Sunday, February 5, 2012
UFC 143 Results: Is All the Hatred for Josh Koscheck Justified?
At UFC 143, former welterweight title contender Josh Koscheck picked up a split decision victory over Mike Pierce.
Koscheck, now 17-5, is arguably one of the best welterweights in the UFC today.
He's also one of the most hated.
From Koscheck allegedly faking being hurt in a fight with Anthony Johnson, to feuding with Tito Ortiz and Georges St-Pierre, Koscheck has often played the heel role in his career.
But is the now-former AKA fighter really all that bad?
Koscheck does come off as being a jerk most of the time.
But is he really that much different than other hated fighters like Michael Bisping, Chael Sonnen and Nick Diaz?
Well, the difference between Koscheck and those other fighters is there is at least one quality that people like about them.
Sonnen, although annoying at times, is at least entertaining.
Diaz puts on exciting fights and can even gain compassion from some fans.
Bisping may be one of the few fighters that is more hated more than Koscheck.
But, Bisping is still a bigger draw than Koscheck.
Koscheck may be a completely different guy off the screen.
But we have yet to really see a time, perhaps besides Paul Daley punching him after a fight, where we've really been on Koscheck's side.
But until he makes an on-screen change like Tito Ortiz did, he will continue to be one of the most hated fighters in the MMA.
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com
UFC fighters make their Super Bowl 46 picks
LAS VEGAS -- Athletes are athletes. Every sport has its stars, grunts and primadonnas.
Super Bowl 46 and the NFL have too many to count and so does the UFC.
Scott Bemis from the local CBS television affiliate in Las Vegas decided to mix the two worlds. Check out Roy Nelson and myself on KLAS trying to come up with our star QB, diva receiver, kicker, coach and the intimidating hitter from the UFC.
Everyone loves the NFL. The audience in the U.S. is expected to top 150 million. Plenty of fighters will be glued to a TV set or partying around Super Bowl 46. The promotion asked a bunch of the fighters at UFC 143 for their plays on the game.
Georges St-Pierre, UFC welterweight champion
"I've not a clue about the rules of football but I will be screaming for New York because it's the closest city to Montreal."
Carlos Condit, UFC interim welterweight title challenger
"I'm going to take the New York Giants. Sometimes being an underdog is the greatest motivation. I'm an underdog against Diaz this Saturday and it's going to be the weekend of the dog."
Roy Nelson, UFC heavyweight
"My picks for game day are Bud Light for the bud bowl. As for the other entertainment on that day, I have not picked my favorite commercial yet but it is usually the one with bigger budget, but the Cinderella story can always happen and that's why I love the tournament format. As for the filler, I don't have a pick but it definitely will be a showdownwith the New York Giants and New England, but my bet is on the one with "New" in their name."
Josh Koscheck, UFC welterweight
"I am mad because those are not my two favorite teams. That said, I think it should be a good, hard fought game. I'm not sure who will come out on top."
Brendan Schaub, UFC heavyweight
"My prediction for the game is it's going to be a good game--high scoring from both teams. In order for the Giants to win, they have to get pressure on Tom Brady from the D-line so he can't sit in the pocket and drop bombs to his monster tight ends Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski, however even with that being said I think New England will be just too much for the Giants and pull off a late 4th quarter game-winning drive adding to the Brady legacy."
Clifford Starks, UFC middleweight
"I have to go with the Patriots, I know that they remember the last time they lost to the Giants and they are looking to take that bitter taste out of their mouth."
Max Holloway, UFC featherweight
"I'm going to have to take the Giants. I think they've got the defense to hold Brady and his offense down. Also because Eli is one lucky dude I swear. I think he could close his eyes and throw the ball and it would land into one of his receivers' hands. The Giants are just something else when they play in the post-season. Their wide receivers have just been on these last couple of games."
Matt Brown, UFC welterweight
"I predict the Patriots will win simply because New England is title town. My fianc� is from Massachusetts, home of the Patriots, Celtics, Red Sox, and Bruins. All the winning teams are from MA so there is no way the Pats will walk away defeated. It also helps that Patriots QB Tom Brady has the best record of any NFL quarterback in the modern era with at least 100 starts."
Chris Cope, UFC welterweight
"I'm picking the Patriots because their offensive line is stacked and Brady is always clutch during the playoffs! Woooooooooooo!!!!!!!! Patriots!"
Stephen Thompson, UFC welterweight
"Eli Manning's offense is very strong which will allow him to move the ball well especially in the air. Their D line is strong which will allow their D-Backs to do their jobs."
Edwin Figueroa, UFC bantamweight
"Personally, I'm from Texas and when it comes to football I bleed silver and blue - Cowboys all the way win or lose! Onlytrue fans can say that! On that note though, I'm rooting for the Patriots to avenge their 2008 final loss to the Giants. Go Pats!"
Ed Herman, UFC middleweight
"I'm going to have to go with the underdog Giants. I enjoy rooting for the underdog plus their defense has been stellar. Go Giants!"
Scott Jorgensen, UFC bantamweight
"Patriots over the Giants! AFC east all the way! If it ain't the Bills in the bowl, I want to see the division do well to justify the Bills performance."
Super Bowl weekend is huge in Sin City. The UFC's decision to hold a Super Saturday card each year in Vegas is brilliant. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is estimating an additional 286,000 people will come to town. Hotels are at near 90-percent occupancy and the non-gaming revenue generated this weekend is $98 million.
You can watch UFC 143 right here on Yahoo! Sports
Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/fighters-super-bowl-xli-picks-215808439.html
UFC on Fox 2 weigh-in: Weidman ditches the Sloppy Joes to drop 32 pounds in 11 days
CHICAGO -- Dana White had to be smiling inside to see Chris Weidman make weight for his UFC on Fox 2 fight. Weidman, called just 11 days ago as a late replacement, had to drop from 217 pounds to make tomorrow's battle against Demian Maia an official middleweight fight.
It just two weeks ago that the promotion had to endure the embarrassment of watching Anthony Johnson missed weight badly at UFC 142.
Weidman was actually called with the offer while sitting at his dinner table. His wife was making some delicious Sloppy Joes. When Weidman committed to the fight, he had to go right to work.
"I just headed to the gym and ate a spoonful of peanut butter, and that was it," a glum Weidman told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
The former Hofstra wrestler is trying to make a big step up the middleweight ladder with a victory over Maia. We'll find out tomorrow if the severe weight cut will affect him on fight night.
Phil Davis went with the wrestling theme. Rashad Evans, a former Michigan State wrestler, tried to rip on Davis and his college wrestling career. It was a strange approach considering Davis was a four-time All-American and national champ in 2008. Davis, who's done a brilliant job of poking fun at Evans, pulled out his old Nittany Lions' garb for the fight today.
This from wrestling guru Maggie Hendricks:
So that singlet is Penn State's championship singlet, one that only gets broken out if a guy wrestles in the finals. Since Davis wrestled in the NCAA finals twice, he has at least one. Most schools have them, but PSU's is very recognizable because they don't have a ton of singlet options, like other schools. As a fellow Big 10er, Evans would know that. Wearing that one, and not Penn State's more traditional dark blue singlet, was a sly way of Davis saying, "Yes, I am the better wrestler."
A weigh-in wouldn't be complete with a dust up or some heat arising. Michael Bisping took care of that by angrily reacting to the booing crowd at the Chicago Theater. The Brit flipped off the fans.
UFC on Fox 2 weigh-in (Courtesy MMAjunkie):
MAIN CARD (FOX)
- Phil Davis (205) vs. Rashad Evans (205)
- Michael Bisping (185) vs. Chael Sonnen (185)
- Demian Maia (186) vs. Chris Weidman (185)
PRELIMINARY CARD (FUEL TV)
- Evan Dunham (155) vs. Nik Lentz (155)
- John-Olav Einemo (253) vs. Mike Russow (251)
- George Roop (145) vs. Cub Swanson (145)
- Charles Oliveira (144) vs. Eric Wisely (145)
- Michael Johnson (156) vs. Shane Roller (156)
- Joey Beltran (228) vs. Lavar Johnson (252)
PRELIMINARY CARD (Facebook)
- Chris Camozzi (185) vs. Dustin Jacoby (185)
UFC 143 video: Alex Cacares loves the big time, but misses the days of backyard brawling
LAS VEGAS -- The crowds, money, adulation, safety precautions are all dynamite for 23-year-old Alex Cacares as he fights for the biggest mixed martial arts promotion in the world, but the Miami native misses the days of what appears to be a much more barbaric mode of fighting - the backyard brawl.
Those types of fights have been going down since the beginning of time. They recently became headliners again with the growth of YouTube and exposure for guys like Kimbo Slice in the Miami area.
As a hulking stack of muscle and intimidation, Slice fit the part. Cacares is slender and appears to be non-threatening, but when you hear him talk about his teenage experience with those pit fights you realize the kid loves to fight anywhere, anytime.
"I got into it because I was underage to get into professional fighting, "Cacares told Cagewriter just a few days before his 11 pro fight at UFC 143. "I was doing amateur fights at the time. I really wanted to get into a professional fighting, minimize the hand protection, no shin guards and really see what I could do."
The UFC currently uses four ounce gloves which are tiny compared to boxing's eight and 10 ounce models. Cacares still prefers the more primitive style of using bare-knuckles. "I believe bare knuckle hurts less than wearing these UFC gloves. I've been hit by both� and I'd rather be hit by the bare knuckle," Cacares said the gloves increase the surface area of the fist and seem to make the punches stick more. "The bare knuckle slides off more. When you get hit by the whole glove it gives you that little ringing sound."
Cacares did his first backyard brawl at 17, making between $300 and $600 per fight. If he won, he'd get spiffed by the winning bettors. He'd take home as much as $800 on some nights.
"It's a crazy experience. The crowd might not be as big as UFC crowd, but man they sound really loud because they're literally two feet away from you and we're fighting in a chicken cage. It's kind of like a pit fight, a dog fight. But it was a good experience," said Cacares.
He's clearly fearless. There were no structured weight classes, no rounds, no time limits, no doctor to look at cuts and the fights went to the finish. You win when your opponent quits, can't continue or you submit him.
Things are different now in many ways. Most importantly, Cacares is actually fighting guys his size. He fought on Season 12 of "The Ultimate Fighter" at 155 pounds, but he barely walks around above 150. Now he's more comfortable down at 135 and can be a bully in the division.
Cacares was excellent in his UFC bantamweight debut against Cole Escovedo. On Saturday, Cacares (6-4, 1-2 UFC) takes a good step up against Edwin Figueroa. The shorter Figueroa is the only guy recently who's given phenom Michael McDonald a fight, going the distance in losing a decision. The promotion is so high on MacDonald that he's been throw in there with former bantamweight champ Miguel Torres in February. If Cacares takes out Figueroa, that's a big notch on his belt.
You can watch UFC 143 right here on Yahoo! Sports
MMA Top 10 Women's Pound-for-Pound
These are uncertain times for women's mixed martial arts. Strikeforce has been the industry leader in female fights, while the UFC has maintained that it has no interest in putting women in the Octagon. So now that the UFC runs Strikeforce, does that mean women's MMA is endangered?Not necessarily. The Strikeforce women were invited to the UFC's recent fighter summit in Las Vegas, which indicates that Zuffa thinks women have a future within the company, and next month's return of the sport's biggest female star, Gina Carano, will result in a publicity boost for women's MMA.
So as I review the top 10 female fighters in mixed martial arts, I'm confident that it's a list of fighters whose futures are bright. Even if I'm not sure where and when most of them will fight next.
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Source: http://mmafighting.com/2011/05/14/mma-top-10-womens-pound-for-pound/
Pacquiao vs. Mosley: Why MMA Fans Should Care
We'll have full results and live round-by-round scoring for Manny Pacquiao vs. Shane Mosley on Saturday night, which may lead to a few readers wondering, What's boxing news doing on an MMA site? Here are five reasons why you, if you're an MMA fan, should care about Pacquiao vs. Mosley:1. It's the biggest combat sports event of the year.
For as much as the UFC has gained on -- and in some respects surpassed -- the popularity of boxing, the biggest fights in boxing still exceed the biggest fights in the UFC in terms of pay-per-view buys and worldwide media attention. Although the MGM Grand in Las Vegas obviously won't attract nearly as many fans as the 55,000 who came out to see Georges St. Pierre in Toronto, Pacquiao vs. Mosley will surely get more pay-per-view buys in the United States, far more mainstream media attention and far more attention globally, as Pacquiao is a draw throughout Asia and the single biggest celebrity in the Philippines, a country of nearly 100 million people. This is a major worldwide sporting event.
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Source: http://mmafighting.com/2011/05/06/pacquiao-vs-mosley-why-mma-fans-should-care/
Saturday, February 4, 2012
UFC 143: Yahoo! Sports and Heavy present Fight Day Live
Fight Day Live is coming back at you this Saturday for another star studded show from the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas for UFC 143: Condit vs. Diaz. Hosts Dave Farra and Megan Olivi will prepare you for all the fighting action on Saturday and the expert panel of Matt Brown, John Morgan and Larry Pepe will break down the pay per view card and give their opinion on who will take home the win.
Also slated for Fight Day Live are two interview, live on set. The first is with the number one contender to the women's 135-pound belt, "Rowdy" Ronda Rousey. Rousey is a human soundbite, so you won't want to miss that one. And also on set is crowd favorite Clay "The Carpenter" Guida. �Main event fighter Carlos Condit will also be featured in an exclusive one-on-one interview. Be sure and tune into Fight Day Live at 6 p.m. ET/ 3 p.m. PT.
Want to see Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit battle it out live at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada?� Of course you do.� Well, your chance at being a part of all the UFC fighting action is only a couple of clicks away.
Log onto HeavyMMA's Facebook page.� From there, you must "like" the page and leave a comment about how much you'd love to go to the show. The folks at will Heavy conduct a random drawing and the lucky winner will receive two tickets to the big fight card on Feb. 4.
It's that easy!� So head over to HeavyMMA's Facebook page now and good luck.
You can watch UFC 143 right here on Yahoo! Sports
UFC 143: Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit Live Streaming Post-Fight Press Conference
Immediately after former Strikeforce champion Nick Diaz and former WEC champion Carlos Condit square off for the interim welterweight title, many of the UFC 143 competitors will join UFC president Dana White at the post-fight press conference.
Saturday's event at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas will also feature heavyweight Fabricio Werdum's return to the Octagon for a fight with Roy Nelson. Werdum reclaimed his spot as one of the top heavyweights in the world by defeating Fedor Emelianenko under the Strikeforce banner.
Additionally, rising bantamweight contender Renan Barao will attempt to make his case for a shot at the winner of a title fight between champion Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber. If Barao can convincingly defeat Scott Jorgensen, he will be more than deserving of a championship bout.
Former top contender Josh Koscheck will also try to jump back into the mix of welterweight contenders with a victory over Mike Pierce. Though Koscheck has lost twice to champion Georges St-Pierre, there is a possibility he could earn a fight for the interim title if St-Pierre suffers a setback in his recovery from a knee injury.
A live streaming feed of the post-fight press conference will be available on the above video player as soon as UFC 143 comes to an end.
Sean Smith is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report MMA. For the latest insight and updates on everything MMA, Follow Sean Smith on Twitter
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com
Evan Dunham stops Nik Lentz at UFC on Fox 2
CHICAGO -- Evan Dunham finished off the preliminary card of UFC on Fox 2 with a pummeling of Nik Lentz. Dunham won after two rounds because of a doctor's stoppage.
Both fighters were light on their feet and throwing several punches early in the round. Lentz tried for takedowns, but Dunham was able to spring back to his feet. Dunham got a big takedown late in the round.
Again in the second round, Dunham got the takedown. When they returned to their feet, they traded leather, smiling as they threw abuse at each other's bloody face. Dunham broke from their punchfest to get another takedown. He tried for a guillotine, but when he couldn't choke Lentz out, Dunham punished him with elbows. They returned to their feet in the final thirty seconds, with Lentz's face showing the damage he sustained in the round. Because of the damage, the bout was stopped before the third round began.
Dunham is now 13-2, while Lentz falls to 21-5-2.
Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/evan-dunham-stops-nik-lentz-ufc-fox-2-004514000.html
UFC 143: 10 Things You Need to Know About the Fighters Debuting in Las Vegas
Five new faces will enter the Octagon on Saturday night for UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit.
The prelims on Facebook and FX will feature these UFC rookies, and there will be plenty of action to look forward to.
I've compiled a list of 10 things you should know about these fighters as they embark on their UFC careers.
The UFC Gladiator: Saying Goodbye to a True MMA Icon
He seemed a strange choice for a sport looking to shed its reputation for brutality. Yet there he was before every UFC event, donning his armor and preparing himself for battle. Did the UFC Gladiator evoke thoughts of "human cockfighting"? Of the arenas in Rome where men too often fought to the death? Of excess, depravity, cruelty?
Of course he did. But there he was, nonetheless, paired with Stemme's song "Face the Pain," a constant before every UFC broadcast for more than a decade. When you saw him girding his loins for the fight of his life, surely your blood starting pumping a little faster. If you didn't feel a little rush, well, it's time to go back to watching tennis. The UFC Gladiator meant things were about to get raw.
No more. Starting tomorrow, the UFC will debut a new opening for their cage fighting events. It will no doubt be slick and modern, will no doubt pay homage to the great athletes who have graced the Octagon with their presence during the Zuffa era.
It won't be the same.
Sure, sometimes you hated the Gladiator. If you ever bought a UFC event on DVD, you know full well the pain of watching that introduction in toto every time you popped the disc in. There was no skipping the UFC Gladiator. He was there whether you wanted him or not.
I write this with no tears in my eyes. We knew it was coming. It was announced last year when we learned the little sport that could was going prime time, network style.
"We're gonna change everything, graphics, show openings for pay-per-views and fight nights," Dana White said. "We're going to enhance the look and feel. The gladiator opening is going away."
It's important to embrace progress. The UFC is looking to capture a brand new audience of fans. To them, the Gladiator is likely a relic. It's cheesy. It's undoubtedly homoerotic. And yet, it's a bridge to our past, to the days when the UFC was more spectacle than sport.
People who have seen it say the new intro is amazing. That it will get you ready to watch the greatest sport on earth. I'm sure it will. The UFC never does anything half way. But I'll miss the Gladiator. Godspeed, my iconic friend. And good luck.
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1051950-the-ufc-gladiator-saying-goodbye-to-a-true-mma-icon
Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum Preview - Strikeforce
Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum Preview Video by StrikeforceSource: http://mmalice.com/strikeforce/strikeforce-overeem-vs-werdum-preview-video_68946046e.html
Friday, February 3, 2012
20 MMA Cliches We Never Want to Hear Again
There are cliches and then there are cliches so heinous and widespread that they evoke intense feelings of nausea and lunacy.
Well...maybe they're not that bad, but they're bad for sure.
Whether it's an overused phrase, a false belief about a fighter or group of fighters, or axiomatic truths that don't deserve the name, we hope that MMA evolves past these horrific cliches and that we never have to hear them again.
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1049780-ufc-20-mma-clichs-we-never-want-to-hear-again
UFC on Fox 2 picks, Vegas-style: Bisping really getting annoyed by Sonnen?s wrestling lines
CHICAGO -- It's all about staying off your back and top control in tonight's three big fights on the UFC on Fox 2 card.
If they control the pace in fights, top level wrestlers have the ability to steal rounds and money. A mix of underdogs and favorites (Chael Sonnen, Phil Davis and Chris Weidman) with excellent college wrestling backgrounds, will be an interesting follow on the betting scene.
Sonnen's controlled the pace so well in his recent fights, it's made him just about unbeatable and a huge favorite over Michael Bisping. We'll find out tonight if Bisping's takedown defense allows him to stay in the fight. Hopefully keeps his cool. Sonnen along with yesterday's weigh-in crowd at the Chicago Theater really got under the Brit's skin.
As an underdog, Phil Davis will be looking to do slow things down against Rashad Evans. Chris Weidman's in the most interesting position because the former Hofstra star could probably stay on top of Demian Maia the entire fight, but that's incredibly dangerous place to be against a top level jiu-jitsu fighter. In spite of that Weidman is a pretty solid favorite over the UFC veteran.
Former UFC bantamweight champ Miguel Torres joined Yahoo! Sports' Kevin Iole and myself on ESPN1100/98.9 FM to pick the fights using the Las Vegas' numbers.
UFC on Fox 2 odds:
Best plays in bold
Rashad Evans (-205) vs. Phil Davis (+175) - Light heavyweight
Michael Bisping (+360) vs. Chael Sonnen (-450) - Middleweight
Demian Maia (+120) vs. Chris Weidman (-140) - Middleweight
Evan Dunham (-355) vs. Nik Lentz (+295) - Lightweight
Mike Russow (-150) VS. Jon-Olav Einemo (+130) - Heavyweight
George Roop (-115) vs. Cub Swanson (-105) - Featherweight
Charles Oliveira (-490) vs. Eric Wisely (+390) - Featherweight
Shane Roller (-225) vs. Michael Johnson (+185) - Lightweight
Joey Beltran (-205) vs. Lavar Johnson (+175) - Heavyweight
Chris Camozzi (-150) vs. Dustin Jacoby (+130) - Middleweight
Jon-Olav Einemo?s harrowing trip to UFC on Fox 2
CHICAGO -- While his opponent, Mike Russow, is fighting in his hometown, Jon-Olav Einemo had to travel from his camp in Holland to get to Chicago for Saturday's bout. The trip was memorable for all the wrong reasons.
"I came from the UK, and we were about three or four hours into the flight. We were over the Atlantic Ocean, and it started to smell burnt on the plane," Einemo said. "The stewardess was running around, telling us there was nothing to be worried about. We had to turn back and make an emergency landing in Ireland, then wait there for four hours. It was a long break."
Einemo didn't see any flames shooting from the plane, but said the experience spooked him and the other passengers a bit.
"I was watching a movie, I had my headset on, and I started to smell something. I looked around, looked at the eyes of four other people, but it was OK."
Fighting against Russow, a Chicago police officer, Einemo knows he won't have the crowd on his side. He wore a shirt that read, "Chicago Rum Runners," to Thursday's press conference. Since law enforcement won't be on his side, he joked that he needs to appeal to other fans.
"Not everybody likes the police, so I have to try to get the other ones on my side!"
Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/jon-olav-einemo-harrowing-trip-ufc-fox-2-151254059.html
UFC on Fox 2: Evans says Davis isn?t ready for the big stage
Phil Davis is talking a damn good game getting ready for his UFC on Fox 2 main event fight against Rashad Evans. It was so good recently that Evans had finally had enough saying it's all lip service until their face to face in the Octagon.
"When you get hit in the mouth, things change," Evans said during the UFC on Fox 2 conference call (2:15 mark). "When you got hit by 'Little Nog,' you didn't know what to do. When I hit you n the mouth, you're going to feel it."
Davis set off Evans when he said the former UFC light heavyweight champ wouldn't have to worry about a title shot after this fight. Evans unloaded on the young Davis, also suggesting he would freeze in a fight of this magnitude.
"He ain't ready. He knows he ain't ready. You're just a boy," Evans, 32, said of the 27-year-old Davis. "We're going to see what happens. When those lights hit you and the crowd is roaring ... we're gonna see what kind of man you are, what kind of fighter you are."
Evans then went onto say he's a real fighter. He fights because he loves it while Davis fights because it's a job that pays. So the heat has kicked up a notch for Saturday night's fight on network TV.
UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones did his part to pitch the bout. He came out with some pretty strong words about Davis' chances in the fight, saying "Rashad's chin sucks." Jones said Davis by knockout is possible.
Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/ufc-fox-2-evans-says-davis-isn-t-155350902.html
It's Not Over, Until It's ALL OVER. - UFC
This Saturday night, two of the most talented KO artists in UFC history meet in the Octagon. Don't miss UFC 131: Dos Santos vs Carwin Live on Pay-Per-View or www.UFC.tv at 6/9PM PT/ETSource: http://mmalice.com/ufc/its-not-over-until-its-all-over-video_fe8c32076.html
Dana White blog captures controlled chaos of UFC on Fox 2
As is the norm, UFC president Dana White's first video blog of the week focused on last week's event. With UFC on Fox 2 airing on network television, the timing and control of this event had to be even tighter than usual. You'll see just how that is accomplished with looks into meetings, the production truck, and fighter walkouts.
You also see the emotions and second-guessing that come naturally after fights. Joey Beltran breaks down after getting knocked out by Lavar Johnson. Jon-Olav Einemo realizes that he should have arrived in Chicago earlier. Eric Wisely says he should have rolled out to avoid Charles Olivera's calf slicer.
A few warnings before you press play: As always, expect plenty of NSFW language, unless you work at a swear word factory. Also, there is a long segment of Phil Davis getting his knee stitched up. Davis can't bear to look, so no on will hold it against you if you look away, too.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
10 Reasons MMA Needs Brock Lesnar More Than Brock Lesnar Needs MMA
Brock Lesnar's MMA career may have been short, but it sure was sweet.
The former collegiate wrestling champion made a big splash in the MMA scene following a successful career in professional wrestling.
Lesnar used his celebrity status to obtain the UFC Heavyweight strap in just his fourth MMA fight.
As quick as his rise was, so too was his downfall. Highlighted by some serious beatings at the hands of Cain Velasquez and Alistair Overeem, Lesnar retired from MMA following his UFC 141 loss.
With his retirement, Lesnar left a huge void not only in the heavyweight division, but in all of MMA and the UFC as well. Dana White may not say it publicly, but there's no doubt he'd love to have Lesnar back under the UFC banner.
The only problem with that is MMA needs Lesnar more than he needs MMA. Look beyond his poor showings in his final three fights and realize what Lesnar brought to MMA was much more than what occurred once the cage door closed.
Officer Mike Russow takes UFC on Fox 2 decision
CHICAGO -- Mike Russow did his city proud with a decision victory at UFC on Fox 2. The judges scored it 29-28, 29-28, 30-27 for Russow, causing loud cheers from the crowd at the United Center.
Russow started with a quick takedown. When they returned to their feet, Russow was aggressive, landing a combination before clinching up with Einemo. He moved inside with strikes, and then got another takedown. From there Russow controlled Einemo until the last five seconds, when Einemo briefly reversed position before the round ended.
The second round started much like the first, with Russow getting a quick takedown. Russow briefly stood up and towered over Einemo, but returned to controlling him on the ground. They were stood up with 22 seconds left in the round, but Russow returned to the takedown that served him well for the first two rounds.
Einemo was more aggressive in the third round, and nailed Russow with a knee and a punch. Russow got the takedown again, but had more trouble with it. When on the ground, Einemo came close to take Russow's back, but Russow slipped out of it. Russow controlled Einemo for most of the round, but the two were stood up with just over a minute left. Einemo hit Russow with a knee, then Russow used the next knee for another takedown.
Russow is a full-time member of the Chicago Police Department and took a month off from the department to prepare for this bout. He's now 4-0 in the UFC and 15-1 overall. Einemo, a member of the famed Golden Glory camp, has lost both of his UFC bouts.
Mike Easton edges Jared Papazian in rock?em, sock?em battle at UFC on FX 1
It may not be widely recognized as the deepest division in the world, but the bantamweights are starting to carve out quite a reputation in the UFC.
Mike Easton and Jared Papazian added to the cause by putting in some awesome work tonight on the UFC on FX 1 card in Nashville.
At the end of the fight, both fighters were still standing after throwing over 400 strikes at each other. Easton got the nod via majority decision, 30-27, 29-29 and 29-28, in a crowd-pleasing brawl that got better as the fight went along.
"He's a tough dude. He was the champ back in the division where he was at," Easton told UFC play-by-play voice Jon Anik. "All we wanted to do was please the fans and we rapped. We the 35ers baby! Nothing but non-stop action. We love to fight."
Papazian (14-7, 0-1 UFC) making his UFC debut, was a huge underdog at plus-275, but he didn't look intimidated whatsoever. Easton (12-1) is now 2-0 with the UFC.
Easton generally takes a while to get going, but when he did tonight it made for an awesome final round. With the fight on the line, Easton fired up the pace and Papazian, 23, stood in front him willing to bang. The fighters combined to wing 213 shots at each other over the final five minutes.
UFC 143 video: With a muddled 170 picture, Pierce wants to bring some clarity
LAS VEGAS -- Mike Pierce is a pretty reserved dude, but you can feel a quiet confidence coming from the welterweight prospect this week before UFC 143.
Pierce is trying to become the second straight fighter to knock off one the division's traditional gatekeepers. Between Koscheck (16-5, 14-5 UFC) and his teammate Jon Fitch (lost to Johny Hendricks), it's been pretty tough to crack the top three behind champion Georges St-Pierre.
"For a long time, those guys have been at the top. . they've had their chances fighting for the title ..josh kos jsut recently again fought Gsp for the title," Pierce told Cagewriter. "And I think this is a great opportunity for me to take advantage of an opportunity and get a win and move myself up."
Pierce didn't say much on "Countdown to UFC 143," but it definitely made an impression on Josh Koscheck. The veteran was irked by the fact that Pierce said Koscheck's striking game was predictable and that he wouldn't be able to use his heavy right-handed attack to score a knockout. Pierce says the fighters of today are versatile and unpredictable.
"Guys have been getting better and better at disciplines and figuring out a way to mesh them together to make a really good fighting style," said the 30-year-old Pierce (13-4, 5-2 UFC). "We're starting to see more of that now with the younger guys, who are coming up and they really get it. They know how to put these things together and they're catching guys."
Koscheck, a minus-245 favorite is confident that Pierce has little to threaten him. He's basing that on Pierce's 2009 fight against Fitch. Fitch controlled the pace of the fight to gain a decision, but was in big trouble in the final minutes of the fight after he ate big punch and finished the tilt on shaky legs.
Koscheck is holding a good crop of younger welterweight that includes Pierce, Jake Ellenberger, Rory MacDonald, Rick Story and Hendricks. Guys like Erick Silva, Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley and Douglas Lima could also be in the mix soon.
You can watch UFC 143 right here on Yahoo! Sports