Apr 282013
Apr 262013
—MAIN CARD (on Pay-Per-View @ 10:00pm ET)—
Jon Jones (205) vs. Chael Sonnen (205)
Alan Belcher (185) vs. Michael Bisping (186)
Cheick Kongo (237) vs. Roy Nelson (258)
Phil Davis (205) vs. Vinny Magalhaes (205.5)
Pat Healy (155.5) vs. Jim Miller (155) Continue reading »
Apr 252013
Roy Nelson (black trunks) has big power that he can use to bully his opponents into a position where he can score an easy takedown. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The UFC is returning to Pay-Per-View Saturday to showcase five solid MMA pairings, not the least of which is the clash of TUF 17 coaches “Bones” Jon Jones (17-1) and the man who wants to strip him of his light heavyweight crown, Chael Sonnen (27-12-1). Pulling co-main duties on the card is a long awaited middleweight challenge between “The Talent” Alan Belcher (18-7) and “The Count” Michael Bisping (23-5), while lightweights “The Mongoose” Jim Miller (22-4) and “Bam Bam” Pat Healy (29-16) open the evening’s entertainment. A light heavyweight bout will come up second as “Mr. Wonderful” Phil Davis (10-1) squares off with “Pezao” Vinny Magalhaes (10-5). Of particular interest is a meeting between “Big Country” Roy Nelson (18-7) and Cheick Kongo (18-7-2) which has been lined up in the anchor slot. Nelson skipped the gatekeepers when he won TUF 10 but then slumped hard before regaining some steam in 2012. Now it seems it’s time to pay the piper and face the French kickboxer who has long been the unofficial bodyguard of UFC heavyweight title contention. Continue reading »
Apr 242013
Oct 142012
Anderson Silva (black shorts) further cemented his claim to the title of Greatest Of All Time by effortlessly finishing Stephan Bonnar (red trunks) at UFC 153. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The UFC returned to Brazil for UFC 153: Silva vs. Bonnar and they were met with resounding success as a sold out arena played witness to a night of electrifying bouts. Demian Maia (17-4) opened the card with a dominant submission win over “The Horror” Rick Story (14-6). Next out, “Mr. Wonderful” Phil Davis (10-1) finished his business with “Caldeirao” Wagner Prado (8-1) with a beautiful gator roll in the second frame. Jon Fitch (24-4-1) tacked another decision on to his list of wins by dominating blue chipper “Indio” Erick Silva (14-3), winning “Fight of the Night” in the process. Brutal light heavyweight beatdown machine Glover Teixeira (19-2) put a beating on Fabio Maldonado (18-6) that left fans cringing and calling for a stoppage early on. The co-main event saw long-time heavyweight superstar “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (34-7-1) feed “Pee Wee” Dave Herman (21-5) his words by handing him his first ever submission loss. Finally, in the main event, the GOAT, “The Spider” Anderson Silva (33-4) did in five minutes what no one else in the UFC has been able to do: finish “The American Psycho” Stephan Bonnar (15-8). The night was filled with solid MMA showings and the fans were definitely big winners, however, not everyone can come out ahead. Continue reading »
Oct 132012
(Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
—MAIN CARD (on Pay-Per-View @ 10:00PM ET)—
Anderson Silva vs. Stephan Bonnar: Silva via TKO (Knee), Round 1, 4:40
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Dave Herman: Nogueira via Submission (Armbar), Round 2, 4:31
Glover Teixeira vs. Fabio Maldonado: Teixeira via TKO (Doctor Stoppage), Round 2, 5:00
Jon Fitch vs. Erick Silva: Fitch via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28), Round 3, 5:00
Phil Davis vs. Wagner Prado: Davis via Submission (Anaconda Choke), Round 2, 4:29
Demian Maia vs. Rick Story: Maia via Submission (Rear Naked Choke), Round 1, 2:30 Continue reading »
Oct 132012
(Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
Tonight Brazilian fans get the opportunity to showcase why they are widely considered the most ravenous in MMA as the Ultimate Fighting Championship takes over the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro with UFC 153: Silva vs. Bonnar. The supersized six-fight main card on Pay-Per-View features some of the the host country’s top native fighters, with some taking on opponents from across the world and others fighting their native countrymen. BJJ expert Demian Maia (16-4) and ten-fight UFC vet “The Horror” Rick Story (14-5) battle it out in a welterweight match-up to start off the night, followed by a rematch between four-time NCAA Div. I All-American wrestler “Mr. Wonderful” Phil Davis (9-1) and Brazilian KO artist “Caldeirao” Wagner Prado (8-0) after their August fight ended in a No Contest due to inadvertent eye poke. Former top welterweight contender Jon Fitch (23-4) takes to the cage against fast-rising Brazilian prospect Erick Silva (14-2). Team Black House fighter and former UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (33-7) pits his BJJ mastery against the heavy hands of Team Quest’s “Pee Wee” Dave Herman (21-4). The co-main event sees a pair of Brazil’s finest take to the Octagon in a 205lbs. match-up, as current owner of a 16-fight winning streak, Glover Teixeira (18-2), dukes it out with fellow fight-finisher Fabio Maldonado (18-5). Capping off the stellar UFC 153 line-up is a light heavyweight bout featuring tried-and-true tough guy Stephan Bonnar (15-7) and UFC Middleweight Champion “The Spider” Anderson Silva (32-4) in a short-notice non-title fight scheduled purely for the entertainment of the fans, and entertain it certainly will. While some fight outcomes may seem obvious from the start, it is MMA and truly anything can happen. Here, the staff of MMA Gospel dishes out their predictions of how the night will unfold. Continue reading »
Oct 122012
Chris Camozzi’s (blue trunks) powerful hands and submission skills have earned him 11 finishes out of 17 victories. A victory over Luiz Cane at UFC 153 could very well elevate Camozzi’s career to UFC main card status. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The UFC returns to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for UFC 153 this Saturday night and looks to yet again showcase some of the country’s premier MMA talent. Top Brazilian fighter and UFC Middleweight Champion “The Spider” Anderson Silva (30-4) is the pinnacle focus of the main card as he moves up to light heavyweight to take on Season One Ultimate Fighter veteran “The American Psycho” Stephan Bonnar (17-7) in the headlining bout of the evening. Bonnar proves time and time again to be a tough feat for anyone in the 205lbs. weight class so it will make for an interesting bout as he comes in as a 13-1 underdog against the man largely known as the greatest fighter of all time. In the co-main event, “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (33-7) squares off against “Pee Wee” Dave Herman (21-4) in a match-up that will more than likely be a battle between Nogueira’s Jiu-Jitsu and Herman’s striking ability. Glover Teixeira (18-2) will trade leather with fellow Brazilian Fabio Maldonado (18-5) as both look to advance a rung of the 205lbs. division ladder. Former top welterweight contender Jon Fitch (26-4) looks to battle it out with prospect Erick Silva (14-2) in a classic match-up of wrestler versus striker. “Mr. Wonderful” Phil Davis (9-1) will once again stand across from the undefeated “Caldeirao” Wagner Prado (8-0), now on the heels of their August meeting that ended in a No Contest after an inadvertent eye poke. Revving up the main card is a welterweight affair between dangerous Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Demian Maia (16-4) and “The Horror” Rick Story (14-5) as both fighters try to establish their place in the UFC’s stacked 170lbs. division. Before Pay-Per-View takes over for the night, FX and Facebook will present the preliminary card which can and often does boast at least one of the three performance bonuses doled out and reveals some of the promotion’s future top prospects. No stranger to the UFC undercards, Chris Camozzi (17-5) is a particularly promising candidate for main card status. Continue reading »
Oct 122012
Anderson Silva’s (yellow shorts) speed, power, versatility, and well-deserved title of the greatest MMA fighter of all time have “The Spider” entering the Octagon at UFC 153 as a 13-1 favorite over Stephan Bonnar. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
Saturday night the HSBC Arena in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil once again plays host to the Ultimate Fighting Championships for UFC 153: Silva vs. Bonnar. Savvy submission specialist Demian Maia (16-4) hopes to find continued success at welterweight against the always dangerous “Horror” Rick Story (14-5). “Mr. Wonderful” Phil Davis (9-1) and “Caldeiro” Wagner Prado (8-0) hope to redeem their unfortunate No Contest from UFC on Fox 4 while Jon Fitch (23-4-1) looks to rebound from a knockout loss against fast-rising Brazilian powerhouse “Indio” Erick Silva (14-2). “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (33-7-1) looks to rack up two wins in Rio against “Pee Wee” Dave Herman (21-4). The co-main event was saved as Fabio Maldonado (18-5) stepped in to replace “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (32-10) against the man few want to face in Glover Teixeira (18-2). The main event pits two unlikely foes against each other as the affable “American Psycho” Stephan Bonnar (15-7) takes on the man many consider the pound-for-pound best Mixed Martial Artist in the world, “The Spider” Anderson Silva (32-4). This bizarre late replacement fight has many scratching their heads, but do not be fooled: both men bring a particular set of skills (thanks, Liam Neeson) that can make this fight one that will be talked about for a long time.
Oct 112012
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (red gloves) has taken more than any fighter’s fair share of beatings over his career, but he should still have enough fuel left in the fire to outlast Dave Herman, (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
“The Spider” Anderson Silva (32-4) returns to action on short notice, just three months after his most recent title defense, to headline UFC 153 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil against “The American Psycho” Stephan Bonnar (15-7). The UFC has made great strides to build a solid UFC 153 Pay-Per-View card after UFC 151 fell apart and UFC 152 nearly disintegrated as a result of injuries. To bolster the card, the UFC has brought in several fresh exciting faces such as “Caldeirao” Wagner Prado (8-0), Glover Teixeira (18-2), and “Indio” Erick Silva (14-2-1) paired against stalwart names such as “Mr. Wonderful” Phil Davis (9-1) and Jon Fitch (23-4-1). Other fighters making appearances include Fabio Maldonado (18-5), who will face Teixeira, Demian Maia (16-4) against “The Horror” Rick Story (14-5), and a co-main event between former Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (33-7-1) and “Pee Wee” Dave Herman (21-4). The heavyweight showdown is a solid return bout for both men and should give fans an excellent lead-in to Silva’s showdown with Bonnar. Continue reading »
Oct 112012
Glover Teixeira (right) owns a pair of powerful hands himself but has the more well-versed Jiu-Jitsu over his upcoming foe, Fabio Maldonado. If Maldonado’s boxing proves too much “Caldeirão” can opt to showcase his submission game. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The UFC returns to Rio De Janeiro’s HSBC Center Saturday with UFC 153. In a last-minute scramble, the main event is headlined by the UFC’s most dominant champion “The Spider” Anderson Silva (32-4) stepping up to the light heavyweight division to face off against “The American Psycho” Stephan Bonnar (15-7). Former PRIDE and UFC heavyweight champion “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (33-7) takes on “Pee Wee” Dave Herman (21-4) in the co-main event. Welterweights Jon Fitch (23-4) and “Indio” Erick Silva (14-2) agree to dance in a welterweight battle. After an inadvertent eye-poke to draw their first encounter to a close, “Caldeirão” Wagner Prado (8-0) and “Mr. Wonderful” Phil Davis (9-1) will look to settle their business, and in the card’s opener, “The Horror” Rick Story (14-5) and Demian Maia (16-4) square off. The card’s anchor has much to look forward to as two Brazilian powerhouses meet when Glover Teixeira (18-2) and Fabio Maldonado (18-5) lock horns. Teixeira has much buildup behind him after one fight under the Octagon’s lights, but Maldonado could be just the guy to play the role of “spoiler”. Continue reading »
Oct 102012
Jon Fitch (black trunks) has built a career on crawling his way to the top with a slow, disciplined, grinding attack that controls, rather than finishes. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
Before the lights go out and headliners “The Spider” Anderson Silva (32-4) and “The American Psycho” Stephan Bonnar (15-7) step into the Octagon, the UFC has built a solid offering of new blood and old stalwarts to strengthen the core of UFC 153. Opening the extra-large six-fight Pay-Per-View main card Saturday night is a bout between Demian Maia (16-4) who will continue his rebirth at welterweight against dangerous grappler “The Horror” Rick Story (14-5). The next bout on the card will see main event caliber light heavyweight “Mr. Wonderful” Phil Davis (9-1) rewind and replay his first attempt to defeat UFC newcomer “Caldeirao” Wagner Prado (8-0) after their first meeting ended in a No Contest. Anchoring the main card is the second coming of light heavyweight phenom Glover Teixeira (18-2) as he meets Fabio Maldonado (18-5) and the co-main will see long time PRIDE staple “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (33-7-1) return to action against “Pee Wee” Dave Herman (21-4). Sitting squarely in the middle of the night’s action is a meeting of polar opposites as Jon Fitch (23-4-1) faces finishing machine “Indio” Erick Silva (14-2). Continue reading »
Oct 092012
Phil Davis (white shorts) has a clear advantage over his UFC 153 opponent in almost every quantifiable category, making him a clear favorite to win impressively. (Photo courtesy of Sherdog)
On the heels of recent disappointment in regard to TUF ratings and poor gate numbers for UFC 152, the world’s leading name in mixed martial arts has turned to one of its largest drawing fighters, middleweight and pound-for-pound king “The Spider” Anderson Silva (32-4), and one of the two light heavyweights who gave birth to the modern UFC’s popularity, “The American Psycho” Stephan Bonnar (15-7). The jumbo sized UFC 153 Pay-Per-View card also includes a quintet of other bouts starting off with a grappler’s showcase between Demian Maia (16-4) and “The Horror” Rick Story (14-5). Long-time welterweight elite Jon Fitch (23-4-1) hopes to rebound from a recent KO loss at the expense of “Indio” Erick Silva (14-2). Heavyweights “Pee Wee” Dave Herman (21-4) and “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (33-7-1) will clash, and Glover Teixeira (18-2) will make his second UFC appearance against Fabio Maldonado (18-5). Also helping to flesh out the extended main card, “Mr. Wonderful” Phil Davis (9-1) will look to recover from his first loss by fighting a rematch against “Caldeirao” Wagner Prado (8-0) who he fought to an unfortunate No Contest just over two months prior to Saturday. Continue reading »
Oct 092012
Dropping from 185lbs. to 170lbs. isn’t the only recent change in Demian Maia’s (blue trunks) career – the BJJ specialist has also made significant strides in his striking and now poses a threat both on the mat and on the feet. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The UFC returns to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil this Saturday with a card that, though injury-bitten, pulled through with a addition of star fighters to make it happen. The HSBC Arena will welcome back UFC Middleweight Champion “The Spider” Anderson Silva (32-4) as he makes his third appearance at 205lbs. to take on TUF 1 veteran and long-time UFC tough man “The American Psycho” Stephan Bonnar (15-7) in the main event of the night. Brazilian fight circuit veteran Glover Teixeira (18-2) returns home under the UFC banner looking to go 2-0 within the promotion as he squares off with fellow countryman Fabio Maldonado (18-5) who hopes to notch a win and end a two-fight skid. Former PRIDE and UFC heavyweight king “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (33-7) returns from his submission loss against Frank Mir (16-6) that resulted in a broken arm against the hungry Team Quest kickboxer “Pee Wee” Dave Herman (21-4) who is looking to earn the biggest win of his career. Former UFC welterweight title contender Jon Fitch (23-4) seeks his first win since UFC 117 in 2010 as he faces the surging Brazilian star in “Indio” Erick Silva (14-2). A rematch is on tap for “Mr.Wonderful” Phil Davis (9-1) and Sao Paulo knockout specialist “Caldeirao” Wagner Prado (8-0) after their first fight ended in a No Contest due to accidental eye poke. Starting off the Pay-Per-View is a battle in the welterweight division between Demian Maia (16-4) and “The Horror” Rick Story (14-5). Continue reading »
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 »