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- The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 9: Episode 9 recap and discussion
- Scott ‘Hands of Steel’ Smith winds up for Nick Diaz
- UFC video game demo party with Bruce Buffer, Dana White, Forrest Griffin, Jon Fitch and Mike Swick
- UFC rankings/MMA rankings featured in USA Today for May 2009
- MMA Quick Quote: Brett Rogers ready to put Andrei Arlovski in check during Strikeforce fight
- Dan Hardy video training for Marcus Davis UFC 99 fight
- New Answer: An MMAmania.com post-UFC 98 interview exclusive with Frank Edgar
- MMA Quick Quote: Jason ‘Mayhem’ Miller tells Brazilian nuthuggers to go suck it
- Tony Juarez replaces Blas Avena at ‘The Awakening’ on May 30; Anderson Silva to appear
- Fox Business profiles TapouT in Forbes ‘Sports Money’ (Video)
| The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 9: Episode 9 recap and discussion Posted: 27 May 2009 07:01 PM PDT
Episode nine of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 9 gets underway and Coach Dan Henderson breaks the news to Team USA that Jason Pierce went limp and won’t be fighting Dave Faulkner from Team UK. Dana gets called in to find a suitable replacement and interviews Mark Miller and Frank Lester. Dana has to decide which fighter has it worse - Miller and his busted up nose or Lester and his AWOL teeth. Pierce tells the rest of his team that Dana took one look at his leg and wouldn’t let him fight. Pierce also says he told Dana that he wanted to fight but they wouldn’t let him. Unfortunately no one is buying it. Miller doesn’t get cleared to fight because of his broken nose so Frank Lester lives again. Hendo pulls Lester aside and gives him extra attention since he’s fighting on short notice. There is a general consensus that Lester might be too banged up to pull this one off. Pierce hopes Lester gets out of the fight with no pain or injuries. What a guy. “Hollywood” informs Bisping that Team USA is switching schedules from morning to afternoon training — which is apparently his right. Bisping smiles and says no. He leaves and Henderson calls him a little bitch.
Bisping returns with his entire team to have a West Side Story type of confrontation. Damarques prefers a “Gangs of New York” reference. He also gets a little mouthy with “The Count” during the fight announcement and gets squirted in the face with some water. He returns fire with a hat flip and Bisping calls Johnson a racist. They have to be separated and Johnson takes time to cool off before we finally get the announcement of Dave Faulkner vs. Frank Lester. Team UK gets overruled on the gym training times and now has to wake up bright and early to train. Bisping thinks that a confident Faulkner will blow Lester away. They get a hypnotist (or hypnotherapist if you will) to come in and help him control his gag reflex. Tangina reprograms him using a robotic voice and scented candles from the clearance rack at Target. Lester could use some reprogramming himself as he doubts himself in his bedroom the night before the fight. As both fighters prepare, Hendo tells Lester to relax, no worries, while Bisping tells Faulkner to go right through his opponent’s head. Interesting dichotomy between the two. Welterweight elimination fight #4: Dave Faulkner (2-1) vs. Frank Lester (3-2) Round 1: They dance for a while. Faulkner with a low kick. Then another. Lester returns the favor. “Hands tight!” screams Bisping — about twenty times in the first minute. Hendo answers with a monotone “jabs…jabs…jabs…” Faulkner rushes and they go to the cage. They work for position and Faulkner changes levels and gets nothing. They break away. Faulkner low kicks. They exchange Thai clinches and Lester eats a huge left before getting taken down. He scrambles to his feet and they break away again. Faulkner clips him but is sucking wind. Faulkner lands a left and follows up with a knee. Faulkner’s hands are low and Lester tags him. They go back to the cage and hug until time expires. This one goes to Faulkner. Round 2: Faulkner is gassed. Mouthpiece pulls the eject button. Action restarts and Lester tags him. And again. They clinch and go to the cage. Knee by Lester. Faulkner backs up and gets blasted in the jaw. Lester smells blood and tees off. Lester lands knees from a long-distance clinch. Faulkner on the run. Lester attacking confidently. They go to the cage and tie up. Good knee to the body by Faulkner who follows up with a huge punch to the jaw. Phantom ball shot sends Faulkner running. Straight left lands for Lester. Faulkner pushes him to the cage. Lester bleeding. They work for position against the cage until time expires. Round 2 goes to Lester. Plan for a third. Round 3: Very unnerving shot of TapouT sitting ringside — with Mask. Faulkner quits on his stool. Wanted no part of a third round. Hats off to Lester for his nine lives. Team USA gets a huge boost in morale while a baffled Team UK tries to figure out what went wrong. A furious Bisping busts through the door to his dressing room. Faulkner seems very happy-go-lucky, talking about enjoying the fight while the rest of his team is sitting there enraged. In the USA locker room Lester — who is starting to look like Coach Henderson — relishes his victory and third chance at TUFdom. Stay tuned next week as Richie unloads on Pierce for quitting, Dana picks the semifinal matches (and the coaches don’t seem to like it) and two welterweights throwdown in perhaps the season’s best fight. See you in seven! |
| Scott ‘Hands of Steel’ Smith winds up for Nick Diaz Posted: 27 May 2009 06:07 PM PDT
Scott Smith's road to Strikeforce has been filled with twists and turns, much like his recent fights that have kept fans on the edge of their seats. Smith — who currently competes in the 185-pound division — began his career fighting at heavyweight nearly a decade ago. His first major appearance, however, came during a light heavyweight tournament under the World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) banner in 2005. Branded the dark horse, Smith would stop Tim McKenzie and Tait Fletcher in the first round with his heavy hands en route to becoming the WEC light heavyweight champion. He successfully defended his belt once against the late Justin Levens before getting called up to the big show, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). With the Octagon in his crosshairs, Smith continued his weight loss, cutting to middleweight to take on David Terrell at UFC 59: “Reality Check” in 2006. Naturally, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt was not interested in testing Smith’s power and managed to take the fight to the ground and submit him with a rear naked choke. Smith was invited back, however, it was as a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter: “The Comeback” edition, which he did not win, losing to eventual season winner, Travis Lutter. It set up an eventual showdown with Long Island slugger Pete Sell at the TUF 4 Finale. The back-and-forth brawl was one for the ages, concluding with a sequence that saw Smith, doubled over and basically finished with a liver punch, unleashing a “Hail Mary” knockout punch that put “Drago” on ice. The epic clash with Sell is one of the most memorable fights in UFC history to date. And it has set the tone for Smith’s fireworks-filled performances ever since — just ask Kyle Noke, Terry Martin, Robbie Lawler and Benji Radach, among others. It’s been a wild ride, which has put him on a collision course with the brash and gritty Stockton, Calif., native, Nick Diaz — someone who he considers, "one of the top pound for pound fighters in the world right now" — at Strikeforce: “Lawler vs. Shields” at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., on June 6. During the Strikeforce press conference call this afternoon, Smith talked about how he matches up against Cesar Gracie-trained product.
"I will have to use everything I've got to beat him,” he said. “I plan on keeping this fight standing. Diaz is going to try and pick me apart; he is a more technical fighter then I am. He will want to get the fight to the ground at some point though. That's his best chance for winning this fight. I am going to use my sprawl and brawl technique to keep the fight where I want. When asked how the fight would go, Smith said, "I will be going for the knock out from the opening bell. I can't wait for Nick to establish his gameplan. People don't give him enough credit. He has more power then it seems. He does a good job of setting his power punches with those pawning jabs so I'm not underestimating his power.” Smith also confirmed that the injuries he has sustained this past year are fine, saying "as far as my knee goes, I am 100 percent healthy for this fight and ready to go. This will be one exciting fight for sure." As outlined above, Smith is no stranger to exciting fights — he has come back from the brink of defeat to “steel” a win on numerous occasions. And on June 6, Smith will step into the cage with against one of his most formidable foes to date in Nick Diaz. Both men last competed on Strikeforce's last show earlier this year to get in this position. The fight has all the ingredients of a war, as well as future title implications, with the winner moving one step closer to a middleweight title fight opposite Cung Le. In fact, Smith feels this fight card will answer a lot of questions about who Le will face next. "After this card, there’s going to be two guys deserving of that title shot. Cung Le is definitely the champion. Hopefully, I will get the chance to test myself against him. I definitely think I’m in line for one of the top fights,” Smith said. But I do understand timing is everything for fights.” That might be a future stop, but for now, "Hands of Steel" is focused on Diaz. And the road that got him to this point is all in the rearview mirror. He now has the opportunity to chart a new course for yet another successful MMA journey … and it starts with Diaz in little less than a fortnight. |
| UFC video game demo party with Bruce Buffer, Dana White, Forrest Griffin, Jon Fitch and Mike Swick Posted: 27 May 2009 05:13 PM PDT Don’t screw with the voice of the Octagon: |
| UFC rankings/MMA rankings featured in USA Today for May 2009 Posted: 27 May 2009 05:11 PM PDT
Our partners in crime over at BloodyElbow.com have once again published their divisional rankings for mixed martial arts in the nation's largest daily newspaper, USA Today, for the month of May 2009. For those of you just joining us, here's how it works:
To check out the latest USAT/SBN rankings click here. We've also listed their top 10 in each class after the jump for your convenience. What do you think? Share your ranking rants in the comments section below.
Heavyweight:
Light Heavyweight:
Middleweight:
Welterweight:
Lightweight:
Nothing brings MMA fans closer together than a list of divisional rankings. Let's hear it: Who belongs and who doesn't? And be sure to say why. "He sucks" is not a valid argument. |
| MMA Quick Quote: Brett Rogers ready to put Andrei Arlovski in check during Strikeforce fight Posted: 27 May 2009 04:57 PM PDT
– Undefeated heavyweight Brett Rogers (9-0) — who will soon face the toughest test of his mixed martial arts career when he tangles with Andrei Arlovski at Strikeforce: “Lawler vs. Shields” on June 6 — talked today during a media conference call about what it’s going to take to get the job done on fight night. If “Grimm” is able to get past Arlovski, he will certainly elevate himself to the higher echelon of the division and set up a potential showdown against the promotion’s champion, Alistair Overeem, sometime in the near future. On the other hand, Arlovski is looking for a rebound win after his dramatic loss to Fedor Emelianenko. “The Pitbull” has faced a “Who's Who” of top-level talent throughout his career, holding wins over Tim Sylvia, Paul Buentello, Fabricio Werdum, Roy Nelson and Ben Rothwell, among others. Is Rogers up for the challenge or will he be outclassed by the more well-rounded and experienced Belarusian? |
| Dan Hardy video training for Marcus Davis UFC 99 fight Posted: 27 May 2009 03:38 PM PDT |
| New Answer: An MMAmania.com post-UFC 98 interview exclusive with Frank Edgar Posted: 27 May 2009 12:07 PM PDT
At UFC 98 on May 23, not many people were giving Frankie Edgar a chance against Sean Sherk. “The Muscle Shark” was the former UFC lightweight champion with thirty-seven fights on his record and only three losses. Those three losses were to top dogs Matt Hughes, Georges St. Pierre and B.J. Penn. Sherk was supposed to be the bigger, stronger wrestler. Most thought he would outmuscle the smaller Edgar. There was even chatter that Edgar should drop down to featherweight following a loss. But the biggest loss that night was the loss for words that fans had while watching the fight. Frankie removed all doubt with his win and can now include himself alongside the other 155-pound fighters gunning for a title shot. There is a bit of uncertainly over who will get the next crack at lightweight gold. With Diego Sanchez and Clay Guida at the TUF 9 finale followed by BJ Penn vs. Kenny Florian in August, the picture is still a bit unclear. And what about Gray Maynard, who’s already defeated Edgar? We caught up with “The Answer,” post UFC 98, to get his thoughts on the Sean Sherk fight, Diego Sanchez vs. Clay Guida, his often overlooked jiu-jitsu game and how he feels about a rematch with Gray Maynard. Check it out.
Brian Oswald (MMAmania.com): Congratulations on your big win. Now that the fight is over, can you tell us about the strategy your camp came up with for Sean Sherk? It was a strategy that worked well and you executed to perfection. Frankie Edgar: I would not call it a strategy so much as the progression of my overall game. I have been working to improve my footwork and my boxing and it all came together in this fight. Obviously we are both great wrestlers so the improvement in those two areas was the key to my success. Brian Oswald (MMAmania.com): Was your corner telling you that you were winning after each round and what adjustments did you make to stay ahead of Sherk and win the fight? Frankie Edgar: My corner did tell me I was winning every round. They were very confident in how the fight was going. They told me to press on and keep doing what I was doing. I wanted to keep Sherk guessing with the footwork and boxing and it paid off for me with the win. Brian Oswald (MMAmania.com): You earned your purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Ricardo Almeida last year. At the end of the fight, you were able to sink in a choke, but time ran out. Were you disappointed that you didn't have time to sink it in and get the submission win? Frankie Edgar: Yeah for sure. I am absolutely looking for submission wins now. That will be a big part of the evolution of my game. I am always working on every aspect of my game and BJJ is a huge part of that. I will have my black belt and I realize that it will take awhile. Even getting my brown belt will take some time but it is just one day at a time and living in the moment. Brian Oswald (MMAmania.com): What are your thoughts on Sherk as both an opponent and competitor? Frankie Edgar: Sherk is so game. He has a hell of a chin; I felt like I caught him with some pretty good shots. He was very strong though; everything I expected. I knew he had quick hands and was a disciplined boxer. I was able to get the better of him in terms of timing but that is not taking anything away from Sherk. Brian Oswald (MMAmania.com): Dana seemed like he was impressed, proud and a bit shocked with your win over Sherk. In the post fight conference he said he didn't make predictions but he wasn't sure how you could get by him. Does it make you proud to have Dana White impressed by you? Frankie Edgar: Absolutely. Dana White is my boss so whenever you can impress your boss, it makes you feel good. It means your doing something right. It is like any other job. You want your boss to respect you and think your doing a good job…so it was certainly a great feeling. Brian Oswald (MMAmania.com): How long will you take to rest and get some personal time in before you are back in the gym training for your next fight? Frankie Edgar: Depending on how the fight goes, I usually don't like to take too much time off. I was 100% fine after this fight. The sport has changed. Guys train full time now and I am no different. You have to be ready for when the UFC asks you to fight again. Brian Oswald (MMAmania.com): One of your friends and training partners was also on the UFC 98 card. Dan Miller fought a tough fight against Chael Sonnen. Do you have any thoughts on that fight? Frankie Edgar: Dan and Jim Miller are great training partners. They work so hard. They are scrappy kids just like myself; all blue collar kids. Miller got laid on by Sonnen. Sonnen had the right gameplan and was able to avoid submissions. Dan couldn't seem to get a rhythm going; I don't know what it was. He is usually a lot slicker on his back. Dan is a gamer though; he is likely back in the gym. We will see him back in the Octagon sooner rather then later. Brian Oswald (MMAmania.com): This win puts you in the title talk conversation. Some think Diego Sanchez is in line for the title shot while others think he needs one more win. Would you be game to fight the winner of Sanchez vs. Guida to determine a number one contender for the belt? Frankie Edgar: I will leave that up to the UFC. I would like to fight for title contention though. Whether it's Diego fighting for the title or the two of us fighting for title contention, I am looking for the scenario that involves me (laughs). I am not sure what the UFC is going to do though, so we will see what happens. Brian Oswald (MMAmania.com): Any thoughts on the Sanchez-Guida fight? Frankie Edgar: Right now, I have to give Diego the advantage. His stand up is better and he is slicker with the jiu-jitsu; he is a great grappler. Clay has the advantage in wrestling though. They both bring a hell of a pace to their fights. It is going to be an exciting fight for sure. Brian Oswald (MMAmania.com): The one loss on your record is to Gray Maynard. You have more impressive wins on your resume though. Do you think a rematch is in order between the two of you to determine who should advance on toward a title shot against Penn vs. Florian? Frankie Edgar: Again, that is up to the UFC. That being said, I would be down for a rematch. It's always great to get to chance to redo something that didn't go your way; especially in a fight. I would absolutely sign up for the rematch, especially if the winner gets the next title shot. Brian Oswald (MMAmania.com): If you were to rematch Maynard, what adjustments would you make from your first fight with him? Did Maynard get the decision win because he outwrestled you? Would you use a gameplan similar to the one you used against Sherk? Frankie Edgar: I would take some things I learned from the Sherk fight. I do think that Maynard is a little bit more dynamic though. I would look at his recent tapes to see how he has evolved since our first fight. Given that we are both great wrestlers, I go back to the footwork, boxing and my jiu-jitsu as ways in which I can stand apart. Brian Oswald (MMAmania.com): That is all I have got for you Frankie. I want to thank you for speaking with us and we look forward to seeing who you next opponent is. Frankie Edgar: Thanks a lot Brian. |
| MMA Quick Quote: Jason ‘Mayhem’ Miller tells Brazilian nuthuggers to go suck it Posted: 27 May 2009 12:06 PM PDT
– Former Icon Sport 185-pound champion Jason Miller responds to criticism on The Underground following his no contest at DREAM 9 last Tuesday. His middleweight title bout with Ronaldo Souza was halted after an illegal soccer kick opened up a bleeder on ‘Jacare’ that forced officials to stop the bout. The fight was ruled a no contest and another rematch between the rivals to determine a more decisive ending seems to be the next logical step; however, it has yet to be officially announced by Japan's Fighting & Entertainment Group. In the interim, ‘Mayhem’ seems content to battle his critics on the Internet. Where da monkeys at? |
| Tony Juarez replaces Blas Avena at ‘The Awakening’ on May 30; Anderson Silva to appear Posted: 27 May 2009 12:06 PM PDT
San Francisco, CA (USA): World Combat Sports Challenge (WCSC), one of the top Muay Thai promotions in North America, will debut its first event with MMA fights at "THE AWAKENING" on Saturday, May 30 at Kezar Pavilion in San Francisco, CA. Doors open at 5 PM, and the event is scheduled to deliver close to 20 fights. The MMA main event was to be local rising star Ky Hollenbeck tangling with WEC veteran Blas Avena, but Avena has had to drop out of the bout due to personal issues. Taking Avena's place will be Tony " Montana " Juarez , fighting out of No Limits Gym. A very tough competitor with experience fighting the UFC's Nate Diaz, Juarez always brings an exciting fight to the crowd. In addition, WCSC recently announced two additional MMA bouts to "THE AWAKENING." Two of UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva's protégés have been signed to fight, and Anderson will be in attendance as their cornerman. Lightweight fighter Damaso Schubert (0-1) is a strong striker, and will face Eduardo Baiao of Team USA, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt who will be making his MMA debut. Also, middleweight fighter Roberto Amorim will be making his MMA debut against American Kickboxing Academy product Gavin Clark (1-0). Both Schubert and Amorim are trained by Silva, and are sure to excite the crowd with their striking skills.
"THE AWAKENING" will also feature San Francisco 's own Rick Cheek (25-2, 23 KO's) battling for the WCSC Super-Heavyweight World Title. In addition, the hiatus of former 3-time world kickboxing and Muay Thai champion Michael Espinoza will come to an end, as he is making his return to the fight game after an absence of nearly 17 years. Espinoza's perfect 32-0 record and the WCSC Super-Lightweight Muay Thai belt will be on the line as Espinoza battles rising Muay Thai star Victor Cortez (23-2, 16 KO's). "I’m looking forward to getting back into the ring," says Espinoza. "I’ve been training hard, and Cortez is a talented kid. I’m sure it will be a good fight." Known for pioneering fight events in the Bay Area such as the first all-female Muay Thai card, WCSC's "AWAKENING" will be showcasing the first Muay Thai and MMA fights to take place in California in a 5-rope ring. Muay Thai and MMA belts galore will be on the line as some of the top young talent in California will match up with one another for supremacy. The titles bouts include:
"THE AWAKENING" is sure to be an exciting event for Bay Area fight fans of all types. Dan Merrill, WCSC VP of Operations says, “Bringing MMA and Muay Thai together on the same card is something that we have been looking forward to for a very long time. We are thrilled to be in a position to put on this ‘hybrid’ show, which will cater to both the MMA crowd, as well as our Muay Thai fan base. This event will be an explosive night of action.” World Combat Sports Challenge has been promoting martial arts in the Bay Area for over 20 years. Since its inception, WCSC has staged several exciting events, such as 2008’s "Best of the Bay" and "Female Fury." For ticket information regarding the May 30th 2009 event "THE AWAKENING," please visit the World Combat Sports Challenge website at http://www.worldcsc.com/ or Virtual Box Office at http://www.virtualboxoffice.com/ |
| Fox Business profiles TapouT in Forbes ‘Sports Money’ (Video) Posted: 27 May 2009 10:53 AM PDT |
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