Nick Diaz was a no-show at the UFC 137 press conference in Las Vegas - just like he was a no-show at the press conference in Toronto the day before. Dana White decided enough is enough and axed him from the card, giving Carlos Condit the title shot in his place. In this interview with MMA:30's Dave Farra; Dana White talks about the trust lost, why he thinks he'll never heard from Diaz again, and touches on Overreem vs. Lesnar and the UFC's return to Japan. See more videos at MMA30.com
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Dana White talks after UFC 137 "I Will Never Trust Nick Diaz Again" - Dana White
Nick Diaz was a no-show at the UFC 137 press conference in Las Vegas - just like he was a no-show at the press conference in Toronto the day before. Dana White decided enough is enough and axed him from the card, giving Carlos Condit the title shot in his place. In this interview with MMA:30's Dave Farra; Dana White talks about the trust lost, why he thinks he'll never heard from Diaz again, and touches on Overreem vs. Lesnar and the UFC's return to Japan. See more videos at MMA30.com
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Junior Dos Santos: Top 10 Threats to Dos Santos' UFC Heavyweight Title in 2012
UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos will square off with striking juggernaut Alistair Overeem later this year. While the immediacy of the contest ushers Overeem to the precipice of MMA glory, the Dutchman is not the only combatant Dos Santos will have to be wary of in 2012.
The UFC heavyweight division, once thought of as the organization's weakest link, is brimming with an influx of talent lent by 2009's heavyweight edition The Ultimate Fighter, the acquisition of top Strikeforce talent and the development of several young big men.
Though Dos Santos is widely regarded as the best fighter on the globe over 205 pounds, the heavyweight waters contain some seriously hungry sharks. In 2012, Dos Santos will have to look out for these 10 fighters in particular.
Dana White UFC 131 Video Blog Day 2 - UFC
Dana White UFC 131 Video Blog Day 2. Behind the Scenes of the UFC 131 press con. Dana talking to fans about fights coming up and hockey.Source: http://mmalice.com/ufc/dana-white-ufc-131-video-blog-day-2-video_348769b2e.html
Georges St-Pierre focused on Nick Diaz and nothing else
LAS VEGAS -- Think Georges St-Pierre isn't obsessed with Nick Diaz? Consider this: The UFC welterweight champion didn't know who is playing in Sunday's Super Bowl.
When the Montreal native was asked if he'd be rooting for the New England Patriots against the New York Giants during a media availability at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Wednesday, St-Pierre replied "Are the Patriots playing? I don't even know who's in the [game]. I think New York is in it. New York is closer to Montreal, so I hope New York will win."
One would think St-Pierre would have plenty of time to keep up with the rest of the sports world, since he's been on the sidelines in Los Angeles, rehabbing from his December surgery to repair his torn left ACL.
But it's clear he's fixated on Diaz, the one fighter who has proven his ability to get under his skin.
"I can be a little, what do you call it? OCD. Obsessive-compulsive," said St-Pierre.
Diaz, who fights Condit for the interim welterweight title in the main event of UFC 143 on Saturday night, is the current object of GSP's self-described OCD. While St-Pierre has all the respect in the world for Condit, the champion is openly rooting for a rematch with St-Pierre, who he feels has openly disrespected him.
"I'm thinking about him right now, said St-Pierre. "I don't try to think too much about him. I hope he wins the fight Saturday night. I hope he does, I pray he does. Maybe he won't, but I hope he does."
"I want Nick Diaz to win for two reasons," said St-Pierre. "First, it is the fight everyone wants to see, he was the champion of Strikeforce and I was the champion of the UFC. What lights the fire in me is challenges. When I don't have a challenge, I feel dead. Also, a lot of the things he has said, he has questioned me and my integrity. I have never cheated in my life. It is one thing when you something to promote the fight but it is another when you attack someone personally. It is what it is and that's why I have my motivation to fight him.
St-Pierre said he won't be able to train all-out until July, which makes November the earliest target date for an Octagon return when you factor in a full training camp if all goes well. His last fight was his April 30, 2011, win over Jake Shields, so a November return would mean a year and a half away from the cage.
But St-Pierre's laser focus is aimed at Diaz, so the champ shook off questions of Octagon rust and dismissed the notion of taking a tune-up fight before facing Diaz.
"In mixed martial arts, there's no such thing as a tune-up fight. There's not guy out there who I can say, oh, I can take him. Who knows, that guy might kick my ass. There is no such thing as tune-up fights. In boxing, they can have optional title fights. I truly believe it's ridiculous. You're champion, you should fight the main guy."
So GSP has made it clear Diaz is the man he wants to fight, preferably as soon as November.
"I want him to wait for me. I want him to go on vacation and relax a bit and wait for me, because I'll be back soon."
Just don't ask him about the NBA Finals or the World Series between now and then.
Follow Dave Doyle on Twitter.
Phil Davis and 5 of the Freakiest Bodies in MMA
One of the best things about MMA is that you don't need a specific body type in order to succeed in the sport.
Whether you have a belly like Roy Nelson, or you're as jacked as Brock Lesnar, as long as you have skill and heart, you can compete in the sport.
But while most guys who like to to get in a certain shape, others naturally, (or tragically), have a different build.
Some guys are just downright weird to look at based off of how their body is.
Here's a look at a few guys who have some of the weirdest bodies in MMA history.
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1057582-phil-davis-and-5-of-the-freakiest-bodies-in-mma
UFC on Fox 2?s Three Stars: Oliveira, Johnson and Evans
The UFC's second foray into network television was not exactly thrilling. Some of the best moments happened during the Fuel broadcast, with the fights on Fox providing less-than-exciting action. Who stood out for you? Here are Cagewriter's Three Stars. Tell us yours in the comment section or on Facebook.
No. 1 star -- Charles Oliveira: In his first fight at featherweight, the Brazilian used a leg submission that caused every MMA writer on press row to say, "What was that?" We settled on a calf slicer, while Oliveira walked away with the Submission of the Night bonus.
No. 2 star -- Lavar Johnson: If you haven't watched Johnson's KO of Joey Beltran, go watch it. We'll wait. OK, now that you've watched him take out Beltran with huge uppercuts, you likely will agree with him taking home the Knockout of the Night bonus.
No. 3 star -- Rashad Evans: Put yourself in Evans' shoes. Though you're the No. 1 contender for the light heavyweight belt, injury and bad luck has forced you out of the actual title bout more than a year. Then, you're told you still have to win another fight to get that title shot. You could sulk about it, or you could use the five rounds provided to beat up and outwrestle Phil Davis. Evans chose the latter.
B/R MMA Official Rankings for February: Top 10 Welterweights in MMA
UFC 143 came to a close this weekend, and just like that ,the welterweight rankings had lost one of its premier competitors.
While most fans and analysts alike feel that Nick Diaz will eventually return to create some havoc on the rest of the welterweight division, due to his announced retirement, we have no choice but to eliminate him from this month’s rankings.
Now that the dust has settled on one of the most important welterweight fights in recent memory, it’s time to take a look and see where top level athletes settle in, and more importantly, it’s time to see whether Georges St-Pierre was able to hold off Carlos Condit and retain his spot atop the division.
These rankings are the combined effort of some of Bleacher Report MMA's best writers, as we continue to try to provide you with the best content on the web.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Carlos Condit just wants to watch his cooking shows
Carlos Condit spends most of his time on MMA. From training rabidly for this weekend's interim welterweight championship bout with Nick Diaz to reviewing tape to conducting media interviews and making sponsor appearances, Condit's life is full of MMA.
When he gets home, he wants to shut MMA out, and indulge in some cooking shows. Condit says he is quite the cook. However, Condit told the Orange Country Register that he married an MMA fan and doesn't have control of the remote.
"Sometimes after a long week of training I don't want to watch a Strikeforce card or whatever UFC Fight Night is on. I've been doing it all week and I don't really want to think about it. She's all about watching every single fight card. She gets what she wants and she wants to watch fight cards. I watch a lot of Food Network," Condit said. "I'm a food junkie."
Happy wife, happy life, Carlos. Watching the fights with your wife is a smart move, even if you are missing the latest "Cupcake Wars."
Watch Lavar Johnson knock out Joey Beltran
If you don't have Fuel TV, you didn't see Lavar Johnson's Knockout of the Night. The first Strikeforce heavyweight to cross over the UFC used crushing uppercuts to take out Joey Beltran.
Johnson's last two bouts were submission losses in Strikeforce: Challengers, but on Saturday's UFC on Fox 2 card, he showed that his striking is ready for the UFC.
Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/watch-lavar-johnson-knock-joey-beltran-140342502.html
Georges St-Pierre answers questions on Nick Diaz, changing weight classes and a spinning back kick
LAS VEGAS -- Georges St-Pierre has been in the cage with some of the world's most fearsome fighters over the years, from Matt Hughes to B.J. Penn to a whole host of others.
But the most fearsome strike he's seen was one thrown by someone who sits outside the Octagon.
In a Q & A session for UFC Fight Club fans Friday afternoon at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, St-Pierre said he's never seen anything like UFC color commentator Joe Rogan's spinning back kick.
Speaking about time spent training at Eddie Bravo's gym, St-Pierre said "Joe Rogan was helping me out with the spinning back kick. Joe Rogan has the best spinning back kick I've ever seen in my life. It's incredible. If he was in a fight, if he hits anyone with the spinning back kick, I don't care who he is, he's going down. I don't care who it is, how big he is, it's amazing."
Mike Goldberg, the Q & A's MC, stepped in at that point and told people to check it out on Youtube, so we did, and it's pretty awesome.� Don't believe us? Watch it yourself.
[ Video: Watch UFC 143 live on Yahoo! ]
Rogan's back kick was just one of many topics covered by St-Pierre -- who incidentally is now the second-longest reigning champion in UFC history, having surpassed Tito Ortiz's light heavyweight title reign -- in a half-hour question and answer session done in front of what seemed to be a majority of Canadian fans:
On his UFC Primetime comment that Nick Diaz is "fake crazy:" "What I believe is, he's a very smart guy. He knows what he's doing. He would not be able to do what he's done in his career if he wasn't smart. I do believe maybe he has some mental issues ... I do not believe he is a bad human being. Truth my eyes, because he has been very disrespectful to me and because maybe we'll fight, he's disrespectful, but to you guys, I'm sure if you saw him and asked him for an autograph he'd give it to you.
What if Carlos Condit beats Diaz on Saturday? "I wouldn't be surprised at all if Carlos Condit wins. I would not be surprised if Carlos spoils the whole thing. If he wins, you know, that means he's the best man, and I want to fight the best man. That means Nick Diaz would be out of a title shot and I want to go against the winner."
On whether Hughes should keep fighting: "Matt Hughes is an amazing fighter. It's just, at one point, I'm just concerned about his motivation, if he still has the fight. I'm concerned about Matt Hughes. Physically, Matt Hughes still has the skills, he can still kick ass. It's just up to him, does it still excite him, does he still have the motivation. I think he still can be one of the top guys."
And of course, there were the usual array of questions about fighting somewhere other then welterweight:
On the oft-discussed superfight with Anderson Silva: "It depends on the outcome on all the fights. Maybe if I beat the winner of Condit-Diaz, there will be another up-and-comer for me to fight, that everyone wants me to fight. Maybe Anderson won't be the champion anymore, maybe I won't be the champion. It depends on the outcome."
From a clearly inebriated fan who asked him if he'd fight at 205: "I do training with bigger guys, but a fight is different than training. If I would go [straight to 205 from 170], it would be the stupidest thing I've ever done. It's like you're asking me who would win in a fight between Spiderman and Batman."
On going down to 155: "If I go down to 155, Frankie Edgar will kick my butt."
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Plenty of outrage over Diaz-Condit decision, winner defends his approach
Defense is an underrated aspect of mixed martial arts. That's unless you're a judge.
Carlos Condit picked his spots and had Nick Diaz whiffing with his punches for much of the night at UFC 143. His strategy and executed resonated with the judges, who scored it 4-1, 4-1 and 3-2 in favor of the new UFC interim welterweight champ. But Condit's ring generalship didn't go over well with many fans.
Here's sampling of tweets from fights fans who thought Condit simply ran the entire night.
Condit didn't see it that way.
"I was pretty confident that I had won the fight. I landed a lot of effective strikes. I stuck to my gameplan. I did what I went in there to do. I punched him in the face. Kicked him in the face. You know, landed more effective strikes than he did in the fight," Condit said. "That's what it boiled down to. If I sat there and fought Nick Diaz's fight, it'd probably be him sitting here with this belt instead of me."
UFC president Dana White agreed.
"The fans are mad about the way Carlos Condit fought ... too [expletive bad]. You're mad at the way he fought? He went in there and he fought a great fight," White said. "He stuck to his gameplan. Nick Diaz is the master of getting you to fight his fight. [...] Carlos Condit kept his cool tonight. He fought a perfect fight."
Condit said when did Diaz did catch him, the shots were weak.
"They weren't all that effective. For the most part, if he did hit me with anything, it was kind of past the power zone. They didn't have a lot on them," said Condit.
Condit thought his kicks paid dividends later in the fight.
"Chopping his legs and affecting his mobility from the very start was working," Condit said. "You don't see the effects of that until later on in the fight. But he stopped coming forward on me."
As Diaz began to talk trash, Condit also stayed under control. He recalled one funny line when Diaz responded to one of the 10-plus spinning backfists and elbows that Condit threw his way.
"We're throwing spinning [expletive] now?," Condit said repeating what Diaz said in the cage. Condit wasn't about to play Diaz's mind games.
"I planned for that. I knew that I to be mentally prepared as well as physically prepared to face Nick Diaz," Condit said. "That's something I had in my mindset as well as the talking and the taunts and stuff. I just needed to stay focused and execute my gameplan. No matter what he said or no matter how many punches he took from me, I couldn't let my focus stray."
What's next for Condit is anyone's guess. The fighter and promotion were non-committal on when he gets back in the Octagon. The champ Georges St-Pierre is hoping for a November return from ACL surgery. Nine months is a long time for the top of the 170-pound division to stay dormant.
Ed Herman continues win streak with UFC 143 win
LAS VEGAS -- If there was ever any doubt that Ed "Short Fuse" Herman was back, he likely erased them with his victory over Clifford Starks at UFC 143 on Saturday night.
Herman missed all of 2010 after a knee injury. But he won both of his bouts in 2011 and looks ready for a step up in competition in the middleweight division after finishing Starks.
Herman (20-8) absorbed several big right hands from Starks in a first round that was mostly a tight positional battle. But in the second round, "Short Fuse" found his opening, scoring a trip and using textbook positioning to get Starks' back and sink in a rear-naked choke. Starks tried to roll out of it, but Herman tightened his grip and Josh Rosenthal called off the fight at 1:42.
"You know, he was landing some good right hands on me," said Herman. "Luckily, I've got a strong chin. I pulled it off."
Follow Dave Doyle on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/davedoylemma
Rampage Jackson Not Excited With Matt Hamill for UFC 130
by Michael David Smith
After some shuffling around of the upcoming UFC 130 fight card, Rampage Jackson has gone from taking on Thiago Silva in the co-main event to fighting Matt Hamill in the main event. He's not particularly thrilled with the change.
"Thiago Silva is the type of guy I would love to fight because he has great stand up and he comes to fight most of the time, so I was looking forward to fighting a guy like that," Jackson said on The MMA Hour. "Matt Hamill wasn't on my radar at all. I wasn't excited at all. But then again, not a whole lot gets me excited."
Jackson's comments about not being excited for the fight stand in contrast to the comments of Hamill, who said he plans to break Jackson's will. But Jackson says that the difference between their public comments is simple: Hamill needs to convince himself that he can beat Jackson, while Jackson already knows that he can beat Hamill.
After some shuffling around of the upcoming UFC 130 fight card, Rampage Jackson has gone from taking on Thiago Silva in the co-main event to fighting Matt Hamill in the main event. He's not particularly thrilled with the change."Thiago Silva is the type of guy I would love to fight because he has great stand up and he comes to fight most of the time, so I was looking forward to fighting a guy like that," Jackson said on The MMA Hour. "Matt Hamill wasn't on my radar at all. I wasn't excited at all. But then again, not a whole lot gets me excited."
Jackson's comments about not being excited for the fight stand in contrast to the comments of Hamill, who said he plans to break Jackson's will. But Jackson says that the difference between their public comments is simple: Hamill needs to convince himself that he can beat Jackson, while Jackson already knows that he can beat Hamill.
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Source: http://mmafighting.com/2011/05/17/rampage-jackson-not-excited-with-matt-hamill-for-ufc-130/
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Strikeforce: Josh Barnett Describes Win Over Brett Rogers as 'Perfect' - Josh Barnett
Strikeforce: Josh Barnett Describes Win Over Brett Rogers as 'Perfect' Video by Josh Barnett
Jorge Masvidal Makes the Case for Title Shot - Strikeforce
Jorge Masvidal Makes the Case for Title Shot Video by StrikeforceSource: http://mmalice.com/strikeforce/jorge-masvidal-makes-the-case-for-title-shot-video_817181133.html
Strikeforce gallery from Rockhold?s win, Lawler?s KO and more
Check out images from Strikeforce's first event of the year by Tracy Lee, with three knockouts at the end of the card, Tarec Saffiedine's exciting decision over up-and-comer Tyler Stinson, and all of the undercard action.
Demian Maia Prepares for UFC 131 - UFC 131
Demian Maia's journey to Vancouver starts in his home country of Brazil. Take a quick glimpse into his life as he prepares to face Mark Munoz at UFC 131Source: http://mmalice.com/ufc-131/demian-maia-prepares-for-ufc-131-video_bd49f1b7a.html
Video analysis: Iole and Meltzer question Lesnar?s strategy at UFC 141
Brock Lesnar chose to slug it out with Alistair Overeem at UFC 141. He lost and then walked away from the sport.
It was a shocking approach to take against one of the more accomplished strikers in the division, especially knowing Lesnar's strength is the takedown game.
Yahoo! Sports' experts Kevin Iole and Dave Meltzer spoke about Lesnar's gameplan and why it unfolded the way it did.
Alexander Gustafsson scores first knockout of the night at UFC 141
After a night of decisions, Alexander Gustafsson scored a first-round knockout of MMA veteran Vladimir Matyushenko at UFC 141 on Friday night.
Matyushenko moved in to throw a strike, and ran right into Gustafsson's jab. He was stunned and fell to the ground. Gustafsson threw strikes until the bout was stopped at 2:13.
"I was prepared for three hard rounds, and Matyushenko is a tough guy, but I got the knockout," Gustaffson said after the bout. "It was a good punch. It was my day today."
Gustafsson has been on a tear since losing to Phil Davis early in 2010. He has four straight wins and a record of 13-1, proving himself as a prospect to watch in the UFC's light heavyweight division.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
With CM Punk walking out Chael Sonnen, who should walk with Mark Munoz?
Pro wrestling champion C.M. Punk is getting involved with MMA ... sort of. He will walk out Chael Sonnen for UFC on Fox 2 at the United Center in Chicago. Punk is from a far southwest suburb of Chicago, and always gets a huge ovation when he performs in the city with the WWE, so Sonnen is playing the right card. With Punk by his side, there's little chance that Sonnen will be booed, as he is so often.
What is Mark Munoz to do? Sonnen's opponent is well-liked and will undoubtedly have Chicago's sizable Filipino community on his side, but it's hard to combat a WWE champion's cheers. Who could walk out with Munoz to give him a louder ovation? As a Chicago native, I have a few suggestions of Chicagoans with enough pop to make the United Center� explode.
-- Derrick Rose: He's the NBA MVP and the man who brought good basketball back to Chicago.
-- Mike Ditka: Da Coach still has plenty of love.
-- Oprah Winfrey: Her studio was just down the street from the United Center.
-- Former Mayor Richard Daley: Da Mayor could have won another 20 elections before deciding to step down last year.
Who are we missing? Tell us in the comments or on Facebook of Chicago's best bets to get Munoz some cheers.
Anthony Johnson Finds New Life at New Weight, Thanks in Part to 'Blackzilians'
Filed under: UFC
Looking back on it, maybe Anthony Johnson should have realized sooner that he wasn't meant to be a permanent welterweight. Maybe the revelation should have hit him during any one of his notoriously drastic weight cuts, but especially when he found himself trapped in a sauna in the days before his fight with Dan Hardy in Seattle last March."It was a rough cut," Johnson admits now. So rough, in fact, that he found himself threatening his own coaches with all manner of bodily harm when they wouldn't let him out of the sauna for even a second.
"I only had like five or six pounds to go, and when you're that dehydrated and you've been working so hard, your brain...you kind of get out there a little bit," Johnson said. "My strength and conditioning coach and everybody else were sitting behind the door so I couldn't get it open. I just wanted a breath of fresh air. That was it."
When they wouldn't let him have it, Johnson recalled with a chuckle, he threatened to "put something on y'all that you'll never forget." As anyone who's seen his run of knockout victories in the UFC already knows, that's a threat with teeth. Or at least it would have been if he hadn't been so depleted by the weight cut.
"I was too weak anyway," he said. "That was just my mind...making threats that I knew I couldn't keep."
More Coverage: UFC 142 Results | UFC 142 Fight Card
That was the old way for Johnson. That particular brand of suffering constituted a normal part of fight week for him, which strikes his new coaches as more than a little bit insane.
"With really good athletes like Anthony Johnson, the worst thing you can do is cut weight," said Mike Van Arsdale, who works with Johnson and the rest of the "Blackzilian" squad at Imperial Athletics in Boca Raton, Fla. "You're cutting away your athletic ability, is what you're doing."
According to Van Arsdale, that's why the offer to fight Vitor Belfort at 185 pounds on Saturday night's UFC 142 card in Rio de Janeiro was the best thing that could have happened to Johnson.
"All he's done [by going up in weight] is enable himself to be who he was supposed to be to begin with. If you weigh 220 pounds, you don't need to be fighting at 170," Van Arsdale said. "It's crazy. You're trying to make 170 in the sauna and you end up sitting there at 189 and already depleted. That's why I think this is the right weight class for him."
For Johnson, the decision was simple. He didn't feel like he needed to flee the welterweight division after two straight victories, he said, but he also couldn't bring himself to say no to a fight with Belfort at middleweight.
"Everybody's been talking about me going up to 185," Johnson said. "It came sooner than I expected, but it's here now. What am I going to do? I'm not going to back down from any opponent. I'm not going to let people second-guess me or think that I'm scared of 185."
In Belfort, however, Johnson faces not just a bigger opponent, but one with proven knockout ability in the higher weight classes. In the last couple years he's starched opponents like Yoshihiro Akiyama and Rich Franklin with his one-punch power, and Johnson knows how dangerous he can be in the opening rounds.
But the real difference-maker, according to Johnson, won't be the numbers on the scale, but rather the quality of the time each man has spent in the gym. That's why the decision to join the Blackzilians in Florida was such an important one, he said.
"This is actually a camp that has real fighters and people that really want to win. We support each other through thick and thin. We don't badmouth each other. It's just a good environment with top-notch athletes."
As Van Arsdale explained, it's the intensity of the practices and the quality of the sparring partners that makes all the difference.
"Put it this way: if you're going to spar with [kickboxer] Tyrone Spong, and he's standing right in front of you and there's no way out of it, you're forced to rise up. That's what Anthony's done," said Van Arsdale. "You're going with that guy -- and he's 15 pounds or so heavier than Anthony -- how are you not going to get better at kickboxing? And the same thing when you're wrestling with Rashad Evans and guys from the Olympic Training Center every day in practice, how could you not get better at wrestling?"
Beyond just the quality of talent on the mats each day, it's the support Johnson gets from his fellow fighters that has showed him what he was missing before, he said.
"I didn't have a family like I have now. I had a team in certain teams I was a part of, but this is not a team to me. This is a family."
According to Van Arsdale, both the move up in weight and the move to Florida have already paid tremendous dividends for Johnson, even if he doesn't think the combat sports community fully appreciates it just yet.
"I don't really read a lot of the stuff on the internet, but I was curious the other day and I looked on there and saw that Anthony Johnson's nowhere to be seen in the top ten at 170 or 185, and that's really funny," Van Arsdale said. "This guy is good, man. Ever since he went up a weight class, it's like he jumped up five extra steps. There's no real way to prepare for him now; you just have to go in there and try to catch him with something, and that's hard to do."
And yet, that's exactly what Belfort has excelled at in his career. Even Johnson admits that, based on the footage he's studied, there are few strikers more dangerous than "The Phenom" in the opening minutes of a fight. It's when the fight doesn't end during those first few minutes that he tends to struggle, Johnson said.
"His hands are always the most dangerous part, especially in that first round. ...But I'm sure Vitor doesn't want to get embarrassed, so he's going to come in really good shape. I'm putting a lot of pressure on him. I'm beating the hell out of him."
And the fact that they're fighting in Belfort's home country, where the crowd will no doubt be rabid in its support of their countryman? That doesn't matter to Johnson any more than Belfort's litany of past knockouts, since neither can get in the cage to help him.
"Vitor, to me, is just like everybody else," Johnson said. "He's a human. He's a fighter just like me. He's been around for a while, but so what? That doesn't mean anything to me. I respect him, but this is a fight."
And at least this time around, Johnson won't have to battle his own team and his own weight quite so ferociously just to make it into the cage.
UFC 142 in Rio: 5 Reasons You Should Order the Event
The UFC returns to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Saturday night for UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes.
While there is quite a buzz in and around Rio de Janeiro for the event, anticipation has been somewhat lackluster here in the states.
On paper, this fight card looks to be one that the casual MMA fan will not shell out 50 to 60 dollars for, but historically the most exciting night of fights come from cards such as this one.
The diehard MMA fan will always find a way to watch a PPV. Whether it is by ordering it, going to a friend's house, or paying a cover at a sports bar.
If you are on the fence about throwing down your hard earned cash, let me give you five reasons you should order the event.
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1016765-ufc-142-in-rio-5-reasons-you-should-order-the-event
UFC 142: Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes Breakdown
Jose Aldo will be making his third UFC title defense this Saturday when he takes on Chad "Money" Mendes in Brazil.
Against Aldo, Mendes will have to fight the most dangerous striker in the division.
Against Mendes, Aldo will have to fight the most dangerous wrestler in the division.
Each will be fighting the biggest test of their UFC careers, but only one can walk away holding the featherweight belt.
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1018392-ufc-142-jose-aldo-vs-chad-mendez-breakdown
New life at middleweight: Keith Jardine is sure he deserves a title shot
When Keith Jardine was announced as the next opponent for Strikeforce middleweight champ Luke Rockhold, it was greeted with a groan by many.
Jardine is only 3-6-1 since 2008 and has never fought at middleweight. How does that warrant a title shot?
"You know what? To me, it's all about my body of work," Jardine told The MMA Fighter Corner on FoxSportsRadio920 in Las Vegas. "I fought so many world champs. I've beat some world champions. I'm going to be a terror at middleweight. Screw all those guys [on the Internet]. We'll see in a couple of days who belongs in the ring."
Knowing there be negative reaction to him getting a title shot, Jardine stayed away from the critics. What he concentrated on was a new diet. Working nutritional guru Mike Dolce, Jardine said he's eliminated all supplements and he's feeling fresher than ever at the age of 36.� That's a big deal for a guy who is attempting to fight at 185 pounds for the first time in his career.
Jardine is confident he'll make the weight today without an issue. It's all part of new outlook since he was cut from the UFC back in June of 2010.
"It was really a blessing though because it gave me the time to go back..and reinvent myself, and become the fighter I am today which is twice the fighter I was a year ago," Jardine said. "Back then, I lost a few fights. What can you say, but I wasn't resentful at all."
Jardine is a plus-400 underdog which is surprising looking at his resume versus Rockhold's. He was also quick to point that he fought to a draw against Gegard Mousasi his last time out on just eight days notice. The fighters meet tomorrow night in Las Vegas at the Hard Rock's Joint.
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Strikeforce Fighter Salaries: Robbie Lawler Banks $150K
Filed under: Strikeforce, News
Middleweight Robbie Lawler was the highest earner at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine, banking a flat purse of $150,000 in his fight against Adlan Amagov.The next highest paid were Muhammed Lawal and Luke Rockhold at $95,000 and $90,000, respectively, at this past Saturday's Showtime-televised card in Las Vegas.
Below are the Strikeforce fighter salaries, reported by Strikeforce to the Nevada state commission.
Showtime Main Card
Luke Rockhold: $65,000 + $25,000 (win bonus) = $90,000 def. Keith Jardine: $30,000
Robbie Lawler: $150,000 (no win bonus) def. Adlan Amagov: $10,000
King Mo: $80,000 + $15,000 (win) = $95,000 def. Lorenz Larkin: $17,000
Tyron Woodley: $30,000 + $30,000 (win) = $60,000 def. Jordan Mein: $9,000
Tarec Saffiedine: $15,000 + $15,000 (win) = $30,000 def. Tyler Stinson: $4,000
Showtime Extreme Preliminary Card
Na-Shon Burrell: $4,000 + $4,000 (win) = $8,000 def. James Terry: $9,000
Gian Villante: $10,000 + $10,000 (win) = $20,000 def. Trevor Smith: $4,000
Ricky Legere: $5,000 + $5,000 (win) = $10,000 def. Chris Sprang: $6,000
Estevan Payan: $4,000 + $4,000 (win) = $8,000 def. Alonzo Martinez: $5,000
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Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2012/01/09/strikeforce-fighter-salaries-robbie-lawler-banks-150k/
Monday, January 9, 2012
Alexander Gustafsson scores first knockout of the night at UFC 141
After a night of decisions, Alexander Gustafsson scored a first-round knockout of MMA veteran Vladimir Matyushenko at UFC 141 on Friday night.
Matyushenko moved in to throw a strike, and ran right into Gustafsson's jab. He was stunned and fell to the ground. Gustafsson threw strikes until the bout was stopped at 2:13.
"I was prepared for three hard rounds, and Matyushenko is a tough guy, but I got the knockout," Gustaffson said after the bout. "It was a good punch. It was my day today."
Gustafsson has been on a tear since losing to Phil Davis early in 2010. He has four straight wins and a record of 13-1, proving himself as a prospect to watch in the UFC's light heavyweight division.
UFC Veteran Hermes Franca Sentenced to 3 Years for Sexual Abuse of a Minor
Former UFC fighter and owner of Team Hermes Franca Brazilian Jiu-Jutsu Academy Hermes Franca Barros (37 years old), also known as Hermes Franca, was recently sentenced to 42 months in prison after being found guilty of sexually abusing an underage female who was a student at his training facility in Clackamas, OR.
With an overall record of 22-12 in his Mixed Martial Arts career, the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt has become quite the journeyman fighter since his UFC release in 2009, fighting three times in April 2011 for three different MMA promotions in three different countries.
According to an article by Everton Bailey, Jr., from Oregonlive.com, Franca “pleaded guilty in Clackamas County Court on Wednesday to one count of unlawful penetration and one count of first-degree sexual abuse.”
Originally from Fortaleza, Brazil, Hermes began his MMA career in 2001, eventually vying for the UFC 155 pound lightweight championship versus Sean Sherk in 2007. Though Hermes lost his title attempt via unanimous decision, both fighters tested positive for banned substances.
Though officially retired after his 2009 release from the UFC, Franca continued fighting and was scheduled to fight Drew Fickett for the Maximum Fighting Championship (MFC) lightweight title in June 2011.
However, Hermes’ MFC contract was terminated in May after he turned himself in to authorities as a warrant was issued for his arrest.
As reported by Bailey, Franca left a final impression on mixedmartialarts.com:
"Drinking, women, parties, all part of a lifestyle that has led to my failing as a husband, a father, a dreamer," he wrote. "I am now a man with very little freedom."
Hermes Franca “will also have four and a half years of post-prison supervision and must register as a sex offender.”
Roland Riso is a contributing writer for Bleacher Report. All quotes and info were obtained from Wikipedia.org (link) and Oregonlive.com (link). Check out more of his work at MMAIdiot.com.
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com
Nick Walker vs. Joe Morris at MCC - Midwest Cagefighting
HDNet WebFights is back with this beating from the Midwest Cagefighting Championships in Des Moines, IA on 6/24/2011. This bout features two lightweights Nick Walker and Joe MorrisSource: http://mmalice.com/midwest-cagefighting/nick-walker-vs-joe-morris-at-mcc-video_4c4311bd2.html
Junior dos Santos Looking to Exploit Shane Carwin's Lack of Cardio at UFC 131 - UFC 131
Junior dos Santos Looking to Exploit Shane Carwin's Lack of Cardio at UFC 131 Video by UFC 131
Jon Jones Itching to Fight, So Dan Henderson May Be Next
Dan Henderson may have leapfrogged Rashad Evans as the No. 1 contender in the UFC light heavyweight division.With champion Jon Jones now saying that he wants to fight as soon as he can -- changing his mind after previously saying he needed some time off following a very busy 2011 -- it appears likely that Henderson will get the next crack at the champion, and Evans' quest for the belt will have to wait.
UFC President Dana White said on ESPN 1100 in Las Vegas that Jones had called him and said he's hoping to get back into the Octagon as soon as possible. Evans is already booked for a January 28 fight on Fox against Phil Davis, so Henderson may get the next title fight.
"He had said he wanted to take some time off (but) he called about four days ago and said, 'OK, let's go. ... Let's get back to work. I'm ready to get productive again,'" White said of Jones. "He wants to fight as soon as possible."
Based on the UFC's calendar, as soon as possible would likely be UFC 145, on March 24 in Montreal. That fight still needs a main event, and Jones vs. Henderson would be a big one.
"We've got to see how this thing plays out but what could end up happening is Dan Henderson fights Jon Jones first," White said.
But some would say it would be unfair to Evans: A former light heavyweight champion, Evans has been waiting for a title shot and wants to fight Jones, his former friend and teammate. The UFC has promoted Evans vs. Davis as the opportunity for Evans to earn his shot at Jones, but if the UFC wants to book Jones in the first quarter of 2012, then Evans is going to have to wait.
One way or another, White said, the light heavyweight division has plenty of challengers who can contend for Jones's belt. If Henderson gets the next shot, that just means the winner of the Evans vs. Davis fight would be first in line to face the winner of Jones vs. Henderson.
"I think we have a ton of guys," White said. "It's not like everything depends on one guy or two guys. The great thing about us is we've got 10 of 15 guys so it's never like we have to depend on one person."
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Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2012/01/08/jon-jones-itching-to-fight-so-dan-henderson-may-be-next/
Sunday, January 8, 2012
It's Not Over, Until It's ALL OVER. - UFC
This Saturday night, two of the most talented KO artists in UFC history meet in the Octagon. Don't miss UFC 131: Dos Santos vs Carwin Live on Pay-Per-View or www.UFC.tv at 6/9PM PT/ETSource: http://mmalice.com/ufc/its-not-over-until-its-all-over-video_fe8c32076.html
Ryan Ford Post Nick Hinchliffe Interview - Ryan Ford
Ryan Ford Post Nick Hinchliffe Interview Video by Ryan FordSource: http://mmalice.com/ryan-ford/ryan-ford-post-nick-hinchliffe-interview-video_f841c3083.html
Strikeforce Weigh Ins Overeem Werdum Barnett Rogers Griggs Noons Masvidal - Strikeforce
SHOWTIME Sports presents the official weigh-in for the Strikeforce World Grand Prix Heavyweight Tournment. Check out all ten fiighters on the super-sized June 18th fight card: Chad Griggs, Valentijn Overeem, Daniel Cormier, Jeff Monson, KJ Noons, and Jorge Masvidal. Plus headliners Brett Rogers, Josh Barnett, Alistair Overeem, and Fabricio Werdum.
Andrei "The Pit Bull" Arlovski Recorded Live Video Chat July 8th 2011 - Andrei Arlovski
Andrei "The Pit Bull" Arlovski Recorded Live Video Chat July 8th 2011 Video by Andrei Arlovski
Jordan Mein Will Prove He Is the Best Prospect in Strikeforce
Jordan Mein is 22 years old, yet he already has the experience of a seasoned veteran.
He's 23-7 as a professional fighter, but he's already fought the likes against Jason High, Rory MacDonald and Evangelista Santos, among others, even scoring a win over Santos in the third round of their bout late last September.
He's fought guys that could challenge in some aspects of the fight game, but he's never fought a naturally gifted wrestler who could test him the way Tyron Woodley will when they collide tonight.
Woodley is a prospect who has the potential to become not only one of the most well-rounded fighters to have ever come into the sport after a successful run through the NCAA Division-I wrestling circuit, but like his adversary on this night, he also has the makings of a future Strikeforce Champion at 170 pounds.
Woodley has beaten fighters such as Paul Daley, Tarec Saffiedine and Andre Galvao during his time in Strikeforce, and many believe that, pending a Saffiedine win over Tyler Stinson, a win over Mein sets up a rematch that could crown the second Strikeforce welterweight champion.
Mein will have other ideas, however, as he will look to expose Woodley in areas where many might figure Woodley to be superior to Mein.
The Canadian prospect should not be counted out though, as he possesses a wicked striking game with some serious footwork to help dictate the pace of the fight in his favorite, and he's also been seen as a difficult fighter to not only take down, but also a difficult fighter to keep down.
Should the scrambler or takedown-defender in Mein show either or both of themselves in Mein's performance tonight, the MMA would will definitely be ready to take wind of one of the more slept-on young men in the 170-lb. division.
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com
Dana White: Cris Cyborg Stripped of Title, Future of Division in Question
Filed under: Strikeforce
Cris Cyborg is no longer the champion of the Strikeforce women's 145-pound division. And there may not even be a Strikeforce women's 145-pound division.UFC President Dana White confirmed on ESPN 1100 in Las Vegas on Friday night that Cyborg has been stripped of her title because she tested positive for steroids following her most recent fight, a 16-second knockout of Hiroko Yamanaka. And there may not be any more fights in the 145-pound weight class because Cyborg was the 145-pound weight class.
"We were going to hold that division and just do fights with 'Cyborg' whenever there was a new contender," White said, via USA Today. "She's getting stripped of the title. I don't know. We'll see what happens."
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker also issued a statement on the situation.
"Strikeforce has not seen the test results regarding Ms. Santos," Coker said. "However, we have a consistent and strong stance against any use of performance-enhancing drugs. We also have a long history of supporting effective drug testing of athletes by authorized regulatory bodies. Therefore, we will closely monitor the matter and will work with the California State Athletic Commission regarding any information we may be asked to provide. We also recognize that Ms. Santos has administrative process rights under California law and we hope that she is not prejudged before she has the opportunity to exercise such rights."
In the past, when champions have been suspended for positive drug tests, the division carried on without them, usually with a title fight between two top contenders while the previous champion sat out. But the Strikeforce women's 145-pound weight class is fundamentally different. Cyborg dominates her entire weight class in a way that no other champion, male or female, does. There just aren't enough good 145-pound women on the Strikeforce roster for the division to keep going without her.
And so Cyborg's drug test has cost her the belt. And no one else may ever get the belt.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Shane Carwin Discusses Leaner Diet, Plan of Attack Against Junior dos Santos - UFC 131
Shane Carwin Discusses Leaner Diet, Plan of Attack Against Junior dos Santos Video by UFC 131
MMA Link Parade
- Watch Gilbert Yvel Fight in His New 205-pound Body. [Middle Easy]
- Lesnar Win Helps, But More Work Remains for Overeem [Sports Illustrated]
- Jon Jones May Defend Belt Three or Four Times in 2012. [Cage Potato]
- Tyron Woodley: "I'm Going into This Fight with Some Steam." [Five Ounces of Pain]
- Chael Sonnen Will Be Joined by WWE Champion CM Punk at UFC on Fox. [Low Kick]
- What Strikeforce Needs to Be Great. [MMA Convert]
- UFC Sweden Roster Filling Up Fast. [5th Round]
- Why Penn vs Diaz Needs to Happen Now. [Bleacher Report]
- Ronda Rousey Eyes Strikeforce Titles. [Sports Illustrated]
- Commentator Michael Schiavello Tears Fedor & M-1 a New One. [The Fight Nerd]
- Strikeforce Open Media Workout Video Highlights for 'Rockhold vs Jardine.' [MMA Mania]
- Fuel TV Boasts Ratings for New Year's Day UFC Marathon. [MMA Payout]
- Video: Comedian Chris Gethard Challenges GSP On "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon." [Fightline]
- Lesnar Win Helps, But More Work Remains for Overeem [Sports Illustrated]
- Jon Jones May Defend Belt Three or Four Times in 2012. [Cage Potato]
- Tyron Woodley: "I'm Going into This Fight with Some Steam." [Five Ounces of Pain]
- Chael Sonnen Will Be Joined by WWE Champion CM Punk at UFC on Fox. [Low Kick]
- What Strikeforce Needs to Be Great. [MMA Convert]
- UFC Sweden Roster Filling Up Fast. [5th Round]
- Why Penn vs Diaz Needs to Happen Now. [Bleacher Report]
- Ronda Rousey Eyes Strikeforce Titles. [Sports Illustrated]
- Commentator Michael Schiavello Tears Fedor & M-1 a New One. [The Fight Nerd]
- Strikeforce Open Media Workout Video Highlights for 'Rockhold vs Jardine.' [MMA Mania]
- Fuel TV Boasts Ratings for New Year's Day UFC Marathon. [MMA Payout]
- Video: Comedian Chris Gethard Challenges GSP On "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon." [Fightline]
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Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2012/01/06/mma-link-parade/
Chael Sonnen and CM Punk: Another Smart Move from Chael Sonnen
Chael Patrick Sonnen is set to be accompanied to the Octagon by his doppelgänger (oratory-wise that is) CM Punk in his matchup with Mark Munoz at UFC on Fox 2 later this month.
Ever since the lead up to and the aftermath of his failed attempt at UFC glory back at UFC 117, Sonnen the self-proclaimed “American Gangster” has upped the ante in ways other mere mortal combatants could only wish.
What emerged during that period was Uncle Chael the businessman and to boot, the entertainer.
His trash-talking and gift of the gab has placed him the public stratosphere like no other mixed martial artist, especially one who has achieved so little in his given sport.
For his troubles, he’s now a regular on Michael Landsberg’s show OTR (Off the Record), he co-hosted the 2011 World MMA Awards and in the fewest possible words, he’s just in constant public demand.
And what is his claim to fame?
Beating up on UFC middleweight champion Anderson “The Spider” Silva for almost five rounds, before succumbing to a submission via triangle armbar.
That loss, however, did nothing to shut the all mighty mouth that is Sonnen, if anything it spurred him on to the extreme—his antagonism towards Silva finally paid dividends and a second tilt at UFC gold looms ever so large.
Still, with three-weeks to go before his slated match with Munoz, this latest move by Sonnen, to have the WWE Champion CM Punk alongside him as he makes his entrance to the Octagon, isn’t just another smart move—it’s a stroke of pure Sonnen genius.
The publicity garnered with the announcement that one of the WWE’s most charismatic characters not only making an appearance at UFC on Fox 2, but will also be ushering in the most vocal and controversial of MMA fighters/personalities, will send both ticket and pay-per-view sales through the roof—and that’s a given.
Add to the equation that the event is happening in CM Punk’s own backyard of Chicago— then it’s a recipe for success.
Brock Lesnar has left the building and Georges St-Pierre still has the mass pulling clout, but Sonnen, he’s in a league of his own.
Perish the thought that by some sort of divine intervention, he should upend Munoz and do likewise to Silva—Sonnen will go viral both on a colossal monetary and publicity scale.
The wordsmith provocateur and entertainer personified is hell-bent on furthering his celebrity to new heights and beyond, and his next move is anyone's guess.
For additional information, follow Nedu Obi on Twitter.
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com
The 50 Most Brutal Knockouts in MMA History
In the world of mixed martial arts, many finishes can be produced when two men enter a chain-linked, fenced-in cage.
If you're a purist, technique triumphs over everything, but allowing your more primal urge to witness a tantalizing knockout is always the most aesthetically pleasing alternative.
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1012842-the-50-most-brutal-knockouts-in-mma-history
Anthony Johnson in No Hurry to Go Back to Welterweight After UFC 142
Anthony Johnson is considered to be one of the top welterweights in the UFC, but his days of fighting at 170 pounds may be over."Rumble," who will make his middleweight debut against Vitor Belfort at UFC 142 next week, said on a Wednesday conference call that he isn't thinking about fighting at welterweight anymore.
"Right now, middleweight is where I am," Johnson said. "That's all I'm thinking about, and I really don't mind fighting middleweight because I get to eat more now. So like I said, I feel 1000 times better than I did when I fought [at] 170, so that's why I'm so happy and want to fight really bad."
Johnson, who said he currently weighed 215 pounds, would sometimes cut as much as sixty pounds to make the 171-pound welterweight limit. He even missed weight twice (UFC 76 and UFC 104), but despite the struggle to make weight, he never seriously flirted with the idea of moving up to 185 pounds.
That is until the UFC offered him a shot against Vitor Belfort in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
"This is going to be a lot of fun for me," Johnson said. "So that's why I feel so good because I don't have to cut the weight that I used to cut and I'm more explosive; I'm more athletic. Everything has just come to where it needs to be right now. I'm peaking at the right time."
Asked whether he was officially done as a welterweight, Johnson simply said, "so far."
UFC 142, headlined by Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes for the UFC featherweight title, airs live on pay-per-view from the HSBC Arena in Rio on Jan. 14. The prelims will air on FX.
Scott Coker Discusses Overeem vs. Werdum, Gina Carano's Health Status - Strikeforce
Scott Coker Discusses Overeem vs. Werdum, Gina Carano's Health Status Video by Strikeforce
Friday, January 6, 2012
Muhammed Lawal Re-Signs With Strikeforce
"The King" will continue to reign in Strikeforce after all.Muhammed Lawal, who meets Lorenz Larkin at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine Saturday night, has signed a new four-fight contract with Strikeforce, according to Lawal's manager Mike Kogan.
Lawal had one fight left on his current contract, so this assures that he will fight in Strikeforce for at least five more fights. This also means that Lawal won't be moving over to the UFC any time soon.
Lawal (8-1) is 3-1 in Strikeforce. He recently defeated Roger Gracie in September to get back on track following his light heavyweight title loss to Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante in Aug. 2010.
He recently retracted his "cancer patient" comments about Strikeforce on a recent episode of The MMA Hour and left the door open for a return to the organization.
"I've got one more fight on my contract and then my contract ends in February," Lawal said. "King Mo just wants to go where he can get paid and get paid without the check bouncing."
Done and done.
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Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2012/01/06/muhammed-lawal-re-signs-with-strikeforce/
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