MMA Gospel Staff Picks: UFC on Fuel 2

 Posted by at 8:07 PM  MMA News, UFC  No Responses »
Apr 132012
 

(Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

The Ultimate Fighting Championship descends upon the Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden this Saturday to present its second fight card on FOX affiliate network Fuel TV. UFC on Fuel TV: Gustafsson vs. Silva starts off the main card with a pair of WEC alumni as “One Punch” Brad Pickett (20-6) and “The Angel of Death” Damacio Page (15-6) fight it out to get back in the good graces of the Zuffa brass on the heels of a rough patch in each man’s respective career. TUF alum “The Darkness” DaMarques Johnson (15-9) faces off with British submission specialist “The One” John Maguire (17-3) in a welterweight affair, followed by German kickboxer Dennis Siver (19-8) making his 145lbs. debut against fellow striker “The Gun” Diego Nunes (17-2). Then, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu aficionado Paulo Thiago (14-3) welcomes long awaited prospect and United Glory, Sengoku, and Shooto veteran “The Great” Siyar Bahadurzada (20-4-1) to the UFC’s Octagon. Two of the middleweight division’s most battle-tested fighters, USMC war veteran “All-American” Brian Stann (11-4) and former pro boxer “Legionarius” Alessio Sakara (15-8) will be slinging fists in the UFC on Fuel 2 main event. The marquee bout of the evening pits Brazilian bomber Thiago Silva (14-2) against hometown fighter and rising contender “The Mauler” Alexander Gustafsson (13-1) in a light heavyweight match-up that is a frontrunner for “Knockout of the Night” honors.

Las Vegas oddsmakers we are not, but nonetheless, here is the MMA Gospel staff’s most valiant effort at determining who will come out on top at UFC on Fuel 2. Continue reading »

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UFC on Fuel 2 Pre-Fight Breakdown: Brad Pickett vs. Damacio Page

 Posted by at 7:11 PM  MMA News, UFC  No Responses »
Apr 092012
 

Brad Pickett (left) will face fellow WEC veteran Damacio Page in a main card-opening bantamweight bout that may very well serve as both competitors' last chance to impress the Zuffa brass. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

The UFC returns from over a month-long hiatus this Saturday to stake its claim in the city of Stockholm, Sweden for its second event to be broadcast on Fuel TV. Headlining the event is a light heavyweight match-up between Sweden’s own “The Mauler” Alexander Gustafsson (13-1) and wrecking machine Thiago Silva (14-2-1). Former USMC and war hero “All-American” Brian Stann (11-4) returns to battle against another warrior in Rome, Italy’s “Legionarius” Alessio Sakara (15-8) in a middleweight bout. United Glory, Sengoku, and Shooto veteran “The Great” Siyar Bahadurzada (20-4) makes his UFC debut against Brazilian bad boy Paulo Thiago (14-3). Top featherweight “The Gun” Diego Nunes (17-2) welcomes powerful kickboxer Dennis Siver (19-8) to the 145lbs. division. TUF 7 alum “The Darkness” DaMarques Johnson (15-9) faces England’s “The One” John Maguire (17-3). Bantamweights “The Angel of Death” Damacio Page (15-6) and “One Punch” Brad Pickett (20-6) have the honor of starting off the stacked main card to showcase one of the UFC’s newest divisions in what will likely be a fight not only for a victory, but also to maintain employment with the Zuffa promotion. Continue reading »

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Strikeforce Reportedly Releases Alistair Overeem

 Posted by at 1:16 PM  MMA News, Strikeforce  No Responses »
Jul 302011
 

Now former Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem reportedly has been released by his stateside home promotion. (Photo courtesy of Taro Irei)

Strikeforce Heavyweight and K-1 Champion “The Demolition Man” Alistair Overeem (32-12) has reportedly been cut from Strikeforce.

After much back-and-forth talk from Overeem, his camp, and the Strikeforce and Zuffa brass about his Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix semi-finals match-up with “Bigfoot” Antonio Silva (15-2), Overeem ultimately withdrew from the fight July 18, stating that the September 10 fight date would not allow ample time to heal from the broken toe he allegedly sustained even prior to his quarter-finals bout against “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (14-5-1), in which he won the decision after three relatively uneventful rounds. Additional injuries to “The Demolition Man” have been reported but not yet confirmed.

Friday’s edition of “Inside MMA” first broke the news of Overeem’s release and was immediately followed by an official statement from HDNet regarding the matter. Overeem’s trainer Martijn de Jong also confirmed the cut, though Strikeforce officials have yet to release a statement to confirm or deny Overeem’s departure from the organization. Continue reading »

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