UFC 145 Pre-Fight Breakdown: Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans

 Posted by at 12:11 PM  MMA News, UFC  No Responses »
Apr 202012
 

After months of building animosity and hype, Jon Jones (red trunks) will put his belt on the line Saturday night against former training partner Rashad Evans. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

Atlanta, Georgia is the epicenter for mixed martial arts action this Saturday night as the Ultimate Fighting Championship presents UFC 145: Jones vs. Evans. “The Natural” John Alessio (34-14) and Mark Bocek (10-4) open up the main card with a lightweight exhibition. Featherweights make their presence known when “The Filipino Phenom” Eddie Yagin (15-5-1) faces former contender “The Machine” Mark Hominick (20-10). “The Hybrid” Brendan Schaub (8-2) tees off with fellow heavyweight behemoth “Big” Ben Rothwell (31-8). “Mayday” Michael McDonald (14-1) makes a big leap in competition when he stands across former WEC bantamweight champ “Angel” Miguel Torres (40-4). The co-main event is a showcase of promising welterweights as “Ares” Rory MacDonald (12-1) battles “Beautiful” Che Mills (14-4). In the main event, “Bones” Jon Jones (15-1) will put his light heavyweight title on the line again, this time against friend-turned-foe “Suga” Rashad Evans (17-1-1). No fight in the light heavyweight division has drawn up such a storm before now but once the cage door shuts Saturday night, the time to talk ends and the time to act begins. Continue reading »

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UFC 145 Pre-Fight Breakdown: Rory MacDonald vs. Che Mills

 Posted by at 1:43 PM  MMA News, UFC  No Responses »
Apr 192012
 

Though seemingly lopsided, Che Mills' (right) bout with Rory MacDonald is a lot more evenly matched than it initially appears. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

The UFC will return to Pay-Per-View Saturday night to follow last week’s highly successful and entertaining UFC on Fuel TV card with a night of championship MMA action. Lightweights Mark Bocek (10-4) and “The Natural” John Alessio (34-14) will kick things off followed by a striking tilt between “The Machine” Mark Hominick (20-10) and “The Filipino Phenom” Eddie Yagin (15-5). The anchor bouts of the card feature heavyweights “The Hybrid” Brendan Schaub (8-2) and “Big” Ben Rothwell (31-8) and former WEC Bantamweight Champion “Angel” Miguel Torres (40-4)  against “Mayday” Michael McDonald (14-1). Before “Bones” Jon Jones (15-1) steps into the cage to tie up the loose ends with former friend and training partner “Suga” Rashad Evans (17-1-1) “Ares” Rory MacDonald (12-1) will face “Beautiful” Che Mills (14-4) in the co-main event. The two welterweights are looking to make the best of the opportunities left in“Rush” Georges St.Pierre’s (22-2) absence and a strong showing at UFC 145 is just what they need to achieve that goal.
Continue reading »

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UFC 145 Pre-Fight Breakdown: Brendan Schaub vs. Ben Rothwell

 Posted by at 1:28 PM  MMA News, UFC  No Responses »
Apr 182012
 

Ben Rothwell (left) has struggled with quick, athletic strikers in the past and will have to close the distance and force Brendan Schaub to clinch if he wants to score the W at UFC 145. (Photo courtesy of Sherdog)

“Bones” Jon Jones (15-1) will return to the Octagon on Saturday to finally finish the business between him and former training partner “Suga” Rashad Evans (17-1-1) as UFC 145 hits the scene from Atlanta, Georgia. “Ares” Rory MacDonald (12-1) will face “Beautiful” Che Mills (14-4) in the co-main for the card and Canadian submission specialist Mark Bocek (10-4) draws opening duties against “The Natural” John Alessio (34-14). Former WEC champ “Angel” Miguel Torres (40-4) will take on “Mayday” Michael McDonald (14-1) and “The Machine” Mark Hominick (20-10) will offer “The Filipino Phenom” Eddie Yagin (15-5) his second chance to shine in the UFC. Leading into the night’s featured entertainment is a heavyweight affair between TUF stand-out “The Hybrid” Brendan Schaub (8-2) and former top IFL heavyweight “Big” Ben Rothwell (31-8). Both men are coming off of disappointing losses in their most recent outings and desperately need a victory to find their identity in the UFC’s ever deepening heavyweight division.   Continue reading »

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UFC 145 Pre-Fight Breakdown: Miguel Torres vs. Michael McDonald

 Posted by at 7:04 PM  MMA News, UFC  1 Response »
Apr 172012
 

Submission-savvy former WEC Bantamweight Champion Miguel Torres (right) will face a stern test in young up-and-comer Michael McDonald at UFC 145, however Torres' experience and well-rounded skillset should allow him to stay in the driver's seat. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

The Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to the States after last weekend’s showing in Sweden with the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia hosting UFC 145: Jones vs. Evans this Saturday night. Journeyman “The Natural” John Alessio (34-10) returns to the UFC for the fourth time to challenge Jiu-Jitsu artist Mark Bocek (10-4). “The Filipino Phenom” Eddie Yagin (15-5-1) will match up against fellow featherweight “The Machine” Mark Hominick (20-10). Heavyweight action graces Atlanta when “The Hybrid” Brendan Schaub (8-2) stands opposite IFL veteran “Big” Ben Rothwell (31-8). The welterweight division is bound for a change in scenery when “Ares” Rory MacDonald (12-1) meets British sensation  “Beautiful” Che Mills (14-4) in the co-main event. Closing out the night is a long-awaited fight as friends-turned-foes collide as current light heavyweight champion “Bones” Jon Jones (15-1) takes on another former champ in “Suga” Rashad Evans (17-1-1). Bantamweight action anchors the main card with “Mayday” Michael McDonald (14-1) battling former WEC 135lbs. king “Angel” Miguel Torres (40-4). McDonald has been making serious waves in what is considered a young career while the tested Torres has always been a big dog in the bantamweight division’s yard. McDonald has the weapons needed to get the job done but Saturday night will be presented his stiffest challenge to date. Continue reading »

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UFC 145 Pre-Fight Breakdown: Mark Hominick vs. Eddie Yagin

 Posted by at 11:49 AM  MMA News, UFC  No Responses »
Apr 172012
 

Mark Hominick (blue gloves) has fallen on rough times lately, but his high level striking should be more than enough to handle Eddie Yagin. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

One week following the return of the UFC, storied UFC Light Heavyweight Champion “Bones” Jon Jones (15-1) will defend his belt for a third time against former friend and former champion “Suga” Rashad Evans (17-1-1). The amount of animosity between the two is enough to sell the Pay-Per-View on its own, but nevertheless the UFC has built a solid card to support the title fight with “Ares” Rory MacDonald (12-1) facing “Beautiful” Che Mills (14-4) after a heavyweight meeting between “The Hybrid” Brendan Schaub (8-2) and “Big” Ben Rothwell (31-8). Former WEC Bantamweight Champion “Angel” Miguel Torres (40-4) will face “Mayday” Michael McDonald (14-1) in an effort to stop the younger man’s seven-fight hot streak and Canadian submission expert Mark Bocek (10-4) will open things up against returning UFC veteran “The Natural” John Alessio (34-14). Also making a splash on the main card is “The Machine” Mark Hominick (20-10). The Canadian kickboxer is looking to snap a two-bout skid but standing in his way is “The Filipino Phenom” Eddie Yagin (15-5), a well-rounded fighter who lost his UFC debut but still boasts triumphs in seven of his last ten bouts.   Continue reading »

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UFC 145 Pre-Fight Breakdown: Mark Bocek vs. John Alessio

 Posted by at 6:48 PM  MMA News, UFC  1 Response »
Apr 162012
 

Fight-finishing MMA veteran John Alessio (blue gloves) returns to the UFC Saturday night to face top lightweight prospect and submission specialist Mark Bocek. (Photo courtesy of Sherdog)

The UFC returns to Atlanta, Georgia this Saturday with perhaps the most hyped title fight of the year featuring training-partners-turned-bitter-rivals, UFC Light Heavyweight Champion “Bones” Jon Jones (15-1) and “Suga” Rashad Evans (17-1-1). Young prospect “Ares” Rory MacDonald (12-1) takes on English striker “Beautiful” Che Mills (14-4) in the UFC 145 co-main event. Returning to the Octagon searching for victory is IFL veteran “Big” Ben Rothwell (31-8) versus confident knockout artist “The Hybrid” Brendan Schaub (8-2) in a heavyweight scrap. Former UFC featherweight title challenger “The Machine” Mark Hominick (20-10) steps into the cage against “The Filipino Phenom” Eddie Yagin (15-5) with both men in a must-win situation. Starting up the Pay-Per-View action is Canadian submission expert Mark Bocek (10-5) welcoming fellow countryman and WEC, UFC, and MFC veteran “The Natural” John Alessio (34-14) back to the Octagon. Alessio, a long-time welterweight, has found a new home at lightweight and will look to show the fans, Dana White, and all of the 155lbs. division that he is here to stay, while Bocek looks to prove that his name belongs in the mix of top lightweight contenders. With both men having a lot to gain and a lot to lose from this fight, the main card opener is sure to entertain. Continue reading »

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Spilled Bag of Fights: Don’t Cry!

 Posted by at 3:56 PM  Spilled Bag of Fights  2 Responses »
Sep 272011
 

Some people watch The Ultimate Fighter purely for the fights and don’t like the reality TV element. These people tend to be party-pooping wet blankets who think that they’re too good for a little mindless voyeuristic entertainment. Either way, the stuffy “purists” were treated to almost two hours of nothing but fights on the Season 14 premiere of TUF on Wednesday.  The fights were pretty solid – as to be expected from bantamweight and featherweight fighters. Continue reading »

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UFC 135: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

 Posted by at 8:35 PM  MMA News, UFC  No Responses »
Sep 252011
 

Jon Jones (red trunks) proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is far more than "just hype" with his destruction of "Rampage" Jackson at UFC 135. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

The UFC delivered again in a big way Saturday night with UFC 135 in the Mile-High City of Denver, Colorado. Leading into an ultra-hyped main event Light Heavyweight Championship bout between the Jackson Submission Fighting wonder kin “Bones” Jon Jones (14-1) and the former champion, PRIDE superstar “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (31-9), was a night that included some of PRIDE’s biggest names, the UFC’s newest talents, and The Ultimate Fighter’s best products as well as the appearance of a Hall of Famer. In the co-main, “Kos” Josh Koscheck (16-5) likely put an end to the career of former welterweight king Matt Hughes (43-9). Prior to the headlining fights, “Super Samoan” Mark Hunt (7-7) broke even and showed late career growth at the expense of IFL stalwart “Big” Ben Rothwell (27-8), “Hapa” Travis Browne (9-0-1) achieved victory but little else against Rob Broughton (13-5-1), and Nate Diaz (13-8) picked up where his brother left off in a first-round submission win over former PRIDE champ “The Fireball Kid” Takanori Gomi (29-9). While every fight has a winner and a loser, not every loser truly loses and not every winner makes headway with the “W” and for the post-fight analysis, MMA Gospel has The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. Continue reading »

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UFC 135: Jones vs. Rampage Live Results, Bonuses

 Posted by at 5:21 PM  MMA News, UFC  No Responses »
Sep 242011
 

UFC Light Heavyweight Champion "Bones" Jon Jones (left) successfully made his first title defense at UFC 135, submitting PRIDE superstar "Rampage" Quinton Jackson (right) via Rear Naked Choke in the fourth round. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

—MAIN CARD (on Pay-Per-View)—

Jon Jones vs. Quinton Jackson: Jones via Submission (Rear Naked Choke), Round 4, 1:14

Matt Hughes vs. Josh Koscheck: Koscheck via KO (Strikes), Round 1, 4:59

Ben Rothwell vs. Mark Hunt: Hunt via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-27, 30-27), Round 3, 5:00

Travis Browne vs. Rob Broughton: Browne via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27), Round 3, 5:00

Nate Diaz vs. Takanori Gomi: Diaz via Submission (Armbar), Round 1, 4:27

Continue reading »

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MMA Gospel Staff Makes UFC 135 Main Card Predictions

 Posted by at 10:41 PM  UFC  No Responses »
Sep 232011
 
(Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

Is UFC Light Heavyweight Champion “Bones” Jon Jones (13-1) truly the messiah of a new era of elite fighters being ushered into the realm of professional mixed martial arts? Tomorrow night that very question may be answered as the 24-year-old Jones makes his first title defense by squaring off with a very determined and heavy-handed former UFC champion in “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (31-8), also of PRIDE fame. In the co-main event, The Ultimate Fighter alum and American Kickboxing Academy stand-out “Kos” Josh Koscheck (15-5) steps in as a late replacement for an injured “The Dream” Diego Sanchez (23-4) to face UFC Hall of Famer and two-time former UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Hughes (43-8). “Big” Ben Rothwell (27-7) will collide with K-1 veteran “Super Samoan” Mark Hunt (6-7) in a heavyweight tilt following Cesar Gracie protégé Nate Diaz’s (12-8) match-up with former PRIDE champion “The Fireball Kid” Takanori Gomi (29-8) in the 170lbs. division. Starting off the main card action is a heavyweight clash between undefeated Hawaiian-born knockout artist “Hapa” Travis Browne (8-0-1) and Cage Rage veteran and Wolfslair MMA fighter “The Bear” Rob Broughton. While it does stand true that “Anything can happen in MMA”, the staff of MMA Gospel nonetheless has decided to take a crack at determining who may come out on top tomorrow night. Continue reading »

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UFC 135 Pre-Fight Breakdown: Jon Jones vs. Quinton Jackson

 Posted by at 9:17 PM  MMA News, UFC  No Responses »
Sep 232011
 

Jon Jones (red trunks) is seen by many as the herald of a new era of elite MMA fighters to come, but they say to be a true champion one must first defend the belt and that is exactly what Jones aims to do Saturday. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

The UFC will make its third appearance in seven days on Saturday when UFC 135: Jones vs. Rampage storms the Pepsi Center in the UFC’s birthplace of Denver, Colorado. Opening the main card are two heavyweight hopefuls “Hapa” Travis Browne (8-0-1) and Rob Broughton (13-4-1). Next on the slate is a pair of bouts between fighters staring gloomily at Dana White’s extra sharp career-severing axe as “The Fireball Kid” Takanori Gomi (29-8) 1-2 squares off with Nate Diaz (12-8) and Mark Hunt (6-7) takes on “Big” Ben Rothwell (27-7). Playing co-main event is a welterweight war between prolific wrestlers “Kos” Josh Koscheck (15-5) and Matt Hughes (43-8). Finally, the main event features the smack talk fueled old guard vs. new blood title fight between seemingly unstoppable incumbent champion “Bones” Jon Jones (13-1) and the outspoken former champ and PRIDE superstar “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (31-8). Jackson may have had a mercurial relationship with the sport as a whole but one thing he has never changed his tune about is that he wants his UFC light heavyweight belt back. In his way is Jon Jones, a young, talented, natural warrior who hasn’t so much as broken a sweat in his domination of every fighter he has faced so far in his MMA career. Continue reading »

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UFC 135 Pre-Fight Breakdown: Matt Hughes vs. Josh Koscheck

 Posted by at 8:01 AM  MMA News, UFC  No Responses »
Sep 232011
 

UFC Hall of Famer Matt Hughes (left) represents a unique threat in the welterweight division; having accomplished all there is to accomplish, he doesn't feel the same pressure as his opponents when he steps in the Octagon. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

After a big week in MMA saw the UFC launch its last season of The Ultimate Fighter on Spike TV, Zuffa’s flagship organization finishes things with a bang as current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion “Bones” Jon Jones (13-1) looks to become a “true champion” by successfully defending his belt against hungry former champion “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (31-8). Kicking off the festivities is a heavyweight bout between two men looking to prove they are more than gatekeepers, “Hapa” Travis Browne (8-0-1) and Rob Broughton (13-4-1). The next two bouts on the card feature four men who need wins to prove not only to the Zuffa brass but to the fans that they deserve to fight on MMA’s biggest stage. “The Fireball Kid” Takanori Gomi (29-8) entered the UFC as PRIDE’s last lightweight champion and promptly went 1-2. Nate Diaz (12-8) went from Ultimate Fighter to title contender to failed lightweight to failed welterweight. Both need a win to survive. Mark Hunt (6-7) went from K-1 star to a man who has expressed a complete lack of faith in his own abilities and his opponent, “Big” Ben Rothwell (27-7) is a former IFL champion who has yet to put on a memorable performance in the UFC. Serving as the co-main event is a bout with less dire implications. On late notice, “Kos” Josh Koscheck (15-5) has stepped up to face UFC Hall of Fame welterweight Matt Hughes (43-8). Koscheck has not seen action since December when“Rush” Georges St. Pierre (22-2) severely damaged his orbital bones, requiring surgery. Hughes, despite a fall from the dominance he once had, remains a viable threat in the division and is even more dangerous now because, as he once put it, he has nothing left to prove.          Continue reading »

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UFC 135 Pre-Fight Breakdown: Ben Rothwell vs. Mark Hunt

 Posted by at 5:07 PM  MMA News, UFC  No Responses »
Sep 222011
 

With more experience in the cage, Ben Rothwell (left) should be able to easily determine how the fight with Mark Hunt will go. Rothwell though has to be able to defend and react quickly should Hunt's striking advantage overwhelm him. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

The UFC takes over Saturday night once again when Denver, Colorado hosts UFC 135: Jones vs. Rampage. Light Heavyweight Champion “Bones” Jon Jones (13-1) defends his title for the first time against former champion “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (31-8).  “Kos” Josh Koscheck (15-5)  steps in to save the co-main event against Matt Hughes (43-8)  after “The Dream” Diego Sanchez had to pull out due to injury. Hawaiian bred “Hapa” Travis Browne (8-0-1) and England’s “The Bear” Rob Broughton (13-4-1) square off in a heavyweight contest. Knockout artist “The Fireball Kid” Takanori Gomi (29-8) and Jiu-Jitsu ace Nate Diaz (12-8) square off in the lightweight division. The main card gets another dose of heavyweight action when IFL veteran “Big” Ben Rothwell (27-7) returns from injury to face K-1 veteran “Super Samoan” Mark Hunt (6-7). Rothwell is a highly regarded heavyweight and would love to return to the cage with a victory to chain a two-fight win streak. Hunt though enjoys a nice stand-up war but loves a quick knockout victory even more.  Continue reading »

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