Tuesday, November 3, 2009

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

UFC blog for UFC news, results, videos, rumors, fights, pics and tickets -- MMAmania.com

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


Strikeforce weigh in results information and details for ‘Fedor vs Rogers’ on Nov. 6

Posted: 03 Nov 2009 04:42 AM PST

fedor-rogers

The official weigh-in event for Strikeforce: “Fedor vs. Rogers” is set to take place at the Sears Centre – Main Concourse (5333 Prairie Stone Parkway) in Hoffman Estates, Ill., on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009.

The first fighter is expected to tip the scale at 5 p.m. local time.

As usual, MMAmania.com will be on the scene to provide the latest coverage of the Strikeforce weigh-ins, as well as provide a detailed recap of the festivities as soon as they conclude.

"Fedor vs. Rogers" will feature a main event between former Pride FC and WAMMA heavyweight champion, Fedor "The Last Emperor" Emelianenko, trying to quell the undefeated uprising of Brett "The Grim" Rogers.

In addition, "Bully Beatdown" star and DREAM veteran Jason "Mayhem" Miller will take on former Elite XC welterweight champion Jake Shields for the vacant Strikeforce middleweight title. And rising star Gegard Mousasi will also appear, taking on hard-hitting Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou in a non-title affair.

Here is the current "Fedor vs. Rogers" fight card:

Main event:

265 lbs.: Fedor "The Last Emperor" Emelianenko (30-1) vs. Brett "The Grim" Rogers (10-0)

Main card (Televised):

185 lbs.: Jason "Mayhem" Miller (22-6) vs. Jake Shields (23-4-1)
205 lbs.: Gegard "The Dreamcatcher" Mousasi (26-2-1) vs. "The African Assassin" Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (7-4)
265 lbs.: Fabricio "Vai Cavalo" Werdum (12-4-1) vs. Antonio "Junior" Silva (13-1)

Under card (May not be broadcast):

145 lbs.: Marloes Coenen (16-3) vs. Roxanne Modafferi (13-4)*
145 lbs.: Jeff "The Big Frog" Curran (29-12-1) vs. Dustin "The Beast" Neace (17-13-1)*
170 lbs.: Shamar Bailey (9-1) vs. John Kolosci (10-5)*
155 lbs.: Deray Davis (5-1-1) vs. Mark Miller (9-5)*
205 lbs.: Nate Moore (3-0) vs. Louis Taylor (4-0)*
170 lbs.: Jonatas Novaes (4-2) vs. Christian Uflacker (1-0)*

*Fight not yet officially confirmed by Strikeforce.

For those fortunate enough to be in "The Windy City" area this weekend remember that the weigh-in is FREE to attend and open to the public. Doors to the weigh-in will open at 4:30 p.m. local time for the general public.

Remember that MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of Fedor vs. Rogers, beginning with the CBS telecast at 10 p.m. ET. In addition, we will deliver up-to-the-minute quick results of all the under card action as it starts to flow around 8 p.m. ET.

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 “Fedor vs. Rogers” coverage you can handle.

Jake Shields training at Gracie Academy for ‘Mayhem’ Miller Strikeforce fight on Nov. 7 (Pics)

Posted: 03 Nov 2009 04:29 AM PST

jake-shields

Props: AllElbows.com (Click the link to check out the complete photos gallery)

FIGHT CAMP 360°: ‘Fedor vs. Rogers’ video preview for Showtime debut on Nov. 3 at 9:30 p.m. ET

Posted: 02 Nov 2009 07:11 PM PST

Georgio Petrosyan injury likely scraps fight against Masato at New Year’s Eve Dynamite!! 2009

Posted: 02 Nov 2009 06:15 PM PST

Dynamite!!

K-1 event producer, Sadaharu Tanikawa, gave an update today on the suspected injury that newly crowned K-1 MAX winner, Georgio Petrosyan, suffered last weekend at the K-1 World MAX 2009 Tournament Final.

Tanikawa subsequently elucidated the status of the main event bout between Petrosyan and the retiring K-1 MAX icon, Masato, for the Dynamite! event on New Year’s Eve.

Upon returning to Italy after defeating Yuya Yamamoto and Andy Souwer to capture the K-1 MAX crown, Petrosyan underwent an injury check-up, revealing that he has indeed injured his right fist. Though Petrosyan eagerly accepted Masato’s challenge immediately after his tournament victory and holds out hope for his NYE return, his doctor has admonished him against fighting.

Tanikawa commented that he would like to determine the opponent for Masato by the end of the week. If all goes as planned, he will receive a final update from Petrosyan’s camp this week and announce Masato’s new opponent on Thursday or Friday.

While Masato has the final say in the choice of his opponent for his farewell bout, the top candidate in case of Petrosyan’s withdrawal is Andy Souwer. Souwer, the two-time K-1 MAX champion (2005, 2007) has defeated Masato twice in as many encounters.

Besides Souwer, K-1 MAX standouts, Buakaw Por Pramuk and Yoshihiro Sato, are also in consideration. Pramuk has split a fight with Masato, while Sato has lost to Masato in the semi-final round of the K-1 World MAX 2008.

When asked about the possibility of former Pride FC lightweight champion, Takanori Gomi, as Masato’s opponent after Gomi sheepishly announced his wish to fight Masato on New Year’s Eve, Tanikawa commented:

“If Masato gives the green light, then the fight will happen; however, I think it is unlikely.”

Stay tuned to MMAmania for more announcements regarding the K-1 Dynamite! New Year’s Eve event as they become available.

WEC 46: ‘Varner vs Henderson’ announced for Arco Arena on Jan. 10

Posted: 02 Nov 2009 05:07 PM PST

wec46poster

World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) today announced its first show of the New Year, which will feature the return of Jamie Varner, defending his lightweight belt against 155-pound interim champion, Benson "Smooth" Henderson, in the main event of the evening.

WEC 46: “Varner vs. Henderson” is scheduled for the Arco Arena in Sacramento, Calif., on Jan. 10, 2010.

It’s a venue with which the promotion is extremely familiar thanks in larger part to former featherweight champion and local fan favorite, Urijah Faber. “The California Kid,” who is also coming back from a hand injury like Varner, will collide with top-ranked contender, Raphael Assuncao, in the co-featured fight of the night.

The line up thus far is one that WEC General Manager, Reed Harris, is thrilled to promote.

Here’s a snip:

"ARCO Arena is one of our favorite venues to bring fights, the fans in Sacramento are some of the best. The world title bout between Varner and Henderson is a perfect way to start off the New Year. The title fight, plus the return of Urijah, makes this an instant winter classic."

Henderson (10-1) defeated Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone at WEC 43 via razor-thin unanimous decision to successfully capture the interim gold. "Smooth" avoided countless submission attempts from Cerrone, while inflicting good damage in the early rounds. The victory was a large upset, introducing the relatively unknown Henderson to the fans of the sport.

A product of Arizona's MMA Lab, Henderson has managed to string together nine straight victories since his only loss, which was to Chad Klingensmith at Ring of Fire 27: "Collision Course" in Dec. 2006. He is perfect (3-0) in the WEC with victories over Shane Roller, Anthony Njokuani and Cerrone.

Varner (16-2) gained the lightweight belt back in 2006 when he defeated "Razor" Rob McCullough via technical knockout. "C-4" has gone on to defend his belt twice with victories over Marcus Hicks and Donald Cerrone.

Varner has been sidelined for some time now because of injuries he sustained during the battle at WEC 38 in earlier this year January against Cerrone. One year later, Varner will finally be able to put his belt on the line again, hoping to defend it for a third time.

Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for breaking news and updates on WEC 46.

Brandon Vera set to see ‘who crumbles first’ against Randy Couture at UFC 105 (Video)

Posted: 02 Nov 2009 12:39 PM PST

Strikeforce ‘Fedor vs. Rogers’ conference call recap

Posted: 02 Nov 2009 12:12 PM PST

Strikeforce today (Nov. 2) held a media conference call with heavyweight attractions Fedor Emelianenko and Brett Rogers to promote their upcoming trip to the outskirts of Chicago when the promotion storms the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, for its live CBS prime time broadcast on Nov. 7.

Strikeforce: "Fedor vs. Rogers" will feature a main event between former PRIDE and WAMMA heavyweight champion, Fedor "The Last Emperor" Emelianenko trying to quell the undefeated uprising of Brett "The Grim" Rogers in a bid to determine who will challenge Alistair Overeem for the heavyweight strap in 2010.

In addition, "Bully Beatdown" star and DREAM veteran Jason "Mayhem" Miller will take on former Elite XC welterweight champion Jake Shields for the vacant Strikeforce middleweight title.

Rising star Gegard Mousasi will also appear, taking on hard-hitting Rameau Thierry Skoudjou in a non-title affair while Fabricio Werdum looks to go 2-0 for the promotion against former Elite XC heavyweight champ Antonio "Junior" Silva.

Here is a brief recap and highlights of noteworthy items coming out of today’s call:

–Scott Coker and Mitch Graham are excited to be on the call and get right to the questions.

–Brett Rogers doesn’t think Fedor’s marriage will be a distraction for the upcoming fight.

–Fedor Emelianenko is not nervous during the fight but perhaps one day before the fight he will be — because he is human (allegedly). Looks forward to entertaining both Americans and Russians during his stay. Will save his sightseeing for after the fight.

–Lot of heavy whispering and muffled conversation on Emelianenko’s end.

–Brett Rogers feels like he knows Fedor after training for him for three months. Doesn’t think Fedor can handle him standing up so he’s just waiting for the takedown and is not afraid to go there.

–Fedor Emelianenko thinks the NFL is more exciting on TV. Misinterprets a question and confesses he would make a lousy football player.

–Very loud media member screaming his questions like he’s ordering a value meal at the McDonald’s drive-thru.

–Brett Rogers is excited to win this thing and wow the many fans who are there to support him.

–Someone either typing feverishly or playing full contact paddycake in the background, drowning out Fedor’s next response. Something about not going to the UFC.

–Scott Coker doesn’t refute a reporter’s assertion that Fedor is unmarketable, but points to the CBS media campaign that will reach both new and old audiences.

–Fedor Emelianenko is preparing for his fight and can’t be worried about selling himself. His job is to make beautiful fights.

–Brett Rogers doesn’t talk money but reminds Mike Straka that he doesn’t work at Sam’s Club anymore and suggests he re-watch the June 6 Arlovski fight.

–Fedor Emelianenko walks around Chi-town to help relax. On the eve of the fight he gets his coaches to massage him. (Ed: Talk about your bad part-time jobs.) No card games before this fight.

–Brett Rogers is all about meditation and relaxation during his fight prep to help get his mind right for the fight. Will sometimes sleep right up until the fight, come out and take care of business.

–Fedor Emelianenko balks at the accusation that he’s a sloppy fighter.

–Brett Rogers is on a anti-dog fighting crusade because he loves animals and now has the wherewithal to make a difference.

–Fedor Emelianenko does not answer a question about his religion and mental state.

–Brett Rogers agrees that he’s still being underrated based on the huge disparity in the Las Vegas fight odds. Says he’ll get the respect he deserves after the fight and expects a quick finish.

–Fedor Emelianenko will not alter his old-fashioned training regimen because it’s worked for him for his entire career — so why mess with a good thing?

–Scott Coker has no interest in Aleksander Emelianenko until Aleks resolves his issues with the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC).

–Fedor Emelianenko knows Brett Rogers hits hard but is confident in his abilities and does not believe the cage will have an impact on his style.

–Brett Rogers recognizes the difference between a ring and a cage and thinks it may have an impact on striking and will be something he’ll try to exploit during the fight.

–Scott Coker says the Sears Centre is approximately 85-percent sold and anticipates a sellout by Saturday; however, will not confirm an upcoming Dec. 19 show.

–Brett Rogers hopes to build off the striking deficiencies that Andrei Arlovski exposed in the Jan. 24 loss to Fedor.

–Fedor Emelianenko is training in his hotel before the fight and will not train with American fighters.

–Brett Rogers knew he was on an eventual collision course with Fedor after Affliction died and the UFC could not come to terms with the Russian. Thinks he’s as prepared as he can be for Saturday.

–Scott Coker didn’t expect anything from M-1 Global for this event other than bringing Fedor to the states. They did however use their marketing machine to promote the fight overseas.

–Brett Rogers was offered a spot on “Bully Beatdown” but declined because he was preparing for the Fedor fight. Was also asked to audition for the role of B.A. Baracus in the upcoming A-Team movie.

–Fedor Emelianenko thinks he has nothing to prove to American fans who might feel like he hasn’t done anything to earn the title of world’s best heavyweight.

–Brett Rogers doesn’t like the comparisons to Buster Douglas. He’s “Coming from nothing and wanting to be something.” It’s what he’s wanted all his life.

–Some “media member” asks Brett Rogers for advice on being a fighter. Rogers fumbles through the answer and the caller is unceremoniously dismissed.

–Brett Rogers can’t see any scenario where Fedor would try to keep it standing because of Emelianenko’s submission pedigree. Says he closes his eyes and sees Fedor knocked out.

–Fedor Emelianenko will not disclose his fight strategy and coughs up a stock answer about being prepared and the differences between fighting in the U.S. and Japan.

–Scott Coker expects an upcoming announcement about the future of Strikeforce broadcasting plans in the near future.

–Brett Rogers was a little distracted by the camera and media following him around all week but outside of that has no distractions. Plans on pursuing Alistair Overeem after beating Fedor.

–Fedor’s translator is starting to get a little feisty in her responses.

–Fedor Emelianenko is not amused by the assumption that he took part in a Russian ritual that involves killing a bear with a fork and knife. Says the only bear he ever saw was in a zoo.

–The McDonald’s screamer is back. Scott Coker answers his question but my ears are still ringing and I missed it. Sorry.

–Fedor Emelianenko quickly exits stage left after the embarrassing “Bear” question. Call abruptly ends with no goodbye from “The Grim.”

That’s a wrap.

Remember: MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of Fedor vs. Rogers, beginning with the CBS telecast at 10 p.m. ET. In addition, we will deliver up-to-the-minute quick results of all the under card action as it starts to flow around 8 p.m. ET.

For everything you need to know about the upcoming Strikeforce event feel free to hit up our event archive right here.

Mike Swick: Dan Hardy will have panic attacks — not super powers at UFC 105

Posted: 02 Nov 2009 09:16 AM PST

Props: UFC.com

Quoteworthy:

“You never know how fighters are gonna react to hearing either cheers or boos, but I don't think the crowd's gonna give him super powers. He's gonna be the same fighter. He might have a better mentality and might be a little more pumped up when he walks out, but that's what I want. I want him to be pumped up and I want to fight him at his best … I can't think of a fight that I've had where my opponent wasn't saying how he's gonna beat me up and do this or that. I guess it's kinda normal for fighting, but it does always seem like the way they say it that they do underestimate me. And if they get in the ring with me and it doesn't work out the way they had hoped, all that confidence turns to panic. I like watching that confidence turn to panic, and then securing that win. The more confident somebody comes into a fight, the better it is for me and my gameplan. An overconfident opponent is setting himself up for serious panic issues if things don't work out the way he expects.”

The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) alum, Mike Swick, will not be rattled heading into his UFC 105 bout opposite Dan Hardy on November 14 in Manchester, England. The Texan made a "Quick" exit from his Sept. 19 number one contender bout against Martin Kampmann at UFC 103 after suffering a concussion during training. The former middleweight doesn't want to waste any time getting back into the title hunt now that he's recovered and despite a cheery effort by "The Outlaw," Swick is determined to come into hostile territory mentally prepared.

MMA Quick Pic: Fedor Emelianenko and Brett Rogers appear at Bears vs Browns NFL game

Posted: 02 Nov 2009 07:40 AM PST

The Chicago MMA Hype train has left the station. Has the promoting for the Strikeforce/CBS event been up to snuff? Opinions please…

Strikeforce results and LIVE fight coverage for ‘Fedor vs Rogers’ in Hoffman Estates on Nov. 7

Posted: 02 Nov 2009 07:27 AM PST

Strikeforce recently took a major step toward finalizing the line-up for its upcoming trip to the outskirts of Chicago when it storms the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, for its live CBS prime time broadcast on Nov. 7.

Strikeforce: “Fedor vs. Rogers” will feature a main event between former PRIDE and WAMMA heavyweight champion, Fedor “The Last Emperor” Emelianenko trying to quell the undefeated uprising of Brett “The Grim” Rogers in a bid to determine who will challenge Alistair Overeem for the heavyweight strap in 2010.

In addition, “Bully Beatdown” star and DREAM veteran Jason “Mayhem” Miller will take on former Elite XC welterweight champion Jake Shields for the vacant Strikeforce middleweight title.

Rising star Gegard Mousasi will also appear, taking on hard-hitting Rameau Thierry Skoudjou in a non-title affair while Fabricio Werdum looks to go 2-0 for the promotion against former Elite XC heavyweight champ Antonio “Junior” Silva.

Here is the current “Fedor vs. Rogers” fight card:

Main event:

265 lbs.: Fedor "The Last Emperor" Emelianenko (30-1) vs. Brett "The Grim" Rogers (10-0)

Main card (Televised):

185 lbs.: Jason "Mayhem" Miller (22-6) vs. Jake Shields (23-4-1)
205 lbs.: Gegard "The Dreamcatcher" Mousasi (26-2-1) vs. “The African Assassin” Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (7-4)
265 lbs.: Fabricio “Vai Cavalo” Werdum (12-4-1) vs. Antonio "Junior" Silva (13-1)

Under card (May not be broadcast):

145 lbs.: Marloes Coenen (16-3) vs. Roxanne Modafferi (13-4)*
145 lbs.: Jeff “The Big Frog” Curran (29-12-1) vs. Dustin “The Beast” Neace (17-13-1)*
170 lbs.: Shamar Bailey (9-1) vs. John Kolosci (10-5)*
155 lbs.: Deray Davis (5-1-1) vs. Mark Miller (9-5)*
205 lbs.: Nate Moore (3-0) vs. Louis Taylor (4-0)*
170 lbs.: Jonatas Novaes (4-2) vs. Christian Uflacker (1-0)*

*Fight not yet officially confirmed by Strikeforce.

MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of Fedor vs. Rogers, beginning with the CBS telecast at 10 p.m. ET. In addition, we will deliver up-to-the-minute quick results of all the under card action as it starts to flow around 8 p.m. ET.

We're still a few days away from showtime; therefore, feel free to share your thoughts and predictions on “Fedor vs Rogers” in the comments section below. And remember that MMAmania.com will be the spot for the latest news and event-related highlights before, during and after the event.

For everything you need to know about the upcoming Strikeforce event feel free to also hit up our event archive right here.

Monday, November 2, 2009

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


Lyoto Machida to ‘close all holes’ for rematch with Shogun Rua (Video)

Posted: 01 Nov 2009 08:15 PM PST

Whenever that may be … this appears to be shot before news of his looming hand surgery broke:

Brad ‘One Punch’ Pickett joins WEC bantamweight roster

Posted: 01 Nov 2009 07:55 PM PST

brad_pickett

World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) has delved back into the fighter catalog with yet another signing to bolster its already extremely competitive bantamweight division.

The WEC and British 135-pounder Brad Pickett have come to terms on a multi-fight deal, according to Fighters Only magazine.

Pickett (17-4) enters the WEC on a seven-fight win streak, having not lost since June of 2007. He has spent the majority of his career at the 145-pound featherweight limit with much success, including being the featherweight champion when he fought in Cage Rage.

Nicknamed "One Punch," Pickett has made a career out of finishing fights. He has gone to a decision only four times out of his 21 total professional fights. Eight of his victories have come via submission, while six have been earned via knockout.

The WEC bantamweight division is currently ruled by the young champion Brian Bowles (8-0). Pickett enters a division that is more competitive than it has been in a long time, as the WEC continues to bolster its fighter roster as of late.

Pickett is expected to debut in early 2010. The fighter who will stand opposite "One Punch" next year has yet to be named.

Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for breaking news and updates from the WEC.

Report: Chad Mendes signs six-fight deal with WEC

Posted: 01 Nov 2009 06:01 PM PST

chad_mendes

The WEC featherweight division will soon welcome yet another promising 145-pounder as Chad Mendes has come to terms with the promotion on a six-fight deal, according to Sherdog.com.

Mendes (5-0) has garnered a perfect record over his young professional career, which began in Sept. 2008 with a debut victory over Giovanni Encarnacion via submission at Palace Fighting Championship: "Explosive."

Mendes has since gone on to win each of his four fights in 2009, rounding out his perfect record with two knockouts and two decisions.

At the age of 24, Mendes has spent his short professional career training with Urijah Faber and Team Alpha Male. He has a solid wrestling background as a two-time All-American California Polytechnic State University and the NCAA Division I runner-up in the 141-pound division in 2008.

Mendes is expected to debut in World Extreme Cagefighting in the first quarter of 2010. An opponent has yet to be named.

Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for updates and breaking news from the WEC.

Report: Kimbo Slice vs Houston Alexander in the works for TUF 10 Finale on Dec. 5

Posted: 01 Nov 2009 07:07 AM PST

kimbo_slice_houston_alexand

Kimbo Slice (3-1) will make his first official appearance inside the Octagon opposite Houston Alexander (9-4) in a 215-pound catchweight brawl booked for The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 10 Finale, which is slated for "The Pearl" at The Palms in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Dec. 5, according to NWITimes.com.

Apparently the only thing standing in the way is special clearance from the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) on Nov. 4. It’s merely a formality because of Alexander’s advanced age. He is 37-years-old.

Slice was invited to compete on the latest mixed martial arts reality series by company president Dana White. For years White had lambasted Slice while he competed under the Elite XC banner, feeling he did not deserve all the promotion and hype as a top fighter in the sport just because of his reputation as a backyard brawler in the mean streets of Miami.

So White was probably not surprised when Roy Nelson, arguably the best fighter in the house, took out Slice in episode three with a second round technical knockout. On the other hand, he was probably pleasantly surprised when the monster ratings poured in for the network — Spike TV set all-time viewership records thanks to the Slice factor.

And when he laces ‘em up on Dec. 5 the promotion and the network can expect more of the same. Slice has not competed since the infamous 14-second technical knockout loss to Seth Petruzelli at Elite XC: “Heat” more than one year ago (Oct. 4, 2008).

Alexander recently took out Sherman Pendergarst with a barrage of leg kicks and punches at Adrenaline MMA 4 in September, getting himself back in the win column after suffering three straight losses inside the Octagon.

The five-fight UFC veteran came up short against Eric Schafer, James Irvin and Thiago Silva, which was quite a twist of fortune after starting his career with the promotion with two big, and emphatic, victories over Alessio Sakara and Keith Jardine.

With a high-profile opportunity to battle Slice — a fighter who he knows will likely stand and trade with him — the Nebraskan can get his name back in the mix literally overnight with an exciting performance.

TUF 10 Finale will feature a showdown between the top two finalists from the Spike TV reality show, as well as a light heavyweight war featuring Jon "Bones" Jones as he inches his way closer to contention against Matt "The Hammer" Hamill.

Stay dialed in to MMAmania.com for more on TUF 10 Finale as it becomes available.

Michael Bisping trains his son mixed martial arts

Posted: 01 Nov 2009 05:59 AM PST

Check out the latest UFC 105 video blog from “The Count” after the jump.

Cris Cyborg ‘Lethal Beauty’ cover on ‘Ultimate MMA’

Posted: 01 Nov 2009 05:55 AM PST

MMA Quick Quote: ‘Whore Machine’ starts new porn career off with a Riley Steele bang

Posted: 01 Nov 2009 05:21 AM PST

warmachine_riley_steele

“I signed with LA Direct Models this week and today I did my first porn scene! LOL. I shot for Digital Playground with their girl Riley Steele … was fucking awesome! I was nervous but I came through. I’m still gonna fight … just gonna do this too because fighting isn’t quite enough money and you all know I ain’t trying to work! In life I have come to learn that all I enjoy is eating, sleeping, fighting and fucking! I’m living the dream getting paid to fight and fuck! What more could I ask for?

– UFC reject and MMA’s favorite controversial loose cannon, “War Machine” (the fighter previously known as John Koppenhaver), has embarked on a new venture. In yet another instance of MMA fighter’s diverging from his fight career to undertake extracurricular activities, he has set a new precedent. Care to respond to Mr. War Machine’s question, Maniacs?

Sunday, November 1, 2009

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 107: Jon Fitch vs Mike Pierce booked with Thiago Alves hurt

Posted: 31 Oct 2009 02:21 PM PDT

The third time will hopefully be the charm for Jon Fitch (19-3) now that up-and-coming welterweight Mike Pierce (10-1) has agreed to step up and face him at UFC 107 from the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tenn., on Dec. 12.

Pierce was originally slated to meet Josh Koscheck at UFC Fight Night 20 until “Kos” was promoted to the UFC 106 co-main event opposite Anthony “Rumble” Johnson.

Like Pierce, Fitch was left without an opponent when Ricardo Almeida injured his knee and withdrew from their UFC 106 bout on Nov. 21. Zuffa worked a little magic and booked him in a rematch of former number one welterweight contenders opposite Thiago Alves on Dec. 12; however, “Pitbull” also went down with a knee injury and was forced to bow out.

Fitch returned to the Octagon at UFC 100 to exact revenge against submission specialist Paulo Thiago, taking the contest via unanimous decision. The Brazilian stunned his good friend and American Kickboxing Academy training partner, Josh Koscheck, with a fight-ending first round uppercut at UFC 95: "Sanchez vs. Stevenson" earlier this year.

The Purdue University wrestler now boasts 10 victories for the promotion in 11 attempts. The lone blemish on his record is to welterweight deity Georges "Rush" St. Pierre in their championship match from UFC 87: "Seek and Destroy" in Aug. 2008.

And the competition isn't getting any easier.

Pierce recently stunned quite a few fans in his Octagon debut at UFC Fight Night 19, registering a convincing unanimous decision over the super tough Brock Larson. It was just the third loss in Larson's impressive career. And it marked six straight wins for the surging Pierce.

Despite his recent success, Pierce will no doubt be a heavy underdog on fight night when he gets locked inside the cage opposite the 11-fight UFC veteran.

UFC 107 will feature a main event between lightweight division champion, BJ Penn, defending his title against number one division contender, Diego Sanchez. In the co-featured fight of the night, former two-time heavyweight champion Frank Mir will "begin his quest for a third title" when he takes on Cheick Kongo.

To check out the latest UFC 107 fight card and rumors click here.

Strikeforce signs DREAM welterweight GP champion Marius ‘Whitemare’ Zaromskis

Posted: 31 Oct 2009 02:19 PM PDT

NEW YORK (Oct. 31, 2009) – DREAM Welterweight Grand Prix Champion Marius “Whitemare” Zaromskis (13-3) of Lithuania has signed a multi-fight agreement with world championship mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion Strikeforce.

Known for his explosive, highlight reel kicks, the 29-year-old, world-ranked Zaromskis has been his opponents’ worst “Whitemare” the last three years. The 2009 DREAM Welterweight Grand Prix Champion has won five fights in a row and nine of his last 10.

Zaromskis is coming off an utter destruction of Myeon Ho Bae, winning by 0:19, first-round KO on Oct 25. The victory earned Zaromskis the 2009 DREAM Welterweight Grand Prix crown.

Remarkably, it was the third consecutive time Zaromskis won a fight with a head kick in the opening round. On July 20, 2009, he defeated both Jason High (2:22) and heavily favored Hayoto Sakurai (4:03) with head kicks to win DREAM’s 170-pound tournament.

Zaromskis turned pro on Feb. 4, 2000. He fought several times for UK-based Cage Rage before joining DREAM in early 2009.

Two of his three losses came against former Cage Rage British champion in Che Mills.

Strikeforce in March 2009 signed a multi-year agreement to stage live MMA events on the premium cable television network, Showtime. Next Saturday, November 7, Strikeforce will make its live debut on CBS with its “Fedor vs. Rogers” mega-fight that it is co-promoting with M-1 Global.

Happy Halloween from the MMAmania.com Crew

Posted: 31 Oct 2009 10:37 AM PDT

Happy Halloween, Maniacs. Here’s our customary holiday sweet treat.

It’s open thread and discussion time. Feel free to go bananas in the comments section below, posting news, sharing links, telling bad jokes … whatever. As usual, please do your best to keep it relatively clean and MMA-related.

Enjoy the day and have fun.

WEC 45: Muhsin Corbbrey vs Zack Micklewright planned for Dec. 19

Posted: 31 Oct 2009 09:39 AM PDT

corrbrey_micklewright

After running through the competition in Glory Fighting Championships and Midwest King of the Ring, Zack Micklewright (6-0) has landed a five-fight deal with the WEC and an opponent on the promotion’s year-end card.

Muhsin Corbbrey (7-4) is set to welcome the undefeated youngster to the promotion’s lightweight landscape at WEC 45: "Cerrone vs. Ratcliff" from "The Pearl" at The Palms in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Dec. 19.

Corbbrey debuted in the WEC on Oct. 10 at WEC 43, losing via technical knockout to Anthony Njokuani. It marked Corbbrey's second loss in a row, as he lost to Nick Diaz this past June in the now defunct Elite XC.

Corbbrey's record isn't astounding, but the way he fights makes him a solid asset for the WEC. He has only gone to the judges scorecards twice and is always looking for a slick submission finish.

Micklewright earned his spot on the WEC lightweight roster with an impressive 6-0 record, with his most recent win a submission (strikes) victory over Jaxon Mayson at Glory Fighting Championships 6 back in April.

Like Corbbrey, Micklewright is an exciting fighter who would rather leave it out of the judges hands. His debut was the only time he went the distance in a fight. However, Micklewright's time in smaller promotions has come to an end, as he has been given a shot with one of the top promotions in mixed martial arts.

The WEC will be a true test for this 155-pound wrecking ball.

WEC 45 will be headlined by a lightweight brawl between Donald Cerrone and Ed Ratcliff. Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for breaking news on the WEC's last card of the 2009 fight season.

UFC 105 video: Michael Bisping trains for Denis Kang fight on Nov. 14

Posted: 31 Oct 2009 07:44 AM PDT

Nothing personal: Jake Shields Strikeforce interview exclusive with MMAmania.com

Posted: 31 Oct 2009 07:44 AM PDT

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Jake Shields (28–4–1) is one of only a handful of mixed martial artists who have managed to become stars domestically fighting outside the UFC.

To the casual MMA fan his name may not be all that familiar … yet. On the other hand, the hardcore fans and media know full well he's one of the top fighters in the world regardless of what organization he's currently fighting for.

The 30-year-old is currently on a 12-fight win streak that dates back to November 2005, which includes victories over quality opponents such as Yushin Okami, Carlos Condit, Mike Pyle, Nick Thompson, Paul Daley and Robbie Lawler, among others.

His last fight against Lawler under the Strikeforce banner was at a catchweight of 182 pounds as he began his transition from his natural weight class at the welterweight limit of 170 pounds to the 185 pound middleweight class to pursue bigger fights.

The man standing in his way of making it 13 in a row is a very seasoned, very dangerous Jason "Mayhem" Miller (22–6, 1 no contest).

The fight will be for the vacated Strikeforce middleweight championship formerly held by Cung Le, which Le won by defeating Frank Shamrock way back in March 2008, but he never once defended it because has been more involved in the movie business than mixed martial arts.

As a result, Shields and Mayhem will collide at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Ill., for the title on Nov. 7. The event will be broadcast live on CBS to a massive nationwide audience.

A victory for Shields would add another belt to his growing collection that includes championships in Rumble on the Rock, Shooto, and EliteXC. A loss would send him back to the drawing board to evaluate his options as he inches closer toward the end of his current fight contract.

Shields took some time out of his busy schedule to talk about a wide range of subjects, including the possibility of going after two Strikeforce belts, avoiding nicknames, the signing of Herschel Walker, Mayhem Miller, and UFC champion Georges St. Pierre.

Check it out:

Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): What was your take on the Shogun Rua/Lyoto Machida fight at UFC 104?

Jake Shields: I thought it was a good technical fight. I had Shogun winning. It was a close fight. I gave at least three rounds to Shogun. I had two rounds that I pretty much gave a draw. If I was a judge I would've given it to Shogun.

Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): The 10-point must scoring system is always up for debate after a fight like that one. Do you like the way the current scoring system is or think it should be changed?

Jake Shields: It's really tough to score a fight in general. One problem is that the 10-point must system weighs too much on the last round, which isn't fair either. I think more than the system, it's the judges. I think we need judges that know the sport. These guys get paid to judge and people bring their buddies in who don't know anything about the sport to judge. I think they need to fix that more than the actual judging system.

Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): In your last fight you were able to submit Robbie Lawler in the first round, but what impressed me the most was your stand up leading up to the submission. Do you feel like you were winning the stand up battle prior to the grappling?

Jake Shields: Yeah, I definitely did. I thought I was doing really good out there, but I went back and watched the announcers and they talked about how bad I was losing, but if you watch it I wasn't. I think they had their minds made up about my stand up (beforehand). Frank Shamrock was going off about how I was in trouble, but it looked like I was landing a lot more shots than Robbie was, in my opinion.

Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Is your stand up something you've been focusing on extra hard in your training?

Jake Shields: Yeah, the last two years I focused a lot on my stand up trying to catch up. Grappling is still my stronger point. I work a lot on my stand up and feel a lot more comfortable there.

Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): You're no stranger to fighting on CBS; however, this time it's not the Kimbo Slice show that Elite XC was promoting, it's the Fedor Emelianenko show. Talk about that dynamic.

Jake Shields: I think it's awesome to be fighting on the card with Fedor Emelianenko. He's one of my favorite fighters of all time. He's the headliner but to be the co-headliner is quite an honor to be fighting alongside him. I'm really excited about it. Unfortunately, I haven't seen the promo for it so I hope it gets good ratings.

Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Have you ever seen Fedor fight in person?

Jake Shields: I actually have. I had the opportunity to go see him twice. I saw him in Japan fight the giant Korean guy (Hong Man Choi). I also saw him fight Andrei Arlovski in Affliction. He's awesome to watch live.

Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Will you be coming out of your locker room to watch him fight after yours?

Jake Shields: I definitely plan on watching it as long as I'm not banged up. I plan on just going in the back and doing what I have to do and hopefully they'll let me come out and watch. Sometimes athletic commissions won't let you run back out so hopefully they'll let me.

Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Strikeforce signed a guy recently who made his name outside the sport of MMA in Herschel Walker. I wanted to get your thoughts on his signing.

Jake Shields: Personally, I think it's a good sign. Most people criticize it, obviously, but a guy like that is a phenomenal athlete. He's a well known guy. He certainly shouldn't be headlining any cards like Kimbo Slice was, but I think he definitely deserves a spot in Strikeforce. Maybe the first televised fight of the night or something. He's obviously established himself as a great athlete. Hopefully he's taking the sport seriously and he'll go out there and maybe actually be a decent fighter.

Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): You're scheduled to face Jason "Mayhem" Miller on November 7. You guys did two episodes on MTV's Bully Beatdown together. Did you guys get a chance to know each other at all during or outside filming?

Jake Shields: I've actually known Mayhem for years. We're friends but it's not like we're great friends or anything. When I see him we'll talk. It's not like we call each other on the phone and catch up with each other. I like the guy, but I have no problem trying to break his nose.

Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): It's conceivable you could beat the crap out of each other for five rounds and then go have a drink together afterwards?

Jake Shields: Yeah, definitely. I plan on winning the fight, but if for some chance I lost I wouldn't be bitter. It's not personal. It's just a fight and I think we're both aware of that. It's related to the business. Sometimes you have to beat up people that are your friends.

Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Both of you have the majority of your career wins by submission. You're both great on the ground. A lot of the time this translates into a stand up battle. Is it possible we see you two going toe-to-toe the whole time?

Jake Shields: It's possible. I don't think for 25 minutes. I think at some point one of us will go for takedowns because we're both grapplers. He'll go for a takedown and then I'll go for a takedown, but I wouldn't mind doing a little stand up with him either. I think this is the fight that people could see anything. I'm certainly willing to fight anywhere and I think he probably is too.

Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Besides your own gym in Berkeley, Calif., where has your training camp been taking place at for this fight?

Jake Shields: Over at Cesar's gym. Cesar Gracie's gym is about 30 minutes from here. Nick and Nate Diaz and Gil Melendez have been coming a lot and they come into my gym. I went down to LA for a little bit working at Wild Card Boxing. I went a few places but the majority of the training at my gym and Cesar's.

Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): I know you train at American Kickboxing Academy from time to time as well. I would think that has to help you out a ton with the stable of quality welterweights they have in Fitch, Koscheck and Swick. Do you concur?

Jake Shields: It's definitely good, hard sparring. I don't go there too much just because there's a good chance I'll fight some of those guys. They're not my friends, but it's just a situation where there are a lot of top fighters there, so I'm sure at some point I'll fight somebody from that gym. Definitely a lot of talented guys there.

Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Are you still finding it hard to gain solid weight to try to fill out as a 185'er while continuous training?

Jake Shields: I put some weight on in between fights but once you're training hard for a fight it's pretty much impossible to put too much solid weight on. You're training it all off. I'm eating a lot. I got a chance to catch a sponsor now that has some awesome products. That has helped me gain some weight and keep it lean.

Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): What is your weight now and what do you expect to weigh in at on November 7?

Jake Shields: I'll weigh in at 185, but I'm walking around at about 193, which is where I was at earlier today. Definitely small for 185 still, but at least I have to cut a few pounds.

Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): You're not exactly doing the Anthony Johnson weight cut though.

Jake Shields: That guy is massive. He could probably fight 185. I saw him about a month ago and I was like, "You're coming to 170's?" He was like over 200 when I saw him.

Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Your style of jiu-jitsu is American jiu-jitsu. Tell me the difference between that and Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Jake Shields: A few small changes. I have an American wrestling background and a black belt in Cesar Gracie jiu-jitsu. It's minus the gi and it's a combination of the two. Not enough people mix the wrestling and the jiu-jitsu. I think they're both crucial so I combined the two. It's a lot more high paced jiu-jitsu. It's not about waiting. Jiu-jitsu is about waiting for your opponents to make mistakes. I'm about forcing your opponents to make mistakes.

Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Before Mayhem signed on for your fight Frank Shamrock was a potential opponent for you as well. Why did that fight never materialize?

Jake Shields: I don't think Shamrock wants any part of me. He's past his prime. After the beating that Nick Diaz gave him he had a reality check. I think maybe he was thinking he could still fight young, tough fighters and it was really a wake up call. Now he will want to try to fight older guys or some B-level fighters. I don't expect Frank to ever want to fight me at this point.

Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): You seem to have avoided a nickname up to this point even though you've been around a while. Are you just praying that something ridiculous doesn't stick to you at this point?

Jake Shields: (Laughs) Exactly. People try to give me nicknames and I keep pushing them away. I'm not against taking a nickname if it was a cool nickname with a meaning. I don't want one of these ridiculous nicknames just for the sake of having one. I don't want to be like "Darth" Bader or "The Dean of Mean" Jardine. Those are cool guys and all but those nicknames are like, really?

Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Don't forget "The Dream Catcher" Gegard Mousasi.

Jake Shields: Yeah, I don't know where they come up with these nicknames. They just pick anything. I don't think everyone needs a nickname.

Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): I talked to Jon Fitch about this a few months ago. He basically said it has to come from your friends or teammates and nothing has ever stuck but, on the other hand, he can't just show up at the gym and tell everyone to call him Cobra or something like that.

Jake Shields: (Laughs) I think that's what a lot of guys are doing nowadays. They think they found a cool nickname and then come in and are like, "hey, this is my nickname."

Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Moving forward, how many fights left on your current contract if you don't mind saying?

Jake Shields: I think it's one or two after this fight. My dad handles the exact contract. I'm not that sure right now, but I know it's not too many. There's also a time clause on it.

Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Are you interested in going after not only the middleweight belt but the Strikeforce welterweight belt as well?

Jake Shields: I would like to do that. I think that would be awesome to take both. I don't know what Strikeforce wants to do. I think they kind of want different champs, but I would certainly be willing to fight for both. There's also the problem with Nick Diaz fighting in Strikeforce as well. I don't want to try to cut in and step on his toes. If the opportunity was right and it wouldn't block Nick I would definitely fight for both belts.

Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Strikeforce seems to be having problems with guys not defending their belts. What would justify stripping a guy of his belt in your opinion?

Jake Shields: I guess you have to look at it fighter for fighter to figure out what the reasons are to figure out if they're legitimate. I think if someone hasn't defended it in a year that's long enough. A lot of these guys have legitimate reasons like Josh Thomson. I know Josh. He legitimately broke his foot a couple times so what are you going to do? You don't really want to strip someone in that situation, but if someone is not fighting it can get kind of ridiculous too.

Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Cung Le and Alistair Overeem, on the other hand, are different situations.

Jake Shields: Oh yeah. Cung Le definitely needed to be stripped. Nothing against Cung Le but you can't just hold onto a belt and not fight, and then say you want to do movies or say you'll only fight if they give you an easy fight.

Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Right now people are having a tough time figuring out who can beat Georges St. Pierre in the UFC now that he's run through the majority of their 170's. Is he still a guy you'd like to test your skills against someday?

Jake Shields: Definitely. I'd love to fight GSP one day. Right now I'm here with Strikeforce and worried about fights that are realistic. That's a dream fight. I hope he keeps winning and I keep winning so at some point that fight becomes a reality.

Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Assuming the UFC continues to have the majority of the top welterweights in the world moving forward, will your career be complete if you don't have a UFC belt when it's all said and done?

Jake Shields: It would be nice to get that UFC belt but it all depends on what Strikeforce does too. Right now they're doing really good things. I've heard rumors about guys like Dan Henderson. They're treating me really good so I'm just going to take it one step at a time. It would be awesome to have that UFC belt but that's not my ultimate goal either.

Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Before we go would you like to pass along a message to your fans out there or thank any sponsors?

Jake Shields: Thanks to all the fans for the support. I want to thank Champion Nutrition, Tapout, Rockstar Energy Drink and EA Sports. And my whole team and trainers. Without them I wouldn't be fighting.

Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Appreciate the time. Thank you again. I'll see you up in Chicago for the fight.

Jake Shields: Awesome. It was no problem at all. I'll see you in Chicago.

Derek Bolender is an MMA contributor to MMAmania.com, CBSSports.com, BleacherReport.com, and InsideFights.com. Follow him at Twitter.com/DerekMMAwriter and Facebook.com/Derek.Bolender.

Lyoto Machida hand surgery to postpone UFC 104 rematch against Shogun Rua

Posted: 31 Oct 2009 07:43 AM PDT

On the heels of the controversial main event finish at UFC 104 between Lyoto Machida and Mauricio Rua, UFC President Dana White promised disappointed fans an immediate rematch.

The general consensus coming out of the event was that "Shogun" did enough to win a decision over the undefeated light heavyweight champion at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California back on Oct. 24.

The only problem is he didn't, losing two rounds two three. In fact, all three judges — Nelson Hamilton, Cecil Peoples and Marcos Rosales — scored it 48-47 for “The Dragon.”

"I thought Shogun won the fight," White remarked at the post-event press conference.

White also appeared to be a little upset that both fighters didn't lay it all on the line in the fifth and final round. That's probably because both of their respective corners told them they were ahead on the judges scorecards.

Despite a lip laceration and some very sore legs, Machida was ready to prove to the world his win was no mistake — just as Rua was ready to prove he was deserving of the 205-pound title.

There were rumblings of adding Machida vs. Rua 2 to the main card of UFC 108 on January 2; however, Yahoo Sports is now reporting that Machida will require surgery on his hand to repair damaged sustained in the five round battle against Rua.

As of now, the future of their planned rematch is up in the air. The extent of the injury, as well as the duration of the recovery time, has not been established, but it’s hard to imagine a rematch happening earlier than mid 2010.

Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for more updates on Machida’s surgery as they become available.

Josh Neer released from his UFC contract following UFC 104 loss

Posted: 31 Oct 2009 07:42 AM PDT

After a gutty and hard-fought win over Mac Danzig at UFC Fight Night 17: "Lauzon vs. Stephens" earlier this year, 25-year-old mixed martial arts veteran Josh Neer had inked a four-fight contract extension that was expected to keep the lightweight dynamo with the UFC for an additional four fights.

The promotion would only give him two.

After losing to Gleison Tibau at UFC 104: “Machida vs. Shogun,” his second straight loss since the Danzig fight, “The Dentist” has been released from his UFC contract.

Neer rejoined the UFC after posting a 2-3 record in his first run (2005-2006). During his layoff, he won six of seven fights outside the promotion before returning to the Octagon and defeating Din Thomas by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 13. He followed that up with a split decision loss to Nate Diaz, but not before earning "Fight of the Night" in their three-round war at UFC Fight Night 15 back in September.

Neer, who promises "Win, lose or draw I'm going to bring it," would go on to nab his second straight "Fight of the Night" against Danzig, which no doubt prompted the UFC to hold on to the gritty warrior for his efforts inside the cage and his ability to electrify the crowd with his aggressiveness.

It apparently was not enough.

Prior to the Tibau fight, Neer was coming off a frustrating unanimous decision loss to Kurt Pellegrino at UFC 101 on Aug. 8, during which he was stifled by the wrestling and ground skills of "Batman" for most of the 15-minute scrap.

His ability to electrify the crowd with his aggressiveness is among the best in the division; however, he had a difficult time sparking fireworks against opponents with strong wrestling and jiu-jitsu.

What the future has in store for this talent is unknown, but it’s hard to imagine that he’ll be unemployed for very long. With the right match-up, Neer will always deliver.

MMA Quick Quote: Brett Rogers gets advice from, and trains with, Josh Barnett for Fedor Emelianenko fight

Posted: 31 Oct 2009 07:11 AM PDT

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”Keep moving. Never, never stay still. Keep moving, and you’ll always find some way, some pocket, to get out of a bad situation. Especially when it comes to a ground situation.”

Words of wisdom from former UFC Heavyweight Champion, Josh Barnett, as he helps Brett Rogers prepare to take on the world’s best heavyweight, Fedor Emelianenko, at Strikeforce: “Fedor vs. Rogers” at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Ill., on Nov. 7. Of course, Barnett was supposed to fight Fedor earlier this year at Affliction: “Trilogy;” however, he tested positive for banned substances prior to the match and the bout was scrapped. Barnett competed alongside the Russian for several years under the Pride FC banner and is among the most intelligent fighters in the sport today. If anyone can help Rogers gameplan effectively for Emelianenko it’s certainly Barnett. In fact, he may even be over qualified. But will it be enough for Rogers to overcome years of experience and a much more well rounded skill set?

Jose Aldo expects to knockout Mike Brown at WEC 44 on Nov. 18

Posted: 31 Oct 2009 06:39 AM PDT

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Props: Terra Magazine

Quoteworthy:

"First of all, I hope to make a good fight. I want to impose my game and what I'm training. For sure I expect to knockout. Brown has a very strong wrestling. All my opponents were dangerous up to now but he is champion and I think he is the most dangerous fighter WEC put in front of me. I think Brown is going to try the ground and pound and trade some punches too. He will start striking to feel the fight and after he will take me down. I'm well trained everywhere to fight five rounds but I want to knockout. If I become the WEC champion, who knows I will go to UFC some day?"

Undefeated (in the WEC) Brazilian smashing machine, Jose Aldo, will look to make it six straight (technical) knockout victories when he goes toe-to-toe with WEC Featherweight Champion, Mike Brown, at WEC 44 from "The Pearl" at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada on Nov. 18. It certainly won’t be easy because Brown is as tough as they come. But if anyone can do it is Aldo — he is absolutely ferocious on his feet. Will he be able to keep it upright or will Brown be able to neutralize his stand up with takedowns and punishing ground and pound. Predictions please, Maniacs.

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