May 012013
May 012013
Apr 222013
Apr 222013
Apr 222013
Apr 222013
Apr 212013
“Smooth” Benson Henderson (white shorts) was able to out-strike and out-maneuver Gilbert Melendez (black trunks) en route to a controversial Split Decision win. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The UFC on FOX 7 event delivered one of the best cards of the year thus far with exciting bouts packed from prelim to main event and a record-tying eight KO/TKOs. In main card action, “The Immortal” Matt Brown (17-11) came out on the winning side of a second-round stoppage in a “Fight of the Night” winning performance against “Young Gun” Jordan Mein (27-9). Following the welterweights, former Strikeforce Lightweight Champion “The Punk” Josh Thomson (20-5) shocked the odds makers by earning “Knockout of the Night” honors at the expense of Nate Diaz (16-9). The action slowed down a bit when Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Champion Daniel Cormier (12-0) bullied two-time former heavyweight king Frank Mir (16-7) to a lopsided Unanimous Decision, and “Smooth” Benson Henderson (19-2) won a Split Decision over “El Nino” Gilbert Melendez (21-3) that was controversial in more ways than one to retain his belt. MMA Gospel takes a quick look at the night’s action. Continue reading »
Apr 202013
Apr 202013
-, (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
—MAIN CARD (on FOX @ 8:00pm ET)—
155lbs.: Ben Henderson vs. Gilbert Melendez: Henderson via Split Decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47), Round 5, 5:00
265lbs.: Frank Mir vs. Daniel Cormier: Cormier via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27), Round 3, 5:00
155lbs.: Nate Diaz vs. Josh Thomson: Thomson via TKO (Head Kick and Punches), Round 2, 3:44
170lbs.: Matt Brown vs. Jordan Mein: Brown via TKO (Punches), Round 2, 1:00 Continue reading »
Apr 192013
—MAIN CARD (on FOX @ 8:00pm ET)—
155lbs.: Ben Henderson (155) vs. Gilbert Melendez (154)
265lbs.: Frank Mir (257) vs. Daniel Cormier (235)
155lbs.: Nate Diaz (156) vs. Josh Thomson (155)
170lbs.: Matt Brown (171) vs. Jordan Mein (170) Continue reading »
Apr 182013
Frank Mir (top) offers a very specific and dangerous challenge to fellow heavyweight Daniel Cormier. He doesn’t lock holds for the submission – he goes straight for the break and that attitude makes him very dangerous. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The UFC continues its growth in the mainstream sports market with another showing on free network television Saturday night as UFC on FOX 7 takes center stage from California. As explored in Part I, opening duties will fall on the shoulders of “Young Gun” Jordan Mein (27-8) and “The Immortal” Matt Brown (16-11) before Nate Diaz (16-8) welcomes his teammate’s long-time rival “The Punk” Josh Thomson (19-5) back to the Octagon. In this second look at the main card, MMA Gospel will explore Daniel Cormier’s (11-0) Octagon debut against one of the most dangerous heavyweights in the world, Frank Mir (16-6), and the main event title affair between the last king of the Strikeforce lightweights, “El Nino” Gilbert Melendez (21-2) and reigning UFC champion “Smooth” Benson Henderson (18-2). Continue reading »
Apr 172013
Matt Brown (white trunks) enters UFC on Fox 7 on a strong finishing streak and has a significant size and reach advantage to give him an edge on fight night. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The UFC will air its seventh live event on network television Saturday as the last Strikeforce Lightweight Champion “El Nino” Gilbert Melendez (21-2) challenges reigning UFC Lightweight Champion “Smooth” Benson Henderson (18-2). Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Champion Daniel Cormier (11-0) will get his first taste of UFC-level competition when he steps in to face 20-bout UFC vet and former UFC Heavyweight Champion Frank Mir (16-6) in the co-main. “The Immortal” Matt Brown (16-11) will open the evening’s main card against “Young Gun” Jordan Mein (27-8), followed by a sophomore offering featuring Nate Diaz (16-8) and “The Punk” Josh Thomson (19-5). All four fights have potential to shake things up in their respective divisions and offer “Fight of the Night” potential for the millions of FOX viewers. Here, MMA Gospel takes an in-depth look at the bottom half of UFC on FOX 7′s main card offerings. Continue reading »
Jan 142013
Jan 122013
(Photo courtesy of Fighters Only)
Friday night The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada played host to the fifth annual Fighters Only MMA Awards. The awards focused on the best the world of mixed martial arts had to offer during the entire 2012 calendar year, with the 21 categories honoring fighters, media organizations, apparel companies, technical equipment, and much more. The winners though were determined by fan votes. Check out the full list of 2012 World MMA Awards below, and tune in to Fox Sports Net on January 20 to catch the ceremony broadcast. Continue reading »
Jan 112013
“Jacare” Ronaldo Souza (red gloves) has a distinct advantage on the ground as well as a far more extensive training camp under his belt for the final Strikeforce card. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
All good things must come to an end. In this case, the good thing is the Strikeforce promotion that has essentially served as a UFC feeder league, as well as a home for those high profile fighters on the Zuffa poo-poo list, since its inception. The California-based, Zuffa-owned promotion will lock its cage doors one last time Saturday night as “The Great” Nate Marquardt (32-10-2) defends his Strikeforce Welterweight Championship for the first and only time against dangerous submission fighter “Sponge” Tarec Saffiedine (13-3). Co-headlining the event is Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Champion Daniel Cormier (10-0) who will face “The Soldier” Dion Staring (28-7). “The Warmaster” Josh Barnett (31-6) will make his first appearance since losing in the finals of the Grand Prix as he goes toe-to-toe with “The Hun” Nandor Guelmino (11-3-1) in the anchor bout, and “The Dream Catcher” Gegard Mousasi (32-3-2) will face the always dangerous “Mak” Mike Kyle (19-8-1). Opening duties for the main card fall squarely on the shoulders of “Jacare” Ronaldo Souza (16-3) who looks to continue rebuilding his title dreams at the expense of “Short Fuse” Ed Herman (20-8).