Sunday, December 27, 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


UFC Quick Quote: Frank Trigg has one of those faces you want to punch

Posted: 26 Dec 2009 02:13 PM PST

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"Frank is a dangerous guy. He’s an exciting fighter... I always thought that he would be an interesting guy to fight. On top of that, he just has one of those faces that you want to punch.... When Joe Silva called me with the Trigg fight, I said, ‘Hell yeah.’ It’s a matchup that excites me a lot. Look, when my career is over and done with, I’m the one who can look back and say that I was the champ. He got there twice and choked both times -- literally. I refuse to lose to a guy that has a [expletive] tramp stamp. You’ve seen his back, right? C’mon. No way am I losing to a guy that walks around with that."

-- Former UFC welterweight champion Matt Serra talks to Sherdog.com about his upcoming showdown with former two-time division contender, Frank Trigg, at UFC 109 from the Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, on Feb. 6, 2010. "Terror" apparently isn't scared of a man who walks around with his lower back tattooed. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt has also more than likely seen Trigg's two "choke" performances against his nemesis, Matt Hughes. In fact, Serra, technically, has a huge advantage when it comes to submissions, which begs the question ... should he even bother punching Trigg in the face or should he take him down right away and work for a fight-ending submission?

Report: NFL veteran Marcus Jones retires from MMA

Posted: 26 Dec 2009 01:57 PM PST

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Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end turned mixed martial artist, Marcus Jones, has retired from the sport, according to AroundTheOctagon, citing a source withing the Gracie Tampa camp.

Jones was among 16 heavyweights featured in The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 10 series on Spike TV. The 6'6," 245-pound "Big Baby" was considered a dark horse to make it to the finals, boasting a decent record (4-1) heading into the series.

In fact, Rashad Evans -- the opposing coach on the other side -- waited as long as possible to match up Jones against one of his fighters. And it was probably for good reason -- Jones submitted Mike Wessel then obliterated Darrill Schoonover to reach the semifinals.

He was the only fighter on Team Rampage to advance beyond the preliminary rounds; however, his run ended in the semifinals when Brendan Schaub turned his lights off to earn a spot opposite Roy Nelson in the tournament finals.

After the loss, an emotional Jones hinted at retirement, saying that he wasn't sure if he wanted to keep putting his family through the torment that often follows most professional fighters. In addition, his 36-year-old body showed signs of slowing down with several injuries on the show, including an injured knee that almost forced him off the program.

Nonetheless, Jones accepted an invitation to compete at TUF 10 Finale earlier this month against fellow castmate Matt Mitrione. And he appeared to be on his to scoring his first win inside the Octagon before Mitrione clipped Jones with a thundering right hand that hand that once again put him to sleep.

Perhaps seven years in the NFL, as well as two consecutive knockout losses, convinced Jones that it was time to take it easy and pursue a contact-less career to preserve his health now and in the future.

Best of luck in your future endeavors, "Big Baby," whatever they may be.

Frank Mir: Steroids just aren't necessary

Posted: 26 Dec 2009 01:36 PM PST

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Props: CageWriter.com

Quoteworthy:

"I understand -- everyone is quick to downplay anyone who is successful. Let's be realistic: I was 245 [pounds], yes, for the last fight. Two weeks later I was already 260 [pounds] because of what it took me to be 245 [pounds], if you look at my body fat percentage, I dieted down. I had the mentality that well, I'm going to have to be a cardio freak and every extra pound is going to count against me. So if it's not pure muscle it's a waste of my time. [Coming in to the Brock Lesnar rematch] it was the leanest I have ever been for a fight. So like any guy who is cutting weight you skyrocket back up to your natural weight [shortly thereafter]. When I showed up at Mark Phillipe's I weighed in at 261 [pounds]. That's just my natural body weight. I'm not really a 245-pound guy -- that's just me cardio'ed out of my mind and watching everything I ate. If you look at those 10 pounds you have to look at what percentage of that is muscle -- my body fat obviously increased [for the Checik Kongo fight] because I was nowhere near as lean as I was for UFC 100. You put on blood volume because you increased the size. On a fluid level you retain more fluid. It's not really that farfetched for a guy my size. It's just that the average human being is well below 200 pounds so it may be hard for a lot of people to fathom. Mark Phillipe is a huge man himself and he's always been a drug-free athlete. He's never had to use that to compete with and he's in the upper echelon. That's kind of why I chose him because I see guys who are out there that are super strong, but let's face it, the guy is 280 pounds and 6 percent body fat ... and that's probably not natural.... The UFC drug tests the hell out of us. I get drug tested before and after the fight. And I get randomly drug tested all the time because I'm under contract with the UFC. I'm sure there is a way around everything, but that's a lot of stress. That means you're worrying how to get around that and you have to fight in a couple of hours. Fighting is stressful enough as it is, [worrying about a drug test] is just not necessary."

Former UFC heavyweight champion responds to recent speculation that he got a little help from a banned/illegal substance to bulk up for his last fight against Check Kongo at UFC 107 earlier this month. For the first time ever Mir had to drop a few pounds to make the 265-pound heavyweight limit. And it wasn't because he was overweight or out of shape like he was when he beat Dan Christison via lackluster unanimous decision back in 2006. On the contrary, he we was clearly more muscular and beefed up, which he attributes to a new strength and conditioning program administered by America’s Strongest Man winner and 15-year collegiate strength coach, Mark Philippi. It appeared to do the trick -- he dropped Kongo early in the first round with a big punch and finished him shortly thereafter with a guillotine choke. Mir has made it clear that he wanted to put on size to level the playing field when it comes to the rubber match with ailing heavyweight champion, Brock Lesnar, whenever he is able to return to competition. In the meantime, Mir will likely to continue to get stronger as he prepares to battle super-sized Shane Carwin in a titanic clash tentatively penciled in for March 2010. Will Mir's new muscles be the difference maker against Carwin or should he concentrate more on refining the skills that have got him this far in his career like jiu-jitsu and boxing?

UFC 108: Rashad Evans out to prove he is the best against Thiago Silva (Video)

Posted: 26 Dec 2009 12:31 PM PST

Versus set to broadcast WEC marathon Dec. 31

Posted: 26 Dec 2009 12:00 PM PST

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World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) is taking over Versus this New Year's Eve with a day filled with its brand of mixed martial arts action, beginning at 2 p.m. and ending at 3 a.m. New Year's Day.

The marathon may be a celebration of the success the WEC and Versus have had together over the 2009 fight-year, or perhaps it is a celebration of the new deal the two have come to an agreement on in recent weeks.

Regardless, fans can expect a day filled with the best the promotion had can offer from the 2009 fight season and more.

The almost non-stop action (there will be a two hour break between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m.) will feature several of the more recent events the WEC has put on Versus live and free for its fans and followers to enjoy, with the marathon beginning with a replay of WEC 45: "Cerrone vs. Ratcliff."

Also slated to be a part of the 11 hours is WEC 41: "Brown vs. Faber 2," followed by "WEC Greatest Knockouts of 2009" and "WEC Best of 2009" at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m., respectively. 

The WEC marathon begins at 2 p.m. ET on Dec. 31 (next Thursday) and will wrap up around 3 a.m. New Year's Day with a replay of Mike Brown's first title defense -- a 145-pound championship bout with Leonard Garcia. 

Enjoy, Maniacs!

MMA Quick Quote: Gilbert Melendez wants Shinya Aoki on CBS

Posted: 26 Dec 2009 09:02 AM PST

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Props: MMA Weekly

Quoteworthy:

"I think (Shinya Aoki's) tough. I think I have the proper game plan for him. I've got the proper training partners for him, and I think he knows I'd be a tough match for him. I'd love to fight that guy. If they could really make that happen in Strikeforce, I'm all over it. I'm ready for it, let's do it on CBS ... I'm the champ again, and now they're talking about me fighting the No. 2 guy in the world. One win away from being top five in the world again."

Undisputed Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez sets his sights on Japanese grappling phenom Shinya Aoki following his triumphant win over Josh Thomson in an action-packed war at Strikeforce: "Evolution" back on Dec. 19 from the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California. With the win he not only unified the 155-pound title, but also avenged a loss from 18 months ago. Strikeforce President Scott Coker has been laboring to get Aoki to come to San Jose and test himself against the promotion's top lightweights -- but is he biting off more than he can chew? What happens when you pit the fury of "El Nino" against the submissions of "The Tobikan Judan?" Opinions please.

UFC 108 odds and betting lines for 'Evans vs Silva' on Jan. 2

Posted: 26 Dec 2009 09:01 AM PST

We're almost through the holiday mixed martial arts malaise. Holiday celebrations worldwide are winding down, which means that we can now focus our attention on more important matters like human fisticuffs and the like.

Take a beating shelling out way too much scratch for crap you and your don't need or will never use? Well, here's a chance to try and make it all back and more .... if you can pick fight winners, of course.

UFC 108: "Evans vs. Silva" is set to go down one week from today (Sat., Jan. 2, 2010) from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Think Thiago Silva can go all "Machida" on Rashad Evans? How about Gilbert Yvel stopping the Junior dos Santos express with a crushing overhand right?

Well, it's certainly possible -- just like everything else in this sport -- and those who lay down some cheddar on the underdogs next weekend stand to make a healthy profit to start the New Year.

Here are the latest UFC 108 odds (- = favorite; + = underdog):

Rashad Evans
-220 BET NOW
Thiago Silva
+175 BET NOW
Paul Daley -115 BET NOW
Dustin Hazelet -115 BET NOW
Joe Lauzon -300 BET NOW
Sam Stout +220 BET NOW
Duane Ludwig +350 BET NOW
Jim Miller -500 BET NOW
Junior Dos Santos -300 BET NOW
Gilbert Yvel +220 BET NOW
Martin Kampmann -240 BET NOW
Jacob Volkmann +190 BET NOW
Cole Miller -160 BET NOW
Dan Lauzon +130 BET NOW
Vladimir Matyushenko -200 BET NOW
Steve Cantwell +160 BET NOW
Mark Munoz -400 BET NOW
Ryan Jensen +300 BET NOW
Mike Pyle +110 BET NOW
Jake Ellenberger -140 BET NOW
John Gunderson +150 BET NOW
Rafael Oliveira -180 BET NOW

 

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 night (Sat., Jan. 2). It’s going to be an exciting evening of fights so don’t miss it. And remember to check us out for all the pre, during and post-fight UFC 108 coverage you can handle.

To check out the most recent UFC 108: "Evans vs. Silva" fight card click here.

King of the Cage invades Japan with 'Toryumon' on Jan. 30

Posted: 26 Dec 2009 08:58 AM PST

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Saturday, January 30th, 2010 -- Naha, Okinawa (Japan) -- On Saturday, January 30th, 2010, history will be made as American Mixed Martial arts comes to the birth place of Karate -- Okinawa, Japan.

Ronin Productions presents King of the Cage: "Toryumon," featuring the American Pay-Per-View debut of Shooto Legend, Mamoru Yamaguchi who takes on undefeated sensation Frank Baca for the vacant King of the Cage World Junior flyweight championship.

This event also heralds the return of former King of the Cage Light weight Champion Tony "Lion Heart" Hervey, who is set to collide with Krazy Bee fighter, Kotetsu Boku.

Also featured on the card:

World MMA Awards Submission of the year finalist, Toby Imada, takes on tough Pancrase veteran Kiichi Kunimoto, and 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu Brown Belt Shigeki Matsuda makes his professional MMA debut against Okinawan fighter Tatsuya Sou.

Further undercard bouts for King of the Cage: "Toryumon" will be announced shortly.

Tickets for King of the Cage: Toryumon are on sale now at MCCS Tours, Ticket Pia, Lawson, Family Mart, Takara Records, Teruya Music and Tenkaichi Stadium. Tickets are available online at www.t.pia.jp, www.famima.com and www.l-tike.com.

To kick off this historic event, Arrive Japan, in collaboration with TheLiveLine, will be giving away to one lucky winner a special MMA tours travel package to Okinawa, Japan -- all part of Arrive Japan's New Year's Count Down Celebration.

For more information and giveaway rules go to www.arrivejapan.com. For more information or news on King of the Cage: Toryumon, visit www.kotcjapan.com/english. Card subject to change.

About King of the Cage

Today, King of the Cage is available to over 55 million homes in more than 46 countries. Currently King of the Cage is being aired no less than 178 days per calendar year. Through years of blood, sweat and tears, King of the Cage has proven to be an integral part in the evolution of Mixed Martial Arts. No other production has promoted more fights than King of the Cage. KOTC has and continues to promote hundreds of shows throughout the world, including 17 of the United States and far-reaching countries such as: England, Singapore, Hong Kong, Canada, Australia and now Japan.

Frank Shamrock targeting March 2010 Strikeforce return

Posted: 26 Dec 2009 07:43 AM PST

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Strikeforce pillar and former middleweight champion Frank Shamrock (23-10-2) could abandon his commentating duties for another round of in-cage action as early as March 2010, according to MMAFighting.com.

Shammy dropped back-to-back fights for the first time since 1997 when Nick Diaz sent him packing in their main event of Strikeforce: "Shamrock vs. Diaz" last April. Prior to that, the former UFC champion was outclassed on his feet by San Shou striker Cung Le, who usurped Shamrock's belt in their 2008 bout in San Jose.

Shamrock has been anxious to return to the cage after having a metal plate removed from his arm that was inserted to correct a break sustained in the Le fight.

More from "The Legend:"

"In the first week or so of March. Whoever brings ratings. I need ratings. I just need some ratings. They don't keep me in the loop, I'm a commentator now. Now, I know nothing. Now they give me a script; I'm a talking head ... I don't make any decisions. I like the fighting much better. The commentary is a lot of work, diligent and studious work. And I would rather sweat and grunt and have a good time."

As expected, Shamrock has continued to be vocal about his fellow promotion fighters including Le, Diaz, Jake Shields and Scott Smith. Le is expected to return to Hollywood in the coming year while the promotion eyes a possible bout between Shields and UFC import Dan Henderson.

Now that Diaz is booked for a welterweight bout against Marius Zaromski, coupled with the marketability of Smith (following his stoppage of Cung Le on Dec. 19) and a Shamrock vs. Smith fight starts to look good for March.

Time will tell.

Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for more information on Shamrock's pending return as it becomes available.

Chuck Liddell training jiu-jitsu with Eddie Bravo to become a master (Pic). Too late to teach and...

Posted: 26 Dec 2009 07:23 AM PST

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Chuck Liddell training jiu-jitsu with Eddie Bravo to become a master (Pic). Too late to teach and old dog new tricks?

Melvin Manhoef vs Kazuo Misaki official for FieLDS Dynamite!! on Dec. 31

Posted: 26 Dec 2009 06:45 AM PST

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Prior to making his Strikeforce 2010 debut, K-1 wrecking machine and mixed martial arts (MMA) veteran Melvin Manhoef (23-6-1) will do battle with Japanese superstar Kazuo Misaki (22-9-2) at the 2009 FieLDS Dynamite!! event on New Year's Eve.

The bout will be contested under MMA rules.

Manhoef looked "Marvelous" in the opening round of his DREAM 10 fight against Paulo Filho back in July, putting the Brazilian grappling stud on queer street with his trademark blitzkrieg of punches; however, Manhoef ultimately fell short after the fight hit the mat.

He's going to need to keep his ground game sharp if he plans to make it out of Japan a winner -- assuming the ex-Grabaka Hitman stays conscious long enough to make it a fight.

Misaki recently departed from the Grabaka gym where he was affiliated since his professional fighting debut in Pancrase in May 2001, citing his intent to "start from scratch."

In July, Misaki was suspended from competition by Sengoku following a brush with law. According to the police report, an officer on motorcycle attempted to pull him over for talking on a cell phone while driving. Misaki proceeded to speed away, hitting the officer in the arm. He entered a guilty plea and was sentenced to three years probation, plus unspecified public service.

Misaki was allowed to compete in Sengoku 9 where he defeated fellow Pride FC veteran Kazuhiro Nakamura; however, he did not receive pay and the suspension nullified his planned title shot against Jorge Santiago. His originally scheduled payment was also donated to the Japan Foundation for AIDS Prevention.

Defeating a name like Manhoef will go a long way in re-establishing Misaki as a major force in international (and stateside) competition.

For more on the upcoming FieLDS Dynamite!! event click here.

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