Source: http://cardiofreakmma.com/2010/11/14/prediction-record-update-ufc-122/
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Prediction Record Update ? UFC 122
Benavidez-Wineland Bantamweight Battle Set For UFC Live 5
Source: http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Benavidez-Wineland-Bantamweight-Battle-Set-For-UFC-Live-5-32600
Pulver, Davidson on Weight for Titan 18 Headliner
Source: http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Pulver-Davidson-on-Weight-for-Titan-18-Headliner-32656
Ready for Hamill, ?Rampage? Planning for Future After Fighting
Source: http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Ready-for-Hamill-Rampage-Planning-for-Future-After-Fighting-32628
Titan FC 18 Results: Jens Pulver and Jake Rosholt Both Lose
Filed under: Results
Former UFC lightweight champion Jens Pulver fell prey to another submission Friday, ending a two-fight win streak in the main event of Titan Fighting Championship 18 in Kansas City, Kan.Pulver took the fight to the floor late in the first, only to have opponent Brian Davidson take his back for the rear-naked choke at four minutes and 14 seconds.
Quick results of all the Titan FC 18 fights after the jump.
In the co-headliner, UFC veteran and three-time NCAA wrestling champion Jake Rosholt suffered a tough loss when he was disqualified in the third round against John Ott due to an illegal knee to a grounded opponent. Up until that point, Rosholt was winning the fight and arguably should have already won by TKO due to the amount of damage Ott received.
The 28-year-old Rosholt was joined on the card by his younger brother Jared, who improved to 3-0 with a first-round TKO victory.
Titan FC Results
Brian Davidson def. Jens Pulver via submission (rear-naked choke) - R1, 4:04
John Ott def. Jake Rosholt via DQ (illegal knee) - R3, 4:23
Rudy Bears def. Darryl Cobb via submission (rear-naked choke) - R1, 3:30
Jared Rosholt def. Kirk Grinlinton via TKO (punches) - R1, 1:37
Bobby Cooper def. Nick Budig via unanimous decision
Joe Wilk def. Jesse Zeugin via submission (anaconda choke) - R1, 3:36
Sean Wilson def. Deryck Ripley via submission (toe hold) - R1, 2:00
Notes: Drew McFedries was forced off the card due to an infection ... Rory Markham withdrew after accepting a movie role.
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Source: http://mmafighting.com/2011/05/28/titan-fc-18-results-jens-pulver-and-jake-rosholt-both-lose/
Friday, May 27, 2011
Jorge Santiago Hopes Brian Stann Fight Is First Step Towards UFC Gold
Filed under: UFC
LAS VEGAS -- It was back in 2006 when Jorge Santiago was cut from the UFC after suffering back-to-back knockout losses at the hands of Chris Leben and Alan Belcher. And it was no sooner than he received his pink slip when he began plotting his return.That's not exactly a new story. Most fighters who are cut want to return. Many find their way back, but most don't. And then there is Santiago, who left the promotion a 12-7 journeyman, and returns after an epic run, and as one of the world's top-ranked middleweights. Now, that ... that is a story.
Since the December 2006 day he last walked out of the octagon, much has changed in MMA, and around the world. The UFC has exploded in popularity. Santiago reeled off an 11-1 stretch. The U.S elected its first African-American president. Natural disasters have devastated several corners of the world. Much change. But there's been one rock of stability. When he left, Anderson Silva was the UFC middleweight champion, and he's still the champ now.
That is situation Santiago hopes to one day change.
"I do this full-time. This is my life," he said. "I didn't come here to hang out. I've come here to show my worth. I work hard to show it, and when i deserve it, I would love to have a shot."
Since leaving, Santiago has been one of the hottest fighters on the planet, and arguably the most successful middleweight aside from Silva, losing only once to Mamed Khalidov, a well-regarded European fighter who has received UFC interest in the past. Santiago later avenged the defeat in a rematch. Santiago also helped author the fight that many believed was the best of 2010, finishing Kazuo Misaki in the fifth round of an August classic.
Yet due to his first run in the UFC, there are questions about where exactly he stands in the middleweight landscape. Some believe that first run is more representative of his talent, while others cite his recent career stretch as proof of a matured, relaxed fighter.
Santiago says now that he never had any doubts that he'd find his way back to the octagon, and that during this event week, he feels comfortable and relaxed, as though this is where he's meant to be.
"As soon as I left, I worked so hard to get back here," he said. "It was a great opportunity. I went to a few places, to Japan and Europe. It just came at the right time. I realized the big mistake I made. This is the biggest show in the world, UFC."
Until recently, Santiago was a member of the vaunted American Top Team stable, and he said at times it was hard to watch his friends and training partners on the stage on which he wanted to perform. Since he's experienced the UFC before, he doesn't expect to face any extra jitters, and can focus on his UFC 130 fight with Brian Stann.
This was the first camp Santiago underwent with his new team, Imperial Athletics. He had alongside him on a daily basis, Rashad Evans, Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva and Gesias "JZ" Cavalcante, among others. While the rugged Stann, coming off his KO win over Chris Leben, is considered a favorite in the fight, Santiago is looking forward to another bout against a game fighter, and starting the process of establishing himself in the promotion he never wanted to leave.
"He's the kind of guy, he fights with his heart," Santiago said. "He's a warrior. He's a U.S. Marine, so he's a warrior. He'll fight all over the place. Ground, cage, on his feet. I'm the kind of fighter who will accept everything, but I'm going for the finish. I'm not going with the mind to fight 15 minutes. This is the goal: finish."
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Source: http://mmafighting.com/2011/05/26/jorge-santiago-hopes-brian-stann-fight-is-first-step-towards-ufc/
UFC 127 Preview: BJ Penn
Source: http://www.mmamemories.com/2011/02/20/ufc-127-preview-bj-penn.html
Kiyoshi Tamura Evan Tanner Peni Taufa\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'ao Thiago Tavares
Pyle-MacDonald Added to UFC 133 in Philadelphia
Source: http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Pyle-MacDonald-Added-to-UFC-133-in-Philadelphia-32565
Michael McDonald Believes UFC 130 Opponent Is 'Predictable'
Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, FanHouse Exclusive, Videos
LAS VEGAS -- MMA Fighting spoke bantamweight Michael McDonald about fighting Chris Cariaso at UFC 130 on short notice, fighting in the UFC at age 20, his place in the 135-pound division and what he used the money from his recent Fight of the Night bonus on.Check out the exclusive interview below.
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Source: http://mmafighting.com/2011/05/26/michael-mcdonald-believes-ufc-130-opponent-is-predictable/
Frank Mir Thinks Roy Nelson Should Be Fighting at Light Heavyweight
Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, FanHouse Exclusive, Videos
LAS VEGAS -- Watch below as Frank Mir talks about fighting Roy Nelson at UFC 130, the criticism he received after beating Mirko Cro Cop at UFC 119, why he wasn't initially keen on fighting Nelson and where a win over Nelson ranks him in the heavyweight division and more.Check out the video interview after the jump.
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Source: http://mmafighting.com/2011/05/25/frank-mir-thinks-roy-nelson-should-be-fighting-at-light-heavywei/
Renato Verissimo Marcus Vinicios Falaniko Vitale Igor Vovchanchyn
Drinaldo Scores Brutal KO Over Strikeforce Vet at Jungle Fight 28
Terrance Aflague Yoshihiro Akiyama Gilbert Aldana José Aldo
Thursday, May 26, 2011
9 Bouts Official for Strikeforce Challengers 16
Source: http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/9-Bouts-Official-for-Strikeforce-Challengers-16-32633
Drinaldo Scores Brutal KO Over Strikeforce Vet at Jungle Fight 28
Gilbert Yvel Ishkhan Zakharian Roman Zentsov Zhang Chuanlong
Event Review ? WEC 52: Faber vs. Mizugaki
Source: http://cardiofreakmma.com/2010/11/14/event-review-wec-52-faber-vs-mizugaki/
Technique of the Week: Sneak-Attack Kimura
Source: http://www.sherdog.com/news/techniques/Technique-of-the-Week-Sneak-Attack-Kimura-32490
Beyond the Cage with Lou Neglia of Ring of Combat
Source: http://www.mmaonline.com/headlines/beyond-the-cage-with-lou-neglia-of-ring-of-combat/
Aleksander Emelianenko Fedor Emelianenko Yasubey Enomoto Mark Epstein
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
UFC 134: Mike Swick Returns Against Newcomer Erick Silva on Aug. 27 in Rio
UFC 134 is headlined by middleweight champion Anderson Silva vs. Yushin Okami and also includes Mauricio ?Shogun? Rua vs. Forrest Griffin and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs. Brendan Schaub.
Source: http://mmafrenzy.com/18620/ufc-134-mike-swick-returns-against-newcomer-erick-silva-on-aug-27-in-rio/
Loiseau Defends Against ?Arm Collector? at Tachi Palace Fights 10
Ishkhan Zakharian Roman Zentsov Zhang Chuanlong Zhang Tiequan
Bellator 45 Ends Fourth Season with 360,000 Peak Viewers on MTV2
Source: http://mmafrenzy.com/18605/bellator-45-ends-fourth-season-with-360000-peak-viewers-on-mtv2/
MFC Releases Franca; Fickett Without Opponent for June 10 Bout
Source: http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/MFC-Releases-Franca-Fickett-Without-Opponent-for-June-10-Bout-32478
Terrance Aflague Yoshihiro Akiyama Gilbert Aldana José Aldo
Aoki-Clementi Official for Dream?s ?Fight for Japan?
Source: http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Aoki-Clementi-Official-for-Dreams-Fight-for-Japan-32503
Chad Mendes vs. Rani Yahya Booked for UFC 133 Fight Card
Source: http://mmafrenzy.com/18606/chad-mendes-vs-rani-yahya-booked-for-ufc-133-fight-card/
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Rampage Jackson Promotes UFC 130 On The Late Late Show
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mmaconvert/~3/rm9tbDDQLAo/
Rocha Replaces Injured Danzig, Faces Cerrone at UFC 131
Source: http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Rocha-Replaces-Injured-Danzig-Faces-Cerrone-at-UFC-131-32433
Jose Aldo Out Till September, Chad Mendes Still Plans To Fight In August (Update)
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mmaconvert/~3/lcUSn-SCKhg/
Lytle Pushing for Pepsi to Fund Local Gym
Source: http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Lytle-Pushing-for-Pepsi-to-Fund-Local-Gym-32303
NSAC Approves UFC Request for Judges' Monitors
Source: http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/NSAC-Approves-UFC-Request-for-Judges-Monitors-32514
Bellator Sets ?Summer Series? Featherweight Tourney Matchups
Source: http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Bellator-Sets-Summer-Series-Featherweight-Tourney-Matchups-32562
Pyle-MacDonald Added to UFC 133 in Philadelphia
Source: http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Pyle-MacDonald-Added-to-UFC-133-in-Philadelphia-32565
Monday, May 23, 2011
4 Bouts Official for UFC 133; Evans-Davis Headlines
Source: http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/4-Bouts-Official-for-UFC-133-Evans-Davis-Headlines-32408
Karo's back!
You might think from the headline that Karo Parisyan won his fight last night against Ryan Ford, but unfortunately that isn't what happened. What did happen though is Karo threw Ryan around the ring with tons of judo throws and attacked with submissions, winning the first two rounds. Unfortunately, Ryan Ford threw a big knee at the start of the third that cut Karo open, forcing the ringside doctor to stop the fight at 1:26 of the third round.
Karo was obviously very upset about the way the fight ended but I see the silver lining on this cloud. Hell, I think the cloud is pretty fluffy and happy. He went out there and performed like Old Karo, and the fact that he lost doesn't change that. I'd be less excited if I heard he rode a jab to a shitty decision or got dominiant position and held it for three rounds.
(Round 2 and 3 after the jump, thanks to CagePotato)
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/fightlinker/~3/YiUh5PF_XdY/karos-back
Dana: GSP vs Diaz has not been signedFighters Only - News
Karl James Jan Nortje Phillipe Nover Jake O\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'Brien
THE KING RULES WITH AN IRON FIST
Source: http://www.martialartsmixed.com/2009/11/king-rules-with-iron-fist.html
Jan Nortje Phillipe Nover Jake O\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'Brien Naoya Ogawa
Sunday, May 22, 2011
MMA Link Parade
- Read the first 50 pages of Brock Lesnar's book for free. (Middle Easy)
- Jon Jones remains mum on Rashad Evans. (Sports Illustrated)
- Cris Cyborg, world champion, still can't get a fight. (Cage Potato)
- On vacation with Phil Davis, Joey Beltran, and Travis Browne. (LowKick)
- The good, the bad, and the weird. (NBC Sports)
- Tim Kennedy offers to fight Michael Bisping for charity. (5th Round)
- Little Nog talks Rich Franklin fight at UFC 133. (The Fight Nerd)
- Frank Mir says he'd be Cain Velasquez's toughest challenge. (MMA Mania)
- Why we need Chael Sonnen. (MMA Convert)
- Chris Horodecki working hard to get to the big show. (Bleacher Report)
- Fighters know who to thank for UFC insurance policy. (Sports Illustrated)
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Lewis-Santos Heavyweight Qualifier Added to Bellator 45
Source: http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Lewis-Santos-Heavyweight-Qualifier-Added-to-Bellator-45-32393
St. Valentine?s Day Massacre on February 11. Professional MMA at Palace
I Fought The Law and The?
Source: http://www.mmaonline.com/headlines/i-fought-the-law-and-the%e2%80%a6/
CSAC: Chael Sonnen Can't Reapply for License Until May 2012
CSAC executive officer George Dodd told MMA Fighting on Thursday that the soonest Sonnen could reapply for a fighter's license is May of 2012, though he could apply for a second's license to corner other fighters sooner.
"One of our rules, in our Title IV [of the California Code of Regulations], stipulates that you have to wait one year after an appeal of your suspension or revocation of license. And since he appealed this [on May 18, 2011], it's one year from the day of denial."
In other words, Sonnen will either have to sit the next twelve months out or else try and get a license to fight in another commission's jurisdiction. That most likely rules out Nevada, but several other states - not to mention the U.K., Europe, and Japan - would still remain viable options.
That is, if the UFC is willing to promote a fighter who is still officially denied a license from a major commission like California.
If and when Sonnen does reapply for a license in the Golden State, Dodd said, he would have to show the commission proof of his rehabilitation, much like Josh Barnett was asked to do in his recent CSAC hearing.
"[Sonnen] is going to have to show that he's done something to promote the sport, promote goodwill," Dodd said. "He does a lot of good things already. He talks to kids and stuff like that about making right decisions. But he's going to have to show that he's making the right decisions as well. You can say it, but you have to make those decisions yourself."
As for Sonnen's use of testosterone, Dodd said a therapeutic use exemption is still not out of the question, but the fighter would have to go through the proper channels first.
"What would happen is he would...request it through the athletic commission. The commission would probably request that the medical advisory committee review it. The medical advisory committee would review it and then make a recommendation back to the commission whether or not to approve or disapprove."
Wednesday's hearing was not about whether Sonnen was or was not in need of the testosterone injections at the time of his fight with UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva at UFC 117 last August, Dodd said.
Instead, it was about Sonnen's misrepresentation of conversations he claimed to have had about that testosterone use with the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Ultimately, the commission found his explanations of those past statements unconvincing.
"That is true," Dodd said. "That's why we never brought up more about what happened back then. We didn't. I didn't testify because there was nothing I could testify to that would give it more cause aside from what was already said."
At Wednesday's hearing Sonnen told the CSAC that conversations with UFC president Dana White had led him to believe he would be "effectively retired" if he wasn't relicensed this week. As of yet, there is no official word on what the UFC plans to do with regards to Sonnen's future in the organization.
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Source: http://mmafighting.com/2011/05/19/csac-chael-sonnen-cant-reapply-for-license-until-may-2012/
Large Crowd Has Promoter Excited for the Future
Source: http://www.mmamemories.com/2011/02/21/large-crowd-has-promoter-excited-for-the-future.html
Round 5 Releases ?Ultimate Collector? Series 6 Featuring Six New Figures & Limited-Edition Runs of Joe Rogan, and Bas Rutten
Spike TV to Telecast Select Prelims Live From UFC 130: Rampage Vs. Hamill
Saturday, May 21, 2011
155-Pound Prospects ?Massaranduba,? Burnsed Top Jungle Fight 28
Source: http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/155-Pound-Prospects-Massaranduba-Burnsed-Top-Jungle-Fight-28-32397
Miguel Torres in Rhythm With Firas Zahabi Ahead of UFC 130
Filed under: UFC
Watching Firas Zahabi talk to reporter after reporter in Toronto last month, one almost got the feeling that he might be getting tired of answering questions about Georges St-Pierre.So why not cut one of the most prominent trainers in the sport some slack, let him get his mind off his welterweight champ for a few minutes?
"Oh - you want me to talk (crap) about Miguel?" Zahabi asks, a smile on his face. "I can do that!"
Zahabi is most famous for the work he does at his Tristar Gym in Montreal with St-Pierre, the UFC welterweight champ, and ahead of GSP's UFC 129 title defense in Toronto against Jake Shields, there were plenty of questions for the coach. But in the last 10 months, Zahabi has taken on a new challenge - revamping the fight game of former bantamweight kingpin Miguel Torres.
And so far, business has been good. Zahabi has helped Torres (39-3, 1-0 UFC) to back-to-back wins after he lost his WEC 135-pound title to Brian Bowles in August 2009, his first career knockout loss, and followed that up by tapping for the first time in a bloody loss to Joseph Benavidez. In fact, Zahabi believes that for Torres, the best is yet to come.
"I still think he's got a lot of potential left, and it's going to take some time to reach that," Zahabi said. "But I don't think he's anywhere near where he's going to be in the future."
But Torres, who mostly self-trained at his own gym in Northwest Indiana until taking up with Zahabi last fall, gives a slightly different account of what his coach tells him in the gym.
"He hasn't told me anything like that," Torres said Wednesday. "Everything he tells me is pretty much negative - and that I'm garbage - so I can get better. But I feel like I'm getting better every day. When I came here, I saw what I was lacking in my game. I knew how much more I could pick up and how much better I could become."
After a submission win over Charlie Valencia at WEC 51 last September and a unanimous decision over Antonio Banuelos in his UFC debut at UFC 126 in February, Torres was given Brad Pickett for UFC 130 next week. But five weeks before the fight, Pickett pulled out with an injury.
Pickett's replacement, Demetrious Johnson (9-1, 1-0 UFC), raised a few eyebrows. Torres' Achille's heel has always been his wrestling. And "Mighty Mouse"? He was a standout high school wrestler in Washington and is coming off a dominating 10-takedown performance to beat Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto in February. But Torres' wrestling is what he has worked on at length since his last loss.
"When I fought Benavidez, I had no wrestling skills whatsoever," Torres said. "Now it's been a year, and all I've been doing is wrestling. Every training camp involves wrestling. Every fight I go into involves wrestling. I'm very confident in my ability to stop takedowns and use counter-shots to take people down."
Zahabi also makes no bones about Torres' wrestling - but concurs with his student that overlooking his ability in that part of his game might be a mistake.
"It's definitely his wrestling - I'll admit to that. I have no problem - I like to say the truth," Zahabi said. "But I'll tell you one thing: He's working very hard on that, and he's not going to be easy to take down. He's going to be even more difficult to hold down, and it's going to be very hard to stop his submissions. So I'm confident for this fight."
And so confident are Torres and Zahabi that they say Torres' height and reach advantage - he's 5-foot-9 vs. Johnson's 5-3 - will force Johnson to shoot. And bring it on.
"Johnson shooting on me is the game plan," Torres said. "I want the guy to try to shoot on me. My whole strength is developed to hit guys - to force them to have to shoot. They can't touch me, they can't strike with me - the longer we stand, the more I win. The longer we stand, the more he has to shoot to win the round. So as he shoots, as he comes in to try and touch me, he's either going to get hit or he's going to get sprawled out. Once he gets sprawled out, he's going to give up his back or his neck. So for me, Demetrious shooting, him engaging me in a shot is going to result in me being able to use my full offense that has developed in the past year with Firas."
And the past year, Zahabi has seen Torres grow from an almost reckless fighter, doing it all on his own, to the kind who can admit his shortcomings and allow himself to be called "garbage" by his coach. (Even if that's a slight Torres exaggeration.)
"I'm very happy with Miguel," Zahabi said. "He's taken some serious steps to move himself forward. It takes somebody who is very proactive, somebody who is very responsible to do that."
Torres and Johnson fight on the preliminary card of UFC 130 on May 28 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The fight will be part of the Spike TV's live prelims broadcast, which starts at 8 p.m. Eastern ahead of the pay-per-view at 9 p.m.
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Source: http://mmafighting.com/2011/05/19/miguel-torres-in-rhythm-with-firas-zahabi-ahead-of-ufc-130/
St. Valentine?s Day Massacre lives up to the hype
Source: http://www.mmamemories.com/2011/02/20/st-valentine%e2%80%99s-day-massacre-lives-up-to-the-hype.html
John Alessio Houston Alexander Ricardo Almeida Eddie Alvarez
Oliveira Replaces Palaszewski, Faces Tibau at UFC 130
Source: http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Oliveira-Replaces-Palaszewski-Faces-Tibau-at-UFC-130-32483
11/11-11/14 MMA News Recap
Source: http://cardiofreakmma.com/2010/11/14/1111-1114-mma-news-recap/
Stefan Struve: If I Fight My Fight, Nothing Can Go Wrong
Filed under: UFC
It's a little frightening to consider, but Stefan Struve may be just now getting serious about his MMA career.Not that he was exactly taking it easy before, mind you. But only recently has the 6'11" Dutch heavyweight hired his own strength and conditioning coach and started to pay close attention to his diet. As a result, the "Skyscraper" is only getting bigger and stronger. And all while he's still just 23 years old.
"It's going to be fun," Struve told MMA Fighting. "I'm looking forward to seeing how much better I am this time. When you look at my last fight, you can see how much bigger I was. After my last fight with [Sean] McCorkle I finally had trainers for everything."
Between sparring with kickboxer Daniel Ghita and working his ground game with jiu-jitsu champion Remco Pardoel, Struve undoubtedly has a strong team around him. But even more than the training, Struve said, the real difference-maker is his growing comfort level with the bright lights of the UFC.
"To be honest, it may sound weird, but all the things - the media, the fans, the attention I'm getting in the lead-up to the fight, the flight to America - it has become normal. Just like it was normal for me to fight all over Europe before the UFC signed me. I fought on big shows in Europe and that became normal for me. Now every single time I go to fight in the UFC, it becomes more normal, more routine, and that's a good feeling."
It's also a far cry from his Octagon debut against Junior dos Santos. Struve came into the fight wide-eyed and shaken by nerves, and as a result he made it less than a minute before getting rocked by the aggressive Brazilian. A hard right caught him on the side of the head, and the next thing Struve knew he was down, but without realizing how he'd gotten there.
"Then when he hit me, and I woke up. I remember thinking, sh-t, I better do something or I'm going to lose this fight," Struve said. "Then he hit me again."
It's hard to believe that it was only a little over two years ago that Struve was a clueless Octagon rookie. Now at UFC 130 he prepares for his eighth UFC bout against fellow big man Travis Browne, who, at 6'8" is yet another of the tall trees populating the heavyweight division.
But as Struve knows well, just being big doesn't win fights, and he's not altogether blown away by what he's seen of Browne so far.
"I've seen his fights with McSweeney and Kongo. I was in London when he fought Kongo. Honestly, I wasn't impressed with that fight. I don't think he was pleased with that fight either. The first round was good for him, but I think the second and third round were just kind of boring. He's got power in his hands, some good kicks, and his stand-up is pretty good. But when the fight hits the mat, I think the fight is mine. My ground game is better than his and, to be honest, I think my stand-up is better than his as well. If I fight my fight, in my opinion, nothing can go wrong."
It may be a furious effort, Struve said, but he doesn't see it lasting very long.
"I expect him to push the pace, especially in the first round and the opening moments of the second and third. But I don't plan to go there. I like to finish fights early. But I expect him to come after me and try to throw bombs, maybe even take me down. But I'm not that sure if you really want to take me down."
Fight like his come-from-behind win over Christian Morecraft may be exciting for fans, Struve said, but they're no fun for the fighter who has the spend the first round taking a beating. Still, it was good to show off an aspect of his game few had seen, even if he hoped never to have to do it again.
"People love to see those kinds of fights. They want to see fights like in 'Rocky,' where a guy gets beat up and comes back and wins the fight." Struve said. "That's what the fans love. But for me, it was a thing that my coach and I already knew, which is that I have a big fighting heart. I never quit, never give up, and that shows in fights like that. I knew that already, it's just that now the fans know too."
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Source: http://mmafighting.com/2011/05/21/stefan-struve-if-i-fight-my-fight-nothing-can-go-wrong/
Tyron Woodley Eyes July Return, Hopes for Paul Daley Now, Nick Diaz Next
Filed under: Strikeforce, FanHouse Exclusive, News
No sooner had Nick Diaz retained his Strikeforce welterweight title in April when he started discussing his future possibilities. There was a potential boxing match with Fernando Vargas thrown around, then another one against Jeff Lacy. There was a suggestion that he could face UFC champion Georges St-Pierre in an MMA superfight.One option that Diaz seemed to immediately dismiss, however, was a rising star in his own company, within his own division, Tyron Woodley. The unbeaten Woodley, in Diaz's opinion, would be "in a little over his head" moving so quickly into the title picture.
And so the waiting game for Woodley began. At 8-0, he seems stuck in a purgatory between prospect and top-flight contender, and with no easy route to his intended destination at the top. Woodley hopes that road will begin this summer, when he is expecting to fight at a still officially unannounced July 30 show, against an opponent yet to be determined.
While he says the uncertainty of his opponent is not a source of frustration for him, he believes he should only be fighting one of two men: Diaz or Paul Daley. By their account, he's not ready for them. And by his own, he's beaten most of the contenders directly below him in the division, and facing anyone else wouldn't make much sense. What we're left with is a matchmaking stalemate.
"I think the fans want to see it," he told MMA Fighting. "You check Twitter and message boards, and the fans want to see me fight these guys. These guys had to fight someone to get a name. Diaz had to beat someone, to knock them out, like he did with Robbie Lawler in the UFC. Daley had to knock out Martin Kampmann. I'm not going to stop asking for these fights.
"They're calling out people they want to fight, people with names," he continued. "And I have to sit back and hear them say, 'Oh, he's not ready yet,' or 'I'll mess this kid up.' That's what they're saying to the camera, but deep down inside, they don't believe that."
Woodley went into his Jan. 7 match against Tarec Saffiedine with the belief that a win would get him a crack at the belt. He handled Saffiedine in a unanimous decision victory and waited to see what would happen next. First, Daley took a fight in the UK and missed weight, but ended up winning. That set him up to fight Diaz, and the fight ended in a first-round TKO for the champion.
Under the currently accepted Strikeforce rankings, Daley is the only contender ahead of Woodley that is free to fight in the summer. He has no idea if it's a fight being considered, but he doesn't think it's one Daley wants.
"For Daley, his wrestling and jiu-jitsu are his weak points," he said. "He doesn't want to get put on his back like Josh Koscheck did, like Jake Shields did, like Pat Healy did, especially by a kid who is not in the top 10 rankings, who doesn't have the same name recognition that these guys have. Daley? I don't think he wants to fight wrestlers."
He views the Diaz situation entirely differently. He says straight-up, "I don't think Diaz avoids bouts with anybody" and that he's a "fan" of watching him fight. At his best, he can even look at Diaz's situation objectively, even if it means he's the odd man out.
"I can't knock him, I can't hate on him for what he's doing," Woodley said. "Realistically, it's a lose-lose situation for him. If he fights me, he's gonna hear he's not fighting top guys because I'm not as well known. And if he loses, he lost to a prospect while I made my mark off of him. Now where do you go? So he looks around and says, 'Maybe I'll get the fight with Georges St-Pierre.' Why not fight the No. 1 guy in the world? Look at the risk vs. reward, and I can see where he's at."
When he shifts back into sportsman mode though, he says things should be more simple. In any other sport, when it gets to postseason or tournament format, or more specifically, when you're fighting for a championship, winners fight other winners. Victors move forward, and losers are weeded out. And he hasn't lost. Look around the rest of the division, and few others can say that. Daley lost his last fight. So did Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos, and Scott Smith, and KJ Noons and Saffiedine, and the list goes on.
With his six Strikeforce wins, he's a proven winner, and he emphasizes that he is not "calling out" anyone out of disrespect, but out of ambition. He says he won't be upset if he doesn't get Daley or Diaz next, and it won't change his target.
"If I don't keep moving towards a world championship, what the heck am I in MMA for?" he said. "I respect these guys as fighters and competitors, but do I want to fight you? Yes, if you've got the belt, I do. It's nothing personal."
Last week, Zuffa held its annual fighter meetings in Las Vegas, and Woodley looked around the sea of fighters, saw a few he'd fought in the past, others he wants to fight in the future. Diaz was not one of them. He never got a look at him. He did see Daley, however, and the two shook hands and exchanged quick pleasantries.
Afterward, Woodley returned back home, where he is helping his wife take care of their newborn, 3-month old Dylan. Back in the gym, Woodley is working to refine his striking and get back to basics on his considerable wrestling skills, well aware that the highest levels of MMA will require him to be more than proficient at both. Diaz and Daley are very different fighters, and will require very different preparation.
He just doesn't think they have the preparation to beat him.
"I'm not a good fight for either one," he said. "I'm faster, more explosive and a much better wrestler than Diaz. He has gas for days, can take a punch better than anybody at 170, and his jiu-jitsu is world class, but look at his three losses: Diego Sanchez, Joe Riggs, Sean Sherk. Nobody recently has fought Diaz on their own terms. They always engage him in his war and they always lose.
"As far as Daley, I just think it's a good fight for me, a cool bout," he continued. "Realistically, I don't get to decide who's next, but my next fight needs to see a performance like I had against Andre Galvao, like in my first couple bouts. I watched [Bellator's] Michael Chandler fight the other day, and I was thinking, 'That's how I used to fight.' Putting pressure on guys, heavy pressure. After the second round, he made a gesture with his hands like he was breaking a stick. He was saying, 'I broke him.' I've got to get back to that. I'm so excited to train, and I'm looking forward to getting back in the cage. I need a big fight."
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Source: http://mmafighting.com/2011/05/18/tyron-woodley-eyes-july-return-hopes-for-paul-daley-now-nick-d/
UFC 133: Ivan Menjivar vs. Nick Pace Set for Aug. 6 in Philly
UFC 133 is headlined by Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis and also features Vitor Belfort vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama and Rich Franklin vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Nogueira: Anderson Silva Nearly Retired Before Entering UFC
Source: http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Nogueira-Anderson-Silva-Nearly-Retired-Before-Entering-UFC-32234
Bellator Exploring Accident Insurance for Fighters
Filed under: FanHouse Exclusive, Bellator, News
Since launching in 2009, Bellator Fighting Championships has tried to separate itself from the UFC in many ways: tournaments to crown champions, seasons, events held every week are just a few concepts that come to mind.But Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney said on Monday's episode of The MMA Hour that he wouldn't mind copying the UFC in one particular department: accident insurance for fighters.
"I can tell you I've been reading all of the articles and all the spokespersons for the UFC have said that it's been a long and exhaustive process," Rebney said, "and there were very few carriers that were willing to execute on it, there were very few people that were willing to provide the insurance that they were seeking.
"I can tell you first hand that I know that to be true because we have been looking for alternatives on that front for over a year ourselves. It's not an easy policy to obtain, it's not easy to put into motion, but I think it's great for the sport; I think it's great for the fighters. It's something that we are going to continue to look at, and I say kudos for the UFC for pulling it off."
Providing accident insurance for fighters is an expensive undertaking, and it's understandable that the UFC, which is 16 years older than Bellator, would be better suited to pull it off today.
But despite the fact that Bellator is just two years old and generating nowhere near the kind of revenue Zuffa is, Rebney recognizes that insurance is needed and is a perk he hopes to offer his fighters in the future.
"I think that the reality is, and I get to see it day in and day out, but very few of the fighters that we or Zuffa have under contract are in a position in their economic life to be able to afford health insurance to protect themselves against injuries that occur inside the cage when they are training. Of course, everyone that fights for Zuffa or Bellator is covered once they step into the cage in competition, but training for mixed martial arts is not like training for golf. You're in there battling on a day in and day out basis and injuries occur."
Bellator 45, the final event of Bellator's fourth season, will air live on MTV2 this Saturday night from Lake Charles, La.
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Source: http://mmafighting.com/2011/05/19/bellator-exploring-accident-insurance-for-fighters/
Oliveira Replaces Palaszewski, Faces Tibau at UFC 130
Source: http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Oliveira-Replaces-Palaszewski-Faces-Tibau-at-UFC-130-32483
10 Fights Signed for UFC 132
Source: http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/10-Fights-Signed-for-UFC-132-32387
UFC?s Tom Wright: Likely Back In Montreal On Dec. 10 For UFC 140, GSP-Diaz Possible?
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mmaconvert/~3/wisr0_8xPXw/
Michigan?s Best MMA Promoter Donofrio Entertainment Announces SIX New Shows
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Rocha Replaces Injured Danzig, Faces Cerrone at UFC 131
Source: http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Rocha-Replaces-Injured-Danzig-Faces-Cerrone-at-UFC-131-32433
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