It's time for the Strikeforce fighters to hit the scales in San Jose, one night before the big event! Be sure to catch all of Saturday night's action on Showtime at 10pm ET/PT.Source: http://mmalice.com/evangelista-cyborg/weigh-in-diaz-vs-cyborg-video_a50ec47a7.html
It's often intriguing and fascinating to break down a signature main event and dissect the strengths, weaknesses, and strategies of opposing fighters in a momentous title battle for the coveted belt.
Quite often there are particular nuances of each individual that merit consideration, yet there are benchmarks to victory that are applicable to almost every bout.
The first key seems intuitively obvious yet is often underestimated. Frank Shamrock once quipped, "My best submission is cardio."
It is easy to underestimate how quickly punishment and pure adrenaline can drain even the most well-trained athlete.
Fatigue makes cowards of us all, and the most dangerous situation a fighter can face is lactic acid late in a tight battle. Champions are never over-prepared.
Another crucial component of every successful fighter is consistent evolution and improvement in skills. This game has evolved immeasurably since Royce Gracie slapped his first armbar on an unsuspecting victim.
Champions need to rotate training partners and strive to stay ahead by improving all facets of the sport.
My first two keys were pre-fight preparation phase keys. My next mention is Octagon control. Dictate the pace and impose your will by commanding the battle ground.
Those who move forward and force the opponent on his heels most often earn victory. Georges St. Pierre is the master of this notion.
Mental fortitude and versatility are also paramount in the arsenal of a champion. Check out Round 5 of Anderson "The Spider" Silva's defense against Chael Sonnen for an example of both of these qualities.
Finally, I must mention pace. The toughest obstacle for a fighter to overcome is a slow start and early damage. Frankie Edgar may have escaped the early fury of Gray Maynard just recently, but most often that is not the case.
Plus, the worst scenario for the fans is a lackluster, uninspiring main event effort.
Clay Guida may not have the most impressive record in the UFC, but put him on the card and it becomes a must-see event. Clay is a recognized fan favorite for good reason. While he has yet to wear a belt, it has become mandatory for Champions to approach the game the way that Guida does... prepare for a fight with the fans in mind. - J.Seijas / GuerrillaFight
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com
Breaking down the upcoming UFC 126 card was harder than usual. We've been treated to a stacked night of fights—check out all of the sweet things we have in store for us:
• A middleweight title fight
• One of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world (Anderson Silva)
• Two of the most popular guys in the sport going at it (Griffin vs. Franklin)
• Two of the best prospects in all of MMA (Jones vs. Bader)
• The UFC is taking advantage of the WEC merger to the highest extent so far
This is one hell of a night of fights we have to look forward to, so go ahead and give UFC matchmaker Joe Silva a big ol' hug next time you see him.
Here are some predictions for UFC 126.
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/590835-ufc-126-predictions-you-can-take-to-the-bank
If MMA can be said to have a birthplace, a singular point of origin on a map of the world, that place must undoubtedly be Brazil.
Long before the bright lights and big stars of the modern era, brutal, unregulated Vale Tudo fights—contested bare-knuckle in carnival tents throughout the Brazillian countryside—were the breeding ground of modern MMA.
The famous “Gracie Challenge” issued by practitioners of Gracie BJJ to other martial artists was the progenitor of today's UFC.
So with the recent confirmation from Dana White that the UFC is planning a show in Rio De Janerio for 2011—the first UFC event in the country of Brazil in over a decade—it can safely be said that the sport of MMA is coming home.
While the economy of Brazil is currently surging, it is still a relatively poor nation overall. The recent landslides have been an added strain on the populace.
If the UFC wants to convince Brazilians to shell out to live event in the numbers, they need to make the trip profitable and provide an absolutely stacked card.
Luckily, with the UFC roster overflowing with talented Brazilian fighters in every weight class, putting on a big card with a local flavour will be no problem.
Without further ado, here is my dream card for “Ultimate Rio”—one that maximizes hometown appeal, big-time fights and casual (read: pay-per-view) fan appeal.
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/590309-the-dream-card-for-the-ufcs-return-to-brazil
Check out our exclusive pictures by Tracy Lee from Fight for the Troops 2.
See all the action from the preliminary cards as well as Matt Mitrione showing off his vertical leap and knocking down Tim Hague with one big left hand. Also check out Mark Hominick working overtime with some Octagon pushups.
Tracy captured the scenery of Fort Hood with shots of an Apache helicopter, the venue, Chuck Liddell greeting the soldiers and the presenting of the colors.
There's also some great shots of the Octagon girls -- Chandella, Brittney and Arianny -- in their camoflage numbers.
("Diaz vs. Miller? I'd love to, but I think I'm busy that weekend." PicProps: MMA Convert)
Even after last week’s revelation that it would take “a couple fucking million dollars” to get Nick Diaz to meet Jason “Mayhem” Miller at a catchweight, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker says he’s still interested in making that fight … just not so interested that he’d actually take an active role in trying to book it. According to a story out on MMA Weekly this weekend, Coker says he didn’t even call Diaz manager Cesar Gracie during the recent period of negotiation when the fight almost happened, then didn’t.
“Sometimes I’ll call Cesar, but on that occasion I didn’t call Cesar and I let my guys handle it, and it was really close,” Coker said. “I thought it was going to happen, but at the last minute it fell apart. I know weight was definitely one of the issues. The weight they say, ‘Oh it’s only two pounds, three pounds,’ but you know what? When you’re two or three percent body fat, five percent body fat, there’s just not a lot to lose and we just couldn’t bridge the gap. In the future, I’d still like to put that fight together because I think they have some unfinished business with that match-up.”
Two title belts are on the line, and the most famous fighter in the promotion will step into the cage, when Strikeforce returns to its home base of San Jose on Saturday night. We've got the full preview right here.
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/01/28/strikeforce-diaz-vs-cyborg-preview-and-predictions/
In this dated interview from the Fight Hub TV vaults, our cameras caught up with Jason "Mayhem" Miller as he talks randomness. He also talks about his bout with Sakuraba, the EA MMA video game, what songs get his lady in the mood and a message to Diaz fans and brothers.
The Fight Nerd met UFC President Dana White at their UFC in NY press conference last week, and had a chance to grab a one on one with the man. After a short technical difficulty, White tells us about their plans to get MMA in NY, and also talks about his reaction to Chael Sonnen's current problems, as well as if he thinks Josh Barnett will be licensed to fight in the US due to his trio positive drug tests, which Scott Coker told us he thinks there will be no problems getting things resolved.After fumbling through some questions, I finally pop the big question -- what flavor of frozen yogurt does Dana White like? Why did I ask that, you may ask. Because it was the perfect set-up to my ballsiest move ever -- asking Dana White for a press pass to UFC 128 in Jersey. What does Dana have to say to that? Better check out the video to find out!
Filed under: HDNet
Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/01/29/abe-wagner-kos-tim-sylvia-at-titan-fc/
Mauricio "Shogun" Rua has plenty of weapons to use against Rashad Evans, so "Suga" had to get creative when training for their March title bout. He had to turn to Jedi powers.
With his own Yoda, Greg Jackson, looking on, the padawan hones his mind-control skills. Jedi Knight will pay off, as the ability to sense danger, control minds and drain life force could come in handy against Shogun. Now, if only light sabers were allowed in the Octagon...
Fabricio Werdum talks about his upcoming strikeforce heavyweight tournament fight against overeem. He talks about beating fedor, overeem talking too much, having a big suprise for everyone and his training at kings mma with aaron tru from mmaprime.tv
Jose Aldo finally has an opponent. Mark Hominick was offered the chance to take on the UFC's featherweight champ if he could win tonight at Fight for the Troops 2. Josh Grispi had the same opportunity at UFC 125, but blew it with a loss to Dustin Poirier. Hominick learned the lesson and delivered big time by smoking George Roop in less than two minutes. The Canadian scored a TKO finish at 1:28 of the first round to make his title shot official.
"If you're next in line for a title shot you got go out there and prove it," Hominick told UFC analyst Joe Rogan. "I believe my standup is far superior to everybody in the featherweight division, but you have to show it. You have to prove it in the cage."
Whether he's the best striker up for debate, but there is no argument that he is incredibly composed on the feet. The much taller Roop tried to stay on the move and catch Hominick off guard by throwing kicks, punches and knees from odd angles.
Hominick calmly stalked Roop and picked his spot. After Roop threw a lazy jab, Hominick floored him with a straight just 36 seconds into the fight. Instead of jumping into Roop's guard, Hominick backed up and waved for the fallen fighter to get up.
Roop never seemed right the rest of the fight. He also fell into a bad habit by constantly moving to his left. With 3:54 remaining, Hominick nailed Roop with a left hook and eight seconds later he stunned him with a straight right. Roops was out of it and got caught with another big left hook. Down he went and with Roop's hands at his sides, Hominick nailed him one more time. Referee Don Turnage jumped in to stop the fight. Roop protested, but when he rose to his feet he stumbled across the Octagon.
Hominick's been rumored to face Aldo at UFC 129 in Toronto.
"Jose’s next. I think he’s the best pound for pound, but he’s never faced anyone like me," Hominick said. "I'm going to go out there and prove it."
The UFC is set to debut in Ontario in April. Hominicks' hometown is 100 miles to the south of Toronto.
(Tim's impressive physique can be credited to his sports-nutritionist, John Belushi. / Photo courtesy of chavo.smugmug.com)
Tonight at the Historic Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas, former UFC heavyweight champ Tim Sylvia will take a break from almost suplexing mental ladies to face TUF 10 castmember Abe Wagner in the super-heavyweight main event of Titan Fighting Championship 16. Weigh-ins were yesterday, and Timmy punished the scales at 311 pounds, which is basically what he weighed for his ill-fated bout against Ray Mercer in June 2009. Back then, we took his weight as a sign that he wasn't taking his opponent or training seriously. But just look at that grin in the photo above. Sylvia is owning his girth. It's where he wants to be.
We can't seem to find full weigh-in results for the event, but we will say that Abe Wagner is looking mad beefy, and appears to be a hell of a lot more serious about the whole thing than his "aw fuck it" opponent. The Titan FC 16 main card will be broadcast on HDNet tonight at 10 p.m. ET. The full lineup — which also features UFC vets Rich Clementi, Drew McFedries, and Jason High — is after the jump...
Source: http://www.cagepotato.com/tim-sylvia-still-fatty-boom-boom
Fabricio Werdum talks about his upcoming strikeforce heavyweight tournament fight against overeem. He talks about beating fedor, overeem talking too much, having a big suprise for everyone and his training at kings mma with aaron tru from mmaprime.tv
Have you ever wanted to meet a legend in any sport...anyone like an Emmitt Smith or any other sports legend who is so well-known in their sport, yet so hard to attract for any types of public events?
Well, if you live in Las Vegas, somewhere less than a 20-30 minute drive from the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Resort, you'll get your chance to meet and socialize with arguably the most revered Mixed Martial Artist in today's "modern" generation.
I could only be talking about the first man to be known by UFC and MMA fans as "the man" in both the Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight divisions...a feat that was unheard of at the time.
This man has defeated Chuck Liddell, UFC 126 headliner Vitor Belfort, Tito Ortiz, and even Boxing Legend James "Lights Out" Toney in his illustrious career, and is likely to face Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida in his next fight, originally scheduled for UFC 129 but most likely subjected to change if the UFC Featherweight title showdown between Jose Aldo and Mark Hominick is in dried ink.
I could only be talking about UFC Hall of Famer Randy "The Natural" Couture.
Next weekend, fans of Couture, hardcore MMA fans, and even casual fans who just love the thought of meeting a UFC star in person can not only meet the Hall-of-Famer, but they may also be able to socialize with him and also participate in media-based events with The Natural.
The meet and greet with Couture is scheduled for the day of UFC 126: Silva vs. Belfort. That's Feb. 5, next Saturday, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Affliction Clothing Store located inside the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Resort.
For those of you planning to drive or fly in to Vegas for the meet and greet, I'll do my best to not be jealous of you, but you'll do well to know that the famed Hard Rock venue is at 4455 Paradise Road in Sin City itself.
Could you think of a better way to get fired up for UFC 126 than meeting this incomparable MMA legend and former UFC Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight Champion?
I didn't think so.
Source: Afflictionclothing.com
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com
The Fight Network previews Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Cyborg featuring Nick Diaz vs. Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos and Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza vs. Robbie Lawler, taking place on Saturday January 29, 2011 in San Jose, California.Source: http://mmalice.com/strikeforce/strikeforce-diaz-vs-cyborg-fight-previews-video_ced39bfb1.html
The military has given to him, so Melvin Guillard is happy to give back. The same goes for UFC president Dana White.
The promotion is just a few days away from putting on its third fight card on a U.S. military base. This time it's Ft. Hood in Texas and the UFC is hoping to exceed the $4 million it raised in late 2008 with a fight card in Fayetteville, N.C.
"I'm going to give these guys a show," Guillard said during the "Fight for the Troops 2" teleconference. "You know, they work so hard to protect us every year, year after year. Some of them give up going overseas and got to live there for years at a time. And, you know, this is a blessing for me to even be asked to give a performance that I'm going to give these guys next week -- and guys and girls. So to me, it's just all part of being an American and I'm honored."
Guillard knows first hand of the sacrifice.
"I stay right now in Albuquerque with Staff Sergeant Chris Molina and his family. This is where I stay when I come here. So, you know, getting the military experience of staying with families, you know, seeing what these guys go through to protect our country, I've actually had chances to visit certain military bases and I also have a ton of friends in high school that got out of high school that’s in military, whether it's Marine Corps or Army or Air Force or whatever," said Guillard.
White decided Ft. Hood was a good spot this time around after seeing the work done by the Fisher family in Texas and around the country.
"What happened was we got invited down there and I went down. It was the first time I'd ever seen anything like that -- when I visited the hospital and what these guys, you know, the Fisher family who started this thing, what they’ve done for the troops here fighting in the United States, it's -- I can't even -- I can't put it into words for you. When these kids get injured, you know, you’ve got these 18-, 19-, 20-year-old kids that are getting injured over there -- they come back, it's sad to say but the government doesn’t take care of them, which is mind boggling," said White.
"So this family has put together this thing where -- and if you're a parent of one of these kids, I mean anybody who's on this call who has kids can understand. Your kid gets his arms, legs blown off, his face is melted -- the horrible things that happen to these guys -- and they're laying in a hospital bed out in the middle of Nowhere, Virginia, what do you do? You know what you do? You quit your job, you lose everything you have and you drive out there and you live in your car and you sit in a chair in the bed next to them."
The UFC raised $4 million around Fight for the Troops 1 and is hoping to eclipse that number this time. The proceeds this year will benefit the 53 Fisher Houses around the U.S. and in Germany and the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.
"Fight for the Troops" goes down this Saturday on Spike (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT).
Thanks to Spike for conference call transcript
The UFC just wants you to like them. Literally -- if you "like" them on Facebook, then you'll get to stream two preliminary fights from this weekend's "Fight for the Troops."
Head to the UFC's fan page, click on the "like" button, and then you can watch Cody McKenzie take on Yves Edwards in a fight that McKenzie promises to finish, and also watch DaMarques Johnson face Mike "Joker" Guymon for free. To the press release:
“I’m always looking for ways to give fans fights for free and this is just another example of that,” UFC President Dana White said. “Facebook is such a great tool for people to stay connected and we’re excited to put two live fights on our UFC page for free.”
Those fights will happen before the rest of the card -- headlined by Evan Dunham vs. Melvin Guilard and Tim Hague vs. Matt Mitrione -- airs on Spike TV for the cost of basic cable.
While you're at Facebook, check out the Cagewriter Facebook page. We can't give you any free fights, but hey, we were nice enough to tell you about it, right?
The one-hour preliminary shows before UFC pay-per-views are returning to Spike TV in 2011.
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/01/24/ufc-spike-tv-reach-new-deal-to-show-preliminary-fights/
Freedom of speech in this country is a tricky thing. We talk all the time about fighting abroad to protect our rights yet if you speak your mind stateside you may put yourself in harm's way. Following his fight at UFC 125, Jacob Volkmann simply expressed his opinion, and the firestorm since has bordered on lunacy. He's gotten his name out via multiple television and radio appearances, but he's also lost a paying gig for simply expressing his opinion.
The fighter went mainstream last week, hitting the front page of Yahoo! and "The Tonight Show." He was a hot topic on sports and news radio. This week, he made an appearance on FOX Business. That's right, an MMA fighter on a television network focused on business news. All this for calling the president an idiot and saying he'd like to fight him.
On the downside, a few days after the original Obama video went viral, the Secret Service paid a visit to Volkmann. He also tells the ridiculous tale that his gig as high school coach is now in jeopardy.
"They put me on paid administrative leave because of my comment," Volkmann told Franklin McNeil on ESPN.com. "They said I represented the school in a bad way. I'm kind of irritated about that whole thing. So I can't coach because I have an opinion? That really irritates me."
Volkmann has also received numerous threats via email and phone calls. That's to be expected. The web allows for Internet tough guys to hide behind their computer screens and make threats every day, but for school officials to dump someone for expressing an opinion is, dare I say it -- un-American.
It seems like freedom of speech and the ability to promote open discourse takes a step back every day. Volkmann did nothing wrong. White Bear Lake High School in Minnesota should be ashamed of itself. Let's hope the history and civics teachers at White Bear don't say anything that may be taken as a threat or "embarrassing." The school be without a staff in a few months.
At the beginning of each UFC pay-per-view, the UFC plays an opening video that likens the UFC to gladiators, like this one from UFC 124:
But how much do today's fighters have to do with the gladiators of ancient Rome? Quite a bit, it turns out. Like Maximus, they put their bodies through hell so that you'll be entertained, but they don't give much thought to the future. In a column from MMA Fighting, Strikeforce fighter Jason "Mayhem" Miller recognizes the risks, but says it doesn't change anything.
"Athletes know this stuff. We do," said Miller. "We're not dumb. It's like that new research that links head injuries and Lou Gehrig's disease. Well, duh, science. Thanks for telling us what athletes already know. We know what we're doing to ourselves. It's the elephant in the room. We're giving our bodies for the entertainment of the masses. I'm okay with that. I've had plenty of surgeries. I know there's a chance that I could be retarded. I know that."
MMA is far from the only sport where athletes take these risks. Football players take on massive amounts of punishment, as do boxers and hockey players. But it's worth reading the entire article to hear how fighters we know and love have paid the price.
The UFC's Fight for the Troops 2 was not just a fight card that featured two TKOs in the co-main events, or even a fundraising event for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. (By the way, the auction and donation drive will continue until Sunday evening. Donate or bid here.) Just as Bob Hope once did, the UFC also spent the weekend entertaining the troops.
UFC fighters Brian Stann -- a veteran of the Marine Corps -- and Jim Miller signing autographs.
The Octagon Girls -- Arianny, Chandella and Brittney -- hung out on top of a tank before the weigh-ins.
Of course the UFC would have a helicopter.
The soldiers on hand presented colors, and the national anthem was sung, something that usually doesn't happen at UFC events. The sight of every service member standing at attention during the "Star-Spangled Banner" was quite moving.
The scene from Ft. Hood, which was described by our photographer Tracy Lee as one of the best UFC events she's ever been to. Considering how rarely she misses fight cards, that's quite a compliment. Kudos to the UFC for not only raising money and awareness for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, but for giving the troops at Ft. Hood a weekend where they could take their minds off the fighting that they have to face.
While this card does not hold the kind of anticipation of the upcoming UFC 126 card or Strikeforce heavyweight tournament, there are some exciting fights that will keep your MMA appetite full for the weekend.
Two belts will be on the line; the welterweight and middleweight championships. How much of a chance do the champions have of losing them? You will just have to watch and find out.
Will Scott Carson, who has only had one fight in the last 10 years, be able to upset Herschel Walker?
Is Roger Gracie going to be the one who carries the Gracie name into the coming years?
These questions and more will be answered this weekend only on Showtime.
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/585494-strikeforce-diaz-vs-cyborg-10-reasons-you-need-to-watch
Yves Edwards looked great on his feet and then surprisingly effective on the ground against Cody McKenzie at the UFC Fight for the Troops 2 on Saturday night, winning a second-round submission victory when he sunk in a rear-naked choke that put McKenzie to sleep.
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/01/22/yves-edwards-chokes-out-cody-mckenzie/
Somewhere along the line, Pat Barry rubbed Travis Browne the wrong way. Browne had some pent up anger he wanted to vent and chose an odd time to do so. After Barry made an impassioned speech following his victory at Fort Hood over Joey Beltran, Browne unloaded on the former kickboxer suggesting his speech was a bit phony.
Browne was attacked by several followers and tried to clarify his comments, but it's clear he'd like a fight down the road with the loquacious Barry.
Shortly after the fight, Barry had no idea why he was under attack.
"He wants to know why am I now talking about my Dad's dog tags versus any other fight? It's because my Dad was in the Army and I'm on an Army base. Kind of makes sense. Seems like an opportune time to actually bring it up," Barry told Hector Castro from MMADieHards.
Barry was totally confused.
"I don't why he's mad at me. I didn't do anything wrong to him. I don't even think we've ever met. Travis Browne says a lot of ugly things," said Barry.
He also told Browne to worry about his next fight against Stefan Struve. Browne and Struve square off at UFC 130 in May. Barry closed the interview by saying he would fight Browne if offered the chance.
Did Fight of the Year go down on January 1? Some say yes - if you missed a minute of the non-stop action, catch the replay at UFCLive.com.Source: http://mmalice.com/ufc-125/ufc-125-highlights-video_3fda62e5c.html
Rhian Sugden is quite popular overseas, and quite hot everywhere, so much so that it's time to introduce her to the American audience.
She is an English glamour model, Page Three Girl and the latest hottie to enter the world of MMA as a ring girl.
What exactly do ring girls accomplish? I have no idea.
But I do know this: Rhian Sugden is Bleacher Report's MMA Hottie of the Week.
You're welcome.
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/585720-rhian-sugden-bleacher-reports-mma-hottie-of-the-week
Somewhere along the line, Pat Barry rubbed Travis Browne the wrong way. Browne had some pent up anger he wanted to vent and chose an odd time to do so. After Barry made an impassioned speech following his victory at Fort Hood over Joey Beltran, Browne unloaded on the former kickboxer suggesting his speech was a bit phony.
Browne was attacked by several followers and tried to clarify his comments, but it's clear he'd like a fight down the road with the loquacious Barry.
Shortly after the fight, Barry had no idea why he was under attack.
"He wants to know why am I now talking about my Dad's dog tags versus any other fight? It's because my Dad was in the Army and I'm on an Army base. Kind of makes sense. Seems like an opportune time to actually bring it up," Barry told Hector Castro from MMADieHards.
Barry was totally confused.
"I don't why he's mad at me. I didn't do anything wrong to him. I don't even think we've ever met. Travis Browne says a lot of ugly things," said Barry.
He also told Browne to worry about his next fight against Stefan Struve. Browne and Struve square off at UFC 130 in May. Barry closed the interview by saying he would fight Browne if offered the chance.
Don’t be fooled by her gorgeous physical appearance; Kenda Perez is a ninja assassin.
In 1999, at the young age of 15, Perez was ambushed by the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.
Sensing that Perez’ ninja powers were growing stronger by the day, the Power Rangers viewed her as a threat and felt that she had to be taken out of commission.
Unfortunately for the Power Rangers, Perez was just too much for them to handle, and she swiftly defeated all of them within three minutes and 32 seconds.
Fast forward 12 years to today, and Perez is using her ninja abilities to take the television industry by storm.
In 2009 she was hired by the Ultimate Fighting Championship to host their new hit series on Spike TV, The Best of PRIDE FC.
But before she even thought about getting involved in the television or modeling industries, Perez’ initial dream was to be a preschool teacher.
“I had a lot of fun growing up in high school. I got to go to a really small, private school and that was something that I would always do after school is hang out at the preschool,” Perez told Mitch Ciccarelli and Tuff N’ Uff ring girl Stephanie Ann Cook on a recent episode of Crouching Tiger Hidden Leprechaun Radio.
“It was just something that I always thought would be the coolest job. It wouldn’t feel like a job, you’d get to play all day and be around all of these funny innocent personalities. It just sounds like fun and I would definitely consider doing that in the future.”
Her eventual modeling career sparked when a friend suggested she enter the Maxim Hometown Hotties contest. From there, several windows of opportunity were opened, which eventually led to her current job with the UFC.
“I was so fortunate when I was with Maxim because the UFC found me from there. I was doing a lot of promotional stuff and they saw me on camera,” Perez said.
“They were looking for some new talent, so when I got contacted by them, I was ecstatic. I mean I was already a big fan, so it’s really cool to work and be so close to a sport that I am so excited about.”
Perez’ love for MMA didn’t formulate until an ex-boyfriend brought her to a live event. Prior to that, she had been exposed and involved with traditional martial arts.
Her father, Ken Perez, has been studying Shito-Ryu for several years and is a black belt in the art. She remembers being around him a lot and watching him train vigorously. But she was admittedly nervous the first time she was introduced to the sport of mixed martial arts.
“I’ve been a fan of the UFC long before I ever worked for them. Usually it was more of a guy thing [at first] and a guy dragged me to a fight, and I had already kind of been around that scene because of my dad, but not [been around] mixed martial arts,” Perez said.
“So anyway, I got dragged to a fight and I was thinking ‘this is going to be scary’ and I had the best time. It was so awesome. I was sitting in the nosebleed seats but it was so awesome. I mean, who doesn’t love a fight whether it’s professional or not? When there’s a fight, it doesn’t matter, everyone watches.”
Perez’ passion for the sport is very evident when watching her on the Best of PRIDE series. You can see it in her eyes and tell by the excitement in her voice that she truly loves this sport.
So it isn’t surprising that she has a tremendous fan base, and many of those fans have expressed an interest in seeing Perez as a guest Octagon girl for the UFC.
But when ring girl Stephanie Ann Cook brought up the question, Perez expressed some shyness.
“I haven’t been asked to yet but I don’t know if I will. I’m kind of nervous. You guys take on a lot of pressure walking around and everybody is staring at you. I’m not sure if I could handle it. I would be kind of shy believe it or not,” Perez said.
Midway through the interview, it was apparent that something was slightly distracting Perez. Of course, I assumed it was my ridiculously sexy voice, but that would be too obvious.
According to the lovely Perez, there was a strange group of characters in her view at Newport Beach, California.
“I’m literally sitting at the beach right now watching the sun set and watching all of these crazy people skate by and everything. I’m sorry, I’m not distracted at all, I swear. I’m just people-watching,” Perez said.
“There are some punk kids out here walking around. I’m actually on my roller blades as dorky as that sounds. I’m sitting right now because I don’t want to fall. My roller blades don’t have any brakes, so I guess I can’t do both at the same time,” Perez said.
When asked if Perez had the option to fight anyone in the universe, dead or alive, she couldn’t decide. I suggested that potential bouts with either Sarah Jessica Parker or Anna Nicole Smith would be most intriguing, and predicted Perez to win with an Anthony Pettis “Showtime Kick.”
“I’m definitely taking his move, for sure, because that was an awesome end to a fight. I don’t know who I would fight. I don’t think I would pick Anna Nicole Smith. I don’t know how that came up in your mind, but we are definitely not in the same weight class,” Perez said.
Perez might not want to throw down with an Anna Nicole Smith zombie, but her ninja skills may be needed in the year 2012.
After all, that is the year that the Mayans predicted the end of the world, and I believe if that’s the case, it will be caused by a fusion between Facebook and Twitter.
“What are you asking me? I’m so scared right now. So the world might spontaneously combust [if Facebook and Twitter fused together]? That would be crazy, but I don’t know how I feel about that whole 2012 thing,” Perez said.
“I don’t know if it’s real or not, but it kind of makes me nervous and now that you brought it up, I’m all paranoid. But yes if Facebook and Twitter combined, the world would spontaneously combust, or at least my phone would. My phone goes crazy all day, so it would explode if that were to happen.”
To listen to the entire episode, click the link below and follow Kenda on twitter @KendaPerez.
Listen to internet radio with CTHL MMA Radio on Blog Talk Radio
Mitch Ciccarelli is the sexiest columnist in MMA. A staff writer for Heavy MMA, featured columnist for B/R and host of Crouching Tiger Hidden Leprechaun MMA Radio, Ciccarelli is also a future United States Airman beginning basic training this March. He is also engaged to Eva Mendes and Jessica Simpson.
Follow Ciccarelli on twitter, unless you have herpes. @MitchCiccarelli
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com
Who knew there was such angst and jealousy in the world of Vikings? Brock Lesnar tabbed himself a nordic warrior, grew a gnarly beard and bagged a deer during a hunting trip to Canada. Justin Wren, a fellow American MMA fighter of Scandanavian descent, took Lesnar to task. Apparently, Lesnar isnt Viking enough. Wren posted on the Underground Forum that Lesnar's beard was weak and phony:
One had a beard for a month... The other was the only student with his own razor at middle school.
One was clean shaven for over 30 years... The other hasn't shaved once since high school (5 1/2 years)
Wren says deer, schmeer.
One shoots a deer from HUNDREDS of yards away ... and carries it out.
The other's FIRST hunt, he used only a 3 inch knife, chased down hog, flipped it to it's back, ripped out it's heart, and carried out the "Brock" sized hog over a 1,000 yards out through heavy brush, creek beds, cactus, 2 & 1/2 weeks after back surgery.
Wren finished by mocking on Lesnar for eating deer sausage while he was feasting hog hearts, one evidently exhibiting the stab wounds.
This is clearly some good-natured ballbusting. If not, Wren, a former contestant on Season 10 of "The Ultimate Fighter," better get his career into gear so we can see the "Yuppie Viking' against the "real Viking' at UFC 154. Check out Wren's website.
Freedom of speech in this country is a tricky thing. We talk all the time about fighting abroad to protect our rights yet if you speak your mind stateside you may put yourself in harm's way. Following his fight at UFC 125, Jacob Volkmann simply expressed his opinion, and the firestorm since has bordered on lunacy. He's gotten his name out via multiple television and radio appearances, but he's also lost a paying gig for simply expressing his opinion.
The fighter went mainstream last week, hitting the front page of Yahoo! and "The Tonight Show." He was a hot topic on sports and news radio. This week, he made an appearance on FOX Business. That's right, an MMA fighter on a television network focused on business news. All this for calling the president an idiot and saying he'd like to fight him.
On the downside, a few days after the original Obama video went viral, the Secret Service paid a visit to Volkmann. He also tells the ridiculous tale that his gig as high school coach is now in jeopardy.
"They put me on paid administrative leave because of my comment," Volkmann told Franklin McNeil on ESPN.com. "They said I represented the school in a bad way. I'm kind of irritated about that whole thing. So I can't coach because I have an opinion? That really irritates me."
Volkmann has also received numerous threats via email and phone calls. That's to be expected. The web allows for Internet tough guys to hide behind their computer screens and make threats every day, but for school officials to dump someone for expressing an opinion is, dare I say it -- un-American.
It seems like freedom of speech and the ability to promote open discourse takes a step back every day. Volkmann did nothing wrong. White Bear Lake High School in Minnesota should be ashamed of itself. Let's hope the history and civics teachers at White Bear don't say anything that may be taken as a threat or "embarrassing." The school be without a staff in a few months.
(VidProps: YouTube/ZP420MMA)
With the opening bouts of the Strikeforce heavyweight tournament less than a month away, embattled grand prix participant Josh Barnett turned up on HDNet’s Inside MMA over the weekend, where he and Bas Rutten both just started saying stuff. Protest if you want, but it makes for great TV when nobody is around to check facts or rein in the insanity. Clearly, Barnett and Bas just want to bro down, have a couple of drinks and reminisce about how radical it used to be to be King of Pancrase, leaving poor Kenny Rice to try to bumble his way through some actual journalism.
Things reach a fever pitch of awesomeness at about the 3:40 mark, when Rice asks Barnett a serious question about his efforts (or lack thereof) to get relicensed in California. Barnett dismissively waves his hands and pretty much says he doesn’t give a damn, that he doesn’t need no pencil-pushing lawmakers to tell him when and where he throws down. All the while Bas just chuckles to himself and mumbles stuff like “Right! Yeah!” as if to say “You tell it, brother!” Seriously, these guys are two peas in a pod …
Source: http://www.cagepotato.com/josh-barnett-says-hed-fight-death-bas-rutten-laughs-enthusiastically
The Fight Network previews this Saturday's UFC Fight for the Troops 2 event from Fort Hood, Texas, which is headlined by Evan Dunham vs. Melvin Guillard in lightweight action.
(SportsHaze.com Original)
Fans may have just witnessed the emergence of a new UFC Lightweight Title contender.
Melvin Guillard shocked the MMA world with his upset win over Lightweight standout Evan Dunham in the main event of UFC Fight for the Troops 2 on Saturday at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas.
Guillard's power was felt almost immediately by Dunham, who began to work for the takedown after eating a hard punch early.
"The Young Assassin" showed improvement in his defense as he fought through the grappling transitions and escaped the clutches of Dunham's black-belt-level BJJ.
On the feet, Guillard was aggressive and stormed Dunham with a barrage of combinations. Wobbled from the flurry, Dunham desperately sought out the takedown, but his attempt was met with solid defense and strong hammer fists.
After releasing the takedown, Dunham tried to back away to clear the cobwebs, but Guillard never let up on the pressure as he worked hard to finish.
The violence finally came to a conclusion when Guillard followed a couple of knees with some vicious ground punches that forced the ref to step in at 2:58 of the first round.
"I want my title shot. I'm the dark horse in the game. No disrespect to anyone in my weight class, but I'm the best 155-pound fighter in the world," Guillard said.
This is the biggest win of Guillard's MMA career. Dunham is a world class fighter and considered by many to be a viable threat to the Lightweight title. Could 2011 be the year of Melvin Guillard?
"I will go undefeated in 2011, and I'll get a title shot no later than 2012," said Guillard.
Mark Hominick Makes Quick Work of George Roop, Secures UFC Title Shot
It took Mark Hominick a mere 88 seconds to dispatch of George Roop and earn his shot at UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo.
Roop had the right idea of using his superior reach to keep his distance and pick his shots on the outside, but Hominick's speed and precision proved too much for the Tucson, Ariz., native.
Hominick hurt Roop with a straight right hand less than a minute into the fight. He followed with a couple of hard left hooks that sent the disoriented Roop crashing to the canvas and forcing the ref to call a halt to the action.
Roop, who wasn't completely unconscious, tried to argue the stoppage, but he could hardly stand on his own afterwards.
Hominick is expected to challenge Aldo at UFC 129 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Aldo has won 11 straight and is widely considered as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. Hominick will have his work cut out for him.
"Jose is next," said Hominick. "I think he's the best pound-for-pound, but he's never faced anyone like me, and I'm going to go out there and prove it."
Matt Mitrione Keeps Smile Intact, Stops Tim Hague
Before the fight, Tim Hague talked about wiping the smirk from Matt Mitrione's face. Similar threats have been made before.
Could Hague actually deliver on his promise? The answer was a resounding no.
With his fourth straight UFC win, Mitrione hopes to be welcomed with stiffer competition in his next octagon appearance.
Mitrione continued his unbeaten streak as he wiped the floor with Hague and netted the TKO stoppage at 2:59 of the first round.
"I wanted to emulate Dominick Cruz. I wanted to be the 265-pound Dominick Cruz. I love the way you fight, brother, you're elusive, and I wanted to be just like that," said Mitrione.
The improved footwork of Mitrione was the difference in this fight. He was able to string together punches in the open and move out of range when Hague became desperate for the takedown.
By controlling distance, Mitrione forced Hague into telegraphing takedown attempts, which made them easier to defend.
"I want to get tested," Mitrione said. "I think Tim is a good fighter. I'm not going to bite off more than I can chew, but I'm here to fight. I'm here to get a piece of that gold."
It could be awhile before we see Mitrione back in action again. Even though it was a dominant performance, "Meathead" may not be leaving Fort Hood unscathed.
"I think I broke my left hand," stated Mitrione.
Pat Barry Chops Down Joey Beltran
It took a three-round effort, but Pat Barry rebounded from his June 2010 loss to Mirko Cro Cop with a unanimous decision victory over Joey Beltran.
After having his leg used as Barry's personal Muay Thai bag, Beltran may have a noticeable limp for weeks to come. Barry, a former K-1 fighter, chopped at Beltran's left leg throughout the fight. The extensive work paid dividends in the later rounds as Beltran's battered leg began to buckle from under him.
"The dude is a zombie," Barry told UFC commentator Joe Rogan after the fight. "I kicked him in his face 300 times. I think I beat his leg to death, and he was going to keep coming no matter what. If we had two more rounds, he'd be hopping around on one leg. That guy is a monster."
Despite taking significant punishment in the final round, Beltran's strategy of closing the distance and working short strikes against the cage proved effective early in the fight.
The chorus of boos that erupted throughout the audience may have resulted in a couple of early separations from referee Mario Yamasaki.
Beltran was able to land consistently during the exchanges, but Barry's rugged chin absorbed most of the damage.
The Roufusport member's willingness to linger in the pocket and Beltran's sloppy offense opened up a multitude of counters. In the end, the judges saw the fight as 30-27, 29-28, and 29-28 in Barry's favor.
With this win, Barry's UFC record improves to 3-2. This is the first fight in his MMA career that has gone the distance.
Matt Wiman Silences Cole Miller
The pre-fight jawing between Cole Miller and Matt Wiman ended up being more competitive than the actual fight.
For three rounds, Wiman controlled from top and rained down vicious ground and pound to rout Miller for the unanimous decision. The official scorecards read 29-28, 30-27, and 30-27.
"I was going through a lot of nerves before this fight," said Wiman, who picked up his third straight win in the octagon. "It's probably the most nervous I've ever been."
Despite his feelings, Wiman's nerves never impeded his strategy of pressing the action and forcing Miller out of his comfort zone.
In the first round, Miller attempted to counter Wiman's aggression with good lateral movement and clinch work, but Wiman's constant pressure eventually forced Miller to try his luck on the ground.
After shrugging off Miller's attempt to pull guard, Wiman quickly went to work on establishing his dominance from top. Miller, a black belt in BJJ, had no answers from bottom as Wiman maintained top position and loaded up on unanswered shots.
The next two rounds were more of the same. Wiman continued his constant barrage of ground and pound, and Miller struggled to put forth any offense.
Either one of those final two rounds could've been considered as 10-8 rounds. It was interesting that one judge gave Miller a round in the fight. Wiman seemed to be in control from start to finish.
Official Results
Melvin Guillard def. Evan Dunham by TKO at 2:58, R1
Matt Mitrione def. Tim Hague by TKO at 2:59, R1
Mark Hominick def. George Roop by TKO at 1:28, R1
Pat Barry def. Joey Beltran by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Matt Wiman def. Cole Miller by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Yves Edwards def. Cody McKenzie by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 4:33, R2
DaMarques Johnson def. Mike Guymon by Submission (Body Triangle) at 3:22, R1
Rani Yahya def. Mike Brown by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Waylon Lowe def. Willamy Freire by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Charlie Brenneman def. Amilcar Alves by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Chris Cariaso def. Will Campuzano by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
(Follow me on Twitter at SportsHaze_MMA for automatic news updates)
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com
UFC president Dana White and chairman Lorenzo Fertitta met with the press in New York City to make their commitment to the Big Apple clear. They announced via an online press conference that once MMA is regulated, the UFC will bring two shows to Madison Square Garden. According to studies from an independent researcher, those two shows would bring $23 million and more than 200 jobs to N.Y.
"By bringing UFC events to New York, the state will see a positive financial impact," White said. "The arenas will get to host major UFC events and local hotels, restaurants, and other businesses will attract new customers. They’ll look forward to the times we bring UFC to New York."
N.Y. assemblyman Dean Murray was on hand to talk politics, and the process that had to happen to get MMA legalized and sanctioned in his state. He will try to sway newly sworn-in governor Andrew Cuomo to include revenue from MMA in the state budget, which will give it an easier path. He is pushing for MMA's legalization because he wants the state to find new economic streams.
"In today's climate, we don't need to be raising taxes. We need a chance to raise revenue," Murray said.
But one thing was clear throughout the press conference -- the UFC's biggest hurdle in getting MMA in the Empire State was not effective lobbying or discussions of economic impact. It's the need for education.
White emphasized the process of education several times throughout the half-hour press conference, and then a reporter on-hand showed just why education about of MMA was needed, asking, "How will you regulate martial arts when you add in kicks and punches?"
White calmly pointed out that kicks and punches are part of MMA, one of the few sports regulated by the government, and that safety is always the first concern.
