Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/mmaconvert/~3/tHUIwyyQFAs/
Sunday, 2 September 2012
Deadmau5 And The UFC Finally Cross Paths
I’ve long awaited the day the UFC and EDM music would cross; It’s finally happened.
“Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Healy” Update: Zingano Off Invicta FC 3, Faces Nunes In Sacramento
Invicta FC President Shannon Knapp was very supportive of Zingano’s move. Invicta will look to sign a replacement for Smith. Knapp spoke to MMAJunkie about the move:
“We have graciously let Cat go to participate in Strikeforce, she was signed with us for that fight, but when the opportunity came up for her to take the fight with Amanda, we think it’s a good fight for her…” she continued “I’m true to my word, and we’re open to anything if there’s a better opportunity that exists for the female athletes that we have and they aspire to be there. I spoke to [Strikeforce matchmaker] Sean [Shelby], and it was a no-brainer for me.”
Her opponent, Amanda Nunes, is a Strikeforce and Invicta veteran. Nunes got back in the win column with a dominant win over Raquel Pa’aluhi at Invicta FC 2. Nunes lost to Alexis Davis at a Strikeforce event last fall.
Headlining the card will be a lightweight title fight between champion Gilbert Melendez and Pat Healy. The card will take place at the Power Balance Pavilion in Sacramento, California. The card will air on Showtime and will take place September 29.
Jeff Big Frog Curran Dai Shuanghai Mac Danzig Karen Darabedyan
Bruce Buffer explains ‘It’s fight time’
I was confused by this. Why would Buffer mess with such announcing perfection? "It's time" is so well known that fans usually yell the phrase along with him. It's become as well known as his brother Michael Buffer's familiar "Let's get ready to rumble," which the other Buff rattles off at boxing events.
"I was trying some new things. I'm going through some marketing aspects, and that's all I can say right now. I wanted to try it for marketing purposes, but it's time is mine. We all know that. That's basically where it's at."
Buff, if you want to cover your fancy suits in logos, go for it. If you want to rename your signature move the Mickey's Malt Liquor 180, do it. Get that paper. But please please please don't change "It's Time."
Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/bruce-buffer-explains-fight-time-174055101--mma.html
Dos Caras Jr Phil Cardella Roan Jucao Carneiro Shane The Engineer Carwin
PENICK: Staying Positive - Ten Exciting MMA Fights Coming in September
By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
September 1 was supposed to mark the kick off to a big month of fights in MMA, and the UFC in particular. The date was supposed to bring a Light Heavyweight Championship bout between Jon Jones and Dan Henderson, a fight that was one of the more anticipated bouts of the year.
Instead, we're here today with no fights on the docket for tonight, and a cancelled event looming over the heads of the UFC, leaving many fans and fighters displaced and upset, with a lot of money lost or wasted on air fare and travel. But I think we've had quite enough negativity over the last nine days, and in an effort to be positive, I want to take the time today to turn my gaze towards what is still an exciting month of fights in September.
Between two UFC events, Strikeforce on Showtime, and Bellator's seventh season kicking off - not to mention the debut of a new season of The Ultimate Fighter on FX, as well as the second international version of the show with UK and Australian fighters - there is a ton to look forward to this month. So that's just what we're going to do today; instead of harping on how awful it is to not have fights to watch this weekend, here are ten fights I can't wait to see in the month of September.
Joseph Benavidez vs. Demetrious "Mighty Mouse" Johnson - UFC 152 - Sept. 22
The first ever UFC Flyweight Championship bout pits two former Bantamweight Title challengers against one another in a fight that many expected to come to pass once the 125 lb. division was introduced. Both had been smaller bantamweights, and even back to the WEC days there was always a lingering question of whether they'd be better off in a more natural weight class. Well, the fight's finally here, and it should be one of the most fast-paced and exciting fights the UFC has seen this year. Benavidez is going to be a massive test for Johnson to overcome, as his striking, wrestling, and submission game are all excellent tools, and to see how Johnson's speed and wrestling compares is going to be fantastic to watch. I just cannot wait to see how this fight plays out, and we'll have a deserving Flyweight Champion once all is said and done.
Michael Bisping vs. Brian Stann - UFC 152 - Sept. 22
The original co-main event for UFC 152 has been dropped down one spot, but it's still a fantastic fight in the middleweight division. Bisping's been hovering around the top end of the division for years, but hasn't cracked a title-shot spot yet. Stann, though he suffered a humbling loss to Chael Sonnen last fall, is still an extremely dangerous top ten opponent, and would mark one of Bisping's biggest career wins if the Brit can pull this one off. It's likely to be a striking battle, and it should be a really fun one at that. It's a very relevant fight between two top ten talents, and that's part of why it's a must-see later this month.
Charles Oliveira vs. Cub Swanson - UFC 152 - Sept. 22
Don't worry, UFC 152 houses even more than those two fights, not to mention Jon Jones' next bout, but the rest of the card is where you'll find even more action. Oliveira has been really exciting to watch in the featherweight division, and the promise he showed prior to a three-fight slide at lightweight translates even better at 145 lbs. Swanson has been up and down throughout his career, but he can still be a very fun fighter to watch, and coming off of two straight knockout wins that makes this matchup even more exciting. It's going to be Swanson's sneaky striking game against Oliveira's varied and exciting submission game, and that's a great combination for a fun fight.
Evan Dunham vs. T.J. Grant - UFC 152 - Sept. 22
Speaking of fun fights, this is just some excellent matchmaking from Joe Silva. Grant is really good at 155 lbs., and his grappling game is fantastic. Dunham isn't bad in that department himself, and this fight could absolutely feature some great exchanges on the ground. Both are decent strikers as well, so even if things go the stalemate route on the ground, both fighters are capable enough to put on an exciting fight on the feet as well. It's just a good fight booking, plain and simple, and I can't imagine it being a bad fight.
Marcus Brimage vs. Jimy Hettes - UFC 152 - Sept. 22
This gets a slot all because of Hettes, who has been great to watch through two fights in the UFC thus far. The undefeated featherweight has looked excellent against two lower-ranked opponents in Alex Caceres and Nam Phan, and though this isn't necessarily a step up in competition against TUF-vet Brimage, he's being brought along at the right pace right now. Brimage comes in off a win over Maximo Blanco, but this fight is all about seeing what Hettes can do next.
Lyman Good vs. Jim Wallhead - Bellator 74 - Sept. 28
Bellator's seventh season kicks off with another tournament in the welterweight division, and the first round matchups are rounded out by Bellator's first Welterweight Champion, Lyman Good, taking on "Judo" Jim Wallhead. Wallhead returns to action for the first time since December, and this marks his first fight in Bellator since a decision loss to Rick Hawn in Bellator's fourth season welterweight tournament last year. This should be a great matchup to headline Bellator's first event of season seven, and it might just produce the favorite to win this season's field.
Yves Jabouin vs. Brad Pickett - UFC on Fuel 5 - Sept. 29
The UFC's now-second event of September features a number of good fights, including the heavyweight main event between Stefan Struve and Stipe Miocic, but it's in the lighter weight classes where the most exciting matchups are. This bantamweight fight in particular has the potential to be a fast paced and exciting fight, as neither fighter is really capable of putting on a boring fight, regardless of what end of the result they're on. Pickett had a setback against now-Interim Bantamweight Champ Renan Barao, but he remains a supremely talented bantamweight and is a big test for Jabouin, who hasn't yet lost at 135 lbs. This should be a great fight for the fans in Nottingham, and it's an excellent bout for Fuel TV.
Paul Sass vs. Matt Wiman - UFC on Fuel 5 - Sept. 29
This is another fight where the attention is going to be on one fighter and what he can do. Paul Sass has been uncanny in his ability to lock on submissions, and the fact that he can continue scoring triangle chokes and heel hooks when his opponents know that's what he's going for is incredible. Matt Wiman is a very good veteran fighter, and another big test for Sass, as Wiman's never been submitted in his career. That makes for an interesting dynamic, as Wiman's survival ability is excellent, and he'll likely need to survive some spots in this one.
John Hathaway vs. John Maguire - UFC on Fuel 5 - Sept. 29
It seems like an eternity since Hathaway was seen as one of the brightest up and coming prospects, but he will continue his path to getting back on track in this fight against a talented submission fighter in John Maguire. Maguire holds ten submission wins in his career, including a beautiful step-over armbar against DaMarques Johnson in his last fight. This is a really good fight to see where both of these English fighters stand in the UFC's welterweight division.
Quinn Mulhern vs. Jorge Santiago - Strikeforce "Melendez vs. Healy" - Sept. 29
There are a couple of interesting matchups on the next Strikeforce card, but I'm most looking forward to the Zuffa return of Jorge Santiago, who is returning to the welterweight division in this fight. He had a rough run in his UFC return last year, and was unceremoniously released after a close fight against a very good fighter in Demian Maia. Mulhern welcomes him back to the fold on the strength of a 10-1 mark in his last eleven bouts, the sole loss coming against a very good fighter in Jason High by decision. He's a good test for Santiago, who is historically an exciting finisher and a multi-talented fighter. It's the best matchup on this card.
 |
Instead, we're here today with no fights on the docket for tonight, and a cancelled event looming over the heads of the UFC, leaving many fans and fighters displaced and upset, with a lot of money lost or wasted on air fare and travel. But I think we've had quite enough negativity over the last nine days, and in an effort to be positive, I want to take the time today to turn my gaze towards what is still an exciting month of fights in September.
Between two UFC events, Strikeforce on Showtime, and Bellator's seventh season kicking off - not to mention the debut of a new season of The Ultimate Fighter on FX, as well as the second international version of the show with UK and Australian fighters - there is a ton to look forward to this month. So that's just what we're going to do today; instead of harping on how awful it is to not have fights to watch this weekend, here are ten fights I can't wait to see in the month of September.
Joseph Benavidez vs. Demetrious "Mighty Mouse" Johnson - UFC 152 - Sept. 22
The first ever UFC Flyweight Championship bout pits two former Bantamweight Title challengers against one another in a fight that many expected to come to pass once the 125 lb. division was introduced. Both had been smaller bantamweights, and even back to the WEC days there was always a lingering question of whether they'd be better off in a more natural weight class. Well, the fight's finally here, and it should be one of the most fast-paced and exciting fights the UFC has seen this year. Benavidez is going to be a massive test for Johnson to overcome, as his striking, wrestling, and submission game are all excellent tools, and to see how Johnson's speed and wrestling compares is going to be fantastic to watch. I just cannot wait to see how this fight plays out, and we'll have a deserving Flyweight Champion once all is said and done.
Michael Bisping vs. Brian Stann - UFC 152 - Sept. 22
The original co-main event for UFC 152 has been dropped down one spot, but it's still a fantastic fight in the middleweight division. Bisping's been hovering around the top end of the division for years, but hasn't cracked a title-shot spot yet. Stann, though he suffered a humbling loss to Chael Sonnen last fall, is still an extremely dangerous top ten opponent, and would mark one of Bisping's biggest career wins if the Brit can pull this one off. It's likely to be a striking battle, and it should be a really fun one at that. It's a very relevant fight between two top ten talents, and that's part of why it's a must-see later this month.
Charles Oliveira vs. Cub Swanson - UFC 152 - Sept. 22
Don't worry, UFC 152 houses even more than those two fights, not to mention Jon Jones' next bout, but the rest of the card is where you'll find even more action. Oliveira has been really exciting to watch in the featherweight division, and the promise he showed prior to a three-fight slide at lightweight translates even better at 145 lbs. Swanson has been up and down throughout his career, but he can still be a very fun fighter to watch, and coming off of two straight knockout wins that makes this matchup even more exciting. It's going to be Swanson's sneaky striking game against Oliveira's varied and exciting submission game, and that's a great combination for a fun fight.
Evan Dunham vs. T.J. Grant - UFC 152 - Sept. 22
Speaking of fun fights, this is just some excellent matchmaking from Joe Silva. Grant is really good at 155 lbs., and his grappling game is fantastic. Dunham isn't bad in that department himself, and this fight could absolutely feature some great exchanges on the ground. Both are decent strikers as well, so even if things go the stalemate route on the ground, both fighters are capable enough to put on an exciting fight on the feet as well. It's just a good fight booking, plain and simple, and I can't imagine it being a bad fight.
Marcus Brimage vs. Jimy Hettes - UFC 152 - Sept. 22
This gets a slot all because of Hettes, who has been great to watch through two fights in the UFC thus far. The undefeated featherweight has looked excellent against two lower-ranked opponents in Alex Caceres and Nam Phan, and though this isn't necessarily a step up in competition against TUF-vet Brimage, he's being brought along at the right pace right now. Brimage comes in off a win over Maximo Blanco, but this fight is all about seeing what Hettes can do next.
Lyman Good vs. Jim Wallhead - Bellator 74 - Sept. 28
Bellator's seventh season kicks off with another tournament in the welterweight division, and the first round matchups are rounded out by Bellator's first Welterweight Champion, Lyman Good, taking on "Judo" Jim Wallhead. Wallhead returns to action for the first time since December, and this marks his first fight in Bellator since a decision loss to Rick Hawn in Bellator's fourth season welterweight tournament last year. This should be a great matchup to headline Bellator's first event of season seven, and it might just produce the favorite to win this season's field.
Yves Jabouin vs. Brad Pickett - UFC on Fuel 5 - Sept. 29
The UFC's now-second event of September features a number of good fights, including the heavyweight main event between Stefan Struve and Stipe Miocic, but it's in the lighter weight classes where the most exciting matchups are. This bantamweight fight in particular has the potential to be a fast paced and exciting fight, as neither fighter is really capable of putting on a boring fight, regardless of what end of the result they're on. Pickett had a setback against now-Interim Bantamweight Champ Renan Barao, but he remains a supremely talented bantamweight and is a big test for Jabouin, who hasn't yet lost at 135 lbs. This should be a great fight for the fans in Nottingham, and it's an excellent bout for Fuel TV.
Paul Sass vs. Matt Wiman - UFC on Fuel 5 - Sept. 29
This is another fight where the attention is going to be on one fighter and what he can do. Paul Sass has been uncanny in his ability to lock on submissions, and the fact that he can continue scoring triangle chokes and heel hooks when his opponents know that's what he's going for is incredible. Matt Wiman is a very good veteran fighter, and another big test for Sass, as Wiman's never been submitted in his career. That makes for an interesting dynamic, as Wiman's survival ability is excellent, and he'll likely need to survive some spots in this one.
John Hathaway vs. John Maguire - UFC on Fuel 5 - Sept. 29
It seems like an eternity since Hathaway was seen as one of the brightest up and coming prospects, but he will continue his path to getting back on track in this fight against a talented submission fighter in John Maguire. Maguire holds ten submission wins in his career, including a beautiful step-over armbar against DaMarques Johnson in his last fight. This is a really good fight to see where both of these English fighters stand in the UFC's welterweight division.
Quinn Mulhern vs. Jorge Santiago - Strikeforce "Melendez vs. Healy" - Sept. 29
There are a couple of interesting matchups on the next Strikeforce card, but I'm most looking forward to the Zuffa return of Jorge Santiago, who is returning to the welterweight division in this fight. He had a rough run in his UFC return last year, and was unceremoniously released after a close fight against a very good fighter in Demian Maia. Mulhern welcomes him back to the fold on the strength of a 10-1 mark in his last eleven bouts, the sole loss coming against a very good fighter in Jason High by decision. He's a good test for Santiago, who is historically an exciting finisher and a multi-talented fighter. It's the best matchup on this card.
Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/penickstake/article_14279.shtml
Todd Duffee Marvin Eastman Stav Crazy Bear Economou Yves Edwards
Frankie Edgar eyes being the Dan Henderson of the UFC's lightweight and featherweight divisions
By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Former UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar will drop to the featherweight division later this year, answering the call of many to see him in the 145 lb. division. However, he doesn't expect it to be a permanent move at all.
"I think it was just the timing of everything," Edgar said of the move in an interview with MMAWeekly.com. "Obviously the fight didn't go my way, the two fights, and maybe just a new landscape; it's something different down there. Not saying that I'll never got back to 155."
"I think big fights definitely interest me whatever weight class they're at, so maybe in the future who knows where else I could go, but it's just something I want to try for now."
After the success he had at 155 lbs., Edgar believes there is still a lot he can accomplish in both divisions, and wants to follow in the footsteps of fighters like Dan Henderson, who have made their names in more than one weight class.
"It's just another stage to my career," Edgar said. "I'm just trying to make the best of it I guess. I'm not cemented anywhere. You've got a guy like Dan Henderson who would fight 185 sometimes, 205 sometimes; if I could be that guy, that would be interesting too."
"There are good guys at 55, good guys at 45; I know fans are definitely interested in some fights. So there's plenty of match-ups possible... I always want to challenge myself and push myself to the limit. Being in the weight classes that I'm in there's always going to be good guys and good champions."
Penick's Analysis: Edgar's certainly got the talent and the skill set to become a two-division Champion. It's not an easy task, and to do so he may need to get past a man who has gotten by everyone he's faced in Zuffa in Jose Aldo. However, he's a fighter who absolutely could do just that; doing so would allow him to join the ranks of a very limited number of fighters to accomplish that feat. He'd be in great company, and it's the right goal for him to have at this stage. He's still got fighters he can face in both weight classes, and given the performance he had at UFC 150, he could still return to lightweight in the future and make a run at regaining that title as well.
[Frankie Edgar art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
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"I think it was just the timing of everything," Edgar said of the move in an interview with MMAWeekly.com. "Obviously the fight didn't go my way, the two fights, and maybe just a new landscape; it's something different down there. Not saying that I'll never got back to 155."
"I think big fights definitely interest me whatever weight class they're at, so maybe in the future who knows where else I could go, but it's just something I want to try for now."
After the success he had at 155 lbs., Edgar believes there is still a lot he can accomplish in both divisions, and wants to follow in the footsteps of fighters like Dan Henderson, who have made their names in more than one weight class.
"It's just another stage to my career," Edgar said. "I'm just trying to make the best of it I guess. I'm not cemented anywhere. You've got a guy like Dan Henderson who would fight 185 sometimes, 205 sometimes; if I could be that guy, that would be interesting too."
"There are good guys at 55, good guys at 45; I know fans are definitely interested in some fights. So there's plenty of match-ups possible... I always want to challenge myself and push myself to the limit. Being in the weight classes that I'm in there's always going to be good guys and good champions."
Penick's Analysis: Edgar's certainly got the talent and the skill set to become a two-division Champion. It's not an easy task, and to do so he may need to get past a man who has gotten by everyone he's faced in Zuffa in Jose Aldo. However, he's a fighter who absolutely could do just that; doing so would allow him to join the ranks of a very limited number of fighters to accomplish that feat. He'd be in great company, and it's the right goal for him to have at this stage. He's still got fighters he can face in both weight classes, and given the performance he had at UFC 150, he could still return to lightweight in the future and make a run at regaining that title as well.
[Frankie Edgar art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_14249.shtml
Benson Henderson’s title defense, B.J. Penn vs. Rory MacDonald and ‘Shogun’ vs. ‘Mauler’ will headline UFC on Fox 5
The three fights added to the show's slate:
-- Benson Henderson will defend his lightweight heavyweight (Ed. note -- Sorry, still recovering from Olympics) belt against Nate Diaz, who is riding a three-fight win streak. Diaz earned the title shot with a submission of Jim Miller in May.
-- In the co-main event, Alexander Gustafsson will fight Mauricio "Shogun" Rua. Gustafsson has five wins in a row at light heavyweight, but has been ignored by the UFC for a title shot. Perhaps a win over Shogun, who just beat Brandon Vera on the last Fox card, will do the trick.
-- B.J. Penn and Rory MacDonald's bout, which was postponed because of a cut MacDonald sustained in training, was rescheduled to this card.
With a title fight, a possible title contender's fight and the mainstream starpower of Penn, the UFC is giving Fox a welcome change from the less-than-thrilling recent cards. Though the UFC reported an increase in ratings from their May show to the August one, it was modest. The May show also experienced a steep drop-off in ratings from the two previous shows on Fox, so the improvement shown on the August show still didn't get the UFC anywhere near the four million viewers who watched the first two UFC on Fox shows.
Will you tune in? Tell us in the comments, on Facebook or on Twitter.
Tony Fryklund Kazuyuki Fujita Masakatsu Funaki Zelg Benkei Galesić
Saturday, 1 September 2012
Dennis Bermudez is Unstoppable: The UFC 150 Preliminary Card Rundown
It was a record-setting preliminary card for UFC 150, with history made in the speed and ferocity with which leather was thrown. In the bantamweight division, a Greg Jackson-trained fighter won big, while an Octagon newcomer dominated. And in the featherweight division, a TUF 14 star shined, while a former lightweight found that he should've been fighting other 145-pounders all along.
[Related: Erik Perez scores fastest KO in bantamweight history]
- In the first fight of the evening, Japanese veteran Eiji Mitsuoka and Nik Lentz met in the cage for a featherweight contest that saw the American dominate Mitsuoka with wrestling from beginning to end. In his first fight at 145 pounds, Lentz was strong — way stronger than his opponent — and Mitsuoka had no answer for the takedowns and throws that put him on the mat. The end came when Lentz maneuvered onto Mitsuoka's back, flattened him out, and unloaded a barrage of fists that forced the referee to step in at 3:45 of Round One.
- It was all about momentum in the bantamweight pairing between TUF 14 veteran Dustin Pague and Octagon rookie Chico Camus, and though Pague was dangerous early on with a first-round triangle choke that his foe had to work to avoid, Camus slowly but surely gathered steam with escapes and ground and pound. This went on for all three rounds, and by the time the clock was ticking down to zero, Camus was in mount and back-mount and Pague was completely on the defensive. Camus took the well-earned unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28).
- Bantamweight fireball Erik Perez walked right through Ken Stone, striding boldly into their first and only exchange and dropping Stone with a right hook that had the Massachusetts-born fighter eating canvas. Perez followed him down and kept punching, and when Stone went rigid referee Herb Dean jumped in. Stone was so dazed that when Perez relented and turned away, he tried to keep fighting, and Dean had to physically restrain him while Perez celebrated. At a mere 17 seconds, Perez was the owner of the fastest knockout (a TKO) in WEC and UFC bantamweight history.
- Dutch judoka Michael Kuiper absolutely brutalized kickboxer Jared Hamman, even though his game plan seemed to involve a lot of strolling forward eating kicks and punches. Fleet-footed and mobile, Hamman began strong. But Kuiper buckled him with a leg-kick that seemed to incur lasting damage, and then came the punches that chipped away and chipped away until Hamman came to resemble an extra in "The Walking Dead". The end came via TKO at 2:16 in Round Two, when Kuiper cracked Hamman and Hamman fell in a heap.
- Things looked dire for Dennis Bermudez when Tommy Hayden nailed him with a knee and sent him stunned to the canvas, but the TUF 14 runner-up is apparently made of iron. Recovering from the knee to the dome and then forced to wiggle out of a rear naked choke and slam his way out of an armbar attempt, Bermudez just couldn't be stopped, and he paid Hayden back with a crushing front kick to the chest and standing guillotine choke. Hayden tapped out at 4:43 of the first round.
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