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(All events on Oahu, unless noted)
2012
November
Aloha
State BJJ Championship
(BJJ
& Sub Grappling)
(Kaiser H.S. Gym)
10/20-21/12
NAGA
Hawaii
(BJJ & Sub Grappling)
(Radford H. S. Gym)
8/18/12
Warpath to Mayhem:
Rumble at the Resort
(MMA)
(Kauai Beach Resort, Lihue, Kauai)
August
King of the Mat
(Submission Grappling)
8/4/12
Maui Open
(BJJ & Sub Grappling)
(Lahaina Civic Center, Lahaina)
7/21/12
Sera's Kajukenbo Martial Arts Tournament
(Continuous Sparring, MMA (Controlled), and Sub. Grappling)
(War Memorial Gym, Wailuku, Maui)
**CANCELLED**
7/14/12
King of the Cage
(MMA)
(Blaisdell Arena)
6/29/12
Vendetta 5
(Kickboxing)
(Waipahu Filcom Center)
6/16-17/12
State
of Hawaii BJJ Championship
(BJJ
& Sub Grappling)
(Blaisdell Exhibition Hall)
6/16/12
Destiny
(MMA)
(Blaisdell Exhibition Hall)
6/15/12
Man Up & Stand Up
(Kickboxing)
(Blaisdell Exhibition Hall)
5/26/12
Toughman Hawaii Presents; King Of The Ring
(Boxing)
(Edith Kanakaole Tennis Stadium, Hilo)
5/19/12
Scrappler's Fest
(BJJ & Sub Grappling)
(Island School, Lihue, Kauai)
The Quest For Champions
Martial Arts Tournament 2012
(Sport-Pankration, Submission Grappling, Continuous Sparring)
(St. Louis High School Gym)
5/18/12
Vendetta 4
(Kickboxing)
(Waipahu Filcom Center)
5/4/12
King of the Ring
(Kickboxing)
(Waipahu Filcom)
Just Scrap XVI
(MMA)
(Maui War Memorial Gym, Wailuku)
4/28/12
Destiny
(Kickboxing & MMA)
(The Waterfront, Aloha Tower)
4/21/12
Amateur Boxing Event
Smoker Fundraiser
(Boxing)
(Palolo District Park Gym)
4/14/12
Man Up & Stand Up
(Kickboxing)
(Waipahu Filcom, Waipahu)
Hawaiian
Open Championship of BJJ
(BJJ & Sub Grappling)
(Kaiser H.S. Gym)
3/29/12 - 4/1/12
Pan
Jiu-Jitsu Championship
(BJJ)
(Irvine, CA)
3/3/12
Warpath to Mayhem:
Rumble at the Resort
(MMA)
(Kauai Beach Resort, Lihue, Kauai)
Vendetta 3
(Kickboxing, Triple Threat)
(Waipahu Filcom, Waipahu)
Toughman Hawaii: Challengers
(Kickboxing)
(Hilo Civic, Hilo)
2/11/12
Amateur Boxing Event
(Boxing)
(Palolo District Park Gym)
2/4/12
Man Up & Stand Up
(Kickboxing)
(Waipahu Filcom Center, Waipahu)
1/21/12
ProElite
MMA
(MMA)
(Blaisdell Arena)
1/15/12
Polynesia
International BJJ Tournament
(BJJ)
(King Intermediate, Kaneohe)
1/7/12
Toughman Hawaii
(Kickboxing)
(Hilo Civic Center, Hilo)
|
|
June
2012 News Part 3
|
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O2 Martial Arts features Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu taught by Relson
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well as a number of brown and purple belts.
We also offer Boxing and Kickboxing classes with a staff that
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provide incredibly detailed instruction of the sweet science.
To top it off, Ian Beltran & Erwin Legaspi heads our Kali-Escrima
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Chael
Sonnen Fires Back: ‘Nice to see the real Anderson…
The guy is a dirt bag’
by Ken
Pishna
It appears that Chael Sonnen, after years of poking, prodding,
and taunting, has finally gotten under the skin of UFC middleweight
champion Anderson Silva as they head into their rematch at UFC
148 on July 7 in Las Vegas.
Typically
a reserved, fairly quiet person heading into his fights, Silva
unloaded his own verbal barrage on Sonnen during a recent UFC
148 media call, a scenario that has never unfolded before during
the champion’s UFC tenure.
“It
doesn’t matter if I’m on the bottom, the side, the
top, it doesn’t matter – Chael Sonnen’s going
to get his ass kicked like he’s never gotten his ass kicked
before,” declared a venomous Silva. “What I’m
going to do inside the Octagon is something that’s going
to change the image of the sport.
“I’m
going to beat his ass like he’s never been beaten before.
I’m going to make sure that every one of his teeth are broken,
his arms are broke, his legs are broke, he’s not going to
be able to walk out of the Octagon by himself. I can guarantee
that.”
Sonnen,
rather reserved on the media call, opened up a little more on
a recent episode of UFC Tonight, the promotion’s news magazine
show on Fuel TV.
“It
was nice to see the real Anderson come through. The guy is a
dirt bag, like I’ve told you guys for years,” Sonnen
stated.
“A
couple things he didn’t say he was gonna do, starting with
beating me, starting with breaking my spirit and leaving with
a victory, because he’s not.”
Sonnen
has often been the one issuing a tongue lashing when it comes
to the rivalry between him and Silva, but on the media call,
he seemed content to let Silva unload. Sonnen’s sharpest
comment on the call was a relatively mundane barb referring to
Silva’s skills as amateur.
He
did do something that no one has ever done before. He worked
Silva up into an acidic tirade.
Did
he finally crack Anderson Silva? Is Chael Sonnen finally inside
his head?
“I
don’t care about being in his head, there’s no gamesmanship
here,” Sonnen retorted to such questions. “It’s
just very hard to hide the fact that he sucks.”
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
Viewpoint:
Misdirected Hostility
By Tristen
Critchfield
One
of the greatest things about this technology-savvy age is how
quickly we can relay and receive information through various
mediums.
Such
immediacy also has its downfalls, not the least of which appears
to be the foot-in-mouth syndrome that is so prevalent on social
media sites such as Twitter. When a fight such as the lightweight
clash between Gray Maynard and Clay Guida sets off viewers like
fire ants at a picnic, initial reactions are bound to be swift,
harsh and oftentimes inaccurate.
This
is not to say the UFC on FX 4 main event was an instant classic.
In fact, it was far from it. When two supposed Top 10 contenders
are landing less than a quarter of their strikes over the course
of 25 minutes, it is about as aesthetically pleasing to watch
as Mike Russow in a Speedo. Judging from reactions around the
World Wide Web, much of the blame for this lies with Guida, whose
strategy of stick-and-move was often a 50-percent endeavor.
For
his efforts, “The Carpenter” was raked over the figurative
Twitter coals by his peers. Here are just a few reactions:
•
Yves Edwards: “I don’t know if it would have been tougher
for Gray Maynard to beat Clay Guida in a fight or at Dance Dance
Revolution.”
•
Siyar Bahadurzada: “I think the UFC should shave Clay Guida’s
head as punishment for his performance tonight.”
•
Luke Rockhold: “Man, Guida is hard to watch. Kudos to Gray
Maynard for putting up with that.”
•
Vinny Magalhaes: “If there were yellow cards in UFC like
they used to have in Pride, Clay Guida would be paying to fight
by now.”
And
on it went. For a guy who received such a positive reaction from
those in attendance at Revel Casino in Atlantic City, N.J., on
his way to the Octagon, Guida sure turned into public enemy No.
1 by the end of the night. I personally did not have a problem
with Guida’s approach, especially when going toe-to-toe
with a bigger, stronger wrestler would have been an almost certain
recipe for disaster.
Guida
has always been something of a hit-and-miss performer in the
cage. His fights against the likes of Diego Sanchez and Tyson
Griffin are legendary, and his recent loss to Benson Henderson
certainly could have bolstered the UFC on Fox 1 broadcast. However,
his victory over Anthony Pettis was not one for the memory banks,
nor was his submission of Takanori Gomi, the man against whom
he first really began to showcase the awkward movement that so
frustrated Maynard.
So
blame Guida for a subpar main event if you must. Winning is the
name of the game, and “The Carpenter” adopted an approach
best suited to attain that goal. A warning from referee Dan Miragliotta
in the second round instead of the fifth might have helped change
the course of the fight.
The
attacks on Guida were not the most troubling part about post-fight
reaction. If the negativity did not bother the fighter himself
-- “Why is everyone so quiet? Let’s have some fun,”
he said upon entering the UFC on FX 4 press conference -- then
it should not get to anyone else, either. The bigger issue was
the cheap shots directed at Guida’s camp at Jackson’s
Mixed Martial Arts. Again, here are just a few prominent reactions:
•
Dan Hardy: “That was the right decision. Greg Jackson’s
gameplans are going to kill this sport.”
•
Micah Miller: “Man, Guida looked really Greg Jackson-trained
tonight.”
•
David Rickels: “@Dana White petition to ban Greg Jackson
fighters.”
Let
us forget for a moment that a Jackson’s MMA game plan helped
Carlos Condit knock out Hardy cold in front of his countrymen
at UFC 120; let us dismiss the idea that if fighters from the
renowned gym had been banned from UFC on FX 4, then there would
have been no Cub Swanson “Knockout of the Night” performance
against Ross Pearson; and let us also overlook the fact that
a recent feature on Jackson’s team in the printed version
of Sports Illustrated, a magazine which generally spends about
as much time on MMA as it does the WNBA, brought some more positive
publicity to the sport.
UFC
President Dana White stoked the anti-Jackson’s fire in an
interview on Fuel TV.
“Some
goof put it in his head that running around in circles would
win [Guida] the fight, and he was dead wrong,” he said.
White
did not name names, but the targets were obvious. It was not
the first time White has gone that route, either -- a somewhat
lackluster bout between Jackson-trained Nate Marquardt and Yushin
Okami prompted the UFC boss to go off on a tirade about fighters
from the Albuquerque, N.M.-based camp in 2010. Back then, Jackson
calmly responded by printing up a list of post-fight awards won
by his fighters and emailing it to various media outlets. As
you can imagine, it was fairly extensive, and it is worth noting
that Guida had several documented bonuses on that sheet. Of course,
those facts are often overlooked when it becomes convenient.
Some
of the backlash is to be expected. It comes when any team or
individual enjoys the sustained success that Jackson’s MMA
has experienced. It is why so many people take so much pleasure
in hating the New York Yankees or the Dallas Cowboys. Win long
enough, and people are going to try and pick you apart.
I
am not in any rush to re-watch the Guida-Maynard bout, but I
do not think it is contributing to the demise of the UFC. It
was simply an awkward clash of styles. For every dud put forth
by a Jackson’s MMA fighter -- and there are not a lot --
there are many more performances in which strategy and action
exist in perfect harmony. If you need proof, just watch most
any Jon Jones fight.
Does
the angry MMA fan -- and there were plenty on Friday -- need
to experience an “It’s a Wonderful Life” scenario
to truly appreciate the product that Jackson’s gym produces?
An MMA world without the likes of Jones, Donald Cerrone, Diego
Sanchez and Carlos Condit certainly would not be as much fun
as it is now.
Jackson
and Mike Winkeljohn do not craft game plans catered to entertaining
fans, but take a look at the track record. Most of the time,
winning and entertainment are wedded by default. Sometimes that
is easy to forget in the heat of a social-media fueled moment.
Source:
Sherdog
|
ALISTAIR
OVEREEM BREAKS HIS SILENCE, STILL WANTS TITLE SHOT
By Dave
Doyle
Two
months after having his fighter's license request denied by the
Nevada Athletic Commission, Alistair Overeem has broken his silence.
In his first interview since being ruled ineligible after a failed
drug test, the heavyweight explained to "UFC Tonight"
hosts Todd Harris and Kenny Florian on Tuesday night his reasons
for staying out of the public eye.
"When I had the positive test result, I didn't know why
that was and I didn't want to talk about something that I didn't
know about," said Overeem, who was speaking via satellite
from Davie, Fla. "By the time we researched it, I had just
gotten out of this situation in front of the commission. To avoid,
if we were going to do all the questions which come from the
media, that's not going to solve the situation, especially if
you didn't know where it comes from or what you're talking about.
"I
didn't think that was the right thing to do. So we decided to
do research, stay quiet, when we did have the research done we
went in front of the commission and we explained our side of
the story."
Overeem
told his side of the story at a NSAC meeting on April 24 in Las
Vegas, saying he had taken anti-inflammatory shots from a Texas
doctor, Hector Oscar Molina, without knowing what was in it.
A random drug test in March by the commission produced a 14:1
testosterone-to-epitestosterone ratio, well above the acceptable
limit. The commission listened to Overeem's testimony and ruled
he would not be eligible to apply for his license again until
Dec. 27.
Asked
on the Fuel TV show Tuesday about the high testosterone ratio,
Overeem, who missed out on an opportunity to fight for Junior
dos Santos' UFC heavyweight title due to the situation, stuck
to his guns.
"Like
I explained in front of the commission, this was due to medication
I received from a licensed doctor, due to injury," he said.
"This caused a spike in my T-E ratio, and, yeah, I did it,
took responsibility for it, stepped away from a title fight,
and now I'm slowly building up the confidence with the commission
by doing random tests, monthly tests, to show that I am a clean
fighter, this is my to prove that I am legit"
UFC
president Dana White has been vocal about Overeem's situation,
repeatedly saying he's angry with the fighter and calling him
a liar. Overeem was diplomatic about his boss when asked.
"I
have not spoken to Dana personally," he said. "I mean,
Dana is a busy man, he's got a company to run and fans to take
care of. Basically, I respect Dana, I'm going to convince Dana
through my actions I am a legit fighter and do the random tests.
I'm very sure that this situation cannot happen again.
Overeem,
who is now living in Miami, has taken the initiative to undergo
his own random testing. He hasn't revealed details about the
tests, such is where they're being taken and who is overseeing
them, but he says he's doing it as a way to prove he's cleaned
up his act.
"What
I want to show the world is that I am a clean fighter, I'll do
these tests on my own. One test doesn't say anything. If I do
these tests every 3-4 weeks, then you prove to everyone that
you are clean, the medical staff is observing you taking the
test, so there's no foul play involved. ... What I'm hoping to
achieve is that I can prove to the world that I am a clean fighter.
I'm doing it for myself as well as for the fans. For me, myself,
my fans, for the commission, I am a clean fighter.
Overeem,
the former Strikeforce and Dream heavyweight champ and K-1 kickboxing
champ, says he's got his eyes on a dos Santos matchup when he
returns.
"I know I have a lot of support and would like to take the
opportunity to thank fans who have voiced that support, emails,
tweets from people all over the world from people who say they
want to see me back in there," said Overeem. "For you
guys, I'm training every day to improve my game. When I'm back
in there, hopefully in December, hopefully for the title, I'm
going to show the world I'm No. 1."
Source:
MMA Fighting
|
UFC:
Nogueira doesn’t want to rush comeback to the UFC
Story by
Guilherme Cruz
Upset for having to cancel his bout at UFC 149 against Check
Kongo, Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira works hard
on the physiotherapy sessions on his operated arm, but does not
have plans to return to the octagon.
“We
don’t have a date set. I’ve stopped training, I’m
just working on my cardio, riding a bike and doing physiotherapy.
Now I have to get my arm healed and then I’ll make some
appointments. Let’s get this done first”, said the
fighter to TATAME.
Not even another UFC edition in Rio de Janeiro, which made him
speed up his recovery for Brendan Schaub fight, on August of
2011, is being taken into account.
“I can’t predict things. We’re going to recover,
strengthen, test.. If all these steps are followed we can think
about it”.
Sad, the heavyweight explains why he had to cancel the fight
against the French guy, one of the main events of UFC in Canada.
“I was feeling much pain when I started my sparring trainings
and did some Wrestling moves, the impact hurt too much. It was
really bad and it’s a contact sport”, tells. “It
made things difficult for me to have a good performance. Pain
got in the way”.
Nogueira explains that he was supposed to be 100 percent for
Kongo and that is why he had signed a contract for the 149th
edition of the show.
“I was 100 percent. I was doing ok, doing the preventive
physiotherapy… I even hushed it (the recovery) to try to
fight at UFC 147. We were doing fine but when I started the specific
trainings the pain started. I wasn’t expecting it”,
said.
“I was upset to clearing my schedule, but I rather be 100
percent and protect my arm then get in injured. If I’m fighting,
I have to be 100 percent. If it’s ok during practice it’s
a sign I’m fine”.
Source:
Tatame
|
“I
convinced Chris Leben that Jiu-Jitsu’s essence is in the
gi”
Last week in Hawaii, UFC middleweight star Chris Leben was promoted
to blue belt in Jiu-Jitsu by his teacher Sidney Silva, as GRACIEMAG.com
previously reported, here.
Having
completed the term of his suspension from the UFC for doping,
the knockout artist invested his efforts in Jiu-Jitsu training
to please his gentle-art professor.
“Chris
has a really good ground game. He has a complete notion of basic
movements, and as he’s temporarily suspended from fighting
and without a date for his next fight, he’s been paying
special attention to his ground game, especially in the gi—something
he’s been working on for about eight months,” Sidney
Silva told GRACIEMAG.com.
“It
took some time, but I managed to convince Chris that the true
essence of Jiu-Jitsu is in the gi. Although there are a lot of
naysayers, Gi Jiu-Jitsu training is essential for MMA fighters:
it’s training in the gi that helps the fighter get a tight
and precise ground game,” added the black belt Romulo Barros,
a Rickson Gracie student.
The
UFC star’s presence in the Hawaiian academy has served as
a stimulus to the other students. “He’s really stoked
about Gi training, and it’s rubbing off on the other students,”
said the Jiu-Jitsu professor, who had to defend Leben’s
promotion.
“There
were folks who disagreed with giving him the belt, saying he
should be promoted even higher for being a UFC fighter, having
submitted Akiyama [in 2010] and all, but it’s like I explained
to him: When he said he wanted to train in the gi and humbly
asked what belt he should use, I said, “A white belt.”
Well, at the time he was surprised by my response, but he accepted
it with the utmost humility because I explained that MMA and
No-Gi grappling are not the same thing as Jiu-Jitsu,” Sidney
elaborated, already making predictions about the new phase the
fighter is seeing.
“The
guy’s great people, a warrior, and he’ll throw down
with anyone. He’s at a great stage in his life, is healthy
and focused on his UFC return, which should happen shortly. I
feel he’s going to make the middleweight division all the
more exciting,” said the wise Jiu-Jitsu professor in conclusion.
Source:
Gracie Magazine
|
Georges
St-Pierre Back to ‘Full-Time Training’
Everyone has been waiting for word that Georges St-Pierre is
good to go and will be able to unify his UFC welterweight championship
with the interim belt around Carlos Condit’s waist at UFC
154 in November in Montreal.
Well,
we can’t exactly say that just yet, but St-Pierre has given
a good reason for hope that it may happen.
“I’m
back in Montreal and full-time training! Already tried a few
kicks – right knee is super strong…,” St-Pierre
wrote on his Facebook page on Wednesday.
St-Pierre
tore his ACL in training late last year and had to undergo surgery
and an extensive rehabilitation process.
None
would be more excited than UFC president Dana White, who has
fallen short of main event caliber bouts lately, especially for
pay-per-views. White already confirmed that November is the target
for St-Pierre’s return, and Wednesday’s post by the
champion certainly helps strengthen the odds.
St-Pierre
vs. Condit in November would give the UFC a strong event heading
into year’s end, and also start the process of unclogging
a glut of contenders in the welterweight division.
Jake
Ellenberger, Johny Hendricks, and Martin Kampmann had all been
knocking on the door. With GSP on the sidelines and Condit waiting
for him, however, Ellenberger and Kampmann headlined the TUF
Live Finale, Kampmann eliminating Ellenberger as a contender
for the time being.
Should
St-Pierre return to face Condit in November as planned, Kampmann
and Hendricks will square off on the supporting card, setting
up the next immediate contender for the winner, save for a rematch.
The
way the injury bug has bitten the UFC over the summer, however;
it’s probably not advisable to hold your breath on the scenario
playing out as smoothly as White would like.
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
CHAEL
SONNEN RETURNS FIRE ON ANDERSON SILVA
By Dave
Doyle
One
day after middleweight champion Anderson Silva left Chael Sonnen,
as well as the rest of the mixed martial arts world, speechless,
the UFC's mouth that roared was back in action.
On Monday, Silva went on a memorable tirade during a UFC 148
conference call, calling Sonnen a criminal, a cheater, and detailing
graphic and violent hints about what he planned on doing to Sonnen
in the Octagon at UFC 148 on July 7.
Sonnen's didn't have much of a response on Monday, but Tuesday
night, he called into Fuel TV's "UFC Tonight" and returned
the verbal fire.
"A
couple things he didn't say he was going to do," said Sonnen.
"Starting with beating me, starting with breaking my spirit,
starting with leaving with a victory, because he's not."
Sonnen,
who lost a memorable battle with Silva at UFC 117 via fifth-round
submission after dominating the first four rounds, brushed off
the champion's threats of physical harm.
"Well
it was nice to see the real Anderson Silva come through. Ya know,
the guy's a dirtbag, like I've told you for years. He made a
lot of statements like he's gonna break my teeth, he's gonna
break my jaw and break my skull. I've fought 49 men," he
said. "It's not like I've never been to the orthodontist
before, it's not like I've ever had my jaw re-set. It's not like
I've never had to have my scalp stapled shut in ER. I can take
the staples in the head and all this other crap. We're in a fist
fight, we're in a steel cage, on [July 7] anyway. I can't of
expect it. I think it was more like he was saying ‘I'm going
to give you a knuckle sandwich.' I'm kind of sitting there going,
well, duh, we're in a cage fight, dummy."
Sonnen
didn't address Silva's cheating allegations. But he did say that
he's not going to back down from his rival's strong words.
"I
don't care about being in his head, there's no gamesmanship here,"
Sonnen said. "It was very nice to see the true Anderson
Silva come through. ... I'm a gangster from West Linn, Ore. and
I've been fighting for years. He thinks I'm going to be upset
because I found what I was looking for? I mean listen, there's
a venue where we can figure this out and on 7/7 at 7 pm in the
[West] in the octagon. if he wants to meet my demands, fine,
if he doesn't, I'm going to shoot a double and run him into that
cage, shoot a double and put him on his prissy little ass and
sit there for 25 minutes until he gives up."
Nor
did Sonnen drop his charge that the skills possessed by the man
most consider the world's top pound-for-pound fighter to are
"amateur."
"If
anyone's taken a boxing class, they tell you to keep your hands
up and your chin down. He goes out there with his chin up and
his hands down. That's amateur as hell. ... What good does it
do me to sub a guy who sucks? It's just very hard to hide the
fact that he sucks."
Source:
MMA Fighting
|
Ronda
Rousey ‘Artistically Nude’ in ESPN The Magazine’s
Next Body Issue
Current Strikeforce bantamweight champion and former Olympic
bronze medalist Ronda Rousey will be one of the athletes featured
in the next “Body Issue” of ESPN The Magazine.
Heading
into its fourth edition, “The Body Issue” is ESPN The
Magazine’s celebration of the athletic form. The issue features
several athletes posing nude, or close to it, in strategic, artistic
poses.
Rousey
is the latest mixed martial artist to make the cut for the magazine,
which has also featured fighters like Cris and Evangelista Cybrog
Santos, and Jon Jones in the past.
“Hey
so …. Espn body issue….. If anyone wants to see me
‘artistically nude’ I suggest you grab a copy when
it’s revealed on July 13th,” Rousey Tweeted on Wednesday,
who added that she had a family discussion about it prior to
committing to the magazine.
The
issue hits the newsstands just two weeks prior to the Olympic
games in London, so it features several current Olympians as
well. Expect to see Rousey alongside athletes like Carmelita
Jeter, Ashton Eaton, Tyson Chandler, Rob Gronkowski, Abby Wambach,
and the USA volleyball team.
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
Luke
Rockhold, Tim Kennedy Spar Over Team Greg Jackson's Game Planning
After Nearly Losing Toe In Training Injury, Tim Kennedy Set for
Second Crack at Belt
By Mike
Chiappetta - Senior Writer
Tim
Kennedy has been through the hell of war and the enmity of cagefighting,
yet it was a friendly training session at his home gym that nearly
cost him an appendage.
"I
was sparring and my left toe slipped between a space in the mats,
and I threw a hard left hook and my toe stayed in the tiny little
space while my foot continued to move," he said. "It
pretty much tore off my left toe. I had to go and get surgery
to put it back on, and now my toe is a good-looking toe."
Kennedy
punctuates the story with a laugh, because let's face it, of
everything he's seen in his day as a solider and fighter, a partially
severed toe suffered while punching someone in the face must
rank fairly low on a scale of observed bodily injury and high
in level of levity due to cause.
Humor
also seems to be part of who he is, based upon the video series
produced by his Ranger Up team, including his shot-for-shot remake
of the Katy Perry video "Part of Me."
While
Kennedy never seems to take himself too seriously, the same can't
be said for his approach to his fight career. The decision simply
to focus on fighting came after a lengthy deliberation, and resulted
in him reluctantly leaving the military in 2009, after his six-year
enlistment ran out, with the hope of dedicating himself to MMA
and reaching the top of the sport.
Partly
because of the anguish that came along with that decision, he
feels an obligation to get there, even if the opportunities don't
always go his way. In August 2010, he lost a close but unanimous
decision to Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza in a Strikeforce
middleweight title match.
In
the two years since, he's fought only twice, which in itself
is a source of frustration for him, along with the overall direction
of the Strikeforce promotion. Yet the chance to face champion
Luke Rockhold at July 14's Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Kennedy
event offers at least the opportunity to face a worthy adversary.
The
toe injury, which was suffered in January, is now of little concern.
Kennedy (14-3) was not able to do any weight-bearing on the foot
for three weeks, then eased into strength and conditioning and
other MMA-related training, and within six weeks, was in full
training mode.
By
the time the fight goes off, it will have been nearly one year
between fights for Kennedy, who last faced live action last July
when he beat Robbie Lawler by unanimous decision. Rather than
be a cause of concern for Kennedy, the time away has only built
his anticipation.
"I'm
super excited to fight, especially for the title, especially
[against] another very talented athlete," he said. "I've
had a lot of breaks, long breaks, some longer than others in
my career. Whether I was deployed or just waiting on another
fight like this instance. That’s fighting. Sometimes you
get a lot of fights, sometimes you gets few. I'm just excited
I have one right now."
The
feeling is mutual for Rockhold, who recently voiced criticism
for Team Greg Jackson game plans, and challenged Kennedy to meet
him in the middle of the cage.
"The
fact is, if you come for my belt, I won't take it lightly. I'm
going to punish you," he said. "Time to make a statement.
If you come for my belt, it's not going to go that easy for you."
Kennedy
has spent much of his adult life preparing for hostile environments.
Judging from the fact that he can laugh at his own nearly severed
toe and himself dressed in drag, it seems unlikely that a few
uttered words would get him to alter his battle plan, and he
hinted as much when discussing Rockhold's criticisms.
"Fortunately
for the fans, this fight has two guys that are really well-rounded.
I think Luke is a good wrestler, a good jiu-jitsu practitioner,
he's a good kickboxer. It's not one where I'm fighting a one-dimensional
fighter. This is a fight that has to take place in a whole bunch
of different aspects of MMA. It’s going be from start to
finish a great fight. I don't think you can prepare one single
way for this fight. I think there are some areas I have to push
Luke in, and some areas that he's very dangerous in and I should
avoid. And that's how I'm going to show up to fight."
A
temptation to return to active duty has gnawed at him since making
the decision to leave the Army and concentrate on fighting. That's
still true today, but with the clock ticking on the 32-year-old's
athletic prime and his second title opportunity providing more
pressure to win or risk a long road back to the top, it's now
or never.
"This
is what I said I was going to do, and I have dedicated myself
to this," he said. "I have to accomplish as much as
I can before I move on."
Source:
MMA Fighting
|
Vendetta
Friday,
June 29
Waipahu Filcom
Vendetta
Waipahu Filcom Center
Friday June 29
Doors open at 6
ANDREW
QUEZON 155 BRYAN BROWN
CHOLO
160 ALLEN BROWN
MATT
RANDALLS 155 TONY
KONA
MAHUKA 230 MENSIOR LUCK
ADAM
AZIMOV 135 KAYLEN STAFFORD
THOMAS
REYES 135 NICK KUIU
LINK
MERRIT 145 FREDDY RAMAYLA
MATT
TUILESU SHW BEN BOYCE
ANTHONY
REYES 135 JOSIAH HORNER
KEONI
ANDERSON 160 JOHN PAULO
DAHWEN
BRIGHT 130 LEROY LARINAGA
ANU
REINY ALO 125 CAMERON TANIKIYOKANE
MAKANA
BALAI 130 BRONSON YASUE
JONAH
AFOA 170 RANKIN LORICO
ALBERT
CAMBRA 210 JUSTIN FINOTA
JUSTIN
KAHALEWAI 145 CAMERON HAYASHI
ZANE
WARD 160 KINOHI
EVAN
QUEZON 130 ALIKA KUMUKOA
GEORGE
CASPINO 185 JARED E
ALBRYAN
CAMBRA 185 MIKE ELI
MARLON
CALVENTAS 160 TBA
All
matches and participants may be subject to change
|
Shinya
Aoki, Bibiano Fernandes Added to One FC Roster
by Damon
Martin
As One FC has continued their expansion in Asia, they have signed
two major mainstays of the Japanese fight scene with both expected
to debut on their Aug. 31 show.
First
off, former DREAM lightweight champion Shinya Aoki will join
the One FC roster and is expected to debut on the Aug. 31 show
in Manila in the Philippines.
Aoki
comes to One FC after a tumultuous last few months due to the
uncertainty that was surrounding DREAM and that promotion’s
future in Japan.
Now
that it appears DREAM is all but dead, Aoki has chosen to move
on and sign with One FC where he will begin competing later this
year. When he steps back in the cage, Aoki will be looking to
erase the memories of his last fight where he was stopped by
former Bellator champion Eddie Alvarez in a first-round beatdown.
Also
added to the One FC roster is former DREAM featherweight and
bantamweight Grand Prix winner Bibiano Fernandes, who has signed
on with the organization as of Wednesday.
Fernandes
was offered contracts with both the UFC and One FC, but the Brazilian
ultimately decided to land with One FC and will begin competing
there immediately.
Looked
at as one of the top bantamweight fighters in the world, Fernandes
will surely make an immediate impact in One FC as he looks to
further cement his standing in the division.
The
upcoming Aug. 31 show will be dubbed One FC: Pride of a Nation
and will take place at a 16,000-plus seat stadium in Manila.
“I
am expecting a sellout crowd of 16,500 Filipino fans in Manila
on August 31. One FC: Pride of a Nation will be the biggest MMA
event in Filipino history. One FC is bringing the most stacked
card to Manila with DREAM Champions, URCC Champions, ex UFC stars,
Gracie fighters, and more,” said One FC CEO Victor Cui.
Renato
“Babalu” Sobral is also expected to compete on the
card as well as several more fights and fighters being announced
over the next few weeks.
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
LUKE
ROCKHOLD, TIM KENNEDY SPAR OVER TEAM GREG JACKSON'S GAME PLANNING
By Mike
Chiappetta - Senior Writer
Luke
Rockhold takes any threat to his Strikeforce middleweight championship
seriously. Slap a "No. 1 contender" tag on anyone,
and Rockhold will bare his teeth, stake his ground and dare you
to move him off his spot. That certainly applies when an opponent
is accomplished as Tim Kennedy, a former Army Green Beret who
boasts a 14-3 record and stoppages in five of his last six wins.
While
he's on guard for Kennedy's challenge, that doesn't mean he's
a huge fan of Kennedy's style, or the approach of his fight team
at Jackson-Winkeljohn's. The Albuquerque, New Mexico-based gym
is alternately one of the most feared and criticized camps in
mixed martial arts. Its proponents say it's a gym that makes
champions. Its detractors contend that the head coaches -- Greg
Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn -- often favor conservative strategies
that lead to lackluster performances.
Rockhold, who trains at fellow mega-gym American Kickboxing Academy,
is among the latter camp, a sentiment he voiced during a Tuesday
conference call for his July 14 Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Kennedy
fight.
His
viewpoint became clear when he challenged Kennedy to bring the
fight to him, saying "I'm not the biggest fan of Greg Jackson
game plans."
But asked by MMA Fighting if his judgment was directed at the
coaching staff or based more specifically on something he had
seen from Kennedy in the past, Rockhold didn't hedge his words.
"I
think that’s kind of across the board," he said. "It's
Tim’s style, it's his previous fights. I mean, there's a
lot of fighters who come out of that camp, they have a smart
game plan, they follow the game plan and it's not the most exciting
game plan a lot of the times but it wins them fights sometimes.
It doesn't excite me much. I'm not a big fan of his style.
"Also,
he yells the guys names in the corner, like, 'Great job, beautiful
low kick Tim Kennedy,' and this and that," he continued.
"I think he tries to play into the minds of the judges a
lot, and it's a form of, I think, cheating to some extent. I’m
there to fight. I’m confident in my abilities, and I’m
not going to let this fight slow down. Whatever he brings to
the table, it's not really going to matter because I'm going
to nullify it, and I'm going to play my game."
Team
Jackson-Winkeljohn came under fire most recently over the weekend,
when Clay Guida used a tactical strategy of minimal engagement
for the majority of his five-round fight with Gray Maynard, which
he ultimately lost by split decision. Prior to that, they guided
Carlos Condit to an upset win over Nick Diaz in another bout
that was criticized heavily for cautious engagement.
On
the other hand, the team has also generated and worked with some
of the sport's most exciting talents and fight-finishers, including
current UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones, Shane Carwin
and Donald Cerrone, a fact which Kennedy brought up in defending
his home gym.
"It
doesn't make any sense," he said. "That same night
when people were harassing Clay Guida for his performance, we
had the Knockout of the Night with Cub Swanson going out there
and doing some insanity in the cage to finish one of the best
kickboxers in the division. But did anybody mention what a great
performance Cub Swanson had and how fantastic that finish was?
And hey, Greg Jackson, congratulations for having Knockout of
the Night?
"No,
they were like, 'Clay was running,'" he continued. "Well,
Gray hits really hard and he's a really great wrestler. I think
that Clay had nearly the perfect game plan for that fight. It
wasn't flawlessly executed. He should have done more sticking
than he did moving, but he had the right idea, and it was an
extremely close fight. And the Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit …
I’m a Nick Diaz fan but if i was going to fight Nick Diaz,
that’s how I’d fight him, is the way Carlos did. So
I think the criticism is completely unfounded. I think Greg is
a fantastic coach. We have more finishes, more knockouts, more
submissions, more champions than any other camp out there. It’s
asinine and I think it's just people lashing out at somebody's
who's very talented at coaching fighters."
As
far as Rockhold goes, it's nothing personal. In his mind, Kennedy's
earned the right to face him and is proven as the No. 1 contender,
and he's planning to protect his space at the top, no matter
how Kennedy approaches him.
Whether
his comments were meant to provoke Kennedy, were an honest viewpoint
on a recent topic, or a little bit of both, Rockhold knows his
actions will ultimately have to back up his words.
"I
just hope he comes out and fights me in the middle and fights
me everywhere," he said. "This is mixed martial arts.
I quit wrestling for a reason; I want to fight. I'm looking for
a fight."
Source:
MMA Fighting
|
Tá
Danado being ‘unfairly’ fired from the UFC
By Guilherme
Cruz
It only took two losses for Carlos Eduardo “Ta Danano”
to be cut off UFC. The fighter, that felt before Mike Pierce
by points on the beginning of the month, commented on the event’s
decision of letting him go.
“I went there to fight MMA and he wants to win by points.
There were 15 minutes of pure mooring. This is bullshit”,
complains on an interview with TATAME. “And UFC fires me
after a fight where the guy just stood there mooring. I had good
performances and even so I was cut off. I didn’t expect
this”.
Ta Danado pokes his last opponent, who said he would accept fighting
any Brazilian since it was an “easy fight”.
“Wasn’t him the one who said he’d fight any Brazilian
because it’s an easy fight? I thought he could come for
me but he didn’t. He didn’t attack me on the clinch,
he didn’t hit me nor let me hit him”, criticizes Carlos.
“That’s not MMA”.
The fighter still has made no plans for the future although he
has a standing offer of fighting a UFC veteran in other event.
“There was one (event that made him an offer), but the guy
didn’t wanna fight me”, reveals. “Now let’s
move one, keep my head up. I never give up. I know I’ll
get better next time so I can have another chance in the UFC”.
Source:
Tatame
|
What
we learned from Fedor Emelianenko, Russia’s monster of MMA
Contributor:
Junior Samurai
The
fight between Fedor Emelianenko and Pedro Rizzo last Friday in
Saint Petersburg provoked two distinct emotions. On Rizzo’s
return to Brazil, he was reflexive, wanting to get straight back
to training to see if he still has a return to the cage in him,
after getting knocked out in 1:24 minutes. Whereas the winner,
amid his fans and leader Vladimir Putin, didn’t do too much
thinking. Fedor, while still in the M-1 Global ring, announced
that he had wrapped up his professional MMA career after 12 years
of glory and a sparse few defeats.
What
have you learned from Fedor Emelianenko, the monster who went
from 2000 to 2010 without losing once? We came up with some of
our own.
1.
DON’T GIVE THE LOSS A THOUGHT
Fedor
was unbeaten in his career up until 2010. One day, he lost to
Fabricio Werdum, and to make matters worse he did so tapping
out, stuck in a triangle before the eyes of the millions of spectators
watching Strikeforce on TV. What did he do? “I immediately
went back home after the fight, and carried on living just as
I had before. I didn’t think about the loss, since things
are as they should be,” he stated.
2.
FACE THE BEST
Fedor
Emelianenko came to fame at Pride FC during the days of Rodrigo
Minotauro, Mirko Cro Cop, Mark Hunt and the other heavyweight
beasts featuring on the promotion’s star-studded roster.
If you want to be good, train and fight with good fighters. If
you want to be the best, face the best, always.
3.
DON’T FORGO THE GI
Fedor
was already the biggest star of the Pride FC days, known in Japan
as “The Emperor,” and even so he still competed at
sambo tournaments in Russia. He’d lose every now and again;
but he’d learn.
4.
HAVE AN OBJECTIVE WHEN FIGHTING
The
dazed look in Fedor’s eyes gave no sign of it, but there
was a flame burning inside him. It was the desire to fight for
something more than just the hefty check he’d be handed
afterwards. “MMA is the way I found to represent my country.
It’s the way I have to please the fans, the people who cheer
for me. And specially, it’s the thing I found I was best
at. That’s why I keep doing it,” he said one time.
5.
RESPECT
“The
best and strongest fighter in the world has to be able to beat
all opponents, but that’s not all. He has to respect the
other fighters, understand the circumstances of fighting and
do a good job of communicating to the fans and the press,”
preached Fedor Emelianenko. In these times of Anderson Silva
and Chael Sonnen, that’s quite a lesson.
6.
HAVE FUN, ALWAYS
When
he’d attend a Pride FC event just to watch, not to fight,
Fedor was always shooting the breeze, swilling vodka and joking
around with everybody. Even if you’re the best in the world,
never lose your good cheer nor desire to have a good time.
Source:
Gracie Magazine
|
Brian
Ebersole Calls Coaching TUF: The Smashes His ‘Dream Job’
by Damon
Martin
Brian Ebersole may not be a native Australian, but he certainly
has fallen in love with the Land Down Under over the last few
years.
Currently
sporting a 4-0 record inside the Octagon, Ebersole has become
a transplant to Australia and that’s why when he heard about
the next edition of the international Ultimate Fighter landing
there he got excited.
The
Smashes: Team Australia vs. Team U.K. began holding tryouts just
a couple of weeks ago and while the coaches for the reality show
haven’t been announced, Ebersole is throwing his hat in
for consideration.
“That’s
a dream job. I mean to be on the highest stage as a coach, I
got there as an athlete, to get that recognition for my coaching
abilities and my personality, which I have been cultivating since
I was four-and-a-half years old, that would be amazing,”
Ebersole told MMAWeekly Radio following his last win at UFC on
FX 4.
“To
be able to pick my staff and to be able to reward some of the
people that have really helped me by giving them a really cool
job and a really cool challenge, I think would be awesome.”
Ebersole
has been coaching and training in Australia over the last few
years, and since the UFC has made a few trips there for shows,
the sport is continuing to explode.
The
newest version of the reality show will only further the growth
of MMA in Australia, and that’s why Ebersole wants to be
a part of something he already helped build.
“I’ve
coached a lot of Australians and I think I know one or two or
maybe more kids that have made this cut for The Smashes series,
and it would be a pleasure to take them through this little chapter,
through this little journey and give them the best possible chance
I could and that they could possibly have to win,” Ebersole
said.
Where
there are a few fighters in the UFC from both Australia and neighboring
country New Zealand, the name that seems to pop up most frequently
when the coaching job for The Smashes comes up is Australian
born lightweight George Sotiropoulos.
Sotiropoulos
has been out of action due to injury for most of the last year
and is currently riding a two-fight losing streak. Ebersole is
also quick to point out that Sotiropoulos didn’t cultivate
his MMA game in Australia at all.
“I
hope I’ve got the momentum and this little Twitter campaign
I started, that’s kind of going strong. Sotiropoulos is
kind of the one name I’ve heard thrown around, but he’s
kind of a bit down right now as far as his health and his profile,
coming off a couple losses,” said Ebersole.
“To
be fair when MMA started getting a bit big, I went to Australia
and I helped Australian MMA, whereas he shunned Australian MMA.
He came to America and he very rarely visits Australia. So I
don’t think that many people in the community even see him
as a representative of Australian MMA. He was home grown for
the first part of his career, but he didn’t do anything
grand until he left for America.”
Ebersole,
however, embraced Australian MMA and will continue to do so as
he heads back to the country over the next few weeks to pick
back up on his coaching duties there. He hopes to soon get a
call from the UFC offering him the coaching job on the reality
show, but if it doesn’t happen he’ll continue to grow
the best Australian mixed martial artists possible.
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
The
Turning Point: Silva vs. Franklin 2
By Chris
Nelson
Between
UFC on FX 4 and UFC 147 on Friday and Saturday, the Ultimate
Fighting Championship staged nearly five hours of fights in two
different countries. However, even with more than 20 bouts of
varying weight and ability, the single most thrilling minute
of action came in the very last -- and most preemptively reviled
-- fight of the weekend.
The
second bout between Rich Franklin and Wanderlei Silva, which
headlined UFC 147, was both overlooked and spat upon by UFC heads
in the lead-up. There was not much about which to get psyched.
It was a rematch for which virtually nobody but Silva had been
clamoring, one which filled a void left first by the year’s
most anticipated return bout -- Anderson Silva-Chael Sonnen 2,
shifted to Las Vegas two months back -- and then by the broken
hand of Silva’s original opponent, Vitor Belfort.
In
the end, Franklin-Silva 2 did not turn out to be “Fight
of the Year” or even produce a “Round of the Year”
candidate. It was a perfectly serviceable match between two name
veterans that went very much the way many felt it would -- again.
For a minute in round two, though ... oh, for a minute, it looked
like something wild.
During
the first round and a half, Silva was having problems. Stuck
on the outside of Franklin’s jabs and long lefts, the famously
vicious “Axe Murderer” looked almost tentative as he
circled the perimeter, waiting to throw bombs, drawing in deep
breaths on more than one occasion. Maybe it was fighting on home
soil for the first time in a dozen years or the incompatibility
of his frame and game plan with Franklin’s size and strategy,
but beyond the ever-present puncher’s chance, it was tough
to envision a clear path to victory for Silva.
With
about 80 seconds left in the second frame, Silva timed a body
kick from Franklin and came over the top to whack the American
with a right hand. Franklin seemed unfazed and continued moving
the action around the cage, pumping his jab and further bloodying
Silva’s damaged nose. Twenty seconds later, however, Silva
rushed off the cage with a four-punch combo and clipped Franklin
with the final right hand of the exchange. Again, Franklin seemed
alright, but this time Silva kept the pressure on, looping more
of his signature wide punches and looking for a goodnight knee
in the clinch. For the first time in the fight, Franklin was
not having his way.
Silva
attempted to tie up along the fence and strike with more knees
inside, but Franklin slipped away. Walking through Franklin’s
next jab, Silva stepped into the pocket and detonated a big right
hook on his foe’s chin. Franklin’s legs gave way and
he dropped to his back, the back of his head bouncing off the
canvas. Referee Mario Yamasaki rushed in to better assess the
situation as Silva went for the kill, standing over his prone
opponent and slamming a dozen punches through his guard.
From
his back, Franklin twisted and squirmed, trying to make for a
tougher target while simultaneously grabbing for a desperate
armbar on Silva’s left limb. Franklin lost the arm when
he tried to go belly-down, leaving him in an even more precarious
spot with Silva in place to drop unfettered hammerfists from
north-south position. The former UFC champ rolled to his knees
and drove forward on a single-leg with 30 seconds to go, still
absorbing more punches and a knee. By the 20-second mark, Franklin
was back on his knees with Silva’s left arm looped around
his waist, big right hands sneaking up under Franklin’s
right armpit.
Things
were not looking great for Franklin, but they started looking
really bad in the last 20 seconds. After a particularly hard
right hand he could not see coming, Franklin went face-down on
the mat with Silva latched on his back. Yamasaki watched Silva’s
go-for-broke attack from inches away, yelling for Franklin to
fight back and looking poised to intervene. Franklin kept himself
alive by getting to his knees and falling to his back, but Silva
was relentless, thumping away with right hands and hammerfists
to the end of the round while his countrymen in the crowd went
equally berserk. When the horn sounded, Franklin clambered to
his feet and trudged back to his corner, having survived a barrage
of more than 50 unanswered strikes.
In
that frenzied moment, the fight could have turned any number
of ways, the easiest to imagine being Yamasaki calling a halt
to the bout. For all the hate heaped upon Yamasaki for his less
popular decisions -- like his controversial disqualification
of Erick Silva in January -- this is one case for which he deserves
kudos. In real-time, it seemed Franklin barely made it out of
the round with his consciousness intact. Upon review, it is easier
to see “Ace” deflecting punches, grabbing for the armbar
and shifting positions just to stay in the fight. Yamasaki stayed
closed to the action the whole time and made the right call,
which was no call at all.
Most
affected by Yamasaki’s decision not to stop the bout was
Silva. A rugged 35 years old, Silva’s adrenaline-fueled
barrage would have tired a younger man, let alone a banged-up
veteran of nearly 50 fights. “The Axe Murderer’s”
trademark style lends itself about as well to prolonged attacks
as it does five-round fights, and as rounds three and four wore
on, it became readily apparent that Silva had punched himself
out. Franklin went back to the jabs and straight punches which
had served him well in the early going, and now he had even less
offense from Silva about which to worry.
According
to FightMetric.com, Franklin out-landed Silva 71-22 in total
strikes across the final three rounds -- not a pulse-pounding
15 minutes per se, but nonetheless a solid showing from the American.
It was especially impressive given Franklin’s later admission
that he had no recollection of rounds three or four. Even in
an eventually lopsided defeat, Silva proved himself capable of
surviving a five-round fight on fumes, perhaps not quite as shopworn
as previously believed. On another night, things might even have
swung his way at the end of round two.
Maybe
nobody is screaming for Franklin-Silva 3, but for a fight that
was dismissed by most long before it began, it really was not
so bad. At least we had that minute.
Source:
Sherdog
|
ZOROBABEL
MOREIRA ON ROGER HUERTA SOCCER KICK KO: ‘I DID NOT WANT
TO THROW THE KICK’
By Shaun
Al-Shatti - Staff Writer
After
a two-day span that featured back-to-back UFC shows, few could've
expected one of last weekend's most enduring images to have come
from halfway across the world. But then again, few could have
foreseen an image as primal as Zorobabel Moreira's soccer kick
knockout of Roger Huerta at ONE FC 4.
Moreira, a decorated jiu-jitsu champion, was well on his way
to a second-round victory over the fading American, who was badly
battered and surprisingly outclassed in the stand-up game. Huerta
valiantly fought back, but was soon out on his feet after eating
another unanswered salvo of strikes, in a scene eerily reminiscent
of Joe Warren's loss to Pat Curran.
His opponent crumpled on the mat on all fours, Moreira, along
with ringside announcer Renzo Gracie, believed the fight was
over, as Huerta was clearly no longer capable of defending himself.
Yet referee Yuji Shimada gave no signal of a stoppage.
"I stopped to look at the referee," Moreira explained
to MMAFighting.com.
"He
was yelling ‘low kick' to me. After he yelled it, I kicked."
What
ensued was a moment ripped straight from Pride Fighting Championships.
Moreira reluctantly threw the soccer kick, it connected on Huerta's
skull with a sickening thwack, and "El Matador" collapsed
in a heap. The fight was over.
ONE FC's rule set combines the North American unified rules with
the soccer kicks and stomps of Pride, however fighters must wait
for a referee's open attack signal before using the more violent
maneuvers on downed opponents. Though in Huerta's case, the potential
for soccer kicks should have never come into play, if not for
sloppy refereeing.
"I
did not want to throw the kick," Moreira confessed. "I
thought the referee was going to stop the fight. But when he
yelled ‘low kick' to me, I kicked. It was reflex.
"I
was hoping the referee was going to stop the fight. But my coaches
train us to finish the fight and they tell all of us don't stop
until the referee stops the fight."
Several
fighters, Moreira included, have expressed their love of ONE
FC's mishmash rule set, which harkens back to glory days of Asian
MMA, and "Zoro" affectionately calls, "the best
rules." Yet while the visceral nature of the knockout has
essentially overshadowed what was the best performance of the
Brazilian's career, Moreira tries not to concern himself with
headlines.
"I
don't know how to read English very well," he said. "Some
people have told me about the news of the KO. I read most the
Brazilian websites. I don't spend much time on the Internet.
I stay in the academy at Evolve MMA all day."
As
for Huerta, Moreira has yet to speak to the 29-year-old since
their co-main event clash, however ONE FC founder Victor Cui
confirmed he is fully recovered from the knockout blow.
"Victor
Cui told me that Roger was 100-percent fine the next day already,"
a relieved Moreira revealed. "Roger is a tough guy. I wish
him the best in everything."
Source:
MMA Fighting
|
UFC
on FX 4 TV Ratings Consistent on FX and Fuel
Friday’s UFC on FX 4 TV ratings were right in line with
what live UFC fight events have been averaging on the network
since the UFC began its official partnership with Fox in January.
Through
four events, UFC on Fox has average 1.28 million viewers per
episode, while UFC on FX 4 pulled in 1.3 million viewers.
UFC
on FX 4: Maynard vs. Guida featured the lightweight battle between
contenders Gray Maynard and Clay Guida; a fight that he’s
received a lot of criticism, particularly for Guida’s strategy.
Several
UFC on FX 4 preliminary bouts aired live on Fuel TV, drawing
160,000 viewers over the course of the telecast. That is a new
high for UFC on FX preliminary bouts on Fuel, the previous high
mark being 148,000 for the preliminary broadcast of the first
UFC on FX event.
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
Vendetta
Friday,
June 29
Waipahu Filcom
Vendetta
Waipahu Filcom Center
Friday June 29
Doors open at 6
ANDREW
QUEZON 155 BRYAN BROWN
CHOLO
160 ALLEN BROWN
MATT
RANDALLS 155 TONY
KONA
MAHUKA 230 MENSIOR LUCK
ADAM
AZIMOV 135 KAYLEN STAFFORD
THOMAS
REYES 135 NICK KUIU
LINK
MERRIT 145 FREDDY RAMAYLA
MATT
TUILESU SHW BEN BOYCE
ANTHONY
REYES 135 JOSIAH HORNER
KEONI
ANDERSON 160 JOHN PAULO
DAHWEN
BRIGHT 130 LEROY LARINAGA
ANU
REINY ALO 125 CAMERON TANIKIYOKANE
MAKANA
BALAI 130 BRONSON YASUE
JONAH
AFOA 170 RANKIN LORICO
ALBERT
CAMBRA 210 JUSTIN FINOTA
JUSTIN
KAHALEWAI 145 CAMERON HAYASHI
ZANE
WARD 160 KINOHI
EVAN
QUEZON 130 ALIKA KUMUKOA
GEORGE
CASPINO 185 JARED E
ALBRYAN
CAMBRA 185 MIKE ELI
MARLON
CALVENTAS 160 TBA
All
matches and participants may be subject to change
|
Hatsu
Hioki watches title hopes disappear as he drops fight to Ricardo
Lamas
When
asked by the UFC to fight Jose Aldo for the title, featherweight
Hatsu Hioki said he wasn't quite ready for it yet. Now, a chance
at the belt is much further away after he dropped a decision
to Ricardo Lamas at UFC on FX 4.
Hioki
started strong, twisting Lamas into an omoplata in the first
round. But Lamas survived to get the best of Hioki on the ground
and in stand-up. Every judge in Atlantic City saw it 29-28 for
Lamas.
With
this loss, Hioki showed the danger of passing on title shots.
If he took a fight with Aldo before he was ready, he wouldn't
have been confident in the cage. However, in taking a tune-up
fight, he showed he wasn't ready for Aldo in the first place.
Now, he'll have to work his way back to the top levels of the
UFC's featherweight division to even get a whiff of the championship.
Source: Yahoo Sports
|
Tito
Ortiz talks about UFC 148, the Hall of Fame and the next chapter
142829147It's
going to be an eventful summer for Tito Ortiz, a man who was
recognized as one of the most important fighters in the growth
of the UFC when the promotion decided to induct him into their
Hall of Fame. He will fight Forrest Griffin on July 7 at UFC
148, making it the third time the pair will meet. After that
bout, Ortiz plans to retire.
"I've
done everything," Ortiz told Cagewriter. "My body has
taken the toll. (back injury, acl replacement) My body just can't
train, and training is hard on your body, so I wanted to go out
on my own terms."
But
before retirement, he will fight Griffin. The pair first faced
off at UFC 59. It was a close fight won by Ortiz and was considered
one of the best fights of 2006. Griffin took the rematch by split
decision at UFC 106. Though they've fought each other for six
rounds, Ortiz said he still is studying Griffin because it's
part of the job.
"Gotta
do your homework. I've got to do as much homework as I possibly
can. I see mistakes that he does," Ortiz said. "It
doesn't matter that it's my last fight. I'm still pushing my
hardest."
He
was touched by the UFC deciding to make him a Hall-of-Famer.
"It
means all the hard work that I did means something. I've worked
really hard in this business for 15 years. I've gotten to succeed,
to be very successful, at mixed martial arts in the UFC."
Because
he has been in the fight game for so long, he has not had as
much time to spend with his family as he would like. He has three
sons, and is happy the next stage in his life will involve plenty
of time with them.
"First
thing is being a full-time father. Being with my kids every single
day. I'm starting the second chapter of my life, and it's truly
about family."
Source: Caged Insider
|
Dana
White Unhappy With TUF Brazil Winner Rony 'Jason' Mariano's Performance
Jun
24, 2012 - For Rony Mariano, it was the night of a lifetime,
the Brazilian featherweight living out a dream by winning TUF
Brazil with a victory at Saturday night's UFC 147. The unanimous
decision over Godofredo Pepey gave him a contract in the world's
leading fight promotion. That's the good news.
The
bad news is that he won't exactly be starting off his octagon
career on Dana White's good side, as the UFC president was quite
critical of his performance, even in victory.
"I
didn’t like it at all," he said in a post-event interview
on FUEL TV. "I think that these guys from the Ultimate Fighter
Brazil came out like killers in the fight to get into the house,
and then all season long. I think because it's such a big event,
this place was crazy, it was rocking, they were signing autographs
all day. I think they got a little caught up in the hype. Guess
what? You’re not in the UFC yet. Come out and you have to
perform."
Mariano,
who goes by the nickname "Jason," won the fight by
a trio of 29-28 scores but the fight was marked by some periods
of inactivity, though it wasn't anything out of the ordinary.
White
did note that he was in a bad mood given the events of the previous
night, perhaps referencing the bizarre Clay Guida vs. Gray Maynard
fight at UFC on FX 4.
The
Mariano-Pepey fight was nothing like that one, but White felt
that the combatants didn't show the drive and desire that often
comes from two fighters competing for a UFC contract.
"Usually
the finale is the best fight of the season," he said. "These
guys come out and they go for it. I think because the arena was
packed and these guys felt like rockstars all week, they were
coming out singing and dancing and s--- like they already had
world titles. It was kind of weird."
White's
criticism didn't extend to TUF middleweight champ Cezar Ferreira,
who survived a battle with Sergio Moraes in a decision win.
"That
fight was better," he said. "I was happy with that
fight, but not 100 percent thrilled with the night."
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Season
2 of The Ultimate Fighter Brazil confirmed for 2013
The
first international season of the Ultimate fighter was such a
success that there is already talks of a second season in Brazil.
UFC executive Marshall Zelaznik announced that the second series
is already in the planning stage. He did not give a time frame
on a return, or coaches for that matter, but he hopes to start
filming next January so the show could air in March. This would
tend to show that the show would fall to the tape delayed format,
and not continue on with the live fights which aired in the first
season.
The
early announcement comes to no surprise for those that know how
well the show has performed. While airing on a Sunday night it
is said that over 10 million people have tuned in for the show
on a weekly basis. Even the online airing garnered over 100,000
viewers, and when you think about it that is more than one-tenth
that tuned in for the first FX season of The Ultimate Fighter.
For
those of you that cannot get enough of the reality show, you
can look forward to over five different versions of it next year.
According to Zelaznik there is talks for over five seasons to
be produced in 2013. So, while it can be said that the US version
of the show has floundered as of late, the show is not dead.
With the UFC reaching so many new markets, it is only a matter
of time until The Ultimate Fighter reaches those fans as well.
Source: Caged Insider
|
UFC
exec says promotion targeting Cezar Ferreira vs. Daniel Sarafian
for future date
BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil – Cezar "Mutante" Ferreira
(5-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) claimed victory in the first season of "The
Ultimate Fighter: Brazil" with a hard-fought decision win
over fellow middleweight Sergio Moraes at UFC 147, but it came
with an asterisk.
Moraes,
who lost during his run on "TUF: Brazil," was a replacement
opponent for Daniel Sarafian (7-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC), who was forced
to withdraw from the card due to injury.
While
it's still uncertain when Sarafian will return, he just might
have an opponent waiting. UFC exec Marshall Zelaznik said the
company is looking to get rid of the caveat.
"I
can tell you that post-fight, (UFC president) Dana (White) mentioned
to me that he looks forward to seeing [Sarafian] fight 'Mutante'
to try and gain sort of what was taken from him through the injury,"
Zelaznik said at Saturday evening's UFC 147 post-event press
conference, which MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) attended.
"I expect that fight to happen at some point in the future."
UFC
147 took place Saturday night at Estadio Jornalista Felipe Drumond
in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The evening's main card aired on pay-per-view.
Fighting
professionally since 2006, Sarafian earned his way into the finals
with stoppage victories over Moraes and Renee Forte, as well
as a decision victory over Richardson Moreira. However, he tore
tendons in his elbow during a practice session approximately
two weeks before the event and was forced to withdraw.
Sarafian
on Friday told MMAjunkie.com that he has already undergone surgery
and is expecting to return sometime later this year.
Meanwhile,
Ferreira earned his spot in the finals with stoppage wins over
Thiago "Bodao" Perpetuo, Leonardo "Macarrao"
Mafra and Gustavo Sampaio. His victories in the "TUF: Brazil"
house represented the fastest combined cage time of any finalist,
earning him a brand new Ford truck. Additionally, his knockout
of Perpetuo was deemed the best of the season and earned Ferreira
a R$45,000 bonus.
Zelaznik
did not reveal when the company was hoping to book the matchup.
Source: MMA Junkie
|
Resurrection
Fighting Alliance Inks NCAA Wrestling Champ Gregor Gillespie
Four-time
NCAA All-American wrestler Gregor Gillespie has signed a five-fight
deal to compete for the Nebraska-based Resurrection Fighting
Alliance.
Promotion
officials announced the news on Friday evening. Gillespie won
the NCAA Division I wrestling title at 149 pounds in 2007 and
amassed a 152-13 record during his four-year career at Edinboro
University in Pennsylvania.
Following
his 2009 graduation, Gillespie joined the Edinboro wrestling
staff as an assistant while continuing to compete internationally
before moving back to New York and signing on as an assistant
coach at Hofstra University last summer. Gillespie is expected
to make his pro debut at 155 pounds for RFA in the coming months,
though no date has been set for his first in-cage appearance.
RFA
will hold its third event on June 30. Headlined by a lightweight
matchup pitting former UFC title challenger Joe Stevenson against
“Ultimate Fighter” Season 15 contestant Dakota Cochrane,
RFA 3 takes place at the Viaero Energy Center in Kearney, Neb.
Source: Sherdog
|
Michael
Bisping Asks If Everyone Else Gets Rematches, Why Not Him?
If
losing a fight is the worst feeling in the world, having to make
that fateful call to UFC matchmaker Joe Silva to tell him you’re
injured and pulling out of a fight might be a close second.
UFC
middleweight Michael Bisping had to experience that first hand
just a couple of weeks ago when he suffered a knee injury in
training and was forced to pull out of his scheduled fight with
Tim Boetsch at UFC 149.
Now
more than a week after having the necessary knee surgery, Bisping
is in as good of spirits as he can maintain after pulling out
of a fight, the first time he’s done so in his six year
UFC career.
“It
was tough, it was really tough. I like to fight frequently and
I don’t like to pull out of fights. It was hard,” Bisping
told MMAWeekly.com about the decision.
When
the injury first occurred, Bisping says he was contemplating
having surgery and then still trying to fight, but now that he’s
back from under the knife, he knows there was no way that was
going to happen.
“It’s
getting better. The swelling’s starting to go down, I’m
walking but only with a severe limp, but I can’t bend the
knee yet properly so I don’t know when it is yet that I’ll
be back in the gym. I’m icing the hell out of it everyday,
and hopefully within another week I can do some things,”
said Bisping.
When
he returns to action later this year, the middleweight division
he left could look somewhat different. On July 7, Chael Sonnen
will look to become the first fighter in the UFC to defeat Anderson
Silva and then four days later Mark Munoz will face Chris Weidman
in the main event of UFC on Fuel TV 4.
A
couple of weeks after that, former Bellator middleweight champion
Hector Lombard will make his UFC debut against the man who was
supposed to face Bisping at UFC 149, Tim Boetsch.
When
the dust settles, Michael Bisping knows one thing for sure –
he’s still a top middleweight and if Chael Sonnen wins at
UFC 148, there should be no question who the first man to face
him should be.
All
Bisping has to do is look in the mirror to find the answer.
“I
definitely think so. The fight was super, super close and a lot
of people felt I won that fight, even the UFC, Dana (White) and
Lorenzo (Fertitta) thought I won the fight. Chael Sonnen even
thought I won the fight. In the Octagon he said he thought I
won the first two rounds. So, everyone else seems to get a rematch
these days instantly, why can’t I get one?” Bisping
asked.
“I
was fighting the No. 1 contender, but the judges awarded it to
Chael. He won the fight, just because I lost doesn’t mean
I go to the back of the pile, it should mean I’m next in
line. I just gave him the hardest fight he ever had and I’ll
give it to him again without a problem.”
Bisping
also thinks the middleweight contenders list is thinner than
most believe when looking at the divisional rankings. He’s
been near the top a number of times, but still awaits that elusive
first title shot.
“You
look at the contenders, who is there? Vitor Belfort just recently
got beat, plus now he’s injured. Yushin Okami’s just
been beat. There isn’t too many challengers, I’m right
there. Mark Munoz has a fight lined up with Chris Weidman, so
if Chael wins, he needs a challenger, I’m right here,”
Bisping stated.
Whether
Bisping will actually get that shot remains to be seen, and since
he’s no clairvoyant he’s not going to stare into a
crystal ball and hope to see his future fight with Chael Sonnen.
No,
instead the British born Ultimate Fighter winner will rehab his
knee and then look to get back into the middleweight title hunt
by fighting instead of talking.
“When
I spoke to Joe Silva and initially told him about it, he was
very understanding and he said ‘listen give me a call after
surgery and let me know how you’re leg’s getting on
and how it’s feeling, and when you’ll be able to fight,
we’ll find you a fight’. He said ‘we’re not
going to make you wait on the sidelines for a while, we’ll
get you a fight ASAP’,” Bisping revealed.
“In
an ideal world I’d love to fight on the Jon Jones and Dan
Henderson card. That’s about 11, 12 weeks, so maybe in a
few weeks I can start training so that could be a possibility,
but it’s down to the UFC of course.”
Bisping
will also be watching UFC 148 with bated breath with the thought
still lingering that if Chael Sonnen wins, his next fight could
be for the middleweight title.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
UFC
147 Results: Fabricio Werdum TKO’s Mike Russow in the First
Round
Heavyweight
contender Fabricio Werdum wasted no time to prove his worth in
the UFC division once again. Werdum looked like a man possessed
with his first round TKO win over wrestler Mike Russow at UFC
147: Silva vs. Franklin II on Saturday night in Belo Horizonte,
Brazil.
Werdum
wasted no time and tagged Russow early in the round. Russow then
tied up Werdum against the fence, but could not mount any offense
and Werdum was able to break away. From there, Werdum stepped
in with a leg kick and then dropped Russow with a huge right
uppercut. He immediately pounced on Russow, landing devastating
shots on the ground.
Referee
Herb Dean stops the bout via TKO at 2:28 of the first round.
With
the win, Werdum ups his record to 2-0 since returning to the
UFC heavyweight division in February of this year.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Rich
Franklin delivers again in five-round thriller against Wanderlei
Silva
For
weeks, fans and media were paying homage to Wanderlei Silva,
who was returning to fight in his native Brazil for the first
time in more than a decade.
Now,
perhaps, it's time to pay homage to Rich Franklin, the former
UFC middleweight champion who yet again saved the company from
a potentially disastrous situation.
Franklin
was training in Singapore for a July 7 fight in Las Vegas against
Cung Le when he received a call to fight Silva in the main event
of UFC 147 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, after Vitor Belfort was
injured.
As
he has throughout his career, Franklin not only accepted the
call and helped to save the show, but he then performed brilliantly
in stifling Silva's power and winning a unanimous decision.
All
three judges – Mark Collett, Howard Hughes and Chris Watts
– scored it 49-46 for Franklin, giving him all but the second
round. Yahoo! Sports scored it 48-46 for Franklin, giving Silva
a 10-8 edge in the second for the near-finish.
Franklin
didn't remember much about his performance after nearly getting
knocked out in the second.
"Honestly,
the last thing I remember was it was the second round, and then
the next thing I knew, it was the fifth," Franklin said,
grinning. "My corner told me it was the fifth and I said,
'Cool, only one more left.' "
Franklin,
who said he wants to make one final run at the middleweight championship
before calling it a career, performed like a champion on Saturday.
He
used his boxing skills to keep a jab in Silva's face while, for
the most part, staying out of danger.
One
of the reasons that Silva is one of the most beloved mixed martial
arts fighters in history, though, is his great power and his
willingness to always try for a knockout. He hit Franklin with
a massive combination late in the second, landing a right, a
left and then a knee, before a thudding right put Franklin on
his back.
Silva,
as he always does when he has an opponent in jeopardy, swarmed.
But even in the bad state he was in, Franklin showed his fight
IQ. Silva was firing punches at him on the ground and referee
Mario Yamasaki was on the verge of stopping it.
Had
Franklin remained in the same spot and simply covered up, chances
are good that Yamasaki would have halted it. Instead, though,
Franklin slid around the canvas in an attempt to not only get
away from the punches but to show he was capable of defending
himself.
After
that onslaught, though, it was all Franklin. Silva pretty much
punched himself out and didn't land anything of significance
until just before the final bell.
"I
pushed a bit too much because I wanted to knock him out,"
Silva said.
Franklin
spent much of the rest of the fight firing his jab at Silva and
keeping the slugger at a distance. Whenever Silva did try to
advance, Franklin raked him with a kick to the body that blunted
his charge.
In
the final 20 seconds, Silva poured it on in a late bid to end
the bout, but it was Franklin who scored the big shot. Franklin
landed a crisp counter left that decked Silva just as the bell
sounded.
"I
wanted to pick my punches and move around and I think I did a
good job," Franklin said.
It
was his second win in as many tries over Silva and furthered
Franklin's reputation as one of the UFC's finest.
Source: Yahoo Sports |
UFC
147 Results: Hacran Dias Wins Impressively in Octagon Debut
UFC
Brazil FlagYuri Alcantari and Octagon newcomer Hacran Dias kicked
off the UFC 147: Silva vs. Franklin II main card in Belo Horizonte,
Brazil on Saturday night. Both fighters were riding extended
winning streaks, but only one could keep his streak alive.
Round
one was all Dias, who put Alcantara on the mat twice and softened
him up with some solid ground and pound. Alcantara finally escaped
and took Dias’ back towards the end of the round, but couldn’t
mount much offense as Dias nearly locked out a Kimura.
Dias
kept it up in the second round, again planting Alcantara on the
mat and grounding and pounding him. He did get caught in a serious
armbar attempt at one point, but remained calm and escaped.
Round
three started off much different than the first two rounds, both
fighters content to stand and trade for the better part of the
round. But as the round wound down, Dias again landed the takedown
and started ground and pounding. The referee restarted them,
however, and Alcantara landed a big shot, but then Dias put him
down again. This time Alcantara scrambled to top position and
mounted a strong ground and pound attack of his own, desperate
to try and find a finish before the horn.
It
was too little too late, however, as Dias walked out of the Octagon
with a unanimous decision victory in his UFC debut, extending
his winning streak to nine consecutive bouts.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Trinaldo
‘I don’t like hurting people’
Chanted
by the fans as entered the octagon, Francisco Trinaldo justified
the label of being the most liked fighter at TUF Brazil. Trinaldo
dominated the actions since the beginning and defeated Delson
Heleno after a good sequence of punches until the referee stopped
the contest on the first round.
On
a humorous post-fight interview, Francisco commented on achieving
the biggest goal and fighting on the biggest MMA event on the
world, his friendship with Heleno and revealed how he cherished
the other contender’s admiration and respect.
“Mainly
the guys at the house respected me. It wasn’t fear or anything.
I said what I had to say. I didn’t say what I wasn’t
supposed to say. I embraced it all. If they weren’t doing
fine, I was there with them. I started to work and take care
of myself really young. I know how to cook, clean, iron, I know
it all. Since many of them didn’t know how to do it, when
I was doing something for myself I also did it for them because
one who has many brothers never eats alone”.
Check
below the interview with the fighter:
How
the fans treated you so far?
I
can only thank them. Now that I have many fans and people know
me I’m going to send my best to everyone in Brasilia and
Piaui, which is where I come from. I do it because I love it,
I really like fighting.
And
that’s what you did.
It’s
my way of fighting: being aggressive. But people that know me
know I’m a good guy. I make it clear to everybody, I’m
not a bad guy but it’s our job in stake in there.
Heleno
got hurt and he’s your friend. How does it feel?
I
was really sad. I really like fighting, trading punches in there,
but I don’t like hurting people. I always ask God so they
don’t get seriously injured. I guess he went to the hospital,
but God bless him it’ll be alright.
Joe
Roegan said he wants to see you in the UFC again.
I
want to fight many times in the UFC but in my division, the lightweight
division. I’d like to make it clear you won’t stop
me and I’ll be a hard opponent on the lightweight division.
What
do you like to do most?
Punch
people (laughs).
You
talked a lot about your team and family. How does it feel fighting
in front of them? Your coach actually cried.
He’s
the one who supported me. I really like him and I’ve never
seen Ataide said and I really like happy people. When I get to
the gym no one can say I’m not friendly, so I’m happy
along with my team and family, I don’t like to argue. But
I’m a mad guy, I’m keep things to myself and I don’t
like to joke, but my friends know I’m like that. I started
working when I was really young and now I’m here, known
and in front of all these people. It’s a dream come true.
Whatever this hand touches gets a stamp.
How
do you see the sport in Brazil now?
I
believe it’ll get even bigger. Kids started to like me.
I have some neighbors who don’t eat and their parents say
they have to eat to be strong like Trinaldo. That’s why
kids all over the city like me. I’ll send my affection to
my nephews and all the kids that like Trinaldo.
You
fought in many Brazilian events. How is it different from the
UFC?
It’s
a big difference but when I’m in there I don’t care
for nobody but my opponent. I take everything off my mind and
I’m really light in there, I have no responsibilities but
to get my job done. I felt normal.
Source: Tatame
|
UFC
on FX 4 fight night bonuses
Four
fighters on last nights card earned more than their standard
pay, as they were rewarded $50,000 in bonus money for their efforts.
Dan Miller, Cub Swanson, Sam Stout, and Spencer Fisher all walked
away with a win bonus.
While
Dan Miller’s fight did not air, he had one of the only submission
wins on the card. Ricardo Funch looked well on his way to his
first UFC victory, but the third round changed that. A punch
from Miller rocked Funch, and Miller finished the fight on the
ground with a guillotine choke. This gave Miller a little extra
cash, in his successful debut at welterweight.
Cub
Swanson looked like a completely different fighter. After suffering
from numerous injuries throughout his career, even saying in
a post-fight interview that another surgery and his career is
likely over. Well, let’s hope he stays healthy, because
he turned in an excellent performance last night. Looking sharp
and throwing a variety of strikes, he finished the always tough
Ross Pearson. That marks his second knockout in a row, and his
first bonus in the UFC.
Despite
Dana White believing that Spencer Fisher won the fight, it may
have been the last time we see Spencer in the octagon. If this
has to be his last fight he went out in true Fisher fashion by
throwing non-stop leather. The fight may have not went his way,
but the extra 50k will soften that blow. Stout said he was in
his prime going into this fight, but on the feet he was beaten.
Luckily, his game has evolved, and his new found wrestling won
the fight for him.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
UFC
147 Sets New High Point for Promotion’s Attendance in Brazil
Saturday’s
UFC 147: Silva vs. Franklin II in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, drew
an attendance of 16,643, according to UFC managing director of
international development Marshall Zelaznik.
“I
believe (this) is a new record for us in Brazil,” he added.
UFC
147 was the promotion’s second trip to Brazil this year
and the third in 10 months.
UFC
142 in January pulled in 12,500 fans, while last years UFC 134
drew 14,000. Both of those events where held at the HSBC Arena
in Rio de Janeiro.
The
only other UFC event in Brazil was Ultimate Brazil, which took
place at Ginasio da Portuguesa in Sao Paulo way back in 1998.
We could find no record of the attendance for Ultimate Brazil.
The
UFC did not report the live gate for UFC 147, which was headlined
by a Rich Franklin victory over Brazil’s own Wanderlei Silva.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Fabricio
Werdum Ready for Rematch with Heavyweight Champ Junior dos Santos
Pending UFC Nod
Fabricio
Werdum wants a crack at the gold.
Following
his first-round knockout of Mike Russow at UFC 147 on Saturday
night, Werdum said he was ready to take on heavyweight champion
Junior dos Santos -- should the UFC desire. However, if the promotion
has other plans, “Vai Cavalo” has no problem fighting
again before challenging for the title.
“For
sure, I’m close [to a title shot] now. If the UFC asks,
then I’m ready for sure,” Werdum told Fox Sports after
his win, “but maybe [I will have] one more fight, maybe
on the [Cain] Velasquez-dos Santos card. After that, if I win,
maybe I will fight [the champion] in Brazil. I don’t know.
I’m just here to fight.”
Dos
Santos is the man who ended Werdum’s first UFC run in 2008.
Then an Octagon debutant, “Cigano” sent Werdum packing
with a devastating uppercut at UFC 90. Since the loss, Werdum
has won five of six, returning to the UFC in February and blasting
Roy Nelson with punches and knees en route to a unanimous decision
win at UFC 143.
Russow
fared even worse than “Big Country” on Saturday night,
as the American found himself standing at the end of Werdum’s
range in the bout’s opening minutes before catching a hard
uppercut on the jaw. Russow collapsed to his knees and Werdum
followed him down, dropping punches and hammerfists for a first-round
stoppage.
“I
was doing a lot for this fight for three months at Kings MMA,”
said Werdum. “I’m very happy because it’s a big
difference, fighting in Brazil. I haven’t fought in Brazil
in, like, nine years. Just to hear [the fans] say my nickname
[made] me very happy.”
Werdum
used the overwhelming crowd support as extra motivation to earn
his victory over Russow, who had never before been knocked out.
Now, the former Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion looks toward
his next fight. Though his opponent and fight date are both currently
unknown, Werdum says he will get back to his training regimen
in short order and begin his preparation.
“I’m
just going to rest for one week. Then, I will go back to training
again,” said Werdum. “I’m just going to wait for
what the UFC says.”
Source: Sherdog
|
UFC
147 Bonuses: Rich Franklin, Wanderlei Silva, Rodrigo Damm, Marcos
Vinicius Pocket $65K
Rich
Franklin, Wanderlei Silva, Rodrigo Damm and Marcos Vinicius pocketed
$65,000 apiece for their efforts at UFC 147 on Saturday night
at Felipe Drumond Stadium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
Franklin
and Silva shared “Fight of the Night” honors for their
five-round, 190-pound headliner, while Damm and Vinicius earned
“Submission of the Night” and “Knockout of the
Night” for their respective finishes of Anistavio Medeiros
de Figueiredo and Wagner Campos.
The
course of Franklin’s night changed dramatically in the second
round of the evening’s main event, when “Ace”
absorbed a flurry of punches and knees from the Brazilian which
ended only when he caught a clubbing right hand that knocked
him flat. Silva pursued the finish with all he had, but Franklin
survived and subsequently rode out a unanimous decision over
the fatigued “Axe Murderer” with scores of 49-46 across
the board.
Damm
wasted little time in taking it to his “TUF Brazil”
castmate, as the 32-year-old clocked “Gasparzinho”
with a hard right cross that sent Medeiros tumbling to the canvas.
The former Strikeforce talent quickly took the back of his fallen
foe, cinching a rear-naked choke and forcing 24-year-old Medeiros
to tap out at 2:12 of the first frame.
Campos
used a straight left hand and smothering top control to take
the first two frames of his clash with Vinicius, but round three
would belong to “Vina.” The featherweight unloaded
with a barrage of punches to start the final frame, snapping
Campos’ head back multiple times before referee Herb Dean
saved the unsteady “Galeto” as he tried to cover up
against the cage.
Source: Sherdog
|
Junior
dos Santos vs. Cain Velasquez Not Likely to Land at UFC 152 After
All
A
couple weeks ago, UFC president Dana White was targeting UFC
152 in Toronto to host the heavyweight title fight between champion
Junior dos Santos and challenger Cain Velasquez.
On
Saturday night’s UFC 147 Post-Fight show on Fuel TV, White
confirmed that the fight would not likely happen at UFC 152 after
all.
The
fight between dos Santos and Velasquez is a rematch of their
first fight at the first UFC on Fox event back in November of
last year.
While
the bout is still going to happen, Canadian fans expecting it
for the Toronto show in September are likely to be disappointed.
“The
fight will happen, they’re probably not going to fight in
Toronto though,” White stated.
The
shoe is on the other foot – or the belt around the other
waist – this time, as Velasquez held the belt going into
UFC on Fox 1.
Dos
Santos dropped Velasquez with an overhand right a minute into
their fight and finished him off with punches on the mat to take
the belt. He has since defended the belt once, defeating Frank
Mir with a second round TKO at UFC 146 in May.
Now
according to White, it’s up to the UFC heavyweight champion
when the fight will take place.
“It’s
going to depend on Junior,” said White. “We’ll
see what happens.”
Source: MMA Weekly
|
UFC
147 Results: Cezar Ferreira Crowned TUF Brazil Middleweight Winner
On
Saturday night, we witnessed Team Belfort’s Cezar “Mutante”
Ferreira was crowned as the first ever TUF Brazil middleweight
winner at UFC 147: Franklin vs. Silva II. Ferreira won a unanimous
decision over Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ace Sergio Moraes in an epic
three round fight that left the Belo Horizonte crowd cheering
for more.
For
much of the first round, Ferreira was able to get the better
of the boxing exchanges against Moraes. Moraes did however land
a roundhouse kick mark on the rib cage of Ferreira. Towards the
end of the round Ferreira backs Moraes with a headkick that’s
mostly blocked, and establishes the Thai plum but Moraes countered
with wild punches inside.
Early
in round two, Ferreira tagged Moraes with a capoeira kick and
then dropped to the canvas with a right uppercut but Moraes immediately
rolled for a leg lock but to no avail. Moraes later on tried
to drag the fight to the mat but Ferreira stuffed it easily.
Moraes rocked Ferreira in the final stages of the round with
a hard elbow but could not capitalize despite pressuring Ferreira.
Both
men hugged each other to start the third round and then Ferreira
immediately dropped Moraes with a straight left. Moraes is able
to quickly get back up to his feet and tags Ferreira with a big
right hand. The action slows down a bit but Moraes lands a hard
right hand and then towards the end of the round Ferreira is
drops Moraes again making the fight easier to score in his favor.
The
judges all scored the contest 29, 28, 30-27, 30-27 Cezar Ferreira.
Now
with the win, the TUF Brazil winner was happy to have represented
his hometown and was happy how he and his fellow countryman Moraes
went to war for three rounds.
“I’m
very pleased to be here,” Ferreira said post-fight. “This
is what I’ve been fighting for and I’ve been training
for and I wanted to represent Belo Horizonte, Brazil in the UFC
and that’s what I did here tonight.”
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Babalu
gets tapout, Gregor loses decision at One FC
The
One FC promotion held its fourth event this Saturday, June 23,
in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and there was no lack of excitement
or Jiu-Jitsu. The black belt Renato Babalu was quick on the trigger
and needed just 31 seconds to take out Tatsuya Mizuno via armbar
in the evening’s main event.
A
black belt from the family with the most tradition in the martial
arts world, Gregor Gracie couldn’t get his ground game working
for him and ended up dropping a unanimous decision to local fighter
Adam Shahir Kayoom.
Of
the other Brazilians in the event, Zorobabel Moreira, a Roberto
Gordo black belt, knocked out former UFC star Roger Huerta in
the second round, while Leandro Brodinho took a unanimous decision
over Masakazu Imanari. Now Marcos Escobar tapped out Rodrigo
Praxedes via choke in the third round. Check out the complete
results:
One
FC 4
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
June 23, 2012
Renato
“Babalu” Sobral subbed Tatsuya Mizuno via armbar in
R1
Zorobabel Moreira defeated Roger Huerta via KO in R2
Leandro Brodinho defeated Masakazu Imanari via unanimous decision
Adam Shahir Kayoom defeated Gregor Gracie via unanimous decision
Eric Kelly defeated Bae Young Kwon via unanimous decision
Arnaud Lepont subbed Brian Choi via rear-naked choke in R3
Mitch Chilson subbed A.J. Vaa via rear-naked choke in R1
Marcos Escobar subbed Rodrigo Praxedes via choke in R3
Peter Davis defeated Kim Hock Quek via KO in R1
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
Dana
White: Wanderlei Silva vs. Vitor Belfort Not Happening For Now
Wanderlei
Silva proved once again on Saturday night that win, lose, or
draw he is always going to be involved in exciting fights.
The
former Pride champion went to war with Rich Franklin to cap off
UFC 147 in Brazil, but after a five round battle he came up on
the wrong end of a unanimous decision.
The
original plan for the card on Saturday was for Silva to face
fellow Brazilian Vitor Belfort after the two competitors coached
the inaugural season of the Ultimate Fighter Brasil.
Unfortunately,
Belfort broke his hand and required surgery that put him out
of the June 23 show and into the surgical room instead.
Silva’s
hope was to beat Franklin and then face Belfort next, but it
looks like neither of those things will happen.
Following
UFC 147, UFC President Dana White was asked about that very scenario
unfolding, and he shot down the idea of Silva getting the fight
with Belfort next.
“(Vitor’s
next fight) It will not be against Wanderlei, he just lost tonight.
When Vitor heels up, we will see what happens and go from there,”
White stated when speaking to Fuel TV following the fights.
It
appears that if Silva wants to finish off his long time feud
with Belfort, he’s going to have to win at least another
fight before the UFC will put that match up together.
While
the news about not getting the Belfort fight has to sting a little,
Silva can walk away from the UFC’s latest show in Brazil
with the knowledge that his future within the promotion is very,
very safe.
Even
if Silva decides to call it a career, the UFC will be happy to
give the Brazilian legend a home for as long as he wants one.
“Wanderlei
almost won that fight. It is tough to say. I said it last night,
he used to be my arch nemesis over at Pride and I wanted that
Chuck fight since Pride. But since he came to the UFC, he has
been great, acting like he has been in the UFC for a long time.
He has been honest and great and he is going to be with the UFC
for a long time whether he is fighting or not,” White said.
Silva
may have walked away from UFC 147 with a loss and without a fight
against Vitor Belfort, but he did manage to add another classic
battle to his resume and probably even more fans that now know
the ‘Axe Murderer’ always delivers.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
UFC
Could Have Five International Versions of The Ultimate Fighter
Next Year
The
Ultimate Fighter has been a stalwart of the UFC in the United
States. It was once the savior of the promotion and has found
its way through 15 seasons.
This
year, the UFC finally launched its first international flavor
of the reality series, although it wasn’t in the country
that most had initially expected.
Most
signs over the past couple of years had pointed to Canada as
a likely candidate for TUF’s first expansion, but the company
instead launched it in Brazil.
The
show has been massively successful, drawing a reported 12 million
viewers in Brazil, according to UFC president Dana White. The
finals of the series were held at UFC 147: Silva vs. Franklin
II on Saturday night in Belo Horizonte.
With
the first international edition now under its belt, the UFC is
looking to take TUF across the globe. The next international
offering is already in progress with several more on tap.
“This
is our first international series of The Ultimate Fighter,”
said UFC managing director of international development Marshall
Zelaznik. “We’ve got Australia vs. the U.K. coming
up.”
TUF:
Australia vs. the UK, dubbed The Smashes, has already gone through
fighter tryouts and is headed into production for a likely fall
run.
But
the UFC isn’t stopping there.
“We
could potentially have five Ultimate Fighter international versions
next year in production,” added Zelaznik. “I think
when we see more international Ultimate Fighters is when you’ll
probably see something like a World Cup come about.”
The
“World Cup” format he mentioned is a reference to having
Ultimate Fighter winners from around the globe square off in
a sort of Ultimate Ultimate Fighter tournament.
Zelaznik
didn’t detail which five locals might get an international
edition of TUF next year, but the company has already confirmed
a return to Brazil, Australia could possibly see a second run
if this year’s edition goes well, and Canada, of course,
has to be a top consideration.
There
are still several other possibilities to fill the remaining slots.
White has often mentioned the Philippines, China, and Mexico
as possibilities, and his standard “we’re going everywhere”
leaves the options wide open.
Just
where TUF will land next year remains to be seen, but it’s
obvious that it is going to be a key piece in the UFC’s
arsenal as the company spreads its brand of MMA across the globe.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Company
Man Rich Franklin Wants One Last Shot at the UFC Middleweight
Belt
Since
losing to middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva in 2007, Rich Franklin
has stepped up to the plate for the UFC time and time again.
The
former math teacher has repeatedly done favors for the UFC, like
stepping into last-minute main event spots, such as he did at
Saturday’s UFC 147 against Wanderlei Silva. With Vitor Belfort
out due to a hand injury, the UFC needed a main event and Franklin
took the fight on two weeks notice.
Knowing
how big UFC 147 was, and what it means to the UFC and Brazil,
Franklin couldn’t pass up the opportunity to fight Silva
one more time. He wound up taking a unanimous decision over Silva
after their five-round showdown.
“To
be here in Brazil and fight Wanderlei pretty much in his home
town, I’ve been in this position before,” Franklin
said at the UFC 147 post-fight press conference.
“For
the second time when Anderson came in my hometown and defeated
me, so I know what that feels like. I know that this is a big
fight not only for just, but for the country, for the UFC and
all that kind of stuff.
“Although
I didn’t get cheered for, I didn’t get booed too bad
either. This was a really good experience, more than any other,
and I’ve fought for many other countries in the UFC now
and spread the market. I think that more than any other country
I’ve been in that this is one of the most gratifying.”
Moving
forward, Franklin hopes that after all the favors he’s done
over the last few years, he will be repaid with a future title
shot at 185 pounds. The 37-year-old knows that he doesn’t
have much time left, but he wants to try to leave the sport on
top.
“Well
moving back down again to 185, the idea was that enough time
had passed since my title fight, perhaps if I could put a couple
of wins together that I could make another run at the title before
I retired. That’ll be a discussion that I talk to Dana about
and the UFC in general to see what would be next for me.
“That
was my intention for moving down to 185 and I’m glad that
you and everyone else notices that I bailed the UFC out a lot
because I’m hoping that’s going to pay off in the future
at some point in time.”
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Jason:
'It was the happiest day of my life'
After
signing a contract with Ultimate, Rony Jason couldn’t stop
but smile at the UFC 147 post-fight press conference. Relieved
for finally getting into the biggest event on the planet, the
featherweight affirmed he lived the best day of his life as he
defeated Godofredo Pepey.
“Today
was the happiest day of my life, but also very sad because I
couldn’t put my mask on as I walked towards the octagon.
For the first time I had my dream my true and fought in the UFC.
I’m sorry if it wasn’t a great fight but I’m very
happy I got my UFC contract”.
After
the fight, the athlete affirmed he was sure that one day he would
join the UFC cast.
“I’ve
always known that I’d eventually fight in the UFC even if
I had to make one step at a time, but I knew I’d have a
chance. God has bigger plans. I dream and I make it come true”,
celebrated the tough guy.
Source: Tatame
|
UFC
147: Mutante and Jason TUF champions; Franklin beats Wanderlei
Rich
Franklin withstood a concussive barrage, got in more hits and
beat Wand via unanimous decision after five rounds in Belo Horizonte.
UFC
147 is now history.
The
event that packed Belo Horizonte, Brazil’s Mineirinho Gymnasium
this Saturday night treated the crowd and TV audience around
the world to some thrilling battles.
In
the evening’s main event, Wanderlei Silva and Rich Franklin
had a clash of the titans, fighting balls to the wall for five
rounds.
Franklin,
who withstood a near-technical knockout at the end of round two,
was superior overall and won via unanimous judges’ decision.
Afterwards,
to applauds and boos, he said: “I don’t remember anything
that happened between the end of the second round and the start
of the fifth, but that’s the kind of fight I like.”
Wanderlei,
to a standing ovation from the crowd, sent thanks: “Sorry
for not having finished Rich. I ended up getting tired. I love
you all!”
Cezar
Mutante hit hard, displayed some moves from his capoeira background
but Sérgio Moraes held firm and nearly launched a comeback:
“I managed to show my standup as well. That was what was
most important,” said the Jiu-Jitsu champion, who stepped
in for an injured Daniel Sarafian.
In
the two TUF Brazil finals, further excitement.
In
the middleweight bout, Cezar Mutante didn’t accept Sérgio
Moraes attempts at going to the ground and was superior in the
standup department, in a fight that drove the Mineirinho Gymnasium
to euphoria.
In
the featherweight final, Rony Jason got the better of Godofredo
Pepey in a less than thrilling fight.
Showing
what the moment meant to him, Rony Jason was teary eyed as he
made his entrance in his UFC debut, facing Godofredo Pepey. Despite
being forbidden from wearing the mask, Jason took the decision.
Also
in the main-card action, Fabrício Werdum didn’t need
long to knock out Mike Russow in the opening round of their heavyweight
tilt.
The
Brazilian took the chance to challenge the divisional champion,
Junior Cigano, who was in attendance.
Kicking
off the main card, Hacran Dias made his UFC debut with a win
over Yuri Alcantara.
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
Gray
Maynard Takes Split Verdict Over Clay Guida in UFC on FX 4 Headliner
Clay
Guida tried to game plan his way around Gray Maynard. It did
not work.
Bewildered
and frustrated by Guida’s relentless movement and erratic
gyrations, Maynard overcame his emotions to defeat “The
Carpenter” by split decision in the UFC on FX 4 headliner
on Friday at the Revel Casino in Atlantic City, N.J. All three
judges scored the five-round bout 48-47, two of them siding with
Maynard (11-1-1, 9-1-1 UFC), who won for the first time since
August 2010.
Afterward,
the man they call “The Bully” did not mince words.
“I
thought Guida was coming to fight. I came to fight. I wanted
to get bloody and have fun. It was a five-round fight. I wanted
to prove to people that I could go a hard five,” Maynard
said. “I thought Guida was going to come here to do it.
He’s a tough kid. He came here with a little game plan,
whatever it was. I thought I won that fight, fair and square.”
Guida
bobbed and weaved, occasionally lunging in with punches, for
much of the bizarre 25-minute encounter. By the time round four
rolled around, Maynard’s frustrations boiled over. He stood
in front of Guida, hands at his side, daring him to throw punches.
Guida obliged and then shot in for an ill-advised takedown. He
was met by a strong Maynard sprawl and subsequent guillotine
choke that nearly finished him.
“I
wanted to start doing that in the first round -- drop my hands
and, you know, let’s fight,” Maynard said. “I
wanted to be respectful, but that stuff got old.”
Guida
(29-13, 9-7 UFC) delivered a sneaky head kick 90 seconds into
round five, only to resume his dance around the cage. At one
point, referee Dan Miragliotta halted the match to admonish him
for an unwillingness to engage. Maynard capitalized on the restart,
as he bullied Guida into the clinch along the cage and landed
knees and punches to the body and head. The crowd, once firmly
in Guida’s corner, had turned the other direction by the
time it was over.
In
the aftermath, Maynard fixed his sights on rival Frankie Edgar,
who will challenge Benson Henderson for the lightweight championship
at UFC 150 in August. Maynard and Edgar have fought on three
previous occasions.
“Let’s
go for a top contender. I want that belt back. I want to fight
Edgar. I know Jersey doesn’t want to hear that, but I think
there should be a fourth fight,” Maynard said. “It’s
going to be a fun fight. Let [Edgar] take care of business with
Benson, but I want that Edgar fight and I want the belt.”
Stout
Outduels Fisher in Rubber Match
Takedowns,
excellent work to the body and a granite chin carried Sam Stout
to a unanimous verdict over Spencer Fisher in the lightweight
co-main event. All three judges scored it 30-27 for Stout (18-7-1,
7-6 UFC), who took the rubber match in his memorable trilogy
with “The King.”
Fisher
(24-9, 9-8 UFC) stepped out as the aggressor, as he peppered
Stout with perfectly timed combinations throughout the first
round. Late in the frame, however, the Canadian kickboxer delivered
the first of his takedowns. It was a sign of what was to come.
Stout struck for another takedown in the second round and two
more in the third, exposing a gaping hole in Fisher’s defenses.
With the striking at a virtual standstill, wrestling provided
Stout with the edge he needed.
The
36-year-old Fisher has lost five of his last six fights.
Ebersole
Outpoints Waldburger, Streak Reaches 11
Ebersole
has won 11 in a row.
Brian Ebersole survived a harrowing first round to defeat Brazilian
jiu-jitsu brown belt T.J. Waldburger via unanimous decision in
a featured welterweight matchup. All three cageside judges scored
it 29-28 for Ebersole (50-14-1, 4-0 UFC), who has rattled off
11 consecutive victories.
This
one was far from easy. Waldburger (15-7, 3-2 UFC) floored the
Thailand-based American with a short counter left hand inside
the first half minute of the bout and later threatened to finish
him with a nifty brabo choke. The experienced Ebersole weathered
the sequence, moved on to round two and went to work.
Over
the final 10 minutes, he grounded Waldburger and punished the
Texan with a series of shoulder strikes, punches, elbows and
hammerfists from top position. The 24-year-old Waldburger tried
to counter with submissions, only to be denied at every turn.
Ebersole now owns a 16-5-1 mark in fights that go the distance.
Swanson
Left Hook Finishes Pearson
Jackson’s
Mixed Martial Arts representative Cub Swanson put away “The
Ultimate Fighter” Season 9 winner Ross Pearson with a magnificent
counter left hook and follow-up ground strikes in a featherweight
showcase. Pearson (13-6, 5-3 UFC) met his end 4:14 into round
two.
Swanson’s
speed and aggression proved the difference in the bout, as he
routinely beat the Brit to the punch. Pearson moved into top
position twice on the ground but failed to capitalize fully on
the advantage, allowing the Californian to escape to his feet.
Late
in the second round, Swanson fired a grazing front kick to Pearson’s
head. The Alliance MMA export pressed forward, pushing Swanson
towards the cage. He ate a pair of straight right hands for his
troubles. Swanson (17-5, 2-1 UFC) was still backpedaling when
he uncorked the left hook with stunning power and precision.
A dazed Pearson crashed into the cage, and, in an instant, it
was over.
“I
was hitting him with a lot of shots, and he didn’t show
that he was getting hurt at all,” Swanson said. “I’m
really good at that exiting left hook. I saw him go for a knee
or something, and he dropped both his hands. I was circling that
way and hit him right on the button. He fell backwards, and it
kind of confused me. I tried to jump on him, but it was already
over.”
Source: Sherdog
|
UFC
147 RESULTS
Felipe
Drummond Stadium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Felipe
Arantes vs. Milton Vieira
Round
1
After 30 seconds without any major moves, the rowdy crowd starts
letting the featherweights hear it. Vieira pushes forward with
a combination, mostly deflected, and Arantes responds with some
low kicks inside. Nice right hook comes through for Vieira; a
few seconds later, he plows Arantes to the canvas and sets up
in half-guard on Sertanejo’s right side. Vieira is trying
to extract his other leg, staying heavy on top while Arantes
tries to bump out. Vieira passes and leans from right to left
across Arantes, framing up an anaconda choke with his left arm.
Arantes sees it coming and pops his head free, regaining full
guard in the process. Some light ground-and-pound from Vieira
now, but Arantes slows him down by throwing up his legs for an
armbar. Punches coming a little heavier from Vieira on top, and
it opens Arantes up enough to allow “Miltinho” to pass
to side control again. Again, Vieira looks to set up the brabo/anaconda
choke, and again Arantes twists out to regain full guard. That’s
where the round ends.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Vieira
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Vieira
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Vieira
Round
2
Vieira takes the outside, circling until a leaping knee from
Arantes gets his attention. Arantes denies a half-hearted single-leg
attempt, misses with a kick to the body and lands a left hook.
Vieira throws an outside leg kick and Arantes answers with a
harder kick inside, then another. Lunging left hook from Vieira
misses and he gets stood up on a double-leg shot as well. Moving
forward as he has most of the round, Arantes sticks his jab in
Vieira’s face. Vieira charges with a wild combo which Arantes
seems to avoid any damage from. Another chopping leg kick and
a stiff jab land for Arantes, who’s now on his back foot.
From nowhere, Vieira wheels around with a spinning back-kick
and puts the heel of his foot on Arantes’ face. Arantes
looks dazed but doesn’t go down, and in fact lands a takedown
to finish the final few seconds of the round on top.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Arantes
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Arantes
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Arantes
Round
3
Arantes goes back to sniping with his jab, cutting angles in
front of Vieira and occasionally throwing long one-twos. Vieira
is looking the more tired of the two, his mouth hanging open
as he absorbs a couple more leg kicks. Arantes sticks a combo
in Vieira’s face, then another and Vieira wants to bring
it to the ground. Sitting down on the shot, Arantes winds up
on top in Vieira’s open guard, dropping big right hands
on the jiu-jitsu wiz. Vieira tries to sit up but stalls out on
his posterior with Arantes on front of him, throwing more punches.
Vieira doesn’t like the shots and falls to his back, and
Arantes goes down to his opponent’s open guard. Vieira loops
his own right hand under his right knee, which is controlling
Arantes’ left arm. The position isn’t enough for ref
Marc Goddard, who stands the Brazilians up with a minute left
in the bout. Arantes hops around the outside, putting a spinning
back-kick in Vieira’s breadbasket and stepping out of the
way of the same hook kick that Vieira threw last round. Arantes
hears the 10-second clapper and steps forward but neither man
lands anything significant down the stretch.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Arantes (29-28 Arantes)
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Arantes (29-28 Arantes)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Arantes (29-28 Arantes)
Official
result: The judges score the bout 29-28 Viera, 29-28 Arantes
and 28-28. The bout is ruled a split draw.
Marcos
Vinicius Borges Pancini vs. Wagner Campos
Round
1
The southpaw Campos tries to walk Vinicius toward the cage, winging
wide left hands and body shots before accidentally kicking his
countryman low. Vinicius recovers immediately and it’s back
to trading, now with Vinicius getting off inside leg kicks. All
aggression from Campos now, who keeps pouring on the leg kicks
and lefts to the ribs. Vinicius tries to come inside with a big
right hand and Campos wraps him up, then trips him to the base
of the fence. Vinicius keeps his guard open and Campos easily
passes to side control, then full mount with just under two minutes
left. Campos sits up to throw punches and then slaps on a loose
arm-triangle choke on the side. He lets go but stays atop Vinicius,
trying again to advance past the guard. Vinicius scores with
some good elbows from guard this time, and an upkick before the
horn, but he still finishes the round on his back.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Campos
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Campos
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Campos
Round
2
Vinicius comes out the aggressor, switching between southpaw
and orthodox stances while lunging at Campos with long punches
and knees. Campos catches his man coming in with a leaping knee
and an overhand left sends Vinicius to the deck. It’s back
to half-guard for Campos, now moving to side control and framing
up a kimura on the far side. He lets the hold go and lays across
Vinicius from left to right, now halfway through the fight. Vinicius
regains guard, gets off a solid horizontal elbow, but Campos
is all over him on the floor, continually working to pass. Ref
Herb Dean wants to see action as Campos stalls out in half-guard.
Vinicius pushes Campos off and scores with some good hammerfists
off his back, but Campos leaps forward and back to half-guard,
now sporting a cut from Vinicius’ elbow. Campos gets caught
crouching in Vinicius’ guard and eats a stiff upkick just
before the horn.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Campos
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Campos
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Campos
Round
3
Vinicius opens up with stiff punches from the southpaw stance,
then puts Campos in real danger with some powerful knees to the
body. A pair of right hooks follow, an uppercut, another knee
and another big right hook. Referee Herb Dean steps in to halt
the bout and Campos collapses to the canvas. Marcos Vinicius
pulls out the comeback win at 1:04 of the third round.
Leonardo
Mafra Teixeira vs. Thiago de Oliveira Perpetuo
Round
1
Mafra stays on the outside, swinging leg kicks at the thigh of
the larger man. Perpetuo lands a kick to the midsection but Mafra
keeps coming forward, throwing kicks and wild combos. A trio
of hooks clips the ears of Perpetuo, and the middleweights stay
swinging until Perpetuo decides to clinch Mafra into the fence.
Mafra won’t be held there, slips out and keeps inching forward
on his man. Nice left hook goes for Perpetuo, but the follow
up high kick is deflected and Mafra circles out of the pocket.
Mafra gets backed into the fence and swings more wide punches
as Perpetuo comes in to strike. Perpetuo jabs to the body, has
a leg kick caught and gets a pair of punches stuffed in his face.
Clubbing right from Perpetuo lands, then a left and he comes
in behind the punches to tie up. Perpetuo digs an underhook and
puts Mafra on the cage with about 40 seconds to go, grinding
away to the horn while landing a couple solid elbows.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Mafra
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Mafra
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Mafra
Round
2
Mafra is the aggressor once again to begin the second round,
but he’s eating some hard counters from the bigger, stronger
Perpetuo. It looks like Mafra has a tight armbar locked up as
he’s taken down against the fence, but Perpetuo shakes his
arm loose. Mafra keeps going after the arm, coming less close
with each successive attempt, but still managing to avoid much
serious damage as he twists and squirms. That changes with 80
seconds left in the round, when Perpetuo manages to pin Mafra
down from half-guard and mash with punches and elbows along the
fence. Perpetuo stacks up and finishes up with more ground-and-pound
that has Mafra marked up by round’s end.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Perpetuo
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Perpetuo
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Perpetuo
Round
3
Perpetuo uses a front kick to the body to put Mafra’s back
on the fence, then drops him with a right hook on the jaw. Mafra
hits the mat and Perpetuo bashes away with heavy, right-handed
ground-and-pound until referee Mario Yamasaki intervenes. The
official time of Perpetuo’s TKO victory is 41 seconds of
round three.
John
Teixeira vs. Hugo Viana
Round
1
A slow opening 30 seconds gives way to a flurry of wild punches
inside, with the smaller Viana getting the better of the exchange
with quick hands. Teixeira presses the action from the center,
flicking out leg kicks while Viana sticks to his punches. Teixeira
tries to clinch up, only gets off a single knee. Teixeira comes
in with a kick to the body and puts Viana off-balance with a
left hand. Now it’s Teixeira slipping on a kick but Viana
can’t make anything of it. Another knee to the gut in the
clinch from Teixeira and Viana takes a step backward. Viana catches
Teixeira coming in and takes his back standing against the fence,
but can’t do much with the position against the larger,
stronger man. An underhook from Viana puts Teixeira on the fence
again for the closing moments of the round.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Viana
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Viana
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Viana
Round
2
Some inside fighting on the fence gives way to a break and a
rushing exchange which allows Teixeira to put Viana down at the
base of the fence. Viana is warned for striking too close to
Teixeira’s spine, and instead he works his way back to his
feet. Not enough action going on in the clinch for ref Marc Goddard,
who breaks them up. Viana stays on the outside and Teixeira walks
him toward the fence, but Viana circles out before he’s
trapped. Viana has a head kick partially deflected and misses
with a big lead uppercut. Viana rips an overhand right up top
but takes a big knee and a leg kick which make him circle out.
Left hook lands for Viana but he’s stuffed on the subsequent
takedown attempt, all the while getting countered by Teixeira.
Still moving forward, Teixeira walks down the smaller man with
long punches and front kicks, scoring with a knee to the gut
in the clinch before the horn.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Teixeira
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Teixeira
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Teixeira
Round
3
Viana moves around the outside, swinging right hands over the
top and left hooks in response to Teixeira’s punches. An
inside thigh kick catches Viana on the cup and he needs a moment
to recover. After he composes himself, Viana gets back to circling
the outside, sticking and moving until there’s two minutes
left in the bout and Teixeira pins him on the fence. Viana widens
his base to sprawl on the double-leg, stands Teixeira back up
and shucks him off. Viana attacks with a combination and Teixeira
throws a leg kick. A three-piece combo from Viana goes to the
head and body, and Teixeira answers with a jab. Teixeira clinches
up again, this time trying to drag Viana down with a waistlock.
Viana is warned not to grab the fence, and Teixeira finishes
the takedown soon after. Viana pops right back to his feet and
finishes the fight throwing hands.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Viana (29-28 Viana)
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Viana (29-28 Viana)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Viana (29-28 Viana)
Official
result: One judge scores the bout 29-28 Viana, while a second
sees it 29-28 Teixeira. The final judge scores it 29-28 for the
winner by split decision, Hugo “Wolverine” Viana.
Francisco
Trinaldo vs. Delson Heleno
Round
1
Crouching low, Trinaldo looks for a front kick right up the middle
but misses the chin. Heleno rushes in to tie up, eats a right
hand on the way, but still manages to get Trinaldo in his clutches.
They struggle and turn along the fence, Heleno controlling with
an underhook. Trinaldo shoves Heleno to the ground and smacks
him with a right hand while he’s there, then drills a few
knees once Heleno gets back to his feet. Heleno stays after the
takedown as the round hits the midway point, now having a little
more success keeping Trinaldo on the fence and striking with
knees. Heleno botches a trip and winds up with Trinaldo atop
him. North-south position for Trinaldo on the kneeling Heleno,
and “Massaranduba” gets off with knees to the body
and hard punches to the face. Heleno stands momentarily, then
goes back to his knees, looking totally drained as he clings
to a single-leg with 80 seconds remaining in the round. More
rough knees to the body get Heleno’s attention and he goes
to his back. Trinaldo sits up in Heleno’s half-guard and
slugs away with left-handed hammerfists to his fetal foe until
ref Herb Dean calls a halt to the bout at 4:21 of the opening
round.
Rodrigo
Damm vs. Anistavio Medeiros
Round
1
Medeiros has his trunks cut very high in the Thai style and creeps
toward Damm in a kickboxing stance with his right hand cocked.
Damm unloads with a few rights of his own and a pair of crisp
inside leg kicks. Medeiros gives him one back and then connects
low with a switch kick. Damm is ready to resume after a few seconds
and he quickly puts Medeiros on wobbly legs with a left hand.
Damm gives chase to his wheeling opponent, slugging with a hard
right straight and following to the floor when Medeiros finally
loses his footing. Damm takes the back, wraps up a tight rear-naked
choke and rolls “Gasparzinho” over. Medeiros taps out
and goes to sleep just as Damm is releasing the choke. An impressive
UFC debut from Rodrigo Damm, who gets the submission victory
at 2:12 of round one.
Iuri
Alcantara vs. Hacran Dias
Round
1
The southpaw Alcantara rushes Dias with swiping punches, but
Dias reverses the momentum of “Marajo” with a waistlock.
Shoving Alcantara into the fence, Dias keeps after the takedown,
scooping a leg and tripping Alcantara to the base of the cage.
Alcantara inches toward a cage post while Dias slugs away with
ground-and-pound, pinning Alcantara’s left arm behind his
back. Alcantara gets his arm loose, but Dias steps into mount
and frames up a loose arm-triangle on the right side. Alcantara
gets free of this danger, too, and puts Dias back in his full
guard, but remains on the bottom and absorbs some stiff elbows.
Getting to his feet momentarily, Alcantara is air-mailed back
to the canvas courtesy of a Dias slam. Dias stays glued to Alcantara,
drilling his opponent with knees as Alcantara tries to use the
fence to creep up. Alcantara spins to take Dias’ back as
they stand, and Dias has to defend from the position before working
a standing kimura down the stretch.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Dias
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Dias
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Dias
Round
2
Alcantara catches Dias stumbling on his back foot and clinches
up along the fence, but it’s Dias who winds up in top position
on the mat as he falls atop his opponent. Dias thumps with some
good ground-and-pound, but he leaves his arm in Alcantara’s
guard too long and Marajo whips on a tight triangle-armbar. He
loses the triangle but keeps the arm and Dias has to stack and
struggle to get it out. Back on top, Dias works to pass the half-guard
in the middle of the frame with Alcantara’s back to the
fence. Alcantara stands briefly but is spun back down to the
ground by Dias, who lands in half-guard on Alcantara’s left
side, his right side to the cage. Dias drops 10 or so elbows,
all of which are partially blocked by Alcantara’s glove.
Dias’ pace slows on top and ref Goddard wants the featherweights
back on their feet with 40 ticks left. Alcantara backs Dias off
with a right hand, then comes forward with a one-two and finishes
the round with a left hook.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Dias
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Dias
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Dias
Round
3
Alcantara is the more active puncher early in the final frame,
though Dias is doing well to avoid most of the strikes. A kick
to the body goes through for Alcantara and Dias responds with
a flurry of punches. Alcantara is swinging for the fences, all
looping punches and overhand lefts. Dias catches a kick and trips
Alcantara to the floor, doesn’t follow. Midway through the
final frame and Dias grabs for a single-leg, switches to a waistlock
and pulls Alcantara down to the base of the fence. Right hands
from Dias aren’t coming terribly hard, but they’re
accurate, sneaking under the armpit and socking Alcantara in
the mush. Alcantara bursts to his feet and Dias gives chase,
immediately clinging to another double-leg and finishing the
takedown shortly thereafter with no regard for Alcantara’s
kimura try. Ref Goddard stands them up with 40 seconds left and
Dias drives for a big takedown. Alcantara sprawls nicely on this
one and shoves Dias to his back, then postures up and unloads
a couple left hands before the end of the bout.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Dias (30-27 Dias)
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Alcantara (29-28 Dias)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Dias (30-27 Dias)
Official
result: The judges score the bout 29-28, 30-27 and 30-27, all
for the winner by unanimous decision, Hacran Dias.
Fabricio
Werdum vs. Mike Russow
Round
1
Werdum steps in with punches and tries to pull Russow into the
Thai clinch, but Russow slips away. Lead uppercut from Werdum
connects and the big men tie up on the cage for a moment. Another
uppercut goes for Werdum and again he misses as he tries to find
Russow’s chin with a big knee. Werdum turns Russow’s
head with a couple stiff jabs and a corking right uppercut sends
Russow to his knees seconds later. Russow is out of sorts, still
conscious as he kneels, but not offering anything in response
to a series of thunderous right hands from Werdum. Ref Herb Dean
tells Russow to fight back, but the American just covers up under
fire and this one is over. Fabricio Werdum stops Mike Russow
via TKO at 2:28 of the opening round, and the crowd roars “Vai
Cavalo.”
“The
Ultimate Fighter Brazil” Season 1 Featherweight Final
Rony “Jason” Mariano vs. Godofredo “Pepey”
Castro
Round
1
The featherweights line up in the orthodox stance, “Pepey”
swinging first with a right hand over the top and tying up behind
it. “Rony Jason” stays vertical with his back to the
fence and the pair starts swinging for the fences after disengaging.
Neither man getting off clean in the exchanges and Mariano puts
Pepey on his back along the fence with a double-leg. Pepey sits
up and isolates the right arm, considering a kimura momentarily
before letting go and falling to his back. Pepey lands some right
hands to Mariano’s face and ref Marc Goddard warns for punches
to the back of the head, even though the shots appeared legal.
A few seconds later, Goddard issues a standup order and Pepey
begins stalking Mariano again. Mariano cracks Pepey’s chin
with a leaping knee and Pepey jumps guard. Mariano slams him
down roughly and Pepey gets busy with elbows off his back. Mariano
doesn’t do much from top position in the final 40 seconds
while Pepey stays active, shifting his hips and attacking from
his back.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Mariano
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Castro
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Mariano
Round
2
Some tentative striking begins the second round until Mariano
gets near enough for Pepey to jump guard. Again, Mariano is inactive
from top position while Pepey works off his back. They’re
soon back on the feet. A flurry from Pepey is answered by a stiff
left hook from Mariano and a kick to the body. Both men look
increasingly hesitant to engage late in the middle frame, Pepey
missing with some spinning back-fists and Mariano with a turning
kick. Mariano gets the best striking of the round with his counter
right hands to Pepey’s wild, winging combinations. In between
rounds, Pepey is warned by ref Goddard not to strike to the back
of his opponent’s head.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Mariano
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Mariano
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Mariano
Round
3
Another clean right-hand counter from Mariano sends Pepey to
the floor early in the final round, but he regains his wits and
scrambles to his feet. Mariano is just waiting for Castro to
wander into range and throw his wild punches. The technique is
working until Castro adds a wild inside thigh kick to the equation:
Pepey falls backward from the momentum of his own kick, which
catches Mariano on the cup. Mariano takes a minute to recover
and they resume. Castro jumps guard again and Mariano shakes
him off, then stands over him, throwing leg kicks until ref Goddard
tells the grounded fighter to stand up. They’re not on the
feet long before Pepey boots Mariano south of the beltline again.
Mariano looks to be in real agony this time, falling to his back
and writhing on the canvas, then crawling over toward the cage.
He finally gets to his feet and they’re back to work inside
the final minute. They spin to the ground at the final horn,
then bounce back up and Mariano taunts his opponent as Castro
is restrained by Goddard.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Mariano (30-27 Mariano)
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Mariano (29-28 Mariano)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Mariano (30-27 Mariano)
Official
result: All three judges score the bout 29-28 for the winner
by unanimous decision and first featherweight champion of “The
Ultimate Fighter Brazil,” Rony “Jason” Mariano.
“The
Ultimate Fighter Brazil” Season 1 Middleweight Final
Sergio Moraes vs. Cezar Ferreira
Round
1
Moraes swings a wide right hand and motions that he’s been
poked in the eye. Ref Herb Dean didn’t see it, so the fight
must go on, and the southpaw Ferreira is loading up on big, single
left hands. Moraes waits on the outside and puts a hard right
kick on Ferreira’s body, but “Serginho” still
seems to want no part of a striking exchange. Ferreira repeatedly
presses out from the center with straight lefts but can’t
pin Moraes on the fence. Moraes throws an elbow over the top
to counter the next time Ferreira comes toward him. Moraes takes
the toes of a Ferreira front kick in the cup and takes a knee
against the cage. He recovers and Ferreira blitzes against the
fence, but doesn’t land anything major in the wild flurry.
A kick from Ferreira lands to the body and Moraes partially blocks
one high before the horn.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Ferreira
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Ferreira
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-10
Round
2
Moraes hits the ground under fire from a Ferreira combination,
but it seems to have been at least a partial slip. Nonetheless,
Ferreira pounces and tries to pound out his grounded opponent.
Moraes twists and scrambles up, only to be dropped again by a
spinning kick from Ferreira. This knockdown was clean, and Moraes
is busted open around his right eye as he works to regain his
composure on the ground. Ferreira is finding his range with his
strikes while Moraes is playing to the crowd, calling for noise.
Moraes looks content to stay on the outside against his larger
opponent, waiting to counter when Ferreira comes inside, or sometimes
just sidestepping out of the way. Moraes comes forward hurling
punches, doesn’t land anything clean. Ferreira backs Moraes
into the fence and Moraes connects with a nasty standing elbow
off his back foot, stumbling “Mutante.” Moraes gives
chase, desperately trying to pour on punches with the little
time he has left, but Ferreira stays alive to hear the horn.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Ferreira
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Moraes
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Ferreira
Round
3
Ferreira sends Moraes to the ground again early in round three.
Moraes isn’t dazed that badly, though, and Ferreira doesn’t
want to follow him to the ground, instead motioning for ref Herb
Dean to bring the fight back up. Ferreira backs Moraes into the
fence with front kicks to the breadbasket and Moraes circles
off, still keeping his distance. A short right hand lands for
Moraes, who then goes back to being passive and baiting Ferreira
in. Just over two minutes to go and this round is still up for
grabs as the middleweights stand toe-to-toe in the center of
the Octagon. More feinting and twitching down to the 90-second
mark and Ferreira finally lunges in with a one-two and a push
kick. Moraes lands the same short elbow that staggered Ferreira
late in round two, but it doesn’t have the same effect.
A hard, straight left from Ferreira sends Moraes to his posterior,
and Ferreira stands over the grappler, kicking at his legs for
the final few seconds of the bout.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Ferreira (30-27 Ferreira)
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Ferreira (29-28 Ferreira)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Ferreira (30-28 Ferreira)
Official
result: The judges have it 29-28, 30-27 and 30-27, all in favor
of the winner by unanimous decision and inaugural middleweight
champ of “The Ultimate Fighter Brazil,” Cezar “Mutante”
Ferreira.
Rich
Franklin vs. Wanderlei Silva
Round
1
Referee Mario Yamasaki is in charge of tonight’s main event,
a catch-weight affair at 190 pounds. Franklin begins by inching
Silva toward the fence, creeping in the southpaw stance and testing
the range with jabs. Silva counters a body kick perfectly with
a right hand over the top. Franklin stays on the offensive, keeping
Wand on the fence and striking with a pair of straight left hands.
Jabs and right hooks connecting now for “Ace,” and
he catches a high kick from Silva. It’s the “Axe Murderer”
who lands a few blows while he’s off-balance, however, and
Franklin lets go of the limb. Two minute to go in the opening
round and Franklin clips Silva with a short right hand in the
pocket. Silva stumbles to the ground but stands right back up
and resumes circling the outside counter-clockwise while Franklin
tries to cut off the angles. Franklin is finding his range now,
working his straight shots and adding kicks and hooks to the
body. Silva lands a head kick but Franklin shakes it off and
deflects the next one with his forearms.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Franklin
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Franklin
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Franklin
Round
2
Silva takes the center of the Octagon to start the second round,
but he’s soon back to moving backward while Franklin presses
forward. Silva hits the ground after throwing a low kick, looking
perhaps like he twisted his ankle, but the Brazilian shows no
sign as he stands back up. Franklin is controlling the cage,
choosing his windows to step inside and rough up the bloodied
face of Silva, then dip back out before the former Pride star
can unload. The veterans trade head kicks, neither landing clean,
and the crowd jolts alive when a pair of short punches from Silva
get through Franklin’s guard. Franklin pays him back with
a few combinations and a body kick, but Wand backs him off with
a right hand. Silva staggers Franklin with a right hook and that’s
just the beginning of an onslaught which includes knees and another
nasty right which puts Ace flat on his back. Silva is vicious
but unable to put away Franklin, who manages to get to his knees
and turtle up under fire. Silva just won’t relent, blasting
away with hammerfists which very nearly prevent Franklin from
seeing the third round. Ref Yamasaki gives Franklin every opportunity
to recover, and somehow the former UFC champ hears the horn.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-8 Silva
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-8 Silva
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-8 Silva
Round
3
Franklin appears recovered but is nowhere near as aggressive
as the third round begins, content to simply follow Silva around
the outside and flick out jabs. Silva, meanwhile, may have overexerted
himself trying to finish at the end of the second round, as he
just trods around the outside, putting up his guard and not throwing
much of anything in return. Franklin sticks some long punches
in the face of Silva, who continues his passivity as the round
enters its final minute. Franklin gets a waistlock and trips
Silva to the floor, landing in half-guard on the Brazilian’s
left side near the fence. Franklin stands up in the final 15
seconds and bashes away with elbows and punches to close out
the round.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Franklin
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Franklin
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Franklin
Round
4
It’s more of the same from Franklin to begin the fourth,
pawing with right hands over the top while staying out of range
of what minimal offense Wanderlei offers (slow hooks and the
occasional head kick). A straight left from Franklin splits Silva’s
guard, followed closely by a nice right hook. Despite his strong
finish to round two, Silva has seen the fight slipping out of
his hands with every moment since. He’s just getting picked
apart by the jabs of Franklin, who’s keeping his distance
even in the late going. Franklin takes a shin on the cup and
it’s a bad one; Ace needs a couple minutes to shake himself
up and the fight resumes with 65 seconds left in the round. Left
straight-right hook combo from Franklin gets through again and
he adds a leg kick to the end. The crowd cheers as Silva counters
a body kick with a right hand over the top, but it’s the
most they’ve had to cheer for in the last 10 minutes.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Franklin
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Franklin
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Franklin
Round
5
Silva is throwing more this round than in the previous two, but
it’s still Franklin looking the fresher, keeping the Brazilian
on the end of his jab. Good footwork and head movement from Franklin
down the stretch is keeping him out of any serious trouble from
Silva’s sporadic power punches. The jab of Franklin is working
well, too, further bloodying the bridge of Wanderlei’s nose
and leaving Silva no option but to come forward continually and
push the pace. Silva lands a right hand and Franklin wheels away,
prompting Silva to wave him on. Another right from Silva and
Franklin keeps backpedaling, flicking out jabs as he goes. Silva
is still giving chase at the final horn, pinning Franklin against
the fence. Franklin gets the final word, knocking Silva to the
ground with a left hand in the last exchange. The two veterans
of the sport grin and embrace at the end of the fight while the
Brazilian crowd explodes.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Franklin (48-46 Franklin)
TJ De Santis scores the round 10-9 Franklin (48-46 Franklin)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Franklin (48-46 Franklin)
Official
result: All three judges score the bout 49-46 for the winner
by unanimous decision, Rich “Ace” Franklin.
Source: Sherdog
|
‘BABALU’
ARMBARS MIZUNO, MOREIRA KNOCKS OUT HUERTA AT ONE FC 4 ‘DESTINY
OF WARRIORS’
By Tristen
Critchfield
Renato
Sobral had been absent from the cage for a little more than 18
months. His triumphant return to action lasted less than a minute.
“Babalu”
needed just 31 seconds to submit Tatsuya Mizuno with an armbar
at One FC 4 “Destiny of Warriors” on Saturday at Stadium
Negara in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It was the Brazilian’s
first fight since falling to Dan Henderson via first-round knockout
at Strikeforce “Henderson vs. Babalu 2” in December
2010.
“[It
feels like] I lost my virginity again,” Sobral (Pictured,
file photo) said of his return. “[It’s been] a long
time, but I’m still here fighting.”
Mizuno
(11-8) struck first in the light heavyweight headliner, stunning
his opponent with a punch before moving into Sobral’s guard.
That was the end of the Dream veteran’s offense, however,
as Sobral (37-9) quickly transitioned to the armbar, causing
Mizuno to tap and forcing referee Yuji Shimada to call an end
to the short-lived contest.
“He
got me with a straight right hand, but then he came and jumped
in my guard,” said Sobral, a onetime UFC 205-pound title
challenger. “I trained to knock him out, to beat him up
a little bit, but whatever it takes to finish the fight.”
Zorobabel
Moreira spoiled Roger Huerta’s One FC debut in the co-main
event, knocking out the former UFC star via soccer kick in a
welterweight tilt.
Huerta
began the fight aggressively, pushing the pace and attacking
his taller foe with punches and kicks while constantly moving
forward. “El Matador” eventually paid for his attempts
to close the distance, as Moreira (7-1) found his range with
several high kicks in the later stages of round one.
“Zoro”
really began to assert himself in the second frame, as he punished
Huerta (21-7-1) with knees, punches and kicks against the cage.
With the American on weary legs, Moreira sent him stumbling with
a straight right hand. Sensing the end was near, the Evolve Gym
export continued to attack with knees, before sealing the deal
with a vicious soccer kick behind the ear at the 3:53 mark of
round two. It was Huerta’s sixth loss in his last seven
fights.
“He’s
a very tough opponent. We trained so hard for this,” said
Moreira, who improved to 3-0 under the One FC banner. “I
feel he lost his balance. I took the opportunity to push him
down. I saw the space, and there was that kick.”
Many
a foe has fallen victim to the dangerous leg locks of Masakazu
Imanari over the years, but Leandro Issa (10-2) avoided such
a fate, relying on effective countering, leg kicks and timely
takedowns en route to a clear-cut unanimous triumph over the
“Ashikan Judan.” The Brazilian controlled the bantamweight
encounter from the outset and avoiding any serious damage from
Imanari (25-11-2), who didn’t attempt a single submission
in defeat.
Earlier
in the evening, Phuket Top Team representative Adam Shahir Kayoom
(3-1) survived an early onslaught from Gregor Gracie (6-2) to
capture a unanimous verdict from the cageside judges in a welterweight
scrap. Gracie had an opportunity to finish the contest with a
series of strikes from back mount late in round one, but Kayoom
survived and took control over the final two frames as the Renzo
Gracie pupil faded.
Filipino
featherweight prospect Eric Kelly (7-0) kept his perfect record
intact with a hard-fought unanimous verdict over South Korea’s
Bae Young Kwon (7-3). Kelly defended multiple submissions and
got the better of his opponent in exchanges as the URCC champion
went the distance for the first time in his career.
In
the first main card bout, Malaysia-based Frenchman Arnaud Lepont
(9-1) overcame the wrestling of Evolve MMA representative Brian
Choi (3-2) to secure a come-from-behind rear-naked choke victory
at 1:38 of the third frame.
The
event began with three undercard bouts: Mitch Chilson elicited
a tapout from A.J. Vaa with a rear-naked choke at 1:39 of the
opening round in a catch-weight affair; Marcos Escobar submitted
Rodrigo Praxedes with a brabo choke at 1:05 of the third round
to win his MMA debut at welterweight; and Peter Davis kicked
of the card with a 55-second TKO of Kim Hock Quek at lightweight.
Source:
Sherdog
|
‘Minotauro’
Nogueira Eyes UFC Return; Begins Physical Therapy on Surgically
Repaired Right Arm
By Marcelo
Alonso
Antonio
Rodrigo Nogueira is already working hard in anticipation of his
return to the Octagon.
Since
confirming the cancellation of his UFC 149 bout with Cheick Kongo,
the leader of Team Nogueira has been attending daily sessions
of physical therapy with Dr. Angela Cortes. “Minotauro”
explained that he now needs muscle-building work in his right
arm, where he underwent surgery following a gruesome submission
loss to Frank Mir at UFC 140.
"I
felt pain in my last four sparring sessions, and we had been
controlling the pain with physiotherapy,” Nogueira told
Sherdog.com. “But with the intensified training in wrestling
after the arrival of Eric Albarracin, I started doing more complex
positions for the arm, and, [since] I put a metal in it [for
the surgery], it reached a level of sensitivity that wasn't expected
and didn't happen at the beginning of training. I had to change
the schedule in order to get back to training 100 percent.”
As
of now, there is no timetable for Nogueira’s return. According
to Cortes, the fighter isn't yet adapted to the metal placed
in his arm, and there is no way to tell when this will happen.
The physiotherapist said that for now the Brazilian will attend
one session of physical therapy per day. When “Minotauro”
returns to training, the load will increase.
"I
talked with two neurologists and there is no way to tell when
he'll be back, because it depends on the interpretation of his
brain. We need to change this, since there is a strange body
inside his arm and he needs to adapt to be able to execute the
movements that he would normally do,” Cortes said.
Source:
Sherdog
|
MORNING
REPORT: ALISTAIR OVEREEM TAKES VOLUNTARY NSAC DRUG TEST, CALLS
OUT JUNIOR DOS SANTOS
By Shaun Al-Shatti - Staff Writer
For
a guy who isn't actually able to fight for the next six months,
Alistair Overeem does a pretty good job staying in the headlines.
Yesterday,
just days after he decided he would fight in December, Overeem
launched on the offensive. It seems he's well aware of all the
disparaging remarks circulating out there. So, completely unprovoked,
the mammoth Dutchman dropped this little number on Twitter.
"I'm
doing a drug test today to build confidence with the Nevada State
Athletic Commission and because I respect and appreciate the
UFC," he announced. "And to let Junior (dos Santos)
know I am a clean fighter."
Well,
that's something, I guess. Even though critics will probably
say taking a drug test on a day of your choosing doesn't really
prove much. Except, of course, that you know how to pass your
own personal drug test.
But
regardless, Overeem seems determined to clear his name and chase
the UFC belt that has thus far eluded him. So on that front,
he left with an extra parting shot for the champ.
"I'm
all natural Junior, and I am coming for you."
Source:
MMA Fighting
|
Duane
Ludwig Signs Che Mills Bout Agreement and New Four-Fight UFC
Contract
by Ken
Pishna
Duane
“Bang” Ludwig on Wednesday not only signed a bout agreement
to fight Che Mills at UFC on Fuel TV 5 on Sept. 29 in Nottingham,
England; he also signed a new four-fight contract with the promotion.
UFC
officials on Tuesday informed MMAWeekly.com that verbal agreements
were in place for the fight in Nottingham, but after signing
his bout agreement, Ludwig confirmed his new four-fight contract
as well.
Ludwig’s
history with the promotion dates all the way back to UFC 42,
when he scored a unanimous decision victory over Genki Sudo.
He later followed that up with the fastest knockout in UFC history,
putting Johnathan Goulet’s lights out in just six seconds.
His
recent run in the Octagon has seen him go 2-4 and he enters the
fight with Mills coming off back-to-back losses to Josh Neer
and Dan Hardy.
Ludwig,
despite a .500 overall record in the UFC, is one of those fighters
that UFC president Dana White has always been appreciative of.
“He’s
always a kid that’s been on the radar, always hanging out
there and ready and willing to fight,” White once said of
Ludwig, who has often taken fights on short notice and even fought
in for the promotion in Germany during the birth of his son.
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
Little
lessons from the immense career of Teófilo Stevenson (1952-2012)
Cuban
myth Teófilo Stevenson was a three-time boxing world champion
and three-time Olympic champion, between 1972 and 1980.
Seven
days after three-time Olympic gold medalist Teófilo Stevenson
passed away, GRACIEMAG.com puts together an article to pay tribute
to the mythical pugilist.
The
victim of a heart attack on the 11th of this month in Havana,
the 60-year-old Cuban fighter left some precious lessons for
those who practice and appreciate martial arts.
1.
TIME IS A GREAT TEACHER
Fidel
Castro’s favorite fighter was the beneficiary of great trainers,
like former Cuban champion John Herrera, from the outset of his
career forward. It was years of dedication, however, that made
the difference. Stevenson started at nine years of age, accumulating
eight years’ worth of experience before making his debut
as an adult. Not too many people have the good fortune of training
since such a tender age, but one needs to understand that many
hours of flight time will take you a long way.
2.
DEBUT WITH A LOSS
Teófilo
Stevenson has his place reserved in the history of fighting,
thanks to the three Olympic gold medals (1972/76/80) he won—in
boxing, only two other men have accomplished such a feat: Hungary’s
László Papp and also-Cuban Félix Savón.
And he probably would have won a fourth had it not been for the
boycott on the Los Angeles Olympics of 1984. Interestingly, although
he is now seen as a superhuman fighter, he started out losing,
like every “white belt.” It happened on his debut as
an adult, to the more experienced Gabriel Garcia. Learn from
Teófilo and persevere. Sometimes results are merely trifles.
3.
REPETITIONS AND MORE REPETITIONS
At
a certain point in his career, his coaches noticed that Stevenson’s
jab needed some honing. And it was precisely the Cuban’s
potent jab that was a cornerstone of his career, taking him to
the mark of 302 wins and just 22 defeats. Before heading to the
gym, ask yourself, ‘Where am I weak? Where am I strong?’
Find your strengths and weaknesses, and talk to your coaches
about shoring them up. It can make all the difference at your
next competition or training session.
4.
SELF-KNOWLEDGE, DESIRE AND MONEY
One
time, the Cuban fighter was offered 5 million dollars to turn
pro and take on Muhammad Ali in a title fight right off the bat.
Stevenson declined. He preferred to stay in Cuba, to inspire
the youth and be an hero in his home country. What drives you?
Is it just money? If all you fight for is money, then that can
shorten your path significantly, when the money ain’t much.
Or worse, when the money’s a-plenty.
5.
WHAT HAVE YOU GOT THAT THE OTHERS DON’T?
Like
Ali, Stevenson fused the power and reach of a heavyweight with
the agility and speed of a lightweight. What aspects and qualities
do you have that the rest of your division doesn’t? Invest
in that and be the best you can be.
6.
FIGHTING, SPORT AND THE MEANING OF LIFE
After
hanging up his gloves, the champion went on to teach young fighters
on the Cuban national team. He forged champions and men, and
saw how teaching and learning are two sides of the same coin.
Therein lies perhaps the greatest teaching Teófilo left,
which to some wise men is the meaning of life on this planet:
first, find out what you really do well. Then, pass it onwards.
Source:
Gracie Magazine
|
UFC
RETURNS TO RIO IN OCTOBER, PLANS AGGRESSIVE BRAZILIAN EXPANSION
By Dave
Doyle
Those
who have complained about the number of events the UFC stages
in Brazil are simply going to have to get used to it.
Mixed
martial arts has exploded in the South American nation at the
same time business has plateaued on the home front, so the UFC
is going to double down on events in the sport's birthplace.
At
Thursday's press conference for Saturday's UFC 147 card in Belo
Horizonte featuring Rich Franklin vs. Wanderlei Silva, Marshall
Zelzanik, head of the UFC's international department, said the
company would return to the country in October with an event
in Rio de Janeiro.
When
asked when the UFC would return to the country, he said "The
next event we will do this year will be in Rio. That will be
in October."
No
date, venue, or potential matches were mentioned for the event.
Rio was the host of last August's UFC 134, in which Anderson
Silva defeated Yushin Okami to retain the middleweight title,
and January's UFC 142, where Jose Aldo knocked out Chad Mendes
to retain the featherweight belt.
The
October event would make three Brazilian UFC cards in 2012. But
2013 will bring even more, according to Zelzanik.
"Next
year we're talking about potentially twice as many events in
Brazil, if not more," he said. "We're trying to bring
the events to different cities."
Source:
MMA Fighting
|
Dan
Hardy-Amir Sadollah, Jason Young-Robert Peralta Expected for
UFC on Fuel 5
By Mike
Whitman
UFC
officials Tuesday announced that hard-hitting British welterweight
Dan Hardy will return home for his next in-cage performance,
as “The Outlaw” will compete at UFC on Fuel TV 5 in
Nottingham, England.
Hardy
is expected to square off with “The Ultimate Fighter”
Season 7 winner Amir Sadollah at the Sept. 29 event. Featherweight
Jason Young will also be in action, as the promotion confirmed
Tuesday that the Brit will face Robert Peralta at the Capital
FM Arena. The event will be headlined by a heavyweight confrontation
pitting Stipe Miocic against Stefan Struve and is also slated
to feature a bantamweight bout between Brad Pickett and Yves
Jabouin.
Hardy,
30, picked up his first win since 2009 in his most recent outing,
knocking out Duane Ludwig with a vicious left hook followed by
ground-and-pound. Prior to that victory, “The Outlaw”
had lost four straight fights, a skid kicked off by his failed
bid to capture Georges St. Pierre's welterweight crown in March
2010.
Sadollah
has fought the entirety of his professional career in the UFC,
debuting in 2008 with a submission of C.B. Dollaway in the “TUF
7” finale. More recently, the New Yorker has won three of
his last four, edging Jorge Lopez last month at UFC on Fuel TV
3 to rebound from an August decision defeat to Ludwig.
Young,
25, began his UFC career with a pair of defeats, suffering decision
losses to Dustin Poirier and Michihiro Omigawa last year. “Shotgun”
righted his ship in his most recent fight, however, taking a
unanimous decision from Eric Wisely on April 14 at UFC on Fuel
TV 2.
Peralta's
last outing ended in controversy this past November, as the Californian
saw a technical knockout over Mackens Semerzier changed to a
no contest after it was revealed that an accidental headbutt
floored the WEC veteran prior to the finish. Peralta had won
eight straight fights before that result, edging Hiroyuki Takaya
14 months ago in the Strikeforce cage before besting Mike Lullo
this past September in his UFC debut.
Source
Sherdog
|
At
what age do MMA fighters reach their peak?
Is
the BTT athlete at the perfect age for making his UFC debut?
With
over a decade’s experience stepping into rings and cages
to face opponents from the most diverse corners of the world,
Jiu-Jitsu black belt Milton Vieira has taken part in some of
the biggest fighting shows on earth, including: Pride, Strikeforce,
Shooto, Meca and Bitetti Combat. With more than his fair share
of submission wins on his ledger, the BTT representative admits
that making the first entrance into the octagon of his career
next Saturday will be something special for him.
“Every
athlete wants to compete at the best event there is, so making
it to the UFC at this moment is really important to me. I’ve
been working hard at Brazilian Top Team since 2003, when I joined
the team, and I spared no sweat, blood or determination in getting
to the UFC,” he said, as he gears up to face Felipe “Sertanejo”
Arantes in the first fight on the card for the UFC to take place
Saturday night in the Brazilian city of Belo Horizonte.
While
his original background is in the luta livre style of grappling,
Milton has faith his Jiu-Jitsu will lead him to triumph at Mineirinho
Stadium. But anyone thinking the Rio de Janeiro native will do
everything in his power to win via submission would be wrong.
“I’m
not planning to only show what I can do on the ground. I like
punching, kicking, flying knees, elaborate moves. I like getting
the crowd going. I always fight to win. It’s something important
to me, to my family, but I fight to put on a show. I want to
always put on fun fights,” he points out.
Aiming
not just to be part of the UFC but to make it to the top of the
featherweight ranks, Milton is making his debut on the big stage
at 33, an age when, according to his coach Murilo Bustamante,
is when MMA fighters are just reaching their prime.
“In
my view MMA fighters reach their peak at around 35, 36 years
of age. Anderson Silva and myself, for example, won titles when
we were over 30,” said Bustamante. “Milton is a talent
just awaiting opportunities, and he has a bright future ahead
of him.”
The
BTT is now celebrating a new partnership with the marketing firm
Garra.
What
do you think, gentle reader, are you in agreement with Murilo?
What’s the perfect age for an MMA fighter? What about for
Jiu-Jitsu athletes? Let us know your thoughts in the comments
field below.
Check
out the card for the June 23 UFC show:
UFC
147
Mineirinho Stadium, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
June 23, 2012
Wanderlei
Silva vs Rich Franklin
Fabricio Werdum vs Mike Russow
Cezar Mutante vs Serginho Moraes
Godofredo Pepey vs Rony Jason
Yuri Alcântara vs Hacran Dias
Milton Vieira vs Felipe Arantes
Francisco Massaranduba vs Delson Pé de Chumbo
Rodrigo Damm vs Anistávio Gasparzinho
Hugo Wolverine vs John Macapá
Leonardo Macarrão vs Thiago Bodão
Wagner Galeto vs Vinicius Vina
Source:
Gracie Magazine
|
Danny
Castillo and Michael Johnson Square Off at UFC 151: Jones vs.
Henderson
Lightweight
Danny Castillo and Michael Johnson have verbally agreed to square
off at the UFC 151 fight card set for Sept. 1 in Las Vegas, according
to UFC officials.
The
UFC announced the Castillo vs. Johnson match-up on Wednesday,
and also confirmed previously reported bouts for the card pitting
Dennis Siver against Eddie Yagin and Takeya Mizugaki against
Jeff Hougland.
Castillo
(14-4) has won his last three fights, including his May 5 bout
against John Cholish at UFC on Fox 3.
Ever
since losing to top UFC contender Anthony Pettis back in their
WEC days, Castillo has since quietly put together a 6-1 record.
His lone loss during that time was dropping a decision to Jacob
Volkmann.
Johnson
(11-6) made it all the way to The Ultimate Fighter 12 Finale
before losing to Johnathan Brookins. He has since gone 3-1 in
the Octagon, losing only to undefeated British fighter Paul Sass.
He
is coming off of back-to-back victories over Tony Ferguson and
Shane Roller.
UFC
light heavyweight champion Jon Jones will put his belt on the
line against Dan Henderson in the UFC 151 main event.
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
UFC
ON FX 4 RESULTS
Revel Atlantic
City, Atlantic City, N.J.
Ken
Stone vs. Dustin Pague
Round
1
Ken Stone opens the scoring in the curtain jerker with a nice
left hand. Pague backs off a bit but Stone pursues and misses
with a spinning-back kick. Pague scores with a nice knee after
the fighters clinch but Stone fires back with a one-two. Stone
lands a hard low kick before catching a wayward inside-leg kick
to the privates. Referee Gasper Oliver gives him time to recover
and we are back at it. Stone finds a home for his right hand
in the ribs of Pague but is answered right away with a right
to his grill. Stone pushes the pace landing a grazing head kick
as time ticks away in the first. Ken Stone secures round one
on Sherdog.com's card by a score of 10-9.
Round
2
Stone circles then shoots for a takedown but he is stalled along
the cage. After two minutes and no improvement of position, Oliver
finally separates them. Off the restart, Pague gets repaid in
kind with a shot south of the belt line. He says he is ready
to continue after a brief halt to the action. Pague lands a few
middling shots but not much happening here in the second frame.
By default, Pague gets round two by a 10-9 score.
Round
3
Pague comes out a tad more aggressive in the final period. He
stalks Stone from the center of the cage and lands a one-two.
Stone shoots again but is rebuffed. Pague turns it around for
a moment and brings Stone to the mat but in the ensuing scramble
Stone takes top position. Stones try to get busy but Pague keeps
him largely at bay with an active guard. Stone fires off some
hard elbows but their accuracy is questionable. Pague wall-walks
back to his feet in the final moments of the fight but is forced
to fend off a guillotine attempt as time expires. Ken Stone takes
the third 10-9 and the fight 29-28 on the Sherdog card.
Official
decision: Stone takes a split decision with scores of 29-28 (twice)
and 28-29.
Dan
Miller vs. Ricardo Funch
Round
1
Dan Miller and Ricardo Funch get things rolling in their welterweight
affair. Miller hammers a hard kick to Funch's body to literally
and figuratively kick things off. Funch charges in and clinches,
searching for a takedown. Miller fends him off and after about
a minutes breaks free and lands a big right hook that staggers
Funch. The Brazilian fires back valiantly and backs Miller away.
Funch lands a head kick in the closing moments of the first but
is not enough to steal the round. Miller, 10-9 on the Sherdog
card.
Round
2
Miller punches his way across the Octagon and grabs hold of Funch's
neck. He looks for the guillotine briefly before giving it up.
The fighters separate but Miller clinches again and cinches another
choke attempt, this one is much tighter. Funch shows good composure
and extracts himself again. Miller won't give up and wraps up
again. This time Funch breaks free and the fighters tumble to
the mat with Miller on his back. Funch sands and drops some punches
but Miller uses an upkick to create space and stands back up.
Funch tries to work for a takedown while Miller locks up yet
another loose guillotine. The round closes with the fighters
still tangled along the cage. Miller gets another round 10-9
on Sherdog's card.
Round
3
Not much going on here in the third until about a minute in when
Miller drops Funch with a big right as he exited the clinch.
Miller swarms with punches and elbows but referee Dan Miragliotta
allows it to continue as Funch valiantly defends himself. Miller
lets him back up and cracks him with a number of hard shots.
Funch won't go away though and actually scores a takedown of
his own. Miller sinks another guillotine from the bottom and
this one looks like it could do the trick. Funch tries to roll
up along the cage to relieve the pressure but he goes too far
and allows Miller to take the top with the choke still sunk.
The end comes at 3:12 of the third when Funch taps out to end
the spirited match.
Matt
Brown vs. Luis Ramos
Round
1
Ramos looks to loop his left hook inside and goes to the thigh
with a low kick. He slips on the next one but Brown can’t
capitalize, though “The Immortal” socks him once Ramos
is back on the feet. Ramos gets double underhooks and shoves
Brown into the cage, then trips him down after a brief struggle.
Ramos tries to take the back as soon as they hit the floor, but
Brown uses the fence to work back to his feet and reverses the
position. They break off and trade straight punches in center
cage. Ramos initiates the clinch again and holds Brown on the
fence for the last minute, but doesn’t do much in the way
of offense.
TJ
De Santis scores the round 10-9 Ramos
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Ramos
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Ramos
Round
2
Brown sticks a jab in Ramos’ face but the Brazilian charges
forward and puts Brown on the cage with a single-leg attempt.
Brown fends off the takedown and steps in with a knee, then a
body blow. Ramos hits the deck -- looked like a partial slip
-- but when he gets up he’s greeted by knees in the Thai
clinch. Brown trying some short elbows inside, then blitzes Ramos
with long, straight punches. Ramos has had enough of the striking
and ties up again. Brown turns him around and drills him with
a knee. Ramos wobbles and Brown pounces with punches, knees to
the gut. Just when he looks to be in danger of being finished,
Ramos spins to take Brown’s back standing and then drops
down for a single-leg. Brown denies the takedown and puts Ramos’
back on the fence, then starts unloading with knees and uppercuts.
Ramos is still on his feet, his back to a cage post, but his
face is a mess and he’s not defending well as Brown pours
on the punishment. Referee Gasper Oliver has seen enough and
steps in to wave it off, giving Matt Brown the TKO win at 4:20
of round two.
Chris
Camozzi vs. Nick Catone
Round
1
Catone tries to grab a low kick from Camozzi, can’t get
it and instead punches Camozzi in the face. The taller Camozzi
keeps his distance, shutting down another takedown try as he
dodges power right hands from the “Jersey Devil.” Camozzi
gets clipped with a right and puts Catone on the fence, but can’t
hold him there long. Probing jabs from Camozzi are followed by
a left hand over the top. Camozzi sticks another jab but eats
a one-two from Catone and then a leg kick. Catone has a double-leg
denied with just over a minute left in the round. Catone keeps
moving forward and hits a single-leg with 40 seconds on the clock.
Camozzi uses his long limbs to keep Catone at bay with a butterfly
guard.
TJ
De Santis scores the round 10-9 Camozzi
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Catone
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Catone
Round
2
It’s an aggressive start to the second frame for Camozzi,
who pushes forward, trying to trap Catone against the fence and
get off with some strikes. The pace slows but Camozzi continues
stalking Catone and digs an underhook. Catone reverses into the
fence and exits the tie-up with a right hand. Catone puts Camozzi
on the cage now, working an underhook with his left arm and punching
to Camozzi’s body with the right. A couple nice uppercuts
from Catone as he exits and they’re back to throwing. Camozzi
snuffs a double-leg attempt and throws a pair of knees to the
body before disengaging. Catone drives hard on a single-leg and
puts Camozzi on his back, and Camozzi throws up his legs, maybe
hunting for a triangle. He can’t get his right leg free,
so it’s back to butterfly guard and trying to keep Catone
at bay. Catone is standing up, keeping his hips heavy and working
to pass while throwing sporadic ground-and-pound. That’s
where the round ends.
TJ
De Santis scores the round 10-9 Catone
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Catone
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Camozzi
Round
3
Camozzi scores with a punching combo and Catone bounces off the
fence. Camozzi keeps after him, throwing knees, elbows and body
blows in close quarters as he pins the New Jerseyan against the
fence. Catone’s face is bloodied from a gash on the inside
of the eyebrow, dripping down into his left eye. The cut is bad
and referee Dan Miragliotta wants the physician to take a closer
look. It only takes the doc a few seconds of examination before
Miragliotta leaves the corner, waving an end to the bout. Chris
Camozzi gets the win by doctor stoppage at 1:51 of round three.
Joey
Gambino vs. Steven Siler
Round
1
The shorter Gambino steps inside to punch and is spun down by
a single-leg from Siler. The New Yorker pops back to his feet
and they tangle along the fence, Siler exiting with a knee. The
strike opens a cut on Gambino’s hairline that sends a stream
of blood trickling directly down the center of his face. Gambino
drives Siler into the fence with a single-leg but Siler threatens
with a standing guillotine. Gambino pops his head loose and wings
away with punches, one of which clips Siler and momentarily buckles
his legs. Siler recovers quickly and puts Gambino on the ground,
then steps into mount. Gambino drives forward to get Siler off
his chest, but as he does, Siler cinches up a tight guillotine
and falls back to guard. Gambino has no choice but to tap out
at 2:47 of the first round.
Rick
Story vs. Brock Jardine
Round
1
The southpaw Story twitches and feints as he inches toward Jardine,
occasionally swinging a left hand and pawing with jabs. Jardine
looks hesitant to engage as he backs away from Story and is eventually
driven to the canvas. Story is in good position almost instantly,
sneaking around to the back of the turtling Jardine and working
to sink in hooks. Story has his right leg through but can’t
stabilize his position as Jardine tries to posture up and shake
the Washingtonian off his back. Story loses the hook, goes briefly
to side control and Jardine escapes to his feet. Jardine tries
to come inside and gets tagged with a punch from Story, who’s
now mixing in some leg kicks. Jardine pulls up short on his punches
to the body and a tie-up attempt, still looking a bit gunshy.
Story’s offense slows in the last half-minute but he finishes
strong, attacking Jardine against the fence.
TJ
De Santis scores the round 10-9 Story
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Story
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Story
Round
2
Story ducks under a punch from Jardine and plows him down at
the base of the fence. Jardine puts his left side to the fence
and tries to get back to his feet, allowing Story to drill some
knees to the body and then jump onto Jardine’s back. Again,
Story can’t sink in his hooks and Jardine escapes the position.
Story walks in behind some punches and gets another takedown;
now he’s trying to take Jardine’s back as they sit
at the base of the cage, but again Story has only one hook in.
The New Jersey crowd starts to boo as Story tries to secure the
position. He can’t get it and attacks Jardine with knees
to the body before they break away. They parry punches for a
minute until Story single-legs Jardine in the middle of the cage
to finish the round.
TJ
De Santis scores the round 10-9 Story
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Story
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Story
Round
3
Story dodges a few punches before getting inside on Jardine and
dragging him to the ground. Jardine gets to his knees again and
Story pins him on the fence, socking Jardine with a couple hard
left before letting go. Another takedown goes for Story but he
doesn’t keep Jardine on the ground long enough to do much.
Jardine slips on a kick but Story doesn’t pounce. Story
traps Jardine on the fence and attacks with punches, and Jardine
is scrambling from his knees. Story tries a guillotine that doesn’t
go and when they get back to their feet, Jardine clips Story
in the cup with a turning kick. Story doesn’t need long
to recover from the accidental foul, and he scores another takedown
soon after they resume. Jardine falls to the ground, seemingly
almost voluntarily, after getting clipped by a right from Story.
He hops back up, but Story hits another takedown and attacks
the left arm of Jardine from the topside in the final minute.
Jardine pops the limb loose and dives for a last-second leglock,
but it’s too late.
TJ
De Santis scores the round 10-9 Story (30-27 Story)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Story (30-27 Story)
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Story (30-27 Story)
Official
result: All three judges score the bout 30-27 for the winner
by unanimous decision, Rick Story.
Ramsey
Nijem vs. C.J. Keith
Round
1
The lightweights tie up in the clinch almost immediately and
Keith lands a low knee. Ref Yves Lavigne warns Keith that he
could be docked a point if it happens again. When they resume,
Keith gets off well with a right hand that seems to stagger Nijem,
who works a single-leg afterward. Keith sprawls all over it and
Nijem rolls to his back, nearly being mounted in the process.
Keith does step into mount, but Nijem sweeps quickly and drives
for another takedown. Another good sprawl from Keith and he punishes
Nijem with punches as he keeps digging. Nijem finally hits the
takedown with about 3:00 left on the clock, and soon he steps
info full mount. Keith squirms and bucks under fire from Nijem’s
punches and elbows. Keith turns on his side while Nijem is still
punching and referee Yves Lavigne intervenes. Keith gets to his
knees just as Lavigne is stopping the fight, but the call’s
been made and Nijem gets the TKO win at 2:29 of round one.
Hatsu
Hioki vs. Ricardo Lamas
Round
1
Hioki starts walking in on the shorter Lamas immediately, moving
the American back with punches before clinching up on the fence.
They trade knees inside with Hioki throwing elbows over the top
and looking for the Thai clinch. Trip takedown goes for Hioki
but Lamas reverses instantly. Hioki throws his legs up, thinking
triangle but instead catching Lamas in an omoplata. Lamas stands
with Hioki still attached to his arm and slams the former Shooto
champ to the ground. Hioki stays on but gives up the position
soon after and the featherweights go back to the standup. Lamas
strings together a couple leg kicks, a right hand and drags Hioki
down with a body lock. Hioki works back to his feet and Lamas
gets another waistlock as they jockey for position around the
perimeter. Hioki catches Lamas leaning and trips him to the ground,
landing in side-control on Lamas’ left side. Lamas regains
half-guard with control of Hioki’s left leg, while Hioki
leans to the far side, framing up a kimura.
TJ
De Santis scores the round 10-9 Hioki
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Hioki
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Hioki
Round
2
Lamas is looking a little more aggressive at the start of round
two, whipping high kicks skyward at Hioki’s head and rushing
the Japanese standout with punches. Hioki has a single-leg attempt
denied and Lamas punishes him for it with a rough combination
against the fence. Left hook goes through for Lamas, followed
shortly after by a left uppercut to the body. After the body
shot, Hioki dives on a takedown, but he leaves his neck exposed
to a Lamas guillotine. It looks deep but Hioki frees his head
and gets on top in Lamas’ guard. Half-guard for Hioki now
as he works to advance and gets caught in another guillotine.
This one looks bad as well, but again Hioki pops loose. Lamas
goes for two more chokes but the left side of Hioki’s neck
inside is too free to force a tap.
TJ
De Santis scores the round 10-9 Lamas
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Lamas
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Lamas
Round
3
Lamas sticks a straight left through the low hands of Hioki,
keeps moving forward and misses with a high kick. Hioki paws
at his own right eye and throws a slow front kick; not much offense
from the “Iron Broomstick” in the opening 90 seconds
of the third frame. Lamas sticks a one-two in Hioki’s face,
then more hooks, and he whiffs on a high kick. A spinning capoeira
kick from Lamas goes off the forearm of Hioki. A pair of left
hooks connect for Lamas and Hioki wants to bring it to the ground.
As he double-legs Lamas to the middle of the cage, Lamas grabs
another guillotine choke underneath his left arm. This one looks
deeper than the few previous, but Hioki is still hanging in there,
working to extract his head with a minute left in the bout. The
left side of Hioki’s neck is free and he pops loose with
40 seconds remaining. Hioki’s not doing anything in his
opponent’s closed guard while Lamas drives his right hand
into Hioki’s ribs for the last half-minute -- it’s
not much, but it’s more than Hioki can muster, simply posturing
up to the bell.
TJ
De Santis scores the round 10-9 Lamas (29-28 Lamas)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Lamas (29-28 Lamas)
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Lamas (29-28 Lamas)
Official
result: All three judges score the bout 29-28 for the winner
by unanimous decision, Ricardo Lamas.
Ross
Pearson vs. Cub Swanson
Round
1
The featherweights find the range with crisp punches in the opening
minute. Pearson leaps in and has a flying knee deflected, and
Swanson misses as he loads up on a low kick. Pearson wraps up
Swanson and drives him to the ground, landing in the American’s
closed guard. Swanson posts and stands, using the fence to spin
away from Pearson. Back to trading on the feet and Pearson grazes
with a high kick, then gets knocked to his rear by a Swanson
shot. Inside elbow from Swanson, and he just misses with a lead
uppercut. Swanson falls to the ground as he kicks high, clipping
Pearson on the neck. Bicycle upkicks from Swanson as he tries
to fend off the Englishman from his back. Swanson stands out
of range now, dodging punches from Pearson and stuffing a single-leg.
Pearson keeps pressing forward to the horn, but Swanson is doing
well to avoid damage and throw counter combos to Pearson’s
single punches.
TJ
De Santis scores the round 10-9 Swanson
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Swanson
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Swanson
Round
2
Pearson keeps coming forward, winging punches, but Swanson seems
to have it figured out now and is countering beautifully. Pearson
latches on to Swanson’s left leg and spins him to the ground.
Swanson quickly pops back to his feet and it’s back to Cub
sniping over the top while Pearson trudges forward, throwing
heavy hands. Swanson leaps in with a flying knee and gets taken
down, but uses the position to smash Pearson with an upkick.
Pearson stays with it and stacks up on top, mashing with grimy
ground-and-pound from Swanson’s open guard. Pearson grinds
for a minute until Swanson explodes to his feet with about 65
seconds left. Pearson catches a front kick and tries to rush
Swanson, who hops backward and zaps Pearson with two rights which
set up a crushing left hook. Pearson falls into the cage, dazed,
and referee Yves Lavigne rightly steps in to call a halt to the
bout at 4:14 of round two.
Brian
Ebersole vs. T.J. Waldburger
Round
1
Waldburger feints on a shot and feels the range with punches
for 40 seconds before zapping Ebersole with a clean, short left
hand. Ebersole’s legs go out, but he manages to regain his
senses and put Waldburger in guard as the fight hits the floor.
Waldburger takes a minute to advance position and move into full
mount. Waldburger sinks in a deep anaconda choke and it looks
like Ebersole will be forced to tap or go unconscious. Somehow,
the veteran twists into the deep submission and escapes. Back
on the feet, Ebersole gets in close, trying for knees up the
middle but settling for a short elbow and right hand in the clinch.
Ebersole backs Waldburger into the fence and the trade big punches
with Ebersole landing the harder shot. Waldburger slugs Ebersole
with a hard right which provokes a mocking, mouth-agape stare
from Ebersole. Again trying to work the clinch, Ebersole shoves
Waldburger into the fence to close out the round.
TJ
De Santis scores the round 10-9 Waldburger
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Waldburger
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Waldburger
Round
2
Waldburger goes up top with a right high kick, then changes levels
and puts Ebersole on the ground at the base of the fence. Ebersole
drives forward and completes a takedown of his own toward the
center of the cage. Throwing up his legs, Waldburger is instantly
on the hunt for a submission, first angling for a triangle and
then an armlock. Ebersole slips free of both and works to advance
in Waldburger’s guard. Waldburger attacks the right arm
of Ebersole with an armbar, but Ebersole stacks, stands and shakes
Waldburger loose. Kneebar attempt from Waldburger turns into
a loose triangle, and he loses that, too. Nonetheless, Waldburger
keeps attacking off his back through the second half of the round,
only slowing when some heavy hammer-fists from Ebersole get through.
Waldburger shakes off the strikes and goes for another triangle,
but Ebersole gets free of this one as well and spends the last
30 seconds of the round smashing Waldburger with heavy ground-and-pound,
Ebersole’s best offense of the fight.
TJ
De Santis scores the round 10-9 Waldburger
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Ebersole
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Ebersole
Round
3
Ebersole looks the fresher of the two welterweights as the final
round begins, out-striking the fatigued Waldburger with knees
and elbows in the clinch. Ebersole rushes the Texan into the
fence with a forearm across the throat and then finishes the
job with a single-leg takedown. Waldburger is still looking to
throw up a triangle with Ebersole in his guard, but the legs
aren’t looking as quick as in previous rounds. Waldburger
slaps on a loose triangle anyway, but can’t tighten it up
as Ebersole drives him into the fence. Butterfly guard for Waldburger
now as he tries to keep Ebersole at bay with a minute to go.
Ebersole pecks away with punches to the face and body, keeping
the strikes coming steadily down the stretch and leaving Waldburger
with one last solid right hand at the end.
TJ
De Santis scores the round 10-9 Ebersole (29-28 Waldburger)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Ebersole (29-28 Ebersole)
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Ebersole (29-28 Ebersole)
Official
result: All three judges score the bout 29-28 for the winner
by unanimous decision, Brian Ebersole.
Sam
Stout vs. Spencer Fisher
Round
1
The lightweights get straight to throwing hands, with Stout scoring
to the body with the right hand and southpaw Fisher looking for
a home for his left. After some hard outside low kicks and an
accidental low blow from Stout, Fisher walks Stout toward the
cage, pawing with jabs and twice cracking Stout with hard left
hooks. Stout falls after throwing a leg kick but Fisher doesn’t
give chase. Stout drives forward and finishes a double-leg with
just over two minutes to go in the round. Stout gets busy with
some grinding ground-and-pound from Fisher’s guard, racking
up some damage with punches and elbows over the top. Another
takedown goes for Stout, but Fisher is up quickly from this one
and finishes the close opening round on his feet.
TJ
De Santis scores the round 10-9 Stout
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Stout
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Fisher
Round
2
Stout’s hands look quicker early in the second, but it’s
the footwork and counterpunching of Fisher getting the better,
particularly his lead left. Hooks and straight lefts continue
to snap back the head of Stout, who is pulling up short on combinations
and having trouble keeping balance as Fisher catches his low
kicks. Fisher lands a solid kick to the body but Fisher responds
right away with a clean one-two. Stout gets on his bike, bouncing
backward and trying to lure Fisher in. Fisher keeps coming forward
and catches Stout low with a kick to the cup. Stout is back to
work quickly and hits a nice double-leg with a minute to go.
Stout doesn’t do as much damage with this late takedown
as he did in the opening frame, but he does finish the round
on top.
TJ
De Santis scores the round 10-9 Stout
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Fisher
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Stout
Round
3
Fisher is on the attack to begin the third round, trying to further
mark up the face of Stout with his lead left. Stout gets a waistlock
and puts some strenuous effort into trying to trip Fisher down,
but it doesn’t work. Fisher comes forward again, landing
a short right hook and a left straight. They trade hooks inside
and it’s back to moving backward for Stout. The lead hand
of Fisher is getting off better, and even a right cross from
“The King” snaps back Stout’s head. Stout, for
his part, lands a few good kicks to the body and occasionally
comes through with a counter, but Fisher is in control on the
feet. Continuing the pattern from rounds one and two, Stout lands
a takedown, this time with 2:00 on the clock. Fisher uses the
fence post to work his way up quicker this time, and he’s
soon pressing in on Stout again. Another high double-leg from
Stout yields another takedown, but ref Kevin Mulhall wants them
up with 30 seconds to go. Stout really busts up the nose of Fisher
in the last half-minute, getting the better of the punching exchange
by repeatedly sticking Fisher with his right hand.
TJ
De Santis scores the round 10-9 Stout (30-27 Stout)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Stout (29-28 Stout)
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-10 (29-29 Draw)
Official
result: All three judges score the bout 30-27 for the winner
by unanimous decision, Sam Stout.
Gray
Maynard vs. Clay Guida
Round
1
Guida hops and bounces forward, twitching and rattling off punches
from awkward angles while keeping Maynard on his back foot. Maynard
can only land single punches in between the frantic bursts of
activity from his opponent. Guida is showing some funky footwork,
ducking to one side and the other while he stands in front of
Maynard, baiting him to strike. Maynard does reverse trajectory
and start moving forward midway through the round, but it doesn’t
last long. Guida is able to sidestep a number of combos from
Maynard, throwing at least two punches on his way out of each
exchange. Some inside leg kicks from Guida and he loads up for
a wild overhand right which is deflected.
TJ
De Santis scores the round 10-9 Guida
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Guida
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Guida
Round
2
Maynard catches a finger to the eye early in round two, he only
needs a few seconds to recover while Guida is warned by ref Dan
Miragliotta. Guida is still escaping the wide punches of Maynard
and tagging the ex-title challenger with quick counters. Maynard
adds some leg kicks but Guida is keeping a busy pace off his
back foot; Maynard’s offense slows as he’s forced to
chase after his man. Maynard takes some more snappy punches from
Guida but he’s cutting off angles, not letting Guida run
amok. Guida keeps on the outside, staying busy with clusters
of punches and even a high kick that sees his foot smack off
Maynard’s head.
TJ
De Santis scores the round 10-9 Guida
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Guida
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Guida
Round
3
Maynard is the aggressor early, and he comes straight toward
Guida with a slugging right cross. Guida stays up and hops away,
keeping punches in his opponent’s face, but losing a bit
of his range now. Guida sticks some jabs and starts showboating,
running in place and pumping more punches Maynard’s way.
A double-leg attempt from Maynard won’t go, as Guida sprawls
into the fence. Maynard misses with an uppercut and throws up
his arms in frustration when Guida backpedals away. Guida is
moving backward so fast that Maynard completely whiffs when he
blitzes with a series of punches. A frustrated Maynard flips
a middle finger toward Guida, who keeps moving backward, ducking
in and out while slinging long punches. Maynard tries a takedown,
can’t get it and lands some knees in the clinch instead
before splitting off.
TJ
De Santis scores the round 10-9 Guida
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Guida
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Guida
Round
4
Guida takes the outside again, bounding around the perimeter
while Maynard gives chase. Maynard takes a few zippy punches
from Guida before grabbing the Thai plum and drilling a pair
of knees to the body. Guida appears to motion toward his hair
to ref Miragliotta. Still giving chase, Maynard grazes with looping
punches but can’t get close enough to the perpetually moving
Guida to score with any power. Boos rain down from the New Jersey
audience as Guida keeps circling away. A right uppercut from
Maynard seems to stumble Guida, but Maynard can’t follow
up. With 70 seconds to go, Maynard steps inside and roughs up
Guida in the clinch. Maynard looks furious, walking toward and
jawing at Guida with his hands down. Guida lands a hard right
hook and Maynard pulls guard with a tight guillotine choke which
Guida slams his way out of.
TJ
De Santis scores the round 10-9 Maynard
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Maynard
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Maynard
Round
5
Maynard keeps aggressive at the start of round three, his hands
at his waist as he walks down Guida. Maynard’s right hands
are finding a home now, but it’s a high kick and left hook
from Guida which has Maynard looking a bit dazed. Maynard stays
up, though, and keeps chasing down Guida, trying to shorten the
angles for “The Carpenter.” Guida completely sidesteps
a shot from Maynard, who dives into the canvas. Guida’s
counterpunches have slowed and referee Miragliotta pauses the
action to sternly warn Guida about his inactivity. Maynard grabs
hold of Guida’s ankle and digs for a takedown against the
fence with 70 seconds left in the bout. Guida digs an underhook
and goes to a knee, preventing the completion of the takedown
but absorbing knees to the body in the process. Maynard tries
some knees in the clinch as they stand back up. The crowd jeers
as the bout ends without any further engaging on the feet.
TJ
De Santis scores the round 10-9 Maynard (48-47 Guida)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Maynard (48-47 Guida)
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Maynard (48-47 Guida)
Official
result: Judge Eric Colon scores the bout 48-47 for Maynard, while
judge Jose Tabora sees it 48-47 for Guida. Judge Sue Sanidad
has it 48-47 for the winner by split decision, Gray Maynard.
Source: Sherdog
|
UFC
147
Date: Saturday,
June 23rd
Venue: Mineirinho Gym (Belo Horizonte, Brazil)
TV: PPV
Dark
matches
Featherweights:
Felipe Arantes vs. Milton Vieira
Featherweights: Marcos Vinicius vs. Wagner Campos
Middleweights: Thiago Perpetuo vs. Leonardo Mafra
Featherweights: John Teixeira vs. Hugo Viana
Middleweights: Delson Heleno vs. Francisco Trinaldo
Featherweights: Anistavio Medeiros vs. Rodrigo Damm
Main card
Featherweights:
Hacran Dias (+215) vs. Yuri Alcantara (-280, 14 to 5 favorite)
Featherweights: Godofredo Pepey (+220) vs. Rony Mariano Bezerra
(-300, 3 to 1 favorite)
Welterweights: Cezar Ferreira (-260, 13 to 5 favorite) vs. Sergio
Moraes (+200)
Heavyweights: Fabricio Werdum (-500, 5 to 1 favorite) vs. Mike
Russow (+400)
Catch weight (195 pounds): Rich Franklin (-170) vs. Wanderlei
Silva (+150)
Source: Fight Opinion
|
M-1
GLOBAL: FEDOR VS. RIZZO RESULTS
By Mike
Chiappetta - Senior Writer
MMA
Fighting has M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Rizzo results for all of the
main card fights at the Ice Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia.
The
event may feature the last bout of heavyweight great Fedor Emelianenko,
who has hinted at possible retirement. He'll be facing former
Brazilian veteran Pedro Rizzo in the show's main event.
Check
out the full results below.
Main
Card
Fedor Emelianenko def. Pedro Rizzo via KO, Rd. 1 (1:24)
Kenny Garner def. Guram Gugenishvili via TKO (doctor's stoppage),
Rd. 3 (5:00)
Musa Khamanaev def. Daniel Weichel via heel hook submission,
Rd. 1 (1:48)
Jeff Monson def. Denis Komkin via north-south choke submission,
Rd.1 (1:58)
Marat Gafurov def. Mairbek Taisumov via split decision
Mikhail Malyutin def. Renat Gasanov via TKO, Rd. 1 (4:16)
Source:
MMA Fighting
|
REPORT:
FEDOR EMELIANENKO ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT AFTER KO WIN
By Mike
Chiappetta - Senior Writer
After
playing coy about his future plans in the leadup to his M-1 Global
fight, Fedor Emelianenko has made the decision to retire, according
to multiple Russian news outlets.
In
comments made after knocking out Pedro Rizzo, Emelianenko announced
that at the age of 35, he will call a halt to a legendary mixed
martial arts career.
"I
think it is time I quit," Emelianenko said, according to
the Russian news site Ria Novosti. "My family influenced
my decision. My daughters are growing without me, that's why
it's time to leave."
Emelianenko
(34-4, 1 no contest) had previously voiced the possibility after
recent fights, and prior to this one, said it would most likely
be his last cage encounter. The evening gave off the vibe of
a sendoff, with the sold-out crowd at the Ice Palace in St. Petersburg
offering massive ovations at his entrance and introduction, and
upon his knockout victory. After the fight, the Russian was mobbed
by family and congratulated by Russian president Vladimir Putin,
who was in attendance. According to one report, the fans, sensing
it was indeed his last match, implored him to continue competing,
chanting "Do not go!"
While
Emelianenko has in recent years come to serve as a divisive figure
of debate because of his continued refusal to accept a UFC contract
and face some of the sport's best heavyweights, his resume still
stands as one of the most impressive the sport has ever seen.
He
boasts career wins over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Mirko Cro
Cop when both were at the height of their careers, and he also
authored a 28-fight unbeaten stretch, one of the longest such
streaks in the sport's history.
Fighting
as an undersized heavyweight at just 6-feet tall and 230 pounds,
Emelianenko consistently defeated larger competition, using a
seemingly unstoppable combination of hand speed, aggressiveness
and ground savvy.
Despite
the debate about him, among the long list of notable combat sports
athletes who have called him the greatest or among the best ever
include current UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos, current
welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre, B.J. Penn, Randy Couture
and boxer Mike Tyson.
In
2007, Emelianenko became the most sought-after free agent in
the sport, but despite being courted by the UFC, he spurned them
in order to co-promote events with his M-1 organization. In 2009,
after two knockout wins in Affliction, he again became a free
agent but once again looked elsewhere, signing with Strikeforce.
In
his first fight in the promotion, he knocked out Brett Rogers,
but the next time out, he was upset by Fabricio Werdum, marking
his first defeat in nearly a decade. That was followed by consecutive
losses to Antonio Silva and Dan Henderson. With three losses
in a row, his Strikeforce career came to an end, and Emelianenko
contemplated retirement, but fought on.
In
his post-fight comments, he said he harbors no thoughts of avenging
his previous defeats, and retires with a clear conscience. While
he will continue to compete in combat sambo, he's done in MMA,
leaving on the strength of a three-fight win streak, with his
final one marking his 23rd career first-round stoppage victory.
Source:
MMA Fighting
|
Clay
Guida Says ‘Running Through Gray Maynard’ is the Path
to a Title Shot
by Damon
Martin
The
perpetual contender.
It
could be the best way to describe UFC on FX 4 main event fighter
Clay Guida, who has been at or near the top of the lightweight
division race for years, but never quite made it to the summit.
As
hard of a worker as you’ll ever find in MMA, Guida has faced
some of the stiffest competition the UFC could throw at him since
day one and he’s never backed down from a challenge.
He
holds wins over the two men currently sitting atop the contender’s
race right now in Nate Diaz and Anthony Pettis, but Guida still
hasn’t been able to secure that elusive title shot for himself.
So
what will it take for Guida to finally reach that peak in the
lightweight division?
“Running
through Gray Maynard,” Guida said when speaking to MMAWeekly
Radio. “He was the No. 1 contender for how long, probably
two years. I had him No. 2 in the lightweight division all over
the world for a couple years, and he had one of the wildest trilogies
in MMA, let alone in the lightweight division with Frankie Edgar
and he beat Frankie once, they had a draw, and he came up short
on one fight.
“He’s
always up there. He’s one of the only guys to have beaten
Frankie besides Benson Henderson. That says a lot about my opponent
and a win over him gets me right back in title contention I believe.”
Maynard
is of course coming off a very tough loss to Frankie Edgar in
October 2011, which wrapped up their series of fights, leaving
the former Michigan State wrestler without a title and handing
him the first loss of his professional fighting career.
When
the fight was over, Maynard was left in a bit of disarray, spending
the better part of a year training and facing Edgar only to walk
away without a world title to show for his hard work.
Following
the loss, Maynard picked up everything and left his home in Las
Vegas for the equally sunny skies of California where he teamed
up with the trainers at American Kickboxing Academy.
While
the move is a no-brainer in terms of the quality work he’ll
get with coaches and teammates, Guida has gone through a similar
situation when he left his home camp in Chicago and moved to
New Mexico to begin work with famed trainer Greg Jackson and
his team.
Guida
now feels right at home with his team in New Mexico, but he knew
going in that no one gets adjusted without a few growing pains.
These are the issues that Guida believes Maynard may be going
through as he gets ready for their showdown on June 22 in Atlantic
City.
“I
don’t think everyone hits the ground running right away.
You’re away from your family, you’re away from your
friends, things like that, things that you’re used to, you’re
out of your comfort zone,” said Guida.
“Look
at Georges St-Pierre, he was with Greg (Jackson) and lost to
Matt Serra, and then went on a tear from there. His first fight
he lost at Jackson’s camp and stuff, it takes some people
some time to adjust.”
Adjustment
period or not, Guida is expecting to face the absolute best Gray
Maynard the world has ever seen. He’s preparing for 25 minutes
of hell against the former Ultimate Fighter competitor, and that’s
just the way Guida likes it.
“This
is definitely tailor made for me,” said Guida. “That’s
one thing when we asked for Gray Maynard, we asked for a five-round
main event because we know it plays into our cards better. The
fans win in this one; the UFC wins in this one.”
The
biggest win would obviously be for Clay Guida, who could vault
near the top of the division with a victory over Maynard and
given his history in the division, it would be hard to argue
against a top ranking when Friday night in Atlantic City is over.
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
“Juggler”
Bráulio Estima offers pointer on getting your BJJ to progress
Marcelo
Dunlop
Current
ADCC superchamp Bráulio Estima is one of the stars of
the latest issue of GRACIEMAG lighting up news stands, bookstores
and academies across Brazil and the world. Besides serving up
the most spectacular Jiu-Jitsu photos, issue 184 brings readers
an instructive Triangle Dossier for you to polish up your triangle
choke. Waste no time and get your hands on yours today.
The
Jiu-Jitsu professor at Gracie Barra was also responsible for
one of the better comments to arise at the last Jiu-Jitsu World
Championship, during the live Budo Videos broadcast. Between
explanations of the move unfolding on the mats at the Long Beach
Pyramid, “Carcará” shared the following lesson:
“Being a Jiu-Jitsu fighter is like being a drummer. To truly
become skillful, you need to put in many hours of dedication
and train every day, so many are the variations and technical
details involved.”
We
had a quick chat with Bráulio on the guard, the 2012 Worlds,
Rodolfo Vieira and his MMA debut, as well as about music and
juggling. Take a look at the following interview to see what
we’re talking about:
How
many hours (or years) of Jiu-Jitsu does a practitioner need to
put in to get good?
Look,
some athletes have an easier time of assimilating positions and
adapting to situations, and that’s why it’s hard to
make a sweeping statement in this regard. It also depends on
the quality of training you do during the hours you put in. The
thing is that you can’t cut corners in doing repetitions
or specific training, otherwise you won’t get the positions
down pat in able time. Hundreds, thousands of repetitions—the
more the better. To answer your question, I believe that seven
well used years is the ideal time for you to get good (in my
understanding of good, of course).
What’s
your method for training for progress in the gentle art?
One
measurement I like employing is to see how much control over
my opponent I can maintain while transitioning from one hold
to another … For example, I try advancing in my game while
neutralizing everything my opponent throws my way in terms of
danger. And I go several steps ahead on him why annulling all
the risks he offers me. That’s my objective in training
these days.
You
compared fighting to music. So Jiu-Jitsu should be seen as an
art? How do you get students to see it that way?
I
like comparing a Jiu-Jitsu practitioner’s evolution to juggling.
There’s no way you can start with five pins. First you start
with two, three, and keep going from there. Take side-control,
for instance. Each point of reference is a pin: the hip, neck,
elbow, etc. The more “pins” you can keep under control
at the same time as you move and advance toward the final objective
the better juggler/fighter you’ll be.
You
mentioned seven years. That’s not that long but a lot of
folks give up along the way. What was your trick?
I
always try making my training interesting. I’m a discoverer
by nature; I really like trying new things and finding variations.
That way you never lose your desire to go to the academy. To
this day I still feel butterflies in my stomach before training,
just for the fact that I can’t wait to try something or
the other out. That way, your trajectory becomes more productive
and never gets you bored. Try doing new things; that way you’ll
put more intensity into training.
What
does seeking variations in your training mean, exactly?
The
trick is to try and identify the key parts of each position and
apply them in similar or even distinct situations. That way new
positions arise the whole time, at the same time improving even
more the the same positions I always used. I discovered that
there’s a similarity in the underlying mechanics of the
positions, in the way you think when executing the moves, and
finding these common points means finding shortcuts. That was
pretty philosophical, huh? (Laughs) That’s that’s that,
a kind of crazy process.
On
the @graciemag_br Twitter account we asked the people if they’d
rather have your guard or Rodolfo Vieira’s pass, if they
could pick. When are you two going to fight again?
I
really like the way I fight, and I admire the way Rodolfo passes
guard—he’s phenomenal. I’d really like to add
some of his passes to my arsenal, and some of his bottom positions
too. But if I could pick, I’d stick with my guard, because
of the fact that on bottom you can always threaten with the finish.
A new fight between us would be awesome. We only faced each other
once, in Abu Dhabi. Rodolfo is very active and dangerous. Next
year I intend to compete at all the Jiu-Jitsu tourneys, from
Abu Dhabi to California and may the Euro, so we should meet up.
He deserves everything he’s achieved. He’s good, humble
people.
Any
word on your MMA debut?
Soon,
soon. I’m going to train with the Blackzilians from July
until my debut, which will probably be in August. It’s been
hard finding an opponent for me, but this time it’ll happen,
otherwise I’ll just focus on Jiu-Jitsu and the ADCC.
Source:
Gracie Magazine
|
Opportunity
Knocked, and Sergio Moraes Answered
By Carlos
Eduardo Ozorio / Translation Munique Bohnke
"Everybody
who was in the house has to be congratulated and they are men
of their word. Now it is time to make our path outside.”
- Sergio Moraes
TUF
Brazil finalist Sergio Moraes
Sergio
Moraes almost couldn’t believe it when he heard that he
was getting a chance to face Cezar “Mutante” Ferreira
at UFC 147 this Saturday in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
Eliminated
in the semifinals of The Ultimate Fighter Brazil by Daniel Sarafian,
Serginho got the news that Ferreira’s opponent on the show,
Sarafian, was not able to fight in the final of the show. Later,
during a camp in Curitiba, where he was taking the opportunity
to improve his Muay Thai, the fighter accepted the chance to
step in and fight against “Mutante” on the spot. Now
he will be on the main card, again with the chance to achieve
his dream, a contract with the UFC.
Coming
from a humble childhood and raised in a poor community in São
Paulo, Moraes started to have contact with fighting through capoeira
and jiu-jitsu, in which he has already won the world title three
times. But it’s the contract with the UFC that means a change
for his family, and the situation that put him in the finals
was a surprise he’s grateful for.
“I would never want for Sarafian to get hurt, because he
earned his spot in the final, but it happened and I was already
training hard. I went to Curitiba to work on my standup game,
and when I heard I was going to face ‘Mutante,’ I intensified
my training even more,” he says.
On
TUF, Moraes was knocked out by Sarafian, and the setback made
him realize the importance of improving in other areas of MMA,
and for that, he counted on some strong help.
‘I
trained with André Dida and Mauricio Shogun’s team.
When I got on the reality show, I was thinking about the jiu-jitsu
world championship, and I wasn’t training my MMA game up.
As soon as I left the house, I could only think about correcting
my mistakes. My defeat happened, but I quickly raised my head
and thought of a better way to work on my flaws. The opportunity
of working with Shogun and Dida came, and everybody knows that
Curitiba is the birthplace of the best stand up athletes,”
he said.
His
participation on TUF gave Moraes distinct experiences. There,
Serginho lived through so many things, including the thrill of
the victory and the sadness of elimination. Now, the black belt
feels like a more mature and well prepared fighter.
“It
was a new experience. We were living next to our opponents and
even the training partners could turn into our opponents in a
minute. We had to make weight three times in a month. These are
very different situations and I think we left there ready for
anything. Everybody who was in the house has to be congratulated
and they are men of their word. Now it is time to make our path
outside,” said Moraes, who continues:
“Today,
I see myself as a more complete fighter. Of course my main skill
is jiu-jitsu, but I’m good in any situation. I think I’m
ready to trade with “Mutante,” and I’m in no hurry
to go to the ground. If the fight happens standing up, that’s
how it’s going to be.”
In
three fights on TUF Brazil, Ferreira won by submission twice
and knockout once. On his 4-2 pre-TUF record, he has three knockouts
and one submission, and in his losses, he was submitted and knocked
out. So, if you take into consideration these statistics, none
of Ferreira’s fights went to a decision, and while he is
very dangerous, he leaves some gaps. Moraes isn’t concerned
about the numbers though. He just sees a very exciting fight
with a tough opponent, but not an unbeatable one.
“He
is a new athlete in MMA,” said Moraes. “He is not a
specialist in any area, but he does well in several areas. Since
the beginning he got used to training a little bit of everything.
He is a modern athlete, well rounded.”
Source:
UFC
|
JOSE
ALDO TARGETING OCTOBER RETURN
By Ariel
Helwani - Video Reporter and Writer
Jose
Aldo is looking to fight at least one more time this year.
According
to Andre Pederneiras, Aldo's manager and trainer at Nova Uniao
in Brazil, the UFC featherweight champion is hoping to return
to action in October following a left leg injury. Pederneiras
recently told MMAFighting.com that Aldo will not require surgery
on the left leg he injured in training, which forced him to pull
out of his UFC 149 title fight against Erik Koch two weeks ago.
Aldo
is currently undergoing physical therapy in Brazil and will meet
with a doctor next week to reevaluate the leg.
Whenever
he is ready to return, Aldo will fight Koch for the title, as
the latter has decided to wait for the title shot he was promised
by the UFC, according to his manager Mike Roberts.
This
marks the third in less than two years that Aldo, 25, has had
to delay a title fight due to various injuries.
Source:
MMA Fighting
|
Article:
Physiotherapist explains Nogueira’s injury
By Angela
Cortes*
It
was officially announced, on the 16th, that Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro”
Nogueira is out of UFC 149, which will take place in Calgary,
Canada. We, that know the professional journey and history of
this athlete know how hard it is for him to decide not to do
what he loves most, which is fighting. But an athlete has to
be 100 percent to fight, you cannot have it halfway, after all
there are two men in the cage fighting for a good outcome.
Rodrigo
Minotauro has been evolving a lot. Six weeks before the fight,
he was been training hard and getting prepared for his opponent.
On the last days, he intensified his conditioning with strengthen
and resistance trainings, reinforced the specific trainings and
was doing his physiotherapy sessions to prevent injuries. The
goals set for him to reach the top have been reached, but during
an intense sparring training session, Rodrigo felt something
was weird and was the arm which has been operated hurt a lot,
caused by the falls and the impacts from the punches on the area
where there is the compression slab and pins that get it stuck
to the bones.
This
new fact, result of the intensification of the trainings on the
preparation for the fight, made him think about if it was not
too soon for him to comeback in July, since this injury prevents
him from being at his best shape. For this reason and mainly
in respect to the sport and its thousands of fans, Rodrigo Nogueira
asked for a postponement.
From
this Monday on, his bout is not in the octagons, but on conditioning,
moderated specific trainings and physiotherapy sessions to prevent
injuries on daily basis with the purpose o getting him as ready
as possible for his next challenge. Surgery after surgery, many
physiotherapy hours on the last 18 months, since January 2011,
when we started this work on his hip, what I can say to all that
like the sport or have been through recoveries and know how hard
is to get back on your feet, is that Nogueira still is a winner.
He still does his daily rehabilitation and, acing many obstacles,
remains motivated to do his best and has a big smile on his face.
That is why he still is a great overcoming role model to all
of us and he will be ready for his next fight soon!
*
Angela Cortes has been a physiotherapist for 17 years, graduated
at Universidade Catolica de Petropolis, specialized in Neurological
and Sports Physiotherapy. In 2010/2011 joined a study at Steadman
Clinic and Howard Head Sports Medicine Center in Vail, Colorado.
She is responsible for many patients and, in 2011, for the comeback
of former Pride and UFC champion Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro”
Nogueira.
Source:
Tatame
|
In
Signing Wrestling Champ Shawn Bunch, Bellator Listened to King
Mo, Ben Askren
Shawn
Bunch has never fought in MMA, but Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney
jumped at the chance to sign the standout wrestler after hearing
high praise from fellow Bellator competitors Muhammed “King
Mo” Lawal and Ben Askren.
“Basically
it boils down to my trust of King Mo and Ben Askren and their
read on a guy and his ability to mature in our sport very quickly
because of his skill set, his athleticism, his heart, et cetera,”
Rebney told the Sherdog Radio Network’s “Beatdown”
show. “Both of them called me on this kid. When he got the
bad decision in New York in Times Square and didn’t end
up making the Olympic team -- he was legitimately a medal hopeful
for this country -- they both reached out, literally within about
a half hour, and said this kid has got amazing potential and
he’s hugely driven and his athleticism and his quickness,
his explosiveness is something we haven’t seen before in
those lower weight divisions.”
Bellator
announced the signing of Bunch on Monday. He is a former U.S.
National champion in freestyle wrestling, but he’s also
been training in MMA, where he is expected to compete at 135
pounds.
“You’re
talking about a world-class athlete,” Rebney said. “You’re
talking about a guy who has competed at the very, very highest
level in a sport that I think we can all agree makes the most
seamless transition into mixed martial arts.”
Wrestlers
have had plenty of success in Bellator. Askren is one example:
A former U.S. Olympian, he joined the promotion with just three
fights under his belt, has gone undefeated and is the current
welterweight champion. Of course, Bunch has not fought even once.
“We’ve
got a developmental process,” Rebney said. “We’ve
got about 25 events next year. We thought we’d team up with
Shawn and try to develop him as opposed to waiting for him to
get four or five fights under his resume and see where he is
from there. … The consensus opinion was this guy’s
got the opportunity to be something really explosive in short
order. You try to put that [Michael] Chandler-Askren model in
place and see if he can actually do it that quick. We’ll
see. We’ll all get to watch it unfold together.”
Bunch
is expected to make a quick rise, but Bellator doesn’t plan
on debuting him on national television.
“He’ll
be part of a Spike.com show here and there,” Rebney said.
“He’ll get developmental bouts on undercards. We’re
not going to take Shawn and suddenly throw him in against Eduardo
Dantas, but the development is going to be there. … We’ll
get to see it on Spike.com, and then when the time’s right,
we’ll make that jump to Spike network. … We’re
going to take nice, slow, methodical steps to develop him underneath
this banner. Hopefully what we come out with is a Ben Askren,
we come out with a Mike Chandler, we come out with a Pat Curran.
[Hopefully] that’s the maturation he follows, but we’ll
all see whether it succeeds or doesn’t.”
Source
Sherdog
|
Is
Ronda Rousey Correct? Will Women Find a Way into the UFC?
by Ken
Pishna
Will
we see the day when women will be fighting in the UFC Octagon?
That
is the million dollar question, but the simple answer, at least
in the near term, is no.
Even
with all the attention that Ronda Rousey has brought to the women’s
side of the sport with promotional prowess outside the cage that
are matched only by her bone crunching abilities inside the cage,
it’s not going to be enough.
Still,
Rousey seems to think it could happen.
“I
think it is a distinct possibility,” Rousey said on UFC
Tonight on Tuesday when asked about women fighting in the UFC.
“Women are tough. We are clever. We are going to find a
way to get anywhere. You can’t stop us.”
She’s
probably correct that women will find a way into the Octagon…
one day. But whether or not it will happen during Rousey’s
career remains to be seen.
The
general consensus is that the talent pool on the women’s
side of the sport just isn’t currently deep enough to carry
the weight of even one long-term competitive division.
“I
love the idea (of women fighting in the UFC), but it is not going
to happen. Not in the near future anyhow,” said UFC Tonight’s
Kenny Florian. “There are not enough high level female fighters
in each weight class. UFC is all about building stars up and
if they only have one fight and that’s it, they can’t
do that.”cia Rijker
UFC
president Dana White has long agreed with Florian’s point.
In fact, as much as he thinks that Rousey could be one of the
best female fighters to ever grace mixed martial arts, he’s
not even sure that there are enough high-level opponents to keep
the Strikeforce 135-pound champ busy much longer. And that’s
just one weight class.
“She’s
a rock star,” White said. “She’s been fantastic.
She’s been killing it for us. I just hope that we can get
some really good fights for her.”
Rousey
has a fight coming up in August with Sarah Kaufman. That fight
isn’t likely to be an easy one, but should she get past
Kaufman, Rousey would cement a spot at the top of the heap.
But
if she is successful, what’s next?
“Unfortunately
I think (Rousey) is going to be the Lucia Rijker of MMA. She’s
the female boxer that was really the best in the world. You heard
of Christie Martin and Laila Ali and all these other people,
they wouldn’t fight her. Nobody wanted to fight Lucia Rijker.
She was sparring with guys. She was probably the best female
boxer ever and nobody knows who the hell she is.”
There
are really no clear contenders following the Rousey vs. Kaufman
fight, other than rematches with the likes of Miesha Tate. That
doesn’t really constitute a deep talent pool. And as long
as the women are swimming in the shallow end, the UFC isn’t
likely to take a chance on them in the Octagon.
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
UFC
on FX 4 ‘Maynard vs. Guida’ Preview
By Tristen
Critchfield
When
you are a top-tier lightweight employed by the Ultimate Fighting
Championship, there is no such thing as a breather. Case in point:
the UFC on FX 4 headliner, which pits Gray Maynard against Clay
Guida on Friday at the Revel Casino in Atlantic City, N.J.
Maynard
and Guida are coming off losses, but there is no shame in their
setbacks considering the level of competition. “The Bully”
fell short in his third bout against former champion Frankie
Edgar at UFC 136, while “The Carpenter” lost a spirited
decision to current titleholder Benson Henderson at UFC on Fox
1.
While
both men are well-established contenders, a loss could seriously
damage the title hopes for either of them given the depth of
the 155-pound division. There is plenty at stake, and that makes
for good MMA viewing.
Here
is a closer look at the UFC on FX 4 “Maynard vs. Guida,”
with analysis and picks:
Lightweights
Gray
Maynard (10-1-1, 1 NC, 8-1-1, 1 NC, UFC) vs. Clay Guida (29-12,
9-6 UFC)
The
Matchup: For the first time since August 2010, Maynard will be
facing someone other than Edgar in the Octagon. The results of
his last two bouts with “The Answer” ultimately proved
to be unsatisfying, as Maynard started quickly but was unable
to dethrone the then-lightweight champion on either occasion.
Guida
came up short against Henderson in No. 1 contender’s bout
at UFC on Fox 1 in a rollicking three-round affair that could
have added some much needed substance to that historic broadcast.
With that in mind, it appears neither man has drifted too far
from the championship course; an impressive victory here would
serve to keep either one in the top contender discussion.
Long
bouts have often been the norm for these UFC veterans, as both
Guida and Maynard have hovered just below 15 minutes per fight
during their careers. An extended battle appears likely here,
as well, especially since the matchup features a pair of lightweights
who often rely on a stout wrestling base to succeed.
Though
Maynard has more power in his hands than Guida, a knockout victory
by “The Bully” seems highly unlikely. Guida has proven
to be ultra-durable over the years -- he survived a first-round
swarm from Henderson in his last outing -- and has never been
knocked out in 41 professional fights. The Chicagoan is most
susceptible to a strong submission game, which is not a forte
of Maynard’s. Even so, Guida’s jiu-jitsu has improved
by leaps and bounds since joining forces with Jackson’s
Mixed Martial Arts.
Guida
will have to be on alert early because Maynard can hurt him with
his left hook or right uppercut, although sealing the deal has
been another issue entirely for “The Ultimate Fighter 5”
alum. While not as technically skilled on the feet as Edgar --
he confounded Maynard with good footwork and lateral movement
-- Guida’s seemingly bottomless gas tank figures to test
his opponent as the fight enters the later stages.
The
striking of “The Carpenter” relies on awkward movement
and quick punches; the Jackson’s MMA product is aware of
his limitations on the feet and does not usually take unnecessary
risks. Meanwhile, Maynard’s tendency to throw looping strikes
leaves him open to be countered. If Guida can avoid the left
hook and follow up with combinations, it will set up his shot
nicely. On its own, a takedown is not likely to succeed against
the solid defense and physical strength of Maynard.
Conversely,
Guida’s relentless pace and constant motion figure to cause
some problems for Maynard, who tends to be conservative in top
position. While Maynard is a master at landing controlled ground-and-pound
and maintaining posture, Guida will be extremely difficult to
keep down, and he usually gets the best of scrambles and transitions.
In a back-and-forth battle on the canvas, it is Guida who is
more likely to pull off a submission.
There
is a decent chance that takedowns will be limited given the solid
wrestling of both competitors. It then comes down to who can
wear down whom in clinches. Guida should look to be the initiator
and make Maynard fight with his back against the fence. Otherwise,
“The Bully” will follow Henderson’s lead and score
points with knees and dirty boxing.
The
Pick: Maynard, as has been his M.O. of late, will start strong,
landing the more significant strikes and controlling the action
in tie-ups. Guida will not be going anywhere, however, and as
the bout proceeds to the championship rounds, his unique rhythm
and pace will wear down his adversary. This bout could swing
on one key moment: a takedown, a solid combination, a reversal
or submission attempt. A flurry of energy down the stretch gives
Guida what he needs to earn a split decision.
Lightweights
Sam
Stout (17-7-1, 6-6 UFC) vs. Spencer Fisher (24-8, 9-7 UFC)
The
Matchup: Some things are just meant to be. In the lightweight
big picture, a third Stout-Fisher meeting does not mean a whole
lot. In terms of entertainment value, however, few fights have
delivered like the first two matchups between “Hands of
Stone” and “The King.” The third could provide
some nice closure to their rivalry and potentially bring out
the best in them one more time.
Stout
did not get going until it was too late in his most recent bout
against Thiago Tavares at UFC 142, resulting in a decision loss
for the Canadian. The setback came under the most extenuating
of circumstances, as Stout was fighting for the first time since
the death of his coach and mentor, Shawn Tompkins. Although it
seems like he has been around forever, Stout was just 21 years
old when he made his Octagon debut against Fisher at UFC 58.
He has been plagued by inconsistency -- Stout has never won more
than two straight fights in the UFC -- but remains in the prime
of his career at 28.
The
36-year-old Fisher, meanwhile, has lost four of his last five
Octagon appearances, and it appears that injuries and time have
taken their toll on the Team Miletich standout. The first two
battles between Stout and Fisher were characterized by their
ability to absorb tremendous amounts of punishment; it remains
to be seen if Fisher can survive a similar type of fight this
time around.
Working
in his favor is the fact that Stout is not the top-control grappler
that usually gives Fisher problems. The Canadian would prefer
to keep the action upright and put his smooth muay Thai to work.
Stout mixes punches and kicks in his combinations and is equally
comfortable attacking the head, body or legs of his opponents.
In the pocket, he lands with volume and accuracy; his body punches
can be especially devastating. That said, save for his one-punch
knockout of Yves Edwards at UFC 131, Stout is not known for numbing
power.
Fisher
generally connects with more force behind his punches, and he
is always ready and willing to put his versatile striking to
use in a brawl. Fisher will have to maintain solid lateral movement
and make good use of counters to capture the rubber match; otherwise
Stout will land with variety and rack up the points.
The
Pick: Stout seems to have more left in the tank these days than
his old rival. There will be some high-energy exchanges, but
Stout will land with more volume en route to a decision victory.
Welterweights
Brian
Ebersole (49-14-1, 3-0 UFC) vs. T.J. Waldburger (15-6, 3-1 UFC)
The
Matchup: Ebersole looks to add to his 10-fight winning streak
against Waldburger, a slick grappler with prolific submission
ability. A 65-fight veteran, Ebersole has already proven he can
hold his own with ground specialists during his brief UFC tenure,
surviving precarious positions in victories against the likes
of Chris Lytle and Claude Patrick.
Waldburger
has won three of four in the Octagon; his lone defeat came at
the hands of top welterweight contender Johny Hendricks via first-round
knockout. With five of his six career defeats coming in similar
fashion, the Texan’s chin has proven to be somewhat suspect.
It should not be too much of an issue against Ebersole, a former
collegiate wrestler who uses his standup primarily to initiate
clinches and set up takedowns. Waldburger will want to follow
a similar game plan, and much of his success rides on his ability
to make the wrestler fight from his back.
The
former Shark Fights 170-pound champion has shown just enough
striking to keep his foes off balance, landing a counter left
hand to set up a body lock takedown versus Jake Hecht at UFC
on FX 2 and connecting with a low kick before taking Mike Stumpf’s
back at UFC Fight Night 25. Ebersole, with a vast array of experience
against foes of all sizes, is far more seasoned than most of
Waldburger’s UFC competition to date, however.
Ebersole’s
wrestling is his trump card, and he has also proven himself capable
of reversing position when he finds himself on bottom. Look for
Ebersole to be effective in the clinch, as well, softening up
Waldburger with elbows, punches and knees before forcing the
action to the mat for some ground-and-pound.
The
Pick: Waldburger will need to be active off his back, but Ebersole
is smart enough not to get caught in anything serious. He wins
by stoppage in round three.
Featherweights
Cub
Swanson (16-5, 1-1 UFC) vs. Ross Pearson (13-5, 5-2)
The
Matchup: This looks like a sneaky candidate for “Fight of
the Night,” as a pair of featherweights with entertaining
standup skills collide. After compiling a 4-2 record in the UFC
as a lightweight, Pearson made a successful 145-pound debut by
outpointing Junior Assuncao at UFC 141.
There
was a stretch in which Swanson endured as much injury misfortune
as anyone, with a broken jaw and a mouth infection combining
to keep him out for a year, from November 2010 to his return
at UFC on Fox 1. After a loss to Ricardo Lamas there, the Jackson’s
Mixed Martial Arts product rebounded with a resounding knockout
victory over George Roop at UFC on Fox 2.
Swanson
has made it clear that he prefers to entertain the fans with
his fights and would rather face opponents who are willing to
stand and trade with him. Pearson should be willing to oblige;
“The Ultimate Fighter 9” winner is known primarily
for his technical boxing. The Brit utilizes a sound jab and solid
footwork to rack up points standing, and his toughness -- witness
his decision setback to Edson Barboza -- allows him to engage
in fan-friendly slugfests.
Swanson
actually has a decent ground game. While not the most fundamentally
sound grappler, he has an active guard and is adept at creating
scrambles on the mat. That said, his overall athleticism gives
him confidence to unleash a varied striking attack that includes
flashy kicks and powerful punches. It was an overhand right that
sent Roop’s mouthpiece flying, and Swanson believes a recently
added strength-and-conditioning program has given his standup
some extra oomph.
Pearson,
while known as a boxer first, is capable of punctuating his combinations
with kicks to the legs and body. He is also a solid counterpuncher
who can capitalize on his opponent’s mistake should Swanson
become overly aggressive. Takedown defense is not Swanson’s
strong suit, and Pearson might be able to gain an advantage if
he can execute a few timely takedowns and work some disciplined
ground-and-pound.
The
Pick: Pearson has always been a tough out, but Swanson, after
a slip versus Lamas, has the look of a fighter who is making
up for lost time. When he harnesses his considerable athletic
ability, the Californian will be able to use movement and angles
to land his diversified arsenal and keep “The Real Deal”
guessing. Swanson wins by decision.
Featherweights
Hatsu
Hioki (26-4-2, 2-0 UFC) vs. Ricardo Lamas (11-2, 2-0 UFC): Despite
being regarded as one of the world’s top featherweights,
Hioki did not feel he was ready to take on reigning champion
Jose Aldo. Instead he gets Lamas, who has looked impressive since
dropping to 145 pounds upon entering the UFC. Lamas will try
to bang with Hioki early, but look for the Japanese standout
to close the distance, get takedowns and control the fight from
top position to capture a decision.
Lightweights
Ramsey
Nijem (5-2, 1-1 UFC) vs. C.J. Keith (8-0, 0-0 UFC): Nijem was
relentless in his domination of Daniel Downes at UFC 137, overwhelming
his foe with ground-and-pound and submission attempts on the
mat in taking a lopsided decision. Nijem’s striking is not
especially refined, but his aggressive wrestling will be enough
to ruin the Octagon debut of Keith. Nijem wins by second-round
submission.
Featherweights
Steven
Siler (20-9, 2-0 UFC) vs. Joey Gambino (9-0, 0-0 UFC): Although
most of his victories have come by way of submission, Siler chose
to avoid Cole Miller’s ground game and defeat the American
Top Team product by landing numerous combinations on the feet
in his most recent bout. Gambino is the reigning Cage Fury Fighting
Championships featherweight titleholder and has finished all
but one of his victims by knockout or submission. Siler will
use his length to dictate the action and win a decision.
Welterweights
Rick
Story (13-5, 6-3 UFC) vs. Brock Jardine (9-1, 0-0 UFC): A six-fight
winning streak had Story on the short list of top 170-pound contenders,
but the Washington native has come back to Earth after consecutive
losses to Charlie Brenneman and Martin Kampmann. After matchups
with Rich Attonito and Papy Abedi fell through, Story gets Jardine,
a former high school state wrestling champion with decent power
in his hands. Story is rugged and experienced enough to finish
Jardine, and he will do so with heavy strikes in round two.
Middleweights
Nick
Catone (9-2, 3-2 UFC) vs. Chris Camozzi (16-5, 3-2 UFC): Catone,
who has not fought since March 2011, will look to wear down Camozzi
with takedowns and ground-and-pound. The Coloradan will have
to use well-timed kicks to hinder Catone’s shots and keep
the fight upright. Ultimately, Camozzi’s takedown defense
will fail him, as Catone grinds his way to a decision or late
stoppage.
Welterweights
Matt
Brown (14-11, 7-5 UFC) vs. Luis Ramos (19-7, 0-1 UFC): Brown
exposed the much-hyped Steven Thompson at UFC 145, grounding
his opponent and battering him with strikes on the mat. “The
Ultimate Fighter 7” alum is not afraid to brawl, and Ramos
will have to be ready to counter Brown’s aggression at the
outset. The Brazilian should use combinations to set up takedowns,
allowing him to work his submission game from top position. Brown
wins by first-round technical knockout.
Welterweights
Dan
Miller (13-6, 1 NC, 5-5 UFC) vs. Ricardo Funch (8-3, 0-3 UFC):
Miller is durable and likes to move forward in order to dictate
the action. That should serve him well against Funch, who is
winless in three Octagon appearances. Funch will leave enough
openings for Miller to change levels and control the majority
of the fight from top position. Miller wins by decision.
Bantamweights
Dustin
Pague (11-5, 1-1 UFC) vs. Ken Stone (10-3, 1-2 UFC): Coming off
an impressive victory against Jared Papazian at UFC on FX 3,
Pague will look to earn his second victory in a two-week span.
Stone, meanwhile, is best known for being slammed into oblivion
by Eddie Wineland. Stone is a talented enough grappler to give
Pague a fight on the mat, but look for “The Disciple”
to ultimately keep his momentum going. Pague takes this one by
decision.
Source:
Sherdog
|
Kendall
Grove Back with Tito Ortiz to Shore Up His Wrestling Game
by Mick
Hammond
Getting
back in the win column is always a good thing, even if circumstances
surrounding the victory aren’t always ideal. No one knows
that better than former Ultimate Fighter winner Kendall “Da
Spyder” Grove.
Heading into his bout this past Saturday at ShoFIGHT 20 in Springfield,
Mo., Grove had a pretty big shift in opponents just a few days
out, “I was training for a five-foot-nine stand-up boxer
(in Terry Martin) and then four days before the fight I found
out I had to fight six-foot-one wrestler Derek Brunson and had
to switch it up last minute.”
Grove managed to make the adjustment and pull off a split-decision
win, but how he did it has caught the ire of some.
“I’m just irritated because everybody’s like saying
I got my ass kicked, but how?” questioned Grove. “I
took no damage standing up, no damage on the ground. He’s
a strong, physical guy, and he kept me on my back, that’s
it.
“I was doing more damage off my back and I think judges
are slowly realizing that (is more important than position) and
that’s why I got the win.”
While the fight didn’t go quite as he anticipated, Grove
feels the win sets him up for a good second half to the year.
“I got derailed with (the loss to) Jay Silva. He was the
better man that night, so it feels good to get a win off an up-and-coming
prospect like Brunson and hand him his first loss,” Grove
told MMAWeekly.com.
Next up for Grove is a trip to California from his native Hawaii
to train with his former Ultimate Fighter 3 coach Tito Ortiz.
“I’m actually headed out to Big Bear to help Tito train
for his upcoming fight (at UFC 148),” said Grove. “Definitely
training with Tito is going fill a loss in my game, which is
my wrestling. I’d like to get back into that, the high-caliber
wrestling, that I lack that here in Maui.”
Grove is seeking a return to the UFC, and he feels the only way
to get back there is to make trips out to the camps that can
provide him the type of training needed to be at that level.
“I think you’ve got to put yourself in a better environment,
a place where five out of the six days you’re getting your
ass kicked,” said Grove. “I need to get myself to like
an Xtreme Couture for a camp, maybe hit up Jackson’s or
even a Team Quest – somewhere there’s high-level training
partners.
“I want to hang with the best, and the only way to do that
is to train with the best.”
With three wins in his last four fights, Grove feels now is the
time to make that return he’s working so hard on achieving.
“I think I’m going to make my comeback,” he said.
“I’m injury-free and I’m just looking to keep
on pushing forward. I think ShoFIGHT is having another one in
September and I wouldn’t mind going out there and defending
my belt and continue to rack up some wins.”
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Gray
Maynard remains strong 7-to-2 favorite over Clay Guida
By Zach
Arnold
Date:
Friday, June 22nd
Venue: Revel Casino (Atlantic City, New Jersey)
TV: FX
Dark
matches
Bantamweights:
Dustin Pague vs. Ken Stone
Welterweights: Ricardo Funch vs. Dan Miller
Middleweights: Nick Catone vs. Chris Camozzi
Welterweights: Matt Brown vs. Luis Ramos
Featherweights: Joey Gambino vs. Steven Siler
Welterweights: Rick Story vs. Brock Jardine
Lightweights: Ramsey Nijem vs. CJ Keith
Main card
Featherweights:
Hatsu Hioki vs. Ricardo Lamas
Featherweights: Ross Pearson (-200, 2 to 1 favorite) vs. Cub
Swanson (+160)
Welterweights: Brian Ebersole (-260, 13 to 5 favorite) vs. TJ
Waldburger (+200)
Lightweights: Sam Stout (-300, 3 to 1 favorite) vs. Spencer Fisher
(+240)
Lightweights: Gray Maynard (-350, 7 to 2 favorite) vs. Clay Guida
(+275)
Source: Fight Opinion
|
UFC
ON FX 4 PREDICTIONS
By Luke
Thomas - Senior Editor
A
fight works best when it settles unknowns between two interesting,
well-matched combatants. It isn't just that styles make fights,
although that's true. It's also about what their fight says about
them and what the outcome resolves. In the main event of Friday's
event, one fighter (Gray Maynard) returns to action after devastating
loss, personal evolution and sojourn. He does so with renewed
focus, training partners and life surroundings. Another (Clay
Guida) tries to pick up where his last failed push to earn a
title shot left off. Guida's a known commodity, but one who is
almost exceedingly difficult for any fighter to handle.
Victory
here could mean title shots, elite contender status or something
of considerable career merit. Who will emergere as the potentially
top lightweight contender? I try to answer that question and
more with my predictions below.
What:
UFC on FX 4
Where: Revel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey
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.
Gray
Maynard vs. Clay Guida
I
originally felt like Guida had a fighting chance if the fight
went late and to be sure, the longer it goes the more it favors
him. Maynard likes a more thoughtful pace and to be selective
about his attacks. He won't get that chance against Guida and
will have to call on physical reserves to stay strong late. Now
I'm not so sure about that entire idea. Maynard's a tough fight
for Guida anyway and now the Michigan State alumnus is training
with the Marinovich brothers. For all the hoopla surrounding
them, I'm a big believer in their ability to maximize a fighter's
physical capabilities. This fight might be closer late, but I
don't see Guida being able to do enough to take a decision. And
the newfound Maynard with his time off and sojourn around the
MMA world promises to be a formidable challenge.
Pick:
Maynard
Sam
Stout vs. Spencer Fisher
This
is one of those fights whose existence I don't understand. I
can't recall anyone suggesting this was a trilogy that had to
happen. Be that as it may, I like Stout here. Fisher made it
close the first time and won handily the second, but since then
has grown shopworn. I'm not suggesting he can't fight anymore,
but his bruising style and pocket challenges have been hard on
him, physically and mentally. Stout's still got a sturdy chin,
good combination striking and the ability to physically pressure
Fisher. That should be enough for a decision.
Pick:
Stout
Cub
Swanson vs. Ross Pearson
Ultimately,
Pearson's the more physical fighter of the two, but Swanson might
be a touch more well-rounded. Which is the first to give? I can
see Pearson busting Swanson up as he overcommits striking and
gets out of position. But I can see Pearson also making tactical
errors fending off takedowns as Swanson varies his offense. I'm
not a big believer in either guy's chances here, but Swanson's
capacity to score points and damage in multiple dimensions of
the game is enough for me.
Pick:
Swanson
Brian
Ebersole vs. T.J. Waldburger
Waldburger's
a tricky grappler, but so is Ebersole. Yet, Ebersole is more
than just that. In terms of pure talent, Waldburger might have
more of it, but Ebersole's veteran experience is a huge help
here. The reason why is he's seen or been in countless grappling
challenges of the sort Waldburger is likely to show. And given
Ebersole's instincts to be craftylcombined with Waldburger's
tendency to be too aggressive, it's got all the makings of Ebersole
winning. He'll weather an early storm and win by decision or
stoppage late.
Pick:
Ebersole
Source:
MMA Fighting
|
Following
Surgery Thiago Alves Expects December Return to UFC
by Damon
Martin
A
torn pectoral muscle sounds like a devastating injury, but following
surgery, UFC welterweight Thiago Alves got good news on Tuesday.
The American Top Team fighter, who was forced to drop out of
UFC 149 when he tore his pectoral muscle in training, updated
his status on Tuesday with an expected return date in mind.
“Great news, just talked to my doctor and my (physical therapist).
They both told me I’ll be back fighting again by December.
I can’t wait!” Alves wrote on his official Twitter
account.
Alves was working with his trainers in Florida when he suffered
the injury in sparring.
He was originally slated to face Afghan knockout artist Siyar
Bahadurzada at UFC 149 in Calgary, but the injury forced him
off the card and into surgery.
Alves will continue his rehab and recovery at home in Florida
while he waits for the official word on his return fight, but
it appears he’ll get to come back before 2012 is over.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Comprido
black belt gets knockout; check out his style against ex-UFC
fighter
Contributor:
Junior Samurai
A
black belt in Jiu-Jitsu and owner of a number of IBJJF titles,
Jonatas Novaes saw MMA action this Saturday, June 16, at SF Shofight
20. At the Springfield, Missouri event, the Rodrigo Comprido
students was quick on the trigger and took just 51 seconds before
landing a high kick um chute alto,
that
landed in full, dropping dazed former UFC fighter Drew Fickett
to the mat. Following up on the ground, the Brazilian dropped
fists to finish what he started.
Take
a look back at Jonatas’s No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu style against current
UFC fighter Milton Vieira in 2007.
In
other fights on the Shofight card, Lyle Beerbohm took a unanimous
decision over Marcus Aurélio, and Kendall Grove overcame
Derek Brunson by split decision. In the main event of the evening,
John Gunderson tapped out former UFC fighter Karo Parisyan with
a first-round guillotine.
SF
Shofight 20
Springfield, Missouri, USA
June 16, 2012
John
Gunderson submitted Karo Parisyan via guillotine in R1
Kendall Grove defeated Derek Brunson via split decision
Lyle Beerbohm defeated Marcus Aurélio via unanimous decision
Mike Wessel defeated Matt Kovacs via TKO in R2
Jonatas Novaes defeated Drew Fickett via TKO in R1
Chris Greutzemacher defeated Roli Delgado via TKO in R3
Sevak Magakian defeated James Reese via unanimous decision
Chris McDaniel submitted Charles Bennett via triangle in R1
Sam Alvey defeated Lucas Lopez via TKO in R1
Dustin Phillips defeated Allen Gibson via unanimous decision
Matt Lucas defeated Lucas Overcast via unanimous decision
Mike Brazzle defeated Karen Darabedyan via TKO in R1
Jacob Ritchie defeated Robert Saborudden via TKO in R3
Jason Ignacek defeated Gary Michaels via unanimous decision
Source:
Gracie Magazine
|
Gray
Maynard - Time to Get Back to Work
By E. Spencer Kyte
"I’ve
got some new tools, and some new approaches, so it’s just
— I’ve been away from home for a long time. That’s
how I feel." - Gray Maynard
Let’s be honest: professionally speaking, last year sucked
for Gray Maynard.
On
the first day of the year, the UFC lightweight title challenger
carried an undefeated record into the Octagon against champion
Frankie Edgar, and used the first five minutes of their contest
to batter “The Answer” around the cage at will, coming
as close to putting away a fighter as you can without having
the bout actually be stopped. One minute later, Edgar bounced
back into the center of the cage as if the first round didn’t
even happen.
Over
the next 20 minutes, the two went toe-to-toe, blow-for-blow,
round-for-round until the outcome of the main event from UFC
125: Resolution was that we had no resolution.
After
the two battled to a draw, Maynard initially looked like he was
going to be bumped back in line in favor of Anthony Pettis before
UFC President Dana White made the logical decision of booking
an immediate rematch between champion and challenger. Spring
injuries pushed their fight back to UFC 136 in October, where
Maynard once again had Edgar on the ropes in the first, but couldn’t
put the resilient New Jersey native away. This time, however,
Maynard didn’t depart with a draw.
Coming
out of a scramble just past the midway point of the fourth round,
Edgar caught Maynard on the button, sending him staggering into
the cage. A swift barrage of punches brought the fight to a close,
halting Maynard’s hopes of leaving Houston with the lightweight
belt around his waist, and ending his unbeaten run all at once.
Following
the bout, news of Maynard’s departure from Xtreme Couture
surfaced. While it was a decision he’d made prior to the
fight and planned to stick to win or lose in Houston, uprooting
from his long-time home base was just another headache that made
2011 a year the former Michigan State Spartan is ready to put
behind him.
“When
you have a year like that or you have some issues like that,
it’s always good to change up, and re-evaluate,” offers
Maynard, now eight months removed from UFC 136, and preparing
to return to the cage to face Clay Guida in the main event of
this Friday’s UFC on FX event from the Revel Casino in Atlantic
City, New Jersey. “If it’s good for you to stay in
the place or you have to stay in the place, you change up what
you’re doing there, or if you think it’s better to
move, do it. For me it’s been great.
“When
you’re at the top of the game, like me and whoever else,
you gotta have good training. With all this stuff I’d dealt
with before my last bout — leaving the gym, and all of that
stuff — I was kind of all over the place for where I trained,
how I trained, who I trained with, and that kind of hit me that
I can’t half-ass this at all. I really knew I needed to
get to a place — and it’s not easy to just pick up
all your stuff and move. It takes a couple months.”
Now
comfortably situated in Santa Cruz, California, Maynard has spent
the last several months taking advantage of the opportunity to
train with new people, and try new approaches, re-igniting his
passion for the sport, and taking the first steps towards once
again challenging for the UFC lightweight title.
“I
was in that town for the purpose of like,” he says of Las
Vegas, “but I think I over-stayed my welcome as far as (training
there) because I really did hit a plateau for a couple years,
and you’ve gotta be quick to know that, and you’ve
gotta adjust. For me, it was moving out here, and changing pace,
and lifestyle, MMA teams, everything.
“I
had an opportunity to go and train with Nova Uniao, so I took
that,” continues Maynard, laying out the timeline of what
he’s been up to since he last stepped into the cage. “I
went to Brazil, went to AKA, moved, and just had to re-invent
how I train, how I work, and it’s been great. It’s
been awesome; I love it. I’m back in the gym learning, and
just pumped about how I learn. It’s been a good thing for
me.”
One
of the changes Maynard made was connecting with strength and
conditioning coaches Marv and Gary Marinovich. Fight fans are
familiar with the duo from their time working with former lightweight
champion BJ Penn, and credit “Team Marinovich” for
helping “The Prodigy” get into the best shape of his
career, while football historians will remember Marv for his
extensive and intensive work with his son Todd, a former California
high school standout and quarterback at USC who was a bust as
a pro.
“They
have a great deal of knowledge in their area,” Maynard says
of The Brothers Marinovich. “That’s what I think we
should do as athletes is try to look for the people that know
what they’re talking about in those areas, and they definitely
have new ideas, new ways, and for me it was awesome. We worked
a lot together for a time period, and for me, when it gets closer
to my bout, it’s time for the MMA part, and the hard sparring,
and a lot of that type of stuff. It had its place, and it definitely
changed how I view a lot of things.”
Friday
night, Maynard gets the chance to put all that he’s learned
over the last eight months to use when he steps in opposite Guida.
Like
Maynard, the ball of constant motion, between-round-belches,
and wild hair nicknamed “The Carpenter” is returning
to the cage following an extended hiatus. After riding a four-fight
winning streak into the co-main event slot on the first UFC on
FOX event, Guida’s momentum was halted by Benson Henderson,
who went on to wrest the lightweight title away from the man
Maynard will forever be linked with in MMA history.
Though
the 155-pound weight class remains stocked with talent and is
never short on potential contenders, Guida and Maynard remain
fixtures in the upper echelon of the division, which is part
of the reason the 33-year-old Maynard is excited about the opportunity
to step into the cage with The Big Lebowski’s biggest fan
on Friday night.
“I’m
really pumped about it,” Maynard says, his flat delivery
making it hard to discern whether he’s being genuine or
sarcastic until he expands on his initial response. “It’s
a great opponent, and it’s an opportunity to beat him at
his game, which is main event, five rounds of back-and-forth.
It’s an opportunity to prove that I can beat whoever. I’ve
got some new tools, and some new approaches, so it’s just
— I’ve been away from home for a long time. That’s
how I feel.”
Having
fought for the title twice last year and come away empty, some
may wonder if Maynard may have landed in a state of lightweight
limbo, something akin to Joseph Benavidez’s stay in bantamweight
purgatory following his two losses to Dominick Cruz or Rich Franklin’s
departure from middleweight title contention after dropping a
pair of contests to Anderson Silva.
It’s
a legitimate concern, but not one that worries Maynard. Though
his immediate focus is Friday’s contest with Guida, he’s
willing to do whatever it takes get back into title contention,
no matter how long it takes.
“(Right
now), my whole goal is Clay, but for sure the long-term is beat
the people I have to beat to get to the belt again. If you do
that, it’s gonna happen; there’s no choice. If you
beat all the top guys, where else can they put me? For me, I’ve
gotta do it with authority, and prove that I deserve another
title shot. And that’s fine — that’s a chore that
I’d love to do.”
Some
fighters refrain from really discussing their losses, sticking
to clichés like “It is what it is” and “I’m
only focused on the future” when questions about their setbacks
arise. Maynard isn’t one of those people. Rather than dismiss
his two failed attempts to capture the lightweight title in 2011,
Maynard admits the sting still lingers, but opts to take a philosophical
approach to last year’s results.
“There’s
always pain there, and you’ve gotta use that to help drive
you. It’s that old Thomas Edison deal: “I failed 10,000
times, but I know 10,000 ways not to make the light bulb.”
For me, you learn a lot off of doing stuff a bad way or screwing
up on a couple things. You learn what not to do, and that just
kind of narrows it down to what you do have to do, and that makes
it easier, man. That’s experience, and experience is priceless.”
Relocated
and refocused, Maynard’s really just looking forward to
getting back to work.
“I’m
just happy to get back in there. A five-round fight? That’ll
be fun!”
Source:
UFC
|
UFC
on FX 4 Notebook: Clean Slate for T.J. Waldburger
By Brian
Knapp
T.J.
Waldburger has adopted a walk-softly-and-carry-a-big-stick approach.
A man of few words, the 24-year-old Texan has quietly compiled
a 3-1 mark inside one of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s
deepest divisions.
Waldburger
will collide with globetrotter Brian Ebersole in a featured welterweight
matchup at UFC on FX 4 “Maynard vs. Guida” on Friday
at the Revel Casino in Atlantic City, N.J. He will enter the
cage on the strength of back-to-back submission wins over Mike
Stumpf and Jake Hecht but understands momentum in mixed martial
arts oftentimes proves fleeting.
“I
think momentum is more mental than anything,” Waldburger
told Sherdog.com. “I take each fight individually, so I
start with a clean slate.”
In
Ebersole, he faces a seasoned foe on quite the tear. The 31-year-old
La Porte, Ind., native has not tasted defeat in nearly four years,
having rattled of 10 straight victories. His streak includes
UFC wins over Chris Lytle, Dennis Hallman and Claude Patrick.
“Ebersole
is a well-rounded veteran of the sport,” Waldburger said.
“He has a ton of experience and brings every aspect of the
sport to the Octagon.”
A
Shark Fights champion, Waldburger holds the rank of brown belt
in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and has secured 12 of his 15 professional
victories by submission. He trains under John Moore at The Grapplers
Lair in Belton, Texas. Moore has had a profound influence on
his career.
“He’s
had an impact in every aspect that there could be,” Waldburger
said. “He’s my best friend, brother, mentor, coach,
idol, and now he’s my father-in-law. I continue to learn
from him daily.”
Having
turned professional in November 2005 at the age of 17, Waldburger
has proven vulnerable to wrestlers and strikers throughout his
career. Five of his six defeats have come by knockout or technical
knockout, including a March 2011 loss to two-time NCAA wrestling
champion and surging UFC welterweight contender Johny Hendricks.
Waldburger chalks up the setbacks to experience.tout wants the
rubber match.
“What’s
in the past is in the past,” he said. “I learn from
all my fights. I study my mistakes from my wins and my losses.”
Next
up: a date with Ebersole.
“Beating
him would bring me one step closer to beating the best of the
best,” Waldburger said. “It would be an honor.”
Final
Chapter
MMA
has a long and storied history of memorable trilogies, from Chuck
Liddell-Randy Couture and Wanderlei Silva-Quinton “Rampage”
Jackson to Fedor Emelianenko-Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Georges
St. Pierre-Matt Hughes. Soon, Sam Stout-Spencer Fisher will be
added to the list.
Stout
and Fisher will lock horns with one another for the third time
in the UFC on FX 4 co-main event. Stout won the first encounter
between the two by split decision at UFC 58 in March 2006. Fisher
answered with a unanimous verdict in their rematch 15 months
later at UFC Fight Night 10.
Once
one of the cornerstones of the lightweight division, Fisher has
lost four of his past five bouts. The 36-year-old Pat Miletich
protégé last appeared at UFC 134 in August, when
he succumbed to second-round punches from Thiago Tavares at the
HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Fisher holds Stout in high
regard.
“He’s
the toughest opponent I have faced in the UFC, stylistically,”
he told UFC.com in a pre-fight interview. “He’s as
tough as they get.”
Stout,
meanwhile, has had an up-and-down ride since entering the UFC
six years ago, compiling a 6-6 mark inside the Octagon. A three-time
“Fight of the Night” winner, the 28-year-old Canadian
has established himself as one of the premier strikers in the
155-pound division. Stout carries with him a strong desire to
win his rubber match with Fisher.
“I
think that my first two fights against Spencer were the fights
that really launched my career,” he said. “In any trilogy
of fights, the third one is the one that really matters, so I
am approaching this fight with more diligence and determination
than any other fight I have prepared for.”
This
& That
Tied
up in his rivalry with former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar
for the better part of 18 months, Gray Maynard has not won a
fight since he defeated Kenny Florian by unanimous decision at
UFC 118 in August 2010. He meets Clay Guida in the main event
... UFC on FX 4 will feature three fighters making their promotional
debuts: C.J. Keith, Brock Jardine and Joey Gambino. Keith and
Gambino are undefeated ... A week after he submitted former King
of the Cage champion Jared Papazian with a first-round rear-naked
choke at UFC on FX 3, “The Ultimate Fighter” Season
14 alum Dustin Pague agreed to replace the injured Francisco
Rivera in a preliminary bantamweight matchup with American Top
Team’s Ken Stone ... The UFC has not held an event in Atlantic
City since UFC 53 “Heavy Hitters” in June 2005. That
show featured an interim heavyweight title bout between Andrei
Arlovski and the late Justin Eilers. Arlovski won by first-round
technical knockout.
Source:
Sherdog
|
FOR
THE GREAT FEDOR EMELIANENKO, THE END QUIETLY NEARS
By Mike
Chiappetta - Senior Writer
One
day, the mixed martial arts world will move on without Fedor
Emelianenko. That day, however, is not yet here, even if Emelianenko
has teased retirement, even as his fights get more difficult
to find for even his most ardent fans.
It
was just about two years ago when Emelianenko's magical unbeaten
streak was snapped. Since then, he's faced further professional
disappointment before mounting an attempt at clawing his way
back into the international conversation. To be sure, he has
gone about it in the noble manner befitting his former status
as the sport's greatest heavyweight, possibly its greatest fighter.
The
cruelty of prizefighting is that the spotlight often leaves you
before you're ready to leave it. And while Emelianenko is still
a serviceable heavyweight -- probably even above average -- due
to politics and the UFC-heavy worldview of most, his final days
are taking place out of the limelight. On Thursday, he fights
again, facing Pedro Rizzo at an M-1 Global event in St. Petersburg,
Russia, but the fight has gained little traction among U.S. fans,
and Emelianenko has indicated that it could be his last.
This
week, he told MMA Fighting that his future remains undecided.
"I
have a fight now," he said. "When it’s over we
will see. It’s all God's will."
That
isn't a definitive yes, but it isn't a definitive no, either,
which leads you to believe that he probably has given some legitimate
consideration to hanging up his gloves for good. Yet at the same
time, he's not in a particularly wistful or nostalgic mood about
his career and his legacy.
Asked
about what he considers the fondest memory of his career, and
whether he has any regrets, Emelianenko isn't interested in looking
back.
"I'm
having a fight and it's still early to sum up," he said.
On
the other hand, while he declines to look backward, looking forward
is a different story. Remember those rumors that Emelianenko
would consider a drop to light-heavyweight? Whatever happened
to that? To him, the idea is a non-starter, even though it wouldn't
apply unless he continued competing.
"I’ve
fought in this weight for a long time and I feel well,"
he said. "There is no necessity to change anything."
For
almost his entire career, Emelianenko has fought as an undersized
heavyweight, standing about 6 feet tall and weighing around 230
pounds. For years, his quickness, power and killer instinct were
enough to rule that division. But it all ended on June 26, 2010,
when Werdum trapped him in a triangle/armbar combination and
Emelianenko tapped a single time, dignified yet clear.
In
some ways, that loss could be explained away. Werdum was then,
and remains now, a top 10 heavyweight. He also boasts one of
the top jiu-jitsu games in MMA, with many saying he's the best
big man in the gentle art, better than Frank Mir and Antonio
Rodrigo Nogueira. His resume certainly backs up the claim.
More
difficult to rationalize was his loss to Antonio Silva, the massive
Brazilian who it seems only came in with superior size, but left
with a TKO win after battering Emelianenko throughout the majority
of their 10-minute fight.
It
was in the aftermath of that fight when he first mentioned the
possibility of walking away.
"Back
then I said that in the heat of the moment," he says now.
"To the same I said, 'Maybe I've got to retire.' This was
emotions. But after the fight [manager] Vadim [Finkelstein],
trainers, my family, my friends and I decided that I will continue
to fight in the ring."
But
then, a loss to Dan Henderson, the veteran star made it three
in a row, sending Fedor out of Strikeforce and on his own. Given
his past success, he couldn't be blamed for any crisis in confidence
that followed, but Emelianenko says there wasn't any.
"This
is sport and no one is insured against losses." he said.
"It’s all God's will. Perhaps, losses are given to
us to think and work through mistakes."
Three
months shy of his 36th birthday, Emelianenko faces an uncertain
future. Even if he does continue to fight, which it appears is
no given, options are limited due to nearly all of the world's
top heavyweights being signed to Zuffa, making them unavailable
to him. He says he still feels good, and for this camp, put in
time training in The Netherlands.
In
terms of pure sporting interests, it's a fight he must win. While
Rizzo was once one of MMA's biggest punchers, he's now 38 and
hasn't fought in nearly two years. His last two wins have come
against Ken Shamrock at a time when Shamrock had lost five of
six, and Gary Goodridge when he was in the midst of an eight-fight
losing streak that took him to retirement.
Emelianenko
says he has a great respect for Rizzo, who was a perfect 9-0
by the time Emelianenko made his own pro debut, and in that way
was a model for his early days.
"When
I came to MMA, I learned from him since he already had a successful
career in this sport," he said. "So I will be very
glad to meet him in the ring."
Yet
when Emelianenko looks across the cage at Rizzo, he may be staring
at his own future. Rizzo has spent the last several years globetrotting,
taking fights wherever he could. This M-1 fight with Fedor will
mark his seventh promotion in his last seven fights, yet he hasn't
really built any kind of forward momentum. While Emelianenko
will always have a home with M-1, the organization hasn't quite
given him an international platform as a standalone promotion.
A
win will mark three in a row for a heavyweight whose career headstone
had seemingly been engraved when he lost to Silva. Then what?
Maybe he walks away with his head held high, maybe he comes back
one more time. Or maybe he already knows the answer. Maybe he's
already determined 'God's will' but he's just not saying.
"We'll
see," he said.
Even
for one of the greatest of all time, the end must come. Maybe
it's on Thursday, maybe it's not. Given his reputation as a soft-spoken
gentleman, perhaps it is fitting that for him, it nears quietly.
Source:
MMA Fighting
|
UFC
147 ‘Franklin vs. Silva 2’ Statistical Matchup Analysis
By Reed
Kuhn
The
UFC’s third trip to Brazil in less than a year has been
overlooked ever since Vitor Belfort’s unfortunate hand injury
and withdrawal. But, despite the main event changeup, two future
UFC Hall of Famers will be still facing off in a rematch of feared
strikers. To understand how these two match up, we’ll first
consider the Tale of the Tape, followed by their career performances
in striking and grappling. Finally, we’ll take a look at
their first fight in closer detail.
Tale
of the Tape
A
couple things jump out here. First, the fight will be contested
at a 190-pound catch-weight, which mostly has to do with Rich
Franklin’s willingness to take this fight sooner than he
had anticipated facing Cung Le in July. The shorter training
camp means a little less time to come down on weight, but not
much. Franklin has always been described as a “company man,”
so the 5-pound allowance was the least the UFC could do, and
it won’t be an issue for either fighter.
Franklin
has a slight size advantage in height and reach, and he’s
also a southpaw. These factors give him a slight edge in striking
over his smaller, orthodox opponent, but not much.
Perhaps
most importantly, both fighters are now in their late 30s. While
there’s not much of an age difference between the two --
Silva turns 36 just 10 days after the fight -- both fighters
are on the back end of their long and illustrious careers. They’ve
each suffered a few knockouts along the way, and age does take
an additional toll on knockout resiliency. All that means is
that both fighters have a similarly elevated chance of flash
knockouts. Considering that these two are predominantly strikers
and both have been very strong finishers, that could boost the
chances of a (T)KO finish above their last bout three years ago.
The
Striking Matchup
Both
fighters have lengthy highlight reels, primarily because of their
dangerous striking abilities. But in the long view of performance,
Franklin has a more accurate power hand, one that significantly
exceeds the UFC middleweight average of only 23 percent. No one
doubts the Axe Murderer’s strength and aggression, but Silva
will be the less accurate striker in this matchup, and Franklin
generally works at a higher striking pace of activity. Also,
note that Franklin’s striking defense is better than Silva’s,
despite having faced and been bested twice by UFC middleweight
champion Anderson Silva.
In
this analysis, keep in mind that the numbers for Silva include
about twice as much fight time in Pride and the UFC. Even correcting
for that difference, we still see that Silva has scored knockdowns
at a 20-percent higher rate than Franklin. So, while Franklin
has the edge if this goes to a decision, he’s at risk against
Silva in the knockout power matchup. We also see from Silva’s
extremely high share of power strikes that when he throws, he
throws hard.
One
thing to note is a slight edge in clinch striking accuracy, something
we’ll look at later from their first fight. Of Silva’s
24 knockdowns, nine came from clinch strikes, whereas Franklin
hasn’t scored any knockdowns from this position.
Takedowns
and the Grappling Matchup
Neither
fighter has spent much time on the ground in recent fights, and
each has only one successful submission in Pride or UFC fights,
but it would appear that Franklin has the edge in ground control,
generally outworking his opponents on the ground while Silva
has been evenly matched. Both fighters are experienced veterans,
and certainly have balanced training in jiu-jitsu, but a submission
would be an unlikely event in this matchup - unless perhaps if
first set up by strikes.
Overall,
we see that Franklin has an edge in striking and ground control,
while Silva gets the better of the clinch. To see if that holds
true, look no further than their first fight.
I traveled to Cologne, Germany, for UFC 99 in summer 2009 to
see Franklin and Silva square off for the first time. Will history
repeat? Will Franklin once again edge out Silva in a close decision?
According to the numbers, it depends on where the fight goes.
Franklin
got the better of Silva in point striking, landing more strikes
in all three rounds, but Silva did use the clinch effectively
towards the end of the fight, a position where Franklin had his
worst career moments against UFC middleweight champ Anderson
Silva. Franklin also had the advantage on the ground, controlling
position for more time, landing more strikes and reaching side
control in the third round. When Silva began to swing for the
fences in the later rounds, Franklin recognized and tried to
neutralize the threat by evading and mixing things up.
The
Final Word
Silva
must have been highly motivated to train for his rematch with
Vitor Belfort, and though his emotional drive may not be as strong
(or angry) against Franklin, his physical training and endurance
may have benefited from his “TUF Brazil” coaching matchup.
One bonus that comes along with the new opponent is a huge home-field
advantage for the Brazilian.
Brazilians
fighting foreigners on the last two UFC cards in Brazil have
won 10 of 12 fights. Ten of those fights were on the main card,
and the Brazilians finished nine of those 10, including both
main events ending by (T)KO. Only one American, Mike Pyle, has
been able to overcome the modern Brazilian home-field advantage.
But Pyle, like Franklin, is a very experienced veteran of the
sport, and therefore perhaps less likely to be rattled by a hostile
crowd. Maybe that bodes well for “Ace.”
Franklin
started as a slight favorite according to the betting line of
-155, which has crept to -170. Given his experienced veteran
record -- one that includes numerous overseas performances --
Franklin may have the best shot yet of any fighter to overcome
the Brazilian advantage on a main card. We’ll see if Silva
tries to exploit Franklin in the clinch, or if either fighter
resorts to their ground game. Franklin looks good on paper, but
Silva will have the motivational fire to be aggressive as ever
in front of his countrymen.
Silva
remains the more dangerous power striker, something that he seemed
to forget for the first few rounds of his initial meeting with
Franklin. The Brazilian will also have five rounds instead of
three this time to land some bombs. Either way, expect the same
early feeling-out process that occurred last time, as each fighter
respects the other’s power. But given the strong finishing
instinct of both fighters, they should eventually start swinging
for the fences. Unlike submissions, knockout probabilities maintain
well throughout the latter rounds in 25-minute fights, so each
fighter will have that many more chances to end the fight in
spectacular fashion.
What
do the numbers tell you? How do you see this going down? Does
history repeat with Franklin outpointing Silva? Or will Silva
ride the hometown support to keep the Brazilian main event finish
streak alive?
Note:
Raw data for the analysis was provided by, and in partnership
with FightMetric. All analysis was performed by Reed Kuhn. Reed
Kuhn, Fightnomics, FightMetric and Sherdog.com assume no responsibility
for bets placed on fights, financial or otherwise.
Source
Sherdog
|
UFC
Champ Jon Jones’ DWI Sentencing Rescheduled for July
UFC
light heavyweight champion Jon Jones was supposed to have his
day in court on Tuesday for sentences related to DWI charges.
The sentencing has been pushed back to July 3, according to Stephen
Reilly on PressConnects.com.
Jones,
on May 29, plead guilty to a DWI charge stemming from a car accident
on May 19 in Binghamton, N.Y.
Jones
drove his 2012 Bentley into a telephone pole. No other vehicles
were involved.
He
pled guilty to Driving While Intoxicated as part of a plea bargain
with the District Attorney’s office in Binghamton City Court.
Traffic violations for an improper turn and deviating from a
direct course were dismissed.
The
plea agreement would see Jones receive a fine and a conditional
discharge. A conditional discharge means Jones’ sentence
will be served as long as probationary conditions are met. If
he fails to meet the conditions, the full penalty could be reinstated.
The
judge immediately suspended Jones’ New York driver’s
license.
Jones
will appear on July 3 for final sentencing.
The
outcome of Jones’ sentencing is not expected to affect the
scheduling of his UFC 151 main event title defense against Dan
Henderson.
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
Sergio
Moraes: “It’s easier for him to impregnate me”
Sergio
Moraes talked to TATAME TV in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, and
seemed pretty confident for his bout against Cezar Mutante, at
TUF Brazil Finale. On the chat, the fighter talked about the
experience of being a part of the reality show, guaranteed to
be ready to trade punches and laughed at the possibility of being
submitted by Vitor Belfort’s pupil: “it’s easier
for him to impregnate than submit me”. Check it:
You
lost during the reality show but after Daniel Sarafian got injured
you got a second chance. What are the expectations for your fight?
Actually,
who knows me know I’ve been working a lot to reach the top.
I would never root for Sarafian nor Mutante get injury so I would
get this chance. I’ve always walked alone and I’ve
never wished bad things. I got this chance and now I have to
gather all this positive vibe, all this time I’ve spent
away from my family, my moving to Curitiba for this training
camp with Shogun and Dida and now I have to show all of this
in this three five-minute rounds.
What
do you know about Cezar Mutante’s game?
Well,
Mutante isn’t an expert in one area. He’s a modern
MMA fighter, he’s been training Muay Thai, Wrestling, Jiu-Jitsu,
so he’s a modern athlete. I’m prepared for anything
he brings. I left Jiu-Jitsu aside and now I’m a MMA athlete.
If we have to stand-up, let’s do it. I believe he won’t
try to take me to the ground (laughs).
He
says he is ready in case things go to the floor.
It’s
easier for him to impregnate than submit me (laughs).
How
was it to be in the reality show and live with your opponents
in the same house?
That’s
the toughest part: to be away from your friends and family and
having other trainers. I’ve always said that the most important
thing Mutante had, which was having his coach with him the entire
time. Some paradigms were broken in there, but Mutante never
went to Wanderlei’s team. It would break this paradigm.
Does
it bring an extra incentive?
No.
I have a big incentive since I got this opportunity from UFC.
When they told me I would be fighting even after losing and now
I got this chance to fight the finals, so it’s a big incentive
to me. I don’t carry bad feelings towards no one and try
to do my best.
How
Team Wanderlei hosted you when you had to exchange teams?
Well,
it seemed like we never were from different teams. As we exchanged,
automatically we started getting along with everybody, they embraced
me, they were a real family, guys from Evolucao Thai at Curitiba.
Now I’m representing Sao Paulo, Curitiba, Brazil and all
Jiu-Jitsu guys.
What
are your thoughts about the featherweight finale?
Fuck,
it’s hard to have a say on this because they are both guys
I like. I guess the stand-up game is better for Rony and ground
game is a better area for Pepey, so it’s 50-50. But it’s
not a big advantage for one side at one are or the other.
And
about Wanderlei Silva-Rich Franklin?
Wanderlei
Silva will knockout. I’ve been training with Wanderlei,
Dida, Shogun, Werdum.
Are
you putting your Jiu-Jitsu career aside now you are focusing
in MMA?
I’ll
have a farewell fight, of course. Jiu-Jitsu is my life. I really
want to give my belt away.
Are
you sure you are going to retire?
I’m
sure. I was a Jiu-Jitsu champion and I was, at the same time,
an athlete and a coach. I have world champions back at COHAB
at purple and brown belts. I have a black belt who’s on
my corner here. So, now it’s his mission to keep this project
going on and having champions there.
Do
you want to send a message?
Thank
you guys for the support. I’m waiting you all here, you
are in my heart.
Source: Tatame
|
David
Martin: The Man Behind the Curtain
“Pay
no attention to the man behind the curtain!”
~ L. Frank Baum – The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Anybody
who has seen the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz or read the 1900
book by L. Frank Baum that it was based on remembers the first
time they discovered the mighty wizard who ruled Oz.
To
the naked eye he was an all-powerful being that ruled over Oz,
but in reality he was just a normal man who found ways to do
extraordinary things.
In
a fighter’s world, sometimes just having the right people
in your corner makes all the difference in getting the bout you
want, getting the sponsorships you need, or finding the right
place to train.
For
David Martin, who manages many top fighters like Ryan Bader,
Aaron Simpson, Gray Maynard, Martin Kampmann and Michael Chandler,
his greatest pleasure comes from seeing his clients succeed and
he does so from behind the curtain.
A
graduate from the University of South Dakota, Martin was born
and bred to be a lawyer, and did so at a very high level before
he ever even considered getting into sports management. It did
have something to do with a high level athlete however.
“One
of the first cases I actually worked on, I was somewhat of a
grunt if you will, was the Ray Lewis murder trial. Bruce (Harvey),
my boss, represented the co-defendant Reginald Oakley, so it
was really something that blew me away right out of law school
to be able to work on that particular case. I was there day in
and day out for the trial. It was just something special and
we ended up getting him acquitted on all charges,” Martin
told MMAWeekly.com.
While
working with Harvey out of his Atlanta based law firm, Martin
was also in touch with an old friend of his from the same South
Dakota town they grew up in. Mike Miller, who at the time was
at the University of Florida, was about to enter the NBA draft
and needed some legal expertise and someone he could trust to
be in his corner.
David
Martin was that man.
Martin
started managing Mike Miller as he entered the NBA in 2000, and
from there he spawned a number of relationships including one
with a former Pro Bowl quarterback.
“That’s
how I got into sports was Mike Miller. Mike was living in Orlando
and I was going back and forth again in a management capacity.
He lived in the same subdivision as Daunte Culpepper. I ended
up meeting Daunte and started managing him, and helping him in
a lot of areas,” Martin revealed.
Martin
acted as manager and legal council to both players, but eventually
was pulled into the courtroom defending Culpepper during the
infamous “Love Boat” case in which several Minnesota
Vikings players were accused of “indecent, disorderly and
lascivious conduct” while throwing an alleged sex party
on a boat in Lake Minnetonka.
“Unfortunately,
he ended up getting a pretty bad accusation on the whole Love
Boat case, which was kind of an infamous case and I ended up
defending Daunte in a criminal aspect in Minnesota. It was an
absolute joke. I could not believe they were charging Daunte
with anything, and the only reason they were charging him was
because of his name. That was an eye opening experience as well,”
Martin said.
In
the end, Martin was able to get the entire case dismissed due
to lack of probable cause.
From
there Martin went on to work on several other high profile cases
including defending current Cincinnati Bengals defensive back
Adam “Pacman” Jones just after his college career at
West Virginia University came to a close when he was accused
of theft. That case was also dismissed of all charges.
Martin’s
legal expertise was invaluable to his clients, but from there
his journey into mixed martial arts management was different
than most. Growing up in South Dakota, Martin along with his
good friend Mike Miller, had both been huge boxing fans.
Going
to fights whenever they could, Martin and Miller were just fans
of combat sports, so it was only natural that they were also
drawn to the world of MMA. That’s when Miller introduced
his good friend David Martin to a former NCAA wrestler by the
name of Tyler Jones.
Jones
was a former NCAA All-American wrestler also from South Dakota
that had shown interest in making the move into mixed martial
arts. While he never ended up in the MMA cage, he had plenty
of friends who did.
“Mike
had a friend who was a four-time All-American wrestler named
Tyler Jones who was interested in MMA. He didn’t end up
fighting, but I kept working with him, and he eventually hooked
me up with Ryan Bader, and the rest is history,” Martin
said.
Bader
along with close friends Aaron Simpson and C.B. Dollaway teamed
up with Martin and from there the dominoes just started falling.
Martin ended up representing more fighters from their circle
of friends, while also adding more names like Gray Maynard, Martin
Kampmann and others.
In
2010, Martin along with Miller helped the fighters living and
training in Arizona find funding and built their own training
facility now called Power MMA & Fitness. It wasn’t the
normal story for a manager, whose typical duties revolve around
bout agreements and sponsorship deals, to go as far as to help
a group of fighters open a gym, but that’s what Martin did.
“I
don’t know what other managers do, but I’m not going
to just be there to do a guy’s bout agreement and get them
sponsors. I try to help them out and build their brand, also
a legal perspective, and business development. They approached
me about opening a gym, and Mike Miller and I looked at it, and
thought it was a great idea. Now they are doing a great thing
with Power MMA & Fitness,” Martin stated.
The
expansion has continued at the gym, adding new fighters to the
roster. Martin and his staff now work with even more top flight
competitors including Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler
and UFC middleweight Chris Weidman.
While
Martin continues to work with NFL players like Chad Greenway
and of course his continued relationship with Miami Heat forward
Mike Miller, he’s found a real passion for the sport of
MMA.
“I
love this sport, so being able to be around the sport so much
is awesome. The best part of being involved in the industry is
the relationships that I have developed. Randel Aleman has been
a great addition to the management team and is a true friend.
CB Dollaway, Aaron Simpson and Ryan Bader are not only clients
and business partners, but they are now lifelong friends. Working
for a guy like Gray Maynard isn’t work to me. It’s
fun. I want to perform for these guys. All the guys that I represent,”
Martin stated.
As
he continues to develop relationships with new sponsors and work
with his fighters, Martin is content to be the ninja of the MMA
management world. He was even reluctant to do this very interview
because he says his focus should only be on the job he does for
his fighters, and not how many people know his name.
“Bottom
line is it’s about the athlete,” said Martin. “That’s
my approach on it, I’m not saying it’s the right way
or wrong way, that’s how I handle it. I like I being behind
the scenes, period.”
Source: MMA Weekly
|
UFC
on FX 4’s Dan Miller Feels Reborn at Welterweight
For
the past two years, Dan Miller has had a dark storm cloud hanging
above his head. From his baby boy developing a cyst on his kidney,
to the piling up hospital bills, and going 2-4 in his last six
bouts in the UFC.
After
losing to Rousimar Palhares at UFC 134 in August and struggling
with guilt from training while his son is hospitalized, Miller
needed time away from the sport to get his mind right.
Now,
after getting support from the MMA community, the UFC, and his
family, Miller is starting to see the light at the end of the
tunnel. His son is soon about to be the recipient of a kidney
transplant, and professionally Miller feels rejuvenated at welterweight.
“Coming
off of that fight it was disappointing and everything and then
the whole thing with Danny getting sick,” Miller told MMAWeekly
Radio.
“I
almost felt burnt out. I wasn’t sure what I was going to
do but kind of making this change, and setting the goal of okay
I’m going to go to 170 to try to make a run at this. I’m
only getting older and my time is shortening with all these young
kids coming in.
“I
don’t have that much time so I’m going to make a run
for it and it’s kind of renewed everything. I thoroughly
enjoyed training going to boxing and Muay Thai and all that.
I feel kind of renewed and everything, this is a whole new goal
and this is a whole new chapter in my career.”
As
poet Robert Browning once said “my sun sets to rise again,”
and Miller’s sun has begun to rise and is tearing away at
that dark cloud. At welterweight, he feels lighter and quicker
and wants to give his son something to look forward to.
On
his path to brighter days, he must first get through Ricardo
Funch at UFC on FX 4. And while he didn’t know much about
his opponent, Miller has always been a yes man and expects a
tough battle in Atlantic City.
“He’s
a tough kid and he’s got very good skills; it’s going
to be a tough fight. I didn’t really know much about him
when they said the name, but since then I’ve looked him
up. I didn’t really think much about it; they called with
the fight and okay.
“I’m
trying not to put any pressure on myself. I got enough pressure
making the weight and I always go out looking for the finish.
It’s no different in this fight and I’m going out and
looking to finish him in the first round. I don’t want to
go to the second round, and I want to get out of the ring as
quick as I can and go have a beer and something to eat.”
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Franklin:
‘We’ll not have problems putting that together for
everybody’
Rich
Franklin and Wanderlei Silva know each other for a while. They
fought each other once, on a historical fight won by the American
in 2009. Now, “The Axe Murderer” has his so awaited
rematch, at UFC 147, on June 23rd, and has all the Brazilian
fans’ support.
The
American, on an exclusive interview with TATAME, commented on
the change, since initially he was fighting Cung Le, on July
7th, at UFC 148, in Las Vegas.
“It
changed significantly. I went down to Singapore to get ready
for Cung because there I had access to those kind of fighters
down there. I was crapping for him specifically but they day
that UFC called me and asked me to fill in for Vitor, I jumped
on a plane and came home for my camp in Cincinnati, my hometown
for Wanderlei. And as far as Wanderlei-Cung concern, on the spectrum
of strikers, they’re completely opposite kinda guys. So
I pretty much headed home and completely rewind my game for this
final three weeks before I came here”.
Back
to the middleweight class, Franklin highlighted that this fight
against the Brazilian might be his first step towards a title
run, assuring that both he and Wanderlei will try to put on a
big show in Minas Gerais.
“This
is an important fight for me personally because it’s my
first fight back to the 185lbs and this could be the beginning
of me starting a possible title run back at 185lbs before I retire.
This is also an important fight for Brazil because this was The
Ultimate Fighter coaches, they were build to fight each other
and they kind of are depending on a good fight for the show on
Saturday night, so I’m sure Wanderlei and I will not have
problems putting that together for everybody”.
Despite
fighting on the middleweight division, the American asked for
the UFC to give him some extra pounds against Wanderlei, on a
catchweight, since he did not have enough time to get to the
division weight limit.
“I
did the catchweight only because I was originally going to fight
Cung Le at 185lbs, but because the fight was two weeks sooner,
I wasn’t 100 percent sure I could make the weight, so I
kinda asked for a few pounds and they set the fight at 190lbs”.
Rich
Franklin is a former middleweight champion who lost his title
to Anderson Silva, in 2006. Questioned about a possible title
shot in case he defeats the “Axe Murderer”, the tough
guy said he intends to go in this very direction.
“It
won’t put me in title contention but it’ll definitely
put me in that direction”, concluded.
Source: Tatame
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Clay
Guida says tenacity will be difference in key fight with Gray
Maynard
Clay
Guida wasn't going to let Gray Maynard's camp make an issue of
his hair (Getty Images)The similarities between Clay Guida and
Gray Maynard are striking: Each are elite wrestlers whose striking
has come a long way. Each is coming off a loss to a lightweight
champion, Guida to Benson Henderson and Maynard to Frankie Edgar.
And each man believes he's destined to regain the belt.
The
one difference, though, that Guida believes will carry him to
victory over Maynard in their five-round lightweight fight Friday
in Atlantic City, N.J., is his tenacity.
"Without
a doubt, I think that's going to be in my favor," Guida
told Cagewriter. "I've been in fights where I've been down
and come back. I am never, ever, going to quit or concede in
a fight and I think that's a major advantage for me."
Guida's
movement and tenacity are two of his trademarks, but he's also
at least as well known for his wild, flowing hairstyle. Maynard's
new coaches at the American Kickboxing Academy, but not Maynard
himself, complained to the New Jersey commission about it.
Guida
agreed to put his hair in cornrows to end any controversy before
it began and laughed it off as a non-issue.
"I'm
not sure what they were trying to do by complaining about that,
but whatever it was, it didn't work," Guida said. "I'm
here to fight and not talk about my hair."
Guida
knows a win over Maynard, who had a draw and a knockout loss
to Edgar in back-to-back title fights last year, will go a long
way toward getting him his coveted first title shot.
The
UFC has promised Nate Diaz a championship shot against the winner
of the rematch between Henderson and Edgar at UFC 150, but Guida
told Sherdog Radio he believes an impressive win over Maynard
could force the UFC brass to rethink its plans.
If
I go out there and beat the brakes off of him and really put
it on him, I think the UFC is going to have a hard time denying
us. I know Nate Diaz is right up there. Yeah, he won three in
a row, but look, Gray won six or seven in a row. He hadn't lost
for how many years? … [And] I went on a decent little run
there. I won four over a couple of tough guys, former world champs,
[Takanori] Gomi in Pride and [Anthony] Pettis in the WEC, and
I lost a very, very close fight to Ben Henderson. So it's one
of those, it all depends on the way of victory.
The
five-round fight figures to work to Guida's advantage. One of
the reasons for his popularity is his ability to fight at a frenetic
pace pretty much all of the time. The pace often slows in the
latter stages of a long fight, but Guida insists that will never
happen to him.
He
said he's better conditioned now, at 30 years old, than he's
ever been.
"Five
rounds is tailor-made for me," he said. "When I'm done
with three rounds, really, I'm just getting loose and ready to
go. I go through a grind every day to get to where I am and you
haven't seen anything from me in terms of pace and stamina. The
longer this fight goes, people are going to be shocked at the
way I can go.
"It's
a mindset. I refuse to be tired and I have always vowed to work
harder than my opponents. I put myself in the worst possible
situations in training and I go and go and go. It makes the fight
seem easy by comparison."
Source: Yahoo Sports
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Danny
Castillo and Michael Johnson Square Off at UFC 151: Jones vs.
Henderson
Danny
Castillo and Michael JohnsonLightweight Danny Castillo and Michael
Johnson have verbally agreed to square off at the UFC 151 fight
card set for Sept. 1 in Las Vegas, according to UFC officials.
The
UFC announced the Castillo vs. Johnson match-up on Wednesday,
and also confirmed previously reported bouts for the card pitting
Dennis Siver against Eddie Yagin and Takeya Mizugaki against
Jeff Hougland.
Castillo
(14-4) has won his last three fights, including his May 5 bout
against John Cholish at UFC on Fox 3.
Ever
since losing to top UFC contender Anthony Pettis back in their
WEC days, Castillo has since quietly put together a 6-1 record.
His lone loss during that time was dropping a decision to Jacob
Volkmann.
Johnson
(11-6) made it all the way to The Ultimate Fighter 12 Finale
before losing to Johnathan Brookins. He has since gone 3-1 in
the Octagon, losing only to undefeated British fighter Paul Sass.
He
is coming off of back-to-back victories over Tony Ferguson and
Shane Roller.
UFC
light heavyweight champion Jon Jones will put his belt on the
line against Dan Henderson in the UFC 151 main event.
Source: MMA Weekly
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