UFC 125 Pre-Fight Breakdown: Thiago Silva vs. Brandon Vera

 Posted by at 4:57 PM  MMA News, UFC  1 Response »
Dec 302010
 

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Thiago Silva's (camouflage shorts) vicious striking will likely be his UFC 125 opponent Brandon Vera's undoing. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

On New Year’s Day, the  UFC returns to its old stomping grounds at the MGM Grand Garden for UFC 125: Resolution. The main event of the evening is a rematch between “The Answer” Frankie Edgar (13-1) and “The Bully” Gray Maynard (10-0) for the UFC lightweight belt and the supporting cast includes Brian Stann (9-3), “The Crippler” Chris Leben (21-7), “The Fireball Kid” Takanori Gomi (29-7), “The Carpenter” Clay Guida (27-11), “Stun Gun” Dong Hyun Kim (10-4-2), and Nate Diaz (12-6). In a bout that is sure to have fans talking for weeks, Brazilian wrecking machine Thiago Silva (15-2) takes on Muay Thai striker “The Truth” Brandon Vera (11-5). Both of these light heavyweight finishers like to let their fists do the talking and they will surely have a lot to say in a bout that many fans believe is a winner-takes-all and loser-gets-a-pink-slip type of affair. Continue reading »

Share

UFC 125 Pre-Fight Breakdown: Nate Diaz vs. Dong Hyun Kim

 Posted by at 7:12 AM  MMA News, UFC  No Responses »
Dec 302010
 

Southpaw Nate Diaz (white trunks) uses his heavy-handed striking and dangerous ground game to pick apart and finish his opponents. (Photo courtesy of Dave Mandel and Sherdog)

The MGM Grand Garden will host the UFC’s annual New Year’s card, UFC 125: Resolution. The marquis bout between “The Bully” Gray Maynard (10-0) and “The Answer” Frankie Edgar (13-1) is the fight perhaps most prominent on the fans’ minds but there are several rather notable matches on the card as well. Thiago Silva (15-2), “The Truth” Brandon Vera (11-5), “The Fireball Kid” Takanori Gomi (29-7), “The Carpenter” Clay Guida (27-11), “The Crippler” Chris Leben (21-7), and Brian Stann (9-3) help round out the card, but one of the more interesting Pay-Per-View bouts features welterweight warriors Nate Diaz (12-6) and “Stun Gun” Dong Hyun Kim (10-4). The Stockton, California native and brother of Strikeforce champion “El Diablo” Nick Diaz (23-7) takes on the tough and well rounded Korean-born Hyun Kim, who is unbeaten in the UFC, in a race for a chance at welterweight king “Rush” Georges St. Pierre (21-2). Both men are dynamic ground fighters with contrasting clinch fighting styles that will make for a very interesting battle to the mat. Continue reading »

Share

MMA Gospel Technique of the Week: Guard Pass to Quarter Mount Hammer Lock

 Posted by at 1:34 AM  MMA News, Technique of the Week  No Responses »
Dec 302010
 

Before taking a week off for the Christmas holiday, Ed Perdomo and Johnny Rodriguez had one last technique left in the current arch that began with an escape from a Guillotine Choke in the opponents full guard. The first move was to fall back for an ankle lock. When the opponent defended that attack, Ed moved on to sweep into back control and snatch a Rear Naked Choke with a gable grip. This week, Ed Perdomo will end the current arch with a finish designed to make an opponent pay for preventing the sweep from last time, a devastating Hammer Lock from the quarter mount. Continue reading »

Share

Chuck Liddell Takes the Fight From the Cage to the Office

 Posted by at 12:35 AM  Features, MMA News, UFC  No Responses »
Dec 302010
 

"The Iceman" Chuck Liddell is calling it quits after more than a decade of being a staple in the UFC's light heavyweight division. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

After much speculation about his future in mixed martial arts, “The Iceman” Chuck Liddell (21-8) is officially calling it quits and hanging up his 4oz. gloves. But, this isn’t the last the long time veteran has seen of the UFC. The promotion’s president Dana White announced today at the UFC 125 pre-fight press conference that the former face of the UFC will serve as the organization’s new Executive Vice President of Business Relations. Liddell was visibly emotional when he addressed the media concerning his retirement from fighting and stated that he was looking forward to a new chapter in his career serving as an ambassador to those involved with the UFC’s global expansion.  Continue reading »

Share