May 232013
May 222013
Glover Teixeira (white trunks) has the advantage on the mat and can go blow-for-blow with James Te Huna standing as well. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada hosts UFC 160 Saturday night. The heavyweight title is up for grabs when champion Cain Velasquez (11-1) meets “Bigfoot” Antonio Silva (18-4) in the main event. “The Super Samoan” Mark Hunt (9-7) has been making a resurgence and hopes to keep it alive when he battles the former heavyweight king, “Cigano” Junior Dos Santos (15-2). “The Bully” Gray Maynard (11-1-1) will test his mettle against TJ Grant (20-5) in a lightweight showdown with the victor earning the right to a title shot. KJ Noons (11-6) makes his Octagon debut as he is set to tango with “Cowboy” Donald Cerrone” (19-5). The card’s anchor, however, is a light heavyweight shoot-out between Glover Teixeira (20-2) and James Te Huna (16-5). Both men have been unstoppable in their recent outings, but one man’s rise to the top will take a slight dive when the cage door closes. Continue reading »
May 222013
May 222013
Gray Maynard (bottom) is a world-class wrestler who’s advancing his skills in every other area of the MMA game, but his almost year-long lay-off could prove detrimental in his UFC 160 bout. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
UFC 160 broadcasts live from Las Vegas, Nevada’s MGM Grand Garden Arena this Saturday and has a main card like no other for the fight capital of the world to display. KJ Noons (11-6) makes his UFC debut against “Cowboy” Donald Cerrone (19-5) in the card’s opener. A pair of light heavyweight sluggers grace the card with Glover Teixeira (20-2) meeting James Te Huna (16-5) in the anchor. In the co-main event, “Cigano” Junior Dos Santos (15-2) will look to bounce back from his recent loss as he’s paired against “The Super Samoan” Mark Hunt (9-7). “Bigfoot” Antonio Silva (18-4) will try to avenge a 2012 loss when he challenges Cain Velasquez (11-1) for the heavyweight title. In the middle of all the action, a lightweight title eliminator is set between “The Bully” Gray Maynard (11-1-1) and TJ Grant (20-5). Maynard is once again inching closer to a title shot while Grant has never been close to the same chance until now. Come Saturday, there will be a new lightweight challenger waiting to make his claim for 12 pounds of gold. Continue reading »
May 222013
May 212013
May 212013
In addition to being the superior striker, Donald Cerrone (black trunks) has the clear advantage in every other aspect of the MMA game versus Strikeforce implant KJ Noons. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The heavy hitters will return to the Octagon on Saturday as UFC 160 takes the helm from Las Vegas, Nevada. UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez (11-1) will meet the hard hitting “Bigfoot” Antonio Silva (18-4). “Cigano” Junior Dos Santos (15-2) looks to rebound from his loss to the champ by facing the resurgent former K-1 champion “The Super Samoan” Mark Hunt (9-7). Continuing the trend of knockout machines in the anchor bout is the ultra dangerous Glover Teixeira (20-2) meeting Aussie kickboxer James Te Huna (16-5). The second bout of the night represents the only departure from the striking-heavy theme as “The Bully” Gray Maynard (11-1-1) returns from a long lay-off to pit his tar pit of a top control wrestling game against Canadian submission expert TJ Grant (20-5). Opening the main card, fans find a striking match of a different color. While the top of the card is stacked with serious heavy-handed KO power, the opener pits the slick combination boxing of “King” KJ Noons (11-6) against the straightforward Thai boxing attack of “Cowboy” Donald Cerrone (19-5). Continue reading »
May 212013
May 202013
May 192013
Vitor Belfort (red shorts) made short work of Strikeforce transplant Luke Rockhold (blue shorts) at UFC on FX 8. (Photo courtesy of Sherdog)
The UFC returned to FX and Brazil with last night’s UFC on FX 8 card to roaring success, especially for Brazilian fighters who went 9-1 against those visiting their country for the event. On the main card, the Brazilians took a clean sweep with the only loss going to “The Brazilian Samurai” João Zeferino (13-5) who dropped a Unanimous Decision to his fellow countryman “Sapo” Rafael Natal (16-4-1). Rafael Dos Anjos (19-6) won a close and, as a result, controversial unanimous bid over Evan Dunham (14-4). In his UFC debut, “Jacare” Ronaldo Souza (18-3) made short, one-sided work of journeyman Chris Camozzi (19-6), and the main event saw a strong contender for “Knockout of the Year” as “The Phenom” Vitor Belfort (23-10) handed Luke Rockhold (10-2) a sound thrashing in his first trip to the Octagon, culminating with a stunning spinning hook kick KO. MMA Gospel is here, as always, to break down each bout and the potential consequences for the winners and losers. Continue reading »
May 192013
May 182013
(Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
—MAIN CARD (on FX @ 9:00pm ET)—
Vitor Belfort vs. Luke Rockhold: Belfort via KO (Head Kick and Punches), Round 1, 2:32
Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza vs. Chris Camozzi: Souza via Technical Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke), Round 1, 3:37
Rafael Dos Anjos vs. Evan Dunham: Dos Anjos via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28), Round 3, 5:00
Rafael Natal vs. João Zeferino: Natal via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28), Round 3, 5:00 Continue reading »
May 172013
—MAIN CARD (on FX @ 9:00pm ET)—
Vitor Belfort (186) vs. Luke Rockhold (186)
Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (186) vs. Chris Camozzi (186)
Rafael dos Anjos (156) vs. Evan Dunham (156)
Rafael Natal (186) vs. João Zeferino (185) Continue reading »
May 162013
Vitor Belfort (black trunks) has been a force of nature second only to Anderson Silva at middleweight and represents a tall order for incoming Strikeforce champ Luke Rockhold. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The UFC is back on the airwaves Saturday night with a strong offering from Santa Catarina, Brazil. In Part I of MMA Gospel’s coverage of the upcoming matches, close looks were taken at 2008 BJJ world champ “The Brazilian Samurai” Joao Zeferino’s (13-4) debut bout against “Sapo” Rafael Natal (15-4-1), and the meeting of mid-tier lightweights Evan Dunham (14-3) and Rafael Dos Anjos (18-6). In this second look at the main card, the co-main and main events get the rundown. Former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion “Jacare” Ronaldo Souza (17-3) will meet TUF standout Chris Camozzi (19-5) who replaced “Costa” Constantinos Philippou (12-2-1) after he sustained a cut in training. Headlining the event is the man who stripped Souza of his title and never relinquished it, Luke Rockhold (10-1). The final Strikeforce champ will face a tall order as he meets a man who has destroyed every middleweight he has faced not named “The Spider” Anderson Silva (33-4), “The Phenom” Vitor Belfort (22-10). Continue reading »
May 162013