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- Report: Vitor Belfort injured, replaced by Nate Marquardt at UFC 122 against Yushin Okami
- Countdown to UFC 119 video for 'Mir vs Cro Cop'
- UFC 119: 'Cro Cop' medically cleared to compete against Frank Mir on Sept. 25
- Diego Sanchez is an unstoppable frate train in new commercial for new Stryker from...
- 'Snowman' melting? Jeff Monson 'currently in process of cutting down to light heavyweight'
- UFC 119 videos blog with Ryan Bader
- Jim Rome on Chael Sonnen and steroids: 'Guys will always cheat, the rewards outweigh the risks'
- Chris Lozano battles UFC veteran Yoshiyuki Yoshida in Bellator 31
- Chael Sonnen to appeal failed steroid test
- SeatGeek, with the help of MMAmania.com, once again takes a look at the average ticket prices for...
- Spike TV presents 'Brocktober' starting with UFC Primetime: 'Lesnar vs Velasquez' on Oct. 6
- Programming alert: Showtime to air 'Noons vs Diaz I' on Sept. 24 to promote upcoming rematch in San Jose
- Strikeforce showdown? Josh Barnett is sure an 'amazing' fight with Fedor Emelianenko will still happen
- UFC 120: Yoshihiro Akiyama ready for a 'tough fight' against Michael Bisping (Video)
- Report: Chael Sonnen told the CSAC he used an illegal performance enhancing drug
- UFC Quick Quote: Evan Dunham still sees himself as the underdog against Sean Sherk
- Frank Mir still interested in dropping to light heavyweight -- if the opportunity arises (Video)
| Report: Vitor Belfort injured, replaced by Nate Marquardt at UFC 122 against Yushin Okami Posted: 21 Sep 2010 08:27 PM PDT
Not again. Vitor Belfort has reportedly suffered an undisclosed injury and has been forced to withdraw from his UFC 122 "title eliminator" fight against Yushin Okami on Nov. 13 in Oberhausen, Germany, according to MMA Weekly. Stepping in for "The Phenom" will be former division number one contender Nate Marquardt, who will now face "Thunder" in the main event of the Spike TV telecast after a "Great" performance against Rousimar Palhares at UFC Fight Night 22 earlier this month. Opportunity once again came knocking, thanks largely in part to a dreadful year for the hard-hitting Brazilian. After a lingering shoulder injury became too much to bear, Belfort pulled out of his UFC 112 middleweight title fight against reigning division champion Anderson Silva at the Concert Arena from Ferrari World, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, back on April 10. It was the second time his bout with "The Spider" was postponed. They were initially penciled in to collide at UFC 108 earlier this year; however, minor elbow surgery for Silva postponed the all-Brazilian brawl until Spring. Perhaps it wasn't (or isn't) meant to be -- Belfort has yet to make his middleweight debut and hasn't seen the inside of the Octagon since a first round destruction of former division champion Rich Franklin in a 195-pound catchweight fight back at UFC 103 on Sept. 19, 2009. At this time, the UFC has yet to make an official announcement regarding any changes to the Nov. 13 line-up; however, that hasn't stopped Internet conspiracy theorists from somehow tying this into Chael Sonnen's recent drug bust at the hands of the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC). With a year long suspension likely awaiting the mouthy ex-politician, Anderson Silva will be left without an opponent for early 2011. UFC 122: "Belfort vs. Okami" was supposed to provide the next top contender, but now the promotion may once again shuffle the deck depending on the timeline for Belfort's return. Bottom line? Either Nate Marquardt or Yushin Okami are likely to leave Oberhausen with first dibs on the middleweight strap. But who will be wearing it by the time they get there? That remains to be seen. Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for more information on this breaking news as it continues to unfold. |
| Countdown to UFC 119 video for 'Mir vs Cro Cop' Posted: 21 Sep 2010 08:23 PM PDT
Parts 2 & 3 after the jump.
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| UFC 119: 'Cro Cop' medically cleared to compete against Frank Mir on Sept. 25 Posted: 21 Sep 2010 08:15 PM PDT
And you were worried. It seems that Mirko Filipovic has finally been given the green light to compete in the main event against Frank Mir this Saturday night (Sept. 25) at the UFC 119 pay-per-view event from the Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. "Cro Cop" was medically cleared by a local ophthalmologist, according to a press release on UFC.com:
So should we expect the Croat to be at 100-percent on fight night? Or is he well enough to compete, but not well enough to win? Anyone plunking down some extra green on Mir, who's jumped to a -260 favorite? |
| Diego Sanchez is an unstoppable frate train in new commercial for new Stryker from... Posted: 21 Sep 2010 05:30 PM PDT Diego Sanchez is an unstoppable frate train in new commercial for new Stryker from Star Motorcycles ... and much, much more (Video). |
| 'Snowman' melting? Jeff Monson 'currently in process of cutting down to light heavyweight' Posted: 21 Sep 2010 01:53 PM PDT
Props: LowKick.com Quoteworthy:
Cocky and stocky submission specialist Jeff Monson (37-11) is looking to write a new chapter in his storied MMA career by dropping down to light heavyweight to see what kind of impact he can make in the 205-pound division. Since his departure from the UFC, "The Snowman" has performed quite well against quality competition in lesser known events. In fact, the self-described anarchist is 12-3 since a unanimous decision loss to Josh Barnett back in 2008. Can the grappling guru make a run in the UFC or Strikeforce at a weight that better suits his compact frame? |
| UFC 119 videos blog with Ryan Bader Posted: 21 Sep 2010 01:52 PM PDT
(Thanks to MMA Die Hards for the tip.) |
| Jim Rome on Chael Sonnen and steroids: 'Guys will always cheat, the rewards outweigh the risks' Posted: 21 Sep 2010 12:31 PM PDT
Props: The Jim Rome Show Quoteworthy:
By now everyone has had a chance to pile on Chael Sonnen and the issue of performance enhancing drug use in MMA. This even includes one of sports media's most prominent and well respected personalities, Jim Rome. While Rome agrees with most people in the fact that the use of PED's in sports, and in particular MMA, is in fact a very serious problem, he also claims that no matter what the UFC or any other professional sports league does to try and put a stop to it, guys will always find a way to cheat. Personally, I couldn't agree more with Mr. Rome. To think that Dana White and the UFC is capable of fully policing the sport's problem with PED use is a bit wishful. Just look around the other pro sports leagues in this country. The idea of putting a complete stop to drug use in any given sport is far easier said than done. Athletes will always look for an edge, despite whatever penalties they may face if caught cheating. That doesn't mean you don't try to limit it. But it does mean the overreaction that occurs every time an athlete fails a drug test, is just that, an overreaction. We may not like the fact that our athletes cheat, but it's naive of us to believe that one, we can put a stop to it, and two, guys will ever stop trying to beat whatever system is in place. Go ahead and sound off, Maniacs. Surely there are dissenting opinions on this matter. Listen to Jim Rome's full burn on Chael Sonnen and steroids after the jump: |
| Chris Lozano battles UFC veteran Yoshiyuki Yoshida in Bellator 31 Posted: 21 Sep 2010 11:55 AM PDT
CHICAGO, Ill. (September 21, 2010) - Bellator Fighting Championships announced today that undefeated knockout artist Chris "The Assassin" Lozano will take on UFC veteran and heavy handed Judo black belt Yoshiyuki "Zenko" Yoshida in a Bellator Welterweight Tournament Qualifying fight taking place at Bellator 31 from the L'Auberge du Lac Resort in Lake Charles, LA on September 30. "Chris and Yoshiyuki both have knockout power in both hands, which makes this a very exciting qualifier at 170 lbs," said Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney. "They're fighting for one of the spots in our $100,000 welterweight tournament, so fans can expect both of them to put it all on the line." Entering the fight with a perfect 5-0 record, Lozano has ended every fight by TKO or KO. "The Assassin" is fresh off of a TKO victory of UFC veteran Jason Dent. The Cleveland native takes pride in his accomplishments, but also knows how quickly things can change. "Any fighter who steps into the cage doesn't want to lose," said Lozano. "With that said, all it takes is one tiny mistake, one split second mental error, and you've lost. I want to maintain my undefeated record, but if I don't, I will return hungrier and more passionate than before." However, Lozano is not focused on the prospect of losing, rather of going straight to the top. "Being a Bellator Champion means you are one of the best in the world at what you do," said Lozano. "It means you are elite. It is a dream to be champion for an organization like Bellator." For Yoshida, the chance to take on a fighter like Lozano is something the Japanese born fighter relishes. "Lozano seems like a real good striker," said Yoshida. "I have trained very hard for this fight, and I not only expect to win, but also provide a great fight for my fans." Tickets for the event - which will also be broadcast LIVE nationwide on FOX Sports Net along with action-packed highlight shows that will air on NBC Saturday nights - are on sale now at ticketmaster.com For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at Facebook.com/Bellator. |
| Chael Sonnen to appeal failed steroid test Posted: 21 Sep 2010 11:28 AM PDT
You didn't really think Chael Sonnen was going to take all this without putting up a fight, did you? From Sonnen's manager Mike Roberts, via MMA Fighting:
Mr. Sonnen is currently starring down the barrel of a one-year suspension plus a $2,500 fine, assuredly nixing the rematch with Anderson Silva. Chael's appeal to the California State Athletic Commission will be heard on December 2 in Sacramento. That gives the brash-talking middleweight approximately two and half months to work up a believable defense, certainly no small task. Any thoughts on the angle he'll take to try and save his career? |
| SeatGeek, with the help of MMAmania.com, once again takes a look at the average ticket prices for... Posted: 21 Sep 2010 11:27 AM PDT  SeatGeek, with the help of MMAmania.com, once again takes a look at the average ticket prices for upcoming UFC events. As you can see, UFC 119 is not exactly in high demand, though UFC 120 is currently performing very well in the secondary ticket market overseas. |
| Spike TV presents 'Brocktober' starting with UFC Primetime: 'Lesnar vs Velasquez' on Oct. 6 Posted: 21 Sep 2010 09:14 AM PDT
Are you ready for Brocktoberfest? Spike TV is set to roll out a month full of Lesnar-related UFC programming, starting with the return of "UFC Primetime," featuring an in-depth look at the UFC 121 heavyweight title fight between the pasty-faced goliath and division number one contender Cain Velasquez. The weekly, three part series will premiere Wednesday, October 6, at 11:00 PM ET/PT on the cable television network. From the Spike TV press release:
And of course, this being "Brocktober," that's just the tip of the iceberg from a programming standpoint. Check out the rest of the television line-up after the jump. UFC PRIMETIME: LESNAR VS. VELASQUEZ UFC 116: Lesnar vs. Carwin (re-air) UFC UNLEASHED UFC 121 COUNTDOWN UFC All Access: Brock Lesnar (re-air) UFC 121: "Lesnar vs. Velasquez" will air live on pay-per-view Saturday, October 23, from the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA, at 10:00 PM ET. For the complete UFC 121 fight card and line-up click here. |
| Posted: 21 Sep 2010 08:45 AM PDT NEW YORK (Sept. 21, 2010) - In anticipation of their must-see grudge rematch on Saturday, Oct. 9, SHOWTIME® will re-air the memorable first fight between Nick Diaz and KJ Noons as part of an hour-long, multi-fight highlight package on SHO 2 beginning Friday, Sept. 24, at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). The Diaz-Noons special, which features their original showdown along with three of Diaz's past fights and three of Noons' past fights, will also air on Tuesday, Sept. 28, at 10:10 p.m. ET/PT on SHO 2 immediately following an airing of Oscar-winning film The Hurt Locker. It will air again on Monday, Oct. 4, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHO2. The program will also be available On Demand beginning Sept. 24. The first slugfest ended in bloody controversy when Noons won a disputed, first-round upset TKO over Diaz in a thrilling, give-and-take brawl, Nov. 7, 2007, on SHOWTIME. Both fighters have gone undefeated since their last meeting and bad blood between the brash fighters has only been growing. Diaz-Noons II will be for Diaz's STRIKEFORCE World Welterweight Title in the main event of a sensational fight card at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., which will also feature Sarah Kaufman defending her STRIKEFORCE Women's Welterweight World Title against No. 1 contender Marloes Coenen. The following Diaz and Noons fights, consisting of five knockouts and one submission, will also appear on the highlight video: Diaz vs. Thomas Denny (July 26, 2008), Diaz vs. Scott Smith (June 6, 2009), Diaz vs. Marius Zaromskis (Jan. 30, 2010), Noons vs. James Edson Berto (July 27, 2007), Noons vs. Yves Edwards (June 14, 2008) and Noons vs. Jorge Gurgel (Aug. 21, 2010). |
| Posted: 21 Sep 2010 07:47 AM PDT
But will anyone still care if and when these two finally hook 'em up?
Despite the "Babyface Assassin's" sales pitch on MMA Weekly Radio, some of the luster has worn off this former superfight now that "The Last Emperor" has finally been defeated. That, coupled with Barnett's checkered past with performance enhancing drugs, and the fight that sunk Affliction MMA may now be nothing more than heavyweight filler on a Showtime televised event. Do the hardcore fans still find any merit in this potential bout? Or did this ship go down with "The T-shirt Guys" in August 2009? |
| UFC 120: Yoshihiro Akiyama ready for a 'tough fight' against Michael Bisping (Video) Posted: 21 Sep 2010 07:47 AM PDT No disrespect to "Coach Wink," but things don't get "Sexy" until the 3:00 mark. |
| Report: Chael Sonnen told the CSAC he used an illegal performance enhancing drug Posted: 21 Sep 2010 07:26 AM PDT
Was the UFC middleweight number one contender expecting to get popped following his Aug. 7 fight against Anderson Silva? SI.com shares a conversation with California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) executive director George Dodd:
News broke back on Sept. 19 that the mouthy ex-politician was popped for Performance Enhancing Drugs (PED's) in a test administered prior to last month's UFC 117: "Silva vs. Sonnen" title fight at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California. Sonnen's pre-fight drug test, obtained from a urine sample that was processed through the UCLA Olympic drug-testing lab, returned a positive result for steroids and could land the trash-talking Realtor a one-year ban from the fight game and a $2,500 fine. Sonnen, who railed against Lance Armstrong for his alleged use of steroids, now joins Josh Barnett and Sean Sherk on a lengthy list of fighters that the CSAC has fingered for illegal substances. There has been no comment from wither Sonnen or the UFC and there likely won't be until after his appeal. Either way, a rematch with Anderson Silva seems unlikely based on the length of his suspension, and the promotion has already booked a middleweight number one contender bout between Vitor Belfort and Yushin Okami at UFC 122. Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for more on this breaking story as it continues to develop. |
| UFC Quick Quote: Evan Dunham still sees himself as the underdog against Sean Sherk Posted: 21 Sep 2010 07:09 AM PDT
Undefeated UFC lightweight prospect (and -240 favorite) Evan Dunham tells MMA Weekly that he refuses to take "The Muscle Shark" lightly, despite the former champion's struggles both in and out of the Octagon. Is this the end for one of yesteryear's most dominant fighters? Or will Sherk prove to the hungry up-and-comer that he's still got a few tricks up his sleeve? |
| Frank Mir still interested in dropping to light heavyweight -- if the opportunity arises (Video) Posted: 21 Sep 2010 07:07 AM PDT
Would a loss to "Cro Cop" on Saturday night help expedite the process? |
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