Oct 302012
Sep 212012
Jon Jones’ (red trunk) speed, reach advantage, and unconventional striking combined have caused fits for even some of the UFC’s top light heavyweights. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
After an injury-laden, fight-swapping, month-long roller coaster ride for the UFC, the world’s premier mixed martial arts promotion returns Saturday night with UFC 152: Jones vs. Belfort. The Air Canada Centre in Ontario, Toronto, Canada plays host to the five-fight main card on Pay-Per-View which features some of the best the promotion has to offer, including returning veterans, title hopefuls, and current and former champions. Starting things off is a featherweight match-up between WEC alum Cub Swanson (17-5) and submission expert “Do Bronx” Charles Oliveira (16-2). “The Hammer” Matt Hamill (10-4) returns from a 13-month-long retirement to face Canadian 205er “The Hulk” Roger Hollett (13-3). The card-anchoring bout features British slugger “The Count” Michael Bisping (22-4) and war hero “All-American” Brian Stann (12-4) with both men looking to make a statement as to their deservingness of middleweight title contention. Co-main event honors go to former WEC bantamweights Joseph Benavidez (16-2) and “Mighty Mouse” Demetrious Johnson (15-2-1), who will be duking it out to earn the inaugural UFC Flyweight Championship. MMA prodigy and reigning 205lbs. champion “Bones” Jon Jones (16-1) is slated to make his highly anticipated fourth title defense against the UFC’s youngest tournament champion, “The Phenom” Vitor Belfort (21-9), in a match-up that pits the new breed of mixed martial arts versus the Old Guard. Continue reading »
Aug 282012
Aug 232012
UFC 205lbs. champ Jon Jones reportedly refused to take on Chael Sonnen as a late replacement after Dan Henderson withdrew from UFC 151 due to injury. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
In one of the most bizarre days in mixed martial arts history, early this afternoon UFC President Dana White announced via media conference call that the UFC 151 event scheduled for September 1 has been…canceled. Yes, canceled. White reported that one half of the main event, seasoned veteran and current light heavyweight title challenger “Hendo” Dan Henderson (29-8), sustained a knee injury that forced him to withdraw from the match-up. Former top middleweight contender turned 205er Chael Sonnen (27-12) then reportedly offered to take “Hendo’s” place against reigning UFC Light Heavyweight Champion “Bones” Jon Jones (16-1), however Jones, much to the shock and dismay of the MMA community and particularly Dana White, refused the replacement fight. Continue reading »
Aug 232012
Aug 072012
Aug 052012
Brandon Vera (black shorts) may have lost his UFC on FOX 4 bout, but he was expected to lose in a big way and instead pushed Mauricio Rua (white shorts) to his limit. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
Zuffa’s flagship promotion, the UFC, returned to network TV last night on the heels of a highly disappointing UFC 149 Pay-Per-View card to present UFC on FOX 4: Shogun vs. Vera. The UFC needed a big hit to make up for the debacle at 149 and they got one with their fourth effort on the major network. The opening bout between “Quick” Mike Swick (15-4) and “Darkness” Damarques Johnson (15-11) was a fast paced battle that culminated in a brutal come-from-behind KO courtesy of a “Quick” right hand. Next out, “J-Lau” Joe Lauzon (22-7) set the UFC record for bonuses when he ended a “Fight of the Night” performance against “C-4″ Jamie Varner (20-7-1) with a “Submission of the Night” winning third-round Triangle Choke. In the co-main event, “The Dragon” Lyoto Machida (18-3) earned a shot at the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship with a picture perfect knockout of “Darth” Ryan Bader (14-3), and in the night’s main event, “Shogun” Mauricio Rua (21-6) fought, and won, a war against returning prodigal son “The Truth” Brandon Vera (12-6). The overall card was a phenomenal success and definitely left some smiles on the faces of more than a few network executives, but not everyone can be a winner. For that, MMA Gospel has The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. Continue reading »
Aug 042012
Aug 042012
(Photo courtesy of FOX Sports and Zuffa, LLC.)
—MAIN CARD (on FOX @ 8:00pm ET)—
Mauricio Rua vs. Brandon Vera: Rua via TKO (Punches), Round 4, 4:09
Lyoto Machida vs. Ryan Bader: Machida via KO (Punch), Round 2, 1:32
Joe Lauzon vs. Jamie Varner: Lauzon via Submission (Triangle Choke), Round 3, 2:44
Mike Swick vs. Damarques Johnson: Swick via KO (Punches), Round 2, 1:20 Continue reading »
Aug 032012
(Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
Saturday night the UFC takes control of the FOX network airwaves for the fourth time since its primetime debut in November, bringing the fans of Los Angeles, California’s Staples Center a live spectacle courtesy of UFC on FOX: Shogun vs. Vera. Starting off the Pay-Per-View worthy main card is former top welterweight “Quick” Mike Swick (14-4) seeking a resurgence in his career after an injury and illness-riddled past two years as he squares off with TUF alum “Darkness” Damarques Johnson (15-10). WEC veteran “C-4″ Jamie Varner (20-6-1) looks to build on a recent upturn in his storied tenure as he faces submission aficionado “J-Lau” Joe Lauzon (21-7). Co-main event honors go to elusive Shotokan Karate fighter and former UFC 205lbs. champion “The Dragon” Lyoto Machida (17-3) and decorated NCAA Div. I wrestler “Darth” Ryan Bader (14-2), both of whom are hell bent on a rematch with reigning champion “Bones” Jon Jones (16-1). The event’s headliners pits PRIDE veteran and Chute Box fighter “Shogun” Mauricio Rua (20-6) against Muay Thai wrecking ball “The Truth” Brandon Vera (12-5), with the winner reportedly guaranteed a shot at UFC gold. A lot is on the line for these elite mixed martial artists at UFC on FOX 4, and it’s safe to say that virtually anything can happen. Here, the staff of MMA Gospel takes a crack at determining who will rise to the top come Saturday, and who will be sent to the back of the line. Continue reading »
Aug 032012
Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion “Shogun” Rua (left) and Muay Thai specialist Brandon Vera (right) are slated for battle in Saturday night’s UFC on FOX 4 main event. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
—MAIN CARD (on FOX)—
Mauricio Rua (205.0) vs. Brandon Vera (203.8)
Lyoto Machida (201.0) vs. Ryan Bader (205.0)
Joe Lauzon (155.8) vs. Jamie Varner (156.0)
Mike Swick (170.0) vs. Damarques Johnson (171.0) Continue reading »
Aug 032012
Aug 032012
“The Truth” Brandon Vera (red gloves) has a dangerous Muay Thai skill set, but he will have to use his reach advantage and leg kicks to slow down “Shogun” Rua if he wants to stage an upset at UFC on FOX 4. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
With three solid showings already, the FOX network broadcasts a card deserving a spot on the Pay-Per-View rotation as the UFC presents UFC on FOX 4: Shogun vs. Vera. “Quick” Mike Swick (14-4) returns after a two-year hiatus to battle with “Darkness” Damarques Johnson (15-10) in the main card opener. “C-4″ Jamie Varner (20-6-1) hopes to continue his resurgence in the lightweight division when he meets submission specialist “J-Lau” Joe Lauzon (21-7). In the co-main event, “Darth” Ryan Bader (14-2) returns after an impressive victory at UFC 144 to take on the unorthodox “The Dragon” Lyoto Machida (17-3). The landscape of the light heavyweight division is bound for drastic change as a title shot is up for grabs in the main event. Former champion “Shogun” Mauricio Rua (20-6) will try to make his way to the top of the mountain, but he will have to challenge a fellow Muay Thai wrecking machine, “The Truth” Brandon Vera (12-5). Each has dawdled in the light heavyweight division rankings but now that the path to gold is set in stone for them, it’s crucial for both men to make the best out of this opportunity. Continue reading »
Aug 022012
Ryan Bader (black trunks) will have to use a very offensive wrestling game to keep Lyoto Machida defending takedowns instead of throwing strikes to succeed at UFC on FOX 4. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The UFC returns to network television on Saturday with a card headlined by PRIDE veteran “Shogun” Mauricio Rua (20-6) and Muay Thai specialist “The Truth” Brandon Vera (12-5). The card also features a pair of bouts between fighters struggling to redefine themselves within their divisions. “Quick” Mike Swick (14-4) returns after a long battle with various injuries to make his long-awaited welterweight title run. In his way is “The Darkness” Damarques Johnson (15-10), a TUF alum who is now desperate not to have his career defined as the launching pad for 170lbs. prospects. Lightweight gatekeeping submission prodigy “J-Lau” Joe Lauzon (21-7) seeks to get back on the winning horse again after falling off at UFC 144 and to do it, he must defeat Jamie Varner (20-6-1), a former WEC champ who has recently emerged from one of the worst periods in his career. However, it isn’t just the two main event fighters who are hunting a title shot and it isn’t just the opening bout participants looking to redefine their careers. Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion “The Dragon” Lyoto Machida (17-3) went from 16-0 to 17-3 in his last four fights culminating in a loss to the current champion, “Bones” Jon Jones (16-1), however, Dana White has said that an impressive win could get him right back in front of the champ. Across from “The Dragon” is a man whose first loss was to Jones, TUF winner “Darth” Ryan Bader (14-2). Bader also eyes revenge and a shot at the belt, and he knows he must beat “The Dragon” in impressive fashion to get that chance. Continue reading »
Aug 012012
WEC veteran Jamie Varner will face an uphill battle at UFC on FOX 4 when he faces submission ace Joe Lauzon (left) in a fast-paced grappling match. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The UFC is back on the big network as it hits FOX airwaves for the fourth time this Saturday. UFC on FOX: Shogun vs. Vera comes on the heels of a bitterly disappointing UFC 149 card and has a list of fighters that should be able to right the ship. Headlining the bout is former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion “Shogun” Mauricio Rua (20-6) as he pits his high octane offense against fellow Thai Boxing specialist “The Truth” Brandon Vera (12-5). Ultra traditional Shotokan KO artist “The Dragon” Lyoto Machida (17-3) will look to regain his place in the hunt for the 205 title he once held as he faces recovering TUF alum “Darth” Ryan Bader (14-2). Welterweights “Quick” Mike Swick (14-4) and “Darkness” Damarques Johnson (15-10) stepped up to the main card as openers when “Big” Ben Rothwell’s (32-8) bout against “Hapa” Travis Browne (13-0) was scrapped due to injury, and now filling the second slot, former WEC champ Jamie Varner (20-6-1) will look to shut down the talented submission game of “J-Lau” Joe Lauzon (21-7). Continue reading »