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- Knee injury forces Chris Lytle to withdraw from UFC Fight Night 19 bout against Carlos Condit
- Carano vs Cyborg video: ‘Behind the hype’
- ‘Spider’ camp denies ever offering to have Anderson Silva relinquish his title and move to light heavyweight
- Frank Shamrock: Nick Diaz is a knucklehead
- Kenny Florian is still a ’student’ of mixed martial arts
- WEC 42 medical suspensions: Brian Bowles breaks hand, could be out until 2010
- Watch Strikeforce: ‘Carano vs Cyborg’ online with ‘All Access’ on Aug. 15
- Tito Ortiz flies first class, Chuck Liddell stuck back in coach (Video)
- Adrenaline IV: Tim Sylvia next fight could come against Jason Riley on Sept. 18
- UFC Quick Quote: Dana White pulls the plug on video blog series
| Knee injury forces Chris Lytle to withdraw from UFC Fight Night 19 bout against Carlos Condit Posted: 11 Aug 2009 08:27 PM PDT
UFC workhorse Chris Lytle has been forced to withdraw from his 170-pound showdown against Carlos Condit at UFC Fight Night 19 from the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., on Sept. 16, after suffering a severe injury to his knee. MMAmania.com confirmed the news with a source close to Lytle earlier today. "Lights Out" was coming off a unanimous decision win over Kevin Burns at The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) Season 9 finale this past June in a stand-up war that saw Lytle earn his third "Fight of the Night" bonus in as many attempts. With an anticipated return date of no earlier than 2010, this will mark the first time in his ten year career that the rugged striker did not fight at least three times per year. The UFC is currently searching for an opponent for Condit, who will be making his sophomore effort inside the Octagon after a razor-thin split decision loss to Martin Kampmann at UFC Fight Night 18 back in April. UFC Fight Night 19 will serve as the lead-in for the upcoming tenth season of TUF, which features Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson and a solid collection of 15 other heavyweight fighters competing in a tournament-style format to earn one "six-figure contract." The main event of the evening will see TUF 5 winner Nate Diaz get a chance to break out of an 0-2 slump when he tangles with Melvin “The Young Assassin” Guillard. Lightweight studs Roger “El Matador” Huerta and Gray “The Bully” Maynard are also expected to hook ‘em up. Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for more information on Lytle’s replacement as soon as it becomes available. In the meantime, be sure to check out the latest UFC Fight Night 19 fight card and rumors here. |
| Carano vs Cyborg video: ‘Behind the hype’ Posted: 11 Aug 2009 06:19 PM PDT |
| Posted: 11 Aug 2009 06:12 PM PDT
Anderson Silva’s manager, Ed Soares, has informed ESPN.com that an August 9 report from Yahoo Sports about Anderson Silva relinquishing his 185-pound title for a permanent move to light heavyweight, is untrue. The report quoted Soares as offering Silva to UFC President Dana White as a permanent fixture in the light heavyweight division during the UFC 101 post-fight press conference. Soares however, is adamant that “The Spider” is still just a part-time employee in the 205-pound class. From Soares:
Silva made quick work of former light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin at UFC 101 back on August 8. The TUF 1 champ was stunned early and often, eventually wilting under the might of the middleweight champ. In fact it was such a one-sided beatdown, speculation ran rampant following the fight about where Silva might go from here. White mentioned a possible superfight with current light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida — an idea not well received by “The Spider.” As of now, Silva will likely defend his belt in a rematch against Dan Henderson later this year or early 2010. “Hollywood” squashed Michael Bisping at UFC 100 to get another crack at the unstoppable Brazilian. From there it’s anyone’s guess, but we do know that Anderson Silva has no immediate plans to permanently fight at 205-pounds. Somewhere in Cincinnati, Rich Franklin is wiping his brow. |
| Frank Shamrock: Nick Diaz is a knucklehead Posted: 11 Aug 2009 05:21 PM PDT
Props: AOL Fanhouse Quoteworthy:
Strikeforce pillar and former middleweight champion Frank Shamrock sounds off on the decisions Nick Diaz made that cost him a welterweight title fight against Jay Hieron at the ‘Carano vs. Cyborg’ event on August 15. Diaz missed a scheduled pre-fight drug test on August 7 and then his make-up exam on August 10. Former UFC experiment Jesse Taylor has agreed to fight Hieron on short notice while Diaz is relegated to the sidelines until he manages to sort out his personal issues. |
| Kenny Florian is still a ’student’ of mixed martial arts Posted: 11 Aug 2009 04:09 PM PDT
Fresh off his title shot loss to lightweight champion B.J. Penn at last weekend's UFC 101: "Declaration," Kenny Florian appeared on MMAmania.com's exclusive presentation of Pro MMA Radio on Monday. Not a lot of fighters go on a media tour following a loss, but Florian was a terrific sport, fielding questions from host Larry Pepe about his game plan going into the fight, what lessons he takes away from the loss, and where he goes from here. Describing the loss as "heartbreaking," Florian conceded that the nine months he spent awaiting his title shot "definitely hurt" him. Florian earned his number one contender status in November 2008 after submitting Joe Stevenson at UFC 91: "Couture vs. Lesnar"; however, he was forced to wait for his title shot until Penn moved up a division to challenge welterweight champion George St. Pierre in January 2009. The wait took its toll mostly on his striking game, according to "KenFlo," specifically with getting his timing and range down to where he felt comfortable in the fight. He also felt his wrestling needs to improve. While his entries were good and his timing was "okay," his finishing "wasn't what it should have been," as he wasn't able to secure an effective takedown in the fight. But again, he points to being a little rusty for why he couldn't find his rhythm. "I think that comes down to just being a little more active. I can't be away from the cage for more than three or four months. I just can't. I knew it would be a factor, but in my head I didn't want it to be, and I tried to be as positive as possible." There's been some talk of Florian's game plan heading into the fight. Penn criticized his opponent's efforts to take the action to the ground, suggesting that his unsuccessful takedown attempts just tired Florian out. Florian stuck to his game plan — work the clinch, press Penn to the cage, and put him on his back — which, he says, differed from his friend Georges St. Pierre's successful game plan against the lightweight champion at UFC 94. Whereas GSP looked to force his weight specifically onto Penn's shoulders, his "finishes really came off of leg attacks, not really from the clinch position," said Florian. "George St. Pierre is really more of a leg-type finisher. He'll go for singles and doubles and high crotches." Regardless, Florian admits he needs to work on his wrestling, as "B.J. has always been a very difficult guy to take down, regardless, and even more so at 155." He plans to invest in a regulation size cage with the same type of canvas as the UFC's Octagon — something he's never had in his career — for his own gym, so that he can get a more authentic feel in training. So how does Florian score the first three rounds, leading up to the fourth, when Penn was able to take control of his back and sink in a rear naked choke? At the time, he felt he was up two rounds to one. While Penn likely secured the first round, he felt "confident" he had won the next two. In fact, after the fight, Florian says, he was approached by the commissioner who mentioned that at least one of the judges, if not a majority of them, agreed. Later, in the fourth, when both fighters ended up on the ground with Penn on top, Florian realized he had lost the round, and he went into survival mode, hoping to stay alive so that he could come back strong in the final frame. "At that point, I had made too big of a mistake, and I knew against a guy like B.J. you can't make those kinds of mistakes. … And I did, and that was that." The mistake Florian refers to was not being able to pin his legs up against the fence when "The Prodigy" shot in for a double leg. As Florian says, "If you're on your back with B.J. it's going to be very difficult." In the end, it was Penn's night, and Florian confirmed that the champion looked to bury the hatchet, saying to "KenFlo" after the fight, "Let's be friends again. Let's be friends again." While he is disappointed in the loss, Florian appreciates the experience to test himself against the very best his division has to offer. He may have come up short against the "master" of the lightweights, but he will forever be a student of mixed martial arts. "I said it was about being a master, but even if I won this fight, I wouldn't have been a master. I'll always be a student." Until then, he makes no excuses. "There's things that I know I could have done better. Was it my best performance? No. But … I hate going back and saying after a loss, 'Well I coulda beaten that guy' … At the end of the day, I gotta go back and prove it (in a fight). For me, right now, it's about getting back in the gym, getting better, stepping up my game." Florian now looks to jump right back into the thick of things with whoever the UFC throws at him. But make no mistake, he wants one of the toughest guys in the division. One of those guys is The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) Season 1 winner Diego Sanchez, who finished Florian in the first round to capture the TUF title way back in 2005. Florian fought a whopping 30 pounds out of his weight class to make it to the finals, and is widely considered to be one of the most-improved fighters from that inaugural season. He'll have to wait for a highly anticipated rematch, however, as Sanchez will likely get the next crack at Penn's belt. Florian, a regularly featured commentator on ESPN's "MMA Live" program, broke down "The Nightmare's" chances: "I don't think (Diego) has the striking to get it done, I don't think he has the wrestling to get it done. He has phenomenal cardio, phenomenal heart, great ground skills, but I think he's going to have some trouble with B.J. … You gotta have B.J. as the favorite going into that fight, no doubt about it." Keeping his "MMA Live" hat on, Florian also commented on another UFC 101-featured fighter in Anderson Silva, whose three minute, 23 second destruction of former light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin may have secured "The Spider's" place as the very best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. "It's between him and George St. Pierre, really. Maybe I'm a little biased because I'm friends with Georges. Both of those guys are very well-deserving. … But Anderson Silva, that's his home out there. That's the difference. … Anderson Silva is the perfect person for you to show a fight and say, 'Listen, guys, this is an artist. He's not a fighter. He is an artist. He's an absolute master.' It's beautiful to watch him fight." And speaking of Griffin, what was Florian's take on his friend's exit from the cage immediately after being tooled by Silva? "It must have been a tough reality for him, and I feel bad for Forrest. I know how much work he puts into it. There are a lot of emotions going on in there. We saw with Brock Lesnar, he reacted (after winning) in a weird way with some emotions, and Forrest did as well. They weren't the first, they won't be the last. It's a tough thing in there, man. So many things are going (on) in your head after a fight." Always a class act, Florian remains one of the best lightweight fighters in the world and a terrific ambassador to the sport. Check out the complete interview, as well as the entire Pro MMA Radio archive by clicking here . |
| WEC 42 medical suspensions: Brian Bowles breaks hand, could be out until 2010 Posted: 11 Aug 2009 11:03 AM PDT
The Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) recently issued its list of medical suspensions for WEC 42: “Torres vs. Bowles,” which took place on Sunday, Aug. 9, from “The Joint” at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. In all, 12 of the 22 athletes who competed on the card have been sidelined by the commission’s doctors, including brand new bantamweight champion Brian Bowles, who suffered a broken left hand during his title-capturing first round win over Miguel Torres in the main event. It’s possible that he could be out for the rest of the 2009 fight season unless a physician clears him to return sooner. Torres will also have to sit out for a while following the brutal knockout. He’ll be out of action for up to two months and will have to avoid any contact in training for the next six weeks. Here is the complete list of WEC 42 injuries and their medical instructions:
Just a quick reminder: Fighters often return to action much quicker once doctors give them the green light. The lengthy suspensions are just a precaution in most cases. For complete WEC 42 results and blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action click here and here. |
| Watch Strikeforce: ‘Carano vs Cyborg’ online with ‘All Access’ on Aug. 15 Posted: 11 Aug 2009 10:04 AM PDT
NEW YORK (Aug. 11, 2009)—For the first time, SHOWTIME Sports will offer Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fans around the world STRIKEFORCE: All Access, the cutting edge online interactive experience, live on Saturday, Aug. 15, for STRIKEFORCE: "Carano vs. Cyborg" from HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. The immersive digital initiative will stream simultaneously with the live SHOWTIME® telecast beginning at 10:30 p.m. ET* and for the first time be available to fans in Brazil, Japan, throughout Europe as well as in the U.S. and Canada. STRIKEFORCE: All Access debuted on April 11, 2009, when world-class MMA promotion STRIKEFORCE brought Frank Shamrock vs. Nick Diaz to SHOWTIME. The unique experience was offered again on June 6, for the Robbie Lawler vs. Jake Shields event. On both previous offerings, STRIKEFORCE: All Access was limited to U.S.-based online users. With STRIKEFORCE: All Access, fans can be their own director and toggle among five live cameras with full pause and rewind capabilities including SHOWTIME Sports exclusive CageCam® — a small and high quality camera worn by the referee which takes viewers inside the cage during the fights. It is the closest and most intimate viewing experience ever presented in MMA.
Audio tracks will include the SHOWTIME telecast fight call by host and play-by-play man Gus Johnson, and color commentators Frank Shamrock and Mauro Ranallo, as well as the corresponding audio to the selected camera. SHOWTIME is again working with BitGravity, Inc. and Episodic, Inc. to enable this unique multi-media experience. STRIKEFORCE: All Access will cost $24.95 per user and is available for pre-order at http://strikeforce.sho.com beginning Wednesday. Purchase includes access to the live stream and replays anytime thereafter through Aug. 20. "We are excited to take All Access to the next level," said Ken Hershman, Senior Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports. "This platform has been a hit with fans in the U.S. since its debut and we are thrilled to now be in a position to offer it around the world. "August 15 is going to be a historic night for MMA," Hershman continued. "With three STRIKEFORCE Championships on the line and a marquee event featuring the top two female fighters on the planet, fans will want an immersive viewing experience. For U.S. subscribers, couple the All Access online offering with the live program on SHOWTIME and fans will have a whole new way to enjoy the fights." "Dedicated sports fans around the world want to be at the center of the big events and SHOWTIME Sports' global stream of STRIKEFORCE: All Access ensures MMA fans a front row seat," said Chris Turner, VP of Worldwide Sales and Business Development at BitGravity. "BitGravity is pleased to again partner with SHOWTIME, to deliver STRIKEFORCE: All Access first live stream in new parts of the world, leveraging BitGravity's global network, high quality stream and seamless viewing experience." As part of STRIKEFORCE: All Access fans also will receive a live Twitter feed from the event and can join behind-the scenes staff in tweeting about "Strikeforce" and "SHOWTIME Sports" during the evening. Through a Facebook® Connect application, fans will be able to make predictions, comment on the live fights, discuss outcomes and even talk a little smack directly on the All Access page. Other features include professional and amateur photography from the spectacle in the arena. Images of the fights, fan interaction and backstage will be uploaded during the live event via Flickr, the popular image and video hosting website and online community. The Aug. 15 fight card features three world championship fights and a fourth fight TBA. Two of the most talented female fighters in the world, the beautiful and undefeated Gina Carano and Brazilian powerhouse Cris Cyborg will battle for the first-ever STRIKEFORCE Women's Championship. Renato "Babalu" Sobral and Gegard Mousasi will fight for the STRIKEFORCE Light Heavyweight Championship in a showdown fans have been salivating for. Japanese wrestling expert Mitsuhiro Ishida will face San Francisco's Gilbert Melendez in a rematch of their Dec. 31, 2007 fight for the STRIKEFORCE Interim Lightweight Title. *Telecast airs live in the U.S. at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME (delayed on the West Coast); STRIKEFORCE: All Access will be webcast live in available countries at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT. |
| Tito Ortiz flies first class, Chuck Liddell stuck back in coach (Video) Posted: 11 Aug 2009 08:57 AM PDT |
| Adrenaline IV: Tim Sylvia next fight could come against Jason Riley on Sept. 18 Posted: 11 Aug 2009 08:51 AM PDT
Former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia could possibly return to action against Jason Riley at Adrenaline MMA IV from the Mid-America Center in Coucil Bluffs, Iowa, on Sept. 18. Riley recently spilled the beans via his personal MySpace.com page. No official confirmation from Sylvia's manager, Monte Cox — who also runs Adrenaline — was available at press time. If the bout does go down it will mark the return of Sylvia since a shocking 10-second knockout loss to 48-year-old professional boxer Ray Mercer back in June. Perhaps the only thing more shocking than the defeat was Sylvia's scale-busting, coming in at a portly 310 pounds. Prior to the Mercer debacle, Sylvia had been on the shelf since getting steamrolled by Fedor Emelianenko at Affliction "Banned" in July 2008. It marker more than a year of inactivity, which along with his weight, could be have been a factor in the fight against "Merciless." The unsanctioned bout in Birmingham, Ala., put Sylvia on a three-fight losing skid. He was supposed to return against Paul Buentello at Affliction: "Trilogy" on Aug. 1; however, he was scratched after the loss (the event was eventually scrapped altogether). In short, the former UFC headliner has now dropped four of his last five contests. He'll need all the help he can get to ensure that he breaks out of his slump sooner rather than later. And perhaps the relatively unknown Riley is just the opponent to help him do it. Riley has certainly never faced anyone as high profile or experienced as Sylvia throughout his seven-fight professional mixed martial arts career. However, he has had solid success since his debut back in 2007, racking up six wins versus just one defeat. He's currently on a two-fight win streak, knocking out Justin Black with a punch earlier this year at NAAFS: "Caged Vengeance 4." Stay dialed in to MMAmania.com for more on Adrenaline IV as the fight card develops. |
| UFC Quick Quote: Dana White pulls the plug on video blog series Posted: 11 Aug 2009 07:24 AM PDT
-- UFC President Dana White confirms via Carmichael Dave that his popular video blogging days are over. In addition, all of the old footage from previous events has been removed from YouTube.com. This is not the first time that White has made this claim — he vowed to stop the videos after a profanity-laced tirade directed toward Sherdog.com reporter Loretta Hunt got him in hot water. However, this time it appears different with the entire library now no longer available. In fact, it has many thinking that it could have something to do with a future production deal with a major network. Nothing, however, in that respect is official at this time. |
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