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| Georges St. Pierre video interview on MMA training in Brazil, nipple tweaks and much more Posted: 16 Sep 2008 08:23 AM CDT (Thanks again to the guys over at InTheGuard.tv for the heads up.) | ||||||
| UFC 91 tickets Las Vegas MGM Grand Garden Arena on sale soon Posted: 16 Sep 2008 08:09 AM CDT
UFC 91 tickets for the “Couture vs. Lesnar” pay-per-view (PPV) event set to take place from the from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on November 15, 2008, will go on sale to the general public on Saturday, September 20 at 2 p.m. ET.
Here's UFC President Dana White:
In addition to the headliner, a lightweight match up between number one contender Kenny Florian and Joe Stevenson is on tap for the main card, as well as a possible 205-pound showdown between Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Wanderlei Silva. Here is the UFC 91 tickets sales schedule:
UFC 91 tickets can be purchased through StubHub.com (Note: StubHub often has seats available even if the event is “sold out”). It will also be available on pay-per-view (PPV) for $44.95 at 10 p.m. ET on fight night. For more on UFC 91 stay dialed in to MMAmania.com and remember to check out our event archive right here. | ||||||
| Renzo Gracie to star in documentary featured at U.S. Sports Film Festival Posted: 16 Sep 2008 06:14 AM CDT
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and MMA legend Renzo Gracie will be featured in a documentary titled “Renzo Gracie: Legacy” at the inaugural U.S. Sports Film Festival in Philadelphia, Pa., during its three-day run from October 23 to 26. Gracie (13-6-1) last competed at Elite XC: “Destiny” where he defeated Frank Shamrock via disqualification. Shammy felt it was necessary to drive his knees into Gracie’s head while he was on the ground despite being warned by referee Herb Dean regarding an earlier infraction involving the back of the head. Gracie is perhaps best known for his battles with Dan Henderson and Kazushi Sakuraba back in the days of PRIDE Fighting Championship. From festival founder and President Stephan Hartman:
A member of the legendary Gracie family, he is the son of Robson Gracie, grandson of Carlos Gracie, nephew of Carlos Gracie Jr. and grand-nephew of Helio Gracie. His brothers Ralph and the late Ryan Gracie were also competitors in PRIDE. | ||||||
| UFC Fight Night 15 predictions, preview and analysis Posted: 15 Sep 2008 09:30 PM CDT
UFC Fight Night 15: “Diaz vs. Neer” is set to go down Wednesday, September 17, 2008, from the Omaha Civic Auditorium in Omaha, Nebraska. The television event airs LIVE on Spike TV at 8 p.m. ET. Remember: MMAmania.com will provide LIVE updates and blow-by-blow, round-by-round commentary of the main card action throughout the telecast. As usual, it promises to be a great discussion during an exciting line up of fights. To get us pumped for the festivities, MMAmania.com Editor and Senior Writer Jesse Holland (that’s me) will be breaking down the main event matches and revealing each fighter’s keys to victory. If you’re looking for an unbiased and objective examination of each contest, then I’m happy to report you will be extremely disappointed. Why else do you think I would depose the former contributors and take this act solo like the selfish blowhard you already know me to be? But enough about me, at least for the time being. Let’s get cracking:
Nate Diaz (9-2) vs. Josh “The Dentist” Neer (24-6-1) There’s been a lot of talk lately about the growing number of TUF graduates evolving into top contenders and Season 5 winner Nate Diaz should be no exception. A disciple of Cesar Gracie like his brother Nick, the younger Diaz has an unorthodox striking attack that is complemented by an exceptional ground game. His last six wins have all come via submission and while he doesn’t have KO power, he can pepper you with strikes until the floor seems like a viable option. However as Kurt Pellegrino found out at Fight Night 13, it usually isn’t. Still, I’m not convinced that a veteran opponent like Josh Neer, who has three times the experience Diaz does, will fall into that trap. Neer also has the advantage of having faced Nick Diaz at UFC 62, giving him a pretty good idea of what to expect. “The Dentist” is 7-1 in his last eight fights and he’s stronger and more aggressive than Diaz. This is a very difficult fight to predict because any winning scenario presented (for both fighters) is plausible. In the end I can see Neer taking this one based on his ability to control the pace of the fight. If Neer can maintain a persistent yet controlled attack (and avoid getting triangled), he can pull this off.
Keys to victory: Diaz: You’ve used more triangles than Euclid since your debut in 2004 and that’s why you’re going to ignore them here. Predictability is a precursor to defeat which is why a guillotine or rear naked choke is the submission of choice. Frustrate him and the opening will come. Neer: Houston Alexander names you as the fighter he models himself after. You submitted Melvin Guillard with your forehead split in half and a mouthful of blood. Use that toughness to keep him on the defensive but don’t go for the finish unless you’re sure you can end it. That’s how a dominating victory turns into a submission loss. Prediction: Neer by split decision Clay “The Carpenter” Guida (23-9) vs. Mac Danzig (18-4-1) It’s winner of The Ultimate Fighter 6 vs. the man they wouldn’t let on The Ultimate Fighter 5 in a battle for lightweight supremacy. Mac Danzig is an excellent fighter with great submission skills. Just ask him and he’ll be happy to tell you. Aside from his humility, Danzig does have talent. But will it be enough to overcome a madman like Clay Guida? For me this fight is a huge turning point in Danzig’s career. If he’s to be considered an elite lightweight, it’s not enough to whip out a submission after getting pummeled for two rounds ala Guida/Huerta at the finale for TUF 6. Danzig needs to repel the inevitable onslaught and finish it early. That’s no easy task against someone like Guida, who’s had some memorable wars and gone the distance against top lightweights like Marcus Aurelio, Tyson Griffin and Gilbert Melendez. Danzig on the other hand has only faced one decent lightweight in the past couple of years when he took on Hayato “Mach” Sakurai at PRIDE 33 and he ended up flat on his face. It’s not enough to say you’re the best, you have to actually prove it. Dominating a warrior like Clay Guida both on the feet and on the ground would be a helluva good start. Make or break time Mr. Danzig. Keys to victory: Guida: Keep the pressure on and take him out of his comfort zone. Pick him up and slam him against the cage like your putting up drywall. Rinse and repeat for three rounds - and please don’t give up your back. Danzig: Avoid damage. Make him think that he’s one-dimensional by stuffing every attack. Crisp strikes and a sound defense will prove that it’s indeed finesse over fury. Prediction: Danzig by submission Ed “Short Fuse” Herman (14-6) vs. Alan “The Talent” Belcher (12-5) This is an intriguing match-up for me because both fighters are 3-3 in the Octagon since their debuts in 2006. Are they destined to be .500 fighters or can they break out to the next level? The UFC middleweight division is stacked higher than a Jenga tower and is about as stable. If you have to share a weight class with Nate Marquardt, Dan Henderson and Anderson Silva, you had better be setting off fireworks every chance you get. Herman has shown to be a tough, well-rounded competitor, but he can be submitted by a good ground fighter. I don’t think that Belcher is strong enough on the ground to end it and I can’t see Herman going head first into a guillotine ala Sean Salmon, so this is going to be decided in the stand-up. Belcher needs to establish the jab and keep Herman out of the clinch. “Short Fuse” cut his teeth with Team Quest so you know he’s ready for some inside fighting. I’m not expecting a lengthy feeling-out process so Belcher had better be running on a full tank of gas. Herman had his first KO against a winded Joe Doerksen at UFC 78 and he’s already said he’s looking forward to his second. That might be playing into Belcher’s strength, but keep in mind “The Talent” has only been submitted once in 17 fights. Keys to victory: Herman: You won the consolation contract from Dana White and are 3-3 since your debut. It’s time to make a statement about your future. Hopefully that statement isn’t “I stink”. A little bloodlust goes a long way. Belcher: Plan on spending a good amount of time being pushed into the cage. Utilize the knees and if you end up on the ground, think unorthodox when it comes to submissions. Remember that toe hold against Evert Fyeet? Exactly. Prediction: Herman by unanimous decision Houston “The Assassin” Alexander (8-3) vs. Eric “Red” Schafer (9-3-2) Ladies and gentlemen we’ve finally reached our one-sided fight of the evening. If you haven’t been paying attention, Fight Night 15 is live from Omaha, the same city where Houston Alexander has his radio show on Power 106.9. Believe me when I tell you Houston Alexander is to Nebraska what Georges St. Pierre is to Canada. And don’t think for a second that the man with over 200 fights is going down to Eric Schafer in front of his home town. Not never. Granted, “Red” has a competent submissions game but I saw him fold up like a beach chair under the pressure of Michael Bisping and Stephan Bonnar. What’s going to happen when he has a raging bull come straight at him in front of an auditorium full of screaming Cornhuskers? Alexander needs this win badly. The loss to Thiago Silva is excusable, but the KO loss to James Irvin definitely did some damage to the mystique (or as Elitists would say, he was “Exposed”). No one expects an overnight evolution nor does he need one. Eric Schafer may come in a gamer, but he’s going out as game. Not to be too graphic, but the ringside spectators might want to bring a plastic tarp like the ones they used to whip out during a Gallagher concert. Keys to victory: Alexander: Swing for the fences. You’re too strong and too vicious for anything he has to offer. A chokeslam like you had at UFC 78 would send the crowd into a frenzy. Schafer: Not since Bugsy Malone and Leroy Smith has there been such an odd pairing. Speaking of Malone, maybe you can fight dressed like one of Dandy Dan’s hoodlums. Just make sure your insurance is up-to-date. Prediction: Alexander by KO That’s a wrap, folks. For the complete UFC Fight Night 15: “Diaz vs. Neer” fight card click here. Remember to come check us out after the show for the latest results, recaps and thoughts on Wednesday’s fights. What do you think? Now it’s your turn … let’s have it in the comments section and share your thoughts and picks for Fight Night 15. | ||||||
| DREAM 6 videos preview for September 23 event Posted: 15 Sep 2008 06:45 PM CDT | ||||||
| UFC 89 Website for ‘Bisping vs Leben’ Posted: 15 Sep 2008 06:17 PM CDT
Props: 89.UFC.com The trailer needs a little update now that the match up between Lyoto Machida and Thiago Silva has been scrapped because of an injury. For the latest UFC 89 fight card click here. | ||||||
| Posted: 15 Sep 2008 05:45 PM CDT UFC Fight Night 15: “Diaz vs. Neer” is just about 48 hours from showtime at the Omaha Civic Auditorium in Omaha, Neb., on September 17. And we would be remiss if we didn’t pass along the latest betting lines, er, line. That’s right, our friends over at BetUS.com are currently only showing odds for the main event of the evening:
Of course, several other match ups should be added as we get closer to the Spike TV broadcast, which begins at 8 p.m. ET and serves as the lead-in to The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season eight debut. We’ll share the latest UFC Fight Night 15 betting odds and lines early on Wednesday for those who need their fix. Or just visit this post later in the week. In the meantime, either place your wagers on the main event and/or share your thoughts on anything MMA related in the comments section below. To check out the entire UFC Fight Night 15 fight card click here. | ||||||
| ‘Sugar’ Rashad Evans featured on tonight’s Pro MMA Radio Posted: 15 Sep 2008 05:08 PM CDT
Fresh off his upset victory over Chuck Liddell at UFC 88 ‘Breakthrough’, Rashad Evans will join MMAmania.com’s exclusive broadcast of Pro MMA Radio tonight at 9pm EST. “Sugar” will recap his win over the Iceman, his upcoming title fight with Forrest Griffin, The Ultimate Fighter 2 experience and his thoughts on why so many fans seem to be resisting his evolution as one of the sport’s top light heavyweights. Also In tonight’s “Opening Round”, MMAmania.com Editor and Senior Writer Jesse Holland will examine Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 15: "Diaz vs. Neer" as well as the start of The Ultimate Fighter Season 8. Remember to check back at 9pm for the live feed. See you then! | ||||||
| Nate Diaz vs Josh Neer video preview of UFC Fight Night 15 Spike TV main event Posted: 15 Sep 2008 03:03 PM CDT | ||||||
| Melvin Guillard arrested in Houston on probation violation Posted: 15 Sep 2008 01:12 PM CDT
He was in jail … and possibly still is. Sherdog.com reports that the “Young Assassin” was arrested in Houston, Texas, on August 13 for violating probation on a 2007 drug charge. Precise details of the violation that led to the arrest were not included in the report. The star-crossed former contestant on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) “will be released to a drug treatment facility as soon as space becomes available per the terms of his recently amended probation.” This is certainly more bad news for the 25-year-old talented Louisiana native. And this comes on the heels of his destruction of Denis Siver at UFC 86: “Jackson vs. Griffin” back in July — his return fight after being released by the UFC for, among other things, his relationship with illegal drugs. In fact, Guillard tested positive for cocaine after his loss to Joe Stevenson at UFC Fight Night 9 in Las Vegas, Nevada, in April 2007. He was fined and suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) for the transgression. Stevenson went on to fight BJ Penn for the world title. Guillard, on the other hand, sat on the sidelines and returned to fight nemesis Rich Clementi. He lost that fight and was cut from his contract, which many believed was his last chance. But UFC President Dana White and the promotion invited him back, and then after the win over Siver, set him up with a very good opportunity against Fisher. Guillard, however, blew the chance, proving once again that he is his own worst enemy. |
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