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- UFC 99 video blog with Dana White (Episode one)
- Programming reminder: UFC 99 Countdown debut on Spike TV tonight (June 9) at 11 p.m. ET
- Andrei Arlovski: ‘I got my ass kicked, it’s that simple’
- Andrei Arlovski LIVE video chat TONIGHT (June 9) at 10pm ET
- Tim Sylvia: ‘I would like to end my career in the UFC’
- Mirko Filipovic and Dana White discuss UFC 99 return of ‘Cro Cop’ on June 13
- UFC 99 video: Mike Swick hits the mitts in preparation for Ben Saunders fight
- Nick Diaz willing to fight at light heavyweight ‘if something big came along’
- UFC 99 odds and betting lines for ‘Franklin vs Silva’
- Sengoku 9 fight card begins to take shape for Aug. 2; Akihiro Gono set to compete
| UFC 99 video blog with Dana White (Episode one) Posted: 10 Jun 2009 04:47 AM PDT | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Programming reminder: UFC 99 Countdown debut on Spike TV tonight (June 9) at 11 p.m. ET Posted: 09 Jun 2009 07:47 PM PDT
For more programming details and background on tonight’s presentation of “UFC Countdown” to 99 “The Comeback” on Spike TV click here. Enjoy the show, Maniacs. Be sure to discuss what you see in the comments section below. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Andrei Arlovski: ‘I got my ass kicked, it’s that simple’ Posted: 09 Jun 2009 07:41 PM PDT
Props: Arlovski.com
Andrei Arlovski via live video chat reflects on his devastating loss to Brett Rogers at Strikeforce: ‘Lawler vs. Shields’ last Saturday (June 6) from the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri. “The Pitbull” lasted only 22 seconds against “The Grimm,” who pushes his record to 10-0 while Arlovski tries to rebound from his second straight KO defeat. He was also put down by Fedor Emelianenko at Affliction: ‘Day of Reckoning’ back on January 24. He plans to fight again before the year is through but the question now is, where does he go from here? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Andrei Arlovski LIVE video chat TONIGHT (June 9) at 10pm ET Posted: 09 Jun 2009 06:08 PM PDT
For those fans who are wondering what happened to Andrei Arlovski against Brett Rogers at the June 6 Strikeforce event in St. Louis, Missouri, here’s you chance to ask him. “The Pitbull” will be hosting a live video chat on his website www.arlovski.com to discuss with you, the fans, everything that transpired at Strikefrorce: ‘Lawler vs. Shields’ as well as a variety of other topics beginning at 10pm ET (9pm CT). For more information head over to Arlovski.com or click here. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tim Sylvia: ‘I would like to end my career in the UFC’ Posted: 09 Jun 2009 05:09 PM PDT
Props: Fighter’s Only Quoteworthy:
Former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia talks about going back to the land of milk and Zuffa for a chance to finish his career in the promotion that helped make him a star. “The Maine-iac” has been on the shelf since getting steamrolled by Fedor Emelianenko at Affliction "Banned" in July 2008. That's more than a year of inactivity, which will come to an end when Sylvia makes his boxing debut against former Olympic gold medalist and world heavyweight boxing champion Ray Mercer — barely one month after "Merciless" turns 48 years of age — at Adrenaline III: "Bragging Rights" in Birmingham, Ala., on June 13. Sylvia is on a two-fight losing skid and has dropped three of his last four contests. He'll need to put some wins together over someone other than a geriatric boxer if he wants to be considered for another run inside the Octagon. Beating Paul Buentello at Affliction 3 on August 1 would definitely be a good start. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mirko Filipovic and Dana White discuss UFC 99 return of ‘Cro Cop’ on June 13 Posted: 09 Jun 2009 04:24 PM PDT
Mirko Filipovic (24-6-2) is back for a second run inside the Octagon with Mustapha Al-Turk preparing to welcome him at UFC 99 on June 13. Aptly titled “The Comeback,” the Cologne, Germany event will begin Filipovic’s quest to erase the memory of a limp 1-2 run with Zuffa that started and ended with three fights in 2007. “Cro Cop” was successful in his UFC debut, beating an unheralded Eddie Sanchez via technical knockout in the first round at UFC 67. But unfortunately for the former PRIDE Grand Prix Champion, his next two UFC outings, both in England, were not so savory. At UFC 70, in the most ironic kick in MMA history, Filipovic nearly had his head taken off by Brazilian Yeti Gabriel Gonzaga. In Mirko's third and final UFC fight, French Kickboxer Cheick Kongo handed the Croatian sensation a lopsided unanimous decision loss at UFC 75. Now we can officially “Call it a Comeback." The former Croatian cop made his presence felt earlier this afternoon during a conference call with UFC President Dana White to talk about his aforementioned return. Right out the gate, Cro Cop was questioned about his previous struggles inside the Octagon and what preparations he was making to ensure his second go-round would yield different results.
"To tell you the truth, it is hard for me to say. I am not 100-percent sure exactly. I have spent a lot of time thinking about it. I wasn't the old Mirko Cro Cop, that is for sure. I wasn't adapted for the cage as well as I would have liked. Maybe I wasn't hungry enough, I don't know. I think I went through a phase where I didn't smell blood in a fight at the level I used to. I know I over thought things too much." Cro Cop pushed past his previous UFC tenure, stating he is now completely motivated and injury free, after opting to have surgery earlier this year to correct nagging injuries. "I am hungry, I am focused and I am in great shape for this fight. The surgeries are behind me. I am completely focused on my training. I have let go of my police officer duties. I am not returning just to return. I will prove this in the cage. You will see a very different Mirko Cro Crop at UFC 99. My goal is to come in, win a few fights and work my way toward a title fight." Cro Cop cited unfinished business as the biggest reason for his return as well as being able to deliver for the UFC fans who may not have gotten what they were expecting back in 2007. UFC President Dana White, himself a Cro Cop fan, knew that Filipovic would one day make good on his promise to return. "He expressed to me just how bad he wanted to return. He talked about the success of his surgery, how hard he has been training and his interest in making a run at the title. When I talked to him about fighting in Germany he was so fired up. I have always said I respect Mirko…that his return was a phone call away and there it was." When talk turned to his UFC 99 opponent, Mirko expressed nothing but respect for Mustapha Al-Turk. "For me every opponent is a dangerous opponent. (He) showed courage accepting the fight with only three weeks to go. We are both coming in on short notice and I respect Al-Turk for that. I will be ready for him though. I will be ready for his ground work, for his clinch, for whatever he is going to do." When asked about the difference between fighting in the ring versus the cage, Mirko admitted that each was unique in their own way and that he may have underestimated the importance of understanding the cage back in 2007. "They are definitely different. I know very well because I spent my whole career in the ring and I just entered the cage and underestimated it. It's much easier to go from the cage to the ring then from the ring to the cage. The cage is set and many experienced UFC fighters like to use the cage; they like to use the wire. It can be hard to escape from against the wire and fighters can use elbows there. In the ring you can put your head out of the ropes and they put you back in the middle of the ring. If you don't know how to escape the wire you are in trouble." Beyond the cage, a big question concerning Cro Cop's return to the UFC was the type of contract he had negotiated. There was speculation that it was a one-fight deal and when Dana was questioned about the topic, he offered no definitive answers — but did reveal the free-spirited nature of their transaction. "Mirko and I are still sorting out the details of the contract. He ended up on this card last minute -– just a few weeks before the event. This whole deal was done verbally over the phone between me and him. In the history of the company, I have never done this with any fighter. I know how I feel about Mirko and how he feels about me. I respect his goals. We have a great relationship so we’ll see what happens." White was also asked if Cro Cop’s UFC future was contingent on a win at UFC 99. "I can't say for sure yet. Cro Cop and I have a great relationship so it's something we will discuss together. Just because you lose one fight in the UFC doesn't mean you're automatically going to leave. There are a lot of different factors. Mirko will fight this fight and we will talk after this fight and see what happens. While betting lines fluctuate, one thing is for certain: Cro Cop's UFC legacy is riding the line. Right now, putting his illustrious career into perspective is a precarious endeavor. Obviously the lore of Filipovic will forever live on in the hearts and minds of hardcore fans with memorable wins over elite names like Josh Barnett, Wanderlei Silva, Mark Coleman, Kevin Randleman, Aleksander Emelianenko, Kazuyuki Fujita and Heath Herring. Even in losses to Fedor Emelianenko and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, he proved he could battle with the “best of the best” in their prime. Only one thing matters now for the accomplished fighter: Cro Cop's last stand in the UFC. It's a stand he chose to take and one that will solidify — or jeopardize his lasting legacy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UFC 99 video: Mike Swick hits the mitts in preparation for Ben Saunders fight Posted: 09 Jun 2009 12:26 PM PDT | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nick Diaz willing to fight at light heavyweight ‘if something big came along’ Posted: 09 Jun 2009 12:05 PM PDT
Props: FightHype.com Quoteworthy:
Cesar Gracie — the mastermind behind Nick Diaz and several other top fighters such as Nate Diaz, Jake Shields and Gilbert Melendez — indicates that his fighter is willing to compete as high as 205 pounds if the right opportunity (and challenger) emerges in the future. Diaz now fights under the Strikeforce banner, where he has experienced tremendous success. He recently picked apart Scott Smith at the “Lawler vs. Shields” event last weekend en route to a third round submission (rear naked choke) win in a record-setting performance (strikes). He also beat down Frank Shamrock via technical knockout earlier this year. Both fights were contested around the 180-pound mark, which is 20 pounds heavier than when he was fighting as a lightweight as recently as last year. Gracie indicated that he would ideally remain a welterweight (170 pounds); however, at this time, there doesn’t appear to be very many good fights out there for him — the UFC has the rights to a majority of the best welterweights in the world. So does Diaz stay near the middleweight division limit or go even higher to get the big fights? Time will tell, but he doesn’t appear to be scared either way. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UFC 99 odds and betting lines for ‘Franklin vs Silva’ Posted: 09 Jun 2009 11:30 AM PDT
The clock is ticking to get your bets in for UFC 99 — it'll be here before we know it. The pay-per-view (PPV) event from Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany, begins Saturday, June 13 at 3 p.m. ET. That means, of course, that the fights will begin to take place much earlier in the afternoon and you should get your bet slips in sooner rather than later to avoid confusion. Therefore, here are the latest UFC 99 odds (- = favorite; + = underdog):
Time to put up or shut up for all us keyboard warriors … get in on the action before it's too late. For a little help with how to bet on UFC fights and what all the numbers mean check out this post right HERE (Disregard the UFC 85 references … all the information is still accurate and helpful.) Remember that MMAmania.com will provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action on fight afternoon (Saturday, June 13), which is slated to air beginning at 3 p.m. ET on PPV. The latest quick updates of the live action will begin to flow earlier than that around 1 p.m. ET. It's going to be an exciting afternoon of fights so don't miss it. And remember to check us out for all the pre, during and post-fight UFC 99 coverage you can handle. To check out our complete UFC 99 event archive click here. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sengoku 9 fight card begins to take shape for Aug. 2; Akihiro Gono set to compete Posted: 09 Jun 2009 11:18 AM PDT
World Victory Road recently announced more match-ups for its next event, Sengoku 9, which will take place at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, on August 2. The man who recently dispatched of Fedor Emelianenko (albeit in a Sambo competition), Blagoy Alexandre Ivanov, is set to make his mixed martial arts debut at the event. He will take on hard hitting Kazuyuki Fujita, who has faced off against Emelianenko himself back at PRIDE 26 in 2003. In fact, Fujita came just a whisker away from putting the heavyweight deity away by rocking him with a thunderous right hook; however, in typical fashion, Emelianenko was able to quickly recover from the scare and later reclaim the bout with a rear naked choke.
World Victory Road also announced the acquisition of former PRIDE and UFC veteran Akihiro Gono. He is booked to make his debut for the promotion at Sengoku 9, but an opponent is unknown at this time. Elsewhere on the card, Satoru Kitaoka, is set to defend his Sengoku lightweight title for the first time against Mizuto Hirota. Kitaoka won the championship by making short work of former PRIDE FC poster boy, Takanori Gomi, at Sengoku: “Rebellion” back in January, dousing the flames of "The Fireball Kid" with a fight-ending Achilles lock just 1:41 into the opening stanza Hirota earned his shot at the gold by recently disposing of highly regarded lightweight standout, Mitsuhiro Ishida, ending the bout via technical knockout in the very first round earlier this month at Shooto Final Tradition. And in what is being regarded as a title eliminator bout will be Kazuo Misaki who is set to do battle with judoka Kazuhiro Nakamura, with the victor going onto face Sengoku Middleweight Champion Jorge Santiago at a later date. The pairings for World Victory Road’s featherweight grand prix semifinals are also set to go down at Sengoku 9. The often overlooked Michihiro Omigawa — who earned his spot in the semifinals by dominating and garnering a hard fought decision victory over L.C Davis and then firing off an impressive performance against Nam Phan — will have another tough test when he faces the always dangerous Marlon Sandro. Sandro — the Featherweight King of Pancrase — has been impressive in his own right throughout the tournament, submitting Matt Jaggers at Sengoku 7 with a standing arm triangle. He then went on to defeat Nick Denis at his own game by knocking "The Ninja of Love" out with a well placed uppercut only 19 seconds into the opening stanza at Sengoku 8. Tournament favorite and promotion poster boy Hatsu Hioki will collide with Masanori Kanehara. Hioki has been a dominant force thus far in the tournament, submitting American Top Team (ATT) jiu-jitsu coach Chris Manuel by triangle armbar at Sengoku 7. He then went on to submit formidable grappler Ronnie Mann with a triangle lock earlier last month. Kanehara has garnered decision victories over Jong Man Kim also Chang Sung to earn his spot. The winners from both semifinal matches will meet in the featherweight tournament finals, which will be held later in the same evening. Here is the current line-up for Sengoku 9: Sengoku lightweight title bout: Sengoku featherweight grand prix semifinals: Sengoku featherweight grand prix final: Sengoku Gold Cup Lightweight (154lbs) Final Sengoku Gold Cup Featherweight (143lbs) Final Sengoku Gold Cup Bantamweight (132 lbs) Final Non-tournament bout: Keep it dialed in to MMAmania.com for more information on this fight card as it develops. |
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