Nov 092012
Nov 052012
Sep 032012
Jul 162012
Matt Riddle (white trunks) is a game young fighter, but he lacks the consistent finishing ability that he will need against Chris Clements. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
On the heels of one of MMA’s busiest weeks, Zuffa keeps the pressure on with yet another Pay-Per-View card. This time, Brazilian wrecking machine Renan Barao (28-1) will step in for injured champion “The Dominator” Dominick Cruz (19-1) to face “The California Kid” Urijah Faber (26-5) in the night’s main event with both men vying for the Interim UFC Bantamweight Championship. UFC 149: Faber vs. Barao also features the debut of former Bellator middleweight king “Shango” Hector Lombard (31-2) as he puts his 24-fight unbeaten streak on the line against “The Barbarian” Tim Boetsch (15-4). Heavyweight staple Cheick Kongo (17-7-2) will square off with another Bellator stand-out in slugger “The Savage” Shawn Jordan (13-3) in his second UFC effort, and “Bad Boy” Brian Ebersole will return to action just a month after his last fight to face James Head (8-2). Opening the night’s PPV combat is a bout between “The Menace” Chris Clements (11-4) and “Deep Waters” Matt Riddle (6-3). Each man represents a different caste of fighter and each has his own reasons to prove his background is superior. Continue reading »
Jul 092012
Jul 082012
Anderson Silva’s (yellow shorts) killer instincts brought an end to his rivalry with Chael Sonnen (white shorts) after Sonnen over-committed to a spinning backfist in the second frame. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
UFC 148 was the most successful live event in UFC history. Though the Pay-Per-View numbers for the second meeting of “The Spider” Anderson Silva (32-4) and Chael Sonnen (27-12-1) have yet to be released, the live gate was over 6.5 million dollars, eclipsing the previous UFC record of 5.3 million and setting a record for MMA in the state of Nevada. ”The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz (16-11-1) went out with a “Fight of the Night” earning bang but saw his retirement party crashed by Forrest Griffin (19-7) in a narrow decision loss. Cung Le (8-2) defeated “The Predator” Patrick Cote (17-8) in his first UFC victory. Demian Maia (16-4) was the beneficiary of “Stun Gun” Dong Hyun Kim’s (15-2-1) bad luck when the Korean Judoka’s self-inflicted rib injury brought an early halt to the match. “AK Kid” Cody McKenzie (13-3) found out the hard way that a move to 145 wasn’t going to make his life any easier when “Money” Chad Mendes (12-1) finished him in just 31 seconds. Opening the card, “The Hulk” Mike Easton (13-1) came out on top against “The Pride of El Salvator” Ivan Menjivar (24-9). The UFC and its fans were the clear winners of the night, but the fighters themselves may not have fared so well. To explore this is The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.
Jul 082012
The trilogy is complete: In what is expected to be his last fight, Tito Ortiz’s (left) three-round battle with Forrest Griffin (right) at UFC 148 ended with the latter taking the win and both combatants earning “Fight of the Night” bonuses. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The following fight bonuses were awarded for UFC 148: Silva vs. Sonnen II
Submission of the Night:
Not applicable – UFC 148 card had no submission wins
Knockout of the Night:
Anderson Silva (over Chael Sonnen) receives $75,000
Fight of the Night:
Forrest Griffin and Tito Ortiz each receive $75,000
Click here for the full list of UFC 148 results.
Jul 072012
(Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
—MAIN CARD (on Pay-Per-View)—
Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen: Silva via TKO (Punches), Round 2, 1:55
Forrest Griffin vs. Tito Ortiz: Griffin via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28), Round 3, 5:00
Cung Le vs. Patrick Cote: Le via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27), Round 3, 5:00
Dong Hyun Kim vs. Demian Maia: Maia via TKO (Rib Injury), Round 1, 0:47
Chad Mendes vs. Cody McKenzie: Mendes via TKO (Body Punch), Round 1, 0:31
Ivan Menjivar vs. Mike Easton: Easton via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27), Round 3, 5:00
Jul 072012
Even at just 23-years-old, undefeated rising prospect Khabib Nurmagomedov’s (white trunks) accomplishments in the martial arts and well-rounded skill set pose a substantial threat to the UFC’s lightweight division. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
Tonight the UFC is back in action at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada with a star-studded card that features one of the most highly anticipated rematches in MMA history. As made even more evident by the reported 10,000+ in attendance for Friday night’s UFC 148 weigh-ins, Zuffa can certainly look forward to having some of their highest Pay-Per-View numbers to date with a card headlined by current UFC Middleweight Champion and arguably one of the greatest fighters to ever grace the Octagon, “The Spider” Anderson Silva (31-4), and polarizing figure Chael Sonnen (27-11), who is looking to score revenge for the loss he suffered the last time he and the champ met nearly two years ago. But that’s not the only great rematch on the PPV portion of UFC 148: Silva vs. Sonnen II, as fans will also get to see the long awaited rubber match between former light heavyweight champions Forrest Griffin (18-7) and “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz (16-10). Win, lose, or draw, Ortiz plans on hanging up his gloves and flamed shorts and walking off into the sunset. Shoring up the main card are the likes of former Strikeforce champ Cung Le (7-2), returning UFC veteran “The Predator” Patrick Cote (17-7), JMMA star “Stun Gun” Dong Hyun Kim (15-1-1) and BJJ expert Demian Maia (15-4), WEC veteran “Money” Chad Mendes (11-1) and TUF alum “AK Kid” Cody McKenzie (13-2), and Tristar Gym fighter “Pride of El Salvador” Ivan Menjivar (24-8) and “The Hulk” Mike Easton (12-1) in the opening slot. The UFC is also supplying tremendous action in the undercard match-ups, with perhaps the most promising contender for becoming a main card mainstay being “The Eagle” Khabib Nurmagomedov (17-0).
Jul 062012
(Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The phrase “most anticipated fight of the year” is thrown around very liberally in the landscape of mixed martial arts, and has long since become overstated in respect to both frequency and descriptiveness. Saturday night’s UFC 148, however, boasts a match-up that truly is the most anticipated fight of the year, if not of the past two years since the headlining combatants first met in August 2010. In just over 24 hours, one of the biggest scores in recent MMA history will be settled when long-reigning UFC Middleweight Champion “The Spider” Anderson Silva (31-4) comes face to face with boisterous, professional wrestling-esque smack talker Chael Sonnen (27-11-1), who in their first meeting came all too close to handing Silva his first loss in over four years before being submitted late in the fifth round. Directly supporting the ultimate grudge match of a main event is a rubber match between former champions and staples of the UFC, Forrest Griffin (18-7) and “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz (16-10-1). Revered 185lbs. striker Cung Le (7-2) welcomes fellow heavy-hitter “The Predator” Patrick Cote (17-7) back to the Octagon after a two-year-long UFC hiatus. Welterweights “Stun Gun” Dong Hyun Kim (15-1-1) and Demian Maia (15-4) will compete in what is sure to be a battle on the mat. Former top 145lbs. contender “Money” Chad Mendes (11-1) will square off with TUF alum “AK Kid” Cody McKenzie (13-2), preceded by a bantamweight affair between “The Hulk” Mike Easton (12-1) and “The Pride of El Salvador” Ivan Menjivar (24-8). The winners and losers of UFC 148 have yet to be determined, but here are the MMA Gospel staff’s picks of who is likely to come out on top. Continue reading »
Jul 062012
UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva (left) and title challenger Chael Sonnen (right) are set to face off for the second time at UFC 148. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
—MAIN CARD (on Pay-Per-View)—
Anderson Silva: 184lbs.
Chael Sonnen: 185lbs.
Forrest Griffin: 204lbs.
Tito Ortiz: 204lbs.
Cung Le: 185lbs.
Patrick Cote: 185lbs.
Dong Hyun Kim: 170lbs.
Demian Maia: 170lbs.
Chad Mendes: 146lbs.
Cody McKenzie: 145lbs.
Ivan Menjivar: 136lbs.
Mike Easton: 135lbs. Continue reading »
Jul 062012
Jul 062012
In their first meeting, Chael Sonnen (white trunks) dominated Anderson Silva (yellow shorts) both standing and on the ground. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)
The MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada will once again host the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization as Zuffa presents UFC 148: Silva vs. Sonnen II on Saturday night. Opening the card is a bantamweight match between “The Hulk” Mike Easton (12-1) and “The Pride of El Salvador” Ivan Menjivar (24-8), proceeded by former top 145lbs. contender “Money” Chad Mendes (11-1) versus TUF alum “AK Kid” Cody McKenzie (13-2). Welterweights “Stun Gun” Dong Hyun Kim (15-1-1) and Jiu-Jitsu expert Demian Maia (15-4) will follow the 135ers with Cung Le (7-2) and “The Predator” Patrick Cote (17-7) holding the anchor position. The co-main will see Forrest Griffin (18-7) face “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz (16-10-1) for the third time in each man’s storied career and headlining the Pay-Per-View card will be a rematch that nearly everyone in the MMA world has been eagerly awaiting for nearly two years: “The Spider” Anderson Silva (31-4) against Chael Sonnen (27-11-1). Continue reading »
Jul 062012
Jul 052012