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

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• Hustle and 'Flo': MMAmania.com interview exclusive with Kenny 'KenFlo (TV)' Florian
• Holy (expletive)! Dana White 'blown away' by Mike Russow's KO comeback over Todd Duffee
• UFC 114 fighter salaries and paydays for 'Rampage vs Evans'
• UFC 114 "Rampage vs. Evans" by the numbers: -15,081 in attendance -3.895 million at the...
• UFC Quick Quote: Power-punching Michael Bisping wants a Wanderlei Silva rematch
• John Hathaway ready for the next welterweight challenge after UFC 114 win over Diego Sanchez (Video)
• UFC 114 FightMetric statistics for 'Nogueira vs Brilz' controversial split decision
• Rampage Jackson: 'I’m really ashamed of myself that I fell victim to ring rust'
• UFC 114 video review on ESPN's 'MMA Live'

Hustle and 'Flo': MMAmania.com interview exclusive with Kenny 'KenFlo (TV)' Florian Posted: 30 May 2010 07:23 PM PDT It can only be viewed as a positive. Being so busy and wearing so many hats that you rarely get the time to sit back and appreciate the good fortunes that life has granted you, (cue Ferris Bueller). That's exactly where UFC lightweight top contender Kenny Florian finds himself today. Aside from being one of the world's best lightweights in the sport, which is a feat that for most people would take up a majority of their time to accomplish, Florian can also be seen on ESPN 2 and ESPN.com as the co-host alongside Jon Anik for MMA Live.  And if that wasn't enough to make you impressed, KenFlo has added yet another feat to his already stellar resume... product spokesperson. More specifically, FLO TV spokesperson, where he joins Will.I.Am, Jim Nantz, and Landon Donavon as endorsers of the revolutionary mobile TV device. Kenny was kind enough to take time to talk with MMAmania.com while balancing his tremendously busy schedule, courtesy of FLO TV. We touched on his newfound role as a mainstream product endorser, MMA Live and ESPN, his fight against Gray Maynard, and UFC 118 as a whole. Have a read: James Kimball (MMAmania.com): Thanks for taking time to speak with us today Kenny. Talk about the main reason we're here, FLO TV. What exactly is it for those people who aren't yet aware of the product. Kenny Florian: It's basically a mobile TV where you can watch all of your favorite channels wherever you go. It's great for someone like me because I'm always on the road. And it's all touch screen too, it's pretty cool. James Kimball (MMAmania.com): You can watch the UFC on it too, correct? Kenny Florian: Yeah, you can order the pay-per-view events right to the FLO TV. It's pretty remarkable. James Kimball (MMAmania.com): How did you come about to be a spokesperson for FLO TV? Did they approach you, or did you and your manager approach them? Kenny Florian: They actually approached me. You, know, it's tough to get more of the mainstream products and sponsors to come over to MMA and the UFC, so it's an honor for me to be a part of it. James Kimball (MMAmania.com): Obviously your nickname lends well to the product, but what are some other reasons you got involved with FLO TV? Kenny Florian: Believe it or not, I'm really not sure if my name had anything to do with it. I think the people at FLO TV just knew that I could help them reach the type of people they want to market their product to, with my fighting career, my ESPN presence, etc. I guess they just thought I'd be a good spokesperson for them. Hopefully they still do. [Laughs] James Kimball (MMAmania.com): So when can we except to see you alongside Will.I.Am and Jim Nantz in one of those commercials? Kenny Florian: [Laughs]. I'm not sure man, I'm not sure. That would definitely be cool, wouldn't it? James Kimball (MMAmania.com): Let's talk about MMA Live for a minute. Obviously having the show on ESPN 2 is great for the growth of the sport. What do you see as the ceiling for the show? What are the goals of the show for you, Jon Anik, and the people over at ESPN? Kenny Florian: The thing is, is that I think there's enough MMA material out there where we could do a show every day. I hope it comes to that point eventually. But for right now, we just gotta keep putting out a quality product and see where it goes form there. I know that internally they've [executives at ESPN] been very happy with the show, but what it comes down to is having the fans support. It's not a certain thing that we stay on ESPN 2. So we have to prove to the people at ESPN that this is indeed a legitimate sport and that our show is something that fans want to see. James Kimball (MMAmania.com): Back to how you became involved in such a product. Were you handpicked to co-host the show from the beginning? How did that process unfold? Kenny Florian: They actually contacted me and brought me out to Bristol, Connecticut for an interview and told me about the show and what it would entail. And to be honest, I was a little disappointed in the beginning when they told me that part of the job would involve me having to criticize fighters, as well as all the travel that's necessary. Being an active fighter, those were tough stipulations to accept. But I've absolutely grown to really like what I do now. It was one of those opportunities that I knew I couldn't pass up. I just couldn't turn it down. James Kimball (MMAmania.com): Alright, let's get to your primary occupation, fighting. Talk about your transition from training with Mark DellaGrotte for so many years to now training with Firas Zahabi and the Tristar team. You've looked great in your last couple bouts, but how exactly have you benefited from the move? Kenny Florian: I think it has just given me a different style and a different approach. And I think it has inspired a lot of other coaches and trainers to continue to develop with the sport to meet the needs of fighters who seek top-level training. The quality of training partners I have now is just amazing. I train with some of the best fighters in the sport regularly. I've stepped up my game in all aspects. And now, I just feel much more confident to compete against the elite guys in the sport. James Kimball (MMAmania.com): Before we get to your fight with Gray Maynard and the UFC 118 card as a whole, let me get your thoughts on Diego Sanchez's return to the welterweight division. You guys shared some back and forth talk for a while there. Are you upset that you won't have the opportunity to settle the score with him? Kenny Florian: No, you know, I really don't go chasing fights. Not one fight is going to define me. I just want to fight the best guys. And frankly, I think even at 155 there's better fighters out there than Diego. I think Takanori Gomi is better, and I think Gray Maynard is much better. If he comes back down to lightweight, then fine. But if not, it's no big deal. James Kimball (MMAmania.com): Alright, to UFC 118. That's a big night for the UFC lightweight divison. Break down for me if you would the rematch between Frankie Edgar and B.J. Penn. How do you see it playing out? Kenny Florian: It's gonna be interesting. They're both gonna have to make some adjustments. Frankie came in with the perfect game plan to beat B.J. with the skill set that he has. But now it's gonna be even more difficult to replicate that. I think B.J. will come in with the advantage now knowing what Frankie is all about. And, really, their first fight was super close, it could have gone either way. I think the advantage is definitely with B.J. But if Frankie can go in there and get it done again, there's no doubt about it, he's the best lightweight on the planet. James Kimball (MMAmania.com): Has the UFC told you that the winner of your fight with Gray will get the next title shot? Kenny Florian: No, I haven't heard anything about that from the UFC. It's kinda in the back of my mind, but what I'm really thinking about is just beating Gray. We've heard before where guys are said to have the next title shot, but then something happens and things change. So I'm just completely focused on beating Gray Maynard. James Kimball (MMAmania.com): Ok, on to Mr. Maynard. You've recently said that he is a better version of Sean Sherk. Obviously you lost to Sherk, but that was years ago and you're a completely different fighter now. Do you feel like you're better suited now to deal with Maynard's size and wrestling? Kenny Florian: Absolutely. I'm much more capable to fight a wrestler the caliber and the size of Gray Maynard. I train with a lot of great wrestlers now. Back then [prior to his fight against Sherk at UFC 64], I didn't train much wrestling at all. The last couple fights I've really focused on developing my wrestling. Now, having the access to train with the guys at the Montreal Wrestling Club and to train with guys like Georges St. Pierre, Gray is going to quickly find out that I'm not the same guy I was back then. I'll tell you this, if he does get me down, he's gonna have to work his ass off to get it. That's for sure. James Kimball (MMAmania.com): This of course is just a three round fight. Will you feel a sense of urgency to outstrike Gray early and take the fight to him for fear that he could secure a couple takedowns, maintain position, and win on points? Kenny Florian: Yeah, I mean that's kinda the way I think he's gonna have to fight. And this is no offense to Gray, but he's gonna have to play his typical, boring, Gray Maynard fight. You know, take the guy down and just stay there. Just lay and pray. I think that is his only hope to win the fight. He's good everywhere, but I think that in order to win the fight, he knows that's what he's gonna have to do. But however he goes about fighting me, it's not gonna be easy. James Kimball (MMAmania.com): Without going into to much detail about your strategy for the fight, what will you be looking to accomplish? Obviously aside from winning, are there certain things you'll be looking to get done against Gray? Kenny Florian: I don't really go into a fight with a certain game plan because I think you just set yourself up for failure that way. I really just focus on stopping what he wants to do, I try to execute what I want to do based off that. And I think going in there and having fun is critical. If I go in there and have fun, a great performance will come with it. James Kimball (MMAmania.com): How do you feel about fighting in your hometown of Boston? You fought pretty close to Boston back at UFC 101 in Philadelphia, but UFC 118 is sure to be a different animal. Kenny Florian: I'm excited more than anything else for my friends and family that will get to see me fight live. I get a lot of questions about when am I gonna fight in Boston and when is the UFC coming here. Well, it's finally here. August 28, all my friends and family will get to see me do what I do. It's gonna be a loud crowd for sure, but in the end, it's still just the same cage, and I realize that. James Kimball (MMAmania.com): What's your opinion on the Randy Couture vs. James Toney fight? Are you for or against bringing someone into the UFC who has absolutely zero experience in the sport and in a lot of ways makes a mockery of MMA? Kenny Florian: I think Toney needs money, honestly. He needs to make himself larger and bigger than he really is, figuratively, not literally [Laughs]. All that talking he's been doing, he's finally gonna get a chance to show people what he's all about. And I think he's really gonna struggle. The thing about MMA and combat sports, is that the truth always comes out. I think he's really gonnna have a tough time. I'd be surprised if he lasts more than three minutes against Randy. James Kimball (MMAmania.com): Well, you just alluded to how you think the fight will play out and even Dana White has recently said he expects Toney to lose. What percent of a chance do you give Toney in stopping Couture's takedowns and avoiding a vicious beating? More than 10 percent? Kenny Florian: I'd say it's definitely less than 10 percent. But let's be honest, we have to talk about Toney's punching ability with those four-ounce gloves. If you get caught with one of his shots, you'll be asleep with broken bones in your face, no doubt about it. Toney can crack. He's a high-level boxer, which is something that we really haven't seen yet in MMA, that's dangerous. But for him in this sport, your stand up is only as good as your ability to stay on your feet. And knowing that, I think he'll be gun-shy with his hands trying to avoid the takedown, and that's exactly what will happen, he'll get taken down. I'd say that if he doesn't land one of his punches on Randy in the first 10-15 seconds, he's gonna be in serious trouble. James Kimball (MMAmania.com): Ok, Kenny, thanks so much for your time. Go ahead and plug away. Where can people go to find more information on FLO TV and to pick one up? And how can fans get in touch with you? Kenny Florian: People can go to www.flotv.com. You can go to my website as well, www.kennyflorian.com. You can pick up a FLO TV at most every electronic store like Best Buy. Fans of course can get in touch with me on Twitter at Kenny_Florian. Thank you for your time and thanks to all the fans for their support.

Holy (expletive)! Dana White 'blown away' by Mike Russow's KO comeback over Todd Duffee Posted: 30 May 2010 10:14 AM PDT Props: AOL Fanhouse Quoteworthy: "I was like 'Holy Shit!' I said the same thing everybody else said. I was blown away. ([Mike Russow] was getting picked apart but what a tough guy though, took some big, big shots. He stayed in there, kept his composure and stayed in this fight getting peppered, hammered and drilled with big shots and then ended up pulling off one of his own. It says a lot about him as a fighter and as a human being." UFC President Dana White shares his reaction to the stunning, come-from-behind win for Mike Russow at UFC 114 back on May 29. The Chicago cop was on the receiving end of a bona fide ass kicking for two rounds against Todd Duffee in their heavyweight mash-up, until a third round Scott Smith-style miracle knockout punch flattened his muscular foe. Russow slammed his own performance following the contest but should feel a little better about himself after collecting 65 G's for "Knockout of the Night." Best comeback ever? Or biggest collapse ever?

UFC 114 fighter salaries and paydays for 'Rampage vs Evans' Posted: 30 May 2010 10:11 AM PDT The official fighter purses for those who competed at UFC 114: "Rampage vs. Evans" this past Saturday night (May 29) from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, were released earlier today by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (via MMA Fighting). As expected, main event participant and former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans was the big earner of the night. "Suga" came away with a sweet $435,000 for his unanimous decision win over "Rampage" Jackson, who banked a not-too-shabby $250,000 in defeat. Former Ultimate Fighter contestant/coach Michael Bisping also had a big night, pulling in $190,000 for his decision win over the venerable Dan Miller ($15,000). Not far behind him was the former PRIDE star Antonio Rogerio Nogueira ($120,000), who squeaked past Jason Brilz ($11,000) for a split decision victory. Here is the complete list of UFC 114 payouts: Rashad Evans -- $435,000 ($250,000 to show, $185,000 to win) Quinton Jackson -- $250,000 Evans defeated Jackson via unanimous decision Michael Bisping -- $190,000 ($175,000 to show, $15,000 to win) Dan Miller -- $15,000 Bisping defeated Miller via unanimous decision Mike Russow -- $24,000 ($12,000 to show, $12,000 to win) Todd Duffee -- $12,000 Russow defeated Duffee via third round knockout Antonio Rogerio Nogueira -- $120,000 ($80,000 to show, $40,000 to win) Jason Brilz -- $11,000 Nogueira defeated Brilz via split decision John Hathaway -- $22,000 ($11,000 to show, $11,000 to win) Diego Sanchez -- $50,000 Hathaway defeated Sanchez via unanimous decision Melvin Guillard -- $38,000 ($19,000 to show, $19,000 to win) Waylon Lowe -- $6,000 Guillard defeated Lowe via first round knockout Dong Hyun Kim -- $64,000 ($32,000 to show, $32,000 to win) Amir Sadollah -- $15,000 Kim defeated Sadollah via unanimous decision Efrain Escudero -- $30,000 ($15,000 to show, $15,000 to win) Dan Lauzon -- $15,000 Escudero defeated Lauzon via unanimous decision Cyrille Diabate -- $12,000 ($6,000 to show, $6,000 to win) Luis Cane -- $19,000 Diabate defeated Cane via first round technical knockout Aaron Riley -- $20,000 ($10,000 to show, $10,000 to win) Joe Brammer -- $5,000 Riley defeated Brammer via unanimous decision Ryan Jensen -- $16,000 ($8,000 to show, $8,000 to win) Jesse Forbes -- $6,000 Jensen defeated Forbes via first round submission (guillotine choke) Keep in mind the salaries listed above do not include fight bonuses, sponsorships, percentages and other unofficial payments. It also does not include deductions for expenses such as insurance, taxes, etc. For example, the UFC often hands out extra cash for "Fight of the Night," "Knockout of the Night" and "Submission of the Night." To check out these figures for UFC 114 go here. For complete results and coverage of "Rampage vs. Evans" click here and here.

UFC 114 "Rampage vs. Evans" by the numbers: -15,081 in attendance -3.895 million at the... Posted: 30 May 2010 09:44 AM PDT UFC 114 "Rampage vs. Evans" by the numbers: -15,081 in attendance -3.895 million at the gate -850,000 projected PPV buys -125,000 Fan Expo attendees

UFC Quick Quote: Power-punching Michael Bisping wants a Wanderlei Silva rematch Posted: 30 May 2010 09:39 AM PDT "Wanderlei Silva said he wants a rematch with me. I would love a rematch. I feel now I'm starting to mature as a mixed martial artist. I'm coming into my own skill-wise and confidence-wise. I want to keep building on this (Dan Miller) win and hopefully, towards the end of the year or early next year, I'll get a title shot. I want to be the first Englishman to win the title. I was the first (Englishman) to win ‘The Ultimate Fighter' ... and I will be the first English world champion. As I said, (Miller) was very tough, very durable. I hit him with some big shots, but he was hungry. He wanted to win bad, and he hung in there. If you go speak to my Thai coach, my boxing coach, and my sparring partners, believe me, I hit with power. I haven't been getting knockouts lately. I think subconsciously I started fighting on my back foot because I was so worried about the takedown...and doing that you don't generate the same power." Michael Bisping talks to the press (via Sherdog.com) after his UFC 114 win against Dan Miller on May 29 in a performance that saw the Brit execute a sharp striking attack that while effective, was unable to finish the crafty wrestler. "The Count" insists he has powerful punches, but subconsciously may have been swinging from his back foot to avoid the takedown. Was his performance impressive enough to warrant a rematch with Wanderlei Silva, who outpointed the former TUF star back in February? Or does he need a big finish to convince you he's ready? Thoughts?

John Hathaway ready for the next welterweight challenge after UFC 114 win over Diego Sanchez (Video) Posted: 30 May 2010 08:34 AM PDT

UFC 114 FightMetric statistics for 'Nogueira vs Brilz' controversial split decision Posted: 30 May 2010 07:42 AM PDT Check out the grappling and total performance rating for "Nogueira vs. Brilz" and FightMetric's winner after the jump. For UFC 114 results and recap of all the main card action from the MGM Grand click here and here. For a complete FightMetric breakdown of "Rampage vs. Evans" click here.

Rampage Jackson: 'I’m really ashamed of myself that I fell victim to ring rust' Posted: 30 May 2010 07:25 AM PDT Props: Sherdog.com Quoteworthy: "I’m really ashamed of myself that I fell victim to ring rust. Emotions had nothing to do with it. I focused really hard and I trained really hard on this fight, but me having this damn movie and everything -- I kind of almost regret doing the damn movie now. There was so much pressure. (20th Century) Fox kind of threatened to sue me if I lost and everything because they didn’t know I was fighting. [Evans] had a great game plan, and it worked well for him. I’m not a sore loser. That’s why I commended him. We all come for the same cloth. We all put our lives on the line and get in the Octagon and do battle." Quinton Jackson expresses disappointment over his performance in last night's UFC 114 main event. Despite nearly finishing him in the third and final round, "Rampage" was unable to overcome the quickness and strategy of Rashad Evans and ultimately dropped the unanimous decision to "Suga." The question now is, will Jackson stick around and keep fighting, driven by this loss to come back stronger? Or will he pack his bags and head for "The Hills" if and when his A-Team movie blows up? Fanpost edited and promoted by MMAmania.com

UFC 114 video review on ESPN's 'MMA Live' Posted: 30 May 2010 07:11 AM PDT

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

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• UFC 114 bonuses and awards for 'Rampage vs Evans' PPV fights
• UFC 114 post-fight press conference video airs LIVE on MMAmania.com immediately after 'Rampage vs Evans'
• UFC 114 results, recap and post-event discussion for 'Rampage vs Evans'
• UFC 114 videos blog with Dana White (Episode four)
• UFC 114 results, updates and live play-by-play TONIGHT (May 29) for 'Rampage vs. Evans'
• Chael relax! Sonnen describes hotel scuffle with Anderson Silva (Video)
• DREAM 15 poster for July 10 in Saitama
• UFC 116 odds: Shane Carwin opens as a +160 underdog
• UFC 114 videos blog with Dana White (Episode three)

UFC 114 bonuses and awards for 'Rampage vs Evans' PPV fights Posted: 29 May 2010 10:37 PM PDT UFC 114: "Rampage vs. Evans" from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, has officially wrapped, which means that it’s time for those select fighters who went above and beyond in their respective fights to get a little extra grease for their efforts. To the tune of $65,000 each. The promotion dished out its standard post-fight monetary bonuses to four out of the 22 fighters on the card. And it may not surprise you which combatants are leaving "Sin City" with a little extra green. In addition to their base salaries, the UFC awarded light heavyweight competitors Jason Brilz and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira "Fight of the Night" for their three rounds of back-and-forth action. Brilz probably didn't get the decision he deserved, but he certainly earned a lot of respect (and a nice fat check) for taking it right to the Brazilian despite stepping in for Forrest Griffin on such short notice. Representing the 185-pound weight class was the resurgent Ryan Jensen. The Nebraskan got back into the win column by locking in a guillotine choke on Jesse Forbes and squeezing out a windfall of cash for his slick "Submission of the Night." Also bringing home the proverbial bacon was miracle man Mike Russow. The hard-headed Chicago cop survived two rounds of abuse at the hands of Todd Duffee only to stiffen him like a freezer-burnt popsicle and capture "Knockout of the Night." Here are the special fight bonuses for UFC 114: Fight of the Night — Jason Brilz vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira Submission of the Night — Ryan Jensen Knockout of the Night — Mike Russow Again, each fighter received $65,000 extra for their performances in addition to their respective base salaries, which we will pass along as soon as possible. For complete UFC 114 results and blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action click here and here.

UFC 114 post-fight press conference video airs LIVE on MMAmania.com immediately after 'Rampage vs Evans' Posted: 29 May 2010 09:54 PM PDT UFC 114: "Rampage vs. Evans" from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, is set to go off tonight (Sat., May 29) live on pay-per-view (PPV) beginning at 10 p.m. ET. Immediately following the event, promotion president Dana White and a handful of participating fighters will be on hand for the UFC 114 post-fight press conference, which is now embedded for an approximate 1:30 a.m. ET start time. Be sure to tune in for post-fight reactions from all the major players as well as up-to-the-minute results of all the post-fight bonuses including "Fight of the Night," "Knockout of the Night" and "Submission of the Night." Check it out below. Live stream and replay courtesy of UFC.com For UFC 114 live results and play-by-play click here.

UFC 114 results, recap and post-event discussion for 'Rampage vs Evans' Posted: 29 May 2010 09:53 PM PDT UFC 114: "Rampage vs. Evans" tonight (Sat., May 29) brought the house down inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. After a year of hype, an entire season on The Ultimate Fighter and three weeks of unprecedented trash-talk, former light heavyweight champions Rashad Evans and Quinton Jackson finally went to war inside the Octagon. And it looks like "Rampage" won't be getting that "Shogun" rematch he so desperately wanted. If he wants to point fingers at someone he should probably start with himself, as he apparently missed the Thiago Silva fight back at UFC 108. Like the Brazilian, Jackson had Evans on rubber legs at the halfway mark in round three but decided to give him what seemed like an eternity to recover and claim the unanimous decision. Outside of the third round fireworks, the only other notable moment came in the opening stanza, when Jackson was rocked by "Suga's" stampeding bumrush. Still, the quicker and busier Evans did enough to take home the win and perhaps a championship showdown with Mauricio Rua later this year. Dan Miller came into his 185-pound slugfest against Michael Bisping with the urgency of a man who was in an 0-2 hole both personally and professionally. It wasn't enough. "The Count" was able to take all three scorecards in his unanimous decision win over the Sparta native, utilizing an effective striking attack that beat Miller to the punch, literally. Unfortunately the former IFL star was unable to impose his wrestling or grappling, which left him at the mercy of the fleet-footed Brit, who kept a fair amount of distance and simply outclassed Miller on the feet. Michael Bisping pushes his record to 19-3, but is he any closer to getting back into the title hunt? Up-and-coming heavyweight phenom Todd Duffee made a name for himself in the UFC's 265-pound division with a record setting six-second knockout of Tim Hague. Live by the sword, die by the sword. Mike Russow stunned his muscular foe in the final round with a one punch, come-from-behind knockout victory in what cageside announcer Joe Rogan called "the craziest finish he's seen in 1,000 fights." Consider the Duffee hype train officially derailed. Despite his heroics, the Chicago cop was in danger early and often, taking a pounding from Duffee's patient and powerful striking, but gutted through two rounds of punishment with a little help from a seemingly bulletproof cranium. Following tonight's display, don't be surprised if BP executives try and use it to plug the oil hole in the gulf. Anyone think Russow can be a force in the heavyweight division? Or is he simply 2010's luckiest fighter? After dropping Luis Cane on the corner of Lights and Out, PRIDE import Antonio Rogerio Nogueira made his second appearance under the UFC banner against late replacement Jason Brilz, filling in for an injured Forrest Griffin. I believe the term we're looking for is "highway robbery." Tonight the role of "Minotoro" Nogueira was played by Jason Brilz, who may have been the better striker and in round two especially, the better grappler. Much like his brother before him, Nogueira looked old and tired, unable to capitalize on the few advantages he did have while also leaving his head high and tight like a little league batting tee. "Lil' Nog" managed to turn it up in the third and final round, and apparently it was enough to convince two of the three judges that he was the better man overall. A furious MGM crowd did not concur. The pay-per-view action got underway from "Sin City" with the much-ballyhooed return of Diego Sanchez to the promotion's welterweight division. And John Hathaway reminded him of why he left in the first place. "The Hitman" made it a "Nightmare" for the original Ultimate Fighter, knocking him around for the better part of three rounds and nearly shutting off the lights with a beautifully timed knee in the opening frame. As always, Sanchez showed a ton of heart and weathered the storm but it was obvious that he was no longer suited for the new-look welterweight division. Similar to his loss to Jon Fitch, Sanchez was just too small and too far out of range to overwhelm the larger Brit. Now that the smoke has cleared, Hathaway is still undefeated and moving on to bigger and better things while Sanchez is left to try and figure out where he belongs in a rapidly improving sport. This blogger votes for a return to 155-pounds where Sanchez can still be a force. That’s enough from us — now it’s your turn to discuss "Rampage vs. Evans" in the comments section below. Let’s hear what you have to say about Rampage, Duffee and everyone else who competed tonight by sounding off in the comments section below. For complete UFC 114 results and detailed blow-by-blow commentary of the televised main card fights click here.

UFC 114 videos blog with Dana White (Episode four) Posted: 29 May 2010 09:53 PM PDT

UFC 114 results, updates and live play-by-play TONIGHT (May 29) for 'Rampage vs. Evans' Posted: 29 May 2010 08:14 PM PDT Click the banner above or right here for up-to-the-minute results and blow-by-blow coverage of UFC 114: "Rampage vs. Evans." Quick results of the preliminary fights will being to flow around 8 p.m. ET and round-by-round coverage of the main card pay-per-view (PPV) action is set for 10 p.m. ET! Remember, too, that we'll also be on the spot for the Spike TV action, which begins at 9 p.m. ET. If you’re going to leave comments and discuss the fights with all the other MMAmania.com readers be sure to do it on the main UFC 114 results post and not this one. Comments in this thread are turned off. Enjoy the show, Maniacs!

Chael relax! Sonnen describes hotel scuffle with Anderson Silva (Video) Posted: 29 May 2010 07:29 PM PDT

DREAM 15 poster for July 10 in Saitama Posted: 29 May 2010 03:06 PM PDT Announced for DREAM 15 is a lightweight title fight between champion Shinya "The Tobikan Judan" Aoki and challenger Tatsuya "Crusher" Kawajiri.

UFC 116 odds: Shane Carwin opens as a +160 underdog Posted: 29 May 2010 01:17 PM PDT Preliminary odds and betting lines are out for the upcoming UFC 116 event from the MGM Grand Garden Arena on July 3 in Las Vegas, Nevada, featuring a titanic heavyweight showdown between division champion Brock Lesnar and interim titlist Shane Carwin. "Lesnar vs. Carwin" marks the return of the promotion's biggest box office draw, Lesnar, who will try and battle his way back from a career-threatening intestinal problem to once again establish himself as the undisputed man among men. Apparently the time off hasn't hurt his reputation, as the pasty-faced goliath has opened as a -200 favorite against fellow muscular meatwagon, Carwin, who currently stands at a very temporary +160 underdog. Don't expect that number to last. As more and more of the "Engineer's" faithful drop their change into the Vegas offering plate, plan on watching those odds plummet considerably. Rashad Evans, who faces Quinton Jackson at UFC 114 tonight (May 29) on pay-per-view, also opened on the triple-digit side of the dogs, and now stands dead even with "Rampage" at -115. Keep that in mind if you want to try and make some money on Carwin this fourth of July weekend. Get 'em in early, and also check out the spread on the other combatants throwing hands at UFC 116 (like Wanderlei Silva (-170) vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama +140) by clicking here. Thanks to Wolfmanshowforever for the tip.

UFC 114 videos blog with Dana White (Episode three) Posted: 29 May 2010 09:52 AM PDT

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• DREAM 14 results, recap and discussion
• Matt Hughes inducted into UFC Hall of Fame at 2010 Fan Expo
• Urijah Faber confirms next fight 'most likely' at 135-pounds (Video)
• UFC 114 weigh in photos gallery for 'Rampage vs Evans'
• UFC 114 weigh in results LIVE from Las Vegas for 'Rampage vs Evans'
• DREAM 14 preview and quick picks for May 29 in Saitama
• UFC 114 video preview on ESPN's 'MMA Live'
• Dan Miller is fighting to 'provide for his family' at UFC 114
• UFC 114: 'Rampage vs Evans' officially sold out
• UFC 114 predictions, preview and analysis
• Rashad Evans generates 3000 watts of power on 'Sports Science' (Video)
• Report: Alan Belcher vs Demian Maia possible for Ultimate Fight Night 22
• DREAM 14 weigh in results for May 29 event
• Efrain Escudero feels 'no pressure' against Dan Lauzon at UFC 114 (Video)
• Jared Hess knee injury from Bellator 20 (GIF)

DREAM 14 results, recap and discussion Posted: 28 May 2010 11:34 PM PDT DREAM 14 is scheduled to take place LIVE late tonight/early tomorrow morning (May 29) from the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. It will air live on HDNet at 3 a.m. ET. MMAmania.com will pass along a detailed recap, as well as complete results, as soon as the action is over. In the meantime, we invite those of you who plan to pull all-nighters and watch Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz battle Hayato "Mach" Sakurai, among a slew of other great match ups, to discuss everything DREAM-related in the comments section below. Share results, pics, opinions, insults (that's a joke) -- whatever you want ... within reason. The floor is yours. Again, we'll update this post shortly after the conclusion of DREAM 14 with results and commentary. We'll also be the spot for the biggest storylines coming out of the Land of the Rising Sun. Stay tuned ... and enjoy the fights!

Matt Hughes inducted into UFC Hall of Fame at 2010 Fan Expo Posted: 28 May 2010 11:33 PM PDT It was surely just a matter of time. Former UFC welterweight champion Matt Hughes (44-7) has officially joined Chuck Liddell, Randy Couture, Mark Coleman, Ken Shamrock, Dan Severn, and Charles "Mask" Lewis in the UFC Hall of Fame. "Country Breakfast" was inducted during the UFC 2010 Fan Expo on May 28. In addition to multiple appearances on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), Hughes is perhaps best known for his run as 170-pound champion over the past decade, with memorable wars against Georges St. Pierre, Frank Trigg and BJ Penn. From Hughes, courtesy of UFC.com: "I just never thought about it, to be honest, so yeah, it came out of the blue.I really thought a lot about it the first couple of days after Dana told me, and I really didn't know what to think about it. I've always been the type of guy who thought that somebody who gets inducted into the Hall of Fame needs to be a retired individual. That's just my train of thought. But I'm very privileged and I thank the UFC. I took this up as just a hobby, something to occupy my time and to vent some aggressiveness and be competitive. I never thought that I would be in the position that I'm in today. Shaking hands, signing autographs, being a world title holder and being inducted into the Hall of Fame, this is beyond what I ever would have pictured my life being." For the record Matt Hughes has: • 44 pro wins • 17 UFC wins (most all-time) • 2 welterweight championship reigns • 7 successful title defenses (most ever) • 9 championship fight wins (tied with Randy Couture for most ever) • 5 knockout wins in championship fights (tied with Couture and Chuck Liddell for most ever) • 5 successful consecutive welterweight title defenses (1st all-time) • 12 welterweight championship fights (1st all-time) • 27 welterweight championship rounds fought (tied for 1st all-time with Georges St-Pierre) • 3 submission wins in welterweight championship fights (1st all-time) • 6 former or current UFC champions defeated by Hughes (St-Pierre, Serra, BJ Penn, Dave Menne, Sean Sherk, Carlos Newton) Congratulations to Matt Hughes.

Urijah Faber confirms next fight 'most likely' at 135-pounds (Video) Posted: 28 May 2010 10:58 PM PDT Torres vs. Faber?

UFC 114 weigh in photos gallery for 'Rampage vs Evans' Posted: 28 May 2010 05:48 PM PDT Props: CombatLifestyle.com (Click the link to check out the complete gallery) For complete weigh in results for UFC 114: "Rampage vs. Evans" click here. See Rampage in his Superman underoos after the jump.

UFC 114 weigh in results LIVE from Las Vegas for 'Rampage vs Evans' Posted: 28 May 2010 03:01 PM PDT The official weigh-in event for UFC 114: "Rampage vs Evans" went down today (May 28) as part of the 2010 UFC Fan Expo from the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Despite the animosity between the event's major players, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and "Suga" Rashad Evans, the weigh ins were a rather tepid affair with no real fireworks. There were a few towels, a rock-the-boat staredown and of course Arianny Celeste and her two greatest assets. If you're keeping score at home, Evans was booed mightily while Jackson got a hero's welcome. Complete "Rampage vs. Evans" weigh in results and live feed after the jump: Main event: 205 lbs.: Quinton "Rampage" Jackson (205) vs. "Sugar" Rashad Evans (206) Main card (Televised): 205 lbs.: Jason Brilz (205)   vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (205) 185 lbs.: Michael Bisping (186) vs. Dan Miller (185) 170 lbs.: John Hathaway (171) vs. Diego Sanchez (171) 265 lbs.: Todd Duffee (253) vs. Mike Russow (253) Spike TV card (Televised): 170 lbs.: Dong Hyun Kim (171) vs. Amir Sadollah (171) 170 lbs.: Efrain Escudero (156) vs. Dan Lauzon (155) Under card (May not be broadcast): 155 lbs.: Melvin Guillard (155) vs. Waylon Lowe (155) 155 lbs.: Joe Brammer (156) vs. Aaron Riley (156) 205 lbs.: Luiz Cane (205) vs. Cyrille Diabate (205) 185 lbs.: Jesse Forbes (186) vs. Ryan Jensen (185) Remember that MMAmania.com will provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action on fight night (Saturday, May 29), which is slated to air at 10 p.m. ET on pay-per-view from Las Vegas. The latest quick updates of the live action will begin to flow earlier than that around 8 p.m. ET with the preliminary bouts. 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 114 coverage you can handle. Live stream and replay courtesy of UFC.com.

DREAM 14 preview and quick picks for May 29 in Saitama Posted: 28 May 2010 02:12 PM PDT The weigh-ins are in the books and DREAM 14 is all set for late tonight/early tomorrow morning (May 29) from the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. The event will air live on HDNet at 3 a.m. ET. Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz will headline the show opposite feared Japanese striker Hayato "Mach" Sakurai. 2008 DREAM lightweight grand prix winner Joachim "Hellboy" Hansen will also be in action against Hiroyuki "Streetfight Bancho" Takaya. MMA legend Kazushi Sakuraba will be featured in tonight's co-main event. The man referred to as "The Gracie Hunter" will take the sixth fight of his career against a member of the Brazilian family. This time it will be Ralek Gracie stepping up to defend his family's honor. To help get you better prepared for the festivities, I've given some quick analysis and predictions for the three most anticipated fights on the card. Check it out below. 170 lbs.: Nick Diaz vs. Hayato "Mach" Sakurai This fight has been talked about for a couple years now, but for whatever reason it's always fallen through. Now that it's finally happening, though, my outlook on it is much different than it would have been maybe two years ago when Elite XC and DREAM were co-promoting and trying to make it happen. Back then I would have been convinced that Diaz would look for any opportunity to get the fight to the ground where he could use his jiu jitsu and avoid "Mach's" power on his feet. However, Diaz's striking has evolved and taken his overall game to a whole new level over the last couple of years. This isn't the same fighter who was out-punched by KJ Noons or needed a split decision to beat Mike Aina. This is the guy who picked apart and dotted up Frank Shamrock, Scott Smith and Marius Zaromskis, who are all quality strikers. I have no reason to believe this new and improved Nick Diaz won't have similar success with his unorthodox and innovative striking style against Sakurai, either. He's been steamrolling his competition, while "Mach" recently dropped back to back fights for only the second time in his career. And it's no secret that Diaz loves fighting in Japan. I'm sure he's licking his chops over being in a main event fight like this over there against a top Japanese name. We're going to see a Nick Diaz at the top of his game in this fight. I like the momentum he has coming into this one. I think he wears Sakurai down with his boxing and eventually goes on to get a submission finish sometime in the second round. Final prediction: Diaz via submission. 170 lbs.: Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Ralek Gracie This fight can be summed up in two words: "Gracie Hunter." Sakuraba literally made a name for himself early in his career by beating members of the Gracie family. In a span of just under thirteen months, Sakuraba handed losses to four Gracie fighters, including two by submission over Renzo and Royler. He also beat Royce by TKO and Ryan by decision. Of course, that was ten years ago. Royce went on to avenge his defeat in the summer of 2007, even though the win was marred by a failed post-fight drug test for steroids from Gracie. Sakuraba has gone on to win five of seven fights since then, including back to back first round stoppages in his two most recent bouts. Ralek is obviously well credentialed in the art of Brazilian jiu jitsu. He's a black belt under Rorion and Helio Gracie, and he's won both of his professional mixed martial arts matches by submssion. But even with that being so, when you stack his two fights up against Sakuraba's forty, you have to consider how much the lack of MMA experience will hurt him in this fight. His debut was in 2007 and he fought one other time during the summer of 2008. Meanwhile, Sakuraba, despite getting up there in years (he's 41 now,) still managed to average three fights a year over the last three years. And his only losses were the decision to Royce, an early knockout from a red hot Melvin Manhoef, and a decision to Kiyoshi Tamura. I like Sakuraba to school Ralek here and rack up his third submission win over a Gracie. Final prediction: Sakuraba via submission. 145 lbs.: Joachim "Hellboy" Hansen vs. Hiroyuki Takaya "Hellboy" is a really well rounded fighter with a lot of ways to win, while Takaya basically prefers to stand and bang with his opponents. I don't think Hansen will have much of a problem with that early on, but once he gets a chance to take this fight to the ground, he'll probably jump all over it. Hansen is an aggressive striker, though, and it's certainly possible he could knock Takaya out on his feet. Afterall, half of Takaya's eight career losses have been by TKO. Still though, Hansen's best way to win is on the ground where he has a solid ground and pound game and a clear advantage with submissions. Either way, this should be a fun fight for the fans. But for the fighters, both are coming off two straight losses and a win is very important. Because of that, I think "Hellboy" comes out extremely focused and wins this fight by some type of stoppage. He'll either drop Takaya with strikes and pound him out, or he'll end up on the ground where he could potentially notch his sixth career submission win. I'm leaning towards a knockout. Final prediction: Hansen via technical knockout. That's a wrap. Check back in early tomorrow morning for the DREAM 14 results and recap.

UFC 114 video preview on ESPN's 'MMA Live' Posted: 28 May 2010 01:30 PM PDT

Dan Miller is fighting to 'provide for his family' at UFC 114 Posted: 28 May 2010 12:12 PM PDT Props: MMA Fighting Quoteworthy: "It's tough but this is my job and what I have to do to provide for my family. He's a motivating factor to get in there and get a win. If I lose, my UFC career is probably done so I need to stay focused. I need to get this win. I get inspiration just watching him fight. He's fought for his life twice now, and now he's doing well." Co-main eventer Dan Miller talks about his recent personal struggles and the health of his four-month old son, Daniel, Jr. Miller's child has been battling a genetic kidney disease that has put him near death on more than one occasion. Dan says that while his son is doing better now, his inspiration for the fight against Michael Bisping is coming from Daniel, Jr.'s will to survive. It's undeniably a heartbreaking story, but as Dana White recently put it, "This is the real world and nobody is gonna take care of you. Nobody gives a shit in the real world. You gotta overcome adversity to get to where you want to be." Clearly, Miller's personal struggles are far from typical, but in someways White has a point. Dan has a great opportunity to defeat a big name like Bisping and to continue providing for his family in the way that only he can. So, will Miller make the most of this challenge and bring some much needed joy and relief to his family? Or, will his personal problems be too much to overcome? Who's taking the UFC 114 co-main event, Maniacs?

UFC 114: 'Rampage vs Evans' officially sold out Posted: 28 May 2010 10:44 AM PDT Further confirmation that UFC 114: "Rampage vs. Evans" is primed to do big business for Zuffa, the event, set to go down tomorrow night (May 29) from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, tickets have officially sold out. At the UFC 114 pre-fight press conference, Dana White stated that never before has there been so many ticket requests for a UFC event and that the hype and buzz surrounding UFC 114 was similar that of UFC 100 last July. While UFC 114 is unlikely to approach the type of staggering numbers that UFC 100 did in terms of pay-per-view buys, with all the media work Dana and company have put in over the last week on ESPN, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, The Dan Patrick Show, etc., coupled with the release of the uber popular UFC Undisputed 2010 video game, this event certainly has the chance to reset the bar in terms of PPV business for 2010. UFC 114 will run in conjunction with this year's Fan Expo at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, which is currently taking place, and will feature a 205-pound grudge match between former light heavyweight champions and Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 10 coaches "Sugar" Rashad Evans and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. For more on UFC 114, click here.

UFC 114 predictions, preview and analysis Posted: 28 May 2010 09:26 AM PDT UFC 114: "Rampage vs. Evans" is set to go down this Saturday, May 29, 2010 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, live on pay-per-view. 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 at 10 p.m. ET. To get us pumped for the event, MMAmania.com Editor and Senior Writer, Jesse Holland (that’s me), will break down the main card matches and take a closer look at the intricacies of each contest. One of the big stories coming into this event is of course the headlining fight between former light heavyweight champions and ex-TUF 10 coaches Quinton Jackson and Rashad Evans. Has the "A-Team" layoff hurt "Rampage" physically? And will he have his head in the fight game after getting a taste of the glitz and glamor of Hollywood? There are still a lot of unanswered questions regarding the future of Michael Bisping. Is he one or two wins away from getting back in the title hunt? And does he have the chops to hang with the 185-pound elite? Dan Miller may help us answer that question on Saturday night. Also on tap is a heavyweight throwdown between Todd Duffee and Mike Russow. Now that Duffee's seven seconds of fame are up, will he prove to be the next big thing at heavyweight? Or will the Chicago cop arrest his ascension up the divisional ladder? There will certainly be a lot to talk about on Sunday morning. 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: 205 lbs.: "Suga" Rashad Evans (19-1-1) vs. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson (30-7) Backgrounds (last five fights): Evans: Record: 4-1 Notable wins: Put Chuck Liddell on ice, chopped down Forrest Griffin to win the division title... Notable losses: ...Which he graciously handed over to Lyoto Machida on the bus to Napsville. Strengths: Good wrestling, deceptively fast, terrific dancer. Weaknesses: Suspect cardio, doesn't control the pace, looked wobbly against Thiago Silva. Jackson: Record: 4-1 Notable wins: Took Chuck Liddell and Wanderlei Silva out of the title picture for good. Notable losses: Phoned it in against Forrest Griffin -- and it cost him the belt. Strengths: Good striker, powerful, tons of experience. Weaknesses: Long layoff, conditioning issues, unfocused. Dumbass predicts: Man of science, man of faith. How else can I break down a main event that has the mixed martial arts fan base split equally in two? I'm a man of science, so expect me to pick Evans -- but believe me when I tell you it's by the slimmest of margins. How slim? I couldn't fit my Mania Christmas bonus between it -- and I've seen that shit slip through cracks that even water wouldn't penetrate. Jackson might very well be the better all-around fighter. But I'm not sure where his head is at. What's with all those interviews in the past few weeks about how awful the UFC regime is? He must have really been infected by the Hollywood virus because he doesn't sound like a fighter who is committed to being the best. And can we stop pretending he was lighting the world on fire before skipping town? Aside from playing patty-cake with Wanderlei Silva's face (which has gotten way too easy over the years), he turned in a stinker against Forrest Griffin and phoned it in against Keith Jardine -- the same mean dean who got KOed by Ryan Bader. On its own, not being up for the game is a serious detriment. But couple that with Jackson's considerable layoff (and his considerable gut) and I have serious doubts about his physical and mental preparedness. Sure, he can show up in shape, but there is a marked difference between cramming for an a exam and studying for it all year. That brings me to Evans. Am I running to the bookie based on his Thiago Silva fight? Not exactly. But considering it was his first fight back (and a very dangerous one) after Lyoto Machida folded him up like a Trapper-Keeper, I can overlook his rubber legs in round three against Silva. Where I favor Evans in this contest is in the preparation. Aside from a state of perpetual training (based on his fight schedule), he seems to be in the right frame of mind. Of course Jackson is every bit as angry, but Evans doesn't want to win and go back to making movies. He wants to win and go back to being light heavyweight champion. He also has Team Jackson behind him, who knows a thing or two about formulating game plans. Rampage has Wolfslair, which is a solid camp, but hasn't been cranking out world beaters like the balding guru in New Mexico has. In the end, I just see too many negatives to pick Jackson. I like Evans in a split decision and he may even get rocked, but the wrestling will find him in good graces with the judges. And if all else fails, "Suga" can juke, jive and dance his way across three rounds better than anyone in the sport. "Yeah, but still, it's Rampage. He'll win," says the man of faith. Which I am not. Betting lines (as of May 28): Jackson: -115 ((Bet Now)) Evans: -115 ((Bet Now)) Prediction: Evans via split decision 185 lbs.: Michael "The Count" Bisping (18-3) vs. Dan Miller (11-3) Backgrounds (last five fights): Bisping: Record: 3-2 Notable wins: Beat a chemically enhanced Chris Leben, gave Denis Kang his UFC pink slip. Notable losses: Wrong end of a Hendo Shoryuken, looked dull against the blade of "The Axe Murderer." Strengths: Technically sound, always in shape, has heart. Weaknesses: Pitter-patter punches, has been known to play it a little too safe. Miller: Record: 3-2 Notable wins: Strangled Jake Rosholt and Rob Kimmons, decisioned Matt Horwich. Notable losses: Back-to-back butt-whoopings at the hands of Chael Sonnen and Demian Maia. Strengths: Great wrestling, underrated ground game. Weaknesses: Getting outstruck by Demian Maia does not look good on a resume. Dumbass predicts: For a guy that's facing a possible pink slip, Dan Miller sure doesn't exhibit the kind of urgency you would expect from a fighter that's dropped two straight. Aye, the dreaded 0-3 hole is a one-way ticket to Strikeforce but Miller's interviews in the last three weeks have sounded like an unconditional surrender. That's a shame, because he has the tools to beat Michael Bisping. But he won't. "The Count" is the kind of guy who can hang with anyone, but when he fights scared like he did against Dan Henderson and Wanderlei Silva, he ends up throwing the fight away. Bisping is not scared of Miller. And why should he be? All the Sparta-native seems to talk about is how awful his predicament is. And it doesn't help that he was outstruck by Demian Maia, who isn't exactly known for his hands. This is exactly the type of scenario Bisping loves and I expect him to capitalize on it. His fluffernutter fists won't stiffen Miller, but his striking is technically sound and continues to improve. It can certainly do enough damage to win this fight. Can he stop the wrestling attack? I think he only needs to stuff one or two before Miller abandons them and it turns into a stand-up battle. Then it all boils down to who has the better hands. Against upper-tier middleweights, as we've seen, it wouldn't be enough to get Bisping the "W." Dan Miller is not upper-tier. Betting lines (as of May 28): Bisping: -170 ((Bet Now)) Miller: +140 ((Bet Now)) Prediction: Bisping by unanimous decision 205 lbs.: Antonio Rogerio "Minotoro" Nogueira (18-3) vs. Jason "The Hitman" Brilz (18-2-1) Backgrounds (last five fights): Nogueira: Record: 5-0 Notable wins: Thunderous TKO win over Luis Cane in mini-Nog's UFC debut. Notable losses: Hasn't been beat since Sokoudjou nearly killed him at PRIDE 33. Strengths: Excellent grappling, one of the sport's better boxers, trains with the best of the best. Weaknesses: Not many, but I can only hope he's not overlooking Brilz. Brilz: Record: 4-1 Notable wins: Decisioned Eric Schafer and Tim Boetsch. Not sure if they qualify as "notable." Notable losses: Split decision to Eliot Marshall last September. Strengths: Good wrestler, not easily rattled. Weaknesses: Unproven on the big stage. Dumbass predicts: Anyone else unsettled by this fight? There's nothing I hate more than one of my favorite fighters getting stuck on the wrong end of a Cinderella story. Against Forrest Griffin, I had "Minotoro" all day. Now against Brilz, I'm not so sure. Hey, I'm still picking Lil' Nog to win, didn't you read that whole "Man of science" thing earlier? Nogueira has a rare combination of ridiculous boxing and world class grappling along with a resume that includes wins over Dan Henderson and Alistair Overeem (twice). Think of him as Rodrigo minus the head trauma. Aside from that horrible "anything can happen" aspect of our sport, I really don't see any way Brilz wins this. Maybe he can grind out a decision with a relentless wrestling attack? Perhaps, but is the ground a place you really want to be fooling around with against a Nogueira? And Brilz has only one finish in his UFC career. He defeated but couldn't put away Eric Schafer and Tim Boetsch and lost a split decision to Eliot Marshall. In fact, toss in Brad Morris and none of the fighters he's faced are still with the UFC. If your previous four wins have come against competition the Zuffa brass has no interest in keeping on the payroll, it's hard to make a case for you in this fight, even at 18-2. I expect Brilz to take a few more shots to the dome than he cares for which will force him to try and implement his wrestling game. I'm predicting a TKO stoppage for the Brazilian but a standing guillotine or textbook armbar would not surprise me. Neither would a Brilz upset, which is why this sport drives me crazy sometimes. Betting lines (as of May 28): Nogueira: -550 ((Bet Now)) Brilz: +375 ((Bet Now)) Prediction: Nogueira via technical knockout 170 lbs.: Diego "Nightmare" Sanchez (21-3) vs. John Hathaway (12-0) Backgrounds (last five fights): Sanchez: Record: 4-1 Notable wins: Fight of the year against Clay Guida, no "Daddy" issues versus Joe Stevenson. Notable losses: Looked lost against the considerable might of BJ Penn. Strengths: Incredible pace, very strong, relentless. Weaknesses: Flip-flopping weight classes is never a good sign. Hathaway: Record: 5-0 Notable wins: Perfect through 12 -- though some of his opponents were bargain-bin competition. Notable losses: None! Strengths: Big for a welterweight, good ground and pound. Weaknesses: Hard to knock a guy who hasn't lost, but this is a big step up for him and a good test. Dumbass predicts: Will Diego Sanchez regret moving back to welterweight? YES! What a shame. It may have been a "Nightmare" against BJ Penn, but he was ideal for that weight class and who didn't want to see a rematch with Kenny Florian? He's talking about facing KenFlo at a catchweight, apparently forgetting the cardinal rule about forecasting future fights when a dangerous opponent lies in wait. I've always liked Sanchez as a fighter, but dropping out of the Thiago Alves fight in 2008 left a bad taste in my mouth. So does the flip-flopping between weight classes. Diego used to always talk about destiny and pursuing his goal to be champion, etc. And now he just seems lost. Can he still hang with the best? Sure, but that single-mindedness (I think) took his game to another level. Is he still the same "Nightmare?" John Hathaway is going to be a very good test. Sanchez has an excellent skill set. Good, but not great at everything. What he lacks in technical acumen he makes up for in viciousness. He's going to need that here because Hathaway has the kind of big welterweight frame that can give Diego problems. I don't want to put too much stock in the Brit's perfect record because quite frankly, some of his opponents would have a hard time being identified by their own kin in a police line up. Still, he has a good head for the game and while they were both decisions, I saw a lot of promise in the Ricky Story and Paul Taylor fights. Sanchez should win this because he's going to be the more aggressive fighter. But he's likely to find himself having a much harder time than he -- or the casual fan -- anticipates. Betting lines (as of May 29): Sanchez: -220 ((Bet Now)) Hathaway: +175 ((Bet Now)) Prediction: Sanchez via split decision 265 lbs.: Todd Duffee (6-0) vs. Mike Russow (12-1) Backgrounds (last five fights): Duffee: Record: 5-0 Notable wins: Thrashed Tim Hague's machine, clowned Assuerio Silva in Brazil. Notable losses: None! Strengths: Big, athletic, hard-hitting heavyweight. Be afraid. Be very afraid. Weaknesses: Bouncing around from camp to camp, head may not be screwed on straight. Russow: Record: 5-0 Notable wins: Pissed off Mother Russia by submitting Roman Zentsov, made Jason Guida tap in two minutes. Notable losses: None since being armbarred by Sergei Kharitonov under questionable circumstances back in PRIDE. Strengths: Quick for a heavyweight, outstanding submissions. Weaknesses: Gives up a lot of size in the new-look heavyweight division. Dumbass predicts: FAME! I'm gonna live for-everrrrr... That would be the perfect theme song for the one-hit wonder known as Todd Duffee, whose hype train can barrel through the walls of reality like The Polar Express. Choo! Choo! All aboard! Lest you think I'm making fun of Duffee, know that I am in awe of his potential. But can we slow down and take it one fight at a time? A seven-second knockout was impressive, but let's keep in mind it was over Tim Hague, who is no longer employed by the UFC. Duffee is going to be a great fighter. UFC fans have only seen a glimpse of his power, but go back and find videos of his fights in Brazil and the Dominican Republic. For a guy with only six fights, he looks like he's been doing it for years. That's important. You can teach fighting, but you can't teach instincts -- and Duffee has the lion's share. It's almost a shame that he's facing Russow, because Chicago's finest is a pretty good fighter himself. He gets overlooked because he doesn't have the body of an Adonis, but he's an excellent grappler and pretty quick for a big man. Having said that, he's just not big enough to stop Duffee's incoming assault. Is he technically superior? In my opinion he is, but Duffee is too big and powerful to get hung up in a submission. This has shades of Mir vs. Lesnar II. Russow will be too busy trying to keep from getting punched in the face to set up a submission and will ultimately be pounded out. Betting lines (as of May 28): Duffee: -375 ((Bet Now)) Russow: +275 ((Bet Now)) Prediction: Duffee via technical knockout That’s a wrap, folks. Remember to come check us out after the show for all the latest results, recaps and coverage of "Rampage vs. Evans." What do you think? Now it’s your turn … let us have it in the comments section and share your thoughts and picks for Saturday’s event.

Rashad Evans generates 3000 watts of power on 'Sports Science' (Video) Posted: 28 May 2010 09:26 AM PDT For over 1500 pounds of force per takedown...

Report: Alan Belcher vs Demian Maia possible for Ultimate Fight Night 22 Posted: 28 May 2010 07:40 AM PDT File this under "Be careful what you wish for." Angst-ridden middleweight mauler Alan Belcher has been clamoring for a major step up in competition. Well Mr. Talent, I present you Demian Maia, currently offering his services at UFC Fight Night 22 on September 15. MMA Fighting brings word that the two are in verbal agreement to hook 'em up later this year. Belcher (16-6) was last seen using Patrick Cote's head to dig for gold inside the Octagon at UFC 113 earlier this month. It was his second straight win (and second straight finish) after beating the snot out of Wilson Gouveia at UFC 107 in December of last year. The outspoken but hard-hitting "Talent" wants a middleweight title shot and it would be hard to argue against him if he can dispose of the Brazilian with little effort. Maia (12-2) has been to the mountaintop but the Sherpa sent him sent tumbling back down it after a five round fiasco at UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi. The loss to Anderson Silva was his second in three fights after stringing together ten straight wins. He is undoubtedly one of the sport's most gifted grapplers, but his striking has yet to evolve to a higher level. To his credit, he showed a marked improvement in a unanimous decision win against Dan Miller at UFC 109, but there will be little margin for error against Johnny Cash's number one fan. I believe this is referred to as the classic "Striker vs. Grappler." Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for more information on UFC Fight Night 22 as it becomes available.

DREAM 14 weigh in results for May 29 event Posted: 28 May 2010 06:42 AM PDT Nick Diaz 76.0kg (167.5) vs. Hayato "Mach" Sakurai 76.5kg (168.6) Kazushi Sakuraba 87.4kg (192.6) vs. Ralek Gracie 86.5kg (190.6) Hiroyuki Takaya 65.0kg (143.3) vs. Joachim Hansen 65.0kg (143.3) Norifumi "KID" Yamamoto 59.8kg (131.8) vs. Kiko Lopez 60kg (132.2) Hideo Tokoro 62.8kg (138.4) vs. Akiyo "Wicky" Nishiura 63.0kg (138.8) Kazuyuki Miyata 64.4kg (141.9) vs. Takafumi Otsuka 64.2kg (141.5) Yoshiro Maeda 60.7kg (133.8) vs. Kenji Osawa 61.0kg (134.4) Minowaman 88kg (194) vs. Imani Lee 150kg (330.6) DREAM 14 goes down TONIGHT (Friday night into Saturday morning) from the Saitama Super Arena starting at 3:00 a.m. ET live on HDNet.

Efrain Escudero feels 'no pressure' against Dan Lauzon at UFC 114 (Video) Posted: 28 May 2010 06:19 AM PDT

Jared Hess knee injury from Bellator 20 (GIF) Posted: 27 May 2010 08:51 PM PDT Jared Hess knee injury from Bellator 20 (GIF)

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