Wednesday, August 25, 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

'The Shoot' video for BJ Penn's rematch with Frankie Edgar at UFC 118 (Part one)

Posted: 25 Aug 2010 03:44 AM PDT

UFC 118 pre-fight press conference airs today (Aug. 25) LIVE on MMAmania.com at 3 p.m. ET

Posted: 25 Aug 2010 01:00 AM PDT

Bj-penn1_medium

UFC 118: "Edgar vs. Penn 2" is set to take place this Saturday (Aug. 8) from the TD Garden in Boston, Mass., featuring a 155-pound rematch between current UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and number one contender BJ Penn.

Former light heavyweight and heavyweight champion Randy Couture will introduce professional boxing champion James Toney to the Octagon in the co-featured fight of the night. Another exciting 155-pound showdown between Kenny Florian and Gray Maynard rounds out a very top-heavy pay-per-view (PPV) main card.

In preparation for this weekend's debut in "Beantown," the UFC will hold a pre-fight press conference featuring the major players from the event including Edgar, Penn, Couture, Toney, Florian, Maynard and of course, UFC President Dana White.

The press conference will air LIVE right here on MMAmania.com at 3 p.m. ET after the jump.

Live stream and replay courtesy of UFC.com.

UFC Quick Quote: Brandon Vera still not buying Jon Jones hype

Posted: 24 Aug 2010 07:08 PM PDT

Jones-hellbow_medium

"During the fight I remember thinking, ‘Man, really? All the hype was about this guy?’ I specifically remember saying to him in my head, ‘Man, you (expletive) suck.’ Right when the ‘k’ came out in my head, I got blasted. It’s hard for me to say because he beat me, but I still don’t believe the hype. I like Jon Jones as a fighter, but I owe that (expletive). He’s definitely not coming to my house for Christmas.... I’m still babying [the broken face], but it’s getting better. At one point, I couldn’t even touch it. December or January is when I’m looking to come back. I test my face every day to see what I can get away with."

-- Brandon Vera tells the Las Vegas Sun that despite suffering a fractured face (three places), as well as a severed nerve and lodged a chip of bone behind his right eyeball -- all caused during a vicious loss to Jon Jones -- that he still has doubts about the incredible talent of "Bones." Jones followed up his destruction of the "Truth" with a quick finish over the ultra durable and incredibly experienced Vladimir Matyushenko five months later, mopping the floor with the "Janitor" with relative ease. Is it possible that Vera is still feeling the effects of head trauma caused by the hellbows of Jones or is the UFC's seemingly brightest rising star really not all he's cracked up to be?

Organizers of the 34th annual Oktoberfest Zinzinnati are hoping that the grand marshal of this...

Posted: 24 Aug 2010 07:03 PM PDT

Richfranklin1

Organizers of the 34th annual Oktoberfest Zinzinnati are hoping that the grand marshal of this year's chicken dance will really pack a punch:

Mixed martial arts fighter and former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin of West Chester Township, a graduate of Harrison High School and the University of Cincinnati, will lead this year's dance at noon Sept. 19 on Fountain Square.

The chicken dance has been led by a celebrity since 1994, when Crown Prince Luitpold Von Bayern of Bavaria helped the event draw 48,000 people, enough to qualify for the Guinness Book of Records as the World's Largest Chicken Dance. The record held until 1997.

Gabe Ruediger plans to 'smash' an 'overrated' Joe Lauzon at UFC 118 (Video)

Posted: 24 Aug 2010 06:09 PM PDT

Anyone share the confidence of "Godzilla?"

UFC Quick Quote: Dana White hopes Randy Couture smashes James Toney

Posted: 24 Aug 2010 12:43 PM PDT

Danawhiteufc107blog125x125_medium

"Well, Toney has gotten in the best shape he's ever been in in about I don't know how many years. He's taken this a lot more seriously than he has his boxing career. One of the things with these boxers they have been doing it since they were little kids and how much can they learn? They start to get bored or lazy or whatever you wanna call it. So they don't train as hard. Toney has taken this serious. He's gotten in the best shape he's been in in years and this is going to be a very interesting fight. Anything can happen when two good guys go in there and start throwing punches, scrapping, and fighting. Anything can happen, but James Toney has knockout power in both hands, he's been one of the best and he's fought the best forever. Randy Couture has great wrestling and if you break down stats, James Toney doesn't have as many tools as Randy Couture has so Couture should win the fight. James Toney has talked so much smack I want to see him get smashed in this fight."

Never one to hide his true feelings, UFC President Dana White tells 790 The Zone in Atlanta (via SportsRadioInterviews) that he is hoping James Toney not only gets beaten by Randy Couture at UFC 118 this coming weekend, but gets beat down bad. It's no secret that James Toney and Dana White haven't exactly shared pleasantries through the media in the lead up to the August 28 showdown, but is it wise for the bossman of the promotion to be openly rooting against one of his fighters, even though it is "Lights Out?" Anyone at all bothered by this, or do you share Dana's sentiment about the outcome of this bout?

Tachi Palace Fights will stream 'High Stakes' on GoFightLive.tv

Posted: 24 Aug 2010 12:43 PM PDT

High-stakes_medium

Lemoore, Calif. - Tachi Palace Fights will return to GoFightLive.tv on Thursday, September 9 with "High Stakes", which will stream live on pay per view for $9.99. 

"As our shows continue to grow, we want to be able to give fans the ability to see what Tachi Palace Fights is all about and GoFightLive.tv is a great avenue to do so," said Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino Entertainment Coordinator Jeremy Luchau. "Our production and the actual stream itself have been great for both shows we've done with GoFightLive.tv and I expect the same come September."

Tachi Palace Fights 6 "High Stakes" features a middleweight main event pitting Visalia, Calif.'s Doug Marshall (12-3) against Sacramento, Calif.'s Kyacey Uscola (18-15). Marshall is currently unbeaten in the middleweight division and riding a 5-fight win streak. Meanwhile, Uscola is coming of a stint on Spike TV's "The Ultimate Fighter" show. 

In the co-main event, Huntington Beach, Calif. lightweight "Razor" Rob McCullough (18-6) is back in action against Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran Corey Hill (4-3) of Brooksville, Fla.

Tachi Palace Fights will also crown its first-ever middleweight champ, as Coarsegold, Calif.'s Anthony Ruiz (25-13) clashes with Oakland, Calif.'s Leopoldo Serao (16-7).

Also on the card in a featherweight special attraction, Athens, Ga.'s Micah Miller (14-4) battles Atlanta, Ga.'s Diego Saraiva (18-9-1) in what has fight of the night written all over it.

Tickets can be purchased at www.tachipalace.com or charge by phone at 1-800-225-2277. Tickets may also be purchased at the Tachi Palace Gift Shop and start at a low price of just $30 for general admission seating.

In other bouts;

-Hanford, Calif. flyweight Luis Gonzalez (2-2) vs. Chino, Calif.'s Darrell Montague (7-1).

-Thousand Oaks, Calif. middleweight Joseph Henle (3-0) vs. Santa Rosa, Calif.'s Collin Hart (2-1). 

-Hanford, Calif. flyweight Paulina Ramirez (1-0) vs. Fresno, Calif.'s Stephanie Frausto (2-2).

-Lemoore, Calif. middleweight Andrew Martinez (6-2-1) vs. Sacramento, Calif.'s Mark Matthews (3-4).

-Fresno, Calif. featherweight Gabriel Solorio (5-2) vs. Fresno, Calif.'s Art Becerra (2-1).

Who poses a bigger threat to Brock Lesnar's UFC heavyweight title?

Posted: 24 Aug 2010 12:33 PM PDT

Nogueira-dossantos_medium

Is it Cain Velasquez or Junior dos Santos? Lesnar's Brazilian jiu-jitsu coach, Comprido, provides Tatame.com with a diplomatic response.

On Velasquez:

Of course I can’t tell you what the strategy to be used against Velasquez will be, but I see Cain trying to use his good shape in his favor, because he has a great conditioning and I believe he’ll try to move a lot, punch him, run, kick, and keep doing that while he runs on that octagon… Maybe he tries a single leg, and that’s what I see Velasquez doing. Of course that he can surprise us as well. He’s a more complete fighter than Carwin, but he doesn’t have the same catch ability, because Shane’s catch what absurd and Brock was the only one who handled him.

And on the possibility of "Cigano" down the road:

" I believe we have to give one step at a time. I watched Cigano’s fight and I think he’s an excellent athlete, there’s no way of him being a bad fighter on the ground, he’s doing Jiu-Jitsu for a long time and he trains along with the Nogueira brothers and Demian (mais), so for sure, he’s not a silly boy on the ground. Cigano has a heavy hand, he’s strong. UFC has the best heavyweight of the world, there’s no easy choice there, and Brock knows that. Who would imagine that Anderson would have a hard time or that BJ would lose his belt? The level is so high and everybody wants to beat Brock, who is the champion. I believe that he’ll win and will confront Cigano and it’ll be two hard fights… It’ll be great for people to watch."

Opinions, please.

Poll
Will Lesnar be able to hold on to his belt for more than two fights?

  1012 votes | Results

Vadim Finkelstein: 'Fedor Emelianenko will fight on NYE in Japan or Russia'

Posted: 24 Aug 2010 11:02 AM PDT

Fedor_training_medium

Props: Lowkick.com

Quoteworthy:

"We plan to organize an interim fight for Fedor. We are considering two options: Japan and Russia. We have a lucrative offer from the Japanese partners, who are interested in Fedor fighting on the New Year's Eve. This is the most interesting option for us. But we are also not excluding an option that Fedor Emelianenko will fight in Russia, sometime in December. We have to organize another fight for Fedor, as Fabricio Werdum is currently injured and no one knows when he will come back. Strikeforce have absolutely nothing against the rematch, that's exactly why we are planning the last fight on Fedor's contract to be against Werdum."

M-1 Global boss Vadim Finkelstein sheds some light on "The Last Emperor's" return to the cage. With the Strikeforce heavyweight division currently in limbo, it seems as though Fedor will be partaking in a fight on New Year's Eve in either Japan or Russia. It also appears that Emelianenko and M-1 are hoping to get a rematch against Fabricio Werdum in the Russian heavyweight's last fight under his current Strikeforce contract. Anyone oppose that notion? 

Alchemist Management, Vladimir Matyushenko's representation group, reports that "The Janitor" has...

Posted: 24 Aug 2010 10:50 AM PDT

Mma_i_matyushenko_576

Alchemist Management, Vladimir Matyushenko's representation group, reports that "The Janitor" has signed a new four-fight deal with the UFC.

Dana White video blog for UFC 118 (Episode 1)

Posted: 24 Aug 2010 09:47 AM PDT

Dana and Lorenzo buddy up with "Iron" Mike.

Dana White: 'I'm looking toward the Anderson Silva vs Chael Sonnen rematch'

Posted: 24 Aug 2010 09:28 AM PDT

Anderson-silva-chael-sonnen_medium

Let's run this back.

After a performance of a lifetime, albeit one that ended in defeat, Chael Sonnen has been rewarded for his hard work both inside and outside of the Octagon.

UFC President Dana White this morning appeared on ESPN's SportsCenter and with that made an announcement that some fans may love, others not so much.

Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen 2 will be the next title fight in the UFC's middleweight division. White admitted that this is the fight the fans want to see, and his job is to make those type of fights come together. No announcement was made regarding when the fight would happen, though it likely won't be until early next year as Anderson Silva recovers from injury.

So, now that we know the rematch is in the works, how do you feel about it? Is it rightfully deserved? Does Sonnen have a chance the second time around?

Check out the full video interview after the jump where Dana says that Rashad Evans vs. "Shogun" Rua will happen in the middle of next year:

Sherdog reports that "King" Mo Lawal will be sidelined for the next nine months as he recovers from...

Posted: 24 Aug 2010 09:26 AM PDT

King-mo-rope

Sherdog reports that "King" Mo Lawal will be sidelined for the next nine months as he recovers from knee surgery.

UFC Quick Quote: Demian Maia evolves each fight

Posted: 24 Aug 2010 08:21 AM PDT

Mma_e_maia1_576_medium

"The opponent and schedule changes affected me just a bit. I had to speed up the process a little. I was at Bahia and had excellent boxing preparation that couldn’t be better. At each fight I evolve more as a result of the training. I’m ready for everything. He has wrestling characteristics and owns just one loss. If he is in the UFC, that’s because he’s good and can face anyone. He is also tall for the division."

Previously scheduled to face Alan Belcher at UFN 22, Demian Maia had to set up a new camp and strategy for the upcoming fight at UFC 118 versus Mario Miranda on Saturday, August 28, in Boston, Massachusetts. The BJJ expert told SenseiSportTV he has trained with boxing coach Luis Dorea to improve his striking skills and become a more complete mixed martial artist. Is this the fight we see it all come together for Maia? Will Mario Miranda bring out the best in the former middleweight number one contender? 

Fighting Kenny Florian at UFC 118 is all Gray Maynard cares about (Video)

Posted: 24 Aug 2010 08:06 AM PDT

Dana White: 'The winner of Kenny Florian vs Gray Maynard should get the next title shot'

Posted: 24 Aug 2010 07:19 AM PDT

Florian-maynard_medium

The lightweight division will have a new title fight to analyze as early as Saturday night, August 28 at UFC 118, when Kenny Florian and Gray Maynard fight for the number one contender spot. Dana White stated that the winner of the fight will indeed be next in line to face either Frankie Edgar or B.J. Penn. 

From 98 Rock Baltimore (via Bloody Elbow):

"Yeah, the winner of this fight should definitely get the next title shot. I mean, i got to to go in a fight-by-fight basis. Gray Maynard, who looked like he was in the line for the title, I gave it to Frankie Edgar and he won the title, so you never know."

Such an announcement seemed almost inevitable. Besides Kenny Florian and Gray Maynard, who else is really deserving of fighting for the belt at this point?

With four fighters to work with, pick the match up you most want to see. A rematch between Edgar and Maynard? Maybe KenFlo vs. B.J. again. What combination makes the most interesting title fight?
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Recent Articles on Sherdog.com

Loading...

UFC rss

Loading...

Recent Interviews on Sherdog.com

Loading...