Upcoming
Events
Do you
want to list an event on Onzuka.com?
Contact
Us
(All events on Oahu, unless noted)
2011
November
Aloha State Championship of BJJ
(BJJ & Sub Grappling)
(Kaiser H.S. Gym)
August
State of Hawaii Championship of BJJ
(BJJ & Sub Grappling)
(Kaiser H.S. Gym)
March
Hawaiian Championship of BJJ
(BJJ & Sub Grappling)
(Kaiser H.S. Gym)
2/5/11
Garden Island Cage Match 10: Mayhem at the Mansion 2
(MMA, Kickboxing)
(Kilohana Carriage House, Lihue, Kauai)
1/8/11
Hawaii Toughman
(Kickboxing)
(Hilo Civic Center, Hilo)
2010
12/17/10
Destiny & 808 Battleground
All or Nothing - Champion vs Champion
(MMA)
(Dole Cannery Ballroom)
12/3/10
Mad Skills
(Kickboxing)
(Filcom Center, Waipahu)
11/27/10
Aloha
State BJJ Championships: Final Conflict
(BJJ & Sub Grappling)
(Kaiser H.S. Gym)
11/6/10
X-1 Island Pride
(MMA)
(Blaisdell Arena)
Man Up & Stand Up Kickboxing Championship
(Kickboxing)
(Filcom Center, Waipahu)
10/30/10
6th Annual Clinton A.J. Shelton Memorial Match Event
(Boxing)
(Palolo District Park Gym, Honolulu)
10/29/10
808Battleground
(MMA)
(Dole Cannery Ballroom, Honolulu)
10/23/10
NAGA
Hawaii
(BJJ & Sub Grappling)
(Radford H.S. Gym)
10/15-17/10
ETERNAL SUBMISSIONS: GI/NO-GI tournament
(BJJ & Sub Grappling)
(Kauai Beach Resort, Kauai)
10/16/10
DESTINY: Undisputed
Beyer vs Manners II
(MMA)
(Waipahu Filcom Center, Waipahu)
Just Scrap
(MMA)
(Hilo Civic Auditorium, Hilo)
10/2/10
Mad Skills
(Kickboxing)
(Filcom Center, Waipahu)
9/11/10
X-1: Heroes
(MMA, Kickboxing)
(Blaisdell Arena)
9/10/10
Man Up & Stand Up
(Kickboxing)
(Filcom Center, Waipahu)
9/4/10
DESTINY:New Era
(MMA, Kickboxing)
(Waipahu Filcom Center, Waipahu)
8/28/10
Big
Island Open
(BJJ)
(Hilo Armory, Hilo)
8/14/10
Hawaiian
Open Championships of BJJ
(BJJ & No Gi)
(Kaiser H.S. Gym)
USA Amateur Boxing
(Boxing)
(Lihue Convention Hall, Lihue, Kauai)
8/13/10
Battleground Challenge 2
(MMA)
(Dole Cannery Ballroom)
8/7/10
Just Scrap
(MMA)
(Hilo Civic Auditorium, Hilo)
8/6/10
Mad Skills
(Triple Threat/Kickboxing)
(Waipahu Filcom Center)
7/24/10
The Quest for Champions 2010 Martial Arts Tournament
(Sport-Pankration, Submission Grappling & Continuous Sparring)
(St. Louis High School Gym)
7/17/10
Maui Jiu-Jitsu Open
(BJJ & No Gi)
(Maui War Memorial, Wailuku, Maui)
Mad Skillz
(Kickboxing, Triple Threat)
(99 Market Shopping Center, Mapunapuna)
7/9/10
Man Up & Stand Up
(Kickboxing)
(Filcom Center, Waipahu)
7/3/10
Amateur Boxing
(Boxing)
(Palolo District Park Gym)
6/26/10
Kauai Cage Match 9
(MMA)
(Kilohana, Gaylords Mansion, Kauai)
6/25-26/10
50th
State BJJ Championships
(BJJ)
(50th State Fair,
Aloha Stadium)
6/24/10
Quest for Champions
(Kumite/Grappling)
(St. Louis High School Gym)
6/19/10
Just Scrap
(MMA)
(Hilo Civic Center, Hilo)
6/18-19/10
Select
Combat
(Triple Threat)
(50th State Fair,
Aloha Stadium)
6/12/10
Destiny: Fury
(MMA)
(Blaisdell Center)
6/11-13/10
MMA Hawaii Expo
(Blaisdell Ballroom)
6/11-12/10
3rd
Annual Pacific Submission Championships
(BJJ & Submission Grappling)
(Blaisdell Exhibition Hall)
6/11/10
Legacy Combat MMA
(MMA)
(Blaisdell Exhibition Hall)
6/4/10
X-1:
Nations Collide
(MMA)
(Blaisdell Arena)
6/3-6/10
World
Jiu-Jitsu Championships
(BJJ)
(The Pyramid, University of California at Long Beach, Long Beach,
CA)
5/22/10
Destiny
(MMA)
(Waiphau Filcom Center)
5/15/10
Scrappla Fest 2
Relson Gracie KTI Jiu-Jitsu Tournament
(BJJ & Sub Grappling)
(Island School, Kauai)
X-1 World Events
(MMA)
(Waipahu HS Gym)
Mad Skills
(Kickboxing)
(Waipahu Filcom Center)
Boxing Event
(Boxing)
(Evolution Training Center, Waipio Industrial Court #110)
5/1/10
Galaxy
MMA: Worlds Collide
(MMA)
(Blaisdell Arena)
4/28/10
Chris Smith BJJ Tournament
(BJJ)
(Hilo)
4/23/10
2010 Hawaii State/Regional Junior Olympic Boxing Championships
(Boxing)
(Palolo District Park Gym)
4/17/10
Hawaiian
Championships of BJJ
(BJJ & Sub Grappling)
(Kaiser
H.S. Gym)
Strikeforce:
Shields vs Henderson
(CBS)
4/16/10
808 Battleground
(Waipahu Filcom Center)
4/8-11/10
Pan
Jiu-Jitsu Championships
(BJJ)
(University California Irvine, Irvine, CA)
4/3/10
Man Up & Stand Up
(Kickboxing)
(Waipahu Filcom Center)
Amateur Boxing Smoker
(Boxing)
(Palolo District Park Gym)
3/27/10
DESTINY: No Ka Oi 2: Oahu vs Maui
(MMA)
(Maui War Memorial Gym, Wailuku, Maui)
3/20/10
X-1: Champions 2
(MMA)
(Blaisdell Arena)
3/20/10
Hawaiian Championships of BJJ
(BJJ & Sub Grappling)
(Kaiser H.S. Gym)
3/14/10
Hawaiian Kimono Combat
(BJJ)
(PCHS Gym)
3/10/10
Sera's Kajukenbo Tournament
(Kumite, Katas, Grappling)
(Maui War Memorial Gym, Wailuku, Maui)
3/6/10
Destiny Fast N Furious
(MMA)
(Level 4 RHSC)
2/19/10
808 Battleground
(MMA)
(Filcom, Waipahu)
2/6/10
UpNUp 6: Unstoppable
(MMA)
(Maui War Memorial Gym, Wailuku, Maui)
2/5/10
Man Up & Stand Up
(Kickboxing)
(Waipahu Filcom)
1/30/10
Destiny
(Level 4,
Royal HI Shopping Ctr)
(MMA)
Quest for Champions
(Pankration/Sub Grappling)
(Kalani HS)
1/23/10
Kauai Knockout Championship Total Domination
(MMA & Kickboxing)
(Kauai War Memorial Convention Center, Lihue, Kauai)
1/17/10
X1: Showdown In Waipahu
(Boxing, Kickboxing, MMA)
(Waipahu H.S. Gym)
|
|
January
2011 News Part 1
|
Casca Grossa Jiu-Jitsu
is now the O2 Martial Arts Academy with 7 days a week training!
We are also offering Kali-Escrima (stick fighting) on Monday
nights with Ian Beltran & Erwin Legaspi.
Kickboxing Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday with Kaleo Kwan, PJ
Dean, & Chris Slavens!
Kids Classes are also
available!
Click
here for info!
Take classes from
the Onzuka brothers in a family-like environment! |
Onzuka.com
Hawaii Underground Forum is Online!
Chris, Mark,
and I wanted to start an official Onzuka.com forum for a while
now. We were searching for the best forum to go with and hit
a gold mine! We have known Kirik, who heads the largest and most
popular forum on the net, The Underground for years.
He
offered us our own forum within the matrix know as MMA.tv. The
three of us will be the moderators with of course FCTV808 being
the lead since he is on there all day anyway!
We
encourage everyone from Hawaii and our many readers around world
to contribute to the Hawaii Underground.
If you
do not have a login, it's simple and fast to get one.
Click here to set up an account.
Don't worry about using Pidgin English in the posting. After
all it is the Hawaii Underground and what is a Hawaii Underground
without some Aloha and some Pidgin?
To
go directly to the Onzuka.com Hawaii Underground Forum
click here!
|
Want
to Advertise on Onzuka.com?
Click here for pricing and more
information!
Short term and long term advertising available.
More than
1 million hits and counting!
|
O2
Martial Arts Academy
Your Complete Martial Arts School!
Click here for pricing and more
information!
O2 Martial Arts features Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu taught by Relson
Gracie Black Belts Chris and Mike Onzuka and Shane Agena 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 champions Kaleo Kwan
and 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.
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!
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!
|
Want to Contact
Us? Shoot us an email by Clicking Here!
Follow O2 Martial Arts news via Twitter at:
http://www.twitter.com/O2MAA
Anthony
Pettis Will Fight Again Instead of Waiting for Edgar or Maynard
The
draw between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard at UFC 125 will mean
a trilogy between the two lightweight competitors will happen
in 2011, but it also means the last WEC champion Anthony Pettis
is left out of the title picture for the time being.
Now
it appears Pettis will not wait around for a title shot, and
will fight again before challenging Edgar or Maynard.
Mike
Roberts of MMA Inc., Pettis’ management company, told MMAWeekly.com
on Friday that Pettis would be returning to the cage instead
of sitting out for nearly a year to wait for a title shot.
“Anthony
was obviously disappointed in not getting the title shot, but
he also understands why Dana made that decision,” Roberts
said. “After consulting with Anthony and Duke Roufus, we
collectively decided that it would be in Anthony’s best
interest to take a fight in the meantime.
“A
10-month or possible year layoff was just too long. We believe
with a win against a top lightweight contender Anthony will still
get the title shot later in the year”.
Pettis
defeated Ben Henderson at WEC 53 to close out that promotion
in December, and was slated to face the winner of Edgar and Maynard,
but a draw put that on hold.
Pettis
looks to return to the cage, likely in the first half of 2011,
to keep busy then challenge either Edgar or Maynard if he can
stay on a winning path.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Matt
Hamill vs. Phil Davis On Tap for UFC 129 in Toronto
A
pair on NCAA champions are on a collision course for UFC 129
as Phil Davis and Matt Hamill have agreed to meet in Toronto
as a part of the star studded show coming to Ontario on April
30.
The
fight was confirmed to MMAWeekly.com by sources close to the
match-up on Friday, with bout agreements issued for the April
contest.
Matt
Hamill (10-2) has proven to not only be one of the most inspirational
fighters in the UFC, but also one of the top rising stars. From
his start on “The Ultimate Fighter Season 3,” Hamill
has always been a tough competitor, and recently he’s begun
his climb up the light heavyweight ladder.
Hamill
dispatched of former TUF coach Tito Ortiz in his last fight,
and he’ll look to continue his five-fight win streak when
he returns in April.
Opposing
Hamill in April will be former NCAA wrestling champion Phil Davis
(8-0), who will be making his return to action after a dominant
performance at UFC 123 in Detroit.
The
Penn State alum has looked very impressive throughout his four
fights with the UFC, but his fight in April against Hamill will
be by far his toughest.
The
bout between Davis and Hamill is the latest fight confirmed for
what is expected to be a stacked show for UFC 129 including the
main event pitting Georges St-Pierre in a title fight against
No. 1 contender Jake Shields.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Aldo
expect return in March to UFC
WEC’s
champion, and now UFC’s champion, José Aldo would
make his debut on Ultimate on the 1st day of January, on UFC
125, but a back injury obligated him to cancel his participation
on the show. Focused on his recovery process, the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
black belt from Nova União believes that within a month
he’ll be 100% to return to the trainings and that in March
he’ll be able to do his first title defense on his new home.
On an exclusive interview given to TATAME, Aldo talked abut his
recovery, analyzed the defeat of Josh Grispi, who would be his
opponent, to Poirier o UFC 125, and the anxiety of coming back
to the rings. Check it here below.
How
is your recovery process going? How do you feel now?
Thanks
God everything’s going Just fine, i’m doing all the
treatment, I’m focused on my phisiotherapy and I’m
sure everything’s going to be ok.
When
do you think you’ll be back?
I
was supposed to do my first belt defense, but unfortunately I
couldn’t do it, but I believe that within a month I’ll
be 100%. I believe that in March I’ll be ready to defend
my belt for the first time, but I’m still only doing physiotherapy.
You’d
confront Josh Grispi, who was defeated by Dustin Poirier. Do
you believe that after this defeat, the natural course is for
you to confront Poirier?
Now
I know it won’t happen, I don’t know who my opponent
will be. With this defeat of Grispi, I have no idea of who it’ll
be, there’ll be an event now on January 22nd, so let’s
wait for it.
Were
you surprised by Grispi’s loss?
Yes,
I was. I hoped that he won. He had been defeated only once before
that and I’d seen his bouts on WEC and he always have doe
good presentations, but that’s it, each fight is unique
and now let’s wait to see who my next opponent will be.
What
changes with the growth of the competitors on the dispute for
the belt after the fusion between UFC and WEC?
For
me it won’t change a thing, I keep doing my job the same
way, my days are the same they were when I fought o WEC, what
have changed is the name. Before it was WEC and now it’s
UFC and I try to see it that way so I can move on with my career.
Are
you anxious for your first belt defense on UFC?
I
was much more anxious, because I would fight in January, but
I had to cancel it… Now I’m cooler with it, relaxed,
just waiting for them to schedule my first belt defense on UFC.
How
is your team dealing with the loss and the lost of the belt of
Marlon Sandro on Sengoku?
I
was really sad, but was last year and I’m sure there’re
many good things reserved for him. He’s my brother, a guy
who has always been there for me on the trainings and seeing
him loosing the belt that way, fighting while hurt and against
Dedé’s (Pederneira) will… He decided to fight,
just like me, but he was a warrior, accepted the commitment and
made a decision that was bad for him, but that’s a part
of an athlete’s life and he’ll learn from it and it
doesn’t end there. Nova União is very sad and I’m
waiting for him to come back so that I can talk to him to know
about this decision of fighting with a injured had, but we’ll
support him and I’m sure he’ll make a good comeback.
How
did you see the debut of your training partner, Diego Nunes,
with a win over Mike Brow, who you’ve beaten on WEC?
I
see it with great eyes since he’s a top athlete and deserved
that position a long time ago. He went there and fought Brown,
who’s a great fighter, and now he just have to keep doing
things right on his career and have a title shot… Actually
I don’t know how it’ll be because he’s my training
partner and if one day I lose my belt I wish he gets it back
because he’s a part of my team and he’s also my brother.
What
are the expectations of Nova União to 2011? How many belts
do you hope that your team conquest this year?
I
hope many, right? 2010 was great, but we already have this year
planed. When Dedé comes back from his trip we’ll
talk and see what are the goals for 2011 and I’m sure everything’s
going to be fine, I believe I’ll defend my belt, that Renan
Barão is on his way for a title shot and that Marlon has
the ability of regaining his belt bacl. O Shooto we’ll win
it all too and we’ll try to keep Nova União on the
top of the world.
Source: Tatame
|
Rani
Yahya awaits opponent for UFC debut
Coming
off two losses, Rani Yahya is getting ready to make his UFC debut
at Fight Night 23 against South Korea’s Chan Sung Jung.
However, the black belt and winner of major grappling competitions
like the ADCC now awaits a different opponent.
According
to MMAJunkie.com, the “Korean Zombie” was injured and
pulled from the bout. At a time when losing may cost UFC fighters
their jobs, winning is of the utmost importance to the Brazilian.
The
event, set to take place January 22 in Texas, will also feature
the promotional debut of Shooto champion Willamy Chiquerim and
a matchup with stalwart lightweight Melvin Guillard.
Check
out the card:
UFC
Fight Night 23: UFC Fight for the Troops 2
Killeen, Texas, USA
January 22, 2011
Evan
Dunham vs. Melvin Guillard
Tim
Hague vs. Matt Mitrione
Mark
Hominick vs. George Roop
Pat
Barry vs. Joey Beltran
Cole
Miller vs. Matt Wiman
Yves
Edwards vs. Cody McKenzie
Mike
Guymon vs. DaMarques Johnson
Willamy
“Chiquerim” Freire vs. Waylon Lowe
Amilcar
Alves vs. Charlie Brenneman
Chris
Cariaso vs. Will Campuzano
Rani
Yahya vs. to be defined
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
Bellator
Makes Hornbuckle, Hawn, and Weedman Official For Season 4 Welterweights
Bellator
Fighting Championships MMA LogoAnother welterweight tournament
is quickly becoming one of the focal points of Bellator’s
fourth season in operation.
Built
primarily on its multi-event, tournament format, Season 4 will
introduce the third edition of Bellator’s 170-pound bracket,
searching for a contender to current champion Ben Askren.
Lyman
Good became the first Bellator welterweight champion, winning
the inaugural tournament. Askren then won the Season 2 tournament,
making him the top contender to Good’s belt. The two fought
in Season 3, Askren obviously coming out on top.
Bellator
has slowly been releasing names of its official welterweight
tournament fighters for Season 4, shedding light on three as
of Friday.
One
of the promotion’s top talents in the weight class, Dan
Hornbuckle, will return for the latest edition. He made it all
the way to the Season 2 final before losing to Askren, a man
he’d like another shot at.
Joining
Hornbuckle in the brackets so far are former Olympic Judoka Rick
Hawn, who is undefeated at 9-0, and Brent Weedman, a veteran
who has earned his slot with three first-round victories under
the Bellator banner.
Other
participants expected for the tournament, but not officially
announced by Bellator, are UFC veteran Jay Hieron, Chris Lozano,
Lyman Good, Jim Wallhead, and Steve Carl.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Tim
Kennedy Looks to Return to Strikeforce for March 5 Card in Ohio
Tim
Kennedy is ready to get back in the cage and fight again, and
it appears he will get his wish when Strikeforce comes to Ohio
on March 5.
The
Texas based fighter broke the news when speaking with MMAWeekly
Radio on Thursday night.
“I
think the February card is going to be an all heavyweight card,
so I’m not a heavyweight, I’ve fought at heavyweight,
but that would be a bad idea. I think I’m going to stay
down at 185 right now and so that looks like maybe March for
me. They hit me up and told me to be ready, so I’m training
my butt off,” Kennedy said.
He
was rumored to fight on the upcoming Jan. 29 card in San Jose,
Calif., and while he admits that Strikeforce did contact him
about a possible bout on the card, nothing ever came together.
The
last time Kennedy stepped into the Strikeforce cage was in a
title fight against Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza in 2010.
He’s been chomping at the bit to get back in there ever
since.
While
no opponents have been named, Kennedy is up for whatever challenge
Strikeforce puts in front of him.
“I
want to fight good guys,” said Kennedy. “There’s
guys like Robbie Lawler. He’s a guy that’s always been
just outside of my radar, but I think that would be a super exciting
match-up between us. Benji Radach, he was the champ in the IFL.
I was 3-0 in the IFL, undefeated. We always thought we would
fight and it never happened so I’m always looking at him.
I’m going crazy to get back in the ring with Jacare. I want
another five rounds there.”
Jacare
and Lawler are scheduled to meet on Jan. 29 with the middleweight
title up for grabs, so it’s not likely either of them would
be able to fight in March. Kennedy is definitely gearing up for
that date, however, and will be heading to New Mexico next week
to begin work with Team Greg Jackson.
In
a perfect world, Kennedy does have his eye on one fight in particular
for the March card. A third fight against Jason “Mayhem”
Miller would fit the bill just right, according to him.
“I
wouldn’t say no to anybody, but I would definitely say yes
with an exclamation mark to that fight,” Kennedy said about
a fight against Miller.
Kennedy
and Miller have fought twice already with each fighter taking
home a win, and a rubber match seems in order at some point,
March or otherwise.
For
now, Kennedy will head to New Mexico to amp up his training and
wait for the call from Strikeforce to tell him who he’ll
be facing in Ohio.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Couture
coming to T.O.
TORONTO
-- Randy (The Natural) Couture is coming to Toronto.
UFC
president Dana White confirmed to The Canadian Press that the
UFC Hall of Famer will take on former light-heavyweight champion
Lyoto (The Dragon) Machida at UFC 129 in Toronto's Rogers Centre
on April 30.
The
main event of the card, the UFC's first in Toronto, features
welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre and Jake Shields.
The 47-year-old Couture (19-10), a former light-heavyweight and
heavyweight champion, is coming off a first-round submission
win over former world champion boxer James Toney at UFC 118 in
Boston in August.
The
32-year-old Machida (16-2) last fought at UFC 123 in November,
when he lost a narrow split decision to Quinton (Rampage) Jackson.
NOTES
-- The UFC cautions those wanting tickets for the Toronto show
to be wary of websites from independent ticket brokers already
advertising tickets. "These sites are bogus as the on-sale
has not yet started. We hope to announce the date of the on-sale
in the weeks to come," said a UFC Canada spokesman.
Source: Sportsnet.ca
|
Scott
Coker discusses details of Strikeforce Heavyweight Tournament
Posted
By Joey
Santosus Strikeforce News
With
the recent confirmation of the Strikeforce Grand Prix Heavyweight
Tournament and the re-signing of Fedor Emelianenko, CEO Scott
Coker has began rolling out his plans for 2011. The participants
have been named and the bracket is set, however Coker acknowledges
there are issues yet to be addressed.
The
major question surrounds the division champ Alistair Overeem's
participation and whether or not the title will be on the line.
"Right
now, Alistair Overeem is the Strikeforce heavyweight champion,"
Coker explained. "That's something we can answer tomorrow,
because what we're trying to do is clear it with the commissions
to allow the fighters to fight more than three rounds outside
of the title. The rules of MMA now say a five-round fight has
to be a championship fight, and so we're working on that. Hopefully
we'll have an answer soon on that."
There
is also the on-going licensing issues that Barnett has encountered
after being denied by the CSAC in 2009 for failing a required
drug screening. Coker, however, did not seem discouraged.
"We've
talked to four athletic commissions that will license him with
a clean test. We feel confident that won't be an issue. Keep
in mind Josh Barnett went to Sacramento six weeks ago, took a
test and was clean. He hasn't fought for a year-and-a-half in
America. He still has issues in California, so his fight won't
be in California, but Josh has moved on, and we're moving on,
too. He's been out of the fight business in America for 18 months.
I think he's served his time."
After
a lackluster 2010, the Strikeforce Heavyweight division seemed
to lose momentum as the UFC's was at an all time high. However,
with the UFC champ currently sidelined for much of the year,
leaving the division at a stand-still, it appears Strikeforce
is primed to prove its worth in 2011.
"To
me the fans are always going to think what they want. I've always
known we have the best heavyweight division in mixed martial
arts. I had this in my back pocket. I don't really gauge what's
going out in the viral world, the virtual world. I just know
that this is a special moment in time. All these heavyweight
fighters are here and in their youth, young enough to compete
at high levels. We're going to let them all fight each other,
and this is the best way to do it."
Source: Low Kick
|
Reports:
Chael Sonnen pleads guilty to money laundering ; TMZ says UFC
’suspends’ him
By Zach
Arnold
Here
we go with this report from The West Linn Tidings. Justin Klein,
The Fight Lawyer, elaborates. Here’s the golden press release
from The Justice Department (thanks to MMA Nation).
This
is the matter that Sonnen was referring to in his interview with
Mike Straka right after he had his December 2nd appeals meeting
with the California State Athletic Commission.
“Well,
you know, dealing with the commission… the commission’s
a pretty small entity, but a commission has a lot of power over
a guy like me. Uh… I haven’t really dealt with this
matter until today. I had a team of lawyers. I’ve been dealing
with, uh, the Federal Government, uh, all the way dating back
almost five years ago, interfered with a campaign I had for public
office, so that’s where my attention has been. I’m
getting real close to, uh, reaching a deal with the Federal Government
on that issue, but that’s where my focus has been. The lawyers
handle things and business went well today.”
In
essence, the reports claim that Sonnen was dealing with charges
revolving around mortgage fraud. The Columbian newspaper in Vancouver,
Washington (right next to Portland) claims that Lighthouse Financial
Group was involved. Read The Columbian report for the full details
on the case.
This
report claims that he will receive two years of probation.
Here’s
a simple graphic for you to look at regarding the legal case
being made.
Update:
TMZ says UFC has ’suspended’ Sonnen. Love the fact
that you can ’suspend’ an independent contractor and
treat him like an employee without the benefits
Source: Fight Opinion
|
Fighter
Breakdown - Evan Dunham
Thomas Gerbasi
Fresh from a breakout year rising lightweight star Evan Dunham
begins his 2011 campaign at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas in the
UFC Fight for the Troops 2 main event against Melvin Guillard.
Fresh from a breakout year in which he defeated Efrain Escudero
and Tyson Griffin before losing a controversial split decision
to former champion Sean Sherk, rising lightweight star Evan Dunham
begins his 2011 campaign at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas in the
UFC Fight for the Troops 2 main event against Melvin Guillard.
For
the 29-year old native of Eugene, Oregon, the bout is an opportunity
to make a statement to the division that he’s ready to be
included in the conversation when it comes to the 155-pound title
picture, and given his past five fights in the Octagon, he’s
right on schedule for such a statement.
So
how did Dunham get here? Read on for a recap of his UFC career
thus far.
UFC
95 – February 21, 2009 - KO1 Per Eklund
Unbeaten
in seven pro fights, Dunham entered the UFC with little fanfare,
even having to travel to London, England to step into the Octagon
for the first time. But as the bout approached, hardcore fan
anticipation began to rise thanks to some heated trash talk from
Eklund, whose previous two UFC fights saw him compile a 1-1 record.
Dunham, as is his custom, kept his cool, saving his talk for
the fight, where he blasted Eklund out in less than three minutes.
What
He Said: “I had heard about it (Eklund’s pre-fight
verbal attacks), but I just look at it as him trying to pump
the fight up. Since it was in Europe, I’m sure he was gonna
have lots of fans, so I think he was just trying to bring in
more people to watch him. I do think he underestimated my skills
to a certain degree, which was fine. It’s not the first
time that somebody’s talked a bunch of junk before a fight,
and I don’t think about it because they can talk all they
want, we’re still gonna fight.”
What
We Said: Unbeaten Evan Dunham made the most of his opportunity
to step in for injured David Baron UFC 95 on short notice, knocking
out Swedish veteran Per Eklund in the first round of their lightweight
bout.
Dunham
struck first and fast, hurting Eklund with a left to the head.
Dunham pounced with a guillotine choke, but Eklund got loose
and recovered, later pulling guard when the two stood. After
the two stood, Eklund landed thudding shots to the head, but
the Oregonian walked right through them, eventually getting his
shot in, a straight left that dropped the Stockholm product hard
to the mat. The follow-up barrage was a formality, with referee
Marc Goddard halting the bout at the 2:14 mark.
What
It Meant: Despite being a preliminary fight, Dunham got some
welcome television exposure as his KO win was aired on Spike
TV after a quick finish to the Dan Hardy-Rory Markham main card
bout. In addition, defeating a respected veteran who had more
than twice as many fights was a feather in Dunham’s cap
and marked him immediately as a fighter to watch.
UFC
102 – August 29, 2009 – W3 Marcus Aurelio
Six
months after the Eklund bout, Dunham was thrown back into the
fire against another seasoned vet in Marcus Aurelio. Even more
significant for Dunham was that he was fighting at home in Oregon
and pitting his jiu-jitsu skills against one of the top black
belts in the game. A trial to test the prospect? Absolutely.
But he passed with flying colors as he delivered a hard-fought
decision win.
What
He Said: “I think it’s a great thing to test and see
where I’m at against high-level jiu-jitsu players. I embrace
the competition, but I don’t let it change anything. If
the knockout presents itself, I’m sure gonna go for it.
However, I’m confident that I can also pull off a submission
if the opportunity arises. Every fight I go into, I just look
to break my opponent down, and capitalize when he makes a mistake.”
What
We Said: Unbeaten Eugene, Oregon native Evan Dunham got the evening
off to a good start for the local boys, pounding out a three
round split decision over Marcus Aurelio in an entertaining lightweight
bout.
Scores
were 30-27, 29-28, and 28-29 for Dunham.
“I
knew he’s never been finished, so I knew the fight would
go on,” said Dunham. “I love fighting in Portland.
The fans were great.”
Amped
up by fighting in front of his home state fans, Dunham came out
fast, peppering Aurelio with quick 1-2s from long range and following
up with shorter power shots at close range. Midway through the
round, Dunham dropped Aurelio with a left hand, but the Brazilian
grappling ace was able to weather the follow-up assault. Once
standing, Aurelio tried to even the score, but the faster Dunham
made sure he was gone before anything got close, and his takedown
defense kept Aurelio at bay as well for the rest of the round.
Dunham’s
strategy remained unchanged in round two, but early on Aurelio
was able to get the hometown favorite to the canvas, where he
looked to turn the tide. Dunham got back to his feet a short
time later, and though he caught a couple wide shots from Aurelio,
he was unfazed by the haymakers, and Aurelio was looking weary
in the final two minutes as Dunham mixed kicks into his attack.
Trying
to turn things around, Aurelio got the fight to the mat in the
third, and though Dunham’s ground defense was solid, “Maximus”
kept pushing for the submission, eventually locking in a guillotine
choke. After some tense moments for the Oregon fans, Dunham escaped
and the two exchanged takedowns. With a minute left, Aurelio
again looked for the takedown, but Dunham fought it off and ended
the bout with some crisp strikes until the final bell sounded.
What
It Meant: Dunham’s talent is undeniable, but everyone in
the UFC has talent. What separates the haves from the have nots
is often the ability to perform under situations that would break
average fighters. Dunham did this by shaking off the pressure
of fighting at home and by matching his skills against a jiu-jitsu
ace like Aurelio and finding a way to win.
UFC
Fight Night – January 11, 2010 – Wsub3 Efrain Escudero
One
of the things that have allowed the UFC to build its popularity
among combat sports fans over the years is that you will see
top prospects matched up against each other on a regular basis,
something that is practically non-existent in boxing these days.
On this night in Virginia, Dunham matched wits and fists with
fellow unbeaten Efrain Escudero, The Ultimate Fighter season
eight winner and a favorite in the bout. It was an exciting back
and forth bout, but in the end, it was Dunham pulling out the
win.
What
He Said: “Honestly, in that fight, going into the third
round, I felt that I had broken Escudero. I knew he gave me the
best he had and I was still right in front of him. I think I
pretty much got the second round and ended on top, socking him
up, and I knew I had broken him. So it was just a matter of me
stepping up and going in there and getting the job done. It was
actually very rejuvenating and at the beginning of the third
round, I felt great and ready to go.”
What
We Said: Unbeaten but unheralded Evan Dunham scored the biggest
win of his young UFC career Monday night at the Patriot Center,
moving to 3-0 in the organization with a come from behind third
round submission victory over The Ultimate Fighter season eight
winner Efrain Escudero, who suffered his first pro defeat in
the UFC Fight Night co-feature.
The
fight started at a fast pace, but neither fighter landed anything
of consequence. That all changed in the second half of the frame,
when a knee to the head by Escudero rocked Dunham. The Oregon
prospect looked to clear his head, but Escudero kept firing off
punches, eventually dropping his foe with a right hand. Escudero
went in to finish, but Dunham recovered quickly and almost locked
up a triangle choke. Escudero got free and responded with a guillotine
attempt, but that was foiled as well.
Dunham
began to find his range with his own strikes in the second round,
and he kept tagging Escudero as he waded in. With a little over
two minutes left, Dunham scored a takedown and then added more
points with ground strikes before getting Escudero’s back
in the final minute, capping off a huge round with more punches.
With
the bout up for grabs, Dunham came out fast for the final round,
maybe a little too fast, as he got caught in a guillotine choke.
After some tense moments, Dunham escaped, the two rose, and Dunham
got a takedown. Escudero tried to escape, but Dunham wasn’t
about to let him free, eventually locking in a tight armbar.
Escudero tried to find his way free, but it wasn’t happening,
and he was forced to tap out at 1:59 of the final round.
What
It Meant: It’s the old hammer and the nail adage, and despite
getting the worst of things in the first round, Dunham showed
the heart of a champion by clearing his head and coming back
in rounds two and three, finishing the bout off in the final
frame with an armbar that earned him Submission of the Night
honors.
UFC
115 – June 12, 2010 – W3 Tyson Griffin
One
of the first half of 2010’s most highly anticipated bouts,
Dunham had to alter his training camp and schedule to face his
Xtreme Couture teammate Tyson Griffin. It could have been a recipe
for disaster to have his entire schedule thrown into disarray,
but Dunham took it in stride like a pro (are you noticing a theme
here?), and he delivered on fight night via three round split
decision.
What
He Said: “We both trained with each other and are familiar
with each other,” he said. “I plan on going back to
Xtreme after this fight, but it’s not one of these things
where Tyson and I have been training partners for five or six
years or anything like that. We’ve had lots of battles in
the gym and we know each other fairly well stylistically, and
there is a bit of the teammate versus teammate stuff, but we
haven’t really trained together at all recently, so I’m
sure there will be a couple new surprises.”
What
We Said: The wins keep getting bigger and bigger for rising lightweight
star Evan Dunham, who kept his perfect record intact Saturday
night at General Motors Place with a three round split decision
win over highly-regarded contender Tyson Griffin in UFC 115 prelim
action.
Scores
were 30-27, 29-28, and 28-29 for Dunham, who improves to 11-0;
Griffin falls to 14-3. The two previously trained together at
Las Vegas’ Xtreme Couture gym.
After
a tentative opening, Dunham looked to take Griffin to the mat,
but with an incredible display of balance, the Sacramento native
hopped around on one leg, cracking Dunham with a right hand the
whole way until his foe let go of his other leg. The exchange
got both fighters in gear, and they traded solid punches and
kicks, with Dunham holding the edge from long range, where he
could use his height and reach advantage. With under two minutes
left, Dunham was able to get Griffin to the mat, and he got his
hooks in while looking for the rear naked choke. Griffin’s
defense was solid, and he still found the room to score with
some punches to the face before the round ended.
In
the first minute of round two, it was Griffin looking to take
the fight to the mat, and he did, pulling guard while trying
to sink in a guillotine choke. Dunham easily escaped and began
working for a choke of his own before Griffin broke loose and
they both stood. A Dunham takedown followed a few moments later,
and he was able to take Griffin’s back a second time. Griffin’s
defense was solid and he was able to rise to his feet with Dunham
still on his back, but he was unable to shake the Oregon native,
even after a forward slam to the mat.
Griffin
and Dunham began the final round trading punches, much to the
delight of the crowd. After a minute of standup, Griffin shot
for the takedown but was turned back, and Dunham scored with
two kicks before getting his opponent’s back yet again.
Griffin’s response was identical to that of the round before,
as he stood up and tried to shake Dunham. Dunham wasn’t
budging though as he tried to get in the finishing choke. It
didn’t happen, but his control throughout earned him the
victory, his first since a January submission win over Efrain
Escudero and fourth in the UFC.
What
It Meant: In terms of significance, the victory was a big one
for Dunham’s career, and while it won’t go into his
time capsule for excitement, a win’s a win, and Dunham’s
ability to grind out a win over a tough opponent and a friend
spoke volumes.
UFC
119 – September 25, 2010 – L3 Sean Sherk
This
was going to be the test, a fight against a former world champion
and legitimate top-tier contender. And Dunham delivered on all
counts against Sean Sherk despite coming up on the short end
of a controversial three round split decision. And while Dunham
won’t claim any moral victories, anyone who saw the bout
certainly wouldn’t dub him the loser after the entertaining
Fight of the Night showdown.
What
He Said: “Sherk is a very tough and seasoned fighter, as
well as a former champ. I remember watching him fight before
I even started in the sport, so it is awesome that I get the
chance to fight him. I have a ton of respect for the guy, but
I know that with my work ethic and overall skills that I will
be the victor in this fight.”
What
We Said: Evan Dunham may have suffered his first pro loss via
split decision in an exciting 15 minute battle against former
Sean Sherk, but his stock only rose in defeat, as he fought through
a nasty cut over his right eye to almost finish the former UFC
lightweight champion several times before the final bell rang.
The
judges’ unpopular verdict read 29-28 twice and 28-29 for
Sherk, who improves to 38-4-1 in his first bout since May of
2009. Dunham falls to 11-1.
“I
knew I had the first round, the second round was close, the third
round was close,” said Sherk. “I felt it could have
gone either way.”
Most
in attendance booed the decision, letting it be known which way
they wanted it to go, but what wasn’t in question was the
high-level display of mixed martial arts and heart both 155-pounders
showed over three fast-paced rounds.
Sherk
reintroduced himself to UFC fans in the first with one of his
trademark slams, but almost got caught in a guillotine choke
in the process. After a few tense moments, Sherk pulled himself
out and used some ground strikes until Dunham worked his way
back to his feet. Sherk sent him back to the mat again, but when
Dunham got up, he was pulling out all the stops for a submission,
and he almost caught the former champion again. But once Sherk
broke loose, he unleashed more furious ground strikes, with one
opening a cut over Dunham’s right eye.
Hoping
to not let the cut dictate the final result, Dunham came out
fast for round two, again almost catching Sherk in a guillotine
choke twice before ‘The Muscle Shark’ worked his way
free. With under two minutes left, the two traded blows standing,
and Dunham, blood staining his face, had success tagging his
opponent with punches, kicks and knees, earning him the round.
Dunham
opened the final frame by rocking Sherk with a shot to the head.
He rushed in for the finished, but Sherk quickly recovered and
bulled his foe into the fence. Dunham held his ground and got
free and when he did, he was able to continue tagging Sherk from
long range and in close. With under a minute left, Dunham staggered
Sherk with a knee, but instead of fading, Sherk fired back, and
the two went toe to toe until the bell, garnering a well-deserved
standing ovation.
What
It Meant: In spite of the final result, Dunham’s performance
against Sherk may have been his most impressive, as he pulled
off numerous submission attempts, displayed solid standup, and
showed no ill effects from dealing with a nasty cut over his
eye. In essence, it was a dress rehearsal for a future title
shot, and Dunham proved himself to be worthy of a starring role
and not just an understudy position. If he keeps getting better,
2011 should be an interesting year, to say the least.
Source: UFC
|
What
is it about Chael Sonnen?
Frustration is not the word. How many get out of jail cards does
this guy need? Chael Sonnen danced a promotional jig for his
fight with UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva in such a
way that would make Don King blush with pride. You have to hand
it to him, I was excited to the fight and I wanted Sonnen to
be victorious before they touched gloves. He pissed off everyone
he could, a true heal just like in the WWE and a lot of people
loved it.
Promotion
was done, and for 22 minutes of the title fight Sonnen was dominant,
until he tried to cheat his way out of the triangle choke by
way of quick tap. When you try under handed tactics like that,
your playing a 50 - 50 game at best, and it serves Sonnen right
for trying.
It
came out after that Sonnen tested positive during a post fight
drug test. I remember back at how disappointed I was when I heard
the news, possible outcomes raced through my mind and none had
a possitive outcome for the public image of the sport. There
has been drug cheats before, as with nearly every sport, the
difference being that the eyes of the world were on the UFC more
than ever due to the promotion of the fight.
Now
I hear about the legal implications that Sonnen is involved in
as a reslut of his real estate dealings of 2006. This might be
outside of the sport but every MMA outlet is reporting it, multiple
newspapers and it is making me sick. I am sick of loving Chael
Sonnen's in cage preformances and having to deal with the problems
that come after. It's like being with Megan Fox, walking her
down the red carpet and then realising your just being used as
a PR puppet. I know that there is going to be more dirty little
secrets, that Sonnen has tucked away. That's why he is a Republican
after all. For that reason I am no longer a fan. I am looking
at the bigger picture and if Chael Sonnen is there, it's never
going to be a good thing.
Sonnen
will come out in a few weeks, do a couple of interviews and try
to spin this like he is the victim just like before with the
steroids. I am begging you now, not to get involved in this propaganda
because it's just going to happen again.
Source: Sports By The Numbers
|
Expectations,
lessons, and goals of Rafa and Gui Mendes
by Graciemag
Newsroom
Two brothers who have stood out ever since the intermediary belts,
Rafael and Guilherme Mendes have already won all the most important
competitions at black belt. The talk of fans and always candidates
for titles, the Atos fighters sent GRACIEMAG.com the text below.
Get to know a bit about the duo and find out why success is a
constant with them.
“We’re
kicking off the year 2011 and we’ll work really hard so
that this year may be even better than the last, not just because
of the wins, but because of our conquests and personal evolution.”
“We
started practicing Jiu-Jitsu really young, when just 11 and 12
years old and, ever since, we’ve worked hard and dedicated
ourselves to becoming great athletes. But we don’t just
want to be victorious in the sport, we want to be victorious
in our lives, on and off the mats.”
“We quickly learned that the principle of evolution is to
get better with every second, every movement, so we can’t
wait around to be better tomorrow or next month. We need constant
evolution and this thought of always evolving keeps you from
going soft, keeps you from relaxing, it makes you always improve.
“We
know that for each objective to come true one needs a lot of
dedication, and we’re willing. Although we are young, we’re
focused and disciplined, and that provides us with a certain
ease in dealing with the privations and suffering behind each
victory. We know that each triumph, on or off the mat, each step
forward is just a rung we climb in making it to the top of the
‘great wall.’
“We
always expect a lot from ourselves, we demand a lot of ourselves.
We do not allow room for mistakes, no matter how much mistakes
teach us. We are extremely competitive and we believe that, even
being ‘extreme,’ that is what makes us strong and lifts
us up.
“Accepting defeat or failure is another very hard one to
deal with, we’re not the type to easily accept it, as we
know how much we have trained all these years, the dimensions
of our dedication and privation, and we always have the capacity
to be on the rung above. When you accept defeat, and it stops
being something awful or unable to chew, it becomes common in
life. So, when it happens, we must reflect and work really hard,
even more focused so that it does not happen again.
“Clearly
defeat happens to everyone, it would be silly to think otherwise,
but we always are at less risk of it if we did our work properly
and if our desire to not lose – not be beaten by anyone,
even by ourselves – is greater than our desire to win.
“When
we made it to black belt, around two years ago, we knew all the
hardships we would face. We knew we would need to be prepared
for much greater challenges than we were used to and that the
demands of us would be all the more intense. But knowing all
that, we were ready, our training became all the rougher, our
heads even more focused and our privations even greater. Today,
thanks to our efforts and our God, we have won all the major
tournaments the style has to offer. But that is not enough, at
least not for us.
“We don’t just want to be two more champions among
all the others out there, we want to make history, be examples
for our victorious careers and lives. So we have a long ways
to go, but we are very happy, as there are only two things we
are sure of: having God in our hearts and lives makes a lot of
difference, and the other is that we are on the right path.
“Best
regards to all, we wish you all the best in 2011!
“We’d
like to thank our sponsors for believing in us, our training
partners for making us better with every day, and our family
for the support. Thank you, God, for your blessings. Train hard,
dedicated yourself to the max, and have a lot of faith!”
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
Cain
Velasquez Goes For Surgery, Doesn’t Expect UFC To Wait For
Him
by Ken
Pishna
Cain Velasquez was on top of the world after defeating Brock
Lesnar at UFC 121 in October. And why wouldn’t he be? He
had just won the UFC heavyweight championship. He upped his professional
record to an unblemished 9-0.
Amped
up from his win, Velasquez was ready to surge ahead and take
on Junior Dos Santos, who had been waiting in the wings.
When the fan fare was over and things quieted down, however,
something wasn’t quite right, and Velasquez knew it.
“Later
than night, my body started cooling down and I felt my shoulder
was just jacked up,” he recounted, weeks later, prior to
UFC 125.
“I
went to the doctor and they said I have a partially torn rotator
cuff.”
Velasquez
knows that the injury occurred in the fight, but not when. He
is still unsure when it happened. Adrenaline coursing through
his veins, he never felt the injury as he was laying the smack
down on the former WWE superstar.
Rampant
speculation was that Velasquez would make the first defense of
his newly minted title at UFC 129 in Toronto, alongside UFC welterweight
champion Georges St-Pierre, who will defend his belt against
Jake Shields at the Rogers Centre.
But
as the weeks wore on, with no announcement forthcoming, Velasquez
finally revealed the extent of his injury, and the hard cold
fact that he will be out of commission for at least the next
six months.
“We
tried to rehab it first for six weeks,” said Velasquez,
hoping against hope that he could keep the fight with Dos Santos
intact. “Then, finally, when the six weeks was up, we did
another MRI. The muscle was still torn, so they said we have
to do the surgery.”
He
is expected to be out of commission anywhere from six to eight
months following surgery depending upon how fast he heals.
“I
definitely want to be as active as I can. It’s hard, but
it’s part of the territory. People get hurt all the time,”
said Velasquez, having no choice but to accept some down time.
Dos
Santos, however, does have a choice. His manager, Ed Soares,
told MMAWeekly.com when the injury was revealed that his client
doesn’t want to wait that long, and likely won’t wait.
Velasquez
understands, whether it is Dos Santos taking another fight while
he’s out, or if the UFC decides to institute an interim
heavyweight title.
“They
need to keep the fights going. They can’t wait around half
a year for fights,” Velasquez stated. “It doesn’t
offend me at all. When I’m ready, I’ll come back and
fight.”
Source: MMA Weekly
|
With
Help From UFC Champ, Daniel Cormier Readies for Strikeforce Big
Guns
By Mike
Chiappetta
The news of Strikeforce's upcoming heavyweight tournament was
a bombshell development for a company still working on prying
eyes from the UFC. And it's also a welcome scenario for the Strikeforce
athletes, who are well aware of the extra spotlight it is likely
to bring, even to fighters who are not part of the field.
One
such fighter who may receive added attention from it is Daniel
Cormier, an undefeated fighter who is among a group of rising
stars in Strikeforce's heavyweight ranks.
On
Friday night, Cormier (6-0) will face Devin Cole in a featured
bout on Showtime's Strikeforce Challenger series.
In
2010, Cormier fast-tracked his development, fighting five times.
In 2011, he hopes to take his career to the next level, fighting
some of Strikeforce's stars. A win over Cole, his most experienced
opponent at 18-8-1, may be the fight to get him there.
"I'm
constantly getting better, so I think I'm at a point in my career
where I'm going to be fighting the better guys here pretty soon,"
Cormier told MMA Fighting in a recent interview. "So I've
got to be constantly getting better in the gym. I've got to be
careful, to train every day and train hard. My preparation has
been good for Devin. Before I was just training to get better
and rounding out my game. But when I get an opponent, I can focus
on him."
Cormier,
a two-time U.S. wrestling Olympian, has made the transition to
MMA in a relatively smooth fashion, finishing all six of his
opponents inside of two rounds.
But
he says the move wasn't as smooth as his record indicates. After
his MMA debut in September 2009, Cormier wanted to get back in
the cage quickly, but was slowed down by his training staff at
American Kickboxing Academy.
He
quickly realized they were making the right move for him.
"In
the beginning, I wanted to fight all the time, but I wasn't good
enough," he said. "Like my first fight, it was just
bad. I wasn't good enough, so my guys at AKA wouldn't let me.
But now that I'm getting better, [trainer] Bob Cook is more comfortable
with me fighting more often. It's something I want to do. I like
it. In wrestling we competed a lot, and I want to take that approach.
Now, I'm getting better so I can do that more."
His
learning curve was helped along by the entire AKA team, but most
notably the man who recently captured the UFC heavyweight championship,
Cain Velasquez.
While
preparing to join the Strikeforce elite, Cormier has had the
good fortune of preparing with the UFC elite, including its heavyweight
kingpin. Needless to say, he learned a few things the hard way.
"I've
got to get better learning across the cage from Cain," he
said with a smile. "I've got to find confidence from that
to know I can get in there with anybody. When I go into the cage
now, I'm thinking, 'OK, this isn't Cain.' I go in there every
day and I spar with Cain Velasquez. This guy isn't Cain. I find
comfort in that, honestly. This guy is the UFC champion. He's
the No. 1 heavyweight in the world. So I think to myself, 'I'm
not fighting him, so why should I lose?' That's like my thing.
It's what I tell myself before I go fight. 'This ain't Cain.'"
Like
Cormier, Cole grew up on the wrestling mats, and he went on to
compete collegiately at Southern Oregon University, but no one
mistakes his resume with that of Cormier's.
Cormier
says the adjustment from wrestling takedowns to MMA takedowns
was one of mind set, saying, "it's almost like you have
to dumb it down a little bit," because most MMA fighters
are not high-level wrestlers. The focus, he says, needs to be
on timing even more than technique.
But
his greatest enjoyment has come from learning the striking portion
of the game. He says he didn't have a tough time learning how
to take a hit.
"I
grew up in Louisiana and I used to get beat up all the time.
That part came pretty naturally," he jokes.
All
of it, he hopes, has been a prelude to a long and successful
career. As a former Olympian, he has to believe that fights like
Cole have to be steps on the way to something bigger. Strikeforce
CEO Scott Coker told MMA Fighting that Cormier may have a chance
to be an alternate in the promotion's upcoming heavyweight tournament,
but even if he doesn't get that opportunity, Cormier feels like
he's fast on the way to sharing a cage with the Alistair Overeems,
Fedor Emelianenkos and Fabricio Werdums of the world.
"There's
no mid-tier," he said. "That's the thing about Strikeforce,
it's really a separation between these elite-level guys and then
us, the guys that are coming up. There's kind of no gatekeepers
to go through to get to that level. I think I'm getting on the
cusp of that where I'm one, maybe two fights away from being
in the thick of it, fighting against what I believe are some
of the best heavyweights in the world.
"I've
got to keep working in the gym," he continued. "It's
not going to come from in-cage experience. One day I'm going
to fight Devin Cole, and then six months later, I'm going be
standing across the cage from Brett Rogers or Josh Barnett. It's
not going to be learning on the job. I've got to get better with
learning across the cage from Cain. I've got to find confidence
from that to know I can get in there with anybody."
Source: MMA Fighting
|
MMA
Diet: The Introduction
by Cameron
Conaway
This series will not be yet another addition to the many fad
diets already out there. It will not push certain brands of supplements
or endorse any product at all. It will not prescribe a particularly
diet for a particular period of time. Instead, the MMA Diet series
will simply guide readers to make healthier choices by providing
simply stated, practical and immediately applicable nutritional
advice that is backed by modern-day science and pertains to the
unique nutritional demands of the mixed martial artist.
Many
MMA fighters struggle mightily with their food choices. They
take every precaution in training, they push themselves to their
physical limits and they research training routines and the credentials
of their conditioning coaches. They think hard on which fight
camp is best for them, on which weight class is best for their
bodies and their career, on how much time of each day should
be spent training (and on which facet of MMA?) and on resting.
They surround themselves with the best training partners they
can find. They fly to Rio de Janeiro to attend Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
seminars and they fly to Bangkok to develop a foundation in Muay
Thai. Their skills improve. Their strength and conditioning levels
improves. But could they be improving at greater speeds? Could
their improvements in skill and athleticism be coming at a detriment
to their health?
Eating
needs to be viewed as seriously as the MMA fighter’s time
in the squat rack or on the mat.
The
serious MMA fighter’s life revolves around MMA. This means
every variable of their life will be calculated in terms of how
it improves them as a fighter. Frank Shamrock said in an interview
that fighting is his religion. When he showers, when he brushes
his teeth, when he eats – his mind is often on what each
action means for improving his body as a fighter. The MMA fighter’s
diet is a huge part in the holistic approach to their overall
development. However, it’s also a part that often isn’t
given enough attention. The field of MMA nutrition contains so
much business-driven misinformation that it can be difficult
for a fighter to parse fact from fiction.
Where
do fighters turn for information on what to eat?
Eating
is such a large portion of the day, yet it’s rarely viewed
as “training” as is the act of sparring. Some athletes
have the finances to hire nutritional specialists to join their
elite team, but the everyday MMA fighter – this even includes
many fighters who are fighting in the UFC or Strikeforce –
are barely making enough money to support their career, their
families, their dojo, etc. Quite often, the nutritional information
they receive comes not from studied professionals, but from the
repetition of the many television commercials featuring muscular
star athletes sponsoring some supplement or meal plan. The sheer
repetition of commercials is meant to create a familiarity that
can become persuasive. The mixed martial artist will shell out
money for a container of some powdered concoction. They will
probably mix it with milk and use it as a way to quickly get
breakfast, but this habit can quickly escalate into a consistent
way to replace entire meals – not only because of the ease
but also because athletes often tend to follow the “more
is better” idea. They are taught to push themselves in the
gym and to persevere through one last round or repetition. So
another scoop of powder or using this powder as lunch and dinner
is often viewed by the athlete as persevering – as though
they are improving their health by gulping down bad-tasting shakes
rather than splurging and enjoying an actual home-cooked meal.
A cycle is formed, one where the athlete truly believes they
are taking steps to give their body the best fuel it needs to
recover. Not only can this cycle become unbelievably expensive
(upwards of $300 per month) but it can also rob the fighter’s
body of the many beneficial properties contained within real
food.
“The
preparation of meals is too time-consuming.”
Meals
can be time-consuming, this true. But too time-consuming? While
it can take plenty of time to prepare meals, this series will
offer some tips on how to speed up the process. When the athlete
is asked, “What is more important than the food that fuels
you?” they’ll quickly realize their previous statement
of “too time-consuming” may be an exaggeration. Why
have the best shingles for your roof if you’re using rotted
wood for the foundation?
Stay
tuned for Part 1 of the MMA Diet series: The Importance of Meals.
Source: Sherdog
|
Strikeforce
Challengers 13 card at Nashville Municipal Auditorium
By Zach
Arnold
¦Welterweights:
Nate Moore vs. Nate Coy
¦Light Heavyweights: Rhadi Ferguson vs. John Richard
¦Women’s MMA (145 pounds): Julia Budd vs. Amanda
Nunes
¦Light Heavyweights: Ovince St. Preux vs. Abongo Humphrey
¦Heavyweights: Daniel Cormier vs. Devin Cole
¦Welterweights: Tyron Woodley vs. Tarec Saffiedine
On a side note, here’s their 1/29 HP Pavilion (San Jose
Arena) card:
¦Light
Heavyweights: Roger Gracie vs. Trevor Prangley
¦Heavyweights: Herschel Walker vs. Scott Carson
¦Middleweight title: Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza
vs. Robbie Lawler
¦Welterweight title: Nick Diaz vs. Evangelista Cyborg
Source: Fight Opinion
|
Toughman
Hawaii is Back!
Today in
Hilo
January
8, 2011
Hilo Civic Center
Doors open at 5:30 pm and the fights start at 6:00 pm
Tickets are $25 pre-sale, $30 at the door
Source: Wally Carvalho
|
UFC
Fight for the Troops 2 card line-up
By Zach
Arnold
¦Welterweights:
Charlie Brenneman vs. Amilcar Alves
¦Lightweights: Waylon Lowe vs. Willamy Freire
¦Featherweights: Chan Sung Jung (Korean Zombie) vs. Rani
Yahya
¦Welterweights: Damarques Johnson vs. Mike Guymon
¦Lightweights: Cody McKenzie vs. Yves Edwards
¦Lightweights: Cole Miller vs. Matt Wiman
¦Heavyweights: Pat Barry vs. Joey Beltran
¦Featherweights: Mark Hominick vs. George Roop
¦Heavyweights: Matt Mitrione vs. Tim Hague
¦Lightweights: Evan Dunham vs. Melvin Guillard
Source: Fight Opinion
|
Strikeforce
Fedor vs. Silva Main Card To Be All Heavyweights in New Jersey
by Ken
Pishna
Before the ink dried on a new contract with Fedor Emelianenko,
Strikeforce announced his and most of its heavyweight roster’s
next fights. Fedor and most of the other heavyweights under contract
with the San Jose, Calif.-based promotion are slated to compete
in the first Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix.
The
eight-man tournament kicks off Feb. 12 in New Jersey, and is
expected to play out over the next eight months or so, Strikeforce
CEO Scott Coker told MMAWeekly.com on Wednesday.
The
first two quarterfinal bouts and two alternate bouts will fill
the main card at the IZOD Center on Feb. 12 in East Rutherford
and air on Showtime.
“The
Feb. 12 event at the IZOD Center is going to be an all-heavyweight
event,” Coker revealed. “It’ll be a lot of fun.
We’ll have some big guys in the cage and when you have heavyweights,
there’s always a lot of action.”
Laying
out the fight card, Coker said that, as expected, quarterfinal
bouts featuring Fedor against Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva
and Andrei Arlovski vs. Sergei Kharitonov would head the card.
He
added that he first alternate bout would feature top heavyweight
prospects Shane Del Rosario and Lavar Johnson. The winner between
the two will be deemed the first alternate if one of the bracketed
fighters is unable to move on in the tournament.
A
second alternate bout will pit Strikeforce champion Alistair
Overeem’s brother, Valentijn, against K-1 standout Ray Sefo.
The
other two quarterfinal bouts – pitting champion Alistair
Overeem against Fabricio Werdum and Josh Barnett against Brett
Rogers – will take place at an undetermined fight card in
April, skipping the promotion’s March 5 event in Columbus,
Ohio.
He
also noted that there are other heavyweights, such as Daniel
Cormier, who faces Devin Cole at Friday night’s Strikeforce
Challengers 13 in Nashville, that could step up for the tournament
if necessary.
“It’s
gonna be a great time not only for fight fans,” extolled
Coker, “But for mixed martial arts as an industry.”
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Barnett’s
Relicensing Still a Question Mark
by Jason
Probst
When Josh Barnett was suspended by the California State Athletic
Commission in July 2009 for allegedly testing positive for an
anabolic steroid prior to his ill-fated bout with Fedor Emelianenko,
it triggered a one-year nationwide revocation of his license
to fight. That ban expired in July 2010 and, while Barnett has
yet to be granted relicensure in California, other states are
now free to license him.
It
appears that could soon be the case, as Barnett was Tuesday announced
as part of Strikeforce’s upcoming eight-man heavyweight
tournament, which also includes Emelianenko, Fabricio Werdum,
Antonio Silva, Brett Rogers, Andrei Arlovski, Sergei Kharitonov
and heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem. The three-round, single-elimination
tourney will feature five-round bouts, with the events being
televised on Showtime.
“It
took us three months to put all this together,” Strikeforce
CEO Scott Coker told Sherdog.com. “Fedor wanted to do this
tourney.”
The
tournament begins on Feb. 12 at the Izod Center in East Rutherford,
N.J., where two quarterfinal matchups -- Emelianenko-Silva and
Arlovski-Kharitonov -- will take place. Barnett’s quarterfinal
bout against Rogers, as well as Overeem-Werdum, is likely to
happen sometime in April, Coker said.
“We
are in the process of negotiating with a couple of venues, and
date, but we’re just not ready to announce them just yet,”
Coker added.
One
possible hitch to this dream lineup is Barnett. With the former
UFC champion’s status still up in the air due to a series
of miscommunications with the CSAC, the “Baby-Faced Assassin”
will still need to be granted a license somewhere in the U.S.
in order to compete in the tournament.
Speaking
with ESPN.com, Coker stated that he had contacted multiple state
commissions who said that they would license Barnett if the fighter
were to furnish a negative drug test, similar to what he gave
the CSAC prior to his Dec. 2 hearing.
Two
states Barnett likely will not be fighting in, aside from California,
are Nevada and New Jersey.
“Nevada
isn’t on that list,” Coker told Sherdog.com. “Let
him go appeal to any state that has a commission. Josh has some
work to do in California. But he’s paid his dues. Let him
make a living and go to work. But I don’t think he’s
going to be fighting in California.”
Nick
Lembo, legal counsel for the New Jersey State Athletic Control
Board, spoke exclusively with Sherdog.com.
“It’s
real simple. He’s not currently licensed in New Jersey,”
said Lembo. “He does not have an application in with the
state of the New Jersey. I don’t have any comment other
than we don’t have an application, and I won’t make
any comment about a non-applicant.”
With
at least two months before his date with Rogers, Barnett still
has time to appease a state commission with random drug testing
and other demonstrable acts of reformation. After allegedly testing
positive for steroids three times, it may take that much for
Barnett to be able to fight in the U.S. again.
Since
his most recent suspension was handed down by the CSAC, Barnett’s
follow-up hearing with the commission has been postponed four
times.
George
Dodd, CSAC executive director, said that Barnett is currently
“on the agenda” for the commission’s next quarterly
meeting on Feb. 4 in Los Angeles, but that Barnett’s chances
for a obtaining a California license are dwindling with each
rescheduled hearing.
“I
think the commission is getting to a point where it’s wasting
our time. It’s on the agenda. They got a continuance to
the second one. In the third one, he didn’t appear, but
his lawyers appeared and he was in Japan [doing pro-wrestling],”
said Dodd. “He’s on the agenda for Feb. 4. If he doesn’t
contact me by Jan. 10, he won’t be going in front of the
commission. If everybody could just get together, we could get
this taken care of.”
Dodd
added that counsel from the California State Attorney General’s
office will be present to question Barnett, who has maintained
throughout that he did not use illegal substances prior to his
latest positive test.
At
the Dec. 2 meeting, Barnett initially seemed willing to be cross-examined
on his steroid use. Seated to his left was Alfredo Terrazas,
California Assistant Attorney General, who had obviously prepared
to question Barnett on his past usage and Barnett’s ongoing
defense that he did not use any banned substance.
Before
Terrazas questioned Barnett, however, Dodd and other commission
members urged Barnett that it would not be in his interest to
go through the process without having his own legal counsel present.
“I’m
a little caught off-guard by this,” Barnett told the commission.
“I feel slightly unprepared and didn’t bring counsel.
That’s a very large point that was not brought to my attention.”
“You
obviously thought this was a rubber-stamp [process for renewal],”
said Commissioner Eugene Hernandez.
Barnett
disagreed, saying that it was merely a misunderstanding.
Asked
by Sherdog.com what Barnett would have to do at the Feb. 4 meeting
in order to be relicensed, Dodd was succinct.
“Josh
will not be licensed in California until he appears before the
commission and answers questions about past steroid usage, and
also [addresses] the question of rehabilitation to have his license
renewed,” Dodd said.
However,
Dodd said, what other state commissions decide is entirely up
to them.
“Josh
did his year, though he did fight overseas. That’s why you
leave it up to each commission,” Dodd said. “If New
Jersey called me up and asked, ‘What’s the situation?’
I’d tell them the same thing. It’s up to your commission
to determine what to do.”
Source: Sherdog
|
Bantamweight
Cheat Sheet
Thomas
Gerbasi
In 2011, the bantamweight division kicks into high gear in the
Octagon, and if you don’t know them already, here are 12
of the 135-pounders to watch in the coming year.
In December of 2010, UFC fans got their first taste of bantamweight
action when Nick Pace submitted Will Campuzano on The Ultimate
Fighter season 12 finale card. But it will be in 2011 that the
division kicks into high gear in the Octagon, and if you don’t
know them already, here are 12 of the 135-pounders to watch in
the coming year.
Dominick
Cruz
Overall Record – 17-1
WEC Record – 7-1
Key Fight – TKO2 Brian Bowles
Possessing one of the most cryptic standup styles in all of mixed
martial arts, Dominick Cruz has befuddled every fighter he has
faced at 135 pounds, earning the WEC (now UFC) bantamweight crown
in the process. He’s already beaten Joseph Benavidez (twice),
Brian Bowles, and Charlie Valencia, but there are plenty of intriguing
matchups for the champion, including one with the only man to
beat him (albeit at featherweight), Urijah Faber.
Renan
Barao
Overall Record – 22-1, 1 NC
WEC Record – 2-0
Key Fight – Wsub1 Chris Cariaso
The latest phenom from Brazil’s Nova Uniao camp, Renan Barao
already has over 20 wins, a SHOOTO title and a jiu-jitsu brown
belt, all before his 24th birthday. In 2010, Barao made his WEC
debut with a third round finish of Anthony Leone, and he was
even more impressive in submitting tough Chris Cariaso six months
later. Barao looks like the real deal, which means he is firmly
on his way to following in stablemate Jose Aldo’s championship
footsteps.
Joseph
Benavidez
Overall Record – 13-2
WEC Record – 5-2
Key Fight – Wsub2 Miguel Angel Torres
Yes, Joseph Benavidez is a rock-solid contender with big wins
over Jeff Curran, Miguel Angel Torres, and Rani Yahya. But all
you really need to know about the creator of Joe-Jitsu is that
after a discouraging split decision loss to bantamweight champion
Dominick Cruz, he jumped right back into the gym and the cage,
submitting grappling wizard Wagnney Fabiano in the second round.
The fact that his only two losses have come to Cruz doesn’t
bode well for a quick shot at the crown in 2011, but if he keeps
taking out the contenders around him, he will end up as the only
logical choice for another title fight.
Brian
Bowles
Overall Record – 8-1
WEC Record – 5-1
Key Fight – KO1 Miguel Angel Torres
Georgia’s Brian Bowles will never wow you with his prowess
on the mic in pre-fight interviews, but he will leave you open-mouthed
on fight night with his ability to finish. A former WEC bantamweight
champion, Bowles has finished all five of his WEC bouts, taking
home one Knockout of the Night and two Submission of the Night
bonuses in the process. Injuries have kept him on the sidelines
since he lost his belt to Dominick Cruz last March, but he is
expected back in 2011, adding another big name to an exciting
mix of contenders.
Urijah
Faber
Overall Record – 24-4
WEC Record – 9-3
Key Fight – Wsub1 Takeya Mizugaki
The man who put the WEC on the map, Urijah Faber was the undisputed
superstar of the organization and the king of the featherweight
division from 2006 to 2008. But after losing his crown to Mike
Brown and only going 2-2 in his next four bouts, some wondered
whether “The California Kid” had seen better days.
The response? A drop to the bantamweight division and a rock-solid
win over Takeya Mizugaki last November. Faber looks like he’s
back in championship form, and considering that he’s the
only fighter to beat the man at the top now, Cruz, it makes for
a nice storyline should the two meet in 2011.
Demetrious
Johnson
Overall Record – 12-1
WEC Record – 2-1
Key Fight – Wsub3 Damacio Page
“Mighty Mouse” indeed. The toughest 5 foot 3 hombre
you will ever run into, Demetrious Johnson survived a trial by
fire in his first WEC bout as he engaged in a hard-fought three
round scrap with Brad Pickett. From that decision loss, he bounced
back with a decision victory over Nick Pace and then sent a message
to the rest of the division by submitting Damacio Page in November.
But life won’t get any easier for the Matt Hume protégé
in the UFC, as his debut in the organization comes against Kid
Yamamoto at UFC 126 in February.
Scott
Jorgensen
Overall Record – 11-4
WEC Record – 7-3
Key Fight – W3 Brad Pickett
After Scott Jorgensen compiled a five bout winning streak that
included two Fight of the Night awards and quality victims like
Takeya Mizugaki, Antonio Banuelos, and Brad Pickett, it came
as a bit of a shock that Dominick Cruz shut him down completely
in their December championship bout. But you can bet the house
on the fact that the former college wrestling standout will use
this defeat as fuel and come out with all of his “Young
Guns” blazing in the UFC this year.
Michael
McDonald
Overall Record – 11-1
WEC Record – 1-0
Key Fight – Wsub1 Clint Godfrey
Just 19 years old, California’s Michael McDonald earned
his shot in the WEC with 2010 knockout victories over former
WEC featherweight boss Cole Escovedo and former bantamweight
title challenger Manny Tapia. Not content with those displays,
the jiu-jitsu brown belt finished out the year with a first round
submission of Clint Godfrey in his WEC debut in November. And
if you didn’t catch it the first time, he’s only 19
years old. Can you say Barao vs McDonald as THE bantamweight
matchup of, say, 2012 or 2013?
Brad
Pickett
Overall Record – 21-5
WEC Record – 3-1
Key Fight – W3 Ivan Menjivar
The UK’s top bantamweight import, Brad Pickett has quietly
won 10 of his last 11 bouts dating back to 2007. I say quietly
because when “One Punch” is in the cage, it doesn’t
really matter who wins or loses because he’s always delivering
a Fight of the Night-quality bout. Owner of WEC victories against
Kyle Dietz, Demetrious Johnson, and Ivan Menjivar, Pickett’s
only loss in the organization came in a Fight of the Night against
Scott Jorgensen. Pickett may not get a lot of hype, but he’s
going to be a tough out for anyone at 135 pounds.
Miguel
Angel Torres
Overall Record – 37-3
WEC Record – 6-2
Key Fight – W5 Takeya Mizugaki
Before losing his bantamweight crown to Brian Bowles in 2009,
Miguel Angel Torres was on a six year winning streak and in the
upper reaches of the mythical pound-for-pound list. Then came
a second straight defeat against Joseph Benavidez, and questions
popped up everywhere about the future of Torres. But warriors
like Torres don’t go away without a fight, and with a win
over Charlie Valencia in September and a new trainer in Firas
Zahabi, Torres looks to be back in form as he approaches his
UFC debut against Antonio Banuelos in February.
Eddie
Wineland
Overall Record – 18-6-1
WEC Record – 5-2
Key Fight – KO1 Ken Stone
It looked like Eddie Wineland was destined to be the right man
at the wrong time, as his short reign as the first WEC bantamweight
champion came right before the organization took off and established
itself as an international and mainstream force. But after stumbling
in his return in 2009 against Rani Yahya, Wineland has won four
in a row, including two Knockout of the Night victories over
Will Campuzano and Ken Stone. If anything, Wineland looks to
be getting better with each fight, and 2011 may very well be
his year.
Norifumi
“Kid” Yamamoto
Overall Record – 18-3, 1 NC
WEC Record – 0-0
Key Fight – TKO1 Genki Sudo
The wild card of this group, Yamamoto will make his long-awaited
UFC debut in February against Demetrious Johnson. A few years
back, the one fight scores of hardcore MMA fans wanted was a
showdown between Kid and Urijah Faber. It never happened. Now,
at the age of 33, Yamamoto comes to the UFC, and some wonder
if after losing two of his last three bouts, it’s too late.
Yamamoto believes he still has some bullets left though, and
when he’s on, Kid - a standout wrestler, knockout artist,
and charismatic figure – is something to see. Just ask some
of his victims, fighters like Genki Sudo, Rani Yahya, Caol Uno,
and Royler Gracie.
Source: UFC
|
Hatsu
Hioki shines, Todd Duffee doesn't
By Josh
Gross
If it's true that the best rivalries are born out of competitiveness,
Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard offer a chance at something we
rarely see in mixed martial arts. In lieu of hyperbole or feigned
ill will, Edgar and Maynard have brought the sporting aspect
of MMA into focus. To them, winning is everything. And for a
sport that sometimes allows it not to be, that is unbelievably
refreshing.
After
they spent eight rounds locked together in the Octagon, this
is what we know: Edgar and Maynard are well-matched in skill,
athleticism, temperament, grit and determination. They can eat
a strike or 10 and survive. They can grapple and counter grapple,
defend, neutralize and attack.
They
are ingredients in a formula that made Saturday's rematch the
bout others will be compared to in 2011 -- at least until something
amazes us in supplanting it.
Many
of MMA's notable rivalries are remembered more for narratives
than hard-fought results. Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. Ortiz
and Ken Shamrock. Matt Hughes and Frank Trigg. Kazushi Sakuraba
and the Gracies. Not a competitive set of fights in the bunch.
Rivalries
come in all shapes and sizes. The elder Shamrock lost a war to
Don Frye, and it's probably good they met just once. Jens Pulver
and B.J. Penn could have delivered a great back-and-forth affair,
yet five and a half years between fights meant they were completely
different mixed martial artists for the rematch. Quinton Jackson
and Wanderlei Silva shared three compelling fights. Liddell and
Randy Couture played part in a trilogy that helped push MMA to
greater heights.
So
long as they keep doing what they're doing, Edgar and Maynard
have the opportunity to be remembered among MMA's fiercest rivals.
It's hard to imagine that after their rubber match, the pair
wouldn't eventually fight a fourth or fifth time. Maynard is
31; Edgar, 29. The only blemishes on their respective records
have come against the other guy. Great sports rivals often grow
to dislike one another. Edgar and Maynard aren't above that,
and it would only add to the intensity of one of the first legitimate
top-of-the-division duels we've seen in MMA.
Sitting
in front of the media after UFC 125, neither looked particularly
pleased to be there.
Edgar
thought he did enough work after a first-round beating to score
the win and retain his title.
Maynard
felt strongly that his early dominance should have earned him
a championship.
This
story is far from over.
Unsung
Hioki asserts himself
There
are solid arguments to make that Hatsu Hioki (23-4-2) is the
No. 2 featherweight in MMA behind Jose Aldo. That's where I put
the Sengoku and Shooto champion after outpointing dangerous Marlon
Sandro -- the current Pancrase and now-former Sengoku featherweight
champion -- over the weekend.
Some
would argue that Michihiro Omigawa is that man, and they'd have
a good candidate. I prefer Hioki. Entering his ninth year as
a professional, Hioki's four losses -- all decisions, three of
which were split, and one of which, against Omigawa, should have
gone the other way -- don't do a thing to take away from his
23 wins.
Hioki,
27, fought and won three times last year. He would be in the
midst of a 13-fight unbeaten streak were it not for the bogus
decision loss to Omigawa in 2009. You need to scrounge around
on the Net to find it, but Hioki's five-round victory over Sandro
was the second best fight of a very busy three-day stretch, and
it's down as one of my favorites of 2010.
There
aren't many fighters as good on the floor. He isn't a finesse
submission guy like Shinya Aoki -- one reason I think the athletic
5-foot-11 Hioki could be competitive against any style of fighter.
He ground-and-pounds with impact, and can chain off submissions
that make black belts like Sandro contemplate tapping. (Watch
the fifth round of Hioki-Sandro for a sense of what the Japanese
fighter can do.) He's willing and able to trade on the feet.
And he smartly uses his length against shorter competition.
Don't
expect to see Hioki in the UFC this year. He doesn't appear to
be on the promotion's radar, especially not after they recently
lured Omigawa and Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto from Japan.
Decisions,
decisions
Five
choices that went well or didn't:
Good:
Judges' call in Edgar-Maynard. I had the bout 47-47 and can't
say there's much of an issue with any of the three scorecards
that resulted in a rare split draw.
Bad:
Todd Duffee agreeing to fight Alistair Overeem for $60,000 instead
of waiting for an easy televised comeback -- admittedly, for
less money -- later in the month. The gamble: Beat Overeem and
rocket back to relevance; get beat up and drop out of sight.
The 25-year-old heavyweight lost by knockout in 19 seconds.
Good:
UFC president Dana White awarding Gray Maynard an immediate rematch
against Frankie Edgar. Yes, it meant the promotion went back
on its promise of giving WEC champion Anthony Pettis the next
shot. But the kid can wait. Maynard and Edgar deserve another
five rounds as soon as possible.
Bad:
It's troubling enough that Kazushi Sakuraba continues to fight.
But letting him do so against Marius Zaromskis without first
bandaging his cauliflowered right ear -- as he has for years
-- was awfully stupid. A minute into the Dream welterweight championship
fight it looked like it popped … a minute later, there it
was, dangling from his head. Terrible.
Good:
Yuichiro Nagashima's knee aimed at Shinya Aoki's face to start
the second round of their K-1/MMA rules match. Aoki showed zero
respect for Nagashima or K-1 in the first round, when they were
prohibited from doing anything but kickboxing. As the bell sounded
for Round 2, Aoki, no longer restrained, shot a long, lazy double-leg
that was met with a perfect counter knee that put the Dream lightweight
champion to sleep.
Source: ESPN
|
WHAT
TO DO WITH THE UFC HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION
by shawn
Share You know the story of the UFC Heavyweight division. Champ
Cain Velasquez is out for at least six months with a shoulder
injury. Roy Nelson is out until he clears up his legal problems.
Shane Carwin is recovering from surgery and is planning to return
in May. Former champ Brock Lesnar has been laying low since he
lost the title and no tentative return date has been set. Big
Nog is recovering from hip surgery. And top contender Junior
dos Santos, while currently healthy, is sitting on the sidelines
and waiting.
With
the UFC's heavyweight roster plagued by inactivity, Strikeforce
has announced an eight-man heavyweight grand prix, featuring
fighters like Fedor Emelianenko, Alistair Overeem, Fabricio Werdum,
Andrei Arlovski, and Josh Barnett. Given the situation of the
UFC's big men, this tournament could very well crown the new
top heavyweight in the world. That is, if it actually happens
without any serious problems.
So,
what does the UFC do in this situation? They could always just
sit Dos Santos out until Velasquez is healthy enough to fight.
But with Strikeforce's upcoming tournament, the UFC has to do
something to not let their competitor establish a legitimate
#1 heavyweight. Plus, Dos Santos doesn't want to wait for Velasquez
before fighting again, despite having already earned a title
shot. On top of that, Velasquez's return could very well take
longer than the estimated six months.
It
follows that the UFC should book Dos Santos in a fight against
a top contender, with the winner fighting the returning champion.
But who?
I'll
let you know after the jump.
Kid
Nate at Bloody Elbow suggests that the right call is Junior Dos
Santos against Brock Lesnar for an interim heavyweight title.
The argument is essentially that the fight would be a huge sell
for the UFC, with Lesnar being the company's biggest draw and
all. Moreover, a Lesnar-Velasquez rematch would probably be the
biggest draw in company history, and a Dos Santos-Velasquez match
if Dos Santos were to beat Lesnar would do huge numbers as well.
The
problem with this is that this is a view based solely on what
will draw in the short term, as opposed to what's good for the
UFC and its heavyweight division in the long term. That's why
Shane Carwin fighting Dos Santos for top contendership, and not
an interim title, is what should happen.
Dos
Santos versus Lesnar doesn't work for two reasons. First, a win
for Lesnar would mean that Cain Velasquez would follow-up his
title victory over Lesnar with a title defense against ... Lesnar.
After the beating the former champ just took, absolutely no one,
with the possible exceptions of Lesnar's family members, is salivating
over a possible rematch. And a second victory over the former
WWE superstar does little for Velasquez at this point.
Second,
a win for Dos Santos over Lesnar would be amazing for the Brazilian,
but it would be absolutely detrimental to the former champ. Currently
he's the UFC's biggest draw; suffering two losses in a row would
eliminate a large portion of his marketability, which isn't good
for the company or the sport. The point is, there are other alternatives
for Dos Santos to stay busy and build credibility against a high-level
opponent that do not involve the destruction of the UFC's top
draw.
Enter
Shane Carwin. Sure, he's coming off a loss to Lesnar, but everyone
who saw that fight knows The Engineer beat the hell out of the
former champ before gassing out in the second, meaning he's still
seen as a credible threat to any fighter on the planet. A victory
for Dos Santos builds his name and credibility up even further
before a bout with Velasquez, which will go a long way in proving
that the UFC champ is the best in the world. Plus, it will boost
pay-per-view buys to some extent. A victory for Carwin essentially
does the same thing. On top of that, fans have clamored for a
Carwin-Velasquez bout ever since the two were coming up through
the ranks.
And
there's no reason for an interim title because that's only reserved
for situations when a champion is out for an indefintie period
of time. This means when the champion has an injury that will
keep him out for an unknown period (Lesnar, Mir) or if the champion
is in a contract dispute with the company that may or may not
be resolved (Couture). Here, Velasquez will be ready in an estimated
six months, maybe a little bit longer. Thus, no need for an interim
title.
Source: Fight Linker
|
Strikeforce
Heavyweight Tourney Is Gutsy, but Is It Smart?
By Ben
Fowlkes
Whatever problems Strikeforce may be forced to confront in 2011,
a lack of ambition certainly won't be one of them. Not in the
heavyweight division, anyway. Not after Tuesday's big news.
As
MMA Fighting's own Mike Chiappetta reported earlier Tuesday,
Strikeforce is planning an eight-man, single-elimination heavyweight
tournament set to begin in early 2011. If the current plan holds,
it should feature everyone from Fedor Emelianenko and Fabricio
Werdum to recent acquisition Josh Barnett and champion Alistair
Overeem.
Coming
from an organization that has struggled at times to get any two
notable heavyweights into the same cage at the same time, it's
hard not to wonder if Strikeforce can even pull off something
as complicated and prolonged as a high-profile heavyweight tournament.
Even if we assume that CEO Scott Coker and his crew can make
it happen, does that necessarily make it a good idea?
First,
let's start with the pros, and there are many. While Strikeforce
has added a lot of big names to its heavyweight division of late,
it hasn't been able to squeeze much action out of them. The tournament
promptly fixes that problem, putting Fedor, Antonio "Bigfoot"
Silva, Barnett, Andrei Arlovski, Brett Rogers, Sergei Kharitonov,
Werdum, and Overeem back to work in early 2011.
Not
only does that help Strikeforce avoid becoming the organization
where heavyweights go for a vacation, it also finally puts the
marquee fighters on a collision course with the match-ups fans
most want to see.
Let's
face it, while Strikeforce put together some notable fights in
2010, none of them were anybody's first choice. Fights like Overeem
vs. Rogers and Fedor vs. Werdum were more consolation bouts than
anything else, but the tournament would, at least in theory,
rectify that.
Strikeforce
might set the first-round pairings (and, who knows, perhaps a
Pride-style gerrymandering with the resulting winners) but eventually
the best will fight the best. That's how tournaments work, and
that's why we love them. They are, when done correctly, meritocracy
in action.
That's
good stuff, right? Big-name fighters facing each other until
one man stands atop the heap of broken bodies as the lone survivor.
What's not to like about that?
For
starters, take a look at the first-round match-up between Overeem
and Werdum. It's an interesting fight, and one that, if Strikeforce
had made as a stand-alone, main event title fight, we would have
applauded them for.
But
this is the first round of the tournament? The champion versus
the top contender? As much as I hate to be the guy who complains
about seeing number one take on number two, isn't that a little
anti-climactic? It's like eating your dessert first, or opening
a novel and going straight to the last page. Where do you go
from there?
There's
also the question of what's at stake here. If Werdum beats Overeem
in the opening round, does he then become the Strikeforce heavyweight
champion, carrying the belt with him through the tournament until
he either loses it to someone else or wins the whole thing?
Or
say Werdum beats Overeem and then can't continue on to the next
round in a timely fashion due to injury? Will Strikeforce strip
him of the title and put it back into circulation, or will they
hold up the whole tournament to wait for Werdum?
These
are questions that need answers, and answers that need some thought
put into them. It's one thing to say you're going to corral this
many big names, this many egos, and this many moving parts into
a nice, orderly tournament, but it's another thing to actually
pull it off.
Between
the high probability of injury (or, in the case of Barnett, licensing
issues) and the negotiation-happy wild card that is M-1 Global,
there are about a half-dozen ways this tournament could blow
up in Strikeforce's face.
Then
again, isn't that the way it is with every bold human endeavor?
Imagine if we had let our fear of explosions or crazy space people
deter us from walking on the moon. Where would we be then? Well,
probably still here on earth just like we are now, only we'd
always be wondering what it was like up there.
My
point is, yes, there are incredible risks inherent in this thing.
And yes, some of the initial matchmaking is a little baffling.
And okay, fine, we need Scott Coker to hurry up and tell us exactly
what this tournament is intended to determine, and how, and what
the back-up plan is if it doesn't work just right.
That's
all true. But at the same time, aren't you glad that Strikeforce
is finally trying something? Isn't it about time to go all-in
and hope for a little luck?
Because
the alternative is sitting back and trying to make these fights
happen one at a time, hoping that eventually the two best heavyweights
at any given moment will simply decide to punch each other in
the face for money all of their own volition. But you know something?
Strikeforce already tried that. It didn't work so well. Now it's
time to try something else, and like it or not, this tournament
is that something else.
It
might go down as the most successful gamble in MMA history or
one of its worst failures, but at least it's an effort. At least
it's a sign of life, an attempt to make the most of what they've
got while they've still got it.
After
a year of underachieving from an overgrown roster, I'll take
it. Whether the tournament soars to the heavens, or explodes
into a million flaming pieces, at least it ought to be interesting.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Illustrating
absurdity: Why Strikeforce should never consider a Heavyweight
tournament
By Zach
Arnold
This
is not a new topic of discussion for us on the site. I’ve
repeatedly stated that Strikeforce should absolutely steer clear
of running a Grand Prix-style tournament after they failed to
pull off a Middleweight tournament when Jake Shields vacated
his belt and went to UFC.
Remember
the proposed Middleweight tournament by Scott Coker? First, it
was initially rumored to be 16. Then it came down to 8, with
the idea being that it would be broken up into two brackets.
Then came the issues reportedly about whether or not to pay fighters
for three bouts or for two bouts if they won the tournament (based
on the idea of one tournament match on one show and the semi-finals
and finals on a second show). Strikeforce took a concept in which
their deepest division could have produced a tournament and instead
completely gave up on the idea when the logistics proved to be
challenging. That, along with the fact that state athletic commissions
aren’t supportive of the idea of a multi-fight one-night
tournament format. So, instead of running a tournament over three
shows to crown a new champion, they just decided to book a title
match between Tim Kennedy and Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza.
After that was announced, then came another tease that perhaps
a #1 contender’s tournament would end up taking place. Naturally,
it didn’t happen. Five months after his Middleweight title
win in Houston, Jacare will defend the belt against Robbie Lawler
on January 29th in San Jose. That’s right, Mr. Lawler will
be fighting less than two months after his St. Louis fight.
Which
brings us to the constant rumors about Strikeforce planning a
heavyweight tournament in 2011. Stop the insanity. If you couldn’t
pull off a Middleweight tournament with fighters who are largely
based in the States, how do you expect to pull off a tournament
with both domestic and foreign fighters who have proven to be
anything but easy in contract negotiations? Quietly, a report
surfaced yesterday that Fedor may not end up fighting on the
January 29th show for Strikeforce after all. Huh, how about that?
Between this news and the fact that Josh Barnett still isn’t
licensed to fight in California and Alistair Overeem has K-1
obligations and you’re looking at a Heavyweight tournament
consisting of guys like Brett Rogers and Antonio “Bigfoot”
Silva. In other words, if Strikeforce tries to put together a
Heavyweight tournament, it will fall apart before it even begins.
There
are two major questions that need to be answered before fans
even care about such a tournament. First, what does M-1 want?
Does M-1 sense that they can end up being a content provider
to Showtime? If so, why would they cooperate with Strikeforce?
Second, why should fans care about a Strikeforce heavyweight
tournament when most American MMA fans think that the best heavyweights
in the world are currently fighting in the UFC?
In
addition to those questions, ask yourself the following —
what would the point of the tournament be? Alistair Overeem is
the champion. He last fought for the promotion seven months ago.
He’s largely forgotten by the casual fans and if fans know
of his presence it’s more or less due to his presence in
K-1. Fabricio Werdum, the man who beat the great and mystical
Fedor, has almost been invisible. Most of the fans who saw him
beat Fedor have either forgotten about him or haven’t though
enough about him to care about seeing him since the promotion
he works for barely mentions him. Remember the MMA writers who
screamed at others who suggested that Werdum should fight Overeem
for the title instead of rematch with Fedor again? Six months
later, memories of Fedor’s loss to Werdum do not produce
the same kind of emotional response from fans that it did at
the time. (For a litmus test, ask MMA fans that you know about
the Carwin/Lesnar fight and you’re likely to encounter the
same kind of passion about the way Josh Rosenthal handled the
fight now as you saw when it happened last July.)
Strikeforce
didn’t capitalize on the momentum of Werdum’s upset
win. So, the idea of doing a rematch between Fedor and Werdum
is largely in the ‘neutral’ category today.
At
this point, all I want to see from Strikeforce is competency.
Forget about booking a tournament. Forget about any elaborate
plans for 2011. Produce the fights that people want to see and
do so in a timely manner. This is a results-oriented business.
The rematch between Fedor and Werdum, if there was going to be
one, should have happened before the end of 2010. It didn’t.
The fact that Fedor’s camp is even negotiating with Strikeforce
and showing strength after the loss to Werdum is amazing. Nobody
knows when Werdum or Overeem (or Barnett) is going to fight next.
Who’s left?
It
was recently pointed out on Twitter than Shane Del Rosario, a
man who Scott Coker loves to tout as a future ace in Strikeforce,
has only fought twice in two years for the promotion. In contrast,
he fought three years in one year for Gary Shaw under the Elite
XC banner.
Ditch
the idea of a tournament. Start booking the fights that fans
want to see and book fights that are actually meaningful. Book
competitive fights with no delays. No more excuses. No more tournaments
until you’ve earned the public’s trust.
Update
(1/3): Fedor vs. Bigfoot Silva, Werdum vs. Brett Rogers, and
Barnett Kharitonov/Arlovski. No, this is not what the fans deserve.
Try again.
Source: Fight Opinion
|
Olympian
Rhadi Ferguson Gets New Strikeforce Challengers 13 Opponent
Undefeated light heavyweight and four-time U.S. National Judo
Champ and 2004 U.S. Judo Olympian, Dr. Rhadi Ferguson (2-0),
will face John Richard (3-1) in a featured match on the Strikeforce
Challengers 13 fight card this Friday at Nashville Municipal
Auditorium in Nashville on Showtime.
The
6-foot-1, 28-year-old Richard (pronounced “ruh-shard”)
is a replacement for Canada’s Ion Cherdivara, who withdrew
from the card late Tuesday due to visa problems.
Richard,
a talented, explosive wrestler, has made short work of his opposition
in his three victories, winning all in the first round. In his
last outing on Oct. 23, he submitted (choke) Steven Banks at
1:19. In his outing before last on Aug. 28, he got Ryan Bedini
to tap out via rear-naked choke at 3:38.
Since
turning pro on April 24, 2010, Richard has mostly campaigned
as a 230-pound heavyweight. This will be his long-awaited return
to 205 pounds.
“In
my last couple fights I was outweighed by 30-40 pounds, so getting
back down to 205 is a big deal for me,’’ Richard said.
“I’m really looking forward to fighting at this weight
and excited to get the opportunity to step up and showcase my
skills.”
A
welterweight showdown between Tyron Woodley and Tarec Saffiedine
headlines Strikeforce Challengers 13, which airs on Showtime
as part of the network’s free preview weekend.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Toughman
Hawaii is Back!
Tomorrow
in Hilo
January
8, 2011
Hilo Civic Center
Doors open at 5:30 pm and the fights start at 6:00 pm
Tickets are $25 pre-sale, $30 at the door
Source: Wally Carvalho
|
Scott
Coker Discusses Heavyweight Tourney, Re-Signing Emelianenko
By Mike
Chiappetta
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker faced his share of criticism in 2010
for the perceived difficulty in putting his heavyweight fighters
in the cage together. That criticism came to a screeching halt
on Tuesday, when MMA Fighting broke the news that an eight-man
tournament had been finalized that would feature some of the
promotion's biggest names.
The
tournament, which begins on Feb. 12, is expected to run over
several months and is expected to culminate with the winner as
the Strikeforce heavyweight champion (more on that later).
Just
hours after his big announcement, Coker spoke with MMA Fighting
about the tournament, bringing Fedor Emelianenko back into the
fold, the possibility of Strikeforce on pay-per-view and more.
Mike
Chiappetta: A tournament like this is ambitious and quite challenging.
Why did you decide to do it?
Scott Coker: When we were in the process of collecting all these
heavyweights, and signing these top 10 guys, the only fighter
we really had to extend was Fedor, which as you know took a long
time. I went to Showtime with this plan about 3 months ago. I
saw what they did with the Super Six tournament in boxing. I
thought it was a great format and definitely made some more stars
in the boxing world. They definitely created more hype and more
stars in that sport. I thought it'd be a good way for USA fans
to get to know some of these top heavyweights that we have fighting,
like [Sergei] Kharitonov, like having Josh [Barnett] back in
America. It's a great way to unveil it and roll it out.
And
I came from a background in K-1 where we did tournaments all
the time. Take it back even further than that; If you grew up
in a martial arts school, whether it was judo, jiu-jitsu, karate,
taekwondo, the first time you ever compete is in a tournament.
We thought it made sense on a lot of levels. Now we get to see
it roll out, and we're going to see some amazing fights over
the next months.
Is
this a stand-alone tournament, where the winner is called the
Grand Prix champion, or is the winner the Strikeforce heavyweight
champion?
Right now, Alistair Overeem is the Strikeforce heavyweight champion.
That's something we can answer tomorrow, because what we're trying
to do is clear it with the commissions to allow the fighters
to fight more than three rounds outside of the title. The rules
of MMA now say a five-round fight has to be a championship fight,
and so we're working on that. Hopefully we'll have an answer
soon on that.
I saw what they did with the Super Six tournament in boxing.
I thought it was a great format and definitely made some more
stars in the boxing world.
-- Scott Coker
So you'd like all the tournament fights to be five-round fights?
We'd like to, yes.
You've
been criticized a bit for infrequent heavyweight fights. Was
it tough to bite your tongue knowing the news you were about
to unveil?
To me the fans are always going to think what they want. I've
always known we have the best heavyweight division in mixed martial
arts. I had this in my back pocket. I don't really gauge what's
going out in the viral world, the virtual world. I just know
that this is a special moment in time. All these heavyweight
fighters are here and in their youth, young enough to compete
at high levels. We're going to let them all fight each other,
and this is the best way to do it.
Why
include your champion in the tournament, instead of having a
fight with him as the final. Would it be him sitting too long,
or is there another reason?
We originally thought he could fight the tournament winner, or
fight a superfight. But when I talked to [Overeem's management]
Golden Glory, they said he wanted to fight in the tournament.
And then when I talked to Alistair and Bas Boon, his manager,
over the weekend when I was in Japan, Alistair came to me and
said, 'I want to fight Fabricio Werdum. You have to give me that
fight.' And I said, 'Let's do it.' It's something he wanted to
do. He wanted to avenge that loss from three or four years ago,
so it's good for everybody.
Matching
him and Werdum together is a great first-round fight, but was
there any thought to the belief it might be a fight better saved
for later in the tourney?
With a tournament, you never know who's going to win, and we
have to put it together now. Let all these bad boys fight each
other, and let the better man win.
Will
Overeem's belt be on the line in the early rounds? If Werdum
beats Overeem, will he be considered the champion? Or will the
belt be vacated for this tournament? How will that work?
It goes back to the commission and what they're going to allow
us to do. That's something I can't answer right now but hope
to have an answer very soon.
You
spoke of Werdum-Overeem, but how did you decide the other pairings?
The pairings were done on some timing. Fabricio is coming off
surgery of his arm, so he was not available until March anyway.
And those two wanted to fight each other. Fedor wanted to fight
Jan. 29, or even Jan. 7. He's ready to go. He's itching to get
back in there. We felt Bigfoot [Antonio Silva] was the perfect
opponent for the first round. You never know what'll happen in
MMA when you have two buys guys. As far as Kharitonov, he's coming
off a win in Japan. And [Andrei] Arlovski is ready to go. These
guys are ready, so let's put them in a cage and let them go.
No more renegotiation ... Fedor will be doing co-promotion with
Strikeforce, M-1 and Showtime for many years to come.
-- Scott Coker
The Showtime press release included a bracket, which would have
the Fedor-Silva winner meeting the Overeem-Werdum winner in the
semis. Is that correct, or will the semifinal pairings be decided
after the first four matches are over?
That is correct. When we looked at it, we want to put the best
fights on and have the most exciting matchup on every event.
If Fedor wins, he fights the winner of Werdum vs. Alistair, so
we know we're going to get one of those two fights. The sooner
we could make that fight the better. Think of it the other way,
if Josh Barnett wins two fights, we might get to see Fedor-Barnett.
In this tournament, we could see Fedor fighting any one of those
3. There are lots of great possibilities.
Any
way you cut it, you're going to see some exciting fights. Let's
put them in the toughest situation and let them prevail. In the
old days, it was all in one night. These are single fights over
a period of eight months.
So
you hope to complete the tournament in eight months?
Yes. We'll be done before the end of the year.
Fedor
& M-1 have renegotiated after each of your first two fights
with him. Does this new deal with him cover the entire scope
of the tournament?
Yes, it covers the tournament and even further. No more renegotiation.
The beauty of the deal, and I can't get into the details of the
contract, but it's multi-fight and multi-year. Fedor will be
doing co-promotion with Strikeforce, M-1 and Showtime for many
years to come.
So
you can't say how many fights this adds to his deal?
I can't talk about the details of the contract.
Do
you think you have him locked up for the rest of his career,
or is that too far-reaching?
I think it's very possible.
Did
that added wrinkle of putting him in this tournament and having
his commitment add a big degree of difficulty into the negotiations?
You know what's admirable about these guys, including Fedor?
They wanted to be in the tournament. They came to us and said
we want to be in it. I said, 'OK, fantastic.' And we made it
happen.
Believe
me, he was trying to talk us into letting him fight on the Jan.
29 card. I said, 'Fedor, I think you'll be OK two weeks later.'"
Does
that mean you've seen him recently?
No, but we've been talking to the M-1 folks, and we're all one,
big, happy family now.
Is
there any concern about Josh Barnett getting a license?
Not at all. We've talked to four athletic commissions that will
license him with a clean test. We feel confident that won't be
an issue. Keep in mind Josh Barnett went to Sacramento six weeks
ago, took a test and was clean. He hasn't fought for a year-and-a-half
in America. He still has issues in California, so his fight won't
be in California, but Josh has moved on, and we're moving on,
too. He's been out of the fight business in America for 18 months.
I think he's served his time.
What
happens if a fighter advances but gets injured and would have
to be out a few months? Are there alternates?
The No. 1 alternate will come from a fight you see on Feb. 12
at the Izod Center, Shane Del Rosario fighting Lavar Johnson.
Those two will fight, and the winner will be the No. 1 reserve
spot. We will have probably two more. I think Daniel Cormier
will probably be one of them, and then we'll probably have another
pair fight off. But Del Rosario or Johnson will be the No. 1
reserve and go in only if a fighter gets injured to the point
he's going to be out for an extended period of time.
Was
there any thought to including one or two of those younger fighters
like Cormier or Lavar Johnson in the tournament?
I think the guys who are in the tournament deserve to be there.
It's something at this point in time, we were successful in putting
it together, and those other guys will have their time. It's
just not this time.
What
are the chances we'll see Rogers-Barnett & Werdum-Overeem
at your March show in Columbus, Ohio?
In Columbus, we're going to do a regular show, not part of the
heavyweight tournament. In April, we'll come back with the other
two quarterfinals. We're looking for venues right now so we don't
have the location.
You've
talked before about doing pay-per-view. Is there any possibility
the semifinals and/or finals will mark Strikeforce's entry into
pay-per-view?
The quarterfinal fights will air on Showtime, and then we will
re-evaluate from there. After the quarterfinals are over, then
we'll determine whether this is going to be on Showtime or built
into a pay-per-view event. There is a possibility we can jump
into the pay-per-view business at that time.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
MMA
Black Eye: Chael Sonnen Done?
By Curtis
Clontz
This
is MMAOpinion and like ARod at bat, I have the green light to
swing for the fences… That is what this post is doing…
Chael
Sonnon was once viewed as the anti-Anderson Silva. He was the
cocky American that was here to save the day. The only fighter
in the world with the proper pedigree that could finally end
the run of the world beater.
In
basketball the ball never lies. While decisions often go awry,
the come from behind and absolutely idiotic triangle that finished
Chael Sonnen is getting sweeter and sweeter as time goes on.
After
popping for performance enhancers at the completion of said fight,
the ever-talking Sonnen appealed and won (well, sort of). Although
he was able to get six months dropped from his suspension his
latest legal romp is not just stupid, it is embarrassing for
the UFC, MMA, and all associated parties.
Last
week Sonnon co-hosted ESPN’s MMA Live and was as colorful
as ever. Chael pretty much called Wanderlei Silva the UFC’s
worst fighter and that viewers should avoid other MMA events
because they were going to be a waste of time (paraphrasing of
course).
At
this point in his career Chael is quickly becoming something
he should be desperately trying to avoid. In a push to hype fights
he has went from super hero to political D’bag practically
overnight.
This
time around Sonnen may have bitten off more than his motor-mouth
can chew.
He
has plead guilty to money laundering in an occupation in which
he does in his off time. Playing real estate tycoon may have
been fun, but it indeed could be the nail in his UFC coffin.
If
the UFC wants to avoid the negative press and stay on track to
becoming main stream then they need to protect themselves and
show why they are the best organization in the world.
They
are world class MMA and will not put up with frivelous antics
by even great fighters.
Source: MMA Opinion
|
Coker
on Fedor: “No more renegotiations.”
Three little words from Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker that will
thrill the heart of any Fedor Emelianenko fan.
He
made the comment during an interview with MMA Fighting, in which
he was asked if the seemingly endless negotiations and re-negotiations
with Fedor and his M-1 Global handlers are over.
There
has been ‘renegotiation’ after each of Fedor’s
Strikeforce fights thus far and fans are uneasy that his participation
in the forthcoming Strikeforce heavyweight Grand Prix could be
stalled by more as (if) he progresses through each round.
“[The
new contract] covers the tournament and even further. No more
renegotiation. The beauty of the deal, and I can't get into the
details of the contract, but it's multi-fight and multi-year.
Fedor will be doing co-promotion with Strikeforce, M-1 and Showtime
for many years to come,” he told MMA Fighting.
“You
know what's admirable about these guys, including Fedor? They
wanted to be in the tournament. They came to us and said we want
to be in it. I said, 'OK, fantastic.' And we made it happen.
Believe me, he was trying to talk us into letting him fight on
the Jan. 29 card. I said, 'Fedor, I think you'll be OK two weeks
later.'"
Coker
also revealed that while he had not seen Fedor in person recently
he had been “talking to the M-1 folks, and we're all one,
big, happy family now.”
Whether
that holds out for the duration of the Strikeforce Heavyweight
Grand Prix remains to be seen. Fingers crossed.
Source: Fighters Only
|
Shane
Carwin Back in Training, Shooting for May Return to the UFC
by Damon
Martin
The
road back for former UFC interim heavyweight champion Shane Carwin
has begun.
The
mammoth Colorado fighter has stepped back in the gym for the
first time since having back surgery, and is looking at a May
return to the Octagon.
Carwin
first made the announcement on MMA.TV and details about his return
were subsequently confirmed to MMAWeekly.com by his manager Jason
Genet.
Carwin
has been sidelined for the last few months due to back surgery
to repair a lingering problem that has continued to plague the
former champion. He was originally scheduled to return to action
on Jan 1 against Roy Nelson, but the surgery put him out of action
for an indefinite amount of time.
According
to his manager, Carwin is back in the gym and shooting for a
return to action around the month of May, which could potentially
bring him into the fold for the scheduled Memorial Day weekend
card. MMAWeekly.com first reported the card with the addition
of the fight between Thiago Alves and Rick Story being planned
for the show.
Also
a new addition to Camp Carwin will be strength and conditioning
coach Jonathan Chaimberg, who will also oversee his diet as he
comes back from the injury. Chaimberg works with several top
flight UFC fighters including welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre
and lightweight contender Kenny Florian.
No
opponent has been determined as of yet when Carwin returns, but
with heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez on the sidelines for
at least half of 2011, there are a bevy of choices for who the
Grudge Team fighter could face upon his return.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Dynamite
2010: The anatomy of a public execution; Ishii to get Strikeforce
offer
By Zach
Arnold
Today’s
Dynamite event at Saitama Super Arena can be summarized by the
following: the less said, the better. OK, how about… the
show got the “Sengoku” treatment and an attendance
figure wasn’t initially publicized? Or, maybe we can talk
about Kazushi Sakuraba’s ear. Picture of Sakuraba giving
a speech after his ear injury.
(Seems
to me we’re on a path for one Japanese fighter to lose an
ear each year.)
For
what it’s worth, both heading into the event and reviewing
today’s show, Sakuraba did not garner a lot of media attention
this year. The ‘lead’ story, if you want to call it
that, was Satoshi Ishii getting booed by the fans and essentially
looked at as an uncharismatic goof. He’s got a Brock Lesnar
thing going for him in that some people will watch him on TV
but less people will pay a lot of money to see him live. OK,
not a great analogy, but you get the point. The day before his
fight against Jerome Le Banner, there was discussion of Ishii
wanting to get into Hollywood. Yeah, you could see where this
was going with the fans. After his win over Jerome Le Banner,
Ishii said that he wants to fight anywhere (in Japan or in a
foreign country).
According
to Nikkan Sports, a Strikeforce offer for Ishii in March (for
Columbus) is now on the table. While it’s not expected that
Ishii would fight in the 2011 SF Heavyweight tournament, the
paper claims that the promotion would be open to have him involved.
Speaking
of Hollywood, Tadao Yasuda showed up for an in-ring ceremony
with Antonio Inoki. Yes, my friends, this was the second headline
in the Japanese press from the show… for Tadao Yasuda doing
‘a run-in’ and Inoki laying on the mat.
The
most deliciously absurd story from the fight card was the okama
Yuichiro Nagashima knocking out Shinya Aoki in 4 seconds of R2.
It was a bizarre fight where round one was kickboxing rules with
small gloves and round two was MMA rules with small gloves. Aoki
agreeing to take the fight was strange enough, but the fact that
he lost in the manner in which he did was karma for some of the
things he’s done in his past career. The problem for Nagashima,
however, is that Aoki is not a star in the eyes of Japanese fans
so while the win is a big moment for him, I don’t know if
it’s a star-making moment.
(See:
when Kazuo Misaki dispatched of Yoshihiro Akiyama and where that
led him, which is nowhere.)
A
minor story from the show is that Bob Sapp backed out of his
modified rules fight against Wakakirin at the last minute. Since
it was a ‘no TV’ match on TBS, it’s not as if
a lot of people were shedding tears.
Crusher
Kawajiri dispatched of Josh Thomson in a fight that unfortunately
was not as competitive as I expected it to be. This fight, along
with Hatsu Hioki vs. Marlon Sandro, were the two fights that
I was looking forward to watching the most. I bring up Hioki
vs. Sandro because the Japanese fans and media treated the fight
with the same kind of importance that someone would treat a boxing
match on an ESPN2 Friday Night Fights card. Meaning, only a few
hardcore fans paid attention and the media either didn’t
cover the result (like Daily Sports) or covered it in a very
minor fashion. There was even one paper that elected to go with
Kazuo Misaki’s win over Mike Seal as a top story over Hioki’s
win over Sandro. The Sengoku show at Ariake Colosseum with 28
fights was not set up to financially do well, but I was told
the attendance was somewhere between 4,000-5,000. It’s not
a great number to have publicly out there if you’re running
a building like Ariake Colosseum, but given what Sengoku’s
drawn in the past at Ryogoku Kokugikan, they should have just
gave out a figure.
10
years ago, promoters couldn’t rush out fast enough to give
out attendance figures of 40,000+ for New Year’s Eve shows.
Now, you can’t get the media to give you a worked attendance
figure.
Truthfully,
the one foreign ‘ace’ on the Dynamite show was Alistair
Overeem and he was given Todd “TRT” Duffee as his opponent.
Alistair wanted the fight for a DREAM Heavyweight title and his
wish was granted. If you’re wondering where Alistair’s
career focus is, read this amazing article by Tony at Sherdog
and let your doubts about his Strikeforce reign be… reassured.
Of course, the major flaw in Alistair’s career plan is that
it goes out the window if K-1 collapses. Then, Strikeforce becomes
the easy one-night-stand to go back to at any time.
Putting
that aside, Alistair had an execution to attend and the victim
succumbed very quickly. Let’s read what the participants
had to say.
First,
Mr. Duffee:
How
did you feel about your fight? “Well, obviously, I’m
extremely disappointed. I feel like I’m a much more talented
fighter than I got the chance to show. Not to take anything (away)
from Overeem, I think he’s an incredible, incredible fighter.
I was just disappointed, you know. I wanted to come out and put
on a great show, exciting show for the fans but you know obviously
I wasn’t prepared. You know, I think I trained seven days
for this fight and it definitely showed.”
Any
regrets for taking the fight on short-notice? “No, I don’t
regret it at all. It was a great opportunity to fight in Japan.
It’s been a dream of mine. I hope that, you know, it maybe
opened the door for me to come back here and show that I have
a much, much better skill set than what I put on display tonight.
There’s no regrets, you know. It happened. You just got
to move past it and I’ll definitely be back. I just wish
that I could have showed the skills that I know that I have and
the people that train me and train with me know that I’m
capable of to the Japanese audience. But, you know, I don’t
think the seven days notice is even an excuse. I just, you know,
for whatever reason I didn’t come out and do what I’m
capable of, even close. Again, not to take anything away from
Overeem, you know, he’s an incredible fighter. I definitely
think I have a lot more to offer than that. I know I do, you
know, I think he knows that, too, and you know I think anybody
that’s trained with me knows that. It’s very frustrating
to, you know, I think I got a little overzealous and I kind of
opened up a little too much, got too excited. I was very excited
to fight in Japan. It’s the most exciting thing I’ve
ever been through for a fight. The fans here are incredible.
They really love and really truly understand the sport and I
think I just got so, you know, it’s the most fun I’ve
ever had, too, building up to a fight. It’s just one of
those things, you know. You make mistakes, you fall down, and
you get back up. I’ll definitely, I just I hope I get the
opportunity to show what I’m capable of to the Japanese
audience and the rest of the world.”
What
is your intention next? In the future, you want to keep fighting
in Japan mainly? “Yeah, definitely, I want to fight everywhere,
but Japan, like I said, it’s one of the greatest audiences
in the world. I definitely would like the opportunity to come
back and just show my skill set to the Japanese people. Like,
you know, I came out there, I haven’t even seen the fight,
but I know like I could feel the way that I was doing some things,
lack of technique, when I looked you know like I regressed five
years from, you know, where I’m at as a true professional
fighter and I’d definitely like that opportunity to show
them. I’ve had dreams of fighting in K-1, I’ve had
dreams of hopefully getting more MMA fights here as well. You
know… I just did not do what I’m capable of tonight
and it’s very frustrating. I think it’s more frustrating
if I had gone out and Overeem would have beat on me for three
rounds and shown that he is the better fighter or whatever, but
I don’t think I gave myself the opportunity to show the
world and Japan what I am capable of and not even what I am capable
of but what I am. It’s probably the most frustrating way
things could have gone for me.”
In
closing, Mr. Overeem:
What
did you think of your fight tonight? “Yeah, when I was in
the ring, everything was automatic. Of course you know a little
what you do and prepare a little bit but it goes really fast
and so I didn’t know what the fight looked like, but I saw
it back on tape and I was very pleased. It was a very effective
fight, very effective knee strike(s) and my knees are hard, nobody
can take one of my knee strikes. Not in K-1 and also not in MMA.”
What
is your impression of Todd Duffee? “Todd Duffee is a strong
guy. He’s very aggressive, in all of his fights I could
see that he always goes for the knockout, so in that sense he’s
the same as myself. Always want to finish his opponent and I
believe he wanted to do that in this fight as well. He came very
aggressive, very hard, I felt his strength and his strikes but…
I’m too experienced for people to be that aggressive and
with my K-1 experience nobody can surprise me with that aggressive
attack. I’m just not worried and I know how to handle it
and I’m very strong, very strong in the counter-attack and
people cannot survive my attack so I just feel really confident
and I feel that it shows that I’m confident going into any
fight with anybody.”
You
won your third title in addition to Strikeforce and K-1. What
do you think about it? “Well, I’m very proud, very
proud of myself and my team and I do have to stress the fact
that it was a team effort. My team is very strong in supporting
me on every factor and that pays off. I can focus fully on the
fight and fully on training. So, I’m very proud of becoming
the DREAM champion today and I’m ready to defend it against
anybody. So, anybody in the world, anybody who is listening,
please come and challenge me in the DREAM ring and I will defeat
you.”
You
have any names of people you want to fight? “I don’t
have any preference. All my goals for 2010 are met. I became
champion for three different organizations: Strikeforce, K-1,
and DREAM tonight. There’s nobody who I want to fight. They
can come to me. They can challenge me and I will always accept.”
Source: Fight Opinion
|
Strikeforce
tournament bracket unveiled
By Josh Gross
Following months of speculation, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker's
desire to promote a single-elimination heavyweight tournament
in 2011 has come to fruition. Showtime, which expects to televise
each of the event's three legs, revealed opening-round matches
and the tournament bracket Tuesday.
"It's
a long, grueling process as we know with these tournaments, and
whoever comes out on top will be the reigning Strikeforce heavyweight
champion," said Ken Hershman, executive vice president and
general manager of Showtime Sports.
Beginning
Feb. 12 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J., four of
the eight fighters signed up for the main draw will compete in
first-round matchups.
Fedor
Emelianenko (31-2) fights Antonio Silva (15-2) and Andrei Arlovski
(15-8) is matched against Sergei Kharitonov (16-4).
The
remaining quarterfinal fights will likely take place in April,
Showtime and Strikeforce officials said. The event's date and
location are yet to be determined. Current Strikeforce heavyweight
champion Alistair Overeem (33-11) will meet Fabricio Werdum (14-4-1),
and Brett Rogers (11-2) tangles with Josh Barnett (29-5).
Four
alternates are part of the field. Coker confirmed that the Feb.
12 card will include a televised fight between Shane Del Rosario
and Lavar Johnson. He expects the second alternate bout to become
official next week.
Key
to completing the tournament field was Emelianenko, the consensus
top heavyweight in MMA for seven years before he tapped to a
triangle choke in 69 seconds against Werdum last June.
Completing
arduous contract talks between Emelianenko's promoter, M-1 Global,
Strikeforce and Showtime that kept the Russian out of action
for the second half of 2010, the 34-year-old fighter signed a
four-event extension with Showtime and Strikeforce just before
the new year, his manager Vadim Finkelstein confirmed to ESPN.com.
"The
deal took so long and there was so much beating of the deal that
I think at one point I was numb to the whole thing ...,"
Finkelstien said.
"I
think early on there was a little doubt in my mind [that we could
complete an extension with M-1 and Emelianenko]," Coker
said. "But over the last two months I started feeling really
good about it. We had to wait, but a fighter like Fedor is worth
it."
Several
sources close to the talks told ESPN.com that Showtime took the
lead in negotiations, though Hershman said that characterization
wasn't accurate.
"This
is just three parties coming together trying to work a deal that
made sense for everyone," said the Showtime Sports boss.
"This wasn't us leading anything. I do think we've had a
lot of experience with talent at that level working with [Mike]
Tyson and [Evander] Holyfield, and some of the other guys we've
worked with over the years. We hoped to bring that to the table
and use that experience to make sure everybody comes away feeling
pretty good about the process. I think in this case they did
and we certainly did."
At
this stage of his career, the previous decade's best heavyweight
"doesn't know how much longer he's fighting," said
Emelianeko's manager. "It's unfortunate that things did
take so long, but there were certainly reasons for it and as
frustrating as it was for him, he understood. There were points
along the way we thought he we had a deal done, then we didn't.
For him it's good. It fulfills his main desire, which is to fight
and fight as often as he can. That's a very good result."
Emelianenko's
signing, which was delayed at the end because he's training in
a remote mountain location in his homeland without access to
computers or fax machines, allowed the brackets to take shape
and the tournament to move forward.
"If
there's not any injuries, we think we could wrap it up by the
end of September," Coker said.
Emelianenko
or Silva will be matched against Overeem or Werdum, with the
winner of that fight advancing to the finals. Should Emelianenko
defeat Silva, his semifinal bout would garner great interest
regardless of the opponent.
On
the other side of the bracket, the Barnett-Rogers winner is slated
to meet Arlovski or Kharitonov in the second round for the right
to advance to the finals and fight for the Strikeforce title.
It
appears the bracket featuring Overeem, Werdum, Emelianenko, and
Silva -- the four ranked fighters in the field -- is much tougher
than what Barnett, Kharitonov, Arlovski, or Rogers have been
asked to negotiate.
Barnett
is regarded as a threat, but for various reasons he has not regularly
competed against high level competition since 2006. Kharitonov
and Arlovski are on the down sides of their respective careers.
And Rogers has fallen off the map since stoppage losses to Emelianenko
and Overeem.
Coker
and Hershman, however, expressed satisfaction with the bracket
structure.
"Timing
is an issue with these fighters," Coker said. "I feel
fortunate to have all these guys in the tournament. Fabricio
was injured and wouldn't be ready to fight in February. Alistair
and Fabricio wanted to fight one another. In Japan, Alistair
told me he wanted Werdum."
Said
Hershman: "We talked a lot about the brackets. Part of it
is the timing of everything, the injuries, and peoples' other
obligations. ... We think it's going to present a really compelling
scenario. We didn't really think of it any other way."
Neither
the semifinal nor final rounds have firm dates or locations.
With
Barnett currently unlicensed to fight in the U.S. since the summer
of 2009 because of his third positive test for anabolic steroids,
questions linger over his ability to compete. However, Coker
said Strikeforce has engaged in conversations with multiple regulatory
bodies that are apparently willing to license the fighter, presuming
he provides a clean drug test. Coker said at this point he doesn't
intend to promote Barnett in California, where the heavyweight
is scheduled to appear in front of the state's athletic commission
in February.
Beginning
with Overeem's quarterfinal bout against Werdum, each Strikeforce
title fight throughout the tournament will be a five-round contest.
All other bouts are relegated to three rounds. Should Overeem
win out, he'll have a strong case to be considered the No. 1
heavyweight in MMA. The same could be said for Emelianenko or
Werdum.
"What
better way to identify who is the greatest heavyweight out there
in our division?" Coker said. "We felt this was the
best way to put that together. I promised the fans that we would
let all these guys fight each other."
Josh
Gross covers mixed martial arts for ESPN.com.
Source: ESPN
|
Toquinho
about Cacareco: “it’ll be weird”
By Eduardo
Ferreira
Both
guys train for a long time at Brazilian Top Team, where they’ve
Exchange knowledge and built a friendship. But on March 3rd,
when there’ll be UFC On Versus 3, Rousimar Toquinho, still
from BTT, and Alexandre Cacareco, currently on Chute Boxe, will
confront each other on the octagon, on a fight announced exclusively
by TATAME (remind it here). The confrontation wasn’t easily
accepted by neither of them, but both couldn’t deny the
bout. “The boss told us to fight, so we’ll have to
do it, but I don’t like facing a Brazilian, specially when
it’s a friend of mine, like Cacareco”, said Toquinho,
who talked about the feeling of confronting a friend on the octagon.
“It’ll
be weird to see him on the other side of the octagon ready to
fight me. We’ve trained together for many time, we’ve
helped each other a lot… I really like him, I consider him
a good friend and training partner. As I see it, it won’t
chance our friendship one bit, and I hope he sees it that way
too”. Considered one of the greatest grapplers of the planet,
Toquinho doesn’t know how the fight will happen too, but
he believes that the two of them will go for the ground game:
“I don’t know how it’ll be like, but we both will
going for the ground game”. Both fighters are coming from
losses and wondering if another bad result could lead him to
a cut, and the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Murilo Bustamante
was firm when he said: “I don’t worry about it, I just
go there and fight”.
Source: Tatame
|
Fedor
Emelianenko Signs Contract Extension, Will Face Antonio Silva
By Mike
Chiappetta
A rumored Fedor Emelianenko vs. Antonio Silva fight is expected
to be announced imminently, sources with knowledge of the situation
have confirmed to MMA Fighting.
As
part of the announcement, Strikeforce, Showtime and M-1 will
announce that Emelianenko has signed a multi-fight extension
that will guarantee his participation in a Strikeforce heavyweight
tournament set to begin on Feb. 12.
The
sides had been working on a new deal since shortly after Emelianenko's
last bout, a June 26, 2010 loss to Fabricio Werdum that marked
his first defeat in nearly a decade, and have come to terms on
all outstanding issues.
A
source told MMA Fighting that Emelianenko's extension was for
at least four more fights, and that official word on his re-signing
should come from Strikeforce and M-1 later on Tuesday.
The
first bout on his new deal will be contested against Silva, taking
place on Feb. 12 at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The eventual tournament winner is expected to move on and face
reigning Strikeforce champ Alistair Overeem sometime in 2011.
The
34-year-old Emelianenko is 32-2 with one no contest in his career.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
MMA
Top 10 Rankings: Lots of Fights, Lots of Changes
The latest MMAWeekly.com World MMA Rankings were released on
Wednesday, January 5. This system ranks the Top 10 MMA fighters
from all across the world in each of the seven most widely accepted
weight classes.
Taken
into consideration are a fighter’s performance in addition
to his win-loss record, head-to-head and common opponents, difficulty
of opponents, and numerous other factors in what is the most
comprehensive rankings system in the sport.
Fighters
who are currently serving drug-related suspensions are not eligible
for Top 10 consideration until they have fought one time after
the completion of their suspension.
Fighters
must also have competed within the past 12 months in order to
be eligible for Top 10 consideration unless they have a bout
scheduled within a reasonable time frame.
Below
are the current MMAWeekly.com World MMA Rankings, which are up-to-date
as of Wednesday, January 5.
HEAVYWEIGHT
DIVISION (over 205 pounds)
1. Cain Velasquez
2. Fabricio Werdum
3. Fedor Emelianenko
4. Brock Lesnar
5. Junior Dos Santos
6. Alistair Overeem
7. Shane Carwin
8. Frank Mir
9. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
10. Antonio Silva
LIGHT
HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION (205-pound limit)
1. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua
2. Rashad Evans
3. Quinton Jackson
4. Lyoto Machida
5. Forrest Griffin
6. Ryan Bader
7. Jon Jones
8. Thiago Silva
9. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
10. Randy Couture
MIDDLEWEIGHT
DIVISION (185-pound limit)
1. Anderson Silva
2. Yushin Okami
3. Nathan Marquardt
4. Demian Maia
5. Dan Henderson
6. Robbie Lawler
7. Jorge Santiago
8. Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza
9. Michael Bisping
10. Hector Lombard
WELTERWEIGHT
DIVISION (170-pound limit)
1. Georges St-Pierre
2. Jon Fitch
3. Jake Shields
4. Thiago Alves
5. Josh Koscheck
6. Paul Daley
7. Nick Diaz
8. Martin Kampmann
9. Carlos Condit
10. Chris Lytle
LIGHTWEIGHT
DIVISION (160-pound limit)
1. Frankie Edgar
2. Gilbert Melendez
3. Gray Maynard
4. Shinya Aoki
5. Eddie Alvarez
6. Tatsuya Kawajiri
7. Jim Miller
8. Kenny Florian
9. George Sotiropoulos
10. Anthony Pettis
FEATHERWEIGHT
DIVISION (145 pound-limit)
1. Jose Aldo
2. Manny Gamburyan
3. Diego Nunes
4. Mike Brown
5. Chad Mendes
6. Michihiro Omigawa
7. Hatsu Hioki
8. Dustin Poirier
9. Josh Grispi
10. Hiroyuki Takaya
BANTAMWEIGHT
DIVISION (135 pounds or less)
1. Dominick Cruz
2. Brian Bowles
3. Joseph Benavidez
4. Scott Jorgensen
5. Miguel Torres
6. Urijah Faber
7. Brad Pickett
8. Demetrious Johnson
9. Eddie Wineland
10. Masakatsu Ueda
Source: MMA Weekly
|
The
meaning of K-1 Dynamite’s fizzled rating on TBS
By Zach
Arnold
Quietly,
the ratings number came out for the 2010 K-1 Dynamite show on
Tokyo Broadcasting System and it was a 9.8% rating. A sub-10%
rating was the very last thing K-1 needed. (Though it was nice
to know that they ended up giving an attendance for the show
— 26,729.)
In
the here-and-now, it feels inevitable that the relationship between
K-1 and TBS will either significantly change or lead to a divorce.
The World MAX, DREAM, and Dynamite shows are in decline on the
network. Should TBS divorce itself from K-1, the big question
is whether or not Fuji TV will help save the company. While ratings
aren’t hot on Fuji TV for K-1 programming, they are steadier
than on TBS. The relationship between Kazuyoshi Ishii and Fuji
TV is also a much longer one as well.
All
of this is important for K-1’s survival. The entire business
plan that Mr. Ishii laid out for the business after the PRIDE
collapse was to control the television pipeline in Japan. By
controlling it, he could cash in on the broadcasting fees and
also control what programming was on which network. If somebody
wanted to promote a foreign show under his banner (think: the
Holland shows) and get on Japanese TV in exchange for absorbing
the live show costs and getting a % of the TV money, that sounded
great. Now with the TBS relationship in serious decline, suddenly
the plan becomes a lot less viable.
In
a good public relations (and perhaps business) move, Mr. Ishii’s
front man Sadaharu Tanigawa told the press that FEG was going
to spend the next three months restructuring and getting money
from both American and Chinese companies. One company named was
Shanghai Media Group. I say it was a good PR move because it
was a classic “turn the page before the bad news comes out”
tactic. It sounds great to say that FEG will restructure and
that there will be a ‘renewal’ for both K-1 and DREAM,
but all the concrete facts right now say that the problems facing
the company will require a lot more than just three months of
restructuring.
The
biggest issue facing K-1 is the financial model. The writing
is likely on the wall with TBS, so I can understand why the economic
realities are going to force K-1 to change. However, there’s
a reason that K-1 has always been most concerned about the Japanese
marketplace — because that’s where the money is (in
television). Without that money, you’re asking K-1 to become
a live house business model. That has never been the strength
of the company. Well, you might ask, didn’t K-1 used to
run a lot of foreign shows in the 90s and early part of the 2000s?
Yes, but the man who was responsible for foreign business affairs
for Mr. Ishii was Ken Imai. Imai turned on Ishii and ended up
going to PRIDE with Nobuyuki Sakakibara right as the whole Mike
Tyson fake contract & tax evasion scandal broke out. Mr.
Ishii is a conceptual guy and a charmer, not a nitty-gritty numbers
guy working behind a desk all the time. Unless Mr. Imai and Mr.
Ishii miraculously work together again (which in the fight business
is always a possibility), it’s hard to see how K-1 comes
up with the right networking structure to make running foreign
shows profitable on a big scale. Simon Rutz of It’s Showtime
would only be part of the puzzle, not the whole puzzle itself.
And
let’s address the idea of K-1 changing it’s economic
model in order to get money from outside investors, if you want
to call them that. If the money coming in is not due to money
laundering or tax write-off purposes, how can you say with a
straight face that the investors can expect a 30-50% return on
their investment based on all the business data you’ve seen
over the last five years? Especially in an industry where there
are few tangible assets and the intellectual & video property
at stake is largely controlled by the Japanese television networks…
There’s
no question that significant change is needed for K-1 to survive
in the fight game. However, nothing that I’ve heard as of
right now convinces me that there is going to be major change.
The situation reminds me a lot of when PRIDE made a deal to work
with Ed Fishman and become ‘a casino play.’ Ed Fishman
was and is a real, legitimate business man who did his job well.
However, as he told the story to us multiple times, Sakakibara
was looking to sell the PRIDE assets to UFC while working with
Ed. Who’s to say the same situation won’t happen here
with K-1?
There
are many problems that Mr. Ishii is facing. The biggest problem
is that his biggest strength is also his biggest weakness right
now. His biggest strength is building up foreign aces. He’s
very good at it. He’s taken the best foreign fighters in
the world and made them into stars (the Alistair Overeems, the
Peter Aerts, the Andy Hugs of the world). The problem is that
when your business model is so dependent on Japanese television,
you need strong Japanese stars. Yes, fighters like Masato and
Kid Yamamoto were strong drawing cards, but the biggest problem
K-1 faces is that with the heavyweight class of foreign fighters,
they need legitimate heavyweight native stars and it’s just
not there. Without the big heavyweight aces, you can’t consistently
book the mega fights for the casual fans.
Which
leads us to Satoshi Ishii, the man who was supposed to be the
great savior of the Japanese fight business. In the history of
the modern fight game in Japan (since the Reconstruction period
after World War II), there is one sure-fire pattern that you
must follow in order for a Japanese ace to become a major star
in the eyes of the public. The first step requires that this
fighter must have a highly regarded track record in Japan. Meaning,
they may have a mixed win/loss record, but the public buys into
the fact that they have talent and will become a somebody some
day. Think of all the pro-wrestlers like Nobuhiko Takada and
Mitsuharu Misawa who did ‘foreign excursions’ to other
countries when they were young pups and ended up coming back
to Japan after they spent time in Mexico or the States. Once
they came back, they were pushed hard and given the chance to
succeed. They did. The same case applies here to Japanese MMA.
A prospective ace needs to be taken seriously by the public.
Once
you get to that point, there are one of two traditional paths
to stardom:
¦a)
The fighter goes overseas and plays the nationalism card by dethroning
foreign fighters so they can come back home as a conqueror
¦b) Foreign fighters are brought to Japan and end up getting
vanquished. This plays off of the Japanese mentality that the
world is on the Japanese stage and that it’s an honor to
be in Japan. It also plays off of the race card of ‘the
foreign invasion’ angle.
In the case of Satoshi Ishii, none of these attributes apply.
This is why he is floundering in Japan and receiving ‘go
away’ heat from the fans. I cannot recall a native fighter
getting buried so hard in such a universal fashion in the media
the days after a big fighting event like this. I know quite a
bit about how the Japanese media works and the media there is
motivated largely by two factors:
¦a)
fear of the promoters or those connected to the promoters
¦or b) pay-for-play access, meaning promoters pay off
the photographers and writers to cover a show a certain way.
In order for such a critical mass to be reached in the media
there to bury someone like Ishii, there are likely one of two
reasons:
¦a)
The promotion, with a shrug, doesn’t protest the public
burial. Think about what happened to Kid Yamamoto in Shukan Gendai
with the ‘marijuana parties’ story.
¦b) The media no longer looks at K-1 as powerful and therefore
isn’t scared so they’ll write whatever they want to
because the repercussions are light.
Given Satoshi Ishii’s weird statements before and after
every fight, I’d probably guess that A is the correct answer.
After all, this is a man who said he was going to fight Tito
Ortiz after his November squash against Katsuyori Shibata and
do so in the States. Then, before his fight with Jerome Le Banner
at Dynamite, there was discussion of him wanting to get into
Hollywood. Between the public displays of protest and goofy behavior,
I’m sure no one was shedding a tear for the public burial
he received in the media. And let me tell you, it was a hell
of a burial. Daily Sports ran an English text headline saying
“Booooo” next to Ishii’s name. Every other major
paper (from Sports Nippon to Nikkan Sports) all ran with “Fans
booing at Ishii” headlines.
Tim
Leidecker, a wonderful friend and a great writer at Sherdog,
asked me after the Dynamite show if there was some way that Satoshi
Ishii would be able to turn the public heat against him and become
a dominant heel with the fans. I said no. I base that on the
fact that he’s an awkward goof socially and the fact that
the Japanese public just doesn’t take him seriously now.
After the 9.8% rating for Dynamite 2010, it’s clear that
the public is just not that into him. Will they ever get into
him? It’s hard to say, but fighting in Strikeforce won’t
give him credibility when he goes back to Japan. Nobody knows
about Strikeforce in Japan. When Aoki lost to Gilbert Melendez
last April in Nashville, few if any saw that fight in Japan.
Out of sight, out of mind.
Going
back to the tenets of building an ace that I laid out earlier
in the article, Ishii needs to be taken seriously first in Japan
before he starts thinking about fighting in organizations outside
the country.
I
know that this is largely an exhaustive read for you and you’re
probably wondering what the point of all of this is. Here’s
the point. The point is that there are so many moving parts and
so many obstacles for K-1 to overcome in 2011 and in the future
that it’s going to take a lot of work, a lot of determination,
and a lot of street & book smarts to pull this off. While
it is never wise to underestimate Kazuyoshi Ishii, he is not
a fellow who strikes me as someone who has all the answers to
win this battle. He’s a tough guy, a charmer, and has a
lot of street smarts. What the tax evasion scandal and the loss
of Ken Imai proved, however, is that he’s not necessarily
a book smart guy. In the predicament he’s in now, he needs
all the weapons he can use at his disposal to try to revitalize
the industry on a large scale.
Source: Fight Opinion
|
Fedor
vs. Antonio Silva Set for Strikeforce Heavyweight Tournament
It’s
no secret that Strikeforce and M-1 Global are nearing an announcement
that Fedor Emelianenko is returning to the San Jose, Calif.-based
promotion, and is expected to face Antonio “Bigfoot”
Silva in his next fight. MMAWeekly.com reported in December that
Strikeforce was trying to get that fight on its Jan. 29 fight
card.
While
that date didn’t come to fruition, the fight still intact
and is now expected for an as of yet unannounced event on Feb.
12 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J., as first reported
by Sherdog.com. MMAWeekly.com sources on Monday concurred with
the new date.
The
Fedor vs. Silva match-up is expected to be part of a long-rumored
Strikeforce heavyweight tournament that will take place over
the course of several events. The bout will be a quarterfinal
tilt of the expected eight-man tournament.
Fedor
is returning to action for the first time since his loss to Fabricio
Werdum in June. Since that time, Fedor has been sitting with
one final fight on his current deal with Strikeforce, while the
promotion negotiated with his management company at M-1 Global
on an extension.
Antonio
Silva is coming off a win in his last fight for Strikeforce,
finishing off late replacement Mike Kyle in the second round
of their heavyweight match-up. Silva had been on hiatus since
May when he defeated former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski
before returning in December to finish Kyle.
Other
bouts pitting Andrei Arlovski vs. Josh Barnett and Fabricio Werdum
vs. Brett Rogers have been floated around as part of the heavyweight
tournament, but MMAWeekly.com sources say that those bouts are
not accurate and will not be part of the quarterfinal round of
the tournament.
Negotiations
are underway on the rest of the tournament, but no other bouts
had been finalized as of Monday morning.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
UFC
125 Fighter Salaries: Thiago Silva, Frankie Edgar Top The List
The
Nevada State Athletic Commission on Monday released the fighter
salary information for UFC 125: Resolution featuring UFC lightweight
champion Frankie Edgar drawing with Gray Maynard in the main
event. UFC 125 took place on Saturday, Jan. 1, at the MGM Grand
Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The
following figures are based on the fighter salary information
that promoters are required by law to submit to the state athletic
commissions, including the winners’ bonuses.
Although
mixed martial arts fighters do not have collective bargaining
or a union, the fighters’ salaries are still public record,
just as with every other major sport in the United States. Any
undisclosed bonuses that a promoter also pays its fighters, but
does not disclose to the athletic commissions (specifically,
pay-per-view bonuses, fight of the night bonuses, etc.), are
not included in the figures below.
UFC
125 MAIN CARD FIGHTERS
-Frankie
Edgar: $102,000 (includes $51,000 win bonus) drew Gray Maynard:
$52,000 (includes $26,000 win bonus)
*Both fighters were reportedly paid their win money even though
fight was ruled a draw.
-Brian
Stann: $42,000 (includes $21,000 win bonus) def. Chris Leben:
$46,000
-Thiago
Silva: $110,000 (includes $55,000 win bonus) def. Brandon Vera:
$60,000
-Dong
Hyun Kim: $70,000 (includes $35,000 win bonus) def. Nate Diaz:
$33,000
-Clay
Guida: $62,000 (includes $31,000 win bonus) def. Takanori Gomi:
$50,000
UFC
125 PRELIMINARY CARD FIGHTERS
-Jeremy
Stephens: $36,000 (includes $18,000 win bonus) def. Marcus Davis:
$31,000
-Dustin
Poirier: $8,000 (includes $4,000 win bonus) def. Josh Grispi:
$15,000
-Brad
Tavares: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus) def. Phil Baroni:
$25,000
-Diego
Nunes: $20,000 (includes $10,000 win bonus) def. Mike Brown:
$23,000
-Daniel
Roberts: $24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus) def. Greg Soto:
$8,000
-Jacob
Volkmann: $24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus) def. Antonio McKee:
$15,000
UFC
125 DISCLOSED FIGHTER PAYROLL: $872,000
Source: MMA Weekly
|
UFC
125 Medical Suspensions, Broken Noses Abound
The
Nevada State Athletic Commission on Monday released medical suspensions
for UFC 125: Resolution, featuring Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard,
at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Please
note that multiple suspensions to an individual are served concurrently.
UFC 125 Medical Suspensions:
–
Frankie Edgar is suspended until July 1, unless he has a nasal
fracture cleared by an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor. He is minimally
suspended until March 3, with no contact before Feb. 16.
–
Gray Maynard is suspended until Feb. 1, with no contact before
Jan. 23, due to facial lacerations.
–
Chris Leben was suspended until Feb. 16, with no contact before
Feb. 1.
–
Brandon Vera was suspended until July 1, unless he has a nasal
fracture cleared by an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor. He is minimally
suspended until March 3, with no contact before Feb. 16.
–
Marcus Davis was suspended until July 1, unless he has a nasal
fracture cleared by a doctor. He is minimally suspended until
March 3, with no contact before Feb. 16.
–
Josh Grispi was suspended until July 1, unless he has his jaw
x-rayed, and, if positive, must be cleared by an Oral, Maxial,
Facial doctor. He is minimally suspended until Feb. 16, with
no contact before Feb. 1.
–
Phil Baroni was suspended until July 1, unless he has a nasal
fracture cleared by a doctor. He is minimally suspended until
March 3, with no contact before Feb. 16.
–
Diego Nunes was suspended until Jan. 23, with no contact before
Jan. 16, due to left eye contusion.
–
Greg Soto was suspended until July 1, unless he gets orthopedic
clearance on a left shoulder injury
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Matt
Brown vs. Mark Scanlon On Tap for UFC on Versus 3 Card
Welterweights
Matt Brown and Mark Scanlon have agreed to meet at the upcoming
UFC on Versus 3 show set to go down March 3 in Louisville, KY.
The
bout was confirmed to MMAWeekly.com by sources close to the match-up
on Monday. Heavy.com initially reported the bout.
Matt
Brown (11-10) is known as one of the most exciting fighters in
the UFC, but he is in a must win situation as he gets ready to
return to action in March.
The
former Jorge Gurgel student has fallen on tough times of late
dropping his last three fights in a row, and was given another
chance by the promotion following a loss to Brian Foster at UFC
123 in Nov 2010.
Facing
Brown in March will be British fighter Mark Scanlon (7-2) who
makes his second appearance in the UFC after losing in his debut
fight to Pascal Krauss at UFC 122 in Germany.
Scanlon
trains out of his native England, and will look to make a better
showing for himself when he returns in March against Brown.
It’s
expected that the fight between Brown and Scanlon will occupy
a slot on the untelevised portion of the show set to go down
on March 3 in Louisville, KY.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Donald
“Cowboy” Cerrone Steps In To Face Paul Kelly At UFC
126
The
first change to the upcoming UFC 126 fight card has taken place.
Sam Stout dropped out of the his proposed encounter with Paul
Kelly in Las Vegas. While the specific nature of the injury has
yet to be revealed, it has come to light that Donald “Cowboy”
Cerrone will step in to take his place against the Brit.
This
marks Cerrone’s debut as a UFC fighter. Sources close to
negotiations have indicated that contracts have been signed from
the American side and are just awaiting the return of a signed
bout agreement from Kelly’s camp.
Lightweight
fighters in the UFC have been on high alert since the announcement
of the WEC integration. With bouts now starting to materialize,
the lightweight division is going to be very active in 2011.
Cerrone
enters his UFC debut on a two-fight win streak to close out his
WEC career, including a win over his rival Jamie Varner, and
a submission win over Chris Horodecki at WEC 53.
The
lightweight bout is expected to be a part of the UFC 126 undercard
taking place in Las Vegas during Super Bowl weekend.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
UFC
128 Bout Between Karlos Vemola and Luiz Cane Added
A
UFC 128 bout pitting Karlos Vemola against Luiz Cane has been
signed for UFC 128 on March 19 in New Jersey. While Sherdog.com
first reported the rumored bout, MMAWeekly.com sources on Monday
indicated that the bout is now a done deal.
Vemola
(8-1), a Czech fighter, stumbled in his Octagon debut, losing
a unanimous decision to Jon Madsen. He rebounded well at UFC
122, finishing Seth Petruzelli by TKO in the opening round of
the fight.
He
made the switch from heavyweight to light heavyweight with the
Petruzelli bout, indicating much promise for his future. Vemola
has finished all eight of the opponents he has defeated in an
even mix of knockouts and submissions.
Starting
his UFC career with three wins to one loss, Cane (10-3) is walking
the career tightrope in the Octagon with this fight. He is coming
off of back-to-back losses to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and, most
recently, Cyrille Diabate. Cane will likely need to win to remain
on the UFC roster.
UFC
light heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua is
expected to defend his belt against former champion Rashad Evans
in the UFC 128 main event.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Bellator
Announces Season 4 Welterweight Tourney on MTV2
Bellator
Fighting Championships MMA LogoBellator Fighting Championships
on Monday officially announced that it will hold a Season 4 welterweight
tournament that will air on MTV2.
Eight
170-pound fighters will face off for a chance at claiming the
Season 4 welterweight tournament championship, a check for $100,000,
and a shot at Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren for the
title later this year.
While
announcements regarding confirmed participants for the tournament
are forthcoming, Bellator veteran and Season 2 welterweight tournament
finalist Dan Hornbuckle is confirmed for the upcoming competition.
After suffering a defeat at the hands of current champion Askren
by way of unanimous decision in the Season 2 finals, Hornbuckle
is eager for another shot at the belt.
“The
fact that Ben Askren is going to be there waiting for me after
I win this tournament keeps me motivated,” said Hornbuckle.
“It keeps me waking up every morning hungry. There’s
never a loss that is taken easily, so I definitely want to get
back in there, win this tournament, and avenge that loss.”
Even
with his sights ultimately set on Askren and the Bellator crown,
Hornbuckle knows he can’t look too far ahead.
“My
sights are definitely still set on obtaining that Bellator gold,
but the way that this tournament is shaping up, I can’t
look past my next fight for a second,” he said.
“Dan’s
a significant talent and I know how motivated he is to earn his
way to a rematch with Ben, it’s great to have him back in,”
said Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Stann
making the grade in UFC
LAS
VEGAS – Since the start of his mixed martial arts career,
Brian Stann has been under the microscope for reasons having
little to do with his fighting ability. Being a former military
combat hero and having won a Silver Star in leading his platoon
during an ambush in Iraq in 2005, Stann had a unique promotional
hook as a Marine-turned-MMA star before his performance in the
cage merited headlines.
But
Stann established himself and should have ended any questions
as to whether he belonged as a genuine player in the organization
on Saturday night by knocking out iron-jawed favorite Chris Leben,
the opponent he asked for, in just 3:37 of an undercard fight
at UFC 125 in Las Vegas.
Both
men were lively in pre-match hype, vowing to stand in the middle
and trade until one man came up short. But, to the surprise of
many, it was Leben who was got the worst of the exchanges.
Stann
(10-3) dropped Leben (25-7) with a left to the jaw and started
pounding the red-haired star of the first season of The Ultimate
Fighter on the ground. Although he took a beating on the ground,
Leben escaped a guillotine submission attempt and got back to
his feet.
But
Leben was just hanging on, never fully recovering from the first
knockdown. He was dropped a second time by a hard knee to the
head. Stann continued the beating on the ground and Leben took
arguably too much punishment before referee Josh Rosenthal stepped
to call a merciful halt to the onslaught.
“The
first key was Chris accepting the fight,” said Stann (10-3),
who was unmarked after the win. “He could have held out
for a bigger name. I’m a lesser known fighter. He gave me
the opportunity. I have great coaches. The best coaches in the
world. It was angles and movement. We studied him and he gets
frustrated by fighters who don’t stand in front of him.”
A
first-round knockout was a shock to most, given that Leben had
only been stopped by strikes once before in a 31-fight career,
and it took UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, one of
the best strikers in the sport’s history to do it, nearly
five years ago.
The
30-year old Stann, a former WEC light heavyweight champion, made
the decision to leave his career in the military and dedicate
himself full-time to the sport to train under Greg Jackson.
Rather
than sit back and wait for his chance to climb the ladder, he
asked UFC officials for a fight with Leben, one of the company’s
hottest fighters of 2010, who was coming off wins over Aaron
Simpson and Yoshihiro Akiyama in a two-week period in Las Vegas
last summer, the latter being arguably the best fight of the
year in the organization.
After
the fight, Stann made another request for an opponent.
“This
is with the utmost respect, as I’m fighting in the house
that Chris Leben and Wanderlei Silva built,” he said about
who he’d most like to face. “I think I’d like
to fight Wanderlei next. I’ve watched him for years, before
I ever even put a glove on. I’d like to fight him next but
I’ll be prepared for anyone.”
Stann
joked he doesn’t want to face a wrestler, at least not right
away. It was his inability to stop Phil Davis, the 2008 NCAA
wrestling champion, that forced him to make a move from light
heavyweight to middleweight – a decision in hindsight he
thought he should have made sooner.
“Absolutely,”
he said about the move in weight being the best thing for his
career. “But I had no experience cutting weight at the time.
I was in denial until the Phil Davis fight.”
Stann
credited his coaching and nutritional team for getting him to
weigh-ins at 186 pounds on the dot, and said he was 205 when
he entered the cage against Leben.
“I
should have gone down sooner but you need those losses to grow.”
“I’m
in this to fight the best. I don’t want any question marks
left behind when my time in the sport is over,” he said.
“Whoever I can fight to be in the top ten, that’s my
goal for 2011, to be in the top ten, and then to work my way
into a title shot. I hope my next fight isn’t against a
wrestler. I hope I’ve fulfilled my quota of them, at least
for one fight.”
The
week was bittersweet for Stann though. Just days before he took
the biggest step in his new career, he was jolted with the realities
of his old one.
In
the ring after his victory, he dedicated the fight to Garrett
Meisner, a soldier who was in his platoon, who he just found
out days ago had died in combat. Stann said the memory of his
comrade was a major last-minute motivating force going into the
fight.
“Absolutely,
Garrett Meisner was with me during my second deployment to Iraq,”
Stann said after the fight. “During my last year in the
service, Garrett would come to my martial arts classes for Marines
for post-traumatic stress. He was one of the most professional
Marines I ever met. I believe he volunteered to deploy again,
his third or fourth time going overseas to combat. He could have
been an instructor and stayed teaching. It literally just happened
this week. It was an improvised explosive device that killed
him. It’s tough. I’ll miss him.”
Source: Yahoo Sports
|
GSP-Shields
official for UFC 129
LAS
VEGAS – UFC president Dana White has often predicted that
the company’s biggest show will be in Toronto on April 30
at UFC 129.
He
announced Saturday that Georges St. Pierre would defend the UFC
welterweight title against Jake Shields in the main event of
that show. Former light heavyweight champions Randy Couture and
Lyoto Machida are expected to meet in the co-main event.
Shields
is the only man standing among the contenders at welterweight
after St. Pierre has rolled through the division. There had been
talk of him moving up to middleweight to challenge champion Anderson
Silva, but that bout will not be contingent upon St. Pierre getting
past Shields.
St.
Pierre is currently ranked No. 1 in the Yahoo! Sports pound-for-pound
Top 10 poll and Shields is ranked No. 9.
Couture,
47, had been considering retiring since less-than-significant
fights against Mark Coleman and boxer James Toney his last two
times out. But by getting the match with Machida, as he requested,
he’ll continue his career.
Source: Yahoo Sports
|
Report:
Georges St-Pierre vs. Jake Shields Set for UFC 129 in Toronto
One
of the worst kept secrets in MMA has been the desire to have
UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre headline UFC 129
and defend his title against Jake Shields at the Rogers Centre
in Toronto.
It
looks like that fight is coming to fruition.
Kevin
Iole of Yahoo!! Sports – an MMAWeekly.com content partner
– early Sunday morning reported that UFC president Dana
White said the fight is set for the April 30 event in Toronto.
The
bout between St-Pierre and the former Strikeforce middleweight
champion will headline the UFC 129 fight card. A bout first reported
by MMAFighting.com and subsequently confirmed by MMAWeekly.com
will pit former UFC champions Randy Couture and Lyoto Machida
in what is expected to be the co-main event of the evening.
St-Pierre
is fresh off of a win over Josh Koscheck at UFC 124 in Montreal.
Shields enters the bout after his Octagon debut, where he defeated
Martin Kampmann.
UFC
129 will mark the first time that St-Pierre has been able to
fight back-to-back in his home country since taking up residence
in the Octagon.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
5
Matches to Make After UFC 125
With
a rousing comeback after a disastrous opening round, Frankie
Edgar pulled out a draw to retain his UFC lightweight belt against
Gray Maynard at UFC 125 on Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena
in Las Vegas. While the draw may have been a letdown for some,
the bout itself was more exciting than most could have expected.
UFC
President Dana White indicated following the event that Edgar-Maynard
3 will happen next, which means WEC champion Anthony Pettis will
have to wait for his crack at UFC gold. While it is a bit of
a monkey wrench in the wheels, at least it’s one that occurs
after an excellent fight.
On
the UFC 125 card, there were the expectable developments, a few
surprises and winners to sort out among the action. Here’s
a closer look at five matches I’d like to see after Saturday’s
fights.
Thiago
Silva vs. Phil Davis
It
would be tempting to pit Silva against Quinton Jackson; the pre-fight
trash talk and testosterone levels alone would be epic.
At
UFC 125, the hard-charging Silva was back in top form, dominating
Brandon Vera en route to a one-sided decision win. But I like
him against unbeaten prospect Phil Davis next. Here’s why.
With
Jackson coming off a close decision win over former champ Lyoto
Machida, “Rampage” is a lot more marketable than Silva
and the title shot queue is pretty long at the top. There’s
the Feb. 5 UFC 126 card, with Jon Jones-Ryan Bader and Rich Franklin-Forrest
Griffin, in two meaningful 205-pound bouts.
Throw
Mauricio "Shogun" Rua’s March defense vs. Rashad
Evans at UFC 128, and it becomes clear that the UFC might be
better served putting the rising Davis in against Silva, who,
despite his win Saturday night, still has two losses against
Machida and Evans. Put it this way: if Silva were to win against
Jackson, that doesn’t grant him an immediate title shot,
while simultaneously eliminating a very viable contender in “Rampage”
from the conversation. It’s a match, right now, with little
promotional upside, though it’d be fun to watch.
Davis’
wrestling would give him a clear takedown advantage against Silva,
but the Brazilian would have the edge on the feet, and in experience.
It’s also the kind of match that helps someone like Davis
go from being a prospect to a legit top-10 contender in the organization.
The
Rua/Evans/Jackson trilogy, followed by the winner of Jones/Bader,
will sort itself out in the next year. Throw in Griffin and Franklin,
both of whom are still marketable regardless of who wins their
bout, and there’s some viable pathways for Silva to keep
moving up the ladder. Fair or not to Silva, he also needs to
prove he can beat someone that isn’t a hot-and-cold talent
like Vera, who was doing great standing until he repeatedly allowed
himself to be clinched and caught in takedown range before getting
stuck on the ground.
Davis
is unbeaten and has some serious fire, though his standup game
is still raw in spots. He’ll get better with every fight,
and Silva, now that the fire is apparently back, would be the
perfect match for both.
Clay
Guida vs. Benson Henderson
Long
known for his afterburners-on attack, Guida displayed a stylistic
wrinkle that worked out perfectly against Takanori Gomi. Using
patient, head-movement-happy standup, he picked his spots perfectly
to keep Gomi guessing, and then turned the burners on, putting
Gomi on the mat and sinking home a textbook guillotine for a
second-round win. It just goes to show you how readily fighters
are evolving in today’s game, and Guida showed he’s
more than just a perennial “Fight of the Night” candidate
-- he can use his head to outsmart guys before applying his talents.
That’s
why Henderson is the perfect next opponent for him. The former
WEC champ, coming off a thrilling decision loss to Pettis, is
very similar to Guida. He’s a high-paced guy, with outstanding
wrestling and scrambling ability, along with moderate standup
that doesn’t necessarily dictate a fight, and a good chin
and conditioning. The amount of harrowing scrambles, transitions
and swings of momentum in a Guida-Henderson match would be off
the charts.
And
in the pecking order of lightweight contenders, it makes sense
for both. It’s a stacked division, and both would get considerable
cred with the win. The only drawback is they can’t make
this one five rounds, but we’d happily settle for three
because it’d be a barnburner.
Brian
Stann vs. Michael Bisping
With
some fighters, it takes a while for their improvement curve to
catch up to the great storyline they possess. And that’s
clearly the case with Brian Stann, who registered an impressive
first-round stoppage over Chris Leben. Stann, willing to slug,
showed a degree of sharpness and evolved tactical acumen he simply
didn’t possess in his earlier appearances, especially in
the WEC. Training with Greg Jackson his clearly bumped up his
game to the next level.
A
match against Bisping would be a solid one, though as a caveat,
Bisping has Jorge Rivera lined up Feb. 27. Win or lose, Stann-Bisping
is perfect for both guys. Neither has a wrestling background
or proven takedown defense against elite grapplers, which would
be a real problem against a Chael Sonnen or Nate Marquardt.
Both
like to slug and have a marketable storyline. Bisping also seems
to rankle stateside fans while being a beloved figure amidst
the U.K. crowd, so a battle against Stann would be a great opportunity
for both to take a jump in popularity while not getting taken
down and sat on en route to a decision loss.
Plus,
if Stann won, his popularity and profile in the states would
jump enormously. As a former Marine Captain who received the
Silver Star while serving in Iraq, his improvement seems to be
making strides, Bisping would be both a marketable and winnable
fight, and one that if he lost, it wouldn’t be a blowout.
Dong
Hyun Kim vs. Diego Sanchez/Martin Kampmann winner
As
expected (at least in my predictions column), Kim ground out
a close decision over Nate Diaz in a bout with few surprises.
To be honest, given the lay of the welterweight landscape, he’d
be likely outwrestled and outstruck by available top contenders
like Josh Koscheck. Kim is sort of in a weird gray area in terms
of contention, as he’s tough enough to grind out wins over
a certain class and style, but hasn’t shown the all-around
game he’ll need to propel himself to the next level.
That’s
why I like him against the winner of the March 3 Versus bout
of Sanchez/Kampmann. That’s likely to be an exciting bout,
and the winner would be fun to watch against Kim. While I’m
leaning toward Sanchez to take the duke there, he’s very
marketable and wouldn’t necessarily out-muscle Kim; though
Sanchez’ ability to force a fast pace and work rate would
be interesting. Ditto for Kampmann, whose good striking and wrestling
deficits would be a good match for Kim as well, and give him
time to work on his standup, which he’ll need against the
elite fighters in the division.
Brad
Tavares vs.
Tom Lawlor
Tavares
displayed a cool head after a near-disastrous start against veteran
slugger Phil Baroni, getting drilled early and surviving the
storm en route to a first-round knockout win. Tavares, now 7-0
(he was eliminated in the TUF semifinals against eventual winner
Court McGee), is a good prospect with some ability and compelling
upside.
That’s
why a match against “Filthy” Lawlor is the perfect
test. Lawlor is a tough wrestler with solid conditioning and
an improving standup game, who always gives a good scrap. It
would further test Tavares’ ability to deal with tactical
problems and prove he’s ready to take the next step up the
mountain, and either way it’d be a fan-friendly bout.
Source: Sherdog
|
UFC
125: Edgar vs. Maynard 3 On Tap Next; Pettis Put On Hold
Following
UFC 125?s main event draw, it was announced by UFC president
Dana White via vice president Craig Borsari that the last ever
WEC champion Anthony Pettis would still get the next crack at
the lightweight belt despite the unresolved business between
Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard.
Well,
now it appears it will be Anthony Pettis that will be waiting.
Shortly
after the UFC 125 post fight press conference ended, Dana White
apparently had a change of heart as he told Yahoo! Sports’
Kevin Iole that it would be Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard 3
next up to bat and Pettis would have to hold on until another
day.
Maynard,
who was visibly emotional after the tough decision, sounded dejected
at the post fight press conference after walking out of UFC 125
without being recognized at the lightweight champion.
“I
thought I had it the win was mine, (expletive) I don’t want
a loss,” Maynard said.
When
a fight with Anthony Pettis was posed to him, Frankie Edgar seemed
luke warm to the idea as well, opting to finish the business
with Gray Maynard first.
“Yeah,
if it was up to me I would fight him again first,” Edgar
said about facing Maynard again.
It
appears that while a solution wasn’t found after UFC 125
was over, Edgar and Maynard will get to do it all over again,
and this time it’s Anthony Pettis who is left as the odd
man out waiting for his chance to fight for the UFC lightweight
strap.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Miesha
Tate Starting Training for Strikeforce Champ Marloes Coenen,
Unsure of Date
Strikeforce
fighter Miesha Tate earned her shot at the promotion’s 135-pound
division title defeating two fighters in one night last August.
Now she is finally nearing her shot.
Tate
on Saturday Tweeted that she is starting her training camp for
Strikeforce women’s welterweight champion Marloes Coenen,
with her sights set on the promotion’s March 5 date in Columbus,
Ohio.
Tate
said she is “hoping for the March 5 card,” but wasn’t
sure that date would hold true. MMAWeekly.com sources close to
the situation confirmed that the fight has not yet been scheduled
for the Arnold Fitness Classic weekend, but it is a possibility.
Tate
has been waiting patiently since August, while Coenen stepped
into the title picture and captured the belt from former champion
Sarah Kaufmann.
Strikeforce
has a Jan. 29 fight card featuring men’s welterweight champion
Nick Diaz defending his belt against Evangelista “Cybrog”
Santos. The promotion is also working on as of yet unannounced
February fight card, along with the March 5 event.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
UFC
125 Postfight Awards Are Clear-Cut for $60,000 Fighter Bonuses
Ultimate
Fighting Championship officials on Saturday night handed out
their traditional post-fight awards and bonuses, and while there
were plenty of options to choose from at UFC 125, the award winners
couldn’t be argued.
The
main event came down to a draw, but outside of the decision,
no one would argue that it wasn’t the UFC 125 Fight of the
Night.
Gray
Maynard had UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar defeated six
ways to Sunday in the opening round, but somehow, Edgar found
something deep within himself and survived to fight on.
And
fight on he did, through the full five rounds of the fight. Each
fighter had his moments where he took control, nearly finishing
the other, but in the end, the three judges split it 48-46 for
Maynard, 48-46 for Edgar, and 47-47, for a draw.
Both
Edgar and Maynard walked away with an extra $60,000 for their
efforts, though neither was likely happy with a draw.
Clay
Guida, who gave all the respect in the world to his opponent,
wouldn’t give Takanori Gomi the fight. Guida wants to make
a run at Edgar’s UFC lightweight title and he’s on
his way with three-straight victories, capped with his Submission
of the Night performance against “The Fireball Kid.”
Guida
finished Gomi with a deep rear naked choke in the waning moments
of the second round, earning a $60,000 bonus check.
The
Knockout of the Night could also have fallen into the Comeback
Kid category. Marcus Davis bested Jeremy Stephens for the better
part of two and a half rounds, but couldn’t close him out.
Instead, in desperation mode, Stephens pressed the action in
round three and ended up clipping Davis on the chin, laying him
out cold, and leaving him flat on his back.
The
crushing KO scored Stephens a $60,000 bonus check.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
UFC
125: Epic War Ends in Draw Between Edgar and Maynard
It
looks a trilogy of fights between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard,
as the main event of UFC 125 ended in a draw after an epic five
round battle between champion and challenger.
The
ending may somehow spoil just how special the fight between Edgar
and Maynard turned out to be, as both fighters left their hearts
and souls in the Octagon on Saturday night.
Gray
Maynard nearly walked out with the UFC title just minutes in
the first round after catching Edgar with a left hook that took
away the champion’s equilibrium. Wobbled and backing up,
Edgar tried to fend off Maynard’s attack, but the Michigan
State alum was having none of it.
Maynard
continued to push forward blasting shot after shot, with one
of them bloodying Edgar’s nose. The fight appeared as close
to finished as any could, but somehow Edgar regained his composure
and found his way out of the first round.
When
asked after the fight was over what he remembered about the initial
five minutes, Edgar could only answer “not much.”
Going
for the kill may have backfired on Maynard as well, because for
his part the 2nd round was almost a complete reversal from the
first.
“I
kind of punched myself in the first, in round two I couldn’t
go that hard,” Maynard admitted.
Edgar
looked quick and nimble on his feet as if the first round didn’t
happen, and he peppered Maynard with punches and even landed
a huge slam to bring the fight to the mat. Maynard’s movement
became labored, and he was launching huge punches obviously head
hunting to try and put the fight away after coming so close in
the first.
The
fast turn around gave Edgar confidence and if he didn’t
remember the first round, all the much better because it was
a new fight at that point.
“Felt
good, felt like the first round didn’t happen,” Edgar
commented about his strong second round.
In
his corner between rounds, Randy Couture yelled at Maynard to
stop looking for the knockout and just go back to the strategy
to beat Edgar up. The advice paid off with Maynard going back
to his basic boxing, and gaining the upper hand again later in
the fight with more slick combinations.
Edgar
wasn’t about to give up his title that easily however, and
fired back with quick jabs and combinations of his own, while
mixing in a takedown or two along the way. Maynard was there
every step of the way as well, cracking the champion with big
power shots that blasted Edgar in the nose several more times.
Non-stop
action continued for the final fifteen minutes with both Edgar
and Maynard staking their claim to a victory.There was simply
no easy call in the final 3 rounds, although Maynard definitely
disagreed with that assessment.
“I
thought it was a 10-8 (first round), me the third, and me the
fifth,” said Maynard after the fight.
The
judges’ scores read 48-46 Maynard, 48-46 Edgar, and 47-47,
which brought the fight to a final end as a draw. A dejected
Edgar didn’t seem too happy with the end result.
“Close
fight, what are you going to do?” Edgar said.
Maynard’s
ire was also raised as his quest to become the UFC lightweight
champion came and went, and while he didn’t go home with
a loss on his record, he also didn’t go home with a gold
belt either.
“I
(expletive) hope so,” Maynard answered when asked if he
was hoping for a third fight with Edgar to finish their battle.
The
fight between Edgar and Maynard was everything a title bout is
supposed to be. Exciting action, a back and forth struggle, with
both fighters having the upper hand at some point during the
struggle. The downside of the main event for UFC 125 is the anti-climactic
ending that saw no winner and no loser, only a draw and now a
muddied picture for the UFC’s lightweight title contenders.
Edgar
goes home with the belt, but obviously not feeling like a winner.
Maynard walks out feeling like he won, but with no title, and
somewhere Anthony Pettis sits and now has to wait to see where
he fits into all of this as the odd man out waiting for his chance
to fight for the belt.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
UFC
125: Brian Stann Stops ‘The Crippler,’ TKOs Chris Leben
In the First
Brian
Stann proved he can beat a tough opponent by stopping a seasoned
Chris Leben in the first round at UFC 125. “The All-American”
showed some pretty sharp stand-up technique, as he handed Leben
the TKO loss.
Stann
was able to calculate his distance perfectly and utilized clean
combinations while on the feet. Mid-way through the first round,
Stann threw a right body kick and followed it up with a left
then right hand. A short scramble later, Stann landed a nice
right hand that sent Leben crashing to the canvas.
Leben
was able to get back up and clinch with Stann against the cage.
From there, Stann overwhelmed “The Crippler,” dropping
his opponent two more times, with the third and final shot being
a clean knee by Stann. Leben covered up and couldn’t defend
himself any longer, prompting referee Josh Rosenthal to step
in an stop the fight at 3:37 of the very first round, giving
Stann the TKO victory.
Stann,
a former U.S. Marine Corps officer, impressively collected his
second middleweight win in a row after dropping a unanimous decision
to Phil Davis at light heavyweight. The weight cut seemed to
be the right way to go for Stann, as he looked obviously bigger
and stronger than Leben from the get go.
Leben,
a veteran of 33 professional fights, can typically take a few
punches in any given fight, but Saturday night, he took too many.
Prior to the UFC 125 bout with Stann, he made it clear when he
said, “My fights are generally exciting.” Well, the
MGM crowd definitely got excited when they saw “The Crippler”
take the punishment from Stann’s combinations.
As
a result of UFC 125’s festivities, Brian Stann improves
his record to 10-3, while Chis Leben drops to 25-7.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Thiago
Silva explains provoking Vera: “He said he was going to
beat me”
Not
having set foot in the Octagon in a year, since losing to former
champion Rashad Evans, Thiago Silva barged in guns blazing against
Brandon Vera this Saturday at UFC 125 in Las Vegas.
The
Brazilian liberally dished out provocations throughout the fight
on the way to winning a unanimous decision. At the post-event
press conference, Thiago explained:
“Brandon
was saying in interviews that he was going to beat me, that he’d
do this or that. All I said was tell him to try and beat me,”
he says.
At
a given moment in the third round, Thiago had Vera’s back,
from where he launched a salvo of slaps.
“I
threw some slaps just to get him to lose focus so I could get
the submission,” he explains.
On
the fight, Silva feels he had a good showing, although he still
needs to evolve.
“I
trained a lot for this fight. For someone who’s been out
for a year, I feel I had a good appearance, but I’m here
to improve too. I can improve.”
Regarding
his future in the organization, he’s ready for whatever
comes.
“I’m
not here to pick my opponents. It’s not my decision, it’s
the UFC’s, but I’m here to fight the best,” he
says in closing.
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
Rematch
on tap after inconclusive thriller
LAS
VEGAS – Ultimate Fighting Championship president Dana White
failed to attend the post-fight news conference Saturday at the
MGM Grand after a sensational lightweight title bout between
Frankie Edgar and No. 1 contender Gray Maynard ended in a draw.
White
had UFC vice president Craig Borsari stand in for him and announce
that World Extreme Cagefighting lightweight champion Anthony
Pettis would get the next shot at Edgar’s championship.
When Borsari made the announcement, Maynard, sitting a few feet
to his left, visibly sagged.
It
wasn’t a good start to the New Year for Maynard, who may
be haunted for a long time by his failure to stop Edgar in the
first round when he knocked him down three times with punches
and took him to the mat two other times.
White,
though, changed his mind. In a telephone call to Yahoo! Sports
late Saturday, he said Maynard would indeed get the next shot
at Edgar’s belt when both are healthy enough to fight again.
“I
hate to talk about what we’re going to do with future fights
at a press conference when a card has just ended,” said
White, who personally scored the bout a draw. “I had the
whole Pettis thing with the belt on my mind and so I said, ‘Yeah,
Pettis gets the next shot.’ But then when I thought about
it more, how can I in good conscience not give that shot to Gray
Maynard? It’s a no-brainer. He came in there and he fought
his ass off and he deserves that rematch. That was a great fight
and they deserve to do it again.”
All
three judges scored the first round 10-8 for Maynard. But Marcos
Rosales gave the final four rounds to Edgar and had it 48-46
for the champion. Patricia Morse-Jarman scored it 47-47, giving
Rounds 2, 3 and 4 to Edgar and giving the fifth to Maynard. Glenn
Trowbridge scored it 48-46 for Maynard, giving the challenger
the odd rounds and Edgar the even rounds.
The
crowd of 12,688 didn’t like the call and neither did either
fighter.
“It
obviously doesn’t feel good,” Maynard said softly.
“I thought it was my fight. I thought I had the belt. I
worked my ass off for this. I don’t know. I guess it kind
of hurts.”
It
felt no better for Edgar, who came out in the second round remarkably
composed for a guy who was battered so badly in the first that
there were many who felt referee Yves Lavigne should have stopped
it.
Edgar
was bleeding from the nose and mouth and several times staggered
around the cage like a drunken man on his way home from a New
Year’s Eve party in that epic first round. But Edgar hardly
seemed worse for the wear in the second and he fought Maynard
on better-than-even terms the rest of the way.
Edgar
has been battling for respect despite entering the bout with
the title and a 13-1 record, which included back-to-back championship
match wins over the legendary B.J. Penn.
Maynard
knocked Edgar down three times and took him down twice in a stunningly
one-sided first round that was reminiscent of the performance
Cain Velasquez gave in October in lifting the heavyweight title
from Brock Lesnar.
“I
got hit with a big shot,” Edgar said of the Maynard left
hook that sent him tumbling backward. “He came out strong;
did a good job. I bounced back and I felt I won the last four
rounds. “
Maynard
went so hard in the first round trying for the finish that he
didn’t have much energy in the second. Maynard’s coach
Gil Martinez said he was surprised Lavigne let the fight continue,
though, he wasn’t criticizing the referee.
But
he noted that Phil Baroni was given considerably less leeway
when he was stopped in the first round of a middleweight fight
with Brad Tavares earlier in the card.
“I’ve
seen a lot of other fights stopped for a lot less than that,”
Martinez said. “It should have been stopped in the first
round. Frankie had no answers for anything that Gray was hitting
him with. Phil Baroni got stopped and he was only hit, what,
four or five times? Gray landed a good 50, 60 punches in that
round, maybe more.
“After
the first round, it was like running a sprint and then me coming
up and asking him to run a mile. He punched himself out and so
the second round, he kind of took it off. Then again, the third
and the fifth, we thought we had those rounds.”
Edgar’s
boxing was far sharper than Maynard’s after the first, as
he used ring movement and a sharp right hand to fight his way
back into the bout.
White
was incredulous, as were many in attendance, that Edgar was able
to survive the first, let alone continue. And when he seemingly
turned it around 180 degrees in the second, White’s respect
for Edgar only increased.
“Why
people doubt this kid I’ll never understand,” White
said. “I think he’ll get more respect for what he did
tonight, surviving that first round, than he did for two wins
over B.J. The size difference between them is amazing and Gray
couldn’t take him down (after the first). The kid is a tough,
tough kid and he deserves a lot more respect than he gets.”
They
both do, and White showed it to Maynard, as well, by giving him
the rematch. For a fight that fans were complaining about and
few supposedly wanted to see, the third one in the series is
going to be huge.
Source: Yahoo Sports
|
Edgar
and Maynard to have second title fight
Considered
the best fight at this Saturday’s UFC 125 event in Las Vegas,
Frankie Edgar’s title defense against Gray Maynard ended
in a draw, and the belt stayed with Edgar.
Now
the previously defined order, whereby WEC champion Anthony Pettis
would be the next challenger, has changed. Pettis will have to
wait a while longer, as UFC president Dana White has changed
his mind.
Although
no date has yet been set, Edgar will again defend his title against
Maynard, bringing the number of times the two have faced off
to three. Undefeated Gray is responsible for the only loss on
Frankie’s ledger.
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
UFC
125: Clay Guida Submits Takanori Gomi To Kick Off the Show
His
nickname is “The Carpenter”, but you could just as
easily call Clay Guida “The Dude” or even “The
Wildman” for his crazy but effective style in the Octagon.
It
paid off once again at UFC 125 as Guida submitted former Pride
lightweight champion Takanori Gomi with a suffocating guillotine
choke in the 2nd round of their match-up.
The
wild nature of Guida’s game came out in the opening moments
of the fight with constant head movement, and fast footwork.
It appeared Guida’s moves confounded Gomi, who didn’t
have any idea what to do to counter his opponent’s actions.
“Non-stop
(movement), I don’t like getting hit by him,” Guida
said about his strategy.
Gomi
did manage a nice knee strike as Guida rushed in for one of his
takedowns, but the advantage only lasted for a moment and the
relentless Team Jackson fighter kept moving forward, looking
to bring the fight back to his favor. It was a scramble that
finally brought an end to the fight as Guida saw an opening with
Gomi’s head up, and he quickly snatched a guillotine choke.
Takanori Gomi and Clay Guida at UFC 125
Takanori
Gomi and Clay Guida at UFC 125
Guida
rolled and locked up the hold like a vice-grip, and Gomi was
stuck and had no choice but the tap out. Submitting Gomi with
a perfectly executed guillotine choke was something Guida picked
up from one of his teammates in New Mexico.
“That’s
Joe “Daddy” Stevenson in the house, he taught me that,
I’ve been working a lot with Joe,” Guida commented
giving credit to his teammate.
Guida
summed up his evening with a line from his favorite movie “The
Big Lebowski” where he’s also taken his nickname of
“The Dude.”
“If
you will it dude, it is no dream,” Guida said.
Guida
picks up his third win in a row, while Gomi drops to 1-2 in the
UFC.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
UFC
125: Dong Hyun Kim Grinds Out Unanimous Win Over Nate Diaz
Dong
Hyun Kim worked his way to a unanimous decision over Nate Diaz
in their UFC 125 affair. All three judges scored the fight 29-28
in favor of the Korean fighter, improving his undefeated record
to 14-0-1 with one no contest.
Kim
entered the arena to a the classic PRIDE theme song — a
musical selection that has been very popular in the UFC, of late.
“Stun Gun” worked towards his strength and took Diaz
down at just one minute into the first round. From that position,
Kim worked from Diaz’s guard and tried to pass into a more
advantageous position. While standing over Diaz, Kim landed a
clean right hand that clearly solidified the round for him. Diaz
had no answer for Kim for the rest of the opening stanza.
Round
two was more of the same from Kim, as he took Diaz down with
a clean leg sweep and landed in the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu fighter’s
guard. Although he was on his back for a majority of the round,
Diaz did well to prevent Kim from getting anywhere passed half
guard. Diaz was able to get the fight back to the feet for just
a brief moment before Kim brought him back to the canvas.
Later
in the round, Diaz transitioned and was able to get Kim on his
back, to the delight of the MGM Grand crowd, but Kim scrambled
to get away. Because of his ability to control Diaz for a second
consecutive round, Kim found himself up two rounds to none heading
into the final five minutes of the fight.
Round
three had Diaz come back to life a bit, but a controversial knee
to the Kim’s head had Yves Lavigne call a timeout. Kim’s
left hand was on the canvas when Diaz threw the knee, which is
illegal under the unified rules of mixed martial arts. Fortunately,
the fight continued since Kim was clearly able to carry on.
Several
transitions between the two grapplers ensued, but a failed hip
toss by Kim opened up an opportunity for Diaz to land a nice
head kick from behind. A clinch from behind also allowed for
some punches from Diaz, but it wasn’t enough for the judges,
as they gave Kim the nod unanimously.
After
the fight, Kim stood with Joe Rogan and seemed to express his
dislike for his own performance.
“I
wasn’t able to charge my ‘stun gun’ this time,”
Kim said following the win. “But my next fight…I’ll
charge my ‘stun gun.’”
Regardless
of the lack of charge in the “stun gun,” Kim was bold
enough call out the welterweight champion.
“My
name is ‘Stun Gun.’ I want GSP,” he said.
Diaz,
an Ultimate Fighter winner, loses his first fight in his last
three outings, but a 3-3 record in his last six fights doesn’t
look very impressive. The loss was Diaz’s first since coming
up to the 170 pound division.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
UFC
125: Thiago Silva Re-Arranges Brandon Vera’s Face En Route
To Victory
Before
Thiago Silva and Brandon Vera stepped into the Octagon on Saturday
night, there was non-stop talk about how Vera was back to his
old self and this would be his coming out party.
In
the end, it was Thiago Silva who showed he was back after a year
away from the sport, and Vera who may be on his way out of the
UFC.
Two
very aggressive light heavyweights, both Silva and Vera pack
a serious punch, but the Brazilian apparently saw a weakness
he thought he could expose in his opponent’s ground game
and took the fight to the mat multiple times.
Silva
pressed down on Vera will all his weight, and just hammered away
throughout the fight. While he does have wrestling in his background,
Vera simply could not stop the takedowns from Silva, who put
him on the canvas at will.
The
third round brought out more dominance from Silva, pressing Vera
against the cage and getting him down, where he proceeded to
punch and slap him about the head and body. The open palm strikes
from Silva may have brought the biggest damage of the entire
fight as he snapped Vera’s nose.
When
Vera stood up after the fight his nose was pointing in about
three different directions, none of them in the right way.
Thiago
Silva scored a dominant win with all three judges giving him
the nod, and one judge even giving the American Top Team fighter
a 10-8 round for his overpowering performance. The win gets Silva
back on track after an injury filled 2010.
Meanwhile,
Brandon Vera drops his third fight in a row, and may very well
see his career in the UFC come to an end with another tough loss.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Diego
Nunes ready for Mike Brown: “This is my moment”
With 15 wins and only one loss on his career, Diego Nunes is
preparing himself for his debut on UFC, which happens in January
1st, against WEC’s former champion, Mike Brown. On an exclusive
interview given to TATAME, the tough guy from Nova União
talked about his trainings in Rio de Janeiro, analyzed his opponent’s
game style, talked about the help of José Aldo on his
trainings and his excitement for the bout. “Anything can
happen, a fight is a fight, but I’ll tell you something
from the bottom of my heart: this is my moment, this is my story”,
guarantees Diego, who analyzed the pros and cons of the fusion
Between WEC and UFC. “I’m aware there’ll be some
cuts now of the guys who’re losing, but I trust my boss.
I’ll give my best to remain on UFC. My history doesn’t
end here, I’m just starting”.
How
was your preparation for your debut on UFC?
The
preparation has been hard, as usual, because, as you know, here
in Nova União the trainings are hard every day, and with
this excellent cast of athletes, we get sharp for our battles.
And for this debut on UFC it couldn’t be any different,
training on this final phase all days, including weekends.
What
do you think of Mike Brown?
He’s
a smart guy, an athlete who knows how to take advantage of his
opportunities, but I’ll bet on my speed and technique, against
strength and aggressiveness. It’ll be it, youth versus experience,
a dreamer who wants to get there and fight a guy who already
has made his dream come true, and that’s why this is my
time.
You
train with Jose Aldo, who ran over Mike on WEC. Did he give you
some tips?
We
train together every day, Aldo, Marlon, Amilcar, Rodolfo, Johnny
Eduardo, Felipe and all the guys of Nova União, we exchange
information and tip each other. There’s all of that here,
so whoever the opponent is, we’re prepare for, together,
overcoming the obstacles and opponents we have on our way.
Do
you believe that Mike will try to use with you the same game
plan he used with Aldo or do you believe he’ll bring something
different for you?
Each
fight is different, that’s truth, I’m sure he’ll
come different because we try to match our game plan to our opponent’s
game, and my style is different than Junior’s, that’s
why I know he studied my game to come up with something that
surprises me. But that’s what I’ve told you before,
we train for anything here. There’re ten guys like him and
me and ten guys better than we, that’s why we’re ready
for anything.
If
you beat Mike, a great former champion of the event, you’ll
conquest the third win in a row, your 16th out of 17 on your
career, and I’m starting to think about the belt… But
your training partner is the champion. How will you deal with
it? Do you think about changing for a lighter or heavier weight
division?
My
future belongs to God, my life and my entire career is on His
hands. I know some things He promised me and that are coming
true, “because He ain’t a man who lies neither the
son of a man that regrets himself”. Changing for a lighter
weight class is hard, even because this weight is my lower one,
and I’ve won because I had his hands guiding me here. And
you can be sure everything’s written, and for sure, God
prepared something really beautiful for all of us with no one
having to betray other guy.
Until
you signed with WEC, your fights had never gone to the judges
round card decision, but after you debuted on WEC, you couldn’t
submit or knock a guy out. Why? Do you think that this level
of competition had a great role on that change?
I’ve
thought about it many times, even because here in Brazil I’ve
fought tough guys and I’ve had the luck to win quickly.
But today I’m more cool with that, what happened was supposed
to happen, the important thing is that we’ve won, otherwise
we wouldn’t be on UFC now. There were many tough fights
with a lot of sweating, blood and tears, but that made me a stronger
and more patient fighter, with greater willpower and determined
to go until the end always, in every aspect of my life.
Do
you think that this fight, for the fact that Mike has an aggressive
game style too, might finish before it goes for the judges’
call?
My
dear beloved, anything can happen, a fight is a fight, but I’ll
tell you something from the bottom of my heart: this is my moment,
this is my story. Everybody pays a price to get here, and my
story only God knows, because if you started telling everything
you wouldn’t believe it. I’m only here because God
promised me great things, because if it was only because of my
strengths I would maybe had stopped or didn’t have the luck
I had. That’s why I say, I’ll go for the fight, I’ll
suffer, but in the end, the rock that the constructors reject
will become the main one, that’s why it comes from God.
What
do you expect of the fusion between UFC and WEC?
Everything,
great things, fulfilling of many dreams, just like mine, and
now the charge over me will be greater. I’m tuned that there’ll
be some cuts now that the guys from WEC are losing, but I trust
my boss. I’ll give my best to remain on UFC. My history
doesn’t finish here, it’s only beginning.
How
many fights do you have on your contract? Do you believe that
your scholarship might raise on your next negotiation, by the
fact it’s UFC now?
I
have a four-fights contract, and it’ll only depend on my
performance and of how my result will be from now on. I believe
my chances are bigger now and I can have chance of improving
my life, because that’s one of my goals. I didn’t get
there yet. Yesterday I didn’t have anything, money, family
structure, a house, I’ve only had a church to support me.
Now I have a beautiful wife and friends to train with me and
help me… Man, I have everything I need today that’s
why I can only have blessings of God for my life.
Source: Tatame
|
In
2011, Hillary to divide time between competition and medicine
Black
belt world champion in 2010 Hillary Williams heads into the new
year as one of the big names in female Jiu-Jitsu. The fighter
was sidelined during the second half of the year due to a wrist
injury but stayed involved in the sport, notably as an IBJJF
referee.
Check
out what she had to say to GRACIEMAG.com:
What
was it like having to sit out competitions?
I
got hurt, had several injuries and also dedicated myself to college.
So, during the second half of the year, I stuck more to refereeing.
But the truth is that it was a great opportunity. I had the chance
to learn a lot more about the rules and now I understand the
game a lot better. I’m not in the kind of shape I’d
like to be, but I’m now on vacation from college, in Miami
at Roberto Cyborg’s academy, and I know I’ll be fine
for the upcoming championships.
Do
you intend to compete at all the championships in 2011?
I
want to compete at everything possible. I’ll be in the USA
until May. Then, I’ll take some time off from my studies
to spend three months training in Brazil. I’ll have fun
and train. In August, I’ll start the second phase of medical
school here in the USA and it will be really hard to compete.
I’ll have more studying to do and I’ll work at a hospital.
What
was it like refereeing big matches like the final between Beatriz
Mesquita and Michelle Nicolini at the No-Gi Worlds?
It
pretty much came out of the blue. I was in Miami to watch the
event and I took a course. I learned a number of rules, which
was great, and I was also able to see how it’s a really
hard job to do. I’ll never complain about to the referees
again! I reffed the final between Michelle Nicolini and Beatriz
Mesquita and got really nervous, to tell you the truth. But Álvaro
Mansur spoke with me earlier and I calmed down, and it was a
really good match, with two excellent fighters.
Which
female fighters do you most like watching in competition?
The
fighters I liked watching most this year were Bia Mesquita and
Michelle. They attack a lot and I love watching them fight. In
my weight group, I always admired Hannette Staack. I don’t
even have words to describe her. She stopped some this year,
but I hope she comes back. It would be really cool to face her.
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
UFC
125 Results & Live Play-by-Play
Congratulations
to Hawaii's Brad Tavares!
Saturday,
January 01, 2011
MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas
Antonio
McKee vs. Jacob Volkmann
Round 1
Both come out cautiously in a southpaw stance. They paw right
jabs. McKee misses a right hook but follows that with a kick
to the ribs. McKee lands a left/right and then shoots in. He's
stuffed. They stand and clinch. McKee presses Volkmann into the
cage. After about 20 seconds they separate. Volkmann shoots in
and scores a takedown; he lands in half guard. McKee scrambles
and gets back to his feet and presses "Christmas" into
the cage again. Volkmann reverses and then separates. McKee misses
a wild left uppercut/right hook. Very little action at end of
frame. Very close round. 10-9 Volkmann.
Round
2
They paw jabs and stalk each other. A minute in and virtually
nothing has happened. Volkmann shoots in and takes McKee down.
They scramble and Volkmann takes his back, but he's inverted.
They scramble again and this time Volkmann has his back proper.
He latches on a rear-naked choke, but McKee has great defense.
Volkmann has both hook in but he can't sink the choke. 90 seconds
later and McKee is still defending perfectly. McKee now is punching
upwards to try and score points. He's actually landing many of
his punches cleanly. McKee explodes and spins out of the choke
and lands in Volkmann's guard at the horn. 10-9 Volkmann.
Round
3
They circle cautiously for 45 seconds until Volkmann throws a
right hook. It misses by a mile. Very little action and the sparse
crowd begins to boo. Two minutes in and nothing has happened.
McKee eats a right hand but answers with a left. McKee digs a
right hook to the body followed by a left hand to the ribs. McKee
lands a lunging right hand and shoots in. He scoops up Volkmann
and slams him down to the canvas. Volkmann scoots to the cage
and sits up. Volkmann wall walks after a minute or so buy McKee
drags him back down. The horn sounds and those in attendance
boo lustily. 10-9 McKee.
Official
scores: 29-28 McKee, 29-28 Volkmann and 29-28 Volkmann. Jacob
Volkmann takes the split decision.
Daniel
Roberts vs. Greg Soto
Round 1
Roberts storms out and connects with a series of stiff right
jabs from a southpaw stance. They flail away but neither lands
a clean shot. Roberts shoots in but is stuffed and then caught
in a guillotine. Roberts fends it off and scrambles to his feet.
Soto sprawls to avoid a double leg but he's eventually dragged
down. Roberts lands in Soto's half guard. Roberts is active from
up top and delivers a series of left elbows and hammerfists.
Soto returns the favor with a vicious elbow from the bottom.
Soto scrambles and Roberts instantly locks in a perilous kimura.
It's deep. Soto rolls to escape but he is stick by the fence.
It's deep and Soto taps. The official time of submission is 3:25.
Mike
Thomas Brown vs. Diego Nunes
Round 1
Nunes quickly fires a low kick and a spinning back kick. Brown
charges in and shoots for a double, but Nunes stuffs him. Brown
has Nunes pressed into the fence and digs dozens of vicious knees
to the thigh. Nunes scrambles out and Brown is all over him.
Brown lands a series of punches to the face and then seizes his
back. Nunes explodes out and Brown slams him back down. Nunes
scrambles up and is cracked by a massive left hand. He's rocked
and stumbles into the fence. Brown over extends on a takedown
attempt and Nunes escapes danger and clears his head. Hard low
kick connects for Nunes. Hard right hand by Brown. Flying knee
by Nunes. Now it's on. The Brazilian fires three more knees from
the clinch. 10-9 Brown.
Round
2
Nunes' left eye is totally shut at the start of the round. A
hard low kick by Nunes followed by a spinning-back kick and another
low kick. Brown just presses forward. Nunes is keeping a safe
distance with his low and front kicks. They clinch. A few knees
from Nunes find a home on Brown's body. They separate. Brown
isn't as aggressive this round. Nunes is in total control with
his awkward punches and low kicks. Brown shoots in but Nunes
sprawls. Brown scoops him up but can't slam him down because
Nunes grabbed onto the corner post. Back up, Nunes lands another
spinning-back kick. They clinch and Nunes connects with a series
of knees to the body. 10-9 Nunes.
Round
3
Nunes lands a kick to the body, a head kick and a glancing axe
kick. Brown can't close the gap to strike due to Nunes' distance.
A hard low kick by Nunes. Brown shoots in but Nunes sprawls.
They clinch against the cage and then trade knees to the body.
Nunes reverses and has Brown pinned into the cage. Nunes lands
a series of knees to the body. Brown slips out and lands a knee
of his own. They separate. Nunes with another spinning-back kick.
Another, but it's blocked. Brown scores a textbook double leg
and Nunes scrambles up to his feet. Head kick by Nunes at the
horn. Great fight. 10-9 Nunes.
Official
scores: 29-28, Nunes, 29-28 Brown and 29-28 Nunes. Nunes takes
a split decision; there's a mixture of cheers and boos for the
verdict.
Phil
Baroni vs. Brad
Tavares
Round 1
Tavares continues to paw toward the back of the fence, and Baroni
cracks him with a hard left hook. Tavares falls against the fence,
and Baroni quickly looks for a guillotine, but can't secure the
choke. Tavares is able to defend the choke, but Baroni assumes
top control, and gets to half guard, driving his forearm into
Tavares. Tavares scrambles to his feet, but Baroni controls the
head. Tavares catches two hard knees to the body as he barrels
forward in pursuit of the takedown. Baroni sprawls, and drives
him into the fence. The pair stand up in the clinch, and trade
knees. Baroni lands a knee low on Tavares, and referee Josh Rosenthal
gives him a momentary respite. Tavares cracks Baroni with a hard
head kick, and Baroni waves him to come on. Tavares feints, and
cracks Baroni with an overhand right. Baroni is rocked badly,
falling into the cage and Tavares is all over him, pushing down
his head and smashing him with punches. Rosenthal has seen enough, and calls
the fight at 4:20 of the first round for the Hawaiian.
Dustin
Poirier vs. Josh Grispi
Round 1
The pair trade kicks early, and Grispi lands a hard kick to the
body. Poirier returns with a hard inside low kick. Poirier drives
a teetp into Grispi's chest. Grispi jumps guard high, and nearly
gets high enough for a flying triangle, but Poirier defends and
Grispi lands on his feet. They land in the clinch, and Poirier
lands a volley of hard knees to Grispi. Grispi reels, and Poirier
follows up, landing hard left and right hooks. Grispi shoots
for a desperate takedown, but Poirier lands on top and pounds
him momentarily before standing back up. Poirier lands another
hard teep to the body. He follows with another hard push kick
that puts Grispi on the mat. Poirier opts not to stay on top
and lets him back up, where he goes to work on Grispi again,
smashing him with hooks as Grispi reels along the fence. Grispi
is being completely sonned on the feet. He drops for another
desperate takedown, and Poirier takes top and continues the pounding.
Poirier nearly takes Grispi's back, but Grispi turns and gets
half guard. Grispi locks up a kimura, and slowly waits for a
chance to pull it away from Poirier's body. He finally gets it
away, but Grispi can't pull Poirier's arm back. Poirier escapes,
and takes the round easily.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Poirier
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Poirier
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-8 Porier
Round
2
Grispi looks for another takedown, and Poirier smashes a knee
into his gut. Grispi separates, and Poirier smashes him with
another torrent of punches. Grispi shoots again, and finally
gets Poirier to the ground. Poirier scrambles, but Grispi looks
for a guillotine, and jumps it. He can't get position, and Poirier
escapes. Poirier clinches up and smashes Grispi with another
series of knees. Poirier maintains the clinch and lands another
three hard knees. Grispi changes levels, but Poirier sprawls
forces his head into the met. Poirier takes top position and
pounds away. Grispi looks for a triangle, but Poirier elevates
him and throws him off. When Grispi regains his feet, Poirier
assaults him with more punches and elbows. The Louisiana native
is just smashing Grispi with standing elbows at the bell.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Poirier
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Poirier
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-8 Porier
Round
3
Poirier gets to the Thai clinch again and smashes Grispi in the
face with more knees. Grispi escapes, and shoots another slow,
desperate takedown. Poirier sprawls and takes top position again,
before standing up and forcing Grispi back to the feet. More
crosses and uppercuts meet him when he regains his feet. Grispi
walks headlong into another volley of hard knees. Poirier is
just dragging him around with a double collar tie and smashing
him with knees. Grispi drives low, and finally sucks Poirier
off of his feet and puts him on his back. Grispi is able to pass
to side control briefly, but Poirier regains full guard. He locks
up and overhook and just hangs on to Grispi, waiting for the
round to end. Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Poirier (30-27
Poirier)
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Poirier (30-27 Poirier)
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Porier (30-25 Poirier)
Official
scores: 30-27 across the board for Dustin Porier, winner by unanimous
decision.
According
to Compustrike data, Porier outlanded Grispi 102-28.
Jeremy
Stephens vs. Marcus Davis
Round 1
Both men tense, sizing one another up and feinting. Stephens
jumps in with a wild hook, leading to the clinch, with each man
having one underhook. Davis double jabs, but doesn't connect.
Davis' jab isn't landing, but it is keeping Stephens on the outside.
Stephens cracks Davis with an inside low kick, and drives the
former pro boxer into the fence. Davis turns him around, and
gets his leg deep on Stephens, tripping him to the mat and straight
into half guard. Davis chips away with short left hands up against
the fence, as Stephens looks to walk up the wall. Stephens is
able to scramble back to his feet and break free. Davis lands
a hard overhand left on Stephens, stumbling him. Recognizing
he's hurt Stephens, Davis charges at Stephens, and runs him into
the cage. Stephens is able to stave off the takedown until the
bell.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Davis
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Davis
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Davis
Round
2
Stephens avoids a flurry from Davis, and cracks him with an outside
low kick. Davis throws a left cross and misses, and Stephens
misses the right cross counter. Stephens low kicks, and looks
for a flying knee that misses. Both men tentative to throw, each
waiting for the other to engage so they can counter. Davis lunges
with a hook, but Stephens sidesteps it and clinches briefly.
Stephens continues to try to time Davis with a right hook counter
and can't land it. Davis stpes in, and Stephens drops for a takedown,
driving Davis back into the cage. Stephens gets his hands closed
on a single, but can't get Davis to the mat. Davis ties up Stephens
leg, tripping him to the ground as Stephens goes for a kimura.
Davis wisely steps into side control, taking away much of the
threat of Stephens' kimura attempt. Stephens kicks his legs low
and gets half guard back, trying to crank Davis' arm behind his
back. Davis lays down on him, idly punching his ribs. Davis yanks
his arm free, and steps up in full guard. However, Stephens is
the more active, elbowing to Davis' head to the bell.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Stephens
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Stephens
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Stephens
Round
3
Stephens shoots a takedown but is rebuffed by Davis. Davis lands
a hard overhand left that rocks Stephens, but Stephens returns
fire with a hard right hand of his own. Stephens throws a roundhouse
kick that hits only air. Davis now starts to move forward, in
pursuit of a left cross. Davis throws a low kick, and finally
lands the left cross he's seeking. As Davis throws a right overhand,
Stephens squats low and drives into his skull with a spear of
a right hand. Davis goes down, and Stephens is all over him with
a diving punch for good measure. Davis is completely unconscious.
Stephens' sudden, brutal knockout comes at 2:33 of the final
round.
Clay
Guida vs. Takanori Gomi
Round 1
Through the first minute, there is frenetic movement from both
fighters and very little action. Guida throws two lunging overhand
rights that miss by miles. Guida smacks a head kick off Gomi's
face, and charges with a takedown that Gomi sprawls on. Guida
shoots a single, and Gomi sprawls, turning and limplegging out
of the attempt. Gomi looking for an overhand left, but can't
land it. Neither men have really landed anything of conseqeuence
with 90 seconds to go in the round. Gomi grazes with a jab. Gomi
throws a wild hook, and Guida ducks under and elevates Gomi to
score his first clean takedown. Guida sets up shop in half guard.
Guida throws a sharp elbow that misses before the bell.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Guida
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Guida
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Guida
Round
2
Gomi clips Guida with a punch, prompting Guida to drive for a
takedown, but Gomi is able to limpleg out. Guida bulls him into
the fence, but Gomi is able to fight off the fence. Gomi continues
to change levels, looking for a left cross. Guida capitalizes
with another head kick and a right cross. Gomi lands a flicking
jab, and another. He explodes at Guida with a hard knee, but
Guida controls his leg and slams him to the mat again, landing
in half guard. Guida tries pushing to the fence, looking to secure
his arm deeper around Gomi's neck for an arm-triangle choke.
Gomi is able to fight out and looks for a kimura from the bottom.
Guida escapes, and swings his arm over Gomi's head. He passes
to mount quickly, prompting Gomi to roll right into a deep arm-in
guillotine. Gomis strains to pull his head out, but can't, and
is forced to tap. The end comes at 4:27 of the second round.
Nate
Diaz vs. Dong Hyun Kim
Round 1
Diaz paws with his jab, and Kim drives forward and slams him
to the floor. Diaz momentarily looks for a kimura from the bottom,
but gives it up. Diaz is active, moving his legs, looking for
submissions. Kim cracks him with a single punch from guard and
looks for the pass, but can't get to side control. He gets to
north-sorth and Diaz attempts to scramble, but Kim controls his
hips and reaffirms top position. Kim tries to pin Diaz's leg
in guard, but Diaz frees himself and grapevines Kim's leg. Kim
spins out, and takes top position again. As Kim settles into
guard, Diaz looks for a kneebar momentarily, but Kim easily escapes
and sets up in full guard again. Kim gets to half guard, and
Diaz turns, exposing his back. Kim sinks his hooks in briefly,
but Diaz rolls through and seeks a kneebar again. Kim escapes,
and they get back to their feet, missing punches as the bell
goes.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Kim
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Kim
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Kim
Round
2
Diaz flicks his jab and follows with a hard left cross. Diaz
comes forward again, and digs into Kim with a four-punch combination
that features a hard left hook to the body. Diaz lands a nice
two-piece combination that forces Kim to shoot: Kim doesn't get
the first takedown attempt, but Kim continues looking for the
takedown and takes him to the mat with an inside trip. Diaz continues
to stagnate Kim's attempts to pass guard with active hips and
punches from the bottom. Kim tries to vault over Diaz's legs,
but Diaz shuts it down. Kim lands some overhand rights, and tries
to pass under. When he brings his knees off the mat, Diaz upkicks
him, pushing him away, but Kim drives forward and puts him right
back on the mat. Kim lands two overhand rights. Diaz puts his
legs up, and Kim stacks him yet again. Diaz rolls and exposes
his back again, but Kim can't take back control. The Korean cradles
Diaz, taking away his hips, but Diaz is able to escape and take
Kim's back. Kim is able to throw him off over the top, and Diaz
lands a right hand as the horn sounds.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Diaz
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Diaz
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Diaz
Round
3
Kim's nose is bloodied as the third round begins, and Diaz mashes
his nose with his jab again. The two southpaws exchange left
crosses, and Kim throws a head kick that clips the back of Diaz's
head as he ducks. The Korean throws in a short right hand, and
looks for a lackadaiscal takedown, which Diaz defends, and then
takes a rear waistlock on the Korean briefly. Kim bends over
for another takedown, and Diaz gets a front headlock, and delivers
a sharp knee. Kim puts his hand on the ground, and Diaz lands
another knee. Kim crumples to the ground after the illegal blow,
and referee Yves Lavigne gives Kim a brief respite and warns
Diaz. The action resumes, and Diaz is able to put Kim on the
mat. However, Kim quickly sweeps, and presses Diaz into the fence.
Diaz turns his back again and fights back to his feet. Kim looks
to sink one of his hooks standing, but Diaz defends. Kim eventually
pulls him to the ground and sinks his hooks, but Diaz peels them
off and attacks the leg again. Kim pulls his leg out, and holds
onto the rear waistlock standing with 90 seconds to go. Kim grapevines
Diaz's far leg and falls to the mat, but is too tired to sink
his hooks, and both men get back to their feet. Kim tries for
a harai goshi throw, and Diaz pushes him off, and lands a head
kick that snaps Kim's head back against the fence. Diaz pushes
Kim into the fence, kneeing Kim to the head and body. Kim goes
for head control, looking for a throw, and Diaz smashes him with
repeated right hands, drawing a roar from the crowd. Diaz looks
for a takedown at the bell.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Diaz (30-28 Diaz)
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Diaz (29-28 Diaz)
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Diaz (29-28 Diaz)
Official
scores: All three judges 29-28 Kim. No judges' names are announced.
Thiago
Silva vs. Brandon Vera
Round 1
Vera lands two hard leg kicks, and Silva landing a chopping right
over the top. Silva pushes him into the fence, and Vera lands
a knee to the body. Silva drops for a single-leg takedown, and
gets it, setting up in half guard. Thiago is trying to pass,
Vera controls his upper body to prevent it. Vera switches to
half butterfly guard, looking for a sweep. Silva moves to half
guard, and as Vera looks to regain, Silva passes over to the
other side to sit in side control. Silva starts delivering short
elbows and punches. Silva continues to grind away with short
shots. He pulls his arm back in toward his body, smashing Vera
with an elbow. Vera kicks his legs up, and Silva catches one,
and falls to his back, looking for a heel hook. Vera escapes
and the horn sounds.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Silva
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Silva
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Silva
Round
2
The second round begins with both men trading heavy hooks. Vera
gets through clean and flush with a left hook-right hook combo.
Silva lands a right of his own and they clinch up along the fence.
As Vera pushes Silva into the fence, Silva raises his leg and
explodes forward with a brilliant trip into the full guard. Vera
throws elbows from his back while Silva lands short, idle punches.
Vera kicks Silva away, but Silva splits his legs and passes through
to half guard. Vera gets a butterfly hook, and digs under the
thigh looking for a sweep. Silva punches with both hands. Silva
lands a hard left that forces Vera to cover up, and follows with
more lefts. Silva continues to chop away with short punches and
elbows. With 30 seconds to go, Silva postures up and throws a
strong salvo of punches. Vera is stuck on the bottom with no
recourse. Silva hammers away until the bell.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Silva
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Silva
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Silva
Round
3
Silva throws a body kick, but Vera catches it, and trips him
to the mat. Vera returns with another body kick. "The Truth"
looks for a head kick, and Silva runs him into the cage again,
and gets double underhooks, much to the chagrin of the crowd.
Silva ducks under and gets a rear waistlock. Vera tries to elbow
him from behind, but Silva uses the momentum of the strike to
pull Vera to the mat, looking to take his back. Silva gets one
hook in, and punches away on Vera. Silva starts to posture up,
throwing punches and hammerfists, and trying to sink his arm
under Vera's chin. Silva mocks Vera, drumming on his back, and
slapping him in the ear, which prompts Vera to throw an elbow
at Silva behind him, which misses. Vera continues to control
one of Silva's wrists, as Silva smashes away with left hands
as the horn sounds. Silva leisurely skips to his feet, while
Vera slowly gets to his feet with a completely destroyed, gnarled
nose.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Silva (30-27 Silva)
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Silva (30-27 Silva)
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Silva (30-27 Silva)
Official
scores: 30-26 and 30-27 (twice) for Thiago Silva.
According
to Compustrike data, Silva connected with 111 strikes to Vera's
35.
Chris
Leben vs. Brian Stann
Round 1
The pair trade low kicks, and Stann cracks Leben with a right
cross. Leben throws a wide left hand, and Stann cracks him with
another right. Leben with a low kick. Stann pushes him into the
fence, and shuts down an attempted Leben trip. The pair break
out in a full hockey fight from the collar tie, and Leben crunches
some uppercuts into Stann's face before Stann pushes him back
into the fence. Stann looks for knees to the body but can't land
anything hard and clean. They separate, and Stann lands a hard
kick to the body. Stann lands a hard two-piece, and Leben comes
forward right into a flurry of hard punches from Stann. Stann
lands a massive right hook and Leben goes down in a heap, in
slow motion, and Stann pounces with punches as Leben holds on.
Leben makes it back to his feet, only to be dropped again by
heavy Stann fire. Stann is all over "The Crippler"
as Josh Rosenthal looks on with concern. Leben somehow gets back
to his feet again, but he's basically out on his feet. Stann
crushes him with a knee, and the follow up punches seal the deal.
Rosenthal has given Leben every chance to recover, but he's down
and out officially at 3:37 of the first round.
UFC
Lightweight Championship
Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard
Round 1
The first minute of the bout is marked by much feinting and little
striking, until Edgar cracks a low kick into Maynard. Maynard
lands a crushing overhand left that drops Edgar, who does a somersault
backwards. Maynard chases down Edgar and is all over him with
punches. Edgar is desperate in pursuit of a takedown, but Maynard
is bashing him with rights and lefts. Edgar tries to turn and
retreat but is hit with more heavy artillery. Maynard continues
the assault while Edgar is able to defend just well enough to
let Yves Lavigne let him continue. Edgar gets back to his feet
and gets cracked with a right uppercut that puts him down again,
forcing him into another attempted takedown. Maynard pounds and
pounds. Edgar makes it back to his feet, but he's extremely groggy
and looks to have little speed left. Edgar's nose is bloody,
and he continues to circle into Maynard's left hook. With 20
seconds to go in the round, Edgar starts to land short punches
of his own, however, it's far too little, too late after an absolute
shellacking by "The Bully."
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-7 Maynard
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-8 Maynard
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-8 Maynard
Round
2
Edgar looks to have gained some measure of his wits back, moving
much more smoothly with speed. He lands a hard overhand right
that marks up Maynard's left eye with a trickle of blood beneath
it. Maynard still looking to land a swiping left hook, but can't
connect. Edgar doubles his left hook, but Maynard blocks it.
Body kick and a right hand land for Edgar. Edgar cracks Maynard
with another right hand. Maynard looks for a takedown, but Edgar
shucks him off easily. The champion looks much better in this
second round after a nearly catastrophic first frame. Right hand
to the body, left cross land for Edgar. Maynard rushes forward,
and Edgar ducks low, and picks him up with a massive slam and
dumps him to the mat. However, "The Answer" can't keep
Maynard down, and he scrambles back to his feet. ANother right
cross lands on Maynard's bloody left eye. Left hook to the body,
right hook up top for Edgar again. Maynard shoots and Edgar stuffs
it. Edgar wobbles Maynard with another right cross, and puts
another one in his mush before the bell.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Edgar
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Edgar
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Edgar
Round
3
Maynard kicks, and Edgar's left hook to the body, right hand
upstairs lands again. Edgar lands another low kick. Edgar switches
stance and kicks Maynard in the legs again. Another clean right
cross cracks Maynard. Maynard gets in on a deep single, but Edgar
gets an underhook and twists out. Maynard is still throwing the
left hook that did so much damage in round one, but Edgar is
staying just off the end of it. Edgar lands a jab, and Maynard
lands a short left hand. Edgar misses with a two-punch combinations,
and Maynard lands a right hook that turns the faucet in Edgar's
nose on. Maynard changes levels and gets Edgar down, but Edgar
gets back to his feet. Maynard sucks him back to the ground and
Edgar looks for a kimura momentarily. Maynard pulls his arm out,
and drives Edgar to the fence. Edgar whips his left arm over
Maynard's head just before the end of the round and sinks a guillotine,
but the horn stops any offense short.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Edgar
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Maynard
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-10
Round
4
Edgar shoots for a takedown and almost gets Maynard to the ground.
Maynard stands back up, and Edgar threatens with a guillotine
up against the fence. However, Maynard fights his hand and escapes.
Maynard shows his penetration step, and Edgar changes levels
low and harpoons him to the mat again. However, despite the great
takedown, Edgar can't keep Maynard on the floor, as "The
Bully" springs back up. On the feet, it's hard to believe
the fight started as it did, as Maynard's punching is labored
and rired, and Edgar's punches are cleaner and straighter. Maynard
misses a cross and an uppercut. Maynard throws a two-punch combo
and Edgar answers with a knee to his head. Edgar changes levels
and drives Maynard into the fence. Maynard overhooks Edgar's
arm to prevent the takedown, but Edgar smashes him with some
short punches on the other side. Edgar pops his double jab off
of Maynard's face. The pace has slowed, but both men are still
throwing punches. Edgar lands a three-punch combo, albeit without
much steam. Maynard throws a right, but Edgar evades and hits
him with the double jab again. Edgar swings a low kick that misses.
Horn.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Edgar
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Edgar
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Edgar
Round
5
Edgar feints and smacks a low kick into the outside of Maynard's
lead leg. "The Answer" throws a three-punch combo,
but lands only the left hook. He comes back with his left hook
to the body, right hook to the head, and lands. Maynard lands
a winging shot as Edgar circles away. Maynard shoots weakly,
and Edgar glances him with a knee. Maynard shoots again, and
can't get the takedown, but gets a front headlock and lands a
knee before Edgar pulls away. Edgar lands a knee to the body
as Maynard wades in for another takedown Maynard throws a weak
uppercut, and Edgar pops him with two hooks. Edgar looks for
al ow kick, and Maynard thwarts him with a stiff jab. Edgar ruishes
with an uppercut and a pair of hooks that crack Maynard. Edgar
lands a left hook and then flurries with a three-punch combo,
punctuated with a hard right hook that snaps Maynard's head back.
Maynard shoots, and is stuffed again. Maynard continues to look
for a last-second takedown, but Edgar shuts him down and continues
to land counters. Both men launch haymakers at the horn to end
a fantastic fight. Brilliant display by Frank Edgar fighting
back from what seemed like certain disaster in the first round.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Edgar (47-46 Edgar)
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Edgar (47-47 Draw)
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Maynard (48-47 Maynard)
Official
scores: 48-46 Maynard, 48-46 Edgar and a 47-47 draw. The bout
has been ruled a split draw.
Source: Sherdog
|
Source: Ermin Fergerstrom
|
Liddell
Officially Retired, Named VP of Business Development
By FCF
Staff
After months of speculation as to whether UFC Hall of Famer and
former champion Chuck Liddell would finally retire, “The
Iceman” announced today at the UFC 125 pre-fight presser
in Las Vegas that he’s hanging up the gloves. The 41 year-old
legend will remain as an employee of the UFC, however, as Liddell
has been named Vice President of Business Development.
An
emotional Liddell called it quits today on a career that saw
the former collegiate wrestler not only become one of mixed-martial-arts
biggest stars, but one of the sport’s first athletes to
become a mainstream, household name.
The
feared striker’s rise into MMA superstardom began approximately
five, six years ago when after stopping Tito Ortiz at UFC 47,
he went on to avenge a previous 2003 loss to Randy Couture, by
knocking out the renowned fighter in 2005 and 2006.
Liddell
defended the UFC light-heavyweight championship four times before
he was knocked out by Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at
UFC 71 in May, 2007. Aside from a memorable decision win over
Wanderlei Silva at UFC 79 in December that same year, Liddell’s
career never got back on track, as the former champion lost three
consecutive bouts following the win over Silva.
After
being stopped by current light-heavyweight champion Mauricio
“Shogun” Rua in April, 2009, following a KO loss to
Rashad Evans in September, 2008, UFC President Dana White called
for Liddell to retire. After taking some time off to assess his
career, Liddell returned at UFC 115 this past June, but was knocked
out by Rich Franklin.
During
Liddell’s decade plus career, the renowned fighter also
earned victories over notable fighters like Kevin Randleman,
Vitor Belfort, Alistair Overeem, Renato Sobral (twice), Jeremy
Horn and Murilo Bustamante.
Source: Full Contact Fighter
|
Liddell’s
Top 8 Moments in MMA
by Jordan
Breen
When
I originally wrote this piece, it was September 2008. Re-reading
the words and recalling my feelings while writing it, it might
as well be two decades ago.
On
the eve of UFC 88 (hence the eight parts to the article), I truly
thought that an undersized light heavyweight with questionable
offensive firepower like Rashad Evans would be a fairly good
opponent for Liddell, who in his sensational bout with Wanderlei
Silva eight months earlier, seemed like he still had a considerable
amount of the gameness that made him one of MMA’s most beloved
and accomplished fighters.
That
instance, just over two years ago, was by and large the last
time the MMA world saw Chuck Liddell as “The Iceman.”
Though time eventually beats down all men, I never would have
anticipated that two years later, Liddell would be on the receiving
end of three back-to-back-to-back crushing knockouts.
However,
in spite of the ignominious end to his fighting career and whatever
successes may come as the UFC's executive vice president of business
development, Liddell will always be remembered for being the
true superstar of MMA's most historically star-laden weight class,
and becoming the sport’s first true rockstar persona, a
man whose exploits earned attention from both ESPN and TMZ.
These
are the moments of greatness that made Liddell an MMA icon; the
fights that launched a million mohawks.
8.
Liddell vs. Vitor Belfort (June 22, 2002)
In
2002, we were in the middle of the first Belfort rehabilitation
tour. After embarrassing and deflating losses to Randy Couture
and Kazushi Sakuraba, Belfort had seemingly matured in the fight
game and was still only 25 years old. It was supposed to be his
time (for real, this time), and he was thus slated to meet light
heavyweight kingpin Tito Ortiz at both UFC 33 and 36 before injuries
nixed the respective bouts. In the meantime, Liddell had quietly
piled up victories of his own, and as Ortiz began to embrace
his poster-boy persona and shirk in-cage duties, it left a Liddell-Belfort
title eliminator as the obvious solution.
Aided
by Fox Sports Net and “The Best Damn Sports Show Period,”
which aired the fight three days later, the bout was the most
cautious of the ad-hoc promotional vehicle known as UFC 37.5,
which largely featured Octagon neophytes. However, the fight
did showcase the technical and tactical side of Liddell, who
put his now famous cage-crawl takedown defense on display vividly
in the first round.
Even
if the most memorable moment of the affair was the wild, winging
right hook that sent Belfort to the canvas with 90 seconds to
go, Liddell's ability to take over the fight was dictated by
an acute sense of distance created with low kicks and straight
punches. Not epic fight material to be sure, but a major win
in Liddell's career that highlighted the finer technical points
of his game rather than the sizzling KO power he's become acclaimed
for.
Many
fans and pundits alike saw Jeremy Horn as a serious threat.
7. Liddell vs. Jeremy Horn II (Aug. 20, 2005)
You
would be hard-pressed to find a seasoned MMA fan who would admit
to having taken Horn against Liddell. Amidst Horn's current spell
of disinterested doldrums and with hindsight being so crystal
clear, such a prefight prognostication would seem farfetched.
However, a considerable contingent in MMA, even if they will
lie about it now, thought that Horn could pose serious problems
for the newly minted champ.
In
spite of Liddell’s title triumph over Randy Couture only
four months earlier, some fans and pundits had begun to pigeonhole
"The Iceman" as a willfully one-dimensional fighter.
Many figured that the submission-slick Horn, who had never been
knocked out, had the skills to outlast and outwit Liddell on
the mat as he had in their first encounter six years earlier.
Instead,
Horn was bruised and abused over a woefully lopsided opening
10 minutes that featured two nasty near-finishes.
Liddell's
major weapons early in the fight were actually straight (at least
by his standards) punches from inside the pocket rather than
long-range, looping artillery. More impressive still, in the
wake of Dana White's infamous "following the game plan"
rant that has become a full-scale MMA meme, Liddell showed sober
strategy in fighting a conservative third round, only to come
out firing in the fourth and halt Horn, who told referee "Big"
John McCarthy he could no longer see.
Liddell's
one-sided avenging of his first loss was an early indicator of
his title reign ahead, even if those who had backed Horn will
never admit it.
6.
Liddell vs. Renato Sobral I (Nov. 22, 2002)
Much
of Liddell's ability to transcend the sport itself and become
a pop culture icon can be traced to his physical packaging. The
distinctive Mohawk and mustache combo, the head tattoo and the
killer's stare all richly contribute to a seemingly violent veneer
that is the exact example of how the public would expect an MMA
ambassador to look.
Beyond
the world of posters and promotion, however, Liddell has secured
his stature in the sport by embodying the non-superficial essence
of prizefighting with an anyone-anywhere-anytime mantra -- an
attitude exemplified by his first bout with “Babalu.”
Already
installed as the UFC’s top 205-pound contender to then-incumbent
king Tito Ortiz, Liddell voluntarily chose to take on the ever-tough
and well-traveled “Babalu” rather than rest on his
laurels and wait for the elusive Ortiz. The fight was more a
favor to Liddell from Zuffa than vice versa, and although he
was a rightful favorite, a Liddell loss on the main card of the
biggest event the promotion had staged to that point would've
been relatively disastrous.
Just
inside the three-minute mark of the first round, Liddell thwarted
Sobral's attempt to play spoiler, putting his left shin across
the Brazilian's mug in brutal fashion. While he would replicate
his victory over Sobral in their August 2006 rematch in a mere
95 seconds, Liddell's display of his down-for-whatever disposition
and a highlight reel KO he'll be reaping royalties from forever
make their first encounter the more memorable.
5. Liddell vs. Guy Mezger (May 27, 2001)
It
seems like eons and epochs ago that a prized Zuffa fighter could
have jumped on a plane and scrapped in Japan for another company.
Crazier still, when Liddell halted former UFC heavyweight champion
Kevin Randleman in 78 seconds on May 4, he had scored the biggest
win of his career. Just 23 days later, he met Guy Mezger in Yokohama
and usurped that win.
A
battle of two top-10 light heavyweights at the time, Pride parent
company Dream Stage Entertainment officially announced the bout
less than two weeks beforehand in true DSE style. While Liddell
looked to play predator early, stalking Mezger around the ring
and attacking with right-handed haymakers, Mezger’s experience
was on display as he
soundly outstruck Liddell with crisp counters.
With
the opening 10 minutes winding down, Mezger even gave Liddell
a taste of his own medicine, putting him on the mat momentarily
with a rainbow right hand.
Despite
Mezger getting the better of Liddell and seemingly having a handle
on things, Liddell turned in his most brutal bit of handiwork
early in the second round. Pushing Mezger back to the ropes,
Liddell began firing wildly with punches, and when Mezger attempted
to return fire, Liddell let loose with a whipping right hand
that absolutely melted Mezger on the spot.
The
brutal bird's-eye view of the aftermath crystallized the vicious
KO as one of MMA's pantheon-level finishes, revealing a motionless
Mezger with his left leg pinned precariously beneath him and
his right arm slung over his chest as if he'd been laid to eternal
rest in the middle of Yokohama Arena.
Liddell
was known as one of the sport's most brutal hitters, and none
have been more brutal than his one-hitter-quitter of Guy Mezger.
4.
Liddell vs. Tito Ortiz II (Dec. 30, 2006)
Liddell's
rematch with Ortiz was not his greatest triumph. It was not a
bout that transformed MMA fans into stark-raving lunatics with
excitement the way Fedor Emelianenko vs. Mirko Filipovic did.
It didn't produce anything significant for the Liddell highlight
reel. What it did produce, though, was a mega-marketable matchup
that made for a media and monetary breakthrough for MMA.
There
was little reason to believe Ortiz-Liddell round deux would end
any differently than their first fight. However, it didn't stop
all major media outlets from turning UFC 66 into a major sporting
spectacle, including ESPN, which two years earlier would have
seemed like an insane pipe dream for MMA.
In
the end, UFC 66 took in a gate just under $5.4 million and a
whopping estimate of 1.05 million pay-per-view buys, making it
by far the most lucrative North American MMA event to date. As
for the fight, while Ortiz did better than most expected, Liddell
retained his title with a third-round stoppage due to strikes
(and with a torn MCL, no less).
The
profile of the bout also launched Liddell's pop culture crossover,
leading to appearances on Letterman, Leno and “Entourage,”
and giving us his infamous appearance on “Good Morning Texas.”
Liddell
brought his A-game in both bouts with rival Tito Ortiz.
3. Liddell vs. Tito Ortiz I (April 2, 2004)
But,
for the purposes of this list, magnitude triumphs the monetary,
and few fights in the sport's history have produced the anticipation
of the first clash between Liddell and Ortiz.
The
back story is familiar lore to MMA fans at this point. Once upon
a time, Ortiz and Liddell went away to fight camp together, and
depending on whom you believe, they either stayed up all night
telling ghost stories, pricked each other’s fingers to become
blood brothers and swore to never fight, or Liddell beat up Ortiz,
kicked sand in his eyes and made him cry every day.
Whichever
you believe is up to you, but regardless, with Randy Couture
rekindling his rivalry with Vitor Belfort and both Ortiz and
Liddell returning after losses to "The Natural," the
timing was perfect for two of the sport's most storied 205-pounders
to square off.
While
the majority of the first round produced little action, the sheer
tension between the two was enough to carry it until the last
five seconds of the round, when Liddell landed a volley of strikes
that ignited the crowd at Mandalay Bay and caused Ortiz to taunt
Liddell in defiance.
However,
carrying over into the second round, the excitement had no chance
to build to a crescendo. Instead it combusted quickly when Liddell
forced Ortiz to retreat to the fence (or poked him in the eye,
depending again on which version of the truth you prefer), and
let loose with a furious chaingun flurry of punches that put
Ortiz down and out.
Liddell's
triumph over Ortiz isn't the fight that made him a champion,
but it is the bout that turned him into a bonafide star.
2.
Liddell vs. Wanderlei Silva (Dec. 29, 2007)
From
the moment he first set foot in Japan, where Wanderlei Silva
made his combative home in Pride, Liddell told anyone who would
listen that he wanted to fight the Brazilian.
More
than any matchup in MMA history, Silva-Liddell morphed astonishingly
over its chaotic six-and-a-half-year buildup -- a length of time
essentially equal to football legend Gale Sayers’ entire
pro career. As Silva began his destructive reign as Pride's light
heavyweight kingpin, many believed he was the alpha dog -- an
opinion strengthened in November 2003, when Liddell was brutally
bashed by Quinton Jackson in Pride's 205-pound grand prix. When
Liddell finally struck gold in the UFC, though, and tore off
seven straight knockouts, Silva's struggles with Brazilian rival
Ricardo Arona and his brutal demolition at the hands of Mirko
“Cro Cop” Filipovic led most to think Liddell would
be the victor if the most mythic of MMA fantasy matchups ever
actually happened.
Sherdog.com
The
MMA world waited years for Liddell to take on Wanderlei Silva,
and the bout delivered 100 percent.
If
Silva's February 2007 crushing KO loss to Dan Henderson didn't
kill all hope of the 205-pound pie in the sky, Liddell losing
his UFC title to Quinton Jackson three months later, and subsequent
lackluster loss to Keith Jardine, did. Yet, with Pride buried
by Zuffa and Silva under UFC contract as 2007 drew to a close,
the fighters’ recent slides only made the stakes higher
with a back-against-the-wall, absolute must-win scenario for
the sport’s two greatest light heavyweights.
After
a buildup that lasted longer than either World War, it would've
been nearly impossible for the fight to live up to the hype.
And yet, it did.
Silva-Liddell
offered 15 minutes of the brand of balls-to-the-wall brawling
that both have become famous for, with both men hitting the deck
and a frenetic five minutes in round two that has unlimited replay
value. However, throughout the bout, it was Liddell who controlled
the action, landing the more brutal blows that seemingly would
have ended such an affair on any other night. In the end, “The
Iceman” picked up a richly deserved unanimous decision.
If there is one moment in MMA we can point to in order to justify
holding fast to our dreams and bathing in the promotional bluster,
this is it.
1. Liddell vs. Randy Couture II (April 16, 2005)
Anything
else here would be unsuitable.
The
UFC's product, and perhaps even the sport on the whole, can be
divided into the pre-“Ultimate Fighter” and post-“Ultimate
Fighter” eras. Ask Dana White, and he'll tell you that the
hopes of Zuffa and the UFC, and as a result, North American MMA,
were all-in on the success of “The Ultimate Fighter”
series.
While
we remember the inaugural TUF season most for bed urination,
door breaking, “fatherless bastards” and asparagus
(among other things), its larger design was to promote the rematch
between Liddell and Couture for the light heavyweight title --
the biggest fight the UFC could muster at the time.
When
discussing TUF and the current climate of the sport, the 205-pound
finale between Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar is considered
the ultimate moment, the JFK where-were-you-when, the moment
when MMA was forced into the mind of the mainstream. It lived
up to its purpose, making it possibly the best infomercial in
history. However, if Griffin-Bonnar I was what fixed the public's
eyes to MMA, something else would have to glue them there.
Seven
days later at the MGM Grand, the Couture-Liddell rematch raked
in a $2.57 million gate and an estimated 280,000 PPV buys, smashing
previous North American MMA marks. While the rest of the card
was crackling, Couture and Liddell's second go-around did not
live up to the sustained action and drama of their first encounter
of June 2003 that Couture had won. Instead, just six ticks past
the two-minute mark, Liddell turned Couture's lights out with
a brutal right-hand counter, culminating Liddell's seven-year
odyssey to become a UFC champion.
While
Liddell would duplicate his KO victory over Couture in their
rubber match 10 months later, his capture of the UFC light heavyweight
crown stands as his finest hour.
His
first victory over Ortiz made him a star and his second made
him a cultural superstar, but it's his title victory over Couture
that paved the road in between, marking his transition from perennial
contender to champion and putting a face and a fist to the new
era in MMA -- a far cry from the dream-in-the-dark of success
the sport had when Liddell first stepped into the cage.
Source: Sherdog
|
Bob
Sapp against the ex-Sumo banned from TV
(but not PPV)
By Zach
Arnold
There are many strange things to see on the upcoming Dynamite
card by K-1 on Tokyo Broadcasting System. One fight on the card
that will be a ‘no TV’ bout, however, is Bob Sapp vs.
Wakakirin (the disgraced ex-Sumo fighter who got busted for marijuana).
Wakakirin is Antonio Inoki’s new pet project since Naoya
Ogawa has basically gone into exile.
The
match between Sapp and Wakakirin was originally going to be an
IGF rules pro-wrestling match. However, Wakakirin has such a
reputation after his match with Mark Coleman that the bout here
for Dynamite now has weird grappling rules and is a watered down
grappling/MMA bout. Think about the premise of a ‘real fight’
being better conditions for Bob Sapp than a pro-wrestling bout.
That should tell you everything you need to know about Wakakirin
as a pro-wrestler. The terms ‘cement’ and ‘crowbar’
come to mind.
Here’s
Bob talking to the media about his fights in 2010 and what he
has in store for 2011. (He hints that the 2011 campaign will
be his last one as an active fighter.)
What
is your condition right now? “For this fight, my condition
is good enough to fight. Of course I would love to have more
time, but sometimes as a fighter you have to be ready at the
last minute and you must stay in relatively good shape for upcoming
matches even if it’s kind of what we would say fill-in or
last-minute which happened to be for me at this current time.
So, hey, I’m ready to go.”
You’re
back at Dynamite. How do you feel about that? “Now, that,
I’m definitely excited about. Ever since I participated
in K-1 or DREAM or PRIDE and when the first Dynamite was, you
know, it’s always been something that I always look forward
to in fighting at the end of the year. So, for me, it’s
a tradition, history, and coming down a it’s very, very
wonderful surprise.”
Please
talk about what you have been up to lately in 2010. “The
year 2010… I was still doing some fights and I did another
movie called Conan the Barbarian that premieres in August and
as well I shot some commercials in (South) Korea and did some
video games. And for the up-and-coming year I still have some
fights on the contract to do. These are mainly now going throughout
Europe and parts of Asia and I have a television contract that
I will do some television in the United States.”
What’s
your training environment like and where is it? “Yes, my
training environment now consists of when I was filming the movie
Conan the Barbarian I filmed it in Bulgaria, so all of my trainers
now are coming from Bulgaria.”
How
much knowledge do you have about your opponent (Wakakirin)? Do
you have any impressions of him? “Yes. Well, he’s a
tough, young guy. I know Suzukawa. I know of him because we fight
in the same pro-wrestling promotion of IGF. So, it’s very
interesting to actually go against him and to do underneath new
rules. These rules being what we’d say fight rules or shoot
rules. This is exciting. So, this will be no pro-wrestling match,
so I’m really looking forward to this challenge.”
So,
this is a special IGF rules match and this is somewhat irregular
MMA rules. Do you have any concerns? “Well, one of my concerns
is just because it happens to be open-handed and of course my
strength is within the punch, I’ve just need to be very
aware so I don’t break my fingers doing the open-hand and
other than that, that’s about it.”
Over
the last several years, you are not as much of a beast as you
before. Do you think we will see the comeback of the Beast at
Dynamite in 2010? “Definitely. Yes, I’ve had some downs
during my career, so without question this is of course correct
that I believe everyone’s kind of suffering around as we
look back and see where MMA & K-1 once was and where we are
now. So, we all kind of suffered some blows and for the year
2011, we look forward to getting a wonderful comeback and for
me and my career I would love to have this career kind of conclude
on a high note, so I’m still fighting and I will still be
fighting so let’s make sure that I’m fighting for some
victories.”
Source: Fight Opinion
|
What's
to Become of MMA's Top Heavyweights in 2011?
By Ben
Fowlkes
Muhammad Ali used to say that the heavyweight champion of the
world was the champion of all champions. Of course, it's possible
he was a little biased.
It's
easy to understand the appeal of the heavyweights. It's the biggest,
baddest kids on the block vying to see who's tougher. That's
part of why Brock Lesnar – a man who looks like the grown-up
version of a high school bully straight out of central casting,
crew-cut still intact – has proved to be such an irresistible
enigma to MMA fans. The fact that there's footage of him dancing
around in a sombrero and flipping off the top rope probably doesn't
hurt either.
But
while 2010 may have been the year of the heavyweight in MMA,
with everyone from Lesnar to Fedor Emelianenko to current UFC
champ Cain Velasquez rapidly swapping places in the ranks, the
division seems to be in tatters heading into 2011.
Don't
believe me? Here's a quick rundown of the UFC's top big men and
their status as of this writing:
Cain
Velasquez (UFC champion): Out 6-8 months with a shoulder injury.
Brock Lesnar: Future uncertain, rumored to be considering a return
to the WWE, but definitely not itching to get back in the cage
any time soon.
Junior dos Santos: Official No. 1 contender, awaiting Velasquez's
return from injury, which, unless he gets another fight in the
meantime, would mean roughly a year between his last fight and
his next one.
Roy Nelson: Contract status remains murky due to his previous
deal with Roy Jones Jr.'s outfit, so he's decided to content
himself with battling it out on Twitter, calling out everyone
but Justin Bieber in the process.
Shane Carwin: Pulled out of a Jan. 1 fight with Nelson to have
back surgery in November, eyeing a return some time in mid-2011.
Feeling
depressed yet?
If
not, just remind yourself that things aren't much better over
in Strikeforce. The champion, Alistair Overeem, is taking on
a late-notice, 4-1 underdog in Japan on New Year's Eve. Fabricio
Werdum is healing up from surgery and weighing his post-Fedor
options, while Fedor's management team can't even come to terms
with Strikeforce on when the Russian might fight Antonio Silva,
who is arguably the least interesting of all possible opponents.
If
2010 was the year of big heavyweight showdowns, 2011 is shaping
up to be the year of heavyweight rehab. The few who aren't hurt
are either reluctant to fight at all, or simply reluctant to
fight anyone good. I tell you, it's enough to make you nostalgic
for the WEC's dependable flock of little guys.
The
good news is, while it may have been easy to forget when Lesnar
and Fedor were grabbing all the headlines, heavyweights have
rarely been the source of MMA's best fights. Yes, they're big
and scary and they have no trouble knocking each other out with
those enormous fists of theirs, but you're not going to see anything
like Anthony Pettis' "Showtime kick" from a guy like
"Big Country."
Instead
of lamenting the state of the heavyweights, perhaps 2011 is the
year the UFC should remember which division really helped pull
them through some lean years in the past. I refer now, of course,
to the light heavyweights.
Chuck
Liddell's retirement announcement provides us with the perfect
excuse to recall the years when the best action in this sport
took place at 205 pounds. Remember Liddell's impressive title
run? Remember back when Wanderlei Silva was terrorizing everyone
he could get his mitts on? Remember, for crying out loud, the
2005 Pride Grand Prix, which featured everyone from "Shogun"
Rua to "Rampage" Jackson to a strangely skinny Alistair
Overeem?
Okay,
so now Rua is on the shelf until he can return from injury to
defend his title against Rashad Evans, and Jackson is always
a threat to abandon MMA for the movies, and Overeem has become
Ubereem, but still.
Look
at all the exciting new blood at light heavyweight and tell me
there's not more reason to be optimistic about this division
than the heavyweights. With guys like Rashad Evans, Ryan Bader,
Lyoto Machida, and, of course, the inimitable Jon Jones, who
needs heavyweights?
These
men have the size, strength, and sheer power, but they're also
more athletic and less apt to have a lactic acidosis attack as
soon as they hear the words 'round two.'
So
buck up, heavyweight lovers. Yes, the division is in shambles
at the moment, and there's no telling who will come back and
who will stay gone, and that is sad. But with the little guy
infusion of the WEC merger and the promise of a resurgent light
heavyweight class on the horizon, 2011 has plenty of exciting
fights to offer.
And
if you've just got to get your fix of big dudes fighting, go
check out some sumo wrestling. We'll still be here when you realize
what a dumb idea that was.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Tim
Sylvia to replace Duffee on Titan card
A two-time heavyweight titleholder in the Ultimate Fighting Championship
will take Todd Duffee's place against Abe Wagner in January.
Tim
Sylvia, twice a UFC champion, agreed to step in for Duffee against
Wagner on Jan. 28 in Kansas City, for the main event of Titan
Fighting Championship's inaugural show (10 p.m. ET, HDNet). The
replacement comes in the wake of Duffee's decision to face Strikeforce
champion Alistair Overeem on Friday in Fighting and Entertainment
Group's annual year-end program (4 a.m. ET, HDNet).
Sylvia
and Duffee have the same manager in Monte Cox, a longtime figure
on the MMA scene. Both fighters are UFC veterans who prefer striking,
but the similarity ends there.
The
6-foot-8 Sylvia uses his height and reach to dominate opponents
with jabs at a distance or knees in the clinch. Duffee is a more
dynamic athlete who relies heavily on straight punch-uppercut
combinations.
Wagner
took part on Season 10 of UFC's reality TV show, The Ultimate
Fighter.
Source: USA Today
|
‘JZ’
Cavalcante wants Thomson rematch in San Jose
By Guilherme
Cruz
Two-time champion of Hero’s, Gesias Cavalcante debuted on
Strikeforce against the former champion Josh Thomson, but the
decision of the judges didn’t brought the Brazilian a good
result, even he was best for most of the time of the fight. Wanting
a better year in 2011, the lightweight launched to New York,
to train with Marcelo Garcia and Ricardo Libório, and
chatted with TATAME about his future on Strikeforce, looking
forwards for a remath with Thomson. “The next guy I’d
like to confront would be Josh Thomson just to make things clear
(laughs). I’d like to fight on his hometown, in San Jose,
just like the previous meeting we’ve had, because I think
it’ll bring me much more motivation”, guarantees Gesias,
who talked about the fusion between WEC and UFC, UFC’s monopoly
on MMA and a lot more.
How
are things on Strikeforce? Did they tell you when you’ll
fight again?
They’ll
make an edition of the event in January, but the card was already
fulfilled, so the guys warned me I wouldn’t fight on the
next edition of the event. But they’re thinking about me
fighting on their next edition, which I think probably will be
on February, but they haven’t told me about any opponent,
they gave me nothing. They only gave me the hope of fighting
in February.
Are
you back on the trainings after your fight with Josh Thomson,
or are you taking it slowly, waiting for their confirmation?
No,
I’m training… This month I’ve traveled a lot,
it was very good for me because I’ve trained in many different
places, I trained with Marcelo (Garcia) in New York, I’ve
trained in Canada, when I went on an Ultimate’s event, just
enjoying my family (laughs).
What
did you think of your last fight, that had a controversy outcome?
In
my mind, I think I did my job, I did enough to deserve the win.
I’ve dominated the first and the last rounds, lost the second
one, but that’s it… I won’t start pointing out
people to blame, if I have to point out mu finger to someone,
that someone will be myself, for now doing my job completely,
had done only 50%. I’ve had the chance to knock him down,
I’ve had the chance to submit him and I didn’t, so
my focus is to keep improving those aspects of my game and don’t
stay on this “almost there” level… I want to win.
How
were these trainings along with Marcelo in New York?
He’s
a legend. Lucky me, (Ricardo) Libório was there, so with
these trainings I’ve had there… Both Libório
and Marcelo are two endless encyclopedia. It was great training
with them. They are always talking, giving you tips, and then
when you less expect, they come up with something new… It
was very good for me, even because I was on a different place,
with guys I really like. I know Marcelo for a long time now,
it was great. It was a private seminar I had (laughs).
What
do you think about your weight class on Strikeforce? Who do you
think that might be your next opponent?
The
next guy I’d like to confront would be Josh Thomson just
to make things clear (laughs). I hate this doubt that people
now have about that fight. I’d like to fight on his hometown,
in San Jose, just like the previous meeting we’ve had for
me to know the event better, its problems, even because a new
event always brings you something new. A timing gap, the scheduling,
and I had a problem with the Commission there and I didn’t
have time to warm up and do my things, but I was prepared for
it, and my mind was also prepared for it. I’d like to have
this same opportunity again, at the same place, the same judges…
I’d like that, even because I’d like to make it clear
I went there to fight, that I’m capable of beating him,
which I did last time, but they didn’t see it that way.
People
started talking about it on the internet. Did anybody from the
event come to talk to you about this rematch?
No
one from the event came to talk to me, even because Josh will
fight now at the end of the year (Dynamite) and they’ve
thought about him fighting (Gilbert) Melendez, but it turned
out that Melendez won’t fight now, so there’s nothing
set, they don’t know whether they’ll give me this rematch
and the winner might have a title shot, or if they’ll give
my another opponent and let Josh fight Melendez for the title.
I’m like the fans now, I’m just waiting and training,
doing my part. The important is that they give me a date, that
I fight soon, no matter against whom. I’m used to it wasn’t
any different in Japan.
What
did you think about this fusion between UFC and WEC, worshiping
the lighter weight fighters?
That
was great, a very good thing, mainly for the lighter ones, of
145lbs division or below. Even the guys on the lightweight division,
that got mixed up… It’s good to have more competition,
but it’s a bad think though because there’ll be many
cuts. Everybody who was fighting on WEC will now fight on Ultimate,
but I see many people getting fired. Many people will be fired
because there isn’t so many events for all those fighters
to fight. For the guys from WEC it was excellent, but I’d
prefer if WEC had grown by itself and became as huge as Ultimate,
even if both events belong to the same company, Zuffa. In my
mind, as an athlete, I think that, for the sport, it’ll
be better if WEC grow by itself.
And
it all ends in UFC’s hands…
Yeah.
Dana White himself said that now it’s a war. Who fights
has to win. If you don’t win, if you don’t do a good
presentation, you’ll be cut off. There’s no other way.
He’s right, it’s his business, his job. He has done
a lot for the sport, but on the other hand, if you see it on
the human side, they’ll change many things for the athletes.
What
is your expectation for the next year?
I’m
very excited about 2011. I’ll make things all over again,
I’ll feeling fine, I’m feeling like I’m returning
to my timing. I stayed too much time off, returned, fought, and
then spent another year off, so I’m regaining my rhythm
back, by hard rhythm. Whatever they offer me, I’m in. they
can put me against anyone. I’ll test myself. I really like
something Renzo (Gracie) said: “I’ll die old and pooping
my pants out, but they’ll know who I am”, I think exactly
the same. I think that I have to break my barriers. Each fight
I think I was a champion, even on the ones I lost, I was a champion
at some point.
Source: Tatame
|
Robbie
Lawler Signs Multi-Fight Extension with Strikeforce
By FCF
Staff
Just
days removed from announcing that it has resigned welterweight
champion Nick Diaz to a new, multi-fight contract, Strikeforce
confirmed today that it has done the same with middleweight contender
Robbie Lawler. No details of Lawler’s contract were given,
other than to describe the extension as a “multi-year agreement.”
(Pictured: Lawler knocking out Matt Lindland on December 4th)
“Strikeforce
has treated me good and I am happy to re-sign with them,”
Lawler was quoted saying in a press release from the promotion.
“They have given me an opportunity to fight for the title
and I’m looking forward to that and to fighting any and
all of the top 185-pounders.’’
Lawler
(18-6) went 2-1 in 2010, as the powerful slugger scored highlight
reel knockouts over Melvin Manhoef and most recently Matt Lindland,
but lost by unanimous decision to Renato “Babalu” Sobral
in the summer.
The
UFC vet is 7-2, with 1 no contest, in his last ten fights; Lawler’s
only other loss during that stretch came against Jake Shields
last June, who submitted him with a first round guillotine choke.
Lawler has also earned stoppage wins over Murilo Rua, Scott Smith,
Frank Trigg and Joey Villasenor during that time frame.
Up
next, at Strikeforce’s upcoming January 29th event in San
Jose, Lawler will challenge current Strikeforce middleweight
champ Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza. The event will also feature
welterweight champion Nick Diaz taking on Evangelista “Cyborg”
Santos and will be broadcast live on Showtime.
Source: Full Contact Fighter
|
Alistair
Overeem and Japan’s Icon Architecture
by Tony
Loiseleur
TOKYO -- MMA fans and media constantly argue over whether a particular
athlete is a “Top 10” fighter. Alistair Overeem is
no exception to this rule. In fact, he’s the most obvious
example.
The
public perception of Overeem is complicated by his infrequent
defending of his Strikeforce heavyweight title and frequent participation
in K-1. He has been accused of evading his responsibilities as
Strikeforce’s heavyweight champion and disregarding the
North American MMA ideal: three fights a year, against top challengers,
all while building a legacy.
For
many fans, Overeem’s desire to fight in K-1 rather than
MMA seems like an affront. In a sport still thirsty for great
athletes and unique talents -- especially at heavyweight -- how
can such an intriguing, thrilling fighter disregard MMA almost
entirely? It seems like there needs to be an adequate explanation
as to why regular K-1 jaunts appeal more to him than what is
the undeniable goal of most fighters: climbing the rankings by
conquering solid competition, whether in Strikeforce, the UFC
or elsewhere.
To
explain it, I would have to talk to the man himself, a task that
proves difficult. I had been in pursuit of Overeem for the better
part of a month for this piece. Before meeting him at the K-1
World Grand Prix 2010 press conference, I had not had any contact
with the Dutchman, simply because of how insulated his inner
circle kept him.
MMA
is still widely praised for having the most accessible star athletes
in the world, a sport where any UFC fan can stake out the fighter
hotel on fight night and meet his or her heroes. However, Overeem
avoids many of the outrageous personal and media demands heaped
upon fighters through his entourage. Two of its principals --
and Overeem’s closest liaisons -- are Eldar Gross and Remco
Peperkamp.
Peperkamp
is charismatic. Perpetually smiling and naturally easy going,
he’s gifted with an aura of geniality. He makes you feel
as if you have known him for years. Peperkamp has been Overem’s
best friend since childhood and, as a result, makes the perfect
right-hand man. Much in the same way that NBA stars use their
closest confidantes to coordinate, Peperkamp is an expert at
feeling out and handling potential distractions for Overeem during
training and while abroad.
Gross
is Overeem’s documentarian, the man behind the wildly successful
online documentary series “The Reem,” which has served
a vital role in reinforcing the recent buzz surrounding Overeem.
Thin, with curly dark hair and a perpetual five o’clock
shadow, he has the look of an auteur.
Asking
him a question about Overeem or filmmaking -- the two subjects
about which he is incredibly passionate -- launches him into
an intense treatise of an answer.
Overeem
won the K-1 GP.A workaholic and perfectionist, he apologetically
declined my invitation for dinner, for no reason other than he
was fixated on fine-tuning the latest episode of “The Reem”
in time for the K-1 World Grand Prix on Dec. 11.
Two
days before K-1, all promotional activities are throttled to
a trickle of interviews, most at the behest of K-1’s World
Grand Prix broadcaster, Fuji TV. Making an exception for K-1’s
television partners is par for the course, but discussion of
the matter is a stark reminder of the state of kakutogi in Japan.
“K-1
has declining viewers. There are guys who have been champion
three, four times. They need a new poster boy, and Alistair is
a fresh new face [that] might attract a new kind of viewer,”
says Gross. “I talked to [Fuji TV interpreter Russell Goodall],
and he said that the things they’re doing now they’ve
never done before: the variety shows, the daytime TV, interviews
with ladies magazines, newspapers -- things that are normally
not done with K-1 just to put the name out there to a new audience
because they need it.”
Cognizant
that his wide exposure on Japanese television will help boost
awareness in himself and K-1, Overeem and company are shrewd
enough to recognize what it means for his bottom line.
“He
sees it as a step in his career, and, in the end, it’s about
making money and there’s money to be made here. The bigger
the exposure and the bigger the fanbase, the more money he receives,
so he sees it as part of his job,” says Gross.
Having
experienced an impoverished youth, Overeem realizes he only has
so long in the fight business to make the millions he can use
to provide for his family and, later, comfortably retire.
“I
know what it’s like to be poor [living with] my grandmother.
I know what it’s like to have no money. I know what it’s
like to be in debt. I know what it’s like to make money,
to get out of debt. It’s been a long process, and you have
to be careful about these things. These are the years that you
can make money, so do it while you can and don’t spend too
much,” Overeem says over dinner.
Critically,
Overeem actually enjoys the spotlight and does not seem to tire
of it, as many celebrities inevitably do.
“The
thing is I do like Japanese television. It doesn’t make
any sense at all to me, and it’s kinda funny. The humor
level is the same, and I’m having fun,” he says with
a smile.
Cultural
allure is the simplest reason why Overeem remains adamant about
spending the best years of his career in Japan and K-1 rather
than exclusively fighting MMA stateside.
On
top of Overeem’s fascination with Japanese pop culture,
K-1 stars are infinitely more revered in his native Netherlands,
and by fighting K-1 and MMA, his chances for frequent fights
and paydays are much greater. Exclusively fighting for Strikeforce
or the UFC, he would be looking at three fights a year at most.
By fighting K-1 and MMA together, he can easily double that.
Though
he does not say so himself, Overeem wants to be in the Octagon
someday, according to members from his entourage. However, that
time simply is not now. The present is all about building his
star and his bank account, and Japan is still the best place
to do that.
Getting
‘The Beast’ Treatment
Goodall
is an exuberant and engaging man with a long history in the Japanese
TV world and Fuji TV. He looks a lot like Hugh Laurie, but his
gifts lie in television production and interpretation rather
than acting, piano and diagnostic medicine.
The
son of Christian missionaries from New Zealand, Goodall has lived
in Japan since he was a few months old and thus speaks Japanese
like a native. It is quite a sight to see Dr. Gregory House speaking
and joking around in Japanese the way that only your average
“Taro” does.
“The
biggest thing that Fuji TV knows is that Alistair is clever and
can learn.”
-- Fuji TV's Russell Goodall
He
explains how his command of the language smoothed relations with
his Japanese wife’s parents. His southern island-dwelling
in-laws were originally against the idea of marriage with a foreigner,
but once he demonstrated a native grasp of the language and psychology
-- Japanese humor, in particular -- it “made him human”
in their eyes.
The
media process in building Overeem for the Japanese audience mirrors
this experience. As a homogenous and insular culture, foreign
celebrities -- foreigners, in general -- are often viewed as
aloof, inaccessible and consequently alien. Fuji TV’s simple
plan in promoting Overeem attempts to overcome this typical reaction
by putting him into silly game shows and comedy variety shows.
“The
biggest thing that Fuji TV knows is that Alistair is clever and
can learn,” Goodall says. “He knows how to play along
with the variety shows because that’s a big part of [Japanese]
TV culture. Funny is good. Funny is accessible. Oh, this guy
can do funny? He’s more human. Alistair can come down to
a show, take his shirt off and pick six girls up and be funny.”
Japan is a nation in which cable television and specialized premium
channels are not widely subscribed to. The vast majority of Japan’s
TV audience is limited to a handful of free network stations
such as Fuji TV, Tokyo Broadcasting System and Nippon Television,
all of which compete for the same national market. Thus, Japan
like most other places, indulges in populist television programming
which typically appeals to the lowest common denominator.
“I
think that’s the key word: ‘accessible.’ And ‘funny’
is something that the general Japanese public finds easy to understand,”
Goodall says. “Everything has to be very simple and straightforward
for ojiichan (grandpa), obaachan (grandma) and the kids.”
The
greatest case study in this process is Bob Sapp, who became a
staple on Japanese television in 2002, turning into one of the
most popular celebrities in the entire country and one of the
principals of Japan’s “kakutogi boom.” However,
when it became clear they were promoting a guy whose personality
far outstripped his talents, interest in Sapp declined.
“I
think Alistair is one notch ahead of [Sapp],” says Goodall.
“He’s clever enough to ride that wagon because he knows
that it’s not just popularity for himself but for K-1, as
well. A lot of Japanese compare [Sapp] with Alistair, but Bob
Sapp was all show and no work.”
This
begs the question as to why Fuji TV had not pushed anyone else
the same way since Sapp. Why not Semmy Schilt or Remy Bonjasky?
Simply,
their inability to excite a majority of the fans despite their
winning kickboxing abilities made them uninteresting subjects.
They lack the understanding and ability to play to the TV crowd
the way that Sapp and Overeem can.
“If
you’re the champion, the least you could do is learn a few
phrases in Japanese and try to engage the crowd,” Overeem
tells me at one point, wistfully shaking his head. “You
need to engage the audience. It’s your responsibility.”
However,
as someone who watched the rise and fall of combat sports in
Japan, I ask Goodall whether or not this approach to making Overeem
popular by crafting a humorous character is really the right
way to gain long-term, sustainable interest in K-1. He admits
that there’s always that concern, but he is confident that
this method of production is a necessity in Japan.
“The
true fans may like Badr Hari, Alistair or Peter Aerts, but, really,
they love K-1,” Goodall says. “That passion and fandom
in kakutogi will never go away, I think. Fuji TV prides themselves
on coming up with nicknames and stories, because it’s easier
to present [a TV audience] with them. Non-kakutogi fans can relate
to the stories, but even the hardcore fans love it.”
There’s
a reason the heady days of 2002-03 are called the “kakutogi
boom.” The cyclical nature of popular interest in Japan
cannot be stressed enough, and loanwords from English like “boom”
illustrate how easily fads start one day and die out the next.
Though
Fuji TV is making its own best efforts at throwing its weight
behind Overeem and K-1, the reality is that without a concerted
effort to push fight sport by all major outlets -- television
and print combined -- the 2002-03 levels of popularity will never
be reached.
If
Japanese television executives -- the nation’s ultimate
tastemakers -- do not share a simultaneous dedication to re-popularize
combat sports, the bust period will drag on.
The
Walk of Fame
It
is the day after the K-1 World Grand Prix. With his 15-pound,
white leather-and-gold belt worn like a warrior’s baldric
over one shoulder, Overeem is back on the star-building circuit.
Just
hours earlier, Overeem enjoyed the most significant moment of
his prizefighting career, as he reached the pinnacle of K-1.
He defeated the smaller Tyrone Spong on points, before stopping
Golden Glory stablemate Gokhan Saki with kicks to the body in
round two. In the final, Overeem crushed K-1 legend and fellow
Dutchman Peter Aerts to take the crown. In the tournament, Overeem
looked every bit worthy of nicknames like “The Demolition
Man” and “Ubereem.”
At
a post-grand prix fan party at a trendy restaurant in Shibuya,
Overeem has conducted interviews for magazines, television, Fighting
and Entertainment Group and the 100 fans in attendance for the
last five hours.
Even
when Overeem turned his head away to get a bite of hamburger,
there were a half dozen recorders and cameras in his face. He
did not complain or even show any signs of impatience, despite
answering the same questions ad nauseum. Professional as he was,
one could never guess he fought three times the previous evening.
When Sunday’s engagement ends, it’s time to call a
cab and make way back to the hotel.
“We’re
going to go toward the train station to get a taxi,” one
of the Fuji TV media handlers says.
“Why
can’t we just call a cab here?” Overeem asks, as empty
taxis pass us, just feet away. “We’re going to attract
a lot of people if we walk.”
Of
course, that is the point.
“Well,
this is what you came here for, right? Get this on film for me,”
Overeem says with a smile, handing me his iPhone.
I
film Overeem walking down the crowded weekend streets of Shibuya,
as mobs of wide-eyed Japanese swarm, cell phones held out before
them like amateur paparazzi. Nearby traffic stop, as drivers
and passengers lean out of windows to wave at Overeem and snap
pictures.
“It’s
that huge guy from television last night! The new champion!”
one yells.
“Alistair!
It’s Alistair Overeem from K-1! Great work, Alistair!”
others add.
The
crowds grow so large that Goodall -- drafted earlier by Overeem
as his personal interpreter -- had to exercise some crowd control.
“Please
stay off the roads and on the sidewalk. You don’t want to
get run over,” he shouts politely to the mob, trying to
save Overeem’s adoring public from auto injury.
No
one listens. Overeem shakes hands and takes pictures with the
mob of fans spilling out into the street. It seems to never end.
Finally, Overeem finds an escape route and ducks into a cab.
We do not even sniff Shibuya station.
I
hand Overeem back his iPhone and say goodbye. As I turn back,
two cameramen are ecstatically congratulating each other.
“That
was good panic!” exclaims one cameraman to Goodall. “Great
work, everyone!”
“If
you’re the champion, the least you could do is learn a few
phrases in Japanese and try to engage the crowd.”
-- Alistair Overeem
The
people that walk down these Shibuya streets on a Sunday evening
are the hip, fashion-conscious, trendsetting youth of Japan.
These are the mercurial potential viewers that the kakutogi industry
desperately needs and should be scrambling to reclaim in the
post-Sapp, post-Masato world. This is the Japanese analog of
North America’s coveted 18-34 male demographic.
These
fans do not know Shinya Aoki or Tatsuya Kawajiri. Perhaps they
might wonder what ever happened to Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto,
but that’s the extent of it. However, they all saw “the
K-1” last night; they know Alistair Overeem, and they are
thrilled to see him in the flesh.
For
the Fuji TV crew, wading through hordes of young Shibuya denizens
wanting to take Overeem’s picture was the perfect “mission
accomplished” moment. It validates their decision to push
him the way they have and the months of work that went into making
it happen.
However, when the ratings come in for the Grand Prix broadcast,
there is some disappointment.
The
tape-delayed broadcast of the K-1 World Grand Prix scores a 13.0
on Fuji TV. The night’s king was the 2010 World Figure Skating
Finals on rival station TV Asahi, which started two hours prior
to K-1 and averaged a muscular 22.9 percent rating. Interestingly
enough, figure skating was one of the major TV successors to
combat sports circa 2006-07, when Japan’s kakutogi boom
died. Head-to-head, Asahi’s “Saturday Night at the
Mysteries Theatre,” a series running since 1977, bested
K-1, notching a 15.8 in the same time slot.
From
2007-09, the World Grand Prix notched ratings of 15.3, 16.1 and
14.7. The numbers are solid but not spectacular, especially for
an institution like K-1, which for years has prided itself on
crossover spectacle.
Overeem
will take on UFC veteran Todd Duffee at “K-1 Dynamite: The
Power of Courage 2010” on New Year’s Eve -- the biggest
night of the year for the company, in particular, and Japan’s
fight scene, in general. Though the event will air on Fuji TV’s
rival, the Tokyo Broadcasting System, the network knows that
a successful, widely viewed New Year’s Eve bout for Overeem
is crucial for it, as well.
And
so, it’s time for the variety show circuit.
Treasure
Hunting
This
means more television taping, bringing us to Fuji TV headquarters,
located on the leisure island of Odaiba in Tokyo Bay. The guts
of Fuji TV are a labyrinth of sprawling gray hallways and fluorescent
lighting. It’s a stark contrast to the loud, Technicolor
brilliance of its TV sets.
As
we are guided through the maze of nondescript halls and otherwise
mysterious unmarked doors, Overeem hands me his World Grand Prix
title belt and charges me with the price of admission for the
day: a job as temporary belt boy.
“Watch
this belt and don’t let anything happen to it,” he
sternly commands.
Overeem
will take on UFC vet Duffee on New Year's Eve.Like most media
entities in Japan, Fuji TV is incredibly strict. I am barred
from being much of a journalist there, though a concession is
made for me to follow Overeem as honorary belt carrier. Bringing
a camera to catch any of today’s game show filming is thus
unconditionally verboten. Not even Overeem’s managers, Bas
Boon and Cor Hemmers, are exempt from this rule.
I
engage Boon in a long conversation on his master plan of building
Alistair into an international star. Boon tells me Overeem is
in a “get big in Japan” phase. They do all they can
to get him on TV and have him meet a who’s who of Japanese
media moguls and celebs to ensure his ubiquity in the country
for years to come.
“A
few years ago, Alistair sat down with me and said, ‘These
are my goals. I want to do things like fight in Japan this often,
get titles, and retire at this age.’” Boon tells me.
“So I developed a plan to do all of it. I can make it happen
because of the network I’ve developed over the years.”
Boon
has signed Overeem with Yoshimoto Kogyo -- one of nation’s
oldest and most powerful talent agencies. Though Yoshimoto has
historically managed the armies of comedians ever-present on
Japanese television, its sheer size and reach has seen it extend
its promotional efforts to athletes, musicians and actors, as
well. Overeem is the company’s first foreign athlete in
its nearly 100-year history.
Boon
acquired these capabilities by spending more than two decades
in the fight game as a producer, promoter and manager. Hemmers
himself used to train and manage his stepson, Dutch kickboxing
legend Ramon Dekkers, among many other Dutch fighters. A lot
of history and ability exists between the two of them, and now
Overeem benefits from their combined efforts. However, a media
push of this magnitude for one of their charges is a new experience
for both of them.
Today,
Overeem is filming Fuji TV’s “Junk Cup,” a variety
show in which various athletes compete in whimsical and ultimately
pointless games. However, Boon takes Overeem’s participation
seriously; it is competition, after all.
“Get
your team to all head for one lever at a time, all together,”
Boon instructs Overeem in Dutch before the game.
In
this game, opposing teams of three are strapped into harnesses
linked by strong elastic bands. The teams are then set back-to-back
at the center of a large, matted circle. At the sound of a buzzer,
both teams dash in opposite directions, scrambling to reach three
levers at the end of their side of the mat. Whichever team overcomes
the pull of its opponents to throw all three of its levers wins.
Representing
the K-1 contingent are Overeem, Singh “Heart” Jaideep
and Kyotaro Fujimoto. The judo team -- which features Olympic
silver medalists and MMA fighters Naoya Ogawa and Hiroshi Izumi
-- falls first to the professional baseball team, thanks to their
lack of explosive speed and their restrictive judo uniforms.
The professional wrestling team, led by Pride Fighting Championships
veteran Yoshihiro Takayama, falls next to the American football
team due to their inability to choose and drive in a single direction
as a team. The sumo team uses brute strength to drag the baseball
team to its defeat soon after.
When
the K-1 team meets the footballers, Overeem throws the first
lever by exploding into a sprint from the opening buzzer. However,
his teammates are unable to hold ground the way the footballers
can. Kyotaro spends more time being the class clown by flashing
peace signs and smiling at the camera than he does trying to
help Overeem or Singh reach the levers.
It
is a Japanese variety show game, perhaps the summit of purposelessness.
Yet, Overeem tries to win. He appears to be the only one trying
to do so.
Though
his team was defeated in its first and only round, Overeem beams
with excitement afterward. Having worked up a light sweat in
completing his TV duties for the day, he quickly makes his way
through Fuji TV’s gray halls back to his dressing room to
change quickly for his next appointment.
“After
this, we have a dinner appointment with one of Japan’s biggest
baseball stars, followed by a meeting with a film producer. I
expect we’ll get done by midnight,” Boon tells me.
It is just 7:30 p.m.
“Today
sounds like an exceptionally busy day,” I reply, surprised.
“Not
just today,” Boon says with a laugh. “It’s been
like this for the last eight days, since the grand prix. He’s
back in MMA training now, but he’s still doing this much
media because he’s smart and he understands its importance.
He’s a professional now.”
From
the dressing room, Overeem begins humming a short tune while
pulling on his jacket and shoes, after which he playfully says
something in Dutch. I look at him, puzzled, hopeful in awaiting
an explanation. As we leave Fuji TV for the parking lot where
he will be chauffeured to his next meeting, he explains it to
me.
“We
have this saying in Dutch,” he says. “Basically, it’s
‘Who wants to make money? I do.’”
I
am not sure whether he is joking. While I cannot tell for sure
if it’s a real Dutch saying, I am certain it is Overeem’s
personal maxim.
Source: Sherdog
|
UFC
125 on January 1st in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Garden Arena
Today
Hawaii
Air Times
Countdown 4:00-5:00PM Channel 559
UFC 125 5:00-8:00PM Channel 701
UFC 125 Prelims: 8:00-9:00PM Channel 27
Dark matches
¦Lightweights:
Jacob Volkmann vs. Antonio McKee
¦Welterweights: Daniel Roberts vs. Greg Soto
¦Featherweights: Mike Brown vs. Diego Nunes
¦Middleweights: Phil Baroni vs. Brad Tavares
¦Featherweights: Josh Grispi vs. Dustin Poirier
¦Lightweights: Marcus Davis vs. Jeremy Stephens
Main card
¦Lightweights:
Clay Guida vs. Takanori Gomi
¦Welterweights: Nate Diaz vs. Dong Hyun Kim
¦Light Heavyweights: Brandon Vera vs. Thiago Silva
¦Middleweights: Chris Leben vs. Brian Stann
¦UFC Lightweight title match: Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard
Source: Fight Opinion
|
UFC
125 Preview: The Main Card
by Jason
Probst
Rare
is it when a champion goes into a title defense as an underdog,
but UFC lightweight boss Frankie Edgar is used to defying the
odds. Facing Gray Maynard at UFC 125 “Resolution” on
Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, the bookmakers
have made the New Jersey scrapper an 8-5 underdog against the
man who beat him two years ago.
Edgar
-- whose UFC debut was a thrilling decision win over Tyson Griffin
-- was not supposed to beat B.J. Penn, either, much less twice
in a row, but he did. Now, he finds himself atop a lightweight
division that is a veritable dog pile of talent. With Maynard
coming to knock him off, WEC champion Anthony Pettis waits in
the wings for the winner.
It
seems fitting that lightweights, once a forgotten weight class
in stateside MMA, headline a show that does not feature a heavyweight
match. Heavyweights provide mainstream allure as main card matches
and likely highlight fodder when staged on the prelims. How quickly
the world changes, and Edgar knows it as well as anyone. For
him to continue his string of impressive and inspiring wins,
he will have to present a better version than the one Maynard
schooled in their first match.
UFC
Lightweight Championship
Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard
The
Matchup: If their first bout and track records are any indication,
this one probably goes the distance. That’s because neither
man has built a reputation as a finisher -- and deservedly so.
With 23 wins between them, and 16 of those by decision, whoever
emerges as UFC lightweight champion will probably suffer from
a lot more criticism than even George St. Pierre deals with these
days. That said, with a five-round bout on tap that is almost
certain to go deep, strategy and round-winning tactics are at
a premium here.
In
their April 2008 match, Maynard was simply too big and strong,
using that to pull down Edgar into his game. While Edgar is exciting
to watch even when he is not stopping people, Maynard relies
on a reductive style that sucks people into the kind of fight
he likes.
Maynard
has proven too good a wrestler for almost any lightweight to
have a realistic chance of taking and keeping him down, and he
has adapted his stand-up to play to those strengths, firing off
right hands, moving his head to avoid blows and rarely throwing
kicks. He keeps his feet in proper position should wrestling
opportunities develop but, at times, seems too willing to stand.
Against Roger Huerta, he nearly frittered away the match until
coming to his senses and taking down Huerta in the third, dominating
the round and sealing the decision.
For
Edgar to win, he has to bring exceptional speed and striking
decisions into the equation. In his two wins over Penn, you could
never guess what he was going to do next, which is why he was
able to win. To achieve victory here, Edgar will have to outwork
Maynard, knowing full well he is going to have to go five rounds
to do it. It is critical that he score an equal amount of takedowns
to get the decision and not get stuck in defensive positions.
Maynard
must have been tickled pink when Edgar won the rematch against
Penn. An on-point Penn seems the perfect guy to beat Maynard,
but Edgar appears to play right into his hands.
Maynard
should concentrate on clinching whenever possible and countering
Edgar when the champion flits in and out. Instead of battling
to take the spry Edgar to the floor -- he is incredibly hard
to keep there -- Maynard should just push him against the fence
early on, dirty box, rinse and repeat. It is a very tiring kind
of match to fight, especially for the guy getting shoved against
the fence, and Edgar is not going to win this one if he lacks
the room necessary to apply his superior speed.
If
and when Maynard does take down the champion and establish a
base of operations there, there is nothing wrong with hitting
a guy 20 times in a row in the ribs while he works to get out
from under you. It may not be pretty or rousing but, then again,
neither was college football in the 1960s, when Ohio State was
running the ball 60 times a game. Whatever wins.
This
bout will probably spark some strong discussions about how MMA
should be scored, as Edgar has improved enough to be more effective
standing than in the first fight; Maynard has five rounds to
impose his superior wrestling and size.
The
Pick: Whether fast, glancing combinations count more than a takedown
and ho-hum ground work from the top remains a matter of opinion,
but that is where I see Maynard driving this one. He just seems
to be a bad style matchup for the champion. Maynard by unanimous
decision.
Middleweights
Chris Leben vs. Brian Stann
The
Matchup: This fight is Leben’s to lose, which is exactly
why Stann can win it. The former WEC light heavyweight champion
has steadily improved with a drop down to 185 pounds. Leben does
not shoot for takedowns, Stann’s biggest weakness, meaning
the two are almost certain to engage in a stand-up fight.
In
this matchup, there are no mysteries with Leben. He wades forward,
pushes out a setup kick or jab and hopes to line up opponents
with his punishing left hand. Leben’s stand-up has progressed
in recent years, as he has become less of the one-trick pony
he was on Season 1 of “The Ultimate Fighter.” His submission
game remains vastly underrated. Leben is also experienced and
durable in bad spots and does not lose his head. Because of that,
Stann probably will not look to take him down unless he has to,
and he will likely have problems doing it. Leben is too crafty
in the clinch and off his back.
Stann
has decent power in his hands, and the drop to 185 serves him
well. Overpowered by far more experienced wrestlers in Phil Davis
and Krzysztof Soszynski, reports are that he has closed some
holes in his game. And with Leben coming in red-hot off his wins
over Aaron Simpson and Yoshihiro Akiyama, Stann has an opportunity
to pull off an upset; he is just shy of 2-1 with the oddsmakers.
Look
for Leben to get the edge early, pushing forward and banging
around his foe. From there, it should turn into a war, with Stann
rallying and Leben getting roughed up in return.
The
Pick: I see this one going the distance, with both men in dire
trouble at some point. Expect Leben to pull off a very close
decision, but Stann is a live underdog. Given Leben’s personal
problems of late -- he has a pending alleged DUI case -- Stann
has a legitimate chance to get the most significant win of his
career here.
Light Heavyweights
Thiago Silva vs. Brandon Vera
The
Matchup: Vera has a tendency to fight to his level of competition.
If his opponent does not push him or present a palpable threat
in certain areas, he often will not press his advantages. Contrasted
against the explosive performances Vera put on as a heavyweight,
it leads many to wonder if his mental game will ever match his
considerable physical gifts.
That
is why this one is fun, as Silva is pretty much assured to bring
violence at Vera from the jump. Silva, who cut too much weight,
was uncharacteristically disinterested in his dreadful performance
against Rashad Evans a year ago. Like Vera, he needs a significant
win to continue his campaign in a stacked 205-pound division.
While point-jockeying seems to be the trend in MMA these days,
Silva is there to take off his opponent’s head, which is
precisely why he is going to stick around in the UFC, even if
he tends to fall short against the better competition.
Vera’s
wrestling, takedown defense and jiu-jitsu are a better combination
than Silva’s, who will have to present a credible threat
on the feet to win this match. He is not going to win it taking
down Vera and sitting on him for three rounds. Silva’s best
chance is to mix up strikes and force exchanges, as opposed to
sitting back and playing a game of counters with Vera, whose
leg kicks and sharpness, when he is in the groove, can pick apart
an opponent.
Look
for Silva to press the action early, with Vera forced into a
bout that devolves into a firefight at times. It is critical
that Vera respond here, as Silva seems to thrive on a bullying
style but gets flustered when opponents can stand their ground
and dictate to him.
The
Pick: Vera will rally late, mixing in a couple takedowns and
some gritty brawling en route to a third-round knockout.
Lightweights
Clay Guida vs. Takanori Gomi
The
Matchup: If there is a frontrunner for “Fight of the Night,”
this is it. Guida-Gomi promises a lot of back-and-forth action,
replete with both men attempting to get the pace and secure what
will be an all-important factor in the matchup: top position.
The jury is still out on how Gomi compares to his wrecking-ball
prime self in Pride Fighting Championships, where he was a two-fisted
machine that either threw someone a horrible beating or got submitted
while going down swinging.
Guida
lacks Gomi’s crushing one-punch power, but his stand-up
serves him well enough, allowing him to close the gap, keep most
opponents honest and facilitate tie-ups to bleed opponents of
energy and get the fight to the mat. The longer this one goes,
the more Guida’s chances improve.
Gomi’s
UFC debut loss to Kenny Florian saw him terribly passive and
flat, but he did much to erase that with an impressive 64-second
knockout of the usually durable Tyson Griffin in August. While
Gomi will have the edge in an extended stand-up battle, Guida
is significantly better off his back. He does not panic there,
and his stamina is top-notch.
Look
for Guida to play it a little safer than usual to start out of
respect for Gomi’s power. He will have to make adjustments
and get Gomi thinking about defensive wrestling instead of landing
his trademark bombs. This is a real hit-or-miss bout, prediction-wise,
as Gomi can snuff out anyone with a single shot, while Guida
can pretty much outwork and outlast guys who cannot keep him
from taking them down.
The
Pick: Expect Guida to get drilled hard and rebound, as he battles
back and pushes the pace down the stretch en route to a unanimous
decision win.
Welterweights
Nate Diaz vs. Dong Hyun Kim
The
Matchup: Say this for Diaz … in a sport where the preferred
method to jumpstart a flat lining career is dropping weight,
he moves up a division instead.
For
most fighters, such a move would not make sense, but Diaz makes
it work. That is because his game is predicated on stamina and
work rate, instead of physically dominating opponents. As such,
the move to 170 from 155 pounds has thus far seen him refreshed,
as he has dispatched Rory Markham and Marcus Davis in successive
outings.
Kim
brings a style almost certain to make for a close decision if
it goes the distance. The Korean, like most Diaz foes, will have
a wrestling advantage but will likely have to decide when the
time is right to take it to the ground, as Diaz’s sweeps
and submissions are serious threats. Diaz’s stand-up is
progressing slowly but steadily as he matures -- much like his
older brother’s did -- and he would be well served to press
the action with his busy hands.
Kim
is slightly taller than the 6-foot Diaz, which means the Cesar
Gracie protégé will have to make some adjustments
standing to operate in the pocket, where he likes to score points
and use his reach. However, Kim’s stand-up is not likely
to frustrate or much less dent the resilient Stockton, Calif.,
battler, so he will have to take Diaz to the ground at some point.
The
Pick: On the ground, Kim rides a narrow boundary between doing
enough to keep it there without making a mistake. It should come
down to a close decision, with Kim taking it by a hair or two.
Source: Sherdog
|
No
Bull from ‘The Bully’
by Mike Sloan
Every
prizefighter, regardless of experience, age or ability, covets
the opportunity to fight for a world championship. Young kids
in the fetal stages of training dream of it, between thousands
of hours of studying and honing their craft and building enough
strength and courage needed to put themselves in position to
put a belt around their waist. Yes, all fighters dream of becoming
champions, and Bradley Gray Maynard is no exception.
A
semi-finalist on Season 5 of “The Ultimate Fighter”
reality series, the undefeated lightweight finds himself on the
verge of realizing his ultimate aspiration.
Maynard
hopes to break in 2011 by wresting the 155-pound title from defending
champion Frankie Edgar in the UFC 125 main event on Saturday
at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. He will enter the
match with the valuable knowledge that he has already beaten
Edgar once. Nearly three years ago, Maynard dominated “The
Answer” at UFC Fight Night 13 and won a lopsided unanimous
decision. It remains the only blemish on Edgar’s resume.
Neither
man has lost since, and Edgar has emerged as the world’s
top fighter at 155 pounds, dethroning B.J. Penn in a controversial
decision in April and then outshining the Hawaiian in their rematch
four months later. Maynard, despite his unbeaten record, has
been left out of the title picture until now.
Like
rival outlaws in an old Western, they seemed destined to meet
again. Maynard expects to see a far different Edgar in their
second encounter.
“Edgar
is really good,” Maynard says. “He is a better fighter
now. It might be more high-paced, because he moves around a lot.
I don’t know how the fight will unfold, so we’ll have
to see.”
Gray
Maynard sees an advantageous matchup in Frankie Edgar. Maynard
anticipates dealing with the elusive striking game that has come
to define Edgar and admits his constant, almost frantic, movements
can prove confounding. Still, he believes Edgar’s approach
will not differ much from the first time the two met.
“He
doesn’t really change up his style that much; he just moves
more and is quick,” Maynard says. “He adds a little
bit to his style, but he hasn’t really changed his style
since we fought. I don’t really know what to think, other
than I’ll kick his ass again.”
Confident
though Maynard may be entering his first title fight, he understands
toppling Edgar a second time will be no easy task. He will have
to work for the belt. Edgar has evolved into a well-rounded mixed
martial artist, as evidenced by his victories over Penn, a man
against whom few gave him a legitimate chance.
Maynard
has grown accustomed to going the distance, as his last seven
fights, all wins, have reached the judges. Still, the 31-year-old
Xtreme Couture rep has never gone five rounds in his career.
“I’m
not worried about going five,” Maynard says. “I train
all the time with the best guys in the world. I’m doing
more cardio and stuff like that, so, no, I can go the full five
rounds if I have to.”
Edgar
figures to hold the advantage on the feet, both in terms of speed
and skill, which means Maynard will almost certainly need to
rely on his wrestling chops. A three-time collegiate All-American
at Michigan State University, he took down Edgar at will the
first time the two faced one another. On the strength of that
performance and his one-sided win over two-time title contender
Kenny Florian in August, Maynard will enter the rematch as the
favorite.
“When
I checked out the tapes of [Florian], he just had his way with
all types of guys like Clay Guida and such,” he says. “Guys
who really didn’t have much of a plan besides to just go
out there and try to turn it into a brawl, he beat them. Kenny’s
good at backing out [away from danger], and he’s good at
the in-and-out stuff, but with the angles, he’s not that
good.
“He
adds a little bit to his style, but he hasn’t really changed
his style since we fought. I don’t really know what to think,
other than I’ll kick his ass again.”
-- Maynard on Edgar
“I
kind of knew that when people had been talking him up about how
he’s unbelievable. I’m like, ‘Who is he fighting?
What kind of guys are coming in with a plan?’ I knew that
if I fought a smart fight, he’d be in trouble,” Maynard
adds. “Kenny kind of fights like Frankie [in that] he moves
a lot, but they are two different fighters. I’ve just got
to be smart and patient against Frankie.”
Maynard
has envisioned becoming a world champion from day one. Often
criticized for a lack of killer instinct, it seems almost fitting
that he will have to go through Edgar -- another elite fighter
who does not garner the attention many feel he deserves -- to
reach his goal.
“Edgar
is really overlooked by everybody,” Maynard says in a frustrated
tone. “People believe what they hear. If it’s B.J.
Penn we’re talking about, he’s had a lot of hype. People
just jump on the hottest new guy, and they all thought he was
unbelievable and unbeatable. But Edgar is really overlooked.
Nobody really believes how good he is. He’s the champion
for a reason.”
Maynard
believes that, in time, he will be given his just due, as well.
He admits he feels slighted by media and fans but understands
his style may not lend itself to popularity. Still, the lack
of respect drives him as he approaches the most significant opportunity
of his career.
“Now,”
he says, “it’s my turn.”
Source: Sherdog
|
Big
Foot training to beat Fedor Emelianenko up
By Guilherme
Cruz
Coming from wins over Andrei Arlovski and Mike Kyle, the last
one by KO, Antonio “Big Foot” Silva is training hard
on the United States for his next bout, that might be against
Fedor Emelianenko.
“We
were thinking about this fight for a long time, and Big Foot
is preparing himself for it. It’ll be, when it happens,
the greatest fight in his career. It’s a hard fight for
anyone, Fedor is a legend, and he deserves to be to known as
one”, comments Alex Davis, manager of the Brazilian. “I
think this bout will happen, that’s our hope. If you want
to be the best, you have to test yourself with the bests. We’re
just waiting the guys from Strikeforce to call us, he’ll
give a great show for you, as usual”.
Confident
on the heavyweight division, Alex believes on a spectacular win.
“I believe on Big foot a lot. I think that, on Werdum’s
fight, Fedor made a little mistake, which Werdum used wisely
to beat him. He’s much more prepared now… On Big Foot’s
case, I hope he can really beat that guy up. Big Foot has plenty
conditions to do it, he proved it on his last couple of fights,
and on the last one he proved how brave he is when he’s
in trouble”, concludes.
Source: Tatame
|
Josh
Thomson Knows a Third Fight with Gilbert Melendez is Inevitable
by Damon
Martin
When Josh Thomson beat Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante earlier
this year, it seemed like a forgone conclusion that he would
soon finish the trilogy of fights against old foe Gilbert Melendez
with the Strikeforce lightweight title on the line.
The
idea was squashed, at least for the time being, with the inclusion
of Thomson on this week’s Dynamite!! show in Japan, where
the former champion will take on Tatsuya Kawajiri in a lightweight
battle.
Melendez
is still currently working his way back from a hand injury and
hasn’t been placed in a fight since his April win over Shinya
Aoki. Thomson is sure the third fight between he and Melendez
will still happen, he’s just not sure when that might be.
As
a matter of fact, Thomson’s next fight in Strikeforce could
already be set.
“The
Gilbert fight’s going to happen,” Thomson told MMAWeekly
Radio. “Maybe this just isn’t the time. I also asked
during this whole negotiation process, there’s a lot of
talk of Kawajiri coming over to Strikeforce, and it’s only
fair since I’m going over there to fight him on New Year’s
Eve, the biggest show that they have, when he does come over
here I want to be the first person he fights here.
“If
I beat him there I really see no reason to fight him here, but
the fact that I didn’t have a whole lot of notice and I’m
fighting him in his own backyard, and I’m pretty sure he’s
been training for this fight knowing he’s going to fight,
so it’s like I have a lot going against me. If I’m
able to pull it off over there, we won’t fight here possibly,
but if I don’t, I would like the chance to fight him right
away when he does come to Strikeforce.”
Thomson
mentioned that he had actually asked Strikeforce to place him
on their Jan. 29 fight card in San Jose, Calif., as well as his
appointment on New Year’s Eve in Japan, but they opted for
other fights just in case the American Kickboxing Academy fighter
isn’t healthy after this weekend.
Beyond
that, Thomson isn’t worried about when he’ll face Melendez
for the third time, he just knows it’s bound to happen at
some point.
“I
can’t worry about him and I can’t worry about what
he’s doing right now,” Thomson said about Melendez.
“I think they’re still trying to work the details out
with him and Strikeforce and a new contract. I’m not really
sure what the deal is, like I said I can’t really focus
on that. The fight will happen when the time’s right.”
As
for his own future, Thomson seems to have sketched out a map
for what he wants 2011 to look like in Strikeforce.
“I’m
looking to fight possibly March or April, and we’ll go from
there,” said Thomson.
“After
like June, I’d probably like to take the summer off and
spend some time with family and things like that, and enjoy my
time after June. Getting these two fights already in the bag
for next year, and then maybe fight one more time in September
or October.”
Source: MMA Weekly
|
The
lessons Jiu-Jitsu brings with every year
by Mohamad
Jehad
It’s been ages since I haven’t woken up Christmas morning
to some small but welcome surprise. I didn’t even bother
to get out of bed and went straight to checking emails from friends
on my cell phone. Myself and five other teachers on Emirates
Team had stayed up until four in the morning discussing a number
of topics, all, inevitably, Jiu-Jitsu related. Of the numerous
emails, there was one that touched me most. Following a few short
phrases about Christmas and family well-wishes, my former student
Dimitri Pilaris, now a resident of Santa Catarina, wrapped up
his message like this:
“I’m
grateful to you, my first Jiu-Jitsu teacher. I didn’t end
up becoming a champion on the mat, but I will carry your teachings
with me for the rest of my life. Thank you so much.”
Memories
of the first classes I taught to Dimi flashed through my head,
back in Rio Grande do Sul. He must have been just thirteen years
old. I remember how he was short for his age, full of verve and,
like all early teens, he didn’t know what he wanted in life.
Anyone who works with kids and teenagers knows how Jiu-Jitsu
can be an instrument for forming character and how our words
echo in the lives of these youths. Dimi, like dozens of others,
followed his course, moved to a different state, but continued
living the lifestyle proposed to him. His email came to reinforce
my idea about the importance of the role of teacher.
I
immediately transported myself back a few years. Still a white
belt, I was used as a sparring partner for my friends Luiz Brito
and Murilo Rupp, who were going to make their debuts in vale-tudo,
as MMA was called in those days. During our first sparring session,
my master, Zé Mário Sperry, made himself really
clear: “Teaching you guys to hit someone is easy, I’m
here to teach you to get hit.”
Just
as Dimi carried my teachings with him into daily life, I carried
with me those of my masters. I learned to take knocks, and not
just in the dojo. I learned to take the hard knocks of life.
Those are certainly the most painful ones. It’s in this
great tournament called “life” that we suffer the most
bitter defeats. Victory consists of living and making the most
of the lessons we derive from our setbacks.
If
you manage to take Jiu-Jitsu’s teachings with you away for
the mats, you can be sure you will be a black belt in life, which
in the end is what really matters.
The
year is coming to a close. Perhaps it hasn’t been the best
of times for some, but everyone must have gotten a bit better
at “taking knocks.” Next year we’ll be in better
shape heading into the next round.
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
The
UFC’s big network TV deal is on… ION
By Zach
Arnold
Here’s
the MMA Junkie report on the matter.
It’s
a curious move. ION is an over-the-air channel in the states
but not available in all American markets.
(People
confuse free-to-air with over-the-air. Free-to-air is using a
satellite dish to legally pick up unencrypted channels. See Sathint
for examples.)
To
see if your area has the ION channel on cable or antenna, use
Antenna Web or TV Fool or Rabbit Ears. On Rabbit Ears, when you
get a list of TV networks on your search, the blue links can
be clicked on and you’ll get a listing of main channels
and sub channels.
The
ION network will air three preliminary fights for this Saturday’s
UFC 125 event from Las Vegas. (ION airs in 720p resolution for
over-the-air. If you have a free-to-air set-up with a satellite
dish, you can pick up all ION channel feeds including an HD version
on bird AMC 1 at 103W. However, the frequency is C band, not
Ku band.)
For
a complete listing of ION affiliates in the States, click here.
Josh
Gross brings up the obvious angle, which is contract negotiations
between UFC and Spike TV.
Here’s
the PR launch on Youtube for promoting the 125 event. It needs
all the help it can get with the Frankie Edgar/Gray Maynard main
event. If you’re interested in watching the show at a bar
locally, use this Joe Hand Promotions link to find the nearest
location.
Source: Fight Opinion
|
Menjivar
Taking Training and Career to New Levels in 2011
By Kelsey
Mowatt
Fighting
for just the second time since 2006, Ivan Menjivar showed little
signs of any cage rust during his thrilling WEC 53 bout with
Brad Pickett earlier this month, but in the end, the “Pride
of El Salvador” fell short, losing by unanimous decision
to the highly regarded British vet. It wasn’t exactly the
way Menjivar planned on having his WEC debut go down, of course,
but the 21-8 fighter is happy that the fight created a serious
buzz.
“I’m
happy and I think Brad is the same,” Menjivar told FCF.
“We were each prepared to have a good fight and we give
it. I prepared hard and I was ready for all three rounds. I think
I made some good moves in the fight and I tried to win. I wanted
to show my techniques, make the fans happy, and I wanted people
to remember Menjivar’s fight. That was the first time they
might have seen me. So I’m happy people loved my style.”
While
Menjivar certainly made an impact in his WEC debut, and likely
entrenched his return to the Octagon in 2011, the fight demonstrated
to the Montreal fighter that he still has plenty of work to do.
“For
the result I’m sad,” said Menjivar. “It was a
good fight yes, but I’m unhappy because I made mistakes.
I didn’t study my opponent. After my first back fist I realized
that ‘oh, he studied my fight.’ I saw that he had studied
my style. That was one error for me.”
“I
have to work a lot for my family,” Menjivar added, who is
also employed as a full time airport security officer. “I
didn’t train my wrestling like before; I need to do more
wrestling. So I learned I need to spend more time studying my
opponent and I need to do more wrestling. I need to be more like
Georges (St. Pierre), who prepares for each opponent.”
Veteran
observers of Canadian MMA have long been familiar with Ivan Menjivar;
after turning pro in 2001, the El Salvador native had soon made
a name for himself on the Canadian circuit, before battling his
way to international organizations like the UFC and K-1 Hero’s.
It was a different era in the sport; however, as often the 5’6
tall fighter was forced to face much bigger competition, with
little financial reward. Having a family to support, Menjivar
left pro MMA in 2006, after dropping back-to-back decision losses
to Caol Uno and Bart Palaszewski.
“It
is too hard to say ‘no I can’t fight,” said Menjivar,
when asked why he returned to fighting this past summer, when
he submitted Aaron Miller at W-1’s fifth card. “I’m
only 28 and it’s too fun to prepare for the fight. I’m
addicted; it’s so fun. Also, my kids are a bit older now,
so my wife said ‘ok, you can go fight.’ The sport has
grown up so fast, so I wish I can make money doing this, and
I hope I can be a real professional and live off fighting. I
think the sport has given me another chance; I think I can go
and make a good career.”
Menjivar
will now turn his attention to 2011, and after having a successful
performance debuting at 135lbs. versus Pickett, the Tri Star
fighter hopes to compete next in the UFC bantamweight division.
“Now
that the WEC has gone to the UFC, we don’t know when the
next fight for me will be,” Menjivar said while discussing
his immediate future. “I think I have a good chance to continue
fighting for them. I think they might want to introduce me as
part of the bantamweight category in Canada. Toronto is going
to have a show so I hope they might put me there for a fight.”
With
the landscape of MMA having completely changed since Menjivar
was facing the likes of Matt Serra and Vitor Ribeiro approximately
five years ago, the veteran has a new outlook on the sport he’s
dedicated much of his life to.
“I
think I can be a good challenger for the UFC now, I can be prepared
well,” said Menjivar. “I need more sponsors so I can
train like a real professional, but after my first fight after
three years, I realized I’m ready to come back to fighting.
I realize I need to be more professional; I need more time to
train, prepare and rest. I think it’s possible for me to
get back to the top ten fighters in the world.”
Source: Full Contact Fighter
|
UFC
NEWS: Sadollah vs. Ludwig, Simpson vs. Miranda coming to UFC
Fight Night 24 in Seattle
By: Jamie
Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Two more fights have been added to the UFC Fight Night 24 event,
coming to Seattle, Wash. on March 26, as separate reports from
MMAJunkie.com and MMAWeekly.com state that a welterweight bout
between Amir Sadollah and Duane "Bang" Ludwig, as well
as a middleweight bout between Aaron Simpson and Mario Miranda,
are coming to the event.
Sadollah,
the winner of The Ultimate Fighter's seventh season, has fought
his entire professional career inside the UFC's Octagon, going
4-2 in six fights. He most recently bounced back from a loss
to Dong Hyun Kim with a decision win over Peter Sobotta in Germany
at UFC 122.
Ludwig,
a ten year veteran of the sport with five times as many fights
as Sadollah under his belt, made his return to the UFC in January
after a four year absence from the organization. He went 8-5
in between UFC stints, but dropped his first two fights back
in the Octagon in 2010. However, a split decision win over Nick
Osipczak at UFC 122 saved his spot in the organization.
Simpson
enters the bout with Miranda having lost two straight. His loss
to Chris Leben at The Ultimate Fighter 11 finale was the first
loss of his career, but he added a second when he dropped a decision
to Mark Munoz last month at UFC 123.
Both
he and Miranda are likely fighting for their spot on the UFC's
roster, as Miranda himself holds just a 1-2 mark in the organization.
Dropping his debut fight by TKO to Gerald Harris, Miranda delivered
a similar finish to David Loiseau at UFC 115 in Vancouver. However,
he was handed a second loss by Demian Maia by decision in August.
UFC
Fight Night 24 is expected to air live on Spike TV, headlined
by a light heavyweight bout between Tito Ortiz and Antonio Rogerio
Nogueira.
Penick's
Analysis: Both fights are set up to help clear roster space for
the UFC. Unless there are some spectacular performances out of
them, Ludwig, Simpson and Miranda all may be up for release with
a loss. Sadollah, as an Ultimate Fighter winner, will have more
leeway with the UFC, but he can't afford too many losses himself.
Ludwig is a highly experienced fighter who does have some left
in the tank, so he'll provide another tough challenge for Sadollah,
but that should be a good fight at 170 lbs. Miranda-Simpson should
be highly competitive as well, but the loser will either have
lost three straight, or lost three of four, so they're likely
on their way out after this event.
Source: MMA Torch
|
With
UFC fight coming up, Tavares analyzes Anthony Pettis’s acrobatics
by Carlos
Eduardo Ozório
A Jiu-Jitsu black belt on team Ataque Duplo in Florianópolis,
Brazil, Thiago Tavares has Shane Roller ahead of him as his next
challenge, coming up at UFC Versus 3 on March 3. In a conversation
with GRACIEMAG.com, the lightweight speaks of the matchup and
offers his breakdown of the new troop coming into the UFC from
the WEC following the fusion of the two events and discusses
the acrobatics of Anthony Pettis, the champion of the now-defunct
event.
Here’s
what he had to say:
Tell
us about your opponent, Shane Roller…
He’s
good, comes from a wrestling background and is a three-time All
American. Besides that, he holds Grapplers Quest titles. That
means he’s also seasoned in Jiu-Jitsu. Standing, I feel
he’s inconsistent. He impressed me against Ben Henderson,
but after that I felt he was lacking against other guys. So I
don’t know what to expect from him there: will he fight
standing like he did against Henderson or like he did against
the other guys I saw him against? But the truth is I feel he’ll
look to take it to the ground, given the quality of his takedowns.
That doesn’t mean anything either. I don’t know what
qualifiers they use, but it seems like all the wrestlers were
All American. So I figure he’ll try to take it to the ground
and I’ve faced other good wrestlers before.
What
are your thoughts on the new lightweights coming into the UFC
from the WEC?
The
level is just getting more and more competitive. The WEC was
a little below the UFC, with some exceptions, like Ben Henderson,
Anthony Pettis, Donald Cerrone, and Shane Roller himself. Those
guys bring it on. So things will get even more complicated. Jamie
Varner was going to fight in the UFC but isn’t anymore…
I think the UFC has a roster of sixty-four lightweights now,
so there will be a lot of heads rolling. I hope I won’t
be one of them!
Pettis joins the fray as the champion of the WEC and will get
a shot at the UFC belt in his next outing. Does he have a chance?
What did you think of that incredible kick he landed on Henderson
(watch here)?
Pettis,
like Ben Henderson, is coming into the UFC strong. He has what
it takes to snatch the belt. Pettis has a lot of quality about
him. These acrobatics depend on the occasion. I’ve noticed
that Pettis goes for things in the final seconds of each round.
He may very well try that in the UFC, but as great a fighter
as he is, he won’t be able to land those too often.
What
will it take to move up the ranks in such a stacked division
and get near a title shot?
I
have to give it my best. I had fights were I had good showings,
others where I didn’t. I have to concentrate. I feel really
strong in this division and I have a lot of qualities. What matters
is staying in the mix, and I’m going to focus on doing my
best.
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
MMA:
'The Answer' is the real deal
by CARLOS
ARIAS
Share Many called Frankie Edgar's victory over UFC lightweight
champion B.J. Penn in April a fluke, but "The Answer"
proved he was the real deal when he retained his UFC 155-pound
title with another unanimous decision over Penn in August.
Edgar
(13-1) gets another chance to re-enforce his status as the top
lightweight in the world when he makes his second title defense
against Gray Maynard (10-0), the only fighter to defeat Edgar,
in the main event of UFC 125 on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the MGM
Grand in Las Vegas on pay-per-view.
"Gray
is probably the complete package," Edgar said. "He's
in his prime, he's bigger and he has a win over me. If I beat
him this time, I believe there's nothing anybody can say.
"This
is a perfect opportunity for me to avenge a loss and defend my
title for a second time in a row all in the same night and start
the year off right. I'm going to start this new year off with
a bang."
Maynard,
a three-time All-American wrestler at Michigan State, has neutralized
everybody the UFC matchmakers have thrown in front of him, including
a unanimous decision over Edgar at UFC Fight Night 13 in April
2008. Maynard has taken some criticism for relying solely on
his wrestling and not being able to finish fights, but it's hard
to argue with his results. Maynard has beaten Rich Clementi,
Jim Miller, Roger Huerta, Nate Diaz and Kenny Florian since the
first Edgar fight.
"I've
asked for the top guys, I've gotten them and I've gone through
them, all the top guys," Maynard said. "I don't see
anybody else going through these guys in a row like I have.
"He
(Edgar) is talking about revenge, I'm the one that's getting
revenge," Maynard said. "He has everything that I should
have, that I want. I just gotta go get it now."
NOTES
Chris
Leben (25-6) is always a threat to win a fight of the night or
knockout of the night bonus whenever he steps inside the octagon
and that will be the case once again when he takes on former
WEC light-heavyweight champion Brian Stann (9-3) in the semi-main
event at UFC 125.
"I'm
always looking forward to fighting a guy that wants to stand
with me," Leben said. "Fact of the matter is everybody
says it, but after they stand with me for about a minute or two
they quickly change their mind." ...
Clay
Guida (27-11) has recorded back-to-back victories over Shannon
Gugerty and Rafael dos Anjos heading into his fight against former
Pride lightweight champion Takanori Gomi (32-6) at UFC 125. Guida
believes a victory over Gomi gets him one step closer to a shot
at the UFC lightweight championship.
"If
you can't get excited for fighting Takanori Gomi, you can't get
excited for life," Guida said. "This is what it's all
about. Defeating him, dominating Gomi puts me on the map. No
disrespect to him, I'm just out there doing my job and that's
to have fun and get my hand raised." ...
In
the other two pay-per-view bouts for UFC 125, Thiago Silva (14-2)
faces Brandon Vera (11-5) in a light-heavyweight clash and Nate
Diaz (13-5) and Dong Hyun Kim (13-0-1) meet in a welterweight
fight. ...
The
UFC announced on Tuesday that three UFC 125 prelims will air
live on ION Television on Saturday at 5:55 p.m. Phil Baroni (13-12)
vs. Brad Tavares (6-0), Josh Grispi (14-1) vs. Dustin Poirier
(8-1) and Marcus Davis (17-7) vs. Jeremy Stephens (18-6) are
the three fights that will air on ION Television leading up to
the UFC 125 pay-per-view. ...
In
the Japanese tradition, K-1 and Dream parent compant Fighting
and Entertainment Group has put together a 15-bout spectacle
for its Dynamite!! 2010 card on New Year's Eve. Here are some
of the featured bouts: Japanese icon Kazushi Sakuraba (26-14-1)
drops down in weight to challenge Dream welterweight champion
Marius Zaromskis (13-5); Dream featherweight champion Bibiano
Fernandes (8-2) faces Hiroyuki Takaya (14-8-1) in a rematch;
2008 Olympic judo gold medalist Satoshi Ishii (3-1) goes against
world champion kickboxer Jerome Le Banner (3-1-1); former Strikeforce
lightweight champion Josh Thomson (18-3) takes on Tatsuya Kawajiri
(26-6-2); and Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem
(33-11) faces Todd Duffee (6-1). The card will be televised live
from the Saitama Super Arena on Friday at 1 a.m. on HDNet. ...
Strikeforce
welterweight champion Nick Diaz signed a new, multi-year agreement
with Strikeforce, the San Jose-based organization announced on
Tuesday. Diaz (23-7), who is riding an eight-fight winning streak,
is set to make his second title defense against Evangelista "Cyborg"
Santos (18-13) at Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Cyborg on Jan. 29 at
the HP Pavilion in San Jose on Showtime. ...
FIGHT
OF THE WEEK
Frankie
Edgar vs. Gray Maynard
When:
Saturday, 7 p.m.
Where:
MGM Grand, Las Vegas
TV:
Pay-per-view ($44.95)
Outlook:
Edgar (13-1) makes his second defense of his UFC lightweight
title against Maynard (10-0), who beat Edgar in 2008, in the
main event of UFC 125.
Prediction:
Maynard has the size and strength advantage and he has the superior
wrestling, but Edgar has the quickness and superior boxing. Edgar
has the experience of going the five-round distance and he is
loaded with confidence after back-to-back victories over B.J.
Penn. Edgar will pull out a razor-thin decision to avenge his
lone loss.
Record
in 2010 picks: 27-12-2
Source: Orange County
|
Jim
Miller Set to Face Kamal Shalorus at UFC 128 in New Jersey
by Damon
Martin
Jim Miller is ready to return to action and he will get the chance
to fight in his home state of New Jersey when he does. He is
set to face former WEC lightweight Kamal Shalorus at UFC 128
on March 19.
The
fight was confirmed to MMAWeekly.com by sources close to the
match-up on Wednesday, with verbal agreements in place.
Miller
(19-2) has been asking the UFC for a Top 10 opponent time and
time again for his next fight, but he won’t get his wish
just yet. He will, however, get the chance to fight in his home
state with all of New Jersey rooting for him.
The
AMA Fight Club fighter has won his last six fights in a row including
a first round submission over Charles Oliveira at UFC 124 earlier
this month. Miller has been making his way higher and higher
in the division, and will look to keep his streak alive when
he returns in March.
Facing
Miller in his home state will be former WEC fighter Kamal Shalorus
(7-0-2), who will be making his UFC debut. Shalorus closed the
door on his WEC career with a win over Bart Palaszewski at WEC
53 in December, and now faces an extremely tough test for his
first UFC fight.
A
powerful wrestler with heavy hands, Shalorus went undefeated
during his time with the WEC and will hope to duplicate that
success in the UFC.
The
bout between Miller and Shalorus will take place at UFC 128 in
New Jersey. While the card has yet to be officially announced
by the promotion, the main event is expected to be Mauricio “Shogun”
Rua defending his UFC light heavyweight title against Rashad
Evans.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Toughman
Hawaii is Back!
January
8, 2011
Hilo Civic Center
Doors open at 5:30 pm and the fights start at 6:00 pm
Tickets are $25 pre-sale, $30 at the door
Source: Wally Carvalho
|
|