Saturday, May 30, 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
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WEC 41: Mike Brown vs Urijah Faber 2 video promo

Posted: 29 May 2009 09:27 PM PDT

These vids keep coming … excited yet?

Josh Koscheck vs Frank Trigg possible for UFC 103 on Sept. 26; Matt Hughes also in the mix

Posted: 29 May 2009 01:05 PM PDT

Top-ranked welterweight contender, Josh Koscheck (12-4), and former number one division contender, Frank Trigg (19-6), are in talks to battle it out for 170-pound supremacy at UFC 103 on Sept. 26.

MMAmania.com learned earlier today about the likely match up; however, a venue is still unknown at this time (locations in the United Kingdom and Las Vegas are under under consideration) for the event. In addition, nine-time division kingpin, Matt Hughes, is also lurking in the shadows as a possible opponent for Koscheck … albeit on the outside.

When reached for comment, Koscheck indicated that he didn’t have a preference, saying “I’ll fight either one of those guys. Line them up back-to-back so I can beat one and then move onto the other. It’s nothing personal against them — Trigg and Hughes are both great fighters and a fight with either one of those guys would be a great show for the fans. And that is what it’s all about. I want big fights against big names, guys who will motivate me to train harder than ever before — Trigg and Hughes are those types of guys.”

"Kos" broke his toe back in April while training for his 170-pound match up with Chris Wilson at UFC 98, which would have marked his fourth fight in six months. The wrestling phenom is already back at full strength after spending the past few months on the disabled list, itching to return from the sidelines and get back to his winning ways.

Koscheck was recently upended when he walked into a Paulo Thiago uppercut at UFC 95: "Sanchez vs. Stevenson" last February. The referee jumped in to stop the action in the first round after Koscheck hit the canvas, which several onlookers, including Koscheck, felt was a premature stoppage.

He will no doubt look to exact revenge on his next opponent, which could very well be the the 37-year-old veteran welterweight who just this week signed a contract to return to the organization.

"Twinkle Toes" (19-6) — who is returning to the UFC after more than three years of fighting outside the promotion — is perhaps best known to UFC fans for his two defeats at the hands of former division champion Matt Hughes — both by rear naked choke. First at UFC 45 and then again at UFC 52.

The former University of Oklahoma wrestler attempted to rebound at UFC 54 against Georges St. Pierre, but met a similar fate at the hands of the current champ after being dominated from the opening horn.

Trigg put together a solid 7-2 run outside of Zuffa, including wins over Jason "Mayhem" Miller and Kazuo Misaki, and was last seen outpointing a very game Danny Babcock in the main event of the XCF: "Rumble in Racetown" event back on February 14.

Hughes, on the other hand, is coming off a big win over nemesis Matt Serra via unanimous decision at UFC 98: “Evans vs. Machida.” He indicated after the bout that his contract status and future were up in the air, requiring a meeting with company president Dana White to map out his plans moving forward.

Retirement, however, does not appear to be an option at this time. On the contrary, Hughes indicated after the fight that he would prefer to compete closer to home, which would have to be somewhere near Illinois and certainly not overseas.

For more on UFC 103 be sure to hit up our event archive right here.

Ruthless Aggression: An MMAmania.com interview exclusive with Robbie Lawler

Posted: 29 May 2009 12:00 PM PDT

There are a lot of adjectives that appropriately describe Robbie Lawler as a fighter. Cunning, brutal, callous, and ruthless are just a few.

UFC President Dana White chose the latter and donned him “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler back in 2002 when he was just a twenty-year-old kid fighting in the UFC purely on heart and sheer determination.

Since departing the UFC in 2004, Lawler has gone 8 - 1 including notable victories over Frank Trigg, Murilo Rua and Scott Smith, while accumulating two belts along the way: The ICON Sport middleweight championship and the EliteXC middleweight championship.

Lawler’s competitive nature and fighting spirit continue to be driving forces in his career to this day.

The difference between then and now is that his skills as a mixed martial artist have evolved and he is a dangerous, well-rounded fighter who continues to be a handful for anyone who dares to step inside the cage against him.

Enter another former EliteXC champion in Jake Shields, who will be Lawler’s next test at the appropriately titled Strikeforce: ‘Lawler vs. Shields’ event that will be held in St. Louis, Missouri on June 6.

Robbie took some time out of his busy schedule to discuss his teammate Matt Hughes, his long layoff, Jake Shields and why he’s not thrilled about having to fight him at a catchweight.

Check it out.

Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): You just got back from Las Vegas where you were cornering your teammate Matt Hughes. What are your thoughts on how his fight with Matt Serra played out?

Robbie Lawler: It went pretty good. He won so that’s always a good sign. He won two out of the three rounds and he got the victory.

Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Did you guys go out and celebrate on the Vegas strip afterwards or did you have to get back?

Robbie Lawler: Not really. It was low key. We went out to a small bar and just kind of hung out and talked.

Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Do you fully expect Hughes to sign another contract and continue to fight?

Robbie Lawler: I didn’t know what to expect. Usually I don’t listen to what he says during his interviews. After the fight I was kind of interested on what he was going to say. I was kind of just waiting like you guys were.

Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): I want to briefly go back in time to the demise of EliteXC. If Strikeforce had not came in and bought your contract, who would you likely be fighting for today? Which organization was at the top of your list?

Robbie Lawler: I was just kind of waiting it out. We were talking to everyone and keeping our options open. Basically, whoever was going to pay the most.

Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): When you step in the cage with Jake Shields it will be about ten months since your last fight. Does it feel like twenty? What has the wait been like for you mentally?

Robbie Lawler: It hasn’t been that bad. I’ve had long layoffs before. I’ve just been training hard. The whole time I was off I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to fight anywhere else. I could fight in a week. I just didn’t know so I kept myself in pretty good shape.

Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Do you expect any rust or issues with cardio deep in the fight after this long of a layoff?

Robbie Lawler: No. I’ve been training hard and I should be ready to go.

Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): The HIT Squad gym you call home is less than ten miles away from where you’ll take on Shields in downtown St. Louis. Does this give you any kind of advantage at all or is “home field” irrelevant in MMA?

Robbie Lawler: Yeah, I don’t think home field really means anything in sports in general. I just think if you’re the better athlete or you have the better team you’re going to win and it doesn’t matter where.

Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Your opponent Jake Shields is known for having a world class ground game. Is the key to this fight your ability to keep it standing and play to your strength?

Robbie Lawler: That could be one key. I just need to be in good shape and I’m ready to go. I just need to be able to go three rounds and go hard the whole time.

Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): At the 182 pound catchweight, do you feel like you’ll have the size and strength advantage? Do you anticipate being able to push out of positions and bully him around a little bit?

Robbie Lawler: No, because the catchweight is not really good for me. It’s better for him. I’m coming down. He does not have to cut any weight. I have to cut more than I’m normally used to, but I don’t think it really matters. I’m going to be ready to go and ready to fight.

Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): The catchweight was something that appeared to be agreed on after the fact. Is that something you’ll try to agree upon up front next time if a catchweight is needed? What are your thoughts on how that transpired?

Robbie Lawler: Well the thing is they’re like, “Hey you’re going to fight Jake Shields” and I was like, “Okay we’re fighting him.” We did the press conference and everything.

Then my manager goes, “They want to do it at 182″ and I was like, “Why didn’t they say that in the beginning?”

Then he was like, “Do you really want to fight him on this? Is this something where you think you should make a big deal about it?” I go, “Hey, it’s not a big deal if they don’t think it’s a big deal.”

Now it’s at 182 and we’re all passed that and we’re going to fight. Yeah, I wasn’t too happy about the way it went down.

Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Do you think the winner of this fight deserves a crack at the middleweight title if you can pull Cung Le off a movie set?

Robbie Lawler: I don’t really care about any of that shit. I’m just going to be ready to fight. After that I’ll probably take a couple days off and start training again. Maybe a week or two after that I’ll decide what’s going on and where I’m going.

Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Are you going to try to fight again before the end of the year?

Robbie Lawler: Yeah I’m hoping to fight maybe two or three times before the end of the year. I had the long layoff and I want to make up for lost time.

Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Who are the others on the Strikeforce payroll you would like a piece of? Is the chance to avenge your loss to Nick Diaz high on your list of things to do?

Robbie Lawler: No he’s not on my list. I don’t have a list. I got past that fight a long time ago. I lost and it happens and I’ve moved on.

Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): That’s all I had for you Robbie. Anything you would like to say to your fans out there or any sponsors you want to thank?

Robbie Lawler: I want to thank Tapout and the HitSquad.com.

Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Alright, thanks again. Best of luck to you in a few days.

Robbie Lawler: Yep, peace.

Royce Gracie video calls steroid allegations ‘ridiculous’ for him - but not for Ken Shamrock

Posted: 29 May 2009 11:11 AM PDT

MMA Quick Quote: Affliction planning fourth event for the East Coast

Posted: 29 May 2009 10:36 AM PDT

“Trilogy just means that this is the third. This is the third of the series … What it should indicate to people is that this is just the third event that Affliction will be promoting, and I can assure you that there will be a fourth; a fifth; and a sixth. The fourth one will most probably be on the East Coast.”

Affliction COO Michael Cohen explains to MMA Fanhouse that despite the haters, Affliction will continue to move forward with its mixed martial arts promotion, including three more shows and a stop on the East Coast that is “most probable” for 2009. Cohen and Co. have thus far managed to stage two major pay-per-view (PPV) events with mixed results since making a foray in the industry in mid 2008 and have a third event scheduled for August 1. If they can hold profitable events going forward, there is no reason to think they could be around a lot longer than many people — including UFC President Dana White — ever anticipated. They key word here however is “profitable…”

Chicky-chicky-Kongo! Paul Kelly gunning for revenge, UFC greatness

Posted: 29 May 2009 10:07 AM PDT

Props: Telegraph.uk

Quoteworthy:

“This guy, Paul Kelly, he trains so hard. He is like my family, actually, I consider him family. Paul is my family. No-one understands how hard this guy trains. He spars so hard, he fights hard with me - a heavyweight - and with Rampage. I’ve seen Rampage knock him down with a punch and him get right back up. I believe he will be a great force at lightweight, he is so strong. He always shouts “Chicky-chicky-Kongo! Chicky-chicky Kongo!” as well and I had to teach him. When he was walking in the mall I gave him a good dead-leg to walk on. Of course, Paul now says he is getting me back. He has tried to kick me in the leg many times but I don’t really feel it and it upsets him. He says he’s bringing a baseball bat to Germany to hit me in the leg after our fights. We will see.”

Rising heavyweight contender Cheick Kongo gives high praise for up-and-coming lightweight Paul Kelly who trains with the rest of Team Wolfslair in the United Kingdom. Kelly is coming off a thrilling three-round victory over Troy Mandaloniz at UFC 95 "Sanchez vs. Stevenson" and is gearing up for his next fight in the lightweight division after dropping from welterweight for the simple fact that it would only require a ten pound cut — mere child's play by today's standards. "Tellys" is a welcome addition to the 155-pound division — or any other weight class in the UFC for that matter, so long as he continues to put on performances like he did last February at the O2 Arena in London, England.

Strikeforce: ‘Lawler vs Shields’ results and LIVE fight coverage for June 6 in St. Louis

Posted: 29 May 2009 09:53 AM PDT

Strikeforce recently finalized the 11-fight line up for its first-ever trip to “Gateway City” on June 6 from the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

Strikeforce: "Lawler vs. Shields" will be headlined by a match-up of the last reigning Elite XC middleweight champion, "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler, and the only man to ever hold the Elite XC welterweight title, Jake Shields. In addition, a special 180-pound catchweight fight between Nick Diaz and Scott Smith will be featured.

Rounding out the stacked card is former UFC Heavyweight Champion Andrei Arlovski taking on undefeated power puncher Brett “The Grim” Rogers.

Here is the complete Strikeforce: ‘Lawler vs. Shields’ fight card:

Main event:

182 lbs. (Catchweight): "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler (16-4) vs. Jake Shields (22-4-1)

Main card (Televised):

180 lbs. (Catchweight): Nick Diaz (19-7) vs. Scott "Hands of Steel" Smith (17-5)
265 lbs.: Andrei "The Pitbull" Arlovski (15-6) vs. Brett "The Grim" Rogers (9-0)
170 lbs.: Phil "New York Bad Ass" Baroni (13-10) vs. Joe "Diesel" Riggs (29-10)
205 lbs.: Kevin "The Monster" Randleman (17-12) vs. Mike Whitehead (23-7)

Under card:

205 lbs.: Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante (7-1) vs. Mike “MAK” Kyle (11-6-1)
170 lbs.: Josh Baumgartner (5-0) vs. Jesse Finney (3-0)
170 lbs.: Tyron "Tobasco" Woodley (2-0) vs. Sal Woods (2-4)
185 lbs.: Lucas Lopes (8-8) vs. Scott Ventimiglia (12-5-1)
155 lbs.: Pat Benson (3-5-1) vs. Dave Cochran (16-19)
265 lbs.: Booker DeRousse (1-1) vs. James Wade (0-0)

MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of ‘Lawler vs. Shields,’ beginning with the Showtime telecast. In addition, we will deliver up-to-the-minute quick results of all the under card action on fight night.

We're still a few days away from the big event; therefore, feel free to share your thoughts and predictions on "Lawler vs. Shields" in the comments section below. And remember that MMAmania.com will be the spot for the latest news and event-related highlights before, during and after the event.

For everything you need to know about Strikeforce feel free to also hit up our event archive right here.

UFC 99 full video preview for ‘The Comeback’ in Germany on June 13

Posted: 29 May 2009 09:15 AM PDT

Michael Bisping: Life will imitate art on July 11

Posted: 29 May 2009 07:34 AM PDT

Props: The Sun

Quoteworthy:

“I’ve been playing the ‘UFC 2009 Undisputed’ game as myself against [Dan Henderson] as part of my mental preparation and I’ve been knocking him out on a regular basis. I’ve been there, seen it and done it a thousand times and I’m sure when the night comes it will be no different … I’ve got a bunch of very high caliber wrestlers in to train with and none of them are getting me down.”

The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 3 light heavyweight winner, Michael Bisping, keeps up the confidence as his showdown with Dan Henderson at UFC 100 on July 11 draws closer. "The Count" has been talking a good game to promote the middlweight showdown, saying previously that Henderson is "nowhere near his level." The winner of the match up between Bisping and Henderson, as well as Demian Maia, are the front runners to challenge for the 185-pound title next. The next few weeks should be very interesting for the suddenly crowded middleweight class — though Bisping might find the real Hendo a bit tougher than his digital counterpart…

Pro MMA Radio features exclusive interviews with top MMA stars of past, present and future

Posted: 29 May 2009 07:27 AM PDT

Until recently, the only good thing to come out of Monday nights was the appearance of Kaley Cuoco - who not coincidentally stars in a show with "Big Bang" in the title.

Well sorry Blondie but there's a new reason to love Monday nights now that MMAmania.com features a live presentation of Pro MMA Radio every Monday at 9pm ET.

Hosted by Larry Pepe, Pro MMA Radio is professional, guest-driven program that features some of MMA's biggest names like Brock Lesnar, Randy Couture and Urijah Faber.

If you're looking for a radio show that revolves around a couple of MMA fans ranting and raving about everything that's already been covered ad nauseam, then Pro MMA Radio probably isn't for you.

However, if you want to hear from actual fighters answering questions that are relevant to their careers and the current MMA scene, tune in every Monday night for our exclusive live feed.

Can't make the 9pm start time? Interested in hearing from past guests like Brock Lesnar and Randy Couture? No problem. Pro MMA Radio offers an easily accessible and downloadable archive by clicking here.

And now for the best part: MMAmania.com Editor and Senior Writer Jesse Holland, Mr. Nostradumbass himself will be dropping by twice a month to help Pep preview an upcoming fight card or review a recently held event (sometimes both) in Pro MMA Radio's "Opening Round".

And don't worry, if you're cuckoo for Cuoco's Puffs, her show starts at 8pm.
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