Spilled Bag of Fights: Gross!

 Posted by at 6:35 PM  Spilled Bag of Fights  1 Response »
May 302011
 

I’m gonna keep this brief because it’s a holiday and there’s not a lot to say about UFC 130. Except I want $25 off for the lack of a Frankie Edgar/Gray Maynard rubber match.

I picked Travis “Hash” Browne over Stefan “Topple” Struve and Rick “Based on a True” Story over Thiago “Get A More Original Nickname” Alves but then I thought I shouldn’t have two upset picks and changed my pick to Stefan “Timber!” Struve. Damn it!  Story is tough and honestly I think Alves is overrated – not that he’s not a great fighter but I don’t think he’s top five. Continue reading »

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One on One with M-1 Veteran “Psycho” Karl Amoussou

 Posted by at 3:27 PM  Bellator, Features, MMA Gospel Exclusives, MMA News  1 Response »
May 302011
 

North American MMA fans got their second glimpse of the power behind M-1 veteran “Psycho” Karl Amoussou’s (right) striking when he took on “Smilng” Sam Alvey (left) at Bellator 45 last weekend for a spot in the Season 5 Middleweight Tournament. (Photo courtesy Keith Mills and Sherdog)

“Psycho” Karl Amoussou (12-3-2) entered the lion’s den of European MMA with three first-round submission wins that earned him the honor of cutting his teeth in the ranks of the world famous M-1 Global promotion. Toting an 8-2 record within the organization, of which only two bouts saw the judges, Amoussou’s explosive style and finishing power established him as a fan favorite and a powerhouse amongst European fighters. In August 2009 the Frenchman made his US debut also under the M-1 banner in the promotion’s first ever live televised event in the United States, M-1 Global: Breakthrough. Despite disposing of his opponent John Doyle (9-16) in impressive fashion via first-round Rear Naked Choke, the Judo black belt Amoussou still went relatively unnoticed in the landscape of US MMA.

Six months later in February 2010, Amoussou entered the Strikeforce cage against South African fighter Trevor Prangley (23-7) in a bout that many believed the more experienced Prangley would dominate. Against Prangley, Amoussou showed that he’s no pushover. He got the better exchanges and was picking Prangley apart until he received an accidental eye poke and consequently was unable to see or continue the fight. The match was ruled a Draw and despite his commanding performance, the memory of all but the outcome faded in many fans’ minds.

Amoussou would not compete again on American soil until May 21 at Bellator 45. The main card feature fight pitted the 25-year-old M-1 veteran and undercover police officer against King of the Cage veteran “Smiling” Sam Alvey (13-2) for a spot in the Bellator Season 5 Middleweight Tournament. After a three-round battle in which “Psycho” arguably dominated at least 10 of the 15 minutes, two out of the bout’s three judges gave the nod to Alvey and sent Amoussou back to France without a spot in Bellator’s upcoming 185lbs. tournament.

MMA Gospel staff writer Cole Moorman recently interviewed the “Psycho” in hopes of turning the American eye to the bright future of Karl Amoussou. Continue reading »

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UFC 130: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

 Posted by at 8:09 PM  MMA News, UFC  No Responses »
May 292011
 

"Rampage" Quinton Jackson may not have gotten the KO win he wanted, but he showed all around improvement in his game at UFC 130. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

UFC 130 received mixed reviews from the fans. A card with ten fights and seven decisions and no super hyped match-ups, Rampage vs. Hamill showed what happens when an organization puts all their eggs in one basket. The fights were, as a whole, excellent, but the UFC had the fans salivating over the conclusion of “The Answer” Frankie Edgar (13-1-1) and “The Bully” Gray Maynard’s (10-0-1) New Year’s title fight. Once that bout was scrapped due to injuries to both men, the UFC needed a card that was stuffed with “Fight of the Year” candidates to make up for the disappointment, especially among the casual fans. UFC 130 may be getting an unfair bad wrap from many fans and media for not living up to the hype of its cancelled previous incarnation, but the beauty of MMA is that the lackluster reception of the card itself doesn’t reflect too heavily on the fighters involved with it. Some fighters, however, managed to squander that blessing by putting on poor performances that are only magnified by the poor light in which UFC 130 has been cast. To explore who came out ahead and who fell behind, MMA Gospel has The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. Continue reading »

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UFC 130: The Aftermath

 Posted by at 2:02 PM  MMA News, UFC  No Responses »
May 292011
 

USMC soldier Brian Stann (left) made his Memorial Day weekend all the more special with an impressive TKO victory over Sengoku champ Jorge Santiago (right). Stann always bears solid striking but before he gets the big-name fights, pitting a wrestler or Jiu-Jitsu artist against "All-American" will assess the strength of his ground game. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

UFC 130: Rampage vs. Hamill is now in the books this Memorial Day weekend after another night of great fights. A U.S. Marine and a former Sengoku champion met in a middleweight battle. In a welterweight showcase, an up-and-coming prospect faced a former title challenger with the hopes of starting his own run for the 170-pound title.  Two of the UFC’s biggest heavyweights entered the cage where the potential for either to come tumbling down was nearly guaranteed. In the co-main event, two heavyweight contenders clashed trying to claw their way to the top of their weight division’s elite pack. The headlining bout saw a promising fighter take on a beloved-yet-feared former champion as the 205lb-ers closed out the event. After a night of action, here is a recap of what went down. While the victors goes the spoils, here listed are also a few fighters that may be coming up soon to take their place. Continue reading »

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UFC 130: Rampage vs. Hamill Quick Results

 Posted by at 7:35 PM  MMA News, UFC  No Responses »
May 282011
 

(Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

—MAIN CARD—

“Rampage” Quinton Jackson vs. “The Hammer” Matt Hamill: Jackson via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27), Round 3, 5:00

Frank Mir vs. “Big Country” Roy Nelson: Mir via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26), Round 3, 5:00

“The Skyscraper” Stefan Struve vs. “Hapa” Travis Browne: Browne via KO (Punch), Round 1, 4:11

“All-American” Brian Stann vs. “Sandman” Jorge Santiago: Stann via TKO (Strikes), Round 2, 4:29

“The Pitbull” Thiago Alves vs. “The Horror” Rick Story: Story via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28), Round 3, 5:00 Continue reading »

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Looking for the Underdog: “Rampage” Quinton Jackson

 Posted by at 2:32 PM  MMA News, UFC  No Responses »
May 282011
 

"Rampage" Jackson has made many changes since his days as a reckless young brawler in PRIDE, but have those changes been good for his career? (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

Tonight at UFC 130: Rampage vs. Hamill former light heavyweight champion “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (31-8) will look to extend his winning streak to two as he faces off against tough wrestler “Hammer” Matt Hamill (10-2). In Jackson’s most recent fight, against “The Dragon” Lyoto Machida (17-2), he was able to pull off a pretty convincing decision by controlling much of the action in the first two rounds. A good win over a tough opponent such as Matt Hamill will do much to place Jackson firmly back in the title picture. However, for a win to truly impress the UFC brass, “Rampage” will need a finish, likely in the form of one of his trademark brutal KOs. Unfortunately for Jackson, five of his last six fights have gone the distance and each of them saw Jackson in a position to finish where he was either unable or unwilling to pull the trigger. The appeal of Quinton Jackson is clear from his nickname, “Rampage”, and his recent timidity in clutch situations has left many fans cold to him. So the question in this fight is, is “Rampage” Jackson going to be on the hunt for a KO or will he be content to win on the judges’ scorecards simply to avoid the risk of going all out? Continue reading »

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Looking for the Underdog: “The Hammer” Matt Hamill

 Posted by at 8:36 AM  MMA News, UFC  No Responses »
May 282011
 

Matt Hamill will get his first taste of a UFC headlining bout against Quinton Jackson at UFC 130, but does he have the skills to take advantage of the opportunity? (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

At UFC 130 “The Hammer” Matt Hamill (9-2) will be looking to make “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (31-8) his sixth victim in his current win streak when the pair face off in a main event light heavyweight battle. Outside of a hotly contested disqualification victory over current 205lbs. champion “Bones” Jon Jones (13-1), Hamill has left little doubt with back-to-back decision victories over “The Dean of Mean” Keith Jardine (17-9) and “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz (15-8) that he has a legitimate presence in the division. He is, however, looked at with a certain measure of contempt as a contender by the pundits who call into question the talent level of the opponents he has beaten since coming to the UFC in 2006. A solid win over a former champion like “Rampage” would do much to allay that contempt. Continue reading »

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UFC 130 Pre-Fight Breakdown: Quinton Jackson vs. Matt Hamill

 Posted by at 6:10 PM  MMA News, UFC  No Responses »
May 272011
 

In the UFC's 205lbs. division, "Rampage" Quinton Jackson's (black trunks) knockout power is amongst the most feared. Despite always wanting to exchange, Jackson's takedown defense will help him keep the fight standing should Matt Hamill decide he wants to take it to the mat. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

Summer kicks off in Las Vegas, Nevada tomorrow night when the world’s elite mixed martial arts promotion presents UFC 130: Rampage vs. Hamill live from the MGM Grand Center and Casino.  Middleweight prospects “All-American” Brian Stann (10-3) and “Sandman” Jorge Santiago (22-8) square off in the card’s opener. In a welterweight contest, “The Pitbull” Thiago Alves (17-7) and “The Horror” Rick Story (10-2) get set to do battle . The heavyweights stomp onto the scene when “Hapa” Travis Browne (7-0-1) faces “Skyscraper” Stefan Struve (18-4) and “Big Country” Roy Nelson (15-5) collides against Frank Mir (14-5) . In the main event, “The Hammer” Matt Hamill (9-2) headlines his first Pay-Per-View card against crowd favorite yet challenger-feared “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (29-8). For Jackson, many believe defeating Hamill will prove he is still a viable threat for the UFC  light heavyweight title. Hamill though would like to not only prevent this but finally toss his name in the running for a potential title shot. With a majority of their fights combined ending on their own terms, this fight can expect both men going tooth-and-nail long before the word “decision” is ever considered. Continue reading »

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UFC 130 Pre-Fight Breakdown: Roy Nelson vs. Frank Mir

 Posted by at 8:54 AM  MMA News, UFC  No Responses »
May 272011
 

The more muscular Frank Mir might be more pliable in Jiu-Jitsu but the wideset "Big Country" Roy Nelson's (right) knockout power is the kind that has ended Mir's night on multiple occasions. With the current and former champion out due to injury and illness, a win Saturday night could put Nelson in favorable position for the heavyweight title. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

The MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada lends itself as a familiar host as UFC 130: Rampage vs. Hamill kicks off the 2011 summer season.  The “All-American” Brian Stann (10-3) finds himself back for another run at the middleweight division, this time against former Sengoku champion Jorge Santiago (22-8). “The Pitbull” Thiago Alves (17-7) answers the challenge tossed out by “The Horror” Rick Story (10-2). “Hapa” Travis Browne (7-0-1) and “The Skyscraper” Stefan Struve (18-4) prepare to lock horns in a heavyweight war. With the lightweight title match pulled off the card due to injury, “The Hammer” Matt Hamill (9-2) gets his first taste as a headliner at a steep price against “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (29-8). In the co-main event, former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir (14-5) battles against former International Fight League champion “Big Country” Roy Nelson (15-5). Both men hold a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu to showoff their knowledge on the ground but neither have a problem letting their strikes handle business for them. With something always to gain, a win over a former champion would do wonders for the other’s career. Continue reading »

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UFC 130 Pre-Fight Breakdown: Stefan Struve vs. Travis Browne

 Posted by at 3:25 PM  MMA News, UFC  No Responses »
May 262011
 

Travis Browne (top) will pit his high octane offense against the reach and technical skill of Stefan Struve in an attempt to break into the UFC heavyweight top rankings. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

This Saturday, the UFC will help MMA fans kick off the Memorial Day weekend with a UFC 130 card headlined by wisecracking PRIDE superstar “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (29-8) and inspirational wrestling stand-out “The Hammer” Matt Hamill (9-2) who step in to replace the injured lightweight title contestants “The Answer” Frankie Edgar (13-1-1) and “The Bully” Gray Maynard (10-0-1). Leading up to the main event, the UFC has provided a quartet of bouts with the potential to shake up the heavy, middle, and welterweight divisions’ current contendership rankings. At 170, former title challenger “Pitbull” Thiago Alves (17-7) squares off against rising star “The Horror” Rick Story (10-2) to see who gets to take (or keep) Alves’ place as a top contender. In the middleweight ranks, USMC veteran “All-American” Brian Stann (10-3) looks to continue his UFC rebirth as an elite fighter against a man who made his mark after getting drummed out of the UFC and has now returned for redemption, “Sandman” Jorge Santiago (22-8). The third class that gets a shake, the heavyweight division, receives a double helping as former UFC champ Frank Mir (14-5) takes on former IFL champ “Big Country” Roy Nelson (15-5) for a chance to get back on top and the UFC’s hard-nosed youngsters “The Skyscraper” Stefan Struve (18-4) and Travis Browne (7-0-1) battle for a shot at the UFC heavyweight elites. Struve and Browne both pose interesting questions for each other. Those questions and many more will be answered as two of the largest fighters in the UFC clash to make their mark. Continue reading »

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MMA Gospel Staff Makes UFC 130 Main Card Predictions

 Posted by at 7:54 AM  MMA News, UFC  No Responses »
May 262011
 

(Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

This Saturday night, the world’s premier MMA promotion, the UFC, returns to its home stomping grounds of Las Vegas, Nevada to bring fans an evening filled with promising match-ups courtesy of UFC 130: Rampage vs. Hamill. The card was originally headlined by the rubber match between reigning 155lbs. king “The Answer” Frankie Edgar (13-1-1) and “The Bully” Gray Maynard (10-0-1) for the UFC Lightweight Championship, but both competitors were forced to withdraw from the fight due to injury. Leave it up to the UFC though to ensure that, despite unforeseen circumstances – even those that could very well make an event held by any other promotion crumble  – the fans still are guaranteed one hell of a show. A light heavyweight tilt between former PRIDE superstar “Rampage” Quinton Jackson and “The Hammer” Matt Hamill has been promoted to main event status, while an original preliminary card fight between knockout machine “The Pitbull” Thiago Alves and rising contender “The Horror” Rick Story got a bump, too, as it now will open up the main card on Pay-Per-View. UFC 130 also boasts a heap of big names with former UFC heavyweight champ Frank Mir taking on the badass with a belly “Big Country” Roy Nelson, the aptly-named “Skyscraper” Stefan Struve meeting vicious ground-and-pounder “Hapa” Travis Browne, and honorable USMC soldier “All-American” Brian Stann going to war with former Sengoku champ “Sandman” Jorge Santiago. It’s virtually impossible to predict exactly how the night may go – it’s MMA, anything can happen. But, that doesn’t stop MMA Gospel from trying! After the jump, MMA Gospel’s staff gives their predictions of just how the card may go down. Continue reading »

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MMA Gospel Technique of the Week: Modified Syracuse Escape from Side Control

 Posted by at 8:17 PM  Technique of the Week  4 Responses »
May 252011
 

This week, MMA Gospel returns with another three-technique series involving an escape from a difficult situation. This time, Ed Perdomo will work with Trevor Boers to escape from side mount into a top sprawl position with control over his opponent’s head and arms. The first technique in this series will be the escape itself that will not only land Ed in a superior position, but also displays and alternative to simply jail breaking back into guard when caught in a tight side control. Continue reading »

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UFC 130 Pre-Fight Breakdown: Brian Stann vs. Jorge Santiago

 Posted by at 8:55 AM  MMA News, UFC  No Responses »
May 252011
 

"All-American" Brian Stann (right) will bring not only heavy hands and an iron will to the cage at UFC 130, but also the pride of the Marine Corps to this Memorial Day weekend bout. (Photo courtesy of Dave Mandel and Sherdog)

This Memorial Day weekend the UFC returns to the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada for its latest effort with UFC 130: Rampage vs. Hamill. What was originally intended as the card’s main event, the highly anticipated rubber match between UFC Lightweight Champion “The Answer” Frankie Edgar (13-1-1) and wrestling powerhouse “The Bully” Gray Maynard (10-0-1) was put on hold when both fighters sustained injuries at the beginning of May. Taking its place as the main attraction is former 205lbs. champ “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (29-8) teeing off against the hard hitting wrestler “The Hammer” Matt Hamill (9-2). Supporting the light heavyweight duel is a match in the heavyweight division pitting submission specialist Frank Mir (14-5) against the big-bellied, wise cracking former IFL Heavyweight Champion “Big Country” Roy Neslon (15-5). “Hapa” Travis Browne (7-0) is looking to knock off and knock out the tallest man on the UFC roster in “Skyscraper” Stefan Struve (18-4), but Struve has plans of his own to add Browne to his growing list of fallen opponents. Welterweight rising star “The Horror” Rick Story (10-2) will be put to the test when he takes on a top contender in wrecking machine ”The Pitbull” Thiago Alves (17-7). One bout in particular that promises fireworks is a middleweight match-up between former WEC 205lbs. champ “All-American” Brian Stann (10-3) and former Sengoku and Strikeforce Middleweight Champion “Sandman” Jorge Santiago (22-8). Stann will bring the power and the iron drive that has made him a threat to all those who have stepped before him in the cage while the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Santiago will bring his well-rounded skill set to the Octagon in hopes of derailing the seemingly unstoppable “All-American” contender. This will likely be a battle of attrition that has all the makings of “Fight of the Night”. Continue reading »

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