Apr 062013
Apr 052013
In the night’s main event, Gegard Mousasi (red gloves) holds distinct advantages in skill and experience as well as the benefit of a full training camp to stack the deck in his favor. (Photo courtesy of Sherdog)
April 6 the Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to Fuel TV when it touches down live in Stockholm, Sweden. As explored in Part I of MMA Gospel’s UFC on Fuel TV 9 pre-fight breakdown, the first half of the main card kicks off with Akira Corassani (10-3) taking on Robbie Peralta (16-3), “The Scarecrow” Pablo Garza (12-3) battling “Ceara” Diego Brandao (16-8) in a featherweight showcase, and “The Hulk” Mike Easton (13-2) taking on fellow striker “One Punch” Brad Pickett (22-7). In this latter half of the main card breakdown, a quick look begins with the heavyweight battle between “Meathead” Matt Mitrione (5-2) and Philip DeFries (9-2). The co-main event sees “The Real Deal” Ross Pearson (14-6) welcoming Strikeforce transplant Ryan Couture (6-1). Two new faces grace the light heavyweight division in the main event as Ilir Latifi (9-2) steps in on less than a week’s notice for his injured teammate, perennial contender “The Mauler” Alexander Gustafsson (15-1), to meet “The Dreamcatcher” Gegard Mousasi (33-3-2). Both men grace the eight-sided cage for the first time and with each getting top-billing for their debut, a win at this stage can open many doors for them at 205 pounds. Continue reading »
Apr 052013
Apr 042013
Mike Easton (purple shorts) will look to right the course with a win at UFC on Fuel TV 9. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The UFC returns after a wildly successful sojourn to Montreal at UFC 158 to offer its fifth free card of 2013, UFC on Fuel TV 9 from Stockholm, Sweden. Headlining the event is newcomer “The Sledgehammer” Ilir Latifi (7-2) as he debuts beside Dream and Strikeforce standout “The Dreamcatcher” Gegard Mousasi (33-3-2). “The Real Deal” Ross Pearson (14-6) looks to continue his recent success following TUF: The Smashes at the expense of second-generation prodigy Ryan Couture (6-1). “Meathead” Matt Mitrione (5-2) will struggle to find his winning way again as he meets Philip De Fries (9-2) in a bout that will likely leave one of the two jobless. The lower half of the main card also shows promise with “The Hulk” Mike Easton (13-2) looking to right the ship after a disappointing decision loss at the expense of “One Punch” Brad Pickett (22-7) in the anchor slot. Deadly finisher “Ceara” Diego Brandao (16-8) will meet “The Scarecrow” Pablo Garza (12-3) in the second match of the evening, and kicking things off is a pairing of featherweights looking to come out from under the radar, Akira Corassani (10-3) and “Problems” Robbie Peralta (16-3). Here in Part I of the UFC on Fuel TV 9 pre-fight breakdown, MMA Gospel examines the first three of the night’s match-ups. Continue reading »
Sep 302012
Stefan Struve (red gloves) used his reach to come up in a big way against Stipe Miocic (blue gloves) at UFC on Fuel TV 5. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The UFC put out another high quality showing last night as UFC on Fuel TV 5 hit the airwaves with several extremely exciting bouts from the Capital FM Arena in Nottingham, England. The night opened with what started as a stand-out performance by “Beautiful” Che Mills (15-5-1) and ended in a bizarre knee injury that resulted in “Bang” Duane Ludwig (21-14) losing his third straight fight. What followed was a three-round tilt that saw “Hitman” John Hathaway (17-1) outpoint John Maguire (18-4), though the entertainment value was so lacking that Maguire himself admitted to falling asleep while watching the tape. “Handsome” Matt Wiman (15-6) shocked no small number of MMA pundits in the anchor bout when he locked in an Armbar against submission machine “Sassangle” Paul Sass (13-1) to hand the Brit his first defeat. Next out, hometown hero “The Outlaw” Dan Hardy (25-10-1) literally walked across the street from his house to arrive at the arena where he put on one of his absolute best performances to shut down TUF winner Amir Sadollah (6-4). “One Punch” Brad Pickett (22-6) lived up to his namesake when he landed an uppercut that ended an exciting stand-up affair with “Tiger” Yves Jabouin (18-8), and in the main event, Stipe Miocic (9-1) fell short for the first time in his career when “Skyscraper” Stefan Struve (25-5) survived an early deficit to score a TKO after finding his range in the second. MMA Gospel is here with a breakdown of the night’s action. Continue reading »
Sep 292012
The aptly nicknamed “One Punch” Brad Pickett (right) earned his seventh KO as well as “Knockout of the Night” for his spectacular finish of Yves Jabouin (left). (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The following fight bonuses were awarded for UFC on Fuel TV: Struve vs. Miocic
Submission of the Night:
Matt Wiman (over Paul Sass) receives $40,000
Knockout of the Night:
Brad Pickett (over Yves Jabouin) receives $40,000
Fight of the Night:
Stefan Struve and Stipe Miocic each receive $40,000
Click here for the full list of UFC on Fuel TV 5 results.
Sep 292012
(Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC. and Fuel TV)
—MAIN CARD (on Fuel TV @ 4:00pm ET)—
Stefan Struve vs. Stipe Miocic: Struve via TKO (Punches), Round 2, 3:50
Dan Hardy vs. Amir Sadollah: Hardy via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27), Round 3, 5:00
Brad Pickett vs. Yves Jabouin: Pickett via KO (Punches), Round 1, 3:40
Paul Sass vs. Matt Wiman: Wiman via Submission (Armbar), Round 1, 3:48
John Hathaway vs. John Maguire: Hathaway via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27), Round 3, 5:00
Che Mills vs. Duane Ludwig: Mills via TKO (Knee Injury), Round 1, 2:38 Continue reading »
Sep 282012
—MAIN CARD (on Fuel TV)—
Stefan Struve (251) vs. Stipe Miocic (239)
Dan Hardy (169) vs. Amir Sadollah (169)
Brad Pickett (135) vs. Yves Jabouin (136)
Paul Sass (156) vs. Matt Wiman (156)
John Hathaway (169) vs. John Maguire (169)
Che Mills (170) vs. Duane Ludwig (169) Continue reading »
Sep 262012
Just three fights into his UFC career, Stipe Miocic (top) has blazed through his heavyweight opponents and shows no signs of slowing down – not even for Stefan Struve at UFC on Fuel TV 5. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
It is another tour of destruction when the Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to follow up UFC 152 with its latest installment of UFC on Fuel TV: Struve vs. Miocic live from Nottingham, England. Welterweight bangers set the main card’s pace with “Beautiful” Che Mills (14-5) taking on “Bang” Duane Ludwig (21-13). It all goes bedlam when native countrymen “The Hitman” John Hathaway (15-1) and “The One” John Maguire (18-3) collide. Paul Sass (13-0) will look to lock his signature triangle offensive when he tangles with the ever-grinding pressure of “Handsome” Matt Wiman (14-6). For all the WEC aficionados, fight promoters heard their cries and lined up “One Punch” Brad Pickett (21-6) and “Tiger” Yves Jabouin (18-7) in the card’s anchor. “The Outlaw” Dan Hardy (24-10) will look to prove England belongs to him when he stands across fellow striker Amir Sadollah (6-3). “Skyscraper” Stefan Struve (24-5) and Stipe Miocic (9-0) are two heavyweight freight trains and will look to derail one another in the card’s main event. Here in the second segment of the Fuel TV breakdown, we’ll take a deeper look into the latter half of the night’s proceedings: Struve versus Miocic, Hardy against Sadollah, and Pickett with Jabouin. Anything can happen once that cage door closes, but here a few keys to victory are brought to light and give better insight on who could come out on top. Continue reading »
Sep 252012
Both Duane Ludwig (red trunks) and Amir Sadollah (grey trunks) will have big career implications riding on their performances at UFC on Fuel TV: Struve vs. Miocic. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The UFC reloads and delivers again a week after the highly successful UFC 152 event by putting burgeoning heavyweight striker Stipe Miocic (9-0) in the cage with young UFC standout “Skyscraper” Stefan Struve (24-5). Leading the heavyweights to the cage is a welterweight battle between two men who have fallen on hard times, but who have the hearts of the fans and thus continued employment in the UFC, “The Outlaw” Dan Hardy (24-10) and Amir Sadollah (6-3). Anchoring things is “One-Punch” Brad Pickett (21-6) against “Tiger” Yves Jabouin (18-7). Of special interest to those looking for the next big thing are the three opening bouts of the evening. “Beautiful” Che Mills (14-5) looks to keep his UFC dream alive against a long-time UFC staple, “Bang” Duane Ludwig (21-13) who himself is struggling for an identity in the division. Undefeated “Sassangle” Paul Sass (13-0) looks to continue his rash of brutal submission wins against TUF 5 alum and UFC mainstay “Handsome” Matt Wiman (14-6), and “The Hitman” John Hathaway (15-1) looks to continue rebuilding from his first career loss against “The One” John Maguire (18-3). Continue reading »
Sep 072012
Apr 142012
Siyar Bahadurzada (red trunks) introduced himself to UFC fans in spectacular fashion with a first-round KO over Paulo Thiago (blue trunks) at UFC on Fuel 2. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The following fight bonuses were awarded for UFC on Fuel TV: Gustafsson vs. Silva
Submission of the Night:
John Maguire (over DaMarques Johnson) receives $50,000
Knockout of the Night:
Siyar Bahadurzada (over Paulo Thiago) receives $50,000
Fight of the Night:
Brad Pickett and Damacio Page each receive $50,000
Click here for the full list of UFC on Fuel 2 results.
Apr 142012
Hometown fighter Alexander Gustafsson (left) squares off with heavy-handed Brazilian Thiago Silva (right) in today's UFC on Fuel 2 main event. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
—MAIN CARD (on Fuel TV)—
Alexander Gustafsson vs. Thiago Silva: Gustafsson via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28), Round 3, 5:00
Brian Stann vs. Alessio Sakara: Stann via KO (Ground-and-Pound), Round 1, 2:26
Paulo Thiago vs. Siyar Bahadurzada: Bahadurzada via KO (Punches), Round 1, 0:42
Dennis Siver vs. Diego Nunes: Siver via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28), Round 3, 5:00
DaMarques Johnson vs. John Maguire: Maguire via Submission (Armbar), Round 2, 4:40
Brad Pickett vs. Damacio Page: Pickett via Submission (Rear Naked Choke), Round 2, 4:05 Continue reading »
Apr 132012
(Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The Ultimate Fighting Championship descends upon the Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden this Saturday to present its second fight card on FOX affiliate network Fuel TV. UFC on Fuel TV: Gustafsson vs. Silva starts off the main card with a pair of WEC alumni as “One Punch” Brad Pickett (20-6) and “The Angel of Death” Damacio Page (15-6) fight it out to get back in the good graces of the Zuffa brass on the heels of a rough patch in each man’s respective career. TUF alum “The Darkness” DaMarques Johnson (15-9) faces off with British submission specialist “The One” John Maguire (17-3) in a welterweight affair, followed by German kickboxer Dennis Siver (19-8) making his 145lbs. debut against fellow striker “The Gun” Diego Nunes (17-2). Then, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu aficionado Paulo Thiago (14-3) welcomes long awaited prospect and United Glory, Sengoku, and Shooto veteran “The Great” Siyar Bahadurzada (20-4-1) to the UFC’s Octagon. Two of the middleweight division’s most battle-tested fighters, USMC war veteran “All-American” Brian Stann (11-4) and former pro boxer “Legionarius” Alessio Sakara (15-8) will be slinging fists in the UFC on Fuel 2 main event. The marquee bout of the evening pits Brazilian bomber Thiago Silva (14-2) against hometown fighter and rising contender “The Mauler” Alexander Gustafsson (13-1) in a light heavyweight match-up that is a frontrunner for “Knockout of the Night” honors.
Las Vegas oddsmakers we are not, but nonetheless, here is the MMA Gospel staff’s most valiant effort at determining who will come out on top at UFC on Fuel 2. Continue reading »
Apr 132012
Alexander Gustafsson (green trunks) rides a four-fight finishing streak into the Octagon against Thiago Silva, but he will need more than momentum to stop the dangerous Brazilian. (Photo courtesy of Sherdog)
“One Punch” Brad Pickett (20-6) and “The Angel of Death” Damacio Page (15-6) will hit the airwaves on Fuel TV this Saturday to kick off the first UFC fight card in over a month. Shored up by fights like “The Darkness” DaMarques Johnson (15-9) vs. “The One” John Maguire (17-3) and Dennis Siver (19-8) vs. “The Gun” Diego Nunes (17-2), UFC on Fuel TV: Gustafsson vs. Silva has the perfect line up to get fans ready for the following weekend’s UFC 145 card. Paulo Thiago (14-3) will step in to welcome hardcore favorite “Siyar the Great” Siyar Bahadurzada (20-4-1) as an anchor to the event preceding a co-main event between middleweight favorites “All-American” Brian Stann (11-4) and “Legionarius” Alessio Sakara (15-8). As always, all eyes are on the main event. This time it’s a knockout fan’s dream match between Swedish powerhouse Alexander Gustafsson (13-1) and returning beleaguered light heavyweight star Thiago Silva (14-2, 1 NC). The match is an important one for both men as it represents a major turning point in their respective careers. Continue reading »