Saturday, July 31, 2010

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

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

UFC on Versus 2 weigh in results LIVE from San Diego for 'Jones vs Matyushenko'

Posted: 31 Jul 2010 04:39 AM PDT

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The official weigh-in event for UFC on Versus 2: "Jones vs. Matyushenko" is set to take place TONIGHT (July 31) at the San Diego Sports Arena in San Diego, California.

It is currently scheduled to air LIVE right here on MMAmania.com, as well as on several other online destinations, via streaming video. The first fighter is expected to tip the scale at 7 p.m. ET.

As usual, MMAmania.com will provide the latest coverage of the UFC on Versus 2 weigh-ins, as well as provide a detailed recap of the festivities as soon as they conclude.

"Jones vs. Matyushenko" will feature a main event between light heavyweight superstar in the making Jon "Bones" Jones and Belarusian brawler Vladimir "The Janitor" Matyushenko. 

Also on tap for Aug. 1 is a middleweight mash-up between Mark Munoz and Yushin Okami while Takanori Gomi looks for his first win as a Zuffa lightweight against Tyson Griffin.

Complete UFC on Versus 2 weigh in results after the jump:

Main event:

205 lbs.: Jon Jones ( ) vs. Vladimir Matyushenko ( )

Main card (Televised):

185 lbs.: Mark Munoz ( ) vs. Yushin Okami ( )
170 lbs.: Jake Ellenberger ( ) vs. John Howard ( )
155 lbs.: Takanori Gomi ( ) vs. Tyson Griffin ( )

Under card (May not be broadcast):

170 lbs.: Paul Kelly ( ) vs. Jacob Volkmann ( )
205 lbs.: James Irvin ( ) vs. Igor Pokrajac ( )
185 lbs.: Mike Massenzio ( ) vs. Brian Stann ( )
170 lbs.: DaMarques Johnson ( ) vs. Matthew Riddle ( )
155 lbs.: Darren Elkins vs. Charles Oliveira ( )
185 lbs.: Rob Kimmons vs. Steve Steinbeiss ( )

For those fortunate enough to be in "America's Finest City" for the promotion’s debut in San Diego, remember that the weigh-in is FREE to attend and open to the public. Doors to the weigh-in will open at 3 p.m. local time for the general public.

In addition, UFC Fight Club members will be able to attend a special Q&A session with former Ultimate Fighter and hard-hitting light heavyweight Krzysztof Soszynski prior to that at 2 p.m. local time.

Remember that MMAmania.com will provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action on fight night (Sunday, Aug. 1), which is slated to air at 9 p.m. ET on the Versus Network. The latest quick updates of the live action will begin to flow earlier than that around 7 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 on Versus 2" coverage you can handle.

Live stream and replay courtesy of UFC.com.

The Most Interesting Man in the World, Chael Sonnen (Video)

Posted: 30 Jul 2010 08:54 PM PDT

Check out parts two and three after the jump:

 

Please Hammer, don't hurt 'em: Former rap star transitions to CEO of MMA Management Company

Posted: 30 Jul 2010 03:02 PM PDT

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Props: MMA Weekly

Quoteworthy:

"I've been a fan of combat sports for years. MMA is the fastest growing sport in the world and this is a great opportunity for us to launch a full-service management company. Alchemist Management will leverage its relationships and resources for the benefit of fighters, the sponsors, and the industry at large."

Former rap icon MC Hammer is ready to turn this mother out now that he's formed the Los Angeles-based "Alchemist Management" company to represent mixed martial artists. So far they've managed to secure Nate Marquardt, Tim Kennedy, Vladimir Matyushenko, Jorge Rivera, James McSweeney, Antoni Hardonk, Jared Hamman, Steve Magdaleno, Luke Stewart, and Alex Soto, among others. Not a bad start. Yes, MC Hammer is representing professional fighters. That's why we pray.

UFC Fan Expo 'Boston' VIP Tickets and Packages on sale soon

Posted: 30 Jul 2010 02:13 PM PDT

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They're back -- and ready for all you "VIP" fans who want to do "Beantown" in style.

The UFC Fan Expo will return for the second time in 2010 when it storms the John B. Hynes Convention Center in Boston, Massachusetts, from Aug. 27-28, leading right up until fight time to coincide with UFC 118: "Edgar vs. Penn 2" on Saturday, Aug. 28.

The two-day fan exposition of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) activities includes meet and greets with legendary UFC and WEC fighters, MMA demonstrations, fan-inspired special events, training and development sessions as well as other combat related opportunities and entertainment.

Fans looking for the VIP treatment can purchase one of two packages that comes with a boatload of extras -- but are limited to just 535 tickets. Naturally, UFC Fight Club members will get first dibs on the VIP tickets through a special pre-sale that begins on Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2010 at 10 AM ET.

Assuming all 535 aren't gobbled up as soon as they're made available (rest assured they will be), the general public will have their chance to scoop up what's left on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2010 at 10 AM ET.

Details on the special UFC Fan Expo "Boston" VIP Tickets and Packages after the jump.

VIP: $200 (Limited to 500)

* 2 Day Admission
* Collectible UFC Fan Expo VIP Badge
* Limited Edition UFC Fan Expo VIP T-Shirt
* 1 Hour early-entry
* Special VIP Entrance
* Dedicated VIP Ticket Counter
* VIP Concierge
* Exclusive UFC Fan Expo Duffel Bag
* Access to exclusive VIP Lounge
* Photo ops in VIP lounge with UFC Title Belt
* UFC DVD Package
* The Ultimate Fighter Octagon Necklace
* Daily VIP Raffles

Ultimate VIP: $1,500 (Limited to 35)

* 2 Day Admission
* Collectible UFC Fan Expo Badge
* Limited Edition UFC Fan Expo T-Shirt (pre-signed by Dana White)
* 1 Hour early-entry
* Special Ultimate VIP Entrance
* Dedicated Ultimate VIP Ticket Counter
* VIP Concierge
* Exclusive UFC Fan Expo Duffel Bag featuring Exhibitor Exclusives
* Access to exclusive UFC Executive Greenroom
* Photo ops in Green Room with UFC Title Belt
* Reserved Front Row Seating at Main Stage for all Events
* UFC Trading Cards
* UFC DVD Package
* The Ultimate Fighter Octagon Necklace
* Autograph Line Pass
* Meet & Greet with Dana White
* Backstage Tour of TD Banknorth Garden prior to UFC 118 on Saturday before doors open to the public (Free transportation will be provided).
* UFC 118 Octagon Photo during Backstage Tour of TD Banknorth Garden before doors open to the public (UFC 118 Ticket Holders - note, you will receive early entry to the venue before the general public with this incentive).
* Access to ALL Training & Development Sessions (Minimum value of $500)

For more information of the VIP tickets and Packages for the 2010 UFC Fan Expo "Boston" click here. To get more information on becoming a UFC Fight Club Member click here.

UFC on Versus 2: 'Jones vs Matyushenko' pre-fight interviews (Video)

Posted: 30 Jul 2010 12:35 PM PDT

Dana White: 'There is no way 'Shogun' Rua will return in December'

Posted: 30 Jul 2010 11:41 AM PDT

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Props: MMA Live (via Yahoo!)

Quoteworthy:

"This kid keeps pushing it to get out there faster and faster. I completely respect him for that. He's an animal. I love it. But there's no way he's going to be ready by December. People keep asking why he's had so many knee surgeries. That's exactly why he's had that many knee surgeries. I doubt [there will be an interim title]. When we did the belt for Brock Lesnar, we didn't know if Brock was ever going to come back or if he'd be out for a year or two. No interim title. We know this kid is coming back. He's already had the surgery. He knows exactly the date he can come back."

UFC President Dana White nixed the idea of a possible early comeback for the injured Mauricio "Shogun" Rua. Following a recent successful knee surgery, Rua expressed his desire to return to the Octagon sometime this winter, possibly as soon as December. But D.W. doesn't sound like he's having any of that. White added that that a likely return for the new 205-pound champion is spring or even summer of 2011. To Rashad Evans' dismay, White also stated that there will be no interim belt up for grabs while "Shogun" fully recovers. What do we think about Dana's decision? Should we have to wait until next summer to see the best of the light heavyweight division in action?

KSW owners meet with Aleksander Emelianenko, reach verbal agreement. Props: MMA Spot

Posted: 30 Jul 2010 10:55 AM PDT

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KSW owners meet with Aleksander Emelianenko, reach verbal agreement.

Props: MMA Spot

Bellator 27: Joe Warren vs Joe Soto featherweight title fight set for September 2 in San Antonio

Posted: 30 Jul 2010 10:41 AM PDT

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CHICAGO, Ill. (July 30, 2010) - Bellator Fighting Championships World Featherweight Championship belt will be on the line Sept. 2 when reigning champ Joe "The Hammer" Soto defends his title against Season 2 Featherweight Tournament Champion  Joe Warren at Bellator 27 in San Antonio.

The five-round Main Event Championship fight - which will be televised LIVE nationwide from San Antonio's Majestic Theatre on FOX Sports Net - features two fighters at the top of their games each looking to make another huge statement that they are among the world's top 145-pound fighters.

Soto, a native of California's Central Valley, was a virtual unknown in the MMA world before knocking off Ben Greer, Wilson Reis and Yahir Reyes to take home the first-ever Bellator Featherweight Championship belt last June. He recently improved his record to a perfect 9-0 with an impressive May 20 ground-and-pound stoppage of durable UFC veteran Diego Saraiva at Bellator 19 in Dallas. The Hammer is known for his well-rounded arsenal and finishing ability with four of his wins coming via submission and four being stopped via KO or TKO.

Warren, the former NCAA all-American wrestler at the University of Michigan and two-time Greco-Roman wrestling world champion, burst onto the MMA scene in 2009 with stunning wins over former WEC standout Chase Beebe and Japanese sensation Kid Yamamoto. In 2010, he took home Bellator's Season 2 Featherweight Tournament Championship with inspiring consecutive victories over Eric Marriott, Georgi Karakhanyan and the previously undefeated Patricio "Pitbull" Freire, improving his overall pro MMA record to 5-1 and solidifying his place among the best featherweights in the sport.

"Of our four upcoming world title fights, the Soto-Warren fight is hugely intriguing," said Bellator founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney. "Joe Soto is extremely talented and has made a collection of top ten rankings.  Warren 's a world-class wrestler who beat one of the greatest featherweights in the world in just his second fight. He has tremendous heart and he doesn't understand what the word ‘lose' means. Joe Soto also comes from a national-caliber wrestling background and anyone who saw his fight with Diego Saraiva in May knows that his game is polished and world-class throughout every facet of MMA. This should be a truly spectacular fight."

Soto said that he "can't wait for the fight" and thinks he matches up well against Warren.

"I'm just really excited to get in there and compete against him," Soto said. "He's a wrestler just like I am, but I think I can out-wrestle him. If he takes me down, I'm better on my back than he is on top. If we stay standing, I think I can out-box him. No matter where the fight goes, I think I'm a much better all-around fighter than he is."

Warren, for his part, respectfully disagreed, saying that "after September 2, Joe Warren will have his first belt and that's going to be big trouble for everyone in this weight division."

"Joe Soto is a tough fighter, but he's going to see the best Joe Warren that's ever been in a cage," Warren said. "We're both great wrestlers so I'm guessing we're going to get in there and beat the crap out of each other, but in the end I'm going to be taking that belt home with me."

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator.

Tickets for Bellator 27 are available at www.Ticketmaster.com.

UFC Fan Expo 'London' announced for Earls Court Oct. 15-16

Posted: 30 Jul 2010 09:58 AM PDT

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Dana White is bringing a little something extra to the UFC 120 event when he travels across the pond for the promotion's return to London, England, which is scheduled for the O2 Arena on Oct. 16, 2010.

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) today announced that it will coordinate a two-day "Fan Expo" at the nearby Earls Court Exhibition Centre in London, England, from Oct. 15 right up until fight time to coincide with the Spike TV event

Here's what the cage boss had to say about his big plans:

"I am excited to bring a UFC Fan Expo to our incredible fans in Europe. People have been asking me about an International Expo ever since we held our first one at UFC 100, and now they have it – they’re getting two days of the best fan experience in all of sports, and on top of that an incredible fight card featuring Michael Bisping vs. Akiyama."

That "experience" includes meet and greets with legendary UFC, Pride FC and WEC fighters, mixed martial arts (MMA) demonstrations, grappling "Super Fights," fan-inspired special events, training and development sessions, as well as other combat related opportunities and entertainment.

Additionally, the fourth UFC Fan Expo, which is the second to be staged outside of "Sin City," is expected to attract more than "150 leading vendors covering roughly 200,000 gross square feet of space."

According the the release, the exhibit floor will also "feature apparel, electronic gaming, food & beverages, fight gear, fitness equipment and supplies, nutritional supplements, lifestyle products and much more."

Oh, and by the way, there are also some huge fights taking place that weekend.

Leading the charge of Britain's best butt-kickers will be Michael "The Count" Bisping in a hard-hitting middleweight battle against Yoshihiro "Sexyama" Akiyama in the main event of the evening.

Joining them will be Dan "The Outlaw" Hardy as he tries to fight his way back into 170-pound title contention against Carlos "Natural Born Killer" Condit in the co-featured fight of the night.

Sounds like a blast.

For more on UFC 120 be sure to hit up our event archive right here.

Dana White: 'I think it's time Yushin Okami got a title shot'

Posted: 30 Jul 2010 09:38 AM PDT

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This Sunday (Aug. 1) the UFC makes its way to the Versus network for the second time this year. Headlining the card will be surging light heavyweight prospect Jon "Bones" Jones taking on the always crafty Vladimir "The Janitor" Matyushenko.

The co-main event of the evening will pit middleweight phenom Mark Munoz against the Japanese grinder Yushin "Thunder" Okami.

Both men are coming off impressive second round stoppages in their previous fights. Okami took out UFC newcomer, Lucio Linhares, via doctor stoppage during their UFC Fight Night scrap back in March.

Munoz was last seen opening the live show for the UFC's first venture to Abu Dhabi for UFC 112 with his fight against Kendall Grove. Mark survived a shaky start and came back with a vengeance in round two, working his violent ground and pound on Grove and finishing the Hawaiian to improve to 8-1 overall.

Last night UFC President Dana White made an appearance on the Versus sports talk show, The Daily Line, to discuss this Sunday's UFC on Versus 2 card. His comments about the middleweight contest should definitely catch the eye (or ears) of Yushin Okami as the boss made the claim for "Thunder" getting a UFC title shot somewhere down the road:

"I think it's time this guy gets a title shot; he's been here a long time."

What's interesting about these comments is that no one has really considered this fight as a number one contender bout or anything of the sort -- especially with Vitor "The Phenom" Belfort waiting in the wings.

Munoz is riding a three fight win streak, which could argue a number one contender opportunity soon after this fight should he defeat Okami, but Okami is 1-1 in his last two fights.

Prior to the Sonnen fight, Okami had been on the sidelines since 2008. His career has been riddled with decision performances in the past and injuries that have kept him from achieving the status that a lot of MMA fans believe he can reach.

Perhaps the best argument for Okami is the "unfinished business" angle from their 2006 bout under the "Rumble on the Rock" banner in which Okami scored a DQ win over Silva.

The Brazilian has not lost since.

But this will be no easy test for Okami. Munoz is a monster with some of the most vicious ground and pound we've seen in years, and perhaps ever in the history of MMA. Few men are able to throw down the incredibly powerful body shots that this guy can pull of while in someone's guard and if Okami gets stuck under the "Filipino Wrecking Machine" you can bet there will be "Thunder" and lightening waiting for him.

Okami has almost always had the wrestling and ground control advantage over his opponents; that is until he faced Chael Sonnen. Sonnen was able to use his stick-to-you wrestling style to stifle any offense "Thunder" could have gained. With Munoz having just as good, if not a better, wrestling game in his arsenal it will be interesting to see if the "Sonnen Blueprint" can still be used on Okami, or if he's filled those holes in his game.

One thing about Mark Munoz is you always hear great things about him coming from his training camp. That's always the case with fighters and their partners, but with Mark it's different. Much like what we used to see coming out about Cain Velasquez when it was still unknown exactly what he possessed. Time and time again you'll hear tough guys rant and rave about Munoz, the level he's training at currently, and just what he's able to do.

For this training camp he's been training with Anderson Silva, who reportedly told Munoz that "Thunder" won't stand a chance against him, and although that's great praise to be given from probably the best source you could possibly get it, the fact still remains that Anderson Silva is the Middleweight Champion, and Munoz is a middleweight.

So here we're faced with another teammate vs. teammate debate. But I guess we'll "cross that bridge when we get to it."

In the meantime, does Okami deserve a title shot with a win over Munoz? Or should he fight Vitor Belfort in a number one contender match?

FanPost edited and promoted by MMAmania.com.

UFC fighter autograph signings at GAME and GameStation locations (5pm-7pm) throughout the UK...

Posted: 30 Jul 2010 09:38 AM PDT

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UFC fighter autograph signings at GAME and GameStation locations (5pm-7pm) throughout the UK including Ross Pearson, Dan Hardy, Michael Bisping and Paul Taylor.

4 August
GameStation, Metrocentre, Gateshead, NE11 9YZ

5 August
GameStation, 83 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3DD

6 August
GAME London, 100 Oxford Street, London, W1D 9LL

11 August
GameStation, 27 Blandford Street, Sunderland, SR1 3JH

12 August
GameStation, Meadowhall Shopping Centre, Sheffield, S9 1ER

13 August
GameStation, 138 New Street, Birmingham, B2 4NS

19 August
GAME, Listergate, Nottingham, NG1 7DE

20 August
GameStation, 72 Lord Street, Liverpool, L2 1TL

"I can't please everyone. When you become a world reference in a sport you perform you become the...

Posted: 30 Jul 2010 07:12 AM PDT

I200564

"I can't please everyone. When you become a world reference in a sport you perform you become the target of cheap talking. It's need to watch yourself because any wrong attitude ends showing an opposite image of what is actually represented"

Props: UOL
Posted by at No comments:

Friday, July 30, 2010

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

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

Phil Baroni: 'Don't forget about me, I'm not dead yet'

Posted: 30 Jul 2010 07:53 AM PDT

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Props: MMA Fighting

Quoteworthy:

"First off, I really want to fight. [UFC 118 is] a big show -- first one in Boston. It would have been great. The card is huge, and maybe I could have a good fight and get on TV. Get some exposure. I need it now badly. I'm left out of a lot of sh** nowadays. I'm forgotten at the expos and appearances. Just everything with the UFC. I wanted to win a big fight, look impressive and get considered again. I wanted to say, 'Hey Dana, I'm still f**king here. I still can fight.' I wanted to say it to everyone: the fans, the media. I'm still Phil f**king Baroni. That used to mean something. I want it to mean something again. I want to say, 'Hey Strikeforce, you made a big mistake letting me go. You f**ked up. You blew it. I'm still somebody, and I still bring things to the table that not many fighters do.' I just want to be a contender. I want respect from my peers, the fans, media and the promotions. I wanted to say, 'I'm still here, don't f**king forget about me. I'm not dead yet. I want to be a contender -- I want to matter again. I want to be the biggest comeback story ever -- a Cinderella Man."

Longtime mixed martial arts veteran Phil Baroni doesn't want to fade away after being forced to withdraw from his upcoming UFC 118: "Edgar vs. Penn 2" fight against John Salter on Aug. 28 in Boston, Mass., after suffering a minor injury to his collarbone. The artist formerly known as "The Best Eva" is facing an uphill battle against today's newer generation of well rounded fighters. Baroni is trying to keep up with the times and get back into contendership -- but is it too little, too late? Can the "New York Bad Ass" make one last run before hanging up the gloves?

UFC on Versus 2 predictions, preview and analysis

Posted: 30 Jul 2010 07:26 AM PDT

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is all set for the second installment of "UFC on Versus" this Sunday night (Aug. 1) from the San Diego Sports Arena in San Diego, California.

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 9 p.m. ET on the Versus network.

"Jones vs. Matyushenko" will feature a main event between light heavyweight superstar in the making Jon "Bones" Jones and Belarusian brawler Vladimir "The Janitor" Matyushenko. 

Also on tap for Aug. 1 is a middleweight mash-up between Mark Munoz and Yushin Okami while Takanori Gomi looks for his first win as a Zuffa lightweight against Tyson Griffin.

To help get you better prepared for the festivities, I've given some analysis and predictions on all the main card fights set to hit the Versus airwaves this Sunday night.

Check it out below.

205 lbs.: Jon "Bones" Jones (10-1) vs. Vladimir "The Janitor" Matyushenko (24-4)

There are quite a few things that concern me when I look at this match-up from Vlad's perspective, but one of the main issues I have is that he's only fought a handful of strikers throughout his near thirty-fight career. And the results haven't been all that great in those type of match-ups for "The Janitor."

In fact, his last two losses have come against fighters who boast quality stand-up attacks - Andrei Arlovski and Rogerio Nogueira. Obviously the "Pitbull" fight was a long time ago and Jones is a much different type of striker than Nogueira, but the point is, Vlad isn't going to like it if he's forced into trading strikes with "Bones."

So, look for him to do everything possible to try and close the distance in this fight. I expect him to initiate a lot of clinching and to try and put the youngster on his back early and often. The farther away he stays, the easier it'll be for Jones to pick him apart. He needs to get right in his face and do everything he can to take him out of his comfort zone.

That's not to say he'll be safe in the clinch, because he won't be. Jones is just as effective from there with his knees and elbows, but at least from the clinch Vlad is one step closer to taking the fight to the ground, which is where he wants to be, even though what little we've seen from Jones' ground game suggests there's not much relief down there, either.

Matt Hamill, Jake O'Brien and Stephen Bonnar all came into their fights with Jones thinking they had the skills and the gameplan necessary to beat him, but all three were dominated by the youngster. Just being a good wrestler or grappler isn't enough against this guy. It's going to take a different type of gameplan to unlock the Jon Jones mystery, one that Matyushenko just doesn't have in his arsenal.

It's not out of the realm of possibility to think that Matyushenko could potentially succeed where those guys failed, but it's no secret that he's getting a little long in the tooth. At some point he's going to have to come to the realization that he isn't the same fighter that he was ten years ago.

I mean, does anyone really think Elliot Marshall would have taken Matyushenko to a split decision in his heyday? I have my doubts (no disrespect to Marshall.) Not like he hasn't already had a few of them, but this is going to be a statement fight for the Greg Jackson pupil.

I think "Bones" cruises in this one.

Final prediction: Jon Jones via knockout

185 lbs.: Mark "The Philippine Wrecking Machine" Munoz (8-1) vs. Yushin "Thunder" Okami (24-5)

Munoz is a fantastic wrestler, but that's about it. His chin is suspect, his stand-up isn't anything special, and he hasn't really faced all that great of competition. He was smart to move down to 185 pounds, where his strength and wrestling could be more of an advantage for him, but that advantage goes out the window against a guy like Okami, who is a monster middleweight, not to mention a very strong wrestler himself. I can't see Munoz just overpowering him with his wrestling.

I think Okami is clearly the better overall mixed martial artist, and I think he wins this fight with his striking and takedown defense.

Chael Sonnen proved that Okami can be taken down, but Chael put the pressure on big time in that fight and used a lot of striking to set up those takedowns. I just can't see Munoz being as effective. And even if he is, he's going to have a hard time keeping the Japanese fighter pinned down. Sonnen will vouch for that.

I think Okami will have a similar gameplan in this fight to what he used against Sonnen, which is to stand back and try to pick his opponent apart with jabs and combinations. The difference will be that Munoz is nowhere near as good as Sonnen in the stand-up or at pushing the pace.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if Okami scored a knockout in this fight, but the smart money says it'll go the full three rounds. Either way, Okami is going to win.

Final prediction: Yushin Okami via unanimous decision

170 lbs.: Jake Ellenberger (22-5) vs. John "Doomsday" Howard (14-4)

I like Ellenberger in this fight.

I haven't been all that impressed with Howard since he joined the UFC. Sure, he's an explosive, strong, athletic guy, but he hasn't blown me away yet. Winning the "knockout of the night" award against a Cesar Gracie trainee in his last fight put him on the right track towards winning me over, but his three previous fights inside the Octagon left a lot to be desired, in my opinion.

If he didn't score a last second knockout over Dennis Hallman at the TUF 10 Finale, he was probably going to lose that decision, and I could make an argument that his other two split decision victories over Tamdan McCrory and Chris Wilson could have easily gone the other way as well.

Ellenberger, on the other hand, has always impressed me, even before coming to the UFC. Since joining the top promotion, though, he dominated a very tough Mike Pyle at UFC 108 and came up just short against one of the division's top contenders, Carlos Condit, in his Octagon debut at Fight Night 19.

He has a strong wrestling and boxing background, and he matches up well in the strength department with Howard, too. It's also worth noting that he's never been knocked out, and he's only been submitted once in his twenty seven-fight career, which was a fight he took on super short notice against a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt (Delson Heleno.)

I think whoever can be more successful with takedowns and avoid more damage in the stand-up is going to win this one. My money is on Ellenberger.

Final prediction: Jake Ellenberger via unanimous decision

155 lbs.: Takanori "The Fireball Kid" Gomi (31-6) vs. Tyson Griffin (14-3)

Is it just me or does Gomi always seem to get tired really quickly in his fights?

For his sake, he better hope that's not that case, because Tyson Griffin is not a guy you want to gas out against. The Xtreme Couture trainee can go forever, and he is a handful for anybody, especially in the later rounds.

If Gomi has one thing going for him, it's that he's about as heavy handed as a 155 pound fighter can be, but he hasn't really evolved as a fighter since his days as the Pride FC poster boy when he was knocking a bunch of dudes out. He's basically a one-trick pony these days, and that is another very bad characteristic to have coming into a fight against a guy who is as well rounded as Tyson Griffin.

Griffin is coming off a very frustrating loss against training partner Evan Dunham. It was a competitive fight, but Griffin clearly came up short, despite the split decision. The good news for him is that he has never lost back to back fights in his career. He's followed each of his other two losses with big victories over tough opponents.

Gomi, on the other hand, who is also coming off a loss, has dropped back to back fights twice in his career. That may not seem like a big deal, but for a guy who has fought thirty seven times professionally with only six losses, it looks like a trend. For whatever reason, he has traditionally followed up a letdown with another letdown.

Regardless of that last part, I'm picking Tyson. He has more ways that he can impress the judges, and his gas tank is much deeper than Gomi's. To me, Gomi has a puncher's chance and that's about it. Griffin isn't a -325 favorite for nothing.

Final prediction: Tyson Griffin 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 "Jones vs. Matyushenko."

What do you think? Now it's your turn ... let us have it in the comments section and share your thoughts and picks for Sunday's event.

UFC Quick Quote: Will you forget that Tyson Griffin lost to Evan Dunham if he can beat Takanori Gomi?

Posted: 30 Jul 2010 06:22 AM PDT

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"I was actually the one that let the UFC know that I was ready to get back in there right away if any of the upcoming lightweights fighting got injured, so I was ready, stayed in shape and got back in the gym a week after the (UFC 115) fight and kept the ball rolling. I don't really need much time to prepare. It's not like Gomi's got anything spectacular about him. He's just a hard-nosed fighter and aggressive. I've dealt with that a lot. I think that's a perfect matchup for me. (It’s) not necessarily the loss, (I’m) just disappointed with my performance and just making simple mistakes ... I'd rather be beaten than lose the fight and I feel like I lost the fight against Dunham just being stupid and forcing myself out of similar positions when he's on my back and kind of expecting him to choose a different option and him going for something else. I want to erase that out of my head and the fans’ memories as well."

Hot-and-cold UFC lightweight Tyson Griffin tells Sherdog.com that he hopes to purge the bad memories of his disappointing split decision loss to Evan Dunham at UFC 115 back on June 12 in Vancouver by roughing up promotion sophomore Takanori Gomi when they collide at UFC on Versus 2 this Sunday in San Diego. "The Fireball Kid" burned out against Kenny Florian in his Zuffa debut and will get no favors from Griffin, who stepped in on short notice to replace the injured Joe Stevenson. Will you believe in Tyson Griffin if he can stop the Japanese import?

UFC on Versus 2 video preview, Dana White, Ross Pearson and more on ESPNs 'MMA Live'

Posted: 30 Jul 2010 05:06 AM PDT

Impact FC: Salaries not coming from a land down under

Posted: 29 Jul 2010 12:28 PM PDT

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If a fighter travels to Australia to compete on a pay-per-view that's being headlined by Ken Shamrock vs. Pedro Rizzo, the chances are pretty good that they did it because they needed the money.

And it the unfortunately case of Impact FC, they may not get it.

Cage Potato reveals that most, if not all of the combatants who participated on the Impact FC fight cards on July 10 (Brisbane) and July 18 (Sydney) are not in receipt of their complete fight purses.

Karo Parisyan, Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou and Jesse Taylor have since confirmed the report.

And it may come as a complete shock (not really) that the failure to compensate said fighters stems from a lack of communication/cooperation between the financial backer and the MMA promoter.

First up is Impact FC financial backer Andrew McManus, as he throws promoter Tom Huggins under the bus:

“[Tom] Huggins has run back to Brazil and is uncontactable, whilst I (who never negotiated, contracted or was a party to any deal) have now been left trying to find funds to pay the men whilst all the false promises of sponsorships (never happened) and late gate sales and walk up all turned out to be lies.”

Huggins, naturally, didn't appreciate the accusations (or the tire marks):

“That statement is categorically untrue. I can provide you with the agreement between Andrew and myself, which clearly demonstrates that my responsibility was to procure fighters and make matches for the event within a given budget. The agreement clearly shows that ALL of the financing for the events, including fighter purses, was the responsibility of McManus. That being said, I feel that at the end of the day McManus being the professional that he is will fulfill his obligations and that the fighters will be paid.”

There's much more to the story over at Cage Potato but in the end there is really only one thing that matters: A group of fighters who are trying to make a living traveled to Australia to compete. They held up their end of the bargain and now it's time for someone at Impact FC to hold up theirs.

There's a lot of heat on the UFC for the low pay scale that up-and-coming fighters receive when competing inside the Octagon for the first time. But they can at least rest assured that win or lose, they're still getting paid. That's one of the unspoken benefits of competing under the jurisdiction of a state athletic commission.

Stay tuned for further details to this developing story as they become available.

UFC 120 on Spike TV confirmed for Oct. 16 in London

Posted: 29 Jul 2010 11:32 AM PDT

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Bugger all!

As expected, UFC 120 will air via tape-delay courtesy of the Spike TV network when Zuffa blows the roof off the O2 Arena on Saturday, Oct. 16 in London, England.

Leading the charge of Britain's best butt-kickers will be Michael "The Count" Bisping in a hard-hitting middleweight battle against Yoshihiro "Sexyama" Akiyama in the main event of the evening.

Joining them will be Dan "The Outlaw" Hardy as he tries to fight his way back into 170-pound title contention against Carlos "Natural Born Killer" Condit in the co-featured fight of the night.

Here is the current UFC 120 line-up:

Main event:

185 lbs.: Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Michael Bisping

Main card (Televised):

170 lbs.: Carlos Condit vs. Dan Hardy
170 lbs.: John Hathaway vs. Mike Pyle
265 lbs.: Travis Browne vs. Cheick Kongo
170 lbs.: James Wilks vs. Claude Patrick

Under card (May not be broadcast):

205 lbs.: Steven Cantwell vs. Stanislav Nedkov
205 lbs.: Cyrille Diabate vs. Alexander Gustafsson
205 lbs.: Tom Blackledge vs. James McSweeney*
155 lbs.: Spencer Fisher vs. Kurt Warburton*
265 lbs.: Rob Broughton vs. Vinicius Kappke de Quieroz*

*Fight not officially confirmed by UFC.com.

Remember: MMAmania.com will provide LIVE quick results of all the UFC 120 bouts as they happen on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 16) in London, as well as live blow-by-blow coverage of the tape delayed Spike TV broadcast beginning at 9 p.m. ET.

To get up to speed on the recent UFC 120 news and notes be sure to hit up our archive here.

Wanderlei Silva surgery video: 'One day I will raise the UFC belt -- or die trying'

Posted: 29 Jul 2010 11:09 AM PDT

UFC rankings/MMA rankings featured in USA Today for July 2010

Posted: 29 Jul 2010 10:56 AM PDT

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Our partners in crime over at BloodyElbow.com have once again published their divisional rankings for mixed martial arts in the nation’s largest daily newspaper, USA Today, for the month of July 2010.

For those of you unfamiliar with the process, here’s how it works:

"The rankings, which will offer a definitive perspective of top MMA fighters across all weight-classes, will be released monthly and published in the Sports section of USA TODAY, online at USATODAY.com and on SB Nation’s MMA commentary and community blog, BloodyElbow.com … The USA TODAY/SB Nation Consensus MMA Rankings are compiled each month by Nate Wilcox and Richard Wade of BloodyElbow.com. The rankings utilize each of the top MMA rankings from multiple unique sources. A weighted-formula is applied to normalize and distill the various rankings into one consensus ranking per weight class."

To check out the latest USAT/SBN rankings click here. We’ve also listed their top 10 in each class after the jump for your convenience.

Heavyweight:

1. Brock Lesnar
2. Fedor Emelianenko
3. Cain Velasquez
4. Fabricio Werdum
5. Shane Carwin
6. Junior dos Santos
7. Frank Mir
8. Alistair Overeem
9. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
10. Josh Barnett

Light Heavyweight:

1. Mauricio Rua
2. Lyoto Machida
3. Rashad Evans
4. Quinton Jackson
5. Anderson Silva
6. Forrest Griffin
7. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
8. Muhammed Lawal
9. Gegard Mousasi
10. Thiago Silva

Middleweight:

1. Anderson Silva
2. Chael Sonnen
3. Jake Shields
4. Nate Marquardt
5. Vitor Belfort
6. Demian Maia
7. Dan Henderson
8. Yushin Okami
9. Jorge Santiago
10. Robbie Lawler

Welterweight:

1. Georges St. Pierre
2. Jon Fitch
3. Thiago Alves
4. Josh Koscheck
5. Nick Diaz
6. Dan Hardy
7. Martin Kampmann
8. Paulo Thiago
9. Matt Hughes
10. Paul Daley

Lightweight:

1. Frank Edgar
2. B.J. Penn
3. Gilbert Melendez
4. Kenny Florian
5. Eddie Alvarez
6. Shinya Aoki
7. Gray Maynard
8. Tatsuya Kawajiri
9. George Sotiropoulos
10. Evan Dunham

Featherweight:

1. Jose Aldo
2. Manny Gamburyan
3. Mike Brown
3. Urijah Faber
5. Marlon Sandro
6. Bibiano Fernandes
7. Hatsu Hioki
8. Josh Grispi
9. Michihiro Omigawa
10. Masanori Kanehara

Bantamweight:

1. Dominick Cruz
2. Brian Bowles
3. Joseph Benavidez
4. Miguel Torres
5. Scott Jorgensen
6. Takeya Mizugaki
7. Masakatsu Ueda
8. Rani Yahya
9. Damacio Page
10. Wagnney Fabiano

What do you think? How much will these rankings change after the very busy month of MMA action this August?

Share your ranking rants in the comments section below.

Bellator 24: Yves Edwards vs Luis Palomino official for Aug. 12 in Hollywood

Posted: 29 Jul 2010 10:41 AM PDT

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CHICAGO, Ill. (July 29, 2010) - A showdown between one of MMA's most exciting lightweights and a colorful, highly-regarded South Florida fan favorite will serve as the "Local Main Event" when Bellator Fighting Championships returns to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood , Fla. , for its Season 3 debut on Aug. 12th.

The much anticipated fight pits UFC and PRIDE veteran Yves Edwards (37-16-1) against four-time Bellator veteran and Miami native Luis "Baboon" Palomino (13-5) in a battle for bragging rights between two of South Florida's top MMA gyms, American Top Team and MMA Masters.

Edwards, one of MMA's most battle-tested veterans, is known as one of the most vicious finishers in the sport with 15 knockouts and 15 submissions to total 30 stoppages during his 13-year pro career. He has notable recent wins over UFC veteran Derrick Noble and WEC vet Kyle Jensen and is one of only three pros to have defeated former Strikeforce champion Josh Thomson.

Palomino, who won a clear-cut unanimous decision victory over ATT up-and-comer Jose Figueroa at Bellator 21 on June 10th, has notched 7 of his 13 pro victories via KO or TKO. He also owns career wins versus Strikeforce and EliteXC vet Nick Gonzalez and Bellator, Strikeforce and Sengoku mainstay Jorge Masvidal.

Edwards and Palomino join a stacked Bellator 24 card that also features:

- A special non-title "Super Fight" between reigning Bellator Middleweight Champion Hector Lombard (26-2-1) and former NFL standout Herbert "Whisper" Goodman (15-8);

- An opening-round fight in Bellator's Women's World Championship Tournament featuring the world's No. 1 pound-for-pound female fighter, Megumi Fujii, and veteran submission grappler Angela Magana, the world's No. 8-ranked female fighter at 115 lbs.;

- Another opening-round Women's Tournament fight between the world's No. 6-ranked 125-pounder, Lynn "Lights Out" Alvarez, and Jessica Aguilar, the world's No.7-ranked 115-pounder; and

- An opening-round fight in Bellator's Season 3 Heavyweight Tournament between heavy-handed UFC veteran Eddie Sanchez and British behemoth Neil "Goliath" Grove.

Tickets for the event - which will also be broadcast LIVE nationwide on FOX Sports Net - are on sale now at ticketmaster.com.

"The Edward-Palomino fight is just part of a talent-stacked Bellator 24 card that will kick off our third season in exciting fashion," said Bellator founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney. "Yves Edwards has a well-earned reputation as a show-stopper and Luis Palomino has been known to knock guys out with impunity as well. It should be a very interesting fight and one that I'm definitely looking forward to watching."

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator.

Former Power Ranger and 4-0 amateur MMA fighter Jason David Frank intends to turn pro and hopes to...

Posted: 29 Jul 2010 10:26 AM PDT

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Former Power Ranger and 4-0 amateur MMA fighter Jason David Frank intends to turn pro and hopes to secure a future deal with Strikeforce.

Props: MMA Weekly. Photo courtesy of Justin Trapp via Fighter Portraits.

UFC 117: Jon Fitch plans to finish Thiago Alves (again), demand rematch with Georges St. Pierre (Video)

Posted: 29 Jul 2010 07:46 AM PDT

Strikeforce Challengers 10: Ryan Couture vs Lucas Stark booked for Aug. 13 in Phoenix

Posted: 29 Jul 2010 07:44 AM PDT

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SAN JOSE, Calif. (July 29, 2010) - Ryan Couture, son of MMA legend Randy "The Natural" Couture, has signed a multi-fight agreement with world championship Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) promotion STRIKEFORCE and will make his professional MMA debut on Friday, Aug. 13 at the STRIKEFORCE Challengers event at Dodge Theatre in Phoenix, Ariz., LIVE on SHOWTIME (11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast).

The 27-year-old Couture, a member of the Las Vegas, Nev., based Xtreme Couture fight team, will face Lucas Stark of Chandler, Ariz. in a three-round lightweight (155 pounds) bout.

Looking to make a name for himself in the sport his father helped pioneer, Couture compiled an amateur record of 5-1-1 competing as a lightweight with all five wins coming by way of submission. He has had access to a who's who of MMA royalty as training partners and coaches, which, coupled with a solid amateur career, has given him the background and confidence to take his fight career to the next level.

Couture, whose parents split up when he was in sixth grade, spent his high school years in suburban Seattle. With his father being a former wrestling coach at Oklahoma State University, Couture naturally developed into a talented high school wrestler.

Following high school, Couture enrolled in Western Washington University in Bellingham, where he graduated in 2004 with a mathematics degree. He worked at a local bank until he realized his desire to work in the family business.

Couture began his MMA training in 2006, working diligently to mature into a well-rounded fighter, adding Muay Thai and a dangerous submission game to his repertoire. In January 2008, he moved to Las Vegas to train with his father.

In his final amateur bout on March 26, Couture fought to a draw against Sean Bollinger for the Tuff-N-UFF 155-pound title fight at The Orleans in Las Vegas.

Tickets for the Aug. 13 STRIKEFORCE Challengers event are on sale now through www.livenation.com , www.STRIKEFORCE.com , the Dodge Theatre Box Office, any Ticketmaster outlet or by phone at (800) 745-3000

In the main event, Phoenix native and MMA star Joe "Diesel" Riggs will take on knockout artist Louis Taylor at a catch weight of 182 pounds.

The event will also showcase a four-woman, single-elimination 135-pound tournament featuring STRIKEFORCE Women's welterweight prospects Miesha "Takedown" Tate, Carina "Beauty But The Beast" Damm, Hitomi "Girlfight Monster" Akano and Maiju Kujala.

Dodge Theatre doors will open at 5:15 p.m. MT for the STRIKEFORCE Challengers event. The first preliminary bout will begin at 6 p.m. and the first main card bout will begin at 8 p.m.

STRIKEFORCE Challengers is a proving ground for up-and-coming MMA fighters. The series is designed to provide today's top prospects with the opportunity to step-up their level of competition and demonstrate their ability in a nationally televised event.

Programming alert: 'Countdown to UFC 117' debuts Aug. 2 on Spike TV

Posted: 29 Jul 2010 07:30 AM PDT

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Countdown to UFC 117: "Silva vs. Sonnen" will debut Monday, Aug. 2 at 11:00 p.m. ET on Spike TV to promote the upcoming pay-per-view (PPV) event scheduled for the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California on Saturday, Aug. 7.

The network special will provide a glimpse into the preparation and training camps of the fighters set to headline the show, featuring current UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva and division number one contender Chael Sonnen.

Replays of "Countdown to UFC 117" will air at the following times:

Tuesday, Aug. 3 at 1 a.m. ET (Monday night into Tuesday morning on MTV tr3s)
Wednesday, Aug. 4 at 8 p.m. ET (Spike TV)
Thursday, Aug. 5 at Midnight ET (Versus)

Remember that MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of UFC 117, beginning with the PPV telecast at 10 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.

To get up to speed on the "Silva vs. Sonnen" event be sure to check out the complete UFC 117 archive by clicking here.

Miguel Torres: Jake Shields dropped to 170 because he's afraid of Anderson Silva

Posted: 29 Jul 2010 07:07 AM PDT

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Props: MMA Live (via CageWriter)

Quoteworthy:

"I think he's getting out of 185 because he's a little bit afraid of Anderson (Silva). Anderson's a tough guy to fight at that weight class and he's thinking (Georges) St. Pierre's an easier fight. I think it might be too much of a weight cut. Sometimes trying to cut that it's a little bit too much for you and I think Shields is going to find out right off the bat. He's a great wrestler but at that weight class, cutting that weight is going to be rough."

Former WEC Bantamweight Champion Miguel Torres has an unflattering assessment of Jake Shields return to the welterweight division after leaving behind his 185-pound title in Strikeforce to test his might inside the Octagon. Shields has competed in both divisions with great success but according to Torres, some of that wrestling prowess will be compromised in the weight cut. Will Martin Kampmann prove him right at UFC 121 in Anaheim? Or will Shields return to greatness regardless of weight class? And is Torres becoming a bantamweight version of Chael Sonnen with his recent trash talk?

UFC confirms first wave of fighters in attendance for UFC Fan Expo on Aug. 27-28 in Boston

Posted: 29 Jul 2010 06:52 AM PDT

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Dana White wasn't messing around when he promised to pull out all the stops for the promotion's first-ever trip to Boston, Mass., which is scheduled for the TD Garden on Aug. 28, 2010.

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) today announced the first wave of fighters who are expected to attend the Beantown Fan Expo at the John B. Hynes Convention Center from Aug. 27-28, leading right up until fight time to coincide with UFC 118: "Edgar vs. Penn 2."

Included in the fan experience are meet and greets with legendary UFC, Pride FC and WEC fighters, mixed martial arts (MMA) demonstrations, grappling "Super Fights," fan-inspired special events, training and development sessions, as well as other combat related opportunities and entertainment.

Confirmed for autograph sessions and a variety of other fan-related activities thus far is as follows:

UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, UFC Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell, UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, WEC lightweight champion Ben Henderson, WEC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz, former UFC light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin, former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz, Carlos Condit, Clay Guida, Cole Miller, Efrain Escudero, Gabriel Gonzaga, Jon Jones, Josh Grispi, Kurt Pellegrino, Matt Hamill, Martin Kampmann, Pat Barry, Roy Nelson, Thiago Alves, Anthony Johnson, Ricardo Almeida, Renzo Gracie, and former WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber.

Additional fighters added to the upcoming UFC Fan Expo are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

The exhibit floor will also feature apparel, electronic gaming, food & beverages, fight gear, fitness equipment and supplies, nutritional supplements, lifestyle products and much more.

Oh, and by the way, there are also some huge fights taking place that weekend.

UFC 118 will be headlined by a rematch for the lightweight title between B.J. "The Prodigy" Penn and division champion Frankie "The Answer" Edgar, as well as another exciting 155-pound showdown between Kenny "KenFlo" Florian and Gray "The Bully" Maynard.

Former light heavyweight and heavyweight champion Randy "The Natural" Couture is also booked to introduce professional boxing champion James "Lights Out" Toney to the Octagon.

Sounds like a blast.

For more on UFC 118 be sure to hit up our event archive right here.

Jon Jones UFC on Versus 2 video blog with Brian Stann (Episode 1)

Posted: 29 Jul 2010 06:40 AM PDT

Anderson Silva joins Arianny Celeste and Kendra Perez at ESPN’s 'X Games 16' on July 29

Posted: 29 Jul 2010 06:38 AM PDT

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Calling all "Spider" fans and those who like to ogle hot women.

UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva will join Octagon girl Arianny Celeste and "Best of Pride" host Kendra Perez at ESPN’s X Games 16 tonight (July 29) at the L.A. Coliseum in Los Angeles, California.

"The Spider" will be attending the Moto X Freestyle Final, Women’s Super X Final and Men’s Super X Final, among other competitions -- all televised live nationally via ESPN.

Celeste and Perez will also be strutting their stuff throughout the evening.

ESPN X Games: Come for the dirt bikes, stay for the hotness (and Silva too).

War on the Mainland: Nobody's going to tell Jens Pulver he's too old or when to stop

Posted: 29 Jul 2010 06:18 AM PDT

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"I can’t keep getting cut and submitted. It’s not like I’m getting knocked unconscious or beat-up. I’m tired of losing. It’s important that I win this fight and do it my way. I always win my way. I have a game plan: I need to be open-minded, listen to my corner and be confident. Obviously, it’s not easy being confident having lost my last five fights, but I’m excited to find out. I have to win and fight smart doing it. I’m sick and tired of losing, even though I’m getting caught in submission holds, not getting beat up. I’m only 34 and nobody is going to tell me I’m too old or when to stop. This is a crossroad fight for me, though. If I can’t fix these little things and keep losing, it’s time for me to hang it up."

Former UFC lightweight champion and ex-WEC featherweight contender Jens Pulver releases a statement prior to his upcoming lightweight fight against Diego Garijo on the "War on the Mainland" pay-per-view card from Bren Events Center on Aug. 14 in Irvine, California. "Lil' Evil" was released from his Zuffa contract after falling to Javier Vasquez at WEC 47: "Bowles vs. Cruz" back on March 6. It was his seventh loss in eight fights and extended his losing streak to five. Will "El Nino" make it six? Or can Pulver finally get himself back into the win column at the expense of the Bellator veteran?

Vladimir Matyushenko 'Inside the Janitor's Closet' UFC on Versus 2 video blog (Episode 1)

Posted: 29 Jul 2010 06:01 AM PDT
Posted by at No comments:

Thursday, July 29, 2010

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

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

Visa issues could prevent Carina Damm from participating in the upcoming women's welterweight...

Posted: 29 Jul 2010 05:29 AM PDT

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Visa issues could prevent Carina Damm from participating in the upcoming women's welterweight tournament at Strikeforce Challengers 10 on Aug. 19 in Phoenix.

A replacement fighter has been put on standby. Stay tuned.

Bantamweight Jose Vega KOs his way into Bellator Season 3 Tournament

Posted: 29 Jul 2010 05:24 AM PDT

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CHICAGO, Ill. (July 28, 2010) - Missouri-based brawler Jose Vega, who caught the eye of Bellator scouts and MMA fans around the country during a nationally televised "Local Feature Fight" at Bellator 22 in June, has officially been added to Bellator's upcoming Season 3 Bantamweight Tournament.

The 24-year-old Vega brings an 8-2 record to the tournament, which begins this August. His wins include a 2008 submission of fellow tournament participant Danny Tims and, most recently, a devastating 39-second KO of veteran Jarrod Card in front of a hometown crowd at the Kansas City Power & Light District on June 17th.

Vega is the fifth confirmed participant in the Bantamweight Tournament along with Tims, Las Vegas-based Kobra-Kai jiu-jitsu instructor Ulysses Gomez, fast-rising Wyoming native Nik Mamalis and Minnesota-based powerhouse Travis "The Hurricane" Reddinger.

Born in Miami , Vega moved at the age of 10 with his parents and eight siblings to the Kansas City area, where he was schooled in the fight game by his father.

"My dad used to wrap our hands with towels and electric tape - all of us kids - and he would have us fight each other in the middle of the living room with everyone watching," Vega recalled. "When my dad was growing up, he used to get beat up a lot by two twins in his neighborhood. Every day after school they would wait for him and beat him up. He didn't want that to happen to us, so he made sure that we knew how to defend ourselves."

Vega went on to wrestle in high school and for one year in college and made his pro MMA debut in 2008 at the age of 22. Until just a few months ago, he had no formal training in martial arts but now trains part-time with Kansas City 's Team Grindhouse while working full-time as a custom cabinetmaker.

"I'm more complete now than I've ever been before," Vegas said of his MMA game. "Up until right before my most recent win over Jarrod Card, I had been training myself by watching fight tapes and instructionals. Now I finally have someone watching over me telling me if what I'm doing is right or wrong. I wanted to be a part of this tournament as soon as I heard about it. I wanted to be a part of Bellator. Bellator is coming up fast and I feel like I'm coming up fast too. They gave me this shot and all I want to do is grow with them."

Bellator founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney said the feeling is mutual.

"Jose showed everyone in MMA what he's capable with his highlight reel knockout at Bellator 22," he said. "Part of the beauty of Bellator is that a fighter like Jose can come out of virtual obscurity to make a name for himself and will keep fighting for us as long as he keeps winning. Jose definitely has the tools to go far in our Bantamweight Tournament and I look forward to watching him compete come August."

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator.

UFC 117 video: The best of Chael Sonnen's Anderson Silva trash talk

Posted: 28 Jul 2010 06:15 PM PDT

Shark Fights 13 line-up announced for Sept. 11 in Amarillo

Posted: 28 Jul 2010 01:02 PM PDT

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Amarillo, TX. - July 28, 2010 -Shark Fight Promotions, a Texas based mixed martial arts fight promotion company, is proud to announce the official Shark Fights 13 bout card. As promised, this highly anticipated card is stacked from top to bottom with well-known marquee fighters, including many Ultimate Fighting Championship, Strikeforce, PRIDE, EliteXC, and Dream veterans. Shark Fights 13 will take place September 11, at the Amarillo Civic Center Coliseum in Amarillo, Texas.

Several weeks ago Shark Fight Promotions began to reveal key competitors on the Shark Fights 13 card. It is the most anticipated card in the history of the organization, and one of the most impressive MMA line-ups revealed in 2010.

According to Brent Medley, president of Shark Fight Promotions, "We are extremely excited about the line-up for Shark Fights 13. Our goal is to pull together a solid card with 10 very compelling fights and we are well on our way to accomplishing that. The full fight card is very close to being solidified."

Medley went on to say, "I am currently negotiating with several high-profile fighters to fill in the gaps. Daley's opponent and another stellar main card match-up will be announced soon. Shark Fight Promotions actually has several exciting announcements to make in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!"

The Shark Fights 13 roster is stacked with an impressive list of top contenders. The main card features British slugger Paul Daley, TUF contestant and UFC super star Keith Jardine, current Shark Fight light heavyweight champion Trevor Prangley, hard hitting light heavyweight contenders Rameau Sokoudjou and Houston Alexander, UFC veteran Drew McFedries, and Strikeforce veteran Joey Villasenor. Shark Fight executives did not stop there, even the undercard is stacked with compelling match-ups! There are only a few coveted spots on the card that need to be filled and several high-caliber fighters are being considered.

Official Shark Fights 13 Line Up:
Main Card:
1. Keith Jardine vs. Trevor Prangley (205lbs)
2. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou vs. Houston Alexander (205lbs)
3. Paul Daley vs. TBA (170lbs)
4. Joey Villasanor vs. Drew McFredries (185lbs)
5. Another high-profile fight to be announced next week!

Undercard:

6. Ronnie Mann vs. Douglas Evans (145lbs)
7. Brock Larson vs. TBA (170lbs)
8. Aaron Rosa vs. Dave Herman (Heavyweight)
9. Marcus Hicks vs. Karen Darabedyan (155lbs)
10. Pete Spratt vs. Eric Davila (170lbs)

Shark Fights 13 will take place on Saturday, September 11 at the Amarillo Civic Center Coliseum. Doors open at 6:00pm CST. Fights start at 7:30 pm CST. Tickets go on sale Monday, August 2. To purchase Shark Fights 13 tickets please go to www. Sharkfights.com, www.Panhandletickets.com, or visit any Panhandle ticket outlet.

For more information on Shark Fight Promotions, please visit www.sharkfights.com.

UFC on Versus 2: Jon Jones forced Vladimir Matyushenko to get into the best shape of his career

Posted: 28 Jul 2010 11:07 AM PDT

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Props: Pro MMA Radio

Quoteworthy:

"He is a pretty different guy and he's difficult to prepare for. He doesn't have one main style. His style changes all the time. He changes his stance, he has a long reach and is very explosive. I haven't really fought anybody like him. But it makes it interesting. It's making me prepare for carefully for the fight and making me bring a bit more creativity into it. Obviously I can't make my reach longer, but I can come into the fight in the best shape of my life. I had great partners to train with and I'm sharper than ever." 

We're just a few short days away from returning to top-level mixed martial arts action, this time in the form of UFC on Versus 2. The main event is set to feature one of the sport's brightest young stars, Jon Jones, as he takes on the epitome of a veteran journeyman, Vladimir Matyushenko. And as you can tell from the way "The Janitor" details his opponent on August 1, he has his work cut out for him. "Bones" is bigger, faster, more explosive, and possesses far more overall talent. But he hasn't won yet. Who's giving the former IFL champion a chance to derail Jones' meteoric rise to the top of the 205-pound division?

Dan Hardy 'confident' that he can work his way back to a GSP title shot -- and win (Video)

Posted: 28 Jul 2010 10:03 AM PDT

But he first has to get past Carlos Condit at UFC 120 on Oct. 16 in London. Will he?

Wonderful! Phil Davis vs Rodney Wallace official for UFC 117 in Oakland

Posted: 28 Jul 2010 09:57 AM PDT

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Watch out Chandella Powell, Mr. Wonderful is back in town.

Phil Davis will officially replace the injured Stanislav Nedkov in a light heavyweight tilt against Rodney Wallace at the upcoming UFC 117: "Silva vs. Sonnen" pay-per-view on Aug. 7 from the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California.

The UFC made the pending match-up official earlier today.

Davis (6-0) is coming off a "Wonderful" performance against Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 112: "Invincible" earlier this year, giving the "Mauler" all he could handle before choking him out at the end of the first round.

The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu blue belt is an absolute beast on the mat, winning the NCAA Division I at 197 pounds in 2008. He made the transition to mixed martial arts shortly after graduation, winning his first four bouts in impressive fashion before getting the invitation to join the deep UFC 205-pound roster.

Opposing him is Wallace, who is in dire need of a win to keep himself inside the Octagon.

"Sho'Nuff the Master" sailed into the UFC with lofty expectations after a torrid 9-0 run on the independent circuit, including a submission win (armbar) over Strikeforce light heavyweight prospect Antwain Britt.

Unfortunately Brian Stann wasn't impressed, outpointing Wallace en route to a unanimous decision win at last year's Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 10 Finale. The Salisbury native would drop his second straight decision, albeit in exciting fashion, to Jared Hamman at UFC 111: "St. Pierre vs. Hardy" last March.

Getting back into the win column over a highly-touted prospect like Davis would go along way in securing future UFC appearances.

UFC 117: "Silva vs. Sonnen" is set to be headlined by the middleweight title bout between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen. Also featured will be perennial top welterweight contenders Jon Fitch and Thiago Alves along with another 170-pound showdown between Matt Hughes and Ricardo Almeida.

For more on UFC 117 click here.

UFC 121: Jake Shields felt 'no pressure' to choose weight class or fight Martin Kampmann

Posted: 28 Jul 2010 07:18 AM PDT

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Props: MMAWeekly

Quoteworthy:

"I was pretty undecided the whole time. I just wanted big fights, and I know GSP is tied up with the Koscheck fight, so I was thinking maybe going to 85 since my weight's already up. [The UFC] called and asked if I wanted (Martin Kampmann) at 70 and I said sure. They didn't give me any pressure; they gave me the option. Some people were saying I was forced to go down, which certainly wasn't the case. They said I could fight at either weight, but they offered me a fight at 70, and I was like I might as well jump and take it. I'm not really sure if this is going to be a number one contender's fight or not, it hasn’t been mentioned to me, but there's a good chance if I go out there and look really good doing it, it's definitely a possibility."

Former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Jake Shields insists he's fighting Martin Kampmann at UFC 121 on Oct. 23 in Anaheim because he chose to, not because he was pressured to. The Cesar Gracie product has remained undefeated over five years across the span of 14 fights with victories over Dan Henderson, Robbie Lawler and Jason Miller. Shields has been vocal about his desire to face Georges St. Pierre as a UFC employee and may be one fight away from getting his wish -- unless "The Hitman" has anything to say about it. Anyone thinking the Dane will play spoiler? Or is Shields on another level entirely?

Nick Diaz fights heavyweights in his bike shoes and gets stabbed with a pen (Video)

Posted: 28 Jul 2010 07:02 AM PDT

Happy Birthday to UFC President Dana White, who turns 41 today. If you sent him a birthday card,...

Posted: 28 Jul 2010 07:01 AM PDT

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Happy Birthday to UFC President Dana White, who turns 41 today. If you sent him a birthday card, what would it say?

UFC Quick Quote: Ricardo Almeida will choke out anyone from Matt Hughes to his own momma

Posted: 28 Jul 2010 06:17 AM PDT

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"People say that he’s slowed down—and he’s had some hiccups here and there—but at welterweight he’s really only lost to Georges St-Pierre. His fight with Thiago Alves wasn’t really at welterweight. I’m watching video on this guy and watching his fights and I’m thinking like, what are all of these people watching. It’s MMA; when you win, you’re the greatest and when you lose, you’re done. It just so happens that he has beaten a couple of guys from my team—actually, I felt that Matt Serra won his fight, but hey, I’m biased. I was in the corner with Renzo [at UFC 112] and it was very emotional to see the way that it ended, so I asked Joe Silva for that fight right away and they gave me my wish. It’s just extra motivation, but whether I like or dislike Matt Hughes doesn’t really make a difference. If it was my mother in there, I’d be trying to choke her out and I expect nothing less from my opponent."

-- Ricardo Almeida tells the gang at Tapology that it's nothing personal against Matt Hughes in their welterweight showdown at the upcoming UFC 117: "Silva vs. Sonnen" pay-per-view on Aug. 7 at the Oracle Arena. "Cachorrao" is the winner of three straight, including a submission win over Matt Brown at UFC 111: "St. Pierre vs. Hardy" back in March. His celebration was short lived, however, as his Master and longtime friend Renzo Gracie was stopped by the flinty farmboy at UFC 112: "Invincible" just a month later. Is Almeida the last chance for Gracie Jiu-Jitsu to exact revenge on Matt Hughes? Or will the "Big Dog" get housebroken in Oakland?
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