For the final submission before the one-year anniversary of MMA Gospel’s Technique of the Week, Ed Perdomo and Mike Richardson have chosen to present an advanced level submission that feeds easily from the Step Over Bridged Armbar from last week. This Inverted Triangle Choke is a tight, high risk submission that is an excellent move to take advantage of the semi-scramble situation this technique chain sets off from the sweep onward. Continue reading »
(Promotional material courtesy of Lionsgate)
When I drove to Chicago to answer the invitation MMA Gospel received to attend a three week advanced screening of Lionsgate Entertainment’s new mixed martial arts drama Warrior staring Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton, I didn’t expect much. The few short trailers that had come out prior had piqued my interest though and seemed to imply that the film would offer more than the poor acting of several UFC champions and excessive nudity that previous MMA films had given us, but knowing the mainstream media’s still jaded opinion of the sport, I didn’t expect Warrior to be much more than a basic rehash of every old boxing movie re-skinned to appeal to niche market MMA fans. I was pleasantly surprised. Director/screenwriter Gavin O’Connor put together a movie that appeals to fans of all walks of life and manages to weave a story that is both deeply ensconced in the subculture of mixed martial arts and completely independent of the action in the cage at the same time. The story could have centered around any sport and still had a serious impact on the viewer, but MMA was certainly the best fit. Continue reading »
First of all. I gotta say, I missed Joe Rogan. Kenny Florian does a fine job on “MMA Live” but for commentary he lacks Joe’s enthusiasm and humor that plays so well off Goldie’s… umm… Goldieisms. It’s hard to argue that Mike Goldberg isn’t the Goldiest.
In a prelim fight that was shown three times (well, it was only forty seconds long), Erick Silva caught Luis Ramos with a huge right hand that had Ramos not out cold but you could almost imagine the birds chirping and flying in a circle around his head. Then Silva jumped in and threw another thirty or so punches in about two seconds to finish it. Nice debut, kid. Continue reading »
Anderson Silva (top) extended his record number of UFC title defenses to nine after brutally destroying the only man to hand him a loss in the past seven years. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The UFC made its triumphant return to Brazil with UFC 134: Silva vs. Okami in Rio de Janeiro. The card was loaded to the hilt with Brazil’s biggest stars as well as a few hometown heroes as the South American nation took on the world. In their bouts, the Brazilians had resounding success with “The Spider” Anderson Silva (29-4), “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (33-6-1), and “Shogun” Mauricio Rua (20-5) all taking home spectacular knockout wins and undefeated young Edson Barboza (9-0) taking a “Fight of the Night” winning Split Decision. With “Thunder” Yushin Okami (26-6), Forrest Griffin (18-7), “The Hybrid” Brendan Schaub (7-2), and “The Real Deal” Ross Pearson (17-7-1) all coming up short, the lone main card victor from the visitor’s dugout was Stanislav Nedkov (6-0) who scored a come-from-behind TKO win over “Banha” Luiz Cane (9-4). The fans were the real winners as the UFC again came out and proved why it is the greatest mixed martial arts organization in the world, bar none, but did the fighters come out as well as the fans did? To answer this, MMA Gospel brings The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. Continue reading »
“The Cleveland Assassin” Chris Lozano returns to the Bellator cage September 10 to take on Brent Weedman in the promotion’s Season 5 Welterweight Tournament quarter-finals. (Photo courtesy of Keith Mills)
“The Cleveland Assassin” Chris Lozano (8-1) is taking no prisoners in his quest for glory. In just over two years as a professional mixed martial artist, Lozano has already made quite a name for himself, knocking out seven of his nine opponents and not only competing in Bellator’s Season 4 Welterweight Tournament, but also in serving as the headliner of the first fight card in history to be aired on MTV2, Bellator 35. That bout saw Lozano take on the promotion’s most recent former 170lbs. champion, “Cyborg” Lyman Good (11-2), in a hard fought three-round battle that rendered “The Cleveland Assassin” on the losing end for the first time in his career. Lozano then followed up his stint in Bellator with a pair of consecutive victories in the North American Allied Fight Series promotion, after which he was invited to return to the Bellator cage for the Season 5 Welterweight Tournament. Come September 10, “The Cleveland Assassin” will step into the national spotlight yet again, this time facing off with fellow knockout artist Brent Weedman (18-6) in the Bellator Season 5 Welterweight Tournament quarter-finals. MMA Gospel Editor-in-Chief Mallory Mejia got the opportunity to sit down with the rising star Lozano and discuss his evolving fight game, his mindset going into one of the most important match-ups of his career thus far, and what he plans on doing differently this time around. Continue reading »
Today’s MMAHQ deal is for the Bad Boy Brazil Tee for $12
Bad Boy Brazil Tee – $12! Continue reading »
(Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
Anderson Silva vs. Yushin Okami: Silva via TKO (Strikes), Round 2, 2:04
Forrest Griffin vs. Mauricio Rua: Rua via KO (Punches), Round 1, 1:53
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Brendan Schaub: Nogueira via KO (Punch), Round 1, 3:09
Luiz Cane vs. Stanislav Nedkov: Nedkov via TKO (Strikes), 4:13, Round 1
Edson Barboza vs. Ross Pearson: Barboza via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28), Round 3, 5:00 Continue reading »
Anderson Silva (black shorts) is the undisputed pound-for-pound king who has proven that no matter what is thrown at him, he has a response to it. His ground game will fend well against the wrestling of Yushin Okami, but the clear advantage goes to him standing. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The HSBC center in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil plays host to UFC 134, the first Brazilian UFC event since their first taste in 1998. “Banha” Luiz Cane (9-3) is charged with the task of welcoming Stanislav Nedkov (5-0) to the Octagon in his UFC debut. Two of the lightweight division’s stars battle it out when Brazilian Edson Barboza Jr. (8-0) and “The Real Deal” Ross Pearson (17-6-1) meet in Barboza’s backyard. One of Brazil’s most beloved fighters “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-6-1) tries to snuff out the flame of his fellow heavyweight “The Hybrid” Brendan Schaub (7-1). In the co-main event two former light heavyweight champs try to make their second run at a title when “Shogun” Mauricio Rua (19-5) and Forrest Griffin (18-6) clash heads for the second time. Brazil is given another rematch to look forward to when native Brazilian “The Spider” Anderson Silva (28-4) defends his middleweight championship against “Thunder” Yushin Okami (26-5). The first meeting saw Okami defeating Silva in 2006 via DQ. Silva has been one of the most enigmatic figures in the middleweight division, defeating all those who have come before him. Despite a few bumps along his way to the title, Okami has stormed through the ranks. A win from Silva is always one that causes excitement and uproar as he always seems to find a way to pull off the victory. If Okami can get the victory on Silva’s stomping grounds, he will have pulled off one of the largest upsets in UFC history. Continue reading »
"Shogun" Rua (black trunks) has the kind of explosive striking that gives Forrest Griffin (tan trunks) fits, but his stamina is always a question, especially against a large, powerful fighter. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
This Saturday the UFC makes its triumphant return to Brazil, 13 years after ‘The Phenom” Vitor Belfort (20-9) KO’d “The Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva (34-11-1) in 44 seconds and “The Legend” Frank Shamrock (23-10-2) defended his Middleweight title at UFC 17.5: Ultimate Brazil. This time the card is headlined by today’s Brazilian striking quasi-deity, “The Spider” Anderson Silva (28-4), as he attempts to avenge his most recent loss against “Thunder” Yushin Okami (26-5) who had his hand raised in 2006 due to a DQ. Opening the card will be “Banha” Luiz Cane (9-3) and Stanislav Nedkov (5-0) who will open the gates for the likes of “The Real Deal” Ross Pearson (17-6-1), Edson Barboza (8-0), “The Hybrid” Brendan Schaub (7-1), and “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-6-1). Pulling co-main event duties for the UFC’s second trip to Brazil are Forrest Griffin (18-6) and “Shogun” Mauricio Rua (19-5) in a rematch of Rua’s UFC debut loss. Both men have won, and lost, the hotly contested UFC Light Heavyweight Championship in the time since their last meeting and are in virtually the same position as they were in their first bout. “Shogun” has a load of hype and a few questions about him and needs a decisive win to show why he is so highly regarded and Griffin is on the cusp of a title shot-earning win streak with two straight victories over respected veterans. Continue reading »
Bellator Featherweight Champion Joe Warren (black trunks) and Marcos Galvao (white trunks) are two of eight 135lb-ers competing in the Bellator Season 5 Bantamweight Tournament starting in September. (Photo courtesy of Dave Mandel and Sherdog)
Bellator Fighting Championships’ bantamweight playing field is set and ready to rumble at Bellator 51. On September 24 in Canton, Ohio eight of the Chicago-based MMA promotion’s top 135lbs. fighters will meet in the center of the cage to determine who will advance to the next round with the hopes of getting the next shot at Bellator Bantamweight Champion “Fun Size” Zach Makovsky (13-2).
Bellator Season 3 Bantamweight Tournament finalist Ed West (14-5) returns for the first time since his five-round battle with champion Makovsky, and welcoming him back to the cage is Brazilian Shooto veteran Luis Nogueira (4-1). Continue reading »
UFC middleweight king "The Spider" Anderson Silva (left) puts his title on the line for the ninth time tomorrow night against the man who handed him his most recent loss, "Thunder" Yushin Okami (right). (Photo courtesy of Zuffa)
Anderson Silva: 184lbs.
Yushin Okami: 183lbs.
Forrest Griffin: 205lbs.
Mauricio Rua: 205lbs.
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira: 243lbs.
Brendan Schaub: 247lbs.
Luiz Cane: 204lbs.
Stanislav Nedkov: 203lbs.
Edson Barboza: 155lbs.
Ross Pearson: 155 lbs. Continue reading »
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (left) may be the last of the big stars from PRIDE to stand on the big stage, but he is far from finished in his quest for UFC gold. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The UFC returns to Rio De Janeiro, Brazil to bring the fans UFC 134, the second event the world’s largest MMA organization has held in South America. Headlining the card is UFC Middleweight Champion “The Spider” Anderson Silva (28-4) as he defends his belt against “Thunder” Yushin Okami (26-5) and a rematch between two former light heavyweight champions in Forrest Griffin (18-6) and “Shogun” Mauricio Rua (19-5). The supporting cast for the card includes lightweights “The Real Deal” Ross Pearson (17-6-1) and Edson Barboza (8-0), and an opening fight between “Bahna” Luiz Cane (9-3) and Stanislav Nedkov (5-0) as well as a heavyweight tilt between TUF 10 alum “The Hybrid” Brendan Schaub (7-1) and the former PRIDE champion ”Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-6-1). The bout is a huge step up in competition for Schaub and represents a new page in the career of “Big Nog” as well. The mix should provide an entertaining fight for the fans. Continue reading »
This Saturday night the UFC drops in on the South American country of Brazil for only the second time since the organization’s inception and does so in spectacular fashion in the form of UFC 134: Silva vs. Okami. The card is chock full of hometown heroes with the likes of light heavyweight Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt “Banha” Luiz Cane (9-3), heavy-handed former Ring of Combat Lightweight Champion Edson Barboza (8-0), “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-6-1) of PRIDE fame, and top-ranked former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion “Shogun” Mauricio Rua (19-5) battling it out with undefeated Bulgarian fighter Stanislav Nedkov (5-0), British slugger “The Real Deal” Ross Pearson (17-6-1), The Ultimate Fighter10 runner-up “The Hybrid” Brendan Schaub (7-1), and comical fan favorite Forrest Griffin (18-6), respectively. Headlining the event is a rematch for the ages with UFC Middleweight Champion and top pound-for-pound fighter in the world “The Spider” Anderson Silva (28-4) putting his long-standing UFC title on the line against the last man to hand him a loss, “Thunder” Yushin Okami (26-5). UFC 134 showcases some of the promotion’s premier talent and promises to deliver entertainment in a big way. Here, the MMA Gospel staff predicts what they think will go down this Saturday night. Continue reading »