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• UFC 105 video preview for ‘Couture vs Vera’ on Nov. 14
• Yushin Okami reflects on ‘utter defeat’ at the hands of Chael Sonnen at UFC 104
• Chael Sonnen talks ‘best performance ever’ against Yushin Okami at UFC 104 (Video)
• Write it down: Alistair Overeem wants to fight Fedor in April 2010
• Anthony Johnson knocks out Yoshiyuki Yoshida, loses more than $60,000
• Cain Velasquez wants the heavyweight belt after big win over Ben Rothwell at UFC 104 (Video)
• Dana White: Lyoto Machida vs Mauricio ‘Shogun’ rematch to happen ‘as fast as we can’

UFC 105 video preview for ‘Couture vs Vera’ on Nov. 14 Posted: 25 Oct 2009 06:13 PM PDT

Yushin Okami reflects on ‘utter defeat’ at the hands of Chael Sonnen at UFC 104 Posted: 25 Oct 2009 01:34 PM PDT Props: MMAplanet.jp Quoteworthy: “It was a complete, utter defeat. Reflecting on the fight, I have thoughts like, ‘I should have done this, I should have done that,’ but they are indications that my ability as a fighter proved insufficient. Sonnen was tough. When I stuffed the first takedown, I found myself in the clinch position which is normally my domain; however, I was surprised to be scooped up from underneath and thrown on the mat when I tried to fire off a knee from the position. He was more powerful than I imagined, and left me confounded as to what I should do next, and he kept up with his offense. I have never experienced anything like this before. For this fight, I had the best training possible, so I am disappointed about this loss. At the same time, I think I saw the limitation of the environment in which I find myself in (in terms of training). In Japan, I inevitably face a shortage of training partners and I often find myself on the offensive during training. Though I try to improve and diversify my training routine, I probably hit the ceiling at some point. I have the option of uprooting myself and training overseas… if I continue to train in Japan, I feel that I will end up becoming complacent, so I want to go back to square one and challenge myself. I feel that there is a need for me to train with training partners who are bigger than me. In order to win in UFC, I have trained to not be taken down and end up on the bottom on the ground; I thought I had the right approach, but I had not thought about what I would do if I did end up in a disadvantageous position. I was lax in my approach. Losing my passport (NOTE: He lost his passport right before he flew out of Japan and arrived in LA a day later than was originally scheduled to) ? It had no bearing on the fight. With all that said, I am very glad that I got to fight a tough fighter like Chael Sonnen. I am disappointed because I have never experienced a loss like this — it is up to me use this as a learning experience, so I would like to carefully ruminate how I can improve and implement (what I learned) in my fights.” The most telling part of this comment is his concern about not having the optimal training environment in Japan. Has he simply become too big and strong that he has exhausted the training partners who present a challenge with physical strength? Or has the training environment at his longtime home of Wajutsu Keishukai grown stale — especially given the recent departure of some of the high-profile fighters (i.e. Caol Uno, Eiji Mitsuoka) from the camp?

Chael Sonnen talks ‘best performance ever’ against Yushin Okami at UFC 104 (Video) Posted: 25 Oct 2009 08:03 AM PDT

Write it down: Alistair Overeem wants to fight Fedor in April 2010 Posted: 25 Oct 2009 08:02 AM PDT “I want you to write this down: Alistair Overeem wants to fight Fedor, April 2010. So write that down. (Asked where he wants the fight to take place) I don’t care. Maybe in DREAM, maybe in Strikeforce. I don’t care — rather in DREAM but Strikeforce is also OK.” Strikeforce World Heavyweight Champion, Alistair Overeem, calls out the promotion’s most recent free agent acquisition — and arguably the top heavyweight fighter on the planet — Fedor Emelianenko, after dispatching of James Thompson in 33 seconds at DREAM 12. “The Demolition Man” hasn’t lost in nearly two years — a win streak that actually began when he submitted Paul Buentello to capture the title back in 2007. The only problem is he hasn’t even attempted to defend his title once since that time. Is 2010 the year Overeem returns to the states to defend his crown or will he continue to holdout overseas? Check out Overeem’s “colossal” beatdown of Thompson after the jump.

Anthony Johnson knocks out Yoshiyuki Yoshida, loses more than $60,000 Posted: 25 Oct 2009 08:01 AM PDT Props: UFC.com Quoteworthy: “I had a knee injury getting ready for Matt Brown. I got heavy. I wasn’t fat, but I was 220 [pounds]. I did all I could to lose it. I think if I maybe had an extra hour or two I would have been able to lose the extra five pounds — it was coming off. It’s just my fault. I should have started preparing faster and I shouldn’t have let myself get that heavy…. I’m not happy with my performance at all. I’ve got a lot of stuff inside me all balled up. I was hoping I could have released some of it against Yoshida, but I couldn’t. A lot of personal [bullshit] makes it hard to be yourself. I’m trying to overlook that, but it is what it is. I have no choice but to keep moving forward. I can’t let it slow me down even though it keeps trying to slow me down. I won’t let it break me. I ain’t no punk. Nobody can break me but me. I can’t wait for my next fight. I promise you it will be better than this one — and even more brutal.” Five pounds cost hard-hitting welterweight Anthony Johnson a $60,000 “Knockout of the Night” bonus for his 41-second destruction of Yoshiyuki Yoshida at UFC 104: “Machida vs. Shogun” last night, as well as 20 percent of his total salary. UFC President Dana White revealed that “Rumble” rendered himself ineligible with the transgression. Johnson claims that poor time management and letting himself go a little too far after an injury are the reasons he tipped the scales at 176 pounds a day prior to the fight. Heavyweight Pat Barry, who collected Johnson’s bonus check with a stoppage of Antoni Hardonk (he also received an additional $60,000 for “Fight of the Night), may want to send him a thank you note. Or some cake. Or both.

Cain Velasquez wants the heavyweight belt after big win over Ben Rothwell at UFC 104 (Video) Posted: 25 Oct 2009 06:09 AM PDT

Dana White: Lyoto Machida vs Mauricio ‘Shogun’ rematch to happen ‘as fast as we can’ Posted: 25 Oct 2009 05:17 AM PDT Add UFC President Dana White to the long list of disappointed mixed martial arts fans who felt Mauricio “Shogun” Rua did enough to win a decision over undefeated light heavyweight champion, Lyoto Machida, last night at UFC 104 from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The only problem is he didn’t, losing two rounds two three. In fact, all three judges — Nelson Hamilton, Cecil Peoples and Marcos Rosales — scored it 48-47 for the “Dragon.” “I thought Shogun won the fight,” White remarked at the post-event press conference. However, White appeared to be a little ticked that both fighters didn’t lay it all on the line in the fifth and final round. That’s because both of their respective corners told them they were ahead on the judges scorecards. Expect Machida and Shogun to do things much differently in a rematch, which White said would happen “as fast as we can.” “I believe this will be a good rematch,” he said. “They won’t make the same mistakes next time. Each one will try to win decisively.” It wasn’t clear exactly when Machida-Shogun 2 would take place because the dust had barely settled on a very controversial decision. In addition, Machida admitted that his leg was very sore after absorbing several kicks from the powerful Chute Boxe-trained striker. But it can’t come soon enough.

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