Mar 032013
Mar 022013
(Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
—MAIN CARD (on Fuel TV @ 10:00pm ET)—
Wanderlei Silva vs. Brian Stann: Silva via KO (Punches), Round 2, 4:08
Mark Hunt vs. Stefan Struve: Hunt via TKO (Punches), Round 3, 1:44
Takanori Gomi vs. Diego Sanchez: Sanchez via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28), Round 3, 5:00
Yushin Okami vs. Hector Lombard: Okami via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28), Round 3, 5:00
Mizuto Hirota vs. Rani Yahya: Yahya via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28), Round 3, 5:00
Dong Hyun Kim vs. Siyar Bahadurzada: Kim via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27), Round 3, 5:00 Continue reading »
Feb 282013
Takanori Gomi (black trunks) has the power in his punches to score an upset win in his Japanese homecoming. (Photo courtesy of Yahoo!)
The first females of the UFC have already made history and now just one week later, the UFC returns to Saitama, Japan with UFC on Fuel TV 8. Opening duties are bestowed upon the welterweights as “Stun Gun” Dong Hyun Kim (16-2-1) locks up with “The Great” Siyar Bahadurzada (21-4-1). Brazilian Rani Yahya (17-7) will look to prove homefield advantage means nothing when he takes on Japan’s own “Pugnus” Mizuto Hirota (14-5-1). A move up into middleweight contention could be in order for the victor between fourth-ranked “Thunder” Yushin Okami (28-7) and eighth-ranked “Lightning” Hector Lombard (32-3-1). “The Fireball Kid” Takanori Gomi (34-8) will greet “The Dream” Diego Sanchez (23-5) when he makes his return to the lightweight division. In the co-main event, one heavyweight’s rise to glory will come to a screeching halt as “Skyscraper” Stefan Struve (25-5) takes on K-1 veteran “Super Samoan” Mark Hunt (8-7). Closing the night off is a light heavyweight battle between “The All-American” Brian Stann (12-5) and the always popular “The Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva (34-12-1). The first half of the main card was given a look in UFC on Fuel TV 8 Main Card Pre-Fight Breakdown: Part I. MMA Gospel will round the card off here with Part II, providing what to look for in each match-up leading up to the main event. Continue reading »
Feb 272013
War hero Brian Stann (white trunks) returns to action to headline UFC on Fuel TV 8 against brutal PRIDE superstar Wanderlei Silva. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The UFC hits the land of the rising sun again just a week after the historic UFC 157 card to offer fight fans another great night of mixed martial arts action, this time for free on Fuel TV. The eighth installment of the UFC on Fuel TV series is headlined by “The Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva (34-12-1) and “All-American” Brian Stann (12-5), while co-main duties fall on heavyweights “Skyscraper” Stefan Struve (25-5) and K-1 star Mark Hunt (8-7). ”The Dream” Diego Sanchez (23-5) and “The Fireball Kid” Takanori Gomi (34-8) will anchor the card in a lightweight contest. The opening fight of the night will see dangerous welterweights “The Great” Siyar Bahadurzada (21-4-1) and “Stun Gun” Dong Hyun Kim (16-2-1). In middleweight action, eighth-ranked ”Shango” Hector Lombard (23-3-1) and current number 4 “Thunder” Yushin Okami (28-7) will continue their quest for 185lbs. gold. Rounding out the bottom half of the card, filling the second slot and filling the second slot is Rani Yahya (17-7) in a featherweight clash with “Pugnus” Mizuto Hirota (14-5-1). Here in Part I of the UFC on Fuel TV 8 pre-fight breakdown, MMA Gospel will delve into the first half of the six-fight card.
Nov 102012
Thiago Silva (red gloves) locked in an Arm-Triangle Choke to seal the victory and earn “Submission of the Night” honors for UFC on Fuel TV 6. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The following fight bonuses were awarded for UFC on Fuel TV 6: Franklin vs. Le
Submission of the Night:
Thiago Silva (over Stanislov Nedkov) receives $40,000
Knockout of the Night:
Cung Le (over Rich Franklin) receives $40,000
Fight of the Night:
Takanori Gomi and Mac Danzig each receive $40,000
Click here for the full list of UFC on Fuel TV 6 results.
Nov 082012
Dong Hyun Kim (bottom) has an advantage in size and is a far more technical fighter than his UFC on Fuel TV 6 opponent. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The UFC returns to free TV Saturday with a solid showing from the People’s Republic of China. “The Mongolian Wolf” Tiequan Zhang (15-3) opens the card against “Super Saiyan” Jon Tuck (8-0) followed by a pair of solid bouts featuring “Bruce Leeroy” Alex Caceres (7-5) against Motonobu Tezuka (19-4-4) and Mac Danzig (21-9-1) versus “The Fireball Kid” Takanori Gomi (33-8). Headlining the event is a meeting between two former middleweight champions “Ace” Rich Franklin (29-6), once the UFC 185lbs. king, and Cung Le (8-2), the San Shou master who once dominated the Strikeforce middleweight scene. Shoring up the former champs in the co-main is light heavyweight wrecking machine Thiago Silva (14-3-1) who will look for his first win since 2009 as he faces Stanislav Nedkov (12-0). Holding the anchor spot is Korean Judoka “Stun Gun” Dong Hyun Kim (15-2-1) as he meets struggling welterweight Paulo Thiago (14-4). Continue reading »
Nov 062012
Tiequan Zhang (red trunks) has struggled in the UFC against larger, stronger opponents, but he has faced vastly superior competition to that which his opponent has seen in his career. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The UFC will present its sixth offering on the FOX cable network Fuel TV as the organization breaks into the Chinese market with an event in the Cotai Arena of Cotai, Macau, People’s Republic of China. Headlining the November 10 event is a pair of bouts featuring some of the UFC’s most exciting finishers as Cung Le (8-2) faces “Ace” Rich Franklin (29-6) and Thiago Silva (14-3) squares off with Stanislav Nedkov (12-0). Korean Judo ace “Stun Gun” Dong Hyun Kim (15-2-1) anchors the card against Paulo Thiago (14-4) but before those fireworks go off, Zuffa has arraigned for a trio of solid mixed martial arts contests. Starting the main card is a meeting between “The Mongolian Wolf” Tiequan Zhang (15-3) and UFC newcomer “Super Saiyan” Jon Tuck (6-0). Next on the slate “Bruce Leeroy” Alex Caceres (7-5) looks to break even in the UFC for the first time with a win over Motonobu Tezuka (19-4-4). Sitting squarely in the middle of the card, “The Fireball Kid” Takanori Gomi (33-8) rounds out the first half of the card in a bout against former TUF standout Mac Danzig (21-9-1). Continue reading »
Jun 212012
“The Carpenter” Clay Guida’s (white trunks) frantic pace and bottomless gas tank have caused fits for many of his previous opponents and multiple times have proven sufficient in earning him the judges’ favor. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The Ultimate Fighting Championship sets up shop at Atlantic City, New Jersey’s Revel Casino on Friday night to present UFC on FX 4. “The Real Deal” Ross Pearson (13-5) battles Cub Swanson (16-5) in the main card’s opening bout. The highly eccentric veteran “Bad Boy” Brian Ebersole (49-14-1) will take on submission ace TJ Waldburger (15-6) in the welterweight division. The co-main event sees the final battle of an epic rivalry as “Hands of Stone” Sam Stout (17-7-1) and “The King” Spencer Fisher (24-8) battle it out once again with each man hoping to break the tie in this famous trilogy. Rounding off the card though sees another pivotal match-up in the 155lbs. division as “The Carpenter” Clay Guida (29-11) takes on his fellow contender “The Bully” Gray Maynard (10-1-1). Each man has stumbled in their past endeavors but with the lightweight division as competitive as ever, it’s crucial at this point for each fighter to come out on top. Continue reading »
May 032012
Nate Diaz (right) has made extraordinary progress in his striking and combined with the significant height and reach advantage he has over his UFC on FOX 3 opponent Jim Miller, Diaz stands a strong chance of earning the W and the next spot in line for the 155lbs. title. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The latest edition of UFC on FOX takes place Saturday courtesy of New Jersey’s IZOD Center. Big” Lavar Johnson (16-5) will look to make his sophomore appearance in the organization a success when he stands against fellow banger “HD” Pat Barry (7-4). The middleweights are next as “The Talent” Alan Belcher (17-6) squares off with “Toquinho” Rousimar Palhares (14-3). Welterweights “Big Rig” Johny Hendricks (12-1) and “Kos” Josh Koscheck (17-5) square off in the co-main event. In the night’s closer, Nate Diaz (15-7) looks to tie together a three-fight win streak, but that would come at a steep price against “The Mongoose” Jim Miller (21-3). Both men have the contender status attached to their name with just cause but after Saturday, only one can make the step closer to gold. Continue reading »
Feb 252012
(Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
—MAIN CARD (on Pay-Per-View)—
Frankie Edgar vs. Benson Henderson: Henderson via Unanimous Decision (49-46, 48-47, 49-46), Round 5, 5:00
Quinton Jackson vs. Ryan Bader: Bader via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27), Round 3, 5:00
Mark Hunt vs. Cheick Kongo: Hunt via TKO (Punches), Round 1, 2:11
Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Jake Shields: Shields via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27), Round 3, 5:00
Yushin Okami vs. Tim Boetsch: Boetsch via TKO (Punches), Round 3, 0:54
Hatsu Hioki vs. Bart Palaszewski: Hioki via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28), Round 3, 5:00
Anthony Pettis vs. Joe Lauzon: Pettis via KO (Head Kick), Round 1, 1:21 Continue reading »
Feb 242012
(Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
—MAIN CARD (on Pay-Per-View)—
Frankie Edgar: 154lbs.
Benson Henderson: 154lbs.
Quinton Jackson: 211lbs.*
Ryan Bader: 205lbs.
Mark Hunt: 264lbs.
Cheick Kongo: 229lbs.
Yoshihiro Akiyama: 169lbs.
Jake Shields: 170lbs.
Yushin Okami: 185lbs.
Tim Boetsch: 186lbs.
Hatsu Hioki: 145lbs.
Bart Palaszewski: 146lbs.
Anthony Pettis: 155lbs.
Joe Lauzon: 156lbs. Continue reading »
Dec 292011
Nate Diaz's (bottom) Jiu-Jitsu game is well beyond that of most of the lightweight division and will be one of his greatest weapons against Donald Cerrone come Friday night. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The world’s premiere MMA organization finishes off the year with a bang this Friday night with UFC 141: Lesnar vs. Overeem. Undefeated featherweight prospect “The Kid” Jimy Hettes (9-0) takes on Nam Phan (19-10) in the main card’s opening bout. “The Janitor” Vladimir Matyushenko (26-5) collides with the fast rising “The Mauler” Alexander Gustafsson (12-1) to see whose stock gets a lift in the light heavyweight division. Johny Hendricks (11-1) is looking to get into the higher echelon of the welterweight class but will first have to grind it out against former title challenger Jon Fitch (22-3). The main event is seen as the classic “grappler versus striker” formula as former UFC heavyweight champ Brock Lesnar (5-2) and current K-1, DREAM, and Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion “The Demolition Man” Alistair Overeem (34-11) fill the roles, respectively. The co-main event is receiving just as much acclaim as the marquee feature as Nate Diaz (13-8) and “Cowboy” Donald Cerrone (16-4) butt heads in a lightweight match-up. Diaz and Cerrone are two of the sport’s most enigmatic personalities but once the cage door seals, this clash of personalities will turn into a battle truly worthy of remembering. Continue reading »
Oct 072011
- Kenny Florian’s (top) considerable size to featherweight champion Jose Aldo should assist his overall game plan but turning to his Jiu-Jitsu to at least maintain control could make his title dreams finally come to fruition. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
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 »
Sep 272011
Some people watch The Ultimate Fighter purely for the fights and don’t like the reality TV element. These people tend to be party-pooping wet blankets who think that they’re too good for a little mindless voyeuristic entertainment. Either way, the stuffy “purists” were treated to almost two hours of nothing but fights on the Season 14 premiere of TUF on Wednesday. The fights were pretty solid – as to be expected from bantamweight and featherweight fighters. Continue reading »
Sep 252011
Jon Jones (red trunks) proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is far more than "just hype" with his destruction of "Rampage" Jackson at UFC 135. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The UFC delivered again in a big way Saturday night with UFC 135 in the Mile-High City of Denver, Colorado. Leading into an ultra-hyped main event Light Heavyweight Championship bout between the Jackson Submission Fighting wonder kin “Bones” Jon Jones (14-1) and the former champion, PRIDE superstar “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (31-9), was a night that included some of PRIDE’s biggest names, the UFC’s newest talents, and The Ultimate Fighter’s best products as well as the appearance of a Hall of Famer. In the co-main, “Kos” Josh Koscheck (16-5) likely put an end to the career of former welterweight king Matt Hughes (43-9). Prior to the headlining fights, “Super Samoan” Mark Hunt (7-7) broke even and showed late career growth at the expense of IFL stalwart “Big” Ben Rothwell (27-8), “Hapa” Travis Browne (9-0-1) achieved victory but little else against Rob Broughton (13-5-1), and Nate Diaz (13-8) picked up where his brother left off in a first-round submission win over former PRIDE champ “The Fireball Kid” Takanori Gomi (29-9). While every fight has a winner and a loser, not every loser truly loses and not every winner makes headway with the “W” and for the post-fight analysis, MMA Gospel has The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. Continue reading »