Feb 032013
Feb 012013
Jose Aldo’s (black shorts) killer instinct makes him a very dangerous opponent for a slow starter like Frankie Edgar. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The UFC returns to Las Vegas tomorrow night for the annual Super Bowl weekend event. UFC 156 opens the Pay-Per-View portion of the card with a flyweight showdown between two men eager for a rematch with the champ Joseph Benavidez (16-3) and “Uncle Creepy” Ian McCall (11-3-1). Second out of the gates is a welterweight pairing between resurgent BJJ champion Demian Maia (17-4) and long-time welterweight title hopeful Jon Fitch (24-4-1). Anchoring the main card is a heavyweight meeting that will see “The Demolition Man” Alistair Overeem (36-11) clash with “Bigfoot” Antonio Silva (17-4). The co-main event features “Sugar” Rashad Evans (17-2-1) and “Little Nog” Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (20-5) as they look to knock the ring rust off of each other. All eyes are, as usual, drawn to the main event. “Scarface” Jose Aldo (21-1) has reigned like a tyrant over the featherweight ranks since capturing the WEC belt in 2009. Now he faces “The Answer” Frankie Edgar (15-3-1) who, for a brief time was just as impressive as the king of the lightweight division. Continue reading »
Feb 012013
—MAIN CARD (on Pay-Per-View @ 10:00pm ET)—
Jose Aldo (145lbs.) vs. Frankie Edgar (144lbs.)
Rashad Evans (206lbs.) vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (206lbs.)
Alistair Overeem (264lbs.) vs. Antonio Silva (262lbs.)
Jon Fitch (171lbs.) vs. Demian Maia (170lbs.)
Joseph Benavidez (126lbs.) vs. Ian McCall (125lbs.) Continue reading »
Jan 312013
“Little Nog” Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (red gloves) has excellent boxing and exceptional Jiu-Jitsu, giving him the ability to end a fight at any time. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada will host another stacked card for Super Bowl weekend. Flyweights kick off the main card when Joseph Benavidez (16-3) encounters “Uncle Creepy” Ian McCall (11-3-1). Demian Maia (17-4) tests the welterweight waters again when he meets Jon Fitch (24-4-1) to see who ultimately is the superior grappler. Heavyweights anchor the card as “Bigfoot” Antonio Silva (17-4) and “The Demolition Man” Alistair Overeem (36-11) lock horns. “The Answer” Frankie Edgar (15-3-1) comes down from the lightweight division to challenge “Scarface” Jose Aldo (21-1) for his featherweight title in the card’s main event. The fight in question at the moment is set in the co-main event when “Sugar” Rashad Evans (17-2-1) takes on acclaimed veteran of the sport, “Little Nog” Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (20-5). These light heavyweights have been nothing short of spectacular in their careers but the stage could not have been set any better for these two to come to a head. Continue reading »
Jan 302013
Alistair Overeem (orange trunks) is arguably the best striker in the history of the heavyweight division, a fact that makes him especially dangerous for Antonio Silva. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The UFC will return to its old stomping grounds at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada to settle business between reigning featherweight king “Scarface” Jose Aldo (21-1) and “The Answer” Frankie Edgar (15-3-1) in a five-round championship fight. Also on the slate, a light heavyweight meeting between former champ “Sugar” Rashad Evans (17-2-1) and PRIDE standout “Little Nog” Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (20-5). Welterweights Jon Fitch (24-4-1) and Demian Maia (17-4) will clash, and the opening bout is a meeting between flyweight title hopefuls Joseph Benavidez (16-3) and “Uncle Creepy” Ian McCall (11-3-1). In the anchor slot is a heavyweight meeting of particular interest to hardcore fans and pundits. “Demolition Man” Alistair Overeem (36-11) looks to regain his lost title shot by sending “Bigfoot” Antonio Silva (17-4) back below the .500 mark in UFC competition. However, the Brazilian giant has other plans. Continue reading »
Jan 302013
Jan 292013
Fourth-degree BJJ black belt Demian Maia (red gloves) has had no problems whatsoever dealing with skilled welterweight wrestlers such as his UFC 156 opponent Jon Fitch. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The UFC 156 card set for February 2 on Pay-Per-View is another step in the UFC’s growing trend of ensuring that big money cards on FOX and PPV are stuffed with matches that have a particular relevance to the fans. Headlining the event is a title affair between “The Answer” Frankie Edgar (15-3-1) and reigning featherweight champ “Scarface” Jose Aldo (21-1). Filling the co-main slot is a pairing of light heavyweights who are eager to get back in the 205 picture after long lay-offs, “Sugar” Rashad Evans (17-2-1) and “Little Nog” Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (20-5). The card will be held down by heavyweight title hopefuls “Demolition Man” Alistair Overeem (36-11) and “Bigfoot” Antonio Silva (17-4). Opening duties fall on 125ers “Uncle Creepy” Ian McCall (11-3-1) and Joseph Benavidez (16-3), and the second fight of the night is a welterweight affair between Jon Fitch (24-4-1) and Demian Maia (17-4). Continue reading »
Jan 282013
Joseph Benavidez (black shorts) will need to rely on his wrestling to control the tempo of the match at UFC 156. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The UFC reloads and fires again with its second title bout in seven days as UFC 156 pits former lightweight kingpin and debuting 145er “The Answer” Frankie Edgar (15-3-1) against the reigning UFC Featherweight Champion, “Scarface” Jose Aldo (21-1). Filling the co-main event slot for the UFC’s return to the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada is a light heavyweight affair between “Sugar” Rashad Evans (17-2-1) and “Little Nog” Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (20-5). Elite heavyweights “Demolition Man” Alistair Overeem (36-11) and “Bigfoot” Antonio Silva (17-4) will anchor the card after welterweights Jon Fitch (24-4-1) and Demian Maia (17-4) go toe-to-toe. Opening the card is a meeting between two of the top flyweights in the world, “”Uncle Creepy” Ian McCall (11-3-1) and Joseph Benavidez (16-3). Continue reading »
Jan 282013
Jan 272013
Jan 262013
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 »
Jun 092012
Eddie Wineland (right) suffered one of the nastiest cuts in recent memory but still managed to out-box Scott Jorgensen (left) en route to a "Fight of the Night" bonus and his first UFC win. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The world’s most elite MMA organization stopped in the Sunshine State of Florida to settle unfinished flyweight tournament business between “Mighty Mouse” Demetrious Johnson (15-2-1) and “Uncle Creepy” Ian McCall (11-3-1). UFC on FX 3 kicked off the night with Eddie Wineland’s (19-8-1) KO of “Young Guns” Scott Jorgensen (13-6). “The Dentist” Josh Neer (33-11-1) faced the first loss of his most recent UFC stint as “Quicksand” Mike Pyle (23-8-1) put him away in short order. Ultra talented prospect “Indio” Erick Silva (14-2) continued to impress by shutting down the high pressure wrestling game of “The Spaniard” Charlie Brenneman (15-4) en route to a first-round submission victory and in the main event, “Uncle Creepy” came up short over three rounds. Continue reading »
Jun 092012
Jun 082012
(Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
—MAIN CARD (on FX)—
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 »
Jun 072012
Seth Baczynksi looks to extend his current win streak to five with a victory over undefeated welterweight Lance Benoist at UFC on FX 3. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
This Friday the Bank Atlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida will host the highly anticipated rematch between two of the UFC’s top flyweights “Uncle Creepy” Ian McCall (11-2-1) and “Mighty Mouse” Demetrious Johnson (14-2-1). The last time these 125ers met it ended in a Majority Draw; now, they will duke it out once again to determine who will face Joseph Benavidez (16-2) for a shot at the inaugural UFC Flyweight Championship title. But before the UFC on FX 3 main card kicks off, fans across the nation will be treated to a stellar line-up in the prelims aired live on Fuel TV and streamed on Facebook. Among those promising undercard fights is a welterweight match-up between undefeated Lance Benoist (6-0) and a potential future star, “The Polish Pistola” Seth Baczynski (15-6). The six-foot-four Baczynski, who was a member of Team Ortiz on Season 11 of The Ultimate Fighter, has grown into a well-rounded mixed martial artist since his professional debut in 2006, as his ten wins by submission, five by KO/TKO, and eight first-round finishes can attest. Despite having mixed success in his earlier career, “The Polish Pistola” currently enjoys a three-fight win streak and is MMA Gospel’s pick for the UFC on FX 3 “Undercard Sleeper”.