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
 

The aptly nicknamed “One Punch” Brad Pickett (right) earned his seventh KO as well as “Knockout of the Night” for his spectacular finish of Yves Jabouin (left). (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

The following fight bonuses were awarded for UFC on Fuel TV: Struve vs. Miocic

Submission of the Night:

Matt Wiman (over Paul Sass) receives $40,000

Knockout of the Night:

Brad Pickett (over Yves Jabouin) receives $40,000

Fight of the Night:

Stefan Struve and Stipe Miocic each receive $40,000

Click here for the full list of UFC on Fuel TV 5 results.

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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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May 272012
 

Junior Dos Santos (white trunks) was too fast and too accurate with his boxing for Frank Mir (blue trunks) to mount any significant offense in their championship bout. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

After an electric night of heavyweight bouts, the smoke has cleared from UFC 146. “Cigano” Junior Dos Santos (15-1) dominated in the main event, finishing two-time former champ Frank Mir (16-6) in the second. The man “Cigano” took the belt from, Cain Velasquez (10-1), showed the world exactly what the difference between elite UFC talent and elite Strikeforce talent is when he pulverized a completely outmatched “Bigfoot” Antonio Silva (16-4). “Big Country” Roy Nelson (17-7) continued the arduous task of rebuilding his career with a stunning KO of “Pee Wee” Dave Herman (21-4). In a battle of unbeatens, former NAASF king Stipe Miocic (9-0) overcame a difficult first round to finish former Thai boxing world champ Shane Del Rosario (11-1), and the night opened with “Skyscraper” Stefan Struve’s (24-5) “Submission of the Night” earning effort which snapped the winning streak, and the arm, of “Big” Lavar Johnson (17-6). The night went better than expected for some and well for others; however a few of the fighters fell flat in a big way. To sort it out, MMA Gospel has The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. Continue reading »

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May 262012
 

(Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

—MAIN CARD (on Pay-Per-View)—

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

Continue reading »

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May 252012
 

(Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

The earth beneath the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada will tremble beneath the weight of the UFC’s first modern day all-heavyweight main card Saturday night. UFC 146: Dos Santos vs. Mir showcases some of the top heavyweight talent in the world, with the likes of massive Dutchman “Skyscraper” Stefan Struve (23-5) and Strikeforce transplant “Big” Lavar Johnson (17-5) starting off the Pay-Per-View broadcast, followed by a pairing of undefeated heavy hitters Shane Del Rosario (11-0) and former NAAFS champion Stipe Miocic (8-0). IFL veteran “Big Country” Roy Nelson (16-7) takes on eccentric striker “Pee Wee” Dave Herman (21-3) leading into the co-main event between former UFC heavyweight king Cain Velasquez (9-1) and Brazilian behemoth “Bigfoot” Antonio Silva (16-3). The marquee match-up of the evening pits UFC Heavyweight Champion “Cigano” Junior Dos Santos (14-1) against two-time UFC champ Frank Mir (16-5), both of whom are intent on bringing home the 12lbs. gold strap. Already a landmark event on the UFC’s timeline and one of the most anticipated cards of 2012 thus far, UFC 146 has all the makings of going down in the books as a fan favorite. Below, the MMA Gospel crew takes a stab at predicting how the night will play out. Continue reading »

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May 252012
 


Weigh-ins start at about 19:30 mark. (Video courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

—MAIN CARD (on Pay-Per-View)—

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 »

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May 252012
 

Junior Dos Santos (white trunks) has defeated several dangerous heavyweight wrestlers in his UFC career, but has yet to face one determined to take him to the ground. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

A week after the Strikeforce World Heavyweight Grand Prix rocked the world with a stellar night of MMA action, the UFC heavyweights will step into the spotlight to show why they are the best in the world. With an all-heavyweight main card, UFC 146 will take the stage at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. “Big” Lavar Johnson (17-5) will return to action just three weeks after his winning sophomore effort in the UFC to face “Skyscraper” Stefan Struve (23-5) in the opening bout. Following that, undefeated prospect Stipe Miocic (8-0) will go toe to toe with unbeaten journeyman Shane Del Rosario (11-0) and “Big Country” Roy Nelson (16-7) will face heavy-handed “Pee Wee” Dave Herman (21-3). The co-main will feature “Bigfoot” Antonio Silva’s (16-3) UFC debut against former champ Cain Velasquez (9-1) and the main event will see Frank Mir (16-5) attempt to secure his third UFC heavyweight title by defeating the current champ, dangerous Brazilian boxing machine “Cigano” Junior Dos Santos (14-1).   Continue reading »

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