Fedor Emelianenko: A Look at the Legacy of “The Last Emperor”

 Posted by at 9:41 PM  Features, MMA News, Strikeforce  2 Responses »
Feb 182011
 

Fedor Emelianenko (right) is undisputedly one of the best heavyweight fighters in the world - but is he THE best? (Photo courtesy of M-1 Global)

“The Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (31-3) is a man deemed by many to be the greatest heavyweight fighter on the planet. Going 31-3, 1 No Contest, over what is close to an 11-year career in MMA is an unparalleled achievement, of that there is no doubt, but some question whether his record and fight history provide validation for the claims of his fans? Is he really the greatest fighter of all time? Certainly at one point in time Fedor was the undisputed king of the heavyweight division, but many fans refuse to allow that such claims may no longer be warranted, and worse still, take any argument to the contrary to be a sign of gross disrespect and lack of knowledge.  The following list holds links to video footage of every Fedor Emelianenko fight, from the ones that matter to the ones that MMA history remembers only as a number in his win column, as MMA Gospel looks into what the man behind the legend has really achieved and how his current achievements stack up to both those of his past, and those of his current peers. Continue reading »

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The Return of “The Predator”: Patrick Cote Signs With Ringside MMA, Debuts April 9

 Posted by at 11:18 AM  MMA News  1 Response »
Feb 182011
 

"The Predator" Patrick Cote (top) returns to the cage with his new home promotion, Ringside MMA, April 9 against "TUF" alum Kalib Starnes. (Photo courtesy of Jeff Sherwood and Sherdog)

Iron-jawed power puncher and former UFC middleweight title challenger “The Predator” Patrick Cote (13-7) has a new promotion to call home, and it’s in his own backyard. After weeks of speculation as to where the Canadian heavy hitter would go next, the word is out and the ink is dry, as Montreal-based promotion Ringside MMA welcomes Cote not only back to the world of mixed martial arts but back to his home turf where he is most dangerous.

Cote’s one-man welcoming party is fellow Canadian and The Ultimate Fighter 3 alum Kalib Starnes (12-4-1) who is probably best remembered for his three round back pedaling fight against “The Rock” Nate Quarry (12-4) at UFC 83, which shortly after led to his release from the promotion. Currently Starnes is on a two fight win streak while Cote is coming off consecutive losses to “The Spider” Anderson Silva (28-4) in 2008, and “The Talent” Alan Belcher (16-6) and “Filthy” Tom Lawlor (7-3) in 2010. Cote was on a year-and-a-half long lay-off following his title challenge bout against “The Spider” in August 2008, during which he sustained a knee injury that required surgery and rehab. Continue reading »

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“Natural Light” Ryan Couture Looks to Establish His Own Legacy in MMA

 Posted by at 4:21 PM  Features, MMA News, Strikeforce  2 Responses »
Feb 172011
 

"Natural Light" Ryan Couture (right), son of UFC Hall of Famer and multiple-time champion "The Natural" Randy Couture (left) looks to blaze his own trail in the MMA world. (Photo courtesy of Andy Samuelson and the Las Vegas Sun)

Brazilian Chute Boxe practitioners “Cyborg” Evangelista Santos (17-14) and “Cyborg” Cristiane Santos (10-1) could be considered the first couple of MMA.  Team Black House fighters “Lil’ Nog” Antonio Rogerio Nogueria (18-4) and “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueria (32-6-1) can be deemed the siblings of submission, and Dan Miller (13-4) and “The Mongoose” Jim Miller (19-2) could be considered the true blue-collar brothers of battle. Now, in the latest edition of families who are making their legacy known in combat, “The Natural” Randy Couture’s (19-10) son, “Natural Light” Ryan Couture (1-0 Professional, 4-0-1 Amateur), is getting set to blaze his path in MMA history. Although Randy made his career known by using his Greco-Roman wrestling to bend his opponents to his will, his son’s legacy in the amateur level is being paved with the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu that has ended each of his five wins via submission. With professional level fighters and trainers alongside him at Xtreme Couture, Ryan might just have the right tools at his disposal to take the lightweight bracket by storm. After a successful first round submission victory in his professional debut last summer, Couture is returning February 18 under the Strikeforce banner hoping to keep the winning streak alive. Continue reading »

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MMA Gospel Young Gun Chris Davis Rumored to Join Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament Roster

 Posted by at 8:36 PM  Bellator, Features, MMA Gospel Young Guns, MMA News  1 Response »
Feb 162011
 

MMA Gospel Young Gun "The Professional" Chris Davis is rumored to have been added to the Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament roster, which is slated to kick off at the end of March on MTV2. (Photo courtesy of Chris Davis)

It has been rumored* from sources close to “The Professional” Chris Davis (10-2) that the MMA Gospel Young Gun has been signed to compete in the upcoming Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament on MTV2 this Spring. Davis has posted an impressive resume in his two-year-old MMA career with five submission and five TKO/KO victories, all but two of which came in the first round, and he is expected to maintain this quality of performance against the other hungry blue chip prospects that Bellator has assembled to compete for a shot at Bellator light heavyweight gold. Continue reading »

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MMA Gospel Technique of the Week: Ground-and-Pound Defense to Rolling Sweep from the Guard

 Posted by at 7:52 PM  Technique of the Week  No Responses »
Feb 162011
 

Hapkido master Ed Perdomo and his assistant instructor Johnny Rodriguez return for a new set of demonstrations for MMA Gospel’s Technique of the Week article series. This time, Ed will focus on defending against and defeating and opponent who has managed to posture up in his guard in order to level some ground-and-pound. In the next two week’s installments, Ed will first defend a punch and sweep Johnny to mount then finish him in the next article with an armbar. The following two weeks will each show alternate defenses to give our readers a solid arsenal against the serious ground-and-pound fighter. Continue reading »

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Strikeforce Challengers 14: Beerbohm vs. Healy Preview

 Posted by at 2:12 PM  MMA News, Strikeforce  1 Response »
Feb 162011
 

(Photo courtesy of Strikeforce and Showtime MMA)

Strikeforce lights up Austin, Texas this Friday, February 18 at the Cedar Park Center with it’s ShoMMA: Challengers 14 fight card. Featured in the main event, undefeated slick submission artist “Fancy Pance” Lyle Beerbohm (15-0) steps in against the well rounded veteran that is “Bam Bam” Patrick Healy (20-15) with both martial artists looking to take a step closer to being a lightweight title contender. The co-main event for the evening features the highly regarded “Natural Light” Ryan Couture (1-0) attempting to live up to his father’s name – UFC Hall of Famer and multiple-time champion “The Natural” Randy Couture (19-10) – by taking on Lee Higgins (2-0) a practically unknown fighter who has an outstanding ground game and hails out of Houston, Texas. The main card also showcases three other bouts with the likes of Brazilian-born and current Bryan, Texas resident Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and Judo brown belt Carlo Prater (24-8-1) versus NCAA wrestler Bryan Travers (12-2), Vale Tudo fighter “Bad Apple” Erik Apple (10-2) taking on Houston native and BJJ brown belt Ryan Larson (5-2), and Cesar Gracie Academy kickboxer David Douglas (5-2) vs. Austin’s all around fighter “The Ghost” Nick Gonzalez (16-9). All in all, Challengers 14 offers a solid night of outstanding prospects looking to make waves in the lower ranks of the Strikeforce promotion. Continue reading »

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MMA Gospel Gary’s Cageside Musings: Strikeforce “Fedor vs. Silva”

 Posted by at 8:39 PM  Features, MMA News, Strikeforce  4 Responses »
Feb 142011
 

Saturday, February 12. The night was chilly as usual but even another freezing night could not damper my mood as I drove towards East Rutherford, New Jersey and the start of the unprecedented (in the US at least) Heavyweight Grand Prix tournament being put together by Strikeforce. With so much emphasis put on the UFC, fans really had to be surprised to see the wealth of heavyweight talent amassed for this tournament. That I was witnessing the launch of such an historic MMA event left me quite gleeful. Of course events that unfolded would show that for Strikeforce no good deed goes unpunished. But we’ll get to that.

The IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey played host to Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva last Saturday night. (Photo courtesy of MeadowLands.com)

As I drove toward Lot 26 which is designated for the press and employees I stopped to ask every parking attendant where the lot was located and was instructed to just keep driving. When I finally circled the entire IZOD Center and came to my designated lot I made an ill advised, on-the-fly decision to not stop by the parking person manning this lot and a few seconds later felt like Billy Hayes in Midnight Express as my car was surrounded by several guys who looked as if they were competing in the evening’s Strikeforce Heavyweight Tournament or at least a local tough man contest. After the some venting of steam by guys whose mood was not enhanced by the freezing temps, I was finally able to spit out my name and ultimately allowed to proceed and park. So began my first sojourn as a credentialed press dignitary. I almost ended up buried with Jimmy Hoffa and other luminaries in the nearby meadowland swamps courtesy of Mo and the guys. Continue reading »

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Spilled Bag of Fights: FEDOR!

 Posted by at 11:41 AM  Spilled Bag of Fights  7 Responses »
Feb 142011
 

I gotta be honest with ya, icemigos, I dunno if I’m feeling up to this column this week. I know there’s maybe two or three of you that look forward to it but you want the snarky commentary. Y’know, the comedy gold. But that’s what I’m not feeling. I’ll try and soldier through. Just for you. Maybe it’s Fedor’s sad loss in the opening of Strikeforce’s Heavyweight Grand Prix this weekend and even sadder indication that he may retire following his second loss in a row. Maybe it’s the exceptional amount of douchebaggery that followed on Twitter. Or maybe I’m just feeling moody. Who knows?

I mean, yeah, even the best have to lose eventually but getting caught in an  Arm Bar/Triangle Choke from a top level Jiu-Jitsu guy like Fabricio Werdum is one thing and getting an ass beating in what was, in my book, an 8/10 round is another. There was a lot of venom and vitriol back-and-forth amongst MMA fans following the loss.  Some people seemed to think Fedor was always overrated – these people are clearly dumb. Some people followed the Dana White view that Fedor hasn’t been any good in years and M-1 was sure to coddle their cash cow by giving him easy opponents that had big names but were comfortably past their prime – Tim Sylvia and Andrei Arlovski. Maybe, but at the point Fedor fought them, both guys were only at the beginning of their decline. They were still dangerous guys who were much bigger than Fedor. So, I know you’re thinking “Ice, my main man, please tell us… what IS the truth?! What happened to Fedor? Why? Good God, man! WHY!?” Okay. I will tell you… because I love you and you need to know. You all need to know. So, listen up. Continue reading »

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Strikeforce “Fedor vs. Silva”: The Aftermath

 Posted by at 11:53 PM  Features, MMA News, Strikeforce  1 Response »
Feb 132011
 

"Bigfoot" Antonio Silva (top) upset the MMA world last night when he battered and finished "The Last Emperor" Fedor Emelianenko (bottom) in two rounds. (Photo courtesy of Dave Mandel and Sherdog)

The MMA world has been ablaze since the end of 2010 when Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker announced the organization’s upcoming eight-man single-elimination tournament, dubbed the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix, which was slated to include some of the biggest names in the heavyweight division signed on as competitors. Last night the San Jose-based mixed martial arts promotion kicked off that tournament, as the main card of its “Fedor vs. Silva” event, with two Quarter-Finals match-ups and two alternate qualifying bouts. It was an amazing night of fights, culminating with a fight between “Bigfoot” Antonio Silva (15-2 ) and “The Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (31-3). Continue reading »

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Strikeforce “Fedor vs. Silva”: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

 Posted by at 8:46 PM  Features, MMA News, UFC  1 Response »
Feb 132011
 

Antonio Silva (right) was by far the biggest winner in last night's Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva card, TKOing top heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko (left) in the main event. (Photo courtesy of Esther Lin and Strikeforce)

Strikeforce launched its World Heavyweight Grand Prix last night to the eager cheers of one of the largest crowds it has ever hosted. The night was filled with exciting barn burners including a main card that opened with four straight first round finishes and ended with what many are viewing as the biggest upset in modern MMA history. As a whole the card was an overwhelming success and did its job of hyping the casual fan base for the Strikeforce World Heavyweight Grand Prix magnificently. It brought all the ingredients of a fan pleasing MMA production to the table with big names against big underdogs, fast paced casual fan-friendly brawls, bouts which displayed that higher level of technical precision that awes the pundits, big finishes and even bigger upsets. However, it is not all wine and roses for the San Jose-based promotion. One of their biggest drawing fighters announced his potential retirement after being knocked out of the tournament along with another fan favorite, there were a few close calls from the referees that could have easily caused a controversy, and their commentary was even more painful than usual. There are always ups and downs with every fight, so to help sort them out MMA Gospel presents The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. Continue reading »

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Arlovski, Emelianenko Defeated in First Round of Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix; Fedor Announces Potential Retirement

 Posted by at 12:58 AM  Features, MMA News, Strikeforce  1 Response »
Feb 132011
 

Fan favorite "The Last Emperor" Fedor Emelianenko suffered a shocking defeat in tonight's Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. He was battered by his opponent Antonio Silva for almost two entire rounds before the ringside doctor called a stop to the fight. Afterward, Fedor announced that he may be hanging up his 4oz. gloves for good. (Photo courtesy of Tracy Lee and Yahoo! Sports)

One of the most highly anticipated cards of the year has come and gone – more quickly than some expected, and in a very different manner than most expected.

In tonight’s premier installment of the two-part Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Quarter-Finals, four men stepped into the six-sided cage with the hopes of advancing to the Semi-Finals of the promotion’s inaugural heavyweight tournament. In the co-main event, the first of the pairings saw PRIDE veteran and dangerous kickboxer “The Russian Mercenary” Sergei Kharitonov (17-4) taking on Sambo master and former UFC Heavyweight Champion “The Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (14-9). The Belarusian exhibited more than a glimmer of his old self coming out of the gate, instantly putting the pressure on his opponent, and out-striking Kharitonov with precision jabs, uppercuts, and leg kicks. Things were really looking up for the formerly top 10 ranked heavyweight, but unfortunately it didn’t last long. Arlovski allowed himself to be backed toward the cage, where he quickly became at the mercy of Kharitonov’s own brand of stellar striking. It took only a few well-placed punches until Arlovski found himself in the same place as two of his last three fights: on the canvas, out cold. “The Pitbull” is out of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix, and Sergei Kharitonov advances to the Semi-Finals. Continue reading »

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Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva Quick Results

 Posted by at 9:45 PM  MMA News, Strikeforce  No Responses »
Feb 122011
 

(Photo courtesy of Strikeforce and Showtime MMA)

—MAIN EVENT (Heavyweight Grand Prix Quarter-Final Match, on Showtime)—
Fedor Emelianenko vs. Antonio Silva: Silva via TKO (Doctor Stoppage), Round 2, 5:00

—CO-MAIN EVENT (Heavyweight Grand Prix Quarter-Final Match, on Showtime)—
Andrei Arlovski vs. Sergei Kharitonov: Kharitonov via KO, Round 1, 2:49

—MAIN CARD (Heavyweight Grand Prix Reserve Bouts, on Showtime)—
Shane del Rosario vs. Lavar Johnson: del Rosario via Submission (Armbar), Round 1, 4:31
Valentijn Overeem vs. Ray Sefo: Overeem via Submission (Neck Crank), Round 1, 1:37
Chad Griggs vs. Gian Villante: Griggs via TKO (Punches), Round 1, 2:49

—PRELIMINARIES (HDNet)—
John Cholish vs. Marc Stevens: Cholish via Submission (Kneebar), Round 2, 3:57
Josh LaBerge vs. Anthony Leone: LaBerge via TKO (Doctor Stoppage), Round 1, 5:00
Jason McLean vs. Kevin Roddy: McLean via Split Decision, Round 3, 5:00
Igor Gracie vs. John Salgado: Gracie via Submission (Arm Triangle Choke), Round 2, 3:04
Don Carlo-Clauss vs. Sam Oropeza: Oropeza via TKO (Punches), Round 1, 4:10

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