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- Hellbow Grease: MMAmania.com UFC Fight Night 21 interview exclusive with Kenny Florian
- Bellator announces Hector Lombard vs Paulo Filho non-title 'Super Fight' on May 13
- Roy Nelson and Stefan Struve talk UFC Fight Night 21 showdown (Video)
- UFC Fight Night 21 weigh in photos gallery for 'Florian vs Gomi'
- UFC Fight Night 21 weigh in results LIVE from Charlotte for 'Florian vs Gomi'
- UFC Fight Night 21 stars fail North Carolina geography test (Video)
- UFC Fight Night 21 predictions, preview and analysis
- King Mo: Gegard Mousasi is going to feel my power
- Randy Couture a 'Natural' in new Affliction television commercial (Video)
- UFC 111 ratings on Spike TV attract series-low 1.2 million viewers
- M-1 Selection Americas Fight Card ready to rock Bally's Atlantic City on April 3
- Fabricio Werdum: I'll win this fight against Fedor and surprise the world of MMA
- UFC Fight Night 21: Caol Uno vs Gleison Tibau video fight talk
- UFC Fight Night 21 odds and betting lines for 'Florian vs Gomi' on March 31
- UFC Fight Night 21 results and LIVE fight coverage for 'Florian vs Gomi' on March 31 in Charlotte
| Hellbow Grease: MMAmania.com UFC Fight Night 21 interview exclusive with Kenny Florian Posted: 30 Mar 2010 06:08 PM PDT
Kenny Florian is on the march back to the top of the heap at 155 pounds. After losing his title fight against current champion BJ Penn at UFC 101, he followed it up with arguably his most impressive performance to date with a complete and utter dominance of Clay Guida at UFC 107. A shot at the former PRIDE FC lightweight champion Takanori Gomi now waits in the wings in what would be a huge resume builder for Florian as he tries to convince UFC management to one day grant him his third career title shot. Ultimate Fight Night: ‘Florian vs. Gomi' is set to take place on Wednesday, March 31 from the Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina. "Ken Flo" took some time out of his busy schedule to discuss why he lost to Penn, Gomi's struggles in recent years, and his quest to find a retail store that still sells quality turtlenecks. Check it out: Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Let's go back to your fight with BJ Penn at UFC 101 real quick. Can you tell me what the basic game plan for the fight was and why you were not able to execute the way you would have liked? Kenny Florian: It was to strike with BJ on my terms, but I could not get my range going. Nothing was going right and that's why I had to switch it up in the moment and try to take him down, which wasn't working. I knew heading into that fight it was going to be a tough night. I did a lot of things wrong. Against BJ you better be on your game and he was the better man that night. Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Penn gets Frankie Edgar next at UFC 112. What does Edgar need to do to win the fight and do you think he ultimately pulls it off? Kenny Florian: In the fight game anything can happen. I definitely think BJ is human and he can be beaten. Is BJ the favorite? Definitely, but Frankie Edgar is one of those guys that works very hard. He's well-rounded, quick, and he's a tough kid. He's an underdog that has been proving people wrong for a long time, so he could pull it off. Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): You're coming off an impressive victory over Clay Guida at UFC 107. The first thing I said after the fight ended was, "Wow, that was probably the best version of Kenny Florian we have ever seen." Do you feel like you're the best you've ever been right now? Kenny Florian: I definitely feel I've grown a tremendous amount since the BJ Penn fight. I learned a lot. Heading into the Guida fight I was able to demonstrate some of my new "stuff" and I've continued off of that momentum. I've improved my skills a lot. I think I'm slowly molding myself into a much more dangerous fighter. I'm way more precise and definitely adding more weapons to the arsenal. I'm just enjoying myself. That is the key. I'm having a lot of fun training right now. Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): How much of that do you attribute to your continued work with Firas Zahabi? Kenny Florian: He's definitely been a great impotence for change. He is a mastermind when it comes to strategy and really studying the technical aspects of the mixed martial arts game. I think he's doing things that very few people are doing. All of my coaches really deserve a lot of credit. I think they've really upped the ante. They've dedicated themselves to me as well, as far as improving their skills as coaches, and getting me to come on board with their philosophies and training. I've been spending a lot of time with my brother Keith, my boxing coach Peter Welch, and everyone seems to be on the same page as far as continuing to learn and improve. It's been awesome. Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): You're now fighting Takanori Gomi on 3/31. Is that a fight you asked for, his camp asked for, or Joe Silva put together out of the blue? Kenny Florian: I think it was something Joe Silva put together. Gomi specifically requested a tough fighter, one that was well-rounded and not just good at one aspect. He was quoted as saying that he, "Didn't just want a wrestler," or something like that. He wanted a tough opponent and they chose me. I've always been interested in fighting Gomi, but I can't take credit for the fight being put together. It's exciting. He's a big name fighter with a tremendous amount of credentials. It's a fighter I'm going to love testing myself against. Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Gomi has already stated publically that he is planning on knocking you out in the first round. Your thoughts on his ambitious prediction? Kenny Florian: I think it's going to be very difficult for him to do that. Obviously, anything is possible, but I think he's going to find that my striking ability is going to be better than his. I think he's going to be in for a surprise. Probably in the first five seconds he's out there. Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Would you concede that his overall skills have tailored off a bit over the past year or two since his heyday in PRIDE? Kenny Florian: I wouldn't say he's necessarily dropped off. I think it's a matter of everyone else getting better. Lots of people have improved and evolved and the game is changing so quickly now. If you're not getting better you're getting worse. Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): In Gomi's past few fights he's struggled with his cardio. Is this something you are conscious of and plan on testing? Kenny Florian: It's possible. I think another thing is that we have to attribute that to him being unmotivated a little bit. It's hard to get up for fights with people who aren't that well-known when there is not a lot on the line. I think there is a lot on the line now. He's fighting in a different organization against an opponent that I hope he respects in me. I think he's going to be motivated and I'm expecting to see an in shape, great Gomi. I'm expecting to see the best Gomi we've ever seen. I don't want to fight a guy who's not looking to get in there. I'm glad he said he wants to knock me out and wants to get the belt. That means he'll train hard and fight hard. Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Do you feel like a win over Gomi earns you the right to face the Penn/Edgar winner? Kenny Florian: I don't know. I've kind of stopped thinking too far ahead. I'm just thinking about Gomi and that's it. I'm not looking past him. I'm open for whatever. I'm training hard, but right now it's all Gomi. Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Let's move on to the more burning questions. Chuck Norris turned 70 years old recently. You're the MMA analyst. In your opinion, how much has age affected his combat skills? Kenny Florian: The answer is simple - it hasn't at all. The man only gets better. He gets more dangerous with age. Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Since I know you won't tell me what your entrance song will be on 3/31 tell me a song that there is no way in hell that you would ever use. Kenny Florian: Let me see ... "It's Raining Men." Let's go with that. I don't think I'd ever come out to that one. Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Why are you so infatuated with turtlenecks and how close are we to a full blown t-neck revolution? Kenny Florian: (laughs) You know, it happened one time. I was walking around a store at the mall. I was kind of doing some shopping by myself and I had some time to reflect. I got angry! I thought back to when I was little and I used to put on turtlenecks and I didn't see any turtlenecks. You cannot buy a turtleneck for men! Then I thought about all the scarves, the scarf revolution. There is definitely some type of conspiracy by scarf companies that are trying to replace this wonderful piece of clothing that did it all, which was the turtleneck. It's a personal piece of clothing. Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): When can fans expect to see the ‘Don't Pull Half Guard' trilogy fulfilled? Kenny Florian: (laughs) I don't know. I'm thinking myself, Dave Camarillo, maybe Kurt Pellegrino and a couple other fighters. I've been scripting a mockumentary in my head of an MMA movie, but I'll have real fighters in it. I'd really like to put that together and follow guys around. It's going to be an explosion of tattoos, skulls, and MMA testosterone. It's going to be great. Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): In other words, Camarillo is holding out for more money. Is that what you're telling me? Kenny Florian: (laughs) Exactly. You can't work with the guy! He's a prima donna. It's unbelievable! He wants to direct, produce. I mean, the guy is unbelievable. Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): I feel like we've tied up a lot of loose ends. Was that cathartic for you? Kenny Florian: I feel great. Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Any sponsors you want to thank before we go? Kenny Florian: I would like to thank Tapout, Muscle Pharm, the new KennyFlorian.com website, Florian Martial Arts Center, my training partners in Boston, Montreal and New York City, and I'd like to thank all the fans for the support. Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): I appreciate your time. You always come through for us. Best of luck against Gomi. Kenny Florian: Thanks Derek. Derek Bolender is a frequent MMAmania.com contributor. He is also a syndicated writer to FoxSports.com. Follow him at Twitter.com/DerekMMAwriter. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bellator announces Hector Lombard vs Paulo Filho non-title 'Super Fight' on May 13 Posted: 30 Mar 2010 06:08 PM PDT
CHICAGO, Ill. (March 30, 2010) — Bellator Fighting Championships announced today that its reigning middleweight champion, Hector Lombard, will fight a non-title "Super Fight" against former WEC Champion Paulo Filho at Bellator 18. The fight will take place on Thursday, May 13th and will be televised live on FOX Sports Net and on highlight shows the following Saturday night, May 15th, on NBC and Telemundo. The venue for the event will be announced in the coming days. This is the third Super Fight matchup to be announced by Bellator, along with the May 6th bout between current Bellator Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez and Josh Neer and the May 20th matchup of Bellator Featherweight Champion Joe Soto and Diego "The Octopus" Saraiva. Filho, who boasts a career record of 19-1, was the consensus No.2-ranked middleweight in the world as recently as 14 months ago when he was the reigning WEC Middleweight Champion. He also has a perfect 7-0 record as a competitor in the PRIDE Fighting Championships in Japan. Recently, Filho has been busy winning three strait fights in the last eight months. Lombard, 23-2, is a judo black belt who competed for the Cuban National Team during the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. He defeated Virgil Lozano, Damien Stelly and Jared Hess to win the first-ever Bellator Middleweight Championship belt last June and is a perfect 3-0 since. "Our Super Fights are designed to test our champions against the best available fighters, said Bellator founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney. "Paulo’s won three fights in the last 8 months including an impressive submission victory over Melvin Manhoef in DREAM in July. When Paulo’s on his game, he is one of the most dangerous middleweights in the world. Just over a year ago he was ranked as one of the top 185 pounders on earth. Now, he’s back and winning frequently. And, whereas other top middleweights wanted nothing to do with Hector Lombard, Paulo and his team agreed to take this fight. As I have said frequently, I believe Hector Lombard is one of the top middleweights in the world and this fight could be a great test for Hector and a great fight for MMA fans." Lombard, who is currently training with American Top Team in Miami, said he’s looking forward to getting back in the cage. "I think it’s a great fight for me," he said. "Paulo is a big name in MMA and he’s a former champion, so it will be champion versus champion. I think I match up really well with him both on my feet and on the ground." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Roy Nelson and Stefan Struve talk UFC Fight Night 21 showdown (Video) Posted: 30 Mar 2010 06:08 PM PDT
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| UFC Fight Night 21 weigh in photos gallery for 'Florian vs Gomi' Posted: 30 Mar 2010 06:07 PM PDT
Props: CombatLifestyle.com (Click the link to check out the complete gallery) For UFC Fight Night 21: "Florian vs. Gomi" weigh in results click here. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UFC Fight Night 21 weigh in results LIVE from Charlotte for 'Florian vs Gomi' Posted: 30 Mar 2010 12:44 PM PDT
The official weigh-in event for UFC Fight Night 21: "Florian vs. Gomi" from the Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina, is now in the books. It was a rather pedestrian affair with no real fireworks as all fighters scheduled to compete on the March 31 fight card hit their respective marks without incident. Not even an intense staredown to get the crowd going. Hopefully those pleasantries dissipate by tomorrow night when the cage door closes and it becomes time to get it on. Complete "Florian vs. Gomi" weigh in results and event replay after the jump:
It’s going to be a fun night of fights so don’t miss it. And remember to check us out for all the pre, during and post-fight UFC Fight Night 21 coverage you can handle. Live stream and replay courtesy of UFC.com. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UFC Fight Night 21 stars fail North Carolina geography test (Video) Posted: 30 Mar 2010 12:15 PM PDT
War "Conquistador" - though I really wanted to hear Gomi's answer... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UFC Fight Night 21 predictions, preview and analysis Posted: 30 Mar 2010 12:10 PM PDT
UFC Fight Night 21: "Florian vs. Gomi" is set to go down this Wednesday, March 31, 2010 from the Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina, live via Spike TV. Remember: MMAmania.com will provide LIVE updates with blow-by-blow, round-by-round commentary of the main card action on fight night, which is slated to air on the cable television network at 8 p.m. ET. To get us pumped for the event, MMAmania.com Editor and Senior Writer, Jesse Holland (that’s me), has once again rallied the troops for a breakdown of the televised main card fights. All your favorite contributors are here, bringing you an in-depth look at each contest. One of the big stories coming into this event is of course the headlining fight between Kenny Florian and Takanori Gomi. Can "The Fireball Kid" recapture some of the glory from his days in PRIDE? Or will "KenFlo" send him tumbling down the lightweight ladder? There are also a lot of unanswered questions regarding the future of Roy "Big Country" Nelson. Is the Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 10 winner being overlooked in this division? Or will Stefan "Skyscraper" Struve prove he's all belly and no bite? I’ve also included the current betting lines for each fight so that you can get a feel for what the money has to say about the chances of each combatant. Now, enough with the formalities … let’s get cracking: 155 lbs.: Kenny "KenFlo" Florian (12-4) vs. Takanori "The Fireball Kid" Gomi (31-5) Akimitsu Kuwabara predicts: The former Pride champion, Takanori "Fireball Kid" Gomi makes a much-anticipated Octagon debut. Much has been said about Gomi's fall from grace since the dissolution of Pride: The one-time lightweight king of the world who blazed through his opponents in Pride has seen his fire smolder in recent years. Suffering upsets against Nick Diaz, Sergei Golyaev, and Satoru Kitaoka in Pride and Sengoku from 2007-2009, the "Fireball Kid" looked either listless or in less-than-optimal shape even in victories during the same period. By joining the world's largest MMA organization, Gomi hopes the challenge will ignite him once again. Florian, on the other hand, has emerged as an elite lightweight throughout his UFC career. While handily dismantled by BJ Penn in the lightweight title bout at UFC 101, KenFlo continues to evolve, and his most recent victory over Clay Guida demonstrated that he is truly a dangerous opponent for anyone in the division (not named Penn). The stand-up portion of the fight promises vibrant action and may play an instrumental role in shaping the overall fight. Despite the talk about Gomi's losing a step, even his recent fights demonstrate that "Fireball Kid" still boasts power in both hands and slick boxing skills. As usual, he will constantly move forward to stalk Florian and try to land power shots from the inside. Florian has a diverse range of strikes, including crisp leg kicks and vicious "hellbow," that is complemented with nimble footwork. Florian does not possess the power to dent Gomi's granite chin and will likely use his reach and movement to pick Gomi apart from distance. The momentum can swing in favor of either fighter in the striking exchange. If Gomi successfully closes the distance and hurts Florian with punches, he will be able to force his opponent to back pedal and bully forward. On the other hand, Florian can frustrate Gomi with his speed, footwork, and reach. Gomi and Florian are also known for their grappling prowess, and whichever fighter finds himself at a disadvantage in the striking battle will likely initiate grappling. With his decorated freestyle and catch wrestling background, Gomi enjoys a decisive advantage in the wrestling department. On the other hand, he has proven vulnerable against fighters with excellent ground game, such as Marcus Aurelio, Nick Diaz, and Satoru Kitaoka; against Florian, he faces an adroit grappler who can threaten him from the top position and in scrambles. The biggest question looming over the fight is which Gomi will show up: Will the fans see the vintage, Pride-era Gomi or will they see the floundering fighter who has seemingly lost his killer instinct and suffers from poor conditioning? Though Gomi has the skillset to defeat Florian and other top fighters in UFC's lightweight division, there are numerous questions surrounding his adaptation to fighting in the cage, conditioning, and the ability to flesh out his game in order to succeed in the top MMA organization in the world. At this point in the Gomi's and Florian's respective careers, Florian is the one who is hitting his stride as a top level fighter. The TUF 1 alum will use his speed and reach from the outside and utilize his devastating elbow strike from the inside to frustrate Gomi; once Gomi shoots in for a takedown, his superior ground game will help keep Gomi's aggression in check and carry him to a unanimous decision victory. Betting lines (as of March 30): Florian: -300 ((Bet Now)) Gomi: +220 ((Bet Now)) Prediction: Florian via unanimous decision 265 lbs.: Roy "Big Country" Nelson (14-4) vs. Stefan "Skyscraper" Struve (19-3) James Iannotti predicts: Both these guys have really good submission skills for heavyweights. However, given their differences in physical stature, they go about using those submission skills in different ways and in this particular match-up, I think Struve is at a disadvantage on the ground. Nelson's M.O. more often than not has involved some form of pinning his opponent to the mat with that massive gut of his and looking for openings from there: The dreaded "belly crucifix." Struve's long limbs and thin build make him a prime candidate for that same type of treatment on Wednesday night if he allows "Big Country" to get takedowns. Nelson isn't terrible on his feet. He actually has a solid jab, and his chin is more than respectable. Even with that being so, the longer he allows this fight to stay vertical, the more he's asking for trouble. Struve doesn't just have the length advantage. He's also the better, more versatile striker. This is Struve's fight to win on the feet and Nelson's on the ground. With that said, "Big Country" should be able to find a way to pull out the win here. The "Big" question is, how much has the Schaub knockout affected Nelson's game? Will he come in thinking he's a top-level striker -- or will he drag this thing to the mat? In the end I think Nelson will eat one too many on his feet and go back to his bread and butter. From that point on I just don't see Struve being able stay off of his back for more than a minute or two at a time. I got Nelson by smothering. Betting lines (as of March 30): Nelson: -300 ((Bet Now)) Struve: +220 ((Bet Now)) Prediction: Nelson via unanimous decision 185 lbs.: Nate "The Rock" Quarry (12-3) vs. Jorge "El Conquistador" Rivera (17-7) James Kimball predicts: The middleweight showdown between Nate Quarry and Jorge Rivera is intriguing to me if just for the action it promises to provide. Both guys are veterans – each 38 years young -- of the game, both are coming off back-to-back wins, and throughout the course of their careers have demonstrated the type of heart and desire that every fan can appreciate. Owner of a 12-3 professional record, "The Rock" has only dropped two out of his ten fights in the UFC, with both those losses coming to formidable opponents in Rich Franklin and Demian Maia. The TUF 1 product was last seen in action against Tim Credeur at UFC Fight Night: Diaz vs. Guillard in which he earned a unanimous decision win and subsequently was rewarded with "Fight of the Night" honors. Rivera (17-7) has been throwing down in the UFC since 2003. Though his record has a few more dents in it than Quarry, "El Conquistador" has had his fair share of moments. At UFC 104 last fall, Jorge got a late finish against Rob Kimmons to improve to 3-1 in last four fights. So who’s going to keep their mini-winning streak alive? The good thing here is that we know what we’re getting. Two tough, resilient warriors who are just gonna let ‘em fly until the other guy says ‘no mas.’ While I give the edge to Quarry when it comes to the ability to absorb punishment and keep on ticking, I do see Rivera as the fighter with more power. Obviously neither man has much of a submission game, so I don’t anticipate much, if any, action on the ground. When it’s all said and done, I’m leaning toward Nate. I think his striking is more refined, and coupled with his strong chin; I look for "The Rock" to be the last mean standing. This one has "Fight of the Night" written all over it. I’m rolling with a late stoppage due to strikes at the hands of Nate Quarry. Betting lines (as of March 30): Quarry: -300 ((Bet Now)) Rivera: +220 ((Bet Now)) Prediction: Quarry via technical knockout 155 lbs.: Ross "The Real Deal" Pearson (10-3) vs. Denis Siver (15-6) Nostradumbass predicts: The Ultimate Fighter Season Nine winner, Ross Pearson, returns to the Octagon against a German juggernaut who came back from the brink of unemployment to put together a four fight winning streak with four stoppages. In fact, the Dennis Siver story proves it's never too late to get things turned around. The Mannheim native had a very unspectacular start to his UFC career, going 1-3 in four fights from 2007-2008. He returned to the win column in a local show in Darmstadt and got called back for the "Franklin vs. Henderson" event in Dublin. From there he's been an absolute terror, looking nothing like the underwhelming competitor in his first Octagon run. His latest victim was venerable 155-pounder Paul Kelly, who succumbed to a brutal combination of strikes at last November's UFC 105 event in Manchester. That said, I'm surprised he opened at +230. Not to suggest that Pearson hasn't earned his role as the favorite. I didn't think he was "The Real Deal" during much of the TUF 9 season, but like Siver, his performance at UFC 105 was an eye opener. Aaron Riley is an animal, and Pearson stopped him cold in the second round. He also showed his maturation as a fighter. What I like most about the Brit is the pace he sets coupled with his hunger. You can tell this is a fighter who wants it. But can I pick him over an 8-fight UFC veteran who's looking better and better with every fight? On paper this contest leans towards Siver, but like Roy Nelson, sometimes I have to go with my gut. I think Pearson controls this bout with his wrestling and ground work, but don't expect it to be the lopsided mismatch the bookmakers expect it to be. Betting lines (as of March 30): Pearson: -155 ((Bet Now)) Siver: +230 ((Bet Now)) Prediction: Pearson via unanimous decision That’s a wrap, folks. Remember to come check us out after the show for all the latest results, recaps and coverage of UFC Fight Night 21: "Florian vs. Gomi." What do you think? Now it’s your turn … let us have it in the comments section and share your thoughts and picks for Wednesday’s event. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| King Mo: Gegard Mousasi is going to feel my power Posted: 30 Mar 2010 12:10 PM PDT
Props: MMA Fighting Quoteworthy:
Undefeated light heavyweight sensation Muhammed Lawal is slowly becoming the Rodney Dangerfield of mixed martial arts as he continually fails to get respect for his talents. That can change very quickly if he manages to defeat fellow import Gegard Mousasi at the upcoming Strikeforce: "Nashville" event on April 17. How about it Maniacs -- does a "KIng Mo" win make him that damn good? Or does it mean "The Dreamcatcher" was simply overrated? Opinions, please. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Randy Couture a 'Natural' in new Affliction television commercial (Video) Posted: 30 Mar 2010 12:10 PM PDT | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UFC 111 ratings on Spike TV attract series-low 1.2 million viewers Posted: 30 Mar 2010 12:05 PM PDT
Spike TV once again aired a portion of a UFC fight card on its network prior to a major pay-per-view (PPV) broadcast, as fight fans were treated to one hour of uninterrupted mixed martial arts competition on the UFC 111: "St. Pierre vs. Hardy" undercard last Saturday night (March 27). Unfortunately the 1.2 million viewers it garnered was an all-time low for the series since its 2009 debut, according to MMATorch. Similar to UFC 103 last Sept. and then UFC 104 in Oct., which both attracted about 1.4 million viewers as the promotion began to test the idea along with its cable television partner, select UFC 111 prelim bouts aired commercial-free and scored a 0.9 household rating with a 1.1 among men 18-34 and a 1.2 among men 18-49. That number may be indicative of the competition it faced from the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, which likely affected the number of viewers tuning in on Saturday night. Still, with the series-high 1.7 million viewers Spike TV nabbed for the UFC 109 prelim fights back in February, this latest number has to be considered a disappointment. Viewers were treated to UFC welterweight stars Matt Brown and Ricardo Almeida mixing it up alongside the 155-pound scrap between Nate Diaz and Rory Markham. The UFC and Spike TV still have seven "UFC Prelim" specials on tap for the remainder of 2010. For complete results and coverage of UFC 111: "St. Pierre vs. Hardy" click here and here. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| M-1 Selection Americas Fight Card ready to rock Bally's Atlantic City on April 3 Posted: 30 Mar 2010 12:04 PM PDT
AMSTERDAM, Holland (March 24, 2010) - "M-1 Selection" is changing the sport of professional Mixed Martial Arts by giving new and upcoming fighters an opportunity to gain global recognition by competing in M-1 events held all over the world. The opening round of "The M-1 Selection, Americas," featuring 11 entertaining fights, will be held Saturday, April 3 at Bally's Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey. It kicks-off the American edition of a global MMA tournament, unrivaled in size and scope, showcasing 160 of the most promising fighters from all around the world competing in five weight classes. Tournament fights: Lightweights :
Welterweights
Middleweights
Three non-tournament super fights are also on tap!!! The super fights feature a lightweight match between undefeated Brazilian Jui-Jitsu specialist: Renato Migliaccio (6-0-0), fighting out of Greenwich (CT) by way of Brazil, against New York's John Salgado (3-2-1). Philadelphia's highly-regarded flyweight Sedico Honorio (5-1-0) takes on Nebraska veteran Josh Rave (18-6-0), While Kuwait featherweight Rami "Arabian Nightmare" Ibrahim, now based in Philadelphia, makes his long-awaited pro debut against New Jersey's Lennox Chance. All fights and fighters are subject to change. About M-1 Selection: The "M-1 Selection" is a knockout competition. Fighters are eliminated after only one loss while two victories earn fighters a trip to the championship to earn a shot at a coveted "M-1 Selection" title. The "M-1 Selection" tournament is broken down into four global regions: Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia and the Americas. Each of the four regions will host three rounds and a final of the ""M-1 Selection" tournament. The winning fighter in each weight class will join the team to represent his region in the 2010 M-1 Challenge. The "M-1 Selection Americas" event will showcase elimination fights in the lightweight, welterweight, and middleweight categories. Winners advance to the Americas second knockout round. The tournament will feature some of the best up-and-coming fighters from each region as they begin the journey towards a tournament victory. An Americas light heavyweight and heavyweight round is also scheduled for this spring and will take place to determine the semi-finalists for the region. How to see the fights !!! Free broadcast coverage of the entire 2010 M-1 Selection tournament will be available live to viewers worldwide on www.Sherdog.com. Tickets, priced at $55.00-$95.00, are available to purchase through www.TicketMaster.com | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fabricio Werdum: I'll win this fight against Fedor and surprise the world of MMA Posted: 30 Mar 2010 08:51 AM PDT
Props: Graciemag.com Quoteworthy:
-Former PRIDE and UFC heavyweight contender Fabricio Werdum is next in line for a crack at Fedor Emelianenko at the upcoming Strikeforce event planned for June. "Vai Cavalo" believes he has the skills and the resume to overcome the WAMMA champion but is facing "The Last Emperor," who notched his 27th straight win by stopping Brett Rogers last November, biting off more than he can chew? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UFC Fight Night 21: Caol Uno vs Gleison Tibau video fight talk Posted: 30 Mar 2010 07:46 AM PDT | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UFC Fight Night 21 odds and betting lines for 'Florian vs Gomi' on March 31 Posted: 30 Mar 2010 07:39 AM PDT
I know, I know, you're still hurting because you failed to listen to Nostradumbass (again) and didn't bet the house on Shane Carwin at last week's UFC 111 event from Newark. Well, buck up little trooper, because opportunities will soon arise at the upcoming UFC Fight Night 21 event from the Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, NC. There's a couple of televised bouts with +220 underdogs that have Nostradumbass licking his chops. Does Roy Nelson believe he's a world class striker after knocking out Bendan Schaub? Will Nate Quarry gas out in the second round? Will we so "the old Gomi" on Wednesday night? Answering "yes" to any one of those questions should have you giving these lines a second look. Anything is possible in this sport -- and those who lay down some cheddar on the underdogs come March 31 stand to make a healthy profit. Assuming you win, of course. Anyone thinking parlay? Take a look at the numbers and let's hear your play. Here are the latest UFC Fight Night 21 odds (- = favorite; + = underdog):
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 (Wed., March 31). 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 coverage you can handle. To check out the most recent "Florian vs. Gomi" fight card click here. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UFC Fight Night 21 results and LIVE fight coverage for 'Florian vs Gomi' on March 31 in Charlotte Posted: 30 Mar 2010 07:01 AM PDT
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is set to return to the Spike TV airwaves for its second event in less than a week as UFC Fight Night 21 lands at the Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Wednesday, March 31. UFC Fight Night 21 will feature a main event with perennial lightweight contender Kenny "KenFlo" Florian welcoming Japanese superstar "The Fireball Kid" Takanori Gomi to the UFC for the first time in his career. In addition, Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 10 Champion Roy "Big Country" Nelson tries to keep his momentum going against the up-and-coming Stefan "Hightower" Struve. Here is the current "Florian vs. Gomi" line up:
MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of UFC Fight Night 21, beginning with the Spike TV telecast at 8 p.m. ET. In addition, we will deliver up-to-the-minute quick results of all the under card action much earlier on fight night. We’re still a few days away from showtime; therefore, feel free to share your thoughts and predictions on "Florian vs. Gomi" in the comments section below. And remember that MMAmania.com will be the spot for the latest news and event-related highlights before, during and after the event. For more on the March 31 event click here. |
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