Sunday, January 3, 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


Paul 'Semtex' Daley explains post-fight apology after UFC 108 KO over Dustin Hazelett

Posted: 03 Jan 2010 02:05 AM PST

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Props: MMA Fighting

Quoteworthy:

"It's not very honorable to stand over a guy after you just knocked him out and shoot him in the head with a pretend gun. That's just not cool. Then to wind his coach up a little bit by laughing, it's not a cool thing to do but you know when you're full of adrenaline you do stupid things."

Heavy-handed welterweight striker Paul Daley clears the air regarding the post-fight antics that may have irked the "McLovin'" camp following his UFC 108 knockout win over Dustin Hazelett. "Semtex" quickly apologized for the shenanigans and admits to being overcome with adrenaline after putting the grappling whiz to sleep. Can we expect another dominating performance from Daley in 2010? Or will his ground game get exposed sooner rather than later?

Queer Street Blues: Yvel KO propels Junior dos Santos into UFC heavyweight contender mix

Posted: 03 Jan 2010 02:05 AM PST

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What a difference a year makes.

In October 2008, unknown heavyweight striker Junior dos Santos was being "fed" to Fabricio Werdum at UFC 90 in an attempt to elevate "Vai Cavalo" into the UFC heavyweight title chase.

Fast-forward to January 2010 and it's "Cigano" who's in pursuit.

Dos Santos cemented his place among the heavyweight big guns last night at UFC 108 when he had former Pride FC and Affliction fighter Gilbert Yvel counting sheep in the first round of their main card bout.

All went according to plan says the Nogueira disciple.

"I noticed when he was coming in he was trying to counter attack with a punch, so what I did was I came in low and knew I would come up with a high hook and that’s exactly what I did. We trained that."

The Brazilian slugger is now undefeated (4-0) inside the Octagon with four straight finishes. His victims include the aforementioned Werdum, rising star Stefan Struve, Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic and of course his latest casualty, Gilbert Yvel.

Not exactly a who's-who of MMA tin cans.

Now the question coming out of the MMA community is "Who's next?"

The next two months will help clear the murky waters that are the UFC heavyweight division. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira will battle Cain Velasquez at UFC 110 on Feb. 21 in Australia while Shane Carwin and Frank Mir duke it out on March 27 in New Jersey -- with the winner expected to challenge Brock Lesnar for the 265-pound strap upon the champ's return.

If he even returns at all.

Regardless, the top four will soon go to battle for their right to become champion and Dos Santos will likely be paying close attention to the outcome of each contest. He may not be next in line for a title shot -- but he's closer than he's ever been before.

Where does he go from here?

Poll
Who does Junior dos Santos fight next?

  471 votes | Results

Dan Henderson being stalked by 'creepy boxercise instructor'

Posted: 03 Jan 2010 02:05 AM PST

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"Went out with this boxercise instructor a few times. She was super needy & then gained a bunch of weight. So, I dumped her. Now, she won't leave me alone. Creepy."

Former UFC star and current Strikeforce attraction Dan Henderson responds via ClinchGear.com to the recent sightings of him and his former boss getting all chummy in Las Vegas during the UFC 108 / New Year's weekend. Is Dana White suffering because he didn't know what he had 'till it was gone? Or is "Hollywood" just that entertaining to be around?

Big ups to MMAmaniac "C-War" for the tip.

MMA Quick Pic: Cole Miller channels Toby Imada for UFC 108 submission win over Dan Lauzon

Posted: 03 Jan 2010 01:18 AM PST

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Boxing legend James Toney heckles Dana White following UFC 108: 'Evans vs Silva' (Video)

Posted: 03 Jan 2010 01:18 AM PST

UFC 108 bonuses and awards for 'Evans vs Silva' PPV fights

Posted: 03 Jan 2010 12:26 AM PST

UFC 108: "Evans vs. Silva" from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, has officially wrapped, which means that it’s time for those select fighters who went above and beyond in their respective fights to get a little extra grease for their efforts.

To the tune of $50,000 each.

The promotion dished out its standard post-fight monetary bonuses to four out of the 20 fighters on the card. And it may not surprise you which combatants are leaving "Sin City" with a little extra green.

In addition to their base salaries, the UFC awarded lightweight competitors Sam Stout and Joe Lauzon "Fight of the Night" for their hard hitting, back-and-forth war. "Hands of Stone" was caught between a rock and a hard place early on, but turned up the heat and eventually outpointed the returning "J-Lau."

Also representing the 155-pound weight class was staunch jiu-jitsu specialist Cole Miller. "Magrino" downgraded Dan Lauzon with his slick "Submission of the Night" that came via inverted triangle in the first round.

Also bringing home the proverbial bacon was UFC sophomore Paul Daley. "Semtex" made his second Octagon appearance a memorable one, spot-welding his fist to the jaw of Dustin Hazelett to grab "Knockout of the Night" after putting "McLovin'" on his butt in the first round.

Here are the special fight bonuses for UFC 108:

Fight of the Night — Sam Stout and Joe Lauzon
Submission of the Night — Cole Miller
Knockout of the Night — Paul Daley

Again, each fighter received $50,000 extra for their performances in addition to their respective base salaries, which we will pass along as soon as possible.

"Evans vs. Silva" drew 13,255 attendees for an approximate live gate of $2 million, placing it tenth on the list of top attendances at the MGM Grand -- just behind 2005's UFC 54: "Boiling Point" -- but above 2008's UFC 98: "Evans vs Machida."

For complete UFC 108 results and blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action click here and here.

UFC 108 post fight press conference airs LIVE on MMAmania.com immediately following 'Evans vs Silva'

Posted: 02 Jan 2010 09:27 PM PST

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UFC 108: "Evans vs. Silva" from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, is in the books.

Following the caged combat, promotion President Dana White and a handful of participating fighters will be on hand for the UFC 108 post-fight press conference, which is now embedded for an approximate 1:00 a.m. ET start time.

Be sure to tune in following the pay-per-view event to get post-fight reactions from all the major players as well as up-to-the-minute results of all the post-fight bonuses including fight of the night, knockout of the night and submission of the night.

Check it out below.

Live stream and replay courtesy of UFC.com

For UFC 108 live results and play-by-play click here.

UFC 108 results recap from last night for 'Evans vs Silva'

Posted: 02 Jan 2010 09:26 PM PST

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) tonight (Jan. 2, 2010) presented its first major pay-per-view (PPV) event of the 2010 fight season from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

And even though it was more than likely the least star-studded "year-end" show in recent years, as well as the most injury-riddled perhaps ever, it somehow managed to deliver the goods.

Light heavyweights Rashad Evans and Thiago Silva battled in the main event, both of whom were looking to get on the fast track to a rematch with UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Lyoto Machida.

Advantage Evans.

"Sugar" went back to basics, relying on his strong wrestling background to frustrate the much bigger, and more powerful, Silva. Perhaps it was the knockout loss to Machida, or the respect he had for Silva's one-punch finishing power, or both, but he did what he had to do to bring home the win.

Relentless takedowns, ground and pound, clench work -- you name it and Evans did almost everything in his power to close the distance for 15 full minutes. Silva even baited him with his chin in the third and final round, and it almost worked, clipping Evans with a flush right and nearly finishing him with strikes.

But for some reason Silva let him off the hook, did some Muhammad Ali jukes, and that was all that Evans needed to recover and hang on for the unanimous decision victory. Evans was hurt bad, but Silva just couldn't put the nail in the coffin.

He'll likely regret that strategy for a very, very long time.

Our co featured fight of the evening the "classic" striker, Paul Daley, versus grappler, Dustin Hazelett. So we pretty much knew it was either going to end with a knockout or submission.

Unfortunately for "McLovin," it was the former.

Daley and Hazelett didn't do much for the first half of the first round, but that all changed when both fighters uncorked opposite punches -- Hazelett with a straight right and "Semtex" with a looping left hook. Let's just say it was clear once again what Daley has packed into his mitts as his nickname suggests.

Dynamite.

Hazelett crashed to the canvas and the Brit followed up with about three big head bouncers ... it was like Daley was working a speed bag. Other than that final moment, the fight never made it to the ground, which was ultimately Hazelett's downfall.

Literally.

With two highlight-reel knockouts in just as many appearances inside the Octagon, it's safe to say that Daley has established himself as a dangerous player in the 170-pound division. Can he hang with the more well-rounded, top fighters in the division in 2010 and beyond?

There's only one way to find out. Joe Silva, make us a high-level match next, please. Josh Koscheck, perhaps?

Joe Lauzon, returning from major reconstructive knee surgery and nearly a year-long layoff, was looking to re-establish himself as a major player on the division against Sam Stout to kickoff the New Year.

It didn't happen.

Despite a good effort in the first half of the first round, which included a nearly fight-ending submission, Lauzon just didn't have it tonight. He faded early and simply had no answer for the energy and bounce of the Canadian.

Stout knew that his key to victory was to keep things standing ... and he did just that.

"Hands of Stone," who was cut open early when Lauzon was fresh, floated in and out, mixing up the punches and kicks to keep "J-Lau" guessing and off balance for basically three rounds. He was clearly the better conditioned fighter. And he showed much-improved takedown and submission defense.

Lauzon, whether it was because of the layoff or Stout's strength (or both), simply could not keep him down long enough to impose his will. In fact, toward the end of the match it appeared that Lauzon couldn't even keep his hands up because he was so exhausted.

Nonetheless, it was an impressive performance for Stout and a disappointing one for Lauzon.

Tonight was supposed to be a coming out party for lightweight Jim Miller as he stepped up the competition level to try and assert himself as a top player in the crowded 155-pound division. But then Tyson Griffin, as well as former division champion, Sean Sherk, were forced off the card because of injuries.

Enter Duane Ludwig.

"Bang" is certainly no chump, taking on several of the best in the business in a very busy career. He is a very accomplished fighter who poses a threat to virtually anyone who steps inside the cage with him.

Miller was up to the challenge.

He dropped Ludwig with a straight right hand early in the first round and pounced on his wounded prey as soon as possible. Ludwig rolled and appeared to almost escape the onslaught, but the savvy Miller caught his arm and was able to secure a fight-ending armbar submission.

Great win for the New Jersey native -- his third straight. Don't be surprised to see him back in action sooner rather than later ... maybe even in front of his hometown crowd at UFC 111 on March 27.

Hopefully, this time he gets the top dog who alluded him this evening that could propel him to the top of the stack early in 2010.

UFC President Dana White indicated before the show that he considered putting the heavyweight clash between talented up-and-comer Junior dos Santos and striking specialist Gilbert Yvel as the co main event because it would be exciting.

He was right.

Both fighters came out slugging from the opening bell, exchanging big shots to try and end things early. Yvel landed several solid blows, but none of them appeared to slow the Brazilian.

"Cigano," on the other hand, dropped a huge left that sent "Hurricane" swirling to the canvas. It was a monster punch -- he looked like he was hurling a discus fist right onto Yvel's face. Dos Santos went in for the kill and the referee in charge of the action had no choice but to step in and stop it before it got ugly.

White remarked that with an emphatic win over Yvel, dos Santos would earn instant status as a title contender. Well, mission accomplished.

However, with Brock Lesnar still on the mend, and Frank Mir and Shane Carwin fighting for the interim title in March, dos Santos will more than likely have to take (and win) at least one more fight before earning a title shot.

Something tells me that most fans won't mind that one bit ... he's one helluva a fighter. And certainly a treat to watch.

That’s enough from us — now it’s your turn to discuss "Evans vs. Silva" in the comments section below. Sound off, Maniacs.

Did the injury-plagued event live up to your expectations? Or do you need bigger names -- not devastating knockouts, crafty submissions and great fights overall -- to be truly impressed?

Let’s hear what you have to say in the comments section below.

For complete UFC 108 results and detailed blow-by-blow commentary of the televised main card fights click here.

UFC 108 results live play-by-play TONIGHT (Jan. 2) for 'Evans vs Silva'!

Posted: 02 Jan 2010 07:20 PM PST

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Click the banner above or right here for up-to-the-minute results and blow-by-blow coverage of UFC 108: "Evans vs. Silva."

Quick results of the preliminary fights will begin to flow around 8 p.m. ET and round-by-round coverage of the main card pay-per-view (PPV) action is set for 10 p.m. ET!

Our play-by-play coverage of the commercial-free Spike TV broadcast, which will feature two bouts, Martin Kampmann vs. Jacob Volkmann and Cole Miller vs. Dan Lauzon, will begin at 9 p.m. ET.

If you’re going to leave comments and discuss the fights with all the other MMAmania.com readers be sure to do it on the main UFC 108 results post and not this one. Comments in this thread are turned off.

Enjoy the show, Maniacs!

UFC 111 tickets for Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., on March 27 for sale soon

Posted: 02 Jan 2010 07:20 PM PST

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It's finally official. 

Tickets for UFC 111, which is slated for the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., on March 27, 2010, will go on sale to the general public on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2010.

UFC Fight Club members and UFC Newsletter subscribers, naturally, will be able to scoop up tickets prior to them being available for public consumption.

UFC 111 will feature two title fights atop the card, including a 170-pound title defense by promotion superstar Georges St. Pierre as "Rush" answers the call of British striker Dan "The Outlaw" Hardy.

In addition, heavyweights Frank Mir and Shane Carwin will collide in an interim title match while reigning champion Brock Lesnar recovers from recent surgery.

This is more or less the first blockbuster pay-per-view (PPV) show for the promotion in the New Year, meaning that tickets will likely sell super fast. So don’t delay if you intend to watch it all go down live in the "Garden State."

Here is the UFC 111 tickets sales schedule:

UFC 111 tickets can be purchased through StubHub.com (Note: StubHub often has seats available even if the event is "sold out"). It will also be available to watch on PPV at 10 p.m. ET on fight night.

For more on UFC 111 stay dialed in to MMAmania.com and remember to check out the latest fight card and rumors right here.

UFC Quick Quote: Georges St. Pierre '50-50' on Olympic wrestling run

Posted: 02 Jan 2010 01:40 PM PST

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"I'm a good wrestler but if I wanted to do it, I would have to focus on wrestling and dedicate myself 100 percent for a period of time. I would not retire now but if I decided to do it I would have to dedicate myself 100 percent I would say maybe for a year and a half or so. I have a decision to take but I don't know if I'm ready to do it. I just need to think about it right now.... I'm going to tell you the truth, right now I don't have the level that I need to do it. If I go right now to do it, I'm going to lose. I'm not good enough right now to do it. And I don't know if I'm going to be able to be good enough to do it.... I'm going to do it if I know I have a good chance to make it. I'm the kind of guy that when I do something, it's to be on top. I don't do something to try to do it. if I do it, it's because I'm going to win, I'm going to go 100 percent.... I have to talk with a lot of people ... all my trainers, all my sponsors. All the people that helped me to get where I'm at. Because it's not going to be forever. It's just going to be a period of time, then after I'll be back if I decide to do it."

-- UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre shares his thoughts with the Canadian Press on a potential run at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England, representing Canada on its national wrestling team. Even though "Rush" has never competed in organized amateur wrestling, he's widely regarded as one of the best wrestlers in the sport of mixed martial arts. However, he realizes that wrestling in the Olympics and wrestling in MMA are totally different. So, too, is the compensation ... he'd make more inside the Octagon. Nonetheless, the 28-year-old says it's under consideration, and that if he decides to go for it, would vacate his 170-pound belt for about a 18 months to ensure that he's successful. In the meantime, St. Pierre is poised to defend his welterweight crown against Dan Hardy in March 2010. Perhaps after that, or shortly thereafter, he'll begin to seriously consider whether or not to his the mat. Should he or shouldn't he?

Poll
Should UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre try to represent Canada in the 2012 Olympics?

  1231 votes | Results

Swirlie: Bullies flushed Dustin Hazelett toward MMA success

Posted: 02 Jan 2010 11:48 AM PST

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Props: Sherdog.com

Quoteworthy:

"I hate to say it, but getting my head shoved in the toilet definitely helped me with martial arts. Just that feeling of being victimized was something I never wanted to deal with again.... I still see [the old bullies]. Usually, they throw it up like we’re friends: ‘Hey, this is Dustin. We grew up together.’.. They really don’t bring up the fact that they bullied me, and it’s probably better for them that they don’t. Being bullied a lot made me strive to be a better martial artist."

Lanky and unassuming UFC welterweight, Dustin Hazelett, talks about how he turned to mixed martial arts as a teenager after being victimized by local bullies. The 23-year-old is now among the most talented Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialists on the promotion's roster, earning his blackbelt from Jorge Gurgel not too long ago. Since his Octagon debut in 2006, "McLovin" has put together a fine record (5-2), catching many of his opponents in super slick submissions. He'll get the opportunity to beat down another bully later tonight when he touches 'em up with the colorful and hard-hitting slugger, Paul "Semtex" Daley, in the UFC 108: "Evans vs. Silva" co main event. Will Daley take Hazelett for a walk down bad memory lane or will the now dangerous Ohioan once again have the last laugh?

'King' Mo Lawal will beat Gegard Mousasi in Strikeforce (Video)

Posted: 02 Jan 2010 11:15 AM PST

MMAmania news on Twitter!

Posted: 02 Jan 2010 11:15 AM PST

Get all the latest and greatest mixed martial arts news delivered straight to your desktop or handheld with our MMAmania.com Twitter feed.

To start following us today simply create an account (it's simple and free) and visit our page right here (Twitter.com/MMAmaniaNews). Click the "Follow" button and you are subscribed -- that's it!

It's a great way to stay on top of breaking news, as well as "follow" fighters and others involved in the sport to see what everyone is up to. Like our Web site, we intend update our Twitter account several times each day with the top MMA stories from around the globe.

So what are you waiting for?

Get connected and start following us on Twitter.com today. We'll even sweeten the pot as we hit certain milestones (1,000 followers, perhaps?) with shirts and other free swag -- we need more Maniacs to follow us! CLICK HERE.

Joe Riggs vs Jay Hieron in the works for Strikeforce: 'Miami' on Jan. 30

Posted: 02 Jan 2010 10:40 AM PST

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There's a fantastic 170-pound match-up brewing between rough-and-tumble brawlers Joe Riggs (32-10) and Jay Hieron (18-4) currently being considered for the main card of the upcoming Strikeforce: "Miami" event slated for the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida, on Jan. 30.

"Diesel" confirmed the promotion's plans earlier this week.

The former UFC welterweight has found success since leaving the Octagon, racking up a 4-1 record under the Strikeforce banner. Riggs also competed twice in December under smaller promotions, ending both in the first round and capping off the year with a 3-0 run.

Riggs was slated to challenge Nick Diaz for the newly-created Strikeforce welterweight title until an adverse reaction to medication foiled his August 15 date with destiny at "Carano vs. Cyborg."

Ironically his departure from that event paved the way for Hieron to step in and get his turn at 170-pound gold -- until Nick Diaz went up in smoke and failed to appear for his manadatory pre-fight drug test.

Hieron went on to stymie quick replacement and UFC washout Jesse Taylor at the San Jose event to capture the unanimous decision win. Unfortunately the bout was converted to a non-title affair following the change in opponents.

"The Thoroughbred" hasn't lost since June 2007 and is probably best known for his reign of terror in the now-defunct IFL and Affliction promotions. Perhaps a win this month (for either man) could set up a potential title fight against the winner of Nick Diaz vs. Marius Zaromskis.

The Jan. 30 event is set to air at 8 p.m. ET live on Showtime and will mark the promotion’s debut in the "Sunshine State" and will also feature the much-anticipated debut of former NFL great Herschel Walker. Current Strikeforce Women's Champion Cristian 'Cyborg' Santos will also be in action against Marloes Coenen.

For more on Strikeforce: "Miami" click here.

UFC 108 video blog with Dana White (Episode five)

Posted: 02 Jan 2010 09:03 AM PST

The 'Best of PRIDE' unleashed on Spike TV Jan. 15

Posted: 02 Jan 2010 08:56 AM PST

 

So long, grainy YouTube footage.

In news that’s sure to excite both PRIDE fanboys and MMA enthusiasts alike, PRIDE FC has finally made its return to television on Friday nights this January via Spike TV featuring a "Best of" format that will highlight some of the greatest moments in the now-defunct promotion.

UFC President Dana White first made the announcement on Aug. 7 at the UFC 101 Q&A session.

Zuffa — the parent company of the Ultimate Fighting Championship — purchased the Japanese mixed martial arts promotion (and its biggest rival) in 2007. With no television deal and most of its top fighters signing UFC contracts, the entity known as PRIDE became no more.

Now fans will have an opportunity to relive the glory days beginning Jan. 15 -- and perhaps get a closer look at some of the hoopla surrounding famed heavyweight and recent Strikeforce acquisition Fedor 'The Last Emperor' Emelianenko.

From White:

"It will kind of be like 'UFC Unleashed.' All the great PRIDE fights that happened with all the stars who are now UFC guys will be on it."

Some of those stars include Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson, Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua, Antonio Rodrigo 'Minotauro' Nogueira, Mirko 'Cro Cop' Filipovic, Wanderlei 'The Axe Murderer' Silva and even Anderson 'The Spider' Silva -- who tapped out to Ryo Chonan at 'Shockwave 2004' in one of the craziest submissions you'll ever see.

Hosted by Maxim model Kenda Perez, "Best of PRIDE" debuts Jan. 15 on Spike TV and will air Fridays at 10 p.m. ET with replays throughout the week.
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UFC 108 video: The Thiago Silva story

Posted: 02 Jan 2010 07:31 AM PST

Light heavyweight contender Thiago Silva reflects on his life and his path to UFC stardom that may or may not continue his quest back to the 205-pound title when he takes on "Suga" Rashad Evans tonight (Jan. 2) at UFC 108 from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

1 comment:

Maroussia said...

It will be great to watch Miami Heat, i have bought tickets from
http://ticketfront.com/event/Miami_Heat-tickets looking forward to it.

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