Upcoming
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(All events on Oahu, unless noted)
2013
November
Aloha
State Championship
(BJJ
& Sub Grappling)
(Kaiser H.S. Gym)
August
Maui
Open Championship
(BJJ
& Sub Grappling)
(tba)
June
State
of Hawaii Championship
(BJJ & Sub Grappling)
(Kaiser H.S. Gym)
6/6-9/13
World
BJJ Championships
(BJJ)
(The Pyramid, University of California at Long Beach)
6/8/13
King of the Cage
(MMA)
(Maui)
5/25-26/13
NAGA:
Pacific Grappling Championships
(BJJ & Sub Grappling)
(Radford H.S. Gym)
5/4/13
Mad Skillz
(Triple Threat)
(Waipahu Filcom)
4/27/13
Star Elite Cagefighting: The Foundation
(Kickboxing)
(Aloha Tower Waterfront)
4/13/13
Hawaiian
Open Championship
(BJJ & Sub Grappling)
(Kaiser H.S. Gym)
Denny Prokopos
Eddie Bravo Black Belt Seminar
9AM-11AM
$50
@ O2 Martial Arts Academy
3/23/13
Man Up Stand Up
(Kickboxing)
(Waipahu Filcom)
3/20-24/13
Pan
Jiu-Jitsu Championships
(BJJ)
(Irvine, CA)
3/20/13
David Kama Seminar
Rickson Gracie Black Belt
8-10PM
$50
@ O2 Martial Arts Academy
2/23/13
Got Skills
(MMA, Kickboxing, Triple Threat)
(Waipahu Filcom)
2/16/13
Mayhem At The Mansion
Kauai Cage Match 14
(MMA)
(Kilohana Carriage House, Lihue, Kauai)
Boxing Event
(Boxing)
(Palolo Gym District Park Gym)
Uncle Frank Ordonez’s Birthday Tournament
(Palama Settlement Gym)
(Grappling, Sport-Pankration and Continuous sparring)
2/3/13
Diego Moraes Semainr
(BJJ)
(O2MAA)
2/2/13
World
Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship: Hawaii Trials
(BJJ & Sub Grappling)
(McKinley H.S. Gym)
2/1/13
IBJJF Referee Clinic
(O2MAA)
1/19/13
Destiny
Na Koa 2
(MMA)
(Blaisdell Arena)
Just Scrap
(MMA)
(Hilo Civic Center, Hilo)
1/12/13
Reuben "Cobrinha" Charles Seminar
4-7PM
(Ku Lokahi Wrestling Club)
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O2 Martial Arts Academy
provides 7 days a week training! Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu classes
taught by Black Belts Kaleo Hosaka and Chris & Mike Onzuka
We are also offering Kali-Escrima (stick fighting) on Monday
nights with Ian Beltran & Erwin Legaspi.
Kickboxing Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday with PJ Dean &
Chris Slavens!
Wrestling program (Folk Style) taught by Cedric Yogi on Wednesdays
and Thursdays.
Kids Classes are also
available!
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Your Complete Martial Arts School!
Click here for pricing and more
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O2 Martial Arts features Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu taught by Relson
Gracie Black Belts Chris and Mike Onzuka and Kaleo Hosaka as
well as a number of brown and purple belts.
We also offer Boxing and Kickboxing classes with a staff that
is unmatched. Boxing, Kickboxing, and MMA competitor PJ Dean
as well as master boxing instructor Chris Slavens provide incredibly
detailed instruction of the sweet science.
To top it off, Ian Beltran & Erwin Legaspi heads our Kali-Escrima
classes (Filipino Knife & Stickfighting) who were directly
trained under the legendary Snookie Sanchez.
Our wrestling program is headed by Cedric Yogi who was previously
the head coach of the Pearl City High School Wrestling Team.
Just a beginner with no background? Perfect! We teach you from
the ground up!
Experienced martial artist that wants to fine tune your skill?
Our school is for you!
Mix and match your classes so you can try all the martial arts
classes offered at O2!
If you want to learn martial arts by masters of their trade in
a friendly and family environment, O2 Martial Arts Academy is
the place for you!
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Us? Shoot us an email by Clicking Here!
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2013
NAGA PACIFIC GRAPPLING CHAMPIONSHIP
The North American Grappling Association (NAGA) is the world’s
largest mixed grappling tournament circuit with over 170,000
competitors worldwide. On Saturday & Sunday, May 25 &
26, 2013, NAGA comes to Honolulu, Hawaii for its 1st annual NAGA
South Pacific Grappling Championship No-Gi & Gi tournament.
NAGA is inviting teams from Japan, Guam and other countries to
make it Hawaii's largest grappling tournament of all time! Come
as an individual or as a team to compete. You do not have to
live in Hawaii to participate in this event. This event is nationally
RANKED!
DOWNLOAD EVENT FLYER/REGISTRATION FORM
PRE-REGISTER
ONLINE HERE or download the registration form, print it out and
mail it in to the address on the form along with your check.
1
Division = $80; 2 Divisions = $100. Spectator passes are $10.
The price goes up to $15 after the pre-registration deadline.
For family rates, download the event flyer/registration form,
or click the Pre-Register Online link. Pre-registration closes
at 5PM on Friday, May 17.
For
weight classes, age category, and skill level information click
the DIVISIONS tab above.
For
weigh-in and registration location and times click the DIVISIONS
tab above.
TWO DAY TOURNAMENT: ADULTS ON SATURDAY / CHILDREN/TEENS ON SUNDAY
Due to the large amount of competitors that this NAGA tournament
attracts, this event will have 12 competition rings and will
take place over two days. All adults (both gi and no-gi) will
compete on Saturday. All children 13 yrs. & under and teens
14-17 years old (gi & no-gi) will compete on Sunday. The
2 day tournament format makes both days end much earlier than
a one day tournament.
100 CHAMPIONSHIP BELTS AWARDED
NAGA is very pleased to be awarding 100 CHAMPIONSHIP BELTS to
all its Children, Teen, Adult, Masters, Directors and Executive
Expert Division Winners.
SAMURAI SWORDS TO CHILDREN & TEENS WINNERS
NAGA is awarding custom engraved SAMURAI SWORDS to all non-expert
Children & Teen 1st place winners. Medals will be awarded
to all 2nd & 3rd place winners along with non-expert Adult
division winners. Adult competitors who place 1st-3rd will have
the opportunity to obtain a samurai sword at the NAGA T-shirt
booth for a nominal fee. For having the courage to compete, all
children and teens who do not place 1st through 3rd will take
home an award.
TEAM
CHAMPIONSHIP CUPS AWARDED
NAGA awards customized championship cups to the tournament team
champions. A cup can be won in: Adult Overall, Adult No-Gi, Adult
Gi, and Children & Teens Overall. We are also awarding an
overall Individual Team award. This will be awarded to a team/school
with a single location that scores the most team points. Please
make sure your team registers under the same team name.
CHAMPION GI PATCH
All Children, Teens & Adults who place 1st in any NAGA Gi
Division (White Belt through Black Belt) will receive a NAGA
Champion Gi patch. These patches are not sold, only earned by
the best Gi competitors.
GET YOUR GRAPPLING GEAR AT THE EVENT
NAGA is bringing a truckload of grappling gear (Board shorts,
gi bags, rash guards, t-shirts, hats, gi hoodies, patches, skull
caps, stickers, dog tags, etc.) in children and adults sizes,
for males and females. Check out the huge selection of gear and
apparel at the NAGA event.
NAGA ON THE WEB
NAGA has established a presence online through our website and
social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. We
are expanding the material that is offered on these sites outside
of the NAGA website. If you use any of these sites, please join
us and be kept up to date with the latest NAGA news.
- Get the monthly NAGA email by filling out this form. If you
have already competed in NAGA you do not need to fill this out:
http://www.nagafighter.com/index.php?module=joinpage
- "Like" NAGA on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/nagafighter. You will be notified
of the latest NAGA news and events.
- Follow NAGA on Twitter: http://twitter.com/naga_fighter or @NAGA_FIGHTER.
We will start to tweet what divisions are coming up at tournaments
to help you as a competitor or fan stay informed.
- Our YouTube page is: http://www.youtube.com/user/nagagrappling Submit links to YouTube
videos of you competing in NAGA to youtube@nagafighter.com so
that we can share your video with the rest of the NAGA community.
NATIONALLY RANKED EVENT
All NAGA events are part of the nationwide ranking system entitled
RANKED. Our goal is to determine who the best grapplers in the
country are for various age, gender, and skill levels. This tournament
will be nationally ranked so do not miss your opportunity to
gain points towards a true national title. More details can be
found at www.nationallyranked.com.
SANDBAGGERS BEWARE
NAGA works diligently to prevent "sandbagging", or
the practice of fighting down skill levels to ensure one takes
home an award. NAGA has been working with RANKED to track all
fighters and ranked grappling events to produce true "national
standings." A by-product of these standings is our knowledge
of who has competed and at which level. Front door personnel
will use RANKED data to determine whether or not individuals
who have fought in past events belong in a higher skill level
(i.e. placed 1st at a prior NAGA event).
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UFC
on FX 8 Results: Jacare Souza Makes Quick Work of Camozzi, Calls
for Main Event Winner
Ronaldo
“Jacare” Souza finally made his UFC debut on Saturday
night, making quick work of Chris Camozzi at UFC on FX 8 in Jaragua
do Sul, Brazil.
Since
debuting as a professional fighter in 2003, the highly decorated
Brazilian jiu-jitsu wizard has been one of, if not the most decorated
ground fighters in mixed martial arts.
With
a laundry list of grappling world titles to his credit, Souza
has always been pegged as a fighter with nearly unlimited potential.
In
his already storied career, the former Strikeforce middleweight
champion has dispatched MMA stalwarts such as Robbie Lawler,
Matt Lindland, Tim Kennedy and Jason “Mayhem” Miller,
to name a few.
If
you had never witnessed Jacare in action, he quickly showed what
all the fuss was about.
Early
into the opening frame, Jacare used his ever-improving stand-up
skills as he calmly peppered Camozzi, effectively breaking any
rhythm the 26-year-old American had hoped to muster. As Souza
set the pace, he landed a set of overhand rights that wobbled
Camozzi.
Smelling
weakness, Souza moved in, securing a quick takedown, leading
to his ground magic.
Souza
used consistent ground and pound to soften Camozzi before employing
his anaconda-like prowess. But when it happened, it was smooth.
In an almost effortless display of jiu-jitsu, Souza put his knee
on Camozzi’s belly, transitioned to side control, and locked
in the fight-ending arm-triangle choke.
“I
was waiting for him to give me the opportunity, and I saw his
neck out there, and I just went for it,” said Souza matter-of-factly
after the fight.
With
14 of Souza’s 18 wins coming by way of submission, it’s
safe to say he “just goes for it” with uncanny ease,
unlike any other fighter in the Octagon.
Souza
credited the hometown Brazilian fans for keeping any “UFC
jitters” at bay, as the 33-year-old finally made his promotional
debut.
“Everyone
was asking me if I was going to get the UFC jitters,” said
Jacare. “But I didn’t because this crowd is awesome.
It’s fantastic.”
With
sights shifting to the top-ranked middleweight, Jacare was asked
about whom he would like to fight next. When the subject of the
night’s main event between Vitor Belfort and – one
of the only three men to beat Souza – Luke Rockhold, the
confident Brazilian said he knew exactly who he wanted his next
scrap the be against.
“With
the winner.”
Source: MMA Weekly
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Disappointed
Luke Rockhold targets quick return following UFC on FX 8 defeat
JARAGUA
DO SUL, Brazil – Prior to Saturday night, Luke Rockhold
(10-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC) hadn't lost in the past five-and-a-half years.
After suffering a first-round TKO loss to Vitor Belfort (23-10
MMA, 12-6 UFC), he's anxious to erase that feeling from his mind.
"It
doesn't feel good," Rockhold said. "I haven't lost
in a long time. I don't like losing.
"I
train to win, and I came to win. It definitely doesn't feel good."
Rockhold
and Belfort faced off in the main event of Saturday's UFC on
FX 8 card, which took place at Arena Jaragua in Jaragua do Sul,
Brazil. Rockhold was making his UFC debut and hoped to make a
statement against MMA legend Belfort, who boasts a near-17-year
history in the sport and is a former UFC champion.
After
a brief feeling-out process, a patient Belfort unleashed a pinpoint
spinning wheel kick that landed flush to the face and sent Rockhold
toppling to the floor. Belfort seized the opportunity and swarmed
with punches until the fight was waved off at the 2:32 mark of
the opening round.
Rockhold
said he wasn't exactly sure how it all went wrong.
"I
mean it's hard to say what went wrong," Rockhold told MMAjunkie.com
(www.mmajunkie.com). "I was feeling good. I was finding
my timing. I felt like I was controlling things, and then he
landed a spinning heel kick to my head."
Rockhold
and Belfort had endured a spirited build-up to the fight with
the former Strikeforce champ openly questioning the legitimacy
of the Brazilian's commission-approved use of testosterone-replacement
therapy.
Things
got more heated during fight week. A press conference staredown
saw Belfort put his fist next to Rockhold's chin. Rockhold countered
at the following day's weigh-ins by pressing into his opponent's
face, earning a shove from Belfort in the process. Despite the
emotion, Rockhold said he didn't believe he fought recklessly.
"I
felt good in this fight," Rockhold said. "I had a great
camp. I felt good in the fight. I was focused. I don't know if
I got overconfident or what exactly happened. I don't know. I
thought I had it.
"I
felt good. I saw his punches. I saw everything. I was landing
some shots. I felt like I was starting to control things, and
then I got caught. It happens."
Rockhold
offered a bit of an olive branch after the fight by crediting
his opponent's skills – and not TRT – for earning Belfort
the win.
"TRT
had nothing to do with that kick," Rockhold said.
Still,
he admits the sting of the loss is difficult to swallow, and
he hopes to return to action as quickly as possible.
"It
sucks right now," Rockhold said. "I don't know. I want
to get back in there. I want to fight, obviously. Everyone says
it, but what can you do at this point? I want to get in there.
I want to fight. I want to redeem myself."
Brazilian
media members suggested a potential rematch with Ronaldo "Jacare"
Souza, a fellow former Strikeforce champ who Rockhold beat in
2011. However, UFC officials tends to match fighters with similar
recent results when arranging bouts.
Rockhold
could have potentially earned a fight with the winner of July's
UFC middleweight title fight between champ Anderson Silva and
challenger Chris Weidman, but now his next move is unclear.
Rockhold
kept his head down for most of the evening's post-event presser,
and his emotion was evident. But he also seemed to deal with
the reality of his position, and he said he now hopes to get
back to work as quickly as possible.
"I
lost to one of the best guys in the world, and it was something
pretty spectacular," Rockhold said. "I don't know what
to really think about anything right now. I just want to get
back and fight and beat someone up. That's what I'm focused on.
Good job by Vitor. What can I say?"
Source: MMA Junkie
|
UFC
on FX 8 Results: Rafael Natal Outpaces Newcomer João Zeferino
Coming
into his UFC on FX 8 bout with Rafael Natal, most gave newcomer
João Zeferino little to no chance against the veteran
middleweight.
Zeferino
came in to Saturday night’s bout in Brazil serving as a
late replacement for Chris Camozzi, who was pulled from the fight
to meet Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza in the co-main event
after Souza’s original opponent was forced to withdraw due
to injury.
Just
before fight time, Zeferino closed as a +270 underdog, but as
the opening bell sounded, it was obvious that the “Brazilian
Samurai” would not be fighting like one.
Zeferino
came out aggressive and looked to establish Octagon control from
the outset. Just seconds into the round, Zeferino landed a slick
straight right that snapped Natal’s head back and briefly
wobbled him. As the opening frame wore on, Zeferino looked calm
and collected as he used an array of strikes, including a well-timed
head kick, to set the pace.
As
round two began, however, the late replacement started to show
signs of fatigue. Natal weathered an early push from his opponent
in the first few moments of the round and took control soon after.
As
Zeferino slowed to a snail’s pace, Natal took advantage,
wearing the 27-year-old down. Towards the end of the second stanza,
Zeferino was so gassed that he flopped to the mat, exhausted,
and let Natal beat on him for the remainder of the frame.
Round
three saw more of the same, as Zeferino opened aggressive and
then backed away looking for one fight-ending straight right
hand. The tenured Natal saw the approach Zeferino was taking,
and waited for him to tire.
Natal
had done more than enough to win in the judges’ eyes, earning
a unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27).
“I
knew that being called in, in such short notice, he wouldn’t
have enough time to get in shape,” said Natal after the
fight. “So I thought that although I lost the first round
I was going to get the second and third, and that’s what
happened.”
Zeferino
gave a spirited performance and surprised many with his early
aggression. Given the fact he was a newcomer, fighting against
a well-rounded veteran, one can’t help but wonder what the
fight could have been if Zeferino had been afforded a full training
camp.
For
Natal, this marks his fourth victory in his last five fights,
and puts him right back in the mix for a fight with someone farther
up the middleweight ladder.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
UPDATED:
UFC Releases Official Statement Confirming Pat Healy’s Suspension
and Rescinded Bonuses
UFC
lightweight Pat Healy recently admitted to testing positive for
marijuana use following his UFC 159 victory over Jim Miller on
April 27 in New Jersey.
“I
would like to start off by apologizing to the UFC, Jim Miller,
the MMA community, it’s fans, my family, teammates and coaches
for my positive testing for marijuana after my UFC 159 fight
with Jim Miller,” Healy said in a prepared statement.
His
camp confirmed that Healy was suspended for 90 days, had his
fight overturned to a no contest, and had $130,000 in post-fight
bonus money rescinded.
The
New Jersey State Athletic Control Board has not commented on
the positive drug test, but Zuffa, LLC, owner of the UFC, on
Friday issued an official statement on the matter, confirming
the sanctions.
“The
UFC has been informed by the NJSACB that lightweight Pat Healy
tested positive for marijuana metabolites following his bout
against Jim Miller at UFC 159. The NJSACB issued Healy a 90-day
suspension retroactive to the date of the event. He must pass
a drug test upon completion of the suspension before receiving
clearance to compete again. The outcome of his bout against Miller
will be changed to a no contest and he will forfeit $130,000
in bonus money from Fight of the Night and Submission of the
Night. Miller will keep his Fight of the Night bonus and Bryan
Caraway will receive the $65,000 Submission of the Night bonus.
The
UFC organization has a strict, consistent policy against the
use of any illegal and/or performance-enhancing drugs, stimulants
or masking agents. The UFC also fully supports the drug testing
efforts of all regulatory agencies including NJSACB. All fighters
on the UFC 159 card were drug tested at the event. The results
of all positive tests are reported to the official Association
of Boxing Commissions record-keeper.”
UPDATE:
An MMAWeekly.com source with knowledge of the situation said
that the UFC did not try to rescind Healy’s win bonus, which
was paid on the night of the fight. The amount of the bonus was
not revealed, and New Jersey does not release that information
like some state’s do, but Healy made $27,000 to show and
another $15,000 to win for his last Strikeforce fight in January.
The
UFC holds post-fight “of the night” award bonus checks
until drug test results are confirmed, so Healy did not have
to return any money, but he will not receive the post-fight award
bonus checks.
Source: MMA Weekly
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Anderson
Silva vs. Jon Jones: Longevity puts the pound-for-pound question
to rest
UFC
light heavyweight champion Jon Jones already has one loss and
nearly suffered another Saturday, but no one has even come close
to defeating him in the cage.
Despite
his dominance of Chael Sonnen on Saturday at UFC 159 at the Prudential
Center in Newark, N.J., Jones was only 27 seconds away from losing
his belt. Jon Jones attends a press conference after UFC 159.
(USA Today Sports)He suffered a broken toe while taking Sonnen
down in the first round. Had referee Keith Peterson not stopped
the bout at 4:33 as Jones was pounding on Sonnen, it is highly
unlikely that the New Jersey commission would have allowed Jones
to come out for the second round because of the gruesome injury.
As
a result, Jones would have lost the bout by knockout, even though
a novice could see he was the far superior fighter.
Jones'
one defeat came in a non-title bout in 2009 as a result of a
highly controversial disqualification during a match with Matt
"The Hammer" Hamill. Jones was disqualified for throwing
an illegal elbow that caused Hamill to be injured. After reviewing
a replay, referee Steve Mazzagatti ordered the disqualification.
Mazzagatti's
call has been hotly disputed in the three-plus years since, but
what that defeat points to is the fine line between winning and
losing in mixed martial arts and the difficulty of compiling
a lengthy winning streak against top opposition. There are so
many ways to win and lose a bout that it's virtually impossible
to remain unbeaten for long. Women's bantamweight champion Ronda
Rousey is the only one of the eight UFC titleholders without
a defeat.
It's
also evidence of the remarkable nature of Anderson Silva's almost
eight-year winning streak in the UFC.
Silva
joined the UFC in 2006 amid much acclaim. And while his signing
was a significant one for the company at the time, it's not like
he was held then in the same regard he's held in now, in which
he's widely considered the best fighter in the world.
Silva
was 17-4 prior to joining the UFC, but his record since his debut
against Chris Leben on June 28, 2006, in Las Vegas is nothing
short of staggering.
Anderson
Silva toys with an opponent during a fight. (MMAWeekly)Silva
has gone 16-0 in the UFC, including 11-0 in title bouts.
Given
his remarkable two-year reign as champion, Jones is the flavor
of the month. But even he admitted following his win over Sonnen
on Saturday that Silva's streak deserves to keep him atop the
rankings.
"I
celebrated my two-year anniversary as champion this year, and
Anderson has been doing it for about six years," Jones said.
"That's phenomenal. That's phenomenal pressure that he's
been able to [endure] and continue moving forward with. I admire
him so much.
"Yes,
I've had some great fights, and I've had a great career, but
Anderson is still an amazing guy. He's still my idol and I'm
not going to disregard what he's done."
Jones
would likely be favored to defeat Silva were they to meet, as
he's physically bigger and is a dominant wrestler. Silva struggled
with Sonnen's wrestling in two title defenses, and Sonnen didn't
seem to be near Jones' league on Saturday.
MMA
oddsmaker Joey Oddessa said he'd open Jones as a "minimum
3-1 favorite" against Silva, potentially as high as minus-375.
According
to FightMetric, Jones was three of six for takedowns against
Sonnen, who was on his heels the entire fight. Sonnen, by contrast,
was 4-for-11 in takedowns over two fights against Silva.
All
the hype for Jones is deserved, but as UFC president Dana White
points out, that makes it easy to overlook what Silva has accomplished.
"Anderson
has made a lot of really good middleweights look really bad,
but that is not the most impressive thing he's done," White
said. "He's also gone up to 205 [pounds] and he's done the
same thing to guys there. He's won his fights just as easily.
"Now,
can Jon Jones move up to heavyweight and be knocking guys out
in the first round? Well, he wants to go there and try it, but
we don't know if he can do it because he hasn't done it yet.
How many 155-pounders can go up to 170 and take out guys there?
That doesn't really happen in this sport, but it's what Anderson
has done."
Silva
has to defend his title on July 6 in Las Vegas at UFC 162 against
top contender Chris Weidman. If he gets by him, there is a great
likelihood that he'll fight Jones later in the year. UFC titleholders
Cain Velasquez, Jon Jones and Anderson Silva pose for the media.
(AP)
White
wouldn't commit to Silva fighting either Jones or welterweight
champion Georges St-Pierre – the other champion mentioned
as an opponent for a potential "superfight" with Silva
– but said he thought it was reasonable to expect that one
or the other could happen sometime in 2013 if Silva gets by Weidman.
If
he does, imagine a Silva-Jones fight on Nov. 9 at the Rogers
Centre in Toronto as the potential headliner for the UFC's 20th
anniversary show. It would be a massive event.
That
Silva is still good enough at 38 years old to be involved in
those kinds of matches says much about his greatness.
That's
easy to overlook in light of the hoopla over Jones' greatness.
"His
longevity and the guys he's beaten and everything, how can he
not be the No. 1 pound-for-pound guy?" White said of Silva.
"Jones is a great story and he's an incredible physical
specimen. He's got the size, the strength and the athleticism.
But it's not all about being big and strong. It's about being
an unbelievable athlete and Jon has that athleticism.
"Anderson
Silva, though, is almost 40 years old and he's beating these
guys and making it look easy. Year after year, you wonder, 'Is
this the year [he may lose],' but he keeps going on and on. The
guy is a freak of nature, man. He's incredible."
Source: Yahoo Sports
|
Vitor
Belfort: “TRT Doesn’t Win Fights”
Former
UFC light heavyweight titleholder Vitor Belfort rejuvenated his
career when he dropped down to the middleweight division in 2008.
Since making the move, “The Phenom” has only been defeated
by Anderson Silva at 185-pounds.
His
success at middleweight came under recent scrutiny when it was
revealed that the 36-year-old Brazilian uses testosterone replacement
therapy.
Athletes
can request a therapeutic use exemption to use TRT, but what
makes Belfort’s use more controversial than others who have
been granted the exemption is that he tested positive to the
banned substance 4-Hydroxytestosterone in 2006.
Having
a previous positive test would rule out a therapeutic exemption
by some athletic commissions, but he’s able to use TRT in
his home country of Brazil.
Belfort
asserts that he isn’t doing anything illegal.
“I
don’t have much to talk about it. It’s the rules. I’m
following the rules and it’s fight time. TRT doesn’t
win fights. A lot of guys on TRT are losing fights,” he
said during the UFC on FX 8 pre-fight press conference on Thursday.
“It’s hard work. People that know me know how hard
I work, and I’m just following the rules and doing everything
legal.”
His
UFC on FX 8 opponent, former Strikeforce middleweight champion
Luke Rockhold, doesn’t agree with the use of TRT by any
athlete, and definitely not by Belfort. But he’s stated
that TRT isn’t an issue and he knew about Belfort’s
use of it well before signing the bout agreement.
The
topic has been brought up so often that Belfort has refused to
field questions on the issue and says he’s just focused
on the fight at hand.
“I’m
focused on winning,” he said. “I definitely know I’m
ready and focused on this fight.”
Rockhold
says he’s done his homework on Belfort and knows what to
expect when the Octagon door closes behind them on Saturday,
but Belfort believes he has changed his fighting style and is
ever evolving, making it difficult to know what to expect.
“Those
who have known me for a long time and see me today have no idea
about what I have changed,” said Belfort. “It’s
as the bible says, a thousand years is as if it were a day. If
you give me one day to improve, I’ll do that. What’s
important in life is to grow, to be humble.
“We
never really know what we can learn. We never know what we can’t
learn, so I believe it has to be like a silent storm. That’s
what a fight is. Right when we are in there, that’s when
we will decide things,” he added.
“I’m
ready and I’ve done everything that I can. Now I’ve
crushed all the grapes and now I just need to drink the wine.”
Source: MMA Weekly
|
UFC
on FX 8: Belfort vs. Rockhold Attendance
UFC
on FX 8: Belfort vs. Rockhold took place Saturday night at Arena
Jaraguá in Jaraguá do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil,
before an announced crowd of 7,642.
UFC
officials announced the attendance at the UFC on FX 8 post-fight
press conference.
The
gate was not announced.
Former
UFC champion Vitor Belfort faced former Strikeforce champion
Luke Rockhold in the night’s main event. Belfort continued
his career resurgence, knocking Rockhold out with a stunning
heel kick to the head at 2:32 of the first round.
The
event was the second of at least four scheduled for Brazil in
2013. It also marked the second time that Belfort has headlined
a UFC on FX card in his home country this year.
The
promotion returns to Rio de Janeiro on Aug. 3 for UFC 163, which
features featherweight champion Jose Aldo putting his belt on
the line against Anthony Pettis, who is making his 145-pound
debut.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
UFC
on FX 8: Quick Results for Belfort vs. Rockhold
Main
Card (FX):
Vitor
Belfort def. Luke Rockhold via KO (spinning back kick, strikes)
at 2:32, R1
Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza def. Chris Camozzi via submission
(arm triangle) at 3:37, R1
Rafael dos Anjos def. Evan Dunham via unanimous decision (29-28
x3)
Rafael Natal def. João Zeferino via unanimous decision
(30-27, 29-28 x2)
Preliminary
Card (Fuel TV):
Nik
Lentz def. Hacran Dias via unanimous decision (28-27, 29-28 x2)
Francisco Trinaldo def. Mike Rio via submission (arm triangle)
at 3:08, R1
Gleison Tibau def. John Cholish via submission (guillotine) at
2:34, R2
Paulo Thiago def. Mitchel Prazeres via unanimous decision (29-28,
29-28, 29-28)
Yuri Alcantara def. Iliarde Santos via TKO (strikes) at 2:31,
R1
Fabio Maldonado def. Roger Hollet via unanimous decision (29-27
x2, 29-28)
Preliminary
Card (Facebook):
John
Lineker def. Azamat Gashimov via TKO (strikes) at 1:07, R2
Jussier Formiga def. Chris Cariaso via unanimous decision (29-28
x3)
Lucas Martins def. Jeremy Larsen via knockout (punch) at 0:13,
R3
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
Vitor
Belfort: The legitimate No. 1 contender in the UFC's middleweight
division
COMMENTARY
| With his first-round knockout victory against Luke Rockhold
at UFC on FX 8, Vitor Belfort has clearly separated himself from
the rest of the pack in the 185-pound division. He didn't even
take any damage during his bout against Rockhold, putting the
last Strikeforce middleweight champion away with a perfectly
executed spinning heel kick.
In
a perfect world, Vitor's back-to-back wins against top middleweight
contenders should automatically put him in line for a title shot,
but things don't always work that way in the Ultimate Fighting
Championship. UFC president Dana White – or fans for that
matter – haven't seemed interested in seeing "The Phenom"
get a second crack at MMA's pound-for-pound king Anderson Silva
in the past, given the fact "The Spider" made quick
work of Belfort during their UFC 126 encounter, finishing him
with a beautiful front kick to the face.
However,
it's worth noting that today's Vitor is considerably better that
the guy who faced Anderson back in 2011. He's more confident,
his physique has never looked better, and he's deepened his striking
arsenal by adding a variety of kicks which clearly have knockout
power behind them.
"I
was part of two jungles. I'm the T-Rex, surviving in this new
jungle, so I'm rebuilding myself, and God has given me the strength,"
Belfort said during a post-fight interview. "Just as I used
to be strong then, I am strong now."Vitor Belfort celebrates
after beating Luke Rockhold. (USA Today)
Belfort's
critics will attribute his recent success to testosterone replacement
therapy (which the Brazilian admitted to prior to his UFC on
FX 7 bout against Michael Bisping), but they don't have a solid
case. For one, Vitor's improved technique is primarily responsible
for his recent success inside the Octagon, not any physical attributes
that might have been improved with TRT.
Then
factor in the fact that Jones -- who was almost submitted during
the first round of their UFC 152 encounter -- and Silva are the
only two men who have been able to defeat Belfort in the past
six years.
The
reality is: Belfort and Silva are the two best middleweights
in the world, and the "Old Lion" is the only 185-pounder
who has a legitimate chance against Anderson right now. If "The
Spider" gets past Chris Weidman at UFC 162 -- which he should
-- anything less than a Silva vs. Belfort II bout will be a great
injustice.
Source: Yahoo Sports
|
'Jacare'
Souza heard Chris Camozzi's neck 'snapping', but isn't ready
for Vitor Belfort just yet
It's
going to be difficult for fighters to have better UFC debuts
than the one former Strikeforce middleweight champion Ronaldo
'Jacare' Souza had on Saturday night. The submission grappling
ace easily dispatched with Chris Camozzi at 3:37 of the first
round with an academic head and arm triangle at UFC on FX 8 in
Jaragua do Sul, Brazil, earning not only a victory but $50,000
through his Submission of the Night award.
"All
my life I was very good in that move. Now I'm really practicing
it a lot," Souza said at the event's post-fight press conference.
"I'm also doing a lot of cardio work, so obviously I'm much
stronger. When I held my opponent, I heard his neck snapping,
so I knew he was either going to tap out or pass out."
Despite
his nearly unmatched grappling pedigree, Jacare was able to win
in virtually all phases of the game. He not only earned the submission
after wrestling Camozzi to the floor, but his attack was made
possible by the damage he was inflicting with his hands.
"I
started moving very well when I was standing, but when I realized
that he didn't respect my hands, I showed him my calling card,"
Souza recalled. "When he went down, I just did the groundwork
very easily. I knew that sooner or later, something would be
there for me, and that's what happened. I was able to submit
him."
For
Jacare, the moment - a victory in his UFC debut, which took place
in his home country of Brazil - was difficult to articulate.
It's increasingly rare for a fighter of this caliber to have
spent this much time out of the UFC. It was also emotional for
him to be at this particular juncture in his career in Brazil.
"The
emotion I felt when I was going into the cage, there are no words
to explain it. I could just tell I was exploding with happiness,"
Souza said. "When I walked in and I heard the crowd, there
was a moment when I just started jumping, and I said, 'Now I
cannot let this crowd down. This crowd is fantastic, and I have
to do my best.'"
The
question facing Souza now is 'what's next?' He is certainly one
of the middleweight division's top contenders, but if Jacare
gets his way, he isn't in any rush for a title shot. The jiu-jitsu
black belt wouldn't necessarily turn down the opportunity to
fight Saturday's winning headliner in Vitor Belfort. In fact,
in his post-fight interview with UFC commentator Jon Anik, Jacare
said he wanted the winner of the bout between Belfort and Luke
Rockhold. As it turns out, however, he would rather get some
experience against some of the other best middleweights in the
world first.
"I'm
a real professional, and I think that rivalry is just natural.
If I have to fight against him, I'll fight against him,"
Jacare said of a potential bout with Belfort. "But I'm still
not ready to fight Vitor. Vitor is just ready to go for a title
bout, so I hope one day to be ready and be competent. If the
UFC thinks I'm ready, I'll do it. I'll fight happily with the
champion Vitor Belfort. But I just said it because we don't want
to get the loser. We want to get the winner."
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Matches
to Make After UFC on FX 8
9 0 Share9
By Brian Knapp May 19, 2013
Vitor Belfort will likely get another title shot. | Josh Hedges/Zuffa
LLC/Getty Images
Luke
Rockhold will have to wait for his moment in the Ultimate Fighting
Championship sun. Vitor Belfort’s left foot blotted it out.
Belfort
knocked out the former Strikeforce middleweight champion with
an exquisite spinning heel kick and follow-up punches on the
ground in the UFC on FX 8 main event on Saturday at the Arena
Jaragua in Jaragua do Sul, Brazil. The 36-year-old Brazilian
drew the curtain on Rockhold 2:32 into round one, as he won for
the ninth time in 11 appearances with an early frontrunner for
“Knockout of the Year.”
Rockhold
expected speed, power and precision from more traditional strikes,
Belfort’s straight left chief among them. However, the kick,
perfectly measured and accurately applied, came out of left field,
and it did the job. Caught with his hands low, Rockhold absorbed
the blow and fell to the canvas in a still-conscious state. He
could not weather the swarm of punches Belfort levied against
him next.
The
win likely moves “The Phenom” back to the front of
the line in terms of middleweight title contenders, with longstanding
champion Anderson Silva -- the last man to defeat Belfort at
185 pounds -- set to defend his crown against the undefeated
Chris Weidman at UFC 162 on July 6. Silva has held the championship
since Oct. 14, 2006, defending it a record 10 times.
Rockhold,
meanwhile, must patch up the damage and somehow revive the momentum
that accompanied his arrival in the Octagon. The 28-year-old
American Kickboxing Academy export saw his nine-fight winning
streak grind to a halt, as he experienced defeat for the first
time in more than five years. Still, Rockhold remains one of
the sport’s most promising young middleweights and would
seem a prime candidate to face the loser of the forthcoming Mark
Munoz-Tim Boetsch matchup in July.
In
the wake of UFC on FX 8 “Belfort vs. Rockhold,” here
are five other matchups that ought to be made:
Ronaldo
“Jacare” Souza vs. Yushin Okami: Souza was nothing
short of sensational in his promotional debut, as he choked the
consciousness out of “The Ultimate Fighter” Season
11 alum Chris Camozzi in the co-headliner. The 33-year-old former
Strikeforce champion has finished his last four opponents, three
of them inside one round, and could move fast within the UFC
middleweight division. Okami last appeared at UFC on Fuel TV
8 in March, when he captured a split decision from onetime Bellator
MMA titleholder Hector Lombard at the Saitama Super Arena in
Saitama, Japan. Only seven active UFC fighters have more wins
inside the Octagon than Okami’s 13.
Rafael
dos Anjos vs. Donald Cerrone: Dos Anjos continues to hover on
the periphery of the top 10 at 155 pounds. The 28-year-old Brazilian
jiu-jitsu black belt posted his fourth straight victory in a
unanimous decision over Xtreme Couture Mixed Martial Arts export
Evan Dunham. Since losing his first two UFC bouts to Jeremy Stephens
and Tyson Griffin, dos Anjos has quietly compiled an 8-2 mark
and established himself as a player inside the promotion’s
deepest division. Cerrone will return to the cage against former
EliteXC champion K.J. Noons at UFC 160.
Iuri
Alcantara vs. Eddie Wineland: Alcantara sliced through Iliarde
Santos -- a natural flyweight who replaced Marcos Vinicius --
as he stopped his fellow Brazilian on punches in just over half
a round. The potential withdrawal of injured interim bantamweight
champion Renan Barao could leave Wineland without an opponent
for UFC 161 on June 15. The rugged 28-year-old Duneland Vale
Tudo representative secured his title shot with back-to-back
wins over Scott Jorgensen and Brad Pickett.
Nik
Lentz vs. Cub Swanson-Dennis Siver winner: Lentz has been nothing
short of a revelation since downshifting from 155 pounds. The
American Top Team product improved to 3-0 as a featherweight
with a unanimous verdict over Nova Uniao’s Hacran Dias.
Moreover, Lentz snapped the heralded Dias’ nine-fight winning
streak as a short-notice replacement for “The Ultimate Fighter”
Season 5 finalist Manny Gamburyan. All factors considered, his
next call from UFC brass figures to pair him with a big-ticket
player at 145 pounds. Swanson and Siver will meet in a high-stakes
matchup at UFC 162 on July 6.
John
Lineker vs. Jussier da Silva: Some project Lineker as a future
title contender at 125 pounds, and the 23-year-old Brazilian
did nothing to dispel those notions while dissecting Russian
import Azamat Gashimov with a pair of vicious blows to the body
-- one a kick, the other a punch. Lineker has won 15 of his last
16 fights, a guillotine choke submission loss to Team Tiger Schulmann’s
Louis Gaudinot the lone hiccup. Once regarded as the world’s
top flyweight, da Silva was impressive in his own right, as he
put his prodigious grappling skills on display in a unanimous
decision over the underappreciated Chris Cariaso.
Source: Sherdog
|
Vitor
Belfort's latest win fuels testosterone debate, which may be
a good thing
Why
not? We're thinking about it, whether we want to admit it or
not. How could we not be, when it's right there staring us in
the face?
Vitor
Belfort pulls off an amazing spinning heel kick against Luke
Rockhold at UFC on FX 8, then declares that he's "stronger
than ever," and it's like he's begging us to talk about
it. On the broadcast we hear references to his impressive career
turnaround, and it feels like they're hinting at the things they
can't or don't dare say.
Or
maybe they aren't. At least not intentionally. Maybe it's a Freudian
slip, or no slip at all. Maybe it's just that when you get an
elephant this big in a room this small – and when that elephant
keeps stomping on the heads of all who come near it – anything
you say feels like it's either directed right at the damn thing
or else conspicuously avoiding mention of it.
That's
where we are with Belfort and his testosterone usage. Tucked
away in Brazil, where the commission is brand new and therapeutic-use
exemptions for former steroid cheats are apparently no problem,
he faces a problem he doesn't seem to want to acknowledge. The
more fights he wins and the more highlight-reel finishes he stacks
up, the more he stokes a fire that he'd rather we just ignore.
The
thing is, we probably would ignore it if we could. We'd rather
watch and enjoy and be awed by these finishes that look like
something out of a video game. But knowing what we know, it's
impossible to come away from Belfort's recent performances without
wondering how much of what we just saw came from him and how
much came from a syringe.
And
honestly, that's what really sucks about testosterone use in
MMA – for the fans, anyway. The fighters, sure, they have
to worry about the concussions and the competitive imbalance
and all the rest of it. Those of us on the couch get stuck with
the nagging doubt and bitter aftertaste. Guys like Belfort are
making this sport hard for a thinking fan to relax and enjoy.
We
see him pull off some fantastic move and we can't appreciate
it for what it is. We just can't. Unless we want to become the
willing marks in this little PED carnival, we have to ask whether
he could have done that without a steady injection of steroids
(and for the last time, while the testosterone that occurs naturally
in your body is a hormone, the synthesized testosterone that
MMA fighters are injecting is a steroid; let's stop dancing around
it and call it what it is).
But
testosterone doesn't kick people in the head, right? You need
to skill to do that. And that's true. You also need skill to
hit a baseball over a fence, but I think we've learned that it
doesn't hurt to get an infusion of chemically-enhanced power
and explosiveness to give that existing skill a little extra
push. It also doesn't hurt to get that push all through training
camp.
That's
the thing about performance-enhancing drugs. They take what you
already have and improve it with the help of some stuff you don't.
That's why athletes use them. You think Belfort would be putting
up with all the scrutiny from the media and the criticism from
fans if this stuff didn't work?
It's
worth noting how Belfort is handling that scrutiny, by the way.
With the UFC's help, he's managed to avoid the prying eyes of
the various U.S. state athletic commissions, many of which aren't
exactly all that strict to begin with. But when John Morgan of
MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) asked him about his testosterone
use after his win over Rockhold, Belfort's response was to try
to silence him as quickly as possible.
"Can
somebody beat him up for me, please?" Belfort said of Morgan
at the post-fight news conference. "Can somebody beat him
up?"
Right,
because nothing says "I'm using a totally legitimate medical
treatment" quite like threatening those who ask questions
about it. It's not just immediately after the fight that Belfort
avoids these questions, either. Let's not forget, back before
the UFC confirmed that he was using testosterone, Belfort refused
to admit it, even when asked point blank about it by ESPN. It
was only after the UFC outed him that he voiced his support for
full public disclosure for all testosterone users. If the UFC
hadn't put his business in the streets, he'd probably still be
doing it in secret.
The
sad part is, Belfort doesn't seem to realize how much the controversy
is hurting him. He seems genuinely oblivious to the fact that,
in the minds of many fans, there's an asterisk next to all these
wins. Maybe he didn't need the testosterone to beat Rockhold.
Maybe he could have pulled off that kick without it. But the
thing is, we'll never know. Neither will he. He can tell us that
it's all him, that the testosterone has nothing to do with his
career resurgence. But if that's true then why doesn't he get
off the juice? If it's not responsible for his success, then
it shouldn't matter if he stops using it. And if he won't stop
using it, then he can't be surprised when we won't quit talking
about it.
Maybe
that's the silver lining here, is the enduring force of the conversation.
The more fights Belfort wins while on testosterone – and
the more violent, spectacular finishes he reels off in the process
– the more he fuels the debate. Looking at Twitter on Saturday
night, the first response to his knockout of Rockhold was a kind
of stunned amazement. The second response was skepticism and
suspicion. By Sunday morning, it was the suspicion that lingered.
It'll
keep lingering, too. Just ask all those power hitters from baseball's
steroid era. Performance-enhancers like testosterone might be
fast-acting, but the stain they leave behind is a stubborn one.
The way Belfort's headed, he'll still be staring at it long after
his fighting days are done.
Source: MMA Junkie
|
UFC
on FX 8 Results: Vitor Belfort Adds to Phenom Legacy with Stunning
Heel Kick KO
Vitor
Belfort earned his nickname “The Phenom” early in his
career, a fiery young man, with blazing speed and knockout power.
Now, at 36 years of age, he continues to add credence to his
moniker.
Belfort
entered Saturday night’s UFC on FX 8 in Brazil having knocked
out middleweight title contender Michael Bisping at UFC on FX
7. He continued his resurgence by knocking out final Strikeforce
middleweight champion Luke Rockhold, but it was the manner in
which he did it that really added to The Phenom’s legacy.
Belfort
looked comfortable and confident from the opening bell, sprawling
an early takedown attempt, and just missing with a spinning heel
kick to the head. He did, however, land a flurry of punches that
backed Rockhold into the fence.
Rockhold
fought out of it, but seemed to have trouble finding his rhythm,
moving flat-footed around the Octagon. Belfort was circling and
bouncing on his toes the entire time.
Just
as the fight appeared to be falling into a rhythm all its own,
Belfort launched another spinning heel kick, this time landing
squarely on Rockhold’s jaw, immediately putting him on the
mat. Belfort pounced and landed several more punches as the referee
jumped in to stop the fight.
Belfort
was elated after the fight, saying, “I want to thank everyone.
I’m stronger than ever.”
He
certainly looked it, but steered clear of calling for a return
shot at the middleweight title. He did, however, make his pick
for the UFC 162 battle between Anderson Silva and Chris Weidman
in July.
“I’m
here to fight. I don’t pick fights. I accept fights. The
fans decide it, Dana White,” Belfort declared. “I’m
very happy. I’m going to root for Anderson.”
The
victory gives Belfort back-to-back wins over Top 10 middleweights,
and makes him 4-1 since losing to Anderson Silva at UFC 126 in
early 2011.
Rockhold,
hoping that a victory would have launched him into a title fight
in his next bout, will instead go back to the drawing board.
“I
didn’t see that one coming,” he admitted after the
fight. “I thought I was finding my timing, but what can
I say, he landed a spinning heel kick to my head.”
Source: MMA Weekly
|
UFC
on FX 8 Fighter Bonuses: Vitor Belfort and Jacare Souza Lead
Fighters Banking $50,000
The
Ultimate Fighting Championship awarded $50,000 fighter bonuses
following UFC on FX 8 in Jaragua do Sul, Brazil, on Saturday.
Lucas Martins, Jeremy Larsen, Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza,
and Vitor Belfort took home the bonus awards for their performances.
Fight
of the Night honors went to the first fight of the night, Lucas
Martins vs. Jeremy Larsen. It was a back-and-forth fight with
both men having their moments. Martins overcame being knocked
down twice in the opening round to score a third-round knockout
early in the final stanza.
The
Submission of the Night bonus was awarded to UFC newcomer Ronaldo
“Jacare” Souza for his co-main event submission of
Chris Camozzi. Souza was able to get the fight to the ground
and put his grappling prowess on display. Souza mounted Camozzi
and locked on an arm-triangle choke that put Camozzi to sleep.
The
Knockout of the Night came in the main event on the card. Former
UFC light heavyweight titleholder Vitor Belfort landed a spinning
heel kick to the jaw of former Strikeforce middleweight champion
Luke Rockhold. Rockhold was dropped by the kick and Belfort finished
with a series of punches on the ground.
The
amount of bonus money awarded following UFC on FX 8 totaled $200,000.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Renan
Barao injured, out of UFC 161 interim title defense
Renan
Barao has sustained an undisclosed injury and been forced out
of his UFC 161 interim title defense against Eddie Wineland,
according to reports.
Barao
and Wineland were scheduled to headline the card, which takes
place on June 15 at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
No
replacements have been confirmed for the match, and the UFC is
yet to announce a change to the UFC 161 card.
At
the time of this publication, a bout between Dan Henderson and
Rashad Evans is tabbed to co-main event the card, preceded by
a rematch between Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Antonio
Rogerio Nogueira.
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
By
the Numbers: UFC on FX 8
Put
Vitor Belfort on a UFC on FX card in Brazil, and what do you
get? Spectacular head-kick knockouts, that’s what.
For
the second consecutive fight, “The Phenom” laid waste
to a promising contender in the UFC’s middleweight division,
as he stopped former Strikeforce 185-pound king Luke Rockhold
with a spinning heel kick and follow-up punches in the UFC on
FX 8 headliner at the Arena Jaragua in Jaragua do Sul, Brazil,
on Saturday night. In January, the Blackzilians representative
dispatched Michael Bisping with a head kick and follow-up strikes
at UFC on FX 7.
With
the win, Belfort appears to be in position for another title
shot, but much depends on what happens when reigning champion
Anderson Silva and Chris Weidman square off at < a href="http://www.sherdog.com/events/UFC-162-Silva-vs-Weidman-28459">UFC
162 in July. Here is a by-the-numbers look at UFC on FX 8, with
statistics courtesy of FightMetric.com.
11:
First round finishes for Belfort in the UFC, the most of anyone
in the promotion. “The Phenom” landed a spectacular
spinning heel kick on Rockhold and pounced for follow-up strikes
on the mat to earn a knockout victory 2:32 into round one.
9.27:
Average significant strikes landed by Belfort in those 11 triumphs.
The Brazilian landed nine significant strikes against Rockhold.
2,020:
Days since Rockhold’s last professional defeat, a first-round
TKO loss to Tony Rubalcava at “Melee on the Mountain”
in Friant, Calif. The former Strikeforce titlist had won nine
consecutive fights before falling to Belfort.
16:
Brazilians who competed at UFC on FX 8, tying it with UFC 153
for second most all-time in promotion history. Only UFC 147 featured
more athletes from the South American country (21).
9-1:
Record for Brazilians in bouts against opposition from other
countries on Saturday. Only Hacran Dias, who dropped a unanimous
verdict to American Nik Lentz, came up short on his home soil.
.555:
Finishing percentage on submissions in one UFC and eight Strikeforce
bouts for Ronaldo Souza, who is 5-for-9 on submission attempts
during that time. “Jacare” earned a technical submission
against Chris Camozzi in the first round of their middleweight
clash on Saturday night.
2:
Significant strikes by which Evan Dunham outlanded Rafael dos
Anjos over the course of their three-round lightweight matchup.
Dunham outlanded his foe in round three (37 to 26), but dos Anjos
had the edge in rounds one (20-12) and two (20-19) in winning
a controversial unanimous decision. Dunham also landed the only
three takedowns of the fight.
499:
Total strikes thrown by Dunham and dos Anjos combined. Dunham
went 90 for 295, while dos Anjos was 86 of 204.
18:
Takedowns landed by Nik Lentz in three 145-pound appearances.
The American Top Team representative had landed just three in
his previous three outings at lightweight, which resulted in
two losses and a no contest. Lentz landed four takedowns in his
victory over Hacran Dias.
8:
Difference in significant strikes landed by Dias in round three
(24) and rounds one and two combined (16). The Brazilian fighter’s
corner urged him to pursue the finish prior to the final frame,
but Lentz survived to get the unanimous decision win.
68:
Career takedowns landed by Gleison Tibau, No. 2 all-time in the
UFC behind Georges St. Pierre (84). Tibau landed two takedowns
in four attempts during his second-round submission victory over
John Cholish.
.931:
Takedown defense rate for Tibau, No. 1 in the promotion among
those with at least five fights and 20 takedowns defended. He
has now faced 59 takedowns in his UFC tenure, stuffing Cholish’s
lone attempt in round two.
98:
Total strikes landed by Paulo Thiago in his three-round triumph
over Michel Richard dos Prazeres, just two less than he had landed
in his previous five Octagon appearances combined.
.857:
Percentage of Iuri Alcantara’s 28 career victories that
have resulted in a knockout, technical knockout or submission.
“Marajo” earned his 24th finish by stopping Iliarde
Santos with punches 2:31 into the opening round of their bantamweight
showdown.
71:
Significant strikes by which Fabio Maldonado outlanded Roger
Hollett in their light heavyweight scrap. The former professional
boxer dominated the final two frames, outlanding his Canadian
opponent 95 to 24 in significant strikes en route to earning
a unanimous decision.
18-3:
Combined record of Jussier da Silva (8-1) and Chris Cariaso (10-2)
in bouts that go the distance. “Formiga” held off a
hard-charging Cariaso to earn a unanimous verdict in a preliminary
flyweight contest.
Source: Sherdog
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Koji
Oishi Hell Bent on Taking One FC Belt From Honorio Banario
For
most American fans, the last time they saw Koji Oishi on a major
MMA stage was when he, a then 28-year-old, faced Nick Diaz at
UFC 53 in June 2005. Now, at 35, Oishi gets another chance at
the big time when he faces Honorio Banario at One FC 9 on May
31 for the promotion’s featherweight title.
A
welterweight when he fought in the UFC, the now 145-pound Oishi
was asked how he has changed since his fight with Diaz.
“I
have definitely improved a lot since then, both as a person as
well as a fighter,” responded Oishi. “I am much more
experienced now, so I approach each fight far more calm than
I did back then.
“I
have also honed and refined my craft and this version of me will
definitely defeat the 2005 version easily.”
Coming
into One FC, Oishi had won two in a row prior to drawing with
Takumi Nakayama this past March in Pancrase.
“I
did all my best at that fight,” said Oishi. “But I
am overcoming my weak points after the fight and I feel that
I have really been improving, especially for this training camp,
and I am sure I’ll peak at the right time.”
When
it comes to facing Banario, Oishi told MMAWeekly.com that the
key to the fight could very well be equalizing his opponent’s
physical advantages.
“I
have to be prepared for Honorio’s reach,” Oishi said.
“He has a sizable reach and I will need to work my way through
that. I am certain that I can defeat him if I fight a smart fight.
“I
am hell bent on taking that belt from him and becoming the new
champion.”
And
it is that drive to claim the title that could very well be what
takes Oishi to the peak of his abilities at fight time.
“Banario
is the current featherweight champion, but I am coming to dethrone
him,” said Oishi. “I want to claim that belt and prove
that our team Pancraseism is the best team in Asia. I am proud
to fight for my team and I want to give my fans something to
cheer about.
“Thank
you for One FC for this opportunity and tune in on May 31 because
I will put on a great show.”
Source: MMA Weekly
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John
Cholish Retires Following UFC on FX 8
John
Cholish on Saturday announced his retirement from fighting…
before he stepped into the Octagon to fight Gleison Tibau.
“Looking
forward to my last fight today, Win, Lose, or Draw,” he
wrote on Twitter. “I’ll do my best to put on a strong
performance and of course be Having Fun!”
That
may seem a little odd for a 29-year-old with an 8-3 record (following
a loss to Tibau at UFC on FX 8 in Brazil), but Cholish has always
stood out in the MMA world as much for his “day job”
as he did for his competitive fire in the Octagon.
A
graduate of Cornell University, Cholish’s day job is on
Wall Street in the financial industry. He’s worked for the
likes of Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch, and attacks his job
with the same passion that he always brought into the Octagon.
A
standout on the Cornell wrestling team, for Cholish, MMA was
the next logical step as a competitive outlet for his athletic
side of him that Wall Street couldn’t fulfill.
Before
he ever entered the Octagon, he told MMAWeekly.com that he intended
to keep both careers going at full steam, at least for a couple
years.
“I’m
only 26 and I think I can burn the candle at both ends, at least
for a couple more years. I don’t think there’s any
reason to be lazy about it,” Cholish told MMAWeekly.com
in 2010. “As long as I can be successful here, keep doing
my job, and then train at night, I think I can keep both things
going.”
Now,
three years later, he’s gotten to a level were keeping up
both is maybe just a little too much. He’s not at the top
end of the pay scale, banking pay-per-view bonus bucks, and Wall
Street still pays the bills quite nicely.
So
for John Cholish, it’s back to the financial sector.
“Had
fun tonight, wish I could have done better,” he added on
Twitter following the fight. “Hats off to @TibauATT on great
job & Brazilian fans were incredible!”
Source: MMA Weekly
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