Sep 302012
 

Stefan Struve (red gloves) used his reach to come up in a big way against Stipe Miocic (blue gloves) at UFC on Fuel TV 5. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

The UFC put out another high quality showing last night as UFC on Fuel TV 5 hit the airwaves with several extremely exciting bouts from the Capital FM Arena in Nottingham, England. The night opened with what started as a stand-out performance by “Beautiful” Che Mills (15-5-1) and ended in a bizarre knee injury that resulted in “Bang” Duane Ludwig (21-14) losing his third straight fight. What followed was a three-round tilt that saw “Hitman” John Hathaway (17-1) outpoint John Maguire (18-4), though the entertainment value was so lacking that Maguire himself admitted to falling asleep while watching the tape. “Handsome” Matt Wiman (15-6) shocked no small number of MMA pundits in the anchor bout when he locked in an Armbar against submission machine “Sassangle” Paul Sass (13-1) to hand the Brit his first defeat. Next out, hometown hero “The Outlaw” Dan Hardy (25-10-1) literally walked across the street from his house to arrive at the arena where he put on one of his absolute best performances to shut down TUF winner Amir Sadollah (6-4). “One Punch” Brad Pickett (22-6) lived up to his namesake when he landed an uppercut that ended an exciting stand-up affair with “Tiger” Yves Jabouin (18-8), and in the main event, Stipe Miocic (9-1) fell short for the first time in his career when “Skyscraper” Stefan Struve (25-5) survived an early deficit to score a TKO after finding his range in the second. MMA Gospel is here with a breakdown of the night’s action. Continue reading »

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Sep 292012
 

(Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC. and Fuel TV)

—MAIN CARD (on Fuel TV @ 4:00pm ET)—

Stefan Struve vs. Stipe Miocic: Struve via TKO (Punches), Round 2, 3:50

Dan Hardy vs. Amir Sadollah: Hardy via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27), Round 3, 5:00

Brad Pickett vs. Yves Jabouin: Pickett via KO (Punches), Round 1, 3:40

Paul Sass vs. Matt Wiman: Wiman via Submission (Armbar), Round 1, 3:48

John Hathaway vs. John Maguire: Hathaway via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27), Round 3, 5:00

Che Mills vs. Duane Ludwig: Mills via TKO (Knee Injury), Round 1, 2:38 Continue reading »

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Sep 282012
 

(Video courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

—MAIN CARD (on Fuel TV)—

Stefan Struve (251) vs. Stipe Miocic (239)

Dan Hardy (169) vs. Amir Sadollah (169)

Brad Pickett (135) vs. Yves Jabouin (136)

Paul Sass (156) vs. Matt Wiman (156)

John Hathaway (169) vs. John Maguire (169)

Che Mills (170) vs. Duane Ludwig (169) Continue reading »

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Sep 262012
 

Just three fights into his UFC career, Stipe Miocic (top) has blazed through his heavyweight opponents and shows no signs of slowing down – not even for Stefan Struve at UFC on Fuel TV 5. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

It is another tour of destruction when the Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to follow up UFC 152 with its latest installment of UFC on Fuel TV: Struve vs. Miocic live from Nottingham, England. Welterweight bangers set the main card’s pace with “Beautiful” Che Mills (14-5) taking on “Bang” Duane Ludwig (21-13).  It all goes bedlam when native countrymen “The Hitman” John Hathaway (15-1) and “The One” John Maguire (18-3) collide. Paul Sass (13-0) will look to lock his signature triangle offensive when he tangles with the ever-grinding pressure of “Handsome” Matt Wiman (14-6). For all the WEC aficionados, fight promoters heard their cries and lined up “One Punch” Brad Pickett (21-6) and “Tiger” Yves Jabouin (18-7) in the card’s anchor. “The Outlaw” Dan Hardy (24-10) will look to prove England belongs to him when he stands across fellow striker Amir Sadollah (6-3). “Skyscraper” Stefan Struve (24-5) and Stipe Miocic (9-0) are two heavyweight freight trains and will look to derail one another in the card’s main event. Here in the second segment of the Fuel TV breakdown, we’ll take a deeper look into the latter half of the night’s proceedings: Struve versus Miocic, Hardy against Sadollah, and Pickett with Jabouin. Anything can happen once that cage door closes, but here a few keys to victory are brought to light and give better insight on who could come out on top. Continue reading »

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Sep 252012
 

Both Duane Ludwig (red trunks) and Amir Sadollah (grey trunks) will have big career implications riding on their performances at UFC on Fuel TV: Struve vs. Miocic. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

The UFC reloads and delivers again a week after the highly successful UFC 152 event by putting burgeoning heavyweight striker Stipe Miocic (9-0) in the cage with young UFC standout “Skyscraper” Stefan Struve (24-5). Leading the heavyweights to the cage is a welterweight battle between two men who have fallen on hard times, but who have the hearts of the fans and thus continued employment in the UFC, “The Outlaw” Dan Hardy (24-10) and Amir Sadollah (6-3). Anchoring things is “One-Punch” Brad Pickett (21-6) against “Tiger” Yves Jabouin (18-7).  Of special interest to those looking for the next big thing are the three opening bouts of the evening. “Beautiful” Che Mills (14-5) looks to keep his UFC dream alive against a long-time UFC staple, “Bang” Duane Ludwig (21-13) who himself is struggling for an identity in the division. Undefeated “Sassangle” Paul Sass (13-0) looks to continue his rash of brutal submission wins against TUF 5 alum and UFC mainstay “Handsome” Matt Wiman (14-6), and “The Hitman” John Hathaway (15-1) looks to continue rebuilding from his first career loss against “The One” John Maguire (18-3). Continue reading »

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Jun 052012
 

"The Dentist" Josh Neer (red gloves) will look to win three UFC fights in row for the first time in his career by defeating fellow veteran Mike Pyle at UFC on FX 3. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

The Ultimate Fighting Championship returns with its third installment of “UFC on FX” this Friday at the Bank Atlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida. “Young Guns” Scott Jorgensen (13-5) prepares to clash with the always game Eddie Wineland (18-8-1) within the bantamweight division. “The Spaniard” Charlie Brenneman (15-3) and dangerous Brazilian Erick Silva (13-2) see each other in the co-main event in the classic “striker versus grappler” formula.  In the main event, “Mighty Mouse” Demetrious Johnson (14-2-1) and “Uncle Creepy” Ian McCall (11-2-1) will meet again in a rematch of the UFC’s inaugural flyweight tournament. In the midst of all the action, “Quicksand” Mike Pyle (22-8-1) and “The Dentist” Josh Neer (33-10-1) meet in a welterweight exhibition. Neer has never been one to pull punches and Pyle is one that can always find a way to implement his will. Come fight night, one fighter’s approach will pay off in dividends. Continue reading »

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May 052012
 

(Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

—MAIN CARD (on FOX)—

Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller: Diaz via Submission (Guillotine Choke), Round 2, 4:09

Josh Koscheck vs. Johny Hendricks: Hendricks via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28), Round 3, 5:00

Rousimar Palhares vs. Alan Belcher: Belcher via TKO (Punches), Round 1, 4:18

Pat Barry vs. Lavar Johnson: Johnson via TKO (Punches), Round 1, 4:38 Continue reading »

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Apr 302012
 

Undefeated blue chip prospect Pascal Krauss is positioned to make a splash in the UFC's 170lbs. division with a win over tough young John Hathaway in their UFC on FOX 3 undercard match-up. (Photo courtesy of Cage Warriors)

For those who don’t watch the UFC’s undercard fights, you don’t know what you’re missing. And for those that do, we often find that the prelims can be just as if not more entertaining bouts than those on the main card, and can provide valuable insight as to which fighters to keep an eye on in regards to potential future wave-makers in his respective weight division. “Panzer” Pascal Krauss (10-0) is one such fighter.

“Panzer”, a nickname meaning “tank” in his native German language, exemplifies exactly what Krauss has shown in his career – that he is a force to be reckoned with. The undefeated 25-year-old welterweight made his UFC debut at UFC 122 where he not only picked up his first win in the Zuffa promotion, he also earned “Fight of the Night” honors for his three-round war with fellow UFC newcomer “Scanno” Mark Scanlon (7-2). Krauss came into his UFC debut fight as the Cage Warriors Fighting Championship welterweight king toting an undefeated record with ten consecutive first- or second-round finishes, and looking to prove that he belonged in the world’s most prestigious MMA organization. Having shown a variety of skills against Scanlon and earning a fight bonus in his first effort, “Panzer” did not disappoint. Continue reading »

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Mar 262011
 

Tonight's UFC Fight Night 24 co-main event pits British slugger "The Outlaw" Dan Hardy (left) against the behemoth "Rumble" Anthony Johnson (right) in what is sure to be a candidate for "Fight of the Night". (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

—MAIN CARD (on Spike TV)—

Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs. Phil Davis: Davis via Unanimous Decision, Round 3, 5:00

Dan Hardy vs. Anthony Johnson: Johnson via Unanimous Decision, Round 3, 5:00

Amir Sadollah vs. Damarques Johnson: Sadollah via Submission (Strikes), Round 2, 3:27

Leonard Garcia vs. Chan Sung Jung: Jung via Submission (Twister), Round 2, 4:59 Continue reading »

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Mar 252011
 

(Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

—MAIN CARD (on Spike TV)—

Antonio Rogerio Nogueira: 206lbs.
Phil Davis: 206lbs.

Dan Hardy: 171lbs.
Anthony Johnson: 171lbs.

Amir Sadollah: 170lbs.
Damarques Johnson: 171lbs.

Leonard Garcia: 145lbs.
Chan Sung Jung: 146lbs. Continue reading »

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Mar 032011
 

A focused Diego Sanchez is a very dangerous opponent and is likely more than Martin Kampmann can handle. (Photo courtesy of Dave Mandel and Sherdog)

Tonight the UFC comes to the hometown of boxing legend “The Greatest” Muhammad Ali to host its third installment of UFC on Versus at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky, bringing with it a main card full of heavy hitters and wrestling stand-outs. Former WEC Bantamweight Champion Brian Bowles (8-1) makes his long awaited return as he takes on WEC veteran “The Angel of Death” Damacio Page (10-6), Italian striker “Legionarius” Alessio Sakara (15-7) squares off with UFC newcomer Chris Weidman (4-0), The Ultimate Fighter 7 finalist “The Doberman” CB Dollaway (11-2) looks to gain revenge for teammate “A-Train” Aaron Simpson (6-2) as he takes on “The Filipino Wrecking Machine” Mark Munoz (7-2) in a bout that will most likely be a wrestling barn burner, and the main event pits “The Hitman” Martin Kampmann (17-4) against “The Dream” Diego Sanchez (22-4) in search for redemption in the welterweight division. The two marquis fighters, Diego and Martin, have a need to reassert their position in the division and a return to form at UFC on Versus 3 is the perfect stage to do so. Continue reading »

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Dec 012010
 

The 2010 World MMA Awards were held tonight at the Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. The awards show annually honors all things MMA, from fighters, to referees, to equipment, to apparel, and much more. Here are the winners, as voted by fans: Continue reading »

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Oct 242010
 

That’s right, bitches. Sean “Big Sexy” McCorkle was kind enough to check out my last column and tweeted the following review:

Nice. Continue reading »

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Oct 172010
 

I hate you so fuckin’ hard.

Really. Do I have to do this? I mean it’s Saturday night. I’m sitting home alone after watching the horrible abomination that was UFC 120 and the intellectually challenged yahoos in the building next door are having a party and being loud, stupid and annoying. In other words, I’m filled with vitriol and venom and seething  hatred.

‘But it’s just a bunch of fights, dude. Why don’t you just…’ -Why don’t you shut up before I tear your face off and glue it back on upside down! Yeah, that’s what I thought.  Okay… I’m sorry. Deep breath. Just because one of my favorite fighters, the dreamy badass Dan Hardy, got totally KO-ed in the first round and Sexyama, who is made of awesome (and sexy, obviously) lost to the fairly unlikable Michael Bisping and now might get cut from the UFC, why get all emotional about it? I mean Sexyama will just go home to Japan where he’s a superstar and have sex with his model girlfriend or wife or both. And Dan Hardy’s not going anywhere anytime soon… it’ll be okay. And the jerks next door that  just got done chanting, “Go white boy” for reasons I don’t even want to try and understand will probably die of stupid. Oh yeah, stupid isn’t necessarily fatal. Good work, evolution! Continue reading »

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