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2012
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10/20-21/12
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1/15/12
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June
2012 News Part 1
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Pacquiao
Vs. Bradley Results: Timothy Bradley Wins Shocking, Controversial
Split Decision
by Brent
Brookhouse
Coming
into tonight's HBO pay-per-view bout between Manny Pacquiao and
Timothy Bradley, I had predicted Bradley would take the upset
decision. However, I didn't see it going down like it did.
Manny
Pacquiao seemed to dominate the fight against Timothy Bradley
from the opening round. While there were a few (3-4) rounds that
seemed like the could be scored for Bradley, it seemed impossible
by the time the final bell had sounded that Tim had done nearly
enough to take a decision, but that's exactly what happened.
Pacquiao's
key punch the entire fight was the hard straight left hand and
his powerful blows were certainly more telling than Bradley's
much lighter shots. Beyond the quality and power of the shots
landed, Pacquiao dominated in terms of actual punches landed
and accuracy.
While
Bradley was more than willing to exchange and get into ill-advised
firefights, the fight appeared to clearly not be going his way.
However,
when the official scorecards were read, after the first 115-113,
Michael Buffer said "Pacquiao", which meant we had
a split decision. The next card was 115-113 for Bradley. Despite
all certainty that the final card would see Manny's hand raised,
Buffer once again said Bradley, giving Tim the split decision
win.
It's
a shocking result and one that makes very little sense given
Manny's status as the "money fighter" in the bout.
Normally the robberies go to the guy whose win brings in more
money for the promoters, but that wasn't what happened tonight.
Manny Pacquiao is a worldwide star, while Bradley is a lighter
hitting, mostly unknown fighter who isn't really even a welterweight.
Source:
SB Nation
|
UFC
on FX 3 Results: Play-by-Play
BankAtlantic
Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
June 8, 2012
Sean
Pierson vs. Jake Hecht
Round
1
Hecht goes right after a single-leg and drags Pierson down at
the base of the cage. Pierson scoots away from the fence Hecht
tries to take his back, but botches the pass and winds up underneath.
Pierson works from top, moving from side control to north-south
and then grabbing for a guillotine choke as Hecht scrambles to
his feet. Hecht slams Pierson down but can’t extract his
head, even though the choke doesn’t look dangerous. Pierson
gives up the guillotine and presses Hecht into the fence, throwing
a punch to the body and taking a Hecht knee in return. They fight
inside for the latter half of the round without much action,
Pierson controlling on the outside. When they split with 30 seconds
left, Pierson snaps off some jabs, but he’s got a bad cut
on top of his head from a Hecht elbow.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Pierson
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Pierson
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Pierson
Round
2
The welterweights trade short hooks in the pocket before Pierson
clinches up again and puts Hecht on the fence. Hecht turns it
around and they trade glancing knees inside before breaking off.
Pierson scores with an uppercut, a counter right hook, a left
straight. The pace slows as they clinch again; this time, Hecht
lands some punches on the fence as they split. Pierson is still
in control on the feet, though, backing Hecht up with combinations
and shoving him into the cage again. Hecht gets off a grazing
right high kick but as the round ends he’s got a small cut
trickling blood on the left side of his hairline.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Pierson
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Pierson
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Pierson
Round
3
Hecht lands a single-leg to open the round, as he did in the
first period. Pierson wraps him up in butterfly guard and gets
a standup from referee Chris Adams after about a minute of inactivity.
Hecht is on the offensive now, throwing hands and chasing Pierson
down with another takedown attempt on the fence. Pierson widens
his base and shoves Hecht off the double-leg try. Hecht wraps
up on the cage with about 70 seconds left, trying for another
takedown, but Pierson peppers him with shots to the body and
denies it again. Hecht exits with a knee to the body, and they
exchange some more tentative strikes down the stretch.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Hecht (29-28 Pierson)
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Hecht (29-28 Pierson)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Hecht (29-28 Pierson)
Official
result: All three judges score the bout 29-28 for the winner
by unanimous decision, Sean Pierson.
Henry
Martinez vs. Bernardo Magalhaes
Round
1
Magalhaes has a takedown denied early and now has some trouble
navigating through the active punches of the American. Martinez
keeps moving forward, absorbing some nice leg kicks from “Trekko”
while keeping the strikes coming and occasionally tagging the
Brazilian. Magalhaes pulls guard, attacking the left leg of Martinez,
but Martinez is able to scramble up and extract the limb. Martinez
shuts down another shot and walks down Magalhaes again, but can’t
land anything significant in the last 30 seconds.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Martinez
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Martinez
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Martinez
Round
2
Martinez keeps coming forward in the second, though this time
Magalhaes is starting to land some counter right hand along with
his leg kicks. Magalhaes keeps looking for a front kick to the
body, maybe aiming for the head, but Martinez keeps circling
away. Martinez is looking more tentative with his combos as the
round wears on, but he’s still throwing and is able to effectively
shut down Magalhaes’ takedown attempt in the last minute.
Magalhaes plunks his man with a one-two before the round expires.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Martinez
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Martinez
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-10
Round
3
More of the same to begin the final round: Martinez moving forward
gingerly, threatening with punching combos, while Magalhaes stays
on the outside working long counters and front kicks. Magalhaes
has another takedown denied in the center of the cage. Martinez
is whiffing entirely with combinations; Magalhaes misses a flying
knee. Martinez sits down on another single-leg try and Magalhaes
grazes with a front kick as he gets back to his feet.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Magalhaes (29-28 Martinez)
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Magalhaes (29-28 Martinez)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-10 (30-29 Martinez)
Official
result: The judges score the bout 30-27, 29-28 and 29-28, all
for the winner by unanimous decision.
Buddy
Roberts vs. Caio Magalhaes
Round
1
Roberts cracks Magalhaes with a right hand to the temple in the
opening seconds and the Brazilian drops to a knee at the base
of the fence. Roberts keeps the pressure on but Magalhaes gets
back on his feet and finds some space to recover. The middleweights
clash leg kicks and Magalhaes misses with an overhand right.
Roberts counters with a sharp combination and connects with another
right hand. Magalhaes shoots a double-leg and Roberts sprawls
backward into the fence, keeping his balance as Magalhaes switches
to a single and lifts him into the air. Magalhaes finally drags
Roberts down, but only for a split-second. “Hellboy”
shoves Roberts into the fence, still digging for the takedown
as Roberts drills him with elbows. Roberts takes Magalhaes’
back on an attempted slam and the Brazilian bails out. Roberts
connects with another right hand in the last 30 seconds and moves
backward to avoid Magalhaes’ punches and kicks.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Roberts
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Roberts
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Roberts
Round
2
Magalhaes keeps the heavy punches and kicks coming in the second
but with no more success than before. He catches Roberts leaving
his left leg out after a kick and grabs hold, but Roberts again
uses the cage to sprawl and stifle the takedown. Magalhaes lifts
him up with a single-leg again; Roberts stays balanced and escapes
the clinch. Roberts snaps off some hard outside leg kicks; Magalhaes
tries one high which goes off the left arm of Roberts.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Roberts
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Roberts
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Roberts
Round
3
After another minute and a half of a frustrated Magalhaes giving
chase, he finally completes a slow-motion double-leg against
the fence. Roberts doesn’t stay down for long, and once
he’s back on his feet, he lands another hooking right on
Magalhaes’ temple. More hooks get through for Roberts, who
stays moving backward, flicking off counterpunches as Magalhaes
advances. Magalhaes digs for one last single-leg but runs out
of time.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Roberts (30-27 Roberts)
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Roberts (30-27 Roberts)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Roberts (30-27 Roberts)
Official
result: The judges score the bout 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28, all
for the winner by unanimous decision, Buddy Roberts.
Tim
Means vs. Justin Salas
Round
1
Means drills the shorter Salas with a left hand on the jaw and
Salas is stumbling all over the place. Salas gets up and falls
down twice while Means punishes with more hard punches and knees
in the Thai plum. Salas stands up again, wheels away and falls
to his knees, then face-plants on the canvas. Means tries to
pound him out, but Salas stays with it long enough to hit the
mat again, this time with Means stuffing a shot. When Means comes
in with more punches, referee Chris Adams has seen enough. Salas
stands up with a bloodied face and Tim Means gets the night’s
first stoppage via TKO at 1:06 of the opening round.
Dustin
Pague vs. Jared Papazian
Round
1
The southpaw Papazian cuts off Pague in the center of the cage
and stalks forward with his left hand cocked. The taller Pague
works some outside leg kicks until Papazian gets in the pocket
and starts throwing wild hooks. Papazian tries to pull Pague
down, but instead he gets shoved to the mat and quickly finds
himself mounted. Papazian tries to negate the space and scoot
away as Pague drops elbows from mount with the better part of
four minutes left in the fight. Papazian turns over and Pague
takes his back, locking up a body triangle which keeps him in
place as Papazian tries to scrape Pague off against the fence.
Pague sits back down with half the round remaining and begins
working for the rear-naked choke. When Pague finally gets his
arm under the chin, Papazian grimaces for a moment and then frantically
slaps the canvas with the back of his hand. Dustin Pague gets
the submission win at 3:21 of the first frame.
Leonard
Garcia vs. Matt Grice
Round
1
Garcia takes the outside of the cage, circling counter-clockwise
to flick out long jabs and leg kicks at the shorter Grice. After
90 seconds, Grice opts to go for a single-leg and quickly puts
Garcia on his back. Garcia closes up guard as Grice tries to
stack him up and thump with elbows and forearms. Grice scoots
Garcia into the fence and socks him with heavy ground-and-pound
from half-guard as he looks to pass to Garca’s left side.
More short right hands from Grice as he passes to side control,
then instantly transitions to north-south position. Grice has
great position for a choke but doesn’t have it fully sunk
in. Garcia squirms out and closes up guard, but it’s not
stopping the offense of Grice, who keeps up a busy pace with
his punches and elbows to the end of the round.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Grice
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Grice
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Grice
Round
2
Grice ducks a punch from Garcia and plows the “Bad Boy”
to the ground. Garcia closes up his guard and wraps up Grice
on top, and Grice is warned to keep his fingers out of Garcia’s
eyes. Grice gets some space and moves to half-guard on the left
side, then begins to land punches. Ref Troy Waugh tells Grice
to improve his position after a brief pause in the action, and
Grice obliges by posturing up and scoring with heavy punches.
Boos sprinkle down from the crowd as the round ticks down to
the last 50 seconds, though Grice is staying busy on top and
mashing Garcia with ground-and-pound.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Grice
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Grice
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Grice
Round
3
Garcia uses his rangy strikes to stay vertical through the first
minute of the final round, but the punches and kicks aren’t
finding their mark on Grice, who’s staying well out of range.
Grice ducks in for a takedown, can’t get it and ditches
the attempt, instead kicking Garcia in the chest before wading
back out. Garcia comes forward, windmilling punches, and gets
shoved back into the fence and tagged with a left hand. Grice
counters another combo with a swiping left that turns Garcia’s
head. The next time Garcia comes in to swing, Grice changes levels
and drives the Texan down to the ground. Two minutes left and
Grice is landing more heavy leather on the ground. He moves between
Garcia’s half- and full guard until Garcia scrambles up
with 40 seconds left. Grice steps away from Garcia’s desperate
attack and hits one last takedown to close out the last minute.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Grice (30-27 Grice)
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Grice (30-27 Grice)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Grice (30-27 Grice)
Official
result: All three judges score the bout 30-27 for the winner
by unanimous decision, Matt Grice.
Seth
Baczynski vs. Lance Benoist
Round
1
Baczynski comes inside and Benoist threatens to jump guard with
a guillotine but quickly gives it up. Benoist lands a body kick,
takes a right hand in return. Benoist struggles to drag Baczynski
to the ground but does get the takedown and squirms underneath
to set up shop in the open guard of the “Polish Pistola.”
Hard punches to the body from Benoist and Baczynski wraps him
up from underneath. Beniost scoots Baczynski to the fence and
Baczynski gets to a knee, where he’s met by an illegal knee.
Ref Chris Adams doesn’t stop the fight at first, but then
gives Baczynski a moment to recover after both stand up and acknowledge
the infraction. When they restart, Baczynski gives chase with
punches, but Benoist jumps guard and wraps his legs around the
standing Baczynski. Nothing comes of the move as Benoist can’t
frame up the unorthodox choke from the front. Baczynski stuffs
a shot and winds up in Benoist’s half-guard, where he lands
a couple hard lefts as Benoist shrimps. Baczynski stands up,
drives some hard punches to Benoist’s body and gets clipped
by an upkick. He finishes the round on top.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Baczynski
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Benoist
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Baczynski
Round
2
Benoist hits a kneeling Baczynski with another illegal knee in
the first 30 seconds, though this one is much closer as Baczynski
was on his way down when Benoist was throwing. Ref Chris Adams
warns Benoist again but does not deduct a point. They restart
and Benoist hits a takedown into Baczynski’s full guard.
Baczynski creeps his legs up, perhaps hunting for an armbar or
a triangle, but Benoist senses danger and stands up. The lanky
Baczynski lands an upkick and Benoist goes back to the ground.
Benoist stands and tries to navigate past the guard of Baczynski,
but can’t find anywhere to go and winds up on top in Baczynski’s
closed guard again. Nice left hands on top from Benoist as he
minds the legs of his opponent. Baczynski uses the fence to work
back to his feet and grazes with a flying knee, then shoves Benoist
to the ground. Baczynski stands over his prone foe and gets Benoist’s
foot tangled in his trunks. Baczynski goes back down and Benoist
tries to attack with rubber guard. Baczynski stands up and comes
back down with a pair of hard punches before the horn.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Benoist
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Benoist
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Benoist
Round
3
Baczynski tries to muscle his way into the Thai plum, but once
he gets there, he can’t score cleanly with any knees up
the middle, as Benoist is keeping his head high and arms outstretched.
A Baczynski knee gets through and seems to open up a cut immediately.
Baczynski tosses Benoist to the ground, then grabs a guillotine
as he scrambles back up. Benoist pops his head loose and gets
a takedown of his own, and Benoist is bleeding all over him from
top position. Baczynski posts up and stands to grab hold of a
single-leg, then changes to a guillotine and pulls guard. Benoist
is slick with the blood and pops his head loose, and the welterweights
trade short elbow strikes. Hard ground-and-pound on top from
Benoist is limited to a few sporadic shots as Baczynski does
well to wrap up underneath. Baczynski cinches up a body triangle
and pulls down on Benoist’s head until ref Adams issues
a stand-up order. Baczynski is instantly on the attack and spins
his bloodied opponent to the ground at the base of the cage.
Baczynski postures up and throws hands, passes to side control
on the left and closes out the fight with hammerfists.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Baczynski (29-28 Baczynski)
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Baczynski (29-28 Benoist)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Baczynski (29-28 Baczynski)
Official
result: One judge scores the bout 30-27 for Benoist, while a
second sees it 29-28 for Baczynski. The final judge scores it
29-28 for the winner by split decision, Seth Baczynski.
Mike
Pierce vs. Carlos Eduardo Rocha
Round
1
Rocha motions to the ref early, indicating Pierce has a glob
of Vaseline on his face. Pierce wipes it off and they tie up
soon after, with Pierce getting the advantage, pressing Rocha
into the fence and throwing some knees to the thigh. Rocha throws
a short left hand and Pierce answers with a series of knees to
the body. Rocha walks his way off the fence and pulls guard,
grabbing for a leg and then an arm, but Pierce slips out and
stands. Pierce chases down Rocha, missing with long punches and
latching onto a single-leg. Rocha keeps his balance and gets
shoved into the cage with an underhook. Rocha escapes momentarily,
gets chased down by Pierce and then floored with a double-leg.
Pierce can’t do much with the position, opting to stand
and close out the round.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Pierce
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Pierce
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Pierce
Round
2
Rocha spends the first minute with his back on the cage, then
manages to find some space and throw out a few kicks before being
clinched up again. Pierce gets his double-leg with just over
three minutes left and Rocha instantly attacks the legs. Pierces
senses trouble and bails out, but dives back onto the ground
and sits cautiously in the Brazilian’s open guard. Rocha
puts his feet on Pierce’s hips and waits for an opening
just as Pierce slows his attack. Pierce puts some hard right
hands on Rocha’s body then goes up top. Rocha finally works
his way to his feet with 45 seconds left. Pierce keeps Rocha
tied up and puts him on the fence for the remainder of the round,
landing a couple good elbows inside to seal the round.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Pierce
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Pierce
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Pierce
Round
3
Pierce puts Rocha’s back on the fence right away but only
manages to hold him there for 30 seconds, as Rocha squirts out
and hops away from an ankle pick. Rocha can’t make anything
happen before Pierce wraps him up again and bullies him into
the cage. There’s another minute of grinding by Pierce until
ref Frank Gentile splits them up. Pierce grabs a single-leg and
hustles Rocha to the floor with half the round to go. Pierce
sits up in Rocha’s guard and socks away with right hands
to the face and body. Rocha is landing the occasional punch from
his back but there’s not much behind them. Pierce turns
Rocha’s head with a right hand and tries to bust him up
with short elbows as the fight enters its final 30 seconds. Hammerfists
from Pierce have Rocha badly dazed with moments left on the clock,
but he survives to hear the last horn.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Pierce (30-27 Pierce)
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Pierce (30-27 Pierce)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Pierce (30-27 Pierce)
Official
result: One judge scores the bout a curious 30-27 for Rocha,
while the second has it 30-27 for Pierce. The final judge sees
it 30-27 for the winner by split decision, Mike Pierce.
Scott
Jorgensen vs. Eddie Wineland
Round
1
The bantamweights come out sniping, exchanging quick right hands
in the opening minute until Jorgensen comes inside to clinch.
Wineland shoves the wrestler off and they go back to throwing
single punches, mostly missing. Wineland snaps back Jorgensen’s
head with a stiff right cross; he starts stringing punches together,
double-pumping the jab and following with a right. Jorgensen
sticks some jabs of his own while Jorgensen mixes it up with
combinations. A short jab from Wineland catches Jorgensen coming
in and sends him to his posterior. Wineland pounces, ground-and-pounding
as he scoots Jorgensen toward the fence. Jorgensen scrambles
to his knees, then his feet, eating one more shot from Wineland
on his way up. Wineland is adjusting to Jorgensen’s jab,
mixing up his angles to avoid the straight punches and pouring
on combinations to close strong in the last 30 seconds.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Wineland
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Wineland
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Wineland
Round
2
Jorgensen comes straight in with punches but it’s the double-leg
that lands 15 seconds in. Wineland immediately hops back up and
the bantamweights resume throwing hands in the pocket. Wineland
is cut over and on the outside of his left eye, and bleeding
from his nose as well. Jorgensen is getting marked up as well
courtesy of repeated right hands from Wineland, who quickly stands
back up from another Jorgensen takedown. Wineland’s face
is a mess as he slips on the logo in the center of the cage,
but he’s still landing hard right hands at will. Jorgensen’s
offense slows after a series of straight rights and Wineland’s
mouthpiece comes out. Wineland sticks out the left and then crushes
Jorgensen with a vicious right cross. Jorgensen is in no shape
to continue when he hits the ground, and the follow-up right
hands from Wineland only make matters worse. Referee Troy Waugh
shoves Wineland off, the knockout coming officially at 4:10 of
the second round.
Mike
Pyle vs. Josh Neer
Round
1
Neer swings punches from the center of the cage while Pyle circles
the outside. Neer gets caught flat-footed and Pyle drives him
down for an easy takedown in the middle. Pyle passes to side
control on Neer’s right, stalls out and gets stuffed back
to the open guard. Pyle tries to stand and Neer grabs the ankle,
but he lets go when Pyle dives back down. There’s sparse
ground-and-pound from Pyle, who keeps position and has to dodge
submission attempts from Neer underneath. Neer grabs on to a
leg and drives on it to stand, and Pyle looks momentarily off-balance,
wobbling as he gets to his feet. Neer takes advantage and rushes
Pyle, mugging him against the fence with punches inside. With
seconds left in the round, just when Pyle is on his back foot
and looks to be in trouble, he knocks Neer cold with a single
right hand. Neer falls flat on his face and Pyle coolly steps
away even before ref Chris Adams can intervene. Mike Pyle gets
the stunning knockout victory at 4:56 of the first round.
Erick
Silva vs. Charlie Brenneman
Round
1
Silva denies an early takedown try but Brenneman keeps after
it, running into strikes from Silva on two attempts. The American
stays with it on the third try, grabbing a rear waistlock and
dragging Silva down. Silva grabs for a leg and Brenneman twists
out, stands up and rushes Silva into the fence. Ref Frank Gentile
doesn’t let them stay on the cage for long, splitting the
welterweights up with three minutes to go. Brenneman runs into
another knee from Silva but finishes the takedown, then pushes
Silva on the fence when he stands back up. Silva can’t escape
as Brenneman grapevines the leg and throws short punches to the
body. The ref splits them up again and Silva goes on the attack
with spinning kicks to the body. Silva sprawls on a takedown,
turns the corner and hops on Brenneman’s back. He sinks
in one hook, then the other, and slides his arm underneath Brenneman’s
throat. The rear-naked choke is deep and Brenneman is flattened
out on his stomach; he taps out at 4:33 of the opening round.
UFC
Flyweight Tournament Semifinals
Ian
McCall vs. Demetrious Johnson
Round 1
Troy Waugh is the third man in the cage for tonight’s 125-pound
main event. Judges Chris Lee, Hector Gomez and Barry Luxenberg
will score the bout. The flyweights have a tense staredown during
final instructions and McCall barks at Johnson from his corner
as the fight begins. Johnson sets up on the outside as they open
with leg kicks. Now it’s Johnson pushing the action on the
fence and dragging McCall to the floor. McCall throws punches
off his back, posts and stands up with the help of the fence
to his back. Johnson lets go and McCall gives chase, missing
with a high kick and combinations. Johnson catches McCall rushing
in and drops him to the ground with a stiff, short right hand.
McCall looks to be in trouble but regains his wits and scrambles
back to his feet, then stands again and separates when Johnson
tosses back him down. Johnson gets stuffed, hits a takedown but
McCall tumbles over the top and punches to the body of “Mighty
Mouse” as they stand. Johnson finishes with a pair of body
kicks and a single-leg, but can’t finish the takedown before
the horn.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Johnson
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Johnson
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Johnson
Round
2
McCall is sporting a bad cut on the bridge of his nose from Johnson’s
right straight in the first frame. “Uncle Creepy” charges
Johnson into the fence and spins him down with a single-leg,
but Johnson is right back up. Nice left hand starts out a combo
for McCall that finishes with a right uppercut. Johnson goes
back to bouncing around the outside and McCall walks him down.
Johnson whiffs with a pair of overhand punches, lands a slapping
inside leg kick. An inside thigh kick from McCall goes astray
and ref Waugh calls time on the low blow. Johnson recovers after
a minute and they resume with no point deducted. When they restart,
McCall hits another takedown, Johnson stands and McCall sends
him for a ride with a suplex. Johnson pushes McCall into the
cage; McCall reverses the position and just misses with a spinning
elbow on the way out. Johnson picks up the pace on the outside
in the last minute, circling rapidly and sticking McCall with
a few jabs. McCall gets the last word, though, tossing Johnson
over his leg for one last takedown to finish the frame.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 McCall
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 McCall
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 McCall
Round
3
Johnson clinches up and tries to put McCall on the fence, but
McCall won’t be held. He chases Johnson and shoves him into
the cage with an underhook. Johnson won’t stay put for long
either, turning the position around moments later and bringing
McCall down with a double-leg. Johnson just keeps hold of the
legs as McCall sits up against the fence. McCall stands and Johnsons
keeps the waistlock to control the back. McCall lets go with
a punch, lands a nice combination and then takes a knee from
McCall. The frenetic pace slows slightly as the clock ticks into
the final two minutes of the bout. McCall clinches Johnson against
the fence but Johnson turns around and exits with a knee. A straight
right goes through for Johnson and McCall tries to clinch again.
Johnson isn’t having it and cuts McCall off with punches
as McCall tries to come inside. Johnson trips McCall, who gets
back up to clinch and receives knees from Johnson inside.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Johnson (29-28 Johnson)
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Johnson (29-28 Johnson)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Johnson (29-28 Johnson)
Official
result: The scorecards read 29-28, 30-27 and 29-28, all for the
winner by unanimous decision, Demetrious Johnson. “Mighty
Mouse” moves on to face Joseph Benavidez for the inaugural
UFC flyweight title.
Source:
Sherdog
|
Man-up
& Stand-up
Blaisdell Expo Hall, Honolulu, Hawaii
June 15, 2012
Das
right, Man-up & Stand-up is set for some major action at
the Blasedell mma expo on Friday June 15. The best part is that
everyone who buys a ticket for the 20+ fights on the Man-up &
Stand-up show automatically gets to check out all of the opportunities
the mma expo has to offer. And please believe it has a lot to
offer. A two for one package deal is what you get on Friday night
after you pau work. Okay, since you guys have already seen what
the mma expo has in store for you Friday night. Let’s go
through what kind of entertainment that Man-up & Stand-up
has got planned.
First off, with the main event featuring Eric “The Executioner”
Edwards taking on O2’s super heavyweight standout Damon
Applebaum. Waianae’s Eric Edwards has really lived up to
his fight name and has been crushing all of his opponents with
the greatest of ease. Edwards has put guys down with his look
low, kick high technique and not to mention his fight in my regular
stance and then switch stance when you come in so I can knock
you out with my right hook technique. This guy didn’t just
buy a bag of tricks. He bought the whole store. Applebaum has
his hands full in this fight. Applebaum has his hands full alright,
full of bad intentions. He knows exactly what he’ll be facing
come June 15 and has come a long way in just a year and a half.
Yup, das right, only a year and a half at 20 years old, this
young boy from WAIMANALO is looking to shock the Man-up &
Stand-up world and take Edward’s title away so he can put
it up with the rest of the O2 accomplishments. .He has good power,
good speed, don’t know about the good looks though, nah
just kidding Damon. Both fighters are armed & dangerous but
only one can be called the champion. Be there.
Welterweight champion Isaac Hopps from O2 will be banging with
one of his coaches old friends and well-known kickboxing veteran
Tony “The Tiger” Rodriguez. Waimanalobuilt Isaac Hopps
is lightning fast with his hands and his legs. He has never been
caught in a bad situation on Man-up & Stand-up because this
guy uses the ring well. He’s usually the one that is handing
out bad situations to his opponents. Waianaebred Tony Rodriguez
is no newcomer to the game. At one time, The Tiger was on top
of the food chain. He has good power for someone his size, especially
when he goes to the body. Heehee. The Tiger will be facing a
younger and faster fighter on June 15. Will his power be able
to slow down the lightning fast Hopps. Sometimes when lightning
strikes, it causes power outages. But does lightning strike tigers?
Only one way to find out.
Another championship match where the Eastside faces the Westside
when O2’s Bryson Lum of Waimanalo will test Papakoleia”s
Justin Kahalewai who has now made his home in Nanakuli. Bryson
had a bad start in the beginning of his career but has now found
his way in holding the super welterweight title. This guy is
relentless on the attack and is game til the end. He throws every
punch, every kick with everything he has. Justin on the other
hand is the same way but has more attitude. This kid may live
in Nanakuli but he knows where his roots are. Not like some other
Papakoleia sellouts. Papakoleia has built this no fear soldier
for this moment. Justin will be tested on June 15 and we all
know that Bryson Lum does not give passing grades. Don’t
miss this fight Nalo and Papakoleia.
Here’s some other possible entertaining bouts. Eastside’s
Kalai Kwan goes toe-to-toe against Westside’s Chante Stafford.
These two young boys have unreal skills and will put on a show
for you all. Also Nanakuli’s Elias Velasco tries his luck
for the semi-pro featherweight title against Waianae’s Evan
Quizon. Also, Chris Miyose goes up against the kid who can swing
all night if need be Eugene Anguay. And the list goes on. Tickets
available @ Walmart (electronics department), ticketmaster or
at blasedell by phone. Check it out.
Man-up & Stand-up Kick(ASS)boxing
Friday June 15, 2012
Neal Blasedell Center (Exhibition Hall)
Doors open @ 5:30pm
DAMON APPLEBAUM SHW ERIC EDWARDS
ISAAC HOPPS 146 TONY RODRIGUES
BRYER NAGAHAMA 135 JAYDEN RAPAUL
JAY 150 DARRYL DANO
KALAI KWAN 125 CHANTE STAFFORD
JOSH BENNETT 160 JOHN PAULO
JOE HOPPS
155 MICHAEL
ULIBIS
MARTIN DAY 148 JACOBY VISTANTE
DARIUS
LANDO 160
MATT FISHER
THOMAS REYES 140 DONALD PETERS
JAMES REYES 175 RONALD MATAUTIA
KEANU REYNOLDS 130 KAWIKA VINANO
ELIAS VELASCO 130 EVAN QUIZON
TOFI 135 ANTHONY MURAKAMI
BRYSON
LUM 152
JUSTIN KAHALEWAI
DAHWEN BRIGHT 125 NALU NOTIVEROS
MAURICE PHILLIPS 130 CANAAN
KAWAIHEA
EUGENE ANGUAY 135
CHRIS MIYOSE
ALVIN KANEHAILUA 220 BEN BOYCE
ISAIAH WALLER 125 DONTEZ COLEMAN
CHAZ KANAE 145 ANTHONY REYES
BRONSON YASUI 125 MAKANA BALAI
KAIMI GARCIA 135 CHARLES REGO
FREDDY RAMAYLA 145 CORY ESTRADA
JENNA GANAGAN 125 HALEY PAISION
JEFF LAGAMAN 140 NALU GARCIA
JONAH AFOA 185 MIKE ELI
MARK KUMAI 185 LEON KLEE
DEON MILLER 160 ZANE WARD
All matches and participants may be subject to change
SEE YOU ALL THERE
Source:
Derrick Bright
|
News
Corp. Buys Disney's Stake in ESPN Star Sports; Fox Takes Reins
of One FC Broadcasts
By Mike
Whitman
Rupert
Murdoch's News Corporation has bought the Walt Disney Company’s
stake in ESPN Star Sports. As a result, News Corp. subsidiary
Fox International Channels will now solely direct the programming
of the Asian sports broadcaster, including the telecasts of Singapore-based
MMA promotion One Fighting Championship.
The
buyout was announced on Wednesday, and Sherdog.com confirmed
the news with a source close to One FC. The two media conglomerates
each held 50 percent ownership of the joint venture, partnering
to run ESPN Star Sports (ESS) for 16 years.
Victor
Cui, One FC owner and CEO, previously served as a senior director
at ESS before launching the MMA promotion, which also holds broadcast
deals with a handful of other networks in Singapore, Malaysia
and Indonesia that operate in conjunction with One FC's 10-year
broadcast deal with ESS.
According
to a source close to the situation, One FC officials were aware
of the potential buyout when the aforementioned deal was signed
in January and now welcome the development in the wake of Fox's
seven-year deal with the UFC. That reported $700 million arrangement
has seen the UFC featured heavily in primetime across Fox's various
networks in the United States, and Sherdog's source relayed that
One FC is optimistic that its relationship with Fox could lead
to increased exposure in the Asian market.
One
FC is currently broadcast via tape delay on various ESS channels
across Asia, with events being broken up into individual “episodes”
consisting of three to four fights, depending on length. One
FC events are also streamed live worldwide, most recently on
YouTube. Events are called by ESS on-screen talent Steve Dawson
alongside former fighter and reality TV personality Jason Chambers.
ESS
airs programming in 24 Asian countries across 28 networks. The
network airs content in five languages and owns broadcast rights
to the NBA, the PGA Tour, the FIFA World Cup, the English Premier
League, Major League Baseball, NASCAR, the 2012 Summer Olympics
and a bevy of cricket leagues, among other offerings.
Source:
Sherdog
|
Former
U.S. Wrestling Olympian Steve Mocco Making Move to MMA
By Mike
Chiappetta - Senior Writer
Steve
Mocco, a 2008 U.S. wrestling Olympian as well as a former two-time
NCAA champion, has decided to make a go at a mixed martial arts
career, and hopes to debut in the sport by the end of 2012.
The
move comes shortly after Mocco had spent two weeks in Coconut
Creek, Florida with American Top Team helping Antonio "Bigfoot"
Silva prepare for his recent UFC 146 bout.
Mocco
told JoeShowRadio.com that he made the decision after failing
to qualify for the 2012 Olympic team by finishing third at the
recent U.S. trials. While spending time at ATT, the team offered
him a chance to train full time and he quickly accepted.
The
30-year-old plans to relocate from Pennsylvania to Florida to
begin preparations for his debut.
At
the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, the 6-foot, 260-pound Mocco
finished 7th in men's freestyle in the 120 kg division.
While
in college, he captured NCAA championships at two different schools,
capturing the title at Iowa in 2003 before transferring to Oklahoma
State and winning it again in 2005. That year, he also won the
Dan Hodge Trophy as the nation's outstanding collegiate wrestler.
Interestingly, he lost his bid to become a three-time NCAA champ
the next year when he was defeated by current Bellator heavyweight
champion Cole Konrad in the finals.
While
in college, Mocco also played one year of football at Oklahoma
State, where he saw action on the defensive line. He also has
a background in judo, earning a junior national championship
in 1999 and placing third at the U.S. Nationals the same year.
Source:
MMA Fighting
|
Anthony
Pettis Still Holding Out Hope to Face Nate Diaz Next
by Damon
Martin
Former
WEC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis is still waiting on word
about his next fight, but he’s still holding out hope it
will be against Nate Diaz.
Pettis
will return to action most likely in September after shoulder
surgery put him on the sidelines for a few months, but he’s
healthy and looking to target the top of the lightweight division.
Since
a title shot will allude him once again, Pettis’ hope is
to land a fight with Diaz, fresh off his win over Jim Miller
at UFC on Fox 3.
Currently,
Diaz has stated he will sit and wait for the winner of the bout
between champion Benson Henderson and Frankie Edgar at UFC 150
in Denver, but Pettis’ manager Mike Roberts of MMA Inc.
isn’t sold on the Stockton, Calif. sitting and waiting for
the better part of 9 or 10 months.
“We
all know that everybody can change their minds, I believe that’s
the fight that makes the most sense,” Roberts told MMAWeekly
Radio on Tuesday. “I can’t imagine Nate Diaz would
want to sit out as long as he’s going to have to, to fight,
just to wait to fight.
“I
think Nate Diaz is a fighter before a guy that wants to be a
champion. Waiting is his choice and his prerogative. I can’t
see him wanting to wait.”
Pettis
and his manager both want to make something crystal clear however.
They aren’t calling for a fight with Nate Diaz to make some
kind of personal beef. It’s all about getting a lightweight
title shot, and if Pettis can’t get Benson Henderson, then
he wants the next guy standing in the way.
That
just so happens to be Nate Diaz.
“It’s
not that Anthony wants to fight Nate Diaz for any other reason
than Dana saying he’s the No. 1 contender. If we can’t
get the guy with the title, that’s the next guy in line.
So it’s definitely not a personal thing with Nate,”
Roberts stated.
“It’s
that Nate’s next in line and Anthony feels he should be
the No. 1 contender.”
While
the preference for Pettis’ return fight to the Octagon would
be Nate Diaz, his management team won’t cry over spilled
milk if they don’t get it. They’ll just move on to
the next challenge with a hope that a lightweight title shot
will soon be offered to the last fighter to defeat current champion
Benson Henderson.
“At
the end of the day if it’s not Nate Diaz, we’ll take
whoever’s next who’s available to fight,” said
Roberts.
Pettis
is getting back into full training mode currently and expects
to land on a card coming up in September, although no date for
his return has been confirmed yet.
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
Galvão
talks suspension, urges three refs: “It’s a lot for
just one to deal with”
Contributor:
Junior Samurai
Always
seen as a great example by Jiu-Jitsu fans, medium heavyweight
André Galvão of team Atos Jiu-Jitsu was the most
dramatic absence at the 2012 Jiu-Jitsu World Championship, due
to an unfortunate stance he took.
The
black belt failed to restrain his opposition to a penalty incurred
by his student Denilson in the purple belt featherweight contest
at the Worlds, and in an act of thoughtlessness jumped the divider
to express his grievances directly to the referee in the match
area. His actions earned him automatic penalization from the
IBJJF, preventing Galvão from competing at the most important
Jiu-Jitsu championship of the year, which ended last Sunday.
Still regretting it, and after a couple of sleepless nights and
even shed tears, André spoke with GRACIEMAG.com.
WHAT
HAPPENED ON FRIDAY, AND WHAT LESSONS DID YOU DERIVE FROM IT?
Man,
I got punished. Everyone knows that. I couldn’t control
my emotions when I saw a student of mine treated unfairly during
a purple belt final at the Worlds. I know a lot of folks are
criticizing me for it, for sure. I’m aware of having made
a mistake. I shouldn’t have gone past the security barricade
to argue with the ref. And in the end, I paid a high price for
it.
I
was in perfect condition to take top spot on the podium this
year. Not to discredit the winners at weight and absolute, but
I was training with a “capital T.” Everyone who saw
the work I put in knows full well what I’m talking about.
But unfortunately it wouldn’t be this time around. It hurt
a lot to be left out.
WHAT
WAS IT LIKE WATCHING EVERYTHING THAT WENT ON AT THE 2012 WORLDS
FROM THE STANDS?
I
even cried about it, if you want to know. It was worse than defeat.
Human beings sometimes learn from their mistakes. And that’s
how I’m learning. I haven’t slept right since. May
it serve as a lesson not just to me, but to everyone.
I’ve
received a lot of messages from fans and people who like me.
That’s been helping me a lot at this time. I’d like
to thank everyone: Thank you for the messages, guys. I don’t
want to come off badly, but from the outside I felt my division
[medium heavyweight] didn’t have that special shine the
other divisions did. Between us, it was extremely boring. But
I’d like to extend my congratulations to all the champions.
Especially to Bochecha, who did awesome!
ARE
YOU THINKING ABOUT COMING BACK STRONGER IN 2013 THEN?
Yes,
for sure. I already apologized to the IBJJF more than five times,
and I’m asking forgiveness again here. I know I made a mistake,
and that’s what I regret. When you know you did something
wrong you don’t, by any means, want to do it again. I’ve
grown as an athlete with what happened, but much more as a teacher.
I’m
more than regretful, to tell you the truth, since I fight for
a living—that says it all. I’d like to also say sorry
to my sponsors, Storm Kimonos, Twinlab Fuel and Zebra Mats, for
what happened. Now of course it’s over, but I think the
only way to really get over it is by winning the 2013 Worlds,
at weight and open weight.
FROM
THE SIDELINES, DID YOU NOTICE ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR?
I
feel that in terms of the rules everything is fine. It’s
clear how much our art is growing with every year. The Worlds
is really well run, but there’s just one thing missing,
in my opinion: If the IBJJF can pull it off next year, there
should always be three referees for each match area. The thing
is that Jiu-Jitsu is really complex. There are lots of positions,
lots of tangling up, grips here and there. It’s a lot for
one referee to oversee alone, especially with the Jiu-Jitsu of
today. A lot of refs can’t always accompany the pace of
the matches, and they get lost with this tangle game.
I
also feel there should be a refereeing school, and the referees
should earn a wage for the work they do. A preparatory course
for them, having a trade school, would be interesting and a good
thing. I feel that would make a big difference, help them make
decisions when they need to.
DID
YOU OR DIDN’T YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SAW AT THE LONG BEACH PYRAMID?
Look,
like I said, I feel the rules are almost perfect. But some changes
could be made when the athletes land in 50/50 guard. There, the
athletes should have 30 seconds with which to work. If they can’t
do anything, get anything to develop out of it, the refs should
stop the match and stand them up. If you look closely, almost
every black belt final ended up in this situation. It’s
horrible to watch, to corner or even to referee matches like
that. The 50/50 guard should only be allowed for 30 seconds,
going back to the feet when nothing happens. If folks agree with
that, the rule could be extended even further, awarding penalties
and even disqualification to the fighter who persists with the
position, who resorts to it without developing anything. The
same as they do for stalling.
It’s
that there’s no point to it, the 50/50 most of the time
is used to defend and to stall, not to attack. Watching matches
like that is ridiculous. Why would a TV station want to broadcast
two guys locked up like dogs for ten minutes? It doesn’t
go over well.
Source:
Gracie Magazine
|
Ronda
Rousey vs. Sarah Kaufman Set for August in San Diego
By Ariel
Helwani - Video Reporter and Writer
The
Ronda Rousey Express will hit Southern California later this
summer.
Rousey
will defend her Strikeforce bantamweight title for the first
time against Sarah Kaufman on Aug. 18 in San Diego, Calif., MMAFighting.com
has confirmed with sources close to the fight. The promotion
is expected to officially announce the date in the coming weeks.
Rousey
(5-0) defeated Miesha Tate in March to capture the women's 135-pound
belt. The win capped off an impressive year which saw her win
her first five fights in a combined time of 7:15.
Kaufman
(15-1) secured her spot as the No. 1 contender when she defeated
Alexis Davis on the same card in March. The Canadian has won
three in a row since losing the 135-pound belt to Marloes Coenen
in Oct. 2010.
The
card, which will mark the third in San Diego since Zuffa purchased
Strikeforce, will air on Showtime.
Source:
MMA Fighting
|
Waiting
to meet his opponent, Shogun keeps on training for UFC 149
By Guilherme
Cruz
Many
athletes getting injured makes things harder on UFC, that now
needs to desperately find a replacement for Mauricio “Shogun”
Rua’s fight, scheduled for UFC 149, once Thiago Silva had
to leave the card due to an injury.
Shogun’s
manager, Julio Heller explained that UFC is finding a replacer
and there is no way Shogun is leaving UFC 149, event scheduled
for July 21st, in Calgary, Canada.
“It’s
not a possibility, they don’t think about it”, explain.
“Shogun is well known in Canada and it’s the co-main
event. They’re selling pay-per-views and tickets are out.
It’s a good card and Mauricio is a big part of it”.
“Everything’s
right, he’s fighting but we don’t know whom”,
completes.
The
most probable names are Rashad Evans and Rampage Jackson, but
both are treating their own injuries. Rogerio Nogueira had a
surgery two and a half months ago and is not completely healed
yet. Phil Davis, Ryan Bader and Lyoto Machida, other top 10 guys,
all have bouts scheduled.
“It’s
nobody’s fault”, undermines the manager. “The
original fight was against Rampage and then Thiago came. There
are many guys getting injured, so there’s not much choice…
They’re bringing some names up in Las Vegas and then they’ll
send those names to us”.
Stay
tuned on TATAME to know more about UFC 149 fighting card, which
already has these fights confirmed:
-
Jose Aldo VS. Erik Koch
- Rodrigo Nogueira VS. Cheick Kongo
- Michael Bisping VS. Tim Boetsch
- Siyar Bahadurzada VS. Chris Clements
- Court McGee VS. Nick Ring
- George Roop VS. Antonio Carvalho
- Bryan Caraway VS. Mitch Gagnon
- Mitch Clarke VS. Anton Kuivanen
- Ryan Jimmo VS. Anthony Perosh
- Bibiano Fernandes VS. Roland Delorme
- Claude Patrick VS. James Head
Source:
Tatame
|
Bellator
stars gain from more exposure
By Josh
Gross
LOS
ANGELES -- Two years ago, Michael Chandler was in the early stages
of a transition that took him from collegiate wrestler at the
University of Missouri to professional mixed martial artist.
After three fights, the aggressive lightweight had done enough
to receive meaningful contract offers from Strikeforce (which
by all estimates at the time was on its way to becoming a major
American promotion), and Bellator (which, like Chandler, was
a baby in the MMA game).
Chandler
took a gamble, departed Strikeforce for Bellator, and two years
later the 26-year-old, top-10 ranked champion said it's paying
off.
Take
last weekend, for example. Chandler, Bellator featherweight champion
Pat Curran and light heavyweight Mo Lawal, the promotion's recent
high profile signee, were sent to Hollywood to walk the red carpet
at Spike's Guys Choice 2012 awards and MTV's Movie Awards, spots
once reserved for UFC-stamped fighters.
Spike,
of course, was closely connected with the Ultimate Fighting Championship
for seven years until the sport's most successful organization
signed a long-term deal with FOX which began in January. That
left a gaping hole in the network's programming and, more importantly,
created an opportunity for entertainment conglomerate Viacom
to own a piece of the sport rather than simply play the part
of rights holder.
"There
were people talking like Bellator was going to go under,"
the unbeaten Chandler recalled Monday. "It's cool to smack
those people in the face. Bellator is on the map. Bellator is
doing big things. Bellator is sending people out to big things
like this. And they're coming through on their promises. Hey,
we're on MTV2. We're on Spike. We're going to do things outside
the cage getting me to where I'd like to be.
"I
wasn't in the very first stage but I still consider myself one
of the pioneers. When people talk about Bellator I want them
to say, 'Remember when Chandler was just a wrestler from Missouri
and he ended up being a superstar through Bellator?'".
Nothing
is guaranteed in MMA. But with backing from a corporation like
Viacom, Chandler, Curran and Lawal, who signed a unique deal
last month that will see him simultaneously fight for Bellator
and work in Spike's TNA Impact wrestling, all sung the same tune:
things are looking up.
Curran,
an unassuming 24-year-old from the Chicago suburbs, indicated
that people are beginning to recognize him and acknowledge Bellator,
which remains “like a family” behind the scenes.
"I
never thought I'd be on the red carpet,” he said. “To
actually be out there and get a chance to walk down the same
carpet as all the celebrities, all your favorite actors, it was
unreal. All the cameras, interviews, sitting through the award
shows, it was an amazing experience."
A
couple hours before returning home, where Curran, the highest
ranked fighter in Bellator, could again do what he likes most
and focus on a tough August title defense against Patricio Freire,
he fulfilled media responsibilities following a press luncheon.
With the growth of a promotion comes more eyeballs and interviews
and the sort of stuff he isn’t crazy about.
But
he’s learning.
"Earlier
in my career I didn't want to be in the spotlight,” he said.
“I just wanted to fight and train, see how far I can take
it. Now I realize you have to do this media and be in front of
the camera. You just have to do that as champion."
Lawal
isn’t so shy, and as Curran went to his room to hurriedly
pack for a ride to Los Angeles International Airport, the former
Strikeforce light heavyweight champion dominated the small gathering
of reporters. Currently serving a nine-month suspension by the
Nevada State Athletic Commission that was issued in March following
a positive test for anabolic steroids, Lawal took swipes at Zuffa,
which owns the UFC and famously purchased Strikeforce last year.
Being loud is one of the major reasons Lawal scored the dual
contract. He said his priority is MMA, and pro wrestling won’t
require more than two weekends on the road in any given month.
"I'm
going to look to improve in MMA,” said the 31-year-old amateur
wrestler turned fighter, “but use pro wrestling to supplement
my fun time. It's going to be hard work, but at the same time
it's something I always wanted to do."
Lawal
delivers something Bellator hasn’t had: a character and
headline maker. To this point, the promotion has gained attention
on the strength of its action, which Curran suggested is a result
of the tournament format Rebney established from the beginning.
Lawal will enter a light heavyweight bracket at the start of
next year when the promotion transitions from MTV2 to Spike,
and he believes that success on the pro wrestling side will be
directly tied to how well he does in the cage.
Curran
and Chandler rose through tournaments to claim Bellator belts.
As a result, both are ranked and regarded as among the best young
fighters in their respective divisions. That’s why a quiet
kid from Illinois and God-fearing fighter from Missouri were
picked to join a loud Texan for a weekend in the world’s
entertainment capital.
Curran
suggested his fellow titleholder named most of the celebrities
the group encountered over the last few days.
Chandler
scoffed.
"Except
for Jean Claude Van Damme,” whom the crew ran into outside
their boutique hotel in Westwood, “I didn't really know
too many of them."
Maybe
not, but more often these days they’re moving in the same
circles.
Source
ESPN
|
Johny
Hendricks: I am the true number-one contender
by Mike
Drahota
Earlier
this week UFC Interim champion Carlos Condit came out and said
that if Georges St. Pierre is not ready to fight in November,
he would fight surging contender Martin Kampmann instead. The
news apparently does not sit well with fellow Welterweight Johny
Hendricks, who feels he is the rightful number-one contender
to Condit's belt. Coming off a decision win over Josh Koscheck
and a one-punch knockout of Jon Fitch, Hendricks had the following
to say:
"Carlos
Condit, he said he wanted to fight Kampmann. He called out Kampmann,
and he's done a couple of interviews where he hasn't even mentioned
my name as a top contender. I'm the No. 1 contender, and if he's
going to be fighting anyone, I think it should be me." -
via MMAJunkie.com
Hendricks's
words show that he is feeling overlooked by the interim champion,
and lost in the mix that is present at the top of the 170 lb.
division. After all, Dana White has been on record saying Hendricks
did gain a title shot with the victory over Koscheck. Also, it
can be argued that defeating Koscheck and Fitch consecutively
should have more pull than Kampmann's two come-from-behind victories
over Thiago Alves and Jake Ellenberger. Hendricks continued:
"We
have an interim belt, and interim belts are for one reason: for
people to be able to still fight for a title. I feel like I've
done everything I could to get that No. 1 spot, and somebody
else is keeping it from me. I don't get upset about many things,
but I feel like I've done what I could to put me where I'm at
today.”
Hendricks
stands firm on his belief that Condit should face him for the
Interim belt before he faces GSP, taking the stance that Interim
championships are made to be defended. He has looked impressive
as of late and does deserve his shot, the question is, when and
against who? Hendricks expressed his displeasure at what he feels
is a slight from Condit:
"I
think you have to earn respect, and I think I did. For someone
to sit there and bypass me like that, it's like he's saying that
I'm not even good enough to be in his realm, and I think I am.
I think I have what it takes to get in there and to win. I want
that chance."
Is
Hendricks taking the news all too personally, or does he make
a good case here? In arguably the most stacked division in the
UFC, who is the rightful number-one contender at Welterweight?
Source:
Low Kick
|
Kendall
Grove Fight
Blog Pt 1 – ‘Submitting Terry Martin’
by Kendall
Grove ~ special to MMAWeekly.com
Former
Ultimate Fighter winner Kendall Grove will be blogging exclusively
for MMAWeekly.com leading up to his June 16 bout with Terry Martin
at ShoFights in Missouri.
This
is the first edition of his blog:
On
Saturday, June 16th, I will take on Terry Martin for the first-ever
ShoFIGHT middleweight belt in Missouri. It’s a great fight
between two guys who really couldn’t be much different.
I’m 6’6” with a pretty long reach. Terry is 5’7”…so
I will clearly have quite the reach advantage. I’ve got
the edge on the ground while he’s more of a standup fighter.
I’ve won two of his last three scraps, while he’s won
four of his last five fights.
So
you could say we have some differences and similarities. I’ve
done my research.
Martin
is a tough dude…there’s no question about that. He’s
beat some top guys, including Chael Sonnen, Jorge Rivera, and
Ivan Salaverry. So I don’t doubt his ability to make a very
good showing. He hits very hard, and, ironically, though he’s
not known for his ground game, he’s never been submitted.
I’d
like to be the first.
However,
I’ve got the feeling this is going to be a standup war.
So I’ve been training hard in Hawaii, really working on
my standup. By the time I step into the cage in a week and a
half or so, I’m going to be ready. My weight is right where
I need it to be. I’m mentally prepared.
In
my last fight, I lost to Jay Silva. It was pretty tough to take,
especially since it was by submission. In almost twenty-five
pro fights, I’d only been submitted once before then. And,
I’d also won two straight coming into the bout. I wanted
that win badly.
It
just wasn’t my night. Which makes my fight with Martin that
much more important. I want that belt. I want to knock him out,
or be the very first to submit him. It’s been about three
years since I knocked someone out, which is too long for me.
But I’ll take the win any way I can get it.
I
need to rebound from the Silva loss and show that I am still
on the rise as a fighter.
Losses
can be so hard to deal with. I have a beautiful wife, great kids,
my own gym. Those things help me cope. But I want to get on a
nice, long winning streak. I want to string together a bunch
of wins.
I’m
still fighting quality fighters in quality promotions, so I’m
still getting opportunities. But I want to make the sure I’m
taking advantage of each of them. I’m ready to represent
my gym, my training partners, my state, and myself. I plan to
take home the win and the belt.
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
UFC
on FX 3 ‘McCall vs. Johnson 2’ Preview
By Tristen
Critchfield
Johnson holds a speed advantage.
In yet another demonstration of how the best laid plans of mixed
martial arts tournaments often go awry, we are treated to Part
2 of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s flyweight tournament
semifinals. The good news is the initial meeting between Ian
McCall and Demetrious Johnson in March was so fast-paced and
competitive that most of us would not mind seeing the two 125-pound
stalwarts go at it again. The list of contenders in the division
only figures to grow in the coming months as the UFC continues
to add talent, so both “Mighty Mouse” and “Uncle
Creepy” will be eager to capitalize on their chance to earn
the promotion’s first-ever flyweight strap.
Emanating
from the BankAtlantic Center in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., UFC on
FX 3 also features the return of promising prospect Erick Silva,
as he tangles with Charlie Brenneman in a featured welterweight
bout, while well-traveled veterans Josh Neer and Mike Pyle also
lock horns at 170 pounds. Additionally, fan voting added a bantamweight
pairing pitting Scott Jorgensen against Eddie Wineland to the
four-bout main card.
Here
is a look at UFC on FX 3, with analysis and picks:
UFC
Flyweight Tournament Semifinal
Ian
McCall (11-2-1, 0-0-1 UFC) vs. Demetrious Johnson (14-2-1, 2-1-1
UFC)
The
Matchup: Unlike most UFC headliners these days, this 125-pound
matchup is scheduled to go three rounds, with a fourth sudden-victory
round scheduled should the fight be scored a draw. One can only
hope the athletic commission folks in Florida fare better than
their counterparts in Sydney, Australia, where a tabulation error
temporarily awarded Johnson a victory over McCall in their first
meeting at UFC on FX 2.
Fortunately,
the mistake was identified and the fight was ruled a majority
draw -- although too late to send both men back to the Octagon
for an extra frame. Now “Mighty Mouse” and “Uncle
Creepy” will meet again in what figures to be at least 15
more minutes of fast and furious action. Joseph Benavidez, who
defeated Yashuhiro Urushitani in the other flyweight tournament
semifinal in March, awaits the winner. And we have been assured
that there will be a winner this time.
Mathematical
errors aside, scoring a bout between two high-energy competitors
such as Johnson and McCall is no easy task, as was proven in
their first fight. The biggest point of contention regarding
scoring was the third frame, where McCall flattened out Johnson
and pounded away with punches over the last 30 seconds of the
period. Many thought it was a clear-cut 10-8 performance for
the former Tachi Palace Fights champion, although two cageside
judges did not see it that way. Round one was less definitive,
with Johnson getting the best of the striking and McCall landing
a pair of takedowns. It was the type of stanza that could have
warranted a 10-9 score either way, or even a 10-10 tally.
It
is likely we will see at least one round like that in the rematch.
Johnson’s remarkable speed and agility allow him to close
the gap quickly, move in and out of the pocket and land rapid-fire
punches. The AMC Pankration representative does not have knockout
power, but he consistently beat McCall to the punch with solid
right hands over the first 10 minutes of their initial encounter.
Meanwhile,
McCall held a distinct advantage in the clinch, where he effectively
worked his dirty boxing and connected with several knees to the
body. He also stuffed all four of his opponent’s takedowns
-- no small feat considering Johnson’s ability to use his
blinding speed and striking to set up his shots. Most importantly,
McCall seemed to figure out how to time his own takedowns, which
resulted in his dominant third round.
McCall
has good movement and lands with more power on the feet, but
he must already be aware that he cannot win a prolonged standup
battle. Johnson will be more than content to outpoint him while
moving in and out of danger.
Fighting
in close is where the Team Oyama product will once again have
to make his mark. If he indeed figured something out in Johnson’s
movements previously, he must be prepared to make more adjustments
and get “Mighty Mouse” to the mat. Once there, McCall
has proven adept at holding -- and regaining -- dominant position.
Johnson must scramble and work to get up or risk a stoppage via
ground-and-pound.
The
Pick: This appears to be pretty cut and dry. Johnson wins on
the feet and at range, while McCall prevails in close quarters
and on the mat. So often in rematches, however, things do not
look at all like they did the first time around. The guess here
is that McCall has gained enough confidence in his near-victory
last time and will demonstrate serious improvement in taking
a unanimous decision.
Welterweights
Erick
Silva (13-2, 1 NC, 1-1 UFC) vs. Charlie Brenneman (15-3, 4-2
UFC)
The
Matchup: It is easy to become enamored with Silva’s obvious
potential after two brief Octagon appearances. In a grand total
of 69 seconds, the former Jungle Fight champion has displayed
dangerous striking and aggression in overwhelming Luis Ramos
and Carlo Prater. Although Silva was disqualified in the latter
fight for illegal blows to the back of Prater’s head at
UFC 142, it is the type of loss that comes with an asterisk attached,
much like Jon Jones’ disqualification defeat to Matt Hamill
at “The Ultimate Fighter 10” Finale.
Brenneman
is the kind of opponent who can drag the talented prospect into
the deep waters of a fight. His most recent victory over Daniel
Roberts was a clinic on what “The Spaniard” does best,
as he scored multiple takedowns, repeatedly passed guard and
defended against submissions en route to a unanimous decision
victory. What the AMA Fight Club representative lacks in explosiveness
-- he has zero finishes in six UFC bouts -- he makes up for in
sheer work rate. A vintage Brenneman performance sees the former
collegiate wrestler setting a relentless pace on the mat and
wearing down his foe by winning scrambles and controlling positioning.
The
downside to this approach is that Brenneman often lacks the element
of surprise. An average standup game leaves little to fear outside
of the predictable shot. If Brenneman over-pursues the takedown,
he will leave himself open to a variety of attacks from Silva.
In addition to his high-octane striking, “Indio” has
shown a slick submission game outside of the UFC. As a black
belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and judo who has trained under Team
Nogueira, it is likely that Silva will be able to hold his own
on the ground and sweep or reverse from his back when necessary.
Also, Brenneman often seems to find himself caught in submissions,
which does not bode well against someone with Silva’s pedigree.
The
Pick: Brenneman does not have the standup or the ground-and-pound
to threaten Silva, so his best chance at victory lies in outworking
the Brazilian over a drawn-out affair. Silva’s takedown
defense will be tested early and often, but look for him to catch
“The Spaniard” with something significant on the way
in and earn a second-round knockout.
Welterweights
Mike
Pyle (22-8-1, 5-3 UFC) vs. Josh Neer (33-10-1, 6-6 UFC)
The
Matchup: Two well-traveled veterans lock horns here, as Pyle
and Neer have 75 fights’ experience between them. Pyle began
his professional career in 1999 by losing a decision to Quinton
“Rampage” Jackson. In his next fight, he submitted
a young Jon Fitch. With experience like that, “Quicksand”
obviously knows how to prevail through the ups and downs that
often accompany an extended mixed martial arts career. Currently,
he is trending upward, with wins in four of his last five UFC
bouts, including a first-round technical knockout of Ricardo
Funch at UFC 142.
Neer,
meanwhile, has three separate Octagon stints to his credit and
wins over the likes of Melvin Guillard, Joe Stevenson, Din Thomas
and Mac Danzig during his UFC employment. “The Dentist”
showcased his toughness against Duane Ludwig in January, walking
through heavy fire from the Colorado native to secure a rear-naked
choke victory in the opening round. With six straight victories,
Neer is experiencing a mini-resurgence of his own.
The
tone for this bout could be set early, as Pyle is at his best
when he can control the tempo of a fight, while Neer is more
than happy to go for broke right off the bat. Making things interesting
is that both men are solid grapplers with excellent guards, meaning
that offense on the mat could come at a premium.
Neer
is both durable and physical, and he will look to bully his way
into the clinch, where he can connect with punishing elbows and
knees. Pyle’s striking defense has been exposed as a weakness
in the past, and how he responds as Neer presses forward will
be key in this instance. That said, Pyle has excellent cage awareness
and can plant Neer on his back with a timely level change.
The
Pick: Neer will not be able to overpower Pyle, and history has
shown that he is susceptible to being controlled through solid
wrestling and grappling on the canvas. Even if he cannot do a
significant amount of damage from above, Pyle has the skills
to make this a grinding affair in which he maintains dominant
control. Pyle wins by decision.
Bantamweights
Scott
Jorgensen (13-5, 2-1 UFC) vs. Eddie Wineland (18-8-1, 0-2 UFC)
The
Matchup: The fans have spoken, voting for what figures to be
an action-packed bantamweight bout to make the UFC on FX 3 main
card. It has been a rough transition to the Octagon for Wineland,
who has received Urijah Faber, Joseph Benavidez and now Jorgensen
for his first three bouts with the promotion. Count on a game
effort from the former WEC champion; he exhibited admirable toughness
and stout takedown defense in going the distance with both Faber
and Benavidez.
Jorgensen
entered his UFC 143 bout with Renan “Barao” Pegado
fully expecting to be able to dictate the location of the fight.
Instead, the highly regarded Brazilian controlled the action,
keeping Jorgensen at bay with a varied standup attack while stuffing
every one of his opponent’s takedown attempts. While “Young
Guns” has certainly improved his striking over the years,
it was not enough to carry him to a victory over “Barao”
by itself.
The
former Boise State University wrestling standout might have a
difficult time overpowering Wineland, who is one of the strongest
competitors in the 135-pound division. Instead, the Twisted Genetiks
product will have to use his quick right hand and solid one-two
combinations to set up takedowns. Wineland has serious power,
especially in his right hand; a right hook had Benavidez reeling
for a moment in their UFC Live 5 encounter. The 27-year-old Indiana
native will have to keep the fight upright in hopes of landing
a fight-altering blow. His upper body strength will serve him
well at shrugging off tie-ups, a spot where Jorgensen has proven
adept at doing damage.
On
the mat, Jorgensen does not usually allow many scrambles, as
he is generally the one maintaining positions. Wineland, however,
would seem to be capable of getting to his feet if he is taken
down.
The
Pick: Wineland gets the edge in pure knockout power, but it is
difficult to envision Jorgensen being finished by punches. The
Idaho native will utilize decent movement to land combinations
and score a few key takedowns, with Wineland battling back with
brief flurries of aggression. In the end, Jorgensen does enough
to earn a narrow decision.
Welterweights
Seth
Baczynski (15-7, 2-1 UFC) vs. Lance Benoist (6-0, 1-0 UFC): A
quarterfinalist on the 11th season of “The Ultimate Fighter,”
Baczynski has fashioned a four-fight winning streak, most recently
submitting Matt Brown with a guillotine choke at UFC 139. “The
Polish Pistola” will mix it up on the feet with Benoist,
who looked strong early but faded in round three in a unanimous
decision win over Matt Riddle. Baczynski wears down his opponent
and secures a third-round submission.
Welterweights
Mike
Pierce (13-5, 5-3 UFC) vs. Carlos Eduardo Rocha (9-1, 1-1 UFC):
Rocha has been out of action for nearly a year-and-half since
losing a split decision to Jake Ellenberger at UFC 128. The Brazilian
is dangerous off his back and can put pressure on Pierce by creating
scrambles and transitioning to various submission attempts. Pierce
might be wise to keep this one standing, doing damage with his
powerful right hand and with dirty boxing in the clinch. Pierce
wins by decision.
Featherweights
Leonard
Garcia (15-8-1, 2-4 UFC) vs. Matt Grice (14-4, 1-4 UFC): Even
with losses in three of his last four fights, Garcia has the
type of exciting style that gives him room for error in the UFC,
especially given the vast number of events the promotion is producing
these days. Grice would ideally like to plant Garcia on his back
and work his ground-and-pound, but it is also possible he gets
caught by the Jackson’s Mixed Martial Arts product on the
way in. This one will be frenetic, with “Bad Boy” landing
the most significant shots before moving in to tap Grice late
in round one.
Bantamweights
Dustin
Pague (10-5, 0-1 UFC) vs. Jared Papazian (14-7, 0-1 UFC): Papazian
waged an entertaining three-round war in his Octagon debut against
Mike Easton; with good conditioning and aggressive standup, the
King of the Cage champion will favor a fast pace against “The
Ultimate Fighter 14” alum Dustin Pague. “The Disciple”
will have to start more quickly than he did against John Albert,
when he was stopped with punches in just 69 seconds. Papazian
wins the majority of the exchanges and avoids Pague’s submissions
to capture a decision.
Lightweights
Tim
Means (17-3-1, 1-0 UFC) vs. Justin Salas (10-3, 1-0 UFC): Means,
a King of the Cage champion with 12 knockout victories to his
credit, will try to use his reach to land straight punches and
combinations from the outside. The key for Salas will be his
ability to get the fight to the mat: he scored four takedowns
in his UFC debut victory over Anton Kuivanen at UFC on Fuel 1,
while Means stuffed all 11 of Bernardo Magalhaes’ attempts
on that same card. Means finds a decent rhythm while fighting
at range to earn the nod from the judges.
Middleweights
Buddy
Roberts (11-2, 0-0 UFC) vs. Caio Magalhaes (5-0, 0-0 UFC): Roberts
had his UFC debut unfortunately delayed when Sean Loeffler injured
his ankle during warm-ups prior to their UFC on Fuel TV 1 meeting.
Now he gets a promotional newcomer in Magalhaes, a former Shooto
South American champion. Roberts, who began his career at heavyweight,
figures to have the strength advantage. He outmuscles the Brazilian
and earns a decision.
Lightweights
Henry
Martinez (8-2, 0-1 UFC) vs. Bernardo Magalhaes (11-2, 0-1 UFC):
Martinez gave a valiant effort against Matt Riddle in February,
dropping a closely contested split decision while fighting at
welterweight. While it was his standup that carried him against
the larger Riddle, expect to see more of Martinez’s wrestling
at his natural weight class. He outstrikes Magalhaes on the feet
before getting a second-round technical knockout with ground-and-pound.
Welterweights
Sean
Pierson (11-6, 1-2 UFC) vs. Jake Hecht (11-3, 1-1 UFC): Pierson
has fallen in consecutive bouts to Jake Ellenberger and Dong
Hyun Kim, while Hecht was submitted by T.J. Waldburger in just
55 seconds in his last outing. Pierson will have to use his jab
to keep the aggressive Hecht at bay, but the “Hitman”
has the potential to end the fight with powerful strikes in close
quarters. Both men have decent wrestling, so this fight could
be decided on the feet. Pierson wins by decision.
Source:
Sherdog
|
Charlie
Brenneman Plans on Having His Cake And Eating It Too at UFC on
FX 3
by Andrew
Gladstone
Charlie
“The Spaniard” Brenneman (15-3) walks into the Octagon
at UFC on FX 3 this Friday night at the Bank Atlantic Center
with nothing to lose.
His
opponent, Erick Silva, has made big waves since bursting onto
the UFC scene by displaying his breathtakingly fast knockouts.
However, the 31-year-old knows that with his wrestling skills
he’s going to be able to push the fight.
Many
feel that Silva’s just going to walk through Brenneman much
the same way he’s finished 10 of his 13 opponents. The underdog
role, however, is all too familiar for The Spaniard, who ended
Rick Story’s ride to the top by placing his talented wrestling
skills at the forefront.
“If
he’s the better man and proves me wrong, I’ll have
no trouble saying that I was wrong and he was much better than
I thought,” Brenneman told MMAWeekly Radio.
“We’ll
find out real quick if his black belt judo and jiu-jitsu is the
real deal. I promise I will put that pressure on him early.
“Yeah,
I mean to me those are the guys I want to fight a la Rick Story.
He hasn’t really proven that much in the UFC, however, if
you hear the talk it sounds like he’s the next Anderson
Silva. So I’d like to put a halt to that freight train.”
Brenneman
knows if he is to able derail Silva’s momentum that he’ll
be able to get some of the respect he deserves in the welterweight
division. And for the recently married man, his fight against
Silva this Friday at UFC on FX 3 has double the payout.
“He’s
got such a big name, yet he hasn’t proven too much, so that’s
like having cake and getting to eat it too. I get to fight a
big name who hasn’t really proved themselves and so that’s
all the better because it’s better than fighting a big name
who’s beats the crap out of everybody.”
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
Michael
Bisping Out; Hector Lombard Moves to UFC 149 Calgary Card
UFC
matchmaker Joe Silva’s head just won’t stop spinning
as the injuries continue to mount. The latest fighter to move
onto the sidelines is Michael Bisping, who was slated to face
Tim Boetsch at UFC 149 in Calgary.
Bisping’s
void is being filled by Hector Lombard, resulting in a virtual
swap of talent between UFC 149 and UFC on Fox 4.
Lombard
was initially slated to face Brian Stann in the UFC on Fox 4
main event on Aug. 4 in Los Angeles. Stann fell out of that bout
due to injury, so the UFC paired Mauricio “Shogun”
Rua, who lost his UFC 149 opponent, with Brandon Vera to headline
UFC on Fox 4.
After
Bisping fell off the UFC 149 card late Wednesday, the promotion
moved Lombard over to face Boetsch in Canada.
So
now Shogun vs. Vera headlines UFC on Fox 4, and Lombard vs. Boetsch
will be part of the supporting cast at UFC 149.
Be
sure to stay tuned. If you look away or blink, there is sure
to be another fight change coming your way soon!
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
Rich
Franklin: UFC's Company Man Faces Down Career Conundrum
By Ben
Fowlkes - Senior Writer
For
five weeks Rich Franklin slept sitting straight up in a chair.
Maybe ‘slept’ is the wrong word. ‘Dozed’
might be more appropriate, considering the quality of rest he
got as he nodded off each night with his chin on his chest.
"I
would fall asleep for an hour, hour and a half, then wake up.
Then I’d fall back asleep for an hour or two and wake back
up. It was like that for weeks on end," Franklin told MMA
Fighting.
This
was the result of shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum he’d
suffered in training before his scheduled bout with Antonio Rogerio
Nogueira at UFC 133. Franklin went under the knife after injuring
the shoulder during grappling practice, and for the next five
weeks laying down wasn’t an option. If he tried it, the
weight of his shoulder pulling itself down toward the bed would
cause him enough pain to rule out any chance of sleep. So the
former UFC middleweight champ made his bed in a chair. He took
his hour of shut-eye here, two hours there, and he did it for
over a month. Maybe the most surprising part is that, even through
the constant fog of fatigue, even when his rehab consisted of
painful efforts with two-pound dumbbells, the 37-year-old Franklin
didn’t seriously question whether this lifestyle was still
worth the reward. Which is, when you think about it, maybe a
little odd.
Not
that Franklin is the first fighter to go through the tedious
labors of post-surgery rehab. It’s practically a rite of
passage in a sport where injuries are as plentiful as sponsored
after-parties in Vegas nightclubs. It’s not hard to understand
why a 25-year-old fighter -- one who still dreams of greatness,
of world titles, of fame and money and groupies -- would see
a few rough weeks of rehab as nothing more than a speedbump on
the road to the top. But Franklin? He’s pushing 40. He’s
already been a champion. He’s already banked his UFC highlight-reel
moments and cashed his checks. What else does he want with this
sport? What’s left that’s worth all this pain, this
damage?
To
hear Franklin tell it, the answer is: nothing. He’s already
gotten what he needs from MMA. Now it’s about what he wants,
or rather, what he doesn’t want, which is any other kind
of life.
"As
far as accomplishments go, I think I’m at that point where
I could walk away and I could be happy with my career,"
he said. "My conundrum is, I love doing what I do. When
I think about what I’m going to fill my days with outside
of fighting, it’s difficult for me. ...I love doing what
I do and I don’t know what else I would want to do."
For
instance, take his recent work as an analyst on FUEL TV for UFC
144. It’s supposed to be one of the cushiest athlete gigs
around. You put on a suit, sit still long enough for them to
splash a coat of makeup on you, then you talk about the thing
you’re already an expert in. Wouldn’t that be an easier
way to earn a living? When’s the last time Jon Anik had
to sleep sitting up because of an injury suffered in rehearsal?
And
sure, Franklin said, he enjoyed the FUEL TV stuff, "but
the thought of me doing something like that as a full-time job?
I’m just not in that mindset yet where I can not be active
and be sitting behind a desk. I’ve done that. I used to
be a high school teacher. To go back that, mentally, would be
a regression. I enjoy going to the gym. I enjoy training and
doing what I do. That’s the difficult part for me to give
up."
Maybe
this explains why, when Franklin got the call asking him to replace
an injured Vitor Belfort in a main event bout with Wanderlei
Silva at UFC 147, he was off in Singapore preparing for a bout
with Cung Le at UFC 148. He didn’t need to go to Singapore,
of course. He probably could have imported his own San Shou expert
if he’d wanted to stay home and do the same old thing, but
that’s not how Franklin does things. He wanted to actually
learn something, not just get by.
So
there he is, getting his Singapore on, when he logs on to the
internet to see what’s happening in the MMA scene back home.
That’s when he read the news, and he knew what was coming
next.
"I
saw that Vitor broke his hand, and I knew right away, the UFC
is probably going to call and see if I will fill in for this,"
he said. And sure enough he was right. The very next night, the
call came through. How about changing opponents and dates? How
about changing continents?
"At
first I thought, I’m all the way over here in Singapore
training specifically for Cung, so this is really a difficult
change to make," Franklin said. "But then, as I got
to thinking about it, I believe that this is a winnable fight
for me, and hey, the UFC needed someone to step in for them.
Characteristically, I’ve been that guy. So here I am."
Moving
the bout up two weeks meant less time to cut down to 185 pounds,
hence the catchweight provision. But then, the last time he fought
Silva it was also at a catchweight. That worked out well enough.
Franklin got the decision victory and a Fight of the Night bonus.
This time he’s really doing the UFC a favor. This time he
has every reason to expect even more bonus appreciation, although,
he insisted, that’s not the only reason why he’s been
the very definition of the company man all these years.
"I
guess I like being the guy that helps out. I’m a team player.
I told the UFC that from day one. I said, I’m the kind of
guy that, if I feel like you have my back, I’ll have yours."
And
he has. In fact, in the last few years of his career, it’s
become his defining characteristic. Franklin is the guy who will
help out when the UFC needs him. Franklin is the guy who doesn’t
say no.
In
return, he keeps getting big fights against big names, despite
the fact that his title-chasing days are almost certainly over.
He wins some and loses some, but still gets the chance to do
the only thing he really wants to do. He gives the UFC what it
wants, and it gives the same thing right back. At least for now,
neither of them has to think about what comes next, about what
life will look like when there is no more Rich Franklin in the
UFC. Maybe that’s as fair a trade as either can hope for.
Source:
MMA Fighting
|
Mighty
Mouse is Back, Better Prepared for UFC on FX 3 Rematch with Ian
McCall
by Ken
Pishna
Demetrious
Johnson was the winner the first time he met Ian McCall, at UFC
on FX 2 in Australia, if only briefly.
“Mighty
Mouse” was originally awarded the decision victory when
the scorecards were read following their three-round bout, but
a short time later it was discovered that the presiding officials
from the Combat Sports Authority of NSW had tabulated the scorecards
incorrectly.
The
fight should instead have been scored a draw and gone to an overtime
round to determine the winner.
Now,
three months later, the two will square off once again to try
and determine who will move on to challenge Joseph Benavidez
for the inaugural UFC flyweight championship.
The
experience left a sour taste in Johnson’s mouth, but like
any true champion, he quickly let it go.
“It
sucks, but at the same time, it is what it is,” Mighty Mouse
told MMAWeekly Radio.
The
good news from the first fight, even though it was razor-close,
is that Johnson doesn’t feel like he gave the best he had
in that fight. Don’t misunderstand, he did the best he could
at the time, but it was his first cut to 125 pounds in the UFC,
and things didn’t go as smooth as they could have.
Johnson
underwent a new diet that cut out almost all carbohydrates to
get his weight down for the fight. Now that may work well if
you’re just focusing on weight loss, but Johnson, like any
professional athlete, needed the fuel provided by carbs to get
him through the fight.
He
didn’t have those carbs for his body to rely on. As a result,
he bonked, fighting on a nearly empty gas tank by the end of
the fight. That’s not an excuse, but an indicator that he
had something to learn heading into Friday’s rematch at
UFC on FX 3 in Southern Florida.
“Lesson
learned,” said Johnson. He didn’t make the same mistake
this time, keeping his diet more well-rounded, like his skillset,
so that he can go back to being Mighty Mouse from bell to bell.
Even
though the fight will once again be a three-rounder and go to
an overtime round in the event of another draw, Johnson made
another change to beef up his stamina for the rematch.
“This
time I trained for a five-round fight.”
Obviously,
he’s leaving nothing to chance. If he loses the fight, it
will have to be because Ian McCall was the better fighter on
Friday night.
Johnson
knows that he’s in for another tough go round though. After
their first fight, he would expect nothing less.
“I
wasn’t shocked by anything about Ian McCall. I knew he was
tough. I watch all of his fights,” Johnson said about their
first fight. He then added, “We’ve both had another
three months to study each other, so it’s just gonna be
fireworks again.”
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
Worlds
2012: The champs analyze their performances
Ivan Trindade
Leandro
Lo was one of those crowned with gold at the 2012 Jiu-Jitsu World
Championship.
Just
after receiving their gold medals, the champions of the 2012
Jiu-Jitsu World Champions spoke exclusively with GRACIEMAG.com.
From
Bruno Malfacine to Leo Nogueira, the winners of each weight class
put their performances under the microscope, pointing out what
they did right and where they had trouble.
Only
Marcus Almeida, the ultraheavyweight champ, doesn’t appear
in the video, since having won the absolute, he earned a video
all for himself.
If
you’re looking to brush up on your Portuguese, give the
video below a watch. If not, here’s the gist of what the
big winners had to say:
Bruno
Malfacine:
“My
campaign this Worlds was perfect. Or not perfect because the
final with Caio was an ugly match. I wanted to be on the attack,
like I always am in my matches; it’s just that there are
times where the opponent plays the anti-game.
Now
the project is to get the sixth title, God willing.
When
I started my dream was to win a world title at black belt. I
never imagined I could win five, four in a row.”
He
also explained that he competed with a serious shoulder injury,
dislocating it several times in the lead up to the competition,
but managed to fight well and without any further dislocations
during the competition, nevertheless.
Mendes
brothers:
Guilherme:
“My
first fight was with the scale. Tough! I’ve been dieting
ever since the Pan to stay at weight. I feel this time I did
a better job of maintaining my weight. I was in better shape
this time.
The
final was against Laercio [Fernandes]. I’ve faced him twice
now, but this time I could tell he has evolved a lot. Each time
I face him he’s tougher. This final was a lot closer than
the last one. Thank God everything worked out.”
Rafael:
It
was a perfect way to close out the year. Last year we managed
to both win the Worlds at black belt on the same year. Now it
will become a bit harder for anyone to beat our record, because
now we’re three-time champs.
This
time Cobrinha surprised me; he ended up putting me in 50-50,
a move he complained a lot about in the past. But that’s
how it is, the position is there as a resource anyone can use,
and everyone contributes something to it. That’s why I feel
you can’t go criticizing a position, speaking ill of it,
because down the road you may need to use it. But it was a great
match. He’s a great athlete. I’m really pleased, and
now it’s time to celebrate, eat a lot. The diet was rough,
so now we’re going to eat a lot to celebrate.”
Leandro
Lo:
“This
is the happiest day of my life. I had a bunch of tough matches.
Thank God I managed to win the title. Lucas is a really tight,
tough guy. The three times we faced each other it was the same
thing; I pulled guard, managed to sweep. The last time he won
by an advantage point; this time I won by an advantage, nearly
swept.”
Otávio
Sousa:
“I
feel for sure the other athletes will be paying a lot closer
attention to my matches, as I wasn’t the favorite before.
Now I’m going to keep at it, training hard, competing at
all the tournaments that come up.
I
feel I was more focused this time around. This time I did a better
job of working out, eating, and my teacher came up from Brazil
to help out. Last time I was in the States and he was in Brazil.”
Rômulo
Barral:
“I’d
gone through a rough patch; I’d injured my knee, lost my
confidence. So I went home, talked to my friends and family,
and they said I couldn’t quit, so now I’m back and
got my confidence back. I did some other tournaments prior to
gain more confidence.
I
didn’t perform in the absolute the way I would have like
to. I think I put a lot of pressure on myself. At weight I was
a lot better, much more confident, much looser, carrying less
weight on my shoulders.”
Rodolfo
Vieira:
I’m
overjoyed about having managed to win the title for a second
time. But [in the absolute] I fought till the end with Bochecha.
It was a great match, but he was better; it was his day. So I
didn’t win the absolute, but I did manage to pull myself
together and win at weight. I was kind of bummed about losing,
but my friends got my morale back up, and I managed to do well
at weight and win it.
I
was really honored to be in a final with Xande. I’m a big
fan of his. I knew it was going to be a good match. We traded
grips standing; I didn’t want to be under him at all; I
knew he brings a lot of pressure. So I managed to take him down,
land on top and do the game I always do. Then he swept me, but
I was ahead on advantage points, and I managed the win, thank
God.”
Léo
Nogueira:
“As
for tha absolute, I lost in the last 15 seconds. I got taken
down, but I feel I did good Jiu-Jitsu, did good on the ground.
It was a really even fight. I gave it my best. I trained a lot
back in Brazil, so I came here already expecting a good result.”
Source:
Gracie Magazine
|
A
real crisis: The testosterone HOF grows for UFC
By Zach
Arnold
Frank
Mir says getting a TUE for testosterone is like using an inhaler
for asthma
Junior
dos Santos was furious about what happened with Alistair Overeem
and his now infamous ‘tetra mix’ shot from a mark doctor
(who is in trouble again) which included testosterone. JDS has
come out against testosterone users.
So,
thanks to Keith Kizer, JDS ended up fighting Frank Mir while
Mir was using NSAC-allowed testosterone usage.
Which,
of course, makes this remark from Dave Meltzer today all the
more amusing:
–All
24 fighters from Saturday’s UFC 146 PPV tested clean for
both steroids and recreational drugs.
You
can pass a Nevada drug test for steroids while using testosterone,
the base chemical of anabolic steroids. This is now the legacy
of the Nevada State Athletic Commission. As Mike Chiappetta reported
in the past, the NSAC has a process of three weeks to establish
a Therapeutic Use Exemption for testosterone usage for MMA fighters.
Three weeks. Not three months. Three weeks.
In
the case of Frank Mir, he asked for an exemption starting in
2012. Why didn’t he get an exemption before if he needed
it so badly?
When
Dan Henderson beat Fedor last year, I stated that his win would
start to create acceptance by power brokers in the sport for
the usage of Testosterone. Don’t think that’s the case?
Look at the testosterone MMA hall of fame:
Dan
Henderson
Alistair Overeem (not a TRT guy officially as far as having a
TUE, it should be noted)
Chael Sonnen
Frank Mir
Todd Duffee
Shane Roller
Nate Marquardt
Dennis Hallman
Bristol Marunde
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson
Ken Shamrock
The scariest part? This is just a partial list of names that
we publicly know. There are various state athletic commissions
that give out hall passes that do not publicly disclose users
given exemptions. On top of that, throw in all the guys currently
using testosterone who don’t get caught because standard
AC drug tests do not use the Carbon Isotope Ratio standard or
blood testing.
The
end result is that the biggest names in Mixed Martial Arts are
doping. It’s an inescapable conclusion. Can you blame blue-chip
companies that don’t want to sponsor fighters given the
current doping climate?
As
I noted in my crash course article on testosterone usage in MMA,
the usage of T for fighters in combat sports is way more dangerous
& scandalous than in sports like baseball. The issues of
drug usage (PEDs & pain killers), concussions, and bad weight-cutting
are all starting to form an interconnected picture that is less
than flattering about the health & safety of the sport.
If
only 2% of the adult male population legitimately needs to use
testosterone due to low levels of T, then why do so many MMA
fighters cry for a need for testosterone? For those burying their
head in the sand over the issue, there’s a level of cognitive
dissonance that is alarming. If the sport is so safe, then why
do so many high-profile fighters need to use such a powerful
chemical like testosterone in order to function?
The
UFC has a giant problem — and it’s one of their own
making. As we noted from comments Dana White made last weekend,
the UFC claims the PED issue is blown out of proportion and yet
says that they want to take drug testing to ‘the next level’
by having a supplemental drug testing program alongside the standard
AC drug testing protocols. In the same breath, Dana praises the
athletic commissions for the job they are doing when it comes
to fighters who are using testosterone. He’s always careful
to make sure to emphasize that it’s legal.
As
more fighters get outed over their testosterone usage and the
public starts to learn what we knew all along about the enablers
in this business who have let the drug climate get out of control,
the more the media, potential sponsors, and sports fans who could
potentially become MMA supporters start to take a second look
at MMA and say, ‘no thanks.’
Source:
Fight Opinion
|
Morning
Report: Fedor Emelianenko Denies Retirement, Brock Lesnar Rumored
for UFC Return
By Shaun
Al-Shatti - Staff Writer
Let's
tackle this first, because it's just screaming to be mentioned.
Yesterday Brian Stann glumly announced he had separated his shoulder
and would be forced to withdraw from his UFC on FOX 4 headlining
barnburner against Hector Lombard. If you're keeping count, that's
about the 203rd major injury for the UFC in the last few months.
So
after careful consideration, Brandon Vera was given the headlining
gig. Yes, you read that right. The guy who hasn't had a mildly
significant win since 2009 was just handed the keys to the Maserati.
I get he's facing Shogun Rua, and I get Shogun is the main draw
here, but let's repeat this one more time -- Shogun, the No.
4 ranked light heavyweight in the world, is fighting Vera, the
No. 21 ranked light heavyweight in the world, on the biggest
stage the UFC owns. That's happening. I'll leave it at that and
let you form your own judgments.
Anyway,
how about we talk about something a little less negative, like
the fact that two of the most looming figures in the heavyweight
division, guys who we all thought were on their way out, may
not actually be on their way out. Through some fluky stroke of
luck, yesterday saw rumors regarding both Fedor Emelianenko and
Brock Lesnar pop up, with both men seemingly flipping the bird
at retirement.
Of
course, it's good to keep in mind that both of these stories
are just that -- stories. At least for right now. But if either
of them, or preferably both of them, were true, it would certainly
be a happy respite from the bizarre injury carousel we've been
riding lately.
Source:
MMA Fighting
|
Rickson:
Pure Jiu-Jitsu is not enough at MMA
By Guilherme
Cruz
What
would be MMA if Royce Gracie had lost to a “giant’
on the first edition of the UFC, in 1993? MMA legend, Rickson
Gracie helped us to answer that question at TATAME Magazine’s
edition of June, already available for purchase.
But
it was not the only topic asked for the master.
Responsible
for bringing MMA up in Japan, one year after Royce got things
started in the UFC, Gracie evaluated the evolution of the sport
and revealed that, in his opinion, pure Jiu-Jitsu has no space
left.
“No,
things have changed. Nowadays the rules impose a rhythm to the
bout, conditioning and a game plan which imposes Jiu-Jitsu to
have a determined shape”, said, explaining how the rules
changed fighters’ posture.
“If
you take off time and weight (limit) you might add some technique,
game plan, conditioning and a way of thinking. From the moment
it’s a five-minute three-round fight, you spend some energy,
lose 17 to 22lbs to fight and you have a high level training
technology”.
To
Rickson, great part of Jiu-Jitsu lessons, used at gyms and big
Jiu-Jitsu tournaments, are useless in MMA.
“You
may use like 30 percent of Jiu-Jitsu”, explains. “You
can’t put Royce or any other guy only using it… Technology
has changed the sport a lot in terms of how much you train, the
capacity of losing weight to fight… It’s completely
different. You can use many Jiu-Jitsu things, but the body is
your main element”.
Things
have changed so much that TATAME asked Rickson to point out athletes
who astonish him now, and he did not list any Jiu-Jitsu guy.
“Jon
Jones and Anderson Silva”, says Rickson. “They are
really controlling the scene. You can’t say anything about
them. They are smart, well conditioned and they fight in high
level”.
In
the veteran’s opinion, however, the number of high level
athletes might be even bigger in case the sport could embrace
all fighters that wanted to fight.
e“There
are always newcomers and things are very dynamic. Athletes just
emerge from nowhere”, explains. “The filler is too
small for the number of people that would like to be there fighting
on the events. There’s a bigger demand than we know. If
it was an open championship, like in Jiu-Jitsu, there would came
many new names”.
Source:
Tatame
|
Masvidal-Wilcox,
Couture-Duarte Added to July 14 Strikeforce Bill
By Mike
Whitman
Jorge
Masvidal will square off with Justin Wilcox, while Ryan Couture
takes on Joe Duarte at Strikeforce “Rockhold vs. Kennedy.”
Nine
bouts are now official for the July 14 event, which takes place
at the Rose Garden in Portland, Ore. Headlined by a middleweight
title collision between reigning belt holder Luke Rockhold and
challenger Tim Kennedy, the evening's main draw airs on Showtime
immediately following the undercard broadcast on Showtime Extreme.
Masvidal,
27, has not fought since stumbling in his attempt to capture
the Strikeforce lightweight title from Gilbert Melendez this
past December. Prior to that unanimous decision loss, “Gamebred”
posted back-to-back wins last year, outpointing K.J. Noons and
Billy Evangelista to earn his shot at the belt.
Wilcox
looks to right his ship after suffering a 13-second knockout
at the hands of Caros Fodor in his most recent outing. Before
falling to “The Future” on Dec. 17, Wilcox fought Gesias
Cavalcante to a no contest after receiving an accidental eye
poke in the second round of their June 18 meeting. “The
Silverback” had won six straight fights prior to his no-contest
with “JZ”, besting Rodrigo Damm, Vitor Ribeiro, Shamar
Bailey and Daisuke Nakamura in that span.
The
son of former five-time UFC champion Randy Couture, Ryan has
posted a 4-1 record since beginning his pro career nearly two
years ago. Known for his submission skills, Couture sustained
his first loss to Matt Ricehouse last year but rebounded with
a pair of wins, topping Maka Watson and Conor Heun in September
and March, respectively.
Formerly
a contestant on “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 8, Duarte
enters his bout with Couture riding a five-fight winning streak.
The 28-year-old competed twice in 2011, submitting Saad Awad
in April before outpointing Jorge Gurgel at Challengers 18 in
August.
Source
Sherdog
|
Ian
McCall Ready to Be Done with Demetrious Johnson and Move On to
the Title
by Damon
Martin
Rematches
are a tough prospect for any athlete, team or organization in
any sport, and it’s no different in mixed martial arts.
If
you beat someone, it’s hard to go back and duplicate that
same performance a second time. But in the case of the UFC on
FX 3 headliner between Ian McCall and Demetrious Johnson, they’re
going to fight again on June 8 because a few judges in Australia
couldn’t quite add a scorecard.
For
the first time ever, the UFC installed a “sudden victory”
round for a regular event as the flyweight title tournament kicked
off in March in the land down under. Essentially the rule was
created as a fail safe so in case one of the two tournament bouts
ended in a draw, there would be a final fourth round to determine
the winner, that way there would be no delay in the tournament
being completed.
Well,
the judging error in Australia cost McCall and Johnson the chance
to fight in a fourth round because originally Johnson was announced
the winner and then hours later it was discovered that the fight
should have been a draw.
Needless
to say, nobody was happy about the situation.
But
now three months later McCall and Johnson will do battle all
over again with the winner moving on to the UFC flyweight tournament
finals and a date with Joseph Benavidez with the title on the
line.
McCall
admits that the entire situation was a mess, so at this point
he’s just looking forward to getting past this fight and
moving on to his ultimate goal.
“I
just want this to be over with and done,” McCall said recently
when speaking with MMAWeekly Radio.
“This
time I want to put a stamp on it, I want to finish the fight
and really just get it over with so I can go on and get my title.”
Judging
has come under fire on more than a few occasions in the past
in MMA, and regardless of the scoring error in Australia, McCall
feels there shouldn’t have been a problem at all because
he believes he won the fight.
It’s
tough to go through a fight like that, feel like you won, and
then you are told that it was a draw and you have to do it all
over again.
“We
have a lot of motivation because I felt I won the fight, he felt
he won the fight, and we had all the drama behind it. We put
on a great fight the last time and it has it’s ups and downs
I guess,” McCall admitted.
If
there is one positive that McCall can take away from having to
do it all over again is the fact that he did not have even close
to his best night when facing Johnson back in March.
“The
biggest gaping hole in my performance was my stand-up. I’m
a much better kickboxer than I showed. I mean, just watch my
earlier fights, I’ve never been outstruck and I was, on
the feet at least. It wasn’t bad, but I didn’t do the
things I should,” said McCall.
“I
just have to rough him up. I need to not chase him around, just
get a hold of him, and just really beat the crap out of him.”
McCall
also believes that he saw the best of Demetrious Johnson that
night, and there’s not much more he could see in the rematch.
“I
really feel like he gave me all he had. He did everything he
could. I think definitely I obviously showed I’m the better
grappler, better wrestler, and now I just need to prove that
I’m the better striker,” said McCall.
“You
should never say ‘this guy can’t knock me out’
but I pretty strongly believe he can’t. Anything can happen
in MMA, or just sports like this in general, but I think there’s
a pretty good chance after feeling his power he’s never
really ever going to be able to knock me out.”
Is
McCall right in his assessment of Demetrious Johnson? The only
way to know for sure is to watch the rematch on FX June 8.
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
UFC
on FX 3 Prelims: 5 Reasons to Watch
By Mike
Whitman
Two
of MMA’s best flyweights will take center stage on Friday
at the BankAtlantic Center in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., as Ian McCall
and Demetrious Johnson square off in their highly anticipated
rematch. In addition, top bantamweight talents Eddie Wineland
and Scott Jorgensen will collide, while Erick Silva and Mike
Pyle lock horns with fellow welterweights Charlie Brenneman and
Josh Neer.
Prior
to the four-fight main draw on the FX network, a slew of undercard
attractions will be contested on Fuel TV. Here are five reasons
to tune into the Red Bull Network and peep the sweet undercard
action at UFC on FX 3:
Pierce’s
Problem
Despite
owning a reputation as one of the most solid welterweights on
the planet, poor Mike Pierce just cannot buy a decision when
he needs one the most.
The
Oregonian’s resume is undoubtedly eye-catching, but his
losses speak more about his abilities than do his victories.
Since joining the UFC, Pierce has lost just three fights, giving
contenders Jon Fitch, Josh Koscheck and Johny Hendricks all they
could handle before coming up short on the judges’ scorecards.
The
latter two were especially close calls and ended up as split
decisions, knocking Pierce back down the welterweight ladder.
Had the judges seen those fights differently, we would likely
be talking about Pierce in the same breath as Martin Kampmann
when discussing the worthiest of challengers for Carlos Condit’s
interim belt.
In
his return to the Octagon, the hard-punching wrestler faces another
chance to right his ship and gather steam for another run at
the UFC’s 170-pound elite. Standing across the cage will
be Carlos Eduardo Rocha, a potent grappler who finds himself
back in the cage after spending 16 months on the shelf. The Brazilian
suffered his lone career defeat at the hands of contender Jake
Ellenberger in his most recent outing, dropping a split verdict
to “The Juggernaut” at UFC 126.
Can
Pierce avoid the dangerous submission game of Rocha and start
his climb back toward the top of the division, or will Rocha
slip inside of Pierce’s offense and lock up a submission
on the man who has never before been finished?
Fun
on the Fringe
If
I had to guess, I think Hank Hill would probably describe Seth
Baczynski’s pairing with Lance Benoist as “a keg of
dynamite.”
When
you think of contenders in the welterweight division, the names
Baczynski and Benoist probably are not the ones that immediately
spring to mind. Nevertheless, both men have performed impressively
in their UFC careers to date, and the winner could find himself
in some bigger fights if he continues that trend.
A
middleweight finalist on “The Ultimate Fighter” Season
11, Baczynski was outpointed by Brad Tavares at the live finale
and received his walking papers as a result. Following consecutive
wins outside of the Octagon, “The Polish Pistola” was
called back to the promotion as a welterweight, stepping in for
an injured DaMarques Johnson to face Clay Harvison in September;
he dominated “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 13 alum
en route to a second-round submission. Baczynski maintained his
momentum in his next in-cage appearance, finishing Matt Brown
with a second-round guillotine choke at UFC 139.
Just
23 years old, Benoist entered the Octagon as a virtual unknown
in his promotional debut against Matt Riddle, but he did not
exit the cage as one. Benoist went toe-to-toe with his durable
foe, getting the better of Riddle in the first two rounds en
route to a unanimous decision and a “Fight of the Night”
bonus.
Both
Baczynski and Benoist throw heavy leather and share a pleasingly
aggressive attitude toward submissions. Benoist will likely find
himself at a size disadvantage on fight night, but the crafty
southpaw could very well make up for it with his quickness and
scrambling ability. Who will take another step toward relevance
in the ultra-competitive UFC welterweight division?
Guilty
Pleasure Garcia
.
Love him or hate him, you have to hand it to Leonard Garcia.
His
offense may be wild at times -- OK, all the time -- but it is
hard to deny the simple pleasure involved in watching a man walk
forward and wing bombs for 15 minutes. You always know what to
expect from Garcia, even if the Jackson’s Mixed Martial
Arts product has become notorious for winning controversial decisions
based on his aggression, regardless of its actual effectiveness.
That
notwithstanding, Garcia’s power cannot be overlooked. If
one of those haymakers finds the chin of his opponent, it is
pretty much night-night time. This is a hypothetical that Matt
Grice should avoid at all costs.
While
Garcia is certainly a dangerous opponent, he has also proved
to be a predicable one for the same reason he is so exciting.
Grice should use Garcia’s aggression against him and rely
on his solid wrestling base to put the former WEC title contender
on his back, where his power will be nullified.
Of
course, there is always a chance that Grice will be drawn into
a firefight, and for that reason, this fight is worth a watch.
Pague’s
Place
I
bet Dustin Pague wants a do-over.
After
introducing himself to the UFC audience as an early favorite
on Season 14 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” Pague was outwrestled
by T.J. Dillashaw in the show’s semifinals, receiving a
full-blown beating while on his back. More “TUF” times
would follow for the fighter in his meeting with castmate John
Albert at the live finale, as Pague was knocked out in just 69
seconds by the “Prince.”
Still
searching for his first official win in the UFC’s growing
bantamweight division, Pague takes on Jared Papazian, another
24-year-old with serious potential. A former King of the Cage
135-pound champion, Papazian showed some sharp standup skills
against veteran Mike Easton at UFC on FX 1 before ultimately
coming up short in a majority decision.
Papazian
needs to avoid engaging in the same type of controlled slugfest
with Pague, a long and dangerous striker who should be able to
land shots from much farther away than Easton. Papazian’s
ticket to ride relies on head movement and explosiveness. “The
Jackhammer” needs to stay either inside or outside against
“The Disciple” and avoid exchanging within his punching
range. Hanging out in the clinch would also be a mistake for
Papazian, who should immediately look to put Pague on his back
upon closing the distance.
Will
Pague return to the form that saw him demolish Louis Gaudinot
in the Season 14 quarterfinals, or can Papazian snatch his first
Octagon victory and show his excellent performance against Easton
was no fluke?
Hecht’s
Heart vs. Pierson’s Perseverance
Many
say you can learn more from a loss than from a victory. I do
not know if that is true, but I do know you can learn a lot about
a man from how performs in his next fight after getting his butt
whipped.
Some
guys take a loss and shrink from it. Others will use the setback
as motivation to improve and come back better for it. Both Jake
Hecht and Sean Pierson will enter the Octagon carrying with them
the need for a win.
After
an impressive UFC debut against Rich Attonito, Hecht made a critical
error against T.J. Waldburger by offering his arm to the submission
ace during a first-round scramble. Likewise, Pierson has suffered
back-to-back defeats since his solid debut against Riddle, suffering
a criminally brutal knockout at the hands of Jake Ellenberger
before being outpointed by Dong Hyun Kim.
Though
not an exact science, consecutive losses in the UFC often leads
to a pink slip, the worst-case scenario for any fighter. Those
welterweight waters are deep, boys; time to sink or swim.
Source:
Sherdog
|
Shogun
vs. Vera Headlines UFC on Fox 4
by Damon
Martin
With
Brian Stann sidelined with an injury, UFC on Fox 4 has a new
main event.
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun”
Rua will shift from UFC 149 in Calgary and fight at UFC on Fox
4 against Brandon Vera instead.
UFC officials announced the fight late Wednesday evening.
Rua was originally set to fight at the UFC 149 card against Thiago
Silva, but his fellow Brazilian fell out due to his long running
back problems, and was waiting for a new opponent.
Now Rua will move over to the main event slot at UFC on Fox 4
instead on Aug. 4 in Los Angeles.
Following a tumultuous three-fight streak where Brandon Vera
lost two fights in a row and appeared to lose a third to Thiago
Silva, he was given new life in the UFC after his last opponent
was suspended due to a failed drug test and their bout was overturned
to a no contest.
Vera returned at UFC 137 and won a very controversial decision
over former Ultimate Fighter competitor Eliot Marshall last October.
Now Vera gets the chance to face a former UFC champion in the
biggest fight he’s had in the last few years.
The new bout between Shogun and Vera will headline the UFC on
Fox 4 card and serve as the five round main event for the upcoming
show taking place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
As for Hector Lombard, there’s been no word whether he will
remain on the event or shift to a different card to make his
UFC debut.
One other change to the UFC on Fox 4 card that was announced
is Rani Yahya, who will step in to replace Pablo Garza, and will
now face former featherweight contender Josh Grispi.
MMAWeekly.com will have more information on the UFC on Fox 4
card as it becomes available.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Pancrase
rebuilding starts with new ownership
By Zach
Arnold
Big
changes are coming to the zombie promotion that’s about
to be revived.
SMASH,
which was the company led by Mr. Masakazu Sakai that backed professional
wrestling shows operated by Yoshihiro Tajiri, has taken over
Pancrase. The SMASH wrestling shows were doing relatively well
in Tokyo (at Tokyo Dome City Hall & Korakuen Hall) but there
was a conflict between Tajiri and Sakai over the direction of
business. Tajiri wanted to continue the path he was on (as a
wrestling company) and Sakai didn’t (he wanted a mixture
of wrestling & MMA fights). The end result was the termination
of SMASH as a wrestling entity.
Which
leads us to Smash taking over Pancrase. There was a press conference
today where Mr. Sakai talked about the reconstruction of Pancrase.
Next year will be the 20th anniversary of Pancrase’s existence
and new ownership has a four-point plan of what they would like
to get in motion by next year:
Set
up an official Pancrase USA office.
Creative business relationships with top foreign MMA gyms.
Introduce the cage as a standard (as opposed to the ring). The
idea is to run three cage-only shows in 2013 to see what the
fan reaction is. Using the cage is controversial in Japan because
of the negative image that it presents in the eyes of TV networks
& sponsors.
Send fighters overseas for extended periods of time to train
and come back to Japan.
Expect Pancrase, given the past history of Mr. Sakai, to have
a relationship with DEEP (Shigeru Saeki) and other players on
the grassroots level.
For
an example of such cooperation, here’s a layout of the proposed
Japan MMA licensing system between the two entities. The weight
divisions proposed are: 93 kg/205 pounds, 83.9 kg (185 pounds),
77.1 kg (170 pounds), 70.3 kg (155 pounds), 65.8 kg (145 pounds),
61.5 kg (135 pounds), 57.5 kg (125 pounds), 54.4 kg (120 pounds).
There’s four different amateur classifications: A Class
Rule (head gear, glove, knee pad, leggers, Pancrase gate open
tournament/amateur DEEP), B Class Rule (glove, knee pad, leggers,
amateur Pancrase open tournament, one match pass), C Class Rule
(amateur open catch wrestling tournament/DEEP grappling), and
M Class Rule (amateur one-fight pass). Once you have your JML
license and do well, then you are given a professional license
by the two organizations.
Names
such as Ryo Kawamura, Yoshinori Umeki, and Yuji Shimada will
be involved.
Source:
Fight Opinion
|
UFC
on FX 3: By the Odds
By Ben
Fowlkes - Senior Writer
The
weekend must be nearly upon us, because it’s time again
for another UFC event on cable TV. They sort of sneak up on you,
don’t they? The good news is, if you know how to pick him
you can take the money you’re saving on pay-per-views and
turn it into more money...which you will probably end up spending
on more pay-per-views. It’s a vicious cycle, but at least
it’s a fun one.
So
how are the odds shaping up for Friday night’s UFC on FX
3 fight card? Check them out below, along with some (sort of)
helpful analysis.
Demetrious
Johnson (-140) vs. Ian McCall (+130)
Here
we go again. After the Australian commission torpedoed the UFC’s
best-laid plans the last time out, Johnson and McCall will now,
as the philosopher Don Frye says, ‘Do it again, brother.’
But now that we’ve already seen three rounds of action between
these two, what do we know about how the rematch is likely to
go down? For starters, we know it will probably be a fun, fast-paced
affair. We also know it probably won’t end inside the distance.
In fact, oddsmakers are offering a prop bet with -380 odds that
this one will be decided by the judges. Think they’re wrong?
You can get a nearly 3-1 return on your money by betting on a
finish. In a fight like this, a lot could depend on who’s
stronger in the later rounds. Last time it was McCall. Johnson
says he’s fixed those problems with a better diet this time
around, but we (and, I would argue, Johnson himself) won’t
know for sure until we get there. For my money, McCall has the
fire and the cardio to win the end of the fight. He also has
the memory of what it felt like to hear the other guy’s
name announced as the winner (albeit mistakenly) to motivate
him right out of the gates.
My pick: McCall. If anyone has a decent chance to finish this
fight, it’s him. As a slight underdog, he’s worth small
action.
Erick
Silva (-175) vs. Charlie Brenneman (+165)
Just
thinking about the dubious disqualification that handed Silva
a loss in his last bout still gets me upset. He was owning Carlo
Prater in that fight, and we all know it. If anything, he owned
him too thoroughly, and in so doing accidentally owned him on
the back of the head ever so slightly. Still, the ownage came
through loud and clear, which explains why he’s a favorite
over Brenneman. What you have to wonder, however, is whether
the Brazilian has the wrestling chops to avoid becoming ground-and-pound
fodder here. Since this is his first fight outside of Brazil,
it’s hard to know for sure. If you come up through the Jungle
Fights ranks, you simply don’t see the quality or quantity
of takedown attempts as you will in the UFC, where there are
many more guys who spent their formative years in wrestling singlets.
Silva has looked like a beast in recent fights, and you can’t
say he’s not a finisher. You also can’t say for sure
that he won’t have to fight off his back at some point in
this bout.
My pick: Silva, though not by much. If you can get Brenneman
at close to or above 2-1 odds, he’s worth the risk.
Mike
Pyle (-200) vs. Josh Neer (+160)
Tell
me one thing that Neer consistently does better than Pyle. G’head.
Do it. I’ll just be here preemptively shaking my head. If
you tell me you think Neer has better striking, I’ll tell
you: only when he can turn the fight into a brawl without having
to worry about being taken down, which is not the case here.
If you tell me you think he has a better ground game, I’ll
tell you that you may have lost your damn mind. If you tell me
that he is just generally scrappier and meaner, I’ll tell
you to go ask the guys down at Xtreme Couture about Pyle’s
mean streak. They will tell you some awesome stories, then threaten
to do Pyle-esque things to you if you repeat those stories. My
point is, Pyle is just an all-around better fighter than Neer,
who has gotten by on toughness and opportunism for much longer
than I would have expected. Neer finds ways to win, that much
is true. But Pyle already has so many advantages in this match-up
that all he has to do is not give it away.
My pick: Pyle. At these odds, Brenneman is a better underdog
pick than Neer.
Eddie
Wineland (+180) vs. Scott Jorgensen (-220)
Wineland’s
coming off two straight losses, but they were losses against
a couple of the best fighters south of featherweight in Urijah
Faber and Joe Benavidez. Still, those defeats signal some weaknesses
that Jorgensen is very capable of exploiting. Jorgensen is at
his best when he can swarm opponents early and use his wrestling
to keep them playing defense. Wineland’s a good enough athlete
and an experienced enough fighter to slow that process down,
but can he stop it entirely?
My pick: Jorgensen. I expect Wineland to make a fight of it,
but it’s hard for me to envision him winning.
Quick
picks:
-
Leonard Garcia (-155) over Matt Grice (+135). Garcia has fallen
on hard times against a couple solid opponents, but he’s
still got the style and experience to win this one.
-
Sean Pierson (+140) over Jake Hecht (-160). Losses to Dong Hyun
Kim and Jake Ellenberger are nothing to be ashamed of, but Pierson
needs this one and he knows it.
Crazy
Internet Prop Bet That Could Make You Rich: McCall wins in round
three (+2775). Think about how close it came to happening last
time, then think about a return of $2,775 on a $100 investment.
I'll take my ten percent cut of your winnings up front, thank
you very much.
For
Entertainment Purposes Only Parlay: McCall + Pyle + Jorgensen
+ Garcia.
Source:
MMA Fighting
|
UFC
151 Fight Card Reportedly Draws Dennis Siver vs. Eddie Yagin
The UFC 151 fight card featuring a headlining bout between UFC
light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and challenger Dan Henderson
has started to grow some legs.
The latest bout added to the Sept. 1 event in Las Vegas is a
featherweight match-up pitting Dennis Siver against Eddie Yagin.
The bout was first reported by Swedish MMA site mmanytt.se.
Siver (20-8) is coming off a successful featherweight debut in
the Octagon, having won a unanimous decision over Diego Nunes
at UFC on Fuel TV 2 in Sweden.
Siver had been edging towards a lightweight title shot until
losing via submission to Donald Cerrone, a loss that helped prompt
the move to 145 pounds.
The fight with Siver will be Yagin’s (16-5-1) third start
in the UFC. He lost a decision in his Octagon debut to Junior
Assuncao last year in Denver, but bounced back with a split decision
victory over former featherweight title contender Mark Hominick
at UFC 145 in Atlanta.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
TUF
Brazil: where did Sergio go wrong in Jiu-Jitsu against Daniel
Sarafian?
This
Sunday of the Jiu-Jitsu World Championship, the latest episode
of the “TUF Brazil” reality show closed out the week
for channel Globo. On the episode, Daniel Sarafian, of Vitor
Belfort’s green team, and Sergio Moraes, of Wanderlei Silva’s
blues, waged war for the last berth in the middleweight final.
And
it was a heated affair, for the one who lost. Sarafian controlled
the action standing from the outset, landing solid strikes, while
the 2011 medium heavyweight world champion of Jiu-Jitsu tried
to take the action to the ground. With a well-timed shot, Sergio
managed the takedown, but Sarafian remained seated and edged
his way back to his feet.
With
crisp striking, Sarafian got what he was looking for, setting
up a front kick that left Sergio groggy. It was just a question
of time, and Sarafian landed a sightly flying knee that robbed
the Jiu-Jitsu fighter of his consciousness.
“I
was really tense. I knew how dangerous Sergio is. He’s a
great Jiu-Jitsu athlete. I’m really happy and relieved,”
said Sarafian, who drew heaps of praise from UFC president Dana
White.
But
what did the Jiu-Jitsu specialist do wrong in the fight, if anything?
To
black belt Crézio de Souza, an experienced MMA fighter,
the strategy was Moraes’s downfall. “He was predictable
in shooting for takedown. The way I see it he should have held
back and tried getting the takedown when his opponent came in
to punch. When he took that knee he was already too out of it
from the other strikes,” said the Carlson Gracie student.
“I
put my money on boxing combined with Jiu-Jitsu. I would have
used boxing to close the distance and get hold of him. And once
on the ground, I’d never let him get up; you have to do
a lot of training applying pressure from the top,” said
the veteran, who has even gone toe to toe with the likes of Dan
Henderson, among others.
Source:
Gracie Magazine
|
Lyoto
Machida talks about Ryan Bader
Story by Eduardo Ferreira, directly from California
Lyoto
Machida is in Los Angeles, California, training hard for his
bout against Ryan Bader, slated for UFC’s edition of August
4th. On an exclusive interview with TATAME, the former champion
analyzed the bout, talked about training on the United States
and, among other subjects, about the possibility of being a coach
at a Brazilian edition of TUF, against countryman Mauricio “Shogun”
Rua, besides commenting on Anderson Silva-Chael Sonnen and Jon
Jones-Dan Henderson fights.
Since
when you’re here? Are you staying here until your fight?
Well,
I came to stay here for a couple of months, but I’m really
liking the training here. It’s pretty intense, there’re
many guys helping me out here, like Rafael, Johnson, Werdum,
Babalu Sobral, so it’s been great for me. I might stay here
until my fight so I can be great when the day comes.
You’re
training your technique and not focusing on Bader yet, right?
Yeah.
We’re on basis trainings, like if I would fight anyone.
I’m correcting my Wrestling, improving ground game and also
my stand-up. It’s a basic camp for anyone I would fight.
I’m waiting for the right moment to intensify my focus training.
He’s
very tough, a TUF champion and a great wrestler. Are you focusing
on the takedowns? Are you going to try to keep him on the stand-up
game?
Of
course. I’ll try do it and I’ll be prepared for his
attacks. We’re fighting MMA, so I’m supposed to expect
him to punch me too. A combination is always possible and I’m
getting ready for it but of course I’ll try to block his
game the most I can and put my game into action.
You’re
coming from a loss to Jon Jones on a title fight and you’re
fighting a top 10 guy, who’s coming from a win. Where would
you be on the division in case you beat him up?
He’s
coming from a win over Quinton Jackson, so I believe a good win
and maybe one or two fights would put me on the line for the
title. But that’s not my plan. I’m focused on doing
a good fight. I’m training here on the United States, which
is a new thing for me. I believe that, in case I win, I’ll
be closer to the title.
Many
people criticized your trainings in Belem and you bringing people
over to help you. This time you don’t have to bring people
close to you because they are all here already. Roger, Werdum,
Ta Danado, Rafael dos Anjos, besides the American wrestlers are
here. Does it make a big difference?
Well,
I think so. I used to train and on the last 25 days I would call
the sparring guys who would mimic that fight for me and help
me. But not this time. This time I’m having them besides
me from the beginning and they put me on a bad situation every
time and they’re the bests at their divisions, like Rafael
dos Anjos, Werdum. It’s not that I’m undermining people
I’ve always trained with because it’s always worked
for me, but I guess going for new things is very important too,
especially when you’re on a position like I am in my career
and you’re going through what I’ve been going through.
I guess it’s a good thing for me.
You
don’t fight since November. Is it bad?
It’s
both a good and a bad thing. It’s good because we can rethink
and we can fix our mistakes better, try to improve, but we lack
fighting rhythm. When you fight every three months you’re
better conditioned. We try to compensate with training and my
recovery for this new bout. I guess it’s all important.
It’s not by chance it’s happening to me, that’s
how I try to see this. It’s best trying to understand it
and see it for what it is.
Jon
Jones is defeated Rashad and now he’s fighting Dan Henderson.
What are your thoughts about it?
I
guess from the moment you get in there, you have a chance. But,
if you stop to analyze their games, I guess Jon Jones is not
a good fight for Henderson because of his bigger height and reach
and Henderson’s style. I guess Jon Jones has more tools,
but it doesn’t make impossible for Henderson to win this
fight. He proved that because he’s beaten up many tough
opponents, many Brazilian fighters, has many titles, like Pride’s,
Strikeforce’s and is now fighting for UFC’s. he’s
a tough fighter and deserves to be respected, but I guess Jon
Jones is better than him technically.
It’s
possible you will be a coach at TUF Brazil 2 against Shogun Rua.
Who do you like it?
Of
course. It’s a great opportunity both for me and Shogun
in case it really happens. But now I’m not really thinking
about it because it’s not official. No one has approached
me to talk about it. It will bring the sport closer to people
because it’s broadcasted every Sunday and people watch it
and we’ll have a new rematch, a fight everyone wants to
see again. Who may win? We want to bring a great show to the
fans. It’s very professional. I have nothing personal against
him, we’re professional colleges but we’re here to
fight each other and see who’s better on that day.
Almost
every Brazilian athlete in the UFC has fought in Brazil. Do you
have this wish?
Absolutely.
I guess it’s a different vibe fighting in front of Brazilians.
I was there on the Brazilian’s editions and we could see
fans screaming, the crowd crazy about each fight. Despite you’re
on a bad place, people root for you all the time. Cane was on
a bad situation and people kept on cheering him up. It’s
beautiful and I guess everyone wants to go through it and I guess
it’s only a matter of time. I’m patience enough to
be a part of this. Fighting in Brazil is a consequence of my
work.
Anderson
is fighting Sonnen now is Las Vegas. What are your thoughts about
it?
It’s
hard to say because Sonnen dominated the first fight, despite
Anderson having been more technical and having defeated him with
his technique, but it’s hard to fight him. I have no doubts
that Anderson has the technical advantage, but it’s a matter
of how you are on that day, a matter of preparation, momentum.
Maybe Anderson wasn’t on his best day and I believe Anderson
will win. We all know it’s a tough fight, he can’t
play him out, but in case Anderson imposes his game on the beginning,
Sonnen won’t stand a chance.
Last
time you helped Anderson, but this time you didn’t.
Yeah.
Last time I was there and they shoot Anderson’s film and
I was with him at the time. This time, Anderson is training in
Brazil, where I guess he feels better and stronger, so it’s
best this way.
Good
luck for you on your fight.
Thank
you. I appreciate the opportunity. Thank you guys from TATAME.
Source:
Tatame
|
UFC
on FX 3 Predictions
By Luke
Thomas - Senior Editor
I
personally believe this card should be combined with the next
UFC on FX event. There's good talent at tomorrow's fights, but
enough to carry ratings on Friday night? Maybe. Combining tomorrow's
talent with next week's top fights, though, and then weeding
out the less important bouts would give fans a serious FX card
worth destination viewing. But I digress.
The
most important consideration heading into tomorrow's main event
is who Joseph Benavidez is going to fight for the inaugural UFC
flyweight title. I tend to think it won't matter as Benavidez
will beat whoever emerges from the victor, but it's nevertheless
a fight I'll want to see.
Who
will become the other top contender to the flyweight throne?
I try to answer that question and more with my predictions below.
What:
UFC on FX 3
Where:
BankAtlantic Center, Sunrise, Florida
When:
Friday, the eight-fight FUEL card starts at 6 p.m. ET and the
four-fight FX card starts at 9.
Predictions
on the four FX fights below.
Demetrious
Johnson vs. Ian McCall
Let's
just be clear about something: McCall arguably won the first
fight against Johnson. That's especially true as the fight went
late. The question we have to ask ourselves is that do we have
a compelling reason to think they'll be a different outcome?
Did or could something have happened in three months to make
us believe the outcome will be different this time? I have a
hard time seeing it. Johnson's striking is good, but it's hesitant
against better wrestlers. And that's exactly what McCall is.
When Johnson's striking fails him, he resorts to takedowns and
top control. But not only is McCall better in several dimensions
of the wrestling game - takedowns, counters, etc - he's better
as a submission grappler maintaining top control. Short of a
fairly drastic change in game plan or some unknown injury changing
how these two fight, I expect a repeat performance.
Pick:
McCall
Erick
Silva vs. Charlie Brenneman
A
Silva win here would be a rather significant statement. It's
not that Brenneman is a top tier welterweight, but he does posses
the kind of indefatigable, smothering wrestling style that's
difficult to contend with. Should an explosive striker with finishing
instincts demonstrate the wherewithal to thwart what should be
takedown attempt after takedown attempt from 'The Spaniard',
we'll have ourselves someone to watch. Until that happens, though,
I have to side with the known commodity.
Pick:
Brenneman
Josh
Neer vs. Mike Pyle
This
is a fight Pyle should not lose if he fights making smart, prudent
decisions. He has the boxing skill to work from the outside and
the takedowns and top control to keep Neer from doing a whole
heck of a lot. Neer, though, can sucker better fighters into
forgetting or neglecting their fight IQ. Pyle can and should
win this fight, but the only way to do that is to have a clear
game plan in mind and not let Neer's forward movement, clinch
striking and taunts to derail him.
Pick:
Pyle
Eddie
Wineland vs. Scott Jorgensen
It's
hard to believe someone as talented as Wineland is facing three
consecutive losses under the Zuffa banner, but it's true. And
unfortunately, I think it's the fate he's going to suffer. Wineland
is defensively hard to score against, but doesn't easily transition
from offense to defense or vice versa. Jorgensen is just a bit
more adept at it and that'll make the difference. Wineland is
hard to hurt and hard to score on, but in a game with Jorgensen
where being able to scramble, strike, cover up, stop a takedown,
execute a single leg, clinch, clinch break all quickly, effectively
and fluidly, he won't be able to keep up as the rounds pass by.
Pick:
Jorgensen
Source:
MMA Fighting
|
Report:
Nick Ring Helps Save Calgary Couple from Attack Ahead of UFC
149
By Mike
Whitman
UFC
middleweight Nick Ring helped rescue two people from an attack
on Wednesday night in Calgary, Alberta, according to a report
from the Vancouver Sun.
Ring,
33, reportedly exited a Starbucks last night to find a young
man and woman being beaten by a group of approximately 10 attackers,
who were allegedly attempting to steal the woman's backpack.
"This
one girl had another girl by her hair and was kneeing her in
the face while her boyfriend was trying to protect the poor girl,”
Ring told the Vancouver Sun. “It was right out of a movie;
they were holding him back and beating him up as well. It was
a really horrible thing to see."
Though
he is currently in training for his UFC 149 appearance against
Court McGee on July 21, Ring reportedly intervened by approaching
the attackers, causing them to flee the scene. Ring and another
bystander first checked on the couple and then pursued the assailants
while Ring called the police on his cell phone. According to
the report, the pair managed to catch one assailant and police
apprehended five or six more. Neither victim suffered life-threatening
injuries, though both were reportedly bleeding after the attack,
and one was taken to a clinic to be treated for “minor trauma.”
"I
did not like what I saw, and I wasn't going to stand around and
watch that happen," Ring said. "It was completely wrong.
I'm not going to let anything like that happen if I've got anything
to say about it. Not a chance.
"[My
MMA background] puts me in the position that I have the ability
to help others when they need it. I was glad to be able to put
my skills to use to help these people out," Ring continued.
"I think that would be a scary position to be in if you're
witnessing that and feeling powerless. With all my training,
I think I'm in a unique position to be able to handle myself
against these kind of cowards."
Ring
won 10 fights to kick off his professional career before joining
the cast of “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 11, defeating
McGee in the competition's round of 16 prior to suffering a season-ending
knee injury. Following his time on the show, Ring made his official
UFC debut against Riki Fukuda last year, outpointing the former
Deep champion at UFC 127. The Calgary resident also emerged victorious
in his sophomore Octagon effort, submitting James Head with a
rear-naked choke this past June before being handed his first
pro defeat by Tim Boetsch at September's UFC 135.
Source
Sherdog
|
Michael
McDonald Signs New Four-Fight UFC Deal
by Damon
Martin
How
do you guarantee your job in the UFC? Winning fights.
How do you get new four-fight deals from the UFC? How about going
undefeated through your first four fights with the promotion
and knocking out a former champion in your last trip to the Octagon?
That seems to be the trick for bantamweight contender Michael
McDonald, who has signed a new four-fight deal with the UFC.
Sources close to the fighter’s camp confirmed the deal with
MMAWeekly.com on Tuesday.
At only 21-years of age, Michael McDonald is the definition of
a young phenom. Storming through his last several fights, McDonald
is poised for a big jump in the UFC’s 135-pound weight class
in 2012.
In his last bout, McDonald floored former WEC bantamweight champion
Miguel Torres with a vicious first round knockout, marking his
fourth win in as many tries in the UFC.
Now with a new deal in place, McDonald can start looking ahead
at his next fight later this year. The young Californian was
in the running for a UFC interim bantamweight title fight against
Urijah Faber at UFC 148, but a hand injury suffered in training
took him out of contention.
Still, if McDonald can win his next fight it would seem a title
shot won’t be far away no matter who the champion is at
that time.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
On
Kenny Florian, Greatness, and the Varying Definitions of Success
in MMA
Jun
3, 2012 - Kenny Florian’s MMA career started in a nightclub
in Taunton, Mass., in 2002 and ended ten years later, after 12
wins in the UFC and several failed title bids. He never won the
big one, never became a champion, though he did come close to
starving himself in the pursuit of a belt there at the end. Either
the pressure was too much or he just couldn’t get it done
against the best in any division. Depends who you ask.
But
now that he’s called it quits (or says he has, which is
the best you can ask for in a sport riddled with short-lived
retirements), what are we supposed to make of Florian’s
decade-long career across four different weight classes? Was
he a great fighter? Was he just pretty good, or very good, or
not quite good enough when it mattered most? Does it even matter?
Thinking
about these questions, I keep coming back to the conversation
I had with Drew Fickett about the ups and downs of his own crazy
career. When I asked about his split decision win over Florian
in 2004, Fickett said he wished he’d gotten a chance to
fight Florian later on, "when [Florian] was better and had
some experience." The difference between the fighter Florian
was and the fighter he would become was so vast, Fickett explained,
that it was almost as if he had transformed himself into a brand
new person.
The
fight with Florian was Fickett’s 25th MMA bout. It was Florian’s
fourth. Fickett got his hand raised at the end, but Florian got
the spot on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter. Fickett
would become known as the fighter with so much talent and so
little self-control. Florian would become the guy who squeezed
every last ounce of success out of what talent he did have.
That
was the perception, at least. Though Florian was obviously a
gifted athlete, never did he seem to be coasting on natural ability
alone. He never showed up for a fight in poor condition, never
seemed unprepared. He made the most of what he had to work with,
and it brought him right to the brink of more than one world
title but never all the way to the top.
Contrast
that with Fickett, whose career is often held up as a sort of
cautionary tale about squandered potential. Contrast it even
with the career of B.J. Penn, who was brilliant when he was motivated
and interested, and merely very good when he wasn’t.
With
Florian, there was never any doubt about whether he had trained
hard, whether he really wanted it. Inside the cage, you could
depend on Florian to be a driven professional at all times. Outside
of it, he was the kind of ambassador for the sport that we were
all glad to have when MMA detractors painted fighters as brain-dead
thugs trading steroid-infused groin kicks. Florian -- the bilingual
Boston College soccer player who’d dedicated his life to
the martial arts after a near-death experience in Brazil -- was
the guy you could point to and ask, ‘Does he look like some
glorified bar bouncer to you?’
All
that makes Florian a likable and sympathetic character, but does
it make him a great fighter? Can we look back on his career and
call it a success? He made some money, had some big wins, and
set himself up for a promising future in broadcasting. He’s
so far from the stereotype of the broke and broken down ex-fighter
that he almost makes professional cagefighting seem like a sound
career choice.
He's
also one of the very few people in this business about whom no
one seems to have anything bad to say. No salacious gossip about
his personal life. No whispered accusations behind his back.
He competed at the highest level of his sport for years, made
himself into a household name among fight fans, and did it without
leaving a trail of envy and resentment in his wake. Surely, any
man who can lay claim to all that by his 36th birthday is doing
something right. He could never call himself the best in the
world, but so what? Didn’t he achieve a certain kind of
excellence, even if his career was more of a testament to the
power of will than pure athleticism?
But
that doesn’t seem to be how we do it in MMA. For better
or worse, we think of championship belts as the only metric that
matters. After all, how great can you be if there was never a
time when you could fairly call yourself the greatest? There’s
a certain logic in that, but it still seems a little dumb, or
maybe just depressing. Nobody aspires to be the Florian of their
division -- the guy who’s better than everyone but the very
best -- but you could still do a whole lot worse. When we look
back on the career of a fighter who always handled himself with
dignity and professionalism, who avoided so many of the cliched
pitfalls that snagged his contemporaries, how can we call him
anything other than a smashing success? How can we say that he
wasn't great at what he did?
Source: MMA Fighting
|
The
Doggy Bag: The Lemonade Edition
Everyone
answers to somebody, so we, the staff at Sherdog.com, have decided
to defer to our readers.
“The
Doggy Bag” gives you the opportunity to speak about what
is on your mind from time to time. Our reporters, columnists,
radio hosts and editors will chime in with their answers and
thoughts, so keep the emails coming.
In
this edition, readers are looking at some sticky situations for
prizefighters. In the very near future, some notable MMA faces
are going to have to make the best of bad situations. Who will
make the lemonade while the others cry on their citrus?
Martin
Kampmann’s winning streak and if he can shed his rep as
a gatekeeper. Daniel Cormier’s thrilling rise and how it
impacts his chances to challenge for the UFC title. Jon Jones’
DUI and what it means for his star power. Jason Miller’s
UFC flameout, retirement and what it means for the “Mayhem”
brand. Let’s not forget injury talk, either. These are the
issues that have marked the recent history of MMA, and the fallout
will shape crucial contours of the sport’s future.
MMA
is throwing out wrenches left, right and center. Which of these
fighters will be keen enough to grab one and build with it?
Kampmann’s
last three fights have seen him beat three very good welterweights,
and the last two wins came in thrilling fashion. Unfortunately,
I find myself so bored when Kampmann wins, even in thrilling
fashion, because I can’t see him as anything more than a
gatekeeper. How am I supposed to get excited for this guy against
Georges St. Pierre? I even think Carlos Condit smashes him in
a rematch. I just can’t get over that image, no matter how
much he wins. What’s wrong with me? -- Jake from Virginia
Jordan
Breen, administrative editor: This isn't a masturbation-in-a-Catholic-house
question. There's nothing “wrong” with you at all.
Rather, you've got one of the most common forms of cognitive
bias in prizefighting.
Your
situation isn’t unfamiliar. Why do people think Stefan Struve
is in intense, immediate peril any time he faces a heavyweight
who can punch, no matter how bad that opponent is on the ground?
Why do people still expect St. Pierre to go down in a heap any
time he gets punched? Why was Chael Sonnen known simply as a
“screamer” until he discovered that it was (or wasn’t)
low-T? People are powerfully impacted by the psycho-visual cues
they store away. If a fighter gets crushed unceremoniously in
a high-profile fight, it often takes willful effort to recalibrate
and correct how we think about this athlete.
With
Kampmann, you undoubtedly have an image of the Paul Daley fight
in your mind, maybe even Kampmann losing some close decisions.
However, no one since Nate Marquardt has really, beyond question,
ruined Kampmann’s day. He obviously beat Diego Sanchez,
but judges didn’t care. The bout with Jake Shields was nip-tuck,
super close. His loss to Daley featured Kampmann getting beaten,
for sure, but we’ve come to find out that’s his calling.
Based on what we know now, is it crazy to think Kampmann could’ve
held out and tapped Daley later if Yves Lavigne gave him a chance?
So,
the Dane could easily be on a 10-fight winning streak. He is
ostensibly going into a title eliminator with Johny Hendricks,
a fighter who he could excel against, especially over 25 minutes.
Kampmann is super tough, well-rounded and a sneaky finisher.
If you get lazy, one flurry of strikes can end it or one arm
under your neck creates a guillotine that makes all your hard
work for naught. Kampmann isn’t a Jon Jones-level offensive
fighter, but he’s a high-level fighter in, at worst, MMA’s
second-best division. If you screw up against this man, you will
pay the price.
I’m
not sure people will ever “believe” that Kampmann is
the guy to beat St. Pierre or to even replicate his win over
Condit. However, in five-rounders, Kampmann will always have
a chance, and he can strike and submit well enough to have some
flexibility.
I
still think Kampmann’s rep as “gatekeeper to the stars”
might be appropriate. However, at the very least, he’s done
enough, not just to get himself a fight away from a UFC title
bid but to earn enough psychological slack with MMA onlookers
that their reactions to his pursuits shouldn’t be “What?
Martin Kampmann? Are you serious?” If a day does come when
Kampmann becomes the first Danish UFC title challenger, the MMA
world should simply say, “Wow, what a testament to keeping
your nose to the grindstone and never submitting to the odds
and B.S. that comes with being a UFC fighter.”
And,
if you’re going to bet on him, always take the finish and
never the points.
I am worried about the future of Daniel Cormier. He looked great
against Josh Barnett, but he's already 33, won't be in the UFC
for another fight and he probably won't even fight Cain Velasquez.
If Cormier did the best he could -- as a coach to help Velasquez
and as a fighter to win his fights -- he ends up in a terrible
situation where he can't even fight for the title. What do you
think about Cormier's potential in the UFC? How will his training
with Velasquez change his UFC Career? -- Mark from Kansas City
Mike
Whitman, news editor: I feel you, Mark. I really do.
Go
ahead and throw out any number of cliched descriptors to paint
a picture of the type of fighter Cormier has become, and most
all of them will probably be accurate. Undefeated through 10
pro outings, the American Kickboxing Academy standout has looked
especially impressive in his last two bouts, knocking out Antonio
Silva in September before outpointing Barnett to win the Strikeforce
heavyweight grand prix on May 19.
Really,
if any of you aren’t high on Cormier by this point, I don’t
even know what to tell you. I yelled at the top of my lungs to
an empty house when Cormier hoisted Barnett high into the air
with that high-crotch, not because I was rooting for Cormier
or against Barnett but because of how damned impressive that
move was.
Seriously,
who does that type of thing to Barnett?
At
this point, Cormier’s three worst enemies are his apparently
fragile right hand, his age and his relationship with teammate
Velasquez, though that last one also certainly comes with its
benefits. Iron sharpens iron, and all that.
I
am unsure where Cormier’s career will go from here. It’s
unclear whom he will face in his final Strikeforce fight, though
if he fights a meaningful opponent -- someone like, say, Shane
Carwin -- his efforts will not be in vain. A great performance
against a Top 10 UFC talent could propel Cormier toward some
truly intriguing matchups in the Octagon next year.
I
really don’t know if Cormier would fight Velasquez over
the UFC title if push came to shove, but I do know there are
plenty of other potentially entertaining matchups for the two-time
Olympian in the UFC. Title or not, there is no way I would miss
Cormier squaring off with Junior dos Santos, Frank Mir, Alistair
Overeem or Fabricio Werdum.
Will
it be a bummer if Velasquez wins the title and Cormier never
gets his shot? Sure. But let’s cross that bridge when we
come to it. For now, we should just enjoy Cormier’s abundance
of talent and hope his hand holds together after surgery.
Source: Sherdog
|
Happy
in Retirement, Randy Couture Can’t Think of a Reason for
a UFC Return
Randy
Couture at UFC 52Retirement isn’t something any high level
athlete or competitor ever looks forward to.
Just
ask former Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings quarterback
Brett Favre about that one because he’s retired and un-retired
numerous times over the last several years.
But
sometimes when the decision is just right, it sticks.
That’s
the case for UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture, who officially
walked away from active competition in MMA following a loss to
Lyoto Machida at UFC 129 in April 2011.
A
legend of the sport, Couture ended his career with a 19-11 record,
but it’s not his overall wins and losses that made the former
Olympic hopeful such an icon in MMA history. Couture seemed to
make the impossible, possible, and he did it on more than one
occasion.
But
at 48 years of age and a budding movie career still humming along,
including an extended role in the upcoming Sylvester Stallone
action sequel The Expendables 2, Couture is happy in retirement
and doesn’t see anything changing his mind.
“I
can’t think of (a reason to return). I am pretty happy and
comfortable with the decision I made. I am enjoying perusing
the acting roles I am getting,” Couture told UFC Tonight
on Fuel TV recently.
The
former UFC champion has been extremely busy since closing the
doors on his fight career. He released a book in 2011 and spent
time in Hungary while filming the Expendables 2.
Couture
has also filmed another movie called Hijacked alongside actors
Dominic Purcell and Vinnie Jones.
It
seems like Couture is settling into his fight retirement, but
obviously not slowing down in other endeavors. He also spends
time when he can overseeing the activities at his Las Vegas gym
Xtreme Couture.
While
the legendary fighter isn’t as hands on as he once was simply
due to time constraints, Couture still keeps a watchful eye on
the team and their activities.
When
looking over the always growing roster of fighters, Couture sees
the talent that continues to shine out of the gym with his namesake,
and is excited about the future of Xtreme Couture.
“I
have an amazing crew of guys there. The guy who is most impressive
right now is Martin Kampmann,” said Couture. “This
is probably the most impressive group of guys I’ve been
training with in the past couple of years. We have a huge crew
of guys. Any given night, any one of those guys could do well.”
Couture
has also taken an active role of late as an analyst during some
of the UFC’s programming on the Fox family of networks as
well. So even if Couture never fights again, he’ll still
be an omnipresent fixture around the sport and his contributions
will never really slow down.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Barboza
says he wasn't out against Varner, but agrees with the stoppage
Edson
Barboza Junior entered the octagon last Saturday, at UFC 146,
as one of the best undefeated fighters in the UFC. Until then,
the Brazilian had ten bouts on his professional record, four
on the octagon. However, against Jamie Varner, he suffered his
first loss.
“I
couldn’t fight, I didn’t o what my coach told me to.
I froze. It happens to any fighter. Even because I had never
been that prepared for a fight like I was this time. I had an
amazing training camp, my cardio was great and I really was 100
percent. But I got stuck”, said the lightweight on an interview
with TATAME.
The
Nova Friburgo fighter was beaten up on the first round after
a good sequence of punches landed by the American. When reminded
of the bout, Edson guarantees he will learn many things from
his first loss.
“I’m
learning many things, I’ll analyze it and correct my flaws.
Next fight you’ll see a much more experienced Edson and
also more prepared”, guarantees.
With
amazing knockout and clear wins, Edson Junior was one of Brazilian’s
top contenders on the division. Questioned about it, Barboza
claimed he didn’t feel any pressure.
“I
was not under pressure, on the contraire; I felt people were
rooting for me. I guess it’s part of being a fan”.
Before
fighting Jamie Varner, the lightweight would confront Evan Dunham.
However, his opponent has been replaced at the last minute, but
Edson says it didn’t change much.
“No,
absolutely not. As I always say, I’m prepared to fight anyone,
so I guess that was not the problem. I always get there focused
on my game”.
After
his loss, Edson Junior complained with the referee for believing
he made an early call. But, later, after analyzing the tapes,
the tough guy admitted the referee made the right call.
“As
a fighter yes, even because I wasn’t out, I was seeing things
clearly. But, after, when I watched the tape as a fan, I thought
he made the right thing even because I wasn’t moving nor
defending myself. I was aware but I wasn’t defending myself”.
Despite
the unexpected loss, the lightweight guarantees he’s not
laying his hands down and still dreams about becoming a UFC champ.
According to Barboza, the loss made him open his eyes about some
aspects that can be improved.
“I
wanna be the best in my division and I know I can. Back in the
days I didn’t say it, but now I wanna be a UFC champion.
I guess this defeat opened my eyes and now I’m going to
work hard and harder to become the champion”.
Source: Tatame
|
Ultimate
Fighter Live Bonuses: Justin Lawrence Seizes Knockout and Fight
of the Night
Zuffa LLC via Getty
Jun
2, 2012 - Justin Lawrence may have fallen short in the TUF Live
semi-finals, but he walked out the big winner at Friday's The
Ultimate Fighter Live Finale.
Lawrence,
the No. 1 draft pick of the season, took home two $40,000 bonuses,
earning both ‘Knockout of the Night' and ‘Fight of
the Night' for his three-round war with John Cofer. The pair
were locked in a highly-competitive back-and-forth brawl, until
a jarring head kick from Lawrence shut the lights off his opponent
19 seconds into the final frame.
"I'm
here in the UFC, and I'm here to stay," Lawrence gushed
afterward.
Elsewhere,
upstart welterweight contender Martin Kampmann rallied back from
the brink yet again, surviving early trouble to knockout Jake
Ellenberger midway through the second round of the night's main
event. Kampmann was awarded a ‘Knockout of the Night' bonus
for his work, and has now earned three post-fight bonuses in
his last four appearances.
"I
need to get punched a little bit to wake me up," Kampmann
joked. "I saw the opportunity to finish, and I did."
Finally,
Michael Chiesa's roller-coaster season ended on a high note,
as the perpetual underdog secured an early rear-naked choke to
render his former teammate Al Iaquinta unconscious in the TUF
Live finals. With the win, the 24-year-old Chiesa was awarded
a UFC contract, a Harley-Davidson, a TapouT endorsement deal,
and an extra $40,000 for ‘Submission of the Night.'
"This
is exactly what I wanted. This has been such a journey,"
he said during an emotional post-fight interview. "There
was no way I was losing this fight."
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Matches
to Make After ‘TUF 15’ Finale
Not
many men survive an encounter with a Jake Ellenberger left hook.
Not many men take a punch like Martin Kampmann.
Kampmann
roared back from the brink to stop “The Juggernaut”
on a second-round knee strike in “The Ultimate Fighter 15”
Finale headliner on Friday at the Palms Casino Resort in Las
Vegas. The 30-year-old Dane looked to be within seconds of being
finished inside the first minute, when Ellenberger leveled him
with a ferocious left hook. Kampmann somehow regained his senses
on the ground, and by the time the first round neared its conclusion,
the Dane had threatened with a guillotine choke and returned
to his feet.
Ellenberger
bloodied the Xtreme Couture Mixed Martial Arts export early in
round two, opening cuts on his nose and above his left eye. Even
so, Kampmann marched onward. He clipped and staggered Ellenberger
with a short right hook to the temple and used the opening to
initiate the clinch from which he fired the fight-ending knee.
This
dramatic victory likely sets up Kampmann for a high-stakes showdown
with the surging Johny Hendricks to establish the next No. 1
contender for the welterweight crown. Hendricks stands as a formidable
hurdle. A four-time NCAA All-American and two-time national wrestling
champion at Oklahoma State University, he has flashed brutal
knockout power in compiling an 8-1 mark in the UFC.
Kampmann
embraced the idea.
“I
like Johny. I used to train with Johny,” he said. “I
think me and him could make a hell of a scrap.”
In
wake of “The Ultimate Fighter 15” Finale, here are
five other matches that need to be made:
Jake
Ellenberger vs. Josh Koscheck: If Ellenberger wants to progress
to the truly elite levels of the welterweight division, he will
need to address his ongoing issues with conditioning. He nearly
finished Kampmann in the first round and battered him early in
the second, only to grind to a standstill in the center of the
cage, all while taking a series of deep breaths. His punching
power will give him a chance against virtually any 170-pound
fighter on the planet, but the possibility now seems very real
that he will never develop the gas tank he needs to advance further.
Judging by his post-fight reaction, Ellenberger will want get
back on the horse with another top-flight opponent. Koscheck,
anyone?
Iaquinta
was choked out.
Mike
Chiesa vs. Reza Madadi: The likability factor for Chiesa is off
the charts, and his skills are nothing to scoff at, either. The
24-year-old became the latest in a long line of prospective mixed
martial artists to win “The Ultimate Fighter” competition,
and he did so in emphatic fashion. Chiesa stood firm in the face
of heavy fire, took down Al Iaquinta and rendered him unconscious
with a rear-naked choke 2:47 into round one. He now owns a perfect
8-0 mark as a professional, having finished his last five foes
inside the first round. That trend says Chiesa is ready for a
step up in competition. Madadi, a winner of seven straight, would
certainly fit the bill.
Al
Iaquinta vs. Ramsey Nijem-C.J. Keith loser: Iaquinta was the
victim of circumstance and an opponent who would not be denied.
The stars just seemed to line up for Chiesa. On the radar of
MMA hardcores for quite some time, Iaquinta figures to be eased
into the UFC rotation at 155 pounds. That could benefit the 25-year-old
Serra-Longo Fight Team representative in the long run, affording
him time to develop the skills that made him a finalist. Nijem,
who reached the Season 13 final, will face the unbeaten C.J.
Keith at UFC on FX 4 in three weeks. The man who falls short
in that 155-pound tilt would line up perfectly for Iaquinta sometime
this fall.
Charles
Oliveira vs. Dennis Siver: Oliveira was superb in dispatching
the durable Jonathan Brookins, as he submitted “The Ultimate
Fighter” Season 12 winner with a beautiful figure-four guillotine
choke in the second round. The 22-year-old Houston-based Brazilian
has surfaced as one of the UFC’s most promising young featherweights
and could be on the cusp of superstardom. Perhaps the time has
come to pair Oliveira with a Top 10-ranked foe at 145 pounds.
Siver, a brute of a featherweight, took a unanimous decision
from Diego Nunes in April and would provide a stern test for
the upstart.
Justin
Lawrence vs. Daron Cruickshank: Two of the more intriguing talents
on Season 15 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” Lawrence and
Cruickshank emerged from their promotional debuts with victories.
Lawrence wiped out Hardcore Gym’s John Cofer with a third-round
head kick and banked a pair of $40,000 bonuses for “Knockout
of the Night” and “Fight of the Night.” Still
rough around the edges, Lawrence wields a potent standup game
and could ultimately prove to be the best long-term prospect
from this season. Cruickshank weathered his meeting with Chris
Tickle’s right hand and captured a unanimous decision. A
matchup with Lawrence would promise the kind of fireworks the
buying public craves.
Source: Sherdog
|
Welterweight
Rankings: Martin Kampmann's Persistence Pays Off
Jun
3, 2012 - There are fighters you know are destined for greatness
the first time you see them in the Octagon, like Jon Jones and
Georges St. Pierre. There are others whose notoriety leapfrogs
them into featured positions, a category that includes fighters
as diverse as Brock Lesnar and Kimbo Slice.
Then
there are those like Martin Kampmann who make up the heart of
mixed martial arts. They're neither pegged for superstardom not
rushed into the limelight. They simply start out, figure out
how to improve upon their weaknesses, fight everyone they're
asked to fight, and get better every time out. With enough time,
patience, a break here or there, and a whole hell of a lot of
hard work, eventually they climb the ladder and get their moment
to shine.
The
30-year-old Denmark native has been plugging away in the Octagon
since debuting as a middleweight at Ultimate Fight Night 6 in
the summer of 2006. He's had little help in terms of favorable
matchups or any sort of promotional push.
He
dropped to welterweight in 2009 and has watched as one contender
after another to Georges St. Pierre's throne has risen and fallen.
Kampmann handed current interim champion Carlos Condit the only
loss of his 11-fight UFC/WEC tenure. Kampmann is 5-2 in his past
seven fights, and his only two losses in that span were a split
decision to Jake Shields and a unanimous decision to Diego Sanchez,
both of which were fights many felt Kampmann won.
And
you can add to that record something that doesn't show up in
a fight finder: heart. In the span of three months, Kampmann
has put together two of the strongest contenders for 2012‘s
comeback win of the year. In March there was his win over Thiago
Alves, in which he was on his way to a 30-27, across-the-board
loss before finding a way to submit Alves in the fight's final
minutes. Then there was Friday's thing of beauty against Jake
Ellenberger, in which he survived a brutal early assault and
rallied for a knockout win.
Kampmann
still hasn't reached the top of the mountain. But simply getting
to this point, in turning himself from just another name on the
card to one of the game's most respected welterweights, is worthy
of admiration in and of itself. And given that the Xtreme Couture
fighter has come this far, are you really going to question whether
he can climb even higher?
(Official
MMAFighting.com ranking policy: Fighters who are under commission
suspensions are ineligible to be ranked during the duration of
their penalty. At welterweight, this currently affects Nick Diaz,
who is suspended by the Nevada Athletic Commission until next
February).
1.
Georges St. Pierre The champ is still rehabbing his torn ACL.
2.
Carlos Condit Condit is waiting for St. Pierre, which sort of
defeats the purpose of crowning an interim champion.
3.
Johny Hendricks A Hendricks-Kampmann title eliminator sounds
like a fighter to savor.
4.
Martin Kampmann Did I mention a Hendricks-Kampmann title eliminator
sounds kind of awesome?
5.
Jake Ellenberger The sooner Ellenberger stops complaining about
the Kampmann stoppage and gets back to working on his vast potential,
the better.
6.
Josh Koscheck Has to decide whether he wants to make another
run toward the top of the division, or if he's content at this
stage of his career to pick his spots and maximize his paychecks.
7.
Jon Fitch Coming off a draw with B.J. Penn and a flash knockout
loss to Hendricks, he'll now miss his UFC on FUEL 4 fight with
a knee injury.
8.
Jake Shields We're keeping him ranked at 170 pounds until he
actually fights again at middleweight, which happens in August.
9.
Rory MacDonald Canadian youngster is one big-name win away from
a leap in the standings.
10.
Ben Askren The Bellator champ's style might not be the most thrilling,
but it sure is effective.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Martin
Kampmann Scores Dramatic Finish on Jake Ellenberger at ‘The
Ultimate Fighter 15’ Finale
Martin Kampmann fought back from the brink yet again.
Floored
by a vicious left hook inside the first minute of a spirited
encounter, Kampmann recovered and responded with a rousing second-round
technical knockout of Jake Ellenberger in “The Ultimate
Fighter 15” Finale headliner on Friday at the Palms Casino
Resort in Las Vegas.
Brought
down by a smashing knee from the clinch, Ellenberger (27-6, 6-2
UFC) folded 1:40 into round two. Kampmann (20-5, 11-4 UFC) has
won three fights in a row, the last two in stirring comeback
fashion.
The
30-year-old Dane’s outing did not start well. Ellenberger
swarmed with punches and delivered a clean, crippling left hook
to the jaw that dropped Kampmann where he stood. He somehow recovered
on the ground, tied up the man they call “The Juggernaut”
and eventually worked into position for a guillotine. It was
an opportunity missed for Ellenberger.
“They
forgot to smack me enough in the back,” Kampmann said. “I
usually have to get punched a little bit to wake up. He caught
me with a big [shot] that kind of dazed me.”
Ellenberger
bloodied the Xtreme Couture Mixed Martial Arts representative
with another barrage in the second round, but his pace slowed
noticeably from that point forward. Kampmann staggered him with
a short right hook to the temple, clinched and scored the fight-ending
knee.
“I
saw the opportunity to finish,” said Kampmann, “and
I just wanted to get him.”
The
defeat was Ellenberger’s first since September 2009. The
27-year-old Nebraskan had never before been knocked out.
“I
knew Martin was going to be a tough fight coming in,” Ellenberger
said, moments after his six-fight winning streak was snapped.
“He caught me, and he had a better night. It’s not
up to me. It’s up to the ref [to stop the fight]. He had
a better night. What can you do?”
Chiesa
Chokes Iaquinta, Wins ‘TUF 15’
Mike
Chiesa rendered Serra-Longo Fight Team member Al Iaquinta unconscious
with a first-round rear-naked choke to win Season 15 of “The
Ultimate Fighter” in the co-main event. Iaquinta (5-2-1,
0-1 UFC) refused to submit and instead went limp 2:47 into round
one.
Iaquinta
had his undefeated foe on the run with power punches, but strayed
too close and left himself vulnerable. Chiesa (8-0, 1-0 UFC)
-- whose father died during the 13-week season of the FX network
reality series -- snatched a body lock, tripped Iaquinta to the
mat from behind and secured his position with hooks. He then
calmly fished for the choke until he had it in place.
“This
is exactly what I wanted,” Chiesa said. “This is been
such a journey, and there is no way I was going to sell myself
short by losing tonight. I wasn’t going to make it an option.
Hats off to Al, man. He’s an animal, and he was in my head
all season. I overcame a lot of things to win this fight. I want
to thank all the fans, because it is truly a blessing to have
people behind me.”
Oliveira
Guillotine Submits Brookins
Charles
Oliveira File Photo
"Do
Bronx" schooled Brookins.
Highly touted Brazilian prospect Charles Oliveira became the
first man to submit Jonathan Brookins, as he coaxed a tapout
from “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 12 winner with a
second-round guillotine choke. Oliveira (16-2-1, 4-2, 1 NC, UFC)
brought the featherweight showcase to a close 2:42 into round
two.
Leg
kicks, right hands and occasional knees were Oliveira’s
weapons of choice, but Brookins answered with a series of short
punches in close quarters, one of which bloodied the Houston-based
Brazilian’s nose. In the second round, Oliveira struck for
a takedown, unleashed some short elbows from top position and
cinched the fight-ending guillotine when Brookins left his neck
exposed while moving to a seated position.
“This
is my house. I love it here,” the 22-year-old Oliveira said
through a translator. “[Featherweight] is my division. I’m
going to go step-by-step to get my belt.”
Holloway,
20, Outclasses Schilling
A
savage body attack and near-flawless takedown defense carried
Max Holloway to a lopsided unanimous decision against the overmatched
Pat Schilling in a featured featherweight encounter. All three
judges scored it for the once-beaten Holloway (5-1, 1-1 UFC)
by identical 30-27 counts, giving the youngest fighter on the
UFC roster his first Octagon triumph.
Outside
of a kneebar attempt in the closing seconds of the first round,
Schilling (5-2, 0-2 UFC) was out of his element. The 20-year-old
Hawaiian buried one left hook after another into Schilling’s
right side, and the punches had crippling affects. Holloway grew
more comfortable and his opponent’s situation more dire
as the fight deepened. Round two was particularly one-sided and
nearly resulted in Schilling being finished. Only the bell saved
him.
“I
just wanted to show that I belong in the UFC,” Holloway
said. “I’m still a baby. I’m just going to keep
training hard and hopefully I will be around for a long time.”
Lawrence
Head Kick KOs Cofer
Justin
Lawrence knocked out Hardcore Gym’s John Cofer with a beautifully
timed third-round head kick in a lightweight showcase. Lawrence
(4-0, 1-0 UFC) brought it to a close 19 seconds into round three,
as he remained unbeaten as a professional.
Cofer
(7-2, 0-1 UFC) held his own on the feet through two rounds, mixing
in a pair of takedowns for good measure. However, the 28-year-old
Savannah, Ga., native’s luck ran out early in round three.
Lawrence backed him towards the cage with an errant jab and right
cross, finishing the combination with the kick. It landed with
an audible smack below Cofer’s left ear and sent him crashing
to the canvas in a dazed state. With that, the fight was done.
“My
coaches told me to quit moving straight back in the first round,
and then I started seeing more openings,” Lawrence said.
“I’m here in the UFC, and I’m here to stay.”
Source: Sherdog
|
Frank
Mir granted exemption for TRTJune 1, 2012 by Ben Bieker
Frank
Mir may have lost his shot at the title at UFC 146, but that
does not mean he didn’t give it his all. As with the upcoming
bout between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen, where Sonnen is
granted use of testosterone replacement therapy or TRT through
a therapeutic use exemption, so too was Frank Mir before his
fight with Junior Dos Santos. While the use of testosterone for
fighters has been highly debated, Mir still came in within the
legal limits for someone on or off treatment.
There
have been many fighters for and against the treatment. Notables
like Kenny Florian and Tito Ortiz have came out against the use
of the therapy. While fighters like Dan Henderson, the aforementioned
Sonnen, Rampage Jackson, and now Frank Mir would seem for the
use. As long as a doctor sees that an athlete needs it, they
should be able to attain a prescription, but still must test
within the legal 6 to 1 ratio. Unlike Alistair Overeem who tested
at 14 to 1.
There
is also a fine line between using and abusing the treatment,
and to whether fighters are cycling off higher dosages before
the fight. This issue it seems will not be going away soon, and
with so many top fighters signing up for the treatment, it’s
sure to be a topic for the foreseeable future.
Source: Caged Insider
|
Report:
Octagon girl Arianny Celeste receives July 2 hearing date in
Las Vegas
Longtime UFC octagon girl Arianny Celeste will get her day in
court on July 2.
That's
according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, which recently reported
Celeste's domestic violence case was delayed a month while prosecutors
continue to review details of the incident between the octagon
girl and her boyfriend, Praveen Chandra.
Celeste,
whose real name is Arianny Lopez, was arrested in Las Vegas,
charged with domestic violence and booked into Clark County Detention
Center in the early hours of May 26 but was released in time
to work that evening's UFC 146 pay-per-view event.
Celeste
joined the UFC in 2006 and has since become the longest-tenured
and most popular octagon girl. In addition to her duties with
the UFC, the Las Vegas native has modeled and appeared in Maxim,
FHM, and was on the cover of Playboy in November 2010. She was
named Ring Girl of the year from 2009-2011 in the Fighters Only
World MMA Awards.
Chandra
accused Celeste of kicking him in the nose. However, Celestse
indicated Chandra also choked her several times during the evening.
The two were both arrested in a Wynn Las Vegas hotel room.
Celeste
did not appear in court this past week. She was instead represented
before Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Melissa Saragosa by her
attorney, Richard Schonfeld.
UFC
officials have thus far remained steadfast in their support of
Celeste.
"Arianny
is our baby," UFC president Dana White stated on the day
of Celeste's arrest. "She has been with us for over five
years. She is a good girl and an amazing ambassador for the UFC.
I don't know all the details of what happened, but we have her
back and support her 100 percent."
Source: MMA Junkie
|
Ring
of Fire 43: Chris Holland Takes Out ‘NY Bad Ass’ Baroni
in Two
Chris
Holland Ring of Fire 38Ring of Fire returned to the 1stBank Center
in Broomfield, Colo., on Saturday night for “ROF 43: Bad
Blood.” The main event featured local favorite Chris Holland
against UFC veteran Phil Baroni.
Baroni
opened the fight strong, dominating Holland in the first round,
taking him down on a couple of occasions. He complemented his
ground and pound attack with a patient stand-up game, picking
Holland apart, opening a cut around his left eye.
As
much as round one was all Baroni, however, Holland stormed back
in the second stanza, picking Baroni apart on the feet, staggering
him up against the cage on several occasions. Fending off a Baroni
takedown attempt, Holland opened up with a flurry of punches
that dropped “The New York Bad Ass” to his knees and
didn’t let up until the referee stopped it.
“The
whole state was behind me, I couldn’t let them down,”
Holland said after the biggest win of his career.
In
a battle between two UFC veterans for the Ring of Fire featherweight
championship, Cameron Dollar put in the fight of his life to
capture the belt.
Dollar
took the fight to Tyler Toner from the bell. He put Toner on
his back early in the first round, grounding and pounding him
for the majority of the first stanza. It didn’t take him
as long in round two, dropping Toner with a right cross and then
working to his back on the ground, finishing the fight with a
rear naked choke.
“I’ve
been training a lot and finally pulled my head out of my ass
and trained like a champ,” said Dollar, a veteran of The
Ultimate Fighter. “Love me or hate me, this is all I got.”
Justin
Gaethje and Marcus Edwards, local favorites destined for even
brighter lights in the future, battled it out for the Ring of
Fire Young Guns lightweight title.
An
obvious distaste for each other, Gaethje and Edwards went toe-to-toe
for the duration of their three-round bout. The ebb and flow
of this one made it difficult to declare a clear-cut winner.
Just
when Gaethje started to assert his dominance, Edwards would spring
to life. Remaining on their feet for the better part of the fight,
each got his shots in, but in the end, the judges determined
Gaethje had done enough in the first two rounds to award him
the unanimous decision and the Ring of Fire belt.
If
there were a knockout of the night bonus for Ring of Fire, it
would have went to Vinnie Lopez. The Grudge Training Center fighter
got the better of Mark Korzenowski for the majority of their
fight, but sealed the deal in round three with a left hook that
floored his foe and finished him off with hammerfists.
Former
Denver Bronco Demetrin Veal, who now goes by the name Leandro,
made his mixed martial arts debut on Saturday night, and he did
so in stunning fashion, perhaps rivaling Lopez for the best knockout
honors. He outsized his opponent, former WWE wrestler Chad Wicks,
by six inches in height and 30 pounds in weight, and used every
inch and pound to his advantage.
Leandro
rocked Wicks on the feet, battering him with his stand-up, but
backed off as Wicks staggered across the cage. His corner screamed
at Leandro to go after Wicks, and he did.
“They
said get on him, so I rushed.”
Harkening
back to his NFL days, Leandro stormed across the cage –
as if sacking Tom Brady – driving Wicks into the fence,
basically knocking him out as he did so. He followed with a couple
of punches before the referee could step in and stop the fight.
At
six-foot-three, 265 pounds with the athleticism of a pro football
player and the agility of a lifelong capoeira practitioner, Leandro
has the potential to be a force in the heavyweight division.
Ring
of Fire 43 Full Results
Professional
Bouts:
Chris Holland def. Phil Baroni by TKO (Strikes) at 2:50, R2
Cameron Dollar def. Tyler Toner by Submission (Rear Naked Choke)
at 2:00, R2
Justin Gaethje def. Marcus Edwards (29-28, 29-28, 29-28), R3
Tommy Thompson def. Prentice Ingraham by Split Decision (28-29,
29-28, 29-28), R3
Vinnie Lopez def. Mark Korzenowski by TKO (Strikes) at 3:41,
R3
Leandro Veal def. Chad Wicks by KO at 2:54, R1
Mark Taylor def. Aaron Romero by Majority Decision (29-29, 29-28,
29-28), R3
Henry Solis def. Justin Willis by TKO (Strikes) at 4:32, R2
Amateur
Bouts:
Zach Riley def. Toby Lopez by Submission (Armbar) at 1:34, R1
Bryce Thorstad def. Zach McChesney by KO (Punches) at 0:23, R2
Aaron Trujillo def. Tyson Grippen by Submission (Guillotine Choke)
at 2:12, R1
Jared Deaguero def. Nathan Torrez by TKO (Strikes) at 1:40, R1
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Jamie
Varner: Learning to Walk Again
I’m
learning to walk again
I believe I’ve waited long enough
Where do I begin?
~
Foo Fighters ‘Walk’
It’s
hard to imagine that less than a year ago, Jamie Varner was ready
to walk away from fighting all together.
The
former WEC champion had exited the promotion in late 2010 after
going 0-3-1 in his last four fights, and was trying to mount
a comeback tour to earn his way into the UFC, but things were
just not looking up for him.
A
last minute switch put Varner in the cage with Dakota Cochrane,
who would go on to try out for the most recent season of the
Ultimate Fighter, and what resulted was a three round decision
loss for the former champion.
Looking
back now, Varner knows he had no business being in the cage that
night.
“I
should not have fought that fight,” Varner said when speaking
to MMAWeekly Radio. “Everybody told me not to fight cause
I was sick, but I needed to do it. I fought tougher guys than
this, I can get through it. But when I lost it took a piece of
me. It sucked. I would say a week and a half after that I packed
my bags in New Jersey, and moved back home.”
The
same night that he lost the fight to Cochrane, Varner took to
Twitter and announced that he was walking away from the sport
for good. Obviously there was an emotional element that led to
the hasty reaction, but still Varner wasn’t convinced that
he had anything left for MMA.
Long
gone were the days where Varner was dominating fighters like
Rob McCullough and Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone. The person
that stepped into the last few fights in the WEC and his post-Zuffa
career was a shadow of the champion that once proudly strutted
with a gold belt around his waist.
“The
pressure got so great it made me hate the sport. It made me not
like it,” said Varner. “That’s the guy that you
saw fight Shane Roller and the guy who fought Dakota Cochrane.”
As
Varner packed his bags and headed home to Arizona he wasn’t
sure what the next step was going to be, but it didn’t take
long for him to find a new fire.
He
got back to his roots at home working with his former trainers
at Arizona Combat Sports, the team that helped build him into
a WEC champion. He also started working at the MMA Lab, the team
that spawned current UFC champion Benson Henderson.
“To
be honest with you for me it was moving back to Arizona and training
over at the Lab. I’m still at Arizona Combat Sports 5 days
a week, but I’m going to the Lab three days a week and being
there with all those guys and training and just the positive
atmosphere and the team atmosphere that they have there, it’s
unreal. That’s what really rejuvenated me,” said Varner.
With
each punch thrown, with each takedown landed, with each round
in sparring, Varner started to gain his confidence back and in
turn he went out and flattened his next two opponents, finishing
both in less than two minutes time.
Then
the call came in.
Evan
Dunham was injured and UFC matchmaker Joe Silva needed a replacement,
so they reached out to Varner to see if he was interested. It
didn’t take him long to answer ‘yes’, but there
was a very daunting task ahead of him in the form of Brazilian
knockout artist Edson Barboza Jr.
Barboza
was an explosive Muay Thai striker with deadly knees, devastating
kicks and power in both hands. Varner knew he had his hands full,
but it was a chance to be back in the big show.
Like
a baseball player who once saw World Series glory only to find
himself buried in the minor league system just years later, Varner
wanted one more chance to prove to everyone that he belonged
in the UFC.
“That’s
what I told me trainers, I just want to make one more run. We’ll
call this like my final journey, when it’s done it’s
done, I’ll retire,” Varner stated.
“I
couldn’t confidently say I was going to win. I knew I could
take a beating, I knew I could stand in front of somebody, I
could take a beating.”
In
the early going, Varner’s words rang true as he started
to eat a healthy diet of leg kicks from the dangerous Brazilian,
his signature strike that has finished other fighters. Then the
tide turned for Varner.
He
cracked Barboza with a few good shots and he saw the Brazilian
was stunned, and so he rushed in looking to turn up the heat.
Varner blasted away and as Barboza fell to the ground, he felt
a rush wash over him.
A
few more punches and the fight was over. Jamie Varner had done
the impossible and defeated the previously unbeaten Edson Barboza.
“I
was not supposed to win that fight. I was like a 5 to 1 underdog,”
Varner said about the victory. “It’s surreal, I can’t
believe people want to talk to me now. I understand people like
winners, but I think the fans could see there was something different
about me. That I had the passion and desire that the fans wanted
to see from me, I had lost that passion and desire and they could
see that I got it back.”
When
Bruce Buffer was calling out his name as the winner, Varner was
overloaded with emotions from the long, hard road he had traveled
to get back to the top.
“Honestly,
I’m back,” Varner revealed as the first thing that
entered his mind after the win. “It was like I’m back
but the first thing was we did it. My team, we did it. The people
behind me believed in me more than I believed in myself. They’re
the ones that came up with the game plan and believed I could
do what I did.”
It
was hard to believe that just 8 months earlier, Varner was contemplating
retirement and here he was feeling like a new man standing on
top of the world.
“I
attribute a lot of that to just hitting rock bottom, losing my
job, and just kind of going on this journey and being alone.
It’s really lonely down there at the bottom, it’s a
crappy place to be. But it shows you what type of person you
are to be down there and to fight, scratch, claw your way back
up and that’s what I did,” Varner said. “That’s
what I was prepared to do.”
There’s
a famous line in the Christopher Nolan film ‘Batman Begins’
that says ‘why do we fall, sir? So that we can learn to
pick ourselves up.’
The
fact is Jamie Varner fell down and he fell down hard, but through
the belief of his coaches, manager and people closest to him
he made his way back. Does this mean he’s destined to become
champion again one day?
The
honest answer is who knows.
But
there’s one thing for sure – Jamie Varner is back and
he’s happy to be here, and his next mission is only to keep
fighting in the UFC.
“My
major focus is on my next five minutes, my next round that I
have in the Octagon under the lights,” stated Varner. “I
don’t care who it is, where it is, I just want to get back
in the gym on Monday and start training. I just want to focus
on my next round.”
Source: MMA Weekly
|
TUF:
The Smashes Settles on Two Weight Classes for First Aussie Ultimate
Fighter
The
UFC recently announced the second international version of The
Ultimate Fighter would be Australia vs. the U.K.
The
Australian series, dubbed The Smashes – a play on the 130
year-old cricket rivalry – will see undiscovered professional
MMA fighters from Australia and the United Kingdom live together
in The Ultimate Fighter house in Australia and compete against
each other for a UFC contract.
When
announced, the call went out for applicants ranging from 135
to 170 pounds.
The
UFC has now settled on two specific divisions. The Smashes will
feature welterweights (170 pounds) and lightweights (155 pounds),
according to Marshall Zelaznik, the UFC’s director of international
development.
Applicants
that fit the bill will soon receive an email letting them know
when and where to try out.
“Australia
and the UK have a fierce, long-standing rivalry, and where better
to settle the score than in the UFC’s Octagon,” said
Zelaznik.
No
coaches have yet been named for the series.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Report:
Thiago Silva injured, Dana White wants Shogun vs. Glover at UFC
149
Thiago
Silva is out, but the UFC wants another Brazilian vs. Brazilian
matchup at Calgary’s UFC 149, event set to July.
According
to a report from MMA Junkie, Dana White informs that, with Silva’s
injury, they’re planning a bout between former UFC light
heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Glover
Teixeira, who made a impressive debut last weekend, with a first
round submission victory over Kyle Kingsbury.
“With
Thiago hurt, we turned to Glover and asked him to go right back
in to fight 'Shogun' at UFC 149,” White told MMAjunkie.com.
“But 'Shogun's' people are adamantly refusing to take the
fight. They want nothing to do with Glover”.
TATAME
called Rua’s manager, Julio Heller, who guaranteed they
never turned down a fight with Teixeira. In fact, Silva’s
injury is not official to them yet.
“I
just sent a message to the UFC. I’m waiting for their call”,
Heller said. “(Turning down a fight with Glover) it’s
not true at all”.
Julio
said they’ll wait for the UFC before making further comments,
and the decision to fight Glover, or any other opponent, is in
Shogun and his coach Andre Dida’s hands.
“We
have to wait for the names whey’ll offer, and then we’ll
see what we do”.
Source: Tatame
|
Jon
Fitch Latest Fighter to Bow Out Due to Injury
Murphy's
law says “anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.”
The
old adage appears to be true for the UFC these days as an injury
has claimed another top fighter from an upcoming card.
Jon
Fitch has suffered a knee injury in training that will force
him out of his scheduled bout against Aaron Simpson at UFC on
Fuel TV 4 on July 11.
Sources
close to the match-up confirmed the news to MMAWeekly.com on
Saturday.
Fitch
was returning to the Octagon for the first time since suffering
a knockout loss to Johny Hendricks at UFC 140 last December.
The
loss broke Fitch's six-fight unbeaten streak in the UFC and is
only the second loss he's suffered since joining the promotion
in 2005.
While
the severity of the injury is unknown, it appears that it's bad
enough for Fitch to scratch from the bout with Simpson slated
to take place in San Jose, Calif., this July.
Now
the search is on for yet another replacement as the UFC deals
with a rash of injuries that have piled up over the last few
days.
MMAWeekly.com
will have more information on Aaron Simpson's new opponent when
it becomes available.
Source: Yahoo Sports
|
Crunching
Numbers: MMA Gets Its Own Simulation Engine
Jun
3, 2012 - Can MMA statistics help us predict what will happen
in important fights?
Maybe.
If they can't outright predict a single outcome, they can at
least give us a sense of how the fight is likely to play out
or maybe even look. That's the premise behind FightMetric's latest
innovation: the MATch Up Analysis, or MATUA simulation engine,
which according to FightMetric is "not a true prognostication
tool" but "produces a statistical view of upcoming
fights that may see things that our eyes do not."
"The
MATUA model harnesses the power of FightMetric's deep database
of statistics to simulate a match based on the two fighters'
past statistical performance. The simulation is run 10,000 times
to reduce random chance and then produces the number of simulations
in which each fighter won, by what method, and in which round."
MATUA
debuted just prior UFC 146. The first and only bout it has run
publicly was for that night's main event: Junior dos Santos vs.
Frank Mir. Ultimately, MATUA gave UFC heavyweight champion Junior
dos Santos a winning percentage of 66% against Mir in 10,000
simulated fights. And as we know, the champ eventually dispatched
with Mir in the second round via TKO stoppage, something MATUA
had as the second most-likely outcome in a dos Santos victory.
For
now, FightMetric isn't running MATUA on theoretical match-ups.
If you're curious about it says for a Cain Velasquez vs. Alistair
Overeem fight, you'll have to wait until that one is signed and
ready to happen. But I was still curious about the numbers and
what they can actually tell us fight predictions and even MMA
itself. I caught up with the creator of MATUA, John Candido,
to find out more.
Below
is an excerpted portion of our conversation.
Luke
Thomas: How did the idea to create this come about?
John
Candido: I had initially talked with Rami [Genauer], the owner
of FightMetric, and I'd always been interested in looking under
the hood of different sports and things like that to sort of
understand the moving parts behind it.
I
wanted to see what really mattered in a fight. That's how my
relationship with FightMetric started. Once I got access to all
the statistics I started to basically breakdown and model what
exactly goes on in a fight; sort of looking at the mechanics
behind fights.
Once
we were able to do that, then we were able to develop this model
which basically takes all those mechanics and is able to use
them to simulate exactly how fights play out and what goes down
in fights. In doing so, we're able to sort of see a good percentage
of which rounds likely lead to the fight ending in, and also
what the typical outcomes are.
Luke
Thomas: The description of MATUA states "the simulation
is run 10,000 times to reduce random chance". Why 10,000?
John
Candido: To be honest with you, it seems like pretty much the
accepted industry number. It really doesn't have that much statistical
significance, specifically the number 10,000. But since that's
what most other people who run these type of simulations are
doing, I figured we might as well make it even across the board.
It's easier for the general public to understand it and compare
it with some other simulations going on in other sports.
Luke
Thomas: The description also says "It is built upon a statistical
analysis of every UFC fight of the modern era". What does
that mean, post-UFC 32?
John
Candido: I think it was post-UFC 24, if I remember correctly.
Whenever the rule change happened. Whenever that happened, it's
all the fights after that.*
Luke
Thomas: What's the extra value add of a simulation engine that
we don't get from other forms of qualitative analysis?
John
Candido: Specifically, the engine is driven by a machine running
algorithms. A lot of people will look at statistics for upcoming
fights and do intuition in their own head about weighting which
factors are more valuable, which factors are more predictive
of outcomes, and things like that.
What
this does is actually put some science to those intuitions. It
puts an exact weight based on a lot of different simulations
and algorithms and analysis, and actually figures out scientifically
what the exact weight of these things are.
So
people might think dos Santos has a great chance of knocking
Mir out and we know this because a lot of his career has been
knockouts, and he's a very good boxer and the numbers show that.
We're actually able tell you why statistically dos Santos has
a larger chance of having an outcome of a knockout. It's putting
exact science to all those guesses that you would typically make
when you're breaking down a fight intuitively or looking over
the basic statistics for it.
Luke
Thomas: Critics of MMA statistics often say there isn't enough
sample size to make them meaningful. That criticism would apply
to MATUA, too. How would you respond to that?
John
Candido: It's not like we're basing this whole simulation model
on dos Santos' career. Because we're basically basing it on every
fight that's happened in UFC since the rule change, we're able
to look at the mechanics instead of just an individual fighter's
record.
From
the perspective of 'this guy's had a pretty good run in the last
ten fights', whether that's legit or not, yes, and there's a
question there.
But
as far as understanding the basics of how MMA works, that's something
I think we've pretty solidly nailed. Even though we only have
ten fights worth of information, let's say on a particular fighter
to base that off because the sample size is pretty small, the
common fan is still doing the same math in their head based on
those ten fights anyway.
Yes,
because we have smaller sample sizes it's a little more difficult,
but the accuracies at least I've run into doing the analysis
have been pretty good. It is a smaller sample size, but there
is a lot of significance and predictive value to the small sample
size because MMA - as a sport to model - lends itself very well
to breaking it down statistically and being able to put weights
on all the different parts of it.
Luke
Thomas: You say you have a sense of how MMA works. How did you
come to that position where you have a feeling for the complexion
of the sport such that you can run a simulation engine?
John
Candido: It's just basically developing a lot of different variables
that reflect or represent a lot of the different types of aspects
of the Fight Metric stats. Once we were able to do that, we can
put them in a horse race of which variables will perform the
best when it comes to predicting different outcomes.
For
instance, predicting knockouts for a fight. There's going to
be certain variables that lend themselves more or more heavily
weighted that will predict that outcome more often that not.
Different variables obviously will be more predictive of different
outcomes.
You
wrote an article about age. That would be another factor I would
put in a horse race with a lot of other factors. Once I run the
analysis and the algorithms on those, I'm able to see exactly
which ones come out with more predictive value than others do.
Once I'm able to do that, I can compare how all the variables
stack up against each other. The model is built around that principle:
weighing heavily the favorable variables that have a lot of predictive
value to them and then ignoring some of the other variables that
don't exactly give us a good idea about who is going to win.
Luke
Thomas: Did you learn anything in putting together this model
together and figuring out what the favorable predictive variables
were? Did you learn something about MMA in the process?
John
Candido: Oh, absolutely. Plenty of things jumped out. There were
a lot of notions I had going in of what I thought I would find
that I was surprised by or taught to look a different way at
it.
Just
specifically something off the top of my head was finding out
how important wrestling was in MMA. That was probably one of
the bigger takeaways of developing the model, just breaking down
the sport statistically in general. Wrestling is a huge, huge
factor and I didn't expect that as much. I didn't expect that
striking would be such a significant second to wrestling when
it came to a lot of the variables.
Luke
Thomas: In terms of Mir's 34% chance of winning, do you believe
this is a better reflection of how he'll do or just that it's
in contrast to what the oddsmakers are suggesting?
Method
of Victory
Round of Stoppage
KO/TKO
Submission Decision Total Wins 1 2 3 4 5
dos Santos 45% 6% 15% 66% 32% 18% 11% 8% 6%
Mir 9% 14% 11% 34% 25% 14% 11% 7% 5%
John
Candido: When it comes to odds, that's a different type of analysis.
I wouldn't necessarily say that reflects something in the odds
themselves. I think what the simulation does more is allow us
to see more of how the fight plays out and the different outcomes,
methods - more how the fight is going to go down than necessarily
the absolute outcome.
I
wouldn't say that's the most effective use of the model. I have
a separate model that I use when I write my ESPN Insider articles
and what that model does is actually - it's more based on predicting
inefficiencies in the market than it is predicting what's going
to go down in an actual fight.
When
you're looking at that you're asking two different questions
statistically, and because of that you have to break it down
a little bit differently and analyze it a little bit differently.
But I would put more stock in the method outcomes and the round
outcomes because those are generated off of the 10,000 simulations
and those are aggregated or compiled based on what's most likely
to occur, what's most likely to happen.
You
can definitely take from the fact that dos Santos is a 66% favorite
in a sport with a lot of parity that 66% is a pretty significant
advantage over his opponent. You can take that as dos Santos
having a pretty big edge over Mir.
Luke
Thomas: Is there a way to run this in reverse? That is, is it
a fair way to gauge the accuracy of this engine to marry what
actually happened in fights after the fact with what the simulation
engine says about what would happen?
John
Candido: Yeah, sure. When all the algorithms are built, they're
built off of historical data, but in constructing them they're
definitely tested against data that is not used in constructing
the model. In a sense, in the construction of it it's already
done that.
The
relevance of the algorithms that it comes up with, the relevance
of the model itself is tested out beforehand to see whether or
not it performs well or holds its weight against new data in
anticipation of it receiving new data in the future.
So
yeah, you can definitely go back and validate its performance
and see how it would've done because its already done that in
the construction of the model itself.
Luke
Thomas: How often do you believe you'll have to go back and update
the algorithm and the model here as the game itself changes?
John
Candido: That's an interesting point because obviously mixed
martial arts is a very evolutionary sport and things are constantly
changing.
I
don't see it being a fight-to-fight basis or an event-to-event
basis, but if there are new patterns that emerge and things that
come up, then I'll definitely be able to see that in the change
of how new models asses weights different variables and how that
kind of changes over time.
The
more data we have, the better the model will be and the more
accurate it will be. It will pick up on these new patterns as
they arise and as new data is set in to it to train it on.
*
= UFC 28 was the first UFC event to use the Unified Rules of
MMA.
Star-divide
In
the wake of Kenny Florian's retirement, I felt it necessary to
give praise to one of MMA's improperly viewed fighters. That
is, nearly everyone agrees Florian was a supremely talented fighter,
but failing to win titles in three attempts across two weight
classes are the true defining moments of his career.
It's
true it's impossible to ignore those shortcomings. They are part
of his history. But undo focus on them really shortchanges a
fighter of pretty remarkable accomplishment.
More
than almost anyone in the modern era, Florian worked with an
unparalleled diligence to consistently improve his skill set.
It's true Florian's athleticism was always a touch underrated
and his improvement is partly of function of what a good athlete
he actually was. But there are very few fighters one can point
to from Florian's generation or 'class' who developed into the
final product he became given his starting point.
Every
aspect of his game was sharpened. Those dimensions where he lacked
severely in the early stages of his professional career ultimately
became his strengths. Florian had weaknesses, too. No fighter
is an android of perfect technique and execution, but the journey
he traveled to position himself to win a title must've taken
a will few among us can summon in any professional endeavor.
That
he did what he did in MMA through the sweat of his brow and unfailing
belief in himself is worthy of our highest praise and admiration.
He unquestionably gave MMA everything he had and he did it year
after year, fight after fight. We can ask for not one thing more
from anyone who competes.
Fortunately,
there's more to the story than my qualitative analysis. FightMetric
breaks down the numbers behind his very real accomplishments:
-
Florian is the first and only fighter to compete in four different
weight classes: middleweight, welterweight, lightweight, and
featherweight.
-
He retires with 8 wins in the UFC by submission. That ties him
with the most among fighters in the modern era. Royce Gracie
has more all-time submission victories.
-
Florian earned 7 tapouts on 13 submission attempts, giving him
a submission accuracy of 54%. That makes him the only fighter
in the modern era with a submission accuracy greater than 40%
(a minimum of 10 sub. attempts is required to be considered).
-
He holds a perfect 7-for-7 record on rear naked choke attempts.Florian
landed more significant strikes than his opponent in every one
of his UFC victories. 10 of his 12 wins inside the Octagon came
by way of stoppage.
-
He retires having accumulate 3:07:38 of fight time. That's the
13th highest career length in UFC history, putting him directly
behind Chuck Liddell.
All
quantitative data provided by FightMetric except where otherwise
noted.
Source: MMA Fighting |
Chris
Holland Looking to KO the New York Bad Ass at Ring of Fire
Chris
Holland Ring of Fire 38With back-to-back knockout victories in
his two most recent fights, Colorado prospect Chris “Hammer”
Holland has not only righted a career that started out 2-3, but
has also earned the opportunity to take things to the next level
as he headlines this weekend’s Ring of Fire event against
former UFC and Pride veteran Phil “NY Bad Ass” Baroni.
“When
they first brought it to my attention, I jumped right at it,”
exclaimed Holland. “I have so much respect for him for what
he’s done and the people he’s fought and where he’s
been. However, getting to know him more as the fight (promotion)
has progressed, I can’t stand him and I can’t wait
to punch him.”
On
paper, it would seem that Holland is at a disadvantage to the
more experienced Baroni, but he told MMAWeekly.com that he doesn’t
see it that way.
“It’s
clear he has a huge advantage in the amount of fights, almost
double the amount I’ve had in some of the biggest events
in the world, but I think he’s on a downslide,” said
Holland. “That’s going to be washed away, where he’s
been at and what he’s done. Saturday is a new day and I
don’t feel I’ll be overmatched at all.
“In
seven pro fights, six have been main events, so I’ve fought
the best fighters every single time and that’s what I’m
built for.”
It’s
no secret that Baroni’s greatest strength lays in his knockout
ability. And while conventional wisdom would tell Holland to
avoid standing up in their fight, he won’t let his opponent
dictate his tactics.
“Everybody
knows he has great hands that are very fast, dangerous and powerful,
but so are mine,” said Holland. “I think everybody’s
game plan is to wear him out either against the cage or on the
ground, and I definitely want to stay away from his power and
respect it, but at the same time I want to finish it with a knockout.
“We’ll
stay standing as long as I feel comfortable.”
As
well as Baroni’s strengths are documented, so are his weaknesses,
especially when it comes to conditioning. As Holland pointed
out, “That’s exactly what my camp is thinking.
“He’s
coming up in elevation from Las Vegas to Denver, which is like
3,000 feet difference, and it’s going to be a big problem
for him, even if he had good stamina.”
Experiencing
career resurgence, Holland feels now is the time to take the
next step in his career, starting with Saturday’s Ring of
Fire event in Broomfield, Colo.
“Since
I’ve moved camp (to Factory X Muay Thai), I’ve had
two knockout wins in a row, and hopefully this will be my third,”
he said. “With the guys I’m fighting having fought
in Bellator and the UFC; I’ve definitely set my sights on
matches in promotionslike that.
“I
think (knocking out) Phil Baroni will be my way to do it.”
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Hippy
at Heart, Denver Bronco Turned Fighter Leandro Debuts Saturday
at Ring of Fire
Leandro
Ring of FireThere are certainly more and more athletes opting
for mixed martial arts as a career path over other pro sports,
but former Denver Bronco Demetrin Veal, who now goes by the name
Leandro, doesn’t exactly fit that mold.
A
hippy at heart, Leandro is just following where his interests
take him through life, exploring MMA following a modest career
in the NFL.
After
one year, yes, that’s right, one year of high school ball,
Leandro received a scholarship to the University of Tennessee,
one of the most highly respected college football programs in
the country.
He
played four years for the Broncos and one year each for the Atlanta
Falcons, who drafted him, and the Tennessee Titans, before a
knee injury and the demands of the powers that be for the then
six-foot-three, 300-pound tackle to put on an addition 20-30
pounds influenced his decision to leave the game.
With
the competitive fires still burning inside him, a few friends
that workout with the same strength and conditioning coach as
him – namely Brendan Schaub, Cody Donovan, and Nate Marquardt
– influenced him to try his hand at MMA.
And
although he’s spent the majority of his life in America,
fighting isn’t far off from Leandro’s Brazilian roots.
He was born in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
“Brazilian
by blood, American by coaching,” he quipped in a recent
interview with MMAWeekly.com.
Leandro’s
first bout will be Saturday night against WWE wrestler turned
mixed martial artist Chad Wicks at Ring of Fire: Bad Blood at
the 1stBank Center in Broomfield, Colo.
Leandro
is a lifelong practitioner of his home country’s native
martial art of capoeira, although he’s been training specifically
for MMA less than a year.
“You
can train for so long until you get in the real gun and fire,”
said Leandro, who believes in taking the things in life that
interest him and exploring them to their fullest.
What
the result is doesn’t matter to him. It’s the journey
that entices Leandro.
“When
I started football, it was just something that came to me and
I liked it and I just took it as far as it took me,” he
recalled. “So I’m just gonna work hard at (MMA); if
it takes me to the top, it takes me to the top. I’m gonna
give it my all and see how it goes.
“That’s
how it should be with anything. You go out there with that stuff
and have fun with it and take it as far as you can.”
Source: MMA Weekly
|
TUF
Live Finale Attendance and Gate
The
Ultimate Fighter Live Finale took place in The Pearl at The Palms
Casino and Resort in Las Vegas on Friday night with Michael Chiesa
writing the storybook ending to his time on the UFC reality show.
The
TUF Live Finale drew 1,628 fans for a gate of $195,250, which
much like the season’s TV ratings was lower than the past
couple of seasons.
The
Season 14 finale pulled in 1,909 fans for a gate of $452,700,
and the thirteenth season drew 2,053 in attendance and $440,150
at the gate. Both of those recent seasons also held their finales
in The Pearl.
Chiesa
will now move on to his career in the Octagon, trying to break
into the ranks of the already established fighters.
Martin
Kampmann returned from the brink of defeat in the TUF Live Finale
main event to upset Jake Ellenberger’s hopes of getting
a UFC welterweight title shot. The question now is: what’s
next for Kampmann?
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Martin
Kampmann Looks Next Towards Hendricks, Condit or GSP
There’s
hardly ever time to celebrate a victory before the questions
start raining in about who or what is next.
For
Ultimate Fighter Live finale main event winner Martin Kampmann,
the path seems pretty clear, but there are always foggy roads
and twists and turns before anything is a done deal.
Just
after his exciting second round finish of Jake Ellenberger on
Saturday night, commentator Jon Anik pointed towards a potential
showdown with former training partner Johny Hendricks with a
title shot looming overhead.
Of
course, Kampmann has never shied away from a battle and he won’t
start now so if Hendricks is next, that’s who he’ll
face. If situations change and he could potentially get UFC interim
welterweight champion Carlos Condit next or even Georges St-Pierre,
those all sound like good ideas to the great Dane.
First
up though is some much needed time off.
“My
goal is to fight for the title, that’s where I want to go
and Johny’s got some great wins too, and if I have to fight
him to get that shot then that’s what we’ll do. Of
course I’d love to get the fight with (Carlos) Condit or
GSP, or the winner of that fight,” Kampmann said at the
TUF Live finale post fight press conference.
“I’m
going to have to take a little time off, heal up, go back to
Denmark for a little summer vacation, I’m looking forward
to that, but definitely, I want to fight for the title. That’s
what I want.”
It
has to be noted that Kampmann is currently the only fighter that
has a win over interim champion Carlos Condit in the UFC, so
that rematch is definitely something that interests him.
Currently,
Condit is waiting for UFC champion Georges St-Pierre to finish
rehab on his surgically repaired knee to heal up and then face
him later this year to unify the welterweight titles.
If
he was in Condit’s spot, Kampmann admits he’d probably
play the waiting game too.
“I
would love to fight Carlos, but of course he’d want to fight
GSP, he’s want to unify those belts, and I don’t blame
him. I can completely understand that and if I was in his situation
I’d probably want to get that unification bout as well,
but it all depends on when GSP’s going to be ready to fight
again,” said Kampmann.
“If
GSP’s going to be out a long time then I think he should
defend it, but if GSP’s ready at the end of the year like
most people are saying, then I can see why he’d want to
wait for that and get that unification bout.”
Kampmann
knows nothing is guaranteed until he gets a contract in hand
so if it’s Johny Hendricks’ name on the dotted line
he’ll sign just the same as if it’s Carlos Condit or
Georges St-Pierre.
“You
don’t know you have the title shot until the bout agreements
are signed,” said Kampmann. “I try not to look ahead.”
The
good thing for Kampmann is that with winning all roads will eventually
lead to a shot at the UFC welterweight title.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Jake
Ellenberger: ‘I Felt Like I Could Have Kept Fighting’
Just moments into the first round of the main event at the Ultimate
Fighter Live finale, Jake Ellenberger cracked Martin Kampmann
on the jaw with a vicious left hook.
Kampmann
dropped to the mat in a flash and immediately Ellenberger swarmed
looking to put him away. As the Nebraska native flurried with
a barrage of punches, Kampmann grabbed at his arms to try and
control the situation and regain his composure.
As
close as it was to being over, Kampmann was able to eventually
pull Ellenberger in his guard and keep the fight moving.
In
the 2nd round the roles were reversed after Kampmann clipped
Ellenberger with a short right hand that stunned him, and after
three consecutive knee strikes, it was Ellenberger who crashed
to the ground.
As
his arms fell backwards and it appeared his head hit the ground,
before Kampmann could return the favor with a swarm of strikes,
referee Steve Mazzagatti came in to stop the fight.
“He
did hit me with a good one, kind of rocked me a little bit, just
trying to keep my balance, but he’s in this position for
a reason. He’s a tough guy, I’ve got a lot of respect
for him,” Ellenberger said about Kampmann’s comeback
in the fight.
In
a flash it looked like the stoppage was just and done right.
Ellenberger’s head snapped back against the ground and his
arms went limp as Kampmann rushed in to inflict more damage.
Still
after a first round that saw Kampmann in some serious trouble
as well, Ellenberger admitted after the fight was over that he
wished he got a little extra consideration to battle back, but
it’s not his call.
“That’s
up to the ref, that’s the ref’s discretion. That’s
just the way it goes, but I had him hurt, I thought I had him
more hurt than he was, but he’s tough. He battled back and
stayed in there,” Ellenberger stated.
“I’m
a little disappointed. I felt like I could have kept fighting
or possibly give me a chance to recover, but it is what it is.
It’s Martin’s night.”
Gracious
in defeat, Jake Ellenberger will undoubtedly move on from this
loss and look to bounce back with another big fight in the UFC
welterweight division later this year.
It
doesn’t however remove the sting of defeat tonight or the
question – was the fight stopped too early?
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Bahadurzada
was looking to turn Pitbull into a Poodle, now waits for a replacement
Siyar
Bahadurzada got a call from the UFC to replace injured Yoshihiro
Akiyama at UFC 149, against Thiago Alves, but now is his time
to wait, with the Brazilian out of the battle with an undisclosed
injury.
TATAME
spoke with the former Shooto World Champion, who shared some
words on his frustration.
“Yeah,
I'm sad! I was looking forward to fight Alves. But maybe some
other time,” Siyar said. “No replacement yet. We'll
see”.
Days
before the announcement of Pitbull’s injury, TATAME spoke
with Bahadurzada, who had strong words for the Brazilian.
“Alves
is an aggressive pitbull, but I hope I can take this pitbull
and turn him into a cute poodle at UFC 149,” he said, a
week ago. “I think he will stand with me until he tastes
my power. Then he will immediately go for a take down! That's
when I know I broke his will and I will be looking for the finish”.
Source: Tatame
|
The
Dream is Gone; Japanese MMA Promotion Runs Out of Viable Options
The
writing was on the wall when Dream had to cancel its planned
July mixed martial arts event in Japan, but it has become more
and more evident that the follow-up to Pride is all but officially
out of business.
MMA-Japan.com
early Sunday morning reported that Dream is “no longer a
going concern,” and multiple MMAWeekly.com sources have
confirmed that doors are closing on Dream.
Pretty
much all of the Real Entertainment (the company that operated
Dream) staff have moved on to other endeavors, and the company
has apparently stopped returning calls to nearly all of its fighters
and their representatives, ceasing day-to-day operations.
Dream
had fallen on hard times over the past few years with attendance
down and TV deals falling to the wayside. About the only viable
product left was the annual New Year’s Eve extravaganza’s
that had become a staple of the holiday in Japan.
Real
Entertainment had wanted to continue with that tradition, but
needed Saitama Super Arena to make it viable.
Saitama,
however, wanted Dream to do a two-event deal, the first event
being the July show. When Dream couldn’t pull off a July
event, Saitama backed out and will instead give the New Year’s
Eve slot to someone else.
Without
Saitama Super Arena on board, Dream really doesn’t have
any viable options left for New Year’s Eve, which really
was a last gasp for survival in the first place.
Even
though the UFC finally returned to Japan earlier this year, there
aren’t many viable options left on home soil now for Japanese
fighters, at least not many at the highest levels of the sport.
One
FC has begun to spread its wings in Asia and will likely become
a home for many of the fighters, while several others will probably
bolt for the greener pastures of North America, where several
fighters could land in promotions like the UFC, Strikeforce,
or Bellator.
Source: Yahoo Sports
|
On
Kenny Florian, Greatness, and the Varying Definitions of Success
in MMA
Jun
3, 2012 - Kenny Florian’s MMA career started in a nightclub
in Taunton, Mass., in 2002 and ended ten years later, after 12
wins in the UFC and several failed title bids. He never won the
big one, never became a champion, though he did come close to
starving himself in the pursuit of a belt there at the end. Either
the pressure was too much or he just couldn’t get it done
against the best in any division. Depends who you ask.
But
now that he’s called it quits (or says he has, which is
the best you can ask for in a sport riddled with short-lived
retirements), what are we supposed to make of Florian’s
decade-long career across four different weight classes? Was
he a great fighter? Was he just pretty good, or very good, or
not quite good enough when it mattered most? Does it even matter?
Thinking
about these questions, I keep coming back to the conversation
I had with Drew Fickett about the ups and downs of his own crazy
career. When I asked about his split decision win over Florian
in 2004, Fickett said he wished he’d gotten a chance to
fight Florian later on, "when [Florian] was better and had
some experience." The difference between the fighter Florian
was and the fighter he would become was so vast, Fickett explained,
that it was almost as if he had transformed himself into a brand
new person.
The
fight with Florian was Fickett’s 25th MMA bout. It was Florian’s
fourth. Fickett got his hand raised at the end, but Florian got
the spot on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter. Fickett
would become known as the fighter with so much talent and so
little self-control. Florian would become the guy who squeezed
every last ounce of success out of what talent he did have.
That
was the perception, at least. Though Florian was obviously a
gifted athlete, never did he seem to be coasting on natural ability
alone. He never showed up for a fight in poor condition, never
seemed unprepared. He made the most of what he had to work with,
and it brought him right to the brink of more than one world
title but never all the way to the top.
Contrast
that with Fickett, whose career is often held up as a sort of
cautionary tale about squandered potential. Contrast it even
with the career of B.J. Penn, who was brilliant when he was motivated
and interested, and merely very good when he wasn’t.
With
Florian, there was never any doubt about whether he had trained
hard, whether he really wanted it. Inside the cage, you could
depend on Florian to be a driven professional at all times. Outside
of it, he was the kind of ambassador for the sport that we were
all glad to have when MMA detractors painted fighters as brain-dead
thugs trading steroid-infused groin kicks. Florian -- the bilingual
Boston College soccer player who’d dedicated his life to
the martial arts after a near-death experience in Brazil -- was
the guy you could point to and ask, ‘Does he look like some
glorified bar bouncer to you?’
All
that makes Florian a likable and sympathetic character, but does
it make him a great fighter? Can we look back on his career and
call it a success? He made some money, had some big wins, and
set himself up for a promising future in broadcasting. He’s
so far from the stereotype of the broke and broken down ex-fighter
that he almost makes professional cagefighting seem like a sound
career choice.
He's
also one of the very few people in this business about whom no
one seems to have anything bad to say. No salacious gossip about
his personal life. No whispered accusations behind his back.
He competed at the highest level of his sport for years, made
himself into a household name among fight fans, and did it without
leaving a trail of envy and resentment in his wake. Surely, any
man who can lay claim to all that by his 36th birthday is doing
something right. He could never call himself the best in the
world, but so what? Didn’t he achieve a certain kind of
excellence, even if his career was more of a testament to the
power of will than pure athleticism?
But
that doesn’t seem to be how we do it in MMA. For better
or worse, we think of championship belts as the only metric that
matters. After all, how great can you be if there was never a
time when you could fairly call yourself the greatest? There’s
a certain logic in that, but it still seems a little dumb, or
maybe just depressing. Nobody aspires to be the Florian of their
division -- the guy who’s better than everyone but the very
best -- but you could still do a whole lot worse. When we look
back on the career of a fighter who always handled himself with
dignity and professionalism, who avoided so many of the cliched
pitfalls that snagged his contemporaries, how can we call him
anything other than a smashing success? How can we say that he
wasn't great at what he did?
Source: MMA Fighting
|
‘THE
ULTIMATE FIGHTER 15’ FINALE RESULTS: PLAY-BY-PLAY &
UPDATES
The Pearl
at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, NV
Jun 1, 2012
John
Albert vs. Erik Perez
Round
1
Kim Winslow will oversee the night's first bout in Las Vegas.
The two bantamweights touch gloves and we are underway. Albert
initiates the clinch and pushes Perez in to the fence. Perez
is able to circle out and get free. Albert comes high with a
left kick that lands to the head of Perez. "Prince"
follows up with a left hand. Albert tries to sneak around the
back and put his hooks in. Her gets put on his back but forces
Perez to fight off an armbar. Albert switches to a triangle that
appears to be deep. Perez however is content to stay in the hold
and hit Albert with hammerfists. Albert reciprocates with his
own hammerfists. Finally Perez is able to get out of the hold
and in the scramble locks in a fully extended armbar. Winslow
stops the bout and Albert protests. On replay, it appears that
Albert never tapped. The time of the bout is 4:18 and is announced
as a verbal submission win for Perez.
Jeremy
Larsen vs. Joe Proctor
Round
1
The lightweights quickly exchange hooks, glancing with rights.
Larsen wades into the clinch and eats a knee from Proctor. Double
jab for Larsen lands, and Proctor returns with a low kick. Swiping
left body shot from Larsen. Larsen working behind his jab before
launching combos to the body. He comes in, head down, winging
with punches. Proctor grabs the collar tie, and launches a powerful
right knee that smashes into Larsen's face and sends him down
in a heap. The Massachusetts native is all over his foe with
hammerfists until Herb Dean rescues Larsen at 1:59 of the first
frame.
Cristiano
Marcello vs. Sam Sicilia
Round
1
Opening kick salvos for Marcello miss, while Sicilia can’t
land a punch. The Spokane, Wash., native starts winging with
overhand rights, prompting Marcello to shoot. The Brazilian’s
takedown is stuffed and they resume winging wild punches standing.
Each man smacks the other with hooks in a wide-open exchange.
Good left hook lands for Sicilia. Sicilia walks into a Marcello
push kick, but catches it and knocks the Brazilian to the floor.
Marcello butt scoots, Sicilia backs off and they reset standing.
Sicilia chases Marcello back to the fence and Marcello pulls
guard, looking for a quick armbar. Sicilia sees it, wisely pulls
out and makes Marcello stand back up again. Wild haymakers from
Sicilia sail high and wide of their target. He continues to start
winging combos with lunging left hooks, forcing Marcello back,
but never landing the follow up until the horn.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Sicilia
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Sicilia
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Sicilia
Round
2
Sicilia’s winging right overhand knocks Marcello off balance,
and he falls to his guard before quickly getting back to his
feet. He comes forward, rushing Sicilia with punches that are
mostly blocked, then shoots a weak takedown that Sicilia shrugs
off. Sicilia and Marcello are just taking turns, winding up huge
hooks and slinging them. No real technique as Marcello lands
a stream of right hooks, but Sicilia rips back with two of his
own. Marcello with a left hook, and is increasingly becoming
the more effective striker. The BJJ black belt comes forward
and lands a left roundhouse kick to the body, then dodges a combo
from Sicilia. As Marcello retreats, Sicilia rushes forward with
another lunging left hook that rocks his foe. Marcello’s
back hits the fence, Sicilia pelts him with punches and knees
and crumples him to the mat. Another set of punches from Sicilia
seals the deal, putting Marcello out cold at 2:53 of the second
round.
Myles
Jury vs. Chris Saunders
Round
1
Saunders tries to crowd the taller Jury, but The Alliance product
uses push kicks to keep Saunders away. More teeps from Jury,
landing hard to the body. Saunders tries to answer with low kicks,
but he’s just out of range. Both men dueling back and forth
with head kicks, all of which are blocked. Conservative, kick-heavy
opening two minutes. Pawing jabs and errant low kicks are on
full display until Saunders accidentally jams his finger into
Jury’s eye, prompting referee Kim Winslow to call for a
brief break. After the restart, feints from Jury set up a crisp
overhand right, the first real heavy strike of the fight. Jury
launches a flying knee that lands him in a single-leg takedown
from Saunders, but “The Fury” grabs a tight arm-in
guillotine and drops to half guard. Saunders tries to tripod
up and extricate himself, but can’t. He tries to pass to
the side, but Jury ensnares his leg, crushes his hips and forces
the tap at 4:03 of the first round.
Daron
Cruickshank vs. Chris Tickle
Round
1
Left head kick from Cruickshank lands on a charging Tickle. The
action starts quickly, as they lob punches in the ensuing scramble
and Tickle winds up snatching a tight guillotine. He jumps right
to full guard, but Cruickshank patiently takes his time and uses
a good 30 seconds to get free before setting up in full guard.
Cruickshank tries to stand, looking for a better chance to pass
or pound and tickle Slides up the fence. Cruickshank responds
immediately with a smart inside trip, and is right back on top
once more, landing elbows. Cruickshank postures up and Tickle
upkicks him while he’s down, prompting an immediate protest.
Referee Steve Mazzagatti is on top of the foul, gives Cruickshank
his reprieve, and instantly takes one point from Chris Tickle.
Left head kick-right cross-left cross lands for Tickle on the
restart and he drives for a takedown with Cruickshank eyeing
a guillotine. Cruickshank instead switches to the same inside
trip he used before, and hits it perfectly into full guard. Punches
and elbows land for Cruickshank, who grinds away from full guard
over the last 90 seconds of the round.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-8 Cruickshank
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-8 Cruickshank
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-8 Cruickshank
Round
2
Cruickshank comes forward to start the round, lobbing punches
and hard low kicks. Tickle returns fire, leaping in a right a
short right and grabbing a front headlock. Tickle tries to grab
an anaconda choke, but Cruickshank turns away from his body and
breaks free in half guard. Cruickshank postures up to pound and
Tickle nearly comes out the back door, but the Detroit native
smartly punches, re-establishes position and starts chipping
away from guard again. Lead kick from Cruickshank smacks Tickle
in the face, prompting Tickle to taunt his foe before ripping
him with a return one-two that puts Cruickshank on the chin.
Incredible moment of action. The pace slows with Tickle on top
until Cruickshank switches his hooks and tries to scramble up.
Tickle sits down into his half guard and tries to work for a
brabo choke as Cruickshank tries to roll into a single-leg takedown.
Tickle bases down on his head and elbows his body until the horn.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Tickle
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Tickle
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Tickle
Round
3
Both men exchange low kicks to start the final frame. Tickle
goes upstarts with a left roundhouse and lands the following
left cross. Cruickshank tries to get his inside trip again, but
Tickle blocks it and collapses on the tired Cruickshank right
into side control. Cruickshank trying to push Tickle away with
both arms, but failing. He spins his feet on the fence, trying
to scramble away, but he exposes his back. Tickle jumps on his
back but he can’t keep his torso high on the bent-over Cruickshank,
and he slides right over the back of his foe. Cruickshank dives
into top position and starts elbowing again. Cruickshank lands
a pair of elbows and nearly passes to half guard, but Tickle
explodes back to his feet. As Cruickshank clinches and looks
for his go-to inside trick, Tickle tries to counter with a lateral
drop. Tickle blows the throw, and Cruickshank falls right into
full mount. Cruickshank lands short elbows in close, but can’t
really open up with heavy fire until Tickle scrambles, gets in
on a single, and puts Cruickshank on his back again. Cruickshank
scrambles up with 15 seconds to go, and bulls his way to a takedown
just before the horn.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-8 Cruickshank (29-27 Cruickshank)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-8 Cruickshank (29-27
Cruickshank)
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-8 Cruickshank (29-27 Cruickshank)
Official
result: All three judges score the bout 29-27 for the winner
by unanimous decision, Daron Cruickshank.
Justin
Lawrence vs. John Cofer
Round
1
A side kick from Lawrence is caught by Cofer who runs him to
the mat. Lawrence crab walks back to the fence on his hands,
looking to snake up the cage. He quickly gets up and catches
a kick of Cofer, momentarily dropping him on the mat before letting
him regain his feet. Right cross lands for Lawrence but the southpaw
Cofer hits him with a left hand that stuns him for a brief moment.
Counter left hand lands for Lawrence, and the two trade punches
inside the clinch for a brief moment. Right head kick by Lawrence
is partially blocked. Both fighters take turns rushing forward
with punches, only to have their attempted combos blocked. They
continue to awkwardly clash inside, perhaps due to their differing
stances. Good left for Cofer lands, but Lawrence rips him with
two of his own. Cofer continues winging forward with hooks, unfazed
by Lawrence's cleaner, straigher shots. Another left hook slips
in for Cofer. Switch-step head kick from Lawrence is blocked.
Cofer races at him with punches and Lawrence slows him with a
jumping knee. Very tightly contested first round.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Lawrence
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Lawrence
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-10
Round
2
Short left lands for Lawrence again, as it starts to make a welt
under the right eye of Cofer. Low kicks from both men can't find
a firm target. Good right hook on a two-punch combo lands as
Lawrence dips inside. Cofer's punch rushes are starting to become
more telegraphed now and his TUF counterpart is picking him off
more frequently. Lawrence is picking up his workrate, dinging
Cofer with a pair of hooks to the head. “The American Kid”
is stalking now, but Cofer is kicking just enough to keep the
distance comfortable. Cofer lands a knee on the advancing Lawrence.
Lawrence tries one-two-spinning back kick, but wheels right into
Cofer, who locks up a rear waistlock, slams him to the ground
and takes his back with both hooks. Cofer gets too high in back
mount and Lawrence slides out the back. He takes his feet and
dives into Cofer's guard with a big right hand before time expires
in the round.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Lawrence
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Lawrence
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Lawrence
Round
3
Lawrence continues to advance with punches but can't find his
target. He feints with a teep, jabs, then uncorks a right roundhouse
kick on Cofer, who leans right into the strike. Cofer falls in
a heap along the fence and that's all she wrote. Sensational
head-kick knockout by Justin Lawrence just 19 seconds into the
final round.
Max
Holloway vs. Pat Schilling
Round
1
The lanky Holloway tries to establish his jab while Schilling
looks instantly to get the fight to the floor. Just after the
30-second mark, Schilling drives into a single-leg, elevates
Holloway and still can't get him to the mat. He drives the Hawaiian
across the cage, but Holloway shows off good hips, staying upright,
then instantly getting back to his feet when Schilling sucks
him to the mat. Body kick lands for Holloway. Right cross and
left hook to the body follow for Holloway. Schilling shoots low
for a double, then rolls for a leglock but Holloway yanks his
leg free and makes him stand again. Holloway pecking at Schilling
with rangy punches. Schilling whacks Holloway with a spinning
back fist, but promptly resumes walking into right hands. Pair
of left hooks to the body for Holloway land and Schilling looks
like he's starting to slow from the boxing attack of the Hawaiian.
Schilling tries to lunge forward with punches, but either misses
or is countered. Holloway cuts a corner on him, putting his back
to the fence and punishes him to the body once more. Schilling
shoots, Holloway sprawls and walks away, forcing it back to the
feet. Head kick-flying knee lands for Holloway, prompting another
shot from a desperate Schilling, who rolls for a kneebar at the
horn.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Holloway
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Holloway
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Holloway
Round
2
Holloway's jab is in Schilling's face quickly. Holloway nearly
flies over Schilling with a flying knee and the Minnesotan takes
the chance to go for another single-leg, which is stuffed. Right
hook and two follow-up shots land for Holloway. Left hook-right
hook from Holloway dazes his foe, who runs into another right
and falls down in pursuit of a takedown. Referee Chris Tognoni
asks Schilling to stand u and he obliges but he's outclassed.
Holloway walks him down into the clinch, pelting him with knees,
followed by more punches. Schilling shoots, another easy Holloway
sprawl. Left hook to the body. Right, then another left, all
to the body. Schilling is target practice. Body shots, both sides,
both hands against the fence. Schilling is holding his body as
he stands up from the butt scoot. He catches a body kick from
Holloway and trips him, but Holloway gets his leg free and walks
away. Right hook, then a right hook to the body for Holloway.
Another spinning back fist lands for Schilling, but he runs into
a right hand just a moment after. Holloway lands a left hook
to the body and a salvo of knees on a cowering Schilling at the
end of a gruesome second round.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-8 Holloway
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-8 Holloway
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-8 Holloway
Round
3
Schilling continues to stand in front of Holloway, who sticks
jabs in his face, then lands another left kick to the body. Schilling
gamely continues to throw and try to shoot for takedowns, but
Holloway looks like he's in absolutely zero danger and is simply
enjoying a sparring session. Double jab smacks Pineda, but the
following right cross misses. Another desperate spinning back
fist for Schilling goes wide, and Holloway punishes him with
a left hook to the body. Right cross from Holloway prompts another
easily-stuffed shot, and the Hawaiian throws a knee on the end
for good measure. Powerful one-two crashes into Schilling's chin,
awkwardly stumbling him back into the corner. However, Schilling
remains lucid, and Holloway simply backs away, letting him stand
again. Holloway tries to improvise a capoeira-inspired technique
off of the fence, but blows it. He retakes his feet and kicks
Schilling in the head, pummeling him one more time for good measure
before the merciful final horn.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Holloway (30-26 Holloway)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Holloway (30-26 Holloway)
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-8 Holloway (30-25 Holloway)
Official
result: All three judges score the bout 30-27 for the winner
by unanimous decision, Max Holloway.
Jonathan
Brookins vs. Charles Oliveira
Round
1
Both advance with errant kicks before Oliveira smacks a hard
outside low kick. Brookins with two lead rights. Hard exchange
of inside strikes as the Brazilian looks for the clinch, but
nothing lands clean. Oliveira stalks Brookins to the fence before
exploding in a flying knee. Brookins, however, dumps him to the
mat and sets up on the top. Oliveira quickly looks for an armbar
and forces Brookins to pull out of his guard, letting him stand
again. Left cross for Brookins lands on an advancing Oliveira.
The Brazilian gets Brookins back to the fence and rips him with
two right hands. Brookins circles away and another right cross
from Oliveira crashes into Brookins' bloodied mouth, dropping
him to his seat for a brief second. Oliveira doesn't get too
crazy after dropping Brookins, settling back into his boxing
and leg kicking. Another clean right cross for Oliveira gets
Brookins on the run, and the Brazilian tags him again. Brookins
plants his feet and tries to fire back, but Oliveira is really
taking it to him now on the feet. Inside low kick by “do
Bronx” and a knee follows. Lunging knee lands on a retreating
Brookins before the horn ends a fun round of fighting.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Oliveira
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Oliveira
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Oliveira
Round
2
Jumping front kick from Oliveira can't find its intended target.
A flurry of Brookins hooks backs Oliveira back to the cage, but
the Floridian can't find his takedown. Brookins winging with
hooks and uppercuts now, but two right hands from Oliveira land.
Oliveira clinches with the retreating Brookins and tries to suck
him to the mat, while Brookins strains for guillotine control
standing. Oliveira finally pulls him down to the mat, straight
into fuill guard. Brookins has the guillotine, but “do Bronx”
frees himself and lands some elbows. Brookins tries to scoot
up the fence, but Oliveira quickly grabs a front headlock, sinks
a guillotine and figure-four grips it to finish. He rolls to
his back, locks up guard and Brookins is trapped. He taps out,
giving Oliveira the impressive submission victory.
Mike
Chiesa vs. Al Iaquinta
Round
1
Iaquinta lands an overhand right and follows with a right cross
that makes Chiesa wince. Chiesa kicks to the body, but Iaquinta
catches it and punishes it for him. Chiesa runs into a single-leg
attempt and Iaquinta smartly fights it off, even attempting a
leg scissor for a moment as a potential way to reverse his foe.
Another Chiesa kick is caught, but Iaquinta's right hook misses.
They grapple along the cage and Chiesa gets in deep on a bodylock.
The New Yorker tries to spin free, but exposes his back to Chiesa,
who pulls him to the ground and gets his hooks in. Chiesa lands
some elbows to the side of the head and looks for the rear-naked
choke. He works his choking arm right under the jaw of Iaquinta,
sinking the choke. Iaquinta grimaces, but he's caught and forced
to tap out at 2:27 of the first round. Michael Chiesa is the
winner of Season 15 of “The Ultimate Fighter.”
Jake
Ellenberger vs. Martin Kampmann
Round
1
After a brief feeling-out process, Ellenberger leaps into the
pocket with a big left hook and right-handed follow that drops
Kampmann and the Dane is in trouble. Ellenberger flurries with
rights, but Kampmann remains calm and weathers the storm nicely.
Ellenberger sets up on top along the cage, but is just holding
Kampmann down as the “Hitman” tries to scoot up the
fence. Kampmann attacks the neck of Ellenberger, trying to frame
up a guillotine while the Nebraskan tries to suck his legs away.
Ellenberger slowly works his head free and with 30 seconds to
go in the round, Kampmann gets back to his feet. They jockey
along the fence with Kampmann landing knees to the body before
trying a takedown of his own before the bell.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Ellenberger
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Ellenberger
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Ellenberger
Round
2
Ellenberger is all over Kampmann with punches again, ripping
him with hooks and crosses as he gives chase. Kampmann's nose
is bloodied and his face is reddened. Ellenberger throws two
big hooks and gets hit with a short counter right from Kampmann.
The Nebraskan takes an awkward step and looks like he might be
hurt. Kampmann instantly recognizes it and swarms him. Kampmann
grabs the clinch and three right knees drop Ellenberger to the
mat in a heap. Referee Steve Mazzagatti intervenes immediately
to rescue the toppled “Juggernaut” at 1:20 of the second
stanza.
Source: Sherdog
|
Friday June 15
Blaisdell Exhibition Hall
Doors open at 5:30
Tickets available at Ticketmaster Walmart and Box Office.
Source:
Derrick Bright
|
A
crash course on testosterone, hypgonadism, and doping
By Zach
Arnold/ FightOpinon.com
We
have all heard about the Lamont Peterson/Amir Khan fight getting
cancelled. When you heard that the cancellation was due to Peterson
failing a drug test due to detection of synthetic testosterone,
you probably groaned. You may not totally understand what that
exactly means, but you know it’s bad news.
For
boxing fans, fighters, promoters, and media, they can learn a
thing or two from their MMA counterparts about recent drug scandals
and the evolution of doping in combat sports.
What
you, as a fight fan, must know about modern day doping practices
in combat sports is downright ugly. However, it’s necessary
to understand what is going on in order to appreciate the gravity
of the doping dilemma in combat sports. You’ve been warned.
What
is testosterone?
As
Dr. David Black, a famous drug program doctor once stated on
the TV show 60 Minutes, testosterone is the base chemical of
all anabolic steroids.
In
other words, testosterone is what makes a man… well, a man.
Your muscles, your sex drive, your energy levels, all impacted
by the health of your endocrine system and the levels of testosterone
in your system.
In
the combat sports world, testosterone is all about physical &
mental power. When in excess, it can be a very powerful weapon.
What
is hypogonadism?
During
a Thursday radio interview in Washington D.C. media circles,
Lamont Peterson stated that the reason he got caught for synthetic
testosterone is because a doctor gave him soy-based, low-dosage
testosterone pellets that allowed his body absorbed low levels
of testosterone. Peterson went on to claim that he’s suffering
from hypogonadism.
Hypogonadism
is when your endocrine system can’t produce normal levels
of testosterone. The end result is less energy, a crippled sex
drive, less physical power, and less mental focus.
It
should be promptly noted that, at most, around 2% of adult males
naturally suffer from hypogonadism.
What
are the main causes of hypogonadism in athletes under age 40?
For
the majority of athletes who proclaim hypogonadism, they are
suffering from this medical condition for various reasons. Amongst
fighters in the combat sports world, there are four main causes
for hypogonadism.
Anabolic
steroid usage: Anabolic steroid users damage their endocrine
system by using these drugs. Since testosterone is the base chemical
of anabolic steroids, you can automatically see the connection
here. A steroid user gets the performance-enhancing benefits
of drug usage but ends up with nasty side effects. The solution
for a steroid user? Get a prescription of testosterone. In essence,
you’re double-dipping on the doping. An anabolic steroid
user damages their endocrine system and, in turn, gets testosterone
pellets or injections or creams & gels in order to make up
for their damaged natural testosterone levels. Much like a diabetic
takes insulin because their body struggles to produce the right
amount, anabolic steroid users use Testosterone Replacement Therapy
(has a nice spin to it, huh?) in order to try to get their body’s
natural testosterone levels back to within a normal range.
Pain
killer usage: If you abuse pain killers, your testosterone levels
will get damaged. Methadone is a common culprit. In MMA circles,
we have seen a scary amount of fighters who are using cancer-grade,
end-of-life-grade pain killers and are failing drug tests because
of it. It’s an alarming issue in combat sports because fighters
often times are mixing different pain killing medications at
once, sometimes combining it with alcohol consumption. It is
a serious problem.
Concussions:
If you suffer brain damage, your ability to produce testosterone
can significantly increase. In MMA, we are seeing a lot of older
fighters who are using testosterone and getting a blessing from
an athletic commission to do so. The reason it’s a mistake
is because older fighters tend to have more brain damage due
to the amount of punishment they have taken in previous fights.
It is a vicious cycle because the more brain damage you suffer,
the more of a need for testosterone you have. By athletic commissions
giving brain-damaged fighters a hall pass for testosterone usage,
it’s opening up fighters for more brain damage in the future.
Bad
weight cutting: If you experience a bad weight cut to make weight
for a fight and it’s done improperly, you can damage your
endocrine system and your body’s ability to produce testosterone.
While many people online debate the link of testosterone damage
to weight cutting (especially in the amateur wrestling community),
there’s no question there’s a link between the action
and the outcome. In combat sports, you will see fighters who
get busted for performance-enhancing drugs that are known less
about producing bulky muscle and more about producing leaner
muscle that helps fighters make weight. Many of these drugs are
also horse steroid drugs such as clenbuterol & boldenone.
Why
should I care about fighters crying a need for testosterone due
to hypogonadism?
For
the majority of fighters in combat sports, hypogonadism is a
result of bad choices that fighters make. Anabolic steroid usage
is the most prevalent cause.
In
2010, famous UFC fighter Chael Sonnen got busted for testosterone
usage in California. He ended up proclaiming hypogonadism and
a need for a testosterone prescription. He even brought his doctor,
a general practitioner named Dr. Mark Czarnecki from The Dalles,
Oregon to try to justify the need of Sonnen using testosterone.
Around
the time of this hearing, Big Pharma started ramping up a major
ad campaign about “Low T” and men in their 40s and
50s needing to visit their doctor because of low testosterone
levels. Despite the fact that only a small percentage of the
male population suffers from low testosterone levels, Big Pharma
quickly blurred the lines of what people really need versus what
people want & desire to get. In other words, Chael Sonnen
couldn’t have asked for a better gift than for Big Pharma
to time their testosterone ad campaign around the time he was
having his problems. The lines got blurred and the public suddenly
was warned about an imaginary epidemic of men suffering from
low testosterone.
When
it comes to legitimate testosterone usage, a board-certified
endocrinologist is the one who should be in charge of managing
such treatment. After all, low testosterone levels indicate a
damaged endocrine system.
However,
in the combat sports world, we see the sport populated with mark
doctors. Mark doctors are fan boy doctors who are willing to
write up prescriptions for drugs to fighters in exchange for
a celebrity rub. Photographs, autographs, going out to dinner
to socialize. As we have seen over the last few years in Mixed
Martial Arts, the majority of doctors who are writing up prescriptions
for testosterone to fighters are not board-certified endocrinologists.
The mark doctors who are writing up these prescriptions are General
Practitioners and Age Management Specialists, often who get referrals
from chiropractors. The end result is that you have fighters
getting their own prescriptions with little or no oversight and
what oversight there is tends to be sloppy & dangerous. In
some cases, fighters are getting prescriptions for injectable
testosterone and are giving themselves the shots.
It’s
dangerous and it’s absolutely unacceptable.
What
are commissions doing about the problem?
The
early returns on how athletic commissions are handling the testosterone
crisis are mixed to say the least.
You
have to remember that commissions are regulatory bodies full
of politicians, many of them who have been appointed to their
positions due to politics that have nothing to do with actual
experience in the combat sports world or on matters of medical
knowledge. Many of these commissions exist for liability purposes
and to collect revenue from gates. Some commissions, like New
Jersey, are obviously better than others. However, money talks
and BS walks.
As
the testosterone issue has flared up, we are seeing more signs
of athletic commissions making decisions based on finances &
compromise. In New Jersey, you can get a Therapeutic Use Exemption
for testosterone usage. You have to follow the guidelines set
forth by the Association of Boxing Commissions. In Nevada, they
have their own process to get a TUE for testosterone. Incredibly,
Executive Director Keith Kizer says that the process for getting
a TUE only takes 20 days in Nevada. In California, a new process
to set up Therapeutic Use Exemptions for testosterone is being
set up to where a fighter has to undergo at least three to six
months of medical testing before any sort of clearance is given.
This standard is actually much more legitimate, in my opinion,
than the process currently in Nevada.
As
for the drug testing aspect of various commissions and their
ability to catch undisclosed testosterone usage in fighters,
it’s a very mixed bag of results.
Most
athletic commissions use standard urine drug testing. This kind
of drug testing will only catch the stupidest of cheaters using
basic PEDs and those who use PEDs at the wrong time. Since most
of these drug tests are done right before a fight and after a
fight, it’s pretty easy for a fighter to cycle off when
needed.
Amazingly,
a lot of fighters have failed the IQ test that is standard urine
drug testing. Various AC’s like to tout this stupidity as
a display of how tough their drug policies are when, if anything,
it exposes just how deep the doping crisis in combat sports really
is.
For
a standard urine drug test, a typically used measure is called
the T/E ratio. The T stands for Testosterone and the E stands
for Epitestosterone. For most people, the natural level is on
a 1:1 ratio basis. Depending on the state athletic commission
you are talking about, some use a more appropriate 4:1 ratio
while other states use a more forgiving 6:1 ratio. The higher
the T/E ratio, the better the indication is of someone recently
using PEDs — or of someone who is such a hardcore drug user
that they are too dumb to cycle off their levels.
In
the case of Lamont Peterson, however, he was not testing positive
under the protocol of a standard urine drug test. Why? While
he was micro-dosing his testosterone usage, he was doing so in
a manner in which his T/E ratio was under 4:1. Therefore, a standard,
unsophisticated urine drug test was never going to catch them.
This
is where the Carbon Isotope Ratio standard comes into play. CIR
is essentially a standard used for more advanced urine drug testing
that allows you to detect synthetic testosterone usage. Athletic
commissions claim that they don’t use CIR because it’s
cost-prohibitive. However, it absolutely works as a protocol
for urine testing. Peterson got caught because of the CIR drug
testing protocol. Keith Kizer of the Nevada State Athletic Commission
admitted in an interview that standard Nevada urine drug tests
would not have caught Lamont Peterson’s testosterone usage.
What makes this so curious is that when a fighter fails a standard
urine drug test in Nevada, the testing protocol on the B sample
happens to feature Carbon Isotope Ratio testing. So, Kizer has
admitted that Nevada’s lower standard of drug testing would
not have caught Peterson and, yet, as we discovered in this case
the CIR protocol that Nevada uses on appeal only would have busted
Peterson. It’s totally backwards in terms of how the current
drug testing process works.
The
CIR test that Peterson tested positive for was administered by
Dr. Margaret Goodman’s Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency, which
contracted with the two fighters in question (Lamont Peterson
& Amir Khan) to do supplemental drug testing in addition
to what drug testing the state of Nevada does. This is the first
big positive test for VADA.
What
are testosterone users talking about when they are referring
to their ‘levels’?
The
T/E ratio that is used for standard urine drug testing is not
what testosterone users talk about when it comes to their ‘levels’
for testing.
What
testosterone users are talking about is the ng (serum) level
of testosterone based on blood testing. The current spectrum
of accepted ng levels by the state of Nevada is anywhere from
400 ng to 1100 ng. If this sounds like a wide gulf to you, that’s
because it is. You can be a little lower than 400 ng for your
testosterone levels and still be perfectly fine. In the case
of UFC fighter Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, he claimed
that his age management doctor told him that his level of 420
ng was ‘too low’ and that he needed to bump it up.
Rampage claims it got bumped up to 600 ng but not the 800 ng
that he wanted. The end result is that Rampage admittedly gained
15 pounds of muscle but had water retention issues when he missed
weight for his UFC Japan fight against Ryan Bader.
The
manipulation of levels when it comes to measuring testosterone
levels via blood testing results is evident in one manner. If
you are an anabolic steroid user, you can damage your endocrine
system after usage and go get your blood work done. The results
of the blood work will show that you are suffering from low testosterone
levels. This is then used for justification to get a prescription
for Testosterone Replacement Therapy. This is what makes the
wildly varying state-by-state process of getting a Therapeutic
Use Exemption for testosterone usage so maddening — and
dangerous.
What
is the net effect of testosterone usage in combat sports?
Given
the rise of admitted & busted testosterone users in combat
sports, eventually a crisis will happen in boxing or MMA sooner
rather than later. A testosterone user will end up crippling
or killing an opponent and the testosterone issue will blow up
on a massive scale in the media — and rightfully so.
Testosterone
usage gives anabolic steroid users a second chance at doping.
Testosterone usage gives those who are abusing pain killers even
more reason to continue their vicious cycle. The same can be
said about fighters who suffer from permanent brain damage who
end up getting a testosterone prescription in order to take more
physical punishment and suffer even more brain damage.
Testosterone
is power in combat sports. It can increase the knockout ratio
of a fighter, even at an older age. Unlike using testosterone
in order to increase your strength to hit a homerun or perform
better at track & field, testosterone usage in combat sports
allows a fighter to not only cause more brain damage against
an opponent but also receive more brain damage as their career
is extended due to getting permission to use testosterone because
their body can’t produce testosterone naturally any longer.
Testosterone
usage is a legitimately scary medical problem in combat sports
and deserves intense public scrutiny. Lives are at stake here.
If you don’t care about the cheaters, then at least care
about fighters who are getting cheated against and are in a more
vulnerable position to suffer their own form of physical damage.
Visit
FightOpinon.com for more of Zach Arnold
Source:
Fight Opinion
|
MMA
ROUNDTABLE: ELLENBERGER'S FUTURE, MMA SAFETY, TUF CHANGES AND
MORE
By Luke
Thomas - Senior Editor
Another
week, another fight and event with major implications.
Rising
welterweight contender Jake Ellenberger is on the cusp of a title
shot if he beats Martin Kampmann tomorrow night, but it's not
clear if he should or will get it. Interestingly, that fight
takes place on the finale of TUF: Live, a show many fans and
media members are wondering how to keep alive (or if it even
should be kept alive). All the while, a tragedy occurred in an
unregulated MMA bout in South Dakota.
To help sort out what these and other issues mean, Dave Doyle
and I get our hands dirty in another edition of The MMA Roundtable.
1.
If Jake Ellenberger wins on Friday, should he face Georges St.
Pierre, Carlos Condit or Johny Hendricks next?
Luke: Ellenberger should face Hendricks. The winner of that bout
should face the winner of GSP vs. Condit.
First, the timing would work out with relative ease. Hendricks
has already planned to wait for GSP, but that's a pipe dream.
If Hendricks is serious, he's on a path to be out longer than
a year. That's a year in a sport whose undulating path changes
fighter realities and opportunities. It's much better for him
to stay active against Ellenberger. Assuming the two fought in
three months, that'd put them approximately one month off from
the expected November return of GSP.
Second,
it's a more defensible fight than a title shot. It's true Ellenberger
is on quite the streak, but the first top ranked opponent he
defeated is Jake Shields. Beating Diego Sanchez is nice and doing
it against Martin Kampmann is damn impressive, but Hendricks
is the final piece of the puzzle. Jon Fitch, it should be noted,
had to win eight in a row to get a shot against St. Pierre. Moreover,
Hendricks is the only fighter since GSP to defeat both Jon Fitch
and Josh Koscheck. It's hard to make a claim to be the undisputed
contender to GSP's crown when there is another welterweight floating
in close proximity with credentials of that caliber.
If Hendricks wins, he'll have had an arguably easier road than
Ellenberger, but not all title shot paths are equally arduous.
All we can ask for is approximately difficult ordeals and that
no other obvious challenge go unanswered. A fight against Hendricks
to settle unclear hierarchy is a challenge worth answering.
Dave:
If Ellenberger wins, he should face Condit. If he doesn't, what's
the point of even having an interim championship?
I'm
not denying the logic in the scenario Luke lays out, but this
assumes St. Pierre will actually be able to return in time for
what the champ himself has called an optimistic projection. Torn
ACLs on guys in their 30s don't always cooperate in that sort
of time frame.
If
Ellenberger scores an impressive win over Kampmann, that would
give him a slight edge over Hendricks in terms of who should
get an interim title shot. Ellenberger is already ranked No.
3 in the USA TODAY/SB Nation Consensus welterweight rankings.
A win over Kampmann, on the heels of defeating Jake Shields and
Diego Sanchez, would only bolster his case. Hendricks has an
impressive resume, too, but he eked out a split decision over
Josh Koscheck in his last fight and that's enough to give Ellenberger
the nod.
So I say, given we don't know if GSP is going to make it back
in time for November, if an interim title is meant to be anything
more than a prop, make Condit defend it, and if Ellenberger wins
Friday, give him the shot.
2.
What does the death of Dustin Jenson in South Dakota say about
the safety of the sport in 2012?
Luke:
Most of us would like to point to the fact that Jenson was fighting
in unregulated territory. Fighting there is outrageously dangerous,
but the other two MMA fighters who died on U.S. soil did so with
at least a modicum of regulation. Regulation is preferable to
the absence of regulation, but it's hardly the cure all.
Consider
that amateur MMA is dangerous even in states where MMA is properly
regulated among the professional ranks. States often don't have
the budget, manpower or resources necessary to properly ensure
fighter safety in contests where the only thing that can be relied
upon is that none of the fighters get paid. The skill set differential
between fighters is often astronomical; there are rarely blood
tests that measure anything approximating performance enhancing
drugs or diseases like HIV and Hepatitis; and the officiating
crew is either run by the inept, corrupt or some admixture of
the two. The horror stories I've heard and personally witnessed
in amateur MMA would be enough to fill lengthy tomes.
When
Dana White says MMA is a safe sport, he's only right when talking
about the UFC. The battery of tests and evaluations fighters
must go through at that level has clearly proven to be a very
successful screen. But the truth is it's basically only a handful
of territories that do enough preventative care to save lives.
Places like New Jersey - that caught Thiago Alves' problematic
artery-vein brain connection before his fight at UFC 111 - can
be relied upon to catch serious issues ahead of time. The problem
is that instances like this, while laudable, are incredibly few
and far between.
I don't know what would've saved Jenson. Having a paramedic and
doctor in the venue? Having a commission not allow him to fight
for a fifth time in less than a year? Maybe. Yes. I don't know.
What I do know is that calling for regulation is well-intentioned.
It's also a necessary component to fighter safety, but the problem
is it's hardly sufficient. Across state and international lines,
'regulation' means a huge variety of different things.
Dave:
I've watched both YouTube videos of the fight, which were shot
at different angles. Nothing happened during the fight which
you can pinpoint as something that clearly went wrong. Jenson
didn't take an undue amount of punishment. Hensrud was sportsmanlike,
releasing the hold as soon as Jenson tapped, and helped his opponent
to his feet. The referee was in position the entire time and
ended the fight in a timely manner.
Would
proper regulation have prevented this? Maybe, maybe not. There
are several responsible states out there in this regard, and
Luke correctly singles out New Jersey for praise. But for every
New Jersey, there seems to be three commissions which are simply
content to take their share of the gate receipts and go home.
So even coming up with stricter regulation of the amateur scene
is no guarantee that another death in the cage won't happen.
So
with malice or incompetence from anyone in the cage that night
ruled out; and whether or not regulation would have prevented
this tragedy a factor you're unable to prove or disprove, we're
left with one harsh reality: No matter how many precautions you
take, no matter how hard you work to ensure fighter safety, sometimes
the worst-case scenario can still happen. It's the brutal trade-off
we make in return for watching people inflict punishment on one
another for our entertainment. It's far from unique to MMA. It
also happens in boxing and every other contact sport. But that
doesn't make it any easier to take when it does occur.
3.
Dana White has stated changes need to be made to "The Ultimate
Fighter" on FX. What changes would you recommend?
Dave:
Luke, I'm going to let both you and the readers in on a little
secret: In the press room Saturday at UFC 146, I confided to
a fellow member of the MMA media that I haven't watched a minute
of "The Ultimate Fighter" this season, aside from fast
forwarding to the fights on my DVR. Said reporter, whose name
might rhyme with Sven Towlkes, laughed and told me that not only
has he not watched it, but he had asked around and several other
reporters haven't either. If the people who are supposed to follow
everything MMA for a living are burnt out on "TUF,"
what does that say about the casual viewer?
When you ask White about "TUF," he will simply say
fans love to see fights and leave it at that. But the simple
fact of the matter is, you can only watch the wacky hijinks that
ensue when you lock a bunch of dudes into a house with no outside
world contact so many times before the format gets stale. Maybe
you can squeeze another interesting season out of "The Comeback,"
a la Season 4 with Matt Serra. I'd probably watch that if the
right personalities were involved. Short of that, I think it's
time to forget "TUF" and innovate the next way to promote
up-and-coming fighters, which is admittedly easier said than
done.
Luke:
I'll concede Dave's got a point about scrapping the entire franchise.
Some of you may recall I've challenged the very premise of the
UFC's strategy, namely, that you can iterate a show into sustainability.
If they got rid of TUF, I'd be happy to call it a success just
as much as I'd be happy to see it go.
UFC, though, seems committed to the idea they're going to keep
it around. And if that's the case, what are the best options
for change? Getting off Friday night is first and foremost. It
hurts TUF and ends up making the show a poor lead-in for UFC
content that follows it.
The
question is do we blow up the entire format or not? I think yes.
Making cosmetic changes here or there might help at the margins,
but won't really change the show's trajectory. To me, they should
host live fights Bellator style. Look at the UFC's calendar for
the month of June. They've got three FX cards. They're spread
way too thin. Rather than trying to do this, why not have one
major FX card and leave the sort of fights that'd fill the rest
of the roster for weekly TUF fights? I understand the engineering
of this might prove difficult, especially in a three-month season.
Perhaps they'd have to wait until the quarterfinals to start
doing this. There's lots of downsides to what I'm proposing.
What I do know, though, is UFC cards are too watered down despite
the UFC roster being talent rich. TUF needs a boost in visibility
and the stakes of the program need to matter. Right now it feels
too distant and removed from the UFC universe. Better to find
a way to bring the two worlds together if the UFC is committed
to keeping the show going.
4.
Who deserves the next shot at Junior dos Santos' heavyweight
title?
Dave:
Having sat cageside for both the Strikeforce Grand Prix finals
and UFC 146, I've got to give Cain Velasquez the nod over Daniel
Cormier. Granted, this argument could be moot if Cain is, in
fact, sidelined for six months, and given that Cormier is also
medically suspended and will be contractually obligated to fight
once more in Strikeforce before he's free to compete in the UFC.
But if we're going to simply go on who deserves the shot on principle,
I don't see how you can deny Velasquez. With the exception of
one fight, Velasquez has been unstoppable in the Octagon. That
one loss, of course, was to dos Santos. That fight rather famously
in ended 64 seconds, when dos Santos tagged Velasquez with the
first significant strike of the night. That's a circumstance
that can happen to anyone in an MMA fight. Maybe it will happen
again if they meet again. Or maybe Velasquez will solve the riddle
of getting dos Santos of his feet, and force dos Santos to contend
with the same buzzsaw Antonio Silva encountered last week.
Cormier will no doubt have his day, but to me, dos Santos and
Velasquez are the clear-cut No. 1 and 2 in the division, with
Cormier an equally clear-cut No. 3. So give the ex-champ his
rematch.
Luke:
I'm going to have to agree with my colleague here. I do believe
when Overeem returns he should fight for the title if for business
considerations only. But we'll cross that bridge when we get
there.
As
for Velasquez, he is more deserving than Cormier. Don't get me
wrong: Cormier has turned in one of the most impressive two years
in terms of MMA growth that I've ever seen. But looking at precedent,
Strikeforce champions who crossover into the UFC have had to
fight one time before getting any title shots. That's true for
Alistair Overeem, Dan Henderson and even Nick Diaz. Yes, Diaz
initially was offered the shot against GSP and his own poor professionalism
cost him said opportunity. But he fought B.J. Penn and then Condit
for the interim title. Cormier should have to follow a similar
path.
Velazquez's only loss is to Junior dos Santos. Both fighters
went into that bout with injuries and I have a hard time believing
it will end the same way as their first meeting. The fight also
makes sense for business realities. UFC needs all the star power
they can get and Velasquez is almost there as a major attraction.
He needs one or two more star-making performances in big fights
and continued outreach to Latino audiences, but here's on the
cusp. If he wins, that's a big gain for UFC. With the departure
of the old guard of UFC stars already in motion, creating new
ones has never been more important.
Source:
MMA Fighting
|
Undefeated
Prospect Wagner Prado Steps in to Face Phil Davis at UFC on Fox
4
by Damon
Martin
When
opportunity knocks you have to answer.
An
injury has forced Chad Griggs out of his UFC on Fox 4 bout against
Phil Davis so undefeated prospect Wagner Prado has been tapped
as his replacement.
Prado’s
management team at AMR Group confirmed the new fight to MMAWeekly.com
on Wednesday with bout agreements in place for the August card.
MMAWeekly.com
first profiled Wagner Prado earlier this year when he was a 6-0
pro training out of Team Nogueira.
Since
that time the young Brazilian has picked up one more win and
now makes his dream jump to the UFC where he faces a tough test
in former NCAA champion wrestler Phil Davis.
“My
biggest dream is to be the UFC light heavyweight champion of
the world and thank God I’m on the right track, but I’ll
go up one step at a time. I’m working toward achieving my
goal and one day I’ll be there,” said Prado in April.
Now
he’s there and he’ll get the chance to make a very
big impact in his first fight as he faces Phil Davis at the UFC
on Fox 4 card on Aug 4 in Los Angeles.
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
The
16 lessons from last Jiu-Jitsu World Championship*
Marcelo
Dunlop
1.
Lesson from Gilberto Durinho
After
hitting the woodwork so many times, the Atos lightweight won
one of the thorniest divisions in Worlds history. The lesson:
don’t be discouraged if you have your objective within grasp
on so many occasions but it slips through your fingers. When
it comes down to it, those attempts, which others erroneously
call “frustrations”, will lead you to conquer something
beyond a mere objective, but your greatest dream in life.
2.
Lesson from Kron and Tanquinho
The
two finalists (lightweight and featherweight) dropped down a
weight group to achieve better career results. Take a close look
to see whether you’re coming up short for want of a diet
– or just a pre-tourney spell in the sauna.
3.
Lesson from Gabrielle Garcia
One
time, upon surmounting ultraheavyweight Luiz Felipe Big Mac,
black belt Alexandre Souza taught: “You don’t chop
down a mountain, you scale it.” If you’re one of Gabi
Garcia’s opponent’s and you haven’t found a way
of beating her yet, train and study more. Adopting the unbecoming
tactic of berating and badmouthing the absolute champion is the
attitude of someone who understands nothing of the spirit of
Jiu-Jitsu, wherein great opponents shape our character and games.
4.
Lesson from Tyler Brey
In
Long Beach, the blue belt from Infinite Jiu-Jitsu proved how
you don’t need a black belt to thrill a crowd. His legs
rendered useless by a congenital spinal defect, Tyler parked
his wheelchair at ringside and dove on in. “If you limit
yourself, you’ll never get anywhere. I don’t have it
all, but God gave me what I need to do what I want,” said
the fresh-faced Californian. Stop whining about the difficulties
and ask yourself how you can make a difference.
5.
Lesson from Angélica Galvão
André’s
wife took five years off from training to take care of her daughter.
Even after spending so many years on the sidelines, she came
back and became purple belt world champion. Find inspiration
in her accomplishment; keep in shape and get back to training
tomorrow, regardless of your reasons for having put Jiu-Jitsu
on hold in the first place.
6.
Lesson from Braga Neto
The
Roberto Gordo pupil won the world championship in 2008, after
which he had a run of poor results until capturing his second,
this year in California. Persist, keep training and believing;
after all, storms and fair weather are a normal part of any journey.
7.
Lessons from the Mendes brothers
The
first brothers crowned black belt world champions on the same
year, they started out together and made it to the top together.
Invite the ones you love to train with you. Jiu-Jitsu only strengthens
the bonds – and helps with your objectives.
8.
Lesson from Pé de Pano
Early
in the year, Márcio Cruz told GRACIEMAG.com he would be
making his return and pursuing a medal at the 2011 Worlds. Keeping
his word, the black belt commonly known as Pé de Pano
only hit a wall in an evenly-matched semifinal with Cavaca. If
you truly believe in the promises you make, state them, share
them with friends and even rivals. Hold yourself to them and
make it happen.
9.
Lesson from Hannette Quadros
Dare.
If the move featuring on your opponent’s menu is a flying
armbar, go for it, and rush to the crowd to celebrate.
10.
Lesson from Letícia Ribeiro
Let
stated that her pupil Bia Mesquita won’t let her stop competing.
Iron forges iron, steel shapes steel. Teach your training partners
everything you know so you’ll continue to evolve –
and win along with them.
11.
Lesson from Léo Nogueira
Winning
the absolute gold medal at the Brazilian Nationals a few weeks
prior was key in his success at the Worlds. Hiding your game
may be effective, but testing it against the best is far more
productive. Be prepared to face challenges the moment they surface.
12.
Lesson from Cris Cyborg and Ben Henderson
Jiu-Jitsu
may not be your only concern in life but it should be top of
the list of the less important ones. Train, test yourself at
all times, and you may just nab a bronze medal to show your friends
at the UFC like Ben did, or a gold medal to show off around Strikforce
like Cris did.
13.
Lesson from Marcelo Garcia
Be
wary of beaten old precepts like “It’s easy to make
it to the top, what’s hard is staying there.” Plenty
of superstars toiled doggedly in the lower belt divisions, facing
all the challenges they could handle, stomped on their egos,
and today they seem to win on “automatic pilot”. That’s
the case of Marcelinho, who took on all the absolute had to offer
at brown belt, developed an unbeatable game, and is now five-time
middleweight world champion.
14.
Lesson from Alexander Trans
So
what if what you’ve been doing is hardly recognized in your
country or not recognized at all? Fight, hone your skills, and
strive to be the best in your country at what you do. With time,
you may, for example, come from Denmark to become champion of
the world in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu…
15.
Lesson from Luanna Alzuguir
Cracked
rib? Get the quick tapout, grab your gold medal, and go get it
taken care of happier and more fulfilled.
16.
Lesson from Rodolfo Vieira
Don’t
let titles or glory change the way you see the world and do things.
A short tale picked up on by the GRACIEMAG at the Worlds Blog:
on opening day at the Worlds, Rodolfo got in a lengthy line like
everyone else to collect the IBJJF T-shirt and copy of GRACIEMAG
to which all 2,300 athletes signed up were entitled to. Getting
near his turn, Rodolfo stuck a hand in his pocket and realized
he didn’t have his IBJJF ID, promptly leaving the line and
telling a friend: “Shoot, I didn’t bring my card; I’ll
come back tomorrow. There’s no way to prove I’m signed
up for the Worlds. “What are you talking about, you nut?
You’re on the cover of the GRACIE you’re about to pick
up; at the Pan!” Even so, Rodolfo stuck to the rules and
left, returning the next day to pick up his magazine and T-shirt,
happy as a lark.
*
This article was originally printed in GRACIEMAG #172. If you
don’t want to miss the one coming up next month, hurry and
subscribe to your favorite Jiu-Jitsu magazine, here.
Source:
Gracie Magazine
|
Attacking
the rubber-stamping of testosterone usage in MMA
By Zach
Arnold
By
now, everyone knows that Chael Sonnen got his hall pass to use
testosterone while fighting in the state of Nevada. So, his fight
with Anderson Silva on July 7th was a fait accompli.
Predictably,
Nick Diaz got the book thrown at him with a year-long suspension
for a second positive drug test (marijuana).
Boxing
Insider: A crash course on testosterone, hypogonadism, and doping
(in combat sports)
Ben
Fowlkes at MMA Fighting adroitly pointed out that allowing testosterone
while punishing marijuana use does MMA no favors. I’m reminded
of this item at Pro Football Talk last week about how many football
players use marijuana.
Marijuana
is not a performance-enhancing drug. If you want to argue that
it should be a banned substance, make your case. If you are concerned
about a fighter being high during the actual fight, I’m
with you. However, to continue making public claims (like Keith
Kizer has) that ‘theoretically’ marijuana usage is
a performance-enhancing drug in combat sports is beyond bizarre.
Sadly,
what’s more bizarre is that the Nevada State Athletic Commission’s
assisting physician, Dr. Timothy Trainor, claimed that Chael
Sonnen’s physician, Dr. Mark Czarnecki of The Dalles, Oregon,
Czarecki, a General Practitioner and not an endocrinologist,
wrote Sonnen’s prescription for testosterone and did so
to a person suffering from ’secondary hypogonadism.’
Trainor, who claims a belief that Sonnen has secondary hypogonadism,
is not an endocrinologist himself — he’s an orthopedic
surgeon.
Raphael
Garcia (MMA Ratings): Sonnen’s TRT decision pushes MMA down
a slippery slope
And,
yet, Keith Kizer told Mike Chiappetta of MMA Fighting in the
past that Nevada’s protocol for going through paperwork
and processing a Therapeutic Use Exemption hall pass for testosterone
takes 20 days. Yes, three weeks is all to process a hall pass.
By comparison, a state like California wants to do a 4-to-6 month
process (similar to international regulatory bodies that oversee
granting TUEs).
California’s
athletic commission, as we’ve pointed out in our on-going
investigation, is a mess as well.
All
of this led to a Wednesday commentary by Eddie Goldman on how
much PR damage the NSAC will suffer from their Monday rulings:
“This
is something that is absolutely disgraceful and with all the
health problems that taking this testosterone causes that have
been discussed many, many, many times, you have a situation where
essentially the Nevada State Athletic Commission is enabling
Chael Sonnen and other athletes to say, ‘Oh, I need a Therapeutic
Use Exemption,’ giving it to them without using the world
experts like the International Olympic Committee does but to
just bring in some sports medicine doctor or some surgeon or
somebody that’s based in Nevada and basically say, ‘OK,
you applied for your Therapeutic Use Exemption,’ and then
they sucked up to him in the end and they want him to be an adviser
to the Commission on the issue of testosterone.
“This
is such a farce. This is so disgraceful that there are only a
couple of remedies that can be done at this point. The Governor
of Nevada (Brian Sandoval) should immediately fire all members
of the Nevada State Athletic Commission (Skip Avansino, Francisco
Aguilar, Bill Brady, T.J. Day, Pat Lundvall) and also the Executive
Director (Keith Kizer). But I think there has to be a broader
investigation. I really don’t know what could be done under
what I consider to be a ridiculous system in the United States
where we have these local yokel state athletic commissions (with)
small-time political appointees handling doping measures for
international combat sports. To me, it is absolutely an absurd
situation. It is terrible governance for sport but it also looks
like this is what is done purposely in order to allow these billionaire
promoters to get guys to do exciting fights, to throw a lot of
bombs, and all this kind of stuff that goes on. This is so absurd.
The world sees this and I think because organizations like the
UFC claim that, well, they really can’t do anything more,
they have to follow what these commissions say…
“I
think it should be very clear that with this type of ridiculous
regulation, if you can even call it that, that this international
federation that UFC [apparently is] the only promoter that I’m
aware of is supporting (in Sweden) should not be recognized by
any of the international bodies because while they may claim
they’re going to follow the World Anti-Doping code they
don’t, they haven’t, and even if they do their own
testing it’s very likely they won’t, they claim they
might do their own testing but the interview that was given of
(Dana) White of the UFC by Lance Pugmire (Los Angeles Times)
doesn’t say well where, in the United States, outside the
United States. White says we’re going to do our own testing.
Well, the fact is they really should not be doing their own testing.
They should be working with the affiliates of the World Anti-Doping
Agency to do the testing. When international federations in international
sport have done their own testing in the past such as the 1990s
when some of their star athletes tested positive, they tried
to hush it up which is why the independent World Anti-Doping
Agency (WADA) was set up and that has proven to be, though it’s
not perfect, much more successful.
“This
is also why the arrogant fools who are involved with the Nevada
State Athletic Commission should really be called the Sin City
Clown Commission. (They) do not want anything to do with the
US Anti-Doping Agency, with following the World Anti-Doping code.
They may sometimes pretend that they do but they don’t have
anything to do with what is being doing around the world.
“This
also takes place in the context, where as I pointed out on shows
before, the rest of the world wants to actually tighten up the
WADA code. The Nevada State Athletic Commission is now attempting
to loosen their so-called anti-doping measures by giving such
easy Therapeutic Use Exemptions. The recent IOC Athletes Forum
wanted to tighten up the penalties and increase the penalties
for dope use, for substance abuse, for all this kind of stuff.
This has not been done but it might be done when the World Anti-Doping
Agency reviews the code in 2013. Interestingly enough, there
is a proposal to take marijuana off the banned substance list
for the World Anti-Doping Agency and that cannot be done before
2013 but some people seem to think that it should be done.”
Conclusion
“I
think we have to some compassion for the athletes. But I have
no compassion for the drug enablers. I have no compassion for
the Nevada State Athletic Commission that wants to use these
athletes, bring in a lot of money for the casinos and the fight
promoters, and after they start to decline they will be thrown
to the curb and you won’t hear about them any more. This
is the way it’s done in both, general anyways, in Mixed
Martial Arts and boxing and this is why these commissions exist
— to exploit the athletes, to just go through the motions
of doing the most minimal testing which a lot of people may not
understand the nuances and all these kinds of issues there, and
to make money off of it for all those involved… and then
when the fighters have to suffer the consequences of all this
drug abuse, throw them to the curb, put in some young meat again,
and make some more money.
“That
is why the Nevada State Athletic Commission members (Skip Avansino,
Francisco Aguilar, Bill Brady, T.J. Day, Pat Lundvall) should
be fired, including the Executive Director (Keith Kizer) and
all five members of that commission. And that is why there has
to be international scrutiny of the lack of proper anti-doping
measures in professional combat sports in North America, such
as boxing and Mixed Martial Arts, and other professional sports
as well.”
Source:
Fight Opinion
|
Kenny
Florian Retires from Fighting
by Damon
Martin
Seventeen
fights. Twelve wins. Four different weight classes. Three title
shots.
Those
are some serious career accomplishments for any UFC fighter,
but today one of the sport’s favorites hung up his gloves
for the last time.
Former
Ultimate Fighter season 1 finalist Kenny Florian retired from
the sport on Thursday following the weigh-ins for the Ultimate
Fighter Live finale on FX. It was Florian’s career coming
full circle as he said goodbye on the same stage that helped
launch his career.
“He’s
been an amazing fighter, an amazing ambassador for this sport
and for this company, and now going on to bigger and better things
as a commentator,” UFC President Dana White said about Florian
as he announced his retirement.
Florian
sits as the only fighter in UFC history to ever compete in four
weight classes. The Boston native started as a middleweight when
he first entered the Octagon during the first season of the Ultimate
Fighter before dropping to welterweight, then lightweight and
eventually featherweight where he finished his career.
“I’m
just so thankful to the UFC and everybody here at Zuffa for everything
they’ve done. It’s crazy, fighting found me and I’m
a much better person because of it,” Florian said.
Late
last year as Florian got back in the gym following a loss to
UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo, he suffered a serious back
injury while lifting weights. Florian has dealt with different
ailments throughout his career, but he knew right away this was
the type of injury you just don’t bounce back from in a
few weeks or even a few months.
Florian
spoke honestly about the injury and admitted that if he wasn’t
going to be able to step back into the Octagon and give everything
he had, he didn’t want to fight.
“I’ve
dealt with injuries in the past and back in November I was back
into training and I hurt my back working out, and it just hasn’t
quite been the same. I’ve been dealing with it, trying to
get back, rehab and things like that and a few weeks ago kind
of re-injured it again. So it’s been tough,” Florian
stated.
Over
the last several months, Florian has been omnipresent on the
UFC’s new programming schedule between Fox, FX and Fuel
TV where he’s served as a commentator for a slew of different
shows. While he is retiring from active competition, Florian
won’t be going far away from the UFC because he’ll
still be holding down his job as a commentator.
The
Massachusetts native will also look to open a new gym at some
point in the future in the Los Angeles area, where he’s
relocated as he’s begun full time with the UFC in his commentating
role.
Florian
currently owns and operates Florian Martial Arts along with his
brother Keith in Boston.
“I’m
so thankful that I’m able to do commentary and do shows
like UFC Tonight and do things like that here for the UFC, and
for Fuel and Fox and so I’m definitely going to be busy
doing stuff on TV for this sport. (I’m) going to be coaching.
I live out in L.A. now so I’m opening up a gym out in the
L.A. area at some point soon,” said Florian.
While
he never won a title, Florian was a fighter that sat near or
top of the division throughout his career. He was a part of the
most historic season ever of the Ultimate Fighter, and became
an avid spokesman for MMA over the years.
But
as of today, Kenny Florian is hanging up his gloves and calling
it a career.
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
Bigfoot
says he “couldn’t see a thing” against Velasquez
By Carlos
Antunes
Antonio
“Bigfoot” Silva debuted in the UFC last weekend but
end up being defeated by Cain Velasquez on the first round. However,
one big factor got in the Brazilian’s way: a deep cut on
his forehead.
With
the cut, the heavyweight fighter could not bring his A game to
the fight, since his face was covered in blood, getting on the
way of his eyesight. On na interview with TATAME, the tough guy
admitted it played an important role during the fight.
“One
of the main reasons I got defeated what that. I couldn’t
see a thing, there was a lot of blood and my eyes were bruning.
I tried to defend myself and not get hit at, shaking my head
to see if I could get rid of that blood, but there was no way
around it. From that moment on my corner was my eyes”.
Still
on the first round, when both fighters were covered in blood,
the referee decided to stop the contest and call the doctors.
Asked about whether if the referee should have stopped it for
good, Bigfoot guarantees it depended on him and the doctors.
“The
referee interrupted the fight at the spot, but this part he might
analyze what the doctors say. One of the doctors asked me if
I could see a thing and I didn’t answer because I wanted
to keep on going. Then he asked me again and I said yes, but
actually it was really complicated”, explained.
“If
I had said I couldn’t see straight they would stop the contest
and I didn’t want that. My goal on that moment was to keep
on going, try to take him to the second round to see if my team
could contain the blood”, completed.
Aware
of Velasquez’s Wrestling skills, Silva admitted a mistake
on the game plan as he accepted being taken down right on the
beginning of the fight. On the first round, the Brazilian was
taken down after trying to land a kick.
“Absolutely
I made a mistake. I made a mistake and in that kind of fighting
level you can’t do it. It was fatal. I trained many kicks
but I got the game plan all wrong. First of all I should’ve
tested his Boxing skills than go for the kick. Striking was not
his thing and I knew it “, said.
“He
got lucky He took me down but I was well trained in that matter.
The prep for this bout was intense on that aspect. If I was 100
percent during the fight it was a matter of time for me to sweep,
but with that cut I couldn’t see a thing and I was slippery”,
completed.
One
polemic came up after Bigfoot was defeated. The fact that the
elbows should or should not be allowed in the UFC. When asked
about it, the heavyweight guaranteed not having a problem with
this specific coup. “I believe they should allow it. There
are ways to avoid it”.
After
his fight, Bigfoot revealed he talked to Dana White, but the
big boss did not comment on his next appointment, because first
he Will have to take an x-ray of his injured nose so then he
makes himself available for the organization.
“They
haven’t said anything. They are waiting for the doctors
and the x-ray. Thank God I’m fine and I’ll prove it.
From Monday on I’ll go back to the trainings”.
Source:
Tatame
|
Bravo's
combat jiu-jitsu finding its niche
By Josh
Gross
LOS
ANGELES -- When Turi Altavilla booked Club Nokia at L.A. Live
for his amateur mixed martial arts series, the only sports event
scheduled across the street at Staples Center that weekend featured
the WNBA Sparks' home opener.
Soon
after, three of the city's teams went playoff crazy.
In
a span of 80 hours, two hockey and four basketball games, plus
a major international cycling road race, brought over a quarter
million people to the buzzing metropolis' sports and entertainment
complex. Sunday night, May 20, as things wound down and the Los
Angeles Clippers were on their way to being swept by the San
Antonio Spurs, roughly 900 people waded into the throng to watch
a night of fights between local Southern California prospects.
As
an added bonus, they witnessed the debut of combat jiu-jitsu.
Depending
on one's perspective, combat jiu-jitsu comes off like MMA Lite
or highly charged, no-gi grappling. Striking is prohibited unless
something other than the soles of a contestant’s feet touch
the canvas. But once action hits the floor, combat jiu-jitsu
is identical to amateur MMA in California, meaning three-minute
rounds and more restrictive rules preventing some strikes and
submissions.
Though
the setup isn’t precisely what he wants, "this is to
fill that hole between MMA and grappling," explained Eddie
Bravo, the rubber guard pioneer who took his grappling-with-strikes
concept to Altavilla, a former Pride executive, and saw it realized
when Erik Cruz submitted Kristopher Gonzalez via rear-naked choke
late in Round 1.
When
the bell rang for Cruz's match, the omnipresent edge that accompanies
an MMA bout couldn’t be found in the building. Rather, Cruz
and Gonzalez, hands down or extended to grab, circled without
fear of being struck. There was no energy exuded by fans until
Gonzalez scored a takedown and the actual combat part of combat
jiu-jitsu kicked in.
"A
fight's a fight; it's still going to be dangerous," said
Cruz, a brown belt under Bravo at 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu, about
an hour before he stepped in the cage. "If I'm on the ground
and he's punching me in the head, I could get cut or knocked
out.
"You
get hit two or three times really good and all of a sudden you
get knocked down a belt rank. You can get demoted with strikes
very easily. Brown turns into a purple turns into a blue. And
if he's tired and getting beat up, he's a white belt. What going
to happen? He'll get caught with simple stuff."
Bravo
pitches combat jiu-jitsu as the logical incarnation for a “professional
league of grappling,” a place where wrestlers hone their
top-game and ground-and-pound skills while jiu-jitsu stylists
test skills in a more real-world environment without having to
concern themselves with boxing or kickboxing.
"It
gets you ready for MMA better than grappling, that's for sure,"
Bravo said. "And also there's a lot of jiu-jitsu guys out
there who are awesome that will never do MMA, they don't want
to learn Muay Thai, and this could be their professional sport.
This could be the final frontier. I would think 90 percent of
jiu-jitsu fans out there would rather see Marcelo Garcia and
Xande Ribiero going at it with punches than just straight grappling."
“
You can get demoted with strikes very easily. Brown turns into
a purple turns into a blue. And if he's tired and getting beat
up, he's a white belt. ... He'll get caught with simple stuff.”
-- Erik Cruz
"There
are gyms that are pure BJJ gyms, not MMA gyms, and this opens
up the door for them to participate on a different type of platform,”
Altavilla said. “It's not a jiu-jitsu tournament. This is
not in a high school gym. This is something a little bit sexier
and it's going to help their jiu-jitsu. They're going to get
better and I think it's going to catch on."
Promoters
would need to put up purses to draw out jiu-jitsu’s big
names. Bravo said he’s not in a position to make that happen
yet, but with exposure and support from the jiu-jitsu community,
which he expects will come, the instructor envisions a day when
the most prestigious grappling tournament includes strikes. He
has approached Sheikh Tahnoon, founder of the Abu Dhabi Combat
Club which operates grappling’s top competition, ADCC Submission
Wrestling World Championship, with the idea. It would take a
Tahnoon-like figure to get Bravo's idea off the ground.
For
now, Bravo has agreed to promote an all combat jiu-jitsu event
with the Gracie family. He also said a promoter on the East Coast
showed serious interest in hosting an event. Combat jiu-jitsu
will continue to function as an amateur sport. CAMO, the body
assigned to oversee amateur MMA in California, signed off on
combat jiu-jitsu after meetings with Altavilla and Bravo. The
pair have stayed away from petitioning the California State Athletic
Commission because of its tedious rule-making process.
“We
wanted to get it off the ground quick, show that it was safe
and useable and made sense within the context of MMA,” Altavilla
said. “I think doing it this way will be easier, and we
can go to the pro commission and say ‘hey, it's working.’"
Source
ESPN
|
Cristiano
Marcello’s Strategy for the TUF Live Finale? ’100-Percent
Jiu-Jitsu’
by Damon
Martin
The
first day that Cristiano Marcello stepped foot in The Ultimate
Fighter house, he was already one of the most experienced competitors
the show had ever seen.
A
veteran of 15 pro fights, Marcello’s wealth of knowledge
extended far beyond what he had done in Pride or other organizations.
The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt had spent years teaching the
best of the best out of the Chute Boxe academy, including Wanderlei
Silva, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, and many more.
It
wasn’t much of a surprise, based on his past experience
and reputation, that Marcello was a leading candidate to win
the reality show competition when it began.
It
all came crashing down, however, after the first week of the
show when Marcello was selected to face Team Cruz’s top
pick, Justin Lawrence.
Not
because Marcello wasn’t up to the challenge or that Lawrence
was just too tough, but the Brazilian was hoping to have a little
more time to acclimate to the new training and new team before
getting his first fight. He found out right away that in the
UFC things move fast and sometimes you’re forced to move
quickly or get run over.
“The
huge problem about that fight was because it was too early. With
my techniques and experience in Brazil before, it was just too
early. With the environment, learning technique, a new camp,
it was just the worst thing for me. If the fight is two weeks
later, all my body is comfortable,” Marcello told MMAWeekly.com
prior to The Ultimate Fighter Live season finale.
“If
the fight had gone to the ground, it would have gone a minute
or two minutes, no more than that.”
But
the fight didn’t hit the ground and Marcello was knocked
out in the second round, forcing him out of the competition and
to the sidelines where he had to spend the next nine weeks watching
his teammates train and prepare for fights instead.
Marcello
wasn’t discouraged, however, because as an instructor himself
for most of his career, he knows the valuable lessons that go
along with learning. So Marcello became the model teammate and
learned from coaches like Urijah Faber, and learned wrestling
from four-time All-American Lance Palmer, and just became a student
of the game.
“The
time I stop learning is the time I have to quit. If you want
to keep fighting, you have to keep training at a high level with
new guys and the top guys, and you have to keep learning,”
said Marcello.
While
Marcello was always training and learning, he still didn’t
know if he’d get another chance to prove himself in the
UFC. In past seasons of the reality show, only some of the participants
who didn’t make it to the finals got the chance to fight
again on the finale.
Luckily,
Marcello got the call and he was elated to say the least.
“I
fought the best guys in the world in Pride and the best guys
all around the world, so for me to fight in the UFC it was the
goal of my life,” Marcello stated. “I’ve been
excited and the moment they said to me I would be fighting in
the finale, I was excited to fight, to represent my country,
to represent my gym. I’m very, very happy.”
In
his match this Friday at The Ultimate Fighter Live finale, Marcello
faces Team Cruz fighter Sam Sicilia. While they were on opposite
teams during the season, Marcello says he got along well with
Sicilia in the house, but when it comes fight time, he has no
problem facing his former roommate.
Marcello
mentioned it on his Twitter and he’ll even tell Sicilia
now what his game plan ahead of their fight.
“100-percent
Jiu-Jitsu,” said Marcello. “It’s the thing I love
to do. It’s the thing that’s in my veins, 100-percent
Jiu-Jitsu. Like people say in Brazil, Jiu-Jitsu saves.”
Marcello
will try to employ that very strategy when he faces Sicilia this
Friday in Las Vegas on The Ultimate Fighter Live finale.
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
‘The
Ultimate Fighter 15’ Finale Preview
By Tristen
Critchfield
Despite
a fresh new format and a solid cast of talent, sagging ratings
have plagued the 15th season of “The Ultimate Fighter.”Does
that mean people will ignore “The Ultimate Fighter 15”
Finale lineup, which is populated by many of the same characters
who were featured during the reality show’s debut on the
FX network?
Even
if you do not care whether Mike Chiesaor Al Iaquinta emerges
as the winner of the lightweight tournament, the event still
has some interesting non-reality show-related fare to offer,
including a key welterweight clash between Jake Ellenberger and
Martin Kampmann. Both fighters are looking to move up in an increasingly
cutthroat 170-pound division; Ellenberger, in particular, could
be on the doorstep of a title shot with a win. Also of note is
a clash between talented young featherweightsJonathan Brookins
and Charles “Do Bronx” Oliveira.
Here
is closer look at the “The Ultimate Fighter 15” Finale,
with analysis and picks:
Welterweights
Jake
Ellenberger (27-5, 6-1 UFC) vs. Martin Kampmann (19-5, 10-4 UFC)
two
straight.
The
Matchup: It would have been interesting to see how Ellenberger
would have responded had his most recent bout -- a unanimous
decision win over Diego Sanchez in February -- gone to the championship
rounds. After convincingly taking the first two frames, Ellenberger
looked to be in trouble in the final five minutes, as Sanchez
diligently pounded away in hopes of a stoppage that never came.
The Nebraskan claims he did not gas in that fight, but there
will be no “what ifs” this time around, as this contest
is a five-rounder.
Kampmann
experienced his own good fortune at UFC on FX 2 in March, when
an ill-advised takedown attempt from Thiago Alvesallowed him
to secure a fight-ending guillotine choke in the third round.
“The Hitman” was behind on most scorecards after the
first two rounds but demonstrated he was still opportunistic
enough to capitalize on an opponent’s mistake.
Ellenberger
enters the matchup riding a six-fight winning streak. The Reign
MMA representative has lobbied for a rematch withCarlos Condit,
the only person to defeat him in the UFC, but the interim welterweight
king has opted to wait forGeorges St. Pierre to return to health.
There is plenty at stake for “The Juggernaut” here,
because a loss would knock him down the waiting list of welterweight
contenders. Ellenberger has knockout power in his hands and a
wrestling base that allows him to play an effective sprawl-and-brawl
game. He will use his jab to keep foes at bay, and, when they
attempt to close the distance, he can unleash a powerful counter
left hook. Ellenberger also has dangerous knees in the clinch,
which he used to knock out Jake Shieldsat UFC Fight Night 25.
Kampmann
can use his kickboxing to fight on the outside, but he can also
rush the pocket and land powerful punches in close. This strategy
failed against Alves, however, and the Dane ate a number of solid
hooks and uppercuts for his efforts. Kampmann might do better
using his kicks to score points and avoid getting caught from
anything serious from Ellenberger, who will undoubtedly be looking
to counter his opponent’s mistakes.
If
Ellenberger finds himself confounded by Kampmann’s diverse
striking arsenal, he can always use his punches to set up a level
change and shoot for a takedown. The Omaha native has a strong
base and can land powerful shots on the ground without worrying
about losing position. Kampmann has solid takedown defense, however,
and his active grappling from the bottom could curb some of Ellenberger’s
offense from top position.
It
has been almost three years since Kampmann was finished by strikes,
but Ellenberger has the type of power to put most anyone to sleep.
That said, many thought the Dane would get knocked out by Alves,
and he managed to absorb plenty of punishment and survive.
The
Pick: This fight could come down to conditioning. If Ellenberger
does not get the quick finish, will he wear down as he appeared
to in the third round against Sanchez? Kampmann is a fighter
who can give him a lot of different looks and is capable of mounting
offense from distance, in close and on the mat. In the end, this
will come down to who can get the better of the action on the
feet. Ellenberger is more powerful, but Kampmann lands with more
volume and variety. In the end, Ellenberger uses his wrestling
to dictate the location of the fight and stops Kampmann with
a series of heavy shots in the second round.
“The
Ultimate Fighter 15” Lightweight Final
Al
Iaquinta (5-1-1, 0-0 UFC) vs. Mike Chiesa(7-0, 0-0 UFC)
The
Matchup: In previous years, the fighters who appeared at “The
Ultimate Fighter” Finale displayed marked improvement since
leaving the reality show. That, of course, was because the show
was taped months in advance and the finalists had plenty of time
to work with their usual camps after filming concluded. This
year’s live format does not allow for the same type of progression.
The Chiesa and Iaquinta (Pictured, File Photo) you saw over the
course of the past few weeks will be similar to what you see
in the Octagon at the finale; that goes for every cast member
on the card.
Another
factor to consider is wear and tear. Iaquinta will be attempting
to win his third bout in as many weeks, while Chiesa is looking
for three victories in four weeks. How they push through the
inevitable nicks and bruises incurred through such a grueling
schedule will be key to giving a solid performance on the biggest
stage of their careers.
Chiesa
is the type of fighter you simply cannot count out. In notching
exhibition triumphs over Johnavan Vistante Jr., Jeremy Larsen,
Justin Lawrence and James Vickduring his stint on the show, the
Washington native not only displayed solid wrestling and grappling
but also tremendous resolve when he appeared to be outgunned
on his feet. That first surfaced against Lawrence, who appeared
to have Chiesa dead to rights after a pair of left hooks to the
liver in their quarterfinal encounter. The bearded one survived,
however, and eventually stopped Lawrence with strikes from the
mount in round three. The Sikjitsu representative appeared to
be getting the worst of the striking exchanges with Vick, as
well, but once Chiesa was able to slam his foe to the mat, he
imposed his will with brutal ground-and-pound.
A
seven-time Ring of Combat veteran, Iaquinta has tasted defeat
just once in his professional career, falling to former UFC talent
Pat Audinwood in November. On the show, the New Yorker has claimed
victories over Jon Tuck,Myles Jury, Andy Ogle andVinc Pichel.
The
even-keeled Iaquinta has good footwork and mixes punches and
kicks nicely to land combinations on the feet. He favors a technical
approach in his standup and is not easily baited into a brawl.
In addition to his well-rounded striking, Iaquinta can rely on
a solid single-leg takedown for a change of pace.
The
Pick: Look for Iaquinta to use leg kicks liberally to limit the
threat of a Chiesa takedown before moving forward and aggressively
throwing combinations. As long as the fight is upright, Chiesa
will be at a decided disadvantage. On the mat, he can sweep from
bottom, land offense from above and attempt submissions from
just about anywhere. Do not expect another Chiesa comeback, however.
Iaquinta will remain composed and avoid spending too much time
on the ground with his opponent en route to taking a unanimous
decision.
Featherweights
Jonathan
Brookins (13-4, 2-1 UFC) vs. Charles Oliveira (15-2, 3-2, 1 NC,
UFC)
The
Matchup: This contest matches a pair of former lightweights who
are looking to establish themselves in what looks to be a wide-open
145-pound division. Brookins (Pictured, File Photo), “The
Ultimate Fighter 12” winner, made a successful featherweight
debut in February, scoring a first-round knockout of Brazilian
jiu-jitsu specialist Vagner Rocha at UFC on Fuel TV 1.
Oliveira
was even more impressive in his first foray at featherweight,
submitting Strikeforce veteran Eric Wiselywith the rarely-seen
calf slicer at UFC on Fox 2 in January. If the meteoric rise
of Chan Sung Jung is any indication, exotic submissions -- “The
Korean Zombie” tapped Leonard Garcia with a twister in his
UFC debut -- are the springboard to stardom for up-and-coming
145-pounders.
The
truth is “Do Bronx” has been a highly regarded prospect
since he began his UFC career with back-to-back wins over Darren
Elkins and Efrain Escudero. Losses to high-level lightweights
like Donald Cerrone and Jim Millerset him back somewhat, but
Brookins figures to provide a solid test as to how far the Brazilian
can ascend in the division.
It
will be an interesting contrast of styles. Brookins favors a
tactical approach, which centers on his wrestling base. Oliveira,
meanwhile, will fearlessly throw high-risk strikes, in part,
because he is confident enough in his submission game to not
fear fighting from his back. Despite his background, Brookins
is hardly a takedown machine. Against Erik Koch and Michael Johnson,
the Florida native went a combined 4-for-33 on takedown attempts.
While Brookins might not have an explosive double-leg, he is
good at drawing opponents into a grinding affair from the clinch,
which is where he is most likely to wrestle a foe to the mat.
Although he lost a unanimous decision to Koch, Brookins did not
allow the Roufusport product any significant openings for a highlight-reel
finish.
That
is what he will want to do against Oliveira, who is fast and
explosive and can do serious damage with aggressive knees and
punches. The Brazilian can also slow down Brookins by feeding
the wrestler a steady diet of leg kicks.
If
Brookins finds himself in a dominant position, he must be wary
of Oliveira’s potent guard. The 22-year-old is extremely
active and can seemingly pull off submissions from out of nowhere;
the downside to this is that he will sometimes leave himself
exposed while pursuing the finish. Brookins must capitalize if
such an opportunity presents itself.
The
Pick: Brookins is a smart fighter, and, as he showed against
Johnson, he can weather an early barrage and come back to win.
It might not be the most exciting method, but look for Brookins
to negate Oliveira’s offense and grind out a hard-fought
decision victory.
Featherweights
Max
Holloway (4-1, 0-1 UFC) vs. Pat Schilling (5-1, 0-1 UFC)
The
Matchup: Holloway was thrown to the wolves in his UFC debut,
falling to Dustin Poirier via submission in the first round at
UFC 143. The Hawaiian gave a respectable effort, holding his
own on the feet before “Diamond” took control of things
on the mat. Unbeaten in his previous four bouts prior to joining
the Las Vegas-based promotion, Holloway owns a notable win over
former WEC and Strikeforcetalent Harris Sarmiento in a five-round
title confrontation.
Schilling
(Pictured, File Photo) was steamrolled in his initial Octagon
outing, as Daniel Pineda bullied him into the clinch, took him
down and unleashed some effective ground-and-pound before securing
a rear-naked choke in less than two minutes. Schilling’s
lack of output is not surprising considering his previous level
of competition; the combined record of his five opponents outside
the UFC was 14-31 heading into the UFC on FX 2 bout. Nonetheless,
the 23-year-old Minnesotan makes for a good story, if only because
it is hard to root against anybody who manages to work a full-time
job at Best Buy while adhering to an MMA training regimen. The
best asset“Thrilling” has going for him here is his
wrestling. Holloway is a fearless and creative striker, but he
has yet to establish much of a ground game in his young career.
Holloway’s
offense includes an array of flying and spinning kicks, as well
as knees and elbows. He clearly was not intimidated by the moment
against Poirier, as he threw several flying knees against the
Louisiana native, the last of which left him open for a takedown.
Schilling
will have to hope Holloway gets careless and presents a similar
opening; otherwise, he will get overwhelmed on the feet. As evidenced
by his ability to go five rounds against Sarmiento, Holloway
has good conditioning, and he will blitz his opponent in close
if given the chance. Conversely, “Lil Evil’s”
good movement will make it difficult for Schilling to draw a
bead on him.
The
Pick: Unless Holloway’s takedown defense fails him entirely,
this is his fight to win. Look for him to land some entertaining
offense and take home a lopsided decision victory.
Lightweights
Jeremy
Larsen (8-2, 0-0 UFC) vs. Joe Proctor(7-1, 0-0 UFC): Larsen,
the last pick by Dominick Cruz on Season 15, was outwrestled
and outmaneuvered on the mat in a loss to Mike Chiesaon the reality
show. Proctor is primarily a jiu-jitsu specialist and will look
to close distance and take his foe to the mat. Proctor is not
afraid to throw leather, and he will land just enough to get
a takedown and submit Larsen in round two.
Bantamweights
John
Albert(7-2, 1-1 UFC) vs. Erik Perez(10-4, 0-0 UFC): Albert is
coming off a wildly entertaining bout with Ivan Menvijar in which
he displayed aggressive standup and an active submission game
before falling via rear-naked choke. Perez owns a five-fight
winning streak that includes victories in the British Association
of Mixed Martial Arts and Shark Fights promotions. While Albert
is the more known commodity,Jackson’s Mixed Martial Arts
fighters generally tend to raise their games when they step on
the big stage. Perez wins by decision in a mild upset.
Lightweights
Cristiano
Marcello (12-3, 0-0 UFC) vs. Sam Sicilia(10-1, 0-0 UFC): Marcello
entered “The Ultimate Fighter”house as one of the reality
show’s more intriguing competitors, thanks in part to his
status as the former jiu-jitsu coach for theChute Boxe Academy.
Sicilia blends solid athleticism with conditioning and wrestling
but is also capable of ending a fight with one punch. A well-rounded
performance earns Sicilia a decision victory.
Lightweights
Justin
Lawrence (3-0, 0-0 UFC) vs. John Cofer(7-1, 0-0 UFC): Lawrence
(Pictured above, File Photo) was regarded as one of the favorites
on the show, and he did not disappoint by stopping James Krause
and Marcello in his first two bouts. While his run was halted
by Chiesa, he appears to have a bright future at just 21 years
old. Cofer would prefer to ground the onetime Strikeforce competitor
to limit his creative standup arsenal. Lawrence wins by knockout
in round two.
Lightweights
Daron
Cruickshank (10-2, 0-0 UFC) vs. Chris Tickle (7-4, 0-0 UFC):
A Mash Fight Team product, Cruickshank possesses a versatile
striking repertoire that includes a variety of kicks from all
angles. An ill-conceived shot resulted in him eating a knee against
James Vick on Season 15; he will have to work on his timing in
that area. Tickle was perhaps the most maligned cast member,
consistently drawing criticism from Cruz. That said, he has decent
hands and figures to be a game opponent. Cruickshank wears down
his foe and wins by third-round stoppage.
Lightweights
Myles
Jury(9-0, 0-0 UFC) vs. Chris Saunders (9-2, 0-0 UFC): Jury came
up just short in a preliminary bout against Al Iaquinta, an entertaining
affair that required a sudden-victory round to settle things.
Meanwhile, Saunders took a hard-fought split decision against
Sicilia before dropping a majority decision to Vinc Pincel in
the show’s quarterfinals. Look for Jury to pressure Saunders
relentlessly and take a decision.
Source:
Sherdog
|
Rick
Story Gets Third UFC on FX 4 Opponent
UFC
welterweight Rick Story, still three weeks out from his UFC on
FX 4 fight, is now on his third opponent for the event.
UFC
officials on Wednesday announced that his most recent opponent,
Papy Abedi, has been forced to withdraw due to injury, so Story
will now face Octagon newcomer Brock Jardine.
Story
(13-5) was originally looking to rectify a two-fight skid against
Rich Attonito, who also fell out due to injury.
So
he’ll now face Jardine, trying to put losses to Martin Kampmann
and Charlie Brenneman behind him, and get back into the contender’s
circle.
Jardine
(9-1) is on a three-fight winning streak, with his only loss
coming to UFC fighter Tony Ferguson a year and a half ago.
A
lightweight clash between Gray Maynard and Clay Guida headlines
the UFC on FX 4 fight card on June 22 in Atlantic City, N.J.
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
10
June Tussles Worth Watching
By Tim
Leidecker
Some
of the best fights in mixed martial arts history have taken place
during the month of June: Randy Couture upset Chuck Liddell to
win the Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight title
in 2003,Anderson Silva made his UFC debut against Chris Lebenin
2006, and, most recently, Diego Sanchez engaged Clay Guida in
a three-round thriller in 2009.
There
are plenty of major sporting events vying for the buying public’s
attention nowadays. In this monthly series, we take readers around
the globe in an effort to broaden their MMA horizons, showcasing
the best fights and fighters that might not get much attention
otherwise. The latest installment features the return of former
Pride Fighting Championships heavyweight titleholder Fedor Emelianenko,
who will carry a two-fight winning streak into his 2012 debut.
As
always, the list does not focus on the well-promoted main event
bouts from major organizations you already know to watch, but
rather on fights from all over the planet that are worth seeing.
The UFC, Strikeforceand Bellator Fighting Championships cards
are excluded by design.
Fedor
Emelianenko vs. Pedro Rizzo
M-1 Global “Fedor vs. Rizzo” | June 21 -- St. Petersburg,
Russia
There
is no denying that Emelianenko and Rizzo are past their sporting
primes. Rizzo has become something of a question mark, as has
not fought for nearly two years. However, the fact that this
could be Emelianenko’s last fight makes it far more intriguing.
Will this be the last time we see the greatest heavyweight of
all-time or was it just a smart marketing ploy from M-1 Global?
Rene
Nazarevs. George Sheppard
UCC 5 “Unleashed” |June 8 -- Teaneck, N.J.
The
co-headliner of Universal Combat Championship’s latest effort
promises violence. Struggling for the vacant lightweight title
in a five-round fight will be Bellator veteran Nazare and M-1
Selection Americas finalist Sheppard. Nazare is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu
black belt with notable wins over Luiz Azeredoand Juan Barrantes,
while Sheppard is a lethal striker with six first-round knockouts
on his record. Both men already have experience going five rounds,
so this should be a barnburner.
Gregor
Herbvs. Mike Wiatko
SFC Tournament 2012 Part III | June 2 -- Mainz, Germany
Germany’s
Herb appeared headed for a UFC berth in late 2009. Injuries and
the workload of being a school teacher and father of two, all
while running his own gym and preparing for fights, have held
back the submission specialist in recent years. Busy domestic
promotion Superior Fighting Championship has now matched Germany’s
top middleweight with Wiatko, Belgium’s premier 185-pounder.
The brawny 26-year-old is an aggressive striker who has never
gone the distance in 10 career fights.
Abner
Lloveras vs. Ryan Quinn
CES MMA “Proving Grounds” | June 15 -- Lincoln, R.I.
Another
former M-1 title contender, Lloveras will do work in what will
already be Classic Entertainment and Sport’s third event
this year. The two-time Spanish boxing champion will face a tough
opponent in Bellator veteran Quinn. The 25-year-old American
Top Team prospect raised a few eyebrows when he handed highly
regarded Brazilian Dhiego Limahis first loss in 2010 and most
recently won a unanimous decision over “The Ultimate Fighter
11” alum Marc Stevens. It will be a classic battle between
striker and grappler.
Satoru
Kitaoka vs. Katsunori Kikuno
Deep 58 Impact | June 15 -- Tokyo
Things
did not exactly go as planned when Kitaoka fought his former
teammate and friend Shinya Aokion New Year’s Eve. “Tobikan
Judan” issued a five-round beating and made Kitaoka gurgle
his own blood. Half a year later, the stocky grappler is back
in the ring facing former Deep lightweight champion Kikuno. The
30-year-old karateka had a significantly more pleasant NYE, as
he knocked out cosplayer-turned-kickboxer Yuichiro Nagashima
in a special rules bout.
Alexandre
Moreno vs. Trevor Smith
BXC “The Rise” | June 16 -- Springfield, Mass.
It
is going to be a busy month for Team Link. Abner Lloveras fights
June 15, and Ricardo Funch takes perhaps his final shot in the
Octagon a week later. Sandwiched in between, Moreno will compete
on the stacked inaugural Battle Xtreme Championship show being
streamed live on Sherdog.com.
The
29-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt will take on All-American
wrestler Smith, a three-time Strikeforce veteran who is dropping
to 205 pounds. With 18 submission wins between them, this promises
to be a chess match on the mat.
Renato
“Babalu”Sobral vs. Tatsuya Mizuno
One FC 4 “Destiny of Warriors” | June 23 -- Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia
Originally
announced for a One Fighting Championship 3 matchup withMelvin
Manhoef
, former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Sobral will finally
make his promotional debut and in-cage comeback after 18 months
away from active competition. His opponent will be Mizuno. One
of the better Japanese big men, he holds a first-round submission
win over Manhoef. Mizuno, a third degree black belt in judo,
has worked diligently on his striking and looked much improved
on his feet in recent outings.
Marcus
Aurelio vs. Lyle Beerbohm
ShoFight 20 | June 16 -- Springfield, Mo.
Aurelio,
who was at his peak between 2004 and 2006 in Japan, is still
going strong after more than 10 years in the game. As part of
the deep ShoFight 20 card, the Takanori Gomi killer will take
on former Strikeforce lightweight contender Beerbohm. “Fancy
Pants” has bounced back from his lone career losses to Pat
Healy and Aoki with back-to-back first-round submissions.
Rosi
Sextonvs. Aisling Daly
CWFC 47 | June 2 -- Dublin, Ireland
Sexton,
the “Iron Lady” of the MMA scene in the United Kingdom,
will not surrender her place to Daly, a woman 10 years her junior,
without a fight. Adding difficulty for the 34-year-old osteopath
will be the fact that the Cage Warriors Fighting Championship
women’s 125-pound tournament semifinal will take place in
Daly’s backyard. Daly will enter the cage on the strength
of three straight submission victories. The winner will have
the dubious pleasure of facing German slugger Sheila Gafffor
the title this summer.
Jorge
Santiago vs. Jay Silva
TFC 23 “Fight for the Troops” | June 15 -- Fort Riley,
Kan.
Two
UFC-experienced Brazilians will headline Titan Fighting Championship’s
card from the Fort Riley army post. Santiago had a positive experience
fighting for the promotion previously, having knocked out countryman
Leonardo Pecanha at TFC 21 in March. Silva was not as fortunate,
as he dropped a hard-fought decision to Polish grappler Michal
Materla last month. In the Materla fight, the 31-year-oldReign
MMA fighter showed a glaring weakness on the ground. Santiago’s
camp will certainly have taken note.
Source:
Sherdog
|
Text
of Dana White’s bizarre attack on Dave Meltzer
By Zach
Arnold
“It’s
about the ratings from the last Fox show. You get these reporters
who go out there and say all this [expletive] about the ratings
without knowing all the facts. Well, I’m going to lay out
the facts for you guys who don’t know a lot about television
ratings. Here it is.
“First
of all, Dave Meltzer wrote this huge story, doom and gloom story
on how the UFC and Fox is blowing this things because of the
numbers that came out. First and foremost, DAVE, you know I like
you, I respect you, but you just lost your job at Yahoo…
and you want to give us business advice? I’m actually writing
a story next week that I’m going to put out of all the ways
I think you could have, all the things that I think you could
have done to keep your job at Yahoo. That’s story is coming
out next week, Dave, you might want to read it, OK? And…
what I want to explain to all the fans out there and people who
aren’t fans about what went on, uh, on Fox 3 Cinco de Mayo.
“First
of all, we were the number one program of the night with all
key male demos. Now, I know a lot of don’t understand all
of this but I’m going to break this thing down for you and
explain it to you. During the last Quarter Hour, we ere the number
one program of the night with all adult and male demos. We peaked
at 3 million viewers during the main event, which is the way
a show is supposed to build throughout the night! Now, Kevin
Iole wrote in his story that we got beat by Shark Tank and NCIS
with total viewers. OK? Let me explain to you how that works.
Shark Tank, first of all, is a one hour show. 1.9 million of
those viewers were 50 years old and older! They were 50-plus,
60% of the people that night were 50-plus years old! The median
age on that show was 55 years old.
“And
it gets better!
“NCIS,
again a one-hour show, 3.3 million of their viewers were 55 years
old and older. OK? That’s 75% of the audience, 75% of the
people that were watching that show were over 55 years old. The
median age on that show was 63 years old. UFC on Fox median age
was 39 years old. So, what does this all mean? Oh, and one more
thing. The HUT levels that night. HUT levels that night and HUT
levels mean total viewers watching television that night were
down almost 10 million from the first Fox show that we did, down
almost 10 million viewers. 10 million people weren’t home
watching TV that night. Well, it was Cinco de Mayo. The Avengers
came out, which was you know the biggest opening in movie history.
And one other thing — the NBA Playoffs that night that went
off right around the same time we did, it was the San Antonio/Utah
game, we beat them across the board in every way, shape, and
form you can beat them. Right? Do you see the writers, uh, that
cover the NBA going out there and going, ‘Oh my God, it’s
doom and gloom, what’s going to happen to the NBA?’
Because if we beat them and our situation is so bad, what does
that say for the NBA?
“So,
my point of this whole thing is: 1) guys, do your homework. Seriously,
do your homework before you go out and start shooting your mouth
off in stories about things being a fad and doom and gloom and
all this stuff. You don’t know enough about it to t-t-talk
about it, right? And 2) Dave Meltzer, you just lost your job
at Yahoo, buddy, OK? The last thing anybody needs from you is
business advice.”
Source:
Fight Opinion
|
IS
MAX HOLLOWAY HAWAII'S NEXT BIG THING?
By Thomas
Gerbasi
"The
big difference is that I know what to expect now." - Max
Holloway
At 20 years old, Max Holloway isn’t just the youngest fighter
currently competing in the UFC; he’s also a father and husband.
So you’ve got to excuse him if he didn’t know too much
about Dustin Poirier when he got a call from his manager, informing
him that he was going to be facing the featherweight contender
in his UFC debut in February.
“I
thought my manager was lying to me,” recalled Holloway.
“He said ‘hey bud, we got an offer.’ I said where?
‘The UFC.’ No way.”
But
there was a catch.
“‘The
catch is that it’s at ’45 and it’s against Poirier,’”
the manager told Holloway, who had previously competed at lightweight.
But he didn’t care. This was the UFC, and he was going to
fight this Poirier guy, no matter who he was.
“At
the time, no disrespect to Poirier, but I didn’t really
know who he was at the time just because I wasn’t really
following the featherweights in the UFC or even the WEC,”
he said. “The only guys I knew were the ones fighting for
the title, like Jose Aldo.”
Then
he investigated his new opponent and found out that Poirier wasn’t
a prospect on the way up like he was. The Louisianan was a seasoned
vet on his way to a title shot. It still didn’t matter to
Holloway.
“I
didn’t once question myself. I instantly thought, ‘wow,
I could be in the top ten after this fight.’”
With
an attitude like that, you can probably guess where Max Holloway
calls home. Yes, he’s from Hawaii, and if you’ve ever
dealt with someone from the island, you’ll know that there
are fighters and there are Hawaiian fighters.
“The
mindset of a lot of the Hawaiian guys, and my mindset, is that
we just want to be the best, and the saying is to be the best,
you’ve got to beat the best, and that’s just what I
plan on doing,” said Holloway, who didn’t beat Poirier
at UFC 143 in Las Vegas, getting submitted in the first round,
but he did come to fight, earning a measure of respect and a
call back for a main card fight this Friday against Pat Schilling.
“My
confidence is still high after that fight,” said Holloway,
now 4-1. “I think I proved that I could stand with a pretty
high ranked guy in the striking area, and now we’ve got
to just touch up my ground. The big difference is that I know
what to expect now. The first fight, going against a guy like
Poirier, who was ranked four or five in the world at the time,
my eyes went big and I got that fight. I was like ‘oh man,
I’m in the UFC,’ and everything was ‘let’s
go, let’s go, let’s go.’ Even when I fought him,
you could probably see that my gas pedal was down and I was going
like 120 in there. This time, I’m feeling more relaxed,
I know how the energy’s gonna feel now, so hopefully there
will be a better outcome.”
That’s
not the maturity you expect from a typical 20-year old, but Holloway
sets the bar high when it comes to that department. And while
marriage and fatherhood will undoubtedly speed up the maturing
process, he also looks to his faith to keep him grounded.
“I
believe in the man above, and he won’t put anything on your
table that you won’t be able to handle, so I feel like with
him leading the way that everything is possible,” said Holloway.
“It (his faith) keeps me leveled. Some people hit fame and
they just go crazy with it. They lose control and they lose their
mind and they can’t focus anymore. I like to think I’m
just another guy pursuing his dream.”
Holloway
didn’t even participate in what was apparently the recreational
sport of the majority of Hawaiian fighters, a little scrapping
on the side while growing up.
“The
side I’m from in Oahu, the Westside, we’re kinda looked
down on by the community because every day there’s a fight
in school and all that kind of stuff, but to be honest, I wasn’t
really a fighter growing up,” he said. “I was the shy
kid. My younger brother was the fighter; he was always fighting
in school and stuff. I only got into one fight, in eighth grade,
and after that I kinda had a clean slate.”
His
extended family didn’t even believe him when he said he
had started fighting, assuming it was his younger brother who
had put on the gloves. But don’t mistake Holloway’s
calm demeanor outside the Octagon for weakness inside it. He’s
a fighter, and he sees his UFC career as a way to make a better
life for his young family.
“You
gotta grow up fast where I’m from,” he said. “You
see things at a young age that most young people don’t see.
I didn’t have a rough life growing up, but I saw what certain
things did to certain people, and I always wanted to better myself.”
Now
he’s in the UFC, and he knows what’s on the line this
Friday.
“I’m
20 and I want to keep my job,” said Holloway. “I’m
here to make fights happen and I’m here to make a big statement
against Pat Schilling. I’m not taking nothing away from
him, but I know that if I can beat him in a good fashion, it
would be good for my career.”
Source: UFC
|
WHILE
WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION IDLES, JAKE ELLENBERGER MAKES CASE FOR
NO. 1
By Mike
Chiappetta - Senior Writer
The
UFC welterweight championship hasn't been defended in 397 days.
That's how long titleholder Georges St-Pierre has been out of
action, a number that will balloon to 568 days if GSP returns,
as he suggests, at a scheduled Nov. 17 event in Montreal. Carlos
Condit won the interim championship 117 days ago, and has no
plans of competing until St-Pierre returns. More recently, Johny
Hendricks was promised a title shot after beating Josh Koscheck,
and he has said he will wait to cash in that chip rather than
risk it, an absence that could last one year.
If you're counting, that's the champ, interim champ and No. 1
contender -- two belts and three fighters -- on the shelf.
While
they're waiting, Jake Ellenberger and Martin Kampmann will be
squaring off in a significant matchup of top 10 ranked fighters
at Friday night's TUF Live Finale. Yet given the suspended state
of the division, it's easy to wonder exactly what stakes they
are playing for. There's no title shot on the line, no interim
belt, or anything else past their paychecks. Instead, these are
the guys who will have to prop up the division while everyone
else is waiting. Which begs the question, do we need an interim
interim title?
That's a joke, even though technically speaking, we have two
No. 1 contenders, which goes to show that things are basically
a mess.
At
least St-Pierre, Condit and Hendricks know roughly what's in
front of them, but what about Ellenberger? While he's currently
ranked No. 3 in the world by most observers and rides a six-fight
win streak into the match, what is in his future if he wins?
Think
about this: with GSP, Condit, Hendricks and Nick Diaz (suspension)
out of action, who does Ellenberger face next to increase his
stock? Josh Koscheck? Jon Fitch? Rory MacDonald? The options
are slim because the guys he should be fighting won't be available
to him until 2013.
The
tricky part of this situation is that it's hard to blame Condit
or Hendricks for waiting.
After
UFC on FOX 3, I was part of a small group of reporters that asked
Hendricks about the long road ahead. He equated it to something
that a non-fighter could easily understand: money. If you were
told you would be given a $1 million award, and all you had to
do to earn it was wait a year without working, would you have
the patience to do it? Most would. Hendricks and Condit are awaiting
their respective opportunities to collect a jackpot. Fair enough.
The
more curious decisions lie with the UFC. Specifically, what exactly
was the point of making UFC 143's Condit vs. Diaz match an interim
title fight if the interim title wasn't going to be defended?
What was the point of awarding a title shot to Hendricks when
there was already a challenger queued up?
If
Ellenberger earns a victory over Kampmann on Friday, he will
have won seven fights in a row. That will be a longer stretch
of wins than both Condit (five) and Hendricks (four), and the
longest active UFC streak of any non-champion. Yet even if he
gets that win, he's promised and will likely receive nothing
past his pay. That's fine in the sense that we get to see him
stay active, but it doesn't seem right that regardless of what
happens, he'll remain on the outside looking in.
Some
will point out that Condit holds a win over Ellenberger, and
while that's true, it came by the slimmest of margins in a controversial
split decision in a fight that Ellenberger took on short notice.
If that -- along with the prospect of a true No. 1 contender
-- wouldn't make a great setup for a rematch, I don't know what
would.
Unfortunately, it seems like it won't happen due to the creation
of a meaningless title for no real purpose. Neither will Ellenberger
vs. Hendricks, a fight would which could also set up a viable
challenger. The UFC has made its promises to both Condit and
Hendricks, and unless either of the two fighters change their
mind, or GSP has a setback that radically alters his return timeline,
neither seems likely to fight anytime soon.
While
they're waiting, Ellenberger might just build a rock solid case
as the true No. 1 contender. All he has to do is find someone
willing to fight.
Source:
MMA Fighting
|
South
Dakota Man Dies Following MMA Fight
Dustin
Jensen, a 26-year-old amateur mixed martial artist, died following
his fight at RingWars on May 18 at Rushmore Plaza Civic Center
in Rapid City, S.D.
Jensen,
according to a report by the Rapid City Journal, wasn’t
involved in an overly violent fight, but did tap out to a triangle
choke.
His
mother-in-law, Violet Schieman, said that Jensen then hung around
and watched a couple of the following fights before returning
to the locker room area, where he suffered a seizure.
Jensen
was taken to Rapid City Regional Hospital and diagnosed as having
increased pressure on his brain. He was put into a medically
induced coma before having surgery to reduce the pressure.
“He
did not wake up after the surgery and was declared brain dead
at 10:23 a.m. (on May 24),” according to Schieman. “He
remained on life support until his organs were donated.”
It
wasn’t immediately clear what the correlation, if any, was
between his fight and Jensen’s death. Shieman said her daughter,
Jensen’s wife Rebecca Jenson, claimed that nothing extraordinarily
violent happened in the fight.
“Doctors
have watched the video and said it shouldn’t have happened,”
Schieman said. “They said the fight may have triggered a
brain aneurysm, but it was not overly violent.”
An
autopsy was scheduled to try and gain further insight into Jensen’s
death.
South
Dakota currently does not have a regulatory body overseeing mixed
martial arts.
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
First
time missing Worlds, Frazatto eyes MMA: “I don’t want
to be an underdog”
Marcelo
Dunlop
It
was a tough decision to make, but featherweight Bruno Frazatto,
one of the biggest Jiu-Jitsu World Championship-medal collectors
around, pulled out of this year’s tournament in Long Beach.
Bruno
has the explanation on the tip of his tongue—and hands:
to pick up his MMA career again.
“I’m
bummed about not being in it; after all, I haven’t missed
a single installment of the biggest show in world Jiu-Jitsu ever
since I started in this sport. “At the same time, though,
it was a natural decision. Athletes live by decisions, and I
had to make this one. I have some goals for the end of the year
in MMA and wouldn’t be 100% to take the title, so my teacher
Ramon Lemos and I decided I should sit it out. When we set goals
we have to dedicate ourselves wholeheartedly; I don’t think
it would be right to divide my time.”
Frazatto
also made it clear that he doesn’t have anything set in
stone yet but is looking at some offers to fight in MMA, a style
he cut his teeth in back in 2007. “What I know is that I
have to be prepared; I don’t want to be an underdog.”
The
fact he won’t be competing doesn’t mean Frazatto won’t
be at the Long Beach Pyramid to study Jiu-Jitsu, though.
“I’ll
be there cornering and watching the matches. We’re a tight-knit
team, and their victories are mine as well. I feel Jiu-Jitsu
has evolved really quickly, and I’ll be there even if just
to watch and keep an eye on how the style is evolving. To do
well in MMA I have to be up to date in sport Jiu-Jitsu, train
with the competition team. When it comes to grappling, there’s
nothing better than Jiu-Jitsu, and nothing better than watching
the best in the business at the Worlds,” said the featherweight,
who already holds a record of four wins in four MMA fights.
Source:
Gracie Magazine
|
Manny
Pacquiao in damage-control mode over comments about gays, SSM
By Zach
Arnold
Floyd
Mayweather is heading to the pokey because of recent transgressions
in Las Vegas. Despite Floyd doing some good things for boxing
when it comes to raising public awareness about doping &
drug testing protocols in combat sports, he’s not exactly
the most sympathetic of characters. However, that didn’t
stop 1.5 million people from buying his boxing PPV on May 5th
when he fought Miguel Cotto.
As
hopes diminish in regards to the prospects of Floyd fighting
Manny Pacquiao, Floyd is probably relishing the fact that his
arch nemesis has caused a public relations firestorm over the
issue of same-sex marriage. There’s no better way to inflame
the culture wars in America these days than to bring up the issue
of same sex marriage. Just ask President Obama. Despite the campaign
cash he has raised off of his current stance about same sex marriage,
he has also suffered damage in 2012 Presidential horse race polls
in swing states such as North Carolina. Furthermore, in states
where traditional marriage amendments/propositions have been
proposed, traditional marriage remains a political winner —
even in California.
So,
you can only imagine the heat Manny Pacquiao is facing when he
came out against same sex marriage. However, the way his comments
were portrayed by the publication that printed his quotes was
to frame them in such a manner in which Pacquiao’s comments
were juxtaposed to comments from The Book of Leviticus. The passage
basically implied that Pacquiao agreed that gay people should
be murdered. It was quite the juxtaposition to quote a Roman
Catholic and make him sound like one of the ruling Mullahs in
Tehran.
Pacquiao
has come out and said that he did not call for gay people to
be killed and that he did not site Leviticus as a passage to
support his current beliefs on same sex marriage. In other words,
he says the publication took his remarks and blew them out of
proportion. However, this has not stopped the bleeding Pacquiao
has faced all day long in sports & political media circles,
where he has been getting crushed. The owner of The Grove mall
in Los Angeles has banned Pacquiao from attending the shopping
center based on what was initially reported from the article
quoting Pacquiao.
At
this point, whatever damage has been done to Pacquiao’s
public image has been done and will be hard to erase. The PR
damage he has suffered for this incident would not prevent him
from fight Floyd Mayweather whatsoever, so let’s not go
that far and try to claim that today’s incident would prevent
that mega-fight. However, what is fair to ask and for us to get
your feedback on is how much financial damage was caused by today’s
media firestorm.
We
know the history of gay slurs in combat sports history. It’s
ugly. That hasn’t stopped politically incorrect fighters
from drawing huge paychecks. Pacquiao & Mayweather, if they
fight, will make significant coin. The question now raised by
today’s controversy is just how aggressively will the gay
community pursue Pacquiao for the way he has expressed his beliefs.
How will Pacquiao’s public image look down the road —
will everyone in his current fan base stick with him or will
he lose support? How many potential sponsors for a mega-fight
with Mayweather will be turned off from associating with Pacquiao
over fear that they will suffer political & financial backlash
for backing Pacquiao?
I
don’t know where any of this is exactly heading, which is
why I want to hear from you about this topic and get a better
sense of the public’s temperature about what has transpired
today.
Source:
Fight Opinion
|
Daniel
Cormier Would Love a Shot at UFC Gold, But Loyalties Are With
Strikeforce
by Damon
Martin
Newly
crowned Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix champion Daniel Cormier
isn’t in a rush to get to the UFC, but he sure wouldn’t
mind a title shot when he gets there.
The
former Olympian, who dominated Josh Barnett en route to a unanimous
decision victory to cap off the tournament, is excited about
his UFC future, but right now he’s still committed to at
least one more fight in Strikeforce.
While
most seem upset at the fact that Cormier has to fight once more
in the UFC’s sister promotion, he’s at peace with it
all. He’s known ever since the new deal was struck between
the powers that be at Zuffa and Showtime for Strikeforce to stay
alive, Cormier was going to have at least one more fight in the
promotion should he win the Grand Prix.
Still,
in a perfect world Cormier would love for his next fight to be
against reigning UFC champion Junior Dos Santos, it’s just
not going to happen so why dwell on it?
“In
a perfect world, I would love that fight. I mean who doesn’t
want to fight for the most prestigious belt in mixed martial
arts? But right now my loyalties are to Scott Coker and the people
at Strikeforce and Showtime. They’ve taken care of me for
two and a half years, and treated me well,” Cormier told
MMAWeekly Radio.
“It
was determined before that I would have another fight. My loyalties
are there right now because that’s where I fight. If and
when I do go over to the UFC, then I’ll address all that
other stuff. Whoever I beat after this fight with Josh Barnett
and it’s time to come over, you have to look at my resume
and look at a heavyweight that has those quality wins in a row
and say does this guy deserve to have a shot over him?”
Cormier
does believe however that should he win his next fight in Strikeforce
that a title shot should be awaiting him. UFC President Dana
White agrees and said recently that if Cormier chooses to stick
around at heavyweight, he will get a crack at the heavyweight
title.
“If
he comes over and wants to fight for the heavyweight championship,
yes,” White stated.
For
now however, Cormier will focus on what is actually next and
that’s recovery from surgery. The American Kickboxing Academy
fighter broke his hand in the first round of his fight with Barnett,
and had surgery on Monday to repair the damage done.
If
recovery goes well, Cormier is hopeful to be back in the cage
by the fall of 2012.
“I
have surgery on Monday and then Tuesday/Wednesday I can actually
get back on my cardio and running, and then on the following
Monday I can actually start doing everything else. I mean I can
grapple, I can wrestle, I just can’t punch,” said Cormier.
“I’ll
hopefully be able to stay in some decent shape, not get as big
as I was between this fight and the last fight and then I’m
looking at about 6 to 8 weeks of actual recovery time before
I can start punching. If that’s the case, I’m hoping
to fight in 3 ½ to 4 months.”
There
has been no word from Strikeforce officials or UFC officials
for that matter on who could potentially come in to face Cormier
for his last fight before switching promotions later this year
or early next year.
If
everything falls in line however, Daniel Cormier could be fighting
for the UFC heavyweight title before too much more time passes.
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
Team
Wand explains rout at TUF Brazil
By Marcelo
Barone
Fabricio
Werdum, Rafael Cordeio, Renato Sobral and Andre Dida. All big
named coaches at team blue, leaded by Wanderlei Silva, on the
first edition of The Ultimate Fighter Brazil. But, even with
all their qualities, the young athletes were defeated by the
ones leaded by Vitor Belfort (7x1) and forced the producers to
promote a new division of the groups.
TATAME
interviewed two members of Team Wand, including Wanderlei himself,
searching for explanations for such difference on the scoreboard.
Each one of them gave us his version, but all of them highlighted
that, in terms on potential, team blue and green were even.
Not
giving much details, the “Axe Murderer” rather highlight
his pupils’ potential and affirmed that the most important
thing is to reveal new talented guy, like John Macapa, eliminated
by Rodrigo Damm on the featherweight division.
“Some
guys win and others lose. Congratulations to all the guys that
fought. Even the ones who lost, it was close and the fights were
tied, apart from one or two. Macapa fought a guy (Rodrigo Damm)
with international experience. He’s a guy nobody knew existed.
(Cezar) Mutante is a reality now, he’s on the circuit for
a long time and had a tied fight with (Leonardo) Macarrao. There
are lots of guys like Macapa who are out there, but nobdy knows.
It’s up to us to find new Macapaz, Jasons, Massarandubas…
We have to put these guys on the spotlight and keep Brazil on
the top of the world”.
Wanderlei
Silva’s coach at Kings MMA, Rafael Cordeiro said something
similar to the former Pride champion. According to him, athletes
like Rony Jason, only representative of the team to win, will
have a great future and highlighted that making an united team
was already a mission accomplished.
“It’s
hard to find excuses and explanations for this moment. Fighters
and trainers gave themselves. Unfortunately we couldn’t
win, but everyone fought until the very end. All athletes Wanderlei
chose showed much heart and that was the most important thing.
Even with the losses, we got a united group. That was our trade
mark, we had great skills and a good group. That was our differential,
we had great skilled guys who will make big time success. There
are guys you’ll all hear about. Independently of winning
of losing, we have open doors at the gym to them, including mine”.
UFC
heavyweight fighter, Fabricio Werdum was the responsible for
sharpening their Jiu-Jitsu skills. Despite the short time to
train and get to know all the contestants skills, Werdum believes
many haven’t heard their corners’ advices and were
ruthless during the bouts.
“My
opinion is that we didn’t know them well but so didn’t
the other team. I felt like they didn’t listen to us at
the corner, which is very important. I guess they didn’t
mean to, but had the game plan in mind, what game plan they would
stick to but didn’t listen to what we had to say. It was
not disrespectful, but it made a big difference. On the other
team they listened to their coaches. I try to listen carefully
to what Rafael Cordeiro is telling me to execute each and every
position. We have a short time together, since 45 days to adapt
is nothing”.
Responsible
for helping athletes at Boxing, Andre Dida sees other explanation.
To him, the fact they had to fight to get in the house made them
all feel more comfortable when got in there.
“From
where I’m standing, we had to start picking, matching them
up. It’s very important, but, at the same time, it’s
all the same in there: same weight, each one on their division
and fighting style. I don’t know what happened, but I guess
seeing Vitor winning one, two affected their state of mind because
they had already been through a hard time before and then laid
back. Not all, but some thought they were already in and it’s
a wrong line of thought. You can’t be at ease in there”.
On
the beginning of TUF, Wanderlei Silva got the right to pick an
athlete or match-up the first fight or the show. He rather chose
Rony Jason and the other option was handed by Vitor Belfort,
which, in Renato Sobral’s eyes, was determinant.
“I
guess we made a mistake and got excited by the time we got to
pick athletes or matching them up. I guess that was the most
important factor. The only guy I knew in there was Pe de Chumbo,
with whom I had trained with. We can’t teach them in three,
four weeks. We’re there to help them out. We got guys with
good performance on the trials, but they didn’t respond
well inside the house. Team Wanderlei was lighter, our fighters
were fighting on a heavier division than their regular weight
class and Vitor’s dropped. But it’s not an excuse”.
Source:
Tatame
|
PATRICK
COTE VS. CUNG LE SIGNED FOR UFC 148
By Mike
Chiappetta - Senior Writer
Patrick
Cote is back for a third run in the UFC, and he'll be immediately
thrust into a high-profile UFC 148 matchup against Cung Le.
MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani confirmed the signing and booking
on Thursday morning with a source with knowledge of the situation.
The
news was originally reported by MMA Junkie.
Cote is replacing Rich Franklin, who was switched into a UFC
147 main event slot against Wanderlei Silva after Vitor Belfort
suffered a broken hand in training.
Cote (17-7) went 0-3 in his first UFC tenure back in 2004-05.
In 2006, he returned as part of The Ultimate Fighter's season
4 "The Comeback" edition, and fared much better, winning
five of his first six bouts and advancing to a title match against
Anderson Silva.
The Quebecois lost that match via third-round TKO after suffering
a knee injury, the first of three straight losses that ultimately
led to his release. Since that time, however, Cote has won four
straight, including three victories over former UFC fighters
(Crafton Wallace, Todd Brown and Kalib Starnes).
Le hasn't fought since last November's thriller against Wanderlei
Silva.
UFC
148 is set for July 7 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena with a middleweight
title main event of Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen II.
Source:
MMA Fighting
|
‘The
Ultimate Fighter’ Finales: 5 Overlooked Moments
By Brian
Knapp
When
“The Ultimate Fighter” reality series debuted, it was
an all-in poker play by the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Hemorrhaging
money, it appeared to be on its last leg and in dire need of
a miracle. Seven years, 15 seasons and one iconic fight later,
“The Ultimate Fighter” has become a staple of the promotion,
supplying it with invaluable mainstream visibility and a steady
stream of talented personalities.
Everyone
remembers the epic encounter between Forrest Griffin and Stephan
Bonnar in April 2005: three rounds of human drama through which
the UFC carved out its niche in the marketplace. Other memorable
moments followed in those enormous footsteps, some of them largely
forgotten.
As
the latest season draws to a close with “The Ultimate Fighter
15” Finale on Friday at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas,
we thought it prudent to look back on some of the less-ballyhooed
moments from the reality show’s finales. Here are five that
came to mind:
The
Armbar
“The
Ultimate Fighter 7” Finale
June 21, 2008
As
Josh Burkman and Dustin Hazelett scrambled up in the whizzer
position, the latter struck swiftly and deftly, as he threw his
left leg up and over his foe’s face from the side and transitioned
into an armbar attempt. While a clearly surprised Burkman managed
to clasp his hands, his defense proved futile, as his spindly
opponent ripped apart the guard, torqued his hips and finished
the sensational submission. Many believed the maneuver could
springboard Hazelett to bigger and better things. However, following
losses to Paul Daley,Rick Story and Mark Bocek, he was jettisoned
from the UFC roster and has since disappeared from the MMA scene
entirely.
When
Nobody Wins
“The
Ultimate Fighter 5” Finale
June 23, 2007
A
tooth-and-nail struggle quickly unfolded between Gray Maynard
and Robert Emerson, as the two lightweights exchanged fists with
reckless abandon in the center of the cage. Maynard connected
with a thudding right hand and slowly but surely established
his superiority through the first five minutes. In the second
round,“The Bully” delivered one of his trademark uppercuts,
closed the distance and slammed Emerson violently to the mat.
In visible pain, Emerson tapped out immediately. However, Maynard
was not capable of continuing, either, having knocked himself
silly when his head struck the canvas during the slam. Despite
Maynard’s protests, the bout was ruled a no contest. Replays
provided vindication for the decision. Maynard has since fought
for the UFC lightweight championship twice. Emerson compiled
a 3-3 mark in the Octagon, only to be cut loose.
Out Cold
“The
Ultimate Fighter 12” Finale
Dec. 4, 2010
A
decorated Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, Fredson Paixao probably
does not recall much about his run-in withPablo Garza’s
right knee. Less than a minute into their match, the man they
call “The Scarecrow” countered Paixao’s attempt
at a double-leg takedown with a beautifully timed and savagely
executed flying knee. The Brazilian hit the mat unconscious,
his arms stiff. Paixao remained on his back for nearly four minutes.
He was eventually fitted with a neck brace, escorted to the cage
door and seated on a stretcher. The 33-year-old Paixao, now roughly
18 months removed from the incident, has not competed since.
Bathed
in Blood
“The
Ultimate Fighter 6” Finale
Dec. 8, 2007
Violence
flowed naturally between Jon Koppenhaver, now known asWar Machine,
and Jared Rollins. Koppenhaver turned to his elbows in the first
round, opening a cut over the Team Oyama standout’s right
eye. Rollins answered with a series of elbows from his own, delivered
in rapid-fire succession from his back. The blows lacerated the
top of Koppenhaver’s head, and, soon, the two men were bathed
in blood and sweat. The battle raged on. Early in round three,
Rollins moved for a takedown, only to have Koppenhaver land in
top position. He again unloaded with elbows, and though he had
Rollins in trouble, the Californian recovered to force a restart
from referee Steve Mazzagatti. Rollins responded with a crisp
punch and a knee to the head, and he followed the dazed Koppenhaver
to the mat. Seconds later, Koppenhaver swept into top position
with a kimura, transitioned to mount and blasted away with punches
for a stunning finish. In the ensuing months and years, Koppenhaver
changed his name, dabbled in pornography and wandered in and
out of prison. Rollins has yet to fight again.
Hail
Mary
“The
Ultimate Fighter 10” Finale
Dec. 5, 2009
Buoyed
by takedowns and a heavy top game, Dennis Hallman had two rounds
and change in the bank against John Howard. With 24 seconds remaining
in their welterweight scrap, Howard capitalized on a restart
from referee Josh Rosenthal. He sprang forward in a desperate
leap of faith, the thought of a miracle knockout clearly on his
mind. Howard’s left hook found its intended target, as Hallman
fell backward into the fence. Howard let loose with another left
hand, and Hallman was out cold. Only five seconds remained on
the clock. With that, MMA had its version of the Hail Mary.
Source
Sherdog
|
Keith
Kizer’s ready to drop the hammer on Nick Diaz
By Zach
Arnold
Today,
Nick Diaz (via his attorney Ross Goodman) lost their injunction
hearing in a Las Vegas court room. Keith Kizer of the Nevada
State Athletic Commission says that the commission will hold
a hearing next Monday to give Diaz his suspension for a second
positive drug test in Nevada (marijuana). Kizer is preparing
to go for a full year suspension for Diaz.
Compare
this sentencing desire to what the Nevada commission gave Alistair
Overeem on April 24th when he brought his mark doctor to the
hearing to talk about testosterone getting mixed in with a dangerous
‘tetra mix’ shot that Overeem was allegedly injecting
himself with. Overeem got a nine month suspension but timed to
where he could conceivably fight on UFC’s NYE weekend show.
Yes,
there is something horribly wrong about a testosterone user getting
less of a punishment than someone getting caught with marijuana.
Kizer has hilariously tried to argue that marijuana is ‘theoretically’
a performance-enhancing drug. It’s not — and Kizer
should have never gone down this road. However, he is an obstinate
man who has no problem with petty vendettas which leads to, in
our opinion, public attacks on character of other individuals.
Just ask Dr. Margaret Goodman. One thing we’ve learned from
all of Zuffa’s lawsuits in Las Vegas and what happened here
to Diaz along with Ken Shamrock losing in Nevada court is that
Nevada folks protect their own, don’t they?
Here’s
a statement from Diaz’s attorney, Ross Goodman, after Monday’s
loss in Las Vegas court for an injunction.
*****
Nick
Diaz Sets Precedent in District Court
At
today’s hearing of Nick Diaz’s motion for a preliminary
injunction, District Court Judge Rob Bare clarified that the
NSAC, like all other administrative agencies in Nevada, is required
to comply with the law.
By
failing to hold a final disciplinary hearing within 45 days of
suspending Mr. Diaz’s license, the NSAC violated Diaz’s
due process rights under NRS 233B. The Judge entirely rejected
the NSAC’s claim that it is entitled to suspend fighters
indefinitely pending a final hearing.
Judge
Bare further held, as Ross C. Goodman argued, that if the NSAC
imposes a “temporary suspension” on a fighter, the
NSAC is legally required to hold a final disciplinary hearing
within 45 days.
If
the NSAC had not committed to setting Diaz’s final disciplinary
hearing for Monday, May 21, 2012 – which the NSAC only agreed
to do the last business day before today’s hearing –
then, Judge Bare unequivocally and repeatedly stated, he would
have ordered the NSAC to do so within 7 to 10 days.
Likewise,
Judge Bare clarified that all fighters are entitled to the protection
of the statutory 45 day time limit. The Judge rejected the NSAC’s
suggestion that fighters are required attend the temporary suspension
hearing in order to qualify for such protection. He rejected
the NSAC’s position that Diaz lost the right to dispute
the temporary suspension by electing not to attend the February
22, 2012 temporary suspension hearing.
Mr.
Diaz is pleased to have obtained a valuable precedent for the
benefit of all fighters licensed in Nevada.
Source:
Fight Opinion
|
Rich
Franklin vs. Wanderlei Silva 2 Now Set as UFC 147 Main Event
by Damon
Martin
Their
first battle got Fight of the Night honors, so why not do it
again?
With
Vitor Belfort out of UFC 147 with a broken hand, Rich Franklin
has agreed to step in and face Wanderlei Silva in the UFC 147
main event in Brazil on June 23.
The
bout will be contested at a catchweight of 190 pounds according
to UFC officials, who announced the new headliner on Wednesday.
The fight will still be a five round main event.
Franklin
and Silva first met at UFC 99 back in June 2009 with Franklin
coming out on top by way of unanimous decision.
The
compelling bout was awarded Fight of the Night honors, and both
Franklin and Silva came to put on a show. They will try to duplicate
that at UFC 147 in June.
Franklin
has been out of action since last February, when he lost a decision
to former UFC titleholder Forrest Griffin. He has since decided
to make the move back down to 185 pounds, where he was once champion.
He
was scheduled to face former Strikeforce middleweight champion
Cung Le at UFC 148, but will opt instead to bump his fight date
up a couple of weeks and face Silva at UFC 147.
The
move for his fight two weeks earlier is likely what determined
the 190-pound catchweight fight to prevent Franklin from having
to cut a severe amount of weight outside of his training schedule
that was originally geared towards July 7.
The
UFC has yet to announced who will step in to face Cung Le on
the UFC 148 card in July.
Silva
vs. Franklin 2 now headlines the UFC 147 card taking place in
Belo Horizonte, Brazil, on June 23.
Source:
MMA Weekly
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