Heavyweight Sean McCorkle Denounces ESPN’s Claims of Poor Fighter Pay in the UFC

 Posted by at 4:39 PM  UFC  No Responses »
Jan 172012
 

Former UFC heavyweight Sean McCorkle spoke out against ESPN's claims that the promotion pays fighters poorly. (Photo courtesy of Sherdog)

The following excerpts were posted Monday on the UG forums by three-time UFC veteran “Big Sexy” Sean McCorkle (13-2) in response to recent claims that the promotion vastly underpays its contracted fighters. An investigative documentary series produced by ESPN, “Outside the Lines”, brought the alleged issue to light in a big way late last week when it put the UFC on blast with claims that the company is building itself into a monopoly, making billions annually while paying fighters only a small percentage of its revenue. While the majority of the figures stated in the ESPN documentary came from either anonymous sources, a licensed attorney who has been attempting to unionize fighters for years, or from fighters who have had a falling out with the UFC in the past, the “Outside the Lines” episode has made an impact on the MMA community due to a large number of casual fans viewing ESPN as a reliable source for sports related news. “Big Sexy” felt the exposé portrayed the UFC’s payroll inaccurately, and detailed his own experiences with the UFC’s pay structure during his six-month stint as a UFC heavyweight:

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Bellator 40: Pre-Fight Breakdown

 Posted by at 1:56 PM  Bellator, MMA News  No Responses »
Apr 092011
 

Nick Thompson (white shorts) will represent the first fighter beyond the journeyman level that Ben Askren has faced and likely the first person to have the experience to handle his one-dimensional wrestling game. (Photo courtesy of Rob King and Sherdog)

Oklahoma gets a second dose of Bellator Fighting Championships when the organization returns to the Sooner State for Bellator 40 tonight with a main event superfight between welterweight champion Ben Askren (7-0) and UFC, bodogFIGHT, Strikeforce, Sengoku, and Elite XC veteran “The Goat” Nick Thompson (38-12). Askren will have his hands full with this seasoned fighter, and Thompson is coming to fight for the 15 minutes that three of Askren’s four Bellator bouts have lasted. Opening the night for the champ will be the second pair of semi-final tournament bouts.  Welterweight semi-finalists step in first as  Brent Weedman (18-5) takes on former UFC and Strikeforce fighter and former IFL Welterweight Champion “The Thoroughbred” Jay Hieron (17-4) with the winner moving on to face undefeated Judo Olympian Rick Hawn (11-0) in the  tournament finals. Then former semi-pro boxer and heavy handed striker Lloyd Woodard (11-0) takes on Strikeforce veteran and quick finisher Michael Chandler (6-0) in the lightweight semi-finals with the winner slated against ”Pitbull” Patricky Freire (3-0). Overall the night should promise another evening of excellent Bellator action for the fans. Continue reading »

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Strikeforce “Diaz vs. Daley” Pre-Fight Breakdown: Gegard Mousasi vs. Keith Jardine

 Posted by at 6:04 AM  MMA News, Strikeforce  No Responses »
Apr 072011
 

 

With an array of titles to his name, Gegard Mousasi (left) hopes to once again add the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight title to his collection. His solid striking and grappling render Mousasi well prepared by any means against Keith Jardine come Saturday night. (Photo courtesy of Dave Mandel and Sherdog)

San Diego, California gets its latest taste of MMA action when Strikeforce comes rolling in this Saturday night.  The main card offers enough action to entertain even the more casual mixed martial arts fans, covering the full gamut with young up-and-comers, seasoned veterans, aspiring champions, and game competitors. Submission specialist Shinya Aoki (19-5) battles the always dangerous Lyle Beerbohm (15-1). Japanese wonder “Crusher” Tatsuya Kawajiri (26-5-2) comes onto US soil with the goal of taking the lightweight title from “El Nino” Gilbert Melendez (18-2). In the main event, “Semtex” Paul Daley (23-10-2) challenges current Strikeforce Welterweight Champion “Diablo” Nick Diaz (23-8) in a five-round battle. Within the chaos going on, former UFC superstar “The Dean of Mean” Keith Jardine (15-9-1) replaces an injured “MAK” Mike Kyle (14-8-1) to take on 205lbs. contender “The Dreamcatcher” Gegard Mousasi (24-3-1). For Mousasi, every win gets him closer to regaining the light heavyweight title. With Jardine on the opposite end of him, Mousasi better tread carefully lest he wants to become a stepping stone to Jardine’s second change at glory. Continue reading »

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Despite Fourth Consecutive Loss, Andrei Arlovski Says: “I’m Not Going to Finish My Career Like This…I Definitely Will Keep Fighting”

 Posted by at 2:13 PM  Features, MMA News, Strikeforce  No Responses »
Feb 202011
 

Former heavyweight champ "The Pitbull" Andrei Arlovski has had a storied career but is currently on the heels of four consecutive losses - three via knockout. Despite the concerns of trainers and doctors, Arlovski says he will not retire. (Photo courtesy of Sherdog)

“The Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (14-9) is undoubtedly and by large considered one of the most skilled and dangerous heavyweight MMA fighters of all time. The 1st Razryad International Master in Sambo has seen a lot of glory in his 11-year mixed martial arts career, having been the Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion and later promoted to the undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champion, taking out some of the most formidable opponents in his weight class along the way. Some of those who have succumbed to Arlovski’s fighting prowess are “The Janitor” Vladimir Matyushenko (25-5), “Cabbage” Wesley Correira (19-15), “The Maine-Iac” Tim Sylvia (28-7), “The Executioner” Paul Buentello (28-13), “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (14-4-1), “Irish” Jake O’Brien (13-3), “Big” Ben Rothwell (27-7), and “Big Country” Roy Nelson (15-5). “The Pitbull” has built an impressive legacy and all the while has maintained his status as a fan favorite. Continue reading »

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Early March Madness – Who’s the Bracket Buster in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix?

 Posted by at 3:03 PM  Features, MMA News, Strikeforce  2 Responses »
Feb 122011
 

The Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Quarter-Final contestants, from left to right, are: "The Russian Mercenary" Sergei Kharitonov, "The Pitbull" Andrei Arlovski, "The Babyfaced Assassin" Josh Barnett, "The Last Emperor" Fedor Emelianenko, "The Demolition Man" Alistair Overeem, "Bigfoot" Antonio Silva, "Vai Cavalo" Fabricio Werdum, and "The Grim" Brett Rogers. (Photo courtesy of MMA Fighting)

There are eight men in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix.  While there may be some clear favorites, there are no easy outs.  Here’s how MMA Gospel Staff Writer and Guest Columnist Dan Rose expects the Grand Prix to shake out top to bottom. Starting with the favorites and ending with the long-shot, each man has a fighting chance!

“The Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (31-2): Let’s be candid, for those who are familiar with MMA, it’s more or less pointless to try and explain why Fedor has a shot to win an eight-man tournament.  But, in case this is your first involvement with mixed martial arts, here’s how it breaks down.  Fedor Emelianenko is the Babe Ruth of MMA for two reasons: A) He kind of looks like Babe Ruth, and B) He is without a doubt, the best there’s ever been.  In the past Fedor has crushed fellow Grand Prix competitors “The Grim” Brett Rogers (11-2) and “The Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (14-8) but in June he experienced his first legitimate loss in nearly ten years by the hands, or Arm Triangle Choke, of “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (14-4).  Fedor has remarkable stand-up; his hands are sharp and very powerful.  His ground game is underrated and his submissions top notch.  The thing that makes Fedor the very best is how he melds all facets of MMA into his game and will wait for an adversary to make any mistake and then it’s game over.  Opponents don’t get a chance to make a second blunder with Fedor.  It’s always one-and-done with the greatest heavyweight in the history of combat sports.  So, what’s his likely finish in this Grand Prix?  He’ll win it. Emelianenko’s odds of winning the Grand Prix are 3 to 1. Continue reading »

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Josh Barnett Talks Strikeforce Heavyweight Tournament, Not Concerned About Fighting “Old Friends”

 Posted by at 2:25 PM  MMA News, Strikeforce  No Responses »
Jan 172011
 

"The Babyfaced Assassin" Josh Barnett faces "The Grim" Brett Rogers in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix quarter-finals. (File photo)

Despite a professional MMA career peppered with legal tribulations including most recently the California State Athletic Commission’s (CSAC) refusal to license “The Babyfaced Assassin” Josh Barnett (21-5) to fight in the State of California, Barnett is bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and ready for the inaugural Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix to get under way. He signed a multi-fight deal with Strikeforce in September  2010 and is expected to have his debut fight in the promotion in the quarter-finals of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Tournament, facing “The Grim” Brett Rogers (11-2). Continue reading »

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Chael Sonnen, Josh Barnett Appeal Steroid Suspensions to CSAC

 Posted by at 10:16 PM  MMA News  No Responses »
Dec 022010
 

Chael Sonnen failed a drug screening following his UFC 117 match against UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva. Today, he appealed to the CSAC to lift the suspension on his license. (Photo courtesy of Ryan McKinnell and Examiner.com)

This morning, UFC middleweight Chael Sonnen (24-11-1) and PRIDE veteran “The Babyfaced Assassin” Josh Barnett (21-5) both appeared in front of the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) to appeal their (unrelated) suspensions due to the presence of banned substances in their pre-fight drug screenings.

In July 2009, Barnett tested positive for the use of steroids for the second time in his professional MMA career, consequently not being allowed to compete against “The Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (31-2) at the now defunct promotion Affliction: Trilogy. The event as well as Affliction Entertainment itself was cancelled July 24, 2009 as a direct result. Barnett requested a re-test, and subsequently failed that one, as well. Continue reading »

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Strikeforce Pre-Fight Breakdown: Matt Lindland vs. Robbie Lawler

 Posted by at 4:22 AM  MMA News  1 Response »
Dec 022010
 

"Ruthless" Robbie Lawler has the knockout power to end a fight with just one punch. He looks to add opponent "The Law" Matt Lindland to his long list of KO's and climb the ladder to title contention with their meeting at Strikeforce: Henderson vs. Babalu this Saturday. (Photo courtesy of Dave Mandel and Sherdog)

Before “Hendo” Dan Henderson (25-8) and “Babalu” Renato Sobral (33-9) face off in a rematch for the main event, former Elite XC and ICON Sport Middleweight Champion “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler (17-6) takes on Team Quest co-founder “The Law” Matt Lindland (22-7) in a classic style vs. style fight that pits striker vs. wrestler. Will knockout power reign or will the control of wrestling overturn the powerful striker? Continue reading »

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