UFC 160 Pre-Fight Breakdown: Cain Velasquez vs. Antonio Silva

 Posted by at 5:07 PM  MMA News, UFC  No Responses »
May 242013
 
With his powerful takedowns and brutal ground and pound, Cain Velasquez (red trim) is the worst possible match-up for Antonio Silva. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

With his powerful takedowns and brutal ground-and-pound, Cain Velasquez (red gloves) is the worst possible match-up for Antonio Silva. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

When the UFC returns to the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 25, it will be packing quite a punch. The UFC 160 main card is loaded top to bottom with ground-and-pounders, knockout artists, and stand-up killers starting with former Muay Thai champion “Cowboy” Donald Cerrone (19-5) against professional boxer and kickboxer “King” KJ Noons (11-6). Following the two lightweight sluggers is the night’s only grappling-heavy pairing as TJ Grant (20-5) puts his submission skills against a wrestler who has shown that he too has a nasty right hand, “The Bully” Gray Maynard (11-1-1). Raw power returns in the anchor match as Glover Teixeira (20-2) looks to make James Te Huna (16-5) his fourth UFC victim. The co-main pits two of the deadliest stand-up fighters in the heavyweight division against each other as “Cigano” Junior Dos Santos (15-2) meets “The Super Samoan” Mark Hunt (9-7). Capping it all off is a battle for heavyweight gold. Cain Velasquez (11-1) has been an animal ever since first setting foot in the Octagon, finishing seven of ten UFC bouts with his vicious ground-and-pound. One of his victims was Strikeforce transplant “Bigfoot” Antonio Silva (18-4), who is back for revenge following a stunning upset win to get a chance at the belt. Continue reading »

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UFC 160 Pre-Fight Breakdown: Junior Dos Santos vs. Mark Hunt

 Posted by at 4:33 PM  MMA News, UFC  No Responses »
May 232013
 
Mark Hunt (red gloves) is a long shot to win over Junior dos Santos, but counting him out would be a serious mistake. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

Mark Hunt (red gloves) is a long shot to win over Junior Dos Santos, but counting him out would be a serious mistake. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

The UFC has been accused in the past of favoring fighters who seek the knockout over those who seek other routes to victory and a strong case for that argument is an event  like UFC 160. Opening the card is a lightweight bout between former Thai boxing champion “Cowboy” Donald Cerrone (19-5) and professional boxer and kickboxer “King” KJ Noons (11-6). Next out, in the second slot typically reserved for the softest offering of a five-fight main card, is “The Bully” Gray Maynard’s (11-1-1) return in a number one contendership bout against TJ Grant (20-5). Anchoring the card is another pair of heavy-hitting KO machines Glover Teixeira (20-2) and James Te Huna (16-5), and of course the headlining bout features UFC Heavyweight Champion and brutal ground-and-pound artist Cain Velasquez (11-1) in his second meeting with “Bigfoot” Antonio Silva (18-4). Continuing an overall theme of punch happy fanfare is the co-main which will see one of MMA’s best boxers, “Cigano” Junior Dos Santos (15-2), go toe-to-toe with 2001 K-1 Grand Prix Champion “The Super Samoan” Mark Hunt (9-7). Continue reading »

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UFC 160 Pre-Fight Breakdown: Glover Teixeira vs. James Te Huna

 Posted by at 7:17 PM  MMA News, UFC  No Responses »
May 222013
 
Glover Teixeira (white trunks) has the advantage on the mat and can go blow for blow with James Te Huna standing as well. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

Glover Teixeira (white trunks) has the advantage on the mat and can go blow-for-blow with James Te Huna standing as well. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

The MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada hosts UFC 160 Saturday night. The heavyweight title is up for grabs when champion Cain Velasquez (11-1) meets “Bigfoot” Antonio Silva (18-4) in the main event. “The Super Samoan” Mark Hunt (9-7) has been making a resurgence and hopes to keep it alive when he battles the former heavyweight king, “Cigano” Junior Dos Santos (15-2). “The Bully” Gray Maynard (11-1-1) will test his mettle against TJ Grant (20-5) in a lightweight showdown with the victor earning the right to a title shot. KJ Noons (11-6) makes his Octagon debut as he is set to tango with “Cowboy” Donald Cerrone” (19-5). The card’s anchor, however, is a light heavyweight shoot-out between Glover Teixeira (20-2) and James Te Huna (16-5). Both men have been unstoppable in their recent outings, but one man’s rise to the top will take a slight dive when the cage door closes. Continue reading »

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UFC 160 Pre-Fight Breakdown: Gray Maynard vs. TJ Grant

 Posted by at 11:46 AM  MMA News, UFC  No Responses »
May 222013
 
Gray Maynard (bottom) is a world-class wrestler who's advancing his skills in every other area of the MMA game, but his almost year-long lay-off could prove detrimental in his UFC 160 bout. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

Gray Maynard (bottom) is a world-class wrestler who’s advancing his skills in every other area of the MMA game, but his almost year-long lay-off could prove detrimental in his UFC 160 bout. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

UFC 160 broadcasts live from Las Vegas, Nevada’s MGM Grand Garden Arena this Saturday and has a main card like no other for the fight capital of the world to display. KJ Noons (11-6) makes his UFC debut against “Cowboy” Donald Cerrone (19-5) in the card’s opener. A pair of light heavyweight sluggers grace the card with Glover Teixeira (20-2) meeting James Te Huna (16-5) in the anchor. In the co-main event, “Cigano” Junior Dos Santos (15-2) will look to bounce back from his recent loss as he’s paired against “The Super Samoan” Mark Hunt (9-7). “Bigfoot” Antonio Silva (18-4) will try to avenge a 2012 loss when he challenges Cain Velasquez (11-1) for the heavyweight title. In the middle of all the action, a lightweight title eliminator is set between “The Bully” Gray Maynard (11-1-1) and TJ Grant (20-5). Maynard is once again inching closer to a title shot while Grant has never been close to the same chance until now. Come Saturday, there will be a new lightweight challenger waiting to make his claim for 12 pounds of gold. Continue reading »

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UFC 160 Pre-Fight Breakdown: Donald Cerrone vs. KJ Noons

 Posted by at 5:21 PM  MMA News, UFC  No Responses »
May 212013
 
In addition to being the superior striker, Donald Cerrone (black trunks) also has the clear advantage in every other aspect of the MMA game of KJ Noons. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

In addition to being the superior striker, Donald Cerrone (black trunks) has the clear advantage in every other aspect of the MMA game versus Strikeforce implant KJ Noons. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

The heavy hitters will return to the Octagon on Saturday as UFC 160 takes the helm from Las Vegas, Nevada. UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez (11-1) will meet the hard hitting “Bigfoot” Antonio Silva (18-4). “Cigano” Junior Dos Santos (15-2) looks to rebound from his loss to the champ by facing the resurgent former K-1 champion “The Super Samoan” Mark Hunt (9-7). Continuing the trend of knockout machines in the anchor bout is the ultra dangerous Glover Teixeira (20-2) meeting Aussie kickboxer James Te Huna (16-5). The second bout of the night represents the only departure from the striking-heavy theme as “The Bully” Gray Maynard (11-1-1) returns from a long lay-off to pit his tar pit of a top control wrestling game against Canadian submission expert TJ Grant (20-5). Opening the main card, fans find a striking match of a different color. While the top of the card is stacked with serious heavy-handed KO power, the opener pits the slick combination boxing of “King” KJ Noons (11-6) against the straightforward Thai boxing attack of “Cowboy” Donald Cerrone (19-5). Continue reading »

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UFC on FOX 6: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

 Posted by at 1:17 PM  MMA News, UFC  No Responses »
Jan 272013
 
Demetrious Johnson (black shorts) was able to work through a few close calls to dominate John Dodson (white trunks) with his well rounded skill set. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

Demetrious Johnson (black shorts) was able to work through a few close calls to dominate John Dodson (white trunks) with his well-rounded skill set. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

The doors of the United Center in Chicago, Illinois have closed and the lights have dimmed but the dust has far from settled in the aftermath of UFC on FOX 6. “The Magician” John Dodson (14-6) must return to the drawing board after almost capturing UFC flyweight gold in the second round only to be shut down for the remaining three rounds by the champion “Mighty Mouse” Demetrious Johnson (17-2-1). Dangerous blue chipper Glover Teixeira (20-2) increased his winning streak to 18, three in the UFC, by dismantling the face, and possibly the UFC career, of former light heavyweight champion “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (32-11) who is very likely looking at life outside the Octagon now. A long-time grudge match between top lightweight contenders “Showtime” Anthony Pettis (16-2) and “Cowboy” Donald Cerrone (19-5) turned into a highlight reel for “Showtime” after he took the Jackson Submission Fighting game plan out of the equation by unexpectedly switching stances, and another title contention situation was settled in the opening bout when “The Bully” Ricardo Lamas (13-2) stormed out in front of his hometown crowd and put an end to the title dreams of “New Breed” Erik Koch (13-2). In the mercurial sport that is MMA, there is never any set in stone future following a good, or bad, night, but to get an idea what might happen to the victors and the defeated, MMA Gospel has The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. Continue reading »

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UFC on FOX 6 Pre-Fight Breakdown: Demetrious Johnson vs. John Dodson

 Posted by at 6:54 AM  MMA News, UFC  No Responses »
Jan 262013
 
Mighty Mouse slams Joseph Benavidez (Zuffa)

Demetrious Johnson (green shorts) has a dynamic wrestling game backed by exceptional speed and footwork that has led him to dominate everyone on his road to the first UFC flyweight title. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

The United Center in Chicago, Illinois sets the stage for UFC on FOX 6 Saturday night. “New Breed” Erik Koch (13-1) and “The Bully” Ricardo Lamas (12-2) will kick off the main card in a featherweight showdown. In a promising candidate for “Fight of the Night”, “Showtime” Anthony Pettis (15-2) takes on “Cowboy” Donald Cerrone (19-4) in a 155lbs. grudge match some time in the making. Heavy-handed Brazilian Glover Teixeira (19-2) will face his biggest competition to date when he battles former light heavyweight champion “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (32-10) in the latter’s reported final fight in the UFC. In the card’s closer, the flyweight title is on the line when champion “Mighty Mouse” Demetrious Johnson (16-2-1) takes on The Ultimate Fighter 14 winner, “The Magician” John Dodson (14-5). Continue reading »

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UFC on FOX 6 Pre-Fight Breakdown: Quinton Jackson vs. Glover Teixeira

 Posted by at 1:10 PM  MMA News, UFC  No Responses »
Jan 242013
 
Glover Teixeira (red gloves) has effortlessly disposed of both of his UFC opponents thus far using his dangerous combination of technical and lethal striking. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

Glover Teixeira (red gloves) has effortlessly discarded both of his UFC opponents thus far by using his dangerous combination of technical and lethal striking. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

The NFL season might be slowly winding down but it is another healthy feed of mixed martial arts action January 26 as the UFC returns for its sixth installment on the FOX network. Opening the main card, “New Breed” Erik Koch (13-1) steps back into the spotlight after a lengthy lay-off to battle “The Bully” Ricardo Lamas (12-2). WEC veterans-turned-UFC lightweight contenders are set to collide as “Cowboy” Donald Cerrone (19-4) meets “Showtime” Anthony Pettis (15-2). “Mighty Mouse” Demetrious Johnson (16-2-1) defends his flyweight title against “The Magician”  John Dodson (14-5) in the main event. Before the night closes, the co-main event will see Glover Teixeira (19-2) try to make the jump from prospect to contender when he takes on former light heavyweight champion “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (32-10) in his final organizational appearance. Continue reading »

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