Jan 012013
Jul 092012
Jul 082012
Anderson Silva’s (yellow shorts) killer instincts brought an end to his rivalry with Chael Sonnen (white shorts) after Sonnen over-committed to a spinning backfist in the second frame. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
UFC 148 was the most successful live event in UFC history. Though the Pay-Per-View numbers for the second meeting of “The Spider” Anderson Silva (32-4) and Chael Sonnen (27-12-1) have yet to be released, the live gate was over 6.5 million dollars, eclipsing the previous UFC record of 5.3 million and setting a record for MMA in the state of Nevada. ”The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz (16-11-1) went out with a “Fight of the Night” earning bang but saw his retirement party crashed by Forrest Griffin (19-7) in a narrow decision loss. Cung Le (8-2) defeated “The Predator” Patrick Cote (17-8) in his first UFC victory. Demian Maia (16-4) was the beneficiary of “Stun Gun” Dong Hyun Kim’s (15-2-1) bad luck when the Korean Judoka’s self-inflicted rib injury brought an early halt to the match. “AK Kid” Cody McKenzie (13-3) found out the hard way that a move to 145 wasn’t going to make his life any easier when “Money” Chad Mendes (12-1) finished him in just 31 seconds. Opening the card, “The Hulk” Mike Easton (13-1) came out on top against “The Pride of El Salvator” Ivan Menjivar (24-9). The UFC and its fans were the clear winners of the night, but the fighters themselves may not have fared so well. To explore this is The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.
Jul 072012
(Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
—MAIN CARD (on Pay-Per-View)—
Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen: Silva via TKO (Punches), Round 2, 1:55
Forrest Griffin vs. Tito Ortiz: Griffin via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28), Round 3, 5:00
Cung Le vs. Patrick Cote: Le via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27), Round 3, 5:00
Dong Hyun Kim vs. Demian Maia: Maia via TKO (Rib Injury), Round 1, 0:47
Chad Mendes vs. Cody McKenzie: Mendes via TKO (Body Punch), Round 1, 0:31
Ivan Menjivar vs. Mike Easton: Easton via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27), Round 3, 5:00
Jul 072012
Even at just 23-years-old, undefeated rising prospect Khabib Nurmagomedov’s (white trunks) accomplishments in the martial arts and well-rounded skill set pose a substantial threat to the UFC’s lightweight division. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
Tonight the UFC is back in action at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada with a star-studded card that features one of the most highly anticipated rematches in MMA history. As made even more evident by the reported 10,000+ in attendance for Friday night’s UFC 148 weigh-ins, Zuffa can certainly look forward to having some of their highest Pay-Per-View numbers to date with a card headlined by current UFC Middleweight Champion and arguably one of the greatest fighters to ever grace the Octagon, “The Spider” Anderson Silva (31-4), and polarizing figure Chael Sonnen (27-11), who is looking to score revenge for the loss he suffered the last time he and the champ met nearly two years ago. But that’s not the only great rematch on the PPV portion of UFC 148: Silva vs. Sonnen II, as fans will also get to see the long awaited rubber match between former light heavyweight champions Forrest Griffin (18-7) and “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz (16-10). Win, lose, or draw, Ortiz plans on hanging up his gloves and flamed shorts and walking off into the sunset. Shoring up the main card are the likes of former Strikeforce champ Cung Le (7-2), returning UFC veteran “The Predator” Patrick Cote (17-7), JMMA star “Stun Gun” Dong Hyun Kim (15-1-1) and BJJ expert Demian Maia (15-4), WEC veteran “Money” Chad Mendes (11-1) and TUF alum “AK Kid” Cody McKenzie (13-2), and Tristar Gym fighter “Pride of El Salvador” Ivan Menjivar (24-8) and “The Hulk” Mike Easton (12-1) in the opening slot. The UFC is also supplying tremendous action in the undercard match-ups, with perhaps the most promising contender for becoming a main card mainstay being “The Eagle” Khabib Nurmagomedov (17-0).
Jul 062012
(Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The phrase “most anticipated fight of the year” is thrown around very liberally in the landscape of mixed martial arts, and has long since become overstated in respect to both frequency and descriptiveness. Saturday night’s UFC 148, however, boasts a match-up that truly is the most anticipated fight of the year, if not of the past two years since the headlining combatants first met in August 2010. In just over 24 hours, one of the biggest scores in recent MMA history will be settled when long-reigning UFC Middleweight Champion “The Spider” Anderson Silva (31-4) comes face to face with boisterous, professional wrestling-esque smack talker Chael Sonnen (27-11-1), who in their first meeting came all too close to handing Silva his first loss in over four years before being submitted late in the fifth round. Directly supporting the ultimate grudge match of a main event is a rubber match between former champions and staples of the UFC, Forrest Griffin (18-7) and “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz (16-10-1). Revered 185lbs. striker Cung Le (7-2) welcomes fellow heavy-hitter “The Predator” Patrick Cote (17-7) back to the Octagon after a two-year-long UFC hiatus. Welterweights “Stun Gun” Dong Hyun Kim (15-1-1) and Demian Maia (15-4) will compete in what is sure to be a battle on the mat. Former top 145lbs. contender “Money” Chad Mendes (11-1) will square off with TUF alum “AK Kid” Cody McKenzie (13-2), preceded by a bantamweight affair between “The Hulk” Mike Easton (12-1) and “The Pride of El Salvador” Ivan Menjivar (24-8). The winners and losers of UFC 148 have yet to be determined, but here are the MMA Gospel staff’s picks of who is likely to come out on top. Continue reading »
Jul 062012
UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva (left) and title challenger Chael Sonnen (right) are set to face off for the second time at UFC 148. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
—MAIN CARD (on Pay-Per-View)—
Anderson Silva: 184lbs.
Chael Sonnen: 185lbs.
Forrest Griffin: 204lbs.
Tito Ortiz: 204lbs.
Cung Le: 185lbs.
Patrick Cote: 185lbs.
Dong Hyun Kim: 170lbs.
Demian Maia: 170lbs.
Chad Mendes: 146lbs.
Cody McKenzie: 145lbs.
Ivan Menjivar: 136lbs.
Mike Easton: 135lbs. Continue reading »
Jul 032012
Though he has seemed more focused on showing off his stand-up skills as of late rather than his world class Jiu-Jitsu, Demian Maia’s (white trunks) ground game will likely come back in to play against Dong Hyun Kim. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
Hot days and long summer nights could not have gotten any livelier as UFC 148 comes live and direct from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Saturday night’s Pay-Per-View card kicks off with bantamweight action as “The Hulk” Mike Easton (12-1) squares off against Ivan Menjivar (24-8). “Money” Chad Mendes (11-1) returns to action when he meets Cody McKenzie (13-2) in the featherweight division. In a guaranteed spectacle, Cung Le (7-2) will look to get his first win in the organization when he welcomes back a fellow knockout artist in “The Predator” Patrick Cote (17-7). Former light heavyweight champions meet in the co-main event as “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz (16-10-1) graces the Octagon one last time against rival Forrest Griffin (18-7) with each man looking to come out on top of this rubber match. The main event is a rematch of 2010’s “Fight of the Year” as Chael Sonnen (27-11-1) and champion “The Spider” Anderson Silva (31-4) meet once again with the belt on the line. Among all the action though, welterweight grapplers will engage as Judoka “Stun Gun” (15-1-1) Dong Hyun Kim meets Jiu-Jitsu practitioner Demian Maia (15-4). Each man saw the road to gold once before and if they wish to travel that road again, they have to make their stand here and now on one of the biggest cards of the year. Continue reading »
Jul 032012
Cody McKenzie’s (black and white trunks) opportunistic submission skills make him especially dangerous if his opponent gets cocky with his wrestling game. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The moment of truth for UFC Middleweight Champion “The Spider” Anderson Silva (31-4) and his arch nemesis Chael Sonnen (27-11-1) will arrive when they step under the bright lights of the MGM Grand Garden Arena at UFC 148. Forrest Griffin (18-7) and “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz (16-10-1) will meet in the co-main event for a career defining fight of their own as the former champ and the original Ultimate Fighter meet in their twilight. Cung Le (7-2) will anchor the card against Canadian striker “The Predator” Patrick Cote (17-7) in what has a “loser leaves town match” feel to it, and “Stun Gun” Dong Hyun Kim (15-1-1) will welcome Demian Maia (15-4) to the welterweight division. After “The Hulk” Mike Easton (12-1) and “The Pride of El Salvador” Ivan Menjivar (24-8) meet to open the card, fans find what was until recently a preliminary affair between TUF stand-out “AK Kid” Cody McKenzie (13-2) and “Money” Chad Mendes (11-1) of the Team Alpha Male camp. Continue reading »
Jul 022012
A slick counter shoot backed by “The Hulk” Mike Easton’s (red gloves) aggressive ground-and-pound attack could spell trouble for Ivan Menjivar. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The UFC returns to its home turf in Las Vegas, Nevada for the promotion’s annual Independence Day card this Saturday with UFC 148: Silva vs. Sonnen II. This time, the card is as big as ever with UFC Middleweight Champion and P4P kingpin “The Spider” Anderson Silva (31-4) facing the man who thrashed him for four-and-a-half rounds nearly two years ago, Chael Sonnen (27-11-1). The MGM Grand Garden Arena will also host a rematch between the first Ultimate Fighter Forrest Griffin (18-7) and long time UFC poster boy “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz (16-10-1). Strikeforce stand-out and kickboxing world champion Cung Le (7-2) will make his sophomore UFC effort against “The Predator” Patrick Cote (17-7) and Demian Maia (15-4) will make his move to welterweight to face ‘Stun Gun” Dong Hyun Kim (15-1-1), preceded by a featherweight tilt between “Money” Chad Mendes (11-1) and “AK Kid” Cody McKenzie (13-2). Opening the main card is a bantamweight affair between “The Hulk” Mike Easton (12-1) and “The Pride of El Salvador” Ivan Menjivar (24-8). Continue reading »
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 »
Jan 162012
Jan 152012
Jose Aldo's (red glove, center of crowd) emotional reaction and the Rio fans' reaction to it following his brutal first-round KO of Chad Mendes has ensured him a place on every UFC event in Brazil for a long time to come. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The UFC has come and gone and the once deafening roar of the Brazilian crowd is now silenced following an electric night of first-round stoppages at UFC 142: Aldo vs. Mendes. Headlining the all too brief card was UFC Featherweight Champion “Junior” Jose Aldo (20-1) who successfully defended his title in front of a fanatical hometown crowd by blasting the title dreams, consciousness, and undefeated record of “Money” Chad Mendes (11-1) into non-existence with a brutal knee strike. Former UFC Heavyweight Tournament and Light Heavyweight Champion “The Phenom” Vitor Belfort (21-9) came to the cage looking dangerously eager to face ill-fated former welterweight “Rumble” Anthony Johnson (10-4) and made quick work of his foe, submitting “Rumble” with a Rear Naked Choke. “Toquinho” Rousimar Palhares (16-5) sent a clear message to the rest of the division against Mike Massenzio (13-6) as he added yet another vicious Heel Hook submission win to his record. Controversy filled the air when Erick Silva (8-3) completely destroyed Carlo Prater (28-11-1) in just 29 seconds only to have his victory taken from him as referee Mario Yamasaki ruled the bout a disqualification due to illegal strikes. The opening fight of the night saw British brawler Terry Etim (15-4) suffer one of the most spectacular KO losses in MMA history as Edson Barboza (10-0) nailed him square on the jaw with a spinning hook kick. In a night where all but one bout fails to go past the first round, it is very clear who the winners and losers are, but divining the level to which those victories and defeats impact a fighter’s career takes The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. Continue reading »
Jan 152012
Edson Barboza (left) kept his perfect record intact and won two fight bonuses with a spectacular KO over Terry Etim (right). (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The following fight bonuses were awarded for UFC 142:
Submission of the Night
Rousimar Palhares (over Mike Massenzio) receives $65,000
Knockout of the Night
Edson Barboza (over Terry Etim) receives $65,000
Fight of the Night
Edson Barboza and Terry Etim each receive $65,000
Jan 142012
(Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
—MAIN CARD (on Pay-Per-View)—
Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes: Aldo via KO (Knee), Round 1, 4:59
Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony Johnson: Belfort via Submission (Rear Naked Choke), Round 1, 4:49
Rousimar Palhares vs. Mike Massenzio: Palhares via Submission (Heel Hook), Round 1, 1:03
Erick Silva vs. Carlo Prater: Prater via DQ (Illegal Blows to the Head), Round 1, 0:29
Edson Barboza vs. Terry Etim: Barboza via KO (Spinning Hook Kick), Round 3, 2:02 Continue reading »