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- Quinton Jackson sentenced today to three years probation for July ‘08 Newport Beach rampage
- Herschel Walker MMA debut vs. Greg Nagy booked for Strikeforce: 'Miami' on Jan. 30
- WEC 46 press conference: Faber and Varner look for stellar return
- He's back: MMAmania.com WEC 46 interview exclusive with Mike Brown
- Georges St. Pierre ready to take the Dan Hardy challenge at UFC 111 (Video)
- UFC Quick Quote: Gray Maynard keeping it real against Nate Diaz at Fight Night 20
- WEC 46 predictions, preview and analysis
- A-Team movie trailer with 'Rampage' Jackson as BA Baracus (Video)
- Report: Chuck Liddell vs Tito Ortiz trilogy to conclude at UFC 115 on June 12 in Vancouver
- Ole! 'El Matador' flirting with Strikeforce contract
- WEC 46: Benson Henderson vs Jamie Varner video fight talk
- James 'The Sandman' Irvin shooting for March 2010 return
- Jaime Varner: 'The WEC should be called the Urijah Faber show'
- Stephan Bonnar vs Krzysztof Soszynski set UFC 110 on Feb. 21
- For Junior dos Santos, Mirko Cro Cop is more dangerous than Brock Lesnar
| Quinton Jackson sentenced today to three years probation for July ‘08 Newport Beach rampage Posted: 08 Jan 2010 04:11 PM PST Former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson can breathe a little bit easier today, after an Orange County judge struck down his felony conviction of evading police for the high-speed hijinks that ensued back in July 2008 in Newport Beach. He’ll do his time via three years probation for misdemeanor reckless driving, instead. In an interview with the Orange County Register, Jackson said, "I will never see that judge in a courtroom again. … I don’t see myself doing anything crazy again. … I want to be a positive role model." Jackson, who appeared in court sporting his B.A. Baracus mohawk for his role in the upcoming "A-Team" movie, has completed more than 200 hours of community service for the stunt, including conducting seminars with young people and U.S. Marines. In fact, the judge praised Jackson’s efforts, which he noted were more than the minimum requirements for community service. "You have done extraordinarily well on this case," Judge Thomas Goethals said, "Congratulations." While he was relieved for the judge’s decision, Jackson said he was even more grateful that he didn’t hurt anyone in the incident, which he says he remembers very little of. On July 15, 2008, shortly after losing his light heavyweight title to challenger Forrest Griffin, Jackson drove his lifted Ford 350 pickup truck — complete with his picture and name decaled on the side — down Newport Boulevard, plowing into three vehicles and narrowly missing several pedestrians and bicyclists. With several police units in pursuit, Jackson crossed over the center median, drove on the sidewalk while pedestrians dove for cover, and sped down the wrong side of Newport Boulevard, running multiple red lights. And he did it while talking on his cell phone. Jackson later claimed he was in a deep depression, heavily sleep deprived and hadn’t consumed much of anything but energy drinks for days. He said he agrees with Judge Goethals that his life was out of control at the time, but has since gotten his life back together. "I could have really hurt someone or hurt myself," he said. "I will never let something get me so down I would hurt myself or others." |
| Herschel Walker MMA debut vs. Greg Nagy booked for Strikeforce: 'Miami' on Jan. 30 Posted: 08 Jan 2010 03:38 PM PST NFL Hall of Fame-worthy running back Herschel Walker is set to make his mixed martial arts debut against Greg Nagy at Strikeforce: "Miami" at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Fla., on Jan. 30, 2010. Uniting Locals Through Mixed Martial Arts (ULTMMA) was the first to scoop the story and MMAmania.com has since been able to confirm with promotion officials that the bout is indeed in the works. In fact, the Florida State Boxing Commission just recently provided its stamp of approval and all that awaits now to make it 100 percent official is the blessing of Showtime executives. Walker, 47, will be making his debut in the sport after a legendary run on the gridiron as one of the best tailbacks to ever put on a pair of shoulder pads. He's apparently practiced Taekwondo for years, indicating that his passion for martial arts and competition was the driving force that pushed him toward this latest chapter in his life. How well that experience translates inside the cage remains to be seen. However, Walker has been refining and adding to his skills in San Jose, Calif., under the direction of world-class trainers at American Kickboxing Academy, to ensure that he is prepared as much as possible for fight night. Nagy, 26, on the other hand, has more professional experience under his belt, competing twice under the Rage in the Cage banner. He's split right down the middle (1-1), dropping his most recent contest to Francisco Navarro via unanimous decision back in Nov. 2009. Walker -- who plans to donate his winnings to charity -- and Nagy will battle on the televised main card, which is scheduled to begin airing on Showtime at 10 p.m. ET. Strikeforce: "Miami" features a main event between Nick Diaz and DREAM Welterweight Champion Marius Zaromskis for the promotion's vacant 170-pound world title. Female powerhouse Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos will put her 145-pound title on the line against Marloes Coenen in the co-featured fight of the night. In addition, feared K-1 striker "Marvelous" Melvin Manhoef will make his Strikeforce debut opposite the power-punching "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler. And joining them on the main card is the welterweight showdown between Jay "The Thoroughbred" Hieron and Joe "Diesel" Riggs. Not too shabby. For more on Strikeforce: "Miami" click here. |
| WEC 46 press conference: Faber and Varner look for stellar return Posted: 08 Jan 2010 02:33 PM PST WEC 46 is an event featuring the comeback of a champion, the return of a legend, the chance for a contender to rise, and the opportunity for an interim champion to declare legitimacy in a tough lightweight division. Today, Jan. 8, the WEC conducted a press conference for its first card of 2010, featuring four fighters, each fitting one of the descriptions above. The fighters present included WEC lightweight champion Jamie Varner, WEC interim lightweight champion Benson Henderson, featherweight legend Urijah Faber, and 145-pound contender Raphael Assuncao. WEC General Manager Reed Harris headed the press conference. The WEC's first event of 2010 is one of the more anticipated events, as the promotion is set to return to Sacramento, California's ARCO Arena with their most notable fighter and hometown boy, Urijah "The California Kid" Faber, who is set to take on Assuncao in a featherweight war. The other notable bout is the main event of the evening, a title unification contest between lightweight champion Jamie Varner and interim champion Benson Henderson. Varner has been out of the game since his bout with Donald Cerrone at WEC 38, almost one year ago. Henderson is coming off an impressive decision victory over Donald Cerrone at WEC 43, which won him the interim lightweight belt. The fighters had an opportunity today to answer questions from media members and to explain what exactly was on their mind prior to WEC 46: "Varner vs. Henderson". Take a look at the news and notes from today's press conference after the jump. Reed Harris began the press conference complimenting the Sacramento fans, along with thanking ARCO Arena for playing host to Sunday night's event and the California State Athletic Commission for sanctioning it. He quickly moved on to introduce the fighters, and while he had nothing but good things to say about everyone present, he went a little more out of his way for his most famous fighter, Urijah Faber, calling him "one of the finest fighters on the entire planet". Each fighter had an opportunity to address the media briefly, and each one essentially stated the same thing - that his fight was going to be a battle. Faber summed up what everyone was trying to say with the statment, "Don't close your eyes." The conference then moved on to the Q&A segment, where Jamie Varner was immediately targeted in regards to his long layoff and need to prove himself as a legitimate champion. "I have a lot to prove," stated Varner. "I'm fighting for respect. I'm fighting for relevance." Varner also explained that the past year was a tough one, after his technical decision victory over Donald Cerrone left a bad taste in his mouth. However, "C-4" knows the perfect solution to the problem and believes that his performance against "Smooth" on Jan. 10 will be the best of his career. Both Faber and Varner are looking to rebound nicely in 2010. But they are not the only ones. Reed Harris also has tremendously high hopes for the 2010 fight-year and believes WEC 46 will be a great start to a potentially great year. When asked what he believed the headline would read on Jan. 11, one day after WEC 46, Harris exclaimed, "WEC does it again in Sacramento." To wrap up the conference, Harris brought up some business, announcing that Amp Energy would be playing a large role in 2010. "Amp Energy is now the official drink of the WEC," stated Harris. "We couldn't be more happy about that and we are looking forward to 2010 with Amp." It certainly seems the WEC has a lot to look forward to in the New Year, and what better place to start than with WEC 46 this Sunday, Jan. 10, on Versus to kick off 2010 for World Extreme Cagefighting. |
| He's back: MMAmania.com WEC 46 interview exclusive with Mike Brown Posted: 08 Jan 2010 12:07 PM PST
Former WEC featherweight champion Mike Brown currently finds himself in a position he has not been in for many years. He is coming off his first loss since December 2005 when Masakazu Imanari submitted him in Japan when he was fighting for the DEEP organization. Since the loss to Imanari he had run his streak of consecutive victories to ten, including four straight since he joined the WEC. That was until he ran into the Brazilian upstart Jose Aldo, who promptly ripped Brown's featherweight championship belt away from him with a dominating performance at WEC 44 this past November. The 34-year-old Brown, anxious to return to his winning ways and start his march back to the 145-pound pinnacle, accepted a fight with WEC newcomer Anthony Morrison. The two will square off on the main card at WEC 46 at the ARCO Arena in Sacramento, CA. The event will be held this Sunday, January 10. Brown took some time out of his busy fight week schedule to discuss Morrison, how he would approach Aldo differently next time and why he re-signed with the WEC. Check it out: Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): You are coming off a loss to Jose Aldo. In hindsight, what went wrong and how would you approach him differently the next time? Mike Brown: It just wasn't my night. It's not an easy fight for anybody. You've got to be 100% on and I wasn't. Looking back I think I would probably come out and be more aggressive and not pace as much. Nothing I'd really try too much differently. Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): What impressed you the most about his skill set once you finally got in the cage with him? Mike Brown: No, he wasn't any quicker than I thought. He's just tough man. He has good takedown defense, he's well-rounded, he's a really good athlete, and he has a lot of weapons. There was nothing I was really super shocked at. I knew he was good going in. It was his night. That is the game. Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): You're fighting WEC newcomer Anthony Morrison next. You fought roughly two months ago, which is a fairly short amount time in between fights. Did you feel like coming off the loss you wanted to get right back on that horse? Mike Brown: Absolutely, I am always like that. If I had won I would have taken more time off, but when I lose I can't enjoy myself. After a win I can relax and enjoy myself a little bit. After a loss it is not the time to celebrate and enjoy yourself. I wanted to get back in there and train hard and win. Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): I've actually never seen Anthony Morrison fight before. How would you describe his style and overall skill set to me? Mike Brown: I would say he's really explosive. He's got good punching power and solid wrestling. Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Have you been able to dig any tape up on this guy? Mike Brown: Oh yeah, I've seen a lot on YouTube. I actually saw him fight down in Miami. I saw him fight in the Shine show. I've seen him. He's pretty tough. He's good. He's coming off a big win. He just knocked out Alvin Robinson in like 40 seconds. That's a big win for him. Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): How many wins do you feel like you need to get back to #1 contender status? Mike Brown: I don't know. I don't worry about that. I'm just concerned with this fight, but honestly, I think one fight. I think I am the #1 contender. In my heart I believe Aldo is #1 and I am #2. Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): It is obvious you are confident that you could defeat Aldo if given a second chance, but do you see anyone else in the division capable of defeating him? Mike Brown: Yes, there are guys that can. It's the fight game. Everybody can lose. If he fights long enough he will lose, but he is very good. I mean, Rafael Assuncao and Urijah Faber. The winner of that could get a title shot but I believe I am right there. I don't think I dropped dramatically. I lost to a good guy. Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): You have told me previously that you would be willing to fight guys in other weight classes in the WEC. Is that still an option or are you dead set on getting your 145-pound belt back as soon as possible? Mike Brown: I have to get back to the drawing board in my weight class before I worry about other guys now. I'm willing to take big fights though. All I want are fights that people care about. I want fights that people are interested in. First I want to get a win. I need to win this fight and that is all that matters. After that we'll start looking around for more fights but I have a lot on my plate right now. Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): How many fights left on your current contract if you don't mind me asking? Mike Brown: I just re-signed for five fights. Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Okay, that is good to hear. You should have plenty of time and opportunities to get your belt back then. Mike Brown: This is where I want to be. I want to be where the best guys are at. This is where all the best 145'ers are at. I'm 34. There is no time for me to play around anywhere else. It's my time to fight the best guys in the world. Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Before we go are there any sponsors you would like to thank? Mike Brown: Yes, please. I want to thank Tapout, Champion Nutrition, and Bushmaster's Firearms. Also check out MikeThomasBrown.com. Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Great, we appreciate the time Mike. Best of luck in a few days and we'll do it again soon. Mike Brown: Thank you so much. Derek Bolender is a contributor to MMAmania.com in addition to FoxSports.com, SI.com, and BleacherReport.com Follow him at Twitter.com/DerekMMAwriter. |
| Georges St. Pierre ready to take the Dan Hardy challenge at UFC 111 (Video) Posted: 08 Jan 2010 12:05 PM PST |
| UFC Quick Quote: Gray Maynard keeping it real against Nate Diaz at Fight Night 20 Posted: 08 Jan 2010 12:05 PM PST
Undefeated UFC lightweight contender Gray Maynard talks to the Las Vegas Sun about his pending rematch with Nate Diaz at UFC Fight Night 20 this Monday (Jan. 11) from the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia. "The Bully" could be next in line for a shot at BJ Penn's division title if he can outlast the wily Diaz. Is he twice the fighter he was when they first met during the fifth season of The Ultimate Fighter? Or will history repeat itself on Monday night? |
| WEC 46 predictions, preview and analysis Posted: 08 Jan 2010 10:37 AM PST World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) will begin the new decade with a bang this Sunday night (Jan. 10) when lightweight champion Jamie "C-4" Varner and interim title holder Ben "Smooth" Henderson meet to unify their belts in the main event of WEC 46 from the Arco Arena in Sacramento, California. This is a really interesting fight because we haven't seen Henderson face someone like Varner yet. Varner is a much better striker than Roller, and his wrestling matches up much better with him than "Cowboy's" did. It's hard to find a clear cut strength for Henderson in this fight, whereas, he had advantages he could attack with in those fights. Obviously wrestling is his overall strength, but like I said, Varner is going to negate most of that edge with a solid wrestling base of his own. There's still a slight edge for Henderson though, and it's not impossible to think that a similar gameplan to the one he used against "Cowboy" could work enough to eke out another close decision in this fight. However, I think Henderson is going to have a much harder time taking Varner down and holding him there like he did with Cerrone. Because of that, I actually think this fight will primarily be fought on the feet, with each guy's wrestling essentially canceling out the other's. And if that does indeed turn out to be how this fight goes, then look for Varner to retain his title. Varner has a ton of power and a proven track record with three of his four wins in the WEC coming by. It'll be near impossible to knock Henderson out, but I do think "C-4" can definitely claim three of the five rounds with his superior striking. Cardio could play a factor if the fight does go into the championship rounds, but again, it's hard to tell who would have the advantage, even though it feels like that could be the one true area for Henderson to expose since Varner has been out of action for almost a full year. Still though, "Smooth" didn't really show the best cardio himself in his last fight. The truth is, the longer this fight goes on, the more of a toss up the outcome becomes. Like I said before though, I believe the wrestling will be even enough to where this will be more of a stand up battle. And in that type of fight, I like Varner, if not by knockout, then by decision. Final prediction: Jamie "C-4" Varner via unanimous decision 145 lbs.: Urijah Faber vs. Raphael Assuncao Who knows what would have happened had Faber not injured his hand in the first round of the rematch with Mike Brown. He might have won, he might not have. But with the injury being so, it's still really impressive that he was able to go the full five rounds and stay competitive with Brown. To me he proved that he still belongs with the elite names at 145 pounds. Assuncao, on the other hand, is not yet on that level and might not ever be. The truth is, before Mike Brown came around Urijah Faber was making a living off of beating guys who are similar or better than Assuncao in terms of talent. In fact, Jeff Curran, who was submitted in the second round by Faber, has a win over Assuncao. Look for this to be a statement fight for Urijah Faber, one that he dominates enough to make it obvious that he should be the first challenger to Jose Aldo's title. Assuncao is a tough Brazilian fighter with good ground skills. I don't want to make it sound like he's a pushover opponent, but I still expect Faber to win rather easily and impressively. When it comes down to it, Assuncao is not fast enough or strong enough to deal with Faber. Urijah is going to overwhelm him with speed, power and strength. Expect a big showing from "The California Kid," which will set up a huge fight with Aldo this summer. Final prediction: Urijah Faber via technical knockout in round one. 145 lbs.: Mike Brown vs. Anthony Morrison Like Faber, this is going to be a statement fight for Mike Brown, too. He was basically embarrassed by Jose Aldo in his last fight, and I think it's safe to assume that he's going to come out looking to be the one doing the embarrassing this time. "Cheesesteak" Morrison is a newcomer to the WEC. He has some finishing ability with his hands, having won nine times by technical knockout. But, he doesn't defend submissions well, and that's where he's going to lose this fight. Mike Brown trains at American Top Team, which is home to some of the best submission fighters in the world, and he's won twelve times by submission throughout his career. His advantage on the ground is going to be huge. And he shouldn't have too much difficulty getting the fight there either, because his wrestling will be far better than Morrison's, as well. This fight might not get that far though. Brown may just choose to stand with "Cheesesteak" and look for the knockout, because, well, he can do that too. If that happens, this fight is going to be fun to watch, even though it won't last long. As cool as that would be though, I think Brown will take a safer approach to winning this fight. He's still going to make a statement with a dominating win. He'll just do it on the ground by using his strength to expose his opponent's weakness. Look for Brown to get a quick takedown, take a dominate position, and then choke the new guy out. Final prediction: Mike Brown via submission in round one. 145 lbs.: Mackens Semerzier vs. Deividas Taurosevicius I've been looking forward to seeing Semerzier fight again after he debuted for the WEC by upsetting jiu jitsu ace Wagnney Fabiano with a first round submission win back in October. He gets another IFL veteran and submission fighter in his second fight for the promotion in Taurosevicius, and as much as some would like to see him score another upset, that's going to be a lot harder to come by this time around. The truth is, while talented and hungry, he's still inexperienced and raw. Taurosevicius is the exact type of fighter he doesn't want to be facing right now - a smart, methodical fighter that will wear you down until he gets an opening for a submission. Look for Mackens to have a much tougher fight on his hands in this one. I don't think he'll be completely outmatched, but this is a bad match-up and the element of surprise is gone. Taurosevicius is going to be ready, and I think his experience will be enough to get him a late submission win. Final prediction: Deividas Taurosevicius via submission round three. That's a wrap. To check out the full lineup for WEC 46 click here. Remember that MMAmania.com will provide live coverage of the main card, beginning with the Versus telecast at 9 p.m. ET, as well as up-to-the-minute results of the under card action beginning at around 7 p.m. ET. Check in early and often -- it should be an exciting night of fights! In the meantime, feel free to share your WEC 46-related thoughts and predictions in the comments section below. |
| A-Team movie trailer with 'Rampage' Jackson as BA Baracus (Video) Posted: 08 Jan 2010 09:50 AM PST There is no plane...
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| Report: Chuck Liddell vs Tito Ortiz trilogy to conclude at UFC 115 on June 12 in Vancouver Posted: 08 Jan 2010 09:49 AM PST Following their duties as coaches on the upcoming eleventh season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), UFC pioneers and longtime rivals Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz may finally see the conclusion of their fight trilogy at UFC 115 on June 12 in Vancouver, according to a report from Vancouver's own News 1130. "The Iceman" currently holds a 2-0 advantage over "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy," winning by way of KO at UFC 47 in April 2004 and then by TKO at UFC 66 in Dec. 2006. Liddell (21-7) hasn't competed since a technical knockout loss to Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC 97: "Redemption" from the Bell Center in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, back in April 2009. In fact, since his last stoppage over Ortiz, he's only had one victory in five attempts, a gritty unanimous decision win over Wanderlei Silva at UFC 79 in Dec. 2007. Company president Dana White tried to convince his good friend and big time money-making machine to hang up the gloves, saying he had made a ton of cash and had nothing left to prove. Liddell — who will be 40 years old by the time the third Ortiz fight rolls around — was adamant that he's still got some fight left in him. The icy one just wanted a little time to "give his brain a rest" -- and tear up the dance floor on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars." Now it's back to business for the former light heavyweight champion -- who is undoubtedly planning for a hat trick against his fellow fading star. Ortiz (15-7-1) has also struggled inside the Octagon, failing to notch a win since abusing a geriatric Ken Shamrock at UFC "The Final Chapter" in October 2006. He most recently coughed up a split decision loss to Forrest Griffin in the UFC 106 main event from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas this past November. Following the fight -- his first since returning from major back surgery -- the former 205-pound kingpin complained of a "cracked skull" and other maladies, including an empty gas tank. While the medical layoff was behind some of his rust, it's been evident for some time that Ortiz is no longer the dominant force he was in the early 2000's. But has he held up longer than Liddell? It will be interesting to see how the coaching gig on TUF 11 -- a second go-round for both fighters -- will prepare them their third dance. The Spike TV reality show returns on March 31. Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for future updates on this recently announced fight card, which came just days after MMA received final approval for sanctioning in Vancouver. In the meantime, any guesses on who takes this final battle? |
| Ole! 'El Matador' flirting with Strikeforce contract Posted: 08 Jan 2010 08:54 AM PST
"El Matador" -- who graced the cover of Sports Illustrated in 2007 -- was bound by Zuffa's recently expired three-month "no compete" clause and has now opened the door to promotions outside of Las Vegas to continue his fighting career. From Huerta's official Twitter account:
Intentionally ambiguous -- but keep in mind that Huerta and the UFC are still on good terms. After an impressive 16-0 run, Huerta dropped a unanimous decision to Kenny Florian at UFC 87: "Seek and Destroy" back in August 2008. The former lightweight title contender declined a five-fight contract extension with Zuffa to pursue a career in acting and modeling.There were a lot of questions surrounding his motivation and desire to fight in his final UFC bout, but "El Matador" reaffirmed his fighting spirit in a gutsy performance against Maynard, surviving a frightening looking Kimura from the "The Bully" and finishing strong. Like fellow actor and fighter (and Strikeforce star) Cung Le, Huerta found periods of downtime in "Hollywood" and has since decided to continue his MMA career between projects. It's not unrealistic to think he may still sign with the UFC with the promotion's trip to Mexico City on the horizon, but the appeal of a fresh start and new talent in Strikeforce also has its advantages. Be sure to keep it dialed in to MMAmania.com for news on his next move. In the meantime, any fighters outside the Octagon you're itching to see him throw hands with? Gilbert Melendez? KJ Noons? Joachim Hansen? Opinions por favor. |
| WEC 46: Benson Henderson vs Jamie Varner video fight talk Posted: 08 Jan 2010 08:01 AM PST Props: Sherdog.com Fighting Varner is vindication for all the hard work, sweat and tears according to "Smooth." Hear Varner's take on the Jan. 10 title fight after the jump. |
| James 'The Sandman' Irvin shooting for March 2010 return Posted: 08 Jan 2010 07:51 AM PST Long-lost UFC light heavyweight James Irvin (14-5) may finally make his Octagon return this spring in one of the upcoming March shows at UFC 111 in New Jersey or UFC Fight Night 21 in Colorado according to MMAWeekly. The injury-prone "Sandman" hasn't seen action since going to sleep against Anderson Silva at UFC Fight Night 14 way back in July 2008. To put things in perspective, when Irivn last fought, Brock Lesnar was 0-1 in the UFC, Kimbo Slice was still top dog in Elite XC and Affliction MMA was simultaneously holding its debut event. Unfortunately the loss to Silva, which was the result of a hastily assembled "Fight Night" to counter-program Affliction, was the least of his worries. Irvin was nursing a broken foot just weeks before accepting his bout with "The Spider" and subsequently tested positive for Methadone and Oxymorphone after the fight. The California native claims he used the banned substances to mask the pain associated with the injury. After serving a nine-month drug suspension, he was booked to throw hands against Drew McFedries at UFC 98 last May before hurting his knee and pulling out of the fight. "The Massacre" went on to TKO Irvin's replacement, Xavier Foupas-Pokam, just 37 seconds into the first round. Irvin was given time to heal and re-booked for UFC 102 in what should have been his middleweight debut against Wilson Gouveia this past August. Unfortunately he re-aggravated his injured knee and has been on the shelf ever since. "The Sandman" has had a somewhat tumultuous run under the Zuffa banner -- and a bit of bad luck when it comes to knees. Before the loss to Silva, Irvin experienced an injury-riddled and bizarre 2007 fight campaign, during which he blew out his knee in a loss to Thiago Silva and was knocked silly courtesy of an errant Luis Arthur Cane knee that resulted in a disqualification win. He rebounded by knocking out Houston Alexander in record time at UFC Fight Night 13. The momentum was unfortunately cut short once again in 2008 -- and he never had the chance to get it going again in 2009 which is unfortunate, as Irivn is a difficult test for anyone when he's healthy and can provide some interesting match-ups upon a successful return. A return that hopefully takes place this March. (For our newer MMA fans, you can get a closer look at "The Sandman" in my exclusive interview that took place just days before his fight with Anderson Silva by clicking here.) |
| Jaime Varner: 'The WEC should be called the Urijah Faber show' Posted: 08 Jan 2010 07:16 AM PST Props: Curtis and Kyle Quoteworthy:
WEC lightweight champion Jamie Varner shares an oft-rumored sentiment that Urijah Faber still gets the royal treatment from the promotion despite no longer carrying the featherweight torch. "C-4" hasn't been able to detonate since sustaining injuries in his title defense against Donald Cerrone at WEC 38 in January 2009. He'll get a chance to prove he's still king of the 155-pound mountain when he locks horns with rising star Benson Henderson at WEC 46 this Sunday (Jan. 10) on Versus. Does the champ still have the goods? Or will we enter the "Smooth" era? (Promoted from FanPosts via an original post by NCSAR) |
| Stephan Bonnar vs Krzysztof Soszynski set UFC 110 on Feb. 21 Posted: 08 Jan 2010 07:01 AM PST Former Ultimate Fighters Stephan Bonnar (11-6) and Krzysztof Soszynski (18-9-1) are officially set for a light heavyweight showdown at UFC 110 from the Acer Arena in Sydney, Australia, on Feb. 21. The UFC recently made the bout official for the event's preliminary card. Bonnar has dropped two straight inside the Octagon after returning from a catastrophic knee injury he suffered while training for a big fight against Matt Hamill in April 2008. Because that injury came on the heels of a steroids suspension, "The American Psycho" was out of action for nearly a year and a half. He returned at UFC 94: "St. Pierre vs. Penn 2" but the long layoff and a very gifted opponent, Jon Jones, ended any chance of a successful return last January. He got a second chance to right the ship at UFC 100 this past July, but was once again stymied by the wrestling efforts of MMA elder statesman Mark "The Hammer" Coleman. While Bonnar's contributions to the sport before, during and after his run on The Ultimate Fighter will probably keep him from being unemployed anytime soon, dropping three straight could be a major blow to his marketability as a fighter. And Soszynski doesn't want to be the guy who propels him back into the limelight. "The Polish Experiment" went awry in his 205-pound war with Brandon Vera at UFC 102: "Couture vs. Nogueira," though unlike Bonnar the August defeat was his first since Dec. 2007 and snapped a six-fight winning streak. Soszynski cut his teeth under Dan Henderson in Temecula, Calif., along with training partner Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou. He has a strong wrestling base, powerful strikes and solid submission skills to boot. Expect a gritty, back-and-forth war between these two light heavyweight talents. UFC 110 pits Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Cain Velasquez in a bout that could determine the next heavyweight number one contender. In the co-main event, Wanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva will try to put TUF grad Michael Bisping down for "The Count." For more on the Australian event click here. |
| For Junior dos Santos, Mirko Cro Cop is more dangerous than Brock Lesnar Posted: 08 Jan 2010 06:28 AM PST Props: Terra.com Quoteworthy:
Junior dos Santos talks about his most dangerous foe on the heels of yet another knockout victory -- this time over Gilbert Yvel at UFC 107 back on Jan. 2. The Minotauro Team fighter revealed his confrontation against Mirko Filipovic at UFC 103 was the most difficult so far and also said he will only contend for the title if Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira isn't the heavyweight champion. Where do you rank him in this division? |
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