single best athlete in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu go up against the reigning two time ADCC champion. Jacare recently suffered a setback in losing his Strikeforce title to Luke Rockhold by a close decision and Braulio missed the Mundials due to an injury. I have a feeling Braulio's brilliant guard game can and will surprise Jacare, but I have knowledgeable friends who are willing to bet on Jacare winning. The match-up is truly worthy of the Superfight title and it could be over in a second with both guys enjoying considerable submission acumen. Women's 60 kg / 132 lbs and below. 2009 Champion: Luana Alzuguir. Summary: With several of the Mundials medalists competing, will Luana Alzuguir win again? The Favorites: Luana Alzuguir is tearing things up in the lightweight divisions of the sport. She won the Mundials title and looks poised to come back from the cracked rib that forced her to sit out the Absolute in that tournament. Michelle Nicolini won gold in the Mundials featherweight division and could give Luana a tough match. The Possibles: Kyra Gracie is perhaps the most recognizable name in women's grappling. Her family name may have something to do with that fame, but she does have considerable skill to back it up. She lost to Nicolini in the finals of the featherweight division and could avenge that defeat. Rosi Sexton is a newly minted brown belt who could make some noise for the British scene. Women's +60 kg / 133 lbs and above. 2009 Champion: Hannette Staack. Summary: Gabrielle Garcia is the most dominant woman grappler on the planet. Conventional wisdom debates who will face her in the finals. The Favorites: Like Alexander Karelin in Olympic Greco-Roman wrestling, Gabi Garcia looms over the field. Although anything can and does happen in sport, if Gabi loses, it would be the upset of the tournament and perhaps of the year. Hannette Staack is a three time ADCC champion and is usually very entertaining to watch. Penny Thomas has been a perennial medal threat in every tournament she enters and came up with a silver and a bronze at Mundials this year. The Possibles: Talita Nogueira upset Penny at Mundials in the divisional finals this year and could repeat that stellar performance. Ida Hansson lost by spectacular flying armbar to Hannette and may have shored up her game and confidence. Speculation on Women's Absolute It depends on who enters, but Gabi Garcia will probably win another gold to add to her collection. Her size is a massive advantage, but her technique is now catching up to the point where she genuinely is becoming a Karelin-like figure.

Posted in: champion, division, year, adcc, kg

Pick a Card: Dream 17 (Bantamweight Grand Prix)

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. Yesterday I profiled a few of the card’s bigger bouts. Today I’ll look at the quarterfinals of the promotion’s ongoing Bantamweight Grand Prix: Pick a Card: Dream 17 (Non-Tournament Bouts) Hideo Tokoro vs. Antonio Banuelos Tokoro is a name largely unknown in North America, while Banuelos is a name familiar to WEC fans, having called it his home for the better part of the last 5 years. Banuelos is very much a distance fighter, with part of that possibly being due to his small stature (he’s 5′3) and inability to effectively use reach to his advantage. Banuelos is very stocky, however, and his size (or lack thereof) makes him very hard to finish. Tokoro is a longtime pro with 54 fights to his name including a 2005 draw against Royce Gracie. He’s won his last four and is the defending bantamweight tournament champion. You would assume he’s the favorite here, though there’s a former DREAM champion in the mix that would probably beg to differ. Depending on how the brackets shake out this might be Tokoro’s toughest test until the finals. You will probably see Banuelos hang back a bit and look for an opening rather than coming straight out. Tokoro’s aggression should be what ends up pacing the fight from the get-go. Banuelos will probably allow Tokoro a bit of space and free strikes before he kicks his conditioning into overdrive and tries to take the fight’s last two rounds. But will it work, or will it be too little too late? I’m expecting Tokoro will probably take this one by decision. Prediction: Hideo Tokoro def Antonio Banuelos via Unanimous Decision Bibiano Fernandes vs. Takafumi Otsuka Fernandes has not fought since last New Year’s Eve, while Otsuka is fighting for the third time this year. Fernandes drops down to bantamweight after losing his featherweight belt last year, and makes his debut in the division at this event. Otsuka continues the “Otsuka” MMA tradition from Alexander – underwhelming and streaky yet solid. Still, this might be the easiest of the lot to pick out. Fernandes is an extremely fast, overwhelming fighter who has taken on some of the world’s best in his weight class and powered through, though his inexperienced fight record (8-3) doesn’t quite show it on the surface. He’s a BJJ black belt, and will use it effectively to his advantage. Don’t be surprised to see this one end really early. Prediction: Bibiano Fernandes def. Takafumi Otsuka via Submission Masakazu Imanari vs. Abel Cullum Consider this a support group for people who have lost to Tokoro. Imanari fell in the finals of the last DREAM bantamweight tourney to Tokoro, while Cullum’s last loss cane back in 2009. Cullum is a former King of the Cage champion, a belt he won at the young age of 21 and held for over two years. Cullum rarely has a boring fight, bringing a very forward and direct style. He prefers to do his battles on the ground and has only been stopped once in his career so far. At only 24, Cullum has been fighting for nearly six years and draws Imanari, who at age 34 is showing signs of slowing but never turns down a fight. Imanari, too, likes to fight on the ground. Guess where you’ll find the majority of this fight? Both fighters are BJJ enthusiasts ready to hold a submission clinic. Cullum waivers toward upper body submissions while Imanari knows more leglock holds than Dean Malenko. I’d expect this fight to spend all of about 30 seconds on the feet, followed by one fighter shooting, and the rest of it taking place on the ground. There should be enough action from both fighters not to get stood up (or yellow carded) so standup fans need not apply here. Sure, there are bigger names on this card, but when all is said and done, this could be the fight that gets replayed on HDNet Fight Shorts over and over again. This has all the makings of a fantastic match, and this may be the best one of the tournament for those who crave submissions. Prediction: Abel Cullum def. Masakazu Imanari via Submission Rodolfo Marques Diniz vs. Yusup Saadulaev Despite my omnipotent exterior, I admit I’ve never heard of Saadulaev, and my only exposure to Marques is his recent fight on the Shooto BOPE card. Marques comes from the world renowned Nova Uniao fight stable, home to the likes of Amilcar Alves, Jose Aldo and a fighter named Jimmy Carter (I can’t make this stuff up). To make things even better for Marques, he holds a win over Ralph Lauren. Seriously. Saadulaev comes into the tournament having not fought in almost two years, however, he has an undefeated record where only two of his fights (one win, one draw) have gone the distance, and he’s done the majority of his damage in the first round. All eyes, however will probably be Marques here because of his affiliations, and he will probably come out of the gate charging, though he has very few stoppage wins in his career (two of thirteen) preferring to finesse his way to victory. I’d deem Saadulaev the underdog here, despite his stoppage filled record. Look for Marques to use his strength to keep Saadulaev down on the ground and grind out a victory. Prediction: Rodolfo Marques def. Yusup Saadulaev via Unanimous Decision That’s the card as it stands right now. The lovely thing about DREAM is that they’ll schedule about 17 hours of programming on HDNet, but the majority of fights are finished, or go by quickly enough that you can still catch a decent night’s sleep and get on with your Saturday, which this weekend is still chock full of MMA. Enjoy the fights! See you ringside! Tweet

Posted in: fight, year, tokoro, marque, cullum

What are the ADCCs and Why Should You Care?

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

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

After Dream 17, what’s next for JMMA?

[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on MMA-Japan, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div] Back in April, we were told by the head brass with Real Entertainment to expect three shows this year. Slightly to our surprise, that is what has indeed happened. All things considered, it was a highly improbable year for JMMA, the earthquake, and the lack of solid sponsors. The white ring will likely be bare of any sponsors this weekend, as the continued pullout of sponsors has been in hyperdrive this year. So that leaves the question, what happens going forward? Dynamite!! 2011 has been talked about, more so than last year at this time. If you remember, there was doubt even weeks before the event that the 2010 installment would take place. It did, and went without a hitch. The 2011 installment will certainly be a challenge. Big names such as Alistair Overeem have left the building, someone who was a staple in years past. The split of K-1 and DREAM has been tossed around, thus a mixture of kickboxing and MMA matches seems less and less likely. The BWGP final has been rumored to go down at Dynamite!! which adds an interesting element. Read More...

Posted in: year, sponsor, dynamite !!, jmma ?., head brass

Wanderlei Silva steps in for Vitor Belfort at UFC 139

One of UFC 139’s primary pairings has undergone a minor makeover after UFC President Dana White revealed earlier today through Twitter that Vitor Belfort had withdrawn from his clash with Cung Le, a bout the organization announced less than two weeks ago. No specifics on Belfort’s health were made available. Le Joins UFC Roster to Face Belfort at Hometown Event Taking Belfort’s place near the top of the November 19 event will be fellow Brazilian Wanderlei Silva who will be looking to bounce back from a twenty-seven second knockout loss to Chris Leben last July. However, though “The Axe Murderer” has struggled to find in-ring success over the past few years, his ferocious style remains as fan-friendly as ever and has assisted in earning him a Unanimous Decision win over Michael Bisping, as well as a knockout of Keith Jardine, during his current run in the Octagon. Silva is 33-11-1 in his career with 23 TKOs and victories over Ricardo Arona, Dan Henderson, and Quinton Jackson (X2). Le will be making his UFC debut when he locks horns with Silva after an entertaining run in Strikeforce highlighted by his unique, San Shou-inspired striking. The popular 39-year old Le holds an overall record of 7-1 but also hasn’t fought in more than a year due to his work in the film industry. In addition to Le taking on Silva, the San Jose show will feature Rick Story vs. Martin Kampmann, as well as Urijah Faber vs. Brian Bowles, plus a main event match-up between former champions (Dan) Henderson and Mauricio Rua. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, silva, year, belfort, vitor belfort

MusclePharm signs two year pact with the UFC

MusclePharm announced that it will be the official nutritional supplement company of the UFC. The partnership will give Musclepharm space in the Octagon, on the UFC website and its Twitter and Facebook pages. Via MusclePharm press release: With the partnership, MusclePharm will now have exclusive in-ring placement, including its trademark MP logo on the Octagon mat and bumpers up to 10 times per year during UFC live events, which are viewed by millions of fans worldwide. The map and bumper placement will be in place for the UFC’s ground breaking network television debut on FOX that takes place on Nov. 11. MusclePharm’s strong presence will be evident on that night, as the UFC makes its network debut with a heavyweight championship fight between Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos that will be seen by tens of millions of fans across the United States and will be one of the most-viewed matchups in UFC history. In addition, the partnership includes strong digital media activation and will include an exclusive MusclePharm nutritional section on the www.UFC.com homepage, which draws millions of visitors each month. The activation will also allow MusclePharm access and visibility on the UFC’s Facebook and Twitter pages, which are considered some of the most popular in the social media world and include more than seven million fans. Payout Perspective: Its a turnaround from where the company was last year as it settled outstanding debt from its WEC sponsorship obligations. With working capital to fund new marketing efforts it decided to make a splash. Earlier this year, it signed NFL star Michael Vick to a lucrative sponsorship deal although it turned into a bit of an issue. The latest move to maintain its sponsorship ties with the UFC is smart considering the UFC’s big move to Fox. The partnership and media activation should aid the company’s presence. Time will tell to see if this new marketing strategy will pay off.

Posted in: ufc, year, musclepharm, partnership, media activation