(Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
Demetrious Johnson vs. Ian McCall: Johnson via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28), Round 3, 5:00
Charlie Brenneman vs. Erick Silva: Silva via Submission (Rear Naked Choke), Round 1, 4:33
Josh Neer vs. Mike Pyle: Pyle via KO (Punch), Round 1, 4:56
Scott Jorgensen vs. Eddie Wineland: Wineland via KO (Punches), Round 2, 4:10 Continue reading »
"Mighty Mouse" Demetrious Johnson (left) and "Uncle Creepy" Ian McCall (right) will meet again in Friday night's UFC on FX 3 main event to determine who will face Joseph Benavidez for a shot at the inaugural UFC Flyweight Championship. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
Demetrious Johnson: 125lbs.
Ian McCall: 126lbs.
Charlie Brenneman: 171lbs.
Erick Silva: 169lbs.
Josh Neer: 170.5lbs.
Mike Pyle: 171lbs.
Scott Jorgensen: 136lbs.
Eddie Wineland: 135.5lbs. Continue reading »
Anderson Silva (black/yellow trunks) not only defeated his opponent "The Phenom" Vitor Belfort at UFC 126, he restored many fans' faith in his willingness to take fights seriously. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The night before the Green Bay Packers won their thirteenth national football championship, the Ultimate Fighting Championship gave fans a night to remember with one of the most action packed and talent stacked cards of the promotion’s storied existence. UFC 126 saw middleweight king “The Spider” Anderson Silva (28-4) remind the world why he is the greatest living fighter on the planet when he faced former light heavyweight champion “The Phenom” Vitor Belfort (19-9). It saw the return of Forrest Griffin (18-6) and ascendance of “Bones” Jon Jones (12-1). Most importantly, it saw the UFC again abolish all doubt that it is in fact the single MMA superpower in the world and reassert itself as peerless as a promotion. However, it also saw several fighters fall short of their expectations and still more fall further from glory. MMA Gospel explores this with The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. Continue reading »
(File photo)
—PRELIMINARY CARD (Un-aired)—
Kenny Robertson vs. Mike Pierce: Pierce via TKO (Punches), Round 2, 0:29
Ricardo Romero vs. Kyle Kingsbury: Kingsbury via TKO (Punches), Round 1, 0:21
Gabe Ruediger vs. Paul Taylor: Taylor via KO (Head Kick and Punches), Round 2, 1:42
—FACEBOOK LIVE STREAM—
Demetrious Johnson vs. “KID” Norifumi Yamamoto: Johnson via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
—SPIKE TV—
Michihiro Omigawa vs. Chad Mendes: Mendes via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Paul Kelly vs. Donald Cerrone: Cerrone via Submission (Rear Naked Choke), Round 2, 3:48
—MAIN CARD (Pay-Per-View)—
Antonio Banuelos vs. Miguel Torres: Torres via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Carlos Eduardo Rocha vs. Jake Ellenberger: Ellenberger via Split Decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)
Ryan Bader vs. Jon Jones: Jones via Submission (Guillotine Choke), Round 2, 4:20*
Rich Franklin vs. Forrest Griffin: Griffin via Unanimous Decision, Round 3, 5:00 (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Vitor Belfort vs. Anderson Silva: Silva via KO (Strikes), Round 1, 3:25**
*In the wake of his victory, the UFC made the surprise announcement that Jon “Bones” gets the next shot at UFC Light Heavyweight Champion “Shogun” Mauricio Rua (19-4) at UFC 128 in five weeks. The original challenger, “Sugar” Rashad Evans (15-1-1), dropped out of the fight due to a knee injury.
**Silva retains the UFC Middleweight Championship belt after his record breaking eighth consecutive title defense and 14th consecutive victory.
Just an hour ago, UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva (left) and title challenger Vitor Belfort (right) took part in one of the most intense staredowns in MMA history. Tomorrow night, the friends-turned-enemies will square off for the 185lbs. championship. (Photo courtesy of Esther Lin and Fanhouse)
Tomorrow night the UFC brings its live audience at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada and the millions watching worldwide on Pay-Per-View one of the most stacked cards in UFC history with UFC 126: Silva vs. Belfort. The event showcases a wealth of electrifying match-ups including former WEC warriors “Cowboy” Donald Cerrone (12-4) and Miguel Torres (37-3) gracing the UFC Octagon for the very first time and taking on British slugger Paul Kelly (11-3) and Antonio Banuelos (18-6), rising stars “Bones” Jon Jones (11-1) and “Darth” Ryan Bader (12-0) in a light heavyweight clash, NCAA wrestling coach “The Juggernaut” Jake Ellenberger facing dangerous submission expert Carlos Eduardo Rocha (9-0), and two former champions battling it out for light heavyweight supremacy following an inactive 2010 with Forrest Griffin (17-6) and “Ace” Rich Franklin (27-5). The highly anticipated main event pits UFC Middleweight Champion and arguably the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world “The Spider” Anderson Silva (27-4) against deadly striker “The Phenom” Vitor Belfort. Anderson has been not only invincible in the UFC, but damn near untouchable. The lone hiccup in his UFC career came when he was controlled for nearly five rounds by Chael Sonnen (24-11) at UFC 117 but turned the tables and finished his opponent in the closing minutes with a Triangle Choke. Anderson Silva is riding a thirteen fight win streak including a flawless 12-0 record inside the UFC, and tomorrow night will make his record breaking eighth title defense. Vitor Belfort on the other hand more or less earned his title shot with one recent win inside the UFC over Rich Franklin at a catch-weight. He has however won five in a row, but is very middling (7-5) in his past twelve fights, compared to a perfect dozen victories that Anderson Silva has put up. Come the conclusion of UFC 126 tomorrow night, either Anderson Silva walks out of the cage with the middleweight title belt rightfully cinched around his waist for the ninth consecutive time, leaving any questions about his skill and dedication answered, or the world’s most recognizable UFC champion will have fallen and given way to a new era in the 185lbs. division with the vicious striker Vitor Belfort as its reigning king. Continue reading »
(Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
—PRELIMINARY CARD (Un-aired)—
Kenny Robertson: 170lbs.
Mike Pierce: 172lbs.*
Ricardo Romero: 205lbs.
Kyle Kingsbury: 205lbs.
Gabe Ruediger: 155lbs.
Paul Taylor: 156lbs.
—FACEBOOK LIVE STREAM—
Demetrious Johnson: 136lbs.
“KID” Norifumi Yamamoto: 135lbs. Continue reading »
IFL and BodogFight veteran Jake Ellenberger (blue trunks) has been a tough fight for every opponent he has faced and has made a UFC career out of being a winning underdog. (Photo courtesy of Dave Mandel and Sherdog)
This Saturday the UFC presents the fans with UFC 126: Silva vs. Belfort from its home stomping grounds at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The card features the biggest threat to “The Spider” Anderson Silva’s (27-4) middleweight crown to date as he takes on the blistering hand speed and undeniable power of “The Phenom” Vitor Belfort (19-8), as well as a host of other great match-ups. Forrest Griffin (17-6) will be making his long awaited return to the Octagon against the man that Silva took the middleweight title from in 2006, “Ace” Rich Franklin (27-5), and light heavyweight superstar “Darth” Ryan Bader (12-0) will put his undefeated record on the line against the man Bruce Buffer called “the next Muhammad Ali”, “Bones” Jon Jones (11-1). Also in action are former WEC warriors “Cowboy” Donald Cerrone (12-4) and Miguel Torres (37-3) as they make their UFC debuts against Paul Kelly (11-3) and Antonio Banuelos (18-6), respectively. The last main card combatants are the NCAA wrestling coach “The Juggernaut” Jake Ellenberger (22-5) and his opponent, the deadly submission fighter Carlos Eduardo Rocha (9-0). The match is a test for both men, as Ellenberger saved his reputation by defeating up-and-coming prospects and Rocha is just such a prospect looking to send a message to the rest of the welterweight division. Continue reading »
(Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
Dan Griffin, MMA Gospel CEO
Donald Cerrone vs. Paul Kelly: Kelly via TKO, Round 2
Miguel Torres vs. Antonio Banuelos: Torres via TKO, Round 1
Jon Jones vs. Ryan Bader: Jones via TKO, Round 2
Jake Ellenberger vs. Carlos Eduardo Rocha: Rocha via Submission (Heel Hook), Round 2
Forrest Griffin vs. Rich Franklin: Griffin via Unanimous Decision, Round 3
Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort: Belfort via KO, Round 1
——————————————————————————————————————————————
Mallory Mejia, MMA Gospel Editor-in-Chief
Donald Cerrone vs. Paul Kelly: Kelly via TKO, Round 2
Miguel Torres vs. Antonio Banuelos: Torres via Submission (Rear Naked Choke), Round 2
Jon Jones vs. Ryan Bader: Jones via TKO, Round 2
Jake Ellenberger vs. Carlos Eduardo Rocha: Rocha via Submission (Kneebar), Round 1
Forrest Griffin vs. Rich Franklin: Franklin via TKO, Round 3
Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort: Silva via TKO, Round 4
—————————————————————————————————————————————— Continue reading »
The former WEC Bantamweight Champion, Miguel Angel Torres (white trunks), hopes to use his technical form of striking and grappling in order to secure and escalate his rankings in the new UFC title picture. (Photo courtesy of Dave Mandel and Sherdog)
Before the Packers and Steelers take to the turf at Cowboys Stadium for Super Bowl XLV, the UFC follows up their New Year’s card with another stacked night of fights at UFC 126. In the main event, Middleweight Champion “The Spider” Anderson Silva (27-4) puts his title on the line again for the record breaking eighth time against a striker of his caliber, “The Phenom” Vitor Belfort (19-8). Two former champions collide when Forrest Griffin (17-6) meets who many consider to be his mirror image, “Ace” Rich Franklin (27-5), in a battle that can set the pace for their title contentions. Wrestling powerhouse Jake Ellenberger (22-5) welcomes prominent Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu artist Carlos Eduardo Rocha (2-0) to the main card after his preliminary debut at UFC 122. “Bones” Jon Jones (11-1) will finally duke it out against fellow rising star “Darth” Ryan Bader (12-0) with one fighter being shot up into the highest echelon of the light heavyweight class. But before these UFC stand-outs grace the neon lights of Las Vegas, two products of the UFC/WEC merger will test each other when WEC favorites Miguel Angel Torres (37-3) and Antonio Banuelos (18-6) make their UFC debut. Familiar or not with the WEC, these two bantamweights promise to give the viewers a treat to start off the Super Bowl weekend. Continue reading »
—Quick Results—
Kris McCray vs. Carlos Eduardo Rocha: Rocha via Submission (Kneebar), Round 1, 2:21
Seth Petruzelli vs. Karlos Vemola: Vemola via TKO (Punches and Elbows), Round 1, 3:46
Kyle Noke vs. Rob Kimmons: Noke via Submission (Rear Naked Choke), Round 2, 1:33
Pascal Krauss vs. Mark Scanlon: Krauss via Unanimous Decision, Round 3, 5:00
Vladimir Matyushenko vs. Alexandre Ferreira: Matyushenko via TKO (Punches and Elbows), Round 1, 2:20
Nick Osipczak vs. Duane Ludwig: Ludwig via Split Decision, Round 3, 5:00
Goran Reljic vs. Krzysztof Soszynski: Soszynski via Unanimous Decision, Round 3, 5:00
Peter Sobotta vs. Amir Sadollah: Sadollah via Unanimous Decision, Round 3, 5:00
Andre Winner vs. Dennis Siver: Siver via Submission (Rear Naked Choke), Round 1, 3:37
Alessio Sakara vs. Jorge Rivera: N/A. Sakara withdrew from the competition due to illness.
Yushin Okami vs. Nate Marquardt: Okami via Unanimous Decision, Round 3, 5:00
—Bonuses—
Knockout of the Night: Karlos Vemola – $60,000
Submission of the Night: Dennis Siver – $60,000
Fight of the Night: Pascal Krauss and Mark Scanlon – $60,000 each