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| Friday Night Throwdown: EliteXC/WEC 34- What to watch for Posted: 31 May 2008 03:23 AM CDT Chris Cosme here and we’re hot on the heels of an exciting UFC 84: “Ill Will” card last Saturday - but it’s time to get ready for a stacked weekend of even more mixed martial arts action on national television! Promotions looking to put their respective stamps on the sport — WEC and EliteXC – will bring us two exciting cards that should give us plenty to talk about at the water cooler on Monday morning. And we’re going to give you five things to watch for heading into this historic weekend for both promotions in this edition of Friday Night Throwdown. Can Kimbo Slice live up to the hype? The controversial Kimbo Slice headlines the first-ever MMA network television broadcast this Saturday night on CBS. Critics say Kimbo doesn’t deserve that spot, while others argue he can be a top draw in the sport if he’s victorious. This all hinges on how he does inside the cage at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., on Saturday night against James Thompson. Some fans say that this fight is a shoe-in: Thompson is known to have a glass jaw - but let’s remember that this is MMA and anything can and often does happen. Just ask Georges St. Pierre. I personally have no problem at all with Slice headlining the card. He takes the sport very seriously, dedicates himself to training and takes everything in stride. And with guys like Bas Rutten and Shawn Tompkins training and watching over him, there’s no reason to believe that Slice can’t be successful and become a huge star. With the way Kimbo has gone about business throughout the months leading up to tomorrow, I think he’ll deliver and silence a few critics along the way. Kaitlyn Young is no joke, Gina I don’t care who you are, but three weeks to prepare for a hungry fighter like Young can spell doom for “Crush.” For those who don’t know Kaitlyn Young, go watch some YouTube videos on her. The girl competed three times during a recent Hook ‘N Shoot tournament in one night - and won all of them in less than one round each! She won the tournament in style, ending each bout via (T)KO. She is no Tara LaRosa - arguably the best fighter in women’s MMA - but she is a stiff test for Carano. Perhaps I’m overhyping Young a bit, but the fact remains that Carano has to eventually make the dedication to be a fighter first and a star later. One thing Carano has going for her is that she has the master strategist, Randy Couture in her corner. He and the others from XTreme Couture will more than likely have a great gameplan drawn up to defeat Young. If Carano pulls this off, you have to imagine that LaRosa will be there waiting for Carano down the road. Maybe. Is Jens Pulver really done? I asked my friend and colleague, Jesse Holland, who will win this fight and he emphasized that not only will Pulver lose, but that he’s done. Period. I’m not so sure about that because I think Lil’ Evil has a chance in this fight. The one thing that Pulver will have to exploit is his edge in the standup. Urijah Faber is a five-tool fighter, but if there is any weakness in his superb all around game it would be his striking. Pulver is the better striker in this fight and it would be wise for Pulver to try and bang with Faber. Faber hasn’t shown that he has knockout power in his hands but Pulver does. On the flip side, a major concern for Pulver on Sunday night is that Faber is the far superior athlete and will more than likely dictate where the fight takes place. Pulver will have to turn back the hands of time to dethrone the freight train known as Urijah Faber. You have to remember that NO ONE gave Pulver a shot when he went against the younger, stronger and faster man in BJ Penn back in 2002. Pulver shocked the world when he defeated “The Prodigy” via split decision. He’s got a chance to repeat history on Sunday night at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, Calif. Miguel Torres will demonstrate (again) the reason he’s a top 10 pound-for-pound fighter Urijah Faber and Kid Yamamoto are often referred to in discussions as one and two when it comes to being the best fighter in the world competing in smaller weight classes (145 and below). However, that spot actually belongs to WEC Bantamweight Champion, Miguel Angel Torres. His frame and style reminds me of the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world right now, Anderson Silva. Torres is just 50 pounds lighter. He gives opponents fits because of his size and length advantages, plus he uses them to his maximum potential. Torres humbled Chase Beebe to win the bantamweight title, frustrating the experienced wrestler with his variety of strikes and takedown defense. And when Beebe took Torres down, Torres stayed active and overwhelmed Beebe once the pair scrambled for the dominant position. With all due respect to Yoshiro Maeda, Torres is just too well rounded and is in the zone right now. Put simply, Torres can pick dudes apart if they decide to strike and he can even dominate you when it hits the ground. Pick your poison. If you had to choose only one event to watch this weekend, it should be WEC 34 The more significant event has to be WEC 34 this weekend over EliteXC. There will be plenty of opponents that will be fed to Slice to show he’s legit. But nothing tops arguably the biggest featherweight fight in MMA history. Let’s be real here, let’s say that both events were on PPV…which one would you pay for? Would you pay say $54.95 to watch Kimbo Slice KO guys with the chins of porcelain or two fighters at a crossroads for a promotion on the rise? If you’re looking for pure entertainment value, then EXC would be your destination on Saturday. I mean Busta Rhymes is scheduled to perform and you will hear plenty of Mauro Renallo metaphors that I wouldn’t want to hear even if I had a ten foot pole. If you’re looking for fast- paced and memorable fights, then the WEC will be the show to watch on Sunday so that you can get wasted on Saturday. You have two title fights in Maeda-Torres and Faber-Pulver at WEC 34. You have an internet sensation turned MMA fighter in the main event and an American Gladiator trying to show that she’s more than a pretty face at EliteXC on CBS. It’s more than likely that the MMA diehards will choose the WEC 34. The newer fans to the sport will look at EliteXC as the next big thing. Either way, we get the best of both worlds because both events will be FREE of charge! UFC 84 Wrap Up BJ Penn is the best lightweight fighter in the world…ever The way he decimated Sean Sherk last Saturday night, it cements his place as the best ever at 155. I mean what is it that Penn can’t do to anyone at 155 right now? I feel sorry for the winner of Florian-Huerta because neither man stands a chance with Penn in the octagon right now. I know it, you know it and BJ Penn sure as hell knows it. There’s a reason he wants a rematch with GSP. What will the UFC do with Machida?: With a win over Tito Ortiz, Lyoto Machida is clearly the next man in line for a shot at the light heavyweight title. My issue with Machida is that his resume isn’t clear cut as other fighters. Machida has won five times in the UFC, but only two of those wins were significant. His wins over Ortiz and Sokodjou sure makes a case, but it’s his style of fighting is what hurts him. I have no problem with his style because it’s so unique. The problem is that his style will not draw in fans to pay and watch him fight. At the end of the day, the way you fight is what sells. When Chuck was on the top of the world, it was because he was knocking out folks left and right. If Machida becomes the champion in the UFC’s most prestigious division, it will cause trouble for the UFC. People aren’t going to shell out loads of cash to watch Machida confuse his opponents for five rounds and not finish the fights. If you want to solve this puzzle, let Machida fight a guy like Thiago Silva. If he gets by him, then by all means he’s the next man to get a shot at the gold. As for Tito…so long and have a great career in EliteXC. You almost pulled it off with that triangle man! He’s not ‘back’-the Axe Murderer never left: The baddest man to ever walk to the octagon to techno music showed that he still has that killer instinct. Silva reassured his loyal fans that the Wanderlei Silva of old never left but has been away for awhile. It doesn’t matter who you are, you’d be lucky to go 3 for 3 in fights against Dan Henderson, Cro Cop and Chuck Liddell, and that was the case for Silva. And all it took was thirty-six seconds to show that Silva is refocused and is ready to do damage in the light heavyweight division. Now do I still feel that he should move down to 185? Yes, but if he performs like he did against Jardine in his next bout…I’d have to reconsider. As for Jardine, I told everyone that if he couldn’t handle the adversity that a guy like Silva brings to the table that it would be a long night. Well he couldn’t and it ended up being a very SHORT night for the ‘Dean of Mean’. His chin is right up there with the James Thompson’s and Houston Alexander’s of the world now. Shucks, and to think a win over Silva guaranteed him a title shot. Good luck trying to get back to that elite level now Keith. MMA news and notes Jamie Varner vs. Marcus Hicks for WEC lightweight title on August 3rd: Boy I’m already loving the rumored WEC 35 card already and it’s only getting sweeter. Varner-Hicks will be a barnburner and it’s not going to last five rounds. Varner is looking to defend the title for the first time against the hottest fighter in his weight class in Hicks. I mean Hicks is a beast but Varner is no slouch either. This fight along with the Brian Stann-Steve Cantwell title fight will make WEC 35 one hell of a fight card. Mirko Cro Cop vs. Ralek Gracie in a grappling match at DREAM. 4: Are you kidding me? Is this how you rebound after getting destroyed and dominated by two heavyweights you were supposed to destroy? I don’t give a damn if this is a grappling match and a fight that only can end with a submission or draw, this is just ridiculous Mirko! I don’t call a grappling match with a Gracie as a way to boost your confidence and return to the UFC…if it ever happens. What a joke, Cro Cop is a shell of his former self people. His potential was maximized when he won the 2006 PRIDE Open Weight Grand Prix, and since then…2-2 in his last four fights. Nuff said. Quick Picks for WEC 34 and EliteXC
Urijah Faber All in all this will be one memorable weekend for every MMA fan out there. I know I’ll be watching both shows because you can’t beat two quality cards for free right? I did just shell almost sixty bucks to watch UFC 84 in HD, but I won’t be doing it for UFC 85. I know we were supposed to do the mailbag edition of the FNT tonight, but I just couldn’t help myself from talking about this weekend. Maybe another time but until then, I’ll see you guys right back here in the Throwdown! |
| Brock Lesnar vs Heath Herring UFC 87 fight … Posted: 30 May 2008 03:51 PM CDT … at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn., on August 9 that we reported last week was recently made official by the way:
Let’s just hope that the “Texas Crazy Horse” trains some groundwork for this one — he’s going to need it. |
| UFC 85 video: ‘You’re wrong’ if you think Brandon Vera is too small for heavyweight Posted: 30 May 2008 02:19 PM CDT |
| Posted: 30 May 2008 01:12 PM CDT
The official weigh-ins for the Elite XC primetime special “Saturday Night Fights” from just OUTSIDE the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., are now in. And it didn’t go all too smooth. In particular, the “female face” of mixed martial arts, Gina Carano, failed to make weight on her first attempt. Normally, she would have one hour to lose 3.5 pounds (she weighed in at 144.5); however, MMAmania.com learned from Nick Lembo, the New Jersey Athletic Control Board (NJACB) Deputy Attorney, that the regulatory body didn’t want her to cut anymore weight. Therefore, prior to the official weigh-ins, a deal was struck between the Carano and Young camps that the fight would go on and “Conviction” would surrender a 12.5 percent purse penalty. Here are the official scale-tipping results:
*Note: Fighters are allowed to weigh one pound more than the division limit in non-title fights. Remember that MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of the main card action, beginning at 9 p.m. ET with the CBS broadcast on fight night. In addition, we will post the latest quick results of the prelim action at around 7 p.m. ET. The MMAmania.com crew will be on the scene all weekend, which means that you can expect some great coverage of the first-ever mixed martial arts bout to air on network television. Definitely check in before, during and after the the “Primetime” event for all the coverage and discussion you can handle. |
| UFC 85 results and live fight coverage for ‘Bedlam’ PPV event Posted: 30 May 2008 11:48 AM CDT
UFC 85: “Bedlam” is scheduled to air LIVE from the O2 Arena in London, England, on pay-per-view (PPV) at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 7. It will re-air at 10 p.m. ET on PPV later that same evening for all those who don’t care for some mid-afternoon mixed martial arts action. MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of the main card Therefore, if you don’t want to see know the results or view any spoilers THEN DON’T VISIT THIS SITE until you are ready to discuss the action. Consider that fair warning. Having said that, many of our readers check-in before, during and after the PPV telecast to share their thoughts on the action. Therefore, feel free to leave a comment or 10 before you leave and chat with many of our readers during the show — it always turns out to be a great discussion. Here’s the most recent official UFC 85 card:
This line up has been shuffled more times than a tired deck of cards. However, and this is more than likely a minority view, it’s got some very solid top-heavy match ups. In fact, all five guaranteed televised bouts have serious implications within their respective divisions, particularly in the main event of the evening. Regardless, there will be a glut of comments below about how “this card sucks,” it “should be free on SpikeTV,” and how Dana White and the promotion “should apologize” to the British fans. It’s silly. If you don’t like it, don’t buy it. Plain and simple. For now let’s talk about fights and some predictions … crybabies move on. Keep in mind that we will also be the spot for the latest news, recaps and post-fight analysis after UFC 85. |
| A final look at EliteXC Saturday Night Fights with Jesse Holland from MMAmania.com Posted: 30 May 2008 10:51 AM CDT
In addition, we went over the World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) blockbuster show set for the Arco Arena in Sacramento, Calif., on Sunday, June 1, which features the 145-pound showdown between featherweight champion Urijah Faber and challenger Jens Pulver. Here are some specific discussion points:
As always, a big thanks to Ariel for having me on. And an even bigger thanks to site commandant Mania for having a voice like Alf — thus allowing me to do so many guest appearances. Check it out here when you get the chance. And don’t forget to tune into CBS tomorrow at 9 p.m. ET and Versus at 9 p.m. on Sunday! |
| UFC Quick Quote: Mauricio ‘Shogun Rua’ vs Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou smack talk heats up Posted: 30 May 2008 09:58 AM CDT
– Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou — who briefly called out Mauricio “Shogun” Rua after he defeated Kazuhiro Nakamura this past weekend at UFC 84: “Ill Will — sharpens the rhetoric in a recent interview with FightHype.com. “The African Assassin” holds two decisive knockout wins over fellow Brazilians, Ricardo Arona and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, under the Pride FC banner. He apparently is eager for a third. Shogun, meanwhile, has his sights set on former light heavyweight champion, Chuck Liddell, while he recovers from knee surgery. |
| UFC 84 medical suspensions and injuries Posted: 30 May 2008 08:47 AM CDT
The Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) recently issued its medical suspensions for the pay-per-view (PPV) event that took place on Saturday, May 24, revealing that Keith Jardine (possible), Wilson Gouveia, Kazuhiro Nakamura and Jason Tan all sustained nasal fractures in their respective bouts. In addition, Tito Ortiz appears to have injured his left hand and wrist during his light heavyweight bout with Lyoto Machida, which will require X-rays and clearance from an orthopedic doctor before returning to competition. Here’s the complete list of injuries and their medical instructions:
Just a quick reminder: Fighters often return to action much quicker once doctors give them the green light. The lengthy suspensions are just a precaution in most cases. For complete UFC 84: "Ill Will" results and coverage click here. |
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Kevin Burns (4-1) will make his Octagon debut at UFC 85: "Bedlam" at the O2 Arena in London, England, on June 7, stepping up on short notice to take on Roan Carneiro (12-6) in a welterweight tilt, according to 
Gladiator Challenge and Palace Fighting Championship veteran, Danny Castillo (5-0), will step in for an injured Rich Crunkilton to face Donald Cerrone (7-0) at WEC 34: “Faber vs Pulver” at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, Calif., on June 1.