Apr 302011
 

 

Tonight's UFC 129 main event sees long-time welterweight champ Georges St. Pierre (left) take on probably his most formidable challenger to date, Jake Shields (right) in a five-round title affair. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

—MAIN CARD (Pay-Per-View)—

UFC Welterweight Championship Fight
Georges St. Pierre vs. Jake Shields: St. Pierre via Unanimous Decision (50-45, 48-47, 48-47), Round 5, 5:00

UFC Featherweight Championship Fight
Jose Aldo vs. Mark Hominick: Aldo via Unanimous Decision (48-45, 48-46, 49-46), Round 5, 5:00

Randy Couture vs. Lyoto Machida: Machida via KO (Jump Front Kick), Round 2, 1:05

Jason Brilz vs. Vladimir Matyushenko: Matyushenko via KO (Punches), Round 1, 0:20

Mark Bocek vs. Ben Henderson: Henderson via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27), Round 3, 5:00 Continue reading »

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Apr 302011
 

George St. Pierre is regarded as the best fighter in the world by many and he will seek to prove them correct against two-division champion Jake Shields at tonight UFC 129. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

MMA fans disagree about many things. However, few will disagree that the most likely fighter to dethrone “Rush” Georges St. Pierre (21-2) in the welterweight division is former Elite XC and Strikeforce champion Jake Shields (26-4). Tonight at UFC 129: St. Pierre vs. Shields fans will see the pair face off for the UFC Welterweight Championship after years of speculation from fans and pundits alike. This will be a interesting fight to watch as GSP has been known to best his opponents at their strengths especially when they are touted as the best in the division at what they do. In this case it would be Shields’ esteemed top position Jiu -Jitsu game. Although GSP is a black belt in BJJ and a great submission artist  himself, few would doubt that in a submission grappling match Shields would have the edge. However, this is MMA and GSP’s planning comes into play backed with his ability to seamlessly blend the various facets of the game, a fact which more than just evens the playing field.

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Apr 302011
 

Tonight's UFC 129 main event sees NCAA Div. II wrestler and former Strikeforce and Elite XC champ take on renowned welterweight kingpin Georges St. Pierre. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

More is on the line than the UFC welterweight title tonight at UFC 129: St. Pierre vs. Shields. The main event will be another chapter in an ages old philosophical debate akin to the combat sports version of the immovable object and the irresistible force. It is the answer to the question of who is the best fighter – the man with the longer winning streak and belts in multiple smaller promotions, or the man who has fought in the best promotion against arguably better opponents and defended his title multiple times? That answer will become glaringly apparent this evening when former top Elite XC welterweight and Strikeforce and Shooto Welterweight Champion Jake Shields (26-4) faces off against world renowned UFC Welterweight Champion “Rush” Georges St. Pierre (21-2). Continue reading »

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Apr 292011
 

In tomorrow night's main event, UFC Welterweight Champion "Rush" Georges St. Pierre (black shorts) makes his seventh title defense, this time against former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Jake Shields. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

Tomorrow night the UFC arrives in Toronto, Quebec, Canada for the very first time and the world’s premier MMA organization certainly isn’t holding anything back in its inaugural visit. UFC 129: St. Pierre vs. Shields will present a record breaking sold out crowd of over 55,000 fans with a card built on the backs of some of the most talented and accomplished fighters on the UFC roster. In his UFC debut “Smooth” Ben Henderson (11-2), the former WEC lightweight champ, squares off against the native Torontonian Mark Bocek (9-3) before 14-year MMA veteran “The Janitor” Vladimir Matyushenko (25-5) takes on fellow wrestler “The Hitman” Jason Brilz (18-3-1). The card only grows more prestigious from there as UFC Hall of Famer “The Natural” Randy Couture (19-10) fights what he claims will be his final battle against fellow former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion “The Dragon” Lyoto Machida (16-2) and the explosive “Junior” Jose Aldo (17-1) makes the first defense of the UFC Featherweight Championship against Canadian kickboxing ace “The Machine” Mark Hominick (19-7). With such a stacked card preceding it, there are only a handful of fights that could even hope to headline it and the UFC hasn’t failed to find just such a bout. The main event sees the UFC Welterweight Champion and arguably the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world “Rush” Georges St. Pierre (21-2) will face a man who hasn’t tasted defeat in over six years, former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Jake Shields (26-4-1). While many fights are fueled by a lot of hype, this match is one that actually has the potential to live up to it. Continue reading »

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Apr 292011
 

(Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

Tomorrow night the UFC comes tearing into Canada with its inaugural event in Toronto, Ontario in the form of UFC 129: St. Pierre vs. Shields. The card is piled high with some of the most prominent names in mixed martial arts, the main card including the likes of reigning welterweight champ “Rush” Georges St. Pierre (21-2), title challenger Jake Shields (26-4-1), newly crowned UFC Featherweight Champ “Junior” Jose Aldo (17-1), top 145lbs. contender Mark Hominick (19-7), seasoned veteran “The Janitor” Vladimir Matyushenko (25-5), NCAA Div. II wrestler Jason Brilz (18-3-1), UFC Hall of Famer “The Natural” Randy Couture (19-10), former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion “The Dragon” Lyoto Machida (16-2), hometown fighter Mark Bocek (9-3), and former WEC superstar “Smooth” Ben Henderson (11-2). With a slew of big name fighters in combination with the implications rendered by some of the card’s match-ups, UFC 129 has all the potential to be one of the best efforts put forth by the promotion in 2011. Here’s how the staff of MMA Gospel predicts the main card to unfold. Continue reading »

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Apr 292011
 

The UFC's inaugural featherweight champion Jose Aldo (black shorts) will make his first title defense at UFC 129 tomorrow night opposite "The Machine" Mark Hominick. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

In front of a sold out crowd of 55,000, ten men plan to make the Octagon their stomping ground as UFC 129: St. Pierre vs. Shields takes place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In the main event, welterweight champion “Rush” Georges St. Pierre (21-2) puts his title on the line against former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Jake Shields (26-4-1) who is currently on a six-year, 15-fight winning streak. “The Natural” Randy Couture (19-10) hopes to end his seasoned career with a superb performance when he challenges former light heavyweight champ “The Dragon” Lyoto Machida (16-2). In another 205lbs. affair, goliaths “The Janitor” Vladimir Matyushenko (25-5) and “The Hitman” Jason Brilz (18-3-1) step into the cage, and former WEC 155lbs. king “Smooth” Ben Henderson (11-2) makes his UFC debut against Jiu-Jitsu stand-out Mark Bocek (9-3). In the co-main event, the hometown favorite “The Machine” Mark Hominick  (19-7) welcomes “Junior” José Aldo (17-1) with every intention of taking his newly acquired UFC featherweight title.  While both Hominick and Aldo have the ability to bring fights to a screeching halt, putting a championship up for grabs guarantees that both men will go tooth-and-nail to ensure that title goes home with them. Continue reading »

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Apr 282011
 

Bellator 44 delivers big names including dangerous kickboxers Alexander Shlemenko (left) and reigning Bellator Middleweight Champion Hector Lombard (right). "The Storm" will take on Brett Cooper and "Shango" will lock horns with UFC veteran Falaniko Vitale. (Photo courtesy of Dave Mandel and Sherdog)

The recently announced Bellator Fighting Championships Featherweight “Summer Series” Tournament begins May 14 with perhaps their most stacked card to date. The event will take place in Atlantic City, New Jersey and also hosts a middleweight elimination match to determine who will grace the Season 5 Tournament as Bellator Season 2 Middleweight Tournament winner and title challenger “The Storm” Alexander Shlemenko (29-4) steps back into the cage against Brett Cooper (12-5). Continue reading »

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Apr 282011
 

Jason Brilz (white/blue trunks) holds a slight edge over Vladimir Matyushenko at UFC 129 due to his tendency to cause more damage when he has control of the fight. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

“Rush” Georges St. Pierre (21-2) will defend his UFC Welterweight Championship this Saturday night for the seventh time against Jake Shields (26-4-1) at UFC 129 in Toronto, but before he does, the UFC has arranged for a night of elite MMA action. The evening kicks off in the lightweight ranks as the former WEC 155lbs. kingpin “Smooth” Ben Henderson (11-2) battles Canadian BJJ expert Mark Bocek (9-3) in a high powered ground battle before master tacticians “The Natural” Randy Couture (19-10) and “The Dragon” Lyoto Machida (16-2) put their brains and their bodies to the test against each other in the light heavyweight division. Serving as a prelude to the main event, the UFC has given “Junior” Jose Also (17-1) his first opportunity to defend his new UFC Featherweight Championship against “The Machine” Mark Hominick (19-7). UFC 129: St. Pierre vs. Shields is rounded off with a solid pairing between grizzled veteran “The Janitor” Vladimir Matyushenko (25-5) and a man whose UFC record mirrors Matyushenko’s own at the time he first exited the UFC: “The Hitman” Jason Brilz (18-3-1). While both men are fighting for relevance in the 205lbs. weight class the fans can certainly expect both men to bring everything they have in that pursuit. Continue reading »

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Apr 272011
 

This Saturday night former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Lyoto Machida (black trunks) looks to recover from a two-fight skid and regain his place as top contender. Standing in his way will be UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture. (Photo courtesy of Dave Mandel and Sherdog)

Toronto, Ontario, Canada gets its first taste of UFC action when the Rogers Centre hosts UFC 129: St. Pierre vs. Shields this Saturday. In the main event, title challenger Jake Shields (26-4-1) hopes to keep his six-year winning streak going when he faces current 170lbs. king “Rush” Georges St. Pierre (21-2) for the coveted welterweight title. The headlining superfight is directly supported by “Junior” José Aldo (17-1) returning from the injured list to face “The Machine” Mark Hominick (19-7) with his featherweight title up for grabs. Nebraska’s favorite fighter “The Hitman” Jason Brilz (18-3-1) enters the cage opposite International Fight League (IFL) veteran “The Janitor” Vladimir Matyushenko (25-5) and Toronto’s native son Mark Bocek (9-3) plans to give former WEC champ “Smooth” Ben Henderson (11-2) a rude welcoming in his UFC debut. In the midst of the action, history will be made as “The Natural” Randy Couture (19-11) enters the Octagon, allegedly for the last time, against the always calm but equally dangerous “The Dragon” Lyoto Machida (16-2). While the UFC Hall of Famer Couture will always be loved and admired for his accomplishments both in and outside the sport, ending his career on the highest possible note with a victory may prove difficult against Machida, who himself looks to get back on the road towards title contention. Continue reading »

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Apr 262011
 

Former WEC champ Ben Henderson (right) will have to put his dynamic pace and natural athletic ability to the test against the slick ground work of Mark Bocek at UFC 129. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

After nearly a month-long hiatus, the UFC returns for UFC 129: St. Pierre vs. Shields, the company’s first event in the Canadian city of Toronto. In addition to the main event between UFC Welterweight Champion and Canadian superstar “Rush” Georges St. Pierre (21-2) and title challenger Jake Shields (26-4-1), the card offers fans a featherweight title bout between “Junior” Jose Aldo (17-1) and “The Machine” Mark Hominick (19-7) as well as the return of “The Natural” Randy Couture (19-10) as he takes on “The Dragon” Lyoto Machida (16-2) and a light heavyweight clash between “The Janitor” Vladimir Matyushenko (25-5) and “The Hitman” Jason Brilz (18-3-1).  The first Pay-Per-View bout on slate for the fans in Toronto is a promising lightweight affair between a long-time UFC veteran and the former WEC 155lbs. king as Mark Bocek (9-3) takes on “Smooth” Ben Henderson (11-2). The two will collide in a high level version of the classic ground battle between the wrestler and the submission artist as Bocek pits his skills as one of Canada’s first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belts against the All-American Wrestling that Henderson has tempered with a brown belt of his own under John Crouch. Continue reading »

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Apr 262011
 

Judoka Rick Hawn (standing) is set to take on "The Thoroughbred" Jay Hieron in the Bellator Season 4 Welterweight Tournament finals May 7. (Photo courtesy of Henry S. Dziekan III and Getty Images)

Today Bellator Fighting Championships announced that its May 7 card, Bellator 43, in Newkirk, Oklahoma will not only host the Season 4 Welterweight Tournament finals between undefeated Judo Olympian Rick Hawn (11-0) and former International Fight League (IFL) 170lbs. champ “The Thoroughbred” Jay Hieron (18-4) but also will feature a stacked night of fights leading up to the main event. Continue reading »

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