(Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
Junior Dos Santos vs. Frank Mir: Dos Santos via TKO (Punches), Round 2, 3:04
Cain Velasquez vs. Antonio Silva: Velasquez via TKO (Elbows), Round 1, 3:36
Roy Nelson vs. Dave Herman: Nelson via KO (Punch), Round 1, 0:51
Shane Del Rosario vs. Stipe Miocic: Miocic via TKO (Strikes), Round 2, 3:14
Lavar Johnson vs. Stefan Struve:
Struve via Submission (Armbar), Round 1, 1:05
Weigh-ins start at about 19:30 mark. (Video courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
Junior Dos Santos: 239lbs.
Frank Mir: 261lbs.
Cain Velasquez: 240lbs.
Antonio Silva: 264lbs.
Roy Nelson: 254lbs.
Dave Herman: 233lbs.
Shane Del Rosario: 246lbs.
Stipe Miocic: 245lbs.
Lavar Johnson: 248lbs.
Stefan Struve: 255lbs. Continue reading »
Young prospect Jimy Hettes (red trunks) brings to the cage a formidable ground game that has ended the night of all nine of his opponents during his professional career. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The old classic Friday Night Fights aura surrounds the December 30 date for UFC 141 and rounds out the promotion’s year rather nicely. Perhaps the most dangerous heavyweight striker in all of MMA, former Strikeforce, DREAM, and K-1 Heavyweight Champion “The Demolition Man” Alistair Overeem (34-11), steps into the Octagon tp begin his long awaited UFC career. In his way of a shot at UFC gold though is the villainous former UFC heavyweight champ Brock Lesnar (5-2). Red hot former WEC title contender “The Cowboy” Donald Cerrone (16-4) and Nate Diaz (13-8) of Cesar Gracie tutelage will bring their heated encounter from months before to the surface as they face off in the co-main event. Top-ranked welterweight Jon Fitch (22-3) returns since his lackluster Draw against former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion BJ Penn (16-8) to face heavy-handed WEC veteran Johny Hendricks (11-1). Exciting young fighter Alexander Gustafsson (12-1) has yet to go past the second round in his UFC career but his toughest test to date will tower in front of him in the form of long-time UFC veteran “The Janitor” Vladimir Matyushenko (26-5) who has looked better than ever with two knockout wins supporting him going into this match-up. Starting off the UFC 141 main card is undefeated “The Kid” Jimy Hettis (9-0) who has submitted all of his opponents – six in the first round and three in the second, teeing off against the tough and relentless Nam Phan (19-10), who recently made UFC history for his rock ‘em sock ‘em battle with “Bad Boy” Leonard Garcia (15-8). Both men are guaranteed a tough fight in each other, and it is one that surely will serve as an entertaining opener to the Pay-Per-View card. Continue reading »
Houston, Texas plays host to one of the biggest cards the UFC has presented to date when the Toyota Center houses the Octagon this Saturday for UFC 136. The featherweights kick off the main card off Ultimate Fighter veteran Nam Phan (18-10) faces “Bad Boy” Leonard Garcia (15-7-1) in a long awaited rematch. A knockout artist takes on a submission specialist when “The Young Assassin” Melvin Guillard (27-8-2) battles fellow lightweight “J-Lau” Joe Lauzon (20-6). In the middleweight division, trash-talk extraordinaire Chael Sonnen (24-11-1) returns to action when he faces “All-American” Brian Stann (11-3). In the main event, the lightweight title is up for grabs as the champion “The Answer” Frankie Edgar (13-1-1) battles “The Bully” Gray Maynard (10-0-1) in a follow-up of their highly entertaining fight in January where the match was ultimately ruled a Draw. The co-main event though has another title up for grabs with “Ken-Flo” Kenny Florian (14-5) challenging one freight train of a featherweight in “Junior” Jose Aldo (18-1) for his featherweight title. Both men are coming off impressive performances. Aldo has been successful keeping his place on top of the 145lb. division ranks but with Florian dropping down a weight class to come after him, he has bigger challenges than what he had fought before. Continue reading »
"MTB" Mike Brown (red trunks) built his name on hard work ethics and two destructions of Urijah Faber (black trunks) in the WEC, gaining a reputation as a blue collar hero. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
Mike Thomas Brown (21-8), also known as “MTB”, is the former WEC Featherweight Champion. He is the man who soundly defeated former featherweight champ and UFC bantamweight title contender ”The California Kid” Urijah Faber (25-5) not once but twice, steamrolled and bloodied “Bad Boy” Leonard Garcia (15-7), and was on top of the world at 145lbs. and looked to be staying there for a long time. However, his glory was short lived after he crashed back down to Earth following his defeat at the hands of current champion “Junior” Jose Aldo (18-1). Since losing his WEC belt, Brown has gone 3-3 in his last six bouts and just recently returned to the winning side of the fighting game after earning a much needed and hard fought decision over Nam Phan (18-10). Now with his legs back under him, Brown is looking to take on the rest of the UFC featherweight division but in a wise and well planned out onslaught. However, many fans still don’t understand what was causing the feared American Top Team stand-out to seem human. The issue, in Brown’s words, was a case of “bad luck and tough luck”. Continue reading »
(Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
Rashad Evans vs. Tito Ortiz: Evans via TKO (Knee to the Body and Punches), Round 2, 4:48
Vitor Belfort vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama: Belfort via KO (Punches), Round 1, 1:52
Dennis Hallman vs. Brian Ebersole: Ebersole via TKO (Elbows), Round 1, 4:28
Jorge Rivera vs. Constantinos Philippou: Philippou via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28), Round 3, 5:00
Rory MacDonald vs. Mike Pyle: MacDonald via TKO (Strikes), Round 1, 3:54
UFC 131: Dos Santos vs. Carwin
Michihiro Omigawa vs. Darren Elkins really, what can you say? Not only did the judges rob Omigawa with a Unanimous Decision nod for Elkins. One of these crackheads scored it 30-27. That’s like scoring the first round of Edgar/Maynard II 10-9 for Frankie Edgar. How do people that fuck up that bad still have jobs? Continue reading »
After failed attempts in trying to grab the lightweight title, Kenny Florian (black trunks) drops down to the featherweight bracket to find a championship. A win at UFC 131 could earn him a title, but he will have to get through a vicious Diego Nunes first. (Photo courtesy of Dave Mandel and Sherdog)
The third UFC event in as many weeks returns to Vancouver, British Columbia tomorrow night to rock Canadian fans a la UFC 131: Dos Santos vs. Carwin. “Cowboy” Donald Cerrone (13-4) hopes to extend his three-fight win streak against UFC newcomer Vagner Rocha (5-1). In a middleweight battle, “The Filipino Wrecking Machine” Mark Munoz and Demian Maia (13-2) will test one another’s limit where a win can launch one up into the 185lbs. title picture. Wrestling powerhouse “Pee Wee” Dave Herman (18-2) and Jiu-Jitsu black belt Jon Olav Einemo (6-1) make their debuts within the heavyweight division. But before the title elimination bout between “Cigano” Junior Dos Santos (12-1) and Shane Carwin (11-1) closes out the night, a featherweight match is set when Muay Thai master “The Gun” Diego Nunes (15-3) prepares to rudely welcome former lightweight contender “Ken-Flo” Kenny Florian (13-5) down to the 145lbs. bracket. Although Florian tasted defeat in his last lightweight showing, a win over Nunes would promise an instant title shot at WEC transplant and reigning champ “Junior” Jose Aldo (18-1). Florian’s last hopes to make a convincing drive all comes at this fight but the controlled chaos of Nunes’ stand-up is going to do whatever it takes to make sure the engine crashes and burns. Continue reading »
Bellator 44's main event features a middleweight superfight between reigning 185lbs. champ "Shango" Hector Lombard (left) and submission ace "Niko" Falaniko Vitale. (Photo courtesy of Dave Mandel and Sherdog)
The historic setting of Atlantic City, New Jersey, known for its casinos and night life, will host Bellator 44 tomorrow night with a locked and loaded main card that is perhaps the organization’s best offering to date. Even after the loss of “Cyborg” Lyman Good (11-2) to a hamstring injury last week that caused his fight with “The Handler” Dan Hornbuckle (18-4) to be put on hold, the card remains stacked with fighters known for their exciting styles. Bryan Goldsby (14-9) and Anthony Morrison (14-9) kick off the main card with a bantamweight fight that guarantees the winner the final spot in the Season 5 tournament, proceeded by returning title contender and self-proclaimed “pure striker” Russian-born kickboxer “The Storm” Alexander Shlemenko (29-4) meeting former welterweight Brett Cooper (12-5) who has found new life at a more natural weight of 185lbs. Then, Bellator Season 4 Lightweight Tournament finalist “Pitbull” Patricky Freire (3-0) will meet Mike Chandler Jr. (7-0) for the title of tournament champion and to earn his place as the next man in line for reigning 155lbs. champion Eddie Alvarez’s (21-2) belt. The trio of promising bouts will prime the pump for an explosive main event superfight in the middleweight division pitting UFC, Strikeforce, and SUPERBRAWL veteran “Niko” Falaniko Vitale (27-8) against the dangerous king of the Bellator middleweight division “Shango” Hector Lombard (26-2). Vitale’s slick Jiu-Jitsu may be enough to end one of the longest win streaks in MMA, but he will have to get past Lombard’s aggressive sweet science first or end his night sleeping on the canvas. Continue reading »
The UFC's inaugural featherweight champion Jose Aldo (black shorts) will make his first title defense at UFC 129 tomorrow night opposite "The Machine" Mark Hominick. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
In front of a sold out crowd of 55,000, ten men plan to make the Octagon their stomping ground as UFC 129: St. Pierre vs. Shields takes place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In the main event, welterweight champion “Rush” Georges St. Pierre (21-2) puts his title on the line against former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Jake Shields (26-4-1) who is currently on a six-year, 15-fight winning streak. “The Natural” Randy Couture (19-10) hopes to end his seasoned career with a superb performance when he challenges former light heavyweight champ “The Dragon” Lyoto Machida (16-2). In another 205lbs. affair, goliaths “The Janitor” Vladimir Matyushenko (25-5) and “The Hitman” Jason Brilz (18-3-1) step into the cage, and former WEC 155lbs. king “Smooth” Ben Henderson (11-2) makes his UFC debut against Jiu-Jitsu stand-out Mark Bocek (9-3). In the co-main event, the hometown favorite “The Machine” Mark Hominick (19-7) welcomes “Junior” José Aldo (17-1) with every intention of taking his newly acquired UFC featherweight title. While both Hominick and Aldo have the ability to bring fights to a screeching halt, putting a championship up for grabs guarantees that both men will go tooth-and-nail to ensure that title goes home with them. Continue reading »
Leonard Garcia's (left) adrenaline-packed pace will once again collide with a force that refuses to go down easily in Chan Sung Jung. Another win over his Korean counterpart will disprove any doubts about the first contest along with his other Split Decision victories. (Photo courtesy of Dave Mandel and Sherdog)
Yet another installment of UFC Fight Night slams the Pacific Northwest and hits hard in the Key Arena of Seattle, Washington this Saturday night with UFC Fight Night 24: Nogueira vs. Davis. The main event has veteran of the game “Lil’ Nog” Antônio Rogério Nogueira (18-4) taking on uprising star, “Mr. Wonderful” Phil Davis (7-0). “Rumble” Anthony Johnson (8-3) steps back in the cage after a lengthy lay-off with the hopes of making former top welterweight contender “The Outlaw” Dan Hardy (23-8) another victim of his knockout power. In a welterweight showcase, fan favorites and The Ultimate Fighter alumni meet when “Darkness” Damarques Johnson (15-8) and Amir Sadollah (4-2) step into the Octagon. In a repeat of 2010’s “Fight of the Year”, “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung (10-3) steps up on short notice, replacing Nam Phan (18-9), to challenge WEC transplant “Bad Boy” Leonard Garcia (15-6-1) in a featherweight match-up. With Garcia getting the Split Decision victory in the first duel, will the “Zombie” rise from the dead to even the score or will Garcia prove he has Jung figured out? Come March 26, any doubts of their first fight will be answered only to have new questions asked. With the card free on Spike TV, there is no excuse to not tune in. Continue reading »
So, it’s been a while. Well, actually there was a “Spilled Bag of Chat” with Team MeatBerry last week. Here’s the link if you missed it.
Thankfully, we had UFC Fight for the Troops 2 on Saturday so I have something to write about… aside from my leaking ceiling, which was fixed supposedly, thanks for asking. We’ll see next time it rains.
So, right… Should I go in order or just wing it? Freestyle. Well, we live in an era of short attention spans, right? I think I read that somewhere on the Internet. What was I talking about? Oh yeah, the micro-information, multi-tasking, Attention Deficit Disorder epidemic. Well, obviously you guys read, right? But still… I better keep it moving to hold your attention. I hear weed is good for that. Nick Diaz told me. Or maybe I read it online. I dunno, I can’t concentrate. I think I need some medical marijuana. Are any of you guys stoned right now? Like you. Yes, YOU. Am I freaking you out, man? Okay, my short attention span has expired on this joke… but how about this one. I was wondering why Matt Mitrione did not have his much ballyhooed “Meatstache” for the fight. After all, there was so much talk of it taking over the world (listen to the “Spilled Bag of Chat”!) and it was seen looking ready for war at the weigh-ins the day before the fights. In fact, at the face-off between Tim Hague and Matt, Meatstache looked like it was ready to throw down with Tim’s beard right then and there. And yet, when Matt walked into the Octagon on Saturday night, his face was conspicuously clean-shaven. What happened?! I sure don’t know. I asked Matt on Twitter and have not gotten a reply yet. So, I can only imagine what happened. And when I imagine what happened, it goes a little something like this: Continue reading »
"The Young Assassin" Melvin Guillard put on a dominant performance at UFC Fight for the Troops 2, TKOing top lightweight prospect Evan Dunham just 2:58 into the first round. (Photo courtesy of the Associated Press)
—Prelims (Non-Televised)—
Amilcar Alves vs. Charlie Brenneman: Brenneman via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Will Campuzano vs. Chris Cariaso: Cariaso via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
—Prelims on Facebook Live Stream—
Rani Yahya vs. Mike Brown: Yahya via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Willamy Freire vs. Waylon Lowe: Lowe via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Yves Edwards vs. Cody McKenzie: Edwards via Technical Submission (Rear Naked Choke), Round 2, 4:33
Mike Guymon vs. DaMarques Johnson: Johnson via Verbal Submission (Injury from Body Triangle), Round 1, 3:22
—Main Card (Spike TV)—
Cole Miller vs. Matt Wiman: Wiman via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Pat Barry vs. Joey Beltran: Barry via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Mark Hominick vs. George Roop: Hominick via TKO (Punches), Round 1, 1:28
Matt Mitrione vs. Tim Hague: Mitrione via TKO (Punches), Round 1, 2:59
Melvin Guillard vs. Evan Dunham: Guillard via TKO (Punches and Knees), Round 1, 2:58
(Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
—Prelims—
Will Campuzano: 135lbs.
Chris Cariaso: 135lbs.
Charlie Brenneman: 171lbs.
Amilcar Alves: 171lbs.
Willamy Freire: 155lbs.
Waylon Lowe: 156lbs.
Mike Brown: 146lbs.
Rani Yahya: 145lbs.
—Prelims on Facebook Live Stream—
Mike Guymon: 170.5lbs.
DaMarques Johnson: 170lbs.
Cody McKenzie: 155lbs.
Yves Edwards: 155lbs.
—Main Card—
Cole Miller: 155.5lbs.
Matt Wiman: 155lbs.
Pat Barry: 240lbs.
Joey Beltran: 230lbs.
Mark Hominick: 145.5lbs.
George Roop: 145lbs.
Tim Hague: 256.5lbs.
Matt Mitrione: 260lbs.
Evan Dunham: 156lbs.
Melvin Guillard: 155lbs.
It may be the last chance to prove they belong in the UFC for many of the fighters slated to fight at the UFC's second installment of Fight for the Troops. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
In another of its events centered around the support for the U.S. Military, the UFC brings the men and women in uniform at Fort Hood Military Base its most recent effort with UFC Fight for the Troops 2. The card features several rising stars including “The Young Assassin” Melvin Guillard (25-8-2) who is on a quest to continue his rebirth as a UFC standout, top prospect Evan Dunham (10-1) who looks to improve on his 4-1 UFC record, The Ultimate Fighter Season 10 contestant Matt Mitrione (3-0) who continues to build his name as a heavyweight, and another TUF alum in “The Deadliest Catch” Cody McKenzie (12-0) who looks to remain undefeated at the expense of yet another UFC lightweight. All of these men are talents that the UFC seems to have a vested interest in cultivating; win, lose, or draw chances are, they aren’t going anywhere. However, for several fighters on this card, Fight for the Troops could be more aptly named Fight for Your Job. The UFC has been leaving pink slips in the lockers of the most unexpected fighters for several months now to make room for the influx of new talent from the WEC which has many fighters wondering if they’re next. Continue reading »