Thursday, February 12, 2009

UFC blog for latest news, videos, results, betting odds, fighter interviews and MMA rumors - UFCmania.com

UFC blog for latest news, videos, results, betting odds, fighter interviews and MMA rumors - UFCmania.com

BJ Penn makes a claim and Kenny Florian denies it

Posted: 12 Feb 2009 08:12 AM CST

From BJ Penn via his radio show on BJPenn.com:

“Oh, that’s funny, [Kenny Florian is] going to Tri-Star [the gym of Georges St. Pierre]? He’s the who who tipped us off that GSP was going to be greasing … He actually emailed me and tipped me off…. [Florian] is very good. He's very well rounded. He's a black belt in jiu-jitsu. He's obviously improved his wrestling and he's a southpaw Muay Thai fighter with great kicks. He can box, he can elbow, he can knee. He's a mixed martial artist. He is. I give Kenny that: He's a mixed martial artist, and I've got my work cut out for me.”

Kenny Florian responds via Sherdog.com:

"I've never emailed a fighter about anything like that. I don't even have B.J. Penn's email. I'd love to see that email. I would say print that email and show it to everybody. Where's this mystery email? I haven't spoken to B.J. — besides 'hello' — since January of 2007. I've never trained with [St. Pierre] in the past. I have no motive in saying that. Even if I knew, would I say that? I know of other fighters who have [greased] and I don't say anything to anybody."

“The Prodigy” says that number one division contender Kenny Florian told him before UFC 94 that Georges St. Pierre is a “greaser.” Florian promptly responded, saying that it’s essentially just a bunch of malarkey. St. Pierre throttled Penn during their match on Jan. 31; however, the win has since been embroiled in controversy after St. Pierre’s cornermen were called out for applying Vaseline to the shoulders and back of “Rush” between rounds during a breathing technnique. The Penn camp has since called for an investigation in the matter, as well as requested another rematch. During Penn’s radio interview, he concedes that after the second round he was “borderline knocked out” and doesn’t “remember the third and fourth rounds.” While that saga continues, all fighters involved appear to be moving on to other things … at least for now. Florian is planning to train with St. Pierre for his upcoming fight against Penn. And St. Pierre will get ready to defend his 170-pound title once again against Thiago Alves. Both fights are expected to take place later in the year. Perhaps this latest twist from Penn is an attempt to throw a wrench into Florian’s plans to train with St. Pierre, as well as add a little back story to their upcoming showdown. He has mastered the craft of creating intrigue and drama for all of his most recent fights.

UFC 95 results and coverage LIVE on Feb. 21

Posted: 12 Feb 2009 06:18 AM CST

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will travel across the pond for its second overseas show of the 2009 fight season with a return to The O2 Arena in London, England, on Feb. 21.

UFC 95: “Sanchez vs. Stevenson” features the lightweight debut of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) inaugural season winner Diego Sanchez against the man who took the crown the series after, Joe Stevenson. Two important middleweight weight match ups are also scheduled — Nate Marquardt will tangle with Wilson Gouveia and Demian Maia will collide with Chael Sonnen.

Here is the complete UFC 95 fight card:

Main event:

155 lbs.: Diego Sanchez (19-2) vs. Joe Stevenson (29-9)

Main card (Televised):

170 lbs.: Dan Hardy (20–6) vs. Rory Markham (16-4)
185 lbs.: Nate Marquardt (27-8-2) vs. Wilson Gouveia (12-5)
185 lbs.: Demian Maia (9-0) vs. Chael Sonnen (21-9-1)
170 lbs.: Josh Koscheck (12-3) vs. Paulo Thiago (7-0)

Under card (May not be broadcast):

155 lbs.: Justin Buchholz vs. Terry Etim
265 lbs.: Junior dos Santos (7-1) vs. Stefan Struve (16-2)
265 lbs.: Neil Grove (7-1) vs. Mike Ciesnolevicz (16-3)
155 lbs.: Per Eklund Vs. Evan Dunham (7-0)
170 lbs.: Paul Kelly (7-1) vs. Troy "Rude Boy" Mandaloniz (3-1)

MMAmania.com will provide LIVE quick results of the show, beginning at about 3 p.m. ET. We will also feature blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of the main card action, which is scheduled to air via tape delay on Spike TV at 9 p.m. ET.

Note: For those who intend to watch the tape-delayed broadcast at 9 p.m. on Spike TV please keep in mind that possible SPOILERS could be contained on this site on the day of the event.

Many of our readers check-in before, during and after the Spike TV broadcast to share their thoughts on the action. Keep in mind that we will also be the spot for the latest news, recaps and post-fight analysis after UFC 95.

In the meantime, feel free to share your predictions and UFC 95-related thought in the comments section below.

Frank Shamrock: Breaking people is entertaining

Posted: 11 Feb 2009 10:19 PM CST

"I'd be pretty pissed off if someone smashed my coach. Diaz is going to be carrying the pride of his school with him, but a fight's a fight. Someone's getting smashed and it's just not going to be me. I'm done breaking myself for entertainment. I'm just going to break everybody else and they'll be entertained by that."

-Former Strikeforce middleweight champion Frank Shamrock (23-9-2) comments in a company press release on his upcoming main event bout with Nick Diaz at the Strikeforce event scheduled for April 11 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California. The 179-pound catch weight contest will headline what the promotion is calling "The greatest fight card in Strikeforce history." Shamrock — who defeated Diaz' mentor Cesar Gracie in just 21 seconds back in 2006 – is looking to stick it to the Gracie camp one more time with a dominant performance over Diaz. Does Shammy still have the goods? Or is the new generation about to claim his seat on the throne? We’ll find out in less than two months.

Leonard Garcia video on Mike Brown WEC 39 145-pound title fight

Posted: 11 Feb 2009 07:31 PM CST

UFC Quick Quote: Josh Koscheck doesn’t care about Paulo Thiago

Posted: 11 Feb 2009 06:17 PM CST

I really don’t know anything about him. To be honest with you, I don’t even know what he looks like. I’ve never seen video on him, nothing. For me, it’s a fight. I expect to go in there and fight and just do what I do, which is win. I just don’t even care to look. I don’t care to watch [him]. I don’t watch video on any of my opponents. For me it’s just another fight. I'm sure he's a tough opponent, but he hasn't fought in the UFC yet.  This will be his first opportunity to fight somebody really tough.

-UFC welterweight contender Josh Koscheck (12-3) tells Cage Potato that his clash with Paulo Thiago at UFC 95 is just another day at the office for the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) standout. “Kos” is coming off a brutal knockout of Shooto star Yoshiyuki “Zenko” Yoshida at UFC Fight Night 16 ‘Fight for the Troops’ last December. It doesn’t sound like Koscheck is following the standard training protocol for his upcoming battle on February 21 but then again if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Extended video preview for UFC 95 ‘Sanchez vs. Stevenson’ on Feb. 21

Posted: 11 Feb 2009 01:40 PM CST

Clay Guida: Bad hair, bad judging account for majority of ‘Carpenter’ split-decisions

Posted: 11 Feb 2009 01:17 PM CST

People see the hair flying - someone throws a lazy jab and my hair goes crazy and some people can take that the wrong way. I tell you what, [judging has] gotta be the worst job - outside of that TV show ‘Worlds Dirtiest Jobs’ because I would not want to be a judge either so I give them a lot of credit, but I think they need to reevaluate some of the judges and their criteria for being chosen as UFC or professional mixed martial arts judges.

-UFC lightweight contender Clay Guida talks to host Larry Pepe on MMAmania.com’s exclusive presentation of Pro MMA Radio regarding the high number of split-decisions “The Carpenter” has in his career, most recently against surging lightweight Nate Diaz at UFC 94 ‘St. Pierre vs. Penn 2′ back on January 31. Guida outpointed and outwrestled the TUF 5 winner in a close contest that Guida believes was a unanimous rather than a split-decision win. One of the judges, along with the Diaz camp, does not concur.

For the audio replay of Guida's appearance click here.

Brandon Wolff vs Yoshiyuki Yoshida UFC 98 fight possible

Posted: 11 Feb 2009 11:54 AM CST

Mixed Martial Arts Development (MMAD) coach and fighter Brandon Wolff (7-3) will return to the Octagon against Japanese import Yoshiyuki “Zenko” Yoshida at UFC 98 on May 23 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada according to MMAHawaii.com.

Wolff made his UFC debut last December at UFC Fight Night 16 ‘Fight for the Troops,’ receiving a very rude welcome from Ben Saunders via gruesome Thai clinch. The “Killa-B” blasted Wolff in the clinch with a series of damaging knees that left the Hawaiian barely recognizable.

Despite the first round loss, Wolff is a talented welterweight with victories in EliteXC, Rumble on the Rock and the WEC. Hopefully we’ll get to see some of his abilities when he squares off against the dangerous Judoka - also coming off a drubbing at Fight Night 16.

Yoshida — the former Cage Force and Shooto star — was successful in his UFC debut at UFC 84: "Ill Will" when he submitted TUF alum Jon Koppenhaver via anaconda choke. The Tokyo Yellow Mans star was the winner of nine straight fights and was looking to make it 10 against Josh Koscheck at Fight Night 16 until the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) standout put “Zenko” in the hospital with a brutal two-punch knockout.

UFC 98 features the final round of the mini heavyweight tournament between Brock Lesnar and Frank Mir in the main event of the evening. The rest of the card is shaping up nicely, showcasing the grudge match between welterweight enemies and former champions, Matt Hughes and Matt Serra, as well as an important lightweight clash between Sean Sherk and Frank Edgar.

To check out the latest UFC 98 fight card and rumors click here.

UFC 96 card fights confirmed for ‘Jackson vs Jardine’ on March 7

Posted: 11 Feb 2009 11:16 AM CST

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) today confirmed several bouts for its upcoming pay-per-view (PPV) event scheduled for the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, on March 7, 2009.

UFC 96: "Jackson vs. Jardine” features the light heavyweight brawl between former 205-pound champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson versus Keith “The Dean of Mean” Jardine, as well as the highly anticipated showdown between heavyweight monsters Shane Carwin and Gabriel Gonzaga.

The stacked card also includes the return of wrestling phenoms and The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) veterans Matt “The Hammer” Hamill and Gray “The Bully” Maynard.

And former heavyweight sensation Brandon Vera — who recently dropped to light heavyweight with mixed results — will look to work his way back onto the main card when he takes on Mike Patt in a fight that is not guaranteed to be televised.

Here is the complete UFC 96 line up:

Main event:

205 lbs.: Quinton Jackson (29-7) vs. Keith Jardine (14-4-1)

Main card (Televised):

205 lbs.: Matt Hamill (5-2) vs. Mark Munoz (5-0)
265 lbs.: Shane Carwin (10-0) vs. Gabriel Gonzaga (10-3)
155 lbs.: Jim Miller (13-1) vs. Gray Maynard (6-0)
170 lbs.: Pete Sell (8-4) vs. Matt Brown (8-7)

Under card (May not be broadcast):

185 lbs.: Kendall Grove (9-5) vs. Jason Day (17-7)
205 lbs.: Tim Boetsch (8-2) vs. Jason Brilz (16-1-1)
205 lbs.: Brandon Vera (9-3) vs. Mike Patt (12-3)
170 lbs.: Ryan Madigan (5-0) vs. Tamdan McCrory
155 lbs:: Aaron Riley (27-10-1) vs. Shane Nelson (11-3)

For all the latest UFC 96 information you can handle be sure to hit up our event archive right here. Remember that we will also provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of all the action on fight night.

It's going to be a great night of fights … don't miss it.

UFC cutman ‘Stitch’ Duran talks Vaseline protocol, calls greasy shoulders ‘an advantage’ (Video)

Posted: 11 Feb 2009 10:50 AM CST
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