UFC 149: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

 Posted by at 2:01 PM  MMA News, UFC  No Responses »
Jul 222012
 

Renan Barao (right) controlled every second of his five round bout with Urijah Faber (left) but even his high-flying striking attack couldn’t save UFC 149 in the eyes of the fans. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

The UFC flopped completely for the first time in a long time as UFC 149′s Pay-Per-View card disappointed in a very big way. After a knockout-riddled, fast paced, and exciting preliminary card, the main card brought on a chorus of boos from the normally respectful Calgary crowd that perfectly harmonized with the internet rage buzzing on Twitter and other forum boards. Renan Barao (29-1) captured bantamweight gold against “The California Kid” Urijah Faber (26-6) in a solid main event that wasn’t enough to excuse the night before it. “The Barbarian” Tim Boetsch (16-4) snapped “Shango” Hector Lombard’s (31-3-1) long-standing winning streak in a contestable and contemptible Split Decision. Cheick Kongo (18-7-2) clinched his way to a victory over “The Savage” Shawn Jordan (13-4) that drew the ire of Dana White. “Bad Boy” Brian Ebersole (50-15-1) saw his winning streak shattered in a narrow Split Decision loss to James Head (9-2) that was also a subject of fan wrath, and “Deep Waters” Matt Riddle (7-3) impressed in the only main card bout that delivered as promised when he locked a third-round submission against “The Menace” Chris Clements (11-5). The prelims were good, the main card was bad, the fans were downright ugly, but here’s how the fighters themselves made out. Continue reading »

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UFC 149: Faber vs. Barao Live Results

 Posted by at 3:09 PM  UFC  2 Responses »
Jul 212012
 

(Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

—MAIN CARD (on Pay-Per-View, 10:00pm ET)—

Urijah Faber vs. Renan Barão:  Barão via Unanimous Decision (49-46, 50-45, 49-46), Round 5, 5:00

Hector Lombard vs. Tim Boetsch: Boetsch via Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29), Round 3, 5:00

Cheick Kongo vs. Shawn Jordan: Kongo via Unanimous Decision (30-28, 30-27, 30-27), Round 3, 5:00

Brian Ebersole vs. James Head: Head via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28), Round 3, 5:00

Chris Clements vs. Matt Riddle: Riddle via Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke), Round 3, 2:02 Continue reading »

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UFC 149 Undercard Sleeper: “Big Deal” Ryan Jimmo

 Posted by at 7:33 AM  UFC  No Responses »
Jul 212012
 

MFC champion “Big Deal” Ryan Jimmo (white trunks) will bring his varied skill set and 16-fight win streak to the UFC for the first time Saturday night to test himself against MMA’s elite, starting off with Anthony Perosh. (Photo courtesy of Sherdog)

UFC 149 has been one of the most injury-riddled cards in Zuffa history. The event’s marquee bout was originally scheduled between opposing The Ultimate Fighter: Live coaches “The California Kid” Urijah Faber (26-5) and UFC 135lbs. champion “The Dominator” Dominick Cruz (19-1) to settle the score both from the show and their two previous meetings, where each competitor took one victory apiece. A knee injury sustained during TUF put Cruz and the grudge match on the back burner, and now Faber is slated to face Nova Uniao fighter Renan Barao (30-1) for the newly minted Interim UFC Bantamweight Championship. The co-main event featuring top featherweight contender “New Breed” Erik Koch (13-1) challenging “Scarface” Jose Aldo (21-1) for the 145lbs. division title was postponed due to the champion being injured, and was replaced by the UFC debut of “Lightning” Hector Lombard (31-2) as he takes on “The Barbarian” Tim Boetsch (15-4). Despite approximately another dozen changes to the line-up, the UFC has still managed to put together a promising event for MMA fans across the globe. French kickboxer Cheick Kongo (27-7) and “The Savage” Shawn Jordan (13-3) will slug it out in a heavyweight battle, preceded by “Bad Boy” Brian Ebersole (50-14) colliding with James Head (8-2) in a welterweight tilt. Opening slot honors go to “The Menace” Chris Clements (11-4) as he squares off against “Deep Waters” Matthew Riddle (6-3). But before shelling out the big bucks to watch the main card on Pay-Per-View, be sure to catch the preliminary fight excitement on FX and Facebook, which features some of MMA’s top up-and-comers, perhaps most notably “Big Deal” Ryan Jimmo (16-1). Continue reading »

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UFC 149: Faber vs. Barao Weigh-In Results, Video

 Posted by at 7:20 PM  MMA News, UFC  No Responses »
Jul 202012
 

(Video courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

—MAIN CARD (on Pay-Per-View)—

Urijah Faber (135.0) vs. Renan Barão (135.0)

Hector Lombard (185.5) vs. Tim Boetsch (186.0)

Cheick Kongo (231.0) vs. Shawn Jordan (250.0)

Brian Ebersole (171.0) vs. James Head (170.0)

Chris Clements (170.0) vs. Matt Riddle (170.8) Continue reading »

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MMA Gospel Staff Picks: UFC 149

 Posted by at 3:43 PM  UFC  No Responses »
Jul 202012
 

(Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

The UFC 149 main card has been one incredibly laden with injury, but still the world’s premier mixed martial arts promotion has managed to piece together another spectacle for a sold out crowd at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Alberta, Calgary, Canada and the millions around the world watching live via Pay-Per-View. Kicking off the party is “The Menace” Chris Clements (11-4) teeing off against TUF alum “Deep Waters” Matt Riddle (6-3), followed by a welterweight tilt between “Hairrow” innovator “Bad Boy” Brian Ebersole (50-14-1), barely 30 days out from his UFC on FX 4 match-up, versus James Head (8-2). French kickboxer Cheick Kongo (17-7-2) and heavy-handed “The Savage” Shawn Jordan (13-3) anchor the card with a heavyweight battle. Former CFC, AFC, and Bellator champion “Lightning” Hector Lombard (31-2-1) will finally take his place inside the UFC’s Octagon, and welcoming him is “The Barbarian” Tim Boetsch (15-4). Lombard currently possesses one of the most lengthy winning streaks in MMA at 24, while Boetsch has recently built up his own momentum within the UFC. In the marquee bout of the evening, “The California Kid” Urijah Faber (26-5) will be put to the test by Brazilian monster and owner of an ongoing 28-fight win streak, Renan Barao (28-1), for the Interim UFC Bantamweight Championship title. In anticipation of the UFC’s latest effort being presented on Saturday, the MMA Gospel staff has taken another crack at predicting how the evening might play out. Continue reading »

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UFC 149 Pre-Fight Breakdown: Urijah Faber vs. Renan Barao

 Posted by at 9:32 AM  MMA News, UFC  No Responses »
Jul 202012
 

Renan Barao (black trunks) has solid technical striking but will need more than that to beat Urijah Faber on the feet where “The California Kid” struggles the most. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

UFC 149 has been one of the most injury-riddled cards in the history of the organization. The opening bout between “The Menace” Chris Clements (11-4) and “Deep Waters” Matt Riddle (6-3) has had three injured fighters pulled from it, leaving these two replacements to fill the gap. “Bad Boy” Brian Ebersole (50-14-1) stepped in just a month after his last Octagon appearance to replace James Head’s (8-2) injured opponent, framing the second fight. Cheick Kongo (17-7-2) was originally slated to face “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (33-7-1), but the Brazilian legend’s arm has not healed properly and “The Savage” Shawn Jordan (13-3) was brought in to replace him. “The Barbarian” Tim Boetsch (15-4) saw a complete change of face when crafty point fighter “The Count” Micheal Bisping (22-4) was injured and replaced with deadly finishing machine “Shango” Hector Lombard (31-2-1). In the main event, “The California Kid” Urijah Faber (26-5) was expected to face “The Dominator” Dominick Cruz (19-1) for the UFC Bantamweight Championship, but injury struck again and Renan Barao (28-1) will get a shot at interim gold instead. Continue reading »

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UFC 149 Pre-Fight Breakdown: Hector Lombard vs. Tim Boetsch

 Posted by at 9:19 AM  MMA News, UFC  No Responses »
Jul 192012
 

Former Olympic Judo competitor Hector Lombard (blue gloves) may finally prove whether he truly is one of the best 185ers in the world as faces off against heavy hitter Tim Boetsch in his UFC debut on Saturday. (Photo courtesy of Bellator)

The card has been afflicted by a slew of injuries and has undergone multiple replacements but is now set in stone as UFC 149 comes live out of the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada on June 21.  “The Menace” Chris Clements (11-4) takes on “Deep Waters” Matt Riddle (6-3) in the main card opener.  “Bad Boy” Brian Ebersole (50-14-1) steps in on short notice to take on James Head (8-2) in a welterweight battle.  Heavyweight action is set for the Canadian crowd as “The Savage” Shawn Jordan  (13-3) and Cheick Kongo (17-7-2) are locked to do battle in the card’s anchor.  In the main event, “The California Kid” Urijah Faber (26-5) will clash with the always lethal Renan Barao (28-1-1) with the interim bantamweight title on the line. The co-main event has its own share of buzz surrounding it as “The Barbarian” Tim Boetsch (15-4) replaces an injured “All American” Brian Stann to welcome the long-awaited UFC debut of former Bellator champion “Lightning” Hector Lombard (31-2). Continue reading »

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UFC 149 Pre-Fight Breakdown: Cheick Kongo vs. Shawn Jordan

 Posted by at 3:06 PM  MMA News, UFC  No Responses »
Jul 182012
 

French kickboxer Cheick Kongo (red gloves) will need to use his range and striking prowess to keep Shawn Jordan on his heels if he wants a win at UFC 149. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

With the UFC’s bantamweight king “The Dominator” Dominick Cruz (19-1) on the sidelines for an extended period of time due to knee surgery, the UFC quickly matched up the challenger and former WEC Featherweight Champion “The California Kid” Urijah Faber (26-5) with the outstanding Brazilian contender Renan Barao (28-1) to fill the main event slot at UFC 149 for the interim 135lbs. championship.  The unstoppable man with the Bellator, CFC, and AFC middleweight belts around his waist, “Shango” Hector Lombard, (31-2) will face new challenges in the UFC with his first opponent being “The Barbarian” Tim Boetsch (15-4). IFL veteran “The Menace” Chris Clements (11-4) goes to war against TUF 7 veteran Matt Riddle (6-3). “Bad Boy” Brian Ebersole (50-14) returns just a month out from his victory at UFC on FX 4 to face off against James Head (8-2) in perhaps Ebersole’s final bout at welterweight. In the co-main event of UFC 149 a heavyweight bout pits long-time UFC fighter Cheick Kongo (17-7) against Bellator and Strikeforce veteran “The Savage” Shawn Jordan (13-3). Continue reading »

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UFC 149 Pre-Fight Breakdown: Brian Ebersole vs. James Head

 Posted by at 4:44 PM  MMA News, UFC  No Responses »
Jul 172012
 

Brian Ebersole’s (top) wrestling and experience will be his biggest assets against James Head at UFC 149. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

The UFC drops anchor Saturday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada with a loaded card that could shake the foundations of the very venue. With the 135lbs. champion “The Dominator” Dominick Cruz (19-1) on the sidelines with an injury, an interim belt has been forged and will be contested between former WEC Featherweight Champion “The California Kid” Urijah Faber (26-5) and Brazilian phenom Renan Barao (28-1). Long-time UFC heavyweight Cheick Kongo (17-7) will face the Strikeforce and Bellator veteran “The Savage” Shawn Jordan (13-3) in his second UFC bout. Former Bellator, CFC, and AFC middleweight king “Shango” Hector Lombard (31-2) finally makes his promotional debut against the reborn “The Barbarian” Tim Boetsch (15-4). IFL veteran, knockout artist and Ontario’s own ”The Menace” Chris Clements (11-4) went through a list of replacements but finally found a stable name against TUF 7 veteran Matt Riddle (6-3) to open the UFC 149: Faber vs. Barao PPV card. “Bad Boy” Brian Ebersole (50-14) elects for a fast return after a victory at UFC on FX 4 in June as he fills the gap and faces off against James Head (8-2) as the second fight of the night. Continue reading »

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UFC 149 Pre-Fight Breakdown: Chris Clements vs. Matt Riddle

 Posted by at 8:43 PM  MMA News, UFC  No Responses »
Jul 162012
 

Matt Riddle (white trunks) is a game young fighter, but he lacks the consistent finishing ability that he will need against Chris Clements. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

On the heels of one of MMA’s busiest weeks, Zuffa keeps the pressure on with yet another Pay-Per-View card. This time, Brazilian wrecking machine Renan Barao (28-1) will step in for injured champion “The Dominator” Dominick Cruz (19-1) to face “The California Kid” Urijah Faber (26-5) in the night’s main event with both men vying for the Interim UFC Bantamweight Championship. UFC 149: Faber vs. Barao also features the debut of former Bellator middleweight king “Shango” Hector Lombard (31-2) as he puts his 24-fight unbeaten streak on the line against “The Barbarian” Tim Boetsch (15-4). Heavyweight staple Cheick Kongo (17-7-2) will square off with another Bellator stand-out in slugger “The Savage” Shawn Jordan (13-3) in his second UFC effort, and “Bad Boy” Brian Ebersole will return to action just a month after his last fight to face James Head (8-2). Opening the night’s PPV combat is a bout between “The Menace” Chris Clements (11-4) and “Deep Waters” Matt Riddle (6-3). Each man represents a different caste of fighter and each has his own reasons to prove his background is superior. Continue reading »

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UFC on FX 4: The Aftermath

 Posted by at 2:06 PM  MMA News, UFC  No Responses »
Jun 232012
 

Clay Guida (left) had a good game plan against Gray Maynard at UFC on FX 4 but his lack of striking acumen saw it degrade into merely running from the fight. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

The UFC returned to the FX network last night to deliver a free card featuring some of the UFC’s more exciting and colorful characters. Hard nosed British slugger “The Real Deal” Ross Pearson (13-6) went out on his shield in the second in a TKO loss to WEC veteran Cub Swanson (17-5). Crafty veteran and harbinger of the hairrow “Bad Boy” Brian Ebersole (50-14) added an eleventh victory to his winning streak as he survived early then out-foxed his younger opponent TJ Waldburger (15-7) en route to a Unanimous Decision. The co-main saw “Hands of Stone” Sam Stout (18-7) earn a unanimous nod over “The King” Spencer Fisher (24-9) in their “Fight of the Night” winning rubber match, and the headline bout of the evening saw “The Bully” Gray Maynard (11-1-1) and “The Carpenter” Clay Guida (29-13) deliver a cure for insomnia with one of the most lackluster fights in recent memory. Continue reading »

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UFC on FX 4: Maynard vs. Guida Live Results

 Posted by at 3:55 PM  UFC  2 Responses »
Jun 222012
 

(Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

—MAIN CARD (Live on FX, 9:00 PM ET)—

Gray Maynard vs. Clay Guida: Maynard via Split Decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47), Round 5, 5:00

Sam Stout vs. Spencer Fisher: Stout via Unanimous Decision (30-27 30-27, 30-27), Round 3, 5:00

Brian Ebersole vs. TJ Waldburger: Ebersole via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28), Round 3, 5:00

Ross Pearson vs. Cub Swanson: Swanson via TKO (Strikes), Round 2, 4:14 Continue reading »

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UFC on FX 4 Undercard Sleeper: “Super” Steven Siler

 Posted by at 8:22 PM  UFC  1 Response »
Jun 212012
 

Up-and-coming featherweight fighter Steven Siler (red shorts) has flown somewhat under the radar thus far in his career, but has the skillset to earn the praises of casual and hardcore fans alike. His next chance to do so will come this Friday in the UFC on FX 4 prelims. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

The UFC once again brings its roster of top mixed martial arts talent to the FX network Friday night with UFC on FX 4: Maynard vs. Guida. The marquee attraction sees a lightweight affair between “The Bully” Gray Maynard (10-1-1) and “The Carpenter” Clay Guida (29-11) as they battle it out for potential title contention in the UFC’s 155lbs. division. Supporting the main event are the likes of “Hands of Stone” Sam Stout (17-7-1) and “The King” Spencer Fisher (24-8) duking it out for the third time in a lightweight tilt, 170ers “Bad Boy”  Brian Ebersole (49-14-1) and TJ Waldburger (15-6) facing off in what will likely be a brawl on the canvas, and British TUF alum “The Real Deal” Ross Pearson (13-5) and WEC veteran Cub Swanson (16-5) fighting to ascend the 145lbs. division ladder. Though much of the MMA fan base will have their eyes glued to the main card on FX, as always, the prelims on Facebook and Fuel TV offer some entertaining match-ups as well, featuring some of the best up-and-comers in the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization. Among the long list of promising undercard fighters to keep an eye on is “Super” Steven Siler (20-9). Continue reading »

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UFC on FX 4: Maynard vs. Guida Weigh-In Results, Video

 Posted by at 4:55 PM  UFC  No Responses »
Jun 212012
 

(Video courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

—MAIN CARD (Live on FX, 9:00 PM ET)—

Gray Maynard (155.0) vs. Clay Guida (155.5)

Sam Stout (155.5) vs. Spencer Fisher (156.0)

Brian Ebersole (170.0) vs. TJ Waldburger (170.5)

Ross Pearson (146.0) vs. Cub Swanson (145.5) Continue reading »

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