Oct 302012
Aug 282012
Dec 142011
UFC 140. What can you say? “Wow”, “Holy Shit”, “Didn’t see that coming” All the above. Let’s just break this crazy card down, shall we?
Dennis Hallman vs. John Makdessi: Hallman via Submission (Rear Naked Choke), Round 1
Hallman, who didn’t make weight and who famously horrified Dana White with his blue micro-speedos at UFC 133, took Makdessi down, controlled him, beat him up and eventually choked him out – and saved himself from a certain firing if he had lost. He then told Joe Rogan that he hopes Jesus comes soon because “we’re barely hanging on”…okay. That was creepy. Made even more creepy by Hallman’s lisp. Just sayin’. Continue reading »
Dec 132011
Dec 112011
Though Jon Jones (black trunks) was frustrated by seeming to just miss Lyoto Machida (red trunks) for the majority of their UFC 140 bout, he pulled through and capitalized on the opportunities he was presented with to retain his light heavyweight crown. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
As Dana White said in the post-fight press conference, the trend for 2011 has been ending events asking how the next card will measure up, and then watching that next event blow the previous one out of the water. Such was the case with UFC 140: Jones vs. Machida. The card kicked off with a bang when “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung (12-3) ended “The Machine” Mark Hominick’s (19-9) night in seven seconds with just one punch. Coming behind the featherweight showdown, emerging welterweights Brian Ebersole (45-14-1) and “Prince” Claude Patrick (14-2) fought back and forth to a razor thin Split Decision in a fight that showed all aspects of mixed martial arts. Next on the card, renamed former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion “The People’s Champion” Tito Ortiz (16-10-1) brought the heat to “Little Nog” Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (19-5) before having the flames doused by a brutal series of short hooks from the younger Nogueira brother. In the co-main event, “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (33-7-1) out-boxed fellow former champ Frank Mir (16-5) before having victory snatched from him courtesy of a vicious submission reversal that saw Mir severely damage Nogueira’s arm. Finally, at the end of the night, UFC Light Heavyweight Champion “Bones” Jon Jones (15-1) successfully defended his title against the last man to defend the belt, “The Dragon” Lyoto Machida (17-3). The fans came out the big winners again, as they have in almost every Pay-Per-View event in 2011, but for the fighters, there are always The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. Continue reading »
Dec 112011
Dec 102011
(Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
—MAIN CARD (on Pay-Per-View)—
Jon Jones vs. Lyoto Machida: Jones via Technical Submission (Guillotine Choke), Round 2, 4:26
Frank Mir vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira: Mir via Submission (Kimura), Round 1, 3:38
Tito Ortiz vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira: Nogueria via TKO (Strikes), Round 1, 3:15
Claude Patrick vs. Brian Ebersole: Ebersole via Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29), Round 3, 5:00
Mark Hominick vs. Chan Sung Jung: Jung via KO (Punch), Round 1, 0:07 Continue reading »
Dec 102011
Though both men are stylistically very similar, Jon Jones (red trunks) is by far the more aggressive and that means that he will benefit more from any lucky slips or miscues. (Photo courtesy of Heavy MMA)
UFC 140: Jones vs. Machida will take the world’s premier MMA promotion back to its home away from home as the Canadian fans gather to watch a series of top level showdowns. Frank Mir (15-5) and “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (33-6-1) have gotten lost in the mix of the UFC heavyweight title picture and will use their rematch to remind everyone they are still contenders. “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz (16-9-1) and “Little Nog” Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (18-5) are both in dire need of a renaissance in their light heavyweight careers and will look to find it against each other. Brian Ebersole (43-14-1) and Claude Patrick (14-1) have both worked long and hard for their chances at UFC glory and will now battle each other for a spot among the top contenders. “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung (11-3) and “The Machine” Mark Hominick (19-8) both had renown and glory as elite WEC featherweights and will open the Pay-Per-View card showing the fans why they deserve the acclaim they were introduced with despite falling short in their recent UFC performances. All eyes, however, are focused on the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship fight between “Bones” Jon Jones (14-1) and “The Dragon” Lyoto Machida (17-2). Both men have had almost identical MMA careers and now, many experts have speculated that Machida is the man most likely to solve the riddle of Jon Jones much as “Shogun” Mauricio Rua (20-6) was the man to shatter the invincible aura of “The Dragon”. Continue reading »
Dec 092011
- (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
Tomorrow night the Ultimate Fighting Championship takes aim at Toronto, Ontario, Canada for its second offering to the city’s ravenous MMA community with UFC 140: Jones vs. Machida. Leading the way on the live Pay-Per-View broadcast is a featherweight battle between two former WEC stand-outs “The Machine” Mark Hominick (19-8) and “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung (11-3). Then, hometown fighter Claude Patrick (14-1) squares off with the always eccentric personality and often underrated skill set of Indiana native Brian Ebersole (43-14-1). Renowned light heavyweights “The People’s Champion” Tito Ortiz (16-9-1), previously dubbed “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy”, and “Little Nog” Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (18-5) take to the cage in an effort to revive their once lucrative careers. The co-main event features a heavyweight rematch between former champion Frank Mir (15-5) and “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (33-6-1). Finally, the marquis event pits together two of the most technical strikers in the UFC, “Bones” Jon Jones (14-1) and “The Dragon” Lyoto Machida (17-2), with Jones’ 205lbs. title up for grabs.
Below, the MMA Gospel staff takes a stab at determining how the UFC’s most recent effort may unfold in front of its ever-growing, worldwide audience. Continue reading »
Dec 092011
Frank Mir (red gloves) has developed speed, power, and technique in his boxing in recent years, making him a serious threat anywhere the fight takes place. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The UFC is dropping anchor for a second time in Toronto, Ontario, Canada after a successful debut with UFC 129 in April. UFC Light Heavyweight Champion “Bones” Jon Jones (14-1) will make his second title defense against former 205lbs. champion “The Dragon” Lyoto Machida (17-2). Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz (16-9) will enter the cage under the new moniker ”The People’s Champion” against the younger twin of the Nogueira brothers, “Min0tauro” Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (18-5). Welterweight dark horse Brian Ebersole (44-14) will take on Claude Patrick (14-1) who is looking to keep his 13-fight win streak alive with a win over a talented veteran. Former title challenger and supreme striker “The Machine” Mark Hominick (19-8) will return to fight in front of his hometown against the tough and seemingly unstoppable “Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung (11-3) in a 145lbs. match-up that could easily make “Fight of the Night”. Serving as the co-main event for UFC 140 is a rematch between former UFC Heavyweight Champions Frank Mir (15-5) and “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (33-6), finally taking place after their first meeting at UFC 92 in December of 2008 as each man seeks a return to title contention. Continue reading »
Dec 082011
Although Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (white shorts) has solid Jiu-Jitsu credentials, wrestlers have given him trouble in the past and with Tito Ortiz, it will be no different. Unless Nogueira can outlast the ground assault, his best chances of winning will lie in his boxing skills. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The Ultimate Fighter serves as a chance to quicken the careers of promising mixed martial artists but UFC 140 will display what the top of the food chain has to offer come Saturday night from Toronto, Ontario, Canada’s Air Canada Center. The light heavyweight title is up for grabs when current champ “Bones” Jon Jones (14-1) tries to cap off his year in spectacular fashion against the former 205lbs. king “The Dragon” Lyoto Machida (17-2). A heavyweight rematch is set when Frank Mir (15-5) takes on “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (33-6-1) in the co-main event. Hometown heroes “The Prince” Claude Patrick (14-1) and “The Machine” Mark Hominick (19-8) will try to make their country proud when they meet Brian Ebersole (44-14-1) and “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung (11-3), respectively. In the middle of all the action, “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz (16-9-1) tries to make good of his 2011 when he meets an equally dangerous fighter in “Little Nog” Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. Both posses the hands and the grappling credentials to get the job done and with each returning with a loss behind them, they will go at whatever lengths possible to break back into the winning circle. Continue reading »
Dec 082011
As UFC 140 approaches this Saturday, I’m asked by MMA Gospel as well as the millions of Icemigos around the world (give or take millions) to give my picks on the main card. Now, sometimes I have a clear and definite opinion on how I think a fight will go. This is usually a pleasure because all I have to do is explain what I think and why and hope that I will be able to gloat and say “I told you so” rather than shrug and say “the fuck do I know?”.
However, many times I have no real concrete opinion on the potential outcome. In these instances, I’m forced to look carefully at the fighters’ strengths and weaknesses and how they match up against each other. I also look at past fights and allow for momentum and progression by giving more weight to more recent fights. Then I consider various X factors like heart and toughness, how long since their last fight, whether they’ve trained with a new gym with new coaches, if they’re moving to a new weight for the fight, any possible injuries that may be hindering them, and so on.
I consider all of this very carefully for about ten minutes and then I forget all that shit and pretty much fucking guess. My success rate in such instances is about 60%. Here’s my main problem with these damn picks: the odds aren’t factored in. They are when you bet money, why not in accessing the accuracy of picks? For example, if in Tito Ortiz vs. Ryan Bader you picked Ortiz via first-round submission that should be worth at least 25x more on the accuracy points as say, picking Couture via first-round TKO against James Toney. But if we’re going to indulge in prognostication why not go balls out? So, here’s how the main card of UFC 140 will go down. Exactly. If you don’t want spoilers, I suggest not reading any further but instead waiting until after UFC 140 and coming back and being completely amazed by my psychic powers. Continue reading »
Dec 072011
Brian Ebersole (black trunks) may not take himself seriously, but that has proven to be a mistake his more well known opponents couldn't afford to make. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
On December 10, the UFC will bring together two of its most storied light heavyweights of the new era when “Bones” Jon Jones (14-1) defends his title against the last fighter before him to successfully defend the belt, “The Dragon” Lyoto Machida (17-2). Also taking the stage are Frank Mir (15-5) and “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (33-6-1) in a rematch of their 2008 heavyweight battle. In another light heavyweight tilt, former champion “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz (16-9-1) and “Little Nog” Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (18-5) will square off with different things to prove as the twilight of their careers descends. Opening the main Pay-Per-View card, “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung (11-3) pits his granite jaw against the steel hands of former WEC stand-out “The Machine” Mark Hominick (19-8). Not to be lost in the midst of so many exciting, high profile fights, welterweight warriors Brian Ebersole (43-14-1) and Claude Patrick (14-1) will face each other with a possible title contention berth on the line. Continue reading »
Dec 062011
Though he is known as an unstoppable slugger, Chan Sung Jung's (blue gloves) ground game is the most dangerous variable in his bout with Mark Hominick. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The UFC will return to Canada, arguably the place where its most ravenous fans reside, to present UFC 140: Jones vs. Machida, headlined by the seemingly unstoppable UFC Light Heavyweight Champion “Bones” Jon Jones (14-1) and the man many experts feel is his biggest threat in the division, former champion “The Dragon” Lyoto Machida (17-2). Shoring up the card is a pair of bouts featuring old guard fighters in battles to remain part of the title contention pictures of their weight classes as Frank Mir (15-5) rematches fellow former heavyweight king “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (33-6-1) and “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz (16-9-1) faces the aforementioned Nogueira’s twin brother “Little Nog” Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (18-5). Brian Ebersole (43-14-1) will help fill in the middle of the event with a bout against rising Canadian star Claude Patrick (14-1), and two former WEC fan favorites will open the night as “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung (11-3) pits his iron chin against the devastating power of “The Machine” Mark Hominick (19-8). The two featherweights are known for their exciting styles and willingness to stand in the pocket and throw leather and will certainly open the Pay-Per-View card with a bang. Continue reading »
Dec 052011