Source: http://www.mmamania.com/2012/1/11/2700459/ufc-espn-e60-video-monopoly-lorenzo-fertitta-ken-shamrock
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.
Listen to The MMA Fighter Corner on FoxSportsRadio 920 (Wednesdays at 8 p.m. PT & Saturdays at 4 p.m. PT)
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/
Talking Strikeforce MMA at the Dallas Mavericks Victory Parade - Strikeforce
Talking Strikeforce MMA at the Dallas Mavericks Victory Parade Video by Strikeforce
Talking Strikeforce MMA at the Dallas Mavericks Victory Parade - Strikeforce
Talking Strikeforce MMA at the Dallas Mavericks Victory Parade Video by Strikeforce
UFC 145: 7 Things to Expect in Rory MacDonald's Return
After suffering an injury leading up to his bout with Brian Ebersole at UFC 140, Rory "Ares" MacDonald was removed from the card by UFC President Dana White.
MacDonald is in the process of making his return to the Octagon: He'll take on Che Mills on March 24th at UFC 145.
Over the course of his young career, MacDonald has often been referred to as the future of the welterweight division.
In fact, many believe he is a miniature Georges St-Pierre.
Fans can expect to see a better than ever MacDonald when he makes his long awaited return to UFC 145 in just a few short months.
The following slides display seven things to expect in Rory MacDonald's return.
Let's take a look.
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1010508-ufc-145-7-things-to-expect-in-rory-macdonalds-return
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Pride Fighting Is Dead and Has Been for Five Years, Get over It Already
In 2007 Zuffa, the parent company of the UFC, purchased Pride Fighting Championships.
The plan was simple—take control of their biggest rival and run the organization themselves. They'd corner the market on MMA by owning the two biggest promotions at the same time.
But there was a problem.
The previous owners had ties to the Yakuza. When this information became public, the company began to lose sponsors, television deals and public acceptance. The company began hemorrhaging money which lead to the eventual sale.
When Zuffa bought Pride, they bought Pride's problems too.
With no Japanese company willing to sponsor the promotion, it was hard to get the money together for a show. When no channel would air anything they put together, it became impossible.
Pride was eventually folded into the UFC in October 2007, marking the death of the organization and one of the worst investments that Zuffa ever made.
Now, in 2012, people still talk about Pride and how great the organization was. There are still discussions about how the company shouldn't have been folded and how it never should have been sold.
There are even people who think that the end of Pride meant the end of MMA's greatest era.
Those people are living in the past.
Pride has been dead for nearly five years. In that time, the UFC has exploded, putting on more fights, more shows and jumping to one of the biggest broadcasting networks in the world.
It's safe to say MMA is doing just fine.
To those who still claim Pride is the best, take a look at Japanese MMA today. Dream (or Zombie Pride to some) is still alive, but barely, as are Pancrase and Shooto, while Sengoku died quietly last year.
If Pride hadn't sold and folded into the UFC, it wouldn't have fared well. It would have slowly crumbled without sponsors or just flat out ceased to exist with its talents spread randomly throughout the world.
Zuffa's purchase was a fitting end for the organization. It gave its fighters a chance to continue on and keep fighting. It also brought the biggest names in MMA together and let them finally meet.
While Pride will be remembered by MMA fans for a long time, it is time to stop being nostalgic. It is time to accept the truth and move on.
Pride is dead.
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com
Strikeforce Fight Card: Rockhold vs. Jardine
Filed under: Strikeforce
Luke Rockhold vs. Keith Jardine headlines the Strikeforce fight card on Jan. 7 at the Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas."Rockhold vs. Jardine" is the first of up to eight events in 2012 under Strikeforce's new deal with Showtime. Under the new agreement, preliminary bouts will air on Showtime Extreme, while the main card bouts will remain on the standard Showtime channel.
This particular card will be free for cable viewers as it takes place during Showtime's free preview weekend beginning Friday, Jan. 6 and through Sunday, Jan. 8.
The complete lineup is below.
Showtime Bouts
Luke Rockhold vs. Keith Jardine
Robbie Lawler vs. Adlan Amagov
King Mo Lawal vs. Lorenz Larkin
Tyron Woodley vs. Jordan Mein
Tarec Saffiedine vs. Tyler Stinson
Showtime Extreme Preliminary Bouts
Alonzo Martinez vs. Estevan Payan
James Terry vs. Nah-Shon Burrell
Gian Villante vs. Trevor Smith
Ricky Legere vs. Chris Spang
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Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2012/01/05/strikeforce-fight-card-rockhold-vs-jardine/
Get the fire burning: Watch latest ?The Reem? video
No one does it better than Camp Overeem when it comes to video blogs. The latest "The Reem" takes us all over the world as Alistair Overeem fulfills his press duties, meets American fans, goes face-to-face with Brock Lesnar and returns to Holland to take care of his mother, who is dealing with another cancer scare.
Overeem meets Lesnar this Friday at UFC 141 in Las Vegas. The sheer enormity of the fighters is a ridiculous site. It's the first time ever Lesnar appears a little bit smaller than his opponent. If this video doesn't get you fired up for the heavyweight clash, nothing will.
The end of the video is must watch material as Overeem deals with the emotional situation his mother is experiencing. You also get to meet his father, who's been living in England and recently relocated to Holland.
Watch UFC 141 right here on Yahoo! Sports
Get to know surfer and Strikeforce champ Luke Rockhold
Luke Rockhold is defending his Strikeforce middleweight belt this weekend against UFC veteran Keith Jardine, but really, how much do you know about him? He trains with some of the world's best fighters at American Kickboxing Academy, won his championship in September with a decision over Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, and Strikeforce brought him up slowly through the ranks.
Spend a minute and 38 seconds on him to learn a little bit more before Saturday's fight.
Don't forget that this is Showtime's free preview weekend, so you have no excuse for missing the fights.
UFC on FX 2 Fight Card: Alves vs. Kampmann
The UFC on FX 2 fight card will be headlined by Thiago Alves vs. Martin Kampmann and takes place March 3 (March 2 in the U.S.) at the Allphones Arena in Sydney, Australia.The semifinals of the UFC's flyweight tournament will also kick off with Ian McCall facing Demetrious Johnson and Joseph Benavidez squaring off against Yasuhiro Urushitani.
UFC on FX airs live in the U.S. on Friday, March 2 at 10 p.m. ET. FUEL will carry the undercard.
The current lineup is below.
Thiago Alves vs. Martin Kampmann
Ian McCall vs. Demetrious Johnson
Joseph Benavidez vs. Yasuhiro Urushitani
Court McGee vs. Constantinos Philippou
James Te Huna vs. Aaron Rosa
Jake Hecht vs. T.J. Waldburger
Cole Miller vs. Steven Siler
Jared Hamman vs. Kyle Noke
Oli Thompson vs. Shawn Jordan
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Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2012/01/03/ufc-on-fx-2-fight-card-alves-vs-kampmann/
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
King Mo Says "It's Time to Give (Larkin) Him His First Loss"
Muhammad "King Mo" Lawal is never one to hold back how he feels about everything, regardless if it is MMA, pro/amateur wrestling, boxing, etc. The outspoken former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion returns to the cage Saturday night as Lawal (8-1 MMA, 3-1 SF) will face undefeated prospect Lorenz Larkin (12-0 MMA, 3-0 SF). The event takes place from The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Lawal-Larkin is on the main card which will air on Showtime, while the prelims will air on Showtime Extreme.
When the fight was first announced Lawal only had one focus in mind.
"You know what," Lawal told me. "He's undefeated and it's time to give him his first loss."
Lawal does give respect to Larkin's skills as a fighter, though.
"I think he's very unorthodox, flashy." Lawal said. "He's solid, not solid. He's a solid fighter, he wins, he's good. He's tricky, he's good with what he does."
Larkin is well known for his striking prowess and King Mo has always been known for wrestling. We saw improved striking from Lawal as he knocked out Roger Gracie in September. Lawal is very confident in every aspect of his game and isn't worried about what Larkin can do to him.
I can deal with anybody. With Gracie, Grace I could have taken him down a bunch of times and made him just stand back up. The thing is with Larkin is yea I can take him down, but we will see where the fight goes. I'm confident in my hands. Who have you (Larkin) knocked out with his kicks? Nobody. I'm prepared for whatever he has. I'm not worried. I've been training with a great camp. I've trained with everybody. I've seen everything I can see. I know flash. I can defeat flash easy.
A lot of people think of this card on Saturday as old school versus new school, particulary in this fight. Lawal greatly disputes that theory.
I've never thought about it like that, because if it's old school versus new school, then how does he have more fights than me? To me, it's fighter versus fighter. I don't look at it as I've been in Strikeforce for two and a half years and he hasn't been in Strikeforce as long. I just look at it as, 'hey he's a fighter'. I don't care where he's fought.
There was a sentiment to some people that Strikeforce was having a four-man tournament to crown a new Light Heavyweight Champion involving Lawal, Larkin and Ovince St. Preux and Gegard Mousasi with Mousasi defeating St. Preux in December. Lawal doesn't feel Mousasi deserves that opportunity and everyone is forgetting about a former champion.
I don't know. We'll find out because Feijao is still there. I wouldn't mind fighting Feijao. What did Mousasi do to warrant a shot at the title? What he had a draw with Jardine, who took the fight on weeks' notice? Does that qualify as a win now? He barely hung on to defeat OSP, who is a young fighter still and is coming up in his prime. So you mean after two wins and he beat (Hiroshi) Izumi WOW!! in Japan. I guess he's warranted a title shot.
You can listen to the two part interview with King Mo here.
You can follow me on Twitter @fightclubchi.
Steven Muehlhausen is a contributor for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained first-hand.
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1010812-king-mo-says-its-time-to-give-larkin-him-his-first-loss
Dana White: "Fedor Sucks, Deal with It"
UFC President Dana White's stance apparently hasn't changed on Fedor Emelianenko.
TMZ reporters recently caught up with White and asked him the same question that has been asked thousands of times over the last few years.
Is Fedor ever coming to the UFC?
"Fedor sucks man. You guys need to get with the facts, deal with it, he sucks, get over the Fedor thing," said White.
"He's on the downside. I won't keep dissing Fedor."
Emelianenko has long been considered the best heavyweight of all time and one of the greatest fighters in the history of the sport.
For over a decade, the legendary Pride champion was flawless in his effort in dispatching of some of the best fighters in the world, but there are those who would turn this statement on its head.
Emelianenko was never able to find the same success on Western shores that he achieved in Japan and Russia.
After impressive knockout wins over UFC castoffs Tim Sylvia and Andrei Arlovski, Emelianenko stepped into the cage under the Strikeforce banner.
He was able to defeat Brett Rogers in a rather sloppy debut, but the downward skid came soon after the Russian heavyweight dropped three straight losses to Fabricio Werdum, Antonio Silva and light heavyweight champion Dan Henderson.
After the losses, Emelianenko was released from the promotion and has since rebounded with back-to-back wins over Jeff Monson and Satoshi Ishii.
There were rumblings from Emelianenko's management and M-1 Global in renewed efforts to negotiate with the UFC, but the chances of a deal actually coming together seems just as far off as it's ever been.
If both sides could finally reach an agreement, would it behoove the UFC to finally ink Emelianenko?
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1010828-dana-white-fedor-sucks-deal-with-it
Hendricks hopes he?s the guy who gets Fitch to move aside
Georges St. Pierre rules the roost at welterweight, but just behind the UFC champ, Jon Fitch and Josh Koscheck have presented a major blockade to the top. Aside from losses to GSP, those two have combined to run roughshod over the division with a 9-1-1 record since 2009.
Fitch is called boring by many fans and Dana White has been lukewarm to giving the world's No.2 170-pounder another shot at the champ, but he keeps winning. Mike Pierce, Thiago Alves, Ben Saunders, Paulo Thiago, Akihiro Gono all tried but failed and the best B.J. Penn could get against Fitch was a draw. Johny Hendricks thinks he's the guy who breaks through against Fitch.
"You gotta fight Fitch the way he fights everybody. His main goal is to take you down, put you on your back and do what it takes not to get stood up," Hendricks told "The MMA Insiders" show on ESPN1100/98.9 FM. "My main goal is to defeat him where he's best at,� getting people to the cage taking them down and grinding the win out."
Fitch was a solid college wrestler at Purdue while opponent was two-time national champ at Oklahoma State yet it was Hendricks who decided he needed to go back to basics and drill his wrestling. Fitch likes to use his length on the feet with punches to set up the takedown.
"As soon as he switches it to that you have to go into wrestling mode as well and I think that I've sharpened up my tools. That's one thing that was really lacking in my arsenal," Hendricks said. "Right now, if he wants to go wrestling, I'm ready for that."
Hendricks hopes to turn the tables on Fitch.
"Not only do I know that my wrestling is there, but also, if I don't feel like I'm doing what I need to do on the feet, I can switch it up and take him down ... make him fight where he's not comfortable," said Hendricks.
This is a make or break fight for the 28-year-old Hendricks. He's 11-1 in the young UFC career, but had his momentum stunted a bit when he a decision loss to Rick Story. Since then he's reeled off two straight victories and a win over Fitch puts him in the mix for a title shot qualifier fight.
"2012 has the potential of putting me where I want to be. This is the fight to start it all off. That's the way I'm looking at this fight. I gotta go out there and put on a dominating performance," said Hendricks.
Watch UFC 141 right here on Yahoo! Sports
Potential Silva-Sonnen Rematch Will 'Probably' Be Held in Brazil Soccer Stadium
A Chael Sonnen win over Mark Munoz at UFC on FOX later this month might just be a gift and a curse for "the gangster from West Linn, OR."That's because UFC president Dana White confirmed to FUEL TV that he is looking to book the much-anticipated Silva vs. Sonnen rematch in Brazil, the target of many of Sonnen's recent verbal attacks.
"If we can get Chael Sonnen versus Anderson Silva," White said at a taping of UFC Tonight, "that will probably be held in Brazil in a stadium. Everyone in the world will want to watch that."
Rumors of a stadium show in Sao Paulo have been swirling for months, with the open-air Morumbi Stadium being a leading candidate to host the event. Depending on how it's configured, that particular soccer stadium could hold close to 80,000 people for a UFC card. The organization's current attendance record is 55,724 fans for UFC 129 in April 2011.
Sonnen was supposed to attend UFC 134 in Brazil to corner Yushin Okami, until he was asked by one of Okami's sponsors to stay at home after receiving several death threats due to his anti-Brazil comments.
"It got a little bit out of hand," Sonnen said on The MMA Hour. "The level of death threats got a little bit high. I reached 10 death threats, and I think No. 7 was actually serious. By the looks of his eyes, it looked like he'd stabbed somebody before."
Considering their heated rivalry, a Silva-Sonnen rematch would obviously be a of great interest to the Brazilian fans, plus the show could also feature the finals of TUF: Brazil, which would include a battle between coaches Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort.
Sonnen vs. Munoz, which is being billed as No. 1 middleweight contender's fight, takes place Jan. 28, live on FOX. The UFC will return to Brazil two weeks earlier for UFC 142 on Jan. 14 from the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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