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

Renzo Gracie out to show the young guns how it's done at UFC 112
Countdown to UFC 112 video preview for 'Invincible'
UFC 111 drug test results come back clean from NJSAC for 'St. Pierre vs Hardy'
Strikeforce: 'Nashville' media conference call highlights and quick recap
Gone with the wind? No 'Plan B' for UFC 112 outdoor event
BJ Penn video on UFC 112 fight against Frankie Edgar: 'Fortune favors the bold'
UFC Undisputed 2010 playable demo coming soon to PSN and Xbox Live
UFC 112 open media workout photos gallery for 'Invincible' on April 10
Mark Munoz: 'I just want to get that belt'
'The Way to the Top K-1': Official Bible and College Textbook on K-1
Randy Couture 'stirring the pot' to fight James Toney first in MMA (Video)
UFC 112: 'Wildcard' Renzo Gracie can go from 155 to the heavyweights
UFC Swick Pic: Outdoor Arena for UFC 112 nears completion

Renzo Gracie out to show the young guns how it's done at UFC 112

Posted: 06 Apr 2010 09:25 PM PDT

Has there ever been an Octagon debut in which the fighter in question is so well known to fight fans, such a prominent figure in the world of mixed martial arts despite never competing in the world's largest MMA promotion, and on the wrong side of 40?

The answer to that question the last 17 years has been no. The answer to said question come April 10 will be Renzo Gracie.

At the tender age of 43, the sixth degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and member of mixed martial arts' royal family is set to fight for the first time at UFC 112 this weekend in Abu Dhabi.

In preparation of his debut bout against former UFC welterweight champ Matt Hughes, Gracie joined MMAmania.com's exclusive presentation of Pro MMA Radio with Larry Pepe to discuss why it has taken this long for him to jump inside the Octagon, his role in the UFC coming to the Middle East, and what he sees in Matt Hughes.

When news broke a few months ago that the UFC would be holding an event in Abu Dhabi, aside from the obvious connection to Zuffa's new Middle Eastern business partner Sheik Tahnoon Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, thoughts of Renzo's involvement in the move immediately took center stage.

And make no mistake, Gracie played an integral role.

"I had a lot to do with it," Renzo said. "For the last 14 years I've been going over there [United Arab Emirates] keeping the jiu-jitsu flame alive. It's now becoming a national passion for them. I see the United Arab Emirates as one of the centers of mixed martial arts in the future. I brought the idea to the Sheik [Tahnoon Bin Zayed Al Nahyan] and a lawyer friend of the Fertittas helped move it forward. From there it was easy. They made it real. In reality, I had been selling it to them for the last 14 years."

While it's very fitting for Renzo Gracie's first fight in the UFC to take place in Abu Dhabi, what took so long for him to finally make his debut? Renzo explains.

"Even though I haven't been competing, I've been fighting on a regular basis. I've been working at my school and working to continue the Gracie legacy. I have an obligation to keep Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu alive. I have to make sure it doesn't die during my generation. But believe me, I was fighting everyday. I was born with it."

Renzo's last line there is a commonly overused expression when it comes to fighters. ‘I was born to do it.' But in knowing Gracie's past, the way he was brought up in a family full of martial artists, and just hearing him speak on the subject, you know the idiom couldn't be more true as it relates to Renzo.

"It's something that I love, it fulfills me. I knew I had to be in my prime to fight in the UFC. And for the first time in my life I've been able to dedicate everything to my own training. Everything with the rest of my life is set. I'm not doing this for anything other than myself."

So how did the deal with the UFC finally come about? Gracie says it was as simple as a handshake over dinner.

"I was over in Abu Dhabi having dinner with the Sheik, Lorenzo [Fertitta], Dana [White], and Frank [Fertitta]. And Lorenzo asked me if I was done fighting or if I was planning on coming back. So I said to him, ‘is this an invitation, and he said ‘you bet it is.' It was that simple. We shook hands and here I am."

The first order of business once he signed with Zuffa was of course to find him an opponent. And though that can sometimes be a painstaking process, Renzo revealed that from the moment the UFC told him what they were thinking for a first fight, he was all for it.

"When I first signed with the UFC, I told them I had one demand. I didn't want to fight any cans. So they said what about Matt Hughes, and right there I said that was it. He is the greatest welterweight champion of all time. It's an honor to fight him in the Octagon."

Of course in fighting a guy like Matt Hughes who is a legend of the sport and has been around the game for such a long time, there is no shortage of film for Renzo to study. But in his unique situation, Gracie has a bit more resources to work with than the average man when it comes to finding a way to beat the former champ.

Gracie's brother Royce famously fought and lost to Matt Hughes at UFC 60 while his longtime pupil and training partner Matt Serra just recently fell victim to Hughes at UFC 98. So does Renzo have any special insights as to what Hughes is all about? You bet he does.

"When Royce fought him, I was fighting him, you know? I have all the knowledge to defeat him now. And Serra helped me a lot. We've trained together a lot for this fight. I hope Matt Hughes brings something new to the table, because we have every area covered. We're working hard to win this fight."

While admitting Hughes is a very formidable opponent, Gracie makes no bones about it that he has what it takes to get the victory and also lets the fans know that he recommends they don't miss what could be a war for the ages.

"He's very strong, it's difficult to find a weakness. I'm looking forward to getting in there and seeing where the fight goes. I'm very confident it every aspect. It's gonna be an interesting match. I wouldn't miss it."

There you have it. Renzo Gracie himself says to tune to UFC 112 this Saturday, April 10 from Abu Dhabi. So you best listen.

For complete coverage of UFC 112 click here.

Countdown to UFC 112 video preview for 'Invincible'

Posted: 06 Apr 2010 07:54 PM PDT

Countdown to UFC 112
April 9 at 12:00 a.m. ET (Spike TV)
April 9 at 1:00 a.m. ET (Versus)
April 9 at 11 p.m. ET (Spike TV)
April 10 at 12:00 a.m. ET (MTV 3)
April 10 at 1:00 p.m. ET (Spike TV)

UFC 111 drug test results come back clean from NJSAC for 'St. Pierre vs Hardy'

Posted: 06 Apr 2010 06:24 PM PDT

Nobody was slipping through the cracks in Jersey.

The New Jersey State Athletic Commission (NJSAC) today confirmed that all 20 of the competitors from UFC 111: "St. Pierre vs. Hardy" on March 27 were tested for illegal/banned substances and all results came back clean.

It is highly unusual for all fighters on a given UFC event, or any mixed martial arts event for that matter, to be drug tested. Generally speaking, about half of the participants of a fight card partake in some form of pre and/or post -fight drug testing, but the NJSAC is well known for being one of, if not the most, stringent and thorough commissions in the country.

In addition to providing the regular urine sample, an unknown number of fighters were also subject to pre-fight blood testing.

The Garden State don't play.

UFC 111 of course saw welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre once again defend his crown with a dominant unanimous decision victory over game challenger Dan Hardy as well as a vicious thrashing of Frank Mir at the hands of undefeated heavyweight mauler Shane Carwin.

For complete UFC 111 results and coverage click here and here.

Strikeforce: 'Nashville' media conference call highlights and quick recap

Posted: 06 Apr 2010 01:58 PM PDT

Strikeforce held a media conference call today (April 6) to promote its co-main event light-heavyweight title fight between champion Gegard Mousasi and challenger "King" Mo Lawal on the promotion's April 17 "Nashville" card.

There were fireworks at a recent press conference between these two, and their comments in the media suggest an intense dislike for each other.

Here's a sampling of some of the more pertinent remarks made by both fighters this afternoon:

Gegard Mousasi

The champ was in Holland for the conference call. He expressed that he is extremely confident and in the best shape of his life after gaining a few pounds of muscle.

When asked to comment about King Mo's tendency to trash-talk, Mousasi said that the barbs simply give him more incentive to train and that he will remain professional both prior to and during the fight. Lawal is "just another fight".

Mousasi doesn't believe that Mo's wrestling will be a difference-maker as he fights very well from his back. He doesn't think Mo can hurt him because he has a great chin and has never been ground and pounded. He says the fight will not be going to decision.

Mousasi won't allow pending contract issues to interfere with his preparation. When pressed on exactly what these "issues" are, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker declines to elaborate, but says that he looks forward to Mousasi competing under the Strikeforce banner for years to come.

Mousasi says that if all goes well at 205 he would like to move up to heavyweight in two years.

"King" Mo Lawal

Lawal is asked about his lack of experience heading into this fight. He replies that the number of fights don't matter, that you gain experience by winning big fights like this one. He realizes that he's not as well known as his opponent, but expects that will change April 17.

When asked to comment on his opponent's skills, he suggests that Mousasi's greatest weapon is his brain, and declares that Mousasi "is a smart fighter." Mo is aware that Mousasi's greatest strength is his stand-up, but believes he has the knockout power to compete with Gegard in that department.

Lawal makes numerous cryptic comments about his new "Cuban style" and states that he admires Cuban competitors, especially in the sports of boxing and wrestling. When asked to explain this fighting style he refuses, but does inform us that "it's pretty damn raw". He insists that everyone will understand on the 17th. I'm not so sure.

Asked what it's like training at his star-studded Cali gym, he drawls "we killers and we hungry".

Lawal is asked about the apparent bad blood between himself and Mousasi. He says that Mousasi is "cool" and the comments were "all for fun". He goes on to state that fighting in general is something he finds "fun", and that he hated school and reading.

When asked whether he's considered competing in the DREAM LHW tournament, Mo responds "not really". He says he's heard the promotion doesn't pay on time.

King Mo finishes up the call by mocking Mousasi with a Kermit the Frog impression that he insists sounds just like his opponent. Laughter ensues. Mo invites Mousasi to make fun of his voice in response, but Mousasi politely refuses. A pretty good-natured exchange considering the recent history between these two.

----------------------

It was a less heated conference call than may have been expected, but informative nontheless. Feel free to share your thoughts and predictions on Strikeforce: 'Nashville' 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.

Gone with the wind? No 'Plan B' for UFC 112 outdoor event

Posted: 06 Apr 2010 12:05 PM PDT

Props: Sportsnet.ca

Quoteworthy:

"I've always been terrified of doing an outdoor show. If it starts raining and the wind starts blowing ... right now there's no Plan B. The high possibility of rain happening... it's not gonna happen. It's not gonna rain there; we know it's not gonna happen. It would have to be crazy for it to rain in Abu Dhabi. Wind could be a factor. It's very dusty and sandy there. I'm worried about the wind."

UFC President Dana White puts his fate in the hands of Mother Nature heading into the promotion's first-ever outdoor event slated for the Concert Arena at Ferrari World on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. While rain doesn't come too often in the desert, it's not unusual for high winds and sandstorms to wreak havoc at a moment's notice. Aside from the stellar fight line up, any Maniacs tuning in to Saturday's pay-per-view just to see what kind of hi-jinx go down on April 10?

BJ Penn video on UFC 112 fight against Frankie Edgar: 'Fortune favors the bold'

Posted: 06 Apr 2010 10:16 AM PDT

UFC Undisputed 2010 playable demo coming soon to PSN and Xbox Live

Posted: 06 Apr 2010 09:02 AM PDT

The wait is almost over.

After selling 3.5 million copies of "UFC Undisputed" since its release in 2009, THQ has been hard at work to reward gamers with an ever more realistic and fluid experience for their 2010 entry, set to hit retail shelves on May 25.

Bigger, better, badder -- which could explain the inclusion of UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar on this year's cover.

Now gamers and MMA fans will have a chance to see what all the hype is about thanks to a soon-to-be-released playable demo for the Playstation Network (PSN) and Xbox Live.

And THQ wants to release the demo "a full month" before the official launch of UFC Undisputed 2010 -- which means we could be kicking some digital butt with the next two weeks.

The demo will feature the following four light heavyweight fighters:

Mauricio "Shogun" Rua
Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida
"Sugar" Rashad Evans
Quinton "Rampage" Jackson

The demo will allow players to jump right into "Exhibition Mode" or challenge friends offline with "Tournament Mode." More details on these different modes will be released in the coming days.

Stay tuned.

UFC 112 open media workout photos gallery for 'Invincible' on April 10

Posted: 06 Apr 2010 08:26 AM PDT

Photos courtesy of Esther Lin/MMA Fighting. More after the jump. To see the complete gallery click here.

Jiu-Jitsu old and new school...

Anderson Silva's Dad...

Mark Munoz: 'I just want to get that belt'

Posted: 06 Apr 2010 08:09 AM PDT

Props: Bleacher Report

Quoteworthy:

"A win over Kendall would definitely put me in upper echelon of fighters. I’m just taking it day by day and improving. I want to be a new and improved fighter every time I fight and I’ve never turned away from a fight so whoever the UFC puts in front of me, I’ll welcome it with open arms. For me, I just want to get that belt and I’m going to work hard to accomplish what I set out to do. With the help of these guys around me, I believe I can do that. I feel that [UFC 112] is the biggest card, It’s going to be a wonderful experience and I’m very confident I can get there where I want to be."

Mark Munoz is hoping to crack the top ten rankings of UFC middleweights by smashing his way through Kendall Grove at UFC 112 this Saturday in Abu Dhabi. "The Philippine Wrecking Machine" has been perfect (2-0) since his 185-pound debut against Nick Catone at UFC 102 in August 2009. Following that tough split decision nod, he obliterated Ryan Jensen via verbal submission (punches) at UFC 108 earlier this year. Can he squish the lanky "Spyder" and put the rest of the aspiring middleweights on notice?

'The Way to the Top K-1': Official Bible and College Textbook on K-1

Posted: 06 Apr 2010 06:56 AM PDT

(Photo courtesy of God Bless the Ring)

How do you know that a sport's popularity has reached a new level of critical mass? An encyclopedic book used as a college textbook is probably a good indication.

Branko "The Croatian Tiger" Cikatic, who became the inaugural K-1 World Grand Prix tournament champion in 1993, has authored the official K-1 bible, "The Way to the Top K-1."

Regarding the impetus behind the book, Cikatic commented, "K-1 is the most popular sports in the world. The book has come about because I wanted to summarize the history of K-1 since the early '90s. Chronicling the history of the sport is a meaningful endeavor."

"The Way to the Top K-1" begins with an introductory section titled, "What is K-1?". The book subsequently covers the history and various attributes of K-1. In addition, it includes sections expounding on effective training methods and the issue of doping with a large number of photos and detailed illustrations.

The book has apparently gone on sale and been used as a textbook on some college campuses (no word on which country this has happened in, but presumably some European countries, including Cikatic's home country of Croatia); it is expected to be translated into Japanese and hit the Japanese book stands in near future.

Who wouldn't want to get up fto go to a 8AM lecture for K-1 101?

Randy Couture 'stirring the pot' to fight James Toney first in MMA (Video)

Posted: 06 Apr 2010 06:33 AM PDT

UFC 112: 'Wildcard' Renzo Gracie can go from 155 to the heavyweights

Posted: 06 Apr 2010 06:31 AM PDT

Props: MMAWeekly

Quoteworthy:

"Right now I'm 178, and I have to eat a lot so I don't drop even more weight. I can walk around at probably 170, 173, you know? So it's easy to make 155. For sure, I can be the wildcard. I can go from 155 to the heavyweights. The beauty of our sport, we have to live one day at a time. Right now, I have a huge task, which is to face Matt Hughes. So I can't think about B.J. I can't think about Sakuraba. I have one ugly face in my head and that's Hughes, nobody else."

Grappling all-star Renzo Gracie talks about his place in the UFC after he makes his Octagon debut at the tender age of 43 at Saturday's UFC 112 event in Abu Dhabi. The former PRIDE fighter has a history with BJ Penn both in and out of the ring and could try to bring closure to that chapter in his life -- but he has to get past Matt Hughes to do it. Anyone taking Country Breakfast in this fight or will the Gracie legacy prevail?

UFC Swick Pic: Outdoor Arena for UFC 112 nears completion

Posted: 06 Apr 2010 06:20 AM PDT