Michelle Waterson’s grip on the Invicta Fighting Championship atomweight throne grew stronger at the expense of Yasuko Tamada.
Michelle Waterson Routs Yasuko Tamada, Retains Atomweight Title at Invicta FC 8
MMA FURY
Sunday, September 7, 2014
Michelle Waterson Routs Yasuko Tamada, Retains Atomweight Title at Invicta FC 8
Michelle Waterson Routs Yasuko Tamada, Retains Atomweight Title at Invicta FC 8
Alistair Overeem cites costly 'mistake' at UFC Fight Night 50
Alistair Overeem explained what happened against Ben Rothwell on Instagram on Saturday. Yesterday I was in a great shape and prep was superb! Thanks to all involved, from coaches to fysio’s! You were all great. About the fight – I made a mistake! Hearing Ben’s arm crack on one of the kicks I didn’t expect him to counterpunch with the same arm.. We knew Ben is a tough strong guy, well we got it confirmed yesterday! Now today, new day – new chances! It might not always go as we want or as planned but..
As long as we have freedom and high spirits we are/should be ok! This coming from myself who’ve had several downturns in both life and career but plenty of great moments in life to so not complaining!
Alistair Overeem cites costly 'mistake' at UFC Fight Night 50
Fortunes changed for five in Friday night fights
Friday night’s head-to-head battle with the UFC and Bellator ended up showcasing two very different visions of mixed martial arts. It also set up a second go-around in November with those same differences. The UFC presented its typical Fight Night show. With so many shows, and so little time to promote the shows, the UFC almost comes across like something with a take-it-or-leave-it approach. We’re putting on a show. We have some good fighters, some of which you may know, some of which you don’t.
More often than not, the fights will be good. And this week it’s free. If you miss it, next week we have another show. Bellator doesn’t have the depth of fighters so it relies on attention grabbing. And Friday night’s fall season opener, the first of ten straight weeks of fights before the new vision of Bellator begins in 2015, was a weird amalgamation. It featured a serious quality main event title fight, and a couple of name fighters going in no particular direction. It also featured the most talked about thing on either show, whatever it was that Stephan Bonnar, Tito Ortiz and Justin McCulley were doing.
In many ways, it felt like this missing link between pro wrestling and sport MMA. It was a little bit of both, and a lot of neither. Bellator has three fighters that dabbled in the past year as pro wrestlers for TNA, Spike’s pro wrestling company, in Rampage Jackson, Tito Ortiz and King Mo Lawal. A fourth, Bobby Lashley, is a full-time pro wrestler, and TNA’s current champion, who debuted in Bellator on Friday. Lashley (11-2), who scored a dominant win over Josh Burns (8-8), said that he’s not dabbling in MMA, but making a serious run at the sport.
A fifth, McCulley, is a former UFC fighter who also has his own background as a pro wrestler. A sixth, Bonnar, had no pro wrestling background, but of late, has been training at the World Wrestling Entertainment Performance Center in Orlando, Fla What happened in the cage, with Bonnar doing an interview with a masked man (McCulley) by his side, trying to promote the Nov. 15 Bellator fall season finale in San Diego that promoter Scott Coker dubbed the battle of MMA Hall of Famers, felt more like a wrestling pull-apart brawl.
Fortunes changed for five in Friday night fights
John McCarthy: 'Fighters aren't truly educated in what they're doing to themselves' during weight cuts
With weight cutting issues in the spotlight the last couple of weeks — starting at UFC 177 when Henry Cejudo and Renan Barao both dropped out of their fights in Sacramento after bad cuts, and this week with Charles Oliveira coming in over — solutions are being kicked around.One person who has thought about all the inherent problems with weight cutting over the years is Big John McCarthy, the longtime official going back to the UFC’s unruly early days. McCarthy was in Sacramento when Barao passed out and hit his head during his weight cut.
Barao has struggled making the 135-pound maximum for the last couple of years, and he says that sort of extreme cutting can leave a permanent mark.McCarthy appeared on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour and talked about the increasingly more problematic routine of fighters cutting so much weight. He told Ariel Helwani that it starts having awareness of the damage a fighter is causing himself.I don’t think fighters are truly educated as to exactly what they are doing to themselves, and I mean doing to themselves over the long term of their life, he said.
You know, the weight thing is a huge problem in everything that it’s involved in, be it wrestling or MMA — any time someone is losing the weight that some of these guys do, draining their body of fluids, the electrolytes, it’s a problem for everybody involved. Not just the fighter, but the promoter and the promotion itself because you have situations where fighters don’t make weight. You also have situations where fighters are putting themselves at risk in going into that contest. Because they’re doing everything in their power to cheat.
John McCarthy: 'Fighters aren't truly educated in what they're doing to themselves' during weight cuts
Bobby Lashley Wants To Fight Next Month, Mentions Cheick Kongo
Following his submission win over Josh Burns at Friday night’s Bellator 123 event, Bellator MMA fighter (and TNA Wrestling star) Bobby Lashley says he’s already looking ahead towards his next fight. In an interview with MMAJunkie.com, Lashley said: “I don’t know when the (next) fight is going to be because I have obligations to TNA, and at the same time have I have obligations to the Bellator,” he said. “But we’re going to try to figure out something. Hopefully I can fight real soon.” Lashley, a Kansas native , says he’s willing to fight for Bellator next month from Kansas City.
“I can do that,” he said. “I’m from there, man. … If I have the opportunity to fight in Kansas City, I’m always open to it.” During the Bellator 123 Countdown show on Spike TV, Lashley mentioned Cheick Kongo a potential opponent. Kongo would be Lashley’s toughest challenge to date, but the TNA World Champion wants to face the best competition possible during what he calls his last run as an MMA fighter. “I’m not having too many runs (left),” he said. “I’m not going to be taking time off and coming back and forth.
Bobby Lashley Wants To Fight Next Month, Mentions Cheick Kongo
UFC Fight Pass Goes Down During Invicta FC 8 Main Event, UFC Officials Comment
During the third round of the Invicta FC 8 main event between Michelle Waterson vs. Yasuko Tamada on Saturday night, the first non-UFC event to air live on UFC Fight Pass, the digital service crashed. As a result, viewers missed the conclusion of the Waterson-Tamada championship bout. At the Invicta FC 8 post-fight press conference, Ant Evans, the UFC executive leading the UFC Fight Pass service, spoke to members of the MMA media about the incident, acknowledging what happened and promising to make it right with consumers.
Fight Pass did experience a slight drop in the stream during the course of Michelle’s main event for several minutes. I’d like to be very clear this is a Fight Pass issue and we have never experienced it before, said Evans. It was definitely not an Invicta issue. We’d like to apologize to Shannon [Knapp] for that. Evans concluded, We’re going to do a make up for this for all of our great subscribers. Invicta FC President Shannon Knapp also spoke to the media, focusing on the positives of her promotion finally airing on the UFC Fight Pass service.
UFC Fight Pass Goes Down During Invicta FC 8 Main Event, UFC Officials Comment
AXS TV Fights boss apologizes to Ben Askren after 'Inside MMA' segment
The head of AXS TV Fights has apologized to ONE FC welterweight champion Ben Askren following a heavily criticized segment on this past Friday’s edition of “Inside MMA.”
AXS TV Fights boss apologizes to Ben Askren after 'Inside MMA' segment
Ben Askren explains the root of his desire to fight Johny Hendricks
Ben Askren’s rivalry with Johny Hendricks runs as deep as any college sports rivalry worth its salt. In this case, Askren wore the singlet of the University of Missouri, while Hendricks wrestled for Oklahoma State. And while it’s clear the two aren’t going to tangle in the cage any time soon, given that Hendricks is the UFC welterweight champion and Askren is his OneFC counterpart, it’s just as clear that Askren, one of MMA’s king Twitter trolls, isn’t going to stop hectoring Hendricks any time soon.
On Tuesday’s edition of The MMA Hour, Askren was asked how the Hendricks hate originated. The fighter known as Funky relayed a wrestling story that involved his Missouri teammate and current UFC welterweight contender Tyron Woodley. It’s hard to describe in full effect unless you’ve been around the wrestling community a long time, Askren said. He has won so many matches lucky through college. … He was wrestling my teammate Tyron Woodley in the Big 12 finals, 2005-06, somewhere around there, and [the score] was 1-1 in the third.
Tyron’s in on a shot, and Johny kept sticking his fingers into Tyron’s mouth. So finally Tyron bites him, which he shouldn’t have done, but when someone’s sticking fingers in your mouth, it’s like, c’mon, so he gave up a point because he bit him, land he lost match 2-1. And it’s like c’mon, is that really how you’re going to lose the Big 12 finals? He was just doing sneaky s– like that all the time. Askren likewise claimed Hendricks ducked him at an All-Star collegiate wrestling meet. According to Askren, he was willing to go down in weight class to meet Hendricks on the mat.
Ben Askren explains the root of his desire to fight Johny Hendricks
Wolfe tickets! Boxing legend goes nuts on Ronda Rousey, wants daughter to teach 'Rowdy' a lesson in pugilism
I ain’t Lucia Riker, I ain’t none of them motherfuckers. I’m Anne Wolfe. I don’t give a damn about her, I don’t even want to talk about her. I have eight world titles in four different weight classes. Goddamn Lucia Riker is old enough to be my grandma! My daughter weighs 135.
Tell her we’ll go in a real, live, 100-percent boxing match. She’s 9-0, ranked No. 1 in the nation. She’ll whoop her motherfuckin’ ass. One of the most dangerous female boxers to ever lace up the gloves, Ann Wolfe, does not want to hear anything about Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) bantamweight titleholder Ronda Rousey, or tales of Rowdy schooling world-champion boxers while sparring. In fact, Wolfe is willing to prove that Rousey — or any other…
Wolfe tickets! Boxing legend goes nuts on Ronda Rousey, wants daughter to teach 'Rowdy' a lesson in pugilism
Down in Florida, where lions learn to suffer
MMAjunkie’s Ben Fowlkes spends three days at American Top Team, a gym that has established itself as one of the top fight teams in all of MMA. But it didn’t do it by taking it easy on those who enter.
Down in Florida, where lions learn to suffer
NY Times publishes photo of Georges St. Pierre and Leonardo DiCaprio alongside 'biggest pot dealer in New York City history'
Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) welterweight titleholder Georges St. Pierre was recently featured in NY Times. Unfortunately, it wasn’t for his exploits as one of the world’s most gifted mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters. Instead, Rush — alongside Hollywood icon Leonardo DiCaprio — was photoed with longtime pal Jimmy Cournoyer, who just so happens to be the biggest pot dealer in New York City history. Kind of a strange association, considering St. Pierre’s crusade to end drug use in MMA.
From NYTimes.com: Starting in the mid-2000s, Mr. Cournoyer managed the shipment of man-size bales of hydroponically grown pot across the border on motorboats and snowmobiles. Nearly $1 billion of his cash was laundered through the Sinaloa drug cartel or was ferried back to Canada in pickup trucks equipped with secret traps in their radios and gas tanks. We never saw anything like this guy before, said Steven L. Tiscione, a federal prosecutor in New York who supervised the task force that broke the case. In terms of his longevity and scope, and the connections he had around the world, nothing, nobody, comes close.
NY Times publishes photo of Georges St. Pierre and Leonardo DiCaprio alongside 'biggest pot dealer in New York City history'
Bigfoot Silva is fighting Andrei Arlovski again ... and not much has changed since the first time around
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is giving former heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski (22-10, 1 NC) a chance to get one back against old Strikeforce nemesis Antonio Silva (18-5-1) in a rematch booked for UFC Fight Night 51, which takes place this Saturday night (Sept. 13, 2014) inside Nilson Nelson Gymnasium in Brasilia. Because … well, I’m not really sure why. It’s not like Arlovski was robbed by the judges following a unanimous decision loss to Bigfoot, which came after three rounds of action at the Heavy Artillery event on Showtime back in 2010.
In fact, I was there in person, and I can’t recall much about their contest. Probably because it wasn’t anything worth remembering. Maybe that was the biggest takeaway from their fight. The Belarusian was in a career nosedive, and needed one of his trademark knockouts to recapture some of the mystique enjoyed inside the Octagon, prior to his disastrous trilogy against Tim Sylvia. No such luck. There was a similar sense of urgency for the Brazilian. Once the ruler of the EliteXC heavyweight roost, Silva had failed a drug test, then came up lame in his Strikeforce debut, losing a 15-minute slap fight against Fabricio Werdum.
Fans and pundits alike were expecting one of these two men to make a statement inside the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri. They made one alright, it was Move along folks, nothing to see here. Silva would move on to capture the biggest win of his career, a technical knockout victory over fading legend Fedor Emelianenko, before floundering across his next six bouts and failing another drug test. Arlovski, meanwhile, rebounded on the regional circuit and put together a 7-1 record (1 NC). Now they’re back and ready to do it all over again.
Bigfoot Silva is fighting Andrei Arlovski again ... and not much has changed since the first time around
Saturday, September 6, 2014
Keeping Boxing Alive in Kenya
Tom Bentley is the lead singer in a little known Reggae band called ‘Hakuna Pesa’ but while he hasn’t found fame and fortune through his music much of the money this group earns goes to funding a boxing club in a poverty stricken city in Kenya called Nakuru. During the golden era of Kenyan boxing the country won eight gold medals at the All Africa Games in 1987, with the team enjoying further success at the Olympic Games the following year when Robert Wangila became the first ever African boxer to win a gold medal.
Kenya’s most decorated boxer, Philip Waruinge, trained out of the now defunct Nakuru Boxing Club and represented the country at three separate Olympic Games winning a bronze medal in 1968 and taking the silver four years later. According to newspaper reports Waruinge is now living in poverty and his plight mirrors that of Kenyan boxing which had been in a steady state of decline for the best part of three decades. The club Bentley founded is unique in that it allows fighters to train free of charge and he says that the cost is what deters the current generation from taking up the sport.
“The Kaloleni Boxing Club started two years ago. I had the vision for years but finally met a few ex-boxers and we decided to make a free club in the slums because that’s where the best fighters come from. There were no free clubs in Kenya and the sport which was once prosperous has almost died out with no money, no sponsorship and no access for the youth.” he told Fightland. The poverty level in Nakuru is currently at 44% meaning that nearly half the population of the city is surviving on less than a dollar a day and as a consequence crime is rife, particularly in the five slums which are home to approximately two thirds of the city’s population.
Keeping Boxing Alive in Kenya
The Greatest Fight of All Time: Muhammad Ali vs. Superman
So the other night I’m at a party, and I sneak away from the crowd around the pool, and wandering through the house for a bathroom—up the stairs, through a closed door, and WTF?! I’m in a man-cave to rival Batman’s layer: pool table; four flatscreen LCDs on the wall; framed baseball jerseys; signed basketballs; beer on tap; and atop a guitar amplifier, the most unreal statue of Muhammad Ali versus Superman. Yeah, fucking Ali toe-to-to with the Man of Steel!
As both a comics and fight fan, this mash up was beyond comprehension. The Matrix glitching, for certain. Each hero stood maybe eight inches high, and inspecting every angle of the thing, it was clearly official DC Comics merchandise. So I pulled out my phone, snapped a few pics (yah, I got the obligatory selfie of me lording over the two titans like a ginormous Joker), and as I turn to leave, I notice on the coffee table a hardbound comic depicting the same sculpture.
Screw the party. I poured a beer from the tap and settled in for a read. Turns out, back in 1978 a galactic species surrounded the Earth with a monstrous fleet of spaceships, and their leader threatened to destroy the planet unless our greatest fighter challenged their greatest, mano y mano. Both Superman and Ali stepped forward. The villainous leader demanded they fight each other, to determine the best. Only, here’s the wrinkle, Superman had to fight without his powers.
The Greatest Fight of All Time: Muhammad Ali vs. Superman
UFC Fight Night 50 Results: Jacare, Rothwell, Lauzon Score Stoppages
Welcome to the MMANews.com live results coverage of the UFC Fight Night Connecticut event, which takes place from the Foxwoods Resort & Casino in Ledyard, Connecticut.
UFC Fight Night 50 Results: Jacare, Rothwell, Lauzon Score Stoppages
Michael Bisping vs. Luke Rockhold Confirmed For UFC Fight Night 55 On 11/8
It was officially announced during the UFC Fight Night 50 pre-show on FOX Sports 1 that the highly anticipated grudge match between UFC Middleweight contenders Michael Bisping and Luke Rockhold will take place in November.
Bisping announced the fight, as he was part of the pre-fight broadcast team on FS1. Bisping vs. Rockhold will take place at UFC Fight Night 55, which is scheduled to take place from the Allphones Arena in Sydney, Australia and will air live on UFC Fight Pass on November 8, 2014.
The two will likely main event the UFN 55 card in Australia, which also features Hector Lombard in action against an opponent yet-to-be-named, as well as Guto Inocente vs. Anthony Perosh.
Michael Bisping vs. Luke Rockhold Confirmed For UFC Fight Night 55 On 11/8
Shogun vs. Manuwa Set For UFC Fight Night Brazil On 11/8
UFC officially announced the main event for their UFC Fight Night event in November. In a Light Heavyweight featured bout, former UFC and PRIDE Champion Mauricio Shogun Rua (22-9) will take on Jimi Manuwa (14-1) in the headline match of the evening.
Also confirmed for UFC Fight Night Brazil in November is an intriguing match, as Rafael Feijao Cavalcante will take on Ovince St. Preux. UFC Fight Night Brazil takes place on November 8, 2014.
Shogun vs. Manuwa Set For UFC Fight Night Brazil On 11/8
Press Release For Ortiz vs. Bonnar At Bellator 131, Ortiz & Bonnar Comment
Bellator MMA issued the following … Tito vs. Bonnar Set For Saturday, November 15th From San Diego’s Valley View Casino Arena LIVE and FREE on Spike TV Chandler vs. Brooks Meet For Lightweight Title Newport Beach, Calif. (September 5, 2014) – Bellator MMA is primed for one of the biggest events in promotional history as San Diego’s Valley View Casino Arena will host Bellator 131 on Saturday, November 15th live and free on Spike TV.
The night will feature one of the biggest grudge matches in the sport as MMA icons clash when Tito “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Ortiz returns to the Bellator cage to face “The American Psycho” Stephan Bonnar in a light heavyweight affair, while Will Brooks and Michael Chandler will battle for the vacant Bellator Lightweight Title. Tickets are on sale Friday, September 12 and will be available at the Valley View Casino Center Box Office, axs.com or Bellator.com.
Ortiz enters the fight fresh off his dominating victory over current Bellator Middleweight Champion Alexander Shlemenko at Bellator 120. Having fought some of the best in the world including Wanderlei Silva, Vitor Belfort, Forrest Griffin and Ken Shamrock, Ortiz is looking to add another big victory to his already impressive career. “This fight is as personal as it gets,” Ortiz said. “I don’t dislike many people but I can honestly say I hate Stephan Bonnar.
I’m not just going to beat Bonnar, I’m going to torture him. This fight is for my fans and the MMA world. Stephan Bonnar is a phony and I’m going to show the world he isn’t on the same level of a fighter as I am. The Huntington Beach Bad Boy is back for this fight because #BitchBoy Bonnar is getting a bad beating from me.” Fighting in front of millions on Spike TV against the likes of James Irvin, Keith Jardine, Rashad Evans and an iconic showdown with Forrest Griffin, Bonnar has established himself as one of the biggest personalities in the sport during his nearly 15-year professional career.
Press Release For Ortiz vs. Bonnar At Bellator 131, Ortiz & Bonnar Comment
UFC Fight Night Bonuses: Lauzon, Chiesa, ‘Jacare,’ Rothwell Earn $50K Awards
Joe Lauzon, Michael Chiesa, Ronaldo Souza and Ben Rothwell earned $50,000 bonuses for their performances at UFC Fight Night “Jacare vs. Mousasi 2” on Friday.
UFC Fight Night Bonuses: Lauzon, Chiesa, ‘Jacare,’ Rothwell Earn $50K Awards
‘Jacare’ Believes Win Over Mousasi Worth No. 1 Contender Spot, UFC Boss Noncommittal
Ronaldo Souza and Dana White seem to have different views on what “Jacare’s” win over Gegard Mousasi at Friday’s UFC Fight Night event in Mashantucket, Conn., means to the middleweight title picture.
‘Jacare’ Believes Win Over Mousasi Worth No. 1 Contender Spot, UFC Boss Noncommittal
Dana White says Ronaldo Souza will likely have to fight again before title shot
MASHANTUCKET, Conn. – Ronaldo Souza avenged a 2008 loss against Gegard Mousasi at UFC Fight Night 50 on Friday night to make it seven wins in a row, four of which have come in in the UFC. But don’t book him into a middleweight title fight just yet. That’s because there’s already a 185-pound title fight on the horizon between Vitor Belfort and Chris Weidman, which is set for UFC 181 on Dec. 6. Even though Jacare has earned his way into title talks, his timing is off for that to happen immediately.
And according to UFC president Dana White, because Belfort-Weidman is still three months off, Souza will likely need to fight again before he gets his crack at the belt. You can say [Souza] is next in line for a title, he told on a Fox Sports 1 post-fight interview. Somebody’s already next in line for the title, so obviously Jacare looked incredible tonight, he put on a great performance and I’m sure he’ll fight again before we talk about title shots. Souza (21-3-1) is the former Strikeforce middleweight champion.
He lost his title to Luke Rockhold in Sept. 2011, and has gone a seven-fight win streak since then. On Friday night, Jacare was able to even things up with Mousasi, who defeated him at DREAM 6 in Japan with a well-time upkick. Souza tapped Mousasi out in the third round via guillotine, but was dominating the fight from the opening bell. The end came at the 4:30 mark of round three. It was the kind of declarative performance in a main event spot that makes its own case.
Dana White says Ronaldo Souza will likely have to fight again before title shot
Patricky Freire: Commission nearly banned me during bro's Bellator 123 title fight
UNCASVILLE, Conn. – It was a long-awaited night for Bellator MMA’s “Pitbull” brothers, but as Patricky Freire watched his little brother close out a title-winning performance, he said the commission threatened to remove him from the event.
Patricky Freire: Commission nearly banned me during bro's Bellator 123 title fight
Bellator 123's 'King Mo' Lawal on Connecticut fans: 'They can all kiss my ass'
UNCASVILLE, Conn. – After a few trips to the Constitution State, Muhammed Lawal has a message for fight fans in Connecticut: “They can all kiss my ass.”
Bellator 123's 'King Mo' Lawal on Connecticut fans: 'They can all kiss my ass'
UFC Fight Night 50 results recap: Alistair Overeem vs Ben Rothwell fight review and analysis
Despite being a major underdog, Ben Rothwell took it to Alistair Overeem last night (Sept. 5, 2014) at UFC Fight Night 50 at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut. Not only did Rothwell defeat The Reem, his performance was undoubtedly the best of the three men to finish Overeem inside the Octagon. Find out how Big Ben pulled off the win below! Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweights Alistair Overeem and Ben Rothwell went to war in order to move into title contention last night (Sept. 5, 2014) at UFC Fight Night 50 at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut.
Overeem came into this bout coming off of a safe but fairly dull decision victory over Frank Mir. With brutal power and dangerous submissions, Overeem’s nasty offensive skills usually make him quite entertaining. Though Overeem is known for his porous defense, many fans expected him to put it all together under the tutelage of Greg Jackson, his new coach, en route to a potential match ups with Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos. Ben Rothwell was something of an after-thought.
Not to Big Ben, of course. Rothwell brought a new confidence into the Octagon with him, partially due to his vicious knockout over Brandon Vera in his last appearance. Looking to break his streak of alternating wins and losses, Rothwell was fearless in his attack of The Reem. To watch full fight video highlights of Ben Rothwell vs. Alistair Overeem at UFC Fight Night 50 last night click here. And that willingness to exchange — along with his historic durability — eventually earned Rothwell the victory.
UFC Fight Night 50 results recap: Alistair Overeem vs Ben Rothwell fight review and analysis
Bellator 123 winner Bobby Lashley doesn't want layoff, open to Cheick Kongo matchup
UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Bobby Lashley said he felt the nerves, but he also felt confident, which is a reason he said his return to the cage at Friday’s Bellator 123 event was a success.
Bellator 123 winner Bobby Lashley doesn't want layoff, open to Cheick Kongo matchup
Dana White: I'm sure Jacare Souza will fight again before getting a title shot
Sorry! When promoting the headlining attraction of last night’s (Fri., Sept. 5, 2014) UFC Fight Night 50: Jacare vs. Mousasi event at the Foxwoods Casino Resort in Ledyard, Connecticut on Fox Sports 1, UFC President Dana White mentioned the winner of the Jacare Souza vs. Gegard Mousasi bout would be in line for a title shot. Well, Souza submitted Mousasi in the third round (watch it here) after a strong performance and was talking title shot afterwards. White, however, is pumping the brakes on that (via MMA Fighting): He looked very impressive tonight.
You know, I’m a huge Mousasi fan, and he picked him apart and wore him out. He looked fantastic tonight. And we talk about title shots, there’s a title fight that’s going to happen first. So it depends on when this thing happens, what goes down, what happens with Chris Weidman. It’s tough to say, yeah he’s getting a title shot when there’s already a title shot in line. … You can say [Souza] is next in line for a title. Somebody’s already next in line for the title, so obviously Jacare looked incredible tonight, he put on a great performance and I’m sure he’ll fight again before we talk about title shots.
More than anything else, the primary issue may be timing. Current Middleweight Champion Chris Weidman is already booked to tussle with Vitor Belfort at UFC 181 in December. Souza sitting on the shelf waiting for the winner is neither practical nor pleasing to those in power within the promotion. The only fighter ranked above him currently is Lyoto Machida, who is coming off a loss to Weidman. If that doesn’t make sense, they’ll have to find something that does. What’s the best play here, Maniacs?
Dana White: I'm sure Jacare Souza will fight again before getting a title shot
Alistair Overeem can’t keep from tripping over the red carpet
MASHANTUCKET, Conn. – After Alistair Overeem very loudly and unceremoniously lost consecutive fights against Antonio Silva and Travis Browne, he very quietly became a rebuilding project. So quiet, in fact, that he slipped out to Thailand for his training ahead of the Frank Mir fight at UFC 169, leaving the Blackzilians camp behind.Overeem just as quietly beat Mir. And quieter still, he was booked against Ben Rothwell as he joined the team at Jackson-Winkeljohn’s in Albuquerque, to the mute horror of Donald Cerrone’s horses.
Rothwell was supposed to be a kind of resume fortifier on his road back to contention, one more tune-up before the dance party could start to get loud again. The UFC’s heavyweight division isn’t teeming with high-profile contenders. After slipping in his No. 1 contender bouts to get a title shot not that long ago, Overeem still felt like the guy who might one day lurk in Cain Velasquez’s future. All he needed to do was beat Rothwell for the strobe lights to start flickering behind him again.
Alistair Overeem can’t keep from tripping over the red carpet
Bellator's Scott Coker: Releasing Eddie Alvarez to UFC wasn't a PR move
UNCASVILLE, Conn. – When Bellator MMA released long-disgruntled lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez, many fans viewed at a wise public-relations move by new company president Scott Coker.
Bellator's Scott Coker: Releasing Eddie Alvarez to UFC wasn't a PR move
Randy Couture vs. Fedor Emelianenko? New Bellator boss not counting it out
It’s the fight that never happened – the potential matchup that prompted photo shoots and video-game covers and posters and countless what-if columns. But could Randy Couture vs. Fedor Emelianenko actually still be a real possibility?
Randy Couture vs. Fedor Emelianenko? New Bellator boss not counting it out
Thursday, September 4, 2014
Jacaré Seeks His Revenge
This Friday we get to watch a long-awaited rematch between Middleweight contenders Ronaldo ‘Jacaré’ Souza and Gegard Mousasi, at UFC Fight Night 50. No question, the card is stacked, also featuring Alistair Overeem, Matt Mitrione, Joe Lauzon and Michael Chesia—but without question I’m most pumped to watch Jacare (e.g. ‘the alligator’) seek some Old Testament retribution for his 2008 loss. It’s hard to pinpoint why you idolize certain fighters.
Fight style? Courage under fire? Dedication? Evolution? Maybe it’s all those. Fight style: I train jiu jitsu nearly everyday, so I tend to favor grapplers, especially from the world of BJJ competitions. Which is where Jacaré first gained notoriety. As a multi-time World and ADCC champion, take a poll and no doubt he ranks as one, if not the, most respected grappler in the UFC. Courage under fire: the dude is fucking tough as they come. Check out his 2004 World Championship BJJ match with Roger Gracie.
Jacaré Seeks His Revenge
Michelle Waterson on frustrating layoff
At one point during the last 17 months, Michelle Waterson was nearly ready to just move on with her life — regardless of what that meant for her fighting career. Waterson, 28, has not fought since she won the Invicta FC atomweight title in April 2013.
She will finally seek her first title defense this weekend, against Yasuko Tamada in the main event of Invicta 8 in Kansas City, Mo. Affectionately known as “Peanut” at Jackson-Winkeljohn MMA in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Waterson (11-3) admits staying positive during this layoff was a challenge.
Michelle Waterson on frustrating layoff
How to Watch the Fights: UFC Fight Night 50
A lot has happened in the six years since Gegard Mousasi and Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza’s first meeting. Both men have gone up to light heavyweight, then come down again. Anderson Silva’s vice grip on the UFC middleweight division has ended, and the field has opened up. On Friday they meet for a second time in one of the most attractive UFC cards in a while, and it’s well worth getting excited for. Today we’ll look at some of the fights and fighters whom you should be watching out for on UFC Fight Night: Jacare vs Mousasi II.
Main Event In 2008, the Dream Fighting Championship (spiritual successor to PRIDE) put on two of the best grand prix tournaments in the history of mixed martial arts. In the lightweight grand prix, Shinya Aoki, Eddie Alvarez and Joachim Hansen turned heads. In the middleweight grand prix, it was all about two men—Gegard Mousasi and Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza. When Mousasi and Jacare met in the final, it was thought to be grappler versus striker. In truth, it was a specialist—in Jacare—against a generalist.
Mousasi was taken down, but maintained his half guard well and was able to push Jacare out to standing with his upkicks. After being pushed out to his feet, Jacare—anxious to push his advantage on the ground—dived back into Mousasi’s guard with a punch, but ate an upkick en route and fell victim to one of the most memorable knockouts in MMA history. In the time since, Mousasi has boned up on his wrestling, and Jacare has shown a great flair for striking. Where formerly, Jacare would run in with a flying knee to begin a bout, then swing wild and look for a takedown, he now seems to be as thoughtful and dangerous on the feet as he is on the ground.
How to Watch the Fights: UFC Fight Night 50
Tiger Eyes and Burning Hearts: The Fight Anthems of Survivor
Jimi Jamison, lead singer of the Chicago rock band Survivor, passed away on August 31 after suffering a heart attack. He was 63 years old. In honor of Jimi’s life and work, I’d like to take a moment to celebrate his band’s unique and epic contributions to the fight world. Survivor, you see, were the kings of the eighties fight film soundtrack. Their popular and populist arena rock sound, complete with guileless, fist-pumping choruses and earnest lyrics about finding inner strength and power, made them the perfect choice for any director or star looking for a theme song for his film about a boxing or karate underdog.
And man, did they deliver when they were asked to write a song for such a flick. They came up with “Eye of the Tiger,” one of the most successful singles of all time, for Rocky III. They followed that up with “The Moment of Truth” for the Karate Kid. And then they revisited the Rocky series with the slightly less iconic—but no less anthemic—“Burning Heart.”
Let’s take a closer look at each of those songs: “Eye of the Tiger” 1982 Rocky III Sylvester Stallone enlisted Survivor to write a song for Rocky III because he was a fan of some of their previous tunes like “Poor Man’s Son” and “Take You On A Saturday,” and he wanted a theme song for the third Rocky film that had a similar “street” sound (because apparently “street” meant something very different to white people in the early eighties).
Tiger Eyes and Burning Hearts: The Fight Anthems of Survivor
Souza hoping he's one win from title shot
UFC middleweight Ronaldo Jacare Souza will enter the Octagon this weekend, just eight days shy of his 11th anniversary of his first professional fight. In those 11 years, Souza (20-3) has failed to get his hand raised only three times.
In two of his three losses, you might say Souza got his money’s worth. In his professional debut at Jungle Fight 1 in September 2003, Souza, despite strong grappling credentials, stood with fellow Brazilian Jorge Patino, tired quickly and was knocked out by a stinging right hand a little more than three minutes into the fight.
Souza hoping he's one win from title shot
War Machine Facing Attempted Murder Charges, Possible Life In Prison
Jonathan Koppenhaver, the former cast member of season six of UFC’s The Ultimate Fighter reality show, entered a not guilty plea on 32 felony counts in a Las Vegas courtroom on Wednesday.
Koppenhaver, who is better known to MMA fans as War Machine, was originally facing nine felony counts stemming from the alleged domestic violence incident with former girlfriend, adult film star Christy Mack. However, according to a new Las Vegas Review-Journal report, War Machine is now facing 32 felony charges dating back to May 2013, including, but not limited to: attempted murder, sexual assault, battery, coercion, preventing or dissuading a witness or victim from reporting a crime, and first-degree kidnapping resulting in substantial bodily harm.
Koppenhaver, who most recently fought under the Bellator MMA banner, was captured without incident by U.S. Marshals and representatives of the Simi Valley Police Department after hiding out from the authorities following the aforementioned domestic violence incident. He is currently scheduled to appear in court again on October 17th and if convicted, faces a possible life sentence in prison without the possibility of parole.
War Machine Facing Attempted Murder Charges, Possible Life In Prison
UFC Draws New Record-Low Rating For UFC 177 Prelims On FS1
The preliminary fights for this past Saturday’s UFC 177 pay-per-view, which aired live on FOX Sports 1, drew the lowest rating in the history of the UFC. On Saturday, August 30th, UFC 177: Dillashaw vs. Soto took place from the Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento, California, an event that was cursed from day one.
The preliminary fights, as noted, aired on FS1, drawing the least amount of viewers for a UFC preliminary card on an outlet with legitimate national penetration in the history of the company. The UFC 177 prelims on FS1 drew 436,000 viewers, falling well below the previous record-low, which was 628,000 viewers for the UFC 166 prelims on FS1 back in October of 2013. Saturday’s show drew barely half of the 859,000 average viewers for fights on FS1 since the promotion moved away from their previous cable home on Spike TV.
UFC Draws New Record-Low Rating For UFC 177 Prelims On FS1
Heavyweights Jared Rosholt, Alexey Oleinik Set to Clash at UFC Fight Night Austin
A heavyweight duel between Jared Rosholt and Alexey Oleinik has been added to the UFC Fight Night bill in Austin on Nov. 22.
Heavyweights Jared Rosholt, Alexey Oleinik Set to Clash at UFC Fight Night Austin
Ex-WWE Personality Jim Ross, Chael Sonnen Team to Call Battlegrounds MMA PPV
Jim Ross, better known by most professional wrestling fans as “Good Ol’ J.R.,” will partner with former Ultimate Fighting Championship star Chael Sonnen to commentate the upcoming BattleGrounds MMA 5 pay-per-view.
Ex-WWE Personality Jim Ross, Chael Sonnen Team to Call Battlegrounds MMA PPV
Curran on pros, cons of Bellator tourneys
When Pat Curran signed with Bellator MMA in 2010, the promotion’s tournament format suited him perfectly. He advanced through the promotion’s Season 2 lightweight tournament, earning a title shot against Eddie Alvarez in April 2011. The 23-year-old Curran wasn’t quite ready for that stage and it showed, as he lost a one-sided unanimous decision. Two months later, Curran enlisted in Bellator’s featherweight tournament. Once again, he rattled off three consecutive wins to earn a title shot, this time against Joe Warren.
Curran on pros, cons of Bellator tourneys
Bellator 123 weigh-in results, LIVE streaming video for 'Curran vs. Pitbull' from Uncasville
Bellator 123 takes place tomorrow night (Fri. Sept. 5, 2014) from inside Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT, featuring a featherweight title fight pitting champion Pat Curran against Patricio Freire for the second time. Check out the official Curran vs. Pitbull weigh-in results and live streaming video below. Bellator 123 goes down tomorrow night (Fri., Sept. 5, 2014) from inside Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., with a 145-pound title fight between two familiar foes.
Bellator featherweight champion Pat Curran will duke it out against Patricio Freire for the second time inside the Bellator cage, after Curran edged the Brazilian by split decision at Bellator 85 over a year ago. Also on the card, Muhammed King Mo Lawal battles GLORY kickboxing combatant Dustin Jacoby, and pro wrestling star Bobby Lashley makes his MMA return against Josh Burns. The weigh-ins are set to begin at 5 p.m. ET. MMAmania.com will post live results and updates just as soon as the fighters hit the scale.
Bellator 123 weigh-in results, LIVE streaming video for 'Curran vs. Pitbull' from Uncasville
Randy Couture to compete on season 19 of ABC's 'Dancing with the Stars'
Randy Couture may have retired from mixed martial arts fighting, entered the UFC Hall of Fame (as well as become a personality on Spike TV) and gone into the world of acting, but he’s not done with competition yet. As reported first by the Newark Star-Ledger, Couture has been tabbed to star on the upcoming season of ABC’s ‘Dancing with the Stars’, which debuts Sept. 14th at 8 p.m. ET Couture is not the first MMA fighter to appear on the long-running show. Fellow UFC Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell guest starred back in 2009 on season 9.
Randy Couture to compete on season 19 of ABC's 'Dancing with the Stars'
Jim Ross, Chael Sonnen Comment On Announcing BattleGrounds MMA Pay-Per-View
Witz End Communications sent along the following … DYNAMIC DUO! WWE’S JIM ROSS AND CHAEL SONNEN TEAM UP TO CALL BATTLEGROUNDS MMA ONE NIGHT, EIGHT-MAN WELTERWEIGHT TOURNAMENT LIVE ON PPV FROM TULSA, OKLA. ON OCT. 3 TULSA, OK (Sept. 4, 2014) – Two consummate performers in WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross and recently retired UFC superstar Chael Sonnen have teamed up to form what is bound to be one of the most memorable commentary teams in sports entertainment history, and will call the world-class Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) action on the LIVE pay-per-view telecast of BattleGrounds MMA: ‘O.N.E.’ from BOK Center in Tulsa, Oka. on Friday, October 3.
Jim Ross, Chael Sonnen Comment On Announcing BattleGrounds MMA Pay-Per-View
Randy Couture Confirmed For Season 19 Of ABC’s “Dancing With The Stars”
UFC Hall Of Famer Randy Couture is returning to the world of competition — dance competition. The former multi-division MMA champion has been announced as a contestant on the upcoming season of the hit ABC reality show, Dancing with the Stars. Couture joins a long list of celebrities for the 19th season of the show, which premieres on ABC on September 14th at 8pm EST.
Randy Couture Confirmed For Season 19 Of ABC’s “Dancing With The Stars”
Latest UFC 179 fight card and rumors for 'Aldo vs. Mendes 2' on Oct. 25 in Brazil
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is bringing its brand of mixed martial arts (MMA) back to Brazil for UFC 179, headlined by a featherweight rematch pitting division champion Jose Junior Aldo opposite number one contender Chad Money Mendes, streaming live on pay-per-view (PPV), with Prelims on FOX Sports 1 and Fight Pass. Event: UFC 179: Aldo vs. Mendes 2Date: Sat., Oct. 25, 2014 on pay-per-view (PPV)Location: Maracanãzinho Gymnasium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil UFC 179 Main Event:
Latest UFC 179 fight card and rumors for 'Aldo vs. Mendes 2' on Oct. 25 in Brazil
What bad blood? For Pat Curran, Patricio Pitbull is ‘just another stepping stone'
At some point — Pat Curran can’t quite remember when — Patricio Freire’s chagrined grumbles and random bursts of aggression faded into background noise, a sort of rage-fueled, two-year long stream of dead air that Curran was more than happy to ignore.
Nearly 22 months have passed since the two rivals competed in the first-ever Bellator fight to broadcast on Spike TV, and in that time the champ has heard it all: complaints about the scoring that awarded Curran a split decision (and the belt) that fateful night, complaints about the preferential treatment Curran allegedly received from former Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney, and of course, complaints about the automatic rematch Rebney gifted Curran once the champ lost his featherweight strap to Daniel Straus in listless fashion.
He’s obviously upset, Curran says of Freire. I mean, I don’t blame him either. I beat him. He’s pretty upset that I got the (Straus) rematch instead him getting the fight. It’s just the way the world works. This is how this sport is. I was given an opportunity to have the rematch and, you know, I’d be stupid not to take it. So I’m really not too worried about what he’s saying and what’s on his mind. He’s just another stepping stone in my eyes. Through all the bitterness, Curran rarely allowed himself to get sucked in.
He captured his belt back in electric fashion, plopping a ruby red cherry atop his Straus trilogy sundae with a Hail Mary choke in the closing moments of the fifth and final round. Then a summer dance date with Freire was set, and considering the way Pitbull talked about it, the contract may as well have read ‘pistols at dawn.’ But once again the grudge match wasn’t meant to be. Curran pulled out with a calf injury two weeks prior to fight night, and somewhere in Natal, another blood vessel burst inside Freire’s neck as he speculated to reporters about how the injury that sidelined the scared little champ wasn’t that serious at all.
What bad blood? For Pat Curran, Patricio Pitbull is ‘just another stepping stone'
HILL OF CHAMPIONS - The Sons of Santo Amaro
Hill Of Champions is a documentary on MMA fighters from a small favela in Rio fighting for a better future.
HILL OF CHAMPIONS - The Sons of Santo Amaro
Hector Lombard on fellow UFC welterweight Tyron Woodley: 'We ain't friends'
Hector Lombard repeatedly told MMAjunkie Radio that he has no relationship with Tyron Woodley that would keep the two of them from fighting as the UFC requested.
Hector Lombard on fellow UFC welterweight Tyron Woodley: 'We ain't friends'
Fabio Maldonado, Hans Stringer agree to fight at UFC 179
UFC 179 card is shaping up fast. Back to the light heavyweight division after a quick knockout loss to heavyweight contender Stipe Miocic, Fabio Maldonado has agreed to take on Hans Stringer at the UFC 179 card in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Oct. 25. The promotion announced the match-up on Thursday.
Maldonado (21-7) looks for his fourth win in a row at 205 pounds after scoring decision victories over Roger Hollett, Joey Beltran and Gian Villante. The Brazilian brawler recently replaced Junior dos Santos in a heavyweight bout against Miocic, but lost in 35 seconds.
Stringer (22-5-3) hasn’t lost over the past six bouts, most recently defeating Francimar Barroso via split decision in his Octagon debut at UFC Fight Night 38 in Natal, Brazil. Three of Stringer’s victories in his current win streak came by way of knockout. UFC 179 takes place at the Maracanazinho gymnasium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Fabio Maldonado, Hans Stringer agree to fight at UFC 179
Fabio Maldonado vs. Hans Stringer added to UFC 179 in Brazil
A light heavyweight contest between Brazilian slugger Fabio Maldonado and Dutch prospect Hans Stringer is the latest addition to UFC 179.
Fabio Maldonado vs. Hans Stringer added to UFC 179 in Brazil
UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture to Compete on Season 19 of ‘Dancing with the Stars’
If Chuck Liddell could cut a rug, then why not Randy Couture?
UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture to Compete on Season 19 of ‘Dancing with the Stars’
UFC Fight Night 50 predictions
The UFC holds its best fight card in months with a sensational television offering headlined by a middleweight clash between top contenders ‘Jacare’ Souza and Gegard Mousasi. The rest of the card is also filled with important bouts and noteworthy names from heavyweight to flyweight.
Will Jacare prove he deserves a title shot next or is Mousasi about to repeat his success over the Brazilian once again? What: UFC Fight Night: Jacare vs. Mousasi (UFC Fight Night 50) Where: Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut When: Friday, the six-fight preliminary Fox Sports 1 card starts at 7 p.m. ET and the four-fight Fox Sports 1 main card starts at 10 p.m.
Ronaldo Souza vs. Gegard Mousasi This is a tough one and I agonized over this pick. I’m going to side (however reluctantly) with Mousasi. The key for me is two things. First, Mousasi’s takedown defense and ability to create/win scrambles has gotten very good. Second, Jacare’s striking is also dramatically better, but more reactive and single shot. Jacare is going to have some success getting the takedown and threatening with bad positions, but I’d like to believe Mousasi is going to make him work for it significantly more.
UFC Fight Night 50 predictions
UFC and 'TUF 20' hopeful Felice Herrig posts epic Instagram photo in New York subway
We’ve seen some cool promos and billboards before, but this one might be the leader in the clubhouse.
UFC and 'TUF 20' hopeful Felice Herrig posts epic Instagram photo in New York subway
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
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