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

Brandon Vera nervous and excited for Randy Couture fight at UFC 105 (Video)
Dana White and Georges St. Pierre voted two of ‘The Top 49 Most Influential Men’ for 2009
UFC 105: Dan Hardy’s mind games cannot penetrate the Swick mental armor
DREAM 11 results and recap: Aoki, Fernandes victorious
Glory 11: Alistair Overeem vs Sam Hoger in the works for Oct. 17
Torn MCL forces Mark Coleman out of UFC 106 fight against Tito Ortiz
DREAM 11 fight highlights and video gallery
Shogun Rua: Beating Lyoto Machida is a matter of time and space
TUF 10: ‘The Aftermath’ now available on Spike.com (Episode 3)
Tito Ortweet: Mark Coleman ’sissied out’ of UFC 106

Brandon Vera nervous and excited for Randy Couture fight at UFC 105 (Video)

Posted: 06 Oct 2009 07:00 PM PDT

Dana White and Georges St. Pierre voted two of ‘The Top 49 Most Influential Men’ for 2009

Posted: 06 Oct 2009 12:18 PM PDT

Dana White

Props: AskMen.com

Agree or disagree? Check out Georges St. Pierre at number 36 after the jump.

GSP

UFC 105: Dan Hardy’s mind games cannot penetrate the Swick mental armor

Posted: 06 Oct 2009 12:01 PM PDT

Props: Daily Star

Quoteworthy:

“Hardy realized that he could not only talk his way into getting the fight, but he knew he could also affect Davis' performance. There is no question Hardy did a real great job of that. But it does not matter if Dan's nice to me or talks crap like he did with Davis. I am a harder guy to figure out than Davis – my buttons are not so obvious. Neither of us are going to break mentally, so we have to break each other physically. It is going to be a war as there is so much at stake for us. There is so much I want to do in the UFC and this guy is not stopping that from happening. I like Dan –- but he is going down!”

The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) alum, Mike Swick, will not be rattled heading into his UFC 105 bout opposite Dan Hardy on November 14 in Manchester, England. The Texan made a “Quick” exit from his Sept. 19 number one contender bout against Martin Kampmann at UFC 103 after suffering a concussion during training. The former middleweight doesn’t want to waste any time getting back into the title hunt now that he’s recovered and despite a cheery effort by “The Outlaw,” Swick is determined to come into hostile territory mentally prepared.

DREAM 11 results and recap: Aoki, Fernandes victorious

Posted: 06 Oct 2009 10:03 AM PDT

Two new champions emerged in DREAM 11 earlier today at the Yokohama Arena in Kanagawa, Japan.

Shinya Aoki once again lived up to his reputation as the premier submission artist in MMA: This time, he had a nice accolade to accompany his victory. He avenged the prior loss to Hansen in the final of Lightweight GP last year to finally capture the Lightweight belt.

Bibiano Fernandes quietly rose to the top as the dark horse of the tournament and continued the streak of foreign champions in DREAM Grand Prix's. In a true rags-to-riches story, Fernandes, who was born into poverty in Brazilian Amazon, added the DREAM featherweight belt to his list of accolades as a world class BJJ practitioner.

The night started with former Olympic freestyle wrestler, Kazuyuki Miyata, imposing his wrestling prowess upon Daiki Hata. With his body fat percentage teetering on the brink of zero as a featherweight, Miyata sported hulk-like physique that prompted HDNet Fight announcer, Mike Schiavello to call him "Sexymiyata,"

Miyata used his takedown and top control to muscle his way to unanimous decision victory – a third straight as a featherweight. Hata seemed cautious throughout, never being able to pull the trigger with his strikes.

In the first semi-final match of Featherweight GP, Hiroyuki Takaya and HideoTokoro staged a spirited stand-up battle.

Fleet-footed Tokoro stayed clear of Takaya's strikes but Takaya took control of the battle after a few minutes, stuffing Tokoro's takedowns and finding target with his punch combinations. Toward the end of the round, Tokoro briefly turned the tide with flying knee kick, a huge left hook, and another knee, sending Yokohama arena into frenzy.

Despite coming close to finishing Takaya with strikes, Tokoro opted to pull guard and attempt submission; however, this proved to be the beginning of his end. Takaya swarmed with ground-and-pound, leaving Tokoro at the mercy of the bell. Still reeling from the damage, Tokoro continued to the second round, only to be finished via TKO.

In the second Featherweight semifinal, Greco-Roman world champion, Joe Warren came in absolutely amped up after his upset-of-the-year victory over Kid Yamamoto.

Bibiano Fernandes, however, spoiled Warren's momentum. In one swift maneuver, he snatched Warren's outstretched arms to lock in an arm bar from the guard. Warren seemed to tap but controversy ensued as to whether he actually did. Fernandes proceeded to rub the victory in Warren's face by walking up to his corner and flipping the bird — in response to his provocation at the pre-fight press conference.

Proceeding to the tournament of genetic freaks, Minowaman added the "Techno Goliath" to his "giant killer" resume in a display of fearless warrior spirit.

For much of the fight, Minowaman struggled to take Hong-Man Choi to the ground. He scored a single leg takedown in the first round and managed to secure side control– a feat even Fedor Emelianenko could not accomplish – in the first round.

After a prolonged stalemate, Minowaman staged a dramatic turnaround in the second round, tapping Choi with a knee-bar. An ecstatic Yokohama arena crowd cheered on, as the pro-wrestling icon pumped his fist in the air in his signature victory celebration.

Sokoudjou made a quick work of Bob Sapp with ground-and-pound from after scoring a takedown. Like in his recent fight against Bobby Lashley, Sapp looked plodding and helpless against the smaller and quicker foe.

As expected, DREAM Lightweight title contender, Tatsuya Kawajiri meted out a one-sided beat down on the overmatched foe. Melchor Manibusan, a former ADCC semi-finalist, came out guns blazing with a flurry of wild hooks. Kawajiri scored his signature body lock takedown from the clinch. From there, his one-man show ensued. Working from Manibusan's half-guard, he eventually passed to mount and continued with relentless ground-and-pound until the referee stepped in to save Manibusan.

With the dominant performance, Kawajiri has positioned himself for a possible title shot on New Year's Eve – in the post-fight speech, he promised strong performance on NYE and DREAM event producer, Keiichi Sasahara nodded along in approval.

Japanese MMA demigod, Sakuraba schooled MMA neophyte, Rubin "Mr. Hollywood" Williams, in the art of MMA. The 40 year-old icon who claimed to keep fighting "until he becomes eligible for social security," Saku immediately thrashed at the lead leg of boxer-turned-MMA debutant, Williams with kicks. He scored a single-leg takedown and immediately moved to side control. With Williams completely out of his element, Saku patiently worked for an arm lock and tapped him out with kimura.

In the Lightweight title match, Shinya Aoki did not allow Joachim Hansen to work his feared striking game that shattered his title hope last time. Aoki worked tenaciously throughout the fight with takedown from the clinch and subsequent top control.

Aoki remained very patient throughout the fight, almost to fault. Hansen kept busy with punches and heel strikes from the guard. In round 1, a groin strike and upkicks from Hansen forced lengthy time-out for Aoki to recover.

After 14 minute-long near-inertia, Aoki finally got his game on as he threatened Hansen with a choke from mount. He then locked in an arm bar that Hansen worked patiently to escape; however, once Hansen got caught in Aoki's web of submission, he did not come out with his limb free. Aoki caught Hansen's arm again for a submission victory via arm bar.

Teary with joy, Aoki apologized to the crowd for his overcautious approach out of desire for the belt. He ended his mic performance with the "UFC isn't number 1!! DREAM is the number 1!!" proclamation.

The two tournament dark horses capped off the night with a thrilling slugfest in the Featherweight GP final.

Bibiano Fernandes threatened Hiroyuki Takaya with his grappling prowess in a few instances: He almost locked in an arm bar and heel hook at the beginning of round one and took Takaya's back twice for rear naked choke from the standing position.

The stand-up battle, however, dominated much of the fight. Showing the crowd that he is more than a brawler, Hiroyuki Takaya showed great takedown defense and scramble. He demonstrated clear superiority in the stand-up with crisp punching combinations and stinging leg kicks. Fernandes refused to back down, obliging Takaya in a pugilistic war.

Despite absorbing much punishment and suffering a nasty cut over his right eye, Fernandes managed to floor Takaya with a powerful counter overhand right in the second round. The knockdown may have been the crucial determinant of the outcome of the fight, like in the second Manny Pacquiao – Juan Manuel Marquez fight: After a fifteen-minute fight in which Takaya pressed the action and inflicted more damage, Fernandes ultimately emerged the winner with split decision victory.

Here are the DREAM 11 complete results:

Lightweight title bout:
Shinya Aoki def. Joachim Hansen via submission (armbar) Round 2

Featherweight GP Final:
Bibiano Fernandes def. Hiroyuki Takaya via split decision

Featherweight GP Semifinal bouts:
Bibiano Fernandes def. Joe Warren via submission (armbar) Round 1
Hiroyuki Takaya def. Hideo Tokoro via TKO (punches) Round 2

Featherweight GP Reserve bout:
Kazuyuki Miyata def. Daiki Hata via unanimous decision

Super Hulk Tournament Semifinal:
Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou def. Bob Sapp via TKO (punches) Round 1
Ikuhisa Minowa def. Hong Man Choi via submission (heel hook) Round 2

Non-tournament bouts:
Kazushi Sakuraba def. Rubin Williams via submission (kimura) Round 1
Tatsuya Kawajiri def. Melchor Manibusan via TKO (strikes) Round 1

To check out video highlights of all the action click here.

Glory 11: Alistair Overeem vs Sam Hoger in the works for Oct. 17

Posted: 06 Oct 2009 09:20 AM PDT

Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem (29-11) will make his previously scheduled appearance for Golden Glory on Oct. 17 against Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 1 contestant Sam Hoger (8-4), according to MMAWeekly.

Following a hand injury that booted him from two summer events, Strikeforce officials informed MMAmania.com last month that “Demolition Man” was expected to make separate appearances outside of the San Jose-based promotion prior to defending his belt.

One of those stints involved a trip to the K-1 World Grand Prix 2009, the other was for Golden Glory in his native Amsterdam, which now looks to be scheduled for Oct. 17 against “The Alaskan Assassin.”

Hoger emerged from a 16-month self-imposed hibernation to compete against late replacement Jason Doloff at World Championship Fighting (WCF) 4 at Aleppo Shriners Auditorium in Wilmington, Mass., in September of 2008.

The heavyweight bout didn't last long – the former TUF heel scored a 17-second first round technical knockout, which was set up by a kick to the face.

Hoger — who starred on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter — had dropped his previous three fights, including two decision losses to Lyoto Machida and Rashad Evans, respectively. Prior to the win, he was choked out by Vernon White in an International Fight League (IFL) show back in April 2007.

He took a break from action to start up his own Miletich Fighting System (MFS) academy in Houston, Texas. Hoger followed up the victory over Doloff by submitting Jonathan Ivey at Urban Rumble Championships (URC) last January.

Following his bout with Hoger, as well as the remaining fights in K-1, Overeem is expected to return to Strikeforce to defend his heavyweight title.

And with Brett Rogers, Fabricio Werdum and Fedor Emelianenko all gunning for first dibs, don't expect him to receive a very warm welcome.

Torn MCL forces Mark Coleman out of UFC 106 fight against Tito Ortiz

Posted: 06 Oct 2009 08:41 AM PDT

If Tito Ortiz plans to make his much-anticipated return to the Octagon at UFC 106 on November 21, he’ll have to do it against someone other than Mark Coleman.

Mike DiSabato from MMA Authentics has confirmed that “The Hammer” has a second degree tear of his medial collateral ligament (MCL) and will be unable to compete at the upcoming event in Las Vegas.

While Ortiz “tweeted” earlier today that Coleman had “sissied out,” DiSabato contends that the “Godfather of ground and pound” asked to have the bout rescheduled for January 2 to allow the injury to heal.

At this time, the UFC has yet to announce any changes to the scheduled fight card or confirm the injury report.

UFC 106 will feature a main event heavyweight title bout between two absolute monsters as champion Brock Lesnar will look to defend his gold for the second time against his newest challenger, Shane Carwin.

Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for more updates on this developing story.

DREAM 11 fight highlights and video gallery

Posted: 06 Oct 2009 08:40 AM PDT

Shinya Aoki vs. Joachim Hansen (Round 2):